The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

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endeavoured to reverse the sand-bags, so as to cover the
men from the Russian side in case of an attempt to retake
it. While engaged in this manner, a column of Russians,
about 1,000 strong, was observed advancing from the
shelter of the Malakoff, and hardly had Colonel Egerton
time to dispose his men in such a manner as best to con-
tend against the overpowering force, when the enemy
rushed up and tried to close with the trench. They were
ri.ceived with a heavy volley, before which those who sur-
vived it recoiled in terror, and stood for a moment as if
uncertain or irresolute how to act. They were not, how-
ever, left long to deliberate, for as fast as our men could
load they tired into their hesitating assailants, who, as if
to save themselves, again tried to close. This time their
attack was mole determined, and an obstinate fight took
place. Those that closed with our troops were met with
the bayonet and hurled back again, while some that had
sprung into the pit were killed on the instant. t (done'
Egerton was in the midst of the contest, cheering and
animating the soldiers, when he was struck with a bullet,
which killed him in the course of a few minutes, though
not before the enemy were again driven back. After the
second repulse, the Russians contented themselves with
skirmishing behind atones and hillocks at a safer distance,
and, after collecting their wounded. retired to their works
without an attempt to renew the struggle. Our troops re-
mained in possession of the trench unmolested for a short
time after the enemy had retired. The batteries then
opened, and knowing doubtless the precise range, we
suffered severely from some of the shells, and the round-
shot also injured the new work, but not to any serious
extent. Atter the cannonade had continued about half an
hour a few skirmishers again approached the trench, no
doubt in the expectation of finding it evacuated ; but, on
discovering that we still maintained our posts, they beat a
precipitate retreat, and the men were no further interfered
with for the rest of the night.
The total loss to the English in this affair was sixteen
men killed and twenty-nine wounded. The enemy's loss
was between forty and fifty killed, and about twice as many
wounded; only three of their killed were left upon the
ground.
While this struggle was going forward on the right a
strong and sudden attack was made upon the lodgment
which the French had effected in the Flagstaff Battery on
the extreme left. Our allies appear to have been slightly
taken by surprise, as, after a brief resistance, they were
compelled to abandon their lodgment, and fall back upon
the first breastwork, which they threw up immediately
after the mine was sprung. They have thus, for the pre-
sent at least, lost eighty feet of most important ground, but
they speak contideutly of being able to regain it to-night,
and of this 1 believe there is little doubt.
The fire during to day has been very slack on both
sides.
APRIL 21.—Another attack was made last night upon the
second rifle-pit. At the first symptom of our advance the
Russians fled with precipitation, and abandoned their post
to our men, who instantly occupied it. Later in the night
a considerable number of the enemy's skirmishers came
down, and between them and our men in the pits some
hot volleys were exchanged. A desultory skirmishing
fight was maintained in this manner for three or four
hours, when the Russians, having sustained considerable
loss, again withdrew. In this affair our casualties were
heavy, but by no means equal to the loss of the night
before. As yet I have heard of no officer being either
killed or wounded.
One of the pits is to be filled up as useless, the other
I am informed will be used to continue part of our ad-
vanced trench.
The firing to-day has been unusually slack. Half our
works are completely silent, owing to dismounted guns
and injured embrasures. The enemy rarely fire a shot,
and, indeed, appear to treat cannonade with perfect con-
tempt. To-day is the first day of a further reduction of
our fire. Each gun is now limited to ten rounds per
diem ; the mortars to one shell per hour, day and night.
There is no concealing the fact—our final bombardment
has been a complete failure. New batteries are to be
opened closer to the enemy; but our engineer and artil-
finery officers seem qnite to have lost all faith in the
effects of any cannonade, while the enemy pursue such
Fabian tactics, and withdraw by day all but a few shattered
guns.
Last night orders were sent down to measure the
steamers in Balaklava, to ascertain the stowage for troops.
It is rumoured that an expedition to Yalta is intended, so
as to take the Russian defences round Tchourgoum in the
rear. This appears to be more than probable, as taking
them from the front is said to be out of the question.
Something like this must be undertaken to free us from
the chain of earthworks by which all our movements at
Balaklava are hampered. We have kept our lines, but
nothing more, as we dare not move a quarter of a mile
beyond them.