The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-01 00:00:00

LETTERS FROM THE CRIMEA.

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Jan. LG.—The sortie upon
the Green-hill Battery, which I had just time to an-
nounce in my last letter, proved a more serious affair
than was at first anticipated. The enemy succeeded so
far as to drive the sentries back, and take one serjeant

and 14 men prisoners. One officer and about a score
men were wounded in the affray. The trench was occu-

pied by portions of the 68th and 21st, and the Rifles.
The sentries of the 68th were in the rifle-pits. The enemy
came up, stealthily surrounded them, and opened a
volley on the flank and front, which alarmed them to
such an extent that they took to their heels, The enemy
was, therefore, left in possession of the ground. After
retiring some distance, the 68th returned to the
charge, but again abandoned the ground, leaving
their wounded. On calling the roll, one serjeant and
fourteen men were found missing. One poor fellow,

whom the Russians bad bayoneted, was subsequently
discovered in the trench, completely stripped and
laying naked, his wounds exposed to the bitter wind
and piercing frost. The Russians, on making the charge,
came on with the cry of " Raki, raki !" and appeared
half drunk. The 68th Regiment were asleep, with the
exception of the sentries (who, it is feared, were not far
otherwise.) The men are so harassed with duty in the
trenches, that as soon as they take their posts they curl
themselves up in their blankets, and down they go to
sleep. The weather, though bitter cold, does not pre-
vent but rather encourages their drowsiness. The in-
tense labour our troops aro subjected to has led to the
French General issuing an order that 1,600 of our
Allies should be granted in order to give the British
some relief. Nominally speaking, the strength of the

English of all ranks exceeds 40,000 men, but of this
there are 16,232 sergeants, drummers, and rank and
file sick, leaving available not more than 13,000 for
the trenches and pickets, after ether necessary casualties
are deducted. The daily duty for the 21 hours requires
about 7,000 men, so that you may judge what arduous
work the men have to perform. On the 12th instant, 39
deaths were reported in camp. The weekly amount of sick
sent to Scutari is about 1,000. The men, after they
reach Scutari, are retained there until they are properly
recovered, and not sent back half cured. This may ac-
count for there being so many sick at Scutari. About
6,000 men are there who, if here, would be compelled
to take their turn of duty. The French general has
stopped all reinforcements corning up for the present
farther than the Bosphorus. The object of the com-
manders is, to have their men as string as their present
circumstances will admit for the ensuing spring. They
have enough to maintain their present position until
favourable weather for operations sets in.
The Green-hill Battery is reported to be in a very in-
efficient state, and steps had been taken before the affair
last night to repair it. This battery was guarded until
some few days back by 1,000 men by day, and 1,200
men by night. It was then reduced to 750 by day, and
900 by night, on account of the weakness of the Third
and Fourth Divisions.
The 63d Regiment cannot furnish 60 men under arms,
so reduced are they by sickness. They have been or-
dered to move down tp Balaklava, and the 18th Regi-
ment, at present stationed there, is to replace them on
the heights. The 63d will do fatigue duties at Bala-
klava.

