The Express.
London, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

aaelatias—• chaos—mars dreadful tbaa bell. Tbat II all

I ass tell yea drest it. As yet I ass give se aciemat of all
we bays goes through, sor out I cestprehwid how we have
bone each terms, how survived weak spay. las hardly
obi* to writs to yew, my thoughts an as sosfiesed ; bet, by
Gars paw, ray stroolgtli of will is prosersod. Too will
easily emotive bow sash we an soaring is our bouts and
seal. I would rather have died this have whammed that
terrible iscesest—thase seises so bloody, sad' ea so was hoe

ever yet produced. As is, u ray powers usable sae, I will
dateribe everylAlag le yes is fell.

At 4 teeloait (Sept 7) I visited the different stations ; the
bombardment was still prig on, end, by the time I reached
the Illeitalleff battery, It was half-pest 6. I put eame pro-
Tirane late my beat, sad bad myself rowed serer the bay
by our sailor. Bombe were eying abase, and a near, that
we got thoroughly splashed, bat we pined the opposite
ikon is eafety. From the laading•place I tea without
'topping to the Miehalleff harry ; It was getting dark, sad
the sister% seamed with fright, when they saw me. 01 the
wounded all lOM say Is that them were a great many, so
that the sisters worked day and night ; all, wittiest emp-
tier. laboured with their whole heart, and human weeds
mat uttar the gratitude they have anted by their dm
ectoderm. The Lard bas seer their seal and the 00/1111/
of their emir over the events that Hi■ holy will ha
onlahad. I had hardly been them half an hour—we
were taking our Pa—when a bomb fell ea the roof
of the powder miler. Happily the roof was emend with
sandbags, sad these saved it from the explosion of t►e
bomb that Instantly erred. Imagine the univenal fright.
We all thought we should be blows up. They begged me
to lave the battery at feat as I said, and so, beieg meas.
pealed by Sister H., who ease here front the Causal, I
hurried to the shore. Before we reached the lendiog plan
of the Ilielasiloff battery we twice ran the risk of being
streak by the balls. At 9 o'clock we got home uninjured.

Nest mania, (Sept. 8) we were ail of us ready by tive
o'clock. I gave orders to have everything prepared that
mos nquisite at the different stations, and went myself to
our hospital. At 10 o'clock I drove out, bat oar horses
were so 'cheated that it was eleven before I arrived at the
heepital, whites steads upon a kill. From there we per-
solved that a heavy manmade was pies es, bat I muM
not imagine It to be actually the storming; the wind wafted
the mead to another quarter. They told me in the hospital
that the attack had begun; I begged my good and active
Sister J.--she we a Mho B. before marriage—to neglect
note of soy arrangements, and then I left her in all haste,
to attend to my duty in all directions. Oa my way to the
oil I saw a etreog body of mounted men tidies at full
gallop towards lielmotepol ; it was the eommander. in-chief
wit► lb Wee. I made the otecheset drive as fast as pm.
slab after them, pies Ant of all to the barracks at the
nort► side. Mere I beard that a sister had been woanded,
ant mortally but severely, at the Miehailoff battery. The
entire left trims and the Malakoff tower were in a blue
with the fess of military. I found the space about the
Miehalloff battery covered with troops, who treated to moss
the bridge, and the essay directed his Are mat especially
ageism that epet. All the listen of the M 6468011 battery
were welL From bore I wished to be accompanied across
the •bridge by Mother Seraphic*, a nun, you smut know,
from Tver, who joined cur sisterhood at its foundation.
Just es we were going, however, to step upon the bridge
it ceder to fellow the troops, Ostend Bachmeier held se
beck, sad advised me to return, for it was too dsagerens,
he said. I begged hha to let see p, made the siga of the
areas, sad ran emus the bridge. The Irene haetetted at a
rumba, pee over to the oath tide. The vied was so
Orem that the waves washed ever the bridge, bat, lade.
geodes% et that, the weight of the usage premed it dewa
wader the water. The shots heaths stones batteries ware
very inquest to this digestive ; bat Gad was rosins to

