TREATY OF ALLIANCE.
The Five Articles of the Treaty--War on the Danube--General
Luders--The Pestilence--Decree of the Czar--Governor of Moscow
--Loss of the Frigate Tiger--Captain Gifford--Black Sea Fleet
--Duke of Cambridge--Arrival at Varna--Captain Hall--Admiral
Plumridge--General Bodisco--Silistria--The Siege--Mussa Pacha
--Evacuation of the Principalities by the Russians.
On the 12th of March, 1854, the treaty of alliance between England,
France, and the Porte, was signed by the representatives of those
powers.
The treaty consists of five articles. By the first, France and
England engage to support Turkey by force of arms until the
conclusion of a peace which shall secure independence of the Ottoman
empire, and the integrity of the rights of the Sultan. The two
protecting Powers undertake not to derive from the actual crisis,
or from the negotiations which may terminate it, any exclusive
advantage. By the second article the Porte, on its side, pledges
itself not to make peace under any circumstances without having
previously obtained the consent, and solicited the participation of
the two Powers, and also to employ all its resources to carry on
the war with vigor. In the third article the two Powers promise to
evacuate, immediately after the conclusion of the war, and on the
demand of the Porte, all the points of the empire which their troops
shall have occupied during the war. By the fourth article the treaty
remains open for the signature of the other Powers of Europe who
may wish to become parties to it; and the fifth and last article
guarantees to all the subjects of the Porte, without distinction of
religion, equality in the eye of the law, and admissibility into all
employments. To this treaty are attached, as integral parts of it,
several protocols. One relates to the institution of mixed tribunals
throughout the whole empire; a second is relative to an advance of
20,000,000fr. jointly by France and England; and a third relates to
the collection of the taxes and the suppression of the _haratch_ or
poll-tax, which, having been considered for a long time past by the
Turkish Government as only the purchase of exemption from military
service, leads, by its abolition, to the entrance of Christians into
the army.
The Russians continued to prosecute the war eagerly on the banks of
the Danube, but any temporary success was more than counterbalanced
by subsequent and more brilliant Turkish victories.
General Luders, at the head of 50,000 men, succeeded in crossing the
Danube, and in occupying the Dobrudscha in force. A fatal step! for
a frightful pestilence, arising from the marshes of this unhealthy
district, in a few weeks decimated his troops, and the survivors were
so debilitated by sickness and scanty fare, that they might have been
driven into the river almost without the power of resistance.
On the 5th of May the _Invalide Russe_ published the following
_veracious_ decree of the Emperor of Russia, addressed to General
Osten-Sacken:--
“On the day when the inhabitants of Odessa, united in their
orthodox temples, were celebrating the death of the Son of God,
crucified for the redemption of mankind, the allies of the
enemies of His holy name attempted a crime against that city of
peace and commerce, against that city where all Europe, in her
years of dearth, has always found open granaries. The fleets
of France and England bombarded for twelve hours our batteries
and the habitations of our peaceful citizens, as well as the
merchant shipping in the harbor. But our brave troops, led by
you in person, and penetrated by a profound faith in the supreme
Protector of justice, gloriously repelled the attack of the enemy
against the soil which, in apostolic times, relieved the saintly
precursor of the Christian religion in our holy country.
The heroic firmness and devotion of our troops, inspired by
your example, have been crowned with complete success, the city
has been saved from destruction, and the enemies’ fleets have
disappeared. As a worthy recompense for so brilliant an action,
we send you the order of St. Andrew.”
NICHOLAS.
_St. Petersburg, April 21 (May 3)._
The governor of Moscow had caused a _Te Deum_ to be sung in honor
of the victory (?) gained by the Russians at Odessa; the fact
being, that in consequence of the atrocious conduct of the military
authorities of Odessa, in firing upon an English flag of truce,
a division of English and French steam frigates appeared before
Odessa. On their arrival the greatest terror pervaded the city. The
wealthy hired all the post-horses to remove to the interior, and
the inhabitants sought refuge in the neighboring country; but the
English and French steamers having withdrawn, after taking a survey
of the roads, the alarm subsided, the population returned, and the
shops were reöpened. On the 21st of April, however, the appearance
of thirty-three sail on the horizon created still greater terror,
for it was evident that they were coming to avenge the insult above
alluded to, and which, even at Odessa, was the subject of universal
reprobation. The next day nothing could exceed the consternation,
everybody being in constant apprehension of a catastrophe. The fears
redoubled when, after a bombardment of eight hours, the gunpowder
magazine blew up, and the military stores were seen on fire. The
sight of wounded soldiers brought in from the batteries, and the
brutality of the governor and his forces towards the inhabitants,
were not calculated to allay their terror. This affair produced great
discouragement among the troops, and an excellent effect on the
population, who perceived that the Russian army was unable to protect
them; and that, if the city were not reduced to ashes, it was solely
owing to the generosity of the allied Powers.
