The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-14 00:00:00

.1 --- -.w JULY 14, 1855. the latter part of June—and, allowing us to be ever ao successful, I doubt if we can accomplish our ends as regards tho town for these two months; and that will bring us to about the same time as we landed last year, which will be very short for &campaign in the interior. The 71st Regiment are still at Kertch, employed in throwing up works. They have been very healthy indeed, but I believe they have the advantage of salt water bathing, a luxury deprived us here. _ A corps of guides is to be formed at head. quarters under Mr. Calvert, the chief interpreter of the Russian language, to consist of one headman and eight pri vates, the former with 2s. 6d. a day, the latter with ls. 6d. a day, and free rations. Poor old General Pennefather is going to England for recovery of health—another loss to the army. An immense quantity of shot, shell, and powder is being transported up from Balaklava by rail for the next bombardment. We have now a plentiful supply of ammunition of every description. But firing upon Russian works is but of little use; after a day's heavy fire we find them next morning quite as good as ever. It has struck us with surprise many a time to witness the energy with which the Russians maintain their hold under so many difficulties. For my part I think that the main cause of our disasters has been through holding the powers and abilities of our enemies too cheap. They are, as is evident, a people of great energy, and equal, if not better, than us in defending any fortified place. We cannot erect a battery but they find some means to erect one on their side to oppose it. Their engineering skill in the defence of Sebastopol has been equal to any in history. The fortifications of Sebastopol are now stronger than they were last September: all that we have done yet has been to cause them to sink part of their navy, and we have battered some houses down. From deserters we learn that our shells sweep away , dozens at a time. If one would wish for a specimen of work, let him visit the Mamelon Redoubt: there he will see a work :of engineering art which would almost surprise an English engineer. This redoubt is cut out of the solid rock, its embrasures are hewn out, its magazines are directly under the parapet of the work—in all, this is a most elaborate piece of work. Before this site fell into the hands of the enemy, it was pronounced as totally hopeless for the purpose of a battery for us. It may now be as well, perhaps, for we have it ready constructed for us. The land transport corps under Colonel M'Murdo is beginning to show itself: mules are joining the es tablishment fast, and I think that the army will soon be complete in that department. The system seems to act very well at present, but a march will give it a more severe trial. The depots are formed at each division, under a superintendent, and also a depot at the head-quarters of the corps. The Commissary- General must feel great relief from this department being taken from him ; but people here in general think that it ought still to be under the Commissariat, but under one responsible head of that department, for the present system creates another branch to our army, and we had too many independent branches before to our sorrow—the clashing of last winter tells us that much. The issuing of Quartermaster- General's stores, and the responsibility of the same, is also taken from the Commissary-General and handed over to the Ordnance department of the army, the chief man for that office being the Assistant Superin tendent under Captain Gordon for the collection of warm clothing. Sixteen months have elapsed since 1 left old Eng land. The fine brigade of Guards which then left is now, I may say, no more; disease in Turkey, and the battle-field and cholera in the Crimea have sent upwards of 1,600 of these fine fellows to their last home. Nearly two hundred fell on the plains in Bulgaria, and were buried in a wood. On the heights above•Balaklava and Alma are the graves of the men who fell in those actions. As one walks over Inker mann he can still see the mounds of earth in which are deposited the remains of our soldiers who fell on that bloody day. The great square mounds of earth thrown up are the graves of the Russians who fought and fell in such numbers on that day : even the pieces of belts, ramrods, &c., can be seen to this day. The ground in front and round the White Tower and Mamelon is also dotted over with mounds—in fact it is one vast graveyard. June 25th. On Saturday night last we had a thunderstorm, which swept over head-quarters and Balaklava with such fury as I have never before seen ; the ravines were like running seas, washing everything before the flood. At Balaklava immense damage was done : the railway was injured; the washlouses at the General Hospital, with sheets, blankets, and three orderlies, were washed away; an artilleryman and three mules were swept away near the left attack down a ravine—his body has been recovered; the Sardinian stores depot, near Balaklava, was washed away. _ . The new battery which I have mentioned in a ormer part of this letter as in course of construction ,at the Cemetery is abandoned i the enemy's fire