The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-03 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3, 1855.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL,

( Front the Times' Correspondent.)

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Aug,. `2O.—•The fire which

opened at daybreak on Friday continued the whole of
Saturday and ye3terday, but was slackened this morning
by order. I should not wonder if it were to be again in-
creased to-night in order to favour the progress of the
French works. This has already been considerable, and
the French seem duly sensible of the service our can-
nonade has rendered them. It has enabled them, I
heard a French officer say on Saturday evening, to do in
four hours what they previously could not have done in
15 days. I believe that the three days' fire has enabled
them to do what they otherwise would prolably never
have done.. Their foremost parallel, which had been
begun at the two ends could not be completed, owing to
its near proximity to the Malakhoff. As soon as a gabion
was put up a storm of project'les was hurled against it
and the working party. This difficulty has-now been
surmounted, and the extremities are connected. I un-
derstand that good progress was made last night, and that
they are enlarging the trench so as to admit of its con
taining more men. Opinions are divided as to the plan
of attack that will be observed. Some think that with-
out pushing their works beyond the point at which they
have now arrived, the French will give the assault; and
a report is prevalent in our camp that a British division
(the Light, it is rumoured) will share with them the
peril and honour. Others suppose that they will sap up
to the Malakhoff itself, blow up the parapet, and assault
amid the confusion consequent on the explosion. All
this is mere conjecture. As far as I have had oppor-
tunity of observii.Er, I think the French incline to the
latter plan. On the other hand, the distance is now so

greatly reduced—is, indeed, so very short—between the
French trenches anif the Russian defence-, that a vi-
gorous assault ought to succeed, unless, indeed, the more
desponding anticipations that I have heard indulged in,
as to the impregnability of the internal defences of the
Malakhoff, should be even more than realised. At the
same time we must not be misled as to the probable
amount of resistance by the fact that, since the first day of
the bombardment,the Russian fire from the Malakhoff, and,
indeed, from all partS of their line, has been weak, as if
their guns had been silenced by ours, and that the works ap-
pear to have suffered considerable damage. Mute
though the Malakhoff may be it would not be surprising
if, were we to assault to-day, our storming parties should
find that every gun could still speak loud enough. The
dearly bought experience of the 18th of June must not
be thrown away. On the other hand, our fire has been
both severe and well directed. That of the French has
been partial, and much less strong ; and this has excited
a good deal of comment and conjecture, some saying
that there had been a misunderstanding, and that the
French did not know they were expected to back us
with their batteries. It is improbable, however, that
there has been any mistake. Persons there may be—
perhaps themselves too hasty and impetuous—disposed
to tax General Simpson with over-great deliberation;
but he is generally admitted to be a safe man, not likely
to-fall into misunderstandings, and one who would be
quite sure of what was to be done before attempting to
do it. He certainly keeps his own counsel extremely
well, and nothing has transpired of the plan which it is
presumed he has for serious operations at a very early
date.

