Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

Part 3

Letter No.15.

Finished, Katcha River,

October 18^th, 1854.

October 16^th. – “The batteries will open tomorrow” has so long been the “latest news from the camp” that we begin to doubt if they will ever open at all. But there does seem really to be some chance of it now, for the “Agamemnon” left Balaklava for the fleet yesterday,  leaving word for us all to follow. I did not leave until this morning as I was coaling, which is rather satisfactory, for when quite full of coals the engine and boilers are very well protected from shot. On arriving I called on Admiral Dundas, and found that at a consultation of the allied Admirals it had been determined that a sea attack should be made on the batteries. But as a man-of-war only carries eighty rounds of shot for each gun, or a hundred and sixty for one broadside, and as a portion has been landed with the fifty naval guns, they only muster on average about a hundred and forty rounds each, which would or could all be fired away in a day. So that the particular day on which the fleet is to be brought into play remains to be determined on by the Generals. The day of assault will probably be the day.

I brought with me as passenger the surgeon of the flag-ship, who has for the last fortnight been attached to the naval brigade. He gives a bad account of the sanitary state of the army, and still worse of the want of organisation of the Army Medical Staff , this and the commissariat are still loudly complained of. I know one glaring instance myself. There is, at Balaklava, a transport appropriated for the reception of sick officers, but instead of appointing a regular doctor to her they have made some arrangement that he doctor of the regiment on guard or of some shifting body shall visit the ship once a day (or it may be more often); it is proverbial that doctors differ, and the consequence of this arrangement is that a sick man may each day be treated in a different manner, for no record of the case and its treatment is ever left.

October 17^th. – Last night at 9 o’clock a letter from Lord Raglan to the Admiral arrived, requesting that the fleets should commence their work today. Conferences between the allied Admirals took place, and this morning all the Captains assembled on board the Flagship for discussion and agreement as to the plan to be pursued. We were told that when the Admirals had first agreed to offer the services of the fleets to the Generals it was arranged ( and the document signed by them all was shown us)  that the French should attack the batteries on the south side of the harbour and the English those on the north, and that a line drawn right down Sebastopol harbour should separate the two fleets. Our plan, therefore, was to put our steamers on the starboard side of the line of battle ships, and to tow down the north shore and anchor in our stations. But, according to Admiral Dundas’s statement, Admiral Hamelin had just been on board and proposed that he, Admiral Dundas, should sweep round to the southward, and then bring his ships up in succession, forming on the French van, and thus continuing the line as far on as it might reach, and Admiral Dundas foolishly agreed to this, giving us to understand that if he had not consented the French would have reused to engage the batteries at all. All the Captains said, “You agreed to leave the south side to the French, and not to anchor south of a certain line; surely you may bring your own ships into action in the way you think best.”

It was ultimately settled that “Agamemnon,” “Sanspareil,” and “London” (to which ship the “Niger” was lashed on the off-shore side) should go down according to the original plan; that the “Albion” should pay special attention to the Wasp Fort; and the remainder of the ships should follow the French plan. This separation of our ships, and a general order issued by Admiral Dundas, to the effect that every one was to do as he pleased, caused our ships to be placed in a very irregular manner. However, our three got into action at half-past one, or so, and the “Albion” shortly afterwards; but those which swept round did not come into play until very late. Our fire was directed at Fort Constantine, and was continued about an hour-and–a-half very well and steadily. By that time the “Albion” had been set on fire and so knocked about by the Wasp Fort and some neighbouring guns that she was obliged to leave it, and the Wasp then began to sting us, so that Captain Eden directed me to steam on, and took his ship out of fire. We were shortly afterwards recalled by the “Agamemnon,” but by the time we got back “Bellerophon” and “Queen” had taken our place, and there was such a crowd of ships and so much smoke that we could only get an occasional shot. Finding that I could only use the “Niger’s” long pivot gun, and that the “London” having landed two hundred men with the naval brigade, could not work all her guns, I offered Captain Eden the rest of my ship’s company, and Dunn went with them and worked the “London’s” upper deck guns. This was rather a good coup for him; as I find now, what I did not know then, that the “London’s” senior lieutenants being with the naval brigade on shore, Dunn was actually the senior on board in the action; which may, I hope, help him to his promotion. The squadron returned to this anchorage after sunset, but the “Rodney” grounded whilst still under fire, and was with difficulty towed off by the “Spiteful” and “Lynx” without much loss.

 In spite of Mr. Oliphant’s predictions, I could only make out that we had destroyed two of the Fort Constantine’s embrasures. The whole face of it as speckled with shot marks, and, taking the proportion of space covered by an embrasure, I should say four or five shells must have gone into each, and if so they must have lost a large number of men. I spent most of my time on the “London’s” poop. I have lost one killed and four slightly wounded; a few ropes were shot through, and two shot struck the hull, in spite of our huge protector. The “London” has four killed and eighteen wounded. The laurels of the day are decidedly due to the “Agamemnon,” “Sanspareil,” and “Albion.” The “Retribution’s” mainmast is shot away. We still hear the shore batteries at work, but I don’t know how they are getting on. Our three ships were about one thousand six hundred yards from Fort Constantine, the other English I should say a good two thousand; the French still further – much too far to hurt stone walls.

P.S. – I suppose we shall renew the attack on the day of the assault.

Letter No.l6.

Finished, October 23^rd, 1854

Katcha River.

October 20^th. – I sent off Letter No.15 on the morning after the naval attack. I find the total loss is forty-five killed and two hundred and sixty-three wounded, but it must be remembered that “the wounded” included almost every scratch, so that there are not probably more than a hundred hospital cases amongst the two hundred and sixty-three. Some of the ships were a good deal damaged, the “Albion,” “Arethusa,” and “Sanspareil” especially; and the “Agamemnon” has almost all her spars damaged. I believe I mentioned the “Albion” as one of the ships deserving of special notice, but I find it was quite mistaken. It is true that she was brought into action very well, towed by the “Firebrand,” Captain Stewart * [Now Admiral Sir Wm Houston Stewart, G.C.B.] and that she suffered the heaviest loss; but I find on an alarm of fire a large portion of the crew rushed on board the “Firebrand,” instead of trying their utmost to put the fire out, and that they in fact fired very little at the enemy but closed the magazines and left off firing the moment the alarm was given. It must, however, be remembered that her Captain and the best of the lieutenants were with the naval brigade, and it seems that the want of officers was very much felt. We hear better news from the entrenchments today. It is said they are gradually subduing the Russian fire, and that our attack, whether it damaged the Russians or no, did at all events raise the spirits of our friends in the camp; and I believe moral effect is in warlike operations of quite as much consequence as physical effect.

