Two sappers in charge of the field electric telegraph for service in the Crimea, arrived at Balaklava on the 7th December, and repaired to the camp on the 19th, taking with them the instruments, batteries, insulated wire, and appliances, packed in two waggons. Twenty-four coils of wire, each a mile long, were packed in them, as also a subsoil plough, appropriate tools, and boats. The apparatus, only available for short distances, was worked by six or eight men. To establish a communication between any two points, the wire, which uncoiled from a drum, revolving horizontally in a carriage drawn in advance, was laid in a shallow trough made by the plough, which served the double purpose of cutting the furrow and depositing the line. The trough was just deep enough to protect the wire from ordinary accidents. Equally effective was the apparatus for communicating with vessels at sea. The two sappers were specially instructed in the electric telegraph establishment at Lothbury in the mode of working the instruments, laying the wire, and in the ingenious manipulation required to give effect to the process. Such, however, was the state of the weather from snow storms, hard frosts, and heavy rains, it was some weeks before the telegraph could be employed. Meanwhile, as the instrument was regarded as an important appendage to the army, sergeants James Anderson[162] and Montgomery, with several non-commissioned officers and privates, were educated in the art by corporal Peter Fraser; so that when the time arrived for using it, there was an adequate staff of operators to attend to its scientific details and requirements. Up to this period, in addition to the casualties already mentioned, the following men were put hors de combat:— Private James Dilling—killed, by the bursting of a gun. The wounded were— Private John McLean—slightly, in the head, by the bursting of a shell. ” James Wheeler—severely, in back of head and right shoulder, by splinters of shells. ” William Haines—severely, in back, by a spent 32 lb. shot rolling over the parapet on him. ” John Hutton—slightly, in the head. ” John Giles—severely, in left clavicle, and collar-bone broken, by grape-shot. After returning to England had a severe attack of small-pox, from which he recovered, but lost his right eye. ” Robert McFarlane—dangerously, in the thigh, by splinter of shell. Sergeant James H. Drew—dangerously, in the left shoulder and collar-bone, by a shot.[163] Private Samuel Coles—killed by a round shot, which struck his left shoulder, and carried away his arm. Lance-corporal William Eastley—severely, in left leg, by splinter of shell.