The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

APRIL 7, 1855. THE WAR. The latest intelligence from the Crimea is of the 28th ult., but it reports no incident of importance subsequent to the attack upon the allied intrench ments on the night of the 22nd. It is said that the regular operations were to commence on the 3rd of April. In reference to the encounter of the 22nd a despatch from General Osten-Sacken telegraphed to St. Petersburg is as follows : The troops of the garrison of Sebastopol made a sortie on the nights of the 22nd and 23rd to destroy the ad vanced works of the allied armies near the lunette of Kamstchatka. The attack was successful. The loss was great on both sides. Two French officers and one English officer were amongst the prisoners which fell into the hands of the Russians. The Paris Moniteur published telegraphic advices from General Canrobert, giving an account of the sortie make by the Russians on the night of the 22nd. He states that the enemy were vigorously driven back, with a loss of no less than 2,000 killed or wounded. The loss of the allies was 600. Full particulars, so far as they were known in the British camp when the mail of the 24th was despatched, are given below. The Vienna Fremden Blatt of Wednesday states that the operations of the allies had begun. It was said that Omer Paella was advancing on Old Fort from Eupatoria, and that the French were to take the field, while the English defended the plateau, the railway, and Balaklava. A series of official despatches from Lord Raglan have arrived during the week at the War-office and were published in successive supplementary Gazettes as follows : Before Sebastopol, March 20. In my despatch of the 17th inst. I reported to yoar lord: ship the progress made in forming the parallel constructed to unite the right of our right attack with the left of the French on the lnkermann heights. The contest of the latter with the enemy for the pos session of the rifle pits in their immediate front was re newed after dark on that night, and was continued for several hours, the fire being excessively heavy, particularly of musketry, and considerable loss must have been sus tained by our allies, I fear, as well as by the enemy, who continue to hold the ambuscades; but the French perse vere, notwithstanding, in working forward, and are ap proaching the Mtzmelon on which the Russians are busily engaged in building a formidable work, though fre quently interrupted by our batteries and those of the French. On the night of the 17th the English parallels were not attacked, but the fire to which I have above alluded was so • mtinuotui that the whole force was either under arms or ready to turn out. _ • _ . _ _ It was currently reported yesterday that Prince Mens chikoff had died on his way to Moscow. 1 have not been able to ascertain if this report be founded, but it was so fully credited as to have been despatched to Constan tinople. Prince Gortschakoff is stated to have arrived at Baktchi Serai, and to have assumed the command of the army. Reinforcements are reported to be on their way from Russia, and the 9th Division to have reached the neigh bourhood of Eupatoria. The position of the Russian troops in the vicinity of the Tschernaya remains un altered. The progress of the railway continues to be satisfactory, and we are already enabled to use it with considerable ad wantuge, both for the conveyance of supplies and hutting, so tar as the high ground some way on this side of Kadikoi. Mr. ileattie's exertions deserve every commendation. RAOLAN. March 20.—1 t is with deep concern that I transmit for tour lordship's information the copy of a letter which I received on the 18th inst. from General Canrobert, an nouncing, with every expression of concern, the death of a British officer, who appears to have wandered into the French camp, and, not answering the challenge that was repeated three times, was shot dead by the French sentry "hose post he had approached. This officer, Surgeon Le Blanc, of the oth Foot, occupied tent near the hospital huts of his regiment, situated at some distance from the encampment of the regiment it self. He was a gentleman of most temperate habits, and was occupied in reading, when suddenly, upon the alarm sounding, he rose from his seat, leaving his candle lighted and his book open, and walked out; he was never seen alive afterwards. It should be explained that, shortly after the close of day on the 17th, there was a very heavy fire on the left of the French right, which was maintained for several hours. None of the English posts were attacked, bnt it was con sidered prudent to get the greater portion of our troops under arms. Mr. Le Blanc was shortsighted, and proba bly mistook his *ay from the first, the night being exces sively dark, for he was found far distant to the left, end must have wandered from our position without knowing the direction in which he was going. Being anxious to ascertain the facts of this unfortunate case as correctly as possible, I have set on foot an inquiry to be conducted by English and French officers, in a isocia i( nwith each other; and I propose to do myself the honour to send you their report. Ita.orAN. THE PRESS. (Enidoaare.) Head-quarters, March 18, 1855. My Lord,—l am grieved to have to inform you of an event, much to be regretted, which painfully engrosses the French army and its commander-in-chief. Last night, whilst the troops were kept perpetually on the alert, an English officer presented himself before the line of the 18th Regiment, established near the watch-tower behind our trenches of the left attack. Although sum moned three times by the qui tire the officer did not reply; the sentinel fired, and he was killed on the spot. I can hardly understand how this unhappy officer found himself at such an hour so far from the English camp. I believe that his death can only be attributed to his own imprudence ; but I do not the less deplore this event, which must also be attributed to the natural emotion of a young soldier, who, iu the midst of the events which marked last night, rigorously executed the military regulation.