Vol. IV.— No. 103.] 
Saturday, December 16, 1854. 
[Gratis. 
im NEWSPAPER, 
THE WAR. 
THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. 
The Tliabor, which arrived at Marseilles on tho 9th, 
brought news from Constantinople to the 30th ult., and from 
Balaklava to the 26th, at which time the weather in the 
Crimea was wet and stormy. 
The Russian fire against the French position wa3 very 
violent, but fresh guns were being disembarked, and quan- 
tities of ammunition. The Russians made incessant sorties, 
but the French repulsed them all, and were advancing. The 
French outposts had been pushed much nearer to Sebas- 
topol. The Russians were constructing huts for their troops 
in the valley of the Tchemaya. 
It is positively asserted that at a Council of War held on 
the 28th ult., General Canrobert had decided that a great 
battle should be fought on the 2nd inst. The army was 
full of enthusiasm. 
The fire of the batteries against Sebastopol had been re- 
sumed with vigour, the last parallel had been finished, and 
the works had reached within a hundred metres of the 
place. 
A general assault was considered as very near. 
On the 23rd, after a sudden attack, the English surprised 
nnd spiked sixteen Russian guns. 
Under date of December 3, General Canrobert, writing 
from Sebastopol, states : — ‘’The rain falls in torrents. Our 
roads are broken up ; our trenches filled with water, and all 
our military movements, as well as the greater part of our 
siege works, are suspended. The enemy is held inactive 
by the same causes. Notwithstanding these trials, the morale 
of all is excellent, and we hold firm, ready to recommence 
our operations as soon as the weather and the state of the 
roads shall permit.” 
By the arrival of the Europa at Varna on the 11th we have 
news from Sebastopol of the 7th. 
A great movement of the enemy between the town and 
the north of the bay was observable. Tiie investment of 
the place was nearly complete. Four French regiments and 
numerous reinforcements had arrived. The new siege guns 
from the allied fleets had not been got into position. 
Omer Pacha left Bucharest for Varna on the 11th, where 
preparations are actively made to embark the remainder of 
the nineteen Turkish battalions, some of which have already 
gone to the Crimea. 
A letter from Sebastopol of the 25th ult., in the Moniteur 
tie la Flottc, says : “ Two Russian deserters were yesterday 
brought to camp. One came from the town, where he said 
hunger and thirst prevailed, and many were dying. From 
the description he gave of the illness, there seemed a doubt 
whether it was plague or cholera. The other came from the 
camp of Menschikoff. Reinforcements are arriving there, 
but without proper clothes and without provisions. The 
distress is such that many would be delighted to desert to 
the French, who are said to be well supplied with all things ; 
but Menschikoff, like a prudent man, has had all the issues 
guarded by a line of Cossack horsemen, and such deserters 
as are condemned to be bastinadoed to death. In spite of 
that, scarcely a day passes without some deserters arriving 
in our camp.” 
MOVEMENTS OF THE BELLIGERENTS. 
TnE Baltic Fleet.— The chief division <>f the English 
fleet left Kiel on the 7th, the Duke of Wellington, with Sir 
Charles Napier’s flag, taking the lead, followed by the Hogue, 
Nile, Royal George, and Blenheim luie-of-battle ships, and ac- 
companied by the Bulldog, Locust, and another paddle 
steamer. The good people of Kiel witnessed the departure 
of Sir Charles Napier’s fleet with great regret ; many of them 
derived no small advantage from the expenditure which so 
large an addition to this large but thriving town naturally 
created. On the 11th, the Edinburgh (Rear-Admiral Chads), 
the Euryalus, the Dragon, and the Imp<5rieuse, also left, 
these being the last of the British fleet in the Baltic. 
Trebizonde, Nov. 18. — Ibrahim Pacha, Schamyl s com- 
missioner to the army of Anatolia, has received intelligence 
that some mountaineers of the Caucasus have surprised a 
convoy of 800 Turkish prisoners on its way towards the 
Don, destroyed the Russian escort, and set the Turks free. 
