The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-27 00:00:00

NG : SEPTEMBIER 47 1855,

DETAILED REPORT OF MARSHAL
PELISSIER.

The M'oniteur contains the following report ad-
dressed to the Minister of War by the Marshal
Commanding in Chief the Army of the East :___.
" HEAD-QUARTERS, SEBASTOPOL, Sept. 14, 1355.
" M. le Marechal,—l have the honour to address to
your excellency, as I announced to you in my despatch
of the 11th, my report on the capture by assault of
Sebastopol.

"The. moment for that assault appeared to have
arrived. To the left the engineer works had reached for
some time within from 30 to 40 yards of the Flagstaff
Battery (No. 4 of the Russians), and the Central Bastion
(No. 5 of the Russians.) To the right our roadway,
actively pushed under the protection of a sustained fire
from the artillery, opened upon the 17th, were not more
than 25 yards from the salient of the Malakhoff and the
Little Redan of the Careening Bay. Our artillerists had
nearly finished 100 batteries in a complete state pro-
vided with every necessary, and presented a body of 250
guns to the attacks of the left, and 250 to those of the
right. On their side the English, although greatly
arrested in their course by the difficulties of toe ground,
bad arrived within 200 yards of the Great Redan (Bas-
tion No. 3of the Russian•), upon which they directed
the fire of 200 guns placed en batterie. The Russians,
using their time profitably, raised on the side of the
Malakhoff a second entrenchment, which it was import-
ant that they should not be allowed to finish. in fine,
the army that came to the succour of the enemy was
completely beaten on the 16th at Tchernaya. They had
suffered considerable losses, and it was not probable that
they would come again to renew an attack on points
which we had rendered stronger, and where we were
enabled to repulse all the efforts of the enemy.
"It was then agreed between General Simpson and
myself that we should make the decisive attack. The
generals commanding the artillery and engineers of the
two armies were unanimously of the some opinion. The
Bth September was fixed for that attack.

"Thus, as I have already had the honour to inform
your excellency, the enemy ought to be attacked on the
principal points of this vast fortress, in order to prevent
him from directing all his reserves against a single point
of attack, and to cause him anxiety respecting the town,
upon which abutted the bridge by which he would be
able to effect his retreat. General de Salles, with the
Ist corps, reinforced with a Sardinian brigade, which had
been offered to me by General de la Marurora, was to
attack the town on our left ; in the centre the English
were to take possession of the Great Redan ; and on our
right General Besquf-t was to attack the Malakhoff and
the Little Redan of Careening Bay(Bastion No. 2 of the
Russians), these being salients of the fortress of Kara•
belnaia.

"The following dispositions were to be made by each
of these attacking bodies :—To the left the division
Levaillant (2d of Ist corps); (brigade Couston: 9th bat-
talion of foot ehasseurs, under Commandant Rogie ; 21st
of the line, Lieut.-Colonel Villaret ; 42d of the line,
Lieut.• Colonel de Mallet ; brigade Trochu : 46th of the
line, Lieut.-Colonel Le Banoeur ; 80th of the line,
Colonel Lateirade) charged with the attack of the Cen-
tral Bastion and of the lunettes placed in the most ad-
vanced parallels. To the right vtas the division d'Aute-
marre (brigade Niel • sth battalion of foot chasseurs,
Commandant Garnier ; 19th of the line, Colonel Guig-
nard ; 26th of the line, Colonel de Sorhiers ; brigade
Breton ; 39th of the line, Colonel Cornignan ; 74th of the
line, Colonel Guyot de Lespart, which was to follow on
the footsteps of the division Levailiant, and take pos-
session of the Flagstaff Battery and of the batteries
which were raised about it. The Sardinian brigade of
General Cialdini, placed beside the division d'Autemarre,
was to attack the right flank of the same bastion. In
fine, the division Bonat (4th of the Ist corps, General
Lefevre ; 10th foot chasseurs, Commandant Guioniard ;
18th of the line, Colonel Dantin ; 79th of the line, Colo-
nel Grenier 21 brigade, General de la Roquette ; 14th
of the I;ne, Colonel de Negrier ; 43d of the line, Colonel
Broutta), and the division Pate (3d of the Ist corps,
brigade Beuret ; 6th battalion of the foot ehasseurs,
Commandant Fen-flier de la Prevolais ; 28th of the line,
Colonel Lartigues ; 93th of the line, Colonel Conseil
Dumesnil ; brigade Bazaine ; Ist Regiment of the Fo-
reign Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Martenot de Cordone ;
2d Regiment of the Foreign Legion, Colonel de Cho-
brieres), serving as a reserve to the division Levaillarit.
In addition, and to guard against any eventualities that
might happen, I ordered from Kamiestt, and placed
under the orders of General de &dies, the 30th and 35th
of the line, who were on the extreme left, and gave
strength on that side to our lines.

