The record-union., 1897-01-24

action against the enemy, and shortly
after the Russians retired.
When our whole force had crossed the
river we were ordered to halt and
bivouac for the night. Rations were
served out, and without tents, and for
the most part without fires, We lay
down TO rest. Charlie and | had man.
aged to keep blanket each as we'll as
our great coats, and we lay down to-
gether under them, but neither of us
could sleep. Somehow 1t became known
that there must be great battle on the
morrow. Charlie was wildly excited,
and l was depressed beyond measure,
not so much by the fear of death as by
the fear of disgracing myself; and | al
most prayed that an early bullet might
take me off before 1 broke down. Char
lie noticed my depression, and / could
not help telling him something of my
fears, but he secuted the idea at once.
Don't tell me- he said, that the man
who could jump overheard in a gale of
wind to save a poor fellows life, with
every chance of never getting back
again. is going to show the white
feather before these rascally Russians.
for won't believe it. Come, let us go
to sleep; you are a little unStrung and
tired out; nights rest will make an
other man of YOU
Five minutes later Charlie was sleep
ing as peacefully as a little child. but it
was toward morning before l slept, and
then l slept the sleep of utter exhaus-
ton. When 1 awoke Charlie informed
me that he had been kicking me for
the last five minutes, and he thought
was never going to wake again. Then
hasty breakfast was eaten, the order
to fall in was given, and we were on
the march which was to end in the ter
rible battle of the Alma
Close to the sea marched the French,
next them the Turks, and the English
farther inland. Soon after we had be-
gun to advance, We could see the nights
we should have to storm. Now cloud
of skirmishers We're thrown forward to
our front and left flank, and as we got
nearer we could see the formidable
earthworks and batteries prepared for
our reception. l confess that when
saw all this and realized what a terri
BILE struggle was before US, all my old
fears came back upon me, and L shook
in my boots. We were halted for con-
siderable time just out of range of the
Russian position while the French
opened the ball, I am not going to at
tempt to give any account of the battle
but | must say | watched with admira-
ton, despite my fears, the plucky way
in which the French scaled the nights
on the right, where they were much
sleeper than in front of US; in fact, it
was a regular scramble. Fortunately
at first there was nobody to oppose
them, as the Russians did not expect
an attack from that quarter, the ascent
being so steep; but when the French
had got a footing on the top a fierce
fight began
Now came our turn. and we advanced
toward the river Alma, which flowed
all along the front of the Russian po-
sition; and as We came within range
the Russian batteries opened upon US,
and then men began to fall around me-
1t is impossible to describe what 1 felt,
but the fear of death was strong upon
me, and it was only by great effort
of will that l forced myself to keep my
place in my company. AS we continued
to advance, the fire grew hotter, and
musketry, to which as yet we made no
return, was added to the artillery fire
we had to bear. At last we reached
the river, and plunged in; the banks on
both sides were high, but highest on the
farther side, and high enough when we
We're down in the river to protect us
from the intolerable fire of the enemy
and for moment we were in safety.
l confess that here 1 hesitated and
could not at first force myself to mount
the bank. The Captain of my company
had already fallen, so there was no Off
Ger to notice my movements closely,
but L knew it was impossible to stay
there long, and that 1 was setting a
very bad example to my men.
Just at that moment 1 caught sight of
Charlie: he was up on the farther bank
encouraging his men to scramble up
and come on. I saw him look at me.
and surprised and puzzled expression
came over his face. 1t was enough;
l would rather have died a hundred
deaths than have lost Charles good
opinion, and up I went, and cheered on
my men. Again we advanced in toll
cradle order. but the fire of the enemy
was more severe than ever now-heavy
muSketry, and the artillery firing
grape; our men were falling fast on all
sides, though we were replying to the
fire. 1t was more than | could bear.
and 1 shook so that 1 could hardly hold
my sword. In despair / looked again
for Charlie, and again 1 saw him bright
and CHEEKY as ever. trying to encourage
his men-the next moment 1 saw him
fall
The effect on me was instantaneous:
fear was absolutely gone; rage, fury and
an intense desire to avenge my comrade
had taken it's place. Our men were
hanging back, as we'll they might, for
their numbers We're terribly thinned. and
ut was evident that till they were joined
by the supports, which were fast COM
ing on, they were not in sufficient num-
berS to take the redoubt that was in our
front. / rushed to the front, and called
upon them, if they were Englishmen, to
come on and drive the Russians from
the redoubt; and being joined a few
minutes afterwards by the second line.
all rushed on together, the remains of
my company keeping close together and
near to me. Where we were advancing,
we outflanked the redoubt; so we passed
it, and wheeling round, entered by the
gorge, while others were climbing over
the rough parapet- Then ensued a fierce
hand-to- hand fight, in the midst of
which burly Russian made a strong
thrust at me with his bayonet 1 par
ried the thrust with my sword, with
strength that seemed perfectly ire
sistible, and getting within his guard,
ran him through the body. l remem-
Der even now, with horror, the force
with which the hilt of my sword struck
against the poor fellows ribs but at the
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