At five minutes before twelve o'clock, the French issued forth from the trenches close to the Malakoff, crossed the seven metres of ground which separated them from the enemy at a few bounds — scrambled up its face, and were through the embrasures in the twinkling of an eye. They drifted as lightly and quickly as autumn leaves before the wind, battalion after battalion, and in a minute after the head of their column issued from the ditch the tricolour was floating over the Korniloff Bastion. Our Allies took the Russians by surprise, very few of the latter were in the Malakoff; but they soon recovered themselves, from twelve o'clock till past seven in the evening the French had to meet repeated attempts to regain the work: then, weary of the fearful slaughter, despairing of success, the Muscovite General withdrew his exhausted legions, and prepared, with admirable skill, to evacuate the place. As soon as the tricolour was observed waving through the smoke and dust over the parapet of the Malakoff, four rockets were sent up from Chapman's attack one after another, as a signal for our assault upon the Redan. They were almost borne back by the violence of the wind, and the silvery jets of sparks they threw out on exploding were scarcely visible against the raw grey sky.
Now, it will be observed that, while we attacked the Redan with two divisions only, a portion of each being virtually in reserve) and not engaged in the affair at all, the French made their assault on the Malakoff with four divisions of the second Corps d'Armee, the first and fourth divisions forming the storming columns, and the third and fifth being the support, with reserves of 10,000 men.
* On the 18th June, Lord Raglan and Staff were stationed in the parallel of the Right Attack, close behind the Quarries, where they were exposed to heavy fire, but were close to the scene of the assault. The position in which General Simpson was placed by the Engineers was far from the Redan, and was separated from the trenches by the Woronzoff Ravine.
CRIMEA.
The French had, probably, not less than 30,000 men in the Right Attack on the 7th of September. The divisional orders for the Second Division were very much the same as those for the Light Division,
Division Orders.
June 17 th, 1855.
1. The Light Division being about to be employed with others in the attack on the Redan, provisions will be issued and cooked this afternoon for to-morrow, and care must be taken that the men's canteens are filled with water this afternoon. Each man will be provided with twenty rounds of additional ammunition, to be carried in his haversack.
2. The whole guard of the trenches will be furnished this evening from the 2nd Brigade, and that portion of the Brigade which is not so employed will be formed in the morning in the first parallel, to the right of the 21-gun Battery, where it will be joined by the reserve of the trenches at daylight.
3. Weakly men and recruits will be selected for the camp guards and general care of the camp, where they are to remain, and will be directed not to show themselves on the high ground in front.
4. The Lieutenant- General having been charged with the columns of attack, the command of the Light Division will for the moment devolve on Major-General Codrington.
5. The officer in command of the guards of the trenches will take care to make such a disposition of his men as shall leave room for the additional troops which it is proposed shall be sent forward to the attack.
6. The right attack will be made by the 1st Brigade, under Colonel Yea, 7th Royal Fusileers, in the following order: —
100 of 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, under Captain Forman, to form the covering party.
The 34th Regiment, consisting of 400 men, under Captain Guilt, the attacking party.
The support, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Lysons — 300 men of the 7th Fusileers, 300 of the 33rd Regiment, and 200 of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusileers.
Working party, under the command of Major Macdonell — 400 of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.
Division Orders.
September 7 th, 1855.