Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

Crimean War - 1854-55

Letters from the Black Sea

By Admiral Sir Leopold Heath

Introduction

These letters have lain on a shelf untouched and almost unthought of for many years, but, as is the habit of old men, I took them down recently to refresh my memory of the events in which I had taken part during the most stirring times of my earlier life. They interested me much, and I publish them thinking that perhaps they may also interest others.

The earlier letters that is, those previous to February, 1855 describe events occurring whilst I was in command of the “Niger,” or of the “Sanspareil,” and carrying out the ordinary duties of the service; but those of a later date were written whilst I was holding the position of Harbour Master at Balaklava or of Principal A gent of Transports. It will be seen that the series begins with the declaration of war and ends with the fall of Sebastopol.

It will be seen that the series begins with the declaration of war and ends with the fall of Sebastopol. Some few letters have been lost, but none of much consequence, except, perhaps, that which described the battle of Tchernaya, in which victory over the attacking Russians – said to have been sixty thousand strong – was won by the Sardinians, aided partially by ourselves and the French, and, I think, by a few Turks.

Many “Letters from the Crimea” and histories of the campaign have been brought before the public, but I think they have all been written by Officers of the Sister Service and that these are the first from a Sailor’s pen. I have included amongst the Letters a semi-official report upon the loss of the “Prince,” and also two documents and two photographs showing the real conditions of Balaklava Harbour. On both these points the English newspapers used very strong language, but the “Correspondents” of those days were not the steady, history-recording gentlemen who now accompany our armies; they apparently considered that to interest and excite the readers of their newspapers was their only mission.

In the Appendix are two or three documents of interest, and it closes with the despatches from the Duke of Newcastle, after receiving reports of the first bombardment – of the battle of Balaklava – and that of Inkerman. The last-named is extraordinarily eloquent, and one cannot read its many tender and pathetic passages without a strong suspicion that although the pen was that of the Minister of War, the words were those of a more exalted person. What can be more Queen-like than “Let not any private soldier in the ranks believe that his conduct is unheeded – the Queen thanks him – his Country honours him.”

It was my great good fortune to obtain the good opinion both of Admiral Dundas and Sir Edmund Lyons, and I take this opportunity of expressing the gratitude with which I received their many acts of kindness both professional and private.

L.G. Heath

Anstie Grange, Holmwood

May, 1897

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Letter No.1

Declaration of War – Flag of Truce Fired at – French Generals and Turkish Pasha at Gallipoli..

Letter No.2

“Retribution” “Descartes” and “Niger” sent to Odessa – Capture of Prizes – Reconnaissance of Bay – Appearance of Town.

Letter No.3

Expedition to Sulina – “Sidon” on shore and hove off by “Niger.” Anecdote of Russian Prisoner.

Letter No.4

Description of Varna – Sale of Prizes – Odessa Bombarded by the Fleet – Naval Ladies at Therapia

Letter No.5

Expedition to Kaffa Bay and Circassia – “Niger” on Shore.

Letter No.6

“Tiger,” “Niger,” and “Vesuvius” sent to Odessa – “Tiger” on Shore and Burnt – Captain Gifford Wounded and Died – “Niger” to Malta for Repairs.

Letter No.7

“Niger” Returns from Malta – Blockades Danube – St.Sophia – Fidonisi  Lighthouse – Mosquitoes – Telegraph Posts – Caught Napping – Cholera in the Fleet – Crimean Expedition decided on – Russian Fishermen.

Letter No.8

Commander Tatham promoted – Loss in Fleet from Cholera.

Letter No.9

Neutrals carrying Enemy’s Goods – Bullock Hunt – French and Turkish portion of the Expedition Sighted – “Niger” joins the Fleet.

Letter No.10

Disembarkation at Old Fort – Skirmish at Bulganak – Battle of Alma.

Letter No.11

Number of Killed and Wounded – Wounded carried down by Sailors – Flank March to Balaklava – Take possession of Balaklava – Land Guns and Stores – St.Arnaud Ill – Canrobert takes Command.

Letter No.12

French Attempt at Walking Off with our Captured Guns – Naval Brigade Landed – French Transports leave Balaklava and take Possession of Harbours at Kamiesh.

Letter No.13

Visit the Lines at Sebastopol – Increase Fortifications – Lancaster Guns – Fortifications of Balaklava – “Un Grand Malheur.”

Letter No.14

Another Visit to the Lines and to a New Battery – Chances of Escape from a Bursting Shell – Male Inhabitants of Balaklava Ordered to Quit – Road to the Front.

Letter No.15

Sanitary State of Army – Arrangements for Naval Attack – Naval Attack.

Letter No.16

Naval Losses – Appearance of Fort Constantine – Russian Sortie – Contrast.

Letter No.17

Numerical Weakness of Our Forces – Attack on Turkish Redoubts – Battle of Balaklava – Proposal to Abandon Balaklava – Wiser Counsels Prevail – Balaklava Strengthened – Am Landed in Charge of a Battery with “Niger’s” Crew under Sir Colin Campbell – Night Alarms.

Letter No.18

A Critical Week – Battle of Inkerman – Visit to the Battle Field – Description of the Battle – Heavy Sortie Against the French – Superior Numbers of the Enemy – Arrival of the Transport “Prince” with Warm Clothing and Two Thousand Men – Called in to Balaklava to help Captain Dacres.

