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Mat 12, 1855.] THE LEAD E..R. . 437. - i...
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T H E WA R. The war news of the week is ...
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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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Tne Sebastopol Committee. Monday. Str Ti...
Stratford , the ambassador , Suggesting that he should allow a Maltese interpreter to go to Sebastopol , to see what was going on there , and what their fleet was like ; but he received no answer from the ambassador . He then sent Captain Drummond to the ambassador , who stated that there was a doubt or difficulty about * giving , the Maltese man a passport . In short , his inquiries concerning the fleet in Sebastopol were not attended with any success . The witness attributed this to backwardness on the part of the authorities , who , however , did not impede him , but were excessively slow in getting and giving particulars . Indeed , -they were hindered by the vigilance of the Russian Government . Admiral Dundas then gave other instances of his in effectual efforts to obtain information . Before the war broke out , he and the French Admiral were entirely under the orders of their Governments . The witness said he could > not have moved his fleet without the authority of the ambassador , and , the French Admiral being his superior , he was obliged to consult him also ; but the orders of the ambassador would have overridden those of his ( witness's ) naval coadjutor if there had been a difference of opinion . This was the state of things r % f *?^^^•^^ ^ Ul ^ v * a - *••» ¦ ¦ -a ^ v ^ h ^ -l -. *^ Jx *¦» . . _ m . - „ . I —~ L / J _ ^_ _^ uwvi bile wtiiuuniixiciiucix fctiLci il
^^ —^^ *^ ^^ *^ ^^ * . ^ c . , warms , was another matter . Admiral Dundas also stated that the blockade did not take place for a long time . On the Chairman asking if the enemy ' s ships did not come out of Sebastopol , the Admiral replied— " Very often two or three of them did ; " but he added , that he never heard of a Russian steamer coming so far up as the Bosphorus . He ( Admiral Dundas ) on the 10 th of May addressed a letter to Lord Raglan , expressing his opinion that Sebastopol was a second Gibraltar , and that 120 , 000 Russians were in the Crimea , of whom 30 , 000 were in Sebastopol ; and that there were fourteen or sixteen sail of the line in the harbour . The letter concluded with a hope that his lordship had better information than he ( Admiral Dundas ) respecting Russian operations and resources . ( daughter ) . —Proceeding to the details of warlike operations , the witness stated that the means of transport at his disposal were sufficient for conveying the British army , but not for all the bag-gage-animals , many of which—he believed 2000 or 3000—were left behind at Varna . At that time he had no means of obtaining additional transpoits . Speaking of the coaling of the fleet , Mr . Roebuck asked— " Could you not have had a steam-tug in the Bosphorus for coaling the steamers ?" Admiral Dundas answered that "if you had had a dozen steam-tugs in the Bosphorus you could not have done it . " Upon which Mr . Roebuck asked the witness "if he
expected Providence to provide the coals ? " To this Admiral Dundas responded— " It was Providence that prevented their being supplied . " And then there was laughter , and the witness went on to state that the duty of supplying coals devolved upon Admiral Boxer . Mr . Roebuck . — " Did you receive orders from the Admiralty respecting the blockade of the Euxine ? " —I did ; but , if you ask me one word about the blockade of the Euxine , I must speak of the French . ( . 1 laugh . * ) Mr . Roebuck . — " Then you will blockade me . " { Laughter . ") Mr . Drummond asked the witness whether Captain Christie , " not having enough of the devil in him , had not been in the habit of using foul language ? " This question was met with cries of " No , no , " from several of the committee . Admiral Dundas said , " I am afraid 3 ou mean another man ; " but Mr . Drummond persisted . The room was then cleared ; and in about half an hour the committee separated without readmitting the public . FRIDAY . Lord Hardinge was examined , and commenced his testimony by giving an account of the duties of the Master-General of tho Ordnance , which ho said consist of having charge of the artillery and engineering departments . When he ( Lord Hardinge ) came into office in 1852 , ho proposed to Lord Derby that the artillery should be augmented , because ho thought that in its then state the country was not safe . This was done ; and the artillery is now so efliciont as to be the admiration of the French . Although it was true that the last regiments of infantry had left tho country without Minie" rifles , they would ho provided with them on arriving at Balaklava . In 1828 , when tho late Duko of Wellington was at the head of tho Ordnance , and ho f \ . * .. »! ITn « jlinr . n \ vmnia i \\ twHr if iami 3 rtrxn ui t tn ** n / l ill f \ 11 1 rrll V ? * O VJHil ^ Uligilll Jl \ j \ l ¦ »» £
I IjUl U IIUIUIII ^ UJ < ** , III IT C * t ? , «•• «>¦ , »» state of perfection . In 1852 , when he returned to it , he found the desire to reduce expenditure had been carried so far that tho clerks and others were overworked . This , iiiHtoad of having produced unity and simplicity , had earned confusion . Speaking of the reserves that had boon sent out , Lord llardingo said that , notwithstanding the deaths at Varna and at lialnklava , up to tho end of December , tho force ho had provided was equal to tho forcu that firnt went out , and , including tho artillery , rather stronger ; but at length ho could do no other than Bend out young recruit * , who , instead of being composed of bune and muscle , were only grintle . Witli reject to the state of tho ho . spitalu , Lord Ilitrdinge naicl that ho was not aware whether Lord Raglan , wluwo dnty it was to have instituted an inquiry into a false report made by Dr . Hall , had done so . Dr . Maploton , private phyniciau to Lord Uaglan , watt next examined , and gave tOHtimony -condemnatory of tho sanitary utato of tho army up to tho time ho left .
