New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-23
-. ~, mankind will bo 10th to


o that the martial renown OF commander, when de-
void OF all other foundation can be rested upon inc
timely and fortunate OF closing au arm Vi o
sea But still this Prince Mentschkohs IDEA OF at oce
shutting out the invading fleets and turning his own navy
into town garrison by the short expedent OF sinking
,no sb,,,s was conception so boldly. ruthessy
formed-t WAS so simple-it well adapted 10 It's
osold eud--t was carried through with so strong
will and withal sgnaly justified by receiving
the crown Of success that II it had been imagined ana
executed By great commander the measure might have
been honestly cited bearing marks OF his genius
The Russian commander conceived that the most
pressing necessity which lay upon him was TO keep
open his communications with therest oftho Empire
He therefore resolved on leaving SebastOpOl to the
defense OF the sailors and militia, while, with the
whole of his field army, he would take mp position
on the high road of Baktchi Sera TO the interior OF
Russia. tie engaged also to hang upon the Hank OF
the Allies iu such way as TO prevent them from
uudcTtalNu2 any serious movement against the
fortress.
"There was much that polite in this plan OF op-
erations rn fine thought of abandoning sebastopol at
such mc and leaving the sailors the main deiehse
of the pa was only 70 justified by keeping always
coupled with at other part Of the plan when prOVldeo
that the ARMY thus stealing out of the fortress Shouu
operate iaby upon the flank and rear OF the ln-
vading armc, aud it will be that, although this
kofT, he did roi make haste 10 perform it,
On the ni.lt of the 9th lwhe the Allies lay en-
camped near the Bclbec the Russian army moved ont
of Sebastolo, crossed the Valley of the Tchernaya
and assembled the Mackenzie flights. 1t was
the rear guard of this force upon which Lord
Raglan 50 suddenly cane on the morning of the 9th
Prince Mcu.-cukoil at that time was himself within
few miles Of tie scene of the adventure and during
the hours which followed, his capacity for command
was decls,.ly tested. Mr.. Knglakes account OF
the position pats the strongest light both the IN
excusabe rt-uoss of the Allied march and the
supineneSs %. the Russian commander who omitted
to seize the advantage which lay open to HIM.
"From the village Of Otarkoi where Mentschlkof was
half hours OF the Princes cavalry scouts along the
road through DuvaukO would have brought them in full
sight Of the English army. At the village of Otark0
Prince Mcntschko remained great part OF the day
and az about II o'clock the morning, both he and his
army were 80 placed that those commanders who pass
much of their life sghing after the great occasion
which comes but rarely. would be likely to regard
him. i'm thar forenoon of the 2jh OF September as man
TO be kecnly cnvied.
ellis whole army, with all its train except few wag-
ons and small rcarguard, already on that part OF
the road which Is 10 tie eastward of Mackeues FARM
but at the time, part OF it was distant enough
20 be out Of his reach that il he should see reason TO
stop the march Of his advanced columns and as
sembe his army in the neghborhood of Nackenne's
Farm he would be able to do this by early hour in
the afternoon HIS troops carried bread aud his trains,
reduced for the purpose Of the march, to moderate
scale, were movIug with the rest OF the force
"NOw the English army, it VIII be remembered, began
the flank march this day, at half-past eight in
the morning; and suppOsing that Prince Ments-
chikof-who master OF the intervening country
and of ample cavalry fOrces-had been taking only
those common means for ascertainng his adversarys
movements, which, even in days not regarded as
specially critical, the customs Of war prescribe he
would have learnt, by the time we are speaking OF,
that Lord Raglan moving in force toward Mac
kenze's Fam; and only little later, If not indeed
some time before he must have to know that the
whole Allied army was following Fthe flank movement
Of the English General The orders which the Prince
might have issued. after making this discovery, would
have enabled him TO stay the march Of his army toward
Batchi ser to face about and dispose it in such
way he might think tit in tho woodland and broken
ground lying OF the paths by which the Allies had to
cross mountain He then would have had at his back
the country ravered by the great road to Bakch Serial
opening him his communications with the interior
Of Russia while. before him, he would have seen the
Allies moving painfully his front in all the helpless
ness of army broken up in trailing column with a
depth so great make it days march from the rear
20 the van and front narrow as TO consist OF one
gun and horseman-and all this defng through
forest or steep mOuntainpaths. Some Of these roads
too especially the mOuntain-road descending from
the Mackenzie flights the valley of the Tchernaya,
there would have been time break up Obstruct To
add to his advantages, the Russian army would have
had abundant water in its immediate rear while the
Allies after draining the last urbd cupfu from Macken-
zie's Farm would have been condemned TO bear the
torment Of thirst with liability to have their suerings
aggravated indefinitely by the detention. and the labor
which the necessity Of having TO combat, or prepare Tor
combat could not fail to occasion
I he rightly said nferiOrty point
onumbers any depression OccasOned by late defeat
untitled Prince MentschkOs army for operations against
the uncovered flank Of heightened string Of sodery
and wagons pursuing its difficult way through woodland
or mountain roads, for during at least some hours the
bare numbers of army thus caught in the process Of
journeying, with days march between van and rear,
would served to repress enemy assaing
its uncovered flank than the length, the mere length Of
farstretching thread avail 1t against knife and
the enterprises 10 which the occasion invited were
exactly the kind which may lie usefuly undertaken
with brave though discounted army, because they
could be carried through by the personal holiness Of
few men, and without exposing great masses 10 have
their conference tested The cODuncture such that
by reason of their effect in challenging and delaying
force TO which long delay would be stal the smallest
successes Of the assaans might be raught with great
results and IL is TO be Observed too that there
collateral advantage deriving from attacks OF this Sort
20 which the Prince might have looked for experience
has taught series Of the pettiest triumphs
down TO those which may be won over straggers
and drivers Of wagons, is Of great worth Of
restoring selfrespect and confidence to troops which
have suffered disaster.
although the Allies encountered no sort Of resist
ance IL cost Them as we saw, q painful march from
morning Omidnight and again another march the next
day the ridge which divided the Bebec from
the Tchernaya; but If Prince Mentschkoh perceving
and using the power which fortune offered him, had
welded his army as from time to time to constran the
invaders TO prepare front and gather their Of
resistance the duration Of their perous march must have
been prOpertiOnatey heightened; and they ferces
20 which dispatch life, for they abandoned,
know their old OF operations and we're travelling by