Extract from a letter of a Private Soldier of the 77th.
The loss of Captain Vicars is felt by many, many a one out here; but he rejoices, and enjoys the fruits of his heavy labours in the loving bosom of his God and Saviour. Willingly would I have resigned my poor life to have prevented the deadly blow. I wept for his loss, but now I envy him his glory. I send you some clay I got off his grave, and a rough sketch (but true) of his tombstone. His men have ornamented the grave with shells, and flowers are already growing there.
The next extract is from a letter by one of the soldiers of the 97th, who fought their way through the ranks of the Russians, as they closed round Vicars when he fell. The writer was a Roman Catholic.
Camp before Sebastopol,
28th June, 1855.
Madam,
I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in acknowledging the receipt of your kind note of 20th May, 1855, and its enclosure of half-a-sovereign; also the handsome good book you were so kind as to send me. I am sure I have done nothing to deserve such kindness; what I have done, in striving to save the late beloved Captain Vicars, any one Soldier in the Regiment would have done, for he was beloved by everyone who knew him. As our Adjutant, he was loved by everyone in the Regiment, and as Captain of No. 4. Company, he was more so by his Company; there is scarcely a man in the Regiment that would not have gladly laid down his own life to save his. I am sorry that I cannot express my thanks for your kind wishes and your handsome present—a book not much read by the humble classes of my persuasion (Bible); but your book I will read and study, so that I may become worthy to meet your beloved friend, and our no less beloved Captain, in Glory.
Your very obedient humble servant,
J. O. REILLY, No. 3 Company, 97th.
The following letter will be read with melancholy interest, as it is from the pen of one who fell foremost in the Redan, whilst gallantly leading the forlorn hope, on the 8th September, and who was followed to a soldier’s grave with no common regret—let us hope to meet with his noble Captain.
Camp, 29th June, 1855.
My dear Lady Rayleigh,