Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-11-16
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
CALIFORNIA.
Atack on Petropaaloacski BY the English and
French Fleets.

4
Peter and Paul in Kanschatka, in latitude
$50 north Tlither the allies wentin search,
leaving the Sandwich Islands on the 25th of
July They found the northern ocean cover
cd with heavy fogs, which compelled the YES
sells to sail very slowly. The fog was very
often SO thick that it was utterly impossible to
see the signals a hundred yards off; and the
Eurydice was parted from the other vessels in
a fog, and was not seen again until they met
at Petropaulowski, at the end Of August
The season admitted of no delay, and the yes
sells prepared for immediate action.
The place presented unexpected obstacles
1t was supposed that the feet would find a
town with few soldiers, and few Publications
or defences OF any kind but they founda for
midable fortress. protected by eight detached
batteries, containing in all, more than 120
guns and 1900 men, Three days after leav-
ing the Sandwich Islands, the Admirals hay
ing no thought of finding Gibraltar al Petro-
paulowski, despatched two of their squadron
the Amphitrite and the Artenlise, to cruise on
this coast.
Petropaulowski is at the foot of small and
narrow bay, the shores of which were protee-
ted by numerous batteries. Before the town
could be reached, it would be necessary to 81
lence three Of these batteries. Nature has
given the position protection, by the erec-
ton Of mound of sand in the midst of the
bay.
This mound of sand leaves to the vessel but
narrow channel, and hides the view of the
principal fortress TO vessels at a distance On
the 30th of August, the six vessels of war,
the Forte, of so guns, the Eurydice, Of 2S
guns, the Obligado, OF II guns, the Pi9ne,
of 40 guns, the President, of 30 guns, and the
Virago, steamer, of 6 guns, (the last three
English, and the first three French, } were be-
fore the place, intent upon taking it.
When the attack was about to be begin,
Admiral Price in command of the English
forces, shot himself through the breast with
pistol ball The news had very depressing
effectu upon the people Of the feet. Price was
brave man and much respected, and out Of
respect for him the attack was postponed till
the next day It was supposed by some to
have been an accident, while others thought it
suicidal affair
On the 31st of August the battle begun.
The Russian frigate Aurora, of 40 guns, and
the Dwina, of Is, were anchored before the
mound The allied vessels, distant about
mile from the city, concentrated their fire on
the three foremost forts. These were siienced
after fierce cannonade, in which 200 guns
were engaged. The batteries were deserted
by the Russians, the cannons were spiked.
and the next day the allied vessels moved up
nearer to the city. On the lst of September
an attack was made upon the Russian vessels.
The Aurora was badly injured, with mum,
Der of shot holes between wind and water, and
having her mainmast shot away.
About noon a large fort had been reduced
to s,,ch condition that it was thought best to
take It. A body of French soldiers were ac-
cordingly landed, aud they took the fort with
out difficulty The Russian officers barely
had time TO escape, leaving everything which
they did not habitually carry on their persons.
After taking this fort it was thought advisable
to send a body Of men to get behind the main
foIt, and make diversion in the rear while
the ships we're playing in front. About six
hundree: men were sent for this purpose, and
an American undertook TO guide them around
70 the rear of the fertilization, but he took
them into a thick brushwood, where large
number of Russians were concealed. The
Russians began a murdefous fire upon the
French and English, who after short ress-
tance, fed with the loss of about 80 men Kill
| led and woucded They left their dead upon
the field. They managed, hewever, to take
one of the smaller redoubts, spike the cannons
and take - Russian prisoners
| Immediately after the return of the troops
upon their respective vessels council was
/ held, and it was determined to leave Petro-
paulowski, and the purpose was soon accom-
/ plished
! The main purpose of the attack was to des-
/ troy the Russian vessels, 50 that they could
not hereafter sally out and injure the commerce
OF the allies on the Pacific. 1t was supposed
that the Aurora was so much injured that
several months would be required to repair
| her. and the Dwina, vessel OF about l8 guns,
was considerably injured. The winter, how
! ever, has now set III at Petropaulowski and
the ice will have completely closed the harbcr
of the Port of st Peter and st. Paul, long
before this, so that no trouble to French and
English commerce is to be anticipated from
the Aurora and Dwina until next April at
least. The frigate Pallas was taken up the
river Amoor some distance from the mouth
and was there made fast, dismounted and con-
verted into fort. The position of tne Diana
was not known, but it was supposed to be in
the Sea of Ochetsk.
The assailants failed IN the main object of
their attack, and failed signally in their Sec
ondary object, the destruction of the fortif-
cations at Petropaulowski. The purpose was
not to take the town. which they might really
| have taken or destroyed without loss. on the
second Gay Its conquest, however offered
nothing OF benefit The loss of life ia the al
lied feet is differently given by those who
were present. More Englishmen than Frencll4
men were killed and wounded. Several an
lucky balls. as they are styled, struck the
English vessels. killing, not solitary men, but
/ carrying of whole fles. The French vessels
received no unluchy balls, although number
/ Of the shot were sufficiently injurious to the
vessels The Forte received forty balls, and
though she was in the thiekest of the fight,