I.

INKERMANN, BATTLE OF.--One of the most brilliant achievements in the history of the British Army. Fought on the 5th of November, 1854.

“Two days after the repulse of the enemy’s sortie, by Sir De Lacy Evans’ division, General Dannenberg, with a large Russian reinforcement, arrived at Baktchi-Serai from Odessa, which place he left on the 19th of October. In order that his men might reach the scene of action with the greatest practicable rapidity, and in good condition, every available cart and rustic conveyance was pressed into the service. They were thus comparatively fresh and vigorous after so rapid a march. On the 3rd of November, one division, under General Soimonoff, entered Sebastopol. The remainder, under General Pauloff, encamped at Tchorgoun, a short distance to the east.

Strengthened by this considerable reinforcement, the Russian Generals decided upon an attack upon the position of the Allies in such strength that it should be scarcely possible to make an effectual resistance. The Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas, sons of the Emperor, had arrived at Sebastopol, with the purpose of encouraging the garrison by their presence, and witnessing the total defeat of the haughty invaders. On Sunday, the 4th of November, solemn religious services were held in the town. Patriarchs and Bishops of the Greek Church addressed the soldiery, urged upon them the importance of the trust which their good father the Czar had thought proper to impose upon them,--assured them that death in his service was only the road to a martyr’s crown, and that the English were monsters of cruelty, who committed the most atrocious barbarities upon all prisoners of war. Finally, they said the British camp abounded in treasure, one-third of which should be the property of the soldiery. Incited by these promises,--stimulated by extra rations of ardent spirits,--and fanatically believing that the destruction of the English heretics would be a work of acceptable piety, the Russian soldiers mingled shouts of devotion to the Czar and death to the Allies, and prepared themselves for the encounter of the morrow.

The plan of attack, as decided upon by the enemy’s commanders, was shortly this:--The extreme right of the British position, near the bridge which crossed the Tchernaya at Inkermann, was notoriously our weak point. Sir De Lacy Evans, whose division occupied this position, had repeatedly called Lord Raglan’s attention to this vulnerable point; but so laborious were the duties devolving upon our men, and so extended the line of defence, that it was impossible to spare either men or guns for the establishment of works. The French, whose large numbers and secure position on the western plateau left them a far smaller share of the duty, had been early applied to for assistance, but had hitherto refused. Sir John Burgoyne had called the special attention of General Biot to the danger of leaving exposed such an avenue to the camp of the Allies; but the French commander seems to have been at this time but little disposed to relieve the English of any of the toil or danger they had so willingly undertaken, but which proved too much for their effectual performance. At length the English, by almost superhuman exertions, had erected a small work on the brow of the hill, intended to carry two guns, but they had not yet been mounted.

Towards this point, then,--of the unprotected nature of which the Russians were perfectly well aware, thanks to the newspaper correspondents, who, in their anxiety to satisfy the curiosity of the readers at home, contrived (unwittingly, we believe) to afford the enemy a very great deal of valuable information,--the attention of the Russians was naturally directed. It afforded a convenient access to the very centre of the English lines, and would, in all probability, offer but a feeble resistance. It was arranged that Gortschakoff should, at an early hour on the morning of the 5th, make a threatening demonstration in front of Balaklava, apparently renewing the attempt of the 25th of October. This would have the effect of drawing a considerable portion of the armies to the defence of that important position, thus leaving the front comparatively unprotected. On the extreme left of the line, General Timofeyer would also make a feigned attack, occupying the attention of the French. The actual assault was to be made by the recently-arrived army of General Dannenberg. The two divisions already named, according to the Russian computation (most probably understated), were of the following strength: General Soimonoff’s corps consisted of three regiments of the 10th division, three of the 16th, and one of the 17th, amounting altogether to 16,200 bayonets, with twenty-two heavy and sixteen light guns; that of General Pauloff, numbering 13,200 bayonets, was composed of three regiments of the 10th division, two Chasseur regiments of the 18th, with twelve guns. The two corps thus numbered 29,400 bayonets, and fifty guns. Soimonoff was ordered to march from the Malakoff Tower in a westerly direction, until he reached the Kilen ravine, under cover of which he was to penetrate into the English centre on the western side of the ravine. Five o’clock in the morning was fixed as the time for the assault. Pauloff’s division was to cross the Tchernaya, force the English lines at the unprotected point, and cutting their way through the second division join Soimonoff in the main attack, when General Dannenberg, with the remainder of the army, would appear upon the scene, and, it was fondly imagined, give the _coup de grace_ to the invaders. Such was the plan of the Russian Generals, carefully matured, and kept profoundly secret from the Allies. We shall see the result.

All night the bells of Sebastopol rang loudly. The heavy November mist obscured the sound; and most probably, the English soldiers, far from considering the clashing from the belfries as the signal for the gathering of troops, imagined that one of the multitudinous festivals of the Greek Church was being celebrated with unwonted ostentation. Towards morning the mist thickened, and it was impossible to discern any object at above a few yards’ distance. Taking advantage of the fog, the Russians conveyed their guns to the lofty eminences beyond the Tchernaya, facing the British position, and by almost incredible efforts, in a very brief time, had established a formidable battery in a most commanding situation. About four o’clock in the morning, intelligence arrived at head-quarters that Balaklava was again threatened. General Bosquet was immediately on the alert, with his French chasseurs, and the indomitable Sir Colin Campbell was fully prepared to meet any force which might be despatched against him. It was no part, however, of the enemy’s tactics seriously to attack this position. His purpose was fully served by the attention of the French being attracted to this point, and the English being diverted from the real point of assault. About five o’clock enormous bodies of Russian infantry, under cover of the heavy fog, silently passed the bridge across the Tchernaya, and stealthily crept up the hill towards the weak point of the English position at the newly-erected two-gun battery. The pickets of the 55th, on duty at this spot, suddenly found themselves in presence of an over-whelming force of the enemy. Desperately fighting, the courageous little band slowly yielded ground, contesting every step, and retreating up the hill towards the redoubt. Their smart firing, in reply to the tremendous volleys of the enemy’s musketry, which were now poured into the handful of men, aroused the camp, and indicated the real nature of the enemy’s plans. General Pennefather, who commanded the Second Division, in the absence of Sir De Lacy Evans (who was compelled by the debilitated state of his health to leave his active duties, and retire on board one of the ships in the harbor), immediately hastened to the scene; and the men of his division, hastily shaking off their sleep, quickly responded to the alarm. In a few minutes all was bustle and activity. Officers and men, alike hurried forward, some half-dressed, all unbreakfasted, many suffering from sickness, and none free from the effects of privation and over-toil. From the Second Division the intelligence of the attack was quickly carried to the camps of the First, Fourth and Light Divisions, and the Duke of Cambridge, Sir George Cathcart, and Sir George Brown, instantly put themselves at the heads of their men, and lost no time in marching to the scene of action.

