The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-11 00:00:00

THE CRIMEA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SEBASTOPOL, MARCH 24

The weather (I rejoice to say) yesterday showed
signs of amendment; for a fortnight we had frost,
snow, and sleet, which would have not disgraced
the severest portion of the most inclement winter,
but on Easter Sunday, spring favoured us with a
reminder that she still retained her place among
her four visitors, and meant to make her appear-
ance some time or other. Today she has sent us a
warm sun, a southerly wind, and a genial atmos-
phere, as though she knew on this day the Races
of the Allied Armies were to come off, and every
one would be disappointed if she withheld her
presence. Most fortunate, indeed; was the day for
one of the grandest sights this Crimean land has
ever beheld. In the valley of the Tchernaya, still
covered with the mouldering remains of
very different contests, was held the first
Spring Meeting of the army in the East.
The snot itself abounds in historical interest
and natural beauties. In historical interest, for
for here a little more than a year before those same
nations—now met together for the peaceful sport
of horse-racing—were engaged in one of the
bloodiest battles ever recorded. Opposite you
were those towering heights, long and wearily
gazed upon with longing eyes by French and
English, still brissling with Russian batteries and
crowded with Russian troops ; while through the
extensive valley- flowed the stream of the Tcher-
naya, that with its quiet waters marked the
boundary line of so many and such fierce contend.
ing passions. Here were thousands of French and
English crowding the plain, where a few weeks
back it would have been certain death for one of
them to be seen, shaking hands and chatting
with men whom so short a time back they would
have delighted to have shot. In natural beauties,
the spot is hardly less fruitful, for few are the
spots on earth on which the eye could
rest with more pleasure than the valley
of the Tchernaya. Looking on the scene
from the slight knoll on which was the
grand stand, you saw exactly opposite you the
far-famed Mackenzie's Heights towering above the
whole range of mountains, which gradually sloped
away from its dark sides, in the most beautiful and
fantastic shapes, as far as the eye could reach, till
it was shut in by the grey honey-combed rocks
containing " The City of the Dead" on the one
side, and by the bolder hills over the Belbek on
the other. Behind you rose the Inkermann range,
no less precipitous and characteristic in form, and
now adding a
.name to English story. Between
the gigantic sines lay stretched for many a mile
the valley of the Tchernaya, gradually narrowing
towards Sebastopol, and opening on the other side
on the plain of Balaklava. This valley once
abounded in orchards and vineyards, and beautiful
pasture-land, but under war's stern touch, it is now
one vast desert plain, only relieved by the few trees
still left on the banks of the river. Such was
the scene where our first Spring Meeting
was neld. To add to it, the art of man
had not been wanting. The grand stand did
much credit to the ingenuity and good taste of the
French. It was erected on a slight eminence in
the middle of the plain, and was ornamented with
the branches of the evergreen and juniper ; in it
were two seats, which were occupied by Generals
Codrington and Pelissier ; the space in front was
kept clear by Zouave sentries, while in the rear,
the ground for fifty or sixty yards had been planted
with small fir trees and evergreens, giving it the
appearance of some fairy garden suddenly rising
in the midst of a wilderness. In this garden, if I
may so call it, French bands were stationed, and
played opera airs throughout the day, The band
of the cuirassiers (all mounted) elicited especial
applause. At this place there was always a great
crowd, listening to he bands, and staring at
Pelissier's Arab sheik, and brilliant escort of
Cuirassiers and Chasseurs de Afrique. Just beneath
the grand stand was the starting post, and around
it was grouped an assemblage of marquees, tents,
and upturned artillery waggons, that gave quite a
home character to the scene. The course was
along the banks of the. Tchernaya, and a
better course a man need never wish for.
At the starting-post it was estimated there was
from time to time collected together from 20,000 to
30,000 men, comprising almost every creed and
nation under the sun. Though contrary to orders,
many Russians came across the Tchernaya, and
the French went over to them in crowds. The
Russians lined the whole bank on their side the
river, and among them was seen several priests
in the peculiar costume cif the Greek Church, and
some Albanians in magnificent dresses. General
Luders himself came down for a short time. He is
a fine, tall, military-looking, man ; he drove down
in a Russian drosky, with the usual three horses
abreast and conversed with some French officers
who had crossed the river. The races began at
noon, and terminated about 6 30 a.m.; and the two
first were won by a Frenchman, a Count de
Thalon. They went off (as the papers would say)
with great eclat, and were a sight to be remembered
for a life time

MARCH 25m.—The same spring weather, and
we begin to hope that winter is over at last.
MARCH 20th.—Spring still cheers us with a feel-
ing of comfort, to which we have long been
strangers. To-day there was a grand review of the
French in the plain of Balaklava ; R. corps d'armee
was out, about 20,000 men, a regiment of Cuiras-
siers and some artillery. It was a grand sight;
the men (though small) looked active and steady ;
the Cuirassiers have a very imposing effect, but
which, owing to their being so badly mounted,
they lose on a nearer inspection. The same day
some Highland games came off at Kamara ; they
were held in a small dell at the entrance of the
mountain pass, on the road to Baidar. The little
level bit of ground was entirely shut in by lofty
mountains on every side, and the view of the games
from the hill on which the 92nd camp stands was
very pretty. The sword-dance excited the most
attention ; it was exceedingly well done. The
different regiments had tents pitched, where cham-
pagne lunches were to be had, while their bands
played the well-known airs of their native land.
Miss Nightingale is now in the Crimea, and I
regret to say this foreign land was to-day . very
nearly being her last resting place. She had a
narrow escape of her life. It seems she had come
to the Crimea with a body of nurses for the hos-
pitals. She was proceeding with a party of these
to the hospitals of the Army Works Corps when
the accident took place. They were being driven
in one of the ambulance waggons, and for greater
security had been strapped inside the cart. At a
turn of the road, the mules took fright, dashed
away with the waggon. and upset it down a deep
ditch. The ladies were struggling underneath the
waggon, unable, on account of the strap, to extricate
themselves, the mules kicking, and the danger
every moment becoming more imminent. At last
the strap was undone, and they were all got out.
Miss Nightingale, I am glad to say, received no
injury ; but two of the nurses were seriously
injured in the spine, and were taken to the hospital
in a fainting state. They are still in a dangerous
condition.