The Press. — London, England, 1854-11-18 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 18, 1854. cannon unspiked, and, in some cases, even loaded. The instant the Turks fled the Russians pushed on, and occu• pied the redoubts, and, turning the cannon, opened a heavy fire of shot and shell upon the flying Mussulmans. At the same time masses of infantry were collected in rear of the redoubts, while a force of 11,000 cavalry (1,000 Cossacks and about 4,000 Hussars) formed on a level space on their flanks. The sight of the enemy in such overpowering force, holding the batteries (four in number), anti pro tected on their flanks by such a mass of cavalry, instantly checked the advance of our troops. It was not now a question of whether we should be able to retake the redoubts on our right, but whether our centre would be able to hold their own until reinforcements came up from the camp. Our position at this time was certainly critical. The following brilliant narrative of the day's proceedings is from the pen o: the Times corre spondent - - - - - • At half•past seven o'clock an orderly came galloping in to the head-quarters' camp from Balaklava, with the news that at dawn a strong corps of Russian horse, supported by guns and battalions of infantry, had marched into the valley, and had already nearly dispossessed the Turks of the redoubt No. 1 (that on Canrobert's-hill, which is farthest from our lines), and that they were opening fire on the redoubts Nos. 2,3, and 4, which would speedily be in their hands unless the Turks offered a stouter resist ance than they had done already. Orders were despatched to Sir George Cathcart and to H.R.H. the Duke of Cam'Adge to put their respective divisions, the 4th and the lst, in motion for the scene of action, and intelligence of the advance of the Russians was also furnished to General Canrobert. Immediately on receipt of the news the general commanded General liosquet to get the third division under arms, and sent a strong body of artillery and some WO Chas.seurs d'Afrique to assist us in holding the valley. Sir Colin Campbell, who was in command of Balaklava, had drawn up the 93rd Highlanders a little in front of the road to the town at the first news of the ad vance of the enemy. The marines on the heights got under arms ; the seamens' batteries and marines' batteries, on the heights close to the town, were manned, and the French artillerymen and the Zouaves prepared for action along their lines. Lord Lucan's little camp was the scene of great excitement. The men had not had time to water their horses ; they had nut broken their fast from the evening of the night before, and had barely saddled at the first blast of the trumpet, when they were drawn up on the slope behind the redoubts in front of their camp to operate on the enemy's squadrons. It was soon evident that no reliance was to be placed on the Turkish infantry or artillerymen. All the stories we had heard about tbeir bravery behind stone walls and earthworks proved how differently the same or similar people fight under different circumstances. When the Russians advanced the Turks fired a few rounds at them, got frightened at the distance of their supports in the rear, looked round, received a few shots and shell, and then " bolted," and fled with an agility quite at variance with commonplace notions of Oriental deportment on the battle-field. But Turks on the Danube arc very different beings from Turks in the Crimea, as it appears that the Russians of Sebastopol are not at all like the Russians of Silistria. Soon atter eight Lord Raglan and his staff turned out and cantered towards the rear of our position. The boom ing of artillery, the spattering roll of musketry, were heard rising from the valley, drowning the roar of the siege guns in front before Sebastopol. As I rode in the direction of the firing over the thistles and large stones which cover the undulating plain that stretches away towards Bala klava, on a level with the summit of the ridges above t, I observed a French light infantry regiment (the 27th, I think) advancing with admirable care and celerity from our right towards the ridge near the telegraph-house, which was already lined by companies of French infantry, while mounted officers scampered along its broken outline in every direction. General Bosquet, a stout soldierlike-looking man, who reminds one of the old genre of French generals as depicted at Versailles, followed, with his staff and a small escort of Hussars, at a gallop. Faint white clouds rose hem and there above the hill from thecannonade below. Never did the painter's eye rest on a more beautiful scene than I beheld from the ridge. The fleecy vapours still hung around the mountain top, and mingled with the ascending volumes of smoke ; the patch of sea sparkled freshly in the rays of the morning