their sympathy in the sufferings of the wounded, they never ceased, from the close of the battle till we left the ground this morning, to provide for the sick and wounded, and to carry them down to the beach-a labour in which some of the officers even volunteered to participate; an act which I shall never cease to recollect with the warmest thankfulness. "I mention no names, fearing I might omit some who ought to be spoken of; but none who were associated with us spared any exertion they could apply to so sacred a duty. inst., on which occasion they carried a most formidable position, defended by large masses of Russian infantry and a most powerful and numerous artillery. "Their conduct was in unison with that of our gallant allies, whose spirited and successful attack of the left of the heights occupied by the enemy cannot fail to have attracted their notice and admiration. "The commander of the forces thanks the army most warmly for its gallant exertions. He witnessed them with pride and satisfaction, and it will be his pleasing duty to report, for the queen's information, how well they have "Sir Edmund Lyons, who had charge of the whole, was, as always, most prominent in rendering assistance and providing for emergen-earned her majesty's approbation and how glocies." riously maintained the honour of the British name. "I enclose the return of killed and wounded.* It is, I lament to say, very large; but I hope, all circumstances considered, that it will be felt that no life was unnecessarily exposed, and that such an advantage could not be achieved without a considerable sacrifice. "I cannot venture to estimate the amount of the Russian loss. I believe it to have been great, and such is the report in the country. "The number of prisoners who are not hurt is small; but the wounded amount to eight or "Lord Raglan condoles most sincerely with the troops on the loss of so many gallant officers and brave men, whose memory it will be a consolation to their friends to feel will ever be cherished in the annals of our army. "J. B. B. ESTCOURT, The following despatches were received by the lords commissioners of the Admiralty They contain from Vice-admiral Dundas. nine hundred. Two general officers-Major-intelligence as to the proceedings of her generals Karganoff and Shokanoff-fell into our hands. The former is very badly wounded. majesty's fleet in the Black Sea during the action: "I will not attempt to describe the movements of the French army-that will be done by an abler hand; but it is due to them to say that their operations were eminently successful, and that under the guidance of their distinguished commander, Marshal St. Arnaud, they manifested the utmost gallantry, the greatest ardour for the attack, and the high military qualities for which they are so famed. "This despatch will be delivered to your grace by Major Lord Burghersh, who is capable of affording you the fullest information, and whom I beg to recommend to your especial notice. "I have, &c. RAGLAN. "His grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c." This despatch was addressed to the English minister of war, and through him, therefore, to the country; but the following general order was addressed to the brave British troops, by whose exertions the victory had, to a great extent, been gained : "Head-quarters, Alma River, "Sept. 22nd, 1854. "The commander of the forces congratulates the troops on the brilliant success that attended their unrivalled efforts in the battle of the 20th • Lists of killed and wounded, though important in a general's despatch, are here omitted as possessing but an evanescent interest, and therefore not admissible in an historical work. Attack of the Russian intrenchments on the Alma by the allied armies. “ Britannia—off the Alma, Sept. 21st. "Sir,-In my letter of the 18th inst. I reported to you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that the allied armies were ready to move, and I now beg you will acquaint their lordships that, on the morning of the 19th, they marched to a position about two miles north of the Alma river, where they halted for the night; the French and Turks on the right, close to the sea, and the English to the left, about four miles inland. "The Russians, with some 5,000 or 6,000 cavalry and artillery, and 15,000 infantry, made a demonstration north of the river, but returned on the approach of the armies, and recrossed the river at sunset. "About noon on the 20th the allies advanced in the same order to force the Russian position and intrenchments south of the Alma. This was effected by four o'clock, the Russians retreating apparently to the eastward of the main road to Sebastopol. "The Russian left fell back before the French very rapidly, and their batteries on the right were carried by the bayonet by the English. "Our loss has necessarily been severe, and is estimated at about 1,200 killed and wounded; that of the French