Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-10

mics is precisely one Of which bold and orr,
ginal military genius might take advantage to
retrieve the fortune of the campaign by stroke
OF war. 1t requires a knowledge of the
country and a knowledge of the state of the
troops to devise such an operation, and posi-
bly, the generals may be awaiting the arrival of
further reinforcements but we have no doubt
that some means exist Of playing the game
with success, and the question Isl whether
Lord Raglan and General Canrobert will find
out the next move.
Concerning the storming of the Malakhof
redoubt, the Times speaks, editorially, as fol-
lows:
at appears by the last accounts that the
purpose of the allied generals is still fixed on
the prosecution of the siege by means of a
bombardment, followed by an assault. Two
| experimental attacks have been made by the
French in two different ways, which serve to
show that it is not easy to gain an advantage
over our interchangeable antagonist. 1t appears
from both the Russian and French reports that
in the night of the 2lst Of February the Rus.
slams succeeded in throwing up with great ra
pidity a new redoubt on the right bank of the
careening harbor. Within forty-eight hours
General Canrobert resolved to force this new
work had been completed. A large body of
| French troops under Gen. Monet advanced in
the night Of the 23d against this redoubt. The
| Zouaves rushed upon the entertainments with
| the utmost bravery, and sanguinary contest
ensued, which cost nearly 500 of these admi-
| rable soldiers. The Russian infantry regiments
of Selenghimski and Volhynia, under Gen
Kroustchoff, defended the work with great
seadiness, and after severe contest the French
column was compelled to retreat. This unfor-
tunate result has been attributed to several
cause.-the disclosure by spies of the French
plan of attack, the fire of the Russian vessels
in the harbor and from the surrounding forts,
and want Of steadiness OH the part of one
portion Of the assailants who are said to have
left the Zouaves to bear the brunt of the en-
gagement. We are unable to determine with
| certainty what amount Of truth there may be
in these statements, but it is undoubtedly true
that the Russians appear to have expected
the attack, and had occupied the position
with small army, rather than with a de-
tachment in proportion to its extent. On the
side of the French the force consisted Of only
half brigade Of Zouaves, 1900 strong, two
battalons of Marines, 1880 strong, and 400
volunteers, in all less than $500 men. The
| Russians were 10000 strong, and the unfortu-
nate Zouaves fell into a regular ambuscade.
Nevertheless, such was the dauntess vigor of
these troops, that they stormed the redoubt and
held one-half Of it against fearful odds, when
the Russians succeeded in outhanking the
column; the marines were separated from the
Zouaves and driven in all directions, and the
latter were completely surrounded by the enc.
my. A second time they succeeded by sheer
hand-to-hand-fghting in completing the capture
of the redoubt, but no sooner had the Russian
infantry fallen back, than the batteries and
ships opened q terrific fire upon the work. and
rendered it completely untenable. 1t was not
till then that General Monet, who was twice
severely wounded, ordered retreat, and though
| the night was disastrous from the loss Of many
hundred lives, and the failure of the chief OBJ
ject, the gallantry displayed by the Zouaves was
such that this repulse may well be ranked with
their most brilliant achievement
All accounts from Sebastopol seem TO agree
that the Russians are making formidable adj
ditions to their means Of defense One Of the
forts, which, at the commencement of the siege
had line of not more than sixty guns, has
now more than t,oo hundred The Malakhoff
Tower, the Flag, Pardew, and Quarantine Bat
teries, have been strengthened in proportion.
The following is General Canrobefs official
account Of the affair on the night of the Odd
and oath February, published in the Aonitew
Of Paris:
"BEroRE SEBAsroPoL, 9th Feb. 1856.
TO the Minister Of Var:
"MoSsIEUR LIE MAREscHAL: have the honor
to send you details of the coup de main exc.
cuted in the night between the 23d and oath of
February, in advance of our right line Of at
tack.
"The following dispositions have been taken:
A detachment of engineers and a detachment
Of artillery, two battalions of the fourth repi-
ment of marines, under command of Mermier.
commanded by General Monet, we're to carry
the redoubt constructed by the Russians in
front of our right lines. Two battalions of the
sixth and tenth of the line formed the reserve.
! The whole was commanded by General Meyran.
and the operation was under the superintend.
ence and direction Of General Bosquet. COM
mander of the second corps.
"The Russian work had some ambuscades
in advance, which, in the obscurity Of the night,
offered obstacles of which it was difficult to ap-
preciate the disposition or strength. The troops
destined for the attack, stormed and routed
them, and, while the battalions OF the French
left and centre overcame those obstacles, the
| Zouaves, led by Colonel Cler, and having Gen.
1
wounds) at their head, penetrated into the re.
doubt under heavy fire of musketry and threw
themselves upon the dense body Of Russian in
fantry who were within. This infantry gave
\ sway after short but severe struggle, in which
the detachment of engineers, under Captain
Valesque, took brilliant part, as did also the
artillery commanded by Lieutenant Deafosse.
The Zouaves displayed the most remarkable in.
trepidity.
THE enemy had suffered considerable losses.
The object we had proposed was attained and
we could not think of holding position open
on all sides to the Russian artillery; but we had
shown them once more our superiority in &C.
ton. Our return to our lines was accom-.
plished without the enemy (who were struck
with astonisbment) molesting Us, notwithstand
ing their numerical superiority; and the re.
serve who had left the trenches, to cover, If
necessary, our retreat, did not meet with any
| one.
| sour loss was considerable, but not in pro.
| norton to the danger of this noctnrpal combat