Zarif Mustapha Pacha lately commanding the Sultan’s army 
in Asia, has gone to Constantinople, Abdul Kerim Pacha, 
who commauds until the arrival of Ismail Pacha, is occupied, 
together with Colonel Williams, in housing the troops for 
the winter. 
Russian Sacrifice of another Harbour. — During the 
summer the governor of Riga, to prevent the approach of 
hostile ships, sank some enormous stones in the harbour, so 
as entirely to impede the navigation. Now that the British 
ships are withdrawn, several loaded merchant vessels en- 
deavoured to leave the port, but the obstructions were found 
to be insurmountable ; and after several attempts to get out, 
the ships were obliged to return to the port and discharge 
their cargoes, some of them having suffered considerable 
damage from bumping on these artificial rocks. 
Russian loss on the Sea of Azoff. — A communication 
from Warsaw of the 8th states that in an unpublished por- 
tion of Prince Menschikoff 1 s despatch of the 24tli ult. he 
says that, near Cape Berdjauskaia (on the north coast of 
the Sea of Azoff), a hurricane had literally demolished the 
breakwater, driven on shore thirty-five Russian vessels, and 
dashed to pieces five others. 
Omar Pasha’s Expedition to the Crimea. — The Lloyd 
of Dec. 9 communicates an important piece of intelligence — 
the immediate retirement of the whole Turkish army from 
the Principalities (the small garrisons of Giurgevo and Kala- 
•asch excepted), and the embarkation at Varna of 35,000 
Turks, with Omar Pallia at their head, for the Crimea. Sadyk 
Pasha’s corps is to occupy the Dobrudscha. The Lloyd 
thiuks this is the best employment of the Turkish army, 
seeing that the Principalities are well guarded by Austria, 
that Sadyk Pasha’s corps is sufficient to guard that section 
of the Hue of the Danube which forms the boundary between 
Russia and Turkey. The Turkish army it thinks too weak 
for the attack on Bessarabia, lately much talked of ; but 
35,000 good soldiers, as Omar Pasha’s certainly are, will he 
a most important reiuforcement to the army of the Allies. 
“ Thus already,” says the Lloyd, “does Austria second tho 
operations in the Crimea.” 
The Turkish AnMY. — A despatch from Bucharest dated 
December 8, states that the whole Turkish army had re- 
crossed the Danube. 35,000 men were to be thrown into 
the Crimea, and on tho 11th Omar Pasha was to leavo 
Bucharest for Varna. * Sadik Pasha was occupying the Dob- 
rudscha, aud Kalarnsch aud Giurgevo had received Turkish 
garrisons. A letter from Bucharest states that a Turkish 
commissariat office has been established in that place for tho 
purpose of paying for all the supplies furnished to the Otto- 
man army. This has produced an excellent impression on 
the inhabitants, many of whom, from a spirit of patriotism, 
have relinquished claims due to them. The Sultan has pub- 
lished a decree banishing all the Moldavian and Wallachian 
subjects who have followed the Russians into Bessarabia. 
The French Navy. — Admiral Hamelin, having been ele- 
vated to the highest dignity in the Imperial navy, returns to 
France, with his staff, and resigns the command to Vice- 
Admiral Bruat. The squadrons of the ocean and the Modi- 
terauean are now united under tho name of “ Mediterranean 
Squadron.” Rear-Admiral Chamer is second in command. 
Rear-Admiral Bonet Willaumez, Chief of the Staff of Admiral 
Hamelin, returns with him to France. Rear-Admiral Rigault 
-le Genouilly remains, until further orders, detached ou 
jliore, in command of the seamen lauded before Sebastopol, 
md at the disposal of the General-in-Chief of the Army of 
the East. Rear-Admiral Lugeol continues under the orders 
jf Vice-Admiral Bruat, and is charged with the administra- 
tion of the fleet at Constantinople. 
Prince Napoleon. — “The Chargd d' Affaires of France at 
Constantinople writes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs 
mder date of the 6th of December. The health of Priuce 
Napoleon is becoming re-established, and his Imperial High- 
less will set out in a few days to resume his command in the 
Crimea." 
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge is at 
Therapia, rather better ; he returns to the Crimea directly. 
He was severely suffering from dysentery and over fatigue. 
