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18 Sep 55 Peter on board 'Alipore' Mother 1, Hyde Park Place ______________________________________________________________________________________________

H.M Transport ‘Alipore’

September 18th /55

Kamiesh Bay

My dear Mother

I suppose by this time the fall of Sebastopol has begun to soften down a little and those people who thought (or rather fancied they knew) it was never to fall have at last been brought to believe in the fact that it has.

A steamer lying next to us is today taking in horses for Eupatoria & a regular army of French have left their quarters near Kamiesh to go down on the banks of the Tchernaya which looks something like something but still there is no knowing what may be the wise intentions of the Allies and whatever they are we will suppose they are best.

I daresay you will remember when I first came out I said that to me it appeared ‘Sebastopol could be taken the same as any other place – that it certainly was a strong place but that still if we had enough men & they had enough pluck we could & should take the place’ & so it has proved.

When we came out here we landed 40,000 and were opposed at Sebastopol by much larger numbers which in a siege is perfectly absurd for in all sieges you will find the besiegers are far more numerous. It was for this reason that we did not or could not march on & take Sebastopol at once for there was literally nothing to oppose us but the Russians themselves.

All the fortifications on the land side are earth works & the Redan, Malakhof and Mamelon are mainly earthworks thrown up since our arrival on important positions which every one out here wonders we did not take possession of at first, instead of leaving to the Russians to show us of what use they were – which they certainly have done in no mistake.

The siege of Sebastopol then has been a matter of men up to a certain time, but this year, after they had had the winter & ample time to fortify themselves to any & every extent we having an enormous army outside it has been a more fair siege and a severe struggle. That is about the plainest way of putting it & at the same time the truest. Their engineers are first rate but their soldiers or rather infantry are poor; very poor indeed, and the dress appears to me anything but soldier-like or serviceable. A long heavy rough coat hanging down to the ground.

I have, after a great deal of trouble, got my things round on board a steamer. I say my things but I should say ‘part’ for my portmanteau is lost, stolen or mislaid but I shall go on board tomorrow & see if I can find it.

Several things are however smashed on the passage, amongst the rest, my hat had assumed a most uncouth shape. I thought it would be better to put it inside my carpet bag than to pitch it overboard & this having been knocking about so long I found it completely nonplussed when I open the carpet bag. I according cut off the top of the hat over which I placed the band (and then manufacturing a tassel out of some shoe laces) with which I was provided I made a first rate black fez which I always wear & which is greatly admired as a very ingenious contrivance.

The underneath part I have bequeathed as a relic from Sebastopol & the unfortunate Verdant* is going to take the trouble to convey the dilapidated topee home to England as something invaluable.

My dog is a very nice little fellow – very playful &c. &c. His name is Ruskie, or more commonly Russ. I have given him in charge of the seaman who looks after his grub &c. and tucks him up at night. He is however at present quite a puppy, but has nevertheless given signs of great pluck. A certain cat who is very timid about her kittens has a fancy for flying at himself and his companion Bill (an old ratter) but Ruskie yesterday was determined no longer to stand it and so paid Mrs Puss in her own coin.

I have stopped the fun however as I saw he would come in for the worst of it but shall take good care to make him pay her out when he can.

Love to my Father and every one from

Yr. affect. son

Peter Laurie

[on the back of the envelope]

PS Nat* has arrived but I have not seen him. He had ridden to Balaclava when I enquired for him

* Verdant – Literally ‘green’, but here meaning a trusting individual

* Nat – Hon Hugh N G Massey (Lt, 4th Regt)