to the royal engineer camp on the left attack. In the former camp they
held a forward position on the extreme right of the light division, and
next to them on their left were the rifles. From high elevations shot
and shells sometimes dropped in their vicinity, and one plunging
furiously into the tent of sergeant-major Pringle shattered the table at
which he was writing, and driving through a box of clothes and comforts
buried itself in the earth. The startled occupant escaped, but in the
violent overturning of his table and chair he was knocked down.[191]
On the morning of the 16th the Russians attempted a sortie, but before
they had proceeded far up the Woronzoff road were compelled to retire
followed by a sharp fire which accelerated their retreat. This was
succeeded on the 17th, as soon as day broke, by the English and French
opening their batteries for the fifth bombardment with a sweeping fire
upon the whole range of the enemy’s works. In the early part of the day
the cannonading was frightfully brisk: on both sides it was accurate;
but as the hours wore on, the Russian batteries, crumbling into useless
shapes, no longer able to cover the artillerymen at the guns, fell off
by degrees in fierceness till the intervals became so long, it seemed as
if the silence was the solemn consequence of the slaughter. In several
places the parapets were so ploughed up and shaken, that, tumbling into
the ditches, wide breaches were exhibited which clearly told of the
ravages committed by shot and shell. It would indeed have been
remarkable had not the destruction been excessive, for the guns and
mortars playing from the British batteries alone were 187. In the right
attack there were 20 batteries, but only 19 in action. The great 21-gun
battery, early the terror of the siege, now shorn of its strength, was
more than rivalled by No. 16 battery which had 14 pieces of artillery at
work. The first eight batteries too distant for a striking cannonade
only counted 18 pieces of artillery among them. On the left attack the
batteries were numbered up to 17, but of these 5 and 6 were defunct, the
materials composing them having been employed in more recent
constructions. In No. 1 battery there were 13 guns and mortars, and in
14 and 15, 11 each. The English formations suffered but little
comparatively and only five guns were disabled and a few carriages
shattered. From our own sharp fire many of the embrasures were injured
in the necks; and in the old batteries there was a general tottering
which occasioned much labour to prop them up for battle. Nos. 7 and 8
were the most unstable and beaten. The turgent sand-bags and the
worn-out gabions, alternately wet from violent rains and dry from the
charring heat of the sun, burst and broke up at every blow. A couple of
13-inch shells struck two platforms in No. 14 battery of the Chapman
attack and tore them from the sleepers. Shocks of shot and pieces of
shells shivered some timbers in different works, and in others drew the
bolts which held them in their places. Three shells one after another
exploded on a magazine in No. 8 battery left attack, breaking the roof
and starting the frame. The smoke still hovered over the spot when
lance-corporal Jenkins with that spirited readiness for which he was
remarkable, entered the place to ascertain the extent of the injury. It
was of a nature to require the instant removal of the powder, in which
Jenkins assisted, and by the next morning the damage was made good and
the powder replaced. On the right there were 28 sappers in the batteries
who were relieved in the afternoon by 36 of the corps. Their duties were
those which arose out of superintendence and the platforms. On No. 14
battery of the Gordon attack, the firing had told so destructively that
two of the embrasures were in ruins. As sappers could not be had in the
work to effect the restoration, the naval captain in command of the
seamen gunners telegraphed to the rear for a reinforcement. A few able
fellows were hurried to the battery, who at once commenced and continued
through the heat of the bombardment to remove the debris which choked up
the openings and to rebuild the cheeks with gabions and fascines handed
to them by the willing sailors. It was an exciting sight to watch the
firmness and exertions of privates David Boyd and George Harvey in one
of the embrasures, who remained at their posts till the renewal was
finished; and when, after risking perils with fearless indifference,
they leaped from the opening, the admiring seamen welcomed their escape
with cheers. Privates Allan Hay, Alexander Norval, and William
Robertson, also acted with firmness in mending the embrasures of No. 9
battery of the same attack; and Lieutenant Brine, the officer of
engineers on duty, reported that the five men just named “displayed
great courage and energy in repairing embrasures and clearing them out
under fire.” On the left no working party was employed, but three
sappers opened an embrasure in No. 1 battery; 20 posted in front of No.
