THE BATTLE OF INKERMANN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 21 March 1855, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF INKERMANN.

The following description of the battle of Inkermann is by the special, correspondent of the Times :— Balaklava, November 5. It had rained almost incessantly the night before, and the early morning gave ho promise jibf any cessation from the heavy showers which had fallen for the previous 24 hours. Towards dawn a heavy fog settled down on the heights and on the valley of the Inkermann. The pickets and men on outlying posts were thoroughly saturated, and their arms were wet, despite their precautions ; and it is scarcely to be wondered at if there were some of them who were not quite so alert as sentries should be in the face of ah enemy ; for it must be remembered that our small army is almost worn out by its incessant labours, and that men on picket are frequently men who have'had but a short respite from work in the trenches or from regimental duties. The;j'.fdg;;,and;;Tappurs,.;of/.driftiiig::_rain' were so thick as morniiig broke that one could scarcely see two yards before him. At 4 o'clock ; the bells of the churches in Sebastopol were heard ringing drearily through the cold night air, but the occurrence has been so usual it excited' no particular attention.' During the night, however, a sharp-eared sergeaut on an outlying picket of the Light Division heard the sound of wheels in the valley below, as though they were approaching the position of the hill. He reported the circumstance to' Major Buhbury, but it was supposed that the sound-arose from ammunition carts or arabas going iiito Sebastopol by thelnkermann road. Noone suspected for a moment that enormous masses of Russians were creeping up the rugged sides-of the heights over the valley of Inkermann on the undefended flank of the Second Division. There all was security and repose. Little did the slumbering troops in camp imagine that a subtle and indefatigable enemy were bringing into position an over- ; whelming artillery ready to play upon their tents at the first glimpse of daylight. It must be observed that Sir De L.Evans had long been aware of the insecurity of tins portion of our position, and had repeatedly pointed it out to those whose duty it was to guard against the dangers which threatened us. It was the only ground where we were exposed to 'surprise,l for a number of ravines and unequal curves in the slope of the hill towards the .'valley- lead up to the crest and summit, against fhej adverse side of which Our right flank was resting, without guns, entrenchments, abattis, or outlying defence of any kind. Everyone admitted the truth of the representations addressed to the authorities on this subject; hut indolence, or a sense of false security, and an overweening confidence led to indifference arid-procrastination. A battery was thrown up with sandbags and gabions and fascines oh. the slope of the hill over Inkerniann on the east, but no guns were mounted there, for Sir De L. Evans thonsrht that two guns in such a position without any works to support them, would only invite attack and capture. In the action of the 26th of October, the enemy tried their strength almoston the very spot selected by them this morning, but it may now be consideved that they merely made a reconnoissance in force on that occasion, and that tliey were waiting for reinforcements to assault the position where it was most vulnerable, and where they might speculate with some certainty on the effects of a surprise of a sleeping camp on a winter's morning. Although the arrangements of Sir De L. Evans, on repulsing the sortie were, as Lord Raglan declared, "so perfect, that they could not fail to insure success," it was evident that a larger force than the Russians employed would have forced him to retire from his ground or to fight a battle in defence of it with the aid of the other divisions of the army: and yet nothing was done. No effort was made to entrench the lines, to cast up a single shovel of earth, to cut down the brushwood, or form an abattis. It was thought "not to be necessary." A heavy responsibility rests on those whose neglect enabled the enemy to attack us where, we. were least prepared for it, aud whose indifference led them to despise precautions which taken in time might S^ave saved us many valuable lives, and have trebled the loss of the enemy had they been bold enough to attack us behind intrenchments. We have nothing to rejoice over in the battle of Inkermann. We have defeated the enemy, indeed, but have not advanced a step nearer towards the citadel of Sebastopol. We have abashed, humiliated, and utterly routed, au enemy strong

