George's Crosses they were given And to Petersburg were driven To be fêted there! To be fêted there! All the priests with heads bent down Prayed our God the French to drown, And there came a storm, And there came a storm! There arose a dreadful gale, But the French just shortened sail, And remained afloat! And remained afloat! Winter came. Sorties we made; Many soldiers low were laid, Near those bags of sand, Near those bags of sand.[27] For re'nforcements Ménshik prayed; But the Tsar sent to his aid Only Osten-Sáken, Only Osten-Sáken.[28] Ménshik, Admiral so wise, To the Tsar writes and replies: 'Oh, dear Father Tsar, 'Oh, dear Father Tsar. 'Sáken is not worth a grain, And your Royal youngsters twain[29] They're no good at all! They're no good at all!' Royal wrath on Ménshik fell, And the Tsar felt quite unwell At the next review, At the next review. Straight to heaven he did fare (Seems they wanted him up there) Not a whit too soon, Not a whit too soon! As on his deathbed he lay; To his son[30] he this did say: 'Now just you look out, 'Now just you look out!' And the son to Ménshik wrote: 'My dear Admiral, please note, You may go to hell, You may go to hell!' 'And in place of you I'll name Gortchakóf, you know, the same Who fought 'gainst the Turks! Who fought 'gainst the Turks!' 'With few troops he'll go ahead, And a pair of breeches red Shall be his reward, Shall be his reward!' [22] The Battle of Alma, fought on 8th September, old style = 20th September, new style. [23] Prince Alexander Ménshikof, who was Commander-in-Chief in the Crimea till replaced by Gortchakóf. Besides being diplomatist and General, he was also an Admiral. In the other verses he is nicknamed 'Ménshik.'