Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-06-08
Life in a Rifle Pit.
From the London Times. NAVAL

"CAMP BEFORE SEBAsToPoL, April 81.
80 have no news for you but write few
lines to tell you that am in good health and
! spirits. 1t is no use telling YOU anvthipp
papers.
Within the last week have been twice
in the trenches, both times in the advanced
trench, and the rihe-pits in front of it, and
for the first time, tried the new Enfield rifle
"a smaller bore than the Minie.) 1hey,carry
beautifully while clean, for about twenty
rounds, but then they begin to lead and do
not carry 50 well. When | first saw our men
firing (last Saturday, the 2lst,) from the
riae-pits, they had no idea of range or
distance. Two Of them were firing at the
same place, one with his sight up for 700, the
other for 900 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.
As sat about quarter Of an hour after
wards, 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 elevate for 900 yards. They
made them dodge from house to house. But
when they got into the street, they thought
they We're out OF range, and coolly walked
arm-in-arm down the middle of the street.
could not quietly stand that | took the best
rifle, put up the sight for 900, and, calcuat-
ing the distance to be about | 900 yards, |
! fired high. The man ON the right dropped
like a stone, and the other two rushed into a
hous-. lie lay there for some time. They
afterwards managed to get him into Il house.
This shows what the rifles will do when pro-
perly laid ON.
Afterwards ! saw two carts laden with
powder boxes going from the town to the bat
teries, at what guessed to be 100 yards
| took rifle. and soon caused the drivers to
run for the batteries, and leave the carts to
come as they could. Our men said | knocked
over five or six, but only feel certain about
one. was sent out to the rifle pits again on
Tuesday (the 24th,) but the Russian. were
very shy that day and gave very few chances.
| had regular duel with Russian in the
nearest rife pit to us (250 yards.) In about
half an hour he gave up firing, and, as had
put four shots out of seven through his loop
hole thought must have hit him. left
IA namesake OF mine in my company to watch
him. Very soon the Russian (who, blythe
by, was splendid shot y fired 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 6S-pounders at us in
the rifle pits from the great gun in the Redan
700 yards from the pit | was in, and with
two men loading rifles for me, bullied them
so much that they were half an hour loading
the gun, for | had a very sharp corporal
watching the gunners with my telescope, and
directly they appeared fred into the embras-
ure. As soon us saw the gun was loaded
made the men lie down close under the para
pet until they fired. 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 l.cn lnuJ day, but on Saturday had
! three men killed and one wounded Of my part Y
by the round shot Two were only few
yards from ne, and were cut right in two by q
2i-pound shot. have told you few Incl
dents of my experience in the trenches, and
now | take no notice of shot or shell except to
! the wny."