Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-06-07
From the London Times, May i2.l
CAMP BEFORE SzvAsroroL, April 81.

From the London Times, May i2.l
CANP BEroRx SEvAsroroL, April 81.
Lrrz IN RuIx Prr.-'I have No
news for you. bat ] write few lines "a
tell you that ! am in good health and
spirits. 1t is no use telling you any
thing about the siege, for you see that
in all the papers.
"Within the last week / have been
twice in the trenches, both times in the
advanced trench, and the rifle-pits in
front of it, and, for the first time, 1 tried
the new Enfield rife, Ia smaller bore
than the MIME. They carry beauti-
fully, while clean, for about twenty
rounds, but then they begin to lead,
and do not carry so well. When l first
saw our men firing (last Saturday. the
2lst, from the rife-pits, they had no
idea Of range or distance. Two of
them were firing at the same place, with
one with his sight up for 700, the other
for 800 yards. / told them it was too
much. and with the sight up for 400 /
put two shots in succession through the
loophole that the Russians were firing
at them from.
Gas sat, about quarter of an hour
afterwards, half asleep in the pit, they
called to me and SAID that three men
were coming down from the batteries
towards the town. ! told them to ele-
vate for 900 yards. They made them
dodge from house to house. But when
they got into the street, they thought
they were out Of our range, and coolly
walked arm in arm down the middle of
the street. / could not quietly stand
that; l took the best rife, put up the
sight for 900, and, calculating the dis
tance to be about 1000 yards, fred
high. The man on the right dropped
like stone, and the other two rushed
into house. He lay there for some
time. They afterwards managed to get
him intoa house. This shows what the
rifles will do when properly laid on.
"Afterwards | saw two carts laden
with powder boxes going from the town
to the batteries, at what guessed to be
1, 100 yards. l took rifle and soon
caused the drivers to run for the bat
teries, and leave their carts to come as
they could. Our men say knocked
over FIVE or six, but 1 only feel certain
about one. was sent out to the rifle
pits again on Tuesday, Gath, but the
Russians were very shy that day, and
gave very few chances. l had a regu-
lar duel with Russian in the nearest
rifle pit to us (25o yards.) In about
half an hour he gave up firing, and, as
l put about four shots out Of seven
through his loophole, thought l must
have hit him. / left namesake of
mine in my company to watch him.
Very soon the Russian who, blythe BY,
was a splendid shot) fred again, and
put the ball right through private -'s
cap. because he did not bob his head
when he saw the smoke.
They began to fire 68 Founders at us
in the rife pits from the great gun in the
Redan, 700 yards from the pit was in,
and with two men loading rifles for me,
l bullied them so much that they were
half an hour loading the gun, for 1 had
a very sharp corporal watching the gun
ners with my telescope, and directly
they appeared, 1 fired into the embra-
sure. As soon as l saw the gun was
loaded l made the men lie down close
under the parapet until they fred
The shot came close over our heads,
but did no harm. The same thing went
on again, but they only fired four shots
at us altogether, and did no harm. We
lost no men that day, but on Saturday l
had three men killed and one wounded
of my party by round shot. Two were
only a few yards from me, and were cut
rightin two by a 24-pound shot. / have
told you a few incidents of my expe-
rience in the trenches, and now 1 take
no notice Of shot or shell, except to take
the necessary precautions to get out of
the way"