Sebastopol Trenches, and five months in them

Front matter

SEBASTOPOL TRENCHES. ORDERS AND HONOURS "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE" CONFERRED ON MAJOR-GENERAL SIR DENIS PACK K.C.B. AND ON HIS SON COLONEL REYNELL PACK OB. London;Pub]isXdl>y Kerby <Jt Endea.ii, 190 Oxford Street ,1878. hanhart lith Sebastopol Trenches and FIVE MONTHS IN THEM. BY COLONEL REYNELL TACK, C.B, 7th Fusiliers. " The path of Duty was the way to Glory ! ****** Oh, Statesmen ! guard us, guard the eye, the soul Of Europe. ***** Drill the raw world for the march of mind, Till crowds at length be sane, and crowns be just ; But wink no more in slothful overtrust ! " ****** " Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them, Volley'd and thunder 'd ; Storm 'd at with shot and shell. * * * * When can their glory fade ?" — Tennyson. LONDON: KERBY & ENDEAN, 190 OXFORD STREET. 1878. AU rights reserved. LONDON ; KERBY AND ENDEAN, 190 OXFORD STBEKT, PIUNTLRS AND PUBLISHERS.

Preface

. The following narrative of Five Months' Life in the Trenches before Sebastopol was written by the late Col. Reynell Pack, from notes taken by him at the time. Written with no attempt to imitate the practised skill of the historian, or to describe with the facile pen of the experienced newspaper corres pondent, it is a soldier's plain narrative of a soldier's experience when engaged, for many weeks, in the active duties of camp and trench life besieging the chief seaport of the enemy. This volume would have appeared immediately after the Crimean campaign, but as it contains strong comments on the capacity and qualifications of certain officers, its publication was deferred till a fitting time arrived for its issue. The period in the Siege of Sebastopol and the Life in the Trenches more especially described in this volume, have scarcely been presented by any writer

PREFACE.

. VI other than the professional correspondents of our valued and potential press. Much interest, it is be lieved, will be taken in the following pages, and more especially at the present moment, when the Eastern Question is again absorbing the whole political attention of Europe, — it is therefore with greater confidence offered for public perusal. Life in the Trenches was much the same from day to day: actions, sorties, night attacks, fierce bom bardment from the forts, a watchful enemy ever on the alert, much peril experienced, many deeply inter esting incidents occurring; but the indomitable patience and perseverance of commanders, officers, and men eventually crowned the besiegers with success. No 3iege of history ever concentrated upon itself so mightily the whole gaze of the civilized world as the Siege of Sebastopol, and what ever illustrates that siege and the character of the combatants engaged therein is of deep general interest.

The Frontispiece is a copy of the Orders and Honours conferred on Major-General Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B., and on his son Colonel Eeynell Pack, C.B., and it prefaces this volume for the purpose of shewing

PREFACE.

. VII that nations recognise gallant and heroic deeds, and are ever ready to honour services loyally discharged. At the same time it may not be amiss to state that these Orders and Honours are all that remain to the present representative of the family in acknowledg ment of the services rendered by these gallant officers, who virtually lost their lives in defending their country's honour. The panoramic sketches are from the pencil of Captain M. A. S. Biddulph, Eoyal Artillery. They were issued by him at the time of the campaign ; but as their circulation was limited, it is felt that their re-issue in these pages is most appropriate, and thanks are gladly given to their respective publishers for the ready courtesy and kindness with which permission was given for their reproduction. Avisford, 1878. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Declaration of War — The First Bombardment of Sebastopol — Balaclava and Inkerman — Departure for the Crimea — Soldiers' Consolations — The Embarkation — Threatened Court-Martial — Modest Requests of Young Officers — Abundant Food — Hungry Troops — The Results of War — Fire at Sea — Narrow Escape — Gentle Influence on a Times Correspondent — "Transport" Difficulties — Absolute Requirements — The General's Farewell Speech — Gibraltar and Arrival at Malta — The Fortifications of Malta — The Dardanelles — First View of Constantinople — Grandeur of the Scene — Visit to the Admiral — Orders and Counter-Orders — The Hospital at Scutari — Order of the Bath Undeservedly Conferred — Departure from Constantinople, . . . Page 9-33

