" In spite of the most vigorous resistance on the part of the enemy, whose reserves two or three times rushed forward to repel the assailants, both the objects of this combined movement were effected with the most complete success. The French, with more than their usual impetuosity, canned all before them; and no sooner were the Russians driven out, than the ambuscades, notwithstanding the solidity of their construction, were rased to the ground by the engineers, protected in their work by a few companies of the line, and a new parallel was formed even while the struggle was actually taking place. This important operation, so happily terminated, cost our Allies 40 killed and 117 wounded. The terrible fire maintained from the Bastion du Mat rendered it impossible for the French to construct a new parallel in this direction in a similar manner, without sustaining a loss disproportionate to the object to be gained. They had recourse in consequence to an engineering expedient, which was attended with the wished-for result. Several small mines had been formed in front of the bastion, and on the evening of the 15th the train was fired, and, aided by the destructive effects of the explosion, the engineers were enabled to lodge themselves in an immense fosse in front of the work, the possession of which was not contested by the enemy, and to form a trench half way between the third parallel and the salient of the bastion. No sooner did the lurid pillars of flame announcing the explosion of the mines shoot up into the dusky night, than the Russians, alarmed beyond measure, opened a heavy fire of cannon and musketry in every direction from that part of the town, which they kept up for a considerable time on the whole left attack, fortunately without any serious injury to the Allies. The French replied with a shower of bombs, which inflicted severe loss on the thickly-massed troops by whom the fortifications were lined, and for more than an hour the firing on both sides was terrific. General Bigot, who had been wounded in the face by a rifle-ball, died in the course of the night; and his loss was deeply lamented by the Commander-in-Chief of the French army, as well as by all who were acquainted with the high qualities for which he
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was SO eminently distinguished. His body was interred the next day, and Lord Raglan'and the principal officers of his staff attended the funeral.
"It is difficult to overrate the importance of the achievement just commemorated, as every inch of ground gained in the direction of the bastions was a step towards their destruction — a fate postponed, notwithstanding the serious damage they underwent in this bombardment, by the inexhaustible resources, both in artillery and labourers, which the Russians could still bring to bear for the renewal of the armament of their works."*
These events on the left of the Allied position were followed at a short interval by others on the right of the English attack, with a similar design, of equal moment, and no less gloriously accomplished, which are thus described in Lord Raglan's despatch of the 21st April: —
" The rifle-pits in front of the approach from the advance of our trenches on the extreme right were attacked and carried by assault the night before last in the most gallant manner by a detachment of the 77th regiment under Colonel Egerton, forming part of the additional force sent to reinforce the guard of the trenches in the evening. The resistance of the enemy, although obstinate, was speedily overcome by the impetuosity of our troops, and the pit, which it was desirable to retain, was, without the loss of a moment, connected with our approach, and thereby furnished protection to the working party to continue its labours without interruption for a considerable time. At the interval, however, of about three hours, the enemy brought a heavy fire of artillery and musketry upon the party in advance of the pit, into which they retired, and which they effi?ctually defended and maintained. But this brilliant achievement was not accomplished without considerable sacrifice of life; and it is most painful to me to have to announce to your Lordship the death of Colonel Egerton of the 77th, who was unfortunately killed when forming troops for the support of those on the extreme advance, and that of Captain Lempriere, of the same regiment, who fell in the first affair, in which also Colonel Egerton received a contusion that only incapacitated him for duty a few minutes; and five officers were wounded, three of them dangerously.