troops. Our artillery moved in turn up to the gardens, and began to cannonade the Russian battalions which were echelonned along the declivities in support of their retreating sharpshooters. Our troops, pressing on with incredible boldness, followed them along the slopes, and I lost no time in moving my first line across the gardens. Each man passed where he could, and our columns ascended the heights under a fire of musketry and of cannon which was powerless to arrest their march. The crest of the heights was crowned, and I sent out my second line to the support of the first, which dashed onward to the cry of " Vive l'Empereur!" The reserve artillery was in turn carried along with a rapidity which the obstacles presented by the river and the steepness of the ascent rendered extremely difficult. The battalions of the enemy, driven back upon the plateau, soon opened their guns and musketry on our lines, but which terminated in their definitive retreat, effected in very bad order. A few thousand cavalry would have enabled me to convert that retreat into a regular rout. The night came on, and I prepared to establish my bivouac with water in our neighbourhood. I encamped on the field of battle, while the enemy was disappearing from the horizon, and leaving the ground strewn with his dead and wounded, besides the large number he had already taken off. While those events were passing on the right and centre, the lines of the English army crossed the river in front of the village of Bouliouk, and advanced to the positions which the Russians had fortified, and where they concentrated considerable masses, for they had not judged that the steep declivities comprised between that point and the sea, and covered by a natural ditch, could be occupied by force by our troops. The English army encountered therefore a strong and well organised resistance. The combat which it opened was of the warmest, and does the highest honour to our brave allies. In short, M. le Maréchal, the battle of the Alma, in which more than 120,000 men, with 180 pieces of cannon, have been engaged, is a brilliant victory, and the Russian army would not have recovered from it if, as I have already observed, I had cavalry to pursue the disorganised masses of infantry who were retiring from before us loose and scattered. This battle proves, in the most striking manner, the superiority of our arms at the very commencement of this war. It has in a great degree weakened the confidence of the Russian army in itself, and especially in the positions long previously prepared, and on which they awaited us. That army was composed of the 16th and 17th divisions of Russian infantry, of a brigade of the 13th, of a brigade of the 14th division of reserve of the foot chasseurs of the 6th corps, armed with rifles throwing oblong balls, of four brigades of artillery, two of which were mounted, and of a battery drawn from the reserve park of siege artillery, comprising twelve pieces of large calibre. The cavalry was about 5,000, and the whole force might be estimated at about 50,000 men, commanded by Prince Mentschikoff in person. It is difficult for us to estimate the loss of the Russian army, but it must be considerable, if we may judge by the killed and wounded that they could not take off, and who remained in our hands. In the ravines of the Alma, on the plateaux in front, on the ground forming the position taken from the enemy by the English troops, the earth is strewn with more than 10,000 muskets, haversacks, and other articles of equipment. We devoted the whole day to burying their dead in all directions where they were found and in attending to their wounded, whom I have ordered to be transported with our own men on board the ships of the fleets, to be conveyed to Constantinople. All the Russian officers, generals included, were clothed in the coarse great-coat of the soldiers; it is therefore difficult to distinguish them in the midst of the dead or of the few prisoners we have been able to make. Yet it appears certain that there are two general officers among the prisoners made by the English. The battle of the Alma, in which the allied armies have reciprocally given pledges which they cannot forget, will render closer and more solid the bonds which unite them. The Ottoman division, which marched to the support of General Bosquet's in its turning movement, performed prodigies of rapidity to reach the line along the road on the sea-shore, which I had traced out for them. It was not able to take an active part in the battle which was going on in front of it, but these troops exhibited an ardour at least equal to our own; and I am happy to be able to tell you the hopes I found on the co-operation of those excellent auxiliaries. Every one has gallantly done his duty, and it would be difficult for me to make a selection between bodies of troops, officers, and