The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

802 are now so close to ro a chnemy that it is with the greatest difficulty any appr can be made. By the casualty return which T inclose, your lordship will regret to see a large number, though the proportion of the wounded over the killed is considerable. Brevet Major Macgowan, of the 93rd, is supposed to have fallen a prisoner into the hands of the enemy. I have caused a letter to be addressed to the Governor of the place, to ascertain his fate, but up to this time I have received no answer. The health of the army is, on the whole, good, although the cholera still continues to take daily several victims. JAMES SIMPSON, General Commanding. SIEGE CHRONICLE. Letter"; from the camp have arrived to the 11th net. As heretofore, they report no events of striking interest, but continue to announce the steady pro gress of the siegeworks. The correspondent of the Morning Chronicle transmits a diary of daily occur rences, from which we make the following extracts : - , Auou ST B.—The works progress favorably, if slowly. Re port states that they will soon be complete. I hear the French outworks are now within sixty-four yards of the Ma lakoff. At this point they have a new 21-mortar battery. The sapping at our works in front of the Redan has been continued to within fifty-four yards of that fort. The Russians are evidently daily becoming more and more hemmed in. The new battery which the French have constructed is described as being one likely to prove a formidable oproo nent to the enemy. It is perfectly shellproof, and the men working the guns will be so protected that no shot or shell will be capable of having any effect, unless through the embrasures of the works. Our battery in front of the Redan is not yet complete. This may possibly be the reason why the intended attack, of which PO many reports have been spread, and days actually fixed for the taking place of the event, has not been made. AUGUST 7.—There was considerable firing last night, which lasted some two or three hours. On the part of the English there were two men killed and two wounded, besides several casualties in the Guards, who were doing duty in the trenches. The average of men killed and wounded is about forty per night. I heard on very good authority that last month there were no less than 1,7(X) sick and wounded and cut down from the front. Many are in hospital, and many have been sent to Scutari and other places. Major M`Growan, of the 93rd Highlanders, who was doing duty in the trenches last night, has disappeared in rather a mysterious and sudden manner. Whether he has been killei or taken prisoner is a matter at present involved in some uncertainty. It is just possible that in the dark• ness of the night he may unwarily have strayed too near the Russian outposts, and have been thus captured. Anousr B.—The guns were again at work during a greater portion of the day. It was reported that the fleet were firing upon the forts in front of the harbour of Sebas topol. It, however, proved to be a false alarm, some of the gun-boats on the station being merely occupied in try ing the range of their guns, which were directed towards the harbour's mouth ; prob ably a stray shot may have been fired in that direction, and thus gave rise to what was sup posed to be an attack. The guns, I hear, answer well, and are capable of doing considerable execution at a very long range. Auousr 9 —The Russians made another sortie last night, but again met with a repulse. There was a tre mendous fire from their batteries for sore short period. It was not, however, 1 suspect, so much directed against our works, but intended to secure the retreating parties of the Russians after their non-success--this lasted about an hour, when silence again prevailed. Captain Montague, of the Engineers, has returned to his duties in the trenches. Last night was, I understand, his first night since his release from captivity. This officer was taken prisoner by the Russians in a sortie last March, and has been detained until very lately, when an exchange was effected. During the time he was prisoner in Sebas topol he had frequent opportunities of visiting the Russian works. His description of the place confirms the gene rally accredited opinion that the place is almost impreg nable, and that of late the Russians have toiled night and day to make it, if possible, more so. In the inner works surrounding the Redan is a ditch, recently cut, twenty-five feet in depth. The Russians occasionally eject from their mortars an extraordinary combustible in the nature of a shell, or rather, judging of its component parts, of a substitute for these missiles. A small round barrel, firmly secured with iron hoops about the size of a 13-inch mortar shell in cir cumference, is selected ; this is filled with broken bottles, small pieces of iron nails, dc., together with some explo sive compound. This, when filled, has a fuse inserted like the ordinary shell, which, when fired, continues to burn until it alights at its destination, when of course it explodes, scattering its contents around in a similar manner to the shell, but inflicting much more terrible wounds, should the contents strike any individual. The French call these machines " bouquets ; ' I presume, from the variety of their component parts. The sailors in our batteries have applied to them a term rather familiar, thoukh perhaps not quite so appropriate, viz., the " happy family." It seems rather a barbarous mode of carrying on warfare, for the wounds occasioned by glass bottles mast necessarily be much more severe than the splinter of a shell, bad as the latter is. Auousr 10.