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

1160 the brig was very effective in checking the advance of the enemy. As soon as the embarkation had been effected, all the ships moved out to their anchorage in the bay. Although this attack proved unsuccessful, I trust that the gallantry displayed by Captain La Grandiers, of the Eurydice, and Captain Burridge, and the officers and men under their command, will be appreciated. The marines and seamen on the right gallantly gained the ridge of the hill in spite of the steepness of the ascent, and in the face of a heavy fire. But, unfortunately, the dense brushwood in which many of the enemy were secreted, stopped any further advance in that direction, and on the left the gorge was found so strongly defended, not merely by musketry but likewise by guns and fleld pieces, that it could not be forced from that quarter; be- sides which, we had, since leaving the harbour, received information from the prisoners taken on board the Sitka, which leads us to believe that the numerical strength and composition of the troops forming the garrison were far superior to what we had been led to suppose. On the 7th September the combined squadron sailed from Awatska Bay, and when outside the harbour chased and captured the Russian Government schooner Anadis, and the Sitka Russian merchant-vessel. The former vessel was dismantled and burnt, and the latter vessel is now in company with the squadron. She was last from Ajan, in the Sea of Ochosk, and had several Russian officers and Government civilians on board. She was built at Hamburgh for the Russo-American Company, and has a miscellaneous cargo, amongst which is a considerable quantity of gunpowder and flour. My present intention is to water at Vancouver's Island, and then proceed to San Francisco to await your further orders.-1 have, &c., (Signed) F. W. E. NICOLSON, Captain. Tho following correspondence follows : Frigate La Forte, Sept. 6,1554. Monsieur le Commandant, —lf the landing was not happily effected, it is to be attributed to the difficulties of the ground, and if our men were obliged to re-embark, we have, at least, acquired the certainty that the two nations can count upon each other, and that, if new circumstances should place us in the presence of the enemy, our efforts will be crowned with success. Our crews, unaccustomed to fighting on land, showed great ardour. I beg of you, Monsieur le Commandant, to accept my thanks, and to present them to your captains, officers, and crews ; and I shall be happy to make known to my Government the courage, discipline, and devotion which they have shown. (Signed) Rear-Admiral Commander of the French Naval Forces, F. DEB POINTER. Her Majesty's Ship Pique, Petropolopski, Sept. 6, Mt Sir,—lt is with great satisfaction that I have received the letter which you have done me the honour to address me, in which you mention in high terms the conduct of our men while engaged on shore with the enemy. Allow me, sir, to convey to you the heartfelt thanks of every officer and man in the British squadron for the ex pression of your good opinion. 1 hear from all quarters the highest praise of the ardent courage of your men while advancing, and of their coolness and discipline during the retreat—remarkable qualities in seamen, who are, as you truly observe, unaccustomed to shore operations. Allow me to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy for the losses sustained among the officers and men of your squadron.-1 have, &c., F. W. E. NICOLSON, Captain and Senior Officer, The return of the killed, wounded, and missing in both squadrons are appended : Pique.—A. Bland, lieutenant, contusion ;G. Robinson, mate, slightly ; 1 4 . Chichester, midshipman, slightly; G. Wcaltum, lieu tenant, RM., slightly; W. H. Clement, lieutenant, RM., severely. Seamen, killed or missing, 8; dangerously, 5; severely, 5: slightly, 4. Marinas, killed or missing, 4; dangerously, 2; severely, 5 ; slightly, 1. Total, killed or missing, 12 ; dangerously, 7 ; severely, 11 ,• slightly,9;-89. President.—C. A. Parker, captain, R.M., killed or missing; G. H. Howard, flag-lieutenant, severely; G. Palmer, lieutenant, severely; W. G. H. Morgan, lieutenant, slightly. Seamen, killed or missing, 5 ; dangerously 2 ; severely bruised, 14 ; slightly, 4; Marines, killed or missing, 5; severely bruised,lo ; slightly, 4. Total, killed or missing,ll; dangerously, 2; severely,2B; slightly, ;-5 1 ). Virogo.