St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-06-10
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 years before, during
the crisis of the Crimean War, the wo-
men of Sebastopol, answering the appeal
of the gallant old sailor, Admiral Kor-
niloff, assembled en- masse to join in the
defense Of their native city. 1t was an
assemblage that knew no distinction of
rank or social station, comprising the
daughter of the boyard and the child of the
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' Redoubt, a fertilization
which performed most effective work in
resisting the besieging armies and sue
ceeded in inficting serious damage upon
them.
The picturesque and touching cere-
mony was under the chief direction of
Rear Admiral Narbutt, commander of
the Fleet at Sebastopol, 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 the
memorial, and when the matter was IA
vorably decided, the necessary prepare
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 it is fine
obelisk. Upon one side of the base is
the following inscription; "Here was
situated Sebastopols Maidens' Redoubt. -
Below this are the words: "This earth
work was thrown up by the women Of
the city in 1851" The obelisk faces the
school built by General Menkoff, in
memory of the siege, and devoted to the
education of the children of Sebastopol's
defenders. Attached to the school is
Home for Aged Soldiers.
The great hall of the Menkoff School
was prepared for the reception of the
children, mostly grandchildren of the
women who built the redoubt. A great
concourse filled the immense chamber to
hear the Metropolitan, who, with num-
Der of assistant churchmen, was present
to deliver an Grafton and pronounce the
benediction. By the time the service
was we'll under way the scene became
impressively interesting, the large num-
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 Metropolitan's Grafton
came the singing of the memorial hymn
in which several hundred juvenile voices
joined and many persons were moved to
tears as the children sang what was
really pecan of praise to the heroines of
the siege. Many of the latter were act
ually present; others-not a few--had
s1lccumbed to the hand of time.
The general proceedings which marked
the unwilling of the memorial were in
the nature of a gala celebration. The
of the town marched in process
sion, dressed in white and bearing
branches of laurel. The entire garrison
turned out with bands and banners;
there was church parade, the priests
chanting memorial hymn, and the
proudest and highest Of the citizens
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
the celebration in spontaneous
and unanimity of sentiment.
But it is only fair to add that the object
itself was one well calculated to arouse
the deepest patriotic feeling. It was
tribute to Russian womanhood and incl
dentally 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-
,asion for this display of female heroism
is wonderful chapter of history. In
September, 1854, the allies were march
ing on Sebastopol from the European
side, flushed with the victory they had
gained on the heights of Alma. On the
other hand, the defeated Russian army,
alarmed, commanded and ill-maneu-
Fsred, was in full retreat, also having
sebastopol for its objective point, intend
ng to there rally and decide the issue of
she Crimean war. The great fortress
was in precarious condition seeing that
Prince Menschikotf in massing his troops
prior to the Alma fight had left it very
poorly garrisoned.
General Todleben, then lieutenant
colonel of engineers, was in charge of the
Qualifications, and when the news came of
The reverse the Russians had sustained
It Alma, he at once suspended the more
elaborate work then in progress and bent