Scope and Content
Sebastopol 14 September 1855
The telegraph will have told you of the sad loss the regiment has sustained, the newspapers will give you a detailed account of the attack on and repulse from the Redan, but perhaps you would like me to state what the 97th had to do.
160 men under Major Welsford, Sibthorpe and myself formed the ladder party and were posted behind a sap thrown out, since June time, from the 5th Parallel & 200 more being the whole of our numbers fit for duty were in the 5th under Handcock.
The French attacked and walked into the Malakoff, column after column and in 4 minutes were in possession. The signal was made for us to advance. Away we went cheerily, suffered little on our way up, planted our ladders and mounted the parapet, where the Russians made an obstinate resistance but were soon overcome and our fellows gallantly jumped down or passed through the embrasures, but could not get any further, our front being so small. As the men advanced they were exposed to both a direct and flanking fire which dropped them so fast that we could not get on. Russian reinforcements soon came up and made a rush, driving us into the Angle, where we remained fighting and falling for 2 hours and when their number became so large that they literally forced us out and into the ditch, by leaving a few prisoners. The 90th, 3rd, 41st, 97th had the fight chiefly to themselves in the Redan and really fought to the last. The support coming up were fearfully cut up and the exterior slope of the Parapet was one mass of men of different regiments of the 2nd light Division. They did not get any further, and if we had tried in 3 different places I think the result would have nbeen successful. However there is one comfort. The French say the English fought very well and if we had 2000 men in the Redan the enemy would have forced us out as they came from the town in overpowering numbers. The French were repulsed at the Little Redan and the Flag Staff where they lost frightfully. Poor Handcock was hit by a bullet through the head, brought to camp and died at 3 on the 9th, it was truly melancholy!! Mrs Handcock had him brought to the hut but he was never sensible, nor did he speak a word. I did so pity her! She would not see anyone excepting Captain 44th and she left this to go on board the Caradue [?] at Balaclava on the 10th en route to Constantinople.
Poor Welsfords head was blown off mounting the Parapet. I had been sitting talking to him in the trench not 5 minutes before!! It was sad to witness! His body was carried Home. McGregor just appointed Adjutant since [illegible] was killed inside the Redan & Hutton wounded in the chest, but his body was not found until the 10th amongst several other dead Russians in some large white building near the water, when it was covered with swords and bayonet wounds. Poor fellow, he must have fought very hard! And suffered sadly!
Poor Lumley after shooting two Russians with his revolver and fighting hard with another was shot dangerously through the mouth and can scarcely articulate even yet, and is still in great danger. Sibthorpe was very severely wounded, as also Goodenough through the leg, but both are doing well, Woods was shot on the knuckle and is getting right. Browne, Fitzgerald and Hill were wounded, leaving only Whitehead and myself untouched. Oh dear General, has not God been merciful to me? I feel so thankful and so humbled.
11 out of 13 officers who went into the Redan were killed or wounded, and 198 NCO and privates out of 360 engaged were killed or wounded. So that I hope you will think that the 97th did its duty.
I am now in command with Whitehead acting as Adjutant, 2 captains, 2 sub L’s and 11 Sergeants and 140 ranks file being my duty strength. I think as we are so weak and likely to remain so, they might send us away to Malta. I do not know what they will do with small me, with regard to Moore, but I hope I may be put over his head and have an idea that Codrington is recommending something of the kind. The officers engaged I have strongly recommended as they deserved and had to write an account of our part on the occasion. My first Dispatch! I wished very much, my dear General, you were here to help me.
During the night the Russians blew up several magazines and set fire to the town and evacuated it, sinking your old friends the ships, much to our delight and leaving us at last in command of the south side. I went over the Redan yesterday, the centre has been knocked to pieces by our shells but the men had underground banks where they could remain without being exposed to any danger whatever. So that we have made a great noise there, but after all done little damage. Our time has been occupied sin the 8th in burying the Russian dead who lay in heaps in the town and much the quarter part have been dead some time. They put the Russian loss at 25,000, French at 10,000 and English at 2,300 besides 153 English officers, but I do not know whether this is quite correct. The Russians appear to be vacating the north side, but I expect we shall have another brush before the winter. Col. Windham is appointed Commandant of Sebastopol.
I hope you will have seen my dear wife.