The City of London steamer, from Constantinople,
has arrived with 270 bullocks and 370 sheep—quite a
treat for the men. The Indiana steamer will proceed
to Varna, to convoy Turkish soldiers to Eupatoria.
Out of 900 men of the Fourth Division, paraded for
the trenches the other day, about 60 were found unable
to march, their feet being swollen with cold.
Messrs. Smith and Glyn, two gentlemen of the Cri-
mean Army Fund, are here, struggling to bring their
object about. lam afraid they will meet with many
difficulties. Their stores have not yet arrived.
The Commander of the Forces has publishes a trans-
lation of the general order of the French commander,
forwarded to you by the last mail, with the following
remarks
oe.astopoi, Jan. 12.
The Commander of the Forces has the satisfaction of
publishing to the army the General Order of the General-
in-Chief of the French army in the Crimea, upon com-
municating to his soldiers the thanks of the two Houses
of Parliament for their gallant conduct at Alma and
Inkerman, and whilst they have been serving and fight-
ing in co-operation with the allies."
JAN. 14.—Another heavy fall of snow last night. It
is now about 15 inches deep on the open ground, and
drifted to an immense depth in some places. The wind
yesterday shifted round to the south-west, and to-day it
is due west. It has not been so cold to-day, but seems
clearing off for a sharp frost to-night. The Russians
have been very quiet since their last attack. A few
days since a great many were observed to be working
on the north side of the harbour, at a long trench, to
the north-east of Fort-Constantine. The intention seems
to be, to cut off the neck of land, by connecting their
works from the sea-beach to the harbour.
No great progress has been made in hutting the men.
A few huts are landed, and some are on their way up to
the front, but very slowly, owing to the want of tran-
sport. lam afraid it will be summer before the 'Whole
army gets properly housed. In the meantime the regi-
ments are sadly exposed—the sick particularly. The
medical officers say that it is impossible to effect cures
hero. The Light Division is very badly off. In some
regiments nearly 200 men, besides those at Scutari, are
sick.

The issue of warm clothing to the troops is nearly
completed. Every man will have clothing, and some
will be left. The description of clothing seems to give
general satisfaction. One instance of complaint, I hear,
is in reference to some socks, but, generally, everything
has given satisfaction.
The commissariat staff has received an addition to its
numbers—Assistant Commissary-General Osborn, De-
puty-Assistant Commissary-Generals Lundy, Blanc, and
Rennie.
In connection with the warm clothing, it is curious to
observe that it has been obtained from all quarters of
the globe. Large quantities from Vienna, some from
Athens, some from Asia Minor, and some from Stam-
boul. The sheep-skin coats from Vienna are very good.
The Alma steamer arrived at Balaklava this day.
The railway has not yet been commenced ; the nav-
vies are wanting. It is supposed it will be completed in
another six weeks, but I doubt it much.
A. council of war in the French camp was held yester-
day (French only).
• JAN. 15.—1 have just received an intimation that the
post closes to-night at 7 p.m. We had another fall of
snow last night ; it is now two feet deep. The snow
on the road, should it remain en the ground, will
do much good, as sledges will be used ; a few have
been started to-day. An attack on the French lines
was made last night. It was one of the must dating
yet ventured on. The enemy made a sally out alter
a few rounds of artillery, and actually came on with
fixed bayonets, so that the two parties fought hand to

hand. Many of the enemy fell, and several of the French-
were killed. One officer of the latter was bayoneted.
This is about the first instance, during the present war,
that the enemy has been known to stand to the bayonet.
On every occasion they have fled in front of our charges.
It is generally believed that the enemy is getting short
of ammunition, and that they are making attempts with
cold steel. But this kind of warfare with the allies, I
am inclined to think, they will find to be very unsatio-
factory, since both British and Freach are toe staunch
ever to be frightened by the glittering of a bayonet. It
is also believed that if the allies were to follow the par-
ties who make these attacks into the town in sufficient
strength, they might establish a hold on the town,
without being interrupted by the shipping.
It is evident the enemy is preparing the forts to the
north of the town anal harbour, and making that district
a kind of garrison distinct from the town ; from which
oue would suppose that they intend to struggle to the
last. _ _

A rather laughable incident happened to an officer
going the round to visit his sentries last night. He fell
into a well, and was dragged eut by his party alrmeiti
frozen. _ _ _

