THE RUSSIAN WAR,

1854, 1855.

WHO will forget that 11th March, 1854, when the Queen reviewed at Spithead the most powerful fleet ever collected, and placed under the command of Sir Charles Napier, with his flag on board the 'Duke of Wellington,' of 131 guns, which ship alone would almost have been capable of contending with the largest fleet Howe, Jervis, or Nelson ever led to victory. That superb fleet was intended chiefly for the Baltic, where it was hoped that not only would it humble the pride of the Czar, by capturing Sveaborg, Helsingfors, and Cronstadt, but might lay St. Petersburg itself under contribution. Some of the ships went to the Black Sea, and in other directions; but Sir Charles Napier found himself altogether in command of a fleet in the Baltic consisting of 30 steamers and 13 sailing ships mounting 2,052 guns. The French also had a fleet of 23 ships, carrying 1250 guns.

To the Black Sea England sent a fleet of 49 ships, mounting altogether 1701 guns, and the French one of 36 ships, mounting altogether 1742 guns.

We will in the first place give a short account of the various events connected with the navy which occurred during the war, and afterwards enlarge on those of more interest and importance.

The allied fleets entered the Black Sea in January, 1854.

G

BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA.

WAR having been declared, the steamer Furious' was sent to Odessa early in April, to bring off the British Consul.

Having anchored in the bay with a flag of truce at her mast-head, a boat, also with a flag of truce flying, pulled for the shore, when, against all the laws of civilized warfare, the batteries opened fire on them. No one was hit, and the Furious' steamed back to the fleet. The allied admirals, indignant at the outrage, addressed a note to the Russian governor, General Osten-Sacken, pointing out the outrage which had been committed, and demanding "that all the British, French, and Russian vessels now at anchor near the citadel or the batteries of Odessa be forthwith delivered up to the combined squadron; and that if at sunset no answer or a negative be received, they will be compelled by force to avenge the insult offered, though, for humanity's sake, they adopt the alternative with regret, and cast the responsibility of the act upon those to whom it belongs."

No satisfactory answer having been received, the combined fleet opened fire on the fortifications of Odessa on the 22nd April. The bombardment lasted for ten hours, during which the Russian batteries were considerably injured, two batteries blew up, vast quantities of military stores were destroyed, and several ships of war were sunk.

LOSS OF THE TIGER.'

On the 12th of May, during a thick fog, the steam sloop 'Tiger,' 16 guns, Commander Gifford, went on shore on the rocks near Odessa. While she was thus utterly helpless, the Russians, as soon as they caught sight of her, opened fire on her, and Captain Gifford, being desperately wounded (mortally, as it proved), was at length compelled to strike his flag. The Russians, having removed her guns and stores, set fire to the vessel, and forwarded the flag as a trophy to St. Petersburg. It was one of the very few, either from Red-coats or Blue-jackets, they got during the war.

OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC.

WE must now go north to the Baltic.

Sir Charles Napier's squadron reached Wingo Sound on the 15th March, and on the 25th it entered the Great Belt, and anchored in Kiel Bay. Soon afterwards, Sir Charles was reinforced by Admiral Corry, with the second division of the fleet. On the 12th of April Sir Charles sailed for the Gulf of Finland, where he established a rigorous blockade. As, even at this season of the year, there is a considerable amount of ice in the Baltic, the navigation of the ships demanded all the vigilance of the officer in charge. Sir Charles, hearing that a Russian squadron, consisting of 7 lineof-battle ships and 1 frigate, was shut up at Helsingfors, made sail in that direction for the purpose of preventing a junction between the two portions of the

Russian fleet. In this very important object, in which the enemy's plan of naval operations was completely defeated, he was entirely successful.

Admiral Plumridge, meantime, was scouring the Gulf of Bothnia, and in a short period captured or destroyed 46 merchantmen and a quantity of naval stores, without losing a man. The French squadron, under Vice-Admiral Parseval-Deschènes, had now joined the English fleet, and everybody expected that something was to be done.

ARROGANT' AND 'HECLA,'

19th May.

THESE two steamers-the first a screw, commanded by Captain Yelverton, and the second by Captain Hall-had been detached from the fleet, and employed for a considerable time in reconnoitring the forts of the enemy about Hango Bay.

The two captains, hearing that some ships lay off the town of Eckness, some way up a narrow river, determined to cut them out. They boldly entered the river, and on the evening of the 19th came to an anchor.

One of the boats was sent on ahead, when, before she had got 800 yards from the ship, a hot fire was opened on her from behind a sandbank in a thicklywooded place. At the same time some round shot struck the Hecla.' Both ships instantly beat to quarters, and, casting loose their guns, poured showers of shot and shell into the wood, from whence they

speedily dislodged the enemy. They then shifted their berth, and were not further molested during the night. A bright look-out was kept, however, to prevent surprise. At 2 A.M. both ships weighed, the 'Hecla' leading, and the crews being at their quarters. They slowly and carefully felt their way along the intricate navigation of the river, till they suddenly found themselves within range of the guns of a battery posted on a promontory before them, which was crowded with soldiers, stout-looking fellows, habited in long grey coats, and spiked helmets of steel, which glittered brightly in the sun. The Hecla' immediately opened fire, which the battery returned with spirit ; and the Arrogant' now coming up, let fly a whole broadside among the soldiers, just as some horseartillery had made their appearance, and were unlimbering preparatory to engaging. As the smoke cleared off, the troop of artillery was seen scampering away at full speed. A heavy fire of musketry now burst forth from a wood on one side, and continued for some time without intermission, the Minie balls falling thick on board both ships.

While this work was going forward the 'Arrogant' ran aground within 20 yards of the battery, but in a position which allowed her guns full play on it. So smartly were they worked that they dismounted all the guns of the enemy, and, having done so, her crew set to work, and got her off. As they passed close to the port, they witnessed the state of complete ruin which they had so speedily caused-guns dismounted, carriages blown to fragments, and accoutrements and helmets scattered around.

Proceeding on, the town of Eckness now opened