132

APPENDIX TO JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

Appendix not venture out in a swell. At Sinope alone a vessel can lie in bad weather, and there the mode

No. 29.

of conveyance for timber along the coast is tedious, being chiefly on the backs of horses, and the

embarkation (as was the case when I was there) slow and uncertain in rough weather. FromMr. Casolani, Her Majesty’s Naval Agent at Sinope, I learnt that no supply of timber was to begot at Samsoon ; that the place was, in fact, itself supplied from Sinope. I met, however, theassistant to the Consul at Samsoon, at Eneboli, who told me that timber could be procured there,but not in large quantities, but that previous notice should be given, as none is kept on hand.

Thinking it important to return with this first load of timber and what information I hadprocured, toBalaklava, I judged it better not to go to Samsoon, where I should most probably findnothing, but to confine myself to visiting Abanali and Eneboli, where I was certain of finding atolerable supply of planking.

Mr. Casolani, at Sinope, was of great use in procuring timber for me there, as, owing to therecent destruction of the town, the merchants had no great wish to dispose of what they had.The commanding officer in the place, Colonel Alib Bey, gave me much assistance with fatigueparties in bringing the timber to the shore and ordering the lighters with greater speed than themerchants could have done.

I have, &c.

(Signed) II. F. de Vere,

Lieutenant, R.E.

P.S.—The following are the places in Sinope Bay where I was informed timber could beprocured, together with the quantities at each place :—

113 1-in. and lj-in. planks.5,150 oak posts.

328 rafters.

Tchobanla

Tchakiroglu

L 312 1-in. and 1-in. planks.- 7,300 oak posts.

439 rafters.

- •< 20 „ (thick).

Yaikeel

j 600 -|-in. planks.L 39 1-in. „

3,000 oak posts.

350 1-in. planks.

3,000 g-in. to 1-in. planks (belongs to Sinope merchant).5,000 planks.

Gulsafab

Tyahanton

Head Quarters, 22d November 1854.

Sir,

I observe in Lieutenant de Vere’s Report, herewith enclosed, that he did not purchase alarge quantity of thin planking five feet long, as he had not received instructions in my letter toCommissary-General Tilder, dated 7tli November 1854, to do so, though he considered it welladapted for roofing purposes.

I request that you will be good enough to instruct officers going upon this service, that theyare authorized to purchase wood of any description whatever which they may consider calculated

to meet the object in view, viz., the hutting of this army.

Whenever you have done with the Report, pray be kind enough to send it back to me, as I wishto give instructions on the various details contained in it.

I have, &c.

(Signed) Richard Airey,

Quartermaster-General.