FIGHTS ON WEST FLANK OF SEBASTOPOL. 25 by drawing troops from his field army. He there- chap. fore resolved to abandon this difficult struggle — already so costly to life — for the Cimetiere his,ledsion counter-approach .* To make sure before yield- ing, however, that the French remained firm in their purpose, he left two battalions in the Work with orders to fall back when gravely attacked, and he directed that the troops thus withdrawing should not be supported by others.! On the night of the 23d, the French renewed Night of ° the 23d; their attack on the Cimetiere counter-approach ; the oime- tn re conn and, though meeting, it seems, more resistance terap- ^^ » O ° proach than Prince Gortchakoff had consented to sane- carried by the French; tion, they very soon made good their conquest. Then reversing the parapet, and making the other fit changes, they so well transformed the work that what had been a counter-approach stretching out like a shield to cover the heart of Sebastopol was, before morning dawned, a new parallel con- fronting the Fortress, and established moreover on heights so near and commanding that siege- and trans- ° n • formed into guns there planted might shatter some all-precious a siege- links in the enemy's chain of defence. The conquest was thus complete, but it cost the Losses i on French dear. Altogether, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, they lost 2303, J and the Russians 3061.§
- This decision of course gives support to those of the Allies,
including the French Emperor and Niel, who desired a resort to field operations. + These directions were made an ' order of the day.' J Niel, pp. 255, 357. § Todleben, vol ii. pp. 246, 240.
