every sort and kind; apples, pears, quinces, and, except the three latter, all ripe; yet-will you believe it? I have seen numbers of our men eating unripe apples, in preference to some of the finest grapes I ever tasted, in the same garden. It is useless remonstrating with them. I told several that it was the surest way of getting cholera. It had no effect, they would go on eating just as one used to do at school. There has been an attempt to put sentries round some of the gardens ; however, the men manage to evade them, and carry away their havresacks full of fruit. I have just heard that Lord Raglan has received a despatch from Sir Edmund Lyons, brought up to head-quarters from the "Agamemnon" by Lieut. Maxse, informing him that the Russians have sunk five line-of-battle ships and two frigates across the entrance of the harbour of Sevastopol! That looks like a desperate defence. I must now bring this to a conclusion. You will probably see a hundred accounts of the battle of Alma in the newspapers, all of which will differ in their descriptions of each act of that bloody drama: many doubtless much better than mine; but I think on the whole what I have stated is correct, although there may be occasional errors. We march from here to-morrow morning for the Belbec. This will leave to-night I hope with the despatches which Lord Raglan sends home by Lord Burghersh, his first aide-de-camp.—Adieu ! P.S.-As I have just seen the Adjutant-General's return of the casualties, I enclose the grand total. Killed.-26 officers, 19 sergeants, 2 drummers, 306 rank and file, and 26 horses. Wounded.-73 officers, 95 sergeants, 17 drummers, 1427 rank and file. Missing. 2 drummers and 16 rank and file. CHAPTER V. Balaklava - Katcha and Belbec - Head-quarters - Council of war-Propositions-Sir John Burgoyne-Flank marchView of Sevastopol - Khutor Mackenzie-Surprise of Russian baggage Night bivouac - Lieut. Maxse, R.N.-Genoese castle Surrender of Balaklava - Arrival of Sir Edmund Lyons-Women — Prisoners — Lord Raglan's house - Harbour—“ Agamemnon ” — Hospitals — Resignation of Marshal St. Arnaud-Departure for France- General CanrobertFrench cupidity - Encampment of army- Head-quarters before Sevastopol - "Berthollet" - Allied camps- - Reconnaissance on heights of Inkermann-Death of Marshal St. Arnaud - Alarm — Breaking ground — Redoubts - Trenches - Batteries - Naval brigade - Accurate aim-First parallel -Monastery of St. George-Turkish works-Morning in trenches. Balaklava, 28th September, 1854. WE arrived here two days ago, having thus secured a base to commence operations against Sevastopol, and land the siege train, &c., for the reduction of that place. But before entering into any details as to future proceedings I will give you an account of our doings since the date of my last letter. It was on Sunday, the 24th instant, that we quitted the Katcha, and marched about midday towards the valley of the Belbec river. The reason of our start ing so late in the day was, that a large number of troops were landed early in the morning, viz. some seven thousand French infantry, our Scotch Greys and 57th regiment, and it was to give them time to join their respective divisions, &c., that the march of the army was delayed. The same relative position of the allied forces was adopted as before, but, the ground being less open and not so even, it was found best to move the troops in columns of regiments instead of brigades. The troops were thus brought more alongside one another, and consequently closer together. Great fraternizing took place between the men, especially the Guards and Zouaves, who seem to have a mutual admiration for one another. The day was intensely hot, and no one was sorry to find the march very short-between five and six miles. The valley of the Belbec is far finer than anything we had yet seen there were trees in abundance on both sides the river; many good houses, I believe generally villas, belonging to the richer inhabitants of Sevastopol; beautiful vineyards and orchards, far surpassing even the fruitful banks of the Katcha. The whole army crossed the river by a stone bridge at the village of Belbec. It is strange the Russians never destroyed this bridge, for had it been done we should have had considerable difficulty in making another, and the river was rather deep to ford without great inconvenience. At any rate it would have retarded our advance for probably half a day, if not more. The entire army crossed over the river and took up a position on the heights on the south side, with the exception of Sir George Cathcart's division and the 4th Light Dragoons, who remained as before to guard the rear of the Allies. Lord Raglan and his personal staff occupied a very pretty villa; it had been most wantonly plundered, and much handsome furniture, pictures, mirrors, books, and china were strewed about in all directions; everything was broken and rendered useless. Who were the perpetrators of this wanton act it is difficult to say; some said the Cossacks, others—and I believe they were in the right--said the Zouaves had done it. It was quite extraordinary to see the quantity of fruit that our men eat; no number of sentries, no warning from their officers, were of the least use; fruit they would have somehow or other. It cost |