CHAP. VI.
a resolve which, so long as it should last, would establish a state of mere peace between the Russian field army and the invaders of the Crimea; for those invaders were now cut off by long, difficult marches from the country of the Belbec; The import of such a resolve. and, consistently with the detention of the Russian held army m so distant a region, it would not be possible for Prince Mentschikoff to take any part in the impending strife at Sebastopol.
All this Korniloff understood but too well; and it seemed to him that, since the Russian army was to establish itself in the now peaceful region of the Belbec, it was fitting for the deserted garrison to turn for succour to Heaven. On the evening of the very day when he had cheered the troops by presenting Stetzenko, and holding out promise of a diversion from Prince Mentscliikoff, he set down in the gloomy account which he kept in secret, that the Prince 'was to lake up his position along the heights of the Belbec between Otarkia and Schooli;' and then, as though writing in mournful irony, he immediately adds: Korniioffs's private reflections. 'Meanwhile, the enemy is advancing on Sebastopol. . . . There are three or four ways by which a passage may be easily effected; for there are but few defenders—10,000 sailors and 5000 reserve soldiers.[1] May the Lord bless and fortify us!'
- ↑ It may be remembered that the troops described by the Russians as 'reserve' soldiers are those which I have called 'militia.'
