THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 202, 7 October 1854, Page 3

THE WAR.

The Russians, after several repulses, and the loss of 25,000 men, had abandoned the siege of Silstria, and were in full retreat from Wallachia into Moldavia. Just as the retrograde movement was commenced, and the Turkish garrison were returning thanks for victory, the gallant commander of the besieged place was killed by a shell. The Russian loss on the Danube is estimated as over 50,000 men.

In the Baltic, every outlet of the Russians had been closed. Sveaborg, Brahested, and Barosnnd had been bombarded, and there had been many gallant and successful " cutting out" enterprises. There had, however, been some loss in aboatattack atGumlaCarleby. The extent of (Russian) Crown property destroyed in this quarter, by the operations under Admiral Plumridge, was estimated at upwards of £400,000. The property of individuals had, in all instances, so far as was possible, been spared. The combined squadron were within a few miles of Cronstadt, and their presence was exciting, it was said, very strong and unpleasant expectations in the Imperial Capital. Even the Czar, despite his vapouring, was evidently beginning to feel uncomfortable. The attack upon Cronstadt itself was very shortly to be made. Sir Charles Napier sent an application by the Dauntless, screw frigate, for permission to make such an attack. This application was considered by a Cabinet Council on the Ist of July, and on the 3rd the resolution of the Council to permit the attack was approved by Her Majesty. Brigadier-General Sir Harry Jones, with a company of sappers and miners, started at once from Chatham in the Dauntless, with the necessary despatches for the Coinman-der-in-Chief.

A French division of 15,000 men was embarked in British war steamers for service in the Baltic, and a fourth British division was being despatched in large steamers for Turkey. Detachments of French troops for the same quarter were continually leaving Marseilles.

A treaty had been concluded between the Emperor of Austria and the Porte, by which the former pledged himself to exhaust all means of negotiation, and even to proceed to force if necessary, for the re-establishment, upon a secure basis, of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. By this treaty, Austria has undertaken the defence of the principalities, and in fulfilment of it she had already pushed forward a strong force into Wallachia. The answer to the Czar to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin had been received almost simultaneously with the conclusion of the Austrian treaty already alluded to. This answer has not been officially made public, but its substance was understood to be this :—That the Czar would consent to evacuate the principalities for the purpose of resuming the negotiations for peace, on condition of the withdrawal of the Western Powers, Russia holding Moldavia, in the mean time, as a guarantee. There was nothing new from the Black Sea, but it was supposed there would speedily lie an attack upon Sebastopol. Part of the fleet had sailed from Varna, and the rest were, it was understood, about to follow. The general belief was that Sebastopol was their destination. General Osten-Saoken had bjen appointed Governor of Circassiu, and one of his comnian-

ders had gained a victory; but the mountain tribes were rising in all quarters.

Vienna, sth July.—According to accounts from Bucharest received to-day, the retreat of the Russians from Wallachia continues. The complete evacuation, which is proceeding slowly, because the Russians are dragging- with themselves immense stores, will not be effected till the 20th July. Prince Gortsehakoff will transfer his head-quarters from Ursitseheni, where they are now, to Remak. From Widdin we have news of the 2nd July stating that the vanguard of the Turkish Balkan army had arrived in the neighbourhood of Kustendsche at the wall of Trajan, and was not molested in its march by the Russians. The Russian flotilla was at lieni. Accounts from Petersburgh of the 2nd, confirm that the English fleet had arrived at a distance of six miles from Ctonstadt. On the £2nd, the Emperor was with his family at PeterhofT, from where they observed the movements of the ships by telescope. The latest news from Tiflis reach to day up to the 18th June. Schamyl gathers his troops on the slopes of the Caucasus, and prepares to attack Tiflis, which is very strongly fortified by the Russians. The Russians keep the defensive. The army of Schamyl numbers 30,000 men. British Succkss in the Baltic. —Sir Charles Napier has forwarded to the admiralty a despatch from Baro Sound, under date of June 18, including Admiral Plumridge's report of his proceedings in the Gulf of Bothnia, from the sth of May to the 10th of June; "by which," observes Sir Charles, " their lordships will observe that he has destroyed 46 vessels, afloat and on the stocks, amounting to 11,000 tons; from 40,000 to 50,000 barrels of pitch and tar ; 60,000 square yards of rough pitch ; a great number of stacks of timber, spars, plank, and deals, sails, rope, and various kinds of naval stores, to the amount of from £300,000 to £400,000, without the loss of a man. Admiral Plumridge has had to contend with innumerable rocks and shoals, incorrectly laid down in the charts, and met the ice up to the 30th of May; nevertheless, though several of his squadron have touched the ground, I am happy to say they have received no damage that he is notable to repair with his own means. The Rear-Admiral, their lordships will observe, speaks in the highest terms of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines; and particularly of Lieutenant B. P. Priest, the first lieutenant of the Leopard, an old and deserving officer, and of Lieut. Hainmet, his flag-lieutenant. 5'

