The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-10 00:00:00

LIFE IN THE TRENCHES.

Since I wrote last we have literally slaved in the
trenches, and, had it not been for the hope of almost
every day commencing operations, many, I am sure,
must have given in. For myself, I have been in the
trenches or on outlying picket five nights out of the last
eight ; but I thank God I never was better in my life.
I assure you that our work for the last ten days has been
anything but a trifle. Of course all the time we were at
work in the trenches, either day or night, the enemy
amused themselves throwing shot and shell to keep us

lively. I think our fellows have become indifferent to them,
but grapeshot I defy any one to receive with satisfaction.
Our regiment (the 20th) has been most fortunate—onlyi
officer as yet wounded. Other regiments have caught it
more. Poor Rowley, of the Grenadier Guards, was yes-
terday killed while lying, I believe, asleep. A round shot
hit him in the back, and of course it .was all over.
There is one valley we have had to go up and down to
the works which is entirely covered with heavy shot
and splints of shells. Yesterday the Russians kept up
a tremendous cannonade for half an hour, in the hope,
I think, of finding out our line of fire ; but, as we were
not ready, not a shot was returned. This morning we
have let them know it to their cost. We have at work
about 60 siege guns (four of them Lancaster's), and I
think the French have about the same number. As the
Russian batteries are very powerful, you may imagine
the row that is going on.

LUXURY OF A TENT.
This certainly is a most curious life, and men little
know what they can go through till they have tried. We
are now living in comparative luxury, for we have part
of our tents—a great change, I can tell you, after being
for 18 nights sleeping in the open air. We have to
thank Providence for almost unheard-of favourable wea-
ther, although the dew at night is very heavy ; still we
have had no rata since we have been here. We have
also in our little mess of six a capital cook, and, manag-
ing to make interest with the stewards of some of the
ships we get on in the kitchen department pretty well.

FORAGING EXPEDITIONS.
The people in harbour are the most unconscionable
set of beings in existence, and charge exactly what
they like, but that is of little consequence. You
would be rather amused if you could sometimes see
one or two of us 'on a foraging expedition. The
other day I was.dawn with another fellow, and got
scent of seine Onions (famous in soup with the
rations). Searching for them, I missed him and the
pony with the panniers, so you might have seen me
going through the place in uniform, carrying ropes of
onions over my shoulders, But that is nothing, as every
one has to look out for himself, and when a forager
arrives at home there is the greatest anxiety to discover
what he has got. What a haul we should make if we
could get half an hour in an English pantry I fear it
will be long before we get accustomed to a tablecloth or
sit properly on a chair. The grass is now our table-
cloth and chair. We chat and laugh away our meals,
thankful that we are all safe, and hopeful for the future.