102 BATTLE OF Tin: Al.MA. CHAP, iuvulving great disasters. In these circumstances ' it was Buller's duty to take up such a position as wouJd.ei'iable 'him 'Uy cover the advance of Cod- rington's brigade,' and lo sustain the shock of a flank 'a'ttdck'. 'It was to that end that he kept in hand the 88th aiid 7Ytli Tteoiments. XX. Thcigtii though forming part of fjuller's brigade, the 19th Regiment was suffered ere long to associate itself with General Codrington's advance ; and thereupon, with Lawrence's wing of the liitles and the wing of the 95th under Hume, the force taking part in tliis movement became swoHen to a body of troops which, without sul)stantial inaccuracy, may be counted as iive battalions.* state (if These live battalions were extended in a broken battalions chain at the foot of the bank on the liussian side erowaed 01 tlic nver, and were lullnig — especially towards irit bank cf the right — under the close lire ot the skirmishers who crowned the top. In this strait some of our officers instinctively tried to clear the front by getting the men to mount part way up the bank, and bring their rifles to a level with the summit. But among the foremost the General commanding Kir George the Dlvisioii had forded the river. Sir George Brown was an officer whose career had begun, and begun with glory, in the great days under Well- Browu.
- Because comi)risiii]^ four battalions and two wings of other
battalions. The force was about to be yet further augmented by the accession of the right wing of the !)5th.
