The Drake Letters 025
YOU ARE HERE: Drake Letters ► 25. Drake to Louisa 17 October 1854
24. Drake to Louisa 12 October ◄ ● ► 26. Drake to Louisa 22 October 1854
William Henry Drake (Balaklava) № 16 – Louisa Drake (London), 17 – 18 October 1854
| № 16 | Balaklava 17 Oct 1854 1 |
My dear Lu,
My last was on 13. I yesterday recd. my Fathers & Louisa’s 2 of 28th Sept & Illustrated of 23rd. you will long before this have recd. mine from No. 8 to No. 13 of the 3rd Oct – I forgot 3 to mention I think in former letters the fact of Major Rose 55th Brother of Lt. Col. Rose R.E. 4 being killed at the battle of Alma
This morning at 6 A.M. our Batteries opened for the first time on Sevastopol and up to this time we have good accounts from the front of the great damage to the Forts & Walls
Having been obliged to send the “Hope” to Eupatoria to tow down some Corn Ships & as on her return she goes to Constantinople for Supplies – I have moved ashore, bag & baggage, It of course is not so comfortable, but I have as yet nothing to grumble at considering this is campaigning I have a House such as it is to myself – Office below & Shed for my Horses & Three rooms & Kitchen up stairs – One a tolerable one I am now writing in the other two are dens – in one are two Bedsteads piled with Bedding belonging to the Greek family departed in the other a Sofa (my Bed). the room has two windows very small & my sitting room two to the front & one behind plenty of furniture so I am not very badly off I have two tables, Chest of Drawers sofa 6 chairs – a dog & a Cat!! My Interpreter is a first rate fellow & Cooks for me I need not say my living is the best I can get – besides rations I get a Ham, a loaf, some butter, Salt, Pepper some Sherry 3 from the Hope, Brandy 3, Ale 12 rum plenty I had so I shall not starve I have also plenty of Tea – Two Captains of our Commt. Vessels just returned from the advanced Lines & report Two Russian Forts silenced, two small & one large Magazine (Russian) blown up & both our fire & that of the Fleet & the French to be first rate & incessant, The Lancaster gun has done nothing as yet I hear every Shot it shakes my Windows.
Oct. 18. The Russians have just been making a strong attack on this place & met a very severe repulse our people are even now firing heavy guns at their Columns – Ld. Raglan has I think shown himself a very prudent General taking time to fortify this place strongly & thus protect his flank & rear We are under command of Sir Colin Campbell 5 who fights his men very well – Young Read 6 I presume arrived per Tonning this morning I saw her come in with the Guards & some Turks half an hour after the attack commenced & they were landed & ran up to the front with only their arms & ammunition. So he soon has an opportunity of seeing active service & of practice in his profession
We are all very hard at work very so I conclude by wishing best love to all
Believe me
Your affectionate Hub
W. H. Drake
Footnotes
1. Private family manuscript (Judith Hall and Sally Mac, Auckland, New Zealand). ▲
2. Henry’s eldest daughter, Louisa Maria Drake. ▲
3. Henry had not forgotten to mention this. He wrote of Major John Baillie Rose’s death in his letter to Louisa of 27 September 1854. ▲
4. Lt. Col. Cowper Rose, R.E. ▲
5. Sir Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde, British Field-Marshal. ▲
6. Assistant Surgeon Constantine Caridi Read. ▲
24. Drake to Louisa 12 October ◄ ● ► 26. Drake to Louisa 22 October 1854
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