The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-04 00:00:00

but the wind, after successive squalls, accom-
panied by sleet and hail, passed to W.S.W. and W., from
which none of our anchor ages on the Crimean coast afford
any shelter, and as awful rolling sea then set iu, (Luring
which the English transports, 37, Rodsley, and 57, Tyrone,
a Maltese brig, and four more small French transports,
went on shore. Meanwhile hordes of Cossacks and cavalry
hovered round the wrecks, and, as each of the smallest
vessels were thrown up, were seen occupied in examining
what the chances of the sea and war had sent them. We
could see the French sailors led off towards Sebastopol with
horsemen before and behind them. Our transports from
their greater burden were, as I have stated, at some distance
from the shore ; and the Cossacks rode backwards and
forwards, regarding them as we read a hungry fox did
some grapes in the days of 2Esop. Darkness fell that
evening on anxious hearts, and few eyes could have
closed that night mad the roaring of the pitiless
and unabated storm. Soon of ser midnight its force
was broken, and men thanked God, for neither
hemp or iron could have stood such a strain much longer.
But the sea continued as heavy as ever during the dark-
ness, which was only broken by the lurid flash of the
cannon over Sebastopol, showing that the war of the ele-
ments had been powerless to suspend that of men. We
looked round in the grey dawn, the wind howling and
moaning as if in regret for the evil it had done, and saw
that to the disasters of the previous day had been added
that of another transport, No. 89, Lord Raglan,
and that the Egyptian lino-of-battle ship, which still
remained, had been compelled during t6e night to cut
away her fore and mizeirmast, and had also lost her bow-
sprit. Daylight also showed us the inland hills covered
with snow. In the course of the morning the transports
on shore made signals of distress to the Admiral, who
ordered the Fury to weigh ; she, however, signalled that
communication was yet impossible on account of the
surf ; but in the afternoon the sea had gone down
sufficiently to attempt their relief, although the effort
was still attended with
.much danger. The Cossacks had
been busy during the day, and they made one or two
attempts even to swim off' to our transports, but were
carried back by the surf, aided by a knock or two
on the head from our merchant sailors, who by no
means realised the idea of a Christmas in Sebasto-
pol. One gentleman, in a carriage, drove down to
the bench, near the Tyrone, and in good English
exhorted the sailors to make a trial of Mus-
covite forbearance. " We, too," he said, suiting the action
to the words, " have hearts as well as the English." I will
not give the reply in esstenso, suffice it to say, it was what
somebody calls " John Bell's great everlasting no," accom-
panied by some strong adjectives. No fire had beenopened
on the enemy during the day from the fleet, and it was
determined not to do so till they proceeded to overt acts
of hostility. About 4 p.m. volunteer boats from the Queen,
Rodney, London, and some steamers, pulled in, and the
Firebrand got under weigh to cover their. On seeing them
approaching, the Cossacks drew up on the cliff, and fired
on the boats, killing a man belonging to the Queen.
This fire was immediately returned from the steamer,
and they at once scurried off. The surf prevented the
crews being rescued till the morning of the 16th, when
they were recovered by the boats of the Firebrand and
other steamers, after having in one of the ships fired a
parting salvo at the Russians with cartridges which had
been collected from the field of Alma. None of the ships
appear to have been so completely waterlogged as to pre-
vent the crews from obtaining provisions, nor have I heard
of any loss of life.
The enemy took advantage of the gale by advancing on
Eupatoria with about 0,000 cavalry and twelve field-pieces;
they wore, however, warmly received with such a heavy
fire, both of guns and rockets, that they retired with a
loss of about 100 killed and wounded. Our loss amounted
to only two men wounded.
There has been as yet but one communication from Bala-
klaya, but we hear fearful things of the damage done there.
The Prince with all the soldiers' warns clothing (she had
previously landed the troops) another transport with a
large quantity of Mini 6 ammunition, another with hay for
the troops-8 vessels lost; Retribution, Negro, Vesuvius,
severely damaged, and, worst of all, 300 lives lost, are the
naked details of this terrible story.
It has been determined to abandon Eupatoria, and
orders havrbeen sent thither to destroy the Henri Quatre.
There is a umour that the Tartar inhabitants who have
trusted to our protection are to be removed to Sinope. The
gale appears to have injured the Russian breakwater at the
entrance of Sebastopol, as they sunk another two-decker
yesterday (17th) in the same position as the others.
The Queen of the South has arrived at Constantinople,
bringing S5O British troops. They have proceeded at once
to the Crimea. Six thousand French have passed through
on their way to Cape Kherson.

FRENCH ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF

INKERMAN.

The General-in-Chief of the Army of the East has
addressed to the Minister of War the two following
reports, which he has received from Generals Forey and
Bosquet, commanding the French troops engaged on
the sth of November, at the battle of Iskerman :
" BEFORE SEBAIiITOPOL, Nov. 7.
" ARMY OF THE EAST.—CORPS DE SIEGE.
"Mon G6msral,—l have the honour to acquaint you
that, on the sth of November, at 9 o'clock in the morn-
ing, the left of our attack against Sebastopol was assailed
by a Russian column, composed of four battalions form-
ing the Regiment of Minsk, one battalion of the Regi-
ment of Wolhynsk, and of a certain number of volunteers
who joined them. This column, 5,000 strong, supported
by a battery of artillery, left the city by the bastion of
the Quarantine, and proceeded along the ravine situate
on the left of our lines. Its march, favoured by a thick
mist, could not be immediately arrested, and it threw
its force upon the batteries Nos. 1 and 2, which
it reached. The occupants of these batteries having

ieen compelled to retire towards the battalions of the

39th and the 19th regiments of the line, and upon four
companies of the Foreign Legion charged with the de-
feneeof the trenches. These battalions, or portions of

Battalions, were also compelled to retire before the
Russian column, but they vigorously resumed the offen-
sive, when two companies of the 19th battalion of
Chasseure, in reserve at Clocheton, and four companies
of the Foreign Legion, from the building of the Car-
rieree. arrived at the scene of the conflict.