7 improved its cover; 30 in No. 16 built the terreplein, and six
carpenters with saws, chisels, and bags of bolts and nails traversed the
batteries to make repairs wherever emergency called for their services.
The general casualties in the day’s bombardment were severe. Of the
sappers two were killed and five wounded, viz.:—
Left attack.—Private Henry Masters—killed; a round shot carried away the
top of his head. He had been wounded in the trenches on
the 14th March.
Right attack.—Private William R. Collings—killed.
2nd corporal Harry B. Smith—wounded severely in right leg.
Lance-corporal Edward McGinn—wounded severely in the back.
Lance-corporal Joseph Finch—wounded slightly in right knee.
Private John Delany—wounded slightly in the face.
Private John Lloyd—wounded slightly in right leg.
Collings, Smith, McGinn, Delany, and Finch, had been repairing platforms
on the left of the second parallel, which being in a serviceable
condition, they thought to relieve the suspense of the temporary leisure
with a whiff of tobacco. Lighting their pipes they had scarcely begun to
feel the comfort of the luxury when a shell bursting knocked down the
whole of them. Collings struck in the heart fell dead and a second shell
tearing through the parapet buried the lifeless man under a pile of
earth and stones. McGinn for a time was ignorant of the injury he had
received and was only made conscious of it by feeling a weight at his
back and strange sensations of fainting.
Next night the sappers were mainly employed repairing the different
batteries and filling up shot-holes and gaps in the parapets and
revetments. An incessant musketry fire followed them wherever they went,
but the shelling was unimportant. On the left attack, private Lancaster
had charge of the work in the double sap. He had with him seven men of
the 9th regiment, and another party was employed in the rear filling
sandbags to permit the advance to proceed unchecked. As these were
brought to the front, the linesmen assisted Lancaster to throw the earth
over the parapet and also to load some biscuit bags for the purpose of
superadding them to the revetment. While filling one of the bags a shell
plunged among the party and with its splinters killed two and wounded
five. Lancaster strangely enough escaped. He threw himself down at the
instant close to the half-filled bag, and when the shell burst he was
only stunned. As soon as he had recovered himself and saw the havoc
committed among his assistants, he went into the parallel for help; and
on returning received a slight bayonet thrust from one of a party of men
who in haste were retreating from the rear of the sap. The whole of the
workmen laboured through the darkness with praiseworthy activity,
especially the parties under corporals Cray[192] and McEachran, to whom
much credit was given for their exertions and example in coolly entering
the broken embrasures and replacing the damaged gabions and sandbags
with old powder barrels or any other means which could at the moment be
obtained. The stricken gabions, turned with their best sides to the
front to form the cheeks, were picketed down to insure their
steadfastness. Almost all the embrasures in No. 16 battery were mended
in this way, and McEachran not to be outdone in the work even gathered
some of the broken gabions from the open, and while the fire was warm on
the battery built them with much tact and as much exertion into the
cheeks. On the right the masked approach to No. 19 battery was thrown
down and a ramp rapidly formed for the passage of the guns. As soon as
they were hauled through, the gorge was remasked with gabions. One
sapper and ten men effected this operation. The succeeding day private
Michael McNamara, a firm soldier under fire, was killed by a round-shot
while eating his dinner. The ball carried away part of his head.
Immediately after completing No. 15 battery, corporal Hill was directed
to oversee by day the miners working in the right demi-parallel of the
left attack, which swept in a curve over the edge of the hill, and
dropping down its side crossed the Woronzoff road. Under his charge a
portion of this trench on the crest of the ravine was converted into No.
17 battery for two guns. As the principal materials for forming it were
obtained by quarrying, the construction was difficult and arduous. The
revetments were chiefly of stone. Large gabions filled with fragments of
rock faced the embrasures, and the soles were bevelled outwards from the
necks to admit the guns being sufficiently depressed to fire down the
ravine. A magazine for gunpowder and shot was hollowed out of the rock
under the parapet, and two traverses were built to protect the gunners
from the cross fire of the Malakoff. Constantly were the workmen annoyed
by musketry. Shells fell so truly at times that they even burst on the
platforms, but the steady miners, habituated to danger, never quitted
their labours. Just finished was the work when its overseer, losing the
use of his limbs from exertion and exposure, was relieved on the 20th
August from the fatigues he had sustained so well during the siege.
