The combined effect of all these
conflagrations was terrible beyond description, associated as they were
with the deafening roar of at least 1000 pieces of cannon, for as many
were constantly engaged, notwithstanding that the number of the enemy's
guns silenced was very great. When daylight died the cannonade was, as
before, succeeded by a bombardment, with all its fierce concomitants.
The Russians showed throughout the night a constant apprehension
of assault, for they threw showers of vertical grape-shot; and
notwithstanding the glare of the flames from the burning ships, and
the fires in the city, they lighted up their works with fire-ball and
carcasses. They repeatedly threw bouquets into the trenches of the
French. Thus, until the morning of the 8th, shells and rockets fell in
fiery deluge upon Sebastopol, and the roll of the musketry against the
faces of the chief defences never ceased. On the morning of the 8th
the cannonade began with the day, and was delivered more rapidly and
fiercely than before. Meanwhile preparations were made for the assault.
The assault on the English side was unsuccessful; the same bad
generalship which marred the actions of the English so frequently
throughout the war, threw its fatal influence over their efforts on the
terrible day of the 8th of September. The French would also have failed,
in all probability, had they not effected a surprise, by suddenly
seizing the Malakoff, the key of the defence, at a moment when the
Russians felt secure that no attack would be made.
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