The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-02 00:00:00

DECEMBtR 2, 1854.

THE WAR.

The Russian advices continue to report that
" nothing extraordinary " has occurred at Sebas-
topol. The latest dates thus received extend down
to the 20th ult. On the 18th Prince Menschikoff
reports that he had reconnoitred the position of the
allies, and adds that the " siege works were sus-
pended, and the bombardment, which had been gra-
dually slackening, had almost entirely ceased." The
allies are reported to be much in want of ammuni-
tion, and consequently obliged to restrict the fire of
their guns. General Liprandi's corps is stated to
have retired to Baktchi•Serai.
The direct advices from the camp are much in
arrear. An hurricane had prevented the arrival of
the periodical courier from Balaklava at Constanti•
nople when the Egypt us sailed on the 15th. Accord-
ing to the intelligence brought by that steamer, how-
ever, the Russians, on the 13th, continued fortifying
the houses in the interior of Sebastopol; but were
likewise preparing the means of retreating into the
fortifications of the north, by establishing two bridges
of boats.

The Moniteur states
The Minister of War has received despatches from Pens,
dated November 18, conveying the following news from the
General-in•Chicf of the army of the East to the 13th of
that month. The enemy, beaten at liikertuann, whose
losses were still more considerable than General Canrobert
had stated, had not obstructed the operations of the siege,
which proceeded. The weather had become bad, but the
health of the troops was excellent, and the spirit which
animated them admirable. Reinforcements had begun to
arrive. The commander-in-chief had already received a
great many men from Africa and from France. I,*lo men
of General Mayran's advanced guard had landed on
the 13th.

A Constantinople letter of the 13th says :
Nearly 1:1,000 men have been added to the allied army
Within ten days. The French receive 400 or 600 men by
every mail steamer, and their total addition to their forces
during the present month cannot be short of 10.000 men.
The British have received the 40th and 02nd Regiments,
which, with draughts from various depots, make a total of
2,800 men.
A letter from Sebastopol of the 12th in the Prease
states that the army had been employed for some
days past in making a line of circumvallation, by
which it would be completely surrounded and secured
against all attacks from the enemy.
Skirting the Inkermann valley, and in advance of
the right of our position on which the attack of the
enemy was principally directed on the sth, a strong
entrenchment has now been thrown up, and five-inch
mortars have been placed there in position. In addi-
tion to the battery of five eight•inoh mortars, the
French are in the course of constructing a magnifi-
cent square redoubt, which, when completed, will
mount fifteen guns. Two French regiments have
encamped near Balaklava, which is constantly me-
naced with a night attack. These regiments will prove
awelcome addition to the Highlanders and marines,
to whom tl►e safety of the place has been confided.
The French pickets scour the valley of the Tschernaya,
and venture even into the ruins of Inkermann. The
Russians have withdrawn their camp to a consider-
able distance from the ground they occupied before
the late battle, probably to conceal their future
movements.
It is stated that Omer Pacha has received orders
to suspend his projected operations against Bessa-
rabia, and to send 20,000 men to Balaklava.
The narrative of siege operations is brought down
to the evening of the 13th, in letters published by the
Chronicle, from its correspondents in the camp.
The following are extracts :
Nov. 12.—The weather, which for the last four days had
been showery and disagreeable, broke out on the evening
of the 10th into a frightful gale of wind. The different
encampments suffered extremely, most particularly that of
the marines stationed on the hills beyond Balaklava, and
where many of the tents were scattered to the wind. At
seathe scene was fearful. Outside of lialaklava the vessels
were dragging their anchors, and in the greatest alarm of
being wrecked on the gigantic cliffs against which the sea
was lashing with fury. Guns of distress were repeatedly
fl'ed, until the 4gan►emnon hoisted the signals "No assist.-
an,:e can be granted." The hurricane arose at seven, and
d away almost suddenly at midnight. Had the storm
continued through the night, the loss of life and shipping
would have been awful. As it is, nu calamity has fortu-
nicely to be recorded. Inside the harbour of Belaklava
the wind was raging equally severely, and several small
accidents occurred to the ships' rigging. Since that day
we have had a succession of showers, which have rendered
the r ,ads almost impassable, and have increased beyond
measure the difficulties expeiienced by the commissariat
in bringing up supplies. To the poor Russian soldiers
who are on the heights of Inkermann, and also to the rear
of Balaklava, this weather must be extremely dismal, for
they are but very scantily provided with tents, and the huts
which they hid commenced building have been demolished
by the wind and rain. Colonel Daveney, the commandant
of Balaklava, has recently ordered all the soldier's wives
and widows who had established themselves in that place,
to embark on board ship without delay. Their general

