Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-18
gursign Nsms.
The Bombardment OF Sebas-
topol.
ENGLISH ACCOUNT.


On the day previous to the commence
ment OF the bomoardment, wlch was Faster
Sunday. the Protestant and Roman Catholic
services OF tie army chaplains IN the Eng |
llsh Camp were most nunerously attended !
In the French Camp also the duties OF relI- !
gion were attended to IN the morning alter
when, wth poth french ana hnglish' the
usual labors OF oesIcging force went Tor
ward, as on other days. An immense guam
uty OF shot and shell was sent up, with one
Is inch mortar and one al FOUNDER, both for
the batteries IN the right attack.
In the afternoon message was sent
down to the Sailors Camp TO tell oil the
men TO their guns, and have everything IN
readiness to begin the hnal attack at day
break. 1t was represented that one ct the
Sailors batteries sun wanted three or four
guns; but, IN return TO tins statement, Lord
Raglan replied That II was OF no conse-
quence, and that the batteries must all be
ready 10 open next morning. AT late hour
the troops detached TO guard, the trenches
were ordered to take their rations cooked
with them, to save the exposure which would
otherwise De incurred by men carrying them
IA the daytime. Ihe ambulance cars were
also ordered to wait for wounded ~ the sew
eral raynes; and an order was sent down TO
Balaklava for 600 stretchers for wounded,
which, with 200 extra tents for emergencies,
were forwarded per rail.
Throughout The night there was very lit
tie firing on either side. Beyond an occa-
slonal gun to keep up the appearance OF war,
and take away the slight sense Of security
which sometimes exists IN the trenches, all
was quiet. Al IA the Allied Camps knew
that the bombardment would commence at
daybreak, aud so all were full OF regrets and
iOrebodngs over the change ~ the weather.
1t had, indeed, changed N manner suili-
cienily severe to excite anxiety, It not ms
trust, as to the result OF the hrs; days oper-
aiiun. The wind blew regular gale the
night was at once dark aud misty while
the rain fell IN such floods as almost TO sur
pass every sound. Towards morning, It was,
It possible, still more uniavoable and, IN
spite ct the ram. The wlnd was sufficiently
strong To leave IN all but faint hopes thar the
fieet would be abc TO share IN the struggle
Of the day. At four o'clock A. NJ. all the
officers who had leave were on the alert
looking mp waterproois and forgotten muf-
ilers before setting out for Cathcarrs Hin To
see our opening fire. Al this hour nearly
all, except the sentrles, were asleep, nor was
there anything whaieyer to denote that one
OF the most bloody struggles that ever dis
turbed the world, or deiaced the annals OF
civilization. was about to commence A
heavy mist hung over the sea. and partly
over SCbastopol, while both we're obscured,
every now and then, by the clouds OF rain
which were driven before the wind. The
north side was almost completely Invisible
though the mouth OF the hafbor was clear
and heavy sea running IN, broke IN a wild
line of breakers over the sunken shius In
Sebastonol itself. everything was onlct and
clean as usual. Where the head OF The har.
Dor could be seen two or three larre bo,is
seemed crossing il near the land. and no
other signs Of activity were visible. either
IN the water or I'M me town. |, was now
five o'clock none of the clocks in Sebgto.
moi conld be heard 10 strike as the wind was
very stronr and Having 10 the harbor and
across the TOWN. Each noment tho weather
became thicker and morn wet so tina, in ,
few minutes hardly auv of Tho Town was ,is.
ible The rr,m Ina nf batteries however
ren,incd well IN view ib,ugh ,hev soa,,.d
as ouiot az inside the walls Ia tho Mai.
kofi a few Soldiers conid occasicn.lly n. l,s-
,inruisbed in N, e,,b azuros ana a small
marry crossed now snd th..n hetw.cp # ana
The MAnelon. but thts was all
Suddenlv. at a quarter ms, sve O'Clock
A. Nj Gun was 6rod FINN our ,i,b, a.
tack. In a second afterwards r,,on7n., -,
and down the line--frnm tho li,,ie ,,o',nds
and hiDocks near Inkern,n-- from, ,b, h,,s5
co,ntnandinp nos,t,ors Of Groom nan end
Gordou's Batteries-Crom ouiat pict,resc,,,
rayines, where no one dreaint of runs lnrk.
mg-hlah from the rear on steep and l,fv
ridges, and away down 10 the Jeff, whore the
French works stretch out lover low marsh
lands to the Kamiesch from every point of
GU lines came hundred streaks Of iiime
and masses of smoke. For minute after
there was silence, and then the preat con.
cusslon came rumbling on, slowly mastering
both wind an rain. sud swelling INTO a rorr
that seemed To shake both heaven and earth.
The shells and bullets of the first DISCHARGE
made of themselves a perfect uproar, rs thcy
fell like an IRON hal full upon the enemy's
batteries Some shot were short, and went
bounding towards the works, scattering the
earth like water Some were too high. aud
passed clear over everything into the town.
but the great mass were well aimed and true,
aud passed full into the enibrazurcs. clearing
all before them. The shells burst every.
where about Ike crackers, and the stunning
explosion OF the great mortars lnlde them
selves conspicuous over every other noise
as the huge bombs screamed through the
ar, Carrying deuh and destruction into the
Mamelon and Malakoit Aficr this first tire
mendous volley each gun worked as II could,
and regular file fire Of mortars aud heavy
guns commenced upon the place The enc.
my appeared completely surprised. with
the first awful salvo general confusion was
observed in their batteries. For three or
four minutes not gun replied-then the
Mamelon fired three or four a, { nee. and The
Redan and Malakoif also began slow IT.
regular cannonade. The Flagstaff Battery
YVES also Quick In scnding two or three shells
but the great mass of the puns in an the
Russian works were silent Gr,dnallv n,
tor a lapse Of five or ten minp,cs her fire.
extended Int hefro balf ,beir or1nanco
was manned. ours had fired dozen rounds
so thai some Of The encmv,s gn,s ,yoro
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