Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-24
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/ WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
BY THE SIEGE THUS FAR.
So rapid has been the course Of
events that the importance Of the
previous siege of Silstria and Boz
marsund is overlooked, and their
memory lost in the all-absorblng in
terest which now attaches TO the
siege of Sebas.opol. Nor is this to
be wondered at for whether we
regard 1t in political point of view,
or merely for the scientific results
that have already been obtained, it
is unsurpassed in interest by any
siege in modern times.
The two technical questions
which Immediately present them
selves, are not even now easy of So
luton. Should the attack have
been made on the north or on the
south side Of the town or should
an assault have been attempted
when the allies first appeared before
the place
Before attempting TO answer eth
er OF these II will be necessary TO
look at the position of the place
liltlc more in detail, and to study
the deicnscs Of the place from the
Russian point of view.
THE HARnoR AND us DEFENsEs.
Ii is evident that the Russians
thought the entrance of the harbor
by far the most vulnerable point,
though it is by nature as easily de-
iensible as almost any horbor in
Europe. There are a number of
small pronontorios projecting into
II at convenient distances for bate
ries, aud not further than thou
sand yards distant from one another
across the haroor from north to
south. On these promontories the
Russians had erected a series of I'M
mense casemaied forts, mounting
guns IN two or three tiers, and with
others III barbelte on their roofs, so
that no less Than 200 guns could
be brought to bear on fleet altemp-
ting the passage, which is a greater
number than ever were brought to-
gclher for such a purpose in any
other place IN the whole world. But
owing to all the guns being in ma
sonIy classmates, the Russians SEEM
ed to have feared that the fleets of
the Allies might prove more than a
match for even these formidable
looking defences. They avoided
, the experiment by sinking portion
of their fleet so as to bar the mouth
. of the harbor, and booms and other
4 material obstacles have since been
added.
Turning from the harbor to the
d land defenseS of the place, it does
not require TO be great engineer t.
l. perceive that the most Vulnerable
point of the whole place is the high
, land on the north side of the har.
Dor. An enemy in possession OF
- these heights commands not only
, the harbor itself but also the town,
which is spread before him like the
seats of a Greek theatre, as seen
= from The stage, and he could destroy
q every building in it with ease. BY
occupying this position the beSieg-
er virtually cuts off the commune
a cation between the town and the
base from which alone relief can be
expected. 1t is, in fact, the key OF
, the whole position, and if The place
were TO be fortified at all, this was
tho spot which was fret 10 be NJ
tended 10.
A fort was in consequence erect
ed here, which as far as can be iudg-
. ed from the plans published, gives
very high ide,. of the skill OF the
engineer who designed it. All ira
ditions of the Yauban school are a
bandoned in its design, and it is al
so considerably in advance of the
so-called Prussian trace. 1t is, III
fact, as nearly a circular fort as any
building can be, where the parapets
. /. are placed directly upon the repet
II menus, and parallel to them, aud
where all the masonry is hanked by
grazing fire. The designer evi
: denlly aimed at getting a direct fire
in every direction, and avoiding on
filade as much as possible; and al
. though these objects can only b.
obtained by circular or curvilinea
forms, he went as near it as can b,
done with straight lines still h'
!, felt he could not escape a Sigh
:. dead angle in front of each of hi
= four bastions and he sought t
remedy this by placing large case
mated barrack in the rear of each
so as to have a direct fire over tn
salient angle in that direction, il
which it was otherwise deficient
: Throwing back the earthern para
pet, and rendering it independent @
the masonry, would have efecle
this object far more easily as we
= as more efiectually.
!" The town, properly so called, lie
se entirely OH the south side of III