The Three Commanders Part 29

Making inquiry of some soldiers whom they at length met with stretchers carrying the wounded men they had picked up, Tom asked if they could tell him over what ground the--

Guards had pa.s.sed.

"You must keep farther to the left," was the answer; "you will come upon some dead Highlanders, and they are just beyond them."

The bonnets of the Highlanders were soon discovered, and not far off the tall bearskins showed where the Guards had fought. The mids.h.i.+pmen, however, made but slow progress, for they could not help stopping to relieve those who required their aid, both friends and foes, till Archie had used up all his bandages, and their spirits and water were nearly expended. As Tom had not found Sidney, his spirits rose with the hope that, at all events, he might have escaped being killed. The enormous number of Russian dead, who were now seen covering the plain, showed the part of the ground where the last desperate conflict had taken place.

Whole ranks of the enemy had fallen under the withering fire of the Guards and Highlanders. In one spot they came upon an entire line of Russians, every man of whom had been shot down apparently at the same moment; indeed, far as the eye could reach on either side, the plain was thickly strewn with the dead.

At length a long line of upright figures was seen arrayed on the left, with numerous banners waving above their heads, and hors.e.m.e.n moving to and fro; the red hue on the left showing where the victorious soldiers of England stood, halted on the battlefield, while on the right appeared the ma.s.ses of the French army, with the Turkish troops who had marched forward to their support. They occupied the ground on which they were to bivouac before advancing again in pursuit of the flying foe.

The mids.h.i.+pmen made their way towards the troops on the left, and were able, by looking at the lofty bearskins of the Guards, to find out the regiment to which Sidney Rogers belonged. Almost breathless with eagerness, Tom inquired for his brother.

"He is there," said a sergeant, pointing to a spot where a group of officers stood together, eagerly discussing the events of the day.

Tom, unable to restrain his feelings, gave a shout of joy, in which Archie joined him. As they hurried forward, Sidney advanced to meet them, and they were soon shaking him heartily by the hand, and congratulating him on his escape and the victory he had contributed to win.

"I am thankful to have come out of it unhurt," said Sidney, "especially when I hear of the number of officers who have been killed; between twenty and thirty, at all events; and not far short of a hundred wounded."

Tom then gave Jack's message, and delivered a case containing a few luxuries brought from the s.h.i.+p. The mids.h.i.+pmen could not, however, remain long, as they had received orders to return at night, and the day was now rapidly closing. They were brave youngsters, but they had no wish to be compelled to make their way over the battlefield in the darkness, amid the dying and the dead. Wis.h.i.+ng Sidney good-bye, they rapidly retraced their steps; as they once more descended the hill, their ears were a.s.sailed with cries and groans, but as they had no longer any means of a.s.sisting the unhappy sufferers, they hurried on.

At the foot of the hill they reached the road which ran along the bank of the river, having to pa.s.s in their way close to the smouldering ruins of the village which had been set on fire at the commencement of the battle. Here it was supposed that several English as well as Russian riflemen had perished, while engaged with each other, the flames having spread round them before they had time to make their escape.

It was already dark when one of the _Tornado's_ boats came to take them off. Neither of them were very much inclined to talk of what they had seen; and even Jack, when they got on board, had some difficulty in gaining more information from them than the fact that they had found Sidney safe and well. After a gla.s.s or two of wine, however, Jack drew forth an account of the scenes they had witnessed on the battlefield.

Tom often shuddered as he described the fearful condition of the wounded, and the numbers of dead they had seen.

Next morning they were all to rights, and were ready to go in charge of a fresh party of seamen, who were sent on sh.o.r.e to bring off more of the wounded. All day long the seamen were engaged in collecting the wounded men and carrying them to the hospitals, or bringing them off to the s.h.i.+ps; while parties, told off from the different regiments, were employed in burying the dead, generally in large pits, into which friends and foes were tumbled without much ceremony. All the time bodies of cavalry were kept patrolling on the left to guard the people employed in the service from the attacks of the Cossacks, who were seen hovering in the distance, ready to pounce down upon any unwary stragglers.

As soon as Jack had received on board as many wounded officers and men as he could accommodate, he proceeded to Constantinople to place them in the hospitals which had been got ready for their reception. Several died on the voyage, some of their wounds and some of cholera, which killed many officers and men after the battle. Jack was eager to get back again to see what was going forward. Hopes had been entertained that the allies would at once enter Sebastopol; but the news had reached Constantinople that, instead of doing so, they had marched round the city and had posted themselves on its southern side, the English having occupied the harbour of Balaclava, while their army had taken up a position on the ground above it, extending towards the fortifications of Sebastopol.

