Date: 4 June 1855
Recipient: William Agnew
Book: Joseph Fenton letter-book, Gernsheim Collection, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, Austin

Head Quarters Monday June 4^th 1855.

Dear Sir,

I have just received a message from M^r Smith post Master at Constantinople to say that he found great difficulty in getting back the Photographs from the Embassy & that he had a [sic] last obliged to write a very peremptory letter to M^r Alison secretary of regulation in order to recover them You will doubtless have received them by this time I am now at Head Quarters taking a few portraits I am yet in want of, Lord Raglans [sic] gave me a sitting this morning & I have obtained a very good likeness of him, Genl Pellisier [sic] with whom I breakfasted this morning is coming the day after tomorrow at 5 in the morning[.] It is impossible to work after 9 or 10 from the intense heat which sends the stoppers flying out of my bottles & spoils every picture[.] I am almost at the end of my materials having only 1 oz of silver left & should be away if it were not for these great guns each of whose portrait has to be fairly hunted down[.] I dont think I shall get Canroberts likeness as he is away at Schorgoun with the part of the Army recently sent out in that direction[.] I go on occassionally that way in the Afternoon In a ride as it is a new spot & surrounded by beautiful scenery & if I can get him to come to head quarters I will, I should today have hunted up Omar Pacha who is here but my horse slipped his halter last night & has taken 6 men to hunt him through the different camps[.] I believe they have caught him[.] I have got Russells likeness[.] The sanitary commissior [sic] have left, As for your question about the name of the picture Gen^l Barnard says you are quite safe in calling it the “Seige of Sebastopol” As there is little doubt that the south side will soon be taken. Pelissier [sic] is thoroughly in earnest & when any attack does not succeed to his mind he sends the same troops to do it over again[.] The expedition to Kertch has been a great blow to the Russians[.] I was with it & every one was astonished at the little defence that was made of so important a point. I took two water coloured sketches of Yenicale

Two days since I dined with Lord Raglan & while at dinner a despatch came from Sir E Lyons (which his Lordship read aloud to us) stating that we had taken or destroyed 240 vessels in the sea of Azoph & other news which you will get by telegraph while I am writing, This morning we have the news that the Russians had abandoned Sonjah Kaleda leaving to us 60 guns & 85 morters[.] Yesterday a strong reconnaisance was made as far as Baidar through a beautiful country – The complete stoppage of the supplies of the Russian Army coming from the sea of Azoph will compell them soon to evacuate the Crimea even if not soon driven out[.] If the attack of Anapa succeeds Sir G Brown expedition will have nothing left to desire[.] Halliwell [sic] is quartermaster General of the reinforcement left here 3 days time for Sir G Browns & I have no doubt that in two days time we shall hear of the attack on Anapa It is said that all the Russian forces in Circassia are concentrating there[.] If true there will be a tough contest there though our men are so keen that there can be little doubt of the result if once they come to close quarters[.] I shall bring the negatives with me as it would not be safe to send them & to get them home injured [sic], even with my own supervision will cause much trouble unless I am lucky enough to get them shipped in a vessel going straight home to England[.] I sent you a packet of portraits some days since probably before leaving I shall send you some more another

Yours Truly.
Roger Fenton