" Before Karabelnaia,, as I have already stated, our
attack was to be made in three directions :—To the left,
on the Malakhoff and its supports ; to the right, on the
Little Redan of Careening Bay ; and o❑ the centre, on
the curtain which united these works. The system of
the Malakhoff was evidently the most important point of
the fortress ; its capture must involve the successive
ruin of the defences of the place, and I had added to the
troops under General Busquet ail the infantry of the
Imperial Guard.
"The attack of the left on the Malakhoff was confided
to General M`Mahon (Ist division of 2d corps), Ist bri-
gade, Colonel Decaen ; Ist Zouaves, Colonel Colineau ;
and 7th of the line, Colonel Decaen ; 2d brigade, Gene-
ral Vinoy ; Ist batta!ion of font chasseurs, Commandant
Gambier ; 20th of the line, Colonel Orianne ; 27th of
the line, Colonel Adam, which had also in reserve the
brigade Whimpfen (3d Zouavcs, Colonel Polhhs ; 50th
of the line, Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolas ; and Algerian
Rifles, Colonel Rose), taken from the division Can
and the two battalions of the Zouaves of the Guard,
Colonel Jannin.

"The right attack on the Redan was confided to Ge-
neral Dulac (brigade St. Pol : 17th foot chasseurs, Com-
mandant de Feeassac ; 57th of the line, Colonel Dupuis,
85th, Colonel Javel ; 2d brigade, General Bisson ; 10th
of the line, Commandant de Lacontrie ; 61st of the line
Colonel de Taxis), having in reserve the brigade Marol-
les (15th of the line, Colonel Guerin ; 96th of the line,
Colonel Malherhe), of the division d'Autemarre, and the
battalion of foot chasseurs of the Guard, Colonel Con
Duller de Luciniere. General de Motterouge (brigade
of General Bourbaki : 4th foot chasseurs, Commandant
Clinchart ; 86th of the line, Colonel de Berthier ; 100th
of the line, Colonel Mathieu ; 24 brigade, Colonel Pi-
card ; 91st of the line, Colonel Kergueir), commanded
the attack of the centre in the middle of the curtain,
having in reserve the Voltigeurs (Colonels Montera and
Douay) of the Guard, under the direct orders of the
general of division of the Guard (Colonels Blanchard and
Dalton) Mellinet, having under him the Generale of Bri-
gade de Ponteves and de Failly.
"In order to place these troops, our trenches bad
been divided in three places, of which each part ought to
contain in its advanced portion the whole of the division
of attack, and the reserves would find room as well in
the old trenches, as far as they were calculated to con-
tain, them, as in the ravines of Karabelnaia and the
Careening Bay. It was requisite, the better to deceive
the enemy, that the assembling of the troops should take
place without much disturbance ; thus all the communi-
cations conducting to our places of arms had been pre-
served with great care, and everything that was likely to
attract observation was removed.

"To the left attacks, as well as to those of the right,
detachments of artillery and engineers, provided with
tools, were placed at the head of each column of attack.
The sappers of the engineers, with the auxiliaries of the
advanced guard of each attack, were to be ready to
place bridges which they had learned to manage, and the
materials for which had already been sent in advance of
the first line. The cannoniers were provided with all
that was necessary—hammers, &c.—to be ready to spike
or unspike the guns as the case might be, and to turn, if
possible, against the enemy those which they might
take. In addition, in the first battalion of each attack
a certain number of men were to be provided with short-
hand tools, with which they might open passages, fill up
ditches, turn traverses ; to accomplish, in a word, urgent
works that were so important at such a moment. •
"Besides the reserves of the field batteries had been
prepared in a manner to enable them to be brought
promptly into action. To the left attack a field battery
was to be placed in a spot near the fortress, with horses
ready, and its cannoniers provided with harness ready to
carry them off in case of necessity ; two other batteries
(of the Ist division) were to be ready at Clocheton ; and
a fourth was to be carried to the extreme left of the
Lazaretto. To the right attacks a reserve of 24 field-
pieces were to be placed—viz., 12 guns of the Lancaster
old battery, and 12 to guard the Redoubt Victoria,