The _Tornado_ was still steaming at full speed across the Bosphorus, when, soon after dawn, though still out of sight of land, a loud booming of guns came from the northward over the calm water. "There is another furious battle going forward," said the first lieutenant to the commander, who had just come on deck; "I wish we were there--can the fleet be engaged?"

"I very much doubt that the Russians will have ventured out of their harbour," answered Jack; "I suspect rather that the allies have commenced the bombardment of the city. The last account stated that they were busy preparing for it, and I think it probable that the admirals will take the fleet in to engage the sea-batteries."

"They will not do much against those stone walls, unless they are complete shams," observed Higson; "however, we shall be there before long, and if there is an honest battle at sea going on, I hope we shall be in time to take part in it."

Of course there was great excitement on board, everyone looking out eagerly for the land. Surmises of all sorts were made as to what was going forward. The engineers did their best to urge the steamer along, but the wind was so light that the sails were wholly useless. Billy Blueblazes and d.i.c.ky Duff, who were somewhat jealous of Tom and Archie having been on sh.o.r.e, were eager to be there to see the "fun," as they called it.

"I can tell you fellows that it is no fun at all," said Tom, who had become unusually grave since he had visited the battlefield of the Alma; "I have got a brother there, and in all probability he is in the midst of the fight."

"And if the fleets are engaged, I have got a cousin who is as dear to me as a brother," observed Archie, "and I don't want any harm to happen to him. You youngsters talk glibly of fighting; but let me hear what you have to say about it when you have seen the thing in reality. It is a necessary evil, but an evil notwithstanding."

The younger mids.h.i.+pmen laughed, and declared that it was just what they had come to sea for. "So did we too," said Tom; "but only because it's our duty to fight to protect our country--not that I can see that we forward that object by coming out here to attack the Russians."

Soon afterwards, "Land! land!" was heard from the masthead, adding to the excitement of all on board. At length the high cliffs of the Chersonese appeared in sight; the thunder of the guns, as the s.h.i.+p advanced, increasing in loudness. Now the fleet could be seen coming forward from the roads off the Katcha River to the north; no sails were set, as the s.h.i.+ps had either their own steam-power, or were moved by steamers lashed alongside.

"The French fleet are leading," observed Jack to Higson; "it is evident then that their destined position is the southern end of the line, and that our s.h.i.+ps are to attack Fort Constantine and the other forts on the north side of the harbour." Slowly the proud s.h.i.+ps glided onwards, but not a shot was fired from them; they were still out of range of the forts. It was already near one o'clock in the afternoon. In the French division thirteen s.h.i.+ps could be counted, two of them carrying the Turkish flag. Onward they glided in admirable order, still preserving perfect silence.

"To my mind," observed Higson, "they would be likely to do much more good if they were farther in, and my belief is that so they would be if they had English captains to fight them."

"Probably the French admiral is afraid of getting his s.h.i.+ps on sh.o.r.e were he to stand in closer," observed Jack, who held the French in more respect than did his first lieutenant. At length, as the French s.h.i.+ps came within range, the Russian forts opened their fire, but still no reply was made. The whole French squadron had now one by one anch.o.r.ed at exact distances from each other, extending more than half-way across the harbour; then the signal was given, and the roar of six hundred guns broke the silence which had hitherto prevailed, the dense clouds of smoke which arose almost concealing them from sight. At the same moment the English flags.h.i.+p was seen to throw out a signal, when three of the English steam-frigates, which had been standing insh.o.r.e, commenced firing away at the northern forts. Another signal presently went up, and the _Agamemnon_ was seen gliding on at more rapid speed than heretofore towards the sh.o.r.e, some little distance to the north of Fort Constantine, the nearest point which a shoal running off from the land would allow her to reach. A gallant little steamer, the _Circa.s.sian_, was observed leading the way, fearless of the shot which the guns of the fort threw at her. As the _Agamemnon_ pa.s.sed the _Sanspareil_, which had been ahead of her, hearty cheers resounded from their crews, and then both commenced firing, clouds of smoke quickly enveloping them and a.s.sisting to baffle the gunners of the two batteries on the high ground above them. Meantime the _Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Queen, Rodney_, and _Bellerophon_, were proceeding southward in order to complete the line across the harbour, while the _Sanspareil, London, Arethusa_, and _Albion_ took up positions to the northward of the _Agamemnon_.