The satisfaction derived from the severe punishment thus administered
to the Russians was more than counterbalanced by the total loss of
an English frigate (the _Tiger_) of 1275 tons, and carrying sixteen
guns. This sad disaster occurred near Odessa, on the 12th of May,
in consequence of her taking the ground while in chase of two small
Russian vessels. The wreck was attended with the death of her gallant
captain (Giffard) and a midshipman, and the loss of her crew of
226 men; for, being attacked while lying in an utterly defenceless
condition, they had no choice but to surrender.
A division of the Black Sea fleet, consisting of seventeen vessels,
continued to watch the harbor of Sebastopol; while the British
cruisers speedily captured every vessel that carried the Russian
flag. Another division, composed of nine steamers, was despatched to
the Circassian coast, to aid in the destruction of the Russian forts,
and to open a communication with Schamyl. Partly in consequence
of this movement, the Russians were compelled to evacuate all
their positions, from Batoum to Anapa, a distance of 200 leagues,
and burning most of their forts, they retired into Kutais. The
Circassians thereupon made a descent, and surprised and captured
15,000 prisoners in Sukkum-Kaleh.
On the 18th May, the _Charlemagne_, _Agamemnon_, _Mogador_,
_Highflyer_, and _Sampson_, bombarded Redout-Kaleh, sparing only the
Custom-house and Quarantine establishment. They then returned to
Chouroucksu, and landed 800 troops at Redout-Kaleh. These, supported
by 300 English and French, pursued the Russians, in number about
2000, who fell back on Kutais, which was speedily captured.
On the 1st June, Admirals Dundas and Hamelin declared all the mouths
of the Danube to be strictly blockaded, in order to cut off all
supplies from the Russian army in the Dobrudscha. Shortly after, the
English steam-frigates bombarded the forts at Sulina, and captured
the commander, with all his men and guns. A sad loss was experienced
by the British fleet, on this occasion, in the death of Captain Hyde
Parker, of the _Firebrand_, who, while proceeding on an exploring
expedition up the Danube, was fired upon from a stockade fort,
thought to have been abandoned. The gallant officer, landing with
his men to storm it, fell--shot through the heart by a rifle-ball.
While prize after prize continued to arrive, in rapid succession, at
Portsmouth and in the Thames, English troops, of all denominations,
were “mustering in hot haste” at Gallipoli, Scutari, and Varna; Lord
Raglan, as commander-in-chief, occupying in the first instance,
the palace so recently tenanted by the Russian Ambassador at
Constantinople.
On the 14th June, the Duke of Cambridge with his staff, the brigade
of Guards, and the Highland brigade (42nd, 79th, and 93d regiments),
arrived at Varna, where a numerous Anglo-French army was already
encamped. It is probable that the unexpected and retrograde movement
of the Russians upon the Pruth--intelligence of which reached the
allied generals about this time--occasioned a deviation from the plan
of operations originally contemplated, as it obviated the necessity
of any active co-operation with Omer Pacha’s army on the Danube.
An expedition upon a gigantic scale was, however, planned, its
destination being the Crimea and Sebastopol. It had been well, for
many reasons, that so long a period had not been passed in inactivity
at Varna, for sickness was making sad havoc among the officers and
in the ranks; and the regiments which left England only a few weeks
before in full health and vigor, now presented a pitiable contrast
to their former condition. The French had suffered still more; for,
besides the loss of _seven thousand_ men, during their brief but
ill-advised encampment in the Dobrudscha, they were burying, for many
weeks, more than 100 daily; and the effect of this visitation was
telling fearfully upon the spirits of the survivors.
Nor had the Baltic fleet, though in a much more temperate climate,
escaped the scourge of cholera. We may mention, as a curious fact,
that the sailing vessels experienced a happy immunity from the
pestilence.
The result of the Baltic operations may be given in a few words. The
fleet of the Czar, outnumbered by that of the allied powers, was
detained in captivity at Helsingfors and Kronstadt, declining alike
every offer of battle, and unable to stay the devastation that was
effected along the Finnish shore of the Bothnian Gulf. Scarcely a
Russian merchant vessel escaped the vigilance of the cruisers; and
the whole line of her coasts, up to the shoals of Kettle Island, were
shown to be at the mercy of the allies. In a national point of view,
there was not much to boast of in the achievements of so stupendous
a fleet. But there were individual acts of valor as bright as any
that adorn the pages of naval history. Prominent among these was the
exploit of the _Arrogant_ and _Hecla_.
