hills night and morning, the Russians firing at us, and we not able to fire a shot at them in return. Last Monday night we had completed our batteries and on Tuesday we opened fire. At that time the shot and shell flew about, and no mistake! We opened with 24 pounders and shells, also 56 pounders, which we have been firing ever since. This is the sixth day, and God knows it has been a dreadful week for us. We have had to run all along the entrenchment with boxes of powder for the gunners, which is very dangerous work, with shots and shells flying amongst us in countless numbers. We do not for a moment know but our heads may be blown off our shoulders. But I think God is protecting us, for we have lost very few men considering the dreadful fire they have had to withstand. All we have lost is about sixty or seventy men; but poor fellows! they met a hard fate. Some had their heads blown off, and others were cut clean in two. You must think, dear father, what a 56 pounder would do if it hit you. The enemy’s shells burst right over our heads, but God has saved most of us so far. I must tell you what happened to the poor fellow who was at work with me yesterday. We were carrying powder on a hand-barrow to the entrenchment when a 24 pounder came and hit him in the breast, and went right through him, leaving a hole that I could put my head through; and there was I, left to get the barrow along by myself, which I did, for I was determined not to leave it behind. We only wish they would come out on the plain to fight us, and then we would make short work of it, as we did at the Alma. The cowardly rascals know that, and so stop behind their stone walls; but we expect to be in with them shortly, and then let them look out for squalls! We hear from some of the enemy who have run away, and come to us, that the town is in a dreadful state, and that the streets are full of dead and wounded. Our enemy does not fire half so fast now that our brave fellows have begun... I conclude with my kindest love to you all, and may God bless you. Give my love to my dear old mother, and tell her my latest prayer shall be for her and you. Thomas Brazier 4th Regt., 3rd Company”
John Whyborn, another Hastings native dating his communication from the Rodney, off Sebastopol, Oct. 23rd, wrote –
- “My dear father and mother, - By the help of the Lord, I am able to answer your kind and welcome letter dated the 3rd of this month; and was glad to hear you were all well, as, thank the Lord! this leaves me at present. You said you heard we had taken Sebastopol, but I must tell you we have not taken it yet, and I am afraid we shall have a very tough and long job before we do, though I have no doubt we shall take it. We -
