The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 26, 1855,

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, JULY 10.
This morning we were roused by a pretty heavy
firing on the Redan, which, commencing 'at day-
break, lasted for nearly four hours. About 8 o'clock
set gradually died away, and, for the remainder of the
day the occasional booming of the guns was heard
as it has been heard daily for many months. The
cause of. this morning's activity was that the Redan
was impeding the construction of the heavy battery
by which the British hope to reach the shipping,
and either to destroy them or force them to leave
the position which they have held , with such
obstinacy, and which they used with such
effect on the 18th of June. It will be remembered
that on that day the Russian vessels, moored in
double line across the harbour, fired broadsides on
the advancing allies, and mowed them down with
more fatal effect than even the works of the
Malakhoff and Redan. The French especially suf-
fered much from this terrible fire, which was sus-
tained during the whole action, and General
Pelissier, though by no means a cautious com-
mander, is understood to shrink from sending his
troops to be a second time exposed to such a re •
ception. The general opinion isthat no new attack
on the Malakhoff ought to be hazarded until the
fleet is dislodged from its position, and driven into
a part of the harbour where it will be ineffective
against the allies. Of course I say nothing of the
means by which this is to be effected. At present
everything seems to betoken on both sides the busy
preparation for a determined attack and stern de-
fence. On our part it is only the repetition of what
has often been describe d—the c easelessland in e 0 shot
and shell on the encumbered wharves of Balaklava,
the toil of waggons and of strings of mules-along-the
paroled and ,thirsty road, while the wind carries its
clouds of dust before it, enveloping whole convoys,
and making them invisible for minutes together, or
whirling along in eddies with a spinning pillar of
dust like a water-spout. The monotony of the
trenches is relieved by the conviction that a few
days will see the renewal of the efforts which were
unsuccessful three weeks ago. The French are mak-,
ing visible progress iu their sap towards the Malak-
hoff. Half-way between this stronghold and the
Mamelon, where our allies are firmly established, a
long trench is visible, which shows' how far they have
advanced in the interval since the last attack. The
Russians have made no serious attempt to retake
this latter position, although the night before last
they made a little sortie, in which some sharp fight-
ing took place, the end of it being that the Russians
retired after somewhat interrupting the French
works. But the enemy is, no doubt, much more
actively employed in strengthening the Malakhoff
itself, which he must feel to be the key of Sebasto-
pol. Should this now celebrated hillock fall into
the hands of the allies, no ingenuity or obstinacy of
defence can delay the capture of the southern side
beyond a few weeks. There is every reason to
believe that the Russians are dayand nightat work
deepening the ditch and constructing abattis. A
vary large body of troops is constantly under arms,
and every means are used to avoid a surprise like
that which gave the French such easy possession
of the Mamelon. But it seems to be not 'alone the
Malakhoff and Roden whiCh the enemy is strength-
ening. The Russian engineers are evidently con-
structing works on a very large scale behind thefor-
tifications with which we have been brought in con-
tact. The whole harbour is alive with boats. Craft of
all shapes and sizes are continually crossing and re-
crossing, carrying gabions, fascines, and trunks of
trees for the construction of abattis, as well as pro-
visions and ammunition. They discharge their
cargoes and immediately return for fresh ones, each
boat seeming to make some 12 or 14 trips a-day.
The ships' boats seem all to be employed at this
work, which is no doubt performed by the sailors.
The large supply of wood yielded by the forests of
the Crimea has been one of the chief aids to the
defence of Sebastopol. Fuel for the steamers and
for cookery has been obtained in abundance, and
the want of coal has probably been little felt. Trees
felled and brought a distance of 10 or 12 miles
form the strong abattis, six feet high, which is one
of the chief defences of the Redan. • Fascines for
the works have been obtained from the same quar-
ter, and are brought in vast quantities.
The great number of arabas captured by the
French in their expedition across the Tchernaya
would seem to indicate that large means of trans-
port exist in the peninsula ; but the forage for sus-
taining the beasts which draw the Russian carts
and the herds of cattle with which the garrison is
supplied with meat must now begin to fail. In the
spring and early summer the country is covered
with a rich long grass, which is sufficient for all the
purposes of a most extensive transport and commis-
sariat. As June draws to a close this begins to
wither, and, although the present summer has
been more than usually cool, and the north winds
have kept the atmosphere moister than is usually
the case, yet in the vicinity of our camp such a
thing as a green blade of grass is hardly to be found,
except close to the Tchernaya. The other streams
of which the Russians have possession are of much
smaller volume than this river, and the steppe to
the north is without doubt entirely dried up.
Hence will arise difficulties in the means of sustain-
ing their army which will try all the skill and
energy of our enemies.
The camp is healthy enough, and it is probable
that the summer will pass away without any of
that sickness to which the nation has looked for-
ward with such forebodings. The heat is by no
means equal to what has been the general tempera-
ture of the country in former years ; in fact, both
here and in Turkey the summer has been cool, and
fever and diarrhoea have prevailed to a less extent
than usual. Balaklava has been, it is true, much
afflicted with cholera, but the scene of its greatest
ravages was the top of the harbour, where many
thousand Turks lie with only a few inches of light
mould between them and the air, and where the
bodies are often laid bare in all their hideous ghast-
liness by one of the thunder showers of the Crimea.
The vessels outside the harbour were tolerably free
from the disease, and since the crowd of transports
which lay touching one another in the narrow and
land-locked port been somewhat thinned the
place may be said to have become tolerably healthy.
If a low and sultry village like Balaklava be free
from disease in the middle of July, there is little
cause for melancholy forebodings as to the health
of troops encamped on a lofty plateau, ex-
posed to every breeze that blows, and far removed
from a too prolific vegetation. Last year the seeds
of cholera and fever were brought to life by en-
campments in wooded Bulgarian valleys, in the
vicinity of fetid morasses, or within the limits of a
crowded and filthy seaport. The disease thus en-
gendered was brought by the two armies to the
Crimea, where privations and fatigue caused it to
extend its ravages far beyond the season at which
- they generally cease. Before Sebastopol the allies
are encamped on a spot where no deleterious ema-
nations' nations can reach them, except those engendered
t: by the necessary impurities of a camp, and these,
.9_ through the care taken in burning or burying
all offensive matter, have as yet had little effect
on the health of the troops. As to fever, the usual
season for it is June, and this month is now past
without
to be hoped
any
unusual
ei n
autumn the camp.
w "passlt i s
therefore
away without any serious calamity. As to the
dangers to be dreaded from winter, they are in the
hand of man, who can avert them b
by proper care
and forethought.

