The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-02


discharge manfully their duty in behalf of the
constitutional freedom of the country, and ad-
wise the impeachment and punishment of the
reasonable ministers. The unconstitutional
edlct promulgated in last July, by the Oerstedt
ministry, IS indeed already rejected and con-
demned by the popular voice; and if the Diet
does its duty, as it is hoped it will do, the would
De mlnions OF despotism will be deprived of
their power to make further mischief, and the
king will be obliged to return to the liberal
policy which distinguished the beginning of his
reign, and induced the Danish people to forget
his youthful excuses and debaucheries, in be-
slowing upon him its sincere affection. / will
here observe, that the influence of the National
Association for the Preservation of the Liberal
Constitution of l849 will, no doubt, contribute
| greatly to insure the success of the popular
party, which is headed by the ablest men of the
| nation.
While we cannot but blame the King of Prus-
STA and the most of the German Princes, for
their subserviency to Russia, we must, however,
| acknowledge that they might advance in their
defence much better excuses than can the Gov
eminent of Denmark, for pursuing a course
which makes it very evident that it wishes to
| ignore the truth, that the people of that king
dom has no worse enemy to fear than the Car
| OF Russia. Much he desires to come in pos
session of the shores of the Bosphorus and the
Turkish capital, we may rest assured that he is
no less DESTROYS to make himself the master of
the Sound, and to plant his eagles on the walls
| OF Copenhagen. Let it also be observed, that
while he has attempted by force to obtain the
former object he has employed the more sure
means of artful diplomacy in approaching very
near to the latter one. By getting the Duke of
Gluckstadt acknowledged as presumptive heir
of the present King, the Danish crown is al
most within the grasp of the Emperor Nicho-
las. No wonder that France and England be-
gin to show inclinations of changing the adopted
| succession to the Danish throne, so as to de-
prive the house of Romanof of all hope of ac-
quiring this priceless gem by the right of heir
ship.
The true policy of Denmark, as well as of
| Sweden, is to unite with the Western Powers
| in diminishing the power of Russia. Still there
are certainly many good reasons for justifying
the Scandinavian Powers in remaining neu-
trial but there is none worthy of consideration
for warranting them in siding with the Gar
Nevertheless the present Danish Cabinet is
suspected of entertaining such a wish, though
fear has prevented it from accomplishing its
really reasonable design. But its downfall
seems to be near at hand, as the only means of
saving Denmark from revolution which, in
deed the folly of the Oerstedt ministry has
made imminent. In either case. we might ex-
pect to see Denmark soon adopt policy agree
able to the great interests of its people and of
humanity at large DIoGENEs.
LrBEcK, October 8, 1854.
To the Editor ctMe National Era:
/ hasten to communicate to you some details
relative to the battle of the Alma river, which
have been received by the way of Bucharest.
and which / have good reason to consider as
reliable.
Prince Menschikoff had, for several months
since, selected position between Baklchi-Salai
and the Alma river, which he had caused to be
strongly fortified. This position was held BY an
army of about 10000 men, The right wing
was supported on Baklchi-Sarai, while the left
extended to the bank of the Alma. The head
quarters were stationed ut Duvankai, village
situated between the Belbek and the Katcha.
On the 10Th of September this army was in
creased to $4,000 men, by reinforoements from
Sebastopol and Simferopo
On the evening of the 10Th and morning of
the 10th of September, the allied forces, under
the personal command of Marshal ST. Arnaud
and Lord Raglan, crossed the Alma at several
points. and advanced toward Katshih, before
the mountainous country of which, upon the
plains of Kalantai, they found the centre of the
Russian army in battle array. At one o'clock
the battle began, by an attack of Prince Nap0-
leon against one of the Russian wings, while,
shortly afterwards, Lord Raglan attacked the
other. The struggle now became general along
the whole line, and was sustained, with great
obstinacy, for more than three hours. General
Canrobert succeeded meanwhile in taking pos
session of the road that runs between Simfero-
pol and Baklchi-Sarai, defeating corps of
1000 men, who, under the command of Gene
; raj Chomutoff, had arrived from SimferopOl to
the aid of Prince Menschikof. Everywhere the
Russians fought with signal bravery, and victory
appeared for while very doubtful, especially
on the wing which the English occupied. But
at last the Irresistible impetuosty of the French
prevailed over that part of the Russian army
opposed to them; and soon afterwards, the
steadiness of the English, and the ardent brave
: ry of the Turks, completed the defeat of the
Russian army. In vain did Prince Menschikoi
lead forward, in person, his reserve, to stem the
tide of victory. He had the modification to see
this chosen corps scattered by some brilliant
charges of the French and English cavalry
and was about to be made prisoner himself
being indebted for his safety solely to the speed
of his charger The Russians were driven from
their strong position and compelled to hasty
though not altogether disorderly retreat, during
which some of their divisions suffered greatly
from the terrible fire which part of the allied
steamers, while advancing along the sea shore
manned within the reach of their cannons.
The loss of the Russians amounted to more
than 5000 men, killed and severely wounded
together with a few hundred who were takeI
prisoners 1t was only by the effort of his nu
merous horse, and the fatigue of the pursuers
that Prince Menschikoff was able to collect his
scattered forces, and take up a new position or
the bank of the Katcha.
The French had 400 dead and wounded
as mentioned in my last letter-but the loss O
the English seems to have exceeded 800 men
of whom 900 were killed. and the rest disabled
by wounds According to another report the
loss of the English was equal with that OF the
French, thus consisting of about ], 400 men.
t There is a report of another battle having
! been fought on the 24th, on the bank OF tho
Katcha, and lost on the part of the Russians
, but this report requires confirmation.
/, The victory gained by the allied forces on thu
l banks of the Alma, of which there can exist NJ
longer any doubt, has caused much rejoicing
throughout the greatest part of Europe, as j
: is easy to perceive, from the tone of the fa
greatest part of the journals that within the las
three or four DAYS have arrived, not only from
! France and England, but from Belgium, Hol
! land, Switzerland Denmark, Sweden, and eve
nv part of Germany. Only two or three Da
nish, and a limited number of German, espe
cially Prussan, papers are evincing any regre
! relative to the defeat of Prince Menschikof; bu
: even the friends of Russia do no longer attemp
to conceal their having been mistaken with re
gard to the high opinion they have hitherto en-
tertained of the efficiency Of the military forces
of the Russian Empire.
cannot forbear to mention that the Austrian
! papers, including even those supposed to be un