160 GENERAL BRUNET'S ATTACK.
C H A P.
VII.
the torment of finding that his own genuine
signal produced no result. For the reason
already assigned, it was only after some lapse
of time that General Brunet could stir ; and
the original cause of the obstruction was one
that also affected the movements of General
d'Autemarre.
General
Brunet'a
attack ;
Iiih death.
General Brunet was to attack and break in
through the courtine extending from the west
flank of the Little Eedan, and from the interior
position so won force his way into the heart of
the Malakoff Work.
When the troops of General Brunet's Division
at length moved out of their trenches, they were
met by so mighty a fire of grape and musketry
that they disappeared from the eyes of observers
under the clouds of dust raised by the missiles
directed against them. The heads of the columns
were shattered by the falling of men. General
Brunet received his death-blow. The foremost
part of one column inclined too much to its right,
and advanced towards the Little Redan, but the
men, it seems, came to a halt when within some
110 yards of the work, and ensconced themselves
in a fold of the ground, there awaiting support.
The officers did not brook this desistance, and
several of them met their deaths in the efforts
they made to draw the troops forward.
Another column of the same Division moved
straight towards the courtine along a distance