Our loss during the bombardment has not been heavy.
It was incurred chiefly on Friday, since which day no
officers have been hit to the best of my knowledge, and
not many men. For hours together the Russian fire has
been very slack, an occasional shot here and there.
They seem to consider it a point of honour to go off in
great style on the first day, after which they run their
guns behind the parapets, cover them with sandbags,
and allow us to blaze away with little reply. There are
reports that their men fight very unwillingly, and that
there is great difficulty in getting them forward. This
did not appear to be the case with these who fought the
other day at the Tchernaya, but they were double primed
with brandy, and moreover comprised divisions that had
just arrived. Many of the battalions who attacked that
day had not been into Sebastopol at all. So at least we
learn from the prisoners. That those who have long been
defending the place should be discouraged would not be
surprising, but the chief evidence we have of it is that
of a Polish officer, who came over a day or two ago.
Some of the prisoners taken at the Tcbernaya and said
to have inquired what had been the result of the attack
on our trenches, and, on hearing that none had been
made, to have expressed their surprise, as one had
been intended simultaneously with that upon our
right on the 16th inst. It is believed, or supposed,
that the unwillingness of the troops prevented the
intended co-operation to be afforded in the shape of a
sortie against our right and left attack. All these con-
jectures, suppositions, and beliefs, must be taken for
what they may be worth, which is often little enough.
It would not be at all surprising, certainly, if the Rus-
sians were discouraged, heartily wearied of their pro-
tracted defence, in which they gain no ground nor have
the least chance of gaining any, fo_. our position is really
impregnable, and so they must begin to consider it,
after the severe repulse of their recent attack on what
probably they considered one of its weakest points. To
return, however, to our own loss in the three days' born.
bardment. The information I have obtained convinces
me that it does not exceed 200, or, at most, 250 men
hors de combat beyond the usual average daily loss in
the trerches. This is very little, especially if we bear in
mind, that the Russian fire on the first day was really ex-
tremely violent. As to other damage, one or two batteries
of our left attack suffered a little, as I told ytu in my last;
our right scarcely anything. As regards the enemy, we
may reasonably hope, although we do not too confidently
reckon, that we have punished him pretty severely.
Although earthworks take a deal of hammering before
they show its marks, both the Redan and Maiakhoff li
have a very battered appearance. We have of course
no means of ascertaining the Russian loss of men. It
is believed they sustained a very considerable one on
Saturday night. Their fire became extremely brisk on
that evening. Our people kept up the musketry against
the Malakhoff to protect the French workmen, and
shells and bouquets of shells were flying all along the
lines from right to left—very pretty to look at, but un-
pleasant to meet. The night was Bark, and the only
light save that of the burning fuses which crossed each
other in curves against the black sky. and that of the
flashes from the rifles proceeded from some carcasses
which the French threw from time to time in order to
see wbat they were about. The Russians were nume-
rous in the Redan, intending a sortie, and I believe
some of them did venture out, but they were received
with such volleys from the Quarries that they
quickly retired, and then our batteries threw into the
Redan a shower of shells, which meet have had a
murderous effect among the throng of Muscovites. The
affair was brief; the volleys of musketry were very
sharp indeed, and were taken up, more or less, along
the whole line. There was also extremely heavy
firing on the left. Alto,ge%her the evening was an
exciting one, and the consumption of ammunition must
have been considerable.

At sunset on Saturday evening a party of the Naval
Brigade, commando I by Lieutenant Gough, dragged a
68-pounder up to No. 11 battery left attack. J ick
hauled away with his usual good-will and alacrity. The
Russians fired at him es he went up, hut he reached the
battery without casualty, and the gun was put in posi-
tion. The next morning trial was made of it in the pre-
sence of Captain Keppel, and it was found to bear per-
fectly on the mole-head and on the bridge across the
creek. The mole-bead is a sort of landing-placs at the
left-hand corner of the creek, where it enters the main
harbour, and is used by the Russians to land their stares
from the opposite side. They will be obliged to land
them elPtewhere in future.
I understand that the Russians have been observed
moving about the heights beyond the valley of the
Tchernya, and it would not be surpri-ting if another at-
tempt were to he made ere long. They Rill find us ad
prepared—the English army full of fiht the French and
Sardinans elated with their recent triumph, and the list
animated with that additional confidence which the co, -
scionsness of having behaved gallantly and proved
themselves worthy of their allies cannot fail to
give them. The conviction that we shall render a
very handsome account of the Russians whenever they
think fit to attack us does not prevent our taking
proper precaution, and preparing for their reception.
The whole of the French Imperial Guard, which was
away to the left,
.where it was of no use, was yesterday
marched over to this plateau, and encamped beyond the
French semaphore, and all along the slightly elevated
ridge that overlooks the valley of the Tchernaya. I do
not know the numerical strength of either the infantry
or artillery of the Guard, but they form a very large
body of men, and fine-looking soldiers they are. There
are nine regiments of infantry and some battalions of
Chasseurs, which compose a strong force ; but I did not
see them march up, and opinions vary so much here
that even some French officers whom I asked would not
venture an estimate of their numbers. I walked round
theedgeoftlle
estafl
plateauiish yesterday afternoon, and they
were all snugly ed, had got up their kitchens,
composed of a few fragments of rock and big stones, and
while some strolled about picking up the scanty sticks
and rots for fuel others skimmed the marmites, some of
which emitted an extremely savoury odour. The French
are certainly famous fellows for settling themselves down
in an instant and making themselves at home wherever
they may be placed.

