On this page
-
Text (1)
-
June 9, 1855.] THE LEADER. 535
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.
-
-
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.
Teeh War. Ftmther Successes- Inthe Sea-O...
me , and it is together , unde r ^ the skilful and firm lidanee of the new Gommander-in-Chief , t hat we shall ntinue to fight for France and for the Emperor . —Canjbert . Head-quarters before Sebastopol , May 19 . " General Pelissier , on the same day , issued the mexed order : —
" Soldiers , —Our former General-in-Chief has made town to you the will of the Emperor , who , at the neral ' s request , has p laced me at the head of the army the East . In receiving from the Eniperor the commd of this army so long exercised by such noble nds , I feel certain that I express the sentiments of all us , when I proclaim that General Canrobert carries th him all our regrets and all our gratitude . " To the brilliant souvenirs of Alma and of Inkerman , has added the merit , greater still perhaps , of having , ring a formidable winter campaign , preserved for our antry and our Sovereign one of the finest armies that ance ever had . You owe it to him that you are now a position to bring the struggle to an issue ( engager a id la lutte ) and to triump h . " If , as I feel certain it will , success should crown our
arts , you will not fail to pronounce his name in your lgs of victory . He has resolved to remain in our iks , and although he mi ght have had a hig her com - md he wished but one thing , and that was to put himf at the head of his old division . I have deferred to i entreaties , the inflexible desires , of him who was but sterday our chief , and who will ever be my friend . " Soldiers , I have the fullest confidence in you . After many trials , so many generous efforts , nothing can be > much for your courage . You all know what the iperor and the country expect from you . Be what u have hitherto been ; and , thanks to your energy , i to the assistance of our intrepid allies and the brave lors of our squadrons , we shall conquer , with the hel p God . " Pelissier . " Head-quarters before Sebastopol , May 19 , 1855 . "
On resuming the command of the First Division , neral Canrobert published a brief address , which here append : — " Comrades of the First Division , —You have g iven , under circumstances the most arduous and the most rious , so many proofs of devotedness , you have inred me with so great confidence , that while volunil y , and out of a sense of duty to my country , resi gning command in chief of an army of 130 , 000 men , I ired above all things the honour of again becoming ir immediate chief , and fi ghting at your head against enemies of France and of the Emperor , " Canrobert , ' General of Division , Aide-de-Camp to the Emperor , commanding the 1 st Division of Infantry . ' Before Sebastopol , May 22 . "
A FEAT OF COURAGE . L Russian exhibited remarkable coolness in the pernancc of a very daring and , as far ns could be under-» d , unnecessary act , about 11 o ' clock on the morning Saturday , the 19 th instant . The man alluded to ked out of a trench on the side of the Mamelon Vert , niug nearly parallel with the ravine between the melon and Frenchman ' s-hill . He was completely eloped in a white covering of lineu , or some such serial , his head being wrapped round with it as well ris bodv . The object seemed to be to render himself © nspieiious as possible , for as the sun was shining l a strong glare at the time , the contrast with the js and dark ground was very marked . The upper
; of his body was first seen ; but , as he walked coolly o the open ground , he became fully exposed to view , en first observed , lie could not have been more than hundred yards from the boyau at the rig ht of the luced works , towards which his buck was turned ; the men in this trench apparently did not perceive y as they did not lire . A party of men and ers , however , about two hundred yards further along the advanced work , saw him at once , and Uarged altogether about thirty shots at him from r Millie ' s . The first few bullets fell short ; but , range being altered , the remainder were observed to
: up the dust on all sides of him . The white gentlei of the Mtunolon took no notice , beyond looking id twice ; he neither hastened his puce , bent his body , iu any way evinced a desire to chide the louden jongers which were went to arrest his progress . Six ioven minutes elapsed before ho was again under tor of tho works . Ad there was a covered way at ; reat dista n ce , along which lie could have passed iu y , this extraordinary exposure - \ vaa manifestly ntury , or if forced , mu . st liavo been as a punishment , laps it waa done for a wager !—Daily JSaoa C ' orrenlent .
NKW KUHSIAN WOHKS . n tho Mamelon Vert hill , tho enemy are throwing up 3 additional works . They have had , for ton day a or i , u very ( loop trench with puruput , e x tending from oft of tho Kuintsohatku redoubt ( our right ) acroaa a . ill towards tho Careening-buy ravine . At tho upper of this tronoh , not far fro m tho point whoro it is octod with tho foHso of tho redoubt , a battery hus co n structed , and alread y u vo gu n a a r e m ounted , JU will boar on tho French approaches iu front . Thia
work is being extended . They have also brought som e small mortars into a part of the rifle trench near th e French parallel to rep ly to others which had been previousl y brought down by the French to their advanced work . The covered ways in the Mamelon now form a network of trenches . —Idem .
