The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-14 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

five o'clock, ready for a move. A reconnaiseance was
made towards the Inkerman Lights, with the view of
finding a crossing practicable for the army. Colonel
Alexander only found a single causeway over a
morass, and a bridge over the river with a force on
the opposite side. Lord Raglan, with Sir J. Bur-
goyne's advice, then determined upon one of the
boldest flank marches perhaps ever performed in the
face of an enemy. The whole country between the
Belbek and the Tschernaya, which runs into the
Sebastopol inlet, is covered with one uninterrupted
extensive jungle or forest, intersected by no road but
that leading towards Sebastopol, and another narrow
one on which it would have taken perhaps days for a
large army to advance. We received orders to march
south-south-east through this forest, in order to strike
the high road from Simferopol near Khutor Mac-
kenzie. The wood was so thick that the men could
hardly see each other : not only did men of the same
Jrigade get mixed together, but Highlanders and
Guards, Guards and line, formed for an hour an
apparently inextricable mass of confusion. In the
midst of it we heard firing and several rounds of
cannon in our front. We continued our march, and
soon found that the cause of the firing was the
Scots Greys and some of our artillery in advance
coming upon the high road near Khutor Mackenzie,
where they intercepted a Russian army of some say
15,000 men and a large convoy of provisions and
ammunition. So cowed were the Russians and taken
by surprise, that half their army cut off towards
Simferopol, the rest to Sebastopol. We all came out
of the wood about two or half-past two, at the very
spot where this took place. Every waggon was
destroyed, the flour given up to our men, powder
scattered, cartridges destroyed, camp equipments
thrown over the precipices, clothing, accoutrements,
barrels, and articles of every description strewn along
three miles of road, along which we marched towards
the bridge over the Tschernaya. The whole appear-
ance of the road was more like the result of a battle
than anything else. Their army, in short, was cut
in two, and so divided that they must have spread
terror and increased the already great demoralisation
of the Russian forces, both in Sebastopol and in
other parts of the Crimea. After halting at this
spot for an hour and a halt', to rest the men after
their fatiguing forest march, we continued along the
high road to the bridge across the Tschernaya, a
march of six or seven miles further, leading to
Balaklava, and we reached our bivouac at half-past
eight p.m., having been under arms more than four-
teen hours. The next morning early we pushed on
towards Balaklava, and halted at the entrance of the
pass. The Rifles were sent forward to crown the
heights on each side of the bay, supported by a
brigade of the light division ; on each side, also,
these again were supported by the two brigades of
the Ist division, the Guards going to the right and
the Grenadier Guards taking possession of the village
of Radakoi. Here they remained while the Rifles
and Artillery attacked the small post, which is of
very little strength—an old ruined Genoese castle.
A few shells soon brought them to reason, and the
white flag was hoisted. Lord Raglan had a very
narrow escape, for, on turning an angle of the road
with all his staff, a shell from the fort flew among
them and wounded one of the staff. When this little
affair wes settled the troops retired, except two com-
panies of the Grenadier Guards, who were sent to
protect the houses of the inhabitants and the small
town of Balaklava. So little did the Russians expect
us that the wives and children of many officers who
are in Sebastopol had gone there for safety. The
harbour is quite landlocked, with rocky and very
precipitous hills on each side, but so deep that even
the Agamemnon steamed in without danger.
MEETING WITH THE FLEET.
When we were at our Bolbek bivouac, and it was
decided we should come on and take Balaklava,
young Maxse was sent back to the mouth of the
Katscha, where the fleet was lying. Having to ride
through the country which we had crossed, he only
took a verbal message from Lord Raglan, for fear of
his falling into the hands of the Cossacks. He
reached the fleet at four on the morning of the 27th,
and before twelve the fleet was off Balaklava. The
meeting of the fleet and army here was most cordial.
Sir Edmund Lyons met Lord Raglan on the quarter
deck of the Caradoc. Lord Raglan's face was beam-
ing with joy at the success that has hitherto attended
Our arms.

The official outline of these subsequent proceedings
is given in the following despatch from Lord Raglan,
which reached the War-office on Tuesday night :
Ralaklava, Sept. 28, 1854.
My Lord have the greatest satisfaction in
acquainting your grace that the army tinder my command
obtained possession of this important place on the 2tith
inst., and thus established a new and secure base for our
future operations.
The allied armies quitted their position above the Alma
on the morning of the l:lyd, and moved across the Katacha,
where they halted for the night, and on the following day
passed the Belbeeke ;

