King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Captain James Paton, 4th King's Own, at Chatham, 1862
Accession Number: KO2590/394

Major James Paton

Letters from the Crimean War

In camp at Varna. 28th August 1854

My dear Ellen,

I received your letter of the 8th Inst. on the 26th Inst. also a Kelso Mail which makes the 3rd I have got; they are very amusing. The mail goes out to-morrow and this will probably be the last letter I will write before the Expedition sails.

We are encamped on high table land about 3 miles to the South of the Town and about a mile from the Black Sea; where we bathe. The 28th, 79th and 93rd are close to us, and lots of other regiments as well as Cavalry and Artillery in the immediate vicinity. The country has a very different aspect from Gallipoli, being densely wooded; there are no large trees, but all copse. It is very beautiful, one might almost think it were a gentleman’s park on a large scale. There are thousands of Hazel Bushes covered with Nuts.

I rode into Varna on Thursday to see Nasmyth, the defender of Silistria. He came out to the camp, but I was no in, and having got an appointment as Queen’s Commissioner in Circassia, where he is going instanter, I lost no time in seeing him; he has been very fortunate; his brother who was at the Grange with me has gone to Madeira in a decline, poor fellow. Varna looks dirtier than Gallipoli but then the fire has just taken place, and if it had been just sacked after a storm it could not look more tumble down. There are a couple of good English stores where almost anything may be got. The Town has a finer appearance from the outside than I expected, but the chief sight is the Bay filled with shipping of every flag and size. Never saw such a number before except in some of our great English Sea Ports. All the Men of War boats are engaged taking stores to the Transports, also Japions [?] and Fascines and other siege equipment. The Artillery is nearly all embarked. Of course there are numberless shaves afloat as to the day of sailing, but no-one knows except the Chiefs. I should think not before the end of the week. The 2nd and Light Divisions have not come down the country yet and they number some 10 or 12,000 of the Best Troops. The Simla went back to Scutari on Thursday to take stores on board.

I was engaged all Saturday in changing the mens old Firelocks for the new Mimi rifles; we marched down to the water’s edge and having got into Boats were towed across the Bay to Varna (by a Tug) where they were changed. We came back the same way; it took the best part of the day; the men had nothing to eat for 28 hours. We are to take nothing with us, I hear, save what each man can carry on his back. No Tents, Horses or Baggage of any sort; on landing each man and officer carries three days provisions. Of course our destination is a profound secret but the general rumour sends us to Sebastopol; which that excellent party also alleges may be taken with the loss of 20,000 men. There will be first a contested landing, then a contested river to cross, then an entrenched camp and lastly a strong fort from which the Town will be bombarded.

Such are some of the shaves afloat - talking of a different kind of shave the men all grow Moustaches and Beards which give them an exceedingly dirty appearance at first. For my part I don’t think it is Sebastopol! Sir John Burgoyne came out on Saturday from England. I saw him land along with Admirals Dundas and Lyons. A Council of War was held by all the Big Wigs, French, English and Turkish - the French are very averse to the whole thing, they are quite dispirited, having lost a great many men, from 5 to 10,000, by disease. We have lost about 1000 altogether, but then our medical department is so much better attended to. We are to embark 25,000, the French 23,000, Turks 20,000.

I saw John Scott of Ancrum two days ago, he is close bye. They have lost 3 officers now, the Colonel, a Major and a Lieutenant. We left Ekin, our Junior Doctor, on Board a Transport as he was not well enough to be brought on shore. A number of our men have been laid up the last few days. Everyone said we looked very healthy on landing. An old schoolfellow of mine, Turner of the 93rd, died of Cholera. I saw him at Gallipoli. We had Service yesterday morning at 6 o’clock, all our Division and the 4th Light Dragoons attended. I shall finish this tomorrow as some news may turn up ere that. I see poor Skinner got his Company a few days before his death, he never knew it.

29th 7 a.m. We are off this afternoon sometime. Some Regts. are embarking now, viz:- 28th, 42nd, 44th and the Guards. There will be great confusion doubtless. All our baggage accompanies us, but the horses do not, they will be probably left for anyone who likes to take them. When the Transports are filled they sail round to Baltchick Bay, the general rendezvous where we wait till all are ready.

I think it will be time to be getting some warm winter clothing now and have it in readiness to send out. If my Father were to write to Meyer and Mortimer to make me a Shooting Coat or rather suit of very warm Plaid or Frieze, and tell him to get 4 or 6 Flannel Shirts of different Patterns, he will know what is meant; they are made quite loose like a linen Shirt and of pretty variegated Flannel. I have three or four but they are nearly worn out, I haven’t had anything else on my back since Malta. Tell mother to get me some strong Socks and Drawers. These together with a Macintosh Coat and Leggings will be my Winter Equipment. You can either make up the Box at home or in Edinburgh, whichever is most convenient. When sent it must be directed to the care of Mr. Charles Grace, Constantinople, but it had better not be sent till I write again. We leave a Sub. here to look after sick men and Baggage; Bower is the unfortunate victim. I must now pull up. Give my remembrance to all friends. Kindest love to my Father, Mother, Willie, the Boys, George and Bob and Everybody. And Believe me dear Ellen with best love
Your affect. Brother, J. Paton