defeat, however, the English commander did not think it prudent to risk an engagement with so small a force, and applied for reinforcements to the home Government. The country now awoke to the fact that a struggle as big as the Crimean War had begun, and the Opposition made the most of the discontent this discovery was likely to evoke. But this time the weight of public opinion leant to the side of the Bungling Coalition, and not only did the Ministry remain in power, but the supplies for a great war were voted, and an additional force of thirty thousand men, raising the force in Asia Minor to a total of forty-five thousand, was sent out, under the distinguished and popular commander General Lord Gurth Redhill, to supersede Burnfingal. Meanwhile, however, the latter had been venturing on a little glory on his own account. He pushed forward on the line of the beaten Turk’s retreat, met the enemy, nearly three times his own strength, in a mountainous and unexplored district, and after a smart engagement of about two hours, was repulsed with a loss of four hundred and eleven men, three field pieces, and an ammunition waggon. This little reverse caused much irritation at home, and the general public looked with impatience for Lord Redhill to avenge it. But the Russians knew their advantages, and were not to be tempted into a pitched battle. By feints and stratagems of various kinds they gradually drew the British army on from point to point, until it was close to the great fortified position at Erzeroum, to which large Russian reinforcements were already on their way. To advance against such a force and such a fortress as the place had now been made, was out of the question; and had it not been for the rallying of Rhumbegar’s demoralised troops, and their advance to the support of their English allies, the situation would have been very critical. As it was, all that Lord Gurth Redhill could hope to do at present was to hold his own; and even this he
