The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-01 00:00:00

MILITIA.

Colonel Bingham has received official orders for the
immediate assembling of the Dorset Militia, which are
under his command. Before being appointed on garrison
duty the men will have 28 days' drill at Dorchester.
The First Devon Militia Regiment is making great
efforts to increase its strength, in anticipation of many
of its members volunteering into regiments of the line.
The staff commenced recruiting at Exeter oa Friday,
and on Saturday they went to Crediton, where a few
men volunteered. They have also visited other places
during the week for the same purpose.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire has intimated to
the officers und staff of the 2d Regiment of Staffordshire
Militia, at the head-quarters at Stafford, th.t he expects
immediately to reoeive her Majesty's warrant directing
him to embody that regiment forthwith. The regiment
is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Littleton, M.P.,
who is at present at Madeira. In his absence, the com-
mand devolvesi upon Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of
Uxbridge, M.P. The Government have since intimated
that the 3d Regiment of Staffordshire Rifle Militia, com-
manded by Colonel Bagot, will be ordered out as well
as the 2d.

WINE FOR SCUTARI HOSPITAL.—It was stated on
Wednesday, upon high authority, in the Central Crimi-
nal Court now in session, that a letter had been received
from Miss Nightingale, in which she stated that so great
was the want of proper necessaries in the hospitals at
Scutari that there were only a few bottles of wine for
the use of the sick and wounded troops. Immediately
upon the fact becoming known to the sheriffs, they in
the most prompt and kind manner got up a subscription,
the amount of which was handed over to Mr. Alderman
Finnis, who volunteered to immediately procure a, pipe
of port wine, to be at once despatched to the East for
the use of our brave troops.
FLOODS IN THE NORTH.—A succession of heavy showers
on Monday night, Tuesday, and Tuesday night, have
swollen the rivers Irwell and Mersey vefy considerably.
During Tuesday, night and Wednesday morning the
rain fell in torrents, mingled with hail. At Broughton,
above Manchester, the Irwell had overflowed its banks
and flooded the fields on either- side, and the same result
had followed at Throstle Nest, below that town. Near
Sale and Ashton-on-Mersey, four miles west of Man-
chester, the Mersey had overflowed its banks and laid
great quantified of Meadow land under water ; and from
the rate at which the floods were accumulating great
mischief was feared ; but towards noon on Wednesday
a strong north wind sprung up, dispersing the clouds,
and bringing with it a total change of weather for the
remainder of the day. The wind was exceedingly cold,
but drying, and almost blew a gale during the after-
noon.

RUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE
OF INSERMAN.

(From the St. Petersburg Journal.)

It appears by the reports from Aide-de-camp General
Prince Menschikoff, dated November 12, that the siege
works of the enemy before Sebastopol have not advanced
in the least, and that our fortifications continued, as be-
fore, to support with success the fire of the besiegers.
Each night not only has all the damage been repaired
and the dismounted guns replaced by others, but in
many respects the means of defence have also been in-
creased. During this time the enemy has continued to
strengthen his right flank, even to the town of Balaklava.
In order to complete the first and hasty account of
the sanguinary affair of the sth of November, Prince
Menschikoff now sends, respecting this combat, more
circumstantial details, which will be found in the follow-
ing reports :
" REPORT OF THE GENERAL OF- INFANTRY DANNENBERG,
COMMANDER OF THE 4TH CORPS OF INFANTRY, DATED
NOVEMBER 8.

" According to the plan arrarge4 for the army of the
Crimea for the 24th ult. (sth of November), I made the
following dispositions :

" Lieut.-General Soimonoff, who commanded the right
column, had directions t 3 range his troops in order of
battle before daybreak, and to eiecute an offensive move-
Ment by placing his left flank upon the left"bank of the
ravine named Kilene-Balka, so that, profiting by the
facilities wkisli the ground ofered for his • movements,
and for action, he might turn the forces of the enemy
stationed near the source of that ravine.
" The left column, under the command of Lieut.-
General Panloff, had orders to occupy, with 12 Regi-
ments of Chasseurs of Borodinb, Okhotsk, and Taran-
tino, and two companies of the 4th` battalion of Rifle-
men, and to clear the defiles covered with thick brushwood
situated beyond the Tchernaya-Retchia," while the rest
of the troops advanced bythe navt road called that of
the Sappers. Then, forming in order of battle between
the ravine Kilene-Balka and the defiles in question, ti at
column was to act at the same position as that of Lieut.,
General Soimonoff.
AL .

