ARTILLERY OPERATIONS.
83
Second Period.
Rear-Admiral Lyons to the Secretary of the Admiralty. Nov. 1854—
April 1855.
Sir, “ Royal Albert,” off Sebastopol, 13th April 1855. Second
My letter of the 10th instant, No. 284, will have informed the Lords BombardmentCommissioners of the Admiralty that the Siege Batteries before Sebastopolre-opened their fire on the 9th instant.
I grieve to say that the casualties have been severe, though not, perhaps,more than might have been expected, considering the number of guns whichare manned by seamen. Lists of the casualties on each day are enclosed forthe information of their Lordships; and I have to lament the fall of twogallant and promising young officers, Lieutenant Samuel Twyford, of the“ London, ” and Lieutenant W. D. Douglas, of the “ Queen.”
Captain Lord John Hay and Lieutenant Urmston, of the “ Queen,” havebeen wounded, though not severely.
The services of the officers and seamen of the Naval Brigade have beeninvaluable.
I have, &c.
(Signed) Ed. Lyons,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
14/A April.
At daylight all the Batteries commenced again. On the Right the Russians were kept under; but on the Left, as yesterday, they concentrated a mostmurderous fire on the two advanced Batteries, which were fought with thegreatest gallantry, but were again obliged to succumb. The parapets weregreatly damaged; three guns disabled, with a very heavy loss of men.
On the Right we had to deplore the loss of a young officer (LieutenantMichell), who was killed by a round shot from the Redan, which, after passingthrough the top of the epaulement of No. IX. Battery, fractured the base ofhis skull.
No. IX. Battery, Left Attack, commenced.
The following officers joined the Naval Brigade with the 200 seamen men-tioned as having been landed from the Fleet on the 11th April—
Captain G. St. Y. King,
Lieutenant S. C. Byng,
Midshipman H. T. Hovenden,
„ W. II. Kennedy.