soldiers who have shown most vigour in action, and who deserve to have particular mention made of them. I have already noticed the important part taken by the division of General Bosquet in its turning movement, during which his first brigade, established alone on the heights, remained for a long time exposed to the fire of five batteries of artillery. The 1st division mounted the heights by the steepest ascents with an ardour of which its chief, General Canrobert, gave it the example. This honourable general officer was struck in the chest by the bursting of a shell; but he remained on horseback till the close of the action, and his wound will have no disagreeable consequences. The 3rd division, led on with the greatest vigour by his imperial highness Prince Napoleon, took and gives to the army a more men. The Russians field of battle near 10,000 and more than 5,000 muskets. It lar rout. Prince Mentschikoff and loudly boasting on the morn 20th, in their camp, which I now Bendrady by this (qu'ils ont un peu l'oreille basse.) Der to it. I believe that they are rather crestyour The Russian general had demanded at Alma Reters of the rations for three weeks. I suspect that he will the lers of his regiment./there is in all Russian affairs. In three days I the central point of the cellency will be able to judge how much display held on the tag have stopped the convoy on its way. Your exthe the artillery performed a principal/ing and spirit of the army are admirable. The fra cumpar-hall During the whole of to tell your excellency its just value. The feelguns dath at his post. He was shall be before Sebastopol, and I shall be able and intelligence with which that select corps ments of troops of all arms have left since the and I cannot sufficiently praise the energy ships which are gone to Varna for reinforceconducted it. In a future report, the materials 18th. They will reach me at Belbek before the being mentioned in general orders. I shall twelve hours on horseback on the day of battle; and soldiers who have merited the honour of duty. All this does not prevent my remaining of which I am now collecting, I shall lay before end of the month. My health is still the same. you the names of the officers, the sub-officers, It keeps up, between suffering, crises, and append to it a prayer for the rewards which but will not my strength betray me? FareAccept, M. le Maréchal, the expression of excellency from before Sebastopol. you will certainly find to be merited. my respectful sentiments. A. DE ST. ARNAUD, Marshal, Commanding-in-chief. Alma, 22nd of Sept., 1854. well, M. le Maréchal. I shall write to your Adieu, M. le Ministre, &c., A. DE ST. ARNAUD, Marshal, Commanding-in-chief the army of the East. Admiral Hamelin also forwarded to the Head-quarters at Alma, Field of Battle of the French government the following report, M. le Ministre,-My official report gives which is necessary to add to the completeyour excellency the details of the glorious day/ness of the great war picture :of the 20th, but I cannot allow the courier to leave without saying Ville de Paris, Sept. 23rd. a few words about our On the 21st of September I hastened to send brave soldiers. The soldiers of Friedland and you a telegraphic despatch of the brilliant vicMaréchal. The battle of the Alma has proved Russians on the river Alma. I have it in my of Austerlitz are still under our flag, M. le tory which our troops have gained over the the same brilliant bravery. One can do any- in order that you may understand them, I enthat fact. We witness the same impetuosity, power to-day to add some further details, and, them with confidence. The allied armies have intended plan of attack of the combined armies taken positions that were truly formidable. decided on the 19th for the following day; the When examining them yesterday I saw how other shows the positions on the Alma where favourable they were to resistance, and, in our troops attacked the left and centre of the fruth, if the French and English had occupied Russian army in sight of the fleet, which movethem, the Russians never could have taken ment was supported by shells from the steamers. them. Now that we are more calm, and that Your excellency has only to glance at the first the information which reaches us by means of drawing in order to appreciate the value of this deserters and prisoners becomes more precise, plan in a military point of view. Accordingly, we are enabled to ascertain the loss inflicted on it was agreed on that the second division should the enemy. The loss of the Russians is con- march along the sea-shore, cross the Alma at siderable. The deserters speak of more than the ford, which had been sounded by the boats 6,000 men. Their army is demoralised. On in the morning, and carry the heights of the the evening of the 20th it was cut in two. extreme left of the enemy, protected at the