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 A SKETCH 
 
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 THE LIFE 
 
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 CAPT. HEDLEY VICARS, 
 
 TOE 
 
 CHRISTIAN SOLDIER. 
 
 " God! wash ine from all my sin's in my Saviour's 
 V^ blood, and I shall be whiter than snow. Fill me with *yj 
 the Holy Ghost for Jesus Christ's sake." 
 
 RICHMOND: 
 
 HACFARLANE 4 FERGUSSON, PRINTER?. 
 
 1862. 
 
The following sketch of Capt. Hedley Vicars, from 
 his life by Miss Marsh, has been prepared, hoping that 
 thus abridged, it may obtain wide circulation, and un- 
 der the blessing of God, prove more extensively use- 
 ful to the soldiers of the Confederate Army, who have 
 
 left their homes and are exposing their lives in our de- 
 
 « 
 fence. 
 
THE YOUNG OFFICER. 
 
 Hedley Vicars was born in the Mauritius on the 7th 
 of December, 1826. His father was an officer in the Royal 
 Engineers. When the boy was 12 years old, that father's 
 dying hand was placed upon his head, with the prayer 
 that he might be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and so 
 " fight manfully under His banner" as to glorify His holy 
 name. 
 
 From this time Hedley's love for his mother deepened 
 into that peculiar form of protecting tenderness which 
 seems the prerogative of the widow's son. This, together 
 with much gentleness, and a sensitive regard for the feel- 
 ings of others, combined with singular strength and stead- 
 fastness of purpose, contributed to form his noble and 
 beautiful character. 
 
 On Christmas, 1843, his mother received a letter announ- 
 cing that her son had obtained a commission in the line, 
 written by ffhe same hand which, on Good Friday, 1855, 
 informed her how faithfully unto death that commission 
 had been fulfilled. He was an ardent lover of his profes- 
 sion, and, from first to last, devoted to its duties. 
 
 In writing to his mother an account of his first review, 
 with its fatigues of marching, skirmishing, and firing, he 
 adds with boyish pride ; " But my zeal for the service kept 
 me up. ,; 
 
 In the autumn of 1844, he returned home to take leave 
 of his family at Ladgford Grove, in Essex, before sailing 
 for Corfu. His elder sister well remembers his joyous 
 bearing as he first exhibited himself in the Queen's uni- 
 form, and her own, admiration of the bright, intelligent 
 countenance, broad shoulders, and well knit, athletic figure 
 of her young soldier brother. 
 
 A few weeks afterwards, he sailed for Corfu — now fairly 
 launched in the world in a profession beset with tempta- 
 
tions. He still retained the frank demeanor and generous 
 disposition which distinguished him as a boy; but at this 
 period of his life, his reckless disposition led him into 
 scenes of -which his conscience disapproved, and into ex- 
 cesses "which, though never matured into habits, and by 
 the grace of God, early and forever abandoned, w r ere ever 
 afterwards the subject of bitter and sorrowful repentance. 
 The 97th Regiment, to which he belonged, was ordered 
 to Jamaica in 1848. While there his life was one of gen- 
 eral recklessness, though often under strong religious im- 
 pressions and convictions of sin, as will be seen by the 
 following extracts. Writing to his mother from Maroon- 
 town, after hearing of her illness, he says: 
 
 "I see it all now, my darling mother. Ever since the re- 
 ceipt of your last letter I have been in a dreadful state of 
 mind. I feel that I deserve God's punishment for my un- 
 dutiful conduct towards the fondest of mothers ; but the 
 thought had never before occurred to me that He might see 
 fit to remove her from me. What agony I have endured, 
 what sleepless nights I have passed since the perusal of that 
 letter. The review of my past life, especially the retrospect 
 of the last two years, has at last quite startled and at the same 
 time disgusted me. You will now see the surest signs of 
 repentance in my future conduct, and believe me, as far as 
 in me lies, never shall another moment's anxiety be caused 
 you by your dutiful and now repentant son." 
 
 Five months later he writes : 
 
 "My darling mother, I do love you, and that fondly, al- 
 though I have often (may God Almighty forgive me !) re- 
 belled against your wishes. Mother, I ask your forgiveness 
 for what is past; you know not what real anguish some of 
 your letters have caused me, and although I have tried to 
 drown the voice of conscience after reading them, a still, 
 small voice has always been whispering in my ear, and kept 
 me from many a sin." 
 
 In writing to his sister at the same time, he alludes to 
 his forebodings of an early death, and wishes he were 
 " prepared :" 
 
 "I am no coward, but the thought of death is solemn, and 
 
the idea of dying far away, with no mother or sister to give 
 me comfort in my last moments, is sad enough : yet I hope 
 the effect of these reflections is wholesome, and will make 
 me consider seriously whether I am fit to die." 
 
 Again he writes: 
 
 "I must tell you of the death of a brother officer, Lieut. 
 Binden. He died on the 12th of May. Poor fellow, his was 
 a short but a painful illness. When I went into his room 
 the sun was shining brightly through the windows, the birds 
 were singing cheerily, and the merry laugh of the light- 
 hearted soldiers (plainly audible from their barracks) grated 
 harshly on my ear. He was dead ! Looking on his cairn and 
 placid face I could hardly believe that I was not gazing on 
 the living man. But alas his soul had fled! With God's 
 help I trust I have learned a lesson and a warning from his 
 sudden death. He was buried the same evening in the 
 small grave-yard near the cantonment, and I, as senior ,sub- 
 altern, had command of the tiring party. When we arrived 
 the twilight was fast verging into darkness, and the funeral^ 
 service was read by the light of a candle. This is soon over, 
 and then all retire from the grave except myself and armed 
 party of 40 men. We then give the volleys — the rolling 
 echoes are still reverberating, when the earth is thrown in, 
 and all is over. Such has been the melancholy end of my 
 poor friend and messmate. I was deeply affected, and could 
 not restrain my tears. I felt my voice choked as I gave the 
 command, ' Fire three volleys into the air. ; * * * 
 
 " I have got command of a nice company. The men are 
 mostly well behaved. My endeavor has always been to be 
 kind as well as strict, and I believe my men would do any- 
 thing for me. 
 
 " Now, dearest mother, good by. Take care of your health, 
 if not for your own sake, at least for the sake of your ever 
 fond and affectionate son, 
 
 hedley: 
 
 We close this reference to his life in Jamaica by an ex- 
 tract from the letter of a friend who belonged to his regi- 
 ment: 
 
 From the first day I saw Vicars at Zante in 1846, I was 
 -truck with his manly air, and the peculiar open truthfulness 
 
6 
 
 of his eye. He was at this time quite taken up by the gaie- 
 ties of the island. We quitted for Malta, whence in 1848, 
 we sailed for Jamaica. During the voyage, he used to dress 
 as a sailor, and delighted in making himself useful to the 
 crew. Jn Jamaica he had the advantage of attending an 
 excellent ministry, which had some effect upon him, but 
 again he was led away by the influence of evil companions. 
 At this time, as I afterwards heard from his own lips, he 
 totally neglected prayer and the reading of the Bible, and 
 consequently lost the power of resisting temptation. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER. 
 
 The 97th left Jamaica for Halifax N. S. in June 1851, 
 and here- we commence the career of Hedley Vicars, as a 
 Christian soldier. 
 
 It was in the month of Nov., 1851, that while waiting 
 the return of a brother officer in his room, he idly turned 
 over the leaves of a Bible which lay on the table. The 
 words caught his eye "The blood of Jesus Christ, His 
 son, cleanseth us from all sin." Closing the book he said, 
 *' if this be true for me, henceforth I will live by the grace 
 of God, as a man should live, who has been washed in the 
 blood of Jesus Christ." That night he scarcely slept, 
 pondering in his heart whether it were presumptuous or 
 not to claim an interest in these words. During those 
 wakeful hours he was watched, we cannot doubt, with 
 deep and loving interest by the one, who never slumbereth 
 nor sleepeth, and it was said of him in Heaven, " behold 
 he prayeth." In answer to these prayers, he was enabled 
 to believe, as he arose in the morning, that the message 
 of peace was true for him — " a faithful saying and worthy 
 of all acceptation." The past, he said, then, is blotted 
 out, what I have to do is to go forward ; I cannot return 
 to the sins from which my Saviour has cleansed me with 
 his blood. 
 