at about 900. "The Russian loss has also been great. Two 233 general-officers and three guns were captured by our men; but we have few prisoners beyond the wounded, in consequence, it is believed, of our deficiency of cavalry. "Lieutenant Derriman, of the Caradoc, accompanied the staff of General Lord Raglan during the action, and I also sent Lieutenant Glynn, of this ship, to convey any message to me from his lordship. "All the medical officers of the fleet (excepting one in each ship), 600 seamen and marines, and all the boats, have been assisting the wounded, and conveying them to the transports that will sail for the Bosphorus as soon as possible. "I believe it is the intention of the allied forces to move to-morrow; and the Sampson, which I detached last night with the Terrible, off Sebastopol, has signalled that the Russians were retreating on Sebastopol, and that they have burnt the villages on the Katcha. "I have, &c., "J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-admiral, "The Secretary of the Admiralty." Movements of the Fleets and Armies. "Britannia-off the Katcha, Sept. 23rd. "Sir,-I beg you will inform the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that since my letter to you of the 21st instant, the men and boats of the fleet have been employed in bringing from the field (about four miles distant), and carrying on board the transports, the English and Russian officers and men wounded in the battle of the Alma, as well as the sick of the army: "All the medical officers of the different ships have been zealously and usefully occupied in attending them, and I have been obliged to send several assistant-surgeons in the vessels with the wounded to Constantinople. "The Vulcan and Andes, with 800 wounded and sick, sailed for Constantinople yesterday, and to-day the Orinoco and Colombo, with 900, including some sixty or seventy Russians, will follow. "Another vessel (by the request of Lord Raglan) with about 500 wounded Russians, will also proceed, under charge of the Fury, to land them at Odessa. "On the night of the 21st inst. the Russians made a very great alteration in the position of their fleet in Sebastopol. I enclose a report made by Captain Jones, of the Sampson; and I propose attacking the outer line the first favourable opportunity. Captain Jones also reports that great exertions appear to be making to strengthen the land defences, as well as those by sea. "New batteries on both sides of the port have been erected, defending the entrances and line of coast. One to the north has heavy guns of a range of 4,000 yards, two shots having Artillery Creek. "The topgallant-masts of these are on deck, and sails unbent. "The ship without masts is lying across Artillery Creek; inside is a two-decker ready for sea, and bearing an admiral's flag at the mizen." Head of Harbour. "The ships at the head of the harbour, which had hitherto been lying with their broadsides to the entrance, are now lying with their heads out. "1, on the north a two-decker. 2, a two-decker. 3, a two-decker. 4, a two-decker. 5, a two-decker. 6, a three-decker at the entrance of the Dockyard Creek. 7, a three-decker bearing an admiral's flag at the fore. "Above these are two ships; one appears to be a line-of-battle ship and the other a frigate." Steamers. "Five steamers under the northern shore. Three small steamers at the head of the harbour, and four in Careening Bay." General Observations. "Dockyard Creek shuts in with Northern Fort bearing S.E. E. Observed about 500 infantry marching towards the town from the direction of Balaklava. 'Noticed about sixty men employed on brow of signal hill, and carrying mould from brink of cliff to Square Fort. "3.45 P.M.-Cape Constantine and ships in one bearing, S. & W." Sinking of the Russian ships at the entrance of the harbour of Sebastopol. "Britannia-off the Katcha, Sept. 24th. "Sir,-In my letter of yesterday, I reported the extraordinary change that had taken place in the position hitherto maintained by the enemy's fleet in the harbour of Sebastopol, and I now beg you will acquaint the lord's commissioners of the Admiralty that the same afternoon, on the appearance of the allied fleets in sight of Sebastopol, the whole of the vessels moored across the harbour were sunk by the Russians, leaving their masts more or less above water, and I went last evening to the mouth of the harbour to assure myself of this singular event. "Captain Drummond has examined the harbour this morning, and reports that the lower mast-heads of the ships are generally above water; that the passage is closed, except perhaps a small space near the shoal off the north battery, and the double booms inside are thus rendered more secure. "Eight sail-of-the-line are moored east and west, inside of the booms, and three of the ships are heeled over to give their guns more elevation to sweep over the land to the northward. "An intelligent seaman, a