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1082 THE LEADER. [Saturday
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T H E WA R.
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»Vb give the official despatches as they...
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What purported to be Russian versions of...
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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Transcript
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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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1082 The Leader. [Saturday
1082 THE LEADER . [ Saturday
T H E Wa R.
T H E WA R .
»Vb Give The Official Despatches As They...
» Vb give the official despatches as they arrived since ast Saturday . This despatch of Lord Baglan ' a arrived on Sunday morning . It refers to the affair of the 25 th : — Before Sebastopol , Oct . 28 , 1854 . My Lord Duke—I have the honour to acquaint your jrace that the enemy attacked the position in the front af Balaklava at an early hour on the morning of the 25 th . instant . The low range of heights that runs across the plain at the bottom of -which the town is placed was protected by four small redoubts hastily constructed . Three of these had guns in them , and on a higher hill , in front of the village of Camara , in advance of our right flank , was sstablished a work of somewhat more importance .
These several redoubts were garrisoned by Turkish troops , no other force being at my disposal for their occupation . The 93 rd Highlanders was the only British regiment in the plain , with the exception of a part of a battalion of detachments composed of weakly men , and a battery of artillery belonging to the 3 rd division ; and on the heights behind our right were placed the marines , obligingly landed from the fleet by Vice-Admiral Dundas . All these , including the Turkish troops , were under the immediate orders of Major-General Sir Colin Campbell , whom I had taken from the 1 st division with the 93 rd .
As soon as I was apprised of this movement of the enemy , I felt compelled to -withdraw from before Sebastopol the 1 st and 4 th divisions , commanded by Lieut .-Generals his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and the Hon . Sir George Cathcart , and bring them down into the plain ; and General Ganrobert subsequently reinforced these troops with the first division of French infantryand the Chasseurs d'Afrique . The enemy commenced their operation by attacking the work on our side of the village of Camara , and after ¦ very little resistance , carried it . They likewise got possession of the three others in contiguity to it , being opposed only ia one , and that bat for a very short space of time .
The farthest of the three they did not retain , but the immediate abandonment of the others enabled them to take possession of the guns in them , amounting in the whole to seven . Those in the three lesser forts were spiked by the one English artilleryman who was in each . The Russian cavalry at once advanced , supported by artillery , in very great strength . One portion of them assailed the front and right flank of the 93 rd , and were instantly driven hack by the vigorous and steady fire of that distinguished regiment , under Lieut .-Colonel Ainslie .
The other and larger mass turned towards her Majesty's heavy cavalry , and afforded Brigadier-General Scarlett , under the guidance of Lieutenant-General the Earl of Lucan , the opportunity of inflicting upon them a most signal defeat . The ground was very unfavourable for the attack of our Dragoons , but no obstacle was sufficient to check their advance , and they charged into the Russian column , which soon sought safety in flight , although far superior in numbers . The charge of this brigade was one of the most successful I ever witnessed , was never for a moment doubtful , and is in the highest degree creditable to Brigadier-General Scarlett and the officers and men engaged in it .
As the enemy withdrew from the ground which they had momentarily occupied , I directed the cavalry , supported by the fourth division , under Lieut-General Sir George Cathcart , to move forward , and take advantage of any opportunity to regain the hoights ; and , not having been able to accomplish this immediately , and it appearing that an attempt was making to remove the captured guns , the Earl of Lucan was desired to advance rapidly , follow tho onomy in . their retreat , and try to provont thorn from effecting their object . In tho meanwhile tho Russians had time to re-form on their own ground , with artillery in front and upon their flanks .
From some misconception of the instruction to advance , the Liout .-Gonoral considered that ho was bound to > attack at all hazards , and ho accordingly ordered Major-Goneral the Earl of Cardigan to move forward with tho light brigade . Tina order waB obeyed in tho most spirited and g « Ulant mannor . Lord Cardigan charged with the utmost vigour , attacked a battery which was firing upon tho advanced squadrons , and , having passed beyond it , engaged the Ruhbliui cavalry in ita rear ; but thoro Ms troops were assailed by artillery und infuntry , as well as cavalry , and nouca » arily retired , after having committed much havoc \» pon the onomy .
