The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-21 00:00:00

OF SEBASTOPOL

LAST HOURS OF THE SIEGE.
-4,-

- - '_ .i ; aim . —4* perceived a sciaffoldin-ge
=OM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) presentround the dome of the small tower that run Mud WOW 4=l in the .." Onvrages
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Sire 8. out of the Admiralty buildings, leading to the ion- ct;fire. The works destined to act against the
After long weeks d comparative immesh the radon that it iii undergoing the same denuding more especially the battery "A Fleur d'Ean,"
. process. Altogether, a much greater ro rtion of
allied batteries have spin opened upon the besieged the fire thishave time directed against tory, have not yet exposed their armament, and several
the town itself than on any previous occasion, and
up an almost continuous bombardment along nearly the damime inflicted seems to be commensurately other batteries to the right of the Mamelon Vert are
still concealed from the observation of the Russians.
the whole of the attacking line. This date, at all great. Why this had not been done long ago has The batteries on the north side of the bay of Inker-
eveata,the intention of the generals commanding wa, been a standing matter for remark and wonder since mann are very active,and some mortar battenesbehind
bpi egibiegtiy secret; hie till the thundering can- the earliest months of the siege. One per cent. of the outer line of defences of the Karabelnath suburb
the shot and shell thrown resultlessly into the Redan
lamb began at dawn on Wednesday morning from and Malakhoff would have laid the town in reins, are also keeping up a constant discharge against the
French works near the Careening Bay ravine. The fire
the batterile on the French left, ',I have been unable and not have left the garrison as much shelter as on the left continues much the same as during the
to hear or fay one, out of the narrow circle of con& would have given cover to a rat. morning. Over the whole of the French left attack
dents at head-quarters, who was at all aware of its About 5 p.m., yesterday, another ship was die- 9 a.m.—As was to be expected, the assault is to be clouds of dense white smoke appear suddenly as if
approach. About four o'clock on the morning of the covered to be on fire near the middle of the harbour, made in the couree of this forenoon. Sinop early bursting oat of the ground, and having unrolled and
6th, however, our allies opened the ball from the and almost hidden from our view by the crest of the, dawn this morning, ate rrific fire along the whole expanded, gradually disappear. The Quarantine
Malakhoff Hill. From the masts, which were at
guns of their left attack, and maintained a mostlbw, left and right, has been kept up on the enemy's Fort appears to maintain a very strong fire spinet
first all that could be seen, we jufted her to be a weeks from every gun and mortar that could be the French. Fort Constantine is also throwing a
vigorous fire on the enemy's works in that direo- frigate; soon after the first hrr
out of the Won brouitht to bear on any part of them. In addition to constant supply of shells, from the other aide of the
tion till about an hour and a half after she appeared to be towed out farther from the south the mita batteries on the proper right of the harbour, across to the French works near the Qua-
noon, when our own batteries and those on the shore, for her deck and one tier of portholes became town, the Redan and its mischievous six-gun neigh- rutin..
French right opened on the Redan, the Melakheff, visible above the brow of the slope, and the boor have replied vigorously, as have also a couple One of the small Russian steamers is busily em-
and its adjacent supports in Careening Bay. From impression as to her size was then confirmed. Though of batteries from the north side. Only one gun has plord in the harbour.
that hour until shortly
before 6 o'clock, slim d'enfer the evening was windy, and an impetus therefore played from the Malakhoff, and for its rare shots Long lines of gabions coming from the eastward
given to the flames, she' continued to burn steadily Tulle fifty for one have been returned. All through the are observed to pass to the north side. They are all
was kept up along the whole line, to which only the till nearly an hour before midnight, when the blaze night the allies kept up a murderous cannonade, moving toward the new works to the west of the
Russian batteries opposed to the French left replied gradually subsided to a smoulder, fanned into bright- and at this moment while I write the combined die- Star Fort ; none of them come over the bridge.
