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986 THE LEADER. [Saturday,
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THE WAR
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SEBASTOPOL. Accounts have reached Englan...
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On the evening of the 3rd October the fo...
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Detailed accounts full of interest aro n...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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986 The Leader. [Saturday,
986 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
The War
THE WAR
Sebastopol. Accounts Have Reached Englan...
SEBASTOPOL . Accounts have reached England from the Crimea down to the 3 rd of October . It appears by the operations of tlie allied army , that the campaign is treated with due seriousness , and that the preparations for the siege of Sebastopol are combined with a proper care for resisting any attempts of the Russian forces to relieve the place . By the assistance of marines ! , seamen , and guns from the fleet , a sufficient force will be found for carrying on the immediate business of the siege , while an allied army of between CO , O 0 O and 70 , 000 men , happily supported by at least 6000 cavalry , will be disposable for
opposing any attack on their entrenchments , of , if necessary , for meeting the enemy in the Held . It would seem as if the quiet attitude of the allied troops was intended to coax the Russians , wlien they have got together all their boasted reinforcements , into a movement in force , which would end in a pitched battle , and which need not in the least interfere with the operations at SebastopoL A victory of that kind -would be more decisive than that of Alma , would hasten the fall of Sebastopol , and probably end in the driving the Russians out of the Crimea . The narrative of events which have occurred since last week we . supply . from various ' sources .
On the 28 th of September the Second , Third , and Fourth Divisions of the army were ordered at once to move up to the heights about Sevastopol , where they encamped , the First Division , remaining at Kadikoi , behind the port of Balaklava , for the protection of that important post , -while the Light Division rested on the heights above the harbour , which it had occupied before the surrender of the fort . At the desire of General Brown , however , the Light Division also moved forward on -the . following ' day , and . now occupies a position in the line of the besieging army . The Engineers and Artilleryproceeded at once to land the siege-train , and on the 29 th some of the guns were already dragged up the heights , ' and temporarily placed in a field about one mile in the rear of the position occupied by the troops . From , this elevated encampment , which was occupied by our troops without any opposition on the part of the
enemy , a view may be obtained of the -whole port of Sevastopol , with , its hafbours , arsenals , ships , and forts lying within a circle of three or four miles , at the feet of the vast armament -wbich already threatens the devoted city . In the military harbour the Russians had moored a three-decker so as to direct its fire up the ravine -which descends to the arsenal and the docks . They were also busily engaged in throwing- up works of earth round the south of the town , which sufficiently denotes the absence of any regular line of fortifications or bastions impassable by an enemy until a breach has been made by artillery . On the east of the town , howe-ver , and consequently immediately in front of the British lines , a strong horse-shoe redoubt has been constructed , which we do not find marked in any of the maps now before us , and this will be the point against which our attack must first be directed .
The Duke of Cambridge's division , consisting of the Guards and Highland Brigade , remained in the rear of the army near Balaklava until the 2 nd of October , in order to cover the baso of operations from the possibility of an attack . Meanwhile , the roads and tracks through the hilly country south of KhutOT Mackenzie , by which the allied armies made their flank march on Balaklara , have been broken up and put into a state of defence by tho British forces . The right flank of the army is effectually covered by tho defile leading into tho valley of tho Tchornnya , by that stream , and by tho marshy ground about itj and so satisfied was Lord Raglam on the 1 st of October of tho strength of this position , that ho caused tho First Division to advance to tho right of the army , and to tako up tho position it will occupy during the siege .
Tho Valley of Inkcrman is a , deep rawno about ono mile in breadth , formed by the stream of tho Tchornaya before it falls into tho western extremity of Sobastopol harbour ; this valley is , in fact , tho continuation of tho deep inlet by which tho harbour itself ifl formed . On tho eastern sitlo of this -valley tho ruins of Inlcorman still retain traces of tho fortifications oroctod by tho G rooks or tho Qonoeso on this position ; and , for tho dofonco of Sebastopol against on attack by land , theao lioightn ought to have boon crowned with strong battcrios , which would Imvo rendered tho place almost impregnable , sinco thoy would luivo onlUiided the whole position now oucupiud
by tint Ixtaiugiug unnioH . Thin precaution appcara , however , to have boon Jiogleotod . Along tho course of tho vnlloy , mid parallel with tho ( stream of tho Tcbunmyn , runrt the uquoduot which HUppliort ( ho doc 1 cm anil purl of tho town with IYohIi water ; and wnlmifilly < l <> tho rocks rirto ovur tho ruviuu on tho \ vontern » id <> , I hut , on turning towards tho harbour , Uun uiiuoduct in curried through a luiuu'l iu tho frooHtoiH ) rook ! $ (>() ynrdu i « i length . Hathor moro than a niilo to tho nouth of thin tuunol , and upon a height , which rlnon ulmunt , perpendicularly ahovo tho valley , tho Hi-mL division of tho Hritluli army him taken up it » position . II forma , tlioroforo , tho oxtroma right of tho whole ulllixl furco » , mill it i » protocted by a st ««»
wall of rock , which is inaccessible to the enemy . We presume that the ground thus occupied is beyond the range of any guns which the Russians might be able to mount on the opposite side of the valley , which is still for the present in their possession . The French army occupies the left of our position , and extends to the coast immediately south of Sebastopol , where the deep and navigable bays offer the greatest facilities for landing the siege-train and the stores of our allies ; some delay has , nevertheless , taken place in this operation . On the 3 rd no regular attack had begun on any part of the place , but the booming of heavy guns from the forts of Sebastopol sounded like the prelude to the tremendous struggle -which was about to commence , and showed that the enemy was resolved and prepared to offer a strenuous defence of the place on every side .
