The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY ETPNING-, NOVEMBER 29, 18b4.

THE BATTLE-EVE IN THE RUSSIAN

CA AfP.

A coni..FromiLnt of La l',-ess3 communicates the
eurioils information respecting the pro-
ceediugA in Sebastopol and the Russian camp, from
the arrival of the reinforcements under General
Dannenberg, till the battle of Inkerman :
The now reinforcements which have come to the assist•
ance of the Russians had been already announced to the
Commander-in-Chief from Perekop. It was known that
this army, commanded by General ainuenberg—the
most able, we are assured, of all the Russian generals—
and by the two Archdukes Michael and Nicholas, was
cemposed of the 10th, 11th, and 12th divisions. Each
of these corps consists of 16 battalions of infantry, of
two batteries of artillery, and of a force of cavalry, the
number of which is not accurately known. Altogether
30,000 men have arrived at Sebastopol, post haste, hav-
ing left their baggage behind at Nicolaieff.
Having reached a forest, two leagues to the north-east
of Sebastopol, the army halted, and the two archdukes
put themselves in communication with Prince Menschi-
kuff, who paid them a visit. A council of war was held
on the 3d, at which the two Archdukes, Prince Meng-
schikoff, and General Gortschakoff were the only persons
present. It was decided at the council that an attack
should be made upon the Allied forces two days after-
wards. The army was to advance towards Inkerman,
to take possession of the fortified works which crown
the heights and surround the plain of Inkerman.
After having accomplished this, the army was to attack
the eastern side of the French works towards Balaklava.
At the same time a vigorous sortie waste be made to help
these operations. The point chosen was a, spot between the
Fort Quarantine and the Southern Fort. A portion
of the garrison of the city and of the Southern port was
to attack and destroy the first and second French bat-
teries, which are causing considerable damage in the
town.
Matters being thus arraiged, Prince Menschikoff re-
served to himself the command of the town and the dis-
position of the columns which were to make the sortie.
The army and the reinforcements which had come up
were placed under the command of General Gortschakoff.
The army of operation was to receive also draughts of
troops from tho garrison of Sebastopol. The archdukes
were placed on the staff.
Measures were immediately taken to insure the due
execution of these plans.
On the 4th a solemn celebration took place. A mass
was chaunted with all solemnity by bishops who had
come with the archdukes. At the end of the mass the
troops were assembled, and ens of the prelates addressed
them. I should have been incredulous as to the details
which I am about to communicate had I not received

them from a Russian officer, at present a prisoner at
Balaklaya, and if they had not been confirmed by special
investigations which I have made for the purpose of as-
certaining the truth.
The bishop began by reminding the soldiers of their
duty to the Czar and their country, and drew their at-
tention to the two archdukes, who had come to share
their dangers. He then spoke of their enemies, and gave
an explanation of the battle of Alma calculated to flatter
the self-love and to elevate the courage of the imperial
army. The English came under the special notice of the
bishop. He said they were poor soldiers, destitute of
all energy, and hostile to the cause of God. His allusions
to the French were a mere echo of the proclamation of
the Czar at Moscow in the year 1812.
The most remarkable point, however, was the strange
conclusion of the addresn.:—

"If you are conquerors," cried the bishop,

" great

joy is in preparation for you. We know from unim-
peachable sources that these English heretics have in
their camp an enormous sum, which God will give into
your hands. This sum amounts to thirty million roubles.
The Emperor makes you a present of the third part of
this tremendous sum. The second third is rf:served for

the purpose of the re-building of Sebastopol, which you
are on the point of relieving. The remainder will be
divided amongst the Princes and officers who will to-
morrow be your commanders iu the battle. Every one
of you soldiers will receive SSO roubles. To the wounded

the/ E:nperur promises a month's pay and rations. As
to those of you chosen by God for a glorious death, your
Emperor will permit you to dispose of your share in the
booty by will. Whatever may be the wishes of any one
of you they will be respected solemnly."
The speech was terminated by an appeal to the God
of armies to bless the soldiers of Russia. A distribution
of medals and coronets followed.
The officer who has given me these curious detaild is
a person of high family, with a spice of Voltairianism
in his composition ; but he assures me that the scene
was almost sublime. It was calculated to make a great
impression on the soldiers, on whom the recollection of
the battle of Alma had operated most prejudicially.
Whatever may have been the cause, whether it were the
exhortation of the bishops, the presence of the princes,
greed for gold, or any other reason, there is no doubt
that the Russians fought most admirably on the morrow.