 On the morning which succeeded that "memorable day, 
 he bought a large Bible, and placed it open on the table 
 
in his sitting room, determined, that an open Bible for the 
 future should be his colours. " It was to speak for me," 
 he said, " before I was strong enough to speak for myself." 
 His friends came as usual to his rooms, and did nut alto- 
 gether fancy the new colors. One remarked that he had 
 turned Methodist, and with a shrug retreated. Another 
 ventured to warn him not to become a hypocrite. " Bad 
 as you were. I never thought you #ould come to this, old 
 fellow l" So for the most part his quarters were deserted 
 by his late companions. During six or seven months he 
 had to encounter no slight opposition at the mess, and 
 hard work as he said to stand his ground. But the pro- 
 mise did not fail. " The righteous shall hold on his way ; 
 and he that hath clean hands, shall wax stronger and 
 stronger." 
 
 /' As he felt he had been much forgiven," writes a 
 friend, " So in proportion was his ever burning and in- 
 creasing love to Him whom he had so long grieved by his 
 sins. The name of Christ was ever on his lips and in his 
 breast. Much grace was given him to confess Jesus before 
 others, and when Adjutant, his example and rebukes to 
 the men for swearing carried great weight, and showed his 
 ze^l for the honor of God. The Adjutancy of his Regi- 
 ment was offered to him by his Colonel in 1*52, with these 
 nattering words :" Yicars, you are the man I can best trust 
 with responsibility. 
 
 From his diary we make the following extracts: 
 
 July 3, 1852. Rode out to visit Brunt, a poor ordnance la- 
 borer : Read and prayed with him for nearly an hour ; he 
 appears to be very ill, but all his hopes are fixed in Christ. 
 
 5th. Rose at half past five ; read a chapter in Bogatzhy; 
 I feel I am but little advanced as yet; evil thoughts during 
 the day ; read with Corporal Cranny for an hour; would 
 that I were more like him ; from not having prayed for God's 
 blessing on what I was going to read, I felt little comfort 
 from it ; did not offer to pray With him, as I was afraid I 
 would break down ; read and prayed with Brunt. 
 
 9th. Awoke sleepy and dull, but felt much happier after 
 prayer; lost my temper once or twice with the men: I feel 
 that I am unable of myself to do any thing aright; read 
 
8 
 
 Luke 15, with Cranny, and prayed ; in the evening I became 
 unhappy from the thoughts of all my former sins. 
 
 25. Was preserved in answer to prayer from an evil tem- 
 per at drill. Oh ! my God, grant it may be always so ; read 
 and prayed with poor Brunt ; four of the 97th soldiers came 
 and sat down ; I h!#e great hopes of all ; was enabled to 
 speak to them pretty freely. 
 
 26. I begin to see mWte clearly every day the depravity of 
 my own heart 5 I spoke illnaturedly of one or two; I would 
 that I could do two things ; never speak about myself, and 
 never speak evil of any one. 
 
 27. Have had happy thoughts of Christ to-day ; Oh ! what 
 cause have I to love him. 
 
 March 23. Lord Jesus I would give myself up to thee, to 
 be led by thee in all things ; give me greater energy and 
 zeal in the performance of my duties ; enable me to please 
 my Colonel and yet to please Thee. 
 
 The 97th landed in England in May, 1353, and the fam- 
 ily of Iledley Vicars were again made happy by his pres- 
 ence. Blessed, and a blessing wherever he went, it would 
 be beyond the limit of these few extracts to tell of all his 
 labors in his Master's cause, and of the influence for good 
 which he exerted in whatever company he was thrown. 
 
 When on guard at Canterbury, he writes : 
 
 " I was struck with a proof that God is no respecter of 
 persons, and has His own people in every class. I saw two 
 wretched looking men picking up pieces of rag, as I thought, 
 in front of the guard tent. After they had collected several, 
 they sat down. I went to them, and found they were col- 
 lecting pieces of meat and biscuit that had been thrown 
 away by the men after dinner. These they ate ravenously. 
 I got them some clean meat, and conversed with thern about 
 ten minutes. They seemed surprised that an officer "in 
 such fine clothes," talked to them about Christ. One of them 
 had been a stoker in a railway, who had been run over by a 
 train which had smashed his hand and foot, yet he could 
 talk with delight of the mercy of God hrs' Saviour, and of 
 His goodness and forbearance ! Who knowsbut that I may 
 meet and recognize these poor fellows m Heaven." 
 
Again he writes : 
 
 " I was dining with a nice family near Canterbury, and 
 met a large party. I noticed opposite to me a very pleasant 
 looking fellow, and was struck by his quiet, calm manner 
 and countenance. After he bad adjourned to the drawing- 
 room, I asked him if he belonged to the Army Prayer Union? 
 To which he said 'yes.' We became friends at once. lie 
 said ' there is a man in the 97th whom I want to know; his 
 name is Vicars.' I replied, ' there is a man in the Rifle Bri- 
 gade, whom I want to know; it is Captain Hammond.'* 
 We were at each other's service. On Saturday he came to 
 see me, and staid for some time. He is a delightful fellow. 
 I sent for Cay, and we had a happy time of communion to- 
 gether. It is a great blessing to have such a brother officer 
 as Cay. He is one in a thousand. We often walk together, 
 and he generally comes up to my barracks after mess, and 
 we read the Bible, converse about heavenly things, ami end 
 in prayer." 
 
 He writes to his mother from Gibraltar, February 11th, 
 on board a coal hulk ; 
 
 " Dearest Mother — Here I am, thank God, safe and sound ; 
 but, alas ! in quarantine for seven days. We had a prosper- 
 ous voyage and delightful weather. I was in hopes that I 
 should have had a cabin to myself, but was doubled in with 
 two cadets in the East India service. At first I was strongly 
 inclined to avoid the reproach of the Cross, and not to make 
 a mark of myself by kneeling or reading the Bible in their 
 presence before retiring to rest ; but God gave me grace to 
 overcome this. Still it shows me what a coward I am, that 
 I should even for an instant' be tempted to hide my colors and 
 be ashamed to confess Christ ! : ' 
 
 * Capt. Maximilian Hammond, Rifle Brigade. — This brave 
 and Christian young officer fell in the Redan, while " mak- 
 ing a pathway for his men, in the final assault upon Sebas- 
 topol, September 8th, 1855," honored and beloved by all who 
 knew him. Faithful unto death in the service of the King 
 of kings, as in his duty to his Queen and country, he has re- 
 ceived, we doubt not, "a crown of glory, which fadeth not 
 away. 
 
10 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 Scarcely had Iledley Vicars sailed for Gibraltar, -when 
 the startling order for an army to proceed from England 
 to the East, shook the heart of peaceful England to the 
 centre. Parting words were spoken and farewell blessings 
 given to extend over fields of bloodshed and death. At 
 length came the notice of the 97th's being under orders. 
 Iledley hurried home to say farewell to all most dear to 
 him. At Beckenham, among beloved friends, there we 
 find him, on the evening of his arrival, addressing a num- 
 ber of the navvies at the reading-room of the village. It 
 was crowded, and many more surrounded the doors. He 
 spoke to them — " Prepare to meet thy God" — and no man, 
 on his dying bed, could have spoken with greater solem- 
 nity and earnestness. There he stood, a strong young 
 man amidst strong young men, " putting himself along- 
 side of us as a fellow-sinner," as one of them said, " yet 
 so good now, and suph a man withal !" As they crowded 
 round to say farewell, and wish him safety and success, 
 they were heard saying among themselves, " It is a pity 
 such a fine fellow as that should go to be shot !" 
 
 On his way to the station he visited a dying man at Syd- 
 enham, with whom he prayed. The man said " he never 
 heard such a prayer : it went straight to his heart !" 
 
