Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-23

workmen converse, the guard splash
with their feet in the water, the men
cough. What does this mean p
The sound is hollow it is a NINE
1t commences here and leads there
But the rain continues TO pour down.
II is bitter cold, and the flash of
gun may lead TO their discovery
The officer gives the signal to retreat.
They return the way they came. -
Their track on the moist earth guides
them. They pass again the Russian
outwork. The Russians little sus-
pect mortal foe is So near to them.
The men speak low together they
might take them all prisoners, but it
would be inprudcnt. There are
other part Of the defences TO be exam
ined. The success of the enterprise
is more valuable than the death OF
ten Russian soldiers. Finally, all
having been explored, they rejoiu the
remainder Of the band who are whit
ing for them lying down in the mud.
Anything new, boysl' says the
officer. Nothing Then let us
return Aud these 20 brave fellows,
wet to the skin, pass our scntries, who
were becoming anxious abou, them,
IN the same silence as before"
STAND TO YOUR ARMS.
A letter from the Camp at Balak-
lava dated Jan. /, says: Nothing
of especial importance hos occurred
OF late. No. A and 5 batteries and
the ODD Illghlanders under The COM
mand of Sir Colin Campbell, are en-
campcd here for the defence of Balak-
lava. The other day the French
cavalry made reconnaissance, about
1000 strong. The Russian vdcttes
retired before them, and they advan-
ced over the dismanIled redoubts
lately in possession of the Turks
Two columns Of Russian infantry
thon appeared over the brow of the
next hill, and threw out skir;nlshers,
who attacked the French from behind
a breastwork. Having seen what
they wanted, the French returned,
with men wounded after killing 5
Russians. The first six weeks after
landing here we lived in tents, bat
now have capital hut, dug IN the
earth and covered with rallers, with
earth on the top. Before the main
body OF the Russians retired over the
Black River, IT was a case of stand
10 your arms" with US two or three
times night. Just after getting to
sleep, wrapped in blanket and
great coat, "stand 10 your arms
stand TO yoIr arms?' would be
shouted from one sentry 10 another,
when up we jumped, seized hold of
sword and revolver, rushed 10 the
trenches, strained our eyes towards
the Russian waichfres, and fancied
every bush column Of men! The
weather is rather fine at the present
moment. ! have Just conc from
seeing two of our men taken BY the
Cossacks they wandered too far
over the plain, and four Cossacks
galloped after them, fired two sho S,
and took them. One was Turk,
the other sailor"
PRISONER non cossAwkr
The following is an extract from
a letter received by a lady in Eng
land from her husband in the Cri-
mea: :" can not refrain from let
ting You know the narrow escape
had the other night of being taxi
ell prisoner by the Cossacks, as |
was returning from Balaklava, with
about ten pounds worth of goods
for the officers Of the company
But, dear Sally, good stout heart
folled them for this time. | must
thank God Tor his protection, and
Tor endowing me with such pres
encc of mind. BaIaklava is about
seven or eight miles from Sebasto-
pol, and as was coming, about
halfway, being mounted OH our
captains pony, with six havcrsacks
full of tea, sugar, wine, and several
other little articles, ! had my fusil
slung across my back, as every man
must be armed here, even if lie on
iy wanted to go to the rear. So |
was coming along, thinking Of
but you need not ask what, as you
might know il was about yourself,
and Nell, and poor little yack-a
horseman rides up to me and lays
hold of my fusil by the butt, and
very quietly was going to take il
oil my shoulder, when asked him
in plain English what he was going
TO do, but not a word could under
stand from him but 'prisonere bon
Cossawkc, as no pronounced it. |
thought at first he was French.
man, until ne mentioned Sebastopol,
but il was time looked out for N.Y.
self, so as was handing him my
musket with as good u gracs as poss-
lble as he thought, the foolish fellow
forgot that had bayonet at my
other side, so handed him the
bayonet with the other, nut most
unexpectedly though, for 1 drove it
to the socket into his body, and very
quickly upset him, and rode away
with his horse and long lance. /
soon mounted his horse, which cas-
ed my own poor beast. Ali that |
was sorry for was lhatl lef,him my
bayonet."
SAILOR JACK AND THE RUSSIAN.