Soldiers of the Regiment
Major James Paton
Letters from the Crimean War
In Camp before Sebastopol. 29th June, 1855
My dearest Ellen,
I expected to have heard from home by yesterday’s Mail, but there were
neither letters nor Papers, so I suppose you are waiting till my Father
returns from Paris. They wrote from the Horse Guards about Robinson to
the Colonel, & Col. Williams answered the letter, saying that R. might
have withdrawn his Papers here if he had chosen, Col, Cobbe having told
him he might do so, but he would not; also that he was not a good
officer, so you see my chance almost amounts to a certainty now. I shall
not see my name in the Gazette for a month or more.
We only heard yesterday that Lord Raglan was very ill & there had been a
consultation about his case by the chief Doctors, when last night it was
reported that he was dead. This morning the report was authenticated, he
having died at 9 p.m. yesterday. I have not the least doubt that our
failure the other day was the Cause, it must have preyed much on his
mind. I don’t think his death will influence things out here in the
least – the men don’t seem to care much, he never was a very great
favourite of theirs and since the 18th he has been less thought of than
ever; I heard of the wounded men in Hospital abusing him. I suppose his
body will be sent home for interment. General Simson has assumed the
Command for the present until it be known who is to succeed poor Lord R.
I have not the least doubt that his death was in this morning’s papers.
I have just returned from attending the sale of General Estcourt’s
effects, you know he died of Cholera a few days ago, or rather from the
effects of Cholera after it had gone. Many officers were there and
things went high. Sir G. Brown is gone or is going home we hear. Gen.
Penefeather has gone, so that great changes have taken place, Gens.
Barnard & Eyre being now amongst the Seniors. If Col. Cobbe had not been
hit he would get a Brigade. He had a good deal of fever this week & for
long was insensible, but is again doing well & the fever gone. Of course
he will have to go home. The 44th Regt. have lost 4 Captains, all died
of wounds received in the Cemetery. Our wounded men are not doing well,
their wounds are sloughing – which is difficult to account for as the
weather for some days has been much cooler, in fact quite pleasant. On
the night of the 23rd we had a severe thunder storm & several others
since & they have cooled the air. You have no idea how heavy the rain
comes down, in five minutes the camp is a swamp with the drains all
chock full. Having two Tents, one on top of the other, it cant come
through to bother me.
I hear that Cholera is increasing. We have a case every two days or so,
but then it is invariable fatal. The Troops on the right have it more
than we, also the Guards & Highlanders.
How lovely Crailing must be looking at present. Have you anyone with
you? What a grand thing if I could get some of the vegetables for dinner
occasionally. Everyone believes we shall winter not only in the Crimea
but on our present ground, a bright look out that. I went to see Willie
yesterday and he came here to-day, but we were each of us out. And so he
is given to shooting with the long bow, well that is a very common
failing, & it is my impression that most men are given to it; I very
seldom give credence to their stories about narrow escapes, killing
Russians &c, &c; it is not always the bravest men that proclaim their
deeds to the world – but I am criticising the faults of others,
forgetting my own.
I hope to hear an account of the French Exhibition from my Father. With
best love to dear Father, Mother & Willie [the youngest of the 5
brothers]
Believe me dearest Ellen your very affect. brother
J.Paton
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