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

TTTI SUNS LONDON,, TUURSDAT EVENTNG, NOVEMBER

he bells of Sebastopol were heard sounding the tocsin.

Towards three in the morning the Russian batteries be-
fore the town opened a feadul fire upon the French ad-
vanced works and at the rear of Balakla.va. Theeneray
brought forward a large force of infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, apparently with the intenti.n of menacing
that place. This, it was discovered, ere long was but
a feint to occupy the French position under General
Bosquet, which, later in the day, took part in the battle.

The real point of attack was upon the British position,
which, as will be seen, was assaulted in face and on the

right flank.
At daybreak (that is, at six o'clock) the alarm was

given in the British cansp that the Russians had surprised
our advanced pickets, an 4 were already in posso,sion of
all the heights which commanded our position. The
whole army stood to arms without delay. Presently, a

Russian battery appeared upon the crest of the height,

known as Shell-hill, near Careening Bay, whilst columns
of infantry were descried already descending the hills, or

marching up the ravines, which, it will be observed on
reference to the map, face the front of the British posi-

Lien. The most serious attack of the Russians, was, how.
ever, directed against the flank of the British army along
the heights which I have described as running parallel to
the valley of Cheimaya. The ascent from the valley had
been already effected by the enemy before the alarm had
been given. The greatest credit is due to the Russian

general who concerted this bold plan of attack, and to
the troops who carried it out, though subsequently re-

pulsed. The greatest blame must be attached
to the picket to which the key of the British position

was entrusted. The Russians had in the dark of the

night dragged their guns, consisting of 32 and 24-
pounders to the base of Shell-bill, and at daybreak bad

taken possession of that position. Their infantry at

the same time had remained concealed in the valley, and

had partially ascended the heights to the right flank
before their presence had been dreamed of by our
pickets. One picket, it is whispered, fell into the hands
of the enemy. The Russians were favonred in their
dangerous enterprise by the fog and mist, which lasted
until noon.

At the time the alarm was given the Russians
had possession of the heights, from whence their
artillery at once opened a fearful fire upon the en-
campment, and had, moreover, established their
infantry in every favourable position. The 2d British
division, under Brigadier• General Pennefather (Sir De

Lacy Evans was sick on board ship, but arrived later in
the day on the field of battle), with the light division

under Sir G. Brown, at once advanced to check the

progress of the Russian columns advancing in the front.
. _

The Duke of Cambridge proceeded with the Guards (the

Highland brigade was entrusted with the defence of

Baraklava) to repulse the flank attack of the enemy.

The 4th division, under the gallant Sir George Cathcart,
divided itself partly to assist the Guards, whilst the re-
mainder reinforced the light and 2d divisions. Two regi-

ments of the 3d division were alone actively engaged,
viz., the Royals and the 50th. The entire force which

the British mustered to defend their ♦ast front and flank

lines was confined to the following. The remainder of
the army were in the trenches, prepared to oppose any

attack upon the siege batteries :

Guards, about
2d Division, about 2,500
Light Division, about l,OOO
4th Division 2,200
3d Division
The odds were therefore frightful, and it was only three
hours later that General Boequet opportunely arrived
with his splendid division (5,000 strong), the same which
had fought with us at the Alma.

The Russians in the front had now advanced to within
500 yards of the encampment, and the action commenced.

The musketry fire was awful, and the enemy, who had
now guns upon every favourable position, hurled shell
and round shot at our advancing lines. The enemy's

cilumns continued to push forward, trying to overwhelm
the British regiments with their superior numbers.
Discharges took place here at ten and fifteen paces,

and gradually the conflict became a band-to-hand one.

The Russians would push on, covered with their supe-
rior fire, and were met and driven back at the point of
the bayonet. Concentrating their massive columns, they
would in their turn bear down with the steel upon the
weak British lines, and then a fearful struggle, 'would
ensue. In every ravine a separate action was going on.
One British regiment was making face against a column
of 4,000 or 5,000 Russians, sometimes surrounded and

having to bayonet its way from the pressing foe, at
aller times driving back the enemy like a flock of
sheep, and then in its turn being repulsed from sheer
want of strength. Thus did the contest continue for
three hours. The loss here was necessarily great,

from the personal nature of the contests.