in number, iv fanaticism, and in dogged resolute courage, and animated by the presence of a son of him whom they believe to be God's Vicegerent on earth; but we have suffered a fearful loss, and we are not in a position to part with a man. England must give lis men- She must be prodigal of her sons, as she is of her money and of her ships, and as they have been of their lives in her service. It was''a little after 5 o'clock this morning, when Brigadier-General Codrington, in accordance with his usual habit, visited the outlying pickets of his own brigade of the Light Division. It was reported to him that "all was well," and the General entered into some conversation with Captain Pretyman, of the 33rd regiment, who was on duty on the ground, in the course of which it was remarked that it would not be at all surprising if the Russians availed themselves of the gloom of the morning to make an attack on our position, calculating on the effects of the rain in disarming bur vigijaace and spoiling our weapons. The Brigadier, who proved a mostrexcellen t, cool, and brave officer, turned his"pony 'nnihd^at last, and retraced his steps through the brushwood towards his lines. He had only proceeded a few paces when a shavp rattle of musketry was heard down the hill andon the left of the pickets of the Light Division. It was here that the pickets of the Second Division were stationed. General Codrington at once turned his horse's head in the direction of the firing, and in a few moments galloped back to turn out his division. The Russians were advancing in force upon us! Their gray greatcoats rendered them almost invisible even when close at hand. The pickets Of the 2nd Division had scarcely made out the advancing lines of infantry'-who were clambering up the steep sides of the hill through a drizzling shower of rain, ere they were forced to retreat by a close sharp volley of musketry, and were driven up towards the brow of the hill, contesting every step and firing as long as they had a round of ammunition on the Russian advance. The pickets of the Light Division weve assailed soon afterwards, and were also obliged to retreat and fall back on their main body, and it was evident that a very strong sortie had been made upon the right of the position of the allied armies with the object of forcing them to raise the siege and, if possible, of driving them into the sea. About the same time that the advance of the Russians on our right flank took place, a demonstration was made by the cavalry, artillery, aii.d a few infantry, in the valley against Balaklaya to divert the attention of ihe French on the heights above, and to occupy the Highland Brigade, and marines, but only an interchange of a few harmless rounds of cannon and musketry took place, and the enemy contented .•'themselves'.with drawing up their cavalry in order of battle, supported by field artillery, at the neck of the valley, iv readiness to sweep the heights, and cut our retreating troops to pieces should the assault on our right be successful. A Semaphore post had been erected on the heights over the Inkermann,"in communication with another on the hill over their position, from which the intelligence of our defeat was to be conveyed to the Cavalry General, arid the news would have been made known in Sebastopol by similar means, in order to encourage the garrison to a general sortie along their front. A steamer with very heavy shell guns and mortars was sent up by night to the head of the creek at Inkermann, and caused much injury throughout the day by the enormous shells she pitched right over the hill upon our men. Every thing that could be done to bind victory to their eagles —-if they have any—was done by the Russian Generals. The presence of their Grand Duke Michael Nicolavitch, who told them that the Czar had issued orders that every Frenchman and Englishman was to be driven into the sea ere the year closed, cheered the common soldiers, who regard the son of the Emperor as an incarnation of the Divine presence. They had abundance of a coarser and more material stimulant, which was found.in. their canteens and flasks; and, above all, the priests of the Greek Catholic Church "blessed" them ere they went forth upon their mission, and assured them of the aid and protection of the Most High. A mass was said for the army, and the joys of Heaven were freely offered to those who might fall in the holy fight^ and the favours of the Emperor were largely promished to those who might survive the bullets of an heretical enemy. The men in our camps had just begun a struggle with the rain in endeavouring to light their fires for breakfast, when the alarm was given

