Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-08-24
The Siege of Seba StopOI.

1t is on 10 a year since the allies lett
Vana for the Crimea, with the confident expectation OF
wntering in Sebastopol, which they didn't do They
stayed outside and had warm work through the cold
season. A great part of the summer is already
gone, and the alternative stares the allies in the face
of again wintering in miserable huts and trenches
before Sebasopo raising the siege, returning to
ConstantnOple to winter, and beginning again in the
spring, with the whole thing to do 1t is even
said that the British ministry had suggested this to
the French Emperor, who feels deeply as they do
the terrible responsibility Of wintering his forces
again in the trenches but that he had candidly
fessed that he did not dare risk the effect which such
retrograde movement would produce in France, and
so the suggestion withdrawn.
The Edinburg Review, just at hand, contains
very clearly written article upon the subject of for
tifcation with history of its progress and theories
and of the now demonstrated superiority of earth
works over Fashioned Notifications of masonry. The
principle of what has been known regular fortl-
fcatons is that the several faces of the works sweep
every approach by means of cross fire This con-
sdered the great strength of the system Its weak
ness was in the want of direct fire. By presenting
series of angles to the besegers the work could be
attacked on the prolongation of the lines forming
such angles and subjected to fire very much resem-
bling a raking fire on board Ship making in fact
three guns in the field properly placed, full match
for twelve in bastion, since those in the bastion
could he taken in reverse and could all be brought
to bear directly. AS late the conclusion of the
wars of Napoleon, the capture OF fortified place
was looked upon, and in fact was, simply matter
of time; much indeed, that the various fortified
places held by Napolean did not delay fer day the
advance of the Allies in 1914.
The siege of Silistrla, in which the Turks, with
heavy direct fire from earth works, drove back the
Russian forces from the Danube, opened a new era
in the art of defence, and General Todleben in his
defence OF Sebastopol has brought the principle
10 perfection. The Maakof or White Tower, the
only regular fertilization the South side OF Sebas.
topol towards the land, has long ceased to exist II
has been completely pulverised by the fire of the al
lies. Its name attaches TO immense earth
work, presenting tremendous array of guns, bear.
| ing directly upon the advancing works of the be.
segers. These earth works, with their direct fire and
tremendous armament are the real defences of the
place. When, in pursuance of the scientific ideas
the French opened fire from their first parallel, ex
pectng only the weak opposition of Fashioned fort
they were met by trem endous explosion of fire, d
rect from batteries heavier than their own, and the
first parallel was "pulverised," and the professional
astonished
1t is now admitted that the boosted superiority o
the art of attack over that of defence is completely
gone. Sebastopol cannot be taken by approaches al
a ratification 1t is tremendous line of direct fir
which cannot be removed or approached in the usua
manner This appears to be the great lesson in war
which the present STRUGGLE has BROUGHT TO loht 7
is that TO which our commission sent out 10 the thea
ire OF will, doubt, direct their attention. For
tilted lines can alv avs be held-see New Orleans
Regular Notifications can always be taken. VIVA
progress the allies expect, when merely by spad
and pick the Russians make every gorge Sc
bastopol.