War Department, November 17, 1854,
12¾ o’clock Afternoon.
HIS Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day received three Despatches and Enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to his Grace by General the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
No. 93.
Before Sebastopol, October 31, 1854.
MY LORD DUKE,
ADVERTING to that part of your Grace’s Despatch of the 10th instant, No. 116, in which it is stated that Her Majesty will be most anxious to receive such further accounts from me as may tend to relieve the affectionate anxiety of the friends of the wounded, I have the honour to acquaint your Grace that the Inspector-General of Hospitals has reported, from personal observation, that the majority of the wounded are making satisfactory progress, although there is too much reason to apprehend that among such a number of severe and dangerous injuries, a certain proportion of casualties must occur.
I have, &c.,
RAGLAN.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
No. 94. Before Sebastopol,
October 31, 1854.
MY LORD DUKE,
WHEN I wrote to your Grace on the 28th instant, I was not in possession of the names of the officers of the Cavalry Division who had distinguished themselves in the action of the 25th.
I have now the honour to inclose a letter from Lieut.-General the Earl of Lucan, containing the list of those whose services entitle them to be specially mentioned, and I beg leave to recommend them to your Grace’s notice.
In the Despatch to which I above refer, I had the honour to draw your Grace’s attention to the conduct of Major-General the Earl of Cardigan and the Honourable Brigadier-General Scarlett.
I omitted in my Despatch of the 28th September, to state, that when, in the battle of the Alma, Lieutenant-Colonel Webber Smith was obliged, in consequence of being severely wounded, to leave the field, Major Champion assumed the charge of the 95th, which your Grace will recollect was one of the regiments, that suffered the most; and he gained great credit, by the way in which he conducted the command.
I am glad of the opportunity to repair this omission.
I stated to your Grace on the 28th instant, that Major Dalton, of the 49th, had been killed in the trenches; this was an error, the officer whose loss the service has to deplore is Major Powell, of the same regiment. I deeply regret that this mistake should have occurred.
I have, &c.,
RAGLAN.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
No. 95.
Before Sebastopol, November 3, 1854.
MY LORD DUKE,
SINCE I wrote to your Grace, on the 28th ultimo, the enemy have considerably increased their force in the Valley of the Tschernaya, both in artillery, cavalry, and infantry, and have extended to their left, not only occupying the village of Camara, but the heights beyond it, and pushing forward pickets and even guns towards our extreme right; and these yesterday fired a few shots, apparently to try the range, which fell somewhat short.
These movements have induced me to place as strong a force as I can dispose of on the precipitous ridge in that direction, in order to prevent any attempt to get round to Balaklava by the sea; and the whole line is strengthened by a breastwork, which has been thrown up by the Highland Brigade, the Royal Marines and the Turkish Troops, thus circumscribing that part of the position; whilst immediately in front of the gorge leading into the town a strong redoubt is in course of being completed, which is to be garrisoned by the 93rd Regiment, and armed with several guns; and on high ground behind, and to the left, is a battery manned by seamen, which terminates the position to be defended by the troops under the command of Major-General Sir Colin Campbell.
Further to the left, and in a more elevated position, is the Brigade of the 1st French Division, commanded by General Vinois, ready to move to the assistance of any of the British Force that may be assailed, and maintaining the connexion between the troops in the valley and those on the ridge on which the main armies are posted.
The harbour of Balaklava is under the charge of Captain Dacres of the Sanspareil, and Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons is in the roadstead, outside, and is in daily communication with me.
Thus every possible step has been taken, to secure this important point, but I will not conceal from your Grace, that I should be more satisfied if I could have occupied the position in considerably greater strength.
With reference to the operations of the combined Armies, engaged in the attack on Sebastopol, I have the honour to state, that, there is no material diminution in the enemy’s fire, and yesterday morning, two hours before daylight, the cannonade from all parts of the south front was heavy in the extreme, both on the French and British lines, and it occasioned, I deeply regret to say, some loss, but less than might have been expected under the circumstances.
In the meanwhile the French, who have before them the town and real body of the place, have taken advantage of the more favourable ground, and are carrying on approaches systematically on the most salient and commanding part of the enemy’s lines; and they have constructed and opened batteries, the precision of the fire from which has most materially damaged the Russian works, although as yet they have not succeeded in silencing their guns.
The weather is still fine, but it has become extremely cold, and there was a severe frost last night.
