Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-10-13
The Bombardment On the Eve Of the IA

bardment, o .'iniernal fire. as Prince
Gortschakoif ,siis il, which was opened
Oh SebastopoI for three days previous TO
the grand assault, We take from the cor
respondent Of the London Times ofIhe
21st Sept.
ASPECT OF THE BATTERIES AT THE DAWN
OF MORNING.
Scoas!opo! Sept. 5.-At darn on the
morning Of the 9th OF September the
French opened fire. The air was pure
and light, and gentle breeze from the
South east, which continued all day, drif.
ted over the steppe, aud blew gently INTO
Sesastopoi. The sun shone sereutjy
through the yapors OF early morning, and
wrraths OF snowy clouds; on long lines Of
white houses inside those rugged drfen-
ces OF earth and eabonade, which have
SO long kept our armies gazing in vain on
this 'ausust city" The ships lay floating
on the waters OF the roads which was
smooth as mirror and, like 1t reflected
| ,hvm; outside our own fleet and that o.!
the French equally inactive, and not quite
SO useful to US, we reposing E. ON Kazauch
to Constantine as idly as though they were
painted upon painted ocean"
II one Of the few persons who were in
the secret of the opening Of tie French
batteries had been on Cathcatts bill on
the morning of the 9th be ould have be.
held then, just ere halt past o'clock, the
whole OF TINS scene marked out in keen
detail III the clear morning air. The mrl,
in our trenches eau be seen sitting down
| heb fr, irrli, AN
the rear OF the parapets. Small trains Of
animals and files Of men are passing over
the ground between the trenches aud the
camp, and the only smoke that catches the
| eye Arises IRON the kettles Of the suidiery,
o. f. Oh rite IN the advanced works.
On the left, however, it can be seen that
the French trenches are crowded with
men, aad that ,heiI batteries are all mahu
ned though the men keep well oat 81
view, and the mantlets and screens are
yet down before the muzzies of some OF
their guar. The men beuealh the Paraa
pets swain Ike bees. a few grey cot
led Russians are i'll view repairing the
Ks o; the Flag staff Battery OF engs-
ged III throwing upa new work, which
promises 10 be OF considerable strength
III front of the second line OF their deeu.
ccs.
THE rLAxE OF FIRE AND THE IRON STORM.
Suddenly. along the ear!hen curtain be-
tween Nos. Z and Bastiors three jets Of
flame spring up into the air, and hurl up
as many pillars oil earth and dust. which
are warmed into ruddv hu.s by the bori.
zonts' rays OF the sun. The French kav t
exploded three ieuSasses 20 blow il. the
counie7casr, aud the serve es signal .e
their uen, la.san,ly, tiou, the %a to the
Dockyari creek there .ere to run a
stream OF fire, and feesy, curling ,ich
white smoke. as though the cath had
suddenly been rent in the ,hrocs of an
earthquake, and was vomiting forth TIE
material Of BIER volcanoes. Tue line OF
the French tfsn, hes were at once covered
as though the very clouds OF Heaven had
settled down upon them and were viii RI
ed about spiral Jets, iii isssoems, in cluster
ibg bunch III columns and ID sheets, all
commiagied, involved together by the We.
heaept flames beneath. The crash oil
such q tremendous fire must hsvs been
appalling, but the wind and the peculiar
/
.ais the sound To produce any great effect
on OUT camp; III the city for tae Sane rea-
son the uoise r.us, have heea terrific and
horrible. The iron storm tore over the
Russian lines, to.siog Up. a. ii III sport,
Jets of rssiil and du.' rendering asseader
sabions, and "sque!ch,s.,' the parape:s. or
bounding over among the s,oases and ruins
in their rear. The terrible fl.es ofiroa,
about four niles il front rushed Access the
plain, carrying death and rai. with it.
swept with lis heavy and irresistible wings
the Russian TANKS. and seaiei,ee their
ceutre to The core.
answer os THE BEsiaaED To THIS riaE AsD
sT0Ra.
1, Obey so startling, simultaneous, and
TEEN endously powerful was probably new
sr yet uttered since the eaunon iouad its
voice. The Russieuo seemed 81. while
utterly pNaiyzed. Their ba:t cries were
not manned with strength enough 10 ena-
bic theu, 80 .-spiy to such an evese piping
aoa clash.ng fire; but The stf.ncd, leap,
ing 10 their hul with astounding energy,
rapidly and sire 'glh. kept on filling tae
ar with the h,nii9s ss0ifa,aad seht Il IN
unbtohe. fury az. II. st tneir enenies -
More tn4n 200 pie.es' OF ss'ller, Of large
calibre, admirably sers. I'd and well direc,
ted, played necessarily or the hostile iines.
In lew inonen,s gre II Ne'l ol smoke
"a war cloud rolling dau spread rom
the snus owe. Oh the len Of Sebasiepoi.
out the roar OF thu si,ot did hot cease, and
the cannoeuades now peal, ipiih N
great Irregular bursts, now dici away mo
hoarse magiufiFs, again sw elleL Up into
ianu.t Or ratified fun end to eha vi The
line like tn. fe-are OF Infantry. Stone
walls went down before the guns at on K
but The ear.hwards yawned 10 receive ',oi
aud shell alike. However, SO swift al d
lnressent was the passage OF these missiles
through, The tMbras Tres and along the tops
of The raeapets that the eneuy had to he
close, and could scarcely show themselves
in the front line of defcnees. FoI few
mlHuits, then, the French had It all their
own way, and appeared to he Gu the
polut OF sweeping away the place without
resistenc.; but after they had fired few
rounds from each Of their numerous guns,
the Russian altille.ymen got TO work. aud
began to return our allies fire. They
made good practice, and fired slowly aud
with precision, as it they could not afford