The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-02
From the Buffalo Daily Courier.
THE SIEGE OF SEBAST0POL.

1t is a wellknown military problem-the ioruhcauOHs
garrison, number and calbre of guns and nature Of
soil being giyethat the strength and armament
the beseging necessary reduce the place together
with the duration of the siege by regular approaches can be
estimated almost a certainty This supposes OF course
that the besegers compelled to raise the siege by
ieving army and that their works progress regularly
interrupted by the besieged.
Sixty DAYS are generally regarded the maximum time
requisite reduce fortress by regular approaches
The trenches were opened before Sebastopo about the
October The bombardment commenced in earnest on The
18th of that month BY the last dates October 2sh and 2s
informed that the second parallel completed
and advanced batteries established Before the assault
take place the third and last parallel must be finished
and the covered way crowned by the besiegers.
The forts the northern side of the harboro Of Sebasop
are said to command those on the southern.
II So the latter when captured, afford protection
the victors and very much doubt whether they
be taken before the 18th of November After their educ
on insure the possession of the harbor and the Cma
twill be necessary to besiege the forts the northern
side This will be difficult affair, for the line Of commu.
nicaton between the besieges and Baakaya the base
operations will be materially weakened by its prolonga
ton The achievements now arriving to the allied
mics may enable them operate successfully the north
ern side but the greatest caution and vigilance will ne
cesry guard against sortes from the forts surprises
their from the army Of MenschkoH and attacks on
deed command the southern shore of the harbo then the
allies may have made great mistake in operating from
Balakava instead Of Enpatoria. The military question is
simply this Which plan would be the most feasible
productive of results most economical of blood and treas
ure-the besegng of all the forts both the northern
and southern sides Of the harbor from base of opera
tons eight ten miles removed from the trenches the
siege of the forts but side the northern from base
twenty-five thirty miles dstant2 The latter plan with
la UWber of tlp
safest and speedy but with the forces at present be-
fore Sebastopol, would have been most hazardous.
No doubt the proximity of their fleet at Balakava
Sebasopol and the vast Importance of keeping up
ncaon with it, which, with the limited forces under their
command could not have been safely done at Eupatoa,
determined the allied generals to make the former place
their base of operations
The fact is the present allied forces not adequate
reduction of Sebastopo and its deences grea,
loss of life. With 10000 they might have moved
from Eupatoria base after the victory of Alma 40
600 men might have followed Menschkoff driven him
the sthmus Of Pereko and renewed there the lines
of Torres Vedras while the balance $4,000 men, would
speedily have reduced the northern FORTS and cons
quencethese commanding the othersthe southern would
have fallen without siege Nor could the garrisons have
escaped the sthmus closed against them and 10000
flushed with victory in their rear they must all have
rendered.
The allies not being in sufficient force to besiege the
place and at the time efectually themselves
from the attacks of Menschkof their TANKS and
and from the sorties Of the beseged only hope 70
achieve triumph at great cost of human life The task
of reducing Sebasopol has proved far more difficult than
was at first supposed. According to last accounts the
English had been severely handled and the nth ancer
almost annihated. The allied fleets not to attempt
another bombardment We suspect the wooden walls must
have suered in their contest versus stono The French
and English must begin to discover they contending
against ordinary adversary. The gallantry Of he
Frenshman, the steady courage of the Engshman how
brilliant and constant find their match in the stern
vaor and devoted enthusiasm Of the Russian.
The war has just begun Frederick the Great to retain
Silesa commended for years against the combined
forces of Russia Austria and France and in the end
successful Why may not the far powerful Nicholas
contend for as long time against England, France and
Austria combined, and at length occupy permanently the
| principalities2