The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

PROCEEDINGS IN THE CAMP.

The siege guns have been nearly all removed
from the old lines, and the trenches in some in-
stances levelled and filled in. Drilling and manes-
'ring are constantly practised in the Tschernaya
camp, while road- mulung and hutting employ the
men left hi the old camp :

On the Tschernaya line drilling is the order of the day
and target-shooting. Yesterday two French divisions
were going thrJugh some manoeuvres on a larger scale in
the Balaklava Valley and in the Cavalry Valley, so named
from the light cavalry charge last year. In the presence
of four different armies it is rather interesting to observe
the difference in the style of movement between them.
You have all the gradations between the minutely regular
movements of English troops, the less stiff but still very
regular manoeuvres of the Piedmontese, the loose order in
which the French troops perform their evolutions, and the
rather more loose movements of the Turks. Not less
striking is the difference between the dead silence of an
English line—where not a sound is heard except the word
of command and the regular step of the soldier—the com-
parative silence in a Piedmontese body of men, the amusing
observations and commentaries in a French column, and
the noise in a Turkish battalion.—Times Cor., Oct. 9.

Still, with all their work, our men seem to keep
np their national character for drunkenness very
generally
What with these works and road•making the soldiers
are kept busy enough ; but, I am sorry to say, the old idea
that labour is the best preservative from temptation seems
not to be confirmed by experience in this instance, for
wherever you pass you see individuals pacing about in
heavy marching order over a limited space of ground and
daring a limited period of time, or going about in a circle
lifting np stones and putting them down again at a certain
distance, as a punishment for drunkenness. But, in spite
of this, the road•making is progressing favorably.—Timex
Cor., Oct. 9.

Hutting is busily carried on in every part of the
allied camp: French, Sardinians, Turks, English,
are alike hurrying on their preparations against
winter:—

Preparations are being everywhere made among the
divisions on the heights near Sebastopol to raise sheds
and shelter of a more substantial kind than tents, against
the trying severities of the approaching winter. The wood
which is still to be obtained from some of the buildings in
the town, though nnder the enemy's fire, Is found to be of
very great advantage in the construction of stabling,
cooking-places, and for many other purposes for which pro-
vision could not be made away from the neighbourhood of
the army.—D. News Cos., Oct. N.
The underground huts of the Sardinians seem
built upon the beat principles:—

SATURDAY,

The Sardinians are likewise still busy hutting them
selves, and every day you see tents disappear and buts
arise ; they are all under ground, with only the gable roof
showing. Similar ones are now in construction for the
cavalry and artillery horses. They will afford excellent
shelter, only the labour is rather great. Besides these
underground huts, the ruins of the houses of Damara are
being repaired, and made again fit to receive stores—Times
Cor., Oct. O.

