The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

A BOLD EXPLOIT.

The Journal de Bauge (Maine-et-Loire) states
the following act of courage performed by one of
the sharp-shooters of the Crimea, and related by
himself in a letter to his mother :—" I must explain
to you that at about 100 or 120 yards from our
trenches the Russianshad placed a sto,ke at which they
levelled their guns, in eider that the shot by falling
there should ricochet on our works. By this means
two of our guns had been dismounted, and tenor a
dozen of our artillerymen killed.% It was necessary
at all hazards to remove this mark, andfor that pur-
pose a man was to be found who would resolve to sa-
crifice his life, for he would have to pass under a well-
supported fire from twenty pieces of cannon. There
was, however, some little chance in the man's favour,
as there were some large blocks of stone lying
here and there which might shelter him from the
fire of the artillery ; but on the other hand he
might fall into an ambuscade of a Russian-advanced
post and be made prisoner, or might be killed by
an advanced sentinel. My lieutenant had been for
twenty minutes talking with a chef d'escadon, who
had asked whether among his riflemen he did not
know a man who would undertake the mission which
I have just mentioned to you. The Lieutenant told
him he would undertake to find him a man, for I
must tell you that for the last four months I
have made one of the francs tireurs who have been
so much talked of in France. The lieutenant then
came, and proposed the enterprise to me ; and 5
minutes sufficed for me to reflect on what I had to
do. I thought of you my excellent mother, and of
my little sister Mariette, for I did not feel at all sure
of ever seeing you again. I then jumped over the
trench, and went towards the town ; and my heart, I
can assure you, was beating strongly. lat last
reached the spot ; laid hold of the stake, and shook
it ; and with much difficulty I pulled it out of the
ground. The moment the point of it disappeared
from the horizon a tremendous detonation was
heard, and a regular shower of balls and grape-
shot fell around me. I ran off with the rapidity of a
hare with my trophy on my shoulder, and I fell
into the arms of my lieutenant, who received
me with the greatest enthusiasm. A report
was immediately made to the General-in-
Chief, and I was mentioned in the order of the day
of my battalion and of all the army for my sang
froid and my courage. I cannot describe to you
what I felt when I und myself proclaimed for the
decoration. I was wild with joy, and if God is kind
enough to preserve me in the terrible assault, I
hope to show you my decoration, as I once more
sit by your warm fireside. Tout a vous et pour
toujours, your son,

" VICTOR L'ICAVLT."

AMBRICAN MUSKETS FOR FOREIGN USE.

There is great activity at present among some of
our American gun manufacturers, induced in part
by the war in Europe. The Windsor (Vt.) Jour-
nal says that the Robbins and Lawrence Company,
of Windsor, have just contracted for the manufac-
ture of muskets to the amount of some four or five
hundred thousand dollar?. The contract is made
for a/company in London, and the arm to be manu-
factured is the Minie rifle, with some.modifications.
The fulfilment of the contract will require an addi-
tional force of two or three hundred men.
The Boston Chroniee has the following :—Aside
from the extensive contract from the English Go-
vernment for gnn machinery, now nearlycompleted,
at the Massachusetts Aims Company's works at
Chicopee Falls, we learn that another of our enter-
prising gun manufactories has lately received a con-
tract from the same source, for about 20,000 rifled
muskets. The muskets are to be rifled with three
grooves, and to carry a hollow conical ball—which
makes them, in fact, a modification of the French
Millie gun. A similar musket, 1)r perhaps the
old pattern altered, will be introduced into our
service. Let the war affect other interests as it
may, our New England gunmakers will reap con-
siderable advantage from it, as the English Govern-
ment has not the facilities at their command for
the manufacture of the new arms as fast as they are
wanted, and therefore they seek our assistance. Our
Government have recently purchased the Maynard
primer, and have determined to put it upon the mus-
kets in use in the army. The primer has been made
waterproof, so that it can be exposed to all weathers,,
and yet preserve its explosive qualities. A mus-
ket, with the primer attached, is as much superior
to the percussion gun as that is to the old fire-
lock. The Maynard locks are now being manu-
factured by the Massachusetts Arms Company,
and applied to the first quality of English
fowling-pieces, thus rendering these guns as
complete instruments as the sportsman could
desire. In a few years, probably,
we shall
see all the fire arms in the country, both for
military and for sporting uses, made with the new
lock. It usurps the place of the percussioned lock
as naturally and effectually as that did the place of
the flint and steel.

THE SYDNEY DRAPERY TRADE. —The class of drapery
goods now required for our consumption is of a much
better description than has been iinported of late years.
The pecuniary position of the labouring classes has been
so much bettered within the last two years that their
domestic habits have undergone a very material change,
and articles that would have been eagerly sought for or
endured from necessity are now rejected. This fact is
most observable in every article connected with the
drapery trade, more particularly in those for female con-
sumption.— Sy ditty Mercantile Journal,

DESPATCH FROM GEN. CANROBERT.