THE PRESS.

misconduct had obliged the commandant to adopt this

measure
Nov. 13.—The rain and wind continue without inter-
ruption. The roads are in a fearful state, almost impassa-
ble for the commissariat arabas. In some places the mud
is above the knees. In the camp everybody is, of course,
extremely uncomfortable. There is, however, some con-
solation in knowing that the Russians are in a still more
pitiable condition. Being upon higher ground than our
they are more exposed to the merciless wind now
raging, and are, besides, almost to a man, without tents or
a covering of auy kind. If our commissariat experience
difficulty in transporting supplies over the short distance
which separates the divisional encampments from Bala•
klava, in what a position must the Russians be. who are
dependent on the regular arrival of large convoys of provi-
sions collected over the whole of the Crimea?
The campaign has been a glorious one. Two brilliant
victories have proved the great superiority of the allies.
Owing, however, to the lateness of the season, which has
rendered any general assault upon the town %inadvisable,
it has been decided to winter in the Crimea, and open the
campaign next spring with large reinforcements on a grand
scale. The whole Crimea will be swept of every armed
Russian. A sufficient force will maintain the lines of
Perekop, and Sebastopol will be completely invested. The
garrison, who will be driven from necessity in the winter
to consume any stores of provisions which the place may
coutain,will be forced to surrender in the spring from star-
vation, or the town will be carried by assault. The Russian
reinforcements which may arrive in the winter will prove
more a source of weakness than of strength. They will
only consume provisions, without being able to render any
essential assistance.
Four days after the battle of Inkermann Lord
Raglan issued the following general order :
Head•quarters before Sebastopol, Nov. 9.
The Commander of the Forces returns his thanks to
the officers and troops for their conduct in the battle of
Inkermann on the sth inst., in which, aided by their gal-
lant allies, they succeeded in completely repulsing and de-
feating the enemy, by whom they were attacked in very
superior numbers, with masses of artillery, both of field
and position, as well as of ship guns.
The army have thus taken advantage of another op-
portunity of distinguishing themselves, and of showing
that, under all circumstances, and in presence of every
difficulty, their determination to devote their best energies
to the service of their country is still the same.
On this occasion the troops had the good fortune to
be associated with and supported by a division of the
French army, and they will join in the expression of
gratitude and admiration for their splendid advance at •
most critical moment.
The loss sustained both by the French and English
armies on this trying day cannot be too strongly deplored;
and while he deeply regrets having been deprived of the
services of so many valuable officers and men, it is par-
ticularly painful to Lord Raglan to announce that among
those who fell, nobly discharging their duty, were Lieu-
tenant-General the Hoo. Sir George Cathcart, Brigadier-
General Goldie, Brigadier-General Strangways (all officers
of distinction), and Sir George Cathcart esvecially, being
one whose conduct elsewhere had particularly attracted
the gracious notice of her Majesty, and the attention of the
country By order,
(Signed) J. B. B. ESTCOURT, Adjutant-General.
GREAT STORM IN THE BLACK SEA.
The Russian despatches have repeatedly asserted
the occurrence of terrible storms in the Black Sea,
accompanied by severe loss and damage among the
allied shipping. These statements are unfortunately
confirmed by telegraphic advices from Constantinople,
which leave no room to hope that the fleets have
escaped serious damage, though it is still oelieved
that the accounts of disaster are exaggerated. On the
20th ult. the following despatch was transmitted :
Thirty-two English transports were lost on the 14th.
The Prince and ,sea Nymph foundered, with all on board.
Three small steamers have been stranded. The Sansparril
was driven on shore ; machinery on fire. The Britannia
has five feet of water in her hold. The Agamemnon was
stranded, but got afloat again. The Sampson's machinery
is damaged. The Retribution was saved by throwing her
guns overboard, the Terrible has also escaped. The Henri
Qualre and P luion are both lost. A Turkish ship-of-the-
line lost her masts near Eupatoria.
The following extract from a letter written by an
officer in the French steam-frigate Sans, describing
the hurricane in the Black Sea appears in a Paris
journal:—
We were preparing to quit the squadron of Admiral Brag,
which was lying at anchor in the Bay of Kamiebeh, but the
weather grew so boisterous, and the barometer fell so much,
that we deemed it pnident to postpone our departure. At
last, at half past eleven o'clock, pm., taking advantage of a
change, we weighed anchor. Everything went on well at
first ; the frigate was teased about, but she made good her
advance, when, at the distance of about two leagues from
Cape Chersonese, we were assailed by a gale of wind such
as I have never experienced since I passed Cape Horn.
You will be enabled to form an idea of the rolling of our
ship when I inform you that one of our thirty-pounders at
the :orecaitle, although strongly lashed to the deck, broke
from its fastenings, and was pitched overboard as if it was
a broomstick. We had serious apprehensions for the
howitzer of 120 and the gun of lio, but fortunately they held
fast. I bring you good news from the great siege. The
courage of the troops and the fleet has increased with their
difficulties. The Russians fight with desperation ; but in
our army, as well as in that of the allies, there is not a man
who is not aware of the magnitude of the mis Lion he has to
accomplish, and there exista between them a generous ri-
valry of zeal and sentiments of honour which cannot but
terminate in success.