The Unsuccessful Attack at Gumla Carleby.—lt appears that the Odin and the Vulture arrived before the place on the Ist of June. The water was so shallow that the ships anchored five miles distant, and sent in a force of 200 men in six boats to destroy the stores. These anchored, and sent in a flag of truce to demand the surrender of the place. This was refused, and the municipal authorities declared the place would be defended. The flag of truce was hauled down, and the Odin's cutter was sent ahead to reconnoitre. When she got well in front of the stores, she perceived some signs of an enemy, and was putting hack to the other boats, when the Russians unmasked a battery concealed among the stores, and sent a fierce fire of musketry and artillery among the boats. Eleven out of IS men in the Odin's boat were killed at once. Getting out of musketry range, the boats opened a heavy fire upon the invisible foe. When the smoke cleared off, ie was discovered that the Vulture's paddle-box boat was missing; she was near the shore; the boats attempted to cover her retreat, when a shell burst over her, and she drifted helplessly away. After removing the wounded, the boats were about to renew the attack, after fighting upwards of an hour, when Captain Scott arrived and ordered them off. The loss was 54 officers and men, killed, wounded, and missing, the paddle-box boat and its 24 pound howitzer. The next day the Russians strengthened the defences. Sir Charles Napier writes, on the 10th of June:—" I have expressed to Captain Glasse my disapproval of sending boats to attack a place so tar distant from his ship, without any apparent object, which has led to the melancholy catastrophe on this occasion.'' A GALLANT AND SITCCESSFUL EXPEDITION. Hauii-o Roads, May '-23. Our cruisors in the Bakic, and especially in the Gulf ol Finland, are not allowing the oysters to accumulate upon their bottoms. The

Arrogant has been detached from the fleet, for v considerable time, employed in veeomioitenng the enemy's posts and shores. While so employed, the Hecla, commanded by Captain Hall, whose services in the China war are so well known, joined her. Both ships planned a little expedition of their own, which has turned out a gallant manoeuvre. Captain Hall having met a fishing boat off the coast, resolved to turn the tvvi. men in her to some account, and accordingly made them perfectly understand his determination that they should act as pilots. The two ships proceeded up a narrow river, and on anchoring on the evening of the 19th instant, the enemy, from behind a high sandbank, in a thickly wooded place, fired upon one of the boats, which was pulling at a distance of from six to eight hundred yards from the shore, round shot also striking the Itecla. Both ships beat to quarters, cast loose their guns, loaded with shot and shell, which they poured into the wood and against the sand barricade, whence the enemy was quickly dislodged. The vessels were not further molested that evening—the anchorage was shifted for the night, and all made snug, with watches posted. At two, a.m., both ships again weighed, the Hecla leading, both ships' companies standing by their guns. After about three hours quietly feeling their way along the intricate navigation of the river, both ships came in range of the enemy's battery. The Hecla opened fire, which was quickly answered from the fort; the promontory on which stood the battery was crowded with soldiers, fine stalwart looking fellows, with loug grey coats and spiked steel helmets glittering in the sun. While the battery was firing upon the Hecla the Arrogant let fly a whole broadside amongst the soldiery. A troop of horse artillery, when the smoke cleared -off, was observed scampering away. A prolonged and heavy fire of musketry now ensued from the wood, and Minie balls fell thick on board both ships. The Arrogant now got aground within twenty yards of the battery. However, before attempting to haul the ship off, the enemy's guns were dismounted by a broadside, and the ship was then got off in safety. On passing the fort where the guns had been dismounted, a terrible sight was witnessed—gun-carriages blown to fragments, guns dismounted, helmets and knapsacks strewed about without owners. The town of Eckness was now opened, and there lay the ships, the objects of the expedition, j The Arrogant was obliged to anchor here, as i the water was shallow, the Hecla proceeded on; i but another battery now opened fire upon her. The Arrogant, swung broadside on, kept up a cannonade, while the Hecla passed, firing shells j on the enemy as she did so, ran up alongside of a barque, took her in tow, and steamed away with her to the horror of the inhabitants. When this little expeditionary force was returning they were joined by the' Dauntless, which vessel had been sent on by the Commander-in-Chief to ascertain the cause and source of the firing, which was distinctly audible as the squadron steamed in the Hango-roads. The Hecla had several shots through her funnel, steampipe and hull, one shot passing right through the ship's side. The round shot and shell went over the Arrogant. Both ships were studded with Minie balls. The Arrogant had one man shot through the heait, and a man wounded by a bullet in the navel, which ball went through his intestines, passing out at his back. He lived until yesterday. Both were very good men. The Hecla had one man shot or drowned while wounded. Captain Hall was resolved not to leave without carrying back some military trophy. He gallantly landed with his marines, threw them out as skirmishers, while himself and a party of men hoisted one gun —an iron one—into his boat aud placed it on board the Hecla. The Arrogant aud Hecla, with their prize in tow, joined the fleet on the 21st. The Com-mander-in-Cliienioisted the signal " Well done Arrogant and Hecla." The flag ship manned the rigging, her example was followed by several other ships, all of whom gave the 'heroes three hearty cheers.

