The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-09 00:00:00

or 600 wounded Russians. The enemy has made no pro-
posals with regard to them, though I am told a flag of
truce was sent towards his advanced guard, that the sub-
ject might be entered into.
There are two generals amongst the prisoners made by
the English, and they captured the only two guns which
were abandoned-0110 a :32-pounder, the other a 14. The
fittings of both these are as good, if not better, than any
I ever saw in my life.
Four p.m.—The allied army is encamped on the southern
side of the Katcha, and some of the steamers are try-
ing their range with the batteries. The Himalaya
arrived this forenoon, and the Scots Greys will bo
landed at the Katcha. The ships will all go down
near the harbour, and as the Polish deserter says that
nearly all the Russian troops are on the northern side of
the port, though the tents still remain on the other side,
it is not improbable that we shall land troops there and
make a grand attack on both sides, and with the ships at
the same time.

Seven p.m.—l am happy to say that the Russians, seeing
us coming, sank their ships, which they had placed across
the entrance to the port ; so five liners, one of them a three-
decker, are gone down, with two frigates and a hulk. Had
they been full of stones, they might have offered en ob-
stacle of come permanence to large ships entering or leav-
ing their harbour, but now they have only given us the
use of our seamen and marines for batteries on shore,
if we choose to use them. The Russians have been going
thiough a little practice with shell and rockets from their
star fort, inside Fort Constantine, this afternoon. Our
Pole says the sunken ships have their guns in.
24th, 10 p.m.—The army advanced to-day, but, instead
of taking the direct road along the shore to the northern
side of the harbour, where the Russians have been
preparing for us for some time, the march has been to the
left, and all this afternoon and evening we were unable to
see a single soldier of them. They will cross the Belbec
further up than was probably anticipated, and have, from
their position to-day, been able to make excellent observa-
tions of the defences of the place. From the French flag-
ship we hear that the plan of attack has been entirely
changed, and that the troops will go into it from the
heights on the southern side of it, having previously taken
possession of Balaklava, to obtain supplies from the ships.
I do not quite believe this story, on acceunt of the steep
ravines through which the army would have to pass; but
yet, if these can be gone through, the town can be got at
where it is not defended, and all the mines which have
been prepared for us on this side will be avoided. This
last desideratum might be gained, perhaps, by coming
down on the northern shore from the Inkerman river;
but in that case the communication with us would have
to be kept up at the Belbec. The movement of the army
seems to risk something in leaving the ships, but we can
form no judgment of it, and only make guesses as to what
may have caused it.
The Scots Greys landed this morning in excellent condi-
tion, and went on with the army, bringing up the rear.
As the ships are sunk across the port, and the army have
made this move, we have nothing to do—for knocking
down any of the forts on the northern side now would
simply be useless. We have another deserter to-day—a
Prussian, who was in the Russian service. He says that
the remainder of their fleet is quite ready for sinking or
blowing up, as soon as they are seen to be in danger of
capture.
The army at the battle of the Alma was composed of—
Light division
let SP
2d SP
3d
4th

...

Cavalry
Artillery
Sappers and Miners

22,600
. 1,100
2,700
. 400

26,800
The French landed—lnfantry
Cavalry

30,000

but of these not more than 25,000 were engaged.
The Russians are said to have had 52,000 men engaged.
and 100 guns; their loss in killed and wounded and de-
serters is variously estimated at from 4,009 to 15,000.
Menschikoff's tent, carriage, and despatch box fell into
the hands of the allies.

DETAIL OF ARMY DISEMBARKED.
19th. Encamped at Alma, where they had a brush with
the cavalry.
20th. In action at Alma.
21st and 22d. Attending sick and burying the dead.
23d—Advanced to Katcha River, eight miles from
Sebastopol.
24th and 25th. Closing upon Sebastopol—distant three
miles from the enemy's army, which they intended to pass,
and thus cut off all communication with Simpheropol and
Balaklava, and then attack Sebastopol.
The wounded have been sent to Scutari in the Andes,
Cclombo, Orinoque, and Vulcan.
The Sidon has taken a transport in tow with wounded
Russians, intending to convoy the same, under a flag of
true; into Odessa.
The allied fleets are close into Sebastopol, throwing in
shot and shell whenever they can. The Russians have
sunk four of their lino-of-battle ships at the entrance of
Sebastopol.
A few cases of cholera continue in the camp and in tho
fleets.
The breaching train had not been yet landed.
A deserter from Sebastopol reports the destruction of
Anapa by the Russians, and the removal thence to Sebas-
topol of its garrison.

