The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-01 00:00:00

Spain, when I could amply have defended myself from an
imputation made, but was prevented from so doing be-
cause an explanation would necessarily expose to the
enemy the intentions of the Government which I was then
serving. (Hear, hear.) Bat here there is nothing of the
kind—here the question is simply the provision made for
the material wants of au army. I must say I have no con-
fidence in the Government upon this subject, and it is
most important that every part of this matter should be
inquired into publicly and above-board. (Hear.) There
was an instance not long ago of secret inquiry somewhat
remarkable in its circumstances. I will not mention the
exact date, but there was an imputation made affecting the
character of an officer of high rank, connected with two or
three ducal families—an imputation certainly very discre-
ditable. It was brought, i❑ the first instance, before the
late Duke of Wellington, and I venture to think that upon
that occasion the illustrious duke did not proceed with all
the equity which might have Leou expected, and was to be
desired. The papers were taken away and locked up. How-
ever, it so happened that the matter was brought under
public discussion, and thou it became desirable to take
some step which would save certain noble families from
annoyance; and what was done ? There was a board, as it
was called; two er three old gentlemen of my acquaintance
were placed on it ; and one or two of them were in so low
a state of health that they were quite unable t') examine
minutely and scrupulously into a difficult and disputel
question. But a lawyer was given to assist them—a De-
puty Judge-Advocate-General—into whose hands the
whole business, of course, fell ; and what was the result ?
Some eight or tea officers of the highest rank appeared be-
fore the board, and made statements as to a particular
fact ; they were supported by two eminent scientific wit-
nesses; the court was closed; and then what was the find-
iug ? Some gentlemen of rank and position had come for-
ward and said they could not think that the officer in
question—their friend, so honourable a man—could have
dons anything to forfeit good opinion. Well, the gallant
officers, who had little to do with drawing up the finding,
at last said, " At your lordship's desire we have proceeded
to inquire into this matter. It has been an excessively
psi uful task, and we have been met by very conflicting
evidence—infect, the evidence is almost balanced on either
side. Some of it was of a character which would not
have been received in Westminster-hall, but we are not
gentlemen accustomed to split hairs. Subject to these
remarks we find the hon, and gallant officer perfectly in-
nocent of the whole charge." I do not know whether
this board will exercise similar ingenuity, but I have
not the least doubt that an attenypt will be made to
induce them to do so. (Hear, hear.) Now, with that
recent case in our recollection, what is to be thought of the
secret court which, in the first instance, the noble viscount
informed ua was to be constituted on this occasion ? The

warrant constituting this court states, I think, that the
object of the Government is to elicit the truth ; but, if that
is their desire, I think all the documents bearing upon the
subject should be placed Lefore the house, and that no
portion of them should be withheld and concealed. (Hear,
hear.) There are, however, particular documents which
we cannot extract from the Government. We do not ask
for opinions ; we ask fur returns and facts, and these facts
are of the most frightful description. The truth is that the
Government are fearful to disclose them. (Hear,hear.) It
appears—l think on page 37 of the report—that papers
detailing such facts have been laid before the Government,
and iu other parts of the report it is stated that the average
deaths in the army from sickness were 30 per cent. The
house must not suppose, however, that that was the lois
of all portions of the army tram sickness, for it was pro-
bably in some capes 50 or 60 per cent. We find from the
report that some regiments lost only 5 per cent. ; and we
find that, while non-commissioned officers and soldiers
were perishing, as it is stated, at the rate of 35 per cent.,
the mortality from sickness among the commissioned offi-
cers was only 3or 4 per cent. What could be the cause of
this difference? It was not attributable to the climate,
but to neglect of the non-commissioned officers and sol-
diers. We find that in the cavalry and artillery and in
some of the regiments encamped! near Balaklava the loss
was small, compared with that suffered by those por-
tions of the army which were in more exposed positions;
and yet the average loss was 3i per cent. To what con-
clusion are we led when we find that 35 per cent. was the
average mortality, and that in. some branches of the
army the loss was only 5,6, or 7 per cent. ? It must
be that in some portions of the army the loss was
50 or 60 per cent. (Hear, hear.) I will ge even fur-
ther than that. It has been reported in the public press—
and, as we know, hitherto the public press has been pretty
nearly acenrate-I(hear)--that some of the regiments which
went out with a strength of 900 or 1,000 men were abso-
lutely nearly annihilated. Now we want the documents
which will show whether this loss was attributable to the
misconduct of these who had charge of the regirneets. It
is stated that one regiment—the 46th, I believe—disem-
barked iu the midst of very heavy rain, and on reaching
the muddy shore nobody took the least notice of them. The
men were unprepared for such hardships, and I believe the
consequence was that in 36 hours or so the regiment al-
most disappeared. Now, if the Government refuse to give
in the specific documents which will prove these facts, does
it not show that their object is concealmeet? (Hear.) Is
such conduct consistent with the statements in the warrant
appointing the board of inquiry, that they aro "desirous
that the truth should be made manifest ?' (Hear.) I will
call attention to another most important matter. In con-
sequence of the great mortality which took place among
the troops, the medical officers applied themselves to trace
the progress of disease iu each of the regiments, to ascertain
the number of deaths from wounds and disease, and to
compare the losses of regiments occupying different posi-
tions in the country.
