DESCENT ON THE CRIMEA--LANDING TROOPS--TOWING RAFTS--BATTLE OF THE
ALMA--TOM AND ARCHIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD--THE HORRORS OF WAR--BRINGING
OFF THE WOUNDED--BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL--JACK AND MURRAY IN ACTION.
"Just gone seven bells, sir," said Billy Blueblazes, as he entered
Jack's cabin, sent according to orders by Mr Mildmay, who had the
morning watch on the 7th of September 1854. Jack was speedily on deck,
for there was plenty of work to be done that day. A gentle breeze blew
off the shore; not a cloud dimmed the sky, from which the moon cast her
beams over the calm surface of the ocean. By her pale light the
sailing-ships in all directions could be seen loosing their canvas,
while from numberless funnels wreaths of smoke were ascending, showing
that the steamers were preparing to move. All the officers were quickly
assembled on deck; many an eye was cast eastward to watch for the first
signs of coming day. The men were ordered to their stations. At length
a ruddy glow above the eastern horizon announced the approach of day;
shortly afterwards the loud roar of a gun from the lofty side of the
_Britannia_ gave the signal to weigh. The sails hanging from the yards
were let fall and sheeted home, the steamers sent forth denser columns
of smoke, which, rising in thick wreaths, floated in all directions
round the ships' funnels, obscuring the view.
The order had been given to rendezvous forty miles due west of Cape
Tarkand. Instantly the outer ships began to move; Sir Edmund Lyons'
ship, the _Agamemnon_, with signals flying at her masthead, proudly
gliding through their midst. The English transports, in five columns of
thirty each, obeying his orders, moved slowly eastward; then came the
ships of war, the guardians of the fleet, in single column. The French,
more numerous, but with much smaller vessels, sailed out in less compact
order, with their warships crowded with troops; the Turkish fleet,
similarly encumbered, followed. Among the English perfect order was
maintained, for every captain could thoroughly trust, and well knew that
he must obey, his gallant leader.
The French soon became scattered; their general, with some of their
line-of-battle ships, had sailed several days before, and what had
become of them was not known.
By the morning of the ninth the whole English fleet was anchored at the
appointed rendezvous, but as yet the point at which the troops were to
land had not been selected. Next morning Lord Raglan accompanied Sir
Edmund Lyons, with several English and French engineer officers, on
board the _Caradoc_, which, after passing the mouth of Sebastopol
harbour, steered round Cape Chersonesus and looked into Balaclava,
surveying those heights ere long to become the scene of many a bloody
conflict. Returning northward, she steered close into the shore, the
generals looking eagerly out for a fitting spot on which their legions
might land. A low, sandy beach was at length perceived near Kalametra,
with two lakes beyond it. It was exactly the spot Lord Raglan desired.
Late in the evening the _Caradoc_ returned.
During the two following days the French and Turkish vessels, which
could be seen scattered in the far distance, came slowly in; and now it
became known that the long looked-for enterprise was at once to be
commenced.
Early on the 13th the fleet came off Eupatoria. A small party, with an
interpreter, were sent on shore to summon the town to yield at
discretion. The _Tornado_, with other steamers, being close inshore,
Jack sent Jos Green, with Tom and Archie, to obtain some fresh
provisions. They found the old governor a strict disciplinarian,
protesting against the strangers landing without having performed
quarantine, and he insisted on fumigating the missive sent him before
reading it. They might capture the town, to that he had nothing to
say--he was not there in a military capacity, but what he had to do he
intended to do in strict accordance with his orders. As all the
military authorities had run away, and only a few invalid soldiers
remained, no resistance was made, and Eupatoria became the first place
occupied by the British troops in the Crimea.
Jack, having obtained some Russian coin at Constantinople, was able to
purchase provisions. The Tartar inhabitants, finding that they could
bring their produce to a good market, were perfectly ready to part with
whatever provisions they possessed.
The fleet, now proceeding southward, came to an anchor in a line
parallel with the shore, the English to the north, the French and Turks
to the south, about five or six miles to the north of the Balaclava
River. During the night of the 13th it was arranged that a buoy should
be placed, to divide the English and the French fleets, in the centre of
the bay. When morning dawned it was found to be afloat almost at the
northern end of the bay, having been placed in that position, either
from ignorance or treachery, by the French. There was no time for
expostulation, the French were found already to have occupied the whole
ground. To avoid the risk of a dispute, Sir Edmund Lyons, like a wise
man, knowing that a similar landing-place existed a little farther to
the north, also with a lake inside it, at once ordered the transports to
proceed there and take up their proper places.