British►

bayonets and the Millie alone sustained this un-

equal struggle, where every mounted officer was either
killed, or lust one or two horses. Our officers did great
havoc, when surrounded in the melee, with their revolv-

ers, and many had to cut their way out at the point of
the sword. Brigadier-Gencral Pennefather coumunded

here with great coolness. Front the nature of the
ground no generalship could prevail. It is alone to the
undying pluck of the officers and the men that we are
indebted for preservation. To the survivors generally
not the slightest credit for the display of any miltary
talent is due. It was essentially a struggle between
pluck and confidence against obstinacy backed by num-
bers. Whilst the
,contest was thus going on in the front,
towards the flank it was no less severe. At the right
angle formed by the heights, and slanting off along the
course of the Chernaya, a small battery having embra-
sures for twoguns had been constructed by our engineers.
This was the only defence erected to secure the flank of
our army from an attack.

Sir De Lacy Evans had repeatedly pointed out the
unprotected nature of the position, but his sound views
were apparently not entertained elsewhere. This small
work, called " Sandbag battery," bad only been es.
tablished when the enemy had erected some threatening
work in the direction of the Inkerman. Upon the Rus-
sians discontinuing these works, the two 18-pounders
which had been mounted on Sandbag battery were taken
away, and the battery left without guns. The Russians
in great strength now assailed this redoubt and the line
of heights flanking the valley. The Guards advanced to
repel them, and a dreadful struggle took place. Four
times were the Guards driven from the battery, and four
times did they repulse the enemy and regain their posi-
tion. More than half of the Guards who entered action
fell here, but around them lie heaps of the enemy. About
this redoubt alone not less than 1,500 Russian
corpses have been counted. At Alma, on the hill where
was constructed the murderous redoubt, the number of
Russian corpses was horrible to behold. The confined
space surrounding this redoubt at Inkerman was still
more sickening to witness. The killed were literally
heaped one upon another, and I remarked that most
were shot through the head. The position of the Guards
became every instant more critical. Fresh masses of
the enemy had advanced between their lines and the
second division, thus taking them in the rear. Pressed
by this new foe, the Guards prepared to fall back,
contesting every inch of ground, when another Rus-
sian column, which had ascended the height below
their position, now attacked them on the flank.

They were thus simultaneously assaulted in the
rear and right flank. Nothing remained but to
break their way through at the point of the
bayonet. The Russians evidently considered the

Guards either doomed to destruction or to capture, for

they gave a tremendous cheer, or rather a drunken yell,
which was taken up by the whole Russian army, and

sustained for fully ten minutes. The Guards, undaunted
by their horrible position, back to back fought their way
out of the surrounding masses, and were now rejoined
by part of the 4th division (the twentieth part of the
63d, and two companies of the 46th), under Sir George
Cathcart. Another of the fearful hand-to-hand strug.
files which characterised this sanguinary day again took
place at this spot. Opposed to these 1,800 English-
men were more than 9,000 Russians, animated with
great courage, and confident in their superior num-
bers. Our troops met the attack, and the bayonet
or butt-end of the musket repelled the foe when the
closeness of the quarters prevented the use of fire-arms.
Sir George Cathcart was at the head of his men, en-
couraging them with his undaunted bravery, when a
bullet struck him in the breast, breaking, it is said, a
little cross of the Bath, attached to a ribbon round his
neck. Sir George continued.to advanc,2 and when at
five paces from the enemy a second bullet struck him
mortally, and the brave old hero fell dead from his horse.
His body was recovered mutilated with bayonet wounds.
Colonel Charles Seymour, assistant-adjutant-general to
the 4th division, fell by the side of Sir George, sl.o,
through the heart. The Russians had the brutality
also to transfix the body three times with the bayonet.
Major Maitland, deputy-assistant adjutant-generab
received at the same time a severe wound. After a
rigid struggle against the superior number of the
eaemy,w lio was bringing up fresh battalions every
instant, a welcome sight offered itself to our brave
men. On the crest of the hill dashed the well-known red
garments of the Zouaves, and before the enemy had re-
eovered from his surprise at this timely succour to our
veakened lines, these splendid soldiers were amongst
.
them. Then advancing at pas de charge alorg the ridge
of the heights flanking the valley, appeared a strong