1133

The Henry IV. was s noble French sailing two-
decker ; the Pluton, a six-gun French paddle-steamer.
All their crews were saved. The value of the losses
sustained by the British shipping is thus estimated
by the Times :
The Euxine has vindicated its old
ing in one night an amount of damage ..
up for the unusually favourable weather
hitherto enjoyed on its waters. The
fearful, but, if it was to come, it could
better time, and in this respect we may
favoured by Providence. 11 e are not awe
soldier has perished in the storm, that
ship-of-war has foundered, or that even
munition intended for the army has bee
it appear that the siege operations need
day longer in consequence. Yet the
reads awful indeed Thirty-two English
wrecked in that one night., with what loaf
yet appear. The Prince and the Sea
we grieve to say, with all on board. Mi.
steamers were stranded. The vessels
escape. The Sanspareil, reported to be
sailers and steamers in the fleet, went
Dundas had live feet of water in his flag-ship, the Britannia.
Admiral Lyons could not keep the famous .4paineinnon off
the shore, though she escaped, it appears, without serious
injury. The engiues of the Swap:cn were damaged The
Retribution saved herself at the expense of her guns. The
Terrible escaped altogether. On the French side the
damage done was even more serious, but soon told. The
Henri Quatre, a ship-of-thedine, was lost, as also the Pluton,
probably its attendant steamer. For these details we are
indebted to the electric telegraph, and should have had
them earlier but for the damage done by the same storm
to the wires east of Vienna. It is to be feared that many
men have been lost, or fallen into the hands of the enemy.
So far it would appear, from the universality date disaster,
that no one is to blame, and that on such a coast it would
be impossible to keep a sailing vessel afloat, or even a
steamer, unless in very good trim. The loss of vessels
alone, apart front the crews and their cargoes, is some-
thing very considerable. Only a few months ago the
British Government gave 105,0001. for the Prince, so that
her loss may be set down as not far from 150,0001. The
thirty-two shipwrecked transports could not be worth less
than 5,0001. a-piece. Including all casualties, here is the
loss of nearly half a million at a time when, as we were
reminded yesterday, we are still flattering ourselves we
can keep the expenditure within the national income.
The career of the Prince is comprised within the war.
She was bought new in the summer, and was sent with
French troops to the Baltic. Immediately on her return
she was ordered to the Black Sea, with ammunition and
stores. She lay for a long time near Gravesend, receiving
gunpowder from every quarter, in such quantities as seemed
to exhaust all the stores. She also took in an immense
quantity of' shot and shell, beds, blankets, warm clothing
for the troops, and medical stores for the hospitals. Here
was a prize that the Emone might well be proud of, for
never was so precious and miscellaneous a cargo committed
to its mercies. By that splendid caprice which has regu-
lated so many of the preparations for the war, it would
appear that the stores were laid at the bottom of the ship,
and the shot and shells, with the gunpowder at the top.
Accordingly, when the Prince arrived at Constantinople,
where medical stores, bedding, clothing, and everything a
man wants for comfort and recovery were grievously re-
quired, the medical authorities were told that there was a
vast quantity of these things, but that they lay under a
mountain of heavy combustibles. So the sick and wounded
had to do without, and the Prince went on. It is hoped,
and indeed believed, that she did land the chief part of her
cargo at Balaklava, where she was seen by an officer on
the 7th in the act of uploading. Unless, however, she
also landed there her medical and other stores, they have
gone to the bottom, and the hoepitaki of Scutari are as ill
off as ever.
The Prince took out 1,500 troops and a large
quantity of ammunition. These she landed safely
on the 7th tilt., a week before the disastrous gale.
The commander was Captain Goodall, who formerly
commanded the Calcutta. Most of the crew went
from Southampton to join her in London, from which
port she sailed.
THE RUSSIAN PLAN OF BATTLE.
The Debate has an interesting article by Colonel
St. Ange, descriptive of the battle of Inkermann.
The writer states that the plan of the Russians,
which was prepared by the Emperor Nicholas him-
self, was to take the height to the right of the
English, then to descend like a torrent on the siege-
works, to cut off the communications of the besiegers
with Balaklava, and to take in reverse the line of
circumvallation, whilst General Liprandi, advancing
by the road of Balaklava, should make a junction
with the assailants. If, it says, this great and able
manteuvre had succeeded, the combined army, at-
tacked in the rear, would have been forced to
abandon the siege works, and to light its way through
the enemy's army to reach Balaklava and the Bay of
Kamisch. The Debats then says that, in execution of
this plan, the height to the right of the English be-
came the key of the position ; and, after briefly de-
scribing the terrible combats which were sustained
for the possession of it, it shows that a great fault
was committed in not having that height properly
fortified. The article concludes with the ft Bowing
remarks, which Scorning from an experienced soldier)
are worth attention :
Entrenchments in the field have an importance and
utility which every one understands ; but, in order to fulfil
their object, they must present to the enemy an obstacle no

111..

character by inflict-
e which almost makes
rather our fleet has
e calamity indeed is
Ald hardly COW° at a
nay fairly say we are
, aware that a single
that a single Britiah
even any of the am-
been lost. Nor does
Eked be suspended one
the list of casualtiell
glish transports were
loss of life does not
ea Nymph foundered,
Three smaller British
,essels °twar did not
be one of the worst
ent ashore. Admiral

