The British Expedition to the CrimeaRussell, William Howard, Sir
History
The British Expedition to the Crimea
Russell, William Howard, Sir
Crimean War, 1853-1856
In the night when our guns were taken into Sebastopol, there was joy
throughout the city, and it was announced that the Russians had gained a
great victory. A salvo of artillery was fired, and at nine o'clock P.M.
a tremendous cannonade was opened against our lines by the enemy. It did
no injury. At one P.M. on the 26th, about 4,000 men made an attack on
our right flank, but were repulsed by Sir De Lacy Evans's Division, with
the loss of 500 men killed and wounded. As I was engaged in my tent and
did not see the action, I think it right to give the dispatches which
relate this brilliant affair.
"_Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans to Lord Raglan._
"2nd Division, Heights of the Tchernaya, Oct. 27, 1854.
IND
"MY LORD,
"Yesterday the enemy attacked this division with several columns of
infantry supported by artillery. Their cavalry did not come to the
front. Their masses, covered by large bodies of skirmishers,
advanced with much apparent confidence. The division immediately
formed line in advance of our camp, the left under Major-General
Pennefather, the right under Brigadier-General Adams.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzmayer and the Captains of batteries (Turner
and Yates) promptly posted their guns and opened fire upon the
enemy.
"Immediately on the cannonade being heard, the Duke of Cambridge
brought up to our support the brigade of Guards under Major-General
Bentinck, with a battery under Lieutenant-Colonel Dacres. His Royal
Highness took post in advance of our right to secure that flank,
and rendered me throughout the most effective and important
assistance. General Bosquet, with similar promptitude and from a
greater distance, approached our position with five French
battalions. Sir G. Cathcart hastened to us with a regiment of
Rifles, and Sir G. Brown pushed forward two guns in co-operation by
our left.
"The enemy came on at first rapidly, assisted by their guns on the
Mound Hill. Our pickets, then chiefly of the 49th and 30th
Regiments, resisted them with remarkable determination and
firmness. Lieutenant Conolly, of the 49th, greatly distinguished
himself, as did Captain Bayley, of the 30th, and Captain Atcherley,
all of whom, I regret to say, were severely wounded. Serjeant
Sullivan also displayed at this point great bravery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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