Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-28
VOLUME XII. NO. |.

tween four andfv companies of the Coldstreams
were out on picket in the rear. Yet it was the
the Coldstreams who bore the thick of it,
While the Fusiliers and Grenadiers defended the
wall, the Coldstreams, turning TO the right,
again re-captured the twe-gun battery, as it
was of the most vital importance tina. the enemy
should not establish themselves in this position.
And now tremendous struggle ensued 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 oppo-
stion, 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 regi-
ments came up the hill and threw themselves
into the battery from all points but the Cold
streams held their ground. fighting with perfect
desperation. The battery was now completely
enclrcled, in front, flank and rear, and, as the
Coldstreams say, every man gave himself up
for lost, and determined to sell his life dearly
Three tines did the Russians throw themselves
upon the battery, and by the sheer weight Of
their masses snrmount and cross the walls vet
each time they are driven back again. The
melee was fri, ,htful. So close were the antago-
nists, that after once firing the muakct, there
was no time to load. The men then stood up
and charged with the bayonet, or beat each 9TH
er 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.
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 bay
onets of their dead comrades spearwise into the
battery. For this species of attack our men
were also quite prepared, and, in turn hurled
out the rough fragments Of rock upon their as
sailants. For nearly ten minutes this stone
throwing continued without intermission on
both sides And every now and then the Rus
slams made desperate dash at the embrasures,
but were bayonetted in the attempts till the en-
brasurcs were choked with corpsss All this
time the Coldstream Guards, alone, almost un-
aided, and only 500 strong, had been keeping
at bay nearly 1000 Of the enemy 5 troops. But
at last they were compelled to retire. They
then charged out in body on the enemy in the
rear, and leaving eight officers and nearly two
hundred men killed in the battery behind them
All the wounded were instantly bayonetted
by the Russians Some of the officers bodies
were found with as many as twenty bayonet
wounds, and their skulls completely smashed
with the butt ends of muskets.
At this moment there were not less than 40,-
600 of the enemy, to oppose whom there were
about 1900 English -Aidas-de-camp were
instantly despatched for reinforcemcnts from
the French, and the English fell back upon their
line of tents. Two guns fell into the hands of
the enemy. Some of tho artillcrynen clung
round their guns, and fought the russians from
them hand to hand One sergeant in particu-
lar was seen defending himself with his sword
alone, amid hundred enemies for full five min
utes. When the battle was over, his body was
found with seventeen bayonet and bullet wounds
on it, and two Russians, killed with his sword,
lay on the ground beside him.
Our troops were slowly falling back, fle-fr-
ing and disputng every inch of ground until
the achievements came up. 1t was at this
time that poor Sir George Cathcart was shot
through the heart, and fell dead from his horse.
Within five minutes afterwards Brigadier Cen
erals Torrens and Goldie, also Of the 4th divi-
sion were mortally wounded through the stoul-
ach. The two gun Lancaster battery, which
was erected to command the harbor and ship.
ping in Sebastopol, fell into the enemys hands
They spiked and dismounted both the guns, and
pushing forward on the left, tried to cut off the
whole body of our men from the advancing
French succors. The fight was now quite
among the tents All the canvass of the tents
was cut and blown to pieces by the storm of
shell and shot, But at this spot the tide of for
tune turned.
The enemy were getting up all their strength
for final effort, when Canrobert came up with
three regiments of Zouaves, five of French in
fantry, and strong force of artillery, and COM
menced q terrible attack on the enemy's right
funk. This occurred at about II o'clock, and
from that moment the Russian chance was hope
less. Yet, though under the French fire they
were literally falling by battallions, they never
showed the least signs Of trepidation or disorder
At last the enemy gave way, and began retir-
ing in good order across the Inkermann Heights.
Until saw it, never have believed that any
troops in tho world could have retired under
such murderous fire in such perfect order
The English and French, with whole mass Of
artillery, followed close upon the retreating bat
talions, pouring in volley after vellsy of grape
shot, shell and musketry. In fact it was a per-
feet carnage. Yet, in spite of this, the enemy
kept their order, retreating at almost slow time
and every five or ten minutes haltinga and eharg-
ing desperately up the hill at our men and the
French. In these charges the Russians lost fear
fully We received them with volleys of mus
kerry, and then with the bayonet In one Of
these charges the 50th French regiment recap
tered the two guns which in the commencement
of the day W, lost. By halfpast two the
} great mass of the enemy had completely fallen
back, leaving between 1000 and 5000 dead up
on the field behiud.
Towards evening walked over the battlefield
but cannot describe to your readers what il
was like. Its horrors beggar all description
1900 dead and wounded English, French, and
Russians lay upon the heights, and the groans
and screams of agony were rising up from all