Not till afterwards, of course, did Jack hear of the gallant conduct of Mr Ball, in command of the little steam-tender _Circa.s.sia_, which was seen ahead of the _Agamemnon_, taking soundings for her, and leading her close up to the shoal. Sir Edmund told him that his s.h.i.+p would probably be sunk, and undertook to have his boats in readiness to pick up him and his crew should such an event occur. As the tender moved ahead of the great s.h.i.+p, the lead-line was struck out of the leadsman's hands; but another line was immediately found, and the little vessel continued her course. Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was the only man wounded on board. Having performed her duty, she steamed off out of harm's way. The _Agamemnon_ was, however, so well placed to the north-west, that the rear guns only of the fort could be brought to bear on her, and as she was much nearer in than the enemy expected, most of their shot struck her masts and rigging.

So close was the _Sanspareil_ to her stern that that s.h.i.+p's foremost guns could not at first be fired. This made it necessary for her to haul off, but it was only to return to render her able support to the _Agamemnon_. The greater number of the s.h.i.+ps were now hotly engaged, well-nigh twelve hundred guns firing rapidly away at the various forts, and crumbling the upper works of the nearest to pieces; but still all the time the iron shower sent by the Russians came cras.h.i.+ng on board the s.h.i.+ps of the allies, sending many a brave seaman to his account, and wounding a far greater number.

"The admiral is signalising us," exclaimed Higson; "we are to run alongside the _Briton_, and carry her into action."

No sooner had he uttered the words, than a loud cheer arose from the crew; in a short time, having obeyed the order she had received, they were where they had longed to be--in the line of battle, under the enemy's fire, the _Briton_ having, as was the case with many of the other s.h.i.+ps, landed a considerable number of her people to join the naval brigade on sh.o.r.e. A portion of the _Tornado's_ crew were called on board to a.s.sist in working her guns; happy did those consider themselves who were thus employed. Among the officers were Mr Mildmay and Tom and Archie. As they were stationed on the upper deck, they could occasionally see, when the dense wreaths which encircled the combatants blew by, what was going forward. Mr Mildmay stood as cool as usual, every now and then pulling out his notebook and making notes in it.

"I really believe," said Tom to Archie, laughing, "that he's writing a poetical description of the battle. Perhaps it's a song, to be called 'The Battle of Sebastopol'--'There we lay, all that day, At stone walls a-blazing away!'"

"I wonder when the Russians intend to give in--it doesn't seem much like it at present," observed Archie; "I expected that we should sail up the harbour and sink their s.h.i.+ps."

"They've done that already themselves, right across the mouth. I heard the first lieutenant tell the master so," said Tom.

"I only wish that they were afloat, and that we were fighting them instead of these forts," observed Archie. "When we have knocked them to pieces, I don't see what good they will do us."

"Why, of course, to help the soldiers on sh.o.r.e to get into the place,"

answered Tom.

These remarks, which were made at intervals between the firing of their guns, were cut short by a shot killing two of the crew of one of the guns under Tom's command. He had to summon others to take their places; after this he felt very little inclination to talk, nor, indeed, had he much opportunity of doing so. The position of those who remained on board the steamer was very trying; they had nothing to do, but were tolerably secure from damage, while the enemy's shot went flying over their heads. Hour after hour the battle continued to rage, the troops on sh.o.r.e being hotly engaged with the batteries turned towards them, the thundering roar of their guns answering to those of the s.h.i.+ps. Never, perhaps, in the same s.p.a.ce of time had so many round-shot and sh.e.l.ls been flying through the air.

Little more could be seen of the s.h.i.+ps in line across the harbour's mouth. The French remained stationary, but some of the English frequently moved their positions to the support of Sir Edmund Lyons and the insh.o.r.e squadron, which were enduring the brunt of the battle, exposed as they were to the tremendous fire from Fort Constantine and other batteries. Now flames were seen to burst forth from the _Queen_, when, a steamer taking her in tow, she stood off to extinguish them.

Some time afterwards the _Albion_ was seen to be on fire, fearfully mauled and unable to fire a shot, with the risk of drifting on sh.o.r.e.

She also stood off, helped by the steamer attending her.

