Admiralty, June 6, 1855.
A DESPATCH, of which the following is a copy, has been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
May 26, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE great pleasure in requesting you to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the Allied Forces are masters of the Straits of Kertch, and that they have in the Sea of Azof a powerful steam flotilla, of light draught of water, capable of cutting off the enemy’s supplies, and harassing him at all points; and moreover, that the means are at hand for sending in a vast number of gun-boats of the lighter draught, if it should be found desirable to do so.
My letter of the 22nd instant, No. 396, will have informed their Lordships that an Allied Expedition, consisting of 15,000 men of all arms, and five batteries of artillery, were then on the point of leaving the anchorage off Sevastopol, for Kertch, and my message by electric telegraph will have announced the complete success of that expedition; but it now remains for me to give an account of our proceedings for their Lordships’ information:
The Fleet, which consisted of Her Majesty’s ships named in the margin,* and a French Fleet of nearly equal force, under the command of my very gallant and energetic colleague, Vice-Admiral Bruat, assembled off the Straits of Kertch at early dawn on the birthday of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and both armies and navies confidently anticipated a successful celebration of that auspicious day. The Fleets steamed rapidly up to Kameish, where the army landed under cover of the guns of the steam-frigates, and immediately ascended the heights without opposition, whilst the steamers of light draught of water pushed on towards Kertch and Enikalé; and the enemy, apparently taken by surprise at the rapidity of these movements, and at the imposing appearance of the expedition, blew up his fortifications on both sides of the straits, mounting not less than fifty guns (new and of heavy calibre), which have fallen into our possession, and retired after having destroyed 3 steamers and several other heavily armed vessels, as well as large quantities of provisions, ammunition and stores, thus leaving us masters of the entrance into the Sea of Azof, without our having sustained any loss whatever.
4. As the disembarkation was unopposed, in consequence of the fire of the steam frigates having arrested the advance of the enemy, there was no field for the gallantry that animated every one in the expedition; but the duties they had to perform were very arduous, and I should be doing injustice to them and to my own feelings if I were not to say that no Commander-in-Chief was ever more ably assisted than I am by the captains and those under their command – one and all follow the admirable example of the zealous and talented second in command, Rear-Admiral Stewart, and they could not possibly do better. There was, however, an incident during the day that called forth the admiration of both fleets, and which deserves to be particularly noticed, Lieutenant McKillop, whose gun-vessel, the Snake, was not employed like the others in landing troops, dashed past the forts after an enemy’s steamer, and although he soon found himself engaged not only with her but also with two others who came to her support, he persevered, and by the cleverness and extreme rapidity of his manoeuvres, prevented the escape of all three, and they were consequently destroyed by the enemy, and the Snake had not a man hurt, though shot passed though the vessel.
5. Yesterday Admiral Bruat and I accompanied the combined steam flotilla, named in the margin,† into the Sea of Azof, and despatched them, under the orders of Captain Lyons, of the Miranda, on the interesting and important service they have before them.
6. Had this expedition been deferred but a short time longer, there would have been many and great difficulties to overcome, for the enemy was actively employed in strengthening the sea defences, and in replacing the sunken vessels which had been carried away by the current during the winter months.
Of the 40 vessels sunk last year some still remain, and a French steamer touched upon one of them yesterday. It appears that the enemy did not succeed in destroying the coals, either at Kertch or Enikalé, so that about 17,000 tons remain, which will be available for our steamers.
7. It will be evident to their Lordships, that the rapid operations which I have had the honour and happiness to describe to them, could not have been brought to so satisfactory a conclusion, if the most perfect understanding, and the most hearty good will towards each other, had not prevailed throughout the allied fleets and armies.
I am, &c.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
London.
*Royal Albert, Hannibal, Algiers, Agamemnon, St. Jean d’Acre, Princess Royal, Sidon, Valorous, Leopard, Tribune, Simoom, Furious, Highflyer, Terrible, Miranda, Sphinx, Spitfire, Gladiator, Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Caradoc, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, Lynx, Recruit, Arrow, Banshee, Snake, Beagle.
†Miranda, Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, Lynx, Recruit, Arrow, Snake, Beagle, and five French steam-vessels.
War-Department June 13, 1855.
LORD PANMURE has this day received four Despatches and their Enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to His Lordship by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
Before Sevastopol,
May 29, 1855.
MY LORD,
SIR EDMUND LYONS’S telegraphic despatch of the 25th, which was forwarded from hence on the morning of the 27th, and one from me that immediately followed, will have informed your Lordship that the Allied Expedition to Kertch reached its destination on the morning of the 24th, and the troops having landed without delay, and the war steamers drawing little water having pushed on towards Kertch and Euikali, that all the objects in contemplation were accomplished in twenty-four hours without any resistance on the part of the enemy, who blew up the fortifications on both sides of the passage and retired, thus leaving us masters of the Sea of Azov, to be speedily occupied by a French and English flotilla.
I have now the honour to lay before you a copy of the report of Lieutenant-General Sir G. Brown, commanding the allied troops; and in congratulating your Lordship, which I do most cordially, on the complete success of the operation, I have the greatest satisfaction in drawing your attention to the promptitude with which the disembarkation was effected, to the efficient measures taken by the Lieutenant-General to ensure his position and attain the objects in view, and to the just tribute which he pays in his interesting narrative to the judicious arrangements of Admirals Bruat and Sir E. Lyons, and to the zeal and energy displayed by the officers and men of the allied fleets in carrying them out under their vigilant superintendence, as well as to the cordial co-operation and assistance of General Dantemarre, commanding the French Division, and Reschid Pasha, commanding the Turkish troops.
I have not received any further advices from Sir G. Brown or Sir E. Lyons.
Nothing material has occurred in front of the new position taken up by the Allies on the morning of the 25th. The enemy have made no movement from the high ground towards the advance, but they have displayed a considerable force to-day on the Inkerman heights.
Convoys continue to arrive on the north side of Sevastopol.
A further portion of the Sardinian Contingent has arrived, under General La Marmora’s brother, the details of which I have not yet received.
I have, &c.,
RAGLAN.
The Lord Panmure, &c. &c. &c.
Yeni Kali, May 25, 1855.
MY DEAR LORD RAGLAN,
THE Expedition to this place so far has proved entirely successful, and we have got possession of all we proposed without striking a blow, and almost without firing a shot.
On leaving the anchorage off Sevastopol, on the 22nd, the night became so foggy that the fleet made but little progress towards its destination, but the whole of the ships and steamers reached the rendezvous, four leagues off Cape Takli, soon after daylight on the morning of the 24th, when it was speedily determined to run at once in for the spot at which, as your Lordship is aware, it was originally proposed to disembark, and which is a fine smooth bay, round a low point running out immediately under the village of Kazatch Bouroun.
The water in the straits is so shallow that large ships cannot ascend higher than about three miles from this spot, but the steamers and vessels in which the whole of the British infantry and artillery were embarked, could get at least a mile nearer to it.
All the vessels got as high up as the depth of water would permit, and came to an anchor about eleven, when the English and French troops began to get into the boats, and small steamers, which were assigned to them, towed them to the shore, and the gun-boats and smaller war-steamers were stationed to scour the beach, and protect the disembarkation.
Although we had observed some six or eight pieces of light artillery following us along the shore, no opposition was made to the disembarkation, and the first of the troops reached the shore at ten o’clock, which, as soon as they were formed, were pushed on to occupy the village on the rising ground bordering the marshy plain, on which they landed for the purpose of covering the remainder of the disembarkation. As they were the most numerous, and as your Lordship had done so on a former occasion, I placed the French on the right, and the British troops on the left, intending to hold the Turkish Contingent in reserve.
