"In the North Fort, there was scarcely time to elevate its low parapet, of little thickness, and half crumbled away, to give it the elevation of a field-work, so as to form a protection against the fire of the enemy. To adapt the parapet to musketry, a banquette was added, and the crest of the parapet was supplied with battlements formed of earth-bags. The old walls of the scarp gave way to the pressure of the earth freshly brought to augment the elevation of the parapet. They crumbled down, and filled up the narrow ditch with their ruins. Thus it fell out that in the western bastion a practicable breach, quite fit for use, was formed before ever the enemy had approached the work. And all this happened at the very moment when the enemy's columns were already in view of the North Fort, on the space extending between the Katcha and the Belbeck." On the evening of the 26th the news arrived in town that the Allies had seized a part of the baggage-train of Menschikow's army, and cut off its communications with Sebastopol. With the exception of this intelligence, nothing was heard of or from the army; at this critical period, no one in Sebastopol knew what had become of it or where it was to be found. "Thus the defenders of Sebastopol had no assistance to reckon upon; we have seen that it was impossible to repulse the enemy with the unaided forces of the garrison. There remained to them no other alternative than that of laying down their lives gloriously on the post confided to their bravery. "On the morning of the 27th, the clergy made a procession, with the cross and the holy water, along the whole line of defence. Kornilow, riding round the intrenchments, harangued the troops, and sought to excite their courage. "My children,' he said, 'we must fight against the enemy to the last extremity; every man of us must die on the spot rather than give way. Kill the man who shall dare to talk of falling back. Kill me myself, should I give such an order.'" Had the admiral ever heard of Henri Si de la Rochejaquelin's address to his fol- Admiral Kornilow, however, resolved to hold the fort to the last extremity, and dispositions were made, at his desire, by Todleben for the reception of the expected assailants. These are minutely described, and their insufficiency against a resolute assault is demonstrated by an elaborate train of reasoning, in which the pros and cons are carefully weighed. It was consequently with a sensation of relief, mingled with astonishment, that, on the morning of the 26th September, the garrison, constant ly on the alert, and in momentary ex pectation of an attack, learned that the allied army was moving towards the east in the direction of the Mackenzie farm. The fears felt for the north were now transferred to the south, which had been comparatively neglected, under an impression that it was not likely to be the first object of the besiegers. Its garrison consisted only of five thousand men, including sailors, and Admiral Nakhmikow, the local commander, despairing of an effectual resistance, made the necessary arrangements for sinking However, adds Todleben, neither the all the ships of his squadron, to prevent exaltation of the troops, nor their resothem from being captured, and (Septem-lution to fight to the last, would have ber 26th) issued the following order of been able to save Sebastopol, if the enethe day: my had attacked immediately after his passage of the Tschernaia. “The enemy is advancing towards the city "Soldiers of the regiment of Moscow, you find yourselves here on the extreme limits of Russia; you The strategic reasons which at first induced Prince Menschikow to leave the garrison to their fate are examined in detail; the principal being the supposed impossibility of making head behind incomplete fortifications against an enemy flushed with recent victory, and the fear of losing his whole army with the town. His plan, it seems, was to hang upon the rear of the Allies, harass their communications, and save at least the rest of the peninsula. Why he abandoned this plan is not explained; all we are permitted to know of the change of intention is the fact, that, on the 30th of September, about midday, to the great joy of the whole garrison, his troops appeared on the heights of Belbeck, and at two in the afternoon the prince arrived in person at the North Fort. As soon as the allied armies appeared on the south, all the workmen that could be got together were employed to strengthen the defences on that side, and a good deal was done within four days in the execution of new batteries connected by earthworks; but it is stated over and over again, with wearisome iteration, that all must have proved unavailing against a combined and resolute assault. The only hope of the besieged lay in the (to them) unaccountably cautious and dilatory proceedings of the besiegers, who were all along acting on an impression that the place was too strong to be attacked before the fire of its artillery had been at least partially subdued. They therefore resolved to construct siege batteries, and on the night of the 27th the first trench was opened by the French. success, and the hope that the town would be saved." was turned into one of engineering skill, Dating from this period, the contest in which the Allies were certainly worsted; for the strength of the defences increased faster than the means of dstroying or overcoming them. This reflects the more honor on Todleben and his branch of the service, because not only (as already mentioned) was there an extraordinary scarcity of tools, but the rocky nature of the ground, almost entirely denuded of turf, caused great difficulty in getting proper materials for the earthworks, which, being more than half composed of stones and