Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-27
The French Dispatches.

The French Dispatches.
The Monieur contains the following official dis
patch, addressed by Marechal de ST. Arnaud 10
the Emperor; the last, unfortunately, which the
Marshal was destined 10 write:
FIELD OF BATTLE OF ALMA, Sept 81.
SIRE: The cannon ofyour majesty has spoken;
we have gained a complete victory. 1t is glo.
rious day, Sire, 10 add TO the military annals of
France and your majesty will have one name
more TO add TO the victories which adorn The flags
Of the French army.
"The Russians had yesterday assembled all
their forces and collected all their means in order
10 oppose the passage of the Alma. Prince Men.
schikof commanded in person. All the heights
were crowded with redoubts and formidable bat
terles. The Russian army reckoned 40 900 bayo-
nets, from all the points of the Crimea in The
morning there arrived from Theodosia 5000 cav
airy and $50 pieces of heavy and field artillery.
From the heights, which they occupied The Rus
SLAMS could count our men man by man, from the
18th TO the moment when we arrived on the Bub-
banach.
Prince Napoleon, at the head of his
division, took possession of the large village OF
Alma under the fire of the Russian batteries The
Prince showed himself worthy of the great name
he bears. We then arrived at the foot of the
heights, under the fire of the Russian batteries
There, sire. commenced real battle.along all the
hne-a battle with its episodes Of brilliant feats of
yalor. Your majesty may be proud OF your sol
diers; they have not degeneraed; they are the
A
four the French army was everywhere victorious
All the positions had been carried al the pon, OF
the bayonet 10 the cry of "Vive rEmpereur"
which resounded throughout the day. Never was
such enthusiasm seen; even the wounded rose
from the ground 10 join in it, On our left the,
English met with large masses Of the enemy and
with great difficulties, but everything was sur
mounted.
The English attacked the Russian position. in
admirable order under the fire Of their cannon,
carried them, and drove off the Russians The
bravery Of Lord Raglan rivals that OF antiquity.
| In the midst of cannon and musket shot he dis
| played calmness which never left him. The
French lines formed on the heights. and the artil-
lcry opened lis fire. Then il was no longer re.
| treat, but rout The Russians threw away their
muskets and knapsacks in order 10 run the faster.
II, SIRE had had cavalry, should have obtained
| immense resnlls, and Menschikof would no Ion.
ger have had an army; but it was late our troops
were harrassed, and the ammunition of the artiL
| iery was exhausted AT o'clock in The evening
we encamped on the very bivouac Of the Russians
My tent Is on the very spot where that of Men
| schikof stood in the morning, and who thought
himself sure Of beating US that he left his car
rage there. i have taken possession Of H. with
hts pocket book and correspondence, and shall
take advantage Of the valuable information il con
| Iains. The Russian army will probably be able 10
rally two leagues from this, and shalt find n TO-
morrow on the katscha, but beaten al democrat.
| zed, while the allied army is full OF ardor and en-
| thusiasm.
have been compelled 10 remain here in order
TO send our wounded and those Of the Russians TO
Constantinople, and TO procure ammunition and
provision from the feet. The English have had
], 800 men put h0rs dc combat. The Duke Of Cam
bridge Is well; his division and that Of Sir G.
| Brown were superb. have 10 regret about 200
| men horS de coEiba,, officers killed G. wounded
253 sub-oficers and soldiers killed and lO33
| wounded General Canrobert 10 whom is due in
part the honor Of the day. was slightly wounded
| 10y the splinter OF shell which struck him in the
breast and hand, but he is doing very well Gen.
eral Thomas, of the division Of the Prince is seri
ously wounded by ball in the abdomen The
| Russians have lost about 5000 men. The field of
| battle is covered with their dead and our field
| hospitals are full Of their wounded We have
counted a proportion Of seven Russian dead
bodies for one French. The Russian artillery
caused Us loss but ours is very superior 10 theirs
shall, all my life, regret not having had with me
my Two regiments Of African Chasseurs The
| Zouevcs were the admiration Of both armies they
| are the FIRST soldiers in the world. Accept sire
the homage Of my profound respect and Of my en-
| tire devotedness.
MARSHAL A. DE- SAINT ARNAup
"oRpER OF THE DAY or MARSHALL DE ~. APN.r-n
"Soldiers: France and the emperor will be sat
isfed with you. At Alma you have proved 10 The
Russians that you are the worthy descendants of
the conquerors Of Eylau and Of the Moskowa
You have Tiyaled in courage your allies the Eng
lish and your bayoneis have carried formidable
and well dele nded positions. Soldiers You will
again meet the Russians on yonr road and Won
will conquer them you have done today 10 The
cry Of 'yive fEmpereur" and you will only sion
at Sebastopo; II u there YOU will enjoy the repose
which you will have well deserved
Z" Field Of battle Of Alma, Sept. 2O'