Soon after the disembarkation had commenced, several loud explosions were heard, and it was soon discovered that the enemy had blown up the magazines of all his batteries on Cape St. Paul, and was retiring by the road leading to Theodosia or Kaffa. It therefore became exceedingly desirable that I should advance to occupy the ridge of which the cape is the continuation; but as only a few of the Turkish troops had got landed, and but little of the artillery, I contented myself by requesting General Dantemarre to patrol to the cape and towards Kertsch, and took up the best position I could find for the security of the troops, and the protection of the disembarkation of all the necessary material and horses during the night, just before dark – which, in an open steppe, where we were exposed to the attacks of cavalry, was an operation of some difficulty.
In the course of the evening, several more loud explosions were heard, and it was soon discovered that he had also blown up and abandoned the whole of his works here, and along the coast between this and Kertch, and spiked all the guns. He had also set fire to and destroyed some large corn magazines in Kertch, as well as two steamers in the harbour; and the Cossacks, as usual, burnt all the forage and farmhouses in their way.
As soon as the batteries on Cape St. Paul were abandoned, or soon before, some of the smaller war-steamers were enabled to round Cape Ackbouroun, and enter the Bay of Kertch, when they engaged and endeavoured to cut off some of the enemy’s steamers attempting to escape into the Sea of Azof. They succeeded, I believe, in capturing a small one; but the other two managed to get through.
The disembarkation of horses, guns, and materiel went on during the whole night, under the zealous and active superintendence of Rear-Admiral Houston Stewart and Captain Sir Thomas Pasley; but, with all this, there was a good deal to be done at daylight this morning, and I was ultimately compelled to proceed with only three of the guns of the Turkish Contingent, and without any of their officers’ horses.
Under the circumstances, however, I considered it imperative to proceed, and the whole force marched off their ground at six this morning, – the French in contiguous columns, followed by their artillery; the British in echelons of columns, covering their flank, and their own artillery and baggage; and the Turkish troops in contiguous columns of battalions, covering the rear of the whole, until they approached the precincts of Kertch, when the whole of the troops broke into an ordinary column of route. The town of Kertch is clean, and remarkably well built, and the troops passed through it with the greatest regularity and without the slightest disorder; subsequently the day became excessively hot, and the march being a long one, the men suffered greatly from fatigue and want of water, which was only to be found at occasional wells. We managed to get in here, however, by one o’clock, where we were soon after visited by the three Admirals, and found a large squadron of small steamers and gun-boats, ready to proceed into the Sea of Azof, under the command of Captain Lyons, of the Miranda.
The result of these operations, besides the opening of the passage into that sea, and the destruction of the enemy’s works, has been the capture of upwards of fifty of his guns, many of them of the largest calibre and the best construction; and if the enterprize has from circumstances not added greatly to the glory of Her Majesty’s arms, it has, as already stated, so far been attended by complete success.
That success, however, is mainly to be attributed to the judicious arrangements of Admirals Bruat and Sir E. Lyons, and to their indefatigable attention in carrying them out, as well as to the able and willing assistance they have received from the Captains and other officers of the French and British navy under their respective commands; nor must I omit to mention the invariable and willing assistance I have on all occasions received in the course of this service from General Dantemarre, commanding the French Division, and from Reschid Pasha, commanding the Sultan’s troops.
I omitted to state, that in passing through Kertch this morning, observing that an iron foundry there had been employed in the manufacture of shot and shells, as well as in casting Minié bullets, I caused it to be destroyed, with all its new and expensive machinery.
Yours, &c.,
G. BROWN.
F.M. the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.
Admiralty, June 13, 1855.
DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies, have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
June 2, 1855.
SIR,
IN my letter of the 26th ult., No. 398, I had the pleasure of bringing under the notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the gallant, able, and successful way in which Lieutenant Henry F. McKillop had conducted Her Majesty’s steam gun-vessel Snake, under his command, on the day the Allied Forces obtained possession of the Straits of Kertch.
2. I have now to request you to lay before their Lordships the enclosed copy of a letter which I have received from Lieutenant McKillop, reporting his proceedings on that day; and their Lordships will observe that he speaks in high terms of his officers and ship’s company, and particularly so of Mr. Nathaniel B. Herbert, Second Master, and Mr. Sydney E. Wright, Assistant-Paymaster in charge.
I am, &c.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
London.
Her Majesty’s ship Snake, off Enikale,
24th May, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that in obedience to your signal granting me permission to intercept a Russian war steamer, that I proceeded into Kertch Bay, exchanging shots with the batteries at Akbourno in passing.
I succeeded in cutting off the steamer and engaging her, but not until she had placed herself under the protection of the forts of Enikale; after a sharp fire on both sides, for three-quarters of an hour, I was fortunate in succeeding in setting her on fire with Lancaster shells, from which she blew up – the crew with difficulty getting away. She had apparently soldiers on board. During this engagement the forts at Enikale hulled the ship, and kept up a well-directed and continuous fire the whole time, which was returned with apparent good effect with our heavy shell.
Three steamers also came down from the entrance (to the Sea of Azoff) and opened fire on us with very long range guns, their shot frequently passing over us at about 4000 yards. I continued to engage the batteries and steamers after the arrival of the ships sent up to my assistance, until recalled by signal from the Miranda.
The whole of the sailing vessels standing towards the Sea of Azov were intercepted, and afterwards captured; two steamers, also intercepted in Kertch Bay, were blown up by their own crews, and a gun-boat sunk.
The batteries along the coast, which fired upon us whilst chasing the steamer, also were blown up.
I should feel I was neglecting my duty unless I mentioned the zealous and creditable manner in which the officers and crew performed their duties; being very short handed rendered working the guns for so many hours a work of great labour.
I beg to recommend for your favourable consideration Mr. N.B. Herbert (Second Master in charge), who with much skill conducted the ship through the intricate and comparatively unknown passage, under the guns of Akbourno, and inside the shoal of Enikale, without any accident.
I am equally indebted to Mr. Sydney E. Wright, Assistant-Paymaster (an officer of long and meritorious service), for his assistance as a volunteer executive, who, with Dr. Roche and Mr. George Wilson (Senior Engineer), manned and worked the 12-pounder howitzer, sinking a gun-boat.
I am happy that no casualties occurred, and the Snake received but little damage, one shot through the mizen rigging, carrying it away, and one through the hull at the water-line.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) H.F. McKILLOP.
Lieutenant and Commander.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
June 2, 1855,
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you here-with, copies of two letters that have been addressed to me by Captain Edmund M. Lyons, of the Miranda, in which he reports the proceedings of the Allied Steam-squadrons, under his orders, during the first four days of their appearance in the Sea of Azof.
In that short space of time the squadrons forced the enemy to run on shore, burn to the water’s edge and abandon four steamers of war, under the command of Rear-Admiral Wolff; they bombarded Arabat and blew up the powder magazine, and they destroyed 246 merchant vessels, which were employed in the conveyance of supplies to the Russian Army in the Crimea, as well as immense magazines of corn and flour at Berdiansk and Genitchesk, containing at least two months’ rations for an army of one hundred thousand men.
Captain Lyons is justly and deeply sensible of what he owes to the cordial and efficient co-operation of Captain Sédaiges, and our Allies, acting under the orders of that distinguished officer; nor is he less sensible of, or less grateful for, the able support he has received from every one in the British squadron under his own immediate orders.
