_Triton_ steamer, which, lashed to the larger vessel, had boldly
entered into the thick of the fight, bore a full share of the
damage done that day. As they arrived within the range of the fire,
the small steamer, which was then exposed, received a volley.
Then, hauling round, the broadside of the frigate was presented
to the forts, and the _Triton_ was, to some degree, sheltered
by the larger hull of her consort. The sailors from the steamer
hastened on board the _Arethusa_, to assist in manning her guns,
and a glorious broadside was hurled at the Russian fort. Every
shot vibrated through the _Triton_, so great was the recoil of the
frigate’s guns. Broadside after broadside was gallantly delivered,
and as promptly replied to by the cannon of the fort. Down went the
rigging of the _Arethusa_, ropes hanging in tangled masses from
her yards, and not unfrequent shots striking her hull. Some passed
beyond the frigate, and soon the _Triton’s_ gear aloft, and fallen
gaffs, stays, and shrouds attested the severity of the enemy’s
fire. Two shots struck the paddle-wheel, and the commander and
carpenter’s mate were wounded by a shell while examining the extent
of damage done. At length the _Arethusa_, nearly sinking, her decks
covered with fallen rigging, her cockpit crowded with bleeding men,
was compelled to relinquish the contest. The _Triton_ gallantly
towed her out of range, but in the act, a raking fire of shells
was poured upon the deck, killing and wounding all within range of
their explosion. With twenty-two holes in her funnel, she contrived
to tow the frigate to Constantinople, to be docked for repairs, so
extensive were her injuries.
The _Labrador_ steamer had a narrow escape from entire destruction.
Towards four o’clock a shell burst in the captain’s cabin,
adjoining the powder magazine, and set fire to some ropes. A cry of
“fire” was raised, the pumps set to work, and enormous quantities
of water poured into the magazine. The fire was fortunately
extinguished in time to save the vessel. She was, of course,
compelled to withdraw from the attack, her powder being rendered
useless.
Admiral Dundas’s flag-ship, the _Britannia_, which fired from
a longer range than the ones we have mentioned, received less
damage, though she did not escape quite scatheless. The enemy’s
shot ploughed up the water around, and occasionally a shell or
round-shot fell upon the deck or crashed through the rigging.
Fortunately, however, only two men were wounded on board this ship.
The French vessels gallantly performed their part in the
bombardment. Our allies had adopted the same plan as the
English, and lashed small steamers to the large sailing-vessels
to bring them into action. Two splendid steamers, the _Pluton_
and the _Charlemagne_, proudly led the way in, followed by the
_Montebello_, the _Jean Bart_, and the rest of the squadron. The
enemy at Fort Alexander maintained an unflinching resistance, and
inflicted severe punishment on the attacking vessels.
Those who witnessed this tremendous bombardment, whether from land
or sea, will probably never forget the spectacle. No imaginative
description could approach the mingled sublimity and horror of
the scene. A fleet of noble vessels, powerfully armed, poured
forth sheets of flame from every port-hole on the attacking side;
and the ponderous forts, from hundreds of embrasures, vomited
a death-dealing reply. The thunder of artillery was deafening,
and the sky darkened with the smoke. Thousands of grim and
fierce-looking men, their faces blackened with gunpowder and sweat,
moved about the decks, and pointed the guns, amid the crash of
falling spars and the groans of their wounded messmates. Beyond
the town, a sullen roar was heard, which might have been the echo
of the sea-battle, but which the sailors well knew was the voice
of the guns on land, many manned by seamen from the fleets, and
responded to by a thousand of the enemy’s pieces. The awful boom of
the guns grew in intensity as some fresh ship arrived on the scene,
and contributed her broadside to the attack.
On the land side the combat was an equal one. Volley replied to
volley, and no symptoms appeared to induce the belief that either
party was the stronger. Suddenly, about four o’clock, a mighty
explosion occurred in the Russian lines, which, for a moment,
seemed to quell and subdue the roar of the thundering cannon. The
earth shook, and volumes of fire sprang upwards and cast a lurid
glare on every object. The very artillery was paused, awe-struck
by the catastrophe; and the spectators watched the result in
breathless excitement. It seemed as if a subterranean fire had
forced its way through the surface of the earth to annihilate the
presumption of competing man. Then the flame sank, the frightful
shock was passed, and a pillar of dust and rubbish took the
place of the mingled fire and smoke. The magazine in the centre
of the Redan had exploded, and for a brief space not a gun from
that great work replied to our volleys. Then the fire re-opened,
and the Russian gunners, nothing daunted, again hurled their
shower of missiles against our works. Shortly afterwards, a small
powder-waggon, belonging to the English, was struck by a shell and
exploded, fortunately injuring none.
