Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-14
Battle at SebaStOpOl'
Important Advantage Of the
French

VIENNA, May 25.-The conferences will
be resumed on Monday next, when the DELHI
Grafton on the new Interpretation of the third
point will commence. A preliminary meet
ing of the British, French. and Turkish plen-
ipOtentiaries will take place tomorrow, under
the presidency of Count Buol Reschid Pasha
is expected here shortly to take part in the
negotiations for peace.
BERLIN, May 24-According to the Pus-
sian New Gazette, the fresh propositions from
Austria are as follows: Turkey and Russia
are to come to an arrangement by a separate
treaty, and without the Intervention of the
Western Powers, as to the amount of naval
force either party is TO maintain in the Black
Sea. The treaty. however, is TO stipulate, in
perpetnity, for the Western Powers to keep
afloat two ships of war in that sea. Turkey
is To be bound TO acquaint the Allied Powers
with all the clauses of this separate treaty.
SEBAsToPoI, May IA brisk sortie was
made against the left attack last night. At
one O'clock the weather seemed doing its
worst-nothing could be seen for the rain and
darkness. An alarm was given, the men were
formed up in strict silence, the weapons were
looked to, and each detachment, under the
command of its officers, proceeded to its ap-
pointed post. Orders were issued that none
were to fire until the general command was
given. Col. L. Yea, of the 9TH, was field Off
Ger in command ofthe whole party A briga-
der general was in command in chief of all
the troops in the trenches, but he was station
ed with the reserve. In the meantime the
two sentries, who had remained in advance,
waited quietly for further indication of the
enemy's presence. After about a quarter OF
an hours anxious expectation, the head of a
body of men, advancing quickly and cautious
ly, was distinctly heard. One of the sentries
instantly returned to report it, the other re-
manned at his post, until they were within
forty Yards of where he lay. He then began
retreating keeping close to the ground. nei-
Their going on TOO fast or suffering the enemy
tooyertake him.
When within a stones throw of our trench
es the Russians stopped: our sentry quietly
entered our works and pointed ont their pre-
else position. All our troops preserved a
strict silence, and SO quiet were the enemy
that it was impossible 10 say that they had
not altered their plan, and proceeded in an
other direction. A few minutes passed in
this manner, and then in an instant fifty shots
were fred into our lines at distance of six
feet. 1t seems that when the Russians halt
ed they lay down on their bellies, and crawl
ed forward unobserved until within a mus
ket's length of our trenches, when 3 number
of them fired and sprang upon their feet
Our men were in no way taken by surprise
Their positions were already assigned, and
they lay so close under cover that only two
men were struck BY the enemy's volley-one
man killed on the spot another dangerously
wounded The Russians. who had first risen,
made an attempt to rush into the work under
cover oftheir fire, which they believed had
taken US entirely by surprise; but nearly all
who tried were shot or bayonetted
The rest Of the party, which now seemed
about 1000 strong, commenced heavy FIRE,
but it was totally inefficient against our troops
who were sheltered by the breastwork. Our
fire, on the contrary, was cool and well sus-
tanned, and at the short distance told with
murderous effect upon the crowds Of Russians.
They fell on all sides. while we scarcely lost
a man. After few minutes the enemy be-
came confused, and fell back in disorder II
appears however, to have been only mo-
mentary panic as after retreating q short dis
lance, during tae whole time of which they
were skirmishing. they returned to the charge,
and with the utmost GOODNESS and daring, nov
ing more to the left, tried to storm the breast
work at another point. In this they were as
unsuccessful as in their first attempt The
troops reserved their fire until the Russians
closed, and, giving one tremendous volley,
prepared TO receive those who might strive
10 cross the breastwork with the bayonet.-
But so severe was the effect of or yolley
that the enemy seemed paralyzsd Their
officers tried to lead them up, but the men,
though they fired fast, seemed eisinclined to
follow. They were wavering fast when q
second force Of Russians, about five hundred
strong, came upon the field The reinforce
ment made no fresh effort to force our trench
es, contenting themselves with skirmishing to
cover the retreat of the attacking party.
The English never Quilted their breast
work, but fired with deadly accuracy into the
enemy, who were trying 10 remove their
dead and wounded. While eliecting this,
they suffered severe loss from our fire,
which, from our very sheltered position, they
were quite unable to return, at least, with any
effect. After about a quarter of an hours
diminishing in this manner, the enemy fell
back, and got under cover of the Redan. AS
usual, the instant the attack was repulsed
and the Russians clear of, their batteries
opened fire upon the portion of our lines on
which the sorte was made. They poured in
regular vollies Of round shot, grape and she'll
The heavy, dark sky which lowered over
everything, seemed perfect aurora borealis
with the incessant flashes Of the guns. This
retaliation was fully expected, aud all ON
troops lay down until the iron hail had passed
Only one man was killed by round shot,
None Others were even wounded. In about
half an hour, the cannonade ceased, and ex.
cept an occasional gun from the enemy, or Z
large mortar from ourselves and the French
all Sebastopol and the allied trenches were
wrapped in perfect silence. Our whole los
from this sortie was three men killed anC
thirteen wounded, two of the latter very dan
gerously.
SEBAsroPoI, Nav 12-Last night, in til,
midst of an awful storm of wind and rains
thick that no one could see yard beyon,
hm-a body of Russians came upon our LEI
attack, but the sentries gave the alarm inst II
time, and Col Macbeth, of the 68th regiment
got his men into order, and received the frs
fire of the enemy rs they came up 10 the
trench with Perfect steadiness. Some of the
Russians leaped upon the parapet and jumped
into the battery, where they at once me
their fate. There was q desperate struggle
| between the Russians and the men Of the 66ti
outside the lines, in which the bayonet wa
used freely on both sides, but the enemy
were repuised by our fellows led by Colone
Macbeth, Lieut. Hamilton aud sergeant o
the 69th I regret to say that Capt LloyC
Edwards and 6 men Of the G8th were killed
and % men Of the same regiment wer
wounded We took some wounded prison
eH. 1t is # course impossible at this earl
hour, to ascertain the particulars Of the at
tack, as the men have not come up from tn
works vet Some Of our men were wounde'
with stones flung by the Russians who's
guns would not GO off, owing to the wet
The enemy lost heavily, and they were see
dragging of their dead during the night.
A letter from Constantinople, in the Frenc
journals, SAYS that the allied Generals in tn
: L.. L. IL