Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/189

 HUERICANE OF 14TII NOVEMBER. 145 'watch-coats — in short, all that the foresight of chap. ' the Government could devise for the equipment ^^^' 'and comfort of the troops.'(^^) The Eesolute, too, suffered total wreck, and she was the prin- cipal ammunition -ship of our army. Of the Minie ammunition alone, there went down in her hull no less than ten million rounds. (^'*) The loss of provisions and stores on board other wrecked ships was appallingly great ; (}^) the hay destroyed being in quantities that would have sufficed for all the horses and mules of our army during a period of twenty days.(^^) That loss of hay was one destined to prove beyond measure calamitous. It was natural that on the morrow of a disaster Lord Rag- which brought on his troops cruel sufferings, Lord oAhe d^t* Eaglan for once should permit himself to utter ^^ the anguish he felt ; {^'^) but he was not a man so constituted that his energies could be even momentarily repressed by this kind of misfor- tune. Without losing an hour he applied him- self to the task of providing for the speediest possible replacement of his lost stores ; and so steadfast was his presence of mind, so admirable his skill in the conduct of military business, that the measures he took at the instant were as perfect in substance, and even in method and form, as if they had resulted from lengthened Hismeas- deliberations and a whole month of official labour. By the very despatches which an- nounced the disaster to the Secretary of State, he imparted an officially accurate account of the ammunition and ordnance stores lost in the VOL. VII. K