At length twilight warned the combatants to cease. At about six
o’clock the fleets drew off, and shortly afterwards the batteries
suspended their fire. The naval attack, so far as damage to the
enemy was concerned, was a failure. Many Russian artillerymen
were, doubtless, victims to the accuracy of our aim, and the
undaunted pertinacity of our seamen. Nothing, indeed, could exceed
the brilliancy of the fire; and our gallant sailors of all ranks
nobly maintained their reputation. But when the morrow came, the
forts were found to be almost uninjured. Not a gun the less frowned
from their embrasures, not a stone seemed to be displaced. The
blackened mouths of the casemates, and a multitude of scars, as it
were, where the fierce storm of iron had splintered the surface
of the granite, were all the evidence afforded of that desperate
assault. The question between wood and granite had been fairly
tried, and granite was the victor. The forts were essentially
unhurt; but scarcely a ship had escaped without serious damage
to masts, sails, and rigging. The _Albion_ and _Arethusa_ were
compelled to proceed to Constantinople to be docked; the _Rodney_
got fast upon the reef, and her masts were soon shattered by the
Russian shell and shot--the little steamer _Spiteful_ gallantly
towing her off, with considerable damage to herself and loss of
men; and the _Bellerophon_ had about fifteen shots in her hull,
and her wheel knocked away. Throughout the English fleet, 44 men
were killed, and 266 wounded. The French loss was even greater. The
Turkish vessels, which occupied the centre of the line, were too
far removed from the intensity of the action to sustain any serious
injury to the ships or loss to the crew.”
BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL.--_Final Attempt_.--“Generals Pelissier
and Simpson had arranged to commence the assault at noon on
Saturday. Thu French were to commence by an attack on the Malakoff
tower. If they established themselves in that work, the English
were to throw themselves upon the Great Redan, while simultaneous
assaults were to be made on the right on the Little Redan, towards
Careening Bay, and on the extreme left on the Central Bastion
and Flagstaff Battery. General Bosquet was entrusted with the
direction of the Malakoff attack, which was to be approached on
the left flank by General MacMahon, with a powerful corps of
Zouaves, Chasseurs, and regiments of the line; the right attack on
the Little Redan was to be led by General Dulac, who had a strong
body of Chasseurs, and four line regiments, with another powerful
force in reserve. General De la Motterouge, with five regiments,
was to assault the middle of the curtain connecting these two
works. General De la Salles conducted the assault on the extreme
left. Five regiments, composing Levaillant’s division, were in
front of the Central Bastion and its lunettes; while to its right,
General D’Autemarre, with Niel’s and Breton’s brigades, were to
penetrate in the track of Levaillant’s division, and seize the Mast
Bastion. The Sardinians, anxious to share in the honors of the
day, contributed a brigade under the orders of General Cialdini,
which was to attack in conjunction with D’Autemare’s division.
Finally, ten regiments, under the command of Generals Bouat and
Pate, with some troops from Kamiesch, were held in reserve, ready
for immediate action. On each attack a competent number of sappers
were provided with materials to form bridges, and handy tools; and
the gunners had abundant implements for the spiking of guns; field
artillery was also posted in commanding positions to render any
assistance the fortunes of the day might render necessary.
The English storming party was comprised of detachments from the
Light and Second Divisions. General Codrington, of the Light
Division, assisted by General Markham, commanding the Second, had
the direction of the assault. The first stormers, 1000 men, were
selected in equal numbers from each division, Colonels Unett and
Windham leading. The Highland brigade and Guards were ordered up
to the post as a reserve. General Herbillon, commanding the French
_corps d’armée_ on the Tchernaya, had made every preparation
to meet any attack which might be made by the Russian army of
observation; but the enemy had experienced the prowess of the
Allies in the open field too bitterly again to attempt defeat.
