The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-29 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF THE
TCI ERNAYA.

( Prom the Special Correspondent of the Times. )
CAMP OF THE ALLIED ARMIES ON THE TCHERNAYA,
Aug. 16.—The long-threatened attack of the Ru,sian,-
on the Tchernaya line has at last taken place, and ended
in the complete defeat of the enemy. During the last
few days the signs of an impending Russian attack be-
came more and more frequent. Movements of large
numbers of troops in the neighbourhood of Sebastopol,
the unanimous reports of the deserters, of whom several
came in every day, and, lastly, information gained from
numbers of Tartars who bring in continually news from
the Russian lines, were all to the effect that the Rus-
sians, having received part of the reinforcements which
they were expecting, intended to try their luck once
more in offensive operation.
Although at first the line of the Tchernaya suggested
itself as the point which the Russians would most pro-
bably attack, a supposition which was moreover con-
firmed by all the deserters, yet, as there were large
numbers of newly-arrived troops seen concentrated in
and about the Russian works, apprehensions were en-
tertained that perhaps the Russians might attempt some-
thing against the positions of the allied armies before
Sebastopol, and the chief attention was consequently
directed to that point. _ _

Yesterday again several deserters came in and spoke
with the utmost certainty of an intended attack on the
Tchernaya lines ; but as this had been the case several
times already during the last fortnight, no particular at-
tention was paid to their reports, and no special orders
given to the troops, except to be prepared for an attack,
and this had been so often repeated that it made no im-
pression. In addition to this our attention was drawn
off from the Lower Tchernaya by the news from Bai-
dar. I wrote in my last letter that when the arrival of
fresh troops at Sebastopol became known, the four
troops of English Light Cavalry were withdrawn from
Baidar, and only two regiments of heavy French ca-
valry and a few Chasseurs and Zouaves remained in
the valley until all the hay collected should be carried
away. Yesterday afternoon General Allonville sent
news from Baidar by electric telegraph that large num-
bers of Russian troops were concentrated on the heights
above the valley, and that he expected to be at-
tacked. The telegraphic message was interrupted by
the dense fog which prevailed in the afternoon, but late
in the evening notice of this message of General Allon-
♦ille was sent to General la Marmora and Osman Pasha.
As the cavalry at Baidar would be exposed to be cut off
if it were attacked by a considerable force, on account
of the great number of carts which are down in the valley
for the transport of hay, and which would encumber the
Woronzoff.road, an attack on that side seemed not at all
improbable.
From all these circumstances it follower that no addi-
tional precautions were taken on the Tchernaya line,
and that the attack was soarcely less a surprise than that
of Inkerman.

The first news of an actual attack was brought about
daybreak by some French Cbasseurs, who, forming part
of a patrol, fell into an ambuscade of the Russians, and
narrowly escaped, while their comrades were taken pri-
soners. Soon afterwards the outposts which were across
the Tchernaya were driven in, and about daybreak the
cannonade began.
For the better understanding of the movement I must
give you some description of the locality. The Tcher-
naya, coming out at the tower of Karlovka from the
narrow gorge in which it runs after leaving the val-
ley of Baidar, flows between a succession of hillocks
on both sides. These hillocks form the basis of the
position of the allied armies. On the extreme right, be-
ginning where the Tehernaya comes out of the gorge
down to the little mountain streams which fall into the
Tchernaya from the south are the Turks. They occupy
two hillocks, and between them are two roads which
lead from Higher Tchorgoun and the tower of Karlovka
into the Woronzoff-road. The Sardinian position leans
to the right on the little mountain stream which limits
the Turkish position to the left. They occupy the
large solitary standing hillock which used to be held by
the Cossacks, and which extends dovrn to the open ground
over which the road from Balaklava, to Tchorgoun leads.
This hillock has been lately considerably strengthened
and provided with batteries, and, as it has a very com-
manding position, was of the utmost importance in the
defence of the Tchernaya line. In front of this hillock,
and divided from it by the aqueduct which begins there,
is another smaller but equally steop hillock, accessible
from the first by a stone bridge, and on this hillock
the Sardinians had a small epaultment guarded by a
detachment of infantry. Beyond both these hillocks,
on the other side of the Tchernaya, they had more-
over on the hillock nearest to the Mackenzie road
their outposts, which could thus watch the move-
ments of the enemy, and give timely alarm in case
of au attack. The French occupy the last series of
hillocks to the left of the Sardinians, and guard
the road which leads from Balaklava over the Traktir-
bridge, up to Mackenzie's farm. The hillocks, occupied
by them, are three in number ; the first to the right is
separated from the others by the great road leading to
the bridge ; and the last to the left, is protected by the
basin which the aqueduct forms here, and is separated
by another open ground, similar to that on right of the
French position, from the ridge on which the army of
observation was during the winter. In front of the bridge
the French had constructed a small epaulattent to guard
the passage of the river, beyond which they had their
outposts.

