The Great War With Russia — The Invasion Of The Crimea - A Personal Retrospect

Of The Battles Of The Alma, Balaclava, And Inkerman And Of The Winter Of 1854-55, &c. [Illustrated Edition]

Sir William Howard Russell

• Publisher: Normanby Press
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781786253668
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

[Illustrated with over two hundred and sixty maps, photos and portraits, of the battles, individuals and places involved in the Crimean War]"The journalist William Howard Russell (1820–1907) is sometimes regarded as being the first war correspondent, and his reports from the conflict in the Crimea are also credited with being a cause of reforms in the British military system. This account of his time there, first published in 1858 and expanded in this 1895 edition, explains how Russell was sent by The Times of London in 1854 to join British troops stationed in Malta. He spent the next two years witnessing some of the key moments of the war, including the battle of Balaclava and the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade. His newspaper reports of the fighting and of the living conditions for the troops were widely read and very influential. In this retrospective work, Russell gives a more personal narrative of his experiences, making this an important account of one the most brutal wars of the nineteenth century."-Cambridge Ed.

THE GREAT WAR WITH RUSSIA 1854-1855

CHAPTER I — CONCERNING MYSELF

BEFORE I relate what I saw on the day of the battle of the Alma, which preceded the memorable Siege of Sebastopol and determined the course of the great war, the outcome of which was formulated in the Treaty of Paris in 1856, it is necessary to say a few words about myself. I was a barrister engaged on the staff of the Times. I was getting into Parliamentary business and was engaged in several good cases—election petitions, railways, &c.,{2} but though I had always been fond of military matters I knew nothing of what is called by soldiers “soldiering,”

My early ambition to wear a uniform could not be gratified. I tried to get into the Spanish Legion, but I was too young. When I became an ensign in the Enfield Militia I was too old, and I had little taste and less leisure for “trainings,” so Colonel Mark Wood cut short my inglorious career on account of absence and neglect of duty; but I had seen actual fighting in that Schleswig-Holstein insurrection from which welled out the elements of the discord that set the Western world in flames, beginning with the decree of Federal Execution against Denmark, in 1864, which killed the Diet, led to the overthrow of Austria and her allies in 1866, to the war of 1870-71, to the demolition of the Napoleonic dynasty, to the reconstruction of the German Empire and ended in Europe as we see it to-day under arms preparing for Armageddon. I had followed the events of 1853 as most people did. I read the papers and the debates, and I watched, as many others did, the swelling of the tide which was bearing England to the battlefield, and that was all. When the year of grace 1854 opened on me I had no more idea of being what is now—absurdly, I think—called “a war correspondent” than I had of becoming Lord Chancellor—nay, far less; for I confess I had, at times, visions of the Woolsack, such as, I suppose, float in the air before the mind’s eye of many sanguine barristers like myself—no more idea, I will say, than the Government had of war, when they began to take a languid interest in the dispute between the Emperor Napoleon III. and the Czar Nicholas concerning the Holy Places at Jerusalem, which was enlivened anon by the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Sinope and quickened into active intervention by the occupation of the Principalities.

As I was sitting at my desk in the Times office one evening in February 1854, I was informed that the editor, Mr. Delane, wished to see me, and on entering his sanctum I was taken aback by the announcement that he had arranged a very agreeable excursion for me to go to Malta with the Guards. The Government had resolved to show Russia that England was in earnest in supporting the Sultan against aggression, and that she would, if necessary, send an expedition to the East. It was decided, he said, that I was the best man to represent the paper on the occasion. Lord Hardinge had given an order for my passage with the Guards from Southampton, and everything would be done to make my task agreeable: the authorities would look after me—my wife and family could join me—handsome pay and allowance* would be given— in fact, everything was painted couleur de rose. When I made some objection on the score of losing my practice at the Bar, Mr. Delane said, “There is not the least chance of it; you’ll be back by Easter, depend on it, and you will have a pleasant trip for a few weeks only.” The Guards left London on 22nd February. I landed at Valetta on March the 2nd and put up at Dumford’s Hotel in the Strada Reale. The Brigadier of the Guards, to whom I had been commended by Lord Hardinge—a high-shouldered, neatly-dressed, narrow-minded little man, a perfect gentleman in manner—was a very imperfect soldier, without a ray of military light or power of leading; he had a very pleasant staff, and Byng, his youthful aide-de-camp, came now and then to give me news. Colin Campbell, the chief of the Highland Brigade—agile, expert, experienced, a man of very different calibre—was the backbone of the 1st Division. I wrote gossiping letters to London, and passed my time pleasantly enough.