4. I beg leave to recommend to their Lordships’ particular notice the mention which Captain Lyons makes of the very important services rendered by the boats of the squadron on several occasions, under the command of that active, zealous, and excellent officer, Lieutenant J.F.C. Mackenzie, of the Miranda, as well as of the gallant and successful exploit of Lieutenant Cecil W. Buckley, of the Miranda, Lieutenant Hugh T. Burgoyne, of the Swallow, and Mr. John Roberts, Gunner, of the Ardent, which was productive of the most important results.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) EDMD. LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
Her Majesty’s ship, Miranda,
off Arabat, Sea of Azoff,
May 28, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that on hauling down your flag on the afternoon of the 25th, I proceeded with the steam vessels under my orders named in the margin,* and the French steamer, Lucifer, towards Berdiansk; at dark, we stopped for the French steamers, Megere, Brandon and Fulton. These having joined, at 3 A.M. on the 26th, we all went on in company; at 3.30 P.M. on that day, we anchored off the lighthouse, on the spit at Berdiansk, in such a position as to command the harbour and beach and a large number of merchant vessels; I then sent the boats of the squadrons under Commander Sherard Osborn, accompanied by the boats of the French ships to destroy these vessels, as well as some lying about 4 miles off, and a storehouse; all this was completed by dark; during this time steamers of the two squadrons were chasing and destroying vessels in other directions.
At daylight of the 27th I weighed with the ships under my orders, accompanied by the four French steamers, and anchored off the town of Berdiansk, the Miranda in 15 feet, and the gun boats in proportionally less water, in a position which effectually commanded the town and beach. Here we found run on shore and burnt to the water’s edge, and abandoned, the four steamers of war which had escaped from Kertch, under the command of Rear-Admiral Wolff, whose flag was flying in the Moloditz. I now landed the small-arm men and marines of the squadron under Commander Lambert of the Curlew, accompanied by those of the French ships, with orders to destroy all shipping and Government stores, but to respect private property. This was done without molestation, although we had information that 800 Cossacks with guns were at Petroskoi, five miles off. Many vessels were destroyed, and corn stores to the estimated value of £50,000. An 8-inch 62-cwt. gun was also recovered from the wreck of one of the Russian steamers, and is now on board the Miranda.
Immediately the boats returned, the squadrons weighed for Arabat; I at the same time detached the Swallow and Wrangler to Genitchesk, to command the entrance to the Putrid Sea, and the Curlew to cruize between Krivaia Spit and Sand Island, and thus prevent vessels escaping us by getting up the Don.
3. On the morning of the 28th we arrived off Arabat, and engaged the fort (mounting 30 guns), for an hour and a half, at the end of which time a shell blew up the enemy’s magazine; the ships having been ordered to keep at shell range, and being well-handled, had only one casualty, the chief engineer of the Medina being slightly wounded by a splinter; the French senior officer’s ship received two shots in the hull, but fortunately no one was hurt. The enemy must have lost many men, from the precision with which the shells burst in his works, independently of that caused by the explosion.
The Commanders of the vessels employed† deserve every credit for the skilful manner in which they manoeuvred their vessels in a very strong breeze and shoal water, without a single accident; and I may be permitted to say none were more distinguished than our gallant Allies. The large garrison at Arabat rendering any attempt at landing out of the question, I now proceeded for Genitchesk, parting, with a regret, from Captain de Sédaiges and his squadron, who left at the same time for Kertch. I take this opportunity of mentioning the efficient, cordial, and hearty cooperation I received on every occasion from M. de Sédaiges and the ships under his orders, and my hope that it may again be my good fortune to have him for my colleague.
4. The allied squadrons have destroyed upwards of 100 vessels during the three days they have been in this sea, principally laden with provisions for the Russian army in the Crimea; had we sent these vessels in as prizes, we should have lost much valuable time, and not been able to effect so many captures. The active and zealous way in which the officers and ships’ companies perform their duties, and the cheerful manner in which they suffer this pecuniary loss, for the benefit of the service, will I trust meet with your approbation.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
Name of Officer slightly wounded off Arabat on the 28th May, 1855, belonging to
Her Majesty’s steam-vessel Medina.
Mr. W.H. Houghton, Assistant Engineer, First Class.
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain and Senior Officer.
Her Majesty’s ship Miranda, off the town
of Genitchesk, May 29, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you, that I arrived here shortly after dark last night, with Her Majesty’s ships under my orders, and joined the Swallow and Wrangler, which ships had already destroyed or captured all the vessels in this neighbourhood outside the Straits of Genitchesk; but a very great number had passed the straits, which are only fifty yards wide, and are commanded by the low cliffs on which the town is built, and were moored inside under the cliff.
At six o’clock this morning, I sent Commander Craufurd with a flag of truce, to demand the immediate surrender of all these vessels, and of the immense corn stores for the supply of the army in the Crimea, and of all Government property of every description; stating that if these terms were complied with I would spare the town and respect private property, but that if not the inhabitants were immediately to leave the town.
Commander Craufurd was met by an officer, of apparently high rank, who refused to accede to these terms, saying that any attempt to land or to destroy the vessels would be resisted.
The enemy at this time had six field-pieces in position, and with about 200 men with them, and, visible from the mast-head drawn up behind the town, a battalion of infantry, besides Cossacks.
Having allowed till 9 A.M., for the reconsideration of the refusal to deliver up the vessels and stores, and receiving no answer, I at that time hauled down the flag of truce, and placed the steamers as near to the town and the passage into the Putrid Sea, as the depth of the water would allow, but they were only able to approach within long range. Seeing that if the enemy, who had removed his guns from their former position, could place them in the town, so as to command the passage, and that if he could place his infantry in a similar manner, it would be impossible for the boats to pass the channel and destroy the vessels and stores, I directed the ships to shell the town, which they did so effectually, that the boats, as per enclosure, under the command of Lieutenant J.F.C. Mackenzie, got safely through the passage, and set fire to the shipping (73 in number), and the corn stores. This service was ably performed by Lieutenant Mackenzie, and the boats returned without accident.
4. The wind having shifted about two hours after the boats came off, some of the corn stores did not catch fire; conceiving the destruction of this corn, as well as of some more distant vessels in so favourable a position for supplying the Russian armies in the Crimea, to be of the utmost importance, I sent the boats again, commanded and officered as before, although I was aware that from the enemy having had time to make preparations, it would be a hazardous enterprize. The ships accordingly resumed their fire upon the town, and the boats proceeded. Lieutenant Cecil W. Buckley of this ship; Lieutenant Hugh T. Burgoyne, of the Swallow; and Mr. John Roberts, gunner of the Ardent, volunteered to land alone and fire the stores; this offer I accepted, knowing the imminent risk there would be in landing a party in presence of such a superior force, and out of gun-shot of the ships. This very dangerous service they most gallantly performed, narrowly escaping the Cossacks, who all but cut them off from their boat; at the same time Lieutenant Mackenzie pushed on and burned the remaining vessels, the enemy opening a fire from four field-guns and musketry, placed almost within point blank range of the boats. Everything being now effectually accomplished, the boats returned. Although several of them were struck by grape and case shot, most fortunately only one man was slightly wounded. Lieutenant Mackenzie speaks in high terms of the coolness and excellent behaviour of all employed under his orders; and I trust I may be allowed to bring to your notice the conspicuous merit of Lieutenant Mackenzie himself on this occasion, when more than ninety vessels, and also corn for the Russian army of the value of £100,000 were destroyed, owing to his gallantry and ability, with so trifling a loss as one man slightly wounded.
Since the squadron entered the Sea of Azoff, four days ago, the enemy has lost four steamers of war, 246 merchant vessels, also corn and flour magazines to the value of at least £150,000.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
A List of Boats under the command of Lieutenant J.F.C. Mackenzie, at Genitchesk, on the 29th day of May, 1855.
Miranda.-
Pinnace – One 12-pounder howitzer, with small arms for boat’s crew.
Cecil W. Buckley, Lieutenant.
Benjamin Crabbe, Assistant-Surgeon.
1st Cutter –
Wm. H. Lilley, additional Boatswain.
2nd Cutter – Small arms for boat’s crew.
John Liddell, Midshipman.
Henry Cooper, additional Boatswain.
Vesuvius.-
Two Paddle-box Boats – One 24-pounder howitzer in each boat, with small arms.
Herbert Campion, Senior Lieutenant.
John H. Patterson, Surgeon.
Shuldham Hill, Assistant Clerk.
