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536 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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DESPATCH FROM LORD RAGLAN OCCUPATION OF ...
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WAR MISCELLANEA. Health of the Army : th...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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536 The Leader. [Saturday,
536 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
Despatch From Lord Raglan Occupation Of ...
DESPATCH FROM LORD RAGLAN OCCUPATION OF THE TCHKKNAYA . Before Sebastopol , May 26 . My Lord , —I have the honour to report to your Lordship that a portion of the Allied armies took up a position yesterday on this side of the Tchernaya , the left of the French resting under a redoubt established upon the edge of this ridge overhanging the valley , and opposite the Inkerman heights ; the right extending beyond Tractir ; and the ground more to the right , behind Tchorgoun , being occupied by the Sardinian troops , aided in their advance by the 10 th Hussars and 12 th Lancers and the Horse Artillery , under Colonel Parlby . Omar Pacha at the same time moved forward to the low heights in front of Balaklava , and thus afforded support to the French Divisions before him . These were commanded by General Canrobert , who pushed forward across the bridge of Tractir , and drove the enemy , who ¦ were not in great numbers , off , and , having cleared his front , he withdrew to the side of the river , where he
now . Sir C jlin Campbell advanced the Royal Marines from the higli ridge on our extreme right to a point commanding the old Baidar road ; and Colonel Parlby , with the regiments I have mentioned , reconnoitred the country on ths immediate right of General La Marmora ' s position , and patrolled along the Woronzoff road , in the direction of Baidar . The appearance and bearing of the Sardinian troops are higlily satisfactory , and 1 anticipate the greatest advantage from their addition to this army under their distinguished leader , General La Marmora , whose zeal for the service and ardent desire to co-operate with us I am happy to have so early an opportunity of acknowledging and recording . Nothing of importance has occurred in the British trenches since I wrote to your Lordship on the 19 th inst .
The death of Colonel Egerton , of the 77 th , on the night of the 19 th ult ., as already announced to your Lordship , prevented my receiving in due course the official report of the conduct of the officers serving immediately under him , and it is only a few days ago that I learnt that Captain Gilby was the next in seniority to him , of the 77 th , on the occasion , and that he had highly distinguished himself . I deem it an act of justice to a most deserving officer to bring his conduct under the notice of your Lordship . I enclose the returns of casualties to the 24 th instant . Your Lordship will regret to see that Lieutenant Williams , of the 17 th , has been severely wounded . to
I have the greatest pleasure in announcing your Lordship the brilliant success which attended an attack by the French army of some ambuscades at the head of the Quarantine Bay , and in front of a cemetery near it . The attack was made on the night of the 22 nd ; and the operation was completed on the following evening . The enemy had collected a very large force on the first occasion to resist our allies ; but , notwithstanding , the French were enabled by their brilliant gallantry and determined resolution to maintain themselves in the pits at the head of the bay on the 22 nd , and on the 23 rd to occupy the whole with less resistance on the part of the Russians , who are stated to have sustained a very severe loss .
The French were necessarily exposed to a very heavy fire , and were assailed by vastly superior numbers . The achievement they accomplished redounds therefore highly to their renown , and is hailed with satisfaction by their allies . An expedition , composed of British , French , and Turkish troops , sailed for Kertch on Tuesday evening and Wednesday , morning , and I hope soon to be able to announce the landing of the corps , and the result of its first operations . It is commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown , and has been conveyed in English and French ships under the command of Admiral Sir E . Lyons and Admiral Bruat , whose exertions to carry out this important service have been most conspicuous . The 31 st Regiment has arrived from Corfu .
I am much concerned to have to report that Major-Genernl Buller has been obliged , by the failure of his health , to leave the army . Ho has been constant in the discharge of his duty since he joined this army , distinguished himself both nt Alma and Inkerman , and persevered in taking his turn in the trenches until driven by illness to withdraw . I rogret the loss of his services exceedingly . I have , & c ., The Lord Panmuro , & c . Raglan . Casualties— -1 sergeant , 8 rank and file , killed ; 1 officer , 1 drummer , ' 44 male and file , wounded . Naval Brigade : 1 killed , 4 wounded . DE 8 VATCH FROM SIR EIXMUNI ) LYONS—OPERATIONS IN THE HKA OF AZOF , Royal Albert , Straits of Kertch , May 20 , 1865 .
