Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible. In his book for politicians and merchants Martin described all the countries part of the so-called civilised world. If available he published information dealing with the armed forces and the merchant trade shipping.
p. 115. “The French navy has now on service on different seas 56,000 sailors. The entire French navy is at present composed of:
Ships of the Line 9 of 120 guns, carrying 1,080 guns; 14 of 100 guns, carrying 1,400 guns; 19 of 90 guns, carrying 1,710 guns; 11 from 86 to 82 guns, carrying 914 guns. Total 53 ships, 5,104 guns.
Frigates 42 from 60 to 50 guns, carrying 2,286 guns; 16 from 46 to 50 guns, carrying 670 guns. Total 58 frigates, 3,956 guns.
Corvettes 39 from 30 to 14 guns, carrying 868 guns.
Brigs, schooners and cutters 101 from 20 to 4 guns, carrying 1,066 guns.
Transport- corvettes, lighters, etc. 39, carrying together 788 guns, and measuring 18,500 tons. Steam navy 3 ships, 20 frigates, 30 corvettes, and 64 avisos, representing a power of 28,750 horses.
A number of floating batteries are in progress of construction at Brest. About 20,000 kilogrammes of iron plates, intended for those batteries, have already arrived there, and more are expected shortly. The construction of three steam-engines of 800-horse-powerhas just been commenced at Indict for the Alexandre, 90, on the stocks at Rochefort, and for the Massena and Castiglione, of similar size, at Toulon. All these vessels are being built on the model of the Napoleon. At the same establishment the machinery of several other vessels is now being finished that for the Bretagne, of 1,200 horses, now on the stocks at Brest; for the Redoutable, of 900, at Rochefort; Arcole, at Cherbourg; Imperiale, at Brest; Ville-de-Lyon, at Brest; and Ville-de-Bordeaux, same force, at Toulon.
The Moniteur de la Flotte contains a summary of the operations of the French Baltic squadron, and of its claims to the gratitude of the country. That squadron was in some measure extemporised; for, four months after the insertion in the Moniteur of the official act decreeing its formation, it anchored at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, and shortly afterwards it effected its junction, amidst the enthusiastic hurrahs of its allies, with the division of Admiral Napier, whose force was thereby increased by nine sail of the line and twenty-two other sailing and steam ships of war. The organisation of that squadron was attended with numerous difficulties. The great armaments undertaken since the 2nd of December, and the simultaneous increase of commercial navigation, had rendered seamen very scarce. The Baltic squadron consequently could only recruit its crews from conscripts and men who, having already completed their time on board the ships of war, had long since returned to their homes, and were little adapted to the service ; therefore, they could not present that cohesion, that habit of living and serving together, which constitutes one of the principal elements of real naval power. Those ships, moreover, which had individually to organise themselves, were for the first time united and called to navigate as a squadron a sea full of perils, which was little known, and where the lighthouses had been destroyed and the buoys removed or treacherously displaced. Steam was an indispensable element of navigation in those dangerous waters, and unfortunately the squadron reckoned fifteen sailing ships. Nevertheless, and be it said to their credit, the French ships everywhere, and under every circumstance, kept up with those of their gallant allies.
At Sebastopol the batteries established on shore, with guns landed from the ships, give such complete satisfaction to the General-in-Chief, both as regards their solidity and efficiency and the ability with which they are manned, that twenty additional guns have been demanded and immediately disembarked. General Bosquet was also anxious to have a naval battery, and his wish has been gratified. The French squadron have now on shore a ship captain, four captains of frigates, fifty-four lieutenants and midshipmen, and 1,600 seamen under their orders. On their side, the Russians have armed the ramparts of Sebastopol with the heavy guns of their ships, and those guns are manned by seamen. Thus the siege of Sebastopol offers the coincidence, perhaps unique in military history, of officers and sailors quitting their natural element, the sea, to fight battles on land with their naval artillery. The firing of the marine battery
p. 116 "against the bastion of the flagstaff has been remarked for its constant precision and its terrible effect. On the 2nd of November the enemy, under the shower of its projectiles, abandoned a battery of four guns, constructed in front of the bastion. The seamen, nevertheless, continued their fire, and it was hoped that on the 4th they would have cleared every obstacle opposed to them, and opened a practicable breach. In order to recompense them for their valuable co-operation the army has reserved a post of honour to the French seamen in the assault, which will, no doubt, decide the fate of Sebastopol The Trench naval fusiliers have been assigned a place in the assaulting columns. Sixty are to march at the head of all the troops, with the sappers and pontoniers, and the others are to accompany the Zouaves and the Chasseurs de Vincennes. The French seamen will nobly uphold the reputation of the fleet, even when fighting by the side of the most valiant troops in the world. With armies and squadrons such as those sent to the East by England and France, we may await without uneasiness the result of the struggle.
