The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EV-ENING, JULY 28, 1856.

.siouers, varied in some material particulars from the evi-
dence as given by some of the officers in the Crimea (pp.
259-267, Questions 1,244 to 1,257 ; P. 280, Questions 1 ,272 "
I
to 1,278 ; p. 300). And in closing his address he said,
had intended to impugn the Report, b showing that the
y
conclusions therein contained would have been prevented
by that very testimony which, though not printed with the
rest of the evidence, was, in truth, actually given before the
commissioners; and I had intended, I confess, to invite the
attention of the board to the circumstances under which the
.displlceni-n% of the evidence had occurred. From this
second porti,it of my case I am debarred by the absence of
'Sir 2.l‘Seill and Colonel Tulloch" (p. 337.)
He called the attention of the board to the precise limits
of the Quartermaster-General's Department, and the nature
of its duties (pp. 235-6-7-9 ; 253-4-5 ; 335-6 ; 341), and pro-
. of
to give an explanation on those matters which, falling
within the range of the Quartermaster-General's Department,
bad been made the subject of observation by the commis-
sioners (p. 235), and contendedilhat there was no ground
whatever for the animadversions upon his department which
are contained in the Report (p. 337).
With a view to a clear statement of the result of our in-
quiry into the correctness of those animadversions, we now
proceed to report on each of the matters commented on by
theicommissioners, in
.the order in which they have taken
them.

SEPARATION FROM KNAPSACKS.
As regards the separation of the men from their knap-
sacks on landing in the Crimea, it appears to the board that
this was a matter entirely within the department of the ad-
jutant-General, who,,uncler the orders of the General Com-
manding, could alone see the measure carried into execution ;
but Sir R. Airey, having stated his readiness to give any in-
formation in his power, has said that whoa the force recovered
its communication with the sea, active measures were taken
for restoring them ; and it is in evidence (Questions 1,214-
1,218) that, in consequence of the physical weakness of the
men who embarked at Varna, a discretionary power as to
landing with or without knapsacks was given to officers com-
manding regiments, and that most of them availed themselves
of that power to lighten the men's burdens.
It also appears that no blame is attributable to the Quar-
termaster-General's Department, although much delay was
occasioned in recovering knapsacks from the transports, in
consequence of various obstacles over which that department
had no control. It may, however, be observed that the
packs contained very little that could have added to the com-
fort of the men, a proportion of the men's necessaries having
been left in the squad-bags at Scutari.
ISSUES OF WARM CLOTIIINO FROM ENGLAND.
Sir Richard Airey has stated that the Quartermaster
General's Department had no stores, no storehouses, no store-
keepers, no issuers, nor means of lauding transport—none,
in fact, of the machinery necessary for receiving stores, or for
keeping them, or for transporting or delivering them to the
men, and that the only duty of the department in relatioa to
the issue of s ores was that of determining the proportions in
which they should be shared by the traops.
It appears to us material to observe that, although the
term " Quartermaster-General's stores " seems to have been
applied by the commissioners to all stores for which the
Quartermaster-General made requisition, the responsibility of
that officer must be understood to be limited to the duty of
making requisitions for certain stores, and not to their safe
custody, stowage, or even issue.--(See Colonel Wetherall's
evidence, p. 269.)
We now premed to give our opinion as to the manner in
which the Quartermaster-General performed the duties of hi.
department.

DISTRIBUTION OF WIRII CLOTHING.
Sir Richard Airey complained of the following statement :
The arrangements relating to the issue of the supplies
from the Quartermaster-General's stores appear to have been
of questionable ex:ediency."
Sir Richard Airey thinks it is made to appear, inferentially,
that this supposed want of care in the working of th• Depart-
ment may have been the occasion, not of mere inconvenience
and trouble, but of some of those dreadful privations to which
the soldier was subjected in the winter of 1854 and 1855, and
that although there always was a supply of warm clothing in
the harbour of Balaklav I, official formality or mismanagement
stood up as a barrier between the soldiers and his supplies.
Warm clothing being an extra issue, very unusual in the
service, the principle adopted by the Quartermaster-Ge-
neral as to the apportionment of it, appears to have been a
very judicious one—viz , that of sending orders that the
regiments should Apply for it according to their strength,
for which purpose Sir Richard Airey placed an officer (Lieut.-
Colonel Mackenzie) at Balaklava, who appears to have per-
formed his duties most effieiently ; but the cause of those sup-
plies not reaching the men for a considerable time after the
orders were given was owing to the deficiency of transport,
a fact fally admitted by the commissioners.

RUOS AND BLANKETS.
Sir Richard Airey complained (p. 259) of the passages in the
Commissioners' Report referred to in the margin ; he said—
" It is there made to appear that the blankets fell short, and_
that the mem were kept wititont warn clothing, because it
occurred to uo one give the 8,000 rags which were lying
in store."

With regard to rugs the 'commissioners state :
"These rugs were nearly as well calculated as blankets to
keep out the cold, and were, perhaps, better suited to resist
wet, yet when the sapii:y of blankets fell short it dues not
appear to have occurred to auy one that the rugs were
available as a substitute."
This statement is distinctly contradicted by Col. Wetherall,
in the following words :
"It was a yellow, half-cotton, half,voisted rug, and,
though the coannis4, ,s state that they were nearly as well
calculated to resist : as blankets, no one else in the Crimea
thought so, anti cant was the very reason why they were
never used because they did not resist wet."
Col. Wetii,rall further stated that—
" The rugs were always placed under the same category as
blankets, and requisitions were frequently altered to blankets
or rugs, and that if a regiment asked for blankets, and they
were not available, and rugs were, the regiment had permis-
sion to taae rugs."
This statement appears to be completely borne out by the
evidence of Mr. Boyd; the storekeeper; and the returns of
esues.
With regard to " blankets," they were one of the articles
which were issued on requisitions made. in the usual form,
and approved by the Quartermaster-General, and it appeara
'chat these requisitions were approved of greatly in advance
of the power of regiments receiving the same to draw the
blankets, owing to the want of means of transport. Coio:iel
(p. 27d, Corn&ssioners' Report) says, that the requi-
sitions of warm clothing or blankets were always in advance
of the =aria o transport at his disposal.
Co!. Wetherell, in his evidence given to the commissioners
in the Crimea, informed them that-
- "In the month of December alone no less than '22,7-10
blankets were issued by the department, though only 17,323
were carried away."
This portion of Col. WAiierall's evidence was omitted by
the commissioners in their report, but was laid before us by
Sir It. Airey (p. 259.)

