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

540 heights ; the right extending beyond Tractir ; and the ground more to the right, behind Tchourgouna, being occu pied by the Sardinian troops, aided in their advance by the 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers and the Horse Artillery, under Colonel Parlby. Omer Pacha at the same time moved forward to the low heights in front of lialaklava, and thus afforded support to the French divisions before him. These were commanded by General Canrobert, who pushed forward across the bridge of Tractir, and drove the enemy, who were not in great numbers, off; and having cleared his front, be with drew to this side of the river, where he now remains. Sir Colin Campbell advanced the Royal Marines from the high ridge on our extreme right to a point command ing the old Haider road; and Colonel Parlby, with the regiments I have mentioned, reconnoitred the country on the immediate right of General de la Marmora's position, and patrolled along the Woronzow road, iu the direction of Molar. The appearance and bearing of the Sardinian troops are highly satisfactory. and I anticipate the greatest advantage from their addition to this army, under their distin guished leader, General de la Marmora, whose zeal for the service and ardent desire to co-operate with ne I am happy to have so early an opportunity of acknowledging and recording. Nothing of importance has occurred in the British trenches since I wrote to your lordship on the 111th instant. The death of Colonel Egerton, of the 77th, on the night of the 19th ultimo, as already announced to your lordship, prevented my receiving in due course the official report of the conduct of the officers serving immediately under him, and it was only a few days ago that I learnt that Captain Gilby was the next in seniority to him, of the 77th, on the occasion, and that he had highly distinguished himself. I deem it an act of justice to a most deserving officer to bring his conduct under the notice of your lordship. I inclose the returns of casualties to the 24th instant. Your lordship will regret to see that Lieut. Williams, of the 17th, has been severely wounded. I have the greatest pleasure in announcing to your lordship the brilliant success which attended an attack by the French army of some ambuscades at the head of the Quarantine Bay, and in front of a cemetery near it. The attack was made on the night of the 22nd, and the opera tion was completed on the following evening. The enemy had collected a very large force on the first occasion to resist our allies; but, notwithstanding, the French were enabled by their brilliant gallantry and determined resolu tion to maintain themselves in the pits at the head of the bay on the 22nd, and on the 23rd to occupy the whole with less resistance on the part of the Russians, who are stated to have sustained a very severe loss. The French were necessarily exposed to a very heavy fire, sad were assailed by vastly superior numbers. The achievement they accomplished redounds, therefore, highly to their renown, and is hailed with satisfaction by their allies. An expedition, composed of British, French, and Turk ish troops, sailed for Kertch on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, and I hope soon to be able to announce the landing of the corps, and the result of its first opera tions. It is commanded by Lient -General Sir George Brown, and has been conveyed in English and French ships, under the command of Admiral Sir E. Lyons and Admiral Bruat, whose exertions to carry out this impor tant service have been most conspicuous. The 31st Regiment has arrived from Corfu. I inn much concerned to have to report that Major- General Buller has been obliged by the failure of his health to leave the army. He has been constant in the discharge of his duty since he joined this army, distin guished himself both at Alma and Inkeruaann, and perse vered in taking his turn in the trenches until driven by illness to withdraw. I regret the loss of his services exceedingly. RAGLAN. From Admiral Lyons : Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch, May 26, 1835 I have great pleasure in requesting yon to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the allied forces are masters of the Straits of Kertch, and that they have in the Sea of Azoff a powerful steam flotilla, of light draught of water. capable of cutting off the enemy's supplies, and harassing him at all points ; and, moreover, that the means are at hand for sending in a vast number of gun boats of the lighter draught, if it should be found desirable to do so. My letter of the 22nd instant will have informed their lordships that an allied expedition, consisting of 15,000 men of all arms, and five batteries of artillery, were then on the point of leaving the anchorage off Sebastopol for Kertch, and my message by electric telegraph will have an pounced the complete success of that expedition; but it now remains for me to give an account of our proceedings for their lordships' information. The fleet, which consisted of her Majesty's ships named in the margin,• anti a French fleet of nearly equal force, under the command of my very gallant and energetic col league, Vice Admiral Bilet, assembled off the Straits of Kertch at early (lawn on the birthday of her most gracious Majesty the Queen, and both armies and navies confidently anticipated a successful celebration of that auspicious day. The fleets steamed rapidly up to Kamiesch to the south of Kertch, where the army landed under cover of the guns of the steam frigates, and immediately ascended the heights without opposition, whilst the steamers of light draught of water pushed on towards Kertch and Yenikale ; and the enemy, apparently taken by surprise at the rapidity of these movements, and at the imposing appearance of the • Royal Albert, Hannibal, Algiers, Agsmeninon, St. Jean d'Acre, Meese Royal, Sidon, Valoroas, Leopard, Tribune, Siumour, Furious, Hightlyer, Terrible. Miranda, sphinx, Spitfire, Gladiator, Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Carachm, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, Lyux, Recruit, Arrow, Ban shee, baste, beagle. THE PRESS. expedition, blew