Friedrich Engels

Bomarsund

Written around 18 March 1858.

From the English.

["The New American Cyclopædia", Volume III]

Bomarsund — a narrow channel between the Åland Islands and Vardö at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. The Russian fortifications at the port of Bomarsund were destroyed during the war of 1854 by the British and French fleets. The channels leading to Bomarsund were blockaded at the end of July by 4 British ships and some small steamers. Shortly after, detachments of the allied fleets arrived with Admirals Napier and Parseval-Deschênes, followed on 7 August by the ships of the line with General Baraguay d'Hilliers and 12,000 men, mostly French. The Russian commander, General Bodisco, was forced to surrender on 16 August, and the allies occupied the island until the end of the month, after which the entire fortress was blown up. The trophies of victory were 112 cannons with carriages, 79 without carriages, 3 mortars, 7 field pieces, and 2,235 prisoners. This siege was of fundamental military interest in that it settled the question of the use of unprotected masonry in fortresses with land fronts.