Early in the morning, squadrons of cavalry took position on
the roads leading from Balaklava and Kadikoi to the camp, to
prevent, stragglers and spectators from crowding to the front, and
impeding the movements of the troops engaged in the assault. Every
precaution, too, was observed to prevent the enemy from having
any intimation of the movements of the soldiers. Parapets were
heightened, and the regiments, French and English, moved up before
daylight, with such promptness and secrecy that many even in the
camp were unaware of the nature of the contemplated operations.
The plan of attack had originally included the co-operation of the
fleet, but a brisk gale from the north-west forbade them to leave
their anchorage; and except some French and English gunboats, which
did good service in throwing shells and rockets into the forts, the
sailors were unwillingly mere spectators of the fray.
Precisely at twelve o’clock General MacMahon’s division left the
French trenches, which were within a few yards of the Malakoff
tower, and advanced rapidly up the rugged and steep ascent. It
proved that very great damage had been inflicted on the tower, and
nearly all the guns dismounted. In a few minutes, with the loss of
only one man, the French had leaped into the work, and the tricolor
waved triumphantly on the summit of this great fort--the key to
the town. The Russians contested their ground with great bravery,
renewing again and again their attacks, but every time repulsed
with enormous loss. General Bosquet was early wounded, and retired
from the field.
The signal was now given by General Pelissier for the commencement
of the English assault on the Redan; and the first stormers, led
by Major Welsford of the 97th, and Captain Grove of the 90th,
dashed from the trenches, followed by the remainder of the troops.
The great work was distant about 250 yards, and the ground was
so broken that it was impossible to preserve order. The enemy,
who had been taken by surprise by the suddenness of the French
attack upon the Malakoff, were now thoroughly aroused and manned
every gun. Showers of grape and shell poured among our men as they
struggled across the open space; General Shirley, the brigadier
of the Light Division, was compelled to retire, and hundreds were
shot down. When the foremost men reached the Redan, the ladders
were too short to reach the breach; but spite of every obstacle
our brave fellows climbed the broken walls, and poured into
the salient angle of the work. Major Welsford was shot down as
he entered the Redan. Colonel Windham, with his brigade of the
Second Division, followed quickly after, and in a few moments the
triangular apex of the work was thronged with men. Then a now
obstacle presented itself. An inner work commanded the position,
and a terrible array of embrasures frowned upon the assailers.
For the first time English troops quailed before an enemy’s fire,
and notwithstanding the daring courage of Colonel Windham and the
other officers, retreated to such cover as they could obtain,
maintaining an ineffective fire from their muskets. In vain Colonel
Windham hurried from side to side, crossing with amazing courage
the line of fire, and endeavored to form his men for another
assault. The few who answered his appeal were swept away by the
terrible fire of the enemy. For nearly two hours was the little
band exposed to such a fearful risk; and from some unaccountable
remissness no reinforcements were sent. Three messengers were
sent by Colonel Windham, but all were wounded in the attempt to
reach General Codrington. At length the dauntless Colonel resolved
to go himself; and passing across the open space, succeeded in
obtaining the desired help. It was too late; the men inside the
work, unable longer to hold their position, were in full retreat;
and the Russians, pouring out of their cover, charged them with the
bayonet, till the ditch was filled with the bodies of the English
soldiers.
While the English attack was thus disastrous, the French assaults
on the Little Redan and the Central Bastions were equally
unsuccessful. The division of Dulac and De la Motterouge three
times carried the works to which they were exposed, only to be
repulsed by the heavy fire of the inner defences, and of the
steamers, which ran up, and poured their broadsides into the
ranks. General De la Salles, on the extreme left, attacked with
great energy the Central Bastion; but the intense fire to which
his division was exposed, daunted his men, many of whom were fresh
troops, unused to the stern realities of battle; and after a
sanguinary struggle, he was forced to abandon the attempt. General
Pelissier having obtained possession of the Malakoff, suspended
farther attacks; and, at length, night closed in, leaving the
armies in anxious expectation of the events of the morrow.