as. Bella fell clue beside us or went over oar heads, sad
oftea so near, that we all stooped low—they mired. I had
strength enough to run as far ea the Nichohdeff battery,
but I had no sooner reached the Sisters' 'Buono, when I felt
giddy, and had to take some drops as a restorative. I war wet
through up to my waist, for my dress and my feet had beta
all the time in the water. I asktd after Sister 8. She mate
to me with her eye bandaged up, but, thank heaven, bet
wound is • slight one—not like that of poor Sister W. Then
I west to see Count Osten-Sacken. I had to pass along a
gallery, on which many eptctetors were standing ; as soon
as a bomb or a bell came near, we bid ourselves under the
archways. In the ince• court of the battery I found metal
gentlemen of the commandant's suite, and inquired of them
where I should find the count. They told me he was up in
the battery, with the commander-in-chief. I went up a
narrow wooden flight of steps, but could only crawl up
very painfully, and when I was up, my senses were all bat
leaving me. I could just ask the count what his eon.
muds were for the sisters in the Nicholaieff battery.
He answered " Take them all away. God knows what
may happen in a few hours." Somebody said the enemy',
flag was waving already on the hialakhcif. A horrid de-
pression seized my soul. I wept without teary, and I don't
know how I got down again. I ran to the sitters, begged
them to let everything alone and follow me to the blichailoif
battery. We set off, hoping that we might be able to
return to the hospital as won as it became more
traesqail. The rumour spread that our troops had cut
down the enemy's flog—what great, what a universal joy
that was! For all that I begged the sisters to follow me, left
the cue of our property to the surgeons and inspeeton,
and walked as fast as oar streagth would let u. At the
lame time the sick were carried across to the north side.
A few hours later and all were safe. On the bridge we
again met troops running; one ball hissed after another
and fell into the bay. Halfway across the bridge Sister B.
fainted away through fright; a ball flew by um so clew
that it all but struck the bridge; I recommended myself
to God and looked about me to nt4 if all the sisters fol.
lowed. Behind me came Father Benjamin (the confemor
of the sisterhood, and who had long been • monk
on Mount Athos), and the priest to the fleet,
eoneeznlag whom I have often written to you.
When I saw him I stopped, that I might go by his side;
for he is not alone • pious and learned monk, but has a
calm cursgeoue mind. At that very instant • bomb fell
does beside us. Sister B. could walk no forties'.; Father
Benjamin held her up by one arm, our soldier did the ease
by the other, and they halt-dragged her 'long. I dipped
my handkerchief into the bay to revive her with it. By
God's help we came safe and sound to the Miehailoff bat-
tery, and there I left the sisters.

Hero they were making ready to fire, and the men IMO
running about. The commandant assayed me there WM
no danger es yet. I stepped into the area. Our nuns
troops were marching over the bridge, and behind thee
came a column of the militia. Bombe and balls kept falling
iaaimaatly—deed hones lay here and there. I squeezed
my way through the troops to get to my conveyance; sud-
denly a ball paned slantingly through the column of mid.
tic, about 10 step in front of me. Honor and complain
rushed in a burning eddy through my breut, and I wed
mon along no further. The wind nearly blew me down;
my feet were perfectly stiff with the wet and the sold wind.
A soldier stepped towards me and helped me to walk ; the
soldier who regularly escorted me sought in the mesa time
for the hones, and had just come back with them, when
a bomb burst ever our hews in the air ;
splinter frees it broke a soldier's head into fragments, and
his brains wen scattered over the cloak of the man who was
supporting me. I stepped into the ear, and the cold some.
what recovered me. On the way I traced out a plea of
what 1 had to do. I drove to the market, and bought some
breed of the good market-man, Alexander Ivanovitch. He
is the alderman of the market, who had already due us
good service, en the 16th of August, on the heights alba
kende. Many sacrifices he has made, and zealously helped
us whenever he could. Several other tradesmen were faith.
folly standing near ►im. I had as much bread put into the
oar as it would hold, and Alexander Innuitch sent up a
hundred lop loaves with his own hones to the heights.
Having returned to the barracks, I commissioned hater O.
to go the rounds, and give directions. I did not know yet
where we should be sent to. The battle lasted still on the
left wing, and the rumour was general that we wen being
worsted. Oh, that made our hearts bleed !

