The rest of Windham's Brigade, consisting of the 47th and 49th, were in reserve, together with Warren's Brigade of the same division, of which the 30th and 55th were called into action, and suffered severely. Brigadier Shirley was on board ship, but as soon as he heard of the assault he resolved to join his brigade, and accordingly came up to camp that very morning. Colonel Unett, of the 19th Eegiment, was the senior officer in Brigadier Shirley's absence, and on him would have devolved the dutj^ of leading the storming column of the Light Division, had the latter not returned. Colonel Unett, ignorant of the Brigadier's intention to leave shipboard, had to decide with Colonel Windham Avho should take precedence in the attack. They tossed, and Colonel Unett won.
He had it in his power to say whether he would go first or follow Colonel Windham. He looked at the shilling, turned it over, and said, " My choice is made; I'll be the first man into the Redan." But fate willed it otherwise, and he was struck down badly wounded ere he had reached the abattis, although he was not leading the column. Scarcely had the men left the fifth parallel when the guns on the fianks of the Hedan opened upon them as they moved up rapidly to the salient, in which there was of course no cannon, as the nature of such a work does not permit of their being placed in that particular position. In a few seconds Brigadier Shirley was temporarily blinded by the dust and by earth knock(>d into his eyes by a shot.
He was obliged to retire, and his place was taken by Lieutenant-Colonel l]unbnr_y, of the 23r(l lA('ji;iment, who was next in rank to Colonel Unett, already struelc down and carried to the rear. Brigadier Van IStraubenzee received a contusion on the face, and was also forced to leave the field. Colonel Handcock fell mortally wounded in the head by a bullet, and never spoke again. Captain Hammond fell dead. Major AVelsford was killed on the spot, as he entered the work through an embrasure. Captain Grove was severely wounded. IVIany officers and men were hit and fell; and of the commanders of parties only acting Brigadier-General Windham, Captain Fj'ers, Captain Lewes, and Captain Maude got untouched into the Redan, and escaped scatheless from the volleys of grape and ritle balls which swept the flanks of the work towards the salient.
It was a few minutes after twelve when our men left the fifth parallel. The musketry commenced at once, and in less than five minutes, during which the troops had to pass over abovit two hundred and thii-ty yards from the nearest approach to the parapet of the Redan, they had lost a large proportion of their officers, and were deprived of the aid of their leaders, with such exceptions as 1 have stated. The Riflemen behaved, as usual, admirably; but from their position they could not do much to reduce the fire of the guns on the flanks and below the re-entering angles. The bravery and coolness of that deserving, and much neglected officer, Captain Fj'ers, were never more brilliantly displayed, or urgently called for.
And even here let me ask how it is that an officer like Captain Fyers, with twentj^-one years' full service, who has gone through the campaigns of Candahar and Aff"ghanistan in 1841 and 1842, and was present in five actions — who was at Khelat, and served with his regiment throughout Nott's campaign — who was conspicuous for his gallantry at the Alma, and whose conduct in the trenches has been beyond all praise, is exposed to the pain and mortification of seeing young men, who were scarcely born when he was a soldier, raised above his head because they have had the good fortune to look at a battle from a distance, or to ride in the reaiof some cautious genei'al? I know nothing of Captain Fyers's past services except by Hart's Army List, by which I learn, also, that be has purchased all his steps.
Of his conduct at the Alma!uid of his present services I hear the praise from everj'' lip. It is to be hoped, at all events, that the question will not do him any harm, and if it does not, it is as well that the country should know how faithfully he has served her. However, AOL. II. L i4§ ATTACK ON THE REDAN. it is time to retmni to our storming party. As they came nearer the salient, the enemy's fire became less i'atal. They crossed the ahattis without difficulty; it was torn to pieces and destroyed by our shot, and the men stepped over and through it with ease. The Light Division made straight for the salient and projecting angle ol" the Kedan, and came to the ditch, which is here about fifteen feet deep.