TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

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THE BATTLE-FIELD OF THE NATIONS.
A Panoramic View of the Seat of War around Sebastopol, including Danubian Provinces, Turkey, Asia Minor, Southern Russia, and the Crimea, from a Survey by order of Louis Napoleon, Emperor of France.
Published by HIGGINS & BRADLEY, 20 Washington Street, Boston.

THE
POWERS OF EUROPE
AND
FALL OF SEBASTOPOL.

BY A BRITISH OFFICER.

ILLUSTRATED FROM SUPERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

BOSTON:
HIGGINS AND BRADLEY,

20 Washington Street.

1856.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by
HIGGINS & BRADLEY,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, for the
Southern District of New York.

[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 earlyyouth—Thirteenth Vendemiaire—The Campaign in Italy—Rapid victories of Bonaparte—Expedition to Egypt—Return of Bonaparte—FirstConsulate—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 understandingrespecting Turkey—British orders in Council—Battle of Wagram—Annexation of Finland—Campaign of Moscow—The Grand Alliance, 1813—Battleof 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—Battleof Rolica—Battle of Vimiero—Convention of Cintra—The French evacuate Portugal—Preparations of Napoleon for another Campaign—He subdues theCountry, and enters Madrid—Address to the Spanish People—Napoleon recalled by the War with Austria—Soult and Ney intrusted with the Command of theFrench 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 ArthurWellesley, lands at Lisbon—Battle of Talavera—The English retire into Portugal—Siege of Gerona—Principal Events of the Campaign of 1810—TheEnglish 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—Retreatof the French—Suffering of the Pursuing Army—Guerillas—Don Julian Sanchez—Juan Martin Diaz—Xavier Mina—Continued Privations of theBritish Army—Adventures of the Author in Search of Food—Arrival of the Commissariat with Provisions—Extravagant Joy of the Troops—Departure ofthe 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 FortChristoval—Storming of the Town—Terrific Conflict—The place sacked by the Victors—Disgraceful Drunkenness and Debauchery of the Troops—TheMain 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 Troopsfor the Battle—Skirmishing preceding its Commencement—Reception of the News at Brussels—Departure of the English for the Field of Battle—Dispositionof the Forces—Attack upon Hougomont—Progress of the Battle—Arrival of the Prussian Reinforcements—Charge of the Old Guard—Flight of theFrench,[199]
CHAPTER VII.
TURKEY AND RUSSIA.
Origin of the Ottoman Empire—Siege and Capture of Constantinople by the Turks—Mahomet—The Sultans—Abdul Medjid—Hispopularity and power—The Koran.
The Russian Empire—Area and population—Social organization—Religious policy—Nobility—Serfs—Conscription—TheArmy—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 ofVienna—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 thewild tribes—Appointed Generalissimo—Present high position—Domestic life—Marriage—Personal habits—Kossuth and Hungarian refugees—Waron 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—Hisarmy 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—AchmetPacha—Citate—The Battle—Turkey, as a military power—Christian population—War in Asia—England and France—Declaration ofWar—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 ofMoscow—Loss of the frigate Tiger—Captain Gifford—Black Sea fleet—Duke of Cambridge—Arrival at Varna—Captain Hall—AdmiralPlumridge—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 ofthe Alma—Lord Raglan—Appearance of the Troops—Distance from Sebastopol—The morning of battle—Advance to the river Alma—RussianPosition—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—Vesselsof war—The country around Sebastopol—Allies opening trenches—Message of the governor to Lord Raglan—Bombardment—Lancaster guns—Explosionin the French batteries—Russian powder magazine explodes—The Allied Fleet—The Cannonade—Riflemen—Battle of Balaklava—British andFrench 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—Troopsengaged—Fierce encounters—Sir George Cathcart—His death—Russian cruelty—French infantry—The Zouaves—Chasseurs—Russiansretire—Renewed attack—Repulsed by the French—Defeat—Sorties—Night after battle—Treaty with Austria of 2d Dec.—Negotiationsfor 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—Hislove and pride for his Army—His last Words—Alexander II. ascends the Throne—His Manifesto to his Subjects—A Sketch of him—Recall of PrinceMenschikoff from command in the Crimea—His abilities and failings—His Successors—Gortschakoff’s Military Career,[393]

[CHAPTER I.]