The Press. — London, England, 1855-06-09 00:00:00

JUNE 9, 1855. Russian infantry were, however, collecting near the Roden and Garden works, evidently for the purpose of attacking the French. Their skirmishers constantly advanced, and exchanged shots with the French Guards, but while una- ware of their strength the enemy seemed by no means de sirous for a closer contest. The French, who had now accomplished all they wanted, and far more than they ex• pected to accomplish when they started, took advantage of the indecision of the enemy to retreat, anti this they did with such rapidity and skill as to reach the captured trench from which they had sallied forth without the lass of a man. The Russian fire upon the advanced trench was then terrific, and continued so for more than an hour, but the French had sheltered themselves with their breastwork, so that it did but little damage, and eventually the enemy discontinued it altogether. No attempt was made to recapture the trenches, which still remain in the hands of our allies. In the whole affair about four hundred French were killed and wounded ; the total loss of the Russians is supposed to be from one thou sand to fifteen hundred killed and wounded, the greeter part of whom were killed, as no quarter was given. Nearly two hundred Russian bodies remain in the neighbourhood of the captured trenches. The French are deservedly proud of the capture and de struction of the battery. It is decidedly one of the most brilliant affairs of the siege. To-day is the anniversary of the birthday of her most gracious Majesty, and all the troops draw double allowance of porter in commemoration of the happy event. There was also a grand review of the English troops over the heights near Kadakoi. All the regiments of the divisions not ou duty were there, with the whole of the English cavalry, and presented a most imposing appearance. The condition and admirable spirit of the men seem beyond all praise. Mar 25.—T0-day the English and French cavalry, with 20,00() French infantry, 10 000 Sardinian, and 10,000 Turks, moved across the plains of Balaklava towards the Woronzow road. The Russian pickets on the hills of course fell back before this overwhelming force, which immediately proceeded to occupy the hills beyond the Woronzow, in advance of the old 'Turkish redoubts. In the afternoon a force was detached towards Tchour goum, and took up their position on the heights command ing the village, while part advanced upon the bridge which crosses the Tschernaya at this place. Near the village a capture was made of about 000 head of fine cattle, with some 800 or 400 sheep. On the other side of the Tscbernaya the Russians showed some 4,000 or 5,000 strong, and fired repeatedly from a distant redoubt. But, in spite of this appearance of opposition, the bridge was crossed, and the country reconnoitred on the other side, where appearances of redoubts and strong intrenched works were distinctly visible hi the road leading up the heights towards Mackenzie's Farm. Towards the close of the day the enemy opened a new battery on the other side of the Techernays. It seems to contain six guns, and is situated literally on the face of a steep cliff, about a mile to the left of Tchourgoum. How the enemy ever got their guns there is a marvel to our engineers. MAY 26.—There was a good deal of firing during the night, and some heavy skirmishing went on between the French and Russians from the advanced trenches recently captured. I have not yet heard the result. Our siege•works make progress ; but so slowly that it amounts to next to nothing. The enemy make trenches faster than we do, and hinder us at every step. As yet, there seems no prospect of our soon reopening fire. During last night the Russians fired repeatedly front the batteries about Tchourgoum, and in the same neighbourhood large working parties were continually engaged. No alteration has taken place in the position of the allies on the Woronzow read; but it is rumoured that the enemy are concentrating troops in that direction. The weather continues fine, but very dry and hot. Fevers of all kinds are very prevalent, and cause a heavy mortality. Miss Nightingale, who is up here, has had a most narrow escape from the fatal low Crimean fever. I am very glad to say she is now recovering, and will leave here as soon as her strength permits. Cholera is spreading fast, and is now all over the camp, from Balaklava to Kamiesch The following appears in the letter of the Times correspondent : MAY 2Q—The expeditionary force nneer the command of Sir George Brown will consist of the flank companies of the Guards (six hundred men ), the 71st, 42nd, and 93rd Highland regiments, a batallion of Royal Marines, two batteries of artillery, an efficient staff of con missariat officers, and a portion of the land transport corps. The 4th Royal Irish Dragoons and the 10th Hussars have re ceived orders to embark to-day, and it is probable that Major Brandling's (the I troop) of Royal Horse A rtiller y will accompany them. The French force will consist of 10,000 men and sixteen guns ; a Turkish corps, 3,(X)0 strong, will also embark with the expedition, and a number of spades, pickaxes, and trenching tools are to be furnished to them, so that it is evident they are to he employed in throwing up works to cover themselves. The embarkation of horses and artillery is at presezt going on in Bulaklava harbour. It is expected that simultaneously with this move ment there will he a demonstration on the plain of Bala klava, and it is not unlikely that our cavalry will occupy the ground near the Tschernaya, in conjunction with a strong corps encamped near the Woronzow road. That position will of course he only temporarily occupied, and the troops will speedily be pushed forward, to feel their