The day was fine and the water smooth, and early in the morning the
landing commenced. So admirably were the arrangements made that the
troops landed in the order they were to take on the march, while the
line-of-battle ships remained outside, thus keeping up the communication
with a steamer stationed off the mouth of Sebastopol harbour, so that,
should the Russian fleet sail out, they might at once proceed to meet
it, and prevent it from interfering with the transports. Jack's ship,
and other disengaged steamers, were in the meantime sent to cruise up
and down the coast and annoy the enemy. Jack ran down to the south, and
communicated with the vessel off the mouth of the harbour. Greatly to
his disappointment, no signs were to be perceived among the Russian
fleet that they were likely to come out and give battle. Now was their
opportunity, if they intended to do so, for their scouts on shore must
have informed them that the French and Turkish men-of-war were employed
in landing their troops, and for what they could tell the English were
similarly occupied.
"You may depend on it," observed Jack, "by some means or other they know
that our ships are ready to meet them, and they feel pretty sure that
they would get the worst of it."
The _Tornado_, keeping clear of the formidable batteries which frowned
defiance from the northern side of the harbour, now stood close inshore.
Above her rose a series of cliffs, with a broad plateau on the summit,
extending as far as the mouth of the Alma River. A group of tents were
near the edge of the cliff.
"Where there are tents there are men," observed Higson; "are we to fire
at them?"
"It is our business to do so," answered Jack, "though it is not much to
my fancy to fire at men who cannot return the compliment. Elevate the
guns so as to clear the top of the cliff." The engines being stopped,
the _Tornado_ opened her fire. Presently one tent went down, then
another and another, showing that she had got the exact range. The
figures of men could be discerned scampering off, leaving their tents to
their fate. The engines being put in motion, the ship steamed on till a
body of horsemen were discerned, who had apparently come down to
ascertain the cause of the firing. Several shot were sent flying close
to them, making them wheel about; but before they had got out of sight
two other guns were fired, and a horseman was seen to drop from his
saddle. The rapid movement of the rest showed that they were wisely
anxious to avoid a similar fate.
Near the mouth of the Alma a considerable body of infantry were
observed; not being aware of the long range of the stranger's guns, they
stood watching her approach. Suddenly stopping her engines, she opened
on them with her whole broadside; two or three were seen to fall, but
still they stood their ground.
"They are waiting for orders to march," observed Higson; "they would be
wiser if they took ours." With considerable reluctance, Jack gave the
order to fire another broadside; he did not like shooting down men in
cold blood, but yet he must obey his superiors. Scarcely had the smoke
of the guns cleared away than the Russians were seen beating a rapid
retreat, though they still kept together. Three more shot had the
effect of making them increase their speed, and they disappeared behind
some rocky ground which afforded them shelter. Here and there some
tents were seen, as well as cavalry and infantry, who, however, moved
off as the warship approached, well aware, small as she looked, of the
mischief she could do them.
Returning to the fleet, where the landing was taking place, Jack found
that the greater part of the English infantry were already on shore.
From what he had seen, he made his report that the enemy was not likely
to make any immediate attack on the invading forces. Still a
considerable portion of the cavalry had to be landed; the weather
changed for the worse, and rain came down heavily, wetting the troops on
shore, who had no tents or protection of any sort, to the skin. Jack
received orders to send two of his boats to assist in towing one of the
rafts now alongside the transport to the shore. Green had charge of one
of them, and Tom and Archie the other. They found two heavy guns
already on the raft, with several horses. The detachment of
artillerymen belonging to the guns now came down the ship's side and
took their places on board, forming altogether a pretty heavy cargo.
The raft was one of those built at Constantinople, and consisted of two
clumsy boats lashed together side by side and boarded over; very well
suited for smooth water, but extremely dangerous with a heavy sea
running. However, as it was important to get the guns on shore, Green
determined to make the attempt. Two of the artillery officers were
invited into the men-of-war's boats, and all being ready, they shoved
off, taking the huge raft in tow. By this time it was perfectly dark,
and the sea increasing made the operation of towing the raft very heavy
work.
"Give way, my lads," cried Green; "we haven't far to go; and see, we
shall have a warm welcome when we get there."
He pointed to the beach, which was lit up along its whole length by
fires which had been kindled with the planks of several disabled boats
and rafts.
The heavy swell tossed the raft about not a little, but the crews pulled
away lustily as British seamen always do, and the raft at length
approached the shore. The roar on the beach as the surf broke on it was
not encouraging; still, orders were to be obeyed. Just then a snorting
noise was heard, and a magnificent horse came swimming by, as he
splashed the water with his forefeet, surrounding himself with a blaze
of phosphorescent light. To catch him was impossible.
"He has probably escaped from a raft which has been capsized," observed
Green; "his chances of being drowned are considerable, though he may
have sense to swim back to the ship which brought him here."
"I hope that won't be the fate of our own raft," observed the artillery
officer.
"I can't warrant its safety," said Green; "had I been asked, I should
have advised waiting till the morning; however, we'll do our best, and
it will be a much harder matter to pull back than it has been to reach
the shore."