One of the usual blunders of the Government had
come to light. The hats they have sent out consist
of " five " descriptions, and, as might be inferred,
as a matter of course, no instructions had been sent
with these model huts, or no invoice of the separate
packages ; hence, until such advices arrive, it is im•
possible to know what one part belongs to the
other, and so the huts are condemned to be kicked
up in store:—
Four shiploads of huts have arrived, but they ate of a
different construction from those sent out last winter,
and, as no less than five distinct kinds have arrived, It re-
quires some key or descriptive return to enable the autho-
rities to make the necessary assortment of packages, and
give the necessary directions for their proper erection.
Unfortunately, this explanation has not arrived with the
huts, so that at present they must remain in store, and
continue so until the descriptions arrive, or endless confu-
sion in their distribution would result.—D. News Cos.,
Oct. 8.
At a general court-martial held in the camp be-
fore Sebastopol on Oct. 3, Private James Salmon,
93rd Highlanders, was found guilty upon the follow.
ing charge :—" For having deserted from the 93rd
Highlanders when on duty in the trenches before
Sebastopol, on or about the 13th of August, 1855,
with intent to go over to the enemy " :
Sentence—The Court having found the prisoner guilty
of the charge preferred against him, and having received
evidence of there having been no previous eonvietiens
against him, and of his indifferent character since he
joined the regiment, do now adjudge him, the prisoner,
Private James Salmon, to sutler death by being shot, at
such time and place as the Commander of the Forces May
appoint.
Remarks—The Commander of the Forces entirely
concurs in the justice of the sentence pronounced by the
Court. He therefore approves and confirms the seine,
but he is induced to commute the sentence of death to
penal punishment for life. This commutation is made
entirely from consideration of the good and faithful con-
duct of the regiment, and of the army to which the
prisoner belonged, and of which he has been so unworthy
a racinber.
Marskal Peliasier has forwarded to the Minister
of War a liat.of stores captured in Sebastopol. The
number of guit-3 is not included, and the following
form some of the principal items :
Rour,d-shot, 407,314; pollow projectiles, 101,755 ; canis-
ter cases, 24,080 ; gunpowder, 525,0001b5. ; ball cartridges
for muskets and carbines, 410,000 in a good condition,
and 160,0u0 damaged; waggons, 80 ; yawls, 6 ; logs of
lignum vita, 500; anchors of p),rt moorings, 400;
anchors
of different sizes, 90; grappliugOnd small anchors, 50;
chains fur anchors, 200 yards; oldcopper for sheathing,
104,0001bs.; old ropes, 100,000Ibs.; I‘NAter casks, 300, &c.;
with immense quantities of nails ana\old iron ;
several
steam-engines; 500 quarters of wheat ; d 2,000 tons of
coals. The several armies are to share • Pro Portion to
their strength.
MOVEMENTS OF THE ALL! S•
The belief that a grand attack on th Russian
position would shortly take place was held
in the
camp on the Bth. But the plans of the allied enerals
were thoroughly well kept, and nothing eel nor
official had been permitted to ooze out:
There is still an expectation that a combined at,tenlPt
will be made either to surround or to carry by direct ttet,k
1
the Russian position on the Mackenzie heights and mrt°
side of the harbour. The men of the Highland divi i°lll
as well as of the first and third divisions, are impre sea
with the belief that they are reserved for some move 9t
of this nature. It has even been rumoured that the attYK
would not be delayed many days. All is, however, uner;
tainty on this subject. Whatever may be the plan I°'
operation of the allied commanders, it is very wisely kegt
closely secret, and officers holding high positions hsrks
little more opportunity of drawing deductions or forminif
opinions on the subject than is afforded to persons of alli\
ranks by the knowledge of the facts and circumstances o
the passing time.—D. News Cos., Oct. ti.
For some days previous to the 12th, the rumour of ‘ ;
an assault upon the Russian position appears to ,
have been very general, and received direct, accord-
ing to the Daily News correspondent, from high ,
authority. The distribution of the troops and the
various preliminary orders issued upon the occasion ‘
give some colour to the statement :
The .e.
arrangements for an
. attack against the enemy's \,
position on the Mackenzie heights,in concert with a cor-
responding movement on the part of our allies, were men- 4
tioned on high authority. The third and remaining
brigade of the fourth division were to have this time the
honour of being in front, part of the second and light
divisions acting as supports, and the first and Highland
divisions being in reserve. One brigade of the light and
one of the second division were to remain as a guard for
the Karabelnaia part of Sebastopol- Such was the stated
distribution of the British force, and the 10th instant was
generally understood to be the day flied for the assault. The
report *Rain some degree conftrmed by a comrannication,
sent from head-quarters to each division of the army,

OCTOnTi 27, 1855.

defining what amount of necessaries each soldier was to
carry with him in case of a sudden order to move.
Everything, however, has hitherto remained stationary,
and at present all talk of the intended attack has died away.
his reason has been named for this change of tactics : it is
merely remarked that some fresh instructions must have
been received by telegraph from home, where, it is univer-
sally understood, the movements of the campaign are now
regulated.—D.N., Oct. 13.
The 13th Light Dragoons had embarked, but the
light brigade, though under orders, had not started
lip to the 9th. The strong force of artillery men-
tioned by the Daily News correspondent as under
orders is evidently that which we hear by telegraph
has accompanied Sir Colin Campbell to Enpato-
ria

The brigade of light cavalry are under orders of embarka-
tion, and, it is understood, will proceed to Enpatoria, Lord
Ge age Paget commanding. The 13th Light Dragoons
have been embarking at Balaklava to-day. ♦ force, amount-
-1114 to 1,500 men, of the siege•train artillery, is also under
rders to move, and the supposition among the troops is
hat they also are destined for Eupatoria.—lb.