They say that the Lancaster gun which was to have done such wonders is all humbug. You may perhaps be aware that it was always known that it shot like an Irish gun, round a corner, and that in the range table supplied with it you are told that at one thousand yards distance you must point so many yards to the left; at two thousand yards so many more, etc., etc. but it turns out that you never can make sure which corner it is going to turn, and if you point carefully fifty yards to the left  it is an even bet that it will strike fifty yards to the right of the object aimed at, and that in fact it is most uncertain. This may be an error in the details of the manufacture, and may be corrected by greater experience, and more perfect machinery, but for the present the guns seem to be useless. We are quite idle today, but heavy firing is going on in the trenches about six miles from us, and watching with a large glass is every one’s occupation. They set fire to a large building near the dockyard this afternoon, but it was unfortunately a dead calm and the fire did not spread. Our look out steamer reports that Fort Constantine is being propped up with wooden beams, which looks as if we had seriously damaged it, and the Russians are lining the whole edge of the north cliff with guns, which will make a second naval attack impossible unless we land the previous night and spike those guns. It was the few guns that were there on the 17^th which so quickly silenced the “Albion’ and “Arethusa,” and which, when they were out of the way, induced the “London” to make a prudent retreat, as also the “Bellerophon” and “Queen,” which subsequently took up that position for a short time.

October 22^nd. – Varying accounts from the camp. I saw the only two letters which reached Admiral Dundas yesterday; one was from Captain Lushington, who commands the naval brigade, and the other from Captain Tatham, who is stationed at Balaklava, and who had just come down from the lines. The former wrote in a most dismal, down-hearted strain, the latter in quite a cheerful one; so it is difficult to form any judgement. I hear the French are all quarrelling. The army and navy are anything but united services, and the Engineers and Artillerymen are each abusing the other; the entente cordiale does not, however, suffer, but goes on harmoniously. Sir Edmund Lyons returned yesterday evening from a conference, and reports that a Russian sorties was made the night before last and succeeded in spiking three French mortars, but they were then repulsed and some prisoners taken, one of whom a not unwilling one. A Captain reports his side to have lost five thousand men since the batteries open their fire; that the garrison are rather in a bad way and getting a little insubordinate; and the Admiral Korniloff (whose luggage I captured of Odessa) and Nachimoff, the “Sinope” hero, are killed.

We have nothing but the ordinary duties of the ship to do, and for a wonder had a quiet Sunday today. It was very warm, and so I had service on the upper deck, and was much struck by the extraordinary contrast of our offering up prayers to the ‘Author of peace and lover of concord,” whilst the booming of guns whose shot were dealing death and destruction was loud in our ears. The firing is continuous from six in the morning until six in the evening. At night we hear a gun at about every ten minutes – I suppose a shell thrown from a mortar to prevent the Russians sleeping too soundly. The riflemen are doing good service a la Bomarsand; finding cover for themselves somewhere between the rival batteries, and firing at the embrasures directly a gun has been fired, so as to prevent its being reloaded.

October 23^rd. – I was this morning suddenly ordered on a court of inquiry, and am now as suddenly ordered to go to Balaklava, with recruits for the naval brigade. I return tomorrow. No news from the camp today.

Letter No.17

Finished, No.4 Battery

Balaklava lines, November 3^rd 1854

Direct nevertheless H.M.S. “Niger.”

October 27^th. – Here I am, writing under a tent, having turned solider for a time; but I had better keep my narrative continuous, and go back to my last date, October 24^th. When I was sent to Balaklava with a reinforcement of two hundred seamen for the naval brigade, I took advantage of the opportunity to ride out to the lines. To all appearance matters my go on as at present for a long time; the Russian earthworks are certainly a good deal knocked about, but there are still embrasures, and there are still guns, and I am told that if a gun is dismounted today it will be replaced in the night. We have but one advantage over the besieged, which is that all our shot which miss the earthwork go into the town, whereas theirs bound harmlessly away, as our encampment is purposely kept out of gunshot. Our force is not strong enough for completely investing the place, and so they are probably as well supplied as, or better than, we are, excepting in such articles as are brought from seaward.

I returned to the fleet carrying with me a requisition for ammunition, which I took back on the 25^th, and on arriving I found that we had met our first reverse. On that morning, at daylight, a large body of Russians had shown themselves opposite a hill in front of the Balaklava position, on which hill we had built some strong redoubts, armed them with heavy guns, and garrisoned them with Turks. These gentlemen did not stand the Russian attack upon the right battery five minutes, but ran away as hard as they could; on seeing which those in the other batteries did not even wait to be attacked, but ran like mad also, leaving altogether seven guns in the Russian hands. About six hundred cavalry then charged the front of our position, and were received and turned in their advance by the 93^rd Highlanders inline; our heavy cavalry then charged and completely routed the Russians. So far the Turks had lost our guns, but as far as the English were concerned all had gone well. By this time, however, Lord Raglan had come down and sent an order by Captain Nolan (whose name you may know as having written a book about horses) to Lord Lucan to attack the enemy. Both Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan said it was madness, but the cavalry have been a good deal taunted with not having yet done anything, and Captain Nolan appears to have delivered his message in a taunting manner, and on went the Light Brigade between two fires from guns and masses of infantry besides. They made a splendid charge, killed the Russian gunners at their guns, but lost half their number – something like three hundred are said to have been killed or wounded. A French General looking on with Lord Raglan’s staff from the edge of the plateau exclaimed: “C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas le guerre.” The only consolation we have is that, although it is a victory for the Russians, they must have gained with it as wholesome a fear of our cavalry as they gained of our infantry at Alma.