"The English had 200 yards to cross under a terrible
shower of shot. This space was soon covered with
dead ; nevertheless these losses did not arrest the march
of the attacking column, which arrived, directing its
attack on the capital of the work. They descended into
the ditch, which was nearly five yards in depth,.And in
spite of the efforts of the Russians, they scaled the.
escarpment and carried the salient of the Redan. There,
after a desperate engagement, which cost dear to the
Russian., the English soldiers found nothing before
them but a vast unoccupied space, riddled with the balls
of the enemy, who were sheltered behind distant tra-
verses. It was only after having sustained for two
hours the unequal combat that the English decided on
evacuating the Redan, and they did this with so firm a
countenance that the enemy did not dare to follow them.
"In the meantime, on the left, at the signal agreed on,
the division Levaillant, commanded by Generals Coustou
and Trochu, precipitated themselves on the left flank of
the Central Bastion and the lunette of the left. In
spite of the shower of balls and projectiles, and after
an ardent combat, the spirit and vigour of these brave
troops triumphed over the resistance of the enemy, and
in spite of the accumulated difficulties before them they
penetrated into the two works. But the enemy, falling
back upon successive traverses, still fought with firm-
ness. A murderous fire issued out from all these covers ;
masked pieces were opened upon them every moment,
and field pieces vomited showers of balls, decimating
our men. Generals Costou and Trochu, who were
wounded, had to give up their command ; Generals
Rivet and Breton were killed ; several mines exploded
by the enemy produced a moment of hesitation in our
men. At last, a reinforcement of Russians, made by
numerous columns, forced our troops to abandon the
works which they had carried, and to retire into our
advanced works.

" Our batteries from that part of the attacks, skil-
fully directed by General Lehcouf, to whom Rear• A-
dmiral de Genouilly rendered, as he always does,
his devoted and enlightened aid, managed their fire so
well that the enemy were forced to take shelter behind
their parapets. General de Salles, causing the division
d'Autemarre to advance, prepared this time a second
and redoubtable attack, but we were assured of theMa-
lakhoff, and I told him not to proceed.
"The possession of this work was, notwithstanding,
energetically disputed.
"By means of the batteries of the Maison-en-crox, the
artillery, field pieces brought to the most favourable
points, and batteries from the north of the Roads, the
enemy inundated us with shot, and projectiles of every
and carried ravage into our ranks, and the powder
magazine of the Russian battery Potorne exploded,
augmenting our losses, making our men fly off at an
angle of 91 degrees. A great number of superior and
other officers were killed and wounded. Generals St.
Pol and de Manila fell gloriously, and Generals Melli-
net, de Ponteves, Bourbaki, were wounded at the head
of their troops.

"Three times the divisions Dulac and Motterouge
took possession of the Redan and the curtain, and three
times were they obiiged to all back on account of a
dreadful fire of artillery, and before the vast masses who
stood before them. Still the Lancaster field batteries in
reserve descended at a trot, cleared the trenches, and
audaciously established themselves within half-cannon
shot, effecting the defeat of the enemy's columns, and
driving off their steamers. A part of these two divisions,
supported in this heroic struggle by the troops of the
Guard, who covered themselves with glory on that day,
established themselves on the left of the curtain, from
which the enemy drove them no more.

" During the renewed combats on the right and in the
centre, the Russians redoubled their efforts to retake
the Malekhoff. This fortification, which is a kind of cita-
del of earthwork, 350 metres long by about 150 broad,
armed with 62 pieces of different calibre, surmounts a
bill which commands the whole interior of the Faubourg
de Karabelnaia, and takes in reverse the Redan attacked
by the English, is only 1200 metres from the South
Port, and menaces not only the sole anchorage for yes-
sells, but also the only passage of retreat open to the
Russians—the bridge thrown by them across from one
shore of the stream-roads to the other.

