The Press.
London, England, 1854-10-28 00:00:00


THE PRES

Serai, from whence they had been detached to escort the
infantry. Prince Menschikoff, with 19,0(X) of the troops
and soldiers defeated at Alma, is at Baktchi Serai. His
detached parties of Cossacks carefully avoid our cavalry
patrols, which take an airing on horseback along the high-
ways, without ever entering the villages, but they throw
difficulties into the way of the foraging expeditions of the
commissariat, and, hovering about the rear of the camp,
especially by night, every now and then cause a turn out
of a couple of divisions, who on such occasions have to
stand under arms for an hour or two, sniffing the cold
morning air and growling out curses at the Russians ge-
nerally, and the Cossacks in particular.

October 7.

Still nothing but preparations and conjectnres:"io-
morrow " is tie watchword repeated every day since last
week. I suppose it cannot be helped, but it is at auy rate
a pity to leave the garrison time to recover from the shock
experienced at Alma, and to fortify themselves on the south
side, where they seem never to have expected an attack.
Besides this, the continuance of the magnificent weather
which has hitherto favoured the expedition becomes every
day more uncertain, while the approach of Russian rein-
forcements is becoming every day more certain.
The fleet is, of course, entirely dependent in all its move-
ments on the land force. It has assumed the character
rather of an auxiliary force. A naval brigade has been
formed to act on shore. Besides the 1,200 marines who
occupy the heights to the east of Balaklava, 1.000 sailors,
draughted from different vessels, have been landed, together
with the upper-deck guns of the London, Albion, Queen,
Rodney, and Britannia, and nearly all the guns of the Dia-
mond. They are under the command of Captain Lushing-
ton, of the Albion, Captain Peel, of the Diamond, and Cap-
tain Moorsum, besides the commanders of the Agamemnon,
Queen, and Rodney, several lieutenants, and midshipmen.
To these forces have been added within the last few days
several of the Terribk's guns and the two Lancaster guns
of the Beagle—forming together fifty or sixty gnus.
Kamisch

The French are busy landing in and Kazatch
bays, close to Cape Cherson. About forty vessels are lying
there discharging guns and ammunition. Within the last
few days reinforcements of several thousand men have
likewise been landed there. In order to accelerate the
arrival of these reinforcements the Cyclops, Simian, and
Vulcan were sent two days ago to Varna. As they are all
steamers it is probable that they will be more fortunate in
this business than the transports have been which brought
up the English heavy cavalry.—Times Correspondent.
Writing on the same day the Chronicle correspon
dent says :
Ten days have the allied forces now been in sight of
Sebastopol, and not a cannon has been fired. Our heavy
siege guns are up, and apparently only waiting for ground
to be broken to commence their work of destruction.
Why, then, this delay, which is trying to the spirits of the
army, and affords time to the enemy which he has too well
employed? I believe the reason proceeds from the un-
favourable landing-place chosen by the French, who have
been prevented by the surf from landing their heavy guns
with the desired rapidity. Their guns ouzo landed, the
labour is over, for the French army occupies the left of
the position flanking the sea. The British had, on the
contrary, severe difficulties to overcome in the transport
of their siege artillery and ship guns. The distance
from Balaklava to the right of Sebastopol, where Sir John
Burgoyne has established his head-quarters, exceeds six
miles, and extends over a hilly and unfavourable road.
But, thanks to the energy of the blue jackets, the task of
dragging up the ship 32-pounders and the heavy metal of
the Terrible, with the Lancaster guns taken from the
Arrow and Beagle, has been promptly and safely effected.
Nor have gabions and fascinea been forgotten, and these,
with sandbags, will be employed, should the ground,
which is more than probable, defy the spade and the pick.
The neighbourhood of Sebastopol is a mass of rock and
stone, and to throw up trenches would be a work of time
and difficulty. The Russians have not allowed a day to
pass without firing round shot or shell. The ominous
silence which reigns in the allied camp must strike them
with terror, and Lord Raglan has wisely determined not
to fire a shot until all the guns are in position. Three
hundred cannon will open their fire at once, and the town
will be in ruins, it is calcnlated, before twelve hours'
bombardment. On the afternoon of the 3rd inst. a
Russian shell, the last they fired on that day, burst near a
tent of the 68th Regiment, belonging to the 4th division,
and killed a sergeant of the 63rd and a private of the 6bith.
A fragment of the shell tore the tent to pieces, and
dangerously wounded a private of the 68th. The latter
was struck in the hip, the iron penetrating through his
ammunition-pouch, and exploding the cartridges. This is
the oniy loss of life caused by the Russian shells we have
had to deplore. On the 6th a musketry fire wits es
changed between our pickets and a small column of
Russians who had issued from the town. When our men
begin in earnest to work at the trenches, some sharp
skirmishes must be expected. The soldiers have been
prepared for this by a general order, which recommends
the men to perfect silence, and they are informed that the
enemy will undoubtedly issue forth to annoy them and
destroy the works in construction. In that case (con-
tinues the order) a rush must be made at the foe, " who is
very easily repulsed." The French camp has been busy throw-
ing up earthworks on two heights which command the
approaches from Simferopol and Baltklava. This is a pre-
cautionary measure to protect the rear of the besieging
army in case it should be attacked by the various forces
said to be concentrating at Simferopol. Yesterday Lord
Raglan broke up his quarters at Balaklava, and is now es-
tablished at a comfortable farmhouse between that place
and the advanced lines. He visited the fourth division
the day before, and was heartily cheered by the men.
All interest is now concentrated in Sir John Burgoyne's
movements. The army has full confidence in his talents,
and only waits with impatience the comiaenoeinsat of
operations.