I beg to submit to your Grace the nominal returns of casualties amongst the non-commissioned officers and rank and file from the 22nd October to the 1st November, both days inclusive, and a list of officers killed and wounded between the 27th October and 1st November.
Captain Maude, of the Horse Artillery, an excellent officer, is I am assured doing well.
I likewise enclose the naval return of casualties.
I have, &c.
RAGLAN.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
Portman Square, November 16, 1854.
12.30 a.m.
THE Duke of Newcastle has to-night received a Telegraphic Despatch, of which the following is a translation, from General Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
The Despatch was delayed between Bucharest and Vienna by an interruption of the telegraph from injuries received during a violent storm.
Translation of a Telegraphic Despatch received by the Duke of Newcastle, on 16th November, 12.30 a.m., from Lord Raglan.
November 6, 1854.
THE Enemy, with immense forces, attacked yesterday, in the dawn of morning, the right of the English position before Sevastopol, which was defended by the Second Division and the Brigade of Guards of the First Light Division, the Fourth Division, and part of the third, and subsequently by the division of General Bosquet and other corps of the French Army, which by their gallant conduct contributed essentially to the decided success of the day. General Canrobert immediately came to the spot, and gave me the support of his assistance and of his excellent counsel. The battle was extremely obstinate, and it was not till past noon that the enemy was definitively repulsed and forced to retreat, leaving the field of battle covered with his dead and several hundreds of prisoners. The number of the Enemy much exceeded that which was opposed to us at Alma, and the losses of the Russians have been enormous. Our losses have also been very great. General Sir George Brown, Major-General Bentinck, Brigadier-Generals Adams, Buller, and Torrens, have been wounded. They are all doing well.
The conduct of the troops in the face of an enemy so superior in numbers has been excellent.
(Signed) RAGLAN.
Received at Bucharest, Friday the 10th November at 4½ p.m., and forwarded to Kronstadt at 6 p.m.
War Department,
November 22, 1854, 9½ a.m.
HIS Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day received a Despatch, of which the following is a copy, addressed to his Grace by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
No. 96.
Before Sebastopol, November 8, 1854.
MY LORD DUKE,
I HAVE the honour to report to your Grace that the army under my command, powerfully aided by the corps of observation of the French Army, under the command of that distinguished officer, General Bosquet, effectually repulsed and defeated a most vigorous and determined attack of the enemy on our position overlooking the ruins of Inkerman, on the morning of the 5th instant.
In my letter to your Grace of the 3rd, I informed you that the enemy had considerably increased their force in the valley of the Tschernaya. The following day this augmentation was still further apparent, and large masses of troops had evidently arrived from the northward, and on two several occasions persons of distinguished rank were observed to have joined the Russian Camp.
I have subsequently learnt that the 4th corps d’armée, conveyed in carriages of the country, and in the lightest possible order, had been brought from Moldavia, and were to be immediately followed by the 3rd corps.
It was therefore to be expected that an extensive movement would not be long deferred. Accordingly, shortly before daylight, on the 5th, strong columns of the Enemy came upon the advanced picquets covering the right of the position. These picquets behaved with admirable gallantry, defending the ground foot by foot against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, until the 2nd Division, under Major-General Pennefather, with its field guns, which had immediately been got under arms, was placed in position.
The Light Division, under Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown, was also brought to the front without loss of time; the 1st Brigade, under Major-General Codrington, occupying the long slopes to the left towards Sebastopol, and protecting our right battery, and guarding against attack on that side, and the 2nd Brigade, under Brigadier-General Buller, forming on the left of the 2nd Division, with the 88th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffreys, thrown in advance.
The Brigade of Guards under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Major-General Bentinck, proceeded likewise to the front, and took up most important ground to the extreme right on the alignment of the 2nd Division, but separated from it by a deep and precipitous ravine, and posting its guns with those of the 2nd Division.
The 4th Division, under Lieutenant-General Sir George Cathcart, having been brought from their encampment, advanced to the front and right of the attack, the 1st Brigade, under Brigadier-General Goldie, proceeded to the left of the Inkerman road; the 2nd Brigade, under Brigadier-General Torrens, to the right of it, and on the ridge overhanging the valley of the Tschernaya.
The 3rd Division, under Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England, occupied in part the ground vacated by the 4th Division, and supported the Light Division by two regiments under Brigadier-General Sir John Campbell, while Brigadier-General Eyre held the command of the troops in the trenches.
