The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-29 00:00:00

- ."

(PlOll Tall SP3CIaL

IN THE

OUR ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

07 TIM DAILY

maws.)
CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Mizqp 12.
The enemy contrived to throw up another new
entrenchment the night before last (March 10), and
in a very important position. In front of the Malak-
holt Tower bill, and a little to our right of it, is a
mammillated knoll of considerable size, familiarly
known in the camp as " Gordon's-hill." It has been
so called because at a very early period after the army
encamped before Sebastopol it wu surveyed by Major
Gordon, R.E., as a favourable site for the erection of
a battery. It was found, however, to be so bare and
rocky, there would have been so much difficulty in
obtaining the earth necessary even for the most ordi-
nary breastwork, that the plan was then abandoned.
But the intention was not given up of occupy-.
lug this point as soon as circumstances were
more favourable for the requisite preliminary
operations. As things have happened, it is well
perhaps that the hill was not occupied by

us before the winter season set in; for, being so
much in advance, and so exposed to the fire from the
works around the Malakhoff Tower, its armament
would have required constant repair and renewal, and
this would have been a matter of serious difficulty
from the state of the roads and deficient means of
transport.

The Russian engineers also have not failed to ob-
serve the value of this position, both for defensive
and offensive purposes. For defence, a battery on
the top of this hill, armed with heavy guns and con-
nected by regular works with the Malahkoff batteries
and those adjoining Careening Bay, would be an
advanced point capable of maintaining a formidable
resistance against any attack upon it. At the same
time it would command the approach from the camp,

towards the Russian lines, along the ravine of
Otchakov, which it dominates just before the ravine
expands into the irregularly-shaped valley lying at
the foot of Frenchman's-hill and the hills on which
the Redan Fort and Round Tower works are placed.
For offensive purposes, being nearly on a line with
our second parallel, or advanced work, on French-
man's-hill, and of superior elevation, it would neces-
sarily become the source of serious annoyance to our
operations in that direction. Considering the advan-
tages possessed by the enemy of having their supplies
close at hand, with an immense available amount
of labour from the entrenched army in their
rear, it is a matter of surprise that they have not
before attempted to enure a hold on this ground.
Their present attempt is evidently part only of a con-
nected series of operations, of which the new works
in progress east of Careening Bay are another por-
tion ; the whole being intended to counteract further
advance in a direction from the front, but more espe-
cially to oppose the progress of the operations of the
allies on the right, which, among other purposes, are
manifestly calculated to make head against the forti-
fications surrounding the arsenal and town by flank
attack.
The work thrown up by the Russians during the
night of the 10th inst. was very quietly and expedi-
tiously performed. By daybreak on the 11th the plan
of a redoubt had been marked out, and an extensive
breastwork and ditch had been made. As they con-
tinued in the course of the day to employ their troops
at the work, it was determined to arrest its progress.
This was speedily effected by a few discharges from
the Lancaster gun to the right of the 21-gun battery.
The Russian working party, which appeared to be
very large, speedily retired under cover after the first
or second discharge. A heavy fire of shells was
speedily thrown from the hialahkoff works, both at the
Lancaster and Gordon batteries, but without any
harm being effected. No casualty occurred among