followed the movement. Hardly had this taken place when the village of Bouliouk, immediately opposite the centre, was fired by the enemy at all points, creating a continuous blaze for 300 yards, obscuring their position and rendering a passage through it impracticable. Two regiments of Brigadier-General Adams' brigade, part of Sir De Lacy Evans' division, had, in consequence, to pass the river at a deep and difficult ford to the right under a sharp fire, while his first brigade, under Major-General Pennefather, and the remaining regiment of Brigadier-General Adams crossed to the left of the conflagration, opposed by the enemy's artillery from the heights above, and pressed on towards the left of their position with the utmost gallantry and steadiness.

"In the meanwhile, the light division, under Sir George Brown, effected the passage of the Alma in his immediate front. The banks of the river itself were, from their rugged and broken nature, most serious obstacles, and the vineyards, through which the troops had to pass, and the trees which the enemy had felled, created additional impediments, rendering every species of formation, under a galling fire, nearly an impossibility. Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown advanced against the enemy under great disadvantages. In this difficult operation he nevertheless persevered, and the 1st brigade, under Major-General Codrington, succeeded in carrying a redoubt, materially aided by the judicious and steady manner in which Brigadier-General Buller moved on the left flank, and by the advance of four companies of the rifle brigade, under Major Norcott, who promises to be a distinguished officer of light troops. The heavy fire of grape and musketry, however, to which the troops were exposed, and the losses consequently sustained by the 7th, 23rd, and 33rd regiments, obliged this brigade partially to relinquish its hold.

"By this time, however, the Duke of Cambridge had succeeded in crossing the river, and had moved up in support, and a brilliant advance of the brigade of foot guards, under Major-General Bentinck, drove the enemy back and secured the final possession. The Highland brigade, under Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, advanced in admirable order and steadiness up the high ground to the left and in co-operation with the guards; and Major-General Pennefather's brigade, which had been connected with the right of the light division, forced the enemy completely to abandon the position they had taken such pains to defend and secure. The 95th regiment immediately on the right of the royal fusileers in the advance, suffered equally with that corps an immense loss.

"The aid of the royal artillery in all these operations was most effectual. The exertions of the field officers and the captains of troops and batteries to get the guns into action were unceasing, and the precision of their fire materially contributed to the great results of the day. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England brought his division to the immediate support of the troops in advance, and Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir George Cathcart was actively engaged in watching the left flank.

The nature of the ground did not admit of the employment of

the cavalry under the Earl of Lucan, but they succeeded in taking some prisoners at the close of the battle.

"In the detail of these operations, which I have gone into so far as the space of a despatch would allow, your grace will perceive that the services in which the general and other officers of the army were engaged were of no ordinary character; and I have great pleasure in submitting them for your grace's most favourable consideration. The mode in which Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown conducted his division, under the most trying circumstances, demands the expression of my warmest approbation. The fire to which his division was subjected, and the difficulties he had to contend against, afford no small proof that his best energies were applied to the successful discharge of his duty. I must speak in corresponding terms of Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans, who likewise conducted his division to my perfect satisfaction, and exhibited equal coolness and judgment in carrying out a most difficult operation. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge brought his division into action in support of the light division with great ability, and had for the first time an opportunity of showing the enemy his devotion to her Majesty, and to the profession of which he is so distinguished a member. My best thanks are due to Lieutenant-General Sir R. England, Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir George Cathcart, and Lieutenant-General the Earl of Lucan, for their cordial assistance wherever it could be afforded; and I feel it my duty especially to recommend to your grace's notice the distinguished conduct of Major-General Bentinck, Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, Major-General Pennefather, Major-General Codrington, Brigadier-General Adams, and Brigadier-General Buller.

"In the affair of the previous day, Major-General the Earl of Cardigan exhibited the utmost spirit and coolness, and kept his brigade under perfect command.

The manner in which Brigadier-General Strangways directed the artillery, and exerted himself to bring it forward, met my entire satisfaction.

