| Description | "You may imagine my distress at reading in 's last letter to me the account of Frank's misfortunes. It is indeed a most serious affair and much to be deplored, the more so as these things do get bruited about and there are many young officers in my regiment to whom Frank is personally known and who are sure to hear of it. I only hope that his offences are only those against discipline, which is very strictly kept up at Sandhurst and any infraction severely punished if not of any more serious nature. I look upon Sandhurst, from the specimens I have seen of it, as a place where all the worst points in a boys character are brought into full play and I fancy it requires the greatest moral courage to resist the temptations that are thrown in their way. It is thought a fine thing there to swallow raw brandy and smoke immoderately, both of which are actually contrary to law. Bunking out of bounds is also a grave offence and these things repeated if found out, would cause a boy to be sent away, but do not affect his character in the end. I doubt however that he would find it difficult to get a commission even by purchase but I do not think that any great loss as the army is decidedly the worst profession a poor man could enter into. I am truly sorry for our family and I am sure you will feel it as much as any of us. The thing is done and there is no help for it. He should try the civil service if he fancies it. There is something to be gained there and arguing is his forte. I had a most miraculous escape two nights ago and have not recovered from the effects of it yet. I was standing on the reverse side of a new trench that some men were throwing up. I just turned my head to direct them what to do when a musket short struck me on the back of the head laying it open and causing a nasty wound. I was knocked over like a rabbit but in a few minutes was all right again. If my head had not been in that particular position I must have been shot dead. My main thought was that I was killed. The consequences have been headaches. No blow with an axe could have been sharper, in fact it was a most merciful providence that gave me my life. How very sad poor Mills death is. I saw it in the Times of the 18th Poor old fellow to die in a Portsmouth inn without a soul to close his eyes for him. It is truly melancholy. I feel his loss most deeply, we were great friends. How I wish he had gone straight to Birtles. His life might have been saved by good nursing. He had just got over such a complication of diseases and fortune was just beginning to smile upon him. He would have commanded us. We are certainly a most unfortunate regiment. My letter to you will arrive too late to be of any use to him poor fellow. We are expecting an attack on a grand scale any day. We all think that the Russians will make up one final try to dislodge us and then give up the South Side. The bridge that they have made across the harbour favours the idea. All kinds of things go out every day. |