HC Deb 22 June 1855 vol 139 cc13-4

On the question that the House at its rising should adjourn until Monday,

SIR DE LACY EVANS

said, he wished to take the opportunity of saying a few words in reference to some expressions which had fallen from the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Layard) with regard to certain artillery officers in the Crimea. He took it for granted that the hon. Member had not the slightest intention of reflecting on that distinguished officer General Dacres, who at present commanded the artillery at the seat of war. But as the language of the hon. Gentleman might lead to such an inference, he (Sir De Lacy Evans) begged to say that General Dacres was an officer whom he had occasion to report after three successive actions to the Commander of the Forces for his most distinguished conduct. He had also to add, that after his return to England he had felt it his duty to lay before the Commander in Chief of the army at home a report, in which he had stated that in his humble opinion Colonel Dacres, since made brigadier general, was the most able, the most energetic, and the most competent officer of his arm of the service in the army of the East. There could be no offence in his saying that, as General Dacres was at the present time the superior, the senior, and the commanding officer of the artillery corps in the Crimea.

MR. LAYARD

said, he desired to say a few words by way of explanation, in order to remove any pain which his observations might have caused to more than one gallant officer. The anecdote which he related on the occasion, which had been referred to, was strictly true, and was told to him by very high authority, and the officer to whom he alluded commanded the artillery of the second division. He did not mean to cast any reflection on General Dacres, or that gallant officer Brigadier General Strangways, or Colonel Lake. He believed the reason given for not being able to bring up the guns was, that the artillery of the second division had lost all its horses. It was, therefore, impossible for the officer commanding the artillery to have the guns brought up.