William Kirk, Boatswain.
Stromboli.-
Starboard Paddle-box Boat – One 24-pounder howitzer, with small arms for boat’s crew.
John F. Ross, Lieutenant.
John S. Adams, Assistant-Surgeon.
Arthur K. Forde, Mate.
Port Paddle-box Boat – One 24-pounder rocket tube, with rockets and small arms.
Augustus H. Webb, Acting-Mate.
Ardent.-
1st Cutter – Small arms for crew.
E.P. Bedwell, Acting 2nd Master, only employed in second attack. One man slightly wounded.
2nd Cutter – One 12-pounder rocket tube, with rockets and small arms.
J. Roberts, Gunner.
Swallow.-
Gig – One 12-pounder rocket tube, and small arms for boat’s crew.
T. Burgoyne, Lieutenant.
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain and Senior Officer.
Name of one man Wounded at Genitchesk, on the 29th day of May, 1855, belonging to Her Majesty’s Steam-vessel Ardent.
William Walker, Captain maintop, received a contusion on left knee by a shrapnell shell.
(Signed) E.M. LYONS.
Captain and Junior Officer.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
May 30, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter that has been addressed to me by Captain Lyons, of the Miranda, recounting the measures he took for obliging the enemy to abandon his last hold in these straits, and reporting his having entered the Sea of Azof with the squadron I had placed under his orders.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.
Her Majesty’s ship, Miranda, at anchor
above Yenikale, May 25, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that having yesterday afternoon taken under my orders the ships named in the margin,‡ I, in pursuance of your orders passed the Straits of Kertch, and anchored for the night just out of gun shot of the batteries of Yenikale. At 7 P.M. the enemy blew up the magazines and these batteries with a tremendous explosion.
At 4 o’clock this morning I sent Mr. George Williams, Master of this ship, to find and buoy a channel through the straits on the Yenikale side; and I desired Lieutenant Armytage in the Viper to follow as near as possible, and endeavour to pass the straits and get into a position to threaten the retreat of the Russian garrison of the forts on the Chesura Spit side of the strait, by commanding the neck of the spit; at the same time I sent Lieutenant Aynsley, in the Lynx, to pass round by the Taman Lake and take up a position to command the rear of the Russian forts. This service was ably performed by these officers, and on their obtaining the assigned positions the enemy, as I had anticipated, exploded his magazines, abandoned his works, and made a precipitate retreat under the fire of the Viper’s guns. Mr. Williams now returned having found and buoyed a 16 feet channel, and I immediately weighed and, with the vessels under my orders, proceeded through the Straits of Yenikale; thus we became complete masters of the Sea of Azof.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.
Royal Albert, Straits,
June 2, 1855.
SIR,
IN my letter, No. 398, of the 26th ult. I stated that we had captured fifty of the enemy’s guns. It now appears that more than a hundred guns have fallen into our hands in the different sea defences, many of them of heavy calibre, and remarkably well cast. Those which may not be required for the land defences which the Allied Armies are now constructing, will be shipped and sent to England and France.
It has been ascertained from the Custom House returns, that the enemy on evacuating Kertch, on the 24th ultimo, destroyed 4,166,000 lbs. of corn and 508,000 lbs. of flour. This quantity, taken together with what has been destroyed by the Allied Squadrons in the Sea of Azof, comprises nearly four months’ rations for an army of a hundred thousand men; and it seems that shortly before our arrival the enemy had commenced sending towards Sevastopol daily convoys of about fifteen hundred waggons, each containing half a ton weight of grain or flour.
4. Sir George Brown confidently expects that by the 7th instant Enikalé will be in such a state of defence as fully to justify his leaving it in charge of the Ottoman troops now here, under the command of Hadji Reschid Pacha, and that the British and French forces will be at liberty to proceed to the attack of Anapa and Soujak Kaleh, in order to drive the enemy out of his last holds on the coast of Circassia.
I am, &c.,
E. LYONS,
Rear-Admiral.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.
*Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Stromboli, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, Lynx, Recruit, Arrow, Snake, Beagle.
†Vesuvius, Commander S. Osborne; Stromboli, Commander C.P. Coles; Ardent, Lieutenant W. Horton; Medina, Lieutenant H.B. Beresford; Viper, Lieutenant W. Armytage; Lynx, Lieutenant C.M. Aynsley; Recruit, Lieutenant G.F. Day; Arrow, Lieutenant W.K. Jolliffe;
Snake, Lieutenant H. McKillop; Beagle, Lieutenant W.N.W. Hewett.
‡Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Lynx, Recruit, Arrow, Viper, Snake, Beagle.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief.
Admiralty, June 28, 1855.
DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies, have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
June 12, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to enclose, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of three letters from Captain Lyons, of the Miranda, reporting the destruction of Mariaupol, Ghiesk, and Kiten near Arabat, of immense quantities of grain, flour, and hay, destined for the supply of the enemy’s army in the Crimea; so great was the quantity that in some cases the conflagration had not entirely subsided when last seen on the eighth day.
2. Thus, in the space of a fortnight, the Sea of Azof has been swept by the Allied squadrons under Captain Lyons’s orders, and the enemy deprived not only of the supplies which already existed in the different depôts, but also of the means of transporting the coming crops.
3. I have also the honour to enclose a copy of a letter from Captain Lyons, speaking in terms of high praise of the officers and men employed in the launches of the fleet, and in the Danube and Sulina tenders.
4. Considerable skill, vigour, and promptitude have characterised these operations, and I trust that their Lordships may consider that credit is due to all employed in them. Opportunities offered for individual distinction, which were eagerly seized by the officers whom Captain Lyons particularly mentions, and whom I beg leave to recommend to their Lordships’ favourable consideration.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.
Her Majesty’s ship, Miranda,
Mariaupol, 5th June, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that having anchored yesterday evening off this place with the ships under my orders, and six French steamers, I sent Lieutenant-Commander Horton of the Ardent, accompanied by a French officer with similar orders, at daylight this morning, to demand the surrender of the place, on exactly the same terms as those offered by us at Taganrog; and I desired him to express to the authorities, the earnest hope of myself and of the French senior officer, that they would not oblige us to resort to measures, which would endanger the whole town, as our object was to destroy all contraband of war, but to respect private property.
2. At the expiration of the delay granted, no authorised person appearing, I sent the line-of-battle ships’ launches (lent to the squadron) and the boats of the ships under my orders, with all the marines under Lieutenant Macnamara, R.M.A., the whole commanded by Lieutenant J.F.C. Mackenzie, of this ship, to effect our object by force; the French boats accompanying ours.
3. On the marines and a body of French small-arm men landing, under cover of the launches’ guns, 600 Cossacks, commanded by a Colonel, evacuated the town, and the marines and the French small-arm men advanced and took possession of it; the very extensive stores of grain were fired and destroyed by parties under the directions of Captain Lejeune, of the French Navy, and of Lieutenant Swinburne, of this ship, every care being taken to cause as little damage to the town as possible.
4. Thus was a considerable town on the military high road from the provinces of the Don to the Crimea (the only one left since our occupation of this sea), held unmolested possession of by a small body of British marines and French small-arm men, for five hours, while immense stores of grain were destroyed.
5. The grain, plank, find other stores considered as contraband of war, being effectually destroyed, the whole party re-embarked without the slightest accident.
6. Lieutenant Mackenzie conducted this service with excellent judgment; and he speaks in high terms of the judicious manner in which First Lieutenant Macnamara, Royal Marine Artillery, posted the Royal Marines and Royal Marine Artillery under his orders, in presence of a superior force, who were thus deterred from venturing to molest them.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.
