I 
Vol. IV.— No. 102.] 
Saturday, December 9, 1854. 
TIIE FIELD OF WAR. 
THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. — FRENCH OFFICIAL 
DESPATCHES FROM THE CRIMEA. 
The General-in-Chief of the French army of the East has 
forwarded to the Minister of War the two following reports, 
which he has received from Generals Forey and Bosquet, who 
commanded the French troops engaged on the 5th of November 
at the battle of Inkerman: — 
THE SORTIE PROM SEBASTOPOL. 
Before Sebastopol, Nov. 7, 1854. 
General, — I have the honour to report to you that on the 
5th of November, at nine o'clock in the morning, the left of our 
force attacking Sebastopol was assailed by a Russian column, 
composed of four battalions forming the regiment of Minsk, 
and a certain number of volunteers who followed in the rear. 
This column, more than 5,000 strong, supported by a battery 
of artillery, left the fortifications by the Quarantine Gate, and 
followed the course of the ravine on the left of our lines. 
Favoured by a thick fog, their progress could not at first be 
checked, and on their arriving at the batteries 1 and 2 they 
attacked them in full force. Those who served in the bat- 
teries were obliged to retire towards the 39th and 19th Regi- 
ments of the Line, and four companies of the foreign legion 
entrusted with the defence of the trenches. These battalions, 
or fractions of battalions, were obliged to give way under the 
effects of the charge of the Russian column, but they quickly 
resumed the offensive when two companies of the 19th bat- 
talion of Chasseurs, stationed as a reserve at Clocheton, and 
four companies of the foreign legion from the Maison des 
Carrieres, came up on the field of battle. 
General de la Motte Rouge, who was on duty in the trench 
in the first parallel, threw himself rapidly, with some com- 
panies of the 20th Light Regiment, on the points of the 
attack. When he arrived at the batteries 1 and 2, they had 
been already abandoned by the enemy, who had been thrown 
back on the other side of the ravine, at a small distance from 
the trench. At the voice of the general our soldiers cleared 
the first line of defence, followed the enemy, and poured in a 
murderous fire upon them. They halted on reaching the 
elevation of the house, which goes by the name of the Shore 
(Rivage), and taking up a position behind its walls continued 
their fire. 
Whilst this was taking place, at the first sound of the firing 
I mounted my horse, and made the following arrangements : 
— I gave orders to General Lourmel to march straight towards 
the house that was burnt, and to General d’Aurelle to advance 
his front on the Sebastopol road, which runs along the sea- 
shore. 
His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon received instruc- 
tions to keep his division underarms, and it advanced towards 
the house at Clocheton to support my right, while the effort 
was being made on the left. 
The division Levaillant taking the place of the brigades 
Lourmel and d’Aurelle, advanced their front in close columns, 
by brigades. General Levaillant posted himself, in person, at 
a distance of 500 metres beyond this line, in order to decide on 
the moment when his assistance would be necessary. 
I put myself at the head of the 5th battalion of Chasseurs 
and my artillery, and followed the ravine Carrieres, which is in 
a direction perpendicular to the Sebastopol road, in order to 
•cut off the retreat of the enemy should he advance beyond the 
ba'teries 1 and 2. 
Such were the general arrangements which I took to enable 
me to be prepared for any event on the side of the siege corps. 
I was vigorously attacked. I heard firing in the direction of 
Inkerman. I knew that you were holly engaged there, but 
not being able to judge on what side the most violent effort 
would be made, I judged it right to advance towards the battle 
with my first line supported by the whole of my reserve. 
The brigade Lourmel, led with inexpressible ardour by its 
chief, -ut to flight the enemy in its front the moment it got 
up to them. Two battalions of the 2Gth regiment of the line 
furiously pursued the Russians, who retreated in disorder. It 
was then that General de la Motte Rouge, seeing General 
Lourmel arrive on the height above the Quarantine Bay, where 
he was stationed, followed him in movement on the offensive. 
troops, stimulated by the excitement of success, came 
within a very short distance of the walls of the place, driving 
before them the mass of Russians, whilst the section of artil- 
lery commanded by Lieutenant De la Hitte kept up a fire of 
shot nnd bombs upon them. 
