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Leader (1850-1860), 26th May 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 6, #$£ THE LEADER. >[flAginm^

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      The War. The Latest News Of The War Is L...

      was the result of an intimation « fthat the Emperor himself was conning , out to take the command , and lhat in ithe meanwhile all operations were , to be stopped . 3 ut this . is manifestly improbable ; and the more ^ iobable reason seems to lie in the vacillating , and fussy , character of the late Commanderii ^ Gliief of . the JFrench Army . The Morning Herald correspondent says that the message was . conditional ,. and only to Ahe . effect that the expedition . was to be abandoned if the details were not already arranged . Should this be true , the chief blame falls upon those who so mislead their instructions ; but , whomsoever be the guilty party , there is no concealing the fact that disappointment is a weak word to express the feeling of the men . This is better described by saying that it is a mixture of despondency and rage .

      The French still retain possession of the . works which were taken by them on the 1 st . and 2 nd of May , and which now form a vast place d ' arntes , the parapets of which are cannon-proof . General Gortschakofl ; in a reeeut despatch , saysi that in the sortie onthemight between the 11 th and 12 th inst . his men spiked -some English guns . It will be observed that JLord Raglan-makes no mention of this . STATE OF BAI ^ AJCLAVA . The Sanitary Commissioners have examined the hospitals in front , but , so far as I can hear , they had nothing importantto suggest of a practical nature . The soil is saturated with decaying animal matter . I have

      slept lately in a sunken hut in which a corpse lies buried , with only a few inches of earth between its head and my own . Within a yard and a half of the do , or of my present abode are the shallow graves of three soldiers , a little earth heaped up loosely over them , mixed with scanty lime , which does not even destroy the rank vegetation that springs out of them . Nearer still is a large mound , supposed to contain the remains of ; a camel—rather a . lai ^ ge supply of noxious gases ; and further away , at the distance of about one hundred and eighty yards , are the graves of the division , where hundreds of bodies lie lightly covered as close as they can pack . In front of the hut are two mounds , about ten feet distant , containing the buried offal of the butchers ;

      and on the left are the remains of more camels , and of ( Jod knows what beside , which emits pestilential odours when the . sun shines . Among one of the most useful improvements in Balaklava must be reckoned the filling in of the end of the harbour . It had become a horrid swamp , hideous and nauseous to every sense—where water and land had contended for the mastery , and at last effected a compromise in the form of the most abominable mud , blended with floating offal from the . Ships , the debris of drowned animals from the sea and -starved animals from the land , decayed vegetables , and slimy nastinesses unutterable . Thanks to Admiral Boxer or Colonel Harding , this devil ' s quagmire has arow been covered over with gravel and with stones , and Stakes have been driven into the sea so as to form a quay all along the top of the harbour . The slough is covered over , and a hard , clean , solid bit of ground

      takes its place , banked up at the sea side , and fit for landing goods and stores on from boats with shallow draught of water . The facilities of the piers . constructed under Admiral Boxer ' s direction on the west of the harbour of Balaklava are invaluable . The seamen under his orders have blasted away the solid rock which rose almost precipitately from a depth of ten or twelve feet from the bottom up to the height of several hundred feet above the sea , and have constructed a broad road winding "along under these rocks from the top of the creek half-way down the 'harbour towards the sea . A branch rail runs along the centre of this road from the depot at the end'to join the main line at the head of the harbour ; and very fine jetties have been also constructed , unuerthe same authority , alongside which largo vessels inay lie with safety , and where hoises , guns , & c , can be discharged even'from such ships as the Himalaya with the greatest ease and rapidity . —Times Correspondent .

      . - THB'BiOKT ON . MAYilQ . About one o ' clock this 'morning , tlie camp in front wasjroused up by an extremely heavy fire of musketry and . repeated cheoring along our right attack . Tho elevated ground and ridges in front of tho . Third and Fourth ( Divisions were soon crowded with groups , of men from -the . tents in tho roar . It was a very dark night , fiwvtho moon had not yet risen , and the-aky was overcast with clouds , ; but tho -incipient flashing of sraalLarms which lighted up the front of tho trenches , the yoll . of the Russians , ( which our soldiers have christened " tho

      Inktrman screech" ) , tho cheers of our men , anuituo velumo , of the fire , indicated the position , und showed that-a , contest of no ordinary severity waa taking , place . TUore is * an-earnestness and reality about the musketry on such occasions which has a language of its own that cannot , bo mistaken . Tho regularity and precision of tho feu . dti . jou } , itho platoon-or file-firing of our reviews , ; have little kin with , tho . passionate , intense , and startling bursts of ride and musket , und givo but an imperfect nation . of tho-deadly rattle and fitful roll of small arms in > action , where every'man is loading and firing asra-Ijidjy . aa . he can , and where i the formation of tho lino is