" During the first hours of this struggle on the part
of the two armies, the Russians constantly renewed their
efforts, but General M'Mahon had received successively
to resist these continued attempts, the Vinoy brigade'
of his division, the Zouaves of the Guard, the reserve of
General Wimpfen, and a band of Voltigeurs of the
guard, by which means he made head against the enemy,
who were always repulsed. The Russians, neverthe-
less, endeavoured to make a last and desperate effort ;
formed in deep columns, they assailed three times the
breach of the fortification, and three times were obliged
to retreat with enormous losses before the compactness
of our troops.
" After this last struggle, which terminated about five
o'clock in the evening, the enemy apparently decided to
abandon that course of action, and the batteries alone
continued till nightfall to send some shots amongst us,
which did not do much harm.
" The detachments of the Engineers and of the Artil-
lery which during the combat were either bravely beatea
or actively employed on their special mission, applied
themselves quickly to the task, under the direction of
their officers, to execute the most difficult and urgent
part of the work in the interior of the fortification.
"According to my orders, Generals Thery and Niel
instructed Generals Beuret and Prossard, commanding
the artillery and engineers of the second corps, to take
the necessary measures to consolidate ourselves in the
Malakhoff, and on the portion of the curtain in our
bands, so as to be able, if necessary, to resist a noc-
turnal attack from the enemy, and to be in a position
to make them on the morrow evacuate the Little Redan
of Careening-bay, the Cross-house, and all that side of
their defences.
" These measures were rendered unnecessary. The
enemy, despairing of retaking the Malakhoff, took a
great decision—they evacuated the town.
"Towards evening I had a suspicion it would be so.

