The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-22 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

line of sentries in front prevents anyone going as far as
Cathcart's•hill or the picket houses, except staff officers or
men on duty. The tire is exceedingly heavy. The assault
takes place at noon. The fourth division is now under
arms.

The Daily News correspondent writes on the
Bth :

The anxiously-looked-for moment of the assault is fast
drawing nigh. A general feeling of confidence in the re-
sult prevails. The troops, both oar own and those of our
allies, have been ardently desiring that the great struggle
might come speedily. The wearying operations in the
trenches, the nightly loss, the coming winter, have been so
many incentives fanning the flame of this earnest wish,
and, in addition to these motives, there has not been want-
ing a confidence in our own superiority from the effects of
the tire from our batteries, and a belief in the correspond-
ing proportionate dejection of the enemy. It cannot be
doubted that French and English would rather have met
their foe in the open field; but now that the works, espe-
cially the French, have been carried so close to the
enemy's line, the besiegers will be able to meet the be-
sieged on a much more equal footing than on ar.y former
occasion. Before this reaches England the result will be
fully known by telegraph, and all are trusting that it will
be one of general rejoicing and satisfaction in the native
land. A few days, and we may be in instead of outside
Sebastopol.

In another letter of the same date published by the
News the writer gives the following account of the
explosion of a vast Russian magazine, and of the
losses inflicted on the enemy:—

A shell from one of our own mortar batteries accomplished
a memorable result, by blowing up a Russian magazine in
a small six gun work on the proper right of the Malakoff.
This occurred between nine and ten p.m. of the 7th, and,
from she terrific force of the explosion, the quantity of
powder ignited must have been great. At a distance of
more than a mile and a half from the spot the earth shook
again, whilst the noise resembled a heavy thunder-peal.
The full extent of the damage done cannot of course he
known till deserters reveal it; but that it quite balances
the loss sustained by the French, through the late accident
in the Mamelon, there can he little room to doubt.
Throughout the night the fire continued to be delivered
with unabated energy—the enemy, as before, giving
sesrcely a shot or shell in return. This silence on their
part, however, is far from proving that their batteries are
therefore effectually shut up—the delusion into which we
fell and suffered from so calamitously on the 18th of June.
We have reason rather to suppose that their guns have been
withdrawn into shelter, ready, if necessary, as before, to
vomit forth grape and canister when weleast expect either.
But that they have suffered most heavily during the past
three days, in men and materiel, is certain, whilst our own
loss !has been much less than during any previous born.
hardment. During the whole of Thursday afternoon an
almost unbroken string of stretcher-bearers, carrying away
the dead and wounded, could be seen from our advanced
trenches winding out of the Redan ; and several times as
they crossed a point within the town where four streets
meet, and which our guns in the Quarry Battery command,
two of these last gave them discharges which added con-
siderably to the casualties of the day. The humanity of
firing on men so employed may be questioned ; but it
should be remembered that in war the first principle of ac-
tion should be that which will inflict the greatest loss on
the enemy at the smallest cost to ourselves ; and to carry
out this, refined considerations of humanity must often or

always be set aside.
Thus the last three days have been full of action and in-
cident. Even while I write, everyone is on the qui vive
of expectation as to the next move on the part of the gene-
rals ; camp rumour declares that the assault, which, in the
usual course of things, should follow all this bombarding,
will be made to-day.

Ssivr. 7, 9 p.m.—The arrangements for attacking the
Redan, after the French attack of the Malakoff, have been
onnounced officially. The Light and Second Division are
to share this important duty. The Second Brigade, Light
Division, and an equal number of the Second Division
form the first body of attack. The covering party is to
consist of one hundred men of the second battalion of the
Rifle Brigade. The First and Highland Divisions are to
be formed in the Karabelnia, a ravine, as a reserve. The
men are to take two days' rations with them into the
trenches. The first body of attack and the covering party
are to assemble at the usual rendezvous for the trenches at
7 a.m. ; the second storming party, the supports, and re-
serve will parade in the same place at intervals of half an
hour each.

By the previous mail some detail of anterior pro-
ceedings were communicated. The Times correspon-
dent wrote on the 3rd inst. :

It is believed that the Russians are about to abide the
chances of war once more. In one grand attack along the
whole of our line they are prepared to assault the allies
with 90,001 men at three or four points, from Haider to the
gorge of Inkermann, and at the same time to make a
general sortie in great force from Sebastopol on the left,
centre, and on the right of our works. Prince Gortscha-
koff, General Liprandi, General Paniutin, and General
Osten-Sacken are mentioned as the directors of the attack-
ing columns on certain points, which have been indicated
to us by information derived from the enemy's camp.
Nothing would give such universal satisfaction to the
whole army as another attempt of the enemy on our posi-
tion. If the Russians descend into the plasn we are sure
of success, and the prospect of a sanguinary engagement
would give positive pleasure to officers and men, alike
weary of the undistinguished, if not inglorious, service of
the trenches. With nearly 8,000 English cavalry, and up-
wards of 5,000 French sabres, we ought to make signal
examples of our defeated foes in their retreat, and our fifty
field pun, all in high odleiency and ostler, would surely

