The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-13 00:00:00

BATTLE OF BALAKLAVA.

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

(FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY OF
YESTERDAY, NOVEMBER 12.).

WAR DEPART NIENT, Nov. 12, 1854,
4 o'clock p.m.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day
received two despatches, with Enclosures, of which
the following are copies, addressed to his Grace by
General the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
(No. 85.)

Before Sebastopol, Oct. 28, 1854.

My Lord Duke,—l have the honour to acquaint
your Grace that the enemy attacked the position in
the front of Balaklava at an early hour on the
morning of the 25th inst.
The low range of heights that runs across the
plain at the bottom of which the town is placed
was protected by four small redoubts hastily con-
structed. Three of these had guns in them, and
ou a higher hill, in front of the village of Camara,
in advance of our right flank, was established a
work of somewhat more importance.
These several redoubts were garrisoned by
Turkish troops, no other force being at my dis-
posal for their occupation.
The 93d Highlanders was the only British
Regiment in the plain, with the exception of a
part of a battalion of detachments composed of
weakly men, and a battery of artillery belonging to
the Third Division ; and on the heights behind our
right were placed the Marines, obligingly landed
from the fleet by Vice-Admiral Dundas. All these,
including the Turkish troops, were under the im-
mediate orders of Major-General Sir Colin Camp- '
bell, whom I had taken from the First Division
with the 93d.

As soon as I was apprised of this movement of
the enemy, I felt compelled to withdraw from
before Sebastopol, the First and Fourth Divisions,
commanded by Lieutenant-Generals his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge and the Honour-
able Sir George Cathcart, and bring them down
into the plain ; and General Canrobert subse-
quently reinforced those troops with the First
Division of French Infantry and the Chasseurs
d'Afrique. _

The enemy commenced their operations by at-
tacking the work on our side of the village of Ca-
mara, and, after very little resistance, carried it.
They likewise got possession of the three others
in contiguity to it, being opposed only in one, and
that but for a very short space of time.
The farthest of the three they did not retain,
but the immediate abandonment of the others en-
abled them to take possession of the guns in them,
amounting in the whole to seven. Those in th•
three lesser forts were spiked by the one English
artilleryman who was in each.

The Russian cavalry at once advanced, sup-
ported by artillery, in very great strength. One
portion of them assailed the front and right flank
of the 93d, and were instantly driven back by the
vigorous and steady fire of that distinguished regi-
ment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ainslie.
The other and larger mass turned towards her
Majesty's heavy cavalry, and afforded Brigadier_
General Scarlett, under the guidance of Lieutenant-
General the Earl of Lucan, the opportunity of in-
flicting upon them a most signal defeat. The ground
was very unfavourable for the attack of our Dra-
goons, but no obstacle was sufficient to check their
advance, and they charged into the Russian column,
which soon sought safety .in flight, although far
superior in numbers.

The charge of this brigade was one of the most
successful I ever witnessed, was never for a moment
doubtful, and is in the highest degree creditable to
Brigadier-General Scarlett and the officers and men
engaged in it.
As the enemy withdrew from the ground which
they had momentarily occupied, I directed the
cavalry, supported by the fourth division, under
Lieutenant-General Sir George Cathcart, to move
forward, and take advantage of any opportunity to
regain the heights ; and, not having been able to
accomplish this immediately, and it appearing that
an attempt was making to remove the captured
guns, the Earl of Lucan was desired to advance
rapidly, follow the enemy in their retreat, and try
to prevent them from effecting their objects.

In the meanwhile the Russians had time to re-
form on their own ground, with artillery in front
and upon their flanks.
From some misconception of the instruction to
advance, the lieutenant-general considered that he
was bound to attack at all hazards, and he accord-
ingly ordered Major-General the Earl of Cardigan
to move forward with the light brigade.
This order was obeyed in the most spirited and
gallant manner. Lord Cardigan charged with the
utmost vigour; attacked a battery which was
firing upon the advanced squadrons ; and, having
passed beyond it, engaged the Russian cavalry in
its rear ; but there his troops were assailed by ar-
tillery and infantry, as well as cavalry, and neces-
sarily retired, after having committed much havoc
upon the enemy.
They effected this movement without haste or
confusion ; but the loss they have sustained has, I
deeply lament, been very severe in officers, men,
and horses, only counterbalanced by the brilliancy
of the attack, and the gallantry, order, and disci-
pline which distinguished it, forming a striking
contrast to the conduct of the enemy's cavalry,
which had previously been engaged with the heavy
brigade.

The Chasseurs d'Afrique advanced on our left,
and gallantly charged a Russian battery, which
checked its fire for a time, and thus rendered the
British cavalry an essential service.
I have the honour to enclope copies of Sir Colin
Campbell's and the Earl of Lucan's reports.
I beg to draw your Grace's attention to the terms
in which Sir Colin Campbell speaks of Lie utenant-
Colonel Ainslie, of the 93d, and Capt. Barker, of
the Royal Artillery; and also to the praise bestowed
by the Earl of Lucan on Major-General the Earl
of Cardigan and Brigadier-General Scarlett, which
they most fully deserve.
The Earl of Lucan not having sent me the names
of the other officers who distinguished themselves,
I propose to forward them by the next opportunity.

- -
The enemy made no further movement in ad-
vance, and at the close of the day the brigade of
Guards of the Ist division, and the 4th division
returned to their original encampment, as did the
French troops, with the exception of one brigade
of the Ist division, which General Canrobert was
so good as to leave in support of Sir Colin Camp-
bell.

The remaining regiments of the Highland brigade
also remained in the valley.
The fourth division had advanced close to the
heights, and Sir George Cathcart caused one of the
redoubts to be reoccupied by the Turks, affording
them his support, and he availed himself of the
opportunity to assist with his riflemen in silencing
two of the enemy's guns.
The means of defending the extensive position
which had been occupied by the Turkish troops in
the morning having proved wholly inadequate, I
deemed it necessary, in concurrence with General
Canrobert, to withdraw from the louver range Of
heights, and to concentrate our force, which will
be increased by a considerable body of "amen, to
be landed from the ships under the authority of
Admiral Dundas, immediately in front of the
narrow valley leading into Balaklava, and upon
the precipitous heights on our right, thus affording
a narrower line of defence.
I have, (te.,
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,

RAGLAN.

&c., &c.,

Enclosures.
Balaklava, Oct. 27, 1854.
My Lord,—l have the honour to report that the
cavalry division under my command was seriously
engaged with the enemy on the 25th instant, dur-
ing the greater part of which day it was under a
heavy fire ; that it made a most triumphant charge
against a very superior number of the enemy's
cavalry, and an attack upon batteries which, for
daring and gallautu, could not be exceeded. The