with anything like sustained vigour. The gunners ness by the breeze, and the charred ribs were all that char'es resemble one long unbroken peal of thunder. There is a report spread through the camp, pro-
in the Roden and Round Tower contented themselves remained visible to the telescope from the Picket This is to be continued till the signal for the amen bably without any foundation, that Prince Gortchs-
with throwing occasionalehellaintoonradvanced works House hill. Long Wore this consummation, how- is given, when the enemy will he barely time to koff was killed yesterday in Sebastopol. The story is
and the Mamelon, and a few hollow shot which came ever, two other fires broke out within the town it- greet the advancing columns with one discharge of that he was going round the batteries, enootiraging
bounding up to the close neighbourhood of the tents self—the first, and smaller of the two, amongst some graPm This time the arrangement is, that our the men, when an accidental cannon shot struck
along the front. About a quarter before 5 o'clock the houses near the cemetery, and the larger m the attack on the Redan shall not be made till the him in the head, and proved immediately fatal. A
fire on both sides slackened, and an hour later it part of the town lying in the rear of the Roden. The Malakhoff is actually occupied by the French—thin, Tartar is said to have brought the information.
almost ceased, when a calm—in striking contrast local* of the former bad been severely shelled by the end not till then, our stormers shall dash on to the Half-past B.—A fire has broken out in one of the
to the stormy thunder which had filled the air and Greenhill battery during the afternoon and evening, Medan. the French supportive them by a simulta- Russian frigates, lying over towards the north side.
clouded the sky during the day—succeeded, and re- and to this it is said the fire in that quarter is to be aeons rush upon the small flanking battery which It is not known with certainty whether the fire has
mama almost undisturbed till the light of dawn attributed. After sunset, a French battery on the left worked us so much mischief on the 18th of June. been caused accidentally,or has resulted from some of
'gala mass to guide the aim of the combatants. commenced throwing rockets over the Roden Oar assaulting force is to be composed of the whole the projectiles which have been discharged in the
Sues two hours later, however, about 8 o'clock, a into the town • and to this, I believe, the of the Second Division. and the second bri- direction of the shipping. The French generally be-
new lidded occurred to give picturesqueness and second burning in that direction is to rde of the Light Division, with the first Bove that some conical shells discharged from one of
intermit to the some. A large two-decker, lying be traced. This last raged with ear riga& as a reserve. As a punishment for the Lancaster guns borrowed from us have set fire
moored oft the dothyard shears, suddenly bunt into fury over a very considerable space, and when I its recent conduct in the trenches, the 97th has been to the ship. The progress of the flames is distinctly
flames; and in madimably less than half-an-hour turned away from looking at it, long after midnight, told off to lead. General Markham, of the Second visible. From the first the hold of the fire was seen
her whole hull and rigging were one mass of waving the wind was extending the flames to several other Division, commands the whole. Such, briefly, is to to be so firm that no doubt was entertained of the
fire. Nose but a most graphic pen could describe the buildings adjacent to that in which it first broke out. be the order of this final attack, and the strength of vessel beiog doomed to destruction. The enemy was
grandeur of the eadagratwo, as it Mighteued and To aid the breeze, our own Quarry battery threw a our own force to be employed in it. With the lesson observed to be actively employed with boats, and a
extended in relief against the pitchy darkness of the large number of shells into the spot; whilst the of the fatal 18th fresh in all minds, we have little of small steamer was busily moving near the burning
night, throwing up clouds of smoke, which hung in French at the same time continued to contribute rook- the unduly sanguine confidence of success which ship. The chief object seemed to be to move away one
lurid masses over and around the burning ship, till eta for a similar purpose. A shell from one of our then animated everybody; but with our advances of the three-deckers from the neighbourhood of the
the whole harbour, from Fort Paul to the north own mortar batteries, however, accomplished a still Pushed so mach nearer the points to be attacked, frigate. After some time this was accomplished, the
shore, was covered with the fleecy volumes which more valuable result, by blowing up a Russian al and with arrangements free from the complications line of battle ship, which was previously fourth in the
there was not a breath of wind to stir. The red sine in the small six-gun work on the proper right which bore such disastrous fruit then, the general row of ships stretching across the harbour, being
glare of the flames threw its reflection over all the of the Malakhoff. This occurred between 9 and 10 disappointment will still be great if before sunset to- brought alongside of the second ship in this line.