sun, but its light was eclipsed by the flashes which gleamed from the masses of armed men below. Looking to the left towards the gorge, we beheld six compact masses of Russian infantry, which had just de bouched from the mountain passes near the Tschernaya, and were slowly advancing with solemn stateliness up the valley. Immediately in their front was a regular line of artillery, of at least twenty pieces strong. Two batteries of light guns were already a mile in advance of them, and were playing with energy on the redoubts, from which feeble puffs of smoke came at long intervals. Behind these guns in front of the infantry were enormous bodies of cavalry. They were in six compact squares, three on each flank, moving down en echelon towards us, and the valley was lit up with the blase of their sabres and lance points and gay accoutrements. In their front, and extend ing along the intervals between each battery of guns, were clouds of mounted skirmishers, wheeling and whirling in the front of their march like autumn leaves tossed by the wind. The Zouaves close to its were lying like tigers at the spring, with ready rifles in hand, hidden chin-deep by the earthworks which run along the line of these ridges on our rear, but the quick-eyed Russians were mantenvring on the other side of the valley, and did not expose their columns to attack. Below the Zouaves we could see the Turkish gunners in the redoubta, all in confusion as the shells burst over them. Just as I came up the Russians had carried No. 1 redoubt, the farthest and most elevated THE PRESS. of all, and their horseman were chasing the Turks across the interval which lay between it and No. 2. At that mo ment the cavalry, under Lord Lucan, were formed in glittering masses—the light brigade, under Lord Cardigan, in advance; the heavy brigade, under Brigedier•General Scerlett, in reserve. They were drawn up just in front of their encampment, and were concealed from the view of the enemy by a slight " wave "in the plain. Considerably to the rear of their right the 93rd Highlanders were drawn up in line, in front of the approach to Balaklava. Above and behind them, on the heights, the marines were visible through the glass, drawn up uuder arms, and the gunners could be seen ready iu the earthworks, in which were placed the heavy ships' gnus. The 93rd had originally been advanced somewhat more into the plain, but the instant the Russians got possession of the first redoubt they opened fire on them from our own guns, which in flitted some injury, and Sir Colin Campbell " retired " his' men to a better position. Meantime the enemy advanced his cavalry rapidly. To our inexpressible disgust we saw the Turks in redoubt No 2 fly at their approach. They ran in scattered groups across towards redoubt No. 3, and towards Balaklava, but the hoise•hoif of the Cossack was too quick for them, and sword and lance were busily plied among the retreating herd. The yells of the pursuers and pursued were plainly audible. As the Lancers and light cavalry of the Russians advanced they gathered up their skirmishers with great speed and in excellent order—the shifting trails of men, which played all over the valley like moonlight on the water, contracted, gathered up, and the little pelulun in a few moments became a solid column. Then up came their guns, in rushed their gunners to the abandoned redoubt, and the guns of No. redoubt soon played with deadly effect upon the dispirited defenders of No. 3 redoubt. Two or three shots in return from the earthworks, and all is silent. The Turks swarm over the earthworks and run in confusion towards the town, firing their muskets at the enemy as they run. Again the solid column of cavalry opens like a fan, and resolves itself into a "long spray " of skirmishers. it laps the flying Turks, steel flashes in the air, and down go the poor Moslem quivering on the plain, split through fez and musket-guard to the chin and breast-belt. There is no support for them. It is evident the Russians have been too quick for us. The Turks have been too quick also, for they have not held their redoubts long enough to enable us to bring them help. In vain the naval guns on the heights fire on the Russian cavalry ; the distance is too great for shot or shell to reach. In vain the Turkish gunners in the earthern batteries which are placed along the French entrenchments strive to pro tect their flying countrymen ; their shot fall wide and short of the swarming masses. The Turks betake themselves towards the Highlanders, where they check their flight and form into companys on the flanks of their allies. As the Russian cavalry on the left of theirline crown the hill across the valley they perceive the Highlanders drawn up at the distance of some half mile, calmly waiting their approach. They halt, and squadron after squadron flies up from