The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-07 00:00:00

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED 5D-

struck the water behind, before at this side, and at
that side of the vessel, but never hit mast, spar, or rope,
and so the fight continued ; but the French aver
(Prone the Times Special Correspondent.) they dismounted one gun at least, and drew down
SATURDAY, Oct. 20.--The French Rear-Admiral, in one a great body of the enemy before they retired, which
of the small gun-boats, weighed early this morning, and they did after half an hour's dalliance with the Rus-
stood up Kherson Bay with the lighter vessels of his squad sians, and then they anchored off the mouth of the
ron before the English Admiral was aware of his intention. Boug close to us once more. Meantime, we had seen a sight
Our smaller gun-boats started in the same direction soon which led us to believe that his Majesty the Czar, or some
after dawn, and Rear-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart, of his Imperial family, was actually honouring our little
having sesit off his despatches to Sir Edmund Lyons, squadron by a minute inspection. Perhaps he was think-
hoisted the signal for the large gun-boats and steam-sloops ing how they would run for a marine Cesarewitch. It
under his command to weigh anchor, and at 9 o'clock might, indeed, have been only a Governor of Cherson we
with his flag flying in the Stromboli, led the way to: saw, but after midday there certainly did appear on the east
wards the confluence of the Boug and Dnieper. He was bank of the Boug some great man on abig dark horse, fol-
followed by the Gladiator, Spiteful, and Triton steamers, lowed by ten or twelve officers mounted, and some few
and by the Wrangler, Snake, and Viper gun-boats; and orderlies, and he rode over to the Cossack post, dismounted,
the shoal of gun-boats, small and large—Cracker, Grinder, and honoured us by a minute inspection, which he inter-
Clinker, Fancy, &c.—were some miles in advance, cruising, rupted from time to time by a few words to those around
in company with the French squadron, among the intricate him. Presently a Cossack came galloping across the steppe
shoals which-guard the entrances to the Dnieper. at full speed, right to the group of cavaliers. When
As we approached the mouth of the Bong the water he approached, he dismounted, and, walking to the
became of a green colour, and was covered with a scum great surveyor of our navy, knelt down and appeared
of spawn aid vegetable matter like a duckpond. Tho to kiss his feet as ho handed him a despatch. The great
mouth is about five miles wide, the banks steep and high, man read the missive, mounted his horse, and rode off
and studded with farm-houses. As we approached we ob- to the next post, followed by his suite, and the next
served a portion of the French squadron coming down we saw of him was that he was visiting the Cossack
the river, and the smoke of the light vessels, which were post higher up the river, after which he proceeded along
hull down, rose up from the horizon towards the Dnieper. the road towards Nicolaieff. Some time after the French
Sir Houston Stewart was assured by the French Ad- boats retired the English gun-boats came in sight, and in
•
miral that he had been up to the Spit in the river which the early evening they anchored in their old place, and
extends from the western bank for some distance into Admiral Stewart left the Cracker and returned to the
the stream, at about seven miles- from Ajiejliiol point Stromboli. At night strict watch was kept on board the
on its western entrance, and that he had not seen little fleet. -Fire-ships are not mush to be feared by steam-
-anything -there. As there was • nothing- else to be ors, but eitill the wind was drag down front NiColaieff,
done, the Admiral resolved to have a look for himself, and the Russians for once might attempt to do something,
and weighed in the Stromboli, which was followed and so there wore look-out men fore and aft, and armed
by the Spitfire and by the Grinder and Cracker, small sentinels and loaded carroaades, and so we went to sleep--
gun-boats, and proceeded slowly up the river. The in the waters, for the time being, of her Majesty the Queen
banks are high on both sides, and the brown steppe, and of his Imperial Majesty Louis Napoleon.
studded with herds, farm-houses, and Cossacks, MONDAY, OCT. 22.
