New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-07
A BarrLE At sEvAsrOPOL.

Our columns, this morning. Contain che official
French, Epglish, and Russian reports Of con-
test between the antagonists at Seys,.opol. It
was sufficiently important TO require, In addition
t. the Official documents, some words of explains
ton and comment from US.
About month ago, from the generally-success-
full sortiee of the Russians we came to the con-
ciusion that the trenches had been pushed for
ward to point at which the force of the be-
sieged wss equal 10 that Of the besegers; In
other words, that the proximity OF the trenches
was such az to enable the Russians to bring, in
sally, to any portion Of the trenches. force q:
least equal to what the Allies could bring up
during tho ncst hour two hours. As Al hour
or two are quite sufficient to destroy she rvet-
l. q, and to spike the gums Of battery, the nat
III al coma que nee was shat beyond tbs point the
Alliss could not push their approaches. 5 nee
then the siege came to stand, uatil the arrival
OF three French brigades (ore OF the Eighth, and
tao OF toe Ninth Diy'siOn) allowed them ~ re-
Ieve part of the EnsIl,h infantry, aud TO esssb
lish stronger rencb-euarjs. At the same time
tie arrival of Generals Mel end Jones, If the
Engineer, gave fresh activity to the iege opera
tiors, and re NEEDED mistakes caused principally
BY the obstnacy of the French General Blot
and BY the numeric weakness Of the British in
fantry. New approaches we're now pushed for
ward, especially on the English side, where q
parallel was opened at about 800 yards from the
Russian works on the hill Of NJ ,lakof. Some of
the batteries NOW erected were 80 far toward the
Inkermann aide that they would have taken part
Of the Russian batteries in the rear, or enfladed
them, as soon ss their fire could be opened.
Against these new lines the Russians have Just
taken step which has been carried out with un-
common skill aud boldness.
The Russian lines, as every plan shows, extend
in semicircular arch round the to wn, from the
head Of the Quarantine Bay to that Of the inner
war narbOr, and thence to the head Of the Ca
reening Bay. This latter bay is small creek,
formed by the extremity of deep ravine, ex-
tendiog from the great harbOr OF Bay of Sevas-
topol Tar up the plateau on which the Allies are
encsuped. On the western eide Of this rayine
exteIGs range of highs forming the Russian
lines; the most considerable of these elevations
ID the hill of Maskoff, forming by its command
III position, the key Of the whole Russian right.
On the eastern side Of the rayne and the Ca
reenipg Bay, another elevation is situated which,
being completely under the FIRE both Of the Ras-
Elan batteries ard of their men-of- var, remained
out Of the reach of the Allies as long they could
Lot comp etely interrupt the comm Iuic alton Of
S.yastcpel with Inkermann, which WAS protected
by the fire OF the forts aud batteries or the
noIth eide Of the hsrbor. Bat since the Allies
lad found positions to the esst aid south-east Of
Nalakof, for batteries TO take 10 the Russian
liees, flank and rear, this neutral hill had be-
cone important. Accordingly on the night Of
February II, the Russians sens parry of work
Len to erect on it redeubt planned beforehand
BY their engineers. In tho morning the long
trench AID beginning of parapess behind it, were
yi.ible TO the Allies. They appear to have been
entirely unable to understand the meaning OF
this; accordingly they were content to let well
alone. Next morning, however. the redouot was
all bu. complete, at least in ts outline, for the
sequel slowed that the profile, that lie, the depth
Of the ditch and strength of the paraPet, was
sill very weak By this time the ALLIES began to
find cut that this work was admirably situated to
euflade their own enfladiDg batteries and thus
70 make them all but useless. The engineers
protested that this work must be taken at any
coat. Accordingly Canrobert organized with the
greatest secrecy, q stofmipg column, consisting Of
about 500 Zouaves and 5000 Marines. The
orders having to be given at late hour, and oil
on sudden, some delay occurred 10 collecting