GREATCOATS.

The commissioners' rem trla; of Sir R. Airey cow-
plainel, on the subject-of greatcoats, commence at p. 27,
Commissioners' Report.
It appears that Lord Raglan, in the duo exercise of his dis-
pensing power, substituted for the complicated War-office
form of requisition for greatzoatsthe following- form :-
44 Required for the R-.4innent
" Quarteriaaster-General's-office
And a tabular statement laid before the Board, and hereto an-
nexed, shows that orders had been issued, up to Jan. 20, for
6,577 greatcoats, of which only 3,019 had been drawn ; and
it is stated by Col. Wetberall, in his evidence, that every
man had at that time been supplied with a sheepskin coat.
The only reference made by colonels of regiments, in their re-
plies to the commissioners (respecting greatcoats) was that
made by Col. Douglas, 79th ft,gt., who states that on making
a requisition for 300 coats it was promptly complied with.

all the timber and planks necessary, from Sinope aid Con-'
stantinople.
But it does not appear that any timber or planks were
distributed in the Crimea before the middle of November or
end of December, or that any means of transport were avail-
able for that purpose.
So far as the report of the commissioners may be s ipposed
to animadvert upon the Quartermaster-General's Department,
iu regard to the want of " promptitude or ingenuity in devis-
ing ' temporary shelter' for the horses," and the employment
of canvas for that purpose, we are of opinion ti : the evi-
deuce of Admiral Sir B. yons, R.N., Major Keane, R.E ,
Admiral Sir J. Dundas, R.N., Colonel Chapman, R.E.,
Major Quartermaster-General,
Captain
/l Hackett, Deputy
rrynia,
nD,eR.Nty As
.-
,cosmist;lnettely refute the statements
of the commissioners.
Before we close our observations on the case of Sir Richard
Airey, we think it important to refer to the subject of the
road from Balaklava' a matter which so pre-eminently falls
within the range of the Quartermaster-General's duties, and
about which so much has been said.
Sir Richard Airey has considered it sufficient for his vindi-
cation to quote the words of the commissioners in their own
Report, as satisfactorily explaining, so far at least as his own
department was concerned, the causes of the defects, and the
difficulty which existed in remedying them :
" The want of a road from Balaklava to the front, passable
for Commissariat carts, greatly increased the difficulty of sup-
plying the army after the middle of November ; but the offi-
cers commanding divisions who were examined upon the sub-
ject are unanimous in their opinion that it would have been
impossible to employ a sufficient number of men to make the
road and at the same time to carry on the military operations
in which the army was engaged."
To this passage may be added the admission of the com-
missioners that hired labour could not be obtained, and the
demand for the services of the troops in the trenches and for
other military duties was such that they could not be spared
for ether purposes. (Commissioners' Report, p. 33.)
On a careful review of the imputations, whether express
or implied, against the Quartermaster-General's Department
in the Crimea of which Sir R. Airey complained,
We are of opinion that, in the performance of their seve-
ral duties, neither that officer nor any of those who served
under him are justly chargeable with mismanagement or ne-
glect ; but that, on the contrary, they used their best exer-
tions to promote, as far as depended upon them, the welfare
of the army.
That their endeavours often failed in their object eannot
fairly be matter of charge against a department which, al.
though ostensibly responsible for the performance of duties of 1
the very first importance to an army in the field, is yet left
unprovided with any means at its disposal of carrying out
its own arrangements, and thus • become entirely dependent
on the precarious aid of other departments, which, on this
particular service, were over-taxed far beyond their strength
and nesonrces.
Formerly the Quartermaster-General's Department was on
a very different footing in this respect ; the greater part of a
staff-corps of infantry, composed entirely of artificers, and
commanded by officers specially trained, or selected with a
view to staff employment, was attached to the Quartermas-
t n-General's Department, and its services were at all times
i callable for the performance of duties which could not other-
else be provided for.
It is in evidence that, in the Crimea, the Quartermaster-
.eneral endeavoured to obtain the assistance of the Royal
;ngineers for erecting huts for the cavalry, but that none
.ould be spared, as the operations of the siege occupied the
stire strength of that corps.
It is also stated in evidence that in the Crimea the French
any had a " Corps d'Arts et de Metiers" disposable for the
instruction of field ovens, &c., at a period of great suffer-
g, when not a man of the British army could be obtained
• ,r a like purpose.
THE HON. COL. GORDON'S CASE.
Col. Gordon called the attention of the board, in the first
istance, to the following statements, which had been made
I, Col. Tnlloch during the course of the proceedings before
in board ; and which statements he considered to be incer-
act as regarded himself, and prejudicial to him if left nn •
nallenged :
I. A statement to the effect that all the originals of the
videnee given by the officers in the Crimeawere sent to them
Jr correction.
Col. Gordon said that this was not doneincertain instances
:ith his evidence ; and that the evidence that was submitted
o him, and which purported to be an original, was materi-
,lly different from the actual original (pp. 343-4).
11. A statement with regard to Col. Wetherall's evidence,
viz. :
" Those notes were never introduced into the body of the
evidence, because the marked difference between what was
received in the one case andaeknowledged in the othershowed
that the inquiry would lead to no beneficial result, and I
therefore struck out the whole of the latter part of the memo-
randum, and in that state it was subsequently sent to Col.
Gordon for Col. Wetherell, along with his evidence, to save the
trouble of re-copying it."
Colonel Gordon said that the memorandum there men-
tioned never was sent to him, and that he never saw it till
lie saw it printed in this country (p. 341-5).
111. Colonel Gordon also complained of query 7, P. 200,
of the Commissioners' Report (evidence), as attributing to
him a statement which he had never made, and containing
assertions which were entirely incorrect (p. 316).
"7. You state (page 169 of 7. Thisquestion assumes as
your evidence) as a reason for a fact that which I have not
not making these issues, that stated, and contains asset.-
you thought ' when the men tions which I believe Who en-
eel. two blankets, a sheep- tirely incorrect ; I must,
skin coat, a fur cap, a pair of therefore, decline entering
leggings, a waterproof hood, on a question founded iu
one-third of a buffalo robe, error."
two guernsey frocks, two
pairs of drawers, two pairs
of socks, a pair of winter
boots, a comforter, and two pairs of gloves, as well as an
extra snit of uniform, &c.,' that they were not so badly off.
Were you aware, when you made this statement, that
the returns received from the Quartermaster-General's De-
partment show that the articles, of which the non-issue
is complained of, arrived at Bolakia,va between the 21st
and 28th of November, while those to which you refer
(with the exception of the blankets) were not received till
near the middle of January? How, then, could the issue
of the latter have operated as a reason for the non-issue of
the former, when they were not av tilable for at least six
weeks after' the 2Sth of November, during which period
the sufferings of the men from want of sufficient clothing
were at their greatest height ?"
IV. Also of the following paragraph, p. 26 of the Report,
the accuracy of which he unequivocally denied (p. 348-9) :--
