The inscriptions read 'No.1 Peterfort/Cronstadt (sic) from the south/Fort Peter the First/Fort Alexander/No.2 The Boats of the Royal George, Jason - Blenheim & Majestic surveying the South Channel of Cronstadt (sic)/No.3. Fort Menchikoff/Fort Cronstadt (sic)/The Gun ports all comited (?)/No.4 The Boats 3 miles distant from the Batteries/Fort Kirbank/No.5/This point of Land must be kept 6 inches apart to the right from No.4 it is then correct in the relative distances'

The great assault on Kronstadt (and St.Petersburg) was planned in 1855 as the spring offensive in 1856, but it never took place as Russia sued for Peace. It is thought that these sketches were preparatory drawings for Carmichael to send to the Illustrated London News who had sent him to the Baltic during the Crimean War as their war artist.