that the Russians were advancing in force.: Brigadier-General Pennefather, to whom the illness of Sir De Lacy Evans had given for the time the command of the 2nd division, at once got the troops under arms. One brigade, under Brigadier-General Adams, consisting of the 41st, the 47th, and the 49th regiments, was pushed on to the brow of the hill, to check the advance of the enemy by the road, through the brushwood from the valley. The other brigade (Pennefather's own) consisting of the 30th, 55th. and 95th regiments, were led to operate on their flank. They were at once met with a tremendous fire of shell and round shot from guns which the enemy bad posted da the high ground, in advance of our right, and it was soon found that the Russians had brought up at least 40 pieces of heavy artillery to bear Upon us. Meantime, the alarm had spread through the camps. Sir George Cathcart with the greatest promptitude turned out as many of his division as were not employed in the trenches, and led the portions of the 20lh, 21st, 46th, 57th, 62rd, and 68th regiments which" were available against the enemy, directing' „ie&!:to the left of the ground occupied by the columns of the 2nd Division. It was intended that one brigade, under Brigadier General Torres, should move in support of the brigade under Brigadier General Goldie; but it was soon found that the enemy were in such strength that the whole force of the division, which consisted of only 2200 men, must be vigorously used to repel them. Sir George Brown had rushed up to the front with his brave fellows of the light Division—the remnants of the 7th Fusileers of the 19th regiment, of the 23rd .regi- . ment, of the 33rd regiment, and the 77th and 88th regiments, under Brigadiers Codrington and Buller. As they began to move across, the ground of the 2nd division, they were at once brought under fire by an unseen" enemy. The gloomy character of the morriingwas unchanged. Showers of rain fell through the fog, and turned the ground into a clammy soil,_Jlike a freshly ploughed field; and the Russians, who had, no doubt, taking the bearings of the ground ere they placed their guns, fired at random indeed, 'but with--two much effect on our advancing columns. While all the army was thus in motion the Duke of Cambridge was not behind handj in bringing up the Guards under Brigadier Bentinck—all of his division that was left with him, as the Highlanders are under Sir Colin Campbell .at_.Bal.akl.ava. Thesesplendid.troops, with the greatest rapidity and ardour, ;rushed to the front on the right of the 2nd Division, and gained the summit of the hills towards which two columns of the Russians were struggling in the closest order of which the nature of the <rround would admit. The 3rd Division, under Sir R. England, was also got under arras as a reserve, and one portion of it, comprising the 50th, part of the 28th, and of the 4th regiments, were engaged with the enemy ere the fight was •over. .■•"'.. '•'■.':■.. And now commenced the bloodiest struggle ever witnessed since war cursed ihe earth. It has been doubted by military historians if any enemy have ever stood'a charge with the bayonet, but here the bayonet was often the only weapon employed in conflicts of the most obstinate and deadly character. We have beeu prone to believe that "no foe could ever withstand the ._ British soldier wielding his favourite weapon, and that at Maida alone did the enemy ever cross bayonets with him; but at the battle of Inkermann not only did we charge in vain, not only were desperate encounters between masses of men maintained with the bayonet alone, but we were obliged to resist bayonet to bayonet the Russian infantry again and again, as they charged us with incredible fury and determination. The battle of Inkermann admits of no description. It was a series of dreadful deeds o daring, of sanguinary hand to hand fights, of despairing rallies, of desperate assaults, in glens and "valleys,'in brushwood glades and darksome and remote dells, hidden from all human eves, and from which the conquerors, - Rnssiahs'or British, issued only to engage fresh foes, till our old supremacy, so rudely assailed, was triumphantly asserted, and the battalions of the Czar sjave way before our steady courage and the chivalrous fire of-France. No one, however placed, could have witnessed even a small portion of the doings of this eventful day .- for the vapours, fog, and drizzling mist obscured the ground where the struggle took place to such extent as to render it impossible to see what was Sfoing on at the distance of a few yards. Besides this, the irregular nature of the ground, the