" It will be observed, that Colonel Gordon in his evidence
assigns as a reason for the non-issue of many of these sup-
plies, that he conceived the men had enough, and he enu-
merates a long list of articles supplied to them ; hut lie
overlooks the fact, that the greater number of those were not
issue" till about the end of February, whereas the period
daring which the men principally suffered was in the
months of December and January, when it appears that
there were supplies enough in hand to have averted much
of that suffering."
V. Also of the following- paragraph (p. 27 of the Report),
which he considered to be wholly unsupported by the evi-
-1 deuce (p. 349-50):
" One of the reasons assigned for not issuing the regi-
mental greatcoats was,-that the regulations of the service,
as established by the Qaeen's warrant, did not authorise
such issue more frequently than once in three years. The
proportion of corps is the Crimea entitled to them in terms
of that warrant was very limited, and it does not appear
that any instructions dispensing with its restrictions were
received there, or that any intimation was given of
the intention with which they were sent out. Had
an application been made, however, it is not probable that
the General commanding would have refused to authorise,
on his own responsibility, the distribution of articles of cloth-
ing which were likely to contribute to the health and effi-
ciency of the troops ; and if the Quartermaster-General
doubted his own powers in this matter, it appears to us that
he onght to have applied for that authority."
VI. Col. Gordon also complained of the following para-
graph in page 24 of the Report, as implying that he had not
sufficient grounds for the statements which he had made to
the commissioners as a witness (p. 347-8) :
" It will be seen from the evidence of Col. Gordon, then
Assistant-Quartermaster-General, that ho attributes the non-
recovery of the knapsacks at an early period to the general
officers of divisions, with the exception of the Duke of Cam-
bridge, preferring not to receive them. On referring, how-
ever, to two of the °niers who commanded divisions on that
occasion, one of them states positively that no such offer was
made to him ; another, that he has no recollection of it,
though it may have been so ; the third being atsent, we have
'iad no opportunity of communicating with him on the sub-
led.'
VII. Colonel Gordon also said—
" A point upon which I think I have some reason to com-
plain is, the fact that, after having obtained from Major
Wetherell and myself, and from numerous other officers, the
materials from which these portions of their report to which
I have been adverting were drawn up, the commissioners
should not have put to Sir R. Airey, the Quartermaster-Ge-
neral, in justice to himself as well as to his subordinate offi-
cers, a single question upon the subject, either of the knap-
saeks,-or the issue of clothing, which had unquestionably
formed in their minds, from an early period, so important a
feature of the inquiry, I was shown by Sir R. Airey the
questions (63 in number) which were sent to him, .as contain-
ing the points upon which the commissioners required infor-
mation ; and finding that there was not one relative to the
issue, or non-issue, of clothing, or to the knapsacks, I had
every right to conclude that the evidence of Major Wetherell
and myself had on the subjects been deemed satisfactory."
(P. 351.)
Complaints 1.-ll.—With respect to the subjects referred
to in Complaints I. and 11., after giving due consideration to
the reasons set forth by Col. Tulloch in his paper marked B,
in explanation thereof, we entirely acquit the commissioners
of being actuated. by any improper motives in adopting the
course complained of by Colonel Gordon; inasmuch as, with
respect to the evidence given to the commissioners by Colonel
Gordon, we think that the commissioners were under the im-
pression that that officer had sufficient opportunity of cor-
recting it.
But as that impression does not seem to have been correct,
we are of opinion that Colonel Gordon's complaint, in this
respect, is not without foundation.
With respect to Colonel Wetherall's evidence—
The commissioners refer to the fact of Colonel Wetherall's
absence from the Crimea in explanation of the circumstance
of his evidence not having been signed by that officer. They
forwarded it to Colonel Gordon on the 4th of June, 1855, ap-
parently with the intention of procuring its signature and re-
visal by Colonel Wetherell, overlooking, however, the circum-
stance of Colonel Wetherell being at that time at Constanti-
nople ; for it appears that after Colonel Wetherall's examina-
tion was finished—viz., on the 28th of May, he applied to the
commissioners to know whether he might leave the Crimea,
and the commissioners, having consulted together, stated that
they had nothing further to ask from him, that they had
ascertained all they wished as to the clothing, and he was
perfectly at liberty to go to Constantinople. Ho accordingly
left Balaklava, either on the 31st, of May or the Ist of Juno
(page 281, question 1,288).
Ibis evidence was returned to the commissioners by Colonel
With HUTS.
regard to the subject of hutting, it aears that the 'ilorilon without alteration.
Quartermaster- Gieseral's Department completepply fulfilled their The commissioners state that they were led to believe, in
duty, by ordering huts at as early period from Constanti- emthoughsequeuce, that its correctness was admitted, even
le—viz.,
no, the Sth of November
of the material to the front for hutting the men formed see The value, however, of the evidence given by the officer
part of the Quartermaster-General's duty, as at that '
period who was charged with the apportionment of the articles in
that duty rested with the Commissariat Department. store, and the importance of that portion of Colonel Wethe-
It appears that the first supply of planks and scantling, 'all's evidence which was omitted when the other portion
which arrived from Constantinople on November 25, 1854, was forwarded to Colonel Gordon for correction, both
toatuhdelf4,r,e.o
sec 'r.
t, i supply,
the front ever ccurre, . which arrived ou January 21 1555 the .oering upon the delays and omissions supposed to have
Land Transport was insufficient to carry up to t . ' i in eupplying the troops with comforts that were
,
the subsistence for the men, rhuch less was it o-s' bl f •callable induce us to express our regret that Col. Wetherall's
p s.l 0 01 - ,
them to transport a heavy weight of planks and scantling. ittention had not been particularly called by the commis-
It apneer, therefore, that the Quartermaster General's doners to these points, and to the absence of his own signa-
Department is relieved from all responsibility on this head. Aire; especially as, with reference to the non-issue of various
The responsibility of the Quartermaster-General's Depart- articles of clothing, the commissioners appear to have formed
went was confined to making a requisition for such materials .onclusious which subsequent explanations and a comparison
as could be made available for the purpose, and as early as f returns do not warrant.
October (before it was known whether the army was going to Complaint lII.—Col. Gordon's complaint of query 7, p.
winter) a communication was made to the principal agent for 00 of the commissioners' report, as founded upon incorrect
transports, Captain Christie) to obtain all the spare sails, ssumptions of what he had said, appears to be borne out by
spars, and tarpaulins, reference to p. 169 of the commissioners evidence, where
On its Wing decided that the army was to winter in the 11 'el. Gordon gives, as a reason for not issuing a rug, a third
Crintea, the Quartermaster-General states, in answer to the lanket, and second greatcoat to the men, that there was not
commissioners, that he procured 200 Turks as labourer's, and sufficient quantity in store previous to the arrival of other
---- a

