Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-29
Wasbiagtan gentinsl.
From the London Times of December 5.
The Gale Ina the Black Sea.

The Gale Ina the Black Sea.
OF the many great losses suffered by the
Anglo-French expedition from one cause or
another, the storm of the 18th of November, of
which we have at length the melancholy de-
tails, may almost be regarded as the worst. 1t
is true that the Immediate loss Of men is not
to be compared with the numbers placed hors
de combat at the battles Of the Alma and mixer
mann, still less with the victims of cholera. 1t
may also be admitted that for country so rich
as oars, and with such power of rapid pro-
duction, the loss of material is usually little
more than temporary Inconvenience. In
this instance, however, the losses come in a
form, and in time, most unfortunate that
could be desired by the worst enemy of the ex-
petition. The total loss of men at the various
stations on the coast of the crimea on the dis
astrons 18th cannot be less than thousand,
besides those that have fallen into the hands of
the Cossacks. The loss of vessels was thirty
British and French wrecked and half as many
dismasted at Balaklava, and eighteen wrecked
or dismasted at the mouth of the Katcha. Our
men of war, thanks to the precaution of fire.
quently trying their cables, have come off
with no further damage than the loss of
guns, or of masts, or of rigging, the twisting of
their rudders, or the springing some leaks. The
Preach have lost the Henry ", a noble three
decker and favorite war steamer. Thus far
we have sustained no loss beyond the ordinary
drain of war, but the greatest calamity is that
OF which we scarcely now know the full. The
Prince, magnificent new screw-steamer of
200 tons, carried out the other day to Bala.
klava the 46th regiment, all the winter cloth
ing for the troops engaged in the siege, includ.
ing 10000 greatcoats, flannel suits, under.
clothing, socks, and gloves; beef, pork, and
other provisions hospital stores for Scutari !;
and a vast quantity of shot and shell to carry
on the siege. These are wholly lost, and mo-
thing remains Of the Prince bat half dozen
OF her numerous crew, who managed to get on
the cliffs when she was "broken to powder
against them. The Resolute, with 900 tons of
gunpowder, also went to the bottom Thus, it
seems, all the materials for carving on the
siege and providing against the severity of the
winter have been carried off at one fell swoop;
and, even if we think to content ourselves with
merely maintaining our position on the heights
before Sebastopol, it is evident that we are not
in condition to stand our worst foe, the com
ing winter.
Everything seems to have conspired, under a
mysterious dispensation Of Heaven, to make
the loss of the Prince the greatest possible dis
aster. She could not stop at Scutari to land
the hospital stores so greatly wanted there.
When she arrived at Balaklava it was blowing
fresh, and she did not venture within the mar
row tortuous channel of the harbor All she did
was to land the 46th, though it is said that,
besides very largo crew, some sappers and
some medical and other officers were still on
board. On attempting to anchor, the whole
of the cable ran out, not being properly clinch-
ed. A second cable shared the same fate.
The Prince then steamed out, while third
cable was got up from the hold, and with this
she was brought to, though with smaller
anchor than those she had lost. This answered
for while. On the dreadful morning of the
18th, however, il proved utterly inadequate.
The Prince cut away her masts, and put on her
steam; but the wreck of the mizenmast fouled
the screw, and, the noble vessel becoming help
less, Immediately drifted against the rocks.
Figures are but feeble language for the descrip-
ton of such a catastrophe, but the value OF
the Prince, as she foated, is put at fl50,000,
and her cargo at half a million. There must
have been nearly 200 souls on board. The
thirty transports utterly lost, with most Of
their crews, at Balaklava, are put down at
fl5,O00 each. So here at once q million
Of money went to the bottom, in q form oil
which money conveys but faint idea. The
ObuCA ioocCc chhtnchutc0 nDONct TIC EIcuCu buip
Of the line and war steamer, the transports lost
on the western coast many vessels of all kinds
disabled, make up another million to be added
to the naked pecuniary estimate Of the loss.
But the true way of stating it is, that the army
is utterly disabled for the present, and left 10
no other protection than Heaven, and that valor
which the British soldier is ever sure to display
in the face Of the greatest difficulties, the dires
privalions, and the most overwhelming numbers
Yet never was the ancient valor of our race put
to so tremendous trial. The tempest, which
is said to have been the most terrible ever
known in that part Of the world, and which
overthrow three Of the minarets Of Sultar
Achmets Mosque at Constantinople, beside.
driving large vessels from their moorings befor,
that city, did not spare the allies even on land
1t blew down and greatly injured their tents
feeble protection as they are against the cold o
a Crimesn winter at the height Of 700 fee
above the neighboriDg surge. Such is the sit
nation in which the army finds itself suddenl,
deprived Of the much wanted supply Of cloth
ing sent out for the winter, and the equal,
needful ammunition for the SIEGE