When the pickets were driven in, they retreated to the little two-gun battery, and fired through the embrasures at the masses of the enemy, now advancing in dense columns to the attack. The Russian batteries on the opposite hills opened a tremendous fire upon them, and the guns of the town and the ships in the harbor threw enormous volleys of shell and shot right into the camp of the Second Division, tearing up the ground, and destroying the tents. For a few moments the gallant fellows of the 51st held their ground, but no courage could long contend against such fearful odds. In spite of their fire, much too feeble to stay the advance of such massive columns, the Russians advanced at a rapid pace up the hill, the few shots of the undaunted defenders of the redoubt telling fatally in their ranks. Almost before the English could reload, the Russians were swarming around the battery, and leaping over the embrasure. Many were hurled back again by the bayonets of the undaunted picket, who at length, borne down by the weight of the attack, were driven from the work, and retreated down the hill. The 41st and 49th now came into the action, and forming into line, charged the advancing Russians, and drove them back to the redoubt. Again was this little work the scene of a tremendous contest. The two regiments discharging a brisk volley from their Minié rifles, levelled their bayonets, and driving the enemy pell-mell before them, hurled them out of the battery, and once more the English were masters of the position. The retreating Russians were speedily met and reinforced by other columns of infantry, and then doubled in numbers, again advanced to the attack. The fire, too, from their batteries, poured unceasing destruction into the thin ranks of the English regiments. Already the dead and dying were lying thick around, and many of the bravest and best among them had fallen beneath the intense fire of the enemy. The Russian masses literally surged up the hill, and hurled themselves once more at the devoted little band. A fearful struggle followed. Hand to hand was the combat waged, the bayonet doing deadly havoc upon friend and foe. In vain the brave defenders of their post struggled against the unequal odds; in vain the officers heroically exposed themselves and encouraged their men to the desperate encounter; and in vain the men themselves emulated their leaders’ undaunted courage--the enemy, so immensely superior in numbers, drove them, after a sanguinary defence, from the work, and pursued them, desperately fighting in their retreat, towards the camp of their division.

The alarm had now spread throughout the entire camp, and even reached Balaklava, rousing the sleepers on board the ships in the harbour. The heavy booming of the cannon told how fierce was the contest. Sir De Lacy Evans forgot his sickness, and leaving the bed to which for many days he had been confined, insisted on being rowed ashore; and mounting a horse, which he was almost too weak to guide, started for the field of battle. Lord Raglan, with his staff, had by this time reached the spot, and at once saw the critical position of the Allies; and saw, too, the blunder which the enemy had committed. General Soimonoff, who should, upon issuing from the ravine near Careening Bay, have turned to the right and attacked the centre of the English line, weakened by the tremendous assault on the extreme left of the position, mistook the direction and marched to the left, thus reaching the ground occupied by the Second Division, and embarrassing General Pauloff’s operations by permitting the concentration of the English forces to repel his assault, instead of diverting their attention by an attack at a comparatively remote point. For a General of Raglan’s experience to take advantage of this blunder was an easy task. He immediately made such arrangements of the small means at his command as would enable him to present two fronts of resistance on the threatened points, while preserving the solidity of his position.

The 20th and 47th regiments now arrived to the assistance of the gallant 49th and 41st, driven with such dreadful slaughter from the two-gun battery. The brave Colonel Carpenter, of the 41st, had fallen pierced with many bullets; and the blood-thirsty Russians, with that tiger-like ferocity which has made the day of Inkermann so fearfully memorable, mutilated the senseless form of the grey-headed old warrior, clubbing their muskets, and beating him on the face till it was almost impossible to distinguish his features. Covered with blood, frightfully mangled, and recognised only by his uniform, the colonel was at length, when the enemy retreated, found by his men, and borne, still breathing, from the field, to linger for a few days in acute agonies, and then to breathe his last. Amidst a hurricane of bullets from the Russian troops, and exposed to a deadly storm of missiles from the enemies’ batteries, the 20th and 47th fearlessly charged the opposing masses, and endeavoured to take the redoubt. They were successful in the attempt. The Russian lines trembled before their impetuous onset. The levelled bayonets, borne onwards by the resistless vigour of Englishmen, now maddened by the excitement of battle, cheered by their officers, and with the memory of Alma, swept down the hordes of irresolute Muscovites, and with a ringing cheer, the victorious Britons were once again in the earthwork. There, indeed, was a sight to rouse their hearts--if, indeed, further stimulant were needed--to deeds of vengeance. Not one of those who in the previous attacks had fallen wounded was now alive. The remorseless Russians--assassins rather than soldiers--had bayonetted every one who showed signs of life. The little battery was choked with heaps of dead. Englishmen and Russians lay as they fell stiff in their blood, and disfigured by the agonies of death. Not one was left to tell his victorious comrades, who leaped shouting into the redoubt, how bravely their companions in arms had disputed its possession, how dearly the enemy had purchased a temporary success, or how basely that success had been consummated by the most brutal murder of wounded and unarmed men. But the Russians were not disposed to submit to the loss of this important position which they had made so many efforts to retain. Fresh legions were launched against the two regiments who had been thus far successful; and in irresistible strength, still another attempt was made to regain the post. Against such numbers it was impossible to contend successfully. The brave holders of the redoubt fought desperately, with that unyielding pertinacity for which the British infantry, beyond any soldiery in the world, is distinguished. But the shot from the batteries on the hills beyond the river swept through their lines; on every hand brave fellows fell pierced with bullets, or mangled by exploding shells. The enemy was tenfold their number, and swept on like a torrent against their feeble defence. After a brief but most heroic struggle, the noble remnant of the gallant 20th and 47th yielded to a force they could no longer withstand, and retreated to the main body, leaving the Russians for the third time the masters of the two-gun battery.

