JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
159
Left Attack.
I did not get any relieving party at 2 o’clock fromthe guard of the trenches, as the major-general con-sidered it would be working the men too hard.
I had desired that the 200 men were to be em-ployed at No. 10 battery. Its progress has thereforebeen again delayed.
(Signed) G. B.
Day, cloudy. Wind (strong) N.
Killed, 1 rank and file. Wounded, 1 rank and file.
1855.
April 20, Bay.
8 A.H. to 4 P.M.
WORKING PARTY.
Line . . . . jSappers . . .Officers on duty £
One officer and three non-commissioned officersand 75 men employed under Lieut . Graham, R.E. InNo. 10 battery, parapet thickened, terrepleine exca-vated for two platforms, and part of third and onesleeper of platform laid. No. 9 battery and traversesbuilt up to 7 feet 6 inches in height, and parapetthickened on top as far as practicable in the day-time ; raw hides placed in cheeks of embrasures ofNo. 3 and 4 guns ; road for guns formed to No. 2,
to facilitate the arming ; a shell-room formed onleft, by leaning splinter proofs of 10-inch squareagainst an excavation in rock. A good roadwaymade to large cave on left, and the cave prepared forpowder, but the sides are still rough ; the averagedimensions being 18' x 4' by o’ 10" high ; but therock is soft, and if required there will be no difficultyin excavating to any size required. Steps havebeen formed, and the cave is perfectly ready toreceive powder.
The working party of the 50th Regiment workedvery well indeed.
P.S.—A party of miners were employed in blastingcommunication to caves from the advanced post.The enemy fired constantly at both working parties,and wounded four men slightly.
Right Attack.
1855.
April 20, Bay.
5 A.M. to 5i F.M.
Working Party-.
Line .... 80 men.
Sappers ... 24 „
(■Capt. Browne, R.E.Officers on duty < Lieut . Sheehy, 64th(. Regt.
Two and a half brigades of Sappers employedgenerally superintending ; one brigade carpentersrepairing platforms.
Working party of the Line employed as follows :
21-gun battery, 20 men in two reliefs, with halfbrigade of Sappers, repairing magazines, embrasures,&c. No. 9 or 8-gun battery, half brigade Sappersmasking embrasures, &c.
Advanced sap on left, 60 men in two reliefs wereemployed in making cover in the rifle-screen e,captured last night, and the communication to it fromadvanced parallel. Good cover has been procured,and the parapets made defensible with banquettes.The men worked extremely well, and there were nocasualties amongst them, although a constant fire waskept up from the quarries, and a few round shot fromthe right face of Malakoff Tower upset some ofour gabions, which were made good with sandbags.The artillery mortar fire was extremely bad, as manyshells burst in rear of our advanced works, owing tousing 10-inch fuze for 13-incli shell. A few handgrenades would have been of much use to dislodgethe enemy from a screen, f, within about 14 yards ofours. Captain Peel, R.N., mnde some good shotsfrom 21-gun battery at the quarries.
Sir, 20th April 1855.
I have the honour to inform you, that, inaccordance with your order received yesterday after-noon, a lodgment was effected last night about 10 p.m.in the evening in the enemy’s rifle-pit E imme-diately in front of the left advance, and a communi-cation made from it by flying sap to the boyaux inreal 1 . The lodgment is occupied, and a working