On the 21st lance-corporal William Jenkins was slightly wounded in the
right knee. Such however was his spirit he would not leave the front.
Exposed to so many hazards in “repairing embrasures and platforms under
the most severe fire of the enemy,” and present in so many sorties and
bombardments it was a wonder he escaped with so insignificant a
reminiscence of his exploits. At different times no less than four
furious shots have flown through his huge legs without affecting his
composure or staying the exertions of his strong arm.[193] Herculean in
stature and strength he was acknowledged by officers and men to be a
brave man and competent and quick in every work. Master carpenter of the
left attack he was _every day_ in the trenches from the 1st of May, and
was considered even by his comrades to be one of the most
unexceptionable sappers among the rank and file. As a recognition of his
useful and gallant exertions he was decorated with a “distinguished
service” medal, and granted a gratuity of 5_l._[194]
By this time the fifth parallel on the right was completed, lying in
almost a straight line across the hill from crest to crest, leaving an
opening in a fall of the ground near the small quarry next the middle
ravine. It was judged best not to touch the hollow as the sacrifice of
life in attempting it would then have been enormous. But even this
resolve was afterwards given up and the cavity trenched to finish the
parallel. In connection with this parallel was an abandoned Russian
white rifle pit, which was converted into a commanding post with
parapets and banquettes. Smart Minié practice was carried on from that
screen by lynx-eyed musketeers, who drew upon themselves showers of
grape and canister that considerably damaged the parapets and lessened
the number of the marksmen. All repairs however were rapidly executed,
which kept the post in constant efficiency.
On the night of the 22nd was commenced a new approach from the fifth
parallel on the right attack towards the salient of the Redan. It jutted
out from an angle about the centre of the trench. Four or five of the
old sappers, indomitable men, with a party of the 1st Royals, worked
remarkably well in its execution. Captain Cooke of the engineers had the
honour of opening this boyau, and eighty-seven gabions set by flying sap
were filled with earth brought from the remote rear in breadbags.
Partial cover was obtained without interruption for fifty-eight yards,
during which only one of the working party was wounded.
Next night one hundred men in two reliefs with four sappers under
corporal John Ross were pushed into this trench. The corporal marched
the working party into the fifth parallel and awaited orders. Captain
Wolseley of the 90th regiment, assistant engineer, was on duty in charge
of the advance works. From him the corporal received directions to
distribute the men to the best advantage. Half the party he detailed to
fill bags to be carried by the other half to the sap as required. After
these preliminary arrangements he sought the field officer of the
trenches and obtained a covering party of twenty men. Eight of the
number he kept as sentries in the approach and with the others crept
onwards, posting them individually a short distance apart in front of
the trace where the sap was to be extended. Having instructed them how
to act should the slightest movement of the Russians be heard, and
cautioned them, should a light-ball come over, to roll themselves up a
short distance from it and lie quiet, he reappeared among his men. With
his four sappers he moved to the vent of the zigzag. Gabions and earth
were carried to them by the fifty men. The corporal himself placed the
gabions and the sappers emptied the earth into them. Grape and musketry
from the Malakoff and the Redan made the task very laborious, for
frequently the staked gabions were capsized and had to be renewed.
However, they succeeded in placing and filling twenty-five, despite the
blazing of light-balls which pitched at times around them and exposed
their work. Thus far had the corporal proceeded when he moved the whole
party forward, and leading the way with lance-corporal William Baker in
opening a trench by the side of the newly-laid gabions, the work had
good cover before the morning, and that also which had been executed the
night before was strengthened and improved. So interesting and exciting
was the work that Captain Wolseley was constant in his visits to the sap
and encouraged its progress by his praises. The lance-corporal was
wounded a few minutes before the relief arrived. For the “extremely
creditable” manner in which corporal Ross performed his duty, he
received a present from General Simpson of three sovereigns. This was
the second instance of his being rewarded by the commander-in-chief for
distinguished services.
