Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-05-03
The late Contest for the Rife Pits, before
Sebasfopol.

Since the date of previous advices, there
has been a series of fierce sorties and as.
saults between the Russians and French
for the possession of the rifle ambuscades
In front of the French position and under
the Malakoff tower The riie-pis, which
lie, are placed fflRlq4:siaerable sacrifice OF
left of the tower. and are aboaatt The right and
yards form the allied works. They asdd.
merely excavations in the ground, faced
round with sand bags, and banked with
earth, loop-holed for rifles. They are six
IN number, and each contains ten men
sixty in all.
Gen. Bosquet considers 10 point or hon
or to take and hold or destroy these ambus-
cades. He has severaltimcs, by night as
saults, driven the Russians, but as the pits
are covered by the fire Of the city batteries
the French have hitherto found it impossi-
ble either to destroy or hold them. The
importance Of lhis position to both beseig-
ers and besieged, is very great.
The Malakeif round tower is regarded
as the key of the delences, and hence the
energy OF the Russians in Strengthening it.
Considerably in advance of the tower is the
elevated mound or hill now called the
mansion" on which the besieged are
erecting battery of great strength. A
little further in advance is the eminence re-
Gently seized SO skifully by the Russians,
and fortified with earth works. 1t is now
crowned by square redoubt, with sixteen
guns visible on lis three outward sides, but
they have not yet opened fire. Outside,
these defenses are the rifle pits. The Rus
sian batteries AT Inkerman, their forts on
the other side Of the Chernaya, and the
works of Malakof cover this redoubt, and
| converge on the approaches in front of 1t.
This explanation will convey an idea of the
strength of the position which the French
nightly contest
From the 18Th to the 23d of March there
had been almost constant series of bloody
encounters, mostly at night. One of the
most sanguinary occurred on the night oil
the l7th. AT g. o'clock in the evening
the French who had retired before the fire
| from the batteries, marched down 10 reoc-
cupv The ambuscades, but found the Rus
slams had anticipated them. A fierce con.
iilct immediately commenced, but it was
evident The Russians were in strong force,
and the French wereagain and again borne
back BY the weight of fire. For four hours
and la hall they perseveredin their attempts
and ali that time continuous roll OF mus
kerry rang out broken only by brief pause'
IN the advances. In these lulis the British
could distinctly hear the voices of tho
French officers cheering on their men
En- apont, mes en1any" I'm acant, lou
ooesf and the tramp of feet and the rusl
of men followed; then roll of musketry
was heard, diminishing in volume to rapit
'e-fghting-then Russian cheer--ther
more musketry--a few dropping shots
and the voices of the officers once more
! The Zouaves bore the bront of the fight
and The action was somewhat peculiar, a.
artillery took no part in it. The British
second third. fourth, and light division:
were told of for action, and the en;ile Bit
lSh camp remained under arms until the
| French dessteJ from their attack, but a,
the gallant French made it point OF hon
or to take those pits without aid, no assist
ance was of offered. The French were
5000 strong, and they state their loss a
$50 killed and wounded, beside few pris
oners.