Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-05-18

o polite. across from our trenches, III tne iee"n
f Malakof Tower, man with a white nag was
eadng large fatigue party, carrying some OF the
pemy's dead Russian fatigue parties were also
usv round and inside the French trench, engaged In
he same melancholy duty; while the idefs on ooth
ides-of whom there were considerable NUMBERS
trolled about picking their way among masses Oh
.one pieces of she'll piles of round shot, dead nus
ans 10 every attitude of mortal agony, torn sand
,ags gabons fascines, bayonets, broken nreiocks,
thousands of attened bullets, unused Carriages ana
Iii the litter of a scene of combat Inc RUSSIAN
officers were we'll and neatly dressed in long fine
,reat.coats. white cross belts and swords. Two or
hree had quite profusion OF handsome rings on
heir fingers All seemed TO speak French we'll ;
some were very friendly and chatty offering our own
and the French officers cigars, while others were po-
lite. but very grave and reserved, oowlhs 10 !ne
allied officers when they passed. but never entering
into conversation appearing TO pay the least at
tention to anything but the duties IN which they
were Immediately engaged.
One Russian officer, conversing with party OF
ours said that the large 68-pounde in the right of
Gordons battery had done the Mamelon works con-
injury, but they hoped soon to repair H.
Another asked, with the utmost simplicity when
the allies were going away !" Inc questioh was AT
first not understood and he repeated Ii, asking when
we intended TO raise the sege and leave the Crlmea
One of our officers replied that we never intended
quitting until Sevastopol was levelled, upon which
the Russian officers smiled AID the same who had
before spoken said there very little chance OF
our doing that The Russian soldiers were both dirty
and ragged but beyond this defect in their appear
ance were we'll enough They were very fine young
men, and all in robust health. with round rudy
faces, on which perpetual grin at everything
our men did or said. Their uniform was short thick
great coat of grey freze with waist belts OF the same
material, round fiat caps, and tight leather boos IN
fact, Just the uniform Of the men we )und at lnker-
mann. None had the helmet other equipments OF
the Imperial Guard The stretchers which they
brought to carry away their dead had evidently been
much used for such work. the canvass was perfect
ly black with blood. One or two were properl y made
srechers, the rest strips OF canvass clumslly
tied to rough poles of wood. The bodies of nearly
all of the slain those of fine young men, One
in particular was of almost gigantic stature lie
was an Albanian, and lay upon his face with ham
mer tightly grasped in one hand while at his SIDE
was small leather pouch, filled with the steel spikes
used for spiking guns. Two among the slain were
not soldiers but the dress of the lower order OF
Levantne Greeks, and were evidently taken from the
inhabitants of Sevasopoi. Whether these were vol
unteers, whether from want of meE, the Russians
have been compelled to press the tCwnspeople into
their service it is difficult TO say.
Between 800 and 400 dead lay about the French
works, and it was time before they were all COL
eced into CHASTITY heap, little in advance OF the
parallel One man still alive. His thigh SEEM
ed badly fractured, and he had remained thus for two
whole days and nil hts the spot where he fell,
close in sight of friends and enemies.
The Russian commissioned officers attended
the removal of the bodies, and for some reason or
other perpetual alterations took place over them,
certain fatigue parties claiming two three corpses
apparently as belonging them, while others seemed
to dispute their right iercely Some of the alterca-
ions loud and long and had to be settled by the
interference of superior officer. The non commits
stoned officers stood little from the feet of the long
of dead, and called forth the fatigue parties in
regular succession, when each pointed out certain
bodies, and after conversation took them away,
when others stood forward in their turn. We were
for some time at loss TO understand parts OF THIS
proceeding, especially when the alterations took
place. but at last to the conclusion that each
regiment had sent burying party for its own dead
and that therefore, the aforesaid party had dIrec
interest in taking as few possible
While this hideous distribution OF bodies going
forward amid such scene walked away from the
trench in the direction of the Malakotf tower until
midway between it and advanced work, which
as close as ii was prudent to go; though a
truce existing, neither party of would al
low the other to examine its lines minutely. Still
was enabled to gel within very reasonable distance
of the tower, and certainly was much struck by the
number, strength, and soIidty of fhe earth works
around it. All of them seemed in beautiful repair
and more like the permanent defences of regular
fortress than the mere efforts of sudden emergency
In front was deep ditch, with strong CheUaur d.
trSe of rough pointed timber at the other sde while
above from the edge of the fosse the slope of the
battery, were pointed stakes about three feet high
set SO closely in the earth to appear at little dis
lance like dark band all around the work. Blu
with such a commanding point the Mamelon once
in possession, the whole of these stockades ant
the batteries behind them could be destroyed in
single day
On the left of the Malakotf, but projecting lOt
yards in advance of it, was the Re Ian This is nov
of the most tremendous of all the Russian works
Its three sides have double tiers of guns there being
in this one battery alone, it is calculated not les
than $50 pieces of ordnance of them of the yer,
heaviest callbre used in warfare. This work, lk
NIalakoff is also defended by broad deep ditch
with cheUGur de frise, but without stakes, on tn,
!, slope Of the parapet.
From between these batteries a most admirable
view could be had right down into the town behinC
them Even with the naked eye everything could b.
seenEquite distinctly; but with good glass, a mi
mute examination of every house could be made. Blu
the most minute examination which [ could max
failed TO show ME that we had inflicted any njur,
worth speaking of in the town. The little huts o
are Turkish and Tartar population outside the wall
the destroyed. The handsome town inside the wall
e is, as town, uninjured A barrack and few ware
houses nearest 10 the walls are much perforated, ant
the roots nearly gone but this all. The large pub
lie buildings, the barracks, churches, and
splendid houses show mark of injury of any kline
AS looked at Of the best streets could hardl
persuade myself that was not gazing at some of tn
" better parts of Bath Brighton, so white, regular
and handsome was their appearance Very few pei
: sons were in the streets probably did not see NOR
r than 80 40 in all, and of this small number at lea
e twothirds were soldiers. ! saw no women of an
e class. good many boats were busy about the bal
: bor and many people seemed at work shore, a Ii
s. tie above the waters edge the NORTH where nun
bers of carts and arabas passing to and fro bu
IS beyond these signs of life there seemed nothing dons
&c The town itself appeared almost entirely deserted
Alter this inspection walked past the front of on
70 advanced trenches, midway between ours and tt
i enemys. The truce had lasted nearly tw