Prince Mentschikoff, with the left wing, marched same time by eight steamers that I had placed on Bakshiserai; the right wing moved on Belbek. in a position to bear on this point; whilst the But they were without food, their wounded 1st and 3rd divisions, under the marshal's encumbered them, and the road is strewn with orders, were to attack in front the enemy's their wounded. It is a glorious success, which centre, and the entire English army was to does honour to our troops, adds a fine page to turn the extreme right. This operation was ted almost as it had been planned, although ops, after crossing the Alma, had to iffs almost perpendicular, where our oldiers gave extraordinary proofs of daring. It was chiefly owing to rful acts of intrepidity and speed, ust also add, to the terror caused by ells from the steamers among the enemy's valry on the extreme right, that General Bosquet's division operated with such brilliant success, and was able to attack the centre an hour after the commencement of the action. On the other hand, the marshal's two divisions after a very sharp action with the enemy's rifles on the banks of the Alma, were ascending with the same boldness those natural ramparts where the enemy's centre was posted in the greatest security. In the meantime the English army, instead of turning, as at first intended, the extreme right, made a vigorous attack on the strong intrenchments of the right. The Russians, besides numerous field-pieces placed in battery along their lines, had also on this spot twelve 32-pounders, which our brave allies succeeded in capturing after a terrible loss. In short, the attack commenced at half-past twelve, and all the positions were carried at half-past three; the Russian army was in full retreat, and the several corps of which it was composed were in the utmost confusion, covering the positions which had just been taken with their dead and wounded. The want of cavalry prevented our taking thousands of prisoners and a great number of cannon. The casualties in the allied armies were, I regret to say, very serious, in consequence of the strong positions which they had to carry; our loss, in killed and wounded, amounts to about 1,500, and that of the English from 1,500 to 2,000. The road between the Katcha and the Alma was nearly covered with the enemy's dead, not to mention the thousands which remained on the field of battle. Three of our steam-frigates have been dispatched to Constantinople with our wounded, having also on board some of the enemy, who are treated like our own soldiers. To-day we accompany the army, who are marching on the Katcha. I am, with profound respect, HAMELIN. The concluding words of the last despatch of Marshal St. Arnaud proved prophetic :"Will not my strength betray me?" He had long been suffering severely from an affection of the heart, and he accepted the command of the French army in the East with the conviction that he could not live long; but yet he thought long enough for glory-long enough to place the colours of his nation on the walls of Sebastopol! Though disappointed in the latter expecta tion, he died almost in the arms of victory, and sank to repose in glory! On the 25th of September, feeling the approach of death, he resigned the command of the army to General Canrobert. In the farewell which he addressed to the army, dated from his bivouac on the 26th of September, he says, that overcome by the cruel disease against which he had so long struggled, he was obliged to resign the command. He paid a high compliment to his successor, General Canrobert, who, he said, "will pursue the victory of the Alma, and will have the good fortune which I had imagined for myselfthat of leading you to Sebastopol." After much suffering, he breathed his last on the 29th, in the fifty-third year of his age. Though he did not die on the field of battle, he met a soldier's death; for he perished at his post, in the resolute performance of his duty. The particulars of his life have an air of romance about them. His youth had been adventurous and stormy. Having entered the army very young, he afterwards retired from it, and sought a livelihood upon the stage. Not meeting with the success he anticipated, he returned to a military life. In the time of honour and prosperity he seems to have remembered the humble companions of his early career. Not long before the emperor conferred upon him the appointment to the command of the army of the East, he is reported to have obtained a place in one of the public offices for an old theatrical comrade of the Porte St. Martin. A French journal (the Débats) says of him :-During several years he was in the severe campaigns of Africa, and always made himself remarked by his bravery and talents. His name is cited in almost all the combats of the long and arduous war in that country. in-chief of the army in the East, he