ement to commence a campaign against a place like Sebastopol at such a late season of the year. If we could have been here two months earlier the affair would have been settled long ago, and without much difficulty. The place was without fortifications on this side, and they had but few troops here....The weather cannot be depended on at this time of year. Today there is another change. I am on picket in a deep rocky ravine, seated on a ledge of rock on the sunny side, writing this on my shoulder-belt, which is stretched across my knees for the want of a better table. The spot is so sheltered and the sun shines down so hot that I have been in my shirt sleeves for some time. There are plenty of holes in the rocks for shelter when the weather is wet. The men have got a famous cave, and there are lots of brushwood for fires. We can see but in one direction right down the ravine to where there is a more advanced picket, so I have very little look-out to keep. This is the most comfortable post of any. There is a breastwork of stones across a narrow part of the ravine, and commanding it well for a thousand yards, which I think I could hold successfully with my forty men against 400. Another day or two, and I may be on picket on the top of Shell Hill, shivering night and day in a storm, as Jack Hume was two days ago. Since the battle of Inkerman we have been strengthening our position very much by throwing up redoubts and getting up some heavy guns. The 62nd have joined our division, which we are very glad of, we being so weak. They are freshly arrived from Malta, and look so neat and clean beside our tattered men. Poor fellows! they had a dismal reception, they having arrived the night before the storm, and must feel the great change from their warm barracks at Malta to take here the field in winter. A draft from our depôt and 160 men at Malta are on their way hither. They and the 50th draft mutinied aboard ship at not having a sufficiency of water, and it is said that the Captain was obliged to threaten them with loaded cannon pointed forward before they would give in. They are detained at Malta for trial. My excellent servant, Cooney, came back from Scutari a few days ago. He was wounded at the Alma in the head and leg, but has now recovered. I was afraid I should lose him, which I should be very sorry for; a thoroughly good servant is valuable, and Cooney is one... The mail goes this morning (18th) at 8, and I have nothing particular to add. I passed a quiet and comfortable night comparatively speaking, for you would scarcely call it comfortable to lie down in a blanket in a little cave with green lizards running over you; but I was protected from the night breeze and was warm. I was relieved at daylight by a young hand of the 30th who only came out two days ago. He came in the same ship with our -