the rear, till they have a body of some 1,500 men along the ridge—Lancers, Dragoons, and Hussars. Then they move en echelon in two bodies with another in reserve. The cavalry who have been pursuing the Turks on the right are coming up to the ridge beneath us, which conceals our cavalry from view. The heavy brigade in advance is drawn up in two lines. The first line consists of the. Scots Greys and of their old companions in glory, the Enniskillens ; the second of the 4th Royal Irish, of the sth Dragoon Guards, and of the Ist Royal Dragoons. The light cavalry brigade is on their left, in two lines also. The silence is oppressive ; between the cannon bursts one can hear the champing of bits and the clink of sabres in the valley below. The Russians on the left drew breath for a moment, and then in one grand litre dashed at the Highlanders. The ground flies beneath their horses' feet; gathering speed at every stride, they dash on towards that thin red streak topped with a line of steel. The Turks fire a volley at eight hundred yards, and run. As the Russians come within six hundred yards, down goes that line of steel in front, and out rings a rolling volley of Minie musketry. The distance is too great; the Russians are not checked, but still sweep onwards with the whole force of horse and man, through the smoke, here and there knocked over by the shot of our batteries above. With breathless suspense every one awaits the bursting of the wave upon the line of Gaelic rock; but ere they come within 150 yards, another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries death and terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. " Bravo, High landers ! well done," shout the excited spectators ; but events thicken. The Highlanders and their splendid front are soon forgotten, men scarcely have &moment to think of this fact that the 113 rd never 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, was quite sufficient to repel the attack of these Muscovite cavaliers. Our eyes were, however, in a moment turned on our own cavalry. We saw Brigadier-General Scarlett ride along in front of his massive squadrons. The Russians— evidently corps d flite—their light blue jackets embroidered with silver lace, were advancing on their left, at an easy gallop, towards the brow of the hill. A forest of lances glistened in their rear, and several squadrons of grey-coated dragoons moved up quickly to support them as they reached the summit. The instant they came in sight the trumpets of our cavalry gave out the warning blast which told us all that in another moment we should see the shock of battle beneath our very eyes. Lord Raglan, all his staff and escort and groups of officers, the Zouaves, French generals and officers, and bodies of French infantry on the height, were spectators of the scene as though they were looking on the stage from the boxes of a theatre. Nearly every one dis mounted and sat down, and not a word was said. The Russians advanced down the hill at a slow canter, which they changed to a trot arid at last nearly halted. Their Mat line was at least double the length of ours—it was three times as deep. Behind them was a similar line equally 1087 strong and compact. They evidently despised their insig nificant-looking enemy ; but their time was come. The trumpets rang out again through the valley, and the Greys and linniskilleuers went right at the centre of the Russian cavalry. as lightning flashes through • cloud, the Greys and Enniskilleners pierced through the dark masses of Russians. The shock was but for a moment. There was a clash of steel and alight play of sword-blades in the air, and then the Greys and the redcoats disappear in the midst of the skaken and quivering columns. In another moment we see them emerging and (hulling on with diminished numbers, and in broken order, against the second line which is advancing against them as fast as it can to retrieve the fortune of the charge. It was a terrible moment. " God help them ! they are lost ! " was the ex clamation of more than one man and the thought of many. With unabated fire the noble hearts dashed at their enemy. It was a fi ght of heroes. The fi rst line of Russians , which had been smashed utterly by our charge, and had lied off at one flank and towards the centre, were coming back to swallow up our handful of men. By sheer steel and courage Enniskillener and Scot were winning their desperate way right through the enemy's squadrons, and already grey hurees and redcoats had appeared right at the rear of the second mass, when with irresistible force, like one bolt from a bow, the let Royals, the 4th Dragoon Guards, and the sth Dragoon Guards rushed at the remnants of the first line of the enemy, went through it as though it were made of pasteboard, and, dashing on the second body of Russians as they were still