Near the garden of Admiral Nakhimoff (Golandia) a battery was constructed mounting twelve guns (Plan II., 18), and on the opposite side of the harbour another battery of twelve guns (Plan II., 19). Across the harbour, from Fort St. Michael to Fort St. Nicholas (Plan II., 11-1), were placed two strong booms, with an entrance near Fort St. Michael. Four vessels were moored in the southern harbour, with the greater part of the steamers of the fleet. Two frigates were moored behind the booms, and eight ships were placed in two lines opposite Krim Balka, with their broadsides turned towards the entrance of the harbour. All the smaller merchant-vessels were sent up to the head of the harbour towards Inkerman.

From these arrangements it is evident that Prince Menschikoff expected his visitors from the sea, but that he never dreamt of their coming from the land side.

On the 13th of June, 1854, I left the town and encamped on the north side, where was the 2nd brigade of the 17th division, with the 4th and 5th light batteries of our brigade of artillery, and the 12th battery of horse artillery belonging to the 2nd brigade of the 6th division of cavalry, which was encamped on the river Katcha. Our camp was about two versts from the village of

Ychkooevka, whence the Black Sea was seen spread as it were at our feet, and here I had the pleasure of my first sea-bath.

On the heights above the village we used to rush out of our tents when any straggler brought us intelligence that the enemy's vessels were in sight; here on these occasions we used to discuss the merits, courage, and exploits of our enemies. I remember on one occasion Captain Ermalaev, of ours, expressed himself nearly as follows to his brother officers :-"The Englishmen go and return on the sea, but there is no fear that they will reach Sevastopol; they would be afraid to try; let them only try on land, and we would give it them in fine style. The French, we know, can fight, but the English, if they ever do make war, it's only with savages, in a country a long way off-there, I can't think of the name of it-you must all know-it is the place we were to have gone to had we not been ordered here we were to have advanced by way of the Caucasus. There, I have it at the tip of my tongue! you know, Ivanov! No, I cannot remember the name of the place!" "I think it was called India," said Stepanov. "Yes, that's it," caught up Ermalaev. "They are afraid of us! only let them try, we'll soon send them back again." A number of men by this time had

surrounded the officers, and were standing uncovered in the midday sun. Ermalaev asked them, "Well, my lads, do you think we shall beat the French and English?" "Yes, sir; if we could only meet them we would soon show them what we are made of." "That's right, my lads! You see all this business is because these Christians stand up for the dog of a Turk, who impales and boils all our brethren." "Yes, but how is that, sir, that these people stand up for the Turks and their wickedness?" "Why, my lads, you see the Turkish Sultan has promised them a piece of Christian land. No, God will defend us in our holy cause. These English don't believe in God! Not long since they attacked a monastery!* and what do you think was the result? Why, all their shot rebounded, because it was a holy place! but they could not understand that." The men listened to the words of their Captain with great attention; and when he told them that the English had taken the bells from the monastery, they remarked that most probably guns would be made of them to be used in the Crimea or elsewhere against the Russians. The worthy Captain concluded by saying that "We must all fight for Holy

* The monastery of Solovetzki, in the White Sea.

99

Russia." To which one and all answered,—“ If you don't hang back, we will hold our own.' This is a pretty good specimen of the kind of conversation carried on between the men and the officers who have risen from the ranks in the

Russian army.

At this time all the Russian papers were full of the sufferings of the Christians in the East. The soldiers even grumbled that they were left in idleness while their comrades were gaining victories on the Danube. I learnt, however, the real state of things in the Principalities from an officer of the 10th Division. The troops in the Crimea were dissatisfied too with many things. In the first place, the rations were very indifferent; for Prince Menschikoff, though no doubt a very clever man, was a very unfit Commanderin-Chief. During five months he never once showed the slightest interest as to the manner in which the men were fed, nor did he ever inspect the cook-houses, which he ought to have done, as what follows will show :

The commanders of regiments, taking advantage of the indifference of the Prince to the comforts of the soldiers (for in the Russian army it is absolutely necessary that they should be

*Such victories!

looked after), took very little care that their men were well fed, but were at great pains to fill their pockets with gold. Truly provisions at this time were dearer than in ordinary times, still good meat could be bought in the market for five or six kopecks* per pound, and by taking a large quantity the price would be about one copeck less; at the same time the Colonel of our regiment was paying, or rather pretended to be paying, at the rate of seven kopecks per pound for a very inferior quality of meat, greatly to his own and the contractor's profit, while the poor soldiers were the sufferers. The man to whom the command of our regiment was intrusted was Major-General Volkhoff; he would never allow the officers in charge of companies to purchase provisions for their men when they could be obtained at a cheaper rate and of a better quality, thereby saving a few kopecks out of the provision sum to add to the poor pay of our ill-used, ill-fed men; but even when in want of money the Colonels of regiments will even take money from the pay of the soldiers, under the pretence of improving their diet.

The following is a statement of the pay and emoluments of a Russian soldier :-He receives

* About two and a half kopecks make one penny.