Hitherto they had believed that the allies would never be able to take the town; but the tremendous fire which the allies had now opened, and the close approach of the French to the Malakoff, had clearly shaken their confidence at last.
Large quantities of stores were transported during the day to the north side, and on the heights there great numbers of men were seen to be laboring at fortifications.

The Russian army in the field was observed to be moving towards Inkerman, and it was believed that it was about to repeat the experiment of the Tchernaya and to make a desperate effort to relieve the town by defeating the allied armies in the field.
All that night the bombardment continued without intermission, the troops in the trenches keeping up a heavy musketry fire upon the enemy's works, to prevent them from repairing damages in the dark.
The next day was a repetition of those which had gone before it.

The Russians replied but seldom, and occasionally when the smoke blew aside, it could be seen that terrible damage was being inflicted on the Russian batteries.

At dusk the cannonade ceased, the shell bombardment took place, and at eleven a tremendous explosion occurred in the town.
The Russians from time to time lit up the works with fire-balls and carcasses, evidently fearing a sudden night attack.

During the day a great council of war was held; and as orders were sent to the surgeons to send all the patients in the hospital down to Balaklava, and to prepare for the reception of wounded, it was known that the attack would take place next day.
Although the Russian fire in reply to the bombardment had been comparatively slight, from the 3d to the 6th we had three officers and forty-three men killed; three officers and 189 men wounded.
During these days Jack had been on duty in the batteries, and the sailors had taken their full part in the work.
There was some disappointment that night in the naval camp when it was known by the issue of the divisional orders that the sailors were not to be engaged in the assault.