You may believe this is an anxious moment for all of
us who care for the credit of England. We may, in-
deed, abandon the harbour, and occupy the heights



96 THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE IN THE CRIMEA.
on its west side, nearer the besieging armies, but that
would be a great triumph to Russia ; or we may leave
a few men to guard the trenches before Sebastopol,
and turn upon the enemy and beat him, which we
should certainly do. Once Sebastopol taken, our
difficulties would be over, for our whole army would
be free ; but the siege is drawing out, the defence is
obstinate, and nobody knows how soon we may be
able to storm. Meanwhile the Odessa force is coming.
Our numbers are too small for the enterprise ; there
are no more expected at present, I believe. I post
this letter now because I know not if it will be possi-
ble to write up to the moment of post, as we may be
attacked in an hour for what I know.
LETTER XXXIV.
Sir Colin Campbell's Despatch of the Battle of

Balaklava.
To Major-General Estcoiirt, Adjutajit- General.
Camp, Battery No. 4, Balakava.
27th October, 1854.
Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that, in the
morning of the 25th inst., about seven o'clock, the
Russian force, which has been, as I already reported,
for some time among the hills on our right front,
debouched into the open ground in front of the Re-
doubts, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, which were occupied by
Turkish Infantry and Artillery, and armed with some
twelve-pounders (iron). The enemy's force consisted
of eighteen or nineteen Battalions of Infantry, from



TURKS LOSE THE REDOUBTS. 97

thirty to forty guns, and a large body of Cavalry.
