140
JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
Left Attack.
Right Attack.
Memo.
The result of this day’s firing appears very satis-factory on the whole. Very few casualties amongmen or guns have occurred in either attack. TheRussian fire has been irregular and indifferent, exceptagainst No. 7 battery, Left attack, in which four gunswere disabled.
The enemy’s works show signs of distress, and thepractice made from No. 9 battery, Right attack, whichopened to-day, was very good.
Fine day. Wind S.
Working Party.
1855.
1st relief, 150 men.2d relief, 250 „
Woekikg Tarty.
April 14, Day.
7 A.M. tO 4 P.M.
1855.
j Sappers ... 17 men.
nm+er* nv dutu $ Ca P fc - PoRTEE * R - E '
Ujjicei s ok duty . t Nkvtllti. R.
Line .... 180 men.Sappers ... 35 men.
April 14, Day.
8 A.M. to 5 r.M.
uapt. owes, R.E.Lt. Anderson, K.E.
Officers on duty |
Commenced a battery for four guns and twomortars on left of second parallel (No. 9). Two gunportions were raised six feet high, and embrasuresmarked out; a third gun portion is marked out.The rock is prepared for one mortar bed ready forlaying platform, and the second is partially finished.
The instructions of the director as to the works tobe executed were carried out as the detail givenbelow will show, except in one particular ; in-stead of employing 100 men in the Left advance,No. 1, left demi-parallel, I could only obtain a work-ing party of 50 men. The field oificer of thetrenches, to whom 1 first applied, objected to employa working party when I could not assure him they
Parties were employed all day filling sandbags foreach of the batteries.
Carpenters employed repairing mortar platforms.
would be safe. 1 then applied to General Codrington,who granted me a party of 50 men. In the objectionas to the safety of the locality, I could only urge thatno spot in the trenches was safe ; that it was onlya question of degree, and it was impossible torender trenches more safe without working parties inthem ; and finally, that I would put a working partynowhere I could not go myself or set Sappers towork.
It appeared to me that during last night the enemyhad been actively engaged in extending their rifle-screens nearest to our trenches, with the evidentintention of converting them into counter-approaches.With so little experience, I find it extremely difficultto judge of the enemy’s works ; but my own personalimpression is, that neither their parapets, nor theirembrasures, nor their artillery have suffered more injurythan it is in their power to restore in a night.
The fire from the tower and Redan was morebrisk than at any other time of the day, and theI Mamelon fired at intervals throughout the day.