Publisher's Synopsis
The year is 1855 and the port of Sebastopol is still under siege by the allies, the Russians putting up a vigorous defence. Sergeant Jack Crossman and his hardy band of brothers make forays to harrass the enemy in the hills and valleys around the troubled city. Russian sharpshooters mysteriously disappear as Crossman and his men chip away at the enemy's morale.
But these foxhunts serve merely as a
warm-up to the British attack on the Redan, a fortification guarding Sebastopol. The British attack, when it does come, is ill planned and ill advised and ends in total disaster and Crossman is forced to bear witness to the wholesale massacre of his fellow soldiers. And then two months after this hardhitting failure French and Sardinian forces foil a massive Russian attack. Later, though the final attack on the Redan is repulsed, Sebastopol is abandoned and left to the allies.
At last the Crimean War is over. And Crossman finds himself posted to India where his many fans will be glad to hear he will continue his life of espionage and sabotage, in very different and exotic surroundings.