Mat 12, 1855.] The Lead E..R. . 437. - I...
Mat 12 , 1855 . ] THE LEAD E .. R . . 437 . - i : . . - diatf-
T H E Wa R. The War News Of The Week Is ...
T H E WA R . The war news of the week is again warlike . Yesterday evening , London was thrown into excitement by a telegraphic despatch , dated the day before ,, and which we publish in a subsequent column , giving an account of two successive and desperate sorties by the Russians on our advanced works , ending in the usual fate of such attacks—entire defeat , with bitter loss to the aggressors . No doubt the loss on our side was considerable too ; but of tliis , as yet , we have no information . In our Latest Edition of last week we published a despatcli from Lond Raglan , intimating that , on the night of the 1 st of May , a sharp engagement took place in front and left attack , when the whole of the Russian rifle-pits were taken , together with eight light mortars , and two hundred prisoners . A despatch from St . Petersburg , dated the 7 th inst ., and received at Berlin on the 8 th , says : — " On the night between the 1 st and 2 nd , the enemy , having concentrated 10 , 000 men , took possession of the
lodgments in front of Bastion No . 5 , and captured nine small cohorn mortars . On the 2 nd , the enemy opened a heavy cannonade on Bastions Nos . 4 and 5 , and on the adjoining lines . The damage which they did was repaired during the night . We fired with success five mines against the enemy ' s approaches . " The first of the attacks here mentioned would seem to refer to operations by the French , who , after a fierce engagement , took possession of some very important works of counter approach , and , according to General Canrobert , eight—not nine—small luind mortars . In these works they have maintained themselves , notwithstanding an energetic sortie made by the Russians on the evening of the 2 nd . The French are now fortifying themselves in their new position , which , says the f ' atrie , forms a sort of plateau , and is only about thirty or forty metres distant from the enemy . On May 5 th " , the enemy assaulted the advanced trench of our right attack , but were repulsed promptly ; our loss , according to the telegraphic despatch , being only three killed , and twenty wounded . The Russians still continue to make advanced works and new defences ; and they have completely restored the MalakofT , the Mamelon , and the Redan . It appears , however , that the Flagstaff T- ? r » f f * - »¦»• rr tvt ^/^ i- »/ i + " 1-in TT-i- £ » nr » l > fivnln / lDri t ' nnn * T * n mo 5
and before which they are now established—is irreparably injured . On the other hand , the Allies steadily persevere in their approaches . We do not hear of any resumption of the bombardment , for which ,, indeed , it seems that cannon of greater weight is necessary . On the night of the 27 th , however , the artillery was for a time brought into play with great energy , and on the 28 th there was a sharp fire of musketry . Two batteries have been established in the fourth parallel . The weather is again fine and mild , with occasional heavy rains ; but the advent of summer brings with it fears of cholera and fever . Two cases of the former have already occurred ; the latter is never wholly absent from the camp ; and the nwful and deadly odours that reek up from the vast accumulation of dead bodies are making themselves too plainly perceptible , and suggesting horrible fears of what the heats of June and July ni . iy bring forth . ¦ Omar Pacha has returned to Kupatoria with ten battalions , his position being menaced , according to reports , by a large body of Russians , who are said to be preparing for an attack . With respect , however , to the Russian forces , it may be remarked that the reconnaissance made by Omnr on the 19 tli ult . would seem to indicate that , as many people Imvc already suspected , the Czar ' s army is not over large . A writer in the Times remarks that it is now questioned by competent authorities whether the Russians have ever had ldH , 000 men at once in the Crimea . Still , it will not do to be too confident . We have suffered enough from that already . Accounts from Cracow state that the Russians are making tho most vigorous military cilorts along the Jbinmnu to JMiunu in
whole line of defence from Poland . The people , however , must be worn out at last ; and then we shall have an insurrection similar in object to that'in tho Ukraine , and more successful , because more general and overwhelming' . TIIlS 1 UCCONNOISSANC 15 ON Till !! 19 ' 1 'H QV APRIL . We gave last weok from tho Morning Herald an account of thin attair . The following additional detailsbringing vividly before our eyes the desolations of war —are from tho picturesque and vital pen of the Times Correspondent ,: — " Rectangular patches of long , rank , rich griiHs , waving high above tho more natural green meadow , marked the mounds where tho slain of tho 20 th of October are reposing for ever , and where tho snorting horse refiiHos to eat tho unwholesome hIiooIh . Ah the force moved on , evidences of that fatal and glorious day became thick and painful . The skeleton of an EngliHh Dragoon , tmid to be ono of tho Royals , lay tttill extended on tho plain , with tattered