 While waiting for the train, he spoke to a dear friend of 
 the comfort of love between Christian friends, and then 
 added, in a low undertone, yet slightly hurried, " I have 
 one last favor to ask of you : when I am shot, write to my 
 mother; see her when you can, comfort her as God will 
 teach you." Very early in the morning of the day he left 
 for London, he and his mother met for prayer. He knelt 
 long by her side, pouring out his heart in pleadings with 
 God for-her, that grace and strength might be given for 
 every hour of need. Strengthened in spirit by that prayer, 
 she was able, with his sisters, to go with him to the sta- 
 tion. The remembrance of his last look, his last embrace, 
 his last blessing, still dwells in their hearts, and makes 
 that parti ng-plaoe seem almost like holy ground. 
 # 
 
11 
 
 A few days before the 97th left for their embarkment, 
 many of the men were heard speaking with affection and 
 respect of this their favorite officer. One of them named 
 Reynolds, said, " Since Mr. Vicars became good, he has 
 steadied about fou:* hundred men in the regiments." 
 " Four hundred !" was repeated with surprise. 
 
 " I don't mean that he has made all the four hundred as 
 good as himself : that he couldn't. I know enough about 
 religion to know that God alone could do this. But while 
 he was Adjutant, and since too, he has sobered and stea- 
 died nigh four hundred of the drunkenmost and wildest 
 men in the regiment. There is not a better officer nor a 
 better man in the Queen's service." 
 
 It was a lovely morning, the 19th of May, when the 
 dear friend whom he here mentioned drove to the Water- 
 loo station to say the last farwell to Iledley Vicars. The 
 sunshine glittering on the bayonets of the men as they 
 marched up the steps to the station seemed to mock the 
 tears of wives, sisters and friends, who accompanied them. 
 A young wife was seen to quit her hold of her husband's 
 hand, and approaching Iledley Vicars with a manner of 
 respectful confidence, said: " Oh, Mr. Vicars, you will see 
 that Cottrell writes to me regular, won't you ? It is my 
 only comfort to know that you will." The kindness and 
 sympathy of his tone as he answered, told that her confi- 
 dence was not misplaced. During the delay of the train 
 those dear friends read together in the waiting-room the 
 121st Psalm, parting with the words, " The Lord is thy 
 keeper." 
 
 THE HOSPITAL. 
 
 The 97th was destined to form form part of the Anglo- 
 French force in Greece, and we find Hedley Vicars wri- 
 ting from the Pirceus, telling of his first walk round 
 Athens, the beauty of the country, and blessing his friends 
 for their welcome letters. He writes : 
 
 11 Jesus is very precious to my soul ; my all in all. Often 
 
12 
 
 have I been on the point of falling away,, and yet His arm 
 has held ine up, and kept me from bringing dishonor on 
 His blessed name. To Him be all the praise and all the^ 
 
 glory." 
 
 Again : 
 
 •' We are quartered here with the French, wko have up- 
 wards of four thousand men. They are in tents ; we are 
 how in barracks. The weather is very hot and the climate 
 bad. We are now in quarantine, as the cholera has broken 
 out amongst the French. They have lost two officers and 
 one hundred men. We have not lost a man, but it is a so- 
 lemn time, and loudly calls upon each of us, 'Prepare to 
 meet thy God.' " 
 
 It was the love of Christ constraining him, and no mere 
 sense'of duly which led Hedley Vicirs to spend the great- 
 er part of his days, and often of his nights, in the pesti- 
 lentiaPair of the crowded hospitals. Dearer than to him 
 was the hope of persuading the dying to look to Jesus, 
 and precious indeed was the privilege when the lighting 
 up of a dying eye at the sound of thtft beloved nxrae, as- 
 sured him that he was ministering to one of the Saviour's 
 flock—" I was sick and ye visited me." 
 
 A young fellow-officer, in whom he was much interested, 
 writes : 
 
 "I have been thinking over the time we spent at the Pi- 
 roeus, and will tell you of anything that strikes me. I was 
 constantly with Vicars there, and know what his daily life 
 was better than anyone else. He never for a moment seem- 
 ed to forget whose he was. When he was in camp on first, 
 landing he was in the habit of going out for hours alone 
 amongst the rocks on the sea shore, having only his Bible, 
 which I remember he told me Dr. Marsh called ' his sword.' " 
 
 There was no Chaplain for the English Regiment there. 
 Part of the services was generally read by the officers to 
 the men of their own companies; and the officers in rota- 
 tion took the duty morning and evening of burying the 
 dead, which sometimes, of our English Regiment only, 
 after the cholera came, exceeded ten daily. Vicars under- 
 took this duty several times for others, and seldom, if tvor, 
 
13 
 
 performed it without addressing a few earnest words to 
 the men present. Soon after the sickness broke out he 
 used regularly to-visit the hospitals, reading and praying 
 with the dying men, and seizing every opportunity to 
 speak to others of the " one thing needful." 
 
 Again he writes himself: 
 
 Pirceus, July 21, 1852.-1 kncAv that what I have to tell 
 you will cause you great anxiety, but the newspapers will 
 give you all the particulars whether I will or not. The cho- 
 lera has been raging here for some time. It was with the 
 French alone, but the day before yesterday we lost one man, 
 and since then nine have been carried off. Oh, dearest 
 friends, pray that this fearful visitation may be the means of 
 awakening solemn thoughts in the stoutest hearts among my 
 ■thoughtless comrades, and leading them for pardon, peace 
 and safety, to Jesus the Saviour of sinners." * * * 
 
 " Should I die now you know my only ground of hope, my 
 only confidence, my only assurance is in the cross of Jesus 
 Christ and in the knowledge that the precious blood of 
 Christ cleanseth from all sin — words as full of sweetness M 
 me now as on the day that they were lirst made to my soul 
 the power of God unto salvation." 
 
 PlRffiUs, July 25th. — u Death for hours has been busy among 
 our poor fellows since I wrote. Twenty-seven have fallen 
 in seven days. Do you remember Reynolds whom you no- 
 ticed when you gave the hymn-book at Kensington barracks ? 
 I buried him and another comrade last night. I had intend- 
 ed speaking a few words to the men over the open grave of 
 their dead comrades, but it was as much as I could do to get 
 through the service, and as soon as I began to speak to them 
 afterwards, I could not for the life of me help crying like a 
 cnild. The men cried and sobbed round me. It was no use 
 to try to get on, so I ordered them to ' fall in,' and we went 
 mournfully back to the barracks. Morning and evening the 
 dead cart leaves the hospital for the grave-yard. It is sad 
 and solemn, but I trust that many have learned a lesson that 
 will never be forgotten." 
 
 Aug. 18. — " About seventy of my hundred and seven com* 
 rades who have died of cholera, were men whom I well 
 knew. I do hope that some, nay, that many amongst them 
 were enabled to look to Jesus in their last moments. God 
 
14 
 
 grant that we may find such to have been the case when we 
 all meet at the last day. 
 
 " Poor Cottrell lias been ill again, but is recovering. The 
 Scripture reading is in the ward where he is, -and he is very 
 attentive, as indeed they all are. The day before yesterday, 
 whilst going round the wards, I noticed one poor young fel- 
 low who had been admitted about an hour before. His eyes 
 were sunken, and his hollow cheeks and his blackened face 
 showed that the fearful disease had seized upon him with 
 the grasp of death. I spoke to him for a little while and 
 then passed on to others. The next day his bed was empty. 
 One of the orderlies told me that he suffered much in his 
 mind before he died. He had his senses to the last, which 
 is very unusual. He asked one of the men for a prayer- 
 book ; not one was at hand. He then said ' read me the first 
 chapter of the Gospel of St. John.' At its close he said, 'I 
 feel much revived in my mind' — and died. Oh, we will be- 
 lieve that he was enabled to 'behold the Lamb of God which 
 taketh away the sins of the World.' I cannot tell you how 
 sorry I was that I was not there." 
 
 Aug. 21. Pirceus. — " You will be glad to hear that there is 
 a decrease of cholera. The last man we have lost, one cf 
 the Light Company, was admitted in hospital last night. 
 Poor fellow, he suffered most dreadfully; it was painful to 
 stand by his bedside. I remained with him for nearly an 
 hour and spoke to him from time to time of Jesus, but when- 
 ever the cramps came on, his screams quite drowned my 
 voice. On leaving I shook hands with him, his were black 
 and cold, and told him to 'behold the Lamb of God which 
 taketh away the sin of the world, to look to Jesus 'whose 
 blood cleanseth from all sin." When I mentioned the name 
 of Jesus, he gave me such a wonderful look, full of peace 
 and resignation. In less than four hours afterwards his soul 
 had fled." 
 
