Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-12-28
Special Correspondence of the London Morn
ing Herald.
THE BATTLE OF INKERMANN.
BRIrrsH CAnr, Tuesday, Nov. I, 1854.

BRrrrsH CAM. Tuesday. Nov. 7. 1854.
We have again had a pitched battle
with the Russians battle which, for
duration and loss of life, is only to be
equaled by the tremendous conflicts of
Napoleon at Austerlitz and Leipsic.-
In word, the enemy, with oyerpower-
ing force, attacked the right of our en-
trenched camp at day break on the
morning of Sunday, the 9Th of Novem-
Der. Their immense superiority of
numbers enabled them to carry several
strong positions, and penetrate into the
center of the camps of the Light and
Cd Divisions; but the opportune arrival
of reinforcements enabled the allies to
recover their lost ground, and eventual
ly repulse the attack, with such loss to
the enemy as is, perhaps, unparalleled
in the history of modern warfare.
The fighting lasted about eight hours.
No terms of praise are too high for the
desperate courage which the enemy
showed in this assault upon our lines
Their conduct and GOODNESS, under fire,
literally seems inexplicable. 1 never
thought any but British troops could
have showed such perfect daring.
On the morning of the 4th, the enemy
approached Balaklava in two bodies,
about $4,000 or 10000 strong; of
course, as they nearly always are, day
and night, the defenders OF the batteries
had to get under arms, and fred sever
al shells into the enemy's columns. The
latter gave not the least sign of wish to
attack; on the contrary, beyond moving
out of range, and remaining drawn up in
order of battle, they barely appeared to-
notice US. Vein the batteries were aston
ished at their apathy, and remained ad-
miring the beautiful order in which they
were drawn up in one huge semi-circle,
glittering squadrons of cavalry on either
flank, the infantry in dense columns of
battalions, and perfect cloud of artil-
lery in front of all. We were remark
ing on the beauti ul 'pomp of war; and
calculating the probabilities of an at
tack, when suddenly a sentry, who was
posted on the hill, came down, and in
formed us that another large army was
moving up the plain of Balaklava, to
the part under the chain of hills on
which our right rested. We hurried
up the hill, and found that the astound
ing report was too true. Pouring along
the plain to the north, were the huge
dark masses of Russian infantry, with
long glittering lines of cavalry upon
the aanks This spectacle certainly
astonished us. Not less than 10000
were in the plain below us: instantly
started off to the camp, crossing, on my
way, part of the plain, instead of GO
ing round among the batteries. By
this short cut along our out-pickets,
was enabled to approach close to the
Russians-within 1000 yards. At
that distance 1 could plainly estimate
their numbers, and note that they moved
in open columns with the most perfect
and beautiful regularity. Their artil-
lery, in particular, excited my close at
tention. l never saw such masses Of
guns with any troops, and some of
them had ten and twelve horses. They
appeared to have artillery enough for
90o,0oO men. At the first approach of
this formidable body, our lines in the
rear were manned. The enemy, how
ever, displayed no hostile intentions,
but moving along under the base of the
plateau on which our camp is fixed.
poured into the valley of the Chernaya.
Part crossed the river and seemed to
rest near Inkermann Light; part re-
manned in the valley of Chernaya in
the plain under the high hill on which
the two-gun battery I have mentioned
is posted. From this eminence all their
movements could be noted with perfect
accuracy. 1t was about O'Clock in
the day. By this time most of those
who had crossed the Chernaya had
poured under the hills toward the north
side of Sevastopol, where they were
met by a detachment of about 5000
infantry. Here, after remaining for
couple of hours, they occupied the
heights near Inkermann- Light, and
seemed to be inspecting the whole OF
our line of defenses. Toward o'clock
the great body moved down into the
valley, and took up their quarters on
the Chernaya, on our right flank, and
Just at the base of the hill on which the
two-gun battery was placed. In this
order, viz: about 10000 at Balaklava
and 40, 900 on our right in the valley,
they settled down.
A little after 8, on the morning of
Sunday, the 5th, when a heavy fog
shrouded every thing from view, the
various garrisons of the redoubts at
Balaklava were reused out by the noise
of large masses Of troops approaching.
This time scouts were instantly sent out,
and returned with the intelligence that
large army was moving against them,
though it was impossible to say on
what point the attack would be directed.
The fog and darkness were so dense,
that it was quite impossible to dis
tinguish any thing ten feet below the
battery. Yet still the noise round the
hill continued. l have already describ-
ed the high. steep hill facing the bate
Try and overlooking it. No one sus-
pected. or believed it possible that the
enemy could get guns up this in sin
gle night, so the place had been but lit
tie regarded. Yet was from this spot
Al Al n