The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-12 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 12, 1854.

NATAL AND MILITARY INTE,LLIGENCE.

en, route to Malta, there are only about half a dozen of duty
men in the barracks of Newry.

Greeks
la:
eir
eltelks s ttihhni
es
ttshhkiesi
rmp army:shitt
position,
,a moved.
i:bdu
for a wide distance around white houses, with vine-
yards and fields enclosed. :Sear this village was a nar.
row opening in the mountains, and in a direction to-
tretheoantntohiteryin
" Oa arriving near the village, the usual halt took place,
ad-
vanced. A prisoner had stated that there were 500
hgadpanrtoiesguns.The statement as to their having no guns turned out to
be false, for while the commander of the forces and some
of his staff were in advance, a short time after the attack
commenced, a shell fell only a few yards from the
party and burst, fortunately without hurting any one.
i The chief part of the village before alluded to lay to
' the right of the mountain opening. The mouth of the
gorge itself was wide, but rapidly became narrow. At
the entrance, and facing the opening to the right, was a
low bill, on which were seen numerous tombs, with their
white stone crosses, and to the. left a steep isolated coni-
cal hill, on the top of which was a small house. The
interval between these two hills was filled up by fruit
trees and poplars, with here and there a detached house.
Beyond was what at first appeared to be a small lake,
but which really is a landlocked inlet of the sea, and at
the further end of this was the mountain, on the summit
of which, with its principal face toward the sea, was the
fort of Balaklava.
4' The Rifles advanced in skirmishing order and took
possession of the conical hill and house at the summit,
while flanking parties advanced to clear the hills to the
right and left of the pass. Some of the enemy were seen
on the sides and summit of the mountain to the right.
Dropping shots were now heard in rapid succession.
After a position had been secured, some artillery ad-
vanced, and the enemy were soon afterwards seen re-
treating on the bills, up which the Rifles pursued them.
The Light Division were now ordered to leave their
packs on the ground and to move forward. The First
Brigade took a mountain road to the right, the Second
Brigade to the left, of the gorge. Not long elapsed bee
fore a regular attack on the fort commenced. The at-
tacking party, assisted by the ships, had it all their own
way—the shells from the enemy burst in the air, their shot
fell far and wide, and seeing their case hopeless they shortly
after the commencement of the attack capitulated. Only
one man, a soldier of the 88th, was wounded, and it was
doubtful whether the shell, a fragment of which struck
him, was not from our own ships. The garrison, which
was much smallerthan was expected, was taken as prison-
ers of war, and the fort occupied by our troops. It was
evident that an attack by land had not even been
dreamed of; no preparations whatever were made
against it, and it is only a matter of surprise that any
resistance was made at all by the troops in the fort. The
ships now entered the harbour, and great elevation of
spirits succeeded the successful opening of communica-
tion with our sea stores. To SirJohnßurgoyne is gene- 1
rally attributed the plan of this operation. . .
" What with supplies of all sorts left in abundance by
the people who had deserted the village, and renewed
confident% in the success of the main operation and a
speedy conclusion of the war, all the troops are passing
a very happy evening around their camp fires.
" Sept. 27.—A cloudy morning, and rain threaten-
ing. The French army advancing, and moving towards
Balaklava, where the head-quarters of the allied' forces
is to be established. Met Marshal St. Arnaud coming
in, indulging like every one around in eating some of
the delicious grapes which abound in the vineyards of
this country. Went into the small town said to be built
by the Genoese—of Balaklava. It consists of a few
narrow irregular streets and detached houses, rising one
above the other up the side of the bill. It presents the
usual accompaniments of an eastern town—dirt, veran-
dahs, smell of garlic, narrow filthy lanes, and everywhere
evidences of idleness and neglect. But now all was
bustle. On a gate here was painted, in large letters,
' Head-quarters Commander-in-Chief,' there ' Adjutant-
General, in many places ' Commissariat,' and persons
in every dress and of every department were jostling
against each other in the close confined lanes. Parties
of sick were pouring in from all regiments to a p!easant-
looking white building, in a large garden, on the side of
the hill, the General Hospital. The English being first,
had got the best houses. French regiments were pour-
ing in and encamping near the bay, and on the sides of
the hills,.in the vineyards, •and, in short, everywhere.
The little sea inlet itself—the channel of communication
with the sea, as it wound between the mountains, being
hardly to be distinguished—was filled with transports
and steamers. Among these the Agamemnon floated
proudly, its length nearly the same as the width of what
still seemed to the eye to be a lake, and its huge size
told of the water. There was the Caradoc, Lord Rag-
lan's vessel ; then the•little Brenda, its deck covered
with grey-coated Russian prisoners., Piers—one for the
French, one for the English—were being constructed,
and the beach was covered with arabas, carrying
off .supplies of tea, sugar, rum, biscuit, and other
articles of food from the fleet. One considerable
space near the town was occupied by the ambulances
and ambulance mules—each mule carrying two com-
fortable seats or cots, as required—of the French.
They were in such number!, and so manifestly conve-
nient and necessary, that it was impossible not to regret
the want of foresight or arrangement on the part of the
English authorities which allowed such a battle to be
fought as that of the 20th without any such an applia-
ance at hand. With all the kindness and' care of our
brothers of the fleet, how much suffering might have
been spared during the five miles' transport front the
scene of action to the fleet had there been proper con•
veyanc; instead of springless ill-made Arabes. Never
will those who witnessed it forget the misery of the poor
wounded wretches, officers and men' who on the nights
of the 20th and 21st, lay on the cold ground, without
any tent or protection from weather, save a great coat
and a blanket, and the maimed alone can tell what they
endured, when their wounds were stiff and their bodies
feverish, from the jolting of the cots or hammocks; or
the by far worse shaking of the country carts. It must
not be forgotten that the French were kind enough,
when they knew of our deficiency, to spare us a few of
their ambhlances, but this was only on the last day of
the moving of the wounded to the transports.
.• "Sept. 27, Evening.—The English force has been kept
in readiness all day to move to the hills, but is still 'en-
camped on the plain near the Balaklava gap. The siege
guns are being landed. The Russians are said to be
in the greatest panic. They are bringing all available
guns to protect the side of •the fortress on which they
know now, but too late, that the chief attack is to be
made. It is stated, on good authority, that Prince
Menschikofl' attempted to cut his throat, but was pre-
vented from executing his purpose by some officers near
him. This appears to be very like a ruse, by which his
master would hardly be taken in. After writing that
it would require 80,000 men and three weeks to force
his position at Alma, and yet seeing that position—in
spite of Russian artillery, and every natural advantage
—forced in about a couple of hours by comparatively a
handiul of men, he may well be driven to despair when
he asks himself how he is to appease the wrath and dis-
appointment of the Emperor.
" Sept. 28.—The troops aro to have a day's halt to
wash clothes and rest themselves, while the guns and
military stores are landed. For ten days the men and
officers have been without tents, constantly on the move
and occupied, and, having no change of clothes, it may
be easily imagined that both the rest and the washing
are urgently necessary. The weather has providentially
continued fine in spite of clouds and threatened rain."

