The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-11-11
s.260
The Battle of the Alma.

leading the Turkish, Lord Raglan the Eng
lish, and Marshal de st. Arnaud the French,
each at the head of their divisions.
On the 18th of September orders were Civ
en- for the encampment to prepare to march
on the morning of the 10Th, and take their
position on the banks of the Alma, which
was done before night-fall.> The Russians
had fortified themselves on the hills beyond
the Alma. From the position they occu-
pied, they had great advantage of their ad
versaries, and could count the allied forces,
man by man as they approached. All the
heights were crowned with redoubts and
formidable batteries. and their forces mum
baring about 100000 men, and l8O heavy
guns, principally 80 and "a lb balls.
Early on the morning of the Goth, both.
the French and English divisions commenced
their march towards the Alma. They We're
marshaed silently; no bugles or drums
broke the stiffness, but the hum of thou
sands of voices rose from the ranks, and the
watchires lighted up the lines of their camp,
as though 1t were great city. Marshal ST.
Arnaud was to assail the enemy on the left
and 'front.' while Lord Raglan was to attack
them on the right and centre General Bos-
guet, with his gallant Turks, came down on
the left Of the Russians, turning their flank
and siencing some Of their batteries; this
movement was a very important one, it was
conducted with great skill and bravery and
went far in deciding the victory of the day.
At about II NJ, the forces had arrived at
the river Alma, which they crossed in
short space of time, presenting front of
more than thre- miles in extent They were
received by tremendous fire from the Rus
slams. Prince Napoleon at the head of his
division, took immediate possession of the
large village of Alma, under the fire of the
Russian batteries Marshal st. Arnaud, in
his official report to the Emperor, says:
There, Sire, commenced real battle
along the line-a battle with its episodes Of
brilliant feats of valor. Your majesty may
be proud of your soldiers they have not
degenerated, they are the soldiers of Auster-
litz and of Jena. At 44 the French army
was everywhere victorious. All the posi-
tions had been carried at the point of the
bayonet to the cry of Vive J. Empereur,
which resounded throughout the day. Never
was such enthusiasm seen, even the wound
ed arose from the ground TO join it.
'On our left the English met with large
masses of the enemy and with great difficult
ties but everything was surmounted. The
English attacked the Russian positions in
admirable order under the fire of their cannon,
carried them, and drove off the Russians
The brave bravery of Lord Raglan rivals that
of antiquity. In the midst of cannon and
musket shot he displayed calmness which
never left him. The French lines formed on
the heights and the artillery opened its fire.
Then it was no longer retreat, but rout !;
TIE Russians threw away their muskets and
knapsacks in order 10 run the faster. If,
sire. had had cavalry, should have OBJ
tainad immense results, and Menchikoff
would no longer have had an army but it
was too late, our troops were harrassed, and
the ammunition of the artillery exhausted
eat o'clock in the evening we encamp-
ed on the very bivouac of the Russians. NV
tent is on the very spot where that of Prince
Menchkoff stood in the morning, and who
thought himself so sure of beating us that
he left his carriage there. have taken pos
session Of it, with his pocketbook and cor
respondence, and shall take advantage of the
valuable information it contains. The Rus
sian army will probably be able to rally two
leagues from this, and shall find it to-mor-
row on the Katsrha, but beaten and demor-
allied while the allied army is full of ardor
and enthusiasm. | have been compelled to
remain here in order TO send our wounded
and those of the Russians to Constantinople,
and to procure ammunition and provisions