Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-28
The Capture or BaIaklsva-Dispa OF
Lord Raglan to the Duke OF New Castle.

BALAKLAvA, Sept 2S.
Ny LORD DUKE have the greatest salts
faction in acquainting y)ur grace that the
army under my command obtained possession
OF this important place on the 10Th instant
and thus established new and secure base for
our future operations.
The allied armies Quilted their position
above the Alma on the morning of the 23d, and
moved across the Katscha, where they halted
for the night, and on the following day passed
the Belbek
1t thus appeared that the enemy had estab-
lished work which commanded the entrance
of the river, and debarred its use for the dis
embarkation of troops provisions, and mate
rial, and it became expedient to consider
| whether the line of attack upon the north side
should not be abandoned, and another course
of operations adopted.
1t having, after due elaboration, been de-
termined by Marshal st. Arnaud and myself
that we should relinquish our communication
with the Katscha, and the hope Of establish
ing it by the Belbek, and endeavor by flank
march to the left to 20 round Sebastopol, and
seize Balaklava, the movement was commenced
on the 18th, and completed on the following
day by the capture of this place by her ma
jestys troops, which led the advance. The
march was attended with great difficulties On
leaving the high road from the Belbek to Sc
bastopol the army had to traverse dense
wood, in which there was but one road that led
in the direction it was necessary to take. That
road was left in the first instance to the cav
airy and the divisions we're ordered to march
by compass, and make way for themselves as
well as they could and, indeed, the artillery
of the light division pursued the same course
as long as it was found to be possible, but us
the wood became more impracticable, the bat
teries could not proceed otherwise than by
getting into the road above mentioned.
The headquarters of the army, followed by
several batteries of artillery, were the first to
clear the forest, near what is called, on Major
Jarvis's map, Mackenzie farm and at once
found themselves on the flank and rear of
Russian division, on the march to Bakshiserai.
This was attacked as soon as the cavalry,
which had diverged little into by and intri-
cate path, could be brought up. A vast guam
tity of ammunition and much valuable baggage
fell into our hands, and the pursuit was discon-
tinued after about a mile and half, it being
great object to reach the Tehernaya that even
| ing.
The Russians lost few men, and some pri-
soners were taken, among whom was captain
Of artillery.
The march was then resumed by the descent
| of a steep and difficult defle into the plains,
through which runs the Tehemaya river, and
this the cavalry succeeded in reaching shortly
before dark, followed in the course of the night
| by the light, first, second, and third divisions;
the fourth division having been left on the
heights above the Belbek till the following day,
| to maintain our communication with the
Katcha.
This march, which took the enemy quite by
surprise was very long and toilsome one,
and, except at Mackenzie's farm, where two
wells, yielding scanty supply, were found,
the troops we're without water; but they sup
ported their fatigues and privations with the
utmost cheerfulness, and resumed their march
to this place on the morning of the 26th.
As they approached Balaklava nothing indi-
Gated that it was held in force; but, as resist
ance was offered to the advance of the rifle
brigade, and guns were opened from an old
castle as the head of the column showed itself
on the road leading into the town, deemed it
prudent to occupy the two fanking heights by
the light division and portion of Captain
Brandling's troop of horse artillery on the left
movements terminated by the surrender of the
place, which had been occupied by very incon-
siderable numbers of the enemy.
Shortly after we had taken possession we
we're greeted by Captain Mends, of the Aga
memnon, and soon after by Sir Edmund Lyons
himself
His cooperation was secured TO us by the
activity and enterprise of Lieutenant Maxse,
of her majesty's ship Agamemnon, who reached
my camp on the Tchernays, on the night Of
the 18th, with dispatches, and who volunteered
Immediately to retrace his steps through the
forest, and to communicate to Sir Edmund the
Importance / attached to his presence at the
mouth of the harbor of Balaklava the next
morning, which difficult service from the in
tricacy of the country, infested by Cossacks)
he accomplished so effectually that the admi-
raj was enabled to appear off this harbor at
the very moment that our troops showed them
selves upon the heights
Nothing could be more opportune than his
arrival, and yesterday the magnificent ship
that bears his flag entered this beautiful har.
Dor, and the admiral, as has been his invaria.
BILE practice, co-operated with the army in every
way possible.
We are busily engaged in disembarking our
seige train and provisions, and we are most
DESTROYS OF undertaking the attack of Sebas-
topol without the loss Of day. / moved up
two other divisions yesterday TO the immediate
neighborhood, when / was enabled to have
good view Of the place; and Lieutenant Gene
raj Sir John Burgoyne and General Bisot, the
French Chef de Genie, are occupied in recon
noitering il closely to-day.
The march of the French army on the 25th
was still more fatigueing and prolonged than
ours. Being behind our column they could
not reach Tehernsya till the next day, and
fear must have suffered sadly from want of
| water.
l regret to have to acquaint your Grace that
Marshal st. Arnaud has been compelled, by
severe illness, to relinquish the command Of
the army i saw him on the 18th, when he
was suffering very much, and he felt it his duty
to resign the next morning. view his retire
ment with deep concern, having always found
in him every disposition TO act in concert with
me. he has since become much worse, and
is, fear, in very precarious state.
fortunately he is succeeded by an officer Of
high reputation, General Canrobert, with whom
l am satisfied | shall have great pleasure in
acting, and who is equally DESTROYS Of main
tanning the most friendly relations with me. /
have, &c, RAGLAN.