A WEEKLY < G ————_—_—_—_— | EDWARD WHELAN} Vou. IV. a ANIMATED DETAILS OF THE GRUAT BATTLE OF INKERMANN, THE RUSSIANS CREEPING OP TOS HFIGHTS IN THE wIST. Bara Osava, Nov. 6.—It had rained almost incessantly the aight before, and the early morning gave no promise of eny cessation of tho heavy showers which had fallen for the ious four-and-twenty hours. ‘Towards dawn a heavy | i settied down on the heights and on tle valley of, Wnkermann. The pickets ani moa on outlying posis were! @horoughly eaturated, aud their arias were wet, despite their | Precautions; and itis svarcely to be wondered at if there! orc some of them wha wore not quite as alert as seatries | Siould be ia the face uf an enemy; for it must be remem-_ ered that our small army is nearly worn our by its incessaat | labours, and tha: mea ou picket are frequently meu who have | had but «short respite from work in the treaches or from | regimenial duties. Phe fog and vapours of drifting rain | . eave 80 thick as morning broke that one could scarcely sec ¢@wo yards bofore him. At 4 o'clock the bells of the churches in Sebastopol were heard ringing drearily through the cold ight air, but the occurrence has been so usual it excited no} particular attention. During the night, however, a sharp-| eared sergeant ou an outlying picket of the Light Division | heard the sound of wheels in the vulley below, as though | they were approaching the position up the cile of the bill. | He reported the circumstauce to Mejor Bunbury, but it! was supposed that the souad arose from ammunition carts or | arabas going into Sebastopol by the inkermenn road. No} one suspected fora moment that enormous masses of Russians’ were creoping up the ragged sides of the heights over the | Valley of Inkermaun, on the undefended flank of the Seeond | Division. There all was security and repose. Little did! the slumbering troops in the camp imagine that a subtle and indefatigable enemy were bringing into position an over- whelming artillery, ready to play upon their tenta at the first glimpse of daylight. Sir De Lacy Evans had long been aware of the insecurity of this portion of our position, and had repeatedly pointed it cut to those whose duty it was to guard against the dangers which threatened us. [t was the) ouly ground where we were exposed to surprise, for a num- ber of ravines and unequal curves in the slope of the hills towards the valley lead up to the crest and summits, agzinst | the adverse side of which our right flank was resting without guns, intrenchmenis, abattis, or outlying defence of any kind, A battery was thrown up with sandbags and gabions and fascines on the slope of the hill over Inkermann on the ast, but no guns were mounted there, for Sir De Lacy Evans thought that two guns in such a position, without any works to support them, would only invite attack and capture, In the action of the 28th Oct., the enemy tried their streogth almost on the very spot sclested by them this morning, but it may now be considered that they merely made a veconnais- sance in force on that occasion, and that they were waiting for r2inforcements to assault the position where it was most vulnerable. DISCOVERY OF THE RUSSIANS ADVANCING IN FORCE. It was a little after 5 o’elock when Brigadier-General Codri visited the outlying pickets of his brigade of the Light Division. It was reported to him that “all was well.” and the General entered into some conversation with Captain Peetyman, of the 43rd, in the course of whiecl it was remark- ed that it would not be at all surprisivg if the Russians availed themselves of the gloom of the morning te make an attack on our position, caleuluting on the effects of the rain | jn disarming our vigilance and spoiling our weapons. The Brigadier retracted his steps through the brushwood towards the lives, but had ovly proceeded a few paces when a sharp rattle of musketry was heard down the hill and on the left of CHARLOTTETOWN, rwith his brave fellows of the Light Division—the remnants French at this moment came up, and reinforced our broken | upsuppo leart’s body was afterwards recovered, with a bullet wound in the pickets of the Light Division. It was here that the| of the Second Division were stationed. Gen. Codring- | ton at once turnel his horse’s head in the direction of the! firing, and in a few moments galloped back to turn out his _division. The Russians were advancing ia force upoa us! Their gray greatcoats rendered them almost invisible even when close at hand = The pickets of the Second Division had searcely made out the advancing lines of infantry who were elambering up the steep sides of the hill through a drizzling shower of rain, ere they were forced to retreat by a close sharp volley of musketry, and