Inspirited, I suppose, by this success, they made a sortie from Sebastopol against Sir de Lacy Evans’s division on the 25^th and were completely licked; our loss was seven killed and seventy-one wounded, the Russians about five hundred.

November 3^rd. – The Russian loss in their sortie is now said to have been one thousand. After the cavalry business it was, I believe, decided to give up Balaclava and contract our front. “Sanspareil,” “Tribune,” “Sphinx,” “Niger,” and “Vesuvius” were sent off to help in reimbarking everything, but at, I believe, Sir E. Lyons’s urgent remonstrance the plan was abandoned, and the resolution taken to strengthen and hold the position. Instead therefore of helping to load merchant ships we landed a number of marines and seamen. Io took command of the former and Powell of the latter; my station being in a battery, with Sir Colin Campbell, in the centre of the valley. Our position is by no means pleasant. We see the Russian army two miles from us, its advanced post is only tw0 thousand six hundred yards off, it is estimated at from twenty to thirty thousand men, whereas we have but three thousand English and two thousand Turks; with, however, four thousand French a mile in our rear, who will come to our aid if attacked. We have entrenched ourselves, and are safe if the Turks stand like good men and true, and if the Russians do not attack at night, when the military opinion is that their numbers would give them much greater advantage than by day.

I have great confidence in Sir Colin Campbell, he has passed his life in the field and is one of our best practical soldiers, and is as cool as can be when an alarm is given, but yet never neglects the slightest precautions nor relaxes the strictest personal vigilance. I have joined his mess. One of his Staff is Colonel Stirling, who knows Douglas [Heath] a little, being a brother of the “Stirling Club” Stirling; another, another, a very nice fellow, a son of Sir L. Shadwell; and a young one named Mansfield.

October 30^th. – we have now made our entrenchments so good that we fell quite safe by day. Night alarms are frequent and harassing, but one only has proved to have been a real enemy, on which occasion a small body of horse, being challenged by our outside sentry, fired a volley and galloped off. We all sleep in our clothes, and indeed one half of the force sleeps in the trenches, and from the sentry’s alarm cry of “Turn out,” “Turn out,” “Stand to your arms,” not many seconds elapse before everyone is on his legs running to his station.

October 31^st. – we were disturbed as usual last night and kept up in the cold from eleven to one; it was not, however, this time an alarm on our side, but on that of the Russians, they suddenly commenced firing both great guns and musketry and kept at it for an hour. We cannot understand it; for one can hardly suppose them to go on so long firing at nobody, without discovering it – particularly as there was good moonshine all the time. Shortly after daylight this morning five Cossacks came prowling about between the two lines, apparently looking for the killed and wounded enemy! The best of the joke is that General Bosquet, who is near the Russians, had intended when the moon went down to give them an “Alerte” by sending in one company to fire, and run away. He must, however, have forgotten that unless he sends us previous warning an alerte for the Russians is also an alerte for us, and that we should be quite as much harassed by his amusements as the enemy.

November 3^rd. – The two last nights have been passed in peace and quietness, and our ditches are now so deep that we feel quite safe. The Russians came yesterday and made a strong reconnaissance of our extreme right, but after exchanging a few shot retired. My own opinion is (and I hear it is also that of the French Generals) that their position here is not taken up so much with a view to offensive operations against us, as to secure the safe retreat of what remains of the Sebastopol garrison, when the place is taken; which no one doubts it will be sooner or later.

The French have now a heavy battery at work close up to the Russians, and two or three day more will probably see the town entered; but it does not follow then that the north side, nor even that the dockyard, will fall. The French are anxious to have the first attack left to their management, for the streets are all barricaded, and they say, “they are more used to that sort of thing than we are.” They intend to take the end houses, and work their way slowly and surely through the partitioned walls, thus taking the barricades in flank and working round them. We should get on much faster with thirty thousand more men. We can now neither invest Sebastopol, nor keep off the army, which is now literally besieging the besiegers. The first thing to do after securing the town will be to turn out and like our neighbour, General Liprandi; then make as much hay as we can in the dockyard, etc., during the little sunshine that remains, and then make ourselves as warm as we can for the winter. This is as much as can reasonably be expected, unless stories told by deserters of distress and insubordination in the garrison should prove to have more truth in them than stories usually have.

Letter No.18

Finished at No.4 Battery,

Balaklava

November 8^th, 1854.

November 5^th. – This is the beginning of what we all expect to be a very critical week. A few days ago a soldier deserted to the enemy, and it is supposed gave information as to the hour at which the parties working in our trenches and batteries were relieve; the consequence was that at that hour a tremendous fire opened from all the Russian batteries, which has been continued on every successive morning since, although we, of course, changed our hour on the second day.

This morning we heard the usual cannonade at about the same hour, and attributed it to the same cause; but at broad daylight about 7 a.m. we saw masses of Russian infantry moving along, and as we at first thought threatening our front. It has, however, since turned out that from (so far as I as yet know) the negligence of our people on the right flank of the besieging army, the Russians succeeded in surprising our troops stationed at that part, and there has been fought during the day a most desperate battle, in which we ultimately remain the victors, but at a fearful cost of life on both sides. We depend for our information upon straggling visitors, messengers, etc., from camp, and it is hardly worth while filling my paper with reports – which may tomorrow be all contradicted – when I know you will receive with my letter many others from “Our Own Correspondents,” besides the official reports. Peel came down to Balaklava in the evening – very hoarse – he said he had spent the day “cheering on Her Majesty’s Guards.” The troops we saw must have amounted to something like twenty thousand; they made a slight cannonading attack on the lines in rear of the Sebastopol army, but soon with drew, and we go to bed with the pleasant anticipation of a probable attack upon our end of the line tomorrow morning. It is said that Osten Sacken has arrived from Odessa, and that they were his troops which had the fight this morning. “Why have we no reinforcements?” is at the present the question in every one’s mouth. Canrobert said to Sir Colin Campbell the other day, “Nous avons pris Balaklava trop facilement, et on pensait que ce serait le meme chose avec Sebastopol, mais on se trompe.” We hear he intends working his way very slowly and surely into Sebastopol, and if there were no relieving army outside it would no doubt be well to do so, but matters are now changed, and I think a little extra risk should be incurred for the sake of a few days gain in time. I suppose, as it is quite agreed that the French end of Sebastopol is the right one to assault, we shall leave all the arrangements to him.