(BY AN EYE-WITNESS.)
The following is an extract from a letter written on the
battle-field of the Alma on the day of the victory by an
officer of the 3d division of the army commanded by Prince
Napoleon :
"The Anglo-French army held possession of the basins
of the Alma; the Russians had established themselves on
the formidable positions which run parallel with the river.
Their army might be estimated approximately at about
40,000 •r 45,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and a numerous
artillery. The allied army was composed of 43,000 Eng-
lish and French, 6,000 Turk, and 120 guns. The position
of the enemy gave them a considerable advantage over our
troops, who were not all able to take part in the contest.
"At the commencement of the battle the second divi-
sion, under the orders of General Bosquet, exercised a
movement having for its object the turning the left wing
of the Russians ; the English succeeded in a similar move-
ment on the right. The third division, commanded by
Prince Napoleon, and the first divisien, under the orders
of General Canrobert, supported by the fourth division
commanded by General Forey, were to act simultaneously
with the English division against the enemy's centre.
General Bosquet's movement succeeded completely. The
troops of the centre, including the first and third divisions,
threw themselves with such eagerness upon the enemy,
that, after having completely routed him, thiSytook posses-
sion of the positions which command the river.
" Tho third division of the French had 380 killed and
wounded. Amongst the wounded was General Thomas-
son, who was removed to Constantinople.
" Not far from the general, Prince Napoleon, who made
a most brilliant debut at the battle of the Alma, had
a narrow escape from death, or at least grievous injury.
During the time that the sharpshooters of the division
were endeavouring to dislodge the Russian sharpshooters, a
ball directed against our line struck the ground a few hun-
dred stops from the Prince, and, bounding on, took the di-
rection towards him. Gon. Thomasson luckily saw the ball,
and seeing the direction it was about to take had time to cry
out, Take care, sir.' The Prince turned his horse rapidly
on one side, and the hall broke the leg of Sous-Intendent
Leblanc, who was standing behind. M. Leblanc hassince
been obliged to submit to have the limb amputated.
" The English fought with their usual valour. It was a
warm day for all of us, but as advantageous for us in the
result as it was disastrous for the Russians.
" We have driven the enemy from all his positions, and
encamped upon the field of battle.
" The Russians are now waiting for us before Sebasto-
pol at Batcha. and Belbeck. Our army is full of confidence,
and is looking forward to fresh battles."

LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF THE FRENCH
FLEET
ATCHA BAY, Sept. 20.—Yesterday, at break of day,
the allies began to advance, their right wing supported by
our ships. We were all moored in this bay at ten a.m.,
with the intention of landing during the day our siege
train, conveyed in about 30 vessels to this point. We as-
sisted at the battle in anxious suspense from our ancho-
rage, and I passed the day on the topmast of my ship,
surveying with telescope in hand the various accidents of
that exciting scene. I was enabled to descry clearly the
Russian entrenched camp on the mountain top, and their
divisions forming gradually in lines, and advancing in
battle order along the plain. A first ravine having been
passed without resistance by our troops, they took up a
position on the heights fronting the enemy, but owing to
the lateness of the hour the combat was postponed till the
following day.
This morning (20th inst.) our armies were seen to shove
across the plain in various directions, in order to traverse
the stream and• gain the heights. At 9 a.m. a thick fog
came on and obliged the troops to halt ; but, the wea-
ther having cleared at 11 a.m., they advanced towards
the Alma and forded the river. I distinguished clearly
from my tmast the Russian forces forming a
little to the rear of the mountain summit into
lines, and our troops which had already traversed
the stream 'clambering en tirailleurs, heroically up the
craggy steeps, exposed to the galling fire of the enemy. It
was, I must confess,'a moment of dread suspense, and wo
should have been inevitably repulsed had the Russians dis-
played but half the daring ardour of our troops in the de-
fence of that formidable position. It was strong beyond
measure, and well protected on all sides by natural advan-
tages. They had besides a tremendous force of artillery ;
whereas our poor fellows were seen in swarms fagging up
bravely the rugged and precipitous passes, where it was diffi-
cult to afford the protection of our field batteries. Finally,
when our troops had gained the heights in sufficient force
to attack, they poured in their fire with such murderous
precision through the Russian ranks, that in little more
than three hours I could clearly distinguish them begin-
ning to give way, and an hour later they were completely
routed, and fled pele-mele across the plain.
Nevertheless the division of the ailed forces which had
advanced to the left of the Russian entrenchments encoun-
tered a most terrific resistance in a village flanking that
point—a commanding position,which kept up a destructive
fire of artillery which lasted till 2 p.m. It was then that
the onslaught and close conflict commenced with vigour on
the heights. I could descry our noble troops advancing
under the fire of the batteries till they gained the summit,
which silenced instantly the enemy, and the position was
victoriously carried. The cannons, however, each drawn
by six horses, unfortunately escaped. Our troops kopt up
a vigorous fire of musketry, which must have destroyed
immense numbers of the fugitives' but the further inci-
dents of this bloody melee were lost in dust and smoke.
Finally, the Russians, routed, dislodged from that posi-
tion, rallied again on a more elevated point, and recom-
menced tha fire of their artillery. Hence it was again ur-
gent to push forward in all haste in pursuit of the enemy,
and carry also that point. I saw our troops advancing in
the finest order au pas de course, which circumstance, it
appears, spread terror and disorder in the enemy's ranks.
He threw up the game finally, and fled in all haste twards
Sebastopol. At 4 p.m. the fire ceased on all points, and
the battle was won.

ERRORS IN' DATES OF POST-OFFICE STAMPS.-11aVe
any of your correspondents ever noticed the curious
mistake of placing a wrong figure in the stamp of the
Post Office ? I inclose two examples, which I received
myself, each " Se. 56, 1854," for " Se. 26, 1854," and
which, as I consider them a literary curiosity, I have
pasted on a card, and intend to preserve them. How
many more besides myself have got this addition to the
days of the month ? or what will be made of it in a
century or two hence, should any of the envelopes or
impressions be then in existence and noticed ?—Notes
and *Krim