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
While the French were thus straining every nerve against tremendous
odds, and with fearful loss, to perform their parts in the
achievements of the day, the English were none the less eager
to win their laurels before the Great Redan. Sir George Brown,
just returned from the Kertch expedition, was intrusted with the
direction of the assaulting party, composed of detachments of the
Light, Second, and Fourth Divisions. The plan of attack was, that
the force should be divided into three columns; the Light Division
to storm the right of the Redan at the re-entering angle; the
Fourth Division was to attack the left flank of the fortification
at a similar position; while the Second was to storm the apex
of the Redan, as soon as the other divisions had established
themselves in the work. Colonel Yea, of the 7th Fusiliers, led the
storming party of the Light Division, composed of the 7th, 23rd,
33rd, and 34th. Colonel Shirley held the 19th, 77th, and 85th in
reserve. The troops advanced in good order from the trenches,
preceded by a covering party of Rifles, and dashed forward to the
attack. They had, however, several hundred yards of broken ground
to cross; and the enemy, well prepared for their reception, poured
from every embrasure such a storm of shot and shell as effectually
broke their ranks. Colonel Yea and the regimental officers
gallantly endeavoured to animate their men to the assault, and led
them fearlessly forward against the belching fire of the batteries.
As the brave old colonel was cheering on his men, a shower of grape
swept along, and he rolled in the agonies of death, struck at once
in the head and stomach. His brave companions fell around him dead
or wounded; and the regiments, unable to face such a sheet of
fire, fell back disordered to the trenches, leaving nearly a third
of their number on the field.
On the left attack, Sir John Campbell, with the Fourth Division,
exhibited extraordinary courage, and led his men forward to the
attack with tremendous energy. Here again was the tragedy of the
Light Division repeated. The men were mowed down as they left the
trenches, and Sir John, like Colonel Yea, fell cheering on his
men. The loss was terrific. The Second Division, to whom had been
reserved the duty of attacking the apex of the Redan, seeing the
failure of the flank assaults, desisted from the attempt, and
withdrew to the trenches, though having suffered considerably from
the enemy’s fire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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