The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-28 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE OF BOMARSUND.

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A.u16.--The cannonade upon the long fort
. g•
having become so warm, that the Governor seeing
that he was entirely surrounded, was constrained
to surrender, and at 1 p.m. the white flag of truce
was thrust out from one of the embrasures.
The Edinburgh, Bulldog, and Driver immediately
hoisted a similar flag to the fleet to suspend firing,
while Sir Chas. Napier and Admiral Chads proceeded
in 0, small unarmed boat to the shore. It was a period
of ,breathless anxiety, for the advanced Chasseurs
and some few English sailors were seen mounting
the rocks, and eagerly pressing on to the very gates
of the fortress. General Baraguay d'Hillers and his
staff at the same time wound round the roadway
and galloped up to the fort. The General motioned
the soldiers to remain off a few yards, for fear of
treachery, and at length the Governor, General
Bodisco, came forth to parly, but finding that
9.n unconditional surrender was demanded, he
delivered up his sword to the English Admiral
and French General. A French aid-de-camp was
then depatched to order a general advance of the
army, and at the same moment the Royal Marines
and Artillery, and the remainder of the Chasseurs,
came scrambling down the ridges. They at once
entered the fortress, surrounded and took charge of
the magazine, and the troops pouring down either
entered or drew up in line outside.
It was a scene of singular interest to behold the
conquerors animated with victory, and contrast the
dejected air of the Russian soldiers as they bent
forth from the embrasures looking sullenly upon
them. Under the walls of this huge fortification
the ground was completely bestrewed with 841 b.
shot, broken shells, grape and canister intermixed
with enormous sheets of iron that had been dislodged
from the roof, and the granite walls have been
broken away in thousands of places. In the interior,
which-was a large square and parade ground, the fatal
missiles, and heaps of broken granite and brick-
:work, bespoke the terrible vigour of the siege.
The Commanders then demanded the arms, which
the prisoners brought and piled up iii the square,
near to the furnace where their red-hot shot had
been heated, and the soldiery were scouring every-
nook and corner of the place, and posting senti-
nels therein. The prisoners having collected their
personal baggage, were ordered to be immediately
removed on board the men of war. This occupied
about half an hour, and the ceremony of playing
them out took place. The Commanders-in-Chief,
Sir Charles Napier and General Baraguay d'Hilliers,
with Admiral Chads, Captain Ramsay, Captain
Pelham, Captain Yelverton, General JOnes, the
Colonelf of the French Regiment, the Hon. Capt.
Cochrane (aide-de-camp to the French Commander),
Lieutenant Agnew and Lieutenant Chads (Flag
Lieutenants), with a brilliant staff of French officers
on horseback, were drawn up in a space of ground
on the outside. The whole army lined the way for
800 yards, extending from the gateway to the mole,
or landing place, and they stood with loaded guns
and fixed bayonets, the Royal Marines and marine
artillery being ranged on one side of the entrance,
and the Chasseurs on the opposite. Between
this file of men the prisoners came forth two by
two, the drums and fifes of the marines striking
up national tunes, which were taken up by each re-
giment in the rear. The. Russians looked dispirited
and careworn, the only repose they could obtain
for five days having been by the side of their
guns. At intervals a few drunken shouts
ccaped from the fort. A partial revolt had'arisen
previous to their surrender, and on seeing the
army enter many had rushed to the spirit casks:
These men were the last that could be gd,...out,z
and on hearing the music they commenced their!
national pastime, and ludicrously danced a Polkaa
through • the whole line. Ono man was brtititikta
out ; between . two French
_, soldiers. 441440
wretch "had been discovered attempting to fire
the powder magazine when in a drunken fit. I
have heard that the following day he was shot.
The large pinnaces .and cutters from the
squadron rapidly embarked the men, and i