column of French infantry (chiefly of the Foreign Legion).
The Russians, wearied already at the deadly struggle
they had sustained with our little band, drew back, and
the musketry, which the French now poured in in-
cessantly, took frightful effect in their confused ranks.
The English and French drove them to the redoubt.
and down the hill into the valley below. Several stands
were made by the Russians, and it was not until
four in the afternoon that the route was complete.
I must now return to the Russian attillery which
was dealing out destruction to the Britisle lines defend-
ing the front against the repeated assaults made upon it.
islyacconnt of this murderous battle is sadly diffuse, but
so also was the action. It was not an attack upon one
given point, but every portion of the lines. Every ra-
vine, every hill witnessed its fray. Not one regiment
was aaseire of what the remainder of the army was doing.
Upon the height known as Shell-hill the Russians had
established a battery of 32-pound guns, which, besides
shelling our artillery, swept the encampment of the 2d
division, with the view tef checking the arrival of succour,
in men or ammunition. I beard an artillerymen observe
that so fierce was the cannonade in this direction, that,
when sent to fetch up ammunition, he had felt it a re-
lid to return to his battery, notwithstanding the fire
directed against it. Our artillery speedily took up posi-
tion, and sustained, with fierce courage, the unequal
contest in which they were engaged ; 9-pound guns
were easily disproportionate to 32 and 24 pounders.
Beyond Shell-hill the enemy had another heavy bat-
tery, and on every favourable position were field-
pieces. A strong Russian column had advenced on
the road leading into the second division camp,
having evidently lost its way in the fag. The Rus-
sians came suddenly upon Major Townsend's battery,
which was responding to the fire of Shell-bill, and
finding the guns unsupported by infantry, they
fell upon them, The gunners had time to spike one
gun before they were driven back, and the Russians at-
tempted to disable two others by driving wood into one
and clay into the other. Having effected this, the
column, evidently panic-struck, retired hastily on a few
shots being poured into them from some companies of in-
fantry which had hastened to the spot. While this was
occurring, poor Major Townsend Jost his life, a fragment
of shell mutilating his head. Captain Miller dashed in
amongst the Russians around the guns, killed one, rode
over another, and was instrumental in rescuing the
pieces. The guns were again rendered serviceable, and
took a part in the contest until the end. In the front, the
second (light) and part of the fourth division, with the
Royals and the 50th, gallantly maintained their ground
against the obstinate assaults of the enemy. To-
wards four o'clock a decided change took place in
the respective positions of the belligerents. The
Russians had been routed on the right flank
and rendered inoffensive ; the French pushed on,
and bore down upon the flank of the Russian force in
front. The Russians then commenced retreating along
that portion of the line followed up by the British and
French. Colonel Dickson, R.A., with great judgment,
brought up two IS-pounders, which he placed near
Sandbag battery, and opened fire upon the Russian 32-
pounders. The practice of these guns was really splen-
did. The whole crest of Shell-hill is torn up with shot
and shell. More than thirty dead artillery horses were
lying amongst dismounted tumbrels and dead or
wounded artillerymen. Upon witnessing the retreat of
their infantry, the Russians limbered up all their guns,
and dispersed in various direc ions. The infantry,
thus unsupported by artillery, quickened their re-
treat, pursued by the French. Our brave fellows
were fatigued to death by this unequal contest of
eight hours. Our cavalry was brought up at this
time—vrith what object I really cannot attempt. to fa-
thom.
The hilly nature of the ground, covered as it is
besides with bushes, would have rendered any cavalry
contest hopeless. The French now brought up five field.
pieces, which they planted upon Shell-hill, and hurled
shot and shell at the flying Russians in the plain below.
For two hour.; the pursuit continued, and at six
o'clock pen. the battle of Inkerrnan terminated. Instant
attention was given to the wounded of both armies, but
I regret to say that the Russian ships in the harbour
had the barbarity to shell our men, although they were
occupied in the generous task of carrying up their own
people. Above 500 prisoners are in our hands—rather
an unwelcome burden. The Rifles were engaged in the
ravines during the whole action, and displayed that
bravery and enterprise which we are accustomed to ex-
pect from that distinguished corps. The battle once
gained, and the enemy repulsed, it becomes a melan-
choly task to record the bitter losses sustained by the
British army, and I doubt if ever in modern warfare so
many general ofl•'icers have fallen in one action.

