The British Expedition to the CrimeaRussell, William Howard, Sir
History
The British Expedition to the Crimea
Russell, William Howard, Sir
Crimean War, 1853-1856
On the 3rd of July, news arrived that Omar Pasha was on his way from
Silistria to Varna, and might be expected in an hour. The Turkish
infantry on the plains below were observed to fall in, and draw up in
front of their tents. About two o'clock a faint streak of dust rose over
the white lines of the road winding far in the distance over the hills
which lie towards Shumla, and through the glass could be discerned two
travelling carriages, with a small escort of horse, moving rapidly
towards the village of Devna, and the whole of the staff hastened to pay
their respects to Omar Pasha, who mounted his horse, and attended by his
suite and followers, rode up the hill towards the camp, in the front of
which the division was drawn up in line. The _coup d'oeil_ was
magnificent. The blue outlines of the distant hills, over which played
the heavy shadows of rapidly-gathering thunder-clouds--the green sweep
of the valley below dotted with tents, and marked here and there with
black masses of Turkish infantry--the arid banks of sand, and grey
cliffs, displaying every variety of light and shadow--and then the crest
of the hill, along which for a mile shone the bayonets of the British
infantry, topped by the canvas walls behind them--formed a spectacle
worth coming far to see. Omar Pasha was dressed with neatness and
simplicity--no order but the Star of the Medjidji glittered on his
breast, and his close-fitting blue frock-coat displayed no ornament
beyond a plain gold shoulder-strap and gilt buttons. He wore the fez
cap, which showed to advantage the clear, well-marked lines of his calm
and resolute face, embrowned by exposure to wind and weather for many a
year of a soldier's life, and the hue of which was well contrasted with
his snow-white whiskers. In the rude and rather sensual mouth, with
compressed thick lips, were traceable, if physiognomy have truth,
enormous firmness and resolution. The chin, full and square, evinced the
same qualities, which might also be discerned in the general form of the
head. Those who remember the statue of Radetsky, at the Great
Exhibition, will understand what this means. All the rougher features,
the coarse nose, and the slight prominence of the cheek-bones, were more
than redeemed by the quick, penetrating, and expressive eye, full of
quiet courage and genius, and by the calm though rather stubborn brow,
marked by lines of thought, rising above the thick shaggy eyebrow. In
person he appeared to be rather below than above the ordinary height;
but his horse, a well-trained grey, was not so tall as the English
chargers beside him, and he may really be more than five feet seven or
eight. His figure was light, spare, and active, and his seat on
horseback, though too Turkish for our notions of equestrian propriety,
was firm and easy. He wore white gloves and neat boots, and altogether
would have passed muster very well in the ring at Hyde-park as a
well-appointed quiet gentleman. His staff were by no means so well
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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