The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-29 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENC E.

vice. Nearly every one bad a brandy bottle, either
actually in his hand, or lying near him, or broken
under him in his fall. I was riding with a Polish
officer, who conversed with a great many of the
wounded, who informed us that large quantities of
brandy had been served out to the soldiers before the
action, except the artillerymen. There were a great
many small platforms lying about, some resembling
ladders with the rungs very close, and carried by
rope-slings attached to each end, as bridges to be
thrown woes the aqueduct. The great majority,
however, peened without them. The Zonaves had
made a general collection of crosses, relics, and
medals, and retailed them to the visitors, in addition to
which pickings from the dead bodies, they made small
collections of money from the persons of the wounded,
managing dexterously to extract it from the inside of
the trousers close to the knee, where the Russian
soldiers generally carry their money,while pretending
to examine into the nature of their wounds, thus
avoiding giving any mental pain to the sufferers.
Some very fine rifles, quite new, and now seen for
the first time, were found on the field, but were
instantly taken possession of by the military authori-
ties, and the sale prohibited. Judging from what I
mw myself, and from comparing notes with others,
and without being able to say how many bodies may
be in the aqueduct, I should say the number left on
the field was fifteen hundred; the usual calculation
is that twice as many are wounded as are
killed, and this, with between five and six
hundred prisoners, not wounded, taken by the
French and Piedmont's., would make the total
loss of the Russians little short of 6,000 men
hors it. combat. The divisions engaged were the 6th,
7th, 12th, and 17th, most of them belonging to dif-
ferent corps d'armee. One had never been under
fire before, and had made a rapid march from
Baktschi Semi and rested eight hours before the
attack. One man, who fell high upon the bill side,
assured us that he was in the last battalion of the
reserve, and that every single soldier had been sent
down rom the heights; so that had we pursed them
we might have gained the Mackenzie plateau along
with them, and held it. Prince Gortchakoff com-
manded in chief, and General Martinaloff the assault-
ing columns. The whole force, including cavalry
and artillery, is calculated at 60,000 men. There
were 60 guns in the field.
There were only ten or twelve officers left on the
ground, which proves that a great number must have '
been carried off in the retreat. The Piedmontese
have lost 300 men killed and wounded ; amongst
others, General Monte Vecchio, commanding one of
the brigades, who was shot through the body, and was
not expected to survive through yesterday. The
French have about 1,100 men hors de combat.

I was standing at the bridge while the French were
collecting the wounded from the other side, and
placing them in the ambulances. The Rus.ians could
see perfectly well what they were about, from the
Mackenzie heights, and nevertheless had the bar-
barity to fire from one of their batteries right into the
crowd on the road. A scene of great confusion en-
sued ; the ambulance mules galloped off, causing the
wounded they were carrying to shrink with pain. It
was little short of a miracle that no one

wu hurt by the shot, which I am told, after my
departure, continued to be fired at intervals during
the whole day.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Auo. 18.
I resume my diary, which will be found to contain
notes of important events which have tr.nspired
within the last three days.
August 16.—At daybreak, about half-past 4 a.m.,
heavy firing was heard in the rear. On moving
towards the right flank of our position, where the
high ground upon which the battle of Inkermann
was fought affords an opportunity of observing the
Tcheres, a plain as far as Tchorgoun, a general view
of the conflict was gained, and some idea could be
formed of the object and extent of the struggle. The
mists which remained over the low ground, and the
thick volumes of smoke which rolled along the plain,
and clung to the sides of the hills, concealed most of
the details. It was evidently no rtoonnaissance or
slight affair this time, but a preooncerted and very
determined attack. An assault was being made
against the French position for nearly half its length
on the swelling low range of bilks stretching across
the valley, and was continued along to the
Sardinian position at Tchorgoun. A very close
contest was going on near the stone bridge
across the Tchernsya, and by the openings between
the hills which form the route of communication with

