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    Petersburg houses in English bottoms , as the British blockading ships being now mostly withdrawn , it is fully expected that the Russian cruisers will venture out , and endeavour to capture any British merchant vessels that ma-y be found in the Baltic .

    PATRIOTIC FUND . The Patriotic Fund Meetings are continuing ; and the total sum raised is enormous . It is curious that the only failure , among the meetings , is that which has occurred in the imperial city of Westminster . The High-Bailiff called a meeting for Thursday ; and only about twentypersons attended ! Lord Aberdeen , the Bishop of London , Mr . Card well , and Sir John Shelley , were in attendance ; and by their advice the High-Bailiff adjourned the meeting to a future day , promising that he would advertise better . THE AFT AIR OF THE 25 TU OF OCTOBER . "We take the account of the gallant affair of the 25 th from the correspondent of the Times , Mr . Russell , whose graphic pen is making him famous : —

    At half-past seven o clock this morning an orderly came galloping in to the head-quarters camp from Balaklava , with the news that at da-wn a strong corps of Russian horse , supported by guns and battalions of infantry , had marched into the valley , and had already nearly dispossessed the Turks of the redoubt No . 1 ( that on Ganrobert ' s hill , which is farthest from our lines ) , and that they were opening fire on the redoubts 3 STos . 2 , 3 , and 4 , which would speedily be in their hands unless the Turks offered a stouter resistance than they had done already .

    Orders were despatched , to Sir George Cathcart and to H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge to put their respective divisions , the 4 th and the 1 st , in motion for the scene of action , and intelligence of the advance of the Russians was also furnished to General Canrobert . Immediately on receipt of the news the general commanded General Bosquet to get the 3 rd division under arms , and . sent a strong body of artillery and some 200 Chasseurs d'Afrique to assist us in holding the valley . Sir Colin Campbell , - who was in command of Balaklava , had drawn up the 93 rd Highlanders a little in front of the road to the town at the first news of the advance of the enemy . The marines on the heights got under arms ; the seamen ' s batteries and marines' batteries , on the heights

    close to the town , were manned , and the French artillerymen and the Zouaves prepared , for action along tlieir lines . Lord Lucan ' s little camp was the scene of great excitement . The men had not had time to water their horses ; they had not broken their fast from the evening of the day before , and had barely saddled at the first blast of the trumpet , -when they were drawn up on the slope behind , the redoubts in front of their camp to operate on the enemy ' s squadrons . It was soon evident that no reliance was to be placed on the Turkish infantry or artillerymen . All the stories we had heard about their

    bravery behind stone walls and earthworks proved how differently the samo or similar people fight under different circumstances . " When the Russians advanced the Turks fired a few rounds at them , got frightened at the distance of their supports in the rear , looked round , received a few shots and shell , and thon " bolted , " and fled with an agility qmite at variance with common-place notions of Oriental deportment on the battle-field . But Turks on the Danube are very different beings from Turks in the Crimea , as it appears that the Russians of Sebastopol aro not at all like the Russians of Silistria .

    Soon after 8 Lord Kaglan and his staff turned out and cantered towards tho roar of our position . The booming of artillery , tho spattoring roll of musketry , - were heard rising from tho valley , drowning the roar of the siege guns in front beforo Scbnstopol . As I rode in tho direction of the firing over tho thistles and large atones which cover tho -undulating plain that stretches awny towards Balaklava , on a level with the summit of the ridges above it , I observed a French light infantry regiment ( the 27 th , I think ) advancing with ndrnirablo cure and celerity from our right , towards tho ridgo neur the telcgraph-houfle , which was already lined by companies of French infantry , while mounted oilicors scampered , along its broken outline in every direction ,

    Genwal Bosquot , n stout soldierlike-looking man , who romindu one of tho old genre of French general * uh depicted at Versailles , followed , with his staff and n Rmall escort of Hussars , at n gallop . Faint white clouds rose hero and there above tho hill from tho cannonade below . Never did tho painter ' s oyo rest on a moro beautiful scene than I behold from the ridgo . Tho fleecy vapours , atill hung around tho mountain tops , and mingled with tho ascending volumes of smoke ; tho patch of son aparklod froshly in tho rnya of tho morning sun , but its light was eclipsed by tho Hashes which frlcumod from tho masflOHof nrmod men below .

