The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-24 00:00:00

THE WAR.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

THE correspondence from the seat of war has lately
been very irregular, but we resume the narrative as
far as can be given from the letters received from the
Crimea. The correspondent of the Daily _News,
writing on the 3rd of July,- says :
- -

The event of to-day has been the funeral procession of the
late Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, from the head-quarters house
to the "Caradoc," which was waiting at Kazatch Bay to,-con-
vey the mortal remains to England. There has not been
much fire from the batteries to-day. The French are busily
employed in strengthening- their new works on the east of
Careening Bay. The redoubt Blanche is becoming a for-
midable work. The embrasnres,cf the small five-gun battery
at the extremity of the spur have been now turned, and the
arrangements for its armament -will shortly be completed.
But still further in advance than this, and at a lower level,
immediately overhanging the water of the Great Harbour,
our allies have commenced a new work. The Russian twelve-
gun battery on the opposite side of the harbour has been
keeping up a very constant fire, with a view to impede
the progress of this work, which promises completely
to prevent the Russian shipping again appearing near
the Bay of Inkerman. The Russian batteries on the west
side of Careening Bay have also been very constantly
throwing shells in the direction of this and the other
French works on the east side. The French have made
a covert approach to the five-gun battery. Our new advanced
batteries in the right attack are making rapid progress. It is
anticipated by our engineers that their effect against the ship-
ping lying off the Karabelnaia suburb will be very destructive.
The enemy has undertaken a work of.great labour. During
the last two nights his working parties have been actively en-
gaged in filling up the old embrasures of the Korniloff bastion
in front of the Malakoff Tower, and also those of a considerable
part of the Redan near the salient angle. It is quite evident
that a greater elevation is about to be given to the whole line
of battery, so that a more dominant firemay be obtained from
the Malakoff against-the Mamelon Vert, and from the Redan
against our Quarry and other works on the right attack. To
complete this operation, great labour will also be required with-
in the work. There has been a cessation of the arrival of the
immense convoys which used to be seen. of carts conveying
sacks apparently of grain. The two huge pyramidal heaps
which were collected below the Star Fortitave disappeared;
they have been removed, it is supposed, into some of the large
storehouses which exist nearer to the water, but at no
great distance from the spot where the heaps were first
deposited. There are eight or nine stacks, but compa-
ratively small in size, of bags placed in a row, on a level
piece of ground north of the 12-gun battery. These
sacks are much darker in colon,: than were those deposited in
the pyramidal heaps, neither have they any cover or protec-
tion from the weather. It is presumed that these do not con-
tain corn or other grain. Some of these have increased in size
the last few days. Vast numbers of waggons -conveying
gabions come in daily. Part disappear as they turn to reach
the entrance of the Star Fort, but the greater part are brought
toward the harbour to be transported to the south side. They
are brought over in barges, and are piled to a great height
above their sides. The barges are usually towed across by
small rowing boats. They can be watched from the time of
leaving the wharf on the opposite side until they arrive at the
usual landing-place in the Admiralty harbour. Sometimes
they are brought to the dockyard creek, for works going on in
the Karabelnaia suburb. But the quantities which arrived
daily on the north side are so enormous that it is difficult to
guess in what way they can be employed, unless some very
extensive works are going on in the town or suburbs, which
the outer line of fortifications conceals from view. The
increase in the size of the graveyard, just in rear of the 12-
gun battery, on the verge of the opposite cliff, is becoming
very remarkable. This cemetery is placed at no great
distance from several of the large encampments of square
tents, which have been supposed to be ambulance establish-
ments. The part recently formed is readily discerned and
distinguished from the older part of the cemetery. The former
is composed of immense mounds of dark-coloured earth, at
the eastern end of which can always be seen the opening of a
large pit. The latter is made up of single graves, each bearing
a small cross of black or white wood. The large mounds are
without crosses. At one part of the recently-formed cemetery
is an enclosed grave of some pretensions. Through the pal-
ings which bound it on each side can be seen two white ob-
jects, probably stone tablets, one at each end, and of different
sizes. The recent part of the cemetery now occupies nearly
half the extent of the older portion. Every morning the
fatigue party of soldiers arrive at this grave-field, the men
pile their arms, take off their coats, and set to work in forming
one large pit or excavation. The same party appears to remain
all day. Burials are frequent, and occur at all hours. The
new part is extending up a gentle incline, and stretching in
an easterly direction. At the western end a road passes, so
that the cemetery could not be prolonged in that direction
without interfering with it.
SEVERE LOSS FROM A SHOT.