the Balaklava valley. The guns of the Sardinian
batteries on the south side of the Tchorgoun entrance,
and some field batteries of the French on the kills to
the south of the river, were pouring a deadly fire into
the Russian ranks, while the enemy's batteries near
the lokermann mountain were unable to act, and
comparatively few of their field guns, against our I
allies, on account of the advanced position of their
own troops and the nature of the ground. Large
bodies (were seen to be drawn up in columns of re-
serve, as far back as the spot where the road to
Mackenzie's Farm is lost to view behind the extremity
of the lokermann mountain. Bodin of troops were
observed also on the side, of the opposite hills.
Half-past eight, a.m.—Atter every deadly struggle
the Russians are retiring on all sides. Several times
they crossed the river by the bridge and by fording,
bat were repulsed by the fearful fire of the artillery!
and on gaining the sloping sides of the hills crowned
by the French camps, by the fatal discharge of the
French rifles. Now, as their columns are return-
ing towards the north side of the valley, a terrible dis-
charge of congreve rockets is being poured into their
ranks from the French position on the right flank.
and is evidently committing great havoc among their
numbers. The field of action on both sides of the
Tchernays, more especially for a wide distance round
the Russian aide of the Tcheroaya-bridge, is strewed
with killed and wounded troops, and a great number
of hones are also lying or limping about the plain.
The flag which was waving above the east end of the
Inkermann mountain has been struck, and the shwa-
phone is quite inactive.
The attack commenced about five o'clock, the first
dhoti being beard near the Sardinian position. The
An almost immediately opened along the whole
Ilse, but it was soon rendered evident that the chief
aim of the Russian commander was to force the pawn
communicating with the valley of Balaklava, and
thus to turn the flank of the French position on the
hills, and break their chain of oommunication with
the Piedmoutese troops. There are two
.principal
routes or openings in this direction. Ooe is formed
by a break in the line of bill stretching across the
plain, leaving a'passage between its east end, and •
part cut off, as it were, and assuming
the form of an irregular Mamelon. This
Mamelon, as well u the line of hill, was held by
French troops. The second pass is between the
Mamelon and tke opening to Tchorgoum, and along
this the river finds its way as it comes out of the gorge
to wind through the valley. Through the first-named
opening the high road from Simpheropol to Bala-
klava passes, and nearly opposite to it is a handsome
stone bridge, spanning the river by two arches. This
bridge is approached on either side by a gradual in-
cline, the road being carried over a series of laud
arches. The river under ordinary toircumstapoes is
fordable at this part. At the second opening then is
no bridge across the river, excepting that for the
aqueduct; the water spreads out, and is readily ford-
able. The passage of this ford was commanded by
the guns of a redoubt held by the Sardinians.
It was in the neighbourhood of the stone b
and the ford above that the severest part i7lig
struggle took place. The numbers of dead lying
about these two positions are greater than in say
other part of the field of action. The Russians, as
they approached along the road to the bridge, and on
such side, were mown down by the fire of the artil-

leery of the allies; and, on the opposite side, the
French, who were defending the psseage, eufler,cl
from the fire of the Russian artillery, which had been
brought up on the heights on the east of the road and
valley. On two occasions the enemy succeeded in
crossing the bridge,and in considerable numbest' began
to climb up the sides of the Mamelun and the end
of the bill occupied by the French, but the fire of
the rifles above drove them back. It is stated that
at one time the enemy was forced back by the 62nd
French infantry at the point of the bayonet, but this
is doubtful. As they retired across the river the
artillery of the Allies committed great execution
among them. Some of the French troops assert that
the passage of the bridge by the Hoagland could
have been easily prevented, but that it was purposely
permitted, with the motive of entiapping them into
more certain destruction. Be this as it may, the cross
fire which was opened upon them as they advanced
into the opening between the hills from the rifles of
the infamy, and the direct fire of the artillery,
caused great havoc among their ranks, and
after the fight the bodies of the killed were found
to be thickly strewn as far as six y' or seventy yards
on the French side of the river. he aqueduct is net
carried along by the side of the river, but, for the
sake of having a higher level, is placed at the foot of
the hills for some distance, the curves and windings
of which it closely follows. The aqueduct is deep,
and not easily crossed. Between it and the hill aide
there is usually a deep ditch. Many of the Russians
had not only crossed the river, but, pursuing their
way, had also crossed the aqueduct. To enable them
to do this, they bad been provided with numerous
small platforms, just long and broad enough
to form so many bridges across the aqueduct;
these they had carried with them. In some
places many wounded and dead were found lying in
the ditch between the hill-side and the bunk upon
which the aqueduct is raised. The small wuoden
platforms carried by the men could be joined toge-
ther so u to form rafts, if required, for use on the
river; but pontoons also were amply provided for
the construction of regular bridges for the passage
of cavalry or artillery. A great number of these
small rafts and also some pontoons were left on the
field, and taken by the allies.
About half-past eight o'clock, after suffering an
immense lass, aid having failed to achieve any ad-
vantage against the allies,
_the enemy commenced his
retreat. Although pursued by a destructive fire from
artillery, and harassed by rockets from a battery on
the right flank, it is but right to name that this was
accomplished without any signs of disorder. It was
noon before the last columns of the infante', disap-
peared from view.

