After all, it may turn out that for military reasons the Generals resolved to let the French open first, and that their inaugural cannonade was a matter of arrangement. Although there are some complaints of deficiency in the engineering depai-tment, I have never heard it said that our artillery, so long as the supplies of powder, shot, and guns lasted, were not ready to meet any enemy. It unfortunately happens at this juncture that General Jones, who has always displayed great energy in directing the siege works, is unwell. In fact, he cannot go out, on accomit of a severe attack of rheumatism, which almost cripples him. But all this has nothing to do with the siege, and in the mean time our allies are pounding away with exceeding warmth at everything within range of their guns.
Our Quarry Battery, armed with two mortars and eight cohorns, just 400 yaids below the Redan, plies the suburb in the rear of the Malakhoff vigorousl}'^ Vv'ith bombs, and keeps the top of the Redan clear v^ith round shot and grape. Redan and Malakhoff are alike silent, ragged, and torn. At most the Redan fires three guns, and the adjoining batteries are equally parsimoniousThe parapets ai-e all pitted with shot and shell, and the sides of the embrasures greatly injured, so that the gabions are sticking out, and dislodged in all directions. There is no more of that fine polishing and of that cabinet-maker's work which the Russians bestowed on their batteries; our constant fire by night, the efforts of our riflemen, and incessant shelling have rather checked their assiduous anxiety as to external appearance.
After two hours and a-half of furious firing, the artillerymen of our allies suddenly ceased, in order to let their k2 guns cool and to rest themselves. The Eussians crept out to repair damages to their works, and shook sandbags full of earth from the banquette over the outside of their parapets. Their gunners also took advantage of this sudden cessation to oi)cn on our sailors' batteries in the left attack, and caused us some little annoyance from the " Crow's-nest." At ten o'clock, however, having previously ex^Dloded some fougasses, as before, the French re-opened a fire if possible more rapid and tremendous than their first, and continued to keep it up with the utmost vigour till twelve o'clock at noon, by which time the Russians had only a few guns in the Flagstaff-road and Garden Batteries in a position to reply.
We could see them in great agitation sendmg men and carts to and fro across the bridge, and at nine o'clock a powerful column of infantry crossed over to resist our assault, while a movement towards Inkermann was made by the army of the Belbek. Soon after our fire began, as early as six o'clock, the working parties which go over to the north side every morning were evidently recalled, and marched back again across the bridge to the south, no doubt to be in readiness for our exjiected assault. From twelve to five o'clock p.m. the firing was slack; the French then resumed their cannonade with the same astounding vigour as at dawn and at ten o'clock, and never ceased their volleys of shot and shell against the place till half-past seven, Avhen darkness set in, whereupon all the mortars and heavy guns, English as well as French, opened with shell against the whole line of defences.
A description of this scene is impossible. There was not one instant in which the shells did not whistle through the air; not a moment in which the sky was not seamed by their fiery curves or illuminated by their explosion. Our practice was beyond all praise. Every shell burst as it ought, and the lines of the llussian earthworks of the Kedan, Malakhoff, and of all their batteries were rendered plainly visible by the constant light of the innumerable explosions. The Russians scarcely attempted a replj'. At five o'clock it was observed that a frigate in the second line, near the north side, Avas smoking, and, as it grew darkci', flames were seen to issue from her sides. Men and officers rushed to the front, in the greatest delight and excitement, and as night came on, the whole vessel was enveloped in one grand blaze from stem to stern.