"Mackenzie's Farm," the leading files of the artillery and
cavalry came upon a body of the enemy; who being
attacked on their flank, fled, some backwards, some
forwards, leaving behind a quantity of baggage and
ammunition. As soon as the divisions had cleared the
forest, they halted for fifty minutes. Again in motion,
the troops crossed the Tchernaya, and there put up for
the night. Next morning they marched to Balaklava;
seized it, after an insignificant resistance; and found
the Agamemnon, the Caradoc, and some transports, in
the landlocked harbour. The French army followed the
British; reached Mekenzia eleven hours after the skirmish
there; and joined the British at Balaklava next day.

On the 28th the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions
of the army were ordered at once to move up to the
heights about Sebastopol, where they encamped, the
First Division remaining at Kadikoi, behind the port of
Balaklava, for the protection of that important post,
while the Light Division rested on the heights above the
harbour, which it had occupied before the surrender of
the fort. At the desire of General Brown, however, the
Light Division also moved forward on the following day,
and occupied a position in the line of the besieging
army. The Engineers and Artillery proceeded at once
to land the siege-train, and on the 29th some of the guns
were already dragged up the heights, and temporarily
placed in a field about one mile in the rear of the
position occupied by the troops.

The Duke of Cambridge's division, consisting of the
Guards and Highland Brigade, remained in the rear of
the army near Balaklava until the 2nd inst., in order to
cover the base of operations from the possibility of an
attack. Meanwhile, the roads and tracks through the hilly
country south of Khutor Mekenzia, by which the Allied
armies made their flank march on Balaklava, were
broken up and put into a state of defence by the British
forces. The right flank of the army was effectually
covered by the defile leading into the valley of the
Tchernaya, by that stream, and by the marshy ground
about it; and so satisfied was Lord Raglan on the 1st of
October of the strength of this position, that he caused
the First Division to advance to the right of the army,
and to take up its position during the siege.

On the 4th, shot and shells were thrown from the
town. One shell, thrown from an earthwork to the
south of the town, burst within the lines of the 68th
Regiment. One man of the 68th and another of the
63rd Regiment were killed, and two of the 68th were
wounded; one of the latter, a sergeant, who was at the
time lying in his tent, severely.

On the 7th, at daybreak, a large force of Russian
cavalry and infantry, estimated to be about 6000 strong,
were perceived by a picquet of the 4th Dragoon guards
on the Balaklava road. The alarm was at once given,
but the Russians were too numerous, and had surrounded
the men of the picquet. All escaped, however, but
three, two of whom were wounded by lances, and a
third whose fate was unknown, save that he, with the
two others, were secured as prisoners by the Russians.
Some guns belonging to Captain Maude's battery were
quickly brought up, and shots fired, but it was feared
that the Russians had by that time retired too far to
admit of much execution being done.

The breaching batteries against the White Tower
were completed on the 11th. The other works were
progressing. An incessant fire has been kept up from
the Russian batteries since the 8th, but to no purpose.

On the 12th the Russians made several sorties, but
were unsuccessful in all. All the Greeks have suddenly
quitted Balaklava; an attack upon the works thrown
up to cover the town and harbour was expected.

Many charges have been made of gross neglect, not
only of our wounded men after the battle of the Alma,
but generally of the sick at Scutari and elsewhere, in
consequence of the deficiency of medical attendance
and necessary appliances. These have been strongly
contradicted on official authority. Dr. Smith, Director
General of the Medical Department has published a statement
as to the number of medical officers in the East, and
the amount of medical stores sent thither. He says:—

"The number of medical officers with the British
forces in the East at the time of the battle of the Alma
was 276, being 1 to every 97 of strength. In the
Peninsula the number of medical officers was 1 to every 154
of strength. At the present moment there are 30 more
medical officers on their way to Constantinople, and 15
more are waiting embarkation. Dr. Smith is happy in
being able to state confidently that the medical officers
at Scutari (he believes 21 in number) have at their
command everything necessary to the treatment of the
wounded soldier; hence there is no necessity whatever
for any effort being made by the public to send out to
Constantinople lint, old linen, &c."

Dr. Smith gives in detail a list of the medical
appliances and comforts sent out, from which it would
appear that these things have been amply supplied.

This statement is confirmed by Mr. Roberts, the
private secretary to the Duke of Newcastle, in replying
to a lady, who had volunteered to the War Department
a supply of linen and money for the use of the sick and
wounded soldiers in the East. Mr. Roberts says: "I
am desired to state that the stores of medicines and
medical comforts, as well as beds, linen, lint, and
bandages which are now in Turkey, and of which fresh
supplies are constantly being sent out, are more than
ample to supply the wants of the sick and wounded."
He adds: "It appears to the Duke of Newcastle that
the duty of having the hospitals thoroughly well
provided with things so indispensable as those mentioned,
is one of the most imperative which can devolve upon
the Government of this country, and it is one also which
the Government has followed out and continues to
perform perseveringly. It appears to his Grace that there
is at present no way in which more good can be done
than by contributing to the fund for the relief of the
widows and orphans of the gallant men in her Majesty's
land and sea forces who have perished during the war."

There is likewise unofficial testimony to the same
effect. The following letter from Lieutenant Foster of
the 95th regiment, dated the 17th instant, has been
published by the Morning Chronicle.

"Sir—Having just returned from Scutari, on sick
leave, I learn with astonishment and regret that reports
have been prominently put forward in certain
newspapers, to the effect that the sick and wounded of our
expeditionary army have been grossly neglected; and
that there was great want of lint, bandages, and dressings
for the wounded, as well as of wine and other
comforts for the use of the sick.

"I hasten to inform you that these reports, to my
certain knowledge, are utterly false and groundless.

"I was myself under treatment for some time at the
military hospital at Scutari, and can speak confidently
and truly in praise of that establishment, and of its
staff. I saw the wounded arrive from the Crimea. I
went on board the Andes and Vulcan: the wounded in
both ships are very well cared for. There were awnings
and screens to protect them from the weather; and
each man had his cot, bed, and blankets. The wounded
officers had also been made as comfortable as possible
under the circumstances, and I heard no complaints
whatever. On the contrary, all, both officers and men,
were ready to testify to the unremitting attention and
the extreme kindness and humanity of the overworked
medical officers. Further, I visited the wounded after
their removal to the hospital at Scutari—I spent hours
with them; and I can safely say that, with the exception
of those who were only slightly wounded, and who
were assisting their less fortunate brethren in arms, every
man had a comfortable bed, and all necessary attention
and care bestowed by the medical officers and attendants.

"The wounded officers, in my hearing, frequently
expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements made
for them. When any one of them uttered a cry of pain,
at once was a medical officer by his side.

"Nothing could exceed the devoted attention of the
medical staff to the wounded, both officers and men.
No distinction was made; all were treated alike (the
officers being in separate wards); and all fared well—
as well, nay much better than might have been expected.

"The Turkish Seraskier, when he visited the hospital,
was equally surprised and delighted with the arrangements
which have been made for the requirements of
the sick and wounded.

"Lastly, during my stay at Scutari, I learned from