furtign nut (tannin!.
THE Cage.—The brilliant progress of the Allied arms in the Crimea has now been illustrated by an abundance of intelligence, furnished by the official despatches of the English and French commanders military and naval, the special correspondence of the journals, and private letters from all manner of men who have taken part in the work.
The despatches we published last week recorded, in brief terms, the victory of the Alma and the advance of the Allies upon Sebastopol. Following the progress of the troops on the morning of the 19th Septem- ber, when they broke up their encampment at Old Fort, we can now trace them through every step of their victorious march to Balaclava.
The troops were astir before daybreak, but were not prepared for marching before nine o'clock. All the tents and every scrap of unneces- sary baggage was sent on board the fleet, which moved on the sea in a line parallel to the route of the troops on land. The French and Turks occu- pied the right of the line; the British the left. In the order of their march Lord Cardigan led the way, with three regiments of light cavalry, the Eighth and Eleventh Hussars, and the Seventeenth Lancers ; a little in the rear of their left came the Light Division, supported by the First Division; and in rear of the right marched the Second Division, supported by the Third. Next came another body of cavalry, and the Commissariat train; then the two brigades of the Fourth Division, forming the rear-guard. In this order the grand lines of soldiery, red on the left, dark blue on the right, swept onwards over the undulating plain. After an hour's march the troops were halted. Lord Raglan and Marshal St. Arnaud rode along the front of the columns, surrounded by a host of officers. As they passed the British, the men, who were lying on the ground, simultaneously rose up, and saluted the cavalcade with three British cheers. As the French Marshal passed the Fifty-fifth Regiment, he exclaimed, " English, I hope you will fight well today !" " Hope ?" replied a voice from the ranks, sure you know we will !" In lees than an hour the columns were again in motion, and the majestic parade was renewed. Now smoke and flame in front announced the presence of the foe ; and soon, on the crests of the distant elevated ground, there were visible traces of lines of infantry and squadrons of cavalry in the front. Lord Cardigan, some distance in advance of his supports, threw forward skirmishers as he neared the enemy, and both sides en- gaged in a distant fire. The Russians brought up infantry ; and our cavalry retired, steadily and in good order. The Russians advanced in squares; and suddenly one of them opening, a spirt of smoke was seen, and the instant after a round shot tore over the cavalry. The Russians had brought up a gun and opened fire, wounding four troopers. Captain Maude's horse artillery now came up, but were halted in order to entice the Cossacks a little nearer : but they did not move; and on our artillery opening a quick and precise fire, the squadrons of Cossacks broke up and retired. On the right, in front of the French, a similar skirmish had en- sued ; but the Russians came too close, and the French horse artillery, rapidly brought into action, convinced them that safety only lay out of range. On the evening of the 19th, the troops underwent a tentless bivouac on the banks of the Bulganak.
The morning of the 20th broke fair and sunny ; and the army rose in high spirits to perform the giant task of driving the Russians from a strongly intrenched position. They were now advancing in face of the enemy. The line of troops, resting on the sea, extended nearly six miles inland. The Rifles were thrown out far on the left in skirmishing order, covered by cavalry. This advance was a sight of grandeur, calculated to show the splendid appearance of our infantry in line. " Red," says an enthusiastic eye-witness, "is the colour, atter all; and the white slashings of the breast of the coat, and the cross-belts, though rendering a man conspicuous enough, give him an appearance of size which other uniforms do not produce. The dark French columns on our right looked very small compared to our battalions, though we knew they were quite as strong." It was also remarked that the French moved more swiftly than our soldiers. On they went, marching in the form of a lozenge; the French under Canrobert forming the Southern point, and the British the Northern: and in this array they neared the Alma, where the French, from their more advanced position and rapid movements, arrived the first.
