Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-10-12
VOL. XIX, NO. 46.....wHoLE NO. 1855.

a heavy fire had been kept up for
Two days. This arrangement was
,greed 10, and | have TO congratulate
our Lordship on the glorious result
OF the attack Of yesterday. which has
ended in the possession Of the town,
dockyards and public buildings, and
the destruction Of the last ships OF
the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
Three steamers alone remain, and the
capture or sinking Of these must
speedily follow. 1t was arranged
that at IL o'clock in the day the
French columns of attack were TO
leave their trenches and take poses
sion of the Malakoff aud adjacent
works. After their success had been
assured, aud they were fairly estab-
lished, the Rcdan was TO be assaulted
by the English. The BastIon, Cen
trail aud Quarantine Forts on the
left were simultaneously to be attack
ed by the French.
AT the hour appointed our Allies
quilted their trenches, entered and
carried the apparently impregnable
deieuccs OF the MalaHotl, with that
lmpeIuous yalor which characierizes
the French attack, aud, having ouce
obtained possession, they were never
dlslodged. The iri-color painted on
the parpet was the signal for the
British troops 10 advance. The
arrangements for the attack I inirus,-
ed to Lluui-General Sir Wm. Cod
rington, who carried out the details
IN concert with Lieut. General Mark
ham. | determined that the I'd aud
Light Divisions should have the honor
of The assault, from The circumstance
Of their having defended the batteries
aud approaches against the Redan
for so many months, and from the
intimate knowledge they possessed
OF The ground.
The fire of our artillery having
made as much of a breach as possible
in the salient of The kedan, de-
cided that The colums of assault
should be directed against that part,
as being less exposed To the heavy
fire by which this work is protected.
'li was arranged between Sir VIM.
Codrlngton and Lieut.. General Marx
ham that the assaulilng column OF
1000 men should be formed 10y equal
numbers of these two divIsions--the
Light Division TO lead, and that of
the second 10 follow. They.leit the
trenches al The Preconcerted signal,
aud moved across the ground, pre-
ceded 10y a covering party Of 26O
nen aud a ladder party oil $50. On
arriving at the crest OF the ditch the
ladders were placed, and the men
Immediately stormed the parpet Of
the Redan and penetrated INTO the
salient angle. A most determined
aud bloody combat was here main
tanned for nearly an hour, and al
though supported to tho utmost, aud
though the greatest bravery was dis
played, II vas found impossible to
mainialn tic position.
Your loriship will perceive by
the long aud sad list of the casualties,
with wat galldnlry aud seli-devolion
the officers nobIy placed themselves
at the head of their men during this
sanguinary conflict
| feel myself unable to express,
in adequate terms, the sense enter
tain OF The conduct aud galian,ry ex-
hlblled by the troops. though their
devotion was not rewarded 10y sue.
cess which they SO well inetltcd. To
no one are my thanks more Justly due
than To Colonel Windham, who gal
lanily headed his column of attack
and was fortunate in entering and re-
naming with his troops during the
contest. The trenches were, subse-
quent TO this attach, SO crowded with
troops that | was unable 10 organize
second assault, winch | intended
to make with lie Highlsnders, under
Lieut.. lien. Sir Collin Campbell, who
had hitherto formed the reserve, IL
DC supported by the third division
under Major General SIR William
Eyre. | therefore sent for those Off
GERS and arranged with them to renew
the attack the following morning
The Highland brigade occupied TN
advanced trenches during The night.
About O'Clock lie enemy com.
menced exploding their magazines
and Sir COIN Campbell, having Or
dered small party TO advance eau
iiousiy to examine the kedan, fouDl
the works abandoned. He did not
however, deem II necessary TO occupy
il until daylight. The evacuation o
the town by .he enemy was made
manifest during The night, and fire.
appeared III every part, accompanied
by large explosions, under the cove
OF winch the enemy succeeded IL
Withdrawing their troops TO the norll
side 10y means Of the raj, bridge re-
Gently constructed, and hich the,
af,erward disconnected and conveyes
10 The other side. Their men DIVA
were all sunk during the night. The
boIsterous weather rendered il allo
geiher impossible for the admirais I,
fulfill their intentions Of bringing lh'
broadsides OF the allied fleets to bea
upon The quarantine batteries. Al
excelIen, ctiec, was produced by tn
ami mated and we'll directed IRE o