THE ATTACK ON ODESSA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 190, 26 August 1854, Page 7

THE ATTACK ON ODESSA.

(From the Malta Times, May 16.) 25th April, off Odessa.

Odessa is situated on the left shore of an extensive bay —speaking as viewing the bay from the ships. At that end of the town near the entrance of the bay is the citadel—outside the walls a mortar battery, sunk so as to be invisible from the bottom of the cliff on which it is situated. A little further on is a six-gun battery ; further, the Light-house battery; and further still that of the Crown mole, where the Government vessels andj property are inosllj collected.

Saturday was a beautiful day. Very early in the morning the Samson led in the first division of steamers, viz. : Samson, Vauban, Tiger, and Mogador, while the second were weighing-, pamely ; —Retribution, Descartes, Terriblej and Furious. Two others, Sanspareil and Highflyer, were ordered to anchor out of gun shot as a reserve.

At half past sjk, the Samson having led in by a circuitous route so as to keep out of gunshot, arrived within distance of the battery of the mole, hut in such a position that only two guns could bear on her. She then began to try the range, and the first shot fired, at a distance not mucli less than 2,000 yards, plumped on the end of the mole. This, the first shot of the war, was fired by Lieutenant Shute B. Piers, first lieutenant of the Samson. As 'that vessel ascertained her range she moved out, and was succeeded by each vessel of the division in turn. It chanced that the selection of the spot chosen by the Samson as most convenient, had been anticipated by the Russians, and their guns at the mole head were elevated and directed for a lump which they had placed there, fit resulted that several vessels were struck by ricochet. The Samson received two shots in her upper works, by which two v *men were slightly wounded. Each steamer had been reinforced by fifty -marines. Most, however, of the Russian shot fell short, while the shot and [shell of the four, and after a quarter to ten, of the whole eight steamers, went well home, the latter

bursting in a great number of instances directlyover tVie mole head or a little in front of it. It was not long before the battery gave indications of having suffered —the rampart at the end having in a great measure been destroyed. Meanwhile, the Russians, though exposed to a very severe fire of shot and shell from a foi'ce so vastly superior to that which they could bring to bear, still stuck manfully to their two guns, and not without effect. The Vauban came out of action for a few minutes in order to guard against the effects of a red hot shot which she had received. She had been hit also in other places, as had, I believe, most of the other steamers. During the day the rocket boats had been exercising in their vocation, and from time to time volumes of smoke arising among the Government shipping gave evidence that that weapon hud done its work. At half past 12, the magazine at the end of the mole caught fire, and a little before one blew up. Both batteries and steamers then ceased firing at each other. The shots fired afterwards being aimed at the destruction of Government ships and stores, of the latter of which many were burnt, and of the former many burnt or sunk. The Fury, who went in early next morning to see if any attempts at repairs were being made, or any Government property remained undestroj'ed, fired a shot at the mole, but received an answer from a small battery which had been thrown up in the night on shore. The Lighthouse battery also fired on her. The mole remained silent. While the rocket boats were advancing, a field battery opened on them with grape. They, as may be guessed, lost no time in pulling out of range, and the Samson, bursting a shell among the artillerymen, stimulated their retreat. The Arethusa had been ordei'ed to keep under weigh, not with a view of joining the action, but of keeping a look out. It so happened that, by the purest accident of course, she got within range, was fired at by the mortar battery, as also, I believe, by the six-gun battery below. These compliments she immediately returned, first with her stern and.then her broadside guns, bursting a great many shells over the heads of the men in the mortar battery. After three or four such exchanges, the Admiral, fearing, I suppose, lest she might injure the town, recalled her. The Light house battery fired occasionally, and the citadel once, but wholly without effect. At five o'clock the general recall was made. Inside the Light house battery are ships of all nations, and I imagine it is on their account the Admirals have not yet attacked it. During the firing some of our merchant vessels managed to escape—the remainder have had soldiers placed on board. Yesterday and the day before (Sunday) especially, a heavy swell was rolling-, so that ships' guns would have been fought to great disadvantage. We had in all one man killed and ten wounded. If shot and shell can kill men, the loss of the Russians must {have been out of all proportion great. I have heard that a merchant captain who came out reported 500 killed. The subjoined "General memo."will account for our attacking Odessa at all, and also for our injuring nothing but Government property. When the Furious came here with a flag of truce she was fired on. " General Memo :— r " Britannia, oft" Odessa, 24th April, 1854. "The Vice-Admiral,as Commander-in-chief, offers his best thanks for the zealous and effective manner "in which the imperial mole and Russian shipping at Odessa have been destroyed by the division of steam-ships under the immediate orders of Captain Jones, of the Samson. ■ "The Vice-Admiral trusts that the inviolability of a Flag of Truce will in future be strictly and honourably maintained, and hopes that the whole of the squadron under his orders may soon have an opportunity of showing their zeal and efficiency against the common enemy. (Signed) " J. W. D. Dundas, Vice-Admiral." We are said to start for Sebastopol to-morrow morning. Two new rendezvous have just been made.

