The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95thCope, William Henry
History
The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95th
Cope, William Henry
Great Britain. Army. Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
From this date the Riflemen were nightly thrown out in advance of the
intrenchments; whatever regiments found the duties, they formed a
line of double sentries, to watch and report any suspicious movements
in the place.
On the 17th the Allies opened fire.
On the 19th a man of the Regiment was seen to pick off eight men from
a Russian battery.[236]
On the 25th the 1st Battalion was ordered out to repel the attack
on Balaklava. They fell in between eight and nine o’clock, and
starting at the double took up a position on the side of a hill. The
Russians had driven the Turks out of the forts in their occupation.
The Riflemen arrived just after the heavy cavalry charge. After the
light cavalry charge the 4th Division was ordered to advance, the
1st Battalion Rifle Brigade leading by wings. The right wing under
Colonel Horsford took up a position with its left resting on the
road from Sebastopol to the Traktir bridge; the 68th being deployed
in line on its right; and the left wing under Major Rooper being on
the right of the 68th in support of Captain Barker’s battery. The
enemy brought forward a field battery of six guns and opened fire on
the line. This fire became very troublesome on the right flank, and
Lieutenant Godfrey with a few men was sent to try to silence these
guns. This they did most effectually in a very short time. The task
was difficult, for the ground afforded no cover; the utmost shelter
they could get being some slight undulation in the surface. However
the Riflemen lay down on their stomachs and picked off the gunners
whenever they attempted to handle their guns; and in about twenty
minutes forced the Russian guns to retire.
The Battalion remained in the same order and in the same position
until dark; but no further attack being made by the enemy, and it
having been resolved to abandon these forts, the Battalion returned
to its camp.
One man was wounded, being struck in the leg by a round shot.
On the 26th at noon the Russians came out from Sebastopol and
attacked the extreme right of the English position, which was
occupied by the 2nd Division. The enemy having advanced in a mass
of columns, our guns opening upon them within easy range caused
them such loss that they quickly retired. On this occasion the 1st
Battalion, although the most distant from the right of the position,
turned out so quickly, with Sir George Cathcart at its head, that it
was on the scene of action in a very short time, but not till the
enemy had retired.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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