The British Expedition to the CrimeaRussell, William Howard, Sir
History
The British Expedition to the Crimea
Russell, William Howard, Sir
Crimean War, 1853-1856
At forty-eight minutes past eleven, the Russian infantry began to
retire, a portion crept up the hills behind the 1st redoubt, which still
belonged to them. The artillery on the right of the First Division fired
shot and rockets at the 1st redoubt, but could not do much good, nor
could the heavy guns of the batteries near the town carry so far as to
annoy the Russians. At twelve o'clock the greater portion of the French
and English moved on, and an accession to the artillery was made by two
French batteries, pushed on towards the front of our left. The First
Division remained still in line along the route to Balaklava. From
twelve to fifteen minutes passed, not a shot was fired on either side,
but the Russians gathered up their forces towards the heights over the
gorge, and, still keeping their cavalry on the plain, manoeuvred in
front on our right.
[Sidenote: A HARMLESS ATTACK.]
At twenty-eight minutes after twelve the allies again got into motion,
with the exception of the First Division, which moved _en échelon_
towards the opposite hills, keeping their right wing well before
Balaklava. At forty minutes after twelve, Captain Calthorpe was sent by
Lord Raglan with orders which altered the disposition of our front, for
the French, at one P.M. showed further up on our left. As our object was
solely to keep Balaklava, we had no desire to bring on a general
engagement; and as the Russians would not advance, but kept their
cavalry in front of the approach to the mountain passes, it became
evident the action was over. The cannonade, which began again at a
quarter-past twelve, and continued with very little effect, ceased
altogether at a quarter-past one. The two armies retained their
respective positions.
Lord Raglan continued on the hill-side all day, watching the enemy. It
was dark ere he returned to his quarters. With the last gleam of day we
could see the sheen of the enemy's lances in their old position in the
valley; and their infantry gradually crowned the heights on their left,
and occupied the road to the village which is beyond Balaklava to the
southward. Our Guards were moving back, as I passed them, and the tired
French and English were replaced by a French division, which marched
down to the valley at five o'clock.
We had 13 officers killed or taken, 162 men killed or taken; 27 officers
wounded, 224 men wounded. Total killed, wounded, and missing, 426.
Horses, killed or missing, 394; horses wounded, 126; total, 520.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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