The Press. — London, England, 1855-09-15 00:00:00

874 native measures ; but I may remark that they are such as leave small ground for fear that the enemy's attempt, if it be made, will turn out a " surprise " to any but them selves : if grape, canister, musket•balls, and bayonets, can repel them, their advance will be short and their retreat rapid. The bridge of boats which they commenced throwing across the harbour last week is all but completed, and, from its breadth and apparent strength, will permit of the passage of the heaviest field artillery. Whatever may be the special purpose for which this structure is being put together, some important purpose it has, and the fact that it will be capable of greatly facilitating the movements for some such attack as I have mentioned, gives a strong degree of inferential proof to the information received from our spies. We know, of course, that the main force of the enemy's moveable soldiery is at present on the north side, and, with the aid of this new bridge, fifteen or twenty thousand of these, with any number of heavy field guns, could be thrown into the town in less time than as many hundreds could be ferried over by the few steamers in the harbour, whilst, should the attempt prove a failure, a ready and safe means of retreat would be available for both men and materiel. Yesterday I went down into our own advanced trenches, and from the fifth parallel, the most forward of them, a good view could be had of this latest of the enemy's " improvements." Without the aid of a glass I could see crowds of people passing and repassing from the north and south sides of the harbour, whilst workmen were busily engaged about the middle of the bridge in completing it. Some fifty or sixty yards off the corner of the dockyard lay the huge Twelve Apostles; and about midway between her and the broken line of the mastheads of the sunken ships runs the bridge, apparently some twenty feet in breadth, and protected on either side by a low handrail. Sail boats and barges, laden with various kinds of stores, were plying between the two sides of the harbour ; and altogether, as looked at through the rifle loophole from which I viewed it, the whole scene appeared "a undisturbed and indus triously busy as if not a French of Ecgliah soldier had foothold within the realms of the Czar. Fr;:m within revolver-shot of the Redan a very prolonged or complete survey was, of course, not convenient; but even with such glimpses of the place as could be had from the parapet, I saw enough to show me that, whatever may be the state of the besieged's commissariat, they are as active as they could be if fed upon the best. This fifth parallel being the limit of our approach towards the town, one's optics can only be exercised from it through the confined and rather unsafe outlet of a rifle loophole ; and even through this in convenient opening the survey taken must be rapid and spasmodic enough if one would avoid courting Minis com pliments from the sharp-eyed and watchful sportsmen some hundred and fifty yards ahead. These loopholes are small portholes, so to speak, through the upper portion of the parapet of about four inches souare, and so distributed as to be rendered as far as possible indistinguishable from the accidental openings and inequalities between the sandbags along the top. Narrow and concealed as they are, how ever, many a death•wound has been received through them, and along the sides of not a few are to be seen traces of the leaden missiles from the enemy's pieces. Still, from these our men keep up a pretty constant fire into the em brasures of the Redan, and upon the lurking places of the riflemen in its front—protected as the former are by the thick network curtain 'of rope which hangs over each - gun, it is rare, however, that a bullet can penetrate, unless it happens to enter through the very limited opening left for aiming the gun. A walk through these parallels and their connecting zig- zags is much more exciting than easy, since, in the first place, the average lowness of the parapets compels a con stant stooping, which, as an Irish soldier remarked as I passed along yesterday, " bedad, sir, is mighty sore upon the small of the back." To be sure, " there's fine shootin'," as the same lively observer added, by way of apology for the situation ; but for those who, like myself, have a con stitutional dislike of gunpowder in all its combinations, the " sport" has but few attractions, and one feeble chance of knocking over a Russian could hardly ever reconcile me to the fifty set-offs of being myself knocked over before I could accomplish that praiseworthy and patriotic act. Eels, however, are said to become reconciled in time to skinning, and custom appears in like manner to render one insensible to the exciting chances and contingencies attending a twenty-four hours' turn in these trenches before Sebastopol. With rifle