rgy, and
perseverance of the Russians enabling them to repair the earthworks and
batteries as fast as their demolition by the allies seemed to advance.
April was signalized by such marked differences of opinion between the
French and English generals, that co-operation before Sebastopol was
difficult, and impossible elsewhere, although plans for operations at
other places were discussed.

May opened brightly and beautifully, as it generally does in the Crimea,
and all around the trampled plateau was decked with flowers, which
sprung up with wonderful rapidity in the most unlikely places,
displaying their grace even among the tents of the warriors. May
was attended by as unhappy differences of opinion between the allied
generals as was April, although the presence of General Pelissier in the
French army tended to promote good feeling and generous forbearance.

Much sickness was experienced in May by the troops of the English army,
and the extravagance, dirt, and confusion of the transport service
caused a heavier sick list than would otherwise have been reported.

The King of Sardinia having joined the alliance against Russia, several
thousand fine troops from that nation landed at Balaklava. They
were eventually quartered upon the Tchernaya, and, with some Turkish
detachments, and French divisions, held at bay the Russian army in
the field, and rendered all further operations of the enemy against
Balaklava impossible.

An expedition was sent against Kertch.

When May closed, the allies and the Russians confronted one another, in
formidable force, upon the opposite heights of the Tchernaya.

June was an eventful month before Sebastopol. It began with a third
bombardment of the gallant city, which, like previous ones, was a
failure--the means of the allies, vast as they were, being inadequate
to the undertaking. The French made a successful attack upon the White
Works and the Mamelon; and the British were equally successful in
attacks upon the Quarries, by which the part of the Russian lines which
they opposed were protected. The Russians made desperate, but eventually
abortive, attempts to retake all these positions.

The third bombardment having failed, the allies lost no time in bringing
fresh resources of attack and storm against the defences. A fourth
bombardment produced signal havoc and extensive dilapidation. On the
18th of the month, the allies attempted to take the place. A combined
assault of a most san