Lettee prom the Baltic. (Off Cronstadt, June 30.) My letter of the 25th of June apprised you of the main portion of the allied fleets being at anchor off the Island of Seslcar, and within 30 miles distance of Cronstadt. On the afternoon of that date, firing being heard in the eastward, the

A rrogant, 16, Captain Yelverton, was despatched in that direction, with instruction to anchor within signal distance. The next morning, at an early hour, the fleets weighed under steam, shaping a course for Tolboukin Lighthouse, situate on an island west of Cronstadt. The Arrogant, in the mean time, rejoined, and with the Imperiuse, 50, Captain Watson, was sent in advance, and soon made out thirty of the enemy's ships at anchor in the harbour. After proceeding within a few miles off Cronstadt, the fleet wore, and came to a safe anchorage, eight miles west of Tolboukin Light. The Arrogant, 16, and Desperate, 8, were placed under the orders of Captain Watson, in the Imperiuse ; the Magicienne, 16, and Penelope, 8, under the orders of Captain Sullivan, in the Lightning, 6, and steamed in shore to take soundings, keeping, however, out of range of the enemy's guns. The Hecla, 6, Captain W. H. Hall, came up with the fleet in the eyeing, bringing intelligence of the successful bombardment of the fortification of Bomarsund, the principal of the Aland Isles, by the Odin, 16, Captain Scott, Valorous, 16, Captain Buckle, and Hecla. After three hours' cannonading the fort was silenced^ a great number of the enemy being killed. All the houses, vessels and ships stores in the rear of the fort were burnt or otherwise destroyed. The three steamers took up a position at a distance of 2,000 yards from the batteries, and Bred with such admirable precision that scarcely a shot or shell fell short of the mark. Not a man belonging to either of the steamers was killed, and only five wounded. The amount of injury done to the fortifications of Bomarsund is not ascertained as no landing was effected. Neither is the loss sustained by the enemy known, but that it has been severe there can be no question from the fact of the greater portion of the steamers' shell bursting among them. During the engagement the Hecla expended the whole of her ammunition. Telegraphic intelligence from the Baltic up to the 30th June states, that on the 21st of June the Heola, Odin and Valorous, made an attack upon the famous Bomarsund, a strong place in the Aland Isles. " The bombardment began at five in the evening, and by seven the masked battery was dismounted and abandoned, and at ten o'clock, p.m., the Russian Magazines were in a blaze. The English lost three men. The Russians fought obstinately; their artillery were well supported by rifles. One bomb burst on the deck of the Hecla; Midshipman Lucas threw another overboard before it burst." A telegraphic despatch from Copenhagen, dated July 6, states that the second bombardment of Bomarsund was confirmed, the fortress destroyed, and that the troops were occupying the place. Under-water mines are said to have been sunk at Hango Point. The paddle-wheel steamers employed in taking soundings off the island of Cvonstadt are stated to have discovered three " infernal machines" moored under water. A Russian man-of-war steamer made an attempt to come outside Tolboukin Lighthouse on the 27th instant, hut perceiving that two of the English squadron at anchor in the vicinity were getting under weigh to intercept her, she put her helm up and took shelter under the outermost battery. An opinion being entertained that an attack on Cronstadt was practicable on the northern side of the island, Rear-Admiral Chads and ViceAdmiral Parseval Deschenes, accompanied by Lord C. Paget, of the Princess Royal, the Hon. H. Keppell, of the St. Jean d'Acre, and others, embarked on the 29th in the Driver, paddlewheel steamer, and proceeded as far up the channel as was necessary, in order to judge by personal observation the nearest distance off the town which could be approached with safety by any portion of the ships in the fleet. I believe I am not mistaken in informing yon that the greater part of the ships in the fleet may, without difficulty, steam up the channel on the northern side of the island, and take up a position from which they might, at long range, throw their shell, &c, into the town, and destroy it without sustaining any serious injury themselves. Tomes was occupied on the Bth ultimo by a detachment from the flying squadron under Admiral Plumridge. The Admiral superintended the landing in person. At first the people showed a sullen demeanour, which, however, wore off when the object of the landing was explained to them in the Swedish language. Eu-

