The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

The passage of the river was perilous :

Just going into the river we were under cover from the
Russian riflemen, as there was a high bank by the water.
side which protected us. Directly we got into the river,
and were crossing to the road on the opposite side, a very
heavy enfilading fire was poured upon us, both from
cannon and small arms. In the river two of the staff were
shot down ; but Lord Raglan, whose presence of mind
never left him for a moment, turned to one of his staff
and said, " Ah ! if they can enfilade us here, we can certainly
enfilade them on the rising ground beyond. Order up
Turner's battery ! " He then went on, following the
road, which turned away to the right. In a minute
more we were among the French skirmishers,
who looked not a little astonished to see the Eng-
lish Commander-in-Chief so far in advance. A
sudden bend of the road again to the left brought us
under the most infernal fire from some of the gnus pasted,
as I before mentioned, in front of our line. We were in a
sort of lane with high hedges on both sides, and the round
shot came down it in a manner I shall never forget.
What appeared to save us was that almost invariably the
Russians fired too high, as all the shot went just over our
heads. I say all, though more than one horse was killed
in this lane, hut I think always from ricochet shot.
The decisive charge of the Ist Division is
admirably told :
To return to the Ist Division. They were advancing in
beautiful order, and marched straight on the Russian bat-
tery; when half way up the hill the Fusilier Guards were,
to a certain extent, thrown into temporary confusion by
the left of the Light Division, who were retiring. This
momentary check caused them great loss, but, after a
minute or two, they rallied, and soon rejoined their com-
rades. It was at this moment that the guns directed by
Lord Raglan came into action, and, as I before told you,
after the second shot the Russian artillery limbered up and
began to retreat. Thus the heavy cannonade which the
Light Division had been under was at a most important
moment arrested, and thus spared the Guards. I say the
Guards, because the brigade of Highlanders, being more
on the left, were almost entirely out of the line of fire, and
consequently escaped with comparatively trifling loss.
Directly the Russians had withdrawn their guns, three
heavy masses of infantry advanced slowly down the hill. It
was an anxious moment, for, if they only had courage to
charge, their very weight must have swept our thin line
before them. I should any these three columns could not
have numbered less than 9,000 men, for they were three
entire regiments, which as yet had not been into action,
each regiment nominally consisting of 3,000 men; yet
such was the imposing air and perfect formation of the
British troops opposed to them that they never
advanced out of the slowest walk. The Ist Division paused
for a moment—it was only to " lock up " more closely.
Some one said to Lord Raglan," The Guards are going to

1215

retire; " but he knew them better, for he said, " No etc h
thing ; they'll carry the battery. Ns time for us to go and
join them." Lesving directions with Captain Turner to
fire upon the Russian columns of infantry advancing down
the hill opposite against the Ist Division, he descended
into the valley, and rode over it in the direction of the
Guards. Before we had got halfway we saw the let Divi-
sion and the Russian columns approaching towards one
another, at a distance of sixty yards apart ; the brigade of
Highlanders having been brought round so as to take the
Russian columns in flank, the whole division sent in a
withering volley, which perfectly staggered the Russians,
literally knocking over every man in their two front ranks.
The enemy stopped, fired a random volley, turned, and
fled, without another attempt at staying the victorious
course of the British troops. The moment the Russian,
turned, down went the bayonets, and the whole division
charged up the hill, dashing through the battery, and cap-
turing a gun which some Russian artillerymen were in the
act of carrying off. Cheering as they went, they bayoneted
hundreds of the flying enemy. They were followed by the
Light Division, which had been some time re-formed, and
even assisted the Ist Division in repelling the advance of
the Russian masses of infantry. The 2nd Division ad-
vanced also, and charged up the valley; they also cap-
tured a gun and limber complete, besides driving the
enemy like sheep before them.

