The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-23 00:00:00

OPENING

OF THE

BOMBARDMENT.
( Front second edition of the Morning Herald of this day. )
ENGLISH CAMP, HEIGHTS OF
SEBASTOPOL, APRIL P.
_ _

At last, for the second time, we have begun the siege
of Sebastopol. We have begun the final struggle, on the
success or failure of which depends for years—perhaps.
for ever—the fame and destinies of the mightiest empires
of the earth. Here we are holding the true Peace Con-
ference—that at Vienna is a mere seance diplomatique.
If our bombardment is successful, we are independent of
Vienna ; if it is unsuccessful, no conferences can mend,
nor even conferences make us worse. Both belligerents
fear to refuse fair offers—both are anxious to try the
issue of a final struggle; so armies fight, while ministers
arrange for peace. Let us only hope that England's
plenipotentiaries will act as well as her troops, and
the issue will not be doubtful. Last night
there was very little firing on either side.
Beyond an occasional gun to keep up the ap-
pearance of war, and take away the slight sense
of security which sometimes exists in the trenches, all
was quiet. All in the allied camps knew that the
bombardment would commence at daybreak, and so all
wore full of regrets and forebodings over the change in
the weather. It had, indeed, changed in a mnnner suffi-
ciently severe to excite anxiety, if not mistrust, as to
the result of our first day's operations. The wind blew
a regular gale ; the night was at once dark and misty,
while the rain fell in such floods as almost to surpass
every other sound. Towards morning it was, if possible,
still more unfavourable; and in spite of the rain the
wind was sufficiently strong to leave in all but faint
hopes that the fleet would be able to close in the struggle
of the day.
At four this morning all the officers who had leave
were on the alert, looking up waterproofs and forgotten
mufflers before setting out for Cathcart's Hill, to see our
opening fire. I, of course, was among the number of
those who thus left their warm beds to stand in rain
and mud, and witness what we should have witnessed
five months ago—viz., our final bombardment.
It was just the dull twilight, neither night nor day,
when I started from the Light Division towards Cath-
cart's Hill, to overlook our batteries and the town.
Nearly all, except the sentries, were asleep in our camp ;
the dull leaden look of the sky, the marshy state of the
ground, only enlivened here and there with thick yellow
pools, and the tents all wet, blown, and bellied out by
the fierce wind, was such a picture of utter discomfort
that it required a strong sense, both of curiosity and
duty, to hinder my returning even to the shelter (?) of a
tent. But if matters were bad in the camp they were
ten times worse on Cathcart's Hill. Thera the wind
reviled, and the rain was as merciless u small eliOt ;

yet two or three groups of officers were on it, trying to
look firm and patient, as if they really meant to wait.
At first it was difficult to distinguish anything with
certainty, tnd there was still too much of ❑ight about
the day to reward any one for his trying journey through
the wet. After a while, however, it grew clearer, and
with a little difficulty I was enabled to distinguish
everything precisely as I had seen it weeks and months
before. There wai nothing whatever to denote that one
of the most bloody struggles that has ever disturbed the
world, or defaced the annals of civilisation, was about to
commence.

A heavy mist hung over the sea, and partly over Se-
bastopol, while both were obscured, every now and then,
by the clouds of rain which were driven before the wind.
The north side was almost completely invisible, though
the mouth of the harbour was clear, and a heavy sea
running in broke in a wild line of breakers over the
sunken ships. Beyond one or two guard-ships our fleet
was not visible in its accustomed place. Where it had
moved to I cannot say ; but, as far as I could judge in
the misty state of the weath'r, the ►essels had left their
old moorings.
In Sebastopol itself everything was quiet and clean as
as usual.

The huge black shears in the dockyard stood out con-
Ticuons, as did also the topmasts of a two decker, an-
chored just under them. Where the head of the harbour
could be seen two or three large boats seemed crossing
it near the land, but no other signs of auivity were
visible either in the water or is the town. The latter,
indeed, seemed almost deserted ; ad round its ban Is )me
barracks, it rows of stately bons, o, its spaciou4 c'mrches,
with their green roofs and handsome cupolas, not a soul
was visible.

