CHAP. XXVII.] 



THE CRIMEAN WAR. 



429 



capturing or killing the Turkish garrisons whi(;h hold 

 them, and then pressed on towards Balaklava. A large 

 foree of cavalry, consisting of some thousands in 

 number, covered the advance, and four squadrons moving 

 towards Kadikoi, were met by Sir Colin Campbell, 

 with the 93rd Highlanders, who fired upon them while 

 deployed in line only two deep. This caused the Russian 

 horse to swerve to their left, and fall back to their lines. 



This action has been much talked of, particularly by 

 English writers, as a great triumph of infantry over 

 cavalry, but it really teaches nothing. An English 

 officer of cavalry of great reputation, who was present 

 on the occasion, expressed his opinion positively to the 

 writer, that the Russian squadrons had no intention 

 whatever of charging, but were simply at the time 

 making demonstrations to oblige the allied troops to 

 display their arrangements, and that when the 93rd 

 showed their line upon the hill, the object was gained, 

 and the cavaby withdrew. Sir Colin Campbell, who 

 was an experienced soldier, knew exactly what the 

 horsemen were doing, and made his arrangements ac- 

 cordingly. He approved of the skill displayed by the 

 Russian commander, for, turning to his aide-de-camp, he 

 said, " Shadwell, that man understands his business." ^ 



Shortly after this affair. General Scarlett, with a 

 portion of the English heavy cavalry brigade, in moving 

 across into the South Valley, suddenly discovered a 

 great mass of the Russian cavalry, on a rising ground 

 on his Hank, apparently moving straight down upon him. 

 The Russian column halted for a moment on seeing the 

 troops in front of them. Scarlett did not hesitate an 

 instant, but wheeling into line to the left led an impe- 

 tuous charge straight at the centre of the opposing 

 column. This charge, delivered at full speed upon a 

 force at the halt, was necessarily successful, especially 

 as the Russian supports had moved on so far as to be 

 virtually closed upon the front line, and so to have lost 

 their value as supports. Scarlett was promptly and 

 vigorously aided by charges that were made by the other 



' Kinglake, ii. 425. 



