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

THE ATTACK ON SEBAST Oki OL.

RIVER KATCHA, OCT. 18.
The following is a copy ot. a few details of yester-
day's cannonading of the Sebastopol forts by the
fleet, which may be interetting :
" Yesterday, the 17th., about half-past noon,
the
m
French fleet co
ram the cannonade, leading in
from the south *hug the south forts, exposed at
the same time `to a severe fire from the north as
well as the south forts, which was not returned
until their
Position was taken up. Admiral Dundas
followed vr'ith most of his fleet, steering first
southware
-
northl and rounding up again, taking position
northward of the French, the Britannia and Napo-
leon be
mouth .of the harbour. The Terrible and Samp-
son began
next ships, and placed towards the
agan on the north side from the northward,
the first interchanging a heavy fire with the large
fort 'on the north side (two tiers of guns and a
thirf), tier en barbette—l think, Fort Constantine).
The, Terrible kept at it with her engines stopped.
The. Sampson, disregarding the largo fort, directed
her fire on two very mischievous little forts on the
parapet of the precipice which overlooks the sea
for.' northward of Fort Constantine—the Wasp
a'id Telegraph Forts. Occupied with these, she
s.teamed right through the fire of the big fort,
swept round in a beautiful manner, and again went
straight at them. All the fire,
however, which
was directed throughout the day at these two forts
seemed to have little effect. Silenced only at in-
tervals, they continued a most galling fire. While
the Britannia was rounding in from seaward, the
Agamemnon proceeded along the north coast south-
ward, to where the Sampson and Terrible were
engaged. It was evident that this ship had a dis-
tinct mark in view. Cautiously closing with the
land, she anchored within 900 yards of Fort Con-
stantine, and she must hare been quite close to
very shoal water. This was the position of the
day, and here the Agamemnon remained until
near sunset, when she came out, but only owing
to the closing darkness. She was closely supported
by the Sanspareil astern, and later in the day by
the Bellerophon on her bow. Latterly the fort
(Constantine, I think) which they were engaged
with was almost silent, and the guns en barbette
wholly so. The general impression is that very
little damage has been inflicted on tie enemy ; but
though all did their best, there can be little doubt
that, had the other ships been able to close with a
distinct object, and hammer at it as the Agamem-
nwn did at hers the result would have been very
different. She lay close to her work, and would
have breached it, but the fire at times had to be
withdrawn to silence the small forts on the hill,
which were hulling her in the meantime. On re-
suming the fire on the larger forts, of course the
line of fire was altered, and more distributed.
" The Albion and the London were engaged with
Fort Constantine before the Agamemnon came up.
They got a goad deal cut up and withdrew. The
Albion had a number of men and her captain with
the army, and was several times on fire while in
action. We lay just outside, within fire, and not
more than a mile from the Agamemnon, which was
close in, and much nearer to the others. The can-
nonade of the French appeared terrific and con-
tinuous. Enveloped in smoke, they kept up whole
salvoes, which looked awful, the smoke being lit
up by the volleys of flashes, and the roar of cannon
continuous. The Turks followed the French in
this, sometimes in whole broadsides, again their
fire running continuously along the line. There
was less of this with the English ships, particu.
larly with the Agamemnon. The smoke and roar
were more awful, but the other was more business-
like. Captain Christie, R.N., principal agent of
transports, had his flag, hoisted on board the Co-
lombo.

" Having expended the number of rounds of
powder, which was limited to 50 each gun, at one
time the Sanspareil withdrew, and the forts on the
hill directed their full efforts at the Agamemnon.
The Agamemnon fired 70 rounds, and her broad-
side is quite scorched the whole length. Sir Edmund
Lyons, at the, time occupied with the big fort,
sent his flag lieutenant through a galling fire to
bring in the Bellerophon and to get the Sanspareil
back. He said, Tell them to come in ; these forts
will sink me, and I'm if I leave this ;' and this
is quite the case. He is of the truest stuff, fixes
his mark, and then sticks to it,.
" The Britannia remained till after dark steady
also at her work, but she and the French were all
too far off."

