THE ATTACK ON THE 18th JUNE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 3 November 1855, Page 3

THE ATTACK ON THE 18th JUNE.

General Pelissier's Despatch. [From the Second Edition of the Liverpool Times.] The Moniteur of yesterday contains General Pelissier's account of the attack on the Malakoff Tower, June 18th. The leading details arc already known. The general says, notwithstanding great difficulties in the ground, and the obstacles accumulated by the enemy — although the Russians, decidedly informed of our projects, were on their guard, and ready to reply to the assault, — I may be permitted to believe that, if the attack could have been general and instantaneous of the whole extent of the line, — if there had been suddenness and unity of action in the eflbrts of our brave troops, the object would have been attained ; unfortunately such was not the case, and an inconceivable fatality caused our failure.

The attack appears to have been prematurely commenced by General Mayran's division shortly before three o'clock ; a ilaming fuze from a bomb was mistaken by him for the signal agreed upon. General Pelissier says the first rush waa magnificent, but hardly had the heads of columns advanced when they were assailed by a shower of balls and grape. This overwhelming grape came not merely from the works we wanted to carry, but from the enemy's steamers also, which arrived with full steam on, and manoeuvred with equal good fortune and skill. We, however, must have inflicted some damage on them.

This furious fire had nrrested the efforts of our troops. It became impossible for our soldiers to march forward, but not one made a single step in retreat. The central attack had no better success. General Brunett had not yet been able to complete all his arrangements, when the cluster of rockets that were to serve as the signal burst in the air. For twenty to twenty-five minutes all the right had been prematurely engaged ; nevertheless, his troops marched with resolution, but their valour failed under the steady fire of the Russians, and against unforeseen obstacles.

On the left, General Beautemarre had not been able to engage before Brunett's division, but at the signal appointed for the assault, he led his troops with perpetualily, the sth Chasseurs and the 19th Regiment : they sealed the intrenchmrnt and entered the enceinte. Already the Sappers of the Engineers were planting the ladders for the remainder of the 19th and 26th Regiments. Our Eagles had been planted on the Russian works. Unfortunately this hope was speedily disputed.

Our Allies had encountered such obstacles in their attack on the great Redan, and they had met such a fire of grape, that in spite of their well-known tenacity, they had been already compelled to make a movement of retreat.

The want of simultaneous action in the attack of our divisions left the Russians free to overwhelm us with the reserves and the artillery of the great Redan. The Zouaves of the guards were sent up as a support, but, the movement no longer having the unity so desirable for a coup of this vigour, with one single division unsupported, neither on the right or on the left, and cut up by the artillery of the Redan, against which our Allies were suspending their attack, I did not fail soon to perceive that every favourable chance was exhausting.

A fresh effort would merely have occasioned a useless effusion of blood. It was half-past eight : I gave orders in all directions lo retreat to the trenches. This operation was effected with much order and coolness, and without pursuit of the enemy on any one point. The General snys in conclusion, all reckon that in the next struggle fortune will not disappoint valour.