November 7^th.  – These are the days for strong contrasts. Yesterday I walked over the field of battle and meditated on the horrors (as such a sight may well be called) of war; today I am revelling in the delight of Malta letters announcing my “boys” birth [Arthur Raymond Heath] and my wife’s well doing. My son shows decided symptoms of intelligence(this is only for the mothers amongst you). Admiral Stewart and Commander Chamberlain called upon him, and he fixed his eyes on the former and took no notice whatever of the latter! As to his personal appearance I hear he is “a splendid little fellow,” but doubtless your own experiences must have taught you that they are always that.

To turn not to affairs of more public interest, I rode yesterday to the camp, and walked over to the battlefield, and talked and had descriptions of the events of the 5^th from several of the actors in it. The morning was peculiarly misty and dull, and there is, I fancy, but little doubt that we were more or less surprised, although General Penefather and his Staff (he command in that quarter) stoutly deny it. The Russians have a more numerous and a heavier artillery than ours, and they had about thirty-five guns in position, and commenced a cannonade from them, simultaneously with the assault by solid masses of infantry up the sides of the hill at A and B.

[Map page 101] – Inkerman.

As fast as one column was driven back, a fresh one rushed up, but only to meet its predecessor’s fate; and so the battle went on, a succession of thick massy columns, covered by an enormous artillery fire, rushing up, met by lines of infantry and invariably repulsed. The French sent fifteen thousand men to our assistance, but for them we must have been overpowered by numbers. Sir G. Cathcart, an impetuous chivalric soldier, let his division too far in advance, and paid the penalty in his own death; General Strangways, of the Artillery, was killed; Generals Bentinck, Adams, Buller and Goldie wounded – the last has since died. The battle lasted from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon, when the Russians returned in good order to Sebastopol. I am told the official returns will show four hundred and forty killed and one thousand seven hundred wounded on our side; on the Russian it must be enormously greater. I went over the most hotly contested portion of the ground, where, although the wounded had been brought in, none of our dead had yet been buried, and I speak within bounds in saying there were fifteen dead Russians to one Englishman; but then many Russians whom I saw dead would probably, had they been English, have been brought in wounded the previous evening. The Russians come on with loud yells and shouts; it is said they were all more or less drunk, and that most of their water bottles had spirits in them. It is said also that they killed our wounded, as they lay helpless on the ground, whenever the ebb and flow of the battle left them the opportunity.

Whilst al this was going on, on the right front, we at Balaklava were alarmed by seeing fifteen or twenty thousand infantry come over the heights at G, apparently to attack us, but they were merely making some change in their front, and went over again out of our sight and made a false attack on the French at O – I see I have mentioned this in the beginning of my letter. In the course of the day a heavy sortie was made against the French lining the rampart of their battery with infantry, awaiting the assaulting columns until they arrived within 50 yards, then opening such a fire that it drove the enemy helter skelter back, the French following almost into the town. Like ourselves, they lost a number of men, but with a far grater loss to the foe, General Canrobert considers twenty thousand Russians were put hors de combat during the day. If so, the presence of two Grand Dukes, Constantine and Nicholas, who arrived with Osten Sacken, has merely urged their troops on to destruction. It is said that Canrobert held up his hands in astonishment on hearing that we had left so important and so exposed a position as A B totally unprotected by fortifications; now that the horse has been stolen we are shutting the stable door but Lord Raglan seems most apathetic on such points. We have been here now six weeks, and the Russians might easily have destroyed our stores and transports in Balaklava any time during the first month; the lines are now strong, but the thanks are due to Sir E. Lyons’ strong remonstrance’s and Sir Colin Campbell’s energy, rather than to my Lord’s prevision. I suppose forty years at a desk, examining little petty details, must be a bad school for a Commander of a large army, who should look at things en grand.

Whether reinforcements have been asked for with proper urgency I don’t know, but we certainly want them much. The siege goes on but slowly, and may last an indefinite time, whilst we are now ourselves besieged. The valley of the Chernaya is lined with Russian troops, and there is little doubt that the enemy is superior in numbers to us, which is a state of affairs that ought not to leave us ultimately masters. However,, I have the greatest confidence in our pluck and endurance, and I suppose we shall go on through the winter as at present – gradually advancing, occasionally repulsing assaults – and that in due course of time we shall get reinforcements, lick the outside army, and get into the place. My private opinion is that Balaklava will not be attacked, the whole Russian energies must be expended in raising the siege. Balaklava is merely an outpost, and its capture, although it would greatly inconvenience us, would not have any effect of that sort.

November 8^th - Weather still fine. No news from the front. The “Prince” just arrived with the 46^th Regiment, and detachments for others, making two thousand men altogether.

“Sanspareil”

Balaklava

November 10^th, 1854

My Dear Heath,

I am quite knocked up and unable to leave the ship. You must please to come here and look to the port duties, for I am quite unequal to it, and shall be for a day or two. I have cot slung and everything ready for you on board “Sanspareil.” Bring a tooth brush, and I will not aks you to use a razor.

Yours sincerely

S.L. Dacres.

Letter No.19

H.M.S. “Sanspareil.”

Balaklava,

November 18^th, 1854.

A very handsome birthday present have just received from Admiral Dundas in the shape of a commission as acting Captain of the “Sanspareil,” whose late Captain (Dacres) has invalided. Knowing he intended to go I had been privately speculating on the changes that would probably take place, and thought it possible that I might perhaps come in for the “Samson,” or “Furious,” or “Retribution,” but that on the other hand the Admiral might consider that such an appointment would certainly not be confirmed and that it was not with his while to offer, or anyone’s to accept it, so you may guess how agreeably I was surprised at receiving so grand an appointment. I suppose there can be but little doubt as to my being confirmed to the rank, although unless ordered home I am not likely to keep the ship.

