The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-08
AN AMERICAN IN THE CRlMEA.

The following extract from private letter. addressed TO
gentleman in this city will be read ut this time with
than ordinary interest The writer is gentleman of
education travel and keen observation and whose
opinion in regard to military matters is entitled TO much
consideration 1t will be that he regards the north
side of Sebastopol as almost impregnable position
CoNsrANmSopLE November A, 1885,
e We went to Sebastopo the other day, and
spent week in the English camp went all over the
town two three times demolished place
Every house in il has been Quilted by shells and
what left of woodwork the Russians burnt before
leaving However, you have had opportunities OF reading
full accounts of affairs that place, will conne
self 10 personal adventures We well received
by the British commander-in.chef, and quariered on
Cathcarts HILL which commands an excellent view of the
town. harbor opposite side and of the renowned Maako
and Redan We got passes from the English French and
Sandman generals which enabled penetrate every
where, when shell and shot falling The Rus
slams the north side keep up constant firing differ
parts OF the town where they imagine there may be
qnarered troops and they have learned by their last
twelve months practice to throw shell with the precision
almost OF rife ball. friend and myself were outside of
the city its south side opposite Fort Constantine and
counting tho number OF shots that had struck her
during the naval bombardment which could easily do
with glasses As we were in full view TO them, and
they probably took for officers of Of the allied
armies they sent shell at u.s. which was devsh near
putting exngusher and search for knowl-,
edge passed couple OF yards overhead and exploded
short distance in the ground behind Whilst
in the town they Tsfc constantly peppcrng away, and
sometimes they brought down what remained of house
with great crash.
The docks are beautiful basins constructed of white
sandstone found here in great abundance the coping
of pink granite. There is dock eight ships
once In the remains of large steamer nothing
but the iron work remaining, the wooden parts being
burnt away These docks are the only structures that
remained uninured only few shots having struck them,
but orders had been received TO blow them up. They
too small to admit the large class of vessels that
built but would do for the old class ncofbattie slips
The whole harbor studded with the mas of the
vessels that have been sunk during the siege
Those that sunk last year by this time entirely
destroyed by worms which very destructive in the
Black and those last sunk will be rendered value
less from the They will offer obstruction
whatever the navigation of the harbor when the
removed which is easily done, for there is sixty
feet clear OF water their hills The tops of the three
deckers barely reach above water and know the
length Of threedeckers mast you judge Of the depth
of the water.
The Russians strongly entrenchcd the north side
and twice the force that the allies have In the Crmea
drive them out fthc Russians them the field and
beaten that the allies invest them and cut off their
supplies they may be starved out If they have provisions
enough they Gun laugh at everything the allies may do to
drive them out There must have died of the latter since
the landing in September 1854 not less than hundred
housand--l mean from every cause; fewer than two
hundred thousand sick and wounded have been away
from camp. These estimates appear exaggerated, but
they certainly not During the six weeks preceding
arrival there young Bonapare told that the French
had received fifty thousand men to fill vacancies The
British army that landed at Eupatora last year is nearly
extinct suppose the per cenage of those left is not
from England lately offers great contrast to their
old wedrlled They mostly boys, and appear
barely able stand the ftgues of camp duty let alone
those of campaign The same may be said OF the
Frenth levics -
went nj! round the French and Sandman outpos and
witnessed firing between outpost of the Iouaves
and Russian believe the former got il up for my
own qualification for when ] asked them where the
Russian outposis were they pointed them ont TO !;
and found they were much closer than thought
but did not them first account of their
gray great coats The Zouaves said they would wake
them up, and thereupon sent them some MIME balls to
which the Russians replied but believe damage
done either sde certainly not TO the Zouaves This
opposite the ruins of Inermann where the great bat
tie fought After witnessing this specimen OF Ionave
vaor. rewarded the sergeant of the post with cigar,
aud rode tho field of battle Of the Tehernaya
Tracr Bridge where the Russians severely handled
The Sandman ouposts in beautiful spots strung along
the valley of the Tchernaya far Baidar which by
reference the map you viii Is considerable dis
lance tabout fifteen miles, from Balaklava They have
erected redoubis every hill and commanding point and
made excellent macadamized roads leading every part
Of their different encampmeuts. They all building
themselves excellent huts for the winter and in the OF
making themselves comfortable they FAR the French
the latter do the English The British troops have all
converted into pavyes, and you them in thou
sands making roads with all speed against the rainy
son, which is imminent. Their railway is pretty
much of humbug, and / believe il made for
home effect buncombe than from any real use that
would be TO the army. Their camps scattered miles
apart OF forty fifty square miles and
il is evident that railway which necessarily have
but two extremities be Of TO those only
would be impracticabe have branches leading 10
all the They 1t very little, whilst the
adamized roads which form perfect network the
country, covered with earta. The Sardipians are