I had taken up a position with the 5th battalion of Chasseurs 
on the right flank of General de la Motte Rouge on the Qua- 
rantine height. 
Thinking that the pursuit was being continued too far, I 
Sei ff ^ auver S ne » chef d' escadron, and Colson, captain of the 
6taff, to order the generals to retreat immediately. There was 
much trouble in effecting this movement, so great was the 
ardour of the soldiers. This retreat was supported by the 
position which I held, on the right with the fifth battalion of 
Chasseurs, in the centre by the remainder of the brigade 
Lourmel en echelon, and on the left by General d'Aurelle. This 
general officer had extended his line as far as the sea shore, 
and, by main force, had gained possession of the buildings of 
the Quarantine, which he occupied with the first battalion of 
“e /4th Regiment of the Line. He had left behind in the 
second line, on a commanding position, Colonel Bcuret with 
"m battalions, ready for whatever might happen. 
The occupation of these buildings was of great use. It 
effectually protected the retreat of Lourmel's brigade. I can- 
not dwell too much upon this measure taken by Gen. d’Aurelle, 
or it stopped the furious fire of the Russians, who, having 
made a movement in advance, were again lining the northern 
side of the Quarantine Bay. The fire of the 74th, directed 
with accuracy, compelled them to make a retreat a second 
lime, and forced them to re-enter the fortification. It is on 
this northern side that I would have had the pursuit of the 
enemy to be discontinued, had not the gallant Gen. Lourmel, 
excited by an ardour which I deplore, led his troops beyond. 
In the pursuit he was seriously wounded by a ball, which went 
through his breast. He then gave up the command to Col. 
Niol, who was obliged to make good his retreat under a most 
violent fire from all the batteries — a movement which was only 
completed at the back of the Quarantine Ravine. 
Our losses have been very considerable . but I do not think 
that I am below the truth in stating the loss of the Russians, 
dead and disabled, at 1,200. 
The enemy obtained no result as a compensation for his 
losses, for the trenches are untouched, and of the eight guns 
that were spiked, five opened fire immediately, and the rest 
have been used to-day. 
I cannot praise too highly the troops engaged on the 5th of 
November. I was thoroughly well supported by every one — 
generals, officers, and privates. The officers of my staff, since 
the commencement of the siege, and particularly on the 5th. 
have unceasingly distinguished themselves by their bravery and 
coolness. General d’Aurelle gave proofs of distinguished 
military intelligence this diy. General Lourmel, who although 
dangerously wounded, did not give up his command until his 
strength was exhausted, was the admiration of every one. He 
has just sunk under his wound. I cannot express to you the 
grief which I have felt at this misfortune. The army loses 
in him a general whose chivalrous courage recognised no 
obstacle, and a chief who appeared to be marked out for the 
highest destinies. 
You will notice, general, by the number of the officers dis- 
abled, that they are in a particular manner the object of the 
enemy’s attack. The French are too proud to disguise their 
rank, as the Russian officers do, under a private's cloak.— 
I am, with respect, &c., 
(The General commanding the siege corps). 
Forey. 
GENERAL BOSQUET'S CORPS AT THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. 
The following is General Bosquet’s reput of the battle of 
Inkerman, on the 5th of November, 1854, addressed to 
General Canrobert, Comraander-in-Chief: — 
On the 5th of November, at the break of day, the enemy 
showed himself in position on three points of our line<, 
namely : 1st, on this side of the Inkerman bridges, facing 
the English right ; in the plain of the Tchernaya, threatening 
the English redoubt; and also facing the telegraph. 
He had taken up these positions under the cover of the 
night and a thick fog, and opened his fire about half past six 
before Inkerman and before the telegraph. I ordered the 
whole of the corps of observation under arms, and caused the 
infantry to lean towards the telegraph, while I went beyond 
the mill. General Bourbaki followed me with one battalion 
of the 7th Light Infantry, one battalion of the 6th Line Regi- 
ment, four companies of Foot Chasseurs, and the two horse 
batteries. 