gravel, were liable to sink or crumble under fire. The first decisive trial began at half-past six on the morning of the 17th teries simultaneously opened fire. In of October, when all the besieging batfull expectation that an assault would ensue, the Russian troops were drawn up behind their intrenchments and suffered greatly. The works, also, were damaged in parts, and some guns were dismounted. But the garrison replied with such effect, that in rather more than four hours the French batteries were completely silenced. three hours with equal vivacity on all points, when, all of a sudden, about half-past nine, one of our shells blew up a powder-magazine in one of the French batteries on the Rodolph hill. This explosion was hailed on our side by a loud and triumphant hurrah. The French battery was completely overthrown, which permitted us to concentrate all our energies on the other French batteries on the "The cannonade had lasted more than hill. Half an hour after the first explosion there was a second. These two explosions were not without results, for the fire of the aand was soon entirely extinguished. French artillery began gradually to slacken, wards half-past ten its fire ceased definitively along the whole line. To "This," says Todleben, out our suspecting it, favored as it was by was done withstrong wind which blew off the town during the whole night in the direction of the enemy's works, so that we only became aware of it at dawn. Such was not the result of our contest Those who know any- with the English batteries, which were not thing of siege warfare may imagine what a long in manifesting a great relative superiorijoyful impression we must have felt at ty over our artillery, arising principally from the sight. It became then evident for us the difference of calibre. The Third Bastion that the Allies had not decided on an immedi- suffered especially from the English batteries, ate assault, and that they intended first to es-exposed as it was to the concentrated fire tablish batteries in the hope of disabling our of the Montagne Vert and the Mont Woronartillery; so that we might yet gain time, at zow." least during some days. Everybody in Sebastopol was gladdened by this happy event; they addressed mutual congratulations to each other; for all saw in it a guarantee of At this point the account of the land attack is interrupted to describe the simultaneous attack of the allied fleets on the sea defences; and the narratives are intermingled in a manner which makes it no easy task to connect or follow the threads. We shall endeavor to extract the most important statement regarding the English cannonade, and then return to the fleets. Speaking of the effects of the English fire on the third bastion (the Great Redan), the General adds: not profit by the opportunity, and busied themselves in repairing the damage caused to their batteries, to commence soon afterwards a regular siege. Kornilow was amongst the Russians killed. Todleben had carried him a report of the fulfilment of his orders, but he insisted on going himself to the third bastion, despite of the remonstrances and assurances addressed to him. "I am perfectly convinced," was his reply, "that every one of you will do his duty as honor and circumstances may de heroes on the theatre of their exploits is an imperative want of my soul." And in spite of the prayers of those who surrounded him, he went on horseback to the Malakhow, where he was wounded mortally by a bullet which shattered his right leg. "Well, gentlemen, I depend on you to defend Sebastopol! Do not surrender it!" exclaimed Kornilow with emphasis, addressing himself to the officers who pressed about him; and he almost immediately lost consciousness. "Tell all," he exclaimed just before he died," that it is sweet to die when the conscience is pure. May God bless Russia and the Emperor! Save Sebastopol and the fleet!" These were his last words. "The loss in men had been so considerable that the gunners of several pieces had been already replaced twice. Despite of the evident superiority of the English, the artillery-mand, but on this solemn day to see our men, exalted by the example of their valorous chiefs, would not yield to the enemy, and thus persevered in their energetic defence. The necessary measures were taken on this bastion for continuing the fire, notwithstanding all the damage that had been done. The embrasures which gave way were instantly cleared off; the officers, setting the example, mounted the parapet and took part in the work. The sailors emulated the zeal of the sappers. But all efforts were powerless to prevent the English artillery from completely overcoming ours. To complete the critical position of the third bastion, about half-past three a shell blew up the powder-magazine placed in its saillant. When the smoke dispersed, the survivors had before their eyes the horrible picture of the effects of the explosion. All that part of the front of the bastion had been thrown into the ditch; the guns and their platforms were upset; on the sides lay half-burnt and disfigured bodies; and across the rolling and infernal crash of the artillery were heard from far the shouts of the exulting foe. The explosion caused the deaths of more than a hundred men, and amongst them was one of whom no trace could ever be recovered, CaptainLieutenant Leslie. From that moment all possibility of replying to the English artillery was at an end. The defence on this point was completely paralyzed, and the expectation at the Karabelnaia was to see the enemy take advantage of the result, and advance immediately to the assault." Of the twenty-two guns with which the bastion was armed, twenty were disabled; and in all the bastion there remained but five gunners