" The works of the besiegers," says Colonel Hamley, " though extraordinarily diffuse and extensive, had now assumed the appearance of regular scientific attacks. The batteries, no longer isolated nor confined to one line, were connected by imrallels; and those in advance were approached by regularly constructed boyaux or zigzag trenches." The fire which could therefore be concentrated on the town was at once heavier in weight of metal and wider in circumference in proportion to its radius; and sanguine anticipations were again formed as to the decisive advantages which this enlargement of the means of offence would involve.
In accordance with an arrangement previously made between Lord Raglan and General Canrobert, the batteries of the Allies once more opened upon Sebastopol, soon after daylight on Easter Monday the 9th of April. The rain, which had fallen in torrents during the night, continued through the day, accompanied by a tempestuous wind, which drove the thick vapours from the earth in the direction of the town, and obscuring the enemy's works, rendered it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for our artillerymen to fire with any degree of accuracy or to test the results of their practice. They speedily, however, succeeded in establishing a decided superiority of fire over the enemy, who, evidently taken by surprise, scarcely replied at all during the first half-hour, and after that with a feebleness which astonished, while it encouraged, their antagonists.
In truth, the elements, however unfavourable they might appear to our own gunners, were doubly so to the Russians, who, blinded by the rain and scud, could scarcely stand to their guns. In spite of the direction of the wind, the low, sullen booming of the guns reached the town of Balaklava and the camps above it, announcing the long-desired intelligence; and camps and town were plunged into a still more feverish excitement by the flying reports which each succeeding hour brought down from the front.
Now it was confidently asserted that the fleets had run in and engaged the seaward forts; that Fort Constantine was dismantled, and that the Royal Albert, having forced the barrier of sunken ships, had penetrated into the great harbour, and was attacking the town from the sea; anon the Bastion du Mat was taken, or the Mamelon destroyed; while the general assault was
THE EAST.
universally declared to be imminent. The old feeling of hope, dormant through so long a period of depression, doubt, and inaction, revived with a magical suddenness; the most impracticable sceptics of the evening were transformed into the most fervent prophets of the morrow; and no story which had success for its theme appeared too extravagant for the willing credulity of the anxious listeners. Bat amidst this enthusiastic throng of converts and believers there were others who, appreciating at their true value the current camp " shaves," and trained by careful reflection of the past to a calmer judgment of the future, drew hope from sources less fallible if more remote— who noted with satisfaction the 'vantage ground obtained by the Allies even on the very first day over the palpably weakened resistance opposed by the enemy, and who watched with rational joy the slow compression of a grasp, destined, at a time distant indeed but secure, to prove fatal to the foe.
The following eloquent description of the opening of the Allies' fire is borrowed from Mr. Wood's work: — *
" A heavy mist hung over the sea, and partly over Sebastopol, while both were obscured, every now and then, by the clouds of rain which were driven before the wind. The north side was almost completely invisible, though the mouth of the harbour was clear, and a heavy sea running in broke in a line of wild breakers over the sunken ships. Beyond one or two guard-ships, our fleet was not visible in its accustomed place. Where it had moved to I cannot say; but, as far as I could judge in the very misty state of the weather, the vessels had left their old moorings.
"In Sebastopol itself everything was quiet and clean as usual. The huge black shears in the dockyard stood out conspicuous, as did also the topmasts of a two-decker anchored just under them. Where the head of the harbour could be seen, two or three large boats could be observed crossing it near the land, but no other signs of activity were visible either on the water or in the town. The latter indeed appeared almost deserted; all round its handsome barracks, its rows of stately houses, its spacious churches, with their green roofs and handsome cupolas, not a soul was visible.