Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-23
THE SIEGE OF sEBAsToPoL.

THE SIEGE OF SEBAsTOPOL.
We have carefully read the accounts from the Crimea
in order arrive at definite conclusion to the
actual condition Of the Allied army There are copious
sdvices from that quarter, but the camp correspondents
evidently Maintain guarded silence to the real state
Of affairs. It s apparent however, that less confidence
prevails il the ranks of the Allied armies. The tone Of
the letter. ssss hopeful and do not find in the latest
batch Of correspondence the expression Of single opinion
that Seb4opol viii ultimately be taken Although we
have no direct information to that effect it is evident
that the ropey Of raising the siege has been discussed
in high quarters The camp correspondent Of the Lon
don Tinhs, under date of November 8th says that o
council war, presided by Lord Raglan, was held
yesterday when it was determined winter in the Cr
mean Ehis is confirmed by letter from officer in
the armi who says: "There was council of war yes
terday, nd told it settled that to make
comfortable for the winter here. How COM
Portable this viii be may be gathered from the follow
ing extra& from. another letter:
4 We hSar the distressing intelligence that three
thou5ku Vorknen building huts at Constantinople
the army winter in and that they are also fabr
eating sheds for horses winter here is truly dis
NAL prospect AL that has been written about the beau
ty Of this district and of its fertility is utter rubbish
There magnificent mountain ranges over Baaklava
but the country between that town and Sebssopol IS
by rocky ravines once full Of stumpy brushwood, now
full Of stumps only We hear the Emu takes back many
sick to England Our expenses are enormous. The ca
sual payments from army chest amount to about
ESQ., 900 per month. That alone goes in odd sums
to psymasters and in pay Of officers"
The strength Of the Allied armies has been very much
reduced and notwithstanding the reports in the English
papers that renorcements lad been received Of the
latest accounts from the Crimea states what is probably
the fact that very rifng reinforcemenH have yet
rived" 1t is doubtful whether renfcements were
arriving at the last dates than enough supply the daily
waste The loss Of the transports which were wrecked
in the recent gale in the Black Sea win probably be se
verely felt To say nothing Of the loss in battle the
hardshps and exposure incident to the aHors of siege
are too great for longcontinued endurance especially at
this season. and require constant accesons Of fresh
troops Out Of four nights the French sdiers are said
to pass only one their The abo Of the British
army are net less arduous Accordnt to one CORE
spondent the officers themselves nlyspend one night
out Of three their tents and though tie tents keep out
the rain they cannot repel the cold" it any wonder
that the army is melting away before such hardships
Says one writer:
The brigade Of guards which marched ont of London
three thousand strong and excited the admiration Of the
Turkish capital few months since is reduced to
about eight hundred weak and wasted men, whom only
the indotable spirit Of Englishmen strengthens for the
ceaseless toll to which they are exposed
Another writer referring to the fact that two who
had been fogged had deserted to the Russians, says
"here is good deal Of punishment inflicted but it is
principally for the grave offence Of being asleep when
duty" This remark is suggestive Of hardship Another
camp correspondent describing visit to the field on the
day after the battle Of Inkermann, says:
Many Of the wounded not then brought in and
the troops are hard worked that time will eapse
- lo-a Icn A. l1o h~.s AZ
dead horses scattered about that it is
easy matter to get them out of the camp Many
Of the wounded dying for want Of assistance they
had not even had drop Of water and their moaning
horrible. It could not be helped for there one
give it to hem and the is and has to be
brought from great distance"
We have given casual extracts from several army let
ter but they illustrate the condition of the camp Of the
besiegers better than any connected These let
ters be it remembered only extend down to the 9th ult
mo- Between that time and the 18th our advices from
the Crimea are only teegraphic and it during that
time that the worst weather experienced Indeed,
ncement he'd the weather become that the fire Of the
besiegers had ceased The detailed account of the snf
erngs Of the army during the week of storm preceding
the 18th is yet to be received.
These gloomy accounts and they certainly not
relieved by the fact that the capture of Sebasopo not
wthstanding the great loss of valuable life and the
penditure Of immense quantities Of ammunition,
distant an event when the Allies landed the Cr
mea Three battles have been fought without other i'm
portan results than fearful destruction Of life and
bombardment Of nearly month had made but little
paratve impression upon the defences of the place.
It is certain that the Russian army and about Sebasto
pol has been largely reinforced Gen. Canrobert officially
estimates their force at 100 900 men, and British est
mate giving detail Of the various Of the service
makes the number 000 These estimates derived
from deserters If their number is 000 which is
than likely probably exceeds by two to one that of the
Allies setting aside the Turkish contingent which
to be Of but little account The Of Sebastopol
itself have been proved to be enormous and the fact
that the corps of Gen. Dannenberg conveyed in
few days from Odessa to the Crmea and arrived in such
state of efficiency to be able to take part in the bat
tie Of Inkermann the next day, is pretty strong evil
dence that the communications of the Russians of the
most perfect character That they have suffered severely
from the fire of the besiegers may be assumed that they
so demoraged by repeated defeats that Prince
Menschikof win not at present risk another battle is
very likely; but that they will surrender their strong
hold to any force which the Allies will be likely to bring
against them this winter does not seem probable.
Boston Journai.
THE PosITIoS OF ALLiEs.--The Allies in the Cri-
mea have realized the fact that from being besegers they
have BY the immensely superior force Of the Russians,
become in turn the beseged They reduced to the
defensive. The London Times says
"a decentralization is out Of the question We have
not the Of carrying allies with US and Ii
were better to sacrifice every and every gun than
basey and meanly to desert them. Indeed, we're we
aene such operation in the face Of such enemy is
not be thought Of However grave situation may
be- we spared the fluctuations Of doubt and the ago.
r. 81. 49,. .. -. 49,