bullets without number " pinging " over their heads—and, not seldom, into them—round shot bowling through them, and shell bursting on every side, our men lie stretched out along the bottom of the trenches, some sleeping, others spinning home-yarns or cracking lively jokes, whilst others again, attentive to the suggestions of a well-sharpened appetite, are clustered round small fires, making coffee or superintending extemporised stews or roasts—all with as much sang froid as if they wete pie nicing at Chobham or Aldershott. instead of doing duty within fifty perches of the Round Tower and the Redan. The Times publishes the following in a letter of the same date:— The state of tension in which we were kept during the greater part of last week, in daily and almost hourly expec tation of an attack, has somewhat relaxed during the last twenty-four hours, although every precaution continues to be taken. On the night from Friday to Saturday our commanders seem to have felt very confident that some thing serious would occur ; everybody was afoot, or in readiness to turn out at an instant's notice, and dusty and disgusted enough looked some of the staff after knocking about all night in anticipation of a fight that came not. The 56th Regiment, about eight hundred strong, having arrived at Balaklava, were detained a day or two on board ship, until their destination should be decided upon. It had been intended to send them to Kertch ; but they have finally been annexed to the first division. The army con tinues to get under arms before daybreak, cavalry and all. Yesterday the patter arm turned out 2,960 Bzitish ik, THE PRESS. sabres and lances, and, had needs been, (100 or 600 more could have been brought into the field. Although many here have been disposed to treat as idle rumour and even to turn into ridicule the reports that the Russians meditated an attack on Balaklava, it would appear that this danger has not been disregarded at head-quarters, where i n formation has doubtless been received on the sub ject. The Leander and Diamond frigates have been lying moored by a single cable, and Lieutenant Fletcher, corn mending the Triton war-steamer, has directions to be in readiness to get his steam up at a brief notice, and tow them out of lialakleva Harbour to a position whence their guns would bear on the Marine Heights. It is certain that the position of the Russian general is a difficult one, if, as is now the growing belief, he runs short of water and cannot get up supplies fast enough for the number of men necessary to hold Ins pos ition . That such is the case we have evidence worthy ofconsideration, but which yet must not be unhesitatingly received, since it is chiefly that of deserters. Accepting it, for argument sake, as trustworthy and positive, the enemy's only alternative is to attack or give in. To get them to attack is just what is most to be desired. Setting aside the idea of a siege, which, in fact, is no siege, we have two powerful armies each occupying a line of extremely strong positions, not to be taken without severe loss and some risk of defeat. Evidently the disadvantage is with the army which is first compelled to assume the offensive. The result of the ac tion on the Tschernaya is sufficient proof of this. Since it occurred the defence of the points then assailed have been greatly improved by the French, who laugh at the idea of a similar attempt being made with even a shadow of success. An attempt on Balaklava or a general attack on our lines would be a strong indication that the state ments of the straitened condition of the Russians are well founded, and that they are driven to a d-sperate effort. Such an attack, if our generals prove as able as we know our soldiers to be brave, ought to recoil with temble force upon the heads of the assailants, occasioning them heavy losses of men, and giving us solid proofs of success in the shape of newly-acquired positions. - -Our, works on the left continue to advance. Several new hatteries - -=-NO- 1 2f Olga mortars—have been constructed in front of what were recent our mos! advanced positions on that part of the line. The 6 R .,. enhill Battery, lately so pro minent, now appears retiring in the rear. There was a heavy fire before daybreak this mo 1f..,... t, tug. The Ilussians showed themselves outside the Redan, '' k t it was too hot to hold, and they promptly retired. T , .._ batteries have been very quiet. Auo. 30.