170 GENERAL CAMPBELL'S ATTACK.
chap, by escalade and assault ; but under existing con-
VII
' ditions, the climbing, the fighting, the conquering
efforts required formed, after all, only a sequel to
the heaviest part of the ordeal; for not even the
straitening shortness of a midsummer night had
shorn the besieged of their power to retrieve,
under cover of darkness, the havoc on havoc
inflicted by a great cannonade. When the
enemy had made good his repairs, the plan
of attack as transformed by Pelissier's abrupt
change of counsel could afford no solution at
all of the now foremost problem which asked
how a body of troops in full daylight, and mov-
ing besides very slowly — because encumbered
with ladders — could traverse without being shat-
tered 470 yards of open ground beneath the un-
assuaged fire of not only the Great Redan, but
also all the other strong batteries that guarded
this approach to the Faubourg.
Advance of However, before break of day, the compon-
party?the cuts of Sir John Campbell's force had assembled
under the parapet on the western side of the
' Quarries ' ; and, when afterwards the concerted
signal was given by a flag three times waved
towards their right, the hundred Riflemen fol-
lowed by the Engineers, and the sack and ladder
parties, but not, as had been planned, by the
but not of 'main column,' began to move forward under
•column.' the storm of grape-shot and musketry-fire that
rheflreen. presently opened upon them from the western
lountorcd.
face of the liedan, as well as from the Barrack