Thus ended a contest which, whether as regards
the foroe employed and the determined nature of the
attack on the one side, or the decisive repulse and
victory on the other, or whether its moral effect be
considered, and the probable consequences bad a dif-
ferent result ensued, must hereatter bo reckoned
among the most important events of the
campaign. The battle of the Tchernaya will
not soon be forgotten. The Russians had
calcoluted upon a very different conclusion.
They had apparently made no doubt of being
able to drive the French from the line of bill
across the valley, and had seemingly calculated upon
pursuing their advantage into the valley of Balatex&
The immense force of cavalry, said to amount to
16,000 troopers, which accompanied the army, could
sot have been employed in the Tcheruaya valley,
and must have been intended for subbequent opera-
tions in the plain of &Mk's.. A very large
proportion of the soldiers carried with them small
spades, evidently to entrench themselves when they
had obtained a footing on the hill. They also had
bread and cooked provisions enough to last for several
days consumption. Had the Russians succeeded in
the object aimed at they would have secured
possession of the river and the acqueduct, and thus
not only have inflicted a most serious loss oa the
allies, but also have removed one evil from which their
own army on the Inkermann and North Heights
is said to be suffering, namely, the want of water foe
their horses and cattle.

Among the killed on the field a Russian general
officer was recognised by his uniform; his head had
been carried away by a round shot. Another general
officer, wounded, was taken to one of the French
ambulances. He was in much distress. Speaking
in French, he said to a French officer by his side at
the ambulance, "This is a sad day of disgrace for
Russia, not to have set free the passage of
the Tchernaya, defended by one French divi-
sion." Another Russian officer, who was made
prisoner, and conversed in German, aeked
" What was done in front of Sebastopol P" and
on being told that nothing important had taken place
there, expressed surprise. He afterwards explained
that it was understood in the Russian army that
simultaneous with the attack to gain the Tchernaya
an assault was to be made by an overpowering force
against the French and English works before the
Karabelnaia.
It is said that two other divisions, including
a division of the Imperial Guard, are now on their
way down from Perekop to join the Russian army:
If this be true, perhaps the attempt which hael
just failed may be renewed. On visiting the scene
of action to-day, it was impossible to help remarking
that the soldiers of the divisions just arrived and now
lying dead on the field were very different men in
strength and size of frame from the majority of those
seen at Alma andlnkermana. Many were old men.
even with grey hair, and a great proportion seemed
to be mere youths. Their cheeks were hollow, too,
as it the fatigues of their march hod acted
upon their frames. Among the wounded there
was a general stolid indifference to pain and suffering,
which seemed to be in keeping with the vapid unin-
tellectual expression of their countenances. Nothing
could exceed the kind attention of the French and
Sardinians to their woupded prisoners, but the Rus-
sians kept op a constant fire from the battery on the
spur of the Inkermaon mountain, and also from a
redoubt lately erected on a comparatively low
eminence in the valley immediately in front of it,
against the parties who were bringing them in frdm
the field.
August 17.—At half-past four this morning a very
active fire was opened from our right and left attacks
against the Redan and its flanking batteries. Later
in the morning the Mamelon opened a new battery
against the Malakhoff. The fire from the French
works was particularly vigorous at 6 a.m., and con-
tinued so for an hour; it then gradually subsided
into a cannonade, but little stronger than ordinary.
The cannonading from the English batteries has con-
tinued to be very energetic. The Redan has replied
frequently, and has been supported by the Barrack
and Garden Batteries. There has not been much
fire from the French works on the left.
The object of the great beams of timber and wag-
gon loads of planks, for a long time past observed to
be brought to the north side, sad also in considerable
quantities across to the south side, becomes more
apparent daily. The raft bridge before alluded to is
now brought nearly opposite to Fort Paul, and can
be-
hind the second three-decker and the twe-decker in
the space which is left vacant
stead. In a few days it will be completed
betheseelninemeoufilysinhgips stretching zeroes the road-
to Fort Nicholas. Troops will then be able
to walk across from Fort Katherine or Fort
Sakai", as it is marked in the maps, to the
south side in a continuous body. The workmen are
now very busily employed upon the bridge. As
each raft is added to the length already formed, it is
firmly anchored down and connected. It seems to be
very solidly constructed, floats some distance above
the water, is broad, and would appear to be calcu-
lated to sustain the passage of heavy trucks or carts,
as well as of men. The workmen are now occupied
in fixing rails on each side for the protection of
the passengers. The roof of the very large building,

