Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-03
Correspondence Of tho London Times.
Description OF THU BATTLE.
THE CHARGE.
OF THE HEIGHTS.
CAMp AT ALMA. Sent. PC


each, ofihe 10th. 3lst, 32d and 52d
regiments. We were opposed princi.
pally by the 10th and 3ad regiments
judging by the number Of dead in
front Of US. | have not been able e
ascertain by whom they were com.
handed, but there Is general repcrI
that Monschikoff commanded the mr..
my In chief, that the left was under
Gortschakoii. relative Of the diploma.
list. and the right was under Bodahofr,
the military Governor OF Sevastopol.
IL Is also affirmed that the carriage
OF Menschikof was taken, and In il
was found copy ofa dispatch address.
ed to the Emperor. in which the Prince
stated that 10000 men might take
Sevastopol. but that 1000 men could
be held In check for weeks by the DO,
sition OF the Alma. Large masses oil
cavalry, principally lancers and heavy
dragons. manoeuvered on the hills
and crossed the stream, and threatened
our left and rear.
Our plan Of operations was that the
French should establish themselves
under the FIRE OF the guns on The
heights on the extreme OF the enomy's
left.
When the attack was sufficiently
developed and had met with success,
tho British army was 10 force the right
and part Of the centre Of the Russian
position, and the day was ga,ned.-
When We were about three miles from
the village. the French steamers ran In
rs close rs they could TO the bluff OF
the shore ut the south side Of the Al
ma. and presently we saw them she'll
ing the height In splendid style, the
shells bursting over the enemie's
squares aud batteries. and finally dri-
wing them from their position on the
right within 5000 yards Of III, sea.
The French practice commenced
about half past l2 o'clock, aad lasted
for about an hour and half. We
could see the shells falling over the
batteries Of the enemy, and bursting
right into them: and then the blacl,
masses inside the works broke into
little specks which flew about in all di.
rections, and when the.smoke cleared
away there were some TO be seen'strsw-
ed over the ground. The Russians
answered the ships from the heights,
but without effect.
A powder tumbril was blown up by
a French shell; another shell fell by
accident into an ambuscade which the
Russians had prepared for the advanc.
ing French, and at last they drew of
from the sea side, and confined THEN
efforts to the defence OF the gullies and
heights beyond the fire ofthc heavy
guns of the steamers. At O'Clock
we saw the French columns struggling
up the hills. covered by a cloud o
skirmishers, whose fire seemed mos
deadly.
Once, at sight ola threatening mas.
OF Russian infantry; in a commanding
position above them. who fired rapiC
vollies among them. the French pauset
but 1t was only TO collect their Skin
mishers, for as soon as they had form
ed they ran up the hill at the pas al
charge, and once broke up the Russi
ans, who fled in disorder, with loss, VI
the Lill. We could see men dropping
on both sides, and the wounded rollins
down the steep. At | so our line o
skirmishers got within range of th'
battery on the hill and immediately
the Russians opened fire at 1900 yard
with effect. the shot blowing through
the open lines Of the rilemen, ant
falling into the advancing columns be
hind.
Shortly before this time, dense vol
umcs Of smoke rose from the river an,
drilted along TO the eastward, rattle
interfering with the view Of the enem,
on the left Of our position. The Russi
ans had set the village on fire. 1t wa
a fair exercise Of military skill-wa
we'll executed-took place at the RICH
time, aud succeeded in occasioning
great deal Of annoyance Our troop
halted when they neared this village
their left extending beyond Il by tn
verge Of the stream; our right behin'
the burning cottages, and within rang
Of the batteries. II is said the Russi
ans had taken the range Of all the prin
cipal points in thir front. and place,
twigs and sticks to mark them. L
this they were assisted by the pos
slgnboards on the road.
The Russians opened furious fir
on the whole OF our line, but tn
French had not yet made progrcs
enough to justify us in advancing
The round shot whizzed in every dI
rection, dashing up the dirt and san
into the faces OF the staff Of Lord Rag
Ian, who were also sheled severely
and attracted much Of the enemy
fire. Still Lord Raglan waited patient
ly for the development of the Frenc
attack. At length an aid de-cam
came to him and reported the Frenc
had crossed tho Alma, but they ha
not established themselves suliclen
ly to justify us in an attack.
The infantry were therefore orIere
to lie down. and the army for a shol
time was quite passive only that OF
artillery poured forth an unceasing iii
of shell, rockets and round shot, whic
ploughed through the Russians, an
caused them great loss. They did n,
waver. however, AMI replied to our a
tillery manfully, their shot fallin
among our men as they lay, and ca
rying off legs and arms at every roun,
Lord Raglan at last became weary
this inactivityShis spirit was up-l
looked around and saw men on who
he knew he might stake the honor an
fate of Great Britain by his sile. an,