Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/499

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APPENDIX. 455 firmation when (as will be seen in my last volume) the French Emperor proposed to place a large body of French troops under Lord llaglan's command ; for no such proposal could have been thought of, if it had not been warranted by the belief men- tioned in the text. Note .31. — 'Times' 23d Dec. 1854. — Passages contained in tliat and many later numbers of the journal might be regarded as disclosing an opinion against retaining Lord Raglan in the com- mand of the army, but these did not in direct terms advise his recall, and the writers, speaking generally, seemed to take it for granted that in that respect there would be no change. Note 32.— 'Times,' 25th Jan. 1855. Note 33. — There was nothing, for instance, more worthy of forethought than the care of our army in the approaching winter, and it was so early as the 8th of August (see aide, p. 2) that Lord Raglan initiated deliberation on this subject in a private letter to the Duke of Newcastle. Of course, all such deliberation was liable to be turned to nought by the joint sti-ategy of the Allies, and the fortune of the war ; but the date of the cited letter shows that ' forethought ' at least was not wanting. Note 34. — Many causes — including, I believe, an unusually lengthened continuance of strong westerly winds — prevented this wholesome measure from coming into use until a very late day, but the Duke initiated it with such admirable promptitude as to be able to announce the completion of his arrangements for the purpose so early as the 2d of December. ' Mr Peto and Mr Betts,' lie Avrites, ' have in the handsomest manner undertaken this im- ' portant task with no other condition tlian that they shall reap ' no pecuniary advantage from it. They will embark rails, en- ' giues, &c., with 300 skilled workmen, in a very few days, in ' steamers, and engage to have the railroad at work in three weeks ' after landing at Balaclava.' — Duke of Newcastle to Lord Raglan, 2d December 1854. Note 35. — Address of Quartermaster-General, p. 171. Note 36.— He was asking Lord Raglan to advise him upon tiie choice of a general who, to meet the event of his being killed or disabled, should be secretly named as his successor. Of course to advise usefully on such a subject, a judgment as perfect as mortal judgment could be was beyond measure needed ; and (be- cause of the susceptibility of generals who might feel humiliated by the terms of the meditated dormant commission) the subject