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Leader (1850-1860), 25th November 1854, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3, £ THE RUSSIAN ACCOTTNT. ]] (From the Inv...

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      [General Canroberts Kesratcn.] Tho Minis...

      anents it had successively received since the battle « f the < Alma . They ate—1 st contingent , from the coast of A . 6 ia , Kertoh -and KaiFa ; 2 nd , six battalions and detachments of marines from Nicolaieff ; 3 rd , four battalions of Cosi fiacks from the Black Sea ; 4 th , a great portion of the army of the Danube , and the 10 th , 11 th , and 12 th divisions of infantry , forming the fourth corps , commanded by General Dannenberg . These three divisions were transported by express with their artillery from Odessa to Simpheropol in a few days . Afterwards arrived the Grand Dukes Miohael and Nicholas , whose presence could not fail to produce great excitement among this army , which forms , with the garrison of Sebastopol , a total of at least 100 , 000 men .

      It was under these circumstances that 45 , 000 men of this army attacked by surprise the heights of Inkeiman , Which the English army could not occupy with a sufficient force . Only 6000 English took part in the aetion , the rest being engaged in the siege works . They valiantly sustained the attack until the moment when General Bosquet , arriving with a portion of his division , was able to render such assistance as to insure their success . One does not know which to praise the most—the energetic solidify , with which our allies for a long time faced the storm , or the intelligent vigour which General Bosquet , who led a portion of the brigades Bourbaki and Antemarne , displayed in . attacking the enemy , who rushed upon their right .

      The 3 rd Regiment of Zouaves , under the chiefs of battalion Motttandon and Dubos , supported in the most striking manner the ancient reputation of that force . The Algerian Riflemen , Colonel de " Wimpfen , a battalion of the 7 Ch Light , Commander Vaissier , and the 6 th of the Line , Colonel de Camos , rivalled , each other in acdour . Three chafes were made with the bayonet , and it was only after the third charge that the enemy surrendered the ground , which was covered with his dead and wounded . The Russian field artillery and artillery of position was much superior in number and occupied a commanding position . Two horse batteries , commanded by M . de la Boussiniere and a battery or the 2 nd Division of infantry , commanded by M . Barval , the whole under the orders of Colonel Forgeot , sustained the struggle during the whole day , in conjunction with the English artillery .

      The enemy decided upon beating a retreat , leaving more than 8000 dead , a great number of wounded , a few hundred prisoners , and also several caissons of artillery , in the possession of the Allies . His losses altogether cannot be estimated at less than from 8000 to 1 X ) , OOO men . While tliese events were being accomplished on the right , about 500 0 men made a vigorous sortie against our attacks to the left , favoured by a thick fog and by ravines which facilitated their approach . The troops on duty in the trench , under the orders of General de la Motterouge , marched upon the enemy , who had already invaded two of our batteries , and repulsod him , killing more than 200 men within the batteries . The general of division Forey , commanding the siege corps , by rapid and skilful arrangements , arrived with the troops of the 4 th Division to support the guards of the trenches , and marched

      himself at the head of the 5 th battalion of foot Chasseurs . The Russians , beaten down upon the whole of their lino , were retreating preoipitately upon the place with considerable losses , when General de Lourmel , seeing them fly before him , and urged by a chivalric courage , dashed in pursuit of them up to the walls of tho place , where ho fell severely wounded . General Foroy had much difficulty in withdrawing him from the advanced position to which his brigade had been hurried by excess of bravery . The Aurollo brigade , which had taken up an excellent position to the left , protected this retreat , which - was effected under tho fire of tho place , with considerable loss . Colonol Niol , of the 26 th of the lino , who lost his two chiefs of battalion , took tho command of tho brigade , whoso conduct was admirably energetic . The enemy in this sortie lost 1000 men in killod , wounded , or prisonors , and he received a very considerable , moral nxid m / itariul c . IicrIc .

      lho battle of Inker-man and tho combat sustained by tho siege corps wore glorious for oar arras , and have increased tho moral power which tho allied armies have attained ; but wo huvo fuiilbrod losses to bo deplored . They amount , for tho English army , to 2 < L 0 O men , lulled or wounded , among whom arc scvon generals , thrco of whom , woro killed ; and , for tho French army , to 1726 killod or wounded . Wo bitterly lament tho loss of General do Lourinol , who < liod from hi . s wound , and whose brilliant military qualities and conduct in private life seomed to promise future renown . I also havfl tho regret to announce to you tho death of ( Jolomtl do Canioa , of tho ( ith of tho Lino , killod nt , tho bond of bin troops at tho moment when they ongngod with thu onomy .

      lho vigour of tho allied troops , Huhjcctcd to lho double trials of a siego , tho dilliuultioH of which aro without a prusodout , and to actions of war which reonl tho frroutuHt struggles of our military history , cannot bo too highly uiiIok'ImoU . 1 oucloeo my ordor of tho day to tho army for tin . battle of the fitli . Accept , & c ., CjANUOlHCItT , Tho Gcneml-in-Chlof . ' Oknhhai . Oiu > nn . " Soldiers 1 You have hail another glorious day .

