BATTLE OF THE AI.MA. 119 stiuctively proposed to liiniself the same goal; chap. and this goal was the Great Eedoubt. Upon the ^' Great Eedoubt, therefore, the regiments kept always converging ; and in less time than it took the Paissian artillerymen to sponge and load their guns, our people, inclining away from the flanks, and pressing in towards the centre, fdled up every space cut clear by the shot ; and this so constantly that, again, after a fall of many men, and again, and still again, there was always a crowd meet for slaughter. Amongst the troops thus converging upon the centre there was the right wing of the Derbyshire, the 95th Ilegiment, its foremost company led with unflinching boldness and zeal by Captain Sargent.*
- Before the crossing of the river, this wing of the 95th had
become separated from the other one, and stood halted by a vineyard under a pelting storm of mitrail. For some time. General Pennefather was with this right wing, and by the side of Captain Sargent's company, whieli was not then aligning with the other three, but drawn up in front of them. Penne- father was so close to Captain Sargent that he could not have given any order without Sargent's knowing it ; and, when the General rode off (as he presently did towards his right), Sargent was able to inform his commanding ofTicei-, Major Champion, that no recent order for the guidance of the wing had been given by the Brigadier. Although of a negative kind, tliis in- formation was at the moment of great importance to Champion ; and, the troops being all this while under a severe fire, he quickly came to his resolve. In answer to a remark from Sar- gent, he said to him at once : ' Then lead on with your com- • pany ! ' Thereupon Sargent led forward his company, which was followed by the other ihree, all four of course under the orders of Champion ; and the way in which the onset was con- ducted is suflicientl}' shown in the text. These were the cir- cumstances under which Champion .stated in his official report that the riglit wing was led with ' determined bravery ' by Cap-