The 19th inst., it is supposed, will be the day for the
Russians to attack us, that being, the anniversary on
v. Inch they bless the waters of the Neva. They havo
had it to themselves for six weeks past—the turn for the
Allies will soon coni. A heavy fall of snow is stilt
coining down.
The mail is just closing.
The following has been the state of the thermometer
n the heights on the day, mentioned :
Degrees. Wind
3 a.m. ... 24 West
4 p.m, ... 23 ... North
1.) night. ... 21 ... Cal in
S a.m. .•• 32 ... S.W.
S a.m. ... 29 ... S.W. (snow)
4 p.m. 27 ... S.W. ditto
10 p.m. ... 1Q ... North
12 p.m. ... 19 ... North
8 a.m. ... 22 ... S.W.
9 a.m. ... 26 ... S.W.
11 a.m. ... 30 ...
S.W.
The day after the sortie on the Bth, General Can-
robert published the following general order :
" Dane la nuit du 7 au 8 de co mois, nos tranclukts ont
(St 4 aesaillies par one forte colonne ennemie.
"Recue aveo la plus grand. vigueur par quatre corn.
pagnies du 46tne de ligne de garde dane la traach4es,
cette sortie s'est vn charger ii la bayonnette jusqu'aux
retranehements qui avaient Bt4 sen point de depart,
laiasant des worts sur le terrain et des bless3s entre nos
resins.

Januftry 12,

If 13f
„ 14.

, , 15,

" Il rtisulte de leurs declarations que, depuis deux
jours, leurfa,natisrne dtait surexcite par la voice de leurs
pretres qui leur avait annonce que rien ne resisterait k
leur elan et que lee mains des soldats francais, glasses
par le froids, ne leur permettraient pas de se servir de
leurs acmes. Le 46me regiment a donne un eclatant
menu 4 ces predictions fanatiques, et je I'ea remercie.
"Au none de l'Exipereur, je confers la decoration de
la Legion-d'Houneur au sous-lieutenant Kerdudo (Pierre
Alexandre) qui, tout jeune encore, s montre en setts
circonstance l'aplomb et l'energie d'un Tie= soldat, en
entrainant see voltigeurs.
"Jo cenfere la meolaille militaire an sergent-major
Jamain (Jean Francois Joseph), au sergent-major Vrig-
naud (Leon Louis), au sergent Didelot (Francois Joseph),
au corporal Farges (Pierre), au voltigeur Vignand (Phi-
lippe), au fusilier Calandrand (Arnaud), au fusilier Gan
(Jean) qui se sont particulibrement fait remarquer.
"Au grand quartier g6neral,
"Le general en chef,
(Signe) " CANROBBRT.
Devant Sebastopol, le 10 janvier, 1855."

The following letter, of a more cheering character,
was received yesterday from a colonel long resident
and universally respected in Marseilles :
"CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Jan. 1.

" Our mortar batteries commenced firing on the Ist
inst. They have caused the Russians serious injury. At
the moment I am writing the deafening sound which
comes from Sebastopol, from which we are not more than
1,000 yards distant, gives me hope that the great blow
will be struck before long. The number of bombs
thrown daily is incalculable, and the fire is more ani-
mated than ever during the last 48 hours. Our pro-
jectiles cause immense injury, not to the town, which
is a mere heap of ruins, but to the besieged, who
do not knOw where to hido themselves. The Rus-
sians make frequent sorties, but they are always
victoriously repulsed. There are 15,900 Turks at
Eupatoria. Omer Pasha will be shortly there at the
head of 40,000 men. He will cut off the retreat of the
Russians, and render the arrival of supplies impossible.
You may perceive that everything is progressing as
well as possible, and that the reason General Can-
robert does not press the assault is, that he wishes to
make himself master of the garrison, and at the same
time avoid useless carnage. With the exception of some
cases of men frozen in the trenches, the sanitary state of
the army is satisfactory. Unfortunately I cannot say as
much of the English. Our entire brigade has been oc-
cupied for the last three weeks in making a road from
Balaklava to the camp of our Allies, and in transporting
their food and ammunition. The cold is so severe that
our soldiers have been forced to abandon their tents and
to dig holes under ground. Those subterranean habita-
tions are warm, but very damp."