It was now five o'clock ; nnne of the clocks in Sebas-
-opol could be beard to strike, as the wind was very
strong and blowing up the harbour and across the town.
Each moment the weather became thicker and more wet,
so that in a few minutes hardly any of the town was
isible. The grim line of batteries, however, remained
well in view, though they also seemed as quiet as in-
ide the walls. In the Ma'akhofi a few soldiers could cc-
Asionally be distinguished in the embrasures, and a
mall party crossed now and then between it and the
Nlamelon, but this was all. On the left of the Redan
was some black mass, but whether soldiers or not it was
impossible to say. It was now past five, and though
the atmosphere was by no means clear, it was at least
as clear, if not clearer, than it seemed likely to he at a
later hour. Yet there were no signs in our batteries.
The men were in them as usual ; perhaps they displayed
a little more bustle, but nothing to induce one to believe
that they were preparing for a long and bloody encoun-
ter with a foe they were determined to vanquish, but
,vhose defences, both in earthworks and guns, far sur-
passed them, both in solidity and number.
Suddenly, at about a quarter past five o'clock, a
gun was fired from ourright attack. In a second after-
wards, running up and down the line—from the little
mounds and hillocks near Inkerman, from the
bread commanding positions of Green Hill and Gordon's
Batteries—from quiet pict, resque ravines, where no one
dreamt of guns lurking—high from the rear on steep
and lofty ridges, and away down to the left where the
French works stretch out—over low marsh lands to
Karniesh—dfrom every point of our lines came a hundred
streaks of flame and masses of smoke.- For a minute
after there was silence, and then the great concussion
came rumbling on, slowly mastering both wind and
rain, and swelling into a roar that seemed to shake
both heaven and earth. The shells and bullets of
the first discharge made of themselves a perfect uproar,
as they fell like an iron hail full upon the enemy's
batteries. Some shot were short, and went bounding
towards the works, scattering the earth like water.
Some were too high, and passed clear over every-
thing into the town ; hut the great mass were well
aimed and true, and passed full into the embrasures,
clearing all before therm. The shells burst everywhere
about like crackers, and the stunning explosion of the
great mortars made themselves conspicuous over every
other noise, as the huge bombs screamed through the
air, carrying death and destruction into the Mamelon
and Malakhoff. After this first tremendous volley, each
gun worked as it could, and a regular file fire of mor-
tars and heavy guns commenced upon the place.
The enemy appeared completely surprised. With the
first awful salvo a general confusion is reported to have
been observed in their batteries. For three or four
minutes not a gun replied, then the Mamelon fired three
or four at once, and the Redan and Malakhoff also began
a slow irregular cannonade. The Flagstaff Battery was
also quick in sending two or three shells, but the great
mass of the guns, in all the Russian works, were silent.
Gradually, after a lapse of five or ten minutes, their fire
sxtended, but before half their ordnance was manned,
)urs had fired a dozen rounds, so that some of the
enemy's guns were struck before they fired a shot and
past all manning.
It was nearly six o'clock before all their works were
in full play, and then each battery pelted against its
assailant, fell to business in earnest.
Our mortar batteries in the advanced works and in
front of the picket house, with the new French bat-
teries towards Inkerman, appeared to concentrate
their fire upon the works round the Malakhoff Tower
and the Mamelon. Sore of the French Inkerman
works also fired heavily into the harbour and dock-
yard buildings. The right flank of Gordon's Bat-
tery was also directed against the Mamelon. This
xas on our right. At the centre the centre and
left face of Gordon's Battery engaged the Redan,
assisted by the new 68-pounder battery, on its left, the
mortars in the advanced works and the right fire of the
careen-hill Mound which engaged the Garden Battery.
This was our centre. The centre and left faces of Green-
hill opened upon the barrack work, seppoited by a sailor
)&ttety of heavy guns and one side of the French right
attack. The other side of the French works fought closely
with some new batteries which the enemy have lately
thrown np between and in advance of the barrack and
Flagstaff works. The French centre was close, quite
close, to the Flagstaff Battery, and their left engaged
the Quarantine and Mud Forts.

This may perhaps give your readers a general idea of
our positiGn, and that of our antagonists. More than a
general idea it is impossible to give, as the weather was
much too hazy, and the smoke too thick, to permit of
much more than mere conjecture as to what occurred at
any distance from the spot in which the spectator stood.
Up till eight or nine o'clock a tolerable view could be
got of the contest, though at no time was there any view
so clear as in the attack of the 17th of October last.