• „
Labourers posted on the different points designated were j I saw lone files of tioopa and baggage cross the hridg
to be ready to prepare reads for the artillery. I to the North side ; conflagrations soon burst out on all
"In order to be prepared against all chances, the Ist sid •e, and all doubt on the subject vanished. I should
brigade of the division d'Aurelle was posted in a manner I like ta nave pushed forward, gained the bridge, and cut
to repel, with the assistance of the batteries and redoubts off the enemy's retreat; but the besieged kept blowing
existing in that direction, all attempts of the enemy on u.p their fortificitions, powder magazines, and buildings,
the counter-fort of Inkerman. and these explosions would have destroyed us in detail,
"On the side of our lines General Herbillon was or- and made it impossible to carry out the idea. We
dered to guard the positions on the Tehernaya by keep- waited in position till the dawn broke over this scene of
ing under arms his infantry, mounting his cavalry, and desolation.
harnessing his artillery at the hour fixed for the attack. " When the sun rose it threw light upon this work of
I had, besides, sent to him the brigade of Cuirassiers of destruction, which was even greater than we thought.
General Forton. General Marmara was acquainted with The remaining Russian vessels had been sunk in the
these dispositions. As to General d'Allonville, he was port, the bridge was doubled back, the steamers alone
ordered, in the night from the 7th to the Bth, to enter remained busily employed in taking away the last fugi-
the valley of Baidar to take a position near the bridge of tives, and some fanatic Russians, who were endeavour-
Kreutzen—this position offering an advantageous con- in;; to spread the conflagration through the town. But
oentration in case of the succouring army of the Russians soon these few men and the steamers were compelled to
menacing the outworks. retire and seek a refuge in the creeks on the north side
"In common accord General Simpson and I agreed of the roads. Sebastopol was ours.
that mid-day should be the time for the assault. The " Thus terminated this memorable siege, during which
hour chosen had many advantages ;it offered favourable the relieving army was twice beaten in the open field,
chances for surprising the enemy, and in case the Rus- and the Means of defence and attack of which had as-
sian army outside should make a desperate attempt to sumed colossal proportions. The besieging army had in
succour the place, it would be impossible to adopt before its different attacks about SOO guns in battery, which
the close of the day a vigorous measure against our fired more than 1,600,000 rounds, and our approaches,
lines ; such was the result of our attack, and we bad till dug during 336 days, of open trenches, through a rocky
the following morning to consult. ground, with a development of more than 86 kilometres
"On the morning of the Bth the artillery of the left (20 leagues), were made under the constant fire of the
attacks, which, from the sth at dawn had carried on a place and with incessant combats by day and night.
violent fire, continued to crush the enemy with projec- "The day of the Bth of September, on which the allies
tiles ; from the right attacks our batteries fired vigour- gained the mastery of an army almost equal in number,
ously, but carefully continuing the artifices of which not invested, entrenched behind formidable defences, pro-
they had made use in view of what was to take place. vided with more than 1,100 cannon, protected by the
"Towards eight o'clock the engineers launched on guns of the fleet, and the north batteries still possessing
the Central Bastion two projecting mines, each charged enormous resources, will remain an example of what
with 100 kilogrammes of powder ; and at the same hour may be expected from sheave disciplined army hardens d
they caused to play in advance of our covered way, on by war.
the front of the Malakhoff, three projectiles, charged " Our losses on this day are-5 generals killed, 4
altogether with 1,500 kilogrammes of powder, in order wounded, and 6 with contusions; 24 superior officers
to break the lower galleries of the Russian miners.
killed, 20 wounded, 2 missing ; 116 subaltern officers
"The possession of the system of the Malakhoff being killed, 224 wounded, 8 missing; and 1,489 non-commis•
decided to be regarded as the fruits of our labour for the cloned officers and men killed, 4,259 wounded, and
day, the other attacks were subordinate, and it was 1,400 missing ; total, 7,55 e.
understood between General Simpson and myself that "As you see, Monsieur le Mar4chal, I shall have
the English should not fall upon the Great Redan until names to mention to your Excellency; it will be the ob.
he received a signal which I should give him that we ject of a Special report.
were assured of the Malakhoff. In the same manner, "The fleets of Admirals Lyons and Bruat were to
General de Salles should not put his troops in motion have taken up a position at the entrance of Sebastopol
until the moment he should receive a signal from me. roads, and to have made a powerful diveraion. But a
"A little before twelve all the troops were perfectly strong gale from the north-east, which was severe
in order at the points indicated, and the other disposi • enough on shore, lashed the sea into fury and rendered
tions had been punctually executed. General de Sales it impossible to think of weighing anchor. The English
was ready ; General Bosquet was at the post of combat and French mortar boats fired, nevertheless, with great
which he had chosen in the 6th parallel ; and I had siecess into the roadstead, the town, and the different
arrived, with Generals Teiry, of the Artillery ; Niel, of sea forts. As usual the Naval Brigade on shore emu-
the Engineers, and De Martimprey, my chief of the late I the gunners of the land artillery, and distirguishe I
staff, at the Redoubt Brancion, which I had taken as themselves by the vigour of their fire and the precision
my head-quarters, of their aim.
" The watches were regulated. At mid-day exactly "The English army behaved with its usual intrepidity.
all our batteries ceased to fire, to take a studied aim at It was preparing for a second attack, which would
the reserves of the enemy. At the call of their chiefs doubtless have overcome the unexpected obstacles met
the divisions of M'Mahon, Dulac, and Motterouge, with in the first; but the capture of the Malakhoff of
started out from the trenches. The drums and trumpets course rendered a second attack unnecessary.
beat and sounded the charge, and with cries of Vive "The Saidinian Brigade of General Cialdini, which
l'Empereur !' a thousand times repeated along the whole General del la Marruora had kindly placed at ray dis-
line, our intrepid soldiers threw themselves into the posal to reinforce the let corps, stood the terrible cross
trenches of the enemy. It was a solemn moment. fire in our trenches with the aplomb of veteran troops.
" The Ist division of the brigade of M`Mahon, the let The Piedmontese were eager to cross bayonets with the
Zouaves at its head, followed by the 7th of the line, bay- enemy, but, as the attack on the Flagstaff Bastion did
ing on its left the 4th foot chasseurs, darted against the not take place, it was not possible to satisfy the ardour
left face and the salient of the Malakhoff work. The of these brave trier pi,
breadth and depth of the ditch, and the height of the "As usual, M. le Marechal, our wounded, and even
escarpment of the talus, rendered the ascent extremely those of the enemy, have received every attention. We
difficult fur our men ; but at last they gained the parapet, owe the recovery of many to the excellent organisation
crowded with Russians, who suffered themselves to be of our hospital service, and to the personal devotion of
killed on the spot, but would not yield, and, in default the hospital staff.
of muskets, fought with plough coulters, stones, and, in "I cannot conclude this report without mentioning
short, with whatever they could lay their hands on. to your Excellency how, on this occasion, as on many
Here was a struggle of hand to hand, one of tse combats others, lam indebted to Major General Hugh Rose and
in which nothing but the intrepidity and valour of our Lieutenant-C douel George Foley, commissaries of her
troops coil'd gain them the victory. They sprang at Britannic Majesty at the bead-quarters of the French
once into the works, trampling the Russians who con- army, for their services in the numerous relatiocs I
tinued to resist under their feet, and in a few moments have had to k-ep up during the action with General
after the colours of France were planted on the Male- Simpson, the English Commander-in• Chief.
khoff, not to be pulled down again. "Accept, M. le Marechal, the expression of my re-
To the right and to the centre, with the same spirit apectful devotion,
that overcome all obstacles and drove back the enemy, "PELISSIER, Marshal, Commander-in-Chief."
the divisions of Dulac and Motterouge, headed by their
chiefs, seized the Little Redan of Careening Bay and the
curtain, and even pushed forward into the second work in
construction. Everywhere we were in possession of the
works attacked. But this great and shining success
could not fail to cost us dear. Struck with a piece of
shell from the right, General Bosquet was forced to quit
the field of battle. I confided the command on this oc-
casion to General Dulac, who was perfectly seconded by
General de Liniers, chief of the staff of the 2d corps.
"The engineers, who had marched with the storming
columns, were ready at their post, working vigorously;
they filled up ditches, opened passages, and erected
bridges, The 2d brigade of General 3VMM:ion advanced
rapidly to reinforce him in the Malakhoff. I then made
the signal agreed upon with General Simpson for the
attack on the Great Redan, and a little afterwards for
the attack on the town.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

