some day's march, made under a burning sun, and an absence of water. On the morning of the 20th. of September both armies moved towards the Alma. It was arranged that Marshal St. Arnaud should attack the enemy's left, by crossing this river at its junction with the sea, and immediately above it; the rest of the French divisions were to move up the heights in their front, whilst the right and centre of the Russian position were to be attacked by the British.

By nature the position taken up by the Russians, which crossed the great road about two miles and a half from the sea, was very strong. The bold and almost precipitous range of heights, varying from three hundred and fifty to four hundred feet, that from the sea closely bordered the left bank of the river, here terminated and formed their left; and turning thence round a spacious amphitheatre, or wide valley, ended at a salient pinnacle, where their right rested, and whence the descent to the plain was more gradual. The front was about two miles in extent. Across the mouth of this great opening occurred a low ridge of different heights, from sixty to one hundred feet, distant about six hundred to eight hundred yards from the river, to which it was parallel. The river, although generally fordable, had extremely rugged banks, which were in most parts steep; the willows along it had been felled, to prevent them from affording cover to the assailants, with the exception of those below the bridge, which were full of Russian riflemen.

On the right bank of the Alma, in front of the position, at a distance of about two hundred yards from the river, is situated the village of Bourliouk;-the wooden bridge of which had been partly destroyed by the Russians.

The key of the position was the lofty pinnacle and ridge before described, and there consequently the preparations for defence were the most considerable. Half-way down the height, and across its front, was a trench extending some hundred yards, to afford cover against an advance up the even steep slope of the hill. Somewhat retired on the right was a powerful covered battery, armed with heavy guns, which flanked the entire right of the position. Artillery was also posted at the several points which best commanded the passage of the river

and its approaches. On the slopes of these hills, which formed a kind of table-land, were placed dense masses of the enemy's infantry, and the heights above were occupied by his great reserve, the whole variously estimated from thirty to upwards of forty thousand men.

Such was the Russian position; but its extraordinary strength only stimulated the Allies to deeds of more than ordinary daring, on this, for the first time during many centuries, that British and French soldiers were to fight side by side.

Half an hour before the battle is thus vividly described by Mr. N. A. Woods, in his work entitled "The Past Campaign: a Sketch of the War in the East, from the Departure of Lord Raglan to the Capture of Sebastopol:"-"The day was clear and hot: not a cloud in the sky-not a breath in the air. Except the clank of artillery chains, and the occasional neigh of a horse, there was a dead silence, which, as your eye glanced over the glittering masses of soldiers, was solemn and impressive. The close dark lines of our adversaries at the other side of the Alma were equally steady. So still, so silent, lay both posts, that had I shut my eyes, I could have imagined myself in a perfect solitude."

A change was soon to come over the scene, and the stillness was about to be broken by the stern alarums of battle. Both armies advanced on the same alignment, the British in contiguous double columns, with the front of two divisions covered by light infantry and a troop of horse artillery; the second division, under Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans, forming the right, and touching the left of the third French Division, under His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon, and the light division, under Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown, the left; the first being supported by the third division under Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England, and the last by the first division, commanded by LieutenantGeneral His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The fourth division under Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir George Cathcart, and the cavalry, under Major-General the Earl of Lucan, were held in reserve, to protect the left flank and rear against large bodies of the Russian cavalry, which had shewn themselves in those directions.

Upon approaching within range of the guns, whose fire soon became extremely formidable, the two leading divisions deployed into line, and advanced to attack the front, the supporting divisions following the movement. Scarcely had this taken place, when the village of Bourliouk, immediately opposite the centre, was fired by the Russians at all points, creating a continuous blaze for three hundred yards, obscuring their position, and rendering a passage through it impracticable. consequence of this, two regiments of Brigadier-General Adams's brigade, part of Sir De Lacy Evans's division, had to pass, under a sharp fire, the river at a deep and difficult ford to the right; whilst his first brigade, under Major-General Pennefather, with the remaining regiment of Brigadier-General Adams, crossed to the left of the conflagration, opposed by the artillery from the heights above, and pressed on towards the left of the position with the utmost gallantry and steadiness. Meanwhile, Sir George Brown, with the light division, effected the passage of the Alma in his immediate front. The advance was made under great disadvantages, the rugged and broken banks of the river offering most serious obstacles, whilst the vineyards through which the troops had to pass, (the men suffering from thirst eagerly seizing bunches of grapes,*) and the felled trees rendered every species of formation under a galling fire almost an impossibility. Sir George, nevertheless, persevered in this difficult operation, and the first brigade, under Major-General Codrington, succeeded in carrying the great redoubt, aided materially by the judicious and steady manner in which Brigadier-General Buller moved on the left flank, and by the advance of four companies of the Rifle Brigade, under Major Norcott. The heavy fire of grape and musketry to which the troops were opposed, and the casualties sustained in consequence by the 7th., 23rd., and 33rd. regiments, compelled this brigade partially to relinquish its hold. The Duke of Cambridge had succeeded. in crossing the river, and had moved up in support; when a

