The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

(Enidoaare.)
Head-quarters, March 18, 1855.

My Lord,—l am grieved to have to inform you of an
event, much to be regretted, which painfully engrosses the
French army and its commander-in-chief.
Last night, whilst the troops were kept perpetually on
the alert, an English officer presented himself before the
line of the 18th Regiment, established near the watch-tower
behind our trenches of the left attack. Although sum-
moned three times by the qui tire the officer did not reply;
the sentinel fired, and he was killed on the spot.
I can hardly understand how this unhappy officer found
himself at such an hour so far from the English camp. I
believe that his death can only be attributed to his own
imprudence ; but I do not the less deplore this event, which
must also be attributed to the natural emotion of a young
soldier, who, iu the midst of the events which marked
last night, rigorously executed the military regulation.—
I have dal,
(Signed) GENERAL CANROBERT.
General-in-Chief of the i'renoli Army.
Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, &c., (Lc.

March 24.

On the morning of the 22nd the French troops in the
advanced parallel moved forward, and drove the enemy out
of the rifle pits in their immediate front, but nothing of
any importance occurred during the day.
Early in the night, however, a serious attack was made
upon the works of our allies in front of the Victoria re-
doubt, opposite the Malakoff tower.
The night was very dark, and the wind so high, that the
firing which took place, and which was very heavy, could
scarcely be heard in the British camp ; it is, therefore,
difficult to speak with certainty of what occurred from any
that could be heard or observed at the moment.
It appears, however, that the Russians, after attacking
the head of the sap which the French are carrying on
towards the Mamelon, fell with two heavy masses on their
new parallel, to the rear of which they succeeded in pene-
trating and momentarily possessing themselves of, after a
gallant resistance on the part of our allies.
Having broken through, they passed along the parallel
and in rear of it, until they came in contact with the troops
stationed in our advanced parallel extending into the
ravine, from the right of our atvance, where it connects
with the French trench.

The enemy was here met by detachments of the 77th
and 97th Regiments, forming part of the guard of the
trenches, who, although thus taken suddenly both in
flank and rear, behaved with the utmost gallantry and
coolness.

The detachment of the 97th, which was on the extreme
right, and which consequently first came in contact with
the enemy, repulsed the attack at the point of the bayonet.
They were led by Captain Vicars, who unfortunately
lost his life on this occasion ; and I am assured that
nothing could be more distinguished than the gallantry
and good example which he sent to the detachment under
his command.

The conduct of the detachment of the 77th was equally
distinguished; and the firmness and promptitude with
which the attack in this part of our works was met were
in the highest degree creditable to that regiment.
These troops were under the direction of Major Gordon,
of the Royal Engineers, who was wounded on the occasion
so severely as for some time, I fear, to deprive the army of
the benefit of his valuable services.
The attention of the troops in our advanced works
having been by these transactions drawn to the light, the
enemy took occasion to move upon, and succeeded in pene-
trating into, the left front of our right attack, near the bat-
tery where two 10-inch mortars have recently been placed.
They advanced along the works until they were met by a
detachment of the 7th and 34th Regiments, which had been
at work in the neighbourhood, under the direction of
Lieutenant-Colonel Tylden, of the Royal Engineers, who
promptly made them stand to their arms, and led them
with the greatest determination and steadiness against the
enemy, who were speedily ejected from the works and
fairly pitched over the parapet, with but little or no firing
on our part.
Lieutenant-Colonel Tylden speaks in the highest terms
of the conduct of the troops on this occasion, and parti-
cularly of that of Lieutenant Marsh, Acting-Adjutant of the
33rd Regiment, whose services and activity throughout
the night were very useful to him.
Captain the Hon. Cavendish Browne of the 7th, and
Lieutenant Jordan of the 34th, Regiments, were unfor-
tunately killed in this attack, after displaying the most
distinguished gallantry, and Lieutenant M'Henry of the
former regiment was wounded, but I hope not very se-
verely. Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly, of the 34th Regiment,
who commanded in the trenches, is, I regret to have to
add, missing.

The French, in retiring from their advanced parallel
upon their supports, speedily rallied, and fell upon the
enemy, whom they repulsed with great loss, and followed
so far np towards the Mamelon, that they were enabled to
level and destroy nearly all the " ambuscades " or " rifle
concealments" erected along their front.

I fear, however, that thi; success has not been accom•
plished without considerable loss on their part, although
that of the enemy is much greater.
Yesterday the whole of the ground between the posts of
the two armies was covered with their dead, amounting
to several hundreds, besides those which they had un-
doubtedly carried off before daylight.
In the meanwhile the enemy in great numbers found
their way into the advanced batteries on our extreme left,
whieh are not yet armed, and momentarily got possession
of them.

The working parties were, however, speedily collected
and reformed by Captain Chapman, of the 20th Regiment.
acting engineer, and they at once drove the enemy out of
the trenches with the utmost gallantry.
Captain Montagu, of the ktoyei Engineers, who was

321

superintending the works, unfortunately fell into the hands
of the enemy.
The wind is excessively high, but the weather is in
other respects fine.

