Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-08

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variance with commonplace notions
Of Oriental department on the battle
field
Looking to the left towards the
gorge, we bchod six compact masses
of Russian infantry, which had Just
debouched f ON the mountain passes
near Tcharnaya, and were slowly ad-
vancing with solemn slalelness up
the valley. Immediately in their
front was regular line of artillery Of
at least 30 pieces strong. Two bat
terles af light guns were already
mile in advance of them, and were
playing with energy on the redoubts,
from which feeble puhs of smoke
came at long intervals. Behind
these guns, in front of the infantry,
were enormous bodies of cavalry
They were in six compact squares,
three on each flank, moving down
en- echeioR towards us, and the valley
was lit up with the blaze OF their
sabrcs and lance points aud gay
accoutrements. In their front, and
extending along the intervals between
each battery, were clouds Of mounted
skirmishors, wheeling and whlrlng
IN the front of their march like
Autumn leaves tossed by the wind.
The Zouayes close 10 US were lying
like tigers at the spring, with ready
rifles in hand hidden chin deep by
the earlhworks which run along the
line of these ridges on our rear
but the qulck-eyed Russians were
manGuvring on the other side Of the
valley and did not expose their col
umns to attack. Below the Zouavcs
we could see the Turkish gunncrs
IN the rcdoub,s, all IN confusion as
the shells burst over them. Just as
! came mp the Russians had carried
No. ! redoubt, the arihest aud most
elevated Of all, and their horsemen
were chasing the Turks across the
interval which lay between it and
redoubl No. ,. At that moment
the cavalry under Lord LuCAN, were
formed "a gluerlng masses-,he
Light Brigade, under Lord Cardigan
IN advance the Heavy Brigade, un-
der Brlgadier General Scarlet, in re-
serve. They were drawn up Just in
front Of their encampmenl, and were
concealed from the view of the enc
my 10y slight wave" in the plain.
Considerably in tie rear of their
right, the 93d Highlanders were
drawn up in line, ia front of the
approach to Balaklava Above and
behind them, on the heights, the
marines were visible through the
glass, drawn up under arms, and the
gunuers could be seen ready in the
earllIworks, in which were placed
the heavy ships guns. The 93l had
originally been advanced somewhat
more into the plain, but the instant
the Russians got possession Of the
first redout they opened fire upon
them from then own guns, which IN
hicted some injury, and Sir Colin
Campbell retired ms men 10 a bet
ter position. Meantime the caemy
advanced his cavalry pldly. To
our ineNpresslble disgust we saw the
Turks IA red lubl No. , fly AT their
approach They ran IN scattered
groups across towards rcdout No. 3,
and towards Balaklava, but the horse
hoof of the Cossack was too quick
for them, aud sword and lance were
busily Piled among the reIreaIing
herd, The yells of the pursuers
and parsued were plainly audible. -
As the Lanccrs aud Light Cavalry
of the Russians advanced, they gath
cred up their sklrnlshers with great
speed and in excellent order-lhc
shifting trails of men, which played
all over the valley like moonlight on
the water, contracted, gathered up,
and the llttle peiot0a ~ few mo-
menls became a solid column. Then
up came their guns, IA rushed their
gunners To The abandoned redoubi,
aud the guns of No. , redout soon
played with deadly effect upon the
dlspirled defenders of No. 3 re-
doubt. Two or three shots in return
lr ON the earihworks, aud all is silent,
The Turks swarm over the earth
works, aud run IN confusion towards
the town, firing their muskels at the
enemy as They ran. Again the solid
column OF cavalry opens like Il ian,
aud resolves itself into ''long spray"
of skirmishers. 1t laps the flying
Turks, steel flashes in the AR, and
down 90 the poor Moslem, quiyerlng
on the plain, split through fez and
musket-9uard to the chm and breast
belt. There is no supports for them
1t is evident the Russians have been
too quick for US. The Turks have
been too quick also, for they have
not held their redoubIs long enough
to enable us to bring them help. In
vain the naval guns on the heights
fire on the Russian cavalry; the dis
lance is too great for shot or shell TO
reach. Ia vain the Turkish gunners
ia the earlhen batteries winch are
placed along the FrenchE lnIrench-
menls strive to protect thelr iiylna
cuuntrymen their shot fly wide and
I short of the swarmlng masses. The
/ Turks beiake themselves towards the
Highlanders, where they check lhe'I
flight and form into companies on