The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-07 00:00:00

issued from the Redan, and an explosion, surpass-
ing even in gravity that of the first similar French
disaster, shook the earth. The ravage committed
must have been great, and the loss of life most
• serious. The gunners and covering troops could
be descried running off' towards the town, and
for a long period the guns were silenced.
The explosion was hailed in the different bat-
teries and by the spectator 3 on the heights with
a good English cheer. For hours a black cloud of
smoke was suspended over the nodal], testifying to
the violence cf the explosion. The gunners re-
turned later, and recommenced their fire from a
few of the guns less injured than the others. A
few minutes after four a largo puff of smoke as-
cended from within our lines, and excited some
alarm. That it could not have been an explosion
in a battery we easily perceived, for the guns con-
tinued their fire without interruption. It was ascer-
tained later that the explosion had proceeded from
an ammunition waggon, which had been left in a
ravine, the horses dragging it having been either
killed or disabled. Iu this ravine, not twenty
paces from the waggon, had been concealed since
daylight a covering party, composed of three COlll-
- of the 88th, under Major Maxwell. The
position occupied by this party had been most ex-
posed, and many casualties (six killed and eleven
wounded) had occurred from the enemy's shells
falling repeatedly amongst them. Au order at
length arrived, directing the three companies
to take up a position in a less exposed spot, and the
men in consequence ran up the ravine ono by one,
and screwed themselves in a quarry which presented
itself. Major Maxwell had scarcely left the ravine
when a shell struck the ammunition case, and the
explosion took place. This accident, from which the
88th escapitd by a miracle, was attended with a loss
of only ono man, who, being missed, is supposed to
have fallen a victim to the explosion. Not a trace
of his clothing was discovered.
That spirit of over-confidence which is a charac-
teristic of the British nation will be loth to hear
that Sebastopol did not fall, as was anticipated at
home, after a twelve hours' cannonade. On tho
contrary, the contest hitherto has been between
mud fort and mud fort—between offensive works
and offensive works ; and when these forts
aro taken or destroyed, the real task o
taking the town will commence. It will be a se,

vere trial this taking or destroying of Sebastopol,
and
perhaps
dawn. weeks,
the
day a many days,
triumph
will
of the works baffles slightly our engineers. Were
wTi ihl e e liarpr es eg
übl rfoi try°
Sir J. Burgoyne set down before Metz, or any other
orthodox fortified city, with regular walls and
angles, and scarps and counterscarps, with a satis-
factory glacis, I fool convinced that ho would pro-
ceed with far greater confidence than against these
mud works of Sebastopol. The position is, in fact,
trying. Here is a besieged force, which has esta-
blished offensive works, mounted by a larger number
of guns than the offensive works thrown up by the
besiegers. The damage sustained in the day is
repaired in the night, and the morrow dawns to
witness a fresh waste of ammunition. The victory
would, it almost seems, fall to him who possesses
the largest stock of ammunition—and that certainly
is not the Allies. From motives of policy or huma-
nity (both misplaced in the present instance),
Lord Raglan had determined to spare the town.
Now, until the town is completely battered to
pieces, or burnt to the ground, we have no hopes of
success unless in an assault, which would now bo
attended with considerable risk and groat loss of

life. But the town once fired to the roar of the
Russian redoubts, the gunners will either co.tse to
work with the same confidence, or, what is moro
probable, will desert their disagreeable position. I
do not mean to assert by theso remarks that the
siege of Sobastopol will rival in length that of
Troy, but it is desirablo that tho British public
should be upon their guard against gulled contem-
poraries and lying telegraphs.