The Royal Albert, 121, is taking in her middle guns a t
Sheerness ; she will shortly complete rec viving on board
her entire armament. !ler gradual dig placement is in
every respect satisfactory, in accordant e with intended
draft at her loading bearing. She has yet to receive, in
addition to her armament, 400 tons of coal. She has noi-
, over three feet displacement to make to bring her down to
her intended water-line. Mr. Madge, her present master,
will not leave her until superseded by Mr. William J.
Wheeler, serving in the Sanspareil, now in the Mediter-
r. nean. Mr. Madge's*departure from the Royal Albert in
sincerely regretted by both officers and men ; few ships can
boast of such an experienced master ; and certain it is
that the Royal Albert has been rigged, under his personal
daily superintendence, by a little knot of seamen and a
sundry lot of fresh-raised men, many of whom had never
spliced a rope or wrung a swab. It is but due to the
marines, and marine artillery also, of this noble ship, to
say that they most certainly have materially assisted him
in stropping blocks, preparing gun-tackles, gun-breechings,
&c., in the absence of A. B.'a to perform such duties es-
pecially in their own lino.
The Cossack, 21 guns, new screw steam-corvette (origi-
, nany built for the Russian Government), Captain Edward
Fanshawe, steamed down from Chatham yesterday, and
anchored at Blackstakes. She will take in her supply of
coals on Friday, and wait her sailing orders. Sunday is
named for her departure for the Black Sea.
The Zephyr paddle-wheel steam.vessel, Lieutenant-
Commander Charles G. Crawley, arrived at Woolwich on
Tuesday evening from the Baltic.
The Otter paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Com-
mander William J. A. Heath, is expected to arrive at
Woolwich in the course of to-day from the Baltic.