were driven up towards the brow of the hill, contesting every step of it, and firing as long as they had a round of ammunition on the Russiau ad- vanee. The pickets of the Light Division were assailed soon afterwards, aud were also obliged to retreat and fall back on | tueir-meia body. PREPARATIONS OF THE RUSSIANS TO ANNIHILATE THE ALLIES, About the same time a demonstration was made by the ot artillery, and a few infantry, in the valley against Bala Clava to divert the attention of the French on the heights above, and to occupy the Highland Brigade, and | marines, but only an interchange of a few harmless rounds of canuon and musketry took place, and the enemy conrented thomselves wite drawing up their cavalry in order of battle, | supported by field artillery, at the neck of the valley, in | readiness to sweep over the keights and cut our retreating | troops to picces should the assault on our right be successful, | A Semaphore post had been erected on the heights over | twanu in communication with another on the bil! over! their position, from which tke intelligence of our defeat! was to be qonveyed te the Cavalry General, and the news|! would have been made known in Sebastopol by similar | Means, in order to eRoourage the garrison to a general sortie along their front. A steamer with very heavy shell gans and mortars was seut up by night to the head of the’ ereek at Inkermann, and cavsed much injury throughout the | day by the enormous shelle ske pitched rigut over the hill | our men. ae a | victory to their eagles—if they have any—was done by the | Rassian Generals. The presence of their Grand Duke! Michael Nicholavitch, who told them that the Czar had. issued orders that every Frenchman and Eoztichian was to. be driven into the sea ere the year elosed, cheered the com-| mon soldiers, who regard the son of the Emperor as an in- earnation of the Divine Presence. They had abundance of @ coarser and more material etimualant, which was found in their canteens and flasks. ‘of tne action we were all extended over the field, und looked out for our officers, and did our best to Jook out tor The men in our camps had just, began a strugg’e with the ing to light their fires for breakfast, when | the alarm was given that the Russians were advancing in. ALARM IN TBE ERITISH CAMP—THE BATLLE BEGUN. rain in Peuneluther at once got the troops coe ares. Bir —_ under 1 ' : a ge ‘ ; ; ; wo Ae. ue Oa Co C—O LE OE. EO = a ae x ae ae ‘alarm was also sounded, accompanied by a continual fire of JOURNAL OF POLTEICS, LITERATURE AND NEWS. Chis ts true Liberty, wijen Fre~born Men, haviirg Seis ene os mares = <= of the 7th Fasiliers, of the 19h, of the 23d, of the 33d, and the 77ih und the 88th, under Brigadiers Codrington and Buller. As they began to move across the grount of the 2d Division, they were at once broug':t under fire by an un. seen enemy. The gloomy character of the morning was'| unchanged, Showers of rain fell through the fogs, and turned the ground into aclammy soil, like a freshly plougined field, and the Ruvsians, who had, no doubt, taken the bear- ings of the gound eve they placed their guns, fired at ran- dom indeed, but with too much effect on our advancing co- lumns. While all the army was thus in motion the Duke of Cambridge was not behind hand in bringing up the Guards under Brigadier Bentinck—all of his divis:on now left with him, as the flizhlanders are under Sir Colin Campbell at Bala Clava. ‘These splendid troops with the greatest rapi- dity and ardour rushed to ihe front on the right of the Second Division, and gained the summit of the hills to- wards which two columns of the Russians were struggling in the closest order of which the nature of the ground would admit. THE DEATH OF SIR GEORGE CATHCART. Sir George Cathcart, seeing his men disordered by the fire of a large column of Russian iufantry which was outflanking them, while portions of the various regiments composing his division were maintaining an unequal strugyle with an over- whelming force, rode down into the ravine in which they were engaged, to rally them. He perceived at the same time that the Russians had actually gained possession of a portion of the hill in rear of one flank of his division, but still his stout heart never failed him for a moment. He rode at their head encouraging them, and when a cry arose that the am- munition was failing, he said coolly, ** Have you not got your baycnets?” As he led on his men it was observed that another body of men had gained the top of the hill behind them on the right, but it was impossible to tell whether they were friends or foes. A deadily volley was poured into our svattered regiments. Sir George cheered them and led them back up the hill, but a fight