WAR DECLARED AGAINST RUSSIA--PASSAGE TO TURKEY.
I have thought several times during my career as a soldier of
bringing before a generous and loyal people the little incidents that
took place during my life in the army; and I have been prompted to
do this by a few of my surviving comrades, who, along with me, stood
victorious on many a hard-contested field.
The past ten years of my life has been one scene of severe trial and
great danger, and it is now, after exchanging the sword for the
pruning-hook, that I venture to lay before my readers the many narrow
escapes, severe hardships, and fatigues of the most trying nature.
I cannot at present enter into, or give a full detail of every
thing that took place in the Crimea, although I was present during
the whole of that eventful struggle. The able pen of Mr Russell,
of the _Times_, has already given to the world a true account of
that ever memorable and never to be forgotten struggle. I will pass
over the first two years of my life as a soldier, and come upon the
stage at Chobham Camp in 1853, where an army of upwards of 10,000
were convened undergoing daily exercise, and where I myself got
my first thorough and practical lesson in field movements, under
the able generalship of his Royal Highness Prince George, Duke of
Cambridge. At that time Russia was waging war against Turkey, and the
Principalities was the great question of the day. It was evident at
that time that Great Britain and France were to become actors in the
great drama.
After the breaking up of the camp at Chobham, my regiment (the 79th
Cameron Highlanders) was ordered to Portsmouth, and there we remained
during the winter and spring of 1853-54. It was in the spring of
1854 that Great Britain and France proclaimed war against Russia. I
recollect well that it caused a great sensation of joy amongst us.
Regiment after regiment left Portsmouth for the seat of war, and
amongst the last were the Cameron Highlanders. Never, I am sure, did
a body of more efficient men leave the shores of old England than
that called the Crimean army; but, alas! how few returned again to
their native land. War is a great calamity, but still it cannot
always be avoided. My regiment embarked at Portsmouth for Turkey on
the 4th day of May, 1854, and disembarked at Scutari on the 27th of
the same month. We could see the capital of Turkey on the opposite
side of the Bosphorus, with the spires of the Mosque glittering in
the sun. Constantinople appeared a beautiful city from a distance,
but, on a closer inspection, this was found very far from being the
case. The narrow and filthy streets showed at once the indolent
disposition of the Turks. Give the Turk his cup of coffee, and let
him smoke his _chabook_, and he will allow the streets to clean
themselves. We lay a short time at Scutari, when we received orders
to proceed to Varna. We steamed up the Bosphorus, and what a lovely
sight we saw going up that river. The summer residence of some of
our aristocratic countrymen were beautiful to behold. We landed
at Varna after three days’ sailing, and pitched our camp about
three miles distant from the town. Regiment after regiment landed,
and we soon formed an army. We were told off into divisions. I
belonged to the first or heavy division, composed of the following
regiments:--Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scotch Fusilier Guards, 42d,
93d, and 79th Highlanders, under the command of his Royal Highness
Prince George and Sir Colin Campbell. A body of better looking men,
I believe, never took the field. At this time the Russians were hard
pursuing the Turks at the siege of Silistria. I would give the Turks
credit for their courage and daring at this place; but their garrison
was kept alive by two brave and faithful Englishmen (Butler and
Naysmith.) Their appearance and indefatigableness roused within the
Turks a spirit of bravery. The Russians, after struggling for some
time with the Turks, were obliged to raise the siege, and withdrew
their forces. The Crimea was then the object of our attack, and
we longed to try the strength of the Russians. Cholera broke out
amongst us, and made great havoc in our ranks. We were therefore
more eagre to shift our camp, and have a “go-in,” as we called it,
at the Russian bears. Our wishes were soon to be realised; for it
was whispered that we were to sail for the Crimea. We were very busy
making fascines and gabions for siege works. We found ourselves often
in company with Frenchmen and Turks--the former very spirited and
gay, the latter very sedate and dull. Still, we managed to understand
each other very well. With a salute from a Frenchman of _Bona
Engliterra_, we returned _Bona Franci_; from the Turk, _Bona Johny_,
and so on. Such were the civilities passed occasionally between us.
We in this way amused ourselves for some time.