Sir , —I have grout pleasure in requesting you to inform the Lords Commiasldnera of the Admiralty that the Allied forces are in astern of the Straits of Kertch , and that they have in the Son of Azof a powerful steam flotilla , of light draught of water , capable of cutting off tho enemy ' s ouppliea , and harassing * him at all points ; und , moreover , that the moans arc at hand for Bonding in
a vast number of gun-boats of the lighter draught , if it should be found desirable to do so . My letter of the 22 nd instant , No . 396 , will have informed their lordships that an Allied expedition , consisting of 15 , 000 men of all arms , and five batteries of artillery , were then on the point of leaving the anchorage off Sebastopol , for Kertch , and my message by electric telegraph will have announced the complete success of that expedition ; but it now remains for me to give an account of our proceedings for their lordships' information .
The fleet , which consisted of her Majesty ships named in the margin , * and a French fleet of nearly equal force , under the command of my very gallant and energetic colleague , Vice-Admiral Bruat , assembled off the Straits of Kertch at early dawn on the birthday of her most gracious Majesty the Queen , and both armies and navies confidently anticipated a successful celebration of that auspicious day . The fleets steamed rapidly up to Kamiesch , where the army landed under cover of the guns of the steam-frigates , and immediately ascended the heights without opposition , whilst the steamers of
light draught of water pushed on towards Kertch and Yeni-Kaleh ; and the enemy , apparently taken by surprise at the rapidity of these movements , and at the imposing appearance of the expedition , blew up his fortifications on both sides of the straits , mounting not less than fifty guns ( new and of heavy calibre ) , which have fallen into our possession , and retired after having destroyed three steamers , and several other heavilyarmed vessels , as well as large quantities of provisions , ammunition , and stores , thus leaving us masters of the entrance into the Sea of Azof , without our having
sustained any loss whatever . As the " disembarkation was unopposed , in consequence of the fire of the steam frigates having arrested the advance of the enemy , there was no field for the gallantry that animated every one in the expedition ; but the duties they had to perform were very arduous , and I should be doing injustice to them and to my own feelings if I were not to say that no commander-in-chief was ever more ably assisted than I am by the captains and those under their command—one and all follow the admirable example of the zealous and talented second in command , Rear-Admiral Stewart , and they could not
possibly do better . There was , however , an incident during the day that called forth the admiratio ' n of both fleets , and which deserves to be particularly noticed . Lieutenant M'Killop , whose gun-vessel , the Snake , was not employed like the others in landing troops , dashed past the forts after an enemy ' s steamer , and although he soon found himself engaged , not only with her but also with two others who came to her support , he persevered , and by the cleverness and extreme rapidity of his manoeuvres prevented the escape of all three ; and they were consequently destroyed by the enemy , and the Snake had not a man hurt , though shot passed through the vessel .
Yesterday , Admiral Bruat and I accompanied the combined steam flotilla , named in the margin , ! into the Sea of Azof , and despatched them , under the orders of Captain Lyons , of the Miranda , on the interesting and important service they have before them . Had this expedition been deferred but a short time longer , there would have been many and great difficulties to overcome , for the enemy was actively employed in strengthening the sea defences , and" in replacing the sunken vessels which had been carried away by the current during the winter months . Of the forty vessels sunk last year , some still remain , and a French steamer touched upon one of them yesterday . It appears that the enemy did not succeed in destroying the coals , either at Kertch or Yeni-Kaleh ; so that about 17 , 000 tons remain , which will be available for our steamers .
It will be evident to their lordships that the rapid operations which I have had the honour and happiness to describe to them , could not have been brought to so satisfactory a conclusion , if the most perfect understanding , and the most hearty goodwill towards each other , had not prevailed throughout the Allied fleets and armies . —I am , & c , ( Signed ) Edmund Lyons , Roar-Admiral and Commandor-in-Chief . The Secretary of the Admiralty , London . Admiralty , Juno C . With reference to the above despatch , Lieutenant Henry Frederick M'Killop will be promoted to the rank of commundcr , bo soon as ho shall have completed the sea time required to qualify him for that rank .
DICSl'ATOII FltOM Silt EDMUND LYONS TO LORD K AC LAN . Royal Albert , off Sobaatopol , May 10 . My Lord , —I have the honour to enclose , for your * Royal Albert , Hannibal , Algiers , Agamemnon , St-Jean d'Acro , Princess Royal , Sidon , Valorous , Leopard , Tribune , Simoom , Furious , Highflyer , Terrible , Miranda , Sphinx , Spitfire , Gladiator , Vesuvius , Curlew , Swallow , Carudoc , Stroinboli , Ardent , Medina , Wrangler , Viper , Lynx , Recruit , Arrow , Banshee , Snake , Beugle . f Miranda , Vesuvius , Curlow , Swallow , Stroinboli , Ardent , Medina , Wrangler , Viper , Lynx , Recruit , Arrow , Snake , Beagle , and five French stoam-vossola .
