New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-03
SHOCKING CONDITION OF THE BRI FISH
ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.
From Our Own Correspondent


The only favorable change which has occurred
resteclipg the Eastern War, since my last IL tbe
conclusion Of treaty between Epgand, France
and Austria, on the subject of Russia. " II the
treaty, you will, Of course, have become fully ac-
duaiDted long ere this letter reaches you. 10
connection with it, you val also have read the
declaration made by the Prince Gorchasod, ou
the 2eth November, 10 the Austrian Minister OF
Foreisn Affairs, NJ de Buol, that his master, the
Gar, had decided TO accept the four Pro9o-
sitlens made by the Court of Vienna, 10 serve
as the commencement of negotiation for peace.
These four points are gwen az "pFel'nnirles
sindispensable 20 the reestablsbiDg of a peace.
No sooner had news Of the acceptance OF the
Eur points rescued this place thar twas bruited
that peace would positively ensue. IL also
said that dispatch was sent to Lord Raglan
statirg that an armistce might be expected soon
and have heard il said that the news ws quite
q balm and cordial to the poor Suffering Brlsth
soldiers in the ditcbts before SevsstppoL or
tlete sufferipgs no one a! distance eau form any
correct view. When / tell you t1a, alter the
battle Of IDkermsDn there we're but II, 900 bghs
though 10000 men have been added soce ,hen,
the number OF fighting men still continues the
same; that the British hospital at scatari
at this moment contains six Thousand inSallds,
and that some two Thousand men are at Bal.-
klaya waiting to tcOme down here 10 die, you
insy form some estimate Of the state of thinss.
/ Friends Of mine, both English and American.
] bsva tlv lit fell me
that the miserable condition Of the British camp
forms q striking contrast With that of the French.
Lord Raglan is despised, by his own Offcers as
well as mep, TO Il degree that almost amoaots to
iD.ubordnation. lie is an Old aud feeble man;
Lis own dwelling ia the camp is comfortable
house, abundantly supplied with fucnituSe, and
appe airing 10 DC the museum for all the kick
knacks stolen from the Russian couotry-seits
which once stood on the locality of the camp,
but which have been burned by the freezing men
for fuel He is never known TO visit the troops,
nor to look at the trenches; he never orders,
or experiments review Of thea, mr. is ne
ever known to give any order showing an
interest in their destitute condition aud In.
mense sunerpgs. When the news OF his elsva-
ton TO the grade of Field Mars,sl came out from
Fpel.td il ELECTED a universal gro,n among all
of the British troops, aud even from the officers,
at the reckless and unjust manner 10 which me
Queens Government had thrown it away upon
an incompetent unworthy object. This DO sev-
er, is ap act of unjust policy, done wi'n the view
of securing for England, in future history all the
credit Of the landing in the Crimes, the battles
of Alma, Balaslsya and Inkermsnn and the
of StvastopO. The French have long since said
/ that the English were al incumbraDce 10 them.
and that il panied them thus 10 behold wreSch-d
and suffering hum anity without possessing thepog-
er to rescue it, They freely say tbatt the English
are brave men, but Lot soldiers; that they are
totally destitute of any knowledge Of the admin.
istrstion Of an army; and, indeed, they NV look
upon them as no longer the n.ton whi:h they
were in the time of Napoleon [.
The position OF the British forces is the more
exposed Of the two, while their numbers are
too few for the tack assigned I" them There
are not enough men to afford proper relief 70
those ia the trenches. TIE soil OF tae Cdmea .
mixture Of clay and lime; there ia, no veyer,
abundance Of in layers, but she soil is soft,
and when wet becomes extremely misery. Tols
is peculiarly the case in the trenches, oh-re the
ground is heavy, aud the water always from one
TO three feet deep. Notwithstanding this, they
must be occupied 20 save their own lives and tha.
/ Of their o,togenaiisn aud semi iLbeciie Field.
Marshal. Imagine 4 thousand men standing
long night in winter-perhaps under a continuous
/ fall Of rain in these bitches denied the right TO
sleep, snd required TO be ready az 4 moments
notice 10 lie, rush forward and repel t1e attack
of their Dever.trifg, never. sleeping foes. How
arduous must be this service, will be seen from
The fact that, in the face of certain death, these
men often fall asleep and are bay oneied oy the
.orties, of which you now and then re,d gArcled
accounts in the papers.
Balsblsva is come six or seven miles rom t1e
British camp; the ascent is at drss steep, bur 81
ttrwsrd the road is rather Level, ofetDg no
other obstacle than the want Of good rosi-hed
Tie British commander has f5reseen nothing,
ard conse quenily prepared nothing, for winter
Rains have thoroughly soaked the ROAD, and req
deitd 1t perfectly impraciicabe Tor mao or beast
TIE Csmmisssriat is msnsged in ulauner quite
incomprehepsbe, and al Of the English peo2e
here declare that several Of its chiefs should be
hure fer their utter Indifference aud negli-
cence. Imagine the fac. tha. the men ia the
trenches have nc other food than dry biscuit.
raw pork, and unbprned coffee, and that hundreds