OUR HEROES OF THE CRIMEA: BEING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF OUR MILITARY OFFICERS, FROM THE GENERAL COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF TO BY GEORGE RYAN The Tenth Thousand. LONDON: GEO. ROUTLEDGE & CO., FARRINGDON STREET. NEW YORK: 18, BEEKMAN STREET. 1855. 210.2.488. PREFACE. THE writer of the "Biographical Sketches of our Military Officers" claims no higher merit than that of an endeavour to preserve from oblivion, the memories of our gallant soldiers who have distinguished themselves in the present war. Of the men who, in our past wars, achieved by their heroic deeds the victories now recorded on our banners, we know nothing. The name of a great commander secures his fame, but of the rungs in the ladder not a word is heard. The people would eagerly read of their defenders, but they look in vain for the coveted pages. The author has used the facts supplied to him without any attempt at dressing up. Many of the characters forming the subject of the sketches are living; and if his feeble pen have failed to do them full justice, they will, he would fain hope, ascribe the deficiency to anything than a desire to chronicle unfairly. To the noblemen and gentlemen who have so kindly furnished him with information, and without whose aid he could have produced nothing like the present book, the author takes this opportunity of returning his most unfeigned thanks. In a subsequent volume, some forty other biographies will appear; the great difficulty of perfecting details at a period when affliction is heavy in the houses of our departed brave, will account for their not forming part of the present publication. 4, Bridge Street, Westminster, 1855. |