Just then the light of the fires falling on the raft, showed her to
those on the beach, from whence a loud authoritative voice came ordering
her to return to the ship.
"More easily said than done," observed Green.
However, he gave the order to Tom and the officer in command of the
other boat to pull round and do their best. Every instant the swell was
increasing; the boats' crews, though pretty well tired, pulled as
before. The raft tossed fearfully about, threatening to heave her whole
freight of guns, horses, and artillerymen overboard. The latter, with
their arms in their hands, shouted out that the boat was about to sink;
and sad would be the fate, Green saw, of most of them if it did so;
while in the darkness, amid the struggling horses, it would be scarcely
possible to pick them all up. The only thing to be done was to pull
away with might and main; sometimes, in spite of all their efforts, the
raft seemed drifting back to the shore; at others the waves sent it
rushing forward, threatening to stave in the sterns of the boats.
"Here's a pretty piece of work!" observed Tom; "I only hope we shall be
able to get hold of one of the transports before long."
"There's one ahead of us, if we can but reach her," said Archie;
"there's nothing like trying."
Try they did, cheering on the men; and by dint of hard pulling they got
within hail of the transport, and asked for help. "We cannot give it
you," was the answer; "we have a boat-load of horses alongside." A
second transport was neared, and then another and another, but all
declared their inability to render assistance. Green was almost in
despair; the artillerymen were shouting out more lustily than before,
asserting that the raft was fast filling. At length the boats managed
to tow her up alongside a transport, the master of which responded to
their appeal, and assisted them in securing her. Fortunately the
artillerymen she had brought out had not yet been landed, and, the
officers turning them out of their berths, they assisted the crew in
hoisting the horses and guns on board. The gun-carriages, however,
being too heavy, were left on board the raft, and she was let drop
astern. As, however, their loss made the guns useless, Tom and Archie
were sent to the nearest ship to obtain assistance. As they got
alongside, they found that she was the _Briton_, and, Archie having
explained matters to his uncle, who was on deck, Commander Murray sent a
boat with a fresh crew, by whose means the gun-carriages were at length
hoisted on board.
Soon afterwards the sorely-battered raft went to pieces. Tom and Archie
were still alongside, when they caught sight of the noble horse which
they had seen coming off from the shore still struggling in the waves.
Instinct had directed it to the very vessel from which it had been
disembarked. Shouting to the crew on deck, they called for slings,
which were sent down, and being secured--not without difficulty--round
the body of the horse, the animal was lifted safely on board, to all
appearance not much the worse for its swim of upwards of two hours.
The weary crews at length got back to their ship. The next day, the
wind going down, more of the artillery and horses were landed, and by
the evening of the 18th the whole army was on shore without a man being
lost; the disembarkation having been superintended by Captain Dacres of
the _Sanspareil_.
The French were posted on the right, close to the sea, the Turks
somewhat in their rear, and the English on the left of the line; the
duty of protecting the left flank of the army being confided to the
British cavalry. The Turks, accustomed to this sort of work, were at
once at home, with their tents well pitched, and surrounded by such
luxuries as they deemed necessary; while the young troops of England and
France, few of whom had seen active warfare, were sitting wet and
comfortless round their camp-fires.
The natives, with their black lambskin caps and long pelisses, came to
the camp in considerable numbers, bringing provisions, and, what was of
more consequence, camels, and carts drawn by oxen for the conveyance of
stores.
On the morning of the 19th of September the bugles sounding through the
camp aroused all sleepers, and in a short time the army began its march
to the southward. The transports, having performed their duty, sailed
away for the Bosphorus, while the ships-of-war moved slowly on abreast
of the army down the coast, coming to an anchor when it halted, and
again weighing when it recommenced its march; the larger ones, for want
of water, being obliged to keep at some distance out, while the steamers
stood in with the lead going as close as possible, somewhat in advance
of the army, throwing in their shot and shells whenever they caught
sight of any troops at which to fire.
Towards evening the armies reached the first river in their march, the
Bulganak, on the banks of which they bivouacked for the night, in order
of battle, as it was thought possible that at dawn they would be
attacked by the Russians. The night closed in with rain--bad
preparation for the work which all knew would take place on the morrow.
The morning dawned more brightly; it was to be the last day many of
those brave men in the allied hosts were to see, but few expected to be
among the slain. A glorious victory was to be gained by their prowess,
they believed, though victory was not to be won without hard fighting.
As the sun glanced over the hilltops the steamers got up their steam,
and the line-of-battle ships loosed their sails.