They cUbcted this movement without hasto or confusion ; but tho losa thoy have sustained haw , I deeply lutnont , been vory oovcro in ortlcors , men , and lioraeH , only counterbalanced by tho brilliancy of tho attack and tho gallantry , ordqr , nnd discipline which distinguished it , forming a striking contruat to tho conduct of tlio onomy ' h cavalry , which hud previously boon ongdged witk tlio heavy brigade . Tho CliaBHOura d'Afrjnuo advanced ou our loft , and
gallantly charged a Russian battery , which checked its fire for a time , and thus rendered the British cavalry an essential service . The enemy made no further movement in advance , and at the close of the day the brigade of Guards , of the first division and the fourth division , returned to their original encampment , as did the Trench troops , with the exception of one brigade of the first division , which General Canrobert was so good as to leave in support of Sir Colin Campbell . The remaining regiments of the Highland brigade also remained in the valley . The fourth division had advanced close to the heights , and Sir George Cathcart caused one of the redoubts to be re-occupied by the Turks , affording them his support , and he availed himself of the opportunity to assist with his riflemen in silencing two of the enemy's guns .
The means of defending the extensive position which had been occupied by the Turkish troops in the morninghaving proved wholly inadequate , I deemed it necessary , in concurrence with General Canrobert , to withdraw from the lower range of heights , and to concentrate our force , which will be increased by a considerable body of seamen , to be landed from the ships under the authority of Admiral Dundas , immediately in front of the narrow valley leading into Balaklava , and upon the precipitous heights on our right , thus affording a narrower line of defence . I have , & c , Raglan . His Grace the Duke of Newcastle , & c , & c , & c . A second despatch from Lord Raglan , dated the same day , refers to the affair of the 26 th : — Before Sebastopol , Oct . 28 . 1854 .
My Lord Duke , — . . ..... . The enemy moved out of Sebastopol on the 26 tn with a large force of infantry , cavalry ; and artillery , amounting , it is said , to 6000 or 7000 men , ani attacked the left of the 2 nd division , commanded by Lieut .-General Sir De Lacy Evans , who speedily and energetically repulsed them , assisted by one of the batteries of the 1 st division , and some guns of the Light Division , and supported by the brigade of Guards and by several regiments of the 4 th division , and in rear by the French division commanded by General Bosquet , who was most eager in his desire to give him every aid . I have the honour to transmit a copy of Sir De Lacy Evans' report , which I am sure your grace will read with the highest satisfaction , and I beg to recommend the officers whom he particularly mentions to your protection .
Captain Bayly , of the 30 th , and Captain Atcherley , of the same regiment , and Lieutenant Conolly , of the 49 thj all of whom are severely wounded , appear to have greatly distinguished themselves . I cannot speak in too high terms of the manner in which Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans met this very severe attack . I had not the good fortune to witness it myself , being occupied in front of Balaklava at the time it commenced , and having only reached his position as the affair ceased , but 1 am certain I speak the sentiments of all who witnessed the operation , in saying that nothing could have been better managed , and that the greatest , credit is due to the Lieutenant-General , whoso services and conduct I have before had to bring under your grace's notice .
I enclose the return of the losses the army has sustained since the 22 nd . —I have , & c , Raglan . His Grace the Duko of Newcastle , & c . [ The " enclosed" despatches , from Lord Lucan , Sir Colin Campbell , and Sir De L . Evans , tell nothing which is not bettor told by the newspaper correspondents . Lord Lucan , in his despatch , says , respecting tho great charge— " Being instructed to make a rapid advance to our front , to provont the enemy carrying the guns lost by the Turkish troops in the morning , I ordered the light brigade to advanco in two lines , and supported them with the heavy brigade . " This gives no idea of what took place , nor of tho emotions of tho moment ; and , to tho end , Lord Lucan is cold and reserved , merely " regretting the heavy loss . " ]
Tho next despatch , referring to a great battle which occurred on the 5 th of this month , arrived in Paris ( by telegraph ) on Monday morning , and was immediately transmitted to London . It ia from General Canrobert to his Government : — Before Sobaatopol , Nov . 6 , X 854 . The Russian army , increased by reinforcements from tho Danube , by tho resorvca collected in tho southern provinces , and animated by the presence of tho Grand Dukos Michael and Nicholas , attacked yesterday tho right of tho English position before tho plaoo .
'Aho English army maintained tho combat with tho moat remarkable solidity , 1 ordered it to bo supported by Bosquet ' s division , which fouglit with admirable vigour , and by tho troops nearest at hand . Tho enemy , much more numorouH than wo , bout a retreat with enormous looses , estimated at 8000 or i ) 000 men . This obstinate strugglo lasted tho -whole dny . On my loft , General Foroy had to drivo buck at tho sumo tiino a aortic of tho garrison ; tho troopn onorgotically led on by him drove back tho enemy into tho pl « w , with a loss of about 1000 men .
