The Blessed Veil

My Dearest,

We have finally made it to Sevastopol. Our ships have anchored in a bay the locals call Kalamita. We have not encountered the enemy yet and the French and us are now disembarking all we have brought for this campaign. We shall march South to the city itself in a few days.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours, Henry.

My Henry,

I hope you keep writing; your letters and Phillip are the only things keeping me from finding a boat to Crimea myself. Our son is doing well, keeping to his studies and helping Mr. Carpenter at his shop. He speaks highly of you, as always.

Everyone here is talking about you and the boys. They all speak as if you are all going off on a great adventure, as if this were more of an expedition than a military campaign. Their enthusiasm does not dilute my fears.

Promise me you’ll keep safe, as much as you can.

Yours always, Elizabeth.

Dearest,

As I write this, we are making preparations to move. We’ve found their main forces around the river Alma. We plan to engage them there before moving onto Sevastopol proper.

I am happy to hear of our boy. Make sure Mr. Carpenter does not fill his head with stories and tales of bravado, like the rest of those fools at home. I would not wish this life for him.

The land here is beautiful Elizabeth, there is a coarseness to the land that gives it character like none I’ve seen before. I wish only I had the words to describe it. Perhaps that is something the boy could learn from Mr. Carpenter at least.

With love.

Henry.

My love,

I will try my best, although it may be difficult. The child sees all the trophies and I’m sure he’s managed to sneak into your study at one point or another. Not to mention the tales your friends tell when they come over for dinner. If that muppet Arthur is there give him a stern talking to, for me.

Love.

Elizabeth.

My love,

It has been some time since your last letter. News has reached us of a battle near the river you mentioned. Please write to me soon.

Elizabeth.

Dearest,

I’m sorry for my silence, it could not be helped. We indeed encountered the Russians and gave them battle. It was hard fought; they were entrenched and expecting our advance. Our commanders ordered an assault, believing us better equipped. I managed to make it halfway to their lines before a shot grazed my leg and I was left unable to continue. The following days a fever took me, from which I am still recovering.

We did manage to push them back. Their main forces have retreated to Sevastopol. We have the city surrounded and will soon begin to bombard it.

Arthur fell in the battle. Please comfort Helena as best you can. Richard and Jones are with me and taking good care.

Write to me soon my love.

Yours.

Henry.

My love,

You cannot imagine my relief upon reading your letter. I had already spent a few nights with little sleep. I have been with Helena, she will spend some time with us. It is dreadful, no one had told her what had happened. In some ways I am grateful I was the one to do it, at the very least it was a friendly voice.

Home remains much the same. Every house is filled with conversations regarding the latest news from you boys. I’ve heard Phillip and his friends want to do some sort of volunteer work for the army, collecting food or other donations for everyone there. I told him you’d be left more tranquil if he kept to his studies.

Yours.

Elizabeth

Dearest,

That is good to hear, you did good. The boy should stay focused, and we should look after Helena as best we can. Tell Phillip that we are well, that we have brought plenty enough to keep us throughout the campaign.

The fever that assailed my last letter has passed. I have rejoined the rest of the company in the trenches that now surround Sevastopol. The day was spent with us covering our ears with whatever we could. Our batteries and the Russian’s spent their time firing on each other in an effort to silence their opposites.

Along our line we saw little damage. Jones took some shrapnel to his face but nothing major.

Henry.

My Elizabeth,

The Russians have moved off their posts and make for our lines.

I love you dearly, I pray my last words to you are not ink.

Love, forever.

Henry.

Dearest,

I am safe.

The enemy tried twice to dislodge us from our lines, only to be met with disappointment. I was left unscathed, Richard and Jones with some minor scrapes but nothing major.

The start of winter weather has slowed down activity. I believe our commanders might be expecting to settle here for a long while. We are beginning to lay more permanent structures for bringing in supplies.

Hope you write soon.

Henry.

My love,

We remain safe and are waiting for your return. Phillip has calmed a bit in his enthusiasm. I believe having Halena around has had that effect. The poor girl; I still believe her to be in shock. She spends her days helping around the house, keeping busy as much as possible. The evenings are a bit rougher.

Do you have anything from Arthur? I’m not sure what it could do, but it may help her through the loss.

Yours, always.

Elizabeth.

Dearest,

Along with this letter I am sending you Arthur’s wedding band, as well as a letter for Helena. We found it crumpled in one of his pockets. He kept her with him always, tell Helena that.

I’m sorry it has taken me long to return to you. The winter has not been kind on us. Storms have cut us out from our lines and sending letters was nigh impossible. Food has been little as of late and disease has been taking as many men as the war itself.

The fields now lay crisscrossed with a cobweb of dugouts and rifle pits. I feel as if I’ve been crouching for months, trying to keep out of sight of the enemy sharp shooters. Jones was hit by one of them near a set of fortifications they call Malakoff. I haven’t seen him in a few days but he was taken to the infirmary.

Your letters and thoughts of home keep me company in this time.

Yours.

Henry.

My love,

I have received Arthur’s belongings. It is too early to tell for certain, but I believe they’ve offered Helena some comfort, as did your words.

I am miles away and if all I can do is give you comfort in memories of home, then I shall. The winter rains here have been hard, but we have warmth to spare. Our son has been hard at work. He has not spent as much time with Mr. Carpenter, but seems to have renewed energy in his studies.

We have heard much of what you’re all going through. Please be careful my love.

Elizabeth.

Love,

Through these few weeks a railway has been laid from our staging ports into our lines. We are finally being fed and well equipped once again.

With new artillery pieces being brought to the front, the past few weeks have been a cacophony of fire and brimstone. I almost feel sorry for the poor buggers on the other side. I feel myself growing tired with each day, as if sleep or warmth give me rest no longer. Every other moment the crack of an explosive or the shot from a rifle will kick me awake.

Jones passed from his injuries not long ago. I regret that I must ask of you this terrible duty once more. Please bring the embroidery to his Anna. I have also sent a letter he wished only be read by her.

I miss the peace of our home.

Henry.

My love,

I have done as you asked. I stayed with Anna for some time, we talked of how you and Jones first met, how hard it was to get you to get along for some time. How your little contests and challenges bred your friendship.

She is a strong woman.

Phillip has been quieter as of late. He told me he has been spending time at the docks to see the men returning from the front. Other than this he spends his days studying. He has been asking me to read your letters, which I partly do.

The boy misses you Henry, when do you think you’ll return?

Yours.

Elizabeth.

Dear Elizabeth,

The surroundings of Sevastopol are fields of ash where none can hide. The talk around the lines is that we are to attack the two main fortifications that hold the city. This is to be done soon.

There is nothing that drives me forward more than the thought of finally returning home to you and Phillip. You are both in my thoughts always.

With love.

Henry.

My love,

It is over. Yesterday the French managed to capture the Malakoff fortifications and soon after we marched into the city. Our own attack was met with little success. Our men are exhausted, I suspect the Russians as well.

The land no longer has any beauty to it. All around I see the burned remains of what manmade or nature was here before we arrived. The air is choked with a persistent ash and smell of gunpowder and decay. I have felt myself no longer caring to remember the faces of those who sit at my fire. So many have come and gone. Of the ones of us that came only Richard and I remain, I’m hesitant to call us unscathed.

Even in my sleep I dream of cannon and rifle fire. I no longer wish to have the words to describe what I saw.

There is nothing more I want than to be with you again. To hold you again. To lift Phillip in my arms. I will see you soon.

Henry.