EEPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. MTLELLAN. 7 



Russians to oppose the landing ; because an army on land could never keep pace with the move- 

 ments of a fleet. The only reasonable plan was to remain in position at Sebastopol, and act 

 according to circumstances as soon as the allies showed their hand. But the landing being 

 once eflected, the Russian general should have annoyed and harassed them, by day and night, 

 by unremitting attacks by his Cossacks and other light troops. 



Instead of ofiering battle at the Alma, two other plans were open for the consideration of the 

 Russian. In any event to destroy the harbors of Balaklava, Kamiesch, &c., and then, first, to 

 leave in Sebastopol the garrison necessary to secure it against assault by a detachment of the 

 allied army, and with the rest of his available troops to operate on the left flank of the allies, 

 in which case his superior knowledge of the ground ought to have enabled him at least to delay 

 them many days in a precarious position ; second, to remain in the vicinity of the city, occupy 

 the plateau to the south of it, and allow the allies to plunge as deeply as they chose into the 

 cul de sac thus opened to them. 



A couple of vessels sunk in the narrow mouth of the harbor of Balaklava, or the employment 

 of a few tons of powder in blasting the clifis which enclosed its entrance, would have effectually 

 prevented all access to it. A few vessels sunk in the common entrance of the harbors of 

 Kamiesch and Kazatch, and the same thing at Strelitzka bay, would have rendered them also 

 inaccessible. This should have been regarded as a necessary part of any system of defence for 

 Sebastopol, and, if carried out, would have placed the allies in a most unenviable position. 

 The result of their expedition would have been disastrous in the extreme ; and they might well 

 have esteemed themselves fortunate if permitted to retrace their weary journey to the Old Fort, 

 there to re-embark and consider more promising plans of campaign. I am not acquainted with 

 the early career of the Russian commander, but cannot resist the conviction that the history of 

 his operations will but present another example of the impropriety of intrusting military opera- 

 tions to any other than a professional soldier, or at least of the danger of attempting to combine 

 in one person any such dissimilar professions as that of the sailor and the soldier. The moral 

 courage and energy of the admiral in the early part of the siege, and his sagacity in detecting 

 the merits of Todtleben, are above praise, but cannot efface the impression that he failed to take 

 a sufiiciently enlarged and military view of the events he so largely controlled. 



To resume the movements of the allies. The battle of the Alma was fought on the 20th 

 of September ; the two following days were spent on the field of battle ; the 23d and 24th 

 were occupied in marching a little more than ten miles to the Balbek ; the 25th and half 

 of the 26th were passed here, when, at noon of the latter day, the flank march to the south side 

 was commenced by the curious arrangement of sending the English artillery in advance, 

 without escort, through a woods. This very original order of march was well nigh attended 

 with disastrous consequences ; for, as the head of the column approached the main road at 

 Mackenzie's farm, a strong Russian column passed by. Fortunately for the English batteries, 

 the Russians must have neglected observing the roads ; and being ignorant of the true state of 

 affairs, steadily pursued their march towards Baktschi Serai, thus losing an opportunity of 

 striking a brilliant blow without risk to themselves. 



Finally, after darkness set in, the head of the English column reached the banks of the 

 Tchernaya at the Traktir bridge, the rear closing up very late at night, broken down by disease, 

 burning with thirst and exhausted by fatigue. Next day the march was resumed; losing 

 many men by the cholera, and much disorganized by the fatigues of the preceding day, they at 

 length reached the welcome haven of Balaklava just as an English steamer glided in. Thus, 

 on the 2Yth, the communication with the fleet was regained, and the first episode of the cam- 



