EVACUATION OF PETROPOLOSKI.
From files of San Franciscan papers received yesterday, the following very important and interesting intelligence is extracted. We avail ourselves of an extraordinary issue of the Argus, our own files being incomplete : —
It will be recollected that the allied squadron in the Pacific made an attack upon Petropoloski in the early part of last September, and, having been rather roughly handled, sailed southward without affecting the reduction of the place.
Petropoloski is the capital of Kamtschatka, and is a place of considerable importance. It is situated on a kind of inner bay, divided from the outer one by a sand bar which runs parallel to the town, leaving a narrow entrance for vessels seeking the inner harbour. It will be recollected that the Diana was moored behind this bar when the first attack was made on the place, and, being completely sheltered from the guns of the allied flee£ did good execution.
From time to time we have been advised of the movements of all the vessels belonging to the allied fleet in the Pacific to the northward, during the past spring, and it appears that it was determined that another attack was to be made on Petropoloski, and that its reduction was to be effected at any cost. Accordingly, in the early part of last May the allied fleet, augmented by the arrival of other vessels of war, appeared before the devoted town and commenced preparations for the attack. When they approached sufficiently near to be able to discern objects on the shore, they were greatly surprised to find that the American flag had been substituted for the Russian, and that a most extraordinary stillness reigned around. On landing, they found that the town had been deserted, and not a single human being remained save two Yankees, and a Frenchman who acted as their servant. From them they learned that orders had come from Siberia for the removal of the Russian troops to the garrison at the mouth of the Amoor River, and that the inhabitants had also fled to the village of Avatscha, some miles distant. Immediately after the desertion of the place, the American flag was hoisted by two Americans, who remained behind, as a signal to the allied fleet, which, it appears, was expected. The town, after the desertion of the garrison and the inhabitants, presented, of course, a very lonely appearance. Packs of dogs scoured through the silent streets in search of food. The houses were all tenfintless, and a solemn stillness reigned around. It appears that on the repulse of the Allies last fall, it was determined to strengthen the fortifications of the place, in order that they might be able to give them a warmer reception on their second appearance. The fortifications were composed of logs of wood, fascines, and earth, about fifteen feet in thickness, and the embrasures iudicated the fact that no less than fifty-one guns were mounted, and those of the heaviest calibre ; but, strange to say, not one of the guns, nor any of the ammunition and stores* could be found by the Allies when they arrived there last May. They were either carried to the Amoor River or buried. The probability is, that they were disposed of in the latter way. The arsenals, magazines, &c, which were principally frame buildings, were burned down by the Allies, and all the property belonging to the Government which could be found was destroyed. The stores and private dwellings were, however, scrupulously respected. From the two Americans, the Allies learned the particulars of the exodus of the garrison and the inhabitants. It appears that on the receipt of the news of the defeat, on the first attack, in England, the English screwsteamer Barracouta, fourteen guns, and the steamer Encounter, six guns, were ordered from China to Petropoloski, to watch the movements there. Both lay off the coast, about sixty miles from Petropoloski, during the whole spring ; but on the 1 7th April the whole garrison embarked on board the Aurora and the Dwina, and four merchantmen, and taking with them all their stores and ammunition, set sail for the Amoor River. The movement was not perceived on board the English steamers, in consequence of the thickness of the weather occasioned by the snow and fogs. The inhabitants all moved to the village of Avatscha, where the wife of the Commandant also remained, not being able to proceed with the troops, in consequence of the delicate state of her health at that time. Before leaving, the Allies destroyed all the fortifications, and erected a fence around the graves of Admiral Price (who it will be recol-
lected committed suicide just before the last attack was made on Petropoloski), and the English and French who fell on that occasion, having been drawn into an ambuscade -while marching upon one of the batteries by which the harbour was protected. It is difficult to divine what were the reasons of the Russians in abandoning the place. It was well fortified both by nature and art ; and the result of the first attack showed that the place could be successfully defended even against a larger force than the Allies 'could muster in the Pacific.
The Obligado, Captain de Rosencourt, left at Petropoloski the British vessel of war Trincomalee, on board which two Russian prisoners had been placed, for the purpose of exchanging them for a French sailor who had both his hands cut off in the attack made on the place by the Allies last fall, and was afterwards captured by the Russians. It is stated that he received the kindest treatment. The British frigates Pique and Amphitrite, after the destruction of the works at Petropoloski, sailed for the Ochotsk sea, and the remainder of the fleet for Sitka. The English vessels will proceed to Vancouver's Island, and the French to this port. A portion of the fleet will remain at the North for the present, and will cruise around the Aleutian Islands. The French steamer Prony may be expected here in a fe\* days. The population of Petropolosky, previous to the arrival of the allied fleet, is estimated by Captain Rosencourt, of the Obligado, to whom we are indebted for the above information, to have been about twelve hundred.
