Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-01-26

DISCRIMINATION of our army in the East and
the apparently needless loss of life immc-
diatcly arising from it, we are clad of an on
portunity of presenting the other side of tic
picture, terrible as it may he. That other
sldc-that compensation Tor this Suffering
and mnraiity-is, that ON the testimony of u
perfectly competent and impartial authority.
the siege at the last departure of the post
that is the 18th, was So far advanced as to
leave hardly IL doubt that something decisive
would son he done. We have repeatedly
been informed that an assault WAS to take
place about Christmas, bat the information
was coupled with the request that We would
say nothing to indicate the quarter or the day
Of attack.
We believe we may now say that on the
18th it WAS the general lplipf that ON or
about Christmas Day the allies would ODE.
fire from three hundred pieces. with such Il
supply Of ammunition as would enable them
to continue without stopping for lofty-cight
hours. after which they would assault both
from French and British positions with great
prospect of success. Thus the assault would
probably be made on the 2Sth. There was
some chance, indeed, of Il Russian attack in
anticipation OF ours, hut from Russian
sources we learn that nothing had occurred
up to the 10Th. On the same authority we
learn that ON the 18th the men who had got
their warm clothing were in good spirits.
and, though no reliance could be placed on II
transient CLEAN of fine weather. the health
OF the army WAS expected to improve. II
these expectations were well funded. we NAV
expect in two or three days t. hear that this
question has come to its last issue. and that
the four nations have crossed their blyonets
over the shattered walls of Schustopol.
The ships we're TO take part in the attack
Tho ht,l ,f Int n,, cAr,,1.t.1. ~
and supplied was, according to a letter, 2S.
The %storming vas to m early in the
morning after the first days cannonade
Few in the French camp seemed to have "A
doubt as to the result.
CAMP ABOVE SEBAs1oPoL, DECEMBER loru
The mountains near Simrherorol are cove
red with snow. down to II few miles from our
position, but we have had none hero vet.
was in the trenches the night before last,
and it was most bitterly cold. | had two
flannel shirts on, a waistcoat. then n pea
jacket, and my regimentul great-coat, vet il
was as much as | could do to keep warm
Inc ground "rt"n"t.iy. wac hard aud .ha
moon bright. and the Russians not firing. so
that we could keep in motion, hut if there
had been the usual mud it would have been
peristing work.
| am now. ! hope. quite over the trouble
some attack of diarrhna. and feel quite we'll
again, and if | could only get fresh meat this
work would. ! am sure, agree very we'll with
me, hut | shall soon get accustomed to the
salt meat. The men. too, thank God, are
getting round with these fine days. hut the
loss has been very great. We were i'll the
last fortnight the healthicst regiment nv far
and all the sickly time at Varnl lost hardly
any man. Since the 18th Of November up
wards of so have died. and out of the 100
men who came out in the last draught 40
nre already buried This shows more than
anything else how deadly the fatigue in the
trenches Is to those unaccustomed to il. The
9Th joined from Malta ten DAYS ago, $40
strong they have been some tinie in tho
Mediterranean now they have only $50 for
duty, and | hear they can hardly bury their
dead. This may hc ex Iggrrated, hut there is
no doubt that the British army has suff red
more tHCse last few weeks from sickness than
from the sword. Our men drag in on the
trenchse willie they can scarcely stand. and
take n pride in never Striking or casting
thcirduty ON others; they are very much to
be piticd, all of them lnnking SO thin, and
out of condition indeed. three, four. and
sometimes five nights out of bed running is
enough to kill any body. If this goes ON
through the winter, some suppose nobody
will he able to survive it they must send
out enOugi from England t. give them unoth-
CT night IN bed, and then it will not be 50
bad hut it is very wearisume trying to walk
about in slLsh for twelve hours ut i time;
indeed, the young hands cannot DO it they
sit or lie down in the wet, get cramps, and
are carried to hospital, where they die. That
is the way they have all gone. The old sui
dlers know their only chance is to keep mo-
wing about, which they do while they can
stand. We hear rumors of iron houses being
sent out to us from England. only hope it
may he true
GALLANT EXPLOIT OF ADMIRAL BRrAT.-Thc
journal du Loiret contains a letter from
Crimea, which says - Admiral Bruat
daring is proverhial in the feet. In spite Of
the fits of govt with which this officer is 50
frequently attacked, or perhaps on account OF
that atfliction, he sometimes has the idea of
such audhcious attemps as are more to be
expected from II young lieutenant who has
his promotion to gain than from AN admiral
Lately, after a severe attack Of govt, the
admiral called some of his officers into his
cabin, and said, Gentlemen, a good idea has
just occurred to met is, to 90 quietly in.
and ourselves visit the channel of Sabastopnl.
We shall 80 be able to judge for ourselves
what it's situation really is. The prornsit-
ion was ioyfully accepted, and in the middle
OF the night several Of the boats of the Char
lemngne put off and entered the channel
Inc boats went through every part Of it, and
the admiral touched with his one hand the
chain which closes the entrance of the mill
tary port. Everything was managed so
cleverly on the part of the admiral's party
that not II single iiussian sentinel WAS aware
OF their approach. But day began to break
while the boats were still far down in the
harlor and the alarm was immediately given.
\ terrible fire was then opened all along the
Qualifications of the channel. and il was under
- fearful shower of prGiectilrs o@frycrv dcscrip-
ton that the boats made their WAY out
Fortunately, not a man was wounded, through
the longboat OF the C~harlemagne was some
what damaged by the enemy . shot. This
bold attempt, so successfully executed, has
since been the principal subject Of conycrsat-
ion and praise in the feet"
a letter from tho Crimea to the Boston
Journal says.
One thing is certain, that the allies arc not
very comfortably situated. The French nr,
better than the English in this respect, for.
as | have already observed, their ideas of
food are peculiar they are more accustomed
10 n poor diet, and can he brave on Il muuldv
biscuit aud II little sour wine, whereas bee,
and porter have to do with an En.lis mans
pluck. Besides, the French are better lro-
Sided with tents and clothing and hospital
stores, Still there is mach sickness arn,ug
them as we'll is among the English, though
not to the same extent. The Crima. hoe
ahouts, is IL dreary, inhospitlhle country I
tins season and the Russians have th~oTuuIuIl
followed out the Moscow system. and rlZ d
every hamlet to the ground that could posi- v
afford shelter.
Thu great mistake the allies have mad.
(unless the mistake Of undertaking this war
Was Il greater one, J was that of not attacking
Stbastopol earlier and width a greater force
at the outset. They are now about to, 900
ON II foreign soIl, badly provided for, IN the
winter season, against l2j 900 tough natives.
either in Il co ntortahle fortress, or with their
own country behind them.
SUPPOSED ATTEMPT 70 MugDER-Wm. Ba-
con and VIM. Nutting, ufthi4 town, accom-