—There was a good deal of firing last night, which lasted for some two or three hours. The firing was renewed this morning with greater vigour, and has con tinued almost without intermission during the whole day. There is nothing new at present in regard to the reopen ing of the siege operations. THE PRESS. The Etna, steam•transport 188, has arrived at Balaklava with draughts of infantry, among which are some of the 71st Highlanders. The Victory has arrived, having on board about 5,000 Moorsom's shells. The Daily News correspondent writes on the 11th The renewed bombardment and attack against the enemy's works, which are expected to take place shortly, are still subjects of conversation. Speculation is rife as to the nature of the intended operations. The prevailing idea is that the assault will be preceded by a bombardment of the chief points in the Russian line of defences, together with a direct attack against the shipping. It seems pro bable that the assault will at first be mainly direited against the Malakoff•hill, and that this will be undertaken by our allies ; while on the left and centre a general fire against the enemy's works will be maintained, and other means of active co-operation adopted according to circum stances. It is presumed that some diversion, it' not a serious attack, will be made by the armies occupying the plain and neighbourhood of Tchorgoun. It is generally supposed that the attack against the Redan will not be made until after the Malakoff position is secured. The French say that they are ready to open at any time, although they are still adding to the number and strength of their batteries. Already they possess thirty-four batteries on the right, many of very powerful armament. There are various reports respecting the state of our stores of shell and ammunition. On tho one hand it is asserted that certain descriptions of shell are exhausted, and that we must wait for fresh supplies ; on the other hand, we hear that our magazines are stocked with every kind of projectile that can be re quired for the bombardment. The daily loss from wounds, although many are of a slight nature, is both on the part of our allies and ourselves so great that there is every induce ment to commence operations as speedily as possible. The enemy by keeping in the town and works only the strength actually required to man the works, and providing extra ordinary protection for these troops, do not suffer but in a very slight degree compared with what would be their loss were the siege conducted under ordinary circumstances. Their daily loss in the batteries must yet be very great, owing to the great superiority in the weight of our metal; and at night it is not probable that sufficient cover can be found for the reserves which probably occupy the works for their protection, so as to shelter them against the effects of our fire. The enemy is said to have 120,000 men in the camps on the north side within the distance of Mackenzie's farm, but this number is probably much exaggerated. A reconnaissance was made a few days since by a strong body of our cavalry, as far as fifteen miles beyond the village of Baidar, in a direction toward Yalta, and no troops were met with on that route, excepting a few Cossacks, evidently scattered for purposes of observation. THE BOMBARDMENT OF SWEABORG. Official accounts of the attack on Sweaborg have been received by the British and French Govern ments from the respective commanders of the fleets engaged in the affair. Admiral Dundas re ports as follows: — Duke of Wellington, before Sweaborg, August IS. After my arrival here on the Bth inst., with the squadron under my orders, I was joined the same evening by Rear• Admiral Penaud, in the Tourville, and on the following day by the remainder of the French squadron, including, in addition to the ships of the line, five mortar•veasela and five gun-boats, with store-ships and steam-vessels. . _ On the 7th instant the Amphion arrived from Nargen, completing the British squadron, to the ships and vessels named in the margin,• and the intention of hear-Admiral Penaud and myself being to commence operations against the fortress and arsenal of Sweaborg, no time was lost in making the necessary preparations. My former reports will have informed their lordships that during the past year and in the course of the last five months the enemy has been actively employed in strengthening the defences of the place and completing the sea defences by erecting batteries on every advant geous position and commanding every practicable approach to the harbour in this intricate navigation. —.— It has, therefore, formed no part of my plan to attempt a general attack by the ships on the defences ; and the operations contemplated by the rear•admiral and myself were limited to such destruction of the fortress and arsenal as could be accomplished by means of mortars. The intricate nature of the ground, from rocks a-wash and reefs under water, rendered it difficult to select posi• lions for the mortar-vessels at proper range. In complet ing the arrangements for this purpose I have derived the greatest advantage from the abilities of Captain Snlivan, of her Majesty's ship Merlin, and the positions ultimately chosen were in a curved line on either side of the Islet of Oterhall, with space in the centre reserved for the mortar vessels of the French squadron, as concerted with Rear- Admiral Penaud. _ _ The extremes of the line were limited, with reference to the extent of the range and the distance from the heavily armed batteries of Bak Holmen to the eastward, and of Store Rantan to the westward, of Sweaborg ; and a most effective addition to the force of the allied squadrons con sisted in a battery of four lighter mortars established by Admiral Penaud on an islet in advance of Oterhall. • Duke of Wellington (bearing my flag), Exmouth (bearing the flag of Rear• Admiral Sir Michael Seymour). Euryalus, Arro gant, Pembroke, Cornwallis, Cossack, Merlin, Vulture, Hastings, Edinburgh, Amphion. Magicienne, Dragon, Belleisle, Cruiser, Geyser, Locust, Lightning. /Bolus, Princess Alice, Volcano (arrived on the lOth). Gun-boats—Starling, Lark. Thistle, Redwing, Magpie, Badger, Pelter, Snap. Dapper, Weazel, Stork, Pincher, Gleaner, Biter, Skylark, Snapper. Mortar vessels — Rocket, Surly, Pickle. Blazer. Mastiff, Manly, Dinka, Porpoise, Prompt, Bulbul, Carron, Redbreut, Beacon, Grappler, Havock, Growler. SATURDAY, To