The following extract from the author's "History of the
War against Russia," describes with brevity and accuracy the final
bombardment.
When the sun set, the shells, rockets, and other fiery missives from the
besieging lines, sped like flights of meteors over the enemy's works,
and searched the recesses of the city. Throughout the night of the 5th a
fire of musketry had been directed against the faces of the works to
be assailed; but on that of the 6th, this was more sustained and heavy.
During the 6th, the enemy made a comparatively feeble resistance. On
the early morning of the 7th, the bombardment gave place to a cannonade,
which was as terrible as if opening for the first time., The enemy
opened a galling fire from their Inkerman batteries across the harbour
upon the French right, sweeping the batteries of the latter, slaying
many, and damaging the works. A strong wind blew the smoke from the
town, accompanied by clouds of dust, into the faces of the besiegers,
impeding their aim, and rendering it difficult for them to observe the
effect of their shot.
At half-past three a fine two-decker in the harbour was set on fire, and
continued to burn through the remainder of the day and all night, with
a flame exceeding in intensity and volume that of previous ships. A fire
also broke suddenly forth in the rear of the Great Redan. Late in the
evening another broke out in the town over the Woronzoff Road, and
another at the head of the dockyard.
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