8th October 1855
Camp near Balaklava
Dear Sister,
I have just received your kind letter and was glad to hear that you are well and the favorable account from home.
I also received your letter 2 months ago and (missing notes) have the good sense to excuse me as tis almost impossible for me to write even now I hope you will Mary Ann with regards to poor deceased cousin James that I have written to her by the first mail after hearing the sad news explaining every thing, I possibly could at that time.
Since that time I have never been to the 15th Light Dragoons camp for I have no cousin there now to see, we used to have many a glad hour there spent together even in camp.
I also told mary Ann that I would be very happy to find out and communicate any request she might make but probably she had not received my letters when she wrote to you. I was with him on the afternoon of his death but I did not think he would so soon be taken away (missing notes) mind wandered but he knew me immediate I entered the hospital. I spent as much time as possible with him and we talked of home as was our want at all times when we met, he would have got up just to go to his tent with me he said but of course I soon persuaded him to lay quiet, which he did. But he sat up and appeared middlent strong when we shook hands and parted for the last time in this world, poor James, the next time I went the 13th he was gone. Buried in the vicinity of Hadikoi.
I hope George will do well at his Aunts and apprentaship remember me to them when you write.
With regard to sebastopol you must know that the town etc etc is all taken, what is called the north side is not Sebastopol but an entrenched camp on the opposite side of the Bay of Sebastopol...(missing notes).. the harbor of Sebastopol is what has been generally called Artillery bay and Dockyard Creek ( an old fashioned creek as wide as the Thames) by all accounts the Russian position at present is no enviable one for by all accounts from deserters they are starving now so what can they do when winter sets in.
Give my Love to father and Mother when you write, I sent a pound a month since, I should like to hear if it has been received.
We now receive 6d a day extra as a fie;ld allowance. We received our War Medals and Clasps on the 2oth September the Annive...(missing)...the glorious Battle of Alma. Since then I have received my medal for Distinguished Service in the field, so that there one of the family wears two medals and 3 Clasps on his breast.
We are to receive another Clasp for the fall of Sebastopol, I must conclude with my love to you and all at home, I am glad you correspond with Elizabeth as twill tend to soothe her sorrowful hours.
I remain your ever affectionate Brother Tom. Please forward Georgina letter I have not the address
Sgt Thom Mitchell
"A" Field Battery
2 Company Battalion
Royal Artillery
Highland Division
Crimea