The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-07 00:00:00

Ile or no effect

'e is lel

n the army.
3. Sir Edmund Lyons, in the Agamemnon, with the
Iron of steamers, is at Balaklava as-

Diamonc

ad squad

fasting the troops. A French squadron, under Vice-Ad-
miral Bruat, is anchored between the lighthouse and the
harbour in communication with the left of the French
army. A division of steam vessels watches the mouth of
the port constantly, where four or five Russian steam-
vessels always have their steam up, and the large sailing
vessels are with Admiral Hamelin and myself, anchored
off the Katcha River, the weather hitherto having per-
mitted our remaining in those positions.
"3. The Sidon and Inflexible, with the Cacique and
Caton, are still in Odessa Bay, to prevent any communica-
tion by sea with the Crimea, and I have sent a transport
to them with coals and fresh provisions, which I have
drawn from Sinope.
" 4. On the 11th an Austrian vessel, laden with hay for
the Commissariat, got within range of the batteries, and
was deserted by her crew at the second shot. She ran
on shore about 1,500 yards south of the harbour mouth,
and was got off that evening and towed to Balaklava. I
enclose the report of Capt. Jones, of the Sampson, who, with
Capt. Stewart, of the Firebrand, and Mr. Boxer, Second
Master in charge of the Beagle, assisted by the French
launches of the inshore squadron, got the Austrian to sea
from under the batteries in .a very successful and credit-
able manner. The Firebrand has four shots in her hull,
but, fortunately, no casualties.
"5. I learnt from Captain King, of the Leander, of the
approach to Eupatoria of a large Russian force near the
town. I have sent the Firebrand and Vesuvius to assist
in the defence, should it be attacked, and shall send two
other vessels to-day.
" 6. The French and Turkish troops sent for from Varna
and Constantinople by the Simoom, Vulcan, Cyclops, and
our transports, are hourly expected; they have been kept
back and detained by the late strong north-east gales.

"I have, &e.,
"J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-Admiral,
" To the Secretary of the Admiralty, &c."

(No. 07.)

" Britannia, off the Katcha, Oct. 18

"Sir,-1. I beg you will acquaint the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty that the siege batteries of the
allied armies opened fire upon the Russian works south of
Sebastopol about half•past six o'clock yesterday morning,
with great effect, and small loss. _ _

" 2. In consequence of the most urgent request of Lord
Raglan and General Canrobert, it was agreed by the ad-
miraLs of the allied fleets that the whole of the ships
should assist the land attack by engaging the sea batteries
north and south of the harbour, on a line across the port,
as shown in the accompanying plan, but various circum-
stances rendered a change in the position of the ships ne-
cessary and unavoidable.

" 3. The Agamemnon, Sanspareil, Sampson, Tribune,
Terrible, Sphinx, Lynx, Albion, London, Arethusa, towed
by the Firebrand, Niger, and Triton, engaged Fort Con-
stantine and the batteries to the northward ; while the
Queen, Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Rodney, Belle-
rophon, with Vesuvius, Furious, Retribution, Ilighflyer,
Spitfire. Spiteful, and Cyclops, lashed on the port side of
the several ships, gradually took up their positions, as
nearly as possible as marked on the plan.
"4. The action lasted from about half-past one to half-
past six p.m., when being quite dark, the ships hauled off.
" 5. The loss sustained by the Russians, and the damage
done to Fort Constantine and batteries cannot, of course,
as
,yet be correctly ascertained.
6. An action of this duration against such formidable
and well-armed works could 'not be maintained without
serious injury, and I have to regret the loss of 44 killed
and 266 wounded, as detailed in the accompanying lists.
The ships, masts, yards, and rigging, are more or less
damaged, principally by shells and hot shot. The Albion
has suffered much in hull and masts, the Rodney in her
masts, she having tailed on the reef, which she was
got off by the great exertions of Commander Kynaston, of
the Spiteful, whose crew and vessel were necessarily ex-
posed in performing this service ; but, with the exception
of the Albion and Arethusa, which ships I send to Con-
stantinople to be repaired, I hope to be able to make my
squadron serviceable in 24 hours. Foreseeing, from the
nature of the attack, that we should be likely to lose
spars, I left the spare topmasts and yards on board her
Majesty's ship Vulcan at this anchorage, where I had
placed her with all the sick and prisoners.
" I have now the pleasure of recording my very great
satisfaction with the ability and zeal displayed by Rear-
Admirals Sir Edmund Lyons and the Hon. Montagu
Stopford, and all the captains under my command, as well
as my sincere thanks to them, and to-the officers, seamen,
and marines employed, for their unremitting exertions,
and the rapidity of their fire, in the absence of a large
number of the crews of each ship, who were landed to

assist in working the siege batterie;;&c., on shore, and to
this. circumstance I attribute the small loss of killed and
wounded. _ _

"8. The gallant and skilful conduct of our French
allies in this action was witnessed by me With admiration,
and I hear with regret that they have also suffered con-
siderable loss.

"9. I beg to express my gratitude at the manner in
which Ahmed Pasha, the Turkish Admiral, did his duty.
" I have, &c.,
(Signed) " J. W. D. DUNDAS,
Vice-Admiral.
"The Secretary of the Admiralty, &c."

(Enclosure 4.—Oct. 18.—No. 527.)

A LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE SQUADRON,
IN THE ATTACK ON THE FORTS OF SEBASTOPOL, ON
THE 14TH OF OCTOBER, 1854.

HER MAJESTY'S SIM? BRITANNIA

WOUNDED,

James W. Vaughan, lieutenant, contused wound of the
left shoulder, from a splinter, rather severe.
William 31`Neill, A. 8., left arm shot away at the elbow;

amputation

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP QUEEN

KILLED.

John Curtis, first-class boy