Whilst the battle was ragiag along the British lines,
a column of Russians issued from Sebatopol and at-
tacked the French batteries, marching up to the very
trenches. When arrived at this point, the French force
in the reloubts gave them one fearful volley, and the
Russians, *heeling round, fled for the 'town. 'l4,e
French pursued the fugitives with the bayonet, and en-
tered the town together with the latter. Had this attack
been supported, perhaps part of the town might have
fallen into the hands of the ailics.

THE WINTERING IN THE CRIMEA DETER-

111INED ON.

A counoil of war, presided over by Lord Raglan, was
held on the 7th, when it was determined to winter in
the Crimea.

Several changes in the position of our army will be
effected. The second division will be incorporated with
the first.

The 4Gth Regiment has arrived.
A conimitttee of inquiry has been established, to as-
certain the conduct of the Russians to our wounded.
According to all accounts, their behaviour was barba-
rous. Many of our wounded were bayoneted on the
ground.

The Russians are expecting still larger reinforcements,
and another action will most probably be fought ere
long.

Sir G. Brown is going on well, and will return to his
division before long. A. false alarm was raised last
night, and the 4th division was under arms the whole
night. Brigadier-General Buller commanded that divi-
sion temporarily. The 2d division camp presents a re-
markable aspect. The tents are literally riddled with
shell and round shot. Several of the commissariat cattle
were killed, as likewise many horses. The loss of the
army is stated to-day to be 2,350 killed and wounded.

( Prom the Patrie. )
" The details which we receive are most honourable
for our arms. The allied troops, although inferior in
number, have gained a signal victory over the Russians
who attacked us on the two extreme points of our posi-
tion before Sebastopol. At the extreme right 45,000
Russians, under favour of a thick fog, attacked tl:e
English division which occupied the point of Inkerman.
The let and 2d French divisions came to the assistance
of the English, and to the number of from 5,000
or 6,000 held ground for more than two hours. Onr
bravo soldiers mixed with the English battalions and
then attacked the Russians at the point tf the bayonet.
There was complete enthusiasm en our side. The Rus-
sians left the field of battle covered with their dead. It
was literally impossible to walk without stepping over
them. The number of Russians, killed, wounded, or
prisoners, was 9,000. Several artillery waggons fell
into our hands. Our loss amounts to 1,736 killed or
wounded, of whom 24 officers were killed. On the extreme
left a sortie from the garrison of from 5,000 to 6,000
men also favoured by the fog, attacked oar trenches and
penetrated into two of our batteries ; but the guards
of the trenches, under the command of General de la
Mothe Rouge, repulsed' them, and General Forey
arriving with his division, compelled the enemy to
retreat. It was then that General de Lonrnel, pur-
suing the Russians with ardour, advanced close un-
der the walls of the town. He was seriously wounded,
and died soon after. The brigade retired under the fire
of the place, protected by the brigade of General
d'Aurelle. In this sortie the enemy left 1000 men in
our hands, killed or wounded. We had not a single
gun spiked, and the siege works were not at all injured.
General Canrobert received a contusion io the arm ; bad
it been a centimetre further the bone would have been
broken. He always wished to be the first in the fire.
The English were admirable from their unshakeable
coolness ; and our soldier, showed a vigour and enthu-
siasm b,?yond all praise. A great number made them-
selves remarkable by a valour which was truly heroic.
At the attack on the right our field artil!ery did wonders.
Composed of two mounted batteries, under the orders of
Commandant La Bou,siniiire, and of two mounted bat
teries, under Commandant Barra], it kept up a fire
during the whole day, in presence of the Russian artil-
lery, which was much more nu mere us."

