When the Russians withdrew, General MacMahon, contemplating the
possibility of further explosions from undiscovered mines, in order to
minimize possible loss of life, sent back the brigade under Colonel
Decaen, whom he ordered to hold himself in readiness, and, if Vinoy's
brigade should be blown into the air, to come forward immediately and
replace it. Then, turning to General Vinoy, MacMahon observed, "It is
possible, General, that your brigade will be blown up, but Decaen will
replace you immediately, so we shall still hold our position." MacMahon
himself remained in the Malakoff with Vinoy's brigade.
During the afternoon it was reported to General Pelissier that large
numbers of Russian troops were crossing by the floating bridge to the
north side of the harbor, but the allies did not yet feel confident that
the end had quite come. About midnight one of the maritime forts was
blown up, and explosions continued at intervals throughout the night,
fires bursting out wherever any inflammable substance remained.
Pages:
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651