Letter No.19

Appointed Acting Captain of “Sanspareil” – Speculations as to Keeping the Appointments – Gale of Wind – Loss of Ships, including the Transport “Prince.”

Letter No.20

Gallant Capture of Russian Outwork by Captain Tryon of the Rifles – Full Description of the Storm – “Avon” Steamer – H.M.S. “Retribution” with Duke of Cambridge on Board – Arrival of Hutting and of Reinforcements.

Letter No.21

Forty Additional Naval Guns Landed – Appointed Harbour Master – Officers and Crew of “Sanspareil” – My Comfortable Cabin – State of the Roads

Letter No.22

My Daily Work – Sickness Increasing in Front – Difficulties of Transport – Half Rations.

Letter No.23

Promoted toPost Captain – Cholera Bad  - Deaths from Cholera – Coffee Roasting – Turks Sent to Eupatoria.

Letter No.24

Complete Breakdown of Land Transport – Cavalry used for Carrying up Provisions – Success of Coffee-roasting – Inkerman Despatch.

Letter No.25

Visit to the Camp – Progress of Works – Firewood – Cavalry Method of Carrying Grain – Distribution of Work in the Harbour.

Letter No.26

More Rain, but More Mules – Sorties – French Help – Guns going to the Front – Admiral Dundas gives up the Command – Whigs Unromantic – Speculations as to my Future Position.

Letter No.27

Railroad Engineer – Council of War – Description of Canrobert – Arrival of Crimean Army Royal Yacht Club Ships.

Letter No.28

Cold Weather – Officers asphyxies by Charcoal – Provisions Carried up on Men’s Backs – Railroad – State of Balaklava Harbour

Letter No.29

Scandalous Paragraph in The Times on the State of the Harbour – Loss of the “Prince” – Build Stable for Mules – Naval Brigade Reduced.

Letter No.30

Mules – Sledges – Cold Weather

Letter No.31

Mules – Stabling and Attendance – Bad Roads

Letter No.32

Leave Balaklava – Effect of Change of Air on Health – Arrival of Railway Staff – Visit to the French Lines – French Mining – Catching Russians – Feeling of the French Soldiers – Admiral Boxers’ Arrival – His Ideas – Appointed Principal Agent of Transports – Sir Edmund Lyon’s Letters.

Letter No.33

General Review of the Campaign – “Une audace” – The Alma – Criticisms on Delay in Following Up – The Flank March – Badness of Reasons for not Immediately Storming the South Side – Naval Bombardment  - Sidney Herbert – Mr. Filder – Want of Roads – Want of Mules

Letter No.34

Coffee-roasting Machines – Reventing Guns in Front – Numbers of the British Army.

Letter No.35

Stafford’s Speech in the House of Commons – Their Inaccuracy – Case of the “Candia.”

Letter No.36

Policy to be Adopted by my Brother in the matter of Newspaper Attacks – Balaklava Harbour – Information about it Drawn up for my Successor – Opinion of Merchant Captains.

Letter No.37

Improved Conditions of Affairs – Macadamized Roads – Railway Progress – General Vinois – Land Transport Corps – Civility of Soldiers – Navvies – Preparing Floating Hospital.

Letter No.38

Choice of Secretary – Admiral Boxer’s Zeal – Turkish Troops brought back from Eupatoria – Opening of From our Batteries.

Letter No.39

“Our Own Correspondents” – Sir John McNeil – Gobemouche Story – The Transport “Candia” – Description of Evidence given before the Sebastopol Committee.

Letter No.40

Telegraph with England Established – The Master of the “Andes” and of the “Himalaya.”

Letter No.41

Embarkation of First Expedition to Kertch – Return of Expedition – Arrival of 18^th Lancers from India – Abundance of Provisions and Stores – Louis Napoleon.

Letter No.42

Sebastopol Blue Book

Letter No.43

Pellissier supersedes Canrobert – Fresh Expedition to Kertch – Advance of French and Turks into the Plain of Balaklava – Description of the flowers – Bakery Established – Mr. Soyer.

Letter No.44

Assault on Redan, June 18^th – Reasons for Failure – Railroad People – The Clever French in the Baidar Valley

Letter No.45

Attack and Capture of Malakoff by the French – Our Own Repulse oat the Redan – Retreat of the Russians to the North side during the Night – Visit to the Town – Description of the Redan.

Letter No.46

Another Visit to the Town – Todleben’s Energy – The French Assault of the Malakoff – Pellissier’s Opinion that Our Attach on the Redan was most Valuable to him as a Diversion – Description of the Docks – Wind Up – Return Home – Commission “Seahorse “ – Naval Review – Return for Troops.

Appendix

List of Illustrations

Admiral Sir Leopold G. Heath

Declaration of War

Odessa Bay

Loss of the “Tiger”

Order of Anchoring of the Fleet

Double Boat

Landing of the Expedition

Battle of Alma

Naval Bombardment

Battle of Balaklava

Battle of Inkerman

Balaklava Harbour (entrance)

Do.  Do. (Inside view)

(“Higgledy Piggledy, Rough and Tumble”)

“Zigzags”

Strength of the British Army Jan. 26/55

Interior of the Redan

Sebastopol, Docks

Facsimile of Lord Raglan’s Handwriting

Facsimile of Admiral Dundas’s Handwriting