warm clothing, " and not to his considering they were not so
badly off."
The supplies of the articles enumerated in the following
list are shown to have been authorised as soon as possible
after they were landed and received into store:— Sheepskin
coat, first arrivals Dec. 28 ; fur cap, Jan. 20; pair of leggings,
Feb. 9 ; waterproof hood, Feb. 9 ; buffalo robe, Dec. 25 ;
Guernsey frock, drawers, and socks, Nov. 21; winter boots,
Jan. 30 ; comforter, Dec. 24 ; gloves, Jan. 6 ; coatee and
trousers, Nov. 28.
The first of these supplies, consisting of the articles most
wanted, viz., Guernsey frocks, drawers, and socks, com-
menced before the end of Nov., they having arrived on the
21st of that month; and the assertion that the greater num-
ber of them were not issued till about the end of Jan. or be-
ginning of Feb., appears to be disproved by the returns
above referred to.
Complaint IV., V.—ln our observations on complaint
No. 111., we have commented by anticipation on com-
plaints Nos. IV. and V., and we may here add, that so
far from the Quartermaster-General having doubted his own
authority, or delayed making an application to the Com-
mander-in-Chief, as supposed by the commissioners (Report,
p. 27), it appears that Lord Raglan at once dispensed with
the forms that interfered with the issue of greatcoats, and
with any other articles that were required for the use f the
troops.
Complaint Vl.—With regard to Complaint No. VI., Col.
Gordon called our attention to the evidence which he had
given to the commissioner, and intimated that it contained a
correct statement of the matter. He then said—
" As the commissioners have not thought it necessary to
state the names of the two generals to whom they applied, or
to insert the correspondence which passed on the occasion, so
neither do I wish to introduce into this explanation any mat-
ter of a mere personal nature between the generals of division
and myself ; I will, therefore, merely repeat the steps taken
by the Quartermaster-General to enable them to obtain the
knapsacks of their men."
With respect to the recovery of the knapsacks, we have
given our opinion thereon in our report on Sir R. Airey's case.
Complaint VII.— With regard to Complaint No. VII. we
think that Col. Gordon might reasonably infer, from the cir-
cumstances therein detailed, that the evidence of himself and
Col. Wetherall had been deemed satisfactory by the commis-
sioners. _ _ .

March, was nearly 101 b. per man per month, exclusive of
that furnished for the troops on board hospital-ships in har-
bour, the aggregate force being 158,617 men, and the quantity
of fresh meat issued by the commissariat 1,525,9491 b."
The issues iu December fell greatly below the average, that
is, to 6lb. per man, in consequence of the cattle-vessels,
which had been damaged in the hurricane, being still under
repair during that month.
That the healthy did not receive the ration which these
figures would indicate was unfortunately owing to the large
numbers of sick, who, in some divisions, received full rations
of fresh meat daily, in others five days a week, thus curtail-
ing the rations of the rest of the troops.
LIMEJIIICE (p. 9).
- • • • •

