The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-07 00:00:00

THE NAVAL EXPEDITION

AGAINST THE

RUSSIANS IN THE PACIFIC.

ADMIRALTY DESPATCHES.

The following additional details respecting the
late naval engagement in the Pacific have been
forwarded to us from the Admiralty :

H.M.S. Pique,
Lat. 46° 2' W., long. 179° 32' W.
19th Sept., 1854.

Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that on
Thursday, August 31st, Rear-Admiral Febvrier
Des Pointes decided upon carrying into execution
the plan of attack against the outer defences of the
harbour of Petropaulovski, as had been arranged
between him and the late Commander-in-Chief,
whose untimely death on the preceding day had
stopped the movement of the ships.
The weather being calm, it was determined that
the three frigates should be placed in position by
the steamers. The Virago was therefore lashed
between the Pique and the Forte, while the Presi-
dent was taken in tow astern. In this manner the
ships proceeded towards the batteries, and were
dropped in succession into the best positions that
could be reached, for the tide inshore was found
rather stronger than was anticipated.

The three batteries forming the outer defences
of the entrance of Petropaulovski were, a five-gun
battery on the extremity of the peninsula forming
the harbour ; an admirably constructed fascine
battery of 11 heavy guns, placed at the water's
edge on the opposite shore ; and a three-gun bat-
tery at some distance further out on the same side.

As this battery, from its raking position, was ex-
pected to give much annoyance, the President's
marines, under Captain Parker, R.M., had been
placed on board the Virago, and were landed to
take possession of the battery immediately after the
ships had been anchored. Although greatly im-
peded by the almost impenetrable brushwood, the
marines and some seamen, both French and Eng-
lish, why were sent to their support, soon reached
the battery, which they found deserted. The guns
were rendered unserviceable, and the party re-em-
barked under the cover of the Virago. In per-
forming this service this vessel became exposed to
a heavy fire from the Russian frigate in the inner
harbour, which did her some damage.
The battery at the extremity of the peninsula
being most exposed to the fire of the ships was
soon silenced, and as it was directly in a line with
the town and frigates in the harbour, much damage
must have been occasioned by the shot which
passed over this battery.
A breeze springing up in the afternoon enabled
the Forte and President, the two outer ships, to
take up fresh positions somewhat nearer the low
battery.
The guns of all the ships were now directed upon
this battery, and from the Forte especially a rapid
ricochet fire was maintained, until at length the
battery ceased firing, although the enemy were not
driven from their guns..

The ships now ceased firing, and were moved
out of range for the night, the Virago taking the
Forte in tow, and the President and Pique hauling
off by kedges.
Although all the ships received shot in their
hulls and rigging, the Forte alone suffered any loss
in men. An unfortunate shot passed across her
quarter-deck, killing one man and wounding several
others.

11. In the interval between this first attack and
the subsequent operations on the 4th of September,
several consultations were held between the French
rear-admiral and the captains of the two squadrons.
12. Some information haying been obtained dur-
ing this interval as to the position of the batteries
not visible from the ships, and also as to the inte-
rior of the town and the strength of the garrison,
it was considered that an attack upon the north
end of the town by a landing party would probably
meet with success, and. lead. to important results.
13. With a view to occupying the enemy's atten.-
tion as much as possible, it was determined. t.)
adopt a simultaneous attack on a battery of five
guns placed on the low part of the peninsula, and.
likewise on a round fort at its northern extremity,
at which place the marines and seamen were to
land and endeavour to get possession of the bat,
teries and the heights surrounding the town.
14. Owing to the largo number of men required
for the landing party the guns of both frigates
could not be manned, and the President's guns
being lighter than the Pique's, and, therefore, re-
quiring fewer men to work them, I went on board
the ship, taking with me the remainder of the
Pique's ship's company.