The morning was extremely dark with a drizzling rain, rendering it almost impossible to discover anything beyond the flash and smoke of artillery and heavy musketry fire.
It, however, soon became evident that the enemy under cover of a vast cloud of skirmishers, supported by dense columns of infantry, had advanced numerous batteries of large calibre to the high ground to the left and front of the 2nd Division, while powerful columns of infantry attacked with great vigour the Brigade of Guards.
Additional batteries of heavy artillery were also placed by the enemy on the slopes to our left; the guns in the field, amounting in the whole to 90 pieces, independently however of the ship guns and those in the works of Sebastopol.
Protected by a tremendous fire of shot, shell, and grape, the Russian columns advanced in great force, requiring every effort of gallantry on the part of our troops to resist them.
At this time two battalions of French infantry, which had on the first notice been sent by General Bosquet, joined our right, and very materially contributed to the successful resistance to the attack, cheering with our men, and charging the enemy down the hill with great loss.
About the same time a determined assault was made on our extreme left, and for a moment the enemy possessed themselves of four of our guns, three of which were retaken by the 88th, while the 4th was speedily recaptured by the 77th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Egerton.
In the opposite direction the Brigade of Guards under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, was engaged in a severe conflict.
The enemy, under the cover of thick brushwood, advanced in two heavy bodies, and assaulted with great determination a small redoubt which had been constructed for two guns but was not armed. The combat was most arduous, and the Brigade, after displaying the utmost steadiness and gallantry was obliged to retire before very superior numbers, until supported by a wing of the 20th Regiment of the 4th Division, when they again advanced and retook the redoubt.
This ground was afterwards occupied in gallant style by French troops, and the Guards speedily reformed in rear of the right flank of the Second Division.
In the meanwhile, Lieutenant-General, the Honourable Sir George Cathcart, with a few companies of the 68th Regiment, considering that he might make a strong impression by descending into the valley, and taking the enemy in flank, moved rapidly forward, but finding the heights above him in full occupation of the Russians, he suddenly discovered that he was entangled with a superior force, and while attempting to withdraw his men, he received a mortal wound, shortly previously to which Brigadier-General Torrens, when leading the 68th, was likewise severely wounded.
Subsequently to this, the battle continued with unabated vigour and with no positive result, the enemy bringing upon our line not only the fire of all their field-batteries, but those in front of the works of the place, and the ship guns, till the afternoon, when the symptoms of giving way first become apparent; and shortly after, although the fire did not cease, the retreat became general, and heavy masses were observed retiring over the bridge of the Inkerman, and ascending the opposite heights, abandoning on the field of battle five or six thousand dead and wounded, multitudes of the latter having already been carried off by them. I never before witnessed such a spectacle as the field presented, but upon this I will not dwell.
Having submitted to your Grace this imperfect description of this most severe battle, I have still two duties to discharge, the one most gratifying, the last most painful to my feelings.
I have the greatest satisfaction in drawing your Grace’s attention to the brilliant conduct of the Allied Troops. French and English vied with each other in displaying their gallantry and manifesting their zealous devotion to duty, notwithstanding that they had to contend against an infinitely superior force, and were exposed for many hours to a most galling fire.
It should be borne in mind that they have daily for several weeks undergone the most constant labour, and that many of them passed the previous night in the trenches.
I will not attempt to enter into the detail of the movements of the French, troops, lest I should not state them correctly, but I am proud of the opportunity of bearing testimony to their valour and energetic services, and of paying a tribute of admiration to the distinguished conduct of their immediate Commander General Bosquet, while it is in the highest degree pleasing to me to place upon record my deep sense of the valuable assistance I received from the Commander-in-Chief, General Canrobert, who was himself on the ground and in constant communication with me, and whose cordial co-operation on all occasions I cannot too highly extol.
Your Grace will recollect that he was wounded at the Alma. He was again wounded on the 5th, but I should hope that he will not long feel the effects of it.
I will in a subsequent despatch lay before your Grace the names of the officers whose services have been brought to my notice. I will not detain the mail for that purpose now, but I cannot delay to report the admirable behaviour of Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown, who was unfortunately shot through the arm, but is doing well; of Lieutenant-General His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who particularly distinguished himself; and of Major-General Pennefather in command of the Second Division, which received the first attack, and gallantly maintained itself under the greatest difficulties throughout this protracted conflict; of Major-General Bentinck, who is severely wounded; Major-General Codrington. Brigadier-General Adams, and Brigadier-General Torrens, who are severely wounded; and Brigadier-General Buller, who is also wounded, but not so seriously.
