Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
Camp near Sevastopol. 11th April, 1856 Charge 3d
My dear Ellen,
Your letter came by yesterdays Mail, also a letter from Will and
numerous Papers.
So peace is made at last, and the war after lasting two years or so
terminated, but we may have a go at brother Jonathan if he goes on as he
has been doing. I think there is no doubt that certain Regts. will go to
Canada, tho’ not two Divisions as you mentioned in your letter, most
probably those Regts. which were stationed in the Mediterranean will go,
and Regts. which had some years home service, such as the 4th, go to
Malta, Corfu, & c. I would rather serve at Corfu or in Canada than at
the Depot, but I shall most likely have my choice as there is no-one in
the Regt. now before me for that sort of thing. Besides on going to the
Depot I should have to give up Command of the Grenadier Company.
I am sure of getting leave, whenever the Regt. is settled at some
station. There is the possibility, nay probability of English Troops
being left in the Turkish Territory and we may form part of the force.
It is said that the Sardinians embark first – also that we have been
allowed six months to get out of the Crimea.
I have been duck shooting a little, but the birds are very wary as so
many people are looking for them. You ask how I amuse myself - . Well,
to begin with, a Capt. here has always something to occupy his time
connected with the interior economy of his Company till noon or maybe
later. After that I generally walk on a cold day & ride on a hot one. As
you may believe the Country had grown rather stale, so when yesterday I
rode across the Tchernaya one felt like a school boy escaped out of
bounds. I rode with two others to the top of the Mackenzie range of
heights, thro’ some Russian Camps and a little way across the Plateau to
some heights overlooking the valley of the Belbec, & Batchi-Serrai in
the distance. The Ruski Camp resembles that of the Sardinians very much,
both having the same kind of Huts; viz. wattle sides like an inverted V
and the interior sunk in the ground (a diagram is given here). The huts
seem very warm and comfortable. They had to bring their water some miles
apparently and were munching away at Black Bread. There was a band
playing, much stronger than ours in point of members. They played
extremely well, so soft & nice, not all Brass like English Bands. Major
Wilby, Capt. Forster and self are thinking of going to Batchi-Serai
early next week – it is a ride of some 25 or 27 miles from this.
Simpheripol is about 20 miles beyond. We could easily manage the trip in
three days.
A Russian Officer who was in out Camp last night, stopped to Dinner with
us. We could not understand each other in the least till Col. Hart came
in afterwards & talked German with him. He had a great liking for Porter
which he continued to drink after dinner, and got ra-ather tipsy. I got
him off to bed with difficulty. He departed at an early hour this
morning. His Father he said was a General in Sevastopol & was killed
there. After Alma if we had pushed on nothing could have prevented us
taking the Town.
There are to be more Races next week, both French and English. General
Eyre has gone to Batchi-Serai. Brigadier Trollope had the Division out
Drilling today near Head Quarters, the Guards were there too. Codrington
came out to look on and with him three of General Loder’s Aides de Camp.
Our men have been very busy enclosing all the Grave Yards with stone
walls, which work being finished collecting all the Shot & taking it to
the Railway is the order of the day. Tomorrow I am in command of 450 men
thus pleasantly engaged. We are all looking forward to these severe
fatigues in the hot weather with great disgust. The weather is at last
all that can be wished.
With best love to all. Ever dearest Ellen
Your affect. brother J. Paton
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