The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-09 00:00:00

LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF THE FRENCH

Sept. FLEET.
KATCHA BAY, , at break of day,
the allies began to advance, their right wing supported by
our ships. We were all moored in this bay at ten a.m ,
with the intention of landing during the day our siege
train, conveyed in about 30 vessels to this point. We as-
sisted at the battle in anxious suspense from our ancho-
rage, and I passed the day on the topmast of my ship,
surveying with telescope in hand the various accidents of
that exciting scene. I was enabled to descry clearly the
Russian entrenched camp on the mountain top, and their
divisions forming gradually in lines, and advancing in
battle order along the plain. A first ravine having been
passed without resistance by our troops, they took up
toa
position on the heights fronting the enemy, but owing
the lateness of the hour the combat was postponed till the
following day.
This morning (20th inst.) our armies were seen to shove
across the plain in various directions, in order to traverse
the stream and gain the heights. At 9 a.m. a thick fog
came on and obliged the troops to halt ; but, the wea-
ther having cleared at 11 a.m., they advanced towards
the Alma and forded the river. I distinguished clearly
from my topmast the Russian forces forming a
little to the rear of the mountain summit into
lines, and our troops which had already traversed
the stream clambering en tirailleurs, heroically up the
craggy steeps, exposed to the galling fire of the enemy. It
was, I must confess,",a moment of dread suspense, and we
should have been inevitably repulsed had the Russians (Es-
, played but half the daring ardour of our troops in the de-
fence of that formidable position. It was strongl beyond
measure, and well protected on all sides by natura advan-
tages. They besides
wera tree
men
in swarms faggius force of artilng up
lery ;
whereas our poor fellows seen
moos, where it was diffi-
bravely the rugged and precipitou; batteries. Finally,
cult to afford the protection of our field .
.!.. -nfficient force
when our troops had gained the heights ill murderous
to attack. they poured in their fire with sac,: .e
m
precision through the Russian ranks, that in lit, °le
n-
than three hairs I could clearly distinguish them beg..
sing to give way, and an hour later they were completely
routed, and fled pele-mele.aeross the
Nevertheless the division of the ailed fordes Which had
Advanded to the left of the Russian entrenchments 4inconn-
toted a nose teitifid reestanee in a village flanking tiirtt
point—a commanding position,vAdet kept up a destructive
Are Of artillery Which lasted till 2 pan. It wee then that
411 e erAttiglit and Clete Cduflict Commenced with rigour on
the heights. I could desci *ofbv advancing
under the fire of the batteries till they gditi, the aurnmit,
which silenced instantly the enemy, and the position was
victoriously carried. The cannons, however, each drawn
by sit liotSeS, Unfortunately escaped. Our troops kept up
a vigorous fire of musketry, which must have destroyed
immense numbers of the fugitives, but the further inci-
dents of this bloody melee were lost
in dust and smoke.
tto Russians, routed, dislodged from that posi-
tion, rallied again on a more elevated point, and recom-
menced the fire of their artillery. Hence it was again ur-
gtiftt to push forward in all haste in pursuits of
dvancin the enemy,
and carry also that point. I saw our troopag in
the finest order au pas de course, which circumstance, it
appears, spread terror and disorder in the enemy's ranks.
He threw up the game finally, and fled in all haste wards
Sebastopol. At 4 p.m. the are ceased on all points, and
the battle was