" The rifle-pits in front of the approach from the advance of our trenches on the extreme right were attacked and carried by assault the night before last in the most gallant manner by a detachment of the 77th Regiment under Colonel Egerton forming part of the additional force sent to reinforce the guard of the trenches in the evening. The resistance of the enemy, although obstinate, was speedily overcome by the impetuosity of our troops, and the pit, which it was desirable to retain, was, without the loss of a moment, connected with our approach, and thereby furnished protection to the working party to continue its labours without interruption for a considerable time. At the interval, however, of about three hours, the enemy brought a heavy fire of artillery and musketry upon the party in advance of the pit, into which they retired, and which they effectually defended and maintained. But this brilliant achievement was not accomplished without considerable sacrifice of
* The details of these brilliant affairs of the 13th and 15th are chiefly derived from General Canrobert's despatch of the 17th April.
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life; and it is most painful to me to have to announce to your Lordship the death of Colonel Egerton of the 77th, who was unfortunately killed when forming troops for the support of those on the extreme advance, and that of Captain Lempriere, of the same regiment, who fell in the first affair, in which also Colonel Egerton received a contusion that only incapacitated him for duty a few minutes; and five officers were wounded, three of them dangerously.
" Colonel Egerton was an officer of superior merit, and conducted all his duties, whether in the camp or in the field, in a manner highly to his own honour, and greatly to the advantage of the public, and Her Majesty's service could not have sustained a more severe loss, and it is so felt in this army and in the 77th, where he was much beloved and is deeply lamented. Captain Lempriere was a very young but most promising officer. Captain Owen, whose leg has since been amputated, and Lieutenant Baynes, are both most valuable officers of engineers, as is Captain King, of the same corps, who was wounded two nights before. Brigadier-General Lockyer, who was the general officer of the trenches in the right attack, Lieutenant-Colonel Mundy, of the 33rd, who succeeded to the command of the troops, engaged in the operation on the death of Colonel Egerton, and Captain Gwilt, of the 34th, deserve to be most favourably mentioned; and Lieutenant- Colonel Tylden, the officer of engineers in charge of the right attack, distinguished himself, as he has done on many previous occasions, in a remarkable manner. The conduct of the troops was admirable."
We shall not, we trust, be blamed for the reproduction in this place of these concluding sentences of Lord Raglan, in which mention is made of those whose energy and daring insured a success so glorious alike for those who fell, and those who survived; the gratitude which such men have deserved of their country is not an empty phrase — in the affectionate remembrance of their countrymen lies their highest and purest reward, and that reward will never be denied them.
The Russian rifle-pit which was taken on this occasion is the subject of one of Mr. Simpson's drawings. Another rifle-pit immediately in front of it was destroyed on the morning of the 21st in the most spirited manner by a party of volunteers headed by Lieutenant and Adjutant Walker of the 30th regiment. The pit, which was found to be empty, and could not be turned to account by the besiegers, was immediately levelled and filled in without interruption from the enemy.
These operations of the French and English not only served to destroy the cover afforded for a galling fire from the enemy's practised and indefatigable riflemen, but also secured ground of the highest value for pushing the appi'oaches, and constructing a new parallel, which was armed in the
THE EAST.