Woolwich 9th October 1854

Dear father and Mother,
I write a few lines hoping to find you quite well as thanks be to God, it leaves my dear child my self and Issia, who is getting on nicely, she will be six months old on the 23rd if God spares her, she is very like her Father and she is very stout, her name is Elizabeth Thomisina.

Now I must tell you that I have just received a letter from my dear Husband, after the Battle of Crimea he had a very narrow escape, the shot and shell flew around them in all directions, the camp kettle was shot from Thomas’s gun and if he had not noticed another ball just in time it would have cut him in two, he fell flat and it bounced over him, if they had shifted their position they would have lost every man, thank God they haven’t lost any.

They are now going to take Sebastopol, the Russians think that they will not be able to take it but may the lord in his mercy spare and protect him, I cannot despair after so narrow an escape.

Thomas says the field of battle is a dreadful sight after the engagement, heaps of slain and wounded lay dead and groaning from both sides. He says Flint was wounded slightly and he could not find Pollard whether he was hurt but he was not with his Regt when he was looking for him but he might have been rambling about. His Regt was in the hottest of the action and lost about 250 men and officers.
Thomas says the Artillery lost about 30 men and officers but the poor Infantry lost 1400 men killed or wounded, poor men they have left many to mourn them.
Russians lost 5000 men, the enemy had 100 guns, 10,000 Cavalry, 40,000 Infantry in the field of battle.

That is all I think he had time to say, Georgina was quite well when I saw her, she has been very kind, give our love to Susanna & Ann and all the rest, expect the same yourselves, we will remain a little while in Woolwich till I see how things go.

No more from your affectionate Daughter Elizabeth Mitchell.