General Bentinck has arrived in the Caradoc. He is
ykry badly wounded in the arm. The Mauritius has
just arrived NI WI wounded.
The Protestant Sisters (charitable nuns) and hospital
nurses may be seen about Scutari discharging their
truly cnaritable an 1 harrassing duties, each wearing an
apron and band, with " Scutari hospital" embroidered
up9n it.
The rectory of Charlwood, near Reigate, in the dio-
cese of Winchester, has become vacant by the death tit
the Rev. Stainer James Porten, M.A. The benefice,
which is worth NM a year, is in private patronage.

THE SICK AND WOUYDED AT SCUTARI.

SCUTARI, NO7. 10. —As compared with the arrange-
ments of our great hospitals at home, it is not difficult to
find many omissions and defects in the hospitals here,
but they are no longer of so serious a character as for-
merly, and they are daily diminishing in number. It is
therefore to be hoped that henceforward both our sol-
diers and their anxious friends at home may have the
consolation of knowing that whatever can be done for
the relief of the sick and wounded will be done as
promptly and well as the exigencies of war render
possible. The sensation created at home by the state-
ments published in the newspapers has already re-acted
most beneficially here, and brings an increased number
of willing bands to bear in the administration of medical
relief. If nothing else had resulted from it beyond the
!lumber of additional surgeons sent out by the
Vectis, the aid thus afforded far outweighs any tempo-
rary inconveniences that may have arisen to the service.
Among the passengers by that steamer were Dr. Cum-
ming, who comes out hero as Inspector-General of Hos-
pitals, and Mr. Maxwell, a barrister, who has been asso-
ciated with Dr. Cumming and Dr. Spence by the Duke
of Newcastle, and commissioned to inquire into the
alleged want of medical aid fir the sick and wounded
efter the battle of the Alma. Besides the medical offi-
cers, the Vectis brought out here Miss Nightingale and
forty nurses, carefully selected with a view to efficienc3
in attending on the sick and wounded. Suitable accom
modation has been provided for them in a tower at one
of the corners of the Barrack Hospital, and they are now
actively and usefully engaged in the discharge of their
duties. The employment of female aid in this way was
tried once before in our army and feilei, and many
experienced officers are doubtful as to the success of this
renewed attempt, but in the French service it answers
admirably, and there seems no sound reason why those
who, in the popular belief, as in the poets' language, art-
" ministering angels" by the bed of sickness and death
should, on fair trial, be found wanting now. The public,
ever ready to appreciate acts of devotion, will watch
with lively interest the progress of such an experiment.
In great hospitals, containing at the present moment
upwards of 3,000 patients, there are an immense num•
ber of wants to supply, unobjectionable in themselves,
and which tend to assuage strffering, though it is impos-
sible for any Government establishment, however well
organised, to anticipate them. Such, for example, have
been the objects of Lady Stratford de Redcliffe's bene-
volent visits to the sick and wounded, both at Scutari
and Therapia. In the same spirit, for the last few days,
Mr. Stafford, M.P., might be seen busily engaged in
writing letters to the dictation of poor exhausted soldiers
too prostrate to do so themselves, yet anxious to com-
municate with their friends at hone. The Hon. and
Rev. Sidney Godolphin Osborne, accompanied by his
son, has come out here with a noble philanthropy to
tender his services, not only as a minister of reli-
gion, but as having a knowledge of surgery to help
in curing the body also. In both capacities, but
especially in that which is more strictly his call-
ing, he :has already made himself very useful.
A visit to the well-conducted hospital for seamen and
marines at Therapia enables one to see the beneficial in-
fluence of books and newspapers in diverting the mind,
of invalids, and warding off those anxious thoughts about
themselves which are so apt to retard the recuperative
energy of the constitution. This want has been, I under-
stand, anticipated by the Duke of Newcastle, and a
library of the cheap railway literature is said to be on its
way out here. .