1134

less difficult to take by escalade than to knock down by
cannon. A good plan, well traced and well adapted to the
ground, does not suffice; the parapets must be strong, the
fusses deep, and the gorges of the work solidly palisaded.
When a detachment is placed in an intrenchment, it natu-
rally calculates on that support. If the intrenchment be
easily escaladed, the detachment, which would have bravely
fought in the open field, will take to flight, or will suc-
cumb in despair, because a fortified post, on which it had
the right to count, failed it at the moment of combat. The
moral effect produced by such things should be taken into
serious consideration by the generals, whose troops have
to defend field fortifications destined to protect camps in
the rear. If such works be not constructed in such a way
as to cause perfect security, they have only an illusory
value. This was seen by the example of the incomplete
redoubts of Flalaklava iu the affair of the 25th October, and
a second example of it was seen during the first few hours
of the battle cf Inkermann.
The Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 21st con•
tains a report from Prince Menschikoff to the
Emperor, dated the 12th. The Prince states that
the approaches of the enemy had not advanced at all
for several days, and that, though the batteries con-
tinued their fire, the defences sustained it with suc-
cess. Each night the pieces dismounted during the
day were replaced by fresh guns, and the damage
repaired. At the same time additional internal de-
fences were being erected.
The same number of the Journal de St. Peters-
bourg contains a report from General Dannenberg
on the battle of Inkermann, in which the blame of
the failure of the attack is thrown on General Soimo-
noff, who advanced with the right column too pre-
cipitately, instead of halting until the left column
made its attack. It also contains a report from
Prince Menschikoff to the Emperor, certifying that
the Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas behaved
with the greatest bravery at and after the battle of
Inkermann, and praying the Emperor to grant them
the order of S. George of the Fourth Class, for
military merit. This prayer the Emperor has been
graciously pleased to grant.
THE FLEETS.
Rear-Admiral Seymour left Kiel on Saturday last
with her Majesty's ships Princess Royal, f,l, and St.
Jean d'Aere, 101, for England. The Bulldog and
Vulture also left on the same day for Copenhagen.
The James Watt and Cesar left Kiel on Tuesday
morning. The remainder of the fleet remained in

Kiel roads.
Since the departure of the British fleet from Nar-
gen, several of the Russian line-of-battle ships put to
sea, for the purpose of uniting with the squadron at
Helsingfors. They had scarcely got fairly out of
harbour ere a heavy gale came on. The flag-ship
lost her rudder, and three of the ships in company
got on shore. Their critical situation being observed,
steamers were sent to their assistance, and succeeded
in towing them off, and conducted them back again
to port. The Czar is said to be highly incensed at
this occurrence, and remarked that he considered it
extraordinary that the ships of England and France
had for months past been navigated in the Baltic
seas without meeting with any casualties—whereas
his own fleet, the officers of which were more per-
fectly acquainted with the situation of the various
shoals which exist, had, on merely being ordered to
proceed to Helsingfors, when scarcely out of harbour,
placed in imminent danger the ships entrusted to
their command.
It is stated that the Monarch, 84, Captain Erskine,
that has been in the Baltic during the summer, is to
proceed to the Pacific as the flag-ship of Rear-Ad-
miral Bruce, the newly-appointed commander-in-

chief.
TURKISH ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF
INKERMANN.
The following bulletin, containing a narrative of
the victory of Inkermann, was published in Con-
stantinople on the 11th of November :
The Archdukes, Michael and Nicholas, had arrived at
Sebastopol, and nearly at the same time the army from
the principalities, composed of the 10th and 11th divisions,
including infantry, cavalry, and artillery, each 14,000
strong, and under tha command of General Dannenberg.
This force, having traversed the Isthmus, advanced in
forced marches to a forest within about two hours distance
from Sebastopol, to join the army of Prince Menschikoff.
There a council of war was held under the presidency of
the Imperial Dukes, and the following resolutions adopted
in reference to the plan of operations to be directed against
the positions of the allies :-
1. To attack the works on the route and summit of
Inkermann, near the extremity of the port.
2, To destroy the French batteries in the second plain
of lialaklava.
3. To raze the defences on the sea side fronting the
quarantine, by means of a sally from the town.
It was thus in pursuance of these resolutions that on
Sunday, Sefer 14 (Nov. 5), the Russians opened fire at day
break on the two French divisions stationed to the south
of Ralaklava. The commanders of the allied forces, Lord
Raglan and General Canroliert, hastened at once to the
spot, accompanied by their staffs and several other officers,
and, after having reconnoitred the force and position of the
enemy, devised in council the measures requisite in this
emergency.
The Russian army, meantime, within the walls of the
city, omanded by General Gortschakoff, sallied forth to
unite withm the other force assembled at inkermatin, and,

