Fortunately the Russian attack had not commenced, and the arrival of my squadron probably led to its postponement until too late.

To remove 4,000 men, bag and baggage, with several batteries of field-pieces and a large amount of ammunition, was no easy task with the small amount of transport at my command.

I made, however, what I considered to be the best disposition possible under the circumstances.
The corvettes and the paddle transports were moored in as close to the shore as possible, my intention being to cram them with men and stores first, leaving my flagship free to the last to manoeuvre off the Russian camp and shell it, should the slightest opposition be offered to the embarkation.

The work commenced at daylight, and was actively carried on throughout the day and following night, the last batch of men coming off at dawn.

The men were taken away from under the very teeth, as it were, of the Russians.