Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-15
Experience of a wounded officer.
The Hon. Hugh Armesley, of the British
Army, who was at the battle Of Alma, thus

The Hon. Hugh Armesley, Of the British
Army, who was at the battle Of Alma, thus
writes:
The Russian army was drawn up on the
heights, upwards of 40, 600 strong, and with
Immensely heavy artillery, "a aud 80 poun-
ders. The Light Division advanced 10 the
attack, supported by the First Division
Guards and Highlanders.) They got a.
cross the river, and then advanced against
The Entertainments. The 23d was in COL
umn when the brigade of Guards charged
in line. My company Qhe iourth) was next
10 the colors. and in The very centre of the
line. We got up TO within 50 yards Of the
ditch when the regiment before US (Which
has had three senior officers killed. turned
right about and came down in our face, thus
breaking our line. We were about 80 pa
ces then from the ditch, and the fire was so
hot that you could hardly conceive it pos
sible for anything the size OF rabbit not 10
be killed. kept on shouting Forward
Guards p' 10 the few men that were not
swep. away by the =, when bail came
and stopped my mouth most unceremoni-
ously. 1t entered the left cheek, and went
out at the mouth, taking away my front
teeth. instantly turned to the rear, feel
ing it was about 100 to against my ever
getting there. as the bullets were whizzing
round me like hail. tripped and thought
it was all over with me however, got up
again with the loss Of my sword and bear
skin, and at last got into the river. and out
of the fire. bad then another struggle on
the other side. where grape and round shot
were ploughing up the ground and shells
bursting however, stumbled on, and at
last got out of fire, and sat down among
wounded and dying soldiers and horses
The doctors gave me some wafer, and then
were obliged TO 60 TO Others; so when they
left sat there for above half an hour be-
fore | could find out where our hospital was.
AT last an officer ofthe 10th, though wound
ed himself gave me bis arm, and took mo
to the Fu,ieer Hospital, where got some
water, and sat down to bathe my face.
There were six or seven Of our fellows
there--one with FIVE balls in him, another
three, and third with his leg broken. My
servant got me some blankets, and then we
got stable, half burnt down cleaned out
and FIVE of us lay there for the night, very
wrctched, as you may uppose-operations
going on all around us. Some weak BRAN
DIV and water and some tea were all Ge had.
The shed we were in was horrid thing
the heat and dust, and flies intolerable so
in TIE morning four of Us came down to The
fleet, and !, with two others, am on board
Her Maje,ty'S ship London.
Poor B came to see me in the hovel
we were lying in, and burst into tears when
he recognized me, was so altered; of
course, one cannot have an ounce of lead
through one without swelling and my face
is like good sized turnip; my mouth much
larger than have any desire to see 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 attended with
more danger-a most summary dentist tho
ball was, to take cut all my teeth at one
smash except foar grinders there was
decayed one, which hope has gone with
its brethren, but can't make out yet, if it
has or not. There is a good Bit of tongue
gone also, but the doctors say that will not
signify, ard that shall speak as plain ss
ever, or at most only with becoming lisp;
so altogether think even you must allow
that have every reason to be thankful,
and hope you will not allow yourself to
fret the least about me.