GENERAL CAMPBELL'S ATTACK. 183
proved to be a bold 'rush' on the flank of the chap.
1 . VII
Great Eedan ; but, as it was, though engaging his L_
people by fractions in forward movements, he
could not make their spring simultaneous — could
not bring them to be climbing the parapet —
climbing over from Life to Death — at one and
the same time.*
After consulting with Colonel Cole of the 17th Orders
w r • n sought arid
Regiment, Lord "West sent an officer to Sir George obtained;
Brown with directions to ask for orders, and for
fresh troops.
Brown's answer directed Lord West to re-form
the attacking column, and not without further
instructions to make any fresh advance.
In a pencil-written note, Lord West replied to from
y Sir George
Sir George, informing him that any attempt to Brown,
re-form the column would be hopeless, and earn-
estly begging for fresh troops in order to renew
the attack.
Sir George Brown told the messenger that to
this last note from Lord West there was no
answer.
Thus ended the abortive endeavour to push an
attack against the west flank of the Eedan.
From the moment when it appeared that — in Theacci-
. . , , dents which
even one brief summer nmht — the enemy s bat- marred the
advance of
teries had recovered their broken strength, there the column
- Science recognises the difficulty of executing a simul-
taneous advance of troops under such conditions, and i-ecom- mends the ' Coupure blindce,' the expedient adverted to by Lord West.
