Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/280

250 GENERAL PELLSSIKK. en a P. considered that the 'siege,' if so called, of an un- _____ invested fortress was substantially a protracted battle with Russia, and that, to march troops away from the fight with instructions to begin, and to execute another campaign in another region, would be to run after 'adventures/ and violate the recognised principles which govern the art of war. He acted up to his faith with a terrible energy. In the last days of April and the beginning of May, whilst still only commanding a corps, and again three weeks afterwards, when placed at the head of the army, he attacked, as we saw, the Town counter-approaches, and carried them after incurring heavy losses of men. On attaining the supreme command, he hastened to wipe out the ridicule which Louis Napoleon's telegrams had brought on the Allies, and at once, in due con- cert with Lord Eaglan, renewed the expedition to Kcrtch. Then he and Lord Eaglan, co-operat- ing, attacked the counter-approaches of the Kara- belnaya, and carried them all ; but the losses of the English were great, and those of the French enormous. Soon — brought about by the plague of Louis Napoleon's messages — there followed that interruption of IMlissier's sounder judgment which led him into several errors, and directly brought down on the Allies — French and English alike — the misfortunes of the 18th of June, quick- ly followed, however, by proof that the Norman was strong in adversity. Pelissier in war did not seem to be a man car-