, 1855-11-23

TAT bOUlDdTuiNcnI ana vertical IRE was sue
ccSsfully made use of TO render the place
untcnablc for large bodies of troops, till
finally the assault @as ordered
On the Mamelon, the Russ0ns had last
spring constructed number of fre-proof
and Shcll-proof compartments with the aid
Of travcrSes and blindagcs. These contri-
vanccS gave capital protection against the
cncmy'S fire, but when the assault was
made, it was found that no room had been
left for concentrating a sufficient number
of trooRs for the defense of the work.
Compartment after compartment, defended
by few men only, was carried by the
French, and at once formed re,dy-made
lodgment for them. The same mistake
appears to have been made in the compile
ton Of the dcfcnscs of the Malakoif. The
thing was oyerdonc, and when the French
once got hold Of the commanding point Of
the hill the Russian works themselves
must have afforded them protection against
the Russian fire.
"The Rcdan (Bastion No 3 and the
Redan Of the careening Bay Bastion No.
| of the Itussians) being situated on more
level ground, did not admit Of the terraced
batteries aud complicated defenses applica-
BILE 10 the Malakof, Here, therefore, a
simple coupure appears TO have been made
in the intcriOr Of the bastion, cutting OF the
salient angle and exposing its interior to
an overwhelming fire. The troops for its
defense conld Tins be placed further to the
rear, and the interior of the work protect
Ell by sallies FROM the coupure. In conse-
quence of this arrangement, which was of
the kind generally adopted in such cases,
the English lines and the French columns
ordered TO the assault Of these positions
could indeed penetrate beyond the oil but
abandoned outer wall but when there,
face to face with the coupure, they were
crushed by its grape and musketry, and
had to give up the assault.
"As soon as the Malnkoif was carried,
Gen. de Sales, on the French left attack,
made an attempt to establish himself in the
Central bastion, NO. 5, between the Flag
staff and Quarantine bastions) He was
repulsed We are not informed whether
this assault was undertaken on bis own re
sponsibiliiy or whether it formed part Of
the original plan Nor do we know how
far the proximity OF the French trenches to
the bostion justified such detached and
hazardous attempt. "i 'H' 'a'A.'
"The fnct, Of the Malakoff hin icing ia
Ken, at once formed the tnrning point bf
the struggle. From all the preceding
events Of this remarkable siege, it was TO
be anticipated that the French, il properly
alive to their business, were not in the re-
motest danger Of being driven out Of their
new position. The Malakoff completely
commands the Karabelnaya and the east
ern slope Of the hill on which the town Of
Sebastopol was brilt. Taking in the rear
the sea forts on the southern side Of the
harbor, it made the whole OF the inner har-
Dor and the greater part Of the outer har-
Dor nntehablc to the Russian ships of war
BY the fall of the Malakof the continuity
of the defensive lines Of Sebastopol became
interrupted at that very point upon which
the security Of tie whole was dependant
The possession Of the M0lakoff, therefore,
meant the possession Karabelnaya, the
destruction OF the town by bombardment
the taking in flank and rear of the Flag
staff baston, aud the disappearance Of the
last chance Of the towH's holding out. Sc
bnstopol had hitherto been fortified camp
for large army, as indeed ore all modern
fortresseS By the capture Of the, Malakof
it had sunk,to the rank of mere bridge
head to the Russian garrison of the north
side, and more than this, ofga bridge+head
without bridge 1t was therefore wise
to abandon it. 1t is true we had heard q
good deal of new works constructed on the
inner slope Of the Malakoff, with o view
to maintain the defense of the Karabelna-
va, after the loss of that fortifcatlon; but
they do not seem to have been OF value
enough to induce Prince Gorchakoff to
continue the defense. However, we shall
now soon know what was their real nature.
"Somo Russian ships had already been
burned IN the harbor by shells from the
allied batteries. The Malakoff once armed
with French guns would have made it diff
cult for the remaining Russian vessels to
find a safe anchorage, except just at the
foot Of Forts Nicholas and Alexander, and
there is no room for great many hence
the burning and sinking of the remainder
of the feet. .,. lie, .....
The Karabelnia side being completely
in the hands of the allies, they are in a po-
sition to undertake operations in the field.
Though they will not be able to establish
many batteries or many troops in that sub
urb, on account of the fire from the north
ern shore of the harbor, they have succeed
ed IN reducing the Russian portion of Sc
basiopol to less than one-half its extent be-
fore the Sth, and to u fortress capable of
holding but limited number Of defenders.
Not only is the offensive power of the gar
rson completely crushed, but its defensive
strength is greatly reduced. A far smaller
number of men will suffice to carry on the
siege, and the troops thus set free, with
the reinforcements now on the road or at
the camp Of Maslake, will be available for
an expedition to Eupatoria. The more we
examine the relative position of both Rus
slams and allies on the ChernaYa, the more