The Times correspondent on the 7th speaks of a
new expedition from Kertch to Genitchi, and the
arrival of the Turkish Contingent at Ker:ch lends
some colour to the rumour. From the Constanti-
nople correspondent of the Daily News it does not
appear that the allies are favorably looked upon by
the inhabitants of Kertch or its neighbourhood.
Alluding to a despatch received from General Cun-
ningham, in command of the first division of the
contingent which has arrived at Kertch, be writes :
General Cunningham says in his report that he found
at Kertch 5,000 French, 4,000 Turks, and 2,000 English
troops. The town is almost entirely in ruins. All that
remained of the wool used in the construction of the
houses—such as rafters, doors, Etc.—had been used by the
allied soldiers for firing. The natives he describes as de-
cidedly hostile to us, unwilling, though properly recom-
pensed, to render the smallest service. All the supplies
Intended for the contingent must arrive at Kertch before
the sth of November, at the very latest, as after that date
all communication by sea is impossible. No supplies can
be expected from the inhabitants. Horses and carts they
refused to hire. The water for some distance from the
beach is shallow, and therefore large boats must be pro-
vided for landing the troops.
Such is the substance of General Canningham's report.
It coincides exactly, not only with the opinion of all the
merchants of Constantinople who were engaged in the
corn trade with Kertch) and Taganrog, but also with our
own personal experience.
MOVEMENTS OF THE RUSSIANS.

The real nature of the movements of the enemy
does not appear to be known in the allied camps.
The Russians are undoubtedly on the move, more or
less, from the north aide at least, but whether for
better concentration and observation, or for retreat,
has yet to be learned :
The reports respecting the departure of the Russian
army are very contradictory. Certainly the encampments
ou the Inkermann heights have diminished in extent
during the last few days. There is neither the same num-
ber of tents, nor, as fat as telescopic observations afford in-
formation, are there the same evidences of movement and
activity. But these troops may have only moved to
occupy other positions. On the north side of the road-
stead the camps have also diminished ►n size and number.
Four sheds only remain out of all the numerous rows and
str3ets which formerly composed the canvas town, or Ras-
Kan Kadtkoi. These sheds are apparently the only
sutlers' stores which exist in this situation, and in spite of
the risk from the French shells which occasionally ex-
plode in their neighbourhood, they are generally seen with
groups of the long-coated soldiery standing before them.
The fire from the batteries continues very active. The
enemy must he aware that comparatively little damage
can result to the ruined town and suburbs against which
their shot and shell are projected, while it is scarcely possi-
ble that ammunition and ordnance stores can be in such
abundance on the north side as to admit of wasteful ex-
penditure. This, therefore, it is argued, is another proof
that the north side will be abandoned before the winter
sets in. The shot and shell, which cannot be carried
away, are being expended, and the guns worn out ; and, at
any rate, the enemy has the satisfaction of keeping us out
of what remains of the town for the present. Some few
troops are seen working at the new batteries placed to de-
fea t the sea-face of the north heights, but they are so few
m number that they seem almost to be intended to attract
our attention, and to act as a blind to other operations.—
A News Cor., Oct. Btb.
The correspondent of the Times, on the other
hand, referring to the camp rumours of retreat,
speaks of the movements of the Russians as simply
those of observation against Eupatoria, and remarks
that the Russian camps on the heights of the
•Tschernaya have not been diminished:—

Large camps are still seen on the plateaux opposite to
-its, and the country up to the head of the Belbeck is still
occupied by them. The only news which we hear tending
to confirm this rumour, which seems to be so fully credited
in Europe, is that the fifth and twelfth divisions have gone
from our immediate neighbourhood northward ; but it is
more likely that this change took place in consequence of
the sign of life which the garrison of Eupatoria showed
lately than as a preliminary step for a final retreat.
While the Russians were convinced that they had nothing
to fear from the activity of the Turkish garrison of Eupa-
loria, and when the energetic pursuit of the siege opera-
tions forced them to bring down ell their available force, a

TIIE PRESS.

small body of cavalry was the only amps d'oiservation
which remained about Eupatoria. and there were scarcely
any infantry in the whole country between Perekop and
Simferopol. Now that they might apprehend something
from that side it is natural that they should make their
preparations accordingly.—Times, Oct. 9.

General d'Allonville, however, the Daily News cor.
respondent writes, had reported that bodies of troops
had been observed moving toward Perekop

General d'Allonville, commanding the cavalry divi•
sion at Eupatoria, is said to have reported that
bodies of troops have been moving toward Perekop,
by the roads of the interior. Troops can only march in
very small bodies at a time from Simferopol to l'erekop,
ur, if in considerable force, must be rapidly conveyed, and
water carried also. The only water afforded by the country
is found in wells, and the supply from these sources is
very limited in quantity, and brackish and bad iu quality.
It will require great dexterity and caution on the part of
the Russian commanders to evacuate the Crimea in the
midst of the difficulties by which they are surrounded,
without serious losses, if our generals are on the alert.—
Corr., Oct. 8.