Hore is my successor in the “Niger.” I am glad that so good a fellow is appointed, as I should not have liked my shipmates of four years and a half to get into bad hands. His vessel, the “Beagle,” is given to Lieutenant Hewitt, who has very much distinguished himself in command of a Lancaster gun in the trenches; so we flatter ourselves that Admiral Dundas deserves great credit for making such good appointments, instead of merely looking out for his private friends.

I have no journal letter ready, there has been no fighting with muskets and bayonets of any consequence since I last wrote, but a most dreadful one with the winds and waves, and a sad loss both of life and property. We lost eight transports here, thirteen at Katcha, and an unknown but large number at Eupatoria. All the English men-of-war are safe, but the French have lost one line of battle ship and one steamer, and the Turks a line of battle ship. Our greatest loss is in the “Prince” steamer, which had an immense quantity of warm clothing on board for the troops, and in the transport “Resolute” with small0arm ammunition. The letter-bag is suddenly ordered to be close.

Letter No.20

H.M.S. “Sanspareil.”

November 23^rd, 1854

My journal is terribly behindhand, but my excuse is hard work and want of events to describe. November 5^th only comes once a year, and I suspect that, after the tremendous slaughter they suffered, the Russians will let us alone for a considerable time but minor battles or skirmishes sink into nothing when – I fell asleep and went to bed at that point of my letter, and don’t remember what I was going to end the sentence with. Minor battles and skirmishes do take place occasionally, generally in the shape of small sorties from the Russians, which take place at night, and have always been easily repulsed; but on 20^th November the sortie was made from our side by the Rifles against a Russian outwork which had been pushed forward to cover skirmishers, who had from its loopholes done us a good deal of damage for the last few days. Captain Tryon conducted the business to a most successful result; they drove the Russians out and have kept the place, and turned it now against the enemy; but Captain Tryon was himself killed, to the great regret of all who knew him. An attempt was, of course, made on the 22^nd to retake the place, but we had much strengthened it both in works and men, and we still hold it today, the 23^rd.

I don’t think I have given you any but a very cursory account of the dreadful gae we had here on the 14^th. It began at seven in the morning and between eight and ten was at its height, the ships in harbour (I was on board “Sanspareil”) all drove one on the top of the other, but being moored head and stern they were all squeezed one on top of the other, side by side, and comparatively little damage was done to them. Several took the ground, and the “Sanspareil” amongst others. The principal damage was done in self-defence by the “Avon” steamer; she had slipped her cable, and not being able to steam against the gale steered for the harbour, which you know is very narrow, she had no anchor ready to let go, and consequently ran right across and on the top of a tier of vessels, smashing paddle boxes, bow sprits, etc., etc., to an incredible extent.

When the gale broke I went to the top of the cliff and was rejoiced to the “Niger” and all the men-of-war still riding it out, but the “Retribution,” on board of which was the Duke of Cambridge, had lost her rudder, and was evidently in a very dangerous position. In the course of the afternoon, when it had lulled a little, they all came safely into harbour. The “Niger” would have weathered it out in perfect safety, but for a large transport driving right into her and smashing her channels etc., and it is extraordinary that they should have escaped foundering. On shore the poor soldiers had their tents blown down and passed a miserable day and night, several men dying from cold and exposure. The Russians, who had at that time no tents (I mean the outside army) must have fared equally ill. It was at first thought that the “Prince,” one of the eight transports wrecked outside this port, contained all the warm clothing for the use of the troops. But it seems that half of it was on board another steamer, the “Jura,” which we have now in here safe. A cargo of plank has arrived for hutting, and I hope they will soon begin that work, or they will be caught by the cold with nothing warmer than tents. We have had a good deal of rain lately, which is more trying than even the cold, for half the troops are always in the open air guarding the trenches.

Reinforcements are coming to us pretty quickly, we have now sent for forty more heavy guns from the fleet, and it is supposed they will finish up the business, but I don’t think it likely a shot will be fired from them in less than three weeks from this. My own grand news is my acting appointment as Captain of the “Sanspareil,” whose Captain has invalided. It was quite unexpected by me, although I had a sort of presentiment that I might perhaps get one of the smaller Port Captains’ steamers, if one of them were appointed here. Captains Eden, Dacres, and Graham are invalided, and I have no doubt two or three of the others would like to go. I am fortunately one mail in advance of the other acting appointments, otherwise I should fear the Admiralty putting us all back in our old places, on the plea of their being too many.

Captain Dacres left this morning, and I have only today felt myself really Captain. The ship you know is rather a seedy specimen of a screw line of battle ship, but the third stripe on my arm looks just as pretty all the same. My purse, too, is now filling at the rate of 700 a year instead of 300, which is a consideration for a man with a family. Wife and child were doing well on the 3^rd. I am to leave soon for Kamiesh Bay, where we shall keep the screws and two other lines, the remainder going to the Bosphorus. “Retribution” comes here; she has the Duke of Cambridge on board and I have been dining there daily while the “Niger” and “Sanspareil” stewards are arranging the cabins.

23^rd November, 1854

My dear Captain Heath,

I have nominated you “Captain of the Port,” and advise you to have the Provost-Marshal ready on all occasions when you are troubled by merchant seamen or others.

You cannot be interfered with by any senior officer in your duty of Captain of the Port -  and I know you will show them every deference and respect, but keep you own duty to yourself, and have “Sanspareil” always as ready to come out as you can.

Commander Powell will probably remain in Balaclava as his ship seems very bad. Send “Niger” here, with her people, for she must go off Odessa.

Yours faithfully,

J.W.D. Dundas.

Letter No.21.

H.M.S. “Sanspareil,”

Balaklava, November 27^th, 1854

Finished November 28^th.

Our life is a very job trot one compared to what it has been, the reason being, I believe, that we have got so accustomed to hearing of sorties – which are invariably repulsed with great comparative loss to the Russians – that we take no notice of them, although they are made very two or three nights on the French, and occasionally, but much more rarely, upon us. The loopholed work, however, which I told you had been taken by the Rifles has been a good deal attacked, but without success, and I understand we are strengthening it much, and expect to put guns into it soon, when it will become a useful addition to our batteries. We shall tomorrow have completed the landing of the forty additional naval guns, but in the present state of the roads they cannot be got to the front under three weeks. The French last night cut down one of the Inkermann bridges and partially destroyed the road, but unless great changes have been made in the Russian positions since I saw them a fortnight ago it can only occasion a temporary inconvenience to the enemy.

