Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-24

of scmi-circle described with ra-
dius Of mile in extent. This is,
however, divided into two quadrants
by the dockyard creek, running
north and south at right angles to
the harbor. The dockyard, the ar
senal, the hospitals, and all the prin-
clpal military establishments, are
situated on the eastern quadrant, "a
gainst which the English attack is
directed. The western division in
cludeS the Tartar town at Akhtiar,
which has since been extended into
the Russian city Of Sebastopol.
When we appeared before the
place, the only finished ratification
which existed on this side was the
Malakoh, or as it was then called,
the White Tower, which occupied
the central and most important po-
sltlon on the eastern quadrant. As
1t was knocked to pieces by the first
days fire, its name only now re-
mains TO designate the earth-works
which have grown up around its
base.
The only forti6caton on the
western side was a loop-holed wall
extending from the harbor to place
BEND the cemetery. 1t does not,
however, seem TO have been design
ed so much as a defense for the
town, but rather as a retreuchment
to prevent Judgment being made
IN the Quarantine Fort, in the event
of that work being destroyed from
the sea, and landing effected there
CONDITION or AFFAIRS AT THE OUT
SET.
The chance of a serious attack
by land on the side Of the town was
evidently considered as an extreme
ly remote contingency by the Rus
sian engineers. When, however,
the one combination took place
which could render such an attempt
feasible, the allied generals were
probably not far mistaken when
they thought they had discovered
the weak point-lhe defat de la chi
raSSe-and determined to attempt
the place from the southern side
Had they assaulted it when they
first arrived, there is little doubt
but that they could have penetrated
into the town and made prisoners
OF as many Of the garrison as could
not escape to the north side but il
is very questionable indeed if they
could have held it. We had moth
ing but a few feld-guns to oppose
to the fire of a fleet which still
mounted not less than 500 or 600
heavy guns, and occupied such a
position as 10 bring every portion OF
tho town under their fire, and with
the possession Of the enemy, they
probably could have pounded us out
of the place, and with immense
slaughter. Any disaster at that mo
ment might have been fatal to the
whole expeditlon-any misunder-
standing between the two armies
which hardly YET knew each other
any dispute about plunder-any
panic caused by an unexpected ex-
ploSion-might have thrown every.
thing into confusion. We had nc
point dappW on shore no com
miSSariat landed no hospital ar
engagements nothing to rally round
and MenSchkof was close at hanC
with an army still powerful enough
to take advantage of any disaste
that might occur. The assault
might have succeeded, but it was
fearful risk to run, and one 70
which there did not, at that time
seem to be any justification for
according to all precedent, an opeI
town ought TO have fallen an cas-,
prey TO the besiegers, as soon as
first parallel armed with few guns
and flying sap pushed up to tn
edge Of the houses.
THE RUSSIAN PLAN OF DEFENSE.
There can be little donbt that thi
would have been the result if tn
Russians had entrusted the defens
OF the place TO some venerable
General of Engineers, who had pas
scd the prime of his life in the war
of Napoleon l., aud had greatly dis
tnguiShed himself in the construc
ton of redoubts at Borodino or a
Bautsen. In the Russian service
however, good digestion and con
sequent length of days is not tn
only passport to high command an,
the honors of the service and the
chose for this purpose a worry youp.
officer, who had raised himself I
distinction entirely by his own mer
its aud the superiority of his genius
Instead of defending the place SeiOI
les regieS, and surrendering it afte
the prescribed number of days, h
at once set to work to put into prac
tice the lessons learned at Sillstri
and Bomarsund, of which he ha,
grasped the significance ; and de
termined to try If little boldnes
and originality might not enable tn
place to make a better defense thai
at first sight seemed possible.
In the middle ages it was tn
fashion 10 arm warriors cdp-d-pie II
suits of plate armor of the mos
elaborate construction. Nothin
could be more ingenious than tn
deyice-nothing apparently NOR
invulnerable than the man so de
Tended. In process Of time, how