The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-19 00:00:00

OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

(nom ♦ SPICZAL

DILLISPONDINT OF 1113 DAILY
*sive.)

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, MAT 6.
The operations against Sebastopol are becoming
mom active, and important events may shortly be
anticipated. An expedition has sailed under sealed
orders—it is generally understood in camp to make,
an attack on Kertch. There are rumours of movement 1
from the direction of Eupatoria ; and before the for-
tress itself affairs are assuming such an attitude u
must shortly lead to a serious collision.

On
Tuesday evening, the Ist inst., the French re-
peated their attack against the ambuscades and
trenched, of the Rusaians in front of the Central
Bastion. The undertaking was completely success-
ful, and was acoompasied with increased glory to
our allies and a dispiriting loss to the enemy. The
works captured were of as much importance to the
Russians as they were detrimental to the French.
The ambuscades were of large mite, and the fire
of the riflemen concealed within them, and
protected by parapets strong enough to resist
the shot of heavy guns, was continuous against
the French artillerymen in the advanced batteries,
and against any visible object in the trenches.
Moreover, in the trench which bad been made to
connect the two larger pits were eight cohorn
mortars, from which a frequent discharge of shells
took place ; and these, especially when the French
were brought in front of their works, as in case of
the repulse of a sortie, frequently canoed considerable
annoyance. Two field-pieces were also placed in a con-
venient position for use near one of the jam-
buscades. So complete was the success of our allies
in this affair that all these mortars were cap-
tured, and brought away in triumph to their own
camp. This attack, which commenced in the even-
ing, about 10 o'clock, differed from many of the late
night attacks, inasmuch as, instead of being dark, the
moonlight was so strong that every object was ren-
dered plainly conspicuous. Although there was a
light misty haze over the surface of the ground, it
was not sufficient to interrupt vision even at
long distances. The attack was seen along
the whole lines. From a distance the fire
of the musketry appeared like the sparkling
evanescent lights of tropical fire-flies, while the course
of each shell was seen from its first ascent to its fall.
The flashes of light from the mortars and howitzers
were widely reflected through the thin, gauzelike
stratum of vapour in the air, and with each brilliant
flash the surface of the sea beyond was lit up for a
momentary period. The contest lasted about three-
quarters of an hour. After the musketry had ceased
the Russian batteries poured a tremendous fire in the
direction in which the conflict had occurred. Among
the French, the gallantry of the men of the first
regiment of the Foreign Legion is particularly spoken
of. They were completely in advance, and suffered
the greatest loss. Their colonel-commandant, two
lieutenants, and a sub-lieutenant were killed. The
74th regiment of the use, and a small body of
troops of the Imperial Guard, are also highly praised.
The loss which our allies suffered is not exactly known,
but it is generally estimated at 150 killed, and about
500 in all placed hors de combat. The Russian loss
is variously estimated, but it must have been very
great in proportion. At one time the 74th regiment
and the men of the Foreign Legion had contrived to',
surround one of the Russian battalions, and the two
were so mixed that the Russian reserves did not dare
to fire from fear of wounding their own troops.
Several were on this occasion taken prisoners, andl
among them were two captains and some cadets. A
number of the Russian wounded were carried after
the affair to the French ambulance.

About 3 a.m. the enemy returned in great force,
and attacked the French, who were holding the pits,
and their working parties. But it was of no avail,
a sharp fire compelled them to retreat again within
their works. The French completed the communi-
cation between their own advanced trench and the
Russian pits, turning the direction of the latter. As
the interval between the two comprehended a distance
of about four hundred yards, the completion of this
work, taking into account the difficulties under which
it was performed, exhibits great energy.
The Russians made one more attempt to regain
their lost possession, but with the same result. This
wee in the afternoon of Wednesday, the 2nd instant,
between three and four o'clock p.m. They were so
warmly received on this occasion that the fighting
did not last long. Nothing can exhibit more strongly
than these repeated attacks the importance which the
enemy attached to this position ; and as it is
closely under the bastion Herd, the advantage of
holding it to our allies is equally obvious. It is said
that the French engineers have discovered that the
battery is mined in several directions, and that they
are now actively engaged in countermining opera-
tions.

On the same day that this third attack near the Flag-
staff and Centralßattery took place,and about the same
time, some vessels of our fleet were observed to fire
towards the shore; but their relative position pre-
vented the works at which their fire was directed
from being observed in camp. Fort Constantine also
discharged a few guns, but they could not, from the
distance, have taken effect upon our ships.
The expedition which I alluded to above has
started, as far as the land forces are concerned under
the command of Lieutenant-General Sir George
Brown. All the steam sloops and gunboats have gone,
and several of the larger vessels of war, including the
Royal Albert, with Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, have
left. Although the fleet were seen yesterday, the
4th instant, going in a westerly direction, it is gene-
rally believed that their destination is Batch. The
Vesuvius has just made a survey of the batteries
which guard the entrance of the channel as it ap-
proaches towards the Sea of Asoff, and had only re-
turned three days before the expeditionary form mos
assembled. Major Gordon, of the Royal Engin/rem
returned on board, having completed a survey of the
mistny's works in that direction. He and Lieutenant
De as, R. 8., have again started with the force
which hasjust left. In the French orders, Bopatoris
is alluded to as the direction of the expedition—n
unlikely a ruse, to prevent true intelligence being
given to the enemy. Odessa is also named as the
probable object of attack.
Of the English troops, the Highland Brigade, the
3rd Buffs (only just arrived), and the 31st Regiment,
form the infantry contingent. A small body of
cavalry, consisting only of fifty troopers has gone,
under the command of Colonel Low, of the 4th Light
Dragoons. Major Barker's battery has also embarked.
The French, it is said, send 10,000 men of all arms.
It is related that Major Gordon obtained important
information respecting the nature of the enemy's
works near Cape Akburun by an ingenious device.
A small vessel had been captured, on board which
was a Russian officer's carriage. This was seat
ashore, as a matter of politeness, by the naval audio-
rities, the vessel itself, and her crew, being detained
as fair prize of war. In the stern sheets of the boat
which took the carriage towards the shore sat Msjor
Gordon, but in the costumed* sailor. He had thus
sufficient opportunity to make his required notes,
and even, m spite of his wounded arm not being yet
healed, to take a few sketches of the Russian battaeise
and the position of their guns. A large fleet of mar-
abuts= is lying in the harbour of Kertoh. The
in the neighbourhood is described as most
and evincing the highest cultivation.
The siege works are day by day being strength-
ened and advanced. Some new batteries on the
Greenhill attack have been made, and strongly armed,
but have not yet opened. A number of rifle pits,
as many as fourteen, have been constructed on the
right of this attack, in advanos of the foremast paral-
keL They are deeply excavated, well protected by
ansof proper thkkams, and have ready at hand
materials necessary for the repair of damp
gbh& may be done to them by round shot from the
emele gar. Two at these rifle pita am inge
abooodi impale of Why fifty et sixty am ula
seers aro miller, bet equally , aid well Po'
did with mans d repair in easef injury. CM
the left of thle Week limb also a small redoubt,
senstraeted Wit Om IMO object. There are some
new works aloe albs Presibuso'whill attack, which
have not yea ben spool; obey are heavily armed.
The large 13-inch ma amiss mortars have been car-
ried more forward ; it is even esserted that from
their present position shells Gould be thrown with