Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 2nd June 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 507, Untitled Article

Page 507
Page 3
3 of 24

On this page

  • Text (2)

      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.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      a triumph , w h i ch w e ha v e reason t o e x pec t , w ill be all t he s peedie r , i n a s much as se v eral le tt ers a g re e w ith G e n eral P elissie r ' s despatch in declaring that theF Russian soldiers are beginning to show in their sorties symptoms of reaxation and discouragement . " THE RUSSIAN SISTERS OF MEROT . Of the Sisters of Mercy who have left St . Petersburg for the Crimea , ninety-six in all , at least sixty-three are stationed in and about Sebastopol ; of the l a t t er n umber , at least half are in the town itself , and at the different su rgeons ' stations . The letters received in the cap ital from them , and those around them , portray in verylively colours the amount of carnage which the fire of the besiegers causes the Russians . It appears that the wounded are for the most part removed to the north side of the fortress and thence to the interior ; but , from the f requent w ant of means of trans p ort , and , on the other ha n d , from the inexpediency of moving those severely wounded , their numbers in the town become extremely

      unmanageable . The extreme distance from their sources of supply makes it impossible to convey to the troops , much less to the sick , all the necessaries they require . The article of which there was the least deficiency was tea , so essential to the comfort of a Russian ; but of sugar there was a great lack , so that even the officers were obliged to be allowanced . Leeches cost a silver rouble a piece . The descriptions of the scenes these pious women pass through after every important affair are fearful . That of March 24 th is more particularly mentioned , on which occasion six hundred wounded were broug ht in for treatment in twenty-four hours . From the number of amputations and other serious operations , in which they assisted the surgeons , they frequently had

      to stand on a floor some inch or two deep in blood . The v i s it paid by t wo of the ladies , accompanied by a priest , to the Malakhoff Tower , and their celebrating Divine service there under the fire of the enemy , partakes of the romantic . After climbing the hill , and entering the f or t ress , w here they found the soldiers and sailors assid u ously occup ied in returning the incessant fire of the enemy , they reached the tower , now destroyed , w here t he deceased K ornileff formerl y had his quarters . After passing through a casemate occupied by the sailors , the y reached a long , deep , dark corridor , with a row of oaken columns on each side . Here mass was celebrated ; the

      chants and other sacred songs were not omitted ; all the necessary paraphernalia was at hand , having been b r oug ht thither from a church that had been destroyed , and , after a sermon from tlie pope , they carried the church vessels in procession round the bastion , with tapers in their hands , the enemy firing all the time ! T hey subsequen t l y went out on the ramparts of the f ortress and w ere sho w n t he lune t te , Kamtschatka , and the two chains of sharpshooters opposed to each other , but yet so near that , as the soldiers there say , they might eat their broth out of the same plate . According to all accounts the bullets of our rirles are doing much more havoc than the balls of our cannon . — Times Berlin Correspondent .

      A LAMENTABLE MISTAKE . The Daily News quotes the following from a p rivate le t ter , dated May 14 : — " Last night the 18 th Regiment fired on the C 8 th by mistake . The Russians made an attack on the advance batteries , and were repelled by the G 8 th and Rifles ; the Russians returned in a short time with-a reinforcement , again attacked the batteries , and a fearful struggle took place . The reserves were then sent up—the 9 th , 18 th , and 41 th—and when they got into the advanced trench , both sides were so covered with mud that wo could not tell Russians from English ; so the reserve opened fire , but it was unfortunately on

      tho poor G 8 th . They then charged on them , when they found out their mistake , but not till a good many of the G 8 th had fallen ; however , the Russians had it hot and warm uftorwards . The poor fellows who arc wounded in advance of the trench aro obliged to Jio thero all < hxy till dark , as tho Russians fire on any of our peopl e who go to bring them in . Many ( if tho wounded mig ht recover if brought in , but they Ho and bleed to death . Tho Russians make sorties daily and nightly , as , since General Jones came up , we arc pushing the works close up gto the town ; ho tho work i . s very hard upon our poor fellows , often being three or four nights without rest . "

      THIS SAICDINIAN OONTINOKN'IJ , Tho first detachment of Sardinian troops—a reg iment of Rillcs—landed tin * morning ( May 11 ) , and took up an encampment near Karaui , in tho roar of our l $ alaklava position . Thcsts troops aro lino men , and look hardy , onorgotio , and active- They inarch with tho firm and yot lazy stop which marks tho mountaineer , and as they passed along Micro was a wort of swagger in thoir manner which is gonond to cor / is d'clite , or crack corps , and which is hardly unbecoming to them . Our

      own 11 th Hubsars havo it in n higli dogre . e , and it is tho distinguishing foaturo in tin- manners of tho Zouavo . Tho dross of tho Piodmontcsc ! Killos—which some object to an boiug too much brigand fashion—houiuh , for all that , useful mid practical , mul certainly it looks bocomiug . It is truo that their huts aro rather shocking to oyos aoouHtomod to bearskin oapM and shakos ; but , with our Highland rogimentu lying full in our front , I do not hoo how wo cun objoot to ioutliovs . —Dully JS ' aos Con'ospondcnt .

