New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-26
TIE RATTLE OF THE ALMA.

The official accounts Of the battle of the Alma
have finally arrived, and the dispatches Of the com
manders, the reports Of English journalists who
were present and of several naval officers, are
given at great length in our columns this morning.
confirming in every important respect the conclu
sions We drew from the first teegraphic reports
of the action. The following are the facts as they
appear to have occurred:
About three miles from the coast the X yer
Alma makes bend 80 as to form crescent, the
two herns of which point toward the North.
The southern side of the river, generally formed
by cliffs about 800 feet high, here offers an am-
phitheater slopng down, more or less gently.
toward the stream. This slope, supported onthe
right and left by abrupt high cliffs forming the
edges Of the plateau, was selected by the Rus.
SLAMS as their position. If repulsed, their supe-
rior cavalry could always cover the retreat the
level ground of the plateau, which also offered
almost everywhere facilities for carrying of the
artillery. On sort of terrace midway between
the plateau and the valley of the river, the Rus
slams had placed their main body of infantry, pro-
tected, on the left, by the steep cliffs, considered
cliffs, by a redoubt on the terrace, and heavy
enflading battery on the commanding nights.
Admiral Hsmelin maintains that this battery was
mounted with twelve 81. Founders, but how such
heavy ordnance could have been carried of during
the retreat as it most assuredly was, remains q
secret to be explained by that officer. The ground
in front Of the Russian position, intersected by
a. 81 g.. - ~ af.,
and rendered still more difficult by aba,tis and
other artificial obstacles, which, however, from
the want of wood in the country, cannot have
been very formidable. On the high plateau, be-
hind and on both tanks Of the Russians, were
placed their reserves and cavalry. In front, their
skirmishers extended beyond the river Alma, &C.
cupyiDg the villages of Alma and BourliOuk.
Against this strong position the allies advanced
on the Goth; the French had the right, the En-
glish the left wing. Early in the morning the
French sent Gen. Bosquet's division (the 2d) with
eight Turkish battalions along the sea shore to
climb the cliffs On that side, under the protection
Of the guns Of the steamers, and thus to turn the
Russian left. The English were to execute q
similar movement against the enemy's right.
They, however, could not be protected BY ships,
and had the principal mass Of the enemys cavalry
against them on the plateau that this part of the
plan Of attack was not executed. The French,
under Bosquet in the meantime succeeded in climb
ing the rocky edge of the plateau, and while the
Russian troops on this elevation were sheed by
the heavy guns of the steamers, the third French
division under Prince Napoleon advanced in front
against the Russian left. Further of, the Russian
center and right were attacked by the English.
Next to Prince NspoleOns came the second En-.
glifh division under Sir De Lacy Evans, the COM
mander of the British Legion in Spain during the
Carst war. he was supported by Geo. En-
gland, (3d division, while the extreme left wing
of the allies was formed BY the British light diyi
zion under Sir G. Brown, supported by the divi.
sion of Guards under the Duke of Cambridge.
The reserve (4th division, Sir G.. Cathc.rt. and
cavalry division. Earl of Lucan. Unanswered in
the rear Of the left to prevent any outn.nkins at
tenpts Of the enemy.
The battle appears to have been d;stip.
guished by the feature, that its first phase-that
OF skiimishing along the whole line, while the
real decisive maneuveu are carried on behind thi,