THE Pittsg.

having reached that point, the whole army, amounting to
50,000, with eighty pieces of ordnance, commenced the ac-
tion at two o'clock (about seven a.m. Frank time), and
took two British batteries, each mounting two heavy
guns, and manned by about one hundred men, who were
all cut to pieces. These were replaced by the Russian
gunners, and thence their forces repaired to the forest of
Bair, and approaching within a thousand paces of a body
of the British army—in all not more than two thousand
men—this heroic little band sustained with valour and
intrepidity for more than a couple of hours the terrible on-
slaught of overwhelming numbers. His Royal Highness
he Duke of Cambridge, Generals Cathcart and Brown, at
he head of about 7,000 men, dashed on to the rescue, and,
atter a volley of musketry, attacked with charged bayonets
this formidable force during a ouuple of hours, until they
were at last completely surrounded, and in imminent
danger of being totally exterminated. At length, fortu-
nately, about five o'clock (tea a.m.) General Bosquet
came up with a reinforcement of four regiments, but our
troops were in such close conflict with the enemy, the
melee so confused and awful, that the bayonet was the only
available arm in this exigency. The } ranch, as ever, be-
haved admirably, and, seconded with equal heroism by
British troops, a frightful combat and massacre ensued,
which ended in the total route of the enemy, who fled
precipitately towards the forest, leaving the plain literally
impassable, and strewn with countless masses of his
slain. The crews of the fleets anchored in the bay of
Balaklava repaired to the field after the battle, and
collected above 20,000 muskets, with arms and various
equipments of all sorts. Wood is scarce in those parts,
and the broken butts served, it is understood, to light the
camp fires for a couple of days and cook the provisions of
the army.
The British retook the battery which they had lost at
the outset, but it fell again into the hands of the enemy.
Lstly, the Zoutives and other regiments came u, and,
jo aining in the combat, the rout of the enemy wasp com-
plete, and, throwing away arms, knapsacks, and accoutre-
ments, his remaining force took refuge within the walls.
The British casualties amount to 2,400, with about 130
officers killed and wounded.
The Russian loss amounts in killed ana wounded to
8,000 men found on the field of battle, and 850 besides
were taken prisoners. The French loss is stated to have
been less severe. On that same day another encounter
took place close to the walls of Sebastopol. A Russian
force of 0,000 men, during a thick fog, sallied forth from
within the walls, silenced the French batteries, 1, '2, and
spiked five guns. General de Lourmel, with two regi-
ments and some skirmishers, attacked the enemy on this
point, and fell unfortunately mortally wounded in the ac-
tion. A murderous conflict ensued close to the ramparts,
wherein the enemy was again repulsed, and retreated
whence he came, after a loss of 3,000 men hors de combat,
besides SOOrisoners captured. In
