Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/351

THE MAIN FIGHT. 307 whether English or French, were so nearly ap- chap proachiug Mount Inkermau as to be in time for '__ the next great conflict. General Dannenberg's ^^irerfcj artillery, with nearly 100 guns by this time in battery, was rampant from east to west along a wliole mile of front ; and, though mangled and cruelly lessened in numbers, the battalions with which he had fought during this Second Period were still in an organised state ; whilst his infantry supports and reserves, to the number of more than 9000, were altogether untouched. And another whole corps, he well knew, was awaiting the preordained signal. If only he could force his way on over the opposite hillock, and show the head of a column on ground as far south as the Windmill, he would instantly un- leash Prince Gortschakoff, and soon find himself joined on the toplands by more than 20,000 fresh troops But above all. General Dannenberg could draw comfort from the weak state to which our people had been reduced at the close of this Second Period. Though not gaining ground, and con- stantly worsted in combat, he had nevertheless provoked fights which not only wrought bloody havoc in the too scanty force of the English, but disorganised — at least for the moment — a large proportion of their troops still remaining alive and unwounded. The decomposition resulting from victory and unbridled pursuit may of course be more easily remediable than that brought about by defeat ;