348 CRIMEAN SERVICES OP “ I ” TROOP, NOW “ 0 ” BATTERY, R.H.A. 
time on the Russians, for all the English had been attended to on the 
night of the battle. I may here refer to the great outcry against our 
not using chloroform. This is a mistake for, when we can, we do so, 
but people at home forget that we have neither the conveniences, 
time, nor assistance requisite for its safe administration always at 
hand. It is absolutely necessary that it should be given by a medical 
man, and he has quite enough to do to watch its effects to be of the 
slightest assistance to any other portion of an operation. Then how 
seldom can two doctors be available to assist each other. I have had 
to amputate a leg and arm on the field of Alma with only the assis¬ 
tance of my servant, and almost all the other surgeons have occasionally 
been in the same predicament at one time or another. No, we can 
only make the best of circumstances as they arise, and avail ourselves 
of that boon to humanity whenever possible. But rules in such cases 
are ridiculous, and show merely ignorance in those who propound them. 
Too many such, in the shape of “ advice,” have we already seen in the 
newspapers from self-satisfied wiseacres. 
On the 14th of November the camp was visited by a severe hurricane, 
which levelled tents, destroying almost everything, and adding deeply 
to the misery, cold, and hunger from which we were previously suffer¬ 
ing, the sick were exposed to the weather, and, besides all this, there 
was a fearful loss of life and property in the Bay. The wreck of the 
“ Prince ” and other vessels on that occasion tended materially to our 
discomforts by the loss of provisions and warm clothing, which would 
have been welcome after existing in the wet, mud, and exposure of the 
camp. 
On the 5th of December we were marched nearer to Balaclava and 
encamped in Turkoman Valley in a spot well protected from the cold 
winds, here we made preparations for wintering by hutting the horses 
that were rapidly dying from cold, starvation, and overwork. We 
were occupied chiefly in dragging guns and ammunition to the front 
through the dense mud on the quasi roads. 
On the 20th of December there was a reconnaissance towards 
Kamara, but only a slight exchange of shots with the skirmishers. We 
now had a fortnight of very delicious weather, in fact a second summer, 
warm clothing was now issued to both officers and men. 
The first hut that we received was erected on the 11th of January, 
1855, and of course employed for the hospital, it was then sadly 
required, for a marquee is a miserable place for sick in the cold or wet 
weather, and I always had an average of 25 sick in one. It was almost 
an impossibility that the sick could recover in such a position. From 
this period the health of the Troop began to mend, by degrees all the 
men were hutted, but the officers were under canvas all the winter, 
from which we occasionally suffered severely. 
Nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of the period 
I remained with the troop, except the changes of the officers arising 
from promotion. The officers leaving England were— 
Captain Gr. A. Maude, Commanding, Brevet-Major and C.B. (Wounded), after 
Brigade-Major, Woolwich. 
2nd Captain J. D. Shakespear, who joined at Varna a Brevet-Major. 
