PETTY SORTIES. 19 enemy, General Osten-Sacken (then command- chap. ing the garrison) at once put an end to the practice.* There was one sortie pushed to the length The sorties always of enabling those who took part in it to wrest sooner or ° . . later rc- from Canrobert's trenches some minor pieces pressed with due of ordnance ;( 5 ) but I believe it may be said vigour. — speaking generally — that, whether made against the French or the English, these on- sets — sooner or later — were always repressed with due vigour. When making their sorties, the Eussians com- monly found that, to receive their sudden attacks, the French guards of the trenches were not only The French ° guards of the in far greater strength than the English engaged trench j s in like duties, but also much better prepared, ™£^ much more on the alert ; and the difference they observed will not surprise those who, whilst knowing the characteristics of English troops generally, have also learnt the conditions under which at this period our men in the trenches were acting. Even when enjoying full health, English soldiery are more apt to be wanting in vigilance than those of most other nations; and at this cruel time, the bodily state of our men was scarce such as would make it possible for them to go through their long hours of duty in the trenches with the watchfulness, the vig- our, the care which from men in full health the plain rules of siege-business exact. The excuses for default of vigilance were therefore only too
- Niel, pp. 128, 129.