967

It then appeared that the enemy had established a work
which commanded the entrazce of the river, and debarred
its use for the disembarkation of troops, provisions, and
material; and it became expedient to consider whether
the line of attack upon the north side should not be aban-
doned, and another course of operation adopted.
It having, after due deliberation, been determined by
Marshal St. Arnaud and myself that we should relinquish
our communication with the Katscha, and the hope of
establishing it by the Belbeck, and endeavour by a flank
march to the left to go round Sebastopol and seize Bala-
klava, the movement was commenced on the 25th, and
completed on the following day by the capture of this place
by her Majesty's troops which led the advance. The
march was attended with great difficulties. On leaving
the high road from the tie!beck to Sebastopol the army
had to traverse a dense wood, in which there was but one
road that led in the direction it was necessary to take.
That road was left in the first instance to the cavalry and
artillery; and the divisions were ordered to march by com-
pass, and make a way fur themselves as well as they could;
and, indeed, the artillery and the light division pursued
the same course as long as it was found to be possible,
but as the wood became more impracticable the batteries
could not proceed otherwise than by getting into the road
above mentioned.

The headquarters of the army, followed by several bat
teries of artillery, were the first to clear the forest, near
what is called, in Major Jarvis's map, Mackenzie's farm
[on the published maps Khuton Alekenzia], and at once
found themselves on the flank and rear of a -Russian divi•
sion, on the march to llablie-Serai.

This was attacked as soon as the cavalry, which had di-
verged a little into a by and intricate path, could be
brought up. A vast quantity of ammunition and much
valuable baggage fell Into our hands, and the pursuit was
discontinued alter about a mile and a half, it being a great
object to reach the Tschernaya that evening. The Rus-
sians lost a few men, and some prisoners were taken,
amongst whom was a captain of artillery.
The ili.trch was then resumed by the descent of a steep
and difficult defile into the plains, through which runs the
Tschernaya River, and this the cavalry succeeded in
reaching shortly before dark, followed in the course of the
night by the light, first, second, and third divisions, the
fourth division having been left on the heights above the
Belbeck till the following day, to maintain our communi-
cation with the Katseha.

This march, which took the enemy quite by surprise,
was a very long and toilsome one, and, except at Macken.
zie's farm, where two wells yielding a scanty supply were
found, the troops were without water, but they supported
their fatigues and privations with the utmost cheerfulness,
and resumed their march to this place on the morning of
the gtith.

As they approached Ilalaklava nothing indicated that it
was held in force; but as resistance was offered to the ad-
vance of the Rifle Brigade, and guns were opened from an
old castle, as the head of the column showed itself on the
road leading into the town, I deemed it prudent to occupy
the two flanking heights by the light division and a
portion of Captain Brandling's troop of Horse Artillery on
the left; movements terminated by the surrender of the
place, which had been occupied by very inconsiderable
numbers of the enemy.
Shortly after we had taken possession we were greeted
by Captain Mends, of the Agamemnon, and soon after by
Sir Edmund Lyons himself.
His co-operation was secured to us by the activity and
enterprise of Lieutenant Masse, of her Majesty's ship
Agamemnon, who reached my camp on the Tschernaya on
the night of the 25th with despatches, and who volunteered
immediately to retrace his steps through the forest, and to
communicate to Sir Edmund the importance I attached to
his presence at the mouth of the harbour of lialaklava the
nest morning, which difficult service (from the intricacy of
the country, infested by Cossacks) he accomplished so
effectually that the admiral was enabled to appear off this
harbour at the very moment that our troops showed them-
selves upon the heights.
Nothing could be more opportune than his arrival, and
yesterday the magnificent ship that bears his flag entered
this beautiful harbour; and the admiral, as has been his
invariable practice, co-operated with the army in every way
possible.
We are busily engaged in disembarking our siege train
and provisions, and we are most desirous of undertaking
the Attack of Sebastopol without the loss of a day. I moved
up two divisions yesterday to its immediate neighbourhood,
when I was enabled to have a good view of the place; and
Lieutenant• General Sir John Burgoyne and General Bisot,
the French chef de genie, are occupied iu reconnoitring it
closely to-day.
The march of the French army on the 2.5 th was still
more fatiguing and prolonged than ours. Being behind
our columns, they could not reach Tschernaya till the
next day, and I fear must have suffered sadly from want
of water.

I regret to have to acquaint your grace that Marsha St
Arnaud has been compelled by severe illness to relinquish
the command of the army. I saw him on the 25th, when
he was suffering very much, and he felt it his duty to resign
the next morning. I view his retirement with deep con-
cern, having always found in him every disposition to act
in concert with me. He has since become much worse,
and is I fear in a very precarious state.

Fortunately, he is succeeded by an officer of high repu-
tation, General Canrobert, with whom I am satisfied I shall
have great pleasure in acting, and who is equally desirous
of maintaining the most friendly relations with me.—l
have, &c., (Signed) Rao
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c.

Accompanying this narrative of military events
Lard Raglan sent a letter in which be adverts to in-
dividual gallantry, and singles out for praise and
recommendation thou officers who bad performed