Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-14

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letters Of the camp CORE spundents
giving an account of the battle have
not been received, but The dispatches
are full, and enable us to give an in
ielilgible account Of this important
affairs
On the morning Of the 10Th of
August, at daybreak, Russian force
Of about 10000 men, being all who
could be spared from the defence of
Sebastopol, attacked the position of
the allies on the Tchernaya. The
attack was conducted, not by Gen.
Liprandi, as at first reported, but by
the Russian Commander-in-C Chief,
General Prince Gor,schakof, and il
was directed against the centre and
the right Of the allied line, composed
Of French and Sandman forces.
Between the positions of the two
armies, as any good map of the Cri-
niea will show, there were nterposed
the river and the valley of the Tcher-
maya, the Russians occupying the
heights on the right, the French and
SardlnIans on the left Of that river.
II was well known that the Russians
had strongly fortified their position.
aud the allies had no less strength
ened theirs. II was evident, there
fore, that whichever army first de-
scended INTO the intervening valley
would be exposed to the crushing
force OF the hostile artillery. So well
was tins understood in the allied
camp, that no manpuyring on the
par; OF the Russiaus-no feints of re-
ircat-no ostentatious abandoning Of
The passes 10 the commissioners of
the allies, could induce the French
general To quit his cutreuched posi-
ton on the Jeff bank, and explore
what lay behind the mountains in
front OF him, even though the prize
TO be gained by successful move
ment would have been TO cut off the
communications between The garrison
of Sebaslopol aud the army outside.
For a long time the Russians man
liesIed equal respect to the position
occupled 10y the allies. AZ last they
determined 10 force il, and moved
down from their heights into the raw
ine below, with view TO drive the
allies from the left bank. |, was. in
fact, the battle of the Alma fought
over again, the opposing parties huv-
iing changed places, and Of course
WIN 'SIy uriivrUut rvsurr. 40 49,
russians moved across the valley and
through the river, their dense masses
presented a broad mark TO their an
'agonlsis, who, securely entrenched
90 the heights above, Piled them with
a des'r' Give discharge of shot and
shell, from nusket, mortar and can
non, making great lanes in the Rus
sian ranks, and moving them down
by hundreds. In fact, the Russians
never came to close quarters with
their opponents; they never succeed
ed IN scaling the heights on which
the allies were enlrenched and.
though we have no doubt that The
Russian officers, with their wonted
bravery, did their best 10 rally their
men, and 10 lead them on in repeat
ed charges up the hill, yet the wretch
ed serts could not he persuaded 10
face the destructive iron storm which
was hailed down upon them.
The allies were fully prepared for
the attack, which had been preceded
10y several days of open or ill-con-
cealed preparations on the part of
the enemy. The struggle was of
threee hours duration, aud the Rus
slars were repulsed with great
slaughter. In this their FIRST battle
the Sardinians Tough, yalianlly,' full
ly maintaining their reputation as ex-
cellent soldiers. The English posi-
ton was not attacked, bui General
Pellssler states that an English bat
terry, from a hill on the Piadmontese
side, rendered powerful assistance,
and the English cavalry came up
with the French reserves when the
enemy were in full retreat ON Mac
Kennels Farm. After crossing the
river, Russians accumulated tools,
beams, fasclncs, aud everything that
was requisite TO entrench themselves
aud ior,iiy their position, if they sue
ceeded in eHeciing any lodgment
but in their flight these materials
were abandoned.
As the Russians assalled a strong
position. their loss was of course very
heavy. They left at least $500
dead on the field, among whom were
three Generals; 80 of Their officers
and l,620 Of their soldiers are in
the French hospitals, and 400 prison
ers were taken, making a total loss
of 1858. The French had Isl kill
ed and $40 wounded, and General
Della Marmora reports that 200 Of
his men were put hors dH combat
So that the total loss Of The allies APP
pears 10 have been about 200.
In despatch written on the 18Th,
General pelissier states that he has
granted an armisiice, SO as to enable
the Russians TO remove their killed
and wounded from the field of bat
tie, and he adds that the loss Of the
enemy is greater Than he had at first
supposed.
Iud;ous LolJiuD an EIecyi0,l -