number of dogs were about it, which bayed and snarled
as our men drew near; but these were the only tokens
of life or animation. Beyond the hills, and on all the
available coverings on the other side of the Tschernaya,
appeared earthworks and heavy batteries. On two of
the nearest heights six guns in one and eight in the
other could be easily counted. In a kind of basin
formed behind the hills, a Russian camp was no doubt
assembled, as Cossacks came and went in that direction
repeatedly. There was, however, no means of
ascertaining either the number or strength of the enemy
without bringing on an engagement, and perhaps a
severe one. Behind the works of the heights, which
were fortified, were Russian troops; and in the wood
leading towards Mackenzie's Farm commanding
redoubts seemed to have been thrown up in different
places. When the Turks came in sight of the enemy,
their eagerness and impatience to engage them became
extreme; but, as a matter of course, it was not gratified
beyond allowing them to throw a few rockets among the
Cossacks collected on the hills. This they did with
powerful alacrity, and with an accuracy and precision of
aim which gained loud praise from all the officers on
the ground. At the first one or two rockets the Cossacks
parted and scampered in all directions, amidst shouts of
laughter from the allies; and before half–a–dozen had
been fired, not a Russian was to be seen. As the allies
fell back, a body of about 3000 infantry emerged from
behind the hills; occupying the heights as we abandoned
them, and carefully watching each movement we
made, but also as carefully watching any step which
might bring them into collision with us. In this manner
the allies quietly retired towards Balaklava; having
ascertained, beyond all doubt, that no force about which
we need be at all apprehensive remained in the vicinity.
An attempt was made to entrap the Russian infantry
by leaving a small force on the hills on the Woronzow
road, while a strong body remained at hand on the
slopes beneath; but the Muscoves were not to be so
caught, and quietly waited until all were withdrawn
and half across the plain. It was understood that one
of the allied generals was strongly in favour of a force
remaining to occupy the hills and Woronzow road; but
his advice was overruled by that of his colleagues."

On the 21st the Turkish cavalry, alone, pushed forward
as far as Tchourgoum, and skirmished with the Cossacks.

A despatch from Lord Raglan, dated the 21st of April,
decribes the reconnaissance already mentioned, and the
attack on the rifle pits on the 19th. Lord Raglan mentions
the names of officers who distinguished themselves
in the trenches and in the attack on the rifle–pits.
"Colonel Egerton was an officer of superior merit, and
conducted all his duties, whether in the camp or in the
field, in a manner highly to his own honour and greatly
to the advantage of the public; and her Majesty's
service could not have sustained a more severe loss;
and it is so felt in this army, and in the 77th, where
he was much beloved and is deeply lamented. Captain
Lempriere was a very young but most promising officer.
Captain Owen, whose leg has since been amputated, and
Lieutenant Baynes, are both most valuable officers of
Engineers; as is Captain King, of the same corps, who
was wounded two nights before. Brigadier–General
Lockyer, who was the general officer of the trenches in
the right attack, Lieutenant–Colonel Mundy, of the
33rd, who succeeded to the command of the troops
engaged in the operation on the death of Colonel
Egerton, and Captain Gwilt of the 31th, deserved
to be most favourably mentioned; and Lieutenant–
Colonel Tylden, the officer of Engineers in charge
of the right attack, distinguished himself, as he
has done on many previous occasions, in a remarkable
manner. The conduct of the troops was admirable.
In my despatch of the 17th, I informed your lordship
that a magazine had exploded in one of our
batteries; but I omitted to state that Captain Dixon, of the
artillery, availed himself of that opportunity to evince
the coolest judgment and most determined gallantry, by
instantly opening a gun upon the enemy, notwithstanding
the confusion which the bursting of the shell had
occasioned, the number of men who had suffered from
it, and the great damage the battery had sustained."