A severe casualty occurred this evening among some men
belonging to the 2nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade. It was
caused by the discharge of a single gun from the enemy, and
perhaps this instance affords an example of the greatest num-
ber of injuries inflicted by this means during the siege. A
body of men of this regiment were returning from the Quarry,
and had arrived at part of a trench which for a short distance
is exposed to an enfilading fire. The Russians must have
observed them and fired. Some of the men said that only a
round shot was discharged: others said that both a round shot
and shell were discharged at the same moment. The missile,
whatever its nature, took fatal effect, for no less than sixteen
men were killed and wounded. Two were killed on the spot,
and three subsequently died from the effects of their wounds.
Some of the injuries were comparatively trifling. The
Russians also fired at a party of men belonging to one of the
Highland regiments, who imprudently showed themselves on
the open ground above the 21-gun battery, as they were re- ,
turning from the trenches. Their object was merely to effect
a short saving in distance, by returning to camp in a more
direct line than that of the covered way, but this proceeding
_is highly reprehensible. It not only exposes the men
themselves to needless risk, but also mews to point out
to the enemy the time at which they have been relieved.
The Russians fired two or three shots against the party,
all of which ricochetted, after striking the ground, but no
casualty occurred. Lieut. E. Renonard James, of the Royal
Engineers, was last night engaged with a working party
in part of the Quarries. The position was very exposed.
The men were busy at their work, and Lieutenant James
leaving them, went forward towards the Russian works to
reconnoitre. He did not return, but the men, being intent on
their occupation, did not for a considerable time notice his
absence. When at last it was observed, and the officer could
not be found, it was surmised that he might perhaps have
returned to camp on some account, and the Sappers came back
without him. No tidings have been heard all day, and there
is little doubt that he was quietly taken prisoner by some
advanced Russian picket. A further search is to be made to-
night, in case he has been unable to return in consequence of
being wounded. During last night there was rain of very
great violence, and there were occasional showers this morn-
ing, but the weather cleared towards the afternoon, and the
night is now fine and dry.
July 4.—The enemy threw a great quantity of grape and
shells in the supposed direction of our working parties last
night. An active fire was kept up from the batteries, chiefly
of shell, against the Redan and Malakhoff works. The
heightening of the parapets in front of the Malakhoff is pro-
gressing fast. The French covered approach, which is being
advanced in the direction of the Malakhoff, also, seems to have
made a good start last night. Nothing was discovered respect-
ing Lieut. James, R.E., and little, if any, doubt exists respect-
ing his being in the hands of the Russians. A very sharp
fire was maintained towards sunset from the batteries on both
sides. The enemy does not exhibit any want of ammunition.
The French works on the east of Careening Bay have been
exposed to a frequent fire during the whole day from the guns
on the north side, and from the Russian batteries on the west
side of the port. Major-General Codrington, who has been
absent on account of ill-health, has sufficiently recovered to
return to camp, and resume the duties of the command of the,
Light Division. The day has been fine and dry.
July s.—The usual firing against the working parties, and
shelling on both sides, occurred during the night. The fire
has been chiefly directed against the works of our allies in
progress on the east side of Careening Bay. The 12-gun bat-
tery on the north side has kept up a persevering fire in this
direction. Fort Constantine has also fired frequently from
some mortars placed on the roof. The charge given must be
very heavy, as the shells have to pass across the mouth of the
harbour, and over the Alexander Fort and other works to reach
the French approaches, against which the missiles are directed.
The transport of gabions, the arrival and departure of work-
ing parties near the outworks of the Star Fort, the frequent
burials, and other movements on the north side, continue as
previously noticed. A body of troops was observed to march
from the entrenched camp on the heights north of Inkerman
this morning; they moved in an easterly direction. No change
in position is said to have occurred among the Sardinian
troops in advance of Tchorgoun, or in the force occupying
Baidar. The day has been fine and clear. The temperature
has again become very high, but has been moderated by a cool
breeze from the north-west.

July O.—A sharp musketry fire occurred on the left about
half-past eleven o'clock last night, but was of brief dura-
tion. Captain Alexander Gordon, of the Royal Artillery, was
killed yesterday evening in an advanced battery of the right
attack. He came out from England in charge of troop-
horses, and after his arrival in the Crimea, asked permission
to remain for a short time in the batteries. His request was
acceded to - but his services being required at Woolwich, he
was about to return in a few days. When his death occurred,
he was just leaving the works. The enemy had been annoy-
ing one of our working parties, and a messenger was sent to
Captain Gordon, to request him to open some guns on the
Russians, for the purpose of directing their fire towards his
own battery. This was successfully accomplished. Suddenly
Captain Gordon observed a large shell coming towards the
spot where he and some of his men were, and he had barely
time sufficient to warn the men to shelter themselves. He
himself appears to have felt a momentary hesitation as to the
side of the traverse on which the missile was falling, and thus
lost the opportunity of obtaining protection. While he was
still standing up, the shell struck the side of his head, and
he was killed instantaneously. The shell lodged near him
and burst. No one else was injured ; the men had thrown
themselves on the ground, and were safely under cover
of the traverse, immediately after receiving warning of their
danger. Captain Gordon was a valuable officer, and had
acted as adjutant at Woolwich.—The heat has been very
intense, and the atmosphere close, all day. Heavy masses of
dark clouds have been hovering over the mountains, and the
roll of thunder has been heard occasionally. One or two
slight showers of rain have fallen in camp.
July 7.—The fire from the batteries was particularly active
during the early part of last night. As usual, it consisted
chiefly of mortar-practice, excepting in front, where the work-
ing parties were employed, and against whom grape, as well as
shell, is constantly used. ---.
A letter from Sebastopol of the 3rd, in the Impar-
tial of Smyrna, says :
The French works are going on constantly on the right, and
also with the English, but the proximity of the enemy's forti-
fications do not allow of any trenches being opened in the day
time, and it is only
during the night that the workmen can
act. At this season the nights are so short that there are
scarcely two hours in the twenty-four that the works can be
parallels must,
carried on with any degree o.f ac. tivity. fur
nevertheless, be carried to within such a distance from the for-
tifications of the enemy
that our columnsofattackmeayun' only
r
have a distance of from fifty to sixty yards in
advance
the fire of grape, which will be directed against
are still some way from the works of the Place, and the space
which separates us from them being open and completely ex-
posed in every way by the Russian projectiles, the approaches