Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-12-28

Stlll so not IN the rear anu Ou Tie lett
toward Sevastopol, that it was thought
necessary to keep strong reserves tc
meet any emergency that might arise
Though it was daylight, the fog still
hung so thick that it was impossible
to distinguish anything correctly. unless
within q few yards distance. In fact,
unless actually with the troops in action,
it was impossible to see how the battle
was going. 1 went twice into action
with our regiments, in nope of see
kng things more distinctly, but l am
perfectly willing to confess that the
awful rapidity with which the men fell.
and the shots whistled, disturbed my
composure far more than the most
dense fog could have done.
The rattle of the musketry was deaf
ening. The incessant volleys and eff
fects of the file firing dispersed the fog,
but replaced it with the thick white
smoke of gunpowder. which hid every
thing equally well. At this time the
enemy, who were losing ten men to
our one. showed no sign of giving way.
On the contrary, they advanced toward
the wall. firing volleys with as much
coolness and regularity as if on parade.
l am bound to say no troops could have
behaved more splendid than the Rus
slams. They appeared utterly insensi-
BILE to the fear Of anything but charge.
When threatened with that, as / have
said before, they dispersed in all direc-
tions. 49, --... 49,. -. r---.t
About this time our batteries of artil-
lery came hotly into the fight against
the enemies battery on the bill, which
was doing us considerable amount of
mischief Under. the splendid manage
ment of General:Strangways, they soon
so far turned the fortune of the day as
to leave their infantry, attacking ours
beyond the wall, entirely without sup
port. Advantage was instantly taken
of the change to advance the goth and
47th regiments to the right, for the pur-
pose of retaking the two-gun Battery.
These two regiments splendidly upheld
the fame of the English troops. In
spite of a tremendous cross-6re, they
advanced at the point of the bayonet,
and as they neared the battery, poured
in one tremendous volley and charged.
In less than a minute the Russians were
driven out. with fearful loss. Yet,
hardly were they clear of the battery,
when the Russians rallied again, and
returning round the spot. poured in vol
ley after volley into the columns of the
gallant goth and 47th, and at the same
time the Russian artillery reopened on
the battery in such manner as neither
friend nor foe could hold it. Under
these circumstances the Goth and 47th
were compelled to fall back, and the
enemy again occupied the Two-gun
Battery for a moment. This turn OF
possession was, however, but brief; our
fellows again dashed up at it, and again
they literally massacred all in the place.
The battery itself, and allits approaches.
were now covered with English and
Russian corpses and wounded. The
latter were few in the extreme, as when
ever the enemy occupied the contested
post. they bayoneted all our fellows
who gave the least sign of life. This
is no attle-feld rumor, but fact, for
the truth of which can myself youch;
for, later in the day, when the battle
seemed going against US, l saw the Rus
slams killing the wounded who remained
on their part of the ground.
And now a tremendous struggle en-
sued for this position. The number of
the enemy in and around the battery
was at least 5000, yet the Coldstreams
charged and broke their way through
all opposition, and got to the work
The instant they had done so, the enemy
seemed to redouble their efforts to take
and keep the place. Fresh regiments
came up the hill, and threw themselves
into the battery from all points; but the
Coldstreams held their ground, fighting
with perfect desperation. The battery
was now completely encircled in front,
flank, and rear; and, as the Cold
streams say, every man in the place
gave himself up for lost. and determined
to sell his life dearly. Three times did
the Russians throw themselves upon the
battery, and by the sheer weight OF
their masses surmount and cross the
walls, yet each time they were driven
back again. The melee was frightful.-
So close were the antagonists, that after
once firing there was no time to load
The men then stood up and charged
with the bayonets. or beat each other
down with the butts of their muskets.--
Each time the Russians were repulsed
they left heaps of dead behind. and it
was over the corpses of their comrades
that they advanced each time to fresh
attack. u. 5000 .-
After the last repulse the Russians for
some time did not renew the contest
Observing that the height OF the walls
prevented our men from firing over,
they collected in masses close under
them. and began throwing the muskets
and bayonets of their dead comrades
spear wise irto the battery, with huge
stones. For this species of attack our
men also were quite prepared, and in
turn hurled out the rough fragments of
rock upon their assailants. For nearly
ten minute this stone-throwing continued
without intermission on both Sides
And every now and then the Russians
made a desnerate dash to enter by the