ense than on the earlier occasion,
effected a lodgment in the fortress, but were then driven out with
heavy loss. But the French succeeded in storming and holding the
Malakoff, which commanded the Redan, and the Russians retired to the
northern side of the harbour during the night after blowing up their
ships. The fall of Sebastopol, especially after the doubts held and
expressed in July and August as to whether the siege would not have to
be raised, caused the greatest excitement and widespread satisfaction.
General Gordon sent home the following graphic description of this
final and at last successful attack:--

"I must now endeavour to give you my idea of our operations from
the eventful 8th of September to the present 16th. We knew on the
7th that it was intended that the French should assault the
Malakoff Tower at twelve the next day, and that we and another
column of the French should attack the Redan and central bastion.
The next day proved windy and dusty, and at ten o'clock began one
of the most tremendous bombardments ever seen or heard. We had
kept up a tolerable fire for the last four days, quite warm
enough; but for two hours this tremendous fire extending six
miles was maintained. At twelve the French rushed at the
Malakoff, took it with ease, having caught the defenders in their
bomb-proof houses, where they had gone to escape from the shells,
etc. They found it difficult work to get round to the Little
Redan, as the Russians had by that time got out of their holes.

"However, the Malakoff was won, and the tricolour was hoisted as
a signal for our attack. Our men went forward well, losing
apparently few, put the ladders in the ditch, and mounted on the
salient of the Redan, but though they stayed there five minutes
or more, they did not advance, and tremendous reserves coming up
drove them out. They retired well and without disorder, losing in
all 150 officers, 2400 men killed and wounded. We should have
carried everything before us if the men had only advanced. The
French got driven back with great loss at the central bastion,
losing four general officers. They did not enter the work. Thus,
after a day of intense excitement, we had only gained the
Malakoff. It was determined that night that the Highlanders
should storm the Redan the next morning.

"I was detailed