The following letter from a young officer on
board a French line-of-battle ehip will be read
with interest

BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, 'Oct. 18.
" My ears are yet ringing with the cannonade they
heard yesterday, but I have no time to arrange my
thoughts, and I hasten to tell you that I am in ex-
cellent health. Yesterday morning the Admiral's
signals and our written orders left us no doubt
about the intentions of the fleet. At nine o'clock every
vessel received the order to advance. All the steamers,
Iwwnei trthiel
elt
ahe
nsihgeiedi
act
oel
of
nt
tgi d
ohe lo
6f
sthht
ihe pasntPdo 1
conduct
actnthd the Eu
et
them
mp
ttaointn
oeefndfiitrheee,.
Pluton had been ordered to lay down buoys along the
aiense
gassottho teno
aws
atguideyh h
,e toolst
signal e
coursetwhaes lgiven,
of the fleet,
iavde.n,thePluton,
sliapwi uaand t
osnfo this
iaiso
followed
morning,eesdtkn ovr.
closely
by the Charlemagne, which was ordered to anchor as near
as possible to the coast, so that the other ships might
take up positions in line to the north and north-east of
her. Our progress was slow, in consequence of the im-
mense weight of the ships which had to be towed. We
were nearly an hour and a half doing three miles. At
about half-past 12, the Vautor, ensconced in a little
creek, opened the fire, which was the signal for the
Russians commencing in their turn. A light whistling,
like the noise made by certain birds of prey, was audible
at the malt-head. I asked myself what it could be,
when a second rushing a
sound, more distinct, left me no
doubt that it proceeded from cannon shot. Presentlf
the bullets rained around :as. We heard the noise they
made before they neared us, and some time after we saw
the flash of the cannon which proelled them. We re-
ceived three of the shots in our ht and paddle-boxes,
but fortunately they' hurt no one. Our masts, from
which we hoyivaemededratAstekahkereisenihwjrn down all the yards, were not touched.
Most of the bullets passed over our heads. The firing
went on thus fir half an hour, and then we went is closer
to s
nlaeryt
ardour
a
forrhaoeegdu
nreteyk:
fromee
doubtless
etoCtutfl hhbe
tae.
the eri
have
her masts
ourselves
a little
r The Charlemagne, l
b At Russians,
mt
aet
dk y
time, for she had received several bullets in her hull,
h
wsehemlluhst have
dbvue
esa,ae
appearedge r i n
u e ees '
indeed b
o'clock
and
y cnalad ontongueeda found
high
finoay
she
r
anchored and began to fire, and it was
a part of Fort Constantine, for just after we had watched
one of our 80-pounder shells hit the mark we aimed at,
we saw a tremendous column of smoke and flame rising
up over the fortress. Dressing by the Charlemagne, the
half of the other ships came into line in the direction
north-north-west. The others formed a second line, and
fired through the ieterstices of the first. Two Turkish
rst
blown inh
up
r
e
engine-room. At two
o'clocknd a
ships prolonged the French lines, and further on to the
north-north-east of the second Turkish vessel was a line
o eight English. The fire went on for 5 hours without
ceasing, but unfortunately the smoke was tie thick that a
great many shots must have been thrown away. We don't
know how much harm we did to the enemy, only the
Russians abandoned their batteries for about two hours ;
but they recommenced firing towards evening. Portions
of their batteries were destroyed. There would not
have remained one stone upon another, if the bars which
surround the entrance to the harbour had allowed ua to
approach within 400 or 500 metres. As it was, we fired
on an average at a distance of 1,400 or 1,500 metros.
We expended something like 24,000 bullets and shells.
The Russians, though they fire pretty straight (as we
can testify, for all their shots against us were very well
directed), killed but few in the squadron. With regard
to this I only know that the Charlemagne, perhaps the
most unlucky of all, had eight killed. Some say, how-
ever, the Montebello suffered still more. The Jean Bart
had but two killed. The English fleet, anchored opposite
Fort Constantine and the telegragh batteries, fought
vigorously. Wo don't yet know what losses they
suffered."

