Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
sToRMING OF sEBAsTOPOL.

The steamer Baltic arrived at New York on Mon
day night with dates from London and Liverpool TO
the 4th instant
BY this arrival we have news OF deep interest.
The great and long-looked for conflict OF arms IN
the Crimea, between the Anglo-French and Turkish
allies, on the one side, and the Russians on the
other, has taken place. and after series of battles,
most desperate and bloody, victory has honored
the standards of the Allies.
scarce yon lurid sun
Can pierce the war clouds rolling dun,
While furious Frank and fiery Hun
g Shout in their suphurous canopy
% The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
g Who rush to glory or the grave
:. Wave, England, all thy banners wave,
q And charge with oil thy ohivary"
We have some of the terrific particulars 1t
appears that the struggle commenced the 2lst of
September, on the Alma river, some fifteen or
twenty miles from Sebastopol. The entrenched
camp of the Russians on these heights, containing
fifty thousand men, including large amount of
artillery and cavalry, was carried at the point of
the bayonet, after desperate fight Of four
hours The Allies lost in this engagement twenty
eight hundred in killed and wounded, and the
Russians six thousand No British general officer
was disabled, but the French Gen. THoMAssoN
is supposed to be fatally wounded. Marshal ST..
ARNAUD and Lord RAGLAN commanded in person.
Most if not all of these details are reported
on the authority of official dispatches Private des-
patches state in addition that the Russians, under
the immediate command of Prince MENscHIKoFF,
rallied on the plains of Kalantai, near the River
Katscha, on the 23d of September, and again gave
battle to the Allies. This engagement lasted seve
raj hours, and was very sanguinary 1t ended il,
the total defeat Of the Russians, who were pursued
to their entertainments before Sebastopol Here
they once more rallied and gave their invaders a
third battle on the Oath. But the fortune Of war
being still against them, they were third time de-
feated. They then fed into Sebastopol
On the 25th Of September Fort Constantine was
invested by sea and land, and after obstinate de-
fence, was carried by storm The Allies then bonn
barded the city and feet Ten Russian ships Of the
line we're burnt and sunk. The remaining forts
were carried one after another, by which eight hum
dred guns were silenced, and twenty-five thousand
prisoners taken. The Russian loss, in Sebastopol
alone, in killed and wounded is estimated at not
less than eighteen thousand men!
Prince Menschikof, with the shattered remains
of his force, retired to position in the inner har
Dor, and threatened to fire the town and blow up
the remaining ships unless the vctors would grant
him an honorable captulaton. The Allied Gene
rails demanded his unconditional surrender, and in
the name of humanity gave him six hours for con-
sideraton. The latest despatch sayathat Menschiko
finally relinquished the unequal contest by surren
dering, and that the British and French flags now
waves over Sebastopol.
How the numbers in this great battle precisely
stood, we know not; but all the incentives that
could stimulate the soul Of man to fight to the
last extremity existed on both sides On the side
of the Allies, it was the first time that the bat
talions Of Gaul and Britain had ever fought under
the same banner, and the emulation, the rivalry Of
the two nations to eclipse by daring achievement
and indomitable courage might be expected to make
their charges irresistible while the motives Of coun
try, infamed by resentment and pride, and native
courage, would make the Russian host unconquera-
bic by any thing but death itself. The affair was a
dreadful one, doubtless; but what will follow this
great trial Of strength we are yet to learn
The result has caused universal rejoicing in Eng
land and France; and it may be inferred, feeling
the reverse Of this throughout Russia. Upon any
other nation such disaster might be deemed
overwhelming; but it is not improbable that with
her this invasion will only have the effect Of arous
ing new energies and stimulating to more energetic
efforts, not only for defence, but for desperate re-
taliation.
The following are the official telegraphic de-
spatches announcing this sanguinary exploit:
From The Commander Of the French Forces.
s 4" BIvouAcK THE ALMA, SEPT. 20, 1854.
awe have to-day encountered the enemy on the Alma.
occupied with considerable forces the ravine through
which the river runs and which is thcky wooded up
by houses traversabe only ut three points and the
heights the left having very steep decvity, the
forces soidy erenched and covered with artillery
The allied troops advanced upon these difficult positions
with unprecedented vgor. 1t is to the cry of sVive
rEmpereur that soldiers have carried those which
were in their 'front.' The battle Of Alma astedfour hours
it lis splendid debut for The French troops
have had 400 men killed and wounded. do not yet
know the losses Of the English army which hos vaianty
fought in presence OF an obstinate resistance
fi5f Tstifa .ss e SAINT ARsAUD."
From The Commander Of The British Forces.
BryoUAcK on THE ALMA, SEPT 81, 1854
"The allied armies yesterday attacked the position Of
the enemy the heights above the Alma and carried it.
after desperate battle, about hour and half before
Nothing could surpass the bravery and excellent
conduct Of the troops The position very formidable
and defended by,a artillery Of heavy calibre
Our loss regret to add is very considerable but NO
general officer has been wounded The main body Of the
xx1Fx 49, -