The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

their op(

ations

In order to form as clear an idea as possible of
the state of affairs, it should be premised that the
town and fortress of Sebastopol stand on the south-
west of the Crimea, and that the attack is con-
ducted on the southern side, from which Balaklava
is about five miles distant, the intermediate space
being separated from the northern part of the
country by a deep ravine, while the other side is
bounded by the sea-coast. This line of five miles
consists of a range of heights with a long narrow
valley leading into Balakiava, while on the northern
side is a lower range of heights, facing the country
in possession of the Russian troops under General
LIPR.ANDI.

After taking possession of the heights near
Balaklava, which was performed with comparative
ease, preparations were immediately commenced for
carrying on the siege according to the most ap-
proved rules of warfare, all idea of capturing.
Sebastopol by a coup-de-main having been aban-
doned. Accordingly, the English troops erected
redoubts on the lower as well as the higher
ground, that force occupying the most northern-
most position, while the French forces took posses-
sion of the southern side, both parties being fur-
nished with reinforcements, ammnunition, siege
guns, and other supplies from the fleet, thg vessels
being enabled to enter the creek by which Balak-
lava communicates with the sea. The English
had thus the post of defending the line of commu-
nication against the Russian forces outside the
walls, while the French troops more immediately
faced the southern side of the town of Sebastopol,
which was defended by huge mounds, earth-works
and batteries, supplied with very heavy guns from
the Russian fleet in the bay, and the arsenal,
which the Emperor NICHOLAS had had constructed
and stored as his stronghold for the subjugation
of the Black Sea.

It should be borne in mind, that the operations
of a siege are conducted by making lines of
trenches parallel with the fortification, which form
a defence for the besiegers, who proceed with
similar parallel trenches successively nearer, until
a breach renders an assault practicable. Both the
English and French forces, assisted by sailors from
the fleet, who volunteered for this arduous duty,
and did good service, were diligently employed in
the erection of batteries until the 17th of October,
when firing commenced from the English and
French batteries ; but, after about three hours'
cannonade, the explosion of a magazine in the
midst of one of the French batteries partially dis-
abled the French artillery until the 19th, when
both sides were vigorously engaged, the Russian
artillery being well served. Great assistance to
the allies was at the same time afforded by several
ships of the fleet, which approached close to the
Russian forts, and, by distracting their fire,
afforded important aid to the land forces. This
was not, however, effected without considerable
loss, and damage to the vessels engaged.
But while the greater part of the allied troops
were thus occupied within range of the guns of
Sebastopol, the line of nearly five miles, which
separated them from their head-quarters, near
Balaklava, was but thinly defended. The four
small redoubts which had been erected on the
lower line of heights, facing the northern country,
were given in charge to some Turkish troops, the
only other soldiers on the plain which it intersects
being the 93rd Highlanders, with a battery of
artillery and party of marines. This was a tempt-
ing opportunity for the Russians to attempt an
attack on the rear of the besiegers, and accordingly,
on the 25th of October, a numerous body of the
enemy, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery,
attacked the redoubts, from which the Turks were
compelled to retire, having first spiked the guns
in three of the redoubts, so as to render them
useless to the enemy. The Highlanders, however,