The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-27 00:00:00

THE CRIMEA.

HEIGHTS BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, October 12.
" Ground" has at length "been broken," and the
siege of Sebastopol, the most memorable of modern
undertakings, may be said to have commenced,
notwithstanding that not a gun has been fired on
the allied side (in fact, very few are as yet in posi-
tion), and that the works which have been thrown
up consist merely of trenches, traverses, and other
preliminaries to more serious engineering opera-
tions. This intelligence will create in England the
most lively satisfaction. The delay occasioned by
the landing of the vast number of siege artillery
and ship-guns, and by the difficulty experienced in
dragging them from Balaklava to the heights before
the town, may have rendered John Bull a little
impatient.
On our arrival before the town a fort mounting
fifteen guns alone defended the approach ; whilst
at the present moment numerous batteries (toge-
ther 76 gunh of heavy calibre) menace our lines.
In addition to this, the march downwards of the
numerous Russian reinforcements has been consi-
derably shortened, and at this very moment a
powerful army may have concentrated in our rear.
But theae advantages, though important, are by
far surpassed by those which have accrued to the
Allies in the same period. The siege-train waits
alone to be placed iu position to silence the fire of
the mushroom Russian batteries ; whilst the de-
struction or capitulation or Sebastopol can be as-
serted, without boasting, to be but a question of
time. Success appears not only certain, but easy
beyond expectation ; yet Lord Raglan, with admir-
able and characteristic caution, has ordered works
to be constructed to the rear of the present posi-
tion, where the army could retire in case of any
unforeseen calamity, and defy all attempts of the
Russians to reap advantage of their temporary suc-
cess. Still more to the rear, two well-constructed
redoubts, thrown up by the French, command the
roads from Belbeck and Balaklava, and render any
attack on that side impossible. The positions oc-
cupied by the allied troops can almost be deemed
impregnable, both from the side of the town and
from the rear. Should the Russians venture to
assail these, they will encounter heights as formid-
able as those occupied by them at Alma, but
defended by soldiers of a far different stamp.
Yesterday the work was- continued, and consider-
able progress was made. This night the labour
will be renewed ; and with a little energy, and a
continuation of the enemy's bad luck and want
of skill in the management of his cannon, our
engineers will be enabled to place the siege train
and ship-guns in position, and commence opera-
tions on Monday, the IGth inst. Sanguine indi-
viduals are of opinion that Saturday morning
will witness the opening of our fire ; but these, I
fear, are doomed to disappointment. The French
commenced their siege operations on the same day
as the British, but earlier in the day. I have given
below the details connected with the events, which
may prove interesting to the reader. Our men, invi-
gorated by an extra allowance of rum, worked ad-
mirably. A report has been current amongst the
men, in which they had too fondly trusted, that
the Turkish contingent would be employed in the
trenches.

A necessary though severe step has been taken
at Balaklava. In consequence of some information
received by Lord Raglan, to the effect that an at-
tempt to fire the town and shipping was meditated
by the inhabitants, instigated by the authorities of
Sebastopol, his lordship ordered the immediate
expulsion of all the remaining inhabitants of this
little port. A nightly patrol now visits regularly
every house in the harbour, to ascertain if any of
these fanatic and malevolent Greeks still remain
lurking behind. Had an attempt to fire the town
been successful, the result would have been awful.
The immense amount of stores and ammunition
then collected at Balaklava would by their loss
have severely crippled the resources of our army.
The heights to the rear of Balaklava are now
mounted by a heavy battery of guns, which sweep
the whole plain, and render any attack in that di-
rection out of the question. Further on, the roads
have been destroyed, so that before Balaklava can
be menaced, they must undergo repair. . The Ma-
rines have charge of the heights on which the bat-
tery has been erected ; and in case of need both
the French and Turkish divisions, to the rear of
our army, could be detached to their assistance.
The following are the present dispositions of the
allied forces :—The British occupy the centre and
right. To the extreme right is, encamped the
second division (General Sir De Lacy Evans),
leaning towards the mouth of the Chernaya ; to its
left is the first division (Duke of Cambridge) ;
having again on its left flank the light division (Sir
George Brown). The light division leans on the
high road which connects the harbour of Sebas-
topol with Balaklava. The fourth division (Sir G.
. Cathcart) lies to the left of the light division ;
and with the third division (Sir Richard England)
the British lines terminate. The French main
strength extends from here to the coast. A French
division is posted in the rear of the British to
cover the army from any attack in 'that direction.
ris-ca,vis to this division, occupying the heights
which command the road from Belbeck, lies the
Turkish contingent. The British cavalry is sta-
tioned between the above French division and
Balaklava. The Scots Greys, with Captain Maude's
troop of Horse Artillery, occupy a position outside
of Balaklava.
On the 9th instant the Russian batteries opened
a very heavy fire upon the 3d and 4th British
divisions. Hitherto their shells had been thrown
at long intervals only ; but on that day they
commenced a regular fire, which has since con-
tinued night and day. One shell burst near a tent
belonging to the 68th without injuring any one.
Two men of the 6,3c1 met with one of those mira-
culous escapes which, however authentic, always
read fabulous. A sound shot, a 48-pounder,
passed so close to the head of one of these men that
the chin-strap of his cap, tied above the head, was
torn by the wind of the ball, which passed on and
smashed the firelock of the other man, which he
was then occupied in cleaning. Neither were in-
jured in the least.
On the 10th instant, towards evening, the French
working party, strongly guarded, issued forth to
break -ground. A tremendous fire was instantly
opellyi upon the advancing body, but without any
effa A skirmish took place between some of
the French and a party of Cossacks, foot and