Our casualties on the first day were rather heavy,
and have not boon equalled since.
On the 19th inst. the firing commenced as usual
at daybreak, and towards noon the French guns
were enabled to open, and thus relieve the English
batteries from their double labour. Tho fire of
the Redan soon slackened under that of our two
large batteries, and that was the only advantage of
the day. At half-past three an explosion took
place in the " Sea battery," caused by a French
611011. Two officers lost their lives. I regret to
write, in the course of the ensuing 24 hours, Lieut.-
Colonel Hood, of the Grenadier Guards, and Capt.
Rowley (?) both fell ; the latter was killed by a
round shot.
The idea first entertained of sparing tho town
had evidently been given up, for in the course of
the afternoon many rockets were thrown into it.
At four o'clock p.m. a fire was kindled by one of
these projectiles, but was soon got under by the
inhabitants of the town. The latter, it would
appear from the reports of deserters (we have some
eighty of them), lead anything but an enviable life;
not only are their houses and their lives endangered
by our fire, but they aro forced to work in the
trenches, and perform equally unpleasant duties,
most trying to civilians. Some of the latter, who
ventured to expostulate, were forthwith hanged, as
an example, by Prince Menschikoff. Colonel
Alexander, one of ourmoat accomplished engineer
officers, expired that day in a fit of apoplexy. This
intelligence cast a deep gloom over the camp, where
his sterling military and social qualities had ren-
dered him greatly beloved. Truly, this is a great
loss to the British army. Towards tho afternoon,
the apex of the Redan had suffered considerably,
and the fire of the enemy had decidedly slackened.
Some of the skirmishers from the light division
penetrated that day till within range of the ships,
and commenced peppering down upon the decks.
A shower of shells, however, soon caused them to
retire.

In the course of the afternoon a private of the
33d, who had fired his last cartridge, was crouch-
ing to join the covering party nearest to him, when
two Russians, to his great surprise, sprang front
behind a rock, and, seizing him by the collar,
dragged him off towards Sebastopol. After having
recovered from his temporary stupefaction at this
sudden change of route, our friend of course com-
menced reflecting on the possibility of au escape.
The Russian who escorted him on the left side held
in his right hand his own firelock, and in his left
the captured Minie. By a sudden spring the 33d
man seized the Russian's firolock, and, on the
speculation of its being loaded, discharged it at its
owner. Tho man rolled over head, and his com-
panion was not less rapidly clubbed. Calmly
picking up his own Minie, our friend returned to-
wards the camp and joined his regiment. This
little episode was witnessed by a sergeant and
several other skirmishers. Another anecdote,
somewhat cruel, is related of a skirmisher, who,
having picked oft his man, took the body to a
covered spot and laid it down. He issued forth,
shot a second and a third Russian skirmisher, and
quietly deposited their bodies iu a row with the
first. Then, seeing a Highlander approach, ho led
him by the arm to the spot, and said, " That's
not such a bad afternoon's bag, Willie 'I"
The monotonous roar of artillery awoke every-
body as usual at daybreak of the 20th inst. Nothing
occurredwhena interestosifnall exi
zs
explosion
twentytook place within the minutes past ton,
French lines. From the position of the French, it
had been hoped they might sap towards tho town,
but..the rocky nature of the ground proves de-
cidedly antagonistic to any engineering undertak-
ing. Wo occupy either heights or ravines whore
any such attempt is of course out of the question.
In the course of the day one of our Lancaster shells,
which had not burst, was politely returned from a
Russian gun. Our furnaces were at work in the
afternoon, and several hot shot were hurled into
tho town.

