The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-19

sketch of tho sensations excited in battle,
than is found in tho following remarkable
letter, from Captain in the Inniskilling
Dragons, in the Dorset Chronicle -
CANp NEAR BALAKLAvi,
November 25, 1854. {
DEAR JACK lam, you see,
alive at this date, but God knows for how
long after. You have, presume, devoured
oil the accounts which have been sent home
as to our glorious charge. Oh! such q
charge. Never think Of the gallop and trot
which you have often witnessed in the
Ph@nix Park, when you desire 10 form q
notion Of q genuine, blood hot, ll-mad
charge, such as that I have como 'out Of.
with few lance prods, minus some gold
lace, helmet chain, and Brown Bills (the
charger's) right ear. From the moment We
dashed at the enemy - whose position, and
so forth, you doubtless know rs much about
as can tell you - I know nothing, but that
I was impelled by somo irresistible force on
ward, and by some invisible and imperoepti-
bic influence, to crush every obstacle which
stumbled before my good sword and brave
charger. never in my life experienced
such sublime sensation as in the moment
Of tho charge. Some fellows talk Of being
demoniac." know this, that II was such
as made mo match for any two ordinary
men, and gave mo such an amount Of glo-
ribus indifference as to life, as l thought It
impossible to b, master Of. IL would do
your Celtic heart good to hear the magni6-
cent cheer with which we dashed into what
P. w. calls the gully scrimago." For
ward - dash - bang = clank,- and there
we were, in the midst Of such smoke and
clatter as never before stunned mortals
cor. It was glorious! Down, one by one,
ago, two by two, fell tho thick-skulled
and over-numerous Cossacks, and other lads
Of the tribe Of old Nick. Down, too, alas
fell mshy hero with warm Celtic heart,
and moro than one fell screaming loud TOR
victory. I could not pause. It was oil
push, wheel, frenzy, strike, and down, down,
down they went. Twice I was. endorsed, >,
and moro than once had to grip my sword
tighter, tho blood Of foes streaming down
over the hilt, and running up my very
sleeve. Our old Waterloo comrades, the
Grays, and ourselves, were the fellows who
flung headlong into the very hearts Of the
"uoCOVUCos NoW W. WcIo iu5s III suo EuuAbS
now battling in little bands, now in and
now out, until tho whole Levies on the
spot plunged into o forming body Of the
enemy, and helped US to end the fght by
compelling the foo to fly. Never did men
run 90 vehomently,-but all this you have
read in the papers.
I cannot depict my feeling when We re.
turned. sat down, completely exhausted
and unable 10 cat. though deadly hungry
All my uniform, my hands, my face, were
bespattcred with blood. II was that Of the
enemy Grand idea! But my feelings =
they were full Of that eIultation which Il is
impossible TO describe. At least, twelve
Russians wero sent wholly out Of the "way
Of the war" by my good steel alone, and at
least as many more were put on their way
10 that peaceful exit by tho same powerful
weapon. So also can Others say. What O.
thing to reflect on. Ihavo almost grown .
soldier philosopher, and most probably will
one Of these days. II the bullets which are
flying about 30 abunGantly give mo time to
brush up. ~.-., all. ..r,..
NV dear fellow, our countrymen have not
furnished their fame In the Crimea. Gal
lantrv and glory win never abandon. tho
march of Celtic bands - never! Oh that
/ could have patience to write you.ot such
deeds of indiyidua! heroisn rs have como
within NV notice! Fictionists are shabby
Judges a true bravery. No novel ever bad
sham hero who comes up 70 tho realities
have witnessed. One Of my troop, Tor 10.
stance, had hishorse shot under him n the
melee. Bloody wars cried ho; "this
WON'T do" and right at Russian he ran,
pulled him from his horse BY tho sword
hand, In the most extraordinary manner II
then deliberately cutting OF his bead a. he
came down, yaulted into the saddle, and
forming the Russian charger against his late
friends, fought his way. This 1t took less
time to do than 10 tell Il. l saw another Of
our fellows, unhorsed and wounded. creep
under Russian charger and run the sword
up his belly, Tho animal plunged and fell
on hi. slayer, crushing him to pieces.
We must take this doomed place, oven, a.
O'Grady says, II We bo doomed who take It.
Any ono Of our fellows is match Tor three
Russians. .J.ul.. H. Il
Tho light cavalry charge was desperate
bot 4 rand a6a,r. Lord Raglan 10 blamed. |
Tho general belief 10 that Nolan gave biz
orders literally. Lucan 10 regular drc ball
bot not mad enough TO have done that with.
out strict commando.
We want re.inforcemcnts very badly
without them wo cannot continue 70 contend
against such fearful odds.