Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14

The 1f0ateuv contains the following rcpo
from General CASRoBERT, addressed 10 u
, French Minister of War; and dated May A.
Monsieur le lhareohal: Nv telegraphic il
patch of the I'd gave YOU the account of tn
taking by main force, ana the occupation b
our troops, of work of counter approac
which the enemy had raised IL front % ou
left attacks. This work, which was Of yer
considerable extent, was composed Of ~,
broken lines, separated by an interval of fort,
meters, and the extremities Of which wen
| supported by some natural obstacles of tli
ground. 1t WAS in communication with th
lunette ofthe general bastion by deep trench
and had been mounted with nine hand NOR
| tars, the fire from which seriously ANNOYED
our works. This advanced position was O
very great importance 10 the enemy, as from
it ihey could perhaps have DESTROYED one oil
our recently-compleled batteries a. wei as
the works around it, and would have had O
er0ss-fre on our attacks on the Flagstaff Ba--
ton.
1t was therefore necessary for Us 10 pre-
vent the Russians from establishing them
selves definitiyely in this place d'arnles, and
an attack on il was resolved on a. soon as the
works should have reached height suffi-
Gent to protect US from the fire Of the place,
or at least should do so partially
According 10 orders received from me,
General PellissieI prepared the general ar
rangements for the attack, the execution OF
which was confded TO General de SALES.
seconded BY Generals Bazaine, de In Motto
rongh and Rivet, and Lieutenant Colonel
Raoult, major Of the trenches.
At ten O'Clock on the night Of the lst, at
the moment when very bright moonlight
| enabled movement to be- made in order, the
troops formed into two columns and left our
parallels. The left columns composed of six
companies OF the foreign legion. (iirst regi-
ment, Colonel Vienot) eight companies of the
forty third, under Commandant Becquet De
Somnay, and ten companies of the seventy
ninth, under Colonel Grenier, were ordered 10
turn the work by the right. which was de-
Tended by several battalions. These troops,
which were led on by General Bazaine with
much skill and vigor, rushed on the enemy
with an irresistible impetuOsity. Colonel We
not, also, led on the foreign legion with re
markable gallantry ball has deprived the
Emperor Of this brave officer, who fell sword
in hand, at the head Of his men.
The center column under Gen he Ia Mot
terouge, whose name has already figured in
the most honorable manner in the operations
Of the siege. was composed of the forty-sixth
under Col. Gault. One Of these battalions.
led on by the Colonel himself, advanced. with
out firing a shot. on the front of the work,
and resolutely rushed nsthe enemy at the
point of the bayonet The other battalion,
following close, Immediately crossed over the
first Enclosure, and the whole regiment then
advanced on the second, which il carried with
courage which its Colonel set the highest
example.
The ninety-eighth, marching in support Of
the forty-sixth, rushed in its turn on the
enemy, and gave brilliant proofs Of valor I'M
der the orders of its Colonel. De Bregeot-
The right column, formed of one company
of the ninth battalion Of foot ehasseurs, IN
der Captain De Yillermain. an officer Of tried
bravery, and two companies Of the forty-sec-
ond. under Captain Ragon, carried the work
on the left.
The enemy, driven from every part, and
pursued at the point OF the bayonet, aban-
doned the work and retired in disorder, stfew-
ing the ground with their slain, and leaving
number Of prisoners and quantity Of arms
in our possession. The loss of the Russians
was very considerable We took possession
of the nine hand mortars which had Deen
placed in position.
At about three O'Clock in the afternoon OF
the I'd Russian column of about three
thousand men made sudden sortie on the
work which we had taken from them, and
the defenses ofwhieh were still in an imper-
feet state. twas guarded by two companies
of the second regiment of the foreign legion,
one company of the forty-third a weak bat
talon Of the forty-sixth, and a still weaker
one Of the ninety-ei8hth These battalions,
which remained on duty during the day, had
suffered severely in the combat Of the pre-
ceding night. The asssilants commenced by
sharp fire of musketry, and some Of the
most daring of them scaled the parapet and
threw themselves into thu work. where they
were killed or taken prisoners.
While the foreign legion, the ninety eighth
and the forty sixth, energetically commanded
by Lieutenant Colonel Martineau Deschesnez
were repulsing the enemy, two companies of
the first regiment of the voltgeurs of the Inn
perial Guard. who were in reserve in the
second parallel, resolutely rushed forward
under the command of Captain Gentv aud
threatened the right flank of the enemy. A
company of the tenth battalion of foot chas-
seurs, and two companies of the eightieth
regiment Of the line under Chef de Battalion
de Courson, joined in this movement which
so nobly marked the debut of the Imperial
Guard among Us. A battalion of the forty
third, under Commandant Jeanningros, stop
! ped another Russian column, which was
endeayoring to descend from the Flagstaff
/ Bastior.
The artillery of the place supported the
asSailants by n continued fire, but our batteries
! opened in their turn, and in the end prevailed
over the fire of the enemy. AT length, after
several vain and iruiileSs assaults the Rus
SLAMS decided on making retreat, which the
effected, leaving the ground covered with
their dead. This brilliant affair confirmed
our possession of the work. Our lesses in the
twenty-four hours amounted 10 eleven off
GERS killed, among whom, in addition TO Col
| Vienot, was Commandant Julien of the forty
sixth, an officer much distinguished in the
army for his bravery; We had in all twenty
two officers wounded, and one hundred ant
fifty-eight men killed, and six hundre,
wounded A short Suspension Of hostilities
the conditions Of which were previously
agreed GU between General Count OsteD
Sacken, the Governor Sebastopol, and myself
took place Yesterday, in order 10 bury th'
dead.
This success has advanced us, at one bound
one hundred and fifty yards towards the cen
trail hastion, and has produced great infu
ence on the spirits Of the two armies.
CANR0BERT.
THE ENSUING CAMPAIGN.
The London Times, after speaking in