Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-21

The bloody episode Of the fight Of Traktir seems
likely 10 have little effect on the course OF events
Ia the C,imea The Russians have retired up their
narrow and wefoi titled passes 10 the steep pia-
teau, where according to General simpsons latest
report they are once more prepared for offensive
movement. Attention is, therefore, again turned
20 the siege of Sebastopol Little on which a
Judgment may be founded can be learned either
from the dispatches of the Generals, or from the
correspondence Of letter-writers before the city.
IL was stated in previous advices that the be-
siegers' sap had approached very near TO the Rus
sian defences We now learn that the foremost
parallel, which was begun at the two ends was
completed and united in the middle, on the 18th
of August. Since then fortnight has passed,
without much incident. General Simpson mem
tions a small sortie in which the Russians succeed
ed in destroying some gabions. For the rest, the
daily life of the camp, its hardshps and amuse-
ments, the death or leave OF absence OF individual
officers, gil both public and private letters. On
the great preparations of the last ten weeks the
hopes Of the besiegers are fixed, and the fire that
win open when the time comes, will be nnexam-
pied in the history of warfare.
The Times says:
The cannonade of October last was trifing to
that of April. April was surpassed by the two
days which preceded the capture Of the Mamelon !;
but all will sink into insignifcance with the iron
seged city. The weight and range of the guns,
the number and size OF the mortars, the new po-
sions Of the batteries won by the steady progress
that has marked the Summer, will try the endur-
ance Of the Russians to the utmost
The great scale on which such bombardment
is carried on and the preparation necessary for its
execution, render the delays which precede 1t a
matter Of little surprise.
In April the allies threw against Sebastopol, in
nine days, $4,000 shot and shell, and the cost Of
the British ammunition alone was f300, 600 sferl
ing! Yet April is now looked back upon as a
| time when we undervalued the enemy, and did not
know what Sebastopol was. Even on ordinary days
the Russians often throw 1000 shot in the "a hours
and 900 shells into only part of the British POI
stion. Whatever the resources of the garrison
and the strength Of the works at which they labor
| night and day. there can be no doubt that the APP
preaching struggle will determine the fate OF Se-
| bastopol, for the wi:lter at least.
No one can pretend to foretell the issue; all
that is spoken Of with certhinty is, that the line
of battle ships in the harbor will be destroyed, or
at least driven from their position, SO as to be
made powerless against the assaultng troops
Whether the besiegers shall take the Malakoff
whether they can keep it, whether it will lead to
the immediate capture of the town, or only to u-
terror success, are all matters of doubt. Should
victory noe favor the besegers' arms, they will
probably be forced to wait in inactivity till another
Spring, when change Of tactics may assure success
The besiegers generals have set all on the hazard
of doubtful struggle at single point, and we
must wait the result
The Russians, meantime, are actively engaged
in bridging the harbor to remove their defence to
the North side, should the South be taken.