The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-21

A GRAPHIC DEaCRIrTloN.-We nnd the following de-
erpton othe Russian Years day sorte in the
pondence of the London Times:
JANUARY l3.--Last night the wind changed round to
the southwark and the thermometer to "a deg A
speedy thaw followed, and the roads and camp will
suffer from the ravages of our old eremythe mud
The Russians who had been active inside the town
during the day. and who had lighted great watchres on
the north side Of the place illuminated the heights the
Chernaya with Of lights, which shone brilliantly
through the darkness of the cold winters night and
evidently with all possible pomp and ostentaton celebra
ting the opening of their peculiar year. Lights shonc
the windows of the public buildings and lonely
in the valleys and ravines and the enfdns pvdus
the French lying in their ars with watchfu
eve every embrasure before them, might almost fancy
that the inhabitants and garrison of the beleagueed city
tantazng them with the aspect of their gaety AT
midnight all the chapebes Of the city began ringing and
it evident that religious ceremony Of extraordinary
soemnity about to take place. On side the
and pickets warned be the alert the
advanced wherever il practica-
BILE. About quarter past o'clock this morning the Rus
slams inside the line of works gave loud cheer The
French replied by opening fire. and the Russians in return
Instantly began of the ercest cannonades along the
front of their position which have yet heard II re-
minded OF those tremendous salyoes of artillery which
the enemy delivered two three occasions before
opened batteries last October The earthworks flashed
forth uninterrupted floods of fame which broke through
the smoke as lightning through the thundercloud and
revealed distinctly the outlines Of the buildings in the
town, and the lines Of defences swArmng with The
roaring Of shot the screaming and Kissing of heavy she'll
and the whsng Of carcarses filed up the intervals be-
the deafenng roll Of cannon, which rapid
and unbroken quick 6le6ring The iron and stones
passed lines unin,crruptedy for than half
hour and the French whose works left are less
protected by the ground than to shelter them
selves closely in the trenches and barely reply TO
the massive yoeys which ploughed up the parapets Of
works but their perns lost opportunity
of sending their balls into the embrasures In the mean
time while the firing going strong body OF men
had pushed Of the up the face of the hill to-
ward our in front aud the flank the left at
tack As it expected that attempt Of the kind
would be made of the seadiest scrgeants In the
vice was posted here with twelve Every reliance
was placed his vigilance and his strict attention
his duties but somehow other the enemy crept up on
the little party surprised and took them prisoners and
the covering parties with such rapidy
suddenness that the parties Of the sxyh and OF
the twenty--st regiments which were on duty in the
trenches, obliged to retire almost without firing
shot They rallied however and fired, and being sup
ported by the regiments in rear they advanced and the
Russians driven back close the town Ia this lit
tie affair officer and nine severely wounded,
SIX men were killed, and Ia missing. The
French had TO resist strong sore nearly at the same
time, and for a short time the Russians within the
parapet OF OF their batteries and spiked il is
said two three moriars with wooden plugs hut the
French drove them back with loss and In the pu-
suit got inside the lines of the ussans advanced
teres The soldiers indeed say they could have taken
the place that night If they had permitted 10 do So
AT O'Clock this morning all silen, once more and
the allied armies had opened their Russian year on
tho Cfmean soil #N