    Looking to tho Ivft towards tho gorge , wo bniioid six compact masnos of liussian infantry , which hud just debouched from tho mountain pusses near tho Tehornaya , and woro Hlowly advancing with solemn Htatdiness up tho valley . Immediately la thoir front was a regular lino of artillery , of at leant 20 piaccti tUrong . Two battoriew of light guns w « ra already a milo in advance <» f them , and woro playing ; with energy on tho redoubts , from which fooblo puflw . of ttmoko canio ill , long intervals . Buhind those gunn in front of the infantry woro onornmiiH bodies of cavalry . They wore in nix com pact Hquarcs ,

    three on each flank , moving down en echelon towards us , and the valley was lit up with the blaze of their sabres and lance points and gay accoutrements . In their front , and extending along the intervals between each battery of guns , were clouds of mounted skirmishers , wheeling and whirling in . the front of their march like autumn leaves tossed by the wind . The Zouaves close to us were lying like tigers at the spring , with ready rifles in hand , hidden chin deep by the earthworks which run along the line of these ridges on our rear , but the quick-eyed Russians were manoeuvring on the other side of the valley , and did mot expose their columns to attack . Below the Zouaves we could see the Turkish gunners in the

    redoubts , all in confusion as the shells burst over them . Just as I came up the Russians had carried No . 1 redoubt , the farthest and most elevated of all , and their horsemen weTe chasing the Turks across the interval which lay between it and redoubt No . 2 . At that moment the cavalry , under Lord Lucan , were formed in glittering masses—the Light Brigade , under Lord Cardigan , in advance ; the Heavy Brigade , under Brigadier-General Scarlett , in reserve . They were drawn up : just in front of their encampment , and were concealed from the view of the enemy by a slight " wave" in the plain . Considerably to the rear of their right , the 93 rd Highlanders were drawn up in line , in front of the approach to Balaklava . Above and . behind

    them , on the heights , the marines were visible through the glass , drawn up under arms , and the gunners could be seen ready in the earthworks , in which were , placed the heavy ships' guns . The 93 rd had originally been advanced somewhat more into the plain , but the instant the Russians got possession of the first redoiibt they opened fire on them from , our own guns , which inflicted some injury , and Sir Colin Campbell tl retired" Ms men to a better position . Meantime the enemy advanced his cavalry rapidly . To our inexpressible disgust we saw the Turks in redoubt No . 2 fly at their approach . They ran in scattered groups across towards redoubt No . 3 , and towards Balaklava , but the horsehoof of the Cossack was too quick for them , and sword and lance were

    busily plied among the retreating herd . The yells of the pursuers and pursued were plainly audible . As the Lancers and Light Cavalry of the Eussians advanced they gathered up their skirmishers with great speed and in excellent order—the shifting trails of men , which played all over the valley like moonlight on the water , contracted , gathered up , and the little peloton in a few moments became a solid column . Then up came their guns , in rushed their gunners to the abandoned redoubt , and the guns of No . 2 redo \ ibt soon played with deadly effect upon the dispirited defenders of No . 3 redoubt . Two or three shots in return from the earthworks , and all is silent . The Turks swarm over the earthworks , and run in confusion towards the town , firing their muskets

    at the enemy as they run . Again the solid column of cavalry opens like a fan , and resolves itself into a '' long spray" of skirmishers . It laps the flying Turks , steel flashes in the air , and down go the poor Moslems quivering on the plain , split through fez and musketguard to the chin and breast-belt . There is no support for them . It is evident the Russians have boon too quick for us . The Turks have been too quick also , for they havo not held their redoubts long enough to enable us to bring them help . In vain the naval guns on the heights fire on tho Russian cavalry ; tho distance is too great for shot or shell to reach . In vain the Turkish gunners in tho earthen batteries which aro placed along the French intrenchments strive to protect their

    flying countrymen ; their shot fly -vyide and short of the svvurming masses . The Turks betake themselves towards tho Highlanders , where they check their flight , and form into companies on the flanks of the Highlanders . As tho Russian cavalry on tho left of their line crown the hill across the valley they perceive the Highlanders drawn up at tho distauco of some half mile , calmly waiting their approach . They halt , and squadron after squadron flies up from the rear , till they have a body of some 1500 men along tho ridge—Lancers and Dragoons and Hussars . Thon they movo en dchclan in two bodies , with another in reserve . The cavalry who havo been pursning tho T urka on tho right are coming up to the ridgo beneath us , which conceals our cavalry

    from view . The heavy brigade in advance is drawn up in two lines . Tho first line consists of th-o Scots Greys and of thoir old companions in gloiy , the Enuiskilleiis ; tho second of tho 4 th Hoynl Irish , of tho 5 th Dragoon Guards , and of tho 1 st lioyal Dragoons , Tho Light Cavalry Brigade is on their left , in ' two lines also . The silenoo ia oppressive ; botweon live cannon "bursts one can honr the champing of bits and tho clink of wibra in Iho vulloy bolow . Tha hNwsiuns on their left drew breath for a moment , and thon in ono grand line dashed at the Highlanders . Tho ground Hies bonoath their horses '

