Cover created by Transcriber, using an illustration from the original book, and placed in the Public Domain.

RECOLLECTIONS OF
THIRTY-NINE YEARS IN THE ARMY

SIR CHARLES A. GORDON, K.C.B., Surgeon-General

(From a Photograph by Mr. A. Bassano, Old Bond Street)

Recollections of Thirty-nine
Years in the Army

GWALIOR AND THE BATTLE OF MAHARAJPORE, 1843
THE GOLD COAST OF AFRICA, 1847–48
THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857–58
THE EXPEDITION TO CHINA, 1860–61
THE SIEGE OF PARIS, 1870–71
Etc

BY
SIR CHARLES ALEXANDER GORDON, K.C.B.

“The story of my life,
From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes
That I have passed.”

Othello, Act I, Sc. 3

London
SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO., Limd
PATERNOSTER SQUARE
1898

Butler & Tanner,
The Selwood Printing Works,
Frome, and London.


THIS PERSONAL NARRATIVE
IS INSCRIBED TO
MY WIFE AND OUR CHILDREN


CONTENTS

PAGE
[CHAPTER I]
1841–1842. Gazetted to the Buffs—​Arrive in India1
[CHAPTER II]
1842–1843. In Progress to Join12
[CHAPTER III]
1843. At Allahabad18
[CHAPTER IV]
1843–1844. Campaign in Gwalior24
[CHAPTER V]
1844–1845. Allahabad to England36
[CHAPTER VI]
1845–1846. Home Service46
[CHAPTER VII]
1847–1848. Coast of Guinea—​Barbados—​England55
[CHAPTER VIII]
1848–1851. Ireland74
[CHAPTER IX]
1851–1852. Dublin to Wuzzeerabad80
[CHAPTER X]
1852–1853. Wuzzeerabad86
[CHAPTER XI]
1854–1856. Meean-Meer—​Aberdeen96
[CHAPTER XII]
1857. Aberdeen—​Dinapore—​Outbreak of Sepoy Mutiny106
[CHAPTER XIII]
1857. Early Months of the Mutiny111
[CHAPTER XIV]
1857–1858. The Jounpore Field Force124
[CHAPTER XV]
1858. Capture of Lucknow130
[CHAPTER XVI]
1858. The Azimghur Field Force135
[CHAPTER XVII]
1858–1859. Dinapore—​Plymouth147
[CHAPTER XVIII]
1859–1860. Plymouth—​Devonport154
[CHAPTER XIX]
1860. Devonport—​Hong-Kong160
[CHAPTER XX]
1860. Hong-Kong—​Tientsin166
[CHAPTER XXI]
1860–1861. Tientsin177
[CHAPTER XXII]
1861. Tientsin—​Chefoo—​Nagasaki—​Devonport188
[CHAPTER XXIII]
1862–1864. Devonport—​Calcutta201
[CHAPTER XXIV]
1865–1868. Calcutta—​Portsmouth213
[CHAPTER XXV]
1868–1870. Portsmouth227
[CHAPTER XXVI]
1870. July-September. Franco-Prussian War—​Siege of Paris231
[CHAPTER XXVII]
1870. September. Siege of Paris242
[CHAPTER XXVIII]
1870. October. Siege of Paris248
[CHAPTER XXIX]
1870. November. Siege of Paris259
[CHAPTER XXX]
1870. December. Siege continued265
[CHAPTER XXXI]
1871. January. Siege—​Bombardment—​Capitulation of Paris272
[CHAPTER XXXII]
1871. February. Paris after Capitulation282
[CHAPTER XXXIII]
1871. March. Enemies within Paris289
[CHAPTER XXXIV]
1871–1874. Dover—​Aldershot293
[CHAPTER XXXV]
1874–1875. Burmah297
[CHAPTER XXXVI]
1875–1880. Madras Presidency—​Finale306
[Index]315