The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-29 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

into the ditch, which was about five metres in depth, and,
notwithstanding all the efforts of the Russians, it escaladed
the scarp and took from them the salient of the Redan ;
but after the first struggle, which cost the Russians dear,
the English soldiers found before them a vast open space
crossed in all directions by the balls of the enemy, who
themselves were sheltered behind distant traverses. Those
who came up were scarcely sufficient to replace those who
were placed hors de combat. It was not until they had sus-
tained, during nearly two hours, this unequal combat, that
the English resolved to evacuate the Redan.
The attack upon the Central Bastion presented the
same result. In front of the Malakoff the Russians made
great efforts to reconquer the works. Repeated attacks
were made, but in vain. The dead bodies of the enemy
were piled up in front of the gorge, but the first division
remained immoveable, and in the evening we were masters
of this citadel, without which the Russians could not
continue their defence for Lore than a few days.
Thus terminated this memorable siege, in which the
means of defence and of attack attained colossal dimen-
sions. The Russians had 800 cannon in battery, the be-
sieging army about 700.
In finishing this report I ought to tell you, Monsieur le
Marechal, that the greatest harmony has never ceased to
prevail between the artillery and the engineers. Whenever one
of these two services could come to the assistance of the
other, he did it with eagerness, and this community of
views and action has given us the means of overcoming
many difficulties.
I have also had to congratulate myself in every instance
on my relations with General Harry Jones, commanding
the engineers of the English army. Our object was the
same, and we have never differed iu opinion on the means
to be employed for attaining it. Already,'at the siege of
liomarsund, I had the opportnnily of appreciating the
loyalty and the noble character of this general officer.
have been happy at finding myself again in relations with
him at the siege of Sebastopol.
Accept, Monsieur le Marechal, the homage of my most
respectful devotion.
The General of Division, A.D.C. of the Emperor,
Commanding the Engineers of the Army iu the
East, NrEL.
MARSHAL PELISSIER'S GENERAL ORDER.

The following is the text of Marshal Pelissier's
general order announcing the capture of Sebastopol
to the army :

Soldiers !—Sebastopol has fallen ! The taking of the
Malakoff decided its fate. With his own hand the
enemy has blown up his formidable defences, set fire to
the town, the storehouses, and military establishments,
and sunk the rest of his vessels in the port. The
boulevard of Russian power in the Black Sea exists no
longer. You owe these results, not alone to your brilliant
courage, but to your indomitable energy and perseverance
during a long siege of eleven months' duration. Never
before did land or marine artillery, engineers, or infantry,
have to overcome such obstacles as in this siege ; and
never did the three services display more valour, more
science, or more resolution. The taking of Sebastopol
will be your eternal honour. This immense success, while
it augments the importance of our position in the Crimea,
makes the maintenance of it less onerous. It will now
be permissible to send home to their hearths and families
such of you as having served their full time have yet re-
mained with us from necessity. I thank those soldiers
in the Emperor's name for the devotedness of which they
have never ceased to give proofs, and I will take care that
they shall very soon return to their native land. Soldiers !
the Bth of September, the day on which the English, Pied-
moutese, and French flags were unfurled together, will
ever be a memorable day. You have invested your eagles
with a new and imperishable glory. Soldiers! you have
well deserved of France and the Emperor.
The General-in-Chief,
A. PELISSIER.

Head-quarters, Malakoff Redoubt,
Sept. 9, 1855.

GENERAL BOSQUET'S ORDER OF THE DAY.

General Bosquet issued the annexed order of the
day to his troops, on the morning of the assault on
the Bth :

Soldiers of the 2nd Corps and of the Reserve ! On the
7th of June you had the honour of striking boldly the first
blows right at the heart of the Russian arwy. On the 16th
of August you inflicted at the Tschernaya the most shame-
ful humiliaticn on their relieving army. To-day it is the
coup de grdce, the mortal blow, which you are alnut to
strike with your firm hand, already felt by the enemy ; and
you will without any doubt seize on the Malakoff, whilst
our comrades of the English army and the first corps will
begin the assault of the Great Redan and the Central Bas-
tion. It is in a general assault, army against army, that
an immense and memorable victory has to be gained to
crwin the young eagles of France ! Forward then, my
men ! Malakoff and Sebastopol must be ours ! and
•` Five l'Empereur !"