My own work now consists less in active personal superintendence than it did, and more in office work; half an hour never passes without a reference of some sort to me, and the tendency is to stir one’s brain up as with a stick – so difficult is it at first to keep all the different matters separate in one’s head; but, as in everything else, practice makes perfect. I have received from Admiral Dundas a regular appointment or commission as Harbour Master, so that I am clearly booked for this berth as long as I remain. ___ pushed pretty hard for it, and I don’t understand why he did not get it; however, here I am, and he, I believe, is on his way to Constantinople. It is an advantageous post in many respects. In the first place I supp0ose it will give me some extra pay; in the next place it is the most active employment a Captain of the line of battle ship could have, as bombardments of Sebastopol don’t come every day; lastly, it brings me more prominently forward than I could possibly be in any other position, and therefore increases my chances of advancement. There all (on looking back) seem selfish reasons, but there is besides a real pleasure in helping on the success of our arms and in being in a position of responsibility, instead of enacting a nominal blockade of Sebastopol – from when the enemy never, can never, unless perfectly mad, attempt to sail out. My ship’s company seem a fine set of men; the officers very good fellows, and also good as officers. The ship herself is, as is pretty well known, a real “Sanspareil,” but at the opposite end of the scale from that usually implied by the name. She is, I believe, unmatched in inefficiency as a screw line of battle ship. My personal comforts are considerably increased by the change of ships. I was very well off for a Commander before, but I have now a suite of apartments a little smaller than those in most line of battle ships, owing to the narrowness of the vessel, still with plenty of daylight and fresh air; a nice comfortable fireplace (the fire in which I am now enjoying) for cold weather, and a delightful stern walk, going all round the stern, for warm weather. From thence I can see all round the harbour, with the Robinson Crusoe notion of being “Monarch of all I survey.” On the whole I am well inclined to consider myself a very lucky fellow, and Admiral Dundas a very discerning and disinterested Commander-in-Chief.

The weather has for the last fortnight been very rainy and the troops have suffered much from exposure to it. The road between this and the camp is eight or ten inches deep in mud and the difficulty of transporting the provisions is very great, but as all the country roads must be even worse, I suppose the Russians suffer still more in that respect. Our troops have begun digging deep pits sixteen feet wide and two hundred and fifty feet long, which will be roofed when completed by the Engineers; however, they can hardly be habitable in less than three weeks from this. We are rapidly receiving reinforcements, and it is thought that when sufficient have arrived to leave our besieging works well guarded we shall, when the country becomes again practicable after the rains, sally forth against the outside Russian army. Our troops have hitherto behaved with such wonderful courage that there need be no fear for the result should such an event take place, and I don’t think our Generals are likely to undertake anything rash or impracticable – I should say their fault, if any, lies rather the other way.

Speaking after the event, which is very easy, there seems little doubt we have let one or two most favourable opportunities slip through our fingers; more especially delaying after the Alma instead of pushing on (leaving four thousand or five thousand to pick up the wounded). He we gone forward on the following day all accounts of deserters concur in stating we should have caught the enemy completely disorganised.

Letter No.22

H.M.S. “Sanspareil,”

Balaklava,

December 3^rd, 1854.

If I were to journalise all my own daily individual proceedings you would get a regular hotchpotch. I suppose in the course of the day I get at least thirty letters or personal applications on all sorts of subjects. First, perhaps, will come a skipper of a merchant ship complaining that another ship has done him damage, and that the skipper of that other ships says, being employed by Government, Government will of course do the repairs (a doctrine I don’t subscribe to); then a letter from headquarters, asking my opinion as to some contemplated change in the point of embarkation of sick; then a letter from some artillery officer, stating that unless I supply him with some rope he cannot get his guns to the front; then an application for help from the  commissariat in landing some particular cargo, etc., etc., etc. Luckily I have got an active and zealous assistant in Powell, commanding the “Vesuvius,” and he does all the work which I used to do in the piloting line, whilst I take what may be called the diplomatic department. One day is very like another. The siege works are almost at a standstill, neither side firing much. The Russians seem to be  in constant dread of an assault from the French, for they continually begin a heavy fire on some portion of the French lines at night, and no one can make out what their object can be, unless it is to repel some imaginary assault.

December 2^nd. – The Russians came out and retook from us an outwork which I told you in my last had just been taken by a party of the Rifles, but in a few minutes we took it back again and we still hold it. Sickness is no the increase, and this wet weather must be very trying to all up there, but more to the soldiers than the sailors, as they are sleeping out – if sleeping it can be called – twelve hours out of every twenty-four. The heavy guns are all landed, but it is perfectly impossible to move them until the roads dry up. They are now in some placed a foot deep in stiff mud, and the commissariat have given up their wheel carts altogether and turned all their beast into pack horses; the consequence is that half rations come very frequently to those poor fellows who are quartered the farthest off. Lord Raglan takes things very coolly. I have been urging the absolute necessity of using the cavalry for commissariat horses. One step only has been taken as yet to relieve the difficulty, and that is bringing a portion of the cavalry down here, which saves the carriage of hay, etc. it may be perfectly true that men will die of starvation on half or even quarter rations, but it is equally true that good rations are a strong prevention against sickness, and that a man in good condition will do work and stand exposure whilst a half starved man would break down. It is supposed that when the new batteries have opened fire the assault will be made coute qui coute, and that in case of success both flanks of the Russians will be attacked and the Russians doubled up, as the military phrase is.

My domestic affairs are getting more settled, the steward having succeeded in putting things in their places. I am very comfortable with my stove, which, however, is not yet much wanted, for the weather though rainy is mild. It blows constantly and very hard. I am afraid I am rather late for the post, but I have nothing wherewith to fill the other side, even if there was time.

Letter No.23.

H.M.S. “Sanspareil,”

Balaklava,

December 7^th, 1854.

