Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-16
SIEGE OF SEBASToPoL CONFESSED TO BE
A FAILURE.
HOPES And fEIRS,

from The London Times of :9th.
Twenty days have elapsed since last received au-
heutc accounts from army in the Crimei. Our
Latest derived from Russian sources and We are
carrying against enemy who has ten days the
start of in intelligence Thcre does APPEAR SO far
see any hopes of bringing s,rug /, in the
Crines immek termination.
Before our army can BE- slth :cnty reinforced
tempt y:hilc effective in the Id will have
arrived when the rage OF miu m b. suspended in de-
terencc TO the OF the elements aud business
o mutual desructOr must is re.Umnc &c me II
!o' the hrs! opening OF spring. Oar must be
now to preserve army IN health aud sprs till III,
opening OF arc her cimpiisn when the victory II br
TO those who have best ac4d themselves Of the winter
for the purposes Of reinforcement.
We believe that 1t shall turn out apprehend
will. that compelled Les3s! from ,h active op.
ions Vi the siege, NJ sail At ablc re ew
TIL campaign next wear with decided superiority VI
ioscr, which vii. allow thoroughly the place
ini tu' push On thc siege with cei4iniy of success
ESprrcncc has shOwI that need he very nice in
reckoning the numbers with which give bl,tie to the
R>sluS, aud do not d0ub; that snail be able 10
Confront them with fJrce which, huseye. numerically
INTERIOR will o. utterly invincioe by anything they eau
bring az inst il.
Il certainly not without sigh that feel ourselves
compelled to renquish those bright aud, though,
them reasonable hOpe-, Of completing in weeks the
Conquest of the RusIIn strong Yet even this
appointment is not without its consolation. We hare
hirs failed m immediate enterprise but without tn.
81 sht-st os'-nLy Sn considerable g.in-ot charsc-
ter aud hono7 II our army has been too weak
those difficulties were such as transcendei human power
| and human endurance.
Ga the field OF battle, where courage and discipline can
supply the deIe; OF numbers have been able TO In Ike
discharge the duty Of three but in the operations
OF siege, which depeadS abo and strength AZ much
science, slch multiplication of our numbers has
been found impossible. BY nsurmountibls dicu tes OF
this Kind have been harrassed DELAYED and worn out
till the Emperor of Russia actually believed that the time
was co ne when our destruction could be accomplished
aud his to flesh their liien swords in the
Slaughter of the devoted English and French armies
We owe the signal tIiumph Of Inkermln to the pauc
y OF our numbers aud the difficulties OF our sit
uion. Thesc gave tue enemy courage attack US and
gave u the opportunity o; proving, in mos, sig
nj aud decisive our enormous physical aud moral supe
rority The effect OF such battle, fought under such
circumstances, must he frl. ihrOu "a the whole war and
render the uniform Of the Englisl Glarisman anu
Fench Zouave terrible in the eyes OF the Russian soldier
If Seblstopol does fall at last, it will be with heavier
ruin and crushing effect than could have possibly
attended the most successful enterprise We have no.
snltched from the Car before his reinforcement,
ell but We have every hope OF taking it from him af
Debating and destroying all the force which his vast EN-
pire can bring 20 ts relief We must fight this battIc
somewhere, and where could desire TO fight IL better
than Oh the ground Of our own choosing in the finest pro
vince Of the Russian empire ard undo. the walls of the
mighty fortress the possession OF wnic w be the prize
| O. the slcrOT?
Had Napoleon bean able to t,ksup in 1872 position
which forced the RI5sianI seek him out a II ii ,ht hp
with their whole force. how anl certain ma h,y
been his Conquest L. was beclusn h. hid - IN, an
enemy VINO for ever was retire ting before him thIt
ne was forced h strength in un,vaian pur.nit
until splendid victory afforded him no saicy aud d
conquered capital 10 pace OF rs' Tao Cnlei is as gloI
bie fell ~ any Other, lnl ~, ~ 20 ,.on TO
avoid sharp and speedy decision OF the quarrel. c s
b. ready for contest which, ardl,u. viii also
b.nore decisive than that Oh which had intended t.
| embark
But IN TINS great struggle We must have yield
ING To private uhdcncesno iiicing the pub
lie to Local intcr'5s The lrniag nam IN Iuu actrcf
who - srenu n+ly opposed tl1 proportion Nc G. adj
stone to found government mlnu'Ico arms nrc al
ready two months With the Minnie rifles that ycr
oriere from ;hcn. and obliged to sen! on: Que
troops with antiquled and inefficient weapons in or Ter
- pampor the monopoly OF men who will neither yo X
Tor US nor allow Ia to work for ourselves.
In this extremity We have had rcc1urse (, in fac
tories OF L'cse aud we trust tina, the opening Of nes
einpA sn may m ~ n 20 Z % IN tops iIs Of tho
who have seiisIy thwaed ani 50 cruelty d c, iysI
u4 Tho fortune OF tbs war il che,kerel bit W. ve
lost no ground before our enemies have gained Al in
inense amount OF kno" og AID experience, aud rset
tie character our soldiers higher than i, has ever stool
Ia previous history.