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Leader (1850-1860), 26th August 1854, Edition Country of 2, Page 2, " * Ldinburgh, Hoguo , Ajnx, Blonhcim." ...

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      I S In A Gresifc Conflagration, The Fire...

      to all ¦ whom it may concern , especially to local authorities , and telling them how to proceed for the removal of nuisances either by cleansing or the construction of -works , and how to enforce such removal where the gropes authority are negligent or obstructive Our civilisation is aptly illufilfc & ted this -fteeif ifo . the " accidents and offence ^* department Qi journalism . We do not , of * ' course , lay iflBCfc * stress upon the ex $ ) Mon of lSr # -cfomp in a ^ cdBlery at Barrisley , by which four men were killed ;

      although it really is time that the ohject at -which Davy aimed , and which has in our day heenshown to be perfectly practicable—the neutralising of " fire-damp "— -should be completed , or our civilisation lacks its boasted potency . The fall of a workhouse at King ' s Dynn also , without a rescue for all the inmates , is another sIue upon outf civilisation . Patiper pal & ces may ' fall , like contract

      houses ; but -they do not build Koyal palaces so . Ihe condensation of trains on railways , by j amliaing ,: tWo together ^ goes on -unclieckedj Railway iBoard notwiihstandiiig . Besides the accident on the ^ Torth Jjondohj through the bacis-sliding of a train which had been detached from , its engine ^ there is a liore shocking accident at Croydbn , where a , ballas-t engine was placed upon the line , and an excursion train from Dover ran into it after a

      fashion of wholesale slaughter . and' ruin known dnrly to railway managers . In the meanwhile , do-BifesCicnaoralf are vindicated by art " injuredhusr ¦ feat nd , " ¦ rwho ,.- after separating from his -wife , em < ploys a retired Detective to spy upon her actions ; TLe Detective * aided by a matron and a gimlet , ps-ofesses to have discovered evidence , of the lady ' s lapses ; and the vindicator of domestic naorals brings / before the courts and the newspapers one < bf ; the most Quridus cases ever recorded in the annals of Crirn , Con . Morality n « iver lacks- its defenders- in this way ! '

      794 The Leader. [Saturday,

      794 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

      The Fabl Of Bomarsund. Tiae First Baltic...

      THE FABL OF BOMARSUND . TiaE first Baltic fortressf of the Czar fell before the -combined efforts of the allies on the I 6 th , andisihus tlie first considerable exploit of the war . Besides the official despatches , which will he found "below , the journals have published letters which enable us to present our readers with an account of . the siege . The fortress of Eomarsund is built at thehead of a bay on the eastern of the largest of the Aland islands . The main fort was a grim granite-built place stretch ing along the shore , and mounting eighty or a hundred guns in . casemates . In the rear of tlie fort , and on high ground ! overlooking SE , were tn ' ree round ' towers , one standing cast , one west , and one in the centre ; the bay in front is semicircular , atfd the line-of-battile ships stretched across the entr ' artce from , east to west . On the western shore of

      the bfly * 'lei BuaBians had thrown up a mud battery of six guns , which ,, as the allies had determined to land on that side , it was necessary totftkej andearlj ' on the morning of tho 8 th inst . the Phle ' gethon and yj ^ p hipn moored near the battery but out of . range of its fire , In . half an hour it wae destroyed . Every preparation was now made for landing , and by way oi precaution tlie Edinburgh steamed nli < iftd arid itirdvt' threie shells into tho woods' tp feet for the Russians , But none were thetfe , and at half-past four the landing of the troops begum By eight o ' clock the work of disembarkation' had- finished , and tho celerity of this operation must be Considered most' marvellous , for in the space of three h < w * 3 and li half upwards of 11 , 000 troopa had : been * safely litncled in the forests of an enemy ' s country , and

      whore every opposition might have boon expected , taking into consideration the nature of the roads they had to traverse , and the -well-known guerilla practice of tho Russian rifleman . It reflects the highest credit upon nil concerned , and must ever remain aa a record of singular onorgy and rapidity . As each regiment landed , they formed into order on thtf toalty shore , and marched through the thick pine forest and over tlie heights , their bayonets and led caps glistening in the morning' sun . TIio centre ¦ wXWg of tho army oncitmped for the night in awd eitwwul a largo village at a distant © of Icsb than two mitas fcotn p \\ a tower which they wore destined to attack . ThiB towor , from itB highly elevated position , oonDmnnda . it great portion of tho surrounding cowtrtpyj ttrt & tetto General Baroguwy d'Hiiltore Nad

