The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-22 00:00:00

THE ALLIED POSITION.

The Allied armies are encamped upon a plat of above
four miles in length and six in breadth, but the ground
is so high above the neighbouring valleys that a large
force on these heights could resist ten times its number.
Towards Balaklava the ascent from the plain below is,
generally speaking, very abrupt, so that from the sea to
the Inkerman Valley—i. e., the valley by the side of
which an important part o the harbour of Sebastopol
runs—is easily defended. The French have raised a
breastwork along the whole line, batteries are placed in
well-selected positions, redoubts and redans command
certain roads and passes, and where the smallest chance
offered for a cavalry passage due protection has been
applied ; so that as long as we have an army of the pre-
sent strength no enemy need be feared in this direction.
The platean on which we rest is not square, but bounded
by three curves— one on the coast line ; the second, or
Balaklava line, from the sea to the point whence you
look down into the Inkerman Valley ; the third,
running from that point towards the sea, parallel
with the town, and dipping towards the coast, until
at last it is about level with the highest part of
the arsenal side of Sebastopol. Along this last line,
upon spurs of hills running out towards the
ofor-
tress, our batteries are placed, the French, left
attack, occupying the broad slip spoken of above as level
with a part of the town. Of course, betw_een theseeetthe
a
spurs there are gorges, and these run down d
plain, which narrows as you draw from Inkermannm sea-
ward. The only assailable past of our pbe set downositienis thaast
towards the fortress; but even that may
always
have at
perfectly secure, considering the
hand, provided ordinary watchfulnessebeexnearcmiseedd.as
We
ehave on the right attack four batteries,
fol-
lows :—Right Lancaster, Left Lancaster3,o
and Four-gun Battery, mounting
about
Battery, with 36 guns,
guns ; and
our nearest gun being
on the left the large Greenhill
least 1,200 yards from Sebas-
topol. In advance we
ahtaveru.n an approach which is
within 600 yards of the enemy , but this is not intended
to aid a battery so much as to form a cover for the
storming parties whenever an attack shall be determined
en. In rear of these batteries,beginningfrom our ex-
treme right, lie the 2d, Ist Light, 3d, and 4th Divisions,
ready at a moments notice to repel any sortie, should
the covering parties find themselves unable to hold their
own. The great difficulty on the English side consists
in the rocky nature of the ground, which quite pre-
vents sapping close up to the wads, and terribly in.
creases the labour for the poor men. Between us and
the French there is a long and deep ravine, beyond
which are the French batteries, finely placed on a level
with the high ground of the town, and, as the soil is com-
paratively deep, the engineer has a better chance. Gene-
ral Bizot is one of the Vauban school, and is quietly,
but confidently, approaching the walls. The batteries
defending Sebastopol are five in front and two in the
town, all mud works, and apparently well constructed.
As to the number of guns it is impossible to speak accu•
rately. There ara probably not less than 150 in posi-
tion, and the injury received from the Allies during the
day is repaired from the arsenal during the night.