I have, &c.,
Raglan.
GENERAL PELISSIER'S DESPATCH.
Head-quarters before Sebastopol, June 22.
Monsieur le Maréchal,—Since the capture of the external works on the 7th of June I had rapidly made every arrangement to make them the basis of our attack against the enceinte itself of Karabelnaia. We armed them with powerful artillery; the Russian communications and place d'armes were turned to our own use; the ground plan of attack studied in detail; the Allied armies had their respective tasks allotted to them. The English were to storm the Great Redan, and we were to carry the Malakoff Tower, the redan of the Careening Bay, and the intrenchments which cover that extremity of the faubourg. It is superfluous, M. le Maréchal, to point out to your Excellency what would have been the result of such an operation if it had succeeded. Since our last successes the attitude of the enemy and the enthusiasm of our troops promised victory. There was no time to be lost.
In concert with Lord Raglan, on the 17th we poured a crushing fire into Sebastopol, especially into the works we intended storming. At an early hour the enemy ceased replying from the Malakoff and from the Redan. It is probable they were economizing their batteries and fire, and that they did not suffer so much from the effects of our artillery as we were led to presume.
However that may be, the superiority of our guns confirmed us in our plan for making an assault on the 18th, and on the night before we made all the necessary arrangements for a general movement on the morrow.
Three divisions were to take part in the combat—the divisions of Mayran and Brunet, of the 2nd corps; the Division d'Autemarre of the 1st. The division of the Imperial Guard formed the reserve.
Mayran's division had the right attack, and was to carry the intrenchments which extend from the battery of the point to the redan of Careening Bay.
Brunet's division was to turn the Malakoff on the right.
D'Autemarre's division was to manœuvre on the left to carry that important work.