The Crimean Expedition, to the Capture of Sebastopol. Chronicles of the War in the East from its commencement to the signing of the treaty of peace ... Translated ... by Robert Howe Gould

Front matter

New Books of Travel published during the last Six Months By SAMPSON LOW, SON, and CO., English and American Booksellers and Publishers, 47, LTTDGATE HILL. Each complete in One Volume, post 8vo. ,, cloth, with Illustrations and Maps. Cuba. By Baron Humboldt. From the Spanish, by The Mormons at Home. By Mrs. Ferris — 5/ S.T. Thrasher. (This Day.) 8/6 Central America. By E. G. Ssuier. Svo 12/ The Attache' in Madrid: or, Sketches of the Court B Attacne in maana: or, aneicoes or me uiuri of Isabella II. From the German. {Just ready.) 7/6 The Mosquito Shore. By the same 7/6 Madeira, Portugal, and Andalusia. By C. A. .aeira, rorrugai, <iuu nuuiuusid. uj ■*-••. -n. March. {This Day.) 8/6 Panama in 1855. By Robert Tomes 4/6 The Eastern Archipelago and the Prison of Canada and its Resources. By Hooan and Weltevreden.

By Walter Gibson 8/6 Morris 7/ Japan and Around the World. By L. W. The Seaboard Slave-States of the United States. Spalding 8/6 By F. L. Olmsted 10/6 India, China, and Japan. By Bayard Taylor. ' ' T/ft At Home and Abroad. By Madame Ossoli Palestine, Asia Minor, Sicily, and Spain. By Fuller 7/6 Italian Sights and Papal Principles. By the same. (2d Edition) 7/6 J. J. Jarves 7/6 Chili and the Araucanians. By Edmund Reuel Smith 7/6 Parisian Sights and French Principles. By the same 6/6 Mexico and its Religion. By Robert A. Wilson, Impressions of England. By A. Cleveland 7/6 Life in Brazil. By Thomas Ewbank. 8vo. cloth 12/ Coxe 6/ K, 47, Ludgate Hill ; and All Booksellers. London : SAMPSON LOW, SON, and CO. THE CRIMEAN EXPEDITION. H . S . GALLOU, LIT'-. MS N HAN HaRT, IMP MM a ML SAQIfflT-AMAllŒ),, Tub1 May, SG^ieoG/by Sampson low Son &C°4.7,Ludgale Hill, London THE CRIMEAN EXPEDITION, €d tjic €a$m as Mnstopnl.

CHRONICLES OF THE WAE IN THE EAST, FROM ITS COMMENCEMENT TO THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PEACE. BY THE BARON DE BAZANCOURT, CHARGED WITH A MISSION TO THE CRIMEA BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Œrsttslstrb from the Jrraib BY ROBERT HOWE GOULD, M.A. Vol. I. LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, SON, & CO., 47 LUDGATE HILL. MDCCCLVI. LONDON : HUNTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMIORD STREET. AUTHOR'S DEDICATION. TO HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH. Sire, To dedicate this book to Your Majesty, is to dedicate it to France, to dedicate it to the Army ; and the Emperor, in deigning to accept the Dedication, has accorded to the Author the noblest recompense that his ambition could desire. I am, with respect, Sire, Your Imperial Majesty's Most humble and most obedient Servant and Subject, Baron de Bazancourt.

Preface

. all this, at the same time that it unfolds to us the plans and expectations which they formed ; the opinions of their Generals as to the various operations and incidents of the war ; and the measures from time to time adopted by the Allied Commanders. On the other hand, we obtain the French view of the purely English portion of the Expedition ; — of the management of our army, — the tactics of its leaders, — its endurance in the camp and its achieve ments in the field. This, however, is touched upon with comparative brevity, and only as incidental to, and forming necessarily an essential part of, the more direct narrative of the operations of the French army. But it is curious, as showing the views entertained by such capable critics as our Allies, of our system of campaigning, our military organization, and, especially, of our conduct of this war.