Admiral Hamelin under fire. A letter in the Gazette du Midi gives the following account of the effects of the shell which burst on the poop of the Ville de Paris: "This shell blew up nearly the whole of the poop, on which were standing at the time Admiral Hamelin and four of his aides-de-camp. The Admiral was thrown some feet up into the air, but without being hurt. After having glanced at his aides-de-camp, one of whom was cut in two, another had his two legs carried away below the knee, and a third was slightly wounded, he merely exclaimed 'Poor fellows!' and resumed the command with as much coolness as before."
The Baltic Squadron, under the command of Vice-Admiral Parseval Deschenes, is composed of the following ships. Ships of the line 2n rank Le Tage, ship of the line 2nd rank, 100 guns, L'Austerlitz, mixed, 100 guns, 500 hp; L'Hercules, 100 guns and Le Jemappes, ship, 100 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank, Le Breslau, ship of the line 3rd rank, 93 guns, Le Duguesclin, ship of the line 3rd rank, 90 guns and L'Inflexible, 90 guns. Ships of the line 4th rank Le Duperré and Le Trident, both 80 guns. Frigates 1st rank La Sémillante, 60 guns and La Vengeance, 60 guns. Frigates 2n rank L'Andromaque, 60 guns, La Virginie, 50 guns, La Zénobie, 50 guns and La Poursuivante, 50 guns. Steam frigate La Darien, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvettes Le Phlégéton, 10 guns, 400 hp and Le Souffleur, 6 guns, 220 hp. Avisos-à-vapeur Le Milan, 4 guns, 200 hp. Le Lucifer 6 guns, 200 hp, L'Aigle, 6 guns, 200 hp and Le Daim 3 guns, 120 hp. Total 1,250 guns and 2,290 hp.
The Naval Force in the Black Sea, under the command of Vice-Admiral Hamelin, is composed of the following ships. Ships of the line 1st rank La Friedland, 120 guns, Le Valmy, 120 guns and La Ville de Paris, 120 guns. Ship of the line 2nd rank, 100 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank Le Bayard, 90 guns. Ships of the line 3rd rank mixed Le Charlemagne 90 guns, 450 hp, Le Jena, 90 guns and Le Jupiter, 90 guns. Ship of the line 4th rank, Le Marengo, 80 guns. Steam frigates Le Gomer, 16 guns 450 hp, Le Mogador, 8 guns, 650 hp, Le Descartes, 20 guns, 540 hp, Le Vauban, 20 guns, 540 hp, Le Cacique, 14 guns, 450 hp, Le Magellan, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvette Le Sane, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam avisos Le Promèthe, 4 guns, 200 hp and Le Salamandre, 2 guns, 120 hp. Corvette Le Sérieuse, 30 guns. Brigs 1st class Le Mercure, 20 guns and L'Olivier, 20 guns. Brig aviso Le Cerf, 10 guns. Steam avisos Le Heron, 2 guns, 200 hp and Le Mouette, 2 guns, 200 hp. Total 1,120 guns and 4,960 hp.
The second squadron (Atlantic). The Squadron of Admiral Bruat, destined to act in the Black Sea. in the waters of Gallipoli, and in the Archipelago of the Levant, comprises the following ships. Ship of the line 1st rank Le Montebello, 120 guns. Steam ship of the line 1st rank Le Napoleon 92 guns, 960 hp. Ship of the line 3rd rank Le Suffren, 90 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank mixed Le Jean Bart, 90 guns, 450 hp. Ships of the line 4th rank La Ville de Marseille and L'Alger, both 80 guns. Mixed frigates 3rd rank La Pomone, 40 guns, 220 hp and Le Coffarelli, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvettes Le Roland, 8 guns, 400 hp and Le Primauget, 8 guns, 400 hp. Total 622 guns and 2,880 hp.
Independent of these three Squadrons, and of all the steam-frigates or corvettes, collected in the Mediterranean for the transport of the army of the East, all the Naval stations have received important reinforcements in the West India Archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean, in the Indo-China Seas, and in all the quarters where the deep-sea fishing is carried on. The Imperial Navy has 56,000 sailors embarked."