It was the intention of General Simpson to renew the assault on the
Redan with the Highlanders and Guards on the next morning. When
daylight broke, a few soldiers crept forward to seek for wounded
comrades, and found the work was deserted! In a brief space,
flames arose from every quarter of the town; and long lines of
troops could be seen passing to the north forts. Then tremendous
explosions rent the air--the great forts on the south side were
exploded; and, covered by a conflagration which effectually
prevented pursuit, Prince Gortschakoff evacuated the town. A few
hours later, and the ships in the harbor--the steamers excepted
(and a few days afterwards they, too, shared the same fate)--burst
into flames, or were scuttled, and sank slowly beneath the waters
of the once crowded inlet of the sea, where had ridden the fleet
with which Russia hoped to rule the Euxine, and from which had
darted forth the murderers of Sinopé.
In this final assault the English lost no fewer than 29 officers
and 356 men killed, and 124 officers and 1762 men wounded; 1
officer and 175 men were missing; total of casualties, 2447. The
French suffered a loss of 5 generals killed, 4 wounded, and 6
hurt; 24 superior officers killed, 20 wounded, and 2 missing;
116 subaltern officers killed, 224 wounded, and 8 missing; 1489
sub-officers and soldiers killed, 4259 wounded, and 1400 missing;
total, 7551. The Russians admit a loss on the last day of the
assault of 2684 killed, 7263 wounded, and 1754 missing. Between the
battle of the Tehernaya and the opening of the final bombardment,
they lost 18,000 men.
Thus did Sebastopol fall! The strongest fortress in the world,
garrisoned by the most colossal military power, after a siege
unexampled in modern history had succumbed to the efforts of the
armies of the Western Powers. Three great battles had been fought
beneath its walls, and four bombardments of hitherto unknown
fierceness had been directed against its bastions. The siege
occupied very nearly twelve months; and more than 100,000 men must
have perished by wounds and disease in and before its walls.
The besieging army had, in its different attacks, about 800
guns mounted, which fired more than 1,600,000 rounds, and the
approaches, dug during 336 days, of open trenches through a rocky
ground, to an extent of fifty-four English miles, were made under
the constant fire of the place, and with incessant combats by
day and night. During the siege we employed no less than 80,000
gabions, 60,000 fascines, and nearly 1,000,000 earth bags.
To the French unquestionably is due the honor of its capture;
but who can forget the courage which the English exhibited, the
fortitude they displayed, or the sufferings they endured? The first
victories of that eventful year are claimed by British valour, and
if, at the last, they failed, let us remember there are some tasks
no ability can execute, some difficulties no skill can surmount,
and some opposition no valour can subdue.”
BORODINO, OR MOSKWA, BATTLE OF.--This battle is one of the most
sanguinary in the annals of the world. It was fought September
7th, 1812, between the French and Russians, commanded on the one
side by Napoleon and on the other by Kutusoff, 240,000 men being
engaged in the battle. Each party claimed the victory, because the
loss of the others was so immense, but it was rather in favour of
Napoleon, for the Russians subsequently retreated, leaving Moscow
to its fate. Among the principal persons of the Russians who fell
on this sanguinary field, may be mentioned Prince Bagration and
General Touczkoff. Many Russian generals were wounded. Their loss
amounted to the awful sum total of 15,000 men killed and more than
30,000 wounded. The French were supposed to have at least 10,000
men killed and 20,000 wounded; of these last few recovered. There
were 8 French generals slain, the most distinguished of whom were
Montbrun and Caulaimcourt, whose brother was the grand equerry to
Napoleon Bonaparte.
BOROUGH BRIDGE, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the Earls of Hertford
and Lancaster and Edward II. The king, at the head of 30,000 men,
pressed Lancaster so closely that he was taken, and executed, 1322.
BOSCOBEL.--Here Charles II concealed himself in an oak tree after
the fatal battle of Worcester, September 3rd, 1651. The whole army
of the Prince was either killed or taken prisoners by Cromwell, and
Charles ultimately escaped with great difficulty.
BOSTON.--Here the first resistance was made to the British
authority by the American Colonies, in 1773. Besieged by the
British next year, and two houses destroyed. In June 1775, the
scene of a battle between the royal and the independent troops.
Finally evacuated by the King’s troops, April, 1776.--_See_
BUNKER’S HILL.
