Chapter I: Preface

This work makes no pretensions to absolute originality being partially a compilation, with incidents in the life of the Author, who was an actor in many of the scenes narrated. He has striven to be judicious in selecting, from the most authentic sources, only that which would be interesting, at this crisis, to the general reader.

Some extracts are given entire; in other cases, long passages have been abridged and condensed.

Information from a vast variety of sources has, in many instances, been put together, and presented in a new and more graphic form.

Minute details, as far as practicable, have been avoided; whilst the whole ground has been, more or less, completely surveyed. The Author has sought to make a popular volume, which might be read with pleasure, and be permanently serviceable as a book of reference.

The bloody sieges of Saragossa, Gerona, and Badajos, have been referred to more in detail to afford the opportunity of comparison with that of Sebastopol; while the battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo have been described for comparison with those of Alma and Inkermann. The origin and progress of the present war are detailed. The biographies of the principal characters now engaged in the East will be found entertaining; and the Author confidently hopes it may prove a volume of interest and permanent value.

H. F. G.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Summary survey of Europe--Aristocracy of France--France previous
to the Revolution--Revolutionary Symptoms--The Great Powers,
1792-6--William Pitt--Execution of Louis XVI.--The Allies against
France--Siege of Toulon--Invasion of Holland--Napoleon--His early
youth--Thirteenth Vendemiaire--The Campaign in Italy--Rapid victories
of Bonaparte--Expedition to Egypt--Return of Bonaparte--First
Consulate--The passage of the Alps--Second Campaign in Italy
--Napoleon Emperor--War with England--Alliance between the Great
Powers, 1805--Indecision of Prussia--Alexander visits the tomb
of Frederick the Great--Battle of Austerlitz--Treaty of Tilsit
--Secret understanding respecting Turkey--British orders in
Council--Battle of Wagram--Annexation of Finland--Campaign of
Moscow--The Grand Alliance, 1813--Battle of Leipsic--Allies
enter Paris, 1

CHAPTER II.

Origin of the War in the Peninsula--Siege of Saragossa--Murderous
Character of the War--Success of the French in Portugal--Battle of
Rolica--Battle of Vimiero--Convention of Cintra--The French
evacuate Portugal--Preparations of Napoleon for another Campaign
--He subdues the Country, and enters Madrid--Address to the Spanish
People--Napoleon recalled by the War with Austria--Soult and Ney
intrusted with the Command of the French Army in Spain--Retreat
of Sir John Moore--Battle of Corunna--Death of Sir John Moore
--The British Army sail for England, 50

CHAPTER III.

Joseph Bonaparte again King of Spain--His Difficulties with Soult
--Second Siege of Saragossa--Another English Army, under Sir Arthur
Wellesley, lands at Lisbon--Battle of Talavera--The English retire
into Portugal--Siege of Gerona--Principal Events of the Campaign
of 1810--The English Troops make a Stand at Torres Vedras--Retreat
of Massena--Siege of Cadiz--Escape of French Prisoners--Opening
of the Campaign of 1811, 99

CHAPTER IV.

The Author, with his Regiment, leaves Gibraltar, for Tarifa
--Dissensions between the Spanish and English Officers--Battle
of Barossa--Retreat of the French--Suffering of the Pursuing Army
--Guerillas--Don Julian Sanchez--Juan Martin Diaz--Xavier Mina
--Continued Privations of the British Army--Adventures of the
Author in Search of Food--Arrival of the Commissariat with
Provisions--Extravagant Joy of the Troops--Departure of the
British Army for Badajos, 123

CHAPTER V.

Badajos--Its Capture by the French--Attempts to retake it by the
English--Wellington invests it in Person--Assault upon Fort
Christoval--Storming of the Town--Terrific Conflict--The place
sacked by the Victors--Disgraceful Drunkenness and Debauchery of
the Troops--The Main Body of the Army depart for Beira, 160

CHAPTER VI.

Brief Summary of Events for Four Years preceding the Battle of
Waterloo--Author’s Narrative resumed at that Period--Preparation
of Troops for the Battle--Skirmishing preceding its Commencement
--Reception of the News at Brussels--Departure of the English for
the Field of Battle--Disposition of the Forces--Attack upon
Hougomont--Progress of the Battle--Arrival of the Prussian
Reinforcements--Charge of the Old Guard--Flight of the French, 199

CHAPTER VII.

TURKEY AND RUSSIA.

