Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-27
Destruction OF tho Notifications at PetrO-
nauiOWski.


The French brig ofwar 0bligado, Captain Resen-
court, had arrived at San francisco from Petropau
lowsk bringing intelligence of the destruction OF
the Notifications at that place by the Anglo
French squadron. The Alta Californian obtained
the following details from Lieutenant De Journel OF
the oblgado:
The allied feet, consisting Of eight 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 ffigate Aurora,
corvette Dwina, and two merchant vessels The
escape of the garrison was a master stroke on the
part of the Russians, who availed themselves Of
dense fog which set in the night of the 18th of
April, and so eluded the English war steamer En-
counter (screw) of IA guns, and Baracounter (sde
wheel of guns, which had been blockading the
harbor for fifty days previous The orders to
eyacuate were received from the Russian head
quarters in Siberia
On anchoring in the harbor, a detachment was
sent on shore by the commanders OF the fleets
Rear Admiral Bruce, of the English, and Rear-Ad-
mral Fourichon, Ia newly-appeinted and exceed
ingy energetic man of only as years of age) of
the French They landed and found the town de-
serted save by about 100 kamschatka dogs,
French naturalized American, and two Americans,
who raised the stars and stripes over their houses
when the forces landed, claiming that as the Rus
SLAMS had abandoned the place and left II to them,
they were the possessors of the soil. These men
are engaged in trading, and are represented as do
ing good business. The dogs were in a starving
condition, and followed the invaders about town
for bits of biscuit. One Of them was brought away
by Commander Rosencoat of the Oblgado.
The parties were divided into companies, who
proceeded to burn, blow up and destroy the arse
nails storehouses, and all government buildings.
Not ves.ge Of any public work was left standing,
except the hospital, which, with the church and
dwellings Of the poorer classes of the inhabitants,
was left untouched The inhabitants commenced
deserving the place shortly after the garrison en-
barked. Accompanied by the authorities, they
started, on or about the goth of April, toward
Tchinsk but the Governors wife being eaciente,
the fight continued only to the small fishing vii
age OF Avache, soEe twenty miles inland.
The following day after the arrival of the allies,
the destruction of the Notifications commenced.
These were hscines constructed ofimmense logs
the walls being sixteen feet in thickness. Such
was their strength they resisted all efforts for
time, and were finally RACED to the ground by the
agency Of powder 1t appears that the policy of the
Russian government had changed rather suddenly
in this matter. After the battle OF last year,
ders came for strengthening the forts, and though
at that time such resistance was made as to repcl
the assaants there being but one tier of guns, 1t
was ordered TO increase it to double tier. The
destroyers found embrasures for 81 guns OF heavy
calbre. Why this sudden change of policy took
place, may perhaps be explained by that on which
the Russians have always acted-of retiring into
the interior from their invaders, and avoiding deci-
sive engagements. This time however, they have
made nothing by the movement and with the in
creased strength OF the place it would seem that
they might have made more obstinate resistance
than before The fleets did not leave the place
until the demolition was complete.