JULY 11.

To-day heavy shelline• from the Redan. Lieu
tenant Monsen, 39th Regiment, was killed in the
trenches. The French are fast completing their
battery at the Ouvrages Blanes. I have to relate
the melancholy deaths of two gentlemen connected
withe Commander-in-C. One is Colonel
Vico, French Commissionerhief at the head-quarters
of the British army, and holding the same situa-
tion which General Rose holds with. Genera 3
Pelissier. The death of Colonel Vico was caused
by cholera, which has struck down so many of the
notables of the camp within the last few weeks.
Mr. Calvert, a gentleman well acquainted with the
Russian language, and employed as interpreter
and confidential agent to the
be Commander-in-Chief,
is also dead. People are ginning to fear that
the pretty little farmhouse where Lord Raglan
established himself on his arrival before Sebastopol
must be placed non a spot more than usually subject
to malific influences. Certainly, fatal cases of
disease have followed one another with a rapidity
Pi and the im-
pression minds of
of several uppnreeokspnslioeownnawti in ocohtmhmeeri
gbphyatrttshbeao of
madedtehaet
deaths
distin-
guished officers in succession would convey too
progress of the siege from
un-
favourable an idea of the state of the army in
general.
osed to
Thoughsodrteileivs the attacks of
other enemies, as unceasingly troublesome, if not
Russian
as dangerous. Every nook and cranny is infested
by flies in millions, which give one no rest by day,
• and little by night.
,erweedbayretheexp
Within the last week the
thing has almost assumed the dimensions of a plague.
'[ Situated as-I am in the delightful vicinity of_seve-
s ral hundred commissariat mules and a varied as-

