THE CONQUEST OF BOMARSUND. [From the Spectator, August 26.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume X, Issue 977, 13 December 1854, Page 3

THE CONQUEST OF BOMARSUND. [From the Spectator, August 26.]

The final conquest of the Bomarsund forts, accompanied by the capture of 2000 Russian prisoners, was officially telegraphed to tbe public iast Saturday afternoon ; and on Tuesday and Wednesday Admiral Napier's despatches were published in the Gazette. The fortified post know as the Bomarsund was situated on the most eastern point of the largest of the Aland Isles. This point of land juts out into the sea, which washes its southern, northern, and eastern chores. On the west, a tongue ol land runs down to the south towards Lurapar Bay. The country is rocky, wooded, and partly cultivated. The main fort stands at tbe head of a semicircular bay, facing the south. It was a long granite structure, about forty feet in height, aid mounting from eighty to a hundred guna in casemates. Its fire therefore swept the bay. Above this fort the land gradually rose ; and on the crests of the low hills s ood three round granite towers-; one on the highest ground to the west; die second, an inconsiderable work, in the centre; and the third an cue eastern bill. Opposite the southern point of the east side of the island lay the isle of Presto, also fortified by a tower. On the west, the Russians had thrown up an earth-work mounting six guns. From the centre of the bay the batteries stood about north, and | the ships of war, steamers, and transports, stretched across from tbe east to \he west shore. The ships were — English : Bulldog (ft*g Sir Charles Napier), JEdinburgh(Qag Admiral Chads), Hogue, Ajax, Blenheim, Amphion, Termagant, "Relleisle (hospital ship), Penelope, Sphynx, Gladiator, Valorous, Vulture, Pigmy, Lightning. The troop transports were the Prince, Julia, Columba, Cornelius Fox, besides several yachts and cutters. French : Inflexible (flag), Breslau, Trident, Tage, Duperre*, St. Louis, Algerine (hospital ship), Phlegethon, Darien, Souffleur, Asmodie, an i the Imperial yacht. The Leopard, Arrogant, Odin, Hecla, Locust, Porcupine, Otter, Alban, aud Cuckoo, were stationed on the north side of the island. The story of tbe siege of Bomarsund begins on the evening of tbe 7th of August; when the transports had all arrived, and Admiral Napier in the Bulldog steamed through the fleet to see that all w s ready. At nine that evening the signal was hoisted to get out all the boats ; and tbe Termagnant, Strumboli, and Sphynx, by the light of the moon, sounded (be passage to the western shore, where the landing ou the morrow

