The bombardment began upon the 5th,—the heaviest ever known in the history of sieges. Terrible mischief was effected by the constant discharge of so many engines of destruction; and the alarm and distress of the inhabitants and garrison could be witnessed from the lines of the besiegers. The following extract from the author’s “History of the War against Russia,” describes with brevity and accuracy the final bombardment.
When the sun set, the shells, rockets, and other fiery missives from the besieging lines, sped like flights of meteors over the enemy’s works, and searched the recesses of the city. Throughout the night of the 5th a fire of musketry had been directed against the faces of the works to be assailed; but on that of the 6th, this was more sustained and heavy. During the 6th, the enemy made a comparatively feeble resistance. On the early morning of the 7th, the bombardment gave place to a cannonade, which was as terrible as if opening for the first time., The enemy opened a galling fire from their Inkerman batteries across the harbour upon the French right, sweeping the batteries of the latter, slaying many, and damaging the works. A strong wind blew the smoke from the town, accompanied by clouds of dust, into the faces of the besiegers, impeding their aim, and rendering it difficult for them to observe the effect of their shot.
At half-past three a fine two-decker in the harbour was set on fire, and continued to burn through the remainder of the day and all night, with a flame exceeding in intensity and volume that of previous ships. A fire also broke suddenly forth in the rear of the Great Redan. Late in the evening another broke out in the town over the Woronzoff Road, and another at the head of the dockyard. The combined effect of all these conflagrations was terrible beyond description, associated as they were with the deafening roar of at least 1000 pieces of cannon, for as many were constantly engaged, notwithstanding that the number of the enemy’s guns silenced was very great. When daylight died the cannonade was, as before, succeeded by a bombardment, with all its fierce concomitants. The Russians showed throughout the night a constant apprehension of assault, for they threw showers of vertical grape-shot; and notwithstanding the glare of the flames from the burning ships, and the fires in the city, they lighted up their works with fire-ball and carcasses. They repeatedly threw bouquets into the trenches of the French. Thus, until the morning of the 8th, shells and rockets fell in fiery deluge upon Sebastopol, and the roll of the musketry against the faces of the chief defences never ceased. On the morning of the 8th the cannonade began with the day, and was delivered more rapidly and fiercely than before. Meanwhile preparations were made for the assault.
The assault on the English side was unsuccessful; the same bad generalship which marred the actions of the English so frequently throughout the war, threw its fatal influence over their efforts on the terrible day of the 8th of September. The French would also have failed, in all probability, had they not effected a surprise, by suddenly seizing the Malakoff, the key of the defence, at a moment when the Russians felt secure that no attack would be made. The French with great courage and adroitness secured the advantage gained, and that advantage was decisive of the contest. The Russians, after a vain struggle, retreated from Southern Sebastopol, having lost a multitude of slain, and leaving vast spoil in the hands of the captors.
The tidings of this result was spread by the electric wire and by the press until all Europe caught the exultation and rejoiced everywhere—except in the courts of Naples and Athens, and among the members of the Greek church, who, wherever they were scattered, showed the utmost sympathy for Russian tyranny and bigotry.
During September, the allies gathered the spoils of war from the conquered city. October and November afforded fine weather for military operations, but nothing of importance was done by the allied commanders from the basis of operations before Sebastopol; while the Russians still lay in strength beyond the Tchernaya, and held Northern Sebastopol in greater strength than ever.
General Simpson resigned his command, in obedience to the popular opinion at home; and General Codrington, a general of less than two years standing, assumed the important post. Discord among the allied commanders, and intrigues in the French foreign-office and the imperial court of France, paralyzed the vigorous purposes of the English cabinet. The French emperor wished to conciliate his brother autocrat of Russia, and was unwilling to strike a blow which in proportion as it humbled Russia exalted England. A fear lest any glory or influence in the East should accrue to England swayed the French ministry. Napoleon had other designs which England was less likely to favour than was Alexander II., and the policy adopted was to gain an ally in the enemy which England aided him to subdue.
A second winter encampment before Sebastopol was necessary. The dreary plateau was once more the abode of the weary and suffering soldiers during the inclement period which terminated the year in the Crimea. The British soldiers were, however, cheered by increased numbers and efficiency, and by the care and comfort which the indignant patriotism of the British people compelled the government to bestow upon its noble army.
During the inactive of the allied armies before Sebastopol, and in the neighbourhood of the Tchernaya, certain expeditions were undertaken, which were important. An expedition was ordered against certain strong places on the European shores of the Black Sea. The reduction of Kinburn, a strong naval arsenal and place for ship-building, was effected; and Ockzakoff, an important place from which the approaches to Kinburn could be well defended, was totally destroyed.
At Eupatoria the Russians, notwithstanding the continual drain upon their resources at Sebastopol, harassed the garrison. Cavalry skirmishes were frequent, and rather sanguinary. The allies maintained their position, and constantly threatened the enemy’s communications.