_ST. JEAN D’ ACRE_
[Sidenote: 1855. Eupatoria, April 3.]
Landed yesterday and paid a visit to the Turkish Admiral and Omar
Pasha. He is a fine-looking man. It is astonishing the excellent
earthworks his army have thrown up round Eupatoria during the last
fortnight. The place is now secure against surprise or assault. Omar
mounted me on his favourite charger, an Arab said to be very valuable.
Never saw so beautiful an animal. Rode with a party and visited the
Turkish advanced cavalry picquets.
The country round Eupatoria is a vast open plain, with here and there
hillocks supposed to be of Roman construction. On these the advanced
Turkish picquets were stationed in pairs. A short distance beyond them
were the advanced Russian picquets, looking warlike. Behind them again
were different squadrons of cavalry, all ready mounted for work. But on
Omar’s charger I was safe. He has more than 45,000 men, 7000 of which
are cavalry and artillery. I cannot say when I have had so interesting
a day.
Had party on board to dine. Colonel Simmonds, Ogilvie, and Commanders
present. Weighed at midnight. Nineteen cases of smallpox. Took
Surgeon with me to the Admiral, and got permission to land on a small
uninhabited island and build huts.
[Sidenote: April 4.]
Weighed at daylight; went on shore at Balaklava to get huts from
Admiral Boxer, who had not turned out. Boxer was a salt of the old
school. He gave me the order for the houses, and advised me to go on
shore and rouse up the soldiers in charge, and he would follow. On
my remarking that he had not breakfasted, he replied--“I am an old
first lieutenant, and always breakfasts with me hat under the table.”
Returned to Kazatch, selected ground, marked out sites, and had two
houses up by sunset. Yellow flags hoisted and regular lazaretto
established.
[Sidenote: April 5.]
Thirty-nine cases of smallpox. Hospital establishment creditable to the
designer. Patients doing well. Landed band in afternoon to cheer them.
At suggestion of surgeon, walked through my newly erected hospital;
airy and clean. The smallpox room was a trial. Having obtained the
names, I endeavoured to say something consoling to each. Their heads
were swollen into the shape and appearance of huge plum-puddings: eyes
closed--their own mothers could not have recognised them. Prompted by
the doctor, I was enabled to say something cheery to each and could see
by a slight move of their heads that it gave pleasure.
[Sidenote: April 6.]
Building huts, making wells and wards about the hospital--an amusement!
[Sidenote: April 11.]
_Banshee_ arrived with mail, little Harry on board; just in time to see
the bombardment.
[Sidenote: Letter to H.F.S. April 13.]
The nearest point to us is the entrance left of the French
entrenchment, abutting on the sea. This entrenchment and battery being
“end on,” we see the Frenchmen load and fire and crouch down. We see
the Russians doing the same. We easily trace the whole course of the
shells, see them burst, sometimes throwing heaps of earth and dirt over
the men as they throw themselves down when they see or hear the missive
coming.
Higher up in the landscape we see the famous Round Tower and the
Mamelon (this last the one the French never ought to have allowed
the Russians to take), keeping up a desperate fire on Gordon’s and
Chapman’s batteries, which is returned with interest; then again,
further still, are ours and the French batteries blazing away on the
Russian fort, while they in the background are firing from numerous
newly-raised batteries on the Inkerman heights to the north of the
Khersonese.
When it is calm or the wind off the land, the concussion from the
reports of the guns shakes the ship. This is kept up night and day, at
least it has been so for the last four days, and will go on.
We cannot well make out the amount of damage done to the Russian
batteries, but the fire from them gets very slack towards the
afternoon, and sometimes is silenced altogether; but they manage to
repair damages in the dark, and commence in the morning much the
same. Nearer to us we have seen the Frenchmen’s battery, considerably
damaged, but they replace their gabions and sand-bags, and go at it
again. In fact, judging from the supply of shot and shell in rear of
his battery, the enemy means to keep the ball going for some time.
We get occasional accounts from the camp. Up to yesterday the
bluejackets appear to have suffered most. Two lieutenants, Twyford
and Douglas, killed. Captain Lord John Hay wounded, jaw broken, teeth
knocked out and throat cut by the fragment of a shell: doing well
though, and wishes to return to the trenches. Seventy-six seamen _hors
de combat_, and Lord Raglan asking for more. They are decidedly the
best shots, but take no care of themselves.
I am sorry the town of Sevastopol shows as yet little or no symptoms
of damage: on the top of one of their sea batteries, I can see ladies
admiring, as we suppose, our Fleet. While all this is going on on shore
we (French and English ships) form a long and imposing line across the
harbour. Our daily routine, muster, bands playing; everything going on
as if we were in Plymouth Sound or at Spithead.
[Sidenote: Journal.]
Visited hospital, all patients except one doing well. Pasley and Talbot
to dine. Paget and Drummond went into the harbour after dark in the
_Valourous_, and caused a slight diversion by opening fire on the forts.
[Sidenote: April 14.]
With Admiral to visit Lord Raglan: unusual on mail departure days.
[Sidenote: April 15.]
Until the place is invested cannot see use of the present expenditure
of ammunition.
About this time Clarence Paget conceived the idea of placing two lights
on shore in such a position that, by bringing them in one, we might
on the darkest nights approach the batteries and deliver our fire in
succession; in the hope that the enemy, not being able to see the
ships, would fire at random and probably miss us, whereas we, knowing
exactly the distance and direction, could point our guns with unerring
aim. Sir Edmund Lyons, as stated by Paget, brightened on the occasion.
Paget with his master had sounded the line the ships had to take. I
expected great things of my _Jenny d’ Acre_ when her turn should come.