soriment of empty sugar barrels and receptacles of
beef and pork, it is possible I may have more than
my share of these pertinacious insects, which hover
on every side in clouds, and settle on the most irri-
table parts of the face without giving a moment's
relaxation. Like the Harpies, they literally "dis-
pute the viands," such as they are, on which we
regale, a morsel in its passage to the mouth being
generally settled upon by two or more of the in-
sects, which require to be vigorously shaken before
they will let go their hold. To remove them froze,
a glass of any liquor before tasting it it is necr,s.
sary to introduce three fingers and draw them
from the vessel on the principle of "dragging," as
practised by the Humane Society. The only way
to be at rest is to sit in a thorough draught, which,
when surrounded by papers, is a somewhat trouble-
some position. On entering a but after a few mo-
ment's absence they rise in a dense cloud, with
deafening buzz, from every object. Irritable suf-
ferers pursue them desperately with towels, laying
about on every side ; others try to carry on a more
scientific warfare, by burning old newspapers after
closing every aperture ; but it is useless—in five
minutes the place is full with a new and more
hungry swarm. The only respite is at night,
when the invaders retire to rest o the ceiling in
enormous black patches ; butir yen then, a
Il
candle brought in rouses them t
fulness of noon. Seriously, they -e an all the
unex-
pectedplay-
and most troublesome visa iion, and are
especially irritating to the poe sick fellows
in the hospital marquees, whom, they prevent
from getting any rest - the live-long day, and
I keep in a constant state of nervous restlessness.
For the,next three months we must be content to
suffer all they can inflict unless the rains of Sep-
tember rid us_of them. ~----,..- ut-..4: _- --- _

