AFTER FALL OF SEVASTOPOL
[Sidenote: 1855. Sevastopol, Sept. 16.]
The breaking up for embarkation of our Brigade was a curious scene.
First started off 160 mules, with baggage, etc. Such a collection!
Then came our men, divided into three divisions, according to their
destinations. I go to the _Rodney_ at Kazatch, and officers to the
different ships at Balaklava. Two regiments kindly sent their bands:
the 14th, in which my brother was at Waterloo, and the 18th Royal
Irish with ours. The Naval Brigade went with flags of all descriptions
flying, and no end of cheering--with “one more for Captain _Kaple_.”
[Sidenote: Sept. 17.]
The more I visit the Russian works and town of Sevastopol, the more
wonderful does everything connected with the siege appear. One hardly
knows which is the most extraordinary--the perfect destruction of
every building in the town by shot and shell, or the stupendous works
erected by the Russians for their defence. The Redan and Malakoff are
nothing compared to the Flagstaff and Garden Batteries. The latter were
impregnable, and might have held out any length of time. The Malakoff
was taken by surprise by the French, as they had done the Mamelon.
Of all, the Redan appeared the least difficult to assault--but that
is a subject we all try to forget. Of our generals, Colonel, now
Brigadier-General Charles Windham, comes out the best. The Russians
have left vast stores of guns, etc., they could not, in their haste,
carry away.
[Sidenote: Sept. 22.]
Little Harry (Stephenson), with symptoms of fever, on board _Rodney_,
despatched at once with Thompson to Serapia Hospital. Dined with
Windham as Governor in city of Sevastopol. A shell burst within ten
yards as I mounted pony to go home.
[Sidenote: Sept. 23.]
Visited with General Barnard, La Marmora’s look-out houses over the
Tchernaya and adjacent country. On Saturday pitched my tent near
General Barnard.
[Sidenote: Sept. 24.]
Hugh Rose sent me from French headquarters the two last captured
Cossack spears. (The last I saw of them was at Sir Thomas Whichcote’s,
Ashwerby Park, to which I afterwards added a link of the chain that
formed the slings of the main yard of the _Twelve Apostles_.)
[Sidenote: Sept. 28.]
Having exchanged with Moorsom, Connell found an artillery waggon for my
traps, rode down to Balaclava, taking up quarters on board _Læander_.
My servant, having left Bury’s much-valued clock in tent, sent him back.
[Sidenote: Sept. 29.]
Like my Admiral, and like having work to do.
[Sidenote: Sept. 30.]
Took Washington and his son a ride on to Balaclava Plain, and round by
headquarters.
[Sidenote: Oct. 1.]
Commenced duties as Flag Captain. Dockyard affording amusement,
especially erection of stables.
[Sidenote: Oct. 3.]
Sid Skipwith and I dining with Methven, commanding P. and O. _Colombo_.
[Sidenote: Oct. 5.]
Busy embarking Royal Marines, the finest body of men now in the Crimea.
[Sidenote: Oct. 7.]
Embarking troops. Rode in afternoon with the Duberlys, 8th Hussars, to
Baidar to hear the Sardinian Band.
[Sidenote: Oct. 8.]
Cavalry and horse artillery embarking for Eupatoria. Lady Paulet on
board _Oscar_. Lord William Paulet to stay with Admiral.
[Sidenote: Oct. 13.]
Put box with poor Augustus Fitzroy’s bequests on board _Ripon_ for
conveyance to his sister, Hon. Mrs. Keith Stewart.
[Sidenote: Oct. 14.]
Rode over to Kazatch to ascertain means for embarkation of Highland
Brigade.
[Sidenote: Oct. 15.]
Dined with the Duberlys, Windham and St. George Foley.
[Sidenote: Oct. 19.]
Dinner at a Kamiesch restaurant--Duberlys, Vansittart, St. George
Foley, Charlie Windham, and Lewis and Earle, A.D.C.’s, Prince Victor
and Thompson, Sir William Gordon and Lord Dunkellin.
[Sidenote: Oct. 23.]
