Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-09-27
BATTLE OF TscHERNAYA.

BATTLE OF TSCHERNAYA.
The London Times has a letter from
an eye witness of the late sanguinary
field of Tschernsya near Sevastopol.
The details of the battle are graphic and
interesting. We copy a few paragraphs
which give the spirit of the affair. Af-
ter detailing an attack made before it
was fairly light, in the morning, the
writer proceeds:
We were not kept long waiting.-
From behind the cload Of smoke which
naturally hung around the Russian bat
teries came two large columns of the ene-
my, marching in quick time, about 200
yards apart, and exactly parallel, short
distance from the river, and in line
with the bank. As they wound and
twisted, mounted and descended; fol-
lowing the inequalities in the ground in
long compact masses, their bayonets
glancing in the sunlight, they looked
exactly ike two huge serpeuts creeping
rapidly along, their scales glistening,
and their prey in sight. On arriving
within about eight hundred yards of
the ford, one hailed and the other turn
ed off abruptly toward the river. 1t
was evident they were about to sssail
the French position more to the right,
on the side next the Sardinians. On
reaching the water some passed on small
bridges hastily thrown over, the rest
forded, and on gaining this side the
column broke into loose order and
pushed on towards the canal or aque
duct, which rises within an embankment
at the very foot Of the hill. Before
reaching it they had TO traverse about
two hundred yards of smooth green
sward; they were no longer exposed to
the French artillery, because the guns
could not be depressed sufficiently TO
reach them, but they had their flank
turned to that of the Piedmontese, who
had got the range to an inch, and fred
with an accuracy little short of marvel
Gus. The head of the column had
hardly come up dripping from the wa
ter when they found themselves in the
midst Of storm of round shot, grape
and shell, bent upon relentlesslY, unre-
laxingly, moving them down by the
score, and covering the survivors with
clay and gravel. But must do these
survivors justice, and say that they bore
up right gallantly, marched firmly on
ward and upward, passed the canal
though the water was breast high,
pushed some yards still on the precipi-
tous side of the bill, though here every
wound was mortal, for all who fell roll
ed helplessly downward into the aque-
duct and were instantly drowned; but
at last halted, turned and fed-never
stopping until they reached the river,
where they got shelter under the banks
and among the old willows. An officer
remained for some time alone on the
decliyity, vsinly urging them to follow
him. Reinforcements now came up
from the second column; they reform
ed, but again in loose open order, or
rather no order at all, for they marched
exactly like flock of sheep. This was
done evidently so that they might pre-
sentless mass for the artillery to play
upon; but it was great mistake, as
will be seen afterward. This time they
displayed moIe pluck and resolution;
they fell to be sure by the dozen, but
they never wavered nor faltered, climb
ed on slowly and Iaboriously, and at
last reached the crest of the hill, and
came out upon the level. When the
head of the column attained this point,
the Zouaves, who were lying down be-
hind the ridge on the Russian left, Jump
ed up and ran off to join the main body
posted near the artillery on the centre
of the plateau, andat the same moment
the whole Of the French, the artillery
included, retired about hundred yards
before the advancing enemy, the firing
had ceased except broken and puny
file firing from the assailants, who now
unable to form in line, and mixed up In
disorder, doubtless perceived they shoul6
have either mounted in line, or haltet
and deployed before coming out on th'
open ground above. For some mo
naents I thought the French were abou
to give way and the Russians becom
masters of the height, but / was 500
convinced Of my mistake. One .coult
see them It is true, falling back on al
sides, and closing up into a small roun'
mass, but in the twinkling of an ey
this mass opened out like fan, tw
black lines shot from It on each sid
across the plateau, the centre closed, un
divided itself, and the next moment
sheet Of flame broke from the Who'll
line, followed by a cloud Of smoke
and the crash of the musketry fell q
our ears in long, continuous, unfalte,