Source
Robert O'Byrne's Naval Annual for 1855. London, 1855.
p. 115. “The French navy has now on service on different seas 56,000 sailors. The entire French navy is at present composed of:
Ships of the Line 9 of 120 guns, carrying 1,080 guns; 14 of 100 guns, carrying 1,400 guns; 19 of 90 guns, carrying 1,710 guns; 11 from 86 to 82 guns, carrying 914 guns. Total 53 ships, 5,104 guns.
Frigates 42 from 60 to 50 guns, carrying 2,286 guns; 16 from 46 to 50 guns, carrying 670 guns. Total 58 frigates, 3,956 guns.
Corvettes 39 from 30 to 14 guns, carrying 868 guns.
Brigs, schooners and cutters 101 from 20 to 4 guns, carrying 1,066 guns.
Transport- corvettes, lighters, etc. 39, carrying together 788 guns, and measuring 18,500 tons. Steam navy 3 ships, 20 frigates, 30 corvettes, and 64 avisos, representing a power of 28,750 horses.
A number of floating batteries are in progress of construction at Brest. About 20,000 kilogrammes of iron plates, intended for those batteries, have already arrived there, and more are expected shortly. The construction of three steam-engines of 800-horse-powerhas just been commenced at Indict for the Alexandre, 90, on the stocks at Rochefort, and for the Massena and Castiglione, of similar size, at Toulon. All these vessels are being built on the model of the Napoleon. At the same establishment the machinery of several other vessels is now being finished that for the Bretagne, of 1,200 horses, now on the stocks at Brest; for the Redoutable, of 900, at Rochefort; Arcole, at Cherbourg; Imperiale, at Brest; Ville-de-Lyon, at Brest; and Ville-de-Bordeaux, same force, at Toulon.
The Moniteur de la Flotte contains a summary of the operations of the French Baltic squadron, and of its claims to the gratitude of the country. That squadron was in some measure extemporised; for, four months after the insertion in the Moniteur of the official act decreeing its formation, it anchored at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, and shortly afterwards it effected its junction, amidst the enthusiastic hurrahs of its allies, with the division of Admiral Napier, whose force was thereby increased by nine sail of the line and twenty-two other sailing and steam ships of war. The organisation of that squadron was attended with numerous difficulties. The great armaments undertaken since the 2nd of December, and the simultaneous increase of commercial navigation, had rendered seamen very scarce. The Baltic squadron consequently could only recruit its crews from conscripts and men who, having already completed their time on board the ships of war, had long since returned to their homes, and were little adapted to the service ; therefore, they could not present that cohesion, that habit of living and serving together, which constitutes one of the principal elements of real naval power. Those ships, moreover, which had individually to organise themselves, were for the first time united and called to navigate as a squadron a sea full of perils, which was little known, and where the lighthouses had been destroyed and the buoys removed or treacherously displaced. Steam was an indispensable element of navigation in those dangerous waters, and unfortunately the squadron reckoned fifteen sailing ships. Nevertheless, and be it said to their credit, the French ships everywhere, and under every circumstance, kept up with those of their gallant allies.
At Sebastopol the batteries established on shore, with guns landed from the ships, give such complete satisfaction to the General-in-Chief, both as regards their solidity and efficiency and the ability with which they are manned, that twenty additional guns have been demanded and immediately disembarked. General Bosquet was also anxious to have a naval battery, and his wish has been gratified. The French squadron have now on shore a ship captain, four captains of frigates, fifty-four lieutenants and midshipmen, and 1,600 seamen under their orders. On their side, the Russians have armed the ramparts of Sebastopol with the heavy guns of their ships, and those guns are manned by seamen. Thus the siege of Sebastopol offers the coincidence, perhaps unique in military history, of officers and sailors quitting their natural element, the sea, to fight battles on land with their naval artillery. The firing of the marine battery
p. 116 "against the bastion of the flagstaff has been remarked for its constant precision and its terrible effect. On the 2nd of November the enemy, under the shower of its projectiles, abandoned a battery of four guns, constructed in front of the bastion. The seamen, nevertheless, continued their fire, and it was hoped that on the 4th they would have cleared every obstacle opposed to them, and opened a practicable breach. In order to recompense them for their valuable co-operation the army has reserved a post of honour to the French seamen in the assault, which will, no doubt, decide the fate of Sebastopol The Trench naval fusiliers have been assigned a place in the assaulting columns. Sixty are to march at the head of all the troops, with the sappers and pontoniers, and the others are to accompany the Zouaves and the Chasseurs de Vincennes. The French seamen will nobly uphold the reputation of the fleet, even when fighting by the side of the most valiant troops in the world. With armies and squadrons such as those sent to the East by England and France, we may await without uneasiness the result of the struggle.
