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 of 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 panes, 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 plateai on which we rest is not square, but bounded
by three curves— one en 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 for-
tress, our batteries are placed, the French, or left
attack, occupying the broad slip spoken of above as level
with a part of the town. Of course, between these
spurs there are gorges, and these run down and meet thesea.
plain, which narrows as you draw from Inhjernm
is
ward. The only assailable part of our poessi
t
towards the fortress; but even that may
b
perfectly secure, considering the
force we alweaysdhoawyntehaat
t
hand, provided ordinary watchfulness.be exnearcmiseedd.as Wfole
.
have on the right attack four batteries,
lows :—Right Lancaster, Let'? Lancaster, Greenhill,
and Four-gun Battery, mounting about 30 guns ; and
on the left the large Green-hill Battery, with 36 guns,
our nearest gun being at least 1,200 yards from Sebas-
topol. In advance we bu
have ru.n an approach which is
within GOO yards of the enemy , this is not intended
aid a battery so much as to form a cover for the
to t
storming parties whenever an attack shall be determined
en. In rear of these batteries, beginning from onr ex-
treme right, lie the 2d, lst Light, 3d, and 4th Divisions,
ready at a moment's 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 walls, and terribly in-
creases the labour far 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
v i'h 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, a'l mud works, and apparently well constructed.
As to the number of guns it is impossible to speak accu
rately. There are probably not less than 150 in posi-
tion, and the injury received from the Allies during the
dal is repaired frosa the arsenal during the night.