The work does not aspire to the didactic tone, or judicial and retrospective character, of deliberate " history ;" but offers only a contemporaneous record, — a daily chronicle, — of the events of the war ; noted down in their order of occurrence, and taken partly from the Author's personal observation, — partly from the verbal testimony of actors in the events recorded, — and partly from the despatches and correspondence of the French Commanders-in-Chief. Some occurrences, which have challenged censure even from ourselves, are unavoidably mentioned ; but it is in a forbearing spirit, — nor are they dwelt upon farther than truth and candour compel; — while, on the other hand, when opportunity offers to record those deeds which do credit to our arms, it is eagerly and cordially made available ; and nothing can surpass the frankness and heartiness, with which the Author bears testimony, in instances innumerable, to the indomitable courage, the un wearied endurance, and the indefatigable perse verance of our gallant troops.

And it must be remarked, that all his statements of fact are attested by direct reference to the sources (almost invariably official) whence they are drawn ; so that, although his " comments " are only ex pressions of individual opinion, the " facts " upon which they are based are authenticated, with all the weight which can be derived from official documents, and by that right of seeking information from the highest and most direct sources, which the Author's employment by his Government had conferred upon him. It is unquestionable, more over, that his " opinions " are, in reality, also those of the persons from whom he derived the materials for the details of his narrative ; and that, thus, although not " official," they embody the views, adopted on the scene of action itself, by the officers and army of our allies.

X It is important to remember, that M. de Bazan court had no access, on the English side, to those sources of information which were opened to him by the officers of his own nation, and from which alone could such a narrative be well or truly framed ; and, therefore, that he not only was pre cluded, by the scope and purpose of his work, from attempting any detailed narrative of the English share in the expedition, but that, in the absence of such means of information as are above referred to, even the attempt to give more than a general out line of the operations of our army, would have been, in a high degree, inappropriate and presumptuous. As a record, therefore, of what was done and witnessed by our brave Allies, — a record drawn from the most precise and authentic sources, — the work is curious and interesting ; and surely not less so, as a criticism, — although only a cursory one, — passed, as it were, by another nation, upon the career of our own army and our conduct of the war.

A few words as to the translation : Only those who have made the experiment, can appreciate the always delicate, and often thankless task, of transferring the thoughts or statements of another into a language different from that in which they have been originally expressed. This re-heating of the bronze, — this making a fresh cast of the statue, — will rarely, indeed, fail to be accompanied by some deterioration ; rarely, indeed, will the " copy " fail to lose, in the " trans fusion," something of both the definiteness and the grace of outline of the actual creation. In Literature, however, if not in Art, the neces sity for strictly-accurate reproduction of the very " form and pressure " of the original, is not always absolute ; but varies in degree with the nature of its subject and the style of the work.

And where " facts " form the staple of a work, it will be admitted, that their lucid and accurate presentation is of more importance than the form of. their expression. In the present work, therefore, while I have, as a rule, sought to adhere as closely to the Author's own form of expression as the difference of idiom would permit, I have not hesitated, in case of necessity, to regard his meaning as of more importance than his mere phraseology; but, at the same time, I have conscientiously endeavoured to convey to the English reader the precise effect intended to be produced by the original. It is proper to add, that (in both original and translation) the constant recurrence of similar inci dents, — the perpetual repetition of military and engineering phrases, — and the limitation for so long a time to the same scenes and the same personages, — have rendered a slight degree of monotony of style occasionally unavoidable ; and while unwilling to retain a single French word for which a true English synonyme exists, it has been scarcely possible for me to avoid the use of some French words, which have either been long recognized as available in English composition, or have become familiar during the progress of the present war, — such as escarpement, materiel, fusillade, plateau, entonnoirs, corps d'armee, mamelon, &c, &c. ; while, to avoid circumlocution, some other words are often used in senses, which, by increased intimacy of association with our allies, have become almost as much English as French.

