Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-25
Mistellaneons.
THE FALL OF sEBAsrOPoL.

THE FALL OF sEBAsrOPoL.
We have compiled from the different CORES
pondents Of the London papers brought by the
last arrival. the following vivid descriptions Of
the last terrific bombardment of Sebastopol, and
the appalling scenes that were opened to the
gaze of the conquerers after that brief but muir
derous struggle that put them in possession Of
that world-renowned city of blood.
Ed. OF FIREMAN.
Sept. 5th.
At dawn, on the morning of the 5th of Sep
tembsr, the French opened fire. The air was
pure and light, and gentle breeze from the
southeast, which confined oil day, drifted over
tho sseppe aud blew gently into Scbastopol. The
sun shone serenely through the vapors of early
morning, and wreaths of snowy clouds on the
long lines Of white houses inside those rugged
defenses of earth and gabonade which have so
long kept our armies gazing in vain on this
" august city" The ships lay floating on tho
waters of the roads, which were smooth as q
mirror, and, like it, refectiug them and out
side our own fleet and that Of the French equal
ly inactive, and not quite so useful to US. were
reposing from Kazatch to Constantine, as idly
as though they were painted upon ga pain
sed ocean"
From Cathcart's Hill, therefore, on the right
front Of the Fourth Division camp, one can gain
an admirable view Of certain points of the po-
sition from the sea on the left to our extreme
right at lnkermsnn. That advantage is, how
ever rarely obtainable when there is any heavy
firing, as the smoke hangs in thick clouds be-
tween the earthworks, nor can it be dispelled
unless by brisk wind. If one Of the few per-
sons who were in the secret of the opening Of
the French batteries had been on Cathcart' 8
Hill on the morning of tho 5th, he would have
beheld then, just ere half past five o'clock, the
whole Of this scene marked out in keen detail
in the clear morning air. The men in our trench
es can be seen sitting down behind the traverses
or strolling about in the rear of the parapets.
i Small trains Of animals and files of men are
passing over the ground between the trenche'
and the camp, and the only smoke that catches
the eve arises from the kettles Of the soldiery
, or from rife in the advanced works. On tn,
, left, however, it can be seen that the French
trenches arc crowded with men, and that their
batteries are all manned, though the men kssE
we'll out Of view, and the mantlets and screen
are yet down before the muEles of some of thei
| guns. The men beneath the parapets swarm
9 like bees. A few grey-coated Russians are ii
8 view repairing the works of the Flagstaff Bat
J, tery, or are engaged in throwing up new work
u which promises to be Of considerable strength
), in front Of the second line of their defenses
Q Suddenly, along the earthern curtain, betwee
Nos. 7 and Bastions, three jets of fame spril
up into the air and hurl up as many pillars o
o earth and dust, which are warmed up into rud
= dy hues by the horizontal rays of tho sun. Tn
d French have exploded three fougasses to blow i
u the counter-scarp, and to serve as signal I
O their men. Instantly from the sea to the docl
"a yard creek there seems to run stream Of fir
= and heecy, curling, rich whito smoke, rs thong
|. the earth had suddenly been rent in the thro,
le of an earthquake, and was vomiting forth II
"a material of her volcanoes The lines Of IL
French trenches were at once covered as thoug
the very clouds of Heaven had settled dow
upon them and were whirled about in spiral je
:. in fessoons, in clustering lunches, in column
~ and ia sheets, oil commingled, involved togeth
by the vehement flames beneath.
:, The crash Of such tremendous fire mu
: :. have been appalling, but the wind and the poe
y liar condition Of the atmosphere did not perm
- - the sound to produce any great effect on o
" camp in the city, for the same reason, t
noise must have been terrific and horrible. T
~ iron storm tore over the Russian lines, toss
:. up, as if in sport, jets OF earth and dust, ren
/. ing asunder gabions, and squelohing" t
parapsts, or bounding over among the houi
" and ruins in their rear. The terrible files
iron, about four miles in front, rushed acr,
: the plain, carrying death and ruin with it,swe
a with its heavy and irresistible weight the RI
Of sian anks, and searched their center to the co
no A volley so startling, Simultaneous and trem'
III dously powerful, was probably never yet utt
- ed since the cannon found its voice
Il The Russians seemed for while utterly p
N. alyzcd, their batteries were not manned W
ay strength enough to enable them to reply to ST
! is an overlapping and crushing fire but
to French, leaplng to their guns with astound
energy, rapidity and strength, kept on, fill
vas the very air with The hurtling storm, and sen
Ven in unbroken fury against their enemies. M
:sd than two hundred pieces of artillery, of 10
lis cabre, admirably served and well dreO'ed, ,pl
ish ed necessarily on the hostile lines. In 81
moments great veil Of smoke-"a warcl'
ng- rolling dun "---spread from the guns over
At left Of Sebastopol but the roar Of the shot
ow not cease, and the cannonsde now Pealed 10