deserter, who escaped from Sebastopol on the 22nd, had partly prepared me for some extraordinary movement. He had informed me that the crews of the ships moored across the harbour (to one of which he had been attached) had been landed, with the exception of a very few in each ship; that the vessels were plugged ready for sinking; that the guns and stores were all on board; and that the other ships were moored under the south side to defend the harbour from attack from the northward. He reported that the battle of Alma had greatly dispirited the Russians; that the troops had retreated on Sebastopol without a halt; and that he believes the whole Russian force not to exceed 40,000. The man's statements were clear, and on points that came under his own observation were mostly corroborated, and I consider reliance may be placed on his information generally, considering the means his station in life afforded of enabling him to obtain it. At the request of Lord Raglan, I have sent him on shore to act as a guide to the army on their approach to the environs of Sebastopol. "The allied armies moved this afternoon to take up a position to the south of the port of Sebastopol, and the fleet will move so as to meet their arrival there. "I have, &c., J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-admiral." The following eloquent and dramatic despatch, which is peculiarly French in its style, was addressed after the battle of which it is a description, to the Emperor of France. "No one," said the Moniteur, can read without emotion this simple recital of a great victory, where the general-in-chief speaks of every one except himself." Field of Battle of Alma, Sept. 21st. Sire,The cannon of your majesty has spoken; we have gained a complete victory. It is a glorious day, sire, to add to the military annals of France, and your majesty will have one name more to add to the victories which adorn the flags of the French army. The Russians had yesterday assembled all their forces, and collected all their means, in order to oppose the passage of the Alma. Prince Mentschikoff commanded in person. All the heights were crowned with redoubts and formidable batteries. The Russian army reckoned 40,000 bayonets, from all points of the Crimea; in the morning there arrived from Theodosia 6,000 cavalry and 180 pieces of heavy and field artillery. From the heights which they occupied, the Russians could count our men man by man from the 19th to the moment when we arrived on the Bubbanach. On the 20th, from six o'clock in the morning, I carried into operation with the division of General Bosquet, reinforced by eight Turkish battalions, a movement which turned the left of the Russians and some of their batteries. General Bosquet manoeuvred with as much intelligence as bravery. This movement decided the success of the day. I had arranged that the English should extend their left, in order at the same time to threaten the right of the Russians while I should occupy them in the centre, but their troops did not arrive in line until half-past ten. They bravely made up for this delay. At half-past twelve the line of the allied army, occupying an extent of more than a league, arrived on the Alma, and was received by a terrible fire from the tirailleurs. In this movement the head of the column of General Bosquet appeared on the heights, and I gave the signal for a general attack. The Alma was crossed at double-quick time. Prince Napoleon, at the head of his division, took possession of the large village of Alma, under the fire of the Russian batteries. The prince showed himself worthy of the great name he bears. We then arrived at the foot of the heights, under the fire of the Russian batteries. There, sire, commenced a real battle along all the line-a battle with its episodes of brilliant feats of valour. Your majesty may be proud of your soldiers: they have not degenerated: they are the soldiers of Austerlitz and of Jéna. At half-past four the French army was everywhere victorious. All the positions had been carried at the point of the bayonet to the cry of "Vive Empereur!" which resounded throughout the day. Never was such enthusiasm seen; even On our left the English met with large masses the wounded rose from the ground to join in it. of the enemy and with great difficulties, but everything was surmounted. The English attacked the Russian positions in admirable order under the fire of their cannon, carried allies the English, and your bayonets have carried formidable and well-defended positions. Soldiers! you will again meet the Russians on your road, and you will conquer them as you have done to-day, to the cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" and you will only stop at Sebastopol: it is there you will enjoy the repose which you will have well deserved. Field of battle of Alma, Sept. 20th. Fuller particulars of the battle were contained in the following additional despatches