But one morning there came a letter from the Times office which considerably agitated me. The editor informed me that “the Government of England had determined, in conjunction with the Emperor of France, to send a strong force to Turkey, and that an expeditionary army of the two allies would advance to aid the Turks on the Danube unless the Czar retired from the Principalities. The Cabinet of St. Petersburg would assuredly give way when Prance and England put forth their power in defence of the Sultan. The editor “was much gratified with what I had done, and hoped I would take such a delightful opportunity of spending a few weeks more in the East.” I started forth at once to learn the news at Headquarters. Brigadier Bentinck told me he knew nothing of any forward movement. The Governor knew nothing either. The Admiral only knew that the baking-ovens in the arsenal were busy night and day, and that “something was up.”

Soon afterwards British steamers and transports arrived and departed like flights of ducks. Then we heard that Lord Raglan was on his way to take charge of the army in the field, that the Duke of Cambridge was to command the Guards and Highlanders, and that a move eastwards might be made at any moment. But when I left London one thing was considered quite certain by the best authorities—that at the news of the Guards having actually arrived at Malta, the Czar would retire his army from the Principalities.

How was I to move? I had no locus standi (or sitting); the ships were under Government orders and charters. But I had a friend in the dockyard in high place, and one evening, as I was telling him of my difficulties, he said: “I’ll manage a passage for you all right! But you must be ready to start at a moment’s notice, for I can’t tell myself when the first transport will go to the Dardanelles.” I packed up my kit, engaged a Maltese bodyservant, and rode at single anchor.

Presently transports full of troops began to drop in. French men-of-war, towing sailing-vessels full of Zouaves and Turcos from Algiers and infantry from Marseilles, came into port, and Yaletta was crowded with red-breeched infantry and bearded and turbaned Zouaves.

“I wouldn’t trust these fellows an inch,” growled Waddy, of the 50th—an old school-fellow of mine—as we looked down on the harbour full of ships flying the tricolour. “By Jove! they’re quite capable of a surprise! It’s a shame to let them go about the place in this way!” “But they are our allies,” said I. “That does not signify,” quoth he. There is nothing as strong as a good old British prejudice.

One night, 30th March, as I was at the Lodge of St. Peter and St. Paul, getting ready for initiation, an orderly thundered at the door and handed in a slip of paper to the tiler. “The Golden Fleece will be off at midnight. Your berth is all right. Get your things on board at once.” It was sudden! I left my fellow-sufferers, A. Haidinge, A. Anson, &c., at the Masonic gathering. In an hour I was on board the huge steamer, which was crowded with the Rifle Brigade, and I was inducted into my cabin after some little trouble. With the Headquarters of the Light Division were embarked a wing of the Brigade and a detachment of Sappers and Miners under R.E. officers. I had had no time to look after my baggage. My Maltese looked after it—and himself. The “Smitch” had made a piteous appeal for a small advance of wages to leave “with his wife and tree little children.”

I gave it to him—he went on shore; I never saw him afterwards. So I started on the morning of March 31 (a Friday), without servant or horse, and a very light kit, for Gallipoli. But I had then a heart to match my kit. General Sir George Brown, in command of the Light Division, and his staff, were on board, and my presence was very trying to him and to them. At first they could not make it out. The Captain could only say that I had an order for a passage from the proper authority. Sir George was an exceedingly handsome man, in perpetual uniform fitting like a skin, with sharp well-cut features, closely shaven and tightly stocked. He had always a cleanly look, like a piece of washed china—a shrewd but not unkindly look, a hot temper and a Scotch accent. People who knew said that, in mind, manner and person, he resembled his gallant countryman, Sir John Moore. Of his staff I have most pleasant recollections. Sullivan, bland and gingerly; Hallewell, burly and bluff; Whitmore, full of fun.

