There is an old proverb that “Comparisons are odious” and it cannot be better proved than by Colonel Drury Lowe and Colonel Benson, both commanded the 17th Lancers. The latter was never under fire in the Crimea. He was the only officer that flogged the soldiers. I saw him flog three at once at Ismid, who rode in the charge of the “600,” one of them had 17 wounds upon his back, all bleeding, through the lashes of the Cat o’ Nine Tails. I saw tears running down the officers cheeks. This Colonel Benson is the only officer that drummed out any men of the 17th Lancers, some of whom had ridden in the charge of the “600.”
Sir Drury Lowe, when Colonel, had a Regimental Sergeant-Major in the name of Brown, every soldier in the 17th Lancers had the greatest respect for him and officers too.
Colonel Benson had a Regimental Sergeant-Major Wooden, a foreigner, that could not speak the English language when he joined the regiment, went by the name of Tish-me. Colonel Benson went by the name of Dosey, he always looked as if he was asleep. But when he played at cards with young officers they found he was not dreaming. Colonel Benson and this Wooden, their teeth fit in their jaws like Hyenas. Every officer and soldier feared them.
Sergeant-Major Wooden was allowed to insult officers, one leaving the regiment through the bad language he used to him. I can name three sergeants out of one troop that left the 17th Lancers through him, and they all rode in the “Charge of the 600.” Colonel Benson procured him quarter-master of the 5th Lancers, and the commanding officer soon had him retired on the smallest allowance, 3/6 per day. It was Colonel Benson who secured his promotion as quarter-master of some infantry, but he soon got into debt and shot himself. It was the same officer who procured him the Victoria Cross and the French Order, although he never crossed swords with a Russian, and all those who knew anything concerning him, and who were in the “Charge of the 600,” say he threw himself off his horse. It is a well-known fact that he never went to the Battle of Inkerman, but drew our grog and got dead drunk with it.
Sir Drury Lowe, purchased Regimental Sergeant-Major J. Brown a commission, and appointed him adjutant of the regiment. I will undertake to prove all I have said, and more, by officers and soldiers now living.
Colonel Benson was the means of me losing promotion by writing lies to the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke of Newcastle, my commanding officer, read Benson’s letter and told me he should believe Colonel Benson’s statement before mine. He promised afterwards that if I would not write any more letters something would be done for me. That promise was never fulfilled, for he promoted a sergeant over my head in the name of Smith.
Through General Charles Frederick Havelock, who became Inspector of Cavalry at Washington, D.C., I left the regiment and went to America. I went with him to inspect the 12th Pennsylvanian Cavalry at the time the regiment had just been mustered into the United States Service, and was appointed Drill Instructor to the regiment.
At the battle of Bull Run I saved the regiment from being captured, my horse being killed and myself taken prisoner. When I returned to the regiment I received a commission and all back pay and allowances which amounted to some hundreds of pounds. They also paid me for horse and equipments. I was in all the stirring engagements. I was second in command in Dismounted Camp in Pleasant Valley, Maryland, to equip all cavalry without horses, and was afterwards Assistant Commissariat in Pleasant Valley. I was then appointed Assistant Inspector of Cavalry, with Major Gordon, for the department of Western Virginia. I was in Libby prison for twelve months, and while I was there 109 made their escape by making a tunnel. I was in when powder was laid down to blow us all up.
During the time I was prisoner of war, General Cesnola saw me compelled to be vaccinated. The matter turned out bad, my left side and arm swelled to such a degree that I was compelled to lay on the floor for months, my brother officers believing I should die.
During the war I received a bullet in my head, and it remained in for eight years.