Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-12
The Cruise of the Allied Fleet In the
Da.SR.
Translated from the Echo de Paci6que of 81
FranciscoI

Inc Cruise OF the Allied Fleet In the
Pacific.
Translated from the Echo de Pacifque of San
Francisco.I
The squadron sailed from Honolulu on the
morning OF the 25lh Of July, at O'Clock the Eu-
rydice and Amphytrte leading OF, and the Forte
bringing up the rear, by order of the admiral, and
by a p IN. the islands We're out of sight. The
same day the batteries were loaded, and they
commenced TO exercise the men in gunnery with
the musket. On the 30th the Amphytrite and
Artemise were ordered of to San Francisco. On
the 18th of August the Eurydice was lost sight
of in the midst of thick fog, and did not answer
TO the guns Of the Forte, which sounded the re-
call. On the 22d the President disguised her bat
teries by thick coat of paint, which example
was followed by the Forte On the 25th the Eu-
rydice was signalized, and took her position in
the of the Forte, sgnalizing land ten miles
the westward. On the 2Sth land was in sight OF
the whole squadron, being the peaks Of the
Mounts Avatscha, Koseski and Vlenchinski,
the suns rays being thrown on their snow-clad
sides, enabled them to clearly distinguish their
outlines. The vessels hove TO, and the English
admiral boarded the Forte. The Obgado, COW
cred with canvas put into the bay of Avatscha 10
reconnoitre, followed by the virago, with Adm-
then commenced, and they took down the part-
tons Of the admirars quarters in the Forte's bat
terry. The Obligado returned with the Virago
from her expedition, the latter reporting that she
had gone within two miles and half of the bat
teries Of Petropolowski. The following morning
the order to make sail was given, and the squad
ron entered the bay of Avatscha in the following
order The President, Forte, fique and Eurydice,
the Virago taking her position on the left OF the
President and the Obligado, on the left of the
Forte. Al twenty five minutes past one the allied
ships hoisted their flags, and at halfpast two the
squadron was under fair way, the men at their
quarters, matches lii, hospitals prepared, and
magazines open.
Whilst anchoring, the batteries, four in number,
opened fire on them, which proved harmless, as
owing TO the distance the balls failed TO reach
them. The batteries Were:
LIST. The Schakof battery, situated on the point
of that name which controlled the entrance of the
port entering 10 the left
ID. A battery located on the point to the right.
Sd. A battery, hanked with twelve pieces of
cannon elevated on the tongue Of land which
closes the entrance of the port
4th A battery situated on the Peninsula, which
maskedth the western side of the city, behind which
the masts Of four vessels, one merchantmen
and the other three, men-of-war, could be dis
covered.
AT half-past four O'Clock the frgate President
ordered the Virago TO advance to the peninsular,
and open her fire on the Russian forts, which fire
was responded TO by the firing Of bombs from the
city, which did not reach the vessels, but burst in
the air.
To deceive and annoy the Russian sentnels
lanterns were carried about The vessels aed guns
were fred TO counterfeit signals. On their side,
the Russians kept up fires in their forts. The fol-
lowing morning they made ready for hostilites.
An officer was detached from the Forte, with
orders TO make reconnaissance, and TO determine
a position for the frgate which would enable her
to cannonade the fort of Schackof, and the fanked
battery without being exposed TO the fire of the
Russian frgate.
cutter commanded by an officer Of the Fury
dice co-operated in this reconnaissance, in which
.Ian aGs 1.aa DIR. IL
part. 1t was thus ascertained that Fort Schakof
was manned by five pieces OF cannon OF strong
calibre, that the battery which lanked it was for
titled with twelve 16-pounders and that the bat
terry on the right less dangerous, was sheltered
but by feeble Qualifications. The English admiral
gave orders to the master gunner of the Pique 10
fire upon that battery and endeavor TO dismounI
piece Of ordinance the ball well aimed, struck
the piece, which stood upright on its carriage,
which being shivered- placed it h0rS-dn .c0mbat.
The fanked battery was evidently the one most
difficult TO subdue being constructed with facines
of little over twelve feet in thickness. On the
receipt Of the report of the officers charged with
the reconnaissance, the bombardment commenced.
The Pique was made fast TO the slarboard of the
Virago, and the President was placed in the rear
of the steamer, the Forte took a position on the
larboard of the Virago, the side on which they
found the vessels, they easily distinguished the
Russian transport broadside TO, in the rear of the
frigaie Aurora; of the latter they could only see
three Of her middle portfolios, the residue was
hidden by hilock. The Virago advanced within
reach of the cannon Of the beacon. A ball from
that quarter having struck the water a short dis
lance from her, the Virago responded with shell
which struck the lower frame work of the beacon.
At this moment, al o'clock,) cutter from the
Pique boarded the Forte, and the commander of
the Pique, accompanied by his aid-de-camp, with
the French admiral and the surgeon general,
boarded the President, as Admiral Price had fallen
MORALLY wounded by the explosion Of pistol in
his own hands, the ball Of which had entered his
heart. In consequence Of which the drummers
beat the retreat and hostilities were suspended.
An hour later, two cutters from the President
captured Russian launch, cutter-rigged, manned
by nine sailors.
On the morning of the 3ist Of August, Fort
Schakof opened its fire, which was answered by
the guns Of the Pique. The Forte brought her
broadside to bear abreast Fort Schakof and
opened upon it a continuous fire, and the Presi-
dent opened upon il cross fire, the Virago dis
embarked a body OF troops short distance from
the right hand battery; the Forte Numbered away
at Fort Schakof, whose fire perceptbly abated.
The landed force rushed upon the right hand side
battery, the Aurora opened upon them a tremend-
| Gus fire which for moment checked their head
way, loud hurrah welcomed il, and when the
| smoke had dispersed the force was master of the
battery demolishing the gun. carriages with axes
| breaking the csissons and spiking the guns. From
the ships body Of about 200 Russians were dis
covered advancing to take the battery the Pique
and Forte protected the re-embarking OF the force,
which was done in good order, by their guns
| The Forte commenced then TO fire grape and can
mister upon the flank battery, which had begun to
increase its fire, and had sent four balls into the
hull Of the frgste and as many into the upper
works as high up as the poop or quarter deck
the netting (combing) Of the fifteenth gun having
| been completely carried away, the repairing OF
which was Immediately taken in hand The Forte
bore up 10 within about eight cables length of the
| battery, but not being able TO reach il except by
firing riooeha shot, it took half hour to silence
| half the Russian guns. The Forte redoubled her
efforts, and, seconded by the guns Of the Presi-
dent, the battery ceased its fire al halfpast two,
the Russians evacuatingit asd joining the force on
board the Aurora and Diana frigatcs. The cannon
aiding ceased on all sides and the night was passed
in repairing the havoc ofthe enemys guns On the
LIST Of September the Virago proceeded 10 the bay
Of Tarinaki, where the remains az Admiral Price
were inferred, and came back with three Amer.
can sailors, deserters from whalers who commu-
nicated important information in regard to the
typographical situation of Petropolowski. On
the Sd Of September council OF war was held
on board the Forte, and second attack planned
for the ensuing day. To disembark seven hun
bred men Of both nations the English marines