adjacent buildings and shipping, creating a picture p.m., and from the terrific force of the explosion, the daye Tricolor and Union Jack do not float in tri- 10 p.m. The blaze from the burning ship is in-
of lights and shadows each as only the pencil of quantity of powder ignited must have been great. nmph over the Malakhoff and Redan. This accom- tensely bright, and is radiating a powerful glare to a
Rembrandt himself could have worthily reproduced ;At a distance of more than a mile and a half from the plished, the south side of Sebastopol is our own. wide distance round. Nothing can be more magnifi-
whilst above the vapory canopy that overhung the spot the earth shook again, whilst the noise cent than the spectacle as witnessed from the high
vessel, the sky was lighted up with a brilliance which resembled a heavy thunder peal. The full ground near the Karabelnaia ravine. From this poei-
rendered the outline of the various siege works before extent of the damage dons cannot of course (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) tion the burning. ship itself cannot be seen, but its
the town almost u visible as at noonday. The only be known till deserters reveal it; but that it quite CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Sin. 8. flames appear just above the addle-like hollow
sky-scene I ever saw which surpassed, or even balances the loss sustained by the French, through between the Malakhoff hill and the Mamelon Vert.
equalled it, was an autumn sunset in Mesopotamia, the late accident in the Mamelon, there can be little The anxiously looked for moment of the assault is Above the flame is a lofty column of white
when the long even line of the desert horizon was room to doubt. Throughout wet night the fire con- fast drawing nigh. A general feeling of confidence illuminated vapour, continually ascending, and,
crowned with a glory of which no combination of tinned to be delivered with unabated energy—the in the result prevails. The troops, both our own and after attaining a great height, extending on
artificial colours could ever afford an adequate resent- enemy, as before, giving scarcely a shot or shell in
blsnoe. About two hours after the first outbreak of return. This silence desiring
those of our Allies, have been ardently that either side into a light fleecy palm-shaped
on their part, however, is far cloud, the edges of which are brilliantly
the great straggle might opine speedily. The weary-
the fire there were two trifling explosion., u if from proving that their batteries are therefore effeo-illuminated from the bright flames underneath.
caused by the ignition of spirits or the firing of a teeny shut up—the delusion into which we fell and ing operatioas in the trenches, the nightly loss, the Another and more spacious cloud is rendered visible
couple of powder casks; but beyond these, and the suffered from so calamitously on the 18th of June. coming winter, have been so many incentives fanning below. It appears to lie nearer the land, and Is
discharge of a single cannon, there was non port. We have reason rather to suppose that their guns the flame of this earnest wish, and, in addition to formed by the volumes of smoke which have been
Shortly toes midnight the decks fell in, after which have been withdrawn into shelter, ready, if neces• these motives, there has not been wanting a cod. wafted from the batteries. It also is lighted up by
the side timbers continued to burn for some couple of Gary, as before, to vomit forth grape mid canister dance in our own superiority• • from the effects the reflected glare from the fire. It is the only cloud
home, when the wreck settled down, and at daylight when we least expect either. But that they have
the correspondingof the
proportionate dejection of the
to be seen in the whole firmament • the sky elsewhere
no trace of her remained visible above the water. suffered most heavily during the past three days, in i
fire from our batteries, and a belief in ands thickly spangled with stars,conspicuous among
the grey light of early morning on Thursday men and materiel, is certain, whilst our own loss hasthese is the arch of the Milky Way, shining with its
' the bombardment recommenced, and continued been much less than during any previous bombard- enemy. It cannot be doubted that French and peculiar pale white lustre, and forming a striking
shoat the day, with some periods of intermit. went. During the whole of 'Thursday afternoon English would rather have met their foe in the open contrast to the warm tinta of the reflected lighth
test eug, As cu the previous day, its strength an almost anbrokim string of stretcher-bearers,
was confined to the French and earrY- field ; but now that the works, especially the French, from the great fire in the harbour. Notwithstanding
our own left—the log away the dead and wounded, could be seen from
batteries on the tight doing little more than to keep our advanced trenches winding out of the Redan; have been so close
op a dropping fire on the Malakhoff and Little and several times as they crossed a point within the besiegers will be able to meet the besieged on a much and Mamelon Vert hills, and the space be-
Sedan, the former of which did not answer with a town where four streets meet, and which our guns in more equal footing than on any former occasion. tween them, are in deep shadow, and their
single gun. Soon after sunset, however nearly the Quarry Battery command, two of these last gave Before this reaches England the result will be fully black outline is strongly defined against
every mortar along the whole line of attack was them discharges which added considerably to the known by telegraph, and all are trusting that it will the bright illuminated atmosphere which forms at
inanght into play,and till nearly 9 the thunder of their casualties of the day. The humanity of firing on
dirges rolled through the air in almost un- men so employed may be questioned ; but it should be one of general rejoicing and satisfaction in the present the background, as it were, of the picture.