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Lieut.-General Sir John Burgoyne was constantly by my side, and rendered me, by his counsel and advice, the most valuable assistance; and the commanding royal engineer, Brigadier-General Tylden, was always at hand to carry out any service I might direct him to undertake. I deeply regret to say that he has since fallen a victim to cholera, as has Major Wellesley, who was present in the affair of the previous day, notwithstanding that he was then suffering from serious illness. He had, during the illness of MajorGeneral Lord de Ros, acted for him in the most efficient manner. I cannot speak too highly of Brigadier-General Estcourt, AdjutantGeneral, or of Brigadier-General Airey, who, in the short time he has conducted the duties of quartermaster-general, has displayed the greatest ability as well as aptitude for the office.

"I am much indebted to my military secretary, Lieut.-Colonel Steele, Major Lord Burghersh, and the officers of my personal staff, for the zeal, intelligence, and gallantry they all, without excep

tion, displayed. Lieutenant Derriman, R.N., the commander of the Caradoc, accompanied me during the whole of the operation, and rendered me an essential service, by a close observation of the enemy's movements, which his practised eye enabled him accurately to watch.

"I lament to say that Lieutenant-Colonel Lagondie, who was attached to my head-quarters by the Emperor of the French, fell into the enemy's hands on the 19th, on his return from Prince Napoleon's division, where he had obligingly gone, at my request, with a communication to his Imperial Highness. This misfortune is deeply regretted, both by myself and the officers of my personal staff. That another officer placed with me under similar circumstances, Major Vico, afforded me all the assistance in his power, sparing no exertion to be of use. I cannot omit to make known to your grace the cheerfulness with which the regimental officers of the army have submitted to most unusual privations. My anxiety to bring into the country every cavalry and infantry soldier who was available, prevented me from embarking their baggageanimals, and these officers have with them at this moment nothing but what they can carry, and they, equally with the men, are without tents or covering of any kind. I have not heard a single murmur. All seem impressed with the necessity of the arrangement; and they feel, I trust, satisfied that I shall bring up their bât-horses at the earliest moment.

"The conduct of the troops has been admirable. When it is considered that they have suffered severely from sickness during the last two months, that since they landed in the Crimea, they have been exposed to the extremes of wet, cold, and heat, that the daily toil to provide themselves with water has been excessive, and that they have been pursued by cholera to the very battle-field, I do not go beyond the truth in declaring that they merit the highest commendation.

"In the ardour of attack they forgot all they had endured, and displayed that high courage, that gallant spirit, for which the British soldier is ever distinguished; and under the heaviest fire they maintained the same determination to conquer as they had exhibited before they went into action. I should be wanting in my duty, my lord duke, if I did not express to your grace, in the most earnest manner, my deep feeling of gratitude to the officers and men of the Royal Navy, for the invaluable assistance they afforded the army upon this, as on every occasion, where it could be brought to bear upon our operations.

"They watched the progress of the day with the most intense anxiety; and, as the best way of evincing their participation in our success, and their sympathy in the sufferings of the wounded, they never ceased, from the close of the battle till we left the ground this morning, to provide for the sick and wounded, and carry them down to the beach, a labour in which some of the officers even volunteered to participate, an act which I shall never cease to recollect with the warmest thankfulness.

"I mention no names, fearing I might omit some who ought to

be spoken of; but none who were associated with us spared any exertion they could apply to so sacred a duty.

"Sir Edmond Lyons, who had charge of the whole, was, as always, most prominent in rendering assistance, and providing for emergencies.

I enclose the return of killed and wounded. It is, I lament to say, very large; but I hope, all circumstances considered, that it will be felt that no life was unnecessarily exposed, and that such an advantage could not be achieved without a considerable sacrifice.

"I cannot venture to estimate the amount of the Russian loss. I believe it to have been great, and such is the report in the country.

"The number of prisoners who are not hurt is small; but the wounded amount to 800 or 900. Two general officers, Major-Generals Karganoff and Shoksnoff, fell into our hands. The former is very badly wounded.