The masters, it is true; but not the undisputed masters. A yet bloodier contest was to be waged for its possession--a contest which should make that small unfinished work, on which as yet no gun had been mounted, renowned throughout Europe. By the time that the 20th and 41st had been driven back, as we have just recorded, the Duke of Cambridge had reached the scene of action with the brigade of Guards--those renowned soldiers whose bayonets had carried the heights of Alma, and whose prowess was a theme of terror in the Russian camps. No soldier who had shared in or witnessed that tremendous fight could forget the terrible onslaught of those bear-skinned warriors, when the choicest troops of the Czar were trampled under foot, or scattered like chaff before their irresistible charge. The Coldstreams, no longer the magnificent battalion which a few months before left the shores of England, but reduced by the casualties of war and sickness to a few hundred badly fed and miserably-clothed men, though retaining all the ancient courage, heightened, indeed, by the hardships they had endured and the memory of their former achievements,--advanced in close ranks, at a rapid pace and with fixed bayonets, against the living wall of the Russians, who held the crown of the hill. Though the enemy were as ten to one, they yielded and broke before that matchless onset. Scattering the foe before them, the valiant Guardsmen swept like a hurricane into the battery, and the defeated Russians were precipitated, a flying and disordered mass, down the hill. The Coldstreams had well avenged their comrades’ fall, but they had not yet gained an undisputed success. On came fresh battalions of the Russians. The flying regiments were mingled with, or sought refuge behind the advancing legions. Again the dense mass struggled up the hill, and again did it devolve upon English valour to defend the post which had been so dearly won. Not less than 6000 Russians advanced in a compact mass towards the two-gun battery. The defenders did not muster more than as many hundreds. Nothing daunted, they fired through the embrasures and from the brow of the hill smart volleys; and when their ammunition failed, as at length it did, many hurled stones at the enemy. But moment by moment the advancing host drew nearer and nearer. The summit of the hill is reached, they surround the fort, leap over the earthworks, and in an instant there is a hand to hand struggle, such as, perhaps, was never excelled in modern warfare. They are repulsed--literally dashed down the hill. Twice the assault renewed; the second time they are again defeated; the third time they are once more in the battery. Bayonet crosses bayonet in rapid thrusts, fearful shrieks of agony are mingled with the shouts and curses of infuriated men, the floor is cumbered with the fallen and slippery with blood; the gallant Coldstreams are alone and unaided, and every moment fresh foemen rush into the deadly _mêlée_. Hundreds fall before the fatal bayonets of the dauntless Guards--their places are supplied by hundreds more, fresh and unwounded. In front, on either side, they swarm around, ferocious and malignant. Back to back, the English heroes meet their tremendous charge. In all the horrors of that scene, amid all the carnage which surrounds them, their high courage never fails, their firm bearing is never relaxed. Though many fall mortally wounded, their comrades bestride their bodies, and there is still the bristling _chevaux-de-frise_ of bayonets, against which the foe hurl themselves in vain, and only to fall in hundreds, thrust to the heart by the fatal steel, wielded by the hands of the most determined soldiers in the world. At length the limit is reached beyond which resistance is impossible, and slowly yielding to the immense superiority of numbers, the Guards give ground, and prepare to leave the battery once more in the hands of the enemy. They retreat from the spot, and then see that their path is barred by another and fresh force of the enemy. Death appears inevitable; other soldiers might lay down their arms, and few would doubt their courage, so great is the disparity of strength. But the Guards are not dismayed even then. Struggling into line, with rapidity gained only by their perfect discipline, they level their bayonets, charge the fresh foe, and in an instant are among them. Down go the Russian infantry, stabbed and trampled on. A brief struggle, and the invincible Coldstreams have cut through the masses of the foe, and sweeping all opposition from their path, have rejoined the main body of their comrades.

While this deadly contest was waging, the battle on the left of the position was rivalling it in intensity. Soimonoff’s army had attacked, and the greater portion of the Second Division were bravely opposing their advance. The English artillery were ordered up to the support, and taking position on the hill, did good service, and sent many a Russian to his great account. But at length their ammunition was exhausted, and the enemy advancing in great force, after a stirring combat, in which Major Townsend, a gallant and experienced officer, was killed, and prodigies of valour were performed, succeeded in capturing four of our guns.

The battle had now assumed tremendous proportions. The whole of the Second and Fourth Divisions were engaged, as well as portions of the First and Light Divisions, about 8000 men in all. Including the fresh regiments which Dannenberg now brought into action, not less than 60,000 Russians were in the field. Against this overwhelming force the English bravely held their ground. The brigade of Guards, gallantly led by their royal commander, had again united, and waged a desperate warfare against unequal odds. In front, the Light Division and a portion of the Second preserved a firm bearing, and opposed themselves fearlessly to the shock of the advancing battalions. On the left, Soimonoff’s _corps d’armée_ was met by the remainder of the Second Division, who bore the assault of the enemy, inspirited by their success in driving back the artillery and capturing the guns. Their exultation was fated to be of brief duration, for the gallant Second, having repulsed their first attack, now assumed the offensive, and charging the Russian columns, after a sanguinary struggle, drove them back, and recaptured the guns.

The ground to which the struggle was now confined was hilly and covered with thick brushwood, sloping towards the harbour, the ships in which, moored so as to command the English lines, poured a destructive fire into our ranks. The brigade of Guards, forced by the enormous odds to quit the Two-gun Battery, after such a terrific contest, were now engaged in hand-to-hand conflict with nearly ten times their number of the enemy. It was impossible, from the fierceness of the contest and the nature of the ground, to preserve military order. The battle was a series of detached groups, sometimes a few dauntless Guardsmen, bareheaded and back to back, disputing every inch of ground, and with their bayonets inflicting terrible execution on the enemy; sometimes a young officer, rallying a few of his men around him, dashing with a ringing cheer at a phalanx of the foe, and as their dense mass was broken by the impetuosity of the attack, falling pierced by a dozen bullets, with his last breath cheering on his men to the charge. So fell Lieut.-Colonels Mackinnon and Cowell; so fell Sir Robert Newman; and so fell many another brave soldier and good man. The Duke of Cambridge, affected almost to tears by the sight of so many lying in their blood, was everywhere in the thick of the fight, urging on his men, and setting them an example of the most daring courage. Almost alone, he dashed into the _mêlée_, amid a shower of bullets from the Russian rifles. Once he had nearly fallen a victim to his own enthusiasm and contempt of danger. Conspicuous by his uniform and fine person, he presented a prominent mark for the aim of the ambushed enemy. Reckless of the danger, he disdained even ordinary precautions. In this emergency, Dr. Wilson, anxious to lend his professional services to the wounded, saw the peril of the Duke, and collecting a handful of men, dispersed the enemy’s riflemen, and rescued the too daring leader. Nothing could exceed the deadly nature of the combat. The Guards fought as only men can fight, when utterly desperate. There seemed but small probability that one of that noble brigade would leave the ground unhurt. The Russians, strong in their numbers, inspirited by intoxication and fanaticism, poured their legions in vain against the resistance of such unquenchable heroism. Heaps of dead covered the ground, and the assassin Muscovites, unable to subdue the living, wreaked a miserable vengeance on the fallen, bayonetting and madly disfiguring with their clubbed muskets every prostrate antagonist. When the battle was over, many a brave fellow, who had fallen wounded, was found an unrecognisable mass of mangled flesh and blood. Rendered nearly mad by the sight of such devilish atrocity, the survivors redoubled their almost surpernatural efforts, and though pressed on every side, maintained the struggle with unfailing valour, still the same invincible Guardsmen, so terrible at Alma, so heroic at the fight for the Two-gun Battery.

The Light Division meanwhile maintained its reputation in the vigorous struggle in which they were now engaged. Sir George Brown, their General, was severely wounded, and borne from the field, his white hair streaming in the wind, and his face deadly pale, from the acuteness of his suffering. A five-gun battery, under the direction of Sir Thomas Troubridge, Major of the 7th Fusiliers, did good service against the advancing columns of the enemy; but the brave fellows who manned it suffered terribly from the fire from the batteries of the town. Sir Thomas himself had his right leg and left foot carried away by a thirty-nine pounder from the Round Tower, or Malakoff. Notwithstanding the severity of the injury, and the excruciating agony he must have endured, he refused to permit his men to carry him to the rear; but ordered them to lift him to a gun-carriage, whence, streaming with blood, he continued to give the word of command, nor quitted his post till the enemy were routed.

