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1106 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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THE WAR
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LATEST KETVS. " Berlin, Thursday Morning...
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BATTLE OF IHKERMAN. [lobd baglajn's desp...
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[general canroberts KEsrATcn.] Tho Minis...
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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.
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1106 The Leader. [Saturday,
1106 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
The War
THE WAR
Latest Ketvs. " Berlin, Thursday Morning...
LATEST KETVS . " Berlin , Thursday Morning . " Prince Menschikoff , w ^ rifciBg on the 15 th , reports that the siege -works of the enemy make no progress . " The bombardment continues , but causes no damage of any importance . " There was a great tempest on the night of the 14 th , during which weight of the reneiny ' s transports ¦ were driven on shore , and a frigate and corvette sunk . " Many other vessels lost their masts . " " Brussels , Thursday . " Prince Menschikofii in a despatch dated Sebastopol , Nor . 15 , states -that the bombardment oontijiued without doing any great damage . " In a storm eight transports of the Allies had been stranded , and two had foundered at sea . "
Battle Of Ihkerman. [Lobd Baglajn's Desp...
BATTLE OF IHKERMAN . [ lobd baglajn's despatch . ] I . OED Ragij & w ' s despatch is-as follows : — Before Sevastopol , Nov . 8 , 1854 . My Lord Dnke , —I have the honour to report to your Grace that the army under my command , powerfully aided by the corps of observation of the French army , under the command of that distinguished officer , General Bosquet , effectually repulsed and defeated a most vigorous and determined attack of the enemy on our position overlooking th & ruins of Inkerman , on the morning ; of the 5 th instant . In my letter to your Grace of the 3 rd , I informed you that the enemy had considerably increased their force in the valley of the Tchemay a . The following day this augmentation was still further apparent , and large masses of troops had evidently arrived from the northward , and oa -two several occasions persons of distinguished rank were observed to have joined the Russian camp . I have subsequently learnt that the 4 th corps d ' armee , conveyed in carriages © f the country , and in the lightest possible order , had been brought from Moldavia , and were to be immediately followed by the 3 rd corps . It was , therefore , to he expected that an extensive movement would not he long deferred .
• Accordingly , shortly before daylight on the 5 th , strong columns of the enemy came upon the advanced picquete covering the right of the position . These picquets behaved with admirable gallantry , defending ; the ground foot toy foot against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy , until the 2 d Division , under Major-General Pennefather , with its field guns , which had immediately been got under arms , was placed in position . The Light Division , under Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown , was also brought to the front -without loss of time ; the 1 st Brigade , under Major-General Oodxington , occupying the long slopes to the left towards
Sebastopol , and protecting our right battery , and guarding against attack on that side , and the 2 d Brigade , under Brigadier-General Buller , forming on the left of the 2 d Division , with the 11 th Regiment , under Lieut .-Colonel Jeffreys , thrown in advance . The Brigade of Guards under his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Major General Bentinck , proceeded likewise to the front , and took up most important ground to the extreme right on the alignement of the 2 d Division , but separated from it by a deep and precipitous ravine , and posting its guns with those of the 2 d Division .
The 4 th Division , under Lieutenant General Sir George Cathcart , having been brought from thoir encampment , advanced to the front and right of the attack ; the 1 st Brigade , under Brigadier General Goldie , proeooded to the left of the Inkennan road-, the 2 d Brigade , -under Brigadier General Torrens , to the right of it , and on the ridge overhanging the valley of the Tchernaya . Tho 8 rd Division , under Lieutenant General Sir Richard , England , occupied in part tho ground vacated by the 4 th Division , and supported the Light Division by two regiments under Brigadier General Six J . Campbell , while Brigadier General Eyro hold the command of the troops in the trenches . Tho morning was extremely dark with a drizzling raan , rendering it almost impossible to discover any thing beyond tho Hash and smoke of artillery and heavy musketry jflre .