JUNE 12.
Nothing now to-day. The French and Turks
have finally returned from their reconnaissance,
and the country about Baidar is again in the hands
of the Cossacks. The quantity of cattle driven in
by them is very great. The beasts, though not of
the large size we are accustomed to in England, are
finer and better fed than those obtained in Asia
Minor ; at least as we see them after a voyage across
the Black Sea. An attack on the Russian position
is considered all but hopeless. Nature seems as if
she bad constructed the plateau they occupy as a
vast defensible position, which 50,000 men may
hold against four times their number. Of the re-
duction of Sebastopol proper before the winter I
have no kind of doubt. That the Russians will
hold out with all the obstinacy of their character,
even after the destruction of their ships and the
capture of
.the Malakhoff, may be expected ; but
the possession of a new position, commanding the
harbour and the bridge of boats which crosses it,
must eventually cause the enemy to retreat. The
Russian generals, though brave and determined
on an obstinate defence, may fairly receite credit
for the possession of prudence and forethought.
As long as a place can be held with a chance of
success, or even of damaging the enemy, they will
hold it ; but all their proceedings give reason to
believe that they will not allow their troops to
be cut to pieces merely for the credit of having
made a desperate resistance, and held, without
advantage, for a short time longer an untenable
position. 'When they see that their retreat is
s3riously endangered, it is not improbable that
they will altogether abandon the southern
side, which they can hardly hope to hold
should the allies be able to cornteand the harbour.
They, no doubt, count at least on being able to
prolong their resistance until the winter sets in ;
if that be impossible, they will most likely with-
draw to the northern side, which it may beimprac-
ticable to lay siege to before the spring of 1856.
What may be done during that time to strengthen
the works we may judge from the industry and
skill with which they have laboured in the defence
of Sebastopol proper.
To-day Major-General 'Barnard' was appointed
chief of the staff, in the place of General Simpson.
Rumours prevail that a new Commander-in-Chief
is to come out from England. Whether%his be
true I have not yet learnt, but it is to be hoped
that the Peninsula and Waterloo, at 23 or A years
of age, will not be the only qualification. It seems
to all here that the best school for Sebastopol is
Sebastopol itself, and that a man who his been
here six months is likely 0 be a more efficient ge-
neral than any one who may be sent out in reliance
on-vague reminiscences of campaigns in the field.
40 years ago. It takes some little time to be cog-
nisant even of the ground, and with autumn draw-
ing on there is no time to be lost. The only reason
that can be conceived foe sending out a general.
from England is that some man of European repu-
tation may be appointed, who may give a itatus to
the British army beyond what its present cumbers'
eyes of the world.. There
is no doubt that Lord Raglan may obtain for it in the
did this. Egg rank,
his high character; his manners, his superiority to
petty, jealousies, and his abstinence from
petty in-
trigues, commanded theirespect of those even who
were disposed to question his capacity and energy.
There can he little doubt that if this war be
prosecuted for any length of time, ana Eng-
land be not prepared to embark in the struggle
with men as well as money, there is honni danger
of the British army being regarded as a mere con-
tingent. A general of established reputatr may
give a lustre to the British. name, but, 'ter all,
the best reliance is on skill and energy, and there
are not wanting men at present before Sebastopol
on whom the command might devolve with satis-
faction to the army and with reasonable hope of a
creditable fulfilment of duties.
The Commissariat, both in the Crimea and at
Constantinople, is making laudable preparations for
a regular supply of provisions during the coming
winter. Depots are to be established at Ismid. and
Siuope, and a regular transport service will be or-
ganised between various places on the coast and
the port of Balaklava. Sheds for 4,000 cattle will
be constructed near the camp. The chief difficulty
will be in the land transport, which will require all
the care of the authorities to render it complete
when the season of mud 'and snow again recurs.
The railway is not as firmly laid as could be wished.
The late storm washed it away in several places,
the sleepers being merely placed on the soft yielding
soil, which after the heavy rains of November be-
comes a mass in which horses' hoofs sink to the
depth of Bor 10 inches. A Commissariat should
have its own transport at its own command ; but
under the actual system requisitions must be made
on the Land Transport Corps, who even in the pre-
sent summer weather often cannot supply mules,
other requisitions having been made on them or
carrying up ammunition. Some persons go so far
as to prophesy for the army as great an irregu-
larity in provisioning as was the case during the
past calamitous winter ; but the very fact that
these dangers are foreseen and discussed is a war-
rant that they will not recur. At any'rate the
crushing burden of overwork will not press on
our men, for We have the French on all sides of
us to' take part" of the labour of the trenches. A
singular fact, elicited by Sir J. Macneil, but known
to all acquainted with the army, is, that during
the winter every man 'coked his own food. The
cold and weary soldier, creeping back from the
trenches, found his junk of salt meat, which he
must light a firs to cook, often with wet wood,
probably the work of more than an
rehour. The
often devoud the food
consequence was, that he o
in its raw state, or contented himself merely with
rum and biscuit. A better system has begun to
prevail with regard to cooking, which, it is to be
hoped, will be developed. and dPerfected before the
return of inclement weather.

a gale for the last 24
Russian s kept up a jtrueLinYenld3O
Last night the us
fire. It has been blowing
hours, and the wind bore the sound of the heavy
guns towards us, so that the very ground shook.
I am sorry to say that the battery which the
French have constructed between the Mamelon
and the Malakhoff has been knocked to pieces by
the powerful fire of the latter fort. A colonel and
about 30 officers and men were pat hors de combat,
and the siege works have received a decided check.
In fact, as the Allies advance to the actual defence
of the place, they must expect to meet more elabo-
rate works, and obstacles heaped on one another
with all the care which nine months of preparation
admit. Even now the enemy. are strengthening
the Malakhoff every day. It is not what it was on
the 18th of June,
and a
Theortnight hence it will not
be what it is now• battery at the White
Works, however, still goes on, and its effect will
be proved in a few days.