      determinedv to make ttre ~ Hrst assault , as in the capture of fliis-tor key > to the long foxt was secured . During tife next ' -font days the troops were engaged in , swinging up ammunition , baggage , and provisiofB £ from the shorej . in foraging the island ; rn filrta ^^ Wld ' iaags , and .. gejftiBg , their battaflepihtjorder ThtfiBfciin t & Ay of the ittinyrested uptt « B * the * - * illage of S $ sarpane | -1 > uilt on dHr > einmence , abouMouKamiles in land , anfli dotted \ v 6 | ft < redV-windrnills . B ^ speen the fSMnip aiffltHheenernjp ^ ftowerstretch along-lTOilley , with ? ' ' wakffcilyfng in -Wb- bottom , and soM # fbeky grouncMssgrond . IVI ^ ttttwhifeabout 1 , 200 aoariiies of both nations , under General E & irry Jones , bad landed on the north of the island , and had cautiously proceeded inland , encamping on ground within range of the round forts . Their tents were pitched in a wood

      of jimiper and fir , about 800 yards from the western , tower , and behind their position ran tlie main road leading to Bornarsund . By the 11 th , both camps were thoroughly established—the French camp being the larger was more . scattered . They bad set up a bakehouse and slaughterrhcJuse r and the vivandieres had opened their shops for tlie sale of coffee and spirits . The men were in the finest spirits imaginable . The heavy siege guns were landed and hauled up over rough and difficult ground by the sailors , of the fleet ;; who , headed by bands of rriuSic , hauled away with gemttne heartiness . These guns were"in ^ tended for the English battery . : Heavy planks wer & also carried ug > to form the platforms for the guns to fun . upon , and sand' bags were piled iip to protect the gunners . Oh the 13 th ! Vp : the eaTly dawn the fort opened on the ; Chasseurs as they crossed tlie valley . . ¦ ¦'¦'¦ ; ' . .: ¦ "¦' . ' . , ; r . ¦' . - "' . '¦ . ' ¦ i : ¦'' . ¦' ¦ '•¦ . .. ' : ¦ '¦ . - '

      Three Freheft mortars and three long brass fielclpiecesrwere no ^ planted on their batteries , the latter point-blank upon the fort , while the mortars wexe fixed at the base of a gentle slope . The French nov \ - begari the bprnbardment : in reality , j ^ fter half an hour's practice they obtained a beautiful range , 4 nd kept- tip all day a trernendous cannonade , the shells bursting in the embrasures and over the roof , and the shot destroying ' . . the facings of the embrasures at eviery found .. JKv \ fourp . m . they had silenced three of the guns , and a nag of truce- Was put out from a port-hole . General Baraguay d'Hilliers proceeded

      lip to within ten yards' of the fort , tdgetlier with a company of Chasseurs as his guard . The enemy demanded two > hours' respite to bury their dead . The General gave them one hour only , aiid . the use they rinade of this -was to gain reinforcemeiits from the fort below , and to obtain a further supply of ammunition . The flre now recommenced with redoubled fury , the shells being most effective in tlieir descent , and the riflemen oh the rocks pouring- into the embrasures a deadly shower of bullets . The second tower , to the east of the first , was now compelled to come to its assistance , and sent shells' completely over the besieged fort into the camp of the allies .

      At 8 p . m . another nag- of truce was onered , and the Commandant of Artillery of Chasseurs rushed in breathless haste to the quarters pf tlie Commanderin-Chief to incLiiire if the battery wa ? to cease firing . " Cease firing ! " tlie general replied , " Certainly not ; these inen haye not respected the object of thieit truce , arid they shall not receive the slightest consideration . Continue the bombardment . " A terrific shower of shot , shell , and musketry , therefore

      continued all night from both sides , but at half-past five the tower fell into the hands of its bravo assailants . The French immediately planted the tricolour upon it . When they entered the fort , it ia Baid , they found the whole garrison , officers as well as men , raving drunk . Considering the provocation they had received , our allies acted with moderation , for only one Russian was bayoneted , and this because he had struck an officer after surrendering . The loss of tho Russians was found to be very considerable .