Her Majesty’s ship, Miranda,
off the town of Gheisk, June 6, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you, that on my arrival here this morning with the vessels under my orders, and the launches of the line of battle ships, accompanied by four French steamers, I sent Lieutenant Commander Horton, of the Ardent, with whom was associated a French Officer, to demand the surrender of the place on the same terms as those offered by us at Taganrog and Mariaupol. These terms having been wisely acceded to by Colonel Borsikoff, the Military Governor, whose small force was quite inadequate to defend the town, the marines of this ship, under First Lieutenant Macnamara, R.M.A., and a French party, landed and destroyed a vast quantity of hay, stacked on the beach, ready for conveyance to the Crimea, and several thousand quarters of wheat, &c., &c. During this time Lieutenant Horton and the French officer went through the town, and had all the store-houses and magazines thrown open for their inspection, in order to see that no evasion of the terms was attempted, and that all contraband of war was destroyed.
6. On this as well as on the two former similar occasions, Lieutenant Horton conducted the interview with much judgment and firmness.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.
Her Majesty’s ship Miranda,
off Kiten Bay, Sea of Azof,
June 10, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to enclose a letter from Lieutenant Horton, commanding Her Majesty’s ship Ardent, which I received on my arrival here this morning, informing me that he, yesterday, set fire to and destroyed 30,000 sacks of flour, stacked on the beach in Kiten Bay; this flour was the property of the Russian government, and evidently destined for the Russian army in the Crimea. Lieutenant Horton has performed this service judiciously and effectively.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain. Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., K.C.B.
Her Majesty’s ship Ardent, Kiten Bay,
June 10, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to report that, on my arrival here yesterday, having failed of setting fire to the stores of flour by means of shells and carcases, I took advantage of a favourable state of weather in the evening, to drop the Ardent’s bow close in shore, and to veer Mr. Roberts, the gunner, ashore in the dingy, with two men, under cover of musketry from aloft. I had previously ascertained that no ambuscade was there, and had cleared to a distance the 30 or 40 Cossacks who were watching, by firing round shot in their direction.
Mr. Roberts and his party very quickly and effectually fired all the stacks, and I anchored the Ardent off to watch the fires.
The whole stores are now consumed, estimated by the Lynx at 30,000 sacks.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) W. HORTON,
Lieutenant and Commander.
Captain Lyons,
Her Majesty’s ship Miranda.
Her Majesty’s ship Miranda,
off Temrwick, June 9, 1855.
SIR,
I CANNOT allow the launches of the line-of-battle ships to return to their ships without requesting permission to bring to your notice the zeal and intelligence of the officers in command, and the excellent conduct and good discipline of all employed in them, which has enabled them to render such important service in the Sea of Azof, and which, if I may be permitted to say so without presumption, reflects so much credit on the ships they belong to.
I should also beg leave to bear similar testimony to the merit of the Commanding Officers of the Danube and Sulina, and those under their command, as well as to that of the Officers of Royal Marine Artillery who have been lent to this squadron during the same period.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief.
Admiralty, June 25, 1855.
DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies or extracts, have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
June 6, 1855.
SIR,
CAPTAIN LYONS, of the Miranda, having informed me that the squadrons under his orders would be ready about the 2nd or 3rd instant, to commence operations in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Azoff, Vice-Admiral Bruat and I considered that the moment had arrived for reinforcing them with gun boats, which would only have embarrassed them in their previous rapid movements in deeper waters; we therefore despatched twenty launches of the line of battle ships armed with 24-pounder howitzers and rockets, and their Lordships will perceive by Captain Lyons’s letter, of which I have the honour to enclose a copy, that their arrival on the spot was most opportune and attended with the happiest result; for, under the able management of the officers who commanded them, they mainly contributed towards the repulse of 3,500 of the enemy, and the destruction of the public buildings and government magazines of provisions at Taganrog.
Captain Lyons’s account of the operations is so clear, and his appreciation of the merits of those acting under his orders on this important service so just, that I feel that it would only be weakened by any observations or recommendations of mine.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) E. LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
Her Majesty’s ship, Miranda,
Taganrog Roads, June 3, 1855.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I anchored in 18 feet water, with the squadron under my orders, in Taganrog inner roads, at about 8½ miles from the town, on the evening of the 1st instant, without any accident, although the enemy had removed the light vessels and beacons. During the night an easterly wind sprang up, and the water fell three feet, with every appearance of still falling; we were, therefore, obliged to remove a mile and a half further from the town.
2. The 2nd was employed in reconnoitring the town, which I was enabled to do satisfactorily in the Recruit; Lieutenant Day, commanding that vessel, having found a passage during the night.
I had arranged to proceed at 3 A.M. the following morning to summon the town, and in the event of a refusal to surrender, to endeavour to destroy the immense stores of grain and other Government property in that place.
3. Matters were in this state, when at sunset, to my great satisfaction, the Sulina, Danube, and Medina, with the twelve armed launches of the line of battle ships, hove in sight: this most welcome and opportune reinforcement of exactly the description of force required for the purpose in view, rendered success certain; and not long after the French steamers, with launches in tow, arrived.
4. Having concerted measures with Monsieur de Sedaiges, commanding the French steamers, I preceded at 3 A.M. in the Recruit with the vessels and boats, and accompanied by the lightest French steamers (M. de Sedaiges being on board one of them), towing their launches. Having anchored the Recruit at 1400 yards from the Mole Head, and collected all the boats astern, I sent Lieutenant Commander Horton with a flag of truce, accompanied by a French officer with similar orders from M. de Sedaiges, to demand the surrender of all Government property of every description whatsoever, and of all grain, flour, and provisions (which I considered as contraband of war, knowing that even in the event of its not being government property, that it could only be intended for the supply of the Russian army in the Crimea), the whole to be delivered over to us to destroy; the troops to remove, during this necessary destruction, to a place five miles from the town, and within sight of the ships; the inhabitants to withdraw, except those appointed by the authorities to open the stores and assist us; any approach of troops, or any infraction of these terms, if accepted, to be considered as cancelling them, and to be punished with instant bombardment: one hour to be allowed for a decision, and no modification of the terms to be entertained. At the expiration of the hour, Lieutenant Horton and the French Officer were informed that the Governor refused the terms, and that, having troops at his disposal, he intended to defend the place. On this, these officers came off, and the flag of truce was hauled down from the Recruit.
5. Shortly afterwards the Recruit commenced firing, and the boats proceeded under the command of Commander Cowper P. Coles, of the Stromboli, in tow of one another, and accompanied by the French boats, until, having arrived in the required position, the tow was cast off, the boats’ heads pulled round to the beach, and so heavy a fire opened, that, although the enemy made repeated attempts to get down to the houses lining the beach, so as to save the long range of storehouses from destruction, they never succeeded in doing so in sufficient numbers. Lieutenant Mackenzie (the senior lieutenanant of this ship) had charge of a separate division of light boats, with rockets and one gun, to cover the approach of Lieutenant Cecil Buckley, of the Miranda, who, in a four-oared gig, accompanied by Mr. Henry Cooper, Boatswain 3rd Class, and manned by volunteers, repeatedly landed and fired the different stores and government buildings; this dangerous, not to say desperate, service, when carried out in a town containing upwards of 3,000 troops constantly endeavouring to prevent it, and only checked by the fire of the boats’ guns, was most effectually performed. The Recruit, from her light draught of water, was enabled to take an effective position at 1,400 yards, and so was the Mouette, French steamer, and the Danube, with 24-pounder howitzer and rockets, was very useful.
6. By 3 P.M., all the long ranges of stores of grain, plank, and tar, and the vessels on the stocks, were in a blaze, as well as the Custom House and other Government buildings, and unfortunately, but unavoidably, the town in many places; and our purpose being amply effected, the boats returned to the Recruit. The loss of the enemy in men must have been severe, as many were seen to fall; they deserve credit for the obstinacy with which they endeavoured to gain positions to prevent our effecting the object we had in view, but it was impossible to face the continuous and well directed fire kept up. Their loss in grain of different descriptions I cannot estimate, but as it comprises all, or very nearly all, in store at Taganrog, it must be enormous.