—T. Whitelock, boatswain, severely. Seamen, killed or missing, 1; severely, 3; slightly, 7. Marines, killed or miss ing, 2; dangerously,*; slightly, 1. Total, killed or missing, 3 ; dan gerously, 3 ; severely, 4; slightly, 8 ;-18 1 Total, killed or missing and wounded, 107. Forte.—Lefebvre, lieutenant, killed or missing (left on shore; Bourasset, lieutenant, (died on board); d'l.acombe, lieutenant, dangerously; Dumesnil, midshipman, slightly. Seamen killed or missing, 9 ; wounded, 1e1; slightly, 10. Eurgdice.—Oisgnel des Touches, mate, Costa, midshipman, and Guerin, surgeon, dangerously. Seamen killed or missing, (left on shore). Obligado.-IrJournel, mate, slightlT ; Gleg. des Touches, mate, killed or missing (left on shore); Lertre, midshipman, slightly. Seamen killed or missing, 8 (5 left on shore, 1 died ou board). Total, killed, missing, or wounded, 102. A private letter gives some further details of the disastrous affair We were landed to be under the orders of Capt. Parker, of the royal marines, but under the command of Captain Burridge, R.N., late flag-captain. As soon as the boats touched the shore, Captain B— cried out, " Follow me, men ; follow me, marines." Off they all went into the thicket ; some taking one direction, some another, and all going in a different one to that which was laid down. At this time musket and grape shots were flying around us. After getting through the thicket we ascended a hill, when the enemy very soon surrounded us. It was dreadful to see how our poor fellows were falling in all directions. They drove us over an immense cliff; how we got down it THE PRESS. I don't know. At this time poor Captain Parker was shot, and a French officer. Lieutenants M'Callum and Clements were each wounded badly in the head. A steamer seeing the state of affairs came up to cover our reti eat. We were perfectly paralysed and took to the boats. Some few who were left on the beach were open to a deadly fire from the enemy, which came from all directions. A more disastrous or ill-managed affair never took place. Out of three hun. dred and fifty landed about one hundred and seven were killed or wounded ; and the only effect produced must have been that of giving the enemy the most thorough contempt of the powers of the foe they have to deal with. THE BALTIC FLEET. The Majestic, 80, screw, Captain Hope, C. 8., and Cressy, 80, screw, Captain Warren, left Kiel on Mon day, for England. The Baltic fleet is gradually dwindling to a squadron. On the departure of the above ships the only vessels remaining at Kiel were the Duke of Wellington, 131, screw; Royal George, 120, screw ; Nile, 90, screw ; Hogue, 60, screw ; Blenheim, 60, screw. With these were five steam frigates. The Herald states, we have reason to believe that the Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., solicited, and by telegraph orders has obtained permission, to leave the Baltic fleet at Kiel, and return direct to England. Rear-Admiral Chads, is ordered to hoist his flag on board the Pike of Welling ton, at Kiel, as commander-in-chief. The fleet is under orders to return to England. REINFORCEMENTS AND SUPPLIES. The 18th Royal Irish Regiment embarked at Portsmouth yesterday (Friday) in the Magdalena, and will depart this morning for the Crimea. The regiment is above 900 strong. The Charity, iron screw chartered steamer, re ceived on board at Portsmouth, on Tuesday, detach ments of the 41st, 38th, 44th, 49th, 88th, and rifle brigades, in all about 000 officers and men. A telegraphic message was received at Devonport on Tuesday ordering the draft of the 34th Regiment, under orders for the Crimea, to hold themselves in readiness for embarkation at a moment's notice. It is expected they will proceed to their destination in the St. Jean d'Acre. A letter from Marseilles of the 2nd inst. says : Three thousand eight hundred infantry, of various regi ments, have left for the Crimea, in the steame-s Thames, Ripon, Can dia, and Emeu. Horses for the artillery and cavalry are embarked daily, for the most part in sailing transports. The Alps is 'here waiting to take out troops, and the Indiana is at Toulon for the same purpose. The Moniteur de la Flotte gives the following list of vessels of different sizes, as being now on the stocks in different French ports Bretagne, steam line-of-battle ship, first rate ; Algesiras, Arcole. Imperial, Intrepiie, Redoubtable, Ville de Bor deaux; Ville de Lyon, and Vile de