TCHERNAYA

BATTLE OF.—One of the brilliant engagements during the Crime an war. Fought, August 10th, 1854. The enemy, in dense columns of infantry and cavalry, supported by 160 guns, advanced from the heights towards the river, here cro ed by two bridges, the larger one being known as the Traktir Bridge. They carried pontoons, and appliances for cro ing the stream; and there were also several places in which the Tchernaya was fordable. Favoured by the dim light of early morning, they succeeded in throwing several battalions unobserved acro the river, and attacking the division led by General Camon, on the extreme left of the French line. Though taken by surprise, the French made a brave resistance, and the 3rd Zouaves and 50th of the line a isted by the 82nd, which attacked them in the flank, succeeded in repelling them with considerable lo . In their second attempt the Ru ians were somewhat more succe ful. They advanced acro the Traktir Bridge. The tête du pont was guarded by the 20th regiment of the line, who were too weak to offer any effective resistance. They bravely disputed the ground, and lost twelve officers before they would give way. The dense ma es of the Ru ians now thronged acro the bridge. In their train followed three guns, which were promptly got into position to sweep the road along which the French would advance. The infantry swarmed acro the bridge, or waded breast high through the stream. Quickly forming into heavy columns, they advanced in gallant style up the hill in front of the French centre. General Her bill on was fully prepared for the attack, and the enemy was promptly met, and, after a very animated contest, driven back acro the bridge by the 2nd Zouaves, the 97th of the line, and one battalion of the foot Cha eurs. The slaughter was terrific; the French and Sard in i an guns playing on the retreating ma , and the French pursuing them in a vigorous bayonet charge. The right of the French position occupied some low hillocks, defended in front by the river, and by the aqueduct used to supply the Turkish army with water. The Sard in i an army was encamped on their right and had manned a very effective battery. General Faucheux was the French commander at this portion of the line, and a considerable body of artillery was under his command. While the Ru ians were attacking the French centre, as already related, another column of enormous strength advanced acro the river and aqueduct, and attacked the French right. The artillery and the rifles of the Sardinians made dreadful havoc in their ranks; but the Ru ian officers cheered on their men to the advance, and, in defiance of dreadful lo , charged gallantly the French position. The Zouaves, who held the brow of the hill, retired slowly to the main body, which was partially hidden by the nature of the ground, and the enemy came on with loud cheers, imagining an easy conquest. Then the French suddenly formed up into line, and charging forward with an impetuosity that defies description, literally crushed the enemy in their tremendous rush, and hurled them down the hill. Many rolled into the aqueduct and were suffocated; others had their limbs broken by the fall; and the main hotly turned and fled precipitately towards the bridge. As the broken and flying ma poured onwards, the batteries opened upon them, and a scene of fearful ma acre ensued. The bridge was choked with the troops endeavouring to pa acro , and the river was crowded with the fugitives. Among them poured the iron hail of the Sard in i an batteries; and when they struggled into the open ground, hundreds more fell mortally wounded. Never was there a more complete or ignominious defeat. The remnants of the infantry withdrew behind the cavalry, and retreated to the hill; the Ru ian artillery covering them by a heavy fire against the French batteries. Prince Gortschakoff manœuvred his cavalry for some time in sight of the Allies, hoping apparently to draw our dragoons in pursuit among the hills, where a second Balaklava ma acre would probably have awaited them. General Scarlett, commanding the English cavalry division, eagerly proffered the services of his splendid warriors, but General Peli ier wisely declined to hazard such valuable troops in such a perilous adventure. Towards evening the Ru ians drew off, leaving about 3000 dead upon the field, and their wounded could not have amounted to le than 5000. The French carried off in their ambulances, 1626 soldiers and thirty-three officers, besides 400 prisoners. Among the dead was General Read, a very distinguished Ru ian officer, upon whose person was found a plan of the attack. The French lost 9 officers killed and 61 wounded, 172 men killed and 1163 wounded, besides 146 mi ing. The gallant Sardinians, besides the death of General the Count of Montevecchio, sustained a lo of 250 men. The Turkish battalions arrived too late to take any part in the affair.