Chapter II

The Bosphorous — The Black Sea — Balaclava Bay — Balaclava Pirates — The Ordnance Wharf — A Balaclava House — Chaos — Disagreeable Dilemma — Balaclava Costume — "Neat" Soldiers of the 11th Hussars — The Times Correspondent — Cape Chersonese — Sebastopol — Night Bombardment — Pain and Pleasure must have an end — Our Encampment — First Lesson in Misery — Red Tapeists — First Night in the Trenches — Penetrating Power of the Sun — Frozen Ink — Heavy Firing Nightly — We go to the Front — The Major of the Enniskillens — The Woronzoff Road, Page 34-52

Chapter III

War's Realities— The French Cariole — The English Ambulance— A Hearty Welcome — Power of Religious Services in War— The Critical Moment at Hand— Gordon's Plan of Attack — The Rejec- X CONTENTS. tion of the Plan a Great Error— The British Right Attack— Au Afternoon's Interesting Study — The Heavy Duty of the Trenches — Signal Failure of the Large Mortars— " A Captain, a Comrade, and a Friend " — " Under Arms " — Waiting Orders — Critical Duty — " A Mysterious Figure " — Our Gallant Engineer nearly Shot — Recklessness of Soldiers about their Arms — St Patrick's Night — What Constitutes True Courage — Ominous Quiet — Remarkable Sharpshooting — A French Military Spectacle — "Au nom de l'Empereur " — General Canrobert's Love of Ceremonial — Performance of the Sea Service Mortars, . . Page 53-78

Chapter IV

Grand Sortie of the Russians — Captain Hedley Vicars — Lieutenant Marsh's Presence of Mind — Success of the Allies — Real and False Attacks — Robbing the Slain in the Heat of Action — A Mummy, Swathed and Wrapped — A Two Hours' Armistice — Terrible Shot — Rapid Change of Ownership, . . . Page 79-87

Chapter V

Constant Night Alarms — Preparations for the Bombardment — Captain Bainbrigge Blown to Atoms — The Light Division Races — The Opening of the Bombardment — Failure of the Bombardment — False Economy — Artillery Practice in the Trenches — The Fleet Threatening to Enter the Harbour — Blowing up of a Battery Magazine — Capture of the Pits — Lieut.-Col. Egerton Killed- - Funeral of the Slain — Russian Nonchalance, Page 88-100

Chapter VI

The Spring in the Tchernaya Valley — Selfishness of " Our Allies " — Trip to Kamiesch — Successful Attack of the French — Enormous Losses — A French Review — Generals Brown and Codrington — A Russian Attack Frustrated — "A Duel at Night" — The Critical Hour in War — Eagerness for Active Warfare — Lord Raglan and Captain Norton — Fourth Division Races — Attack on Quarantine Harbour Works — Imperfect Instructions and their Results, Page 101-1H CONTENTS. XI

Chapter VII

The Queen's Birthday — Omar Pasha — The Troops from India — Red Tapeism at the War Office — The Best Men for English Regiments — Arrival of the 15th Hussars from India — Financial Extravagance and Political Folly — The Allied Encampment Intrenched — The Enemy on the Alert — The French Advance of May 24th — Successful Reconnaissance of the French — Generals Pelissier, Canrobert, and Espinasse — The Zouaves in search of " Game " — The " Meum et Tuum " of the Zouave — Inglorious Capture of a Russian — Important Military Lesson — The Irrepressible Mrs D — , Page 115-131

Chapter VIII

Capture and Occupation of Kertch — The Light Division Forgotten by its General — Occupation of the Tchernaya Valley — Strength of the Allied Forces — Laxity of the French Discipline — "A Good Joke" — French Line Regiments — The British Soldier — The Attack of the 7th of June — Attack of the Quarries and Mamelon — Volunteering for Dangerous Duty not Permitted — " Fixed Ideas " Fulfilled — Capture of the Mamelon — A French Column in Flight — Capture of the Quarries — Success of the Allies — Heroism of Lance-Corporal Quin — Smallness of British Forces for their Duty — The Truce of the 9th of June — The Russians Re-arrange their Forces — The Infernal Fougasse — Its Ignition at Night — The Quarries and Egertou's Pit — Terrific Explosion of a Fougasse — The Troops Depressed by the Fougasse, . Page 132-15S

