The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

MARCH 3, 1855. Original Plus fro tte Criinta. We have been permitted to publish the follow ing amusing letter from an officer of the second division Camp before Sebastopol, Feb. 12, 1855. My dearest —, I don't know whatever you must all think of me, not having written to any one for three posts ; but I'll tell you the reason. I have been working like ten navvies for the last week building myself a house; it is gettting on stunning, and it will be a stunner when finished, and no mis take. It is built entirely of hewn stone, taken from a Russian quarry about a mile from this, where they (Russians) had been getting ready to make a fort which would have swept the plain we are on now, and commanded the approaches to the town on this side, but the sudden appearance of the allies after " the flank movement" interrupted them, and so they le ft the stones already hewn and squa red for us to build houses with—(very kind of them.) I have (no matter how—all's fair in war) obtained possession of a cart, and my cossack pony makes about eight journeys to the quarry every day. To-morrow (God willing and the weather permitting) the walls and gable ends will be finished, and then I put the roof on, which is to be made of planks, when I can get them. I intend going down to Cape Chersonese and getting on board the Algiers, ostensibly to see and (who are both on board of hcr), but in reality to make friends with —, and get some planks and nails out of him for my house. I hope my next letter will be dated from " the house." I got a letter the day before yesterday dated the 26th. • a • I'll tell you what. Most of the letters from here tell such awful lies; they exaggerate everything. They cram about the French like the devil. It quite riles me to read it. All I can say is, that the French that I have seen (General Bosquet's division), and whose camp I pass through every time I go to Balaklava (about twice a week), are ten times as badly off as us. They have NO HUTS WHATEVER — (vide Times, Jan. 26)—little or no warm clothing, and bad tents, about as big as this sheet of paper for six men. Our fellows (that is, what's left of them, about 25,000) are in perfect health ; they have (at least our regiment) so much warm clothing NOW that they don't know what to do with it; lots of grub, meat, potatoes, rice, split peas, coffee, sugar, and rum, each man every day. Standing at the door of my tent I can count thirty-two huts already up ; I can't see the third division at all, and at 13alaklava there is a wooden town all round. The Crimean Fund stores have arrived ; everything at cost price except tea-6d. a lb.! I saw in the Times an absurd story, that the English had been obliged to borrow great-coats from the French. What an idea! Console yourselves with the thought that it is an entire fabri cation, without foundation. I'll, tell you one thing, though :—the greater part of the French troops are landed by English men-of-war's boats; so young told me, who was up here a few days ago, and had luncheon with me. Pork and peas-pudding, Bologna sausage, white bread and butter, with brandy and water, was his fare—not a bad luncheon to get from one of the starving English in the Crimea. I only received your letter of the 26th this morning. I was very pleased with the contents of it; indeed it is thanks to it that I spare time from my house to write this, for I thought I couldn't leave such a kind and affectionate letter unanswered. In consequence of the promotions, &c., a great many officers out here (the juniors in each grade) have been sent home, and others brought out in their place. I can only say, that if I had the offer of going home to-morrow I wouldn't accept it. Not that I wouldn't much rather be at home, and long to see you all again; but, having come out here, I shouldn't like to go until I had seen the inside of Sebastopol, and. I will see it too, please God, and perhaps before another month is over—so rumours say. Besides, lam very jolly even in my tent; how much more so in a waterproof house, with a fireplace in it. I shall then have my bath every morning. I bought an indiarubber tub at a sale the other day for 21., and I also got a very good saddle (English) for 30s.—cheap ? A Russian picket-house was taken the other day close to Sebastopol, and, as you may suppose, directly I heard of it I was off there in the night to forage. I got as much wood as three men Zld two glass tumblers, and a looking. ready this week at Kulleli. The supply of beds and other things necessary from Lady Stratford has been of the greatest assistance. The Times' fund has also provided clothing and necessaries of wine, &c. Here Lady Stratford has been doing what Miss Nightin gale has been compelled to do at Scutari, and has in the great emergency provided those things which the purveyor could not supply at the time they were required. I imagine that these ladies would very gladly have been spared the trouble and annoyance of getting such necessaries had they not both found it impossible to gei, theta in any other way. Much has been done here in every department, but still much more is needed, and the needs grow daily. The rapid increase and continued change of sick outstrip every effort, or rather prevent the