897

annihilate any artillery which the Russians could place in
position to check our pursuit or cover the flight of their
infantry. As to their cavalry, they are, as far as we can as-
certain, inferior in number to our own, and we are certain
that in dash and pluck they cannot match the men who
charged at Balaklava. In fine, then, there is reason to
hope if the enemy strike a great blow that they will meet
with a great disaster, and that we may by one well fought
field terminate the daily conflict which 1-ads to such ter-
rible loss of life, and grasp victory again, rich for once with
grand results, and yielding its fruits worthy of our daring,
our judgment, and our military genius.
The attack was expected this morning; it may be to.
morrow ; it it should be deferred for a few day. more the
Russians may have to fight with all their masses for the
possession of the Malakoff, for the French are assuredly
determined not to delay the assault, if it were only to put
an end to the losses which they have sustained. General
I'elissier said the other day, "Je perils une belle brigade
cheque dixaine des jours.' It is no compensation that
tte enemy lose thrice as many. They swarm like flies,
and their generals are only puzzled how to use them, or
they could have twice as many. The expectation of attack
is so strong that all officers are ordered to stay in their re-
spective camps. Last night orders were sent round to
each division that all the troops should be in readiness to
turn out at once at a moment's notice. On the rear the
French, Sardinians, and Turks were under anus long ere
daybreak, and tumid in only when assured by the light
that the enemy were not approaching. The enemy have
concentrated considerable masses in and about Uper,
Ozeubasch, and Souliou, and Prince Oortschakoff in person
visited the army destined to operate against the Turks,
French, and Sardinians ou the rear, and was prodigal of
promises and encouragement. The intelligence received
by the English, French, and Turkish generals coincides on
these points, and is believed to be entirely trustworthy.
Nothing but derpair could induce the Russians to attempt
such an enterprise. As to their sortie, although it may be
made with large bodies of men, it cannot promise better
chance of success, as our reserves will be kept in readiness
to act at once, and the force in the trenches will be hence-
forth greatly augmented. It has been our practice, up to
a period now gone by, to send only fourteen hundred men
into the trenches of the left attack, of which one-half was
of the reserve, and, as the latter were allowed to go back
to camp in the day, it frequently happened that only seven
hundred men were left to guard the whole of our extensive
works in Chapman's attack. In future our force will be
increased, and the reserves will be maintained in all their
integrity, so as to be ready to give efficient support to the
trench guard should the enemy make any serious demon-
stration against our hues. And here I may be permitted
to offer one word on behalf of those officers and men who
have not had an opportunity of sharing the honours con-
ferred on those who have been so fortunate as to he
engaged in general actions during this war. I em certain.
that there is a very general feeling in the army that there
should Le some distinctive decoration for " service in the
trenches." Men have been decorated for Alma, Inkermann,
and Balaklava, who were no more in danger or under fire
than if they hod remained in their club card-room, but no
man goes into the trenches who is not exposed to heavy
tire and to continued danger. The Adjutant-General's
returns will show that in a fortnight we lose nearly as
many officers and men as are put hors de cembet in a regulwr
battle, although it will he observed that the proportion of
officers to men killed and wounded is far smaller than it is
on occasions of drawn battle. A man who has served
thirty nights in the trenches will have undergone more fire
than if he had been in the hottest fight of the campaign.
Why not let him have a decoration, were it only a hit of
iron with the words "'Trenches before Sebastopol " en-
graved upon it? The arduous nature of our trench Kele
vice is best indicated by our returns, and by the fact test
many young officers who come out from England are able
to discharge their ditties after a few weeks experience.
Although there are many complaints of the rawness of the
recruits sent out to us, they are as nothing compared
to the outcry against the crudity of the lads who
are despatched as " officers " to the Crimea, and
who perforce must be sent in responsible positions
into the trenches. A reference to the daily general
orders will satisfy any one of the truthfulness of
outcry. The number of officers who sicken and are Orden d
home, or to Scutari, or to go on board ship, is increasing,
and it is not found that the recently arrived regiment.
furnish the smallest number of those worn out by ennui
and reduced to illness from health by a few days' service.
The old officers, of course, grumble loudly and deeply at
such estate of things,,and the grim old officers who have
clung on to their regiments since the beginning of the
campaign are indignant at the puling boys who, are sent
out, for no fault of their own, to be utterly helpless and in-
efficient, and to sicken and leave the duties of the regiment
to devolve on their overworked seniors. Why should not
vacancies in regiments out here be filled up from regiments
stationed elsewhere ? Such a course was pursued in the
Chinese war, in our Indian wars, and I believe in the long
war, and it secured to us the services of experienced officers.
There are many ensigns of four, five, and six years' stand-
ing in the latter regiments, while it would be difficult to
find many lieutenants with so much service in any regi-
ment which has been out here since the beginning of this
War.
The condition of the army, notwithstanding the exis-
tence of a considerable amount of sickness, of some dis-
content, and of an element of weakness in the youthful
recruits, is, on the whole, so far as one can judge, satis-
factory. It is not, however, as strong as people at home
would imagine. With all our reinforcements in fresh regi•
melds and drafts it does not reach the strength Mr. Sidney
Herbert and his friends over and over again declared it to
be when it was struggling for life in the snow rind mud
last winter. The Sardinians, now acclimatised, flushed
with triumph, and anxious for another opportunity to try
their steel, form a fine corps of about tight thousand men,
effective, and the Turks can turn out about, thirteen thou