Four men of the 77th were wounded and two killed in this zigzag. Two
also of the five sappers were wounded, viz., lance-corporal William
Baker, seventh company, slightly in the head with stones thrown at him
by a round shot, and private James Colquhoun slightly in the right leg.
Spare in person like a lean boy, ready apparently to snap at any
pressure, Baker stood up in singular contrast to his comrade Jenkins;
but few possessed more spirit than Baker; few more of that solid dash
indispensable to the stormer. Signalised by his calmness and
qualifications in the open embrasures his name was once brought before
Lord Raglan, and promotion was given him in appreciation of his
soldierly merits.
During the night of the 24th, sergeant Benjamin Castledine was slightly
wounded in the head by a rifle ball—the second stroke he had received
during the siege. He was giving instructions at the time with respect to
the revetment of No. 21 battery, situated on the central boyau between
the third and fourth parallels of the right attack, and though the wound
was such as would have sent most men to the rear, he remained in the
trenches after receiving the blow for seven hours visiting his parties.
The new sap on the Redan was the absorbing work on the right attack.
Ninety men were told off for it this night; but as the moon had risen, a
portion of the men only were permitted to enter the zigzag, who toiled
by reliefs an hour at a time. A few experienced sappers acquainted with
the incidents and chances of advanced trench duty, pushed spiritedly
ahead, and placed eighteen gabions. These were filled in part by the
Grenadier Guards, and the former night’s work was strengthened by earth
thrown over the parapet from sacks passed from hand to hand. The
operation was a confined one, for the brightness of the night made it
hazardous to send them forward on the reverse of the trench. Sergeant
Hale of the Guards kept a small detachment of his regiment so well at
work and in such perfect discipline that he was rewarded by General
Simpson with a gift of three sovereigns, one of which he retained for
himself, generously distributing the remainder among his comrades.
Corporal Joseph J. Stanton was in charge of the front saps that night,
and amid defections in some of his parties, which it seemed impossible
by any amount of example and daring to overcome, the conduct of Hale and
his men was so marked that the corporal felt proud to name the sergeant
to the engineer officer on duty. Of Stanton, it may be added, that no
soldier in the army perhaps, quitted the Crimea with so many
decorations. He had medals for the Danube and Crimea with three clasps,
a medal for “distinguished service in the field,” and the French Legion
of Honour. He also became a colour sergeant and was offered a
commission, but the war, closing before it could be consummated, the
rank was consequently lost.
In the night of the 25th, was begun a prolongation of the fifth parallel
on the right, down a small ravine towards a screened wall where the
Russians had a picket in ambuscade. When the moon had gone down, the
ground was quickly opened and forty-seven gabions were planted and
tolerably filled by five sappers and one hundred men. Three sappers and
seventy men were also driving as far as they dare between the small
ravine and the white pit connected with the fifth parallel. By these
means the entrenched “hollow,” commenced with fatal anticipations, was
gradually united to the French line of works.
This day lance-corporal William Monds on the right attack was
dangerously wounded in the back by a rifle ball, while laying a bridge
of planks for the passage of artillery into Nos. 18 and 19 batteries.
Strangely enough he was struck a little above the same spot on the 7th
June by a sand-bag thrown at him by a shot; and though this injury did
not fall into the category of wounds, it caused him much more suffering
than the rifle wound which threatened his life.
-----
Footnote 190:
Corporal Cann continued at Ismid till May, 1856, when the troops were
withdrawn. “He had for the last few months sole charge and direction
of the various works required at that station, and fulfilled that
charge in a most satisfactory manner.” Such was the report of Major E.
C. A. Gordon, of the engineers.
Footnote 191:
The concentration of the companies on the left, proved to be very
fortunate, for they escaped a terrible catastrophe. The ground vacated
by them was soon after occupied by the artillery and small arm
brigade. When the explosion of the French magazines in the Ravin du
Carénage took place in November, 1855, the shock, chiefly felt by the
artillery, resulted in a loss to that regiment of 52 killed and
wounded out of a roll of casualties numbering 146 of all ranks. The
engineer park took fire at the time, but not a sapper was touched.
