Lot 323

Winston Churchill's Uncle Recounts the Siege of Sevastopol During the Crimean War

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Winston Churchill's Uncle Recounts the Siege of Sevastopol During the Crimean War

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

Starting Bid: $300

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June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill
Sevastopol, March-September 1855
Winston Churchill's Uncle Recounts the Siege of Sevastopol During the Crimean War
Archive

Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill autograph letters (4) signed. Four letters totaling 13pp, 4.5" x 7"; "Before Sebastopol"; dated March 1 to September 10, 1855. Spencer-Churchill writes to his family giving a first-hand account of the British and French armies' movements, including artillery bombardments and daily hardships, as they tightened their grip around the Russian defenses. His letters provide great insight, and includes sensitive information as well as scathing criticism of the British. His Crimean service was part of a distinguished military career that helped establish the Churchill family's tradition of public service. This tradition would later be exemplified by his famous nephew's leadership during two world wars. All letters are in near fine condition, with flattened folds and light toning. September 7 letter has a small puncture and tear at integral fold affecting a few letters.

Charles Henry Spencer-Churchill (1828-1877) served as a British Army officer during the Crimean War, participating in the siege of Sevastopol as part of the 20th Regiment of Foot. Born into the prominent Churchill family, he was a cousin of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, and the older brother of Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (Winston Churchill's father). During the campaign, Spencer-Churchill served with distinction despite the harsh conditions that plagued British forces throughout the conflict. Like many officers of his generation, he witnessed firsthand the administrative failures that led to enormous casualties from disease and inadequate supplies. The four letters offered here include accounts of what he saw and experienced.

In a letter dated March 1, 1855 addressed, "My dear Fanny", he writes: "We are now living like fighting cocks for the time… The death of Nicholas [I] has again raised hopes of Peace, but the Russians in Sebastopol won't believe it & blaze away with redoubled vigour. We have advanced a battery close up under their noses and the French have immense works on their right – they got pounded the other night in an attack they made on a Russian Battery & lost 300 men. The Russians were put up to it & waited for them with fourteen Battalions…"

His September 7, 1855 letter to "Aunt Anna" recounts the difficult conditions under which they are living. The English would attempt to take Redan the next day. Spencer-Churchill references the assault: "The general opinion is that we shall have one more assault before laying by for the winter." He adds, "The Russians burnt a ship for our amusement last night & we shall certainly have a row soon."

Two days after the failed British assault on Redan (September 8, 1855), Spencer-Churchill writes a scathing account of events in a four page letter to his sister Lucy: "Monday 10th…You will read in the papers the accounts of our disastrous attack so I need not say much about that except that as usual the fault of failure lay mostly with the generals. The officers numbers of whom are dead & dying behaved splendidly; but in spite of all their bravery & example they could not get the men to come on – No supports were brought up, although nearly the whole British Army were lying under arms close by. 3 or 4 men that I knew most intimately were killed, some standing on the parapet encouraging the men & others in the Redan.

We the 4th Division were under orders the whole day, expecting every moment to be called into action. The French are much elated at our failure & I think that there is a great deal of ill will between is. If the Russian had not evacuated the place in the night: the orders were that the Highland Brigade should storm assisted by Garrett's Brigade in the morning. I think we should have succeeded then for old Garrett is not a man to sit quietly down and listed to the firing as the others did. No English are allowed in the Sebastopol, but the French are pillaging in every direction and the houses are still burning & every now & then a magazine goes up in the air with a crash…The Russians must have evacuated the place when the French took the Malakoff. So that we have lost 2 thousand. 500 killed & wounded & sustained a defeat to no purpose…"

While the British failed at the Redan, French forces successfully captured the Malakoff fortification earlier that day. The Malakoff was the key to Sevastopol's defense system, and the Russians evacuated as Spencer-Churchill writes.

Although the assault on the Redan was not the final battle of the Crimean War, it was the last major engagement. After Sevastopol's fall, fighting continued sporadically until the Treaty of Paris was signed on March 30, 1856. Four exceptional letters by a British officer who served with distinction.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7" x 4.5"
  • Medium: Archive

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