The pressure at the Bank of England yesterday, on
the part of dealers and others, desirous of obtaining loans
on stock so as to avoid the necessity of closing their
accounts at present prices, was extremely great, and the
notification of an increase of a half per cent, in the rate
pr educed an effect which was immediately turned to the
utmost advantage by adverse operators. Out of doors,
however, among the leading bankers and capitalists there
was a total absence of any sign of anxiety, and, so far
from their being an extraordinary demand for c,.ininer-
cial accommodation, it is believed that, but for the way
in which the idea of a further rise in the rate of dis-
count has induce] people during the past three weeks
to provide in anticipation for their actual wants, the
appl:cations would i-ear.ely have been at all beyond
the usual extent. Not only have the convictions
entertained of the soundness of trade in almost every de-
partment, and of the absence of any rational cause of
alarm, been confirmed by the daily experience of the
principal monetary firms, but surprise is felt, even among
those who were most confident on the matter, that,
-limier any possible circumstances, such stability could
have prevailed in the face of the combination of acci-
dental c,,u,es which have arzzraviteri the symptoms of a
moderate fttringency to a point which, but for the exer-
cise of judgment, might easily have been converted into
a panic.

The increase in the Bank rate for advances today was
generally accepted as a confirmation of their intention to
advance the rate of discount to-morrow. As the demand
for gold for exportation has now been stopped, the chief
&Avantage of the measure wit! consist in its satisfying the
public against all dread of a renewal of the drain and
providing for the effects of any further action that may
be considered necessary by the Bank of France.
Gold has been offered to-day in the market, but with-
out finding buyers. Hence it is presumed that even the
artificial demand consequent upon the Bank of France
making purchases at a loss has terminated. It is under-
stood also that no further sums are being forwarded to
Hamburg for purchases of silver. At present, there-
fore, there is no natural outlet through which any addi-
tional quantity can be sent away, and the instalments
on the Turkish loan and the payments to the furCes ap-
pear to constitute the only existing sources of probable
demand.—Timex' City Article.