Seeing the desperate nature of the contest, Sir George Cathcart conceived the idea that by descending the side of the hill, he might take the enemy in flank, and so relieve the Guards from the unequal struggle in which they were engaged. He despatched General Torrens, with portions of the 46th and 68th regiments on this duty. They advanced rapidly, but from either hand rained the bullets of the Russian riflemen, concealed in the brushwood. The horse of General Torrens fell pierced by five bullets, and on every side, the number who were struck down attested the severity of the fire to which they were exposed. Torrens himself received a ball through his lungs, and was carried senseless from the field. Sir George Cathcart, seeing the fierce opposition which his brigade sustained, immediately dashed forward with the remainder of his men, and fearlessly charged the enemy. Too late he saw the error into which he had been led. He was perfectly surrounded by the enemy, who held the high ground commanding the valley into which he had led his brigade, in the hopes of making a vigorous flank attack. For some time, his little band returned sharp volleys to the enemy’s rifles. Then a cry was raised that their cartridges were exhausted. There was no retreat, and the fierce fire poured like hail into their ranks. “You have got your bayonets!” shouted their dauntless leader, and dashed forwards followed by his men. As he raised himself in his stirrups, a bullet pierced his brain, and the heroic Cathcart, the subduer of the Cape savages, fell headlong from his horse, quite dead. By his side fell Colonel Seymour, Adjutant-General of the Fourth Division, sharing his leader’s fate. He was wounded before Sir George, but concealed his hurt. When the General fell, Colonel Seymour dismounted to render him assistance. The brigade had swept on, unable to pause in their career, and then the enemy rushing on the wounded Seymour cruelly murdered him, as he stooped over the body of his friend, and consummated their infamy by basely stabbing with their bayonets the insensible body of the noble Cathcart.

It was now eleven o’clock, and it seemed impossible that the English could much longer withstand the terrible assault. They were driven back exhausted by the long struggle; hundreds of their best and bravest had fallen heroically; and the enemy was still pouring fresh legions into the fray. The fog and drizzling rain obscured the scene of action, so that it was impossible for the Generals to concert a scheme of operations, or even to know accurately the state of affairs: it was rather a series of battles than one

## action. Lord Raglan and his staff were eagerly watching the fray,

but unable to control the movements of the troops. Nothing could save the entire army but the self-devotion and valour of the men: tactics were unavailable, and generalship useless. Now, however, came the crisis of the struggle. General Bosquet had by this time discovered that the threatened attack on Balaklava was but a feint; and warned by the thunder of cannon and the roll of musketry of the real point of attack, hastened to, the rescue. Two troops of horse-artillery were speedily despatched, and took up a position whence they could effectively play upon the Russian guns. Hastening to the spot, with his dashing regiments of Zouaves and Chasseurs Indigènes, he precipitated himself upon the left flank of the Russian hordes. General Canrobert, too, at the same time, ordered up several French regiments of the line to the assistance of the English Second Division, on the left.

Wearied, wounded, and almost disheartened, the English heroes were gradually giving ground to the foe, when their ears caught, above the din of battle, the rapid tread and loud shouts of advancing troops, and perceived through the mist the forms of massive columns, moving at a rapid pace, whether friends or foes they scarcely knew. In a few moments, a joyous “Hurrah!” rang from the broken lines, and a mighty cheer was echoed through the fog: then they knew the French were there to help them. A new life seemed to animate them; no longer they retreated, but summoning up the last flashes of their failing fire, charged the foe anew. The Russians, staggered by the fresh assault, surprised by the sudden appearance of the warriors of Africa, hesitated and gave way. Then, uniting their ranks, the English and the French, with mingled shouts, loud “Hurrahs!” and “Vive l’Empereur!” dashed into the paralyzed columns, and drove the bayonets home through many a Russian breast. The Zouaves leaped through the tangled brushwood, and, with wondrous activity, scattered the confused and retreating battalions. Then came the tremendous fire from the ships in the harbour, and the guns from the heights, which almost swept them from the field, and forced them for a brief space to pause in their career. It was but for an instant. Renewing their charge, English and French once more dashed at the flying foe, and at the bayonet’s point, with fearful slaughter, drove them, a disorderly mob, down the hill-side.

The moment had now come when Lord Raglan could effectively exhibit his generalship: for hours he had sat in his saddle, in a most exposed situation, unable to control the fluctuating fortunes of the day. Under his direction, General Strangways had opened a heavy fire of artillery upon the Russian guns upon the opposite hills, with the hope of silencing their fatal volleys. This was all he had been enabled to perform for the succour of the troops engaged. Many fell around him, but the brave old General refused to move from his exposed situation, anxious for the time to arrive when he might be enabled so to manœuvre his forces as to drive back the enemy. General Strangways was within a short distance of the Commander-in-Chief, when a shot, which had actually passed between the legs of Lord Raglan’s horse, shattered his leg, and he fell to the ground. He was borne carefully to the rear, where, in a few moments, the gallant old man, who had survived the dangers of Leipzig, and a fearful wound at Waterloo, breathed his last; meeting his fate with a calm heroism that affected to tears many a brave man fresh from the honours of that sanguinary field. The Russians had left on the field two 18-pounder guns, and Lord Raglan now ordered them to be brought up to the front. Colonel Dickson had already anticipated the order, and the guns had been dragged by main strength to the fitting position on a ridge front of the Second Division. Assisted by Captain D’Aguilar, a well-aimed fire was poured into the Russian batteries; the guns were overthrown, the gunners killed, and the fire for an instant quelled; but the fertility of the enemy’s resources did not fail them even now: fresh gunners supplied the places of those struck down by the English fire, and the deadly duel was resumed. Then came the retreating infantry--a headlong mass, and the fiery Zouaves and reanimated British in hot pursuit. Three times were the artillerymen swept away from their guns; as many times their places were supplied. Then, under cover of fierce volleys from the town and ships, they succeeded in carrying off their guns. The French batteries now advanced to the crown of the ridge, and opened fire on the retreating masses, flying pell-mell towards the heights. Hundreds fell beneath the deadly volleys--the thunders of the death-dealing artillery drowned alike the shrieks and groans of the wounded and the triumphant shouts of the victors, and the battle of Inkermann was won!