On the 21st the firing commenced as usual. At
three o'clock iu the afternoon an explosion occurred
in the Russian redoubt by the white towor. The
explosion was not very violent, and procecodod
evidently from an expense magazine.
During the twenty-six days the British army has
been before Sebastopol, not 200 men have been
placed hors de conibca from the actual lire of the
enemy.
The cannonade opened very briskly on the morn-
ing of the 22d. The French batteries wore worked
with great vigour, and apparently with consider-
able success. Ono of our guns in "Green-hill bat-
tery" burst towards the afternoon, killing two men,
and wounding five. A breeze sprang up which
would have favoured a conflagration in the town
had a fire been kindled. None, however, declared
itself. Two prisoners, ono an officer, were brought
in by the skirmishers of the light division. The
officer was badly wounded, and has since expired.
According to the private's account, the loss sus-
tained by the Russians was very large, anti the
streets were filled with killed and wounded. Such
like statements must be received with great cau-
tion. A more probable report' is current, viz.,
that the inhabitants are suffering from want of
water. Iu fact, large parties may bo seen leaving
and entering the town daily. At night the can-
nonade ceased, and thus terminated the sixth day's
siege of Sebastopol.
To-day the batteries opened at the usual time,
but up to this hour (12 o'clock) nothing of interest
has occurred. In the course of last night iwo now
batteries wore traced out and the trenches com-
menced. Both these batteries (r-gun ones) will be
established slightly in advance of " Frenchman's-
hill battery," and will command the dockyard.
The Russians arc, it is said, constructing a battery
of heavy guns near the ruins of Inkerman, directed
on the encampment of our extreme right (the
bemddiYiaioll). Diva certainly they been

seen at work in that direction for the last five days,
without being disturbed by our authorities.
The weather to-day appears threatening, but it is
sincerely to be hoped the rainy season is still far off.
The fate of Sebastopol hangs in a great measure
on the weather, and a few days ram would be a
calamity to the Allied army. The health of our
troops is excellent, and but few cases of cholera are
reported. Both men and officers are, however,
much harassed with the heavy trench duties, and
were it put to the vote au assault would instantly
ke made. Lord Raglan has decided otherwise, and
time will show whether his extreme caution is jus-
tified or not. If Sebastopol can be reduced
improbable) with-
out a storm, it will be a highly desirable (though
an event. Every hour confirms me in
the opinion that Sebastopol will only be carried by
an assault, and this procrastination is alone favour-
able to the enemy and fatal to a successful issue.

ON BOARD H.M.S. ---, OFF THE
KATCHA, OCT. 23.
The fleet have been busily employed during the last
few days repairing the damage incurred in the action.
Certainly, in the late encounter between wooden walls
and stone ones, stone had not the worst of it, as
far ai appearances go. The Sampson wont off Sebas-
topol. on the morning of the 18th, but could see no
further harm done than a few guns dismounted ; and
the whole face of Fort Constantine was as it were
pock-
marked with the impressions of cannon balls. It is the
general opinion that no further attempt will be made
by sea for the present. The only chance which ships
have against batteries is running in within six hundred
yards, and even then their loss must be very great. The
tiro of the batteries fell chiefly on the ships which
went in within seven hundred years. Wherever the fire
was heaviest and the smoke densest, there one might
be sure would be seen the rear-admiral's "rod at mizen."
The deduction from the Edinburgh's experiment at five
hundred yards, at the walls of Romarsund, remind one
of the story of the gentleman who did not much relish
the idea of fighting a duel ; and on being reminded that
he was able to break a wine glass with a bullet at
twenty yards, replied—" Yes ; that's true ; but the
wine glass hadn't a pistol in its hand." The Albion and
Arethusi left on the afternoon of the 21st for Constanti- .