disordered by the terrible assault of the lire). and their companions, put them to utter rout. This Russian horse in less than five minutes after it met our dragoons was tbiug with all its speed before a force certainly not half its strength. A cheer burst from every lip— officers and men took off their caps and shouted with delight, and, thus keeping up the scenic character of their position, they clapped their hands again and again. Lord Raglan at once despatched Lieutenant Cumin, aide-de-camp, to convey his congratulations to Brigadier Scarlett, and to say, " Well done." The gallant old officer's face beamed with pleasure when he received the message. "I beg to thank his lordship very sincerely," was his reply. The cavalry did not long pursue their enemy. Their loss was very slight, about thirty-five killed and wounded. After the charge, Captain the Hon. Arthur Hardinge came galloping up to Lord Raglan with the news of what the cavalry had done. He had been sent with orders to Lord Lucan, and at the moment of the charge he had joined the Greys and dashed with them into the Russian columns. He was an object of envy to all his friends on the staff while he described in animated language the glorious events of those brilliant five minutes. At ten o'clock the Guards and Highlanders of the first division were seen moving towards the plains from their camp. At 1'1.40 the fourth division also took up their position in advance of lialaklava. The cavalry were then on the left front of our position, facing the enemy; the light cavalry brigade was on the left flank forward ; the heavy cavalry brigade en echelon in reserve, with guns on the right ; the 4th Dragoons and sth Dragoons and Greys on the left of the brigade, the Enniskillens and 9rd Dragoons on the right. The fourth division took up ground in the centre; the Guards and Highlanders filed oft towards the extreme right and faced the reduubtr, from which the Russians opened on them with such guns as had nut been spiked. At 10.50 General Canrobert, attended by his staff and Brigadier-General Rose, rode up to Lord Raglan, and the staffs of the two generals and their escorts mingled toge ther in praise of the magnificent charge of our cavalry, while the chiefs apart conversed over the operations of the day, which promised to be one of battle. The Russian cavalry, followed by our shot, had retired in confusion, leaving the ground covered with horses and men. In carrying an order early in the day, Mr. Blunt, Lord Lucius interpreter, and son of our Consul in Thessaly, had a narrow escape. His horse was killed ; he seized a Rus sian charger as it galloped past riderless, but the horse carried him almost into the Russian cavalry, and he only saved himself by leaping him into a redoubt among a num ber of frightened 1 arks who were praying to Allah on their bellies. I should mention here that the Turks who had been collected on the flanks of the 93rd fled at the approach of the Russians without tiring a shot I At 10.55 a body of cavalry, the Chasseurs d'Atrique, passed down to the plain, and were loudly cheered by our men. They took up ground in advance of the ridges on our left. And new occurred the melancholy catastrophe which rills us all with sorrow. It appears that the quarter master-General Brigadier Airey, thinking that the light cavalry had net gone far enough in front when the enemy's horse hail fled, gave an order in writing to Captain Nolan, 15th Hussars, to take to Lord Lucan, directing his lord ship "to advance " his cavalry nearer to the enemy. A braver soldier than Captain Nolan the army did not pos sess. A matchless horseman and a first-rate swordsman. he held in contempt even grape and canister. He rode off with his orders to Lord Lucan. I should premise that as the Russian cavalry retired, their infantry fell back towards the head of the valley, leaving men in three of the re doubts they had taken, sod abandoning the fourth. They had also placed some guns on the heights over their posi tion on the left of the g.:rge. Their cavalry joined the re serves, and drew up in six solid divisions, in an oblique line, across the entrance to the gorge. Six battalions of infantry were placed behind them, and about thirty guns sere drawn up along their line, while masses of infantry were also collected on the hills behind the redoubts on our right. Our cavalry had moved up to the ridge across the valley, on our left, as the ground was broken in front. When Lord I,ucan received the order from Captain Nolan and had rend it, he asked, we are told, " Where are we to advance tor' Captain Nolan pointed with his finger to the line of the Russians, and said, "'There are the enemy, and there ale the guns, sir, before them; it is your duty to take them ;" or similar words. Lord Lucan, with re luctance, gave the order to Lord Caftan to album arm