I must likewise express my obligations to Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England for the excellent disposition he made of his division, and the assistance he rendered to the left of the Light Division, where Brigadier-General Sir John Campbell was judiciously placed, and effectively supported Major-General Codrington; and I have great pleasure in stating that Brigadier-General Eyre was employed in the important duty of guarding the trenches from any assault from the town.
Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans, who had been obliged by severe indisposition to go on board ship a few days previously, left his bed as soon as he received intelligence of the attack, and was promptly at his post, and though he did not feel well enough to take the command of the Division out of the hands of Major-General Pennefather, he did not fail to give him his best advice and assistance.
It is deeply distressing to me to have to submit to your Grace the list of the killed, wounded, and missing on this memorable occasion. It is indeed heavy, and very many valuable officers and men have been lost to Her Majesty’s service.
Among the killed your Grace will find the names of Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir G. Cathcart, Brigadier-General Strangways, and Brigadier-General Goldie.
Of the services of the first it is almost unnecessary to speak. They are known throughout the British empire, and have within a short space of time been brought conspicuously before the country by his achievements at the Cape of Good Hope, whence he had only just returned when he was ordered to this army.
By his death Her Majesty has been deprived of a most devoted servant, an officer of the highest merit, while I personally have to deplore the less of an attached and faithful friend.
Brigadier-General Strangways was known to have distinguished himself in early life, and in mature age throughout a long service, he maintained the same character.
The mode in which he had conducted the command of the Artillery, since it was placed in his hands by the departure through illness of Major-General Cator, is entitled to my entire approbation, and was equally agreeable to those who were confided to his care.
Brigadier-General Goldie was an officer of considerable promise, and gave great satisfaction to all under whom he has served.
It is difficult to arrive at any positive conclusion as to the actual numbers brought into the field by the enemy. The configuration of the ground did not admit of any great development of their force, the attack, consisting of a system of repeated assaults in heavy masses of columns; but judging from the numbers that were seen in the plains after they had withdrawn in retreat, I am led to suppose that they could not have been less than sixty thousand men. Their loss was excessive, and it is calculated that they left on the field near five thousand dead, and that their casualties amount in the whole, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, to not less than 15,000.
Your Grace will be surprised to learn that the number of British Troops actually engaged little exceeded 8,000 men, whilst those of General Bosquet’s division only amounted to 6,000, the remaining available French troops on the spot having been kept in reserve.
I ought to mention, that while the enemy was attacking our right, they assailed the left of the French trenches, and actually got into two of their batteries; but they were quickly driven out in the most gallant manner with considerable loss, and hotly pursued to the very walls of Sebastopol.
I have, &c.
RAGLAN.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.
War Department,
December 2, 1854, 1 p.m.
HIS Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day received a Despatch, of which the following is a copy, addressed to his Grace by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
No. 98. Before Sebastopol,
November 11, 1854.
MY LORD DUKE,
WHEN, on the 8th instant, I reported the gallant and successful repulse of the very formidable attack made upon the position occupied our troops above the ruins of Inkerman, I stated that I would in a subsequent Despatch lay before your Grace the names of the officers whose conduct upon the occasion had been brought to my notice. I now proceed to discharge that duty.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge reports most favourably of the exertions of Colonel the Honourable George Upton, of the Coldstream Guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Reynardson, of the Grenadier Guards, and Colonel Walker, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, as well as of Colonel Cunynghame, Assistant-Quarter-Master-General, and Lieutenant-Colonel Brownrigg, Assistant-Adjutant-General; Captain the Honourable Percy Fielding, Acting Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General, who was severely wounded; and of Captain Butler, Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General, who was unfortunately killed; and here I may pause to mention that he was the brother of Captain Butler, who so distinguished himself at Silistria, and fell just before the siege was raised.
The Duke of Cambridge likewise recommends Lieutenant-Colonel Dacres, of the Royal Artillery, who commanded the field batteries of the 1st Division, which were admirably served by Captains Paynter and Woodhouse, Captain Hamley of the Royal Artillery acting as Staff Officer to that branch of the service; Captain Ellison, the Brigade Major to the Guards, and Major the Honourable James Macdonald (whose conduct particularly attracted my attention), and the other Officers of his personal Staff.