THE MILITIA:

The presentation of colours to the 2d Regiment of Somer-
set Militia is appointed to take place on Saturday next,
the 14th inst. The ceremony will be petformed by the-
Hon. Miss Portman, the daughter of Lord Portman,
lieutenant of the county. • The Bishop of Bath and Wells
(Lord Auckland) has intimated his intention of being pre-
sent. The right rev. prelate will deliver an address to the
men. The presentation will take place in Sydenharn-fiield,
near Bath.

The Northumberland Militia lave received orders to mus-
ter at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the course of a few days.
The regiment is about 600 strong, and is said to be very
efficient. Now clothing and ac :outrements have been for-
warded to head-quarters.

The Glamorganshire Alilitia, having been for some days
past under training at Cardiff, have boon disbanded. They
were inspected by General Barnard, Sir Charles Morgan,
and :other officers of the Montmouthshire Militia, after
which they were addressed by the Bishop of Llandaff and
the Rev. Leigh Morgan. A priyor-book was presented by
the right rev. prelate to every.man in the regiment.
Several militia officers in Irelmacl have received notice
that their services will forthivith be called into requisition.
It is understood that the North and South Mayo regiments
of Militia will be called into active service without delay.

INVASION OF THE CRIMEA.

THE MARCH TO BALAKLAVA.

"CAMP OF BALAKLAVA, CRIMEA, Sept. 29.—1 hope
you received my last commjmication with the details of
the battle of the Alma, but it was written very hurriedly,
and entrusted to the best messenger to be had—by one
who is not put upon the staff to report everything
couleur de rose. Up at 4.l.aylight, a hasty breakfast
snatched, packing my things and gathering rations, then
not coming to a hault till near sunset, sleeping on'the
bare ground, you may easily fancy there is very little
opportunity for writing.
" In the regiment to which I have attached myself
only four officers escaped without being hit, and scarcely
a man but had a bullet or two through his clothes. One
officer was killed on the field ; two have since died.
Three, including the colonel, have gone to Scutari
severely wounded ; 208 men so badly wounded that they
have had to be sent away. From cholera and sickness,

from fatigue and exposure, others have since been sent
to the ships and to hospital, so yob. may guess how our
numbers are lessened.

" I take advantage of the halt to-day to send you a
longer communication, which I hope will arrive safely.
"Sept. 24.—The army stirring before daybreak. The
vast number of fires in the valley, the more distant dis-

appearing in the morning mists, produces a curious
effect when seen from the hills. The Light Division
moves at 6 a.m., and descends to the valley on its right.
From the irregularity of the ground and the scattered
distribution of the several divisions, a lofig time elapses
4fore the force is formed for advancing. Heavy artil-
lery heard at intervals in the direction of Sebastopol.
At last, about 8 o'clock, the Rifhi brigade throws out
the skirmishers to their support, and the Light Division,
with its artillery, and the First Division, on its right,
move forward together. The other divisions follow.
The main road to Sebastopol continues near the coast,
and is in excellent order. Signs of cultivation increase,
but no houses are seen. The hills are more broken, their

ummits rounded, and a few trees appear on their sides.
The road runs between the hills, and the Light Division
marches along the green slope on oneside, and the brigades
of Guards and Highlanders on the corresponding slope of
the opposite side, while the Artillery attached to the two
divisions rolls heavily but easily along on the road be-
tween the two. The other divisions aro close be-

hind, and some are seen ascending, and others
descending the successive hills, while a bright sun and
clear atmosphere brings out forcibly every colour, and
throws a brilliancy over the whole scene. No one could
wish for a more magnificent military spectacle, but sad
reflections arise on observing the diminished extent of
ground covered by some of the regiments forming the
Light Division.
" The`advance has to be carefully conducted, and
halts are frequent. These halts render the marching
still more fatiguing. Another white, unfinished look.
out tower comes into view. It stands close to the edge
of the cliffs, above which the masts of the larger vessels
of war as they move along with us are plainly seen, and
appears as if it were originally intended as. a Martello
tower, the construction of which had been suddenly in-
terrupted.. A large body of troops is now seen coming
to our right—the glistening of thenbayonets shows that
:t is the French army, as they always march with them
fixed. Both armies soon afterwards came up, and thre is
a general stop, while a few advance to reconnoitre. The
lookout tower is mounted by some ; others extend, and
. .