The right flank of Gordon's Battery, with French
works towards Inkerman, played heavily upon the Mame-
lon, and in the course of a couple of hours two of its guns
were dismounted, and before nine a third was added to
the list of incapables. Much, if not all, thisdamageseemed
to be caused by the three 13-inch • mortar battery in
front of the old picquet-house, which every four or five
minutes threw two shells into the Mamelon. and one in
the works of Malakhoff Tower. The latter suffered much;
at least, it is presumed so, as. exclusive of some of the
Inkerman batteries, part of Gordon's Battery. and four
10-inch mortars, with several cohorns from the advanced
work, played upon it incessantly. The fire of three 12-
pounders was directed from the advanced parallel upon
its cheveux-de-frise and abattis, and scattered them to
splinters in the air.
But it is quite impossible to speak now of the damage
done to the enemy. After nine o'clock nothing could be
seen with distinctness. Just before this period a slight
explosion took pace in the Malakhoff, most probably that
of a case of cartridges. For a few minutes after it oc-
curred, three guns in the centre of the circular earth-
work were silent, but then resumed their fire. The guns
were not hurt, though the gunners were most probably
killed bytbe explosion. One of more force took place al-
most at the same time in one of the tiers of the Garden
Battery. This was much more severe, as two of its
guns were evidently disabled by it, and fired no more.
At the last moment at which the rain,!mist, and smoke
allowed anything to be distinguished the Garden Bat-
teries and Mamelon appeared to have suffered much, and
their fire was considerably slackened.
From this time--a little after nine o'clock—till
past three, all in the camp were left to their own con-
jectures as to the progress of the bombardment.
The mist and rain were so dense that it was impos-
-ale from the heights to distingnish the fire even of
our nearest batteries. But not only was it impossi-
ble to see what we were,doing, but even to hear
was difficult. The wind swept from the camp to-
wards Sebastopol, and this, with the thickness of
the atmosphere, and rush of the rain, drowned
dmost every sound, except the dull and ap-
oarently very distant concussion of the large
mortars. So perfect was this quietness, that it
seemed quite impossible to realise in the deserted
aspect of our camp that a struggle, in which not
only the reputation but the very existence of the
troops engaged, was taking place within half a mile of
our lines, and that 154 English, upwards of 200 French,
and between 700 and 800 Russian guns and mortars
were firing away as fast as they could be loaded. Ex-
traordinary as this may appear, it is still quite true, and
I think I am not far wrong when I say that from nine
in the morning till almost the close of the day the inha-
bitants of Islington saw and heard quite as much of the
bombardment as the allied troops on the heights of Se-
bastopol.

About ten o'clock a message was sent by electric
telegraph to head-quarters to ask if our batteries might
reply to the enemy gun for gun ? The answer to be
sent was "No ; they were only to fire at their proper
intervals, and when the atmosphere was sufficiently clear
to admit of their taking deliberate aim." When this
message was being transmitted, it was found that the
electric wire to the batteries was broken. The galvano-
meter was applied, and after some time the rupture was
discovered about sixty yards in rear of Gordon's Bat-
tery. The wire had been severed by the bursting of a
shell right over the spot where it had been laid. The
damagti, however, was soon repaired, and the question
and answer from the batteries to head-quarters trans-
mitted as usual.

Between 11 and 12 two guns in Gordon's Battery
were dismounted, and two men killed. Towards two,
some of the most advanced works reported that, as well
as they were able to judge, the sea forts were engaged.
Upon the receipt of this latter news, all who were
aware of it hastened to the brow of the hills over
our batteries ; but still nothing was to be seen at
the mouth of the harbour. Occasionally there were
sounds, which led all to the belief that the sea batteries
Constantine, Nicholas, Paul, and Alexander were firing
heavily, but against what, or wi' 'a what success, it was
beyond even the limits of conjecture to ascertain. Oc-
casionally about this time, when a heavy gust of wind
swept over the town, the mists and smoke were dissi-
pated for a moment, and it could then be seen that both
the Mamelon and Garden Batteries were very slack in
their cannonade, and were fast approaching that state
which engineers call silenced. The Redan and Malakhoff
were then firing as heavily as ever, and the Flagstaff
and Parrao% Batteries seemed to hold their ground well
against the French.
the 015,020 time one of the French Weak) at