there displayed very remarkable talents and activity, notwithstanding the bad state of his health, which had long been extremely delicate. At Varna he was attacked with malignant fever, and on two subsequent occasions with cholera. In the Crimea he heroically dominated his malady, in order to fulfil his high office of general-in-chief. The sentiment of military honour and the love of glory seem alone to have been able to maintain his moral energy under the physical sufferings he endured; and he commanded in the battle of Alma, saying that a marshal of France ought to know how to die on horseback. Commander 239 the most brilliant part in the combat fought on Accept, M. le Maréchal, the expression of my respectful sentiments. A. DE ST. ARNAUD, Marshal, Head-quarters at Alma, Field of Battle of the Alma, 22nd of Sept., 1854. M. le Ministre,-My official report gives your excellency the details of the glorious day our military history, and gives to the army a feeling worth 20,000 more men. The Russians have left on the field of battle near 10,000 haversacks and more than 5,000 muskets. It was a regular rout. Prince Mentschikoff and his generals were loudly boasting on the morning of the 20th, in their camp, which I now occupy. I believe that they are rather crestfallen by this (qu'ils ont un peu l'oreille basse.) The Russian general had demanded at Alma rations for three weeks. I suspect that he will have stopped the convoy on its way. Your excellency will be able to judge how much display there is in all Russian affairs. In three days I shall be before Sebastopol, and I shall be able to tell your excellency its just value. The feeling and spirit of the army are admirable. The ships which are gone to Varna for reinforcements of troops of all arms have left since the 18th. They will reach me at Belbek before the end of the month. My health is still the same. It keeps up, between suffering, crises, and duty. All this does not prevent my remaining twelve hours on horseback on the day of battle; but will not my strength betray me? Farewell, M. le Maréchal. I shall write to your excellency from before Sebastopol. Adieu, M. le Ministre, &c., A. DE ST. ARNAUD, Marshal, Commanding-in-chief the army of the East. Admiral Hamelin also forwarded to the French government the following report, which is necessary to add to the completeness of the great war picture : Ville de Paris, Sept. 23rd. of the 20th, but I cannot allow the courier to leave without saying a few words about our On the 21st of September I hastened to send brave soldiers. The soldiers of Friedland and you a telegraphic despatch of the brilliant vicof Austerlitz are still under our flag, M. le tory which our troops have gained over the Maréchal. The battle of the Alma has proved Russians on the river Alma. I have it in my that fact. We witness the same impetuosity, power to-day to add some further details, and, the same brilliant bravery. One can do any in order that you may understand them, I enthing with such men whenever you inspire close you two sketches. The first explains the them with confidence. The allied armies have intended plan of attack of the combined armies taken positions that were truly formidable. decided on the 19th for the following day; the When examining them yesterday I saw how other shows the positions on the Alma where favourable they were to resistance, and, in our troops attacked the left and centre of the truth, if the French and English had occupied Russian army in sight of the fleet, which movethem, the Russians never could have taken ment was supported by shells from the steamers. them. Now that we are more calm, and that Your excellency has only to glance at the first the information which reaches us by means of drawing in order to appreciate the value of this deserters and prisoners becomes more precise, plan in a military point of view. Accordingly, we are enabled to ascertain the loss inflicted on it was agreed on that the second division should the enemy. The loss of the Russians is con- march along the sea-shore, cross the Alma at siderable. The deserters speak of more than the ford, which had been sounded by the boats 6,000 men. Their army is demoralised. On in the morning, and carry the heights of the the evening of the 20th it was cut in two. Prince Mentschikoff, with the left wing, marched on Bakshiserai; the right wing moved on Belbek. But they were without food, their wounded encumbered them, and the road is strewn with their wounded. It is a glorious success, which does honour to our troops, adds a fine page to extreme left of the enemy, protected at the same time by eight steamers that I had placed in a position to bear on this point; whilst the 1st and 3rd divisions, under the marshal's orders, were to attack in front the enemy's centre, and the entire English army was to turn the extreme right. This operation was |