The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF KARS.

More details of this desperate assault have ap-
peared in an extract from a private letter. The
Russians, with their usual caution, commenced
moving up before daylight, and at the first streak of
dawn 28,000 men, in massive columns, assaulted
the town upon all points, making a false attack upon
the eastern and throwing their whole weight on the
southern forts. For the moment they carried one or
two of the advanced batteries, but General Williams,
by immense exertions, drove them out at the point
of the bayonet :

The rolling fire of musketry was incessant, and the
thunder of artillery from the numerous batteries never
ceased for a moment. At one time, and only once, some
little symptom of giving way was observed, but no sooner
observed than the fresh fire from reinforcements de-
_ _

apatched by General Williams and Colonel Lake, and ably
handled by General Kmetz, changed the backward into a
forward movement; the loud hurrahs of the Russian hosts
were soon mingled with the yells of the Turks, who fought
with the ferocity of tigers, charging repeatedly with the
bayonet. White-turbaned citizens were seen rushing into
the fight, hewing with their scimitars ' • and Dui moun-
taineers springing like wolves from behind rocks, and
charging with the clubbed rifle or broad two-edged dagger.
The grey-coated Russians, too, fought with wondrous
courage; again and again they advanced to the deadly
breastworks, and were blown from the very mouths of the
guns or bayonetted in the batteries.—Extraci from Private
Letter, Oct. 2.

The want of cavalry was severely felt by the gar-
rison, as the Russian army was so completely de-
feated that it would have been almost destroyed by
a few regiments of cavalry. The loss of the Russians
appears to have been even more severe than was at
first stated: 6,304) Russians had been buried, and
their total estimated loss was 15,000 men :

Numbers were carried off by the enemy besides. A
deserter came last night into our camp, and he tells us
that the second in command was killed, and numbers of
the highest Russian officers. Some thousand carts were
sent to Guniri this morning full of wounded. A heavy
rain haft fallen during the night, which prevents Mom
ravieff from moving. Had we but two regiments of
cavalry the entire destruction of his army would be a cer.
tainty Oct. 3.
The garrison at Kars do not appear to fear any
further attacks :

General Mouravieff, after the battle, despatched his
baggage to Alexandropol. This has given rise to the
belief that he intends to retreat, although he makes a pre-
tence of preparations to follow up the siege. If he really
has determined to persist, be will have to wait till his nails
are frozen—to use an expression of one of our generals—
before he will be enabled to get possession of Kars. The
difticnlty in his case is augmented by the enthusiasm of
the Turkish army on account of the success which it has
achieved. The Turks are also in better condition, from
the present abundance of rations: there are enough at
present to last more than a month.
A fresh attack on Kars would be impossible. If the
Russians remain in the vicinity, and keep up the blockade,
it will be for the purpose of giving the troops breathing
time, and attending to the wounded. Whatever may be
the case, the garrison at Kars is ready to receive them.—
D. .News Er:crown cor., Oct. 16.

GENERAL ESPARTERO was reported the other day at
Madrid to be about to dispose of his house at
Lagrono. The municipality of Valladolid immediately
set on foot a project for erecting apalace by subsctip-
tion, to be presented to the distinguished general as
a testimony of the national esteem. Espartero,
however, declined to accept the honour intended for
him, observing that as his wants were few, he was
resolved to provide for them by his own exertions.