Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
Note The following letter which appears to be the last in the Crimean
series, dated 29th October, 1856, should, I think, be dated 1855 and
follow the letter dated 20th August 1855, which also has the note about
the odd envelope on page 28.
Camp near Svastopol. 29th Octr., 1855 or 1856? (envelope missing)
My dearest Ellen,
I recd, my Father’s letter of the 11th on the 26th for which my best
thanks. I am afraid that it will be difficult or impossible to obtain
leave to go to England now, as a General Order has appeared, stating
that the General Commanding is surprised at the number of applications
for leave, & reminding us that we are still in the presence of an active
and powerful enemy, that the men require drilling &c, & c.
The Parade before daylight was knocked off yesterday morning to our
great delight, often when going on the roads immediately afterwards
there was not time for Breakfast. When in charge of a Party howking up
stones to break with Metal for the road, about halfway to Balaklava on
the 24th, the Men came on some nicely squared & chiselled stones,
evidently forming part of a building of some sort, two copper coins were
found, one of which I have got. I pointed out the place to Col. Monroe,
39th Regt., the Field Officer in Charge of that part of the works who
happens to be a great Antiquarian. He reported the circumstance to Head
Quarters, & got an Officer & 50 men to explore the ruin, which is
supposed to be an ancient tomb. Of course he will get all the Kudos
attached to the finding of it, should it prove not to be a Mare’s Nest.
The coin belongs to about the 3rd Century. The Tomb will probably turn
out to be round the diameter of the interior about 25 or 30 feet.
The weather still continues all that could be wished; I never desire to
see finer. My servants have put up a stable for my Pony & roofed it with
wood from the Town – it is formed by digging about 3 feet into the earth
on the side of a hill, then raising a dry wall about 3 foot higher at
the head than the foot & putting on a shed roof.
We are now engaged in making a Mess Hall. Capt. Sheppard having gone
reduces our number to 5. I am going to cater for the Winter, provided I
stop here.
I am afraid there is no doubt that old ass Sadleir is coming out again;
the Regt. will soon go to the Dogs. What a rotten set they are at the
Horse Guards to let an incapable man ruin a Regt. by trying to Command
it. Since penning the above I have been into B. – here is a specimen of
what I got: - 10 fowls at 2/- each, 8 tins of preserved Salmon at 3/6d
each, some spices, 1 Doz Brandy, 2 Doz Sherry, a Barrel of Beer, Bottles
of Harvey & Reading sauce, & a bowl to make Apple Puddings in. Those are
the exact things I got. We sometimes get a Turbot, so you see we dont
live badly. We have had no Huts put up. I hear that at the rate they are
being brought up, it would take 4 years to hut the Army.
I saw an advertisement from a Bookseller, by which it appears that any
periodical weighing under 4 ozs can be sent to the Crimea for 1d. Have
you seen this? You may now send some of the latest Books. Do the
Waverley Novels come out in a cheap edition?
I have not seen W. Elliot for a week. D. Milroy has obtained leave to go
home on account of ill health. I heard today that J. Scott had been
refused leave.
With best love to all. Ever dear E.
Your aff. Brother, J.P.
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