The Press. — London, England, 1854-12-16 00:00:00

1182 .. ... - - THE WAR. Russian accounts from Sebastopol come down to the 4th inst., when Prince Menschikoff reported that some unimportant sorties had been made by the gar rison, and that the allies had completed their third parallel, but nothing of importance had occurred. It is stated that there was great dearth of provisions in Sebastopol. On the 26th Prince Menschikoff was with his head-quarters at Baktchi•Serai ; General Liprandi, with 20,000 man, at the advanced posts in the direc tion of Balaklava. The roads in the interior are almost impracticable, and the difficulties of the Rus sians to obtain supplies increasing. The Henry IV. has been got off; her guns had been landed, and a part of them conveyed into the siege trenches. The Thabor has brought to Marseilles direct news from Constantinople of th 30th, and from the camp to the 28th ult. On the 23rd the allies took a height near Sebastopol. There had been no engagement since. Numerous reinforcements had been received by the allied armies. Between the 15th and 25th ult. it was calculated that 12,000 French and British troops had passed Constantinople on their way to the Crimea. Two thousand Egyptians bad also arrived under Manekli Pacha and General Peto. 5,000 more were expected. It is now stated that the fleet will winter at Beikos, Sinope being considered objectionable. The num ber of seamen, marines, and marine artillery, with a corresponding complement of officers serving on shore, is little short of 4,600 men, with upwards of 100 guns of heavy calibre. When the last packet left the ships were arranging to land some fifty more 32-pounders for mounting on the heights and in the numerous batteries. Advices from Bucharest of the 11th announce that Omer Pacha, with about 35,000 men, were to embark immediately at Varna for the Crimea. The Indiana left Marseilles on Saturday with 170 officers, 1,016 soldiers, and 28 horses on board. The Nubia sailed on Monday, having on board 17 officers, 1,093 soldiers, 24 horses, 3 tons of powder, 207 tons of artillery stores, and some camp equipage. The steamer New York left Havre on Saturday, carrying out a full cargo of provisions and stores for the army, seventy-five carriages for the ambulance, large stores for the hospitals, and also several portable forges for the use of the camp. It is affirmed that the French army in the Crimea will be increased to twelve divisions, or about 120,000 men, which, with the English and Turkish reinforcements, will raise the total force to 200,000 men. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. The following letters from Lord Raglan were published on Monday night in an Extraordinary Gazette : Before Sebastopol, Nov. 23. The Russian advanced posts in front of our left attack having taken up a position which incommoded our troops in the trenches, and occasioned not a few casualties, and at the same time took in reverse the French troops working in their lines, a representa tion of which was made to me both by our own officers and by General Canrobert, a detachment of the Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade, under Lieutenant Tryon, was directed, on the night of the 20th, to dis lodge the enemy; and this service was performed most gallantly and effectively, but at some loss both in killed and wounded, and at the cost of the life of Lieutenant Tryon, who rendered himself conspicuous on the occasion. He was considered a most pro mising officer, and held in the highest estimation by all. The Russians attempted several times to re establish themselves on the ground before daylight on the 21st, but they were instantly repulsed by Lieutenant Bourchier, the senior surviving officer of the party, and it now remains in our possession. Brigadier General Sir John Campbell speaks highly of the conduct of the detachment, and of Lieutenant Bourchier and Lieutenant Cuninghame, and he laments the death of Lieutenant Tryon, who so ably led them in the first instance. This little exploit was so highly prized by General Canrobert that be instantly published an " ordre general," announcing it to the French army, and combining, with a just tribute to the gallantry of the troops, the expression of his deep sympathy in the regret he felt for the loss of a young officer of so much distinction. Nothing else has occurred since I bad last the honour to address your grace. The weather is again very bad, and steady rain is o constantly falling. I inclose the nominal list of killed and wounded at the battle uf the Inkermann, and a return of the casualties that have occurred in the trenches to the 20th inst. RAGLAN. Nov. 28,1854. In the despatch which I addressed to your grace 11 TIIE PRESS. on the 23rd instant I reported the gallant conduct of a detachment of the Ist Battalion Ride Brigade, and its occupation of an advanced position, which it continued to retain notwithstanding the repeated efforts of the enemy to re-establish themselves upon it. On the night of the 22nd, and on the following morning, shortly before daylight, the Russians re newed their endeavours to get