Whether the Russians mean to retreat ultimately
or not, it is clear that up to the 13th they carried on
their operations on the north side with tolerable
vigour :

In the last few days the time of the siege seems to be
again revived, and the sound of siege guns, which, since
the Bth of September, only at long intervals interrupted
the silence, is beginning again to tire the ear with its mo-
notony. The Russians have constructed and armed a
Cries of new battenes and have opened a brisk fire from
them against the few French batteries which had been
thrown up to annoy them while they were working. It is
a repetition of what happened last year, when the formi-
dable line of defence which we hal to besiege for eleven
months was thrown up in the face of the allied armies,
with the only difference, that at that time we had but a few
siege guns landed, whereas now the whole Chersonese
is a large artillery park in our possession. Of course it is
of comparatively little importance whether the Russian
missiles ruin the ruins, whether another roof is knocked
in, or another window slab is shattered, especially as we
need not break our heads against their earthworks; but
the fact is interesting, as it clearly shows that the Russians
have used the time allotted to them by the German papers
to retire from the Crimea for the strengthening of this
side of their position.—Times Cor., Oct. 13.
There is no diminution of fire, however, from the forts
and batteries on the north side of the roadstead; on the
contrary, it has been kept up with much more activity
daring the last two or three days, It has been especially
directed against the Malakoff, and the part of Sebastopol
held by the French on the west side of the south harbour.
The English have not constructed any works to act against
the north side; the battery commenced on the former site
of Fort Paul, but afterwards abandoned, has not again
been proceeded with. The French have nearly completed
another large work near Fort Alexander, destined more
particularly to act against Fort Constantine. It is to con-
tain an armament of ten mortars.—D. News Cor., Oct. 12.
The Russians are still busy throwing up intrenchments
on every available spot of the north side of the harbour.
The ground is, as all over this neighbourhood, particularly
tit for a display of engineering. From Fort Constantine
there is a succession of promontories extending towards the
head of the harbour, which have been all taken advantage of
to construct works upon, notwithstanding our fire ; but this
firing seems only intended to impede the construction of
those works, and not to prevent it altogether, as the large bat-
teries commenced some time ago have again been counter-
ordered, and you can see the Russians working in spite of
the occasional shot or shell pitching among them and
scattering them for a moment. They are likewise modest
enough in replying—an occasional shot from Fort Con-
stantine, from a little earthwork a flew d'eau, with eight
embrasures, between the second casemated fort and some
buildings, evidently stores, and some rather more frequent
ones from a little redan in front of the Telegraph Battery
and an earthwork on the eastern promontory of the Sou-
khaya creek, being all. Lately, however, they have begun
to fire more frequently from the Inkermann batteries
towards the French redoubts there. Most of their shots
from the harbour are directed against the town, rather
than against the French mortars behind Fort Nicholas,
and against the head of the Dockyard Creek. The regu-
larity of the town rather invites this manoeuvre, the streets
running parallel down towards the harbour, and thus
showing plainly all those who pass through them.—D.N.
Corr., Oct. 8.
From a story afloat in the camp our look-outs on
the Dockyard Quay in the Karabelnia suburb appear
to have been anything but wide-awake one night:—

A story is afloat that a few nights ago three boats, taking
advantage of the darkness, quietly crossed from the north
side, and, entering the Karabelnia port, proceeded toward
some sheds on the Dockyard quay. Having arrived at the
stairs, some Russians landed, and, finding they were unob•
served, removed a certain amount of stores, with which
they got back safely to their own side of the roadstead.
This feat might be accomplished with the greatest ease
unless the sentries were on the alert. The guard, which
previous to this occurrence was a subaltern's, has been
since increased to a captain's guard.—lb.

ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH.
tip to the 13th we learn that the French were
steadily advancing, and had reached Fot•Sala,
within nine miles of Baktchi Serai. The Rus-
sians were gradually falling back upon their main
body, and a battle appears to have been expected.
The slow advance of the French is probably caused
by the necessity of making roads as they go, to get
their heavy field artillery into position :•

1017

The French have come close to the Russian positions
at Albat and Airgnl---there, if at all, the Russians must
make their stand. According to the accounts one hears,
the Russians have thirteen infantry divisions opposite to
our lines. One which guards the fortifications on the north
plateau, and two at the first lnkermann lighthouse, whose
camp can be plainly seen with the naked eye ; two others
distributed on the Mackenzie ridge ; and eight which guard
the series of plateaux from Baktchi•Serai down to Aitodor,
and the river-courses of the Belbeck, Katcha, and Alma.
As long as we had not advanced to the Upper Belbeck
there was a kind of neutral ground between us and the Rus-
sians, but now we close upon them. Fot-Sala, which is
now in the possession of the French, is only about nine
miles from liaktchi•Serai.—Times Cur., Oct. 13.
The French are still pushing on to the right, and have
now reached the upper valley of the Belbeck river. The
Russians are retiring before them. From every aide
we hear that the enemy is falling back by detachments
upon Perekop, and the gradually diminishing extent of the
encampments, which can be observed over the lnkermann
heights, appears to give support to these stesertioes—D.
Netrg, Oct. 12.