—This week has given us no great . to boast of our progress, and we have to note two 5... disasters in it, which have, no doubt, inspired the Russians with confidence, and have compensated to a certain ex tent for the progress the armies have made in their sap. The first of these was the explosion of a French magazine near the Mamelon, by a Russian shell. The second was the temporary success of the Russians in our fifth parallel on Thursday night. It may be added that the firing is tolerably brisk all day; about a gun every second bellows from one side or another from dawn till dusk ; then begins a heavier cannonade from the Russians in order to catch our reliefs, and a bombardment from the allies, and before dawn there are generally tremendous bursts of ord nance. The twittering rattle of small arms never ceases in the advanced trenches day or night. The whole of the camp was shaken this morning at one o'clock by a prodigious explosion, which produced the effects of an earthquake. A deplorable accident bad oc curred to our gallant allies as they were pursuing their works with accustomed energy. A tumbril, from which they were discharging powder into one of the magazines near the Mamelon, was struck by a shell from the Russian batteries, which burst as it crashed through the roof of the carriage. and ignited the cartridges within ; the flames caught the powder in the magazine, and, with a hideous roar, 14,0001 b. weight of gunpowder rushed forth in a volcano of fire to the skies, shattering to atoms the maga zine, the tumbrils, and all the surrounding works, and whirling from its centre in all directions over the face of the Mamelon and beyond it one hundred and fifty officers and men. Of these forty were killed on the spot, and the rest are scorched and burnt, or struck by splinters, stones, and by the shot and shell which were thrown into the air by the fiery eruption. Masses of earth, gabions, stones, fragments of carriages, and heavy snot were hurled into our works on the left of the French, and wounded several of our men. The light of the explosion was not great, but the roar and shock of the earth were very considerable. The heaviest sleepers awoke and rushed out of their tents. There was silence for an instant and but for an instant, as the sullen thunder rolled slowly away and echoed along the heights of Inkerrnann and Mackenzie ; then the Russians, leaping to their guns, cheered loudly, but their voices were soon smothere.l in the crash of the French and English bat teries, which opened all along the right of the attack, and played fiercely on their works. The Russians replied to our fire, but they were unable to take any advantage of our mischance, owing to the firmness of the French in the ad vanced trenches and the steadiness of the cannonade. A bright moon lighted up the whole scene, and shed its rays upon a huge pillar of smoke and dust, which rose into the air from the Mamelon, and which, towering, to an immense height, unfolded itself and let fall from its clustering waves of smoke and sulphurous vapours a black precipitate of earth, fine dust, and pebbles, mingled with miserable frag ments, which fell like rain over the works below. The dark cloud hung like a pall nearly an hour over the place, reddening every moment with the reflection of the flashes of the artillery, which boomed incessantly till dawn. The musketry was very heavy and fierce all along the advanced trenches, and as no one knew the precise nature of the ex plosion except those in the parallels near the Mamelon, great anxiety was manifested to learn the truth. Some persons asserted that the Russians had sprung a mine —others that the French had blown in the counterscarp of the Malakoff—and, with the very spot before their eyes, people were conjecturing wildly what had taken place. SATURDAY, With the morning came the exact news, and also the cheer ing intelligence that no damage of importance had been done to the parapet or to the works of our gallant allies, for whose loss all felt the liveliest sympathy. The weight of powder exploded was about seven tons, or fourteen hun dred rounds of ten pounds each. Four officers lost their lives by this deplorable accident. The shell which did the damage was fired from a mortar, of which the Russians possess comparatively few, although it is quite evident that they have recently received a supply of that arm, as the number of mortar•shells thrown into our works are far more numerous than before. AUG. 31.—This morning, while a party of the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers were engaged working in our fifth parallel of the right attack, a body of Russian infantry crept up close upon them and leaped into the trench almost ere their approach was perceived. The trench guard made a feeble resistance, and the Russians were enabled to occupy a portion of the parallel, and began to pull down the gabions and fill up the parallel. They also seized on some tools and arms which the 23rd Regiment had abandoned. Emboldened by their success the enemy advanced towards the fourth parallel, which was occupied by the 97th Regiment, but on approach ing the parapet they were received by deadly and well•aus tairred volleys of file-firing, which checked their march in stantaneously, and they retired in confusion, leaving many dead and wounded on the ground, into the portion of the fifth parallel of