344 CRIMEAN SERVICES OE “ I " TROOP, NOW “ 0 BATTERY, R.H.A. 
On the 25th of September the army made the flank march on Balaclava. 
As usual, the troops were under arms at daybreak and commenced the 
march about 7 a.m. After advancing for about a mile the road divided, 
one (the post road) leading directly south to Sebastopol, the other (a 
bye-road) easterly along the heights to Khutor, Mackenzie, and Sim- 
pheropol. The cavalry had gone on in advance on the eastern road, 
where we followed them, the ground almost impassable on either side 
from the thick brushwood and trees. Here we first found three arabas 
blocking up the road, one loaded with dried fish, and the others with iron, 
they were removed with some trouble, and in a short time we overtook 
the rear-guard of the cavalry, who had gone off to the right on a wood¬ 
cutter's road quite impassable for artillery. Here Captain Maude halted 
and sent back Lieutenant Yandaleur for orders or support, as the 
cavalry were so broken up in the brushwood, that if attacked they 
would have been completely at the mercy of their assailants. General 
Durand of the French Staff told Captain Maude that they had gone 
the wrong way, this caused the delay of an hour, when Lord Raglan 
came up and ordered an advance, we then continued the road for about 
four miles through a dense oak wood, saw nothing of the cavalry or 
infantry until we were within a few hundred yards of Mackenzie's farm, 
here through an opening in the trees we saw the advance-guard of the 
cavalry, on advancing a little further we came to an open field across 
which we saw the Russians passing with wagons, being still concealed, 
we halted and brought forward two guns but did not show ourselves. 
Orders were sent back (I was sent) for the cavalry to advance, for now 
we were in front of them. Lord Raglan, who was in advance, sent 
forward his escort to see what force there was, they immediately re¬ 
turned stating that the Russians were in force and retreating. The 
Troop advanced suddenly across the open field, and came into action 
within 20 yards of a Russian regiment who were drawn up across the 
road, where it again entered the wood, they fired a volley and imme¬ 
diately broke and disappeared in the wood, the artillery followed them 
with canister and shrapnel. The cavalry now came up and the pursuit 
was continued for about half-a-mile, a large quantity of baggage, 
ammunition and flour fell into our hands, and some prisoners were 
taken, and several dead were seen in the wood; in fact, we had come 
upon the rear-guard of the Russian army who were retiring on Sim- 
pheropol. After a halt of some hours we continued our march and 
descended into the valley of the Tchernaya, which river we crossed and 
encamped for the night. Next day, the 26th of September, wo marched 
on Balaclava, this time the Troop and cavalry formed the rear-guard. 
“C" Troop, R.H.A., was engaged in the capture of the place, and all 
enjoyed the rest after the short march. 
Balaclava now became the base of our operations, and was to us of 
great importance on account of its harbour, which, though small, is a 
safe anchorage, protected on both sides by the high and precipitous 
mountains which prevail in this portion of the Crimea, and are prin¬ 
cipally composed of porphyritic lime-stone. At the mouth of the 
harbour are the remains of an ancient Genoese fort, round which the 
entrance to the anchorage curves at almost a right angle, and this 
