The Press. — London, England, 1854-11-11 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 11, 1854. on the contrary, only make them the more determined and more fierce. Their universal longing is to storm the whole place. Oct. 20.—The trenches of the allies commenced their fire, as usual, at daylight this morning. The French had repaired their damages during the night, but still were terribly overmatched by the positions and strength of the Russian batteries. The English Crown and Green Mound Batteries fired a good deal upon the town, but up to ten o'clock did not succeed in setting any houses on fire. At that time the magazine of one of the principal French bat teries blew up with a fearful explosion, killing and wound ing many of their men. A few minutes after this accident a shell of ours, thrown into the town, caused a heavy explosion, which destroyed several large houses. I suppose it must have been owing to the shell dropping upon some powder tumbril which was passing along the streets to supply the batteries. Shortly afterwards some of the works round the dockyard were set on fire with rockets, but were extin guished in about half an hour by the soldiers, whom we could see at work. By this time the French batteries had again been compelled to slacken fire, and the whole brunt fell upon the English lines. It is by no means the fault of the French that their batteries have been compelled to cease. Whatever the most desperate and heroic courage could do has been done by them ; but the truth is, the enemy's batteries are placed on the most commanding situations, and outnumber them ten to one, mounting also all 32, b 6, or 68 pounders, while our allies have no heavier than 16 or 21 pound cannon. It is said that heavy metal Is to be landed from the French fleet, in order to make up the furious deficiency of our allies in this respect. Our lines begin to show the effects of the continued cannonade. At dusk we are obliged to cease, in order to repair the batteries, but the enemy fires at intervals all through the night. Our cannonade to-day has done a considerable deal of damage to the town, but we have not yet succeeded in setting it on fire. Three of the guns in the circular earth work, with one or two in each of the other batteries, have also been dismounted, but unfortunately there is little doubt that by to-morrow we shall find them replaced. 21.—The allies have continued the fight with re doubled vigour to-day. During last night the French not. only repaired their works, but, in order to attack with more destructive effect, advanced one strong battery about 200 yards nearer the enemy. The Russians had some suspicion of this work being in progress, and between twelve and one last night made a sortie for the purpose of destroying it. Our allies received notice of an extended attack through a deserter, and were, therefore, in readiness. Directly the enemy were beard advancing to the work, a heavy cannonade of shell, grape, and canister was opened on them from the French batteries, and spread death throughout their ranks. A perfect panic appears to have seized them on finding that the allies were prepared. Judging from the confused sounds, they made no attempt to advance, hut, after an ir regular fire of musketry, hastily retired. The French had only two or three casualties, but the enemy sustained a rather severe loss. A similar attack was made at the same time upon our position at Balaklava, but the garrison of our redoubts round that place were perfectly prepared, and, as our pickets fell back, received the enemy with a smart cannonade, which compelled an instant retreat. In this affair we had only one Turk killed and three wounded. The Russians lett between thirty and forty dead behind them. °cr. 22.—This morning our trenches commenced with a heavy fire. All the French lines have been opened in the night, and their cannonade is incessant, and tells with fearful effect. Two-thirds of the guns in the Flag-Staff Battery have been silenced, and the enemy are striving to raise new ones, but the constant fire of our allies prevents them. Our batteries received orders early this morning to fire only once in eight minutes. This appears to have slackened our fire in rapidity, but what is lost on this side is amply made up in steadiness of aim. Every shot tells. The explosion of last night in the Circular Battery appears to have done considerable mischief. Only two of the guns in it have been worked to-day, and even those fire very slowly, as if the groundwork of the trenches were injured, and impeded the movements of the guns. Our stores are said to be getting short . of ammunition, which has led to the order for slow firing. During last night the Lancaster guns on our left were shifted closer in, so as to enable theni to bear upon the Tirane Apostles, which has been doing much mischief, and firing perpet ally. Unfortunately, the men in charge of a gun moved down the hill at a quick pace, and capsized it over the two shaft horses, killing both. Owing to this acci dent, the carriage of the gun was destroyed, and its chance of being mounted out of the question for the next two or three days. No more shots have been fired at the town, except where it has Leen evident that there are storehouses and military arsenals. Yesterday evening a flag of truce was sent in from the enemy for the purpose of pointing out the locale of the hospitals and hospital ships. As a matter of course, the officer who was charged with the message was informed that both should be respected. The whole results of this day's firing have been decidedly in our favour. The enemy's works are much cut up, and they no longer remount the guns which have been once dismountal. It is evident that their defence is flagging and that steady courage and perseverance will gain the day, in spite of all the obstacles of nature and art. It is said that the French are opposed to any attempt to storm at pre sent, or until our trenches have been much further advanced. In this they are not altogether wrong, for the assault of the town is certain to be attended with fearful loss and doubt ful results. Our trenches accordingly are to be advanced 410 yards further to-morrow night. This will bring us almost hand to hand with the enemy's redan battery. When such a contest commences, we know well how it must ter minate, and who will stand to their guns best. The enemy have no chance against the dogged courage of our fellows. Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar was wounded yesterday evening b: the busting of a shell. The wound, which is THE PRESS. in the leg, is fortunately not very severe, nor by any means dangerous. Ocr. 23.—The mail starts in a few minutes, so I have only time to say that up to this time we appear to be making more and more progress against the enemy. Yesterday night, about eight o'clock, the whole camp was startled by a tremendous explosion at sea, to the north of Sebastopol. Up to the present time we have heard no news to account for it. It is said that oar advanced battery will be able to open fire to-morrow. If this should be the case, and the battery do any considerable execution, we shall storm in a few days—perhaps before the next mail leaves on the 28th. None of our present line of batteries will be disturbed for the one which is to be advanced. They will fire over it.. The new battery is to consist of about twenty-five long 3:4 and 68 pounders. The fire at five hundred yards swat pro duce au immediate and terrible effect. THE SEA ATTACK. The following description of the naval operations during the first days of the bombardment is given by Admiral Dundas in his official reports to the Ad miralty : Britannia, off the Katscha, Oct. 18. I beg you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners , of the Admiralty that the siege batteries of the allied armies opened tire upon the Russian works south of Sebastopol about half-past six o'clock yesterday morning, with great effect and small loss. In consequence of the most urgent request of Lord Raglan and General Canrobert, it was agreed by the admirals of the allied fleets that the whole of the ships should assist the land attack by engaging the sea batteries north and south of the harbour, on a line across the port, as shown in the accompanying plan ; but various circumstances rendered a change in the position of the ships necessary and un avoidable. The Agamemnon, Sanspareil, Sampson, Tribune, Terrible, Sphinx, Lynx, Albion, London, Arethusa, towed by the Firebrand, Niger, and Triton, engaged Fort Constantine and the batteries to the northward ; while the Queen, Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Rodney, Bellerophon, with Vesuvius, Furious, Retri. bution, Highflyer, Spitfire, Spiteful, and Cyclops, lashed on the port side of the several ships, gra dually took up their .positions, as nearly as possible as marked on the plan. The action lasted from about half-past one to half-past six p.m., when, being quite dark, the ships hauled off. The loss sustained by the Russians, and the da mage done to Fort Constantine and batteries, cannot, of course, as yet be correctly ascertained. An action of this duration against such formidable and well-armed works could not he maintained with out serious injury, and I have to regret the loss of 44 killed and 266 wounded, as detailed in the accom panying lists. The ships, masts, yards, and rigging are more or less damaged, principally by shells and hot shot. The Albion has suffered much in hull and masts; the Rodney in her masts, she having tailed on the reef, from which she was got off by the great exertions of Commander Kynaston, of the Spiteful, whose crew and vessel were necessarily exposed in performing this service; but, with the exception of the Albion and Arethusa, which ships I send to Con stantinople to be repaired, I hope to be able to make my squadron serviceable in twenty-four hours. Fore seeing from the nature of the attack that we should be likely to lose spars, I left the spare topmasts and yards on board her Majesty's ship Vulcan at this anchorage, where I had placed her with all the sick and prisoners. I have now the pleasure of recording my very great satisfaction with the ability and zeal displayed by Rear-Admirals Sir Edmund Lyons and the Hon. Montagu Stopford, and all the captains under my command, as well as my sincere thanks to them, and to the officers, seamen, and marines employed, for their unremitting exertions and the rapidity of their fire, in the absence of a large number of the crews of each ship, who were landed to assist in working the siege batteries, Atc.,on shore; and to this circumstance I attribute the small loss of killed and wounded. The gallant and skilful conduct of our French allies in this action was witnessed by me with admi ration ; and I hear with regret that they have also suffered considerable loss. I beg to express my gratitude at the manner in which Ahmed I'acha, the Turkish admiral, did his duty. (Signed) J. W. D. DUNDAS. Britannia, off the Katscha, Oct. 23. Since my letter of the 14th inst. the siege batteries have continued their fire against the Russian works, which appear to have suffered much, and the fire slackened, although it is still considerable. The naval brigade are doing good service, and up to the 20th had a loss of twelve killed and fifty-three wounded, as per annexed list. By the desire of Lord Raglan, I have reinforced them by 410 officers and seamen, and placed