7. The only casualty in carrying out this service, was one private, Royal Marine-Artillery, severely wounded in the face by a musket ball.
8. I must now beg to be allowed to bring to your notice the very meritorious conduct of Commander Coles on this occasion, in command of so large a force of boats; and I cannot speak too highly of his energy, decision, and ability, which left me nothing to desire. He speaks in the highest terms of all under his orders, and particularly of Lieutenant J.T.C. Mackenzie, in charge of a separate division, who behaved with his accustomed spirit and judgment; and of Lieutenant Buckley, who so well carried out the hazardous service he had volunteered for. All the officers and men employed conducted themselves to my entire satisfaction, but as those abovementioned were in such conspicious situations, I trust I may be pardoned for submitting their names to your favourable consideration.
9. I cannot refrain from bearing my testimony to the admirable conduct and cordial co-operation of our Allies, under the personal direction of Monsieur de Sedaiges; the boats being under the immediate command of Monsieur Lejeune, Capitaine de Frégate, and First Aide-de-camp to Admiral Bruat.
10. A Russian Serjeant, who deserted, and gave himself up to a French boat, states the number of troops in the town to have been 3,200, of which 800 arrived last night.
11. A Russian war-schooner, which had been run on shore near the town and abandoned, was set fire to and burnt, and so was a large raft of timber. The wreck of a large vessel (a sort of guard ship) which we observed to be fired by the enemy, and blown up on our first appearance in Taganrog Roads, was visited, but was found to be already effectually destroyed.
Many large buildings had the black flag hoisted, as a sign, I presume, of their being hospitals; these were most carefully respected by us, as were the churches, and, so far as possible, private houses.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) E.M. LYONS,
Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
June 11, 1855.
SIR,
MY telegraphic message of yesterday, of which I have had the honour to enclose a copy, will have informed the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that Admiral Bruat and I had received intelligence of Anapa having been evacuated by the enemy on the 5th instant.
2. I have now the honour to enclose a copy of a report which has just reached me from Rear-Admiral Stewart, whom I sent to Anapa to act in concert with Rear-Admiral Charner, to prevent the possibility of the place being occupied by a Russian force, leaving the political part of the question in the hands of Mr. Longworth, the Agent of Her Majesty’s Government, whom I sent to the spot in the Highflyer, a few hours before Rear-Admiral Stewart left this anchorage.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.
Hannibal at Anapa,
June 11,1855.
SIR,
IN pursuance of your orders of yesterday’s date, I have the honour to inform you that I arrived at this anchorage at 10 A.M. to-day; Rear-Admiral Charner did not arrive till about 1 P.M. Admiral Bruat having last night informed me that he would be detained, and requested me not to wait for the Napoleon.
I enclose a return of the guns, by far the greater part of which have been rendered quite useless by the Russians themselves; the remainder are being made unserviceable or thrown over the cliffs, under the direction of Lieutenant Arthur, he gunnery officer of this ship.
The Russians have exploded nearly all the powder magazines in the place, and those which remain are empty.
The barracks were burnt by the Russians, as also a good number of buildings, and all the coal and grain, which appear to have been in considerable quantities.
The garrison is estimated by the Circassians at between seven and eight thousand, and they retired on the Kouban River, which they crossed by a bridge, destroying the latter behind them.
I have, &c.
(Signed) HOUSTON STEWART,
Rear-Admiral.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
G.C.B., K.C.H.
Commander-in-Chief.
Before Sevastopol,
June 2, 1855.
MY LORD,
THE reports which have been received from Kertch since I had the honour of writing to your Lordship on the 29th May, are of the most satisfactory character.
Five vessels, laden with corn, had come into Kertch in ignorance of the capture of the place, and had fallen into the hands of the Allies.
The French and English squadron had appeared before Berdiansk, and the enemy in consequence destroyed four of their war-steamers, and considerable depôts of corn.
They then exchanged a cannonade with the Russian forts at Arabat, and were so fortunate as to blow up a magazine with shells; and since, Captain Lyons, R.N., of the Miranda, has performed a most successful operation upon Genitschi. The Russian authorities of the town having refused to deliver up the Government depôt of corn, and ninety vessels, having on board supplies for their army in the Crimea, Captain Lyons bombarded the place with his squadron, and having driven the troops out of it, he landed the Sailors and Marines, and destroyed all the stores and the shipping.
This brilliant and decisive success marks the resolution and daring of Captain Lyons, and fortunately was accomplished with no other loss than that of one man wounded.
Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons states, that in no longer a period than four days the squadron has destroyed 241 vessels, employed exclusively in transporting provisions to the Crimea, besides four war steamers, and six millions of rations of flour and corn.
I beg leave to offer your Lordship my warmest congratulations on these important occurrences.
I have nothing of interest to report to your Lordship from hence, except that some more detachments of Sardinian troops have arrived.
A battery has arrived off the harbour.
I have, &c.,
RAGLAN.
The Lord Panmure, &c. &c.
Admiralty, August 13, 1855.
DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies, have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
No. 613. Royal Albert, off Sevastopol,
July 30, 1855.
SIR,
IN continuation of the proceedings of the steam squadron in the Sea of Azof, under the orders of Commander Sherard Osborne, of the Vesuvius, I beg leave to enclose, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of two letters from that officer, together with the several enclosures reporting the steps taken to deprive the enemy of the new harvest, and to cripple his resources of all kinds, since the proceedings which were communicated in my letter of the 7th instant (No. 538).
During the time the squadron was detained from stress of weather, under Berutch Spit, near Ghenitch, the vessels were, at every break of the weather, employed in destroying extensive fishing establishments which supplied the army in the Crimea with fish, as well as guard houses, barracks, stores of forage, and provisions on the Isthmus of Arabat, and the pontoon or only means of communication between Arabat Spit and the Crimea, at the entrance of the Kara-su River was burnt by Commander Rowley Lambert of the Curlew. The attack and destruction of Fort Petrovskoi, on the 16th instant, by the combined English and French squadrons named in Commander Osborn’s letter, appears to have been accomplished with the usual skill and success which has attended the operations in the sea of Azof; and their Lordships will observe that particular mention is made of Lieutenant Hubert Campion, Senior Lieutenant of the Vesuvius, who commanded the landing party, and rendered great service. I would particularly beg leave to call their Lordships’ attention to the high-minded conduct of Captain De Cintré, of His Imperial Majesty’s steamer Milan, who, on seeing that the bulk of the squadron was under the orders of Commander Osborn, to whom he was senior, waived his right to plan the attack, and placed his ship, as well as the Mouette, in the positions pointed out by Commander Osborn.
In the meantime Lieutenant Hewett, in the Beagle, destroyed an extensive collection of fish stores and two large granaries full of corn in the neighbourhood of Berdiansk.
After destroying Fort Petrovskoi, the squadron proceeded to Glofira, where some extensive corn and fish stores were destroyed by vessels under the orders of Commander Rowley Lambert, of the Curlew, and a similar service was performed at the Crooked Spit, in the Gulf of Azof, by vessels under the orders of Commander F.A.B. Craufurd, of the Swallow. In the meantime Commander Osborn, reconnoitered various parts of the coast as far as Taganrog. The reports of Commander Osborn are so comprehensive that I will only remark that the admirable manner in which he has carried out my instructions “to clear the sea board of all fish stores, all fisheries and mills on a scale beyond the wants of the neighbouring population, and, indeed of all things destined to contribute to the maintenance of the enemy’s army in the Crimea,” fully corroborates the opinion I have before expressed, that he is an officer possessing a rare combination of high qualities, and I beg to recommend him to their Lordships’ most favourable consideration.
I am, &c.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
&c. &c. &c.
Her Majesty’s ship Vesuvius,
Gulf of Azof, July 17, 1855.