way toward the north side of the Tocliernaya and the heights south of the Belbeck. Sir George Brown has gone down to Kamiesch to embark on hoard the admiral's flag-ship. Dr. Alexander, Depnty- Inspector-General of Hospitals, who boa been selected as principal medical officer of the division, goes on boartl the 13ahiams 4 tort* with Captain Vonspoby, of the stpif pf THE PRESS. Sir George Brown. Dr. Painter, second in medical charge of the expedition, takes a passage in the Orient, which has been fitted up as a hospitul•ship. Captain Dick (7tith Regiment), captain of brigade of the land transport corps, takes charge of five hundred horses for the use of the ex pedition, and Mr. Drake has the control of the commissa• riat department, which is largely provided with officers. The English contingent will number about 6,000 men. CONDITION OF SEBASTOPOL. An interesting letter from an officer of the Sebas topol garrison is published by the Military Zeitung of Vienna. The letter is dated May 13, and contains the following details : In spite of all the efforts which the enemy have made, our bulwarks stand as fast as ever. Long before the bom bardment began the journals of the West informed us that our walls and forts were speedily to be put to a new proof. This made us redouble our precautions, and we bore firmly the truly murderous fire (hollische) which threatened all with destruction. Nevertheless thousands were de voted to death, and it made one shudder to see the Moms (the steamboat) pass every two hours during the bombard 'want from the south to the north with so many wounded that she could scarcely stun them. While standing in Bastion No. 4—the bastion which suffered must of all—l forgot the danger to which I was exposed in admiration of the cool and stoical conduct of our sailors. They fell and expired without a cry, though racked by the most fearful agonies. The southern side of our town has suffered moat severely, and is scarcely to be recognised; five hundred houses have been totally destroyed, and grass is growing on their ruins ; the beautiful theatre no longer exists. Though the upper districts of the town are not so much damaged, yet there is not a single house to be seen which does not bear manifest traces of the bombardment. The streets are everywhere ploughed up by shot, and the pave. ment is totally destroyed ; while at every corner stand whole pjramids of the enemy's cannon balls and exploded shells, which were daily collected before the opening of the fire. In many streets five or six such pyramids are to be seen, each of them from eight to ten feet high. Never theless business is continued, and booths are opened for the sale of goods. Frices, however, are enormously raised, and sugar costs one silver rouble (25.) per lb. The supply of meat is more than abundant, but bread ie exceedingly scarce. The streets are filled with people, and ciowds of children run to and fro, assisting at the construction of barricades and pelting each other with balls of clay. Our life in Sebastopol is agreeable to us, for use is a second nature. The greatest activity prevails in the harbour of Ekaterin, where cannon balls, powder, fascines, sacks, and provisions are landed in astounding quantities, as they arc forwarded from the northern forts. In a word, neither the thunder of the enemy's cannon nor the siege of Sebastopol is suffered to disturb us any longer ; we mourn over our adversaries, who are shedding their blood without result before our brazen walls. We read many absurd state ments about the eondition of the besieged ; but the ab surdest of all is, undoubtedly, the news that we suffer from want of supplies, and that hundreds and hundreds of us are daily cut off by death—of all which no trace is to be seen. 541 THE BALTIC FLEET. (From a Correspondent.) MAY 2:l.—The Firefly has returned from the Aland Islands, and reports no change, as far as military operations are concerned, iu Bomarsund and its neighbourhood. It appears from Captain Otter's report that the unfortunate inhabitants who were in a measure compelled by our people last year to sell sufficient parts of the produce of their farms—such as sheep, fowls, potatoes, &c.—have been, in the case of English money being found in their pos session, most severely and unjustly punished. Fifteen men have been sent to Siberia, and all against whom there appeared any proof otherwise chastised. This is indeed a barbarous action, the more so as the islands were, to all intents and purposes, English property during last autumn, and the people had no choice as to whether they should sell their goods or no. If they refused, we should doubtless (as our good friends the French did) have helped ourselves, and regulated a tariff as to the payment to be made, Vulture sailed yesterday with the mails, and Driver has gone to Copenhagen to bring up some colliers. MAY 24.—Her most gracious Majesty's birthday, which was kept up with all due respect, the ships of the fleet being dressed with flags, and royal salutes fired at twelve o'clock. A thick fog all day, excepting for about an hour It noon, when the sun shone brightly on the Queen of England's loyal subjects doing honour to her birthday within sight of the guns of her enemy. We are waiting for clear weather to start. I forgot to mention yesterday that a court martial was held on hoard the Ermouth, to try a lieutenant of the Elwynhis named Balfour for unofficer and ungentleman like conduct in having struck a brother officer of the same ship, and made use of improper language. The court sentenced Lieutenant Balfour to be dismissed the service, which is considered a very harsh sentence, as the prisoner offered every apology previous to the trial, and, it appears, lost all command of himself, through his temper, during the affair for which he was tried. MAY 25.