Tom and Archie climbed to the masthead, where they determined to remain
with telescopes in hand till called down to attend to their duty on
deck. In front of them was a line of cliffs extending to the mouth of
the Alma, bordering a wide extent of undulating ground. Beyond the Alma
rose broken cliffs with a broad plateau on their summit, on which the
enormous army of Russia was posted, their lines extending from the coast
far away out of sight. In front of the steep hillsides were numerous
heavy batteries, capable of sweeping the invading force back into the
stream of the Alma, till its waters should run dark with blood. More to
the left the French forces could be seen forming in order of battle,
with the Turks in the rear, while only for a short distance could the
red-coated soldiers of England be distinguished. Now and then a party
of horsemen could be made out. When the sun rose, its rays glittered
for a moment on the helmets and breastplates of the heavy cavalry as
they moved off to protect the left flank of the invading forces.
The hours went slowly by; they were of intense interest to the
spectators, and much more so must they have been to those who had to
take an active part in the coming strife. Not, however, till eleven
o'clock were the armies seen to be advancing. The ships near the cliffs
began the action by throwing shot and shell among the Russians posted on
the heights. The light infantry regiments could be seen moving in
advance, throwing out skirmishers; then came the heavy infantry
battalions, with firm tread pressing the ground. At length the blue
coats of the French, who had crossed the Alma at its mouth, were
observed climbing the rugged heights, the summit of which being gained,
they rapidly formed, greatly to the astonishment, apparently, of the
Russians, who had not perceived their approach. Now there burst forth
from the whole hillside the roar of artillery and the rattle of
musketry, so rapidly as to blend into one continuous sound, telling of
death to many a brave heart.
"The British are advancing!" cried Tom; "see, they are pushing across
the river, but they don't appear on the hill yet. The Russian
skirmishers are disputing the ground with them. What a rattling fire
they are keeping up!"
Some time passed by: the redcoats were hotly engaged with the enemy near
a large village, that of Bourliouk. In a short time the village burst
out into flames, completely hiding the troops on its farther side; then
the British were again caught sight of, after they had crossed the river
beyond the village, fighting their way up the slope, encountering the
fearful fire of the Russians, and small red spots could be discerned on
the ground over which they had passed.
Here and there the British redcoats could be distinguished fighting
their way up the hillside; but the broken nature of the ground hid the
larger number from sight, and it was impossible to discover how the
battle was going. Only at length it was seen that the banners of France
occupied the ground where the Russians had before stood; still some time
passed before they advanced. The Turks remained below, which was a good
sign, as it showed that their aid was not required. Now, far away, the
redcoats could be discerned scattered over the hillside. Could it be
that they were defeated? No; just then a long thin line, like a scarlet
thread, was seen amid the smoke, far, far away, moving up the slope, in
one spot having a parti-coloured hue.
"Those must be the Guards and Highlanders," exclaimed Tom. "My brother
Sidney will be in for it; I hope he'll escape, poor fellow. I wish I
could be there to help him, if he gets wounded."
Onward advanced that thin unbroken line up the hill; the brow was
reached, when there appeared in front of it a grey mass, which seemed
like a square patch of withered grass on the greener herbage. Many such
patches were seen sending forth wreaths of smoke from their midst. The
midshipmen guessed rightly that it was a column of Russian infantry.
From the red column issued a sheet of flame and smoke; not for one
moment did it cease. Minutes went by; now that parti-coloured portion
of the line reached the summit of the hill and moved on, smoke issuing
from it as it moved. The dark mass of the enormous Russian column began
to recede before it, at length breaking and scattering in all
directions.
The French, meantime, had disappeared, sweeping the enemy before them
over the hill, till they were lost to sight. The batteries, which had
been pouring their shot down on their assailants, had ceased their fire,
for those assailants had already stormed and captured them. The English
attack in front had been successful, and more troops, which had been
kept in reserve, went streaming up the hill. The whole British and
French armies had not only gained the heights, but, as it seemed, were
sweeping the Russians before them. The rattle of musketry was now only
occasionally heard; then came a few salvoes of artillery, and the fierce
uproar which had raged for the last two hours almost ceased.
The slopes which partly faced the sea were the most visible, and on
these could be seen numerous red spots--some strewn thickly together,
others scattered more apart, marking the places where the Russian fire
had carried death and wounds into the British ranks. Still at that
distance nothing clearly could be seen.
"It must be the case," cried Tom at length. "Hurrah! we've won, and the
Russians are running away; you'll see that I'm right. Now, my brother
will be as anxious as I am to learn how it has fared with Sidney; I hope
he's all right, poor fellow; but I am terribly afraid, with all that
firing which has been going on so long, an immense number must have been
killed."
The midshipmen, who had been allowed to retain their seats, were at
length called down. There was considerable excitement on board,
everybody anxious to hear news from the shore, though no one doubted
that a splendid victory had been gained. They had not long to wait; the
signal staff set up on shore was soon at work. A complete victory had
been gained, and it was requested that boats might be sent immediately
on shore with hammocks on which to carry the wounded on board ship. The
appeal was quickly responded to. Jack immediately ordered two of his
boats to be got ready under the command of Higson, with whom he sent Tom
and Archie, giving the two midshipmen permission to make their way on
till they could find the Guards, to ascertain the fate of his brother.
