Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/95

THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 73 small body under Sir Colin Campbell which de- uhaf. fended the approach to Balaclava was left for the . — moment uncovered, but that (by reason of the period required for the transmission of a fresh order, and for countermarching our squadrons) this state of isolation might continue some time, isolation of in despite of all Lord Eaglan could do. On the other hand, the position of Liprandi Position of . . Liprandi's was this : With his victorious infantry and infantry at this time. artillery disposed near the captured redoubts, he occupied a slightly curved line, which began at Kamara, and extended thence westward by Canrobert's Hill and the Causeway Heights, till it reached a point somewhat in advance of the Arabtabia. The four Odessa battalions, posted near this The Odessa Arabtabia or Number Three Eedoubt, marked the index of limit of the venture which the Kussian Com- changing mander was assigning to his infantry in the direc- tion of the Allied camps. Indeed we shall see that this Odessa regiment, for the rest of the day, was a faithful and sensitive index of the enemy's intent, mounting guard over the site of the Arab- tabia, so long as the Allies were yet distant, falling back when our cavalry seemed going to attack it, and countermarching at once to the old ground when Liprandi saw that the French and the English Commanders were inclined to acquiesce in his conquest. The Eussian Cavalry, supported by its attend- The Kus»iaj ant batteries, was drawn up across the North Valley, with its left resting on the lowest slopes