The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-15 00:00:00

THE CASUALTIES IN THE EAST.

Among the many valuable lives which the operations
in the Crimea have cost us, not the least to be lamented
is that of Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Alexander, who sue-
seeded Brigadier-General Tylden as commanding Royal
Engineer of the army in the East. Colonel Alexander
owed his first sword to the Duke of Kent, and his com-
mission as second-lieutenant was dated July 20, 1813.
From that time his life was one of active service in Canada,
at the Cape, St. Helena (where he was charged with
the duty of superintending the exhuming of the body of
Napoleon), in the West Indies, and the Channel Islands,
where he was on duty when selected for service in the
East. He died of apoplexy in his tent, where he had
flung himself on his bed, without undressing, for a
short sleep, after his return from the trenches. His
death was, no doubt, due to over-exertion—to mental
and bodily wear and tear in the construction of those
English fieldworks before Sebastopol of which Sir J.
Burgoyne reported to Lord Raglan that he had never
known works better executed. To Colonel Alexander
we owe those trenches and batteries, constructed under
singular difficulties of ground, but which, tested by
the Russian artillery as fieldworks never were before,
have so stoutly and successfully stood the trial.
Among the friends of Colonel Alexander there is but
one regret beyond those inseparable from such bereave.
ment—that he did not live to see the achievement to the
consummation of which he had so much contributed ;
but if his death lacked the glory of the battle-field, it was
not the less a soldier's death, encountered at his post, in
harness, front to the foe. The only consolation for the
widow he leaves behind will be to know that her dead
husband's countrymen so look upon his death.
The service has also sustained a most severe loss by the
death of Captain L. E. Nolan, the celebrated writer on
cavalry strategy, who was slain in the affair of the 27th
of October, while acting on the staff of Brigadier Airey,
Quartermaster-General. Captain Nolan for many years
belonged to the 15th (King's) Hussars, in which gallant
regiment he served in India, and returned previous to
his regiment, having been ordered for horn. service.
Major Halkett, of the 4th Light Dragoons, also slain,
was nephew of Sir Colin Halkett, Governor of Chelsea
Royal Hospital.
Lieutenant Morris, of the 17th Lancers, who was so
severely wounded, saw distinguished service in India
under Lords Hardinge and Gough, and holds (if alive)
two medals and a clasp.
Viscount Fitzgibbon, of the Bth (Royal Irish) Hus-
sars, son of the Earl of Clare, is stated to be among the
killed.
Captain Stewart, of the Firebrand steam-frigate,
severely wounded during the naval bombardment of
Sebastopol, on the 18th, having .his arm and side lace-
rated, is the gallant son of Rear-Admiral Houston
Stewart, superintendent at Malta, and nephew of the
Duchess of Somerset. His gallant conduct in rescuing
the Albion, and towing her out under a most
heavy fire, has been a theme of general admiration
in the fleet. She was too close to the shore to be able

to turn, and, being on fire in three places, it was neces-
sary to bring her out of action immediately ; so he cut
away the after towing hawsers and backed out with
her. He had before greatly distinguished himself in
rescuing an Austrian transport from under the guns of
Fort Constantine. In the list of those who suffered is
the name of Mr. Henry Baillie, midshipman of her Ma-
jesty's ship Spiteful, son of Mr. George Baillie, of Mel-
lorstain. Mr. Baillie is described in the official list as
being "wounded severely, having sustained a deep la-
cerated wound by a fragment of a rocket in the upper
and back part of the left thigh." By a letter from Mr.
Henry Baillie, dated from the Naval Hospital, Therapia,
October 24, we are glad to learn that he was rapidly
recovering.

The following letter from the French camp before
Sebastopol appears in the Patric. A French officer
writes :

" The affair took place as follows :—About a score of
Russian battalions and a numerous body of cavalry were
signalled at daybreak. Soon after, the Russian artillery
commenced its fire against the works in front of Bala-
klava. The Turks who occupied them withdrew before the
mass of the enemy. The Russians rushed on the works, and
at the same time sent forward their cavalry towards Bala-
klava, but they found other enemies in front of them. The
brave Scotch waited for them until they were almost hand
to hand, and then poured in their fire ; and the moment
after the Russian cavalry withdrew in the greatest dis-
order. The squadrons at the rear of the column passed
to the right to avoid the fugitives, and advanced on the
,English cavalry which was coming against them. The
Scots Greys then executed an admirable charge against
the Russian cavalry, which it rode down and put corn.
pletely to flight. The Russian cavalry, thus forced
back, came on the Russian infantry, obliged in its
turn to retreat. The English infantry retook two
of the works on the left, and the Russian army, in fill
rout, was going to abandon the two on the right,
whe❑ another charge of the English light cavalry, as
inopportune as possible, although the execution was
heroic, chanted the state of things. The Russians, is
retiring from the two works on the right, were going
perhaps to carry away the seven guns which were there,
when Lord Raglan sent orders to the officer in com-
mand of the cavalry to charge the Russians and retake
the guns. The officer, who carried the order, and who
was killed in the charge of which I am about to speak-,
signifiel Lord Raglan's wishes to Lerd Lucan. Lord
Cardigan, in command of the light brigade, to whom
the order was transmitted, observed that the battery
against which he was to charge was flanked by two others,
with a cross fire o❑ the ground to be traversed ; that
the distance was enormous ; that the infantry would
join its fire to that of the artillery, and that the Russian
cavalry would be able to act in its turn. He was told
that the older was imperative, such as it was sent by
the commander-in-chid. Lord Cardigan set off with
800 men, who conducted themselves like heroes ; they
advanced under a firs of artillery and musketry. The
men who,n the fire did not stop on the way arrived at
the battery, which many went across ; but the horses
were fatigued and blown, and it was found necessary to
again traverse back this piece of ground, ploughed up
by the fire of the enemy ; 430 horses did not return, and
160 men were kille 1, wounded, or made prisoners; the
rest returned on foot."
The same letter says :

" We owe many thanks to the English for their readi-
ness in placing at our service all the means that they
possess for the conveyance of reinforcements. They are,
it is true, interested in this like ourselves, but there ex-
ists in:+ll the relations a cordiality which is remarkable.
Those between the two Generals-in-Chief are perfect.
Lord Raglan has the highest esteem for General Can-
rubert, and shows it by a real affection. A few days
ago, they had a long conference, at the termination of
which Lord Raglan said how happy he was at being able
to entertain on so many points the same opinions as
General Canrobert."