On the further heights, about a mile and a half from the
Alma, the British troops ceased their pursuit. And then
arose such a cheer !—a cheer from 20,000 victorious men
Even some of the poor wounded fellows joined in it. I
shall never forget that cheer as long as I live ; it was, in-
deed, thrilling. I almost pitied the fallen enemy, it must
have been so galling to them, as I heard a man of the
Guards say to a comrade, " I say, Bill, pleasant for them
poor devils (pointing to some wounded Russians) hearing
our chaps cheer so." The men were tired, and many
almost exhausted for want of water. Lord Raglan rode
up and down the line of troops, the men cheering him
vociferously.
The author charges the French with the
blame of not following up the victory by pur-
suit :

Nothing struck me more during the day than Lord
Raglan's wonderful calmness and-presence of mind during
the whole battle. He rode everywhere, with round shot,
shell, and musket-balls flying about him, with an indif-
ference that was really remarkable ; never got apparently
excited in voice or manner, and might just as well have
been riding in Rotten-row in Hyde-park. Shortly after on
these heights Lord Raglan met Marshal St. Arnaud, where,
after mutual congratulations, Lord Raglan wished very
much that some pursuit should be made of the retreating
Russian army. He offered our cavalry, and I think two
or three batteries of artillery. but said the infantry had
suffered so much that they could not well advance without
weakening too much the English force. Marshal St.
Arnaud replied that he could send no infantry, and that
his artillery had exhausted their ammunition : indeed he
appeared to think that quite enough had been done. Lord
Raglan saw there was no help for it, and therefore much
against his will gave up the pursuit.
To Sir John Burgoyne is given the credit of
suggesting the flank march, which brought
the allies to the south side of Sebastopol.
Lord Raglan instantly adopted the proposal.
Ott occasion of the first bombardment, when
the fleets were to join in the attack, Admiral
Hamelin positively refused to accede to the
proposal of the British admirals to take the
ships as closely to the forte as possible. He
decided not to advance nearer than 2,000 yards
from the forts, and hence the comparative
failure of the naval attack. (i. 285, et seq.)
The account of the battle of Inkermann
occupies fifty pages of narrative. It is admi-
rably written. As on all other occasions,
Lord Raglan, heedless of danger, stationed
himself at those points where his command
might be most advantageous. When the fight
was raging most desperately we read:—
At this time the head-quarter staff suffered severelyffrom
the fire of the enemy, and had especially to mourn the lose
of one of its principal members. General Strangways,
when in the act of receiving orders from Lord Raglan, was
struck by a round shot, which carried off one of his legs
just below the knee. He turned round and asked in a
calm voice for some one to help him off his horse. Major
Adye had already dismounted, and went to his assistance.
He placed the poor old general on the ground, and then
hurried off to procure a stretcher to carry him to the rear.
Almost at the same moment that General Strangways was
mortally wounded, a shell entered Colonel Somerset's
horse just behind the saddle, and burst inside, covering
him (Colonel Somerset) with blood, and splashing several
of the staff around. Wonderful to say, Colonel Somerset
escaped unhurt, except a slight bruise. Colonel Gordon
also had his horse killed under him by a round shot at
this place.
When the guns were brought up—
Lord Raglan remained for some little time watching the
effect of our practice, and by his coolness and sangfroid
encouraged the men in serving the guns. I think, while
he was there, five or six men were killed and wounded
close to him, besides several horses ; but, although a man
of the kindest heart and warmest sympathies, Lord
Raglan, in action, never allows his attention to be taken
off by the casualties around him, and therefore, though in
the midst of this great slaughter, neither his voice nor
manner was apparently changed. Indeed, to such an
extent is this indifference carried, that it is a common
saving among his staff, that " My lord rat* likes being
under fire than otherwise."

