Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-12-30
SebastODOl..Au Interesting Letter.

The National I~nteAigencer Of the 18th pub
fishes the annexed letter from its well inform
ed Paris correspondent. 1t makes statements
which do not seem to have been publicly known
at the departure of the steamer Union. Oul
interest 10 the terrible drama Of the Russian
war is deepened by the facts detailed in this
letter:
"kothing decisive has yet occurred at Sebas'
topol.
Private advices state that a Russian corps Of
$4,000 men, which had been despatched from
Odessa, would no doubt be at Sebastopol pre-.
vicus to the Goth of November-a few days
after the latest dates from thence. Besides
this, upwards Of 10000 of the Imperial Guard
had been forwarded by railroad to Moscow,
with orders to proceed with all possible haste
from thence to the Crimea, and would proba-
bly, reach Sebastopol by the LIST Of December,
as they took up their line of march from Mos
COW very early in October. The distance can
not exceed one thousand miles, and they have
already been nearly six weeks en- route. Besides
these, further achievements were going for.
ward from other points of the empire.
The Allies were also receiving reinforce.
ments, but they were those which were sent
forward in small numbers, with a view TO sup.
ply the ordinary waste of the campaign. None
of those which were SO urgently called for by
the Allied commanders after the recent bloody
battles had yet arrived, nor was it probable that
they could arrive for eight or tendays, or more.
It thus appears that it is a race between the
Russians and the Allies as to which shall re-
ceive the earliest and largest reinforcements;
and | am very much inclined to think that Rus
sia will keep ahead of them, for Nicholas has
had ample time to put an immense mass Of
troops in motion towards the seat of war, and
though the distances they have to traverse over
his immense empire are very great, and with
none but the old and ordinary means of trans
port excep, the railroad from St. Petersburg to
Moscow. still, when they once begin to arrive
in the Crimea, they will probably do so in
overwhelming numbers and in quick success
sion.
see nothing by these later advices which
indicate Il larger reinforcement to the Allies
than fifty thousand men. and the Russian corps
from Odessa will of Itself be a se,-off TO that
force, so far at least as offensive operations are
concerned. We may vel believe that Nicho-
las is in earnest in tins war when he is sending
from his capital his magnificent Imperial
Guards, and that he will not leave any thing
to chance so far as numbers are concerned.
The early arrival of heavy achievements to
the Allies may save them from expulsion from
the Crimea but under the circumstances of the
case, and the great likelihood that Russia
probably in a few days, certainly in few weeks,
will have at least two hundred thousand men
concentrated 10 and around Sebastopol, leaves
but little hope Of the capture of the city; for,
by the present advices, they would not make
auy attempt in the way of an assault until the
great body Of their reinforcements joined them,
and could only then make such attempt in
case the Russians had not been joined by their
A winter campaign it appears is to be the re-
suit, and though, particularly at this distance, |
is impossible to predict the course Of events, |
none of us should be surprised if the Russians
assume the offensive and attack or besiege, |
he Allies.
The whole army Of Russia and the entire
of the nation can now safely be di-
'ected upon Sebastopol, US the season renders
every other portion Of the Cars territory in.
to attack or molestation.
intended to have given you some remarks
,pon the financial and commercial situation
md prospects of things at the close Of this,
week, but am obliged to postpone it
nd confine myself to the one great object of
European interest-the fate of Sebastopol."