The commissioners in their Reportstate—
" That from the 10th of December the limejuice brought
by the Esk was lying in the commissariat stores at Balaklava,
and none of it was issued till the first week in February, an
interval during which the sufferings of the army from scurvy
were probably at their height.
It appears, by the evidence before us, that there is some
contradiction as to the date of the arrival of the Esk.
The Commissary-General stated that that vessel did not
arrive until the 19th of December, in which he is confirmed
by Mr. Archer. However this may be, it appears clear that
the casks of limejuice in the Esk were landed and delivered
into the commissariat stores on the 20th of December; that
information of this arrival was given to the Purveyor of Hos-
pitals, who appears to have actually removed some of it away
from the beach while it was being taken out of the vessel.
The Medical Department was therefore duly apprised of
this supply, and Lord Raglan also appears to have been duly
informed that there was limejuice in store, but the issue of
it as a regular ration to the troops generally was not autho-
rised until the General Order of the 31st of January, 1855.
Steps were promptly taken to procure supplies from Malta
and Sicily, and as soon as they were procured the issues were
regularly maintained ; therefore, in respect to this matter, no
blame seems to attach to the Commissary-General.
PREM.! BREAD (p. 11).
Mr. Filder complains that the commissioners have charged
him with an indisposition to make the attempt of baking
fresh bread.
He replies to this, and in our opinion satisfactorily, by
bringing forward his purchase of three months' supply of
flour for the purpose of baking bread, but contends that, as
bread requires 50 per cent. more of transport for its convey- 1
ante than biscuit, "it would have been impossible, in the
then state of the roads, and the transport, to have found the
means of carrying it up to the camp."
A floating mill and bakery which he had applied for did not
arrive from England till the 12th of May.
In proportion as the state of the sea-transport improved bread
was brought from Constantinople sufficient for an issue twice
a-week.
When, on the arrival of the floating bakery, its capabilities
were found insufficient and the construction of ovens was
commenced, the means existed of baking so as to allow of an
issue to the troops on three days in the week.
The different organisation of the French army is sufficient
to explain the circumstance of their being more regularly sup-
plied with fresh bread than was the case with the English.
The Quartermaster-General's letter of March 21, 1855, to
the commissioners points out the difficulties which at present
exist in the British service with regard to employing soldiers
as bakers.