Chapter IX

A Picturesque Sight — Explosion in Egerton's Pit — " Sebastopol " for " Waterloo " — Attack on the Redan — Plan of Attack on June 17th — Worth of Volunteers — Plan of Attack Suddenly Changed — Colonel Yea giving Instructions — The Russians aware of our Movements — French Attack on the Malakoff— Grave Error of the Rifles — Momentous Moments in War — The Victoria Cross Nobly Won — The Victoria Cross Won but not Conferred — The Fire too Fierce for the Troops — Brigadier Yea Mortally Wounded — The Doctrine of Premonishment — Brigadier Yea and Premonishment — We Command the 7th Fusiliers — Every Bullet has its Billet — Russian Slaughter of the Wounded Troops — Terrible CONTENTS. xii Melange — Severe Losses of the Supporting Columns — Stupid and Dull Infantry Officers — Dangerous Position chosen for Lord Rag lan — Colonel Collingwood Dickson — The Doctor in Camp — Illness of Sir George Brown — The Casualties of War — Rare Prize in the Lottery — Valour without Discipline all but Worthless, Page 159-188

Chapter X

The 19th of June a Dreary Day — The Truce — Burial of the Slain — Magnitude of our Works — Dangerous Effects of Ignorance — The General Staff not Properly Represented — Sale of Effects of Deceased Officers — High Prices at Army Auctions — Departure of the Wounded for Kamiesch — Nervousness of the Wounded — Astounding Army Ambulances — Proposed Penalty for the Constructors — Known Incapacity of the Inventor — Inefficiency of the Ambulance Corps — The Ambulance Corps Abandoned — An Ignorant and Inexperienced Colonel, . . Page 189-203

CHAPTER XL

Final Attack on Sebastopol Marred from Want of Knowledge by Officers of the Staff — Red-Tapeism and Disastrous Results — Culpable Return of the Brigadier — A Pernicious Example — Death of Lord Raglan — The Fables of Æsop — Peace Proclaimed — The Casualties and Costs of War — Superiority of the British Army, Page 204-212 ILLUSTRATIONS. Orders and Honours (coloured) .- . . Frontispiece Sketch — Looking down Careening Bay, showing the White Forts, Mamelon, and the Quarries, Captured June 7, 1855, to face p. 141 Sketch— Looking down the Ravine which divided the Right and Left Attacks, ..... to face p. SEBASTOPOL TRENCHES.

Chapter I

Declaration of War — The First Bombardment of Sebastopol — Balaclava and Inkerman — Our Departure for the Crimea — Soldiers' Consolations — The Embarkation —Threatened Court-Martial — Modest Requests of Young Officers — Abundant Food — Hungry Troops — The Results of War — Fire at Sea — Narrow Escape — Gentle Influence on a Times' Correspondent — "Transport" Difficulties — Absolute Requirements — Farewell Speech of an Inspecting General — Gibraltar and Arrival at Malta — The Fortifications of Malta — The Dardanelles — First View of Constantinople — Grandeur of the Scene — Visit to the Admiral — Orders and Counter- Orders — The Hospital at Scutari — Order of the Bath Undeservedly Conferred — Departure from Constantinople. On the 28th of March in the year 1854 War was declared against Russia by the Allied forces of France and Great Britain in defence of the independence of Turkey, and speedily steps were taken to mass the troops of each country in combination on the shores of the Crimea.

This portion of the enemy's territory apparently presented the most vulnerable point for attack, and, as was subsequently proved, the selec tion was judiciously made. From the date of the Declaration of War in March A THE FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL. no event of great importance, from a military point of view, occurred until the "Army of Occupation" landed on the Crimean shores, in the neighbourhood of Eupatoria and the river Alma, on September 14th ; on the 20th, the ever-memorable battle of the Alma was fought, resulting in the complete rout of the Russians, and triumph of the Allies. So decisive and complete a victory was not contem plated. Provision had not been made to follow it up by a rapid march on to, and, if possible, into Sebasto pol. The opportunity then offered was lost, and the country had to pay the consequent penalty in the heavy loss of men and in the great expenditure of money that followed during many months of the subsequent siege.

On the 1 7th of October the first fire of our batteries was opened on Sebastopol. The French and English as agreed, on signal given, commencing at 6.30 in the morning, and for about two hours the bombardment and replies from the Russian de fences were terrific. Convinced by this time that nothing could divert the Allies from the siege until victory was gained, the Russians strenuously laboured to obtain every advantage possible, and on BALACLAVA AND INKERMAN. the 25 th of October, in the Valley of Balaclava, was fought the " Battle of Balaclava," when the charge of the Light Brigade took place, than which nothing in the history of war stands out with greater promi nence or is marked with nobler courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice than then occurred. The enemy was completely foiled, although in far superior numbers, and retreated as speedily as they were able within their defences.