1216

There was a moment when it seemed likely
the battle would be lost It was about noun,
when three battalions of French infantry were
brought into action, and were thrown into con-
fusion as they were scathed by the Russian
fire, on reaching the crest of the hill :
I cannot describe to you the sinking sensation one felt
on observing our allies give way ; our first impression was
that they had retired, beaten back by the overpowering
masses of Russian infantry, and consequently that our
thin line of troops had been broken through, if not anni-
hilated. It was the only time that I ever observed Lord
Raglan's countenance change. I confess myself that, for
the moment, I thought the day was lost. Lord Raglan,
with an exclamation of astonishment and annoyance at
the retreat of the French, immediately despatched an
aide-de-camp to General Pennefather, who was on
the left of the line of the 2nd Division, to ascertain the
cause of this, and also to find out how we were getting
on in that quarter. General Pennefather sent word in
reply that he could hold his own perfectly well, and that
he saw symptoms of retiring on the part of the enemy's
infantry. If this movement proved to be a general retreat,
and if he could be reinforced with fresh troops, he said he
would follow the enemy up, " and lick them to the devil."
Lord Raglan was delighted at this spirited answer, and,
riding over to General Canrobert, translated General
Pennefather's words literally to him. General Canrobert,
who had just remounted his horse, after having his arm
bound up, exclaimed, " Ali ! quel brave gargon! quel brave
homme ! quel hon general!"
When fairly engaged with the enemy the
French troops proved themselves worthy of
their ancient fame. But again the author
charges the French with the blame of refusing
to follow up the victory by pursuit.
We come to a passage of the book to which
we entreat our readers' serious attention.
General Sir De Lacy Evans has been cried up
as a hero, and has received a hero's rewards.
What was his conduct immediately after In-
kermann had been won ? We allow the author
to answer the question :
Lord Raglan was shortly after joined by Sir I)e Lacy
Evans, who took upon himself to give his lordship the
most wonderful counsel and advice which, perhaps, ever
fell from the lips of a British general. He urged upon
Lord Raglan the utter uselessness, and, indeed, impracti-
cability, of attempting to hold our present position, sup-
posing the enemy's attack to be renewed, of which there
was every probability. He therefore gave it as his opinion
that there was nothing to he done but for us to raise the
siege, embark the troops in the best way we could, and
evacuate the Crimea. Such was the meaning, if not the
actual words, used by one of the oldest and most expe-
rienced generals we have in the army out here ! Lord
Raglan of course never for one second entertained such a
project ; but, with his usual courtesy, he took the trouble
of pointing oat to Sir De Lacy the absurdity of his propo-
sition. In the first place, even admitting we had gained
no victory, that could not justify the abandonment of our
siege train and material to the enemy, which we should
necessarily be obliged to do from the impossibility of em-
barking it. In the second place, supposing that we had
transport enough to carry all the English troops, what was
to become of the French, as we had brought certainly half
their present force to the Crimea ? Besides this, there
were the Turkish troops unprovided for. Would Sir De
Lacy Evans counsel that our allies should be left in the
lurch ?—not quite an English mode of dealing with our
friends ! Altogether there is no way of explaining this
most extraordinary plan of Sir I)e Lacy Evans. One can
ohly account for it by the fact that he was in a feeble state
of health, and that possibly his illness may have affected
his mind as well as his body.
Yet General Evans was made the champion of
some malcontents in the army, and was to go
to England to expose Lord Raglan's mis-
management.
At a subsequent period Lord Raglan's firm-
ness was put to a severer trial than by General
Evans. It is known that the Emperor Napo-
leon had proposed the plan of a campaign in
the field in the summer of 1855, and we learn
from this book that the plan was approved by
the French and English Governments, and
that orders were sent out to the allied com-
manders to carry it out if practicable. Full
details are given by the author (i. 384). We
refer to the subject here only to notice the
resolution with which Lord Raglan adhered to
his idea of the necessity of continuing the
siege. In spite of the earnest remonstrances
of Generals Canrobert, and the instructions
from home, he refused to give up the English
trenches to the Turks. He would not run the
risk of allowing the Russians the triumph of
capturing British guns. His conduct at this
. crisis of the war was worthy of Wellington
himself. His firmness at last prevailed.
Canrobert, unwilling to incur the respensi-
kility of disobeying the Emperor's orders, re-
signed. and was succeeded by Pelissicr, who
cordially fell in with Lord Raglan's ideas. The
capture of the Alamelon was decided. The
following extract is curious :
A Council of War was held at the French head-quarters,
consisting of the principal officers of engineers and

THE PRESS.

