Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-12-01

AhH N8AMkA AM aktAolVkUL.
As our paper contains frequent al
lusions TO the seat Of war. We give.
for the benefit Of the young. brief
account Of the Crimsa and Sevastopol.
Let the reader take the School Atlas
aud find them.
The Crimea is peninsula in the
northern part Of the Black Sea. lying
between that sea and the Sea Of Azof,
and is connected With the main land
by an isthmus five or six miles :wide.
II is only geo miles in circuit. and con-
tains some l.242 square miles. In
surface, three-fourths Of il is an undu-
lating plain. with q fertie soil and an
extremely luxuriant vegetation. The
extreme north part. near the isthmus.
contains salt marshes and lakes. from
which salt is manufactured TO supply
the neighboring Russian provinces.
and for export, The southern portion
is quite billy and even mountainous.
some Of the elevations reaching TO the
hight Of 1900 feet. These hills are
covered with heavy forests. which
yield excellent ship timber. and the
valleys produce all sorts of grain.
chiefly wheat. barley, and millet--also
fine garden fruits and grapes. from
which are made excellent wines.
II was known 20 the ancients as
Chersenesus Taurics. Of late years as
Grim Tartary. and now Crimea. Its
first inhabitants were the Cimmerians,
but about GOO years before the Chris
tian Era the Greeks commenced trad
ing there. and reduced it 10 their sub
lection. It was then SUCCESSFULLY oc-
cupied by the Goths, Huns and others,
till A. ID. l44i, when it became de-
pendent OF the Turkish Government,
and so remained till l774, when it be-
came independent; but inl1783 was an
nexed to Russia, and has since then
remained province of that empire
As soon as iticame into the possession
of the Russians they commenced the
town Of Sevastopol, an excellent har.
Dor for ships OF all kinds. and especi'
ally for men Of war. The various an
cient remains, antique monuments ant
curious caves in its vicinity, would
seem to indicate that it occupies tht
site Of an ancient town. The excel
lence Of its harbor has induced tn,
Russian Government to foriify i
strongly, and they have increased III
Notifications as their navy on the Blacl
Sea has increased, till 1t is one Of tn
strongest fortresses in the world, ant
: seward is considered impregnable.
: The chief Engineer Of the fortifca
: tons at Sevastopol, was an English
man. named Geo. Upton. Thirt.
years ago he was a celebrated railros'
> engineer in England, but having de
I irauded the Holyhead road, he fed
$ and went to the Crimea, where tn
d Car engaged him to build the FORTH
cations. He found Sevaslopol in
d very inefficient state, and at once pre-
: ceeded, by dint Of labor. science an
money, to render it the strong FORTH
u cation which il is at the present day
" The Emperor was so much please
Il with the result Of his labors, that, 1
mong the other high honors. he col
% ferred upon him the rank Of LieuteI
ant Colonel. He died about yet
ago. but his son still resides in the CT
mea, and was taken prisoner by Il
. British in their recent operations
!. They endeavored to get some informs
: ton from him regarding the fortres
!, but he ste ably refused to give it, as
- could not. consistently with honor, i
~ jure the monarch in whose service
held a commission.