COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 169 



I could not ride in places. We picked up 4,180 

 dead. We shall have tough work to get into this 

 place, as we have an army all round us. We had the 

 most awful storm on the 14th, ten ships went down 

 outside the harbour, seven at Chersonese, five at 

 Kictcha, besides we hear all at Eupatoria. You 

 never saw such a scene, tents flying — a sheet of 

 snow and rain — blankets, shoes, busbies and bear- 

 skins flying, you could not stand against it at all. The 

 nags are all dying from cold and starvation. You 

 never saw such an appearance as we cut, thirty-two 

 file is all we can turn out ! and these like nags sent 

 to hounds to eat, really no better. The heavies' 

 charge was a pretty sight, right in the middle of a 

 plain, only Lord Lucan never gave them a chance — 

 let them receive the charge instead of givino- it. 

 However, they threshed the Russe well, although 

 at least six to one. Their artillery is very good 

 indeed — I think as good as ours — and their infantry 

 as obstinate as pigs when drunk, which they always 

 are when fighting. Poor Wynne ! ^ is not it a sad 

 loss } I saw him the night before in such spirits ; 

 his head was taken right off by a round shot. How 

 do the dogs get on ? Pray write me a good himting 

 letter, all particulars, horses, hounds, and all. They 

 batter away all day and night at the town, but they 

 have given them so much time that the south side is 

 the strongest now. Lord Raglan gave us tremendous 

 butter in a general ' order,' which, as you will feel an 



' Heneage Wynne, Captain 68th Regiment, Aide-de-Camp to Sir 

 George Cathcart. 