This brilliant day's feat of arms ( Journee ) , which was not achievedwithout loss to the Allies , reflects the highest honour upon our arms . The siege continues regularly . x , ^ he ^ Tis «» re sP <«« 3 ent of the Indt pendance states that to General Canrobert ' s despatch of the 6 th inst was added a postscript representing the Russians as so thoroughly beaten in their last engagement that it would be at least ten days before they would again expose themselves to the chances of a battle . The French Government , it is said , keeping in view the vicissitudes of -war , and more alive than ever to the difficulties attending the enterprise of the allied armies , thought proper to withhold this prediction from the public . At Paris it is generally admitted that the Allies are at the beginning of a winter campaign .
The following despatch from Lord Raglan , confirmatory of the above , was received on Wednesday night by the Duke of Newcastle . The despatch was delayed between Bucharest and Vienna by an interruption of the telegraph from injuries received during a violent storm : — Nov . 6 , 1854 . The enemy , with immense forces , attacked yesterday , m the dawn of morning , the right of the English position before Sebastopol , which was defended by the second
division and the brigade of Guards of the first light division , the fourth division , and part of the third , and subsequently by the division of General Bosquet and other corps of the French army , which by their gallant conduct contributed essentially to the decided success of the day . General Canrobert immediately came to the spot , and gave me the support of his assistance and of his excellent counsel . The battle was extremely obstinate , and it was not till past noon that the enemy was definitively repulsed and forced to retreat , leaving the field of battle covered with his dead and several hundreds
of prisoners . The number of the enemy much exceeded that which was opposed to us at Alma , and the losses of the Russians have been enormous . Our losses have also been very great . General Sir George Brown , Major-General Bentinckj Brigadier-Generals Adams , Buller , and Torrens , have been , wounded . They are all doing well . The conduct of the troops in the face of an enemy so superior in numbers has been excellent . ( Signed ) Ea & last .
What Purported To Be Russian Versions Of...
What purported to be Russian versions of the same affair have been circulated in London and Paris : but it is supposed that they are fictions . The following was handed about at the Paris Bourse , as having been sent by Prince Menschikoff to Prince Pas & iewitsch , under the date of November 6 , at ten in the morning : —; The arrival of their Imperial Highnesses excited in the army and in the town the greatest enthusiasm , and the Princes were received with hurrahs and transports of delight , The troops would have been delighted had the Princes witnessed our success of the day before , and the garrison of the town testified its impatience to welcome their Highnesses by a new exploit .
In the afternoon , a column , consisting of sixteen battalions , marched resolutely on the right wing of the enemy , and seized on a redoubt . After a furious contest hand to hand , our battalions returned to the town without being disquieted . Almost at the same moment three battalions executed a rapid movement of attack against the siege works of the right flank of the enemy . They took fifteen guns and spiked thorn , after having killed tlie greater part of the men who were serving them . The Jrenoh hastened , up , and pursued our men with tho impetuosity which is natural to them , and a body of 8000 or 10 , 000 men rashly advanced to tho walla of tho place . They vcre there recoived by a well-directed fire , which killed a great number of them ; and a sortie , executed with a rare vigour , forced them to return to their lines .
During this last movement , and a little before three in the afternoon , General Liprandi , with a part of the forces under his command , attacked tho English linos . A deBperuto engagement ensued . I ordered forward from Tchorgun tho troops that could be collected in haste to support thorn . Our dragoons oxecnted two brilliant charges . The onomy defended themselves most stubbornly , and tlvo approach of night alono put an end to tho combat . In our share of tho day ' H proceedings 22 , 000 men wore engaged on both Hides . Tho losses have been great 5 ours has been about 4000 men , and that of tho onemy at least as grout .
Wo arc now getting all our reserves up from Simphoropol , Uaclii Saroi , and Sutnchiva . Wo aro abont to resolutely assume tho offensive , and wo hIiuU noi allow one < lay ' a ropoao to tlio enemy . Their forcoa oni diminishing visibly . Tho partial reinforcements which they Huoccwiivoly luivo received havo not boon auflioieut to ( ill up tho voida which war and maladies havo nimle In thoir ranks . Thoir number cannot bo moro at |»' Hont than 50 , 000 nion . This army cannot < ihc » i > h "Si wo havo for us tho moral ascendancy and a grout , superiority in numbers . Wo aro on our own ground , niul wo aro lighting nt tho 0111110 tiino for our soil , and for iln most holy of causes .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 18, 1854, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18111854/page/2/
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