The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-24 00:00:00

-
- eS -

Y~

tV 44‘„::.• 44/. „ . .•!•: :44‘‘
1P;(6-
•
.• . .
•
-S.
OA • -
•
„. * •
• „
••.
. •It . Nrr
$ (i 0
e)4.
„Aria& -.1411116..
*. •
r4/14/461, */4''''ll:6l33altlp#V.'
, • \\., *
1;?;Kts.:r1t:„-... ,• 16° ':,7%‘;' v. • ~.' sie4

e

e

i~z -~~~

[ PRICE 4D. STAMPED 5D ..

ANOTHER JACK STEELE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—There are more "Jack Steeles" in the
British: army than perhaps the country wots of.
You have quoted the instance of two in the In-
fantry ; I hope you will not refuse to chronicle one
of the Artillery. It is that of the present Q darter-
master of the 2d battalion of that corps. I need
not designate him by name, lest, like all such men,
he should not be pleased at it. He was the sergeant-
major of the G field battery attached to the Second
Division, and landed with it in the Crimea. He
was zealous and intelligent, and an example to
every one in the performance of his duty. At the I
Battle of Inkermann a portion of the battery to
which he was att tchsd, for a moment deserted by
the infantry, fell into the hands of the enemy. The
Artillery "Jack Steele," the Q uartermaster I speak
of, aided by a gunner, with that courage so often
characteristic of the British soldier, and . which
seems to set all odds of number at defiance, stood
his ground. He got his back to a wheel and de-
fended himself as well as he could with his short
sword. He was bayonetted in no less than twelve
places. The gunner, whose name (it may cause a
glow of pride in some cottaee or home in England
to mention it) was James Taylor, was killed—at
least he died of his wounds next day. The Russians
for some unaccountable reason did not fire, but
they used their bayonets freely on the two English-
men both while they resisted and when, from the
ff ct 3 of their wounds, they fell. There were soon
driven back., I believe, by a portion of the 88th
Regiment, and the guns recovered. The SE rireant-
major was taken into camp and his wounds at-
tended to. One in the breast, from his difficulty
of breathing, was eupposed to have penetrated the
He was sent to Scutari, and recovering suffi-
ciently, he, at his own request rejoined his battery
in the Crimea, and he was, though a good deal
debilitated, the same active, attentive non-com-
missioned officer he bad always been. He
coutinued in this position until, for his
merits and his services, he was promoted
to a commission in the Land Tiansport
Corps. He remained in the Crimea with this
part of the service until the war was over. He
won the respect and esteem of all under whom he
served in the Artillery, and I believe he did the
same in the arduous duties he bad to perform in
the newly-raised Land Transport Corps.
When peace came the latter was reorganised (we
are always reorganising everything now-a-days)and
became the Military Train. The Artillery sergeant-
major, who had risen to the rank of captain, was
offered, with the liberality and good faith which
distinguished the end of the war, an inferior posi-
tion under the new arrangement, or a half-pay of
ss. a-day. He very properly accepted the latter,
and an excel]: nt soldi,:r in the prime of life was
worse than lost to the service. It is almost equally
the same in his present position. He is, as a quar-
termaster of a b ittalion, condemnel to be stationed
all his life at Woolwich, and never to rise higher.
He is decorated with a well-earned ViAoria C:oss,
but his military career is at an end. If he has any
ambitious aspirations, any desire to do more than
he has done—and his decoration at the hands of his
Queen, with the notice be has met with for his
valour, makes it likely that it is so—he must bo
content to merge them in that sickly designation,
more sickly now than ever to such men as he in the
present circumstances of England, a " Woolwich
soldier."
It is a hard case that some hope of a worthier and
better fate is not before him. Is it, may I ask, im-
possible to open it ? He has qualities besides the
highest courage, or no one would seek it for him.
If you notice his case, perhaps something may he
ne. These men never grumble, never attend
levees, never disturb official ease in any way. The
desire to do their duty is their first and. only con-
sideratien. They wid, I think, be grateful to the
liberally of the Times to permit to be said for them
whet their modesty will never allow them to sty

for theinselve=.
If they can be benefited, and ours must be a bad
system indeed if they cannot, the service will re-
ceive an impulse which will circulate a healthy
tone to its very extremities. If we have no room
for such men, let us crowd less and try to.make it.
A FIELD OFFICER, R. A.
Sept. 20.