which they had possessed themselves. The 97th, with the aid of the 23rd, were ordered to drive the enemy back to their intrenchments, and executed the task with the utmost gallantry and coolness. The Russians, covered by their guns in the rear, fought well, but were driven out at the point of the bayonet with loss. We have to lament the loss of a gallant officer, Lieutenant Preston, who was killed by a ball in the act of leading on his men. It is not long since his brother fell, who held a commission in the 7th Regiment, in the same way, and the deceased officer had but recently arrived from home. Captain Brinkley was also wounded, and Lieutenant Ware was shot through the arm, but is able to walk about to-day. The 97th lost four men killed and twelve wounded. Sane. I.—There have been rumours for the last few days past that the garrison of Sebastopol has been in an ex tremely disorganised state, and there are even positive statements that a revolt took place three nights ago, that a brisk firing of musketry, very irregular, was heard inside the town, mingled with cries and disorderly shouting, and that a deserter reported the fusillade of an officer of rank and nearly a hundred men, who had disobeyed orders. There is no doubt that the losses in the town are frightful, and that, notwithstanding their official and nun-official de clarations, the Russians suffer from want of water and of • its. The army on the Belbeck and along Mackenzie's seem to have diminished very much. For hours I • huts and tents, and can see no men moving in and it is most likely the bulk of the men have '\ Belbeck for water. Indeed, it is confidently cavalry has been compelled to fall back 'ltchi-Serai, owing to the deficiency of are busy at work, and at night -lights can be seen from the ex ie towards Aitodor up to biker worth while to ascertain the not for the risk attendant on storm the heights. The battery close to the Spur '• from the Tschernaya. us. Their last defeat • are assured that the • ordered to take a ips on their way other hand, the watch their cam retired to affirmed that . on tho road to forage. Their telt. revolving lights or treme ridge of ML mann. It would be al:_ truth of these reports, were . any unsuccessful movement Russians have thrown up anotl Battery, commanding a small Possibly they expect an attack . has destroyed their morale, and convoys of wounded from Sebastopol' detour, so as not to pass through the to Simferopol and Baktchi-Senti. On French, with their usual energy, are corn strong redoubts on the site of the old • miserably made by us, and to which we of the disastrous loss of the 2.5 th of . were abandoned by the Turks. These w Petition with the outer line of defence Tractir, and Tchorgoun, and the Sardinians batteries towards Baidar, and behind them are teries and redoubts defending Bolaklava, which strongest position in the world. The attack on the Malakoff may possibly within a week after these lines are penned—if _ learn the result ere they reach you. Our gallant\ minable allies are losing heavily, I regret to sin redoubt of 2 de Mai, which they captured on il June. The 12-gun battery on the north side talc.. in Hank and reverse, the Malakoff enfilades them other side, and they are exposed to the direct tire \ shipping in front. They gaily call the place l'Abatto it is said they lose one-half of the men who go every day. As for ourselves, the Adjutant-General' , show what our losses are, and show too, T hope, cessity of keeping our depots full, and our constantly en route to the Crimea. About fifty men de combat in every twenty-four hours soon tell in efficiency of a small army. It is in effect the demoli, of a regiment in ten days. However, these rumours which I have alluded give hope once more that this endl cannonading may be silenced in the shouts of vic ' Certainly the spirit and morale of the men is excellent. i er I have just heard that Colonel Walker, Scots Finn e Guards, was slightly wounded last night. An o ffi cer oft T Buffs was taken prisoner. Wolseley, R.E., is only sligh tt l wounded by a stone. The Andes is in ; Himalaya going Kertch with cavalry, it is said, and is watering with a haste. er It is rumoured that Kertch and Yenikale are in clang, of being attacked by a large force of Russians. The Him.: laya came round from Kaxatch this morning, and they ai d in such a hurry with her that they are watering her out I the ships. The cavalry are sickly. Many men ill, but not tiangel ously so. No wonder that they are ill, for the recruit sent out to us are miserable. When in full dress they at • " all helmet and boots." The Army Works Corps hay . , lost twelve men by cholera. 