 He writes to his sister Sept. 27 : 
 
 " Oh jdearest Mary, it is well to have the love of Jesus 
 Christ in its reality in our hearts — what solid peace and rich 
 enjoyment we obtain by looking unto Jesus. I have wit- 
 nessed the effect of even the name of Jesus. I have noticed 
 a calm and peaceful look pass more than once over the 
 ghastly face of the dying as that blessed name passed my 
 lips. May we not hope, dearest sister, that [as it was with 
 
15 
 
 i 
 
 the dying thief,] even at the hour of death, faith in the blood 
 of Jesus breathed in the soul by the Holy Ghost, has set 
 more jewels in the Redeemer's crown from among the sol- 
 diers of the 97ih Regiment 1 God ^rant that when you and 
 I are summoned before the bar of Christ we may meet many 
 such clothed in white robes and palms in their hands. 
 
 I remember I often used to visit at Halifax a corporal 
 named Cranny of the 42nd Highlanders who was left behind 
 in hospital when his regiment left. One evening when I 
 went to see him he said, ' I am so glad you are come, you 
 always speak to me of Him of whom I love to hear, even 
 Jesus my precious Saviour.' Shortly before he breathed his 
 last, he asked Dr. Twining to read Rom. 8th to him. As he 
 read, the dying man's breath became shorter and his face 
 brighter, and as the last words fell upon his ear, w Nor height, 
 nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us 
 from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,' he 
 sai(^' Thank you sir, that will do' and died. 
 
 Pirobus Nov. 2nd. The order has at length arrived for the 
 97th Regiment to hold itself in readiness for immediate em- 
 barkation to join Lord Raglan's army. There cannot be a 
 doubt that this is a just war which we are engaged in, and 
 therefoie I say the sooner we are ' let loose' the better. I 
 think the Hessians will find the Celestials rather awkward 
 customers to deal with, 'Nous verrons.' There are some 
 people, I know, who cannot imagine how any christian 
 oould ever join in the deadly strife of battle, but I can only 
 say that with such I do not agree ; so that I shall not shrink 
 from doing my duty to my Queen and my country, the Lord 
 being my helper. I consider war to be a cruel calamity, but 
 as much a visitation from Heaven as cholera, and, as on the 
 appearance of that dreadful malady we do not sit quietly 
 down and let it take its course, but, trusting to the blessing 
 of God, use every precaution and employ every means to 
 drive it from amongst us, so in the case of this war with the 
 Russian despot. He has made aggression upon a country 
 which had given him no just cause, and thus disturbed the 
 peace of Europe, and let loose upon us the horrors of war, 
 and shall we Britons let him have his own way, and tamely 
 look on? God forbid ! Rather will we, the Lord being our 
 1 shield and buckler,' crush the evil and restore peace and 
 quietness to the land.'' 
 
16 
 
 THE CRIMEA. 
 
 It is needless here to describe the sufferings of the Eng- 
 lish Array during that winter before Sebastopol. Battles 
 won against overwhelming numbers on the cold soil of the 
 Crimea, by weary men, worn down by hunger, bore terri- 
 ble witness to the quenchless nature of British courage. 
 The men who stormed the heights of Alma, who in the 
 dreadful fight of Inkerman, conquered again amidst fogs 
 and darkness — who at Balaklava " charged a whole army 
 while all the world wondered," such men had proved their 
 steel. Yet these very men have been seen to weep as • 
 night after night, succeeding days of starvation and toil, 
 they were ordered to their work in the freezing trenches. 
 Who can estimate what they must first have endured. It 
 was amidst scenes like these that the faith of Hedley Vi- 
 cars avps to have its last tria'. Sharing as he did the 
 general toil and privation, he was ever fulfilling the Apos- 
 tle's injunction, " Bear ye one another's burdens." Dur- 
 ing the severe cold ot that winter, the only bed he allowed 
 himself was made of stones and leaves, till the arrival of a 
 fur rug from England sent by a friend who was dear to 
 him. Every thing else which could bear the name of lux- , 
 uries, even of common comfort, was given to the deeper 
 necessities of the suffering soldiers. 
 
 He writes to his sister, Lady Rayleigh : 
 
 Camp before Sebastopol, Nov. 29, 1854. 
 
 My own Darling Clara. — I received your delightful letter 
 yesterday, together with three from Beekenham. I think I 
 never had a richer treat. * * * 
 
 We had delightful weather sailing up the Bosphorus, and 
 the scenery was charming. In the Black Sea we encounter- 
 ed stormy weather. We did not go on shore at Balaklava 
 till the evening of the 20th. The rain poured in torrents all 
 day. We landed in boats, and were well drenched before 
 we reached the encampment ground, looking more like 
 
17 
 
 drowned rats than live soldier?. It was dark before the tents 
 were pitched. Parties were at once sent out to collect fire 
 wood, the wrecks of vessels furnishing us with plenty of 
 material. Soon cam]) fires were blazing in all directions, 
 and officers and men gathered round them to dry their clothes 
 and warm themselves, for the nights here are bitterly cold. 
 I can assure yon I enjoy some cheese and biscuit not a little. 
 But before I looked after myself, I saw my company i 
 and comfortable as adverse circumstances would admit of, 
 and afterwards made them a little speee!] around the bivou- 
 ac fires, combining as well as I could, some religious advice 
 with a few words about our duty as British soldiers, and 
 ended in saying, " Lads, while 1 have life, I will stick to 
 the colours, and I know you will not desert me.' The poor 
 fellows cheered me long and loud. About ten o'clock, 1 read 
 by the light of the first" bivouac fire, Ps. 23d, 90th and 01st, 
 with Capt. Ingram, and derived great comfort and peace from 
 them. Resting on Jesus my precious Saviour, I went to 
 sleep securely. My bed was made of dry leaves with a 
 stone for my pillow, and but for the biting cold, I should 
 have slept like a top. On the morning of the 22nd, we re- 
 ceived orders to march for the lines before Sebastopol, and 
 came in sight oi the white lines of the English and French, 
 after a rough march of seven miles. On the morning of the 
 25th, I walked up the hill in our front, and had a fine view 
 of the magnificent fortress and harbor of Sebastopol. I could 
 clearly see the masts in the harbor across the water, where 
 the Russians had sunk their men-of-war. Whilst admiring 
 the place, a cannon ball from one of their batteries whizzed 
 past my ear. I have been told since, that the Russians 
 think nothing of firing shells and- round shot when they see 
 even one of our poor fellows. The weather has beei^stoimy 
 and our men are dying with the cholera. 
 
 The duty has been very severe in the trenchc-, distant 
 about three miles from the cam)). I was in them from five 
 in the evening till five the next morning, and also on out- 
 lying picquet the whole of the following night, sleeping in 
 the open air, with a few bushes over me. I could hear the 
 tolling of the great bell at Sebastopol and the voices of the 
 Russians working in their fortifications, as plainly as could 
 be. Yesterday I got a pint of water to wash my face and 
 hands, and sorely they needed it. We have nothing to com- 
 plain of in the way of rations. I get a pound of salt pork 
 
18 
 
 and as much biscuit as I can eat every day. The other day 
 my subaltern and a party of men gave chase to a young 
 bullock, close to the Russian lines ; they caught him, and we 
 made a capital dinner of part of him this afternoon. 
 
 We are anxiously waiting for Lord Raglan to storm Sebas- 
 topol ; for though we may lose many in so doing, yet any- 
 thing would be better than seeing our fine soldiers dying as 
 they are daily. The accounts of the Russians killing our 
 wounded officers and men are true, confirmed by all here. 
 We all hope soon to have an opportunity of thrashing these 
 savages, and have not a doubt we shall do so, when we 
 come across them. 
 
 In the trenches the other day, one of our men amused us 
 much. At the first shell, which passed close to him, he drop- 
 ped down on his back, screaming aloud for the doctor, for 
 he was ' kilt intirely !' The doctor ran up to him, and aslced 
 him where he had been hurt, when he exclaimed ' Och, och ! 
 doctor, clane through the blanket! 1 I have the tent to my- 
 self, Brinkley being on duty in the trenches. It is curious 
 what delightful dreams I have every time I fall asleep. 
 Now I am at Terling, surrounded by all your beloved faces ; 
 then, again, at Beckenham with those I love so dearly. At 
 another time, I am going to read to old Sophy ; again, sitting 
 by the fire in the drawing room telling tales of the past to 
 dear John, and awake to find my teeth chattering, a sharp 
 stone sticking into my side, the wind howling in gusts and 
 squalls, and a concert of cannon and small shot, with varia- 
 tions from English, French and Russian performers, instead 
 of a chant in the hall. 
 
