The Press.
London, England, 1855-07-28 00:00:00

RECOGNITION OF MILITARY MERIT.

In the Moniteur of Sunday last several columns
were filled with the names of non-commissioned
officers and privates belonging to the French army
in the Crimea, whose gallant conduct on the 17th
and 18th of June had entitled them to the decoration
of a medal and to " honourable mention." The list
includes the names of drummers, buglers, as well
as of the combatant classes of the army, and a few
lines are attached to each name, briefly recapitulat-
ing the particular acts for which the owner has been
distinguished. On this subject the Paris correspon-
dent of the Times remarks :

It is easy to fancy the pride with which all these men
and their families in France will point to such testimo•
nials, in which no distinction is made between the general
commanding and the lowest drummer under hie orders.
The prejudice that regarded such decorations, as in reality
offering no incentive to the mere soldier, is rapidly passing
away in England, and, while no one can advocate the in•
discriminate and lavish distribution of decorations, they
who believe that they are a matter of complete indifference
are much mistaken. The soldier is proud of his decora-
tion, and I doubt whether the feeling is exclusively con.
fined to Frenchmen. In England these decorations were
generally limited to the highest classes of the army, and
for a subaltern officer (of any one lower in rank there
need be no question) to receive the Order of the Bath, for
instance, was a dream too wild for imagination. The most
persevering opponents of a change which would enlarge
the circle of these honours, on the ground of their being
unnecessary to the due performance of duty in the field,
were to be found among those whose breasts were covered
with orders, foreign and domestic. This system of ex•
elusion seemed to render Englishmen indifferent to that
class of honour—l say " seemed," because Ido not believe
that such indifference in reality exists. So far as one's
own experience goes, I have seldom found Englishmen
less willing to accept, or less eager to obtain them, than
any other people, either for civil or military services.
These things may be carried to excess, but it is certain
that a bit of riband which indicates, or is presumed to in-
dicate, the possession of merit, civil or military, is regarded
with justifiable pride by the wearer, to whatever nation he
belongs. It is not in human nature that it should be
otherwise, and I fear that some of those who affect to re-
gard it as a puerile weakness would not do so if they had
the same distinction. I am not certain that the disci.
Thine of the troops would be at all weakened by private

707

soldiers and non-eommissioned officers sharing more
largely in these honours, or that if the name of the drum-
mer who, amid a shower of balls, and with death about
him, beats the charge to the last, were inserted in the
London Garrtie, as in the Mowitewr of Sunday, that insubor-
dination and anarchy would necessarily follow.

THE FLEETS.
Official despatches, detailing some minor but suc-
cessful operat►ons, both in the Baltic and Black
Seas, have been received at the Admiralty during the
past week. Admiral Dundas transmits the following
letter and inclosure, dating the former from " the
Duke of Wellington, off Nargen, July 7." :

I transmit herewith a report of proceedings during the
past week from Captain Yelverton, who rejoined mu
yesterday at this anchorage in her Majesty's ship Arrogant,
and who, with the Magicianne and Ruby gun-boat iu com-
pany, visited the south coast of the Gulf of Finland, and
attacked some military posts of the enemy at liuunda Ray
and in the River l'urtsoiki.

Returning afterwards to his former station in the Bay of
Wiborg, he proceeded with boats towards the town, and
engaged with a superior force of the enemy, defended by
batteries.

I request you will express to their lordships toy approba-
tion of the conduct of this enterprising officer upon all
occasions, and I would beg to recommend to their favor-
able notice the conduct of Captain Vansittart, of the
Magicienne, and of Lieutenant Haggard, of the Arrogant,
and Lieutenant Dowell, of the Royal Marine Artillery, and
the excellent behaviour of all the officers and meu.