700 this encounter the
French have to deplore the loss of men, with their
heroic general.
The commanders of the allied forces despatched a herald
offering every facility to the enemy for the burial of his
dead, but no advantage having been taken of this proposal
the necessary measures were adopted inconsequence for the
performance of this humane duty.
The almost incredible bravery and heroism displa a for-
yed by
7,000 British troops, in resisting single-handed such
midable array of the Russian forces, at a moment when
the rest of the army was entirely occupied with the opera-
tions of siege, is above all praise.
Constantinople, Safer 20, 1270.
IMPERIAL RECOGNITION OF GALLANTRY.
The Emperor has addressed the following letter
to the General-in-Chief of the army of the East :
Palace of St. Cloud, Nov. 24.
General,—Your report of the victory of Inkermann has
deeply affected me. Express to the army, in my name, the
e
satisfaction I feel at the courage which it displaye tenergy in supporting fatigues and privations, and at its
warm cordiality towards our allies. Thank the generals,
the officers, and the soldiers for their valiant conduct. Tell
them that I warmly sympathise in their sufferings and in
the cruel losses which they have experienced, and that my
constant solicitude will be to alleviate the bitterness of it.
After the brilliant victory of the Alma I had hoped
de-
for
a moment that the enemy's army, having been
feated, would not have so promptly repaired its losses,
and that Sebastopol would soon have fallen beneath our
blows; but the obstinate defence of that town, and the re-
inforcements which have arrived to the Russian army,
check for a moment the course of our success. 1
ho
applaud
you for having resisted the impatience of the troops, w
demanded to advance to the assault under conditions
which would have led to too considerable losses. The
English and French Governments watch with the most
ardent attention over their army of the East. Already are
steameis on their way bringing you considerable rinforce-
ments. This assistance will double your forces, and permit
you to resume the offensive. A powerful diversion is about
to be made in Bessarabia, and I receive the assurance that
abroad public opinion becomes every day more and more
favourable towards us. If Europe has seen without alarm
our long.hanished eagles display themselves with so much
eclat, it is because it is well aware that we only combat for
its independence. If France has resumed the rank which
is her due, and if victory has again rendered our standards
victorious, it is, I am proud to declare, to the patriotism
and to the unflinching bravery of the army that I owe it.
I send General de Montebello, one of my aides-de-camp,
to convey to the army the recompenses which it has so
well merited. I pray God, general, that he will have you
in his holy keeping. NAPOLEON.
The Moniteur contains the following graceful
compliment, written, it is believed, by the Emperor
himself, to Lord Raglan and the British army
Every ono has remarked the terms in which Lord Raglan

