The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-17 00:00:00

THE SEA OF AZOFF.

The following extracts from a private letter pub-
lished in the Morning Herald of Tuesday, are not
uninteresting. The letter is dated from H.M. gun-
boat Weser, Oct. 15th. It will be seen that the
Russians are busy adding to the fortifications of
Arabat, and that they even possess there a small
force of gun-boats :

Oct. 6.—We started at two o'clock in the middle watch,
and went about thirty miles down the Tongue of Arabat,
and at eight o'clock a.m. an expedition of boats went into
the Putrid Sea, to destroy Rome property said to exist there,
about ten miles up. Our commander accompanied it.
The boats had to be hauled across the tongue. They have
all taken, besides their regular arms, rockets and tubes for
setting corn on fire. Weber returns this afternoon from
Genitchi, to prevent working parties on shore from throw-
ing up earthworxs, and to cut off any troops trying to pass
the spit. Recruit is at the other end of the spit, fifty miles
from this, to prevent troops passing np from Arabat. If
the boats get back at all, they ought to be here to morrow
night; but of course there is immense risk attending these
expeditions.
Oct. 7.—We were last night all turned up and kept on
the qui rive expecting an attack from our friends the Rus-
sian gun boats ; they came out of the passage, and possibly
may have hoped to surprise us, but fortunately we kept a
good look-out and watched their movements. Our guns
were loaded on the fighting bolts and run out, the men
were all on deck with Millie rifles, swords, pistols, and
bayonets—had Master Russ appeared he would have caught
it, and no mistake. We waited a good halthour, but finding
them hesitating and only pulling along the face of the town
without nearing us, we opened fire with shell ; they very
soon cleared out and got inside the land, and we were not
disturbed by them again. To-morrow Vesuvius, Recruit,

SATURDAY)

and Curkw go to Berdianeki just to take a look rotifid, and
we are left on guard here. We are in hopes; *hen we are
once alone again, the gun-boats may screw tip their courage
and come out to attack us. When the Ardent returns we,
have permission, weather permitting, to undertake the,
Putrid Sea affair ourselves. This has been a regale*
Black Sea Sunday—more firing than any other day. W.
began about six in the morning, but this time we could not
help it, as large bodies of troops were down in the houses
carrying off plank, evidently to build decent winter quarters
for themselves. Of course we could not stand that.
Oct. 10.—We got under weigh this afternoon and en.
chored right abreast of Bemtch ; from the masthead we
can see it. It is on the bank of a small river, about five
miles from the Putrid Sea, and in the midst of it we can
see a very large building, which we all firmly believe to be
a Cossack station or barrack. Of course it would be use-
less to attempt force to effect our purpose ; so to-morrow,
at two a.m., our commander starts, taking, of course, a,
guard to protect the spit, while we haul a small boat across
on an araba ; this ,will take an hour, making it these
o'clock, and then with four men he will pull direct for the
windward side of the stores, which he expects to retch, at
half-past four. Most probably he will have to wade is the
water to get on shore, but he will still be there haiere day-
light. All he has to trust to is the aleepyness of the people,
and their natural stupidity at been taken by sarprise ; but.
if the Russians have a guard awake, ten to one before they
can reach the boat again they will be either shot or made
prisoners, for any cavalry could gallop in the water faster
than men could run. Everything is prepared for this, et.
pedition—revolvers loaded, swords fbesh ground, ammuni-
tion, portfires, torches, long-lights, and slow-match ready.
At daylight we are to land in force, to be prepared to keep
troops off.
Oct. 11.—Our commander and party started and soon
arrived on the bank of the river Karasu. Here they found
difficulties not bargained for ; they had to wade this river
and another smaller one up to their knees in soft black
mud, and with water up to their waists ; they had a good
three miles' trudge inland to the region of the hay. They
were determined, however, to let nothing daunt them, and
away they went at a fast trot. On reaching the desired
spot they soon set fire to the stacks, and no sooner did the
flames begin to ascend than an alarm was given, and, as
expected, the building mentioned was nothing but a bat.
rack, and out rushed the troops. The enemy were of course
taken by surprise, and did not know which way to turn;
however, at last they got into something like order, saddled
their horses and mounted ; all this time our party were
burning away without a thought of retreating until the
work was done. Our commander, with two wen, set fire
to every rick—ninety in all—and then commenced a rapid.
retreat; fortunately they had a few minutes' start before
they were discovered, and the Cossacks dashed after them.
Our fellows at once ran into the mud and water, and this,.
with loading and firing their rifles as fast as possible, alone
saved them from being taken. They now had to haul the
boat from fifty to sixty yards through this mud, and all the
time under a heavy fire from the cavalry—about seventy in
all ; how they did not get hit is a mystery to all. One of
our men got paralysed in both legs from fatigue and sold,
and had it not been for a man named Rickard, a boatsmain'a
mate, he must have been taken; but poor Rickard, aiskough
nearly done up himself, dragged him helpless into the boat..
When the man lost the use of his legs and fell, the soldiers.
thought they had shot him, and gave a savage yell of en-
ultation. Our party destroyed every grain of nom and key
within reach.