The French advance has opened so much new
ground that great temptations are offered to " Roving
Englishmen," whose wandering tastes and curiositt
appear now and then to give the French command-
ants of divisions some little trouble, and entail as
much annoyance upon themselves :

The other day, when the Sardinians made their recoil•
naissance towards Aitodor, an English officer attached to
the Turkish arniy,and another gentleman, a civilian, riding
up by Upu and Ozembash, fell in with this Sardinian party,
and had a look at the cliffs of Mangup Kale, and at the
Cossacks down at the river. Not wishing to go back the
same road, they turned up towards the French position,
which leans now on that of the Piedtuontese. When
arrived there a French officer came up and asked them
who they were and whence they came ; they told their
story, but the officer civilly replied that they were coming
from the Russian side, and that therefore be was obliged ki
make a report about them to the commandant. It was in
vain that they pleaded ignorance about ever having been
outside of the lines, as the Sardinian ontposle were beyond
them, and they had seen many French soldiers walking
about Ozembash, whence they came. The officer looked
for the commandant, who coming oat of the hushes,
frowned, and bawled out " Deux grewodiers es avant et
deer en aerie re," and the gentlemen were conducted in true
Brown, Jones, and Robinson style, during their foreign
tour, to the general de brigade. They found him seated in
awful majesty under a tree; scarcely retnrning their
salute, and without inquiring into the ease, he ordered the
corporal of the guard to show them how to blind their eyes
with a handkerchief, and then march them off to the
general de division. The two patients, who were rather
amused than otherwise at this proceeding, took out their
handkerchiefs, but when they saw them of rather doubtful
cleanliness they burst out laughing, which seemed so dis-
concert the general, and he ordered them to be conducted
without being blinded. Amusing were the observations of
the soldiers on the route of "C'est pas des Busses pa, e'est des
Angiais," exeept a drunken fellow, who, after staring at
them, exclaimed " Ceat des es•espions." Thus, amid a eon-
tintiation of often droll but indescribable observations, they
arrived at the general of division's tent. They did not see
him, but his aide de•camp, who made out a despatch about
them, and giving them a cliaseur u cheval, instead of the
guard on foot, had them conducted to the commandant of
the plain below. The thing which had hitherto been
rather a good joke became now too much of a good
thing ; the evening was fast approaching, and they had a
long way to ride hack, so they were rather impatient when
they arrived at the tent of M. le Commandant de la Plain ;
this latter, moreover, began to bully, and told them that
they had to remain for the night, so they tried to put an
end to the fun in earnest, and expostulated about their
treatment, until the commandant came down from his
absurd pretensions and let them go in peace and quiet, to
the great amusement of a number of soldiers, who had col•
lected about to see this scene.—Times Cor., Oct. 13.
Private letters from French officers in the Cowrie?
de Marseilles state that :

Marshal Pellissier continues to advance into the interior,
slowly, it is true, for it is necessary to construct roads for
the passage of the artillery and heavily-laden waggons.
The plan of the generals-in-chief is not known. They
appear intent on advancing as far as possible, bat the ex-
ecution of this plan mast depend on circumstances.
Our four divisions, perfectly well organised and amply
supplied with provisions, are impatiently awaiting orders to
attack the enemy. The Russians are quite close to us,
lining all the passes, which are defended by numerous bat-
teries. But our brave soldiers are not to be stopped by
such obstacles. When the marshal deems the moment
favorable we will force a passage in spite of them. We are
ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march forward at
a moment's notice. The enemy remains on the defensive.
Our troops are constantly at work making roads for the
artillery.
THE 97rn AT THE ASSAULT.
A letter dated the 14th inst. from Major-General
Lockyer. the colonel of the 07th, to the Deily News,
complains of the expressions which the Crimean cor-
respondent of that paper used with regard to the
conduct of the 97th at the assault on the Bth, and
incloees a copy of the following letter received by the
gallant general, addressed to the commanding officer
of the 97th by Lieutenant-General Codrington :
Light Division Camp, Bth October, 1855.
My dear Sir,---fit tialignani's paper there is a letter from
the correspondent of the Daily News in this camp, in which
it is stated that, " as a punishment for its recent conduct
in the trenches, the 97th has been told off to lead." We

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