      " A great portion of the Russian army , favoured by the night and the fog , was able to establish itself , -with powerful artillery , upon the heights which form the extreme right of our position . Two English divisions sustained an unequal fight with the invincible solidity which we know to be the characteristic of our allies , while a part of the Bosquet division , conducted by its worthy chief , came tip to their support , and rushed upon the enemy with a boldness and intelligence to which I here render forcible homage . Definitively driven back in the valley of the Tchernaya , the enemy left upon the ground more than 4000 of his men killed or wounded , and carried away at least as many during = the battle .

      " While these events were in course of accomplishment , the garrison of Sebastopol made a sortie upon the left of our attacks , which afforded to the troops of the siege corps , and particularly to the fourth division , led most vigorously by General Forey , the opportunity of giving the enemy a severe lesson . The troops employed in repelling this sortie gave proof of an energy which much increases the reputation they had already earned by the patience with which they supported the onerous and glorious labours of the siege . 1 shall have to

      mention regiments and soldiers of all kinds and of all ranks who prominently distinguished themselves during this day . I shall make them known to France , to the Emperor , and to the army . But I was anxious at the first moment to thank you in then * name , and to tell you that you have just added a voluminous jage to the history of this difficult campaign . " Canrobubt , " The ¦ General-in-Chief . " Head Quarters , before Sebastopol , Nov . 5 , 1854 . "

      November 25, 1854.] The Leader. 1107

      November 25 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1107

      £ The Russian Accottnt. ]] (From The Inv...

      £ THE RUSSIAN ACCOTTNT . ]] ( From the InvaUde Husse . ') This morning ( Sunday , Nov . 12 ) his Majesty received by his Aide-de-Camp Captain of Cavalry Count Levaschoff the following report from Aide-de-Camp-Geheral Prince Menschikoff , dated Nov . 6 : — Yesterday , at Sebastopol , from the direction of Bastion No . 1 , there was a sortie , in which the following troops took part : —Of the 10 th division of infantry , the regiments of Catherinenborg , Tomsk , and Kolyvan ; of the 1

      ¦ 1 th division of infantry , the regiments of Selinghinsk , Yakoutsk , and Okhotsk ; of the 16 th division , of infantry , the regiments Vladimir , Sonzdal , and Ouglrtch ; and of the 17 th division of infantry , the regiments of Boutyrsk , Borodino , and Tarontino . There was as much artillery as could be taken , considering the difficulty of passing the gates . A portion of . the troops passed by the Inkerman -bridge . The command of the troops was entrusted to the General of Infantry Dannenberg , commander of the 4 th Corps of Infantry .

      Our first attack upon the heights was very successful . The English fortifications were carried , and 11 of their guns spiked . Unfortunately , in this first movement the commanders of the troops of the 10 th Division , who attacked the intronchments and redoubts , were wounded . During this period the French forces arrived to tho assistanco of the English . Tho siege artillery of tho latter was placed in position on the field of battle , and it was not possible for our field artillery to contend against such an advantage . The superiority in number of the enemy ' s men , armed with carbines , occasioned a great loss of horses and men belonging to the artillery , and of officers of infantry . This circumstance did not allow of our finishing , without sacrificing the troops , tho redoubts which we had begun to raise during the fight upon the points which the position of the enemy commanded , even up to tho town of Sebastopol .

      Tho retreat Avas effected in good ordor upon Sebastopol and by the bridgg of Inkerman , and the dismounted guns wore brought back from the field of battle to the place . Tho Grand Dukes Nicholas Nicholnievitch and Michael Njcholaiovitch were in tho midst of the terrible firo which prevailed , and sot an example of coolness and courage in the fight . Simultaneously with this sortio tho Minsk Regiment of Infantry , with a light artillery battery , under the command of Miijor-Gcneral of Artillery TimofolcfT , executed another against , tho lircnoh batteries and spiked 15 of their guns .

      Our Ions in dead is not yet exactly known , but the number of wounded extends to 8 , 500 men and 10 () oflicors . Among tho latter arc Lieutenant-General Soiinonofl ' , who received a ball through tho body and soon died from tho wound ; Mnjor-Qciiernls Villobois and () c ! torlolm «; Colonels Aloxandroff , ' commander of the infantry rogiinont of Cnthcrincnhorg ;; PountovoitofF , ditto of thu infantry regiment , of Tonmk ; Bibikott ' , ditto , cominandnr of tho ChuMiumi'H of Okhotsk ; Baron Dolwig , ditto of tho infantry of Vladimir , and Vorouvkiiio-Scholuta , ditto , commander of tho ( 'linftflcura of ISorodino . Mujor-tienoral KiHclnnnky , Chief of tho Artillery , re-«« ivod a oontiittion from tho hiti'Htinir of a nlicll ; IVInjor-( Heiuiral l ' rinco MonHchikoff , belonging to tho milto <> 1 your Imperial Majority , a < : o » tuHion in tho nook ; Colonel Alborliimky , aide-de-camp of your Imperial Majosty , and Captain ( Jroigli , of tho cavalry , my aido-do-camii , u contusion in tho heart . Guiuiral DaunonfocTg had two horses killed tinder him , and all tlm persona by whom ho was surrounded ¦ wo ro wounded .

