Soon after sunset the general and staff left the shore, and their example was followed by every military officer of any rank; so that the whole work devolved upon those I had placed in command of the beach and the boats.
The men marched down quietly by themselves and everything went on like clockwork.

I must confess that I passed a most anxious night, as I knew not but what at any moment the enemy might make a rush into the entrenchments the Turks were abandoning, in order to claim a victory.

My own ship was getting lumbered up, and I knew that before long it would be impossible to work more than one or two of the guns in case of need.
That the Russians, however, could not know this, was my comfort; but I must own that it was a great relief to me when the last detachment left the shore.

The poor fellows had been holding the outposts all night.
They came in at the double, and little time was lost over their embarkation.
We steamed off at once to Soukhoum, and there disembarked the expedition.

Shortly after this I was called upon to prepare for a veritable exodus.