Tom was delighted with the duty.
"Stay," said Jack; "you may find many poor fellows wounded, who will be
the better for some brandy, and some may want water. Take as much as
you can carry; you'll not have more than is wanted, I fear."
Search was made for flasks, and each midshipman carried three, and two
bottles of water. Archie, with due forethought, also tore up two of his
shirts, which he stuffed into his pockets. Higson followed their
example in carrying a supply of spirits and water.
Away the two boats pulled for the beach near the mouth of the Alma,
where numerous others were already assembled. For the first half-mile
or so, after landing, there were few signs of the conflict, but in a
short time they met parties of English and French soldiers carrying
wounded men, most of them looking more dead than alive from loss of
blood; while, as they advanced, they found numerous tents set up, in
which the surgeons were already at work amputating arms and legs, and
dressing the more severe wounds. Where the conflict had raged the
hottest, the surgeons, who had followed closely the advancing forces,
were employed with tourniquets doing their utmost to stop the life-blood
flowing from the veins of the wounded. Although the two midshipmen had
seen a good deal of fighting, they both turned sick as they gazed at the
fearful wounds inflicted by the round-shot.
The road they took leading them some way to the north of the Alma, it
was only after they had proceeded a considerable distance that they came
to the part of the ground where the English had chiefly fought. On the
eastern side was the burned village of Bourliouk; the hillside was
covered with the corpses of the men of the infantry regiments,
intermingled with the bodies of the grey-coated, helmeted Russians. The
cries of the wounded soon attracted those who came to succour them, and
the seamen under Higson were speedily laden with wounded men. After the
wounded had been inspected by a surgeon, and pronounced fit to be
removed, the party set off to return to the boats, while Tom and Archie
made their way up the hill in the track the Guards had taken, Tom
looking out anxiously on every side in search of his brother, whom he
dreaded to find among the killed.
They met numerous parties of soldiers, with a few sailors, who had
already landed, some carrying wounded men towards the village on the
banks of the Alma, the houses of which had been turned into hospitals;
others going in search of fresh burdens. The work of burying the dead,
who thickly strewed the ground in those parts where the fight had raged
the hottest, had not yet commenced; the living men had first to be cared
for. Here and there surgeons of the army, as well as many of the navy,
who had landed even before the battle was over, were attending to the
more desperate cases requiring immediate aid. The Russians received the
same attention as the English, and were at once carried off to the
hospitals. Some poor fellows lay under the walls and other shelter,
where they had crawled after being wounded; the larger number were found
where they fell.
Tom was in a hurry to push on, while he looked about on every side for
the uniform of the Guards. From all quarters came groans and cries, and
the midshipmen could not resist stopping to afford some relief to the
sufferers. Several Russians lay with their heads placed on the corpses
of their brother soldiers; some had their arms, others their legs, blown
away by round-shot. One poor fellow was still alive, though both his
thighs had been thus broken. He had strength to point to his lips, and
Tom, kneeling by his side, poured some water down his throat. The dying
man cast a grateful look at the young officer, but before they left him
he expired. Several had their heads blown off; others, who had their
faces carried away, presented the most dreadful spectacle.
At length Tom exclaimed, "There are some Guardsmen!" Several high
bearskin caps marked the spot to which he pointed; the first men they
came to were dead, but higher up the hill they saw more. One of them
was alive, with a bad wound in his side, and a shot through his arm; he
was apparently bleeding to death. Archie produced his bandages, while
Tom poured some brandy down his throat. It contributed to revive him;
Tom inquired eagerly if he had seen Captain Rogers.
"Yes, sir," was the answer; "he was marching on with the regiment when I
fell."
Having done their best to stop the blood flowing from the man's wound,
Tom and Archie hurried forward. Farther to the right the ground was
still more thickly covered with corpses. On examining them, Tom
observed that though many were Guardsmen, they did not belong to his
brother's regiment. Several officers lay dead, numerous Russians
mingled with the British. The greater number appeared to have been shot
by bullets, but several had been killed by the bayonet or sword, and
exhibited ghastly wounds. Apparently, the wounded officers had been
removed, for none were seen alive. Numerous helmets, knapsacks, and
other accoutrements thrown away by the Russians, together with the
greater number of their dead, showed that they had been put to flight by
the victorious advance of the British.
"This is terrible," cried Tom; "I had often pictured a battlefield, but
I had not fancied it anything like so horrible as this is."
"It must be worse to the poor fellows who lie scattered about us,
suffering fearful tortures from their wounds," answered Archie, "with
the prospect of dying from them; or even if they recover, being maimed
for life."
