The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

396 to shake both heaven and earth. The shells and bullets of the first discharge made of themselves a perfect uproar, as they fell like an iron hail full upon the enemy's batteries. Some shot were short, and went bounding towards the works, scattering the earth like water. Some were too high, and passed clear over everything into the town; but the great mass were well Mined and true, and passed full into the embrasures, clearing all before them. The shells burst everywhere about like crackers, and the stunning explosion of the great mortars made themselves conspicuous over every other ndise, as the huge bombs screamed through the air, carrying death and destruction into the Mamelon and Malakoff. After this first tremendous volley each gun worked as it could, and her regular file tire of mortars and heavy guns commenced upon the place. The enemy appeared completely surprised. With the first awful salvo a general confusion is reported to have been observed in their batteries. Fur three or four minutes not a gun replied—then the Mamelon fired three or tour at once, and the Redan and Malakoff also began a slow irregular cannonade. The Flagstaff Battery was also quick in sending two or three shells, but the great mass of the guns in all the Russian works were silent. Gra dually, atter a lapse of five or ten minutes, their fire ex tended ; but,before half their ordnance was manned, ours hail fired a dozen rounds, so that some of the enemy's guns were struck before they fired a shot and damaged past all manning. It was nearly six o'clock before all their works were in full play and then each battery, pelting against its assailant, tell to business in earnest. Our mortar batteries in ..he advanced works and in front of the picket house, with the new French batteries towards Inkermann, appeared to concentrate their tire upon the works round the Malakoff Tower and the Mamelon. Some of the French Inkermann works also fired heavily into the harbour and dockyard buildings. The right flank of Gor don's Battery was also directed against the Mamelon. This was on our right. At the centre the centre and left face of Gordon's Battery engaged the Redan, assisted by the new 68-pounder battery, ou its left, the mortars in the advanced works, and the right fire of the Green-hill Mound which engaged the Garden Battery. This was our centre. The centre and left faces of Green-hill opened upon the Barrack work, supported by a sailor battery of heavy guns and one side of the French right attack. The other side of the French works fought closely with some new batteries which the enemy have lately thrown up between and in advance of the Barrack and Flagstaff works. The French centre was close, quite close, to the Flagstaff Battery, and their left engaged the Quarantine and Mud Forts. The right flank of Gordon's Battery, with the French works towards Inkermann, played heavily upon the Mainelon, and in the course of a couple of hours two of its guns were dismounted, and before nine a third was added to the list of incapables. Much, if not all, of this damage seemed to be caused by the three 13-inch mortar battery in front of the old picket house, which, every four or five minutes, threw two shells into the Mamelon, and one into the works of the Malakoff Tower. The latter suffered much ; at least, it is presumed so, as, exclusive of some of the lnkermann batteries, part of Gordon's Battery and four 10-inch mortars, with several cohorns from the advanced work, played upon it incessantly. The fire of three 12 pounders was directed from the advanced parallel upon its chevaux-de-frise and abattis, and scattered them to splin ters in the air. It is quite impossible to speak now of the damage done to the enemy. After nine o'clock nothing could be seen with distinctness. Just before this period a slight explo sion took place in the Malakoff, most probably that of a case of cartridges. For a few minutes after it occurred, three guns in the centre of the circular earthwork were silent, but then resumed their fire. The guns were not hurt, though the gunners were most probably killed by the explosion. One of more force took place almost at the same time in one of the tiers of the Garden Battery. This was much more severe, as two of its guns were evidently disabled by it, and fired no more. At the last Foment at which the rain, mist, and smoke allowed anything to be distinguished the Garden Batteries and Mamelon appeared to have suffered much, and their fire was considerably slackened. From this time—a little after nine o'clock—till past three, all in the camp were left to their own conjectures as to the progress of the bombardment. The mist and rain were so dense, that