About 8000 English and 6000 French had thus utterly defeated more than 50,000 of the enemy, with the disadvantage of being taken by surprise. The English were enfeebled by sickness, imperfectly fed, and inadequately provided with necessary equipments and ammunition. The Russians were mostly fresh troops, prepared for the attack, and supported by the tremendous batteries of the town and ships. It is to the French unquestionably that we were indebted for the victory: no human courage could much longer have withstood such disproportionate odds. The gallant Bosquet, by his promptitude and the dashing valour of his African soldiers, saved not only the fortunes of the day, but the very existence of the English army. Our loss was 462 killed, including 43 officers, 1952 wounded, and 198 missing; giving a total of 2612 casualties. Three generals were killed--Cathcart, Goldie, and Strangways; and three--Brown, Torrens, and Bentinck--were wounded. If we reckon that only about 8000 were engaged, these numbers show that nearly every third man was killed, wounded, or fell into the hands of the enemy. The Russians admit a loss of 2969 killed, of whom 42 were officers; and 5791 wounded, including 206 officers; giving a total loss of 8760. There can be no rational doubt that their real loss was nearly double, and the number of Russians killed or wounded was at the least equal to the entire English and French forces engaged in the battle. Our brigade of Guards alone lost twelve officers killed on the field, besides many wounded. Truly the daring courage of the English gentleman has not deteriorated in these latter days! The chivalric valour which placed the officers in the very front of danger was nobly seconded by the unquenchable spirit of the men whom they led; they were mostly fasting, when they hurried to the scene of conflict, and for ten long hours were engaged in one of the deadliest struggles the military historian has ever recorded. Some were sick, all were gaunt and emaciated. It was Agincourt once more. The starved legions met and overthrew five times their number. Such was the bloody battle of Inkermann!”

IPSUS, BATTLE OF.--Fought B.C. 301. Between Seleucus and Antigonus, King of Asia. On the side of Antigonus was his son, whilst Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Cassander were ranged on the side of Seleucus. The army of Seleucus consisted of 70,000 foot, and 10,000 cavalry, with 75 elephants. The other army amounted to 64,000 infantry, and 10,500 horse, with 600 elephants and 120 chariots. Antigonus and his son were signally defeated.

IRUN, BATTLE OF.--Between the British auxiliary legion, under General Evans, and the Carlist forces. It was fought, May 17th, 1837. On the 16th, the legion marched from St. Sebastian to attack Irun, which, after a desperate resistance, they carried by assault. Great exertions were made by the British officers to save the lives of the prisoners from the fury of the soldiers of the legion, their minds having been exasperated by the frequent massacre of such of their comrades as had from time to time fallen into the hands of the enemy. The town was pillaged.

ISLE-AUX-NOIX.--_In the Richelieu River, Lower Canada._--Commands the entrance to Lake Champlain. Fortified by the French, in 1759. Captured by the English, in 1760. Taken by the Americans, in 1775 (from which place they issued their proclamation to the Canadians). It rendered important service in the war of 1812-1814.

ISLE OF FRANCE.--Taken, with six French frigates, and many Indiamen, by the British from the French, December 2nd, 1810. The British retain possession of it, and it is now a freed colony.

ISMAEL, SIEGE OF.--_In Bessarabia._--After a long siege by the Russians, who lost 20,000 men before the place, the town was taken by storm, December 22nd, 1790, when the Russian General, Suwarrow, the bloodiest and most merciless warrior of modern times, put the brave Turkish garrison, consisting of 30,000 men, to the sword--every man was butchered. Not satisfied with this vengeance, the General ordered the town to be pillaged by his ferocious soldiery, and 6000 women were murdered in cold blood.

ISSUS, BATTLE OF.--Alexander the Great completely defeated Darius in this battle, fought B.C. 333. The Persian army, according to Justin, amounted to 400,000 foot and 100,000 horse, of which 61,000 foot and 10,000 cavalry were left dead on the field, and 40,000 were taken prisoners. The Macedonians lost only 300 foot and 150 horse, according to Diodorus Siculus.

J.

JAFFA.--Celebrated in Scripture as Joppa. Taken by Napoleon, in February, 1799. The French driven out by the British, in June, the same year. Here, according to the account of Sir Robert Wilson, Napoleon massacred 3800 Arab prisoners of war; but this is reasonably doubted.

JANVILLIERS, BATTLE OF.--Between the French and Prussians, which, after a severe engagement, Blucher, who commanded the latter army, was driven back to Chalons with considerable loss. Fought, February 14th, 1814.

JARNAC, BATTLE OF.--The Duke of Anjou, afterwards Henry III of France, defeated the Huguenots, under Louis, Prince of Condé, who was killed in cold blood by Montesquieu. The victor was but seventeen years of age, and on account of his successes and his triumph at Moncontour, the Poles chose him for their king; he had his arm in a sling, and a moment before the battle, his leg was broken by a kick from a horse. Fought, March 13th, 1569.

JAVA.--This island capitulated to the British, August 8th, 1811. The sultan dethroned by the English and the hereditary Prince raised to the throne, June, 1813. Restored to Holland, in 1814.

JEMMAPPES, BATTLE OF.--This was one of the most obstinate and hard-fought battles in modern times; 40,000 French troops forced 28,000 Austrians, who were entrenched in woods and mountains, defended by forty redoubts and an immense number of cannon. The revolutionary general Dumouriez, was the victor in this battle, which lasted four days. According to the most authentic accounts, the loss on the Austrian side was 10,000 men killed, and that of the French 12,000. Fought, November 5th, 1792.

JENNA, BATTLE OF.--One of the most bloody battles fought in the Napoleon wars, between the French and Prussian armies; the former commanded by Napoleon--the latter by the Prussian King. The latter was signally defeated with the loss of 30,000 slain, and 30,000 taken prisoners, and 200 field pieces taken. After this Napoleon advanced to Berlin, October 14th, 1806.

JERUSALEM.--Taken by the Israelites B.C. 1048, and by Nebuchadnezzar B.C. 587. Razed to the ground by Titus A.D. 70, after one of the most awful as well as remarkable sieges recorded in history and predicted by our Blessed Lord. More than 1,100,000 Jews perished on this occasion. Rebuilt by Adrian A.D. 130. Taken by the Persians in 614; by the Saracens in 636; and by the Crusaders in 1099, when 70,000 infidels were put to the sword. A new kingdom was then founded, and lasted eighty-eight years. Again taken from the Christians by Saladin, in 1187, and by the Turks in 1217. Lastly taken by Bonaparte, in February, 1799.

JUGURTHA, THE WAR WITH.--A memorable war, of which the Roman historian, Sallust, has written an account, commenced B.C. 111, and continued five years. Metellus was first sent against him, then Sylla and Marius--the latter of whom took him prisoner, and at last he died in prison, at Rome.

K.

KAFFIR WAR.--There was an invasion of the Kaffirs, or Caffres, in the vicinity of Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, in October, 1831. The invaders fell upon the settlers, murdered them, burnt their houses, destroyed their crops, and carried off their cattle; this irruption was eventually suppressed by the colonial authorities. Other, but slighter annoyances to the colonists took place occasionally, up to December, 1850, when Sir Harry Smith, the then Governor, proclaimed martial law, and ordered the colonists to rise _en masse_ for the defence of the frontier; the Kaffirs had previously defeated the British troops, and had committed many murderous forays on the villages. Then followed several disastrous operations in the Water Kloof, and Colonel Fordyce and several officers and men of the 74th Regiment were killed, November 6th, 1847. Captain Oldham, and others, had just before this fallen into an ambuscade and been killed. The wreck of the _Birkenhead_ with re-enforcements from England, took place February 26th, 1852. General Cathcart, at last, on the 20th December, 1852, attacked them with 2000 British troops at Berea, where they numbered 6000 cavalry. In this action Captain Tanner and 38 men were killed, and two other officers and 15 men wounded. The Kaffirs suffered severely, and at last were obliged to sue for peace.

