As the cavalry at Baidar would be exposed to be cut off if it were attacked by a considerable force, on account of the great number of carts which are down in the valley for the transport of hay, and which would encumber the Woronzoff-road, an attack on that side seemed not at all improbable. From all these circumstances it followed that no additional precautions were taken on the Tchernaya line, and that the attack was scarcely less a surprise than that of Inkermann. The first news of an actual assault was brought about daybreak by some French Chasseurs, who, forming part of a patrol, fell into an ambuscade of the Russians, and narrowly escaped, while their comrades were taken prisoners. Soon afterwards the outposts across the Tchernaya were driven in, and about daybreak the cannonade began.
For the better understandingof the movements I must give you some description of the locality. The Tchernaya, coining out at the tower of Karlovka from the narrow gorge in which it runs after leaving the valley of Baidar, flows between a succession of hillocks on both sides. These hillocks form the basis of the position of the allied armies. On the extreme right, beginning where the Tchernaya comes out of the gorge down to the little mountain streams which fall into tlie Tchernaya from the south, are the Turks. They occupy two hillocks, and between them are two roads which lead from Higher Tchorgoun and the tower of Karlovka into the Woronzoff-road. The Sardinian position leads to the right on the little mountain stream which limits the Tuvkisli position to the left.
They occupj^ the large solitary standing hillock which used to be held by the Cossacks, and which extends down to the open ground over which the road from Balaklava to Tchorgoun leads. This hillock had been lately considerably strengthened and provided with batteries, and, as it is a very commanding position, was of the utmost importance in the defence of the Tchernaya line. lu front of this hillock, and divided from it bjjthe aqueduct which begins there, is another smaller but equally steep hillock, accessible from the first by a stone bridge, and on this hillock the Sardinians had a small epaulement guarded by a detachment of infantr3\ Beyond both these hillocks, on the other side of ths Tcliernaya, they had moreover on the mound nearest to the Mackenzie-road their outposts, which could thus watch the movements of the enemy and give timely alarm in case of an attack.
The French occupy the last series of hillocks to the left of the Sardinians, and guard the road which leads from Balaklava over the Traktir-bridge up to Mackenzie's farm. The hillocks occupied by thom are three in number; the first, to the right, is separated from the others by tlie great road loading to the bridge; and the last, to the left, is protected by the basin which the aqueduct forms here, and is separated by another open space, similar to that on the right of the French position, from the ridge on which the army of observation was during the winter. In front of the bridge the French had constructed a small epaulement to guard the passage of the river, beyond which they had their outposts.
The first movement of the Russians was against the outposts of the Sardinians on the opposite bank of the river. Corresponding to the hillocks on this side of the Tchernaya are tlu'ee plateaux on the opposite bank. They were chosen ibr the left of the Russian position against the Turks and the Sardinians. These pLateaux were, therefore, first to be secured, for the gams coukl command from them not only the hillocks opposite occupied by the Sardinians and Turks, but likewise the plain which opens towards the French position. A company of infantry of the line and a company of Bersaglieri formed the Sardinian outposts. They were attacked at dawn by the Russians. As the troops were not yet under arms it was necessary to hold this position for a while, and General De La Marmora sent over Major Govone, of the Etat-Major, with a company of Bersaglieri, to reinforce the two companies already there.
They crossed the aqueduct and the river, and went up the plateau; but, Avhen they arrived on the crest of it, the two companies had just left the eptxulement behind which they had until then defended themselves gallantly against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, but which had become untenable, as it was swept by the guns which the Russians had brought up on the two other plateaux, and besides was exposed to be taken in the rear. So the troops retired in good order across the river, and went to reinforce the post which occupied the second hillock on the banks of the aqueduct. In the mean time the cannonade on both sides had begun. The Russians left us not long in doubt where they would attack, for, scarcely had the cannonade commenced, when three compact masses of infantry were seen advancing towards the plain opposite to the French position.