      ENGLISH AN » RUSSIAN ^ WORKS . The work of arming ouradvanoaif batteries' continues to be executed with alacrity and . ; success ; , a n d i t is said tha t we are abou t t o t ake t he g r a v eyard * a very ugly spot near th e Ov e n s , which the R ussians have for some time oc c up ied and covered by theirrfiare . "We are now moving all our heavy mortars *—13 inches and 1 O indies —into the advanced parallels * A shell ; from the enemy fell by chance yesterday on the p latform which had just been laid for one of these large mortars , and utterly destroyed it . In order to give an idea of the magnitude of the labours connected with laying these : mortars , and

      of the loss caused by such an incidental may say that the engineers were four days getting- the roefc levelled for the p latform , that the latter , required two days to lay , a n d tha t i t wei g hed nearl y three tons . There was scarcely a shot fired to-day on either side . The Russians are working vi gorousl y at the north side . They are erecting an earthwork over the Tchernaysa , opposite the eastern angle of the p lateau , under the very eyes of the French battery , and I watch them through my glass from the window of the hut every day , just as if one were looking from One Tree-hill at the pensioners fortifying the mound at Greenwich Observatory . The distance , however , is greater . — Times Correspondent .

      THE IMPENDING CATASTROPHE AT SEBASTOPOL . It is perfectly well known that the Russian naval and . military commanders have orders to destroy and retire , as a rule , when unable to meet the forces of the Allies with success . The same will occur at Sebastopol when they are hard pressed . The town will be burnt , the fortifications blown up , and the shipping sunk , as a last resource . If the allied generals have been well informed , we shall not find the garrison of Sebastopol so numerous as is commonly supposed . And the fig h t will not las t long , if we can onl y get at the enemy . The place is mined , and there are Russian special agents in

      Sebastopol , who are supposed to have orders to pay no respect even to their own people , but to fire the mines as soon as there is no longer any chance of resistance . All this is perfectly well known at head-quarters , and will , no doubt , be anticipated . The wretched peop le who are now the victims of the paternal government will be our best friends as soon as we are able to protect them ; and we shall no doubt find in the Crimea eventuall y anything but a hostile population . —Morning Post . ( Extract from a Private Letter . } Balaklava , May 16 , 1855 .

      THE SARDINIAN CONTINGENT . . . . . This place is becoming as hot as an oven , during the day , in the sun . Troops are pouring in ; the Sardinians have been landing this week : they are a fine body of men , well clothed and well appointed . The officers look gentlemen . England may be proud of her ally . A regiment of Riflemen from the Sardinian Alps , clothed in dark green , with a black hat , having a plume of dved cock ' s feathers . The Grenadiers are clothed in bluish grey , trousers and frock-coat , the cloth fine and good , the make neat , and the fit smart . The fire-arms are rifles , bright barrels , and percussion locks . On march tho officers carry knapsack and blanket , even the Colonel , though on horseback . Like the French , the

      men carry tents d ' abr i , small affairs , which cover three men in a recumbent posture . These are put up at once in halting , an d serve for a temporary shelter during the night . This contingent , 15 , 000 or 16 " , 000 strong , with cavalry and artillery , is British , and acts under Lord Raglan . The whole are camped around Karani , above tho British cavalry camp . If England must engage foreign troops , 1 wish she may ever secure such as these sent out by Sardinia . There is a look of honesty of purpose about them and their equipments ; tho men aro healthy , young , and active ; well clothed and admirably armed . Tho horses are iino animals , in iirst-rato condition . Tho land transport waggons , &c , aro new , on a capital plan , and altogether tho contingent is all any man could desire .

      nsu cavalry . " In saying this 1 must not be supposed to underrates tho British army , because however much one may praise tho troops of other nations , it only requires a lield-day inspection to " turn to one ' s own lovo , " then wo know tho " scarlet" will not retreat . 1 havo aeon our mom out with French and Turks ; infantry , cavnlry , and artillery . It Avns a proud sight to mark the dirtbronco—tho British heavy cavalry in battle array , with scarlet coats , brass helmets , and drawn swords , form the finest troops in tho world , and will ride down and over doublo tho number of any other cavalry thoy aro brought against . ' Number for number , they would boat most of tho horso regiments out bore , il only armed with fuiioing-Kiickn . Hut you havo only to seo JKnglishmcn in tho field of actual Avar to notes thoir bearing and superiority .