The effect is not unlike that of the setting sun behind
native land. A few days, and we may be in, instead
beim peals ; the sky was literally alive with be remembered that in war the first principle of a mountain. Both hills appear exaggerated in size
absib. vomited forth from their fiery beds at every action should be that which will inflict the greatest of outside Sebastopol. I subjoin a continuation of m
3' and proportions. Oa the dark outface of the Malak-
angle from fifteen degrees up to seventy-five, whilst loss on the enemy at the smallest oat to ourselves ; diary of the siege operations. huff the evanescent firs of the French rifles sparkles
showers of the still treader and more terrific rockets and to carry out this, refined considerations of Sept. 6.—At 6 a.m. all the French batteries on like the flashes of light from so many diamonds.
darted across the darkness like avenging comets. humanity must often or always be set aside. the left opened their five. A tremendous cannonade Now and then the flash of a cohorn mortar and the
As illustrating the briskness of the fire Thus the last three days have been full of action followed. The Raisins quickly replied from the flight of a small shell rises from the surface of the
about this time I may mention that within four and incident. Even while I write, everyone is on Bastion du Mit and the line of associated works as hilt, and curls over into the Korniloff Bastion.
minutes I counted as many as thirty•one shells fall- the qui vive of extation as to the next move on the far as the Quarantine Fort with more vigour than Heavy shells from distant batteries are also falling
lag inside the Malakhoffalone,whilst an almostequally part of the generals; camp rumour declares that the was anticipated from the apparently dilapidated state into the Malakhoff, and as they explode clouds of
warm practice was being kept up upon its formidable assault, which, in the usual course of things, should of their works. Several new batteries also appeared dark dust, or radiating " spurts" of stones and earth,
neighbour the Rau. As throughout the previous follow all this bombarding, will be made to•day ; but to be opened within the town. There was, however, are projected into the air. Like the outline of the
day the Malakhoff scarcely fired a shot in reply, beyond this general impression, I can as yet state a marked superiority in the number and power of hill itself, these eruptions ars brought strongly
almost its only discharges being a few coheres thrown nothing. To bring down my account of the firing the artillery of our allies, and this has been constantly into view, by appearing in front of the bright
over the parapet into the French sap, whose eon- and its consequences to the latest hour, I have maintained since the bombardment of this morning light behind :itisas if they were dark objects before
pants generally gave back two for one. The Mamelon delayed writing till the last moment in time for post ; opened. Our left attack also opened a heavy fire the entrance to a furnace. So powerfully diffused is
to a great extent also reserved its fire, leaving its but even before I close, it is not improbable that shortly after the works of the allies had commenced the light from the burning ship, that the whitewashed
eis-a-ou to be dealt with by our Twenty-one Gan and something decisive may occur. their operations against the enemy's line of defences sheds and houses on the veer of the cliffs on the north
mortar batteries on its left. About half-past nine In the meantime, I may add to this rapid sketch of and the town beyond. In the right attack those of side can be Plainly eiwn• The distance is of c°2l°l
&clock another fire broke out behind the Round our operations since the outgoing of the last mail, a our mortars which bore upon the Malakhoff were too great for any sound connected with the burning
Tower, which, though inferior in extent and brilliance few farther particulars of some of the occurrences served, and a destructive discharge of shells followed. vessel to be heard, and the brilliant work of destruc-
t* that of the previous night, threw up volumes of shortly referred to in my letter of the 4th. When I When the fire began on the left, a misty haze was tion seems to be proceeding in perfect silence. The
smoke and flame that cast a flood of lurid light over then mentioned the affair in which the 97th Regiment stretched over the surface of the ground and over effect is very singular. Not so in the batteries. The
a mat part of the Harbour, the Arsenal, the had one officer killed and two wounded in the trenches the town beyond, and the smoke from the usual heavy full sounds from the mortars, occasionally
Re, and our own and the French advanced a night or two before, and added that the matter had guns being suspended in this vapour, speedily the loud reports from the cannon, the whizzing of the
