1026 
of the town, a large line-of-battle ship, probably the Twelve 
Apostles, is moored, and can be u«ed as a battery ; but there 
can be no doubt that it will be speedily destroyed by the 
fire of the English guns. The enemy have established a 
steam ferry between the town and the northern side of the 
bay, by which they can be reinforced by the troops marched 
down from the interior, or retreat when the town is no 
longer tenable. , 
Off Sebastopol, October 8. — Our operations proceed with 
rapidity. The trench was opened on the third, and by the 
6th the first parallel was finished. The works proved less 
difficult than we had expected, after our first examination of 
the spot. At first, after removing the superficial earth, we 
came upon a tufa rock, which, however, was of no great 
extent. Lost night our engineers traced the lines of a 
powerful battery of thirty-five guns. The position of this 
battery is at the extreme left, behind the Quarantine Port, and 
near a lazeretto ; it will protect the first parallel, and sustain 
the attack on the left. We hope to get it completely 
established in eight and forty hours. Work in the day is 
made difficult by the enemy, but I can tell you we make 
good use of the nights. 
The other works will commence to-morrow, that is to say, 
judging from all appearances, The left battery is likely to 
have the honour of opening the fire ; it will occupy the 
enemy, and thus protected we can continue our further 
approaches. We shall have 200 pieces of artillery. The 
Russians have also a large number of guns, aud those very 
heavy. They have fired red-hot shot, which lias done ub no 
great harm. Hitherto we have found no indications of the 
mines by which the environs of Sebastopol were intersected, 
as we were told. Any mines that they may huve made can 
hardly extend furthan that 250 metres. 
The cholera is sensibly declining. 
SORTIE ON THE TWELFTH OF OCTOBER. 
Colonel Waddy, Captain Gray, aud Lieutenant Mangles, 
50th, have been wounded by a shell. Contrary to their 
usual custom, the Russian batteries were again silent last 
night. This silence was so ominous that we fully expected a 
sortie from the fort, aud it was also rumoured that the Rus- 
sians said to be in our rear would attack Balaklava, while the 
Greeks were to aid them by setting fire to the town. The 
information on this point was so positive that the authorities 
resorted to the extreme measure of ordering the Greeks — 
men, women, aud children — to leave the town, and the order 
was rigidly earned into effect ere evening. An ex- 
ception was made in favour of the Tartar fami- 
lies, who were all permitted to remain. The Greeks 
were consoled iu their flight by the thought that 
they carried off with them a good deal' of plunder, in the 
shape of clothes which had been left with them to wash, and 
that they were allowed to take all their property with them. 
Lieutenant- Colonel Daveney is commandant of the town. 
Captain Gordon, R.E., commenced the formation of our right 
attack soon after dark. 400 men were furnished from the 
2nd aud Light Divisions on the works, and strong covering par- 
ties were sent out in front and in rear to protect them. The 
working party was divided into four companies of 100 men 
each, and they worked on during the night with such good 
will that ere morning No. 1 party had completed 160 yards ; 
No. 2, 78 yards, No. 3, 95 yards, No. 4, 30 yards — iu all 
363 yards of trench ready for conversion into batteries. These 
trenches are covered very perfectly. It was intended that a 
party of similar strength should be employed on the left and 
centre ; but, owing to one of those accidents which unavoidably 
occur in night work, the sappers and miners missed their way, 
and got in advance towards the lines of the enemy. They were 
perceived by an advanced post, which seems to have been the 
v.m i f a sortie. The Russians opened fire on them at short dis- 
tance with rifles ; and, wonderful to relate, missed them all. 
Tho flashes, however, showed our men that strong battalions 
of Russian infantry were moving silently on towards our 
works, and the alarm was given to the division in the rear. 
At 1.25 a furious cannonade was opened by the enemy on 
our lines, as they had then ascertained that we had dis- 
covered their approach. Tho Second and Light Divisions 
turned out, aud our field-guns attached to them opened fire 
on tho enemy, who were advancing under the fire of our 
batteries. Owing to some misunderst anding , the covering 
parties received orders to retire, and fell back on their lines 
— all but one company of riflemen, who maintained the 
ground with tenacity, and fired into the columns of the enemy 
with effect. The Russians pushed on field-pieces to support 
their assault. The batteries behind them were lurid with inces- 
sant flashes, and the roar of shot and shell filled the air, 
mingled with tho constant ping-pinging of rifle and musket- 
balls. All tho camps were up. The French on our left got 
under arms, and the rattle of drums and the shrill blast of 
trumpets were heard amid the roll of cannon and small arms. 