"I hope poor Sidney is not among them," exclaimed Tom, for the twentieth
time; "I can't help thinking more of him than of anyone else."
Making inquiry of some soldiers whom they at length met with stretchers
carrying the wounded men they had picked up, Tom asked if they could
tell him over what ground the--
Guards had passed.
"You must keep farther to the left," was the answer; "you will come upon
some dead Highlanders, and they are just beyond them."
The bonnets of the Highlanders were soon discovered, and not far off the
tall bearskins showed where the Guards had fought. The midshipmen,
however, made but slow progress, for they could not help stopping to
relieve those who required their aid, both friends and foes, till Archie
had used up all his bandages, and their spirits and water were nearly
expended. As Tom had not found Sidney, his spirits rose with the hope
that, at all events, he might have escaped being killed. The enormous
number of Russian dead, who were now seen covering the plain, showed the
part of the ground where the last desperate conflict had taken place.
Whole ranks of the enemy had fallen under the withering fire of the
Guards and Highlanders. In one spot they came upon an entire line of
Russians, every man of whom had been shot down apparently at the same
moment; indeed, far as the eye could reach on either side, the plain was
thickly strewn with the dead.
At length a long line of upright figures was seen arrayed on the left,
with numerous banners waving above their heads, and horsemen moving to
and fro; the red hue on the left showing where the victorious soldiers
of England stood, halted on the battlefield, while on the right appeared
the masses of the French army, with the Turkish troops who had marched
forward to their support. They occupied the ground on which they were
to bivouac before advancing again in pursuit of the flying foe.
The midshipmen made their way towards the troops on the left, and were
able, by looking at the lofty bearskins of the Guards, to find out the
regiment to which Sidney Rogers belonged. Almost breathless with
eagerness, Tom inquired for his brother.
"He is there," said a sergeant, pointing to a spot where a group of
officers stood together, eagerly discussing the events of the day.
Tom, unable to restrain his feelings, gave a shout of joy, in which
Archie joined him. As they hurried forward, Sidney advanced to meet
them, and they were soon shaking him heartily by the hand, and
congratulating him on his escape and the victory he had contributed to
win.
"I am thankful to have come out of it unhurt," said Sidney, "especially
when I hear of the number of officers who have been killed; between
twenty and thirty, at all events; and not far short of a hundred
wounded."
Tom then gave Jack's message, and delivered a case containing a few
luxuries brought from the ship. The midshipmen could not, however,
remain long, as they had received orders to return at night, and the day
was now rapidly closing. They were brave youngsters, but they had no
wish to be compelled to make their way over the battlefield in the
darkness, amid the dying and the dead. Wishing Sidney good-bye, they
rapidly retraced their steps; as they once more descended the hill,
their ears were assailed with cries and groans, but as they had no
longer any means of assisting the unhappy sufferers, they hurried on.
At the foot of the hill they reached the road which ran along the bank
of the river, having to pass in their way close to the smouldering ruins
of the village which had been set on fire at the commencement of the
battle. Here it was supposed that several English as well as Russian
riflemen had perished, while engaged with each other, the flames having
spread round them before they had time to make their escape.
It was already dark when one of the _Tornado's_ boats came to take them
off. Neither of them were very much inclined to talk of what they had
seen; and even Jack, when they got on board, had some difficulty in
gaining more information from them than the fact that they had found
Sidney safe and well. After a glass or two of wine, however, Jack drew
forth an account of the scenes they had witnessed on the battlefield.
Tom often shuddered as he described the fearful condition of the
wounded, and the numbers of dead they had seen.
Next morning they were all to rights, and were ready to go in charge of
a fresh party of seamen, who were sent on shore to bring off more of the
wounded. All day long the seamen were engaged in collecting the wounded
men and carrying them to the hospitals, or bringing them off to the
ships; while parties, told off from the different regiments, were
employed in burying the dead, generally in large pits, into which
friends and foes were tumbled without much ceremony. All the time
bodies of cavalry were kept patrolling on the left to guard the people
employed in the service from the attacks of the Cossacks, who were seen
hovering in the distance, ready to pounce down upon any unwary
stragglers.
As soon as Jack had received on board as many wounded officers and men
as he could accommodate, he proceeded to Constantinople to place them in
the hospitals which had been got ready for their reception. Several
died on the voyage, some of their wounds and some of cholera, which
killed many officers and men after the battle. Jack was eager to get
back again to see what was going forward. Hopes had been entertained
that the allies would at once enter Sebastopol; but the news had reached
Constantinople that, instead of doing so, they had marched round the
city and had posted themselves on its southern side, the English having
occupied the harbour of Balaclava, while their army had taken up a
position on the ground above it, extending towards the fortifications of
Sebastopol.
