Eastern times., 1855-03-22
Sflistellang.
Letter from before Sevastopol.

The Rev. N. c. Fighter, who left New
York few months since for Constantinople,
as an agent for the American Bible Society,
has found his way to the seat of war, and has
spent some days at the camp before Sevasto-
pol. He has written an interesting letter from
that encampment to the editors of the OBJ
server, from which we make some extracts.
After giving an account of his first night in
camp, he says:
In the morning was aroused early by
the notes of the bugle, and beating of the
morning drum to order and to arms for their
daily drill. The music sounds beautifully
through the encampment. The whole camp
is soon astir, and formed in line, and as we
ride along four miles in front, it presents
beautiful scene, with all the pomp and circum-
stance of war. We have now reached the
extreme left of the English defence, and an
other officer wishes to accompany us for the
purpose of giving us the best possible view
of Sevastopol and the entrenchment. We
walk few steps to the height above the
camp, and thence with good glass can look
directly into the town, the. Notifications and
batteries in front of the walls, and it indeed
seems as if the allies had not made the least
impression upon it. As our friends them
selves assured US, sit is stronger now than
when they first began the siege, for the Rus
slams have speedily repaired every damage,
and have even erected mud batteries outside
the walls to fire upon our lines
Now said they,I'if you will walk half
mile farther in front we will give you still
nearer view So we descended into deep
ravine called the Valley of Death, and here
the shot and shell, thirteen inch, and twenty
four and ifty-six Founders, lay like hailstones
covering the ground, most Of which we were
told had been thrown from the Russian bat
teries during the first day of the lombard
ment, but now occasionally one is added to
the number; not very comfortable announce
ment. We then ascended the height, and
here we could not only see the streets and
buildings of the town, and the whole line of
the Notifications and entertainments. but also
the flash of the morning guns, and could hear
the shells whizzng through the air and burst
ing around US.
The English were firing from their battery
few rods below, and the French had Just
opened new battery a short distance to the
left; and the Russians were answering their
fire from the town. | asked lis it not rather
dangerous here Yes, said they, "a chance
shot might strike u.s. or it would not be sur
prising if the Russians should direct shell
toward US, seeing little company together
with spy glasses in our hands, We then
rode across large rawne, and came to the
French camp. They occupy the extreme left
or South side of the town, while the English
hold the position to the right and North. The
French have advanced much nearer the walls
with their trenches than the English, and say
they will be the first to make the assault and
enter the town, and that they will even go in
alone if the English are not ready to join
them. From this point we had fine view of
the allied feet lying off Cape Chersoncs,
watching the movements of the Russians,
though they do not venture 70 enter the har-
Dor and risk hand to hand engagemenrwith
them.
lthen proceeded 10 headquarters, and called
upon Lord Raglan in behalf of the American
Bible Society. He received me very kindly,
and invited me to dine with him on the fol-
lowing day. At his table had the pleasure
of meeting the officers of his staff, and an Eng
lish lady, the Hon. Miss Derryman, who had
come TO the Crimea TO visit her brother, a
young officer wounded at lnkerman. His
lordship asked me many questions about.
America, and was much interested, as they all
were, to know the feeling Of Americans in
reference to the war.
His lordship lives in large house appro-
priated TO the purpose, about two miles from
the front camp, and maintains grand style with
his suite of apartments, and silver plate and
service. The houses and stables for his
grooms and horses, the large marques Of his
officers, and the guard tents pitched around
with flags floating from them, form quite
military settlement and gay scene"
OF the general appearance of the plateau on
which the encampments are situated, and the
state of the armies, Mr.. RICHTER says:
Sc 1t is impossible to describe the state of
the roads and country trodden and tramped
down in every direction, the work of war
The land marks are removed, the trees cut
down, the houses torn down, and the furni-
ture, even chairs, pianos and sofas, everything
consumable, has been used for fuel by the ar
my. 1t was indeed beautiful country when
the allies first landed, abounding in vineyards,
cultivated fields, and lovely country residences;
now it is waste of desolation. The heavy
rains and dragging of artillery, have made
the mud half knee deep, and the horses, by
being overworked, are dying by hundreds in
the fields, and even the men are sinking down
by the roadside, and dying under their heavy
burdens. for, as the horses have failed, they
are obliged to transport their provisions and
even their heavy fty-six pound shot and
shell, to the camp on the backs of men.
There is great suffering too in the front
camp, for want of stores and warm clothing.
| They are dying there at the rate of sixty per