observe to the left. The position of the armies is now
on the edge of the plain, over which they have been
marching) before is a deep valley, and to the right is a
small bay of the sea, which extends smooth and blue,
until it is lost in the genii:o ocean beyond. Far off,
beyond another mountain ridge, and backed by still
higher mountains, can be seen indistinctly a group, dif-
ferent in colour and outline from everything around it.
The glass shows that it is a mass of buildings, and the
position proves that we are now taking our first view
of
a whicht r
tstronghold o f
turned.theE u xTi nhee, to-
wardsre
i
connotring a
scend the steep sides of the mountain. Great labour
P orio nof
alls the
hbee oure great
efforts
satisfactory,and dexterity are required in getting down the guns
reeo
and the armies de-
and waggons, but the work is achieved, and all are now
passing
Hqeurieetlayrethfironueg
h trees,the beautiful
comfortable
hedges, and walls of English neatness, while all around
appears to be comfort and plenty. On entering one
goodviafollretyabolfe the
houses, Bel
Bel-
beck
house, a magnificent grand piano of Erard's is open,
the music still upon it, and some fair performer ap-
pears to have been abruptly disturbed, for a recently
plucked peach, and some slight articles of female attire
have fallen close to the music-stool. A large house a
little distance np the valley is pointed out as belonging
to the Governor of the Crimea. This is to be occupied
as the head-quarters. The main army, however, ad-
vances and occupies the bills on the opposite side of the
valley—the cavalry, for the sake of the water, remain in
the plain. Water parties, and others on ration and
other fatigues are sent out, and all return laden with the
most delicious fruit and vegetables—grapes, apples,
melons, and pears in abundance.
" Sept. 25. —Twice during the night was the advanced
division 41arrned, and aroused to stand to their arms.
Rut no attack followed. Cossacks are said to have been
seen in various directions around the camp, but they
keep a respectful distance. The army starts early, and
for some miles threads its way through intricate and
close woods Of dwarf oak. Great dexterity, and much
information, that could not be derived from ordinary
sources, are required to move so large a body of men,
with its trains of 'artillery and commissariat waggons,
through such ground. The plan of the expedition is now
manifest ; the other side of Sebastopol is to be gained,and
Balaklava will become the base of operations. It is said
that there is only one fort at Balaklava, which can easily
be taken on the land side. A perfect communication
will then he established between the army and its fleet,
and no difficulty experienced in lauding the siege guns
and stores. For such an event as this the Russians are
evidently quite unprepared.
"About midday the light division comes upon the road
which leads from Sebastopol to Simpheropol, the capital
of the Crimea. Had the arrival taken place an hour
sooner, a large body of the enemy must have fallen into
our bands. As it was, the cavalry in advance and a
battery of artillery were up in time only to see the rear
of a retreating body, supposed to be about a thousand
strong. A few rounds were fired, but it did not appear
that much execution was done, though great confusion
was evidently caused, as shown by the desertion of every-
thing that was not capable of most easy conveyance.
Some ammunition waggons left were blown up ; the ex-
plosion, and the tower of white smoke, which curled in
a large cloud upwards, had a fine effect. All regretted
that we had been so detained in moving through the
woods.

THE SEAT OF WA R.

THE PENINSULA. OF THE CHEIVONESUS.