rapid fall of the hill towards Inkermann, where the deadliest risrht took place, would have prevented one under the most favourable circumstances seeing more than a very insignificant and detailed piece of the terrible work below. It was 6 o'clock when all the head quarter camp was roused by roll after roll of artillery on the right and by the sharp report of field guns. Lord Raglan was informed that the enemy were advanciug in force, and soon after 7,o'clock he rode towards the scene of action, followed by his staff, and accompanied by Sir John Burgoyue, Brigadier-General Strangways, R.A., and several aides-de-camp. As they approached the volume of sound, the steady, unceasing thunder of gun, aud rifle, and musket, told that the engagement was at its height. The shell of the Russians, thrown with great precision, burst so thickly among our troops that the noise resembled continuous discharges of cannon, and tbe massive fragments inflicted death on every side. One of the first things the Russians did, when a break in the fog enabled them to see the camp of the'second Division, was to open fire oh the tents with round shot and large shell, and tent after tent «as blown down, torn to pieces, or sent into the air, while the men engaged iv camp dude's and the unhappy, horses tethered up in the lines were killed or niuti'ated. Colonel Gambier was at once ordered to get up two heavy guns (18 pounders) on the rising ground, aud to reply to a fire which our light guns were quite inadequate to meet. As he was engaged in this duty, aud was exerting himself with Captain Dagiiilar to urge them forward, Colonel Gambier was severely but not dau<?erously wounded, and was obliged to retire. His place was taken by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, and the conduct of that officer in directing the fire of those two pieces, which had the most marked effect in deciding the fate of the day, was such as to-elicit the admiration of the army, and as to deserve the thanks of every mau engaged in that bloody fray. But long ere these guns had been brought up there had been a great slaughter of the enemy, and a heavy loss of our own men. Our generals could not see were to go. They could not tell where the enemy were—from' what side they were coming, and were going to. In darkness, gloom, and rain they had to lead our lines through thick scrubby bushes and thorny brakes, which broke our rauks and irritated the men while every place was marked by a corpse or a man wounded from an enemy whose position was only indicated by the rattle of musketry and the rush of ball and shell. Sir George Cathcart, seeing his men disordered by the fire of a large column of Russian infimtry which was outflauking them, while portions of the various regiments composing his division were maintaining an unequal struggle with an overwhelming force, rode down into the ravine in which they were engaged, to rally them. He perceived at the same time that the Russians had actually gained possession of the hill in rear of one flank of his division, but still his stout heart did not fail him for a moment. He rode at their head, encouraging tbein, and when a cry arose that the ammunition was failing, he said coolly, v Have you not got bayonets ?" As he led on his men it was obseived that another body of men had gained the top of the hill behind them on the right, but it was impossible to tell whether they were friends or foes. A deadly volley was poured into our scattered regiments. Sir George cheered them and led them back up the bill, hut a flight of bullets, passed where he rode, and he fell lifeless from his horse close to the Russian columns. The men had to fi.rht their way through a host of enemies, and lost fearfully. They were surrounded and bayonetted ou all sides, and won their desperate way up the hill, with diminished ranks, aud the loss of nearly SCO men. Sir G. Cathcart's body was afterwards recovered with a bullet wound in the head and three bayonet wounds in the body. In this struggle, where the Russians fought with the greatest ferocity, and bayonetted the wounded as they fell, Col. Swiney, of the 63rd, a moat gallant officer, Lieutenant Dowling, 20th, Major Wynne, 68th, and other officers whose uaines will be found in the Gazette, met their death, and Brigadier Goldie (of the 57th Regiment) received the wounds of which he has since died. The conflict on the right was equally uncertain and equally bloody. In the Light Division, the 88th jrot .so far into the front that they were surrounded and put itito utter confusion, when four companies of the 77th under Major Strafton charged the Russians, broke them, aud relieved their comrades. The