--------
COMMISSARY-GENERAL FILDER'S CASE.
Mr. Filder referred to his letter addressed to Mr. Peel
(which was laid before both Houses of Parliament), as con
leaning the particular passages of the Report of which he
chiefly complained (p. 356).
He objected to the tone and spirit of the whole Report,
as well as to the more precise charges eontained in it, and
contended that it was not justified by the actual facts (p. 357).
He also complained that no inquiries were made of himself
en either of the two examinations which he attended, or of
his officers when examined, which could have shown them
where the commissioners thought there bad been neglect or
omission, or could have given them an opportunity of clear-
ing up any misapprehension which might exist in the minds
of the commissioners (p. 357-362).
Further, that the commissioners had not taken into
account the particular difficulties of his position ; and that
their Report, even as a statement of facts, was a misrepresen-
tation in many parts, and exaggeration in others (p. 357).
In support of these positions Mr. Filder set forth the na-
ture of the duties of the Commissariat Department while in
his charge, and the means which he had of performing them
(p. 357-8).
In illustration of the difficulties of his position he referred
to the insufficient establishment both of officers and em-
ployes (p. 358-377) ; the uncertainty of the position of the
army during the winter (p. 358 —373) ; the consequences of
the storm of the 14th of November, 1854 ; the effects of the
wants of a road (p. 359) ; and of the want of sea transport
(p. 360),
He contended that the real question to be considered, with
reference to his conduct as Commissary-General, was this—
" Whether he could, from the middle of November, 1854,
to the end of February 1855, have increased the number of
transport animals in the Crimea, and whether, when he had
got them there, he could have obtained from any quarter
sufficient forage to supply them with food." (P. 363-383.)
He said that on this question of transport depended the
consideration of various other matters of very great import-
ance, which had been made the subject of charges against
him (p. 360) ; he instanced the supply of fresh meat (p,
360 —2), and of fuel (p. 363).
He showed in detail what had taken place with reference
to the supply of forage from England (p. 364-9, 370-1;
eAI-2 ; 388 ; questions 1,981, 1,996, 390 —8 ; 2,016.19, 35,
41 ; p. 406), and contended that the authorities there had
omitted to comply with his repeated requisitions, and that
by no exertions of his own, or of the Commissariat officers
acting under his directions, could the deficiency have been
remedied from local resources (p. 372.3).
He referred to some other charges relating rather to the
Demlier quality or nature of the supplies given out than to
~iv deficiency, and as to which he said that—
' The commissioners seemed to have been more misin-
formed, and more ready to arrive at conclusions, than as to
coy other matters on which they had grounded their charges
against him (p. 373) : —l. Vegetable food (p. 373-4). 2. Lime
juice (p. 374-5). 3. Fresh bread (p. 375-6). 4, Tea (p.
.7SI-2). 5. Green coffee (p. 381-2, 386-7). 6. Rice (p. 382)."
We have thought it right, in the first instance, to give this
ostline of Mr. Filder's address to the board, in order that the
statement of his complaint might appear in the form in which
he submitted it to us But we have found it convenient in
our report to observe the arrangement which he has adopted
la his letter to Mr. Peel.
We now, therefore, proceed to give our opinions in that
order on the several matters on which he has there adverted.
QUANTITIES IN STORE (p. 6).
Under this head the commissioners observe, with regard to
biscuit, that—
" Tile ration of biscuit having, on the 15th of Oct., 1854,
been increased by general order to in consideration of
the severe labour to which the troops were subjected, it was
reduced on the 7th of Nov. to 11b., on the express ground of
tee ' supply of biscuit being insufficient to furnish the in-
creased ration lately authorised.' "
On this Sir. Filder remarks : •
" The established ration for all troops in the field was not
reduced, but the extra allowance was discontinued. It was
a matter of notoriety that kith. of biscuit was more than the
men cenld cat, and that they sold or gave away a part of
what they received to the French troops who frequented our
lines ; this was before the storm or any deficiencies had oe-
,airred. My motive for recommending the discontinuance,
under such circumstances, of the extra allowance was, that
its issue impeded the progress of the depot which I was then
forming iu the front.
" Had the extra quantity of biscuit issued to tho troops
in camp been allowed to accumulate in depot there, the ani
coals welch, during the winter, were occupied in transport-
ing that article might have been employed in carrying
up other supplies, which were then so much needed ; the
extra quantity issued very greatly exceeded all the deficien-
cies of biscuit which occurred throughout the winter."
Iu this view of the case we consider that Mr. Filder was
justified in recommending the discontinuance of the extra
allowance.
The commissioners further observe, with regard to-
SALT MEAT.
" From the returns handed to us by the Commissary-Gene-
cal, and from his statements, it appears that, although the
commissariat had at that time in store sufficient for several
days' consumption, there was still (in consequence of some
mistake, it is stated, on the part of the commissariat officers
at Constantinople) cause for considerable anxiety lest the
whole army should be left without salt meat, at a time when
no other articles of food were available, except biscuit, rum,
and the ordinary groceries. The arrival of a vessel with a
supply of salt meat, before that which had been obtained
from the navy was issued, relieved the Commissary-General
from the anxiety which he had previously felt on the subject."
On this Mr. Filder remarks
" That, although some apprehension on the subject of a
short supply existed in his mind, no positive deficiency ever
occurred in the commissariat stores; that the lowest number
of days for which he bad supplies of salt meat on hand was
eight or nine ; and that the circumstance of his having had
even so short a supply as that arose partly from the loan he
had ma le of that article to the navy, partly from the deten-
tion of the vessels by contrary winds."
He further remarked that
" The commissioners have omitted to state what is shown
by the evidence annexed to their report (p. 153), that the
salt meat received from the navy only replaced the quantity
which had been supplied from the commissariat stores for
seamen and marines serving on shore. This supply from the
n ..vy was not, therefore, a loan, but a restitution of a loan."
SHORT RATIONS (p. 7).
Under this head the commissioners state that—
" la the Crimea, during the greater part of November and
December, and also in a great measure during January and
a part of February, the soldier was confined exclusively to
biscuit is addition to his salt moat."
The returns quoted in margin show that there were issued
to the troops in the month of—
November 340,818 lb. of vegetables.
December 22,797 ditto,
January 77,250 ditto.
February
Also in the months of
November 79,059 lb. of rice.
December 63,014 ditto.
January 155,241 ditto.-
February
It appears therefore that the statements of the commission-
ers are by no means borne out.
We may here add, with respect to the remarks of the com-
missioners on the subject of vegetable food (p. 8), that we en-
tirely concur in the view of the Commissary-General, that his
department is not responsible for the particular articles of diet
which constitute the rations of the men ; his duty is only to
furnish it according to the order of the General Commanding.
FRESH MEAT (p B).—ABUNDANCS OF CATTLE (p. 16). IMPORTANCE
OF FRESH MEAT (p. 17).
It appears to the board that the insufficient supply of fresh
meat arose from various causes, but primarily from the want
of sea transport, which want Commissary-General Filder ap-
pears to have used every exertion to remedy.
The number of transports at the disposal of the commissa-
riat was diminished during the month of December by the
circumstance of two of the most efficient cattle vessels being
then under repair, and useless.
The supply of fresh meat during the same month was ren-
dered less than it otherwise would have been, owing to the
commissariat officer at Eupatoria having sent back empty
two transports despatched to that place for a supply of cattle,
lie having given over the cattle he had in charge there to the
French and Turks, who had arrived without any supplies
of fresh meat, or the means of providing any.
Mr, Filder says on this subject :
" I was at all times fully alive to the importance of pro-
viding fresh meat for the use of the troops, and employed
to the utmost all the suitable vessels I could obtain (see
paper annexed, marked D), but I consider sailing vessels to
be unsuitable for the service in winter, particularly in the
Black Sea. Of all the cattle which were forwarded in sailing
transporrs from Varna at the end of October and beginning
of November, more than one-third were lost. Even on board
steamers, which were not fitted up as cattle vessels, the casu-
alties were very great. To have continued the use, therefore,
of sailing vessels, would have been to destroy the supplies of
the army, and must have led to a deficiency ; for in winter
it would have been impracticable to obtain large supplies of
cattle from i he interior of Turkey to replace such losses "
With reference to the observation of the commissioners
that -
" Slaughtered meat might at that season of the year have
been carried without much loss," and their opinion that
" fresh meat in much larger quantities might have been,
ih,d ought to have been, supplied to the army"—
Mr. Filder says--
" Slangbtered meat was sent by the cattle vessels during
the winter, in addition to the cargoes of live cattle, notwith-
standing that the plan, in a climate where the variations of
temperature are so extreme, was attended with much loss. It
was possible for the commissioners to have inquired into the
manner in which this important service had been conducted
by the commissariat, and they would have discovered that
their suggestion had been anticipated by our practice."
" The commissioners cannot, it is presumed, mean that
slaughtered meat should have been forwarded is sailing trans-
ports, as vessels of that class were often in winter nearly a
month in performing the voyage from the mainland."
Mr. Fider also says
" The average quantity of fresh meat supplied by the com-
missariat during the five winter months, from November to

GREEN COFFEE (p. 12).
Mr. Filder was in no degree responsible for the coffee got
being roasted ; it was sent out in a green state by the Trea-
sury, and it was no part of Mr. Filder's duty, nor was he
ordered, to cause it to be roasted previously to its being de-