BEFORE SHBASTOPOL, Oct. 23.—The siege of
Sebastopol commenced on the 17th. Niiieteen
days had elapsed since the arrival of the Allied
army before the town, and six since the first sod
had been turned in the trenches. There were not
wanting in the British camp advocates for an
immediate assault on the town whilst the
remembrance of Alma was still fresh in
the minds of tho enemy. These (Generals
Sir G. Cathcart and Sir de Lacy Evans, I believe,
amongst others) justly considered that, by the de-
lay necessarily incurred in bringing up the siege
train, and establishing batteries, not onlyrwould the
advantage reaped by the masterly march, which
turned the town of Sebastopol, be lost, but time
also would be granted to the enemy to raise works
and defences which would render.any future assault
difficult and dangerous. It was determined, how-
ever, to besiege the place, and no time was lost in
landing the siege trains, ship guns, and the vast
amount of ammunition necessary to reduce the
town. If our engineers were active, it must lie
admitted the Russians were equally so. Earth-
works and redoubts sprung up each night as if by
enchantment, and the south side of Sebastopol,
before not only vulnerable, but decidedly weak,
now bristled with batteries.

On the 17th of October, then, at twenty minutes
past six, the cannonade commenced. It opened on
the left, was successively taken up by each gun,
and speedily returned by the Russian batteries.
The continued roar was tremendous. The Redan
guns wereworked splettlidly, and poured shell after
shell around the " Bluejacket battery," which at
this time was rather deficient in ammunition. Sup-
plies at length arrived, and to work went the tars,
.batterin§ in the Redan works with tremendous
effect.
At ten minutes after three a fearful smoke

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 spectators on the heights with
a good English cheer. For hours a black cloud of
smoke was suspended over the Redan, testifying to
the violence of 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 large puff of smoke as-
cended from within our lines, and excited some
alarm.. That it could not have been an explosion I
n 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. In this ravine, not twenty
paces from the waggon, had been concealed since
daylight a covering party, composed of three com-
panies 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, directinc, the three companies
to take up a position in a less exposed spot, and the
men in consequence ran up the ravine one 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 escaped by a miracle, was attended with a loss
of only one 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

;eristic 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 the
contrary, the contest hitherto has been between
mud fort and mud fort—between offensive works
and offensive works ; and when these forts
are taken or destroyed, the real task of
taking the town will commence. It will be a se-
vere trial this taking or destroying of Sebastopol,
and many days, perhaps weeks, will elapse before
the day of triumph will dawn. The irregularity
of the works baffles slightly our engineers. Were
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 feel convinced that he 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 loner 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 be
attended with considerable risk and great loss of

life. But the town once fired to the rear of the
Russian redoubts, the gunners will either cease to
work with the same confidence, or, what is more
probable, will desert their disagreeable position. I
do not mean to assert by these remarks that the'
siege of Sebastopol will rival in length that of
Troy, but it is desirable that the British public
shduld be upon their guard against gulled contem-
poraries and lying telegraphs.
Our casualties on the first day were rather heavy,
and have not been 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. The 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
shell. 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 (I) both fell ; the latter was killed by a
round shot.

The idea first entertained of sparing the 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 are forced to work in the
trenches, and perform equally unpleasant duties,
most trying to civilians. Some of the latter, who
ventured to expostulate, wore forthwith hanged, as
an example, by Prince Menschikoff. Colonel
Alexander, one of our most 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 the 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 from
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 an 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 firelock, and, on the
speculation of its being loaded, discharged it at its
owner. The man rolled over head, and his coin,
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 off 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 in a row with the
first. Then, seeing a Highlander approach, he led
him by the arm to the spot, and said, " That's
not such a bad afternoon's bag, Willie 1"

