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INTENDED FRENCH ASSAULT.

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parties. This morning my report covered more than a sheet of large letter paper, so it can be easily imagined that it requires some effort to write these reports when very tired; but necessity knows no law, and there is some satisfaction in knowing that one's effusions are perused by the Commander-in-Chief. My recommendations of various men for distinguished conduct have brought gratuities from General Simpson for the individuals praised, amounting altogether to 81.

'It is rumoured that the French assault the Malakhoff to-morrow. The English Light Division are also reported to be under arms, so that it is probable the English army may take part in the assault.

May God bless all who are dear to me, and have them in His holy keeping! The above rumour has been fully confirmed, and this may be my last night on earth.

'If the French army succeed in their assault on the Malakhoff, the English are to attack the Redan; in fact, there is to be a general attack along the whole line. All the officers of Engineers are to be told off to their several positions to-morrow; several accompany the assaulting column, some remain with the reserves. I may know early to-morrow where my place is to be, but of course everything is uncertain in war. I am sad, but quite calm; I look upon all this butchery with horror, but accept it as a stern necessity, and am determined with God's help to do my duty. If I die, may God of His infinite mercy prepare me for the great change. How many hundreds of poor fellows will

breathe their last to-morrow!

home, or I shall unman myself.

to bless and preserve me!'

I must not think of

May God be pleased

'Sept. 8.-I am to lead the assault with the scaling ladders. I march down in about half an hour.’

THE

CHAPTER XII.

THE ASSAULT OF THE REDAN.

HE secret of the attack was admirably preserved. Not a whisper was circulated. It took us all by surprise, as we imagined no further attempt would be made on the Redan after the failure of the assault of June 18. We heard, however, that it was arranged that both armies should "go in " in earnest, and that the success of the French in their attack on the Malakhoff was to be the signal for our advance on our old enemy the Redan. Our several positions were not assigned to us; but knowing that it would probably fall to my lot, as Senior Subaltern, to occupy the post of honour, and lead the ladder party, I prepared myself, as well as the short interval permitted, for the probable fate which would attend the performance of the desperate duty. I took farewell of my mother and all my relations, committing them to the blessing and protection of God. I endeavoured to pray earnestly, and to compose my mind. I felt the only course left open was willing submission, and fixed resolve that, if I were to die, to fall in endeavouring to do my duty to the uttermost.

Beyond this, I was determined not to go. Though every soldier should expose himself without the slightest hesitation to the greatest danger when necessary, recklessness should never form part of his creed. His duty to his country should be the primary, and the preservation of his life the secondary, consideration. No really good soldier throws his life away without aim or object.

'I had been on duty in the trenches during the night of September 6, and was consequently very tired on the night before the assault. I slept well and calmly on the whole, but awoke rather early in the morning.

'Between 5 and 6 o'clock A. M., the Adjutant came in and confirmed my conjecture that I was to lead the ladder party. Soon after Anderson came into my tent, and informed me he was told off for the working party to follow when the storming party were well in possession, and form a lodgement across the Redan. I rose and dressed; I put on my red shell jacket to look as much like the men as possible, and carried in my . pocket, besides a tourniquet, portion of a night-shirt torn into strips for bandages.

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'I called at my Colonel's (Col. Chapman) to read the written instructions given me by General Jones. I found they were as follows: "The Subaltern of Engineers in charge of the ladder party should, as soon as the troops have got into the Redan, commence a communication by a ramp from the ditch to the glacis. It will be necessary for him to ascertain whether any parapet will be necessary across the ditch of the two

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PREPARING TO LEAD THE FORLORN HOPE.' 203

faces, to guard against any attacks the enemy may be disposed to make by them. If the scarp and parapet of the salient of the Redan do not form an easy ascent and descent, it must be made so."

'These directions were clear and explicit enough; but to carry them out, positively no working party, with the exception of a few sappers with shovels, had been told off. I immediately pointed this out, and asked for and obtained a working party of 100 men, who were instructed to follow immediately after the storming party.

'I had an interview with Nicholson (now Major Nicholson, R.E.), to whom I gave my brother's address, with the request that he would communicate with him in the event of my death. He promised to act for me in everything as he felt I should have wished him to act, and tried to reassure me as to my chance of escape, though (as he told me afterwards when I came back) he had not the slightest expectation of ever seeing me again safe and sound. These matters settled, I rode down to the trenches with Anderson, Sedley, and Major Campbell, 46th. They were thickly lined with troops when we arrived, and the batteries were firing heavily on the Redan and Russian works; the enemy replying with grape and round shot.

"I found the ladder party, composed of men from the 3rd Buffs and 90th and 97th regiments, lining the sap in front of the Redan (called the sixth parallel), the trench which Cooke and myself commenced on my first night's duty in the trenches. The party consisted of 320 men, who were told off to forty scaling ladders,

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