KALITSCH, BATTLE OF.--Fought, February 13th, 1813, between the Saxons, under the French General Regnier, and the Russians under Winzingerode. An obstinate engagement in which the French were defeated, with the loss of 2000 killed and some thousands taken prisoners.

KALUNGA, FORT.--_In the East Indies._--Unsuccessfully attacked by the East India Company’s forces, and General Gillespie killed, October 31st, 1814. Again unsuccessfully attacked, November 25th, following, and evacuated by the Nepaulese on the 30th November, 1814.

KARS, THE BATTLE OF THE HEIGHTS OF.--“On the 29th September, 1855, about 3.30 A.M., the Russians were seen advancing up the Shorak valley in dense masses, but in what order could not then, on account of the darkness, be ascertained. Our troops were in a moment under arms, and at their posts. General Kmety, with one battalion of infantry and seven companies of chasseurs, was stationed in Sheshanegee Tabia; Major Teesdale, with one battalion of infantry, in Yuksek Tabia; and Hussein Pacha, with the Arabistan Corps, in Tahmasb Tabia, where he was soon joined by Kerim Pacha, the second in command of the army. Bashi-bazouks were also dispersed throughout the different works, and the Laz held a small work called Yarem Ai Tabia, in front of Yuksek Tabia. General Kmety was the first to open fire with round-shot on the advancing battalions of the enemy; he was immediately answered by two guns placed in position on a height forming the north-west boundary of the Shorak valley. In a few minutes the whole visible force of the Russians charged up the hill with loud cries; they were received with a terrific fire of grape and musketry, which mowed down whole ranks at every volley. General Kmety’s position was attacked by eight battalions of the enemy; they advanced very gallantly to within five paces of the work, when so heavy a fire was opened on the head of the column that the whole corps wavered, halted, then turned, and fled down the hill in the greatest confusion, leaving 850 dead. They did not renew the attack there.

Tahmasb Tabia bore the brunt of the battle; about 16 battalions, with many guns, were brought up against it, but its garrison was undaunted, and for a long time the Russians could not even get possession of the breast-work forming the left wing of that battery; but, at length, an overwhelming force obliged the Turks to retire within the redoubt. A scene of carnage now ensued perfectly terrible to behold. As the Russians came over the brow of the hill within the breastwork, to take the battery in rear, Tchim and Tek Tabias and Fort Lake opened on them with 24-pound shot, which tore through their ranks, but they did not seem to heed this. They charged Tahmasb Tabia, which was one sheet of fire, over and over again, and so resolute were their assaults that many of the Russian officers were killed in the battery, but they could not succeed in carrying it.

General Kmety, after having repulsed the Russians, went forward with four companies of chasseurs to Yuksek Tabia, which was sorely pressed. Major Teesdale pointed out a battalion of Russian chasseurs which lay hidden behind Yarem Ai Tabia (this work having been abandoned by the Laz at the commencement of the battle), and begged that they might be dislodged. The General at once determined to carry the battery; so, forming up his men, he charged and drove the Russians down the hill; leaving a company to defend the work, he returned to Yuksek Tabia, from whence perceiving a battalion of the enemy trying to turn the right wing of Tahmasb Tabia, he reinforced his corps with three companies from Major Teesdale, and charged the Russians; here, too, he was successful. In the meantime reinforcements were sent up from below; these formed behind the tents of the reserve, and watched their opportunity in attacking the Russian columns, when driven back from an assault on the batteries. For seven hours this went on; reserve after reserve of the enemy was brought forward, but only to meet death. Nothing could shake the firmness of our troops, till at length the Russians, wearied and dispirited, at eleven A.M., turned and fled down the hills in a confused mass, not one single company keeping its ranks. The army was followed in its flight by the townspeople and Bashi-bazouks, who brought down hundreds as they fled. While the infantry were engaged in this conflict, the Cossacks tried to penetrate into the tents of the reserve, but they were soon driven back by the townspeople and infantry reserves with heavy loss.

One battalion of Russian infantry attempted to march round the position, and take a small battery situated in a commanding position on the road leading to a village called Tchakmak. It commenced its march in splendid order, but ere it went 600 yards it was broken and in great disorder, and so terrified, that fifty or sixty of our chasseurs drove the broken mass down the Tchakmak valley like a flock of sheep. The cause of the terror was the terrible fire opened upon it by Yuksek Tabia, the guns of Sheshanegee Tabia and Fort Lake.

A column of eight battalions, with 16 guns and three regiments of cavalry, attacked the English lines at half-past five A.M. This line of fortification was at the time very weakly garrisoned; the breastwork was carried in a few minutes, the batteries Teesdale, Thompson, and Zohrah, successively fell into the enemy’s hands, and the men who formed their garrisons retired into Williams Pacha Tabia. The Russians then brought up their artillery into position in front of Zohrab Tabia, and began firing upon Fort Lake and shelling the town, but Fort Lake (under the able superintendence of the gallant officer whose name it bears), Arab Tabia, and Karadagh, opened so heavy a fire on them with 24 pounders, that they were compelled to withdraw their artillery altogether. The Russian infantry then charged Williams Pacha Tabia, but were repulsed by a flanking fire from Fort Lake and a severe fire of musketry from the defenders of the battery attacked. They retired into Zohrab Tabia, re-formed, and again assaulted; a body of their chasseurs was at the same time sent forward to within 500 yards of Fort Lake, to take a small open work called Churchill Tabia, which was doing the enemy without the lines much harm. This was occupied by two companies of our chasseurs: they turned to receive the attack of the enemy; and, after retiring a short distance halted, and kept the Russians at bay. While this was going on, Captain Thompson, who had charge of the batteries of Karadagh and Arab Tabia, sent over the 5th regiment of infantry from Arab Tabia to retake the English Tabias of Teesdale and Thompson, and from below two battalions of the 2nd regiment came up to recapture Zohrab Tabia. The forces commenced the attack together from each end of the line, and drove the Russians out of the forts and breastworks at the point of the bayonet. Once out of the lines, they did not attempt to retake them. Unfortunately the enemy had time, while in possession of the batteries, to take away five guns, and to spike three, but they abandoned three of the captured guns at a short distance from the redoubts, so that we only lost two. As the enemy retreated our long guns again played on their columns, and they retired as speedily as possible.

Some cavalry attempted to engage the battery above the village of Tchakmak, but again the terrible guns of Fort Lake drove them off. By 10.30 A.M. the English Tabias were silent.

Such was the dreadful battle of “The Heights of Kars.” This is but a very lame account of the glorious fight. I have not the time to enter into greater details, but it will give an idea of what our men did and had to endure. The forces of the enemy exceeded 30,000, while ours, engaged, were below 8000. Not one of our men had tasted anything since the previous afternoon; hungry and thirsty, they remained undaunted, and repulsed column after column of the Russians; at last their heroism was rewarded with perhaps the most brilliant victory that has been gained during this war.

