The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-26
A Years War.

Years War.
We present elsewhere chronological table
of the events Of the European war during the
past year. 1t will be found useful to keep for
hereafter.
AT the close Of the year 1854 the position
of the belligerents was as follows: The COM
bined armies Of England and France had lain
for some months before Sebastopol, and had
made an unsuccessful attack on the works.
Winter was upon them, and the bitter predic-
ton Of Russian general, that Generals Janu-
airy and February would settle their business,
babe fair to be accomplished. Nothing but the
remembrance of the victory at Inkermann kept
up the spirits Of the troops. Eupatoria was
held by Omer Pasha with small army of
Turks. The Russians were advancing rapidly
upon Turkey in Asia. At st. Petersburg all
was hope and confidence. In London and
Paris all was doubt and dismay. Lord Raglan
was arraigned for incompetency; Sir Charles
Napier was assailed for having accomplished
nothing in the Baltic; the whole army estab.
lishment Of England was covered with merited
abuse while in Paris, sneers at the Emperor
were freely banded. At Vienna, nothing was
talked Of but the prospect of peace which was
held out by the diplomatic conferences. Such
was the situation Of affairs at New Year, 1854.
During the first week in January the
hopes Of peace we've raised high by the
diplomatists assembled at Vienna but after
some discussion, and reference by the ENJOYS
N thpir NH 4ba for
ences broke up. Close on the heels of this dis
piriting news, Mr.. Roebuck overthrow the
Aberdeen ministry by moving his inquiry into
the conduct Of the war. At this moment things
looked gloomy enough for the Allies.
The accession of Sardinia to the alliance
was reviving symptom; and defeat of the
Russians at Eupatoria still further raised the
spirits of the Western Powers. In the begin
ming of March, the Car Nicholas died, and
was succeeded by his son Alexander. Avulgar
impression had prevailed in England and
France that the war was personal concern of
blunder was rapidly corrected by a warlike
manifesto from Alexander A new peace con-
ference, however, opened at Vienna, stimuli
taneOusly with new bombardment at Sebas-
topol and several sharp skirmishes in the
Crimea. II held nine sittings, but failing in ar
irving at any satisfactory adjustment of the
question at issue, adjourned sine die early in
April, and was finally dissolved shortly after
wards.
On the 9th Of April a new bombardment of
Sebastopol, from batteries of unexampled
weight and power, was begun; but no substan-
tial results followed. From day to day sharp
skirmishes took place, the Allies generally
lie in England and France losing patience,
General Canrobert was superseded by General
Pelissier, o soldier of INSCRIPTIONS daring and
reckless energy. The change was soon evident.
On the 23d May, the French attacked place
lames erected by the Russians outside the CEN
trail bastion, and carried it, after two nights
hard fighting. Meanwhile the English fleet
took Kertch, seized quantity Of provisions
there, blew up the Russian forts at Arabat,
destroyed 160 vessels, bombarded Genitchi,
and occupied the whole Sea Of Azoff. Within
a week, the Mamelon and the White Towers
were attacked and taken by the Allies, though
at severe cost of lifc
Flushed with success the Allies made fierce
attack on the Redan and Malakoff on the 18th
June, but this time were repulsed with enor-
nous loss. The disappointment, acting on
frame exhausted by the fatigues Of the cam.
paign, led to the death of Lord Raglan. lie
was succeeded by General Simpson, of whom
1t first the public entertained expectations
which he has never realized.
In July, another bombardment was com
nenced without effect. Large achievements
the Russian army /; and on the
spur Of the moment an unsuccessful attack was
made by Gen. Liprandi on the Allied lines near
Traktir Bridge. A few days before, the idle
leets in the Baltic had given a slender proof
Of their desire to distinguish themselves by
bombarding Sweabourg the place was destroy
ID, but the strong forts behind were not in
ured, or, indeed, attacked.
At last, on the 9Th September, The final bonn
bardment was commenced; and on the sth the
French carried the Malakofr by assault, while
the British were repulsed after gallant at
tack on the Redan. The Russians evacuated
the place in the course Of the night, after blow
ing up most OF the public buildings and setting
fire to the town in various directions
The fall of the town of Scbastopol my be
regarded as the close of the operations of the
year. Such affairs as the capture Of Kinburn
are not worth recording after such siege as
the one we have rapidly sketchcd; and though
the heroic defence OF Kars by the Turks ap-
pears to have some Importance, as eaectually
checking the Russian progress against Asiatic
Turkey, il will suffice here merely to mention
the fact.
Whatever their sympathies may be, all will
be struck by the contrast between the posi-
ton of the Allies to-day and that which they
occupied twelve months ago. Now, they have
accomplished the work they undcrtook-thc
of sebastopol; they have beaten the