Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-10-25
no. ILIX.
storming OF sebastopol.

The steamer Baltic arrived at New York. on
the Eth, with dates from London and Liverpool
to the 4tb instant.
BY this arrival we have news Of deep interest.
The great and long g-looked for conflict Of arms in
the Orrnea, between the Anglo French and Turk
ish allies. on the one side, and The Russians on
the other, has taken place, and. after series of
battles, most desperate and bloody, victory has
honored the standards of the Allies.
We have some of the terrific particulars. 1t
appears that the Struggle commenced the 2lst OF
! September, on the Alma riser, some fifteen or
twenty miles from Sebastopol. The entrenched
camp OF The Russians on these heights. containing
fifty thousand men, including large amonnt Of
artillery aud cavalry. was carried at the point Of
the bayonet. after desperate fight of four hours.
The Allies lost in this engagement twenty eight
hundred in killed and wounded, and the Russians
six thousand. No British general officer was dis
abed, but the French Gen. fhOmasson is suppos-
ed 10 be ialaly wounded. Marshal ST. Arnaud
and Lord Raglan commanded in person.
Most IT not all of these details are reported on
the authority of ofiicia! dispatches Private des-
patches state, in addition, that the RassaGs IN
der the immediate command Of Prince Menschi-
koB, rallied on the plains Of Kalaniai, near the
River katscha, on the 23d Of September. and a.
gain gave battle to the Allies. This engagement
lasted several hours. and was very sanguinary.-
1t ended in the total defeat of the Russians. who
were pursued to their entertainments before Sebas-
topol. Here they once more rallied and gave
their invaders third battle on the 9th. But,
the fortune of war being still against them. they
were third time defeated They then fled into
Sebastopol.
In &c c. -. =.
invested by sea and land, and, after an obstinate
defence, was carried by storm. The Allies then
bombarded the city and fleet. Zen Russian ships
of the line were burnt and sunk The remaining
forts were carried one after another, by which
eight hundred guns were silenced. and twenty
two thousand prisoners taken. The Russian loss,
in Sebastopol alone, in killed and wounded. is
estimated at not less than eighteen thousand men
Prince Aienschkof. with the shattered remains
of his force, retired to a position in the inner har-
Dor, and threatened to fire the town and blow up
the remaining ships, unless the yictors would
grant him an honorable captulation. The Allied
Generals demanded his unconditional surrender,
and in the name of humanity gave him six hours
for consideration. The latest despatch says that
Menschikotf finally relnquished the unequal con-
test by surrendering, aud that the British and
How the numbers in this great battle precisely
stood. we know not; but all the incentives that
could stimulate the soul of man to fight to the last
extremity existed on both sides. On the side Of
the Allies 1t was the first time that the battalions
Of Gaul and Britain had ever fought uoder the
same banner. and the emulation, the rivalry of
the two nations 10 eclipse by daring achievement
and indomitable courage, might be expected TO
make their charges irresistible; while the motives
of country, infiamed by resentment and pride, and
native courage, would make the Russian host un-
conquerable by anything but death itself. The af-
fair was dreadful one, doubtless; but what will
follow this great trial of strength we are yet to
leirn.
The result has caused universal rejoicing in
England and France and, it may be inferred, a
feeling the reverse Of this throughout Russia
Upon any other nation such disaster might be
deemed overwhelming but it is not improbable
that with her this invasion will only have the eff
feet of arousng new energies and stimulating to
more energetic efforts, not only for defence, but
for desperate retaliation.
The official details of these battles were not ex-
peced to reach the British Government before the
9th of the present month and since the above
was put in type, we have received other accounts
from the seat Of war. 1t is represented, on the
one hand, mat recent despatcneS from hussla IN
innate that its army had suffered some reycrses in
the Crimea whilst, on the other, it is asserted,
on the authority of despatch from Berlin, that
Menschkoff had teIegraphed to St. Petersburgh
Oh the 2jth that he had withdrawn his troops un-
molescd from before Sebastopol and moved to-
wards Balcktchi serais. there to await reinforce
ments. This Berlin despatch adds that Sebasto-
pol had NOT been attacked up TO the 26th ultino.
Other items of intelligence forwarded to US state
that the Austrian ambassador at Paris has express
ed satisfaction on behalf of his Government at the
success of the Allies in the Crimea; that the or
der for the return of the French feet from the Bal
tic has been countermanded that Cronstadt is Sc
riously menaced that Naper's fleet was before
Reyel on the 23d of September; that an attack on
Bessarabia was contemplated; that the Russians
were concentrating in the neighborhood Of Ismal;
and that all the movements Of the Turkish army
Indicate winter campaign.