Those who had been
cured, and came back to the Crimea, told how they had been treated; and
I do not believe that there is a soldier of that army but who blesses
the ladies of England for the sake of those who acted as nurses in the
military hospitals in the East.

On the 5th of September the whole of our batteries again opened on the
town, and went on firing night and day, till, on the 8th at noon, the
French, who were to attack the Malakoff, made the signal to advance.
They rushed on, as they always do, very quickly; and before the
Russians, who were at dinner, had time to defend the place, they were in
it, and their flag was flying on the ramparts. Now came the turn of the
British, who had to attack the Redan. On they went; but the Russians
were ready for them, and they were met by a hot fire of musketry and
artillery. Major Welsford, of the 97th, who led the storming party, was
killed, and Colonel Handcock was mortally wounded. There was not a
hotter fight during the whole war. We had officers and 356
non-commissioned officers and men killed, and not far from 2000 wounded;
and, after all, our men were compelled to retire. It was known that the
Highland brigade, under Sir Colin Campbell were to renew the attack the
next morning. We made up our minds that it would be a day of bloodshed,
but we hoped also of victory, and we were prepared for it.

In the night, however, an officer, with some men, went out to look for a
friend who had fallen in the works of the Redan. Not seeing him, he
went on and found no sign of an enemy. This being told to the engineer
officer conducting the works, he sent a corporal of sappers, who also
found all still within. Sir Colin, on hearing of the matter, called for
ten volunteers from each of the Scotch regiments to learn the truth.
They, advancing at a run, crossed the ditch, and a man of the 93rd was
the first to scale the rampart. The place was deserted. The Russians,
on a bridge of boats and rafts, had crossed over to the other side of
the harbour during the night, having set the town on fire in all parts.
We took possession of a city of blazing houses and exploding mines. It
was some time before we could move about, for fear of being blown up or
crushed by falling houses. The whole city was a ruin, and the Russians
had also sunk or burnt all the ships in the harbour, so that it seemed
that they had left us little worth having.

Then came the sad work of burying those wh