      The loss of the enemy cannot have been less considerable , and the sortie of General Timofeieff icost'the French dear , for , while he was pursuing them with formidable masses , they fell under a violent fixe of ; gnape ~ shot from Bastion No . 6 . While these movements were being executed 5 the troops under command of Prince Gortschakoff mode a Strong demonstration against Kadikoi , and thus kept in inactivity the enemy ' s detachment at Balaklava .

      Mblfschikoff S Positxos. The Soldatetifr...

      MBlfSCHIKOFF S POSITXOS . The Soldatetifreund has been informed that , although Prince MenschikofF ' s forceB are numerically superior to those of the Allies , he is not in sufficient strength to pursue an offensive system of tactdes sat present , it being found impossible to supply the Russian armies with sufficient provisions and other-necessaries . The difficulties in the wayfof doing this are in fact almost insuperable , and the Russiangeaeral is aware -of it . \ Vhile the Allies make their ifleetffithe basis of their operations , the Russians are tnaarily dependant on the commissariat stationed in Bafkfcefai-Serai , Sebastopol , and Perekop . We must not ,, remarks the Soldaienfreund , lose sight of thisfefct , which will exercise no slight influence in deciding the issue of this violent contest .

      We Have Received From Our Correspondent ...

      We have received from our correspondent at Berlin a despatch dated last night , which says that the Invalide JRusse admits that the Russian loss da the 5 th amounted to 2969 dead , including 42 o'fflcers , and 5791 wounded , including two generals . and . 200 officers . —Times .

      Mr. ' Russell's (Timed' Correspondent) A...

      Mr . ' Russell ' s ( Timed' correspondent ) account . is not very clear , but it is the clearest , and we give it in full . It will be seen that he supposes Lord Raglan was surprised ; Lord Raglan distinctly says he had calculated on such an attack : — Balaklava , Noy . 5 . It had rained almost incessantly the night before , -and the early morning gave no promise of any cessation of the heavy showers -which had fallen for the previous four-and-twenty hours . Towards dawn a heavy fog settled down on the heights and on the valley of the Inkerman . The pickets and men on outlying posts were thoroughly saturated , and their arms were wet , despite their precautions ; and it is scarcely to be wondered at if there were some of them who were not quite as alert as sentries should be in face of an enemy ; for it

      must be remembered that our small army is almost worn out by its incessant labours , and that men on picket are frequently men who have had but a short respite from , work in the trenches , or from regimental duties . The fog and vapours of drifting rain were sothick as morning broke that ono could scarcely see two yards before-him . At four o ' clock the bells of the churches in Sebasfcopol were heard ringing drearily through the cold night air , but the occurrence has been so UBual it excited no particular attention . During the night , however , a sharp-eared sergeant on an outlying picket of the Light Division heard tho sound of wheels in the valley below , as though they were approaching the position up tho hill . He reported the circumstance to Major Bunbury , but it was supposed that the sound arose from ammunition carts or arabas going into Sebastopol by the Inkerman road . No one suspected

      for a moment that enormous masses of Russians were creeping up tho rugged sides of tho heights over tho Valley of Inkommn on the undefended flank of tho 2 nd Division . There all was security and repose . Little did the slumbering troops in camp imagine that a subtle and indofatigablo enemy woro bringing into position an overwhelming artillery ready to play upon their tents at tho first g-limpao of daylight . It must ha observed that Sir Do Lacy Evans had long been awaro of tho insecurity of this portion of our position , and had repeatedly pointed it out to those whoso duty it was to guard against the dangers which threatened us . It was tho only ground "where wo woro exposed to surprise , for a number of Tavinos and unequal curves in tho slope of

      tho hill towards tho valley load up to the crest and summit , against tho adverse side of which our right flank was resting , without guns , intronchmonts , abuttis , or outlying defence of any kind . Jfivory ono admittod tho truth of tho representations addressed to tho authorities on thi . H Hubjoct ; but indolence , or a sense of i'ulflo security , and an overweening confidence , lad to indifloronco and procrastination . A battery was thrown up with Handbags , and gabions , and fnsciuca , on the slop © of tho hill over Inkorman on tho east , but no guna wero mounted thoro , for Sir Do Lacy Evans thought that two guns in nuoh n position , without any worka to support thorn , would only invito attack fttid capture . In tho fiction of ( ho 2 ( Ith of October , tho ononiy tried

      tlniirHtronffth almost on the vory nj > ot wolooted bjc-thptT this morning , but , it may now bo considorcd thftt ^ ttwrjr merely niado a T « coinminnaii f a nlonj . ln tf «« m P «»» n wtoto ^ V ; d ( wfc 4 |» ng . . AHhoujrh tho armngoinonlH <> 1 ' Sir 1 ) . L . flfrW ? ^• . ^ ~ TiulHing lho rtortio woro , hh Lord itnglan d (!( ol ^ psd | 4 \ pQperfect that thoy could not fail to U » mtf « r » flucwiS > i , " \ , 4 "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 25, 1854, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25111854/page/3/