"The General De la Motto Rouge, who occupied his
pest at the trench in the first parallel, rapidly advanced
with some companies of the 20th Liht Infantry upon the
points attacked. When he reached the batteries No. 1
and 2, they were already abandoned by the enemy, who
was thrown back upon the opposite side of the ravine, at
a little distance from the trench. Encouraged by the
General,, our soldiers advanced with ardour beyond the
first line of defence, pursuing the enemy, and subject-
in, him to a murderous fire. They stopped themselves
at the height of the building called ' Du Rivage,' taking
up a position behind the walls, whence they continued
their lire.

" While these events were going on, and at the first
report of the fusilade, I mounted my horse and adopted
the following dispositions :—I ordered General de Lour-
mel to proceed directly upon the burnt house, and
General d'Anrelle to march in advance of his front along
the Seba.stopobroad, which borders the sea.
"His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon was in-
structed to hold his division under arms, and it advanced
as far as the Maison du Clocheton to support my right,
while an effort was being made on the left.
" Levaillant's division, having taken the place of the
brigades of Lourmel and Aurelle, at the moment of their
departure), went in advance of their front in columns by
brigades. General Levaillant placed himself at 500
metres behind this line, to judge of the moment when
his aid would be necessary.
" I pla.ced myself at the head of the sth battalion of
Chasteurs and of my
artillery, and I followed the ravine
of Ca.rriere perpendicular to the Sebastopol road, for the
purpose 13f cutting off the retreat of the enemy in casehe
should have advanced beyond the batteries No. 1 and
No. 2. Such were the general dispositions which I took
to put myself in a condition to be prepared for every
event on the side of the corps de siege. I was briskly
attacked ; I heard the fire h the direction of Inkerman ;
I knew that you were then smartly engaged ; but not
being olds to judge from what side the most violent
effort would be made, I felt bound to advance to the
combat with my first lines, supported by the whole of
my reserves.

"The brigade of Lourmel, carried away by indescrib-
able ardour for their chief, bore down the enemy before
them as soon as they met, Two battalions of the 26th
Regiment iaf the line furiously pursued the Russians,
who retired in disorder. It was then that General de la
Motto Iron e,
perceiving General de Lourmel arrive on
the height of the Quarantine, where he was in position,
followed him in his movement of offence. Our troops,
stimulated by the ardour of success, very nearly reached
the walls .3f the fortress, impelling before them the mass
of Rus'iall's, while the section of artillery, commanded
by Lieutenant de la Hitte, poured upon them a shower
of shells. and balls.
" I had taken position, with the five battalions of
Chasseurs, on the right flank of General de la Motto
Rouge, atrd on the height of the Quarantine.
"Thinking that the pursuit of the enemy was carried
much tor, far, I sent the Chef d'Escradon Dauvergne and
le Capitaine d'Etat-Major Colson, to bear orders to the
Generals to retire immediately. There was much diffi-
culty in effecting this snovemont, so great was the ardour
of the chiefs and tha soldiers. The retirement was sup-
ported by the position which I occupied on the right,
with the !rye battab,ons of Chasseurs, in the centre by
the rest of the brigade of Lourmel edelonnee, and on
the left by General d'Aurelle. This general officer had
inclined tow,Ards the sea-shore, and had taken by main
force,
in *Lite midst of a mass of projectiles discharged
from the, bastions of the town, the buildings of the
Quaran'ane, which he occupied with the first battalion
of the 74th Regiment of the line. He had left in second
a dominant position, Colonel Beuret with two
battalions, ready. for every event.
" The occupation of this building was very useful. It
protect ed effectually the retreat of the brigade of Lour-
mel, a .nd I cannot too much approve of this disposition
adopted by General d'Aurelle, for it put an end to the
desper ate fusillade by the Russians, who, having been
brou' tht again in advance, bordered anew the opposite
(the i Forth) side of the Bay of the Quarantine. The fire
of th e. 74th Regiment, directed with certain aim, forced
them to retreat a second time, and to retire into the
fortn no. It was upon the opposite side that I wished
to ar teat the pursuit of the enemy, if, impelled by a
warlike ardour, which I deplore, the brave General de
Loon u el had not led his troops beyond. In this pursuit,
serier4 ly wounded by a ball which traversed his chest, he
gave -r p the command to Colonel Niol, who was obliged
to eff ct a retreat under au extremely violent fire
from a 11 the batteries of the place, a movement which did
not t e rminate until they reached the back of the ravine
of th es Quarantine.

" 0 ur losses have been very considerable, but I do
set l e :Hove I am far from the truth in calculating at
about 1,200 the number of the Russians killed, or placed
hors c le combat.
,:he enemy obtained no advantage in compensation
for h losses, for our trenches are intact; and of the
eigh guns spiked, six renewed their fire immediately,
and the other two did so to-day.
6t f. cannot give too much praise to the troops engaged
on 'tile sth of \Tovember. I was most completely sup-
per to dby every one--generals, officers, and soldiers.
'rho qtaoars of my staff, from the commeneemout.of the