The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-20 00:00:00

.NEWS FRO.

(From the New York Herald of 25th October.)
Among the passengers who arrived at this port on
Tuesday last, by the packet ship Universe, from Liver-
pool, was Dr. Davega,who came direct from the Russian
camp at Sebastopol, where he served in the capacity of
surgeon in the medical staff. We paid him a visit yes-
terday, and in the course of a general conversation on
the war in the Crimea, and the condition of the contend-
ing parties on both sides, obtained the following particu-
lars. Dr. Davega was eleven months in the Crimea, a
considerable portion of which time was spent immedi-
ately in the camp,where he had an excellent opportunity
of becoming acquainted with the character of the Rus-
sian soldiers and the men by whom they are commanded.
What he states, therefore, may be regarded as reliable,
although it will be found widely at variance with many
of the accounts published in the English papers.
At the time of his departure from the Russian camp,
which was about the middle of last month, the allies
were in possession of the southern side of Sebastopol, the
Russians, under Gortschakoff, still retaining undisputed
possessions of their strongly fortified ;position on the
north side. This part of the city, he states, is still
stronger than that which they have lost, or, more pro-
perly speaking, than that which they abandoned, as it
now appears that they did not intend to hold it longer
than was necessary to give them time to remove their
hospitals, their guns, and whatever else they considered
indispensable. Their forts command every part of the
south side, which lies below them, completely within
range of their guns, at a depth of at least over 100 feet.
It is evident from this that they are in a still better
[position than they were when they had possession of the
whole city, as they can render that part of it which is in
possession of the allies altogether untenable. This is so
well known to the allies that they are actually beginning
to regard their late successful, but dearly purchased, tri-
umph as very unprofitable, if not worse than useless.
On the other hand, it is a matter of congratulation, he
says, in the Russian camp, even among the common sol-
diers, who understand the great advantage it gives them
over their foe. For 7 months the work of fortifying and
strengthening the north side has been going on, and now
such is the perfection to which they have brought that
work, that every hill has been converted into a fort,
and every point where cannon can be placed is abso-
lutely bristling with them. Here they not only com-
mand the south side, but they render it utterly impos-
sible for the allied fleet to enter the harbour, or to
come even within a long distance of it. In addition to
this the road from their camp to Odessa is occupied by
different detachments of their army, which, including
the force in the camp, numbers 300,000 well disciplined,
well equipped, well provisioned, and every way effective
troops. But this is not all—their facilities for the tran-
sportation of troops are such that they can, if necessary,
bring their whole disposable force into the Crimea in the
course of a few days. The road from Perekop is open
to them, and they are constantly receiving from that
place immense supplies of provisions. The statement
that they were deficient in their supplies is therefore un-
true, and we were told that at present they have suffi-
cient for several months, should ag communication with
that point be cut off by the allies. Our readers may re-
member that in the papers which brought the account of
the "fall of Sebastopol" it was stated that the Russians
were in full retreat towards Perekop, and that a detach-
ment of 30,000 of the allied army was despatched to in-
tercept them. This was not only false, as proved by
subsequent accounts, but utterly absurd, as it now ap-
pears that the Russians had not the remotest idea of re-
treating, and were determined to remain where they
were and defend their position to the last.
The story that 600 Poles had deserted from the Rus-
sian army, Dr. Davega informed us, is not worthy of the
slightest credit. A few may have deserted, but he as-
sured us that the cases of desertion on the other side
were more numerous, and the day before he left six Sar-
dinians had arrived at the Russian camp. The army,
too, instead of being demoralised, is in as perfect a state
of order and discipline as their commanders could de-
sire ; and so far from being even discouraged, they have
gained confidence and self-reliance from their frequent
encounters with the allied forces. They have been, be
says, greatly underrated ; but the allies have by this
time found out to their loss that, as Dogherry would
say, they are not the men they took them for. It ap-
pears now that they are among the finest soldiers in the
world, and that they are, in some respects, superior to
the French. It is a singular fast that, while the Eng-
lish and French scatter under a heavy fire, the Russians
flock together and cling to each other with a tenacity
that knows not when to yield. They never think of re-
treating, and rush into battle with an enthusiasm in-
spired by the deepest feeling of religion. They tell you
they are fighting for " their God, their Czar, and their
country," and they believe that death in such a cause is
little less than martyrdom. In fact, they regard it as
such, and believe that the greMest sacrifice they can
make is to die on the battlefield fighting in defence of
their church, of which they regard the Czar, under God,
as the head.
The army is composed of Russians, including the Cos-
sacks of the Black Sea, Greeks, and Poles. The proper-
' tion of the Poles is not so large as has been reported,
but the Greeks are very numerous, and are among the
best and bravest in the whole army. The Russians,
without exception, actually believe that it is a holy war
against the "infidel Turk' in which they are engaged,
and wheneverany unfortunate Mahomedans fall into their
hands they are killed at once, the idea of giving them
qua. ter never entering the mind of the Russian soldier.
