BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCir. xxi 



pork per man during 17 days. The distance from the front is only 7 miles ; and though provisions 

 are in abundance here, no means exist of sending them that distance. The French do every thing 

 for us. The army is in a complete state of disorganization, the men harassed by work, bad 

 weather, and constant night attacks. So bad is the look-out kept that on tlie night of our 

 arrival here, during a sortie, a Major and two or three of the officers of the 50th, together with 

 a number of men, were killed, some being bayoneted in their blankets. The enemy are always 

 on the alert, and they know which regiment is in the trenches. This is the second time 

 they have surprised the 50th." The feature which struck him most was the unpopularity of 

 Lord Eaglan. To use his own words : — " Since he landed he has given out but very few general 

 orders, and has but seldom shown himself to the troops. He has grown nervous ; and a great 

 deal of his present unpopularity is owing to want of success ; much of it, however, seems just. 

 He has not succeeded in choosing good heads of departments ; he enforces no discipline; the 

 troops have been starved from mismanagement. The universal cry is for the removal of 

 Lord Raglan, who has been made a Field-Marshal, while all the Generals remain unpromoted. 

 For myself I foresee great disasters unless the plan of our campaign be altered and some 

 organization introduced. I shall, however, say nothing more about the shortcomings of our 

 General ; my conviction of his total incapacity to command is the only source of distrust in my 

 mind as to our ultimate success." It will be seen that Arthur Hay had the courage of his 

 opinions ; but it must be inferred that, at the time he wrote, tlie impressions of those around 

 him, Avho had served under the General from the outset, had a large share in the formation of a 

 judgment which he expresses so boldly. 



It is not to be wondered at that there was such indignation aroused in the minds of the 

 newly arrived officers, at the spectacle presented to their eyes on landing; and a brief experience 

 of camp-life did not tend to diminish their anger and disgust. At tlie commencement of 1855 

 sickness and starvation had indeed played havoc with the Army. Although 53,000 men in all 

 had embarked from England, and a very small proportion had fallen before the enemy, its 

 effective strength in January was represented by 11,000 men, so that 40,000 men must 

 have disappeared from the ranks from disease in some form or other ; but sickness was in no way 

 abated. Dead horses and offal lay unburied around the tents. Thanks to the cold and bitter 

 frost, a pestilence was averted. Amongst the officers the task of endurance was more bitter 

 perhaps than it was for their men. Constant scenes of horror had hardened some indeed, and 

 made them callous ; but it was almost maddening to others of a more sensitive nature to see their 

 men sinking, and to note that no progress was made in the siege, and that the enemy were 

 daily strengthening themselves. There was " great neglect of discipline, the men not saluting 

 their officers, which should not be permitted in an army occupying permanent quarters." 



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