".Very unfortenately, -4i,a,a
thiPtrIFIL
SolinonolZ lc** e instead of ta epos len ini ae. ;
passed by the right bank of the ravine Kilene-Balka,
and immediately upon the break of day, without wait-
ing for the arrival of the left- column, made a rapid
movement in advance—a movement, however, which it
was forced to make by the sharp fire from the carbines of
the enemy, who, not lbeing threatened upon his left flank,
was able to concentrate all his forces between the
source of the Kilene-Balks and the valley of In-
kerman, upon ground vary easy of defence. The
first line were the regiments of Tomsk and Kolyvan, fol-
lowed by the Catherinenburg Regiment of Infantry.
Behind the right flank of these troops were, under the
command of Major-General Jabokritsky, the infantry
Regiment of Boutyrsk, and the Chasseurs of Ouglitch,
and the Ist brigade of the 16th Division of Infantry, as
a reserve to cover the right flank, according to the plan
of attack by the left bank of the Kilene-Balka.
" In order to escaap from the murderous fire from the
carbines of the enemy, the regiments of Tomsk and
Kolyvan, preceded by a chain of Riflemen, also armed
with carbines, formed themselves into columns of com-
panies, and rushed upon the enemy, supported by the
battery of position No. 2, of the 10th Brigade of Ar-
tillery ; the battery of position No. 1, of the 16th Bri-
gade ' • and the light battery No. 4, of the 17th Brigade.
The Chasseurs pursued the enemy without stopping.
The 2d battalion of the Regiment of Tomsk and the
first two battalions of Kolyvan rushed upon a battery
of the enemy and spiked two of its guns. Then the
Ist and the 3d battalions of the Catherinenburg Regi-
ment of Infantry rushed in advance and upon the right
across the (Kilene-Balka, and carried by assault a part
of the enemy's camp, where they spiked four guns.
This successful movement was stopped by the less,
almost simultaneously, of Lieutenant General Soimonoff,
mortally wounded ; Major-General De Villebois, com-
mander of the 2d brigade of the 10th Division of In-
fantry ; Colonel Zagoskine, commander, of the 10th Bri-
gade of Artillery, and the commanders of the Regiments
of Catherinenburg, Tomsk, and Kolyvan, which lost
at die, same time their commanders of battalions and a
great number of officers killed or wounded.
"The regiments of the brigade of Chasseurs of the
10th Division of Infantry and the 2d and 4th battalions
of the Infantry Regiment of Catherinenburg were
obliged to descend to the upper part of the ravine,
where there is a stone quarry ; a very brisk fire took place
upon this point. By order of Major-General Jabo-
kritsky the battery of position No. 2 of the 10th
Brigade of Artillery, and the battery of position Nc. 1
of the 16th Brigade, with the light batteries Nos. 4 and
5 of the 17th Brigade, occupied a height situated behind
the ravine of Kilene-Balka, and to the right, parallel
with its direction. The infantry Regiment of Boutyrsk
was posted on the left bank of the battery, that of the
Chasseurs of Ouglitch at the right flank, and the first
brigade of the 16th Division of Infantry remained ill re-
serve behind the right flank. -•-
"Almost simultaneowdy with•the attack of the 10th
Division of Infantry, 'the Regiments of Chasseurs of
Tarentino and Borodino, formed in parties of columns
by companies and preceded by two companies of the
4th battalion of Riflemen, and all their men armed with
carbines, took part in the action. The movement of
those troops assisted in forcing the enemy to give
way before the 'rapid attack of the right
column. Afterwards, when the regiments of the
10th Division of Infantry descended into the ravine,
those above named also took part in the fire against
the enemy, and the combat was warmly continued,
with alternate success. More than once the enemy was
closely surrounded and driven back upon his right flank,
but having all his forces concentrated there he resisted
our attack. Towards 8 o'clock in the morning, after a
march which presented very great obstacles, the rest of
the troops of the left column reached the steep heights
—viz., the Regiment of Chasseurs of Okhotsk, those of
the Infantry of Yakoutsk and Selinghinsk, with the
batteries of position No. 3 of the 11th Brigade of Artil-
lery, and No. 1 of the 10th Brigade, and eight guns of
the battery of position No. 3
o the 17th Brigade. I
placed those batteries upon our left flank, at the extre-
mity of which afterwards arrived two batteries of light
horse artillery of the Don, which could not take part in
the battle in consequence of the position occupied by the
enemy being too distant.
" During the battle the battery of, position No. 2 of
the 10th Brigade of Artillery, eight guns of the bat-
tery of position No. 3, and the light battery No. 4 of
the 17th Brigade, which had lost many men and horses,
were replaced by the light batteries Nos. 1 and 2 of the
10th Brigade and No. 3 of the 11th Brigade, which re-
mained in position until the end of tho affair.
" In order to support the battle which was going on
in the ravine, in advance of our left flank, Idirected
upon that point the Regiment of Chasseurs of Okhotsk,
which, forming its 3d and 4th battalions in columns by
companies, made a resolute movement in advance, and
took possession of a redoubt of the enemy with nine
guns, three of which were carried off and thrown into
the ravine, and the others spiked. Colonel. Bibikoff,
commander of the regiment, and the greater portion of
his superior and subaltern officers were wounded in this
attack. The enemy, on his part, continued to bring up
fresh troops to the spot where a portion of the French
troops arrived, which forced the Regiment of Okhotsk
to fall back. Profiting by a deep ravine which covered
the left flank of our position, I again successively or-
dered to advance the Regiments of Yakoutsk and
.Selinghinsk to support our left flank in the ravine. The
Regiment of Yakoutsk charged with impetuosity the
English who had repulsed the Regiment of Chasseurs
of Okhotsk, and, after having at first overthrown the
enemy with great success, was in its turn forced to
abandon the battery of which it had taken puEs6tien'
and compelled to retreat by a violent fire of carbines,
and by the French troops, which came up to the assist-
ance of the English.
"Not having.any more troops in reserve at the left
flank, 'I ordered the Ist Brigade of the 16th Division of
Infantry to come up. At the same time the enemy
continued to defend himself with peculiar obstinacy,
and, as reinforcements of fresh French troops arrived,
we were obliged to yield to the superiority of his forces.
The troops who had fought in the ravine marched, a
portion by the valley of Inkerinan, by the passage of
the Tchernaya Retchka, and the rest fell back upon the
principal position. In order to cover the movement of
the left flank in the valley of Inkerman, I also sent the
Infantry Regiment of Vladimir, which perfectly fulfilled
its mission, and its commander, Colonel Delwig, was
wounded. Soon afterwards the murderous fire of the
enemy's artillery forced us to retreat upon the town.
This movement was effected without obstacle and with,
out an attack from the enemy.
" In this affair all the troops, from the chiefs to the
lowest soldier, fought with a spirit werthy of the armies
of his Majesty the Emperor."

" EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL
TIMOPEIEFF, DATED NOT. 7.

"At 10 o'clock in the morning, at the mornerit when
the battle on the heights of Inkerman was already in full
activity, Major-General Tagefeieff, with the Infantry
Regiment of Minsk, and four guns of the light battery
No. 4 of the 14th Brigade of Artillery, executed a sortie
from Sebastopol against the left flank of the enemy's
works. Emerging by the gate situated to the right of
the bastion No. 6, this column crossed the ravine of the
Quarantine Bay, passed the cemetery more to the left,
and began to close in upon the enemy. In advance
marched two battalions in columns by companies,
covered by a chain of riflemen, and having the artillery
mans between the battalions. They were followed by
two other battalions, in columns of attack.

"After having routed the enemy even to his entrench-
ments, the battalions charged with the bayonet and
rushed upon the batteries. Some pursued the enemy
from one point to the other, and the rest made to his
guns, 15 of which, were spiked.
" While this was going forward the enemy, recovered
from his surprise, began to send troops. Major-General
Timofeieff demanded reinforcements. Two battalions of
the 13th brigade of reserve (the sth of the Regiment of
Brziesc and the 6th of that of Wilna) and the six last
guns joined him. -
" Having formed these battalions into columns by
companies, and placed the artillery betweeh them, on

the right of the Quaratine ravine:Wajor-General Timo-
feieff, seeing that the enemy was e&leavouring to sur-
round him with considerable forces ordered the batta-
lions of Minsk to retire.

"This retreat was effected so slowly, and in such per-
fect order, that not only all our wounded, but also some
of the wounded of the enemy, including two officers,
were carried off. The enemy in his pursuit having ap-
proached within range of the grapeshot of the guns of
the place and the musketry of the wall of defence, suf-
fered an enormous loss and took flight. Major-gene-
ral Tiinofeieff bears testimony to the valour displayed
by the whole Minsk Regiment, and particularly by
Major Yevsparloff, who commanded it ; Captain Lia-
pounoff, commander of the fourth battalion ; and Cap-
tains Commanders of companies Joukovsky, Matshe-
vitch ' • Lieutenant Vorobieff, Ensign Zagorovsky, and
Second-Captain Postolsky, Adjutant of the regiment,
who with his own hands spiked two guns, and who, hav-
ing been wounded in the arm, passed the spikes to Lieut.
Vorobieff."