For nearly half-an-hour this din Listed, till all of a sudden a 
ringing cheer was audible on our right, rising through all 
the turmoil. It was the cheer of the 88th, as they were 
ordered to charge down the hill on their unseen enemy. It 
had its effect ; for the Russians, already pounded by our 
guns and shaken by the fire of our infantry, as well as by 
the aspect of the whole hill side lined with our battalions, 
turned and fled under the shelter of their guns. Their loss 
is u> d. known ; ours was very trifling. The sortie was com- 
pletely foiled, and not an inch of our lines was injured, while 
the four-gun battery (the main object of their attack) was 
never closely approached at all. The alarm over, every one 
returned quietly to tent, to bivouac. 
Oct. 13. — Lord Raglan has issued a severe order yesterday 
respecting some neglect he witnessed of the sick at Balaklava; 
more of this in a future letter. Sir John Burgoyne fixed 
sites yesterday for batteries which will destroy the shipping. 
They are to be mounted with four 8 and 10-inch guns, about 
1,900 yards from the vessels. The Russians' fire was very 
slack all night, aud it iB not very lively to-day up to post- 
hour. 
NEWS RECEIVED IN LONDON ON FRIDAY 
EVENING. 
(By International Telegraph.) 
We have received the following viu Vienna, from a corre- 
spondent at Constantinople : — 
“ Constantinople, Oct. 19. 
“ No news has yet been received that tho bombardment 
began on the 17th, a« was proposed. 
“ Lord Raglan was requested to spare one part of the 
town, where the women and children would be sent. He 
replied that could not be, but that they might leave the 
town unhurt. 
“ The British now occupy part of the northern shore of 
the buy, and their guns command the harbour.” 
THE FIELD. 
BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL. 
The correspondence from the seat of war all proves that 
the allied armies before Sebastopol have had to surmount 
greater obstacles than had been generally foreseen in the 
preliminary operations of the siege, and their tedious but 
necessary preparations have occupied about twenty days 
from the arrival of the forces at Balaklava to the opening of 
the fire of the besieging batteries. The allied commanders 
have, however, judged — and, no doubt, rightly — that it would 
be rash and imprudent to attempt a sudden assault against 
a fortress of such strength uud extent, for the chance of a 
failure in such an attack could not but produce a most un- 
favourable effect upon the army, and even its success would 
probably be purchased by enormous losses. The time 
spent by the allies in these preliminary operations has, 
therefore, been especially devoted to secure the success of 
their enterprise, and to spare the lives of the troops ; and, 
if these two objects are accomplished, we shall have no reason 
to complain of the result. The British batteries were ready, 
though not unmasked, on tho 13th, but the French, who 
had not begun to land their siege-train quite so soon as our 
forces, were about two days in arrear. The principal works 
were, however, finished by both armies on the 1 5th ; and 
authentic intelligence has been received that on the 17th a 
vigorous attack was made on the place, supported by a 
portion of the fleet, against the marine batteries, in which it 
is said that 500 Russians, including an admiral in the impe- 
rial service, were killed. 
{By Submarine and European Telegraph.) 
Vienna, Wednesday Morning, 10 o’clock. 
The following is official Russian news, received via War- 
saw, of the 23rd : — “ Sebastopol , Oct. 16. 
“ The garrison makes frequent Borties at night ; not a 
single shell has yet fallen into the town itself.” 
“ Warsaw, Oct. 24. 
“During the whole of the 17th Sebastopol was bombarded 
by sea and land. The Russians also kept up a hot fire. 
“ The Russian fortificatious have suffered but little. 
“ Five hundred Russians were killed or wounded, ami 
Admiral Komileff was among the killed." 
Vienna, Wednesday, 8 a.m. 
Advices from Constantinople state that there is no truth 
in the report that Eupatoria has been retaken by the 
Russians. 
A rumour prevailed in the camp on the 11th that the 
Simferopol army would attack it, and that the Greeks in 
Balaklava would, at the same time, set fire to the town. 
All the Greeks were therefore forced to quit Balaklava. 
A sortie was made by the Russians on the 11th, but they 
were repulsed. 
We read in a Constantinople letter of the 10th, in a Vienna 
newspaper: — "General Canrobert acts in perfect unison in all 
things with Lord Raglan. The two commanders have made 
the last summonses to Sebastopol to yield, so as to prevent 
the effusion of blood. A messenger has, besides, been seut 
with a flag of truce to the commander of the fortress, with 
the proposition to send away the women, children, old men, 
and sick, and to hoist a flag on the hospital, in order that it 
may be spared. We are assured that the allied commanders 
have resolved to respect the town itself, but to bombard the 
forts and batteries, the public establishments, and those of 
the Crown. The last lines of circumvallatiou approach so 
near the town of Sebastopol, that the allies who occupy the 
heights can see the inhabitants walking about.” 
