The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-24 00:00:00

DESPATCHES FROM ADMIRAL LYONS.

(1110111 •

ADMIRALTY, Barr. 22.
Despotslus, of which the following are copies,
have been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund

Lyons, But., 0.C.8.,

hiajesty 'a oldie and Teasels in the

Buick ise.

of bar

Royal Albert, off Sebastopol, Sept.lo.
81r,—Of the operations on shoes, which have pro-
dosed the successful result of the siogular and un-
monble siege of Set:metope), her Majesty'. govern-
ment will tas informed by General Simpeon ; but it is
my duty to report to the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty what has taken place afloat and on the sea-
board under my own observation.
It had been arranged by Generals Simpson and
Peleliu, Admiral Brasil and myself, that precisely
at noon on the Bth inst. the allied fiesta should open
fire ups the Quarantine batteries that enfiladed the
swank of the semulting plasm ; Ibat unfortu-
osely the weather, whisk bed been flee for moms
days, changed on the morning of the attack, and a
north-west gale and heavy sea rendered it impoi-
Bible for any vessels to act upon batteries situated
on the lee shore of this exposed roadstead. It will,
bower, appear by the iackosed reports from Cap-
tain Wilcox, of the Odin, and Captain Digby. of the
Royal Marine Artillery (whom, as well as the junior
officers mentioned by them, I beg leave particularly
to recommend to the favourable consideration of their
lordship), that the mortar vessels attached to the
fleets kept up a very effective fire from their position
in the Bay of Strelitska.
As the day closed, things in the harbour seemed
to be in the same state as they were in the morning,
but during the night several heavy explosions were
heard, and at dawn we observed that the fortifica-
tions on the south side were in flames, and that the
six remaining ships of the line had been sunk at
their moorings, leaving afloat no more of the late
Russian Black Sea Beet than two disunited corvettes
and nine steamers, most of which are very small.
Soon afterwards the enemy were seen retreating
across the newly-oonstructed bridge, until the south
aids of the harbour, os which the naval and military
arsenals, the public buildings, and the town of Sebas-
topol are situated, appeared to be completely eva-
cuated, and then the southern portion of the bridge
was hauled over to the north share.
It is now my pleasing duty to render justice to
the admirable conduct of all whom I have had the
honour and happiness to command during the lest
nine months of this arduous struggle, and whose
duties I shared in before; for although, with the
exception of the Naval Brigade in the camp, whose
gallant bearing from the beginning under the cam.
wand of Sir Stephen Lusbington, has been beyond
all praise, and never more so than during the last
two bombardments under the command of the Hoe.
Captain Heppe!, it has not fallen to the lot of the
navy on this occasion to perform distinguished deeds
of arms such as those of their gallant brethren in the
army ; still, whilst straining every nerve, night and
day, under very trying circumstances, to supply
the means for carrying on the siege, in the glory of
which they could not share, the generous cheer
of encouragement, unalloyed by envy, has always
been heartily given in the day of triumph; nor
have sympathy and assistance ever been wanting
in the hour of distress and suffering; the same
sentiesests have pervaded all ranks—captains, officers,
searness, and marine% all agreeing with each other
in following, asl believe I have said ones before, the
excellent example set them by my able second in
command and coadjutor Rear-Admiral Houston
Stewart.
Perhaps in closing this letter I may be permitted to
indulge in the expression of the gratification I feel in
reflecting that under all the circumstances to which
it relates, my gallant colleague, Vice-Admiral Brest,
and I have gone heart and hand together, and that
the most perfect understanding and hearty co-ope-
ration in the great cause of humanity in which we
are all engaged, have iovariably prevailed through.
out both fleets.—l am, &c.,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

SueUtak& Bay, September 8, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, is punt.
ante of the orders which I received from you this
morning, I opened fire from the mortar vessels, at
8.30 a.m., upon the Quarantine Battery, and a
general and more rapid fire, from noon until 7 p.m.,
upon the Quarantine Battery and Fort Alexander.
The two outward vessels were much exposed to the
swell which set into the bay, rendering a large object
desirable, and I therefore directed their fire between
Artillery Bay
.and the Bastion de Quarantine, where
I had been informed that Russian reserves were I
placed.
The force of the wind and heavy swell which
prevailed were singularly unfavourable to accuracy,
and the general satisfactory nature of the firing
was due to the ability exercised by the officers of
Royal Marine Artillery who conducted it: and I beg
to submit to your notice the names of First Lieute-
nant Starr, First Lieutenant Hewett, First Lieute-
nant Brookes, First Lieutenant Festiag, and First
Lieutenant Pitman, the officeraemployed.
The non-commissioned officers and gunners also
performed their duties in a most satisfactory manner;
and I may especially mention the services of Colour-
Sergeant Horner, who, in the absence of an officer,
undertook the firing of the Firm, mortar vessel.
Owieg to the state of the weather, and the small-
ness of the means at their disposal, the officers in
command bad to overcome great difficulties in main-
taining the position of their vessels ; and I beg to be '
allowed to express my high opinion of the services of
Messrs. Lest, Creagh, and Pearson, Brent, Hart, and
Vaughan (Mates), who so ably performed these duties,
and greatly contributed to the success of the
firing.—l have, &c.,(Sigited) G. DIGBY,
Captain Royal Marilee Artillery.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, But., &c.

Her Majesty's ship Odin,
Off Sebastopol, Sept. 8.

Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you
that, acting in pursuance of your directions, and
in conjunction with Captain Beam, commanding
four French mortar-vessels, you did me the honour
of placing under my command, till 7 p.m., against
the Quarantine Fort and outworks, u well u upon
Fort Alexander and the upper bastions (where, near
to the latter place, a large number of the enemy's
reserve were posted), keeping their fire so completely
under that only a few shot and shell were retur .ed,
and but few fired into the French battery and ad-
vanced works before as. A small number of carcases.
were also sucoesslully thrown into the town and
upper beation,which produced a conflagration of some
extent.
To Captain Digbv, Royal Marine Artillery,
and the artillery officer in each vessel, I must
attribute the eeocessful practice, and I am glad of
the opportunity of bringing to your notice the inde-
fatigable and zealous conduct of Mr. H. K. Legit,
mate, in charge of the Firm, who, from being the
senior officer of the mortar vessels, has always ably
carried out my instructions ; and I am happy to bear
testimony to the praiseworthy conduct of Murry.
J. B. Crugh, T. Pearson, H. W. Brent, A. F.
Hart, and Henry Vaughan, mate., in charge of the
other mortar vessels.
I have also ggreat putasure in stating that no
easnalty occurred, and that neither the mortals or