I knew no one on board the Golden Fleece when I embarked. When a week later I landed at Gallipoli, I had a bowing acquaintance with Sir George Brown, I was on admirable terms with the Riflemen (some of whom, I am glad to say, are still extant.), and I was indebted for much help and service to them—one lent me a servant, another gave me books, and a third shared his stationery, &c., and all were civil, most kindly. Thinking of them all now, I am inclined to doubt if the same battalion of the same famous brigade, despite cramming, special classes and exams., could turn out a set of officers more fit for work, better educated or instructed in their business than those of 1854. On 5th April I landed on Turkish territory.

Out of the ship, my troubles began; I was nobody’s child on shore. The Rifles marched off far away to Bulair. I was forced to stay behind. I had no quarters, no rations at Gallipoli. I had money, but there was nothing to buy! The French, who were before us, had, of course, grabbed up the best (and that was bad) of the wretched town. I spoke no Turkish and no Greek. Fortunately I came, by mere accident, across a guide, philosopher, and friend—a very present help in that time of trouble—to whom Turkish

“— was no more difficile

Than to a pig it is to whistle,”

who spoke many languages, and in all of them was quaint and kindly—Major Collingwood Dickson, R.A., who was awaiting the arrival of Lord Raglan. We were installed in two bare rooms with yawning floors in the house of the Widow Pappadoulos, and there we passed several weeks, till there was another move onward. The Restaurant de l’Armée Alliée, miserable as it was, was a special providence to us. I bought a Turkish pony from a peasant, and a dreadful “Bucephalus” from a captain of Chasseurs d’Afrique, the history of whose doings (I mean the horse’s) would fill a chapter. I made excursions about the place, and life in Gallipoli was at first novel and exciting. A stream of ships, great and little—continual salutes!— landings and departures of Generals, French and English!—“Partant pour la Syrie!”—“God save the Queen!”—strange uniforms, Turcos, Chasseurs, Spahis—and news ever interesting every day. And there was a most hospitable Consul and his charming wife—Mr. and Mrs. Calvert—whose doors were open to me.

But all the time the tide of war was flowing steadily northward through the Dardanelles, and one day I went off to Constantinople in a steamer which carried Colonel, afterwards Major-General, Sir Hugh Rose, later Field-Marshal Lord Strathnaim, General Martimprey, and a number of French Staff officers. I abode some days at Missirie’s—where there was a great gathering of adventurers of the military classes of all nations, “the broken thunderbolts of war,” as Dickson called them—before I moved across to Scutari, where the Guards were encamped, and there I pitched my little tent, permissu superiorum, on the left flank of the Coldstream. From the Restaurant de l’Armée, &c., I had carried off a magnificent-looking gentleman, Angelo Gennaro by name, ex-Brigadier of the Papal Dragoons, “to look after” me—which he did continually. My pony was en route. I could buy what I wanted; so I was comfortable. Not for long! One evening, returning to camp from a ride on a horse lent me by Macnish of the 93rd, my tent was discovered as flat as a pancake, on the ground, about 400 yards from camp, with Angelo, Marius-like, sitting on it. “Un’ ufficiale brutale,” he said, had ordered my residence to be removed at once. On inquiry I found that the Commander-in-Chief and his staff had been inspecting the camp in my absence—some one noticed the tent—a non-regulation ridge-pole thing. “Whose was it?” “The Times correspondent’s.” Brigadier Bentinck at once fulminated, “What the &c. is he doing there?” and the tent came down. Now it so happened that when I was at Malta the Brigadier had specially invited me to accompany the Guards! But many things had happened since then. In my first letter from Gallipoli, I had, at the request of the surgeon in charge, related how the sick were landed without blankets or necessaries. A question was asked in the House of Lords. The Duke of Newcastle, an able and amiable man, was put up as an official mortar, to discharge a paper shell—full of figures, and of everything but facts—to blow me to pieces, and to prove that every comfort was provided for the sick. It would have been well for his own sake and that of the army if that salutary warning had been taken by the Duke of Newcastle. I had given praise to the French arrangements. That had excited the anger of the Headquarters Staff, influenced by the Gallophoby of Peninsular and Waterloo days among their seniors, to whom I—possibly the father of all “the curses which afflict modern armies”— was a “Gorgon and Hydra and Chimæra dire.”

