NAM.1989-03-47-1

Nine autograph letters from Col (later Maj Gen) Charles William Ridley, Grenadier Guards, to his cousin Maria, describing his journey to the Crimea and the progress of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean War (1854-1856), 15 Nov 1854 to 29 Dec 1855. He travelled overland to Marseille and sailed from there on Le Caire. By 10 Jan he was before Sevastopol and gives a good account of his busy life, complaining that Raglan and his staff knew little about life at the sharp end. In a letter of 20 Apr he thanks her for the telescope she had given him and commented on the need for a long and heavy bombardment of Sevastopol. He reported on the attack on the Malakhov, described the casualties that his men had suffered and commented on Simpson taking over from Raglan. By 27 Sep he was in command of 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division (9th, 13th and 56th Foot) and comments on the units in his command. He felt that the attack on the Redan was not well placed and warned hi s cousin not to believe what she read in the papers about the campaign, even if they did quote from dispatches. He was glad when Codrington took over as commander in chief and in his last letter ruminated on what might constitute reasonable terms of peace.

Sevastopol, Siege of, 1854-55 (Crimean War 1854-1856)