Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-16

the day three of its guns so injured as TO
be unSeryiceable, and the rest OF the work Sc
riously damaged and tie men exposed Ac-
cordingly. the artillerymen were withdrawn,
and the battery remained silent.
FIFTH DAY-THE NEW BATTERY.
April l3th.-This morning, when our batter
les recommended, the effects Of orr assaults
were still more apparent. The fire OF the
Flagstaff was evidently slack even more mark
edly so than on the previous evening. 1t
scarcely replied one gun to the French S three
The devastating traces Of the shot were almost
apparent. Not only are the lower tier of guns
quite destroyed, but the upper seem in fair
way OF following them. Two or three of them
are already dSmountgd, and the earth of the
parapets scanned and torn that the rest of
the ordinance appear as if pointing out be-
tween loose piles of earth. The hanking bat
teries are now being fired at, apparently with
much effect. The barrlck work is also suffer
ing much, and nearly one-thrd OF its em5ra-
sures are empty. The Redan still shows
bold front. AS | have already said, this col
lossal work is at so long a range from ours
| f1250 yards) and mounts such an enormous
mass Of ordinance, that it would stand its pre-
sent battering for two three weeks TO come,
without receiving such injury as to render Ii
untenabe. But this is a matter OF no mo-
ment. The Rcdan per sc is 4 strong battery,
but unlike the Flagstaff or Matakoif, it is by
state our taking it by storm. The former
works are the keys of the enemy'S position;
when they are silcnced and captured, the Re
dan will fall of itself. it will cease to be ten
| able. A new battery was completed and open
ed this morning. The tremendous voley with
which ii commenced quite took the Russians
| by surprise.
! At the first discharge one Of their guns WAS
dismounted and another injured and their ar
tilleTy-men either ran away or concealed them
selves, as they were not to be seen. Only one
| gun was fired in reply, so that for five or ten
minutes battery had nothing to do but to
! blaze away without fear OF opposition. Alter
that time the enemy appeared to take heart,
| and several guns were fired, but it was fully
| half an hour before they made anything like
a vigorous defence. Then, indeed, the fire
they maintained showed that very mauy of the
cnbrasureS which We're supposed to be siienc-
| ed had merely had their guns withdrawn. and
those they broug forward and we'll manned
! For about hour the enemy fought with
! great determination, but from the first they
! had no chance of being able to maintain 1t
| long. Directly it seen that the Malakotf
works were determined to engage our advan-
! ced battery, one face of GordOn's battery,
! mounting ten guns and two mOrtars, was di-
! rected upon it, and the three l3 inch mortar
battery at the Gicket-houSc also threw its mis-
| silcs against the Round Tower. With these,
and with the assistance of the four lO-lnch
mort.irs near the advanced work, and several
cotorns throwing 32lb. shell, perfect hail
! was poured into our old enemy.
| AS htve said, for time it was well fought,
| hut our immense shot dismounted the guns or
cut up the eartiworSS, while the shell, drop
! ping over burst continually among its defend
| ers. Towards eight O'Clock its fire had sllck-
! ened considerably, and before nine the enemy
! for that time gave up the contest as hopeless
and such guns as could still be used werc With
! drawn from the enibrasurcs, and our batteries
! left 20 do theis worst upon the earthworSs---
During this battery fight the Mameion, as us'l-
al, revived from its state of inaction, and, tc
the astonshment OF every one, put forward
five guns and fred them continually.
SIXTH DAY-soETIE on THE FRENCH.
April Ill have only time to add line oI
two before the mail starts. Our bomhardmerI
continued the whole Of last night, with mucf
effect and this morning the guns again re
commenced. The fire of the enemy slacken:
more and more each day. There was a slight
sortie last night upon the French, who ar:
sliping mp towards the Flagstaff. 1t was in
st3ntly rcptslsed with loss of ten or twelve
kilIej ki!Iai to the Russians.
Saturday l4th, - o'clock, \. M.-Ther'
is = tremendous cann0nade on our left. Thi
Light Division Lugles are sounding close 4
land There is an awful crash ny roar from
the Russian batteries The Light Division ari
on t..e alert.
PROSPECT OF SUCCESS.
{, Ntf,