The monotonous roar of artillery awoke every-
body as usual at daybreak of the 20th inst. Nothing
occurred of interest until twenty minutes past ten,
when a small explosion took place within the
French lines. From the position of the French, it
had been hoped they might sap towards the town,
but the rocky nature of the ground proves de-
cidedly antagonistic to any engineering undertak-
ing. We occupy either heights or ravines where
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
the town.
On the 21st the firing commenced as usual. At
three o'clock in the afternoon an explosion occurred
in the Russian redoubt by the white tower. The
explosion Was not very violent, and proceeeded
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 combat from the actual fire of the
enemy.
The cannonade opened very briskly on the morn-
' ing of the 22d. The French batteries were worked
with great vigour, and apparently with consider-
able success. One 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, one 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-
lained by the Russians was very large, and 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. In fact, large parties may be 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 two new
batteries were traced out and the trenches com-
menced. Both these batteries (5-gun ones) will be
established slightly in advance of " Frenchman's-
hill battery," and will command the dockyard.
The Russians are, it is said, constructing a battery
of heavy guns near the ruins'of Inkerman, directed
on the encampment. 14 our extreme , right (the
second diYiei9ll). Most certainly they haTo 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 rain 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 an assault would instantly
be made. Lord Raglan has decided otherwise, and
time will show whether his extreme caution is jus-
tified or not. If Sebastopol can be reduced with-
out a storm, it will be a highly desirable (though
animprobable) event. Every hour confirms me in
i-he 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 11.111.5.---, OFF THE
KATCHA, OCT. 23.
The iieet have been busily employed during the last
few clays repairing the darhage incurred in the action
Certainly, in the late encounter between wooden walls.
and stone ones, stone had not the worst of it,' as
far as appearances go. The Sampson went, 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 impression, of cannon balls. It is the
general opinion that no further attompt 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
fire of the batteries fell chiefly oh 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 "red at wizen."
The deduction from the Edinburgh's experiment at five
hundred yards, at the walls of Bomarsund, 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
Arethusa 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-
stantinonle ; 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 from 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 men from each line-
of-battle ship, to reinforce the naval brigade. 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 Ruthven, 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 he 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 1,500 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 I
can say is, I never heard such a row in all my life. We
towed in 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 went 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, ani 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 npraiding men who have passed
through such scenes as will never be described. But
enough of this. Yesterday the shot, shells, and rockets
began to fly about us long before we anchored, and the
deafening noise, the hiss of the missiles, and the roar
of some thousands of guns, you may amuse yourselves
by trying to imagine. We were ordered not to fire
before orders were given to begin from on deck. I
had charge of eight of the heaviest guns, stood on the
ladder, and waited for 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.
P.S.—Tell poor Chase, brother to the man at
Oriel, is killed. The 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 SEBASTOPOL.

(Front the Constitutionna.)

A Russian despatch, received a few days ago, an-
nounced that on the 25th and 26th General Liprandi
had two combats with the Allied troops. No detail of
these two engagements 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 Eupatoria ;
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 been conceived. The Russians, after a
trifling success, have lost the last chance of delivering
Sebastopol. t 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 pro.
tection of Balaklava was confided to 1,000 to 1,200 ma-
rines, supported by a detachment of cavalryand artillery.
At 2 kilometres (1k miles) above Balaklava, on the road
which leads to Sebastopol, and at the point at which a
second road leading to Simpheropol, and into the interior
of the Crimea strikes off, we meet the first heights of the
Tauric chain. These heights, which dominate on the
one hand Balaklava and on the other the barren steppe
in which the Allies are encamped, were defended by
redoubts, 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 Lucan, protecting the Tchernaya. After re-
ceiving Gen. Liprandi's reinforcements, Prince Menschi-
koff resolved 'to turn the right of the Allied army, in
order to place the besiegers between two fires, and make
a bold attack on. Balaklava. If this coup de main had
succeeded, the Allies could only have communicated with
the fleets by Cape Chersonesus, 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 Menschikoff
could spare, entered the mountain from which the Tcher-
naya flows, and which the Allied army had crossed in its
turning movement from the Belbeck to Balaklava. He
does not appear to have taken with him any artillery, or
even cavalry, which explains the rapidity and precision
_s_
ciuio
of his operations. He succeeded completely
the
says
guising his march from the Allies, as is
proved
arrival of the English despatch, and
the.
was as to
ignorance in
which General Canrobert in his report
the position of the enemy. That, however,
country,
cut through
no surprise in such a mountainoussd need cause
with forests almost
by frightful ravines, and covered
impenetrable—in which,
quently, it is impossible
could do was to be on thehire
for the cavalry to be on thceelnosoeli oaurtd.
iAnllththeairt es
ya to a a ava. he
points of resistance from
ments ; and that is whyTtcheyrgnhuaad thrownßikuip so mTany
difficulty of the ground appears not
_to have permitted
General Liprandi to execute completely his turning
movement. The complete absence of beaten paths
obliged him no doubt to take the road from Simpheropol
to Balaklava, and out the 25th October the Russians ap-
peared on the heights in face of the redoubts of the
cannon,
ves, s
'Allies. Whether the Turks, according to their custom,
1
were not on their guard, or were not in
re-
butsuffi-
thnroottlikeinrtohwn,
dt
theytehier
tns
abandoned
cient
em-
doubtst numbersiaafter
certain t o
tieina t
h
spikingd efselvesi in complete disorder into the plain, and went
to give an alarm to the corps which covered the siege.
These corps immediately marched out. The division of
awrhr iov edde
so the
en fidresdt
n and
good
light cavalry, under the command of Lord Cardigan,
orderimmediately
n into
chargedtnn
plain
in the
pursuitßussians,
of
the Turks. In spite of their courage, the three iegi-
mars which cowed thin brigade, in Thin, •AdeATOUred