Origin of the Ottoman Empire--Siege and Capture of Constantinople
by the Turks--Mahomet--The Sultans--_Abdul Medjid_--His popularity
and power--The Koran.

The Russian Empire--Area and population--Social organization
--Religious policy--Nobility--Serfs--Conscription--The Army
--Progress of Russia and extension of her frontiers--_Nicholas_
--Poland, 231

CHAPTER VIII.

HISTORY OF THE WAR.

Arrival of Menschikoff at Constantinople--Demands of the Czar
--The Sultan--Occupation of Moldavia and Wallachia--Conference
of Vienna--Protest of the Porte--Turkish forces--Commencement
of hostilities, 258

CHAPTER IX.

OMER PACHA.

Anecdote--His Birth--Reforms--Sultan Mahmud--Enlistment in the
Turkish army--His application--Expeditions among the wild tribes
--Appointed Generalissimo--Present high position--Domestic life
--Marriage--Personal habits--Kossuth and Hungarian refugees--War
on the Danube--Battle of Oltenitza, 268

CHAPTER X.

SCHAMYL, THE PROPHET-WARRIOR OF THE CAUCASUS.

Caucasus--Character of the tribes--Circassian slave trade--Birth
of Schamyl--Personal appearance--Form of government--His army
and body-guard--Financial rule--Struggles with Russia--Personal
habits--Legend--Circassian women in battle--Escape from the
Russians, 283

CHAPTER XI.

SINOPE.

Town of Sinope--Osman Pacha--The Mussulmans--The Black Sea
squadron--Exploit of Captain Drummond--Sebastopol harbor--Achmet
Pacha--Citate--The Battle--Turkey, as a military power--Christian
population--War in Asia--England and France--Declaration of War
--Embarkation of Troops, 298

CHAPTER XII.

TREATY OF ALLIANCE.

The Five Articles of the Treaty--War on the Danube--General
Luders--The Pestilence--Decree of the Czar--Governor of Moscow
--Loss of the frigate Tiger--Captain Gifford--Black Sea fleet
--Duke of Cambridge--Arrival at Varna--Captain Hall--Admiral
Plumridge--General Bodisco--Silistria--The Siege--Mussa Pacha
--Evacuation of the Principalities by the Russians, 309

CHAPTER XIII.

CRIMEAN EXPEDITION.

The Crimea--The Fleet--Appearance in the Bay of Baltjik--Sail
from Varna--Land at Eupatoria--March inland--Battle of the Alma
--Lord Raglan--Appearance of the Troops--Distance from Sebastopol
--The morning of battle--Advance to the river Alma--Russian
Position--The Zouaves--Storming the heights--March to Sebastopol
--Death of Marshal St. Arnaud--General Canrobert, 323

CHAPTER XIV.

SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

Bay of Balaklava--Landing of the Siege guns--Russian guns
--Sebastopol--Its appearance--Military harbor--Fortifications
--Vessels of war--The country around Sebastopol--Allies opening
trenches--Message of the governor to Lord Raglan--Bombardment
--Lancaster guns--Explosion in the French batteries--Russian
powder magazine explodes--The Allied Fleet--The Cannonade
--Riflemen--Battle of Balaklava--British and French Position
--The Combat--The Turks--The Highlanders--The Russian Cavalry
--Captain Nolan--Lord Cardigan, 344

CHAPTER XV.

SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

Lord Raglan--His life--Battle of Inkerman--Morning of battle
--Sons of Emperor Nicholas--The attack--Troops engaged--Fierce
encounters--Sir George Cathcart--His death--Russian cruelty
--French infantry--The Zouaves--Chasseurs--Russians retire
--Renewed attack--Repulsed by the French--Defeat--Sorties--Night
after battle--Treaty with Austria of 2d Dec.--Negotiations for
peace--The four points--Landing of Omer Pacha at Eupatoria--Death
of the Emperor Nicholas--Alexander II.--Fall of Sebastopol, 372

CHAPTER XVI.

SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

Siege of Sebastopol continues--Sardinia joins the Western Alliance
--Battle of Eupatoria--Sudden death of Emperor Nicholas--His
love and pride for his Army--His last Words--Alexander II.
ascends the Throne--His Manifesto to his Subjects--A Sketch of
him--Recall of Prince Menschikoff from command in the Crimea
--His abilities and failings--His Successors--Gortschakoff’s
Military Career, 393