Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-26
signing OF tho Armistice at the Crimea--
intereslinR Scenes.


interesting Scenes.
The following letter in Presse d Orient,
dated Woronzoh, describes the spectacle wit
messed on the banks of the Tehernaya on the
l4th Of March, when the definite signature OF
armistice by the allied and Russian generals
took place. The letter says:
"The monotony of our existence has been
disturbed by long looked-for event. Yester-
day. March 18th, the armistce was signed. Up
to that time all communication had been verbal
between the two armies in the Tchernaya the
stipulations of the armistice are now written
and signed.
Yesterday, then, large French tent was
pitched at the end of the Traktir Bridge, on the
LETT bank, on our own territory. General Mar.
timprey, chief of the staff of the French army,
accompanied by the chiefs of the English and
Sandman stats, repaired thitker towards one
o'clock. Almost at the same moment the chief
of the Russian staff arrived. The interview
lasted an hour and a half and the generals
parted, interchanging cordial handshakings,
and with evident marks of mutual esteem.
/" The scene was peculiar one. The Russian
general was escorted by several platoons of
Don Cossacks, with their brilliant red uniforms
and long lances At short distance, at the
foot of the plain, a small column of infantry
and cavalry was ranged in order Of battle. On
our side detachment of Zouaves, in fine
array, was placed near the tent, around which
sentinels were posted. A large number of
officers of all divisions of the four armies had
arrived in the plain of the Tchernaya, and lite
rally covered both banks, every one in his
epaulets, and with sabre at his side. There
was a real determination between the two sides,
and
sympathies which we have so often remarked
between the French and Russians. Several
officers recognized one another, having met be-
fore in the armistices which occurred during
the siege. So gourds and bottles began to fly
from one bank to another, as bullets used to
fly little while ago. More than one fell into
the water, but the greater part reached their
destination safely.
brilliant young Russian officer, with his
arm in sling, was followed by two soldiers,
carrying heavy basket. Where are the
Zouave officers, gentlemen demanded he.
This way announced several officers of the
corps : 1t is to one of YOU was the reply,
that owe my wound, your very good healthr
and with his well arm he hurried, one after
another, three bottles Of champagne, which
we're emptied in a twinkling. The Zouaves, in
turn, sent back several bottles Two of them
were broken on the way. Keep the corks,'
was the cry, we will change them at Paris
AT Paris exclaimed the Russian officers,
amid immense applause. The champagne was
choice. The Russians sustain their reputation
for good taste. | have three of the aforesaid
corks-two ofthem bear the brand Ve Cliquot,
one that Of Lelegard DE- Co., and all three the
name of the city of Rheims. We interchanged
our names, and among our foes was nephew
of General Ludera.
upon our right, in the rear, the scene was
magnificent. To the right were seen the Fee
douchine mountains, covered with troops who
had come down en- masse from their errcamp
ments-French, English and Sardinians inter
changed. Behind us there was like spectacle
on the crest of the forfeited rampant which
commands the valley and which rises by de-
grees, by the Canrobert redoubt, till it reaches
the plains Of lnkermann. Every arm was
raised, caps were waved and immense hurrahs
flew from one bank to another. 1t was really
a moving and exciting spectacle.
add to this that several English ladies car
acoled to the end of the bridge, where their
presence was hailed with cheers and other de-
monstrations. Some words were uttered by the
charming troopers; they were not, perhaps
those of civility or good taste; they were per.
haps those of badly expressed gallantry, but
they were piquant. All heads we're raised and
every thing went off well. On the Russian
side we saw only one lady, and she was in a
caleche drawn by two horses. She was said to
be Madame Luders, wife of the commanderin
chief. The carriage advanced within the cir.
Gle reserved for the staff which accompanied
Gen. Tatchimsoff, who was commissioned to
treat with Gen. Martimprey At half past two
o'clock the interview terminated. The Russian
General remounted his horse; Gen. Martini
prey accompanied him to the end OF the bridge,
followed by numerous cortege of officers who
had accompanied him out of curiosity. They
then finally parted"