There I met the two English generals, Sir George Brown 
and Sir George Cathcart, together. 
I offered them my assistance, informing them that I was 
followed by the troops I have just stated, and by others that I 
could take from the lines, if the serious attack was in front of 
the English. They thanked me, and assured me that they 
had reserves for the moment, but that they had no one 
towards their right behind the English redoubt, and they 
begged me to make them assured on that side, which I in- 
stantly did. I then went, in order to ascertain personally the 
full import of the two attacks by the Tchernaya and the plain 
of Baliklava, facing the telegraph. These were evidently 
feints. 
I was examining the false attack at the telegraph, when 
some English officers came to inform me that the fire was 
getting serious on their right ; Colonel Styl especially gave 
me clear information, and I instantly sent away General 
Bourbaki to the English right. At the same time I gave 
orders for a battalion of Zouaves, and one of the Rifles, to 
march in the same direction. Lastly, a short time after 
General d’Auteinarre received orders to march against the 
same attack with a battalion of Zouaves, and the two bat- 
talions of the 50th. 
The two batteries of the 2nd division had been sent, at 
daybreak, to the telegraph ; I sent one of them to the English 
right to join the two hor e batteries already in motion. 
I rejoined the first troops, led on by General Bourbaki, as 
they were about to form into line. All the ground in front 
of the English right was evacuated, and the only part occu 
pied was the crest, that is, twenty paces in advance of the first 
row of tents. 
I did not hesitate to move forward my two battalions, with 
the four companies of Foot Chasseurs, who charged the enemy 
very bravely and arrived near the small redoubt on the right. 
On the arrival of the battalion of Zouaves (commander 
Dubos) and the Algerine Rifles, I brought up a fresh charge, 
and led it on as far as the crest that looks down on the ravine 
of the road. 
I reckoned on the English being able to support my left 
beyond the road, but they were prevented from doing so ; the 
enemy turned it by the road, and for a moment I was all but 
surrounded. The Zouaves of Commander Dubos crossed in 
the rear the heads of the columns that had turned us, and 
stopped them completely. I had for an instant to re-form my 
line in order to charge once more, and this time also was 
eminently successful. But the enemy, crushed by the fire of 
the English and French guns that I had joined on the crest 
behind my left, gave way finally, and only resisted while he 
fled. 
In these encounters with the bayonet our field of battle was 
heaped with dead bodies ; it was a complete butchery ; several 
officers had their horses killed there. 
The 7th Light Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Vaissier, behaved with such glowing and brilliant gallantry 
[Gratis. 
that it deserves special mention, as does also the skill and 
advance of the Foot Chasseurs of the 3rd Battalion. 
The battalion of the 6th of the line charged very splendidly, 
and avenged well the death of its brave colonel, M. de Camas, 
who fell inside of the enemy's ranks. 
The battalion o( Zouaves, under its commander, Dubos, 
manmuvred with that intelligence, that inflexible bravery, that 
does not falter even when the enemy surrounds you. 
The Algerine Rifles leaped nimbly like panthers through 
the bushes. This day has done honour to them, and likewise 
to their colonel, M. de Wimpfen. 
The other battalion of Zouaves, and the two battalions of 
the 50th strenuously supported us, without having had to 
charge the enemy. 
During this combat, the two horse batteries of Commander 
La Boussini&re, and the battery of the Second Division, the 
whole commanded by Commander de Barral, were engaged in 
a fierce fight with the Russian artillery, which consisted of 
2-1 pounders nnd 30-pounders in position, nnd of a great 
many field pieces. Our batteries, assisted by an English 
battery of 9-pounders, had the honour of extinguishing the 
Russian fire, and reducing it absolutely to silence. This 
combat of artillery was directed by Colonel Furgeot, who 
rendered mo on that day the greatest service. 
Lastly, at the moment when the Russian fire was being put 
out, l caused to be brought up as far as the Inst crest a battery 
of division, supported by two bnttalions, which was able to 
cover the bridges of Inkerman with shells and balls. By their 
means the Russian troops fell into the greatest disorder, and 
we had the joy of seeing them fly in full rout. But this rout 
was protected by the Inkerman marshes, which we were unfor- 
tunate as not being able to cross, as our cavalry would have 
had there some glorious work to do at the end of a victorious 
day. 
