DISEMBARKATION OF THE EXPEDITION TO KERTCH AT KAMISH BURUN,
AND THE BLOWING-UP OF ST. PAUL'S BATTERY.
A DETAILED description of the expedition into the Sea of AzofF will be found in the preceding portion of this work, and we shall therefore confine ourselves in this place to recalling such of its earlier incidents as have an immediate connexion with the drawing under consideration.
On the 24th May, a squadron comprising eight English, four French steamers, and six screw gun-boats, carrying a land force of 16,305 troops, assembled at Cape Takli, the south-western boundary of the Straits of Kertch, which they immediately proceeded to enter. Some pains had recently been taken by the Russians to strengthen the defences of the Straits, but the imposing appearance of the expedition convinced them that these positions were untenable, and they were consequently abandoned in succession after their magazines had been exploded. The spot selected for landing was point Kamish Burun, a few miles south of Kertch, and at the southern extremity of a bay about a mile and a half in width, on the opposite point of which stood the battery of St. Paul. The disembarkation commenced about noon; and shortly afterwards thick columns of white smoke shot rapidly up into the air, followed by the heavy thunders of repeated explosions, announcing that the enemy had blown up all his batteries on Cape St. Paul. The scene now presented was of the most striking character. The calm waters of the small bay were crowded with steamers passing and repassing in every direction. Nearer to the shore innumerable launches crowded with troops, and in tow of smaller man-of-war boats, obedient to the steady stroke of their athletic boats' crews, were rapidly nearing the landing-place, which was a smooth shelving beach, backed at a few yards' distance by a rich sward, whose emerald verdure contrasted gently with the yeUow of the sands and the clear blue sea beyond. Among the more remarkable of the steamers may be observed the Minna, with her two small black funnels and an awning, and immediately ahead of her, the companion craft the Brenda, which were actively employed during the whole afternoon in towing long strings of man-of-war boats fiUed with marines. The Recruit, formerly a Prussian gun-boat, and which subsequently took such an active part in the bombardment of Taganrog, is astern of the Minna,
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and, like the Spitfire, which is closer into the land, to be distinguished by two white funnels. Farther back the Sidon may be recognised by two black funnels, and by her alternate black and white ports; and the Sphynx, in advance of the Sidon, by a white line painted along her side. In the centre of the drawing, a party of artillerymen are bestowing all their energies on the ticklish operation of landing a couple of guns, by means of a temporary bridge, specially adapted for the purpose. Farther to the right, three or four of the sailors, wading in their peculiar element, with trousers tucked up to the knee, are lending an aid, half compassionate, half contemptuous, to a soldier as he descends, with uncertain step, the narrow plank which is to restore him to the native dignity too long obscured by a watery eclipse. In the foreground, one of the land transports, in the sensible and serviceable uniform of the corps, is gravely endeavouring to lead a refractory mule, whose attitude forcibly recalls one of Rosinante's most melancholy adventures, to a pile of baggage, whose dimensions seem almost to justify the scruples of the recalcitrant animal. Behind this group are some Highlanders drawn up in line, and another regiment marching off into the interior, while a mounted staff-officer superintends the movements of the men, and endeavours to reduce confusion to order. The white cap-cover is almost universal, and, with other varieties of summer costume, which have replaced the fur cap and the sheep-skin coat, tells its own tale of the change of season. The royal standard of England waves proudly over a scene of animation and bustle, the actors in which, little dreaming of the bloodless triumphs which await them, even amid their joy at this escape from the odious plateau above Sebastopol, are burning with impatience to prosecute the campaign, commenced under such happy auspices.
The hill in the background is dotted thickly with the tumuli for which this portion of the Crimea is remarkable, and which are found throughout an area of very considerable extent.