A.D. 1854.]

executed almost as it had been planned, although tion, he died almost in the arms of victory, On the 25th our troops, after crossing the Alma, had to and sank to repose in glory! climb cliffs almost perpendicular, where our of September, feeling the approach of death, African soldiers gave extraordinary proofs of he resigned the command of the army to agility and daring. It was chiefly owing to General Canrobert. In the farewell which these wonderful acts of intrepidity and speed, he addressed to the army, dated from his and, I must also add, to the terror caused by bivouac on the 26th of September, he says, the shells from the steamers among the enemy's cavalry on the extreme right, that General that overcome by the cruel disease against Bosquet's division operated with such brilliant which he had so long struggled, he was success, and was able to attack the centre an obliged to resign the command. He paid General hour after the commencement of the action. a high compliment to his successor, On the other hand, the marshal's two divisions Canrobert, who, he said, "will pursue the after a very sharp action with the enemy's victory of the Alma, and will have the good rifles on the banks of the Alma, were ascending fortune which I had imagined for myselfwith the same boldness those natural ramparts that of leading you to Sebastopol." After where the enemy's centre was posted in the much suffering, he breathed his last on the greatest security. In the meantime the English 29th, in the fifty-third year of his age. army, instead of turning, as at first intended, Though he did not die on the field of the extreme right, made a vigorous attack on the strong intrenchments of the right. The battle, he met a soldier's death; for he Russians, besides numerous field-pieces placed perished at his post, in the resolute perin battery along their lines, had also on this formance of his duty. The particulars of spot twelve 32-pounders, which our brave allies his life have an air of romance about them. succeeded in capturing after a terrible loss. His youth had been adventurous and stormy. In short, the attack commenced at half-past Having entered the army very young, he twelve, and all the positions were carried at afterwards retired from it, and sought a half-past three; the Russian army was in full livelihood upon the stage. Not meeting retreat, and the several corps of which it was with the success he anticipated, he returned composed were in the utmost confusion, cover- to a military life. In the time of honour ing the positions which had just been taken cavalry prevented our taking thousands of prisoners and a great number of cannon. casualties in the allied armies were, I regret to say, very serious, in consequence of the strong positions which they had to carry; our loss, in killed and wounded, amounts to about 1,500, and that of the English from 1,500 to 2,000. The road between the Katcha and the Alma was nearly covered with the enemy's dead, not to mention the thousands which remained on the field of battle. Three of our steam-frigates have been dispatched to Constantinople with our wounded, having also on board some of the enemy, who are treated like our own soldiers. To-day we accompany the army, who are marching on the Katcha.

with their dead and wounded. The want of

I am, with profound respect,
Your Excellency's obedient servant,

The

HAMELIN. The concluding words of the last despatch of Marshal St. Arnaud proved prophetic :"Will not my strength betray me?" He had long been suffering severely from an affection of the heart, and he accepted the command of the French army in the East with the conviction that he could not live long; but yet he thought long enough for glory-long enough to place the colours of his nation on the walls of Sebastopol! Though disappointed in the latter expecta

and prosperity he seems to have remembered
the humble companions of his early career.
Not long before the emperor conferred upon
him the appointment to the command of the
army of the East, he is reported to have
obtained a place in one of the public offices
for an old theatrical comrade of the Porte
St. Martin. A French journal (the Débats)
of him :-During several years he was
says
in the severe campaigns of Africa, and
always made himself remarked by his
bravery and talents. His name is cited in
almost all the combats of the long and
arduous war in that country. Commander-
in-chief of the army in the East, he there
displayed very remarkable talents and ac-
tivity, notwithstanding the bad state of his
health, which had long been extremely
delicate. At Varna he was attacked with
malignant fever, and on two subsequent
occasions with cholera. In the Crimea he
heroically dominated his malady, in order
to fulfil his high office of general-in-chief.
The sentiment of military honour and the
love of glory seem alone to have been able
to maintain his moral energy under the
physical sufferings he endured; and he
commanded in the battle of Alma, saying
that a marshal of France ought to know
how to die on horseback.

