The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

THE SARDINIANS AT THE TSCHERNAYA.

In previous accounts of the victory of the
Tschernaya the part played by the Sardinian army
was only imperfectly described, the official reports
from General de 1a Marmora not having been re-
ceived. This chain in the history of the engage-
ment is now supplied, and the report was transmitted
to the English War-office by General Simpson, ac-
companied by the following despatch :
Before Sebastopol, August 21.
In my despatch of the 18th instant I was unable to give
as detailed an account of the part taken by the Sardinian
troops in the battle of the rschernaya as I could have
wished. I have since received General de la Marmora's
report, of which l have now the honour to send you a copy.
The killed and wounded of the Russian army exceed, if
anything, the number I originally stated. An armistice
was granted to enable the enemy to bury the dead, and
vast quantities were carried away.
The tire from the batteries of the allies has been very
effective, and the result attained has been sufficient to
enable the works against the place to progress satisfactorily.
I beg to inclose the list of casualties to the 19th inst.

Majo-r M'Uowan, 93rd Highlanders, who was reported
by me as missing, in my despatch of the 11th of August,
I have since ascertained was attacked whilst posting his
sentries in advance of the trenches, wounded severely, and
made prisoner.
JAMES SIMPSON, General Commanding.
GENERAL DE LA MARMORA'S REPORT.

SARDINIAN ARMY.—Head-quarters of
the Expeditionary Forces to the East,
Kadikoi, August 17; 18.55.
Sir,—The interest whi.th you are so kind as to evince in
everything relating to the Sardinian expeditionary army
makes it imperative upon me to inform your excellency
of the share taken by the troops under my command in the
engagement on the Tschernaya yesterday.
Upon receiving the report of Colonel Dessaint, attached
to the French head-quarters, which you were good enough
to communicate to me on the evening of the day before
yesterday, and by which we were led to expect very shortly
an attack on the line of the Tschernaya, I at once gave
orders that my troops should be under arms yesterday
morning at an earlier hour than usual.

At break of day our outposts stationed on the mamelon
which commands Tchorgoun were enveloped in a well-
sustained fire of artillery, which 2roceeded from three bat-
teries posted opposite to the breastworks by which our out-
posts were covered, and on the two manielons further to
the right, which form the two banks of the Souliou. They
were at the same time vigorously charged by three Russian
columns, which came on with fixed bayonets, and attacked
our breastworks in front and rear. The men composing
these columns carried ladders with them, to scale the
parapets. The preconcerted signal of alarm was imme•
diately given ; and the troops took up the positions which
had been assigned to them in anticipation of this attack.
I begged his Excellency Hosman Pacha to bring up the
Turkish troops which were stationed furthest off ; and I
ordered the 4th battalion of Rifleman ( Bersaglieri ) to the
support of our outposts, which only consisted of three com-
panies, in order that these latter might be enabled to hold
their ground as long as possible, and thus give us time to
complete our arrangements.
Attacked in the rear by the enemy's artillery, and
charged by three columns of infantry, the outposts, after an
hour's finng, fell back, the reinforcements I had sent to
them greatly facilitating their retreat.
At the same time, I made every effort to silence the
enemy's guns. In this endeavour I was assisted by the
Turkish field-pieces from Alsou, and by the English battery,
with which you were good enough to reinforce us. Several
of the enemy's ammunition waggons exploded between
seven and eight o'clock.
In the meantime the Russians had stationed fresh bat-
teries near the centre of their position, and had opened a
most effective fire of artillery on the tete-de-pont at
Tractir, and on the French positions on our left. A column
this fire, attacked the mamelon,
right of General Erbillon's
had crossed the Tschernaya,
ascent of the mamelon in spite
when it was vigorously attacked
.Iport, and hurled back, broken
'sehernaya.
e subsequent dispositions of the
intended to make a demon
our position, while he et:anon

of infantry, under cover of th
which formed the extreme
division. This first column
and surmounted the steep as
of the fire of the tirailleurs, w
by the French troops in suppl
and disordered, into the Tsch
As I considered, from the s
enemy's forces, that he only i
Ikration of artillery before otu