The British Expedition to the CrimeaRussell, William Howard, Sir
History
The British Expedition to the Crimea
Russell, William Howard, Sir
Crimean War, 1853-1856
Let the reader imagine he is riding in Bulgaria any hot eventide in
June, 1854; he will pass many a group of such poor fellows as these. A
few miles before him, after leaving Varna, he will catch glimpses of
English hill-tents through the trees on a beautiful knoll, running down
towards the rich marshes at the head of the lake, which he has kept on
his left all the way. Let us water our horses, for the place is yet some
way off. Now and then encountering English travellers going to pester
Omar Pasha at Shumla, or returning proudly from having done so, we at
last draw towards the camp. The report of a gun rings through the woods
and covers, and an honest English shout of "What have you hit, Jack?"
or, "By Jove, he's off!" from among the bushes, shows that Ensign Brown
or Captain Johnson is busy in the pursuit of the sports of the field.
Private Smith, of the Rifle Brigade, with a goose in each hand, is
stalking homewards from the hamlet by the lake-side. Mr. Flynn, of the
Connaught Rangers, a little the worse for raki, is carrying a lamb on
his shoulders, which he is soothing with sentimental ditties; and
Sergeant Macgregor, of the 7th, and Sergeant Aprice, of the 23rd Welsh
Fusileers, are gravely discussing a difficult point of theology on a
knoll in front of you. Men in fatigue-frocks laden with bundles of
sticks or corn, or swathes of fresh grass, are met at every step; and by
the stream-side, half hidden by the bushes, there is a rural laundry,
whence come snatches of song, mingled with the familiar sounds of
washing and lines of fluttering linen, attesting the energies of the
British laundress under the most unfavourable circumstances. In a short
time the stranger arrives at a mass of araba carts drawn up along the
road, through which he threads his way with difficulty, and just as he
tops the last hill the tents of the Light Division, stretching their
snowy canvas in regular lines up the slope of the opposite side, come
into view.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account