The field of battle was a sight too horrible ever to be forgotten by me; the dead lay in vast heaps in every direction around the forts--the ditches were full of mutilated bodies--the tents were torn to rags--arms, clothes, broken ammunition-boxes lay strewed about. Upwards of 6000 Russians fell, and more than 4000 muskets have been collected, and 150 prisoners taken. The total loss to the enemy in killed and wounded must have been very near, if not more than, 15,000. Several Generals were killed or wounded; amongst the former, reports say, General Breumer, the second in command; and General Baklanoff, who commanded the attack on Canly Tabia on the 7th of last August. Thousands of carts have been sent to Gumri (Alexandropoli) with wounded.

Our list of casualties is but small, about 1000 in killed and wounded. Dr. Sandwith, the Inspector of Hospitals, had made his arrangements, and, thanks to his abilities, the hospitals are in good order.

For this great victory, Turkey has to thank General Williams; during the past four months his exertions to get things into order have been astonishing; night and day he has laboured. He has had many and great obstacles to overcome, but nothing could break his energy. On the memorable 29th he directed the movements of the troops; the reinforcements always reached their appointed position in time. The great results of the day prove how well his operations were conceived.

The loss inflicted on the enemy fully shows how well the positions of the redoubts were chosen by Colonel Lake. All the batteries flanked each other, and the Russians were unable to bring up guns to command any of our positions. The troops kiss the batteries, and say that the Miralai Bey (Colonel) was “Chok akill” (very wise) when he made them work.

Captain Thompson aided greatly in recapturing the English lines. He directed, by order, the guns of Arab Tabia and Karadagh, and sent the troops over to attack the Russians.

Major Teesdale was in the hottest fire, and acted with great coolness and bravery. He is the admiration of the Turks. He showed them how English officers behave in battle.

All the Turkish officers did their duty nobly. Kerim Pacha was slightly wounded, and had two horses killed under him; Hussein Pacha was hit; two Colonels, and many other officers, were killed.”

Another account thus graphically describes the fall of Kars:--

“Omer Pacha, gradually overcoming the difficulties of that deficiency in transports found himself at the head of about 15,000 troops in Abasia, a good many of these being his own trustworthy veterans. He had gradually edged them down towards redoubt Kaleh, which he fixed on as his basis of operations. On the 30th Shemserai was secured, and, having driven in the Russian outposts from Sogdidi and endeavoured to open relations with Schamyl, while conciliating the Princess Dalian and the Christian population in his own neighbourhood, he moved inland in a south-eastern direction. But, owing to the difficulties of the country, which is an entanglement of woods interspersed with very rich but neglected farm lands, and owing still more to the precariousness and uncertainty of any supplies from the inhabitants, his progress was extremely slow. He did all that lay in his power, purchasing provisions in every direction, and organizing, as his principal resource, a regular commissariat at Redoubt Kaleh. The river Phasis, which flows from the Caucasus to the Euxine, is navigable for nearly a hundred miles from the sea; and he had hoped to have availed himself of this channel for important manœuvres. His plan was this:--The first strong Russian post was at Kutais, where the great high road--by Gori, into Georgia, and down to Tiflis--would take his advancing columns over the celebrated Soorem Pass. Once master of Kutais, and with his communications well secured upon the Black Sea along his rear line, he hoped either to be able to defeat all the local Russian garrisons and posts between Soorem and the capital of the fertile province lying beyond and below it, or else to recall by the terror of his progress the army of General Mouravieff, then menacing Armenia, and beleaguering Kars. In either case a great blow would be struck, and the hard-pressed troops of General Williams relieved. Then, should it even prove too late to advance permanently that year beyond Mingrelia, he could at least strengthen himself in Kutais, make it his new centre for future operations, and call up, meantime, additional forces for the campaign of spring. General Mouravieff would then be pressed from the side of Armenia, where he was now acting offensively, and from the side of Imeretia, on which he would be thrown also upon the defensive. But it was already too late; and the Russian chief knew it. Well informed of the true state of the Kars garrison, he never disquieted himself, or in the slightest altered his plans, in consequence of Omer Pacha’s diversion. Should the Muchir even beat the militia which now guarded the northern gorges of Georgia, he felt sure that it would all come to the same result. The season, the floods, scarcity, would compel the victor to retreat; much more would such become his necessity if, in the interim, he, General Mouravieff, should succeed in reducing Kars, and, while thus liberating his own army for an encounter with the Ottoman, should rob the latter of the chief motive which prompted this venturous advance by depriving it of its character _as a diversion_. Indeed, in such a contingency, the further Omer might have penetrated, the worse, perhaps, would be his situation; since General Mouravieff, by not returning directly towards Tiflis (which would be rather better able than Kars had been to stand a siege in its turn and to hold any assailant in play), but by moving diagonally, north-east by north, along the excellent Russian line from Alexandropol to Akhazik, would himself take Omer Pacha in flank and rear, shatter his line of communication, overwhelm his detached supports, and cut him off from the sea.

For these reasons, General Mouravieff tranquilly and steadily persisted in the blockade of Kars; and never for a moment showed any inclination to turn aside to face the Turkish invader. A month and seven days had now elapsed since the assault on Kars was repulsed so gloriously, when Omer Pacha at length brought his labouring columns through the miry woodlands as far as the Ingour. There he saw, for the first time, a regular stand prepared by the enemy, about 12,000 strong, intrenched on the opposite bank, and commanding the passage by batteries. They were chiefly the Russian militia of Georgia and were under the command of General Bragation-Makrausky. The Turks had some 20,000 men. The stream was barely fordable in half-a-dozen places, by which the enemy’s intrenchments could be turned. The Turks passed it, up to their armpits in water, holding their muskets aloft; our countrymen--Colonel Ballard, Captain Dymsck, and others--showing a splendid example worthy of English officers. The engagement lasted five hours, when the Russians fled, leaving behind them 60 prisoners, five gun-carriages and ammunition carts, and 400 killed. They appear to have carried off their wounded. Omer Pacha had 220 wounded and 68 killed. Pressing on the track of the fugitives he came up with them before the end of November, within sight of Kutais, and obtained another advantage. But the floods had come; the Phasis had assumed the dimensions of a torrent; great forest trees were swept down the stream as if they were reeds--now engulfed out of sight in the eddies, now reappearing on the surface for a moment as they were borne away; the roads were impassable to artillery, and almost to infantry; the whole country was transformed into an alternation of morass and lagoon; a day’s march was the work of a week; the troops were broken up and islanded, as it were, into helpless detachments; the commissariat could not act; the supplies arrived with greater irregularity, incertitude, and insufficiency from day to day; the whole army was suffering incredible hardships and privations; it was threatened with annihilation unless a retrograde movement were promptly made; and, finally, came the news Kars had succumbed at last. The conquerors, therefore, retired, unpursued, and gradually straggled back to Redoubt Kaleh, where Omer Pacha soon succeeded in restoring their tone and refreshing their energies.