It , however , noon becarao evident that tho enemy under cover of a . vast cloud of skirmialicrs , Bupported by dense columns of infantry , had advanced numerous battorios of large culibro to tho high ground to the loft and front of the 2 nd Division , while powerful columns of infantry attacked with grout vigour tho Brigade of Gnards . Additional batteries of heavy artillery wero also placed by tho onoirjy on tho slopoa to out loft 5 tho giinw in tho flold amounting ia tho wholo to 90 pieces , imlopondoutly however of tho ship guna and those in tho ¦ works of fiobaatopol . Protected b y a tremendous lire of shot , fthell , and grape ,, tho Russian columna advanced in great force ,
requiring every effort of gallantry on the part of our troops to resist them . At this time two battalions of French infantry , which had on the first notice been sent by General Bosquet , joined our right , and very materially contributed to the successful resistance to the attack , cheering with our men , and charging the enemy down the hill with great loss . About the same time a determined assault was "made on our extreme left , and for a moment the enemy possessed themselves of four of our guns , three of « Wibich were retaken'by the 88 th , 'whilethe 5 th Tvas speedily recaptured by the 77 th Regiment , under Lieutenant-Colonel Egerton . In the opposite direction the Brigade of Guards , under his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge , was engaged in a severe conflict .
The enemy , under cover of thick brushwood , advanced in two heavy bodies , and assaulted with great determination a small redoubt which had been constructed for two guns , but was not armed . The combat was most arduous , and the brigade , after displaying the utmost steadiness and gallantry , was obliged to retire before very superior numbers , until supported by a wing of the 20 th Regiment of the 4 th Division , when they again advanced and retook the redoubt . This ground was afterwards occupied in gallant style by French troops , and the Guards speedily re-formed in rear of the right flank of the 2 nd Division .
In the meanwhile , Lieutenant-General the Hon . Sir George Cathcart with a few companies of the 68 th Regiment , considering that he might make a strong impression , by descending into the valley , and taking the enemy in flank , moved rapidly forward , but finding the heights above him in full occupation of the Russians , he suddenly discovered that he was entangled with a superior force , and while endeavouring to re-form bis men , \ be received a mortal wound , shortly previously to -which Brigadier-General Torrens , when leading the 68 th , was likewise severely wounded .
Subsequently to this , the tattle continued with unabated vigour and with no positive result—the enemy bringing upon our line not only the fire of all their fieldbatteries , but those in . front of the works of the place , and the ship guns—till the afternoon , when the symptoms of giving way first became apparent ; and shortly after , although the fire did not cease , the retreat hecame general , and heavy masses were observed retiring over the bridge of the Ink . erman , and ascending the opposite heights , abandoning on the field of battle five or six thousand dead and wounded , multitudes of the latter having already been carried off by them . I never before witnessed such a spectacle a 8 the field presented , but upon this I will not dwell . Having submitted to your Grace this imperfect description of this most' severe battle , I have still two duties to discharge—the one most gratifying , the last most painful , to my feelings .
I have the greatest satisfaction m drawing your Grace ' s attention to the brilliant conduct of the allied troops . French and English vied with each other in displaying their gallantry and manifesting their zealous devotion to duty , notwithstanding that they had to contend against an infinitely superior force , and were exposed for many hours to a most galling fire . It should be borne in mind that they have daily for several weeks undergone the most constant labour , and that many of them passed the previous night in tho trenches .
I will not attempt to enter into tho detail of the movements of tho French troops , lest I should not state them correctly , but I am proud of the opportunity of bearing testimony to their valour and energetic services , and of paying a tribute of admiration to the distinguished conduct of their immediate commander , General Bosquet , -while it is in tho highest degreo pleasing to me to place upon record my deep sense of tho valuable assistance I rccoived from , the Commander-in-Chief , General Canrobort , who was himself on tho ground and in constant communication with me , and whoso cordial co-operation on nil occasioua I cannot too highly extol . Your Grace will recollect that he was wounded at tho Almn . Ho was again wounded on the 5 th , but I should hope that ho will not long feel tho effects of it .
I will in a subsequent despatch lay before your Grace tho names of tho officers whoso services havo been brought to my notice . I will not detain tho mail for that purpose now , but I cannot delay to report tho admirable bo-Laviour of Lioutenant-Gonoral Sir George Brown , who was unfortunately shot through tho arm , but is doing well ; of Lioutonant-Gcneral his Itoyal Highness tho Duko of Cambridge , who particularly distinguished lumaolf ; and of Major-Gonoral Pcnnofathor , in command of tho Second Division , which received tho first attack , and gallantly maintained itaolf under tho greatest . dilllcultien throughout this protracted conflict ; of Major-Gencral Bontinck , who ia severely wounded ; Miijor-Genoral Codrington , Brigadior-Goneml Adamn , imd Brigndior-Gonorul Torrens , who ara aoveroly wounded 5 and Brigadier-General Buller , who is aluo wounded , but xiot bo aeriounly .