I hope this letter will reach you in a shorter space of time than I fear my late ones have taken, for I believe they have generally remained an extra period in the post office, owing to there being no official mail cart to take them over to Karatch Bay, which is now the point of departure of the packet. You will have heard, I hope, for certain, that which is still a little uncertain, but only a little, with me – my promotion to Post rank, as being the senior Commander in command on the 17^th October. Powell got a note yesterday from Sir Edmund Lyons; it enclose a list of promotions for the 17^th, having on it Kynaston and Rogers as the Commanders who were advanced. This list had been written by the Secretary, but on the back of the paper Sir Edmund had written; “The Senior Commander of the line of battleships engaged – Frere; the Senior Commander of the sloops – Heath”; etc., etc. So I suppose there is no doubt about it, but that they are waiting to ascertain who those seniors really are, to avoid such mistakes as were made after Acre, when, after the Commissions had been delivered, it was discovered that one of the senior lieutenants so promoted had been in Malta hospital when the battle was fought.

I have nothing new for you from the camp. We are lying on our oars waiting to get our guns up. The weather had changed this morning; if it lasts the roads will soon dry, and I hope cholera, which is again bad in camp, will cease. There are, I am told, eighty deaths a day at the front. I have lost two men within the last four days on board this ship, but there are no fresh cases. I have begun an attempt at making coffee-roasting machines, sufficient for the whole army. If successful, it will be a great boon to them, for fuel is very scarce in front, and you may conceive the despairing looks which a man, who has just come in from twelve hours’ exposure to heavy rain without any cover, will cast on his green berries. The commissariat have acknowledged their inability to supply the whole allowance of salt meat in front, but they get occasional supplies of live animals from Eupatoria, and as these walk up on their own legs there has not been much deficiency in the rations as yet, except for a few days. Of course, the less men get the less able are they to stand such exposure to the weather as they have lately had. An extra cargo of pack mules is expected daily, and they would put us all at ease if they would arrive.

The Russians yesterday abandoned their encampment on the Tchernaya, but we don’t know which way they have gone or what is the reason of their decampment. We are sending fifteen thousand fighting Turks (Omar Pasha’s men) to Eupatoria, and it may be the Russians are gone to meet them. It may be, again, that they feared an attack where they were when we got up our reinforcements; or it may be that food had become scarce. In any case our movement looks good, as it must be a threatening one to the Russians, and is the first of an offensive description we have made against the outside army. Hutting is going on I am afraid but slowly, still some progress is making. I hope when you send the wooden houses you talk of, you will send mules to carry them up. Warm clothing is coming rapidly into the harbour, but blankets are still rather short, many having gone down in the “Prince.” I have just received a congratulatory note from Sir E. Lyons announcing my promotion. He says, “You shall not go home yet awhile if I can contrive to keep you here.”

Letter No. 24

H.M.S. “Sanspareil,”

Balaklava,

December 13^th. 1854.

The bad weather left us a week ago. So deep, however, was the mud on the roads, and so perfectly had it been kneaded and mixed up by the enormous traffic on it that they are hardly dry even yet; and the want of transport has been increased, first by the deaths amongst the beasts from the extra work and bed weather, and then by Admiral Boxer’s slackness in forwarding others on from the Bosphorus, although urgently required to do so some time ago. A portion of the men have now to walk down their seven miles and go back laden with food for their comrades. In other respects matters are going on well, reinforcements arriving fast, no accidents to the shipping, sick-list reducing, and guns and ammunition moving to the front. But fine weather or more mules are indispensable. An order has been issued today for the cavalry to be used as a substitute for mules, and that is a good measure and will relieve us much.

I think I told you I had a project for roasting their coffee down here. It has succeeded very well, and with three men I roasted more than one-third of the daily consumption. I shall have two more machines ready in a day or two (they are merely old oil casks mounted and fitted up with a turning handle).

We don’t here discuss much whether Russia has really offered to accept the four points, but we do discuss the singularly Napoleonic despatch written by Lord Raglan respecting the battle of Inkerman. No doubt you all fancy that regiments and companies and, of course, individual men, were all marshalled in their ranks, as if in Hyde Park; but all eye-witnesses to whom I have spoken say that there was the most perfect intermixture of different regiments in different divisions, and of different companies in different regiments, and even in many cases men were in their wrong companies. You saw an officer gather together a hundred men or so and rush ahead, and as to there having been any generalship displayed, or attempted to be displayed, there was nothing of the sort, except, perhaps, by Sir George Cathcart, and his manoeuvre turned out to be a mistake and, as far as he himself was concerned, a fatal one. There never was a battle so entirely, so gloriously , won by English stout-heartedness and stubborn persevering courage amongst officers and men, and there never was one more irregularly fought, or which gave less room for the display of generalship. And yet Lord Raglan is so far the only man rewarded.

Reinforcements are rapidly arriving. Balaklava is pretty full, but mules are not forthcoming. We have a most active Engineer appointed to mend roads, etc., Major Hall, of the Madras Artillery, and a large body of Zouaves are helping him. I don’t’ know whether we also give them money, but part of our payment is in rum, of which their officers complain we give them too large an allowance. They are macadamizing our road and have donw about a mile. The health of the troops is improving; the deaths yesterday were but thirty-three, whilst they reached eighty on some days last week. The weather wonderfully mild; must make sleeping in the trenches quite a luxury. Blankets and other warm clothing are pouring in. I observe all people connected with commissariat or other supply departments put down any deficiencies to the loss of the “Prince.” It must have been a most useful loss to them and have saved their characters on many occasions.

There is no naval or personal news to relate. I hear of another Captain (Carnegie) invaliding, and as Sir Edmund Lyons says I shall not go home if he can help it, I suppose when superseded here, I may be turned on to “Leander” or some other vessel. I am rather late with my letter, as usual, for work is heavy and time short, but I have nothing more to say. All well at Malta November 24^th.

Letter No.25

H.M.S. “Sanspareil.”
Balaklava,

Finished December 18^th, 1854

I took a holiday on the 15^th and went as far as the naval brigade’s camp, hoping to see Randolph, who went there for a day before returning home. I missed him by an hour, but being so far I took the opportunity of going further still, and rode to the extreme right and was lionised by Captains Lushington and Moorsom and by the A.Q.M. –General Colonel Percy Herbert. It has been the fashion to say that we have been idle for the last month, and I was most agreeably surprised to see that such was not the case, but that we have been pushing forward redoubts and entrenchments, until the communication between Sebastopol and the outside army has been entirely cut off by land and can only be kept up by means of the boats and steamers in the harbour.