There are at Scutari two hospitals, one called the
General and the other the Barrack Hospital, standing
at no great distance from each other, both of a rectangu-
lar form, with an open square in the centre, and both
well lighted and airy, having spacious galleries and side
rooms off them adapted to serve as wards ; so that upon
the whole the manner in which the invalids are housed
is better than could be expected. The berme!,
hospital is the larger building of the two, so large,
indeed, that, though it contains the greater number of
patients, a portion of it only is set apart for that purpose,
the rest being used as a depot for troops. The space left
vacant by a draught of 600 men sent off yesterday to
the Crimea, and of convalescents who leave to-morrow
for Malta, will be filled up by the wounded now arriving
in great numbers from Sebastopol. Yesterday morning,
before any of those poor fellows had come in, there were
2,650 patients in the two hospitals, of whom 905 were
Russians, 11 being officers. Our wounded enemies re-
ceive precisely the same treatment as our own people,
and great care has been taken by the authorities that
every attention practicable under the circumstances is
paid to them.
The fdlowing authentic list, made up to yesterday,
of the sick and wounded officers in hospital at Scutari,
will tend to relieve the anxiety of friends at home. It.
will be perceived thereby, that up to that date there
were no less than 73 of them, and that number will now
be largely augmented :
Captain Franklin, Royal Artillery
Lieutenant Leete, 28th
Ensign Lewis
Ensign Harcourt, 30th
Ensign Bennett, 331
Captain Gould, 63d
Captain Barclay
Lieutenant Spurcoat, 93d
Lieutenant King, 13th Light Dragoons
Lieutenant Legrew, Staff
Lieutenant Moseley, 42 severely wounded
Lieutenant Baker, Se.its Fusilier Guards, severely
wounded
Lieutenant Webb, 4th Dragoon Guards
Captain Bruce, 23d
Lieutenant Currie, 6th Dragoons
Captain Booth, 4th Dragoon Guards
• Lieutenant Bailey, 19th
Lieutenant Gunter, 4th Dragoon Guards, severely
wounded
Lieutenant Morgan, 4th Light Dragoons
Captain Stewart, 41st
Lieutenant Hemming, 88th
Quartermaster Benham, 20th
Assistant-Surgeon Cootes, 26th
Captain Sykes, let Dragoons, severely wounded
Captain King, 55th
Captain O'Brien, 30th
Captain Cooper, 44th
Lieutenant Dowbiggin, 4th Dragoons
Lieutenant Vandelore, Royal Horse Artillery
Veterinary Surgeon Byrne, 4th Dragoon Guards
Lieutenant Redcliffe, 88th, severely wounded
Lieutenant Carpenter, 7th, severely wounded
Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders, 19th
Ensign Siree, 33d, severely wounded
Ensign Armstrong, 55th
Major Heyland, 95th
Captain Wing, 95th
Lieutenant Bradford, 44th
Lieutenant Hartop, let Dragoons
Lieutenant Houghton, 11th Hussars
Captain Atcherley, 30th
Ensign Fraser, 63d
A. G. Finley, Staff Assistant-Surgeon
Lieutenant Clarke, 21st
Dr. Gilborne, R.A.
Lieutenant Trevelyan, 11th Hussars
Captain Brown, severely wounded, 44th
Captain White, severely, 17th Lancers
Captain Hutton, 4th Dragoons
Major Cootz, 53d
Captain Maude, severely wounded, R.H.A.
Lieutenant Harriett, 41st
Lieutenant Clutterbuck, severely, Sth Hussars
Captain Morri., severely, 17th Lancers
Major M'Pherson, 42d
Lieutenant Wallace, 33d
A. G. Manifold, 67th
Captain Jones, 7th
Major Gough, 33d
Captain Watson, 7th
Major Whimper, 55th
Ensign Carle, 49th
Lieutenant Clair, 21st
Captain Coney, 7th
Lieutenant Boothby, 95th, leg off
Captain Cambell, Royal Dragoons
Lieutenant Elmsall, Royal Dragoons
Hon. G. Neville, sth Dragoons
Lieutenant Carrie, 23d
Lieutenant Harrison, 79th
Dr. Gordon, 95th
Dr. Poulton, 75th
Dr. Woods, 23d
From a carefully-prepared return it appears that there
has been an aggregate of 534 deaths in the hospitals at
Scutari since the 21st of September. Of these 7 have
been British officers, 5 -Russian officers (one of them a
general), 26 Russian soldiers, and 5 women. It will
also be observed that on the 21st of September, before
any wounded men had been brought here from the
Crimea, the number of deaths was nearly as great as it
has been since.
The disembarkation of the wounded here yesterday
was conducted with great regularity and care. It was,
indeed, a painful spectacle to see the struggling proces-
sion of emaciated, crippled, and bandaged men slowly
mount the hill, but a certain amount of pleasure beamed
in most of their war-worn faces at reaching a resting-
place where surgical aid, attention to their more firessing
wants, and, above all, the chances of recovery, await
them. A list of the officers who have arrived will be
forwarded by the next mail.

