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October 21, 1854.] THE LEADER. 987
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On the 3rd of October tho first division...
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J ho cholera, unhappily, still continues...
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Thu very latoHl, neeoiuUw wtata that—Tim...
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THE BALTIC. All doubts as to the cessati...
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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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Detailed Accounts Full Of Interest Aro N...
the man who had been thrown in the ditch concentrated all his energies , and dragged himself into the British camp , from whence he was conveyed to Balaklava . It appears h « was enabled , from personal experience , to give some valuable details concerning the height and breadth of the outer walls . The Preach are to occupy the hills of Cherson , which command the outworks and fortresses on the south ; the English storm the outworks and detached forts which cover the town and shipping at the end of the harbour .
As yet it seems that the north side is to remain untouched . Directly the fourth division came in sight of the fortress a tremendous fire was opened on it from shot and shell . Our men , however , were completely out of range , yet the enemy kept up their fire almost the whole day , firing some 1000 rounds of ammunition . Sir John Burgoyne , who was present , seemed delighted . He laughed , and said , " This is what I like ; they show us then- range , and waste their ammunition . " A perfect cordon has been established round three parts of the fortifications . I do not believe it is intended to extend
it further , as it would weaken our line , and expose it to much risk : in case of reinforcements coming up . As it is , we command all the three roads leading to Sebastopol—that from the south by Balaklava , and that from the north from Simpheropol—with our troops . The road from , the north-east by Eupatoria runs by the seashore , and not a wheelbarrow could pass along it unless with the consent of our fleet . The latter lias been , of invaluable service to us throughout this campaign ; in fact , without the vessels we could have done nothing . They have been firing incessantly at SebastopoL and , I am informed , have quite crippled and destroyed an important fortress which interfered with our siege operations . One of the long-range Lancaster guns has been mounted on the Arrow , and for the last few days baa been trying its range upon the fortress . Its success has exceeded the
most sanguine expectations , and there is no doubt that , had we more of them , we might , in a fortnight , destroy the whole town , shipping , and fortifications-of Sebastopol , without the loss of a man on our side . The first few shots fired by the Arrow at three miles , the gun being too elevated , the ball passed far over the whole , place . Afterwards the range was precisely taken , and for three hours shot and shell were thrown into the nearest battery until it was completely destroyed . For the last half hour of the firing it never returned a shot . But this , it
appears , is by no means the sole merit of the gun . It weakens the resources of Sevastopol still more fatally than by knocking up batteries . Under the natural belief that because their works were in range , the vessel which fired must be in range also , the Russians returned , a tremendous iire , but every shot sank in the sea at about three-quaiters of a mile distance from the Arrow . Unless there are incredible stores of ammunition in Sebastopol , such a mode of fighting must soon leave them without a shot .
From some deserters who have come over to us , and from prisoners who have been taken , it appears t h at Prince Menschikoff succeeded in effecting his escape from ScbastopoJ with 21 , 000 men ; so that our forced inarch to intercept him was , after all , ineffectual , except in so far as it cut off most of his baggage and 30 , OOOi . He has left a garrison of 30 , 000 picked troops in Sebastopol , with instructions to Bodakoff and Gortschakoff to defend it to the last stone , as he will be able to come to its relief . A coxirierwas sent on the 15 th instant , to Osten-Sacken , at , Odessa-, with orders to spare nothing , but move 30 , 000 into the Crimoa at all risks , and with all speed . But armies are not moved with a word ; and supposing the message to have reached by this date , it will be at least five weeks beforo the Odessa contingent can arrive , and even then must make such forced marches m will not leave them above 15 , 000 effective
men . In Sebiistopol they arc- evidently determined to light hard . All the sailors have left tlie ships of war to man the walla , and most of the heavy guns have boon taken to assist itv the defence of the outworks . All stores of every kind not absolutely nocossury to tho besieged are being burnt . The first parallel ia to bo commenced to-night . About 30 aiego guns have been landed , and we shall hear their music to-morrow . Each night n fresh parallel will bo opened , till within 150 yards , when tho breaching battery will bo placed . A few think that tho actual siego will last three woeks , but the majority say that tho whole will bo over in a fortnight .
October 21, 1854.] The Leader. 987
October 21 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 987
On The 3rd Of October Tho First Division...
