The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-27
THE BATTLE FIELD AND THE CONTEST.
(COrrespopdence of the London Times

II the exhibition Of the most brilliant valor, Of the
Elected lustre the best days cvalry can afford a
consolation for the disaster of to-day, have
to regret tho melancholy loss which we sustained
in contest with a savage and barbarian enemy.
Before proceed to my narrative, must premise that
certain feeling existed in some quarters that
the Crmea and that they had lost golden opportunities
from the ndecison and excessive caution Of their lead
ers solely owing to the i, mid Of the officer in com
Of our cavalry and they indignant and exasperated
that the fanes shade Of suspicion should rest any
their corps With the justice Of these sspersions they
seemed to think they had nothing to do and perhaps
the prominent thought in their minds was that they
would give such example Of courage to the world
the chance offered ITSELF as would shame their derac
tors for
1t will be remembered that eleven battalions of Rus
sian infantry had crossed the Tchernaya and that they
threatened the of our position and our communca
ton with Balaklava II will be recolected also that the
position occupied in reference to Balaklava sup
posed by most people to be strongeven impregna
be Our lines formed by natural mountain slopes
in the along which the French had made very for
mdable intrenchments. Below those intrenchments,
and very nearly in right line the valley beneath
four central hlocks, one rising above the other as
they receded from lines the furthest, which joins
named Canroberts h from the meeting there of that
General with Lord Raglan after the march to Balaklaya
up earthen redoubts, defended by $50 each, and
armed with two or three guns-some heavy ship guns
lent by us to them, with artillery in each
doubt to look after them These hills the valley Of
Balakava at the distance of about two aud half miles
from the town; Surprising the spectator then to
take his stand on , one Of the heights forming
the town of Balakiava with its scanty shipping, its
strip Of water and its old forts his right hand
Of meadow land occupied by cavalry tents
and stretching from the base of the ridge which he
stood to the foot of the formidable heights at the other
side. He would the French trenches lined with
Zouaves few feet beneath, and distant from him. on
the slope of the hill, Turkish redoubt lower down.
then another in the valley then in line with 1t some
her
two redoubts up to Canroberts hill At the distance
of two two and half miles the valley there is
an abrupt rocky mountain range Of most irregular and
picturesque formation, covered with scanty brushwood
here and there, rising into barren pinnacles and
ldtedaz of rock. In outline and appearance, this por
ton Of the landscape is wonderfully like the Trossachs
patch of blue sea is caught in between the overhang
ing cliffs Of Baaklava as they close in the entrance Of
pitched on the hill sides more than 900 feet above the
level Of the sea- are opposite to you your back is
ahav on hs Vey ess to he
entrance Of the town. and beneath these hills is the
encampment of the esd Highlanders.
The cavalry lines nearer to you below, and are
some way in advance Of the Hghanders and nearer to
the town the Turkish rcdoubts The valley is crossed
the hills rocky mountain ranges gradually close in
toward the Of the Tchernaya till at three four
miles distance from Baaklava the valley is swallowed
up in mountain gorge and deep ravines, above which
rise tier after tier Of desolate whtsh rock garnished
and then by bits of scanty herbage and spreading
towards the east and SOUTH where they attain the
Alpine dimensions of Tschatyr Dagh. It is very easy
for enemy at the Belbek in command Of the road
Of Mackenze's Farm, Inkerman, smpherpo, or Bakshi
to debouch through these gorges at any time upon
this plain from the neck Of the valley, to march from
ST bastoro by the Tchernaya and to advance along it
towards Palakava till checked by the Turkish redoubts
on the southern side or by the FIRE from the French
works the northern side e., the side which,
la'on to the valley to Baaklava forms the of
position. 1t evident enough that Menschikoff and
Gortchako had been feeling their way along this route
for several days past and very probably at night the
Cossacks had crept close to pcket which not
always watchful as might be desired and had OBJ
served the weakness OF position far too extended for
our army to defend, and occupied by their despised
enemy, the Turk. say despised," because hear
from prisoners and from other that potwith
standing all the drubbngs received the Danube from
the Osmanl the Russians have the most ineable con-
tempt for the champions Of the Crescent