      altering every moment . ITor a . mile and a . half , . the darkness was < broken by outbursts of ruddy flame and bright , glittering sparks , which advanced , receded , died out-altogether , broke out fiercely in ( patches in innumerable twinkles , flickered in long liues like the electric flash along a . chain , and for an instant craters of fire . The musketry , having rolled incessantly for a quarter of an bouti began to cease at intervals along the line . Here and there it stopped for a moment altogether ; agaiu it burst forth . Then came a British , cheer , which thrilled through every heart . " Our fellows have driven them back ; bravo ! " Then a Russian yell , a fresh burst of musketry , more cheering , a rolling volley subsiding into ^ splattering flashes and broken fire , a ringing

      hurrah from the front ; and then the Russian bugles sounding " the . retreat , " and our own bugles the " cease firing ; " and the attack , after half an hour ' s duration , was over . The enemy were beaten , and were retiring to their earthworks ; and nowthe . batteries opened to cover their retreat . The Redan , . Round Tower , Garden Batteries , and . Road Battery , aided probably by the slijps , lighted up the air from the muzzles of their guns . The batteries at Careening-bay and at the north side of the harbour contributed their fire , and the sky was seamed by the red track of innumerable shells . You could see dearlv at times the ground close around you

      from the flashes of the cannon . The round shot tore the . air with aharshroar , and shells burst almost in volleys along our ? lines . The Russians were avenging themselves as best they might for their repulse- ; and the extent of their . mortincation and anger might be inferred from the vigour and weight of their cannonade . The instant they began to fire , our ever active allies , the French , on our right , opened from their batteries over Inkerman and from the redoubts , to draw off the Russian guns from . our men ; and our own batteries also replied , and sent shot and shell in the ; direction of the retreating enemy . —Idem .

      THE KBRTCn BLUNDER . Men and officers in'the Sebastopol front do their duty , and theirmerit is the greater because they do it without the slightest hope of success . Not that the army despairs of taking Sebastopol ; it only despairs of taking it by pitting our engineers against those of the Russians , and staking the lives of our troops upon the result . The work in the trenches is deadly , more especially atnight , when , amidst the din of the siege , the round shot comes among us unheard and unseen . The gallant line regiments that support the batteries are giving proof-of the highest courage of which human nature is capable . It is-not a battle , not the movement , the excitement , the fury of a conflict , which probes a man to the heart , but

      this standing or crouching in utter darkness to be shot at ; awaiting death , which may come at any moment and in any shape , without moving a hand or an arm—without being able to do anything in self-defence . And yet that is the condition of the officers and many of the men who do duty in the "trenches . It is a necessary duty , but in most sieges the generals are sufficiently pruden t and humane to make this time of severe probation as short as possible . Gur'troops , andtEose of our allies , have for nearly six months borne with the ordeal . Hence our hopes of the Rertch expedition : hence our deep mortification at its unseasonable return . There is no concealing tho fact that , : now that'the Russians are warned , they will make such preparations as will astonish the troops that are

      sentout to set riglit-what has been made wrong in tho last few days . And yet , as matters stand , Kortch is tlie key to Sebaatopol . . . i On this 'locust-eaten land , we have anenomy numbering . porpaps 150 , 000 men , and a fortress which must bo provisioned from without . "VVe have it in our power to cut off the enemy's supplies of victuals , Of ammunition , of men : the capture of Kcrtcli gives us the command of tho Sea of Azoff , and our destroying Odessa stops grcnt part of tho supplies from Bessarabia . © nr threatening Porekop threatens the Russian-basis of operations and also their line of retreat .

      If we take Kortch , tho 'Russian generals must either evacuate the Crimea altogether , or lead their columns that were driven back from Inkcrman against tho lines of'Balaklava and'Inkerman , now bristling with cannon . If they do neither , thoy must see their troops starve in this country . Tlrrough Perekop alone—especially before the time of harvest—they can hardly manngo to provision Sebnatopol . They must either fight a battle , with'the ground and all other chances against them , or they must fly ; or , if they starve , and wait until wo occupy Perekop , they must surrentfor at discretion . — Daily News Correspondent .

      JJKHI'ATOIUCH FROM mill ) IIACILAN . JJoforo Sobuiitopol , Muy . € , 1855 . , My ( Lord , —Tho enemy assaulted our ; advanced purallei on tho right attack . on tlio night'of tho-5 th instant , and somo actually got . into tho trench ; but thoy wore speedily driven out and repulsed with' tlio utmost , gallantry by ithe dotuchmenta occupying it , of the 80 th and 4 SJth Uegimants , luiulor Captain Williamson and Lieutenant Gubbius , of tho . former ,, and Lieutenant Roohfort , , of the latter , who , unfortunately , waa aoverely wounded ; mid I regret to have to add that sovor-al vuluublo non-commiaaionod oilLcors and men wpro killed und wounded on the occasion . Ou tho same night , Captain Arnold , of tho " 4 th Foot ,

      was wounded and taken prisoner , whilst posting the advanced sentries on the left attack . * The loss of th services of this officer is greatly to be lamented . He had done . his duty unremittingly , and in the most spirited manner , throughout the operations of the siege . I inclose the return of casualties to the 6 th instant I have heard that six ships , having on board Sardinian troops , have arrived in the Bosphorus . I have , & c , Raglan . P . S . 'I have the satisfaction to announce to you the arrival of the first detachment of the 12 th Lancers . The Lord Panmure , & c , & c . Casualties . — 9 rank and file , killed ; 1 officer 2 sergeants , 35 rank and file , wounded ; 1 officer , 1 sergeant 2 rank and file , missing . & ' Before Sebastopol , May 12 , 1855 .

