E03rBAr.DME^"T. CHAPTER XV. THE FINAL BOMBAEDifENT. The dawn of the oth of Sfptombcr — View from Cathcart's TTill — The comni('ncc'iin.'nt of tlie fiiiiil lior.ibrtrdnii'iU — Its fearful elVcet.- — Activity of the French — They open fire ^vitho^lt us — Illness of General Jones — A pause ill the terrible drama — Kcncwal of the bombardment — At night both English and French mortars and heavy guns keep up the fire — A Itn^.sian frigate in the harbour in flames — Splendour of the scene — Kenewal of the bombardment on the second day Deaths of Cai)tains Shone and Buckley — The bombardment continued on the third day — The assault determined upon — A Kussian two decker on fire — Explosion in Sebastopol — Preparations for the grand struggle. "Wednesday, Sqitemher 5.
At dawn on the morning of the 5th of September the allied batteries opened fire for the sixth time on Sebastopol. The air was pure and light, and a gentle breeze from the southeast, Avhich continued all day, drifted over the steppe, and blew gently into Sebastopol. The sun shone serenely tlirough the vapours of early morning and wreaths of snowy clouds, on the long lines of white houses inside those rugged defences of earth and gabionnado which have so long kept our armies gazing in vain on this " august city." The ships floated quietly on the waters of the roads, which were smooth as a mirror, and reflected the forms of these "monarchs of the main," while outside our own fleet and that of the French, equally inactive, and not quite so useful to us, were reposing between Kasatch and Constantino as idly as though they were " painted ships upon a painted ocean." From Cathcart's-hill the view takes in a portion of the defences of the (Quarantine — the French approaches to it and to the Flagstaff' ijalteries up to the junction of their parallels with our left attack, which takes place in the ravine at the end of the Dockyard-creek.
The spectator can see at a glance the Flagstntf Batteries' works — the suburb of ruined houses, or rather the sites of cottages and residences, which are all that is now left of long streets destroyed by the fire of our allies. This mass of ruins is enclosed between the Flagstaff' and the crenellated sea wall, and beyond this, at a coit2^ cVml, may be seen the civil town behind, still presenting a stately appearance as it rises on the hillside tier over tier, displaying churches, stately mansions. and public buildings of fine white or rod sandstone, v.Ith gardens interspersed and trees growing in the walks. Tluse iine structures are not exempt from " low neighbourhoods" of whitewashed houses, belonging to the garrison or to the poorer inhabitants.
The hill on which this part of the city stands rises from the rear of the Flagstaff Battery to the height of 200 feet or more, it presents a steep face to the creek from the ])oclcyard, and then sweeps round towards the roadstead, to the level of which it abruptly descends at the rear of the southern forts. The houses which are built upon this face of the liiil are not visible, but those situate on the eastern fiice, or on the descent to Dockyard-creek, are discernible to the naked eye. There is a poor suburb at the base, and thence the houses rise In terraces, with flights of steps and curving roads up to the brow of the hill. The bombardment is beginning to tell upon these buildings.
A church, decorated with many small pinnacles at the angles of the roof, has been struck by a shell, which destroyed the roof. Some of the best mansions are split open, or with their craclced walls admit the light of the day; others are perforated with shot-holes, through which the light is visible — windows, doors, pillars, and columns are broken or destroyed. In the rubbish of the subvirb, next to the Flagstalf v/orks, there are several batteries in excellent order, which are not injm-ed by the allied batteries, and which have not yet fired much, if at all. They ai"e mostly Jfechcs. and seem intended as out-lying works of the second line of defences. Near the top of the hill, inside the crenellated wall, a portion of the interior line of these defences is to be seen.