Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-12

batteries, the English marines leading, followed
by the soldiers and sailors Of the expedition, when
on their arrival they found the guns abandoned
and spiked. The rhemen, without stopping al
the battery, clambered up the height and forced
their way in the mass Of shrubbery which covered
III the residue of the force quickly followed, and
the whole body was received with CALLING ire 70
which they responded. The firing came from all
sides ofthe heavy thicket and impenetrable under
brush. The Virago leaving the land forces pro-
ceeded 10 the northern point, from whence a
heavy ire proceeded, unmasking horse-battery
OF five guns, on little stream at the entrance OF
the city, which she senced During this time
the besieging force met with an energetic contest
from the Russian skirmshers-the firing re-
sounded on all sides OF the height. Exposed to a
terrible calling fire, the sailors fought manfully
and desperately, engaged in their impetuosity in
an inextricable shrubbery, pursuing an invisible
enemy whose fire was decmating their ranks,
their superhuman efforts could not overcome the
natural obstacles of their position Captain Parker
fell at the head of the English marines the moment
they met with the enemy; al his side M. Bouras-
set fell. M. Lefebvre lieutenant of the Euridice,
was killed; Mr.. Howard, aidde-camp 10 the Eng
lish admiral, had his arm fractured by a ball. In
face OF so disproportionate combat, nothing was
left but to order decentralization. The great
object OF the enterprise, however, was attained
the fort was evacuated, the Russian gunners were
dead at their pieces, and the guns spiked They
were unable 10 push forward without exposing
themselves to great peril, and the dislodgement
OF the Russians would sacrifice too many lives,
situated az they were in a wood, Of whose size or
paths they were totally ignorant The troops re-
tired in order, under cover Of an ambuscade of
one hundred men, who behind the ruins Of the
fort kept the Russians at bay bya sharp fire, con-
veylng 10 the boats their dead and wounded, and
they put of under the escort of the Virgo. On
board the Forte the carpenters were at work re-
pairing the damage; the wounded were conveyed
10 the hospitals, and all busily engaged in rel
moving the traces Of the fight. n
The ensuing day Qhe 5th) they inferred the re-.
mains Of the dead at Tarenski, the Able Ricardi
performing the religious ceremonies. On the 9th
the squadron refted, and on the 7th they set sail
from Petropolowski. On this cruise they fell in
with two vessels, one lhree-master, seemingly
a man-of.war, in pursuit OF which the Virago was
dispatched; the second proved TO be schooner,
which was captured and taken in tow.
The President was sent in chase of the ship, on
whom she gained rapidly. At twelve o'clock
she fred gun to bring her to- which failed TO ac-
complish the object, and she then beat quarters
and prepared for battle, but at one o'clock the
Russian struck her flag and the President took
possession of her. She proved TO be the Sitka,
merchantmen of 500 ions, from Ayan, in the sea
of Ochotsk, with stores for the garrison OF Petro
polowski. Her cargo is valued at 100000. The
Sitka carried ten guns, and, besides her crew of
captain, four officers and twenty-fou sailors, had
On the Sth Of September, the schooner was fred
and abandoned at sea. On the 9Th of October at
pm, the French menofwar arrived in our port,
having left the English squadron taking the Sitka
into landowners Island.
Such is the detail Of this combat, one of the
bloodiest fought between the allies and Russia If
the combined squadron did not reap victory, it
has, nevertheless, succeeded in gaining important
advantages. The Russians have lost a consider
able number of men, whom ii will be difficult to re-
,oln thaxr hnxya Last aI,an <xf
spiked and destroyed, and, Moreover, they have lost
stores and articles of subsistence which the city
is sensbly in want Of Remote from all reinforce
ment, without hope of procuring provisions, The
garrison of Petropolowski is at the same time cut
off from the rest of the world for the An
isolated fortress, centered amidst impenetrable
ice, they only able TO destroy without anything
to conquer. Ii was not Petropolowski, but the
Russian frigates that were attacked, and if they
have not captured them, they have disabled them.
The Auroras masts were shot away by the broad
sides Of the Forte, her hull riddled with balls her
sails torn to shreds, her armament partially de-
moshed and more than all she is retained pris-
oner by the ice in port where II is impossible to
repair damages in. order 10 go TO sea. The dan
gers which our ships have braved have not weak
ened in the least their equipments, nor diminished
the enthusiasm of their crews. Superior to the
enemy, they were obliged to stop before obstacles
which their courage could have overcome, but
then the conquest exacted sacrifices which were
Tar from being In proportion 10 the results mar
they had proposed TO attain, the more so, as the
vessels were short Of provisions and stores. They
only attempted a corp demain, and not a regular
| siege.
Throughout the entire duration OF this expedi-
ton and the voyage which preceded it, the most
perfect harmony has reigned between the English
and French. On land and on sea, at anchor in the
Sandwich Islands, before the fire Of Peropoowski,
the officers and soldiers ofboth nations have made
themselves acquainted by long contact only to
love and esteem each other; the two nations, pre-
viousy rivals, friends to-day, yielding to the same
thought and mingling their blood upon the same
field of battle. In the Polar seas of Asia and the
coast of Bomersund the same sympathy and emu
lation regns. II side by side with our soldiers
that the gallant Captain Parker fell, whose last
cry was a rallying II was at his side that our
officers and sailors fell decimated by invisible
enemy. A friendship founded on mutual esteem
and cemented by like memorials assures forever
the union of the two greatest nations Of the earth