fight bad not long commenced .ere it was, evident that the Russians -had received to ; fireat all mounted officers,/: Sir George, Browu was struck by a shoty/ which weiit through-his arm and struck his side. j sa\y,with regret his pale and sternly composed face, as his.body was borne by me on a litter early in the day, his white hair flickering iv the breeze, for. I knew we had lost the services Of a good soldier, that day. Further to the right a contest, the like of which, perhaps, never took place before, was goiiig on" between the Guards and dense masses ofßussian infantry of five times their number. The Guards had charged them and driven them ■ back when they perceived that, the Russians, had. out-flanked them. They were,out of ammuni- : tion, tob^;Tbey were, uncertain whether v there were friends lor foes in the rear.. They had no, support,'"'hoi reserve, and they were fighting with ; the bayonet against an enemy who stoutly.con-, tested every inch of ground, when the. corps of; ;anotherßussian column appeared for their; iearv „ Then a fearful^ mitraille} yvas 5 poured into therp; and jyolliesjbf rifles;andmuSv ; ketry.^ The-Guards were broken ;v they .had lost i 12;officers;dead ih; the field ;/they ;ha<l left one; one-half oftheir numbers ,nh/to^ „ they retired along the lower road, of tlie yalley. B tit they were soon rein forced, aud they speedi- 1 ly avfenged their loss. The French advanced about 10 o'clock, and turned , the flank of the enemy, who.retired at I*4o, with a loss of 9,000> 'kiUed'aud wounded. The 2nd Division^ in the centre of the Une, wero hardly-pressed. The 4lst Tegiment in particular, were exposed to a terrible fire, and the 95th were in the middle of such disorgani- ! zing volleys that they only mustered; 6.4 when, paraded at 2 o'clock. In fact, the whole of the; 'division"..'numbered only 300 men when assem-i ; bled by Major Eraanin rear of their camp after /the fight was oyer. .The regiments did,nut,take: i their colours into t)>ebatt}e, but nevertheless y-the officers were picked ,off wherever they went, ;and it did hot require the colour staff to indiicate their presence. Our ambulances were.soon :filled,'ah{jl', ere; 9 o'clock^ey were .busily enga-v {red;in. carrying loads of men, all covered with ('blood i and groaning, to the rear of the line. •' ■'.'■'[.^Al^uoialf^p;ast "9 o'clock 'Lord;, Raglan and, his staff Ayereassembled on, a '/knoll; in;ihe; vain; jvhopeof getting a glimpse of the .battle which was, ragiiig below them. ;,* Here General S trang-; ways was mortally wounded, and I am told that; 'he-methis^ea'thih the following way ;—rA shell /came right/inamong'the staffs-it explodedon: /CaptainSomerset'si hprse^ ripping himopeh—a■pprti6n;of:the shell tore off the leather overalls of Captain/Spmerset's trousers, it then struck; dowu/Captain -Gordou's • horse, and killed him at ohce,/aiid; then blew awayv-•General Strang/way's/leg, so that "it hung by aY shred of fleshy -and a bit.of cloth from ihe skin. The poor old General never moved a muscle of his face. He said merely, in a gentle voice, 'V.Will any one be kind enough to lift me off my ..horse-?". He was taken down and laid on the ground while, his lifeblodd ebbed fast, and at last he was carried to the rear. But the gallant old man had not sufficient strength to undergo an operation, and intwo. hours he had- sunk to rest, leaving behind him a memory which will ever be held dear by every officer aud man of the army. .The fight about the battery to which I have alluded in a former part of my letter was most sanguinary. It was found that there was no banquette to stand upon, and that the men inside could not fire upon the enemy. The Russiaus advanced mass after mass of infantry. As fast as one column was broken aud repulsed, another took its place. For three long hours • about 8500 British infantry contended against at least four times their uumber. No wonder that at times they were compelled to retire. But they came to the charge again. The admirable devotion gof the officers, who knew. they were special objects of attack, can never be too highly praised. Nor can the courage and steadiness of the few men who were left to follow them in this sanguinary conflict on the enemy be sufficiently admired. At one time, the Russians succeeded iv getting up close to the guns of Captain Wodehouse's and of Captain Turner's batteries in the gloom of the morning. Uncertain whether they were friends or foes, our artillerymen hesitated to fire. The Russians charged them suddenly, bore all/resistance down before them, drove away or bayonetted the gunners, and succeeded in spiking some of the guns. Their columns gained the hill, and for a few moments the fate of the day trembled in the balance; but Adams's brigade, Pennefathei's

brigade, and the Light Division, made another desperate/charge,/while, Dickson's gunsl swept their columns," and -V the Guards, with/undiminished ; valour :> and steadiness,/ though/ witlr a sadly decreased iron t, .pushed on again to meet their bitter enemies.f The rolliug.of.musketry, the crash of.steel, the pounding of the guns were deafening, and the Russians as they charged up the heights yelled like demons. They advanced,' halted, and advanced agaiju, received and retur-;/^, ried a close and deadly fire. But. the Minieis '? the/king of -.