SATURDAY,

points. out the part taken by our generals and soldleiersilluin
rc
et odr ft
general,oof
ul
rut
akoie
mr m:thabonymn
8.
Ibis
gratitude the competent testimony,
jout. t
1 spontaneouslygit ft a
British:
the
rt
!Ives'
Go-
vernment has just awarded the highest military dignity, is
too glorious for our army for us not to reproduce the very
expressions made use of in the report. "I am proud,"
writes the general-in-chief, " of the opportunity of bearing
testimony to the valour anti energetic services of the French
troops, and of paying a itribute of admiration to the dis-
tinguished conduct of their immediate commander, General
liosquet, while it is in the highest degree pleasing to me
to place upon record my deep sense of the valuable as-
sistance I received from the Commander-in-Chief General
Canrobert, who was himself on the ground, and in constant
communication with me." The French reports, on their
side, do not less strongly point out the heroic and un-
shakeable firmness with which a fraction of the English
army victoriously supported for several hours the shock of
an enemy so superior in numbers. The more we become
acquainted with the details of that day the more do we
think ourselves founded in regarding it as one of the most
glorious in military history. It is, in fact, stated that at
the commencement of the battle the English fought with
the numerical inferiority of one against seven, and that at
the end of the day, when the arrival of the French troops
decided the victory, the proportion was still one against
four.
SIEGE DUTIES AND LABOURS.
The following extracts from the private letters of
an officer in the '2nd division before Sebastopol have
been published :
I scarcely know how to date this, for I never know one
day from another here, but I will find out before I close.
The life we are leading here is very trying to our bodily
powers of endurance. I will try and give you some idea of
our doings; and, first, I will begin with the duty 1 am at
present on. lam on picket. This is a duty that begins
at four in the morning and ends at four the next morning.
Each regiment furnishes two companies for picket daily;
therefore it takes place every fourth day. A picket is an
advanced guard thrown out close to the enemy's lines, in
order to protect the camp from a surprise ; consequently
the sentries can see each other, and we can see large
masses of Russians unintouvring in the hollow all day.
We command, from our position, a road which is a short
cut for the enemy into Sebastopol, and, as they often try to
dodge past our sentries, we have shot several of them at a
surprising distance with our long rifles. Hardly a day
passes in which the pickets have not a brush with the
enemy, but our pickets always drive their's back without
alarming our main body, which has not been engaged
since I wrote you word that we killed 600 Russians and
had an officer wounded. Another of our duties is the
defence of our batteries. We have five batteries, and these
require a large;armed guard and fatigue party day and night
—a fatigue party to keep the works in repair after the
enemy's fire, and a guard to defend them from sorties.
This is the moat dangerous of our recreations, and not a
day passes that two or three fatal cases do not occur. At
