Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-19
TIE SIEGE OF sEgisTOroL.
TIE BATTLE OF INKEEMANN.
fEncl!sh Oliicinl D.sruichcs
WAX DrpARrME1r. Nov. 90, 4

BEFORE SFBAsrorOl, Nov. s.
Ny LoED DuEr:-l have tu honor 10 report t"
your Grace that the army umdr. my command, pow
criul aided bv the corps " observation nf the French
army under the command of tlnt distinguished oil.
Ger, General BnSquc; c!ioctuaI' rriusci and defeat
ell most vigorous and determined attack Df the enc
my on our position o"crIookirg the ruins OF lnkcr-
manu. Oh I'll" morning "i the 5t -i.
In nv letter 10 vUur Grace Oitkc :d, informed yuri
tha: the enemy had considerably increased their force
in the valley ot the Irlcrnuvi. The following day
this augmentation still tur;Ier Hpuarcn and large
misses Of trOUpshad evidently rrivcd from the North
ward, and two scvcr:'! ocCaios persons ut di>u-
guishcd rank were observed 10 have joined the Rus
sian camp.
have subsequently learned thnt the ith corps dur
mtc conveyed in carriages OF the country. and i'll the
gh!cst possible order had ben brought from Molln-
via, und were 10 be GnEir;iia;.ly followed BY the -!
corps.
IL wGs therefore to hc expected that an extensive
mnrencn; would hot bee long ,tlrrIcd
Accordingly, shortly before daylight on tho 't:l,
strong columns u! the Cluc ipon the Gdvnnc-
cI pirkets covering the rsn' i The position. These
picac.s behaved with niraJc .eaaurrv. defending
the ground foot by ioat agHns: the overwhelming
numbers d: the enemy, until the I'd division under
Major General PcrncGt!"r, NTH its fIc!d guns which
had Immediately been got under arms, WIS placed IN
position.
The light division. unde Licutenant-icmcral Sir
George Brown, WAS also buu.ht 20 the front without
C0lrngton, occupying the hn; slopes 10 the left to-
ward Schastopul and projecting our right battery,
aud guarding against attach that side, ami til" Ind
brigade, under BrigaGirrtrncral BniIr:, forming on
the ic!t uf the I'd dlvis!on with the SSH regiment,
under Lieuienant-C Colonel Jeircys, thrown in at
vance.
The brigade of Guar,iS, iader his royal hg Illness
the Duke Of Cambridge and lajor- -enrra!I Bcmtick
proceeded hkews. 10 tl- ir'nt, aud took mp most m
portant ground To the extreme right on thu extreme
IL,
deep and prccipious rarine, and posting lis gun,
with those OF the "a division:
Tho iIh division under Linutcuan.-Gaucr.l Sir
George Cathcart. having been brought from their rn
canpmcn advanced I" lie front aud right Oi ;lic NJ
tuck; the st brigade ur,lsr BrgCdicr-Gcnrfa Col
die. proceeded 10 the LETT ot,hc lmkermann road; the
ID brigade under BgigGi!c General TOrrrns, 20 tn"
right o H. and on the ridge "vcrhangins ,Ac vacy o
the Tcicrnaya.
The Sd division. under Northumberland Sir
Richard England occupied Il par III" Cr"und vacated
10y the lih division GId supported the light division
by two regiments under BrgaGier-Gcn"ral Sir John
Cumphc while Br@adil- General Eyre held tin
command ui hc troops in ts trenches
Inc morning WAS extremely dark, with drzzl!ng
rain, rendering il almos; Impossible 70 discover any
thing beyond the Hash uni sinok. Of artillery ;.aL
heavy nIS.r:rv fire.
IL, however. soon became evident that the enemy,
uuder cover " vast ciuuc "i sarm-h"r-. rpu"rte'!
10y dense columns d! infantry. hHt advanced nu!n"-
rrus batteries ni large Chtr. 70 III" high ground Ia
the LETT aui front oi tha ID division while powerful
c"unno "i infantry attacked with grcot vi-"r IA" .-
gac at guards.
Additional batteries Of heavy artillery were also
placed by the encmy"n M slopes tn our lett the guns
III the field amounting il the whole 20 ~ pi"c"s, N
depcmdcn;ly, however NJ the ship guns and those ia
the works of SehaoioTo.
Protected by n tremnaG1as IL. Il sl.o, -lrll, md
srnrn. the Rissina coIgmn- advanced IN srrni "'r.
requiring every ci"; of :alantEy on the part {" our
troops 20 resist them.
At this time, two hnttalona of French infantry.
which has! on the first r"ce been sent by General
Busquct, joined right, and very materially contr
hu:cd to the successful stance TO the a;ac, cheer
Ing with our men. ana chagim the enemy "wn '!i"
hill with great loss.
Abou: the same time determined assault WAS made
on our extreme left, and for moment the cn.:n" pos
scsscd themselves Of tnur Of guns. three o witch
were rctal;cn by the S>ih. vr the fourih spec
diy rccaprrcd 10y the ''ta regiment, under Lieut..
Col. Egcrlon.
