... I do not think there were six officers in our Brigade who were not hit somewhere or other. Lord Raglan speaks in the highest terms of our Brigade. He says they saved the right of our position, and I am conceited enough to tell you a pretty compliment he paid us. One of our officers was paying a visit to one of his A.D.C.'s. the day after the action. Lord Raglan came up to them and said to the A.D.C., " Do you know whom you are talking to? You are talking to a hero, and so are all of them." It is not every day one has such a compliment paid one.... The Zouaves fought beautifully, they were the admiration of everyone.... This attack, however, which owing to the enemy having suddenly received some reinforcement- has altered our affairs materially, and Sebastopol is no longer the easy prey which we were at first given to understand it would be. However, I hope matters will soon mend, and that the next account you get will be reporting progress; at present, however, we are at a standstill and I fear for some time. We are now waiting for reinforcements.... You must not... think about that foolish expression I made use of, viz. ** a pleasure excursion," which I used thoughtlessly, as I am sorry to say I do very often when in good spirits. — Your affectionate
Fred.
To his Sister, Mrs. Henry Giffard
Before Sebastopol, November 12, 1854.
My dearest Ella, —... I am delighted beyond measure to hear that you are by this time comfortably settled in your new abode — what would I not give to see you there?... The severe action which we fought on the 5th November... was indeed a bloody affair.... The enemy lost 1 5,000 killed and wounded and prisoners at the lowest computation, some run it up to 20,000; our loss was 90 officers and 2000 men killed and wounded: the French suffered much less than we did.... On Friday the 3rd the enemy were observed celebrating High Mass in the valley in our rear, and one of our officers made the observation that it was preparatory to an attack, and so it proved. The following day, Saturday, I was on outlying picket, a rainy day \vith a fog at times so thick that you could not see 50 yards; that night the fog continued, but not so thick, and the enemy profited by this to make his preparations. Rumbling of wheels was heard during the night, but not much notice was taken of it; this turned out to be the enemy's guns being brought into position. At daybreak on Sunday morning we observed the enemy in movement; at the same time a discharge of musketry was heard, our outposts being driven in, all the bells of Sebastopol were set ringing, and then the enemj'-, amounting to about 50,000, yelled like demons and advanced to the attack. Our position is a range of heights encircling the south side of the town, the right — the weakest part — cresting on the high road which passes close by Inkerman at the head of the harbour. This was the part attacked, it was at the moment only occupied by our 2nd Division, about 3000 strong, and was immediately reinforced by the Guards, who could not muster more than iioo (half of whom are killed or wounded). With this small force we had to contend (my company having in the meantime been relieved off picket) with an overwhelming force for