    foot ; gathering npi . 'Otl at ovory Htritlo , they dash on towards that thin red utroak toppcid with n lino of steel . Tho Turks lire a volley at 800 yards , ami run . Ah the KuHniiuiN como within 000 yards , down goes that line of steel in front , nnd out rings a rolling volley of Mini « 5 muskotry . Tho distance is too great— tl »« Hi ' isulnns arc not chunked , but Btill sweep onwards with tho wholo force of borne and man , through the smoko , hero ami there knocked over by tlio shot of our lotteries above . With broathlowi susponso evory ouo awailtt tho bursting of tho wave upon tho lino of Gaelic rock ; but ore they

    come within 150 yards , another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle , and carries death and terror into the Russians . They wheel about , open files right and left , and fly back faster than they came . " Bravo Highlanders ! well done ! " shout the excited spectatorsbut events thicken . The Highlanders and their splendid front are soon forgotten , men scarcel y have a moment to think of this fact , that the 93 rd never altered their formation to receive that tide of horsemen . "No " said Sir Colin Campbell , " I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep ! " The ordinary British line two deep , was quite sufficient to repel the attack of these Muscovite cavaliers . Our eyes were , however , tinned in a moment on our own cavalry . We saw

    Brigadier-General Scarlett ride along in front of his massive squadrons . The Russians—evidently a corps d ' elite their light blue jackets embroidered with silver lace , were advancing on their left , at an easy gallop , towards the brow of the hill . A forest of lances glistened in their rear , and several squadrons of grey-coated dragoons moved up quickly to support them as they reached the summit . The instant they came in sight the trumpets of our cavalry gave out the warning blast , which told us all that in another moment we should see the shock of battle beneath our very eyes . Lord Raglan , all his staff and escort , and groups of officers , the Zouaves , French generals and officers , and bodies of French infantry on the height , -were spectators ' of the

    scene as though they were looking on the stage from the boxes of a theatre . Nearly every one dismounted and sat down , and riot a word was said . The Russians advanced down the hill at a slow canter , which they changed to a trot arid at last nearly halted . Their first line was at least double the length of ours—it was three times as deep . Behind them was a similar line , equally strong ar . d compact . They evidently despised their insignificant-looking enemy , but their time was come . The trumpets rang out again through the valley , and the Greys and Enniskilleners went right at the centre of the Russian cavalry . The space between them was only a few hundred yards ; it was scarce enough to let the horses " gather way , " nor had the men quite space

    sufficient for the full play of their sword arms . The Russian line brings forward eacli wing as our cavalry advance , and threatens to annihilate them as they pass on . Turning a little to their left , so as to meet the Russian right , the Greys rush on with a cheer that thrills to every heart— -the wild shout of the Enniskilleners rises through the air at the same instant . As lightning flashes through a cloud , the Greys and Enniskilleners pierced through the dark masses of Russians . The shock was but for a moment . There was a clash of steel and a light play of sword blades in the air , and then the Greys and the redcoats disappear in the midst of the shaken and quivering columns . In another moment we see them emerging and

    dashing on with diminished numbers , and in broken order , against the second lino , which is advancing against them as fast as it can to retrieve the fortune of the charge . It was a terrible moment . " God help them ! they are lost ! " was the exclamation of more than one man , and the thought of many . With unabated fire the noble hearts dashed at their enemy . It was a fight of lieroes . The first line of JhiSMiinis , which had been smashed utterly by our charge , and had fled off at one flank and towards the centre , were coming back to swallow up our handful of men . By sheer steel and sheer courage Enniskillenor and Scot were winning their desperate way right through tlie enemy ' s squadron * , and already grey horses and red eonts had appeared right at

    the roar of the second mass , when , with irresistible force , like one bolt from a bow , the 1 st Eoyals . the 4 th Dragoon Guards , and the 5 th Dragoon Guards rushed at tho remnants of the first line of tlie enemy , went through it as though it were made of puhteboanl , and , dashing on the second body of Uussians as they were still disordered by the terrible ussnult of the G revs and their companions , put them to utter rout . This Russian horse in less than ilvo minutes after it met . our dragoons was flying with nil its speed before a force certainly not half its strength . A cheer burst from every lip— in tbu enthusiasm officers and men took oil' tlu'ir caps mid shouted with delight , and thus keeping up the scenic character of thoir position , they chipped tiieir hands again and again . Lord Raglan at ; oiK'O despatched Lk'Utonimt Curzon ,

    aide-decamp , to convey his

    In tho 1 toy a ! Horso Artillery w « hud a severe , but I mil glad to HU } 'u temporary Iosm . Ciipiain Maude , m )»<> ilirooU'd the service of bin guns with his utuml devoleilnoflfl and tlnuntleuH courage , wan struck in llio arm by u shell which burst at his waddle-bow mul killed bis hoi-c .

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    1084 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 18, 1854, page 1084, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2065/page/4/