The _Tornado_ was still steaming at full speed across the Bosphorus,
when, soon after dawn, though still out of sight of land, a loud booming
of guns came from the northward over the calm water. "There is another
furious battle going forward," said the first lieutenant to the
commander, who had just come on deck; "I wish we were there--can the
fleet be engaged?"
"I very much doubt that the Russians will have ventured out of their
harbour," answered Jack; "I suspect rather that the allies have
commenced the bombardment of the city. The last account stated that
they were busy preparing for it, and I think it probable that the
admirals will take the fleet in to engage the sea-batteries."
"They will not do much against those stone walls, unless they are
complete shams," observed Higson; "however, we shall be there before
long, and if there is an honest battle at sea going on, I hope we shall
be in time to take part in it."
Of course there was great excitement on board, everyone looking out
eagerly for the land. Surmises of all sorts were made as to what was
going forward. The engineers did their best to urge the steamer along,
but the wind was so light that the sails were wholly useless. Billy
Blueblazes and Dicky Duff, who were somewhat jealous of Tom and Archie
having been on shore, were eager to be there to see the "fun," as they
called it.
"I can tell you fellows that it is no fun at all," said Tom, who had
become unusually grave since he had visited the battlefield of the Alma;
"I have got a brother there, and in all probability he is in the midst
of the fight."
"And if the fleets are engaged, I have got a cousin who is as dear to me
as a brother," observed Archie, "and I don't want any harm to happen to
him. You youngsters talk glibly of fighting; but let me hear what you
have to say about it when you have seen the thing in reality. It is a
necessary evil, but an evil notwithstanding."
The younger midshipmen laughed, and declared that it was just what they
had come to sea for. "So did we too," said Tom; "but only because it's
our duty to fight to protect our country--not that I can see that we
forward that object by coming out here to attack the Russians."
Soon afterwards, "Land! land!" was heard from the masthead, adding to
the excitement of all on board. At length the high cliffs of the
Chersonese appeared in sight; the thunder of the guns, as the ship
advanced, increasing in loudness. Now the fleet could be seen coming
forward from the roads off the Katcha River to the north; no sails were
set, as the ships had either their own steam-power, or were moved by
steamers lashed alongside.
"The French fleet are leading," observed Jack to Higson; "it is evident
then that their destined position is the southern end of the line, and
that our ships are to attack Fort Constantine and the other forts on the
north side of the harbour." Slowly the proud ships glided onwards, but
not a shot was fired from them; they were still out of range of the
forts. It was already near one o'clock in the afternoon. In the French
division thirteen ships could be counted, two of them carrying the
Turkish flag. Onward they glided in admirable order, still preserving
perfect silence.
"To my mind," observed Higson, "they would be likely to do much more
good if they were farther in, and my belief is that so they would be if
they had English captains to fight them."
"Probably the French admiral is afraid of getting his ships on shore
were he to stand in closer," observed Jack, who held the French in more
respect than did his first lieutenant. At length, as the French ships
came within range, the Russian forts opened their fire, but still no
reply was made. The whole French squadron had now one by one anchored
at exact distances from each other, extending more than half-way across
the harbour; then the signal was given, and the roar of six hundred guns
broke the silence which had hitherto prevailed, the dense clouds of
smoke which arose almost concealing them from sight. At the same moment
the English flagship was seen to throw out a signal, when three of the
English steam-frigates, which had been standing inshore, commenced
firing away at the northern forts. Another signal presently went up,
and the _Agamemnon_ was seen gliding on at more rapid speed than
heretofore towards the shore, some little distance to the north of Fort
Constantine, the nearest point which a shoal running off from the land
would allow her to reach. A gallant little steamer, the _Circassian_,
was observed leading the way, fearless of the shot which the guns of the
fort threw at her. As the _Agamemnon_ passed the _Sanspareil_, which
had been ahead of her, hearty cheers resounded from their crews, and
then both commenced firing, clouds of smoke quickly enveloping them and
assisting to baffle the gunners of the two batteries on the high ground
above them. Meantime the _Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Queen,
Rodney_, and _Bellerophon_, were proceeding southward in order to
complete the line across the harbour, while the _Sanspareil, London,
Arethusa_, and _Albion_ took up positions to the northward of the
_Agamemnon_.
Not till afterwards, of course, did Jack hear of the gallant conduct of
Mr Ball, in command of the little steam-tender _Circassia_, which was
seen ahead of the _Agamemnon_, taking soundings for her, and leading her
close up to the shoal. Sir Edmund told him that his ship would probably
be sunk, and undertook to have his boats in readiness to pick up him and
his crew should such an event occur. As the tender moved ahead of the
great ship, the lead-line was struck out of the leadsman's hands; but
another line was immediately found, and the little vessel continued her
course. Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was
the only man wounded on board. Having performed her duty, she steamed
off out of harm's way. The _Agamemnon_ was, however, so well placed to
the north-west, that the rear guns only of the fort could be brought to
bear on her, and as she was much nearer in than the enemy expected, most
of their shot struck her masts and rigging.
