The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-22
VOL. XXXIII.--NO. 13.

evident that there was no force to resist our
landing. and by the time night fell some
twenty five thousand soldiers of the British
army and some twenty thousand French
men were drawn up on shore; but what
landing it was Early in the day the
weather had been bright and fine, but all
this changed towards evening, when it
came on to blow and rain heavily. No
tents were landed that night | suppose
our commanders were so anxious to get a
strong force on shore to resist possible at
tack that there was no time to do anything
but land the men and horses. Or was it,
as Charlie suggested, that they had deter
mined to kill off the weakly ones, and have
a survival only of the ftteSt?
Those who could get hold Of anything
TO burn made camp fires but many had to
90 without even this comfort Charlie and
rot II seat by one poor fire, and having
eaten part Of our cold rations. lay down side
the rain pouring down upon us. Even
Charlie spirits were depressed with the
present misery. Day came at last, and
then We found that during the night three
poor fellows belonging To our regiment had
passed away: the cholera was following us.
Three days were spent in landing the ar
tillery and stores, the weather improved,
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 it, but it meant throwing away the last
chance for many weakly one. We
marched early ON the morning Of the 9th.
The day was fine, and it was splendid
sight to see that army Of over sixty thou
sand men advancing in line of columns; at
first, the stirring sight made me forget that
it was possible we might be in action be-
fore the evening We had about fifteen
miles of perfectly bare, waterless country
to cross before we got to our first river, the
Bulganak the heat was great, and many
men fell ont during that fifteen miles
march, some never to rejOin their regi-
ments. As we approached the Bulganak
we could see in the distance some of the
handiwork of Cossacks, in the shape of
burning villages; they were determined to
leave us nothing worth having, and by the
time we arrived at the banks of the river
we could plainly see large bodies of cavalry
on the hills to our left front. That sight
brought back all my selfish fears again,
though there was no immediate cause for
alarm. Some of our light cavalry were
sent forward to reconnoitre the enemy; and,
having advanced as near to them as was
necessary, were about to retire, when the
enemy's cavalry opened out, and showed Il
battery of horse artillery in their midst.
The battery got into action, and [ saw one
horse and man go down on our side, and
presently a poor fellow was carried to the
rear with smashed leg-he passed near
me, and the sight altogether unnamed
me One of our batteries soon got into ac-
ton 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 For
tunately it was fine night Charlie and
I had managed to keep a blanket ,each
as well as our great coats, and we lay down
together under them, but neither of us
could sleep. Somehow it became known
that there must be great battle on the
morrow Charlie was widely excited, and
| was depressed beyond measure, not su
much by the fear of death as by the fear
of disgracing myself; and | almost prayed
that an early bullet might take me off be-
fore / broke down Charlie 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 over
board in gale of wind to save poor teI-
lows life, with every chance of never
getting back again, is going to show the
the white feather before these rascally
Russians. for | won't believe it. Come,
let us 90 to sleep; you are a little unstrung
and tired out; nights rest will make
another man of you.
Five minutes later Charlie was sleeping
as peacefully as little child, but it was
towards morning before I slept, and then
| slept the sleep Of utter exhaustion.
| When | awOke Charlie informed me that
he had been kicking me for the last five
minutes, and he thought was never going
to awake again. Then Il hasty breakfast
was eaten the order to 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
to advance we could see the heights we
should have to storm Now cloud Of
skirmishers were thrown forward to oul
front and left flank and as we got nearer
we could see the formidable earthworks
and batteries prepared for our reception.
| confess that when [ saw all this, and
realized what Il terrible struggle was before
us, all my old fears came back upon me,
and | shook in my boots. We were halt
ed for considerable time just out of
range of the Russian position, while the
French opened the ball. [ am not going
to attempt to give any account of the bat
tie, but must say | watched with ad-
miration, despite my fears, the plucky
way in which the French scaled the heights
on the right, where they were much sleeper
than in front of us-in fact, it was regu-
lar scramble. Fortunately at first there
was nobody to oppose them, as the Rus
slams did not expect an attack from that
quarter. the ascent being so steep; but
when the French had got footing on the
top, fierce fight began.
Now came our turn, and we advanced
towards the river Alma, which flowed all
along the front of the Russian position
and as we came within range the Russian
batteries opened upon us, and then men