Paris, Wednesday. 
A despatch from St. Petersburg of the 24th announces 
that the allies opened their fire on the 17th, as well from the 
land batteries as from the fleets. 
On the 18th the bombardment was continued from the 
land batteries alone. 
Two great difficulties are spokeu of as likely to delay suc- 
cess or to cause it to be more dearly purchased. It is im- 
possible to attack the place by regular siege operations, for 
the earth on every side of Sebastopol is found to be less 
than a foot in depth ; in some places the solid rock is only 
four inches below the surface. This quite disposes of the 
question of parallels, zigzags, and all the engineering tech- 
nicalities which come under the name of regular approaches. 
It only remains to batter the wall ami forts at a long range, 
and then to cany the place by assault. 
LETTERS ABOUT THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. 
Daily Communications with the East. — The Pai’is 
correspondent of the Independence Beige, writes to that 
journal that the French, English, and Turkish authorities 
at Constantinople have combined to organise a service which 
will supply a daily communication between the Crimea and 
the capitals of England and France. A steamer, it is said, 
will be dispatched day by day, as a rule, from Sebastopol, 
Balaklava, or some other convenient port to Constantinople, 
whence the intelligence it conveys will be forwarded by 
courier to Bucharest, and thence further to Cronstadt or 
Hermanustadt, both in Transylvania, aud the nearest re- 
spective termini of the Austrian telegraphic line. In tbe 
present and expected state of navigation and of the country 
to be traversed it is not anticipated that news will be trans- 
mitted under this arrangement in a shorter space than eight 
or nine days. The extension of a telegraphic line from a 
point in the Austrian system to Bucharest will abridge the 
interval by a day ; but this work is not likely to be complete 
for a month or five weeks. 
THE WOUNDED AT CONSTANTINOPLE. 
TO the editor. 
Sir, — English sick and wounded men were in hospital at 
the Island of Rhodes, about tho beginning of this century, 
under the care of that humane and gallant admiral, the late 
Sir Sidney Smith, by whom the mildness aud salubrity of 
the climate aud the advantages of the locality for hospital 
purposes were always deservedly extolled. 
At the present moment it may be worth consideration 
whether the removal of a portion of our invalids from tbe 
piercing cold which will soon prevail in tbe neighbourhood 
of the Bosphorus to the mild climate of Rhodes would not 
be attended by many advantages. The transport would be 
easily effected by some steamers at small cost, and during 
the winter months fuel and clothing would be economised, 
while comforts and luxuries would be enjoyed by conva- 
lescents, tending to promote xnore speedy restoration to 
health and return to duty. 
There are buildings at Rhodes which, with a small outlay, 
would afford the requisite accommodation. Commander 
Spratt, R.N., author of “ Travels in Lycia,” &c., and now 
commanding her Majesty's ship Spitfire in the Black Sea, 
has lately surveyed the island, and is thoroughly acquainted 
with the details aud the resources of the neighbourhood 
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant 
W. Sandford. 
9, Springfield-place, Lansdown, Bath, Oct. 23. 
NURSES FOR SCUTARI. 
TO THE EDITOR. 
Sir, — A s I happened to be staying at the Hdtel des Bains 
at Boulogne, yesterday, when the thirty-seven nurses 
selected by Government to accompany Miss F. Nightingale to 
tbe hospitals at Scutari passed t hrough on their way to Paris 
under tbe care of Mr. and Mrs. Bracebridge, I think it may 
not be uninteresting to you to learn bow great was the en- 
thusiasm with which they were received at Boulogne by all 
those who knew upon what errand of mercy these persons 
were bent. 
The fishwomen conveyed their baggage to the railway free 
of charge. M. Mesureur, the proprietor of the Hdtel flea 
Bains (to which place a telegraphic message had been Bent 
from London directing that a dinner should be prepared), 
provided a sumptuous banquet ; and requested that they 
would order anything more they might desire, but that 
they must accept everything under his roof as a token of 
his good wishes for the enterprise. Tho waiters and the 
chambermaids wero profuse in their attentions to them, but 
were unanimous in refusing remuneration. 
The enthusiastic satisfaction with which they all spoke of 
this visit last night showed how deep-seated was their sym- 
pathy with the devoted mission of these our countrywomen ; 
and feeling, therefore, that it is but right that the English 
public should be aware this sympathy exists, I have ventured 
to trespass on your valuable space with these few lines. 
— I am. Sir, your obedient servant. 
Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, Oct. 24. D. G. 
[A correspondent asks, "What is to be Miss Nightingale's 
Turkish title ? — We presume it will be “ Bulbul Khanoum. ’ 
—Ed.] 
