The British Expedition to the CrimeaRussell, William Howard, Sir
History
The British Expedition to the Crimea
Russell, William Howard, Sir
Crimean War, 1853-1856
At a quarter to eleven o'clock on the 24th of May, all the regiments in
barrack and camp were paraded separately, and afterwards marched to the
ridge which bounded one side of the shallow but broad ravine that
separated the Brigade of Guards from the other brigades. The total force
on the ground consisted of about 15,000 men.
The Guards were ordered to appear on parade without--Muskets?--No.
Coatees?--No. Epaulettes?--No. Cartouch-boxes?--No. Boots?--No. In fact,
Her Majesty's Guards were actually commanded to parade "WITHOUT STOCKS!"
to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday.
At twelve o'clock, Lord Raglan and staff, to the number of thirty or
forty, appeared on the ground. Lord Raglan having ridden slowly along
the line, wheeled round and took his post in front of the centre
regiment. After a short pause, just as the guns of the _Niger_ were
heard thundering out a royal salute from the Bosphorus, the bands struck
up the national air again, and down at once fell the colours of every
regiment drooping to the ground. The thing was well done, and the effect
of these thirty-two masses of richly dyed silk encrusted with the names
of great victories, falling so suddenly to the earth as if struck down
by one blow, was very fine. In another minute a shout of "God save the
Queen" ran from the Rifles on the left to the Guards on the right, and
three tremendous cheers, gathering force as they rolled on with
accumulated strength from regiment after regiment, made the very air
ring, the ears tingle, and the heart throb.
After the cheering died away the march past began. The Guards marched
magnificently. The Highlanders were scarcely a whit inferior, and their
pipes and dress created a sensation among the Greeks, who are fond of
calling them Scotch Albanians, and comparing them to the Klephtic
tribes, among whom pipes and kilts still flourish.
Games--racing in sacks, leaping, running, &c., and cricket, and other
manly sports--occupied the men in the afternoon, in spite of the heat of
the day. In the evening, a handsome obelisk, erected in the centre of
the Guards' camp, and crowned with laurel, was surrounded by fireworks.
The apathy of the Turks was astonishing. Though Scutari, with its
population of 100,000 souls, was within a mile and a half, it did not
appear that half a dozen people had been added to the usual crowd of
camp followers who attend on such occasions. The Greeks were more
numerous; Pera sent over a fair share of foreigners, all dressed in the
newest Paris fashions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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