The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-02


er. Strange as this may appear, it is quite the
fact. Every breach has been stopped with
mud, which is o perfect shield from the shot,
no matter how heavy they are The city is .
large one-larger than one would suppose -
the harbor very pretty. In the upper corner
we saw the Russian war ships. The inhabit-
ants of Sebastopol have nearly all moved away.
The military men continue to parade the streets
and the allied rihcmen In the lower trenches
are now SO near as to be able to pick them of
at their Convenience. The Russian sharpshoot-
ers are never asleep, and you have only to
stick your head over the trenches to have the
MIME bullets whistlng about your ears. Many
of the noble fellows engaged in the trenchee
have been killed. A few evenings since, some
men of the 5Oth regiment were surprised in
the second row of trenches by al ortie from
the Russians. About dozen were bayoneted
in their blankets.
The very heavy guns, Lancaster and others,
are nearly all in position. l have heard to-day
that 80 more are to be put up before the great
bombardment will be commenced. ih
The men work in the trenches by day and
night, mainly as q srd in the day. Covering
parties are always near at hand.
1t is firmly asserted that storming will not
be attempted, but that a complete investment
of the place will be speedily perfected. This
cannot be done without having at least one Sc
we're battle--General Liprandi's army being
stationed outside the city, and of course ready
to Alta K any ope who may seek to advance to
the north. 90. -e. - las, ae. ... ,'-s- .-
On our return from the batteries, called at
the headquarters with friend, who had bust
ness with the commander-in-chief. Lord Rag
Ian was promenading the back piazza of his
mansion. He is fat, good-natured looking
old gentleman, rather tall. In many respects,
his personal appearance reminded me of our
General Winfield Scott, though he is not, by
any means, of such giant stature as the hero
of Lundy's Lane. q.I 5.-- ....
Our reception was cordial; and his Lordship
must be called polite, as well as courageous
You know that he lost an arm at Waterloo
while serving under the Duke of Wellington
He is said to have remarked at the battle Of
Inkerman, when the French troops came to
his aid, at time of great necessity, 1.-THE
French owed me an arm and they have paid
their debt" t $50
We did not get back to Balaklava until
long after nightfall; the roads proved &c
wretched. The camp fires burned cheerily
and we were careful to keep out of the way Of
the watchful Cossacks, who are ever about
seeking whom they may devour. Iheard that
they had captured q Turk, and an English
sailor, who ventured out Of the pickets to-day.
In twinkling of an eye, they snapped upon
Johnny and Jack, lashed their hands together
and drove off at a rapid pace, dragging theil
prisoners behind them like dogs. The batter
les sent one or two shots after them, but they
were soon out of range. was disappointed
in the vigilance of the sentinels: not one cbal
lenged US in our long nights ride, and ever
when we reached Balaklava, where there is or
order that no one shall be out after six o'clock
were permitted to walk about ad hbitum
I Very different is it with the sailors who 60 or
shore, particularly if they get tpsy, (aud there
is flood OF rum in the place.; they are taker
to the guard house, kept all night, and given
from five and twenty 10 fifty lashes i'll tn
morning. Tie Provost Marshal is a very Sc
we're man, just the genius necessary to keel
order in Balaklava at the present time.
There are few Russian Prisoners in the
guard-house, mainly deserters. / went to Wis
1t them few evenings since. Mr.. Upton, ar
Eug'ishman, (son of the builder of several Of
the chef Notifications at Sebastopol, long resi-
dent near that city, and now prisoner on pa
role) kindly accompanied me as interpreter.
| The Russian inhabitants Of Balaklava vert
driven out by order of Lord Raglan, at the
time when the allied forces first entered the
village. 1t Was feared that, in compliance
with the urgent demands of their authorities
| they would set fire to the buildings, with the
hope of depriving the army of their quarters
The village may now be Said to be purely
English.
Sir Edmund Lyons, Admiral of the English
ct (vice Dundas. returned to England) ar
rived here yesterday morning in the gun boa,
Wrangler. He was accompanied by the Cap
tans Of all of the ships of the line now station
ed opposite Sebastopol. The distinguished
party proceeded to Sir Colin Campbell's
where it is said, that a council of war wa
held. The Wrang er returned this evening
but nothing has transpired as to the nature O.
the doings in council. Some say that there il
to be an immediate movement by the feet
that the ships are to enter the harbor of Sc
bastopol. The st. Jean d'Acre, one of the
st)utest of the British line of battle ships, i.
named as the pioneer in the entry. It is pre-
sumed that several vessels will be entirely des
troyed in the enterprise, as it will be impossi
bic to silence the terrible batteries prepared Il
meet them, for some hours. You have hearc
that the Russians sunk number of vessels a,
the entrance to Sebastopol harbor, severa
months since. They carefully reserved chan
mel, however, to admit of the egress Of theil
remaining ships if ever necessary. A want o
correct information as to the whereabouts O
this inlet, prevented Admiral Dundas from at
tempting to take the feet in. Admiral Ly
ons is noted for his inveterate propensity fol
going ahead. His eminent predecessor hai
scarcely started on his return to England, be
fore he had the Royal Albert try the range O
her guns upon the enemy's works. Much i.
expected from the new Admirals management
The much-talked-of wooden huts for the ar
my, nave arrived, or at least portion O
tiem' They will be speedily erected in th.
camp, and can but afford the men greater com