Excellency ' s information , a copy of a letter from Commander Priest , of the Himalaya , calling my attention to the praiseworthy exertions of Captain Gell , of the Hon . East India Company ' s service ; and , as her Majesty ' s Consul at Alexandria , and Colonel Pole , of the 12 th Lancers , both bear testimony to this officer ' s valuable services , I shall feel greatly obliged if your Excellency will have the goodness to bring his conduct under favourable consideration in the proper quarter . I have , & c , Lord Raglan . Edmund Lyons . Captain Gell was employed in superintending the embarkation at Alexandria of the 10 th Hussars and 12 th Lancers , whom he had conducted through Egypt .
HEALTH OF THK ARMY TIIK CHOLERA . Before Sebastopol , May 26 . My Lord , —I have the honour to enclose a return of the daily progress of cholera in the army in the Crimea , from 19 th to 25 th of May inclusive . Your lordship will notice by this return , that the disease has moderated in violence , and that the mortality is one-third less than it was during the preceding seven days , though I cannot say that the number of attacks has diminished in proportion , or that the disease has been circumscribed by narrower limits ; on the contrary , I think it , if anything , more generally diffused , as casea have occurred in ever > ' division .
At Balaklava , several admissions into the General Hospital there have taken place from the Sardinian Contingent , from the Land Transport Corps , and from ships in the harbour , which have swelled out our lists of both admissions and deaths . The removal of the Buffs and 48 th Regiment to higher and drier ground has been attended with good results . Great attention is paid to the sanitary condition of the camps , and to all matters that it is thought may tend to excite the disease .
The attention of medical officers has been drawn to the subject of cholera belts , and I have reason to believe that the whole army has been supplied with them , and if not , the supply in store is ample enough to meet the demand . —I have , & c , J . Hail , Inspector-General of Hospitals . Field-Marshal Lord Raglan , G . C . B ., Commandin < r-iii-Chief .
War Miscellanea. Health Of The Army : Th...
WAR MISCELLANEA . Health of the Army : the Cholkra . —The Crimeaa correspondent of the Daily Netcs writes as follows under date oi" May 22 : —'' We have had less intense heat during the last two days . Cases of cholera have continued , but they have been generally ' sporadic' in character . A few cases have occurred among the Sardinians , and one or two have appeared in the Highland Brigade . In oneinstance , six mule-drivers from the same hut were attacked by the disease , and taken to the general hospital at Balaklava . The regiments of cavalry have remained without a case . There has been a diminution in the number of fresh cases in front ; but Major Norton , the senior major of the Connaught Rangers , has fallen a victim to the disease . He was attacked in the course of Saturday , the 19 th inst ., and died early in the morning of the following day . A large concourse of officers attended his funeral . "
State of SebAstopol . — The Austrian M ilitary Zeitung contains a letter from Sebastopol , under date May i 3 , in which it is said : — "The southern side of our town is scarcely to be recognised ; five hundred houses have been totally destroyed . The beautiful theatre no longer exists . The streets are everywhere rooted up by shot , and the pavement is totally destroyed , while at every corner stand whole pyramids of the enemy ' a cannonballs , and exploded shells , which aro daily collected before the opening of the fire . In many streets five or six such pyramids are to be seen , each of them from eight to ten feet high . Nevertheless business is continued , and liowcver
booths are opened for the sale of goods . Prices , , are enormously raised , and sugar costs one wilvcr rouble per pound . The supply of ment is more than abundant ; but bread ia exceedingly scarce . Yut neither thothunder of the enemy ' s cannon , nor the siego of Sebusropol , are suffered to disturb uh any longer ; wo mourn over our adversaries , who aro shedding their blood without result before our brazen walla . Wo read many absurd statements about the condition of tho besieged ; but the ab-Hiirdest of all is , undoubtedly , the news that wo nutter from want of supplies , and that huildredrt and hundreds of us are daily cut oft" by death—of all which no trace is
to bo seen . " A Clkveh Plan . — There was a plnn somn time ago proposed by an engineer to wave uh from surprises . consisted of wirc « placed at a distance of a fuw feet Irom polos fixed in the ground , and ho arranged as to Hot lire to bluo lights on being touched . For boitio reason or other tho project has not been carried out . — Times Correspondent , i , 5 n ThkGekman Fouimon Legion , now bointf iornioa >» tho Hinall island of Heligoland , appeared to got <>» rntntr slowly . About thirty of tho huts or woodttn l ' . !*' have been finished ; but , although tho iHlnrul is ™' larger , according to tho report of one who h « 8 ucch
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 9, 1855, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09061855/page/8/
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