So ended the war of 1855 with Russia; for this was really its last incident, General Mouravieff having already dismantled the fortifications of Kars, and withdrawn the bulk of his forces to Gumri. It was on the 28th of November that General Williams at last surrendered to him the stubborn Armenian fortress. The heroic garrison had long been macerated by the failure of rations and by disease. Even their ammunition was expended. In another assault on the day of their surrender they would have had no means of firing half-a-dozen rounds from their guns, and they were completely past the power of personal resistance as a body, being unable to wield their weapons, and hardly able to stand erect. They had borne literally the fiercest extremities of famine. They were now a corps of spectres, with scarcely the strength to speak. Yet these men had furnished indiscriminately the sentinels who had mounted guard over the little pile of half-rotten farina which was to be doled out in a biscuit a day for each; and the trusty sentries never touched the food which was the sole remaining common stock. Under such circumstances it was that General Williams rode out with a flag of truce, and told Prince Mouravieff that he would surrender Kars provided all the courtesies and honours of war were conceded to the garrison. General Kmety and some few attendants had tried a different expedient--they stole out and cut their way through the leaguer on the only serviceable horses left.

Mouravieff listened with attention to General Williams, who threatened, if his various stipulations were not granted, to burst every gun and destroy every military trophy still extant in Kars. The Russian chief replied with chivalrous warmth and visible emotion as he looked at the emaciated hero, that all was granted, and that he was proud as an enemy to testify that General Williams and those under him had immortalised themselves. Nothing, in short, could surpass the nobility of sentiment displayed (both then and in the subsequent treatment of the prisoners) by Prince Mouravieff and the Russian army.”

KERTCH.--An expedition undertaken against this place during the late Russian war was completely successful. “Notwithstanding the recall of the expedition to Kertch in the early part of the month, the Allied Generals were resolved to carry out the project of a descent upon that part of the coast; and, on the 22nd of May, another expedition departed: the English force under Sir George Brown, and the French under General D’Autemarre. The two Admirals, Sir Edmund Lyons and Bruat, accompanied the land forces. The troops engaged numbered 15,000, with five batteries of artillery. It was apprehended that a serious resistance would probably be made at Kertch, and that the fleets would have difficulty in forcing the straits into the Sea of Azov, if they were exposed to the fire of the powerful batteries of Kertch and Yenikale. In order, then, that the town might be attacked from the land side, Sir George Brown landed his force at Kamiesch Bournu, a few miles to the south of Kertch, and advanced overland. The enemy, however, had no intention of risking a contest, and evacuated the town, destroying the magazines, and blowing up the fortifications. When the troops entered Kertch, they found it deserted by nearly all the inhabitants; and the ships in the straits hurredly endeavouring to escape into the Sea of Azov. In this attempt they were frustrated by the activity of the allied fleets; and the Admirals, finding the depth of water more than they had anticipated, started in full pursuit, capturing and burning every vessel they could approach. Yenikale was, like Kertch, deserted by its garrison; and in a few hours the Allies were in undisturbed and bloodless possession of the two towns commanding the outlet of the Sea of Azov, and the fleets were in full chase of the Russian navy in those waters.”

KIEL, TREATY OF.--Between Great Britain, Sweden and Denmark, signed January 14th, 1814.

KILCULLEN, BATTLE OF.--Fought May 23rd, 1798, between a vast body of insurgent Irish and the British forces, commanded by General Dundas. The latter were defeated. General Dundas, however, subsequently beat the rebels near Kilcullen bridge, when 3000 were slain, and hundreds wounded and taken prisoners.

KILDARE.--The great rebellion commenced here in May 23rd, 1798. On that night Lieutenant Gifford, of Dublin, and a number of gentlemen were murdered. Quelled in the following year.

KILLALA.--A French force landed here, August 22nd, 1798. They were joined by the Irish insurgents, and the actions of Castlebar, Colooney and Ballyhannack followed. At the battle of Killala the insurgents were defeated with great slaughter, by the Royalist forces, September 23rd, 1798.

KILLIECRANKIE, BATTLE OF.--Fought July 17th, 1689, between the forces of William III and the adherents of James II. “General Mackay, the officer sent against Claverhouse, had about 3000 foot and some companies of horse under his command. But they were mostly all raw recruits, and entire strangers to the Highland way of fighting. At the head of the wild and gloomy pass of Killiecrankie, Mackay found himself in front of the rebels. He drew up his men, three deep, along the side of the narrow valley into which the pass opens. The Highlanders occupied the hill on the north side of the valley. At this time, the bayonet screwed into the muzzle of the musket, so that troops could not fire with bayonets fixed. The Highlanders, in dense masses broke down from the hill. Firing their guns once, they dropped them, and then with target on the left arm, and flashing broadsword they rushed, wildly yelling, on the enemy. Mackay’s troops fired a volley, which did little harm to the loose array of their leaping, bounding foes, and before they could screw in their bayonets, the Highlanders were among them. An empty musket without a bayonet could do little against the sweeping broadsword. A panic seized Mackay’s raw levies, and they broke and fled, pursued and cut down by the savage Highlanders.

Claverhouse never knew that he had won a victory. He fell at the beginning of the action, pierced by a musket ball which entered beneath his arm. When one in a pack of hungry wolves is killed, the rest turn upon him and eat him up. Claverhouse’s own men, true to their savage instinct of plunder, stripped his body, and left it naked upon the field, where it was with difficulty distinguished from the other bodies of the fallen!”

KOLIN, OR KOLLIN, BATTLE OF.--In this engagement the famous Austrian General Daun, gained a celebrated victory over Frederick the Great of Prussia, June 18th, 1757. Next year he obliged the Prussians to raise the siege of Olmutz and to retreat to Moravia.

KONIAH, BATTLE OF.--Fought on the Plains of Koniah, formerly Jornium, between the army of the Sultan of Turkey and the Pacha of Egypt, in which, after a most bloody action which continued all the day, the Turkish army was defeated, and the Grand Vizier himself wounded and taken prisoner, December 31st, 1833.

KOWNO, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the French and Russian armies, in which the French were defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of upwards of 6000 prisoners, 21 pieces of cannon; many thousands on both sides were slain. Fought, December 14th, 1812.

KRASNOI, BATTLE OF.--Fought between the French under Davoust, and the Russian army commanded by Kutusoff. In this bloody battle Davoust was entirely overthrown, and his army dispersed, thousands upon thousands being left dead on the field, November 16th, 1812.

KUNNERSDORF, BATTLE OF.--One of the most bloody battles on record, and fought between the Prussian and Russian armies. The King of Prussia, after a great slaughter of the enemy for upwards of six hours, had gained many advantages and had nearly accomplished victory; but too eager in pursuing the retreating enemy, the latter rallied, and in the end the Prussians were defeated with the loss of 20,000 men and 200 pieces of cannon, August 12th, 1759.