_The information thus obtained is
regarded as most important and valuable, not merely by
military surgeons, but by medical men generally; and,
from its bearing upon medical science, a strong desire
exists among the profession that the returns sent in to the
Government should be made public; but, notwithstand-
ing the reiterated applications which have been made on

all ides, the noble 'viscount has particular reasons for
withholding these returns. It has been intimated that
perhaps they may be produced hesea;ter. That may be
the most convenient coarse for the Government -to pur-
sue, sod they may be influenced by very good reasons.
It is alleged in the report that while the troops
were suffering from that dire disease, scurvy—and many
hon. gentlemen may, perhaps, not be aware that when
scurvy affects large bodies of men it is accompanied by
diarrhoea and a variety of internal complaints—there were
20,0001 b. of line juice in store, and we ought to know who
declined to issue some portion of that lime-juice. (Hear.)
Scurvy rimy be checked to a greater or loss degree by pro-
per regimen. Well, there was lice in store, and why was
not that issued ? (Hear.) Diarrhoea was prevalent, and
it is alleged that medicines suitable for that disease had
been provided; but they were not forthcoming, and why
were they not issued? Then, in many of the regiments
the men were so much affected by scurvy that they were
unable to eat biscuit, but no bread was to be had. At that
very time the French troops were supplied with bread, and
now and then, with great kinds, is and consideration, they
made present,-of bread to our. men. I remember that on
one occasion we received 20,000 rations of bread from the
French. When our horses were perishing for want of
straw, General Canrobert sent us three small ships laden
with straw as a present. Now, if there are any documents
in the possession of the Government which will throw light
upon this subject, is it not proper that they should be
placed upon the table ? (Hear.) I say that these are mot
serious matters. (Hear.) The whole question has been
raised and discussed. I quite agree with the right hon.
baronet opposite that it would have been much better if
the discussion bad been postponed—(hear, hear)—but the
Under Secretary for War would not allow it to be post-
poned. (Hear and cheers.) He has gone into the charac-
ters and qnalitications of the °leers of the staff to show
that they deserved to be appointed to high situations.
(Hear, hear.) During part of the calamitous period to
which I have referred General Airey was ill, and Colonel
Gordon acted as his factotum. When I saw that Colonel
Gordon was appointed to the office of Deputy Quarter-
master-General of the army I confess I felt some alarm.
(Hear, hear.) Why do I say so ? Because I have seen
that when this country is involved in war the chief situa-
tions on the state' and in the most. important departments
of the army are forthwith filled from the desks of the
Horse Guardia. ("Hear," and laughter.) The men who
are to occupy almost every important executive office—at
all events the principal offices—on the staff are brought
from those desks. I believe that some of the officers en-
gaged iu the present war iu thee. departments had not
been in the field for 40 years ; some of them had not seen
service for 20 years; and the greaterpart of them had never
met an enemy ; bevertheless, they were supposed at once to
possess a perfect knowledge of their duties. We may ex-
pect that Colonel Gordon will become Quartermaster-
General, anti in the next war he may be Quartermaster-
General of the army in the field, or even Commander-in-
Chief. Now, what is my knowledge of Colonel Gordon?
