2-913-928 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening of the Bombardment of Sebastopol - Chapman's Battery, 1854. Crimean War. 'The Russian fire, though well directed, made no impression upon our splendidly-built batteries; whilst it was evident that the earth of theirs was rolling away, and flying off in dust-heaps, from the discharge of our heavy guns. The large redan on the left of the tower appeared at first to suffer less from the effects of our fire, and all the guns in her continued for a time to cast upon us every species of projectile...At three o'clock the magazine inside the great Russian redan exploded, with a terrific noise . and at four a second magazine...exploded, amidst the hurrahs of the English assembled on the hill. A short time afterwards the Russians returned the shout, when some naval powder-canisters exploded in that part of Chapman's Battery manned by the men of the Diamond. Fortunately, no one was hurt'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.