On The Evening Of The 3rd October The Fo...
On the evening of the 3 rd October the following order of the day regulating the commencement of the siege was issued . The names of the regiments supplying the first detachments at work were not ascertained : —
OEDERS TO THE ARMY BEPO 3 JE COMMENCING SIEGE OPERATIONS . " The trenches will be opened this evening against Sebastopol ; a working- party , consisting of —— , furnished by the -, will be marched to the engineers ' d < £ p 6 t at — p . m ., where they -will receive tools and directions from the engineers' officers and sappeFS , who will guide them to the works ; they will be without arcns and accoutrements . The guard for the protection of the working and ground -will consist of - —< -, furnished by — , and will parade in their cariip at : — p . m ^ , be conducted to their positions , posted , and receive instructions from staff officers who will he assembled for the purpose . ¦' . ¦ ¦ - ¦ "'All the movements of tlie parties must be , if possible , kept out of view of the place .-
" After moving from their last place of assembly , which will be after dark , the utmost silence must be preserved , and the least possible noise of any kind > made . The working parties -will be arranged in proper order by the engineers , but will not commence work till ordered , after which it must be carried , on with the greatest energy . " The engineers will be charged with the arrangements , but the officers of tlie troops must be responsible for the maintenance of order and attention to the directions
given by the engineers , and for the amount of work done ; on diligence and regular conduct of the working parties will depend more rapid and complete success of the enterprise . The working parties must not quit the works on slight alarms . If the enemy make a sortie , the guard will advance and drive them in , and before they reach the work , if possible ; should the working party be absolutely obliged to retire , they will take their tools with them , and reform a short distance 5 n rear to return to the work when the sortie is repulsed .
" 1 he guard will be posted in rear of the working party , and near to it , if possible , under cover from the fire of the place ; if not , they must lie down in order of battle , with accoutrements on , and each man with his firelock close by him—one party , not less than one-third of the forces absolutely on the alert all through the night , taking it alternately , ready for an immediate rush on the enemy . "A sortie is out and on the works in a -very short time , and therefore the guard must be in 3 mmediate readiness to attack it without hesitation ; nothing ia so easily defeated aa a sortie If charged without delay . " After the repulse of any sortie , tho guard will return under cover as soon as possible , and resume their position .
" All working parties aad guards will bo composed of entire regiments , or parts , and not of detachments made up of different corps . "
Detailed Accounts Full Of Interest Aro N...
Detailed accounts full of interest aro not -wanting . One writer states tho following : — Before Sevastopol , Oct . 8 . Since tho hostile forcos have been fuoo to face , no time has been wasted on either side . Day and night have tho Russians laboured to strengthen tho neglected Innd fortiflcntions of tho town . Fresh redoubts have been thrown up , breast-works constructed , and tho stono towers moat exposed to our balls have nearly disappeared in the earth thrown up ugainst them . Tho enemy deflorvo tho greatest , credit for tho energy thoy have shown in tho last few days , bvit it now icmains to bo proved if thoir activity be inspired by determination or by despair . A spirit of diHiainiulution and falsehood scorns to lurk in
everything Bu » ulnn ; and In tho inner harboiir of Sobuntopol , with h « r guns olovatod to command tho plain above , Uo » a 74 gun-tthip , painted to rnseinblo a three-decker . Thin paltry nrtitteo , however laudable in a Chintmo mandarin , in certainly unworthy of u Uufirtian ndiuiml . On our Hide , at Unlaklavii , Hie grunto » t activity him novor conned t »> rolgn . Tho MtupondouH tunk of landing tho hoiivy fliogfl-fruHH ban Ikjgh concluded without accident . Forty-two tt-in <; li gtniH mid niortsir . M aro alrundy within a nillo of thu ptmUioiiH they will occupy . ' . Sixtocu otliorH , with tiixty H-2-poundorH landod fiViiu tho ulujm , follow up to-dny . Thiu night , ground will ho broken , mid probably to-morrow , or tlio May aftur , ono hunilmi and t . wonty guim will optm tlioir ' tiro upon HtibaHtupol . Much will , of course , depend upon thu maturo of the
ground where the parallel lines will be drawn , and our engineer officers describe the same as most unfavourable being rocky with little earth . Ground will be broken at 540 yards from the town . There can be little doubt that , our guns once placed in position , a breach will soon be effected , and then British bayonets will clear the Russian batteries and entrenchments , but I fear that before they can be brought efficiently to bear we shall have a heavy loss of life to deplore . That Sebastoppl will fall before six days have passed is certain . The ship guns will be worked b y sailors ; and about 600 blue jackets , landed from the Agamemnon and Sans-Pareil , encamped last night on shore . Jack anticipates with great glee his participation in the honours of the