The casualties from the 16th to the 19th inclusive
were 2 officers and 22 men killed; 7 officers and 102 men
wounded. The officers killed were Colonel Egerton and
Captain Lempriere. The officers wounded were—Lieutenant
W. Norris, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade, severely;
Captain F. W. King, Royal Engineers, severely: Lieutenant
J. W. Trevor, 55th Regiment of Foot, dangerously;
Captain B. D. Gilby, 77th Regiment of Foot,
slightly; Lieutenant and Adjutant G. B. Morgan,
slightly; Captain H. C. C. Owen, Royal Engineers,
dangerously; Lieutenant C. E. S. Baynes, dangerously.
In the naval brigade, from the 17th to the 20th April
inclusive, five men were wounded.

Lord Raglan's next despatch is dated the 1st of May.
He states that "the Russians continue actively engaged
in covering their advanced works, and have constructed
a new battery on their left of the Mamelon; troops are
constantly in motion on the north side, and there is
every appearance of the establishment of a very large
camp on the plateau above the Belbek, extending
towards Mackenzie's Farm. No movement has been
perceived on the Tschernaya." Lord Raglan further reports
the arrival of the 3rd Regiment (or Buffs) at Balaklava,
and that of the Alma, having the draft of the Guards
on board. The lists of casualties from the 23rd to the
29th ult. consist of 1 sergeant, and 17 rank and file killed;
and 1 sergeant and 71 rank and file wounded.

In a despatch dated the 5th of May, Lord Raglan
says:—"Since I wrote on the 1st instant, nothing of
importance has arisen; the enemy still appear to be
collecting troops upon the high ground on the opposite
side of the Tschernaya, in the neighbourhood of
Sebastopol, and convoys are constantly seen moving in
that direction. The fire from the place upon our
trenches has not been heavy; but, notwithstanding,
I have some casualties to report, as shown in the
accompanying returns; and I have to lament the death
of three promising young officers, Lieutenants Carter, of
the Royal Engineers, Curtis of the 46th, and White of
the 62nd regiments. On the night of the 1st inst. the
French attacked a kind of counterguard, which the
Russians had established in front of the central bastion.
The operation was quite successful, and the enemy were
driven out with great loss, leaving behind them nine
small mortars. Our allies have remained in the work,
notwithstanding the heavy fire to which they have been
exposed, and have established themselves therein,
frustrating the efforts made by their adversaries to
dispossess them of it on the following day, when a
vigorous sortie was repulsed, and the Russians were
again great sufferers. The conduct of the French
troops was very brilliant." The casualties on this
occasion, besides the officers named, amounted to 1
drummer and 6 rank and file killed; 5 sergeants, and
32 rank and file wounded.

On the 4th instant an expedition of combined French
and English troops sailed from Balaklava and Kamiesch,
for the purpose, it was understood of attacking Kertch,
a place in the peninsula, which forms the eastern extremity
of the Crimea. The troops were under the command
of Sir George Brown, and consisted of about 8000
French and 5000 English. There was also a considerable
fleet of ships, of war and gun–boats, including
the Albert with Sir Edmund Lyons. The project,
however, was abandoned, pursuant, it was conjectured, to
orders from the governments at home. The expedition
suddenly returned to Balaklava on the morning of the
6th. It had been previously known that a telegraphic
despatch was received at head–quarters and a message
sent after the fleet, but its purport was not mentioned
until the fleet itself divulged it by making its appearance
off Balaklava. There has been a general feeling of
disappointment among all ranks engaged in the expedition
at its recall before their work was even commenced.

The correspondent of the Morning Herald, who
accompanied this expedition, writes as follows:—"I sailed
from Balaklava early on the morning of the 4th. All
the troops had previously embarked and started for their
destination. Only two commissariat vessels, one steam
sloop, and a ship for the wounded, remained behind. I
was in one of these, and all four proceeded with haste
to Kamiesch, in order to learn the direction in which
they were to steer to overtake the rest of the squadron.
On arriving at Kamiesch we found that Captain