Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-10
sebastoRol Eight Years AftgE the Siege.

Having lately returned from fortnights visit to
the Crmea, it may possibly interest some OF your read
ers to hear how found Sebasopol and its neighhor
hood looking in 1863 One is at once struck with the
desolaton that prevails each side OF tee harb
There are, ndeed a few guns mounted On Fort Con-
santine and the Russian ensign waves it, but the
other forts the Orth side crumbillg TO pleces
and not gun soldier is visible along the whole
raEce of tht formidable works At the entrance
OF the har5or the few wormeaen hunks lately raised
by Col. Gowen and off South Bay lies the AdniraPs
steam yacht, whilst few coasters are laden with shot
ane broken shell, the TeLqMs Danaum OF 1854-55, 81
the further extremity and these the Representatives
of the Russian feet in the Black Sea in 1863. Land
ing at the quay, where nowalo Russian Official acco5ts
the suspicious stranger, walk OF t"o hundred yards
leads to the hotel, kept by one Ill. Wilzel, formerly
heaG waiter Of the clubhouse, the ruins OF which
Immediately adjoining
Of all the British cemeteries We visited, we scarcely
fouLd that had received any injury beyond the
avodabe decay which eight Crimean winters must
bring with theLl. Around each enclosure, small or
large low solid walls have been built and kept il
good repair. On Cathcarts Hill, though the gcass has
grown many Of the fat tomhstones, only Ioiced
Que headstone that had been injured it which
marked the grave OF Colonel Of the 53tu regiment
and on inquiry <sound that it blown down in
gale last winter. II the adjoining cemeteries, where
some hundreds f our brave soldiers rest it crafty
ing to see that the round shot Thca eight or nine
years ago l.iendly hand placed border to his
comrades grave remains undsturbed. W bat has been
said of Cahcarts Hill applies equally to the graves OF
the Light Division. and, fact ali the large encle
sures. Wild flowers spring up luz0rlanty above them
ALL and there is no appearance OF any Intrusion either
of man or beast.
Gen. Pelissier's Headquarters and Lord Rlglans
houses inhabited by artars who have taken great
pride IN preserving everything that tells or their depart
ed glory. The huts still surroun0L Lord Rag an'3 quar-
tiers which sheltered his staff small table in the
room where be died records the tact. K adikoi and
Balaclava as quiet the grave, SOM few small
boats lying idle il the harbor, our quay rotlng to
pieces, and our huts occupied by returning Far
tars whose on occupation seems to be fishing tor the
treasure rove the sad moment les of the awful gale OF
| November IA, 1854. A bag full of sovereigns was
fshed up few days before our arrival The Fl Id Of
Balaclava is dotted with vineyards, and is by no
means good galloping ground in 63 All batteries
remain much as we left them. The trenches can be
traced for miles.
They have fallen in, as might be expected, but every
position IS recognizable at a glance. lnkerman's
heights thickly severed with brush wood though tie
batteries easily discerned, and the camps also
well distinguished, though the grass has grown over the
paved streets that intersected the lines. The Redan
monument is in disgraceful state; the inscription
has been almost entirely ebiterated. Some vandas
have cut their it, and evan large pieces out
OF 1t for keepsakes, and the wall round it is broken
down in several places This Redan itself is unaitered
in general appearance, though gradually crumbing in
to the ditch, and vineyards quietly springng up
it's The MalaEof remains g mass Of ruin IN
fact nothing has been done since the to alter the
appearance of the town, save TIE rebuilding of a lire
OF barracks near the docks whre the present garrison
consisting OF one BATTALION is quartered.
Ii possible the desoation is more apparent On the
North than on the South side You can traverse the
whole line OF Notifications and with neither SOL
der nor gun the ramparts falling into their esse
the walls have sunk though the general appearance is
that of deserton rather than destruction There are
said to be three thousand inhabitants now in Sebasto
pol; we scarcely met thirty-London Morning Post