-weapons—lnkermann -proved /itM The regiments of the Fourth Division sand ithe: Marines>\ armed with the j old much-belauded Brown Bess, could do nothing, with their thin line of fire; against the massive multitudes of the Muscovite infantry,; but the volleys of the Mihie cieft tiieinlike the hand of the destroying Angel, and they fell like leaves in Autumn be-: fore them. About 10 o'clock a body of French/ infantry appeared on;our right, a joyful sight toOuXstruggling; regiments./ The Zouaves came / on at [the pus. de charged had;already begun to. play;with deadly effect on the right/wing/of; the Russians. Three battalions of the/Chasseurs 'd'Orleaus (I beUeye they \hadNo.j6 oh--theirbuttons) rushed by, the.light Of battle on their faces/ -They; were _ acconipa-N nied-by a battalion of Chasseurs Tndigenes---the Arab Sepoys of Algiers. Their trumpets;soun-» ded /above'the din; of battle,.,and .when we their;eager advance oil;the right flank■ :.of the.enemy we knew the-day was won.. Assailed; in front; by our men, broken in;several places by the ira pc tuosi ty of our char ge, ,r en Owed . again and again, attacked by the French infan? try. on. the right, and by artillery all along the :• line, the Russians;began to retire, and at 12 o'clock they 'were driven pell-mell down the hill towards the valley, where pursuit would have ;been madness,; as the /roads were all covered by their artillery.; Theyleft mounds of dead behind \ them./Lohg ere they; fled the Chasseurs^d'Afric charged them most brilliantly over the groundj difficult and broken as it.was, .and ; great loss upon, them, while the effect ofthis .. rapid attack, aided by the advance of our -trobps, • secured our guns, which were only spiked with : wopd,/and were soon, rendered .fitlov, service; Our own cavalry, the remnant of; the Light ■Brigade, were, moved, into^a position ;where;it , was hoped/they might;be. of ;service,:but;; they were too few to, attempt/anything, -and,;while •Jthey,were drawn;up they lostiseveralihorses and '-'; some men. Oneofficer,;Cornet Cleveland^ was ;struck/by(^ 'since expired. There are^novy;only« two officers left'with the fragment of the 17th Lancers^-r (Captain Godfrey Morgan;and Cornet iGeorge/ Wombvyellv At 12/ o'clock the;battle of Ihkertnann seemed; to have been won.but?the day which had cleared; up for ah hour previously so as to enable us to see the enemy and meet him r again became obscured. Rain and fog set in,-. and as we could not pursue the Russians, who were retiring under the shelter of their artillery, we had formed in front of our lines, and''were. holding the battle-field so stoutly coiitestedi when the enemy, taking advantage of bur quie--tude, again advanced, while their guns pushedforwa rd and opened a trerrien dons fire upon us. General Canrobert, who never quitted Lord Raglan for much of, the early part of the day, at once directed the French to;advance and outflank the enemy. In his efforts he was mostably seconded by General Bosquet, whose devotion was noble. Nearly all his mounted escort were down beside and behind him. General Canrobert was slightly wounded. His immediate attendants suffered severely. The renewed assault was so admirably repulsed that the Russians sullenly retired, still, protected by their crushing artillery. ■' The Russians, about 10 o'clock, made a sortie on the French lines, and traversed two parallels; before they could be resisted. They were driven back at lust with great loss, and as they retired they blew up some mines inside the hagstaff Fort, evidently afraid that the French would enter pell-mell after them. At lo'clockthe Russians were again retiring. At 1.40 Dickson's two guns smashed their artillery, and they limberedup, leaving five tumbrels/ and one gun-carriage on the field. November 6. —Two hundred Russian prisoners^ were brought in last night to head quarter's' ' camp. They were badly wounded many of them, and several died during the night. , A council was held to-day at Lord Raglan's, where General Canrobert, General Bosquet, and Sir E. Lyons assisted, which lasted several . hours.'-- ..-". ■'■'■,-. -';, ■■/■';.

At 4 o'clock Lord Raglan attended, the funerals of General Sir G. Cathcart, of Brigadier 'iVeral Goldie, and of General Strangsway. 'Mtky were buried, with 11 other officers, on Irirthcarls' hill. At the same time 14 officers \y, the Guards were buried together near the windmill. The work of burying the dead and carrying the wounded to Balaklava occupied the dsji,.' The Russians are quiet. We hear that tbSjjave lost 10,000 men and three generals. "^Wember 7.—A council of war was held to dip,, at the close of which the Duke of Cambridge lefrfor Balaklava and went on board the CaradM His Royal Highness is, it is said, going tojCionstantinople. It is said we wait here all the winter. Tie 46th regiment have arrived "here, also I,7WTTurks from Volo, and 2,800 French. The Ruffians fired ou our burying parties. There wal fen alarm last night. The 4th division were una* arms all night, and a portion of the 2nd Div'i|on. I hive no time to add more. We must have men konce—and abundance of them.