So close was the _Sanspareil_ to her stern that that ship's foremost
guns could not at first be fired. This made it necessary for her to
haul off, but it was only to return to render her able support to the
_Agamemnon_. The greater number of the ships were now hotly engaged,
well-nigh twelve hundred guns firing rapidly away at the various forts,
and crumbling the upper works of the nearest to pieces; but still all
the time the iron shower sent by the Russians came crashing on board the
ships of the allies, sending many a brave seaman to his account, and
wounding a far greater number.
"The admiral is signalising us," exclaimed Higson; "we are to run
alongside the _Briton_, and carry her into action."
No sooner had he uttered the words, than a loud cheer arose from the
crew; in a short time, having obeyed the order she had received, they
were where they had longed to be--in the line of battle, under the
enemy's fire, the _Briton_ having, as was the case with many of the
other ships, landed a considerable number of her people to join the
naval brigade on shore. A portion of the _Tornado's_ crew were called
on board to assist in working her guns; happy did those consider
themselves who were thus employed. Among the officers were Mr Mildmay
and Tom and Archie. As they were stationed on the upper deck, they
could occasionally see, when the dense wreaths which encircled the
combatants blew by, what was going forward. Mr Mildmay stood as cool
as usual, every now and then pulling out his notebook and making notes
in it.
"I really believe," said Tom to Archie, laughing, "that he's writing a
poetical description of the battle. Perhaps it's a song, to be called
`The Battle of Sebastopol'--`There we lay, all that day, At stone walls
a-blazing away!'"
"I wonder when the Russians intend to give in--it doesn't seem much like
it at present," observed Archie; "I expected that we should sail up the
harbour and sink their ships."
"They've done that already themselves, right across the mouth. I heard
the first lieutenant tell the master so," said Tom.
"I only wish that they were afloat, and that we were fighting them
instead of these forts," observed Archie. "When we have knocked them to
pieces, I don't see what good they will do us."
"Why, of course, to help the soldiers on shore to get into the place,"
answered Tom.
These remarks, which were made at intervals between the firing of their
guns, were cut short by a shot killing two of the crew of one of the
guns under Tom's command. He had to summon others to take their places;
after this he felt very little inclination to talk, nor, indeed, had he
much opportunity of doing so. The position of those who remained on
board the steamer was very trying; they had nothing to do, but were
tolerably secure from damage, while the enemy's shot went flying over
their heads. Hour after hour the battle continued to rage, the troops
on shore being hotly engaged with the batteries turned towards them, the
thundering roar of their guns answering to those of the ships. Never,
perhaps, in the same space of time had so many round-shot and shells
been flying through the air.
Little more could be seen of the ships in line across the harbour's
mouth. The French remained stationary, but some of the English
frequently moved their positions to the support of Sir Edmund Lyons and
the inshore squadron, which were enduring the brunt of the battle,
exposed as they were to the tremendous fire from Fort Constantine and
other batteries. Now flames were seen to burst forth from the _Queen_,
when, a steamer taking her in tow, she stood off to extinguish them.
Some time afterwards the _Albion_ was seen to be on fire, fearfully
mauled and unable to fire a shot, with the risk of drifting on shore.
She also stood off, helped by the steamer attending her.
The _Rodney_ was now seen standing in to support the _Agamemnon_ when
she took the ground, and though exposed to a tremendous fire, she
continued fighting her guns. It seemed almost impossible that she
should escape destruction, but she still kept firing away till, two
steamers going to her assistance, she at length got clear. Not till
darkness came on did the battle cease, when the ships returned to their
anchorage. Jack was thankful to find that Murray and the midshipmen had
escaped, though five of his own crew and many more of the _Briton's_ had
been killed. The next morning the "butcher's bill," as Jos Green called
it, was made out, when it was found out that forty-four British seamen
had lost their lives, and that two hundred and sixty-six had been
wounded, while the _Albion_ and _Arethusa_ had been so knocked about in
their hulls and rigging that the admiral sent them off to Malta to be
repaired.
The French ships presented a still more disabled appearance, and had
lost altogether in killed and wounded under two hundred men. Then came
the question, what had been done? and the opinion generally was that,
although a good many of the Russians might have been killed, no
essential damage had been done to the forts, and that it would be wiser
in future for the ships to let them alone.
"I suppose the work of the fleet is pretty well over," said Murray to
Jack, who had gone on board the _Briton_, "unless we have to attack
other places along the coast. You will probably be sent on that
service, and I confess I envy you."
"I hope we shall," was the answer; "though I am afraid that at present
we shall be employed as a despatch-boat. I should like to see what is
going forward on shore, and shall be glad if I can take a turn of duty
with the naval brigade, but I have very little hopes of that."