of bullets passed where he rode, and he fe!l from his horse elose to the Russian column. The inen had to fight their way through a host of enemies, and lost fearfully. They were surrounded and bayonetted on all sides, and won their despecate way up the hill, with dimin- ished ranks, and the loss of near 500 men. Sir George Cath- the head und three bayonet wounds in the body. MURDEROUS FEROCITY OF THE RUSSIANS. In this struggle, where the Russians fought with the greatest ferocity, and bayonetted the wounded as they fell, Col. Swyny, of the 634, a most gallant officer, Lieut. Dowling, 20th, Major Wynne, 68th, and cther officers whose names will be found in the Gazette, met their death, and Brigsdier Goldie (of the 57th Regiment) received the wounds o! which he has since deed. The conflict on tho right was equally uncertsin and equally bloody. In the Light Division, the 88th got so far into the frout that they were surrounded and put into utter confusion. when four companies of the 77th, ander Major Straton charged the Russians, broke them, and relieved their comrades. The fight had not long commenced ere it was evident that the Russiuns had received orders to fire at all mounted officers. Sir George Brown was struck by a shot, which weut through his arm and struck his side. { saw with regret his pale und sternly composed face, as his body was borne by me on a litter early in the day, his white hair flickering in the breeze, for L knew we had lost the service of a good soldier tizat day. BRAVERY OF TIE GUARDS, AND RETREAT OF THE ENEMY: Further to the right a contest, the like of which, perhaps, never took place befure, was going on between the Guards and dense columns of Russian infantry of five times their number. The Guards had charged them and driven them back when they perceived that the Russians had outflanked them. They were out of ammunition too. ‘They were un- certain whether there were frieuds or foes in the rear. They had vo support, no reserve, and they were fighting with the bayonet against an enemy who stoutly contested every inch of ground, when the corps of another Russian column ap- peared on their right far in the rear. Then a fearful mitraiile was poured into them, and vollies of rifle and musketry. Tue Guards were broken; they had lost 12 officers, who fell in the field; they had left one-half of their number on the ground, and they retired along the lower road of the valley. ‘bey were soon reinforeed, however, and seedily avenged their loss. Tae Freuch advanced about 10 o'clock, und | turned the flauk of the enemy. Tue Russians retired at 1,40, | with a loss of 9.000 killed and wounded. EVENTS OF THE BATTLE.—LETTER FROM A SERJEANT OF THE ]sT BATTALION RIFLE BHIGADE. “Camp before Sebastopol, Nov. 8th, 1854. “ My dear Mother and Father,—Whilst the reveille was | sounding, at sunrise last Sunday morning, 5th Nov., the musketry; our pickets were retiring, and horse-videttes gal- lopivg in all directions. The news was soon told; we were PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1855. to advise the Public, man speak free—-EURIPIDES. OR any PUBLISHER » [EDIE ae eS eek diehard No. 26. a a ne tgreene n es ‘» a =e Sos ee SSI = rted; but too latethe enemy's skirmishers had and shattered ranks, who were retiring steady, aud seiling come up to the guns. However, five out of the stxescased: every inch of ground most dearly. When the red caps of and one of our men secing the last, as was then s?, “Aticestors the Zouaves, aud green of the Chasscurs de Vincennes regi-| certain to be taken, judiciously spiked it. The gun © meut appeared above the ridge of the hill, * forward’ was | to a division of our battery, to which was attaché given with an English hurrah ; at them they went, and then | Miller,“one of our lieutenants; and poor Major To so was thet you eould see the enemy tasting British steel. During the} turning round his horse, secing what was likely to minh whole day the troops had not, nor cov!d they get, anything! cried out, * You won'tdisgrace me.’ The words were lia bay of to eat from the night previous (the 4th instant,) until 11) out of his mouth when a sbell burst in atnongst us, end One Noy e’clock the same night (the 5th.) I shall always remember | unfortunate fragment struck him on the head, and lit the 5th Novembor; it was a Gunpowder Day, and no mis-! crushed it to pieces, of course cas hith immediately. take. Three times I had my pouch and ball bag filled with| Miller drew his swocd, and, single-hapded, galloped his horas ammunition. Brigadier General Buller (our old colonel at) towards the gun, riding down one, and cutting down a secorid the Cape) fad two horses kilied under him. We dismounted | Russian. He alone turned aside a dozen of the enemy, and one of their guns, but the begzars ran off with it, and left} we recovered the gun. Wasnot this a most plucky thing te the carriage. ‘his has been a harder-fought battle, and a|do? He returned with his gun without having received greater loss on our side than Alma. Several of my old| even a seratch, Our poor fellows were dreadfully knocked chums were shot, and { am sorry to state two have not been) about. We had 23 killed and wounded. We now retired heard of since the battle—one, Colour Serjeant Nosley, and} beyond the hill, aud as 1 was walking my horse along one of the other Serjeant Brett ; the latter has a brother a lieuten-} the officers of the horse artillery rode up to me and told me unt in the regiinent, a commission given gratuitously. Since} that the general was wounded. I, with him, immediat we have been out we have lost upwards of 200 men, either! turned off, and found poor Geacral Stranzways lying on the’ died, killed, wounded, or missing. Is not a life like this) ground, with his left leg shattered to atoms. He asked me dreadful? Military glury—smoke on ruins! Do you re-| who I was; and when I told him, said * Now, remember, [ member, when once standing under the verandah of the offi- | die the death of a soldier.” He was bleeding profusely, and cers’ mess at Portsmouth, just before parade time, you noticed | I put a tourniquet on his leg, and got four of our men to a very tall young man, rather pale, who had his belt on, and | carry him on a stretcher to the rear. He died very shortly, Utold you he was having his portrait taken for a gentleman | and never recovered the sheck of theinjury. I now returned in Portsmouth, and used to go every morning to the artist’s ?/to the battery, but before I arrived was again called on tu Well, poor fellow, he was made a colour-serjeant last week,| see General Goldie, whom I found most fatally wounded. und was killed on Sunday—shot through the heart. The| Leaving him, as nothing could be done in his case, I cantered ruffianly devils, not feeling satisfied after the poor fellow was! up the hill on my way to the battery, and had the red strips | dead, bayoneted him ; however, I shot the rascal as he with-| on my trowsers torn away by a shell, but most providentially drew from his body, and as I knelt by his corpse (my com-| I escaped unhurt.” rade’s,) with his cold, damp hand in mine, those words of Luana saan Gk Wf au asses me, Byron’s came to my memory— i J os mtg A ree ‘oat siaak’ tbe Giakay ‘ted Sir,—I send you short extracts of two letiers,one from my Aud tavst I leave thee withbring here? beloved brother, written on the 2 inst., and the ether dated The spot of every ruffian’s tread? the Oth, iuforming me of the noble way in which my poor The mark of every Onsphak’s.apeer’ 5 brother fel! while leading and urging on his company in the We have three colour-serjeants killed. Colour-serjeant C. desperate charge against the enemy, in whieh his General, Ablett desired his kind regards to be tendered. [havea fez! Sir George Cathcart, also was killed :— “Heights of Sebastopol, Nov. 2. cap for you; should I not return, apply to Colour-serjeant U. A. for it. That these few straggling lines will find you all enjoying the best health, cheerful spirits, and happiness,| ‘If you could see us, you would see the faces of our mon is the sincere and heartfelt wish of your ever affectionate son.”’| worn down with disease and alinost incessant hard work, No, other class of men in this world could have behaved as thoy have done, and all without a murmur. Every one, however, is thoroughly tired out with it. The cold at night is some- thing to read of, but certainly not to be experienced if pos- sible to be avoided. The night before last Thad the pleasure of trying it, without even my tent overmy head. It was m first night on picket since we have had frost. However, it is of no use compiaining,. though I cand diy confess I dread the winter for our men, We have no warm clothing, What would [ not give for my baffalo robes, or even a sensible |blanket! Never mind—cheer, boys, cheer! If we return, ‘how heartily we shall enjoy our after lifo, whatever it may be, after this! As for the siege, we fire at their batteries and they fire at ours, if anything, a litte faster. We stand a chance of being shot every day, aud lead the most miserable life possible. Every day we are told that in three or four more Jays we are to storm the place, but now I never believe a word I hear. I suppose people in England are disappointed that we have not taken it yet, but if you saw the guns that are day and night sending their messengers of Ceith amon us, you would not so much marvel, although [ for one, aud very many good soldiers in’ the army—our