1(11 3

October 8.
Cholera at the camp is still very severe, and many cases
are brought thence daily in the arabas to Balaklava. Yes-
terday our people were to have opened fire at long range
upon the works at Sebastopol. As yet the greatest Russian
ally has been the exceedingly beautiful clear moonlight
nights, which would have rendered plainly visible to them
the commencement of our engineering operations.
Sir John Burgoyne, it is said, speaks positively of a few
days only being required to reduce the place. From de-
serters we hear that the Russians are determined to resist
to the last ; several Poles have come to the camp who speak
of the strong disaffection of their brethren in the town.
Yesterday morning the large white tower was found to
have undergone a metamorphosis during the night, having
changed its hue to earth colour, to render it a less palpable
target. The works around this tower are pretty strong,
mounting heavy guns ; in the rear of these is a lunette,
now finished, and having all its guns mounted. The shot
I saw on the hill, which had been thrown from this place,
were 68-pounders (solid ). The French occupy in the
siege the country from the sea to a little white picket-
house above a gorge looking immediately down upon Dock.
yard Creek. On the opposite side begin the English,
.fence they continue until due east of the harbour. lam
glad to say that most of the Russian women and children
have left the south for the north side. but we can still see
many below. I wish, however, that they had not taken all
the valuables with them that have been seen departing.
There was some skirmishing at the outposts yesterday
morning, when four Englishmen and six Cossacks were
killed, and two guns have been captured from the enemy
near Sebastopol. Yesterday, also, a body of Russian troops,
consisting of 4,0(X) cavalry and /1,000 infantry, with Cos-
sacks in advance, came from the eastward to about three
miles from lialaklava. Cavalry and horse artillery were
immediately sent against them, and the Guards and High-
landers got under arms. They were fired into by the ar-
tillery, and immediately retreated. This appeared to be a
reconnaissance, and there is a report that a numerous army
is in their rear.—Times Correspondent.
Further details of this Russian attack are given in
the correspondence of the Daily News. The writer
states :

The Russians, aware of the defenceless condition of our
fatigue parties, ships, and stores, in Balaklava and its har-
bour, made an attempt to attack the place. It appears
that a strong force had been detached from l'rince Menschi-
koffs army at the Baktchi Seria, part of which force, advanc-
ing faster than the pros, evidently for the purpose of recon•
noitring the road, crossed the Black River at daybreak, and
marched upon Balaklava at an early hour this morning
(7th). This vanguard consisted of two regiments of
Hussars, one battalion of foot and an untold number of
Cossacks. On their way they met some pickets of the Soots
Greys and 4th Dragoons, which, falling back, gave the
alarm. It is supposed that three of the dragoons, who
were separated from the rest, were surrounded and killed
by the enemy, fur three horses came in riderless. Large
detachments of cavalry, greys and dragoons, were sent
out, accompanied by two troops of horse artillery. Among
them was Captain Maude's troop, which behai ed in so
dashing a manner and did such good service at the battle
of Alma. Before our cavalry were allowed to charge, Cap-
tain Maude's troop was ordered to clear the way for them,
and this the gallant captain did so effectually and with such
a precise and rapid tire that the Russians made a sudden
retreat. For some reason unknown they were not pursued
by the cavalry. '1 he Russian expedition against Balaklava
was not so much a failure as a feeler. Still it has opened
Lord Raglan's eyes to the precarious position of the place.
A force of 1,200 marines has been stationed on the hills
round Balaklava, the road to the camp and the Black
River has been occupied by a strong detachment of dra-
goons and two troops of horse artillery, the Agamemnon's
broadside has been placed to command the high road lead-
ing down into the town, and the royal engineers have ree
ceived order at once to construct a certain number of
batteries. So, thanks to the cautious advance of the Rus-
sians, the danger, which so long threatened Balaklava, may
now be said to be well nigh over, especially if the dragoons
and marines keep a sharp look out. The Russians cannot
afford to make an unsuccessful attack on Bahaism*, for
their line of retreat lies within easy reach of our camp
round Sebastopol, and if, after some smart firing, they
were driven back, they would, on their way home, meet
with some of our divisions.
October 10th.

Letters from Constantinople by the City of Los-
don state that on the 10th the fire had not been
opened against Sebastopol, but that the operations
would go on rapidly, it having been found that the
south wall is not banked up on the inside. The
besieged begin to be in want of provisions, in conse-
quence of the reinforcements introduced into the
place after the battle of the Alma. Two daring re.
connaissances have been executed by Admiral Pruitt;
one in the day, when be went close to the walls with
400 sailors. A shower of the enemy's balls fell
among them, but no one was hurt. The other was
made at night, and had for object to sound the
passage between the vessels sunk by the Russians.
A flotilla, composed of the Napoleon and Sanspa►iel
line-of-battle-ships, and six of the allied frigates,
effected a landing on the 3rd at Yalta. This place
occupies on the west side of the Crimea a similar
position to that of Balaklava on the east. The sailors
ascertained that the depot of the enemy's provisions
which bad been spoken of did not exist. They
visited several magnificent villas, respecting property,
and paying for everything they took. The enemy
did not make their appearance.

I,

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