The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

CHRONICLE OF THE SIEGE.

Letters from the camp to the pith inst. reached
London on Wednesday. The following are extracts
from the correspondence of the Herald

MARCH 12.—SirJohn M'Neill and General Simpson, who
are to superintend the working of the staff and commissariat
departments, arrived to-day. But for the positive obstacles
thrown in hie way, Mr. Filder would have kept the troops
on ample rations. Yesterday evening Omer Pacha arrived
at Kamiach, and, accompanied by Admirals Lyons, Bruit,
and Stewart, immediately proceeded to Lord Raglan's
bead-quarters. Shortly afterwards Generals Caarobert,
Boaquet, and Sir George Brown arrived, and a long
council of war was held. It is generally believed that the
Turkish Commander-in-Chief came to ask for reinforce-
ments, and also to represent the impossibility of defending
Eupatoria against a regular siege. The council lasted four
hours, and Omer Pacha returned to le upatoria this morning.
Neither English nor French troops can bo spared at present
for the defence of that place.
During the whole of to-day the church Lolls in Sebasto-
pol have been tolling heavily, it is presumed for some reli-
gious service for the departed Emperor.
For the first time our tramway was used today for the
conveyance of shot and shell to the general depilt in
course of formation about a mile and a half from head-
quarters. For some time past the line has been used for
the conveyance of rations of all kinds • but hitherto no very
heavy traffic has been attempted. About 6,000 shot and
shell were to-day sent up to the heights over Komi, and
thence forwarded in our own and the French waggons to
the trenches. None of the stationary engines are yet at
work.
Mutat 13,—A demonstration was made by the enemy in
front of Balaklava this !ironing, but not of any great force,
It wax, I think, brought on by our wood parties, who go
out from Balaklava beyond our lines to cut wood to make
gabions with. Three battalions of infantry coming in sight,
and a few Coassoks, the French cavalry were ordered down,
but the affair came to nothing. They had a few shrllathrown
into their columns from our position, which burst amongst
them. Our cavalry (what remains of them) were all
saddled up in readiness to turn out.
MARCH 14.—Twice during last night the whole camp
was disturbed by a tremendous fire from the enemy's
works. All the pickets and outposts were kept continually
on the alert, and twice the light and second divisions were
turned out under arms. The firing was caused by our
allies making attempts to dislodge the riflemen, who,
hidden in front of the enemy's lines, have lately inflicted
considerable mischief. The first attempt was only made
by a party of about 100 Chasseurs, who, after skirmishing
with the Russian marksmen for some time, were, in the
end, overpowered and driven back by vastly superior
numbers. The second attempt was made by a strong body
of Chasseurs, supported by 200 of the covering party from
the trenches. lint, during this time, the enemy had re-
ceived large reinforcements, and the second attack was re-
pulsed with a loss to the French of fifty killed and
wounded. The firing completely alarmed the whole camp,
and within five minutes after the second attack had failed,
two French regiments, one of Zouitycs and one of the line,
advanced upon the contested point. Before this force the
linsiians, though still superior, or at least equal in num-
bers, Instantly gave ground, and commenced a rapid re-
treat upon their batteries. During this retreat they
suffered heavily from the musketry of our allies. An if
they apprehended an immediate storm, the whole of the
Russian lines opened fire. Their batteries discharged in
regular volleys, which rent the air and shook the earth, as
if some terrible convulsion of nature was taking place.
The shower of shot and shell literally fell like bail, and,
from the state of the ground on the following morning, it
is calculated that 100 tons of ammunition were fired during
the half-hour the alarm lasted. Mere chance shots, fired
in the dark, almost completely destroyed one of the Eng-
lish advanced works, and the whole of the remainder of the
night was occupied in repairing it. In these encounters
the French lost in killed and wounded nearly 200 men.
The lose of the enemy, who fought unt'er cover, was
probably much less. During today our right attack has
fired some ten or twelve rounds, to which the enemy have
not attempted to reply. This unusual quietness has ex-
cited much speculation, as the Russians generally give us
twenty guns for one.
The Emperor steam-ship starts from Balaklava this even-
ing for Genoa, to bring up the Piedmontese troops.
MARCH 16.—A heavy fire was kept or by the enemy's
batteries during the whole of halt night, so as to com-
pletely shelter their riflemen from any fresh attack from
the French. Ilevoird this nothing worthy of note oc-
curred, except that, for the first time since the siege has
zinhmt
aegnalcendi,ttohure balintteiesr.es
All
theeirraisaboon fired t
fell
sbdourtri.ng
Tthhee
woodier evittinali in. and hot, and btu Ismael Wet

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