The glare of the foe through the clouds of dust and smoke presented a very remarkable and ominous appearance. As soon as this fire broke out, a Russian steamer began to tow all the vessels near her to the dockyard harbour, and to the north side, but the men-of-war and steam-frigates are still moored in lines, with their broadsides bearing on the rear of the defences. A bright Hame broke out in the rear of the Redan in the afternoon, and another fire was visible in the town over the Woronzoff road at a later period of the evening. At 11 p.m., a tremendous explosion took place in the town, but it could not be ascertained exactly where or how it occui'red. At dusk, the cannonade ceased, and the bombardment recommenced— the thunder of the bombs bursting from the sea-shore to the Tchernaya sounded like the roll of giant musketry — the Russians replied feebly, threw bouquets into the French trenches, and showers of vertical gi-ape into ours, and lighted up the works now and then with fire-balls and carcasses.
I much regi-et to state, that Captain John Buckley, Scots Fusilier Guards, was killed in the evening as he was posting his sentries in the ravine between the Malakhoff and the Redan in front of our advanced trench of the right attack. It has been a disastrous spot for us. Major M'Gowan, 93rd Regiment, was carried olT here, and Captain Drummond was killed soon afterwards. Captain Buckley, who has now fallen in the discharge of his duty, was a young officer of zeal and promise. He was devoted to his profession, and although ho was wounded so severely at the Alma that he could have had every excuse and right to go home, he refused to do so, and as soon as he came out of hospital, on board a man-of-war, in wliich he was present when THE TROOPS UXDEIi the attack of the 17th October was made, he returned to his regiment and shared its privations during the winter of '54-5.
In the tiro to-day and this night, wo lost one ofHcer, eleven rank and tile killed, and forty-eight rank and file wounded. In addition to the burning ship and the fires in the town, a bright light was observed at the head of the great shears of the Dockyai'd about four o'clock in the afternoon, and it continued to burn fiercely throughout the night. It was probably intended to light up the Dockyard below, or to serve as a signal, but it was for some time imagined that the shears had been set on fire by a shell. A strong corps of Sardinians marched from Fedoinkire and Komara this afternoon, and crossed over to the French left attack, on the line from the Quarantine to the Bastion Centrale.
The night was passed in a fever of expectation and anxiety amid the roar of the bombardment, while the wind blew in deafening bursts back on the allied camp. Saturday, Septemhcr 8, 11 a.m. All comers from Balaklava and the rear of the camp are stopped by a line of sentries posted fi'om Inkermann to the sea. Another cordon of cavalry in front prevents any communication with Cathcart's Hill or the Picket Houses in advance of the camp. Staff-officers, and those furnished with passes, can alone get through the line. The excitement is very great. The fire, which recommenced as usual at dawn, is of the most tremendous character, and has been sustained with appalling force and vigour. The Fourth Division is now under arms, and the Third Division is assembling in front of its camp.
The assault will take place at noon. Many officers arc already at Cathcart's Hill, and my pass will enable me to join them, and to pass the cordon as f;ir as I please. The French on our right had five parallels from the jtfamelon up to the ]\Ialakhoff, from the counterscarp of which they were about twenty metres distant. They were about one hundred yards from the No. 2 Bastion in the Little Redan on their extreme right, and on our left their etonnoirs were within six or seven yards of the ditch of the outer works of the Bastion du Mat (Flagstaff Battery), and their advanced trench, opposite the right of the Central Bastion, was not more than eighty yards from the counterscarp. The ground between our fifth parallel and the salient of the Eedan is tolerably flat, but it is torn up by the craters of shells, and the enemy could at all times depress their guns to cover it.
By their heavy fire they caused oui*