Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-26
in favor of the French, who now occupy three
of the pits, and direct a sharp fusilade against
the Mamelon Round Tower from the sandbags

of the pits, and direct sharp fusilade against
| the Mamelon Round Tower from the sandbags.
| The Russian rifiemen are in one Of the pits
still two seemed to be unoccupied. The enc
my have also placed riAemen in the Mamelon,
and the new works on the right, and gun
| from Gordon's trenches, and one from the
French redoubt on the right are constantly en-
gagged in firing round shot and shell into the
| the former place throughout the day to reduce
the fire and impede the men in their works.
Our two sea service mortars fire seldom, but
surely; their range is very great. One shell
yesterday evening went far over and beyond
the Round Tower, and burst among the build
ings in the rear of it. Another burst through
the roof of one of the public buildings, and it
instantly collapsed into cloud of dust and
rubbish
More Severe Fighting.
MARCH 22-For the last halfhour--it is now
lO.45 p. ma furious fight has been raging
| all along our front. To person standing on
Cathcart's hill in front of the. 4th division, the
whole of the Russian lines are revealed in sue
cessve glimpses by bursts of red flame, and
the bright star-like flashes of musketry, twink
ling all over the black expanse between US and
the town for three or four miles in length, show
that fierce contest is going on before the
trenches of the Allies Shells, cached marked
by distinct point of fire where the fuze is
burning, describe their terrible curves in the
air, and seem to mingle with the stars, and
fiery rockets with long trails of dropping sparks,
rush like comets through the air. Above all
the pale crescent moon is shining from deep
| blue sky covered with the consultations of
Heaven. The roar Of the cannon, the Kissing
of the shells, the intermitten growl of musketry,
the wild scream Of the rockets, and the whizz-
ing of the round shot form horrid concert
The cannonade has now l.30) nearly ceased
altogether, but the musketry is very sharp and
heavy The third division and second division,
and the brigades of the light division, not on
duty are in readiness to turn out. There is now
(l2 midnight very hard fight going on in
front Of US. The generals Of division are all on
the alert. The French on our right are drum
ming and trumpeting vigorously
We know the particulars of the fight. Be
tween ii and II o'clock last night columns of
Russian infantry came suddenly upon the men
in our advanced trenches, and rushed upon
them on the right with the bayonet ere we were
quite prepared to receive them. When they
were first discerned they were close at hand,
and, on being challenged, they replied with the
universal shibboleth, "Bono Franciz." In an
other moment they we're bayonetting our men,
who had barely time to snatch their arms and
defend themselves. Taken at q great disad-
vantage, and by superior numbers, men
met the assault with undaunted courage and
drove the Russians out at the point of the bay
onet after smart fire. The Russians, pur-
sued by our shot, retired under cover of their
batteries The attack seems to have been gen
eral along the line. At half past o'clock last
night the French batteries began to shell the
town, while their rockets were poured every Eve
minutes in streams into the place. At 10 o'clock
our IN ady Of Chopu,a attach
gave notice that the Russians were assembling
in force in front of the works. The goth, 2lst,
and 57th regiments were in the trenches on the
left attack, and they were, to a certain extent,
prepared for the assault of the enemy. About
the same time the French on the right of our
right attack, which is separated from the left
attack by deep ravine, were assailed by masses
of the enemy. As our allies we're hardly pressed,
orders were given to advance the troops in a
portion Of the trenches, consisting Of part of
the light division, to their support.
On the left attack the Russians, advancing
with impetuosity through weak part Of the
defense, turned the third parallel, and took it
in reverse. They killed and wounded some Of
our men, and had advanced to the second par
allel, when our covering party and the men in
the trenches of the batteries came down upon
them and drove them over the works after a
killed and six wounded badly and three miss.
ing The 57th lost three killed, four wounded,
and eighteen missing The 2lst lost three
killed, FIVE wounded, and one missing.
Our men had been ordered out to support
the French from one part of their lines and
while they were away the Russians came up TO
the flank Of the works and took them in reverse,
so that they had to fight their way back to get
to their position. The gallant old 7th Fusiliers
had to run the gauntlet Of a large body of the
enemy, whom they drove back la fourchette
One brave young fellow, Dr. Cavendish Brown,
of the 7th, was killed; two or three musket balls
passed through his body. The 34th regiment
had an enormous force to contend against, and
as their brave Colonel Kelly was leading them
in, he was shot down and carried off by the
enemy His dead body was found outside the
trenches this morning. The 77th behaved
most gallantly, and the 9th proved themselves
worthy Of their position in the glorious old light
division.
In the midst of the fight Major Gordon, of
the Royal Engineers, displayed that cool cour.
age and presence Of mind which never forsakes
him. With little switch in his hand he en-
couraged the men to defend the trenches, and,
standing on the top of the parapet, all unarmed
as he was he hurled down stones on the Rus
slams. He was struck by ball which passed
through the lower part Of his arm, and, from
the same or from different musket at the
same time, he received bullet through the
shoulder. After an hours fight the enemy we're
driven back, but we have to deplore the loss of
the following officers killed, wounded, or mis-
sing: Colonel Kelly, 34th Regiment, killed;
Lieutenant Jardan, 9th Regiment, killed;
Captain Cavendish Brown, 7th, killed Lieut.
Wears, 9th Regiment wounded Captain Mon.
tague, Royal Engineers, missing; and Major
Gordon, Royal Engineers, wounded
MARCH 9.--Two Greek or Albanian chiefs,
in full costume, who seem to have led on the
Russians last night, we're among the killed.
The town was set on fire about a. m. this
morning in two places to wards the west
part of-at least one large house-was burning
till IL o'clock today. Lord Raglan visited Sir
s. Campbell, and afterwards went through the
trenches. The fire was very slack to-day on
both Sides This moment, IL o'clock might
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