The Express.
London, England, 1855-11-19 00:00:00

OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL

CAMP, SEBASTOPOL, Nov. 6.
The rumour of an attack from the Russian army
has become spin a subject of talk and speculation in
our different camps. A deserter from the enemy, a
Hungarian officer, is said to have given information
that the present intention of the Russians is to make
en moult against our position between the 13th andBth
°tithe month ; and that, in case of the result being on:
favourable t, their arms, it is not improbable the
main body of the army will evacuate the Crimea,l
leaving only troops sufficient to defend the entrenched
positions. There is said to be a dearth orator's for the
winter, inc eased by the destruction lately by fire
of one of the principal commissariat davits,
while the difficulties of transporting adequate supplies
are inseparable. The large fire which was observed
about t-n days ago in an easterly direction along the
north heights, sad which was generally supposed at
the time to proceed from the burning of brushwood,
appears to have been produced by the destruction of
the winter stores alluded to by the deserter. It was
generally attributed in the Russian camp to the
agency of incendiary emissaries in the pay of the
Allies. Whether the enemy holds any such inten-
tion as report has attributed to him, events will
shortly prove; but it seems by far mute probable
that the rumour has been intentionally scattered
abroad for the purpose of preventing any large portion
of the Allied forces from quitting their present position.
There has been no movement of troops observable
from oar places of watch. The fire from the batteries
and forts on the North aide has continued as active
as it has been for the last fortnight, and has been
attended with nearly the same reenter. Houses and
buildings already in ruins have been still further de.
molished, but they have scarcely interrupted the
removal by fatigue parties of the timber and other
materials required for the construction of the sheltie'
required in camp, and for purposes of hutting. •
few days ago thirty tons of wheat were brought
up from an advanced storehouse connected with the
dockyard, and ground into flour on board the Com-
missariat steamer " Bruiser," lying in Balaklava har-
bour. The casualties among the men employed in
the fatigue duties have been exceedingly few, and
generally caused by falling bricks or timber in the
demolition of the houses.
A Council of War was held at head-quarten on the
9rd instant, when, it is understood, atter some discus-
sion, all intention of further operations against the
enemy was abandoned for the present winter. The
contemplated expedition against Ka& is postponed.
The lateness of the season, and the uncertainty'
weather favourable for naval operates& and landing'
troops continuing, sufficiently explain these resolu-
tions. It is said, however, that the admirals were
anxious for the undertaking to be attempted.
On the same day, Lieut.-General Sir Colin Camp-
bell, commanding the Highland Division, took his de'
putties for England in the Calcutta steamer. His leav-
ing was either very suddenly determined upon, or the
intention of doing so bad been kept remarkably secret,
for early on the morning of Saturday, when he left,
none of the commanding or other officers of the regi-
ments in the Division were aware of the probability
even of his quitting the Division. Some short time
ago Sir Colin wee offered the oommacd at Malta,
which he considered to be tantamount to expressing
a desire that hie divisional command might become
vacant, with a view to ulterior changes. He is said
to have declined the offer bluntly in the following
words:—" If lam in the way, say so, and go at
once; but if you ark se whether I choose to give up
the command of my division, while it remains in
front of the enemy, I answer, no." General Simp-
son had at that time tendered his resignation, bat it
was not known what the reply of the Government
would be. That resignation has now been accepted,
and the immediate cause of Sir Colin Campbell's
departure is supposed to have been the en-
trancement of this fact, together with an intima-
tion that it had been deemed expedient to appoint for
his successor, a general officer junior to Sir Colin
Campbell in the service. Sir Colin at once applied
for leave of absence, which was granted, and in a few
hours he was on his way towards England. He
leaves with the regret not only of every officer in his
own division, but of the army at large. He was shoat
the only rratainieg officer who held at the sew
mencemsat of the campaign a command superior to
that of a battalion. If his division has not been
more actively employed, it is well known that this
was ao fault of its gueseaL He has lately dovetail
himself, with his usual activity and energy, in pro-
-viding for the wants of the troops ander his orders
during the coming winter. In all probability, within
a week or ten days every man in the Highland
Division will be comfortably protected and butted in
their sew stamping-sensed, beyond Kamen. Tbe
General's departure is the more regretted, as It
is feared that his absence will be fors mach looser
period than the time mentioned in general orders.
Col. Cameron, C. 8., commanding the First Brigade
of the Highland Division, succeeds Sir Win
Campbell.
The lest detachment of the lit Despot Gime
embarked today for Scutari. It is reported deaths
Bth Homan will satembarkt bet it is sot probable
that the other tegisseste of the Heavy end Ammar