artillery of the English and French armies. Marshal Pe-
lissier was also present, and made a speech to the officers
previous to the council, in which he stated that he was
aware that those whom he then addressed would be very
diligent in devising various schemes for the reduction of
Sebastopol, but be begged to inform them that on the 7th
instant the Mamelon Vert, the Ouvrages Blanca, and the
Quarries must be taken, adding, " Lord Raglan and I have
decided it;" and he, therefore, wished to impress upon
them that they were there only for the purpose of arrang-
ing and settling the best means of carrying this decision
into execution. I understand that here General Bosquet
took upon himself to dissent altogether from the views of
the commander•in•chief, but was immediately stopped by
General Pelissier, who begged to remind him of what he
had just said—that the attack was decided upon. General
Bosquet male no further remark. General Niel then got
up, having in his hand a long written statement, which he
proceeded to read as follows :—" In operations of this
kind it is necessary to commence at the beginning. Now
to commence with the left." General Pelissier here
interrupted him, and pointing to the map said, " We will
suppose the left side not to exist; we will speak as if
there was no left. I know you are all gentlemen of genius
and science, and could give me good advice if I asked it.
But I do not want it. The entire responsibility belongs
to Lord Raglan and to me. I have announced to you our
determination : the Mamelon Vert, the Ouvrages Blanco,
and the Quarries are to be taken on the 7th of June.
Now, if any of you have suggestions to make as to the
means of accomplishing this end, pray state them." You
may imagine after this no one was bold enough to go con-
trary to General Pelissier's wishes, and the French gene.
rals for the first time were astonished to find that they had
a man of spirit and determination as their chief, whose

will was law.

The troops were rejoiced at the prospect of
action :

It was about half-past five p.m. that Lord Raglan,
accompanied by the whole of the staff, left head-quarters
and rode up to Cathcart's•hill, in front of the 4th Division.
On his arrival in the camps, his lordship was greeted with
the most tremendous cheers; all the men turning out of
their huts and tents, crowded round the staff, and made
the whole plateau resound with their loud huzzas.
Nothing could exceed the spirits of the troops. This
excitement had, indeed, commenced the day before, for,
on Lard Raglan passing through the camps on the 6th
instant, to see the opening of our fire, he was vociferously
cheered by the men. General Pelissier also came in for
his share of popularity with the British soldiers, for on
returning from Port Victoria on that evening he was
received with loud plaudits by the Light Division, which
was taken up in succession by each of the English divisional
camps through which he rode. I understand from his
staff that he was much touched with this proof of popu-
larity, and, with tears in his eyes, he turned to an aide-
de-camp and said, " With troops in such high spirits as
these, we cannot but succeed."

The attack succeeded, to the great delight of
Pelissier. We have not seen the following
previously :
Before concluding my letter, I must tell you a curious
fact, showing how necessary it is for a general com-
manding an army in the field to use his own discretion,
even when contrary to the orders that he may receive
from home. The responsibility is of course great, but
his reliance in his own judgment should be greater.
The instance was as follows :—Shortly before General
Pelissier left the French head-quarters to witness the
attack against the enemy's works on the afternoon of
the 7th instant, lie received a telegraphic message from
the Emperor Napoleon, ordering him on no account to
assault the Mamelon, as his Majesty considered that it
would be attended with defeat and disaster. General
Pelissier quietly put the telegram in his pocket, and
shortly afterwards moanted his horse and rode off to
witness the capture of the Mamelon, &c. When all was
over, and he had returned to camp, lie allowed it in
triumph to some officers of his personal staff—a great
contrast to General Canrobert's conduct when he received
the order for the recal of the Kertch expedition.

It is noticeable, that after Lord Raglan's
death, the British army was handled in a far
inferior manner to what it had been when he
was at the head of it. Without wishing to
detract from the soldierly qualities of General
Simpson, it is evident that his disposition of
troops for the attack on the Bth of September
contrasts most disadvantageously with the
preparations made by Lord Raglan for the
attack on the 18th June. Had Lord Raglan
lived to direct the British army on occasion
of the final attack on Sebastopol, it is probable
that the war would have closed with far higher
honour to our arms than was actually the case.
We need not say, after these extracts, how
richly the volumes will pay perusal, or how
important they are to a true understanding of
the war. We think it will be impossible for
any one hereafter to attempt to disparage the
ability of Lord Raglan, or to deny the eminent
services he rendered to his country by his
sagacity and firmness. The time is at hand
when justice must be done to his memory;
and nothing would do greater honour to the
country than a general subscription to raise a
national monument in commemoration of his
invincible fortitude, and our grateful, though
tardy, recognition of it.

