ost reached the Sandbag battery, the contest for which had been
so often renewed. But even these fresh troops found difficulty in
maintaining themselves, and were almost surrounded. A second brigade,
however, quickly reinforced them, and several French batteries coming up
on the right of the English ones, the enemy were at length completely
driven from the ground, and had now no alternative but a difficult
retreat down precipitous slopes. Heavy masses were observed retiring
over the bridge of the Chernaya, and ascending the opposite heights,
abandoning on the field of battle 5000 or 6000 dead and wounded.

"There is probably," says Colonel Adye, "no record of any battle in
which such great numbers fought on so small a space. There are few
which have been so stoutly contested, or in which the valour and
perseverance of all the troops engaged have been throughout so
conspicuous."

The conduct of the English infantry is immortal. Although enfeebled by
previous fatigue and constant night watches, still, on the day of trial,
for hours did 8000 men resolutely maintain themselves against successive
columns of attack of vastly superior numbers; and at last, when almost
overpowered, they found an ever ready and gallant ally at hand to save
them in their hour of need.

This battle, too, brought out conspicuously the sterling courage and
unmatched steadiness of the English artillery. Repeatedly were the
Russian columns close to the muzzles of the guns, and were driven back
by volleys of case. In some instances the batteries were actually run
into, and the gunners bayoneted at their posts. Their carriages were
repeatedly struck, and their loss was 96 men and 80 horses killed.

The casualties of the British army amounted to 2590. Of these, 43
officers and 416 men were killed, and 101 officers and 1332 men were
wounded, while nearly 200 were missing. The Russians lost fully 15,000
men.

That of the 25,000 British infantry landed in the Crimea, only 8000
should have been forthcoming to take part in the battle, may seem
surprising; but so it was. Three thousand had been killed, 5000 were
sick, 3000 were in the trenches, and 6000 of the 3rd division were at
Balaclava. Of those present, the Guards had 1300; 2nd division, 2500;
light division, 2000; and 4th division, 2200.

And now let us do justice to the memory of as gallant a soldier as ever
led the armies of Old England to victory, by looking at the difficulties
by