The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-28 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON DEC. 8.

We have received the Alonitcur of yesterday :
it contains the following

DESPATCH FROM MARSHAL PELISSIER.
Tho Marshal Minister of War has received this
day, Dec. 20, the following report :

" Grand Head-quarters at Sebastopol,
Dec. 11, 1855.
" Monsieur le Mar6chal,—You have already learned,
by my telegraphic despatch of the Bth inst., the failure
of the Russians in the attack they attempted to make,
during the morning of that day, on the outposts of
D'Autemarre's division, in the valley of Baidar.
" As your Excellency is aware, these outposts, pla?,e,l
8,000 metres in front of General D'Autemarre's division,
on the Upper Tchernaya, form a half-circle passing
through Eski-Arman, Orkousta, Bags, and Savatka.
These villager, situate at the base of the wooded heights
that separate the valley of Baidar from the Upper Bel-
bek and the Choulion, overlook the passages opening
into this valley, and they are held by strong bodies of
pickets.

" In consequence, probably, of information from Tar-
tit's, the enemy conceived the idea of carrying one or
more of these outposts.
" On the 7th, at nightfall, a body of Russian troops
stationed at Jenisala, Fok-Sala, and Argal, was suddenly
put in motion. Colonel Zolotoroff's regiment of Cossacks
was at its head ' • 500 men armed with rifles, and taken
from the ranks, followed ; while the principal portion of
the column was formed by three battalions of the
Smolensk Regiment (Colonel Ogloboheff's), the strength
of which was about, 2,500 foot, and from 400 to 500

"Theßussians passed through the gorges of Cardonee-
Bell and Caden-Otar, and during the night, which was
dark and rainy, notwithstanding its vigorous resistance,
surrounded a small advanced post of 12 men, placed
where the roads meet of Baga and Orkousta. They then,
about half-past five in the morning, with the greater
part of their men, attacked the villages of Orkousta and
Bags, directing their efforts chiefly against the latter.
"The main guard posted there consisted of a section
of the 7th battalion of Foot Chasseurs, of three com-
panies of the 2d battalion of the 26th Regiment of the
Line, and a platoon of the 4th African Chasseurs, com-
manded by Lieut.-Colonel de Richebourg of the 26th.
This superior officer remaining in position, took care to
open a close fire ; by the firm attitude of his troops he
awed the enemy and prevented him gaining ground, not-
withstanding his numerical superi'rity. The Russians
then endeavoured to assault us from their left, and to
descend into the plain between Bags and Savatka, in
order to cut off our retreat toward the Tehernaya.
" While the enemy was thus attempting to force an
entrance through Baga, he was also advancing on Or-
kousta. Lieut.-Colonel Lacretelle, of the 19th regiment
of the line, commanding the line of the outposts, was
stationed at this point with five companies of the 7th
battalion of Foot Chasseurs and one division of the
4th -African Chasseurs. He at once took the ofl ,naive,
and sent immediately, under the orders of the Chef de
Bataillon Maurice, who commanded the 7th battalion,
two companies of Cbasseurs from this battalion to a
small plateau situate in frontand to the right of Orkousta,
whence these companies threatened the Russian right.
This movement, most resolutely executed, created un•
cask e 4s and hesitation in the enemy, who first slackened,
then stopped his march. At th-i sight of this indecision
the charge was sounded along the whole of the line, and
from Bags, as well as from Orkousta, our troops dashed
at the enemy, who was compelled to beat a retreat, being
pursued through the woods almost as far as the bill-
crests surrounding the valley.
" While the Russians were attacking Baga and Or-
kousta, 200 foot soldiers and about 150 Cossacks, de-
scending the Caden-Otar road, endeavoured to make a
diversion to the left of Orkousta. But they came upon
two companies of the 7th Foot Chasseurs, who barred
their passage, and after several charges with the bayonet
soon succeeded in making them face to the right about.
Captain Pichon, who commanded these companies, and
who killed three Russians with his own hand, displayed
his accustomed energy on. this occasion.
"At the first musket shots, General D'Autemarre
had sent General Niel with two battalions and a s
dron to reinforce the line attacked. But on the arrival
of these reserves at the place of action, the enemy was
already in full flight. By nine in the morning all was
over.

" Our troeps and their chiefs, Monsieur le Mar6chal,
have well performed their duty ; they have been full o 1
resolution and intelligence, and it was this which ren.
dered their success so prompt and decisive against supe.
rior forces.

"The Russians have left in our hands 150 of their
force, either killed or wounded, or prisoners. The num-
ber of these last amounts to 23 ; that of the wounded,
received into our ambulances, is 17, two of them being
officers. Yesterday morning, we had buried 80 of their
slain, and we continued searching for such as might
have fallen in the recesses of the woods.
" Our losses, including even the 12 men of the small
post that was surrounded, and four African Cha,sseurs
carried off between Baga and Orkousta, are much
smaller than those of the enemy. We have only had
two men killed and 11 wounded, one of whom is an
officer. 'We are indebted for this fortunate result to the
rapidity of the success. •
" Deign to accept, &c., " PELISSIER."