Lvered to the troops.
No complaint was made on the subject till the month o 1

General in charge of the supply of an army in the field,
founded on his personal knowledge, derived on the spot, of
his wants and resources, it seems clear that the responsibility
of that officer must be at an end."
In concluding our observations on the case of Commissary-
General Filder, we think it desirable to advert to certain pas-
sages of the commissioners' first Report, in which it is stated
that they do not mean to infer, from their notice of arrange-
ments which appeared to them to be defective, that that offi-
cer, or the officers of his department, failed to make any ex-
ertion of which they were capable to provide for the exigen-
cies of the public service, and that it is but just to direct at-
tention to the unusual nature of the duties required of them,

under the following adverse circumstances :-
1. The army occupied, as it were, a barren island.
2. The department was without a sufficient number of
hands.
3. A great disaster was occasioned by tempest.
4. There were constant difficulties in landing the vast sup-
plies required for a large army, owing to the peculiarities of
Balaklava harbour ; and,
5. They advert to the breaking up of the road to the front,
and the impossibility of sparing from their military duties a
sufficient number of men to make it practicable to commis-
sariat carts.
On this trying state of things the commissioners remark,
with direct allusion to Mr. Filder's management, that " a
man of comprehensive views might, probably, have risen
superior to these disadvantages, and created an organisation
suited to the circumstances."
It is difficult, however, to believe that any mai of even
the highest inventive resources and administrative capacity
could have effectually provided for daily and ever-increasing
demands, many of which, extending as they did infinitely be-
yond the limits of all previous commissariat administration,
were not, and from their very nature, could not be foreseen.
It was a great aggravation of these evils that the question
of where the army was to winter could not be decided and
made known to Mr. Filder till only a very few days before the
weather broke, and his difficulties had commenced.
It is in evidence that he used every means to obtain the
earliest information on this point, with the express view of
making timely arrangements.
On the whole, therefore, we aro of opinion that Commissary-
General Filder's conduct in the management of his depart-
ment was not, and is not, justly liable to the unfavourable
animadversion, either express or implied, which is conveyed
in the report of the commissioners ? and we humbly submit
to your Majesty that he does not appear to us to be justly
responsible, as regards the supplies, for the unsatisfactory
state of your Majesty's army in the Crimea during the winter
of 1854-5.
The terms of your Majesty's warrant did not appear to us
to call for an expression of our opinion on any cas..2s except
those of the five officers whose complaints we have already
considered.
But, in conformity with the directions conveyed to us in
a letter addressed by your Majesty's Secretary of State for
War to the Judge-Advocate-General, we received certain ex-
planatory statements from Captain Leopold George Heath,
C. 8., R.N., which will be found in pp. 401 to 415 of the
proceedings and in the appendix.
Having been honoured with your Majesty's commands,
not only to report an opinion upon the matters referred to
us as set forth in your Royal warrant, but also to submit to
your Majesty what, in our judgment, may best be done
thereon—
We have in obedience to your Majesty's commands,
stated, in this our Report, our unanimous opinion on the cases
of the under-mentioned officers :
Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. the Earl of Lucan,
Major-General the Right Hon. the Earl of Cardigan,
K.C.B.

November.
Mr. Filder stated that a military board decided on issuing
coffee as a ration to the troops, and that the board knew that
it was sold to the men ix a green state. He added—
" Subsequently a small quantity of roasted coffee was sent
out from England as an experiment, upon which I was de-
sired to report ; but although ordered in July, it did not
reach the army till towards the end of September, when we
were on the march from Kalamita Bay to Sebastopol ; and
as soon as I learnt that it was approved of, I recommended
that coffee should be sent out roasted, but none arrived till
about the 24th of January, from which date green coffee
ceased to be issued to the troops."
With respect to the suggestion of the commissioners that
tea should have been issue t to the troops instead of coffee,
on account of the difficulties attending the roasting of the
latter, owing to the scarci,..y of fuel, it is obvious that fuel
would have been equally required for making the tea ; and
as much tea appears to have been issued during the months
of January and February as was consistent with maintain-
ing a supply necessary for the use of the sick.
FUEL (p. 14).
It appeals that, on the Ist of August, the Commissary-
General brought this subject to the notice of Lord Raglan,
and a depot of fuel—viz., wood and charcoal, was formed at
Scutari. Early in November 800,000 rations of charcoal, or-
dered by Lord Raglan, arrived at Ba'aklava, and the issue to
the troops commenced on the Bth of December.
In the course of that month a large additional quantity
arrived. Mr. Filder states there never was at any time after
the beginning of November a want of fuel at Balaklava ; the
only difficulty was to find the means of conveying it to the

IMajor-General Sir Richard Airey, K.C.B.
Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon, C B.
Commissary-General William Filder, C.B.
And, in conclusion, we beg leave further huinbly to sub-
mit to your Majesty that there does not appear to us to be
any ground for further proceedings thereon.
All which is xnost dutifully submitted.
ALEXANDER WOODFORD, General, President.
BEAUCHAMP, General.
G. H. F. BERKELEY, General.
JOHN BELL, Lieutenant-General.
WILLIAM ROWAN, Lieutenant-General.
W. KNOLLYS, Lieutenant-General.
J. PEEL, Major-General.
Chelsea, July

front.
Mr. Filder having thus actually formed a depot of fuel at
Scutari, under tho.impressiou that the army might winter
there in barracks, having also sought instructions relative to
the formation of a similar depot at Varna, supposing the
army might whiter in the Principalities, and having, more-
over, taken prompt measures to supply the troops in the
Crimea, when the local resources were on the paint of ex-
haustion, cannot, in our opinion, be justly charged with
any want of foresight or exertion in this respect.
LAND-TRANSPORT AND HAY (p. 23-26).
The insufficiency of land transport appears to have been the
principal cause of most of the sufferings experienced by the
army, and this insufficiency appears to have been occasioned
by the want of means of supporting more animals.
As relates to Mr. Filder, therefore, in his positisa of Com-
missary-General, the question is, in our opinion, correctly
stated by him to be—
" Whether he is to blame for the deficiency of forage, to
which, step by step, all other deficiencies were mainly attri-
butable, as limiting the number of transport animals that
could be maintained in the Crimea, and whether he availed
hiinself of all the sea transport which he could obtain for the
conveyance of forage and live cattle."
Mr. Filder stated, at the outset of his case, and we thine
correctly, that—
" If it was expected that he should provide transport for
the of iudefiuite quantities of huts, timber, buf-
falo robes, warm cluthing, Vic., it must be obvious that it
would have been wholly impracticable, even had there been
no difficulty with respect to forage. The additional transport
power could only have been procured by long previous pre-
paratiou, the time for which was never allowed him."
lie showed that even for the most ordinary commissariat
purposes no more sea transport was available than that which
lie actually used. And he, in our opinion, satisfactorily ac-
cuunt,d for the circumstance adverted to by the commis-
sioners, that the laud transport was for a few days reduced
to an effeeive number of 333 packhorses and mules, and 12