bits of red cloth hanging to the bones of his arms . All the buttons had been cut off the jacket . The man must have fallen early in th « day , when the heavy cavalrywere close up to Canrobert ' s hill and came under the fire of the Russian artillery . There was also a Russian skeleton close at hand in ghastly companionship . The small bullet-skull , round as a cannon-ball , had been picked bare , all save the scalp , which was still covered with grisly red locks . Further on , amid fragments of shell and round shot , the body of another Russian seemed starting out of the grave , which scarcely covered his lower extremities . The half-decayed skeletons of artillery and cavalry horses covered with rotting trappings , harness , and saddles , lay as they fell in the agonies of death , or had crumbled away into a debris of bone and skin , and leather straps , cloth , and buckles . From the numerous graves , the uncovered bones of the tenants had started up through the soil , as if to appeal against the haste with which they had been buried . With the clash of drums and the shrill strains of the fife , with the champing of bits and the ringing of steel , man and horse swept over the remnants of their fellows in all the pride of life . "
TAKING THE RIFLE PITS . About eight o ' clock ( on the 19 th of April ) the party of the 77 th , under Lieut .-Colonel Egerton , supported by a wing of the 83 rd , under Lieut .-Colonel Mundy , moved down the traverses towards the rifle pits . The night was dark and windy ; but the Russian sentries perceived the approach of our men , and a brisk fire was at once opened on them by the enemy , to which the troops scarcely replied , for , firing a terrible volley , they rushed upon the enemy with the bayonet , and , after a short but desperate struggle , drove them out of the two pits and up the slope behind them ; Once in the pits , the engineers , officers , and the sappers and miners set to work to strengthen the defences , and threw up a gabionnade in front , and with great coolness and courage proceeded to connect the trench of the nearest of the rifle pits with our advanced sap . The enemy opened an exceedingly heavy fire of round , grape , and shell upon them , and the Russian sharpshooters from the parapets of the batteries and from the broken ground behind the abattis kept up a very severe fusillade ; but the wo ^ jj ng party continued at their work in defiance of the storm of shot which tore over them . In such a contest as this it could not but be expected that our loss would be consi- , derable . Captain Owen , R . E ., well known in England as an officer of high scientific attainments , and who has i \ txtr r \ . \ .- ar \ ! " » im cd \ G + r \ ¦ # ¦ Vin t > i i- » f *» o i */ "l maho / Inf Ilia f \ T VliO r \ i * f \—i / i ^ uviuovil lu iiit uivi ai vju \ j vi uiiak ? uih
u . ^ v vu v ; . uo , v < v * > r v fession with great zeal and ability since he came out here , was severely wounded . Lieutenant Baynes , a very active and brave young officer , was also struck down by a bullet , and is now in some danger , though his attendants think his life is safe . Captain Lempriere , of the 77 th , a very young officer , who has served throughout the campaign with his regiment , and who has never left it from the time they landed in Bulgaria , was killed . A boy in years and in stature , he behaved like a veteran soldier . Lieutenant Knight , of the same regiment , also distinguished himself in the attack , and escaped unhurt . He was the first to leap into the rifle pits , and his example encouraged his men at the time they were staggering under the tremendous fire directed against them . Our men remained in possession of the larger of the pits under the trying circumstances I have mentioned , without any decided attempt being made to turn them out . Tho general of the day of the right attack telegraphed to head-quarters that our troops had gained the pits ; and he received directions in reply from Mojor-Gencral Jones to keep them at all hazards . At two o ' clock in the morning , a strong column of Russians , certainly double the strength of our men , advanced against the pits , and the combat was renewed . The English troops fought with " the immovable solidity" for which , in the opinion of our allies , they are celebrated . Tho enemy charged them with the bayonet , but they were met by courage more cool and by arms more nervous than their own ; and by the bayonet they were thrust back again and again , and at its point they were driven up to their batteries once more . It was whilo setting an example of conspicuous bravery to his men that Colonel Egcrton fell mortally wounded . — Times C ' o ) 'res 2 > ondent .
THE VALUE OF TIIK HIKLE PITS . The capture of these ambuscades has been found of great value , not only on account of the removal of an impediment to the progress of our < sap in this direction , « nd of tho annoyance caused by tho / ire of the Kussian riflemen against our artillerymen , but uIho on account of the opportunity it 1 ms allonled our men of interrupting tho RiiMmui artillerymen in Iho Kedan . The nuibuscndo firat taken , and now commuted with our troncli , at present , forms a miniature bastion , n » it were , and from it » looi . holed wall , turned towards tho enemy , our men discharm ) their MinM « with impunity . The work is so clow to the IU ' aIhu , and in mu . 'h a position , that its gunS cannot he Hiillicioiitly depressed ho a « to hear against it . Home men of the limt battalion of the ltiflo Urigado have ul « o been placed under cover on tho opposite Bide of tho left ravine-near to which , on tho right , our zigzag is being formed—and have thus been brought to act in concert with tho troops hi tho advanced trench on tho right
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 12, 1855, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12051855/page/5/
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