Lord John Hay in the Wasp, under the orders of Captain Lushington. Captain Brock, at Eupatoria, supported by the Leander and Megcsra, has maintained his pesitien 1063 well, although threatened and attacked by heavy bodies of cavalry, with guns. We have drawn large supplies from there, but, as the Russians are destroy ing all the villages, I fear they will in future become very scanty and uncertain. Since the action of the 17th the enemy have been working incessantly in repairing their batteries, and in constructing new works on the north side of the harbour, commanding the approaches by sea and land. 1. have sent the Albion and Arethusa to Con stantinople to repair; the other ships of the fleet have fished their masts, &c., and are ready for ser vice. The Lynx, Sphinx, Stromboli, and Viper have arrived. The weather hitherto has been very favourable, and the crews of the ships are generally healthy. The English and French steam division still con tinue in the Bay of Odessa, actively employed in preventing communication with the Crimea. J. W. D. Durum& The French Government have published the follow. ing report of the part taken iu the engagement by the squadron under Admiral Hamelin Monsieur le Miuistre,—By my letter of the 13th of October 1 announced to your excellency that, with all my staff, I went on board the Moyador frigate to cast anchor as near as possible to the French head-quarters, and to combine with the commander-in-chief a general attack by land and sea against Sebastopol, as soon as the siege batteries should upeu fire. On the 14th 1 had au inter view with General Canrobert, whose views coincided with mine. On the 15th a council of the admirals of the combined squadrons was held on board the Alogader, and the dis positions for a general attack were agreed upon, and then submitted to the generals of the army ou laud, who at once agreed to them. This general attack was fixed for the 17th, the day upon which the siege batteries were to open fire. With respect to the squadrons, they were to effect what follows :—The French squadron undertook to place itself towards the rocks to the south, and at about seven cables' length to operate against the 350 guns of the Quarantine Battery, the two batteries of Fort Alexander, and the battery of the artiller)•. The English squadron had to attack towards the rocks to the north, at about the same distance, the 130 guns of the Constantine Battery, the Telegraph Battery, and the Maximilian Tower to the north. If your excellency would imagine a line traced along the entry to Sebastopol from the east to the west, that line would separate into two parts the locality of the attack which devolved upon each squadron. The Turkish admiral, with two vessels, all that he re tained at the time, was to cast anchor to the north of the two French lines—that is to say, in an intermediate position between the English and French vessels. On the morning of the 27th the attack of the siege batteries com menced ; but, as the weather was calm, it was necessary to attach the ships-of-the-line to the steam-frigates before developing against Sebastopol the line of the twenty-six ships of the allied squadrous. Nevertheless, in spite of this ditliculty, and the separation which had taken place between the ships of the allied squadrons, a part of which hail anchored at Karnisch and part before the Kataeha, 1 have the satisfaction to announce to your excellency that the ships of our first line advanced about half-past twelve in the day under the tire of the batteries of Sebastopol, which they stood against at first during more than halt an hour without replying. A few minutes afterwards they re plied vigorously to the fire, which did nut fail to incommode them, from their small number. Afterwards the other French and English vessels Successively arrived, and the attack became general. Towards half-past two o'clock the fire of the Russian batteries slackened ; it was stopped at the Quarantine Battery. This was the exact object desired by the French squadron, but our firing was redoubled any continued without interruption till night. At the time 1 am writing to your excellency I am not aware of what was the success of our siege batteries, whose fire had commenced before ours, and which attacked the BUS/AIM fortifications on the land side. If the Russians had not closed the entrance to Saber topol by sinking two ships-of-the-line and two frigates, I do not doubt that the vessels of the squadrons, after the first fire, would have been able successfully to enter the port and place themselves in communication with the army. Perhaps they would not have lost many more men in doing this than we have now to regret; but the extreme measure which the enemy adopted of sacrificing a portion of his ships forced us to confine ourselves to attacking fur five hours the sea batteries of Sebastopol, with the object of silencing them more or less, of occupying a great many men of the garrison at the guns, and of giving thus to our army material as well as morel assistance. To-day, the 18th, 1 have only time to give a hasty sketch to your excellency of this affair, which, in my opinion, does great honour to the French navy. At the commencement of the affair the enthusiasm was extreme. During the combat the tenacity of every one was not less so. Before commencing the fire I signalled to the squadron " France has her eyes upon you," a signal which was received with cries of " Vive 1 k]topercur !" The correspondents of the daily papers add many details to the accounts given in the official despatches. The following are from the Times : Off the Katschs, Oct. Ig. Yesterday morning, about daybreak, the English and Irsush opened lire from their batteries ea the 'oath side