THE MAIN FIGHT. 129 one intent keenly forcing their way through the c ii a p. brushwood ; and in close support to these there ' marched a dense column so formed that, whilst i«'^«*«' plainly ample in depth, it still showed as broad a front as Egerton's slender line. The Russian troops thus advancing were two battalions of the Tomsk regiment, with a strength of about 1500,* and this force, as we know, Col- onel Egertou was undertaking to meet with his 259 men ; but the troops he commanded, if small in numbers, were of a splendid quality, well offi- The quality cered, highly disciplined, and full of trust in their forca ^""' leaders, in themselves, in their regiment. And, along with the small English force, there was one very simple, nay primitive spring of action which the enemy for some reason had thought fit to discard. Amongst the whole fifteen hundred Russians confronted by Egerton. our people from first to last could see but one horseman, whilst itsadvan. the English with their modest strength, scarce respect of reaching 260, had with them a number of officers, officers. who remaining throughout on their chargers, could see and be seen by the men. Besides General Buller himself, and his brigade - major Glyn, and his aide-de-camp Lieutenant Hugh Clifford, Colonel Egerton, commanding the regi- ment, and Straton and Dixon, field-officers, and Morgan the adjutant, were all in their saddles;
- More accurately 1562. From preceding explanations it
will be gathered that the foremost of the two battalions aimed at being in 'company columns,' and the suj^porting battalioc in close column. VOL. VI. I
