The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-29 00:00:00

Enclosure.

Her Majesty's ship Leopard, off Kertch, March 8.
Sir,—Tho wind being off shore this morning, I sent her
Majesty's ship Viper to examine the Boghaz of the Kuban
Lake, and also the coast as far as the Tower of Ditruiteia„
and have the honour to enclose a letter from Lititenant
Armytage, reporting his having, in the latter place, de-
stroyed the new tower, with two guns, also the harracke
and other taiildings.
Liouienant Armyt.age deserves great credit for the able
manner in which he- has performed this service with his
•s zu all iessel. have, tze
• 1
(Signed) GEO. GIFFARD, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.8.,
Commander-in-Chief.

Sub-Enclosure.

Her Majesty's steam-vessel Viper, off Kertch,
March 8, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, in obedience to
your instructions, I left this anchorage at 5.30 this morn-
ing, for the purpose of examining the mouth of the Kuban
Lake. I arrived off there at nine, and obshving a small
force of Cossacks on the north spit, opened fire and dis-
persed them, then examined the lake in the whale-boat of
this ship, bat observing nothing of consequence proceeded
along the coast to the south-eastward.
I had just previous'y taken peseession of a small vessel
laden with charcoal and other goods, which I have brought
in with me, with three prisoners on board. I enclose
you her papers, &c., as they may be useful to his Excel-
lency, the Commander-in-Chief, and request your direc-
tions in reference to the prisoners.
At I'so p.m. I arrived off the Martell° Tower, at Djimi-
teia, anchoring bow and stern at'a distance of 500 yards
from the beach, and at 2 p.m. opened fire upon the fort,
dispersing the few Cossacks that remained.
It is now my pleasing duty to inform you that I have
effectually destroyed the fort, barracks, and granaries
(having set fire to the latter), spiked and lisabled the two
guns, destroying the ammunition ; and all, I am happy to
say, without any casualty on board the Viper.
I beg to bring under your notice the conduct of Mr.
James Roche, Second Master, who commanded the land-
ing parties ; and Mr. John It. Moss, Master's Assistant,
who aided him in destroying the guns; both having per-
formed their duty much to my satisfaction.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) WM. ARMYTAGE, •
Lieutenant and Commander.
Captain George Gifford, H.M.S. Leopard,
Senior Officer.

Royal Albert, off Sebastopol, March 17.
Sir,—l have the honour to enclose, for the information
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter
which has been addressed to me by Captain Giffard, stat-
ing that, while making a reconnaissance nirar Soujak-Kale,
with her Majesty's ship Leopard under his command, and
accompanied by her Majesty's ships Highflyer,
Swallow, and Viper, and also by S.I.M. steam
ship-of-war Fulton, he vas informed by the Cir-
cassians in the neighbourhood that the enemy
had so reduced the strength of that fortress by the removal
of men and guns to Anapa, that they were ready to attack
it by land if he would do so by sea ; and that he, wishing
to encourage the natives and to embarrass the Russians,
had assented to the proposal, and moved the ships to within
1,000 yards of the south face of the fort, where he performed
his part, but that on finding the Circassians did not perform
theils he withdrew, after having driven all the garrison
out of the place, with the exception of a few gunners in
the earthern batteries, and having also dismounted several
guns, and done considerable damage to the arsenal and
public works, leaving the garrison about a mile from the
place, surrounded by Circaaians, who were collecting rein-
forcements.

The ships appear to have been well placed, and to have
fired with great effect; and Captain Giffard expresses his
thanks to Captain Le Bris, his able coadjutor on former
occasions, as well as to Captain Moore, Commander CLau-
furd, and Lieutenant Armytage, and their respective
officers and ships' companies, for their support.
Of Captain Giffard himself, I may be permitted to ob-
serve that this is not the first time that his zeal and gal-
lantry have been conspicuous since he has been under my
command.—l am, &c.,
(Signed) ED. LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty, London.

REPORTING AN ATTACK UPON 801:WAIL
Her Majesty's ship Leopard, Soujak Bay,
•
March 13, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, that front the in-
formation I had received from the Circassian;, at Ghelenjik
and also from the observations of Monsieur Le Bris of his
Imperial Majesty's steam-vessel Fulton, as well as my
own, on the 6th instant, in Soujak Bay, I was led to be-
lieve the Russians had sent many guns, stores, Ste., away
froin that fort, and would probably leave if a force ar -
pared off it.
Wishing to have more certain information fcr you,
on my return to your fing, I, on the evening of the
11th instant, when the Ilighflyer joined me, proceeded
with the vessels named in the margin (Leopard, llighflyer,
Swallow, Viper, and Fulton, French steamer), to Soujak
Bay, where wo anchored on the morning of the 12th ;
but a fresh gale, with heavy swell, prevented ,our closing
the bAtterien. I therefore threw some shells into the place;
and the Circassians, who soon appearei in numbers, at the
same time attacked the small fort at the head of the
bay, opposite the town, drove out the garrison, and burnt
it, at S a.m. This morning the Circassians informed
me they bad a sufficient force, and would attack
Soujak Kale by land if I would do so by sea, and wishing
to encourage them and embarrass the enemy, I immediately
face
y abnac(li olpoe ng
oe cni
afi rteo
bone
airt .
on
tPbreo me
pt ha
moved the squadron to within 1,000 yards of the south
pointbis
nt tb e light
b enemy
wind
and damp weather made the smoke hang over and conceal
them from our fire, while oar masts above were conspi-
cuous to them.

We soon drove all the inhabitants and troops out of the
place, except those in the earthen batteries, but I was
much disappointed to find that the Circassian did not ad-
vance to attack them when out of the town, as they had
promised. I; therefore, moved out again, as, with our
small force of men, it would have been too great a risk to
land, the main body of the garrison being close at hand.
The arsenal and public buildings are ,much injured, and
several or the guns were silenced and dismounted. Our
loss, lam happy to say, has been small; and some injury
has been done to the masts and hulls of the ships.
I was much pleased with the able way in which all the
ships took up their assigned positions, and have to thank
Xonsienr le Bris, of the Fulton, Captain Moore, Comman-
der Craufurd, and Lieutenant Armytage, commanding the
Viper, for their able support, as well as all the officers and
men.
The Russian force, apparently 1,500 or 2,000 men, and
the other inhabitants are now encamped about a mile north
of the town, having left a few men in the batteries; they
will havo great difficulty in communicating with Anapa,
being surrounded by the Circassians (who were collecting
reinforcements), and should they return to the town, a
small naval force can at any time drive them out again.
I enclose list of casualties among the ships.
I have,
(Signed) GEORGE GIFFARD, Captain.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
• Bart., G.C.B.

Sub-Enclosure No. 1.

CASUALTIES ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP
LEOPARD, RECEIVED DURING THE ATTACK
:AT SCUJAK, ON THE 13TH MARCH, 1855.
KILLED.

David Marchment, gunner, Royal Marine Artillery,
shot wound, carrying away the soft parts of the neck ante-
rior to the spine.
WOUNDED.

George Davis, A. 8., splinter wound of thigh severe.
William Brewerton, Private Royal Marine, contusod
wound of back, slight.
(Signed) J. ACHESON,
Surgeon.