It is a hazardous experiment sometimes. Major Graham lost his arm in trying it en amateur the other day, for he was hit as he was returning up the trench; indeed, it is a subject of remark that amateurs and officers who have just come into the trenches are more frequently hit than is consistent with the rules of proportion. Mr. Gambier, a midshipman of the " Curaijoa," went as an amateur into the advanced parallel of the left attack, and took a shot at a Russian rifleman; he was rewarded by a volley from several of the enemy, and in another instant was going up on a stretcher, with a ball tlirough both his thighs. It is a very common AXOTIIEIl thing to hear it said, " Poor Smith is killed; just imagine — his first night in tho trenches." '• Jones lost a leg last niglit; only joined us this week, and his second night on duty," &c.
The Russians, of course, must suffer in the same way, hut I douht if they have many amateurs. They have quite enough of legitimate lighting, and their losses are said to be prodigious; almost beyond belief. They must soon attack or give up the south side. The Bedan looks greatly cut up; it has no longer the nice cabinetmaker's work on its tiice which it boasted forinerly. The diary of events is not important. The " Himalaya," with 150 of the 10th Hussars and a troop of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, is to be sent to Yenikale, which is, according to report, menaced by a large force of the enemy. It is more probable that these reinforcements have been sent to scour the country for fodder and food, and to protect the outlying flocks and herds in the plain between Kertch and Yenikale against the attacks of the Cossacks.
There has been nothing of importance throughout the day. The fire has been pretty sharp at times, but it has not been attended with any marked advantage on our side, nor have the enemy inflicted any serious loss upon us. There has just been a severe aifair in front. At a quarter past 9 P.M., a heavy fire of musketry to the left of the Malakhoft' showed that the enemxy w^ere attacking the French works in front of the Mamelon. The night was dark, but clear, and for half an hour the whole of our lines were a blaze of quick, intermittent light. The musketry rattled in(;essantly. Chapman and Gordon's batteries opened with all their voices, and the liedan, MalakhofF, Garden, and Barrack Batteries replied with roars of ordnance.
After twenty minutes of this infernal conflict the musketry fire flickered and died out, and then commenced for a quarter of an hour a general whirling of shells from both sides, so that the light of the very stars was eclipsed, and their dominion usurped by the wandering flight of these iron orbs. Twenty or thirty of these curves of fire tearing the air asunder and uttering their shrill "tuwhit! tu whit! tu whit!" as they described their angry flight in the sky, could be counted and heard at once. While it lasted it was one of the hottest aliairs we have yet experienced. The Russians in this sortie attacked our advanced sap on the right once more, and were repulsed with great loss; but Captain Pechell. of the 77th, a brave and beloved yomig oflicer, in setting a brilliant example 124: THE LULL BEFOKE THE STORM. to Lis men, was Icilled.
The Lijallant 77th behaved extremely well, and the y7th wore engag-ed under the Ibllowing circumstances, as stated by one of the otHcers. A party under Captain llatton were posted in the advanced trench of the h'ft of the right attack. The Russians, at midnight, attacked our working party at a new sap, and drove it in. Lieutenant Brinkley and Lieutenant Preston, with 100 of the t)7th, were ordered to proceed to the right of the new sap, to act as a covering party; and on arriving at the trench they found it so crowded with men of the 23rd that it was impossible to keep the party of the 97th together, so they were obliged to find room as well as they could. This crowded state of the trench is said to have arisen from the party of the 23rd not having recommenced working •when the firing ceased, and remaining in the trench with the covering party of the 77th.