The vacancy occasioned by the death of Commander
Hammet, of the Albion, is filled up, I understand, by
the promotion of Lieut. Pasley, of the Royal Albert.
who is thus put over the heads of at least five or six
lieutenants of the Naval Brigade, lieutenants of 10 year.'
standing, or even more, and who have now passed eight
months in the trenches and been in four bombardments.
This needs no comment from me ; but it may be thought
to require explanation from those who ordain and sanc-
tion a system of preference which, to persons uninitiated
in the mysteries of naval promotion, must seem unjust.
In one point of view, it is an invidious task to draw
public attention to such cases as this ; but it should al-
ways be understood that no slur is intended to be cast
on the person preferred. Lieutenant Pasley may be a
most meritorious officer, but one naturally feels curious
to become acquainted with the services that entitle him
to walk over his seniors, who for two-thirds of a year
have been engaged in actual and severe warfare, who
ham! bees decimated by Russian shot, and have takell

their full share of hardships probably unparalleled in the
history of war since the campaign of 1812.
.Major Henry of the Artillery, who lost his arm the
other day, I am happy to say, is going on very favairably.
Major Napier, of the Land Transport,- Corps, is gone
home on sick leave. A cargo of ice has arrived for the
hospitals, and 10 tons are to be bniught up for ea lb di-
vision of the army. The Sim iom has arrived with 420,
and the Barrackpore with 300, of the Army Working
Corps. These 720 men form the bulk of the corps, and
will immediately proceed to work under the direction of
the chief superintendent Doyne. They are to, repair the
railway ("re-make" it), and make a road froM head-
quarters to Balaklava. Sir Harry Jones has also ordered'
fhat they should take the direction of the supply .of
water for the camp. It is to be hoped they will find
means of increasing it, and also of causing a portion of
it to flow to an easier distance than that at which some
of us are compelled to seek it. Sir 'Harry Jones- has
been suffering severely from sciatica, but is now much.
better.

AUGUST 21.
Yesterday afternoon, between five and six o'clock,
the whole of the French batteries on the left sud-
doned opened a furious fire, to which the Russians
warmly replied. General Pelissier, in his open carriage,
with his aides-de-camp and usual Hussar' escort; passed
through the English CF mp and went pp. to C'athcart'e
hill. The fire lasted until nightfall, and then-diminished.
During the night there was not much firing. At mid-
night it had almost ceased, and one sairbut.an occasional
shell in the air. At 2 a.m, orders came for our army
to turn out. This was rapidly done; the troops moved
to the front, to their usual positions in quell:cases, and
remained there until daylight. It is now very early, in
the morning, and I have not yet been able to ascertain
the motives of the qlerfe. It appears, however,,,that the
French turned ou.befere we bad ordeFic to do so, and
that the a line of telegraphic lights was observed in the
Russian positions, neminenting at Sebastopol and run-
ning along the Inkermann heights. It is said that the
French got under arms in consequence of observing a
Russian force in motion on the heights in question.
Various rumours are abroad as to its object, but none
that appear to me worth repeating. From the pre-
sent aspect of affairs, and notably from the change of
place of the Imperial Guard, it seems probable that
the French will operate particularly on 'the Tchernaya
line, where they the other day achieved so brilliant a
success, and that the English will form the main force
to lie oppo--ed to an attack proceeding from the town.
The result of the action of the Tchernaya ought to con-
vince the Russian commanders that it is in vain for them
to assume the aggressive ; but the arrival of fresh troops
doubtless inspires them with new hopes. Some believe
that, disheartened by the protracted siege, and hopeless
of the Allies desisting from it, they are likely to stake
everything on a desperate coup. To this is to be op-
posed the opinions of the less sanguine, who doubt that
the besieged suffer so much, in various ways, as has
been reported, who think that their determination is
unshaken, and the Malakhoff not to be taken. Between
the two opinions it is difficult to steer a middle course.
12 O'CLOCK.
The object of the French in opening fire on the
left is still a mystery in our camp, even in very high
quarters. Wth respect to the turn-out this morning, it
appears that the French gave us warning. The Rus-
sians were se en assembling towards the right, apparently
with a vie v t,, attacking the same positions from which
they were repulsed on the 16th. They threw up some
rockets as signals, and retired. It is to be presumed
that they expected to catch us napping, and, on finding
themselves mistaken, thought proper to abandon their
design.

The enemy continues to throw shot at our camp, but
they fall short or on the outskirts, and the damage they
do is so trifling as not to be worth the ammunition ex-
pended. Yesterday evening, during the firing on the
left, they threw up several to Cathcart's•bill. They are
fired from an immense diAtance (the Garden Battery, it
is believed), and of course at a great elevation. The
soldiers amuse themselves with digging them out of the
ground, into which they plunge to a considerable depth.

