Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
In Camp before Sebastopol. 29th April, 1855. Charge
3d
My dearest Ellen,
I received your most kind letter some days since and have delayed
answering it only that I might write to you at home, where I suppose you
have returned ere this. The dear old place will be beginning to look
itself again, after the unusually hard winter, which must have thrown
vegetation very much backward. I hope you brought Charlotte [Douglas,
the late Sir George Douglas’ sister] out with you, as she will enjoy the
country, and Fan [Elliot, Clifton Park] being away, prove a most
agreeable companion to you. I daresay I shall receive one more letter
written by you in Edinburgh.
We have had a long spell of delightful Spring weather, neither too hot
nor too cold, but just the thing for your humble servant; the ground in
most places, except where it is constantly trodden underfoot, being
again covered with a green coating, & pretty wild flowers spring up
under our very noses. – But as this could not last for ever, so
yesterday & to-day have been as cold, misty and raw as possible. I
generally take a ride every day; as my Moke (Anglice Pony) is in tip top
condition. There are some very pretty valleys between the Monastery of
St. George & B. & near the Cavalry Camp, to where I often resort, the
ground covered with oak copse (as it was here when first we came) but
the French are rapidly cutting it for firing.
On Friday 27th General Canrobert reviewed that part of the French Army
guarding the heights of Inkerman and our flank – I think it is called
the Army of Observation but wont be certain. I cant tell how many men
were under Arms, it is so difficult to judge correctly, but the columns
seemed never ending – the whole was commanded by General Bosquet.
Canrobert first cantered past each Regt., sometimes asking a man a
question or two – afterwards the whole of the troops marched past the
General, Bands playing &c. and such Bands they have, generally about 60
performers instead of only 25 as in our service. The variety was
charming, so many different costumes: Line, Chasseurs de Vincennes,
Marines, Zouaves & Arabs. The Zouaves are superb men and have the most
picturesque dress I ever saw, and at the same time a most useful one &
one in which a man could go through more fatigue than any other. I
admired their Artillery, Horse & Foot, most of all, after that the
Cavalry which consisted of 4 Regts., two Chasseurs D’Afrique, two
Dragoons. The Horses of the former were in amazingly good case, when one
considers they have passed through a hard Winter without an atom of
covering except their saddles, which are never taken off. But then the
Horses are all Arabs and Barbs, & they stand more hardship than English
and French Horses. The 10th Hussars have brought the same kind of nag
with them from India only of a superior description. Numbers of English
Officers were there dressed in all sorts of costume, & which the
authorities no doubt considered greatly wanting in respectability, as
next day gave birth to a General Order on the subject. Master W. was
rather queerly got up.
It is now raining cats and dogs, as the quaint old saying has it, but
what is the meaning thereof I can’t tell. Feeling rather desoleè I shall
turn in between the blankets & leave the finishing of this till
to-morrow. I think that last French word is wrongly spelt, don’t you?
Good Night.
30th. 8 p.m. I came on Ammunition Guard about 6 this evening. The
Ammunition is in a couple of Tents, & consists of Cartridges in Boxes
for the use of the 3rd Division. Though this has been a Sulbaltern’s
Guard since October last I have never been on it before.
Captain Robertson joined General Eyre’s Staff about a week ago as his
Aide de Camp – a very good appointment. To-day Captain Thomson has gone
to Head Quarters having been appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General
– consequently he is under General Escourt. This is a remarkably good
appointment; it was got for him by General England, an old friend of
his. His work is chiefly office, having to look over and check Returns
from the whole Army; they could not have got a better man, he is a
regular hard-working plodding fellow. I am sorry he has gone as we have
messed together since we left England. Maunsell & I go on together, but
I question if we shall agree, he is rather boorish in his manners. I
have now got permanent charge of the Grenadiers, Robinson having got
charge of No 8 Company when Robertson left.
This afternoon the Colonel told me that General Eyre asked him to
recommend two Subalterns to go to Malta to act as Adjutant and
Quartermaster to the Depot there. He mentioned Forster & myself, but we
both declined. I should have recd. 7/6d additional pay per diem & have
got out of this place for some time, but I did not think twice about
refusing it – to say the very least I think it would look bad. I hear
that the Mail is in & all chance of peace gone. A Council of War sat
yesterday; these affairs are often resorted to now, which does not look
well, If we can believe history very few operations emanating from a
Council of War succeeded.
We are actively engaged erecting new Batteries and taking down lots of
shot and shell, which I trust may be more efficacious than their
predecessors, but don’t think so. Our Batteries are not half near enough
and on account of Ravines they cant be got any nearer. The remainder of
the Gallipoli people came up last week, with the exception of Captain
Gamble who is trying to get on General Vivian’s staff, but I don’t think
he will, as we have so many Captains employed in that way. Hall is still
at Pera in charge of the Russian prisoners, & Dowbiggin sailed from
England this month, he is to be an Adjutant Quarter Master General – so
you see the Regt. has at present four Officers on the Staff. Lt. St
Clair has just joined us from Vienna where he was on General Du Plat’s
staff, he died lately. St Clair’s mother was a Polish Lady, sister of
the present Princess Worrouzoff. He speaks French, German, Russian,
Polish, Cossack fluently but his English is not good as he has only been
six months in Great Britain, at Edinburgh College – his father is
Scotch. You would see that Captain Barton has been appointed Paymaster
to the 7th Hussars, I am afraid he is rather harum-scarum for such work.
His vacancy in the Regt. has not yet been filled up. I trust Robinson
may get it, which would leave me Senior Sub.
I meant to have enclosed some wild flowers, but they are in my Tent.
They will keep till next time, D.V. I have not been writing this in a
very comfortable posture, so excuse flaws. Bob Cadell has returned from
Constantinople & has gone back again. I saw him once.
Best love to all from ever dear Ellen your most affect. brother, J.P.
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