Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne, G.C.B., cdv and signed letter 1868 to Gen Riddell, both engineers.

The carte de visite, by Maull & Fox, 187A Piccadilly, London, shows the elderly field marshal three quarter length wearing dress uniform with medals and orders. An accompanying letter addressed to My dear general Riddell is written in his own hand from 8 Gloucester Gardens, Hyde Park, London, 14 January 1868 thanking the general for a pamphlet on army reform which he had received.           jul28/3

Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne, G.C.B.[1782 – 1871] was a Royal Engineer served during the Napoleonic Wars at the siege of Gibraltar, capture of Alexandria, and the occupation of Rosetta. In the Peninsula he was present at numerous battles and led storming parties. Continuing in active service he went to the U.S.A. in 1814 as commanding Royal Engineer and was at the the attack on New Orleans. After various UK commands he went to the Crimea as chief advisor to Lord Raglan and was involved in the fortifications of Constantinople and the Dardanelles. In 1855 he was appointed a Commandant of the Royal Engineers,

General Charles J Buchanan Riddell, CB. had been commissioned in to the Royal Artillery in 1834 and was to be advanced to Major General in 1866, retiring shortly afterwards. Hart’s Army List notes that he “commanded the Siege Artillery of Outram’s force on the left bank of the Goomtee at the siege and capture of Lucknow in March 1858, also commanded the Artillery of Lugard’s Column at the affair at Tigree, relief of Azimghur, operations in the Jungle, and capture of Jugdespore.