Lieut. Lloyd, Royal,Artillery, to sth September, 1855 ;
Staff-Assistant-Surgeon Rimmer, to Sept: 10,•1855, .to
0.0 on board Rhip. And, in extension, to remain at
Therapia, to Major-Gcneril Sir 'Richard Dacres, K.C.8.,
Royal Artillery. Also; on urgent private affairs, to
Capt. Baynes, Land Transport Corps, 20th Oct , 1555.
No. 11, Sergeant Joseph: Hares, 17th leginient, is
appointed Quazter-Master to the Land Transport Corps,.
pending confirmation from home.
No. 12. Lieut. B. Gamier, 47th Regiment, having
left his horse at the public service, may draw forage fot
• •
him. :

No. 13. The following soldiers are appointed clerks-in
Military Departments : Sergeant Shnell, Coldstream
Guards, 29. a-day, from Ist August; Private Reynold-
soy, Rifle Brigade, ditto, ditto.

August 19, 1855.
No.-.l.•At a genefal'court-giarlial,Weld at Canip before
Sebastopol, the 18th day of August, 1855, in pursuance
of an order Of his Excelleney Genera Simpson, com-
manding the forces, dated A.ug. 16,1855.
1,571, Private Joireph'Muipliy, 12th Royal Lan-
cers was tried upon the following charges :
First. For
.having deserted from the 12th Royal
Lancers'. Camp, near litirani, on the 7th day of August,
1855, with intent to go over to the enemy, and for-not
having returned until brought back by. escort, on the Bth
day of August, 1855. ,
Second. For having, when brought before hii com-
manding officer in the orderly tent of the regiment, at
camp near Karani, on the 9th day of August, 1855, made
use of highly insubordinate and mutinous language, by
saying "I can't and I won't. soldier- any intl:b.
rather be shot," or words to that effect,
Of which charge the court found the prisoner gilt.)).
Sentence.—The court, having found the pri..saner,
guilty of.the fioNV all
judge him, the prisoner, Nn. 1,571, Private Joseph
Murphy, 12th Royal Lancers, to be transported for the
term of 14 years.
(Signed)

W. G. ROMAINE,
Deputy-Judge-Advocate.
R; W. IEtITLY,
Col. and Lieut.-Col. 2d Bat.
Ist Foot, President.

Approved and confirmed,
(Signed) JAMES Snosox,
General Commanding.
Before Sebastopol, 18th August, 1855.
No. 2. The general court-martial, of which Colonel
Huey, Ist Foot, was president, is dissolved.
No. 2. The district court-martial, of which Brevet
Major G. Payne, Royal Marines, was president, is dis-
solved.
No. 4. Captain Hammersley, 14th Regiment, is ap-
pointed D A.Q.M. General on the staff of this army,
from the 14th inst., until her Majesty's pleasure is known.
Captain Hammersley will be attached to head-quarters.
No. 5. The following officers are appointed to the Staff
of this army as Majors of Brigade until her Majesty's
pleasure is known ; Capt. R. Eager, 31st Regiment, to
2d Brigade First Division • Capt. R. Stuart, 71st Regi-
ment, to 2d Brigade Highland Division.
No. G. The following Roman Catholic chaplains will
be attached to divisions, as follows:—The Rev. Mr.
Strickland, Roman Catholic chaplain, to 4th division ;
the Rev. Mr. O'Callaghan, Roman Catholic chaplain, to
2d division.
No. 7. Leave of absence is granted on medical certifi-
cates to Capt. Miller, 11th Hussars, to 20th Sept., 1855;
Dispenser of Medicines Clayton, to 20th Sept., 1355
to proceed to Scutari. Capt. S. Hawker, 21st Regiment,
to sth Sept., 1855—t0 proceed to the Monastery. Capt.
Sharp, 2d battalion, Ist Regiment, sth Sept., 1855 ;
Assist.-Surgeon D. Wood, 23d Regiment, sth Sept.,
1855—t0 go on board ship. Also on urgent private
affairs, Capt. G. Viscount Kirkwall, 71st Regiment,
30th Sept., 1855—t0 proceed to Corfu.
No. 8. Medical Boards will assemble to inquire into
the state of health of Quartermaster Kauntze, 11th Hus-
sars • Conimi,sariat Clerk Penrice. The principal medi-
cal officer will be pleased to give the necessary directions.