15. On the morning of September 4, the landing
party, consisting of about 350 men from each
squadron, besides officers, was placed on board the
Virago, which vessel then lashed alongside the
Forte, the boats for the disembarkation being placed
on the opposite side, and the President being
taken in tow astern. •

16. The batteries commenced firing as soon a s
the ships, came within range, and did considerable
damage to the masts and yards of the frigates, bnt
especially to the Forte's. A shot struck the Vi-
rago's deck, but, fortunately, it glanced upwards,
otherwise the havoc on her crowded deck might
have proved serious.

17. The President having been anchored about
600 yards from the Saddle Battery on the centre
of the peninsula, opened a heavy fire upon it,
notwithstanding which the enemy continued work-
ing their guns with the greatest determination,
retiring occasionally under shelter of the sloping
platform on which the guns were placed, and re-
turning again to their guns as soon as the fire from
the ship slackened in the least ; however, at length
the battery was:silenced.
18. In the meantime the Forte had been placed
opposite the round fort or gorge battery, which she
speedily silenced, and thus enabled the marines and
seamen to be landed from the Virago.
19. For an account of the occurrences on shore
I must refer to the enclosed letter from Captain
Burridge.

20., Tho Forte, Virago, and Obligado brig
covered the re-embarkation of the landing party ;
the fire from the brig was very effective in check-
ing the advance of the enemy.
21. As soon as the embarkation had been effected,
all the ships moved out to their anchorage in the
bay.
22. Although this attack proved unsuccessful, I
trust that the gallantry displayed by Captain La
Grandeire of the Eurydice, and Captain Burridge,
and the officers and men under their command, will
be appreciated.
23. The marines and seamen on the right gal-
lantly gained the ridge of the hill, in spite of the
steepness of the ascent, and in the face of a heavy
fire. But, unfortunately, the dense brushwood in
which many of the enemy were secreted stopped
any further advance in that direction, and on the
left the gorge was found so strongly defendei,
not merely by musketry, but likewise by guns
and field pieces, that it could not be forced from
that quarter`; besides • which, we have, since leav-
ing the harbour, received information from the
prisoners taken on board the Sitka, which leads us
to believe that the numerical strength and compo-
sition of the troops forming the garrison, were far
superior to what we had been led to suppose.
24. Before closing this letter, I cannot refrain
from bearing my tribute to the conduct of Captain
Burridge and Com„ Marshall, from whom I have
received the most cordial assistance throughout
the operations at Petropaulovski. The coolness of
the former officer during the retreat, and the em-
barkation of the landing party was the theme of
general admiration, and Commander Marshall has
been unwearied in his exertions in turning the
ships and covering the landing parties ; his vessel,
being the only steamer attached to the two squad-
rons, has had a double share of work to perform.

25. While on board the President on the 4th
September, I received the most zealous support
from Commander Conolly and Mr. Roberts, mas-
ter of that ship. Lieutenant Morgan, the gunnery
officer, was disabled by a wound from a splinter

soon after the battery opened fire, and his place in
charge of the main deck was filled by Lieutenant
Grove, of the Pique.
26. Lieutenants Bland and Marshall, of this
ship, commanded the Pique's- seamen on shore,
and were among the last to leave the beach ; and
Mr. Fitzgerald, mate, had charge of the Pique's
launch, and did good service with her gun during
the embarkation.

27. The French officers and seamen engaged
were distinguished for the order with which they
advanced, and the steadiness and fortitude they
displayed during the retreat and subsequent em-
barkation.
28. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded,
both on board the President and among the land-
ing parties, and I also send a copy of the list of
killed and wounded in the French squadron.
29. On the 7th Sept., the combined squadrons
sailed from Awatska Bay, and when outside the
harbour chased and captured the Russian Govern-
ment steamer Amadis and the Sitka Russian mer-
chant vessel. The former vessel was dismantled
and burned, and the latter is now in company with
squadron. She was last from Ajens in the Sea of
Ochosk, and had several Russian officers and Go-
vernment civilians on board. She was built at
Hamburg for the Russo-American Co., and has a
miscellaneous cargo, amongst which is a consider-
able quantity of gunpowder and flour.

