xxxii BIOGEAPIUCAL SKETCH. 



grand— the Malakoff literally vomited fire ; our right batteries were playing into it— our mortars 

 shelling it. The Russians were returning the fire with tremendous vigour. It was too much 

 for the French ; they came back, the enemy after them, and did not stop till they got to their 

 own trenches. The Russians di'ove them through the Mamelon, out and back again over the 

 parapet and ditch, down the slope, and into the advanced French trenches. It was a nervous 

 moment. Pelissier, with all his staff, was in the Victoria Redoubt. Supports were ordered up 

 — a hand-to-hand fight took place, and the enemy were driven back in return. Heavy columns 

 of French went round the flanks of the Mamelon hill, and, coming in behind, recovered it. 

 After this I saw nothing, as the smoke was so heavy and darkness had come on. At 10 p.m., 

 June the 8th, I went to the front. The Redan was silent, and the Malakoff firing only one gun. 

 The French still held the Mamelon, and were shelled by the ships, and by the lowermost Russian 

 battery, on the extreme point formed by the Careening Bay and the harbour. Pelissier has ' 

 been pressed to continue the attack, and try the Malakoff, but declines to stir till he has 

 secured his position on the Mamelon. I think he is quite right." 



Two days after the taking of the Mamelon, he availed himself of an armistice, under a flag of 

 truce to bury the dead, to visit the work and the grounds in its vicinity. It appeared to be a 

 lunette, open at the gorge. In the interior a very massive traverse was constructed upon the same 

 line as the largest axis, whereby shot was prevented from passing through the work. The parapets 

 stood 10 feet high, and were very thick ; the depth of the ditch was about 8 feet. The work itself 

 was veiy much knocked about, and filled with the dead, caused by the English fire on the Cth 

 and 7th, and by the casualties which took place during the assault — also with the French who 

 were shelled since it was taken. This fire of the enemy proved very destructive, one French 

 regiment having lost 200 men on the 8th by shells. The Russians would not permit any one 

 to approach the Malakoff ditch, which was reported to be so deep as to be quite impassable 

 without ladders and planks. These particulars were all learned from the Zouaves, who were 

 shot down by hundreds when trying to cross. In Lord Arthur's opinion the French should have 

 contented themselves with holding the Mamelon after they took it. In going up they did not 

 lose 25 men ; but when they attacked the second time the fire from the ]\Ialakoff was very 

 heavy. 



He considered that the position now held by the Allies was so menacing that the fall 

 of the town might be regarded as a certainty. Two courses were open to them : — one, to assault 

 at once ; the other, to push the batteries at least 700 yards nearer to them. There was a com- 

 promise once more : a heavy fire was opened on the whole of the Russian defences from the 

 batteries new and old of the Allies for several days, and preparations were made for a general 

 assault. 



