The Press. — London, England, 1854-10-28 00:00:00

T OCTOBER 28, 1854. iiLit THE WAR. I.' THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. Subsequently to the detailed accounts of the siege operations before Sebastopol, which are given below, telegraphic advices have arrived by various routes, purporting to bring intelligence of several days' later date, from the Crimea. The statements thus received are not very satisfactory. Our last tidings, through friendly channels, were brought to Marseilles by the Egyptus packet., which left Constantinople on the 10th. Singular to say, this vessel did not bring either the Journal de Constantinople or the Maltese papers. She reports that all the disposable troops from the garrison of the Turkish capital were about to embark for the Crimea. Several steamers are stated to have arrived from Balaklava, with men who had been wounded in repelling a sortie made by 30,000 Rus sians from Sebastopol. Respecting the details of this alleged sortie, there is not a word of information. All that is told of the siege is, that the bombardment was to commence either on the 18th or the leth, that the allies had 300 pieces of cannon in position, but that the Russians had received considerable reinforcements. A vague rumour is appended to the effect that the commanders had decided to bring back their troops into winter quarters at Scutari immediately after the capture of Sebastopol. From Russian sources we are able, however, to add some further and later particulars, of whose general truth there seems no reason to doubt, although the details may be somewhat misreported. A telegra phic despatch was received in St. Petersburg on Tuesday from Prince Menschikoff, announcing that, during the whole of the 17th, Sebastopol was bom barded by sea and land. The Russians also kept up a hot fire. Their fortifications suffered little, but they had 500 men put hors de combat during the day. Admiral Korniloff was among the killed. On the 18th the bombardment was continued, but only from the land batteries. This Russian statement reached England on Wed nesday evening. No independent information res pecting the proceedings of the days mentioned in it has yet arrived, either in London or Paris. Thursday's Moniteur contains a despatch from General Canrobert, stating that the trenches were opened on the night of the 9th, and that by the 15th he hoped to have sixty-six guns in position. Since the 10th a sharp cannonade bad been sustained against the allies, but without success. The works of the English army advanced steadily with those of the French. The weather, for a short time very severe, was again fine. A rumour prevailed in the allied camp on the 11th that the Simferopol army would attack it, and that the Greeks in Balaklava would, at the same time, set fire to the town. All the Greeks were there:ore forced to quit Balaklava. Large bands of 'rarters have been formed in the Crimea ; they sack and destroy the country houses of the Russians. The latter confess that the Tartar population is so hostile that they have been obliged to arrest 2,000 persons. There was a report that Eupatoria had been re occupied by the Russians, Captain Brock, who held possession, having been forced to retire. This was afterwards contradicted. Admiral Korniloff, who was killed at Sebastopol on the 17th, was chief of the staff on board the Russian fleet which destroyed the Turkish squadron at Sinope, and latterly commanded Fort Constantine. Advices from Odessa of the 11th state that there was no truth in the Russian announcement that General Osten-Sacken have left for the Crimea with reinforcements. Ten thousand Russian soldiers were marching from Odessa southwards, as if for the Danube. The Presse of Vienna of the 17th, says :—" The news of a great tire having taken place at Sebastopol is confirmed. The principal of the provision stores has been burnt down, and a great portion of the supplies which it contained has been destroyed." CHRONICLE OF THE SIEGE. Previous advices have enabled us to complete the narrative of the siege operations before Sebastopol to the morning of the 4th inst. We now continue the account through several subsequent days to the latest date at which the correspondence hitherto re ceived from the camp was despatched. These letters furnish no details of the actual bombardment, con cerning which our only information is derived from the telegraphic despatches : October 5. Yesterday evening :1,000 Russian infantry—fresh troops from Simferopol and other towns—entered Sebastopol, owning from Baktchi Serai. They were escorted by 3,000 I)un Cossacks, who, marching in their left flank, sought to protect them against any operations we might feel disposed to make against them. We did not, however, think proper to interfere. The 3,000 infantry entered the town, when they were received with violent cheers, and the Don Cos sacks rOSUXINA to Primo laaaaclakoff a arm at BiAttalai THE PRES Serai, from whence they had been detached to escort the infantry. Prince Menschikoff, with 19,0(X) of the troops and soldiers defeated at Alma, is at Baktchi Serai. His detached parties of Cossacks carefully avoid our cavalry patrols, which take an airing on horseback along the high- ways, without ever entering the villages, but they throw difficulties into the way of the foraging expeditions of the commissariat, and, hovering about the rear of the camp, especially by night, every now and then cause a turn out of a couple of divisions, who on such occasions have to stand under arms for an hour or two, sniffing the cold morning air and growling out curses at the Russians ge- nerally, and the Cossacks in particular. October 7. Still nothing but preparations and conjectnres:"io morrow " is tie