The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-30 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF THE

TCHERNAYA.

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

(Prom a Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette.)
WAR DEPARTMENT, AUG. 29.
Lord Panmure has this day received two despatches
and their Enclosures, of which the following are copies,
addressed to his Lordship by General Simpson.
Before Sebastopol, Aug. 29.
My Lord,--In my despatch of the 14th instant, I in-
formed your lordshipthat I had reason to believe that the
Russia❑s would attempt, by a vigorous attaok, to force
us to raise the siege.
This they endeavoured to do on the morning of
the 16th, but the result was most glorious to thobe
of the Allied troops who had the good fortune to be
engaged.
The action commenced before daylight, by a heavy
column of Russians under the command of General Li-
prandi, and complsed of the 6ch and 17th Divisions,
with the 4th and 7th Divisions in reserve, attacking the
advanced posts of the Sardinians,
The ground occupied by them is on commanding bills
on the right of the position, on the left bank of the Sou •
Baia river, where it forma its junction with the Toher-
naya, with two advanced posts on the opposite aide.
These were held with very determined gallantry for a
considerable time, but being separated from their sup-
ports by the river, and not having the protection of
ar-
tillery, they were compelled to leave the most advanced
One.

About the same time, the sth and 12th Divisions, to
which was added a portion of the 17th, advanced
against the bridge of Traktir, held by one battalion of
French infantry of the line, who were for a short time
obliged to yield and fall back upon the main supports ;
with these, however, they quickly retiok the bridge at
the point of the bayonet.
and Againwer thee eenabled
aRb
luesds itaon
followsa tt ac kued pt wh
ei
it
rh
advantage
by gaining courage,
the heights which rise
was
but
precipitously
momentary—theyoii ea side
of the
road ; theirsuccess
were
driven back across the river, leaving the ground covered
with dead and wounded.
Toe Russian General, in no way daunted by the fail-
ure of his two attempts, ordered a second column, of
equal force to Vie first, to attack ; they advanced with
such impetuosity, covered by the fire of their nurnerou,
artillery, that a third time the bridge was carried, and
the heights above it crowned, but they were again re-
pulsed, and retired in great confusion into the plain,
followed by the bayonets of our gallant
The General Officer who commanded the Russian
column, az.d who is supposed to be General Re .d, was
killed, and in his possession was found the orders for
the battle, signed by Prince Gurtschakoff, who com-
manded in person.
From these it would appear that it was a most deter-
..nined attempt to force us to raise the siege. Had they
succeeded, Ba.laklava, was to have been attacked by one
portion of their army, whilst the heights on which we
now are, were to have been stormed with the other ; at
the sane time a vigorous sortie was to have been made
from the town on the French works, on our extreme
left, from the Quarantine, and another on the works on
our extreme right on Mount Sapaune.
The action which I have endeavoured to describe is
most glorious to the arms of the French and Sardinian
troops. To meet the force of the Russians, the former
had but 12,000 infantry, and 4 batteries of artillery
engaged; the latter had 10,000 men in position, 4,500
actually engaged, and 24 pieces of cannon.
The Russian force consisted of from 50,000 to 60,000
men, with 160 pieces of artillery, and cavalry to the
amount of 6,000.
This disparity of numbers will readily explain to your
Lordship the difficulty that would have been experi-
enced had an attempt been made to follow up the advan-
tage by a pursuit. The Russian retreat, moreover, was
protected by the fire from the heavy guns in position ou
the Mackenzie heights.
The loss sustained by the Russians is estimated at be-
tween 5,000 and 6,000 men inoluding 600 prisoners,
whilst on the part of the Allies it does not amount to
more than 1,000 men.
This brilliant affair has caused the greatest delight
amongst the ranks of the allied army ; and while it adds
fresh lustre to the gallant achievements of the French
arms, it is with the utmost pleasure that I hare to re.
cord the intrepid conduct and gallant bearing of the
Sardinian troops, under General Della Mai morn, who
have fur the first time met, conquered, and shed their
b'ood against our common enemy, who is now disturbing
the peace of Europe.
Captain Mowbray's battery of 32 pounder howitzers
was placed in advance with the Sardinian troops, and
did most excellent service in preventing the advance of
the enemy's artillery.
Our cawvaalsryp, erlaucneddi Ln itehnet epnl
plaint Gofe eariaalkSi
ai rvJa
pS
rceapr
al ertetd,
tilo.eta.kße"advantage of any circumstance that might pre-
sent itself, but the opportunity did not arise for calling
upon their services.
I regret that I am unable to give a more detailed ac-
count of the part performed by the Sardinians, as up to
this time I have not received Genera Della Marmora's
report.

I have, kc.,
JAMES SIMPSON,
General Commanding,
The Lord Panroure, &c. &c. &c.

Before Sebastopol, Aug. 18, 1856.
My Lord,—General Pelissier having announced to
me that the batteries against the Malakoff and adjacent
works were prepared to open fire, arrangements were
made that a steady fire should be commenced yesterday
morning against those works and the Redan.
This continued throughout the day, and the effect
produced was as much as was anticipated. The Russian
fire, which at first answered briskly, became by the
evening feeble. Iu the afternoon a shell from one of our
mortar batteries ignited and caused the explosion of a
great number of shells in ono of the enemy's batteries,
doing apparently much damage.
I regret to have to report the deaths of Captain Old.'
field, of the Royal Artillery, and Commander Hammet,
of the Royal Navy, amongst the number of casualties
caused by the Are of yesterday, Raj 7r C, s, Ream of
..._ _