Constantinople, 30th April."' Some time since the Furious went vo Odessa for the purpose of bringing the Consul to Constantinople. On arriving, the first cutter was

sent on shore with a flag of truce which was fired on by the Russians. The Furious there* fore returned to Kavarna Bay, and reported matters. On receiving this intelligence, the Admirals, with their united fleets, anchored off Odessa, on the 22nd instant, the following steamers close to the forts:—Samson, Furious, Tiger, Terrible, and Retribution —Mogador, Sane, Caton, and Vauban, the van following alternately by French and English. At 25 minutes to 7, a.m., the Samson opened fire, and the first shot burst over the powder magazine, which set it on fire, and it blew up with most fearful results. The Russian fort immediately returned the fire, and the first ball struck the water fifty yards short of the Samson, rebounded and entered her quarter, carrying away her compass, and wounding four men. She received eight balls, which went through her. By this time the Vauban paddle steamer, received two hot shots in her bow and coal bunkers, which set her on fire. On hoisting a signal, " distressed from red hot shot," the carpenters of the fleets were ordered on board to cut out the shot, which they did in two minutes, and she again returned into action. In a short time all the forts were destroyed, the Russian merchant ships on their beams end, on fire, and sinking. The soldiers were mowed down by hundreds; they attempted to retreat from their guns, but were charged back by the cavalry at the point of the sword. The English crews from the merchant vessels were placed in the front ranks and forced to man the guns. The intensity of the smoke was such that some of the English merchant vessels slipped their cables unobserved by the Russians, and sailed off from the port with the English, French and Turkish flags at their mast heads. As they were passing the steamers they gave three hearty cheers, and begged " that they would not spare them on their account." Strict orders were given that the town should be spared. Notwi h-standing, the gunner of the Furious, seeing a tempting dome, could not withstand the temptation, and let drive, and knocked it about their ears; the poor fellow was disrated instanter.

During the confusion the c? saucy Arethusa" made a sally, and commenced operations '>n the quarantine fort, as some of its shot materially injured the neutral ships. The Admiral made a signal to cease firing-," but perhaps owing to the shortsightedness of the " Look out," the signal was not obeyed, and the firing continued. A short time afterwards another was made for the " Captain to come aboard immediately," which he did and was ordered to sea forthwith.

At 7, p. m,, the steamers were recalled, and forty hours afterwards Odessa was still blazing. Next morning' a flag of truce was sent on shore, asking an exchange of prisoners, which was refused, after which the Fury was sent to reconnoitre, and found the Russians hard at work building up the forts, and placing six times the number of guns.

The Terrible, in the action, received eleven shots, had one man killed, and four slightly wounded ; the Retribution received no damage, but had also one man killed, supposed by accident. The French frigate Vaubau had two men killed, ami one wounded.

From the information gained from the merchant captains, we learn that 1,800 Russians were killed, and that their entire force amounted to 30,000 men.

The Terrible made dreadful havoc with her 10-inch red hotshot; she fired 579 shot and shells, which were put into the furnace for fifteen minutes.

Several British ships still remain at Odessa, and the Admiral sent word to the Governor that if he did not give them up, he would destroy the town. The Terrible brought the information here; she leaves on the 2nd. The united fleets are now off Sebastopol.

The Retribution, Descartes, and Nigar, previous to action took twelve merchant vessels off Odessa, laden with flour, coals and linseed. Mr. Jones, second master of the Retribution, has been given command of them, and proceeds to Malta to day to have them condemned. Their crews are on board the Retribution.

The Turkish and Egyptian fleets are still iv the Bosphorus.

A merchant captain arrived at Constantinople yesterday from the Danube, and informed us that the Ru«si'>ns were crossing the Danube daily, and that their flag was to be seeu on every important point.