Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/215

THE MAIN FIGHT. 171 had built up a stronghold well fitted to aid the chap. exertions of a few thousand steadfast infantry, ' with thirty or forty guns; but our people, under ^'^ Period. the guidance of Pennefather, did not even for a moment fall back upon the modest task of merely guarding their heights. Again, as before, push- ing forward into advanced positions, they ac- cepted the strife wherever it offered, and we shall see them allowing their strength to be drawn all away and consumed by the allure- ments of a fight on wrong ground, where the very success of a combat might jeopardise the fate of the battle. The English remained unacquainted with the continued pji f , ^ • -I •••,■> ^ • impression aggregate oi the tacts which constituted their of the Eng- , . . 1 T 1 , 1 • lishasto the morning s victory, and did not yet know or im- dimensions of the agine the dimensions of the fight in which they conflict. were engaged. They understood well enough that Pennefather's struggle for the defence of his copse was one that must be tirndy main- tained, and that, to that end, he ought to receive all the succour he might need; but not having yet come to suspect that a whole Eussian army, numbered by several tens of thousands, had really undertaken to mass itself upon the Inker- man corner of ground, they still thought of the trouble the Eussians were giving as something far short of ' a battle; ' and, Lord Eaglan and Canrobert having both of them intimated to Pennefather from the first that they came to /v> 1 • 1 J. J. i 1 1 • • Conduct of oner him succours, but not to supersede him m the fight the management of his fight, the condition of Pennefathar