At all events, it served as a foil to the allegations that the men were as comfortable as they could be on all occasions. The stream has now set the other way, and the authorities vie with one another in providing every accommodation, and even luxury, for the sick and womided soldier. Dr. Hall has at various periods received reqiiisitions for such articles as '■ Eose water!" " Eau de Cologne! " "Champagne!" Different times these from what the anny had last year, when Sir George Brown, like some great bull ofBasan, went bellowing over the camps of the affrighted Light Division, seeking for " medical comforts" that he might devour them with his wrath, and goring and butting Dr. Alexander and Dr.
Tice severelj', because they would not reduce their store of medicines to that blessed old Peninsulai* allowance of which Sir George had only the dim recollections of a subaltern, although, with many strange oaths and ancient instances, he affirmed them to be the perfection of pharmaceutical wisdom. And even now things might be mended — I say so with all submission and deference. Perhaps the public, " the confounded public," as they are sometimes called by certain people out here, will agree with me when they learn that just two hom-s before the attack on the Redan the sui'geon in the Quarries was " run out" of lint, plaster, and bandages, and could get no one to go up to his principal medical officer for them for a long time, althougli a great action with the enemy was just impending, and the Quarries were the very place where a large numher of casualties must have been expected.
This statement I have on the word of a general officer, to whom the surgeon applied for assistance. Again, some regiments did not take down more litters than on ordinary occasions. This practice, however, would be approved by those who maintain with considerable strength of argumentation, that no wovmded officers or men should be taken off the field at all while an action is going on, inasmuch as every woimded man taken to the rear caiTies off six or eight combatants who retire on the pretence of carrying or attending on him, and thus aflbrds opportimities for skulking and sneaking away to a few cowardly men who set a bad example to others. With reference to Sir George Brown's speech, which hasjust reached us, one may say it is rather astonishing to find an officer so fond of plain speaking and candour omitting to tell his audience what he often told a select circle out here — that he thought Sebastopol never would be taken, and that the expedition was a mistake — apophthegms which the croakers at once circulated with lugubrious alacrity, so that the staff of the Light Division was of anything but a lively character.
As the Naval Brigade are now going home, a short resume of their services, which will do them little justice, may not be out of place. The Naval Brigade landed on the 25th of October, and were at once set to the very onerous duty of di-agging up the heavy siege guns to tno batteries, or to the parks of artillery in front. They brought up their own ammunition, provisioned themselves all through the winter, were their own commissariat, mounted their own guns, repaired their damaged embrasures, and were only 24 hours on and 24 hours oft' duty when the batteries Avere in play. The latest Naval and Military Gazettes have shoAVTi the immense number of promotions and of rewards conferred on the army for services in the field, and yet no sailor in the Naval Brigade has received a gratuity, though many of them have been recommended to the Admiralty over and over again.
The last promotion and gratuity in the brigade was given on November 10, 1854. During the siege the Naval Brigade served for 33 days of heavy bombardment and cannonade. From December, 1854, out of 1,400 men, 31 died from sickness, 61 were killed, 24 wounded mortally, and 331 were more or less severely wounded — total killed, wounded, and dead, 447. What the forthcoming Gazettes may bring forth I cannot say, but I can answer for it now, that, knowing many officers of the late brigade as I do, there is scarcely one of the lieutenants who is not bitterlj' discontented. On June IS Lieutenant Kidd and Mr. Kennedy went out of the trench to bring in a wounded soldier; Kidd was killed in the generous attempt, and it was thought that Kennedy, as senior mate of the Naval Brigade and the companion of poor Kidd in such a noble act, would be sure to succeed to the vacancy created by the death of his friend.