Inkerman appeared to have suffered much, is did
also our advanced trench and some parts of Gor-
don's Battery. On the whole, more mischief seemed
to have been done to the Russians, but on both sides
the fire was much more slack than could have been ex-
pected. The thickness of the weather and consequent
uncertainty of aim way, no doubt, toe cause of much of
this, though the comparative feebleness of the enemy's
defence was not so easily to be accounted for. The Rus-
sians as I have bef rre remarked, are not so particular
in their aim. At about six the weather partially
cleared, but the rain still fell in torrents. From the
short glimpse to be obtained of our old foes, the ad-
vantage of the day's cannonade most decidedly re-
mains with the allies. At six p.m. the Mamulon was
almost entirely silenced, and the Garden Battery
quite so. The Malakhoff appeared to have suffered
much. Even the few stones which remained of its round
tower were quite swept away, the earthwork much in-
jured, and many of its guns silenced. Still, at this time,
about 30 w re in full play, though not firing fast, and
apparently only returning shot fee- shot with the allie4.
The new Russian works north of the Mamelon seemed
uninjured, as did also the alied batteries opposed to
them. The Reda,' seemed injur .d, though by no means
in a way which les.ened its resistance. Too fire from
this tremendous work was as h as in the morning.
The French battery opposed to the B trra,Y•lc was
irjured, as was also that opposed to the F.agstaff.
Neither of these great Russian works appeared much
hurt at present.
Ou the extreme left the French are said to have done
much damage to the right of the Flags, al., an i als r to
have halt destroyed the Quarantine and Mud Forts ;
but I cannot answer for this until to-morrow,
ELEVEN P M.

About seven this evening the fire of the Allied
siei,e guns gradually ceased as night came on. The ad-
vantage of tire most decidedly at the close of the day re-
mained with us. The mortars have 11,4 ceased firing-, and
all of them are ordered to maintain Vie bornbardin, nt by
firing a shell every 10 minutes throughout the night.
This they are now doing. Tor ra'n, after cony tig flov, n
like a second deluge, at eight o'clock has ceased, and
the night is mild, but very dark and cloudy, threaten-
ing more rain. It is quite awful to stand upon the hills
and watch the passage of the bombs into the Ravi-ian
works. The darkness of the night makes their flashes
appear quite blinding, and its stillness seems to add
fresh terror to the roar of the shell. While I write
they are fast pouring in to the Malakhoff and Mainlon
and Redan, while the French are throwing their,'
into the Flagstaff, Barrack, and other batteries. The
Russians reply with bombs also, but at the very lowest
computation the Allies are firing three to their
two. To make up for this deficiency the enemy
occasionally use their long guns, but they do little
damage to our works, and are utterly useless against our
mortars.

While this fire of our mortars is maintained the enemy
cannot repair their damages nor replace the guns which
have been dismounted to-day. Why were not mortars
thought of at the commencement of the siege I
There is no precise information as to the damage
we have done the enemy, and in this state of un-
certainty the conjectures are wild and innumerable.
According to ono rumour the Malakh ff has been de
stroyed and the Mamelon silenced, while another dis-
poses in the same summary manner of the Flag-staff,
Redan, and Barrack Batteries—in fact of the whole of
the southern defences. I need hardly say that some of
these are untrue in part and others entirely so. There are
also rumours of the fleet having gone in, and some of the
vessels of the allies having sunk. However, [ am in
hopes that the true state of the case will transpire to-
morrow before the mail leaves, when, perhaps, the
weather will permit of my seeing clearly how the
bombardment does really progress. Up to the pre
sent it has decidedly been in favour of the allies.

APRIL 10.