1854.

GENERAL CANROBERT'S ACCOI)AT OF

THE BATTLE'.

(Front the Moniteur.)
,The Marshal Minister of War has just received
from the General Commanding-in-Chief the Army
of the East, the following report :
HEAD-QUARTERS—BEFORE SEBASTOPOL,

Nov. 7, 1854.
Monsieur le Mar(Schal—l have the honour to confirm
to you my telegraphic despatch, dated Nov. 6, and thus
worded :---"The Russian army, swelled by reinforce-
ments coming from the Danube, and by the reserves
collected in the southern provinces, and animated by the
presence of the Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas,
yesterday attacked the right wing of the English posi-
tion before the place. The English army sustained the
combat with the most remarkable firmness. I caused it
to be supported by the division of General Bosquet,
which fought with admirable vigour, and by the troops
nearest at hand. The enemy, far more numerous than
we, beat a retreat with enormous loss, estimated at 8,000
or 9,000 men.

" This obstinate struggle lasted the whole day. On
my left, General Forey had to repel at the same time a
sortie of the garrison. The troops, energetically con-
ducted by him, drove the enemy back into the place,
and inflicted on him a loss of a thousand men. This
brilliant day, not purchased without loss by the Allies,
does the greatest honour to our arms."

The action, summarily expressed by the despatch
given above, was one of the hottest and most violently
contested. From the very first musket shots that were
fired the deserters that came over to us revealed the
true state of the Russian army with respect to its effec-