up his fortifications on both sides of the straits, mounting not less than fifty guns I new and of heavy calibre),which have fallen into our possession, and retired after having destroyed three steamers and several other heavily-armed vessels, as well as large quantities of provi sinus, ammunition, and stores, thus leaving us masters of the entrance into the Sea of Asuff, without our having sustained any loss whatever. As the disembarkation was unoppfsed, in consequence of the fire of the steam frigates having arrested the advance of the enemy, there was no field for the gallantry that ani mated every one in the expedition ; but the duties they had to perform were very arduous, and I should be doing injus tice to them and to my own feelings if I were not to say that no commander-in-chief was ever more' ably assisted than I am by the captains and those under their command. One and all followed the admirable example of the zealous and talented second in command, Retir Atliniral Stewart, and they could not possibly do better. There was, however, an incident during the day that called forth the admiration of both fleets, and which deserves to be particularly noticed. Lieutenant McKillop, whose gun-vessel, the Snake, was not employed like the others in landing troops, dashed past the forts after an enemy's steamer, and although he soon found himself engaged not only with her but also with two others who came to her support, be persevered, and by the clever. ness and extreme rapidity of his manoeuvres, prevented the escape of all three, and they were consequently de stroyed by the enemy, and the Snake had not a man hurt, though shot passed through the vessel. Yesterday Admiral Bruat and I accompanied the com bined steam flotilla named in the margin+ into the Sea of Azoff, and despatched them, under the orders of Captain Lyons, of the Miranda, on the interesting and important service they have before them. Had this expedition been deferred but a short time longer there would have been many and great difficulties to overcome, for the enemy was actively employed in strengthening the sea defences, and in replacing the sunken vessels which had been carried away by the current during the winter months. Of the forty vessels sunk last year some still remain, and a French steamer touched upon one of them yesterday. It appears that the enemy did not succeed in destroying the coals, either at Kertch or Yenikale, so that about 17,000 tons remain, which will be available for our steamers. It will be evident to their lordships that the rapid opera tions which I have had the honour and happiness to de scribe to them, could not have been brought to so satisfac tory a conclusion, if the most perfect understanding, and the most hearty good will towards each other, had not pre vailed throughout the allied fleets and armies.---T sun, &c. EDMOND LYONS. With reference to the above despatch. an Admiralty note states! that Lieutenant Henry Frederick 111'10110p will be promoted to the rank of Commander. so soon as he shall have completed the sea.time required to qualify him for that rank. Despatches from General Pelissier and Admiral Bruat, describing the same operations, have been published by the French Government. SIEGE CHRONICLE. Letters from the camp to the 26th ult. have ar rived. The chief intelligence they convey relates to the departure of the expedition to the Sea of Azoff, the rapid success of which has already been an nounced by telegraph. The Herald correspondent writes.— MAY 19.—After posting my letter ending with this date, the weather came in very but ; the thermometer stood 02 in the shade. In &parade of the light division upwards of a hundred fell out, overcome by the (.ppresslve heat. Many of our men are, however, beginning to wear a kind of linen dress, made very light, which is served out to them : this is an immense boon, and will no doubt be of very great service in keeping the men healthy. MAY 20.—To•day was not near so hot as yesterday, a refreshing breeze playing around, keeping the tents, Ste., somewhat cooler than usual. Very little firing was going on. About noon a party of about forty Russians were seen to emerge from the Malakoff or Round Tower Battery, and by the aid of a glass were seen to gather something; what this was we could not tell. Conjectures were rife, some affirming it was only salad they were gathering ; others, that it was old Minis balls, which we had fired at them, and this seemed the most plausible. By some this was thought to be evidence of their being in want of ammunition. Our men managed to pick off one of their number during the short time they were out. MAY 21.—Very little firing going on. A grand diviner party is entertained at head-quarters this evening, at which the Sardinian hand attend and play a variety of beautiful music. Ureat preparations are being made, but in a very quiet manner, to embark another expedition, but where it is for no one knows. It is said to be Kertch, and though this is only a rumour, it is still a very probable one. Horse., artillery, stores, &c., are now on board of transports, and all ready. Admirals Lyons and Stewart have been to Lord Ilaglan's and had a long interview to arrange the plan of operations, &C. MAY 22.—The weather continues fine, and to-day promises to be very warm. I regret to have to stale that during the last few days there have been several cases of cholera, which have terminated fatally; fever also is upon the stir, but not to any very alarming extent. With day light this morning the embarkation of troops commenced ; the smaller ships of war are at anchor in the bay, and steam-tugs take the men out into the bay to them. The brave Highlanders are now nearly all on board. The French are busy in like manner at Kamieach Bay, and to morrow all are expected to meet, when they will sail away Miranda, Vesuvius, curlew, Svcsllow, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, lynx, Recruit, Arrow, Ruske, Boogie, sad five Vreueb steam vessels, SATURDAY, and act, in conjunction. Great con fi dence is expressed th a t something will now. be accomplished ; lill seem in high glee ; the light step and cheerful smile of the gallant High lander, as he steps upon the plank, well betoken the gay spirit and light heart with which he enters upon his duty. Up to the moment of the mail leaving all has progressed s atisfactorily, and with great promptitude. Mar. 2,3.