trenches. After burning for about an hour, since been made the subject of an official investigation, enveloped, and obscured the whole scene. shot and howitzer-shells projected through the air,
however, it rapidly died out, having been in I was not aware of the extent and direction of the Between six o'clock and seven, a.m., a wind from the the shrill interrupted nice of the mortar-shells, burn-
all probability, one of the buildings on the slope of blame attaching to those concerned. Since then I north•west, which subsequently veered to the ing fainter as they grow distant in their amazing wi-
th. hill leading down from the rear of the Malakhoff have learned the facts more accurately, and they are north and north-east, cleared the veil from the town, cents, the rush of rockets—are all to be heard
to the harbour. Daring the hour for which this had briefly these :—On the night in question, when and left it exposed to view, through the medium of in the attacks in front. Among other sounds,
lasted one of the three-deckers, which had been the party of the enemy who surprised and drove a bright sunny atmoephere with remarkable distinct- too, are those arising from the movements of
drawn up during the previous night, with their in our sentries before the advanced ap- ness. The clouds of smoke as they rose from the ammunition waggons going down to the works, the
broadsides to the Round Tower, threw several shells preach leading from the fifth parallel, dashed guns each maintained its individuality as it floated bringing up of guns, and many other
observationopertius
into the trenches near the Mamelon, as well as into into the sap, the officers of the covering away, until it appeared to be lost in the general which it is necessary to conceal from the
our own advanced mortar batteries on its flank, but rushed forward to meet them; but the men first hem- mass of smoke and vapour, which, like a wall, of the enemy., and are therefore performed in the
u the French replied with some discharges of tend, and then turned ; only some eight or ten of obscured the view to the seaward. The roar has been darkness of night. The discharge of shells all round,
rockets, this fire from the shipping was not long con- them remaining with their officers. The immediate continuous; sometimes bursting into the rapid roll of from the extreme left to the right of the works of the
allies, ia very. constant. The enemy is also replying
tinned. The glare of a second fire within the town result was the death of one of the latter, and severe thunder heard among mountains when salvos have
was visible in the rear of the Medan; but this ap- wounds to two of the remainder. These runaways been fired, generally maintaining the character of by a very active fire from his mortars, and the tra-
velling of these star-like missiles, as they ascend and
to have been soon got under, and did not were mostly fresh drafts belonging to the 97ih and distinct and isolated explosions, varying in the
fall through the air in their curved courses, adds
pealed
triftr more than half-an-hour. As on Wednesday, (I believe) the 17th Regiments. Fortunately, Major rapidity of their succession, and in their tone
greatly to the effect of the brilliant scene before
so agsin during this day's practice, the enemy fired Turner, of the 7th, who was field officer of the attack and force, according to position and dis-
several shells at the camp, two of which, that I have for the night, succeeded in mustering a strong party taace. The vibration of the ground, from the the spectator.
heard of, took effect. The first fell into a canteen- from other regiments close at hand, and with these severe concuesions to which it is exposed, is Sept. 6.—A heavy fire was kept up all night on
hut in the Third Division, and demolished the whole promptly attacked and drove out the Russians. On plainly perceptible. Among the conflicting. sounds, the French left. About half-past 4 a.m. a tremendous
concern, at the same time woundin the luckless the following morning Major Turner repated the the rush of rockets through the sir, and salvo was fired from all the batteries. It sounded as
Maltese to whom the store belon ; whilst the conduct of the runaways, and having made good his occasionally the whistle of certain shells as they if every gun had been fired at the same instant by a
second uploded within a tent in the Fourth Divi- charge before the committee of officers appointed to ascend, being so different in their character from those given Bleat. If the town be occupied by troops, the
sloe, and Wed the poly
man who happened to be investigate it, a most severe and well-deserved re- of the artillery become sensibly audible. At the pre- &inaction must be terrific.
inside at the time, besides wounding three others in bake was administered to the peocant regiments in a sent time (noon')' a frequent discharge of rockets is The burning ship sank at 3 a.m. this morning.