On the 3 rd of October tho first division of Gnnrda « nd HlghlnnuortJ took up their allotted position , outsldo t , ]» o fortronB . The I'Yoneh occupy Ciipe Chorson . Thou tho fourth , third , . second , and light divi-Hioiw , diispoHod in lino , oomplctu tho iiivuHtmont of tho fortroHHon tho m > uth nido . Here tho tmopH nro uliout two thoumuul ynrds from tlio wiiIIh of tho town , but . concoalod by tho brow of tho hill under whii'h l . hov arc arranged . Wuro tlm Kunninn . s a warn of our m-iir Ne ighbourhood ( hay would givu m livtily uiivh and nights . Am it . in , tliny m-vcr voiimo throwing nfiut , ami Bhi'll ovo « ' Iho hill , lint , tho nui ^ e in mere tfiK-.-wwork , *<> thuy do not . do nuii'li damage . No one irt allowed to uw-« uml to Ilia brow of tluUiHI , um the Infant hi-in m-t-n ho iM ilr l ; , l nt , ami the troop * expound ( u the rink t . l th < i fnl ] li »( r „! , „( , j \ h „ favour , 1 iviim | i
guardhouse on the top of the hill , which can be approached under cover of some low stone walls . Prom the windows of the building I had a perfect view of the town and fortifications , which lay beneath me about threequarters of a mile distant . Only nine sail of the line remain in the harbour , five having been sunk across the entrance . The others , which are principally twodeckers , are moored stem and stern , so as perfectly to command the ground where our trenches must be opened . Fort Peter and Fort Nicholas , the large works which abut upon the sea , are almost out of range of our guns , and I think we are equally safe from their annoyance . The places where it seems our attack vrill be commenced are to the rear and north of the town , and high up the creek . Here we have opposed to us a long
redan wall , mounting some sixty or seventy guns , and crenelled between the embrasures for musketry ; and on tbe north extremity is Fort Constantine—alow , blunt , circular mass of masonry , with three tiers of guns , which I imagine will give us some trouble . This latter fort is also commanded by a stone battery of considerable strength , situated on the other side of the harbour , and called by our sailors the " Wasp , " on account of its protected situation and the length and weight of its guns , which are perpetually blazing away at any ship that strays within range . To the north , Fort Constantine is again protected by Fort Paul , and three or four ranges of batteries , covering the Quarantine Harbour . Such are a few of the fortifications which a mere glance enabled me to discover .
Fort Constantine will evidently be the chief point of attack , and to render it impregnable the enemy are using their utmost efforts . They have about 25 , 000 men at work round it and in front of the redan wall , throwing up intrenched works and stockades of the most formidable kind . As the men work day and night , before our batteries are in position the-enemy will have doubled their fortifications . While surveying their preparations yesterday evening , between 8000 and 10 , 000 fresh soldiers entered Sebastopol from . the opposite side . These were , no doubt , the detached garrisons , which have been collected from different towns in the Crimea ™ , Unless our commanders take some measures for stopping these reinforcements , we shall commence the siege to little purpose .
From what we heaT from deserters , it seems that the whole of the aristocracy , and , indeed , all the Russian population of South Crimea , have sought refuge in Sebastopol . So great is the concourse of inhabitants , that thousands sleep in the streets each night . As a preliminary operation , we have turned aside the little stream of water which supplied the town , so that the garrison must soon begin to suffer . I expect that as the eiege is pressed , the great mass of the inhabitants will be removed by the north side , and most likely ' with their escape we would not interfere , as we have no idea of starving out the fortresses , but storming them .
Most of the siege guns have been landed , but they still remain at Balaklava , and it will certainly take some days' to get them into position . Fifty heavy guns , with 1000 seamen gunners , and 10 O 0 marines , have also been landed from the fleet . If these guns are to lxj used as well as our own arid the French siege train , wo shall have upwards of 220 heavy guns attacking the place at once , exclusive Of our field artillery . Two Russian officers , one of Engineers and ono of Artillery , deserted to us this morning . Tho information tliey bring is said to be most valuable but its nature is kept a strict secret . The Vesuvius went in last night and poured five broadsides into Sebastopol beforo a shot was returned . The enemy appeared to bo quite taken up with watching the land aide , and it was some minutes bofore their batteries answered . Tho Vesuvius wns not toxiched .
Bnlakla-va is to b « general head-quarters during tho siege . The 93 rd Highlanders stay with tho Marines as rear and baggage guard . Tho 5 th Dragoons landed yesterday . They have gone out to-day with the rest of tho cavalry in pursuit of a strong forco of Cossacks which havo appeared in our roar . Tho Hcrow gun-boat Beaglo joined uh on the 80 th ult ., but has not beon ongngod yet . Doth she and tho Arrow seem to bo eflfcotivo boats , but draw 12 foot of Wfttor , which in « great deal .
Tho fortrt and gun-boats have just commencad playing nt long ball , but unless thoy run in much nearer they will do no damage .
J Ho Cholera, Unhappily, Still Continues...
J ho cholera , unhappily , still continues its ravages and aootna rather to have increased in virulence . Thoro arc two liospitnln oaUblinhod at Balakluva , and oihi of them alono contain * 2 HI cholera pationto . Several valuable ! olTic . orri huv « fallen viotiniH to tho Hoourgo , and HintMitfrit oMutm « ru Colomd llouy , of tho tiOlh ; Captain I'Voumnn , of tho J-icoU ( j royn ; and LUuitunant Grant , of tin-TIMli , Tim |{(! v , Mr . Morlcy , chaplain to tlio third division , expired » fuw duyn hiiico at Bulukluvu . Tho death nf thi . s ifxuiuplury young niiailator iu greatly lamented .
Thu Very Latohl, Neeoiuuw Wtata That—Tim...
