Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-18
COMMANDMENT OF PETRoPAULoWsKI BY AN
ANGLO-FRENCH FLEET.

! The San Francisco Herald furnishes the follow
ing narrative of this affair:
On Tuesday the Sd of October, portion Of the Allied
feet consisting of the French ship Forte sxty Al
mra ADes Pontes, the French frgate Eurydce. thrty
guns Capt A. La Grandere and the French brig
0bigado, eighteen guns, Capt De Rosencour anchored
off North Beach, and by them the brought oi
the bombardment of the Russian town Of
situated the western shore of Kamtschatka by the
aforementioned vessels with the English vessels
President Pque, and steamer Virago, the first Of
September.
1 Petropaulowski is situated on kind Of inner bay
formed by sandbar running the harbor and be-
hind this bar anchored the Russian rigate Aurora
and the armed transport Dwna. The Allied fleet
unable to approach than three miles to the city, in
i consequence of strong from the norhward
The bombardment continued for four days On the
second day three Of the forts he town protected by
eight strong baeries) were slenced and detachment
of Elk hundred marines sent shore for the pur-
pose Of dismanng the abandoned forts and spkng the
guns. They surprised by ambuscade Of the Rus
sians and great slaughter took place. The fortress
Petropaulowsk had recently been reinforced from Siberia
by way Of the Amour river defended by one hum
dred and twenty guns and twelve hundred The Al
lied fleet sailed away on the 9th Of September in very
disabled condition. and afterwards captured the Stks
vessel mounting three guns and belonging to the Russian
American Company. The British Admiral Price, pre-
vious to the Of the action shot himself
with pistol some say accidentally. The English ships
into Vancouvers Island to ret The French vessels
| sailed for this port
The Echo du Pacifque contains the French account
Of this attack given in detail We copy the translation
| of it:
On the 25th Of July the Allied feet composed of tie
French vessels the Forte Eurydice, Artemise, and O
gado, and the English vessels the President Pqus Am
phlrte and Vrago left Honolulu On the 30th of July
the Amphtre and Artemise detached for San Fran
CISCO On the 28th Of August the feet arrived within
sight Of the mountains about Petropaulowsk After
reconnaissance Of the bay by the Vrago the feet moved
the 29h with colors flying in the following order
the President the Forte the Pique the Eurydce The
Virogo was placed by the side Of the President and the
Obigado by the side Of the Forte At the moment Of
casting anchor the four Russian batteries opened upon
them These four batteries the battery on Schako
Point the left Of the entrance the harbor; bat
terry on the point to the right uncovered battery Of
twelve guns on the tongue Of land utng out into the
port near the entrance and battery the peninsula
which protects the city the west This battery
placed on low portion of the peninsula which the
masts OF four vessels in the bay dscoverabe Three
Of these vessels were men-of war and one merchant
vessel.
1t then half past o'clock The Virago advanced
toward the peninsula and opened fire upon the Russian
batteries. battery Of mortars the town replied
but the bombs fell short exploding high in the air. Lights
kept up in the vessels during the night to deceive
the Russians who maintained the fires their batteries
through the night In the morning every preparation
made for battle. The Schako battery con-
tanned five heavy guns the uncovered battery contained
twelve thirysx pounders the battery the right
less dangerous and protected by feeble Notifications The
English admiral directed the Of the
Pque to dsmount Of their guns the shot struck the
gun, dsmounted it, and made it useless The open bat
tery was evidently the most dangerous being protected
by fascines twelve feet in diameter The Pque
ed at the starboard Of the Vrgo and the President was
placed behind the steamer The Forte took position
the larboard Of the Vrago Beyond the sand bank the
Russian transport visible and three port holes Of the
Aurora The vrago advanced to within cannon-shot Of
the lighthouse; the fred and the ball fell
near the steamcr the Virago replied with bomb, which
| struck the lighthouse.
At this time, quarter after one small boat was
dispatched from the Pque with the commander of that
vessel to the Forte The French ADMIRAL with his aide
de-camp and surgeon went to the President Admiral
Price had just been mortally wounded his pistol having
gone off in his hand, and the ball having pierced his
heart The drums beat retreat and their preparations
for the battle we're suspended.
An hour later Russian sloop rugged like coaster,
was steering for Avatscha Two small boats from
the President pursued and took it, with nine sailors who
we're on board.
l. On the morning of the 31st Of August the sohakof
battery opened the re hee Pique the Forte and the
President began heavy fire in reply The Virago land
ed body Of troops the battery on the right the
firing OF the Schakof battery began sacken the troops
from the Vrago advanced the toward the battery
on the rght the Aurora, by steady fire, arrested them
for few moments; loud huzza welcomed the fire. and
when the smoke cleared away the troops were seen in
possession Of the battery They destroyed the gun
rages and spiked the guns. The Aurora landed 200
to retake the battery the Pque and the Forte opened
fire to protect their men, who re-embarked in good
order.
The Forte threw hail Of canister shot on the open
battery which replied by heavy fire. sending four balls
into the rgates hull and many through the bulwars
At the end of half hour the half Of the Russian guns
were unfit for service The President then turned to aid
the Forte At the expiration Of two aud half hours
the battery senced and the Russians went on board
the Aurora and Dwna The cannonade then ceased and
the vessels the night spent in repairing the dam
age done during the day.
On the st Of September the virago went to the bay Of
Tarinsk where the body of Admiral Price was inferred
n ckQd Aunor
ors, deserters from whaers who communicated what
was supposed to be important information with regard
the topography Of Petropauowski On the Cd Of Sep
tember council Of held on the Forte and 1t
was resolved to make second attack the next day. II
determined to land hundred men, of both no
ions including picked body Of hundred and seven
tysix carbineers Every to receive sixty car
trdges, and additional supply Of ammunition was to
be placed in sloops Captain de Ia Grandiere for the
French and Capt Barrdge, for the English be
in command Of the troops on and The day passed
| in making preparations.
On Monday, the 4h Of September at three o'clock in
the morning. the drums called all hands to quarters and
the troops for the land taken on board the Vrago
The battery fred shot through the rigging Of the Vira
go the Forte replied, and dismounted one Of the guns
of the battery The guns Of the battery, handled with
great Skill redoubled their fire the Forte. The balls
whisted the frgate. One went through the main
mast, about fifteen feet above the deck another was
lodged in the midst of the mzenmas The troops were
landed at eight o'clock The batteries were senced
The commander of the Forte pointed magazine of
OIL and promised to promote the gunner who should set
it on fire. The first ball effected the object heavy
cloud Of smoke, followed by clear fame, marked the