—The intense interest and anxiety with which we were all waiting news of the Kertch expedition has been considerably diverted by a desperate attempt which our allies made last night to capture one of the enemy's ad vanced trenches, and which, after gaining possession of, they were, after a long and most bloody encounter, com pelled to evacuate. It was close on dawn when a message was sent to the French general, informing him that nearly half the column had fallen in the attempt to hold the place ; that it was a mere useless waste of life, as by daylight it would be utter ly unten able. The answer was returned, that they were to gather their dead and wounded, and retire This they accordingly did at about four in the morning, after having maintained the sanguinary and unequal contest for more than six hours, and lost, it is said, the awful number of 1,300 men, killed, wounded, and missing. The Russian loss must also have been most severe, but, from the fact of their men fighting entirely under cover, it is not supposed to he as heavy as that of the French. The latter failed, not from want of courage or discipline, but simply from their mistaking the route and attacking the trench at a wrong point, where the work if carried was untenable. No less than thirty-one of their officers are said mbe killed or wounded. It is said that if it costs 10,030 men, the place must be taken, and that another attempt will be made this evening. MAT 24.—As was anticipated, the French made another attack iitkin the advanced trench last night, which was completely successful. This time the plan was better arranged—under the im mediate care of General Pe!isaier himself. Three columns each 3,000 strong—were chosen for the assault, and started just as dusk was commencing. In spite of all the vigilance of the enemy, the right and left columns closed with the covering trenches before they were discovered and instantly attacked them. For a moment the Russians seemed bent on an obstinate resistance, but the attack evidently took them by surprise, and after a short struggle both trenches were captured, the enemy flying in all direc tions. Numbers of them were shot and bayoneted on the spot. Almost at the same time the centre column attacked the cross trench ; but here, the enemy being prepared and in greater force, a desperate contest took place, and it was not until after about twenty minutes' bard fighting that the French were enabled to get possession of it. As its de fenders retired they were completely decimated by the cross fire to which they were exposed from the French in the covering trenches. The instant that possession was obtained, half the troops were set to work to remove the gabions and breastwork from one side of the trench to the other, so as to shelter the assailants from the fire of the batteries, while the re mainder, formed into two strong columns, advanced to attack the Russian soldiers who had been driven from the position, and who were halted at a short distance in the rear, evidently waiting for reinforcements to attempt a re capture. As our allies came on, the enemy deployed and received them with a smart file-fire, to which the French never returned a shot until within pistol range, when they too deployed, and, firing one heavy volley, charged with the bayonet. The Russians fell into confusion, threw away their arms, and fled. The French followed them closely, and bayoneted the fugitives by dozens. No quar ter was asked or given. In this manner our allies pur sued them for nearly half a mile, till both Russians and French arrived at a deep trench and breastwork on the left of the Hedan, beneath the Garden Battery. Into this the flying enemy scrambled, and the French after them. A strong force of Russians seemed to hold this trench, but they appeared perfectly panic stricken by the flight of their comrades, and, after discharging their muskets in a irregular fusillade, led with the rest, leaving the French in undisturbed possession of the second trench. At this point the commander of the French columns wisely called a halt. A hasty examination was made of the trench, and one of the soldiers, who had advanced further than the rest up the parallel on the right, reported that there was a new battery there. The whole force instantly advanced in that direction, and found that in a large obtuse angle of the breastwork a new battery had been formed, and was totally abandoned. It mounted some eight or ten heavy long guns, four mortars, and a number of cohorns. Not a moment was lost in turning the discovery to account. Half the force was instantly formed out in columns, with pickets to give notice of the approach of the enemy, who was now momentarily expected, and keep them, if possible, in check till the destruction of the battery was completed. The rent of the troops, piling their arms, commenced the work of destruction. The long guns were instantly spiked, ovel • turned, the trunnions of the guns knocked off, and the spokes of the carriage-wheels chopped to pieces. Sortie which were ships' guns had their small wooden wheels split up, and the carriages thrown over the breastwork. The timber tramways of the guns were levered up and carried away. The mortars were spiked, their beds over turned, and the trunnions of two knocked off. The cohorns were captured and sent away immediately. But this was by no means all the mischief effected. Not more than one hundred men were employed about the guns—the rent ( upwards of two thousand) were engaged in destroying the earthwork. All the gabions were dragged out, pulled M pieces, and their earth and stones scattered about. The sandbags were pulled down and cut in two, and altogether the whole parapet of the battery was levelled with the earth. While this was going on all the Russian batteries had opened, rind were in full play, theugh principally upon the advanced trenches, which had been captured early gn the evening. In their denwAition of the battery the French were herdly diatwfbed by a single shpt. ;barge 4141 es of