316 THE BATTLE OF INKEKMAN. CHAP. VI. Sd Pei'iod. more especially in charge of the battle — was at the centre of the I'idge, and near its crest ; but lower down on the reverse slope of the Ridge, Lord Raglan sat in his saddle. General Can- robert during the battle was often at the side of Lord Raglan, but not at this exact time. Russian artillerj'- lire. Circum- stances III. The enemy did not neglect to smooth the path for his colunms by a raging fire of artillery ; and indeed we shall find him persisting in the use of this arm with an indiscriminate zeal, at the risk of mowing down his own soldiery. The clearer state of the atmosphere, the unity, ditSish- simplicity, and wisdom of the enemy's now set- luack* tied design, and the skill with which he was covering the trunk of liis assailant force under a thick outer sheath of close-gathered soldiery — all these new conditions distinguished his present attack from every former enterprise. We shall not see him baffled, this time, by any small obstinate bodies of men resisting his advance from the first and disputing the ground step by step. Owing rather to chance, or the ideas of the moment, than to any general or foregone design, the small slender threads of English soldiery thrown out in advance of Home Ridge were in such positions at the outset of this attack that the enemy in great strength could move steadily forward between the bramble of combatants which
