Morris tribune., 1882-06-22
CRIMEAN INCIDENTS.
Dangers at the Front-Lost His
Nose

Dangers at the Front-Lost His
Nose.
Cordial terms prevailed between the
British and French officers of cores
ponding rank. There was no more
striking instance of this among the older
men than that of Sir Colin Campbell and
Gen. Vinois. The one commanded the
Highland brigade at Balaklava, and the
other was at the head of the nearest
French brigade on the heights, AL
though the Scotchman could not speak
word of French nor the Frenchman a
word of English, they were in the habit
of breakfasting together every Sunday,
alternately in each others tents. without
an interpreter. There they would sit
smiling on the opposite sides of the To-
BILE, helping one another to the 'bestei
everything, but only saying:
"My friend, Vinois."
Mon ami, Campbellr'
Whether or not the Frenchman
proved constant in his kindly feeling is
not recorded; but it is historical fact
that years afterward, on the Scotchmap's
death as Lord Clyde, sum was found
appointed in his will for the purchase of
mourning ring to be sent to his friend
Vinois.
Lieut.. Elliot, of the 5th Dragon
guards, saved the life of Gen. Scarlett,
by his admirable deyotedness. A tall
Russian officer, perceiTing that the of
ficer leading the charge must be of high
rank, placed himself SO as to cut him
down when he should reach the column.
Gen. Scarlett, being extremely short
sighted, was not prepared to guard his
left, Elliot, who was riding close be-
horse the spur, and dashing past him
just as the Russian had raised his arm to
| the body with such force that
| the thrust went home to the hilt The
| Russian was quite turned round in his
saddle before the saber could be disen-
gagged, and then he fell dead to the
| ground. Gen. Scarlett recommended him
| for promotion and for the Victoria cross,
on account of his distinguished conduct
in this charge of the Heavy brigade; but
neither of the applications was entertain
| ed by the Horse guards; for what reasons
no mortal man can tell This "beau sa-
breur," as he was dubbed by many OF
his friends, received no less than four
| teen wounds on that ill-fated day. After
the battle, one ofhis brother-officers went
into his tent and found him standing
before looking-glass.
| "Halloa, Elliot. Beautifying, are you?"
eyes," was the answer. II am stick
| ing on my nose,"
1t had been slashed nearly off his face
in the melee. He was a most agreeable
and kind-hearted companion, and very
able cavalry officer; but his modesty
never permitted him to talk of his SER
vices. When Gen. Scarlett's two recon-
mendations were negatived, Elliot said
that he could not expect to be rewarded
for having done only his duty, and moth
ing more than any other English officer
would have done. Capt. Morris, of the
| 11th lancers, grievously wounded in
| the head, was lying with his horses
| bride in his hand, when a young cornet
of the same regiment, Sir George Wo NIB
/ well, whose horse had been shot under
him, ran past him in the vain attempt to
catch another, which was galloping ri
| derless.
"Take mine" said Capt. Morris, "my
riding is over"
sNo, no." answered Wombell, "I will
help you to mount and you will get back
all right"
The captain became insensible, and
Wombwel, thinking him dead, got on
his charger and rode to the lines unhurt.
Capt. Morris recovered his senses when
some Cossacks were robbing him. He
lay still, lest they should dispatch him if
they saw that he was alive. After they
had left him, up came an English troop
horse, with his nose on the ground, evil
IDENTITY seeking his fallen rider. Capt.
Morris took hold of the bride, and con-
trived to mount the animal, which stood
quiet for him to do so. He rode in the
direction of our lines, till the horse was
killed by a round shot. The fall rem
dered him insensible once more. When
he regained consciousness, he tried to
walk. Stumbling often, and sitting down
when he felt exhausted, he found him
i self at last beside the body of an
officer whom he recognized as Capt.
Nolan Knowing thus that he must be
near the lines, as poor Nolan had fallen
at the beginning of the charge, he sum-
moned up the remains of the indomita-
BILE resolution for which he was noted in
camp of the Light brigade. | saw him
often during his slow recovery from his
wound, and conceived the highest ad-
miration for him. He was
most deservedly promoted,
and, after the Crimean war was
over, went with his regiment to India,
swhere he died.
One is always sorry to hear of the
death ofone's comrades at the front; but,
whether it be that it happens so fire.
ouently that it ends by leaving one cal
lous, more orless, or that the uncertainty
of ones own fate encourages egotistical
, Indifference to the fate ofothers, 1t Is GER
tainly q fact that an entrenched camp Is
J not the most favorable sphere In the
world for the development of altruism
and benevolent sympathies: l recoilect
case of an officer, noted for his kind
heartedness and atfectionate manner to-
ward those who around him having to
give message to his favorite aid-de-
camp to carry, when the latter was struck
dead by round shot.
ssI must ask you to carry this message"
said the officer, turning to- another aid
de-camp, and explaining the particulars,
which he entered into as if nothing had
taken place.
Another friend of mine, most
worthy officer, never could
speak seriously on any subject
whatsoever, He had received a bad
, wound while going his rounds in the
trenches, and had been conveyed to the
hospital at Scutari, where Miss Nlghtln-
l gale nursed him. One morning he COM
planned to her most bitterly of the noise
which other wounded officers in the
, same ward had made in the night, hav-
ing kept him awake when he wished to
, sleep. She told him that those officers
! had died in great agony.
e "Well," he said, "I should feel so
: much obliged to you if, next time, you
A would ask any mortally wounded officers
you may be taking care of in this ward te
die quietly without disturbing others in
: the night
Chinese Moving Eastward.