898

sand strong. The French, notwithstanding their enormves
losses by sickness, in the capture of the Mamelon, in the
assault of the frith of June, and, above all, in the trenches,
where they have on an average one hundred and fifty hors
de combat on " quiet nights," and perhaps twice as many
when the enemy are busy, could with ease present fifty-five
thousand bayonets to the enemy without distressing them-
selves, or calling on the camp guards, &c., to leave their
posts. Our cavalry is just nine thousand sabres strong, and
our field artillery overpowering. In a word, while the
siege works are advancing steadily, with very few checks, the
allies can present on any side a front which is quite strong
enough to hold its own against any numbers the Russians
can bring against us. There is no ground, no room for
them to deploy their men if they had them, and they have
already found that attacks by masses of columns success-
sively surging against us only aggravate the slaughter and
confusion of their repulse. From the French sap in the
front of the Mamelon one can now lay his hand on the
abattis of the Malakoff! It is a hazardous experiment
sometimes. Major Graham lost his arm in trying it en
amateur the other day, for he was hit as he was returning
up the trench; indeed, it is a subject of remark that
amateurs and officers just come into the trenches are more
frequently hit than is consistent with the rules of propor-
tion. Mr. Gambier, a midshipman of the Curapoa, went
as an amateur into the advanced parallel of the left attack,
and took a shot at a Russian rifleman ; he was rewarded
by a volley from several of the enemy, and in another in-
stant was going up on a stretcher with a ball through
both his thighs. The Russians, of course, must lose in the
same way, but I doubt if they have many amateurs. They
have quite enough of legitimate fighting, and their losses
are said to be prodigious beyond belief. They must soon
attack or give up the south side. The Redan looks greatly
cut up ; it has no longer the nice, cabinetmakers' work on
its face which it boasted formerly. The diary of events is
not important.
SEPT. 4.—The Himalaya, with 150 of the 10th Hussars
and a troop of the Chasseurs d'Afrique, is to be sent to
Yenikale, which is said to be menaced by a large force of
the enemy. It is more probable that they have been sent
to sweep the country for fodder and food, and to protect
the outlying flocks and herds which lie out in the plain
between Kertch and Yenikale against the attacks of the
Cossacks.

There has been a severe affair in front, At a quarter
past nine a heavy fire of musketry to the left of the
Malakoff indicated an attack of the enemy on the French
works in front of the Mamelon. The night was dark, bat
clear, and for half an hour the whole of our lines were a
blaze of quick, intermittent light. The musketry rattled
incessantly. Chapman and Gordon's Batteries opened
with all their voices, and the Redan, Malakoff, Garden, and
Barrack Batteries replied with roars of ordnance. After
twenty minutes of this infernal conflict the musketry fire
flickered and died out, and then commenced for a quarter
of an hour a universal whirling of shells from both sides,
so that the very stars were eclipsed and their dominion
usurped by the wandering flight of these iron orbs. While
it lasted there was seldom a hotter fire. The Russians in
this sortie attacked our advanced sap on the right attack
once more, and were repulsed with great loss; but Captain
Pechell, of the 77th, a brave and beloved young officer, was
killed in setting a brilliant example to his men. The
gallant 77th behaved extremely well on this occasion.
The Russians tore down some French gabions, and were
driven out after a desperate struggle, in which and during
their retreat they lost at least 600 men. The French lost
upwards of 300 men hors de combat. Our shell practice
was beyond all praise, and the Redan suffered greatly in the
contest.

Two deserters—daring fellows in their fear—actually
swam out last night to one of the British ships on guard
off Sebastopol and gave information of great importance.
They declare that most of the heavy guns have been re•
moved from Fort Constantine and Fort Nicholas to the
defensive works, and that the powder is removed from the
works of the harbour and placed in Fort Nicholas. The
Sardinians have begun the railway earthworks from the
Woronzoff road to Kadikoi.