Nantes, ditto, third rates ; Souveraine (first rate), Alexandre, Tilsitt, Breslaw, Castiglione, Massena, Fontenoy, and Eylau, ( second rates), fitting with screws. Imperatrice, Eugenie, Ardente, Audacieuse, Foudre, Impetueuse, and Sonveraine, first rate steam-frigates ; D'Assas and Volta, first-class steam corvettes ; Devastation, Tounante, Lave, Foudroyante, and Congreve, floating batteries; Fleche, Alarme, Fuse, Mitraille, Etincelle, Eclair, Grenade, Flamme, Dragonne, Fulmivante, Aigrette, Avalanche, Tourmente, Tempete, Redoute, Poudre, Arquebuse, Salve, and Lance, steam gun-boats; Aigle, Rodeur, Croiseur, Podor, Dialmaih, Guetteur, Pecheur, Ebrie, Grand Bassam, Basilic, Akba, and Guee-ii-Dar, steam advice-boats ; Fouruaise, Torche, Trombe, Tocsin, and Bombe, bomb-vessels; Gironde, l)ordonge, Loire, Durance, Nievre, Meuse, Marne, Saone, Rhin, here, Meurthe, Rhone, and Yonne, steam corvette transports. The first shipment of the wooden barracks for the British troops in the Crimea was completed at Ports mouth on Monday. Although the materials are chiefly wooden planks, they yet take up a great deal of space on board ship. The officers of the Ordnance at the Tower have been actively engaged during the week in forwarding bale goods, consisting of blankets, fur cloaks, caps, and gloves, waterproof capes, cowhide boots, suits of inner flannel clothing, waterproof leggings, 40,000 of each description, to Portsmouth and Woolwich, for shipment to the Crimea. There were also forwarded 10,000 suits of the above-mentioned articles for the use of officers. Minis rifles to the number of from 1,100 to 1,200 are now being sent into the Ordnance stores weekly. The Commissioners for the Victualling and Trans. port Service have issued contracts for the supply of 500,01X)lbs. of preserved boiled beef for the use of the forces in the Crimea; also for the conveyance of 2,400 tons of provisions from Deptford, and 1,100 from Gosport to Malta. Contracts are also issued for the supply of 22,300 pairs of boots—one half to be delivered within six weeks. A general summary of the provisions making for the comfort of the men, and the prosecution of the war in the East, is given in yesterday's Morning Post: — All the appliances of peaceful life are to be furnished to the troops as far as they are applicable, and measures un heard of in military annals are to be employed to facilitate all the arrangements of the camp. A thousand huts are on their way to supplant the tents now in use, and in a day or two a thousand more will follow; and so on till all the men are lodged, weather-proof and water-tight. Then, in ►SATURDAY. the way of clothing, a contract ie already completed for forty-four thousand fur cloaks ; forty-four thousand fur caps, helmet-shaped; forty-tour thousand fur gauntlets; forty-four thousand water-proof capes ; forty-four thousand pairs of long boots, of cowhide ; forty-four thousand suits of inner clothing; forty-four thousand pairs of leggings; and ten thousand suite of fur clothing for officers. Every sol dier is to have a wcterproof sheet, in addition to his blanket. In the way of arms and ammunition, the siege train is to be augmented by a large number of thirteen inch mortars from Gibraltar and Malta ; by a large addi tion of Lancaster guns, carrying shells six hundred yards farther than has hitherto been possible ; and by howitaars of a new description, carrying ten•inch shot five thousand five hundred yards, or above three miles. The number of men has been augmented since the battle of Inkermann by fifteen thousand fresh troops, who sailed last month. Probably ten thousand more will sail this month, besides those who are to be drafted from Mediterranean stations. In the way of provisions, everything that can nourish health and avert disease is to be copiously provided. Con tracts are being daily taken for unheard-of quantities of preserved meat and provisions of various kinds Trans ports will scour the markets of the Mediterranean for sheep and vegetables ; while excieeable articles are to be retailed under Government surveillance, and no longer left to the extortionate mercy of heartless adventurers. Then, over and above this, must be reckoned the muni ficent voluntary and private undertakings now set going. From the highest to the lowest, every class of society is furnishing its quota with an exhilarating generosity. Prince Albert clothes all the Grenadiers in fur. • Several noblemen send