Kherson Region During the Crimean (Eastern) War of 1853–1856
The Crimean War became a severe trial for the residents of the Kherson and Taurida Governorates, on whose territory combat operations unfolded.
The Crimean War became a severe trial for our people. It brought special suffering to the residents of the Kherson and Taurida Governorates, on whose territory combat operations unfolded.
In October 1855, the Anglo-French fleet bombarded the settlements of the Kherson Governorate on the shore of the Dnipro Estuary – Stanislav and Shyroka Balka. On the Azov coast, Henichesk and settlements on the Arabat Spit suffered from enemy shelling. Residents of the Kherson Governorate, including Kherson, and Taurida became participants in the main event of this war – the 349-day defense of Sevastopol. Their share was especially significant in the Black Sea Fleet, the crews of which, after the sinking of the ships, fought on the Sevastopol bastions.
Award naval flag "For the Defense of Sevastopol". 1856. Kherson Regional Museum.
Among the participants of those events were also Kherson natives — naval officers, graduates of the Kherson School of Merchant Shipping, members of the Society of Free Sailors from Kherson and Oleshky. Troops moved day and night to Crimea along the roads of the Kherson region, and convoys with wounded and sick soldiers went from Sevastopol, who were provided with medical aid in hospitals, infirmaries, and charitable hospitals of Kakhovka, Beryslav, Kherson, and other towns and villages of the region.
During the war, the Kherson region turned out to be one of the closest rear areas where the human and material reserves of the Russian army were concentrated. From the artillery depots in Kherson, in 1854 alone, 6,000 poods of gunpowder were sent to Sevastopol. The Vadon cast iron foundry and mechanical plant in Kherson produced 60 gun carriages for the Ochakiv fortress. The main burden of providing the army with food, horses, forage, and transport vehicles fell on the population of the Kherson Governorate.
Russian percussion cap pistol.
Naval officer's broadsword, artillery igniter.
Case for artillery igniter tubes (portfires).