Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/275

THE EMPEROR'S PLAN. 243 II. CHAP. IX. The preliminary arrangements on which the Emperor proposed to base his plan of campaign were framed in a spirit appreciative of both our army and its chief; for Lord Eaglan with his whole English force, and a largely extended com- mand over the troops of other nations, was to be withdrawn from the tedious labours of the siege, and entrusted with the more brilliant service of opening a campaign in the field. With an understanding that Eupatoria should The Em- be held by 30,000 Turks under Omar Pasha, the po^[ 3 ? pra: ' Emperor proposed that the forces to be engaged against Sebastopol should be divided into three armies : One of these armies charged with the task of holding the trenches and guarding the siege material as well as the ports of supply was to have a strength of 60,000, consisting of 30,000 French, with besides a like number of Turks, and to be commanded by General Canrobert. The other two armies were to be called respec- tively ' the 1st,' and ' the 2d army of operation.' The ' 1st army of operation ' was to act in the open field with the 25,000 infantry (supported by our cavalry and artillery) which constituted the English force, but with also a body of 5000 French troops ; with besides, the 15,000 men of the Sardinian contingent, and moreover — so it was hoped — with as many as 10,000 Turks, the whole numbering not less at the least than 45,000