124 ]!ATTLE OF THE ALMA. CllAi'. ui)lK)l(ling tlic C(j]our, he laid claim to llio Great " liedoubt oil behalf of the 'lioyal Welsh.'* The colour lloating high in the air, and seen by our ])eople far and near, kindled in them a raging love for the ground where it stood. Breathless men found speech. General Codrington, still in the front, uncovered, saluting the crisis, waved his cap for a sign to his people, and then, riding straight at one of the embrasures, leapt his grey Arab into the breastwork. There were some eager and swift -footed soldiers who sprang the parapet nearly at the same moment ; more fol- lowed. Fire opening then on our people from a battery higher up the hill-side, both Lawrence and his adjutant Ross were unhorsed by a blast of grape - shot ; but the ground that received
- It commonly liappens that inoidents occurring in a battle
are told by the most truthful bystanders with dilferenccs more or less wide. All agree that J'oung Anstruther ruslieil forward just as is mentioned in the text, and that being shot dead, he fell clasping the colour in the way above described ; but, an- cording to the testimony of some, the spot of ground where he fell was several paces below the redoubt. After the capture of the redoubt, sergeant Luke O'Connor, notwithstanding his wound, persisted in refusing to part with the honour of carry- ing the colour. Lieutenant Granville, and also, I think, some other ofTicers of the regiment, observed that O'Connor was grow- ing weak from the effect of his wound, and pressed him to go to the rear ; but setting at nought all these counsels, O'Connor persisted in his determination to carry the cherished standard until the close of the battle. He received the thanks of Sir . George Brown and General Codrington on the field ; and, for having done what is above told, he was decorated with the Victoria Cross. lie was also promoted. lie is now (this was I written in 18G3) a captain iu that same devoted regiment with which he had the glory of serving on the day of the Alma.