it was impossible from the heights to distinguish the fire even of our nearest batteries ; not only was it impossible to see what we were doing, but even to hear was difficult. The wind swept from the camp towards Sebastopol, and this, with the thickness of the at mosphere, and rush of the rain, drowned almost every sound, except the dull and apparently very distant concus sion of the large mortars. About ten o'clock a message was sent by electric tele graph to head-quarters, to ask if our batteries might reply to the enemy gun for gun ? The answer to be sent was " No ; they were only to fire at their proper intervals, and when the atmosphere was sufficiently clear to admit of their taking deliberate aim." When this message was being transmitted, it was found that the electric wire to the batteries was broken. The galvanometer was applied, and after some time the rupture was discovered ahout sixty yards in rear of Gordon's Battery. The wire had been severed by the bursting of a shell right over the spot where it had been laid. The damage, however, was soon rewired, and the question and answer from the batteries to head-quarters transmitted as usual. Between eleven and twelve two guns in Gordon's Battery were dismounted, and two men killed. A heavy gust of wind swept over the town, the mists 'and smoke were dia. ei_pated for a moment, and it could be seen that both the Mamelon and Garden Batteries were very slack in their cannonade. and were fast approaching that state which en. gineers call silenced. The Redan and Malakoff were' firing as heavily as ever, end the Flagsta ff and Barrack Batteries seemed to hold their gronndi well against the French. At the same time one of the French works at ln• THE PRESS. kermann appeared to have suffered much, as did also our advanced trench and some parts of Gordon's Battery. Ou the whole, more mischief seemed to have been done to the Russians ; but on both sides the fire was much more slack than could have been expected. At six p.m. the Mamelon was almost entirely silenced, and the Garden Battery quite so. The Malakoff appeared to have suffered much. Even the few stones which re mained of its round tower were quite swept away, the earthwork much injured, and many of its guns silenced. Still, at this time, about thirty were in full play, though not firing fast, and apparently only returning shot for shot with the allies. The new Russian works north of the Mamelon seemed uninjured, as did also the allied batteries opposed to them. The Redan seemed injured, though by no means in a way which lessened its resistance. The fire from this tremendous work was as hot as in the morning. The French battery opposed to the Barrack was injured, as was also that opposed to the Flagstaff. Neither of these great Russian works appeared much hurt at ,resent. About seven the fire of the allied siege guns gradually ceased as night came on. The advantage of fire most decidedly at the close of the day remained with us. The mortars have not ceased firing, and all of them are ordered to maintain the bombardment by firing a shell every ten minutes throughout the night. The Russians reply with bombs also, but the allies are firing three to their two. To make up for this deficiency the enemy occasionally use their long guns, but they do little damage to our works, and are utterly useless against our mortars. APRIL 10.—The homiardinent has continued without a moment's intermission throughout the night, and the enemy have consequently been prevented repairing their damages. The practice of our mortars was perfect. Not a second passed without a thirteen-inch shell being thrown into the Malakoff and Mainelon. From its peculiar posi tion at the bottom of a hollow, the Malakoff seemed to suffer most. At daybreak this morning the fire of the long guns was recommenced on both sides, and then, for the first time, we were able to perceive the immense ad vantage which had resulted from the bombardment of the night. At the close of yesterday evening's fire the Malakoff was almost completely silenced ; and this morning it re plied to our cannonade with only two guns, which were dismounted at eight. Since that time to the present (eleven a.m.) it has not fired a shot. The Mamelon is very much injured ; in fact, almost entirely destroyed ; ten of its guns are dismounted—three are still firing. Such a storm of shot and shell is pouring into it from all parts that it must shortly become untenable. The Redan is in jured, though not more so than the allied batteries opposed to it. It still maintains a regular and heavy fire, and will require at least twenty-four hours more firing to reduce it. On the left the Russian batteries have suffered most severely. The Flagstaff and Barrack works