day . Above a thousand marines—a nd magnificent fellows they are—have volunteered to storm the breach and last night they were landed and bivouacked near Balaklava . Carts and arabas charged with ammunition , shell-cases , and enormous round shot , slowlv transport their murderous loads to the rendezvous or depot of the heavy guns . The quay at Balaklava presents an exciting appearance . Strings of soldiers line the shore , passing the cannon-balls from hand to hand , as they are landed from the ships' baTges . The heavy ship 32-pounders are being swung by cranes from tie same launches , constructed at Constantinople , which landed our artillery and cavalry in Kalamita Bay . As each gun touches
the earth , fifty blue-jackets dart forward and drag it up the steep road with the noisy cheers peculiar to Jack . The gunpowder stores will be landed to-morrow , and five farm-houses on . the heights have already been destined as magazines . Owing to the fire opened by a Russian battery , rapidly erected for the especial purpose , the British second and fourth divisions retired a few hundred yards to the rear of the position they occupied . Not a sbell told , but it was properly deemed unadvisable to risk the men ' s lives with no advantage to gain . This battery might easily have been silenced , had three or four of our siege guns been brought to bear upon it , but noLa ^ shotjRiU be fired until all the cannon are in position . The
practice of the , Russians was bad , and most of the shells burst in a small quarry about fifty yards in front of the fourth - division . The range was about 1800 yards . A few round shot passed over the division , and one fell in the midst of the 68 th Kegiment ,. but no one was hurt . The men looked upon the Svhole 'firing as a spectacle got up for their especial amusement , and expressed their approbation or disapproval , according to the merits of the case . If a shell burst within twenty yards of the group , it was hailed with a universal " ISono Johnny -, " but if , on the contrary , the projectile chanced to burst in the air ( as often
occurred ) , the men appeared even disappointed . Testerday afternoon the 4 th division changed places with the 3 rd , who took the van , the regiments composing it being all armed with the Minie" rifle , whilst the 4 th still shouldered the old musket . It is expected that the ' honour of the assault will fall to the 4 th division , supported by the 3 rd . The other divisions , who havealready plucked their laurels , and right gallantly , too , at Alma , will act as reserve . Our divisions now occupy the following positions : —Nearly turning the town is the light division ; to the left arc tho 3 rd and 2 nd divisions ; slightly to the rear of the 3 rd is posted the 4 th division .
- I he first division lies at Balaklava , between winch place and the remainder of our force aro picqueted thecavalry . The strength of tho latter arm has been nintcrially increased by the arrival of the fourth , fifth , nnd sixth Dragoon regiments from Varna . Tlie passage was , unfortunately , very severe , and tho horses have suffered a great deal , and look very wretched . The men . appear in good condition , The fourth regiment , landed from tho Simla , alone lost fourteen horses . Tho French are still engaged in landing thoir gum , «¦ work which Bcoins to proceed wither slowly . Their tdiipH arc nnchored in a bny slightly to to tho north of Balaklava , near Chersonese point . It was origiimlly intended for our gallant ally to occupy the extreme
right of tho position , but this plan has since boon altered , and tho French guns will open to the left of th < s British-The Turkish division will , I imngine , form the centre . A Mr . Upton—son , I believe , of Col . Upton , the constructor of the Sebastopol inner harbour—wus taken prisoner iv day or two ago by our man . Jlo occup ied an extensive farm near tho town , and imagined hlin . soJf "'¦ liberty to remain there . Mr . Upton declined at i } TSl giving any information about Scbastopol , wtatiag I '" " wolf to bo a naturalised JElusHian subject ; but l' « w » s givon to understand that , according to Englinh law , onco an Englishman always i * n Englishman . Nothing <«
inipoi-tunoo could , howover , bo gained from him . A curiourt adventure hnpiumod a low uighln aiin ' o to two of our Sapporo . Wnndoring ; about , in tho evening , they completely lout thoir way to the < wunp , and Midtlonly found tliomnolvoH hmido S > ubnnt « ipol . A mntlml ihiillcngod them , whereupon tliu nii'ii , ]>« 'rhapn wider H" > iuiproHMon that it , wan good KiiNniun , roplU'il , •' " ' " " Johnny . " Tho coiiHoquoticu w « h Hint tin Jilnnu « 'i |!) given , nnd th « mon pimmi'd . A volley whh tlni ! v ' hmout vilhtil at , tin . ) two indlttmiot Siippon * , Iml one < 'l' •'" ' "' noon roooivod u ( myoma in tho body , niul nvk * i '"'" f ovor tho wnll into th <> tionelH'n ii * ( kiul . '' '" ' ''' ' though ulightly wouruU-d , iwiiwd . Tew mil ? nu inlJ't !
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 21, 1854, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21101854/page/2/
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