346 CRIMEAN SERVICES OP “ l” TROOP, NOW “ O ” BATTERY, R.H.A. 
18th of October.—The Russians again made a demonstration in force 
but did not attack, a few rounds from the Turkish redoubts forced them 
to withdraw out of range. We notice that the papers cry down the 
Russian troops too much, and it is very painful to have them writing 
so flippantly at home about the war, that the troops should do this and 
that whilst they are sitting comfortably at their firesides, whilst many, 
very many of us had not seen a bed or changed their clothes since their 
arrival in the Crimea. On the 17th of October the bombardment of 
Sebastopol commenced at 6 a.m., with regard to it the Troop had little 
to do, except that our horses were daily kept hard worked dragging 
up guns, mortars, and ammunition to the front for the siege. 
On the morning of the 25th of October, the troops as usual stood to 
their arms, there was a dense fog over the plain, and at 6.30 o’clock as 
they were returning to camp, a gun from one of the Turkish redoubts 
gave notice of the proximity and advance of the Russians, in conse¬ 
quence of the fog we could not for some time discover in what force 
they were, but they immediately returned the fire of the redoubts, and 
a terrific cannonade commenced. The Horse Artillery and Cavalry 
advanced to the ridge, and the artillery between redoubts Nos. 3 and 4 
immediately came into action with the Russians, who must have had 
with them thirty pieces of artillery, many of heavy calibre, they quickly 
silenced the Turks in the principal redoubt, No. 5, and advanced to 
capture it, the Turks retreating before them—indeed, the small hand¬ 
ful who were in it could not possibly have held it unsupported as they 
were. In the meantime, Captain Maude’s horse was struck by a shell 
in the chest, which, bursting, killed the horse and wounded him, a 
large splinter cutting him on the left leg above the patella, dividing the 
muscles to the bone, and also tore a piece of flesh out of his left fore¬ 
arm, lacerating the radial artery, he also received some contusions on 
the face about the eyes. I had him borne off the field, but it was nearly 
half-an-hour before I could do anything for him, as when I had him 
first brought under the brow of the hill to avoid the Russian fire, we 
had again immediately to retire, as the Cavalry and Artillery were 
retreating on the line to Sebastopol, thus drawing on the Russians who 
were now in possession of two of the Turkish redoubts, leaving us nearly 
midway between both. I had to hurry on the bearers and obtain fresh 
assistance, and we moved as rapidly as possible off the field to Kadikoi, 
but not before he had lost much blood was I able to place a ligature 
on the artery and dress his other wounds. He was then carried on 
board a ship, and thus we lost the presence and valuable assistance 
of our Commanding Officer, and one in whom even the whole army 
placed the greatest confidence. He was a sad and serious loss to us, 
but still I hope to see him once more with the army filling some more 
extended sphere for which he is so remarkably fitted. To return to 
the Troop, Maude being wounded, Lieutenant Dashwood assumed the 
command and found they were reduced to seven rounds of ammunition, 
which he reported to Lord Lucan, who ordered him to retire, but dur¬ 
ing the short interval he had his horse shot under him, and having 
mounted a troop horse, it was almost instantly wounded. We had 
now lost Captain Maude, wounded; Gunner McBride^ killed by a 
