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

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 information 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 position. 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-12f 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, ''kt 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. ier
I have just heard that Colonel Walker, Scots Finn e
Guards, was slightly wounded last night. An officer oft T
Buffs was taken prisoner. Wolseley, R.E., is only sligh
ttl
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 aid
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 in 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."Pba are busy
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 will
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 all the
earth were very considerable. in flank and reverse, the Malakoff enfilades them rte
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'erit
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
ehne
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 itetr:
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 ,„
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