The herald., 1896-10-25

Z tails and names. At Alma we went out
| to reconnoiter, and it was to have been
for three days We were out seventeen.
Both we and our horses suffered terri
bly,. The men at times during the cam
paign were i'll owing to the filthy water.
Often we had not our clothes off for
weeks at time. After the battle of the
Alma we pursued the flying Russians.
Their camp had taken seven weeks to
form, and the Russians said we should
never have 1t. We took 1t in about seven
hours"
Can you tell me anything about the
Balaklava charger"
II was in that action. We were in two
lines. Capt Nolan brought the order
to advance from Lord Raglan to Lord
Cardigan. He had delivered 1t and was
looking through his glass on hillock
at the advancing light brigade when
ball went through his heart. Farrier
Green of the Thirteenth light brigade
brought in the dead officers forage cap.
AS we were charging down shot struck
Dolly, my chestnut mare and when 1t
exploded fragment gave me a scalp
wound was carried off the field by
| Farrier Green and DR.. Armstrong. 1t
| is usual for a soldier If he cannot fight
after he'is wounded to make, If possible,
| for the rear. 1 heard that the hoof OF
Lord Cardigan's horse, which was killed
in the charge, was presented beautiful
guards. 1 was away some time in the
hospital at Scutari. The hospital was al
ways beautifully clean. Nurse Night
ingale was a fine woman, and words
fail me to say how much we all thought
of her. I have a medal for the battles
of Sebastopol, Almo and Balaklava, and
also the Turkish medal, which was given
to all the men who served in the Crimea.
l have three sons in the army. One Is
in the Fourth Hussars, who are going to
India"
"On the whole, what do you think of
soldiers life?"
Whether man Is happy in bar
racks or not depends entirely upon him.
SELF 1t is the same in camp. Every
man ought to see the absolute necessity
Of perfect obedience and strict disci-
pline. During the ten years was In
India there were only three men of the
Third Light Dragons shot. You know
that was the way insubordination was
dealt with then. If it was at all Of
serious character"
action?'
Il don't think they feel any fear They
get excited, but not afraid. Often young
soldiers in the rank tremble before a
battle, but that is mere nervousness.
which wears off at the first appearance
ries men; not the fighting"
What is their feeling when the order
is given to retreat?"
Retreat! am proud to say the Third
Light dragons were never once forced
to retreat
1t was with much difficulty I got the
foregoing detail from the gallant SOL
dier, and l will only add that his neigh
bors and others who know his circum-
stances and his character assure me
that his needs and those of his wife are
pressing as his desserts are high. He
pays $112h a week for his rooms and
has less than that sum to provide the
necessaries of life for himself and his
sick wife. But he never asked for any
outside help.
At present the fund for John Brooks
the contributions still come in small
sums, and it is still true that those who
have most keenly felt the pathos of the
old soldiers life are sisters, wives and
mothers, or else comrades in arms, young
and old. A few days ago we remarked
on this striking characteristic Of the col
lection and John Brooks himself, we are
sure, will recognize with no little pleas
ure that If he Is relieved from his neces-
stiles, he will owe 1t to men and women
who know the perils and glories Of war,
and, perhaps. have also felt the pinch
of poverty. But cannot others, too, Of
better means, give out of their abSlnd-
ance as these have given out of their
Iscanty resources? It would be hard,
indeed, II modest annuity could not be
purchased to enable the old soldier and
his wife to end their days in comfort and
peace.-London Daily Telegraph.