The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-04 00:00:00

A DESPATCII

TAL DUNDAS.

THE RUSSIANS AND THEIR FORTS IN
CIRCA SS lA.
We give the following copy of the return to an
ord,T of the House of Lords, dated Ist May, 1854,
for report by Vice-Admiral Dundas of the visit of
her Majety's steam-frigate Sampson and the
French frigate Cacique to the coasts of Georgia and
Circassia.

The coasts of Georgia and Circassia having been
reconnoitred by the Sampson and Cacique.
(No. 115.)—VICE-ADNIRAL DUNDAS TO THE SECRETARY Or
THE ADMIRALTY.
Britannia, in Beicos-bay, March 20, 1854.
Sir,—l beg to transmit, for the information of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty copies of letters
and enclosures I have received from Captain Jones of the
Sampson, who was detached, with the French steam-fri-
gate Cacique, by Admiral Hamelin and myself, to the
coasts of Georgia and Circassia, under orders, of which a
copy is enclosed. It was fortunate that the ships were
runnin,, along the coasts at the time and saw several of the
forts blown up and destroyed ; and, I am happy to add,
the officers of the combined squadron that landed were re•
ceived by the Circassians with open arms.--I have, &o.
(Signed) J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-Admiral.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
Enclosure No. 1 in Mediterranean Letter No. 115 of 1854.
VICE-ADMIRAL DUNDAS TO CAPTAIN JONES.
By J. W. D. Dundas, Esq., dtc., &c., &c.
You aro hereby required and directed to put to sea in
company with the French steam-frigate Cacique, and, in
conjunction with her, run along the coasts of Anatolia,
Georgia, Circassia, and the Crimea, reconnoitring Sebas•
topol, and then returning to this anchorage. The object
of this reconnoissance, in addition to the instructions you
have already received from me for your general guidance,
is to afford you an opportunity (as well as the officers who
accompany you for this special purpose) of narrowly ob-
serving the Russian lino of forts along the coasts of Georgia
and Circassia, and the Crimea, together with the facilities
of approaching them by sea and land. I need hardly point
out to you that the performance of this duty, particularly
at the present juncture, will require the most vigilant pre-
caution, and you are to be very careful to avoid incurring
any damage to your machinery by approaching the Russian
batteries, or a superior naval force.
Given on board the Britannia, Beicos Bay, March 8, 1854.
(Signed) J. W. D. DUNIIAS.
To Lewis T. Jones, Esq., Captain of H.M.S. Sampson.
By command of the Commander-in-Chief,
(Signed) D. J. SIMPSON, Secretary.
CAPTAIN JONES TO VICE-ADMIRAL DUNDAS.
H. M. S. Sampson, Beicos Bay 19th March, 1854.
Sir,--My general letter of ocee'din s with its enelos
sures, will be found insufficient detail to the evening
aa ts
tt hofe Pas s of f
of Wednesday, the 15th Ven we finished the observations
ofa day
otoheeof
oagrihhetatoveintg madhe
toa Crecoapenncooisn:
Con-
stantine, a distance Georgiaof 100 miles,ro and then company with
the Cacique stopped for the night; but the proceedings of
the 16th call for a more special report. 16th March.—At
dawn of day, being then abreast of Point Darks, lat. 430
33', long. 39° 50', and about four miles off shore,
shortly after getting in motion to proceed northward, and
resume the reconnoissance of the coast, a small steamer
was seen ahead, distant about seven miles, running along
shore to the southward ; presently she stopped, and then
put her head the other way, and proceeded with all speed
to the northward. At nearly the same time the steam of
four steamers was seen off Sotcha Bithe, and the vessels at
7 a.m. were clearly made out, and, with the assistance of
Mr. Elcock, their character known. They are each of 750
tons, 160 horse-power, and with two short 68-pounders aft,
and four carronades, one on each broadside forward, and
one abaft. The first steamer seen now joined the other four,
and placed himself close to the shore, the two most northerly
weighed and shifted, apparently with the view of leaving
the batteries clear, the whole forming a line along shore
with heads towards the beach, and prepared for action ;
but from the hurried manner of shifting were in great
confusion, and, had it been our intention to attack, were
very assailable. The Fort of Narvaginshoe which com
mands this anchorage, is well built, loop-he ei wall, with
towers at each angle of the fort, mounting aeout twenty
guns altogether. The vessels being now in their own port,
and under their batteries, it did not seem that we could
make further demands upon them, but that all require-
ments were fulfilled ; and, therefore, having finished our
reconnoissance of the place, and as these vessels, in fact,
having, so far as returning to port, complied with any re-
quisitions I could make, I proceeded along shore to the
northward. At nine, observed a Russian transport at
anchor off Fort Lazaret, with boats employed about her ;
and, ten miles further ahead, another transport in tow of
a steamer. As we approached Fort Golovin, observed it
to be on fire in several places, and numbers of the country