While the _Arrogant_ was reconnoitring Hango Bay, she was joined
by the _Hecla_, six guns, commanded by Captain Hall, so well known
for his services in the Chinese war. Early on the morning of the
20th May, they came within range of a battery, against which the
_Hecla_ opened fire, which was quickly returned. The _Arrogant_
aided the _Hecla_, and dispersed the defenders of the fort, blowing
gun-carriages to fragments and dismounting the guns. The town of
Eckness was descried, and the ships having been joined by the
_Dauntless_, the _Arrogant_ ran up alongside of a bark, took her
in tow, and steamed away with her. The ships were studded with
Minié balls. The _Arrogant_ had one man shot through the heart, and
another, badly wounded, lived only till next day. The _Hecla_ lost
one man. Captain Hall landed with his marines, and hoisted an iron
gun into his boat, which he placed on board the _Hecla_. They joined
the fleet on the 21st. The commander-in-chief telegraphed, “Well
done, _Arrogant_ and _Hecla_.”
But these successes were followed by a reverse sufficient to cast a
shade upon their career of triumph.
Admiral Plumridge’s flying squadron of paddle steamers, consisting
of the _Leopard_, the _Vulture_, the _Odin_, and the _Valorous_, had
been up the Gulf of Finland, and had destroyed forty-five vessels,
of from 1200 tons to 100 tons, and £300,000 worth of tar, timber,
saltpetre, and tallow. On the 7th of June, the _Vulture_ and _Odin_
were sent to Gamla-Karleby (64.50 north), where they had to anchor
five miles from the town. Their boats were sent in under the command
of the first lieutenant (Mr. Charles Wise) of the _Vulture_, who was
surprised by a large force of regular troops, armed with rifles and
field guns, wholly concealed and protected by strong wood stores, so
that not a man was seen. The consequence was, a murderous onslaught.
The loss from the _Vulture_ was one man killed and one wounded, and
a paddle-box boat, with one master (Mr. Murphy), twenty-seven men,
and the boat’s 34-pounder carronade, “missing, captured, or sunk.”
The loss from the _Odin_ was three officers killed and three men. The
first-lieutenant, one midshipman, and fifteen men were wounded.
But the most important operation in this quarter was the attack, on
the 15th August, upon Bomarsund.
The disembarkation of the troops took place on the morning of the
8th August. The landing-place chosen was a bay about three miles
broad, to the south-west of the forts, and at a distance of 2500
yards from the western fort (called Fort Tzee). A Russian earthwork,
carrying six guns, had been placed on the eastern promontory of this
bay; but this battery was dismounted by the fire of the _Amphion_
and _Phlegethon_. Meantime, 11,000 men were landed in the space of
three hours and a half. The Russians made no attempt to oppose the
operation. The British and French marines, 600 of each flag, were
conveyed to the north of the forts, and landed behind them. The next
four days were employed in preparing for the attack. The positions
of the batteries were selected, sand-bags and gabions were prepared,
and the sailors brought up with great labor some long 32-pounders,
which were placed 800 yards from the round fort. On the 13th, the
fire of the French battery opened on Fort Tzee, and the bombardment
was sustained in the most brilliant manner for twenty-six hours. A
remarkable fact is, that this French battery consisted of only four
16-pounders and four mortars--a force quite inadequate to breach a
granite tower: three of the enemy’s guns were dismounted through the
embrasures, and the fire of the French rifles on these apertures was
so severe, that the Russians had difficulty in loading their guns,
and suffered most severely. Eventually this part of the work was
taken by the French chasseurs, on the morning of the 14th, by a _coup
de main_.
In the fort taken by the French, the Russian loss consisted of fifty
killed, twenty wounded, and thirty-five prisoners; on the side of
the French, Lieutenant Noulfe and two chasseurs were killed; 115
Russians were made prisoners. Hon. George Wrottesley, Lieutenant of
the Royal Engineers, was killed. Captain Ramsay, of Her Majesty’s
ship _Hogue_, was slightly wounded. One of the English marines was
also killed. Two screw guard-ships, the _Hogue_ and the _Edinburgh_,
and steamers, bombarded the forts for five hours, throwing their shot
with great effect from a distance of 3000 yards.
The large fortress did not surrender till the 16th. General Bodisco
and the Vice-Governor Turuhielm, with the whole garrison of 2000 men
(the _matériel_ and provisions), became prisoners of war, and were
sent on board the fleet.
