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

WOUNDED.

SUN OFFICE, MONDAY, 9th October.

In performance of our promise, we published
yesterday an Extraordinary Edition of The Sun,
containing the Official Despatches, with lists of
the killed and wounded, from the London Gazette
Extraordinary. The Gazette was not published
until a quarter to one o'clock, and before
half-past one we had The Sun delivered
to the wondering and expectant public. This
prompt display of activity reminds us of a similar)
occasionr—the Battle of Navarino—when we an-
ticipated the ordinary course of business by forty-
eight hours ! The Gazette was then published on
a Saturday evening, and by Sunday morning and
noon, the news was disseminated by The Sun al]
over the United Kingdom. There were no rail-
ways in those days.

On the present occasion we have distributed
The Sun all over the country. The Mayor oil
Gravesend posted up a copy on the Town Hall
before four o'clock yesterday afternoon to an
admiring public.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
October 8, 1854, 8 o'clock a.m.
Major the Lord Burghersh arrived this morning
with a despatch from General the Lord Raglan,
G.C.8., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, of
which the following is a copy
Head-quarters, Katcha River,
SEPT. 23, 1854.
My Lord Duke,—l have the honour to informl
your Grace that the Allied Troops attacked thel
position occupied by the Russian Army, behind'
the Alma, on the 20th instant ; and I have
great satisfaction in adding, that they suc-
ceeded, in less than three hours, in driv-
ing the enemy from every part of the ground
which they had held in the morning
and in establishing themselves upon it.
The English and French Armies moved out
their first encampment in the Crimea on the 19th, L.!,
and bivouacked for the night on the left bank of:
the Bulganac, the former having previously sup-u
ported the advance of a part of the Earl of Cardi-
gan's brigade of Light Cavalry, which had the
effect of inducing the enemy to move up a large
body of Dragoons and Cosaques, with artillery.
On this, the first occasion of the English encoun-
tering the Russian force, it was impossible for any
troops to exhibit more steadiness than did this
portion of her Majesty's cavalry.
It fell back upon its supports with the most
perfect regularity under the fire of the Artillery,
which was quickly silenced by that of the bat-
teries
I caused to be brought into action.
t.
Our loss amounted to only four men wounded. t
The day's march had been most wearisome anoli
under a burning sun, the absence of water, until.;!:
we reached the insignificant but welcome stream of
the Bulganac, made it to be severely felt.
Both Armies moved towards the Alma the fol.-
lowing morning, and it was arranged that Marshal.
St. Arnaud should assail the enemy's left by
crossing the river at its junction with the sea, and
immediately above it, and that the remainder of
the French divisions. should move up the heights
in their front, whilst the English Army should
attack the right and centre of the enemy's position. j
In order that the gallantry exhibited by Her!
Majesty's troops, and the difficulties they had to-,
meet nay be fairly estimated, I deem it right, even.
at the risk of being considered tedious, to endea-'
your to make your Grace acquainted with th sl,
position the Russians had taken up.
It crossed the great road about 21 miles from
the sea, and is very strong by nature.
The bold and almost precipitous range of heights„
of from 350 to 400 feet, that from the sea closely-
border the left bank of the river here ceases and,
formed their left, and turning thence round a.
great amphitheatre or wide valley, terminates at a
salient pinnacle where their right rested, and
-ence the descent to the plain was more gradual.,
The front was two miles in extent.
Across the mouth of this great opening is
lower ridge at different heights, varying from 6()
to 150 feet, parallel to the river, and at distances
from it of from 600 to 800 yards.
The river itself is generally fordable for troops.,,
but its banks are extremely rugged, and in moat.
parts steep; the willows along it had been cut down ,1
in order to prevent them from affording cover to
the attacking party, and in fact everything ha(
been done to deprive an assailant of any species o f
shelter.
In front of the position on the right bank, a t
about 200 yards froml the Alma, is the village cif
Bouliouk, and near it a timber bridge, which had.
been partly destroyed by the enemy.
The high pinnacle and ridge before alluded to,
was the key of the position, and consequently,
there the greatest preparations had been made for:
defence.

Half way down the height and across its front waf
a trench of the extent of some hundred yards, to
afford cover against an advance up the even steep
slope of the hill. On the right, and a little retired,
was a powerful covered battery, armed with
heavy guns, which flanked the whole of the right.'
of the position.
Artillery, at the same time, was posted at the
points that best commanded the passage of the,
river and its approaches generally.
On the slopes of these hills (forming a sort of
table land) were placed dense masses of the enemy':
infantry, whilst on the heights above was his grea t'
reserve, the whole amounting, it is supposed, to
between 45,000 and 50,000 men.
The combined armies advanced on the sato -
agnement, her Majesty's troops in contiguous
double columns, with the front of two divisions
covered by light infantry and a troop of horse ar-
tillery, the 2d Division, under Lieutenant-General
Sir De Lacy Evans, forming the right, and touch-
ing the left of the 3d Division of the French Army,
under his Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon,
and the. Light Division, under Lieutenant-General
Sir George Brown, the left • the first being sup-
• ported by the 3d Division, tinder Lieutenant-
General Sir Richard England, and the last by the
Ist Division, commanded by Lieutenant-General
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
The 4th Division, under Lieutenant-General
Sir George Cathcart, and the cavalry under Ma-
jor-General the Earl of Lucan, were held in re-
serve to protect the left flank and rear against
large bodies of the enemy's cavalry, which had
been seen in those directions.
On approaching to near the fire of the guns,
which soon became extremely formidable, the two
leading divisions deployed into line, and advanced
to attack the front, and the supporting divisions
followed the movement. Hardly had this taken'
place, when the village of Bouliouk, immediately
opposite the centre, was fired by the enemy at all
points, creating a continueus blaze for three hun-,
dred yards, obscuring their position and rendering!
a passage through it impracticable. Two regi-
ments of Brigadier-General Adams' brigade, part
of Sir De Lacy Evans' division, had, in conse-
quence, to pass the river at a deep and difficult
ord to the right under a sharp fire, whilst his first
brigade, under Major-General Pennefather, and