Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-05-25
What as q Siege :

| MIR. Jekyll described the progress OF siege:
In regularly fortified place thsre are four or five
walls, mounted with cannon, and surrounded by
dltches to protect the town, all of which have to be
preached and assaulted successvey in cases OF obst
nate defence and the walls are so constructed that
the men on the innemost may fire on the assailanls
In support OF the works in front. Mr.. Jekyl then
described and explained by diagrams the mode Of
making approaches TO the besieged fortress by con-
centric parallel trenches-the first being made at
distance of six hundred yardsand the method of ad-
VanciHg from parallel to parallel by zig gag trenches.
to prevent the fire of the fortress from enfladng
them. He exhibited models of gabions and fascines.
and showed the manner in which they are used by
filling them with sand. and erecting, with the aid OF
sand bags, temporary defence against musketryr to
protect the men till the trenches are soidly con-
structed.
The trenches are dug three feet deep and fifteen
wide, ana the earth being thrown toward the enemy
bulwark was Termed sufficient to protect the men
from the guns OF the fortress. The plan OF counter
mining, with view to destroy the mines Of the for
tress, was particularly explained. The enemy are
always on the alert to stop such operations and by
means of tightly stretched drum with pea on top
Of it, they can generally ascertain, owing 10 the Vi
bration caused by the digging out of the earth, in
what direction the besiegers are working When the
works approach very close to each other long iron
rod is sometimes forced through into the enemy's
mine. 10 form an opening through which a gun may
be fired or more generally a composition is push
ed through, which, on being ignited, produces a
suhocating smoke, and drives the men out of the
works. The sappers, when they have made con-
siderable advance, frequently blow up these mines,
and in this manner throw up the earth to afford
places of shelter TO the close to the outer walls
The direct fire on the walls TO batter in q breach
is not usually made until batteries have been con-
structed within one hundred yards of the wall and
then by firing together in salvos, first making per-
pendicular rents short distances apart, and then
horizontal one, breach is soon effected. If the
garrison on being summoned to surrender, refuses,
the assault is then made, and when the outer wall is
e ined the work has to be repeated, to batter
down and gain possession of the inner walls. In
cases of very obstinate resistance, the houses are
fortified and shells are laid behind the fre-places, so
that when an enemy has taken possession of build
ing, and the soldiers light the fires temptngy laid
ready, the shells explode and destroy the houses.
After describing the siege operations against ord
narily fortified place. Mr. Jekyll proceeded to ex.
plain the peculiarities attending the siege of Sebas
topol.
The works of the besiegers are SO extended that
the enemy have the advantage in the amount of fire,
and though the south side there is not the regu-
larity of defences that first class fortified inland
town possesses the great number of guns that the Rus
slams can mount, and the numerous garrison, which
can be constantly reinforced with fresh troops, give
them an advantage far greater than if the place
regularly fortified and properly invested by superior
force. Even when the south side of Sebastopol is
taken, it will be completely commanded by the guns
on the north, and fresh siege will have to be under
taken to gain possession of that part of the fortress
In consequence also of the extended character of the
works, and of the large force of the enemy outside
the English lines can be enfaded by the guns on
the heights of Inkermann. and by the ships in the
harbor.
Mr.. Jekyll spoke almost hopelessly of the result of
the siege, though he admitted that the 13.inch NOR
tars which have been recently mounted in battery
might do more execution than could we'll be calcu-
lated till they had been tried. The shells projected
from those mortars would weigh two hundred
weight, and they would fall with force equal to
eighty TONS while the force of the 10nch shells
previously used does not exceed one.thrd of that
amount The difficulties attending the siege of Se-
bastopol MIR, JckylI appeared to consider so great
that scarcely any thing short of the special inlepo.
siton of Providence could give success.