efforts being properly carried out. When thousands pour through the hospital in a month, and some times 300 are landed in one day, you cannot wonder at great difficulties arising. The feeding of 8,000 men, sick and well, in this country is no easy matter. Very great exertions have been, and are, making in every department; but only those who are in every part of the hospital can conceive how much is to be done and kept in order. The accounts of Mr. Mac donald, who is in charge of the Times' fund are un doubtedly true as to our wants, past and future. But I think he forgets how great a work has been done here since last September, and this by a staff weak in numbers. lam under the mark iu stating that 30,0()0 men have been in hospital since September, and preparation and comforts have been supplied for these, not at all times adequate, but still very great when these large numbers are considered. Mr. Macdonald hears more of our wants than any one, and I am sure only writes on what he hears and be lieves. But he cannot know how much has been done, and under what difficulties, as those do who live daily and hourly among them all. His most judicious distribution of the fund will ever be remem bered, and himself regarded as a kindhearted gen tleman. In addition to the works rapidly carried on at Kulleli, sheds for 1,000 men are nearly finished in the large square of the barrack hospital. They are a considerable distance from the building, and are wide enough to allow of four rows of beds. They are of wood, with tiled roof, and had not been com menced on the 15th of January, and Captain Gordon tells me will be ready this week. Sick are sent to-day to Smyrna, where hospital room is provided for 1,200 men, and 300 go at once. This will be a good change for the men, and also enable the medi• cal men here to thin the corridors of the hospitals, which, indeed, ought not to have a patient in teem. Miss Stanley and sixteen nurses are at Kulleli, and exerting themselves to the utmost. All the nurses who remain are now fully employed. Several are ill, and are, I fear, in a very dangerous state at Scutari. This gradual employment of the nurses has worked well; and they have all been at work long enough to give full proof of their usefulness and great success. I grieve to hear from time to time that some of the younger surgeons do not scruple to speak of Miss Nightingale and her nurses in a manner which does them no credit as gentlemen, and shows them to be very deficient in judgment and right feeling. It is past belief that any one can desire their absence, by which our poor fellows would be deprived of such. great comforts, and iu many cases of things needful for their very life. A better spirit will, 1 hope, yet animate them, learnt from the very persons they so disparage, who do not scruple to nurse night and day these very officers when sick or dying. With so rapid an increase of sick, you will too well know that the chaplain's work increases also, and the burials now are over eighty each day. There have been some changes, so I will give a list of who are here: — Barrack Hospital.—Rev. G. Lawless, Dr. Black wood, Hadow, Crosier, Sabin. General lospital.—Revs. J. M. Lewes and F. Hobson. Kulleli.—Revs. J. Mullett and 1). Freeth. Buller. suppose, direcily 1 heard 01 it 1. was WI uucLc........, ......... ----, night to forage. I got as much wood as three men most of the wards all the beds are occupied at the """"`" could carry, two glass tumblers , and a looking• glass. present time, but here again a few days will ma ke a Kulleli.—Revs. J. Hallett and 1). Freeth. The weather is very changeable—one day rain, and great change. Many of the men will be up, and Holes Rev. Buller. next frost and snow. It has been very cold, as the filled with hope of health and longer life, but some Rev. Mr. Bondier, Fellow of King's College, Cam- papers will have told you, I suppose. The cold welt- will have exchanged the hospital bed for the last bridge, is helping those who are ill. Besides these, ther agreed with me wonderfully, and if you were to cold bed, earth—here a bed most truly, since no Mr. Fergusson and Mr. Drennan are hers, taking see me now you would say you never saw me looking coffin closes in the blanket•sbrouded corpse. care of the Presbyterians. Mr. Owen has been here so well and fat. Nothing seemed to do me so much The sick who have come in during the last week for some days very ill, but is now recovering. Mr. good as twelve hours' night duty in an exposed aim- appear less emaciated and exhausted than those of Iladow and Mr. Hobson have both been ill, tion, without a blade of grass to shelter you, and a previous weeks, but the frost-bitten limbs abound, but are better. The work here is very severe, as 700 cutting north wind, accompanied with sleet and snow and these cases must long occupy the beds. Great or 800 men fall to each of us. But of these the —very unpleasant whilst it lasted, but then it gave exertions have been made at Ktilleli, which, in a very larger portion are convalescent, and do not need such me such a stunning appetite, and I had lots to satisfy short time, has been prepared for 1,000 sick. Only care as the dying and very ill do. This great !wea- n, and it makesyour tent seem sojolly in comparison. bare walls came