 The night before last, one of my beautiful dreams was 
 dispelled by a shaking of my tent, and in answer to ' who is 
 there?' I received the reply, 'Please, sir, a stall officer has 
 just ritraen into the camp to bid us be ready at a moment's 
 notice — the Russians are moving on our right flank!' 'AH 
 right,' said I ; and, commending myself to my Heavenly 
 Father, fell fast asleep again, knowing that I was all ready 
 for a moment's notice. However, we heard no more of it. 
 While I write, musketry is hard at work and cannon roar- 
 ing. It is with difficulty I manage to scrape together time 
 and material for writing. My best love to dear Edward and 
 to dear Lord Rayleigh. May God bless him, soul and body. 
 Ever, my own darling Clara, 
 
 Your affectionate brother, Hedlby. 
 
19 
 
 To his second sister, he writes: 
 
 " The rain is pouring in torrents, but I have this nigh: 
 been in bed for a wonder, so I shall have a little time to dry ; 
 but I pity the poor fellows in the trenches, 200 of our met; 
 and 7u0 of the other regiment. The men of all the British 
 regiments are dying every day. and many are buried without- 
 the funeral service. We ate now, to mend matters, placed 
 on half rations, but I was never much of an epicure, so I an: 
 quite contented with what they give me. Indeed, I have 
 no patience with fellows that are always grumbling. Our 
 hardships certainly are very great, but as soldiers we ought 
 to bear them. Many officers, I hear, are resigning their com- 
 missions. I can only say, shame on those who desert their 
 country in this time of need ! We all made a great mistake 
 in not bringing warm clothing with us here. I did buy a 
 comforter though, which is more than most fellows have. 
 Thank God I am very well and in fine spirits, only hoping 
 that Lord Raglan will soon let us try our hands on the Rus- 
 sians. ****-*. Oh, precious sister! from whom I may so 
 soon be parted here, remember Jesus, and never be ashamed 
 to confess Christ crucified ! Jesus has bled for us, has re- 
 deemed us, has saved us ! Oh, then, let us not cause hir- 
 once wounded heart to bleed for us again, but looking for 
 Heaven's aid, let us seek never to grieve him more. 
 
 '■ It is six months since I have been in reach of a house of 
 prayer, or have had an opportunity of receiving the sacrament, 
 yet never have I enjoyed more frequent or precious com- 
 munion with my Saviour, than I have found in the trenches 
 or in my tent. When, I should like to know, could one find 
 a Saviour more precious, than when bullets are falling 
 around like hail ?" 
 
 " December IS. — I am, thank God, quite well : never bet- 
 ter, and what is more, clean! You know my weakness for 
 • cataracts.' Well, I have contrived to get one every day for 
 nearly three weeks, but then I take more pains to get water 
 than most fellows. We dined to-day off soaked biscuit* 
 fried in lard, a capital dish ; boiled ration pork, veiy good : 
 potatoes, middling, with mustard and salt — my wine being 
 weak rum and water. I am sure drinking spirits is a bad 
 plan, and, besides being injurious, makes a man colder an 
 hour afterwards. Each officer and man is allowed a gill of 
 rum daily, but I never drink even half of mine, often none 
 
20 
 
 at all. I went on picquet this morning at half past four, 
 with fifty men. It rained hard for about an hour. I kept 
 up a jolly fire, and endeavored to write a letter to darling 
 mother, 'while seated opposite its blaze. I read the first 
 Epistle of Peter, and then folding my cloak around me, and 
 stretching myself close by the watch-fire, I was sound asleep 
 in ten minutes^ notwithstanding the roar of cannon and rat- 
 tle of musketry which kept up a concert during the night." 
 
 All this time the prayer meetings were continued in his 
 tent at every opportunity, and wearied and worn, as he 
 often was after nights on picquet, or in the trenches, fre- 
 quently before he rested, he was found in the hospital tent. 
 He writes: 
 
 " We are expecting every day to meet the enemy in open 
 field, or to storm the fortress. I wish they could go at it at 
 oace. Be not anxious about me. I am safe in the arms of 
 my Saviour. I know it — I feel it — in life or death. 
 
 " Camp before Sbbastopol, Dec. 25* — Thank you, dearest 
 friend, for your affecting letter from Mr. Halkett's house. I 
 grieve much to say, that there is no hope left now that dear 
 Halkett * might be a prisoner in Sebastopol, but I believe he 
 is in the presence of his God, clothed in the spotless robe of 
 his Redeemer's righteousness. The man who so loved the 
 14th chapter of St. John, has found it all true for him. I shall 
 make the motto he chose for himself my own, and, if I am 
 to fall too, I hope I may die, with it on my lips: 'In God is 
 my salvation and my glory ; the rock of my strength and my 
 refuge is in God.' Give my love to his dear young wife-, and 
 tell her I pray God to comfort her. Her message went to 
 my heart. I know not that I could have ' saved him? but I 
 
 * Major Douglas Halkett, who fell in the flower of his age 
 in the charge at Balaklava. His thoughtful and benevolent 
 character had won for him the name of '' Father of his Re- 
 giment!" Brave as he was gentle, his gallant bearing was 
 noticed even amidst the fury of that death-charge. The last 
 time he was seen was in the field fearfully, wounded, hold- 
 ing out some bank notes to his men, with the characteristic 
 words, "Take them for the wives and widows at home!" 
 
21 
 
 would have carried him to the rear or died in the attempt. 
 I have prayed that Jesus himself would comfort her. I 
 know He will. Bless you. my own mother, sister, friend and 
 connseller. Give my warmest love to all around you, espe- 
 cially your honored father. God bless him, and God bless 
 also the father of her I love best on earth. '•Christinas day, 
 1854. I am for out-lying picquet in ten minutes, and have. 
 but time to wish you a happy Christmas. It is so bitterly 
 cold, I can scarcely hold my pen. I have enjoyed the day 
 as much as could be expected, and partook of the sacrament 
 with (thank God) thirty others. May our Father, 'the Fa- 
 ther of all mercies,' keep us ever ' looking unto Jesus' our 
 Saviour." 
 
 THE TRENCHES 
 
 A paragraph in the public press, early in the month of 
 January, 1855, conveyed the first intelligence that three 
 officers had been found dead in their tents from the effects 
 of the fumes of charcoal, and that another was hanging 
 between life and death ; that other was Hedley Vicars, 
 lie had returned to 'his tent chilled and weary, after a 
 wild and snowy night in the trenches. Before throwing 
 himself on his miserable bed of leaves and stones, he told 
 bis servant, as it was intensely cold, to make a small fire 
 of charcoal in the dish, and to leave the door of the tent 
 partially open, imagining that this would secure him from 
 any injurious effects. Providentially he was for out-lying 
 picquet that afternoon. His servant, who had several 
 times called him, at last became alarmed, and went for 
 the surgeon. He found him returning from the tent of 
 another officer of the 97th, for whom, also ! his aid had 
 come too late. 
 
 Hedley was carried into the open air and laid on the 
 snow. His men stood round him wringing their hands. 
 Some assisted the medical officer in chafing with snow the 
 body of him they loved, in hopes of restoring vitality. 
 At length, after the severe methods of blistering and bleed- 
 
22 
 
 ing had been resorted to, consciousness returned. He was 
 spared for a nobler end, to fulfil his own choice — " As a 
 soldier I will die \" 
 
 A serious illness followed the accident, during which 
 the tenderest attentions were bestowed by his fellow-offi- 
 cers and the men. He writes : 
 
 "January 8th, 1855. How I thank God that no one but 
 myself slept in the tent that night, and surely I have cause 
 to praise Him for His goodness in snatching me from the 
 jaws of death. My first impulse, after raising my heart in 
 gratitude to that God who had preserved me, was to see 
 whether my little picture was safe at my heart; — it was 
 there! I took a long, long look at the sweet face of her who 
 had made summer of my gloomy winter, and thanked God 
 again for having preserved my life." 
 