nople and Malta, to repair damage--the former in tow,
the frigate under sail. We do not expect to see them
again among the Black Sea fleet. Two men were killed
in the Albion's cockpit by the bursting of a shell; another
entered one of the lieutenant's cabins, completely destroy-
ing everything; and a fourth finished off the captain's
store-room. The Spiteful and Firebrand seem most
damaged among, the steamers. They will probably
be 'cases for a dockyard when this is over. The
Commander-in-Chief issued a general order the day
after the action, thanking the officers and' seamen
for their gallant conduct. The Stromboli and
Viper have arrived from Constantinople, and
England • the latter sailed again this morning for Con-
stantinople ; she carries as passenger Captain Houston
Stewart, superseded from the Firebrand. His gal-
lant conduct in rescuing the Albion, and towing
her out under a most heavy fire, has been a theme
of general admiration in the fleet. She was too
close to the shore to be able to turn, and being on
fire in three places, it was necessary to bring her
out of action immediately ; so he cut away the
after towing-hawsers, and backed out with her.
The Wasp arrived on the 21st froni Redoubt Kaleh.
Being completely out of coals and provisions, Lord
John Hay was compelled to rejoin the fleet. She leaves
this day for Balaclava, with twenty meenhom each line-
of-battle ship, to reinforce
the nafal brigitde. The Wasp
lands her long gun and her crew to join the brigade.
They have to lament the loss of Lieutenant Greathed,
Ist of the Britannia, who fell gallantly in the trenches.
The Hon. Lieutenant Ruttiven, of the London, has also
been dangerously wounded. Captain Wm. Peel, of the
Diamond, has command of a battery in a very exposed
position ; right over it be places the union jack, which
invariably is shot away several times a day, the gallant
captain always insists on replacing it himself. To-day
a battery will be opened within 800 yards of the ships.
The enemy's fire is much slacker this morning.

FROM AN ENGLISH OFFICER TO HIS
RELATIONS.

H. M.S. Britannia, Oct. 18.
Yesterday the bombardment was begun by the bat-
teries on shore at daylight, and a tremendous cannonade
was kept up. We have 1,000 men and 1,600 marines
working with them. At 2 p.m. we were in action ; and
as time will not allow me to give a long description, all 1
can say is, I never heard such a row io all my life. Wu
towed iu with a steamer lashed alongside ; took up a
position, and let go the anchor; swung the ship broadside
to the fort, and went to work. We were firing 4i hours,
then up anchor and wont out at sunset. Our list in
the squadron is 44 killed and 266 wounded. We had a
wonderful escape in this ship ; the shot came into us in
all directions, and yet, I thank God ! only nine wounded.
The worst of it is the Russians have sunk their ships
across the harbour : we can't get in, and not half near
enough outside, on account of shoal water. However, I
think they got a good dose ; but no one can believe
what a tremendous place this is. However, if all's well,
we will have it yet. But everybody in England is in such
a tremendous hurry, as though for our own sakes, before
winter comes on us, everybody would not do his utmost.
And then let them have a little consideration. In a
month, or less, our army alone has been reduced from
25,000 to 16,000 by deaths and wounded. And yet,
I have no doubt they are crying out because Sebastopol
is not yet taken, and upraiding men who have passed
through such scenes as will never be described. But.
enough of this. Yesterday the tillOt, lobelia, and rockets
began to fly about us long before wo anchored, and the
deafening 'wise, the hiss of the missiles, and the roar
of sumo thousands of guns, you may amuse yourselves
by trying to imagine. Wo were ordered not to fire
before orders were given to begin from on deck. I
had charge of eight of the heaviest guns, stood ou the
ladder, and waited fur the word. At last it came. I
tried to keep cool, but could not help getting a little ex-
cited, and sung out :—" Now, you beggars, let them
have it." And then began the row, which lasted till we
cold not see, and has left us all as deaf as beetles, and as
thirsty as cabmen.

- poor Chase, brother to the man at
Oriel, is killed. Tho Russians shut up two French
batteries on shore in two hours : blew their magazines
up. They also made two sorties, but the French drove
them back.

SIEGE OF SEJ3ASTOPOL.

(Front the Constitutionnd.)

