80

JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

Arrival ofwarm clothing-

improvementsat B.ilaklava.

a daily allowance* of charcoal was soon after issued to the troops on duty inthe trenches, independently of any other supplies which they received in camp.

Vast quantities of warm clothing of all descriptions had been disem-barked, and by this time almost every man had been supplied with a secondblanket, a jersey frock, flannel drawers and socks, and with some kind ofwinter coat, in addition to the ordinary great coat.f

SicknessJ was, notwithstanding, on the increase, and the number ofeffective men was daily diminishing. On several occasions the strength ofthe guard of the trenches was far too small to furnish any men for work,and all repairs of importance had on these occasions to he attended to bySappers, who throughout the whole of this trying period exhibited the mostpraiseworthy zeal and energy.§

Much had been done to improve Balaklava. The existing wharves, builtduring the previous month, had been considerably enlarged, and new oneshad been commenced; at the entrance of the town a pier had been con-structed for the embarkation of the sick and wounded, and adjoining itanother pier was in progress, for unloading the Engineer stores. This latter,which was completed on the 5th of February, was formed of tressles, andhad a total frontage of 90 feet.

The surface drainage of all the streets in the town was rapidly progressing,and the road adjoining the harbour, hitherto inundated, and in some placeslowered even below the level of the sea, had been raised and properly drainedfor a distance of about 2,500 feet.

The disembarkation of the wooden huts was rapidly progressing, underthe superintendence of Captain the Honourable F. H. Keane, R.E.

Fifty-six|| had already been issued to the troops, and others were beingerected within a short distance of Balaklava, for the purpose of housing thenewly arrived troops, until accommodation was prepared for them on theplateau of Sebastopol.

* This allowance was issued to each division in proportion to the number of men it sent to(lie trenches, at the following rates :

1st Division - - 200 lbs. of charcoal daily.

The Sappersthe Line.

2d Division

830 „

yy

yy

3d Division

- 1,200 „

yy

yy

4th Division

- 1,200 „

yy

yy

Light Division

- 1,000 „

yy

yy

received likewise an allowance of fuel about a fortnight after it was issued to

t Lord Raglan’s despatch dated 13th January.| Vide Appendix No. 47.

§ Vide Appendix No. 45.

|| Vide Appendix No. <6.