The Press. — London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

-di DECEMBER 9, 1854. could be secured. About eighty men were taken off by the Queen, twenty were on board the Fury, and the Sir:sown af forded help to the soldiers in the French transports, who had defended themselves against the attacks of the Cos sacks the whole night. Some field-pieces belonging to the enemy had been brought down during the night, but dis appeared when the steamers went in to clear the beach with shot and shell. Such has been the fate of some of the splendid transports before the Katscha,—all first-class ships, and worth up• wards of 15,0001. a piece. The men-of•war, whose habit of making periodical and careful scrutiny of their cables has here proved of such advantage, rode out the gale with but trifling damage. Topgallantmasts were all sent down, top masts well stayed, and three anchors let go. Some of them dragged, however, very considerably. The Rodney was not far off the ground, and the Marengo and Britannia were at one time in very dangerous proximity. Floods of water inundated their decks, and the old Britannia was kept pumping for eleven hours. The Turkish admiral lost two of his masts, and three French line-of-battle ships their rudders. The London also has received some damage. The whole shore off the Eatseha is strewn with wreck, casks, spars, bodies of men tend horses, and prowling detach ments of the Cossacks. 1 regret to say that the hulks of the Rodeley and the Ganges have been set fire to in a most mysterious manner. This is greatly to be regretted; although all the ships are so bilged that no hope remains of being able to get them off again, still it would have been perfectly possible to recover Government stores to a large amount. Few lives, comparatively speaking, have been lost off the Katscba. I wish I could give as favourable an account of the state of affairs at lialaklava and Eupatoria. lu the former place the greater number of men-of-war and transports were anchored in deep water outside the harbour of Balaklava, whose steep sides and tortuous narrow mouth prevent the ready exit of vessels of any size iu case of sudden necessity. The di& are steep and abrupt, falling down directly into deep water, and aflUrding not the slightest trace of beach or footing for man—an iron-bound coast, indeed—added to which a rocky bottom and thirty fathoms of water are not an encouraging anchorage in a furious gale, with a lee shore. Here eight first-class transports have become total wrecks, and every soul on I board them has been lost but thirty persons. Each of these ships had a company of nearly forty men. To those who held on great damage has been done to the spars and upper-works. The Prince steamer, which had lately brought out the 46th Regiment, has gone down, with, it is said, three hundred souls on board. I cannot quite under stand where this large number could have come from, unless, indeed, women and children, together with the sick, had been sent to her. This, I fear, is a auppesition only likely to be too true. Captain Bayntun, the Admi ralty agent, who came out in the Prince, has been drowned. At Eupatoria, which is a moat exposed anchorage, still more serious results of the storm have occurred. I am told that twenty transports have gone ashore. This state ment must be received with caution. It is quite certain, however, that the English despatch-boat Danube is high and dry ; and that a Turkish line-of-battle ship and the French Henri Quatre have gone ashore, and cannot be got off. This calamity is rendered the more crushing by the fact that, besides the loss of ordinary stores—such as pork beef, powder, and rum—a great quantity of soldiers' bag gage and nearly the whole of the stock of winter clothing for the troops have been entirely destroyed, thus increasing the discomforts, if not the horrors, of winter cantonments in the :ramie Chersonese. A Russian line-of-battle ship, having drifted from her moorings to the entrance of the harbour of Sebastopol, has been sunk there beside the others. Letters from the camp describe the effects of the hurricane among the intrenchments and bivouacs of the army. The following are extracts: — Nov. 14.—After violent rain, a hurricane similar to those in the West Indies came on at about eight in the morning. All operations were suspended, and it was with difficulty that we could keep our feet. The tents have been blown down or torn, and melted snow and hail cover the earth. The hideous winter of Russia has made it appearance. The fire from the place and that of the besiegers is suspended. Every one is gathering np all his courage to struggle against the violence of the elements. The hurri cane blows from the south-west, and the guard in the trenches, which relieved that on duty during the night, was, so to speak, driven towards Sebastopol. The hurricane continued up to five o'clock, and did not cease until night. Nov. 15.—We breathe again like men who have escaped from a disaster. The tents are being set up again, and the sun reappears. If we had had two dayslike yesterday. what, it is asked, would have become of us? What would have become of the fleet? The vessels-of war, it appears, have nut much suffered, but those of the merchant service have done so a great deal. The English have nine vessels cast Wiese, and we have four. Amongst the latter was one containing a cargo of oxen, twenty-one horses, and six Hussars—and all perished. Within the memory of man no such hurricane has been known in the Crimea ; and what proves this is, that the buildings of the old monastery on the coast between Balaklava and Cape Chersonese have been blown down. Several horses have died from cold in the bivouac, and about thirty broke loose and ran in the direction of the quarantine. The advanced posts of the Russians and the French chased I hem, and more than once a Chasseur de Vincennes and a Cossack were seen pursuing the same horse. The works have been resumed in all points. A strong wind which still prevails has, with some precautions from us, assisted in drying the trenches. Nov. 17.