Chapter II: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued)

Widening of the Question--The Fleets in Besika Bay--Lord Clarendon's
Despatch--The Czar and Lord Stratford de Redcliffe--Nesselrode's
"Last Effort"--Military Preparations--Blindness of the British
Cabinet--Nesselrode's Ultimatum rejected--Occupation of the
Principalities--Projects of Settlement--The Vienna Note--Its
Rejection by the Porte---Division of the Powers--Text of
the Note--Divisions in the British Cabinet--The Fleets in
the Bosphorus--The Conference at Olmütz--The Sultan's Grand
Council--Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's last Effort--Patriotism of
the Turks--Omar Pasha's Victories--The Turkish Fleet destroyed
at Sinope--Indignation in England--The French Suggestion--It is
accepted by Lord Clarendon--Russia demands Explanations--Diplomatic
Relations suspended--The Letter of Napoleon III.--The Western
Powers arm--An Ultimatum to Russia--It is unanswered--The Baltic
Fleet--Publication of the Correspondence--Declarations of War 19

CHAPTER III.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Attitude of the German Powers--The Lines at Boulair--The Campaign
on the Danube--The Siege of Silistria--It is raised--Evacuation of
the Principalities--The British Fleet in the Black Sea--Arrival
of the Allied Armies--A Council of War--The Movement on
Varna--Unhealthiness of the Camp--An Attack on the Crimea
resolved on--Doubts of the Military Authorities--Despatch to Lord
Raglan--Lord Lyndhurst's Speech--Raglan's reluctant Assent--The
Expedition sails--Debarkation in the Crimea--Forays of the French
Troops--Composition of the Allied Armies--The Start--The first
Skirmish--St. Arnaud's Plan--Slowness of the British--Battle of the
Alma 35

CHAPTER IV.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Two Days on the Alma--Retreat of the Russians--Raglan proposes a
Flank Movement--Korniloff and Todleben--Death of St. Arnaud--The
Allies in Position--Menschikoff reinforces Sebastopol--Todleben's
Preparations--The Opposing Batteries--The Sea--Defences of
Sebastopol--Doubts of the Admirals--Opening of the Bombardment--The
French Fire silenced--Success of the British--Failure of
the Fleets--The Bombardment renewed--Menschikoff determines
to Raise the Siege--The Attack on Balaclava--Lord Lucan's
Warning--Liprandi's Advance--Capture of the Redoubts--The 93rd--Lord
Lucan's Advance--Charge of the Heavy Brigade--Raglan, Lucan, and
Nolan--Charge of the Light Brigade--The Valley of Death--The
Goal--End of the Battle 50

CHAPTER V.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Effects of Balaclava--Attack on Mount Inkermann--Evans defeats
the Russians--Menschikoff is reinforced--The Guards to the
Rescue--Arrival of Lord Raglan--Bosquet's Help refused--The
Fight at the Sandbag Battery--The Coldstreams--The Guards'
Charge--Defeat of Cathcart--Charges of the Zouaves--The Russians
slowly retreat--Canrobert hesitates to pursue--Loss of the
Allies--Their Plight--The Baltic Fleet--Changed Position of
the Allies--Determination of the British Nation--Storm of
November 14th--Destruction of the Transports--Sufferings of the
Troops--Conduct of the War---Timidity of the Government--Enlistment
of Boys--Autumn Session--The Paper Warfare--Hostile Motions in
Parliament--Lord John Russell's Resignation--Palmerston forms a
Ministry--Resignation of the Peelites 64

CHAPTER VI.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

State of the Army--Food, Clothing, and Shelter--Absence of a
Road--Want of Transport--Numbers of the Sick--State of the
Hospitals--Miss Nightingale--Mr. Roebuck's Committee--Military
Operations--The French Mistake--Improvement of the
Situation--Arrival of General Niel--Attack upon the Malakoff
Hill approved--The Russian Redoubt constructed--Death of
Nicholas--Todleben's Counter-Approaches--Raglan and Canrobert
disagree--The second Bombardment--Egerton's Pit--Night Attack
of General de Salles--The Emperor's Interference--Canrobert's
Indecision--The Kertch Project--Arrival of the Sardinian
Contingent--The Emperor's Visit to Windsor--The Emperor's Plan
of Campaign--It is rejected by Raglan and Omar--Resignation of
Canrobert 80