people employed carrying away plunder. As we came up
abreast of the fort, the Circassians quitted the place ; but
as we passed on without molesting them, they returned
to their work. 10.30, observed the Russian steamer, now
about five miles a-head, to cast off the barque,and pros
coed with all speed for the fort of Viliamino, the barque
making sail on the starboard tack to a breeze from the
northward. 11.45 a.-m., being alongside the transport,
and abreast of Nohopse, stopped, and sent Lieutenant
Robinson and Mr. Elcock to ascertain the character
of the vessel. The name of the transport is Tototaii
on her stern ; she is commanded by a lieutenant
of the Russian navy; had 150 troops on board,
and bound for Gelenjik with the soldiers. He states
that Golovin was garrisoned by 300 men, who were em-
barked by the Russian steamers at midnight of the 15th,
and the fort was then destroyed ; that the names of four
of the Russian steamers at Sotcha Bithe are Malrdemety,
Crimea, Rersenesse, and Odessa, but that he does not
know the name of the other steamer. The name of the
steamer towing him is the Bogitz. 12.10. Observed a
tremendous explosion at Fort Golovin, and shortly after
another, apparently 10 or 12 miles south of it. 1.30 p.m.
Passed Fort Viliamino, where the steamer Bogitz and two
transports were at anchor, and busily employed trans-
shipping stores between themselves and the shore • passed
on, and at 5.30 p.m., running up to reconnoitre the Bay of
Pschad and Fort Norvalrerski, the place was observed to
be on fire, and the people of the country retiring inland as
we approached. Made signal to Cacique—" Intend to
anchor ;" and at 5.30 p.m. came to in 7 fathoms at about
1,50) yards from the shore. Captain Brock having volun-
teered to attempt communicating with the people of the
country, I gave him a cutter, and he, with Mr. Elcock
and Lieutenant Stanton, royal engineers, pulled rapidly
in, and, by signs and waving of the flag, induced the
people to come down to the beach. The country people
rejoiced when it became known that we were friends,
and by every demonstration of esteem and respect wel-
comed the English and French to the shore. It ap-
pears from the account of the chief that the Russians
had abandoned the fortress the preceding day, and
that the Circassians set it on fire ; and the chief also
states, that the Russians intend abandonding all their
forts, excepting Soukhoum Kalek, Gelenjik, Soujah, and
napa ; and this seems to be perfectly correct, from the
fires anti explosions we had previously.seen. The captain
of the Cacique deeming this news most highly important,
and my views being perfectly in accordance with his, I
determined to reconnoitre the three remaining forts on the
coast of Circassia as early as possible the next day, and
then forthwith proceed to join your flag, giving up Schaffa
and Sevastopol, which must have detained us 24 hours.
Accordingly, on 17th, Geleujik, Soujah, and Anapa were
reconnoitred. We then stretched across the entrance of
the Straits of Kutech, passed within 6 miles of the light-
house of Takli, and then shied course for the Bosphorus.
Al daylight of the 13th were off Cape Aitoder, with Ker-
sonese in sight. Reverting to the proceedings of the 17th,
after examining the fort of Gelenjik, and while running
close along shore for Soujah, a strange steamer was seen
ahead, distant 10 miles. He appeared to be about the size
of the other five, but differently equipped ; the funnel very
long, like some of our merchant screw-steamers, and
close before the mainmast As soon as he saw us,
he stopped ; and when we had closed about six miles,
he turned round, and with all speed proceeded back
to Soujah Bay, from whence he causes n
d anchored
under the walls of the town ; and, as nothing more
could be extracted from him, we pursued the course
for Anapa. The result of this examination has discovered
seven small Russian steamers and four transports em-
ployed organising the garrisons along the coast ;
a nieces.
sion of extremely well built forts, most of which are pro-
bably now destroyed ; a coast easily approa
summer anchable, the
soundings generally good, and several good -
chorages. The bays of Paschad and Pitsounda
resh w ater. seem very
promising, and each have a good supply of f
My own observations,
as we passed the coast of Georgia
and Circassia, together with those of the master of this
ship, Mr. Forbes, and those of Lieutenant M'Arthur,
R.M.A , are sent herewith in their original form, and will,
afford a. first view impression of this interesting coast ; but
the more elaborately finished reports of Captain Brock,
R.N., and Lieutenant Stanton, R.E., will be sent to you
direct, when ready, and will put you in possession of the
general and minute features of the country and forts, the
latter of which are tea Nrobably in ruins. The early in•
telligence of this Russian movement on the coast of Cir-
cassia, will, trust, be of sufficient importance to exone-
rate mo in passing Schaffa and Sevastopol, all other places
mentioned in your orders having been visited. —I have, Icc.,
_ (Signed) Ise T
JoNes, Captain.