) was to take place. In tWe regions the sumj mer morning breaks early, and at two on the Bth ' the diiy'a woik bad begun. At threp, the Edinburgh, " witl], boats banging round her," followed liy the Duperrc, rounded the west point, and the Edinburgh sent fonT shells among the woods on | shore to warn off any Russians who might be lying there. An hour later, the Amphion and Pldegeihon took a position west of the earth-work, and alter firing with great effect for half an hour, sent three boats in to spike the guas. It was found that the Russians had fied t and, with three cheers, the English and French flags were planted on the battery. Soon after this, the western lowir opened fire on the two ships; but the Bulldog and Stromboli came up, and engaged the tower, to'divert attention from the landing. This operation began at half-past four, and by eight o'clock upwards of 10,000 French soldiers were safely ashore, and marching through the woods and over the heights into the enemy's country. This is justly regarded as a work of " singular energy and rapidity," The troops encamped for the night near Skarpans, a village about two miles from the west tower, which, as it commanded the main iort, was the object of the first attack. During that day and the next, ammunition and'baggage were landed, and carried up; the soldiers brought up forage, provisions, and cattle; the vivandieres set up their canteens, the soliiers pitched iheir tents, and swung their camp-kettles over the fires, and a bake-house and slaughter- house were established. Between the French camp and the enemy's tower stretched a narrow valley with a long sheet of water ; andbeyond rose a ririge of rocks to the height of 200 fret. Meanwhile, 1200 marines of both nations, under Brigadier Jones, of the Royal Engineers, had proceeded in the Driver to the north of the island, and had there landed with the same precautions Mid equal security as the French on the other siile. The position they occupied was in a ravine, sheltered by the rocks before mentioned, commanding the main road, from the north west to the main fott, and in the midst of a plantation of fir and juniper ; and it was 800 yards from the western fort, but within range of the eastern for". The marines were busied until the 15th in erecting a formidable battery, constructed of sand bags piled twelve feet high, and mounting heavy gons. The guns were hauled up to the battery from the shore, over four or five miles of extremely difficult ground, by a body of sailors, and the ship's bands marching in front; and as I ey passed the French camp the soldiers cheered j them, am!, running spontaneously to the ropes, gave a helping hand. Th 3 French had got their pieces — three mortars aiKJ three brass field pieces — into position on the 15th, and soon after dawn commenced the bombardment of the western tower. Sooti oblai ling the range, their shells were seen bursting over the embrasures in beautiful style, while the shot destroyed the facings and drove the granite blocks in masses to the ground. The French Chasseu's, meanwhile, betook themselves lo liie rocks in front, aud plied the emlrasores with a destructive fire of Mim6 bullets, so that the Russians could hardly load their guns. They fought, however, manfully ; but at four o'clock three guns were silenced, and a flag of truce was hung out. General Baraguay d'Hilliers rode up to the fort ; the Russians asked two hours' respite, " to bury their dead ;" the General gave them one hour ; which with characteristic treachery they occupied in bringing up ammunition and reinforcements from the forts below. Of course liuje respect could be paid to them after that. The fire was renewed. At eight another flag of truce appeared. The commandant of artillery rushed to the general to inquire if he should cea&e firing. The general 'was leaning against some palings in the village, talking with a knoc of officers. "Cease firii.g!" he exclaimed with much ges'iculation ; certainty not, sir; these men have not respected the object of their truce, and they shall not receive the slightest consideration. Continue your bombardment the whole night long." And so throughout the night the fire ot shot and shell was kept up ; and in the morning, as the fort did not reply, a body of chasseurs dashed up and entered. Little or no resistance was offered; aud the flag of the allies speedily waved over the western tower. The Russian loss in killed had been very great; the lifty prisoners taken here were nearly all drunk. Ou the same day. a shell from the main fort set fire to the magazine, aud the western fore blew up. Nor had the English been idle or unmolested. A hot fire of shot and shell was d'rected against them on the 13th, 14th, and 15th; and it was a sight to see the shells bursting all about while the men kept to their work, and the officers were at their toilet, or writing, or breakfasting on the granite ledges. The battery was finished on the 15th ; and as it was not wanted against the western tower, the guns were turned to the eastern tower. On that morning also Captain Pelham, of the Blenheim, landed a 10-inch gun, and although in an exposed position, kept up a steady fire on the western face of the large fort, supported by the Heclcc and Valorous. Other shfps came up at intervals, and threw shot and shell with great effect upon the fort. Capfaiu Ramsay also landed three 32- pounders, and pounded away at the eastern fort. The combined fire proved too much for the Russians ; at half-past four their guns were silenced ; a flag of truce was hung out and the marines and sailors coolly walked in and took possession of the fort and 118 prisoners. On the morning of the T6tb there still remained the great fort ; but it obviously stood no chance. Again the ships, Captain Pelham, and the French, kept up a sustained fire; and early in. the day a flag of truce showed that General Bodisco had succumbed to the allies. Captain Hall, of ihe Hecla, went ashore ; the governor surrendered, and the garrison, 2000 in number, laid down their arms. Soon after, admirals Napier and Parseval joined General Baraguay d'Hilliers at the fort. General Bodisco, the governor, is an old man, apparently eighty years of age. He was very anxious that the French General-in-Chief should certify that he had done his duty. General Baraguay d'Hilliers returned his sword, and at the same lime extolled the valour with which he had defended his trust, and the prudence which had surrendered it when further resistance could have done no more than cause a useless waste of life. The Russian General then sent a priest to the officer in command of the Presto fort, with orders to surrender. The order was obeyed ; and thus the four forts of Bomarsund fell into the possession of the allies.