It was opposed by about 280 guns from the works.

The fleet kept itself (in general) at a respectable distance (from 1500 to 2000 yards); too far to inflict any material injury with its armament (32-pounders, with a moderate proportion of 8-inch shell-guns) upon the works;--too far to receive much from the inefficient armament of the Russian works." "The only exception to this remark applies to the detached English squadron under Sir Edmund Lyons, consisting of the _Agamemnon_, _Sanspareil_, _London_, _Arethusa_, and _Albion_, the first-named of which vessels took a position at 750 or 800 yards from Fort Constantine, while the others stretched along at about the same distance from Fort Constantine, the 'Wasp Tower,' and 'Telegraph Battery.' Dahlgren describes the result as follows:--" "The _Agamemnon_ was very seriously maltreated, though not to such an extent as to impair her power of battery or engine.

She was on fire several times; was struck by 240 shot or shells; and, singular to say, only lost 29, while her second, just by, lost 70 men.

The _Albion_ suffered still more, and in an hour was towed out crippled, and on fire in more than one place, with a loss of 81 men.

The crews of the _London_ and _Arethusa_, fared rather better, but the ships nearly as ill; and they too remained in station but a little time after the _Albion_.