The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-18
|oRTANT PRIVATE INTELLIGENCE FROM
RUSSIA
urn Of Mr.. Shaffnsr from st. Petersburg.

urn Of Mr. Shaffnsr from 81. Petersburg.
WHAT THE RUSSIANS THINK OF THE WAR.
[r. +. p. Shanner, Secretary Of the American
ssrsph Company, recently returned from Russia,
fayorsd us with some Interesting Information on
bic opinion there in relation to ths Crimean
hpAign ard the prospects of the war. Mr.. Shaft.
lsfs the capital after the battle Of the 10Th Of
tober.
When the report reached St. Petersburg thH. sae
led forces had actually sailed from varns, 4: uas
lrccly credited that an invasion Of the Crimea vas
iously contemplated. The events which have
bsequently taken place in toas Peninsula have
Rciently proved this. Nicholas never fancied
BIT the expedition would BE- undertaken in the
pe Of severe winter. Re gave tho allied com
andeis more credit than 30 suppose that they
buld risk the defeat, and, perhaps the total ami
haton cf their army. TIE climate Of the country
ID the b tmpsstuous season of The year, so near ut
md, wel &c as hostile to tho English and French az
ey wers favorable to the Russians. In tho middle
October, the storms which have already
recked so many vessels Of the invading fee
bgin to sweep with resistless fury over
Ne Black Sea. and render the transport o: troops
ten impossible, and always attended with more or
80 danger. The regular supply Of provisions and
nmuni.icn is then precari,us, and, In q country
here ne food can bs obtained, the situation OF a
ostie army under the most favorable circumstances
rust be critical in the extreme. Hence the Crimea
as the last point in his dominions where Ni:holas
nticipated an attack. The danger as he conceived
" In Poland and along the Austrian frontiers, and
hero three hundred thousand men were undsr ms
eady to meet 1t.
When therefore, the allied for ,es landed at Eaps-
oria, the Russian commander was almost taken by
urprise. His whole available forces in the Crimsa
amounted only to some rs 900 men, including the
arrison OF Sebastopol. Rein orcements however,
ould be brought up within fortnight's time, aad,
provided sufficient delay could be obtained, Ssbw-
E0pol and the Crimea were safe. Ia Prince Mems
hiko's despatch sent to st. Petersburg before the
attle Of the Alma, the plan Of the campaign
was distinctly laid down. He was to hold the
lilies in check by series Of engagements.
|etreating. il unsuccessful, on the city. There
he expected to receive the powerful aid Of
|1iprandi's division. But IL this, from any unfors
seen accident did not arrivc, and he found 1t i'm.
possible to defend 6ebastopo with the force andsr
lais command, he inten led to blow up tbs forts,
|nk the ships and hold of until, with an increased
|nmy, be could offer the enemy battle with hopes Of
success. Pursuant to this plan skirmish Grst took
place near Eupatoris, in which the Russians lost
\ 500 ncn, occasioned chiefly By tho guns Of the
allied vessels This affair has been scarcely not iced
in the rerMts we have received. At Alma the Rus
sians declared they had but $4,000 men. and taas
after the battle they were enabled to retreat in good
order to the city. They expected that tho allies
would speedily follow. Menschikoff even declared
In his dispatches to the Czar that by vigorous as
sault, the stronghold might at this time have beea
captured. For such result he seems to have been
fully prepared. But when he saw that the allies
hesitated to advance, his hopes Of defending
the place were streng ,hened. Cousiers,
hrDing ard evening, were sert to S..
Petersburg with the intelligence that tho
enemy had not altered his position. Aud when
At last the enemy did press forward, and in.
vested portion Of the city, the anxiously expect
reirfo:cements, under Liprandi, had arrived, and
Menschkoif felt certain of ultimate success.
With hundreds of thousands Of men at his CON-
,nand, and communication to the Crimea open dur.
ing the winter, by means Of sledges, the battle Of
the Alma, Bslsklava, and Inkermann have been as
good a. so many victories to the Czar Bat t,e
allied trocps--decimated by war and disease, with
their supplies Of ammunition and food cut off or de.
layed BY the storms on the Bla,k Sea-must be con-
sidersd lost army, though every man should dis
play the courage and endurance Of hero. It is
serious question now whether even retreat Is pos
sible. II was considered miraculous when cavalry,
infantry and artillery were all safely landed at Ea
pator1a IN calm summer weather; but how would
hey fare now, when it has been found impossible to
and the wounded, who were obliged to remain in
The ships, tossing for days upon those stormy
wsyes2 What would become OF the REM
nant Of that magnificent armament in such
tempest that which destroyed thirtytwo vessels
Of the feet? To winter in the Csimea would be
scarcely lees disastrous The severity of tho climate
and tie unceasiDg hostilites OF relentless perse-
veriDg ercmy would fearfulIy lessen their numbers
.t is barely bcsebe that they could maintain tAeir
present position. The Rdsyisn has already profted
BY ths experience Of the campaign. He has learned
that his own musket very inferior weapon to the
Mimic rife, ard it 10 expected that this disadvantage
under which he row labors will shortly bc removed
Under essry aspect. of the case fortune seems to
Grown upon the nllies. Bravery can dc much in
most cases. but in this even the dAuntess courage
and imresurus bearing displayed At Inkermann
can only pic'org the struggle.
A 6efeas before the walls OF Ssbastopol win en-
tail results upon which it would be vain TO speculate
Dissatisfied with the failure Of the pla1ned expe-
dition, tie French people may wreak their vcn-
geance on Napoleon. The alliance between England
and Frrce will then be blown to the winds. Tae
policy Of Austria and Prussia will vaccilate no lon
ger, for selrpreservation viii force thorn TO side
with Russia. The revolutionary spirit now smoul.
dering IN the German States will then no longer bs
controlled, and the legions Of republican aad des-
nctic Europe will once more. bs brou ght face {,
face.
But Russia Will continue 10 struggle for that %.
GticaI sstendancy, which is the end and aim Of her
nouarchs ambition. Mark the elements Of her
strength. Throughout allhsr vast dominions, from
st. Petersburg to the Caucasus one seclin GID