Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/89

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THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 67 acquainted with the nature of the defence which chap. the Turks hud opposed to the enemy on Canro- _. bert's Hill.* It was from ignorance of the bare facts, and not from dishonest or ungenerous motives, that our people threw blame on the Turkish soldiery. IV. All this while, the French and the English com- manders on the Chersonese had been too distant from the scene of the attack against the Turkish redoubts to be able to sway the result ; but they, each of them, proceeded to make arrangements for ulterior operations. Upon being apprised of the impending attack, Lord Baglan had at once ridden up to that part Lord Rag of the ridge which best overlooked the scene of the then commencing engagement. The spot he occupied was one close to the Col, on the north side of the road. Thence he witnessed the cap- ture of the work on Canrobert's Hill, and the flight of the Turks from the other redoubts; — and as soon as his sure, rapid glance had enabled him to apprehend the probable scope and purport of his assailant's design, he determined to move Msdia- positiona state a fact in such way as to obtain for it any real access to the European mind, for it does not appear that he succeeded in conveying any clear idea to the mind of General Canrobert.

  • This is shown very clearly by the tenor of his correspond-

ence. Any one who ever had means of judging of Lord Raglan s nature must be able to imagine the eagerness with which, upon learning the truth, he wmld have hastened to redress the wrong done.