to our friends across the valley. The movements of the Russians turned out to be for the purpose of making [? meeting] a reconnoitring party of three regiments of French cavalry which were pushed forward to ascertain what the Russians were doing, when a skirmish took place of no great importance. The French had one man killed and two wounded, I believe — the Russian loss I do not know. The French, however, ascertained what they wanted — namely, that the Russians were quite inactive in their camp, and apparently intending to remain so, — and then returned home.... I do not think that the siege will be renewed till near the end of the winter. In the meantime I think that there are other causes operating in this delay. Omar Pasha is landing at Eupatoria with 40,000 men, where he will probaoly be joined by 20,000 French (for they say the French are to be reinforced by 60,000 men), in which case the allied army would probably advance from Eupatoria upon Sebastopol or Batchki-Serai, cut off the supplies and act upon the rear-covering army of Sebastopol, in which case the Russians in and out of this town (supposing this manoeuvre to be successful) would be forced to capitulate. Under any circumstances the Russians round this place must detach a strong force to watch Omar Pasha, when we ourselves might be able to cut off all supplies from coming into the town, and I therefore think we now are waiting till Omar Pasha is prepared to advance before we recommence the siege. On the other hand we hear that Omar Pasha is enabled to come to the Crimea in consequence of Austria ^^ having signed a treaty on the 2nd December, defensive and offensive, with England and France; and rumours go so far as to say that this step of Austria's will lead to peace...,
... The walk along the edge of our heights is, I assure you, a charming resource. I am generally there to see the sunrise, which on some mornings, particularly lately, has been well worth the trouble. We have only had one slight fall of snow, and very little frost, our
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
bad weather having consisted entirely of wind and rain.... And now God bless my dear Lou, and keep you in the same good health He has been pleased to grant me. — Ever your affectionate brother,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Brother Before Sebastopol, December i\, 1854.
My dear William, —... To know that I am constantly in all your thoughts is the greatest comfort I receive out here. I was flattered to find there was anything in my letter about the storm worthy of being shown to Lord John Russell. I little thought when I sealed the letter that it was destined for such an honour.... We are literally doing nothing, but for all that our work is exactly the same as if the siege were going on — outlying pickets, guards in the trenches, and working parties without end. This severe work is telling fearfully upon the men, and the reinforcements do little more than keep up our strength. The sick list of our army yesterday was 11,000. The men, especially the fresh draughts, who are not acclimatised, cannot stand it; they are fearfully overworked and very rarely get twentyfour hours to themselves, and this work they have to do in all weathers; night and day, or let it rain ever so hard, the work must be done. Still, I have never yet heard one single murmur or complaint, and there is no prospect of this siege ending. Many of us fancy that this inactivity is owing to political reasons, so that the taking of Sebastopol may not embrouiller the negotiations which we hear are taking place.... A strong reconnoitring party of 10,000 French advanced yesterday to the enemy's camp in our rear in the valley of the Tchernaya and found Liprandi's ^^ army, which has all along been threatening Balaclava, on the point of decamping. It appears they cannot subsist in the valley, and are moving off to Batchki-Serai and Simpheropol, which is also the case with the greatest part of Dannenberg's '*
1854] SIR R. ENGLAND 121