The Battle of Tcherneya, 16 August 1855 (w/c over pencil)

The Battle of Tcherneya, 16 August 1855. Watercolour and pencil by William Simpson (1823-1899), Crimean War, 1855. The Battle of the Tchernaya was the final attempt made by the Russians to break the siege of Sevastopol. By August 1855 the defenders of the town were suffering such heavy casualties from the Allied bombardment that the effort could no longer be delayed. The Russian attack, however, was bloodily repulsed by the French, assisted by the Sardinian Army. On the left of the picture the Russians are shown being thrown back from the slopes of the Fediukine Heights. In the middle distance they have already begun retiring over the Tractir Bridge. To the right French Zouaves (a type of soldier, originally of North African origin) defend the Aqueduct Bridge.