Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-28
THE BRITISH AND FRENCH ALLIES
In THE PACIFIC.

J. Z
| BY the steamship George Law, which arrived
at New York on Saturday from Aspinwalli We
have received the following account Of the de
struction Of the Notifications at Petropaulowski,
and the flight of the nhabitants: ~ s.t
l. The allied feet, consisting ofeight war vessels
and steamers, arrived off Petropaulowski on the
18th Of May, but the garrison had already left for
the Amoor river, in the Russian Hgate Aurora,
corvette Dwina, and two merchant vessels, The
escape Of the garrison was master stroke on the
part of the Russians, who awaited themselves OF
u dense fog which SGT in on the night OF the 18th
of April, and 30 eluded the Enghsh war steamers
Encounter (screw) of IA guns, and Baracounter
(side wisely of guns, which had been blockading
the harbor for fifty days previous The orders TO
evacuate were received from tho Russian head
quarters in Siberia. atpfAe aaias4 apl es
On anchoring in the harbor, a detachment was
sent ON shore BY the commanders Of the fleets
Rear Admiral Bruce, of tho English, and Rear
Admiral Fourichon "a newly appointed and OK
ceedingly energetic man Of only As years of age,)
of the French. They landed and found the town
deserted, save by about 100 Kamschatka dogs,
a French naturalized American, aud two Ameri-
cans, who raised the stars and stripes over their
houses when the forces landed, claiming that as
the Russians had abandoned the place, and left it
to them, they were the possessors OF the soil.
These men are engaged in trading, and are re-
presented as doing good business. The dogs
were in starving condition, and followed the
invaders abont town for bits OF biscuit One Of
them was brought away by Commander Rosen-
cout, Of the Obligado. 5il h4a
The parties were divided into companies, who
proceeded to burn, blow up and destroy the ar
senals, store houses and all government buildings.
Not vestige Of any public work was left stand
ing, except the hospital, which with the church
and dwellings of the poorer classes OF the inabi-
tants was left untouched. The inhabitants COM
menced deserving the place shortly after the gar
rison embarked. Accompanied by the authori-
ties, they started on or about the Doth of Apri
towards Tchinsk but the Governors wife being
enciente, the flight continued only to the small
fishing village of Avache, some twenty miles in
land. ts0,
I The following day after the arrival Of the Al
lies the destruction Of the Notifications COM
menced These were the fhcincs constructed Of
immense logs-the walls being Is feet in thick
ness. Such was their strength they resisted all
efforts for some time, and were finally RACED to
the ground by the agency of powder. II appears
that the policy of the Russian government had
changed rather suddenly in this matter. After
the battle of last year. orders came for strengthen
ing the forts, and though at that time such a re-
sistance made to repel the assailants, there
being but one tier of guns, it was ordered to in
crease il to double tier. The destroyers found
embrasures for 81 guns of heavy calibre. Why
this sudden change Of policy took place may,
perhaps, be explained by that on which the Rus
slams have always actcd-of retiring into the in
terror from their invaders, and avoiding decisive
engagements. This time, however, they have
made nothing by the movement ; and with the
increased strength of the place, It would seem
that they might have made more obstinate re-
sstance than before The fleets did not leave
the place until the demolition was complete