own General’ (Cathcart) among the number—think we shou!d have carried the place by a emda main. the day we took up position. Great would have been the sactine tf, but I doubt rauch if we do not lose very far more when We do carry it, to say nothing of the thousands lost in the ee That we | must eventually carry the place by assault, noo ae moment doubts, and the enemy have had more than aemouth to prepare a fearful reception for us, and obtain seinfores- ments of thousands, which are now hovering round us» I am very tired, and know not what the night may brin forth. I may be in the trenches, or under the walls of Ses bastopol on outlying picket. I am not fit for either, but, as I said I was well enough to go iuto the field yesterday, E . a} . the time the Russians retreated these fellows in the city made sunt daxeaale Se eens “Si ; sully on the French, which was repelled “ gallant style, | atest tienen Ses anne Sane ol e allowing them right up into Sebastopol, and had they (the! ® . 7 . eed French) had forke euffitient we should have made a mechan ee a oxietonely peinhel. . Boreeah af ae Sows ere naan | 30 bad that they are obliged to be sent on board ship. I am When inside ‘they: found the very thankful [ am not worse. I can assure you that you within the walls of the city. 3) « : : ‘“ os % } DY dad ater , streets barricaded and batteries flanking each, so we shall jittle know what we have gone through in this campaign, and u9W bravely our men bear ai], * ¥ ee * > ‘ ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS FROM THE VICTORS. ‘““THE RUSSIANS ACTED LIKE DEVILS. “HM. 5. , oft Scbastopol, Nov. 8, 1854. “ My dear , Having just heard there is a mail to leave ulmost immediately for England, I hasten to give you all the news L can. In the first place, the bombardment is going on as brisk as ever, But on Sunday, the dth, there was a battle fought, such as never the annals of English history can surpass, or [ coubt if ever equalled, It was a battle indeed. At six a. m., between 80,000 and 40,0u0 Russians attacked our lines (not the French, or Turkish), but our own dear countrymen. Such a scene. Bala Clava and the attack on Sebastopol I thought grand, but all sink into nothing when compared with that on our lines. What would you have given to have seen our brave Coldstream | Guards charge, and cut their way through solid masses of Russians; they cut, and were eut to pieces. It makes my blood run cold, even now, when I think of the sight. Our troops were al, engaged, except those empleyed in the trenches and our guard at Bala Clava. Tie Russians fought well ; and bravely, but-acted like devils, for-they-bryonetted all th 1e wounded as they lay on the field of battle, aud spared none. The gallant 88th and the Zouaves (a French regiment) charged together as one regiment, and were completely mingle]; you could not tell one from the other, and put all to death that came in their way. When in the act o! charging, an Irishman, one of the 88th, recognized a long- lost brother in one of the Zouaves, and together they fought till* the close of the action, both escaping unhurt. The hattle raged till thre? p. m., when the Russians were in ful! retreat, leaving betweeu 9,000 and 10,000 dead and wounded, | and eeveral thousand prisoners. During the day there were | several thousand Russians leoking on not far from the French lines, and sipposed to be about 25,000 in Sebastopol. At o enn have a job when we do get in. ‘The Russiats left nearly | 1,000 dead and wounded in that sortie. Nearly at the time! these fellows attacked the French lines our trenches were attacked and some guns taken, which we retook before they! «Came, Sunpax, Nox,.5.—Awoke out of a. sound sleep had time to spike them. ‘The fighting lasted till past six P-’ this morning by tho assembly being sounded at about 6. 30. n., and [ hear the Allies have seatly 8,000 hors de combat. | By 7 o'clock we were on the March. It was a cold, raw, Report says. a few days previous 22,000 Russians arrived inisty moruing, and we started without any breakfast,for the and were taken into Sebastopol}, and more arriving; so that) firing, not only from artiliery but also from musketry,.om a ee Wa Se eee een, Se ened ae eee Nt our right, showed tuat the Russians were attacking in foree, so, God help us. : ; THE WORK OF TIE ARTILLERY AT INKERMANN. attacked in our rear by General Luders, with 40,000 men, and the army we bad in keeping at bay in Sebastopol made | au advance in our trout, Our regiment being under arms at he time brought us into action immediately; we were 310, | officers and men, ou entering the field, and returned with | more than one-third kijled and wounded; our loss are—4 officers, 12 serjeants, 1 bugler, and 97 rank and file killed and | wounded, and some have not been heard of, but are supposed | ‘to have been taken prisoners. I know you will sympathise} turned out, having no horses or guns to look after. with ug all kere in our great loss—viz., the father of our regi- | ment— poor fellow !