This page has been proofread
apart from the general details of special correspondents of the daily journals, and differing, it may be, in some few particulars from the messages of the “specials”, but in most cases corroborating the same. Another local feature was the publication of lengthy extracts from the letters of our local fighters, chiefly by the Hastings News and a diary as well as articles (with pictorial representations) in the St. Leonards Penny Press. These – or some of them – are here reproduced as a permanent means of reference.
| 1854 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 4 | - | English and French squadrons enter the Black Sea. | |
| “ 6 | - | The battle of Citate by Turks and Russians. – See illustration on page 105 | |
| “ 12 | - | First division of Baltic fleet under Sir Chas. Napier, passes Hastings. | |
| Mar. 24 | - | British fleet enters the Great Belt. | |
| April 1 | - | The Miranda steam-ship returns from the Baltic forcing a passage through ice of 100 miles. | |
| “ “ | - | War declared, according to ancient custom in front of the Royal Exchange. | |
| Ap 2 | - | 4000 Danes visit the British fleet and wish it success. | |
| “ 4 | - | Sir Charles Napier addresses the men in his fleet. | |
| “ 5 | - | Seizure at Northfleet of two unfinished Russian steamers. | |
| “ 7 | - | Sir Chas. Napier pays his respects to the King of Denmark. | |
| “ 16 | - | Five Russian vessels taken to Denmark as English prizes. | |
| “ “ | - | 250 bullocks presented to the fleet by the King of Denmark. | |
| “ 19 | - | The prizes taken by the Baltic fleet augmented to 14. | |
| “ 22 | - | Eight English and French ships, with six rocket-boats, destroy the military forts of Odessa, blow up the powder magazines, sink several Russian ships and damage the Imperial buildings. | |
| “ 25 | - | The Anglo-French fleet before Sebastopol, having previously captured the Russian merchant vessels. | |
| “ “ | - | Two more prizes taken into Portsmouth. | |
| “ “ | - | The Russians evacuating Little Wallachia and burning the villages in their rear. | |
| “ 27 | - | The Revenue cutter “Active” captures near Hastings a Russian barque of 400 tons. | |
| “ “ | - | A French frigate captures a Russian galliot and tows her into Margate. | |
| “ 29 | - | The Lion revenue cruiser enters Dover harbour with a prize. | |
| May 3 | - | The French fleet sails from the Downs to join Sir Chas. Napier in the Baltic, thus increasing the force to 70 Ships and 30,000 men. | |
| “ “ | - | The Turkish fleet of 22 ships sails for the Black Sea. | |
| “ “ | - | Parliament votes an additional 4½ millions for war purposes; also an addition of 14799 men to the army; thus increasing | |
