72 CLOSE OF THE ATTACK. chap. The fight lasted an hour* iv. . In killed, wounded, and missing the French lost some 270,t and the Russians rather more than 400.+ False report The reports of this fight made to Canrobert of this fight nil made to and by him despatched to Lord Raglan, con- Oanrobert. ^ r o > veyed a full assurance that by dislodging the enemy and demolishing his redoubt the enter- prise had been victoriously achieved ; ( 3 ) and Lord Raglan, on Canrobert's authority, imparted at once to his Government what seemed true and joyful intelligence.! He afterwards saw Gen- eral Canrobert, and learnt from him that he had not received any further account of the fight. || Lord Raglan afterwards visited the brave Gen- eral Monet, and found him laid up with five wounds. Several other French officers were present, including Colonel Cler, the hero of the right wing. All spoke with truthful candour of the late night-attack, and simply called it a failure.1T When the truth at last made its sure way to the French at headquarters, they seemed to be gravely distressed.**
- Niel's narrative of the combat is in p. 152 et scq., and Tod-
leben's (vol. ii.) in p. 27 et seq. + Including a few who were struck in the daytime of the 23d, they officially acknowledged a loss of 275. — Niel, p. 154. t Todleben, vol. ii. p. 30. § Despatch to Secretary of State, 24th February 1855. || Lord Kaglan to Lord Panmure, Private Letter, March 27 1855. H 'Un coup manque.' — Lord Raglan to Lord Panmure, Feb. 27, 1855. ** Ibid.
