Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-29
THE AMRusCADEs.

I1AE AuBUSGAOESs
Since the date OF previous advices, there has
been series Of fierce sorties and assaults between
the Russians ADD French for possession Of the Tide
ambuscades in front Of the French position and
under the Mslakotf towers These rifiepts, WIN ca
have led to considerable sacrifice OF HE, are
placed IN front and to the right and left OF the
tower, and are about 600 yards from the allied
works They are merely excavations 10 the
ground, faced round with sand bags and banked
with earth, loop-ioled for rifles. They are SIX IN
number, and each contains ten men--slxty 10 AL
Gen. Bosquet considers il point OF ho5or 10 take
and hold or destroy the ambnscades de has sew
eral times by night assaults driven out the
but the pits are covered by the fire OF the city
batteries, the French have hitherto found 1t I'M
possible either TO destroy or hold them. Inc I'M
portance of this position, to both beslegers
and besieged are very great Inc haiakon
round tower is regarded the key to deiences, and
hence the energy of the Russians IN Strengthening
it. Considerably in advance of the tower Is the
elevated mound, or hill now called "Mameion, on
which the bessie ,ed erecting battery OF great
strength. A little further in advance is the emil
hence recently seized so skilfnly by the russians
and fortified with earihworks; it is now crowned
by square redoubt, with sixteen guns visible on
its three outward sides, but they have not yet
opened fire. Outside OF these defences are the rifle
pits. The Russian batteries at lnkerman, Their
forts on the other side OF the Chernaya, and the
| works Of Malakof, cover this redouet, and con-
verge on the approaches in front OF It ms ex-
PLANTATION will convey an idea OF the strength OF
the position which the French nightly contest
Dates Of the encounters are as follows:
CONTEST BETWEEN FRENCH AND RUSSIANS.
MARCH Is TO 29.-On Saturday afternoon, the
10th March, the firing was very heavy from the
Russian batteries, and their engineers were work
ing busily on the new redoubt. Omar Pasha ar
rived at the camp March IL, and council of war
was held. at which were present, beside Raglan,
Canrobert and Omar Pasha, Admirals Stewart
and Sir Edmund Lyons The exact purport of
Omar Pashas visit did not .ranspire but it was
| rumored in camp that he sought some assistance,
which could not be granted; and that the utmo st
| he can therefore do unaided, will be to hold Eu-
| patoria. Electric communication is complete be-
tween Raglan's quarters and Balasiaya, and the
| railway is in working order to Kadikoi.
| During the night of March IL there was a
| fierce affair. The Russians had advanced some
| riAemen in front of the French lines, who caused
| considerable annoyance. When night feh
| demi-brigade of French went down and drove
| them out All the city batteries along the front
| Immediately opened and continued a furious can
nonade for hall an hour, during which a stronger
| force of the enemy advanced on the Freuch
| and compelled them to retire, with the loss of
| sixty-fye men, the Russian loss being probably
more severe The Russians re occupied the pits.
| In the night of the 18th, the French renewed
the attack, and succeeded with comparatively,
little loss, in driving out the enemy's riaemen
and occupying the pits with their own. French con-
tinued to hold those on the right, under heavy
FIRE over the 10th March.
FURTHER FRENCH ATTACKS.
At4P NJ of the 18th, Gen Conrobert with
small escort passed down the Woronzof Road,
by the British right attack, and carefully examined
"the pits" At nightfall strong force of French,
with six field pieces, was moved down on the left
of their extreme right, and another unsuccessful
attempt was made to take the pits from the Rus
SLAMS After several hours heavy firing Of artillery
and small arms both parties withdrew. Three I'M
successful attacks were made by the French ere
morning Their loss was about 49,
The British batteries, on the lSth continued to
throw shot and she'll into the msmeloa and new
redoubt.
FRENCH DRIVEN BACK.
On the night Of the 18th, yet another encounter
took place. At CT in the evening, the French,
who had retired befo the fire from the batteries
marched down to re-occupy the ambuscades, but
found the Russians had anticipated them. A fierce
conflict Immediately commenced, butit was eyi-
dent the Russians were in strong force, and the
French were again borne back by the weight of
fire. For four hours and half they perssvered in
their attempt aud all that time continuous roll OF
musketry rang out and broken ooly by brief pauses
in the advance. In these lus the British could
distinctly hear the voices of the French officers
cheering on their men-"En ovant, mes enfansF'
aEa avaat Zoaavesf" and the tramp OF feet and the
rush of men followed; then roll Of musketry was
heard, diminishing in volume to rapid file fighting
then Russian cheer-then more muskety-a
few dropping shots-aud the voices of toe officers
once more. The Zouaves bore the brunt OF the
fight, and the action was somewhat peculiar, the
artillery taking no part in it. The British second,
third, and light divisions were told off for action,
and the entire British camp remained under arms
until the French desisted from their attack, but as
the gallant French made it point Of honor to take
those pits without aid, no assistance offered -
The French 5000 strong, and they state their
loss at $50 killed and wounded, besides few pris-
oners
LORD RAGLANs REPORT.
Lord Raglan transmitted on March 20, to his
Government, the reports of DR.. Hall, Inspector
General of Hospitals The number of sick had not
diminished, but the cases were lighter, and the
patients more cheerful DR.. Hall disapproyes Of
cocoa as change of breakfast diet for the men,
for the reason that it requires "ioo much prepara
tion