Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-16
MARSHAL PELISSIER'S DISPATCH.

,ynnnlri in the attack aud defence OF Sebastupol.
MARSHAL PELISSlER'S DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS, SEB,sroPoI, Sept. II, 1859.
N. l.. Mcrerhnl: Il have the honor To address To
ynnr rxcellcncy, as | promised in my despatch OF the
18th. my repnr; on th~e.takinS OF Sebnstop"l by as
sault.
The moment of this assault seemed TO have arrived:
On the left our engineers had sometime before Carried
their works within from 30 To 10 metres of the flag
,tatf and central bastinns. On the right, our approach-
g, pushed forward very actively under the protec-
tio,i of the sustained artillery fire which had been
opened since the Eth, were only % metres distant
from the salient of.the Mainkotf and the LATHE kodal.
The artillery had finished nearly 100 batteries, which
were in a perfect state, completely prorisioned, and
having III al. $50 cunnnnS in our left attacks and 23n
in our right. The English OH their side, although
stopped by difficulties OF the ground, had arrived at
about 200 metres from the Great Redan, and they
had about 2Ou guns in their batteries. Tie Russians,
improving tho time, raised ON the Malak"ii sue u
second emcc,nte, which it was important not to allow
them to finish. Finally, the army OF roliei had JUST
boen COMPLETELY defeated OH the 10th on the Chcrnayit.
Tbere il had experienced considerable losses, aud II
was not probable that it would return I" relieve thc
place and attack our positions, which we had render
cd stronger aud in which we were prepared to repulsc
all the efforts Of the enemy.
II Was then agreed between Gen. Simpson and my
scl, that we should deliver Il decisive attack. The
generals commanding the artillery and engineers OF
both armies were unanimously of opinion that this
should be our next measure. Inc otu Ol StpteulUcI
was the day fixed for the purpose.
As | have already had the honor to point out to
YOUR eAcelicncy, the proper course was 10 attack the
enemy in the principal points "t his vast t"e'e"fe, 80
that he might not be able TO direct oil his reserves
arainst one single attack, and 20 make him uneasy
respecting the town from which the bridge started
whereby nc was 10 retreat. On tue left General tie
Sales, with the LIST corps, reinforced by a Sardinian
brigade, the assistance Of which had been offered to
me by Gen. de la Marmora, was to attack the town.
T.. - .,nt., ,ha E,rliuhd xv.ra (, slim the tyrt.pt
Redan, and lastly, on our right, Gen. Bosquet was
To attack the Nalakotf and the Little Rcdan, tho So
lieut points of the tnrienis OF Karabclnia.
The following arrangements had been made for
each OF these attacks. On the LETT Gen. Levalllant =
division I'D ct the LIST corps, brigade Couston; 9th
battalion of the Chasseurs-a.pe Commander R"-
gle: 2lst of the line, Col. EilIcrct; I'D of tho line,
Lieut.. Col. lie Mallet. Brigade Trochu: 18th of the
line, Licu,.-Col. lie Banncur; SOth of the line, Col.
Lntcradc,l which was charged with the duty Of al
lacking tho Central Bas;iun and its lunettes, WAS
placed in the most advanced parallels. On It's right
wa, the division Of General dAutcmarrc brigade
Mol; jh battalion Of ChasSeurs- pied, Commander
GARNER: 10Th of the line, Colonel Guinard; 18th Of
the line, Col. dc Sorbier>. Brigade Breton; 39th Of
the line, Col. Comisunn; 1iih of the line, Col. Gay
9th de- ~L.rspurt,l which was 10 follow III the track OF
Lrvail,an,'s division and seize the gorge of the Flag.
-iaii bustiuu and the batteries which had been raised
there. The Sardinian brigade of Gen. Ciuldini sta
toned at the side OF Gen. Il Au:emarrc's division, was
to attack the right flank OF The same bastlon. Finally,
Gen. Donctt's division 18th Of the LIST corps, Gen.
l.cfavrc: lOih Chn.seurs, y pied, Commander Gu!o-
marl: 18th of the line, Col. Dnntlin; 18th of the line,
Col. Grcnirr. I'll bligadc, Gen. ~liuquetic; l4tl "l
the line, Col. lie Nesrier; SD Of the l.ne, Cot. Brout'
tail and Gen. Pa;es division. I'D OF the list corps,
Gen Bnurct's brigade: sixth battalion of Ciasseurs n
pied, Commander Fcr,uier de la Prcvo,ais; twenty
eighth of the line. Col Lnrtigues, nincty.eIshth of the
Inc. Col. Cunstil Dumc1nil. Gen. BaLn!nc'S hri-
yadc; Isl, regiment Of the foreign legion, Lit. Col.
Marteriot do Curdnne; second regiment vi the foreign
-. ~ l. Ma. Er..l t,r,pn tIn ra4sartl al
Levai!lru;'s divisiun. Besides these, nud IN order 10
he prepared on this side for any evcntualili"s which
might arise, had ordered the .Nt.i und 18th regiments
nf the line from kameish aud placed them under the
orders of Gen. dc Sallcs, who had posted them on the
extreme lci:; thus strongly securing the possession nt
our lines on this side. Before karabclnnya, as |
have already snih, our attack was 10 be made i'll three
.lirectiuns-at the left Oh the Mnlak"tf and it's rcd"ubt;
az the right on the Little Rrdau; and in the cent?"
an the curtain which unitcs these two works. Eri-
IDENTIFY the Malukotf system oi works WAS the most
important point. it, capture must necessarily entail
the ruin of the tcfences Of The place in succession, AMI
| had added to tho troops OF General Bosquct all the
infantry of the Imperial Guard.