night they shell us incessantly from the forts ; but at night
shells are not so dangerous as in the day, because we can
always track their fiery course for half a minute through the
air. I have often scarcely had time to roll over from one
trench to another after these fiery messengers fall and
explode. I have accumulated all kinds of Russian
relics, which 1 got after the different fights, but I see no
chance of carrying any of them away. 1 need hardly
tell you that, badly clothed as we are, this kind of night
and day work is telling on us. As yet it has only affected
my limbs and gums with rheumatic pains ; the vital parts—
chest and throat—are, thank God, pretty safe. Sometimes
after lying on the wet ground all night my limbs are all pains
and my teeth quite loose in the guns. 1 went yesterday to
Ratak lava and was lucky enough to buy two fliumel shirts for
21., and a tooth-brush for Sa. Rumour is very busy assigning
us this horrid life for the winter; if so, it will finish any of
us that the Russians leave. It is said that we are to assault
the place soon, and if the Russians defend it half as obsti-
nately as they have done hitherto, England will agambe
gratified with a "long butcher's bill." I suppose things
are going on in their old jog trot with you. When I
sometimes have time for a few moments' thought, I think
of you all one by one, and wonder if 1 shall ever see a
warm fireside and old faces again. I received a Mail London
the other day. Although we are at the seat of war
itself,
i
and know, of course, all great events as they occur,
t is
only from English papers we get the minute particulars of
everything. It is very strange what an effect habit has on
us mortals ; when first the firing commenced we heard it
t
with a considerable amount of awe, but now it goes on pe
petually without eliciting even a remark ; and even in action
itself the men have ceased to bob their heads when the
cannon balls come plunging along. It is oval u when the
word to " charge' is giveu that the old valo
B7iton is really shown ; then I do believe, from what I have
seen and felt, that 1,000 English soldiers would send 5,000
tßhuastsiitaiiiss
stioy,infogrliiksencoltmoffnebeEfoiriegitilsilet wind.
soldier
moreAntl it
difficulti°
to find than five Russians !
November 6.—lt is with a sad heart that I add this
postscript to my letter. Yesterday we had another bloody,
and, for our division, disastrous day with the Russians.
well
My regiment had four officers killed and six wounded—the
colonel, it is feared, mortally. How I escaped I
.cannoti
tell ; indeed Providence has been very merciful to me io.al
these hard battles. The Russians attacked our. position
in countless numbers, and long before we received rein-
forcements most of ua were cut to pieces. .It was. a
fear-
ful battle, and .asted from four in the morning n.nu. pote
dark, and we then only remained masters of our posiretion with
hte
the assistance of the French. Our regiment is duced
a perfect skeleton, and I am one of three who
ten
coped of all our subalterns. The worst of
it is, they
abr
renew the attack any moment, and we are dady less
to withstand them. I cannot attempt here to describe the
battle, but it was a terrible sight. At ono time they bail