      In the nrea / n'tlme tho English encampment had not fceen left without Bom © iron visitors . 4 t The British Camp is a strange scene at this moment , " says one who wrote on the 1 , 4 th . ' ? Round shot and shell are plunging and bursting over it ; some of tho officers aro , seated in their tenta at breakfast , others' arc making their toilets on dressing tables of granite lioulders , some are writing letters on tho same rude sort of table ; und although the whole affair'is fraught with danger ; jet 1 it eeonts tP be tho 'Source of much merriment . Some diving as a ball whizzes over their heads , artd popping it up again to resume thoir occupations , Mother toilet , lettor-vtitinff , or

      breakfast . Tho oncmy seems to have guessed the range well , but fortunately no one lias been yet hit in camp , although thoro aro momentarily narrow escapes from the exploding shells . None of the round shot Beom to ricochet . They bury themselves in tho soft soil , unless they touch the granite mountain , beyond which tho fcatt « ry ia firing . Tho firing is very iiorco to-day up the hill whoro tho eand buttery ia being constructed , and shells are fulling tlaokly where the sand-bags are being filled . Only ono accident has as yet occurred , a marine had his ankle crushed to Atoms by a fragment of shell while working on tlio hill . " But tho rapid enpturo of the west towor , beside dispelling the illusion respecting granite w « Ua being

      impregnable , enabled General Jones to turn his guns upon tH ^ daatt . fort , which he did upon the 15 th . From thfeaea tHfe attack was also carried on » the stoittS'sheDMijg' . th'e great fort at long range . Captain Pelnam gallaintly landed a ten-inch gun from the Blenh ^ irtxj . artttf-making the most of the deserted battery oti'thWshore , and covering his men readily witH s & tttl' tfagSJ soon rendered himself a source of grerit artitoy ^ nce to the main fort . At the same time , £ apK * fii Ramsay landed three 32-pounders on the ooABt ^ rtfWd Wazecfaway at the tower or > that side . Iife'tiftef mUyCfe ^ of the # ty the Heda and Valorous tiWtit iiv to Mpgort Capttin PeMiain ' s gun ; the Asmodee , Phlegethtm , andl ) af ^ i , joinedinthe bombardment , and"a » itrwas the 15 th of August , fired shotted

      guns in lionour of St . Napoleon . During this day the Russians managed to fire the west round tower r and it blew up about eleven o ' clock . At half-past four the fire of General Jones's battery and Captain Ramsay ' s guns had silenced the eastern round tower ^ a flag of truce was hung out ; and our Marines and Blue Jackets coolly marched up and took possession . The next morning ; the 16 tb , the main fort showed little signs of holding out , but it did not give in . The batteries from the heightsy and the , guns from the ships began and continued a heavy ' . fire ; and about twelve , General Bodisco sunrendered to Captain Hall of the B ^ ecla . Soon after , General BaTaguay d'Hilliers , Admirals Napier and ' Barseval entered the fprt , atid the OErehch Cpmtnander gave the old RtissiahTeterah back his s \ vord .

      Thus , in eight days after setting loot on shore , the small ar-niy , aided by the ships , reduced this fortress , and captured 2200 Russian prisoners . Four daysof preparation and something like twenty hotirs firefroni a six-gun battery . sufBced to destroy the main outwork ; eight hours firing frorn the English battery destroyed the ; second , and nothing reniained for the-main , fort the iiext morning but to surrender . The ofiieial despatches were published on Tuesday and Wednesday ; arid from them we gather the following : — , . ¦ ¦ . ' . ' -: ¦' . ¦ : ';'; ¦ ¦ ' I . / . ; ' ' . ; ¦ ""' ¦ . ¦ ( From the London Gazette . ) Admiralty , Ang . 21 . Despatches , of which the following are copies , have been received from Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier , 1 C . C . B ., Conimander-in-Chief of her Majesty ' s ships and vessels in the Baltic : —