watchword repeated every day since last week. I suppose it cannot be helped, but it is at auy rate a pity to leave the garrison time to recover from the shock experienced at Alma, and to fortify themselves on the south side, where they seem never to have expected an attack. Besides this, the continuance of the magnificent weather which has hitherto favoured the expedition becomes every day more uncertain, while the approach of Russian rein forcements is becoming every day more certain. The fleet is, of course, entirely dependent in all its move ments on the land force. It has assumed the character rather of an auxiliary force. A naval brigade has been formed to act on shore. Besides the 1,200 marines who occupy the heights to the east of Balaklava, 1.000 sailors, draughted from different vessels, have been landed, together with the upper-deck guns of the London, Albion, Queen, Rodney, and Britannia, and nearly all the guns of the Dia mond. They are under the command of Captain Lushing ton, of the Albion, Captain Peel, of the Diamond, and Cap tain Moorsum, besides the commanders of the Agamemnon, Queen, and Rodney, several lieutenants, and midshipmen. To these forces have been added within the last few days several of the Terribk's guns and the two Lancaster guns of the Beagle—forming together fifty or sixty gnus. Kamisch The French are busy landing in and Kazatch bays, close to Cape Cherson. About forty vessels are lying there discharging guns and ammunition. Within the last few days reinforcements of several thousand men have likewise been landed there. In order to accelerate the arrival of these reinforcements the Cyclops, Simian, and Vulcan were sent two days ago to Varna. As they are all steamers it is probable that they will be more fortunate in this business than the transports have been which brought up the English heavy cavalry.—Times Correspondent. Writing on the same day the Chronicle correspon dent says : Ten days have the allied forces now been in sight of Sebastopol, and not a cannon has been fired. Our heavy siege guns are up, and apparently only waiting for ground to be broken to commence their work of destruction. Why, then, this delay, which is trying to the spirits of the army, and affords time to the enemy which he has too well employed? I believe the reason proceeds from the un favourable landing-place chosen by the French, who have been prevented by the surf from landing their heavy guns with the desired rapidity. Their guns ouzo landed, the labour is over, for the French army occupies the left of the position flanking the sea. The British had, on the contrary, severe difficulties to overcome in the transport of their siege artillery and ship guns. The distance from Balaklava to the right of Sebastopol, where Sir John Burgoyne has established his head-quarters, exceeds six miles, and extends over a hilly and unfavourable road. But, thanks to the energy of the blue jackets, the task of dragging up the ship 32-pounders and the heavy metal of the Terrible, with the Lancaster guns taken from the Arrow and Beagle, has been promptly and safely effected. Nor have gabions and fascinea been forgotten, and these, with sandbags, will be employed, should the ground, which is more than probable, defy the spade and the pick. The neighbourhood of Sebastopol is a mass of rock and stone, and to throw up trenches would be a work of time and difficulty. The Russians have not allowed a day to pass without firing round shot or shell. The ominous silence which reigns in the allied camp must strike them with terror, and Lord Raglan has wisely determined not to fire a shot until all the guns are in position. Three hundred cannon will open their fire at once, and the town will be in ruins, it is calcnlated, before twelve hours' bombardment. On the afternoon of the 3rd inst. a Russian shell, the last they fired on that day, burst near a tent of the 68th Regiment, belonging to the 4th division, and killed a sergeant of the 63rd and a private of the 6bith. A fragment of the shell tore the tent to pieces, and dangerously wounded a private of the 68th. The latter was struck in the hip, the iron penetrating through his ammunition-pouch, and exploding the cartridges. This is the oniy loss of life caused by the Russian shells we have had to deplore. On the 6th a musketry fire wits es changed between our pickets and a small column of Russians who had issued from the town. When our men begin in earnest to work at the trenches, some sharp skirmishes must be expected. The soldiers have been prepared for this by a general order, which recommends the men to perfect silence, and they are informed that the enemy will undoubtedly issue forth to annoy them and destroy the works in construction. In that case (con tinues the order) a rush must be made at the foe, " who is very easily repulsed." The French camp has been busy throw ing up earthworks on two heights which command the approaches from Simferopol and Baltklava. This is a pre cautionary measure to protect the rear of the besieging army in case it should be attacked by the various forces said to be concentrating at Simferopol. Yesterday Lord Raglan broke up his quarters at Balaklava, and is now es tablished at a comfortable farmhouse between that place and the advanced lines. He visited the fourth division the day before, and was heartily cheered by the men. All interest is now concentrated in Sir John Burgoyne's movements. The army has full confidence in his talents, and only waits with impatience the comiaenoeinsat of operations. 