The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-14 00:00:00

THE: ATTACK ON BALAKLAVA,

(From the London Gazette Extraordinary of Sunday,
November 12.)

War Department, Nov. 12, four 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 Gtace by General the Lord
Raglan, G.C.B.

(No. 85,)
Before Sebastopol, Oct. 28

My Lord Dnke,—l have the honour to acquaint your
grace that the enemy attacked, the position in the front
of Balakdava at an early hour on the morning of the 25th
instant. The low range of heights that runs across the
plain at the bottom of which the town is placed was pro-
tected by four small redoubts. hastily constructed. Three
of these had guns in them.;. and on 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 disposal for their
occupatibm
The 93rd 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, obli-
gingly- landed from the fleet by Vice-Admiral Dundas. All
these, ineludingthe Turkish troops, were under the imme-
diate orders of Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, whom
I had taken from the first division with the 93rd.

As soon as I was apprised of this movement of the
enemy, I felt compelled to withdraw from before Sebas-
topol the first and fourth divisions, commanded by Lieut.-
Generals his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and
the. Ilbn. Sir George Cathcart, and bring them down into
the plain ; and General Canrobert subsequently reinforced.
these troops with the first division of French infantry and,
the Chasseurs d'Afrique.
The enemy commenced their operations by attacking
the-work on our side of the village of Camara, and, after
very little resistance, carried it.
They likewise got possession of the three others in con,
tiguity to it, being opposed only in one, and that but for
a very short space of time.
The furthest of the three they did not retain, but the
iinmediate abandonment of the others enabled, them to
take possession of the guns in them, amounting,• in the
whole to seven. Those in the three lesser forts were spiked
by the one English artilleryman who was in each.
The Russian cavalry at once advanced, supported by
artillery, in very great strength. One portion of them
assailed the front and right flank of the 93rd, and were.
instantly driven back by the vigorous and steady fire of
that distinguished regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Ainslie.
The other and larger mass turned towards Her Majesty's
heavy cavalry, and afforded Brigadier-General Scarlett,
under the guidance of Lieut.-General the Earl of Lucan,
the opportunity of inflicting upon them a most signal
defeat. The ground was very unfavourable for•the attack
of our dragoons, 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 success-
ful 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, sup-
ported 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, andit 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.

I lin 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 h:ewas bound to
attack at all hazards,, and he accordingly ordered Major-
-IGeneral the Earl of Cardigan to move forward with the
ight 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 advancing
squadrons, and, having passed beyond it, engaged the
Russian cavalry in its rear ; but there his troops were
assailed by artillery and infantry, as well as cavalry, and
necessarily 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 counter-
balanced by the brilliancy of the attack and the gallantry,
order, and discipline which distinguished it, forming a
striking contrast to the conduct of the enemy's cavalry
which had previouslybeen engaged with the heavy brigade.
The Chasseurs d'Afrique advanced on our left and gal-
lantly, 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 enclose copies of Sir Colin Camp.
hell'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 Lieutenant-Colonel
Ainslie, of the 93rd, and Captain Barker,. of the Royal
Artillery; and also to the praise bestowed by the Earl of
Lucan on Matior-General the Earl of Cardigan and Briga-
dier-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 advance, and
at the close of the day the :brigade of Guards of the first
division and the fourth division returned to their origi.
nal encampment, as did the French troops, with the
exception of one brigade of the first division, which
General Canrobert was so good as to leave in support of
Sir Colin Campbell.

The remaining regiments of the Highland Brigade also
remained in the valley.

The fourth divisions has advanced close to the heights,
and Sir George Cathcart caused one of the redoubts to be
re-occupied 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 lower range of heights, and to concentrate our force,
which will be increased by a considerable body of seamen,
to be landed from the ships under the command of Admi-
ral 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 defeme.

I have, &c., RoLA.N.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c.

ENcLost

Bala_Maya, Oct. 27.
Lord,---I have the honour to Tcpwt that the ea.Ya.ll7