FRAGMENTS FROM A FRENCH JOURNAL. 
“ Camp above Sebastopol, October 4. — We enjoy here the 
climate of Italy. A Zouave, takeu prisoner, has escaped from 
Sebastopol. He states that sixty English and French ma- 
rauders, surprised by the Cossacks, had refused to work at 
the fortifications of the place, and been removed to the interior 
of the country. Seeing a chance of escaping, he had consented 
to work, had concealed himself in a hole, and succeeded at 
night in reaching our advanced posts. The Russians, he says, 
are very fond of the French, and treat them with kindness, 
but they entertain a different feeling towards our allies. A 
Russian officer, disguised as a Turk, has been arrested in our 
camp. Last night a squadron of Lancers sallied out of Se- 
bastopol, with the intention of surprising a post of Zouaves. 
An engagement ensued, and the Lancers were repulsed. It 
was the first dark night we had since our landing, and, for 
the first time, the weather was rainy. Two Zouaves were 
killed. 
The “Times" Notice to Correspondents.— The fund 
for the sick and wounded in the Eastern expedition, which 
wo have undertaken to distribute, having now exceeded 
£10,000, we have to return our thanks to all who have so 
generously responded to our invitation in this matter, and at 
the same time to announce that no further subscriptions for 
this purpose will be received at the Times-office. Iu making 
this announcement, we take the opportunity to inform those 
persons who have favoured us with their donations to the 
Patriotic Fund and other charitable undertakings, that sub- 
scriptions for such objects should be forwarded direct to the 
treasurers specially appointed to collect and account for 
those contributions . — Times of October 25. 
MISCELLANEOUS ANECDOTES, INCIDENTS, AND 
MEMORANDA. 
A surgeon writes: — “ I have seen some curious wounds 
from the course taken by tbe balls. One man, who fell by 
my side, roared out, ‘ Oh, doctor, I am killed,' but, on tearing 
open his clothes, I found the ball had not gone deeper 
than the skin. A cannon-ball passed close to me, and over 
the head of a man who was lying on the ground ; you could 
see the round shot passing by you like swift bowling at 
cricket. The Russians had an ugly trick of lying on the 
ground, pretending to be wounded, and firing at us as soon 
as we passed, so our men massacred them right and left." 
Among the many daring exploits of the intrepid men by 
whose energy and unshaken courage the allied arms have been 
carried to the heights of the Alma, we have not heard of an 
instance which surpasses in cool daring the conduct of Lieu- 
tenants Lindsey and Thistlethwaite, of the Scots Fusilier 
Guards, the Queen's colours being carried by the former, and 
the regimental colours by the latter gentleman. At the 
moment before the heights were gained, and when the 
deadly struggle raged so fiercely as to make it almost im- 
possible to tell friend from foe, the two lieutenants became 
separated from their battalion, and found themselves, with 
the four sergeants whose duty it was to support them, 
attacked by a body of Russians, whose commanding officer 
had led them against the colours. A desperate conflict 
ensued, the four sergeants quickly fell under a shower of 
balls. The Queen’s colour, | carried by Mr. Lindsey, was torn 
into stripes, being pierced by a cloud of bullets. The staff 
was shot in two ; still the gallant officers persevered, and 
succeeded in cutting then' way through the enemy who sur- 
rounded them. They were ably assisted, aud at the right 
moment, by Captain Drummond, the adjutant of the regi- 
ment, whose horse was at that moment shot under him- 
Captain Lindsey, seeing the danger to which the colours 
were exposed, rushed to the relief, and, with a revolver pis- 
tol, shot three of the assailants. The successful bearers of 
the standard escaped almost miraculously, aud succeeded in 
pi outing their colours on the heights, which had been then 
but just won from the Russians, Mr. Lindsey having actually 
climbed the steep face of the hill with the aid of the broken 
staff, while he exultingly waved what remained of it, with 
her Majesty’s colours, over his head. Neither this gallon* 
gentleman nor his equally distinguished companion, Mr- 
Thistlethwaite, received any hurt. 
Another account says : — . 
Mr. Lindsey bore the Queen’s colours, in the Scots Fusi- 
liers, which received twenty-one shots through them, aud the 
staff was broken in his hand by a grape-shot. The regimental 
colours earned by Mr. Thistlethwaite had twenty-four rifle an 
musket-balls through them. How the bearers escaped unm 
jured appears almost miraculous. So deadly and so concen- 
trated was the fire to which tho brigade of Guards was ex- 
posed, that at one time it seemed impossible that they corn 
deploy under it from open column into line. Yet- t 
officers were perfectly cool — ordered the movement, and t e 
men obeyed it as if on parade. The Guards carried the r * 
