The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-10 00:00:00

day to be well remembered by me as being the date of
my first touching Russian territory. Well, we arrived at
our camp (that is, our first camp) about a mile from the
small town of Balairlava ; and well tired I was, although
it was but a mile, for in addition to the usual heavy
marching order of a soldier, we had a fur cap, a Mack-
intosh coat or waterproof, two flannel shirts or Guernseys,
two pairs of flannel drawers, two extra pairs of socks, a
woollen comforter for the neck, a pair of leather mitts
(woollen inside), a water-keg or cask, a pair of long
boots reaching to the knees, two blankets, and a sheep-
skin coat ; so you may think a poor soldier might soon
he tired under such a load, especially when you take
into account that at that time the roads were mud above
the ankles, and our camp lay on the side of a hill, the
soil of which it was composed being very clayey. Well,
I did get there, and you may judge what my reflections
were ; but we had one great consolation—we were the
only troops in wooden huts, so we could be dry, and
cook at a small stove in the centre ; but very, very short
of wood, scouring the country for miles around for it ;
so you may be.sure we might think ourselves lucky if
we got a meal on catch. So'long as we can keep a bis-
cuit in our haversacks, and get a drop of coffee now and
then, I do not care, for to eat much of the salt pork and
beef cannot, it is so scandalously dirty by the time we
get it ready for eating. A little rice and peas we get,
too, but the cooks are always going to hospital, or con-
fined for being late with the meats, that you may count
that as nothing much. The grog keeps the spirits of the
men up wonderful ; although the French camps are so
close there have been very few cases of drunkenness in
our regiment. So much mud trampled into the huts of
course makes everything dirty, together with no time
for washing ; it being a long way to get water, and a
crime to be caught a mile from camp except on duty,
causes, I am sorry to say, a congregation of lice, but
while such is the state of things it is impossible to remedy
it. Did you ever see a dead horse thrown across a cart
ready for the kennel ? well, such is the appearance of the
fresh meat that we get once in a fortnight, with a fine
plaster of mud around it. Well, I have given you the
dark side, now for the brighter side. A private clears as
muck as a corporal in England, and a corporal as much
as a serjeant, and are paid pretty regular. We can get
bread in Balaklava at ls. 6d. the 21b loaf (it was double
a short time ago), cheese, of a poor description, at the
Maltese market, about two miles from Ealaklava, at 25.,
butter at 2s. 6d., sugar at Bd., tea at 3s. a pound; pickles
—if you like to go to the price- figs, onions, sprats, to-
bacco, raisins, currants, bacon (2s. 6d. per pound), and
confectionery ; ships have entered the harbour laden
with all these things at a much reduced price. The
people of England—at least some of them—hare been
very kind in sending us candles and a barrel of porter,
and a Mackintosh caps for the cooks to wear, clogs for
the men going out of the hut at night, and tea at 6d. per
pound ' • but amongst so many men it is lost, being only
a taste for each man (I forgot to say we have lime juice
once a-week). So much for provisions, if we like to buy
them. Now for the weather. I will tell you of every-
thing I can think of. When I first landed the day was as
warm as the month of May in England. We had not
been more than three days ashore when such a sudden
change in the temperature in one night I never wit-
nessed ; it was just penetrating us to the very core with
cold. To mend the matter I was orderly corporal the
first week. Oh, it was so nice ; taking grog and rations
to mere on guard miles away—pitch dark at night; splat-
tering on through the mud, sometimes losing ones way,
again tumbling down ; enough to try the temper of a
Qiaker. Well, lam glad we have shifted our camp up
to the front, although the french duty is rather severe—
etill,.as the weather has again changed for the better, it
is not so bad. ,We are still in wooden huts, about three.
miles from Sebastopol, and six miles from Balaklava,
and the strongest regiment out here (we have just heard
that another draft is on the way). I have been in the
advanced trenches and zig-za;s by night and by day,
and I can assure you it is exceedingly pleasant, in the
day, to have the Russian needle-bullets wheezing round,
and now and then a shell bursting through the bank
makes you jump in spite of yourself. We are not more
than 50 yards from the Russians, who now and then
make a sortie out of the town, but, as luck has had it,
not on the nights that I have been in them. We are
always expecting a turn out at night, sometimes accou-
tred with a coat thrown over us, hourly expecting their
attack. You may be sure we do not get much rest ;
but I can bear this better than the fatigues down at
Balaklava, at the quartermaster's stores, for that was am
joke. There are stores there of clothing that would
astonish you, enough to stock two such armies as we
have with warm clothing ; but I think it will all be of
little use, for we have just heard that Nicholas is dead.
It is decided we are to attack Sebastopol on. Sunday
next. The English batteries, almost completed, over-
looxing the town, and, I think, with the aid of the
French, we stand a vary good chance of taking it. It
is wonderful to me it has held out so long ; but both
English and French began too rash. The north side
being still open, it enables the Russians to withstand us,
but we have erected some tremendous batteries since,
mortars that I could creep into and hide myself coin-
plete,ly. Sebastopol lies in such a peculiar position that.
I have often heard the question, " where is it ?" and no
wonder, for the town is not much, it is the fortifications.
Well, I think I have said enough about everything no
I've not). The first day we entered the trenches one of
ours was shot through the head, that is the only case at
present in our regiment ; but Ip%s of casualties occur in
other regiments, but not many in ours, because we never
fire at all ; only the French answer them ; we are biding
,our time: lam very glad to bear that you have had
your son christened after me. I may, in time to come,
return the compliment. I think somehow I shall escape
and come home to kiss him some day unawares—at
least I'll try hard for it. Try, my dear brother, to send
me some drawing-paper and pencils- just a small por-
tion ; I could-make some sketches that would be worth
something. You would laugh at our present appearance
--so different from soldiers at home. Send me word all
about our parents. I would like to know all about your-
self and wife--in fact, anything to read, for we get no-
thing here, not a glimpse of a newspaper in a month. I
will put my directions on the outside of the envelope.
Put three postage stamps on a letter, and two en a news-
paper, and via Marseilles in the corner, and it will arrive
in 13 days l'll bring or send her a memento of
Sebastopol ; and, trust me, I have not forgotten or
neglected you. Expect to receive another in a week
after this. This will not start till the 10th, arrive with
you on the 23d. I shall expect to receive one from
you on the sth April. Good-bye, God bless you. This
may possibly be the last you will receive. If I fall,
keep it in remembrance of one who loved not wisely,
I but too well.