Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-10
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS-wAR IN THE
CRIMEA-CONGRESS In SESSION AT
VIENNA FOR THE PURPOSE OF NE
GOTIATING A PEACE-GLANCE AT
THE NEW EMPEROR AND HIS
UNCI.E- AI.EYANnER THE EIRRT


THE NEW EMPEROR AND HIS
UNCLE, ALEXANDER THE FIRST.
The news by the steamer Baltic, which sailed
from Liverpool on the Gath of March, throws
but little light upon the entangled and contra
dictory accounts which have hitherto been
given us, through the European journals, con-
corning the Crimean War. Newspaper editors
and correspondents across the water, assimi-
late very closely to a class in this country, so
far as bombast, exaggeration, and a propensity
to gull and mislead the people, in reference to
public affairs, characterize their conduct IF
the statements of some of these journalists and
letterwriters had been true or anything like
the truth, Sebastopol would have been RACED to
the ground, and the whole Crimean country in
the hands of the Allies, more than six months
ago. On the other hand, if another portion
had stated facts, and proved to be true pro-
phets, the legions of England and France
| would have been beaten, disgraced and exter.
minated, either by the fire Of Russian cannon,
or of raging fever, or the foaping waters Of
the Black Sea. The last accounts, however,
inform us that Sebastopol is as staunch and
impregnable as everl and the Allies are still
engaged in slight skirmishing or sitting in their
trenches" awaiting the "propitous time " to
storm that formidable stronghold, which was
positively TO have been done before the close of
last summer. The readers of Foreign News"
therefore, are not one whit wiser at this mo-
rnent, as TO the result of the war between the
Allies and Russia, than they were at the COM
mencement Of hostilities
Although all newspaper accounts Of the
movements of the hostile forces in and before
Sebastopol, have been so contradictory and I'M
satisfactory, yet it is our duty to keep our read
ers advised of the state of affairs there, as given
to us by European without, however,
vouching for the correctness of the statements
The following fragrant bouquet is from the
London Times of the 23d March:
The War I'm the Crimea.
The last accounts from the Crimea, extend,
ing to the sth of March, present a most agree
able contrast to the painful and unvarying re.
cord Of hardships, privations. and 3naeet;on
which we have been compelled for so many
weeks and months to lay before our readers
As if by some sudden and bene6cent influence,
the touch of spring has reached the army, and
everything bears marks of refreshed energy
and reviving activity. The weather is fine, and
the heavy damps which had soaked into the
loose soil are almost dried up. The new COM
mandant Of Balaklava, Colonel Harding. has
already changed the aspect of the town, and
Lord Raglan, with the chief officers of his staff
is again visible at the camp, at the port, and in
the lines. The hideous and accumulated filth,
which rendered the sojourn Of British troops
untenable even by the unclean animals, is
swept away. A naval arsenal, with storehouses,
has risen under the cliff. The troops have fresh
| provisions, and even vegetables; huts have
been erected, and clothes distributed /; large
numbers of mules and ponies have arrived for
the transport service, and the army has re.
gained an air of cheerfulness and confidence
which appeared for some time to have deserted
those who were most interested in its welfare
The peculiar trials of winter campaign I'M
dertaken by a young army, most imperfecty
provided for such an enterprise are, as we have
said, happily diminishing, but it cannot be for
gotten that we are in military position Of con-
siderable difficulty 1t is true that General
Brown has rejoined the Light Division, which
he found in better condition than he had an
ticipated, and that General Pennefather has
resumed the command Of the Second Division;
so that Lord Raglan has the assistance of the
two most effective divisional officers in the army,
Sir Colin Campbell remaining at the head of
the Highlanders, who now constitute the main
strength Of the First Division; but it is equally
clear that the Russian commanders are making
the earliest use Of the improvement in the
weather, and that they are pressing forward the
execution of works Of eatimportauce, both in
c.. &c. al o,x1n IL TIL
Raglan reports that they are engaged in arm.
ing the redoubt against which the French
| directed their abortive attack on the night OF
the Odd of February, and that the road from
| Simpheropol is covered with wagons laden with
| provisions and munitions Of war.
Assuming these facts to be correctly stated,
we have great difficulty in explaining them.
The new Russian redoubt on Mount Sapoune
as it is called in General Osten-Sacken's des.
patch) is admitted TO be position Of great im.
portance, especially from the support it gives
to the Malakhoff Tower, which is now regarded
as the key to the enemy's works. The French
attacked that position on the 23d of February
with an inadequate force, their plan was be-
trayed to the enemy by deserier, and, after
performing prodigies of valor, the gallant
Zouaves were compelled to retreat. 1t seems
incredible that General Canrobert should not
have taken the earliest opportunity to repeat
this attack in force, and, If possible, to destroy
the work before the armament and defences Of
it we're completed. The case would appear to
be one requiring the most immediate and
decided action, but fortnight had already
elapsed since tho 23d Of February, and the
Russians had been enabled to turn their advan.
tage to the greatest account. We know not
what prospect there may be Of taking the town
of Sebastopol by assault, but that chance must
be very small if it be impracticable to storm
and occupy even one unfinished outwork of the
enemy.
Again, we hear Of large conveys reaching
the north side Of the fortress from Smphero.
pol by roads visible from our camp. IL it be
true that the allied armies have nearly 100000
men in their lines, it seems strange that they
should not be able to detach force enough at
least to threaten these communications. The
expedition recently undertaken by Sir Colin
Campbell was stopped by the accident Of
snow storm, but, unless the allied forces are
more closely beleaguered on the land side than
Ruoo ,r har III he