The whole line from Eaidar to Inkermann is so long that even in the del'ence of it rapid dispositions may become necessary, which can only take place if one man command all along the line; but this bficomes even much more necessary if — as for instance, in the late attack — the routed enemies ought to be pursued, or if an offensive movement takes place on our side. With the best understanding rapid movements become impossible if they must be combined among different commanders occupying different sides of the battlefield, and, while the measure which should be taken is being decided upon, the favourable opportunity is lost. At any rate, there ought to be some arrangement as regards' the Turks. When Omar Pasha left he gave his instructions to Osman Pasha.
As these instructions seem to be very narrow, they throw serious impediments in the way whenever it becomes^ necessary to use Turkish troops. Wliat an absurd state of things, that a Commander-in-chi.ef should go away and leave behind him such fettering instructions to his representative, who has to act in concert with the other commanders, and who is supposed to be independent. It is time that an end was put to this interregnum. If the news is truo which arrived yesterday from Constantinople, this will soon be the case. The news is that j\Iehemet Ali Pasha, the brother-in-law of the Sultan, and late Seraskier, is going to tako the command of the Turkish army In the Crimea, and that Omar Pasha is going to Asia to reorganize an army there.
Together with this news, the report CONTEMPLATED ATTACK. 8^ of the taking of Erzeroum by the Russians has arrived. I give it 3'ou as I heard it. Every one speaks with the greatest praise of the behaviour of the Sardinian troops. Their artillery rendered important service, partly bj' subduing the lire of the enemy's guns in the plateau opposite, partly in (;rushing the columns of attack by takingthem in flank. There was also a battery armed with English position-guns, which kept firing at the Eussian artilleiy on the plateau nearest to the plain. Scarcely a shot missed. The Sardinian infantry drove back the Russian riflemen on the banks of the river in the most gallant style. They advanced with the steadiness and precision of old troops, and made their evolutions under the lire of the enemy with as much precision as if they had been on parade.
The Sardinians also followed up immediately the retiring enemy, and took several hundred prisoners and wounded. What struck me most in all the movements of the Sardinian troops was that quiet self-possession which speaks a great deal for their discipline and organization, they seemed to be so well in hand. This is so much the more remarkable as cholera and fever, which have been ravaging them since their arrival, have been enough to demoralize the best army; the oi'ganizatiou and material which could withstand such a shock must be admirable indeed. Camp before Sebastopol, Jngust 24. Orders were given this morning that no officer or man should quit the camp. An attack is expected, and the army is on its guard. Large bodies of Russians have been seen to issue from, the town, and it is thought they meditate an onslaught upon the Sardinians.
It may possibly prove a false alarm, like many others that we have lately had. On the 21st, on retu.rning to camp from sending off my despatch, I found the troops nnder arms. The enemy had been observed in motion on the heights beyond the Tchernaya. Nothing came of it, nor of other similar recent alarms, but the qtci vive is becoming our habitual state. It is to be hoped this vigilance may not be relaxed at the moment Avhen it is most needed. The general opinion seems to be that the Russians will make a second attempt on the Tchernaya line, combined probably with attacks on other points. It is thought they will come on in gTeat force, and it is therefore desii-able we should have strong reserves in readiness, in order that tlie ultimate triumph, on which we confidently reclcon, may not be limited to the recapture of positions snatched hy the first heavy onset of overwhelming numbers.