Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

heard the next day, that Lord Raglan, who was sitting at his door enjoying the fresh air with several gentlemen of his staff, enjoyed it, and gave orders that we should not be disturbed. Complaints poured in from the numerous tents which surrounded head-quarters. It was then about ten o’clock, which is equivalent to twelve or one p.m. in London. The _mot d’ordre_ from our chairman was, “Tell those who cannot sleep to join our bacchanalian party.” So many took the hint, that no room could at length be obtained in the modern Crimean Temple of Momus. At last the order took a more positive character, for the very Angel who was presiding, observed, and very justly, that they were all playing the devil with him, and still more so with his cellar, which being but meagerly stocked, could not long stand so severe an attack. He therefore begged all new comers to go back to their quarters, and bring or send the liquid requisite to keep up the spirits of the guests till midnight--which was done. Every one, like Cinderella, disappeared, by slipping quietly out at the most convenient opportunity. CHAPTER XX. EXPEDITIONS ON HORSE AND ON FOOT. Comfortable couch--A terrible _sortie_--The borrowed animal reclaimed--A bad position--Lord Raglan lends me another steed--General Estcourt--Female improvements--Visit to the French camp--A French canteen--A lively vivandière--French regimental kitchens--Discoveries--Interview with Colonel Steele--Pertinent remarks--A carriage--Mrs. Estcourt and her sister--General Camp Hospital--Cathcart’s Hill--Strange reports--Concert _à la_ Soyer--Receipt for a stew--Conversation with Sir John Campbell--A flag of truce--A good peep at Sebastopol--A cavalcade of amateurs--A sad spectacle--A narrow escape--Noisy night. Next morning, I found myself wrapped up in a horse-cloth, with a pair of top-boots for a pillow. The unfeeling and ungrateful board to which I had intrusted my precious limbs, had by the morning stamped his patron’s seal upon my back. The following day we learnt that a terrible sortie had taken place in the night, and that there had been a severe loss of men on both sides. At an early hour the court-yard was thronged with officers; despatches were flying in every direction; the