Teeh War. Ftmther Successes- Inthe Sea-O...
THE ADVANCE ON THE TCUEKNAYA . A special correspondent of the Daily News gives the following vivid account of the occupation of the line of the Tchernaya : — " This morning ( May 25 ) , at one o ' clock , the Allied forces destined to operate against the Tchernaya , descended from the hills and formed in the p lain outside the lines of Balaklava . It was one of those fine , fresh Crimean spring nights which , if they cannot make us forget , at least reconcile us to , the heat of the day . The stars shone bri ght ; the crescent was hig h up in the sk y ; and white fleecy clouds were rap idl y drifting across the deep blue background of the horizon . The camps were all in motion , not noisil y , nor yet
silently , for there was little concealment in our taking the field . For two hours , the clatter of horses' hoofs upon the stones , and the deep hollow rumbling of waggons , announced the descent of the cavalry and ardllery ; but , as their dark shadowy masses arrived on the borders of the p lain , even this noise ceased , smothered by the thick carpet of turf over which the troops moved . The large masses of the infantry mi ght be seen as they moved through the white fog which rose up from the lower ground ; but their steps were hardly heard , even on the stony surface of the road down the hills . As the columns debouched into the p lain , they marched in different directions , so as to embrace in their attack the whole length of the line
of low hills , which intersect the p lain of B alaklava , and which in the history of the Crimean campai gn are known as the Turkish batteries The troops , preceded by clouds of skirmishers , traversed the p lain , and all the hill-tops were ascended almost at the same moment . The enemy ' s redoubts , as had been expected , were unarmed , with the exception of the one to the left , from which a few rounds of shot were fired ; but the firing was evidently from a sing le gun , and that gun was carried off long before our skirmishers crowned the hill . A slight skirmish took place as the Sardinians , on our extreme rig ht , ascended the hills of Kamara . The cavalry had , meanwhile , made their way up throug h the slop ing grounds that separate the hills ; and
the Chasseurs d'Afrique and our own Hussars were fortunate enough to come up with a bod y of Cossacks , evidentl y bent upon effecting their retreat . They were attacked , and some of them were captured , at a very trifling cost of casualties . A few of the Chasseurs d'Afrique were wounded ; one of our Hussar horses was shot , and one officer was slig htl y wounded . The Cossacks , and a small force of infantry which supported them , were driven , down to the banks of the Tchernaya , and pursued across them . A small battery on a steep hill to the rig ht , on the other side of the Tchernaya , which was held b y infantry unprovided with guns , was attacked by the French infantry , who took it with ease , and at a very trifling loss . Here , too ,
several of the enemy were captured . Those of the Allied forces that had crossed the river—which , at this dry season , is fordable at all points—entered the village of Tchourgoun , and for an hour or two kept possession of the hills surrounding it . They then retired . Here ended the operations of the d : iy , by the Allied forces taking up a position on the heights commanding this side of tho river The state of tho ground between the Turkish batteries and the Tchornaya shows at once that the Russians never had a serious intention of defending this , their look-out position . Small numbers of troops only have been quartered in or traversed this part of their late territory . The grass is iu full growth ; on the banks of tho river there are
shrubs and trees ; and only here and there u few earth-huts , or the black marks of a picket lire , sho w that some detachments of troops have now and then occup ied small camping grounds . The vegetation on that side of the hill in what wo found it on our side when we first landed in the Crimea—abundant and odoriferous . Flowers , bri g ht blue , purp le , and yellow , actually cover the ground ; little p lots of popp ies- whine in the distance like fields of red ochre ; tho brushwood ia intermixed with wild roso shrubs iu full bloom , and some wild herb or other , us our horses champed tho grass , or sniflbd tho in hit odour of the peach . Add to this , that tho heat of tho sun was tempered by a fresh breeze , and you will understand that our fust advance against the Russian position had all tho features of a field-day in fairy land . "
A HOLD OA 81 C OF DIWICKTION . The 'Times Euputoriau correspondent writes as follows : — " Yoatonlay thoro was a rathor bold case of desertion . Tho lth Regiment of Cavalry of Roumolia was doing duly at tho outposts . On tho side of tho bridge which forms tho extreme right of our vidctlo lino tho two vidottos are placed on a littlo mound , not more than one hundred yards from tho bridge . About fifty yards bohind thorn ia a post of fifteen or twenty men , under a sergeant , and further back tho squadron . About noon ,
the corporal of the advanced post went coolly to the serv geant and asked him for a lig ht for his ci garette . The sergeant had none , consequentl y the corporal requested the sergeant to allow him to mount his horse and . go to the videttes to ask one of them for it . The permission , was given , the corporal went up to the mound where the videttes were p laced , and a moment afterwards all three set off in a gallop and went over the bridge which forms the boundary line between the Russian and Turkish line of outposts . The sergeant , seeing this , instantl y ordered
