the roof torn off, the solid granite blown to fragments, the ground around torn up with shot and shell. The ships which did this destructive work were 2,700 yards off; and, as far as I can hear, not one ship received the least injury. The French troops also did well with their rifles. They shot the men at the guns in the fort through the loopholes, the bullets (of which I have a pocket full) were as thick as hail at the foot of the building.
- “Aug.20. The view of the ruin from the upper tower is dilightful(sic) in the extreme, looking over small islands out of number, and all covered with shrubs and trees. The men of war, too, all decked out with gay flags, and the ships’ boats sailing about in all directions, while the small Swedish boats, navigated by women is a sight not to be forgotten. The sheep here are anybody’s; they are very nimble, and our middies shoot them. I did not venture near the French camp, as the cholera is raging there. Of course, with all this scene of gaiety, following so soon after the surrender of the great tower, there is the dark and gloomy picture. Although unseen by many, I could not shut my eyes to the sight and my ears to the sounds of woe from the poor Russian women – many with babies in their arms – whose husbands had either fallen or were now on their way as prisoners to England and France. The monster Nicholas had pressed these men, and they were actually locked in the fort to fight until they perished. The poor women are now without homes and means of any kind. They fear to approach the French, but cling to the English as protectors, and all the English here appear to be proud of the distinction. I saw some of our sturdy fellows dividing their rations with them, and sheltering them from the sun.”
Attack on Sebastopol. The following is extracted from a letter received in Hastings from a young midsipman(sic) on board of H.M.S. Albion, off Katcha, date Oct. 16. 1854. –
- “I hope you have received the letters I wrote on the 7th and 13th of this month, and also the one with the attempted account of the battle of the Alma. They are going to attack the northern ports, and the French the southern ports of Sevastopol this week. We (I mean this ship) have a separate fort to take by ourselves, and then, after taking it we shall join the other ships against the big fort. This is a very difficult and nasty fort to take, as it is very high up, and they have very heavy and long guns in it. I think the Admiral has picked us out to do it on account of the good state of gunnery this ship’s company is in, and it is considered rather an honour to us. I suppose we shall take it the first day, and then go and join the other ships, and in three days after we commence, Sevastopol will be ours.” [ A much too sanguine prediction].
“Oct 18th. Yesterday we made a general attack on Sevastopol. We (this ship) were dreadfully cut up, and were not able to give three broadsides -