who, keeping firm to the two remaining guns, fired the last shots. Ten guns of other batteries were also disabled by the English fire. But although the allied armies had been from early dawn on foot and ready for the assault, the heavy check sustained by the French batteries acted so powerfully on them, that they did In the general summary of the results of this day's artillery contest by land, it is stated that the Allies attacked with 120 guns, including eighteen mortars of large calibre, and that the Russians replied with 118 guns, including five mortars. The advantage of weight of metal and elevation of ground was with the Allies. They threw altogether 9000 projectiles, the besieged 20,000. The Russians lost in killed and wounded 1112; the French 204; and the English 144. The attack by sea confessedly failed, although the superiority of weight of metal and number of guns was on the side of the combined fleets. The summary stands thus: "All the squadrons united engaged our five batteries with a broadside of 1244 guns, to which we could only oppose 152, that is to say, an eighth of the number." It is further stated that the fleets had the advantage of distance, some of the Russian batteries being so placed that their guns could not be brought to bear on vessels "Six squadrons of the Grand Duke of Weimar's hussars, and three Fyotricas of the Cossacks of the Don, made a charge against the Ninety-third Highlanders, whilst eight squadrons of the Duke of Leuchtenberg's hussars and the Cossacks of the Oural advanced on the right against Scarlett's briThe Highlanders having allowed our hussars to approach within musket shot, received their attack by a discharge of grape at short range. But, on the other hand, | first objects of attack were the redoubts their elevation was in their favor, and defended by the Turks, who gave way the plunging shot of the Star Fort after an obstinate resistance; and the caused material damage to the ships. advance of the Russians to carry off the The Constantine battery suffered most: guns captured in them, led to the famous light cavalry charge under Lord "Placed on a jutting promontory, this battery was of the horse-shoe shape, one half Cardigan, as well as to the affair with facing the open sea, the other half the road- the heavy horse under Scarlett, and the stead. The higher platform of this battery repulse of the Russian cavalry by the was without shelter against a fire from the "thin red line,” which has become hisside or rear; and even on the northwest of torical. It is not the only matter of this work, a part of the ground remained al- popular belief that has become historical most undefended, being only commanded by without being founded on fact; and it two guns. We have seen that the English is no more than justice to Lord Clyde took advantage of these imperfections of our to add, that he himself never suppressed armament, by posting their ships in front of the undefended space, and sweeping at close the circumstance that when, instead of range the open battery by a fire in flank and forming square, he drew up the Ninetyrear, so that of twenty-seven guns on the third Highlanders to receive cavalry, he platform twenty-two were soon silenced, and was well aware that they had a rough the gunners, overwhelmed with projectiles kind of fortification in their front.* The and fragments of stone, were compelled to affair is thus described by Todleben : take refuge in the casemates. The front wall of the Constantine battery, however, although riddled with balls, which damaged the sides of ten embrasures, was not traversed by any of the enemy's projectiles. The guns in the casemates remained intact; but of six furnaces for heating red-hot balls, only one escaped destruction. The explosions of three munition-chests placed in the east of the bat-gade. tery contributed in part to the disarrangement of the platform. Fifty-five men were put hors de combat at the Constantine battery five killed and fifty wounded." The Russian coast batteries fired teen thousand shots on this day. Reënforcements had kept pouring in on both sides; on the day when the batteries opened, it is computed that the allied armies exceeded eighty-five thousand, whilst thirty-one thousand had been added to the Russian. Eager to profit by this augmentation of force and lay the foundation for the offensive operations which he meditated on a great scale, Menschikow determined to attack the besiegers on their rear on the side of the Tchorgoune, in the direction of Balaclava. What Todleben calls the unskilful dispositions of the English commander in-chief, were an encouragement to such an enterprise; Lord Raglan having in effect established a vast intrenched camp, out of all proportion to the number of his troops, destined at the same time to carry on the siege of Sebastopol, to cover the chain of heights between Inkermann and Balaclava, and lastly, to defend Balaclava itself. and run. * "The Russians on their left drew back for a moment, and then in one grand line dashed at six-horses' feet; gathering speed at every stride, the Highlanders. The ground flies beneath their they dash on towards that thin red streak toppea with a line of steel (the italics are the author's). The Turks fire a volley at eight hundred yards dred yards, down goes that line of steel in front, and out rings a rattling volley of Minie musketry. The distance is too great; the Russians are not checked, but still sweep onwards through the smoke with the whole force of horse and man, batteries above. With breathless suspense every here and there knocked over by the shot of our one awaits the bursting of the wave upon the line of Gaelic rock; but ere they came within one hundred and fifty yards, another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifles, and carries death and terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. Bravo, Highlanders! well done!' shout the excited spectators; but events thicken. The Highlanders and their splendid front are think of this fact, that the Ninety-third never soon forgotten; men scarcely have a moment to altered their formation to receive that tide of horsemen, 'No,' said Sir Colin Campbell, 'I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep.' The ordinary British line, two deep, cavaliers."