— I have dal, (Signed) GENERAL CANROBERT. General-in-Chief of the i'renoli Army. Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, &c., (Lc. March 24. On the morning of the 22nd the French troops in the advanced parallel moved forward, and drove the enemy out of the rifle pits in their immediate front, but nothing of any importance occurred during the day. Early in the night, however, a serious attack was made upon the works of our allies in front of the Victoria re doubt, opposite the Malakoff tower. The night was very dark, and the wind so high, that the firing which took place, and which was very heavy, could scarcely be heard in the British camp ; it is, therefore, difficult to speak with certainty of what occurred from any that could be heard or observed at the moment. It appears, however, that the Russians, after attacking the head of the sap which the French are carrying on towards the Mamelon, fell with two heavy masses on their new parallel, to the rear of which they succeeded in pene trating and momentarily possessing themselves of, after a gallant resistance on the part of our allies. Having broken through, they passed along the parallel and in rear of it, until they came in contact with the troops stationed in our advanced parallel extending into the ravine, from the right of our atvance, where it connects with the French trench. The enemy was here met by detachments of the 77th and 97th Regiments, forming part of the guard of the trenches, who, although thus taken suddenly both in flank and rear, behaved with the utmost gallantry and coolness. The detachment of the 97th, which was on the extreme right, and which consequently first came in contact with the enemy, repulsed the attack at the point of the bayonet. They were led by Captain Vicars, who unfortunately lost his life on this occasion ; and I am assured that nothing could be more distinguished than the gallantry and good example which he sent to the detachment under his command. The conduct of the detachment of the 77th was equally distinguished; and the firmness and promptitude with which the attack in this part of our works was met were in the highest degree creditable to that regiment. These troops were under the direction of Major Gordon, of the Royal Engineers, who was wounded on the occasion so severely as for some time, I fear, to deprive the army of the benefit of his valuable services. The attention of the troops in our advanced works having been by these transactions drawn to the light, the enemy took occasion to move upon, and succeeded in pene trating into, the left front of our right attack, near the bat tery where two 10-inch mortars have recently been placed. They advanced along the works until they were met by a detachment of the 7th and 34th Regiments, which had been at work in the neighbourhood, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Tylden, of the Royal Engineers, who promptly made them stand to their arms, and led them with the greatest determination and steadiness against the enemy, who were speedily ejected from the works and fairly pitched over the parapet, with but little or no firing on our part. Lieutenant-Colonel Tylden speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of the troops on this occasion, and parti cularly of that of Lieutenant Marsh, Acting-Adjutant of the 33rd Regiment, whose services and activity throughout the night were very useful to him. Captain the Hon. Cavendish Browne of the 7th, and Lieutenant Jordan of the 34th, Regiments, were unfor tunately killed in this attack, after displaying the most distinguished gallantry, and Lieutenant M'Henry of the former regiment was wounded, but I hope not very se verely. Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, of the 34th Regiment, who commanded in the trenches, is, I regret to have to add, missing. The French, in retiring from their advanced parallel upon their supports, speedily rallied, and fell upon the enemy, whom they repulsed with great loss, and followed so far np towards the Mamelon, that they were enabled to level and destroy nearly all the " ambuscades " or " rifle concealments" erected along their front. I fear, however, that thi; success has not been accom• plished without considerable loss on their part, although that of the enemy is much greater. Yesterday the whole of the ground between the posts of the two armies was covered with their dead, amounting to several hundreds, besides those which they had un- doubtedly carried off before daylight. In the meanwhile the enemy in great numbers found their way into the advanced batteries on our extreme left, whieh are not yet armed, and momentarily got possession of them. The working parties were, however, speedily collected and reformed by Captain Chapman, of the 20th Regiment. acting engineer, and they at once drove the enemy out of the trenches with the utmost gallantry. Captain Montagu, of the ktoyei Engineers, who was 321 superintending the works, unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy. The wind is excessively high, but the weather is in other respects fine. LAOLAN. SIEGE CHRONICLE. The following extracts present the details of chief interest reported in the letters from camp received during the week. The latest date is the 20th ult. : Before Sebastopol, March 19. T have made up my mind never to praise the Crimean weather again till it ha.s