—This day is beautifully fine, clear, and brilliant The fire from our guns won& rfully slackening—eit an average, about one gun every half hour. Another ship has been sunk in the harbour of Sebastopol. I have returned from the 4th and light division camps. We looked into the town and could see battered barracks, fortifications THE PRESS. and houses ; otherwise the place looked clean, well built, and white as formerly. Beyond the immediate valley of lnkermann, in the distant part of it, we saw a large body of the enemy marching, with what view I cannot say. On a day like this the scenery of the valley and hills of hiker mann, the plains of Balaklava, and the mountains over them is most enchanting. The Prince was insured by Government, most fortunately, for the total loss was im mense. Warm clothing to the value of 5001. for the 77th Regiment alone wax lost in her. Many of the French soldiers have white sheep-skin jackets, with the woolly side in, that look most comfortable. Warm clothing has been written for ( gregoo, &e.) to Constantinople, but it is doubtful that anything near a sufficiency can be obtained there. In the camp all are making some kind of arrange ments against the tierce winter expected, such as small walls round the margin of tents, and deepening the floors of the latter. Nov. Pl.—intelligence has been receited of further losses to shipping at the Katseha river mouth. The Belle rophon, at Eupatoria, has escaped; all her anchors were let go, and she rocked so that her yards dipped each time in her rollings into the sea. The Henri Quelre, French man of-war, is on shore. What other losses they have experi enced I know not; they must, however, have suffrred se verely. To-day is again fine and brilliant. It is rumoured, and I believe it really is the case, that Sir De Lacy Evans has resigned his command ; he is regularly done up. Sir U. Brown, likewise,will probably never serve in the field again ; he is slowly rezovering from his wound un board ship. General Torrens is gone wounded to Malta. The Duke of Cambridge, it is thought, will not return. Sir De Lacy Evans is the greatest loss of them all ; he is now appreciated, which upon his first appointment in London he was not. Cholera has reappeared, among the 46th and 62nd chiefly ; it had never absolutely ceased, though much lessened. " Croaking " in the army is prevalent, and no wonder, you will say, at present prospects. Fuel for tiring is daily be coming scarcer and scarcer, and where it is to be obtained for winter use is a problem requiring solution. On the whole, the prospects of the army are gloomy, but all our miseries, though they bear ever so hard upon us, will be borne by us like men. DEATH OF GENERAL DE LOURMEL. The Moniteur publishes a letter, written from the French camp before Sebastopol, giving an account of the death of General de Lourmel from the wound which he received at the battle of Inkermann. The official writer says : The general received a ball right in the breast, but his features betrayed neither emotion nor suffering. No one perceived that he was wounded ; and, turning towards his orderly officers, who just before had courageously freed him from the thickest of the melee, he said, " I sin wounded, but let no one know it! " He was still on horseback, firm and impassible. At this moment the order was brought to him to cease the pursuit; the Russians were in flight in all directions. He listened with attention to what was said to him, and, then feeling his strength fail, he said, " Gu and seek the colonel of the 26th ; let him come to receive my instructions." It was only half an hour after being wounded that he consented to alight from his horse. He endea voured to walk, in order not to let the troops see that he was wounded ; but soon his strength gave way, and, 3 ield ing to the pressing solicitations of his officers, he allowed himself to be carried. He still, however, continued to occupy himself with his troops , at every moment he caused himself to be stopped, gave orders, and corrected movements. He, however, lost a great deal of blood, and every minute he became weaker. At length he was obliged definitively to abandon his command. The gene ral was carried in the arms of his officers ; they adored him, and were bathed in tears. Desirous of giving to the end the example of calm and intrepidity, he indicated himself the road he wished to take. At length, after two hours' agony, he reached his bivouac. Able surgeons in formed in advance awaited him. The general insisted on taking off his clothes himself, and whilst his wound was being dressed he said, "It is nothing—l shall get over it." He thus reassured those who surrounded him. When the dressing was terminated he requested to be left alone. Shortly after, he called his orderly officer, Captain de la Jaille. " I have done with doctors," said he, "and have another account to settle. Go for a priest ! " His other tendants now entered, and, seeing their emotion, he cried, " Why do you pity me ? Is not my wound glorious?" The soldiers had nawed him the Bayard of the army, and, like Bayard, he died as a hero and a Christian. The ball, passing between the second and third ribs, had traversed the left lung, and went out by the shoulder blade. The medical men were not without hopes of preserving his precious life; they counted greatly on his extraordinary energy and mural courage. But the general himself never entertained any illusion ; he made, with the calm and sang froid which presided over all his actions, his last wordly arrangements. lu the evening he said to the orderly officers who stood by his bed, " You will take care to say that my last thoughts were of France and the Emperor!! ' The general lived two days. As time wore on, he spat blood more frequently, and his breathing became more difficult. However, he preserved all his faculties. Hu sent fur his officers, and gave them his last instructions. Towards the end his sufferings became frightful—nothing could calm them. He had, however, some repose, arising from the weakness caused by his pains, which were indes cribable. Those who surrounded him believed that he was a little better ; but on the 7th, at three o'clock in the afternoon, be had an attack of coughing. Half an hour after he breathed his last. Adored and