•
the neighbourhood. •
general order of last evening. On the night taking place from the Quarry Battery in the right Crowds of persons came up to the front lest evening,
During Thursday night the firing again slackened, after this disgraceful behaviour another excellent attack. The flight of these projectiles is directed under the impression that the Russians had set fire
bat was resumed on Friday at daylight, and kept up officer, Captain Ross, of the 3rd Buffs, was shot against the Karsbelnaia suburb, in rear of the Ma- to Sebastopol previous to evacuating it ; and many,
vigorously throughout the day—its main force being, down in repelling another sallying patty Ithhoff-hill, where they are said to effect consider• finding it to be one of the men-of-war ships in the
Imeathemlokreoading days, from the left. On looking from the Roden, who carried him off as they rebooted. able execution of a destructive character against the harbour, remained, expecting every minute that its
at tie off about noon I was able, with the aid It is since reported that he has died within the town. working parties and reserves of the enemy. The magazine would explode, and produce its final de-
all a good glass, to perceive the fall extent of the ex- Forty-eight hours later still, on Monday night, Cap- Korniloff Bastion is perfectly silent ; its left faos is a 'traction. No explosion enured, however. There
tonal injury which it had sustained from Widnes- tan Pechell, of the 77th, was killed on the same complete ruin, and a long broken ridge of earth alone were various reports as to the number of guns con-
Ws and Thursday's fire, and ache entire number of ground, in a most injudiciously ordered attempt remains where its parapet of merlons and embrasures twined in the vessel, but it apposes very doubtful if
ism embrasures only two remained open. The rest (with only eight men) on a Russian rifle-pit some were once conspicuous. There are two guns near to any were really seen to be discharged. The flashes of
had been literally bunged up, and their gabions thirty yards in advance of the further extremity of the re-entering angle where the proper right fiame and bursts of smoke, which were supposed to
Battered and knocked about in all directions into the sap. They had scarcely emerged from the s el- face and flank join, which our artillery- have proceeded from the discharge of guns loaded
11•11 idlide the ditch. The abattis, which had proved ter of the parapet before a volley knocked over flee men have in vain attempted to silence. Shot and becoming heated she te fi
r, seivano4 were very
as lbendialio an obstacle to our allies on the 18th men and the captain, whose body was dragged back have apparently been sent directly towards them, probably the effect of th alling in of perilous
et 31111 b "Is slim swept away in various Places, into the trench by one of the three survivors, Again, shells have fallen just behind them and have burst of the decks or other timbers. When the mainmast
aid upsolnita, varying from one to ten yards, were on Wednesday ht, Captain Anderson, of the 31st, over them, but they maintain their fire against our —which was the first to fall in—toppled over, the
*Me throughout the greater part of its length who has for several months been doing duty with the right attack. They must be strongly protected, and flame and column of sparks which rose produced a
Mem the six-gun battery up to the parapet of the Regimen, was shot dead by • rifle bullet inside the in some peculiar manner. A mortar battery behind brilliant effect, and lit up all the space, around. The
Ulnae! sap. Similarly, though to a much less same work; sad on Thursday night, Captain the crest of the Malakhoff hill from time to time die. threodecker, which was moved last night from the
AWN. Ss embrasures of the Red= had been ,of the Grenadier Guards, met with charges shell towards the Mamelon Viet. The neighbourho'cd of the burning.ship, was taken back
dawandtad its &mimes and ethical' blown out of a similar Me almost on the same spot. Thus French works on the right have remained silent all this morning to its former position.
pleas i ibit the small flanking battery under the within the doe period of a week, this trumpery ae- the morning. The Russian batteries on the north Our mortar. are to fire 100 rounds each in the 24
Ml:the Malakhoff appeared but little injured. pane bin out as the flees of five most valuable side are firing, but the French do not reply. hours to-day. Yesterday they fired only, sh
eens
on to the town itaelf, on the left, a vat allaninawd may wan. Thies have constituted the 1 p.m.—Our allies have just opened several of their 1 sub. Captain Edward G. Snow, Royal lry,
MAW d bosom Which bad Won ward aria- Nada ladsbialone ktai aanaidtisa ins, this day week, new works on the right. For the bet timo,tbo battery is reported killed to-day in She left attack. This is