SPORTING NOTES.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

Although the meetings celebrated last week were of a
minor character, yet certain incidents connected with
them will cause them to be long remembered. The me-
tropolitan "little go gathering" at Egham was especially
distinguished for the "sensations" which it created. On
paper all interest in the leading event—the Surrey and
Middlesex Stakes—seemed destroyed, for the race ap-
peared to be virtually reduced to a match between Ful-
heck and Winkfield. The old 'un was the favourite, but
the Fulbeck party having persuaded Mr. E. R. Clark to
start Mr. Sykes to make the running were full of hope
and confidence. Well might they exclaim, " Save
us from our friends," for Mr. Sykes gave them
a turn they little expected. In fact, he did
his work too well ; his rider slipped his stirrup leather,
and losing all control over his horse, and with much
difficulty preserving his seat on the saddle, made but
clumsy efforts to pull up, and it was not certainly his
fault that Fulbeck did not win. A more glaring and
defiant case of roping was never witnessed at the most
leather-flapping meeting. This fact admits of no dis•
guise, and it cannot be either extenuated or explained
away by the accommodating arrangements which were
made prior to the race. The starting of horses for the
express purpose of losing is a most dishonest proceeding,
and cannot be defended on any grounds. Much blame
was heaped on Preece, the rider of Mr. Sykes, but
he perhaps was the least culpable party concerned ;
he endeavoured to carry out his master's
orders, for a jookey in his position could not,
and dared not, act honestly, if by so doing he die
obeyed the commands of his employers. The cliagr.n
and disappointment of tho owner of Mr. Sykes in thus
exposing his horse and directing attention to his
Cesarewitch chance, were most ludicrously displayed.
Under the circumstances, however, he had the discre-
tion to adopt the only honourable course open to him
he decided upon running the dead heat off, and in order
that the public might have faith in his good intentions,
he engaged Wells to ride Mr. Sykes. The deciding
heat was run after the last race on Thursday. 4 to 1
was betted on Mr. Sykes, who won in a canter. Thus
were the bsekers of Fulbeck put in a hole out of which
there was no possibility of getting.
Some surprise, too, was occasioned by the defeat of
Wandering Willie, by two dark fillies. Sensation
number one was, however,•ca,used by the Surrey and
Middlesex Stakes, and sensation number two was
created by the race for her Majesty's Plate. Old Rata-
plan was sent to Egham purposely to carry off the
" Guineas," and it was deemed that his presence would
frighten all opponents from the lists. When the saddling
bell was rung, however, three competitors were brought
out in battle array against him, Winkfield, Wait-a-while,
and Pyrois. Art application was made for Pyrois to
make running for Rataplan, but the persons who had
the management of the " old horse " refused to stand a
"fiver" for the accommodation, and determined to let
Rataplan cat out his own work. In the meanwhile
speculation in the "ring" was not very brisk, but
all sorts of prices, from 10 to 1 up to 20 to 1 were
betted on Rataplan, the . layers fancying they were
finding money, and the takers believing that Rataplan
could not go on running and winning for ever. The
horses started, old Rataplan in his "shoes," which, as he
galloped along, flashed in the sun. The race was
watched with little curiosity, and ever and anon ironical
shouts were roused of " Rataplan's beat," "Rataplan's
tumbled down." These shouts were kept up at in-
tervals until the horses had reached the distance, when
Winkfield was seen alongside of Rataplan, who laid
back his ears in a most ominous manner. The layers
were silenced and began to look dismayed, whilst the
fielders shouted with earnestness and excitement for
Winkfield. From the half distance the race was not for
an instant in doubt. Rataplan ran " cunning" and re-
fused to make a finishing effort, and Winkfield beat him
easily by a length !
The starter at Derby seems to have made a " mull"
of his attempt to get the horses away forthe Chesterfield
Plato. Stork was backed at sto 4, whilst 2 to 1 was
taken about Flyaway. Six went to the post, and several
failures were made before they were started. When the
signal was finally given, "Tiny Wells" on Leamington
was nearly twenty lengths ahead, and, making the best
use of his advantage, beat the fayourite by a length and
a half. The jockeys who rode in the race expressed their
annoyance at the badness of the start in no measured
terms of indignation.
"A Lawyer" has written to Bell's Life respecting
the Clementine colt, and the pending disqualification
of that animal for the St. Leger. He contends that the
decision delivered by the stewards at York and Good-
wood is erroneous, but he takes only a lawyer's view of
the matter. The very clause, however, under which
race meetings are held, and which is, I think, intro-
iineed into the conditions at Doncaster, stating that all
disputes are to be settled by the stewards, or whom they
may appoint, and their decision to be final, gives to the
stewards absolute authority, and will prevent, whether
right or wrong, a court of law from reversing their de-
cision. In the case of the Clementine colt, however, it
is yet to be proved whether the " turf authorities" acting
in the matter are wrong. The sporting " Lawyer" cer-
tainly does not convict them of an error of judgment. 1
The handicaps for the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire
Stakes were published at the beginning of the past week.
They were examined with no little enma e And curio!