admired by his soldiers, loved and esteemed by all his companions in arms, who highly appreciated his superior qualities, Gene ral de Lounnel, Ly his goad, frank, chivalrous character, will leave eternal regret in the hearts of all who have known him. 1159 THE AFFAIR AT PETROPOLOPSKI. The Admiralty have published some official returns relative to the unsuccetoiful attack on the Russian for tress and harbour of Petropolopski. The papers were forwarded by Sir F. Moolson, of the Pique, who was left senior British officer iu the British squadron upon the death of Rear-Admiral Price. The first of the series is a letter from Captain Burridge, of the President, communicating that event. Sir F. Nicolson gives the following official account of the attack : H.M.S. Pique, September 19, 1854. On Thursday, August 31, Rear-Admiral Febvrier Des Pointes decided upon carry into execution the plan of attack against the outer defences of the harbour of l'etropolopeki, as had been arranged between hint and the late coup inanderin-chief, whose untimely death on the preceding day had stopped the movetuent of the ships. The weather being calm, it was determined that the three frigates should be placed in position by the steamers. The Virago was therefore lashed between the Pique and Foote, while the President was taken in tow astern. In this manner the ships proceeded towards the batteries. and were dropped in succession into the best positions that could be reached, for the tide in chore was found rather stronger than was anticipated. The three batteries forming the outer defences of the entrance of Petropolopski were a five gun battery on the extremity of the peninsula, forming the harbour; an ad mirably-constructed fasciae battery of eleven heavy guns, placed at the water's edge on the opposite shore ; and • three-gun battery at some distance further out ou the same side. As this battery, from its raking position, was expected to give much annoyance, the President's marines, under Captain Parker, lt.M., had been placed on bo ard the Virago, and were landed to take possession of the battery immediately after the ships had been anchored. Although greatly impeded by the almost impenetrable brushwood, the marines and some seamen, both French and English, who were sent to their support, soon reached the battery, which they found deserted. The guns were rendered unservice able, and the party re-embarked under the cover of the Virago. In performing this service this vessel became exposed to a heavy fire from the Russian frigate in the inner harbour, which did her some damage. The battery at the extremity of the peninsula, being most exposed to the fire of the ships, was soon silenced, and as it was directly in a line with the town and a frigate iu the harbour, much damage must have been occasioned by the shot which passed over the battery. A breeze springing up in the afternoon, enabled the Forte and the President, the two outer ships, to take up fresh positions somewhat nearer the low battery. The guns of all the ships were now directed upon this battery; from the Forte especially a rapid ricochet fire was maintained, until at length the battery ceased firing, al though the enemy were not driven from their guns. The ships now ceased firing, and were moved out of range for the night, the Virago taking the Forte in tow, and the President and Pique hauling off by kedges. Although all the ships received shot in their bulls and rigging, the Forte alone suffered any loss in men. An unfortunate shot passed across her quarterdeck, killing one man and worm:ling several others. In the interval between this first attack and the subse quent operations on the 4th of September, several consul. tations were held between the French rear-admiral and the captains of the two squadrons. Some information having been obtained during this interval, as to the position of the batteries not visible from the ships, and also as to the interior of the town, and the strength of the garrison, it was considered that an attack upon the north end of the town by a landing party would probably meet with success, and lead to important results. With a view to occupying the enemy's attention as much Its possible, it was determined to make a simultaneous attack on a battery of five guns placed on the low part of the peninsula, and likewise on a round fort at its northern extremity, at which place the marines and seamen were to land, and endeavour to get possession of the batteries and the heights surrounding the town. Owing to the large number of men required for the landing party, the guns of both frigates could not be manned, and the President's guns being lighter than the Pique's, and therefore requiring fewer men to work them, I went on board that ship, taking with me the remainder of the Pique's ship's company. On the morning of September the 4th, the landing party, consisting of about 350 men from each squadron, besides officers, was placed on board the Virago, which vessel was then lashed alongside the Forte, the boats for the disem barkation being placed on the opposite side, and the Presi dent being taken in tow astern. The batteries commenced firing as soon as the ships came within range, and did considerable damage to the limits and yards of the frigates, but especially to the Forte's. A shot struck the Virago's deck, but fortunately it glanced upwards, otherwise the havoc on her crowded deck might have proved serious. The President having been anchored about 1100 yards from the Saddle Battery on the centre of the peninsula, opened a heavy fire upon it, notwithstanding which the enemy continued working their guns with the greatest determination, retiring occasionally under shelter cf the sloping platform on which their guns were placed, and re turning again to their guns as soon as the fire from the ship slackened in the least; however, at length the battery was silenced. In the meantime the Forte had been placed opposite the Round Fort or t :orge Battery, which she speedily silenced, and thus enabled the marines and seamen to be lauded from the Virago. The Forte, Virago, and Obligado brig afterwards covered the re-embarkation of the landing party. The firs from ■