fetus to tOr Ebitor.
THE ARMY AND THE "T. G.8."
Thirsk, 18th January 1856.
Brit—It is somewhat hard upon the Army in the Crimea, that they should be subjected to the reports circulated by any " T. 13." who thinks proper to infest their camp. The public has had placed before it,. as you state, by a respectable publisher and in a respectable form, the opinion of one who was not present on the 8th September—that cowardice prevented our supports from advancing, and that the cross-fire from the Redan was but " very feeble." I could say much, but will confine myself to contradicting this falsehood, published by this " T. G.," whose book you have taken the trouble to review, so far as the conduct of the Thirtieth Regiment, to which I have the honour to belong, is concerned.
I beg to state, that there was no hanging back, no act of cowardice or hesitation, on the part of either officers or men. We were literally raked by the cross-fire as we rushed across a space of nearly 200 yards towards the salient angle of the Redan. We left the trenches with fifteen officers and between three and four hundred men. We had both our Lieutenant- Colonels wounded, one mortally ; and nine other officers killed and wound- ed, in all eleven officers out of fifteen ; seven noncommissioned officers, and one hundred and sixty-six men. There is no doubt of our having reached.the Redan ; for I was myself wounded on the parapet; and, to give you some idea of what this so-called "feeble fire" was, I was lilt six times and wounded three times.
I rather think the " officers " who gave this "T. G." his information must have been masters and mates of coal-brigs, certainly not soldiers. Begging your insertion of this statement in your valuable and impartial paper, I am, Sir, your constant reader, G. H. S.
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