have been much damaged by the French, and their fire is at least thirty per cent. less than yesterday. Some of the houses in the town show marks of having been visited by stray bombs. The Garden Battery has its works and guns much damaged, but still keeps up a good fire. Our casualties have been slight; I believe only sixty killed and wounded, of whom about twenty are killed. Lord John Hay was wounded in the mouth by a shell splinter, which knocked out some of his teeth, but caused no further damage. Lieutenant Twyford, R.N., I sin sorry to say, was struck in the chest with a round shot and killed on the spot. Two of the sailors were killed by the explosion of a cartridge. The returns of the naval brigade, are the only ones yet in, and they show one officer and nine men killed, one officer and fourteen men wounded. The largest pro portion of killed is in this brigade. Lord Raglan and staff have just returned to head quarters from a tour round the batteries. I believe his lordship is much pleased with the progress of the bom bardment. Omer Pacha is at Kamisch with 12,000 veteran Turks from Enpatoria. A division of 15,000 Turks was yesterday sent from Kamisch to replace those brought by Omer Pacha. The Turkish Commander•in-Chief wishes to share in the glory of the general assault. ONE O'CLOCK e.st.—The fire is still hot on our side ; that of the enemy. in the works opposed to the French. is fast slackening. The Flagstaff Buttery is suffering much, and has nearly forty of its guns dismounted. The Redan, with part of the Barrack and ,Garden Batteries, are still most active. The scene on the evening of the first day of re newed bombardment is thus described by the Times correspondent About five o'clock the sun slowly descended into a rift in the dark grey pall which covered the sky, and cut a pale yellow slice of light, barred here and there by columns of rain and masses of curling vapour, across the line of batteries. The outlines of the town, faintly rendered through the mists of smoke and rain, seemed quivering inside the circling lines of fire around and from them, but they were the same familiar outlines so well known to us for the last seven months—the same green cupola and roofs, and long streets and ruined suburbs, the same dock yard bulldings, and dark trenches and batteries. The little details of ruin and destruction which must have taken place after to-day's fire could not be ascertained. The eye of painter never rested on a more extraordinary effect, and his art alone could have rendered justice to the scene which shone out on us for a moment, as the sickly sun, flattened out as it were between bars of cloud and rain, seemed to have forced its way through the leaden sky to cast one straightened look on the conflict which raged below. The plateau beneath our standing•place was lighted up by incessant flashes of light, and long trails of white smoke streamed across it, spirting up in thick masses, tinged with fire, for a moment, till they were whirled away in broader volumes by the wind. lit the deep glow of the puling gleam of sunset, the only image 641;es - tett to me calculated to convey the actual effect of the fire of the bat teries to our friends at home was a vision of the potteries I' gAT6IDAY. district as it is seen at night, all fervid with fire and pill ars of smoke, out of the windows of an express train. This glimpse of the batteries, brief as it was, proved extremely satisfactory. On the extreme left the French batteries were firing with energy on the long line of batteries in front of the loophoied wall, and on the Flagstaff and Garden Batteries, which were replying very faintly and feebly by one or two scattered guns. Our left attack (Greenhill or ch a p tusn ' s Batteries), working with vigour iind preeision, was principally directing its fire against the Redan, which only answered by five or six guns, which did not appear to be remarkably well served or aimed. Our right attack (Gordon's Batteries), aided by the advanced battery and by the French redoubts, bad silenced the Mamelon and tired some three or four shots for every one from the Round Tower, and the Russian batteries to the right of the blamelon were voiceless. Bo much could be seen, when rain and mist set in once more, and shut out all from view, save one faint blear of yellowish haze to the west. _ _ _ . . _ APRIL 11.