To the Hon Miss Vickery, Fallbrooke House, nr Winchester

Title: From the Vickery Family Papers
Fandom/Canon: Show the Colours
Author: Sharpie
Word count:
Rating: U
Spoilers: None
Pairing/Characters: John Vickery
Disclaimer:
Author's Note: It is so hard to write a 'complete' correspondence that supposedly takes place over a period of time, yet takes in events that haven't been RP'd yet. This is probably Letter 3, and bumps up all the rest! Correspondence from the papers of the Vickery family, between Captain John Vickery of the 5/60th and members of his family. Dated the 27th June 1809, to The Hon Miss Vickery, Fallbrooke House, nr Winchester, Hampshire, England
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My dearest Sister,

You will wonder at my writing to you again so soon, but really, this latest escapade cannot be kept secret from you. I believe I have told you of the scrapes my men think up, but that is nothing to the scrape that your brother found himself in lately.

I must set the scene for you, so that you will understand the ridiculousness of it. You know that I have my tent, and a very pretty home it is, too, when the baggage can be brought up to us. My man sets it up with the greatest alacrity and ease, and I have every comfort I could desire, with my campaign bed, the neat folding table that my father gave me, and my writing slope (which I use daily and thank you for every time) set upon it.

You may imagine your dearest brother sitting at his table completing his accounts, for you should know that the work of an officer on campaign is never done, when what should occur but the tent is struck most unceremoniously and furniture, equipage, officer and all is bundled up inside and trodden all over by a great heavy creature that I thought must have escaped from the nearest menagerie (several miles away) or the Heavy Dragoons (somewhat closer).

The entrance to my erstwhile home is quite gone and I find that I have to crawl out from underneath the forlorn pile of canvas almost into the arms of Captain my Lord Torrington, who seemed most concerned at the destruction of my neat home.

You may rest assured that I was not much hurt, and the impudent creature – an ox, lately escaped from the butcher – was munching quite contentedly on a handful of hay being fed to it by one of my men, a new recruit to my Company who looks in terror upon even a little dog the size of Tip.

Should my mother wish to read this missive, please reassure her that although I am quite black and blue, I have thankfully suffered no lasting ill-effects. Would you please also remind her that I cannot possibly be expected to have furlough as my duties must take precedence and therefore cannot either meet or marry Miss Price in the foreseeable future?

I must close now, and remain your most affectionate brother,

Jno Vickery