from Marshal St. Arnaud to the French minister at war: Head-quarters, Bivouac of the Alma, Sept. 21. M. le Maréchal,-My telegraphic despatch of yesterday gave you a brief summary of the results of the battle of the Alma. The accompanying sketch, hastily done as it is, will give you a more complete idea of it. From it you will be enabled to judge of the difficulties which we have had to overcome in the capture of those formidable positions. The course of the river Alma is winding, with steep banks, and with fords few and difficult of passage. The Russians had posted in the bottom of the valley, covered with trees, gardens, and houses, and in the village of Bouliouk, a mass of sharpshooters, who were well covered, armed with rifles, and who received the heads of our columns with a galling and continuous fire. The flank movement of General Bosquet, commanding the 2nd division, and which that officer executed on the right with much intelligence and vigour, had fortunately prepared the forward and direct march of the two other divisions, and of the English army. Nevertheless, the position of that general officer, who for a long time found himself alone on the heights with a single brigade, might be endangered, and General Canrobert had, in order to support him, to make a vigorous turn in the direction indicated in the sketch. I had him supported by a brigade of the 4th division, which was in reserve, while the other brigade of the same division, following General Bosquet, proceeded to support him. them, and drove off the Russians. The bravery | Moskowa. You have rivalled in courage your of Lord Raglan rivals that of antiquity. In the midst of cannon and musket shot he displayed a calmness which never left him. The French lines formed on the heights and the artillery opened its fire. Then it was no longer a retreat, but a rout; the Russians threw away their muskets and knapsacks in order to run the faster. If, sire, I had had cavalry I should have obtained immense results, and Mentschikoff would no longer have had an army; but it was late, our troops were harassed, and the ammunition of the artillery was exhausted. At six o'clock in the evening we encamped on the very bivouac of the Russians. My tent is on the very spot where that of Prince Mentschikoff stood in the morning, and who thought himself so sure of beating us that he left his carriage there. I have taken possession of it, with his pocketbook and correspondence, and shall take advantage of the valuable information it contains. The Russian army will probably be able to rally two leagues from this, and I shall find it to-morrow on the Katcha, but beaten and demoralized, while the allied army is full of ardour and enthusiasm. I have been compelled to remain here in order to send our wounded and those of the Russians to Constantinople, and to procure ammunition and provisions from the fleet. The English have had 1,500 men put hors de combat. The Duke of Cambridge is well; his division and that of Sir G. Brown were superb. I have to regret about 1,200 men hors de combat, three officers killed, fifty-four wounded, 253 sub-officers and soldiers killed, and 1,033 wounded. General Canrobert, to whom is due in part the honour of the day, was slightly wounded by the splinter of a shell which struck him in the breast and hand, but he is doing very well. General Thomas, of the division of the prince, is seriously wounded by a ball in the abdomen. The Russians have lost about 5,000 men. The field of battle is covered with their dead, and our field hospitals are full of their wounded. We have counted a proportion of seven Russian dead bodies for one French. The Russian artillery caused us loss, but ours is very superior to theirs. I shall all my life regret not having The 3rd division marched right to the centre had with me my two regiments of African of the position, having the English army on its chasseurs. The Zouaves were the admiration left. It had been arranged with Lord Raglan, of both armies; they are the first soldiers in that his troops should make on their left a the world. flank movement, analogous to that which General Bosquet effected on his right, but, incessantly menaced by the cavalry, and with great numbers of the enemy's troops posted on the heights, the left of the English army had to the execution of that part of the plan. give up The general movement began at the moment when General Bosquet, protected by the fleet, appeared on the heights. The gardens, from which an incessant fire of Russian sharpshooters poured, were before long occupied by our Accept, sire, the homage of my profound respect and of my entire devotedness. MARSHAL A. DE ST. ARNAUD. The following order of the day was also addressed by the marshal to his troops :Soldiers-France and the emperor will be satisfied with you. At Alma you have proved to the Russians that you are the worthy descendants of the conquerors of Eylau and of the |