enjoys relative comforts, which make it gaily support
the fatigues it has to undergo.

"The number of sick in our military hospitals at
Constantinople is 3794, of whom 1387 are wounded. I have
established in the Crimea, near the Bay of Karatsch, a
depôt of convalescents, where the men who leave the
army ambulances, and who only require rest, will regain
their strength, and be enabled to return to their duty.
This measure will diminish the number sent to
Constantinople.

"His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon, still
retained at Constantinople by the malady which forced
him to leave the Crimea, wished to rejoin us. I opposed
his return, which might compromise the health of the
Prince."

The principal occurrence mentioned in the official
despatches—the Russian sortie in the night of the
20th of December—has been described in several private
accounts. The correspondent of the Daily News,
writing on the 22nd, gives the following details:—
"Yesterday morning (Dec. 21), a little before three o'clock, the
whole camp before Sebastopol was suddenly aroused by
bugles sounding the alarm. As the stirring notes ran
from regiment to regiment, in many instances followed
by the 'double,' the troops started up from their sleep
and were quickly under arms. The night was fine and
starlight, but there was no moon visible.

"The cause of the alarm and turn-out proved to be a
sortie made by the Russians against the advanced
works, both of the English and French batteries. Distinct
attacks had heen made nearly at the same time on
the troops in advance of Captain Gordon's battery on
Frenchman's Hill, and on these protecting the advanced
work which some time since was wrested from the
Russians; another body approached the entrenchment
originally made in advance of Captain Chapman's battery
on Greenhill. The enemy came on in comparatively
such limited numbers against the advanced work in
front of Frenchman's Hill as almost to lead to the belief
that it was planned as a feint, while the more earnest
attack was made against Greenhill and the advanced
French works.

"I wish I could write that the attack had been met as
it ought to have been. Neither men nor officers were
on the alert, and all were taken by surprise. There
were eight companies in the advanced work of Captain
Gordon's battery, taken from the 7th, 23rd, 33rd, and
34th Regiments, and this force, properly prepared and
organised, was sufficient to hold it against double the
number of the enemy who attacked it. As it was,
however, the sentries posted only a few yards in front of
the work must have been utterly careless, and in all
probability were lying down, if not asleep; for the first
intimation of the attack to the men and officers lying
within the work was given by the shouts of the
Russians themselves who had mounted the parapet, and
were already committing havoc among the sleepers.
The consequence was there was a panic, scarcely any
resistance was made, and the covering party hastily fell
back upon the battery. Some of the men even crowded
in at the embrasures, and thus prevented the guns being
used against the Russians who had gained possession
of the advanced work. Others crowding within the
battery impeded the action of the troops stationed there
for a time; but when order was restored and an advance
made to regain from the enemy the work they were
supposed to be still holding, it was found they had
already abandoned it. They were not in sufficient
force to retain it, extending as it does for a long distance
across the hill towards the middle or Orchakov ravine;
but they had had time to carry off considerable booty in
arms, blankets, and accoutrements. Five men were killed,
and had all been stripped, even to their boots. One
body was found with eight bayonet wounds; another
was mangled and thrown into the well. Fifteen were
wounded; some so badly, that they were left for dead
in the work by the Russians. These had been most
barbarously treated, having been repeatedly wounded
alter they had fallen, and in three or four instances had
been kicked and beaten over the head by the butt end
of the musket, to insure destruction of life. About
twenty-seven are missing, no doubt having received
wounds which did not disable them from marching, and
being carried away as prisoners. Among these latter is
Lieut. J. Byron of the 34th regiment. This officer was
seen to fall by a sergeant, who states that he was
wounded, but apparently not severely, and has not
since been forthcoming. There can be little doubt but
that he was taken away as a prisoner. The sentries
were men of the 7th Royal Fusiliers.

"I have not heard one circumstance advanced to
palliate this discreditable affair. The night was sufficiently
clear and light for the Russians to have been seen
advancing at a distance off of 150 or 200 yards. But it is
not difficult to account for and explain its occurrence.
There was a force of eight companies, but there was no
field officer in the work: they were under the command
of a captain. They were taken from different regiments,
and were not in the habit of acting together. The
English officers on outpost and picket duty are in too
many instances notoriously careless: wrapping themselves
in their waterproofs, they will entrust the posting
of sentries to their sergeants, who in turn will perhaps
let the sentries relieve each other. There was no want
of courage in the men—they wanted direction and a
leader. Had a habit of proper vigilance been inculcated
by superior officers, and an example set, this disaster
would not have happened.

"In the advanced works of Greenhill there appears to
have been the same want of caution and alertness as at
Frenchman's Hill. A covering party of the 50th Regiment
were protecting the work, having relieved a corresponding
force from the 20th Regiment. The Russians
advanced up the ravine, which divides the French
extreme right from our extreme left, and thus attacked
the advanced work in flank. The men of the 50th
Regiment were taken by surprise, but succeeded, after
an obstinate resistance, in driving the enemy back.
They suffered, however, considerable loss—17 being
killed and about 35 men wounded. Captain Frampton
and Lieutenant Clarke are reported missing, and it is
presumed were made prisoners.

"The attack on the French works was very determined
and obstinate, and the contest continued for nearly
an hour after all the fire of musketry had ceased in the
British position.

The following account of this affair is given by
Lieutenant-Colonel Waddy of the 50th Regiment,
who was engaged in it: "On the evening of the 20th
I went to the trenches, in command of the guard of
1,200 men. It was a fine, clear, starlight night, and I
was congratulating myself on my luck with Thompson,
when all of a sudden the Russians opened a heavy fire
of artillery from one of their batteries upon the trenches,
and the shells came hissing like a basket full of snakes
over our heads. This was quite an unexpected salute,
particularly as the time was only 2 o'clock in the morning.
The men all jumped up at once, and were ready
for anything. It so happened that the 50th occupied
the posts of danger: 120 men under Frampton being in
the most advanced parallel, and 300 men in support, in
the second parallel, under Möller, while my place was in
the main trench with the rest of the guard. However,
being anxious to be assured that all was right in the
front, I ran out, and got there just in time; for a strong
and overpowering body of the enemy had rushed on
Frampton's party, and had driven them in. They came
on boldly to the second parallel, but we received them
with a sharp fire, and they checked; however, a small
body of them managed to get round our left into the
parallel. I called to the men to charge, which was done
instantly and effectively, and Ave killed or drove all out.
They still remained in our front, firing. I then led two
companies of the 38th Regiment, which I had ordered
up in support, right over the parapet, and we cheered
and charged down on the left flank of the Russians,
who then took to their heels, when we gave them some
parting vollies. I cannot be too thankful to God for
His merciful protection over me through this night's
work. Inkermann was nothing to it, so far as I was
concerned.—Of course I was obliged to be foremost.
There is now the sad part of the affair to be told. Poor
Möller fell mortally wounded, and he died about an
hour ago, and my old friend Frampton has not been
found since. I have also to regret the loss of Mr. Clarke,