The Greeks, besides the religious feeling which actuates
them, are urged on by their national animosity against
the Turk, and they never omit an opportunity of wreak-
ing their vengeance upon them for the centuries of perse-
cution which their nation has suffered at their hands.
At the commencement of the war the highest feeling
of respect was entertained by the Russians for the Eng-
lish, but this has undergone a change, and they have at
last come to regard them with feelings of contempt. It,is
not unusual, Dr. Davega told us, to hear them say,
" What are the English ? Nothing. We have beaten
them in every battle, and would have destroyed them
but for the French. It is against the French we fight.
If we had to do only with the English we would have
swept them off the earth before this."
" I do not know," said Dr. Davega, "of a battle in
which the English were not worsted, and in which they
were only saved from destruction by their allies, the
French."
The Russian soldiers know this well, and, when en-
gaged in carrying cannon-balls, jocosely say, "Here is
some bread for the French," apparently ignoring the
very existence of the English. Their officers are highly
educated, and it is an uncommon thing to find one who
does not speak three or four languages. They are also
men of refinement, and, as the doctor had every oppor-
tui,ity of knowing practically, are most courteous to
Americans. He confirms, in this particular, all we
were toll by Dr. Kottrnan eight or nine months ago,
and says that the highest generals in the army show them
every attention and kindness in their power. He adds,
however, that the climate in the Crimea is very un-
healthy, and that of nine Americans who were in the
medical staff during his service, five died. In a word,
they entertain feelings of the deepest friendship to wards
our countrymen, and are always ready to exhibit them,
even at their own personal inconvenience and loss. This
may be said of all, from the Czar down to the poorest
soldier in the ranks.
In regard to " Todtleben," he says the affection which
generals, officers, and men bear for him amounts
almost to adoration. They are proud of him, and justly
look upon him as the greatest engineer in Europe.
To him they ascribe their unprecedented success in the
defence of Sebastopol, and there is hardly a man under
him who would not sacrifice his life if necessary to pre-
serve him to " his Czar and his country." Todtleben is
about 30 years of age and well-proportioned, with most
prepossessing features. He is, Dr. Davega thinks, a
Russo-German. His wonderful celerity in increasing
and strengthening the defences of Sebastopol astonished
even those who know him best ; and the whole army
entertain the most unbounded confidence in his energy,
his ability, and his skill.
As to the movements of the Russians, the most pro-
found secrecy is kept by the generals, and to this is at-
tributable the success with which they have in many in-
stances been attended. No one knows beforehand what
they are going to do, and their plans are generally car-
ried out with a precision and despatch that has often
surprised the allies, and taken them at a disadvantage
when they reposed in a feeling of perfect security. The
old adage, " hear, see, and say nothing," is held not
only in the highest reverence among them, but is a law
the observance of which is commanded and enforced
with all the power and authority of military rule.
It is the opinion of Dr. Davega that it is utterly
tenft side—if
withe a sostuitlhl
im-
possible for the allies to avoid another winter's campaign
in the Crimea in any other way than by leaving it
yet be
expe-
rienced. a
et:
altogether. Their work has only commenced with the
taking
rpaucbtleirs published as
theasu sideitr eeav
teoerfr Sebastopol,shall
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than
hean captured—wilt
they and
htah
vee xc capture of
the northded o
rienced. He confirms the accounts we have already
toco thentr severities
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and
oa
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y.Ty will
the city, as that part of p
as they did before, outside it
completely untensaebalegso,anvaend"
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which the Russians
sutcohthisemth
ies,naastuwree ohfavtehtS'asiodi'l
during the rainy that it is utterly impossible to
use either cannon or cavalry,TeLhile the foot soldier sinks
to his knees at every step.prospects which open
before the allies, under these circumstances,
cer-
tainly of a most gloomy kind. Gortschakoff are
spoke truly
when he said Generals January
and February would do
all their business for them.
We have spoken of the feeling of the Russian soldiers
in respect to the war, and we may add that it is a feel-
ing which is entertained by all classes throughout the
empire.
The nobles are willing to sacrifice their for-
tunes, if necessary, in a war which they look upon as
one of the most justifiable that hes ever been waged
by their country. In common with the soldiers, they
believe that they cannot be defeated, and are deter-
mined on fighting for every inch of ground in the
Crimea before they give it up. The religious enthu-
siasm of the soldiers is kept up by the Greek priests.
of whom there i 3 a large number in the camp, and who
inspire them with an idea that they are engaged in a
crusade against the infidel. Every address issued by the
Emperor is received by them with the greatest enthu-
siasm, and incites them to the most reckless deeds cf
daring and bravery. With an army inspired by such
feelings, with an engineer who has not, perhaps, his
equal in Europe, with generals whose abilities have been
well tested, and with the (Feposal of almost unlimited
resources at his command, his ultimate success appears
to be only a question of time. It only remains to be
seen whether the difficulty will be patched up by diplo•
many or settled by force of arms.