Blu42 Media

Scutari Hospitals, Florence Nightingale, Ancient Chersonesus & Bastions (Plates 31–41)

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The British right attack was defined on the left by the valley of the Woronzoff" Road, and on the right it was separated from the Mamelon and Malakoff" by the Otchakoff" or Central Ravine, the point against which it was directed being the Redan. The first parallel was the 21 -Gun or Chapman's Battery; but neither it nor the second parallel is shown in the view: the latter contained some advanced guns and mortars. The drawing commences on the right hand with the third parallel, which was made in December. On the 5th of April, the zig-zags were broken out and worked on steadily towards Egerton's Pit, which was taken on the 19th of April. These works were extended and strengthened, so that on the 7th of June our troops rushed out of them and took the Quarries, whilst the French on the right carried the Mamelon and Mount Sapoune. A way was made that same night connecting the Quarries with Egerton's Pit, and the following night everything was made secure in the Quarries themselves. The fifth parallel was immediately commenced in front of this, and when completed was about 200 yards from the salient of the Eedan. Previously to the assault of the 8th of September, a sap was pushed out from this, which held the ladder party, and was about 150 yards from the point of attack. In the Quarries there was a battery of small mortars and cohorns, and upon its right flank there was a very important battery of seven guns, which commanded the rear of the MalakofF, and performed immense service against the enemy when they attempted to retake that work from the Allies. In addition to this slight description, it will be necessary to give some explanation of that portion of the enemy's works against which the battery was directed. A Redan means a work open at its rear: this one had 10 guns in each of its faces; in the drawing you see its proper right face: these ten guns were flanked by four others. In continuation of this face of the work is an 8-gun battery, and others, connecting it with the Barrack Batteries— in all forming a line of embrasures 750 yards in length, or nearly half a mile; but to form a correct idea you must add a nearly equal amount of works on the other face connecting it with the Malakoff; and, if it is borne in mind at the same time that this is but a sixth part of the line of guns extending from Quarantine Bay to Careening Creek, some faint notion may be formed of the vastness of the siege of Sebastopol.

The drawing represents the appearance of the place on the morning of the 9th of September. The forts are exploding, the ships and houses are burning fiercely, and the black smoke from it all hangs like an ample shroud over these fatal works, which on that morning became the tomb of thousands. Our reliefs are returning to camp, grim and dirty, so much so, that it is hard to distinguish them from the prisoners whom they have along with them; almost every man is carrying up something in the shape of plunder, and in their hearts tliey are rejoicing that the hardships and hazards of the trenches are ended. In the middle of the picture over the

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trenches is the Malakoff, and to the right over the third parallel is the top of the Mamelon.

This view is taken from the left attack, looking nearly north across the Woronzoff Road,

DITCH OF THE MALAKOFF, GERYAIS BATTERY, AND REAR OF THE REDAN.