his men to mount , and dashed down at their head to the bridge , but it was too late ; the fugitives had passed . The Russians , seeing the pursuers and the pursued coming in a gallop towards the bridge , thoug ht it was an attack ; they mounted their steeds and ran off towards their main guard . But when they saw the three deserters dismount , and the rest stopping at the side of the bridge , they returned and took the deserters away . This is the second case of desertion which has occurred since the Turks have been in the Crimea . "
DEFICIENCY OF WATER . PAST AND PRESENT . The scarcity of water becomes more formidable every day . I understand that the Sanitary Commissioners have enunciated an opinion , formed on scientific geolog ical grounds , that there is no reason to apprehend any want of water ; but it is nevertheless true that the watering of the cavalry horses , -as I am informed , is noTV accomplished with difficulty , and that two days ago tho watering was not finished till evening , so scanty was the supply . Sir John M'Neil and Colonel Tulloch have nearly completed the examination of the principal medical officers here , and have had their eyes a little opened with respect to the sufferings of the army and the neglect which led to them . If their report be made public , it will be seen how widely " cooked" evidence differs from the truth . The people of Eng land , the House of Commons , and the Peers , will learn on unimpeachable
testimony what the facts really are and were , and they will be taught to estimate at their true value many of the official and officious contradictions made at home and from the Crimea of statements which were not only unexaggerated , but far too lenient . They will hear that at the time diarrhoea was sweeping away its hundreds a week , the store of specifics for it in one division amounted to about one dose per regiment ; that once in the winter darkness the store of candles amounted to one per regiment , and that the distance between the camp and head-quarters seemed capable of infinite lengthening , if a requisition was to be returned or medical demands complied with . Let bygones be bygones ; but let us know what was the truth about the past , at all events . There is now no deficiency in any article , as far as I can learn , and no army was ever so amply and lu x uriousl y provided . — Times Correspondeiit .
A RUSSIAN DESIGN " CHECKMATED . A POLISH ODD FELLOW . It seems tolerably certain that Russia intended to try her hand at a diversion in the direction of India , had wo not deranged her plans by the invasion of the Crimea . There is a Russian officer now at headquarters who belonged to a regiment that was actuallytold oil" far a march to India last year . There were several other regiments destined for the same expedition , but thev too found themselves encamped on the Alma on tho lDtii of September , and on the road to Bakstchi-Serai the following evening . The oiliccrs had been provided with books relating to India , and had been study ing " the manners and customs" of the Hindoos and Mussulmans
of tho groat peninsula . It is said , to be sure , that it would be impossible for the Russians to transport an army over tho torrid wastes which lie between them and India ; but there was a certain Alexander who once moved a very efliciont army in the same direction , through regions more sparsely populated and less cultivated . Tho officer in question " hath a pleasant wit , " and gives abundant proofs , in the p leasant coup lets h o remembers concerning tho war , that the Russians are by no means destitute of humour . He sings one aoug ancut the proceedings of Prince Menschikoff after the Alma , which ia said by those who can appreciate it to bo intensel y funny . Tho Prince is represented as having fled to a house in Bukstchi-Serul , out of tho winduwof which he interrogates the passers-by respecting tho fa to of Sevastopol , and he is at last astonished to hoar it has not been taken , and beg ins to dance with joy , ' <> « X ^ ma g ™ <* lendid defence of tho
flank march , and to boast of his sp place . Another song , from tho mime mouth puts tho contest in a ludicrous lig ht , and declares that tho whole hietfu is only a . struggle to hco whether tho Russians or th « Allies are Uio boat diggers and ditchers : — Wo build one red » ubt , tl . oy build another ; they make ouo trench , wo make it . s brother , " &« . ' 1 ho gentleman is a Polo and was present at Alma and lnkormau . At the latter buttle , tho ooinpuny ho commanded lost aoventy-11 vo men out of ono hundred and thirty . Ho then served with tho external army , but got tired of Toborgo . m and blast' with tho mouotony of liib in huta . Ho collected alfhia resources , and gave a grand ball to hia fnondai m Iho army near Tchorgoun — champagne at UOs . a bottle , claret at 20 s ,, and p iokloa at 10 s . —and noxt day came into our cavalry pickets , with a brother officer , on the day of tho races ut Karunyi , and haa boon living hoy © ovor ainuo . —Idcin .
June 9, 1855.] The Leader. 535
June 9 , 1855 . ] THE LEADER . 535
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), June 9, 1855, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09061855/page/7/
-