was fresh** lost watt-nine men there is one deck THE PRESS. THE WAR. The latest despatches from the Crimea are dated Wednesday, the 11th inst. They report the renewal of the bombardment, especially on the British side, but nothing of importance seems to have occurred. General Simpson states : Our the yesterday had good effect on the Redan. Cholera is decreasing, and the health of the army is hats- factory. General Pelissier announces to the French Govern ment, under date of the 10th have nothing new to announce to you to-day. The Bring has been very brisk during the whole of the day be tween the English and the Great Redan. This evening that work is very silent, consequently our allies will be able to advance their works. The near approach of the works of the besiegers to the defences of the enemy is believed to be the immediate precursor of a new assault. Thirty thousand men were employed on the new works directed against the fortifications of the Malakoff and Redan. General Pelissier has ordered the distribution of a daily ration of wine or brandy to maintain the sanitary condition of the troops, which had been affected by the excessive heat and heavy storms. Prince Gortschakoff has made proposals fer a regu lar exchange of prisoners at Odessa. A division of gun-boats has been sent by the allies to Yenitchi to prevent the Russians from re-estab lishing the fortifications commanding the strait, and to explore the Putrid Sea. Reinforcements continue to embark for the East from Marseilles and Toulon. In a letter from Odessa, published in the Vienna Fremdenblatt, it is stated that out of 2,300 guns with which Sebastopol was armed at first, there remains only 1,400 fit for service. The Turkish contingent is daily increasing, and consists now of about 8,000 men. They are en camped at Hasap-den, an elevated position between Buyukdere and the Black Sea. Advices from Kars of the 18th of June state that the demonstration against that town by the Russians had been repulsed, and that the assailants withdrew to Agdja-Kaleh. It was reported that the Russians were manoeuvring to cut off the communication between Kars and Erzeroum. The following official despatches have been re ceived during the past week : Before Sebastopol, June W. I have the honour to transmit to your lordship the ac companying letter, dated ►his day, from the Inspector- General of Hospitals. Your lordship will observe with pain that this report exhibits a considerable increase of both admissions and deaths, arising chiefly, however, from the accidents of war, resulting from the assault of the Redan and the attack of the Cemetery on the 18th instant, on both Abich occasions the troops were exposed to a heavy fire of grape-shot. It will be satisfactory to your lordship to find that the arrangements both for the accommodation and treatment of the sick and wounded were such as can rarely be ex• pected under such circumstances, and no exertions have been spared to render their situation as comfortable as possible. I regret to say that cholera and bowel complaints have been somewhat on the increase, but neither the admissions nor the deaths have been so marked as to attract special attention. I have, however, with much sorrow, to report the very sudden death from cholera of Captain Charles Bowles, 10th Hussars, an officer of great merit, who had served in India with distinction, and is mach regretted in the regiment. Among the killed I lament to announce the loss of Lieu tenant and Adjutant H. Marsh, 33rd Regiment, who was killed in the trenches on the 24th instant. This young officer had served throughout the campaign, and was dis tinguished for his gallantry and devotion to the service; and his conduct on a former occasion I had the honour to bring under your lordship's notice. R•OLAN. In the return from Dr. Hall, alluded to in the foregoing despatch, the Inspector-General says : The weekly return of sick and wounded, I regret to say, exhibits a considerable increase of both admissions and deaths, arising chiefly from the accidents of war, occa itioned by the assault of the 18th instant ou the Redan Battery and the works in the Dockyard Creek. Many of the injuries received were occasioned by grape-shot, fired at short range, and were of a very serious nature. The loss, consequently, has been heavy ; but I have much satis faction in being able to assute your lordship that prompt aid was afforded to all, and the action having taken place within a short distance of our fixed hospital establishment, accommodation was provided for them at once. This is an advantage rarely attainable on active service in the field, so that the wounded were placed under as favorable circumstances as could be expected ; the amount of mor tality, therefore, among them is mainly attributable to the severity of their wounds, and not to any want of either surgical aid or hospital accommodation, as both were at hand. Cholera and bowel complaints still prevail, and have beak o* the inerease within the list two a three 4404 659 but neither the admissions nor the deaths have been so enough Taking gifi nst t iogi o vel sectrywirel week e a h t kwir e ghhi u cloa, i elv i bne t e s marked as to attract special attention, th oug h numerous tio uat . been s t,hw t eh ss f orce, in t he