I could procure nothing to eat for myself or my belongings in the fields. I could not reconcile it to my feelings to go “browsing around”—to use Mr. Lincoln’s phrase—in Camp. So, one day, in consequence of a letter from Printing House Square, which informed me that “the Government had ordered that facilities should be afforded to me,” I proceeded to the quarters of Lord Raglan, a pleasant house on the seashore near Scutari. I sent in my card. Lord Raglan “was very much engaged,” but I was received by Colonel Steele, who listened to my request for transport and rations with an expression on his face half of amazement, half of amusement, and in the end informed me most courteously that there was not the smallest chance of my obtaining what I desired.—“Oliver asking for more” was nothing to me!—The notion of giving “correspondents” the smallest official recognition, however, would at that time have been rejected with contempt by any one in authority. Perhaps as to those correspondents after all it might be said that “their state was the more gracious.” They were freer agents than, they are now under a military censorship with tickets and badges, even though these latter give them a “legitimation;” but, at the same time, I am bound to say from my personal experience, that I consider control and supervision of young camp correspondents in war-time to be very necessary in civilised countries. So I made my bow, crossed over to Pera, and put up at Missirie’s Hotel once more. There were many double-bedded rooms in the hotel, and the custom of the house was to charge a guest in one of these rooms for the board of two— i.e., 32s. a day. Sir Colin Campbell at the end of a week called for his bill. “What is this! I am only one and you charge me for two?” “But General,” explained Missirie, “you have dupple bed-room and we most charge you for two.” Next day there was a prodigious tumult in the Hotel at dinner. A hideous mendicant from the Bridge at Galata made his appearance with Sir Colin Campbell’s card and resisted the attempts of the waiters to remove him. “Yes, certainly,” said Sir Colin Campbell, “that gentleman is coming to dine with me and to sleep here as I pay for his board and bed.” Missirie was dead beaten. The Greek was no match for the Scotchman.

It was “Eothen” made Missirie’s name known, and on that reputation he set up a hotel and resolved to make his fortune—a clever, quick, subtle, courteous Greek, with a clever wife who was jealous, I fear with reason, of her Orientalised lord and master, and who sought in vain to wean him from his ways, which were as mother’s milk to him. Missirie was a born gambler, lost more than one fortune, and died very poor.

After a week’s delay at Pera I embarked in the Golden Horn on board H.M.S. Vesuvius, Commander Powell, and went with the van of the British Army to Varna. Here the Light Division halted for a short time, then moved on from Varna to Aladyn, then to Devno, and from Devno to Monastir. I went with them. My tent was pitched on the flank of the Rifle Brigade, between it and the lines of the 7th Fusiliers.

When the Duke of Cambridge came to the camping-ground at Aladyn with the Guards, which had been just vacated by the Light Division, he saw a solitary little blue-striped tent on the waste. His Royal Highness sent an officer to inquire whose tent it was. He was told, “It belongs to Mr. Russell of the Times” The Duke was vastly astonished and perplexed—what was he doing there? That tent was a fly in the pot of military ointment, but it soon took wings to itself and flew after the Light Division. The humble tabernacle was left in proud isolation unassailed till my bullock-transport arrived from Varna in the evening to move it and my belongings to Devno.

I now drew rations and paid for them to the Commissariat, who had received orders from home to furnish them. Had the army gone on to Silistria I could have managed very well. But when orders came to embark for the Crimea, I would have probably lost touch of the army but that Sir De Lacy Evans, commanding the 2nd Division, invited me on board the City of London. I sailed for the seat of war in an extremely desolate condition— without baggage, man, or horse.

When, after some days and nights on the beach at Old Fort, I set out, on September 19, on my eventful campaign, I had only one wretched Tartar horse*—b...