 " January 12th. — I have just returned from a night in the 
 trenches, having just come off the sick list. Last Sunday I 
 was unable to leave my tent, but had a happy communion 
 with Jesus in my solitude. * * *. I find more and more 
 every day, how little I can depend on the feelings of my 
 heart towards Him, but my comfort is, that ' Jesus Christ is 
 the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.' During my illness 
 .1 was very happy, but for some days past, my heart has seem- 
 ed cold and dead. What a lonely gloomy time it is, when 
 Jesus withdraws the light of His countenance, but at all 
 times, I can and do trust His love and tenderness, and I feel 
 persuaded He is sending me the trial of faith to draw me 
 nearer to Himself." 
 
 "Sunday, February 14. — After morning service, I went to 
 read and pray with the sick in the hospital, and to distribute 
 the blessed cards of prayer for which the poor fellows seem- 
 ed most thankful. I do and will hope that many who have 
 gone to their last homes from the dreary camp, are now be- 
 fore the Lamb, clothed in white robes. May not a broken 
 heart, drawn by a Saviour's dying love, to make known its 
 wants to Him, and to lean its hopes of pardon and eternal 
 life on the blood of the Cross, have received the answer of 
 peace direct from the mercy seat, (where, thank God, Jesus 
 over pleads,) ' Enter thou into the joy of thy lord !' " 
 
 " You ask my opinion of our prospects. I do not take the 
 gloomy views of the newspapers— no. Although I have 
 seen many a noble soldier laid low forever, and regiments 
 
reduced to less than hnlf their number' by sickness, since 
 November, I have no fears of the ultimate result by the help 
 of God. The French have a large army, 80,000 or 90,000 
 strong in the Crimea, and more regiments arriving every day. 
 And what, with these and 12,000 British, we are able to de- 
 feat any Russian army that Menschikoff can bring against 
 us. The boxes sent, &c, have arrived, and their contents are 
 invaluable. How kin^l in that lady at Torquay to cut up 
 her fur cloak into chest preservers for the soldiers.'' 
 
 Sun lay night, 18. — " This has been a bright happy day. 
 We had Divine service near the Guard's encampment, but 
 the Chaplain was not there, and we had ^o sermon. We, 
 therefore, had our little service in the tent soon afterwards, 
 and a few of us read and prayed together this evening. My 
 mansion is much more comfortable for my purposes since 1 
 excavated it ; there is more room, and it is warmer. I have 
 a fire-place now ; what do you think of that ; which only 
 smokes three or four times a day; a small chair I bought at 
 Balaklava, a little table made out of the bottom of an old case, 
 and as for my bed, with the depth of that fur : why it is the 
 envy of all who see it. And though the others beat me in 
 having bedsteads and double tents, I think my house now the 
 most comfortable in the camp, and at all events it will be 
 when the eandlestove arrives." 
 
 Feb. 19. — ' : On my return to my tent, I found there Mr. 
 Duncan Matheson, the soldier's missionary. We read the 
 third chapter of Ephesians, and he prayed with me. When 
 he left I saw that three of my brother officers were standing 
 close by: they must have heard that fervent prayer. Who 
 knows but that one of them may be led to pray for himself 
 this night. God grant it! One of these three said to me the 
 other day, ' Vicars, I dreamed about you the other night, and 
 I thought you were speaking to me about religion.' : Well, 
 and did you like it,' I said. ' Yes, very much." he replied. 
 May the Lord give me courage to speak faithfully and ear- 
 nestly, and bless my feeble words to his soul's good, for Jesus' 
 sake." 
 
 To his sister, Lady Rayleigh, he writes: 
 
 Camp before Sebastopol, Feb. 23d, 1S50. 
 My own much loved sister : A thousand thanks for the 
 welcome presents of warm clothing, &c, &c. Evervthing I 
 
24 
 
 have seen is just what I wanted. All my company now, 
 thanks to yeur kindness, are well supplied with everything 
 requisite to keep out the cold. * * * 
 
 " I have seen my old friend Cay of the Coldstream Guards 
 several times, and have enjoyed sweet Christian converse 
 with him. I gave him several of Dear L — 's cards of prayer ; 
 and when I went on Sunday to the Guard's Hospital, I ob* 
 served one fastened to each bed. It made me glad to see 
 weary and dying eyes resting on the words, " Oh God! Wash 
 me from all my sins in my Saviour's blood, and I shall be ivhiter 
 than snow. Fill me with the Holy Ghost for Jesus Christ sake." 
 
 March 4th — Sunday. — 'Had Divine service in the camp. 
 Service in the tent and barracks ; and again in the evening 
 — seven pre.sent. Afterwards took a short walk with Van- 
 deleur Craigie and Anderson of the Engineers; read and 
 prayed with Major Ingram and Lieut. Derman in the latter's 
 tent. Oh, what a happy day this has been." 
 
 This part of Hedley Vicars' diary brings us to his last 
 letter written to the much loved friend who compiled the 
 beautiful memoirs from which these extracts are taken : 
 
 "Your letter of the 18th contains no small comfort for me 
 I bless God that my L — is with her more than mother to be 
 comforted in these dark days. How I have blessed you in 
 my heart, for all your love to us both. * * * 
 
 " Major Ingram is one of my best friends, and a true 
 Christian. We have often read and prayed and held com- 
 munion together. Douglas Macgregor is very dear to me. 
 He is a very young man and full of high spirits; which might 
 now and then carry him away, were he not continually 
 seeking to have more and more of the mind of Christ, and 
 jn these solemn seasons his thoughts turn often heavenwards. 
 Do not cease to pray for him and for my subaltern Brinkley, 
 that they may be good and fearless soldiers of Jesus Christ. 
 Macgregor is the officer who asked some weeks ago to be my 
 companion in visiting the hospitals, adding, with character- 
 istic ingenuousness, 'I have just been reading the words 'I 
 was sick and ye visited me not,' and I should not like my 
 Saviour to be addressing these words to me. Yesterday I 
 visited the hospitals, and read the 12th of Heb. to a poor dy- 
 iflg man who had beckoned me to do so when I was at the 
 other end of the ward. He was low and wretched, but 
 
25 
 
 seemed comforted when I spoke of the 'blood that cleanseth 
 from all sin. : " 
 
 March 16. — lt We have lately lost several me"n in the 
 trenches. On Wednesday last Capt. Craigie of the Engi- 
 neers, who regularly attended our Sabbath prayer meetings, 
 was killed by a shell in the middle ravine. I was on pic- 
 quet there on that day, and he was struck only a few min- 
 utes before I came up with my men. Poor fellow! he was 
 quickly called into eternity, for he never spoke, but fell in- 
 stantly after being hit. I feel sure he was ready, and is now 
 safe forever ! I liked him very much, and his death has 
 thrown a gloom- over our small band. We were turned out 
 the night before«ast by a heavy fire in our front ; it lasted 
 about 20 minutes, when it ceased entirely ; but ere long we 
 were alarmed by another cannonade, and we once more stood 
 to arms. It was a fine starlight night, and as I stood gazing 
 in the direction of the fusillades. I thought I had never wit- 
 nessed a more imposing spectacle. Shells in quick succes- 
 sion were shooting up into the air, with the bright glare of 
 artillery reflecting over. the brow of the hills on our front, 
 and the lurid flashes of musketry as volley after volley chi- 
 med in, accompanied by the wild cheers of the combatants, 
 which we could plainly hear at intervals, even amidst the 
 deafening noise. In less than half an hour all was quiet, 
 and we again in our tents. It was an attack made by the 
 French on the Russian advanced work, from which they 
 drove the enemy, and were in their turn driven out. * * * * 
 
 " We are anxiously expecting the batteries to open in good 
 earnest, but they say there is not shot or shell enough up yet. 
 My love to your beloved father. I enclose a letter to my 
 own L — . God bless you my own most beloved mother- 
 Sister. Jesus is near and very precious to my heart and 
 soul. May He ever be to you also. 
 
 Ever your most warmly attached son and brother, 
 
 HEDLEY." 
 