their yachts laden with all conceivable good things. The Duke of Marlborough subscribes one hundred head of deer. Ladies sell their jewels and give the produce. Publicans send hogsheads of beer. One firm gives 2501. worth of choicest cigars. Young ladies knit cuffs, mittens, and stockings. Whole parishes unite to send out sheets, pillow-cases, bandages, and handker chiefs to the hospitals, while nothing that ingenuity can devise, or love provide, is wanting to complete the list. But, perhaps, the most remarkable of all is the establish ment of a line of rails from the port to the camp. By this iron road much labour and fatigue will be saved both to horses and men. Messrs. Pew and Brassey, with a large staff of their best men, undertake this unprecedented work on terms which prove their patriotism beyond a doubt. We must not forget the electric telegraph which is to be laid down all through the camp, and right away to the harbour. The aggregate of this is astounding, and speaks volumes for the prosperity of our country, and for the use we have made of our forty years' peace. PATRIOTIC FUND. The subscriptions to the fund now exceed 150,0001., as acknowledged by the central commissioners, irre spective of large contributions already collected by local committees, and which have not been as yet re mitted to head-quarters. A meeting of the inhabitants of St. Paul's, Knights bridge, to adopt measures for obtaining subscriptions, was held on Wednesday, and addressed by the Seat. tart' at War. Mr. S. Herbert said : Being a parishioner, he felt it his duty to attend the meeting. Allusion had been made to the discipline of the army, and the high moral qualities that had been dis played by all since its arrival in the East. It had been his fortune during many years, from the position he held, to have become acquainted with its internal administration, and he was well aware how improved had been the condi tion of the men. The change, however, that had taken place was not entirely visible to the public. But since the arrival of our army in Turkey the veil had been drawn aside, and the character of the 13ritish soldier had been brought conspicuously to view. It was supposed by some that the education which the soldier had received. and the comfort he had enjoyed at home, would have unfitted him for the duties of a campaign and the arduous duties of war, but a practical answer had been given to those who had such anticipations. Circumstances have shown that, while acts of the greatest bravery anti heroism have been dis played, the men who have exhibited them possessed the tenderest feelings, as bas been proved by the letters from privates and non-commissioned officers connected with the army. He, a few days ago, had an interview with a gentleman recently returned from the Crimea., who stated to him that he was surprised at the extraordinary discipline manifest among all the regiments of the British army, and who also observed that, while enduring the greatest fatigue, not a murmur was heard. Not a single court-martial had been held, and there had been no complaint of neglect of duty. He was a few days ago reading the despatches of the Duke of Wellington of the campaign in Spain, a nd . there he found that the duke was consta ntl y remark ing that severe punishment was necessary to keep up the dis cipline of the army. How proud, therefore, ought they not to be to have such an army, the condition of which, he believed, was unexampled in the history of this or of any other nation. (Hear, hear.) He bad also seen letters from a t he ding a high position among those who are attending hospitals at Scutari. There, he is told, not a word is uttered to offend a lady's feelings, though there are about 4,000 beds in the various hospitals. (Hear.) All the attentions paid to the men are received with the greatest thanks, and though many are suffering the most excruciating pains not a murmur of complaint was heard. (Hear, hear.) Much, however, as they must admire these moral qualities of the men, they must not forget their high military qualities; for he believed there has scarcely been an instance on record where these were so conspicuous as at the battle of Inkermann, where a small band of men were arrayed against a numerous and disciplined army. (Ilari hear.) While column after column was brought up spins our men, they stood their ground. The battle was not one where there were any particular stratagetical move \,