Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/422

 400 APPKNDIX. ' MARGARETTA, DUNDRUM, ' County Dublin, November 5, 1868. 1 Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of ' your courteous letter, and have much pleasure in answer- 1 ing your questions contained therein to the hest of my ' ability. I commanded and led the Greys into the midst ' of the Russian cavalry column at the battle of Balaclava, ' and, in charging back again with my men, got sur- ' rounded. In cutting my way out, I received a pistol- 1 shot on my head, and, being stunned and stupefied from ' the effects of the blow, I can recollect little of what then ' passed around me, except remembering objecting strongly ' to Dr Ramsay Brush, the surgeon of the Greys, taking ' me off the field, but which, after an examination of my ' wound, he considered it his duty to do. On recovering ' from the immediate effects of the injury, I rejoined my 1 regiment and resumed the command. — I have the honour ' to be, Sir, very faithfully yours, (Signed) ' H. DARBY GRIFFITH.' I consider that this statement places the fact beyond all question, and that no corroboration is needed ; but never- theless, I here give the statement which has been made on this subject by an eyewitness — namely, Dr Ramsay Brush, late surgeon of the Scots Greys. The period of the com- bat at which Colonel Griffith received his wound is indi- cated ante, p. 137 ; and then it was that Dr Rani say Brush seized the bridle of the Colonel's horse, and led him to- wards the field-hospital. Dr Ramsay Brush's Narrative. In a letter of the 17th August 1868, addressed to the ' Tiiiies,' Dr Brush (who was an officer of the Greys) says as follows : — ' I was present in this affair with my regi- 1 ment, the Greys, and saw Colonel Griffith lead them