A parallel circumstance is found in the campaigns in Spain, during the reign of Queen Anne. The day before the battle of Saragossa, which was fought on the 20th. August, 1710, several men who were so pressed with hunger and thirst as to venture to gather grapes in a vineyard situated between the two armies, were shot by the enemy's out-posts.

brilliant advance of the brigade of Foot Guards, under MajorGeneral Bentinck, drove the enemy back, and secured the final possession of the work.*

Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, with the Highland Brigade, advanced in admirable order and steadiness up the high ground to the left, co-operating with the Guards. Major-General Pennefather's brigade, which had been connected with the right of the light division, forced the enemy completely to abandon the position they had taken such pains to defend and secure, and which was considered almost impregnable.

The 95th. Regiment,† immediately on the right of the 7th. Royal Fusiliers in the advance, suffered equally with that old corps and the 55th. an immense loss. The aid of the Royal Artillery in all these operations was most effectual, whilst the exertions of the field officers and the captains of troops and batteries to get the guns into action, were unceasing, and the precision of their fire materially contributed to the victory. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England brought his division to the immediate support of the troops in advance; and Lieutenant-General Sir George Cathcart was actively engaged in watching the left flank of the enemy. It likewise appears by Lord Raglan's despatch, that although the nature of the ground did not admit of the employment of cavalry, they succeeded at the close of the battle in capturing some prisoners.

Lord Raglan specially expressed his obligations to the following officers in his official despatch:-Lieutenant-Generals Sir George Brown, Sir De Lacy Evans, His Royal Highness

* "The Duke of Cambridge is well; his division, and that of Sir George Brown were superb."-Marshal St. Arnaud's Despatch.

+ Lord Raglan, in a subsequent despatch, dated October 31st., 1854, again adverts to the loss sustained by the 95th. Regiment. "I omitted in iny despatch of the 28th. September, to state, that, when in the battle of the Alma, Lieutenant-Colonel Webber Smith was obliged, in consequence of being severely wounded, to leave the field, Major Champion assumed the charge of the 95th., which your Grace will recollect was one of the regiments that suffered the most; and he gained great credit by the way in which he conducted the command."

"The mode in which Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown conducted his division, under the most trying circumstances, demands the expression of my warmest approbation. The fire to which his division was subjected, and the difficulties he had to contend against, afford no small

the Duke of Cambridge, Sir Richard England, Honourable Sir George Cathcart, and the Earl of Lucan; Major-Generals Bentinck, Sir Colin Campbell, Pennefather, and Codrington; and Brigadier-Generals Adams, Buller, and Strangways, the last-named officer having the direction of the Royal Artillery. Lieutenant-General Sir John Burgoyne, Brigadier-General Tylden, the commanding Royal Engineer, Major Wellesley, Brigadier-General Estcourt, Adjutant-General, and BrigadierGeneral Airey, Quartermaster-General.

His Lordship also expressed his obligations to his military secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Steele, Major Lord Burghersh, and the officers of his personal staff, "for their zeal, intelligence, and gallantry;" and likewise to Lieutenant Derriman, of the Royal Navy.

The cheerfulness with which the regimental officers had submitted to unusual privations was not forgotten. It being necessary to bring into the country every available cavalry and infantry soldier, prevented the embarkation of the baggage animals, so that the officers had nothing but what they could carry, and were, with the men, without tents or covering. Not a murmur was, however, heard, for all appeared impressed with the necessity of the arrangement. "The conduct," adds his lordship, "of the troops has been admirable. When it is considered that they have suffered severely from sickness during the last two months; that since they landed in the Crimea they have been exposed to the extremes of wet, cold, and heat; that the daily toil to provide themselves with water has been excessive, and that they have been pursued by cholera to the very battle-field,*

proof that his best energies were applied to the successful discharge of his duty.

I must speak in corresponding terms of Lieutenant-General Sir de Lacy Evans, who likewise conducted his division to my perfect satisfaction, and exhibited equal coolness and judgment in the carrying out a most difficult operation.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge brought his division into action in support of the light division with great ability, and had for the first time an opportunity of shewing the enemy his devotion to Her Majesty, and to the profession of which he is so distinguished a member." -Lord Raglan's Despatch.

As an instance of this, the following circumstance has been narrated to the author by an officer, who, on following the second division up the heights after the battle, found a poor fellow that had escaped un