Dined on board _Belgravia_ with Lady Paulet, Mrs. Mitchell and Lady
Manson.
[Sidenote: Oct. 24.]
Review of cavalry and horse artillery: none like them in the world:
near 3000 strong.
[Sidenote: Oct. 28.]
Picnic at Baidar--_Belgravian_ ladies, Prince Victor, T. Duberly, etc.
Former lost their way coming back.
[Sidenote: Oct. 29.]
Started with Thompson for Kazatch. My “Rajah” kicking him in play, had
him carried off on stretcher to Connell’s camp.
[Sidenote: Nov. 3.]
We formed a cheery party for a ride towards Bilbek, consisting of
Prince Victor, the Duberlys, Mark Kerr, Coleraine, Vansittart, and
self, about 13 miles distant. The country hilly, grassy, and bushy;
weather perfect. The attendants had arranged our picnic on a flat space
on a hilly point. We had arranged ourselves to feed, when one of our
party found we had disturbed a cavalry vedette of our own countrymen on
an adjacent point. A ravine between, they could not conveniently get at
us.
[Illustration: _Sketched from life by Hon. Col. W. Colville. 1855._
_A Vidette of Cossacks._]
While things were getting ready rode to the western edge of our
selected spot and found we had likewise disturbed a nest of Cossacks.
Our small party were not long in packing up this nice little picnic.
Being well mounted, I waited to take a farewell peep, and from my
position saw a greasy Cossack, about 30 feet below me, looking about
with his carbine across his saddle, I suppose for something to eat.
Being hungry myself, I overtook our party about to picnic a quarter of
a mile off, Mark Kerr riding, as usual, without his hat.
[Sidenote: Nov 4.]
Accompanied Lady Paulet to breakfast with Windham. Rode afterwards to
Kazatch; dined with Beauchamp Seymour.
[Sidenote: Nov 5.]
Breakfast with Sir E. Lyons. Transacted business, rode back to
Balaclava, putting up a large covey of partridges by the way.
[Sidenote: Nov 6.]
8th Hussars embarking. Shall miss them and Mrs. Duberly.
[Sidenote: Nov 8.]
With Wenny Coke to look after covey of partridges seen by me. While
preparing luncheon, observed a French soldier stalking a bird that
flew from bush to bush. Asked Wenny to shoot the bird for him while I
prepared luncheon. When he came back I asked if the man was pleased. He
replied, “I don’t know! I have the bird in my pocket.” I said “What a
brute you are,” when he produced a woodcock, which we at once cooked.
[Sidenote: Nov 11.]
With my Admiral to headquarters. Took leave of General Sir James
Simpson, also Willy Colville, who accompanies him to England. Mark Kerr
was there. Admiral and I dined with Dupuis.
[Sidenote: Nov 15.]
A fearful explosion between 3 and 4 P.M. in French Artillery Park, near
the Mill. Rode over, sad sight. Loaded shells bursting, contents flying
in a horizontal direction about seven feet from the ground, killing
almost every horse that was on its legs. It being dinner hour most
officers escaped. There was a large windmill used as a powder magazine.
It was a sight to see the gallant engineers mounting ladders with wet
blankets to nail on the outside of the Mill, to prevent falling fire
igniting powder. I got so excited that I found myself letting go the
reins to clasp my hands over my cap, as if that could preserve my
brain box from falling fragments of shell. There was no distinction
of nationality. It is fortunate that the first horizontal explosion
took place while officers were dining. I was still looking on, when a
working party of the 18th Royal Irish came rushing and formed up. I
asked the sergeant what they were waiting for. He answered “Orders.”
I said, “That was not your form when we were in China, and danger in
sight.” They were off at once, officers and all, into the igniting
shells. Nearly the last wounded I saw was a young officer carried on a
stretcher, the boots on his legs heels uppermost. I think his name was
Dashwood: a more painful sight than any fight. Thirty tons of powder
lately arrived from England were destroyed.
[Sidenote: Nov. 18.]
Rode with my Admiral over to Kazatch to visit Commander-in-Chief; with
him to take last look at Sevastopol Docks before destruction. Russians
still numerous on north side.
