Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-16
THE RATTLE OF INKERMANN

Tao accounts have hitherto published OF the Battle
ofIukermsnn, the 9th, ind failed to convey
i'm cressoa OF ts horrible rn,tes The
Of the Times writing from the f,ld Of battle on the 9th,
ssys:-
Aud commenced the blooiiest struggle ever wit
messed since cursed the eirth hiss been doubted
by military historians enemy could stand our charge
with the biyonc, bat hero tho biyouet was often the
only weapon employed In contc's OF the obstinate
aud deadly character We hive been promo believe
that foe could withstand the British sold cr wic
ding his hvorc weapon and that at Maid. alone did tho
enemy biyonets with him. but the Hattie Of
lnkermsun no, only did charge in van-no only
desperate encounters between masses OF main tiincd
with the bsyonet aone-but We were obliged resist
bayonet bayonet the Russian nintry again again
as they charged with incredible fury aud determu-
alton.
The bate Of Iukcrmsun admits of no description, Il
scres of dreadful deeds of daring of singunarv haud
to hand fights OF assaults in gens aud valleys
in bushwooi s dcs aud remote dcls hdd, from all hu
min eyes, and from which tho conqierors, Russian or
British, issued only aged fresh foes till our old uprc-
macy, rudcy aSStei triumphantly asserted, auj
the bstt,lious of the Car gave way before our
steady courage and the chvarous Dire of France. No
one however placed couli have witnessed even "A small
portion OF the donS oil thus evcntiul day. for the
tog aud drzziing mist, obscured the ground where the
struggle took place to such exisht render it i'm
possible to what going at the distance of few
yards.
Besides this the irregular of the ground the rap
ia fail Of the hill towards nkcrmann where the de ,ics
fight took place would hive prevented one under the
most favorable circumstances seeing than a very
insignificant aud dctted pe,e ofhc terrbl, work beIoS
Ii six O'Clock when all the head quarter camp was
reused by roll after roll vi mukcrv the right and by
sharp report Of ied guns. L)ri R'siud informed
that the cnemy advancing in ogc,, and after
O'Clock he role tow ard the of action followed
by his staff aud accompanied by SIR John Birsoyuc Bsi
gsder general StrangwayS, r. \. aud several aides
camp.
As they approached the 70! ine of sound the steady
uneeasng thunder OF gun, and rds, aud maskct toll
that the eng lgcnent At IL height The she'll of the
Russians, thrown with groI pra,sor hIcSt thckly
among the troops thi the noise rc>emolcd ths con,inu
Gus discharges Of c'nnbn, an tho fragments
inflicted dea!h side. Oac of tn. first things the
Rls;ilns did, when break the 70. enabled them to
the camp Of the seconi DIVISION opeu fire on
the ten;s with rorni shDt aud lnrs, she'll and
tent oosl do va pieces seat into the air
while the engaged IN camp du'ies. the unhappy
horses tethcred III the lines killed putaicd
Ginlbier was At oncs ordered to get up tw, heavy
guns Us pounicrs) the rising ground aui to reply TO
fire which our light gins utterly inld.qlae to
meet As he WAS engaged III this duty, all cxctng
himself with Captain OIsuilr 10 urs, thsm forward
Colonel Gambler severely baI mo- dirgecou,ly woun
ded AMI Wa obliged u roirc. His placs taken nv
Lieutenant colonei exon, AMI the conduct of that
officer in drectn: IN, ire of those two pieces which
had the most mtskei ct,; in deciding the fate of tn,
div, WAS such as TO esit tho Animation of the armv
AMI deserve tho tn tnSs OF evey mIr clclrcl i'm
tii; bloody fry. But loi. c.c these guns md been
Brought thcre had ben gr,i: slaughter Of the enc.
my, and heavy loss of our m,u. On. generals
the enemy were-from what side they coming and
where going
In drkues. gloom and rlu they hal . ell our linz.
through thick scruooy bushes aud thorny brakes which
broke our ranks and irtatci the men, while every piece
WAS marked by corpse or wounded from "ngmy
whose position oIly ind Gated by the r4l, OF nu..
kerry and the rush OF biI ani she'll
Sir Geors Cathchri, seeing his men dsorierel bv the
fire of large column Russian infantry which was Uu-
h'nking them, while portions Of the various regiment.
comprising his division ware sintainng unequal rug
gle with overwh lining force H. do into the ravinc
in wich they were engaged to rally them H. perceived
A. the SANE time shat the Ru>ius hal uily line
possession OF coson the nill in Of INK oil
his DIVISION hut still! his heart never failed him fo-
moment. lie rode AZ their lead encour aging them aud
when crS arose that the ammunition failing he 81
cody, "iive you not %; your biyonc:s:'
A. ne led on has IN 4 it was o5ssrv, h,t another
bod, OF men had gained tns top OF the hill behind
on the rsh: but il impossible tell whether they
were fcal- or foes. \ deadly voey poured ia or
or scattered regiments. Sir Genrg. ch cred aud
led them back up the HILL but flight of bullets passed
where he rode ard he fell from his horse close the Ru
sian columns. The men had to fight their way through
ho o! enc nie aud lo. feLriuy They surrounded
aud blyOneted both sides aud their desperate way
the hill, with d!u.nishe ranks. ani the loss OF nea
500 men, Sir Geocsa Catnelrt 90 !y afterwards re
covered with bGe. wounI 10 the head and three bayo
net wounds in the body.