I should not have thought of alluding to this subject un-
less I had been provoked into doing so; but I said I was
alarmed at the appointment of Col. Gordon, because an in-
cident of a serious nature took place between that officer
and myself, and I think the attacks which have been made
by an hon. member upon the generals of division justify
me in mentioning it. On the '23d of October Col. Gordon

informed me he -Lad received an order from Lord 1t glan
to direct me to take ray division (town into the Valley of
the Tcherilaya and to attack and capture a Russian convoy
of 1.000 carriages. He also told me that the I)uke of Cam-
bridge was ordered to turn cut his division for ray support.
I was astonished at this order. I had, with my staff offi-
cers, boon observing the enemy ; we had seen no trace of a
convoy, and I do not believe there was any such convoy.
If I had taken ray division into the valley, and had been
fellowed by, the _Duke of Cambridge in support, we might
have beeraplaced in a moat awful position, for the'enesny
were posted upon -precipitous heights, and could have
directed npor, us the fire of 20 guns, so that they might have
crashed us without it being possible for us to return a
single shot. - I therefore said to Co]. Gordon—" I think
there must be some mistake about this." " Oh, no, there is
not." "I certainly think somebody must be mistaken, and
so, before I move any of ray troops, go back to Lord Rag-
lan and tell-him what I say." With some reluctance this
gentleman went baek and returned with the same order, but
with the slight qualification that his lordship was willing I
should exercise my discretion in the matter, and that Ishould
do Aothing a.gainst my own judgment. " Well, sir," was my
reply, "you must find sat that this convoy really is where
yon Say it is before I sacrifice my opinion on the subject ;
and, therefore, you had better ge with CoLeHerhert t• the
top of that hill, and if the convey can be seen I shall take
steps accordingly." Accordingly, he went np the hill with
Col. Herbert, but they could not discover any convoy. They
came back. Poor Capt. Nolan, who was also despatched on
a subsequent occasion from the Quartermaster-General's de-
partment, and fell immediately afterwards, accompanied
Col. Gordon, and I told Capt. Nolan to go with another staff
officer, examine the position, and return and tell ins whe-
ther he did not think the British troops would be completely
compromised by any such movement as that indicated by
Cel. Gorden. Many attacks, which I cannot answer, have
been mad© upon Captain Nolan for his conduct in another
affair, but I must say that his reply to m • on that occasion
showed anything but imprudence and want of sense. He
aesured me, as I had myse'f anticipated, that if I moved the
troops into the valley they would have been utterly compro-
mised ; and that fact induces me to hope that some of the
statements made to hiS disadvantage regarding the affair at
Balaklava are not altogether well founded. (Hear, hear.)
Very different to the behaviour of Captain Nolan was that
of Colonel Gordon, the favourite of the Palace. (A. laugh.)
When Colonel Cordon carne back I said to him, " Well,
have yon seen the convoy " No, sir, I have not seen it."
" Ah, I suspect there is none." " No, I think it is there
notwithstanding." (Laughter.) " Where is it, then r,
And this was the answer—" Why, I think it has probably
halted in some corner of the road." (Laughter.) hinny
persons may perhaps think this rather a ridiculous anecdote,
but, unfortunately I might have lost 1,000 men if I had not
hesitated to comply with this imprudent demand, Colonel
Ainsti,-e who afterwards came up from another division,
reported that they had seen no convoy in the position ind-
sated, Int that there had been a convoy on the other side of
the valley, four or five miles off, I wrote a very strong letter
to Lord Regh n on that occasion, and I think it is my duty to
state the fact here, when the officer of whom lam speaking
is being I laced nearly at the head of the English army. That
letter will most likely be found by the friends of Lord 11l can
a „.,,:43 hi; pal er. I did not detail to his lordship the whole
I there isrti‘alli but I tsl4 him that Col. Gordon had very