result was that sickness again attacked the troops,
and hundreds were prostrated before, three days later,
they met the enemy on the Alma. The French were
ready to march on the 17th, but it was not until two
days later, that the British were ready; then at nine
o’clock in the morning the army advanced.
The following is the list of the British force.
The light division under Sir George Brown—2d
Battalion Rifle Brigade, 7th Fusiliers, 19th Regiment,
23d Fusiliers, under Brigadier Major-General Codrington;
33d Regiment, 77th Regiment, 88th Regiment, under
Brigadier-General Butler. First division, under
the Duke of Cambridge—The Grenadier, Coldstream
and Scots Fusilier Guards, under Major-General Bentinck;
the 42d, 79th and 93d Highlanders, under Brigadier-General
Sir C. Campbell. The second division, under Sir
De Lacy Evans—The 30th, 55th, and 95th,
under Brigadier-General Pennefather; the 41st, 47th
and 49th, under Brigadier-General Adams. The
third division under Sir R. England—The
1st, 28th and 38th under Brigadier-General Sir John
Campbell; the 44th, 50th, and 68th Regiments under
Brigadier-General Eyre. Six companies of the fourth
were also attached to this division. The fourth
division under Sir George Cathcart consisted of the
20th, 21st, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, 63d, 46th
and 57th, the last two regiments, however, had not
arrived. The cavalry division under Lord Lucan
consisted of the Light Cavalry Brigade under Lord
Cardigan, composed of the 4th Light Dragoons, the
8th Hussars, 11th Hussars, 13th Dragoons and 17th
Lancers; and the Heavy Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier-General
Scarlett, consisting of the Scots Greys, 4th Dragoon
Guards, 5th Dragoon Guards, and 6th Dragoons.
Of these the Scots Greys had not yet arrived.
It was a splendid sight, as the allied army got in
motion. On the extreme right, and in advance
next the sea, was the first division of the French
army. Behind them, also by the sea, was the second
division under General Canrobert, on the left of which
marched the third division under Prince Napoleon.
The fourth division and the Turks formed the rearguard.
Next to the third French division was the second British,
with the third in its rear in support. Next to
the second division was the light division, with the
Duke of Cambridge’s division in the rear in
support. The Light Cavalry Brigade covered the
advance and left flank, while along the coast, parallel
with the march of the troops, steamed the allied fleet,
prepared, if necessary, to assist the army with their
guns. All were in high spirits that the months
of weary delay were at last over, and that they were
about to meet the enemy. The troops saluted the
hares which leaped out at their feet at every footstep
as the broad array swept along, with shouts of laughter
and yells, and during the halts numbers of the frightened
creatures were knocked over and slung behind the knapsacks
to furnish a meal at the night’s bivouac.
The smoke of burning villages and farmhouses ahead
announced that the enemy were aware of our progress.