239

The remains of Marshal St. Arnaud were taken to Constantinople on board the Berthollet, and conveyed from thence to France. The departed soldier was buried with great military pomp at Paris on the 16th of October, in the chapel of the Invalides. The emperor addressed the following letter of consolation to Madame St. Arnaud :

St. Cloud, October, 26th. Madame la Maréchale,-No one more than myself shares, you know, the grief which oppresses you. The marshal had associated himself to my cause from the day when, leaving Africa to take the portfolio of war, he concurred in re-establishing order and authority in the country. He associated his name to the military glories of France on the day when, deciding to land in the Crimea, despite timid advice, he gained with

Lord Raglan the battle of Alma, and cleared the way for our army to Sebastopol. I have, therefore, lost in him a friend, devoted under difficult trials; and France has lost in him a soldier always ready to serve her in the hour of danger. Doubtless, so many claims to public gratitude and to my own, are powerless to soften a grief like yours; and I simply assure you that I transfer to you and to the family of the marshal the sentiments with which he inspired me.

Accept, Madame la Maréchale, my sincere expressions thereof. NAPOLEON.

Not satisfied with barren expressions of condolence, the emperor ordered his ministers to lay before the council of state a bill for granting to the widow of Marshal St. Arnaud a pension of 20,000 francs, as a mark of national gratitude.*

the legion of honour, and was charged with organising for the foreign legion a battalion chosen from the bands of Spaniards who had taken refuge with Cabrera upon the French territory. Thanks to the persevering activity of the organiser, these remnants of the civil war were very soon ready to take part in the labours of our troops in Algeria. Called to the camp of St. Omer in 1840, he drew up with success, by order of the Duke of Orleans, several chapters of a manual destined for the use of the officers of the

We take from the Moniteur de l'Armée the following sketch of the career of General Canrobert, the successor of the deceased marshal in the command:-If anything could diminish the regret of the country at a moment when it deplores the loss of the illustrious marshal whom death has carried off in the midst of his triumphs, it would be the choice of the young general whom the emperor has intrusted with the task of finishing the work so gloriously commenced on the banks of the Alma. Although the military career of the new commander-light troops. In the north, Captain Canrobert was in-chief of the French troops in the East is generally incorporated with the 6th battalion of foot chasseurs, known, we think it will be of use to recall to mind and returned to Africa in 1841. In that new cam his services, which justify in a striking manner the paign he signalised himself in the combats of the confidence of the head of the state and of the whole mountains of Mouzaia and Du Coutas, as well as in army. François Certain Canrobert was born in 1809, the obstinate struggle which the Beni-Menasser made in the department of Lot, a few leagues from the against our troops. After having attained the rank of village which gave birth to Murat. He entered chief of battalion of the 15th light, on the 22nd of the school of St. Cyr in the month of November, May, 1842, he was placed at the head of the 5th bat1826, and left in one of the first ranks after two talion of chasseurs, which was incessantly in the field years of laborious study. Appointed sub-lieutenant on the banks of the Chetiff, and took part under the of the 47th of the line on the 1st of October, 1828, he orders of General Gentil in the affair of the grottoes was made lieutenant on the 20th of June, 1832, em- and that of Sbeah, and also in several combats on barked for Africa in 1835, and arrived in the pro- the Riou. Part of the year 1842 and the whole of vince of Oran, where the Emir, Abd-el-Kader, after the year 1843 were employed in fresh operations in the unfortunate affair of the Macta, kept our army Africa, and in all of them General Canrobert worthily in check. A short time afterwards he took part in maintained the honour of his battalion. He accomthe expedition of Mascara, in which he began to panied Colonel Cavaignac in the expedition of Ouamake himself known. He followed with his regi- ren Senis, and formed part of the column under the ment the operations which generals Clauzel and direction of General Bourjolly, who, after attacking Letang directed in the province of Oran; the cap- the Flitbas, made some bold excursions in the counture of Tlemcen, the expedition of the Chetiff Aarch- try of the Kabyles of Garboussa. Everywhere the goun, and the Mina; the victualling of Tlemcen, the 3rd and 5th battalion of chasseurs were led by the combats of Sidi-Zacoub, Tafna, and Sikkah. These commander, Canrobert, with singular success. He affairs displayed his brilliant military qualities, and had been an officer of the legion of honour for two raised him to the rank of captain on the 26th of years when Colonel de St. Arnaud, who, in 1845, April, 1837. He went in the same year to the pro- succeeded Colonel Cavaignac in the command of vince of Constantine, where the Duke de Nemours Orleansville, employed him against Bou-Maza. The and General Damrémont made preparations to re-chief of the 5th battalion gave glorious co-operation venge a deep insult. He received a wound in the leg at the assault of that place by the side of Colonel Combes, an old soldier of the island of Elba, to whom he was orderly officer, and who was mortally wounded at the breach. Before he died, Colonel Combes recommended the young captain to Marshal Valée as an officer full of promise. General Canrobert returned to France in 1839, decorated with

in the affairs of Bahl, Oued-Metmour, Oued-Gri, and Oued-Senzig. In the former he succeeded with 250 bayonets in keeping at bay more than 3,000 men, who could not break his ranks. For this exploit he was appointed lieutenant-colonel on the 26th of October. He was soon afterwards closely blocked up in the town of Tenez. where he had succeeded Colonel Claparède. Eight months of continual