The first movement of the Russians was against the
outposts of the Sardinians on the opposite bank of the
river. Corresponding to the hillocks on this side of the
Tchernaya are three plateaux on the opposite bank.
These were chosen for the left of the Russian position
against the Turks and the Sardinians. These plateaux
were, therefore, first to be secured, for the guns could
command from them not only the hillocks opposite oc-
cupied by the Sardinians and Turks, but likewise the
plain which opens towards the French position. A
company of infantry of the line, and a company of
Bersaglieri formed the Sardinian. outposts. These
were attacked at dawn by the Russians. As the
troops w ere not yet under arms it was necessary
to hold this position for a while, and General de la
Marmora sent over Major Govour, of the Etat-Major,
with a company of Bersaglieri, to reinforce the two com-
panies alreau y there. They crossed the aqueduct and
the river, and went up the plateau ; but, when they ar-
rived on the ci .est of it, the two companies had just left
the epaulemel it behind which they had until then de-
fended thews e Ives gallantly against the overwhelming
numbers of the, enemy, but which had become untenable,
as it was swept'; by the guns which the Russians had
brought up on the two other plateaux, and besides was
exposed to be t aiken in the rear. So the troops retired
in good order a, tzoss the river, and went to reinforce the
post which occu pied the second hillock on the banks of
the aqueduct. tn the meantime the cannonade on both
sides had begun. The Russians left us not long in doubt
where they would attack, for, scarcely had the cannonade
begun when thre e compact masses of infantry were seen
advancing towar, is the plain opposite to the French
position. The p pints chosen were the bridge and
the hillock to the • right. The masses, which in the
morning sun loo' Led like glittering waves, protected
by the fire of th, ► artillery, moved in excellent order
down to the riv et. side, notwithstanding the heavy
fire of artillery which greeted them in front
from the French, at din flank from the Sardinians. At
the river the first c •olumn detached itself from the rest,
and dividing into ti vo columns crossed the river, which
is now nearly evt.,rywhere easily fordable. Men car-
rying moveable woloi len bridges preceded, but in the first
rush the Russian s, w About waiting for bridges, went
over wherever tb.ey a ould, and dispersing like a swarm
of bees rushed for Ward in columns, some against the
bridge, the others against the hillock on the right.

As I said above, the continual apprehension of an
impending attack had at last benumbed the interest for
it, and, notwithstandin I? the signs which seemed to indi-
cate some movement of i the part of the Russians, every-
body slept as soundly a a possible until awakened by the
Russian guns. Before the troops were properly under
arms the Russians were at the bridge and at the foot of
the hillock. The 20t1 lager and the 2d battalion of
Zouaves had to stand th, 9 first shock, and they certainly
stood it gallantly. The rush of the Russians was splen-
did. Without loseng tAleir time with firing, they ad-
vanried with an elan scarcely ever seen in Russian
troops. Some French soldiers of Camou's Division,
who have during the winter guarded the trenches to-
wards the Quarantine., and have had nearly daily skir-
mishes with the Russians, assured me that they never
saw them moving on in such a style. They were new
T,rbops, belonging, according to the prisoners and
wciunded, to the sth division of the 2d corps d'armee
lat ely arrived from Poland. But their ardour was soon
broken. They could not carry their point, and were,
after a short trial, repulsed both on the bridge and the
hilila.ck. The aqueduct which supplies the Turks, and
which runs close to the foot of the hillock, formed the
chid defence of the French. About 9or 10 feet wide
and several feet deep, it skirts the steep hills so close
that , it is nearly in all places supported by a high em.
bar Iment, offering considerable difficulties for an ad-
vim icing force, and exposing it, as soon as it reaches the
top of it, to the musketry fire from the heights. Not-
wit ,hstanding Lthis difficulty the Russians crossed en