1(11 3 October 8. Cholera at the camp is still very severe, and many cases are brought thence daily in the arabas to Balaklava. Yes terday our people were to have opened fire at long range upon the works at Sebastopol. As yet the greatest Russian ally has been the exceedingly beautiful clear moonlight nights, which would have rendered plainly visible to them the commencement of our engineering operations. Sir John Burgoyne, it is said, speaks positively of a few days only being required to reduce the place. From de serters we hear that the Russians are determined to resist to the last ; several Poles have come to the camp who speak of the strong disaffection of their brethren in the town. Yesterday morning the large white tower was found to have undergone a metamorphosis during the night, having changed its hue to earth colour, to render it a less palpable target. The works around this tower are pretty strong, mounting heavy guns ; in the rear of these is a lunette, now finished, and having all its guns mounted. The shot I saw on the hill, which had been thrown from this place, were 68-pounders (solid ). The French occupy in the siege the country from the sea to a little white picket- house above a gorge looking immediately down upon Dock. yard Creek. On the opposite side begin the English, .fence they continue until due east of the harbour. lam glad to say that most of the Russian women and children have left the south for the north side. but we can still see many below. I wish, however, that they had not taken all the valuables with them that have been seen departing. There was some skirmishing at the outposts yesterday morning, when four Englishmen and six Cossacks were killed, and two guns have been captured from the enemy near Sebastopol. Yesterday, also, a body of Russian troops, consisting of 4,0(X) cavalry and /1,000 infantry, with Cos- sacks in advance, came from the eastward to about three miles from lialaklava. Cavalry and horse artillery were immediately sent against them, and the Guards and High landers got under arms. They were fired into by the ar tillery, and immediately retreated. This appeared to be a reconnaissance, and there is a report that a numerous army is in their rear.—Times Correspondent. Further details of this Russian attack are given in the correspondence of the Daily News. The writer states : The Russians, aware of the defenceless condition of our fatigue parties, ships, and stores, in Balaklava and its har bour, made an attempt to attack the place. It appears that a strong force had been detached from l'rince Menschi koffs army at the Baktchi Seria, part of which force, advanc ing faster than the pros, evidently for the purpose of recon• noitring the road, crossed the Black River at daybreak, and marched upon Balaklava at an early hour this morning (7th). This vanguard consisted of two regiments of Hussars, one battalion of foot and an untold number of Cossacks. On their way they met some pickets of the Soots Greys and 4th Dragoons, which, falling back, gave the alarm. It is supposed that three of the dragoons, who were separated from the rest, were surrounded and killed by the enemy, fur three horses came in riderless. Large detachments of cavalry, greys and dragoons, were sent out, accompanied by two troops of horse artillery. Among them was Captain Maude's troop, which behai ed in so dashing a manner and did such good service at the battle of Alma. Before our cavalry were allowed to charge, Cap tain Maude's troop was ordered to clear the way for them, and this the gallant captain did so effectually and with such a precise and rapid tire that the Russians made a sudden retreat. For some reason unknown they were not pursued by the cavalry. '1 he Russian expedition against Balaklava was not so much a failure as a feeler. Still it has opened Lord Raglan's eyes to the precarious position of the place. A force of 1,200 marines has been stationed on the hills round Balaklava, the road to the camp and the Black River has been occupied by a strong detachment of dra goons and two troops of horse artillery, the Agamemnon's broadside has been placed to command the high road lead ing down into the town, and the royal engineers have ree ceived order at once to construct a certain number of batteries. So, thanks to the cautious advance of the Rus sians, the danger, which so long threatened Balaklava, may now be said to be well nigh over, especially if the dragoons and marines keep a sharp look out. The Russians cannot afford to make an unsuccessful attack on Bahaism*, for their line of retreat lies within easy reach of our camp round Sebastopol, and if, after some smart firing, they were driven back, they would, on their way home, meet with some of our divisions. October 10th. Letters from Constantinople by the City of Los don state that on the 10th the fire had not been opened against Sebastopol, but that the operations would go on rapidly, it having been found that the south wall is not banked up on the inside. The besieged begin to be in want of provisions, in conse quence of the reinforcements introduced into the place after the battle of the Alma. Two daring re. connaissances have been executed by Admiral Pruitt; one in the day, when be went close to the walls with 400 sailors. A shower of the enemy's balls fell among them, but no one was hurt. The other was made at night, and had for object to sound the passage between the vessels sunk by the Russians. A flotilla, composed of the Napoleon and Sanspa►iel line-of-battle-ships, and six of the allied frigates, effected a landing on the 3rd at Yalta. This place occupies on the west side of the Crimea a similar position to that of Balaklava on the east. The sailors ascertained that the depot of the enemy's provisions which bad been spoken of did not exist. They visited several magnificent villas, respecting property, and paying for everything they took. The enemy did not make their appearance. I, .