A letter written from the Crimea
to his parents by Private Charles Chesher
with a commentary by the newspaper which published it

The Hertford Mercury, Saturday 20 January 1855
A Soldier's Letter

"The following letter has been sent by Charles Chesher, a native of Hertford, and a private in the 4th Light Dragoons, to his father and mother, who reside in Fore-street, Hertford. We print the letter entire, only leaving out a few private remembrances indicated by stars. The writer says nothing of the hardships he has undoubtedly undergone; but his silence on the subject is not compatible with the assertion that the army is utterly "demoralised," starving, and ruined. Something doubtless is due to the bravery and hardihood which seem to be the characteristics of private Charles Chesher; but it is impossible to suppose that, if the condition of our army in the Crimea were so utterly forlorn as has been stated, he would not have alluded to the fact:-"

"Sebastopol, Dec. 27.

My dear Mother and Father, - I have at length taken my pen to answer your kind letters, hoping that this will find you quite well, as - thank God - it leaves me at present. I dare say you thought I was never going to write and that I had forgotten all about home; but believe me this is the second letter I have written to you. I could not send the other as it got wet and lost all the stamps you sent me, by the rain. I would have sent it without, but I did not give that a thought.

Dear mother, I suppose you have heard all the news about how we thrashed the Russians, and how the Light Cavalry went in and lost nearly all their men - killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among the latter was my poor comrade, but he was not wounded. It was a most fearful charge, but would not have been so bad, only only there were so many shot flying about a fellow's head, and no one to support us, as there ought to have been. Had there been, we could have taken their guns away. But those who get the most praise were the furthest away. The editor of some papers says [that but for]* the Heavy Dragoons, we should all have been killed. I should like to know what they did to assist us. Perhaps that man of knowledge can tell the Light Brigade, for we all want to know. As for Cossacks, I don't care for them a bit. The worst was the shot, as they hit rather hard. I have seen some horrid sights, and I never want to see the like again. I saw Jim Chesher a few days ago, and he was quite well, and also Jack Mayes, Mark Smith, and Skeggs.

Dear Mother. - We have got a medal and two clasps to come, as soon as it is struck. If you write to Weymouth give my love to *** and **** and to Harry and all my brothers and my little sister, God bless her, and I hope I shall come back and see her again. And now, dear Mother and Father, you must accept my love, and believe me to remain your affectionate and loving son,
Charles Chesher, 4th Light Dragoons.

*These words are omitted in the manuscript.

Charles Chesher

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