The bombardment has continued without a
moment's intermission throughout the night,
and thee enemy have consequently been prevented
repairing their damages. The practice of our
mortars was perfect. Not a second passed with-
out a 13-inch shell hello- thrown into the Ma-
lakhoff and Mamelon. From its peculiar position
at the bottom of a hollow, the Malakhofr
seemed to suffer most. At daybreak, this
morning, the fire of the long guns was recom
menced on both sides, and then, for the
first time, we were able to perceive the immense ad van-
tage which had resulted from the bombardment of the
night. Ate the close of yesterday evening's fire the
Malakhoff was almost completely silenced ; and this
morning it replied to our cai.nnnade with only two
guns, which were dismounted at eight. Since that time
to the pre-ent (eleven a.m.) it has not fired a shot. I
have just returned from the brow of the bill overlook•
ing the town. The firing is very heavy, and the
weather thick, with much rain. The Malakhoff Tower
and its Circular Battery ant. fl inking works ate much
ink.red, and not a gun is replying to the allies. At she
same time it is by no means so much injured as to account
fur its ceasing fire. It is reported from the advanced
trench that from 25 to 30 guns in it are still uninjured.
Why the fire ceased no one can conjecture. It may he
that the enemy are short of men or aminuni ion. The
Mamelon is very much injured ; in fact, it is almost
entirely destroyed ; ten of its guns are dismounted—
three are still firing. Such a storm of shot and
shell is pouring into it from all part., that it must
shortly become untenable. In case of their per-
severing to hold it, it will be silenced and destroyed by
nightfall.
The Reilan is injured, though not more so than the
allied batteries opposed to it. It still maintains a regu-
lar and heavy fire, and will require at least 24 hours'
more firing to reduce it. On the left the Russian batteries
have suffered most severely.' The Flagstaff and Barrac!<
works have been much damaed by the French, and
their fire is at least 30 per cent, less than yesterday.
Some of the houses in the town show marks of having
been visited by stray bombs. The Garden Battery has
its works and guns much damaged, but still keeps up a
good fire. Our casualties have been slight ; I believe
only 60 skilled and wounded, of whom about 20 are
killed. Lord John Hay was wounded in the mouth by
a shell splinter, which knocked out some of his teeth,
but caused no further damage.

Lieutenant Twyford, R.N., I am sorry to say, was
struck in the chest with a round shot and killed on the
spot. Two of the sailors were killed by the explosion of
a cartridge. The return of the Naval Brigade are the
only ones yrt in, and they show one officer and nine men
killed, one officer and 14 men wounded. The largest
proportion cf killed is in thi3 brigade.
Lord Raglan and staff has just returned to head-
quarters from a tour rnu nd the batteries. I believe his
lordship is much pleased with the progress of the bom-
bardment.
Omer Pasha, is at Bamiesch with 12,000 veteran
troops rrom Eupatoria A division of 5000 Turks was
ye.terday sent from Kamiesh to replace those brought
by Omer Paella. The Turkish Commander-in-Chief
wishes to share in the glory of the general assault.
ONE O'CLOCK, P.M.
-

The fire is Still hot on our side ;,that of the enemy in
the works opposed to the is fast slackening. The
Flag-taff Battery is suffering much, and -hal nearly 40
of its gun-. dismounted. The ltedan, with part of the
Barrack ai:d Garden Bitt-ries are till most active. The
general opioiUn is that the Malakoff has been tnere'y t m-
porarily abandoned in consequeoce of our heavy fire of
bombs. Mich of it is still quite defensible against as-
sault, but will proba''•ly be quite destroyed before the
night,. Our total number of casualties is 17 killed and
33 wounded-55 in all

Py next mail there will I ,hope, be greet news, as the
storming will take place at daybreak on the 12th or
13th, according to the mischief we may do their de-
fences. Only nine of our guns have been dismounted,
five of which were repiaced in the night. New mortars.
four 13-inch, are to be added to-night tii our right attack,
so as to complete the destruction of the Malakoff. The
fleet was not engaged yesterday beyond one or two oc-
casional shots at long range. Towards the middle of
the day the thickness of the weather compelled them to
cast anchor.

Today the weather is still very thick, with much rain.
The fleet, however, have weighed, and are under steam,
moving about off the mouth of the harbour, as if wait-
ing a' opportunity of attack. This manoeuvre, of course,
keeps a large number of the enemy's troops constantly in
the sea forts. The first will attack whenever the general
assault takes place, and are now reconnoitring the forts
with that object in view. 'I am told positions tor several
of the ships have been chosen, where they will anchor
and engacze the f ,rts. One, it is raid, w;11 remain close
to the mouth of the harbour, so as to destroy the ene-
my's boats, in case, after a successful assault, they
should attempt to escape by water to the north side. A
masked battery on the heights of Inkerman, which has
not been opened, commands the road which also leads to
the north.