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'I will not attempt to describe the movements of the French army; that will be done by an abler hand; but it is due to them to say, that their operations were eminently successful, and that, under the guidance of their distinguished commander, Marshal St. Arnaud, they manifested the utmost gallantry, the greatest ardour for the attack, and the high military qualities for which they are so famed.

"This despatch will be delivered to your grace by Major Lord Burghersh, who is capable of affording you the fullest information, and whom I beg to recommend to your especial notice.

'I have, &c.,

"P.S.-I enclose a sketch of the field of battle. "His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c. &c."

RAGLAN.

There is not a tittle in the foregoing document from his lordship, either as to the cause of our having failed to carry out the movement agreed upon, or as to the time our army was in position. It is not so in St. Arnaud's despatch. He not only gives the hour at which Bosquet moved against the enemy, but he absolutely charges his lordship with delay. The French marshal, more gallant than severe, observes, "they (British) bravely made up for this delay.”

It was this "delay" which in all probability gave us victory without its fruits, on the heights of the Alma, and caused a defeat to become, instead of an utter rout, a retreat so well-ordered, as to allow the enemy to carry off all his guns, save one, which fell to the lot of our brave fellows.

Flushed with victory, the country did not see the failure in this first act of the bloody drama; but had the allied armies been repulsed, and followed into the plain by the Russian cavalry, the French marshal would have spoken out, as history most undoubtedly will, upon the great error at the door of our general,

This was Lord Raglan's first blunder in the Crimea. It will not do to say that an attempt to turn the right of the Russian position, could not be undertaken owing to the difficulty of the ground, for

the division appointed for the operation had at length to attack batteries in the front, far more formidable than those they would have had to contend with on the flank. The importance of the intended movement is too apparent to be hoodwinked. What says Menschikoff in his despatch to the Czar? He tells his emperor, that the French had turned his left, and were directing their attack upon his centre from that point. Suppose the same to have been the case on the enemy's right, would all their guns have escaped, and themselves been enabled to run for it, so that they might strengthen the garrison of Sebastopol, and force us to a regular siege, thereby giving time for the Russian army of the Danube to arrive, and bring upon us Balaklava and Inkermann?

The delay may have been owing to some matter of detail not having been carried out on the morning of the 20th September, 1854, by some aide-de-camp; but his lordship's total silence in the face of the French marshal's charge of "delay," holds him answerable for every disaster arising out of so great an error. The staff is his lordship's.

Lord Raglan behaved bravely at the battle of the Alma; that was nothing new in his career; he had so conducted himself in all his former campaigns. When the fight was at its height, he was as collected in the midst of fire as he could have been in his own tent. His generalship, as the battle was fought, was faultless; his mistake was in not having fought it as agreed upon on the overnight. For this victory he attained to the Marshal's baton. The next affair at which he was present, after the surrender of Balaklava to the allied army, was on the 25th of October, near the same little town. On that day was fought the battle of Balaklava! The Turks having abandoned their redoubts to the Russians, one regiment of infantry and some twelve hundred cavalry had to oppose the enemy until reinforcements could be brought up from the position in front of Sebastopol. His lordship was a spectator during the important action. The guns of the Turkish redoubts were in the act of being removed by the enemy, when his lordship, in an unhappy moment, gave, or instructed his quartermaster-general to give, an order to the lieutenant-general of our cavalry to retake them. The order was peremptorily worded, and it was obeyed. The murderous carnage of our light cavalry ensued. Ministers, in their place in Parliament, have acknowledged the order, as thus worded, to have emanated from Lord Raglan: "Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly in front, follow the enemy, and try to prevent their carrying away the guns. Troop of horse artillery may accompany. French cavalry is on the left. Immediate.-R. AIREY.'

On the 5th of the following month, the battle of Inkermann was fought a battle unrivalled in deeds of heroism, and a battle-field gorged with the best blood of England. Lord Raglan's army had been surprised This dreadful disaster originated in the neglect of the commonest precautions. The right of his position before Sebastopol was left wholly unprotected, instead of having been properly intrenched in the face of an immense mass of the enemy for some days within sight of our outposts, who, on this occasion, were,