OS•looting the barrack and Admiralty buildiegs, aid
.acing the south barbour,hss ben completely stripped
and ttken away, and there is very little doubt that
this has been done in order to employ its rafters as
some of the supports for the planking of the bridge
just mentioned. It had been suspected that this ,
timber had been used in constructing some case-
mating, or other works, within the barrack building,
but this idea is now abandoned.
The troops are still confined to their respective
bembsrdalent of the Redan and
its assmated works has been kept up all day.
The right face of .tbe week exhibits mani-
festly the effect of the heavy fire which
has been directed against it. A battery linty
thrown up on its right flank, and which is said to
have harassed considerably the French. in their
approaches towards the Malsklioff, him also been
very much injured. The fire spinet, the Moamar
itself has not been very active as fi./ as the French
batteries were concerned, bat a I,eeey vertical fire
has been thrown into it from ose advanced mortar
batteries. On the extreme right there is less than
the usual activity. Our we rks have suffered, and
we have bad some severe casualties. Some guns
In one of the Quarry ba'.teries, the embrasures of
which were only co'. open yesterday evening,
have been dismounted, Commander Hammett,
of the royal navy, is reported killed in the sailors'
hattc yof the right 'attack. In the left attack there
have been several mete casualties. Captain Anthony
Oldfield, of the Re.jvil Artillery, an officer of consider-
able standing in this service, and lately commanding
the left ai.ge tr Atra, was struck in the head by a round
shot and killed instantaneously. Lieutenant James
Sullen Dermis, 3rd Buffs, it is feared, is mortally
wounded, ',laving had both thighs broken. Brevet-
Major Ck,orge Cecil Henry, Royal Artillery, has had
his right arm shattered close to the shoulder, so
that amputation kad to be performed at the joint.
The number of casualties has been great, also, among
fire men of the Royal Artillery, and also in the
P ecood Division, who were guarding the trenches of
'the right attack.
Mau' more wounded have been brought in from
the plain to-day. Large parties have been occupied
in buy* the dead. Although the weather has
been comparatively cool, decomposition had rapidly
advanced, and the air was poisoned by the offensive
exhalations.

9 p.m.—The alarm was sounded by several of the
divisions in front, and the regiments turned out and
were quickly under aims. 'fbe cum of the alarm
was out apparent. At first it was supposed that it
was done as a matter of practice, but being so shortly
alter the time when the evening roll had been
called, and ell the men had just retired, this suppo-
sition was not very probable. No musketry was
beard at the time, bor was there any evidence of an
attack, and the troops were shortly dismissed.
The following general order has been published by
Geoeral Simpson, Commanding-in-Chief, respecting
the conflict of yesterday :
Head-quarters before Sebastopol. 17th August, 1865.
The Commander of the For,es congratulates the army ea
the brilliant COMM which attended the snag of the French
sad Sardinian troops engaged yestvrday with the enemy.
Their attempt to pass the Tcheraeys, though made with
overwhelming numbers, met with a most decisive repulse.
Our gallant allies have added tro►h lustre to their ansa,
by their iatrepidity and Bering; and ea this, the ant se•
euion of the S.rdinisa troops meeting the enemy, they have
proved themselves la every Illy worthy of lighting side by
side with the greatest military satins of Europe.

August 18. An lly active fire was directed
against the enemy's works last night. An incessant
discharge of round shot and shell was maintained
against the Redan and its flanking batteries. The
object appears to have been twoiold : to prevent the
enemy repairing the mischief which had been done
to his works during the previous day, and also to
divert the fire of certain of the enemy s guns, so that
the French works in progress on the Malakhoff might
be eanied on without interruption.
The morning is sunny and clear ; the heat being
tempered by a cool breeze from the north.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Avo. 17.

