At day-break on the morning of the 16th August the Russians, whose unconcealed preparations for several days past had announced their intention of making an attack, debouched from the heights on the opposite side of the Tchernaya, by the Mackenzie Road, which, descending into the plain, crosses the river by the Bridge of Traktir, where the French had constructed a strong tete-de-pont. The Russian force consisted of from 50,000 to 60,000 men, with 160 pieces of artillery, and cavalry to the amount of 6,000 — an imposing force, destined to carry the Fediouchine heights, a low range of hills which overlook the river, and bisect the great valley of Balaklava. These heights were occupied on the left and centre by the French, and on the right by the Sardinians, who had thrown up some redoubts on a hill across the river. This outpost was attacked and carried, after a very gallant defence, at the commencement of the battle by the Russians, who then concentrated the whole energy of their attack on the ground occupied by the French. Thrice they succeeded in crossing the river, forcing the bridge, and even crowning the heights, but only in each instance to be driven back again with immense loss. The third repulse was final, and at 8 a.m. the Russians retreated in confusion, followed as far as the river by the bayonets of the enthusiastic victors. The English, French, and Sardinian Cavalry had been held in reserve in the plain of Balaklava, but General Pelissier did not feel justified in employing them in pursuit of the enemy, a task in which they would have been exposed to a murderous fire from the Russian artillery in the plain, as well as from their commanding batteries on the Mackenzie heights, and which might not improbably have led to a disaster similar to that which was the fatal peculiarity of the battle of Balaklava. The Russians, therefore, were enabled to carry off their guns; but their loss was enormous, amounting to nearly eight times that inflicted on the French and Sardinians. The latter behaved with that distinguished gallantry which is traditional in their army, and proved themselves, in General Pelissier 's phrase, "the worthy rivals" of the magnificent troops by whose side they fought.
The following extract of a letter from Mr. Simpson will give all the information which is necessary to the further elucidation of his drawing:^
" This drawing represents the principal point of this brilliant engagement. The nearest bridge crosses the aqueduct, which here makes a bend round the base of the hills which formed the French position; the bridge with the two arches crosses the Tchernaya itself; from this the Mackenzie Farm road traverses the plain, and passes between the two rising grounds immediately over the bridge, ascending the plateau by a long incline, which may be traced on the plateau above the left of these eminences. On the high part of the plateau, to the left of the gorge, is a telegraph station, and beneath it are a battery and numerous trenches, some of which are indicated; but all along the plateau batteries and works of different kinds are to be distinguished. This
drawing will give an idea of the position which the Russians now hold; you see the heights of the plateau, and in some places the perpendicular character of the rocks, which extend for miles away to the south-east; on the rising ground on the left of the Mackenzie road the Russians have made some works, and on Sunday last they began to dig with some men on the most advanced spur. From this work they opened, I think, three guns; and it was from these that they fired upon the French whilst employed with their litters in carrying off the wounded Russians from the field of battle. The smoke still in advance is from the artillery of the enemy; and that up the valley, to the right of the picture, marks the spot where the attack was made upon the Sardinian position.
" On the hill, almost above the little house, are some works occupied by their advanced posts: the little house is one of many which aye placed along the aqueduct. Here Lord Raglan slept in September last, when the army passed the bridge (on the flank march).
" I need not attempt to give a description of this engagement. It will be sufficient to say that the bridges were the principal objects of the attack, and the number of dead and wounded evidences the severity of the conflict. I may tell you that all the dead in the foreground are from sketches made on the spot; they had no knapsacks, but in large bags slung round their necks they each carried a great quantity of their black bread, baked in very large loaves. This was a more marked feature of the ground than the cannon-balls, and I have attempted to suggest its appearance in the foreground."
PLATE LV.
VALLEY OF THE TCHERNAYA, LOOKING NORTH.