      My Lord , —rl do myself the honour to acquaint your lordship that General-de-la Marmora , with a portion of the Sardinian contingent , arrived off Balaklava on the night of the 8 th instant , and he came up to headquarters the following morning . The very unfavourable state of the weather since the 9 th has prevented any material part of the force being landed ; and it has been found necessauy to send the vessels that brought it , and which could not be got into the harbour , to Kasatch Bay , until . it shoukLmoderate . Five troops of the 12 th Lancers landed on the 9 th from the Himalaya , which performed the voyage from Alexandria to Balaklava in ninety-four hours . The enemy made two serious assaults upon our most advanced parallel of the Tight attack on-the . night of the 9 th , but were on eaoh occasion most nobly met , and repulsed with considerable loss .

      The arrangements of Colonel Trollope , whohad charge of the right attack , and Lieutenant-Colonel Mundy , the field-officer of the trenches , were most judicious ; and Captain Turner of the Royal Fusiliers , and Captain Jordan of the 34 th Regiment , are reported to have done their duty in the most gallant manner . They opened a powerful-fire on our trenches on the following night , and exposed their columns to a heavy musketry , fire from the troops on duty . Thoy did not , however , reach the parapets , nor . indeed come very near them .

      ; Last night , a very determined . sortie was made upon the advan . ee of our left attack . The enemy moved forward in two columns from the Woronzow road . Our advanced . sentrieshavingslowly retired , the guard of the trenches-was prepared to receive them , and consequently drove them back in the most determined manner . A few Russians only got into the parallel , and five were left dead close outside . The conduct of both officers and men was ; admirable ; and it is with deep regret that I have to report the death of CaptairuEdwards , of the 68 th Foot , and that of five men . I have also the pain of saying that the wounded amount to thirty .

      Owing to the great quantity of rain which has fallen during the last few days , the service in the trenches has again been most arduous and severe upon our men , who deserve all praise for their energy and untiring

      perseverance . I enclose the returns of casualties to the 10 th instant . I have , & c , Rag lax . The Lord Tnnmure , & c ., & c . Casualties . —1 sergeant , 9 rank and file , killed ; 2 officers , 1 sergeant , 56 rank and file , wounded . Naval Brigade : 1 killed , 4 wounded .

      THE BALTIC BLOCKADE . Notification ( From the Gazette . ')—By the Hon . Richard Saunders JJuudas , C . B ., Rear-Admiral of the Blue , and Commandar-in-Chief of her Majesty ' s ships and vossel * employed and to bo employed on a particular service . It is hereby notified that , on the 28 th day of April last , the entrance to tho Gulf of Finland , from Ilango Head , in hit . . 59 . 40 N ., Ion . 22 . 58 E ., to tho Dagerort Litf hthousG , in lat . 58 . 55 JX ,, Ion . 22 . 12 E ., and that all Kusaian ports ,. roads , havens , and creeks , from the Pngcrort to tho Fileand Lighthouse ,. in lat . 58 . 25 N ., Ion . 21 . 60

      E ., were placed in a atato of strict blockade by a competent force of her Majesty ' s ships . And it in hereby further notified that all measures authorised by this la ' . va of nations , and the respective treaties between her IMnjuaty and tho different neutral powers , will be adopted and executed on behalf of-her Majesty and her ally , his Majesty tho Emperor of tho Fruuch , with respect , to nil vessels which may attempt to violate tho . said blockade . Given on board her Mojeaty ' a ship Duko of Wellmtfto "> at sea , in . the . Femern Bolt , this tfrd day of May , !«»»• ( Signed ) R . S . LM / jni > as .

      The War. The Latest News Of The War Is L...

      * Intelligence haa since boon rocoivod of tho death of Captain Arnold .

      War Miscellanea. Russian .Loshks.—Lord L...

      WAR MISCELLANEA . Russian . Loshks . —Lord Lnnsdowno said the othci evening , in tho House of Peora , Chat tho Russia ^ loss ainco tho commencement of tho war had been 217 , men . Tho following nro further dotnila . In tho month of January last , a report was presented to tlio Emperor Nicholas , stating the loss of tho army at 187 , 000 men , including thoflo who died under tho aoverity of Che long

      #$£ The Leader. >[Flaginm^

      #$£ THE LEADER . >[ flAginm ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 26, 1855, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26051855/page/6/