30. My present intention is to water at Van-
couver's Island, and then proceed to San Francisco,
to await your further orders.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) F. W. E. NICOLSON,
Captain.

Her Majesty's Ship President,
Awatska Bay, Kamschatka,
sth Sept., 1854.

Sir,—lt is my duty to report to you the events
connected with the landing party from her Ma-
jesty's ships placed under my command, and those
of his Imperial Majesty under the orders of Captain
La Grandiere, of l'Eurydice.
The Allied Forces, consisting of divisions of ma-
rines and small-arm men, nearly 700 strong, were
on board her Majesty's steam-sloop Virago by five
o'clock yesterday morning, when Captain La Gran-
, dein reiterated the plan of attack already made
known to me and the captains of companies, which
was to,the effect that the Marines were to ascend
the hill, to be assisted by the seamen of the Forte
and Eurydice. The seamen of the Pique, Presi-
dent, and Virago were to proceed by the road to
the left of the Marines, with a view to storming
the batteries in the town that commanded the pas-
sage of the gorge. Having done so, they were to
reform and await further directions.

_______
The gorge battery on the beach having been
silenced by the guns from the Forte, we were
landed directly under the hill. The enemy were
strong in position and numbers 'on the hill, from
which they commenced firing immediately on our
landing. The Marines were formed as quickly as
possible, under Captain Parker, R.M., and, sup-
ported by the seamen as they landed, ascended
' the hill, which was very steep, and covered
with thick jungle. From these circumstances
the enemy had a great advantage. Never_
theless they were driven back, and we took up
their first position.
When half way up the ascent the Marines and
the French Riflemen went to the right of the hill,
the left and centre being held by the seamen of
the Pique, President, and Virago, and those of
the French ships.
The left was cleared of the enemy sufficient to
take up a position on the flank of the 2-gun and
3-gun batteries in the rear, which had kept up a
sharp fire of round shot and grape down the gorge.
Driven from their guns by our musketry, they re-
tired to log houses, from which they kept up a
harassing fire of musketry on our left. The right
had by this time advanced up the hill and gained
the ridge which led to the Saddle Battery, then en-
gaged by her Majesty's ship President. In effect-
ing this our loss had been most severe, owing to the
number of the enemy that had been strongly posted
on the top of the hill and on our flanks. We had
advanced some distance along the ridge when Cap-
Jean Parker, R.M., was killed while gallantly lead-
ing on his men, and Lieutenants M'Callum and
Clements, R.M., were wounded ; and about tkis
time our men began to fall back, and, after many
attempts to rally, the incessant fire kept up com-
pelled them to retreat towards the beach. A
small party formed behind the gorge battery to
cover the retreat ; but, as the boats had to be
brought within range of the enemy's musketry,
many of our men fell during the embarkation.
, The casualties on the part of our allies will no
doubt be made known to you by the Commander-
in-Chief. Their gallant conduct on the advance,
and their steadiness in the retreat was much to be
admired. First Lieutenant Le Febvre, of the
Eurydice, was killed while advancing towards me,
and the gallant conduct of several of the French
officers, whose names I regret being unacquainted
with, came under my observation.
Among the losses we have to deplore on this oc-
sion, none can be more deeply regretted than that
of Captain Parker, R.M. He was a good soldier,
and an honour to the corps. Flag Lieutenant E.
A. Howard was severely wounded while acting as
my aide-de-camp ; Lieutenant George Palmer, of
this ship, was wounded while leading the company
under his command. Lieutenants M'Callum and
Clements, R.M., and Mr. Robinson, mate, all of
the Pique, were wounded at the head of their men.
My thanks are due to all the officers, as well as
the men that were employed under my command.
The difficulties of the land and the jungle were
more than they could contend against, while an
unseen enemy was firing upon them from all sides.
Subjoined is a list of the landing party, and the
casualties that were sustained, and it only remains
for me to express a hope that you will consider we
did all that was in our power on the occasion.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) RICHARD BURRIDGE,
Captain.
To Captain Sir Frederick Nicolson, Bart.,
H.M.S. Pique.

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