In this struggle, where thu RIssans fou ,ht n the
greitei Zero, =, and biyonetei the wounded tn f
Co. SwyGe, OF ths SD gallant officer Lieu ena
Downing, 2)h, VI jor Wynue 6S b. aud other Oil .er,
whose will bs tog1 I'd in the Gazette IN their death
an giier Gple o. the s7th GIN nt, received tn.
wounds OF which he has since died. rne conf c: tie
right equally uncertain and bloody. IL the sht VI
sionhe Ss got so tar into the front that thsywere
rounded end put into utter confusion when four mp iues
Of the TIh under or Straton charged the Resins
broke them, aud relieved their comrades.
The hgli hal 10 lOIS cDmuf ace i: WA cfien
that tue Russians Ia! received orders - i.s a, al.
mounted OH ,ers. Sir u. Bow vas sru.k ny shot
which went thgorgi his aTn AM struck h.s side. slX
with sre his pale ami stgry co fac. a. his ~, j,
% liz N A hss
h:ir ckerin in the brceI. D- knew Ih, hld los
'he services u god sblic- thE div F!rti.r 20 the
right contests the Ike of which, pestps niy.r tp)i
place before, was going OH between the Gu ris aud tn
dense columns OF R!s-iu iufntry OF 80 times the ulim
Dor The Gdards had c'irei the aud driven hen bi X
When they perceived that the Rus,iirs hal oulnkcd
| them.
| Tnev of ammunition to, Th,7 were un,,r.
tain whether t.cy en 4 io,s IN the r.,r TIoy
hii ~ support, reserve, auj they ling via
the bIgonct ~ H't enemy SIJ stIu iy c,le4ni ~
erI nch d :; p!a! when corps # anlth.r Rlssi.
colnn 'np"trd on their right far in "a ir rcir rn.
fearful 'rHrTH va DbIn ii,D them. All yJll.y4 O rifle
and mrkttry. The Gu..ds broken; they hid l..
w;l7. ni '"rs VINO i' in the iii they h.i LOT, one
Of their number fhg gOun and they irel along the
lower road O the Wiley. They were soon rem creed
now anl speedily avenged their loss The Frcnca
advanced about Zen o'clock al turned the flax OF the
enemy.
Toe second division in the the line were IN
y pressed. TIE ii-t Regiment in particular, were cx
posed TO terrible Gre aud the gjh in the mid H.
OF such yDlsys tint they Only mustered
men when plrldei two oclock la fact the whole .
the division numbered only 300 men when assemble.
by MILO Emcn in oil their camp after the fight
The regiments did take their co1rs into q,
battle, but the officers nevertheless picked # xher
ever they wet an require the color san to ind
cato their presence. Our ambulances were soon Fl lie
aud nine o'clock they busy engaged in Carrying
loads OF men, al covered with blood, aud groIuing
| the OF the line
About hlpas nine O'Clock Lord Rtglald and his stat
were assembled knoll, in the hops Of getting
glimpse Of ;hc battle which raging below them
| Here General S.rdng"ays MORALLY wounded aud
an told in the following way:-A SHELL came right il
among ths s.aif- D1lGj IN cap au SJntt.,s hDs.n
ripping him open; portion of hs shell tore of the lea
overils Of Captain Spmsss.s trousers il then s.ruc
down Captain GJrions horse ani kill MIN a. Uacr ap
th1n blow away General S:rlngSays l. g. 81, that it hun
By shred OF fl sh and bit of cio.I from tho skin.
Tue pooT Old ginl 'nrn never moved a muscle of hi
face. H. said merely, 10 gentle voice. VIII ony on
be kind enough 10 No on my ro.sr?' H. Wa titsi
down and laid the ground, while his life blood cDoe
as', and last he carried - the rsir the gal
liant old mdu had not sufficient strength 70 undergo al
operation, aud ia two hOI he sank rect leaving be
hind nm memory which will bo held dear By ever
ofcer aud IN in the army.
The e tni about tue bit,e'y 10 which have alluded
| in former par; Of my letter most sIng1iuIry.
puuI hap