The following circumstances in connection assisted from the field (where he had lain. with the battle should not be omitted. A for two days severely wounded) by two French correspondent relates the annexed marines having begged for some water, account of desperate bravery displayed on he was lifted down; and when he had slaked both sides: An Englishman had just his thirst, as one of the marines was in the planted a camp flag under the fire of the act of turning round to pick him up again, enemy, in order to mark out the position to the ungrateful villain shot him dead. His be taken by a division which was advancing. companion resented the cowardly and cruel A Russian left his ranks, ran up to the act; for, seizing a small spar, he beat out Englishman, killed him, and took the flag. the Russian's brains. It seems almost inAnother English non-commissioned officer, credible, but it is unhappily true, that observing the movement of the Russian, several of the Russian wounded fired at our ran in pursuit of him, shot him with his wounded who were lying disabled near revolver, recovered the flag, and ran as fast them. In consequence of this ferocious as he could back to his ranks; on reaching display of hatred, the English broke the which he dropped down dead, having re- muskets of the Russian wounded and priceived no less than seven balls in his body soners off at the stock, and took their before he fell. cartridges away from them. One Russian officer was found lying dead on the field with a little dog sitting between his legs, a position from which nothing could move him. Another Russian officer- a mere youth-lay with hands clasped in the attitude of prayer.

In the despatch of Marshal St. Arnaud, it is related that Prince Mentschikoff's carriage and coachman were taken. In the carriage were found the full particulars of the English army; a circumstance which

manded with most daring courage one of the attacking columns. Out of four officers and sixteen soldiers who followed him to the breach, sixteen were killed or wounded by his side. As a reward for his conduct he was appointed commander of the legion of honour on the 11th of December, 1849. After having again distinguished himself at the battle of Narah, he was promoted to the rank of general of brigade on the 13th of January, 1850, came to Paris, commanded a brigade of infantry there, and was attached in the quality of aide-de-camp to the prince

After the battle our soldiers behaved with great humanity to the Russian wounded, and supplied them with water from their own canteens. In a few instances this noble conduct met with the most ungrateful return. One ruffian deliberately fired at and wounded an artilleryman who had just given him some water to quench his burning thirst. An indignant guardsman, who witnessed the act, instantly avenged it. In another instance, a Russian officer was being struggles brought about the pacification of the coun-cha, on the 8th of November. On the 26th he comtry, and the superior officer to whom this result was due obtained the rank of colonel, upon the scene of his conquests. After having commanded the 2nd regiment of the line, he entered the 2nd of the foreign legion on the 31st of March, 1848, and occupied Bathna. General Herbillon intrusted him at this period with the command of a strong column, with orders to attack and intimidate the mountaineers of the Aures. This order was promptly executed. Colonel Canrobert surprised the enemy at the fort of Djebel-Chelia, defeated him, drove him, sword in hand, as far as Kebech, in the Amer-president of the republic, and appointed general of Kraddon, and made prisoner of the bey, Ahmed. | On his return to Bathna he went to Aumale, and took the command of the regiment of Zouaves. In this new post he had again occasion to act vigorously against the Kabyles and the tribes of the Jurjura, whom he succeeded in reducing to submission. But it was particularly in 1849 that Colonel Canrobert displayed an energy above all eulogium. The cholera attacked the garrison of Aumale, whom the events taking place at Zaatcha had led under the walls of that place. What courage, what presence of mind were requisite in the commander of the Zouaves, who thus conducted his soldiers in the midst of the dangers of a daring march, and compelled unceasingly to be the painful witness of their pain! He was everywhere exhorting the sick, attending to their wants, and in passing he sent a reinforcement to the town of Boa Sada, the garrison of which was blockaded, and deceived the enemy, who blocked the passage, by announcing that he brought the plague with him, and that he should infect his assailants. At length he arrived at ZaatVOL. IV. 21