Prince Mensehikoff had posted his troops in a position so strong by na- ture, that, as it was afterwards disclosed, he calculated that he should be able, if not to bar the road of Sebastopol to the Allies, at least to delay them three weeks. That position was on a range of heights on the Southern side of the Alma, running parallel to it, and commanding the ground on both aides. The river itself is small, and frets its way by the force of winter torrents through the red clayey soil. At its confluence with the sea, its banks, varying in height from three to eight feet, rise on the Northern side; but higher up they rise on the Southern side. In advance of the right bank, about a mile and a quarter from the sea, stands the hamlet of Almatamak ; and a mile fur- ther on the village of Burliuk, through which the post-road passed to Sebastopol. Tartar houses, vineyards, enclosed gardens, spread up the banks on both sides ; but the trees had been felled, and their .runks were thrown in the path of an advancing force. From the river on the Southern side the land swept upwards into ridges of vary- ing height, intersected by gullies worn by winter torrents. On the West the hills fell to the sea in peaked cliffs; in the centre the heights were lower ; while on the East the ground rose several hundred feet, com- manding alike the front of the position and the ground below. The ascent was perfectly bare, and troops assailing it in front would have to march nearly a mile under the enemy's fire. These heights the Russians had turned into a fortress. On the extreme right, they had thrown up an earth-work battery in the form of an arrow-head, alike flanking the front and commanding the fords of the Alma; and had armed it with twelve 32-pounders. Three other batteries at this point also swept over the same ground. Behind them were posted the strength of the Russian infantry. The line was extended to the left along the ridge ; artillery commanded the ravines at every point, and at the extreme left of the position a sort of stone redoubt was in course of erection. In the early part of the day the Russians occupied the peaks overlooking the sea with infantry ; but these were dispersed by the shells of the steamers. Rifle- men were planted along the river, and in the village of Burliuk. Thus arrayed, exulting and confident, Prince Menschikoff awaited the shock of battle.
Within sight, but not within range, the Allies drew up in line, about
mid-day. The French were still on the right leaning on the sea ; their division furthest to the left, under Prince -Napoleon, pointing upon the hamlet of Almatamak, and standing nearest to the British right. This consisted of the Second Division, under Sir De Lacy Evans ; supported by the Third Division, under Sir Richard England. Next on the left stood the Light Division, led by Sir George Brown ; and supported by the Guards and Highlanders, under the Duke of Cambridge. Early in the day, the appearance of Russian cavalry on the left caused Sir George Brown to detach the English horse under Lord Cardigan, and some guns, in that direction to keep them in check ; while the rear was protected 14 the Fourth Division, under Sir George Cathcart.
It had been arranged between Lord Raglan and Marshal St. Arnaud, to turn the Russian position on both flanks. To effect this, General Bos- quet, with the Turks under Suleiman Pasha, were to cross the Alma near its confluence with the sea, and, covered by the fire of the in-shore squad- ron, establish himself on the heights upon the Russian left. While this movement was in progress, the other French divisions were to occupy the attention of the Russian centre ; and when the French operations had succeeded, Sir George Brown was to turn the right with the Light Divi- sion, while the rest of the army swept the Russian centre before them. This plan of attack, it will be seen, was only partly carried out, and the British stormed instead of turning the right wing of the Russians.
The battle, which began about half-past twelve, was fought from right to left. General Bosquet pushed his troops over the Alma at a run; the Zouaves swarmed up the heights—climbing, leaping, crawling, rather than marching ; and in twenty minutes several thousand Frenchmen were established on the left flank of the Russians. Isolated for a brief time, and exposed to the fire of five batteries, General Bosquet held his ground ; and then General Canrobert, thrusting his division across the river, while Prince Napoleon simultaneously put his brigades in motion, dashed up the rocks and succoured the foremost French. The battle now rolled in its fiery course towards the centre. In the face of an incessant fire from the Russian riflemen on the Alma, the French brigades rushed forward with their accustomed impetuosity, sweeping the sharpshooters before them, and, covered by their artillery, now brought into action, fol- lowing up the slopes'of the hills. Marshal St. Arnaud speedily supported them with his second line ; and the battle on the Russian left was won at two o'clock.
