The Drake Letters 027
YOU ARE HERE: Drake Letters ► 27. Drake to Louisa 27 October 1854
26. Drake to Louisa 22 October 1854 ◄ ● ► 28. Drake to Louisa 2 November 1854
William Henry Drake (Balaklava) № 18 – Louisa Drake (London), 27 – 28 October 1854
| № 18 | Balaklava 27 Oct 1854 1 |
My dear Lu,
Since my last of 23rd we have had some serious doings – 23 I dined on bd. the Steamer Melbourne, the Ship which was so unfortunate in her trip to that place 2 Captain Austin R.N. Perm: Agent of Transports has his Broad Pendant on bd. of her – 24 all quiet but on 25th early the Russians in great strength made an attack on the lines of entrenchment held by our Turkish Allies around Balaklava I had just sent large convoys of Supplies out so I had to go & look after them – The Enemy took three batteries fr. the Turks in all 12 . 9 pounder guns – the cowardly Villians [sic] did not await an attack but rushed off pell-mell
The English Light Cavalry Brigade attacked the enemys guns they killed a great many but their own loss was also very severe two batteries opened on them at once & they left nearly 500 men out of 1100, Killed wounded & missing Many Officers also. The Russians then attacked the direct line to this in Column – the 93rd 3 only were opposed to them, they had not time to form Square but the brave fellows showed so steady a front in line that the Enemy wavered and then fell back under a heavy & gulling fire which did much execution
The Heavy Cavalry then charged a very large body of Cossacks cut through them & back the Scots Greys distinguished themselves, the Heavy Brigade lost but few but had many slightly wounded – They mowed down the Enemy – who then blew up two of the Captured positions & held the 3rd. – They do so still & we hear as they are too distant from us to do mischief they are still there they are erecting a strong battery there & at other points – Yesterday we had orders to prepare to quit this at short notice & all the Ships were towed out of the bason [sic] of a Harbor – alarms all night of an Attack but none took place – they however made a Sortie fr. Sevastopol in the morning with some 4000 men on the 2nd Division Sir De L Evans 4 – they were beaten back by the Pickets & Supporting parties – Our loss 2! d. enemy from 400 to 500 among them are many Prisoners – Several Officers 2 Engineer Officers one being the actual person who took Lord Dunkellin 5 Prisoner a few days back Lord D is on his road to Moscow & St. P. 6
Seige still going on French expect 20000 men daily – they have one battery 300 yds. from the wall our nearest is 1200 we cannot advance before they capture the work in their front Sir E Lyons 7 came into this [Balaklava] with “Sans Pariel” this morning he says this is impregnable & must be retained so here I suppose we stay for the present. – So much for public now for myself – On the 25th as I rode out several Cannon Balls crossed the road within my Sight. a shell killed an Arty. Horse just before me, I sent on the Carts & to avoid Shot & Shell rode nearer the fight but more under Shelter of the Hill, in safety but I must needs go up & see it so I went to the battery of a Friend in the Arty. & saw it all well, Charge of Scots Greys &c. While there a Horse about two yards from me was killed by a cannon ball so I only stayed to see the Russ. go over the opposite Hill & I retired never intending from curiosity to put myself in such a chance again I wd. not like to own I was frightened as I did not really feel so knowing the uncertainty of long shots but I thought I was a noodle fr. curiosity to risk anything – So off I went Carpenter 8 whom I joined near this & I then went on top of a high hill overlooking the whole scene & perfectly safe, being out of range & not in the line of fire, in future I take up such positions always – curiosity satisfied.
At night I had to get Supplies up to the Division encamped on the Field, & passed thus over a Second Field of Battle, less bloody than Alma & much less distressing in the nature of the Wounds generally, I never wish to see another but if we take Sevastopol I fear a worse fight awaits us – I am not quite the thing today being up often in the night to patrole [sic] in case of attack & up at 4 this morning has affected my interior economy – So I am keeping very quiet, Our weather is splendid but hot in the sun & cold at night. – 28th. Alarms three times last night at 11, at 2 & ¼ Past 4 A.M. each time had to turn out but after each I turned in & slept I am better today in my interior – The Alarms given last night, were the Russians firing & then shouting lustily – thrice this occurred The French Arty. Fired & we also a few shots – this morning 80 Russian Horses fine chargers all greys made a Charge into our Camp without riders, [written across the page] and were captured from this I fancy last night The Russians were drunk & hence the shouts perhaps the Grand Duke 9 has arrived to take the Command – Adieu God bless you all
Your Affectionate Hub
W. H. Drake
Seige Guns are still incessant
The Russians have 4000 killed in Sevastopol – but plenty left to fight
Your affectionate husband
W. H. D.
Footnotes
1. Private family manuscript (Judith Hall and Sally Mac, Auckland, New Zealand). ▲
2. I’m not sure which of these apply here. – The City of Melbourne, screw steamer, “went ashore during the easterly gale on the afternoon of the 7th instant”. [The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thursday 16 September 1852, p. 8.] – I. Nicholson, Log of logs: Vol. 2, (Nambour, 1993), p. 332: “Melbourne 1852-1853, iron SS, 1450t, of Aust. Royal Mail Steam Nav. Co, (b. 1849, as screw frigate Greenock, but was condemned, & sold to Aust.RM Co). First mail steamer to Aust: Lon, 28.9.1852 – Plymouth, for repairs, sailed, 31.10, but fouled 2 hulks & delayed 2 more days. Put into Lisbon with storm damage, & left again 21.11 – Cape Town – Melb. – Sydney, 4.2.53. Had propeller and engine problems on return trip, finally breaking down off Fayal, 23.6, when reverted to sail only; + Precis of voyage in, *North Star to Southern Cross, JM Maber, 1967. + Papers of Adm. Sir A. Phillimore, who as Cdr. sailed as Admty Agent inc Diary, 20.11.52-24.7.54; + SS Melbourne remark book, October 1852-July 1853; Out letterbook, 1848-53, + Memoir of service in SS, 1853, * NMM Greenwich, PHL/4/19; +/4/26; /4/29, +/4/49; +AJCP? idc? Note: Steamer sold by Aust. RM Co. 1854, & was converted to sailing ship clipper, 196t, of R&H Green, Captain HARRISON: Lon/Gravesend, 2.6 – Melbourne, 18.8.80: + Journal extracts, in a 3-part letter, by Rev. W.A. Purey-Cust, *copy, Wellingston Maritime Museum, 2597/91 ditto. + Diary of voyage, Eng-Melb, 1881, *ML, Sydney, MSS 4492 …” ▲
3. 93rd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment of Foot. ▲
4. Sir George de Lacy Evans, commander of the 2nd Division. ▲
5. In 1860 Ullick Canning, Lord Dunkellin was serving with the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. ▲
7. Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, second in command to Vice-Admiral Sir James Dundas. ▲
8. ACG Frederick Stanley Carpenter. ▲
9. Grand Duke Constantine (1827-1892), the second son of Tsar Nicholas I. In a later letter, William Henry Drake (Balaklava) №21 – Louisa Drake (London) (13 November 1854), Henry says that Constantine was at Sevastopol. ▲
26. Drake to Louisa 22 October 1854 ◄ ● ► 28. Drake to Louisa 2 November 1854
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