THE BATTLE OF MARCH 23.
(Fro;n the Monsieur of yesterdaY•
The Maplia I Minister of War has received this
day, from the General Commanding-in-Chief in the
Crimea, the following despatch, dated March 23 :-
- Monsieur le Marechal,---We have had, this night, an
action very obstinately disputed, and most glorious for our
troops, on our right attack in front of the Malakhoff
Tower. About eleven at night the enemy attempted :a
general sortie, which he does not appear to have supported
with less than fifteen battalions, which, according to the
Russian prisoners, were of the full number of 1,000 men
each. These troops, divided into two columns, advanced
en masse and with Savage yells to the attack of the work
commanding the way which we had formed in front of our
pae
enemy, teach the ambuscades previously occupied b
th and which it is our intention to connect strongly together, so as to form them into a place crarmes. Thrice
repulsed, and thrice led back by the encouragements of
their officers, the Russians were at last compelled to aban-
don the design of occupying this point, which was defended
by companies of the 3d Zouaves, under the orders of Major
Banon. The struggle was obstinate, and cost us dear, but
caused the enemy even severer losses, and hi proportion to
the masses they presented. Colonel Janin, of the Ist
Zouaves, directed the efforts on this point, and fought per-
sonally with rare energy. He-was covered with blood
from two wounds in the head, but which are fortunately
not severe.
The efforts of the enemy, who only succeeded in
overthrowing the empty gabian-works which we had
on this point, proving fruitless here, were next directed
upon the left of our parallel, towards the Karabelnaia
Ravine, where he was warmly received with musketry
fire, and was unable to penetrate. He then suddenly
threw himself on the right of the English parallel,
succeeded in crossing the works, and formed himself in the
rear of our left, which for an instant was subjected to a
murderous rear fire. General Autemarre, commanding
the trenches, made the necessary arrangements with his
accustomed vigour and coolness. The 4th battalion of
chasseurs a pied, coming up to the support, were threwn
into the ravine, and bravely rushed upon the enemy, who
being thus exposed in turn, sustained considerable losses,
and were driven back, not to return again.
Farther to the left, the English, who had as yet only
been able to get up a force very inferior to that of the
assailants, assaulted the enemy with their accustomed
bravery, and after a very smart conflict, forced him to re-
treat. Still farther to the left, the English had been at-
tacked by a sortie, which seemed to be a diversion, and
which they repelled in a very short time.
On the whole, this operation of the besieged differed
completely from all those which he had hitherto attempted
against unr works. In order to effect it, and in spite of
the already large amount of the garrison, he had brought
from without two regiments (eight battalions of fresh
reposees troops), the regiments of Dnieper and Ongletch.
It was, in fact, a sort of genera assault against our ways,
and the combination appeared conceived in the best man-
ner for obtaining a considerable result. Accordingly the im-
portance of this failure on the part cf the besieged must be
measured by the greatness of the object he had in view.
The prisoners we have taken say that their losses have
been enormous, and indeed we estimate that this irregular
action, like all night actions, where the fire has been main-
tained for several hours, must have cost he enemy, look-
ing at the masses he employed, at least 1,000 to 1,200 men
killed and wounded. The ground in front of our parallels
is strewn with dead, and General Osten-Sacken has just
requested a suspension of hostilities, which has been
granted, and fixed for to-morrow, to permit of the last
duties being paid them.
Our own losses, respecting which Genciral Bosquet has
only been able as yet to send me approximative returns,
are very severe, andcannot amount to less than 300 or 320
killed and wounded. We have particularly to regret the
death of Major Dumas, of the Engineers, a superior officer
of great Merit and promise, and who fell gloriously. He
was slain by bayonet wounds, having been previously
wounded in front of the works of attack. You knew and
esteemed him, M. le Marechal ; your sorrow will equal
ours. The same also of Major Banos, of the 3d Zouaves,
who is missing, and is supposed to have been killed. I
will forward you the detailed statement of our losses at a
subsequent period.
I have nothing to add to what I informed you of in my
previous despatches respecting the sanatory condition of
the troops. It is excellent.
I am informed that many families, under the influence
of anxieties, otherwise too legitimate, are astonished that
no exchange of prisoners has yet been made in the Crimea,
and have addressed to you complaints and pressing de-
mands. At least I gather so much from a great number
of private letters which have been received here. On this
head I can only reply, that in concord with Lord Raglan
I wrote on this subject to the Commander-in-Chietof the
Russian army so far back as January last. Prince Mona-
chikoff replied shortly after that ho was about to refer the
matter to his Government, and that its decision would
subsequently be made known to us. There the matter
rests, and I do not consider it would become us to break
a silence which appears to be intentionally preserved.
Accept, M. le Marechal, the tribute of my respectful
devotion. CANROBERT,
General Commanding-in-Chief.
P.S.—Subjoined you will find two orders of the day re-
lative to our preceding actions.