FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL.

Every heart beat high with expectation on the 16th. of October, for on the morrow was to commence the first bombardment of Sebastopol, and at half-past six o’clock on the morning of that day one hundred and twenty-six pieces of ordnance from the French and British batteries opened their 396fire on the fortress. The tower of the Malakoff by ten o’clock had become untenable, and all its guns had been either damaged or dismounted, whilst the earthen battery round it had slackened its fire. Five hours afterwards the Redan was so considerably injured by an explosion in its rear, that only three guns remained standing; during the afternoon several explosions occurred in the lines of the army.

It was not until one o’clock that the allied fleets commenced their share in the fray. At this period the French batteries had ceased firing, two of their magazines having exploded, which completely disabled two of their batteries. Thus the Russians directed their whole attention to the British lines, and such of their guns, relieved from the French bombardment, as could be turned against the British batteries were brought to bear thereon, but the latter did not suspend their fire until evening. A determined sortie was made by the Russians against the extreme left of the French, between four and five o’clock in the afternoon, but, after displaying great gallantry, they were compelled to retire.

The ammunition expended from the mortars and guns during the bombardment of the 17th. of October, amounted to twenty-one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one rounds, of which two thousand seven hundred and forty-five were from mortars. Each of the shells from the Lancaster guns cost about £25, and three hundred and seventy were fired on this occasion, which alone made it a costly proceeding.

Shortly after daybreak on the 18th. of October the British batteries re-opened their fire, and continued it during the day. This was replied to by a formidable fire from the Russians, who had repaired the works and re-mounted the guns in the famous Redan. The French were employed in repairing their batteries, and were therefore not in a position to assist, so that the British stood alone in this day’s cannonade. On the following morning, the French having succeeded in that respect, the whole of the Anglo-French lines renewed the bombardment. It however became evident that Sebastopol could not be assaulted so early as was at first anticipated, and consequently many changes in the works of attack had to be made; the fire of the Russians continued such as to prevent 397the principal alterations being effected otherwise than during the night.

A naval brigade of over a thousand men, with fifty heavy guns, had been landed from the fleet, and took part in the bombardment. In the attack by the fleet it was arranged that the English should take the north side of the harbour, the French the south, the Turkish ships being in the centre. The English sailing ships were placed in their proper positions by steamers lashed alongside; the “Albion” by the “Firebrand,” the “London” by the “Niger,” “Britannia” by “Furious,” “Queen” by “Vesuvius,” “Trafalgar” by “Retribution,” “Vengeance” by “Highflyer,” “Rodney” by “Spitfire,” “Bellerophon” by “Cyclops,” and “Arethusa” by the “Triton.” The “Terrible,” “Tribune,” “Samson,” “Sphinx,” “Spitfire,” and “Lynx” took up independent positions, and engaged principally the forts and earthworks on the cliff to the north of Fort Constantine. The French ships were first engaged; and about two p.m. the “Agamemnon,” Admiral Sir E. Lyons, piloted by the steam tender “Circassian,” Master E. Bale, who had volunteered for the service, anchored, amidst a storm of shot and shell, about 750 yards from Fort Constantine, in five fathoms water, and opened her fire. A few minutes afterwards, the “Sanspareil” (Captain Dacres), and the “London” (Captain Eden), anchored astern, followed soon after by the “Albion” (Captain Lushington), and most ably supported Sir Edmund, who from his position was exposed to a cross fire from the forts. The action became general, but after an hour’s furious cannonading the Albion and London, much shattered, hauled off to a greater distance, and the Russians concentrated their fire on the Agamemnon, but the greater part of their shot (the ship lying so close to the forts), fortunately struck her rigging instead of her hull. As it was, she was almost reduced to a wreck, every spar being more or less damaged, her rigging hanging in shreds, and her main top and hammock nettings on fire. The “Queen,” “Rodney,” and “Bellerophon,” by signal, bore down to support her, but the Queen being set on fire by a shell was towed out again, and the Rodney ran aground under Fort Constantine, but was got off by the exertions of her own crew, and Commander Kynaston in the Spiteful. The engagement continued till dusk, and soon after six p.m. the ships drew off, when darkness had compelled the combatants to cease firing. The loss in the fleet was forty-four men killed, and two hundred and sixty-six wounded, and two of the ships, the Albion and Arethusa, had suffered so much in their hulls and rigging that they were sent to Malta to be repaired. The French had more ships disabled, but their loss in men was less, and the Turks escaped with but trifling damage. The result of the contest was not satisfactory. It was a trial of strength between stone and wood, and stone proved itself the stronger.

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