This attempt was followed up by another on the 5th of November, when, under cover of a dense fog and drifting rain, the Russians stealthily crept up the Inkerman heights. It was a Sunday morning — the church bells were ringing in the city as if for service, and little suspicion was entertained in the Allied camp that the enemy was close at hand, and reckoning on the strong probability of pouncing upon a camp " happily reposing " on a winter's morning. " Caught napping," as the camp undoubtedly was, the British lion speedily sprung from his lair, and, shaking himself, rushed heroically into the fight, aided by his allies, when the most signal triumph was again obtained, the enemy was driven back in every direction, in many places at the point of the bayonet, DEPARTURE FOR THE CRIMEA. suffering fearfully, whilst we also sustained heavy loss at a time when we could ill spare a single man.

The Battle of Inkerman brought us no nearer to the city. The siege continued, and drew on its weary course from day to day with all its terrible associa tions. November passed, and December followed. Parallels and zigzag trenches now covered the heights in front of the city, and nearly surrounded it. It was at this time — having relinquished our appointment at the Horse Guards in order that we might more actively serve our country — we received orders for the Crimea, and, quickly making arrangements, with the new year we were ready to sail. A dark winter's morning in the month of January, 1855, ushered in our departure for the Seat of War. We were to embark in charge of drafts of Reeiments proceeding by steam ship to Balaclava. Departures are invariably sad, and this was no ex ception. Duty and honour struggled with those true feelings of love and affection best known to parents and husbands.

The tender links binding us to home were to be dissevered, and man's natural ties were to be held in abeyance in obedience to the calls of our profession. soldiers' consolations. 13 The thought too could not fail to cross the mind, how few were remaining of those brother officers whose comradeship had been our enjoyment in years gone by ! of friends, who had sailed bright with hope and honourable ambition, whose only history, after a few short weeks, was the newspapers' brief record : a shot or a shell had laid them low. Then perhaps the mail brought a kind letter of condolence from a commanding officer, telling a bereaved mother, or wife, or sister, that the son, or husband, or bro ther had met a soldier's death in gloriously repulsing a sortie, or in dislodging the enemy from a redoubt. Or possibly a few kindly expressed words of sym pathy from our gentle Queen, and all is told.

A marble slab in some ancient cathedral, or a more humble monument in the village church proclaims to fond friends that such a one fell nobly in the service of his country and in the cause of freedom in the great struggle of the age ; or maybe he will be only thought of and remembered by a few of the martial spirits of the next generation who embrace the profession of arms. But the train starts and quickly bears us off. Ere long all feelings are drowned in the calls of duty, THE EMBARKATION. — that stern sense which training and a long career in the army only perfect, and by which discipline is produced : — that sense, so often misunderstood and erroneously called, heartlessness. Our vessel was a screw steamer of one thousand and forty-five tons, calculated with cargo, when en gaged in ordinary traffic, to carry three hundred and fifty-eight deck, and two hundred and thirty-six cabin passengers ; but, altered as she had been for military purposes, she was adapted to convey some where about nine hundred men and twenty officers There was dire confusion on board, as those who have seen troops an hour or two after embarkation will readily believe.

Drafts from eleven different regiments were ordered to proceed in her to the seat of war : eight were already embarked, two were expected to arrive shortly, and the remaining detachment was to be taken on board at . It was not long before the arrival was announced of the two drafts for which we were waiting. They had started on their march about the same time, — one from the north of England, and the other from a less distant point. The first had formed part of a distinguished Irish THREATENED COURT-MARTIAL. corps, recently returned from India. Composed principally of men whose habits were unsteady, they, when their regiments previously sailed, had been left at home undergoing punishment, but they were noble old soldiers, fit for any work. It was a strange sight to see their arrival. Many had evidently been drinking — some were very drunk — and all appeared rather unsteady.

