Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/393

THE MAIN FIGHT. 349 wounded, some slain, and some — one or two — chap. taken prisoners ; but the rest of them still held '__ their course, still went on forcing their way be- ^f^^^""^^- twixt the howling ranks of the enemy ; and this singular charge did not end until Daubeney with the remains of his ' tliirty ' had cleft a path through the battalion from flank to flank, and come out at last into open air on the east of the great trunk column. Besides Colonel Daubeney himself (who was not even wounded in the course of this exploit), there came out alive a number of men who had charged with him through the battalion, and amongst them the strong and resolute Colour- sergeant Charles Walker, Thomas Layland, Donald M'lntosh, William Smith, Jeremiah Ready, John Stokes, James Ryan, John Prindiville, William Casterton, Thomas Gale, Edward Mallard, Michael Kilbride, Thomas Sanders, and William King. Sergeant Ashe became separated in the throng, and did not emerge with the rest on the further or eastern flank of the column, but he too was one of the thirty who took part in Daubeney's charge. If I knew the names of the rest, I would place them on the same honoured roll. Although suffering perhaps but small loss in its effect killed and wounded from the steel of its thirty issue of assailants, a body some 600 strong could hardly Ije thus torn and riven from flank to flank without falling into confusion ; and confusion in this second battalion at such a moment, imported a yet wider mischief. Its effect upon the Russian battalion engaged all this while in the front may the combat