The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-11-10
Capture of sebnstopol.

The capture Of sebastopol is producing its
beneficial RESETS in a variety Of forms, and in
none more gratifying than that which concerns
the relief experienced by our gallant troops in
the Crimea. The operations in which they
have been so long engaged have been trying in
the extreme. The duty was not only in itself
severe, but its very monotony increased its
severity. 1t is true that there was no rapid
succession of battles, no toilsome marching or
countermarching, and of late no suffering for
want of supplies. We have explained, indeed,
on more than one occasion, the advantages re-
sultlng from the position of the territory on
which the contest was carried on. Our SOL
diers were carried by steam to the very scene
Of action, and landed without trouble or fatigue
within six miles of the city against which op-
erations were directed. Nevertheless, notwith-
standing these favorable circumstances, the de-
mand upon til cir endurance was very great.
The constant duty in the trenches, besides at.
fecting the general health of the men, produced
q very considerable number of casualties, and
the campaign, in fact, was resolved into the
perpetual prosecution of one of the most ardu-
Gus duties of warfare. The very want Of
change was dispiriting, and the work of the
army, it it was free from some of the sufTerings
contingent on a general campaign, wasdeprived
also OF the enlivening incidents which such on
~erations include.
The comparative effects of various circum-
stances upon the health of the army NAV be
observed in some official returns made bv DIR.
Hall, the principal medical officer in the Cri-
mea, which appeared in some dispatches from
General Simpson, recently published. These
returns comprised the reports of three success
sive weeks, including that in which the attack
was made upon the Redan, and We learn the
number of admissions to the hosnitals as well
as the deaths in those establishments during tho
periods specified. In the first week, ending the
18th Of September, the admissions were 3 .33A
and the deaths 1l2 in the second THAT Of the
assault the admissions rose to $500 and The
deaths to 1914: while in the third they fell res
p%ectively to 1867 and LOG. If. now. We ana
lyzc the first of these numbers, it appears from
the return that 1896 Of the admissions we're dnn
to fever, 56l to diarrhna, 25 to cholera. 1Go
to dyscntery, and Asl to other diseases. 1hc
rest-702 in number-being due to wounds,
The proper casualties of war produced there.
fore altogether less than half as much invalid
ing as disease, though it should be remarked
inc results are different MS regards the immedi-
ate fatality OF the two causes. Of the 112
Ie"'is ieportGl 90, OF exactly %one-half, were
due to wounds alone, leaving only the same
number to all the other causes together.
|. Proceeding to the report of the week follow
ing, which was signalizcd by the desperate
lighting at the Rcdan, VIC find that the admis.
sIons from wounds rose to the height of 1865
but, on the other hand, such was the effect Of
the relief produced by the cessation of night
and trench duties, that almost every other item
IN the account exhibited q diminution. Fever
fell to $40, diarrhna to 49s, cholera to q, and
dysentery to l39, the other diseases being 52s.
oat OF an aggregate Of l94 deaths. $50 are due
=" wounds. IN the third wcck-tlmL ending on
III" 22d-tho total admissions from diseases of