The year is 1855 and the port of Sebastopol is still being besieged by the allies but defended vigorously by the Russians. This is of no consequence to Jack Crossman and his hardy band of malcontents as they constantly breach the defences and enter the city to carry out some discreet British business. Russian sharpshooters mysteriously disappear as Crossman and his men strive to make a dent in Russian morale. But these foxhunts serve merely as a warmup 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 ten days after this hardhitting failure French and Sardinian forces overrun the Russians, and Sebastopol is left to the allies. At last the Crimean War is over - and Crossman finds himself posted to India where he will continue his life of espionage and sabotage on a new continent.