Chapter V

HARDSHIPS BEFORE SEBASTOPOL--THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA.

From our encamping ground we could see the doomed city that cost so many thousand lives before it fell. The first thing to be done then was to find some place of rendezvous for transports, to land stores and munitions of war. Balaclava was decided upon as the fittest place, and we therefore marched upon it, took the fort without opposition, and the little harbour was then in our possession. Our vessels got safely into the harbour, and began disembarking the stores, provisions, siege guns, and ammunition, while the troops took up their position on the heights of Sebastopol. Picks and shovels were quickly landed and brought up to the front. We were then told off into working parties, and immediately began to throw up batteries for our siege guns, and get them into position. We found the work very trying, as our hands were unfitted for the mattock; but it was now a branch, and a very important one, of our military profession, and we were eager and anxious to push our own work, as we felt assured by this time that Sebastopol could not be taken by a _coup-de-main_. The Russians were not idle all this time: they seemed to be as busy as ourselves. We could see them hard at work throwing up redoubts outside the town--even their women wrought. We could see by this that the Russians were determined to sacrifice their all, and defend their city to the last. When we measured swords with them at the Alma, we proved ourselves superior to them in courage and daring; yet we found them sullen and stubborn; and we had reason to believe that behind that celebrated fortress they would put into practice that feature of their nature.

While we were progressing with our siege works, the enemy annoyed us very much with their heavy guns. They sunk their Black Sea fleet in the harbour, and the batteries from these wooden walls would often put us to a stand-still, as we were not ready to open the siege, although we wrought daily, and progressed favourably, under the trying circumstances. The weather was yet mild; still, there was no provision made for the coming winter--that winter of suffering and hardship, unparalleled in the annals of modern history. Fatigue parties went daily to Balaclava to land the heavy guns and shot and shell. We found the carrying of shot and shell nearly seven miles very laborious work. The heavy siege guns were dragged up by horses. What a sight the little harbour of Balaclava then presented. There seemed to be people from every nation--Turk, Greek, Maltese, Jew, Italian, French, and English, and the many languages to be heard in the little street of Balaclava made it appear another Babel.

We got some guns into position, and it was decided that on the 17th of October we should open for the first time one hundred guns on the doomed city. The 17th arrived, and the siege commenced. The enemy appeared to be ready for us, as they replied sharply. Our fleet at the same time tried their strength on the fort Constantine and others outside the harbour. Our noble fleet could make no impression. The cowardly Russians would not come out with their fleet, but sunk it in the mouth of the harbour, thereby depriving our gallant tars of all chance of a naval engagement. Well did the Russians know that if they did come out to sea they would never return, so they skulked behind their wooden walls, and our brave tars were obliged to put again to sea. Some of the sailors, however, came ashore, and formed a naval brigade, and manned a 21-gun battery.

On the following day we could see our late work had done some damage. The Round Tower was levelled to the ground, and others of their works suffered very much from their recent bombardment. This, then, we continued until a few days before the battle of Balaclava, when the Russians appeared to be arriving in great force. The little harbour of Balaclava was the object of their attack, as we could see them arriving daily and taking up a position in front of it. It was therefore found that a small force would be requisite to protect the harbour. The command of this important place was given to Sir Colin Campbell, with the Highland Brigade, and a battery or two of the marines placed on the heights. There were three redoubts a short distance in advance, in which a party of Turks were placed, with orders to hold their position to the last. But did they do so? We shall see as we go on. The enemy were arriving in great force, and at the same time they appeared to be in great force at Sebastopol. They made several sorties on our troops in the trenches, but were always repulsed. My regiment was again called up to Sebastopol, and our brave chief was left with only the 93d Highlanders. Our absence was only to be temporary; but it was during that time that the enemy attacked our position at Balaclava.

Before daylight made its appearance, on the morning of the 25th of October, the Turks were attacked at their outposts. The Russians drove them from their works, and the frightened and cowardly Turks came running in with the news that they were overpowered by the enemy. It was at this crisis that the powerful mind and abilities of Sir Colin Campbell as a general were put to the test. The Russians, flushed with their success in driving in the Turks, came onward in thousands, cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The 79th and 42d were ordered hastily out of the trenches to proceed at once to Balaclava; and after spending a tedious and trying night before Sebastopol, we had to march to Balaclava, hungry and fatigued though we were; but the British soldier’s motto is, “Honour and Duty!” What was our brave and devoted chief doing during this time with his handful of men? He was determined to defend Balaclava to the last, and hastily formed the 93d in line, with their front rank kneeling. What a sight to see that thin, red line kneeling! ready to receive thousands of the enemy’s cavalry at the point of the bayonet. Sir Colin was riding along the line with words of encouragement to his faithful soldiers, his grey hairs streaming in the breeze, and a smile of victory on his glowing lip. His words were, “Steady, 93d; not a move!” Sir Colin well knew that he could rely on the men under his command. The Russians galloped up to the line, and when within a few yards he gave the word, “Highlanders, fire a volley!” and in an instant a number of the enemy’s horses were riderless. They staggered and reeled, doubtful of Sir Colin’s strength, and drew back a little. The stratagem proved successful to the chief, and classed him at once as a general of the first order. By this time the Commander-in-chief was on the ground, and he ordered reinforcements from the front. The Russians still held the important post taken by them from the Turks, and these batteries we were determined to regain. There was a calm for a moment, and it was decided by the Commander-in-chief that our cavalry should charge the enemy--a sad and fatal charge to many. I cannot give the exact number of the enemy on the plains of Balaclava; but I would say that they were upwards of thirty-five thousand. Their cavalry were strong and powerful, and their artillery of very heavy caliber. It was against this number that our little band of gallant horsemen were arrayed in order of battle. The Earl of Cardigan led the charge. Onward they galloped. Sabre meets sabre. The issue is doubtful. The Scots Greys are seen clearing the way in gallant style. Oh, what a desperate encounter! The Russians are ten times the number! Fearful havoc is now going on in the plains of Balaclava! The British fight with superhuman courage. The Russians retire slowly and sullenly. The redoubts are in our possession. The few survivors of the fatal charge are called in. Little benefit was derived from that magnificent charge; but the courage and daring displayed therein will never be forgotten. The Highland Brigade was again united, and took up its position upon the heights of Balaclava.