The brigade of General Monet, that came up ns the second 
reserve, had no opportunity given it for actiou ; but it suffered 
loss from the gun9 of the enemy, whose balls had a very 
extensive range. 
In front of the telegraph we only had a cannonade, but no 
wounded, and I experience real pleasure in expressing here 
how well the detachment of Marines under Captain de Cau- 
tenson served their good 30-pounders, which kept the enemy's 
line at a great distance and inflicted on it sensible loss. 
I have thanked Generals d'Autemarre and Bourbaki, who 
so valiantly led on their troops, and Colonel de Cissey, the 
chief of my staff, who seconded mo right heartily. I wish I 
could mention by name each of the brave men who fought so 
well at Inkerman, but this would be mentioning every one. 
The Lieutenant-General commanding the Corps of Observa- 
tion. Bosquet. 
ENGLISH OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 
( From the Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, 
December 1.) 
War Department, Dec. 2, 1851, 1 p.m. 
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day received a 
despatch, of which the following is a copy, addressed to his 
Grace by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B. : — 
Before Sebastopol, Nov. 11, 1854. 
My Loro Duke, — When, on the 8th instant, I reported 
the gallant and successful repulse of the very formidable 
attack made upon the position occupied by our troops above 
the ruins of Inkerman, I stated that I would in a subsequent 
despatch lay before your Grace the names of the officers whose 
conduct upon the occasion had been brought to my notice. I 
now proceed to discharge that duty. 
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge reports most 
favourably of the exertions of Colonel the Honourable George 
Upton, of the Coldstream Guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Rej- 
nardson, of the Grenadier Guards, and Colonel Walker, of the 
Scots Fusilier Guards, as well as of Colonel Cunynghame, As- 
sistant-Quarterrnastc-r-General, and Lieutenunt-Colonel Brown- 
rigg, Assistant-Adjutant-General; Captain the Honourable 
Percy Fielding, Acting Deputy- Assistant-Quartermaster- 
General, who was severely wounded; and of Captain Butler, 
Deputy-Assislant-Adjutant-General, who was uufortunately 
killed; and here I may pause to mention that he was the 
brother of Cuptain Butler, who so distinguished himself at 
Silistria, and fell just before the siege was raised. 
The Duke of Cambridge likewise recommends Lieutenant- 
Colonel Dacres, of the Royal Artillery, who commanded the 
field batteries of the 1st Division, whieh were admirably 
served by Captains Paynter and Woodhouse, Captain Hamley 
of the Royal Artillery acting as staff-officer to that branch of 
the service ; Captain Ellison, the Brigade Major to the 
Guards; and Major the Honourable James Macdonald (whose 
conduct particularly attracted my attention), and the other 
officers of his personal staff. 
His Royal Highness speaks also in the highest terms of the 
spirited exertions of Assistant-Surgeon Wilson, of the 7th 
Hussars, who at a critical moment rallied a few men, which 
enabled them to hold the ground till reinforced. 
In the 2nd Division, whieh, as I have already informed 
your Grace, received the first attack, and was engaged through- 
out the day, the officers whose names I have to bring forward 
are very numerous. 
Those who commanded the regiments of which it is com- 
posed were, without exception, cither killed or wounded ; and 
in many instances, those who succeeded were wounded. 
Major-General Pennefather commends them highly. Colonel 
Warren, of the 55th, in comnund of the 1st Brigade, and Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Daubcncy, 55th, who succeeded to it on the 
former being wounded, and was himself wounded afterwards; 
Lieutenant-Colonel Maulevercr, 30th, and Major Patullo, of 
the same regiment, who took the command o! the regiment 
when the L eutenant-Coloml was wounded , Major Champion, 
95th Regiment, and Major Hume, of the same corps, who 
| were both wounded, the latter having succeeded the former in 
the command, and being himself relieved by Captain Davis, 
I when he was obliged to leave the field ; Lieutenant-Colonel 
