282 THE liA'i'TJ.K 01 INKEKMAJS. XV. CHAP. The Okhotsk Ijattalious continued to retreat '. before the French ' 6th of the Line,' and descended jd Period. ^^^^^ g^. Qiymjp„t'3 Qorge ; but a number of the Continued ° n,!,'oui?nt,v enemy's troops — not, however, in a state of for- mation — still remained showing front from the gorge of the Sandbag Battery. Between these and the French battalion there had become inter- file Okhotsk posed a weak thread of English skirmishers — other men belongina; to different regiments — and near Russians • , i still showing them a Single horseman. a front ° General Bourbaki, it would seem, had ridden forward in the direction of his left front, and was not at this moment present with the battalion of Colonel de Camas. The battalion — extended in line — had been hitherto maintaining its advance, Hesitation but HOW, from souic causc, it faltered. The men French 6Ui did uot fall back, but they would no longer come of the Line. /-< • » on. Captain Armstrong — the horseman we saw with our skirmishers — was an able young officer, accustomed to wield authority, and not wanting in that soldierly sternness which the need of the moment required.* He rode up to the front of the French battalion, and spoke to its officers in language which perhaps might be harsh, but was cai.taiii nevertheless opportune. Our few men extended exe'rtio'i^s'.^ " ill frout saw his purpose, and gave him a cheer. Seizing the moment, he adjured the French bat-
- Ciiptaiu James Arm.strong (uow Major- General and Deputy
Aeljutaut-Geueral at the Horse Guard.s) was General Adams's Brigade-Major at the time of the battle.
