Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
From Barracks, Scutari. 30th September, 1854.
Charge 3d
My dearest Ellen,
Here I am still and as the Mail goes to-day I shall pen you a line.
The Commandant, one Major Sillery, has ordered all the Officers to stop
here, who have come down sick and are well now, as they are wanted to do
duty here. There are about 800 men able to go up too, but he won’t let
them, as some of them say 150 are wanted to look after the sick and
wounded – the latter still keep coming down from the Crimea, poor
fellows, most of them are very cheerful. There are 50 wounded Russians
here too, and some Officers. Old General Goginoff died during the night
and will be buried at 4 today with Military Honours. Lord Stratford de
Redcliffe came over yesterday to see the sick. They are crowded together
in passages and all sorts of places. It appears to me to be great folly
bringing down Russians when we want all the room we can get for our own
people. There is no later news from Sebastopol except that a number of
Poles came over to us and pointed out where the mines were, and also
where they were not. I hope it may be true and not a ruse. I was on
board the Beagle, one of the new Gun Boats, yesterday. She is on her way
up, with two of the new guns on Board. The Arrow went up a few days ago.
I think I have a pretty good chance of going up to-day in the Cambria if
she sails; the Capt. said he would give me a passage, Knollys of the
Scots Guards (?) is coming too. Tell my Father poor Cust who used to
hunt with us was struck by a round shot in the groin and lived a very
short time, he was in the Grenadier Gds. The Scots Fusiliers had 11
officers wounded and not one killed. We had a young wounded Russ.
Officer to dinner last night. He spoke French, appeared to be 16 or 17
years old. I have been over the water 3 times but never went to the
Bazaar, they are such a set of cheats it is much better to take someone
with you who knows the place, and I have not been able to get such a
person. I will get some slippers, scarves & c. on my way back.
There must be some letters for me up with the Army, it seems an age
since I heard from home. I trust you are all well. I am nearly so, but
still weak. Have there been any Cholera cases in your neighbourhood? 169
died in one ship coming down from the Army, it is very awful. There are
a few cases, chiefly from ships and not indigenous to the place. How is
the Kirk getting on, nearly finished yet? Is W. Elliot [cousin] home on
leave, I suppose he is still at the Depot and not out at Malta.
Kindest love to Father, Mother, Willie and believe me dearest sister,
Your affect. brother,
J Paton
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