In the opposite direction the brigade of Guards un-
de: his Royal ilighI,s5 the Duke of Cambridge,
engaged i'll p severe conflict
auE Hi enemy, Wpr. he coYcr "i ,ni@k, byrailwnoi
grea, determination n small redoUb: which had been
constructed ior two grrs, hu; not armed. The
combat wEs most srCuuus, and III" brigade after di9
playing the utmost srcadinc-I uad Callan;rv. wa
obliged (" retire before very superior numbers, until!
supported by wing at the 20th regiment OF the ith
division. when they again advanced and rrtOok the
rcdoUbt.
This ground was af;crward occupied in gallant
style by French troops. rni the Guards -p".ii!v
formed in rear Of tn right flank "i the 2d division
In III" meanwhile Lieutenant. General the lion. Sir
George Cacari. with few companies nt the t,SIh
Regiment, considering that he might Innkc II strong
impression by descending into tine valley, Gc! taking
the enemy in flank, moved rapidly forward, but find
Ing the heights above him in full occupation OF the
Russians, he suddenly discovered that he was "utan
srd with II superior force. and whlc attempting to
,stb b,lr lf
shortly previous to whic!r lir.adirr General Tor
rcms, when Leading tIc 9Th WA likewise severely
wounded.
Subsequently to this the battle continued with un.
abE:cd vIcor and with no positive result the enemy
bringing upon line only The fire Of all their
field bnciIcs, bat those in front Of the works "f the
place, and the ship guns, till the afternoon when the
symptoms ot giving way first became apparent and
shortly after. although the fire did not cease, the re-
treat became general. and hcnvv nasscS were nbcrv-
cd retiring over the bridge oi the lukcrnann and ,--
cenling the opposite heights abandoning The fold
Of bntilc five six Thousand dead and wounded, null
,tudc. of the latter having already been carried on
b" them. ] never before witnessed such n spectacle
T.. the field presented but upon this will not dwell.
Having submitted To- vour grace this imperfect de-
scrpon ni this most severe battle. have still iw"
duties to dschargcihG one ianst gratifying, the last
most painful 10 my feelings.
] have the greatest satisfaction in drawing vo,r
grace. attention tn the brilliant rGniuc; Of the allied
displaying their :allanry anl maUiirstimg their zrn
n;iS devotion 70 du;y. notwithstanding that they had
10 contend aganS; al infinitely superior force and
were exposed for many hours 10 n mos. calling Are.
Ii should be bornc in mind that they have daily, for
cvcrniwecs been undergoing the m"r; constant labor
and that many Of them passed the previous nigh, in
the trenches.
| will not attcmp; to enter into n detail Of the
movements of tn" French troops, les; | should no.
state them correctly bu; am proud Of the oppnYtll-
nt hearing testimony their vlnr NJ IN.
services, and of paying tribute of ni,hirntio. To- the
distinguished conduct Of their immediate cumInaTer
General Bosquct, while i; ia in the highest degree
pleasing 10 me To place upon record nv deep sense nj
the valuable assistance received from the ramnan!-
cr-!n.chci, General Canrohcrt. who was himself on
the ground and III constant communication with ne,
and whose cordial cooperation, on all occasions
cannot too highly cxtnI.
Your grace will r@coll"c that he y7ns wrun,cd
at the Alma He VAS again wounded on the 9TH,
hu; shoud hope that he will no; long feel i!a effects
OF il.
| will in a subsequent despatch lny before your
grace the nanes OF TIC Offices whose services have
been brought 10 my notice. | will not dctau the
mail for that purpose nov, bu: cannot delay 10 re-
port the admirable behavior of Lcu.caant-;irmorli
Sir George Brown, who was unfortunately shot
through the arm, but ia doing well: OF Lieutenant
General his Royal Hghness the Duke Of Cgn,!irid"e
who particularly distinguished himself; and Of Ma
inr- General Pcnneia,!Inr in command OF the second
division which received the first attack, md gaan,iv
itself under the greatest difficulties
thgoushc this proraced conflict OF MaiorGcncral
Bcntinck, who is severely wounded; Meior-Gc'
Codrington Brigadier-tteneral Adams and Brgulicr-
General Torrcns. who are severely wuundod and Br;-
gadicr- General Butler who is also wounded, but not
so severely.
mus: likewise express my Obligations 70 Icutcn-
an-Genera Sir Richard England, for the cxccllcn;
disposition he made Of hi division. md the assistance
he rendered to the left Of the light division. where
Sir John Campbell was judicious-
" placed, and effectively supported Mai"rGencral
Coirinston au have pleasure liz stating thar
BrgaGier.Icnera Eyre was employed IN the import
ant duty OF guarding The trenches from any ss@ui:
from the town.
L:eutcnunt-C eneral Sir Il. Lacy Evans. who hal
been obliged by severe ndi"positon Ia 90 Oh board
ship few days pte' 'ously, left his bed rs
lie received intelligence oIte a!!ack. aud was sprompt
ly at his post and though he did feel well enough
10 take the command the division of the hands
Of Ma;ar Geucral peuusinthcr. be did ia 30 Give