The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-01-09
nlisrGllaHRnng.
The Battle of Enkermani,.

The accounts we have hitherto published OF
the Battle of Inkermann, we find failed to con-
vey any impression of its horrible features
The correspondent of the London Times, wri-
ting from the field of battle, says:
And now commenced the hoodest struggle
ever witnessed since war cursed the earth. 1t
has been doubted by military historians, if any
enemy could stand our charge with the bay O.
net; but here the bayonet was often the only
weapons employed in conflicts of the most
obstinate and deadly character. We have
been prone to believe that no foe could ever
withstand the British soldier welding his Ia
vorite weapon, and that at Mazda alone did the
enemy ever cross bayonetS with him: but at
the battle Of lnkcrmann did We charge in vain
moi. only were desperate encounters between
masses OF men maintained with the bay onet
alone-but we were obliged to resist hayonet
to bayonet with the Russian infantry again
and again, as they charged OIL US viii! incrcdi
ble.fnry and determination.
The battle Of Iukcrmann admits of no de-
scription. II was series of dreadful deeds Of
daring, Of sanguinary hand to hand fights, Of
desperate assaults; in glens, in valies, in
brushwood, glades and remote dels, hidden
from all human eyes, and from which conquer
ors, Russian or British. Issued only to engage
fresh foes, till our own supremacy so rudcly
assailed, was triumphantly asserted, and tie
battalions of the Gar gave way before our
steady courage, and the chvarous fire OF
France. No one, however placed, could have
Of 4
of this eventf-l day; for the vapors and fog
and drizzling mist, obscnrcd the ground where
the struggle took place to such I'M extent as
TO render it impossible to see what was going
on atthe distance OF a few yards
8 Besides this the irregular nature of the
ground, the rapid fall Of the hill towards iuker.
mann, where the deadest fight took place,
&onld have prevented one under the mos, Ia
vorable circumstances, from seeing more than
very Insignificant and detailed piece of the
work,below. 1t was six o'clock when all the
head quarter camp was reused by roll after
roll of musketry on the right aud by sharp re-
port of field guns. Lord Raglan was inform,
ed that the enemy were advancing in force,
scene of action, followed by his staff, and ac-
companied by Sir John Burgnyne. Brig. Gen.
Stransways, X. y. and several aides-de camp.
As they approached, the volume Of sound,
Sthe steady, unceasing thunder Of gun and riAe,
i, and musket, told that the engagement was at
itssheight. he shell of the Russians, thrown
with great precision, burst so thicky among
the troops that the noise resembed the con-
tinuous discharge of cannon, and the massive
fragments inflicted death on every side. One
ofthe first things the Russians did, when
of the second division, was,lo open fire on the
tents with round shot and large shell, and tent
after tent was blown down, torn Co pieces, or
sent in the air, while the men engaged in camp
duties, and the unhappy horses tethered up in
the lines were killed or mutilated.
Gambler was at oucc ordered to get up two
heavy guns Us pouuders) on tire rising ground
and to reply to fire which our light guns
were utterly inadequate to meet. As he was
engaged in this, duty, and exerting himself
with Captain Daguar TO urge them forward,
Colonel Gambler was severely but not dan
gerously wounded. and was obliged to retire.
His place was taken by Lieutenant Colonel
Dickson, and the conduct Of that officer in d.
recting the fire Of those two pieces, which had
most marked effect in deciding the fate of the
day, was so much as to elicit the admiration of
the army, and as;t deserve thanks of every
man engaged in that bloody fray. But long
ere these guns had been brought up, there had
been great, slaughter of the enemy, and hea.
Wy loss of oursown men. Our generals could
not see where to 60. They could not tell
where the enemy were-from what side they
were coming, and where going to. ,..-
In darkness, gloom and rain, they had to
lead our lines through thick and scrubby bush
es and thorhy brakes, which broke our ranks
and irrtated the men, whlesaevery pace was
marked by corpse or a man wounded by an
enemy whose position was only indicated by
the rattle of musketry and the rush of ball and
she'll. - Ss| q,
Sir;George Cathcart seeing his men disor.
.dered by the fire Of large column Of Russian
infantry which was outfankins them, while
portions of the various regiments comprising
his division were maintaining al unequal stpg
gle with an overwhelming force, rode down in
to the ravine in which they were engaged, tC
rally them. He perceived at the a,netinle
that the Russians had actually gained posses
sion of a portion Of the hill in rear of one 7flanl
Of his division, but stilfhis stout heart neve
failed him fora moment. He rode at the
Head encouraging them, and when cry was
raised that the ammunition was failing, h'
very coolly said, "Hase you not got your bay
.oaets?"
As he led on his men it was observed tha
another body of men had gained the top O
the lill behind them on the right, but it wa
impossible 10 tel whether they were friend O