Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
Camp before Sebastopol. 9th April, 1855
My darling Ellen,
Your letter came on Good Friday. I also got one from our Father, all
well. I am glad you are enjoying yourself & are going to stay a little
longer in Town. The country is so very dull.
Willie Elliot is quite well, I saw him at Church Parade yesterday. I
have never got the parcel sent in the Pioneer and all her things are
landed, this looks as if it had been stolen, how very provoking after
all the trouble you had about it. I am glad flowers are so much valued,
I have nothing else to send; there are Quantities of blue and yellow
“Iris” out now. I hope you may be able to get a pony ere the Summer
begins, but then who would you have to escort you? Have just been
writing to my Father and Ancrum Ned, & am rather bored so you must not
expect a good epistle.
We opened fire on the Town again this morning & have kept it up all day.
I am sure John Ruski must have been taken by surprise, for a more
miserable morning it is impossible to conceive, heavy rain & high wind.
This is the first really bad day we have had for six weeks – the Soil
was quite parched and cracked in every direction, yet one night’s rain
has made it as muddy as ever it was. Bob Cadell, who has been waiting
orders at Balaklava all last week, came up about 12 o’clock wet to the
skin. He lunched, saw the firing & then returned to B. He is ordered to
proceed to Constantinople to-night or tomorrow to procure supplies for
the Turks. Archy Ballard came round from Eupatoria on Friday with 12,000
Turks. 13,000 under Oma Pacha were to come to-day.
Ballard, Cadell and self rode over to see the Light Division Races on
Saturday which were pretty good. All these Turks being sent for, looks
as if something was going to be done, storm the Town very probably. It
has never ceased raining all day. Consequently I have not seen any of
the Artillery Practice. We appear to be firing much more than they are.
Everyone here is most anxiously looking for news from Vienna as to what
Johnny Russell [or Russie?] is about. Perhaps it is on account of bad
news recd. this morning that the Bombardment has opened again. In my
opinion there seems to be less chance of peace than when Nicholas was
alive.
We had a Brigade Parade on Saturday, the first of this Year. There are
five Regts. in our Brigade, viz. 4th, 9th, 18th, 28th and 44th. It was a
beautiful day and very warm. The Regiment masters upwards of 400 men now
and we are getting more every day.
I wrote John Wood Lately; did you hear of its arrival? There is close to
my tent a Sheep belonging to the Doctor which has been a year in the
Regiment. He landed at Old Fort, marched to Alma, was present at the
Battle when he behaved with the greatest coolness. He has not been much
engaged since then; save being nearly killed by some shells which Ruski
has a pleasant trick of throwing right into our Camp.
Dearest Ellen, I must now pull up. Shall direct this to Georgie, not
knowing where you are living.
Ever your most affect. brother J. Paton
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