Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/189

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GENERAL MAYRAN'S PREMATURE ATTACK. 159


advance at the cost of effecting it under a destruc- chap. VII tive /ire. General Mayran was wounded, then . presently wounded again, and the second blow brought him his death. By storms of mitrail and his death. of musketry the columns were again driven back, Repulse of i vi » . -i ,. ii .i /> i p , the column and a like late beiell the Iresh troops of not only Saurin's brigade, but also one of the two Voltigeur battalions brought up to renew the attack. Soon, however, under Failly (who had succeeded to Mayran's command) the remains of the Division were rallied on sheltered ground whence they plied the embrasures, and the men on the ram- parts with fire. All this while, the Division engaged looked in vain towards its left for the expected co-operation of Brunet. The premature onset of Mayran had dislocated all the arrangements for securing sim- ultaneous action. The Commander-in-Chief directed General St Jean d'Angely to support the repulsed troops of Mayran's Division with four battalions of the Guard ; but it was not found possible to renew the attack.* When Pelissier at length reached the post he peussier had chosen, that is, the Right Lancaster Battery, launching i i i ■ • i , i • i liis signal. he soon caused his signal to dart up into the air from the lofty Victoria Ridge; and the whirlwind of rage that soon burst on this choleric man may well be imagined; for, whilst still writhing with anger because General Mayran's Division had sprung into premature action, he now suffered

  • Niel, p. 317.