that is the one we shall use. — Since writing the above I have learnt that Colonel Dixon and his twentyguns are not going to Kertch; their destination is Anapa or Soujak, so that by the middle of June, or perhaps sooner, you may expect to hear of great events in that part of the world. The other event of importance in the week is a change in the position of the allied armies, who, instead of being cooped up in the heights before Sebastopol, now occupy the line of the Tchernaya. This move has given us a considerable extent of new ground, and we can now ride about over some of the loveliest country in the world. During the whole of the winter and up to last week our rides were limited to going into Balaclava from the heights and back again, but now that we have advanced to the Tchernaya and driven back the enemy all this accession of territory is ours. The country is most beautiful, mountainous and beautifully wooded, with one or two such beautiful valleys; but the most charming part of the whole is the ground itself, which is covered with a profusion of wild flowers of such luxuriance and beautiful colours as I had no idea existed. You would be in raptures with the sight; and when riding home towards evening, as the setting sun lights them up, it really seems nothing short of profanity to tread them under foot. This is really very sentimental, but you know my love of scenery, and when one is allowed to revel over such beautiful ground, after being cooped up for a whole winter upon a barren and very confined space of ground, suffering any amount of misery and wretchedness, I leave you to judge of my delight. The climate of the Crimea, in spring, at all events, appears to me to be perfect, and as we are now supplied with everything we want, we are as merry as crickets, and living as we do amidst such exciting and instructive scenes, our lives are as happy as they can be away from all one's family. You see what a spirit the successes of the last week have given us. And now God bless
you, my dear mother, and bring us soon together again. — Ever your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson. Balaclava, May 28.
P.S. — ^The French loss on the 22nd and 23rd, which I have written about, amounted to 40 officers and 2000 men, killed and wounded; the Russians left on the field on the night of the 22nd only 1500 dead, and their total loss on that night is estimated at 6000.
To Lady Stephenson
Camp before Sebastopol, June 25, 1855.
My dear Mother, — I had intended writing to you rather sooner than this, but have been rather out of sorts lately, owing to our failure in last Monday's assault. The Kertch expedition, with the subsequent assault and capture of the Mamelon and quarries in front of Sebastopol, had put everyone into such high spirits that the reaction, owing to our failure last Monday, is the more keenly felt, and a bitter disappointment it was. We had all been told from Headquarters and other high authority that success was certain; that the arrangements for the plan of an attack were so perfect that they must succeed; whereas, when put to the test, they turned out to be so execrably bad that failure was inevitable. Our Division had been recalled from Balaclava to act as reserve, but owing to our ill success we were not called into action. We were intended to have been used in following up the success of our storming parties,and of keeping order in the town after the capture. The disgust of the army is great, and equals what was experienced after Inkerman. To suffer the heavy loss we did, and yet have nothing to show for it is a great trial tons all, but I hope we shall succeed yet. The French got into the Malakoff Tower at one time, but the five remaining lineof- battle ships which the Russians have still preserved opened such a fearful fire upon that work that it was im-
1855] IN THE TRENCHES 143