Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/49

THE RESOLVE TO ATTACK THEM. 19 his object; but alive to the value of a powerful chap. diversion, he, at this time, was plainly resolved that, short of storming Sebastopol, he would todttack 8 always carry on the 'old siege' — the siege of approadieJ Sebastopol town — with unrelenting vigour; and Sf tVe^a. lt perhaps one may safely infer that also he heark- ened a little to that fiery temper, that warlike spirit of his which threatened him with the pains of self-scorn, if he brooked any counter-approaches. At all events, he determined that on the following night — it was only at night that he could act so close under the guns of Sebastopol — both of these two new counter-approaches should be resolutely attacked. The Russians became aware of the on- slaughts impending, and on each side the day of the 2 2d was passed in preparing for the strife, but Prepara- especially in making beforehand such use of the both sides ... .... for the night artillery power as — in one direction or other — encounter, might help to govern the issue. For example, the French siege-guns raged against the Central Bastion, because the work was so placed that — not silenced perhaps by the darkness — its guns might interpose in the fight. IV. It was with bodies of infantry some G000 strength of .... , _, the troops strong on each side that the French and the lius- about to be sians respectively undertook to contend for the mastery of these two counter-approaches. Gen- eral Pate, with under him General Beuret and General Motterouge, was to be in command of the French undertaking these night attacks. engaged.