Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-21
siege Of Sebastopol.

Siege Of SebastOpol.
The London Times has variety of details Of the
progress of the siege, the main portion of which
we subjoin:
DESPERATE CONTEST BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND
RUSSIANS.
Saturday, April l4.-The severe and protracted
conflict on the left, which kept US up on Cathcarts
Hill last night beyond the small hours, originated
in very rcsolute aid angry sortie Of the Russians
from the Flagstaff batteries on the left Of the
French. At first, the weight Of the torrent of
armed men which swept out Of the enemy's lines
bore back the French In the advanced works. where
the covering parties are necessarily thin and many
lost their lives by the bayonet; but our gallant
allies contested the ground desperately, and hav-
ing received the aid of an inconsiderate reserve,
charged the Russians and drove them right into
their own lines, TO which they fed with such pre-
cipitation that the French entered the para
pet along with them, and reached their advanced
guns, which they could have spiked, had the men
been provided with the necessary means Of doing
The enemy poured such volleys Of musketry,
grape, canister, and round shot on our allies that
they were obliged to return to their own works,
and, indeed, no steps had been taken to enable
them to secure their hold of the place. As they
were retiring under heavy fire the enemy made
another sortic in greater strength and with more
determination and fury than before. A sanguinary
net, the musket stock and the bullet were used in
pell-mell struggle, but the French asserted their
supremacy once more, and in spite of the fierce
charges OF the Russians, In defiance Of the stub
born resistance evoked by the cries and example
Of the enemy's officers, and by repeated cheers,
forced them battling back across their trenches
once more, and took possession of little advance
work, which they held all night, in defiance Of the
enemys efforts to dislodge them by vigorous
canonsde, to which the allies replied by incessant
shells.
In order to distract the attention of the enemy
and pnevent too many Of them crowding over to
the left of the town, General Bosquet sent down
word to the men in the trenches our right to
keep up constant fuslade on the Russian works.
The loas of our allies was regret to say, consid.
cradle in this brilliant affair. The report is that
they had six officers and 800 men hors de combat,
but believe there were six officers killed and
nine officers wounded. The energy and the spirit
with which the French fought are beyond all
praise. The remarkably fine quality Of the metal
of the Russian guns--in other words their excel
lent iron-gives them great advantage by enabling
them to fire rapidly and continuously. Besides,
many Of their troops under In caves pits,
and galleries. at the back Of the batteries and of
the elevated ground on which they are built Not
withdrawing all this, the resolution, strength, in
domitable perseverance and devotion TO the allies,
give them the superiority In every kind Of contest
with the enemy. Every day fresh ruins are ac-
cumulsted around the Flagstaf battery from the
french guns, and there can be no doubt whatever
that the enemy are exposed to very great loss from
the fragments Of stones and timber struck by our
shot.
THE FLEET AND BoNBARDNENT.
April l5th.--It appears thatour feet Is not quite
idle. Every night one English and positively one
French msn-of-war, runs in and discharges q
broadsde into the south side OF the town. The
Wrangler was the first, and she is supposed to
have done some mischief with her heavy guns
The valorous went In 80 close that the enemy
caught sight Of her, and as she discharged her
broadsde, they sent the very FIRST shot slab
through her psddle-bor, and obliged her to haul
of AZ well as he could. The batteries continue
their fire all day as usual The Redan, Garden
Batterie, Round Battery, and Barrack Battery,
were worked with activity throughout the day.
The Round Tower has had enough Of II, and Is
nearly shut up, and the fire on the MameloADis
hosvv and constant that tho aren,v cannof 0ct