Such words, so used, will strike the reader, perhaps, as " Gallicisms," but the nature and subject of the work have rendered their adoption pardonable, if not unavoidable. In conclusion, I have only to solicit the public indulgence, for my fulfilment of a very arduous and responsible task, under great pressure as to time ; and the difficulty of which has been materially augmented, by the vast amount of statistical matter and technical phraseology, with which the work necessarily abounds, and for my rendering of which, there is no doubt, that, with every possible effort to insure accuracy, I must occasionally trust to the reader's indulgent consideration. THK TRANSLATOR. May, 1856. AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. A few words may not be without utility, at the commencement of this book. Charged, by His Excellency Monsieur Fortoul, Minister of Public Instruction, to proceed to the Crimea to collect all the documents relative to this glorious expedition, in order to write its history, I started, at the beginning of January 1855, accre dited to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the East, by His Excellency the Marshal-Minister of War. This mission was delicate and difficult ; and I did not disguise from myself the obstacles which I might encounter ; for the arrival of a writer is always regarded with some alarm in the camp. I trust that I dispelled this alarm, by explaining AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. frankly, from the first day, to the General-in-Chief, my idea, my purpose, and the task for which I claimed his high patronage. I shall always remember, with gratitude, the kindness extended to me by General Canrobert. The tents were then opened to me, and I received, from the principal officers of the Army, a welcome, by which I was at once honoured and profoundly touched. I have drawn from these living sources, the valuable and authentic documents which have guided me through the labyrinth of this complicated work. The Journals of the various Divisions, — and those of all the military operations of the campaign and the siege, — have been shown to me. It is upon the very spot where the greater part of these events had passed, that those who had directed them have recounted to me their most striking episodes.

I inquired, — I listened, — and I wrote. Not a day passed, but had its labour and its allotted task. That which was still more valuable to me, was the opportunity of familiarising myself, by daily contact, with that military life, to me unknown ; to follow it day by clay, hour by hour, and minute by minute ; — to find myself inspired by the manly emotions of the combat ; — to listen, by day and by night, to the roar of cannon and musketry ; — to see the darkened sky suddenly illumined by volleys of AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. XV shells ; — to pass through the trenches and see our brave soldiers, some behind the embrasures armed with rifles, others bending over the spade and turning up the earth, in order to advance, with steps slow but sure, towards the besieged town. It is gratifying to me, to mention here, how much I am indebted to Colonel Raoult, Major of the Trenches ; who bestowed upon me the hospi tality of his dwelling (the house of the Clock Tower), and thus permitted me to live in the very heart of the siege, and to follow, step by step, its interesting but perilous progress. In the evening, his conversation, no less kindly than instructive, initiated me into the secrets of his profession ; — although often interrupted by a sudden fusil lade, or a sortie of the besieged. I lived this life with joy and enthusiasm.

If I beheld sad pictures of the dead and the wounded, other scenes no less moving, — some terrible struggle or some bold attack, — soon removed the impression from my mind. A stirring life, and one which I would gladly live over again ! I feel it my duty, to here express my deep sense of gratitude towards those who have lent me their invaluable assistance. I am well aware, however, that this great kindness was shown less to myself personally, than in honour of the mission with which I was charged by the Minister of Public Instruc- AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. tion, and of the' powerful patronage of Marshal Vaillant, Minister of War ; who had been pleased, a few days before my departure for the Crimea, to address to me the following letter : — Ministry of War. Cabinet of the Minister. " Monsieur le Baron, 28th December, 1854. " In informing me that he has charged you to proceed to collect, in the East, all the information necessary for writing a history of the present War, the Minister of Public Instruction and Wor ship has desired me to recommend you to the Commander-in-Chief of our Army. " I have acceded, with so much the more readi ness, to the wish of my colleague, because I attach, myself, a high value, to the success of the strictly national mission which he has confided to you. " His Excellency could not have chosen a writer more capable of doing justice to his subject.

" I have given orders, according to your desire, that a place should be reserved for you, on board the packet of the 8th of January next. "Receive, &c, &c, " The Marshal- Minister of War, " Vaillant.' AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. XVII I have often heard this phrase repeated; — " One does not write the history of a war which is still in progress." No, living history cannot be written. We listen to it — we interrogate it ; but it is necessary that the years which have passed should have brought their tribute of facts, should have closed the tombs of the dead, and have pronounced their judgment, before it can be written ; — but what it is possible to write, is the narrative of events, — the exact chronicle of a campaign, or of an expedition, — gathered from authentic sources, and free from all expression of judgment or of opinion. The old " chroniclers " still remain as inimitable masters of their art. Their vivid recitals have not grown old ; they present the life, the colour, the true sentiment of the events which they recount.

