The Powers of Europe and Fall of SebastopolA British officer
History
The Powers of Europe and Fall of Sebastopol
A British officer
Crimean War, 1853-1856; Europe -- History -- 1789-1900
Soon after Sir Robert Picton had received his death wound, while
our shattered regiment was charging on the French column, a bullet
pierced my left arm, the first wound I ever received in all my
engagements,--the mark of which is now plainly visible,--which
obliged me to fall back. I bled very freely; and this weakened me so
much, that, finding it impossible to continue my retreat over the
pile of dead and wounded with which the field was covered, I fell
among them. Here I lay for a few moments, endeavoring to recover my
exhausted strength. But here my situation was as dangerous as that of
those advancing to the charge. Balls were flying in every direction
around me, sometimes striking in the earth, soaked with the recent
rains, and throwing it in every direction; but oftener falling on the
wounded, who might yet have had a chance for life, and crushing them
in a yet more terrible death. Many a poor fellow, who had fallen from
wounds, and the weakness induced by exertion, with the loss of blood,
was trampled to death by the advancing cavalry. It was this, combined
with an earnest desire to see the progress of the battle, that
induced me to endeavor to change my location. I rose, and with great
difficulty proceeded but a few steps, when a second ball entered my
thigh, which again brought me to the ground. Scarcely had I fallen
the second time, when a company of Scotch Greys made a charge upon
the French troops, not ten rods from where I lay. I then gave up all
hope of ever leaving that battle-field, and expected never to rise
again. Already, in imagination, I felt “the iron heel of the horse”
trampling out my little remnant of life. The contest raged fearfully
around us. Shots were exchanged thick and fast, and every moment but
heightened the horrors of the scene. The blood flowed rapidly from my
wounds, and my doom seemed inevitable. An old tattered handkerchief
was all that I could procure to stop the rapidly exhausting
hemorrhage. With my remaining hand and teeth I succeeded in tearing
this into strips, and stuffed it into my wounds with my fingers as
best I could. This arrested the crimson tide in some degree. I knew
not how severe my wounds might be; but, even if a chance of life
remained from them, I knew full well that I was exposed every moment
to share the fate of those who lay around me. Friends and enemies
fell on every side, and mingled their groans and blood in one common
stream. Our lines were driven back, and our brave men compelled to
yield the contest. Rivers of blood were poured out, and regiments of
brave men were cut down in rapid succession. Nothing could exceed
the bravery of the combatants on both sides. But the French light
troops had this advantage of the English,--they could load and fire
more rapidly than their enemies. The duke was compelled to see his
plans frustrated, and his lines cut to pieces and driven back by the
emperor’s troops. Victory seemed already decided against us. Our men
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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