settled firmly for three weeks at the least. All our spring has changed to November — roaring winds, cold gloomy days, and grey leaden skies have driven away our Favoinan breezes, our warm bright noons, and mellow sunshine. It is easy to give an ab stract of our proceedings since the date of our last mail. The Russians have armed their new battery, which the French failed to take some nights ago, and they have erected a strong work, which will soon be armed, on the " Mamelon," formerly known as Gordon's-hill. For three days the enemy have shut up their batteries, and have pre served the profoundest silence. They have closed up about forty of their embrasures, for some unknown pur pose. Of course this is done in the first instance to screen the guns, but why they should be screened, or for what ob ject the Russians have concealed these embrasures, no one pretends to say. The French have failed in two several attacks to take some rifle pits occupied by the enemy in front of Malakoff and the Mamelon. Our siege works are in a state of completion. Those of the French are almost as far advanced. The defences of Balaklava are strengthened day after day, guns of large calibre are placed in position along the heights, and the disadvantages of a plunging fire are obviated as far as possible. The French have thrown up a new work, containing six guns, right above our thirty-two-pounder battery on the road to Kadikoi. General Simpson, Sir J. M'Neill, and Colonel M'Murdo, are deeply engaged in the business of their re spective departments. Admiral Boxer has devoted him self with much energy to the improvement of the harbour, and has effected very considerable improvement in the condition of the moorings and of the approaches to the harbour itself, as well as in the roads, for the transport of munitions of war which are stored there. The powder is placed in comparative safety. Useless ships are cleared of stores, and the dismasted vessels which have been here so long will be cleared of their cargoes and sent away. The admiral has suggested that all the warm clothing and superfluous provisions and stores should be sent round to Karatch Bay. A very useful form has been prepared and sent round to the various regiments, I presume by the direction of General Simpson. It consists of a genes of questions, to which the answers must be given and sent in twice a month. The commanding officer is required to state, " Whether there has been any deficiency of rations?" " How often fresh meat has been issued?" "Whether the men have received vegetables?" " Whether the men are in huts?" "If they aro not in huts, what is the reason ?" " Have the huts been brought up by the regimental horses or by the commissariat, or in what way ?" It will be ob served that these inquiries are not retrospective. A kind of medical commission, at the head of which is Dr. Hall, goes round each camp periodically, and inquires into the state of the sick and into the sanitary condition of the camp. Dr. Hall is accompanied by several medical officers in these visits, which will take place once a month. The commissariat transport officers are busy delivering into the hands of Colonel M`Murdo and his staff all their mules, ponies, and harness. We have had our races, our dog-hunts, our athletic sports, all sanitary agents in their way. The men have recovered health, strength, and spirits most surprisingly. It is delightful to walk through the camps now, and hear the hum of voices and the old songs ringing out again, and to see the noble fellows smile and hear them laugh once more. They are so strong, indeed, that dear old Sir George Brown thinks they are tit to wear stocks. It must be admitted that our army had when in extremis become very like a rabble in aspect ; they delighted in sheepskin and mufflers after the occasion and necessity for wearing them was over. It is a strange thing, but a true thing, that our two great ba'tles of Alma and Inkermatin were fought, and partially won, by mobs, or rather broken masses of men. A large force of men entered Sebastopol to-day from the north side. It is computed to number about 15,000 men. This force may probably be a relief to the garrison from the army of the Belbeck, and may be only a change of men, but it is more likely that it is a reinforcement from the north. The very remarkable silence of the Russian bat teries continued all day. No one can account for it, and all wonder at it. Some people believe the enemy is falling short of ammunition. But, if so, why has the firing, so prodigal hitherto, stopped abruptly? Surely the Ittuotians would not throw away their last round and then shut up their guns ! There may be some deep reason for this silence. It is believed by some that the enemy are ob serving a solemn fast and humiliation on account of the Emperor's death, the news of which is known to have reached them three days ago, when all the ships struck their flags, rehoisted them hallmast high, and crowds of soldiers were seen to repair to the churches, the bells of which tolled for twenty-four hours. Their cannon may be ordered to be silent for some such reason, but their troops are very active. We were watching them to-day working busily at the north side. Large trains of carts and wag- gons were moving round towards the Itelbeek, and a con siderable force had just bivouacked by the waterside below the citadel. By the preparations the Russians are making, they evidently believe we never can tare the south of Sebastopol till we have invested the wholo place round by the Belbeck. Every day adds fresh obstacles to the extension of our lines in that direction. Innumerable batteries, earthworks, redoubts, and trenches are run up, from the ravines of Inkermann to the sea side south of the Belbeck. Were