presents no object of interest. About three miles up, on At 10 o'clock Admiral Stewart went-on *card the Spit-
the left-hand bank, there is a small village, and one of the fire, and proceeded soutleveswas towards the Kinbourn
largest farms I ever saw. Five miles up ou the right-hand Spit to look out for the troop, grad to:hid-out the cause of
bank, there is another village with two pretty churches, the fires which were still bleating along the horizon. As
There are guard stations and lookout posts on both sides, he bore away on his course a Trench. gun-boat came close
as usual. The river is three or four miles broad up to the to with a despatch for the Admiral from Admiral
Pellion, in which he very politely and handsomely
Spit, where it narrows considerably. On both sides the
cliff is upwards of 100 feet high, and can scarcely be coras placed at the disposal of Sir Houston Stewart several
mended by the guns of a ship. However, it was advisable chaloupee cannonieres lying off the mouths of the Dnieper,
to ascertain what defences there were on the lower part of in case he felt inclined to destroy certain large boats on
the river till it contracted into within range from both the beach below Stanislaff. The French officer who
banks. The Cracker and Grinder went on ahead, the
brought it stated that in the little affair between the gun-
Stromboli followed with the Admiral's flag flying, and the boats and earthwork yesterday they had dismounted one
Spitfire came along slowly, busily engaged in her indefa- gun and had suffered no loss, and he proceeded on his way
tigablo labour of sounding, and probing, and angling every in his boat to rejoin his chaloupe after a hearty shake of
bit of the earth's face and of the waters under the the hand from the admiral. As the Spitfire was forging
earth. We glided merrily along, examining bear-
ings and farmyards at our leisure. Above the Spit a-head on her course a small craft, with an admiral's flag
red at the mizen, was seen at the horizon. It could be no
there is a high bank, ascending to the steppe other than Sir Edmund Lyons. The dull echo of the
behind it, and at the distance of some hundred yards from guns and the distant scent of gunpowder had enticed him
the edge there is a tumulus en the steppe, behind which I up into our waters to see what was going on, and his flag
saw some Russian artillery at a considerable distance as we was flying in the little Danube. The admiral sent off his
were running along the coast. The Cracker had run on barge to the Spitfire, and Sir Houston Stewart, Captain
a-head, and the Grinder was just drawing on parallel with Spratt, Commander Cowper Coles, Mr. Brooker, &c., want
this bank—we were all examining it—one officer was say- on board the Danube, which immediately went away
ing to the other, " Well ! I wonder the Russians have not towards Kinbourn Spit, accompanied by the Spitfire.
got a battery on that cliff "—when from a seam in its side, As they approached it was clear the enemy thought two
parallel with the water, a puff of white smoke spirted British admirals did not fly their flagstogetherfor nothing.
strong body of infantry was drawn up on the heights
out, and the rush of a shot followed, end was terminated A
by a splash of water close to the side of the Grinder.
among the houses which were, no doubt, filled with rifle-
" Tell the Grinder he may give him a shot in reply," cried men, and a very considerable force of field artillery was
Admiral Stewart, and little Grinder, with more valour than collected in the rear in case the admirals and post captains
d
discretion, at once put down his helm and ran in to land, determined to land and take Stanislaff by assault, and that
drawing as he did across the tromboli, at which the enemy the Danube and Spitfire should attempt to bombard
had opened another gun at the moment, but this shot also fell the place. It was really wonderful to see that
short. As the drum beat to quarters the men rushed on deck the Russians had erected a solid compact-looking
in a high state of delight; the bertEngs were removed, and sand battery with five embrasures on the sandbank
the guns ready for action in a few moments.; but there below the town, where no trace of such a werk
was Grinder intent on doing his devoir and getting in our existed 24 hours previously. The admirals here parted
way, throwing dust and smoke in our faces, so that at last company ; Sir E. Lyons returned in the Danube to the
the fatal edict went forth and Grinder's recall was hoisted. fleet, and Sir H. Stewart steamed away in the Spitfire to
And now the guns on the top of the cliffs, which were the anchorage of the Bong, and went on board the Strom-
only light field-pieces, opened, and as none of the eshotboli. At 8 o'clock the French gun-boat came back andot from
anchored near us. There were some traces of the troops
the Russians had yet fallen close•r than 'lO yards to us, all
at Skadovska, about 13 =les from Kinbourn, to-day, as
on board were in a merry mood as the Stromboli slowly
craned over towards the bank. The work from which the black columns of smoke rose up from the Spit in that
Russians fired their heavier gnus was a trench in the cliff, direction. They may be the work of the Cossacks. But
almost half-way up its side, and looked very insignia-
the reconnaissance of the admirals failed in detecting tho
cant, but when you came to squint along a gun, and could
march of the soldiers. It is understood that the whole of
over a line both armies, except those required for working parties, is
only see four little black eyes staring at yeti
of earth which did not seem three inches high to employed on this grande promenade militaire, in which
your sight, you began to understand the difficulty of the fleet is obliged to 'e too far from the coast to rands
striking such objects at the distance of a mile. " Try them much assistance.
2,500 yards !" The gun was trained. At the words ( Proni. the Sp- e cia- i Corr7spojcre:'l of the Daily Noes.)"