[Illustration: _Headquarters._]
This was _Gladiator’s_ turn for night attack on batteries, and as
it would be my “_Jenny d’ Acre’s_” turn next, I got friend Broke to
take me on board a little after midnight. All lights out, the paddles
just turning noiselessly. I was on the paddle-box when a flash from
the shore and the approach of a burning fuse showed how correctly the
Russians had calculated the spot. The master fell just before me, and
the shell exploded over the opposite box, while a third person fell
from the bridge. On inquiry I found that no one was hurt. The master
from the _Princess Royal_ was on the bridge and had thrown himself
down. The officer on the opposite bridge had done likewise. The young
man who fell off the bridge had taken his tea a little too strong, and
lost his balance; no harm done.
[Sidenote: April 17.]
Fresh case of smallpox, ditto breaking out in _Royal Albert_, sent
their cases to our new hospital. With permission of Admiral, shifted
berth to off Kazatch, to finish hospital. Landed strong party. Dined
with Houston-Stewart.
[Sidenote: April 21.]
Oldfield in from trenches. Respite from firing. Things much the same as
when trenches opened first.
[Sidenote: April 22.]
Visit from Inspector of Hospitals, Dr. Deas.
[Sidenote: April 23.]
Order from Commander-in-Chief to hoist quarantine flag, and consider
ourselves in strict quarantine.
[Sidenote: April 24.]
Lord Rokeby and Baillie having come down, met them at stables with
luncheon. Great farce this quarantine!
[Sidenote: May 2.]
Invited to meet Admiral on shore. Plan for an attack on Kertch with
12,000 French and 3000 English discussed. No work, though, for these
big ships. _Alma_ troopship arrived. Friend John Astley, recovered from
his wound in the neck at Alma, rejoined Fusilier Guards.
[Sidenote: May 3.]
Interruption in hospital works. General signal for captains and
ordinary sailing: rendezvous and places of landing issued. Things
looking more like business. Weighed at 8 P.M., and steered towards
Odessa, altering course for eastward after dark.
[Sidenote: May 4.]
Early morning found Fleet enveloped in fog. Marines preparing to land.
Fog dispelled by heat of sun. Signal, to cook three days’ provisions.
Weather fine, all hands full of hope and expectation. As we drew near,
general signal for “Captains to repair on board flag.” Disappointment
great when it was announced that the expedition was at an end. French
Admiral being recalled by Canrobert.
[Sidenote: Kertch, May 5.]
Before we turned our sterns on Kertch, Lord Lyons told me that he
had tried to persuade General Brown, who commanded our troops, to go
on with the forces _we_ had to Kertch. But the strict disciplinarian
declined. Had he consented, on the appearance of our top-gallant yards
above the horizon, the Kertch forts, which had had been prepared a
month previously, would have been blown up, the war ended, and millions
saved to the country.
[Sidenote: Kazatch Bay, May 6.]
Ran ahead of Fleet and came to before 8, off Kazatch Bay. Cutter
capsized in sailing on shore. Pilkington in her. No one drowned. Rode
“Bashi” up to headquarters. Returned with Admirals. Blowing fresh, so
did not dine with them.
[Sidenote: May 8.]
Arthur Williams came on board, having arrived in _Himalaya_ from India
with his charming wife. All smallpox cases being in hospital, could
put my friends up on board. Admiral Houston-Stewart to call upon Mrs.
Williams.
[Sidenote: May 9.]
Williams, Colville, and Foley down from camp to dine. Friends Talbot,
Horton, and others to dinner. Found Arthur Taylor had called on board,
having arrived in charge of artillery in cargo transport.
[Sidenote: May 12.]
Dined with Admiral H. Stewart to meet Commander-in-Chief. Foley and
Colville coming down from camp.
[Sidenote: May 13.]
Held survey on and invalided Captain Sir George Broke. After divine
service, sent friends in launch and took Mrs. Ives in gig to Streletska
Bay; landed and visited French trenches and left attack. Dined in
Wardroom.
[Sidenote: May 14.]
Dined with Pasley. Received pictures of Nelson and Lyons. Foley and
Colville took their departure for camp in the afternoon.
[Sidenote: May 15.]
Dined with Pasley--best cook in the Fleet.
[Sidenote: May 16.]
Friends from camp--Wenny Coke, Bob Lindsay, Thynne of Rifles, Baillie,
and Fraser, the Master of Lovat, to dinner. Jolly party, having killed
the last of my Southdowns. Baillie and Fraser returning at night.
[Sidenote: May 17.]
Commander-in-Chief promising to dine, prepared accordingly. Admiral
Stewart sending me turtle soup and fish. Lord Rokeby down too in time
from camp. Baillie. Seventeen to, for these times, a first-rate dinner.
[Sidenote: May 18.]
Dined with Commander-in-Chief, to meet Mrs. F. Grey.
[Sidenote: May 20.]
With Admirals to visit by water, in _Telegraph_ steamer, Prince
Woronzoff’s place Onianda Aloupka, the Emperor’s Palace, and village
of Yalta. Mrs. F. Grey, Mrs. and Miss Stewart, Lady George Paget, Lord
Burgesh, Rose, and others, an agreeable party. Admiral, however, was
obliged to go to headquarters. Found _Enchantress_ yacht, Sir Thomas
Whichcote, with Freke and George Bentick on board; offered to tow him
to Kertch! Another expedition decided on.
[Sidenote: May 21.]
Dined with Wardroom officers to celebrate two years in commission.
[Sidenote: May 22.]
Called on board _York Herald_, Captain Furber, meeting Mrs. Pentland,
and Miss Furber.
[Illustration: _Map of Crimea._]