The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-04-19
THE MAIDENS' REDOUBT.

A most interesting ceremony has Just
taken place at Sebastopol, the historic
Russian fortress on the Black Sea. This
was neither more nor less than the un,
yelling OF an obelisk on the very spot
where, thirty seven yeats before, during
the crisis OF the Crimean War, the wo-
men of Scbastopol, answering the appeal
OF the gallant old sailor, Admiral Kor-
niloff, assembled en- massc to join in tho
defense of their native city. 1t was an
assemblace that knagv- gv--.,a--li..;---.:~-,----t
| rank or social station, comprising the
daughter OF the boyard and the child of tho
humblest citizen, who cheerfully Joined
In the sacred task of preserving their
hearths and homes from the grasp of an
alien foe. These heroic women erected
with their own hands what was known
as the Maidens' Rcdoubt, fortification
which performed most effective work in
resisting the besiegiug armies and sue
ceeded in inflicting serious damage upon
them.
The picturesque and touching cere-
mony was under the chief direction of
Rear Admiral Narbutt, commander OF
the Fleet at Scbastopol, and Of the Gov.
ernor of the city. Admiral Narbutt,
who is also member of the board of the
celebrated Military and Naval Museum,
first suggested the idea Of erecting tho
memorial, and when the matter was IA.
vorably decided, the necessary prepara-
tions were entrusted to him to be carried
on under the auspices of the Museum.
The monument itself is of dark Cri.
mean granite. In design IL is fine
obelisk. Upon one side of the base il
the following inscription: "Here was
situated Sebastopol's Maidens' Redoubt. "
Below this arc the words: "This earth.
work was thrown up by the women Of
the city in 1S5t." The obelisk faces the
school built by General Menkof, 10
memory Of the siege, and devoted to the
education of the children of Sebastopol's
defenders. Attached to the school is q
Home for Aged Soldiers.
The great hall of the Menkoff School
was prepared for the reception of tho
children, mostly grandchildren of the
women who built the redoubt A great
concourse filed the immense chamber ia
hear the Metropolitan, who, with a num-
Der OF assistant churchmen, was present
to deliver an oration and pronounce the
benedictior. BY the time the service
was well under way the scene became
impressivcly interesting, the large mum.
Der of young persons dressed in holiday
garb listening reverently to the words OF
the distinguished cleric who stood upon
a dais robed in the rich and picturesque
vestments Of the Greek Church, while
near him were grouped the more promi.
nent lay members of the Committee OF
| Arrangements.
Following the Metropolitans Grafton
| came the singing of the memorial HYMN
In which several hundred juvenile voices
| joined and many persons we're moved 10
tears rs the children sang what wa,
really a pean Of praise to the heroines of
the siege. Many Of the latter were act
uaily present; others-not n few-had
| succumbed to the hand of time.
The general proceedings which marked
the unyeiling OF the memorial were in
the nature of q gala celebration. The
children OF the town marched in proces.
sion, dressed in white and bearing
branches OF laurel. The entire garrison
turned out with bands aud banners
there was q church parade, the priests
chanting a memorial hymn, aud the
proudest and highest of the citizens
marched in line on foot. Sebastopol. In
short, was en- fete and for several days
gave herself up to feasting and rejoicing.
No one present remembered anything
equalling the celebration In spontaneous
enthusiasm aud unanimity Of sentiment.
But 1t is only fair to add that the object
itself was one well calculated TO arouse
the deepest patriotic feeling. II was a
tribdte TO Russian womanhood aud Incl
dentally a tribute TO the womanhood OF
the world.
The tale OF the long siege OF Sebasto-
pol by the allied armies OF France and
England, and which furnished the oc.
casion for this display OF female heroism
u wonderful chapter Of history. In
September, 1854, the allies were march.
ing on SebastopoI from the European
I side. huahaf with the victory fhax had