The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-15

County Treasurer. Please give this letter
circulation through the columns Of your
paper.
Lam. Sir. truly yours,
JOHN B. NOLL.
]. .aR. Norris, ESQ.
A Young Guardsman at Alma.
The following extremely interesting let
ter from the seat Of war has been address
sed TO his mother, the Countess Annesley,
by the HoA. Hugh Annesley, Of the Fausil.
isr Guards:
II. M. S. LONDON, Sept. 81.
Ny DEAR MOTHER: We fore
ed the passage Of the Alma yesterday, and
defeated the Russians most gloriously i
though with great loss to ourselves, owing
to their. extraordinary strong position.
Old officers say it was as strong as Tor.
res Vedras. The Russian army was
drawn up on the heights. upwards Of for.
ty thoussnd strong, and with immensely
heavy artillery, twenty -four and thirty-t
Founders. The light division advanced
to the attack, supported by the first divi-
sion, (Guards and Highlanders. They
got across the river, and then advanced
against the intrenchments. The Esd was
in column. when the brigade Of Guards
charged in line.
:. My company (4th) was next to the col
ors, and in the very center Of the line.
We got up TO within fifty yards of the
ditch, when the regiment before US (Which
has had the three senior officers killed)
turned right abou. and came down in our
face, thus breaking our line. We were
about thirty PAGES then from the ditch, and
the FIRE was go hot that you could hardly
conceive it possible for anything the size
of rabbit not TO be killed. l kept on
shouting. "Forwsrd Guards!" 10 the few
men that were not swept away by the -,
when ball came and stopped my mouth
most unceremoniously. II entered my
left cheek, and went out the mouth, taking
away the front teeth. instantly turned
to the rear, feeling it was about one hum
dred to one against my ever getting there
as the bullets were whizzing around me
like hail tripped, and thought it was
all over with me. However, gotup again
with the loss Of my sword and bearskin,
and at last got into the river, and out OF
fire.
had then another struggle on the 9th
er side, where grape and round shot were
ploughing up the ground, and shells burst
inp; however s,umGlsd On. and at last got
out Of fire and sat down among wounded
and dying soldiers and horses. The dec
tors gave me some water, and then were
obliged to go to others; so when they left
sat there for above half an hour before
could find out where the hospital was. Al
last an officer OF the 10Th, though wound
ed himself, gave me his arm, and took me
to the Fauslier Hospital, where got some
water, and sat down to battle my face.
There Sere six or seven Of our fellows
there; one with FIVE balls in him, another
three. and third with his leg broken.
Nv servant got me some blankets, and we
then got stable. half burned down, clean
ed out, and five Of us lay there for the
night, were wretched, as you may suppose,
operations going on all around US. Some
weak brandy and water. and some tea
was all we had. The shed we were in
was horrid thing g-ths heat, and flies
intolerable.
Poor B. came to see me in the hovel
we were lying in, and burst into tears
when he recognized me, | was so altered.
/ or course one cannot have an ounce ol
lead through one without swelling. and my
face is like good sized turnip; my mouth
much larger than have any desire to see
I it in future. do not suppose the ball
could have hit me in any other part of the
head where it would not have been attend.
ed with more danger-a most summary
dentist the bali was, to take out all my
teeth at one smash, except four grinders
There was decayed one, which hope
has gone with its brethren, but can =
make out yet if it has or not.) There is
doctors say that will not signify. and tha,
lIsshali speak AZ plain as ever. or. at most
only with a becoming lisp, so. altogether
| think even you must allow that hsve
tevsry reason to be thankful, and hope
Iyou will not allow yourself TO fret the lsas
about me.
4 Just 90 we were charging the great re-
d 1doubt. / prayed 20 God! spare me!'' ant
/ II really no more expected to return aliv,
Than if I had been tied TO the cannon
mouth. Only fancy grape and oanniste
being fired at US within thirty yards, be
!, sides . whole battalion letting drive a
[ hard as they could into US. Both the othe
, officers in my company were wounded
The colonel (Berkeley) had his leg bro
ken. All the sergeints we're wounded
4 and two killed; and, 1 believe, at lea,
twenty or thirty Of our mon.
J. - q y
!. I was close to Lindesay when IN
) Queen's color was smashed in his hand
there were twenty bullet holes in it, y.
) The was not touched. The 9Th company
Z which was next mine. has every Office
wounded. Sir George Brown says h
never saw 90 hot . fre; and he was q
D Through the Peninsula, and at Waterloo
) sISeymour was not wounded, but hit in III
watch, which saved his life.