 On the Sabbath which followed, his last on earth, Iled- 
 ley seemed like Moses to have climbed the mountains 
 where the promised land was seen, and to have canght the 
 dawn of the eternal Sabbath so near at hand. Then came 
 the day appointed for humiliation, and fasting and prayer. 
 lie had earnestly desired its appointment. In some of his 
 letters he had expressed his belief, that till God was lion- 
 
26 
 
 ored as a nation, in the ascription of victory to His power 
 and in the acknowledgment of His chastening hand in 
 defeat, we could scarcely expect success. He kept the day 
 as a solemn fast before the Lord. After morning parade 
 Hedley Vicars walked with Major Ingram to see the sun- 
 rise in the valley of Tchernaya, and by the burning of 
 their hearts by the way it seemed that Jesus himself drew 
 nigh and went with them. The evening was passed in 
 communion with his beloved friend Cay, who can never 
 forget the tone of that last conversation. It seemed as if 
 the spirit of his young companion had already taken wings, 
 and " was in Heaven before he came there." Late that 
 night he wrote the following words : 
 
 " God bless those whose exertions have been the means 
 of bringing about this day of national prayer. I look for 
 great results from the prayers that have ascended to heaven 
 this day, and have been presented by our great Intercessor 
 before the throne of God. I have felt the day to be just like 
 Sunday, and have derived much comfort from communion 
 with my God and Saviour. We had two text services : Van- 
 deleur came looth times, spent the evening with Cay; I 
 read Isaiah 41st, and he prayed. We walked together dur- 
 ing the day and exchanged our thoughts about Jesus." 
 
 Thus the last words he ever wrote was the name he 
 loved best. 
 
 One other fragment was found in his desk, addressed to 
 her whom he loved with the power of a true and manly 
 heart, yet does it speak of joy and gladness from another 
 source than that most tender love. 
 
 " The greater part of another month is past, and here I 
 am kept by the protecting arm of the Almighty from all harm. 
 I have been in many a danger by night and day since I last 
 wrote to you my own beloved, and the Lord has delivered 
 me from them all, and not only so, but he has likewise kept 
 me in perfect peace, and made me glad with the light -of his 
 countenance. In Jesus I find all I want of happiness or en- 
 joyment, and as week after week, and month after month 
 roll by, I believe he is becoming more and more lovely in 
 my ej es, and precious to my soul. 
 
 Twenty-four hours more and he has " seen the King in 
 his beauty." 
 
27 
 
 THE VICTORY. 
 
 The night of the 22nd of March was dark and dreary. 
 The wind rose high and swept across the Crimea. There 
 was for the time a stillness over the armies like the calm 
 before a tempest. 
 
 At the advanced post of the British forces, on the side 
 nearest the French was a detachment of the 97th Regi- 
 ment commanded by Capt. Vicars. No watch fire on that 
 post of danger might cast its light as aforetimes upon the 
 book of God, yet was that place of peril holy ground. 
 Once more the night breeze bore away the hallowed sounds 
 of prayer. One stern duty more, oh ! soldier and Chris- 
 tian, and realities more lovely and glorious than it hath 
 entered into the heart of man to conceive, shall satisfy thy 
 soul. 
 
 Soon after ten o'clock that night a loud firing commen- 
 ced and was sustained in the direction of the Victoria re- 
 doubt opposite the Malakoff tower. Taking advantage of 
 the darkness of the night, a Russian force of 15,000 men 
 issued from Sebastopol. Preserving a sullen silence they 
 approached from the Mamelon under cover of the fire of 
 their ambuscades, and effected an entrance into the French 
 advanced parallel, before an alarm could be given to the 
 sentries. After a short but desperate struggle, the French 
 were obliged to fall back on their reserves. 
 
 The column of the enemy then marched along the par- 
 allel, and came up the ravine on the right of the British 
 lines for the purpose of taking them into the flank and 
 rear. On their approach being observed they were sup- 
 posed to be the French, as the ravine separated the allied 
 armies. Hedley Vicars was the first to discern that they 
 were Russians. 
 
 With a coolness and judgment that seems to have called 
 forth admiration from all quarters, he ordered his men to 
 lie down until the Russians came within 20 paces. Then 
 with his first war-shout, " Now 97th on your pins and 
 charge," himself foremost in the conflict he led his men 
 
28 
 
 on to victory, charging two thousand with a force of bare- 
 ly two hundred. A bayonet wound in the breast onlv 
 seemed to fire his courage the more, and again his voice 
 rose high " Men of the 97th follow me," as he leaped that 
 parapet he had so nobly defended, and charged the enemy 
 down the ravine. 
 
 One moment a struggling moonbeam fell upon his flash- 
 ing sword, and he waived it through the air with the last 
 cheer for his men, "This way 97th," the next moment the 
 strong arm which had been uplifted hung powerless by his 
 side and he fell amidst his enemies. But friends followed 
 fast, his mea- fought their way through the ranks of the 
 Russians to defend the parting life of the leader they loved. 
 In their arms they bore him back, amidst shouts of a vic- 
 tory so dearly bought. Captain Browne found a stretcher, 
 and placing his friend upon it, cooled his fevered lips with 
 a draught of water. To each inquiry Hedley Vicars an- 
 swered cheerfully, that he believed his wound was slight, 
 but a main artery had been severed, and his life blood 
 flowed fast. 
 
 A few paces onward, and he faintly said, " Cover my 
 face ! cover my face I" What need for covering under the 
 shade of that dark night? Was it not a sudden conscious* 
 ness that he was entering into the presence of that holy 
 God before whom the cherubim veil their faces? As the 
 soldier laid him down at the door of his tent, he fell asleep 
 in Jesus, to awake up after His likeness and be satisfied 
 with it. " We asked life of Thee'and Thou gavest it him, 
 even length of days for ever and ever." 
 
 A passage in the despatch from Lord Raglan, published 
 on Good Friday, April 6th, closed the last door of hope, 
 that there might be some mistake in the telegraphic notice 
 of Captain Vicars' death : 
 
 Camp before Sebastopol, March 24, J 855. 
 " Early in the night a serious attack was made before the 
 works of our allies, in front of the Victoria redoubt, opposite 
 the Malakoff tower. The night was very dark, and the wind 
 so high that the firing which took place, and which was very 
 heavy, could scarcely be heard in the British camp ; it is 
 therefore difficult to speak with certainty of what occurred 
 
29 
 
 from anything that could be heard, or observed at the mo- 
 ment. It appears, however, that the Russians, after attack- 
 ing the head of the Sap, which the French were carrying on 
 towards the Mamelon, fell with two heavy masses on their 
 new parallel, to the rear of which they succeeded in pene- 
 trating and momentarily possessing, after a gallant resistance 
 on the part of our allies. 
 
 Having broken through, they passed along the parallel and 
 in rear of it, until they came in contact with troops stationed 
 in our advanced parallel, extending into the ravine from the 
 right of our advance, where it connects with the French 
 trenches. The enemy was here met by detachments of the 
 77th and 97th regiments, forming part of the guard of the 
 trenches, who, although tints suddenly taken both in flank 
 and rear, behaved with the utmost gallantry and coolness. 
 
 The detachment of the 97th, which was on the extreme 
 right, and which consequently first came in contact with the 
 enemy, repulsed the attack at the point of the bayonet. 
 They were led by Captain Vicars, who unfortunately lost 
 his life on the occasion, and I a%n assured that nothing could 
 be more distinguished than the gallantry and good example 
 which he set to the men under his command.*' 
 
 By the same post, the following letter confirmed the fa- 
 tal tidings : 
 
 " Camp before Sabastopol, . 
 
 ,: To Loud Rayleigh, — 
 
 " My Lord : It is with the deepest sorrow that I write to 
 announce the death of Capt. Vicars of the 97th regiment. 
 He was killed last night in the trenches, while gallantly 
 cheering on his men to the attack of a body of the enemy, 
 who, taking advantage of the darkness of the night, got 
 close into our trenches. From what I can hear of the affair, 
 he rushed bravely in the midst of them, knocked down two, 
 and was in the act of striking a third, when one of them 
 shot him through the right arm. high up close to the shoul- 
 der — the ball divided the principal artery, and he must soon 
 have bled to death, therefore it is a melancholy pleasure to 
 learn that his sufferings were short. 
 
