| Description | Critical of the times for "giving leading articles upon expeditions and things which have never taken place." Sickness still prevalent. "It is the general remark that everyone wears a haggard & care worn appearance, as if we had been years in this climate instead of months .... 5 companies under Troubridge are on board the Emperor & the remainder ... in the Victoria ... The Emperor is a first rate vessel and very comfortable, we feel like being in a palace after our tent life. When we all start we are to pilot the way & land first. That is good luck. It will be the most wonderful sight that ever could be seen. You may fancy what an Armada it will be when I tell you that little & big there will be upwards of 900 sail - not one English transport under 1200 tons." - embarkation made easy by use of flat bottomed Austrian Danube river boats & small piers. - Our Division to rush on shore & secure a landing position - planned so that 1,000 men can stop on shore at the same instant - important not to delay Black Sea can be treacherous in winter - ship already rolling at anchor & very disagreeable - "some of us must fall one can only hope to be one of the few saved." P.S. Embarked with 100 men on board H.M.S. Fury - "perhaps we shall be in for a fight if the Russian fleet comes out. It would be worth their while to try & find a few ships full of soldiers." |