Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/406

 376 THE FIRST DAY S MAKCII. CHAP. XXIV. The stream of the Bui 'anak. into the hands of the Cossacks. The tall stately men of the Guards dropped from their ranks in great numbers. It was believed at the time that the men wlio fell out would be taken by the enemy ; but the number of stragglers at length became very great, and in the evening a force M'as sent back to bring them in. During the march, the foot-soldiers of the Allied armies suffered thirst ; but early in the afternoon the troops in advance reached the long -desired stream of the Bulganak ; and as soon as a divi- sion came in siglit of the water, the men broke from their ranks, and ran forward that they miglit plunge their lips deep in the cool, turbid, grateful stream. In some of the brigades a stronger governance was maintained. Sir Colin Campbell, for instance, would not allow that even the rage of thirst should loosen the discipline of his grand. Highland regiments. He halted them a little before they reached the stream, and so ordered it that, by being saved from the con- fusion that would have been wrought by their own wild haste, they gained in comfort, and knew that they were gainers. A like discipline was maintained by General Codrington, and pro- bably by several other commanders. "When men toil in organised masses, they owe what well- being they have to wise and firm commanders. It was on the banks of this stream of the Bul- ganak that the Allied armies were to bivouac for the night.