BATTLE OV TUK ALMA. 09 upon the narrow strip of dry gruinui at tlic water's cil AT. edge, and such of them as were in the centre, or . . towards the right, were penned back by the rocky bank which rose steep and liigh over their heads. The soldiery were a crowd — a crowd shaped and twisted by the winding of the river's bank, yet with some remains of military coherence ; for although the enclosures and the fording of the liver could not but destroy all formation, the men of every company had kept together as well as they were able. But a general who had omitted to line the bank coiirinKtmrs , . . ■, . 1 Ti , , brigade finds with his own skirmishers might well expect to see the top ..i ° , , . the left it fringed with the enemy s rifles ; and the strong r.ank wwa ° "^ , ^ T 1 Willi Russian wall which nature had offered to the English as a skirmishuis. cover for the formation of their battalions was now, of course, held by the enemy's skirmishers. These light troops were in greatest force along the bank which faced the centre and the right of the Light Division. They came to the edge of the bank, tired down into the crowd of the red-coats, and then drew back for a pace or two that they might load in peace and be ready to fire again. They could kill and wound men in the crowd below without laying themselves open to fire. Towards the left of the Light Division the bank course was less abrupt, and also more free from the Gen.T.ii enemy's skirmishers.* There, after passing the river, General Buller, who commanded the 2d brigade, was able to form it at his leisure. He
- Becatisc our rifles, as we saw, had inclined to their left, and
were operating in this part of the field.
