Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-27
FOREIGN ENTELIsGESCE.
GENERAL PELTSSTER'S ACCOUNT OF THE
BATTLE OF THE 18TH OF JUNE.
>, IIkNpVrAKTERS,
I5EfDKE Srp,g-,,, I,,,,, .J.N


BEtnhE SEB,sroPuI, June ~. (
Monsieur ir Mrrrchm Alter lin, ,,n.urr or the
exterior works on III" ith of Jun. r,uidIy made
arrangements for constituting them the fass of our
/ attack upon the enclosed spncr Of KaiHbclnaia We
armed then with powerful artillery: the Russian
communications and p'nt.s darnss were adan,ed for
Our ,lsc; the ground and the dispositions for the COM
bat studied in the detail: and c allied armies
divided their task. The English were 10 force the
Great Redan; and We our paIt were to carry the
Malakofr batteries, The Care"ning Rc,!nn and the
entertainments that cover this extremity of the gu
! burbs Ii is supcrlunue, Monsieur i.c Marchal TO
enhance in the eyes Of vour Exce!,nry the coise.
nurccs which the successful lSSUe5 q! such all on.
Grafton would have led 10. Since our lasi success
the attitude of the enemy md the enthusiasm of
! troops promised victory. There wis no motive for
| prOcrG>tlHaon.
| Bv agreement with Lord Raglan, on the l7th VIC
overwhelmued the place, and especially tho works
We had resolved tn carry, with crushing irs. The
enemy ccused to reply from Inc alalaHoti and
the Great Redan. II is probnh"h he wished ioSpare his
crcs and rescrve his fire. and TINT he did not suiier
go much us we supposed from the effects OF our ar
tilery.
Be that it mny, the superiority Of our cannon oon-
irmed us in the project cf attacking on the 18Th OF
June: and during the preceding night We made NIL
the arrangements necessary luf eifectng our general
movement by break Of day.
| Three divisions We're 10 take part III the combat
! the divisions Of MayrGn and Biuaet, Of :he second
corps; the division of D'Au"marre Of the lirst the
!
| The division Of Mayrau had the right "t the At
! iucks, and was 10 carry The entertainments that
extend from 'hc battery of the point 10 tb. Cdreen
| ln- Re'lnn. Brunet's division 20 turn the Maln.
k"tf on the right. D'Au,umn.rs division TO ma
nruvre Oh tho left, i'll order 10 carry h, llnrortan
| work.
General Mayran's mission WIS difficult. II7 first
| brigade, commanded by Col Saurln, Of the 3i Regi
mcnt ut Zousves, was tD ssur from the CarGen;ng
Bay ravnc, at the spo, where the squctuct is to pro-
coed along the left slope OF the raTnc By drfng n:
much Us possible from the fire Of the cmrinys lincs,
and TO turn by the gorge the battery OF the point
The second brigade, under tbs orders oi General!
Dc Failly 10 erdeavor get or the right oi the
Carcening Redan. Ii was supplied with al the means
| for scaling.
The special reserve Of this division consisted Of
two battaons of tho lst Regiment Of the Nultigcurs
of tho Guard. All these troops stationed at an
! early hour nj their posts.
Brunct's division had Of is brigades i'll front
| and to tho right of the Brancion Red"ubt Green
Man.eon,) the other in tho parallel to the rear
and the right OF this re,,oubt.
An analogous disposition had been made Tor
DAutemnrrcs division; the Brigade Of Noel in front
and to the left OF the Branron RGdonbt the brigade
| of Breton in the parallel behind.
Two batteries of artillery, capable Of being worked
| q la JricOic were placed behind !e B:nnclon Re-
doubt SO rs to be brought bear the cnemys po-
| sitinn if we succeeded in taking them
| The division of the imperial Guard forming a
general for the three attacks wus conccntra-
| ted behind the Victoria Redouht.
| had chosen for my post the Lancaster Battery,
and it was thence was to give the signal, 10y means
of star rockets, for the general movement. Notwltil-
standing prent difficulties in tho ground nolwitt-
standing the obstacles accumulated by the enemy,
and although the Rus,ias decidedly informed Of our
nr,.c,s yr. on their ,ruard and ready To repel the
assault may be permitted 70 believe that the Mt
,ark cnuLd have been general and instantaneous along
the whole extent OF tho line, if there had been sud-
| ,.nn.ss and unity of aclion in the efforts Of our
hr,v troon. the object would have been attained
TnGnrtunni,y. ,uch wns not the case and an incon-
cciyub. fatality caused our tnilurc.
Iwas still more than lOGO metres from the spot
-vhpr. was To give the signal, when brisk fusadc,
MINGLED with grape elot told me thar the action had
been seriously comira;ccd towards The right. In
fact shortly before % CLOCK, cncrnl h"Erah !h"ush'
he saw my signal III n Onin3 win lts hhhinS iuse
that had been fired OF from the BrHEciIion rcdouDt-
Ir was informed, but to no PURPOSE o Ills ihis'aEe
This brave and unfortunate general gave the ordcr
to commence the attack. The columns OF Snury anS
De Fauily dashed iUrwnsi ut once. lhe hrst rush
was magnificent; bu. hardly ni! these :cHis ot col
u,nns advanced when they were assaulted by shower
If bnlls nnd grape This overwhelming grape cane
not merely from the works we wanted 10 carry bu'
from the enemys steamers also, winch arrived WIN
full steam on. and inapruvr"u win c1ual Gonu .''
some damage on them. This prodigous fire arrested
the efforts OF our troops. II brchme imPoss'oie io'
soldiers ~ mafch forward put not one hu'e s'n
gle step III retreat III was ticn mat ''e' hiayIai
twice hit already, struck down ny Erape-sllot
and compelled 10 give up the command OF his divi
sion.
All this WAS the work OF n moment, and Cen May
ran had been alreany carf'eu Oh t'r nIiu :"
when gave the signal from the spot had reached
from the Lancaster battery. The other troops thel
engaged in order 10 support the premature movement
Of the division on the right; lh'' V.iant oIs!',"I
d;s"nItcd Tor MI instant ~ 'ne Jos" o ,'7 :, rh
lied promptly To the voice ci Gen. DE Faiiy. ihe
troops engaged supported by the ID battalion Of inc tn.
g5,h regiment of the line. uid one oaei!on VI tn
Noltigucrs of the Guard, Gnier me orIeIs ot @ ..o
the General placed them, and maintained Their grouh1
with lntrcpGy. In the ,neanIin" ben: ln'Grlncu
OF their situation, which might become cFl,'ca',
orders to Gen. ;egnault dc SAINT jean A,gsy ~
send four batao- OF tue n%6S m ,hs succor Of thi.