Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-18


b letter from Paris, containing q very interest
Ing statement, from high and reliable authority
ofihe views Of the Emperor NAPOLEON, concern
ing the siege Of Sebasopol and the Crimean
campaign. These views were expressed in the
course Of conversation with the writer Of the
letter and even those who may not DO pre-
pared TO credit their imperial origin, will con-
cede that they arc sufficiently striking to be
worthy Of attention.
The following is the letter
Pans. July, 1865.
Public sentiment, generally, both in France
und England, is inclined to look upon the siege
Of Sebasiopol as substantially failure, and the
campaign in the Crimea as mistake.
The EMPERoR does not at all concur in this
view of the subject lie expresses his opinion
very freely in conversation with his intimate
friends, and maintains that the Allies are march,
ing steadily towards complete victory over
Russia. In one conversation with an English
officer, held in my presence the EMPEROR spoke
substantially as follows
There never has been a siege Of Scbas,o-
poll for the first step to constitute a siege is in
vestment The Russian army has been posted
in extended line between Smpheropol and Sc
"as'opoi' It's centre being movable, at one
''he concentrated on lnkermann and at another
oh paksi-seral. The right wing Of tho force
rests on Sebastopol, as the right wing of the
English troops at Waterloo rested on IIoupou-
mont.
The Anelu-French army has not been large
enough TO extend its lines so as to give face to
'"e russians, SO we have occupied an enirenched
position opposite their right wing at Sebasiopol
"D ""'e VIC nave ocen attacking, not besieg-
l%s' .n's posi-, we nave been constantly ouilanl'-
~ "e russian ieit' II there has been a
~ |''' Is '"e Ahsio-f reneh army that
"1 1e" "ese'geu'
"'""0'e"0ge me 'acfifS q the Cr"nean
~ 90 my o"" P'gje'"oh, ana CONFESS
80, ~, so''v''@ many :" me results lhc peo- [
r,s '1"'o ana H'giand want ieai oil arms,
,lanJ an",t,. 'es people Oh America would aP-
plaud another SMoLENsKI, and MosKowA No /
rance III 1918 crossed the arid sieppes and
Rn.s;, , s"U"o u Nussla' l VIII now make
~ ~ '.'.'9' "pr own wilderness 10 meet US
gu. ~. 'io"''er' lhere is not man who enters
81 ;-"1A 'na' mas nor undergone all we sui-
,.,'s :" ''o retreat 'fom Moscow There Is
No, doa;n', wa" ,,,, arrives Al re'ehop mat Is
"o' Ie'l',ia'eu whole ba'talions have been
''',, r.ou' "e russian loss according to their
Wv" e9'',,"'e rendered to The Emperor NioHo-
LAS ias' december amounted TO iieo hundred and
80 ''''a'1''a' me Allied troops at that
''"e nao not los' oHe-feHm OF that figure. am
Wv ,r". 70 pro'tac' lie struggle in the Crinea
"" r"ose 'er''s'
ga " p occasion he observed
lila. I ~, army is not recruited with IA
my me" eau be had, but not soldiers
"usS'an Pesaniry require from two TO three ;
,ia .Nei'iSe a, dril before they are fit for
'~V 'A.'Ns we nave nearly extrpaied the elite
,u" 'o,oes'-'hose which the Car has la
~" - "'""y years 10 create England and France ;
,"e .O"'iaiy' grow stronger as the struggle |
I,.nOcS ,,o ou' peasaa'ry IN few weeks become
.Iowiv S"S, ana Tue iire ofwar' which burns ]
si,h III" "'S' among our population, increases
A. Sc 1
~, ~on Iu' J., emperor em observed
would be folly to inilic, merely a wound ,