They form inexhaustible springs, from which successive historians have come to draw truth and inspiration. Those chroniclers whom we call Ville hardouin, Joinville, Comines, Froissart, &c, have they not written narratives which live and breathe ? At once soldiers and writers, their style is full of imagery, of movement, and of vital warmth. It is the path traced by those grand old chroniclers, which the author of this book, humble as he is, seeks to follow. Far from him be the thought of passing judgment upon events which are still in progress at VOL. i. A AUTHOR'S

PREFACE.

. the moment when he writes. He contents himself by framing his narrative with exactitude and im partiality ; and here presents the careful result of the labours of a year. His only ambition is to have conscientiously accomplished a work which he believes to be useful. December, 1855. I. Before commencing the narrative of this formida ble siege, — a gigantic task and one without parallel in the annals of history, — it is important, and even indispensable, to ascertain the causes of a war, which came so abruptly to spread perturbation throughout the whole of Europe. Without entering into the complicated details of that which is, by common consent, called " The Eastern Question," we will endeavour, succinctly, to trace its general outlines. The origin of this grave question, — very simple in itself, — has, so to speak, been completely effaced by the importance of the events which have sub sequently occurred.

What, then, is this "origin?" or, to speak more precisely, this first phase of the question ? VOL. i. b To begin with, it comprises the negotiations of France on the subject of " The Holy Places." For centuries the Roman Catholics and the Greeks have disputed the possession and the privileges of the sanctuaries of Palestine. By a treaty, concluded between France and the Porte in 1740, the Latins had acquired a right and a solemn title.1 Little by little, nevertheless, the Greeks had en croached upon the right of the Latins ; and in 1850, the latter, from concessions upon concessions, had come to be entirely excluded from nine sanctuaries over which they had absolute rights ; — but the fear of raising one of those religious contests, always so deadly, was such, that they had suffered in silence.

The exclusion from the great Church of Bethlehem and the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin was nevertheless a serious grievance, and painful in a religious point of view ; and so much the more so, that the Greeks had marked their usurpations upon Mount Calvary by the destruction of the most venerated tombs.2 The priests of the Holy Land addressed their 1 Art. 33. " The Latin monks who at present reside, as heretofore, without and within Jerusalem, and in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, (called Camane, ) shall remain in possession of the places of pilgrimage which they now have, in the same manner as they have held possession of them in times past. 2 The tombs of Godfrey de Bouillon, of Baudoin, and of other kings of the Crusades, were broken and destroyed. complaints to France, whose guarantee protected by treaty the rights of the Latin Church.

It was then, that the French Government, in pre sence of reiterated complaints, essayed to terminate this unhappy quarrel. General Aupick, in the reclamation which he addressed to the Porte, on the 28 th of May, con tented himself with calling to mind the rights of the Latins, and demanding the restitution of the sanctuaries, from which, little by little, the Greeks had excluded them. It was not until the end of the year that an evasive answer was received from the Sultan. In 1851, the Marquis de Lavalette succeeded General Aupick. A mixed commission of French and Greeks was charged to examine the question, and to determine the rights of each party. But an autograph letter from the Emperor of Russia to the Sultan, brought about the dissolution of this commission, although not until after it had held several sittings.

Another, composed only of Mussulmen, was named to replace it. It is this first step of the Porte, which plainly betrays her feebleness, and shows her already bending under the intimidation of Russian power. Very soon she accords to the Greeks a Firman, the object and extent of which were, while still reb CAUSES OF THE WAR IN THE EAST. serving the concessions recently made to the Latins by the Mahometan commission, to invalidate the titles and rights which the capitulations of 1740 had guaranteed to the Catholics. This new decision, taken irrespective of France, might therefore, under the apparent form of reli gious rivalship, raise a question of political influence of the highest importance. Nevertheless, our ambassador, continuing to act in a conciliatory spirit, was content to shut his eyes, provided that the firman was only registered, without being solemnly read before the assembled communities at Jerusalem.

