out of musket-range, when we, with the light and second division, the
8th Hussars, and nine-pounder batteries, came up at a gallop, to succour
our comrades, and got into position. After this, the wily and savage
Muscovites found their opportunity gone, and the gallant Baur was rather
nonplussed.
When the regiments of the infantry divisions came up, they deployed into
line, and all their bright steel ramrods glittered in the sunshine, as
they loaded with ball cartridge and "capped." We, the cavalry support,
took up a position in the left rear of the advanced force under Lord
Cardigan, and rapidly loaded our pistols and carbines, awaiting further
orders. In each of my holsters I carried a six-chambered revolver. So
close were we to our advanced guard, that we could hear the officers of
the 11th and the 13th recalling their skirmishers.
"Retire the skirmishers," rang again and again on the clear air;
"shorten stirrups—girth up—reload and reform."
Every heart was beating high, for we were now face to face with an
enemy—many among us for the first time.
"Keep your dressing, squadron leaders," said Colonel Beverley, whose
eyes were lit up by a strange brightness—indeed, it seemed to spread
over all his handsome and sunburned face; "close up, gentlemen. We have
all been used to ride to hounds, and that is more than any of those
Russian fellows have done. By Jove! I should like to see them crossing
a stiff stone-wall country. In a few minutes, lancers, I repeat we may
be hand to hand with the enemy; so, when we come to close quarters,
remember the old fencing-school advice, ’Watch your antagonist’s eyes,
not his blade.’"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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