Meanwhile, the British divisions had been gradually closing up to the encounter. They were halted behind the village of Burliuk, and lay within range waiting for the signal of the French success on the right to charge across the stream. The Russians had actually set up marks to indicate the range of their guns ; and as our men lay in ranks, the round shot flew among them, doing much damage ; but the British artillery replied with shot and shell, and caused great loss to the Russians on the opposing slopes. About this time—one o'clock—the Russians, at- tacked by our skirmishers fired the village of Burliuk, partly burned the timber bridge over the Alma, and retired to the left bank. The flames and smoke somewhat retarded the progress..of the assailants. At length the decisive moment came, and Lord Raglan gave the signal for the ad- vance. Simultaneously the Light and Second Divisions crossed the river. The two brigades of the latter were forced to divide to the right and left of the burning village, and reunited on the other side: The regiments of the Light Division rivalled The fame of their celebrated pre- decessors. Their task it was to storm the earth-work batteries on the Russian right. Preceded by the Rifles as of yore, the Seventh Fusiliers, under Colonel Yea, the Thirty-third, under Colonel Blake, and the Twenty-third, under Colonel Chester, dashed through the Alma under a withering fire. The batteries bore upon them before they could form; round after round of shot swept through them; their officers began to go to the ground ; and as they rushed up the steeps, the ranks were broken by grape, canister, and musketry. But nothing could arrest their invinci- ble perseverance. Steadily and sternly each regiment formed how it could; and, led by Brigadier Codrington, and Sir George Brown, conspicuous on a grey charger, rushed right against the battery. On their right fought the Thirtieth, Fifty-fifth, and Ninety-fifth, forming the left brigade of the Second Division, who were hotly engaged against the Russian centre. Sweeping up the hills, they were met by a terrible fire; and as their shat- tered lines neared the battery of 32-pounders in their front, " a sheet of lead swept through them like a sword." Brigadier Pennefather, their brave commander, drew them back to form them anew ; and the Russian infantry, emboldened by this appearance of success, leaped out of the battery and began to charge down-bill. Little did they know with what manner of men they had to deaL The three regiments turned upon their foes, and hunted them up the hill at the point of the bayonet, followed them with a storm of bullets, and sent them flying over the hill beyond. It was at this stage that the crisis of the battle had arrived. The ad- vanced brigade of the Light Division had crowned the slope, and had seized the battery,—an officer of the Thirty-third writing his name on one of its brass guns,—when, mistaking for French a dark column of in- fantry marching towards them, the three regiments ceased firing. Imme- diately a volley of musketry undeceived them, and forced them to retire with awful loss. But now the First Division, the Highland Brigade under Sir Colin Campbell, and the Guards under General Bentinck, were approach- ing, with all the regularity and calmness of a review. Their lines were dressed as they came grandly on. The men of the Light Division com- plained that the Guards were losing time in dressing-up I But the dress- ing-up did not interfere with their advance. They met and covered the retiring regiments of the Light Division: but they were exposed to a tremendous fire, and the men fell fast. A large square of Russians was advancing towards the battery, but appeared to hesitate. At this moment, Lord Raglan, who with his staff had crossed the river, and who stood in the heat of the fire, ordered up two guns to bear upon the advancing Russians. The guns were speedily in their
place ; speedily they got the range over the heads of the Guards and Highlanders who still swept on ; long lanes of dead were rapidly bored through the Russian ranks ; the enemy wavered and fled. On went the Guards and Highlanders. The Duke of Cambridge encouraged his men by voice and example. "Highlanders !" cried Sir Colin Camp- bell, before they came to the charge, " don't pull a trigger till you're within a yard, of the Russians ! " They charged, and well they obeyed their
chieftain's wish : Sir Colin's horse was shot under him, but his men took the battery at a bound. The Russians rushed out, leaving multi- tudes of dead behind them. The Second and Light Divisioni crowned the heights. The French turned the guns on the hill against the flying masses, which the cavalry in vain tried to cover. " A few faint struggles from the scattered infantry, a few rounds of cannon and musketry, and the enemy fled to the South-east, leaving three generals, three guns, 700 pri- soners, and 4000 wounded, behind them. The battle of the Alma was won.'
