THE MAIN FIGHT. 445 advantage of ground, were maintaining an un- CHAP. equal conilict against the two 18-pounders with [ valiant obstinacy. Lord Eaglan, understanding ^^^^^'^^"^ apparently that Canrobert would persist in hang- lans way of ing back until the last gun should disappear from ^^^'^J'*'^'" Shell Hill, became anxious that the enemy's two remaining batteries should no longer delay their retreat ; but his way of accelerating their with- drawal was one that would scarce have occurred to any other than a practised soldier. He sent a message to Dickson, requesting him to cease firing ; for then, he said, he imagined that the two opposing batteries would probably begin their retreat. His augury, or rather his insight, proved Tiieiast <:r,r
- = *" . withdrawn
almost instantly true ; for when Dickson ceased fiomSheii •' ' _ Hill. firing, the two batteries began to limber up ; and before many minutes, the last of the enemy's guns had been withdrawn from Shell Hill* By about three o'clock, + the enemy had with 3 o'clock. drawn all his forces from the topland of Mount i:mds of _ Mount Inkerman, leaving only behind him, amongst the i"i«nnan ' ~ , ""^^ clear 01 lesser wrecks of Ijattle, his ghastly thousands of tiic Russian dead and wounded men. He had still far to go, and had still immense toil to endure before his retreat would be accomplislied ; but it was on the
- When he had beon ordered to cease firing from Hill Bend,
Dickson, at the instance of Lord Eaglan, made strenuous efforts (which were continued even until dark) to hring forward one of his 18-pounders ; but the physical difficulties of the task — fis compared with the means of overcoming them — were loo great to allow of its being brought to the opposite heights in timo for further usefulness. i At half-past two according to the French.
