his orders, in presence of a superior force, who were thus deterred from venturing to molest them. 66 "I have, &c., "E. M. LYONS, Captain. "Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B." "H.M.S. Miranda, off the town of Gheisk, June 6. 6 Sir, I have the honour to inform you that, on my arrival here this morning with the vessels under my orders, and the launches of the line-of-battle ships, accompanied by four French steamers, I sent Lieutenant-Commander Horton, of the Ardent,' with whom was associated a French officer, to demand the surrender of the place on the same terms as those offered by us at Taganrog and Marioupol. These terms having been wisely acceded to by Colonel Boriskoff, the Military Governor, whose small force was quite inadequate to defend the town, the marines of this ship, under First-Lieutenant Macnamara, R.M.A., and a French party, landed and destroyed a vast quantity of hay, stacked on the beach ready for conveyance to the Crimea, and several thousand quarters of wheat, &c. During this time Lieutenant Horton and the French officer went through the town, and had all the storehouses and magazines thrown open for inspection, in order to see that no evasion of the terms was attempted, and that all contraband of war was destroyed. "On this, as well as on the two former similar occasions, Lieutenant Horton conducted the interview with much judgment and firmness. 66 'I have, &c., "E. M. LYONS, Captain. "Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B." Extract from a Despatch of Admiral Houston Stewart to Sir Edmund Lyons, dated "Hannibal, at Anapa, June 11th, 1855." "I arrived at this anchorage at 10 A.M. to-day; Rear-Admiral Charner did not arrive till about 1 P.M., Admiral Bruat having last night informed me that he would be detained, and requested me not to wait for the Napoleon.' . "The Russians have exploded nearly all the powder magazines in the place, and those which remain are empty. "The barracks were burnt by the Russians, as also a good number of buildings, and all the coal and grain, which appear to have been in considerable quantities. "The garrison is estimated by the Circassians at between 7000 and 8000, and they are retired on the Kuban River, which they crossed by a bridge, destroying the latter behind them." [In this despatch was also enclosed a return of the ordnance material which had been destroyed at Anapa, including 245 guns and mortars, 4 magazines, and 8 furnaces for heating shot. By far the greater portion of these were rendered useless by the Russians themselves, and the remainder were made unserviceable by order of Admiral Houston Stewart.] Moonlight nights CHAPTER XVI. Cholera Death of Admiral Boxer Council of war at the French head-quarters General Pélissier snubs all round - His deference to Lord Raglan's opinion French reconnaissance - Opening of the third bombardment, June 6th - Arrangements of the Allies for the assault of the Mamelon, Ouvrages Blancs, and Quarries - Enthusiastic reception of Lord Raglan by the troops - Ditto of General Pélissier Assault and capture of the Mamelon by the French, June 7th The Ouvrages Blancs also fall after some desperate fighting - English take the Quarries at the point of the bayonet - Foolish attempt of the Zouaves on the Malakoff They are repulsed — The Russians repossess themselves of the Mamelon, but are driven out again by the French Enemy attack the Quarries and are defeated with great loss Death of General Lavarande Suspension of arms - General Todtleben General Pélissier uses his discretion- Casualties of the Allies - Russian losses - Evacua - tion of Anapa Annoyance of Omer Pasha Cholera in the Sardinian army - Casualties. Head-quarters before Sevastopol, As regards the progress of the siege here, we are arrived very late in the evening at Head-quarters. I got my letters between 10 and 11 P.M., and read them by moonlight! This, in England, you would hardly think credible. However, in two or three days more this will no longer be the case, and we then hope that we shall be able to push our batteries very much more forward. The weather continues magnificent, but I regret to say that the cholera, if anything, has rather increased than diminished. Every day we hear of men cut off in the prime of life by this dreadful disease, and almost without a moment's warning. The regiments that have lately arrived are those that suffer most. The 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers have both lost a number of men, as also have several infantry regiments, who have only been a short time here. Our Sardinian allies have, I am sorry to say, suffered considerably. I believe they have lost, up to the present time, about 200 men dead, and have near 400 in hospital with diarrhoea and dysentery. Everything has been done that the medical men can think of to try and check the malady, but nothing seems to be of any use. They are camped on fresh, healthy ground, with plenty of excellent water, plenty of firewood, good wholesome rations, including fresh meat and bread, and with but little duty to perform; in short, the treatment of cholera is an enigma, of which our medical men have not yet discovered the solution. Admiral Boxer (the Port-Admiral of Balaklava) died of it last night. Poor man! he felt very much the abuse that has been heaped upon him by the English newspapers, and that made him very restless, and, no doubt, to a certain extent, accelerated his death; for when he first felt ill, four or five days ago, he would not take proper care of himself or lay up, as the medical men advised him; as he said, if he did, he should have the papers abusing him again. He was one of the last remnant of the old school of sailors, and rose to his high rank from before the mast; probably the last instance known in the British navy. I enclose you the General After-Order of yesterday, describing the success which has attended the Kertch expedition.* "General After-Order, 4th June, 1855.-The Field-Marshal announces to the army the further gallant exploits of the Allies (with the Kertch expedition), which this time have chiefly been accomplished by the ships of the French and English navies. Berdiansk has been destroyed, with four war-steamers. Arabat, a fortress mounting 30 guns, after resisting an hour and a half, had its magazine blown up by the fire of our ships. Genit-Chesk refused to capitulate, and was set fire to by shells. Ninety ships in its harbour were destroyed, with corn and stores to the amount of 100,0007. "In these operations, the loss to the enemy during four days has amounted to 4 war-steamers, 246 merchant-vessels, and corn and magazines to the amount of 150,000l. Upwards of 100 guns have been taken. |