SIR,
HEAVY gales and much sea obliged the squadron in this sea to take shelter under Berutch Spit for several days. Coaling, provisioning and completing stores was, however, proceeded with, and at every break in the weather the vessels were actively employed destroying some extensive fisheries upon Berutch Spit, as well as guardhouses, barracks, and stores of forage and provisions, to within an easy gun shot of Arabat Fort. The only pontoon or means of communication between Arabat Spit and the Crimea, at the entrance of the Kara-su River, has been burnt by Commander Rowley Lambert, H.M.S. Curlew, and we have now entire possession of the spit. A lull in the weather enabled me to put to sea upon the 13th July, for a sweep round the Sea of Azof; the Ardent, Weser, and Clinker being left under the orders of Lieutenant Horton to harass Genitch and Arabat, as well to cut off all communication along the spit.
Delayed by the weather, we did not reach Berdiansk until the 15th July; a heavy sea was running, but anxious to lose no time, the senior officer of the French Squadron (Captain De Cintré, of the Milan) and myself determined to go at once and endeavour to burn the forage and corn stacks upon the landward side of the hills overlooking the town.
No inhabitants were to be seen, but the occasional glimpse of soldiers showed that a landing was expected and that they were prepared for a street fight. I hoisted a flag of truce in order, if possible, to get the women and children removed from the town, but as that met with no reply and the surf rendered landing extremely hazardous, I hauled it down, and the squadron commenced to fire over the town at the forage and corn stacked behind it, and I soon had the satisfaction of seeing a fire break out exactly where it was wanted. The town was not touched except by an occasional shell. The wheat and forage being fired it became necessary to move into deeper water for the night, and from our distant anchorage the fires were seen burning throughout the night.
On the 16th July the Allied squadron proceeded to Fort Petrovski, between Berdiansk and Marianpol. As I approached the place there were evident symptoms of an increase to the fortifications since the Vesuvius silenced its fire three weeks ago. A redan, covering the curtain which faces the sea, shewed seven new embrasures, and much new earth led me to expect some masked works.
Captain De Cintré, commanding the French steamer Milan, although my senior, in the most handsome manner surrendered the right of planning the attack, and keeping alone in view the good of the allied cause, gallantly took up the position I wished him to do, followed by Captain De L’Allemand, in the Mouette.
At 9.30 A.M., all arrangements being made, the squadron, named in the margin*, took up their positions. The light draught gun-boats taking up stations east and west of the fort, and enfilading the works in front and rear; whilst the heavier vessels formed a semicircle round the front. The heavy nature of our ordnance crushed all attempts at resistance, and soon forced not only the garrison to retire from the trenches, but also kept at a respectable distance the reserve force, consisting of three strong battalions of infantry, and two squadrons of cavalry.
We then commenced to fire with carcases, and although partially successful, I was obliged to send the light boats of the squadron to complete the destruction of the fort and batteries; a duty I entrusted to Lieutenant Hubert Campion, of the Vesuvius, assisted by the officers in the annexed list.
In a short time I had the satisfaction of seeing all the cantonment, gun platforms, public buildings, corn and forage stores on fire, and the embrasures of the earthworks seriously injured; and although the enemy from an earthwork to the rear opened a sharp fire upon our men, Lieutenant Campion completed this service in the most able and perfect manner, without the loss of one man.
Lieutenant Campion reports that the fort was fully as formidable a one as it appeared from the ships; the platforms were laid ready, but the guns either had not yet arrived or had been withdrawn by the enemy. Leaving the Swallow, Commander Craufurd, to check any attempt of enemy to re-occupy the fort and extinguish the fire until the destruction was complete, the rest of the squadron proceeded to destroy great quantities of forage and some most extensive fisheries, situated upon the White House Spit, and about the mouth of the River Berda. By dark the work was done, and thirty fisheries, numbers of heavy launches, and great store of salted fish, nets, and gear, as well as much forage, had fallen into our hands in spite of considerable numbers of Cossack horse.
Nothing could exceed the zeal and energy displayed by every officer and man throughout the day; and the skilful manner in which the various officers in command of Her Majesty’s vessels took up their positions in the morning, the beautiful accuracy of the fire, and the care with which the squadron was handled in shallow water, deserve to be called to your favourable notice. The able and cheerful co-operation of the French throughout the day was beyond all praise.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) SHERARD OSBORN,
Commander and Senior Officer.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief.
Her Majesty’s ship Vesuvius,
Gulf of Azof, July 21, 1855.
SIR,
THE day I closed, my last report to you, the Beagle, Lieutenant Hewett, was detached to Berdiansk.
Lieutenant Hewett rejoined me yesterday, and reports that one of the Russian sunken vessels was blown up. Lieutenant Hewett, the same evening, landed under cover of his vessel’s guns, and destroyed an extensive collection of fish stores, and two large granaries full of corn.
On the 17th July, in consequence of information received of extensive depôts of corn and forage existing at a town called Glofira, upon the Asiatic coast, near Gheisk, I proceeded there with the squadron, accompanied by the French steamers Milan and Mouette. The Vesuvius and Swallow were obliged to anchor some distance off shore, I therefore sent Commander Rowley Lambert (Her Majesty’s ship Curlew), with the gun-boats named in the margin† to reconnoitre in force, and if an opportunity occurred, to destroy any stores of provisions or of forage, he was to do so. Commander Lambert found Glofira and its neighbourhood swarming with cavalry; the town an open straggling agricultural village, and no appearance of corn or forage in it; he therefore very properly confined his operations to destroying, upon Glofira Spit, some very extensive corn and fish stores, but spared the town. The skill with which this service was executed in the face of large bodies of cavalry, reflects no small credit upon Commander Lambert; and he speaks most highly of the able assistance rendered him by the French officers and men under Captains De Cintré and L’Allemand. From Glofira I next proceeded to the Crooked Spit, in the Gulf of Azof, the French squadron parting company to harass the enemy in the neighbourhood of Kamiskeva and Obitotchna.
The squadron reached Crooked Spit the same day (July 18); and I immediately ordered Commander Frederick Craufurd, in the Swallow, supported by the gun-boats Grinder, Boxer, and Cracker, and the boats of Her Majesty’s ships Vesuvius, Curlew, and Fancy, under Lieutenants Grylls, Rowley, and Sulivan, to proceed and clear the spit of the cavalry and Cossacks of the enemy, and then land and destroy the great fishing establishments situated upon it. Commander Craufurd executed this service with great vigour, and his report I have the honour to enclose. The extraordinary quantity of nets and stores of fish, and the scale of the works destroyed fully confirm the statements made by the work people that their occupation consisted in supplying food to the army in the Crimea, everything going to Simpheropol by the great northern road along the steppe. Whilst this service was being executed I reconnoitred the mouth of the river Mious, fifteen miles west of Taganrog, in Her Majesty’s ship Jasper, Lieutenant J.S. Hudson. The shallow nature of the coast would not allow us to approach within a mile and three quarters of what in the chart is marked as Fort Temenos. The fortification was an earthwork of some extent and ditched but not pierced for guns. It was evidently of an old date, and as I could see no one within it, I again returned to the same place, accompanied by the boats of Her Majesty’s ships Vesuvius and Curlew, and Her Majesty’s gun-vessels, Cracker, Boxer, and Jasper.