Prior to marching on board they were drawn up in line, and numbered about one hundred and twenty, as fine fellows as Her Majesty was ever likely to secure, though certainly, in their then state, they were likely to prove dangerous and unruly to the Queen's lieges. The functionary, who was going through the form of inspecting them and superintending the embarkation, said to a half-drunken rear-rank man, decorated with a riband, " You are no soldier." " No soldier, indeed," replied the Burmese hero, " Faith, your honour may take that to yourself. It is a pity the likes of you talks of ' no soldier,' indeed." The man was immediately ordered to be arraigned before a court-martial on board, but the unsteady detachment, once embarked, there was no time judi cially to try a man for an answer which, although MODEST REQUESTS OF YOUNG OFFICERS. no doubt "subversive of good order and military discipline," was produced by an indiscreet and un necessary observation from a staff-officer.

" What's from the captain but a choleric word is, in the soldier, sheer mutiny." During the voyage this detachment behaved as well as, if not better than, most of the others; and what a contrast the men presented physically to the other detachments. They were old, tried soldiers fit for any service or duty, whilst the other drafts were mostly undrilled boys fresh from the plough, ignorant alike of their drill, the first rudiments of discipline, or attention to personal cleanliness. As a type of the class of youths embarked under the denomination of soldiers it may be stated, that one of the oldest soldiers, out of a draft of probably one hundred and twenty men, acted as an officer's servant, and had only been six weeks in the service from the date of his enlistment. Having shipped our living cargo our next trial was to consider applications from most of the nice young gentlemen gazetted as officers (many in com mand of drafts), for permission to leave their men that they might dine and sleep on shore.

" Ce n'est ABUNDANT FOOD — HUNGRY TROOPS. que le premier pas qui coute." Of course, if the request of one had been granted it would have been scarcely just to refuse the others ; so, however pain ful to disoblige mothers, guardians, uncles, and other relatives it was necessary to negative their wishes. Nothing renders men more discontented than, with plenty of uncooked food on board, to have nothing but the prospect of remaining with empty stomachs. And soldiers are no exception to this rule. With coppers that would not draw it is not surprising cooking was difficult. Instead of the heat warming the boilers, it went downwards and radiated about the surrounding deck. This defect was complained of and repeatedly represented to the staff-officer who embarked us, but it was not remedied ; the presump tion was that the want of experienced cooks, and our ignorance as to the proper allowance of air were the causes of the inability to cook our victuals.

Be that as it may, the consequences were very nearly most serious. That afternoon, amidst the cheers of thousands and the counter cheers of the thousand men on board, the ship left the port, the embarking officer having taken no further steps to repair the radical defect of the THE RESULTS OF WAR. coppers, but left us with the consolatory expression, " God speed you." Seeing troops embark, even for the colonies, is always a melancholy spectacle, and nine-tenths of the never-failing cheers given on such occasions are by individuals who are wholly ignorant why they utter such sounds. Still more sad is it to hear the yells of some hundreds of youths going on active service. In both cases the reflection arises : how few will return ! But with the latter there is the additional thought : how few of the gallant spirits who, it is, presumed, thus testify their willingness to peril life and limb for their queen and country will return whole and sound !

It is no hazardous or exaggerated statement that, of the ninety men composing the draft to which we belonged, not ten of the rank and file are now serv ing. Of the officers on board (sixteen in number), one died, two were killed, five were severely wounded, and the remainder, with the exception of four, were slightly wounded. Of the four that escaped, one sold out, and two were absent for some time from sickness. The disabled and death losses were un doubtedly severe. FIRE AT SEA NARROW ESCAPE. Thus within six months from leaving the shores of England, deducting the three officers who immedi ately left the army from sickness and resignation, out of a total of thirteen one only escaped unhurt. With a smooth sea we steamed down channel, anchoring off at daylight. The dinner hour arrived, but no dinner likely to be ready for several hours does not put people in the best of humours.

Our coppers would not draw ; daily our soldiers' dinners were deferred and could not be ready before a fashionable hour ; in many in stances tea was postponed until the next morning. Lying quietly at anchor our appetites increased in strength, and endeavours were made, to cook a fair Sunday meal. Vain effort 1 The heat struck down wards under the deck instead of radiating upwards and heating the boilers, and it was not long before fire was discovered smouldering and smoking between decks. An experienced officer fortunately happened to be captain of the day, who, without raising unnecessary alarm, reported the matter ; the agent of transports, — an energetic, practical seaman — being on board, the fire which, had there been much wind, might have been obstinate, or, if it had occurred at sea would almost GENTLE INFLUENCE ON A ' TIMES ' CORRESPONDENT. certainly have proved our destruction, was easily and happily overcome, but with considerable loss to the detachment berthed between decks immediately in its vicinity.

