  |
|
|
|
'Hurrah for the Crimea! We are off tomorrow. Fine country, people very friendly. Take Sevastopol in a week or so, and then into winter quarters.'
Cornet ER Fisher 4th Dragoon Guards
'I have on the part of Her Majesty's Government to instruct your lordship to concert measures for the siege of Sevastopol, unless, with the information in your possession but at present unknown in your country, you should be decidedly of opinion that it could not be undertaken with a reasonable prospect of success.' Newcastle went on to write how much the government would regret any further delay, as they firmly believed that the difficulties of taking the city would increase with the passage of time. He added in a cover note that Napoleon fully agreed with the proposed action. Raglan called Sir George Brown to his Headquarters to ask his advice. Did we know how many Russian troops there were in the Crimea?, asked Brown. Well, said Raglan, the Foreign Office thought there were 45,000, and Admiral Dundas had reports of 120,000. (The actual numbers were 38,000 men and 18,000 sailors in Sevastopol, with a further 12,000 troops close at hand in East Crimea) What was the strength of the Sevastopol defences? Unknown in any detail, but certainly upwards of 600 guns on the seaward side. Was there a firm recommendation for a suitable landing place? Several people had firm views, but there was no consensus and no one had actually done a recce. What did we know of the terrain? No specific studies had been carried out. Were there any maps? None. Were our siege trains up and running? Part of the British had arrived, the French had been held in Toulon because of the cholera. What would the Duke of Wellington have done? Certainly he wouldn't have gone ahead without more information, but then he hadn't received Newcastle's letter. What would Sir George advise? Official war historian Kinglake quoted the reply from the written version of the interview which Sir George gave him: 'It is clear to me from the tenor of the Duke of Newcastle's letter that they have made up their minds to it at home, and that if you decline to accept the responsibility, they will send someone else out to command the Army,'
The copyright of the article Take Sevastopol in a Week... in Crimean War is owned by John Barham. Permission to republish Take Sevastopol in a Week... in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