Captain Rosencourt brought back with him as trophies, a sledge used by the inhabitants in travelling over the snow with dogs, an anchor found in Petropoloski, a deer, and a Russian dog. The Obligado mounts twelve guns, 32-pounders— and two mountain howitzers, such as are used against the Indians in this country, and generally carried on the backs of mules. These were intended to be used on land, and all the vessels of the fleet were provided with them.
The following description of the town of Petropoloski, from a work entitled the "Directory of the Pacific Ocean," by A. G. Finlay, may not prove uninteresting : — " The town of Petropoloski, which is now at the head of the harbour, stands in an amphitheatre on the slope of two hills, which form the valley, and is simply composed of a gronp of small wooden houses covered with reeds or dry grass, and surrounded by courts and gardens with palisades. At the lower part of the town, in the bottom of the valley, is the church. It is remarkable for its fantastic construction, and for its roof, which, painted green, seems to add considerably to the effect of Jhe picture, surrounded as it is with lofty mountains. Arrived at the bottom of the port, you land on a plank, which holds the place of a mole, and pass directly before a guard-house, near which is a small battery. Turning to the left, down a good street, broad and macadamized, after passing the Government workshops in the centre of Petropoloski, and turning to the right after passing them, and crossing a wooden bridge, you pass the church on the right hand, and then reach the Government offices. These two streets are all that merit the name. The greater part of the houses outside of them are placed without any arrangement, and without any attempt at convenience or comfort. The general aspect of Petropoloski greatly resembles the French establishments at Newfoundland. The appearance of- the fish-dryers' houses and the strong smell of fish, give a greater degree of similitude. The houses are generally aliko, and are called Isbas (log-houses) ; the windows are sometimes of glass, but more generally of talc, from Ochotsk. WTien La Perouse visited it, the inhabitants generally lived on balagnans; now there is not a single one used. There is not a monument in Petropoloski except one, a simple column surmounted by a globe, surrounded by a railing, which bears an inscription c To Captain Vitus Behring,' in Russian. No edifice demands particular attention. In the church the rights of the Greek Church are conducted with great richness and solemnity. There is, besides, an hospital and a school."
[From the Correspondent of the San Francisco Herald.)
Petropoloski had been evacuated on th& 1/th of April by the Russians, the population, about 1,200 in number, having retired to the interior of the peninsula, carrying with them their effects. The authorities and garrison embarked on board the Aurora, the Dwina, and a transport, which proceeded to the Amoor with three American whalers, laden with the stores and the materiel of the place. When the Russian ships left, there were taro English war steamers, recently arrived froir China, off the coast. They had been despatched by the British Admiralty to intercept the communication of Petropoloski with the Amoor. Owing to the dense fogs, however, that prevail off the coast of Kamtschatka, the Russian convoy passed close to them without having been perceived. The escape of the Russian ships -was almost miraculous, loaded as they were with troops and materiel, and could have made but a feeble resistance,
The allied forces destroyed the forts and burnt all the government stores. As a port of rufuge or point of aggression, the efficiency of the place is destroyed during the present war. It will be sufficient to send a vessel, from time to time, to look in, a thing which can be done now without danger, to prevent the Russians from turning Petropoloski to any account until peace is proclaimed. The only inhabitants of the place, when the allied forces arrived, were an American merchant and his two clerks, and a runaway French seaman. One of these was despatched to the Deputy Governor of Siberia, who had retired to a village about four miles from the town, to offer to exchange some Russian prisoners then on board the Obligado, for two officers, one English and the other French, who had been captured by the Russians during the former affair. It was believed that they would be given up. The Russian Admiral, whose flag-ship, the Diana, was lost in Japan, had arrived at Petropoloski, in a small sloop, or lugger, with 150 of his men, a few days after the evacuatiou of the place. Without stopping, he proceeded to the Amoor. He, too, had the good fortune to escape the two English steamers outside, by taking advantage of the fog, and hugging the coast. • '"
The Russian ships of war are now all collected in the Amoor, and consist of the following:— The frigates Pallas and Aurora, the corvette Dwina, two steam-ships, and a few transports. It is believed that they have all been partly disarmed, and conveyed as far up the river as possible, so as to be placed beyond the reach of the guns of the allied squadrons. The mouth of the Amoor is defended by strong forts, and garrisoned by from eight to ten thousand men. Reinforcements are constantly coming down the river from Siberia.
The British and French divisions on the China station, forming a collective force of twenty vessels, including seven large war steamers, had sailed for the Amoor, where they were expected to arrive about the 15 th of July. There will be some hard fighting. The two British steamers which were cruising off Petropoloski had proceeded to the Amoor, with the Amphitrite. The latter vessel will return to San Francisco with the news of the result.
