The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-12-05
MisrRllanRulls.
The Attack upon. sebastopol.

tack upon Sebastopol on the 18th, is from the
correspondent of the London, Morning Herald;
ESGLrsH CAMP, Oct. IS.
Itwas half past6 Tie enemy had been
quiet for the last few minutes; both sides seem
ed preparing for an effort, when suddenly vol
umes of smokes and flashes If fire broke out
simultaneously from every part Of our lines
the shot and shell screamed hoarsely. through
The air, and with Il reverbrratinn which seemed
to shake both heaven and earth, "ur. attack ron
Sebastopol commenced. APPARENT! "ether
surprised nor daunted. the enemy rernriIrd the
discharge with double vgor, and then both En-
glish, French, Turks and Russians tci ,.' work
at the guns in right ear''rst The fl st vol!"! :
showed US what no soul IN II her my had
hitherto BEEN certain about VIZ: ''''l>'' n.'
ture, both Of our works and thrs ~ ':iN and
am sorry to say it al.o. showed - that, even
in earthwork batteries thrown ur "ce Ne
came here, the Russians immensely outtum
bered the allied lines Not onl, were there
extensive entrenchments, mouEtin@ % and ~
heavy cannon, but on every height and ridge
guns Of heavy calre were placed IN battery.
| have been informed tha; the extensive nat"re
of their works com pletey a>tonshed our gene
rails, and we are by no means sure That We have
seen thep-al yet, for during Yesterday lrc'h
ones were frequently unmarked iii place To-
tally unexpected. II is needless t"
say that 10 minutes after The ii:ng commenced
both our line and the enemys were shroudcd In
thick smoke yet before that took place, each
ofthe batteries had singled on; lis antagonist.
The Lancaster guns fell to Wor; "pon the Round
,,,l i, o,l l,aIf IN
ore side of the rr - y. i .
earthworks. The |. r,~r,:. g.. "u ."ntr'
opened on the Twelve : oNll- i.r,n.l"n
with the second fac, "i tie { t. Battery.
while the remaining face, with t"" iac'.: =" the
Green Mound BATTERY; conmercrd an rhr re-
doubt and rea@ waIl THE French d7recr =
continuous shower Of ball on such of the Rms
sian vessels as they could see, while at ;l4 same
time their other works bravely replied TO the
ovcrpowerng volIey of their lofty asssaiIants,
the Flag staff batteries. Before the smoke i'll
tervened, each side had got an accurate range,
and from half past until neal S, shot and shell
roared through the air Incessantly, and the
earth literally shook under the tremendous
conclusion of the guns. Each minute fresh
guns came into play, and each minute added
TO the Jury OF the uproaf.
Conspicuous among the din could be plainly
heard the Lancaster guns. Their sharp crack,
W different from the other guns, was like that OF
rife among muskets. But the most singular
effect was produced by its ball which rushed
through the air with a,noise and regular beat
precisely like the passage Of "A rapid express
train at few Yards distance. This peculiarty
excited shoats of laughter among our men who
instantly nickuaned 1t the express train; ind
only by that name is the gun known. The
effect Of the shot Sc med most terrible. From
is 4, aiming noise, she ball could be distinctly
traced by the ear TO the spot where it struck,
when stone or earth alike went down before it.
A battery of29 or 80 such guns would destroy
Sebastopol in week Unfortunately, from a
short supply of ammunition we can "ny y aff"rd
to mount two, and even those are only fred
once in eight minutes.
AT 8 o'clock the firing was -afening. and
about that time breeze strung up from the
south, which cleared away the -rnoSe and al
lowed us a full view of what VAS going on. --
Our friend in the Rou"d ow'rwas then 'ar"
ly recognisabIe the d'ncate ATTENTIONS "f he
Lancaster gun having efe' ted a""s' m"t:'f r
able change in its ap;earant" Hs : u
strength N.i It snr" r,"'airr .-. =.
the four guns IN which were V. til w".-and
lay about like dead horses. Huge hes were
also visible IN it. side where masses Of ir:
solid masonry wcre di>lnd 81 fl"' er rhwerks
around the tower vert diird viii
shot from the other hat,' . 1T t.. 'nd thl
remained much the same Between these
works and the redan wall and the Twelve
postles on the one side, aid our rown aud
Greenmound batteries on the "ther, an awfu
fire of shells was being interchanged, but most
of the enemy's as. usual, burst in the air. On
the left the French were gallanty maintaining
splendid fire against the flag staff Batteries
but from the com anding po>ionof the latter
and the 10 gun battery which connletely flank
ed our allies, it Mas evident they were fighting
at a disadvantage.
As the view cleared: tie l. 'ncaSier Gun on
our right .redoublcd its lire ~ the tower
never saw such firing. Eve! SHOT fe' npor
the building. and the officers of all ranks. wh'
were watching the attack from the house. we're
specializing how long the tow r'nld tHnd
when suddenly there came an expl" 'on. he
for a time attracte all attention. j" % ?
row we saw dense mass of srn",. .:
over one of the French batteries, the r,''>'' "
which we guessed but too truly-the flank fir'
of the 10 gun battery had succeeded in blowing
up one of the magazines, killing severa mrn
and doing serious injury to heworks Thus
at the moment when it was most needed, on,
of the French batteries was compelled to ceas,
firing nor did it again resume during the res
of the day. About. this time5 9 o'clock, w
could see the feet in the ofing, making prepa