Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-01-12
Furrign Mrmg.
SebastoDOl.

Sebastopoi.
We resume the diary Of the siege. Nov.
p3 The war correspondent Of the London
WIimes says:
Although it may be dangerous to con-
nunicnte facts likely 10 be OF service TO the
Russians. II Is Ger ainiy hazardous to conceal
ihc truth from the English people. They
must know sooner OF later that the siege
has been lor many days practically suspen-
ded, that our batteries are nsed up and 81
lent and That Ur army are exhausted by the
effect OF the excessive labor and watching
10 which It has been SO necessarily exposed.
aThe Russians know this well enough. The
relaxation of our fire Is self evident; but
our army. though weakened by sickness, is
stli equal 10 holding its position, and to in
flIct chastisement ON assaants who may
venture 10 attack. Nothing would so ami
mate our men, destitute Of all stimu-
laiing influences, beyond those Of TN
daunted spirits, as the prospect Of meeting
+ The Russians outside their entertainments
and deciding the campiign by the point of
the bayonet.
On last night there was brisk affair be-
= tween the Chasseurs de Nncennes and Rus
a san Riaraen, in front of the Flagstaff bat
n tefy earlhworks and the Russians dispelied
i 81 absurd myths abou; ihcir being 10 want
Of powder aud ball, by q most tremendous
s. cannon de Assaults AID counter assaults
continued amid a furious fire, which lighted
B up the skies with sheets OF fine from nine
E O'Clock at night until o'clock ia the morn
ing. The French actually penetrated be-
hind the ontcr entertainments and establish
ed themselves for a time within the enci-
Z enie,' but as there was no preparation Tor a
general assault they withdrew. Nolics of
lnnskeify aud sayo OF artillery roarcd
4 through the camp during the whole night,
& but few lost their rest "a consequences, for
4 these affairs are now a nightly occurrence.
Nov. %. The figh, betecen the French
aud Russian rihemcn, ailcd by artillery, WAS
as usual, renewed last night. The object OF
contention Is mud fort, near the Oman
tine Battery, which the French persist III
holding -.lthoagh useless. Preparations for
the renewal of a general bombardmeni are
procecding from day % day the great OBJ
slacle IL the bad state of the roads.
Nov %. Nothing occurred.
Nov. % During th, day the Russians
fire on the British about ore gun every tve
minutes. Tho Engllsh lookout cries Iow-
er." Redding,n or GARDEN Battery ami
the shot is returned Bul the fire on the
French IS much more lively. and is kept up
with some ctirci on %. be- carihwurk aud
parallel. Every night about nine O'Clock
the Flag Staff. Quarantine, aud Wall bate
nes open furious cannona1e, ~hica, from
twenty 20 forty minutes, IL as hard as the
men can load right INTO the French lines,
and then ioilaws Instantly a sally, the result
of which rs invariably the same the Rus
sisns push a strong column ont Of The place,
rush towards The first line, Dive ia the pick
cts and rllemcn, get mp 10 tho hfsl parallel
som, tunes into Is occasionally beyond II.
AMI close 10 the srceul Pamllel. where they
arc received as they advance by The French
covering parties with deadly tire; they
hat and fire 10 return. arc charged by the
French who ruui and pursue them into the
town. buI ~ no are obliged TO retire 10y The
flank fire of The batteries and street guns
In this way the French Lose forty or my
ucn, bat the loss Of the Russians 10 ia, &c
dieriss must BE- considerable. Frequently
about duybreak the Russians repeat the per
i9rnance.
Nov. - Sorms. wind and rain. The
Russians huye much strengthened their de-
fences They have scraped the grounds ~
front Of their batteries have CONSTRUCTED
strong ansiis in front Of the lines, thrown ~
numerous earhworks. and made sunken bat
teres before all their redoubls and along
scarp OF slopes During the night pariic
nlary strong sortie was made on the French
Hearing noise, a French ritieman erep
forN ard and saw a column of Russians, 2OOC
strong forming w the rear of the battery
The French, therefore, 200 stroHg, silently
mounted the parapet OF their own blttery
and received the Russians with deadly vol
iey-ihtn leaping oswn, attacked then
with the bnyonet aud compelled them to re
treat.
Nov 30 A heavy FIRE on the Frencl
during the night The Grand Duke Mlchae
WAS observed making Reconnaissance at
distance of 1900 yards. Flags of true
were exchanged respecting money for tn
prisoners.
Dec. /. More rain. The state Of III
roads prevented the arrival of supplies, an
part of the British forces were temporarll
put on short allowance.
The deaths from fever and cholera feac
sixty daily.
Dec. ?. Continued rain. The besiegel
began to erect hnts for shelter. Deserte
say that The condition of the Russians
the field IS worse thae that OF the Allie
Much bell ringing and rejoicing heard
Sebastopol duriag the night, supposed eau
BY the arrival of provisions.
Dec. g. The Russians made a soFte
gainst the French lines. when eight division
Of French under Gen. Torn, repulsed the
with much loss.
Dec. Z The Paris Moniteur says Il
besegeTs' batteries were Teestabhshed, o.
before three days firing would be resume
The allies are sufficiently enirenohed a
proylsioned to remain throughout the WI
ter.
Dec. 49, A Russian dispatch states Il
up to this date nothing of importance h
occurred before SebasiOpoi Some SIN
sortics had been successful; IN one
them the Russians captured some sm
mortars and spiked others of larger 81
The fire OF the allies continued feeble.
GENERAL PROSPECTS.
The Russian defencss on the south
estimated at one hundred guns stronger Il
when the siege began, - while on the OF
hand, the British have erected a very pow
ful new battery, not yet opened. on an e
hence north of the valley of Inkerman,
Commanding every house in Sebastopol,
sides another step towards the complete
vesiure Of the place.
Since the siege began, twenty Bri
troops have deserted to the Russians
Russian deserters say that provisions
ammunition were becoming scarce In Sc
iopol, but there was no famine for either
IL was observed that the Russians Y
arIning their ships IN Sebastopol har
probably to attempt surprise b. sea.
Llprandi Is deprived of his command Il