Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/86

42 THE BATTLii OF INJCEiiALA-N CHAPTER IV. OPERATIONS ON GOUTSCHAKOFF'S FKONT. CHAP. IV. The part allotted to Prince Gortscha- kofiTs corps. In preparing to operate from that part of the front of battle already indicated which lay across the plain of P>alaclava, Prince Gortscha- koff at first had for guidance the paper of instruc- tions which was issued to the Generals at about 5 o'clock in the evening of the 4th of November. It directed him 'to support the general attack, to ' distract the enemy's forces by drawing them ' upon himself, and to endeavour to seize one of ' the routes leading up the Sapoun^ Heights. ' His cavalry was to be held in readiness to effect ' the ascent the moment it should be jtossible.' These written instructions, however, were ex- plained down by oral communications ; and, as Prince Gortschakoff understood, it was his duty, not necessarily to execute any actual and deter- mined attack, but to amuse and detain the Allies by threatening them from the east. Yet the steeps he confronted were lofty as well as abrupt