Glasgow Courier. — 1859-03-26 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

VICTORIA CROSS.  LIEUT. HENRY NvEl,yrN WOOD AND THE  The case of this officer," who behaved so as greatly to distinguish himself as a midshipman during the Russian war, and who, having transferred his services from the naval to the military profession, has acquit. ted himself with equal honour in the suppression of the Indian mutinies, has been brought under our notice. In Gen. Michel's despatch, from Allahabad, dated October 22, 1858, we find specially mentioned " the gallantry of Lieutenant Wood, of the 17th Lancers, who (having, from paucity of officers in the 3d Cavalry, volunteered dining the campaign to command a troop of the 3d Light Cavalry) on this occasion (a severe engagement with A large force of mutineers), almost single-handed, came up to and attacked a body of the enemy." Going back to the eventful days of the Crimean campaign, we read, in the annals of the heroic Naval Brigade more than one tale of bravery in which this young officer's name is conspicuous. On the 17th of October, 1854—just four years previous to his display of valour in India —he volunteered with Mr Daniels to bring powder from the rear, under heavy fire. On the 18th,a shell having burst in the covering of a parapet magazine, he instantly jumped upon it, and alone busied himself in clearing and repairing it, under a heavy fire, till joined by Captain Peel, for which he received the thanks of that officer. On the 19th of April, in the following year, he was noticed by Admiral Ltuihington, standing on a parapet, repairing a deep gap made by the enemy's tire, which was so heavy that it daunted the Sappers, whose proper work it should have been. Again, on the 18th of June, rising from a sick bed, he volunteered to join the ladder party; and though wounded in the hand, he assisted to carry the ladders up to the Re,dan, and was the only naval officer who advanced as far as the abattis. These noble acts are well certified in letters from Lord Raglan, Sir Stephen Lushington, and Captain Peel. The first of these distinguished men writes a few words of admiring sympathy on the occasion of Lieutenant Wood's receiving a severe wound. The second writes to Captain Michell, RN.:—" I saw him (Wood) in the trenches, and he bore it like a hero. He was Peel's A.D.C., and Peel endeavoured to keep the boy from the murderous fire into which thsy plunged with the scaling ladders, but he wou'd take no refusal, and went out with the rest" And in writing to Mr Wood himself, Sir Stephen says:— "You have none to thank for the Legion of Honour but your own gallant conduct from the first to the last crowning act, when you walked up to the Redan, with a huge grape shot sticking in your arm, which I took at first for the bone protruding." Captain Peel praises the young man's "beautiful courage in battery," and adds that "his conduct and manners are as exemplary as his courage." In his memorable speech at the Mansion-house, Lord Lyons declared that nobrighter instance of devotion was contained in the pages ef chivalry than the conduct of Captain Peel and his aides-de-camp, among whom Mr Wood came in for special notice. We have been somewhat circumstantial in recalling the services of Mr Henry E. Wood, because we learn that he has been refused the distinction of the Victoria Cross or Order of Valour. It appears that his name had been down for some months; but because he left the navy and sought other ways of winning renown in the cause of his country, the genius of routine has interposed, declaring that the young hero shall go unrewarded and unhonoured. Lieutenant Wood, who is a son of Sir John Page Wood, Bart., has memorialised the First Lord of the Admiralty, respectfully appealing for justice.—DaiLy News.  M. DE