Entrance of tiie Russians into Poland. — Advices from 
Warsaw of the 7tli, in the Goi rnau papers, report the entrance 
Df the Russian guards into Poland. The Cuirassier division 
_>f the Russian guards, wliicli it was expected would go into 
cantonments in the neighbourhood of Warsaw, aud reinforce 
the garrison, already so large, of the Polish capital, had 
arrived at Miedzynrec aud Siedlee. No less than seventeen 
Russian generals' who had arrived from various points of 
the empire, were assembled on the 7th at Warsaw.^ 
Position of the Belligerents.— The Soldiers Friend 
of Vienna of the 8th says ; — The battle of Inkerman lias 
made the English more attentive to their position at Bala- 
klava, and all the eutrenchmeuts have been carefully com- 
pleted. It is now occupied by 4,000 English aud 10,000 
Turks, who reach to the division of General Bosquet at 
Kadikofka. The Russian troops of the 4th corps still 
occupy Traktir, Tchorguna, and Kamara, and the left bank 
of the Tchemaya has not, therefore, been evacuated, as was 
stated in the accounts from Constantinople of the 27tli. On 
the 23rd and 24th some insignificant skirmishes took place. 
The Russians showed themselves in great force on the line 
from Inkerman to Traktir and Tchorguna, which led to the 
idea that they again threatened Balaklava. Tins P”int has 
been therefore reinforced, as well as the division of General 
Bosquet, Some detachments of Cossacks have been seen m 
the valley of Baidas, to the south-east of Balaklava. The 
march of Russiau reinforcements towards the Crimea has 
not ceased ; only a few days ago a regiment arrived at Bakt- 
chissary. The 'division of General Popoff has entered 
Sebastopol, in order to reiuforce the garrison. Oil the loth 
of November, at a council of war at the head-quarters ot 
Priuce Menschikoff, it was resolved to still remain on the 
defensive. 
OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 
War Department, 10 a.m., December 11, 18o4. 
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has this day received 
despatches and enclosures, of which the following are copies, 
addressed to his Grace by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, 
Before S'bastopol, A ov. 23, 1854. 
My Lord Duke,— The Russian advanced posts in front of 
our left attack having taken up a position which incom- 
moded our troops in the trenches, and occasioned not a few 
casualties, aud at the same time took in reverse the branch 
troops working in their lines, a representation of which was 
made to me both by our own officers and by Genera. Can- 
robert, a detachment of the 1st Battalion Rifl® ' 
under Lieutenant Tryon, was directed on the night ot the 
20tli to dislodge the enemy I aud this service was performed 
most gallantly and effectively, but at some loss both m killed 
and wounded, aud at the cost of the life of Lieutenant 
Tryon, who rendered himself conspicuous on the occasion, 
was considered a most promising officer, and hold m the 
highest estimation by all. .. . 
Tho Russians attemjitcd several times to re-establish 
themselves on the ground before daylight on tho 21st, but 
they were instantly repulsed by Lieutenant Bourchior, the 
senior surviving officer of the party, and it now remains in 
our possession. 
I Brigadier-General Sir John Campbell speaks highly of 
tho conduct of the detachment, aud of Lieutenant Bour- 
! chier and Lieutenant Cuninghame ; and ho laments the 
j dentil of Lieutenant Tryon, who so ably led them in the 
; first instance. 
This little exploit was so highly prized by General Can- 
j robort that he iustantly published an “ Ordre GtSntfml," 
1 announcing it to the French army, aud combining, with a 
just tribute to tho gallantry of tho t roops, the expression of 
his deep sympathy in the regret felt for the loss of a 
young officer of so much distinction. 
Nothing else lias occurred since I had last tho honour to 
address your grace. 
Tho weathor is ngaiu very bad, and steady rain is con- 
stantly falling. 
I inclose the liominnl list of killed and wounded at the 
battle of tho lnkermaun, aud a return of the casualties that 
have occurred in the trenches to the 20th instant. — I have, 
he ., Raojjin. 
His Grace tho Duke of Newcastle, he. he. he. 
Near Sebastopol, Nov. 28, 1854. 
