Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/74

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52 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. CHAP. I. Lord Lucan and -jir Colin Camp- bell. Intelligence sent off to Lord Rag- lan. Lord Lucan's disposition of the cav- alry and horse- artillery. outlying picket enjoyed its tranquillity to the last, and was only, indeed, saved from capture, by the ' field officer of the day,' who learnt, as he rode, what was passing, and conveyed to the men of the watch — just in time to secure their escape — that warning of the enemy's approach which they themselves should have given. Lord Lucan and Sir Colin Campbell were to- gether a good way in advance ; and, as day broke, they saw the enemy's columns of infantry in march — saw them converging upon the easterly approaches of the Causeway Heights from the directions of Tchorgoun and Baidar. It soon became apparent that, whatever might be his ulterior design, Liprandi's first object was the seizure of the Turkish defences, beginning with Canrobert's Hill ; and Lord Lucan did not fail to despatch an aide-de-camp to Headquarters with intelligence of the impending attack.* Our cavalry was brought forward ; and the guns of Maude's troop of horse-artillery were got into battery on the right of the Arabtabia or Number Three Eedoubt. The Light Cavalry regiments were placed in reserve under the southern slopes of the Causeway Heights ; and Lord Lucan, then acting in person with his Heavy Brigade, sought to check the advance of the enemy by ' demonstrations ; ' f but — with the full approval of Sir Colin Campbell, who indeed

  • Captain Charteria was the officer Bent.

■ 'Lord Lucan with the Heavy Cavalry moved about, waking demonstrations and threatening the enemy.'