Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-10-31
From the Daily News correspondent.
The North side of Sebastopol--Its strength
and power of resistance.

I
As seen from the broad esp!anade behind the
dock yard shears, The whole northern slope appears
to be covered with retloubtS and batteries to an
extent which will render it, If defended, but little
inferior III strength to the lines the town side
which have cost MS II month siege. Without
glass, counted IL heavy earth batteries ai various
points from the neighJoThoUd of Fort Constantine
up to the inner extremity OF the harbor, one of
which especially, on the highest brow of the slope
appeared equal in extent 10 the Great Redan itself
Out of the centre OF this long and heavily armed
work rises hat may be called low tower or cir
cu!ar fort, much like the Nlalakotf before it was
reduced to level with the outer parapet; on tile
side which bears on the hatbor this inner woTA
has hve embTaSnreS; which, If It be circular, in
dicateS an armament of some IS or 20 heavy guns
assuming that fourth of its circumference NAV
be seen from where stood.
! The other works which occupy every point of
command along the whole extent of The SIone-
range from strength of five UP TO twenty guns,
and appear 10 differ little in construction from the
batteries on the south side, except in being of
seemingly more finished Workmanship About
| hall way between the crown OF the Slope and the
harhor, and in line with the long heavy battery
| TO which have referred, is very strong redonbt
which IS approached from below, and defended by
armed ziezas platforms of massive masonry Along
The base oil this work several one story build
ings, apparently storehouses, and a lew perches
lower down IS the extremity of the little creek in
which, surrounded by other Sunken craft, lies the
dismantIed steamer vladimir, side up. AT about
the same elevation from the haTbOr and some hum
dred peIches further up from Its mouth, is another
very strong redouLt, the outer face OF winch is
tirely constructed Of earth, with the embrazures
as neatly beveled in those of any battery on the
Thames or the Midway; and below it a little fur.
ther up the harbor still, is small Tartar village
| IN the neIgh6othood Of which some red tiled store
houses are ais" visible on this hamlet ale moor
ed the one masted harbor boats, OF Larges which,
with few rowing boats, constitute-if ever they
belonged to title last humble relics of the once
proud Russian fleet of the Black Sea. AWAY
again oil the ridge behind this, appears long line
OF white tents, belonging probably 10 the feu
torce which stretches from point all along the
plateau of InkeTman' TO the heights beyond the
| bridge Of Traktr. At nit the camp fires Of this
army of observation sparkle like huge glow worms
along the whole ateau slope. at little more than
nRe-shot from the outlying pckets of the French
encampmr nj TO The right OF our own Light Divi-
SION; and DUNG the day many found shot pass
eS over the ravine Of the rcheTnaya which divides
the two armies. In fact the whule of this north
eTn position seems to he of a strength which will
give us trouble in the spring, If not turned before
then by some flank movement.