Washington sentinel., 1855-06-26

| against the right flank OF the enemys works
which threaten this bastion. The hardness of the
ground prevented our digging the trench deep
enough. On the evening of the 23d, when our
men We're beginning to renew their labors OF
/ counter-approach, the enemy attacked US with
seventeen battalions, exclusive of the reserves.
A most obstinate combat ensued, that lasted all
| night, and the bayonet was often the only arm
| used.
Our soldiers-l2 battalions strong fought
heroically, and the affair ended with the retreat
of the enemy, who suffered tremendous loss. Our
| own loss, unfortunately, is also very consider
able, for Z, 500 men have been killed or disabled
The gallant Major General Abderg, who com
manded the second brigade Of the Ninth Divi-
sion, is among the slain. The miscarriage of the
attack has raised the spirits of the garrison. 1t
shows the enemy how dangerous he will find the
storming of Sebastopol's Notifications, since his
greatest efforts have not succeeded in taking
half made trench During the same night (the
22d) six ships of the line and twenty steamers,
with about 90 900 troops board, left the bay of
Kamiesch. On the 23d this squadron was sight
cd from the heights of Yalta.
~ The M amel0n and its Capture.
The papers contain further particulars of
the capture of the Mamelon and White Towers,
at Sebastopol. The Mamelon is one of a series
of three earth-works thrown up in February and
March by the Russians far in advance of their
main lines. The first Of these redoubts is that
called Selnghnsk on Mount Sapun an elevation
east of the Careening bay or between that bay
and the head of the main harbor. For above four
months this hill was neglected, until on the night
of February 2lst the Russians went there and be-
gan to throw up a redoubt. On the night of the
22d, the Allies having paid no attention to what
was going on, the labor was renewed, and with
such effect that Gen. Canrobert determined, if
possible, TO put an end to the hostile enterprise
For that purpose force Of Zouaves and Ma
rines, under Gen. Monet, gallantly attacked the
hill about two CLOCK on the morning of Febru-
ary Oath. The Russians made desperate resist
ance, but were driven from the redoubt with
great slaughter on both sides, and the French re-
manned in possession. But when day dawned the
victorious Zouaves found it impossible to keep
their new position In short, it was commanded
by the Russian main lines, and was directly ex-
posed to their FIRE. Sapun was accordingly aban-
doned by the French, and was reoccuped,
strengthened and armed with cannon by the
Russians.
The latter next proceeded, on Marah 18th, to
throw up another similar work another hill
south of the lines, and nearly six hundred yards
in advance of the Malakof bastion-between the
Careening bay and the inner harbor. To this hill,
from its form, the French gave the name of Ma
melon; it has been the object of heated conflicts,
but the Russians have maintained possession until
now. Between it and Sapun third redoubt has
also been erected by them, and the three have
tended to serve more offensive counter APP
proaches against the besiegers than as adding any
positive strength to the defense. They are all
fanked and commanded by the Russian lines,
and especially by Malakof
The value. of the Mamelon to the Allies de-
pends entirely on point with regard to which
we have no definite information. This is, whe-
ther they have also erected and armed batteries
to engage Malakof and the rest of the Russian
main lines. If they have, the reduction and 81
lencing of the Mamelon will not only relieve
them from its harassing fire, but will enable
them, SO soon they have taken the other two
abandoned works, to carry their trenches consid-
erably forward toward the main ditch. If they
have not, the Mamelon will have to be abandon
ed now, as Sapun was on February Oath, and
may be reoccuped by the Russians on the next
night On this question we must wait for more
complete information. We knew, from the cor
Of the London Times, that, as late
as May 2lst, no such batteries were in existence;
according to that authority, the allied lines must
then have been much seven hundred yards
or more from Malakof.