Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/206

184 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA, chap, cause of his delay. It is true that, before the 1 moment we speak of, Cathcart's Division had at length made its appearance, but it still had a good way to inarch before it could commence the in- tended attack. And unfortunately the order directing Cath- cart to attack was by him left unexecuted. When Cathcart had reached the Col, General Airey rode up to him, and said ' Sir George Cathcart, Lord ' Eaglan wishes you to advance immediately and ' recapture the redoubts.' The order was given very plainly, and Airey, after having delivered it, turned to the staff-officer who had carried Lord Eaglan's original orders to Cathcart, and said : ' You are acquainted with the position of each ' redoubt, remain with Sir George Cathcart and ' show him where they are.' After passing the empty redoubts, No. 6 and No. 5, and leaving some troops in each of them, Sir George marched on to the No. 4 redoubt, which was also unoccupied; but there, he came to a halt, deploying his infantry in two lines, and causing it to lie down, at the same time directing his artillery to open fire upon the Arabtabia. The artillery officers soon pointed out that the range was too great to allow of any useful firing, and then, under Cathcart's direction, his rifle battalion went skirmishing towards the Arabtabia, but this was the utmost that Cathcart did towards obey- ing the order which had enjoined him to recapture the redoubts. Lord Raglan's vexation was great, for he felt all