tive strength, and we were enabled to calculate the re-
inforcements it has sutcessively received since the battle
of the Alma. These are —lst, some contingents from
the Asiatic coast, from Kertch and Kaffa ; 2dly, six
battalions and some detachments of marines from Nice-
; 3dly, four battalions of the Cossacks of the Black
Sea ; 4thly, a great part of the army of the Danube ;
10thly, llthly, and 12thly, some divisions of infantry,
forming the 4th corps, commanded by General Dannen-
berg. These three divisions were transported by post-
horses, with their artillery, from Odessa to Simpheropol
in a few days. Finally arrived the Grand Dukes
\lichael and Nicholas, whose presence could not fail to
over-excite this army, which forms, with the garrison of
Sebastopol, a total of at least 100,000 men.
It was in this condition that 45,000 men of this
army surprised the point of the heights at Inker-
man, which the English army had not been able to
occupy with sufficient forces. Only 6,000 English took
part in the action, the remainder being employed on
the siege works ; they valiantly sustained the shock
until the moment when General Bosquet, arriving with
a part of his division, could lend them such aid as might
ensure success. One hardly knows which most to praise,
the energetic firmness with which our allies braved for
a long time the storm, or the intelligent vigour dis-
played by General Bosquet, when conducting a part
of the brigades Beurbaki and d'Autemarre, in order
to attack the enemy, who extended beyond them on
their right.
The 3d Regiment of Z3uaves, under the chefs de bat-
! taillon Montaudon and Dubos, there justified most
signally the old reputation of the arm. The Algerine
Rifles (tirailleurs), Colonel de Wimpffen ; a battalion of
the 7th Light Infantry, Commander Vaissier ; the 6th
Regiment of the Line, Colonel do Camas, vied with
them in ardour. Three times they crossed bayonets
with the enemy, who only yielded ground after the third
charge, upon which he left it strewed with his dead and
wounded. The Russian heavy artillery and their field-
pieces were very superior in number, and had a com-
manding .position. Two horse batteries, Commander
le In Boussiniere, and one battery of the 2d Division
of Infantry, Commander Barral, the whole under the
orders of Colonel Forgeot, sustained, concurrently
with the English artillery, the struggle during the
entire day.

The enemy decided on beating a retreat, leaving behind
more than 3,0A0 dead, a very large number of wounded,
a few hundred prisoners, as well as powder cbests, in the
hands of the Allies. His losses in the gross aggregate
cannot be put down at less than from 8,000 to 10,000
men.

While these events were taking place on the right,
about 5,000 men of the garrison made a vigorous sortie
on the left of our attack siege line, under cover of a thick
fog and along the ravines that facilitate their approach.
the troops on duty in the trenches, under the orders of
Gen. de laMotterogue, marched against the enemy, who
'mad already invaded two of our batteries, and repulsed
:dm, killing more than 200 men on the site of these bat-
teries.
Lieut.-General Furey, commanding the siege corps,
arrived by rapid and skilful evolutions with the troops
,f the Fourth Division to the support of the guards in
the trenches, and himself marched at the head of the sth
battalion of the Chasseurs b. pied. The Russians, re-
pulsed along the whole line, retired precipitately on the
[ratification, with considerable loss, when General Lour-
inel seeing them fly before him, and carried away
'my a chivalrous courage, flung himself headlong
in their rear with his brigade, and fell wounded under
the very walls of the fortification. General Furey bad
much difficulty in extricating hint from the very ad-
vanced position to which, yielding to the impulse of
superabundant courage, he had led his brigade. The
mriv,ade of Aurelle, which had occupied an excellent
position on the left, covered his retreat, which was
effected not without a certain loss under the fire of the
fortification. Colonel Niol, of the 26th Regiment of the
Line, who lost his two chefs de batadlon, had taken the
command of the brigade, the energetic conduct of which
was beyond all praise. The enemy in this sortie lost a
thousand men killed, wounded, or made prisoners, and,
;n addition to this, received a very considerable moral
%fel physical cheek.
The battle of Inkerman, and the contest maintained
by the body of besiegers, has shed great glory on our
forces, and has augmented the moral strength which the
Allied armies have always possessed. At the same time
we have suffered losses which must be regretted. The
English army has lost 2,400 men killed or wounded,
among which are to be reckoned seven generals,
three of whom are killed. The French army has
suffered to the extent of 1,726 killed or wounded.
We have bitterly to regret the loss of General do Lour:-
tnel, since dead from his wounds, whose brilliant quali-
ties promised a grand career in the future. It is my
painful duty also to acquaint you with the death of Col.
du Cuinas, of the 6th Regiment of the Line, killed at
the head of his troop, at the very instant in which they
came in contact with the enemy.
The vigour of the Allied troops, subject as they were
to the twofold struggles of a siege of unprecedented diffi-
culty, and of battles which rocal the greatest struggles
of our military history, cannot be too highly praised.
I send you herewith my order of the day for the battle
of the sth.—Accept, &c.,
The General-en-Chef, CANROBERT.