JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

it, to return to the charge as many times as he advances ; and the importance which heattaches to it gives reason to suppose that he will show great obstinacy in maintaininghimself there. In these circumstances, and foreseeing the necessity of confining theattack on the Malakoff to the occupation of the Mamelon, situated 600 metres in advanceof the latter, it is necessary to arrange everything according to the previous projects ofGeneral Burgoyne , at the same time for the simultaneous advance of approaches as nearas possible to the Great Redan, which this occupation will render practicable, and will,allow the columns of assault to advance over a short distance to this salient and theneighbouring enceinte. It is not to be believed that this assault can be given for theobject of carrying immediately by assault the entrenched camp.

It will be considered, without doubt, more prudent and sure to advance foot byfoot on the interior entrenchments which exist there, unless unforeseen facilities presentthemselves, of which immediate advantage will be taken if there is daylight enough toallow of penetrating further. In admitting that we ought to begin by establishingourselves in the Redan itself, there will be found on the slopes opposite, and hidden fromthe Malakoff Tower, means of covering oneself from the view of the boulevard, and alsoto cause the abandonment of the Barrack Battery, taken in reverse and at a shortdistance. The attack of the town conducted against the Bastion du Mat would thus finditself relieved from the flank fire from the latter battery.

To continue, it is requested that arrangements should be made by the English armythat as soon as the occupation of the Mamelon in advance of the Malakoff by the French troops takes place, the approaches on the Great Redan should be pushed in advance asnear that work as possible, in order to give the assault to that part of the enceinte of theentrenched camp ; an assault^whicli will be given by the allied armies under conditionsof mutual assistance, to be regulated at another time.

General Commanding Engineer,

Before Sebastopol, (Signed) B. Bjzot.

28th February 1855.

Memorandum by Lieut.-General Sir John Burgoyne .

Camp before Sebastopol, 1st March 1855.

I understood General Bizot’s note of the 28th February to imply a renewal of theearlier project of attack on the Redan and Bastion du Mat, with the addition of crown-ing the Mamelon in front of the tower of Malakoff, otherwise everything remains as atpresent. That would certainly afford a power of carrying lodgments and approachesmuch nearer to the Redan, preparatory to any assault or lodgment, which, however, inmy opinion, would be subject to the same difficulty that I have hitherto foreseen, if theMalakoff Tower fronts were left in a state of security.

The enemy having been able to establish himself towards the end of the ridge on ourside of the Careening Bay, has increased the difficulties of the reduction of the placeconsiderably. So long as he holds that point, he renders'any attack, or even appearanceof any real attack, upon the tower of Malakoff, and from there to the Careening Bay,almost impossible, and by that bold measure he gains besides a triumph that must have