Well ! Fire !" out spouted the flame and smoke, and , DNIEPER (or (K [JERSON) BAY, OCT. 23.
the iron globe, whose curve you could trace through the My last letter from off Kinburn will have informed you
air, hurtled with the peculiar and nerve-shaking hiss of that we sailed from before Sebastopol with a combined
its race right over the earth-work, knocking up a pillar
fleet of CIO vessels of all sizes, and a land force of some
of black earth from the crest of the hill, and bounding fur
8,030 rnsn, on the 7th of this present month, and that after
away to the rear. The enemy replied. We heard the shot wasting! five days in needless idleness off Odessa, we jogged
coming right at us, and, as it flew over the head of Captain
quietly on to Kinburn, recovered from the mental and
Spratt, who was stationed at the foretop, looking out for
other exertion of that effort by another three days' rest,
shoals, and plunged into the water 509 or GOO yards be
and the, with more than 1,000 heavy cannon, bore down
pond us, it became evident that the Moscov had beau play-
upon and captured three paltry forts, garrisoned by 1,30 G
ing the deep game of firing short to entice us well under
men, and fighting in all some 50 or GO guns.
his battery, so that he was trying extreme range, and had
From this introduction you will bo prepared to hear that
heavier guns than we thought. Tho Spitfire, Cracker,
nothing has been done since I last wrote on the 19th. On
and Geinder were now coming into play, and the
the morning of that day the greater part of our owe and
former two made some excellent practice, and struck the
the French land forco etaxiesel on a two days' march inland
earth right and left of the battery. Stromboli wa
towards Kherson; and five or six hours later a flotill 1,
edging down nearer, and the captains of the gunss
aver© all with eye intently gazing along their guns. "Try composed of the Stromboli, bearing the flag of Rear-Ad -
two thousand yards." Away flow the iron messenger miral Stowal 's ; Spiteful, Spitfire, and Triton, steam sloops,
with the Wrangler, Lynx, Viper, Snake, Beagle, Clinker,
again, but ho only told the Russians to bob their heads Cracker, Cracker, Grinder, Boxer, and Fancy, screw gunboats, and
and keep out of his way, and flew behind them. The field-
twelve Frolic's gun-boats, arse under the command of a
pieces now took to firing shell, and studded the air above
'ear-admiral, was detached from the main fleet for pat Si-
us with smoke-clouds, and the angry hum of the splinters
ruler service in the direction of Nicolaieff or Kherson.
was heard ouco more, but for tho most part they were too
Great haste was displayed in getting these vessels under
light to reach us. Whiz ! —right across our crowded deck
way about noon, but on their rounding the Spit, and tak-
comes another round shot, and plashes into the water ever ing on board Sir Houston Stewart from the Valorous, the
our counters. The long gun at the bow sends a shot in re- %N hole polled up and anchored for the night. This proli-
ply right into them this time, at 1,700 yards, and the mivary movement occupied about a couple of hours, at the
Spitfire follows the example. Whiz ! whiz ! two shot, end of which the weather was as fine, and the preparations
one after the other at the Stromboli, one dashing the water
as complete, as the most fastidious old lady who ever com-
up in a pillar close to her sides, the other cutting the
mended an sooty or fleet could have desired. As we
jib foot-rope. Tho smoke obscures the view, but it is
steamed through the narrow strait between Kinburn and
quite clear that the Russians are keeping close behind
Otchakoff Points, the Russians were busily employed in
their works after the last reply from our gang
dragging up the guns from Fort Nicolaieff, which bad been
nearer and better directed than before. However, there blown up two nights before, and placing them in a now
was no object to be gained by continuingin
a contest
earthwork on the brow of the high slope near the town.
which it would have been pitiable indeed to lose one man. We passed through, however, without in any way inter- 1
That there was no intention of going up to Nicolaieff
fering Rath their labours, and anchored, as I have said off
with a steam-sloop, a sloop,surveying- and two small gun-
the north-eastern face of err new capture.
boats I need not say, and had the enemy been driven out About eight o'clock on the following (Saturday) morn-
from the point ten times a-clay they could have returned ing the signal was made to weigh anchor, and soon after
notl
it engaged.
eenemy's lndeed
faro
at theall,
at any time, and have constructed just such another flying
the whole of sere quota of the flotilla got into movement
defencedm Admiral
l as
wouldth a
t with
havewhich
r e
iw) e e
d were
to
h
after the French, who had already gone on a-head. The
A
course from this point to the mouth of the Bong lies at an
but that Jack is dissatisfied when he is not permitted to
average distance of about two miles off the northern coast,
return a shot whenever ono is sent at him. It would.
which preserves a uniform highness throughout, broken
never have done to turn back without any reply at all ;
only narrow ravines running up from the sea.
but, having gained the only object in view that of
ascertaining how far small vessels could go up the
in amongst the trees nestle pretty villages, much like those
river without opposition to take soundings, &c., Sir
which one may see in the best districts of the north of Ire-
Houston Stewart resolved to return, and, with a parting The
e innerby
elopes
of these last are generally wooded, and
land. Windmills, too, alternate with semaphores along
salute from our guns, tho Stromboli set her jib, slowed
round, and steamed slowly down the river. The enemy the brow of the intervening plateaux, relieving the scenery
from the lonely dulness which would otherwise be pre-
fired two guns one after the other, but the Spitfire,
sented by its unenclosed wastes to the eye of an observer
Grinder, and Cracker soon silenced them, and a final shell
from the sea. In striking contrast to this is the landscape
front the latter fell right into the earthwork, burst, and
on the opposite side of the bay—low, flat, and uniuterest-
appeared to do the Russians a good deal of mischief.