division on the 14th of January, 1853, at the same time retaining his functions as aide-de-camp of the emperor. Three months afterwards he was appointed to command a division of infantry at the camp of Helfaut, and almost at the same time he was selected as inspector of the 5th arrondissement of that force. Placed latterly at the head of the 1st division of infantry of the army of the East, he took a most active part after the commencement of that war, by preparing the difficult operation of landing, and by powerfully co-operating in the victory of the Alma, where he received another wound. It is known that Marshal de St. Arnaud, who could duly appreciate him, had the most entire confidence in his talents and bravery. It is true that the young general had neglected nothing in order to merit that confidence. Before his departure he devoted himself to deep study respecting the scene of the present expedition, as if he had had the presentiment of his future destiny. Such is the general officer for whom is reserved the honour of planting the French flag on the walls of Sebastopol."

241

line were sunk, and Prince Mentschikoff had retired to the bottom of the bay with the remaining vessels, declaring that he would burn them if the attack continued. The allied commanders had given him six hours to consider, inviting him at the same time to surrender, for the sake of humanity. A French general and three Russian generals, all wounded, have arrived at Constantinople, which city was to be illuminated for ten days!""

Sebastopol had fallen into the hands of the being at Silistria, the despatches had to be allies. Reflection was lost in joyous excite- forwarded to him at that place. The Tatar ment; or the actual impossibility of the cir- announces the capture of Sebastopol: 18,000 cumstance might have forced itself on the Russians were killed and wounded; 22,000 conviction of those who readily believed what made prisoners; Fort Constantine was dethey so ardently hoped. Some were in-stroyed, and other forts, mounting 200 guns, credulous; and we, amongst others, ventured taken. Of the Russian fleet, six sail-of-theto express our unbelief of so flattering a report. It was useless: people only listened to sceptics with pity, and suspected them of being devoid of a proper sense of patriotism. What, said they, could be clearer than such telegraphic communications as these: "A French steamer coming out of the Bosphorus, met another coming from the Crimea, which announced that she was carrying to Constantinople the intelligence of the capture of Sebastopol. The steamer from the Bosphorus touched at Varna to announce this event, of which we expect hourly an official confirmation."-" Another and fuller despatch from Bucharest of the 28th, announces that Sebastopol was taken on the 25th, with all its munitions of war, together with the Russian fleet. The garrison, to which a free retreat, after laying down their arms, was offered, preferred to remain as prisoners of war. This intelligence is confirmed by a despatch from Vienna, which announces as authentic the defeat of the Russians on the Alma, the capture of Sebastopol, and the surrender of the garrison." The next telegraphic communication from Vienna was singularly explicit:-"The French embassy and the Austrian government have received from Bucharest, under date six, P.M., September 30th, the following telegraphic despatch:-To-day at noon a Tatar arrived from Constantinople, with despatches for Omar Pasha; his highness

The circumstantiality of these and similar communications at length won for them an almost universal belief, not only in London, but in most of the cities of Europe. The enthusiasm they created was overthrown by the arrival, on the 5th of October, of correct intelligence, from which it was seen that, so far from Sebastopol having been taken, it had not even been attacked, and that the fleet, reported to have been destroyed, was riding at anchor within its harbour. The telegraph had spread over Europe the inventions of dishonesty, or the delusions of exaggeration. Unhappily, British blood was destined to flow in torrents, and thousands of English and French to lay beneath the soil of the Crimea before the obstinacy of the czar could be broken, and before it could be said of the adamantine fortress of Sebastopol-" Behold her glory is in the dust, her pride is overthrown, and her towers are ruins."

CHAPTER XVIII.

A COLLECTION OF LETTERS FROM PERSONS ENGAGED IN, OR SPECTATORS OF, THE GLORIOUS BATTLE OF THE ALMA; CRUEL NEGLECT OF OUR WOUNDED SOLDIERS; STATE OF THE COLOMBO; HORROR EXCITED IN ENGLAND, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PATRIOTIC FUND; MISS NIGHTINGALE AND HER STAFF of nurses.

In the foregoing chapter we have recorded the events of the memorable and illustrious battle of the Alma, in which British troops showed that they had not lost aught of their courage, endurance, and other high military

qualities, during forty years of peace. Our account necessarily omits much that is interesting, together with many of those individual cases of heroism which, on such a day, must have occurred. In presenting at