Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-25
RUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF opEaAr1oNsrs IN THE cR1MEA
PROM ruR JounSAI DE 81. prrEnsRouRou

FROM THE JOURNAL DE ST. PgTERsBoURGH.
The French conducted their united forces before
Sebastopol from the north Of that town the south
thus entirely changing the basis of operations They
obtained this object by flank march round the town.
The organs of the foreign press find expressions
praise sufficiently the skilfnlness of the manteuvre
Without wishing to deract from the merit of it, at least
IT just to mention ALSO and to explain the operations
of Prince Menschkoff in reference to the enemy
After the battle upon the Alma the Prince not finding
position strong enough upon the Katcha and the pe5ek
to give fresh battle to the enemy passed the Tchernaya
and concentrated his forces in position the east of the
town. after having garrsoned the forts of the north with
q sufficient number Of troops
The enemy advanced passed the Katchs and the Bel
bek and reached the heights which surround the north
ern forts.
The position of Prince Menschikof was disadvantage
Gus, inasmuch as 1t enabled the enemy occupy the
direct communications with the interior of the empire
was therefore necessary to abandon that position and
the Prince achieved tire object by luminous idea car
ricd into effect in the daring manner lie marched
during the night Of the Oath 10 the 25th Of September
towards Bakshera after having crossed the Tchernaya
by single bridge. He executed this march in flank in
the middle OF the night and the morning Of the 25th
found himself in the valley Of Bakshisera placed in the
flank and rear Of the enemy having his communication
free with the interior Of the empire and with the rein
forcements which he expected The position of the
Prince would hare been annoying the enemy If the
latter had been desirous of attempting attack against
the forts of the north On the contrary he adopted the
resolution Of changing the point of attack from tie north
to the south of Sebastopo by turning the town to the
east Let it be permitted to here to throw light upon
circumstances which will enable impartial judg
ment to be formed respecting the operations of the two
parties.
Prince Menschikof had to march across and
by road, which, from the point where Mackenzie
Farm was situated, only at distance of four wersts
from the advanced posts of the enemy Indeed the bi
voqack fires were seen thence The Prince could not
tempt TO cover his march by the which usually
adopted in such cases for it necessary above all
things not to attract the attention Of the enemy In this
49,
have hindered the movements of his column The Prince
marched with his train and park of artillery. All these
difficulties were surmcunted, and troops had the
morning Of the 18th reached point where the enemy did
not suppose them to be.
Our adversares also executed and almost at the
time, flank march, but under much more advantageous
circumstances. From Belbek and the plateau whichtheJ
occupied the 24th they had only gain Mackenzie
Farm in order to attain the leading by descent
the Tchernaya The enemy executed this movement with
out being perceived by us for the point where Macken
ze's Farm is situated is distance of sixteen werst
from the spot where forces stationed and beside
| it is also covered by woody mountains
If Prince Menschikoff had been desrous of attackns
the enemy during the march, he could only have done
by route which, for distance Of ten wersts upoI
ascent from the Belbek Mackenzes Farm II woul
only have been necessary for the enemy to place few
batteries in good position upon the heights to enabl
him to check attack for so long time that the move
ment of the column could be completed without dan
4 ger. The enemy had the great advantage of marchin
without guns and artillery, which in the mean time ha
been quietly transported by to Basklava. Whoeve
| has marched with troop, army or battalion, vii
/ appreciate the difference between advancing with an
| without q train of artillery.
1t was requisite that Prince Menscbikof should avoid
combat during his movement, because the enemy wa
placed in an advantageous position for it. Our adversa
res, on the contrary marched in such that the
would not have been inconvenenced by an attack upo
their fank attack which the Prince from the
of the territory, could bring about without engagn
| in ndpr uufa lie cir atanc