CHAPTER. XX. COMFOETABLE QUARTEP.S. JLinoeuvrcs of the fleet — Consultation between the naval and military authorities at head-quarters — Strenartli and elliciency of tlie Turks at Kujiatoria — French, Enp^Iisli, and Sardinian Cavalry — Keeessity for immediate operations — Favourable prospects for an expedition — Impatience of tiic sailors for active employment — Their disappointment iu not taking part in the final assault upon Sebastopol — Result of the late cruise — Captain Sherard Osborne's hazardous feat — lio\v the Russians obtain supplies — Ko sign of a Russian retreat — T!ie AnjjloFreuch Commission — The spoils of war — Xumber of guns and small arms — Principle pm-sued in dividing tlie spoils — General Windham's stafl" — Is the North side to be invested? — Important works in course of erection — Balaklava strangely altered — Flour — Daily consumiition of corn by the horses, mules, and ponies in tlie English army — The Duke of Newcastle in the Crimea — Huts — Healthy condition of the English troops — Jlilitary education — Lack of excitement — Cathcart's Hill and its associations — Lieutenant Tyron's grave-stone — General Goldie's tomb — Inscriptions — General Strangways and Captain Edward Stanley's tombs — Sir George Cathcart's monument — Lieutenant-Colonel Seymour's tomb-stone — Jlonument to Sir John Campbell — Sir 11.
Newman's sarcophagus — Deaths of Colonel Gough and Lieutenant Kerr — Fimeral processions — Invalids. BEroRE Sebastopol, Scpte7)-J)er 25. The fleet wliich sailed towards Balaklava on Friday turned back and passed by Sebastopol, and proceeded thence to Eupatoria on Saturday, returned to Kamiescli on Sunday after an immense consumption of coal and production of black smoke, and with utter want of success so far as regards the supposed object of their curious manoeuvres, which is stated to have been to attract the attention of the enemy from their present position to meet some imaginary demonstration in their rear. Yesterday Sir Edmund Lyons and Admiral Stewart, with several post-captains, attended at head-quarters, and it is understood that thej', in connuon with the whole licet, are most anxious "to do something" ere the season is too far advanced for naval operations.
At Eupatoria they found no less than 31,000 Turkish infantry in a fine state of discipline, and in perfect readiness for any military service. These soldiers were all reviewed and inspected on the occasion, and officers of rank, English and French, wore alike gratified by the disciplined alertness and efficiency of these neglected and almost useless infantry. It is difficult to imagine that these Tui-ks could not aid us materially in driving the enemy from Sebastopol if strengthened by an English division and two French divisions, which could be easily spared from this army at present. Moreover, they might be aided by all our cavalry, which arc now in verj^ excellent condition, and are, nevertheless, of no earthly service at Kadikoi or Baidar. Between French, English, and Sardinians ■we could send a force of at least 5500 sabres to the north side of the Alma, which certainly would have nothing to fear from any Eussian cavalry in the Crimea.
Colonel McMurdo has collected more than 10,000 horses and mules for the service of the Land Transport Corps, and it would be very strange indeed if he could not spare enough of them to supply and carry food for an expeditionary column during a week or ten days, nor is there any reason why he should not be able to aid the French intendance in the field, should they requu-e our assistance. The allied fleet could embai-k and land the whole force in forty-eight hours, or, at all events, in sixty hours, at any points between Balaklava or Kamiesch and Eupatoria. All our gallant sailors, from the Admirals downwards, feel acutely the difficulties and ingloriousness of the position in which they have been placed. They had hoped, indeed, to co-operate with the land forces in the attack on Sebastopol on the 8th of September; but the violent wind and high sea which sprang up early on the morning of that day did not allow them to raise an anchor; indeed such a large fleet could not have been set in motion in the bad w^eather that prevailed, and directed against the narrow entrance o'' Sebastopol, without the certainty of collision and the risk of fatal confusion.