Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-27

y
g besiegers not only have the morti6Catio
e of seeing everything in perfect order, bu
! oftentimes the black throats of additions
: guns peeping through batteries the Rus
SLAMS have unmasked during the night.
| After leaving 1nkermann rode alon!
the whole line of attack from the extreme
right to the headquarters of Gen. Can
robert, for the purpose of obtaining pas
to visit the French trenches. They are
situated in the midst of the principal
camp, perfect military colony. Streets
were laid out and paved, and lined with
rows of tents and huts. each having its
name printed upon sign upon it. A neat
little wooden chapel, surmounted by a
cross, showed that the French were not
inattentiye to their religious duties. Gen.
Canrobert's establishment is small stone
hut, with nothing about it to distinguish
it from those by which it was sur
rounded. It seems that he order
ed a house which he FIRST occupied to
be pulled down. because he was unwill-
ing TO enjoy such luxury when his SOL
diers were in tents. There is nothing re-
markable in his appearance he is of the
ordinary height, rather stout, with sharp
quick eye, and wears his hair long. Nos
thing to distinguish him from the crowd
or mark him as man of merit. think
his character has been we'll summed up
by one of his soldiers. It seems that his
first and greatest feat was the capture of
small fort in Algiers, of which a
Zouave said, /" Canrobert was made
great man by taking small fortress. and
has heen made little man for endeaVor-
ing to take large one." He owes his
present position more to accident than to
merit. and certainly has gained no laurels
from it.
proceeded at once to the Maison d 'Eall,
dilapidated house situated upon the ex-
| treme left attack of the French, overlook
ing the ravine which runs down between
the city and the dock yards and the ar
senal. Leaving my horse here. I proceed
ed some distance farther to omall sta
ton house erected for the engineer officer
always on duty to watch the progress Of
the siege. The day, like all have expe-
rienced since my stay in the Crimea, was
clear and bright, and the position so near
that enjoyed most excellent view of
Sebastopol.
Upon the north side of the harbor the
Russian feet has been anchored beyond
the range of the besiegers' guns, and
their flags could be seen floating in the
breeze, whilst the hill sides were white
with the tents of the army stationed there.
Large trains of wagons and horses coming
from the north, no doubt loaded with
provi ions were slowly vending their
way towards the city. The round tower
of Fort Constantine, with its three tiers OF
guns, situated on the low ground at the
mouth OF the harbor, showed but few
marks OF the great naval bombardment.
The interior of the city seemed untouched,
and the long row Of houses built of the
white sandstone, glittering in the sun,
looked as perfect as when erected. The
streets were deserted save by the soldiery,
large columns Of whom could be seen
marching to or from duty, groups loungiug
at the corners basking in the sun, or saun-
tering idly along. There seemed to be
great activity going on at the admiralty
wharf large parties of soldiers were bu.
silly engaged in carrying over stores upon
the bridge of boats thrown across the in
dearth of churches, and the occasional
ringing of bells could be distinctly heard.
The streets are straight and well paved
and were exceedingly clean in spite OF all
that has been SO frequently said of the
immense number of dead heaped in them.
none of which l could discover after the
closest examination of the whole city
'Tis said that since Osten Sacken has ta-
ken the command. all the inhabitants
have been ordered away.
Outside of the city proper, the aspect
of things is somewhat changed, and the
suburbs present rather ruined appears
ance. Houses without roofs, windows or
doors, others completely battered down,
and immense piles of stone and mortar
scattered about This is more particular
ly the case in front of the nearest approach
of the French trenches, which is not mole
than eighty metres from the Russian out
works. The houses seemed to have been
small and were believe principally inha.
bited by Jews and Tartars. This demo
lition has been caused by the French bat.
teries constantly pouring their FIRE upon
Ghe formidable Bastion du Mat, whilst
some have been blown up by the Rus
SLAMS themselves.
Immense lines Of earthen Notifications,
literally bristling with cannon, have been
thrown up along the side of the city. pro.
tected by wide and deep ditch. Wher,
ever the ground will admit strong angles
jut out to rake with their guns these ditch
es. The French trenches and the zigzag
approaches, protected by gabions and
sand bags. were filed with men bust
ly engaged in carrying on the operations
Of the siege. The batteries were keep
ing up a constant FIRE. To-day the Rus
slams are extremely quiet. This silence
puzzles the French and English engineers
!. especially as the enemy have heretofore
been so prodigal in the expenditure o
their ammuniIions. The difficulty Of tbs