The Russians have left 400 prisoners in our hands. The number of their killed may be estimated at more than 3000, and of llieir wounded at more than 5000, of which number 1626 men and thirty-eight ofiicers have been taken to our ambulances. Among the slain found by us are the bodies of two generals, whose names 1 have not been able to ascertain. f2 The Sai'dinian arnij', which fought so valiantly at our side, has about 250 men hors dc comhat. It inilicted a much greater loss upon the encmj'. One hundred prisoners, and about 150 wounded, remain in its hands. I am sorry to announce to your Excellency that (ieneral De la jMarmora has informed me that General Count de Montevecchio, whose character and talents he greatly appreciated, was killed gloriously at the head of his brigade.
I must point out to your Excellency the rapidity with which General Scarlett's cavalry, placed at my disposal by General Simpson, came up. The martial appearance of these magniticcnt squadrons betrayed an impatience which the happy and prompt result of the battle did not allow me to gratify. The English and Sardinian position batteries, and the Turkish battery which Osman Pasha had sent to Alsou, fired with great precision and success. I thanked Osman Pasha for the promptitude with which he sent me six Turkish battalion;, under Sefer Pasha (General Koscielzki), four of which during the day occupied the passage near Tchorgoun. jSTotliing remarkable took place during the day on the Sebastopol side. General De Salles and Bosquet were, however, prepared to drive back with energy any attack of tlie besieged.
I send your Excellencj^ with this report the copy of the plan ibr the battle of the 16th, found upon the body of a Russian General, supposed to be General Eead, who conimanded the enemy's right, and was especially entrusted with the attack on Traktir Bridge. I am, &c., itc, Pelissier, Commander-in-Chief. As this battle really decided the fall of the place, inasmuch as it enabled the Allies to continue without fear of molestation' the armament of those tremendous batteries, wliich would have annihilated the whole forces of Russia inside the walls of Sebastopol, it may not be uninteresting to add the despatches of General Simpson, Avho was late on the field, and of General De la Marmora, who took an active part in directing the operations of the Sardinians on this memorable day.
General Simpson wrote as follows: — I'.ErOIlE SEnASTOVOL, Aiif/ust 18. IsIy Loeu, — In my despatch of tlie lith instant, I informed GENERAL SIMPSOx's DESPATCH. CO jour lordship tliat I had reason to helieve that the Eussians would attempt liy a vigorous attack to force us to raise the siege. This they endeavoured to do on the morning of the IGth, hut the result was most glorious to those of the Allied troops who had the good fortune to he engaged. The action commenced hefore daylight, hy a lieavy column of Russians, under the command of General Liprandi, and composed of the 6th and 17th Divisions, with the 4th and 7th Divisions in reserve, attacking the advanced posts of the Sardinians. The ground occupied hy them is on commanding hills on the right of the position, on the left bank of the JSouhaia river, where it forms its junction with the Tchernaya, with two advanced posts on the opposite side.
These were held with ver^'' determined gallantry for a considerable time, but being separated from their supports by the river, and not having the protection of artiller}', they were compelled to leave the most advanced one. About the same time, the 5th and 12th Divisions, to which wa.s added a portion of the 17th, advanced against the bridge of Ti-aktir, held by one battalion of French infantry of the line, wlio Avere for a short time obliged to yield and fall back upon the main supports; with these, however, they quickly retook the bridge at the point of the bayonet. Again the Eussians attacked with persevering courage, and were enabled to follow up their advantage by gaining the heights which rise precipitously on each side of the road; their success was but momentary — they were driven back across the river, leaving the ground covered with dead and wounded.