The Press.
London, England, 1854-11-25 00:00:00

1111

The Russian force engaged during the day was
variously estimated at from 45,000 to 70,000 men,
and their loss in the battle from 9,000 to more than
*20,000. It is stated that nearly 8,000 bodies were
found and buried around the English lines. If that
number is accurate, the aggregate amount of men
put hors de combat muNt have exceeded 120,00).
According to some accounts, General Dannenberg
commanded the enemy, but others state that the
Russians were led by Generals Liprandi and Osten-
Sacken, while Dannenberg himself, together with a
force of 30,009 or 40,000 men, are still on their route
to reinforce the Russian army.
Neither the Grand Duke Constantine nor Prinoe
Alexander were actually present on the field. They
remained all day on the slope of the heights on the
north side of the harbour, beyond Inkermann. By
the order of the Grand Duke, no less than five dis •
tinct divisions were sent up to try and maintain
the footing which they had got on the heights of
our camp above lnkermann. As each division
failed to effect their object for more than a few
minutes, the Grand Duke assailed the commanders
with the most opprobrious terms, reproaching them
as cowards and traitors to their country, and com-
pelling them to return to the attack. The conduct of
the Russians was infamous. They behaved with
barbarous cruelty to our wounded: every fallen man
was bayonetted. One English otticer was wounded
slightly, but unable to leave the spot with his men,
as they retired for a while overwhelmed. When
our troops recovered the ground, they found
the poor fellow stabbed all over and stripped!
A Russian major was captured at the close of the
battle. He had been observed on many occasions
stabbing and hacking our unfortunate wounded with
his sword, and directions were given to a party of
the Guards to take him alive, if possible. This they
effected, after a slight resistance on his part, and
after his having offered in vain a bribe of some gold
pieces to our men to allow him to escape. He VIM
to be tried by court-martial, and the depositions and
sentence forwarded to the Russian commanders. if
they consented to punish him he would be given up
to them. If they declined to interfere he would be
shot, as the laws of civilised warfare denounce the
killing of defenceless wounded as murder. On the
6th a flag of truce was sent into Sebastopol. The
bearer of it carried a letter from the allied com-
manders to the commander-in-chief of the Russian
forces. It stated that General Canrobert and Lord
Raglan had seen with detestation and disgust the
merciless cruelty with which the enemy bayonetted
our wounded upon the field, and requested to know
if the war was to be carried on in this barbarous
and exterminating manner, as then the allies would
know how to act?

All the wounded were brought 'down from the
camp on the oth to Balaklava, and were sent without
delay on board the following vessels, bound for
Scutari :—Orinoco, Jason, Golden Fleece, Medway,
and Colombo.
Sir George Brown is recovering. There is no
truth in the report that the gallant general has had
his arm amputated. He was struck on the breast by
a musket-ball, which glanced off and passed through
his arm. Fortunately the bone of the arm VIM not
touched, and the wound itself is so slight that the
brave old general flattered himself that within a
fortnight he would be able once more to resume the
command of his beloved light division.
Whilst the battle was raging along the British
lines, a column of Russians issued from Sebastopol
and attacked the French batteries, marching up to
the very trenches. When arrived et this point, the
French force in the redoubts gave them one fearful .
volley, and the Russians, wheeling round, fled for
the town. _ _

Our allies appear to have been taken by surprise
in the sortie upon their trenches. The Russians
had got possession of Nos. I and 3 batteries, and
spiked the guns before the French were in a con-
dition to oppose them. They were then attacked,
and, after au obstinate defence, driven otf with much
slaughter. The French followed up their victory
into the centre of the town, but having no reserve,
and not knowing the result of the attack on our
lines, they retired again.
The Turks did not fire a shot throughout the day
of the sth. Subsequently they were employed in
throwing up works on the ridge where the chief
assault took place, and which were to be mounted
with heavy cannon.
The history of the two following days is briefly
recorded by the Times correspondent:—
Nov. IL—Two hundred Russian prisoners were brought
in last night to head-quarters camp. They were badly
wounded many of them, and several died during the
night.
A council was held to-day at Lord Raglan's, where
General Canrobert, General Bosquet, and Sir E. Lyons
assisted, which lasted several hours.
At four o'clock Lord Raglan attended the funerals of
General Sir G. Cathcart, of Brigadier Goldie, and of
General Strangways. They were buried, with eleven other
officers, on Cathcart's-hill. At the same time fourteen