“And with the Thistle and the Rose and Lilies of fair France,
Their Shamrock green, old Erin’s sons, will boldly still advance;
They’ll give their war-cry as of old, when charging on the foe,
And ‘Faugh à Ballagh’, ring the knell of many a Russian foe.
“Peace to the slain! the crimson sod must yield their last repose,
No gentle mourner there may bend each dying eye to close!,
And yet an envied fate is there – a glorious rest they found –
For still the soldier’s sepulchre should be the battle ground.”
THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL.
Sepastopol, that mighty Stronghold of the South is now a heap of of “blood stained ruins,” & the united banners of France and England wave triumphantly thereon.
All the bastions, earthworks, and granite forts, south of the great harbor(sic)—the Great & Little Redan, the Flagstaff Quarantine’ Garden, & Barrack batteries—the Central Tower, & the mighty Malakhoft—the second line of defence—Forts Alexander, St. Nicholas, and St. Paul—the Dockyard, harbor, and Careening bay—are all in the hands of the allies.
Every true British heart throbs with joyful pulsations at this triumphant result of the toils & suffering endurance of the last twelve months.
The details are yet wanting, but sufficient is shown by the fragmentary despatches of the Commanders, to convince us that our success has been most triumphant and complete. On the 5th of the present month the bombardment was renewed for the fourth time, when the tremendous effects of the heavy guns and mortars lately conveyed by the allies to the front of their position, became speedily manifest.
On the following day, it was made known to us that the fire from the newly constructed batteries was proceeding satisfactorily, and that one of the enemy’s ships had been destroyed. On Friday the bombardment was continued with unremitting energy, and towards night, another ship was destroyed, while a portion of the town was observed to be in flames. The superiority of the allies’ fire was now conclusively established, and preparations . were being made for the grand assault. On Saturday, the 8th of September such an incessant shower of destructive missiles entered the devoted town as was never before read of in the annals of warfare.
At noon of the same day, the long-desired attack was made, simultaneously on three different points —the Malakhoff, the Careening Redan, and the Great Redan, but the first named was the only position on which the attack was permanently successful. The grand work however, was already accomplished. Everything was achieved in the Capture and permanent retention of the Malakhoff.
Success on that point involved success everywhere else; and when the Russian commander saw the French eagles planted on the ramparts at that stronghold he knew at once that the fate of Sebastopol was sealed. Then began the work of demolition which invariably precedes the retirement of a Russian army in the face of their conquerors.
Thus has fallen Sebastopol, and with it, let us hope, the insatiable ambition of its former possessor.
SECOND EDITION
LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
“Preparations are making at Marseilles for the embarcation(sic) of 10,000 horses, for the Crimea.”
“It is expected that a portion of the allied army will-be left in Sebastopol. to prepare it for the winter quarters of the whole of the besieging forces.”
“Before the bad weather sets in, it is stated that the enemy will be vigorously attacked in the field; the troops encamped on the Tchernaya, attacking the Russians in front, while an army of some 60,000 men are embarked at Kamiesch, or Balaklava, and landed a little north of the Belbec, simultaneously acting against their flank, thus putting the enemy as it were, be tween two fires.”
Lieutenant Harkness on the assault on the Redan and fall of Sebastopol.
Mrs Harkness, of the Ivy House, Ore, received another letter from her son as follows:- “Camp near Sebastopol, 10th of September, 1855.” “Sebastopol has fallen at last! Thank God, I am safe. On the afternoon of the 7th, we received the order suddenly to get breakfast at 6 the next morning, and to parade at 7, with 2 days provisions ready cooked and, and 80 rounds of ammunition. We had been rather expecting this from certain well-known indications, such as sending away all the sick to Balaclava, to clear out the hospitals, and to our own batteries keeping up a terrific bombardment for two days. This portentous order, however, did not prevent R.... and myself keeping an engagement to dine of roast goose with L.... of the 4th, that evening. On the morning of the 8th we were up at six, and after breakfasting leisurely, fell in with our Haversacks of grub on, but no great coats. We then moved off to the place of assembly at the head of one of its ravines, where the troops of the Light and Second Divisions formed up. This kept us for an hour or more enveloped in clouds of dust and a high wind. General Codrington commanded the whole. Col. Windham was to lead the storming party of our division, composed of the 41st, 62nd, 55th and 30th Regiments. Col. Warren the reserves of the 95th-