The first care, after the battle, was for the wounded. The crews of the men-of-war and their officers, and the naval medical men, landed and promptly assisted in carrying the sufferers down to the beach. The field of battle presented a frightful sight. It is stated that six Russians lay dead for one of the Allies. On the night of the 20th, the troops slept on the heights, and remained there during the 21st and 22d, still engaged in the sad work of burying the dead and succouring the wounded. On the 23d, the Generals again put their men in motion ; crossed the Katcha, and encamped for the night on the left bank—on a spot whence the first view of the defences of Sebastopol was obtained. In this bivouac it was ascertained that the Russians had constructed strong works bearing upon the mouth of the Belbek, and sufficiently commanding to forbid any attempt to land siege-guns there. It was therefore determined by Lord Raglan and Marshal St. Arnaud to cross the Belbek higher up, and by a flank march to gain Balaclava. On the 24th they set out, the British leading the way, as the flank brigades now be- came the advance. The country, although rugged and wooded, was covered with pleasant mansions, and with gardens full of delicious fruits, which the troops plucked as they went along. Crossing the Belbek by the bridge of Oturkoi, the armies passed the night on the heights. Next day the advance was renewed. The route lay through a wood, so thick and entangled that the infantry were ordered to march by compass, while the cavalry and artillery took the only practicable narrow road through the jungle. Near a place on the road from Sebastopol to Bagtche-serai, known as Khutor Mekenzia or "Mackenzie's Farm," the leading files of the artillery and cavalry came upon a body of the enemy; who being at- tacked on their flank, fled, some backwards, some forwards, leaving behind a quantity of baggage and ammunition. As soon as the divisions had cleared the forest, they halted for fifty minutes. Again in motion, the troops crossed the Tchernaya, and there put up for the night. Next morning they marched to Balaclava ; seized it, after an insignificant resistance ; and found the Agamemnon, the Caradoc, and some transports, in the landlocked harbour. The French army followed the British ; reached Mekenzia eleven hours after the skirmish there; and joined the British at Balaclava next day. On the 27th, four divisions of the Allies, two of each army, made a reconnaissance in the direction of Sebastopol. On the 28th and succeeding days, the British fleet began to disembark the siege-artillery, and prepare for an instant bombardment of the place. Further than this we have no authentic information as to the move- ments of the Allies ; but it has been stated that the trenches were opened on the 4th of this month, and the bombardment begun.
• The fleet has taken its share in the campaign. Moving in concert with the army, the ships anchored off the Alma ; and some of the steamers ran as close to the shore as possible, and effectively annoyed the Russian left with shell practice. The " tops " of the ships were swarming with spec- tators; some of whom have enriched the journals with descriptions of the fight as seen from the main-top. After the fight, the transport steamers received the wounded, and conveyed them to Constantinople; while the men-of-war went to the mouth of the Katscha. It was here, on the 26th, that Lieutenant Maxse came in frono. Lord Raglan, to announce that he would march on Balaclava that day. From the Katscha, Admiral Lyons carried the Agamemnon, the Caradoc, and the transports, with siege-guns, to Balaclava, by twelve o'clock the same day. War-steamers constantly cruised off Sebastopol, as we are informed by despatches received from Admiral Dundas. Captain Jones of the Sampson reported on the 22d, that on the 21st the Russian fleet approached the mouth of the harbour ; and next day, within sight of the Allied fleets, five ships of the line and two frigates were sunk across its mouth, leaving their top-masts above water. This closes the passage, " except, perhaps, a small space near the shoal off the North Battery." On the 24th, eight ships of the line were " moored East and West, inside of the booms; and three of the ships are heeled over to give their guns more elevation to sweep over the land to the Northward." The crews had been landed, it was supposed to take part in the defence.
The Russian wounded left on the field were almost as carefully tended as our own. As is usual on such occasions, contradictory stories are told; some letters stating that the Russians shot at our men who approached to give them water ; others, that the disabled Russians kissed the hands of those who performed the same kind office. Admiral Dundas writes, on the 23d September, that he had forwarded 500 wounded Russians to Odessa, in a transport, under charge of the Fury, and covered by a fag of truce.
Previous page