Thu very latoHl , neeoiuUw wtata that—Tim two nrink'H won : ontabliHhctl in vxctdloiit , military JIO . sillollN . Tlio Kruneh imny -will tuko tho left in tho attadtw
from the sea to the Southern Fort . The English will take their position from the Southern Fort to Inkerman . The French army is divided into two corps . The third and fourth divisions , under General Forey , will undertake the siege ; the first and second divisions , under General Bosquet , will form the corps of observation and reserve . The English army has made analogous arrangements . These arrangements leave no doubt of the issue of the siege . Deserters say that the Russian army is demoralised . Their loss at Alma was 8000 . Up to the 10 th , nothing of importance had occurred in the Crimea . According to the Soldaten Freund , Prince Menschikoff left 20 , 000 men in Sebastopol , and intrusted the command of the army there to General Chomutoff .
_ He left on the 1 st for Perekop , - where three infantry divisions , three cavalry divisions , and eight Cossack regiments had been concentrated . On the 7 th Prince Menechikoff" left Perekop with reinforcements , and it was expected that , with the reinforcements advancing from Cherson , the Russian army would , on the 20 th , be 76 , 000 strong . The northern forts of Sebastopol , and not Batkschi * - Serai , now form the base of the Russian operations . The engineers thought that the place might be tak « h about thea 8 th . There was a report of a sortie "by the garrison , which had been vigourously repulsed .
It is also said that the French Government have received a despatch from General Canrobert , in which he says that the allies oqeupy an impregnable position , defended by 80 , 000 men and 200 guns , and tbat they could repel the attack of 200 , 000 Russians . A Vienna despatch , published by the Cologne Gazette and the Jndependance Beige , states that General Osten-Sacken has entered the Crimea at the head of 40 , 000 men , and that he was marching upon Sebastopol . As usual with Vienna despatches , no date is given , and it is not stated where these 40 , 000 men came from . If they were detached from the Russian army of Bessarabia- — and , assuming for a moment the whole story not to be a fiction , it is difficult to suppose that they can have been brought from any other quarter—the movement will greatly facilitate the offensive operations which we have been told Omar Pacha is about to commence .
- Paris , Friday Morning . The Moniteur confirms the intelligence of a sortie attempted by the garrison of Sebastopol . It says , the Charge d'Affaires of France at Constantinople , writing on the 10 th , informs the Minister of Foreign Affairs , that the captains of the steam transports just arrived from the Crimea state that the besieged had attempted a sortie against our siege works , and that they had been vigorously repulsed .
The Baltic. All Doubts As To The Cessati...
THE BALTIC . All doubts as to the cessation of operations in the Baltic , are now at an end . The large ships of the combined fleets are gradually withdrawing ; and the blockade will be maintained by steam frigates until the ice compels them to retire . Much speculation , is afloat as to whether anything more could have beon done , and if it could , why not ? It would be premature to state the shape whieli rumour takes with regard to the real agency which has caused the inactivity of tho fleets . A writer , who is evidently favourable to Sir Charles Napier , has made a statement in tho 77 / nes , ¦ which is to be taken for what it is worth . lie says : —
It is « aid that somo short time since , in consequence , perhaps , of tho disappointment which it was thought ¦ would bo folt in England and France at tho combined fleets not having effected more in tho North than tlio destruction of Bomarsund , a meoting of the Admirals , Sir Charles Napier and Paraeval Dcsah & nea , and of tho Huperior officers of tho fleets , was hold , when tho question was disoussed as to tho propriety and possibility of attoxsh ; - ing and taking HoMngfors and Swoaborg . Tho question was examined in all its bearing , and tho reports of the officers who had beon sent to toko soun < Ungn on the coast wore of course laid before this naval comnvitteo . 1 am not a-wnre of the relative proportions of those who wore in favour and thoso who woro against the attack of thoso two places 5 but it is certain that tho deoiflion of the majority waa against it , imt ] it in niHrmatl
that Sir Chnrloa Napior did not difinont from that decision . In anrfwor to thoao who considered that an ajtiiok ¦ wns both feasible and nccoBnary , it was oboorvod thi \ t , though ihoro wan lil . tlo doubt of H « lnin # f « rrt wul Hwantiorg mooting tho fata of liomnrtuinri , yot that it wait impossible for tho nlliou to koop thtwo pl /« : nrt , mid ( hnt , ¦ wham jiftur tho capt-uro thoy wara oMitfwl I" abandon thorn , a pmtoxt would lx > a ' / Rinlml lot- lh «) Kiii | ii'ror of KuHsia to iiniioiiucii aiiothur victory , ' " ' t" proclaim t . o liirt Hubjodts that tlm Kntf linh i « m « I i'Voimli worn hciit . mi out of the ( inlf ( if Finland . Other roiinoiin wcru nlli ^ irl , 1 / ut tlici 01 m I / iIJikIo Io wuw tin' jirinci | i « l . Tim miniitm of tho riroi . < ' ( ' forwiii' < l « wl to tli « KngliHh iind 1 ' ronch dovoriuiioiitH . Owing , ljowovor . to hoiiio onuao ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 21, 1854, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21101854/page/3/
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