possession of the ground they had been driven from; but they were repulsed on each occasion in the most spirited manner, in the first instance by a detachment of the 4th Foot, under Lieutenant Patric Robertson, and a working party belonging to the 57th Regiment ; in the last instance by the detachment of the 4th Foot alone. Brigadier-General Eyre speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of these troops, and particularly that of Lieutenant Robertson, whose former distin guished service at the Cape, coupled with that he displayed in the present affair, fully entitle him to be considered an officer of much promise. There has been no movement of importance on the part of the enemy. The weather has been very bad, and the camp and the country are in conse quence of the rain in a most unsatisfactory state. The men are, however, endeavouring, and with some success, to shelter themselves with the stones that are found in the vicinity of the encampment, and every effort is making to provide them with the materials for hutting themselves, but the con dition of the roads renders this a matter of extreme difficulty. It is gratifying to me to be able to assure you that, notwithstanding their privations, their ex posure to the weather, and the constant labour required of them, they exhibit the same cheerful ness, the same ardour in the discharge of their duty, as they have manifested throughout the ex tensive operations in which they have been en gaged. 1 inclose the return of casualties up to the 26th instant inclusive. The defence of the Inkermann position, notwith standing the frequent interruptions from the wea ther, are making considerable progress. RAGLAN. The French Government have received and pub lished the following despatch : Before Sebastopol, Nov. 25.—The weather has decidedly become wet, and our transports of all kinds and our opera tions before the place are impeded. Nevertheless, the construction of our new batteries and the modifications made in the old ones go on with rapidity. The weather is not cold, and the Russian army must suffer more from the rain than we co. Their supplies, brought by roads which have become very difficult, are not procured without con siderable labour. We, on the contrary, are abundantly supplied. The fleet is well sheltered. Nov. 28.—The weather is improving, and this is a cir cumstance which is far from being without interest for our operations. A constant rain, and the state of the roads on the platen' where we are established, had con siderably augmented the difficulty in transporting provi sions and materiel. A little sunshine is about to repair all and allow us to resume our works with redoubled activity. The enemy turns to account these cessations on our part in order to increase his means of defence. Up to this time his principal object has been to intimidate us, and never was witnessed such a consumption of powder and ball. Our artillery calculate that since our arrival under the walls of Sebastopol, the enemy has fired 400,000 cannon-shot, and consumed 1;200,000 kilogrammes of powder. Some idea may be formed from this of the supply that must have been for a long time accumulating in the place. We, however, remark that the Russian artillery is now more economical in their fire, and particularly in that of shells. The number of our killed and wounded does not exceed fifteen a day. The army of Prince Menschikoff keeps on the defensive, and it appears that, until further orders, he has renounced the idea of undertaking anything against us. In the meantime our situation is improving in every way. Reinforcements are arriving, and our regi ments of Zouaves, as well as all those who are natives of Africa, present an ensemble the most satisfactory. Our supplies are abundant, and I am now able to distribute to the troops a daily ration of wine or brandy. This is a very important point, and will prevent much sickness. On the other hand, the winter clothing is arriving, and already the greatcoat with hood and the paletot of sheep skin are numerous in our camps. The soldier will nobly and courageously support the trial of the bad weather, seeing himself the object of such care and solicitude on the part of the Emperor and his Minister. The Turkish Govern ment has promised me 6,000 conical tents, which are highly prized here, as they resist the violent wind so com mon in this country much better than ours. I can assure you that the army acquires rare solidity, and you cannot imagine to what a point our young men, suddenly impressed by the grandeur of the struggle, become old soldiers. You would not have seen without the most lively feeling of satisfaction the lines drawn out, and remaining calm and immoveable under a fire of artillery which Lord Raglan has declare' to me was heavier than that which was heard at Waterloo. I give you these details because they cannot fail to interest, and at the same time to tranquillise you, and in short to show the confidence with which my troops ' inspire me. The new divisions will here find old ones who will set them a good example. Dac. 3.