His Royal Highness speaks also in the highest terms of the spirited exertions of Assistant-Surgeon Wilson, of the 7th Hussars, who at a critical moment rallied a few men which enabled them to hold the ground till reinforced.
In the 2nd Division, which, as I have already informed your Grace, received the first attack, and was engaged throughout the day, the Officers whose names I have to bring forward are very numerous.
Those who commanded the regiments of which it is composed were, without exception, either killed or wounded; and, in many instances, those who succeeded were wounded. Major-General Pennefather commends them highly. Colonel Warren, of the 55th, in command of the 1st Brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Daubeney, 55th, who succeeded to it on the former being wounded, and was himself wounded afterwards; Lieutenant-Colonel Mauleverer, 30th, and Major Patullo, of the same regiment, who took the command of the regiment when the Lieutenant-Colonel was wounded; Major Champion, 95th Regiment, and Major Hume, of the same corps, who were both wounded, the latter having succeeded the former in the command, and being himself relieved by Captain Davis when he was obliged to leave the field.
Lieutenant-Colonel Carpenter, of the 41st, who was mortally wounded, and succeeded in the command by Major Eman; Lieutenant-Colonel Haly, of the 47th, who was obliged, when wounded, to relinquish his command to Major Farren; Major Dalton, of the 49th, who fell at the head of his corps, and was replaced by Major Grant; Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzmayer, commanding the batteries of the 2nd Division, under the able direction of Captains Pennycuick and Turner; Lieutenant-Colonel Wilbraham, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Percy Herbert, the Assistant-Adjutant, and Assistant-Quartermaster-General, and Captain Thompson, 10th Hussars, and Captain Glazbrook, 49th Regiment, the Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant, and Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General of the Division; Captains Thackwell and Armstrong, the Brigade-Majors; Captain Harding, Aide-de-Camp, and the other officers attached to the Major-General’s personal Staff, one of whom, Captain Allix, the First Aide-de-Camp of Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans, and a most promising officer, was unfortunately killed.
The 3rd Division was only partially engaged; but having been actively employed in all the siege operations, Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England avails himself of the opportunity to mention, in terms of high approbation, the Staff Officers and the officers in command of regiments, and has drawn my attention to the services of Major Wood, Assistant-Adjutant-General, the Honourable Major Colborne, Assistant-Quarter-Master-General, Captain Wortley, Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General, and Colonel Bell, of the Royal Regiment;
Colonel Cobbe, of the 4th Regiment; Colonel the Honourable A. Spencer, of the 44th; Lieutenant-Colonel Lowth, of the 38th; Lieutenant-Colonel Adams, of the 28th; and Lieutenant-Colonel Waddy, of the 50th Regiments; Major the Honourable A. Hope, of the 60th Regiment, Captain Daniell, of the 38th, Brigade Majors; and Captain Edward Neville, Scots Fusilier Guards, his Aide-de-Camp.
The superior officers of the 4th Division, Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir George Cathcart, and Brigadier-General Goldie, having fallen, and the survivor, Brigadier-General Torrens, having been severely wounded, I take upon myself to recommend the surviving officers of the Staff, viz.: Colonel Wyndham, Assistant-Quartermaster-General, and Captain Hugh Smith, 3rd Foot, Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General; Major Maitland, Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General, who is wounded; and Captain Street, 57th Regiment, and Lieutenant Torrens, 23rd Regiment, Brigade Majors; and I may here express my deep regret that Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Seymour, Scots Fusilier Guards should have fallen. He had served on the Staff with the lamented Sir George Cathcart at the Cape, and had accompanied him to this country in the capacity of Assistant-Adjutant-General; and he was remarkable for his intelligence, gallantly, and zeal.
I would likewise beg to solicit your Grace’s attention to the services of Colonel Horn, who commanded the 20th, and came out of action the senior officer of the division; Captain Inglis, commanding 57th, and Lieutenant-Colonel Smyth commanding the 68th Regiment, who was severely wounded; and Captain Dallas, commanding detachment of the 46th; of Lieutenant-Colonel Ainslie of the 21st, who was wounded; of Lieutenant-Colonel Swyny, who unfortunately fell at the head of the 63rd, and was succeeded in the command by Major the Honourable Robert Dalzell; and Lieutenant-Colonel Horsford, of the Rifle Brigade; of Lieutenant-Colonel D. Wood the senior officer of the Artillery of the Division; and Major Townsend, of the Artillery, who was unfortunately killed. He was considered a most valuable officer, and was ably succeeded by Captain Hoste. Lieutenant-Colonel Powell would have commanded the 57th, but he was on duty in the trenches.
