Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil InstitutionsSoyer, Alexis
History
Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions
Soyer, Alexis
Cooking for military personnel; Crimean War, 1853-1856
full feed, though in the profoundest retirement, having sold out of the
army. Louis spoke very highly of his master, and never seemed to be
pleased or displeased at anything--good news, bad, or indifferent, were
all the same to him. If you said to him, “The weather is very bad,” he
would answer, “I have nothing to do with that, no more than if it were
fine.” On asking him, at our first interview, if he was a Frenchman,
“Of course I am,” he replied; “all my family were Frenchmen.” I must say
that, with all his eccentricity, he was very obliging; and I feel very
grateful for the kind attentions he paid me, particularly during my
serious illness, when he often visited me. Upon our arrival, the
doctor’s horse was at the door, and his master soon made his appearance.
“Good morning, Doctor! I fear we are behind time.”
“I can always employ my time here,” said he, looking at his watch; “you
are only a few minutes late.”
We then, started. Louis asked whether he was to accompany us; to which
the doctor answered, “No: I expect Dr. Henderson from Balaklava, so be
in the way; tell him we are gone to the General Hospital.”
During our ride, I told my companion about the Sardinian insurrection
near our new London Bridge, which seemed to amuse him very much. He
informed me that Miss Nightingale had passed a better night, but was far
from being out of danger. The cannon of Sebastopol made a fearful noise.
“Have you seen Sebastopol yet, Monsieur Soyer?”
“Yes, I have, Doctor, and was rather close, too!” and I related our
Nightingale campaign.
“To-day you will have another view, quite as good, though not so
dangerous.”
We then began talking upon business, and I was speaking of my having
visited the military and civil hospitals in France, when Dr. Henderson
galloped after us, and a conversation ensued relative to the arrival of
the armies, and the fact that many of the men had been attacked by
fever, before their hospitals were ready. Dr. Hall decided upon a course
of action, and we alighted at the General Hospital. The doctor, Mr.
Mouatt, was unfortunately out, but was expected back shortly. Dr.
Henderson left us, and I accompanied Dr. Hall round several huts. He
visited all the worst cases, which were at that time very numerous. We
then repaired to the kitchen, which, as I have before said, was far from
being equal to the requirements of such an immense hospital. It was in
the open air, and ill provided with things necessary for the
establishment. Having pointed this out to Dr. Hall, he immediately
agreed that one similar to that at the Sanatorium should be erected; but
Dr. Mouatt was not present. The want of materials and of workmen was so
great, that, previous to its erection, I was obliged to leave the Crimea
and return to Scutari for a short time. My head man there had been taken
ill, and his life was, as he thought, in great danger. Several times
prior to my return he had threatened to run away, which would quite have
upset all my former efforts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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