 I cannot express my own sorrow and that of the regiment 
 at the loss of so valuable an officer, further than to say as it 
 
30 
 
 regards myself, I feel that I have lost a brother. It was in 
 his society I felt the happiest. As it regards the regiment 
 he cannot be replaced. Contemplating his melancholy loss 
 in the light of a Christian, we indeed ought not to sorrow as 
 those who have no hope, for I feel sure, no officer in the 
 whole army was more prepared to meet his Saviour. I write 
 to your Lordship, as he told one of the officers his mother 
 was with you, and gave direction, in case (as he said) of 
 anything happening to him. I am, &c, &c, 
 
 T. 0. W. INGRAM, 
 
 Major 91th Regiment. 
 
 The following letter from his beloved friend Douglas 
 Macgregor, closes our extracts from the "Life of Hedley 
 Vicars : 
 
 " Camp before Sebastopol, March 23, 1855. 
 " To Lady Macgregor; — 
 
 "Dear Mother: This is a dark and gloomy day with me. 
 My heart is wrung, my eyes*red and hot with crying — I feel 
 gloomy and sorrowful altogether. My very dear friend. Vi- 
 cars was killed last night. The Russians made a sortie, and, 
 whilst gallantly leading on a handful of our men to charge 
 them outside our works, he was mortally wounded by a ball 
 striking his right breast. He died soon after, and is now en- 
 joying a glorious rest in the presence of his Saviour. I do 
 not pity him. What more could we wish for hi in ? He was 
 fully prepared for the most sudden death, and died bravely 
 fighting and doing his duty. But my heart bleeds for the loss 
 of my dearest friend, and for the sake of his poor rrtother 
 1 and family. Such a death became such a life' and such a 
 soldier. The most gallant, the most cheerful, the happiest, 
 the most universally respected officer, and the most consci- 
 entious Christian soldier, has been taken from us by that 
 , fatal bullet, and I know not how to live without him. He 
 I was my truest friend, my most cheerful companion, and my 
 ■. friendly counseller on all occasions. But, as his sergeant re- 
 | marked bitterly this morning, 'He was too good to live! Oh, 
 t how many little schemes of mine does it put an end to ! I 
 had fondly hoped that he would live to go home, and that I 
 might bring my dear friend to you and proudly show him as 
 a specimen of what a model soldier should be. But God's 
 ways are not our ways. He spared' him from the horrible 
 
31 
 
 death of suffocation by charcoal, for a few months, that he 
 might die a soldier's death. 
 
 "Noble fellow! he rushed in front of his men, and his 
 powerful aim made more than one Russian fall before that 
 cruel bullet brought him down. It must have been fired 
 close to him, for his coat was singed. When I heard at day- 
 light this morning that Vicars had been brought home dead, 
 you may imagine my grief. I loved that man as dearly as a 
 brother : and it seems that I almost hear his voice sounding 
 in my ears as he read, two days ago, the service when some 
 of us met on the day of humiliation. There was a little 
 locket he always wore round his neck, and I remember when 
 he heard we were to come here, he said, " We should all be 
 prepared to give directions what we wish done in case we 
 get killed ; for instance. I have got a little book of Psalms. 
 and a locket which I would wish sent home in case I die." 
 Poor fellow! I remembered this, and as I took the locket [a 
 •mall gold one which opens like a watch] and has a small 
 picture sprinkled with his life blood, I cried so that I thought 
 I would get ill. * * * 
 
 " Oh his poor mother and sisters that he loved so dearly ! 
 But she is a Christian, and has lived to see her once wild and 
 reckless son come to the fold ot Jesus, and prove his sincer- 
 ity by a long and consistent course. I also cut a lock of his 
 fine curly hair this morning, as I know his mother would 
 like to get it. If I were to try to write all the good that my 
 beloved friend did I should not have room. How he fear- 
 lessly visited and spoke to the men in the worst times of 
 cholera, but as he told me he got his reward, for the soldier'* 
 dying lips besought blessings on his head. Oh, ho v happy 
 # he is now! Such a death and such a glory now! Even in 
 death his habitual happy smile di^not forsake him. The 
 Lord knew when and how to take him ; but it is a severe 
 and unspeakably painlul trial tome. 
 
 "Every one liked and respected Vicars ; even those who 
 did not agree with his strict religion, and those who had 
 known him so long as the leader of every mad riot, when, 
 after watching him closely for years, and, finding that once 
 enlisted in Christ's army, he never flinched, at last gave in, 
 and acknowledged that Vicars at any rate was a true Chris- 
 tian. 
 
 "Our men got great praise for the fight last night; but who 
 would not go anywhere with such a leader? Some howl 
 
32 
 
 passed a restless, sleepless night, and I then heard different 
 arrivals of the wounded men, but did not know that my poor 
 — no, my happy — friend was amongst the number until pa- 
 rade at daybreak. If you have not lost that crocus that Vi- 
 cars sent a few weeks ago, please to keep it. Oh, ' blessed 
 are the dead that die in the Lord.' 
 
 ' ; Farewell, Vicars, my loved companion ! I knew when 
 lie went into action he would show that a Christian soldier 
 was a brave as well as a happy man. I do not exactly know 
 Low it all was ; I only vouch for the above facts, and the 
 terrible reality of poor Vicars' noble frame lying in the hos- 
 pital tent, where I saw it. God bless you, dear mother, and 
 may He sanctify this severe trial to my soul. 
 
 Your own DOUGLAS." 
 
 Six months more, and Douglas Macgregor and Hedley 
 Vicars had met again — " Lovely and pleasant in their 
 lives, in their death they were not long divided." 
 
 Bright as the young survivor's Christian life had been 
 before, it cleared into yet fuller lustre during those six 
 short months ere his sun went down at noon. He regu- 
 larly visited the hospitals to read and pray with the sick 
 and dying, and in everything sought to follow in the steps 
 of his beloved friend. 
 
 On the fatal 8th of September, twice he fought his way 
 int(\ the Redan — the second time, to come no more out. 
 He was found far advanced on that red ground lying by 
 a cannon in the sleep of death — 
 
 <' The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. - ' 
 
 These brief extracts, from the life of this noble Chris- 
 tian soldier, are concluded— with the humble, earnest 
 prayer, that every soldier of our Confederate army may 
 follow Hedley Vicars, as he followed Jesus, the great Cap- 
 tain of our Salvation. 
 
33 
 
 HYMN 
 
 Oil for a closer walk with God, 
 A calm and heavenly frame ; 
 
 A light to shine upon the road 
 That leads me to the Lamb. 
 
 Where is the blessedness I knew, 
 When first I saw the Lord ? 
 
 Where is the soul-refreshing view 
 Of Jesus and his word ! 
 
 What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd ; 
 
 How sweet their memory still : 
 But now I feel an aching void 
 
 The world can never fill. 
 
 Return, holy Dove, return, 
 
 Sweet messenger of rest; 
 I hate thee sins that made thee mourn, 
 
 And drove thee from my breast. 
 
 The dearest idol I have known, 
 
 Whate'er that idol be, 
 Help me to tear it from thy throne, 
 
 And worship only thee. 
 
 So shall my walk be close with God, 
 Calm and serene my frame; 
 
 So purer light shall mark the road 
 That leads me to the Lamb. 
 
34 
 
 HYMN 
 
 Father of mercies, bow thine ear, 
 Attentive to our earnest prayer; 
 We plead for those who plead for thee, 
 Successful pleaders may they be. 
 
 How great their work, how vast their charge 
 Do thou their anxious souls enlarge: 
 Their best acquirements are our gain ; 
 We share the blessings they obtain. 
 
 Clothe, then, with energy divine, 
 Their words, and let those words be thine; 
 To them thy sacred truth reveal, 
 Suppress their fear, inflame their zeal. 
 
 Teach them to sow the precious seed, 
 Teach them thy chosen flock to feed ; 
 Teach them immortal souls to gain, 
 Souls that will well reward their pain. 
 
 Let thronging multitudes around, 
 Hear from their lips the joyful sound ; 
 In humble strains thy grace implore, 
 And feel thy new-creating power. 
 
 Let sinners break their massy chains, 
 Distressed souls forget their pains; 
 Let light through distant realms be spread, 
 And Sion rear her drooping head. 
 
■;* 
 
Hollinger Corp, 
 P H8.5 
 
 N