530 
SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. 
open fire until the Engineers had put up the mantlets. This was not 
done till 4 p.m., when a few rounds (twenty-seven)'" were fired by the 
3 p.m. relief, during which time one mantlet was twice struck by shot, 
and finally blown away by its own gun. These mantlets, however, 
were not fixed in the usual manner, but merely balanced on a piece of 
wood laid across the embrasure ; the battery on this day was not much 
injured. At the morning relief on the 13th, the battery was manned 
by a detachment under Captain Oldershaw and Lieutenant Simpson,! 
and opened fire in company with the batteries in rear. No. 7 was 
quickly placed in a very trying predicament, for the Russians from their 
commanding positions soon concentrated upon it the fire of a number 
of guns. The duel was an unequal one, but was persisted in with 
decided success against the garden batteries,! and for five hours a 
hot contest was maintained, when the battery was compelled to cease 
firing. The affair is thus reported in the Royal Engineer Journal of 
the Siege : 
“ Left Attack, 13th April, 1855.” 
“ Four guns in No. 7 battery which opened fire this morning were 
compelled to cease firing at about 11 a.m., being completely over¬ 
powered by the heavy fire brought to bear on them from the Upper 
Garden and the Town batteries. The embrasures and magazine, and 
the battery generally are much cut up. One of the gun carriages is 
disabled by the destruction of a wheel, and one gun struck by a shot, 
which I do not think has damaged it greatly. Lieutenant Graham,§ R.E., 
contused by a stone.” 
“ Sd., H. D. Jones, Major-General, 
Commdg. R.E., April 19th, 1855.” 
For the casualties in the Left Attack on the 13th, see foot of return 
No. 1. 
* Morning State of Left Attack, April 13th, 1855. 
f Kane’s List, No. 2186, now Major-General W. H. Simpson. 
1 The “ crows’ nest,” so called from its resemblance to a gigantic birds’ nest, being 
built up with gabions and fascines, was silenced. 
§ Now Lieut.-General Sir Gerald Graham, V.C., G.C.b. 