—The rain is falling in torrents. Our roads are destroyed, our trenches are full of water, and all our opera. • 0 SATURDAY, tions, as well as the majority of our works, remain sus- pended. The enemy is stationary from the same causes, and from others which I have before mentioned. In spite of these trials, the spirit of the army is excellent, and we keep firm and ready to recommence our operations as soon as the weather and the state of the roads will allow. A despatch from Admiral Hamelin, dated Novem ber 28, announces that he has landed fifty•five additional guns, chiefly from the Henri IV., with 500 marines to serve them. Three thousand French troops landed on the 26th. CHRONICLE OF THE SIEGE. The correspondence of the daily journals supplies details of the progress of siege operations to the 23rd ult. The following extracts relate the most interesting particulars : Nov. 21.—Last night we had a smart little skir mishing affair, in which some of the enemy's hilt.- m i en were driven into Sebastopol with loss. For some days past between 300 and 400 sharpshooters had been posted under cover of the loose stones which lie about the ground between our Green mound Battery and the Redan Wall. Though the battery was some 300 yards distant, such a watchful eye was kept upon it, that hardly a man could show but at the risk of getting a bullet through his brains. As we now seldom fire from our trenches, it, was not of great consequence, but from the way in which the enemy reinforced the riflemen to wards nightfall, an attack upon the Greed-mound. Battery was anti6pated. Accordingly, last night it. was determined to dislodge these skirmishers, and. two parties from the Ist brigade of Rifles and 08th Regiment, making together a little over 400 men, were told off for this purpose. They remained in the Geeen-mound Battery till after one o'clock, when all being quiet, and the night sufficiently dark and rainy, the party started, cautiously creeping along among the broken ground and loose stones, intend. ing to take the enemy by surprise. The wind and. rain, both of which now every night are extremely violent, favoured our design, so that we were enabled to approach the enemy's hiding place within fifty yards without being discovered. At that distance, unfortunately, one of our fellows made a slight stumble. The noise was slight, but it was sufficient. Instantly eight or ten Russian sentries. started up, almost among our men, and, firing their pieces to alarm, ran in. Of course concealment was now useless, and the attacking party, with a loud cheer, dashed after the sentries. As they came up to the place where the enemy were posted among the stones, they received a tremendous volley from ab')ut 500 rifles. Had the shots been properly aimed not a man of ours would have returned, bu'. the " surprise " had been effectual, and ninety per cent. of the balls whistled over the heads of our men harmless. With a loud cheer the 68th and Rifles dashed in with the bayonet. In charging the enemy our officers in command showed consummate tact. Had they returned the Russian fire while their enemies still remained under cover, they would have disarmed themselves, pointed out their own position, and done no injury to the enemy. As it was, fortunately, they cheered and rushed on with the bayonet. The enemy were dismayed, and, rising from their concealment, tried to form. The instant they showed our men halted, and, within twenty yards, poured in a deadly volley, which killed and wounded nearly 100 of the enemy. The Russians saw their fault, and attempted to break up in skir mishing order, but the manoeuvre was too late, and, before they could effect it our men were among them with the bayonet, and pursued the Russians up to the very houses which are round the dockyard on the , north of the harbour. In this affair we lost an officer (of the Rifles) and ten men killed, with about thirty wounded. The Russians lost about 140 killed and wounded. The officer lost on our side was Lieutenant Tryon, of the Ist battalion. He was much liked in his regiment, and had the reputation of being one of the most deadly rifle shots in the British army. It is said that no less than seven of the enemy were shot dead during the skirmish by Lieutenant Tryon. He was speaking to a brother officer, pointing out a Russian rifleman who was firing with extreme . rapidity, and Lieutenant Tryon knelt to take aim at him. Whilst in the very act of pulling the trigger, a bullet passed through his brain, and killed him on the spot. It was found when our fellows closed with the enemy that the latter were nearly 800 strong. let,. though the ground was formidably strong, they never once attempted to rally before our charge. They were completely taken by surprise, and even had it not been so, when tbere is no great disparity of numbers, the Russians have no chance against us. Nov. 23.—Last night, towards eleven o'clock, a tremendous cannonade was exchanged between the French and Russian batteries. Since the commence ment of the siege so hot a fire had not been wit nessed. It continued with undiminished vigour for two hours, and then died away. The Russians had --=