The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-10-06

From the Cincinnati Com mercisl.


/ From the Cincinnati Commercisl.
] Taking it all in all, more significant words
than Se6astopol has fallen have not been for
ages but these words can not yet be written
as true in their full significance. The south
side Of that city only has been taken. Our
readers are, we presume, familiar with the
maps Of the city, or at least we may be safe
IN assuming that they know the prominent
geographical features of the seat Of war
The Allied armies have in their operations be-
fore Scbastopol been cooped up on u penln-
sula, which, to describe briefly, is bounded
by the Tchernaya river and the harbor Of
the town into which that stream discharges
itself. Since they crossed the Tchcrnaya in
their s'fank march'' 10 Baaklaya after the
battle Of the Alma, they have never main
tanned themselves north Of that river, nearer
than at Eupatoria where they first landed
The heights TO the north Of the Tchernava
are fortified and occupied by the Russians,
every rayine being said 10 be IA stronghold,
and from this position the Russians recently
descended and attacked the Allies at Iraktir
bridge, with what loss is well known. as the
details of that battle are fresh III the minds
Of all. The Allies in capturing the southern
side Of Sebastopol, have then only possessed
themselves of the entire peninsula in which
kteN nave XII the white DftI tpillIItus 4 flt
northern side Of the town is on much higher
ground than that portion which they have
Won, and is most formldably fortified. and
Of course still in thc hands Of the Russians
and ready, as was the south side, to make Il
prolonged resistance.
Before the Allies can undertake besicging
it, thev must force the Inkermann heights
an operation to which they are hardly COM
petent, or ship a portion of their forces 10
Euratora or some other eligible point on
the coast, and try second edition Of the
battle Of the Alma. Whether, after the aw-
full loss which they confess they have suffer-
cd in the recent assault. this move can suc-
coed, Is a problem that, il seems, Will speed
lly be sols I'd, az our dispatches say they have
already shipped force with such design
1t II plain, therefore. that the struggle in
the Grmea i not vet over. There II still nh
army of at least 10000 men ~ annihilate
before the Allies success can be sad to be
consnmmated. But the ramparts which for
q year batfled their utmost efforts, have been
DESTROYED and they have won u tract of
bloody ruins. Tie MalakoH and Redan, and
all Of that wonderful chain of Notifications
With the names Of which the world has run1
~ long, are no more.
On reading the frat dispatches received
yesterday. many believed the reports to he
grossly exaggerated, thinking that the Rus
SLAMS would have disputed the town inch bv
inch, but il seems that ~ soon as the taking
II the IaaDf placed them III d dlsadyan-
tagcOus position, and rendered the capture
81 the remaining portion OF the south side
only question Of time, they wisely. and in
accordance with the policy that burned Mos
COW, blew up their fortresses and magazines,
and wrought all the hasty destruction practI-
cahle-mines being undoubtedly prepared
for the express purpose-and abandoning the
south side Of the town, retreatel on the
bridge across the harbor, which was recent
IL constructed to be in readiness for con-
tngencv, which they saw, as We did, nj this
distance. from the enormous force and long
and elaborate preparation Of the Allies,
would be inevitable. BY sacrificing the town
Mt once when the possibility of permanently
defending it was destroyed, they saved the
garrison. Their action seems to have been
| deliberate. There are no indications Of a
panic. They withdrew, they had calculat-
J cd and made every preparation to do, and
! left behind them masses of shattered mason
! ~ and pulyerized earth works, and noun
tains Of slain. The Allies will gather from
| the smoking and CORY debris, one, or per-
/ haps two thousand cannon, which will tickle
I the populace Of France and England, but the
/ ground they have gained, and the dismal tro-
i plies they may secure, have been too costly
| to he matter for the rational hozanas Of VIC
1 tory. The Allies have paid too dear for
the WHISTLE
i Ii is coincidence worthy Of mention, that
this Is the anniversary Of the commencement
Of the siege Of Sebastopo. The Allies mp
peared on the heights above the South side OF
that town, and commenced their first parallel
on the 2Sth of September, 1854. Not one
tenth Of the men who then menanced the
Russian stronghold, lived to see the destruc-
/ ton of the town before which they appeared.
The army, then In the plenitude Of AFRO
! gance, flushed with victory aud infatuated in
elfxonhdence, is dead We need not show
hershow and where it persisted. The history
of the memorable wear Just past. is yiYidIy
before us all. OF the names one year age
blazoned before men as the commanders in
the Crmea, where immortal honors were to
/ be achieved, not one French, English or Rus
rian. Is associated with the news Of yester-
day. Officers and men ..the horse and his
RIDER the s.uardsman and the Zouave-the
/ whole pompous invading host---with excen-
tons lew and Tar between, are mingled with
The soil that they trampled as conquerors.--
And OF the defenders Of Sebastopol, few
indeed, who, on the 18th of October last, SC
sturdilv and eheetually replied to the frs
bombardment Of the Allies, fingered amid
the flight Of bombs and rifle balls, to cross Iii.
harbor, leaving their beloved city gaping
hell behipd.
The Edinburg Review, for July, contained
the most able and honest article that has beer
written concerning the siege Of sebastopol
IL gave III the outset an elaborate and authen.
TIC account Of the defenees of the place, frs
describing the forts erected to guard the Ell.