The Sun. — 1854-10-13 (London, England)

THE LATE MARSHAL ST ARNAUD.  Lord Cowley's letter of condolence to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the lamented 'death of 'Marshal St. Arnaud, truly and gracefully expresses. the feelings which have been excited in this country by the tidings of that melancholy event. All Englishmen must entertain a deep respect for the military devotion which led the deceased. general, with a perfect knowledge of the dooin which science had pronounced,. to accept the most arduous and responsible duty which a general could be called upon to undertake. All must admire the eminent zeal' and ability with which that duty was executed ; and it is universally regretted that it has not been given to him to share in the consummation of the glorious enterprise in the earlier stages of which he performed so high and important a part. In the career of General Canrobert, however, we confidently expect to see the same generosity of feeling, the same courage, and the same strategic ability which distinguished his predecessor, and we rely with full assurance on the maintenance Of that perfect harmony of counsel and unity of action which have so conspicuously marked all the operations of the Allies, Under Marshal St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan the armies of France and England have known no other rivalry than that of emulous devotedness to the great common cause ; and though it may at first have seemed strange to the troops .of each nation to be associated with those of the other, we may be sure that a battle like that of the Alma has done the work of years in establishing solid and cordial friendships. The • prudence of the commanders assigned to the troops of each country the duties best adapted to their peculiar powers. The Zouaves, who are. described .as having climbed up precipices almost perpendicular, throwing away their knapsacks that their progress might not be impeded, and suddenly making their appearance on the heights, to the infinite surprise of the Russian General—who is reported, by the way, to have well horsewhipped the messenger by whom the unpleasant intelligence was brought —executed a task for which their distinguished agility pre-eminently qualified them. We can well believe that, to use the graphic phrase of one •of the eye-witnesses whose narratives have been published, they looked ' like ants swarming up the hill ; and it is at least certain-that, when they gained the summit, they fought, as the English General is said,to, have observed, " not like men, but like lions and tigers." The work assigned to our gallant soldiers was of a somewhat different nature, and better suited to display their characteristic merits. In the face of the murderous fire of the Russians, they advanced with as much sang froid as if they had been manoeuvring in Hyde-park, and their resistless charge swept aw ay all that resisted their provress. Marsi al St. Arnaud, it is stated, paid a visit of congratulation to the encampments of the 23d and 95th Regiments on the evening of the battle ; and the value .of the tribute thus paid to English valour must have been duly appreciated by those who knew the suffering which the slightest additional exertion occasioned to the enfeebled frame of the French Commander. "The English," says a correspondent of the Constitutionnel, "fought, so to speak, a separate battle. We do not know the details of it, but we saw them far off, ascending with regular step a glacis in which there was an entrenchment full of artillery. Never was the contrast between this advance and the impetuosity of the French more strongly marked. But the two armies are enchanted with each other. In the evening, the field of battle was covered with sailors from the fleets, and they displayed almost childish joy."