Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-04
Of tho London Morning herald.
Siege of Scbnstopol.
BEFORE SEvAsroroL, March 2s, 1855

lines lor some time past, look place against
our advanced parallels on the right attack.
Soon after the guard entered the trenches
the Russians began desultory cannonadc,
firing every minute or so upon different parts
! ofour line A little after 10 the enemy's
fire became rather quick, and as it has been
since remarked, appeared so managed as to
prevent the noise OF any advancing body being
distinguished. In the midst of this one of
our advanced sentries on the left was heard
to cry out, and the sound was followed
instantly by the discharge of musket, while
almost at the same moment two or three of
| the outposts fell back upon the parallel
saying that they believed large force Of the
enemy were advancing. OF course, though
all were instantly on the qui rire, the report
was not credited az that moment, until heavy
volleys of musketry from the French on the
right showed that the enemy had something
| or other on the tdpis.
The men instantly stood to their arms, and
fell in along the lines, though there were
still no indication of an attack until Cap
tain Wears, who was eagerly looking over
the breastwork, descried through the dark
ness strong column of men, rapidly yet
silently approaching our defenses. lie in
stantly called as loud as he could, Look
out men, here are the Russians and the
whole force of the left lay down behind the
breastwork, and prepared for action leaning
their MINES, over the bank, and taking
cool deadly aim upon their ASSISTANTS. Not
u shot was-fired until the Russians were
within twenty yards of the work, when, at
the word, a murderous volley was poured
into the head of the column, which literally
made the whole mass reel and falter. The
| Russian officers, it is said, instantly rushed
to the head of their troops, and chcercd them
ON, while, at the same time, they strove to
depoy them into line. Perhaps, fortunately
for us from the nature of the ground in front Of
the parallel this latter mannuvre was only
partially carried into effect, and, by the time
it was accomplished. the enemy had suffered
| dreadfully under our fire, which, from the
| first yollcy, was continued necessarily
| The instant the Russians had partially
deployed, they strove to close with tie point
of the bayonct, and dashed at the breast
work with tremendous cheers. The men
of the Goth, 9th and Saith never exposed
themselves, but, obedient to the commands
of their officers, laid close under the breast
work, never throwing away shot, anhh h, nay
| one.;p, tha Rnss;o. =, the mead ana breast
as they strove to cross the breastwork. At
the same time all the Russian batteries open
ed their fire against all the English and
French lines, and poured perfect storm of
shot and she'll in every direction. The fight
with the English was on the extreme left of
the line. On the extreme right where the
French were posted, the continued roll Of
the musketrv showed that they were desper-
ately engaged and hard pushed. The center
ofour position, which was guarded by detach-
ments of the 7th, 1Sth and S3th, was not
attacked at the same time with the others,
but when the English on the left were at
close quarters, powerful column OF the
enemy suddenly made its appearance ut the
center of the parallel.
The 7th, 18th and SSth, had been aroused
thoroughly by the firing at the other parts of
the position, and We're therefore of course
we'll prepared for the attack. Their advanced
sentries fell back to the shelter of the work
| in admirable order, and as the enemy ap-
preached, steady, deadly fle-tire was opens
| on them all along the line. AS they ran on,
| the enemy fired scattered volley, which
did but little mischief, and instantly after
precipitated themselves upon the hreastwork.
| A most desperate struggle ensued. Our men
met them with the point Of the bayonet, and
pitched them back as fast as they gained the
! top of the work, but still the enemy pre-
| served for few moments, when the Russian
soldiers began to flag in their impetuosity,
and eventually no longer attempted to mount
the parapet but remained at the foot firing
vague and scattered volleys, nine tenths Of
which passed over the heads of our men,
harmless. Our fellows, lying down under
the bank, returned the voleys with deadly
interest, while the Russian officers flew up
and down the ranks of their men, apparent
ly using their utmost to bring them to the
charge again.
After some time their efforts were cffectual
| and again the enemy advanced to force the
| parallel. One officer, who was armed with Il
short sword and dagger, IN particular, dis
tinguished himself, and, followed by a few
men, gained the parapet and made n des-
perate attempt to cut his way into the work.
Ills soldiers after while supported him, and
both sides used the bayonet, our men literal
" sluughtering the Russians rs they mounted
by scores and scores All this time bloody
fight was raging with the French on the right
while the Russian battery fired indiscrimin-
ately along the whole line. Our batteries
returned the fire with shot and shell the
flashes Of the guns made the air quite light
and the roar was deafening and awful. Still
the contest went on along the whole Of the
advanced work. The enemy persovered in
their attack on the English, and poured such
masses on our thin and extended line. that at
one time it seemed as if they were about u
be successful. But our gallant countrymen
never nnched. Though the enemy was along
the whole TOP of the parapet, and the Rus
sian officer to whom have alluded, was, witt
five or six others, actually inside the work
our troops fought with the same dogged OBJ
stinacy, clubbing their frelocks and beating
down the men on the parapet or stabbne
desperately with the bayonet.
Colonel Kelly Of the 34th, (who was helc
officer in command of the trench,) Capt
Wears, of the 97th, Hon. Capt Browne o
the 7th, and Capt. Bayley of the SSth parti
cularly distinguished themselves by the cool
, ness and daring with which they led the diff
ferent detachments, and maintained the con
tests against such overpowering numbers, fo
the enemy were 5000 or 1000 strong, while
, the whole Of our guard, as have alread,
said, only mustered between !, 800 and ,6Ol
men. Not until this hand to-hand comba
a had lasted nearly twenty minutes, and no
until every man who succeeded in forcing hi
I, way down the parapet into tho trench wa
, instantly bayoneted, did the enemy falter IL
a their attack, and even then they stroye t
: hold the top Of the breastwork, But tron
= this last stand they were driven also-th
r Ssth literally pitching them of with thei
- bayonets headlong into the ditch below.
Even after having been completely drive
. out Of the parallel, the enemy stood still an
:, fred continued heavy lile-fre into the worl
: which, regret to say, caused some sever
!. losses amongst our gallant officers. Csptai
/ the Hon. Cavendish Browne, of the I'll
; while cheering and animating the men, r,
A ceived no less than seven musket ball
- through the chest and expired ini tantl,
Il Under cover of this file fire, the Russian
- strove to carry of their wounded, but the il
a cessant volleys OF musketry which We
~ poured into them from our lines eventual
compelled them to fall back, though they sti
continued to fire heavy musGetry from time
time
While this was going on the loft and ce
tor, the French on the right was engaged
le a most serious contest Ii seems that OF
nd allies were completely taken by surprise
as the enemy's sortie, so much so that befo
ic they could offer any cffectual resistance,
IN move up their reserve, the Russians HI