VI. id Period. 172 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN CHAP, things thus established was still kept in force. Even under clear daylight, it would have been seemingly rash to overrule or disturb so valiant a soldier as Pennefather, whilst defending the familiar copsewood upon which he had long been camped ; aud the density of the mist still made it impossible for any other commander to obtain such a glimpse of the battle-field as could war- rant the interposition of his overruling authority. Lord Raglan But whilst he gcucrously abstained from every staff. word which might disturb Pennefather's arrange- ments, Lord Eaglan, as may well be supposed, was yearning after that knowledge of the state of the field which the mist had hitherto denied him ; and, his prime task of ordering up rein- forcements having been performed long ago, he was not recalled from the front by any work of duty elsewhere. So he yielded to his natural in- clination, and was always at this period on the English Heights, or between them and the Sand- bag Battery. It was for this ceaseless exposure of his life that he afterwards found himself affectionately chided by the Secretary of State,* and compelled
- Duke of Newcastle, 27th Nov. Lord Raglan in his answer,
18th Deo. 1854, after acknowledging the kind feeling which dictated the Duke's letter, .says : ' I can assure you, however, ' that I am not at all aware of having exposed myself either ' rashly or unncces.sarily either at Alma or at Inkernian. The ' enemy's artillery is so numerous and powerful that it is almost ' impossible to keep clear of the line of it unless I should deter- ' mine to remain out of action altogether ; and I can with truth ' .say that the impossibility of well observing the enemy was ' felt by rae as a great misfortune, I mean at Inkerman.'
