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

THE MARCH TO THE ALMA.
Correspondence OF The Le Bdon Time,
BASKs or The ALMA, Tuesday, Sept ID. 1854.
Last night orders given by Lord Raglan tha
the troops should strike tents at dsybreak, and that
all tents should be sent board the ships OF the heet
Our advance had been determined upon, and il was
understood that the Russian light cavalry had been
sweeping the country OF all supplies mp to short
distance of our lines and outlying pickets.
At O'Clock "A the morning the camp was reused
by the reveille and all the 10000 seepers woke into
active life The boats from the ships lined the beach
to receive the tents The commlssaria officers strpg
gled in vain with the very deficient means at their
disposal to meet the enormous requirements Of an
army of q, 600 men for the transport of baggage,
ammunition, and food, and scene, which to An IN
practised eye would seem one OF utter CONFUSION,
began and continued for several hours relieved only
by the steadness and order of the regiments they
paraded previous TO marching.
> The French, in advance on our right. were up be
tmes aEd the camp fires Of the allied armies extend
ing for miles along the horizon and mingDg with the
lights of The ships almost anticipated the morning.
1000 Turkish infantry under Suleiman Pashe moved
along by the seaside next to them came the divisions
of Generals Bosquet, Csnrobert, Forey, and Prince
Napoleon. Our order of march was about four miles
to the right of their lett wing and as many behind
them.
The right of the allied forces was covered by the
Geet which moved along with it in magnificent order,
dark enng the air with nnumerabe columns Of smoke.
ready to she'll the enemy, should they threaten to at
tack our right, and commanding the land TOR nearly
two miles from the shore.
IL was O'Clock in the morning ere the whole Of
our army was prepared for marching The day was
warm, and our advance was delayed by the wretched
transport furnished for the baggage an evil which
will fear, be severely felt in any protracted
operations. Everything not absolutely indispensable
was cent on board ship. The naval officers and the
sailors worked indefatigably, and cleared the beach
as fast the deposited their baggage and tents
there. At lsst the men fell in and the march OF tho
campaign began.
The country beyond the salt lake near which We
were encamped, is perfectly destitute OF tree shrub,
and consists Of wide plains, marked at intervals Of
two or three miles with hillocks and long Irregular
ridges of hills running down toward the at right
angles to the beach. II Is but little cultivated,
cept in the patches Of lend around the unfrequent
villages built in the higher recesses OF the valleys.
Hares started in abundance, and afforded great
sport 10 the men whenever they halted, al several
were fairly hunted down among the lines Of men,
All oxen horses or cattle had been driven OF by the
COssscks The soil is hard and elastic and was In
excellent order for artillery.
After march of an hour halt took place for fifty
minutes, during which Lord Raglan, accompanied by
very large staff Marshal st. Arnaud, Generals Bos-
quet Forey, and a number of French officers, rode
along ths front Of the columns. The men spontane-
ously got up from the ground, rushed forward, and
column after column rent the air with three thunder
ing English cheers. Ii was good omeo. As the
Marshal parsed the 55th regmsnthe exclaimed " En-
"glisb, Ihope you will fight well to-day" "Hopep
exclaimed voice from the ranks, "sure you know
we will" The troops presented splendid appear
ance. The effect Of there grand mnsses Of soldiery
descending the ridges Of the hills rank after rank,
with the playing forests OF gitterng steel
can never be forgotten by those who witnessed 1t.
Onward the torrent Of war swept; wave after wave,
huge stately pillows Of armed men whe the rumble
of artillery and tramp OF cavalry accompanied their
progress. AT last the snoke of burning villages and
farm houses announced that the enemy front vere
aware of our march. IL sad sight TO sec the
white walls Of the houses blackened with smoke-the
flames ascending through the roofs Of peaceful home
steads-and the ruined outlines Of deserted hsmsts.
Many sick fell out ard we're carried TO the rear
II was painful sight-a sad contrast to the magnf-
cent appearance Of the army in 'front.' TO behold litter
after litter borne past TO the carte with the poor suf-
ferers who lad dropped from illness and fatigue.
Presently, from the top OF hill, wide plain wM
visible beyond which rose a ridge darkened here and
there BY masses which the praeticed eye recognized
as cavalry. IL was our first sight of the enemy. On
the eft OF the plain, up IN recess formed by the in
ward sweep Of the two ridges lay large village in
flames; night before us neat white house un-
burned, though the outhouses and farn-yard were
burning. This was the imperial poet house of Boul-
jansk, just 20 miles from seyastopol
small stresm ran past u.s. which was an object OF
delight TO our thirsty soldiers who had now msrched
more than eight miles from their camp. The house
was deserted snd Quilted. Only picture Of q saint,
punches Of herbs in the kitchen and few household
utensils were left and solitary peahen stalked ssdiy
about the threshold, which soon fell victim to re-
yolyer After short halt for men dnd horses by the
stream, the army pushed on again Inc caVsIy
about 800 men Of the Eighth Husears, the Eievehtn
Hussars and the Thirteenth Light Dragocnsl pushed
in front and on arriving about mile DeJ"nn tns
post.bouse We clearly made the Cossack Lancers
On the bills in front Lord CARDIGAN ',ew out sss,
misherE in line who covered the 'front.' a. intervals OF
Tn - tSsIye wards from each other. The
COsseeks advanced meet 1s n Ike order man for
.rn Tbev we're rOug looking fellows, mounted
tnrdv Tte horses but the regularity Of their order
and tie celerty Of their movements showed they wero
eorlsrs and BY means despicable foes. As our
.trm,bers advanced the Cossscks halted the foot
of tbe hill Their services not well In sight, but
fem tine TO time elunp Of lanees rose over the
summit Of the bill and disappeared. Lord Cordigan
was eager to try their strength, and permission
given TO bin TO advance somewhat nearer but hs
did go dark columns Of cavalry came into view in the
seeesses Of the hls and il became evdent that If our
charged up such sep accent their horses would
be blown, ard that they would run q risk Of being
surrounded and cut to prices bya force Of three
times their number. Lord Lucsn therefore ordered
the cavalry to halt gather in their skirmshers and
retire slowly. None Of the infantry or artillery
in sight Of Us, they had not yet topped me
brow Of the hill When our skirmishen halted tse
Cosssckx commenced Gre from heu line Of vldstes