theth is se deaths admission s ratioto mores s tre n gth oref moderate gt.sh 2 to a per e.strengthribneue tntthe e: r whicmust be borne in mind that 1,659 o f th e admission s during the week we . re from , wonundisitahloas suffered ne much more than . The S ard ini an Contingent the British troops have done since the epidemic first made its appearance at the end of April. Great attention is paid to the clean liness of the different camps, and on the first appearance of cholera the attention of Medical officers was drawn by me iu a circular memorandum, dated 80th of April, to the great importance of detecting an d ar resting the premonitory diarrliceawhich generally precedes the more formidable stage of the disease. The following despatch was received from General Simpson, communicating the intelligence of the death of Lord Raglan : Before Sebastopol, June 80. It is with the deepest relr arsi tll m i l Loatlrd Raglan,announce to o.cß your . lordship the death of Field which event took place a little before nine o'clock on the evening of Thursday, the 28th instant. His lordship ex pired without any suffering, in the midst of the officers composing his personal staff I have further to report that, being the next senior officer present, I have assumed the command of this army until instructions shall arrive from England. JAMES Suirsos, Lieut.-General Commanding. In spottier despatch of the same date General Simpson states : In this, my first military despatch, I am not aware that there is anything new or of consequence to report to your lordship. As regards the progress of the siege, there is no great operation yet determined upon, but we are employed in re pairing and improving our works, to be in readiness to co-operate with the French when their approaches towards the Malakoff shall be completed. Tne nominal returns of casualties from the 25th to the 18th instant are inclosed. I am truly sorry to announce that Lient.-General Sir George Brown departed for England this morning, on medical certificate. The 18th Light Infantry has arrived, and disembarked at Balaklava this morning. They will remain there for the present, to assist in the duties of the place. JAMES Snirsos, Lieut.-General Commanding. FRENCH AND RUSSIAN PROCLAMATIONS. After the unsuccessful assault of the 18th, orders of the day were addressed to their respective troops, both by General Pelissier and Prince Gortschakoff. The former issued the following proclamation on the event to the French army : Soldiers !—ln the battle of the 18th, our eagles were carried to the works which form the very precincts of Sebas topol ; but it was necessary to abstain from carrying to the furthest a contest whose incidents I had not foreseen, would be so bloody, and you returned to your lines in order the enemy nut daring to leave his intrenchments or disturb your return. Our actual situation is that of the day before the combat ; my confidence in your ardour and in our success is the same. The arrivals of every day suffice, and more than suffice, to replace these amongst you who have gloriously fallen, and whom in your hearts you have sworn to avenge. We have gained ground, and in compressing the enemy more and more we strike with more certainty. He cannot subsist, fill up the gaps in his ranks, or provide himself with munition, but at the price of unheard-of efforts; while we, masters of the sea, incessantly and plentifully renew our means. Soldiers !—You will show yourselves more patient and energetic than ever in this obstinate contest, which will decide the peace of the world, and in which you have already given proofs of self-devotion, bravery, and patriotism, adorning your flag with immortal glory. I need not cite here any one individual out of so many brave men who honoured their names in the heroic contest of June 18th. A. Petissitui, General-in chief. Prince Gortachakoff assumes a tone of triumph and gratulation when addressing the Russian troops on the same occasion. He says Comrades,—The bloody combat of yesterday, and the defeat of an enemy in despair, has again crowned our arms with immortal laurels. Russia owes you her thanks, and she will not refuse them. Thousands of our companions in arms have sealed with their blood the oath which they had taken, and thus have confirmed the word which I gave to the Emperor, our common father. Thank you for it, comrades I Comrades I Immense reinforcements are marching from all parts of our sacred Russia ; they will immediately be with us. Oppose, as you have hitherto done, your manly breasts to the murderous balls of our impious enemies, and die, as thousands of your comrades have died, with arms in your hand, in an honourable contest man against man, breast against breast, rather than violate the oath which you swore to the Emperor and to the country—to pre serve our Sebastopol. Soldiers ! the enemy is beaten—driven back with enor mous losses. Permit your commander to repeat to you his thanks in the name of the Emperor, our august monarch, in the name of the country. our holy and orthodox Russia. The time is at hand when the pride of the enemy will be overthrown, when his armies will be swept from our tern torylmike straw beforecountry nt thl wind. Until then, with God fur kpero (gigned) buns G oar stgazolrlts