Admiral Hamelin under fire. A letter in the Gazette du Midi gives the following account of the effects of the shell which burst on the poop of the Ville de Paris: "This shell blew up nearly the whole of the poop, on which were standing at the time Admiral Hamelin and four of his aides-de-camp. The Admiral was thrown some feet up into the air, but without being hurt. After having glanced at his aides-de-camp, one of whom was cut in two, another had his two legs carried away below the knee, and a third was slightly wounded, he merely exclaimed 'Poor fellows!' and resumed the command with as much coolness as before."
The Baltic Squadron, under the command of Vice-Admiral Parseval Deschenes, is composed of the following ships. Ships of the line 2n rank Le Tage, ship of the line 2nd rank, 100 guns, L'Austerlitz, mixed, 100 guns, 500 hp; L'Hercules, 100 guns and Le Jemappes, ship, 100 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank, Le Breslau, ship of the line 3rd rank, 93 guns, Le Duguesclin, ship of the line 3rd rank, 90 guns and L'Inflexible, 90 guns. Ships of the line 4th rank Le Duperré and Le Trident, both 80 guns. Frigates 1st rank La Sémillante, 60 guns and La Vengeance, 60 guns. Frigates 2n rank L'Andromaque, 60 guns, La Virginie, 50 guns, La Zénobie, 50 guns and La Poursuivante, 50 guns. Steam frigate La Darien, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvettes Le Phlégéton, 10 guns, 400 hp and Le Souffleur, 6 guns, 220 hp. Avisos-à-vapeur Le Milan, 4 guns, 200 hp. Le Lucifer 6 guns, 200 hp, L'Aigle, 6 guns, 200 hp and Le Daim 3 guns, 120 hp. Total 1,250 guns and 2,290 hp.
The Naval Force in the Black Sea, under the command of Vice-Admiral Hamelin, is composed of the following ships. Ships of the line 1st rank La Friedland, 120 guns, Le Valmy, 120 guns and La Ville de Paris, 120 guns. Ship of the line 2nd rank, 100 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank Le Bayard, 90 guns. Ships of the line 3rd rank mixed Le Charlemagne 90 guns, 450 hp, Le Jena, 90 guns and Le Jupiter, 90 guns. Ship of the line 4th rank, Le Marengo, 80 guns. Steam frigates Le Gomer, 16 guns 450 hp, Le Mogador, 8 guns, 650 hp, Le Descartes, 20 guns, 540 hp, Le Vauban, 20 guns, 540 hp, Le Cacique, 14 guns, 450 hp, Le Magellan, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvette Le Sane, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam avisos Le Promèthe, 4 guns, 200 hp and Le Salamandre, 2 guns, 120 hp. Corvette Le Sérieuse, 30 guns. Brigs 1st class Le Mercure, 20 guns and L'Olivier, 20 guns. Brig aviso Le Cerf, 10 guns. Steam avisos Le Heron, 2 guns, 200 hp and Le Mouette, 2 guns, 200 hp. Total 1,120 guns and 4,960 hp.
The second squadron (Atlantic). The Squadron of Admiral Bruat, destined to act in the Black Sea. in the waters of Gallipoli, and in the Archipelago of the Levant, comprises the following ships. Ship of the line 1st rank Le Montebello, 120 guns. Steam ship of the line 1st rank Le Napoleon 92 guns, 960 hp. Ship of the line 3rd rank Le Suffren, 90 guns. Ship of the line 3rd rank mixed Le Jean Bart, 90 guns, 450 hp. Ships of the line 4th rank La Ville de Marseille and L'Alger, both 80 guns. Mixed frigates 3rd rank La Pomone, 40 guns, 220 hp and Le Coffarelli, 14 guns, 450 hp. Steam corvettes Le Roland, 8 guns, 400 hp and Le Primauget, 8 guns, 400 hp. Total 622 guns and 2,880 hp.
Independent of these three Squadrons, and of all the steam-frigates or corvettes, collected in the Mediterranean for the transport of the army of the East, all the Naval stations have received important reinforcements in the West India Archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean, in the Indo-China Seas, and in all the quarters where the deep-sea fishing is carried on. The Imperial Navy has 56,000 sailors embarked."
Source
Robert O'Byrne's Naval Annual for 1855. London, 1855.