One Russian officer who was taken prisoner
inquired, with great apparent interest, how the
attack on the front had succeeded. It has been
proved beyond a doubt that a simultaneous attack
wee intended on our (rout. Why this part of the
performance was omitted we have not yet heard.
We expect it momentarily, and orders have been
circulated and museums taken tomtits the efficiency
and alacrity of the several divisions in the
event of an attack tak.og ;place. As usual, after all
these conflict, the voila °assists Sr. in great demand,
but Russian decorations have never been such a drug
in the market as at present. An order of St. George
may be had for about five franc. (at the taking of
the Mame lon they sold for forty). Hungarian and
Transilvanian medals sell for a franc • piece, as
almost every soldier that fell had something of the
son on bias. As for guns and swords they lie for those
who wish to pick them up, although both of these
articles are of a much superior workmanship ro any
we have yet found in the hands of our enemies. One
of the commonest trophies is a small tablet of wood
or brass, with a cover attached with a hinge, on the
inner side of the tablet and cover is embossed (either
in silver or brass) some scenes from the Legends of
the Saints. The outside of the lid bears always
the same devire—a crucifix, with • lance and
macs on either side. Every Russian soldier,
almost without exception, bears one of these
about him. The workmanship is very rude,
and the design very antique. It seems always
to by the nuns subject, and they only differ.
from each other in the material or the shape of the
tablet. There is a short inscription in Roman cha-
racter', which would seem to show that they are
not manufactured in Russia, for it is not unreason-
able to suppose that the Greek priests would take
every means to keep them ignorant of everything
connected with the Latin faith. •
A body of Sardinian Bersaglieri, after the grand
repulse of the Russians, pressed on after them
in a most daring manner, and without looking to sse
if they were supported, continued to follow up for
some distance from the main body. A battery of
Russian artillery opened on them with round shot,
but these gallant fellows nothing daunted, used their
rifles with such effect that the gunners were quickly
obliged to limber up and seek a safer position.
At length two heavy columns of infantry were
sent against thtm, and not until then did they
coadescend to retire, which they did in good order
and with very slight loss. Another gallant feat of
our allies is worthy of admiration, as more especially
showing the confidence they place in the prowess and
determination of their brothers in arms. On the
centre of the army being driven by the Russian
columns across the river, the Sardinian artillery on
the right centre was left unsupported. Calculating on
the speedy repulse of the Russians they refused to leave
their ground, but turning their guns to the left,
they poured heavy volleys of shot and shell
into the masses of the enemy, rendering his sub-
sequent defeat comparatively easy. All the enemy's
soldiers supporting the skirmishers, carried a small
raft, probably to form a portion of a bridge over the
river or the aqueduct, most probably the latter, as the
river is fordable in many places, whereas the aque-
duct is very deep, and far too wide to be jumped by a
Russian soldier in a great coat and long boots.

Three new medals have just been struck at the
Paris Mint. On one is placed this portrait of the Emperor,
with the foliowiag ineeriptioa on the opposite side:—" Vie.
tetra de Treektir par lee Armies maim de Frames, Wakes's.
time, et de Pidmont, 18 dont, 1855." The mond is Is
homer of the Qation of Eagisad's visit, sad gives on one
side the portraits of the Emperor and the Empress, with
the iagend—" Napolion 111 , Empereur ; Baguio, Imp&
marks " sad oa the , portraim of the Queen sad of
Prises Alhert, with the inieription—" La Reins d'Angle-
terse et is Priest Albert viWtent la Prance, Lout, ;1866. "
The third gives ea one side portraits of the Queen sad
Priam Albert, and on the review, within a snows, the
following words—" Leer sdjour i Paris, 18 Lost, 1866."
A proposition of Mr. Hennard, as English mai-
am, se ~ram a enewension-bridge from PM to entail,
hoe been well resolved by the Turkish pooressent. The
met le estimated at 700,0001., shish it kr proposed to raise
by • sompsay of Iteelish empitalista
As the Abbe &lama, ewe of Montpellier, was a
hor days me biathlon la the sea at Manners (Charente-
lonfileisere .), be was mwa idy seised with scamp sad
drwsed

irte expregig.

TO CORRESPONITANTIL
dvortioessato lateadood for .. The Itspo00," Let los
Mont be at the OIL% 10, Ilogotollo4/10110, by Two
lay of paolloatioa.
'•
0 f s

MOH WATER AT LONDON BUDGE.
Tips Do--Agrang.. Y. lea Afternoon. 29ne.
te-nolatier—faessing. lb. VAR— Altana); 46. Una