is having
ascertained that the troops on duty in the Russian trenches were
relieved at that hour, and owing to the works being cramped from the
number of traverses and blindages erected to cover their garrisons from
fire, it had become the habit for the old guard of the works to march
out before the relief marched in, and it was thus anticipated that at
twelve o'clock the works would be nearly empty. This surmise proved to
be accurate.

The French had taken great trouble to screen the concentration of their
troops from the sight of the enemy. Each division had a separate access
to the advanced trenches in which the storming parties were to assemble.
In places where the parapets, having sunk, might have disclosed to the
view of the enemy the troops moving into position, they had been
carefully raised. Cuts had been made through parapets to admit of the
supports moving forward in bodies, and to allow field-artillery
batteries, which were stationed at the Victoria redoubt and the old
Lancaster battery, to pass through to the front. These apertures had
been filled up with gabions, and carefully concealed, so that their
position remained unknown to the enemy.

General Herbillon, still encamped on the Tchernaya, was directed to
cause his force (less Camou's division called up to support La
Motterouge, and Dulac) to stand to arms at twelve o'clock, and his
command was reenforced by a brigade of cuirassiers under General De
Forton. The morning was dull and gloomy, with a cold wind which drove
clouds of dust into the air. A little before twelve o'clock all the
French storming parties were crouching ready for the order.

Bosquet himself was in the sixth parallel; MacMahon, surrounded by his
staff, was standing in the front trench with his watch in his hand. No
one spoke in this group, in which the calm faces showed no sign of the
excitement visible in the zouaves on either side of them, who, though
silent, were trembling with impatience. Close at hand there was a
corporal holding a little tricolor. Two minutes before twelve o'clock
the word was passed in an undertone, "Ready," and as the hands indicated
it was twelve o'clock, on a command from MacMahon a shout arose of
"_Vive l'Empereur_!" bugles and drums sounded the charge, and the
zouaves dashed straight at the Malakoff.

MacMahon allowed two sections to pass him, and then, followed by his
staff, climbed over the parapet, following the advanced guard. It placed
one ladder