Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27

from Belgrade Perhaps the best way Of communicating
the news to your ordshps is to read the despatch Her
Maestys consul writes from belgrade on the 4th May,
at quarter before seven in the afternoon
"Admrl Dundas through her Maestys consul
Yarna that division Of the steamboats, the combined
squadron destroyed I'D April the Imperial mole and the
Russian ships at Odessa The mole Of the quarantine and
the foreign ships and the city ITSELF have been injured
great having been taken with respect private and
trail property The Pacha Of Belgrade stated yesterday that
the great powder magazine had been blown up and that the
land batteries mad been entirely destroyed and that the loss
which had been sustained by the allied forces did not exceed
eight men killed and eighteen men wounded"
The Turkish Ambassador on his part has received from
the Ottoman legation at Vienna the following despatch
on the same subject
81 have just received the following despatch from Bel
grade it has been communicated to by 0mer Pacha,
who begged me to transmit it to you; Eight steam fri
gates belonging to the combined fleet proceeded to Odessa
and commenced bombarding the military port the I'D
In few hours they destroyed all the fortcations the
batteries and the military establishments of the Russians
Two powder magazines blew and twelve of the enemys
vessels of war were sunk. The commercial port was
spared, and the merchant vessels escaped. Thirteen
Russian vessels laden with stores and ammunition were
captured"
The only fxrther remark that have to make touching
the above official accounts of the Odessa affair is that
their very aconcsm atlantis them with suspicion The
Aonter favored US some weeks ago with q much more
satisfactory report of the visit of small French SQUAD
to the Emperor Solouques capital in the West Indies
Trumphs are usually reported with greater abundance
Of details Judged in this way the following report Of
the Russian General OsrEN SAcKEN, within whose mill
tary jurisdiction Odessa lies would the truth
Its notorious rule, which the Intehgencer" so
partially adheres, audi alran pare will admis-
sion into its columns for the Russian report Here it is:
son the 9th (21) April the Anglo-French squadron
cast anchor the distance of three werss from Odessa
1t was composed of six rstclass ships, thirteen two
deckers and two steamers About o'clock in the after
noon Admiras DUSDAs and HAMELIN sent flag of truce
with to deliver up the Russian, French, and
English vessels stationed in the port Of the quarantine
u the None states that the object Of the expedition
was to punish Odessa for the outrage Of the 6th-Cor
This not replied to. Yesterday Saturday,
10th (22) April at hafpast A. NJ, nine of the enemys
steamers Zone Of which of 81 guns and the others
Of SAY after having formed in line beyond the reach of
battery No l. situated on the right side Of the roadsea
arranged themselves successfully in front of batteries
Nos 2 g. and g. which they attacked throwing bombs
occasionally into the city ITSELF but finally directing their
concentrated fire upon battery No. 6, situated at the
tremty of the port De Pratigue. Our batteries
armed with 18pounders The enemy took advantage of
the large calbre of his guns and kept constantly at
distance that would not admit of our batteries Nos and
s. though exposed to the enemys fire. taking active
part in the fight Battery No. g. commanded by Cornet
ScHodoLEFF of the artillery kept up brisk fire with its
four guns but Of these having been dsmounted and
the enemy having placed himself beyond the reach of the
third gum the two pieces of the left alone capable
of rendering service With those two guns battery No.
held out for six entire hours against eight steamers and
screw ship Of 81 guns which had been sent up to Join
them Even then they did not succeed in silencing the
battery, and Cornet Schogoe did not abandon it till the
ships anchor in the post behind the battery itself had
caught fire. This battery fired with such effect that three
Of the eLemys ships towards the close Of the action had
to be lowed off by the others.
GA report upon this brilliant feat of arms imme-
diately addressed to the Chief who, by
virtue of the prerogaves vested in him, promptly
ferred the decoration Of the military order upon those
had ulory nod meelv
to their slight draught the enemys iron ships succeeded
in enyeopng the port of Free Pratque They approach
ed the faubourg of Perssep and threw, with the aid Of
their boats congeve rockets to set on fire the
ships in the port and several houses of the ubourg
They attempted landing, but shower of grape
from four pieces Of light artillery covered BY six COM
panies Of infantry caused the attempt to fail The boats
were fred upon from the shore and suffered considerable
loss. W. had on our side several killed and wounded
and two gun-carrages knocked to pieces. During the
action several Of the enemys shps5ofthene left their
positions and approached the country seat of Gen. LUDERs
against which they directed their fire. but being received
by the fire of batteries Nos l. 2 and they fred but
few shots and retired to their former position
in line. This man~uvre was repeated several times
o'clock the combat ceased and the assailans rejoned
the rest Of the squadron. Our artillery operated IN
brilliant manner and batteries With the exception Of
No. 6, suffered. We have four killed and sixtyfour
wounded"
| Having now given the accounts Of the beigerents
themselves concerning this action, in which the allied
fleets hive taken part will conclude my budget on the
bombapment Of Odessa with two extracts from private
Letters rom Odessa written just after the retirement Of
the allied fleets It is worthy of remark however, that
all accounts agree in establishing the fact that the city
and private property spared by the assaants
as far almost possible to spare them. This is
most honorable precedent set by the English and French
Let us hope that will be followed by all parties during
the war; and by belligerents in all future wars Be it
said to their honor ALSO the Russians themselves
months ago. when they sunk the Turkish fleet at Snope,
spared the town and private property much as was
possible.
letter from Odessa of the Gath April says:
The COMPARTMENT has produced great terror amongst
the inhabitants they had emigrated mdsse, and the
town was almost deserted We assured that several
foreign consus went on board the English or French
vessels Admiral Dundas has declared that an indemnity
will be paid for the Austrian vessel burnt in the port
On the 2d and oath the bombardment did not continue
but the inhabitants feared that would be recommended
The bocladng squadron consists Of twenty vessels
placed in three lines, eight in each Il was only the
vessels of the first line which fred The warehouses
situated on the port; and belonging to European COM
merce did not receive any damage. The English and
French punners aimed admirably and only hit the houses
and warehouses of Russians" "
letter dated Odessa, April IS, says:
UAt o'clock in the morning more furious lombard
ment commenced and continued without cessation till
II p NJ The greater portion of the batteries the
shore were considerably damaged and those which had
been placed at the northern angle Of the port dis
mounted. The Russians, who have lost two hundred
men fought with great spirit Three hundred have been
severely wounded More than half of them will be hence
forth unfit for service Six store houses have become
prey 10 the ames The city has suffered comparatively
little: but some of the buildings most exposed parcu-
4, h,,rn Tho r,l,xei-