We have advanced, I should say, one thousand yards since the battle of Inkerman, and that part of our position which before the battle was unguarded is now well secured. Our outside redoubt is between the head of the harbour and the side of what used to be a bridge over the river; the bridge, however, has been entirely destroyed, and the causeway which let to it is open to our fire within eight hundred yards. There was another point which pleased me much, and dissipated the one cause of anxiety which I had heard many people who ought to know better express, viz., the existence within our camp of large quantities of firewood. The brushwood soon disappears, but it has now been discovered that the roots of the brushwood burn far better than what is above ground, and there are many weeks’ (and perhaps months’) supplies within reach.

The cavalry have begun to work for the commissariat, but English soldiers are certainly bad hands at adapting themselves to circumstances. You would hardly suppose that it take two hundred and forty horses to carry a hundred and twenty sacks of bread (each sack weighing one hundredweight). It really is quite absurd to see the column going out two deep, a man on one horse leading another, with one bag piled on the top of the saddle so that there is every chance of its toppling over before it reaches its destination. They don’t seem to think how much simpler it would be to sling two bags pannier fashion, and that the weight would even then not be more than that of a man in heavy marching order. Then as cavalry horses can be taught to dance, there can be no difficulty in teaching them to go in strings of eight or ten like mules, heads tied to tails, and then they would have one man to each string. Two hundred and fifty baggage horses arrived yesterday, and I suppose full rations will now be the order of the day again. Some divisions, and more particularly the 4^th, have had only half allowance of meat for the last ten days.

December 18^th. – It was reported last night that a Russian attack was to come off today, but I am writing at noon and we have heard no extraordinary firing and all seems quiet. The report was believed at head quarters for they sent in all haste for two regiments that had just landed. Guns go to the front but slowly, and ammunition still more so, and although this is a sunny day, and eight or ten more like it might hasten matters, we cannot in the present sate of the roads calculate on having our batteries fully armed and ready to begin the second act of the drama before the 6^th January. Our mail is a good deal overdue. I am more anxious than usual for it, as it ought to bring me word of my fate as to remaining in this ship or no. as yet I hardly consider myself as anything but a bird of passage, and take no interest in the ship herself or any trouble to learn all the ins and outs of her and her routine. Gordon, the Commander, seems to get on very well and I let him alone. The harbour work is getting less arduous, because more regular, and I am well off for assistants in Powell and Borlase. The former does the piloting; the latter is the judge advocate, and settles all the rows and quarrels in the harbour, which I have no time for; and I am general administrator and correspondent of all the departments on shore and afloat.

Letter No.26

H.M.S. “Sanspareil.”

Balaklava,

December 22^nd, 1854

Rain has set in again, but three hundred mules have arrived; the one event about balances the other, with a small preponderance of good on the side of the mules – and having told you that, I have told you pretty nearly all there is to tell. Small sorties, always repulsed more or less successfully, are now so common that no one thinks of them or talks of them. There was one a few nights ago which created a little more excitement than usual, because we lot two officers killed, and two made prisoners; the fact being, I am told, that the picket, sentries and all, were asleep.

The French have lent a division consisting of six thousand men to take up the ground hitherto helf by our extreme left, and this has allowed us to strengthen our right – the scene of Inkerman – where, from having advanced so much lately, we had extended, and therefore, as far as men are concerned, weakened our front. The late reinforcements have cheered everyone up, and one hears a good deal less croaking. The guns, as I have previously said, go to the front but slowly. This you will understand when I tell you it takes sixty horses to get them over one portion of the road. There are about fifty of the new lot of guns and mortars gone to the front, but a small portion only of the ammunition. The French help us much, they carry up our shot and bring down our sick, and they are macadamizing our road. It is said they are getting impatient, and that Canrobert, when passing through the camp, is occasionally murmured at for being slow to assault.

Admiral Dundas left yesterday, and has, I suppose, virtually given up the command. It is difficult under these circumstances to know how to address a public letter. I hit upon the following plan – whilst the two Admirals were both in Karatch Bay I sued no name, but addressed to “The Commander-in-Chief;” now that they have separated, I address to

‘Sir Edmund Lyons,” etc., etc., etc., without naming Commander-in-Chief. Rumour says that on the arrival of three or four more screw liners, which are expected, another naval attack will be made. The “Sanspareil” cannot be left out in such an event, for Sir Edmund would never pay so bad a compliment to the officers and ship’s company that backed him up so well on the first occasion.

I have received my Post Captain’s commission, it is dated the 13^th November. The Whigs are said to be destitute of chivalrous feeling and to be cold and unromantic. This is a strong case for those who think so. Why in the world when they give promotions as rewards for a certain event don’t they date them on the same day? My grandchildren will never believe that I was promoted for the bombardment of Sebastopol, because Arthur’s wife will have taught them history so well that they will know that that event took place on the 17^th October, whereas they will find in O’Bourne’s Naval Biography that Grandpapa was made a Post Captain on the13th November. Mary has sent me the prettiest possible picture of the boy at six weeks old; he is very like me – as much so as the difference of age will allow, I think. My last news of Mary is 7^th December, all well. She wants to go to England, but until my destination is settled it is of no use attempting to fix her’s. I am inclined to wish that for the baby’s sake she should, having begun the winter in a warm climate, remain there until it ends, and not leave Malta under any circumstances before April

I am puzzled to know what to expect for myself if the ship stops out; she is the most fit for this harbour, and that axiom being laid down the difficulty arises that whereas my seniors have a fair claim to this ship, I have an equally fair claim to this harbour. The mail has been in a day or two, but our letters are still at Karatch Bay, and I have not yet received anything later from England than my birthday letters of November 18^th, and therefore have no congratulations from any of you. I see on a rough estimate about one-fifth of the last hundred Post Captains on the list were promoted at or under my age, which is a larger number than I should have expected.