LAOLAN.
SIEGE CHRONICLE.
The following extracts present the details of chief
interest reported in the letters from camp received
during the week. The latest date is the 20th ult. :

Before Sebastopol, March 19.
T have made up my mind never to praise the Crimean
weather again till it ha.s settled firmly for three weeks at
the least. All our spring has changed to November—
roaring winds, cold gloomy days, and grey leaden skies have
driven away our Favoinan breezes, our warm bright
noons, and mellow sunshine. It is easy to give an ab-
stract of our proceedings since the date of our last mail.
The Russians have armed their new battery, which the
French failed to take some nights ago, and they have
erected a strong work, which will soon be armed, on the
" Mamelon," formerly known as Gordon's-hill. For three
days the enemy have shut up their batteries, and have pre-
served the profoundest silence. They have closed up
about forty of their embrasures, for some unknown pur-
pose. Of course this is done in the first instance to screen
the guns, but why they should be screened, or for what ob-
ject the Russians have concealed these embrasures, no one
pretends to say. The French have failed in two several
attacks to take some rifle pits occupied by the enemy in
front of Malakoff and the Mamelon. Our siege works are
in a state of completion. Those of the French are almost
as far advanced. The defences of Balaklava are
strengthened day after day, guns of large calibre are
placed in position along the heights, and the disadvantages
of a plunging fire are obviated as far as possible. The
French have thrown up a new work, containing six guns,
right above our thirty-two-pounder battery on the road to
Kadikoi. General Simpson, Sir J. M'Neill, and Colonel
M'Murdo, are deeply engaged in the business of their re-
spective departments. Admiral Boxer has devoted him-
self with much energy to the improvement of the harbour,
and has effected very considerable improvement in the
condition of the moorings and of the approaches to the
harbour itself, as well as in the roads, for the transport of
munitions of war which are stored there. The powder is
placed in comparative safety. Useless ships are cleared of
stores, and the dismasted vessels which have been here so
long will be cleared of their cargoes and sent away. The
admiral has suggested that all the warm clothing and
superfluous provisions and stores should be sent round to
Karatch Bay.
A very useful form has been prepared and sent round to
the various regiments, I presume by the direction of
General Simpson. It consists of a genes of questions, to
which the answers must be given and sent in twice
a month. The commanding officer is required to state,
" Whether there has been any deficiency of rations?"
" How often fresh meat has been issued?" "Whether the
men have received vegetables?" " Whether the men are
in huts?" "If they aro not in huts, what is the reason ?"
" Have the huts been brought up by the regimental horses
or by the commissariat, or in what way ?" It will be ob-
served that these inquiries are not retrospective. A kind
of medical commission, at the head of which is Dr. Hall,
goes round each camp periodically, and inquires into the
state of the sick and into the sanitary condition of the
camp. Dr. Hall is accompanied by several medical officers
in these visits, which will take place once a month.
The commissariat transport officers are busy delivering
into the hands of Colonel M`Murdo and his staff all their
mules, ponies, and harness. We have had our races, our
dog-hunts, our athletic sports, all sanitary agents in their
way. The men have recovered health, strength, and
spirits most surprisingly. It is delightful to walk through
the camps now, and hear the hum of voices and the old
songs ringing out again, and to see the noble fellows smile
and hear them laugh once more. They are so strong,
indeed, that dear old Sir George Brown thinks they are tit
to wear stocks. It must be admitted that our army had
when in extremis become very like a rabble in aspect ; they
delighted in sheepskin and mufflers after the occasion and
necessity for wearing them was over. It is a strange thing,
but a true thing, that our two great ba'tles of Alma and
Inkermatin were fought, and partially won, by mobs, or
rather broken masses of men.

A large force of men entered Sebastopol to-day from the
north side. It is computed to number about 15,000 men.
This force may probably be a relief to the garrison from
the army of the Belbeck, and may be only a change of men,
but it is more likely that it is a reinforcement from the
north. The very remarkable silence of the Russian bat-
teries continued all day. No one can account for it, and
all wonder at it. Some people believe the enemy is falling
short of ammunition. But, if so, why has the firing, so
prodigal hitherto, stopped abruptly? Surely the Ittuotians
would not throw away their last round and then shut up
their guns ! There may be some deep reason for this
silence. It is believed by some that the enemy are ob-
serving a solemn fast and humiliation on account of the
Emperor's death, the news of which is known to have
reached them three days ago, when all the ships struck
their flags, rehoisted them hallmast high, and crowds of
soldiers were seen to repair to the churches, the bells of
which tolled for twenty-four hours. Their cannon may be
ordered to be silent for some such reason, but their troops
are very active. We were watching them to-day working
busily at the north side. Large trains of carts and wag-
gons were moving round towards the Itelbeek, and a con-
siderable force had just bivouacked by the waterside below
the citadel.
By the preparations the Russians are making, they
evidently believe we never can tare the south of Sebastopol
till we have invested the wholo place round by the Belbeck.
Every day adds fresh obstacles to the extension of our
lines in that direction. Innumerable batteries, earthworks,
redoubts, and trenches are run up, from the ravines of
Inkermann to the sea side south of the Belbeck. Were