—We have been waiting all day to-day to make a start, but the fog has been so dense we could not manage to get away from the anchorage. Princess Alice arrived to-day from Faro, bringing news that although two of the Duke of Wellington's men died from smallpox the rest are doing very well, some of them who a week since were unable to move being on their legs. Arrogant has nearly one-third of her men laid up with a sort of modified smallpox. She has lost n. ne at all, and her sick are doing famously under the auspices of her doctor (Gallagher), who has charge of the hospital, and is indefatigable in his attention and kindness to all those who come under his care. Amphion has arrived to-day from Aland Islands, and, instead of, as last year, being loaded from those islands with the good things of this life, she is too glad to partake of the scanty allowance of fresh meat, milk, eggs, &c., that we get here. MAY -26.—This melting being fine the whole squadron, excepting Ajax and Lightning, weighed and, forming line of battle, steamed up the Gulf of Finland at a slow pace, to economise fuel as much as possible. Blenheim met us outside, and fell into her place in the line. The Royal Adelaide (merchant steamer) arrived this morning from Elsinore, with eighty bullocks on board, and other provisions, such as biscuits, ire., for the fleet. There have been some Russian gun-boats seen close the shore near Bevel, but they soon got under cover of their batteries when our steamers made a move towards them. MAY 27.—Great excitement was caused this after noon by the look-out sbi k i ahead (derphion) making the signal, " Fourteen of the enemy's ships in bight." Every preparation was made, and all the unaccount able symptom; of delight at the prospect of bard knocks were shown by the officers and crews of the ships, when after a few minutes, the haze clearing off, we found that the enemy consisted of about twenty coasting vessels, ladened with wood, and who, not expecting us to make our appearance so soon, were making the most of their time. When they saw us, the poor wretches were frightened to death : some of them even deserted their vessels in their boats, leaving probably their all in our hands. Our look-out steamers were sent away to capture a goad many of them ; and where an owner can be found the wood will be paid for. We are now anchored about fifteen miles from Croustade, nearly in t.o centre of the gulf, but are expecting to move further up towards that place very soon. Our cruisers report that the country is alive with soldiers ready to give us a warm reception at any point where our foraging panties may try to land. The smallpox has nearly disappeared. Irlay 28.—The mails have arrived to day, and a steamer will leave with letters for Logiand tins OfirfP o 9n i so, atlivt4 COASTS OF THE SEA OF AZOFF. The following description of the fortresses and ports round the Sea of Azoff is given by Galignani : It will have been seen by the despatches from General Pelissier to the French Government, that the results of the naval expedition which had passed the strait of Yenikale, have been as rapid as they are satisfactory. In a few days it completely swept the Sea of Azoff, and caused a very heavy loss to the enemy. Thy port of Berdianski, where the Russian steamers were lying, is situated a little beyond the Crimean peninsula, and belongs to the continental go vernment of Taurida, at the extreme south-eastern limit of which it lies. The town is of recent construction, and con• tains about 4,00 A inhabitants. After having visited that place, the squadron descended to the Bay of Anibal, at which on the one side, and et the Bay of Kaffa, on the other, the secondary peninsula of Kertch commences. The fort of Arabat is, it appears, in a tolerably good state of defence. It was taken by assault in 1768, by the troops of Prince Dolgomuki, and was then completely repaired by the Russians. The country is deserted and barren. as is the whole of the peninsula of Kertch, which consists of a plain strongly impregnated with salt. To escape from the monotony of such a scene it is necessary to reach the opposite coast, where Kaffa is situate. From the fort of Arahat starts that narrow strip of land known by the name of the Tongue of Arabat, which, running to the north, se parates the Sea of Azoff from the Putrid Sea. This tongue of land, about 70 miles in length, is composed of a very sandy soil, and in some places is not above 4flO yards in width. It is the road generally followed by carriers in bringing provisions and merchandise from Lesser Russia to the eastern part of the Crimea. The tongue of Arabat is not, however, really joined to the continent; it is sepa• rated from it by a narrow pus called the Strait ofJenitchi, which forms the communication between the Sea of Azoff and the Putrid Sea. The traders cross in a ferry-boat this pass, which is only three feet in depth, and about a hundred yards wide, and then follow the tongue of land as far as the fort of Arabia. In summer thia pass is almost dry, and may be passed on foot. The Russian troops have several times taken this road to turn the lines of Perekop. and pe netrate into the Crimea, but this operation, always difficult and even imprudent, could not be undertaken unless the Russians were in full possession of the Sea of Azoff. The Putrid Sea is only a gulf of that sea; and, according to the direction of the winds, its waters overflow, or retire by the Strait of Jenitchi. When they are low, they exhale the most fetid odour, which has canoed this great lake to acquire its ill-omened name of the Putrid Sea. At present, in consequence of the late successes, the command of $ll these districts must be considcred as yircually in the hands 0 OW gatielll ptam 4'0110913Pb cu iav et,o v. • vs wis