The charge d'affaires of Russia, on the contrary, required the public reading. The question remained pending for a long time, as is usual in such cases, until the period when Fuad-Effendi, charged with the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, recognised the grave obligation created by the engagements contracted towards France, and resolved to maintain them. Such is the substance of these first negotiations. ThejT form the base of the recriminations of Russia, of her demands, and of this cruel conflict, which has wasted so much blood. We have stated these facts, without remark of any kind, and with impartiality ; allowing them to speak for themselves, and weigh with their own proper weight in the balance of justice. Russia is seen to enter imperiously upon the question. She has an important point to gain.

And what was the position of Turkey ? Certainly it cannot be contested, that the ground of this debate was completely indifferent to her. It was an entirely personal affair between Christian sects. Placed between two nations, her allies, equally powerful, she could not but be impartial. She recognized a right ; but she circumscribed this right within narrow limits. Governed by apprehension, she feared her own justice as a germ of war ; and, launched upon a path of evident contradictions, she saw herself menaced in her own existence by a sudden invasion. It is at this moment that England appears ; she is not a mediatress — she observes, she examines. " To listen, to observe, but to maintain the strictest neutrality ;" such are her instructions ; and these instructions remain the same, whoever may be the ministers that succeed each other.

If we had not imposed upon ourselves the task CAUSES OF THE AVAR IN THE EAST. XVIII of passing over all this period with a rapid flight, it would be curious to examine the documents which emanate from the English Cabinet, They speak the voice of truth, apart from all personal interest ; for England cannot be accused of having desired, either avowedly or tacitly, to favour the increase of the French influence in Turkey. After a few conciliatory attempts, which had no result, she suggested to the French Cabinet the idea of treating the question directly with Russia. This thought, at once dignified and ingenuous, relieved Turkey from an unjust responsibility, and rendered her, in reality as in justice, entirely a stranger to the ulterior decisions which might be taken. France consented, and commenced direct negotia tions.

But while our minister at St. Petersburg entered into direct communication with Count Nes selrode, Russia despatched troops into the Danubian provinces, aud concentrated there a formidable corps d'armee.1 The question of the Holy Places came at last to receive a solution ; being that, in favour of which the new minister, Fuad-Effendi, had decided ; and 1 One of the most curious documents of this grand diplomatic process is the despatch of Count Nesselrode to Baron Brunow (Corresp., Part I. No. 72). The bitterness which betrays itself at each word, in his recriminations against France, already unveils, without his own knowledge, the most private thoughts of Russia. certainly, in accepting it, France still persevered in her moderation. But Russia, also, persevered in her inadmissible demands ; and, alleging a broken word, demanded reparation.

" It is to obtain this, that our efforts must be directed," was her declaration. On the 4th of February, 1853, the mission of Prince Menschikoff to Constantinople was officially announced. XX III. The religious question is at an end ; the political question begins ; for Russia did not raise this debate for any other purpose than that of opening to her sovereignty the harbour of the Bosphorus. It was on the 28th of February that Prince Menschikoff arrived at Constantinople ; whilst his Government, in its communications with the English Cabinet, was officially protesting its " conciliatory intentions," and joining thereto some private com munications, which must have removed doubt if it existed, or suspicion if it had arisen. Thus England, who had become mediatress in this grave debate, saw, without fear, the arrival of the Russian ambassador in Turkey.

She blindly believed in the protestations of Russia, and in her desire to arrest this conflict, which brought in question the most solemn interests ; and she could not but believe in them. What a striking contrast the menacing, hostile, and disdainful attitude of this envoy presents to the confident tranquillity of England ! Prince Menschikoff enters Constantinople, while two Russian corps d'armee enter Bessarabia. Nations, like individuals, like all existing beings, have at times a secret instinct, which makes them divine the clangers with which they are menaced ; and undoubtedly the military aspect of this mission was not of a nature to stifle the presentiments of in timidation and of menace which pervaded the secret mind of the Turkish government. Fuad-Effendi, whom Prince Menschikoff had re fused to see, had given in his resignation.1 The affront offered to the First Minister was great ; the emotion which it caused was universal, and the apprehension widespread.

