Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-25
THE SIEGE OF sEBAsToPoL.
What has been Accomplished
by tho. Siege th~.s f>--
INTERESTING EXPOSITION.
From he Edinburg Repielo for July.

From The EdtlDHrg itsrieto Jor July
So rapid has been the course Of events that
the importance of the previous siege of Stills
tria and Bomarsund is overlooked and their
memory lost in the all-absorbing interest which
now attaches to the siege of Sebastopol. Nor
is this to be wondered at for whether we re-
gard it in a political point of view, or merely
for the scientific results that have already been
obtained, it is unsurpassed in interest by any
siege in modern times.
The two technical questions which irhmedi-
aiely present themselves, are not even now
easy Of solution. Should the attack have
been made on the north or on the south side Of
the town. or should an assault have been at
tempted when the Allies first appeared before
the placel
Before attempting to answer either Of these
it will be necessary to look at the position of
the place little more in detail, and to study the
defences of the place from the Russian point OF
view.
THE HARBoR AND ITS DEFEscEs.
II is evident that the Russians thought the
entrance of the harbor by far the rnnsi vnlnsra-
bic point, tnough it is by nature as easily de-
fensible as almost any harbor in Europe. There
are number of small promontories projecting
into it at convenient distances for batteries and
not further than thousand yards distant from
one another across the harbor from north to
south. On these promontories the Russians
had erected series Of immense casemated forts,
mounting guns in two or three tiers, and with
others in barbeiie on their roofs, so that not
less than 700 guns could he brought to bear on
fleet attempting the passage, which is great
er number than ever were brought together
for such purpose in any other place in the
whole world. But owing to all the guns be
ing in masonry easements, the Russians seemed
TO have feared that the fleets of the Allie
might prove more than a match for even thes'
formidable looking defences. They avoided
the experiment by sinking a portion Of thei
fleet so as TO bar the mouth Of the harbor, an'
booms and other material obstacles have sine
been added
Turning from the harbor to the land defen
ees Of the place, il does not require to be
great engineer to perceive that the most vul
nerable point of the whole place is the higl
land on the north side of the harbor. An en-
emy in possession Of these heights command
not not only the harbor itself bot also the town
which is spread before him like the seats of
Greek theatre, as seen from the stage, and h
could destroy every building in it with ease :
BY occupying this position the besieger virtu
ally cuts off the communication between tn
town and the base from which alone relief ca
be expected. 1t is, in fact, the key of tn
whole position, and If the place were to he fol
tilted, at all, this was the spot which was frs
to be attended to.
A fort was in consequence erected here
which. as far as can be judged from the plan
Published, gives a very high idea Of the ski
Of the engineer who designed it. All trad
iions of The Yauban school are abandoned
lis design. and il is also considerably in advanC
Of the so-called Prussisn trace. II is, in fac
as nearly circular fort as any building can b
where the parapets are placed directly upon III
repetmeHfs, and parallel to them, and where a