Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/64

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38 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP, in front, left flank, and rear, by riflemen in ex- [ tended order, and by the cavalry. The battery belonging to each division marched on its right or inner flank. Bat Colonel Lawrence with his riflemen soon got on so far in advance as to provoke a fire from the Eussian skirmishers then swarming in the vineyards below, and some rifle-balls sliot from that quarter came droyjping into the ground near the column formed by the Light Division. Almost at the same moment, the artillerymen on the Russian heights began to try their range ; and although the air was so clear that our men could see and watch the flight of the cannon-balls, it seemed prudent for our leading divisions to go into line. Those divisions, therefore, were halted, and their deployment immediately began. Tiie leading In deploying, Sir I)e Lacy Evans, being pressed the KngHsh upou by PHnce Napoleon's Division on his right, i'Mt'oi'iie "^ was compelled to take ground to his left, and to encroach upon a part of the space which Sir George Brown had expected to occupy with his Division. Tiie Light The deployment of the Light Division was on its ngiit eff'ected by each regiment with beautiful pre- cision,* but, unhappily, the Division was not on its right ground. Sir George Brown was near-sighted, and had

  • The deplnj'ment was upon the two centre compaiiips of the

division. "Wliilst the movement was proceeding, one man, a sergeant, was killed by a rifle-ball. This was probably the first death in our lines. groiitiil.