trenchments were thrown up, on the land side ; and a garrison of sailors and marines were left in possession of the place. The meeting of the French and English fleets on the 14th of June was followed by an interchange of visits on the part of the admirals and captains. The allies sailed together into Barosund on the 15th, each carrying the colours of the other. They were there on the 20th of June. The Home News gives the following in a postscript:— Home Netes Office, July 10, 12 o'clock. ' Fbance.—The appointment of General Baraguay d'Hilliers to the command of the Frenyii corps d'armee about to be sent to the Baltic has taken the Paris public by surprise, as it was known only to a few that a land expedition was contemplated in that quarter. It is now believed that other forces besides French and English will join in this movement—namely, a Swedish army. It is considered certain that England and France have received assurances of the active assistance of Sweden against Russia. The French artillery at Toulon have been lately trying experiments with Congreve rockets, on a new model, fired from howitzers. They carry to the distance of 4,300 metres M. Manuel, a well-known agent de change in Paris, died on the 6th instant of cholera. A strange circumstance occurred last week at the theatre of the Porte St. Martin, which has caused much excitement. Just as the representation of a new piece entitled Schamyl was about to begin an actor, who was to enact the part of a soldier, having found his gun, in trying if it was charged, loaded with ball, the other muskets were then examined, and no less than thirteen of them were loaded with ball. The man entrusted with the duty of loading the pieces could not account for the occurrence. The matter is undergoing judicial investigation. The Credit Foncier of Fiance has been re-organized, and the institution placed in the "attributions" of the Minister of the Interior. Austkia.—The latest accounts from Vienna afford us no additional information tsiran that Prince GortschakofTarrived there last Wednesday night, and conferred with Count 800 l next day, and delivered the Czar's letters to the. Emperor ot Austria the day after. It transpired that Russia makes conditions for the evacuation of the Principalities unacceptable to the Austrian Cabinet. Advices of the same date stated that Austrian troops had advanced to the Wallacbian frontier, where they halted, awaiting orders. Russia.—The Journal de St. Petersburg, of the 30th ultimo, contains the following notice of the Chief of the Police, published by the Emperor's order, with a view to calm the minda of the people :—"The enemy's fleet, amounting to 30 sail, appeared on the 25th of June, about twenty miles from Cronstadt. On the 27th, several steam vessels of war approached the Lighthouse near the island of Cronstadt, but up to the present time the enemy has shown no disposition to attack Cronstadt, where measures have been taken to receive them." Turkey.—The intelligence from the Principalities is meagre, and contains nothing new. It is stated that the Russian General Silvan, who was killed before Silistria, has been succeeded by General Tetersnikoff in the command of the Bth military division. That division had suffered so much during the siege, that several regiments had to be entirely renewed from the reserves of Bessarabia. The news received from Constantinople comes down to the 30th of June. Admiral Bruat had passed the Bosphorus on the 28tb, with 8,000 men of the division of General Forey. The captains of the ships composing the naval division have received sealed orders. It is thought that great operations are approaching. The attack against the fort of Anapa has commenced. The fetes of the Beiramhave passed off in the midst of the warm enthusiasm caused by the raising of the siege of Silistria. A report from Omar Pasha states that the Russians kept firing a part of their artillery the whole of the night of the 22nd to the 23rd of June, to mark their retreat. Fifty of their cannon had been spiked and abandoned by them round the place. Greece.—As the Russian party have no other resource, they have recently attempted to sow mistrust among the Hellenic army, as to the object of the An»;lo-French occupation. This has led to the issue of a circular from General Kalergi, in which he tells the military authorities that the allies are there solely to save

Greece from the " fatal consequences of a policy condemned by all Europe." Th« principal object of the ministry, he says, is to win the sympathies'and esteem of all the great European Powers. The insurrection is regarded as suppressed. Karatassos and Hadji Petios have surrender in Thessaly, and only the brigand Packas remains to be accounted for. The Greeks are again admitted into Turkish ports.