      TTII 3 IIKITIUII ClOVISItNAIICNT AND NATION . "Ah to tho ( joverninoiit and Cioncraln , 1 havo no romarks to oiler . If Kngland is to tako part in any war , nho must soo to it that sho ia not mado to play second or third liddlo , as at present , merely ho . <; auno nho is miserably represented by limited numbers , , ' $ 0 , 000 to tho French 120 , 000 for example . If wo uro a ' nation of shopkeepers , ' wo may rest satisfied that thero will soon bo no shop to kocp , unless wo cither refrain from

      bullying and war , or take a becoming position irril Better every man in England should- part with half M wealth , and- support the power and dignity of * th ' Empire , than fritter the strength of the country anny pkcemeal as- at present . .... MB . VTTON . " The sale of Mr ; Upton ' s effects has just commenced , in Balaklava . Mr . Upton is son of the man who planned and executed the great engineering works of Sebastopol He goes on parole to England with his family in one of the shi ps of Sir S . M . Peto , and will , no doubt , find employment as an engineer . "

      DESPATCHES FROM LORD RAGLAN . B efore S ebas t opol , May 15 . My L ord , —Since my despatch of the 12 th instant nothing has occurred worthy of being reported to your lordship . T he fire has bee n very slack , and that of the enemy has been directed towards-the French works rather than against the English trenches . The remainder of the 12 th Lancers has arrived , and will be disembarked to-day . All our means are devoted to the landing of the Sardinian troops , which the bad weather had prevented on the arrival of the first ships * I have found it necessary , in some ins t ances , to la n d artillery horses at Kassatch Bay , to avoid further crowding the harbour of Balaklava .

      I enclose the return of- casualties to the 13 th instant , inclusive . Lhave , &c , Raglan . The Lord Panmure , &c . &c . Casualties . —1 officer , 11 rank and file , killed ; 2 . sergeants , 51 rank and file , w ound e d ; 1 rank and . file toissing . \ ^ B efore S ebas t opol , May 19 . ^ My L ord , —I do myself the honour to enclose the list of casualties that occurred between the 14 th and 17 th

      instant . For the last two days there has been hardly any fi r ing on either side ; large convoys have come into Sebastopol from the norther n side , bu t t here has b e en no mov em e nt of importance . The heat has been very oppressive since Wednesday . I deeply regret to have to report that I have just received a letter from General Osten Sacken , in answer to an inquiry I addressed to him on the subject , informing m e that C aptai n A rno l d , of the 4 th Reg imen t of F oo t , who was wounded and taken prisoner on the night of the 5 th , died on tha t same n i g ht . I have , &c . Raglan . The Lord Panmure , &c . &c . Casualties . —7 rank and file killed ; 1 sergeant , 22 r ank and fi l e , wounded . Naval Brigade : 2 wounded severel y .

      HEALTH OF THE ARMY . REAPPEARANCE OF CHOLERA . The subjoined extract from a return of Dr . Hall to Lord Eaglan , touching the sanitary state of the army , discloses the painful fact that our brave soldiers are again threatened with cholera . It must be added , however , that a telegraphic message of a later date announces that the disease is for the present decreasing : — " I regret to say that , since the 12 th instant , spasmodic cholera has considerably increased , and as many as eighteen deaths and fifty-two cases under treatment have been reported within the last twenty-four hours . Hitherto the disease has chiefly attacked new comers , and many of the cases have occurred when the men were either actually in tho trenches , or immediately after their return from duty in them . This may havo been

      owing to the combined causes of fatigue and local miasma , but to neither in particular ; for we find that the men of the B , G , and P batteries , w ho ne v er go into tho trenches at all , and who aro not overworked , ha v e suffered nearly as much as any others . All tho men attacked in them , with , I boliovo , one exception , had recently arrived in tho Crimea . In tho P battery two of tho men attacked had only just landed ; one , I think , had beon about twenty-four and the other thirty-six hours ou shore when they wore attacked , and in both the disease followod intemperance . Cholera has mado its appearance in the Fourth Division during the week , and thirteen cases havo occurred , seven of which terminated fatally . Four of tho patients belonged to tho 48 th regiment . " in for the most

      In other respects the health of the troops part improving , though tho Hurts and tho -18 th and 71 st regiments havo boon severely tried by tho boggy character of the , ground ou which they havo been encamped , and which has beon rendered doubly muddy by tho late oxceaiivo rains and Iwavy fogs . A singular surgical caso is thus reported by Dr . Hull : ¦ " Thoro is / m interesting ca . so in tho hospital of tho loft siege train , where tho greater part of the lower jaw on both riilo * w « h carried nwny by a eaimon-shot Una caw under tho abl <« and indefatigable care oi . Staff-AHmrtliuit .-. Sni-K «< m A . M . Tay lor , is rapidly proceeding to a euro ; hihI , by judiciously drawing tho parts _ together , the deformity will by no moans bo so conmdorablo afl inittht , l >( f imagined . The man is now walking about ; and , though h « as yet requires to bo fod throug h a t ubo , ho is nhlo to wmoko ' hiri pipe . "

      Untitled Article

      WAR MISCELLANEA . [ lo \ V W 1 C WICItIO KNAIU ' -MI * TO < 1 KT INTO ICl {« Tf ) K . A IJritiah naval officer , whoso uaino has , unfortunately ,

      Untitled Article

      Jrana 2 , 1855 . ] TIE LEA DEB . BBS ?

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 2, 1855, page 507, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2093/page/3/