Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-06-23
THE BATTLE OF AzoFF.

The operations Of the allied fleets in the Sea
OF Azolf continue with undated energy and sue
cess. Intelligence was received yesterday at
the Admiralty, dated the 3lst of May, from
Kertch, that the squadron in the Sea of AzoT
had appeared before Genitchi landed body of
seamen and marines, which drove back the Rus
sian forces and destroyed all the depots and
vessels laden with corn and supplies for the
Russian army. Lord RAoLAN's dispatch of the
I'd June relates TO the same achievement, and
states that ninety vessels were found on this
important point, laden with supplies for the ar
my, all which were sunk OF destroyed to pre-
vent their escape. Another dispatch. which,
as we are informed, reached the Foreign office
in the course of yesterday afternoon, states that
no less than sir millions of rotions of corn and
-four, destined for the Russian army at Sebas-
topol aud in the Crimea, have been destroyed
in the Sea Of Azoff, as well as 2i0 trading yes
sells.
Barely four days had elapsed since the squad
ron forced the Straits of Yenikale and entered
upon this astonishing operation. Berdiansk,
Arabat, and Genichi fell in rapid succession,
and before they were conscious Of their peri
the Russians found their storeships and maya
zines in the hands Of tho enemy, or only to be
rescued from capture by instantaneous desiruc-
ton. The enthusiastic satisfaction which the
nation will feel on this occasion is heightened
by the remarkable fact that our success has has
not cost the squadron single life, one man
only having been wounded at Genichi, though,
in all probability, this bloodless victory has in
flicted a seyerer blow upon the enemy than the
hard-fuught and dearly-won fields of the Alma
and Of Inkermann. Russia is prodgal of men,
and she has more than once threatened and at
. tempted to overwhelm tho gallant bands which
have invaded her territory by the multitndinous
hosts Of her armed serls.
The loss ST stores, of food, of wealth, and of
the means Of transport, is a greater calamity 10
the Car than the loss of an army for indeed,
of what use is an army, and what resistance
can ii offer, ii ii be deprived, at the very outset
Of this campaign, Of the means Of subsistence
War in the Crimea has this peculiar character,
that five large armies are at this time arrayed
within the narrow limits of that peninsula, al
though the natural produce Of the country is
insufficient to support any one Of them. In
ordinary years the Crimea does not produce
corn enough for the nourishment Of its own
scaniy population, and last year the harvest was
below the average this year the cultivation Of
the soil has been neglected.
The result is, that the armies must all be fed
by provisions brought from other countries that
is an operation for which we are now prepared
and which the Russians hitherto been carrying
on by the Sea of Azoir on gigantic scale.-
But although we have not yet invested Sebasio-
pol in the proper sense of that term, we shall
soon have invested the Crimea, and, when the
supplies are cut off, tho greater the force ofthe
enemy may be in that country the less ablo will
he be to maintain il there. tn
Another circumstance which causes us the
most sincere satisfaction is, the rapidily with
which this squadron has swept the Sea of AzoiI
is the first exploit in the present war which the
navy have been enabled to perform on their
own element. England has not undervalued
the admirable devotion, perseverance,, and cour-
age shown by her seamen in this campaign,
under many strange and unusual circumstances
their attention TO the wounded, their gallant
behavior at the seige, their firm attitude at Eu-
patoria, and the boldness with which they have
nayigated the Euxine throughout the Winter.
Bot they have had to do with an enemy who
sunk his ships and who continues to fight be-
hind walls, and no real opportunity had been af
forded to the fleet for an achievement worthy Of
its power.
The occupation Of the Sea Of Azoffis an IN
paralleled display of the means of destruction
possessed by such squadron Under the Or
ders ofSir EpMuND Lyons and admiral BRuAT,
who were the chief projectors oflhe expedition
they entered the Straits of Yenikale and landed
an army in position which paralyzed the forces
Ofthe enemy. The vessels Of small draughl
then instantly proceeded TO enter the Sea oil
AzoiT, into which no foreign yessels-oi-war, and
probably no trading vessel above the size of a
corn brig, had penetraied-a sea resembling a
shallow lagune, the bracksh waters Of which
are lost in the surrounding marshes. Across
this sullen basin, which the ancients called a
marsh, and which the most recent travellers who
have visited il compare 10 a reservoir Of pea
soup our steamers ploughed their way