said that the navvies would be here by the 20th of December last, and in three weeks from that date construct a tramway that would carry all the requirements for the siege and army up to the plateauand that up to this day nearly six weeks have elapsed before the first detachment of navvies have arrived— I think some of the abuse so liberally showered on the authorities here by the British public for their want of arrangement and forethought might fairly be transferred to those at home, who have none of the difficulties to contend with which so embarrass our chiefs. On the 25th Lord Raglan, accompanied by two of his personal staff and the commanding officers of the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery and their aides-de-camp, went through the whole of our trenches, examining everything in detail connected with the batteries, and inspecting minutely our most advanced works, and even going into some of the rifle-pits. The enemy were very civil upon the whole, and scarcely fired a single round shot during the four hours Lord Raglan was in our two attacks: however, as usual, he had several narrow escapes from the rifle-balls of the Russian sharpshooters. He frequently would remain looking over the parapets for some minutes at a time in places where he fancied he gained a new or better view of any of the enemy's works, and consequently exposed himself much. The three following days he visited successively the different divisional camps, beginning at the extreme right with the 2nd Division, and concluding at Balaklava with the cavalry and Sir Colin Campbell's command. The French have lately received a very large reinforcement in the shape of a whole division of infantry of the line, mustering upwards of 10,000 fresh troops: another division of the line is shortly expected, and already a portion of the Garde Impériale has appeared, of which there is to be a strong brigade out here:-these, to the number of 800 men of the voltigeurs, arrived off Kamiesch, direct from Marseilles, in the "Ripon," English steam transport. CHAPTER XII. Desertion of Polish officer in Russian service Arrival of Promised aid of Sar dinia Sortie on the French "Fort Victoria"- Colonels Yea and Egerton Nurses in the general hospital Murder of an English soldier - "Cool hands the blue-jackets" Arrival of General Jones, R.E., and General Niel - Navvies Excess of winter clothing for the army French losses The Malakoff the key of Sevastopol · Return of Sir George Brown French d'armée corps - New French attack against Sevastopol Railway - Lord Raglan inspects the defences of Balaklava Recall of Lord Lucan -Tartar spy - Attack on Eupatoria — Russians repulsed - Casualties of the Turks — Sir Colin Campbell's reconnaissance Severity of the weather Serious affair between the French and Russians - Devotion and bravery of the Zouaves-Their dreadful losses-Speeches of Sir De Lacy Evans and Lord Cardigan - Lord Stratford's Suspension of hostilities - Enemy sink four Colonel Steele's proposal Return of General Expected visit of the Emperor Napoleon. intelligence more ships Pennefather Head-quarters before Sevastopol, As I missed the last mail, being occupied on duty, I will give you some notes from my journal:— January 30th.-Two deserters came in from Sevastopol late last evening at different parts of our trenches; both were Poles in the Russian artillery. One was a cadet, acting as a subaltern (the first who has deserted over to the Allies), and the other a bom bardier. They informed us that the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael had both arrived in Sevastopol two days ago, and had been inspecting all the works of the town, and reviewing the troops, giving those who had distinguished themselves decorations and money. They stated that yesterday the Grand Dukes made a reconnaissance from the town of the ground in front of Inkermann, in the dress of private soldiers, so as not to attract the attention of the French sharpshooters. The bombardier said he thought that the Russians intended to make another attack on the English right, and try and force their way into our camp at the same point which they had hoped to have attained at the battle of Inkermann, viz. by the Careening Bay ravine. However, the cadet said that it was not at all likely they would attempt anything of the sort, as there was only one battery of field-artillery in the town, all the rest having gone in relays to Simferopol, to be repaired and recruited for future service. The latter part of the cadet's statement was fully confirmed by a Tartar spy who had been sent out by Mr. Calvert, and who returned from Simferopol late last night. He states that the Russians are repairing quantities of fieldartillery at that town, where a great establishment has been formed for the purpose, and that a large number of wheels and different parts of gun-carriages have been sent from Nicholaieff and other towns in the south of Russia, together with artificers and workmen. He also said that the army continued to suffer much from want of provisions, and that it was almost impossible for civilians to procure food even at enormous prices, and that all the cavalry, except those at Sak, watching Eupatoria, have been sent far into the interior towards the Putrid Sea, as in the plains there are large quantities of forage, which, from the utter want of transport, it is impossible to bring up to the great cavalry camps, near the towns. Her Majesty's ship "St. Jean d'Acre," 90-gun screw steamship, arrived off Balaklava early this morning, with 640 men, drafts to different regiments; also two major-generals, viz. Lord Rokeby, to command the brigade of Guards, and General Barnard, to command a brigade of the 3rd Division. January 31st.-Very cold again to-day, with sleet blowing about, penetrating through every nook and cranny of one's hut or tent. I understand to-day that two divisions of Sardinian infantry, mustering 15,000 men, are under orders for the Crimea, and are to be attached to the English army under the command of Lord Raglan. A very spirited thing of the Sardinian government, to join a cause at the very moment when its success seems dubious, or at any rate not altogether certain. They are to be |