camels.
With regard to forage Mr. Filder stated that—
" As the deficiency of fodder for the animals if the army in
ti,e Crimea during the winter of October, 1854-5, bad been
made the chief ground of accusation against him in respect of
his management of the supplies, it became necessary for his
vindication, more especially since the appearance of Sir C.
Trevelyau's statement, to enter into a fuller explanation with
regard to this head than he thought necessary with the other
charges."
Ho also stated that—
" So early as the time at which an expectation was enter-
tallied that the army would advance to the DannLe, I made
a contract for about 3,500 tons of hay to be delivered loose
at different places in the neighbourhood of Constantinople,
and I also desired the commissariat officer there to firm a
depot of chopped straw, in case the army should return and
occupy cantonments iu Turkey during the winter. I took
tease steps as a precaution, notwithstanding that supplies of
chopped straw, the usual forage of the country, can be ob-
tained to almost any amount along the shores of the Boa-
phoims and the Sea of Marmora, and these arrangements
would have been adequate to the object in view had the army
been cantoned in these districts."
It appears that, on the 13th of September, when the fleet
was crossing the Black Sea to the Crimea, Mr. Filder wrote
to the Treasury, requesting that 2,000 tons of hay might be
sent from England ; and he stated that—
" By every subsequent mail, or nearly so, from the time of
our arrival before Sebastopol, throughout tho months of Octo-
ber, November, aed December, and up to the 22d of January,
I represented, in either official or private letters, addressed to
Sir Charles Trevelyan, that it would be impossible to convey
by sea sufficient quantities of uupressed hay and straw to
meet the consumption of the army, or, if it were possible,
that we could not land or Issue sufficient quantities of forage
in that shape, and that we should, consequently, be depen-
dent upon supplies of pressed hay from England, the quantity
I of that article which could be procured from Constantinople
being quite inadequate to our wants. One or other, and
sometimes all of these topics were mentioned by almost every
mail."
On the 13th of November I transmitted an estimate of sup-
plies required to bo forwarded from England for the service
of the army in the East during a period of three months, in
which the supply of hay is stated at 5,820,3141 b., or 2,600
tens, or 866 tons per month.
On the reciept by me, after I had transmitted the evi-
dence above mentioned, of an intimation from the Treasury
by letter, dated the 9th of November. that shipments of hay
would only be made at the rate of 357 tons per month,
I immediately informed Sir C. Trevelyan by letter, dated
the 27th of November, that this quantity would not suffice,
and that I should require 580 tens per month for the artil-
lery, cavalry, and commissariat transport animals alone ; and
by the next mail—that is, on the Bth of December—l wrote
to say that, in consequence of Lord Raglan having ordered
full rations of forage to be issued for all the baggage animals
of the army, I should want the whole of the hay estimated
for, or 866 tons per month. So little attention did this meet
with that, in fact, even the 357 tons per month were not
sent, the total quantity shipped and forwarded during the
two months of October and November not having exceeded
27) tons—that is to say, by the Belgravia, 402,7751 b. ; by
the Esk, 108,1001 b ; and by the Helen, 88,4251 b.; total
599,3251 b.
The following passage in the Treasury statement is confir-
matory of the latter portion of this statement by Mr. Filder:
" The shipments of hay actually made from England up
to the end of January were as follows :-1854. In June and
• July, 1,203,8001b.=537 tons in 5 vessels ; in August and
September, 1,023,3001b.=.-457 tons in 6 vessels; in Novem-
ber, 599,3001b.=267 tons in three vessels; in December,
1,417,6001b.=633 tons in 9 vessels. 1855.—1 n January,
800,11101 b tons in 7 vessels."
With regard to the 537 tens shipped in Jane and July Mr.
Filder said—
" That quantity was originally sent out, partly by the Ad-
mir•alty to complete the horse transports, and partly, on my
requisition, to replace the quantity I had expected to receive
from the horse transports, but which I never got. I got but
very little from the horse transports."
Ho added,—
" Supposing all that had been sent out from England from
the commencement,—that is, from Jung—or 941 tons, had
been available, it would have loft me deficient 1,006 tons of
my requisition of the 13th of September, and I only got, or
there was shipped on account of that 1,006 tons, according
to Sir C. Trevelyan's own statement, up to the Ist or the sth
of December, 268 tons."
With regard to the 633 tons shipped in December, Mr
Filder stated that be did not got them till February. He
said— _ _ _

" I never received, up to the end of January, more than
510,0001 b ,or 228 tons. To have done it properly, the ship-
ments ought to have been consecutive and immediate ; and
allowance should have been made for the time occupied in the
voyage."
It therefore appears to us that Mr. Fildor used all the
means in his power to communicate to the Treasury the ab-
solute necessity of sending supplies of forage to the army
from England ; and that he made known the wants of the
army in that particular by a constant series ef letters, in which
the requirements of the commissariat were clearly set forth in
pressing and urgent language.
And we are disposed to concur with Mr. Filder in thinking
thai, " if tho authorities in England are to judge of the expe-
diency of complying with the requisitions of a Commissary-