carry these arrangements into effect, I directed Captain Ramsay, of her Majesty's ship Earl/a lus, with Cap. tain Glasse, of the Vulture, Captain Vansittart, of the Magicienne, and Captain Stewart, of the Dragon, to anchor to the southward of Oterhall, and the mortar-vessels, under the charge of Lieut. the Hon. Augustus C. Hobart, of the Duke of Wellington, being distributed to the care of those officers, the whole were anchored on the evening of th e 7th instant in position, in readiness to warp into action, and hawsers for that purpose were laid out before daylight. Much assistance in towing was rendered by the officers of the gun-boats, and great praise is due to all concerned for their active exertions. In the course of the same night Rear• Admiral Penaud had commenced the establishment of his battery with sand bags, on the rocks within Oterhall, but the active arrange ments could not be completed before the morning of the 9th instant. During the whole of the previous day the royal standard of Russia was flying upon the citadel of Gustafsvard, but was not afterwards observed. The success of our operations being dependent entirely on the state of the weather and the rapidity with which shells could be thrown, no time was lost in trying the ranges of the mortars, which proved to be accurate, and general firing commenced soon after seven o'clock. The direction of this service was confided to Captain T. M. Wemyss, of the Royal Marine Artillery, assisted by Capt, Lawrence and Captain Schomberg. and every exertion was used by these o cers to press the fire of the mortars to the fullest extent which could be deemed proper. The gun-boats, having been previously armed with additional guns of heavy calibre, removed temporarily from ships of the line, and the Stork and Snapper gun-boats being armed with Lancaster guns, I availed myself of the experience of Captain Hewlett to direct the fire of the two latter vessels to the greatest advantage, and his atten tion was specially directed to the three-decked ship of the line moored to block the passage between Gustafsvard and Bak Holmen. Commander Preedy, of the ship bearing my flag, was directed to take the Starling and four other gun-boats under his orders, and to manoeuvre and attack the batteries in front of the mortar-vessels, towards the west extremity of the line. The remainder were distributed in a similar manner to stations assigned to them, with orders to engage the bat teries and protect the mortar-vessels under the general direction of Capt. Ramsay, assisted by Captains Glasse, Vansittart, and Stewart. On the evening of the Sth inst. I had despatched Capt. Key, in her Majesty's ship Amphion, to proceed off Stora Miolo, and to place himself under the orders of Captain Wellesley, of her Majesty's ship Cornwallis; and I instructed the latter officer to employ the Hastings and the Ansphion, and to take advantage of any proper opportunity to engage the enemy at the east end of the Island of Sandhamn. Captain Yelverton, in her Majesty's ship Arrogant, was de tached to the westward with the Cossack and Cruiser under his orders, and was directed to occupy the attention of troops which were observed to be posted on the Island of Drumsio, and to watch the movements of small vessels which had been noticed occasionally in creeks in that direction. Early in the day I observed that the detached squadrons in both directions had opened fire upon the enemy, and the action was general upon all points. A rapid fire of shot and shells was kept up from the fortress for the first few hours upon the gun-boats, and the range of the heavy batteries extended completely beyond the mortar•vessels but the continued motion of the gun-boats, and the able manner in which they were conducted by the officers who commanded them, enabled them to return the fire with great spirit, and almost with► impunity, throughout the day. About ten o'cock in the forenoon fires began first to be observed in the different buildings, and a heavy explosion took place on the Island of Vargoe, which was followed by a second about an hour afterwards; a third, and far more important explosion, occurred about noon on the Island of Gustafsvard, inflicting much damage upon the defences of the enemy, and tending greatly to slacken the fire from the guns in that direction. The advantage of the rapidity with which the fire from the mortars had been directed, was apparent in the continued fresh conflagrations, which spread extensively on the Island of Vargoe. The intricate nature of the reefs on which the gun-boats had occasionally grounded, compelled me also to recal them before sunset, and the fire of the enemy was slack. The boats of the fleet were then ordered to be assembled with rockets before dark, and under the direction of Capt. Caldwell, in command of the ship bearing my flag, they maintained a continuous fire for upwards of three hours, which was attended with considerable success, causing fresh fires, and adding much to the general conflagration. At daylight on the morning of the 10th inst. the peal tions of several of the mortar-vessels had been advanced within easier range, and the gunboats were again directed to engage. The three•decked ship, which had been moored by the enemy to block and defend the channel between Gustaf's yard and Bak Ilolmen, had been withdrawn during the night to a more secure position, but the fire from the batteries was increased, and the engagement was renewed with activity on both sides ; fires continued to burn with out intermission within the fortress, and about noon a column of smoke, heavier and darker than any which had yet been observed, and succeeded by bright flames, gave signs that the shells had reached combustible materials in the direction of the arsenal. The exact situation was at first concealed from our view, but the flames continuing to spread, it was soon evident that they extended beyond the Island of Vargoe, and that many buildings on the Island of Svartoe were already in progress of destruction.