The Russians replied to our fire, but they were unaljle to take any advantage of our mischance, owing to the firmness of the French in the advanced trenches and tho 114 THE LULL BEFORE THE STOrxJI. steailinoss with which the cannonade was continued. A bright moon li^-hted up tlie whole scene, and shed its rays upon a huge pilhir of smoke and dust, Avhich rose into the air from the Jlumelon, and towering to an immense height, unfolded itself and let fall from its clustering waves of smoke and sulphurous vapour a black precipitate of earth, fine dust, and pebbles, mingled with miserable fragments, which dropped like rain upon the works below. The dark cloud hung like a pall for nearly an hour over the place, reddening every moment with the rcilcction of the flashes of the artillery, which boomed incessantly till dawn.
The musketry was very heavy and fierce all along the advanced trenches, and as no one except those in the parallels near the IMamelon knew the precise nature of the explosion, great anxiety was manifested to learn the truth. Some persons asserted that the Russians had sprung a mine — others that the French had blown in the counterscarp of the Malakhoif — and here, with the very spot under their eyes, people were Conjecturing wildly v/hat had taken place. Just like tliose at home who do not hesitate to make the boldest assertions respecting the events which have occurred here, and of which they know neither the scene nor the circumstance. But with the morning came the exact news, and also the cheering intelligence that no damage of importance had been done to the parapet or to the works of our gallant allies, for whose loss all felt theliveliest sympathy.
The weight of powder exploded was nearly seven tons, or 1400 rounds of 101b. each. Four officers lost their lives by this deplorable accident; and if Ave take into consideration that there were several hundreds of men in and about the Mamelon and the adjacent parallels, it must be admitted that it is wonderful that the loss of life and limb was not much greater. The shell which did the damage was fired from a moitar, of which the Russians possess comparatively few, although it is quite evident that they have recently received a supply of that arm, from the fact that the number of mortar shells thrown into our works is much more numerous than. before. CHAPTER XIV. Humoured insurrection in Sebastopol — Sufleringrs of the garrison — rearful Josses on both sides — Tlie crisis approaclies — Crimean play-bill — Delight of the audience — Kertch and Yenikale thnatened — Ulliccvs killed and missing — Grand sclieines of the Kussians — Probable result of these — Eagerness of tho allied troops for a conflict — Arduous nature of service in the trenches — luediciency of the recruits — Mere lads sent out as ollicers — Duty in the trenches too much for the new — Strength of the British contingent — The French sap close to tlie abatlis of the JMalakliOj'l' — A fuiious cannonade and a sortie — Letter to the Fourth Division from Lady Georgina Cathcart.
September 1. There have been rumours for the hist few days that the garrison of Sebastopol is in an extremely disorganized state, and there are even positive statements that a revolt took place three nights ago, that a brisk firing of musketry, very irregular, vras heard inside the town, mingled with ci'ies and disorderly shouting. A deserter reported the fusillade of an officer of rank and nearly 100 men, who had disobeyed orders. There is no doubt that the losses in the town are frightful, and that, notwithstanding their official and non-official declarations, the Russians suffer from want of water and of spirits. The army on the Belbek and along Jlackenzie^s ridge seems to have diminished in numbers very much. For hours I watch their huts and tents, and can see no men moving about their camp, and it is most likely that the bulk of the men have retired to the Belbek for water.
Indeed, it is confidently aftirm^ed, that owing to the deficiency of forage, their cavalry have been compelled to fall back on the road to Bakshiserai. Their telegraphs are busy at work, and at night revolving lights or flash lights can be seen from the extreme ridge of Mackenzie towards Aitodor up to Inkermann. It would be worth while to ascertain the truth of these reports, were it not for the disastrous results any unsuccessful movement to storm the heights would produce on the operations of the siege. The Russians have thrown up another battery, close to the SpinBattery; it commands a small path from the Tchernaya. Possibly they expect an attack from us. Their last defeat has destroyed their morale, and we are assured that the convoys of wounded from Sebastopol are ordered to take a detour, so as not to pass through the camps on their way to Sinipheropol and Bakshiserai.