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
I then went to the purveyor, and to the kitchen; but fearing, as the
battle was raging fiercely, the number of wounded might exceed the means
at their disposal, I remained about the hospitals. I did this in case my
services might be required, as I was well aware of the importance of
speedy relief to the sufferers.
Towards evening the wounded began to arrive, though not in great
numbers. I left my Zouave there and returned to the camp, telling him if
anything was required, to ride home at once and inform me, as the
doctors would be so much engaged--and in particular Dr. Mouatt, who
would most probably not be able to devote his time to the culinary
department. As I rode towards Sebastopol, to have another look at the
battle, I met only a few wounded. Upon inquiring of the orderlies in
charge whether there were many more, they replied that they could not
say, but they believed that there were a great number. I then returned
to my tent, and a few minutes afterwards my naval friends arrived. The
dinner was served up, and they told me that they had had a good view of
the besieged city from the French lines. In the course of conversation,
they informed me that Colonel (now General) Wyndham had invited them to
dinner that day. I replied, “I am very anxious about him, as he led the
storming party in the Redan, and I have heard the attack has been very
severe, and many were killed and wounded on both sides.” I also heard
that it had been retaken by the Russians, and feared he might have been
taken prisoner, if not wounded or killed.
When dinner was over, I proposed to pass them through the lines and make
inquiry about him. We proceeded to Cathcart’s Hill--it was then nearly
dusk--I on horseback, they on foot. The camp around us was as still and
deserted as in the morning; scarcely any one was to be seen till we
reached the lines. Very few shots were heard, but every one was at his
post. Upon reaching Cathcart’s Hill, I alighted to speak with his Grace
the Duke of Newcastle, who had been in the trenches all day and had just
returned. He was kind enough to give me the details of the attacks on
both sides, and said that he was waiting for General Bentinck, who had
not yet been seen, and that he hoped nothing had happened to him. I
observed, “This is a most anxious hour for all who have friends engaged
in so serious and dangerous an encounter.”
While conversing with the Duke, I missed my two companions. Thinking
they knew the position of Colonel Wyndham’s quarters, I went there
expecting to find them. My first and most anxious inquiry of the
servant, who knew me well, was, “What news of the Colonel?”
“Oh, all right, Monsieur Soyer,” he replied with great satisfaction. “If
you wish to see him, he is gone to Colonel Wood’s tent--you know where
it is.”
“No I don’t.”
“Then I’ll show you--he will be glad to see you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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