      - . . ¦ . ... :. '"No . . 3 o 4 .. ; .. . ¦ ¦ : ; . " Bulldog ,, off Bpinarsund , Aag . 16 . , " Sir , —At . 4 o'clock in the morning of the 13 th inst . the French battery of four 16-pounders and four mortars opened a splendid fire- on the western tower , % Thich commands the fortress of , Bomai sunda . nd the anchorage . A wliite flag was displayed . in the aftcrnooii , which , led to nothing , but on , the morning of the' 14 t | i the tower was surprised by the Ghass ' euris . General Jones ' s battery of 32-pounders was

      finished in the night and ready to > pen , but , not being wanted , v ; as turned « gainst the eastern tower , and on the niornihg ' of the 15 th h « opened his firo . The battery was manned by seamen and marine artillery from the four ships named in the margin /¦ "under the direction of Gapttfin Kamsay , of tlie Hogue , assisted by Comniander Preedy , lieutenant Somerset , of tlie Duke of Wellinerpn , and the officers named in the margin , ! Their fire waswautiful . " 2 . At 6 p . m . out ) side was knocked in , and tlie tower surrendered .

      " In too attack on tho western tower tho Chasseurs , -with Minid rifles , were employed so successfully , that it was difficult for the enemy to load their guns ; in the attack on the ' eastern tower wo had no OhasseurB , and they were enabled to load their guns with more facility . 41 3 : Our loss has been trifling , ono man killed and one wounded , but I have to lament the death of the Hon . Lieutenant Cameron Wrottcsloy , B . E ., who was mortally vrounded by a cannon ball { and died twenty minutos after ho had been sent to tlie Belk-islo . " 4 . Tlie enemy had 6 men killed , 7 wounded , and 12 f > were takea prisoners . I hnvo sent tho luttfir to tho

      Tcrmagimt . " 5 l Xlio loss of the JVench at tho western tower was alsotrifling , C . Both battericf ) Tvore admirnWy constructed and admirably fought , which accounts'for the small loss . General Jones Hpunlcu in high terms of the conduct of tho gcumen and miirino arlillery , and tho precision of their fire . ' * During the time the operations were going on , General Baraguuy d'Hilliers vua einployed in catubliwhing his brcuchingbrttloi'ics against tho great fortress , and the French and English steamers , us per m « rgin , t supported by Tridont ( bearing the flag of Kcur-Admiral i ' enim ) , Duporn ' , Kilinbureli , und Ajax , kept up a woll-dircotetl iiro from thoir shell guiia , and very muoh damnged tho fortress , while Cnptniu tho Hon . F . T . Pullmm , of tlio Blonlioim . hept up ft

      " * Ldinburgh, Hoguo , Ajnx, Blonhcim." ...

      " * Ldinburgh , Hoguo , Ajnx , Blonhcim . " " t Hop Mnjosty ' s ship JBlenheim . — Lieutenant V . A . Close ; J , J . Bi \ ll mftBter ; L . Wildmun , aoting-nmtu ; Lioutounnt T . L . Ward t David Orr , notiiiK-mato ; 1 ' . U . Nolloth , Ijrovot-inajor , K . M . ; Willinm Snnclors , lirst-li « uten « nt , Xi . IVI .: S , Wudo , asslHttmt-surgoon . " Hor Mivjesty ' a ship Ajnx , —W . I , Siiyor , cnpUin , B . M . ; Thoiniis 13 unt , liist-Hfuteuunt , R . M . j H . L . 0 . ltobinson , muto . " Hor Mivjcsty's eliip IIoRue . < --Oharlos Smith , innte ; M . Singer , lieutenant , U . M . ; Ouptuln Foabroko , JIM . ; A . It . Bradford , surgeon . " Her MajoHty ' H ship Edinburgh . —Lioutcnunt G . V . BnrgosH ; Otiptiun Doliuionnbc , ii . M . ; A . U'uit , liuulununt , It . M . j E . J . CJilua , pnHscd cleric . " " X A » moddc , 1 'lileL'otlion , J ) nrlon , Arrogant , Amphi ««» Vuloroua . Driver , Bulldog , Ilochv . "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 26, 1854, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26081854/page/2/