Part 27 (1/2)

”Three times the battalion of the 7th Light Regiment was obliged to fall back some paces to rally. Three times it charged with the bayonet, with the same ardor and success.

”At four in the afternoon the Russians were in rout, and were pursued into the valley of Inkermann.

”On this memorable day all the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the 7th Light Regiment performed their duty n.o.bly, rivalling each other in bravery and self-sacrifice.”

Second: Notes on Inkermann, which Colonel A. du Picq indicates come from the letters of Captain B---- (these letters are missing).

”In what formation were the Russians? In column, of which the head fired, and whose platoons tried to get from behind the mead to enter into action?

”When Major Vaissier advanced was he followed by every one? At what distance? In what formation were the attackers? in disordered ma.s.ses?

in one rank? in two? in ma.s.s? Did the Russians immediately turn tail, receiving shots and the bayonet in the back? did they fall back on the ma.s.s which itself was coming up? What was the duration of this attack against a ma.s.s, whose depth prevented its falling back?

”Did we receive bayonet wounds?

”Did we fall back before the active reaction of the ma.s.s or merely because, after the first shock, the isolated soldiers fell back to find companions and with them a new confidence?

”Was the second charge made like the first one? Was the 6th Line Regiment engaged as the first support of the 7th Light Regiment? How were the Zouaves engaged?”

6. The Battle of Magenta

Extract from the correspondence of Colonel Ardant du Picq. Letters from Captain C----, dated August 23, 1868.

”At Magenta I was in Espina.s.se's division, of Marshal MacMahon's corps. This division was on the extreme left of the troops that had pa.s.sed the Ticino at Turbigo and was moving on Magenta by the left bank. Close to the village a fusillade at close range apprised us that the enemy was before us. The country, covered with trees, hedges, and vines, had hidden them.

”Our 1st Battalion and the 2nd Foreign Regiment drove the Austrians into Magenta.

”Meanwhile the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of Zouaves, with which I was, remained in reserve, arms stacked, under control of the division commander. Apparently quite an interval had been left between Espina.s.se's division and la Motterouge's, the 1st of the corps, and, at the moment of engagement, at least an Austrian brigade had entered the gap, and had taken in flank and rear the elements of our division engaged before Magenta. Happily the wooded country concealed the situation or I doubt whether our troops engaged would have held on as they did. At any rate the two reserve battalions had not moved. The fusillade extended to our right and left as if to surround us; bullets already came from our right flank. The General had put five guns in front of us, to fire on the village, and at the same time I received the order to move my section to the right, to drive off the invisible enemy who was firing on us. I remember that I had quit the column with my section when I saw a frightened artillery captain run toward us, crying 'General, General, we are losing a piece!' The general answered, 'Come! Zouaves, packs off.' At these words, the two battalions leaped forward like a flock of sheep, dropping packs everywhere. The Austrians were not seen at first. It was only after advancing for an instant that they were seen. They were already dragging off the piece that they had taken. At the sight of them our men gave a yell and fell on them. Surprise and terror so possessed the Austrians, who did not know that we were so near, that they ran without using their arms. The piece was retaken; the regimental standard was captured by a man in my company. About two hundred prisoners were taken, and the Austrian regiment--Hartmann's 9th Infantry--was dispersed like sheep in flight, five battalions of them.

I believe that had the country not been thick the result might have been different. The incident lasted perhaps ten minutes.

”The two battalions took up their first position. They had had no losses, and their morale was in the clouds. After about an hour General Espina.s.se put himself at the head of the two battalions and marched us on the village. We were in column of platoons with section intervals. The advance was made by echelon, the 2nd Battalion in front, the 3rd a little in rear, and a company in front deployed as skirmishers.

”At one hundred and fifty paces from the Austrians, wavering was evident in their lines; the first ranks threw themselves back on those in rear. At that instant the general ordered again, 'Come! Packs off.

At the double!' Everybody ran forward, shedding his pack where he was.

”The Austrians did not wait for us. We entered the village mixed up with them. The fighting in houses lasted quite a while. Most of the Austrians retired. Those who remained in the houses had to surrender.

I found myself, with some fifty officers and men, in a big house from which we took four hundred men and five officers, Colonel Hauser for one.

”My opinion is that we were very lucky at Magenta. The thick country in which we fought, favored us in hiding our inferior number from the Austrians. I do not believe we would have succeeded so well in open country. In the gun episode the Austrians were surprised, stunned.

Those whom we took kept their arms in their hands, without either abandoning them or using them. It was a typical Zouave attack, which, when it succeeds, has astonis.h.i.+ng results; but if one is not lucky it sometimes costs dearly. Note the 3rd Zouaves at Palestro, the 1st Zouaves at Marignano. General Espina.s.se's advance on the village, at the head of two battalions, was the finest and most imposing sight I have ever seen. Apart from that advance, the fighting was always by skirmishers and in large groups.”

7. The Battle of Solferino

Extract from the correspondence of Colonel Ardant du Picq. Letters from Captain C----.

”The 55th infantry was part of the 3rd division of the 4th corps.

”Coming out of Medole, the regiment was halted on the right of the road and formed, as each company arrived, in close column. Fascines were made.