In lb. twilight I drove back spin to the Mahalloff bat-
tery. The enemy's balls flew and 611 without duds hard
by. and the Sister', trusting in Providence, kept going
across the wart yard into the 'bur magazine, where the
wounded soldiers lay. Wonderful l Not ono of them ens
toadied as they west and rams. An officer came across
from the north aide and begged to have a Sister for General
Martineau, who had been taken Into the northern forts.
I took two Sisters with me, and drove to the north side.
That was a drive ! A violent wind : clouds of duet were
whirled into our eyes. The coachmen no longer knew
where he was driving to; it was dark, and he could not find
the way to the fortifications. I was fearful of not being admit-
ted, it was se late ; the horses would not move a step farther.
We tried to walk, but my legs were so benumbed that I
could not I was in deepair. At last we stood, by some
IMO/ Of other, before the gate. On answering who we
wore sad why we dote, it was opened directly. We found
the general severely wounded; he was not a young otan.
His arm was fractured at the shoulder,and he suffered mach.
bet with the patience of an angel. Ho was very glad when
1 gave him Slam Bar*** for • name, and apologised for
the want of comfort she would have in his quarter,. We
axe used to it all." I took my leave, wishing from my whole
heath that the Lord may give him strength. In the dark
we droved' to Battery No. 4, where Sister L. is the elder.
I brought her Sister S. sea helpmate. I found her over.
'belated with work; so many wounded and sick men were
there, that four of the wounded men were even Iv log out in
the yard. Luckily I bad brought plenty of bread with me,
and a keg fall of red wine. I gave it all over to her.
Looking round, I sew Count Wielhor.ky, who takes each
paths in behalf of the wounded officers. Nothing keeps
bias back—neither fear, nor darkners, nor danger. His
vans were Just arriving he himself carried oat the
"outdid Games, put them inside, and sent them off to the
barracks. I drove there also. Everywhere crowds d
wooded—every room was occupied, and two barracks
gait* filled with °Mous. The Sisters carried round tea to
the seriously wounded, but gave wine and brandy to the
others. I again met Count Wielhonky ; it was 11 o'clock
at night. All the Sisters were in barracks. Father
Benjamin too, hie is ocerapied day and night. I
say nothing to you Omer the groaning and shrieks of
the wounded, that rend. the soul. I left with
the Sisters two vehicles', and begged Sister G., in cue of
dimmer, to loot to the safety of the rest. I then west my-
self hack to the Beloick. The way wu strewed with the
wounded; whoever was strong enough walked; immense
van were conveying others, and their cries, their wailing%
were dreadful to listen to. As soon as I reached our hospi-
tal I had all the lamp kettles made hot, and I then made
tea for the wounded. This was about two in the =areal.
At length I went to bed.
Neat morning my fed were so sore and bad that tsars
same unbidden into my eyes. Gradually, however, I made
shift to use them. I gave Idr. Fbilopoff order' to get
together the bread, had eatables of all sorts stowed
into my carriage, and off I set. During the night
Mother Seraphine bed Beat the two wounded sisters on to
me at Belblek, and begged for horses, is she was in daoger;
I ordered two vehicles out immediately,and sett them to the
Michailoff battery, meaning to go them myself a. wall. What
a sight met my eyes ! Oee huge cloud, black, but yet
glowing, shrouded Sebastopol ; our troops hid set the tows
on fire—they themselves were on the march to the Tater
nays. Every where wounded were walkieg or being Mem-
posted, the regimeate were returoing from the city. The
Lord now seat me tear—it is seldom I cry—and this re-
lieved my heart. When I came to the barracks I handed to
the sisters, who came to meet me, what they wanted.
and I hastened on to Sister B. ; to her rick officers
I brought clean linen, soap-tablets, tea, sugar, breed,
all that was left in short—some Klukwa juice, bandit's,
and brandy. Sister B. deserves all praise. When I told
her she was in danger sad must leave, since is cue they
blew up the Nielsolaieff battery, the battery N 0.4 would be
quit* buried by the stones, she begged me, as • petitioner,
that I would leave her with her wounded, moo' of whom
are grievously so, if it was impossible to remove them. She
was resigned to whatever might barmen, even to boo'
blown up, far she would share the fate of throe she was
coming. elm begged me on leaving to bless them with the
sign of the holy ads, for life or death. This I did.
and did not venture to oppose her sacred immolator',
but it dot me a great effort. I begged her to
bless me also, sad deeply honoured in my heart
her love for the Lord and her neighbour. "'Abed
loong time, I plumed all my stock upon the ground, end
drove off to the Michaildi bottom. Oa the piece then was
a thumbs mem ; the bridge wee br,ken away, the ship' of
the Rao east the frigates wen sink, the city was in flames.
black smoke mounted to the clouds, end explosions of
powder made the earth tremble coe every side. How bid
it is to boar these trials, sad how beartrendiog to be a wit-
wain of all this misery. I met Count Osten. Sicken ; po
beggedn e as,ao.id.tthoelaithne ekedd iamieer
perceived I mold hardly crawl. Looking iatestly at Me
hawwith ism friendyself Over
cr: lilfor
h 4;
inseliplise on my end, he said—" Truly, now srt thou,
dept
him-
self euremgthes them. 1 am not able so praise mfficiestly
aL'zids.k.ouaer smtreog.eh
hto.rewerrib!„" Not one
badtodo t
.of
May
the etersimbms,
their meal and media of self. FBAIJ ON B.