The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

so doing they tiro oompletely sheltered from the enemy's
batteries, though all the picket has to pass within about
two hundred yards of an old house quite close to the Russion
lines, though not occupied by them. Yesterday the picket
was passing it as usual, when to their utter astonishment
one whole wall of the house fell to the ground, unmasking
as it did so a party of Russian artillerymen and one gun
already laid and pointed. Had the Russiansfired instantly
our picket would undoubtedly have suffered considerable
loss. As it was, a second's delay took place—quite suffi-
cient to allow our men time to throw themselves on their
faces as a match was applied to the gun, and a heavy charge
of grape whistled over them harmless. The enemy
attempted to load, but the alarm had been given, and so
close a tire of musketry was kept up from the " Ovens " and
the picket on all who approached the gun, that the Rus-
sians, after losing several men, gave up the attempt, and
retired. With this our fellows were content—capturing the
gun was out of the question, as a cross fire from the
Russian works commanded the approaches to the place.
IMring yesterday two or three shots from the English and
French batteries dismounted the gun, and destroyed the
remains of the house too effectually ever to permit of
another being concealed there. These two incidents are
almost the only ones which have occurred to break the usual
monotony of our existence. Latterly we have been so dull
and idle that it seems quite inexplicable to us all how the
English people can take such an interest in what we do, or
rather what we do not do.
The brigade of Guards has received a reinforcement of
six hundred fresh men within the last fortnight, yet now
the whole effective strength of the three regiments is, I
believe, only 1,150. Had not the reinforcements arrived,
this, which was the finest brigade in the service, would
have mustered about five hundred serviceable men. In
other corps the mortality has been even greater. lam
well aware that a large percentage must always be allowed
for the accidents and hardships of a campaign, yet I think
if any one will take the trouble to compare the number of
troops which have left England with the number who are
now actually serving here, they will find that the mortality
in this expedition exceeds by about five thousand that of
the most disastrous campaign, even including Walcheren.
The causes of this are sufficiently obvious to all who are
out here. Bronze men would have sunk under the work
and the complete and inceasant privation. In England,
groom or farmer would have been thought insane who ex-
posed his cattle to half the privations which our troops
have been compelled to undergo unnecessarily. I say
" unnecessarily," for all our disasters have arisen, not only
from the neglect of the most common and easily-adopted
precautions, but actually from the hindrance of them when
they would have been adopted by others. It will now, I
suppose, be said that it never could have been foreseen
that our men, being always wet and cold, and living en-
tirely on salt pork and biscuit, would get scurvy, though it
was spoken of everywhere SA a thing which must occur,
even as late as the end of October last. Here we are now
at the commencement of January with the scurvy rite
among us and nothing done.
Twenty thousand pounds judiciously expended iii the
purchase of fresh meat and vegetables two months ago
would have kept our troops healthy. Now it will require
nearly 100,0001., and even with this our loss from the want
of these timely preventatives will be little short of ten
thousand men. Huts, capable in all of accommodating
about two hundred men, have been erected at the camp.
Beyond these few all the rest of the troops still continue
under canvas, and must, in the ordinary course of things,
remain so until the end of February or beginning of
March, when we may fairly look for better weather. There
is no disguising or softening down the fact—from first to
last this expedition has been most grossly mismanaged.
Sooner or later the truth will transpire, though I fear
not until a host of victims will have been added to
the melancholy catalogue of those who have already
perished.
THE CAVALRY CHARGE.

Among the numerous private letters received from
the camp, we print the following from a Troop Ser-
geant-Major in the Bth Hussars :
Near Balaklava, Dec. 22.
Dear Father,—T have no doubt you feel anxious to hear
of my welfare in this truly dreadful country, but I must not
dwell on all we have suffered or are likely to suffer before
this fearful struggle is at an end.
With regard to myself, I am as comfortable as I can well
he in the camp, as I fortunately have good clothes, but
many of our poor fe.lows have hardly a shoe to their feet
or clothes to their backs, and yet are obliged to do the most
arduous duty, although so diminished in numbers ; in fact,
the three troops in camp would hardly make one of the
strength we came out.
The troop which composes Lord Raglan's escort has not
suffered much, as it was not at the horrible engagement at
Balaklava, nor on the heights of Inkermann, where we lost
so many horses through starvation and the inclemency of
the weather. We are all better off now, as we are close to
the town, and can get supplies for ourselves, but it. is galling
to think that we lost mo':e horses, &c., through the above
means than we should probably have done from the most
severe fire of the enemy.
You received my former letter, describing the dreadful
2.5 th. By the by, no better description can be given than
that of the Times reporter, and I am glad to see our brave
and gallant colonel ( Shewell ) has been promoted through it.
He richly deserves it ; and but fur his coolness and bravery
there would have been an end to the light brigade. Well
indeed our noble men followed his example. No men could
work better, and their line in advance through the Russian
artillery, as well as through their cavalry, could not be sur-
passed on Hounslow-heath.
After we had sabred and passed their artillery at the end
battery the word was given, The Russian cavalry are in
our rear ; make ready to charge !" Some officer gave the
word " Retire by threes from the right." Our brave colonel
shouted out immediately, " Steady, my brave men !" in a

SATURDAY,

cool but determined voioe, followed by " Right aka&
wheel." We were all at this time in full gallop, and this
movement brought the officers and front rank facing the
Russian cavalry ; and when we were well in line, the
brave fellow said, " Follow me —charge !" He led us
on, and how he escaped is a miracle, for he was the first
who came up to that tremendous mass of horsemen. We
followed close, and went through them bite the wind,
making clear way fur the others to follow, after which our
handful of men broke, and each, as best he could, cut his
way to his original ground. I shall never forget that day
as long as I live. Only a handful of that devoted band of
soldiers returned. We prize our gallant colonel the more,
because for several days previous he Lad been laid up in his
tent, and even on the morning of the engagement was too
unwell to attend parade ; but no sooner did he bear the
cannons roar than he called his servant to inquire what
was the cause, and, on being told, immediately ordered his
horse to be saddled, but was obliged to be helped to mount
it. He was no sooner seated than he clapped spurs to his
noble beast and came up at a gallop to take command of
us; and, as I said before, well indeed did he perform his
part.
We are still in tents, and, I fear, are likely to do so ;
were they to send sheds, as there is a talk of doing, we could
hardly spare men to put them up, although doubtless they
would contribute much to our comfort, the weather being
exceedingly wet and cold.
I have no time to write more at present. Give my love
to all.
PS. We only lost two horses at the battle of Inkermann ;
the ground would not allow us to work. They played on
us with their tremendous artillery.