19th March 1855
Camp Before Sebastopol
Dear Father and Mother,
I hope this will find you all in the enjoyment of good health as thanks to God this leaves me at present time.
We now have every thing ready I believe for reopening the siege but tis hard to say when we commence again in earnest, you must not believe half of you see in newspapers about our army starving for although we have lost a great many men it could not be avoided when the country would have us here, that being the countries wish we kept our ground and fought thro a winter in tents in Russia and I can tell you the fighting soldiers do not like to see the papers running down this Minister and that Commander more especially our Commander in Chief, Lord Raglan who is as brave a General as England ever had for we have always noticed that wherever danger is there you will find him showing his followers an example which England has profited by, by the brilliant victories that we have won and more than that,there is plenty of us left that to give our enemies as tight a thrashing as ever we did yet.
since Omer Pasha,s Victory at Eupatoria we had nothing of much consequence except a few skirmishes and night sorties, from the garrison in which affrays the Russians have lost a great many men.
They have Sebastopol very strongly entrenches and fortified now so that will be sharp work when we commence active operations again. We hear that the Emperor Napoleon is on his road out, if it is the case he has a very numerous army here if he intends to lead them, which with the assistance of a few Britons could soon drive the Russians out of the Crimea and destroy Sebastopol if we was only put to the test.
We have it rumored here that old Nicholas id dead but the news wants confirming but if it is such the case I fancy the war would soon be over. Anyway the weather is good now and the roads which all the winter was up to the knees in mud is now quite dry and hard, so that if we had our horses out which I believe they are near here we could move anywhere and do anything but id peace should come we have gained a few laurels which a soldier is proud of via a Medal for the Crimea and clasps for Alma, Inkerman and balaklava, all of which battles I took an active part in and in consequence will receive the Medal and 3 Clasps.
It will be 12 months on Thursday, since we embarked for the east and we have seen some rough work since that time, however I hope it will soon be all over although I should like to see Sebastopol first. I have had letters lately from Ann and Charles both of which I was happy to hear was doing well. I should like to hear from you although I fancy some of your letters must be lost or I should have heard from you. O have sent you a pound which I have no doubt you stood need of, I would like to send more but you know I have 2 houses to keep now, when you write put 3 stamps on and direct on the top Via Marseilles, hoping this will find you all well and all my little Brothers and Sisters. I hope you have Bob home by this time, I am vexed I never had an opportunity to see while out here. Give my kindest respects to him and also to Ann and all enquiring friends.
Having no more to add this time
I remain your ever affectionate Son
Thomas Mitchell "A" Field Battery
Royal Artillery
1st Division
Crimea.
ps - I cant find out what has become of Flint Pollard or Clarke but I am afraid they are among the unfortunate, there's a number of men in our battery that we cant find out anything about.