Cavalry in large bodies, armed for the most part with carbines or rifles, were evidently much harassed by riding upon supposed points of attack; and when we got to Fort Temonos, and the usual Cossack picquet had been driven off, I and Commander Lambert, proceeded at once with the light boats into the river. When there, and immediately under Fort Temonos, which stands upon a steep escarpé of eighty feet, we found ourselves looked down upon by a large body of both horse and foot, lining the ditch and parapet of the work. Landing on the opposite bank, at good rifle-shot distance, one boat’s crew, under Lieutenant Rowley, was sent to destroy a collection of launches and a fishery, whilst a careful and steady fire of Minie rifles, kept the Russians from advancing upon us. Assuring ourselves of the non-existence of any object worth hazarding so small a force any farther, we returned to the vessels, passing within pistol shot of the Russian ambuscade. The cool steadiness of the officers and men in the gigs, together with the wonderful precision of the fire from the covering vessels, distant as they were, doubtless kept the enemy in check, and prevented serious consequences. To Commander Lambert, Lieutenants Grylls and Rowley, and Mr. Tabuteau (Mate), who were in the gigs, as well as to Lieutenants Marryatt, Townshend, and Hudson, who commanded the gun-vessels, my best thanks are due.
The gig of the Grinder, under Lieutenant Hamilton, had a narrow escape upon the same day from a similar ambuscade, at a place called Kirpe, 10 miles east of Marianpol, the very proper humanity of Lieutenant Hamilton in not firing into an open defenceless town as it appeared to him, having nigh entailed the loss of a boat’s crew when he attempted to land and destroy a corn store. A heavy fire of musketry at half pistol shot providentially injured no one, and Lieutenant Hamilton appears to have most skilfully escaped.
The 19th July, I reconnoitered Taganrog in the Jasper gun-boat. A new battery was being constructed upon the heights near the hospital, but although two shots were thown into it, it did not reply.
Every part the town showed signs of the injuries it had received when we visited it under the late Captain Edmund Lyons, of the Miranda. The long series of Government stores burnt by the Allied Flotilla had not been repaired, and the only sign of any communication being now held, by water, with the Don, was one large barge upon the beach.
To put a stop, however, to all traffic of this nature, and to harass the enemy in this neighbourhood, I have ordered Commander Craufurd to remain in the Gulf of Azof, with two gun-vessels under his orders.
That the squadron has not been idle, I trust this report will show; and without entering more into details than I have done, I can assure you, Sir, that from Ghenitch to Taganrog, and thence round to Kamiskeva, we have kept the coast in a state of constant alarm, and their troops incessantly moving. The good service done by the gun-boats in this way has been very great.
The total amount of provisions, corn, fisheries, forage, and boats, destroyed, has been something enormous.
Nothing can exceed the zeal and activity of the officers, or good conduct of the men, constituting this squadron; and constant work, does not, I am happy to say, appear as yet to impair their health.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) SHERARD OSBORN,
Commander and Senior Officer.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B,
&c. &c. &c.
Her Majesty’s ship Swallow,
off Crooked Spit, Sea of Azof,
July 15, 1855.
SIR,
IN compliance with your orders, I proceded in Her Majesty’s steam gun-boat Grinder, with Cracker and Boxer, and boats of the squadron to reconnoitre the Crooked Spit.
Having cleared the spit of some mounted troops who occupied it, I ordered a detachment of boats, with their respective officers, to land and destroy the immense fishing establishments and nets found upon the point of it. The country seemed swarming with cavalry, but, by the able management of the officers in command of the gun-boats, and by their good fire, they were effectually driven off the spit some distance inland.
Having reconnoitred as far into the land as we could see from the mast head of the Grinder, all the boats were ordered to land and set fire to very large and extensive government stores upon the upper part of the spit, including large fishing establishments, an enormous quantity of nets, haystacks, and several large houses used as government stores. I learnt from a Russian fisherman, that the fish caught on this spit and cured here was immediately forwarded to Simpheropol, for the use of the Crimean army; and I conclude that a very severe blow has been inflicted upon the enemy by the amount of property which was destroyed, including spars, timber, fish, nets, and boats; apparently the most extensive fishing establishment in the Sea of Azof; and I am happy to say without a casualty. My thanks are due to Lieutenants Hamilton, of Grinder, and Townsend, of Boxer, as also to Lieutenants Rowley, of Curlew; Grylls, of Fancy; Sullivan, of Vesuvius; Mr. Aldrich, Master of Swallow; Mr. Deare, Gunner of Curlew; and Mr. Windsor, Gunner of Swallow; who all and each by their zeal and activity rendered great service in destroying so large an accumulation of stores and houses in so short a space of time.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) FRED. A.B. CRAUFURD,
Commander.
Commander Osborne,
Senior Officer.
*Vesuvius, Commander Sherard Osborn; Curlew, Commander Rowley Lambert; Swallow, Commander F.A.B. Craufurd; Fancy, Lieutenant C.G. Grylls; Grinder, Lieutenant F. Hamilton; Boxer, Lieutenant S.P. Townshend; Cracker, Lieutenant J.H. Marryatt; Wrangler, Lieutenant H. Burgoyne; Jasper, Lieutenant J.S. Hudson; Beagle, Lieutenant W.N. Hewett.
†Fancy, Grinder, Boxer, Cracker, Jasper, Wrangler. Boats of Vesuvius and Swallow.
Admiralty, August 18, 1855.
DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
No. 633. Royal Albert, off Sevastopol,
August 4, 1855.
SIR,
IN continuation of the proceedings of the squadron in the Sea of Azof since those which were reported in my letter of the 30th ultimo, No. 613, I have the honour to enclose, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Commander Sherard Osborn, of the Vesuvius, the senior officer in that sea, reporting to me the steps he had taken to harass the enemy as much as possible, and to punish him at Berdiansk for having fired at some of our people, although the town had been previously spared on the plea of its being defenceless.
Commander Osborn does not fail to point out and to do justice to the merits of the officers by whom he has been so ably seconded, and he particularly mentions Commander Rowley Lambert, of the Curlew, the officer next in seniority to himself, who has on all occasions been conspicuous for his activity and gallantry.
Commander Osborn has also on several occasions borne the highest testimony to the merits of those gallant officers, Lieutenant William Horton, commanding the Ardent, and Lieutenant John E. Commerell, commanding the Weser.
I am, &c.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
&c. &c. &c.
Her Majesty’s ship Vesuvius,
Arabat Spit, July 25, 1855.
SIR,
SINCE my last letter I have fully succeeded in destroying, by means of submarine explosions, the four Russian steamers sunk in Berdiansk Bay, and as the enemy had, from the houses of the western suburb of Berdiansk, twice fired upon our people, whilst peaceably and unguardedly employed, I considered it right that such a dishonourable course, from a town which had been spared under plea of being defenceless, should be severely punished, and the more so as Berdiansk had been treated with unusual leniency upon the occasion of our former visits.
I therefore, on the 22nd of July, caused to be destroyed the western suburb, which had screened their riflemen, and succeeded in discovering and setting fire to no less than ten large granaries, filled with wheat, each averaging about two hundred tons in capacity, and several flour mills, which have been employed, night and day, grinding for the use of the Russians.
The church and major portion of the town I spared, although nearly every house we searched contained grain in large quantities, and the whole place might be considered little else than a general granary.
The dangerous service of landing in so large a town, with bodies of Cossacks threatening, was entrusted to Commander Rowley Lambert, Lieutenant Hubert Campion (senior of this ship), Lieutenant Hewett, Her Majesty’s steam-vessel Beagle, and Lieutenant Marryat, Her Majesty’s steam-vessel Cracker, and the skill with which it was executed reflects the highest credit upon their zeal and judgment.
The operations were admirably covered by the gun-boats under Lieutenants Grylls, Commerell, and Townsend, and Her Majesty’s ships Vesuvius and Curlew; the latter under charge of her zealous First Lieutenant, C.J. Rowley.
On the 24th July I rejoined Lieutenant Horton, Her Majesty’s steam-vessel Ardent. He, I found, had not been idle; and, with the assistance of the Clinker, Lieutenant Smithett, and Wrangler, Lieutenant Burgoyne, very much damage had been done to the enemy from Ghenitch to Obitotchna Spit, in the destruction of forage, fish, stores, and launches.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) SHERARD OSBORN,
Commander and Senior Officer.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund
Lyons, Bart., G.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief.