"This movement is known as 'the flank march,' undertaken in consequence of the allied commanders' acceptance of a memorandum by Sir John Burgoyne, the distinguished officer of Engineers, pointing out that the South side of the fortress was practically undefended, and that if the Allied Forces could successfully move round, the North side might be left to itself.
"Sir John Burgoyne's memorandum, dated the day after the battle of the Alma, is given in full in an instructive volume by Sir John Adye, entitled 'A Review of the Crimean War, published by Hurst & Blackett, 1860.' On arrival at the Belbec river the allied commanders adopted the plan proposed in the able memorandum alluded to.
"In order to strike the main road which leads into the interior of the country down the Mackenzie heights towards Sebastopol and to the plains of Balaclava, the allies who, on the morning of the 25 September, were on the heights above the Belbec, had for some distance to march in a south-easterly direction through thick woods, in which there was only a slight track. On the same morning Prince Menschikoff, ignorant of the change, and doubtless conceiving that the plans of the allied generals were fully decided upon the attack on the North side, was moving a force, a considerable force, by the same main road up the Mackenzie heights and into the country towards Bacskiverai, with the intention, probably, when his troops had somewhat regained their confidence, and when they had been joined by reinforcements, to return and attack the Anglo-French army in its rear.
"Thus, on the 25th September the two hostile forces were unconsciously moving in two lines which intersected each other at a point close to the crest of the heights. Consequently, to the surprise of both, the advanced guard of the one suddenly found itself in the presence of the rearguard of the other. The Russian rearguard after standing for a moment dispersed into the wood, taking pot-shots at the Greys, who were forming up on the first available open space; as this could not be submitted to it became necessary, as there were no infantry present, to dismount a portion of the Regt to skirmish in the wood against the irritating Russian Infantry, who, after firing at the horsemen, threw themselves down and pretended to be dead.
"Sir Edward B. Hamley, writing in 1855, in his book, 'The Campaign in the Crimea, London, Blackwood,' alludes to having been present at this incident, saying, 'Some of the Scots Greys dismounting went skirmishing through the wood, and about a dozen Russians throwing themselves down and pretending to be dead, rose after they were past and fired on them, for which discreditable ruse they were, as they deserved to be, all put to death.'
"This was too much for Jock and he proceeded to use his carbine, not however before consulting the Sergeant-Major, (so the regimental story goes,) in the words 'Sairgent-Major, shall I shoot 'em?' and the prompt reply came, 'Most unquestionably!'
"In the meantime an excited Staff Officer came to the Colonel of the Regt asking for 'six determined men' to gallop down the ravine road and upset the foremost Russian carriage so as to secure the convoy. Again the story goes that the Colonel promptly replied by ordering 'from the right number off six!' and away they went with the happiest result—amongst other loot there was Menschikoff's carriage in which was stored a lot of champagne which it is needless to say was broached without much delay.
"In the carriage was a Colonel of high rank who evidently had not forgotten to use the contents of the Prince's carriage.
"He was transferred as a prisoner to the Fleet later on—where he remained till at Petersburg the authorities consented to release Lord Dunkellin who had been taken prisoner and whose exchange was conditional on the return of this officer. There are stories extant about his subsequent fate.
"This casual encounter was so far useful for the moment, that it must have rather mystified the enemy as to the places of the allies, but Lord Raglan feeling the importance of regaining the coast, his army being for the time scattered for miles along a thin line, at once retraced his steps and continued his march by the steep road down the Mackenzie heights: and towards sunset the light and first divisions streamed across the plain followed shortly after by the 2nd Division, and subsequently by the French Army bearing with them in a litter Marshall St. Arnaud in a dying condition. He died, a few days after the town of Balaclava was occupied, on board a French Ship of War.