—At daybreak this morning the fire was re sullied by the allies and Russians, and for some time with equal vigour on both sides. In spite of the fire of our mortars, the enemy during the past night have managed to repair much of the damage which the Mamelon sus tained, and also the works of the Flagstaff Battery opposed to the French. For the first hour of hostilities this morning all the Russian works were fought with vigour and determination, but after that time (about half•past six) the guns round the Malakoff and Mamelon again ceased their cannonade, and from this period until late in the day seemed perfectly indifferent to our fire. . On the north side of the harbour, especially on the heights facing Inketmann, there were several new and powerful batteries, which fired heavy volleys every quarter of an hour or so. Their range, however, was too long, and their shot, though they reached our batteries, effected nothing. Indeed, their works seemed more used as a bravado, and as if to show that that side commanded every part of the town. The enemy, between five and six o'clock this evening, again entertained us with tremendous volleys from all parts of their defences. It is done, I presume. as a bri t . vado, and as a gentle hint that their works are by no means in that state of dilapidation when a general assault would be either easy or safe. Today we have to deplore the loss of a most active, brave, and energetic officer of the naval brigade, Lieut. Douglas, of the Queen. While superintending the work. ing of a gun in the left attack lie was struck in the head by a round shot from the Redan, and killed in a second. APRIL I2.—During the whole of last night the fire of our mortars was incessant, and this morning the long guns recommenced with renewed energy ; but, in spite of our bombardment, the enemy had evidently been again busy during the night, and part of the Flagstaff and nearly all the Mamelon embrasures were repaired. In the former, apparently, no new guns had been mounted, but in the latter were two. _ _ . The fire to•day has been much the same as during yesterday—viz., a well-sustained cannonade from the allies throughout, and the enemy replying very slackly, except from the Flagstaff and Redan. Occasionally, as since we first opened, nearly all their works gave forth tremendous volleys, almost simultaneously ; but their spirts, though terrific, never lasted above half an hour, after which two thirds of their line relapsed into comparative silence. Preparations are evidently making for a general assault. Our shells, on which 'se entirely rely for hindering the repair of the enemy's works during the night, are going fast, and will most likely be quite gone by to-morrow night. The tramway, to be sure, can bring up a day or two's supply, but it is wanted for other tldpgs, and, besides it has been occupied all to-day in getting up SW tons of powder from Balaklava to the front. When our supply of shell is exhausted we must storm. or quietly yield up the advantages our cannonade has given us, and sink back into the state in which we were after the attack of the 17th. APRIL 13.—Last night was wild and unfavorable, with continued heavy rain, yet still our bombardment never slackened for a moment. The Beagle, which was moored off Sebastopol at a long range, also assisted in the fire, by casting loose her Lancaster guns, and throwing shel!s into the works the whole night. She also fired about fifty Con greve rockets into the works opposed to the French. This morning, when our batteries recommenced, the effects of our assaults were still more apparent. The fire of the Flagstaff was evidently slack, even more marked so than on the previous evening. It scarcely replied one gun to the French three. The devastating traces of the shot were also most apparent. Not only are the lower tier of guns quite destroyed, but the upper seem in a fair way of following them. Two or three of them are already dismounted, and the earth of the parapets so beamed and torn that the rest of the ordnance appear as if pointing out between loose piles of earth. The flanking batteries are now being fired at, and apparently with much effect. The barrack work is also suffering much, and nearly one-third of its embrasures are empty. The Redan still shows a bold front. This colossal front is at so long a range from ours (I,ZO yards), and mounts suoh an enormous mass of ordnance, that it would stand its present battering for two or three weeks to come, without receiving such injury as to render it untenable. But this is a matter of no moment. The Redan, per se, is a strong battery, but unlike the Flagstaff or Malakoff, it is by no means so im portantly situated as to necessitate our taking it by storm : The former works are the keys of the enemy's position when they are silenced and captured the Retlan will fall of itself, as it will cease to be tenable. Arun. 14.-1 have only time to add a line or two before the mail starts. Our bombardment etnitinned the whole of last night with much effect, and this morning the g uns again recommenced. The fire of the enemy slackens more and more each day. .... MI