Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-04-27

The arrival of the Simos from Constanti-
nople at Marselles confirms II statement
which had been in circulation for the last AZ
hours, that skirmish or engagement gilmore
than ordinary Importance had been fought
under the walls of Sebastopol on the night of
the 22d of March. General Canrobert's last
preceding despatch, published by the French
government, mentioned that he was endeaTor-
ing to advance by regular approaches against
the fortified Mamelon now occupied by the
Russians in front of the Malakhoff Tower
and that repeated, though unsuccessful at
tempts had been made by the enemy to in
terrupt these works. The Malakhof' Tower
and tho redoubts which now protect it, have
all sprung into existence under the eyes Of
the besieging army and the interest Of tn.
siege turns at the present moment on the fate
ola single position, which at the time of our
earlier operations presented no serious OBJ
stacle to our engineers No sooner, however
had the superior Importance ofthe Malakhof
Tower been ascertained, and works directed
against it, than the Russians contrived with
great boldness and skill to take fresh ground,
on which they have hjthe-' r listed the at
Tie T,ntr hand felt that their honor was ~
cerned in the destruction of work which
had foied their previous efforts and the
| task of reducing it, remained Mt their de-
sire, chiefly in their own hands 1t seems
| however, that on the ODD of March, the Rus
slams thought it practicable to def,at this
attempt by vigorous sortie, and an engage.
ment ensued in which some portion Of oul
troops must have taken part since we have
unhappiIy to record the loss of officers of the
34th, the 9TH and 9th British regiments
The loss of the French is stated tc be 600
and, according to the dispatch prined by tn,
Monitew yesterday, that of the Russians wal
about 1000 in killed and wounded. We
not, however, at present informed Of any po
sitivo result OF this engagement or the nu
| meruus S.,Irui>,p> which ar VI nit.iiy &c
currencc.
Great valor and enterprise haze been show
on both sides, but II is impossible not 10 idmen
nth more than ordinary regret he loss ofme,
killed IN a norturai ARRAY toNo0ed yno othe
consequence than the r,puLse IF the enemy
We, the beseigcrs, are still cndeavoring t
prevent the approaches and resist the attack
OF the bcsiegcd and, although every foot q
ground is ficrcely disputed, the lines of tn
enemy are gaining on our ntrenchmenis, in
stead of our gaining on the outworks Of tn
town.
The number of guns now in position in gu
batteries is so large, and the stores OF ammu
milton ready to open the FIRE upon ScOastoro
ouired at aii bnmr. - very lareG lore Is re
preparations from the sallies of tn, enemy
In fact Our own siege material is now one {
the membranes which clog the operation
of the allied armies, and before any othe
course of action can be attempted the engi
neers must have tried the full effect Of thos
vast engines which they have lad at Las
directed against the place The ammunition
solid shot, hollow shot. and rockets, must b
spent, for they can neither be brought bac
into store nor left where they are The heav
iron guns will be worn out and conparatiy,
ly worthless when they have discharged thei
800 or 400 rounds each of these enorlnou
prolectiles. Should The effect Of hi, t,'e,nen
dous fire dnswer the expectations ,riich the a.
'urdnces n the engineers woulG lead IL, 10 en-
tertdin, II may be .toilotced By the fail of III
place INT at any rate the experiment nu
no'c be hrd. and re must arat the result.