Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/284

 •25-1 THE OPENING OF THE SIEGE. C II A r. X. their riioiJi- fied pinii. Niglils of the 10t)i BnJ 11th Oct. tlio Knglish ojieniiig tlioir tienches. The appear- ance of ilesolation now causcil by puUiim down roofs. at this time could do was to endeavour to estab- lish their siege-guns ui)on the Woronzoff Height and the Green Hill, at distances of from 1300 to 1400 yards from the place; and this they pro- posed to attempt by seizing at night-tijue the best ground that could be chosen for the purpose on each of the two ridges, and there constructing the batteries with which they intended to prepare the way for assault. Accordingly, on the nights of the lOtli and the 11th of October, the English succeeded in open- ing the trenches which they had designed to con- struct on Green Hill as well as on the Woronzoff Height ; and it soon appeared that the fire they had means of preparing was likely to be much more effective than they had ventured to hope that it could be when first they prepared to break ground. By the evening of the; 16th of October the English had established their batteries and stood ready, as did also the French, to open fire on the following morning. The English were to be held ready to storm the liedan as soon as the French operations should bo ripe for a like effort against the Flagstaff Bastion. War b}'' this time had set its desolating mark upon the ridges and the slopes of the Chersonese. When first the Allies seized the ground, there was to be seen hei'e and there a farndiouse, a wind- mill, a cluster of cottages. But amongst the many wants of the Allies the want of timber was one ; and the English more especially were put