My Lord Duke,— In tho despatch which 1 addressed to 
your grace on the 23rd instant, I reported the gallant con- 
duct of a detachment of the 1st battalion Rifle Brigade, and 
its occupation of an advauced position which it continued to 
retain, notwithstanding tho repeated efforts of the enemy 
to re establish themselves upon it. 
On the night of the 22nd and on the following morning 
j shortly before daylight, the Russians reuewod their eudea- 
vours to get possession of the grouud they had been driven 
from, but they were repulsed on each occasion in tho most 
spirited manner, in the first iustance by a detachment of 
the 4th Foot, under Lieutenant Patrick Robertson, and a 
working party belonging to the 57th Regiment; in the last 
instance by the detachment of tho 4th boot alone. 
Brigadier-General Eyre speaks in the highest terms ot 
the conduct of tlieao troops, and particularly that of Lieut. 
Robertson, whose former distinguished services at the Cape, 
coupled with that he displayed in the present affair, fully 
entitle him to be considered an officer of much promise. 
There has been no movement of importance on the part 
of the enemy. The weather has beeu very bad, and the 
camp and the country arc in conaoquonce of the ram in a 
most unsatisfactory state. 
The men are, however, endeavouring, nud with tome suc- 
cess, to shelter themselves witli the stones that are found in 
the vicinity of the oncampment, and every effort is making 
to provide them with the materials for hutting themselves ; 
but the condition of the roods renders this a matter of ex- 
treme difficulty. 
It is gratifying to mo to be able to assure you that, not- 
withstanding their privations, tliuir exposure to the weather, 
aud the constant labour required of them, they exhibit 
the same cheerfuluess, the same ardour in the discharge o 
| their duty as they have manifested throughout the extensive 
I operations in which they have been engaged. 
. I inclose the return of casualties up to the 20th instant 
The defences of tho Inkerman position, notwithstanding 
the frequent interruptions from the weather, are making 
considerable progress. I * inve » ^ ^ 
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &c., &c., &e. 
Vice-Admiral Dundas lias forwarded to the Admiralty a 
despatch which incloses a letter from tho Hon. S. T. Carnegie, 
of the Tribune. The letter Is as follows 
Her Majesty’s ship Tribune, Straits of Kertch, 
J Nov. 17. 1854. 
Sir,— I have the honour to acquaint you that on the fore- 
noon of Sunday, the 12th inst., while standing in tor tne 
coast of Circassia, about 10 miles to tho north-west ot the 
Fort of Anapa, guns were observed to be fired from a huge 
innrtello tower, situated at a spot which commands the coast 
road from Anapa to Kertch, and which » marked on the 
charts by the* wold “Dsbemetie" Her Mama 
Tribune, Highflyer, and Lynx stood mas far as the i depth t ot 
water would allow them, anchored at a distance of MOjards 
from the beach, and opened a fire upon the place, which n 
a short time compelled tho garrison to leave i • » 
the seamen and Marines were immediately lauded, aurt com- 
pleted the destruction of tho place by fire. 1 lie tower, with 
two guns, ammunition, he., was blown up, under the dircc- 
tion of Captain Moore, of Her Majesty s ship Highflyer; and 
I regret to add that, in the performance of this service that 
officer was slightly, and Lieutenant M. E Smithet of Hi 
Majesty’s ship Tribune* severely wounded by the espu 1 ' • 
The lauding was effected without trouble, but the j r ‘ 
with such rapidity afterwards that it was with < ' “ • . 
boats were enabled to rejoin then - ships. Tu “ . . 
Lded bailed with skill a...l ability ; and I msh totomg 
under your notice the exertions of Captain . smitbott of 
Luce, commanding the Lynx. Licutceiifc M. E- Sn 
Her Majesty’s ship under my command a d Liei^nant 
Armytage, of the Highflyer, whoso conduct jugettmg 
boats over the surf was most 
Vice-Admiral Dundas, C.B., he. 
THE STORM IN THE BLACK SEA 
We lad week save ,°^ the 
s.r T t r ? 
—English Transports, at Katclw, 5 , a< I ’ ’ 
B 1^ 
&& ... 