Captain Ye'Tenon has spoken favorably also of the con-
duct of Mr. Hale, mate, in command of the Ruby.
I regret much to have to report the loss of Mr. Story,
midshipman of the Arrogant, with nine others wounded in
the boats of the two ships, of whom one is since dead.
R. S. DUNDAS.
(Inclosure.l
H. M. 8. Arrogant, off Wiborg, July 14.
I have the honour to acquaint you with my proceedings
during the week.
The Al agicieline rejoined me on Wednesday, and I pro-
ceeded direct to Kounda Bay, on the south coast, where I
had reason to think that troops were concentrated. It
turned out to be a large Cossack encampment, on a most
commanding position, whence I dislodged them with shell
and rockets from the Ruby and ships' boats. Some oppo-
sition was made to our landing, and shots tired from
behind hedges, Jtc.; hut I succeeded in examining the
place, which I did not injure, as it only contained private
property.
The following morning I anchored at the month of the
River Portaoiki, and, landing on its right bank, destroyed
a Cossack barrack and stables, driving the soldiers into
the country. I then came on here.
Having anchored the ships as close as 1 could to the
island of Stralsund, I proceeded in the Ruby, accompanied
by Captain Vansittart, of the Magirientir, and Captain
Bowder, Royal Marines, of this ship, the latter officer
having under his command a strong detachment of marines.
We towed with us the boats of the ship, under the com-
mand of Lieutenants Haggard and Woolcombe, and those
of the Magicienne, under the command of Lieutenants
King and Loady.
Hrving opened the bay called Trangsund, we saw a
Russian man-of-war steamer, with two large gunboats in
tow, not far off; this most novel and unexpected sight of a
Russian man-of-war for once clear of a stone wall, and to
all appearance inclined to give us a fair and honest tight,
created the greatest enthusiasm among the men and
officers.

I directed Mr. Hale, commanding the Ruby, to open fire
on her at once, but she very soon retired out of range,
having, I think, received some damage. We had now
reached the entrance of the Sound; Wiborg was in sight,
and a fair prospect of attacking three large gun-boats,
lying with another steamer under an island about one mile
off. We were here brought up by a barrier, impeding the
passage of the gun-boat and launches.
At this moment a masked battery on the left bank, not
more than 350 yards off, opened on us a heavy fire of
musketry, round, and grape; this was instantly returned
and kept in check by a rapid and well•directed fire from the
Ruby and all the boats. The enemy's steamer and gun-
boats then came from under the island and also opened fire
OD

As it was impossible to get the Ruby through the barrier,
I returned towards Stralsund, the enemy's riflemen follow.
ing us along the banks, but driven from their positions as
fast as they took them by the fire from the Ruby and hosts.
An explosion took place in one of the Arrogant's cutters,
which swamped the boat ; the men were saved, but I regret
to say that Mr. Story, the midshipman in command of her,
was killed.

In endeavouring to save the crew, the boat drifted close
to the battery, and would have fallen into the hands dills
enemy had not Lieutenant Haggard, of this ship, and
Lieutenant Dowell, R.M.A., of the Magicienne, in the
Ruby's gig, with a volunteer crew, towed her out under a
very heavy fire.
I cannot sufficiently praise the conduct of all the officers
and men who were engaged in this affair, where their cool
and determined courage enabled them to handle most se-
verely, and keep in check for upwards of an hour, the
enemy far superior in number, with the advantage of local
knowledge and a good position.
H. R. YELVERTON.
From the Black
the destruction of tl
Straits of Yenitchi,

called the " Tongue
The details of this •

the following

from Lieutenant

the Biagi* J.-a

Beagle, off the Town of Yenitohi, July 4, 185.5.
I have the honour to inform you that on my arrival off
this place, I immediately proceeded to minutely examine
the communication between the town and Arabat Spit, and
on so doing found it to Le by means of a ferry, of two
large flats and hawsers, which I determined to destroy if
possible.
Accordingly, on the forenoon of yesterday, I despatched
my gig, under Mr. John Hayles, acting gunner of this ship,
and paddle•box boat, under Mr. Mart= Tracey, midship-
man, of the VdatiVila.
I have much pleasure in reporting that they succeeded
entirely in destroying it by cutting the hawsers and casting
the boats adrift, which was done under a very heavy fire of
musketry at about eighty yards, the troops completely
lining the beach, and the adjacent houses being filled with
riflemen.
Great credit is due to Mr. Bayles for his activity and
zeal in destroying the same, and to Mr. Martin Tracey for
the effectual fire he kept up in covering his retreat, the
firing from the ship and paddle-box boat at the same time
causing great contusion and loss amongst the enemy as
they retired from their exposed position.
Mr. Hayles speaks in the highest terms of the boat's
crew, especially of Joseph Trewavas, ordinary seaman, lent
I:coin the Agamemnon, who cut the hawsers.
I inclose a hat of casualties, which I am happy to say
is very small, although the gig and paddle-box boat were
riddled with musket balls.
W. N. W. HEwarr.
LETTER FROM THE SULTAN TO LORD
RAGLAN.

The following is the translation of an autograph
letter addressed by Sultan Abdul Medjid to the late
Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in the

Crimea:—