The Brigade of the Guards lost fourteen officers killed; the wonder is that any escaped the murderous fire. The Alma did not present anything like the scene round the Sandbag Battery. Upwards of 1,200 dead and dying Russians laid behind and around and in front of it, and many a tall English Grenadier was there amid the frequent corpses of Chasseur and Zouave. At one time, while the Duke was rallying his men, a body of Russians came at him. Mr. Wilson, surgeon, 7th Hussars, attached to the brigade, perceived the danger of his Royal Highness, and with great gallantry assembled a few Guardsmen, led them to the charge, and dispersed the Russians. The Duke's horse was killed. At the close of the day he called Mr. Wilson in front and thanked him for having saved his life. [Sidenote: AN INTERESTING COLLOQUY.] BOOK IV. PREPARATIONS FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN--THE HURRICANE--THE CONDITION OF THE ARMY--THE TRENCHES IN WINTER--BALAKLAVA--THE COMMISSARIAT AND MEDICAL STAFF. CHAPTER I. Formation of the Russian Army--Difficulties explained--Appearance of the Men--Liège Muskets--Bayonets--Killing the Wounded--Glories of Inkerman--Commissary Filder's merits--Hardships of the Campaign--Officers in rags--Hurricane of the 14th of November--A mighty and strong Wind--Tents dislodged--A Medical Officer in difficulty--Horrors of the Scene--Sleet and Snow--Officers in distress--Bad news from Balaklava--A Lull. From a deserter at Head-Quarters I gleaned some particulars respecting the formation of the Russian army. It had long been a puzzle to ignorant people like ourselves why the Russian soldiers had numbers on their shoulder-straps different from those on their buttons or on their caps. In recording my observations of the appointments of the men killed at the Alma, I remarked that certain "regiments" were present, judging by the shoulder straps. It will appear that these numbers referred not to regiments, but to divisions. So let our Pole, one of the few who came in after Inkerman, speak for himself through an interpreter:-- "What does the number on the strap on your shoulder indicate?" "It is No. 16. It shows that I belong to the 16th Division of the army." "Who commands it?" "I don't know--a General." "What does the number 31 on your buttons mean?" "It means that I belong to Regt. 31 of the 16th Division." "What does the number 7 on your cap, with P after it, mean?" "It indicates that I belong to the 7th rota of my polk." "What does a rota mean?" "It means a company of 250 men." "How many rotas are in a polk?" "There are sixteen rotas in each polk." "And how many polks are in a division?" "There are four polks in a division." "If that is so, why have you 31 on your buttons?" (A pause, a stupid look.)--"I don't know."