I must likowiso express my obligations ) to Lioutonant-Gonoral Sir Richard England for tho oxcollont dinpoHition ho mndo of hi » division , and the assistance lie rendered to the loft of tho Light Diviflioii , whore Brigadier-Gonorol Sir John Campbell wan judiclouely
placed , ? and effectively supported Major-General Codrington ; andSTrihsTO Tgreat pleasure in stating that BrigadiejsGene *& l Eyre was employed in the important duty of guarding the trenches from any assault from the town . Lieutenant-general Sir De lacy Evans , -who had been obliged by-severe indisposition to go on board ship « few days : previously , left his bed as soon as he received intelligence , of the attack , and was promptly at his post - and though he did not feel well enough to take the command * df the division out of the hands of Major-General Pennefather , he aid not fail to give him his best advice arid assistance .
It is deeply distressing to me to have to submit to your Grace the list of the killed , wounded , and missing on this memorable occasion . It is indeed heavy , and . very many valuable officers and men have been lost to her Majesty's service . Among the killed your Grace will find the names of Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir G . Cathcart , Brigadier-General Strangways , and Brigadier-General Goldie . Of the services of the first it is almost unnecessary to speak . They are known throughout the British empire , and have within a short space of time been brought conspicuously before the country by his achievements at the Cape of Good Hope , whence he had only just returned when he was ordered to this army .
By his death her Majesty has been deprived of a most devoted servant , an officer of the highest merit , while I personally have to deplore the loss of an attached and faithful friend . Brigadier-General Strangways was known to have distinguished himself in early life ; arid injnature age , throughout a long service , he maintained the same character . The mode in which he had conducted the command of the Artillery :, since it was -placed dn his hands by the departure through illness of Major-General Cator , is entitled to my entire approbation , and was equally agreeable to . those who were confided , to his care . Brigadier-General Goldie was an officer of considerable promise , and gave gTeat satisfaction to all under whom lie has served .
It is difficult to arrive at any positive conclusion as to the actual numbers brought into the field by ihe enemy . The configuration of the ground did not admit of any great development of their force , the attack , consisting of a system of repeated assaults in heavy masses of columns ; but judging from the numbers that were seen in the plains after they had withdrawn in . retreat , I am led to suppose that they could not have been , less than sixty thousand men . Their loss Tvas excessive , and it is calculated that they left on the field near five thousand dead , and that their casualties amount in the whole , ^ in killed , wounded , and prisoners , to not less than 15 , 000 .
Your Grace will be surprised to learn that the number of British troops actually engaged little exceeded 8000 men , whilst those of General Bosquet ' s division only amounted to 6000 , the remaining available French tr « o > p 8 on the spot having been kept in reserve , I ought to mention , that while tho enemy was attacking our right , they assailed the left of the French trenches , and actually got into two of their batteries ; but they were quickly driven out in the most gallant manner , with considerable loss , and hotly pursued to tho vory walls of Sebastopol . I have , & . c , Bagi ^ vn . His Grace the Duke of Newcastle , & c . & c . & c .
[General Canroberts Kesratcn.] Tho Minis...
[ general canroberts KEsrATcn . ] Tho Minister of War has just received from , the General Commanding-in-Chief of the army of tho East the following report : — Head Quarters before Sebastopol , Nov . 7 . Monsieur lo Mardohal , —I have tho honour to confirm my telegraphic despatch of the Cth of November , couched in those terms : — tl Tho Russian army , increased by reinforcements from the Danube , and tho reserves in the southern provinces , and animated by tho presence of tho Grand Dates Michael and Nicholas , yesterday attacked tho right of the English position before tho place .
<( Tho English army sustained the combat witli the most remarkable solidity . I cnused it to bo supported by a portion of the Bosquet division , which fought with admirable vigour , and by tho troops which - \ voro tho most easily available . Tho enemy , more numerous than we wore , boat a retreat with enormous losses , estimated at from 8 O 00 to !) O () O men . " Thin obstinate struggle lasted tho whole of tho day . On my left Gonoral l ' oroy had at tho snmo time to repulse a Hortio of tho garrison . Tho troopH , energetically led on by him , drove tho enemy from tho place , with tho Iobh of 1000 mou . " This brilliant day , which wan not finished without lows to thoAllicN , does tho greatest honour to our miiis . " Tho action , of -which the above tclogriiphiu di-Hpuotli forms tho Hiimmary , wan most animated and warmly contofltud .
At . the first gunshot tho dcaortorfi who came U > hh rovonlod tho real situation of tho Ktwuian nnny in regard to numbers , and enabled us to calculate tho reinforce-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 25, 1854, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25111854/page/2/
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