The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-23 00:00:00

from the northward was clearly perceptible, and
on two several occasions persons of high rank—
probably the Grand Dukes NICHOLAS and
MICHAEL, the younger sons of the AUTOCRAT—
were distinctly observed to have joined the Rus-
sian camp. It was subsequentlyascertained that the
4th corps d'armee, conveyed in carriages of the coun-
try, and in the lightest possible manner, had been
brought from Moldavia, and were to be immedi-
ately followed by the 3d corps—an arrangement
for which we are indebted to our kind friends the
Austrians, as we have explained in another
column.

Thus strengthened, and animated by the presence
of two of the sons of the Russian Demi-God, they
fondly anticipated a decisive triumph---supposing
that the besieging army was delivered into their
hands. The morning was favourable for their
purpose. Although desecrating the name of re-
ligion by invoking it ia so unrighteous a cause
they chose the Sabbath for their fierce attempt.
The night had been one of incessant wet, when,
in the Hibernian dialed`., it had rained "cats and
dogs," and there was little promise of a clearer
sky. We are told by tie English General, that
" the morning was extremely dark, with a drizzling
rain, rendering it almost impossible to discover
anything beyond the flash and smoke of artillery
and heavy musketry fire." Such was the time,
when strong columns of the enemy came upon our
advanced picquats. These picquets behaved with
admirable steadiness and presence of mind, de-
fending every step, well knowing that they would
speedily receive the required assistance. It is this
" invincible solidity," this miraculous steadiness,
for which the English troops are so remarkable.
It prooceds from a thorough reliance on them-
selves and their gallant comrades. They know
that they are links in a great chain, the failure of
any one of which would be fatal to the stability
of the whole. They knew that they would not
yield themselves, and they believed that their
companions would hasten to their assistance—a
confidence that has been ever fully warranted.
Our advanced guards strongly illustrated this
point. The foe had advanced under the shadow
of night, the
,gloom being increased by the murki-
ness of the atmosphere and the constant drizzling
of the rain. • The men had been greatly
fatigued from their unceasing toil. They
had, " for several weeks, undergone the
most constant labour. Many of them had
passed the previous night in the trenches."
Though thus to a certain extent unprepared for
the terrible onslaught they were not caught
napping. The picquets behaved with admirable
gallantry, defending the ground foot by foot
against the over-powering numbers of the enemy,
until the 2d Division, under the brave PENNE-
FATHER, marched to their aid. Others speedily
followed. The Light Division under BROWN, the
Ist Brigade led by CODRINGTON, the 2d by BUL-
LER, soon followed. Nor were the Guards, under
the Duke of CAMBRIDGE and BMITINCK, behind
hand ; while CATHCART, GOLDIE, and TORRENS
brought the 4th into action, supported by ENG-
LAND, and IlaurnELL, and EYRE with the 3d.
The gallant BOSQUET brought up his division of
Frenchmen, who " vied with the English in dis-
playing their gallantry and manifesting their
zealous devotion to duty." The attack was con-
tinued for more than eight hours. At length
the symptoms of giving way became apparent.
The retreat became general; and the enemy retired
" over the bridge of the Inkerman, abandoning
on the field of battle five or six thousand dead or
wounded, multitudes of the latter having already
been carried off by them I " Lord RAGLAN, who
had witnessed the fields of Leipsic and of Water-
loo, with many of the most trying contests of the
Peninsular war, feelingly remarks, " I never be-
fore witnessed such a spectacle as the field pre
rented "

Such was the battle of Inkerman, which has
added one of the most brilliant pages to the
military annals of Great Britain.