Dinners, too, were gone for many on that day. Each, however, endeavoured to make the best of what was a bad business. There was probably much inward thankfulness felt by the majority that the threatened calamity did not occur at sea. At the time the editor of one of the principal local newspapers happened to be on board, who, on pre senting a copy of his journal to the commanding officer, said, " I am the editor of this, and also pro vincial correspondent of the Times." These words were frank, but their consequences were, great civil ity, little information, and close attention to the proceedings of our unknown friend. He was ob served making notes, but returning on shore with the ship's captain, and one of the owners (who came thus far with us), it is surmised the eloquence and persuasion of the two were such that very trifling if any notice of the fire was taken by the Times.

Our ship was now hauled alongside one of the hulks ; a portion of the troops temporarily tran- " TRANSPORT" DIFFICULTIES. 21 shipped, and workmen sent to fit new coppers and grates ; after thirty-six hours' labour, night and day, new and effective cooking places were completed. This essential finished, we prepared to bid " Farewell to England." The heterogeneous nature of our freight produced many inconveniences as to accommodation. Inde pendently of the drafts (upwards of nine hundred men), including the regimental staff, paymasters, quarter-masters, veterinary surgeons, twentytwo in number, we conveyed' store-keepers, purveyors, and letter-sorters. Some thought they were entitled to better berths ; others, again, complained of being too closely packed ; nearly all had never before been to sea.

To realize the difficulties attending the manage ment of numerous drafts composed of recruits, with a great proportion of the subalterns and non-com missioned officers wholly inexperienced, one must be placed in such circumstances ; the very sentries ignorant of their duties, and innocently allowing the orders given to be disobeyed ; the impossibility of mustering men in a very crowded ship, or of parading a watch, where there was no space so to do ; drawing ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENTS. the rations ; serving out the rum, for each soldier drinks it, or ought to do so, at the tub where it is mixed and served ; if otherwise, individuals would sell or give away their portion, and drunkenness would be common. Providing tubs for this ; pre venting waste of water ; procuring wooden staves or sticks for sentries, for arms are dangerous when many regiments are mixed up on board ship, and frays are likely to occur — these are a few absolute requirements demanding prompt attention.

But just as a party fight commenced between two rival corps, the general came to pay a final visit of inspection. Lithe in figure and active in move ment, in the prime of life, he quickly gained the deck. All eyes were fixed on him, and forthwith a parade was ordered. Now in a vessel made to carry about six hundred passengers, it is impossible to muster nine hundred men on deck. However, a third was got together, to whom the general addressed a few words. He said " their country watched them — that he ardently wished he could be with them — that in heart he would be — that life on board ship was delightful, and he had found it so;" then jumping from the seat on THE GENERAL'S FAREWELL SPEECH. 23 which he was standing, he descended the side of the vessel, and was gone. The speech put the men in good humour, and brought a smile on the cheeks of many a half sea sick recruit at the idea of happiness on board ship.

Many have since found there was not only happi ness but luxury, too, compared with the tedium and constant labour of working parties in the trenches. How carefully every word addressed by a com mander to troops should be considered. Each sentence is subsequently canvassed, each syllable weighed. For whatever may be the understanding or intellect of the individual soldier it is certain that, in ordi nary matters, the aggregate intellect of the number of men composing a company, a detachment, or regiment as a whole, forms usually a most just con clusion, and has the clearest notion of character. It would seem as if the particles of the good sense of the majority combined ; but be this as it may, the judgment of the body is seldom wrong. For several days our ship was named the " Eden's Eden."

The voyage was not distinguished by much incident. The wonders of the deep ; the hopes of sighting land ; an occasional fight; a case of small-pox; steps for pre- GIBRALTAR AND ARRIVAL AT MALTA. vention of infection ; the ship's steward selling liquor to the soldiers ; the captain's anger ; a sail in sight ; a passing steamer homeward bound and conversation by signal flags formed the only variation. The fourth day brought us off the Rock of Lisbon ; the fifth saw us steaming rapidly through the Straits of Gibraltar. The captain keeping mid-channel, the distance and haze prevented our having a good view of the scene of former British gallantry, Tarifa. The Rock of Gibraltar itself, so fondly remembered by many of those on board who had been formerly quartered there, merely loomed out of the mist and scarcely allowed more than its huge outline to be seen.