The officers of the Light Division, whose services have been brought to my notice by Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown, who was obliged by a wound in his arm to quit the field before the action terminated, and by Major-General Codrington, who succeeded him in the command, are Lieutenant-Colonel Yea, of the Royal Fusiliers; Major Sir Thomas Troubridge, of the same regiment, who was commanding in a battery, and though desperately wounded, behaved with the utmost gallantry and composure; Major Bunbury, of the 23rd, who replaced him in command; Brevet-Major Mundy, commanding the 33rd; Lieutenant-Colonel Shirley, of the 88th, who was employed in the trenches; Lieutenant-Colonel Jefferies, commanding the portion of that regiment which was in the field; Lieutenant-Colonel Egerton, commanding the 77th; Majors Straton and Dixon, of the same regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Unett, of the 19th, on duty in the trenches; Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence and Captain Ebrington, of the Rifle Brigade; and Captain Hopkins, commanding a detachment of Royal Marines, which had been brought up to replace a wing of the Rifle Brigade that had been sent down to Balaklava, and fully maintained the reputation of that distinguished corps; Lieutenant-Colonel Lake, of the Royal Horse Artillery; and Captain Morris, commanding the battery attached to the division, Colonel Sullivan, Assistant-Adjutant-General; Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, Assistant-Quartermaster-General; Captain Hallewell, Deputy Assistant-Quartermaster-General; Captain Macdonell and the other officers of the Lieutenant-General’s personal Staff; Lieutenant the Honourable H. Campbell, Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Codrington; and Brigadier-General Buller’s Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant the Honourable H. Clifford, whose conduct is represented to have been peculiarly conspicuous; Captains Mackenzie and Glyn, the Brigade-Majors of the division.
It is due to the principal Medical Officers of the several divisions, Doctors Alexander, Cruickshank, Forest, Linton, and Humfrey, to report that their able exertions have been strongly represented to me, and deserve to be most honourably mentioned, and the arrangements of the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr. Hall, for the care of the wounded, merit the expression of my entire approbation.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gambier, of the Royal Artillery, who had the command of the Artillery in the trenches during the siege, a duty which he discharged to my perfect satisfaction, was I regret to say unfortunately wounded, when moving up with the two 18-pounders, which I had ordered to be brought to the right of the 2nd Division; and I have great pleasure in speaking in terms of high panegyric of Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, who had charge of those guns, Captain D’Aguilar, and the officers and men who worked them; they performed under Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson’s directions the most effective service, notwithstanding that they had a very heavy fire upon them, and that their loss in consequence was very severe, seventeen men having been either killed or wounded, and one officer wounded.
I derived, as upon every other occasion, the most able and effective assistance from the Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, Brigadier-General Estcourt, and Brigadier-General Airey, and their Assistants, Major the Honourable W. Pakenham, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable A. Gordon, and the officers of their departments; and from the Military Secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Steele, Lieutenant-Colonel Poulett Somerset, and the officers of my personal Staff; and I feel deeply indebted to Lieutenant-General Sir John Burgoyne, for the constancy with which he applies himself to the discharge of his arduous duties, and the benefit I derive from his advice and assistance, as well as to Captain Gordon, Commanding Royal Engineer, Captain Chapman, and. the officers of that corps; and to Major Adye, the Honourable Captain Gage, and Captain Fortescue, the Staff Officers of the Royal Artillery, to the command of which Lieutenant-Colonel Dacres has succeeded by the lamented death of Brigadier-General Strangways, whose Aide-de-Camp Captain Gordon, I would also bring to your Grace’s notice.
I profit by this opportunity to render justice to two officers whom I omitted to mention in my Despatch of the 28th September.
The one, Captain Maude, of the Royal Horse Artillery, who has since been badly wounded, distinguished himself at the battle of the Alma, as I myself observed; the other, Captain W. Pitcairn Campbell, became the Senior Officer of the 23rd Regiment, when Lieutenant-Colonel Chester was killed, and, though severely wounded, could hardly be persuaded to quit the field.
I have, &c.
RAGLAN.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle,
&c. &c. &c.