Footnote 192:
When Cray arrived at the front, Jenkins, by order, took him round the
trenches, so that when it should become his turn for duty he might
know the several works and the points where danger most existed. They
had gone into the fifth parallel by the left approach, and were
leaving it by the right one, which had a parapet so low it would
scarcely cover a crow. “You must look alive here,” said Jenkins, “or
we shall get a knock.” Off Jenkins started, rushing down an enfiladed
piece of the trench, and creeping on all-fours where the cover was
insufficient. His movements were seen by the Russian riflemen, and a
few unavailing shots told of their vigilance. It was now Cray’s turn
to move, but declining to follow the crafty progress of his
experienced cicerone, he preferred to make a rush into the completed
boyau; but he had scarcely taken a step beyond the parallel, when a
tempest of bullets overtook him. With alarming nearness they whistled
about his head, and feeling the hot wind of a Minié brushing his nose,
as if an iron feather had rasped it, he fancied that that prominent
feature of his countenance had been shot off. The delusion was but
momentary, for another mishap occurred to drive away the unpleasant
sensation which the first had created. As he was bounding into deeper
cover his foot tripped and down he fell with a crash, which quite
upset the gravity of the guide and the blasters in the parallel.
“I thought you were done for,” said Jenkins, as Cray crawled up to
him, every muscle of his face in laughing activity.
“Not yet,” replied Cray. “It was near enough though to make the escape
a miracle.” He then added, with a significant smile,—“Some lucky
Russian, no doubt, will be decorated with a distinguished service
medal for killing me!”
Footnote 193:
The most remarkable instance perhaps occurred on the 17th October. The
second gabion from the neck of the left cheek of an embrasure in No. 2
battery was injured by two shots, and pushed so far from the row as to
interfere with the firing. Jenkins tried to remove it, but finding
from the strong way in which it had been staked and the earth tamped
on it, that more than extra exertion was needed to pull it out, he
placed his broad back against the right cheek, and with his leg
pressing against the left, hauled with all his might on the gabion.
While doing so an 8-inch shot swept through his legs with a velocity
so great that the wind of it struck him powerless for a few moments.
On went the shot, and smashing one of the wheels of a gun-carriage,
threw the gun out of action for the remainder of the day.
Footnote 194:
From the second parallel of the left attack ran several boyaux to the
third parallel. The angle of the trench where the fourth and fifth
zigzags joined, was a very dangerous corner, and many a man in
rounding it had been killed or wounded. Early in June when corporal
Jenkins was passing with Major Chapman of the 20th regiment, this
little “shadow of death,” a few rifle bullets whistled so near their
ears that their escape was next to extraordinary. Looking up to
ascertain the cause of this reception, the Major said, with a
good-humoured smile, “I shall not come here again with you, Jenkins,
if you wear that swell band on your cap.” The band was a white one.
1855.
26th August-5th September.
SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
State of the works—Russian floating-bridge across the harbour—Gallantry
of corporal McMurphy and his sappers—The sailors—Advance from fifth
parallel on salient of Redan—And on its extreme left flank—Defection
of the workmen in the latter sap and firmness of the two sappers in
charge—Valour of sergeant Castledine and private McKellar—Intrepid
continuance of the right sap—The double sap, left attack—Fifth
parallel of the same attack; corporal Paul its overseer—Experienced
hands selected for the front; charge of the non-commissioned
officers—Casualties—Fresh details—Trench from fifth parallel to
cemetery—Unsuccessful attempt to open a screen in advance of white
rifle-pit—Notice of corporal Phillips—A sapper guides his party along
the open or part of fifth parallel in preference to taking a longer
route though a covered one—Perseverance of sappers in the front
saps—Sixth bombardment—The works and repairs proceed steadily—Results
of the cannonading—Fatal meeting of friends—Siege career of sergeant
Wilson.