Chapter II

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.