This peninsula is defined as follows :—From the head
of the harbour of Sebastopol, along the Tchernaya, to the
point at which that stream is crossed by the road from
BakshisSerai to Balaklava, is about five miles in a south-
east direction. From this crossing the western head-
land of the bay (or creek) of Balaklava is six miles
in a south-west direction. From the western head-
land of the bay of Balaklava to Cape Chersonesus
is about 11 miles in a north-west direction. From Cape
Chersonnesus to where the Tehernaya falls into the
harbour of Sebastopol is about 11 miles in a direction
to the north of east. The surface of the trapezoid con-
tained within these limits is a plateau elevated some 200
or 300 feet above the sea, on which there are several
ridges and isolated hills. All this ground is occupied by
the allies, who appear to have concentrated the whole
of their land forces upon it. In this position they can
only be assailed from one or other of three directions.
From Balaklava to Cape Chersonesus, and from Cape
Chersonesus to the Quarantine Battery, at the entrance
of the harbour of Sebastopol (7 miles) the peninsula is
washed by the sea, on which the allied fleets ride
' triumphant an unassailable. The southern shore of the
harbour is occupied by Russian troops, but they
are little likely to make a sortie, inasmuch as their
line of advance would everywhere, be under the gone
which the Allies have planted along the verge of the
elevated plateau. Only the men in the forts, bat-
teries, and barracks south of the harbour, could be
made available for such a sortie, inasmuch as any
troops attempting to cross the harbour from the north
side would be exterminated by the guns on the
heights, and the flanking fire from the fleet.
A hostile force might be brought up to assail
the Allies on the side of the peninsula► extending
from Balaklava to the Tchernaya by the coast road from
Yalta, which is believed to. be practie.ible fur artillery,
though it passes through a difficult comitry ; but Prince
Menschikeff is understood to have drawn tO him,
before the battle of the Alma, any troops that
may have, been stationed in that quarter. Lastly,
the po-ition of the Allies might be attacked on
the side that is covered by the Tchernaya ; but the facts
that the combined army was allowed to march unassailed
across the difficult country between that stream and the
BelLeck, and that the only Russian troops upon which

" We now moved along
a road cut in the precipitous
side of the mountain, with a far extending plain at its
base. Carriages and boxes upset in all directions, articles
of unifcrtn, military appoixtinents, papers, rations, stores
of harness and saddlery, strewed over the road, evi-
denced the hasty flight of the retreating party from Se-
bastopol. Rumour said that Prince Menschikoff was
himself the chief perionage among the fugitives, and that
papers of his of importance had been seized. A few
Russian soldiers arid one or two officers were made pri-
son erF.

" It 'was nearly dark when, having traversed the
valley and crossed a well-constructed stone bridge, the
light divisiou encamped on the hills above a small vil-
lage ; and long after dark masses of troops and com-
missariat arabas, and baggage ponies withsammunition,
and all the etcetra of camp equipage and followers,
were still pouring in in the same direction. •
" Sept. 26.—Another fine morning. Of all the pro•
vidential advantages with which the English and
French armies have been blessed, none perhaps has
been greater than the fine dry weather which li.‘s
continued, with the exception of the first night, ever
',ince the landing of the forces in the Crimea. The
first night seemed as if to show to what discomfort,
suffering, and sickness the invitin; army might be ex-
posed by bad weather alone. Bivouacking in large
open plains, without any protection, or any means of
counteracting the ill effects of rain and cold, disease
must have spread through the ranks and dispirited the
whole force. But with the exception of that first night,
the temperature has continued warm, the air dry, and
in short the weather has been all that could be desired.
It is true that cholera has continued among the troops,
but the fatigue and continued marching they have ne-
cessarily been exposed to, have rendered the comparative
small number of cases a matter of surprise rather than
otherwise.
" After crossing over some hills, and passing two or
three Russian villages, the part of the army in advance
arrived on a large plain, surrounded by rugged and
broken mountains. At the end opposite to that at
which the troops entered could be seen a village, and
•

, . .
it stumbled by aceideilt on-the march fled in confusion
without fighting, show that the Itus,iiam commander-in-

~•
chief is nut strung enough for such an enterprise. The
allied troops arc therefore left to deal with strongholds
on the south side of the harbour of Sebastopol safe from
interruption. They occupy the heights which overhang
the town hnd harbour on the south from Cape Cherso•
news to the Tchernaya. From the head of the south
bay or harbour, the deepest indentation on the south
side, they look down, immediately to the east, upon Fort
Prul, the docks and the barracks which surround them,
and beyond these upon the Careening Bay. From the
*me point they look down, immediately to the west,