The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES

FROM

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.

(FROM THIS EVENING'S GAZETTE.)
ADMIRALTY, AUG. 28.
'Despatches, of which the following are copies or extracts,
have been received from Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier,
K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships and
Tassels in the Baltic :
No. 380.

Bulldog, off Bomarsund,
August 19, 1854.
beg to inclose a letter from Rear-Admiral
Plumridge, who was stationed, with the Hecla and the
French steamer Cocyte (commanded by Lieutenant de
Vaissean A. Georgette dn. Bnisson,) on the north side of
Bomarsund.
2. I had intended to have brought this squadron
through the Presto Channel to have shelled the north side
of, Bomarsund, but when the breaching batteries were
placed he could not take that station without endangering
the men in the French batteries ' • he, therefore, very
wisely took up a position so that he had the Presto Tower
and Bomarsund in a line, and did good service against the
Presto Tower, which I afterwards examined. He was
rather too close, being within range of the enemy's fire,
and received some damage, but no one was,hurt.
3. The ships I stationed to the southward were out of
range of the enemy's guns, and received no damage ; but
the shot and shells from the 10-inch guns, together with
the fire from the four French mortars, which never missed,
and the excellent fire from Captain Pelham's battery, to-
gether with the preparations the enemy saw in progress, I
presume expedited the surrender.
4. Had the enemy held out till the following morning,
when the breaching battery, judiciously placed by the
French Engineer (General Niel) withing 400 yards of the
rear of 'the fort, and the ships the French and English
Admirals intended to place in their flank, the fortress
would have been reduced to ashes.
r have the honour of enclosing lists 'of the whole
British Force landed, and of casualties, together with a
list of prisoners and guns captured, being no less than 112
mounted, 3 mortars, 7 field pieces, and 79 not mounted.
6. The Commissioners are now taking an account of the
stores, and they are preparing plans not only of the bat-
teries in existence but of those in progress, which I shall
send home as soon as possible.
7. This has been a most arduous and laborious service,
and I have great reason to be satisfied with the great ex-
ertions of all the officers, seamen, and marines, and their
orderly conduct.
8. General Jones speaks iu the highest terms of the con-
duct of Colonel Graham and his marines. The firing of
the seamen and marines and marine artillery, under Capt.
Ramsay, was most precise ; he himself was slightly
wounded.
9. The shells thrown by the ships were most destruc-
tive, and had the fortress resisted till the following day
when all was ready on shore, they would have been irre-
sistible.—l have, &c., CHAS. NAPIER.
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.

No. 10.
RESPECTING OPERATIONS AT BOILIRSUND.
Her Majesty's ship Blenheim, Bomarsund,
August 17, 1831.
Sir,—lt is with great pleasure that I have to report to
you, for the information of the Commander-in-Chief, the
exceeding good conduct and gallantry displayed by the
officers and men under my command on shore at Blenheim
Battery, during the attack on Bomarsund on the 15th and
16th inst. when under a very heavy fire of shell and shot
during the greater part of this period.
All deserve the highest praise, and I name in the mar-
gin* the two officers and captain of gun.
I have, &c.,

FK. Puralt, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Henry D. ChadRE
s,D C.B.

Edinburgh, off Bomarsund, Aug. 18, 1854.
Submitted for the consideration of the Commander-in-
Chief.

H. D. CHADS, Rear-Admiral.
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.U.B.

Leopard, at Bomarsund, Aug. 17,1854.
Sir,— Observing on the 16th inst. the Presto Tower's
fire was harassing the constructors of General Jones' bat-
tery, I moved (in obedience to your orders) the Leopard,
Heels, and French steamer Cocyte into a delightful seques-
tered position, screened from observation by the trees on
the neck of land to the eastward of the tower, having the
great Bomarsund Fort and it in one, so that our over shot
and shell should fall to the lot of Bomarsund.

The simultaneous opening fire from the throe broadsides
was the first intimation the tower inmates had of on
movements, and I had the satisfaction of seeing (at times
from aloft) the steadiness and precision with which the
shot and shell were delivered from each vessel. I only re-
gret that the trees alluded to obscured us all from your
view, as I feel almost assured this bit of service would have
been deemed worthy of better notice than it becomes me
to give at so short a distance from your flag. It is how-
ever, Sir, my most gratifying duty to state, on behalf of
the whole of the officers and ships' companies, that I en-
tertain the most lively admiration of their exertions, as
well as of the exemplary animation exhibited by Captains
Hall and Giffard, and Lieutenant de Vaisseau A. Georgette
du Buisson, of his Imperial Majesty's steam-vessel Cocyte.
I have, Stc,

HANWAY PLITURIDGE,
Rear-Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8.,
Commander-in• Chief, &c. &c. kc.

_ .__...., ....
In Camp, Bomarsund, Aland Islands,
Siit,—l havyeourthehononr to aAcuquga.'isnttlBYoluBs4that in com-
pliance with directions, I landed at Bomarsund. on
the Bth instant, in command of a battalion of Royal
Marines, and placed myself under theorders
r
commandingo of Brigadier-
Generalthe Jones, RE
brigade. ' ', the general officer
The brigadier-gener 1 •
yesterday's date, latahnkae'd hthrellffits7nntemoirer ocl
officers and men
conduct during
Royal Marines under my commandene
for their good
also ng the period they hav
employed on shore, as un
for the cheerful and vie iteng
ed the various labo-
manner in which they a
performed
perform, and which
none duties they were calla'
has contributed so greatly to thTnsuccessful results which
have been obtained, I have onl to bear my testimony to
allotted to them.
their zeal and steadiness in theYperformance of every duty
der the direction
The artillery companies of the corrieoui
of Captain Ramsay, R.N.with
Poore, and Hewett, R.M.A.A, performed their
plaawbey,
The exactness and precision of their fire frommeirrathaneacFaotfwtteehrylle.
reflected great credit on the officers M co
several gunei.
The divisional companies were repeatedly exposed to
heavy fire of round and grape as well as from the mini:
rifle. The casualties have been few, for which we have to
be thankful to a divine providence.
I beg to bring to your favourable notice the zeal and
energetic conduct of the two officers appointed by brigade
orders of the 9th instant, to perform the duties of field
officers, viz.:—Major I\iolloth and Captain Heriot, R.M.,
of my brgacie, Major Captain W. C. P. Elliott, whose
exertions in support of my orders call forth my warmest
thanks.
I beg also to assure you that the captains of companies,
subalterns, non-commissioned officers and men, did their
duties in a manner highly satisfactory to me.
Lieutenant Frases, R.M. acted as the adjutant, and
Lieutenant Lennox as my orderly officer, and I have great
pleasure in bringing them both under your favourable con-
sideration as deserving officers, together with Assistant-
Surgeon Daniel John Duigan, and the other medical offi-
cers employed under m orders who evinced the greatest
willingness and
pr•mpy titude in the execution of their
duties.—l have,
&c.,

F. GRAHAM,
Colonel, Royal Marines, A..D.C., in
commnd of Brigade in Camp.
Vico-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B
&0., Commander-in-Chief.

----_._

Read-Quarters, Bomarsund,
SIB,—I beg leave to enclose a August 19, 1834.
copy of a Brigade Order

* Fran. A. Closes, lieutenant Wildmanevenoa
M t); John Farrell, chief lnati mat, 3.4,1a tin&
v*VV,4