BOSWORTH, BATTLE OF.--This battle was the thirteenth and last,
between the houses of York and Lancaster.--Fought August 22nd,
1485. The crown of Richard III was found in a hawthorn bush, on
the plain where the battle was fought, and so eager was Henry of
Richmond to be crowned, that he had the ceremony performed on the
very spot, with that very crown. “Richard advanced to meet his
rival as far us the town of Bosworth. Henry, who had been joined
by some of the Stanleys, and whose army now counted six thousand
men, had reached the neighbouring town of Atherton. Next morning,
the 22nd of August, 1485, both armies were set in battle-array
on the moor called Redmore. Richard was dismayed when he saw the
Stanleys opposed to him; but he soon displayed his wonted courage.
Observing part of his troops inactive and others wavering, he
resolved to make one desperate effort and conquer or fall, and
crying out “Treason, treason!” and giving his horse the spurs, he
rushed to where he saw Richmond. He killed his standard-bearer
and made a furious stroke at Henry himself, which was warded off
by Sir William Stanley, and Richard was thrown from his horse and
slain. Lord Stanley taking up the crown which he wore, placed it on
the head of Richmond, and shouts of “Long live King Henry!” were
instantly raised all over the field. The loss on Richard’s side in
this decisive battle was three hundred, that on Henry’s only one
hundred men. The body of Richard was stripped, and being thrown
across a horse, was conveyed to Leicester and there interred, and
many years after his coffin could be seen used as a horse-trough.”
“_Sic transit gloria mundi._”
BOULOGNE.--_France._--Taken by the British in 1542, restored
1550--attacked by Lord Nelson, who disabled ten vessels and sunk
five, August 3rd, 1801. In another attempt he was repulsed with
great loss, August 18th, following. The flotilla of Boulogne
consisted of 160,000 men and 10,000 horses, with 1300 vessels and
17,000 sailors. Napoleon attempted by it to invade England, but
could not succeed, and at last gave up the idea.
BOXTEL, BATTLE OF.--Fought September 17th, 1794, between the
British and allied army, commanded by the Duke of York, and the
army of the French Republic. The latter attacked the allies and
obtained the victory after an obstinate engagement, taking 2000
prisoners and 8 pieces of cannon, and the Duke retreated across the
Meuse.
BOYNE, BATTLE OF THE.--Fought July 1st, 1689, between the Prince of
Orange, afterwards William III of England, and James II of England.
James was defeated. “Early next morning, the 1st of July, 1689, the
English prepared to pass the river in three divisions. The right
forced the passage at the ford of Slane; the centre led by the old
warrior Duke Schomberg, passed opposite the Irish camp; it was
vigorously opposed, but it finally forced the Irish to fall back
to the village of Donóre, where James stood viewing the battle.
William, meantime, had passed at the head of the third division,
composed of cavalry, and driven off the enemy’s horse. The French
General Lausun immediately urged James to set out with all speed
for Dublin, lest he should be surrounded. He forthwith quitted the
field; the Irish army poured through the pass of Duleék and formed
at the other side, and then retreated in good order. Its loss had
been 1500 men, that of the victors was about 500, among whom were
Duke Schomberg, and Walker, the brave Governor of Derry.”
BRECHIN.--_Scotland._--Edward III besieged it in 1333. A battle was
fought here between the forces of the Earls of Huntly and Crawford.
The latter defeated in 1452.
BREDA.--Taken by Prince Maurice in 1590. By the Spaniards in 1625.
By the Dutch in 1637. By the French 1793, and again by the Dutch in
the same year.
BREST.--Besieged by Julius Cæsar B.C. 54. Possessed by the English,
A.D. 1378. Given up 1391. Lord Berkely and a British force
repulsed here, with terrible loss, in 1694. Here was the French
fleet rendezvous, which was afterwards defeated by Lord Howe, 1st
June, 1794.
BRETIGNY, PEACE OF.--Between France and England, ending in the
release of King John, who was then a prisoner in London, May 8th,
1360.
BRIAR’S CREEK, BATTLE OF.--One of the battles between the revolted
Americans and the British, in 1779. The former, under General Ashe,
2000 strong, were totally defeated by the English, under General
Prevost, March 16th, 1779. Again, 3rd May following, another defeat
happened to the Americans.
BRANDYWINE, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the British royalist forces
and the revolted Americans, in which the latter (after a fight,
sometimes of doubtful result, and which continued the entire day)
were defeated with great loss, and Philadelphia fell into the
possession of the victors, September 11th, 1777.