The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
then have been accomplished with much loss. On the contrary, the
only signs of Russian life apparent, was the presence of a mounted
Russian officer, who, attended by three or four Cossacks, securely
stationed on a neighbouring eminence, was calmly sketching the
scene.
It had been arranged that the ships of the Admirals should occupy
the centre of the bay, thus dividing the two armies. Had this
determination been carried out, the landing might have been
effected with the least imaginable difficulty; but the French
Admiral, with an exclusive attention to his own branch of the
allied force, which subsequent events of the campaign paralleled,
thought proper to anchor his vessel at the extreme right of the
bay, thus throwing the vessels into considerable confusion. One
transport was grounded, and several fouled in their endeavours
to get into their proper positions. In an incredibly short space
of time, however, order was restored; and, under the energetic
superintendence of Sir Edmund Lyons, the steamers and transports
commenced to discharge their living freights. The sea was literally
covered with boats, laden with soldiers in their varied uniforms,
and bearing rations for three days, every article that could
possibly be dispensed with being left in the ships. Those who
landed first marked out with flags the spots to be occupied by each
division and regiment; and the sailors, standing knee-deep in the
water, lent hearty assistance to those who were less amphibious
than themselves. Nothing could exceed the delight of the sturdy
seamen, as they lifted their red-coated compatriots from the boats,
and placed them dry-footed on the shore; or lent a hand, with more
zeal than knowledge, to disembark the horses. Frequently, a noble
charger, startled by the novelty of his situation, would roll into
the water, half a dozen ancient mariners clinging to his mane or
tail, and sharing his immersion,--emerging at length, dripping with
brine, but in a high state of jollity at having rescued their
steed, and overwhelming him with caresses of a nautical fashion, as
they soothed his fears or indulged him with a short trot on _terra
firma_. The two or three Cossacks who had watched our landing now
deemed it prudent to withdraw, though not until a few shots had
warned them of the prowess of the English riflemen, and one of
their number had received a compliment from Major Lysons, of the
23rd, which would probably render his sitting in the saddle, or
elsewhere, exceedingly inconvenient for some time to come. It so
chanced, however, that even these few Cossacks were very nearly
inflicting a heavy blow on the English army, by the capture of one
of its most distinguished officers. Sir George Brown, general of
the Light Division, had no sooner landed, than with characteristic
daring he mounted his horse, and advanced alone to gain a view
of the surrounding country. He had ridden some distance, and had
closely approached the retreating party, quite unconscious of their
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