to check the march of the enemy. The Dragoon Guards
went to their aid, and were at first more fortunate ; but
their ranks were broken by the artillery of the redoubts,
of which the Russians had turned the cannon, after un-
spiking them, against the Allies. In the meantime the
British infantry arrived in line. It._held_ftrm under
the fire of the Russian infantry,
PAW_ under ,that of
the redoubts, and thus gave time to the division
of General Bosquet, the farthest from the scene of
action, to come up and to form. The Allies thee~
took the offensive, and drove back the RUssians to
the heights. There the latter succeeded in maintain-
ing themselves in possession of —imereef• the redoubts
which they had carried. Thus ended the first day, which
was extremely sanguinary and undecided. Of what took
place on the following day we have only few details. The
hold movement of General Liprandi had partly failed,
since Balaklava remained in the power of the Allies, and
the latter preserved their communications with the sea ;
it had partly succeeded, since the Russians- were in pos-
session of the sole beaten road, which leads from Balak-
lava to Sebastopol, and had takenoosition in the rear of
the besiegers. Accordingly on the 26th, Prince Men-
schikoff made a strong sortie against the English lines lit
al. f
junction'iie lad
withsuc-
ceederor d
o dt oinpolaacrerytihnegmthbeentiwaene
dn ti
nw
p,offfieroetsi
o. g
General Liprandi, in the midst of the besieging army,
the operations of the Allies would have been almost irre-
parably
hopes o
f compromised.the
Russian
Gt Bo
eurtatl hi
,es i
m26ot h;
vend
y to
sharpthe apfutetraan
engagement, he was driven back into Sebastopol by
the division of General Sir De Lacy Evans with a loss
of more than 1,000 men. At the same time, the Allies
attacked in front the heights occupied by General
Liprandi, took the redoubts which the Russians had
captured the previous evening, and drove back the lat-
ter, completely broken and demoralised, beyond the
Tchernaya, in the ravines of the mountains: The for-
tunate issue of these two combats appear to us to decide
the fate of Sebastopol. The attack of General Liprandi
was the last chance which the Russians possessed of
compelling the Allies to raise the siege. Unless the
Russians receive, which nothing shows to be likely,
sufficient reinforcements to give a second battle, they
cannot renew such a desperate effort, and the siege will
henceforth follow its regular course. The result is the
less
the Alliub dotareful, a
ualls, masters of the course of the Tchernaya,
es eqy in Possession of the great aqueduct, "
parallel to that river, which alone conveys portable water
to the military establishments and all the eastern part
of Sebastopol. By cutting off this aqueduct, the Allies
' have been able to reduce the garrison and the inhabi-
tants to the water in the cisterns. As the rainy season
has not yet commenced, almost all the cisterns are
•empty, and the place consequently suffers frightfully.
Some letters even affirm that at the last date a glass of
clear water cost a rouble. Two sanguinary but glorious
combats, and crowned with complete success, the de-
struction of a part of the Russian army, the energetic
continuation of the siege, and the exhausting of the
enemy's resources of all kinds—on& is a summary of
the last news. We see in it nothing but motives for
hope.