Turkey was menaced in her independence by the provoking attitude and by the military preparations of the Russian empire. To the demand of the Grand Vizier, the charges d'affaires of France and England answered that they had asked fresh instructions from their Governments. "Turkey will be lost before these instructions arrive !" exclaimed the Seraskier, in the most pro found consternation. 1 The motives which determined Fuad-Effendi, the Minister of Foreign Arlairs, to present his resignation to His Majesty the Sultan, are to be found in the refusal of Prince Menschikoff to pay him a visit. According to all received custom, it is the rule that each new ambas sador makes his first visit to the Grand Vizier, and the second to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The latter awaited the Prince in the apartments of his hotel, with all the usual ceremonies ; but the Prince refused to enter, notwithstanding the invitation which was urged upon him by the Introducer of Ambassadors.

England, leaning with a blind good faith on the reiterated assurances of Russia, refused to believe in the reality of these apprehensions. France, more directly interested, had cause to be more uneasy, more prudent, and more attentive. She resolved not to remain inactive in face of a position the gravity of which might increase at any moment. Such, then, was the situation. Turkey in con sternation ; France attentive ; England still cre dulous. And how should England be otherwise in pre sence of such constant and formal protestations?1 Communications were exchanged between the several cabinets ; but Prince Menschikoff still re mained as a living menace at Constantinople. Beside its apparent object, what was in reality the hidden aim of this extraordinary mission ? It was this ; — a secret treaty between Turkey and Russia against the Western Powers.2 Lord Stratford de Redcliffe had recently arrived at Constantinople.

The new French Ambassador, M, de Lacour, arrived only a few days later. Lord Stratford possessed himself of the "situation," and judged it clearly in its full extent, as well as in all its bearings ; and impressed upon the Divan the fact that the question of the Holy Places ought Corresp., Part I., No. 113. ' Corresp., Part I., No. 135, Inclosure No. 2. to be separated from the new and secret propositions of Russia.1 The moment has arrived when evasive answers are of no value, and equivocation is useless ; when the simple and naked truth must appear in the open light of day. Lord Stratford, Prince Menschikoff, and our new Ambassador are all present. The last questions in dispute have been settled to the satisfaction of Russia ; but at this moment fresh instructions arrive from the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, embodying new exactions ; and on the 5 th of May, the Prince addresses a note to the Divan : — "It is no longer a question of a secret treaty ; Russia demands a convention, which is (adds the Envoy Extraordinary) solely in the interest of the religious immunities of the orthodox worship, aud is to serve as a guarantee for the future."

After six ministerial councils (all the grand func tionaries, whether in active service or in retirement, having assisted at the two last), the Porte refused to enter upon any engagement of this nature, which she justly regarded, as incompatible with her dignity and her independence. " It is unquestionable," said the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, "that a government, which, upon a ' Plan of a Secret Treaty, proposed to the Porte by Prince Menschi koff. (Corresp., Part I., Inclosure No. 153.) subject so grave as this, should sign an engage ment with another government, would do an act entirely opposed to international rights, and would totally obliterate the very principle of its inde pendence." On the 21st of May Prince Menschikoff quitted Constantinople, with all the superior officers belong ing to his mission.1 1 On the 9th of June Redschid Pacha received from the Grand Chan cellor of Russia (on the subject of the departure of the Envoy Extraor dinary) a letter which was equivalent to a declaration of war.

We reproduce the text of the principal passages : — " The Emperor, my master, has informed me, that Prince Menschikoff has been compelled to quit Constantinople, without having been able to obtain any of the guarantees which he demanded, for the maintenance of the rights and privileges of the Greek Church. The Emperor considers the refusal of the Porte as evincing an entire want of courtesy, and as an insult offered to his person. He entirely approves the conduct of his Ambassador. " In his solicitude for the preservation of the Ottoman empire, he entreats the Porte to reflect onee more, on the disastrous consequences of her refusal, the whole responsibility of which must rest upon herself. He accords her a final delay of eight days. " At the expiration of this term the Russian troops will cross the frontier, — not, however, to make war, but to obtain from the Sultan the concessions which he has refused to grant in the way of friendly under standing.