The left attack on the Malakof was confded to
General McMnhon list div ision of the ID corps Isl
brigade, Col. Decean; LIST Zouavc", Colonel C"lincau;
md 9Th Of the line, Colonel Decean; 2d brigade, Fen
vinoy; LIST battalion Of Chnsscnrs n pied, CoinInan-
liant Gambler; 2Oth Of the line, Col. Oriannc; 9Th OF
| the line, Col. Adam, who hui i'll reserve the brigade
| Winpfecu; Sd of Zouaves, Col. Pnlhes; 5Oth of the
| line, Lieut.. Col. Nicholas; aml the Tirailleurs AlGo'
ricns, Col. Rose. detached from Carnou's division,
| aud tho two battulions OF tho Zouaves of the guard,
under Col. Janinn.
The attack on the right Of the Rcdan was confded
10 general Dulac, brigade Sam Pol; 18th Chasseurs
a pied. Commandant do Furrassnc.; 3,th OF me me-
Col. Dupuis: SJth Col. Javcl; I'd brigade, Gen. Bison
10th of the line, Commandant dc Lacontric; 6lSt OF
the line, Col. de Taxis, having in reserve the brigade
Maroles; 18th of the line, Col. Guerin; 9bth OF iile
line Melherbe, of the division dAurelles, and the bat
| ,.l.n, &c ~ ap,,,-. m ,,nd ~ yunrl ,rn m q plOpt Gnr-
muller DE- Lucineere. Finally Gen de Mutterongc.
brigade du General Bourbrki, lth ChasseurB a pied,
Commandment Clnc.iun,; Soil, Of tho line, Col de Der.
thier; lDOth Of the line, Col. Matthew; ID brigade, Col
| Picard; 9lst Of the line, Col Picard; 9th of the line,
Col. Kergueru, commanded the attack in the center
II the curtain, having i'll reserve the Eoltisuers, Col.
| Montera ct Douay, aud the gr.nadlers OF the guard
Coils. Blanchard and Dalton, under the dir, ct orders
Of General Milinet, having under him Brig. Generals
| Pontevcs and do Failly.
With reference to the situation Of those troops, our
trenches have been divided into three portions, each
Of which was to contain in its advanced part nearly
the whole of the attacking divisions: aud the reserves
| wero to be placed some in the oil trenches, which
W, re well adapted to hold them, and others III the kar-
abelnaya GARDENING ravines.
1t was of the first importance, in order to deceive
The enemy, that the assembling of all these troops
should take place without observation, and for this
| purpose all the lines of communication loading to
our advanced place d'armes hnd been examined
With great cure, and wherever they permitted the
nemy 10 see our men the protecting crests were
:aisci 40 as to give sufficient covering.
At the left attacks, as well lis those OF the right, de'
tachmcnts of engineers and of artillery, furnished Will
tools, had been appointed to proceed at the head q
each column Of ATTACK. The sappcrs were 10 be ready
with tho auxlliarirs of tho advanced guard Of each NJ
tack, to throw bridges, in the use OF which they haC
been exercised, and the materials for which had beei
placed forward in the first line. The gunners were tt
be furnished with hammers, anu all kinds of tools pro
per to spike or uuspike the guns az the case mlgtl
l. .~l tNt ,m, o-,,.. a.. aa.,,.. IN tlltph uln,TNl
bel conquered. Moreover, in tho first battallons o
each attack II certain number OF men were 10 be tur
nished with handy tools, such as they could carry II
their waist belts, and at to open passages, hl vi
bitches, to turn traverses, aud, in Il word, to accom-
plish those important works which require to be exc
cuted on the instant.
Moreover, reserves Of field artillery had been pre-
pared, so AZ to be able TO come up rapidly and tax,
part in the action. At the left attacks a field batter.
was to be placed i'll q quarry near the enclente, VIII
its horses attached. Two other batteries of the trs
division, were TO be held ready at the Clocheton. Fl
nally, a fourth battery was to DO in waiting at the lei
extremity OF the lazarct.
a the rigli, attack Il reserve OF "a field guns WAS t
he placed, II in tho old Lancaster battery, and IL Il
the Victoria rcdoubt. Working parties were postc'
in points Indicated, ready III the pppUrtune moment L
prepare tho way for the artillery.
In order To be rendy Tor ever! event, the first divl
sion OF Aurelle's brigade WAS posted 80 IA Ia he abl"
with the aid of the batteries and reduubts existin'
III TINT direction, 10 repulse any attempt which In
enemy might make on the counterfnrts OF Inkrrnann
On the sido ni our lines Gen. Harbillon had order
t" occupy the positions OF the Chernaya with hn
infantry, cavalry, and artillery, TO act at Il moment
n9'ire: had, besides, ordered Gen. Forton's brig
Tue OF cu'rassieIs to be near him. Gen. lie la Mar
W haa been previously informed Of these arrange
Nen.e Knoxville had orders to retire in the night q
= ~ . lloul the valley Of Baidar and take n position
81 cVGcehlrntion' near the bridge Of kreutzen, whicl
woa.a oe aaEan,ase"us in case Of ANY attempt mad
1 ~ Inc ArtlN III rIlNI
ten. simpson and l had, by common consent, fxe,
the hour Of attack at II o'clock. The hour cho,e
was, in many respects, advantageous. 1t gave us
in case the Russian army of relief had been incline
to make a desperate attempt to succor the plac,
would have been impossible forit to make a Si-orou