The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-22 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

THE AFFAIR OF PETW)PAULOVSKI.
The following is the Russinni official account of
the attack by the combined squadron on Petropau-
lovski :
"The first intelligence of a rupture between Russia
and England and France reached Rear-.A.drairal Zavioko,
military governor of Kamschatka, about the middle of
July. Measures of defence were therefore taken forth-
with, in case of an .attack by the, enemy's cruisers in
the Pacific. The Aurora frigate, and Dwina armed
transport, which were in the hsirbour, were moored
in an advantageous position in the bay. Seven
entrenchments were also thrown up, and the civic
functionaries and some inhabitants were armed to sup-
port the sailors and a small detachment of soldiers. On
the 29th August the English steamer Virago, with an
Admiral's flag, appeared in the bay of Avatscha to re-
connoitre, and on the 30th she wag joined by the Presi-
dent and four other ships. On the 31st the enemy put
out boats to sound, and threw shells. On the Ist of
September he took serious measmees for attack, neared
the coast, and opened a vigorous fire, especially against
batteries Nos. 1 and 4, which replied to the fire of 80
guns with eight only. Lieutenant Gavriloff having been
wounded, Sub-Lieutenant Gonbareff took command of
battery No. 1. The greater part of the men having been
quickly put hors de combat, and the guns dismounted,
the garrison retired to battery No. 2. Thereupon the
enemy landed 600 men opposite the latter, in which
Lieutenant Popoff had only 3 guns and 29 men. Pop-
off spiked his guile, and retired upon battery No. 2.
(This is not very clear.)
" The detachment of our sailors here assembled, ob-
serving a sudden stoppage in the movements of the
enemy, took advantage thereof. and rush d
e upo
nn the
enemy, and routed him. The French fled to their oats
and withdrew from the coast in great disorder. During
this time the enemy's steamer twice laid itself opposite
the Aurora, to bombard it, but was each time obliged to
retire by the well-directed fire of our frigate. There-
upon the enemy's whole fire was concentrated on battery
No. 2, commanded by Lieutenant Prince Maksutoff.
"Eight Russian guns, directed with the same coolness
as at ordinary practice by him, resisted the fire of 80
cannon of the enemy for more than eleven hours. Some
boats then approached battery No. 3, but one was sunk
and the others fled. Night alone put an end to the combat.
The damage suffered by the enemy must be consider-
able, for they required three days to repair it. During
this time we also repaired our batteries. On the sth
the combat was renewed. The steamer towed the
enemy's frigates nearer shore opposite the battery com-
manded by Lieut. Prince Maksutoff, and No. 7,
corn.
mended by Capt. Coraloff, both of the navy. Both
commanders were soon wounded, the guns dismounted,
and the carriages buried in the earth. The enemy then
landed again with 650 men, who advanced against bat-
tery No. 6, on the Nicholasky-hill, north of the town.
Twice the enemy advanced, but was driven hack with
grape. Several detachtnents of sailors under Lieut.
A nkudinoff and other officers of the navy, amounting in
ail to 347 men, attacked the enemy sword in hand, and,
notwithstanding their bravery, routed and put them to
flight, so that they threw away their arms and one colour.
" A part of the enemy were driven into a ravine, and
the rest succeeded in getting to their boats under the fire
of our musketry. On the 6th and 7th the enemy buried
their killed in Tarrinskai Bay, and repaired damage,
and en the Bth put to sea. Besides the killed and
toh;hatteiryndde
aet
lah3l dead
cpt,
ohs ja
ebhneade
officersosatAd3et fouro lpVr
Among the7s
pri-
soners. woundeduennnerdws a.wounded
mu
nNoovndn
eg
e db
officers, Prince Maksutoff is mortally wounded. The
Ifek:llsinlerliwinednY7.:
damage done to our ships is trifling. In the town the
fish magazine is burned, and 13 houses and buildings in-
jured with shot." sac
dnae ships,

No mention is of course made of the capture of
the Sikta, and a small steamer which fell into the
hands of the squadron.

THE BALTIC FLEET.

- -
The Arrogant, 47, screw frigate, arrived at Spit-
head, from the Baltic, on Wednesday night, and
anchored at 9.50. She left Elsinore on Wednesday,
the 14th inst., in company with the Penelope,
Dragon, Desperate, and others of the late Baltic
blockading squadron, anchored next day under
the Scaw, and remained 48 hours ; sailed again on
Saturday morning. She has made the passage
almost entirely under steam, in very inclement and
boisterous weather.
This serviceable frigate stands in need of exten-
sive repairs in her hull, and a thorough refit aloft ;
her head knee is started ; her false keel land fore-
foot considerably damaged, from getting on shore
during her memorable trip to Eckness.
The Magicienne remains for the present in the
Baltic to escort a convoy from Elsinore to Memel.
The Basilisk is
holm. reported to be cruising off Born-