"In addition to these details of the battle of the sth
of November, his Majesty the Emperor has also received
from Aide•de-Camp General Prince Meischikoff the two
following reports, dated the 12th of November : •

4 6 6 1.

"! Independently of the flattering words of your Impe-
rial Majesty to the army and the garrison of Sebastopol
--:-words which I transmitted by a special order of the,
day, in execution of your orders—Prince Galitzin, aide-
de-camp of your Imperial Majesty, has fulfilled with ex-
actitude themission confided to him. He went through
all the bastions and all the batteries where thiksailors are
stationed and fight. The thanks and encouragements of
the Sovereign of which Prince Galitzia had the honour
to be the bearer, addressed to these brave sailors in the
name of your Imperial Majesty, not only redoubled the
ardour, but also touched every one of them to the bottom
of his soul. They listened with tears of emotion to the
words of their Monarch and Father, full of solicitude for
his well-beloved children, as your Majesty deigned to ex-
'press yourself in the receipt with which you honoured
me on the 31st of this month.
It-was with an equal, sentiment of pious and 'grate-
, v- that the troops received the gift and' the
-
eielpfajestyr the Mmpresm—Afterirretigitilla
ceremony, the image of the Saviour, brought by Prince
Galitzin, was taken, accompanied by all the inhabitants
of the town, from the church of St. Michael to the
Nicholasßattery, and thence that holy image was taken,
with the appropriate religious ceremony, to all the
bastions and all the batteries, to bless the defenders of
them. All the men present, having listened with pious
attention to the address of the priest, prayed with fer-
vour, and went and kissed the hely image of the Saviour.
66 ' This image is now deposited in the locality pre-
pared for it near the entrance gate of the Nicholas
Battery.

ft <2.

" In my report, addressed to your Imperial Majesty
immediately after the great sortie from Sebastopol on
the sth of November, I bave.already had the honour to
bear testimony that their Imperial Highnesses the Grand
Dukes Nicholas Nicholaievitch and Michael proved
themselves upon the field of battle, not only in every
respect worthy of their high position by facing danger
with coolness, but they also set the example of the true
courage of the warrior. Their presence in the midst of
the fire excited all and each to fulfil their sacred duties
towards the Sovereign and the country.
" The troops intrusted to raycommand were witnesses
of this, and the intrepidity which they exhibited in the
battle, so obstinate on both sides, was caused by the
knowledge that the sons, so dear to the Monarch
and to Russia, were in our ranks, and that every one
ought to take example by their self-denial. In my
order of the day of the 10th of November I thought
it my sacred duty to recall to the recollection of the
troops these warlike virtues of the Grand Dukes, and I
took the liberty of saying that under the fire of the
enemy they had shown themselves to be brave Russian
soldiers.

" After having exhibited upon the field of battle the
full extent of their courage and coolness, the Grand
DUkes wished on that very day to visit the bastions
and the batteries, in order to bear in person to the brave
sailors the thanks of the monarch, in execution of your
orders. At this moment almost all the batteries were
in action, and particularly at the kourgan Malakhoff the
firing was so incessant that the whistling of the balls,
and even of the bullets from the carbines, was head by
the Grand Dukes along all the road leading to the
bastion. At the kourgan Malakhoff the enemy afforded
to the defenders of Sebastopol a precious opportunity to
join their proved courage with the first manifestation of
that of the well-beloved sons of Russia. In presence of
their Highnesses, and almost at their feet, two of the
'enemy's balls fell is the parapet ; a third, which reached
the wall separating two embrasures, covered the men at
the guns with earth ; and, lastly, as if to complete the
proof, a shell destroyed a building before their eyes,
while at a few paces from it their Highnesses were ani-
mating the combatants by the flattering words of your
Majesty.
" It would be useless to say that during all these in-
stants, which might have proved mortal to them, the
Grand Dukes showed themselves, I venture to repeat
it here, to be true determined Russian soldiers.

