The latter days of March were unmarked save by some unimportant night skirmishes between the French and Russians, and the energies of the Allies were unceasingly devoted to pushing with vigour the preparations for the second bombardment. The railway was now in a state of completion to the summit of the plateau, and daily cai-ried up a quantity of ammunition for the batteries, variously estimated at from 70 to 200 tons. The Land Transport, also — which had recently arrived from England, and was rapidly brought into a state of efficiency by the unwearied activity of Colonel McMurdo, charged with the superintendence of this branch of the service — was now at work for the same purpose; and the accumulation of powder, shot, and shell applicable to the coming operations was enormous, the English batteries alone being supplied with no less than 500 rounds for each gun and 300 for each mortar.
Before closing the chronicle of this not uneventful month, we must not omit to mention two dashing and successful feats performed by a few of the steamers of the allied squadrons on the north-eastern coast of the Black Sea. Earlier in the month. Lieutenant Armytage, in command of Her Majesty's
THE EAST.
steam-vessel Viper, was despatched by Captain Giffard to examine the mouth of the Kouban Lake and the coast as far as the Tower of Djimiteia — a work which had been recently erected for the defence of the direct communication between Anapa and Kertch. After having dispersed a small body of Cossacks whom he observed at the former point, Lieutenant Amnytage proceeded along the coast to the south-eastward until abreast of the martello tower of Djimiteia. Anchoring the Vii)er bow and stern at about 500 yards from the beach, he opened fire, and, with the aid of some parties whom he landed for the purpose, speedily succeeded in destroying the fort and barracks, setting fire to the granaries, spiking and disabling the two guns of the fort, and destroying the ammunition: the whole being effected without a single casualty among the crew of the Viper. This steamer also took part in the subsequent affair, which is thus referred to by Sir Edmund Lyons in his despatch of the 17th March: —
" I have the honour to enclose, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter which has been addressed to me by Captain Giffard, stating that, while making a reconnaissance near Soujah Kale, with Her Majesty's ship Leopard under his command, and accompanied by Her Majesty's ships Hi(ihfl>jer, Swalloiv, and Viper, and also by His Imperial Majesty's steam ship of war Fulton, he was informed by the Circassians in the neighbourhood that the enemy had so reduced the strength of that fortress by the removal of men and guns to Anapa, that they were ready to attack it by land, if he would do so by sea; and that he, wishing to encourage the natives and to embarrass the Russians, had assented to the proposal, and moved the ships to within 1,000 yards of the south face of the fort, where he performed his part; but that, on finding the Circassians did not perform theirs, he withdrew, after having driven all the garrison out of the place, with the exception of a few gunners in the earthern batteries, and having also dismounted several guns, and done considerable damage to the arsenal and public works, leaving the garrison about a mile from the place, surrounded by Circassians, who were collecting reinforcements.
" The ships appear to have been well placed, and to have fired with great effect; and Captain Giffard expressed his thanks to Captain Le Bris, his able coadjutor on former occasions, as well as to Captain Moore, Commander Craufurd, and Lieutenant Armytage, and their respective officers and ships' companies, for their suppoi't. Of Captain Giffard himself I may perhaps be permitted to observe, that this is not the first time that his zeal and gallantry have been conspicuous since he has been under my command."
The casualties caused in the performance of this service were as usual slight, amounting in all the vessels employed to only one man killed and four wounded.
It is now time that we should revert to the renewal of the bombardment: before doing so it may not be superfluous to observe that the aspect of the works of offence had undergone a considerable change since the memorable 17th of October; the principal batteries of the right and left attack were the same as before, but they were now augmented, strengthened, and extended.