Canrobert's Hill to our left. These i*edoubts formed a species of advanced screen to the main position, with which they were connected towards the north-west by a chain of Turkish earthworks. They were, however, a source of weakness rather than strength, as the events of this day fully demonstrated, and, though three of them were retaken after the close of the action, Lord Raglan wisely determined to abandon this extended line, and thenceforth confined the position within its more natural and manageable limits.
The defences of Balaklava were completed by some strong batteries erected on the steep height which forms the eastern shoulder of the port, and the care of which was entrusted to the Marines. It was clearly of the deepest importance to the Russians to force a position, the possession of which would have cut off the English from their base of operations, compromised the crowded shipping in the port, and in all human probability have enabled them to compel the Allies to raise the siege; and they consequently determined to attack it with all the force at their disposal. Early in the morning, therefore, they debouched into the open ground in front of the redoubts, with eighteen or nineteen battalions of infantry, thirty to forty guns, and a large body of cavalry. Eight battalions, covered by a cloud of skirmishers, and supported by sixteen guns, at once attacked No. 1 redoubt, which Sir Colin Campbell states to have been defended by the Turks as long as defence was possible, when, overpowered by numbers, they retreated on the other redoubts, suffering severely as they did so from the cavalry of the enemy.
Other accounts do not give our Ottoman Allies the same credit for this obstinate resistance; but, whatever their conduct in the first instance, there can be no doubt that small delay occurred in their evacuation of the other batteries, from which they were rapidly driven in succession, only to fall, in most cases, beneath the lances and sabres of their ruthless Cossack pursuers, who cut them to pieces in their precipitate flight. Some of those who escaped formed again on the right and left flanks of the 93d Highlanders, who were posted on a slightly rising ground in front of Kadikoi; but by far the majority pursued their headlong career in the direction of Balaklava, indicating their idea of the last resource, of what they considered as the already defeated English, by shouting to all whom they met, in the frantic accents of fear, the cabalistic phrase, " Ship, Johnny." The enemy, having gained possession of the redoubts, now advanced their artillery and a large mass of cavalry; and Sir Colin Campbell, finding that his Highlanders were beginning to suffer from the well-directed fire 6f the former, most judiciously retired the 93d a few paces behind the crest of the hill. The Russian cavalry now broke into two bodies, the larger of which was destined to engage Lord Lucan's cavalry, while the smaller, but by no means despicable portion, charged the 93d. So great was Sir Colin Campbell's confidence in this fine regiment, that, after advancing them to the crest of the hill, he permitted them to receive the cavalry in line; and so imposing was the front they thus presented, that, in spite of the flight of the Turks from their right flank, the Russian squadrons never dared to come within 500 yards of them, but, after receiving their fire at this distance, retired completely discomfited, and did not attempt to renew the attack.
Let us now turn to the more imposing body of Russian horsemen, who, confident in their overwhelming superiority of numbers, are descending the hill-ground in our front in spite of a well-directed fire from the Marine batteries on the hills, evidently bent on the utter annihilation of the handful of British squadrons opposed to them. On they come, steadily, but slackening their pace as they approach, in two lines, each nearly double as long as ours, and thrice as deep; but, scarcely have they reached the plain, when the English trumpets ring out the charge, and the Heavy Cavalry Brigade, under BrigadierGeneral Scarlett, advances to meet them. In front are the Scots Greys and the Enniskillen Dragoons, with the 5tli Dragoon Guards supporting them in second line, aided by a flank attack of the 4th Dragoon Guards.
On dash the Greys and Enniskilleners, burning with ardour, and urged by a spirit of noble and fraternal emulation; and as they near the hostile squadrons a clear ringing cheer, whose thrilling tones waken simultaneous yet contrasting echoes in the hearts of friend and foe, rises to the welkin, and dominates for a moment over the deep thunder of the artillery; and now —
" the storm
Of galloping hoofs bare on the ridge of spears
And riders front to front, until they closed
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
And thunder. On his haunches rose the steed,
And into fiery splinters leaped the lance,