The two forts taken were blown up. The main fortress was much
injured. The loss of the allies is put at 120 killed and wounded.
The Russian officials are reported to have taken to flight, pursued
by the peasantry. A proclamation was read in eleven parishes, by
order of General Baraguay d’Hilliers, freeing the Aland Islands
from Russian dominion, and placing them under the protection of the
Western Powers.
Our present sketch would be imperfect, did we refrain from alluding
to the memorable defence of Silistria, a most brilliant incident of
the war.
The town of Silistria is situate on low ground, and is surrounded
by a wall, and crowned with forts. In 1828 there was a height
which commanded the town, and which rendered its capture much less
difficult. The Turks, however, have taken the precaution to construct
on it a considerable fortress. As the Russians did not carry on the
siege in a regular manner, they required from 60,000 to 70,000 men
to invest it. The attack commenced on the 11th of May. As they held
a few small islands in the Danube, and, besides, as the side of the
town which looks to the river is the weakest, they succeeded in
establishing a bridge, by which they were enabled to throw on the
right bank of the river 24,000 men. All their efforts were directed
towards the fort Arab-tabia, which they unsuccessfully bombarded for
nineteen days. Mussa Pacha, commander-in-chief, made a _sortie_,
which completely succeeded, and in which the Russians had a great
number of men killed and wounded. The assault was attempted three
times, but the Russians were always repulsed with loss. The amount of
the killed is not accurately known.
During the attack made on Silistria, on the 29th, the Russians had
180 men killed and 380 wounded. Both parties displayed indescribable
animosity. Lieutenant-General Sylvan fell at the head of his troops.
Colonel Fostanda and Count Orloff, the son of the Adjutant-General of
the Emperor, were wounded. The latter was shot through the eye, and
subsequently died.
The Russian General of Infantry, Soltikoff, also died of his wounds;
and his aide-de-camp, who was wounded by his side, underwent the
amputation of his right arm.
On the evening of the 29th May, at six o’clock, a Russian division
made a still more vigorous assault upon the entrenchments.
Three storming parties of 10,000 men each were formed, with a
battalion of engineer-sappers, with fascines and scaling ladders,
at their head. Before the men set to work they were addressed by
Prince Paskiewitch, who urged them to exertion, “as, if they did
not succeed in taking the fortress, he should be obliged to keep
back their rations.” After this encouragement, two corps proceeded
towards the forts of Arab-tabia and Yelanli: the third corps was to
act as a reserve. After a terrific cannonade the storming parties
advanced, but were received by the Turks with such a well-directed
fire, that for a time they made but little progress. The Russians,
however, fought bravely, and having managed to scale the breastwork
of one of the batteries, a regular hand-to-hand fight took place. At
last the Turks were victorious, and the unfortunate besiegers were
knocked into the ditch with the butt-ends of the Turkish muskets.
The Russians had evidently lost courage, and, when they returned to
the attack, it was only because they were forced to do so by their
officers. When there was literally no more fight in the men, a
retreat was sounded, and the Russians carried off as many of their
dead and wounded as they could. The Turks, after their enemies had
retired, picked up 1500 dead bodies, a great number of guns, swords,
drums, musical instruments, and the colors of a battalion. Hussein
Bey, the commander of the two forts, displayed the most daring
courage, as did a Prussian and two English officers.
Three mines were sprung before Silistria, without doing any damage
to the walls. The Russian storming columns were prepared to mount
the expected breach, but were attacked on three sides by the Turks.
A fearful slaughter took place, and the Russians fled in terrible
disorder. Three Russian Generals, one of whom was General Schilders,
were severely wounded, and all the Russian siege works totally
destroyed.
The continued bombardment, besides demolishing every house in
Silistria, had reduced the fort of Arab-tabia to such a mere heap
of ruins, that it could not have held out for four-and-twenty hours
longer. Yet so discomfited were the enemy by their last repulse, that
on the following day they raised the siege and beat a precipitate
retreat. Mussa Pacha, the gallant defender, was unfortunately killed
by the fragment of a shell, almost the last that was fired against
the devoted town.
This reverse at Silistria, coupled with the adverse issue of
negotiations with Vienna, led to the evacuation of the Principalities
by the Russian forces, who shortly after hastily abandoned Bucharest,
and retreated, exhausted, dispirited, and demoralized, upon the
line of the Pruth, retaining, however, the strongholds of Matchin,
Isaktchi, and Tultcha.
[Illustration: MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR IN THE CRIMEA.]