into our possession, and now most sure of numbers must, we hope, soon be over, and lam very sorry to hear that some of my letters still of the requisites of an hospital are provided. The then we shall be enough for the work; probably continue to go astray. I hope that the one in which beds, bedding, and utensils for d r i n king, or d em before more could be appointed and sent out from I acknowledged the receipt of all those well-assorted linen provided by Lady Stratford, give this ho*pital a home the numbers will have decry 'd. This THE PRESS. boxes and parcels went right. I have received at last every one of the boxes, &c., that have been sent me, and most acceptable they were. 1 will just mention my dinner last night—l dined with a captain of ours—just to give you an idea of how we live in the Crimea now. Carrot soup, turbot (preserved), couple roast fowls, boiled barn potatoes and cabbages, " a dog in a blanket ;" after that, Welsh rabbits and lots of port wine—not so dusty, was it? Of course, everybody doesn't live quite so well as this, but I have turned out a first-rate forager, and always manage to get something good. This morning I had half a dozen eggs for breakfast, and I don't believe Lord Raglan himself had that. The fowls I got by —, from the Algiers; the soup was made from preserved carrots ; the "dog in the blan ket" I made with a pot of marmalade, discovered at the bottom (which I have just reached) of Fortnum and Mason's box. To morrow I mount my animal, and ride to Balakiava to try and get a sheep. Fresh meat is very scarce, consequently scurvy appears, but the preserved potatoes and lime juice which are now served out as a ration will stop all that. I Lave . been very busy, and shall be till my mansion is completed. When you get an oppor tunity will you send me a pair of winter regi mental bags, and tell --- to make them two inches larger about the body, as I am grown fat, and also to make them of rough cloth • also a shell jacket, made very long, so as to come below the hips two or three inches, with a couple of little pockets outside like a pea-coat. Now that we are getting better they are beginning to brush us up, and make us appear in uniform on parade. Epaulets are no longer to be worn in action. Here's the end of the paper, so my best love to all of you.—Your affectionate, (From a Correspondent at Scutari.) Scutari, February 12. The number of patients in the buildings used as hospitals here is now full 7,000, all under medical treatment. But these are not all in danger, nor in deed very ill. The majority when landed walked from the shore to the hospital, which is a sharp ascent here, and at the palace a full mile. All need rest and food, and medical attendance at first, but a week hence many will be up and dressed each day, and in a fortnight, perhaps, many discharged. When a great increase of sick has come into the hospital, for a few days every bed will be occupied all day, but we gladly see day by day the number of neatly rolled-up beds increase, while their occupants are chatting or reading by the stoves, or at a comrade's bedside. In ono ward, perhaps, eight or ten out of twenty-five or thirty only are in bed, while in the next only eight or ten, or two or three, are up ; and the number up or in bed depends mainly upon the length of time the men have been in, since time, and warmth, and food, are great restorers of our poor fellows' weakened frames. But while it is cheering to see so many up, we do not forget the many terrible cases of fever and dysentery, and still more terrible frost bites. A wounded man is now a rarity here ; and, indeed, it is pleasing to meet with one, since they listen so eagerly and intelligently to our words of advice or comfort, compared with the men reduced by fever, or other diseases. The walk, late at night, round the vast corriders here is a sight very striking and very touching. On either hand some eight hundred beds are placed in long rows, and all occupied. In the dim light all look alike, and the groan here, or feeble call there, remind one painfully of the suffering which many un undergo, and the mind insensibly concludes that all are suffering equally. To add to the solemnity of this scene, the only moving persons are a group of orderlies round a bed where the candle lights up the pale face of the dying soldier, while, perhaps, the medical officer devises means to keep body and soul together, or the chaplain prepares the soul for de parture from that worn-out and suffering body. In the general hospital the number of men up are about the same, and I think, generally, nearly half are able to dress each day. In the Palace Hospital not more than seventy or eighty, out of 400, are in bed ; and in the hulks not a quarter of the men are in bed. At Kulleli, which is filling with lately-ar rived sick, the number in bed is very large. In most of the wards all the beds are occupied at the present time, but here again a few days will make a of will be and better appearance than the others. These are all made after the French model, and are nearly the same as used by our allies in those admirable hos pitals at Vera. There is a daily improvement here in all sick re quisites, and more than was expected has been done in some three weeks. Room for 500 more will be