Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-22
VOLUME XI.--NO. SO.
WHOLE NUMBER, 558.
The Battle of Inkermann.


So simple in its main thread, (soys H.
London Spectator,) is the story Of the bas
tie of Inkermann, that the official despat-
ches, and fuller correspondence, which
reach US this week, scarcely modify the
tale; but rather, as usual, enable rs to
realize the magnitude Of the contest, it
desperate obs.inacy, its appalling amount
of bloodshed, the imminent peril Of our
(allied) soldiers, and the heroism which
enabled them to endure, to resist, and 70
triumph over fearful odds.
For day or two previously to the 5th
November, the Russians, who already pos
sessed large force within the prolonged
fortifcations, and large force toward the
rear, in the neighborhood Of Balaklsva,
had been observed to receive reinforce
ments, estimated at 10000 or 10000 !;
which added to Liprandfs corps on the
Russian left of 5000 or more, and the
garrison, would probably justify Gen. Car
roberts estimate of 100000 men, in one
way and another, arrayed agains. the allies
on the memorable 5th Of November. To
augment the weight Of the force brought
down to crush the beseigers, the now use-
less army Of the Danube had been with
drawn from Moldavia, leaving Bcssarabis
still defended by its special army, but not,
it is supposed, entirely exhausting the
reinforccments to be brought from the in
terror The effort of Mcnchikof to throw
bis strength into succession Of powerful,
and, if possible, decisive blows, is shown
by the advance of Dannenberg's army in
the very lightest order, augmentinS the
numbers about Sevastopol, without much
regard either to their equipment or provi-
sion. The aim was to bear down by aceu-
mulating pressure and it was with sush
that the batteries resumed the bombssd.
ment of the allies in their beseiged camp !;
strong force from the garrison moved out
to act with Dannenberg's army, and Lip
randi made feint that might have been,
had it succeeded, penetrating attack to
ward the rear; and, as it was, it did en-
gage the attention of portion Of the Bri.
tish and French forces. Thus the allies
were to be occupied all round, while the
weak, unintrenehed and unforti6ed point
in their position toward the valley Of the
lnkermann was to y. penetrated BY .
force of great weight and momentum. ID
was with the earliest dawn enveloped in
mist and rain, that the allies hearing, with.
out seeing the movement of the enemy,
reused themselves to a comprehension Of
that which they were to expect They
were attacked in position, by troops, con.
verging into narrow and broken ravine
or meeting Of several ravines; and here,
notwithstanding all the "solidity" ascribed
to them in the despatch of the French
commander, the English soldiers we're re.
peatedly driven back. At one time the
battle consisted in the play of artillery
upon the soldiers of either side; at another,
in sharp conflicts of small arms; out for
the most part of the time in direct personal
where each side tried against
the other its weight, muscular strength,
nerve and resolve. The 5000 English
who were repeatedly brought forward 10
meet the attack were the same men, unre-
ieved throughout the day. The narrow
less of the channel through which the bat
lie ragged prevented the Russians from
Ising their numbers at once, but those
numbers gave command of fresh forces
q successive relays. So the conflict con-
inued throughout the day, till afternoon
he eontending bodies swayed backwards
nd forwards as reinforcements or new
esolution lent the greater impetus to ei-
her side The arrival of the French first
estored like aggressive equality to the
ide of the allies; and, at last, English "so-
idity" and French gallantry prove greater
han Russian ferocity and Numbers. The
russians gave way and retired their i'm
Mediate object unaccomplished, and their
ath strewed with dead, principally Of
heir own.
In this days battle the ascertained loss
f the English was 2,6l2; that Of tho
'rench LOO; and the Russian loss is
messed a, 10000. The proportienate loss
f officers, Of the allies, is excessive. Sup
osing the Russian loss not to be over-es-
mated, it would about equal that Of the
lies in proportion to the gross numbers
t the command Of Prince Menchikof.
>--~--~-~4--------~~,-~>------~->
The Chicago Press says: "The Mer-
ba,tc, and Mprhenics' Rank of this city.