The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-03 00:00:00

almost in volleys until the town seemed surrounded with
a circle of fire.

The tremendous nature of the cannonade elicited a pro-
portionate reply from us, and the alarm grew so general
'that the troops were turned out under arms, and remained
io for some considerable time, until the fire slackened.
Early this morning I was on the heights, anxious to as.
certain the precise fate of the Flagstaff, but, much to my
disappointment, I found it was still firing occasionally,
though only about ten per cent, of its volleys a week ago.
In the centre of the work is a gap of about 80 feet long,
before which lies a scattered heap of stones and dirt. This
,s the spot under which the centre charge of I,ooolh. of
powder was placed, and this is where the greatest amount
of damage has been done. At this place the embrasures for
12 guns have been completely blown away, with half the
earth from the upper tier of guns. Of the charges under the
right and left bastions, that under the right failed, but
under the left a considerable degree of mischief appears to
have been effected. The embrasures there are rent and
damaged, and of course their guns must have been over-
turned, and their ways injured. The enemy, it is said,
have made attempts to repair it since the mine was sprung
this morning ; but it would be much easier now to thro w
up a new work than repair the old.
While I was surveying it the French had about 50 or 80
guns from their different batteries pouring their iron hail
full into its remains. From the upper parts of the work
some five or six guns were still manned, and attempting in
vain to reply effectively. One of these was silenced while
I was looking on. Two days more of such work as the last
and the Flagstaff Battery will cease to exist among the
defences of Sebastopol. Every hour it grows weaker, its
defenders more exposed, and its guns fewer in number.
During the night the mortars continue the work the long
guns began, so that it is utterly impossible to attempt re-
pairs with anything like hopes of success. If all the other
Russian batteries were in the same state now as the Flag-
staff, the allies would be in Sebastopol before to-morrow.
The Barrack Battery still shows a good front, though it
is suffering much, and is evidently fast en route after the
during to-day it has been silent enough,
Flagstaff. The Redan is reported as silenced and untenable,
and most certainly
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sures. The injuries to the batteries round the Malakhoff
Tower have, of course, been considerably augmented since
our advanced battery was opened. The centre of the semi-
circular earthwork is almost cut in two, but the flanking
batteries are yet serviceable, and return some of our guns,
though not to any extent. It can hardly be said that this
work is fit for storming, as no amount of breaching will
ever fill up the deep ditches in its front, and as these haves
to be crossed somehow, it would hardly be safe to storm
while they have a gun left to serve.

A shot from a flanking battery near this tower entered
our advanced work, and blew up one of our small mag
tines. I have not yet ascertained the casualties canoed by
this accident, but am informed that they were slight, and
no injury was done to the work. The guns in it fired
away w usual two minutes after the explosion.
The Mamelon, in spite of the incessant efforts which the
enemy have made to repair it, is almost useless. It ap.
pears to mount only one gun, and daring the whole of this
day it has only fired that one three times. This would
appear to bear out the suspicion that tho Russians are
short of ammunition, as if this gun could be fired once it
could have been fired 100 times to-day, but for some reason
or other the enemy appear either not to work their ord.
nance, or not to have the means of doing so.
Beyond the Mamelon the Russian works at the head of
the harbour and the French works at Inkerman keep up a
smart fire, in which the French most certainly gain no ad-
vantage ; on the contrary, I am informed their batteries
are much hurt, and, if the contest lasts much longer, will
be almost silenced.

Fort Constantine and the forts north of the harbour for
the first time took part in the contest to-day, firing clear
across the harbour and town into our own and the French
lines. Their shot appeared to be of an immense weight,
and their guns of considerable range, as no undue elevation
apparently was given. About 100 rounds were fired front
this side of the harbour. Our officers take it as a gentle
hint that even after storming the south side will be un-
tenable while the north remains in their hands.

Part of the 10th Hussars landed and joined the cavalry
camp near Kadekoi. Both men and horses seem in fine
condition. The latter are the small, high-spirited Asiatic
stallions, which among our other horses are likely to give
a deal of trouble.

Fever still prevails to a considerable extent among the
troops round Balaklava, especially the Highlanderit. The
79th have been burying three men per day for the last
month, and now only muster 350 effective men.

APRIL 17.

The bombardment was rather slack last night, in con.
sequence of the want of shell. In place of them an im-
mense number of rockets were thrown. The fire was re.
Ruined this morning, and continues with unabated vigour.
The fire of the enemy is even less than last night.
The assault is now pretty sure to take place in a few
days.