A Russian despatch, received a few days ago, an*
flounced that on the 25th and 2Gth General Liprandi
had two combats with the Allied troops. No detail of
these two ongagenlents were known ; it was not even
very certain on what point they took place ; some ac-
counts placed the scene of them at Balaklava, others at
the north of Sebastopol, in the environs of Enpatoria ;
and, if in the latter place, it became difficult to under-
stand how a French division could have taken part in
them. The despatches published by the English Govern-
ment, and some private letters, have thrown a complete
light on the two combats, and dissipated the disquietude
which may have bueu conceived. The Russians, after a
trifling success, have lost the last chance of delivering
Sebastopol. It is known that the Allied army forms a
semicircle around Sebastopol : the French extend from
Cape Chersonesus and the sea to the rivulet which flows
into the military port of Sebastopol, and the English from
that rivulet to the river Tchernaya. At about two and
a half leagues from the lines of the besiegers is Balak-
lava, where the English artillery was disembarked,
where the magazines of the Allies are established, and
where the latter communicate with the fleet. The pre`.
tection of Balaklava was confided to 1,000 to 1,200 ma-
rines, supported bya detachment of cavalryand artillery .
At 2 kilometres (11 miles) above Balaklava, on the road
which leads to Sebastopol, and at the point at which a
second road leading to Simphoropol, and into the interior
of the Crimea strikes off, we meet the first heights of the
Tauric chain. These heights, which dmuira,te on the
one hand Balak lava and on the other the barren steppe
in which the Allies are encamped, were defended by
roloubts, the guard of which was confided to the
Turkish troops. Finally, at the foot of these heights, and
in the rear of the besiegers, were the corps destined to
cover the siege ; for the French, the division of General
Bosquet supported on the sea ; for the English, the
division of the Duke of Cambridge •, and, finally,
two brigades of English cavalry, under the orders
of Lord Lucian, protecting the Tchernaya. After re-
ceiving Gen. Liprandi's reinforcements, Prince Monschi-
koff resolved to turn the right of the Allied army, in
order to place the besiegers between two fires, and make
a bold attack en Balaklava. If this coup de main had
succeeded, the Allies could only have communicated with
the fleets by Cape Chersonosus, would no longer have had
an open road to the sea, and would have been deprived
of their magazines ; and yet they would have been
obliged to reply to the fire of Sebastopol, and to defend
themselves in their entrenchments. They would conse-
quently have become besieged in their turn. General
Liprandi, with all the troops which Prince Menechikoll
could spare, entered the mountain from which the Teher-
naya flows, and which the Allied army had crossed in its
turning movement from the Bettie& to Balaklava, Ifo
does not appear to have taken with him any artillery, or
even cavalry, which explains the rapidity and
of his operations. He succeeded completely in dis-
guising.e his march from the Allies, as is proved by
arrival of the English despatch, and the 'gnomic:B in
o
precision
which General Caarobert in his report says he was to
the cause
the position of the enemy. That, how
no surprise in such a mountainous connitry,
m ossible
ever'
cut through
impenetrable—in which,
by frightful ra.vin,ande,enlevegruttity*
look out. All that the Allies
for the cavalry to boon the
ts ; and that is why they had thrown p a y
men
fromrchernaya to lidaklava. The
`could do was to be on their guard lino‘theitri etsiotrmencoh-
points of resistance
General Liprandi to execute completely I s turning
of the ground appears not to have permitted
difficulty
movement. The complete absence of beaten paths
obliged him no doubt to take the road from gimpheropol
to
and out the 25th October the Russians ap-
peared on the heights in face of the redoubts of the
Allies. Whether the Turks, according to their outtorn,
were not on their guard, orabwateldreonendot
tihneirsUffi:
client numbers to defend themselves, is not known
n plain,, th e a themt-
iniasfetoecureqr,tiaeitne spiking tihoa:dt
he
disorder
their
nytoCanthnoe
t
senoarrpcsh
out.which covetedirh hv.(27lioel
f.
re-
doubtssb
them-
selves et
ed
e
aiLlnairnmedtiaotetlitye
Theseto giv
ecoarpns
light cavalry, under the Command of Lord Cardigan,
arrived the first, and immediately charged the Russians,
who descended in good order into theplain in of
pursuit the Turks. In spit© of h• t eir courage, the three regi-
-111Q14t5 which col:upped 041 d
ng e, laic