THE LAST OF A REDAN HERO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 404, 17 September 1856, Page 4

THE LAST OF A REDAN HERO.

(From the " Illustrated London News") We left Balaklftva late in December with a ship-load of sick and wounded—some for Scutari, some for other hospitals on the coast, a few officers for Malta, and the rest for England. It was fine weather when we left Balaklava Bay, but at this season of the year the Euxine is seldom quiet for many hours together, and before we had got half way-across a storm was raging furiously. The wind blew uncertainly at every point of the compass, the black waves upheaving their vastness around us as if they would every moment engulf our ship with her cargo of human life, and the white surf swept our decks from bows to stern. I was standing at the quarterdeck speaking to the captain, when a pale-faced boy with the badge of the 97th approached us making with one hand a military salute, whilst with the other hand he held on hard to save himself being washed overboard. ' Captain,' said he,' will you soon be in smooth water ? There's a poor corporal of ours won't last long any how this way.' The Captain shook his head. 'My lad,' said he,' the ship scarce makes any way in this head sea ? therejjl be no smooth water for the next twenty 4mr hours.' Then God's mercy be Avith him,' said the boy, and he turned away. The Captain called after him —;' Cheerily, my lad ! isn't it all taut and dry beloAV ; and the doctor's with your mate; all the ship's comforts are at his service; does he Avant anything?'" 'Faith; an' it's not long he'll want anj'thing,' Avas the reply; 'he A\ ron't live beloAV at all at all! He never could stand the say by no means, even Avhen lie Avas the man he used.to be ;he says noAv, an' it's all his cry, "give.me the fresh air and I'll die contented !" :'The. man says the truth,'said the doctor, Avho came up at that moment.; ' Aye must have the poor fellow on deck ; it's his only chance; he'll die beloAV.' ' Then bring him on the quarter-deck' said the captain ; and in a few minutes under one of the quarter-deck boats, a bed, as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, was provided. I assisted in his removal, and Avlien he. Avas lying on-his bed Avith the vvinds shrieking around him, and the salt sea from splashing-on his face, he revived for a time, and said he felt better, and. hoped he should still weather the storm. I ascertained from his comrade that he had been one of the first to enter the Redan on the memorable Bth of September ; that he Avas among the number who for a brief period occupied unmolested those enormous Avorks,hopingmomentarily that a rush of reinforcements avouM come to their aid—hoping, until thousands of Russians, yelling like demons, croAvding in from the Malakoff and the barracks below, compelled the devoted few. to retreat. In.retreating forwards the advanced trench over the terrible glacis, he Avas Avounded in seA-eral places. He had partially recovered from his Avounds, when dysentery seized him, and now on the quarter deck of the ■ ———; he Avas dying. His face and lips Avere pale as wax, his eyes sunken in blackened sockets, his :f&& tures sharp and bedewed Avith the damps' of death. A few sick men of the 97th, and several invalids belonging to other regiments, stood near him. • God bless you, my boys ! ' said he, ' and the oiild 97th!' It's no use —I'll never, I'll never see home!' and at the last word- his chin fell upon his breast. They thought he Avas gone, and covered his face ; but he moved his head again, and attempted to raise his hand; now cold as ice. The lad. before mentioned, a six months' recruit, grasped the fingers so feebly outstretched, and bent over him, the tears streaming doAvn his cheeks and mingling Avith the spray of the sea, Avhich flew around this strange bed of death. 'Mike!' said the corporal Avith convulsive energy, half raising himself, ' Mike ! They say the 97th ran back ! Will any man say I didn't do my duty. God bless the Queen! and bless ould Ireland, too !' He fell back, and never spoke again.' In a few hours Aye Avere oft' Scutari, and blew off steam Avhilst the ship's boat went ashore. One of the hatclnvays was loAvered into the jolly-boat, and on this rude bier rested a figure— the unmistakeable outline of death—wrapped in a union-jack. The sea was running high. " Turn the hatch-Avay round," cried the Captain, "or you'll have him overboard." The boy in the boat clasped something in the union-jack with one arm, and with the other turned tho

hatch-way round. He lifted him tenderly. So lio-ht Avas his frame now (three months ago a ifedan hero)! that the cabin-boy o£ fifteen Years raised him and laid him doAvn as it he had heen a mere child. THe boat put off towards the shore in a heavy surf, and it appeared every moment as if . she Avould bo SA-vamped. I thought I had seen death in so many forms that nothing would ever touch me again; but the misery and grief of the young rerruit, the faithful comrade, Avas a sight no mortal nerve could hear Avithout the relief, of tears. He stood leaning over the ship's ladder, his eager glance strained after the receding boat as she encountered each threatening wave, weeping all the time as if he Avere beside a household grave at home, hearing the dull earth fall upon the coffin.