Surrender of the russian general maxim kokhanovitch at kinburn, 17 october 1855, sketched by j. A. Crowe. Illustration for the illustrated london news, 24 november 1855. . Read the iln article
general kokonovitch surrendering his sword. This scene, of which our artist has given a sketch, took place on the 17th ult. When the flag of truce was waved from the parapet, two boats, each with a flag of truce, pushed off from the english and french admirals' ships, and at the same time sir houston stewart proceeded to shore near the battery, where he found the french general advancing to parley with the governor. Major general kokonovitch advanced with a sword and pistol in one hand and a pistol in the other, threw down his sword at the officer's feet, and discharged the pistols into the ground, or at least pulled the triggers with the muzzle pointing downwards, in token of surrender. He was moved to tears, and as he left the fort he turned round and made some passionate exclamation in russian, of which the interpreter could only make out, " oh, kinburn i kinburn! glory of suwaroff and my shame, i abandon you i" or something to that effect. As the garrison marched out they were ordered to pile their arms, but many of them threw them on the ground at the feet of the conquerors, will rage and mortification depicted in their features. It appears that the second in command -a pole by birth-inflamed by courage and its dutch ally, declared he would not surrender, and that he was prepared to blow up the magazine before the enemy should enter. Lie was supported by the officer of engineers and by the officer of artillery. Amid the crash of falling buildings, the explosions of mortars, the thunder of the fleet, and the smoke and flames of their crumbling batteries, the russians held a hasty council of war, at which it was put to the vote whether they should surrender or not, and the majority carried the question in the affirmative on the side of humanity and reason. In vain the fanatic pole, the artilleryman, and engineer, tried to persuade the governor and the majority to persist in the madness and folly of continuing their passive resistance, for active opposition was out of their power. " 11'e can hold out for a week," said they. " what then ?" asked the governor. " you have not been able to fire a shot for threequarters of an hour. Are you likely to be in a better state two hours hence, and, above all, where are the men to live meantime " such arguments, enforced by tremendous broad-ides and by the knocks of the admirals with cannon-balls against every side of the tort, prevailed, and the white flag was hoisted, much to the satisfaction of every humane sailor in the allied fleet, the men of which could feel no pleasure in destroying a brave enemy, and much mole to the gratification of those who were allowed to cease a demonstration of hopeless courage. Kokonovitch wept as he threw down the pen with which he signed the articles of surrender, but he had no reason to be ashamed of his defence. By the capitulation the garrison were permitted to retire with everything except their arms, ammunition, and guns; the officers were allowed to wear their swords, the men to carry off their knapsacks, clothing, regimental bugles, church property, relics, and pictures. When the major general was asked to use his influence or to give a pledge that no harm should befall the allies who might enter the place, he said he would do so; " but at the same time i must tell you," added he, " that the flames are at this moment very near the grand magazine. " this was a friendly caution, which produced, of course, a corresponding effect, and steps were taken at once to prevent any such lamentable losses as were caused after the evacuation of sebastopol by the rashness of the troops. Object Type: print. Date: 24 November 1855. Medium: wood engraving. Depicted Place: Kinburn. Surrender of the Russian General at Kinburn - ILN-1855-1124-0005
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