[Sidenote: Nov. 24.]
Took leave of Wenny Coke.--homeward bound. Party to dine: Steele and
Rose.
[Sidenote: Nov. 28.]
Vansittart, taking his departure, leaves me his horse to forward to his
mother.
[Sidenote: Nov. 30.]
Young Dalyell makes his appearance from Constantinople.
* * * * *
From prisoners that had been exchanged, it appeared that the Russians
made a difference in their treatment of those they took prisoners and
those who allowed themselves to be taken. They treated the latter with
great contempt, and used them ill. The _Times_ paid a just tribute
to the manly bearing of the officers of the Russian army. The naval
officers--some of them--were fine fellows.
[Sidenote: Dec. 3.]
Dirty appearance of weather. My Admiral agreeing to remain on shore
another day, took two youngsters, Wellesley and Molyneux, to see
steeple chase. Weather turning fine. Sport very good. Rode back with
boys to dine with Sir Edmund Lyons.
[Sidenote: Dec. 8.]
Accompanied my Admiral to headquarters, then to Kazatch to stay with
Sir E. Lyons, and meet Curzon and St. George Foley and Beauchamp
Seymour. Jolly dinner.
* * * * *
St. George Foley, Lord Raglan’s A.D.C., died whilst Governor of
Gibraltar.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Dec. 10.]
Function on board French ships in memory of Admiral Bruat, _Royal
Albert_ firing 59 guns.
[Sidenote: Dec. 11.]
Visit from Cecil Rice--6 feet 2.
[Sidenote: Dec. 12.]
Rode to front. Young Willy Barnard ill. Mail in. Sir E. Lyons a
full Admiral: am so glad. Confidential despatch summoning him to a
conference in Paris, also Pellissier and La Marmora.
[Sidenote: Dec. 14.]
Accompanied my Admiral to headquarters. Admiral and I dined with
Hardinge, meeting Generals Barnard and Dupuis.
[Sidenote: Dec. 15.]
My Admiral, Prince Victor, and self to Kazatch, on a visit to Sir E.
Lyons. Brigadier Spencer and large party to dinner.
[Sidenote: Dec. 16.]
Across to Kaimesch to see Inglefield’s sketches and walk with him. Hugh
Rose joined dinner party.
[Sidenote: Dec. 17.]
Snow and frost, slippery riding. Returned to Balaklava.
[Sidenote: Dec. 19.]
Thousands upon thousands of that beautiful bird the bustard (there
are two sorts, one much larger), continually passing over to the
northward. Several of them shot from the heights in time for Christmas.
[Sidenote: Dec. 23.]
Rode to headquarters. George Cadogan and I to Kazatch on visit to
Beauchamp Seymour. Found Fitz Berkeley. We making jolly quartette on
board _Meteor_.
[Sidenote: Dec. 25.]
Ate my Christmas dinner with Charlie Windham: jolly party. Letter from
Sir Charles Wood, offering me division of gunboats: the thing of all
others I most coveted! Took passage in _Orinoco_.
[Sidenote: Dec. 27.]
Rode up with my Admiral to headquarters to take leave: uncommon good
luncheon.
[Sidenote: Dec. 28.]
Mail in from England. My name in papers as Commodore!
[Sidenote: Dec. 29.]
Took leave of my kind chief and Seymour, the latter agreeing to go as
my captain in case of my being a real Commodore. Embarked on board
_Orinoco_ at 1 P.M. from Balaklava.
[Sidenote: Dec. 30.]
Came to, in afternoon, in the entrance to the Golden Horn. Dined
with Borlase on board _Melapus_, 42, to meet the Admiral, Sir
Houston-Stewart.
[Sidenote: Constantinople, Dec. 31.]
No end of friends going both ways. Misseri’s full; H. de Bathe on
way to Crimea. At Embassy found Lady George Paget; Lady Powlett at
Misseri’s. Dined with Admiral on board _Hannibal_. Met there the
Turkish Admiral, our Adolphus Slade.