14th September 1855
Camp near Balaklava
Dear Father and Mother,
I take the present opportunity of writing hoping to find you all in the enjoyment of good health as thanks be to Almighty God this leaves Tom.
I'm happy to inform you, that after a years siege, Sebastopol has at length fallen and all that splendid fleet which they had in the bay of Sebastopol 12 months ago has all gone with the exception of one or two steamers which they still keep on the North side under cover.
You will read the accounts in the papers no doubt, so i will only say that I was in the first trench during the final struggle for what was called the impregnable Sebastopol but you see Victory has crowned our efforts, the combat was a terrible one and lasted till two o'clock on the 9th Inst. The french took the Malakhoff by surprise but our boys having the whole force then to contend with was three times in the Great redan and had to retire again until the last time when it was easily taken and the British Flag flying on the ramparts, the enemy no sooner saw he had lost those 2 keys to the fortress immediately commenced retiring to the north side, leaving all their wounded and some prisoners in our hands.
I saw about 4,000 poor wounded in one hospital near the dock yard, none of whom had a wound dressed or had a bit of support for three days and they were dying by the dozens. Some thrown out in the street dead, there was one of our 62nd Regiment wounded in with them, he had been taken prisoner the beginning of the assault, the poor fellow was near famished but an officer had him removed immediately. Such an awful stench was in the place, to dreadful to describe.
The town itself was literally knocked to pieces by our shot and shell and on the enemy retiring they set fire and blew up forts magazines and every possible thing, if it was not for the terrible bombardment they received this time they could not for shame sake have left such a stronghold, the Ma;lakhoff was very strong Battery behind Battery but the Redan was stronger having such strong Bombproof's to hold a vast army, A double battery and a ditch, would terrify one to look at so much more to cross under a murderous fire but thanks be to almighty God who has given us this great Victory, I have sent you a £1 per order on Cox &Co, I hope you will drink my health and my Wife and Child's over it and give the little ones a few sweeties.
Corporal Whittle is out here, he tells me that he was speaking to father at Luffenham, I was very happy to hear he looked well, which you may depend I should be happy to see any one who had seen any of my friends so much more one of my Parents who brought me up, what is to be done now I cannot tell, the enemy appears to be throwing up works to prevent our approach in the country but I think that if once determined upon we would soon force them to fly before us.
We are waiting anxiously wishing to know what is to be done next.
We hold half Sebastopol and the French the other, the French are plundering all before them but we are not allowed, for my part I would not be bothered with what is called War Trophies.
I hope you always mention me when you write to new Zealand, for I cannot think of writing from here after so much trouble with my last letter to my Brother.
As stamps are very scarce here i hope you will acquaint all my Brothers and Sisters of my welfare, for I cannot think of their paying for a letter from me and I only have what stamps that I receive from my dear Wife, God Bless her and my dear little child which I never saw, not forgetting you all at home.
From you affectionate Son Tom
Give my respects to our old neighbors, tell them the little ones Ben Emily and Liza that Tom often thinks of them of a quiet night in his tent.
My address is
Sgt Thom Mitchell
"A" Field Battery
2 Company Battalion
Royal Artillery
Highland Division
Crimea