Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-11


in reserve; but surely II should have
been placed In some healthy spot where
IL might have retained its fUll strength.
IL
Towards tho end Of August there was
a great increase In tho number OF yes
sels-of-war and transport OF Varna. III
was evident that some move was short
ly 70 be mado, and In the early days OF
September we received orders TO hold
ourselves In readiness TO embark for the
Crimea at an hours notice.
We were now at last about TO como
face to face with tho enemy. and tho
result to me was That all my dread OF
battle returned In full force. Why
should ] go and get killed while l was
in the full enjoyment OF youth, health,
and strength; yes. and wealth Qor l was
well ON. to boot? SO argued my fears,
while honor babe me 60 on and do my
duty like a brave Englishman.
On the 9Th OF September the French
began their embarkation. on the 9TH we
were ordered On board ship, and soon
after We got under way, and LETT be-
hind us plague-stricken Varna and all
its honors. l do not suppose there was
man In all that vast feet who ever
wished to SEQ Varna again, or who was
not glad to 20. Even felt It a relief.
We sailed AID steamed to a certain
point In the Black Sea, and there anchor
ed out OF sight OF land. It was the rem
devious for all the fleets. After we ar
rived ships were constantly coming IN
till at last there was gathered together
huge feet OF some 700 vessels, from the
great Inan-of-war earring a hundred guns
TO the impudent little gunboat with It's
one 6S-pounder. When all were assembled
we again got under way, and soon appear
ed off Eupatoria. Two or three vessels
were sent in to take possession or the
place; as II was not fortified. no resistance
was offered. Then we steamed away
again to a part Of the coast which had
been decided on by our commanders lor
a landing.
1t was late in the day when we arrived
and saw before US q low, sandy coast Iar-
Their to the south than Eupatoria ana
nearer to Sebastopol, subsequently known
10 our men as Old Fort. Late though il
was, the landing at once commenced.
few Cossacks wero TO be seen galloplng
about in the distance, but 1t was very
soon evident that there was no force 10
resist our landing, and by tho time night
fell some twenty-five thousand soldiers
OF the British army and some twenty
thousand Frenchmen were drawn up on
shore: but what q landing it was! Early
I'm the day the weather had been bright
and fine. but all this changed towards
evening, when II came on to blow ah1 ram
heavily. No tents were landed that night
7 srpnose our commanders were so anx-
ions TO get a strong force on shore 70 re-
sist O possible attack that there was no
+tn1e IN do ANYTHING but land the men ana
horses. or was it, as Charlie suggested
that they had determined to Kill OH the
weakly ones, and have a survival only OF
the fttest?
Those who could get hold Of anything
n hurn made camp fires, but many had TO
on without even this comfort. Charlie and
got q seat by one poor fire, and having
eaten mart Of our cold rations. lay down
side by side and got what rest we coulu
with the rain pouring down upon US bVsn
Crharlie's spirits were depressed with the
,,resert misery. Day came az last, and
then we found that during the night three
moor fellows belonging 10 our regiment
had passed away; the cholera was follow
ing US.
Three DAYS were spent in landing the
artillery and stores, the weather I'M
nroved. and after the first night We
had our tents. Then on the 18th came
the order to return all tents on board
ship: there was no help for II, but II
meant throwing away the last chance Tor
many a weakly one. We marcned carry
on the morning Of the 18TH. The DAY was
fine. and Il was n splendid sight 20 see
tbat aruv of over sixty thousand men
advancing in line Of columns; at first, the
stirring sight made me forget that 1t was
nossible we might be in action before the
evening. We had about fifteen miles
NJ nerfectly bare, waterless country 10
cross before we got 10 our first river, the
Rulganak; the heat was great, and many
,nen fell out during that fifteen miles
march some never to rejoin their regi-
vents As we approached the Bulganak
We could see in the distance some OF the
handiworl of Cossacks, in the shape OF
burning villages; they were determlneu
10 leave us nothing worth having. ana Dy
the tirne we arrived at the banks OF the
river we could plainly see large bodies
OF cavalry on the hills TO our ieit 'front.'
That sight brought back all my selnsh
fears again. though there was no i'm
mediate cause for alarm. Some or our
LIGHT cavalry were sent forward TO re-
connoitre the enemy; ana, having ad-
vanced as near to them as was necessary
were about 10 retire, when the enemy 5
cavalry opened out, and showed bat
ferry OF horse artillery in their midst. Inc
battery got into action, and l saw one
horsa and man 20 down on our side, and
presently n roor fellow was carried TO
he rear with a smashed leg-he passed
near me, and the sight altogether I'M
manned me. one OF our batteries soon
got into action against the enemy, and
shortly after the Russians retired.
When our whole force had crossed the
river we were ordered TO halt and
biyouac for the night. Rations were
served out and without tents, ana for
tbe most part without fires, we lay down
t,lx a
Charlie and / had managed 10 keep a
blanket each, as well as our great
coats. and we lay down together under
them. but neither OF us could sleep.
Somehow IL became known that there
must be a great battle on the morrow.
Charlie was widely excited, and L was
depresse ed beyond measure not so mucn
by the fear of death as by the fear or
disgracing myself; ana 1 almost prayed
that an early bullet might take me of
before I broke down. Charlie noticed
my depression, and L could not help
telling him something OF my fears, DuI
he secuted the idea at once. Don
tell me" he said, that the man who
could lump overheard in gale or 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 be-
lieye it, Come, let us go to sleep; you
are a little unstrung and tired out; a
nights rest win make another man oil
you"
Five minutes later Charlie was sleep
ing as peacefully as a little child, but
it was towards morning before L slept
and then / slept tho sleep Of utter ex-
haustlon. When j awoke Charlie In
formed me that he had been kicking
me for the last five minutes, and he
| thought / was never going 10 wake
again. Then hasty breakfast was
eaten, the order 10 fall in was given
and we were on the march which was to
end in the terrible battle of the Alma
Close TO the sea marched the French,
next them the Turks, and the English
farther inland. Soon after we had begun