The _Rodney_ was now seen standing in to support the _Agamemnon_ when she took the ground, and though exposed to a tremendous fire, she continued fighting her guns. It seemed almost impossible that she should escape destruction, but she still kept firing away till, two steamers going to her a.s.sistance, she at length got clear. Not till darkness came on did the battle cease, when the s.h.i.+ps returned to their anchorage. Jack was thankful to find that Murray and the mids.h.i.+pmen had escaped, though five of his own crew and many more of the _Briton's_ had been killed. The next morning the "butcher's bill," as Jos Green called it, was made out, when it was found out that forty-four British seamen had lost their lives, and that two hundred and sixty-six had been wounded, while the _Albion_ and _Arethusa_ had been so knocked about in their hulls and rigging that the admiral sent them off to Malta to be repaired.

The French s.h.i.+ps presented a still more disabled appearance, and had lost altogether in killed and wounded under two hundred men. Then came the question, what had been done? and the opinion generally was that, although a good many of the Russians might have been killed, no essential damage had been done to the forts, and that it would be wiser in future for the s.h.i.+ps to let them alone.

"I suppose the work of the fleet is pretty well over," said Murray to Jack, who had gone on board the _Briton_, "unless we have to attack other places along the coast. You will probably be sent on that service, and I confess I envy you."

"I hope we shall," was the answer; "though I am afraid that at present we shall be employed as a despatch-boat. I should like to see what is going forward on sh.o.r.e, and shall be glad if I can take a turn of duty with the naval brigade, but I have very little hopes of that."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE TORNADO AT BALACLAVA--THE ALLIED CAMPS--RUSSIAN CAVALRY AND HIGHLANDERS--THE FLYING TURKS AND THE HIGHLAND WIFE--CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE--"INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH RODE THE SIX HUNDRED!"--DEATH OF CAPTAIN NOLAN--AFTER THE BATTLE--TOM AND ARCHIE PROPOSE TO LEAVE THE NAVY FOR THE ARMY, BUT THINK BETTER OF IT--THEIR VISIT TO THE GUARDS'

CAMP--THE STERN REALITIES OF WAR--ATTACKED BY THE RUSSIANS--THE MIDs.h.i.+PMEN IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT.

The _Tornado_ had been ordered to proceed to Balaclava. She entered that landlocked harbour, on the southern end of the Crimea, on the evening of the 24th of October. As she was to remain there the whole of the next day, Jack resolved to take the opportunity of paying a visit to his brother Sidney, and seeing what was going forward before Sebastopol.

There was no time to set off that evening; he, however, landed with his second lieutenant and some of his younger officers, including Tom and Archie, to have a look at the country, and to engage horses for the next day.

Steep hills rose on either side of the harbour, on the right of which the little town was situated, with steep, narrow streets leading down to the water's edge. Above it was a line of defences, garrisoned by the bluejackets forming the naval brigade, and the marines of the fleet. To the left, across the Chersonese, ran the road to Sebastopol; while directly in front, connected by a gorge with the harbour, was a broad valley, called the South Valley. Beyond this rose a ridge known as the Causeway Heights, on which were situated six redoubts, garrisoned by the Turks, to whom had been committed what formed the outward defences of Balaclava; along this causeway ran the Woronzoff Road. At the eastern extremity of the valley there was a knoll between five and six hundred feet in height, joining the Kamara Hills to the right by a neck of high ground, the knoll jutting out over the valley, as a promontory does over the sea. This knoll, on which Number 1 redoubt had been thrown up, was called by the allies Canrobert's Hill. On the western extremity of the valley was the Col, or gap through which the road pa.s.sed to Sebastopol.

Eastward of Canrobert's Hill were the village and heights of Kamara; completely overlooking it. On the farther side of the Causeway Heights was what was called the North Valley, with a range of heights rising out of it on the opposite side, denominated the Fedoukine Hills.

Jack and his party, having ascended from Balaclava to the height of Saint Elias, could look down into the South Valley, at the left end of which they saw the tents of the heavy and light cavalry, with their horses picketed about them, while just below them were encamped Sir Colin Campbell's Highlanders. Horses, mules, carts, and vehicles of all sorts were making their way from the harbour along the well-beaten road to the allied camps. Not a foe was in sight; some of the officers in command of the marines and bluejackets, who garrisoned the lines extending from Saint Elias to the sea, whom Jack met, told him, however, that there were rumours of the Russians not being far-off, and that they should not be surprised if before long they were attacked.