— General Sir George Cathcart, who was art shot thruugh the heart; he was writing orders on a piece of | paper, to give to ore of his aide~de-camps, who stood by bim | . , ime: i ; ne that could be done to bind #t Me time; our ren no sooner saw it, than a murmur ran ne down the line—a shout !—and into the enemy’s riflewen we. dashed; they flew like chaff, uo quarter was given or asked, | for at this time fresh reiuforcemenis came to their assistance. | A division of their infantry drove our right buck ; we had | no support. Whatwas to be dove? Threatened on our iett, by a horde of Cossacks, backed by a battery of their guns,’ which played shell aud cannisier shot among our troops, so that you could not bear any one an unless be brought is mouth close to your ear. Amid the crash and debris number one. Qur Joss wus great at the time we were re- tiring, the different British regimeuts being cumplete'y bro- kev, and mixed up amongst ove anther; you would hear officers trying to find their wen, and colonels taeir regiments ; Brown had raebed up to the front} al) this coourred through want of up immodiate support. ‘Tle, aid moe wean tee T £. Did sees’ . bg 8 : No reinforcements for us, but the French ard not an instant could be lost. On arriving at the scene of expect some ina few days. ¢ Among the Siew an | action, our orders were to take up a position on the left, and [2 third man was drunk—no wonder’ they fought 1f _ open fire immediately. We aceordivgly moved of the main devils. | road into the brushwood, but after proceeding for about a HOW YOUNG MILLER SAVED THE GUN.—LETTER FROM AN couple of buadred yards in this direction became utterly be- f f - J 1 - y OFS{CRE IN THE ROYAL ARTILLERY. | wildered. The mist and smoke prevented our seeing more “ We advanced through severzl camps, consisting now of than five-and-twenty yards ahead. We knew that our troope only the untenanted teuts of many regiments, as they had/ were on the right, bat whether there were aty ia advance Upon ready to support us, and where the enemy were whom we our left we heard the roll and saw the smoke of our field | were to engage — all this Ss inystery. Soon the Minie illery, and we weut on until arriving at a spot where I} bullets, with their peculiar * ping,’ came ine shower around e Minie balls flew | us, 2ad, as my two guns happened to be in advanee, I asked about us like hailstones—an old simile vo dout, but yet; Major T if 1 should ride forward and Teconuoitre. He ver mind. Our poor Major (Townsend) had his horse! assented, and 1 cantered on. Not far off J meta regiment order retreating, led by two mounted Officers, and may say, in all the sincerity of truth, th shot under him, snd I hd my mare wounded in two places|in open ; ; by ‘Minie’ balls as we still advanced (neither animal being | fring a stray shot occasioually, but not attempting to make ; disabled) up a gentle slope; but bad not got very far, thea stand. L asked where the Russians were. /They told mes , shot and sheil falling thick all around us, when we met part|* close in front,’ and that their own ‘skirmishers were being’ of an infantry regiment retiring, overpowered by numbers. | driven back. Thea form ep, I suid, ‘im rear of our gums, © Tne crest of the bill was covered with smoke, and the entire} and we will fire upon them.” o my «astonishment he gave ground there thickly clothed with brushwood, through which | the word ° doubie.’” The man had passed the guns before” we with the greatest diffieulty moved the guns, Suddenly they could be brouzhtanto aetion, th did not form in rear, the sinoke va away, and we discovered the Russian in- and, to my horror, 1 saw advancing throngh the brushes the fantry in great force within ten yards of us. I shall never | Russian infantry, now close. ou PROWPENS _ with shrill, forget the aspect of these fellows, dressed in their Jong grey shouts of exultution, and keeping up a constar as they advanced. Qniy one chance was left— of ease at them and-retire at once. But it woul quired the steadiest veterans to carry out such an order that our men were. eons:derabl ~ ae ous:derably coats and flat gluzed caps, firing most deliberately atour poor guniers, and picking them down like so many oe, oe us tuis tie were under a very heavy fire of shot and shell.’ Major Townsend saw at once the critica! position of the guns, effect; and I mnst admit th eden to reuive, us we were quite| urri.d. Tuo limbers drove away. before. the hap . — oe _