The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-08 00:00:00

CAMP MOVEMENTS.

Three or four days ago the enemy, having been misin-
formed by his spies that the French had evacuated Baidar,
showed seven isotnias of Cossacks and some infantry (about
two regiments, it is said) on the heights above that place.
Perceiving their mistake, the hostile forces retired, were

followed up by the Chasseurs d'Afrique, and one or two
prisoners were made. These describe the condition of the
Russian army to he anything but satisfactory; owing to
the want of transport, and the difficulty of obtaining sup-
plies from 11sktchi•Serai, the meu are hungry and out of
heart.—Tinies ear., Feb. 18th.
An attack on the Russian battery at Tractir is not
anticipated by the Times correspondent :
A report reached me on Saturday that the French and
Sardinians were shortly to make an attack on a Russian
battery at the foot of the Lukermaun heights, as nearly as
may be in a direct line downwards from the battery known
as Bilboquet. I cannot ascertain that there is any founda-
tion for tors rumour as regards the French, but as regards
the Sardinians I have good grounds for believing there is
none. The battery in question, which is a new one, fires
only at night, and it is a matter of doubt whether the fire
proceeds from guns sunk in the earth (in the manner of
those which last August used to send round-shot from the
Garden Battery into the fourth division camp) or from
artillery brought up a'ter dark. I understand that some
of the shot have fallen in the Zouaves' camp, and it is pos-
sible the French may contemplate a dash at the battery —lb.
The work of demolition has been making progress both
in Sebastopol and the Karabelnaia suburb. The explosions
of small mines are now frequent sounds, and it is difficult
to distinguish them horn the reports of the guns fired on
the north side, or the shells bursting among the ruined
buildings in the town. Now and then, under peculiar
conditions of the atmosphere, the reports of the guns in
the Russian batteries so rnd wonderfully near to the camps,
towards which their muzzles, though a long distance off,
are directed, while at other times their discharge is not
even audible. Saveral of the underground bunks and
bomb-proof barracks in the Reilaii were blown up yesterday.
Some of these works wore so solidly constructed, framed of
such massive timbers, and so deeply imbedded, that it
woald have required infinite manual labour to have extri
cated the wooden beams from the mass of earth and stones
which was lying above them. Now that they have been
broken up, the wood can be removed with comparative
ease, and much of it is valuable for various purposes. It
may also be a matter of policy, looking forward to future
operations, to destroy all means of cover and materials for
construction of batteries, which might be taken advantage
of by a hostile force on these heights after the allies had
retired within the lines of Kamiesch. A portion only of
the stone barracks of the Karabelnata has been overthrown,
but the whole will shortly disappear.—D. News car., Feb. 16.

AN EXECUTION IN CAMP.
The murderer of the artilleryman, a short time
since, wag hanged on the 23rd ult., in the presence
of the division to which he belonged :
The execution of the young soldier Day, belonging to
the 77th Regiment, of whom I wrote you yesterday, has
taken place this morning. The light division was drawn
up in an open square close to Cathcart's-hill. In the
centre two upright posts and a cross-beam, from which a
rope depended, marked the spot selected for the execution
Outside the square the ground was kept by the 77th Regi-
ment, and spectators were not allowed to pass beyond, or
rather inside this line. Behind it were many officers on
horseback ; and on the high ground at the upper angle of
the square was gathered a large number of pedestrians.
The officers of the divisions were clued), mounted and
within the square. The rain passed away, but the strong
wind continued. Soon the notes of the " Dead March in
Saul" were heard, and then the prisoner, attended by a
small guard on foot, a clergyman in white robes, and twelve
provost-sergeants, mounted and armed, marched firmly
and in an erect attitude into the sqnare and on towards the
gallows, whence he could plainly see the grave preparzd for
him, and which his corpse was so soon to fill. The music
ceased. The hangman placed him under the fatal beam,
took off his red jacket, adjusted the noose around his neck,
placed a white night-cap over his face, and suddenly,
before any one seemed to expect it, the drop fell. with
instantaneous effect, for plenty of rope had mercifully been
given. The neck was evidently broken. The head of the
deceased fell on his shoulder, and the body swayed
to and fro in the wind. The provost-sergeants remained
drawn up in line, on one side of the gallows The chap-
lain and several milivary officers formed a group on the
other side. All was over. Half the troops were marched
off the ground before the body was cut down. It remained
suspended about an hour, and then a party of soldiers ap-
proached, and the corpse was placed in the grave. The
chaplain still remained on the spot, hut whether he said or
read any prayers I cannot state, I was too distant to hear.
While the grave was being filled in, the gallows was
rapidly taken to pieces, and I turned homewards sickened
by a sight which the law declares necessary, but which
must ever shock the mind of those who have unfortu-
nately to witness it.-3f. Herald cor., Feb 23.
Lord I'anmuru received a despatch on Thursday,
from General Codrington, announcing the execution
of the prisoner Day.

RUSSIAN ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.
The Times correspondent, writing on the 18th,
states on high authority that the nominal strength
of the Russian army in the Crimea from lately ob-
tained returns amoutes to 67,000 infantry, 19,000
cavalry and artillery, and :300 guns. Of• these, three
divisions of the third corps d'armie, under the com •
wand of General Soukhozanet (9,000 men and 36
guns) are stationed on the Upper Belbeck, and the
same force at Korales, on Mackenzie's plateau, and
on the lakermanu heights. The fourth corps cl'arruee
of three divisions, commanded by General Osten-
Sacken, has one division of 9,600 men and 30 guns
on the Katscha, and two more of the same strength
on the Jozaba and Mackenzie heights. This gives
a total of 07,000 men, and 252 guns.