1 .ing extremely which were so • assign a share NI., when they • are in con• .d Turkish \ the old bat •a now the . place you will and ad• in the ith of 1 them ion the of the jr, and lists ne ufk .. enhill Battery, lately so pro- statements that a revolt took place three nignts ago, tnat a ng i n the rear. There was a brisk firing of musketry, very irregular, was heard inside this mo lag- The Russians the town, mingled with cries and disorderly shouting, and the Redan, tit was too hot to that a deserter reported the fusillade of an officer of rank retired. To-day e batteries and nearly a hundred men, who had disobeyed orders. There is no doubt that the losses in the town are frightful, It 3 given us no great reas .n to and that, notwithstanding their official and non-official de- rid we have to note two sm clarations, the Russians suffer from want of water and of : no doubt, inspired the Russians - Dints. The army on the Belbeck and along Mackenzie's e compensated to a certain ex- ridg: seem to have diminished very much. For hours I armies have made in their sap. watch eir huts and tents, and can see no men moving in explosion of a French magazine their cam 1 and it is most likely the bulk of the men have ;ussian shell. The second was retired to the Belbeck for water. Indeed, it is confidently if the Russians in our fifth affirmed that 'eir cavalry has been compelled to fall back ;ht. It may be added that the on the road to at work, and at night . aktchi-Serai, owing to the deficiency of day ; about a gun every second forage. Their teleg."P ba a re bus y tother from dawn till dusk ; then revolving lights or 11. e from the Russians in order to teems ridge of Mackew e towards Aitodor up to biker- h-lights can be seen from the t worth while to ascertain tex- he mbardment from the allies, and mann. It would be almo not for the risk attendant on erally tremendous bursts of ord- truth of these reports, were 1 storm the heights. The tle of small arms never ceases in any unsuccessful movement battery close to the Spur or night. Russians have thrown up anotbe. th from the Tschernaya. was shaken this morning at one Battery, commanding a small p ' us. Their last defeat explosion, which produced the Possibly they expect an attack from e are assured that the A deplorable accident had oc- has destroyed their morale, and N . a ordered to take a las they were pursuing their convoys of wounded from Sebastopol nergy. A tumbril, from which detour, so as not to pass through the e other hand, the der into one of the magazines to Simferopol and Baktchi-Senti. On t tick by a shell from the Russian French, with their usual energy, are const acting extremely amps on their way crashed through the roof of the strong redoubts on the site of the old work.' , assign ®share cartridges within : the flames miserably made by us, and to which we m when they magazine, and, with a hideous of the disastrous loss of the 25th of Octo ber ' gunpowder rushed forth in a were abandoned by the Turks. which were so These wo •ks are in con. , shattering to atoms the maga' neation with the outer line of defence fr. un Karearg d Turkish I the surrounding works, and Tractir, and Tchorgoun, and the Sardinians the old bat- e all directions over the face of batteries towards Bidder, and behind them are s now the it one hundred and fifty officers teries and redoubts defending Bolaklava, which were killed on the spot, and the strongest position in the world. ke place t, or struck by splinters, stones, The attack on the Malakoff may possibly . you w i l l vhich were thrown into the air within a week after these lines are penned—if so asses of earth, gabions, stones, learn the result ere they reach you. Our gallant an, 7th ti ,, a , i l heavy snot were hurled into mirable allies are losing heavily, I regret to say ' "1.1,h of "- e French, and wounded several redoubt of 2de Mai, which they captured on th — tip ,„, (. the explosion was not great, but June. The 12-gun battery on the north side take of a ll the earth were very considerable. in flank and reverse, the Malakoff enfilades them r t e re and rushed out of their tents. other side, and they are exposed to the direct tire . and lent and butfor an instant, as the shipping in front. They gaily call the place l'Abatto . r ' e r it dy away and echoed along the it is said they lose one-half of the men who go lists " Mackenzie ; then the Russians, every day. As for ourselves, the Adjutant-Generals e hne red loudly, but their voices were show what our losses are, and show too, I hope, t hof the French and English bat- cessity of keeping our depots full, and our drat it e t r : long the right of the attack, and constantly en route to the Crimea. About fifty men the rks. The Russians replied to de combat in every twenty-four hours soon tell it) : 0 „ ble to take any advantage of our efficiency of a small army. It is in effect the demoli to 'fitness of the French in the ad- of a regiment in ten days. However, these rumours eadiness of the cannonade. A which I have alluded give hope once more that this endl ,„ ..1...1........ ....1 . 1 ...1 I. ........--.A ;-- —.... t.. .n,.......a ;.. .1,. .1,n.... of vinti .J.