edoubt. Captain Donovan, of
the 33rd, captured another gun; but the horses not being harnessed to
it, the driver took to flight, and it could not be removed. Nineteen
sergeants of that regiment were killed or wounded, chiefly in defence of
their colours. The colours of the Scots Fusilier Guards were carried by
Lieutenants Lindsay and Thistlethwayte. The staff was broken and the
colours riddled, and many sergeants fell dead by their side, yet
unharmed they cut their way through the foe, and bore them triumphantly
up that path of death to the summit of the heights. The action lasted
little more than two hours. In that time 25 British officers were
killed, and 81 wounded; and of non-commissioned officers and men, 337
were killed, and 1550 were wounded. But death was not satiated, and
many brave officers and men died from cholera even on the field of
victory. One name must not be forgotten--that of the good and brave Dr
Thompson, who, with his servant, remained on the field to attend to the
wants of upwards of 200 Russians who had not been removed.
Lieutenant Lindsay, who carried the colours of the Scots Fusilier
Guards, stood firmly by them, when, as they stormed the heights, their
line was somewhat disordered, and by his energy greatly contributed to
restore order. In this he was assisted by Sergeants Knox and McKechnie,
and Private Reynolds. Sergeant Knox obtained a commission in the Rifle
Brigade for his courage and coolness on this occasion.
SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
On the 17th of October commenced one of the most extraordinary sieges to
be found recounted in the page of modern history. Five bombardments
took place; three sanguinary battles were fought under these walls, and
numerous sorties and skirmishes occurred. Sixty guns and mortars were
landed and brought into position by the British; but the Russians were
not idle, and not only was the Malakoff tower strengthened, but the
Redan and other formidable batteries were thrown up. The French were on
the left, and had fifty-three guns and mortars in position.
At half-past six a.m. on a beautiful morning on the 17th of October, the
English and French batteries suddenly opened, completely taking the
enemy by surprise; but though the guns from the top of the Malakoff
tower were overthrown by the English guns, the Russians kept up a steady
fire from the earthen batteries round, and from the Redan and Barrack
batteries.
The French siege-guns were, however
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