The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS GREAT SUCCESSES OF
THE ALLIES

On the 18th instant, just after our last issue
had been prepared for the press, the Atlantic
arrived at New York, with London and Liver
pool dates to the I'd, bringing intelligence of
much interest and importance, a well-digested
review of which we quote from the columns of
the Baltimore american:
"The Allies have relieved the settled dulness
of the war in the Crimea by brilliant battle
before Sebastopol and several important move
ments elsewhere. The limitations received by
the last steamer, that an important engagement
had occurred between the French and the Rus
slams under the walls of Sebastopol are confirm
ed. The battle lasted during the nights of the
22d and 23d, and occasioned loss on both sides
of 5000 killed and wounded. The French claim
complete success as the result of the engage
ment, by which they secured and retained posses
sion of an important position. Gortschakoff's
account of the affair is different but as it appa
rently refers to only the struggle of one night
that fact may account for the contradiction. He
admits heavy loss, but claims to have driven
the enemy back.
"The second important movement is the adj
vance of the Allies upon the line of the Tcher-
maya. The advance was accomplished with
slight loss, the Russians not appearing in force.
pushed, cannot be known until the detailed re-
ports are received. The line of the Tchernaya
is known to offer many excellent military posi-
tons which it has been supposed were strongly
fortified by the Russians-thus necessitating
another battle, under circumstances similar to
that on the Alma, before the Allies could pene-
trate into the open country, and cut off the Rus
sian communication with the north of Sebasto-
pol. Whether the Russian advance had merely
retreated upon these fortified points, or they had
no existance but in the fears of the Allies, we
have no means of determining from the present
incomplete accounts. The movement on the
Tchernaya is a carrying out of the plans attrib-
uted to Gen. Pellissier, Immediately upon his
assumption of the chief command of the French
forces. The Allied force in the Crimea is rep
resented by the latest accounts to be fully
men. Eighty thousand of these, it is thought,
will be abundantly able to hold the trenches be-
fore Sebastopol whilst the remaining 10000,
with the reinforcements constantly arriving, can
be employed against the Russian forces else
where in the Crimea. The cutting off of the
Russian communication with Sebastopol will of
course put it in a complete state of siege, and
render its fall certain, unless it be in condi-
ton to resist until the approach of winter would
again drive the Allies into camp.
"The secret expedition against Kertsch had
again sailed, and this time had accomplished
the capture of the place the Russians retiring
on the approach of the Allies, after they had
blown up their Notifications, and destroyed their
steamers and transports, with large quantities
of stores. Kertsch, which has thus fallen into
the hands of the Allies, is small town oa the
Straits of Gaia, or Einkale, as they are now
termed. leading from the Black Sea to the Sea
of Azoff, the latter being the ,Palus Meotis of
| the ancients. 1t was made free port by the
Emperor Alexander, possesses good harbor,
and has of late years been the seat of consider
able trade Its Importance at present to the
Russians consisted in its being depot of pro-
visions received from Southern Russia, and also
the seat of foundry, where shot, shell, and Mimic
balls, were prepared for Sebastopol. Its capture
gives to the Allies command of both sides of the
| Strait and of the Sea of Azof. The little town
which has thus been brought from obscurlty by
the progress of the war; is full of interest to the
, student of ancient history. The Panticapeum
of Strabo, 1t was founded in the seventh century
before Christ, by the first Mnesisn coonlsts In
the Taurida, and afterwards became the capital
of the Kingdom of Bosphorus and the residence
| of its Kings. Mithridates the Great lived and
died there, snd q high hill near the town is still
called the chair Of Mithridatss. After being
subject, in the lapse of centuries, with the rest
of the Tauric Peninsula, to Gothic, Greek, Tar.
| tar and Turkish supremacy it was ceded to
Russia, by the Porte, in IVA.
"There is nothing of special importance in the
general news. France and England are said
to have rejected the new Austrian propositions.
Hopes of peace still prevailed; but beyond re-