2-914-110 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The "Valorous" chasing Russian Steamers into Sebastopol, 1854. Crimean War. '...the mast-heads of a Russian steamer appeared..., another was seen following her. The first proved to be a heavy paddle-wheel frigate; and the second a small sloop. An alarm was immediately given, and in a few minutes our cable was slipped, and we were in full chase of our expected prizes who had opened fire on a battery in course of erection...As we neared them, however, they turned tail and ran back under the batteries; we continued to follow them till we were within 1000 yards of the forts, firing several shots after them, but with what effect could not be seen, as the forts and batteries now opened fire on us...We gave them several broadsides in return; but as we could, of course, make no impression on these stone walls, and were getting a pretty heavy dose of shot and shell...we returned to our anchorage...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.