big as any part of the Essex shore of the Thames, from the
SUNDAY, Oct. 21.—Late last night the glare of fires was
Nora to North Woolwich. So low, indeed, is it at some
seen on the Kinbourn Spit, near the south month of the
points as to present all the appearance of partial submerge-
Dnieper, and, although the gunboats are operating in that
went. Some 10 or 15 miles round from Kinboura the
direction, it must be that the Cossacks are burning the
sandy barrenness of the ground ceases, and a flat Dutch
produce of the Russian peasants, lest it should fall into
landscape, dotted here and there with clumps of trees, and
the hands of the enemy. thinly covered with villages—not to mention numerous
The French Admiral, in one of tho gunboats, attended
swampy salt lakes—continues on round as far as to Zebure-
by two others, went away during the night. Church pen-
vski Bay, at the mouth of the Dnieper. Shortly before 3
slants were hoisted in the forenoon, and Divine service
o'clock the flotilla reached the embouchure of the Bong,
according to the Church of England was duly cele-
which falls into the bay about eight miles west of the
brated in the confluence of the Bong and Dnieper for
Dnieper, and at this point gives an anchorage of nineteen
the first time since Christianity blessed the earth,
feet of water. Leaving behind him the Spiteful, e
and within sight of the spires of many Greek ortho-
and the gun-boats but the Cracker and Grinder,
r Admiral
w...the
dox churches. At 2.30 three large and one small
Stewart proceeded about five miles up the river, An
gun-boat got up steam and weighed. They stood banks on
view of making a preliminary inspectioit
straight up the river, and great was our excitement lestwhat forts the
Ditherside, and, ascertaining,
if
possible, e of a hostile squa-
they !should think it necessary to silence the battery which
enemy had thrown up to bar thep
we had left with its teeth drawn, if not its tongue tiednearly passage
of Voloisk Spit
drop. Tho vessels had componthe
yesterday. Before they starhsd, and just after churchwestern bank—when an
—a jutting tongue of land.
service, Sir Houston Stewart, having signalled for an
unperceived earthwork on that point opened fire from six
officer of the Spitfire to come on board, wont off in the
eighteen pounders. The Cracker, Lieut. Hamilton, was
Cracker, attended by the Grinder, to examine the coast ordered to steam ahead and reply with her heavy Lanese-
to the S.S.E., and ascertain the cause of the numerous gun, ter whilst the Grinder and Stromboli camp up.
fires indicated by pillars of smoke in that direction. They Itathera vigorous fire then commenced from the three
were speedily invisible in the haze to the southward, and ships, which was returned so warmly by the Russians
they in vain endeavoured to find out the position of the that, after expending some thirty-four rounds, the ad-
troops who were supposed to be advancing along the Spit ,
miral deemed it best to draw
an.A
return to the
to destroy all the forage and provision in their way for mouth of the river to the anchorage of the other vessels.
40 miles, so as to make the country a barren waste, and At this latter point, Lieutenant Paget, the " first
prevent the enemy marching towards the fort without infif, of the Spiteful, had been then senior officer dur-
taking with them supplies. However harsh this men- jug the absence of the commander i
once
w.th the admiral,
sure may appear, it is a necessary operation of war. and on hearing the firing ho at
signalled to to the
The day was very dull, as I have said, and the north wind flag-ship for permission to run up nd eignai
created an immense refraction, so that the end of the cliff but Sir Houston declined the help,offaeredjeln soonedfray;
appeared to be lifted out of the water, and the vessels to after brought off his three vessels to join the others. l
have waver ing hulls and quivering masts as they advanced, may just add, that during this little
passage of arms none
just as one would see them through the haze from a hot of our ships were hit, with the trifling •
exception of one
walk in a July day. On they went, however, and at last shot having e rigging th struck
of the Stromboli. This
they came off the Spit, and the enemy opened fire on them formed the sum of Saturday's
asand
before. The small gun-boat stood bravely in within time, the French many of our other gun-boats had
1,500 yards of the shore, and others anchored at 1,800, and gone up to the Dnieper, and were anchored off its mouth,
all engaged the guns in the breastwork very sharply. seemingly
with no more definite purpose than ourselves
Their shot flew over the cliff, bit his face, knocked the , •
in the Boug.
water at its base into clouds of spray, and the Russians i Sunday morning broke ow the idle crows, raw an