Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-11-25


The Albion has suffered much in hun and mssts
the Rodney In her masts, she having tailed ON the
resi- from which she got of by the great exertions
Of Commander KynAst0n, Of the Spiteful, whose
crew and vessel we're necessarily exposed In per
forming this service but, with the exception Of
the Albion and Arethusa, which ships send to
Constantnople to be repaired, hope to be able 70
make my squadron serviceable in twenty-four
hours Foreseeing from the nature Of the attack
that we should be likely to lose spars, left the
spare topmasts on board her Maestys ship Vulcan
at this anchorage, where had placed her with all
the sick and prisoners"
The Hsyalids Russo Of the 2eth ult contains the
following proclamation Of the Gar to the Russian
army in Sebsstopol: slt br
ellis Majesty the Emperor having received the
report Of the Aid-de-Camp General Prince Men
schikof testifyng TO the rcsolute courage, the
emplary frmness, and laudable abnegation which
the army and navy forming the garrison of Sebas-
topol displayed during the bombardment Of the
town by the Anglo-French on the 18th and 18th,
Expresses his sincere gratitude TO the said forces,
from the general down to the simple soldier, for
the great warlike exploits by which they have com
pletely justified the confidence Of his Majesty. The
Emperor takes pleasure in believing that they win
not cease to distinguish themselves by their bra
very, and by all the qualities which distinguish the
yeritable children Of Russia
English Account Of the Bombardment.
Orr THE KATcHA, CRIxEA, Oct. Is.
Yesterday morning, about daybreak, the Eng
fish and French opened fire from their batteries on
the south side of Sebastopol Late on the proceed
ing night it had been agreed by the combined adj
mirals and generals that the fleets should on the
same day make grand attack on the forts at the
mouth Of the harbor.
During the night topgallantmasts were lowered,
spare spars and boats handed over to her Msjestys
ship Vulcan, and early in the morning steam was
up. The paddle-wheel and screw-frigates dashed
themselves alongside the sailing Ships
and all was got ready for the fight. The French
were to occupy the right ss youenter the harbor-
that is the southern side; and the English the left
or northern side, in one line--about 1900 yards
off,
The French first got into their places, about half
past 10 o'clock, and Immediately commenced
heavy fire, which was vigorously returned from the
batteries. The distance, however, was certainly
greater than originally contemplated and, as far as
can ascertain, 1t was over 1000 yards. BY de-
grees the English ships successfully took up their
stations, passing in Of the French and anchor
ing to the left. The Agamemnon Sansparcil, and
London dashed to the Niger,) however, took an
inside station in advance-p perhaps 1000 yards
from Fort Constantine.
Nothing could be more noble than the gallant
way in which the Agamemnon and Sanspareil
steamed in amidst perfect hail of cannon balls
and shells, preceded by little tug-steamer--the
Circassia commanded by Mr.. Ball. This little bit
of cockleshell, which looked as If she might have
been arrested by fowling-piece, deliberately felt
the way for the large ships till her services were no
longer required.
The firing soon became terrific At the distance
of six miles the sustained sound resembled that of
furious locomotive at full speed, but Of course,
the roar was infinitely grander The day was a
dead calm, 80 that the smoke hung heavily about
both ships and batteries md frequently prevented
either from seeiug anything. From about two till
dark (nearly 81 the cannonade ranged most furi-
ously.
Towards 4 o'clock Fort Constantine, as well as
some of the smaller batteries, slackened somewhat
in their fire but toward DUSK as some Of the ships
began to haul out, the Russians returned to their
guns, and the fire seemed as fierce as ever. There
was one explosion just behind Fort Constantine,
which appeared 10 do much damage.
At dark all the ships returned to their anchor
age. The change was magical from a hot sun,
mist smoke, explosions, shot, shell, rockets, and
the roar of ten thousand guns--to STILL cool,
brilliant starlight sky, looking down upon CLASSY
sea- rejecting in long tremulous lines the lights at
the mnstheads Of the ships returning amid pro-
found silence
What damage has been done TO the forts we
don't yet know Three of our ships have been
roughly handled, and the killed and wounded
amount to As English killed, and upward Of $50
wounded. Lieut.. Chase, of the Albion, has fallen,
and Lieut. Lloyd, commanding the vesuvius, and
Mr.. Foster, midshipman on board the Sanspariel,
are seriously wounded.
No captains have been bit The blue jackets
showed all their ancient valor. Eight or nine men
were swept away at forecastlegm on board the
Sanspareil, by the explosion of shell. The two
remaining men cooly went on loading, with their
sponge and hammer, as though nothing had hap
pened.
A great disadvantage was, that the vessels APP
preached only one ater the other, instead Of adj
vancing rather in line, 80 as to commence firing
about the same time. BY approaching 30 gradu-
ally, the ships which went later into action could
scarcely get momcntary look at the forts at which
they had TO fire, much less obtain an estimate of
the distance which they were on from Il. More
over the gradual approach of one vessel after the
other afforded the Russians the facility Of concen
trating the fire of their batteries on one vessel
The sight Of the approaching squadrons was ons
Of the most imposing which one could possibly
witness. SEINE Of the liners, observed from the
starboard side, hid their tiny propcllers so COM
pletely, that the huge masses seemed to move by
themselves. If this was the most imposing sight,
the most exciting was that when the first shot was
fred from the fort IL was as II an electric spark
was running through the crews
There was perfect fury for firing, and the great
est difficulty was 10 make the men cease, az was
at times necessary when one or another Of the yes
sells was in the way. A great inconvenience in
working the guns was experienced from the alb
sence of so many men at the naval brigade, espe-
cially In the ships from which some oftbe superior
officers had gone to the camp. Several Of the liners
could not work their upperdeck guns in conse-
quence
Lord Raglan, in his despatch of the Esd ult.,
says;
In my last 1 announced to your grace the
death, which had just been reported 70 me, Of
that deeply-lamentcd officer, the Hon. Col. Hood,
Of the Grcnadier Guards. No other military off,
Ger has since fallen but Major Prince Edward Of
Saxe-W eimar, was slightly wounded on the 10th.
His Serene Highness insisted, however, upon re-
naming In the trenches until the detachment 10
which he was attached was relieved at the usual
hour, and he has now resumed his duty.
Captain Lord Dunkellin, of the Coldstream
Guards was unfortunately taken prisoner yester-
day morning, before daylight, in front Of the
trenches
The naval batteries have continued their ex-
ertions without intermission, and regret to have
10 report the death Of two gallant officers Of the
royal navy--the honorable Lieutenant Ruthven,
who has died Of bis wounds, and Lieutenant
- - m Al