The Black Sea was in the 18th-19th century the scene of (sea) battles between the Ottoman and Russian empires. In 1855 during the Crimean war, the Russian empire had to deal with the French and the British. From this period dates the next letter, written by the British rear-admiral Sir Edmund Lyons to the Secretary of the British Admiralty, dated 17 March 1855. Lyons was at that moment on board of the Royal Albert lying off Sebastopol. The British had interrogated a Russian sailor which deserted in the night of 13-14 March from Sebastopol, being picked up by the Sidon. His information was confirmed by a British prisoner, who escaped the same night from this town.
P. 104: “The army and navy in Sebastopol took the oath of allegiance to the Emperor Alexander on the 13th. Admiral Istoman is charged with the defence of the Malakof Tower, now called the Korniloff Tower, on account of th Admiral of that name being killed there.
p. 105: He [the Russian sailor] believed that the bridge of boats was considered impraticable, because the allies were so near to it, but that they were to retreat to the north side under the cover of the fire and steamers. The ships left are: Grand Duke Constantine, 120 guns; City of Paris, 120 guns; Brave, 84 guns; Empress Maria, 84 guns; Chesme, 84 guns; Yagondeid, 84 guns; frigate Kavarna, 60 guns and Konlephy, 54 guns. Steamers: paddle Cladimir, paddle Odessa, paddle Thunder, iron paddle Elbrose, paddle Bessarabia, Krein, dispatch Danube, Chersonese and two small steamers. The fourth barrier across the harbour being ships of the line and frigates recently sunk”.
Source
A.C. Dewar. Russian War, 1855. Black Sea Official Correspondence. London, 1945.
P. 104: “The army and navy in Sebastopol took the oath of allegiance to the Emperor Alexander on the 13th. Admiral Istoman is charged with the defence of the Malakof Tower, now called the Korniloff Tower, on account of th Admiral of that name being killed there.
p. 105: He [the Russian sailor] believed that the bridge of boats was considered impraticable, because the allies were so near to it, but that they were to retreat to the north side under the cover of the fire and steamers. The ships left are: Grand Duke Constantine, 120 guns; City of Paris, 120 guns; Brave, 84 guns; Empress Maria, 84 guns; Chesme, 84 guns; Yagondeid, 84 guns; frigate Kavarna, 60 guns and Konlephy, 54 guns. Steamers: paddle Cladimir, paddle Odessa, paddle Thunder, iron paddle Elbrose, paddle Bessarabia, Krein, dispatch Danube, Chersonese and two small steamers. The fourth barrier across the harbour being ships of the line and frigates recently sunk”.
Source
A.C. Dewar. Russian War, 1855. Black Sea Official Correspondence. London, 1945.
