Our Sailors: Gallant Deeds of the British Navy during Victoria's ReignKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Our Sailors: Gallant Deeds of the British Navy during Victoria's Reign
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 19th century; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- 19th century
As the enemy had had time to make preparations, another expedition would
be, it was evident, more dangerous than the first. As, however, the
vessels were in a favourable position for supplying the Russian armies
in the Crimea, and their destruction was of the greatest importance,
Captain Lyons despatched the boats, commanded and officered as before.
Seeing that there would be great risk in landing a party in presence of
a superior force out of gunshot of the ships, Lieutenant Cecil Buckley,
_Miranda_, Lieutenant Hugh Burgoyne, _Swallow_, and Mr J. Roberts,
gunner of the _Ardent_, volunteered to land alone and fire the stores.
While these three gallant officers proceeded on their dangerous
undertaking, Lieutenant Mackenzie pushed on under a fire of four
field-guns and musketry, and destroyed the remaining vessels, the ships
resuming their fire on the town. The shore party succeeded in reaching
the stores, to which they effectually set fire. On their retreat to
their boat, they were, however, very nearly cut off by a body of
Cossacks who charged down on them, but they got safe on board. Though
several shots struck the boats, only one man was slightly wounded.
PROCEEDINGS AT TAGANROG--3RD JUNE.
Captain Lyons arrived off this place with a large mosquito fleet of
steamers, gunboats, and boats from the English and French men-of-war.
Taganrog was summoned to surrender, but the governor refused, and a
brisk fire was opened on the place. In vain the enemy endeavoured to
get down to the store-houses on the beach to protect them. Lieutenant
Mackenzie, first of the _Miranda_, had charge of a separate division of
light boats, with rockets and one gun, to cover the approach of
Lieutenant Cecil Buckley, _Miranda_, who, in a four-oared gig, manned by
volunteers, accompanied by Mr Henry Cooper, boatswain, repeatedly
landed and fired the different stores and public buildings. This
dangerous, not to say desperate, service, when carried out in a town
containing upwards of 3000 troops, constantly endeavouring to prevent
it, and only checked by the fire of the boats' guns, was most
effectually performed.
GALLANTRY OF S. TREWAVAS, SEAMAN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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