SATURDAY,

The Paragreens on a Visit to the Paris Universal
Exhibition. By the Author of " Lorenzo
Benoni," and " Doctor Antonio." London :
Hamilton, Adams, and Co.
THIS little volume is a capital Christmas book,
lively, cheerful, and hearty in its humour. It
has the same freshness and ease as the writer's
former works, which obtained such general
praise, while it exhibits an increased range of
his powers. It is more humorous than witty,
and its pleasantry is not made pungent by
acrid sneers, or cynical criticism. It is the
account of an eminently respectable family,
who resided (we use the past tense) at Peck.
ham, and who were connected with the dis-
tinguished house of "Joliffe, of Hackney," of
whom Alderman Joliffe was the head. The
adventures of Mr. Paragreen, his stately wife,
his daughters, and the young hopeful of the
family, are all related in a style of mirthful
vivacity, which scarcely required the graphic
pencil of Leech for the illustration of the
volume. We give the book its appropriate
praise, when we say 'that none but a soured
spirit could refuse to reward its author with a
laugh at the Paragreens.
Many of our readers must remember the
fearful griefs which they endured on their trip
to Paris, in the eventful year when the Para-
greens invaded that famous city. Some of
them may fancy that they were present at the
following scene at the railway :
"Are you sure the luggage is safe?" suddenly asked
Mrs. Paragreen.
The luggage was the lady's mania.
" Quite safe, my dear, I have got a ticket for it."
" Where ?" inquired the lady anxiously.
"Why, in my waistcoat pocket, with our other tickets."
" Are you quite certain, now, Mr. Paragreen ?—you had
better look before it's too late."

"My dear, I am so jammed."
" Nonsense give me that bag," making a snatch at it.
➢ir. Paragreen put his hand into the right side pocket—
" Bless my heart !" he ejaculated.
" I thought so!" groaned Mrs. Paragreen.
" Here they are !' proclaimed Mr. Paragreen, red as a
furnace, flourishing a thin piece of paper, and six slips of
card.

" I'll bet anything you'll lose them as you did when--"
a great push from behind compromised for an instant the
equilibrium of the speaker, and stopped the phrase.
" It' that nasty fellow outside would only open the door !"
grumbles Mr. Paragreen, who feels horridly hot—having,
besides Emma and Arabella, three umbrellas, four para-
sols, a large bag, and a waterproof garment to take
care of.

The nasty fellow outside does not choose to open the
door, but continues calmly examining the nice crowd in-
side with the expressive eye of an amateur of natural
history scrutinising a collection of caged wild beasts ; in•
deed, he hears yells from within which might lead any one
to suppose that a menagerie was waiting fur first-class
places. The survey over, he takes a turn up and then a
turn down, suddenly starts off on some unknown errand,
as if going away for ever, dashes back like a thunderbolt,
flings the door open, hastily withdraws, and seeks safety
in flight.

Little (lid the Paragreens know what awaited
them at Paris. They were soon taught that
they could not rule people as if they were
ensconced in all their suburban dignity at
Peckham. On their arrival Paris looked—but
let the author's narrative pen record the first
charms of the Lutetia of the Romans :--
It was eight o'clock in the evening. Crowds of people
were sauntering in the streets and on the Boulevards, glad
to breathe the cool air of evening after the sultriness of the
day ; crowds of people sat enjoying their coffee and cigars
in front of cafés; crowds of omnibuses, hackney coaches,
cabs, and private equipages of every kind, crossed and re-
crossed in every direction. English, French, Sardinian,
and Turkish flags, were streaming out from shops and
balconies. Paris, in fact, was looking as lively, coquettish,
and bewitching, as only Paris can look when she chooses.
But most of the witchery of the scene—keenly enjoyed,
though, by the younger Paragreens—was lost for the nonce
on their respectable parents, who sat with their heads oat
of opposite windows, one watching with anxiety the cite-
dine in the van, the other the citadine in the rear. In
this attitude they reached the Hotel de la Cigogne, Rue
St. Honors, recommended by Mrs. Paragreen's cousin,
Alderman Joliffe, who had spent some days there, and
whose lips had pronounced the dictum of " a clean, re-
spect Able, reasonable house," so reverentially inscribed in
Mr. Paragreen's note-book.
We fancy that we see the Paragreens arriving,
little anticipating that they were on the eve
of being fleeced. Their first adventure was
in search of lodgings :
Mr. Paragreen being a practical man who left as little as
possible to chance, alighted and said he would see the
rooms with his own eyes, and settle with the landlord, be-
fore any of the others got out or any of the boxes were
touched. The head waiter of the Hotel de la Cigogne, in
shirt sleeves, white cravat, and red slippers, was sitting
astride a chair, his face to its back, puffing away at a cigar!