Destruction
I've just finished reading 'The Destruction of Lord Raglan' - it was a brilliant book, v. thought provoking. I have to admit that there were times when I expressed, to myself, amazement at the fact I was reading it (esp. the bits about officers having their limbs shot off...).
In summary, Lord Raglan was not a great general, he was a good general but ABOVE ALL he was a 'great Christian Gentleman' who won the admiration and respect of all who knew him (even on the enemy side). he was, I suppose, the victim of a lousy organsational system in the army at the time, and also (and this makes me spit feathers!!!) of a loutish reporter for the 'Times' who managed to have such a great influence as to bring Raglan into disrepute even with the Queen herself. Raglan, being a gentleman, didn't see fit to defend his own reputation but did take pains to defend the reputations of those officers in his staff. The French and Turks, who were our allies in the Crimea, gave trouble in various ways and the disgraceful way that politicians behave in the British parliament in the 21st century was forshadowed in the mid 19th century. In spite of all this, however, it remains that God is just and the justifier of those who love Him. So, let us hold on to our integrity and however badly people choose to paint us, do what is RIGHT looking to the Lord to vindicate us.
The only thing which remains is to find out WHY we were in the Crimea at all!