JULY 14
Nothing new up to 8 o'clock this morning.

THE AFRICAN MAILS.—PLYMOUTH, Wednesday.— I
The mail screw steam-ship Retriever, Captain Macin-
tosh, sailed from Plymouth yesterday with a full cargo
of general merchandise and letters for Madeira and the
West Coast of Africa. The Candace, homeward, is sup-
posed to be at Fernando Po, and the Ethiope, outward,
is probably at Sierra Leone, going down the coast. A
new steamer, to be called the Gambia, will .shortly be
launched for the mail service of this company. Her
Majesty's brig Britomart, Commander Heseltine, is or-
dered home from the African station,
,and may be ex-
pected shortly

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Ilead-quarters before Sebastopol, July 10.
No. 1.. At a General Court-martial held at the Camp
before Sebastopol on Monday, the 9th day of July, 1855,
in pursuance of an order of Lieutenant-General Simpson,
corAmandinz the forces, dated the 7th day of July, 1855,
No. 3,308, Private James Brennan, 39th,Regiment,
was tried for " Insubordination, and offering vialence,
in several instances, against Lance-Corporal Enright,
39th Regiment, his superior officer, in the execution of
his office."

Sentence—" The Court having found the prisoner
guilty of every instance of the chaige preferred against
him, do now adjudge him, No.. 3,308, Private James
Brennan, 39th Regiment, to be transported for the term
of 14 years.
" W. G. ROMAINE, Deputy-Judge-Advocate.
• "F. W. HAMILTON; Colonel and Captain of
Grenadier Guards, President.
" Before Sebastopol, July 9," ,
Approved and confirmed,
J. SIMPSON, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
No. 2. Lieut. E. Beck, 89th Regiment, will act as
Regimental Quartermaster, until further orders.
No. 3. The under-mentioned lieutenants, being in per-
manent command of companies, will draw field allow-
ance and forage as captains :—Lieutenant Lockhart,
41st Regiment, Ist of June, 1855 ; Lieutenant Hand,
63d Regiment, Bth of July, 1855.
No. 4. The following is appointed an Interpreter to
this army :-2d class, Nicholas Papuffy, 9th July, 1855.
3d class Interpreter G. Morielsi is promoted to 2d class,
from the sth June, 1855.

No. 5. A Medical Board will assemble to report upon
the state of health of Major Gordon, 93d Highlanders.
The principal medical officer will be pleased to give the
necessary directions.
No. 6. Leave of absence is granted on the recommen-
dation of medical boards to Staff-Surgeon Ist Class W.
L. Langley, M.D. ; Staff-Surgeon Ist Class R. O'Fia-
herty ; Civil-Surgeon Dr. Woolaston ; Purveyor's Clerk
Mr. Powell ; Mr. J. Wlntosh, apothecary to the forces ;
Mr. S. Selkirk, purveyor to the forces ; Clerk of Works
J. Bennett. To proceed to England. On arrival they
will report themselves to the Adjutant-General.
No. 7. Leave of absence is granted. on medical certi-
ficates, to Capt. Lewes, 3d Buffs, to the 10th August ;
Capt. Brown, 31st Regiment, to the 10th A.ugnst ; Capt.
Maynard, 88th Regiment, to the 10th August ; Ensign
R. Hanton, Mounted Staff Corps, to the 10th August ;
Lieut. Williams, Royal Horse Artillery, to the 31st
July ; Veterinary Surgeon Collins, 6th Dragoons, to the
31st July. To proceed to Scutari Lieut. A. Hunter,
Royal Artillery, 25'.11 July, to go on board ship.
Memorandum.---The Generals of the Day for the
future will not be named in orders ; the whole of the
duties in each attack will be furnished by divisions alter-
nately. By order,
W. L. PAKENHAM,
Lieut.-Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General.