THE MAIN FJGHT. 459 then seemed to be entirely cut off, yet proved able c n a p. to fight their way home. ^^- For some time, the two French battalions which had come up would take no part in the fight ; but one of them — the 6th of the Line— moved for- ward at length with good will against the flank of a Russian force then advancing along the Fore Ridge. The enemy thus threatened fell back, and the French battalion victoriously made good its advance to ground on the west of the Kitspur. Thus the efforts the enemy made in the course of this Second Period resulted after all in discom- fiture ; but by the continued necessity for guard- ing our left, by Pennefather's still ardent pro- pensity to fight out in front of his heights, and now finally by the losses and the dispersions sustained on the Kitspur, the number of English foot-soldiers that could be mustered for the imme- diate defence of Houje Ridge was brought down to diminutive proportions. Third Period.^That immediate defence of their position for which our people were thus ill pro- vided became the very problem in hand. The enemy concentrating his efforts upon one settled purpose, delivered a weighty attack upon the Home Ridge, now almost denuded of English in- fantry, but guarded by the 7th L^ger — a battalion 900 strong. His advanced troops broke over the crest, obtained some signal advantages over both the English and French, and then, upon being better confronted, began to fall back ; but the 8.30 A.M. to 9.15 A.M