" Your Imperial Majesty would fill with joy the
whole army tinder my command by conferring upon their
Highnesses the order of military merit which iu thought
has been unanimously bestowed upon them by us. The
Order of St. George of the Fourth Class, for bravery, if
granted by your Majesty to their Highnesses, who have
justly merited it, would be hailed as a high and inesti-
mable mark of favour by all the troops under my com-
mand, who were witnesses of the courage and intrepidity
•f the Grand Dukes, in whose persons your Majesty, and
the whole of Russia, have the happiness and the right to
pride themselves and rejoice.'
" Such flattering testimony rendered by the Cotn•
mander-in-Chief to the warlike qualities displayed by his
youngest sons before the eyes of the whole army caused
sincere joy in the paternal heart of the Emperor. His
Imperial Majesty, in conformity with the proposal of
Aide-de-Camp-General Prince Menschikeff, has deigned
to confer upon their Imperial Highnesses the Grand
Dukes Nicholas Nicolaievitch and Michael Nicolaievitch
the Order of St. George of the Fourth Class."

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AND NEW SOUTH
WALES RAILWAY. '

The Australian papers received by the overland mail
show that the recent proposition of the Governor of
South Australia fur a railway of 1,000 miles, to connect
that colony with Victoria and New South Wales, at a
cost of 10,000,0001., the interest on which should be
gsarauteed by the Home Government, has awakened
much attention, and furnished a topic for prominent
discussion in the principal journals. Its practical un-
soundness, however, notwithstanding its dazzling
features, seems to have been recognised to a consider-
ab!o extent, and the Melbourne Argus and Adelaide
Tines both express their views of the hopelessness of
the scheme. In the latter paper it is observed :
" The message of Sir Henry Young to the local Legisla-
ture, forwarding copies of a despatch from his Excellency
to the Duke of Newcastle, containing suggestions for the
formation of a grand trunk line of railway connecting the
capitals of South Australia, New South Wales, and Vic-
toria, is before us. We fully recognise the paramount ad-
vantages certain to accrue to the Australian colonies from
the establishment of a cheap and speedy system of in-
tercommunication with their capitals, when such a system
can be accomplished with a due regard to the prospect of
an ultimate return ; but we trust we shall ever be found
in the ranks Of those opposing, by all means, the prosecu-
tion of chimerical designs, which, like that now under
consideration, can alone result in the retardment of that
prosperity which it is their object to promote. The axiom
about its being necessary to creep before commencing to
walk is applicable to all young colonies, and, as being
especially so to one whose career, up to the present period,
has been distinguished by the most rapid strides to-
wards permanent commercial prosperity, should be
borne in mind accordingly. Of the fatal results of an
opposite course of policy, it is greatly to be feared
that are long examples will not be wanting ; and it be-
hoves South Australia, as a means of retaining the posi-
tion she has reached, to act with circumspection, and to
regard with the utmost jealousy propositions of a public
character which, however apparently brilliant, may, too
late, be discovered to have been producitive of incalculable
mischief.
"At the very outset the great difficulty of raising so
large a sum by loan from the English Government, on the
terms set forth in the suggestions, appears to be insuper-
able, and can only be looked upon as a proposition which
will be dismissed without a moment's favourable conside-
ration. We should be asking the British Government to
guarantee a loan for the construction of the proposed works
immediately after having received from them the inesti-
mable boon of an unfettered control ever the enormous
and valuable territory of Crown lands which the Austra-
lian colonies contain within their limits. Apart, however,
from this consideration, we entertain strong doubts of the
disposition of the Governments of the sister colonies in
the matter, and perhaps any very elaborate speculation in
reference to it is as well delayed until their inelination to
co-operate has been ascertained."

MURDER AT MARTHILL, IN SCOTLAND.—A bnital and
unaccountable murder has been perpetrated at Maryhill,
in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. A man about fifty,
named John Welsh, who had been employed in watching
the surface works at Kelvinside ironstone pit, was found
lying in a state of insensibility from various recent and
severe wounds about the head. He was immediately
conveyed home, where consciousness gradually returned,
but upon a medical examination his wounds were found
to be of a fatal character ; and, as he appeared to be fast
sinking, his dying deposition was taken, which is said to
amount in substance to the following :—He was watch-
ing at the works at eight o'clock on Sunday evening,
when a young man, a coal drawer, named Alexander
Stewart, came to him and asked for a light of his pipe.
He gave him a light, and they talked together for some
time, when Stewart lifted one of the workmen's picks
from among a number, and in a half jesting mood said,
" John, would that kill a man ?" Welsh answered,
"Yes, and it would kill a horse'." Scarcely lead the
words been uttered when Stewart struck Welsh four
severe blows on the head, face, and neck with the pick,
levelling him to the ground in a state of insensibility,
and thus was he found as already described. The poor
man died from his wounds about four o'clock on Monday
1/49rninati-2.0414 Britiolt,