-The War, etc., by W. H. Russell, was quite sufficient to receive these Muscovite p. 289. As the Russians came within six hun The and several volleys of musketry; our hussars penetrated nevertheless as far as the enemy's park, placed in the middle of the camp, and intrenched by ditches (fosses). In face of this unexpected obstacle, and already sensibly shaken by the cross-fire of the enemy, our hussars, as well as the Cossacks, were obliged to retire. At the same moment the hussars of the Duke of Leuchtenberg and the Cossacks of the Oural, encountered by the charge of the English dragoons and the grape of a battery of horse-artillery under Scarlett, were also obliged to fall back. But when Scarlett endeavored to follow up his advantage, he fell under a cross fire, and was obliged to fall back in his turn." When Lord Cardigan was leading his devoted band to what seemed to look ers - on an assured disaster, a French general exclaimed: "C'est beau, c'est superbe; mais ce n'est pas la guerre." Todleben, who adopts the staff officer's version of the attendant and preliminary circumstances of the order, confirms the view taken by the Frenchman: fire of our artillery, was thrown into a complete rout. The field of battle was encumbered with the bodies of men and horses. The defeat of the Cardigan brigade made such an impression on the enemy, that the brigade of Scarlett, which had advanced in support, suddenly suspended its movement and turned back." "If on that day," adds Todleben, "the corps of General Liprandi had been reënforced, Balaclava might have fallen into our hands." As it was, the capture of the redoubts, and the destruction of a large part of the English cavalry, produced the most favorable impression on the tired, harassed, and decimated garrison of Sebastopol. The catastrophe of the Alma was forgotten; an unlimited confidence in the superiority of the Russian troops grew up anew, and their morale rose to the highest degree of energy. This newly-awakened spirit was directed to maintain a superiority of fire in the artillery contest which was continued without cessation on either side, and a dashing sally was hazarded. But still the Allies gained ground. The state of things on the 4th November, the eve of Inkermann, is thus described: "Hardly had our cavalry succeeded in forming, when the English cavalry came out from behind the height that had hitherto prevented us from seeing it. Immediately, and without allowing itself to be checked by the well-directed fire of eight guns of the light battery No. 7, and General Jabokitsky's ar"We have related, with the greatest exacttillery, by that of the riflemen of the chas-ness, the operations of the defence, such as seurs of Odessa, and a company of the fourth they occurred to this day; and it has been battalion of light infantry, Cardigan dashed upon the battery of the Cossacks of the Don, who had taken up an advanced position, sabred the gunners, then charged our cavalry, overthrew it, and went further still beyond the line of redoubts in pursuit of our cavalry, which retired towards Tchorgoune. seen from the details into which we have en tered, that it was impossible for the Russians to expect a fortunate result, if the enemy attempted to carry the town by assault, despite of the heroic efforts of its defenders. By dint of the works which the Allies had push"But this brilliant charge brings no deci- No. 4,* their trenches had been advanced to ed with so much energy against the Bastion sive advantage to the issue of the combat, and within sixty-five sajénes (about one hundred cost the English dear. Whilst their cavalry and fifty yards) of the saillant of this bastion, rushed against the battery, the Cossacks aswhich underwent daily terrible damage from sailed their rear, and were nevertheless overthe concentrated fire of the siege batteries; thrown by a squadron of the Eighth Hussars and although the damage was immediately (English), which had been left in reserve. But repaired under the enemy's fire, and the disat the same time three squadrons of the com-abled guns were replaced on the instantbined regiment of lancers were posted up in such a manner as to take the enemy in flank. "However, the English cavalry, carried away by the elation of its first success, was hotly pursuing our cavalry, but at the moment when it least expected to be attacked, the three squadrons of lancers threw themselves on its left flank. This manoeuvre had a decisive success. The English cavalry, stopped in its pursuit, was crushed. Unexpectedly attacked in flank, and finding itself at the same time under the cross-fire of artillery and musketry, it broke its ranks, turned bridle, and, pursued by our lancers and the although the gaps made by wounds or death in the ranks of the garrison were speedily filled up by new combatants, it must be acknowledged that the forces of the defence in the Bastion No. 4 were approaching their last agony. "Remark also that, at this very time, France, England, and Turkey were assembling new troops to be transported to the theatre of war. mentality of the powerful steam fleet at the These, through the instrudisposition of the Allies, could be conveyed *The Flagstaff Battery, or Bastion du Mát. |