SOME ANCIENT HISTORY

Otago Witness, Issue 2501, 19 February 1902, Page 27

SOME ANCIENT HISTORY

LETTERS FROM SEBASTOPOI* TRENCHES. (From Our Own Cokrespoxdent. )

CHRISTCHURCH, February lb. The death of a very old and well-known soldier. Staff Bugler Ashton, has claimed more space than is reserved for most obituaries in the local press. His relatives have unearthed 'ome ancient and interesting letteis written by his brother in the trenches beforo Sehastopol, some portio.is of which... deal with the writer's experiences in the^c field, and are interesting- a>3 they present an 3; opportunity of contrasting the tone of letters from the front in those days as compared with similar epistles published from troops serving in Soul!) Africa. Hera is oiie: — " Camp before Sebastopol, 18th January, 1855.— 1 am alhc and well. Thank God for His kindness to me in such trying times, for the weather is very severe and there is continued frost and snow, with a sharp north wind. Hostilities are at a standstill at present, on account of the very inclement state' of the weather, and we have had our winter clothing issued." In thank- . ing his brother for some articles he had sent - him, he says : " The smallest article here is received as if it were a crown of gold." The articles had not reached 'him then, " and he adds: "I. hope and .^rust I shall - find a pipe or two among the contributions, as we are hard \\p for them here — say, one among 20, and that a real old- one." The ' asxt letter is one that was written a month or iwo before the writer lost his life in his country's service, and is dated 22nd Maroh, 1855. It is headed, "' Camp, heights above Balaclava," and opens: "Dear Brother, — We are now stationed on the heights near Balaclava, forming part of the oimy of occupation of that place. The brigade -of Guards, the brigade of Highlander*. 14th. 39th, 71A, and 72nfl Riflee Brigade, and marines is the portion furnished by the English. Three divisions of French and four divisions of Turks, with a good supply of sitillery, form a nice little army, and we have also entrenched our position and \ creeled some noble batteries, so that if Mr Rus&o comes he will meet with n very warm reception. T am happy to say that the weather has been very fine for the last three weeks, and the~health and condition of ouv noble fellows are very much improved. They have suffered a, great deal, but never was a murmur heard from one. They bear it all with patience, but I hope and trust"we may never, never witness such another winter, if the campaign should continue. There are a great many rumours here aboiu. ,. ptace, and Uava bee.i since the death of Nick [the C'^ar], but it will last for yeari. We are going to send out an -army of observation in a few days, to engage the < attention' of the Russians while an attack ia made on the opposite heights of Inkerman, where the enemy have some very heavy - batteries that annoy our advance works."