Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/162

Rh with red and gray. Dead cattle were lying by the wayside, and others were quietly dying. The condition of the once beautiful horses of the Scots Greys was such, that a butcher would have been ashamed to be seen driving one in his cart.

"Our things are still at Balaklava, and so are the stores! But my servant managed to get a piece of bullock for my subaltern and myself, on which we fared sumptuously.

"In the night we heard a sharp firing of musketry; it lasted some time, relieved occasionally by the booming of artillery. Next day we heard that Lieutenant Tryon and fifteen men of the Rifle Brigade had been killed in a brush with the enemy's advanced picquets. However, our fellows completely defeated them and took their position.

"On the morning of the 22d we received the order to march for the lines before Sebastopol, and came in sight of the white tents of the French and English, after a rough march of seven miles. Vestiges of war were to be seen all along the road. Ten dead horses were laid in one place side by side, and the ground was strewn with shell and roundshot. The Zouaves turned out as we passed their camp, and cheered us most vociferously. We returned the cheer with as hearty a goodwill, and soon after reached our ground. The tents were soon pitched, and, although very wet, I never slept more soundly in my life. We were scarcely settled, when the rolling of cannon from Sebastopol and the French and English batteries began, and I may say, that ever since they have been going at it continually.

"On the morning of the 25th I walked up the hill in our front, and had a fine view of the magnificent fortress and harbour of Sebastopol. I could clearly see the masts in the water across the mouth of the harbour, where the Russians have sunk their men-of-war. Whilst admiring the place, a cannon ball from