Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-27
forrign sntslliseute.
BY THE WASHINGTON.
Exciting and Interesting Detail.
THE ENGLIsH ACCouNr.
The Great Battle of Alma.

The PoslTIuN OF THE RUssIANs-At the top Of
The ridges, between the gullies, The Russians had
erected earthwork batteries, mounted with thirty
TWO pound and twenty-tour pound brass guns,
supported by numerous field pieces and howltzers.
These guns enfladed the tops of The ravnes par
alel 10 them or swept them 10 the base while the
whole of the sides up which an enemy unable 10
Stand the direct fire OF the batteries, would be
forced 10 ascend were filed with masses OF skrni-
ishers armed with an excellent two-groove rifle,
throwing a large solid conical ball with force al
100 10 500 yards the French learnt 10 their cost.
The principal battery consisted OF an earthwork OF
the form OF Two sides of triangle, with the apex
pointed towards the bridge, and the sides cover
ing both sides OF The stream, corresponding with
the bend IN the river below IL, al the distance OF
lO0J yards, while with fair elevation the thirty
Two FOUNDERS threw, as we saw very often be-
yoDd the houses OF the village 10 the distance of
400 and 500 yards This was constructed on
the brow of hill about 600 feet above the river bul
The hall rose behind il for another fifty feet before
dipped away towards the road.
The assent Of this hill was enfladed by the fire
OF three batteries of earlhwork the right, and
by another on the left, and these batteries were
equally capable of covering the village the stream,
and the slopes which led up the hill to their posi-
ton In the first battery were l3 32-pounder brass
guns OF exquisite workmanship, which told only
too well. In the other batteries were some IS
guns in all. II was said the Russians had 100
guns on the hills and &c, 900 men (40 battaions of
infantry 1000 strong each otthe 10TH 3lst, and SD
reglments) We were opposed principally 10 The
10th and 32d regiments, Judging by The number OF
dead in front Of ! have not been able 10 as
certain by whom they were commanded, but there
is general report that Menschkof commanded
the army in chief that the left was under Gort-
schakof relative of the diplomalist, and that the
right was under Bodahof, the military governor of
Sebastopol.
The Plan OF OPERATIONS Our plan of opera
lions was that the French should establish them
selves under the ire OF the guns on the heights on
The extreme OF the enemys left. When that at
tack was sufficiently developed, and had met with
success, the British army was to force the right
and part OF the centre OF the Russian position, and
the day was gained. When we Were about three
miles from the village, the French steamers ran
IN as close as they could 10 the bluff of the shore
al the south side OF The Alma, and presently
saw them Smelling the heights in splendid style.
the shells bursting over the enemy's squares and
batteries and finally driving them from their posi-
ton on the right, within 5000 yards of the sea.
The French practice commenced about half
past twelve O'Clock and lasted for about an hour
and half We could see the shells falling over
the batteries of the enemy, and bursting right into
them; and then the black masses inside the works
broke into little specks which few about in all
directions, and when the smoke cleared away
there were some 10 be seen strewed over the
ground The Russians answered the ships from
the heights, but without effect.
THE FRENCH SCALE THE HEIGHTs-At one
O'Clock we saw the French columns struggling
up the hills, covered by cloud of skirmishers,
whose fire seemed most deadly. Once, at sight
OF a threatening mass of Russian infantry, in
commanding position above them, who fired ra
pid voleys among them, the French paused, bui
II was only 10 collect their skrmishers, for
as they had formed, they ran up the hill al the
pas de charge, and at once broke The Russians,
who fed in disorder, with loss, up the hill We
could see men dropping on both sides, and the
wounded rolling down the steep.
The ENGLISH ARE ENeAGED.-Lord Raglan
waited patiently for the development Of The French
attack At length aid-de-camp came 10 him
and reported the French had crossed the Alma
but they had not established themselves suff-
cienty 10 Justify in an attack. The infantry
were therefore ordered 10 lie down. and the army,
for short time, was quite passive, only that our
artillery poured forth unceasing FIRE OF shell,
rockets, and round shot, which ploughed through
the Russians, and caused them great loss. They
did not waver, however and replied 10 our arti!-
lery, their shot falling among our men they lay,
and carrying of legs and arms al every round.
Lord Raglan at last became weary of this nacii-
viiy-his spirit was up-he looked around, and
saw men whom he knew he might stake the
honor and fate Of Great Britain, by his side, and
anticipating little in military point of view the
crisis Of action, he gave orders for our whole line
10 advance.
Up rose these serried masses, and passing
through fearful shower Of round case shot, and
shell they dashed into the Alma, and floundered"
through us waters, which were literally torn into
river were a number OF vineyards, and 10 our sur
prise, they were occupied by Russian rihemen.
Three Of the staff were here shot down, but led
by Lord Raglan in person, the rest advanced
cheering on the men. And now came the turning
point OF the battle, in which Lord Raglan, by his
Ssgacity and military skill probably secured the
victory at a smaller sacrifice than would have
been otherwise the case. lie dashed over the
bridge followed by his staff From the road over
H. under the Russian guns, he saw the state OF
81. Ths.H ali line ich he had ordar
10 advance was struggling through the river, and
up the heights in masses, firm indeed but moved
down by the murderous fire Of the batteries, aud
by grape, round shot, shell, canister, case sbo,
and musketry, from some Of the guns OF the cen.
trail battery and from immense and compact
mass Of Russian infantry.
Then commenced one OF the most bloody and
determined struggles in the annals Of war. The
ID Division, led by Sir y. Evans inthe most dash.
ing manner, crossed the stream on the right. The
7ih Fusileers, led by Colonel Yea. were swept
down by ffiies. The Ssh, 3Dih and 95th, led by
Brizader Pennefather, who wa N the Ihickest OF
the fight cheering on H.. men, again and again,
were checked indeed bot never drew back in
their onward progress, which was marked by a
fierce roll Of MIME musketry; and Brigadier
Adams, with the 4lst, 47th, and 49th, bravcly
charged up the bill, and aided them in the battle.
Sir George Brown, conspicuous on gray horse,
rode in front Of his Light Division, urging them
with voice and gesture. Gallant fellows! they
were worthy Of such gallant chief The Hh, d.
uinished by one.haf fell back TO reform their col
umHs lost for the time; the 23d,wh eight officers
dead and four wounded, were still rushing TO the
front, aided by the 18th, 3d. 77th, and SSH.
Down went Sir George in a cloud of dust in
front Of the battery He was soon up. and shout.
ed "23d, I'm all right BE sure III remember this
day. aud lsd them again but in the shock
produced by the fall Of their chief the gallant regi.
Inent suffered terribly while parslyzed for a mo.
mlnt. Meantime the Guards, on the right of the
Light Division, aud the Brigade OF Highlanders
were storming the heights on the left Their line
was almost as regular as though they were in
Hyde-park. Suddenly tornado Of round aud
grape rushed through from the terrible battery,
and roir Of musketry from behind thinned their
front ranks by dozens. IL evident that we
were Just able 10 contend against the Russians,
favored as they were by great position. At this
very time an immense mass of Russian infantry
were seen moving down towards the battery.
They halted Il was the crisis Of the day. Sharp,
angular, and solid they looked as they were cut
out Of the solid rock. IL was beyond all doubt
that Il our infantry, harrasscd and thinned az they
were, got into the battery they would have 10
encounter again formtdahIa 6ra ,k.,