The allied forces, including the French frigates Forte and Aleeste, with corvette Eurydice, and the British line-of- battle ship Monarch ; the frigates President and Dido, and the screw steamer the Brisk, have gone to the Russian settlements in the Aleutian Islands and to Kodiac. They will pick up any Russian trading vessels that they may meet with. They will . afterwards look in at Sitka. If there are any Russian ships-of-war there, they will assail the place, and try to cut them out ; if not; they will respect it, unless provoked by the Russians opening the first fire. Sitka is placed beyond the sphere of hostilities by an agreement between the English and Russian companies, which their respective governments have sanctioned. The French do not. deem themselves bound by this agreement. It is not, however, likely that there will be any fighting at Sitka. The French squadron may be expected at tsan Francisco about the 10th of August. The English squadron will go to Vancouver's Island to refit ; the screw steamer Brisk, and one or two English vessels may, however, visit our port.
Admiral Fournichon, the commander of the French squadron, is a young officer of great energy and activity. His wife, an Irish lady, accompanies him in all his campaign. The British sloop-of-war Pique, has been ordered to the China seas.
The San Francisco Herald has the following remarks on the evacuation of Petropoloski : — The news of the evacuation of Petropoloski by the Russians, brought by the French brig Obligado, which arrived at this port on Thursday morning, has taken everybody by surprise. In the attack made upon them by the allied fleet last fall, the Russians showed that they were able to resist the attack of a much larger and more powerful fleet than the allies could bring against them in the Pacific. By that attack they were enabled to discover the weak points of their defences, and they left traces behind them which establish that they had been busy during the interval in strengthening them. In fact, they succeeded in mounting twice the number of guns which they had when the allied fleet first hove in sight. Petropoloski, situated as it is, in a strong natural position, the approaches to the fiarhour well protected with batteries which did- such tremendous execution on the first attack, and with fifty-one guns of the heaviest calibre mounted, could be sucessfully defended against a powerful fleet, and might eventually become a second Sabastopol. It is difficult to conjecture their reasons for the evacuation of the place. It is probable that an attack upon the fortifications erected at the mouth of the Amoor river was also apprehended, and as this is a much more important position than Petropoloski, they may have deemed it prudent to remove the garrison from the latter place in order to add to the strength of the former. To be sure, it was well understood that the allies would greatly augment their forces before attempting a second attack, but the victory achieved on the first occasion must have taught them that they would be more than a match for their antagonists. The position of the Russians at the mouth of the Amoor river is an important one. Finlay, in the work alluded to in another portion of this paper* says in relation to^this river : — " In almost every point of view, the Amoor river is the most valuable stream in northern Asia. Of all the large rivers of that boundless region, it is the only one that empties itself into a navigable part of the universal ocean. It is, in fact, the only highway of naturo that directly connects the central steppes of Asia with the rest of the world." By this river, the Russians have communication with Siberia, and as, according to M'Culloch, " in the lower part of its course, it flows through a comparatively rich, well cultivated country, it must at the present time be the channel of a very considerable trade, and there is, therefore, every reason in the world why the Russians should make every exertion for the defence of their position At its mouth.
Achievements of tiib iatb Captain* Eahclay. — In June, 1801, ho walked from Ury to Boroughbridge, in Yorkshire, a distance of 300 mile?, in fivo oppressively hot" days. His match for 5,000 guineas to perform 90 mile 3in 21£ hours, excited great attention. In a preliminary trial ho accomplished 110 miles at a rate equal to 135 miles in 2-1 hour 3 ; and ho gained tho 5,000 guinea matcl^on the 10th of November, 1801, by an hour and eight minute?, without being excessively fatigued. We shnll not detail his victories as a swift runner, although these »ro not tho least wonderful of his performance.", but shall notice tho feat, then unprecedented, of walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 successive hours. Believing that M could easily accomplish it, ho did not go into regular training. Precious attempts had failed, the pedestrians giving in at tho end of fifteen, twenty-two, or thirty days, from over-fatigue. Captain Barclay commenced his task at Newmarket, on tho Ist of June, nt midnight^ nn( l finished it forty-two days after, on the 12th of July, about three o'clock in the afternoon, amidst thousands of spectator?. The pain ho suffered during the journey was excessive; but although ho wns so stuT that he had to be lifted after resting, his legs never swelled, and his appetite remained good during tho wholo period. About £100,000 depended on tho match; but the most remarkable circumstanco attondin" it was, that after a sleep of about seventeen hours, when ho had finished tho journey, he was in perfect health and strength, iuul set off livo days after for Walcheren.
Tt was Bfated that Viscount Canning will leave this *ountry to resume his important duties in the East Indies in the second weak in August.
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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 1 December 1855, Page 2
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3,019EVACUATION OF PETROPOLOSKI. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 1 December 1855, Page 2
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