FOOTNOTES:
[268] Forty men under Ensign Travers were left to guard the canal bridge.
[269] ‘Defence of Cawnpore,’ by Lieutenant-Colonel Adye, C.B., p. 19.
[270] General Windham’s Despatch, November 30, 1857.
[271] Letter from General Payn.
[272] Captain Curzon’s notes.
[273] Major Grey (retired), died December 11, 1874.
[274] The Hon. Major Milles, died June 7, 1871.
[275] Lieutenant Pemberton, of the 60th, temporarily attached to the Rifle companies, was also wounded.
[276] Captain F. C. Playne died at Hamilton, Canada West, December 18, 1863.
[277] i.e. a grove or clump.
[278] Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Walpole died July 12, 1876.
[279] General Windham’s Despatch, November 30, 1857.
[280] Lieutenant Armstrong, who was attached to the Riflemen as interpreter, was also wounded in this sortie, being shot through both legs, one of which was amputated.
[281] Lieutenant-Colonel B. F. Alexander, retired.
[282] Colonel Ross’ letters; and General Mansfield’s Despatch, December 10, 1857. He specially mentions Brigadier Walpole, Lieutenant-Colonel Horsford, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fyers.
[283] A different place from that of the same name, where the battle subsequently took place.
[284] Lieutenant Henry D. Baillie, died November 1858, on passage home.
[285] Captain Riversdale R. Glyn, died at Aden, December 11, 1859.
[286] ‘Sepoy War,’ 245.
[287] A kind of pea, which grows very thick and tangled.
[288] Major Sir Henry Wilmot, Bart., received the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct on this occasion. He has retired from the army. Nash and Hawkes also obtained the Cross.
[289] I cannot conclude the mention of Lucknow without noting that Havelock, whose name is indissolubly connected with it, was an old Rifleman. He entered the Army in the 1st Battalion July 20, 1815, and served in it till 1821.
[290] Dooly, i.e. a litter.
[291] Called Nawabgunge-Burrabunkee to distinguish it from other places of the same name.
[292] Major Harvey, Paymaster.
[293] The officers of Hodson’s Horse joined in this charge.
[294] ‘Sepoy War,’ 291.
[295] An exact counterpart, or repetition rather, of what occurred at Sabugal. See [p. 82].
[296] A champion who fights against infidels.
[297] On the evening of the battle 24 men were buried in one grave.
[298] Water-carriers.
[CHAPTER XII.]
The rains having come on, the 2nd Battalion was ordered to remain at Nawabgunge, and proceeded to build huts for shelter on raised platforms; but this was done but slowly, the supply of Coolies for the work being scanty, the Government having engaged them for other work; and before the huts were completed the Battalion was moved, as will be presently narrated.
The 3rd Battalion marched from Nawabgunge on the 21st at three in the morning, and proceeded to Chinhut, where they encamped. Here they had left their sick on the 12th, and it appeared that a fearful panic had occurred on the next day. For some irregular cavalry and camp followers had fled from the field while the battle was raging, and, passing through Chinhut to Lucknow, had spread a report that we had been cut up, and that the enemy were advancing. Some of the sick, terrified by this intelligence, left their beds or their doolies, and madly rushed about with scarce any clothing in the sun. This was attended in some cases with fatal results. However, these alarmists had better have faced the hostile fire on the field of Nawabgunge than the face of the General at Lucknow, who, knowing their reports to be false, ordered them to be soundly flogged.
On this march the Battalion brought with them five of the six guns taken at Nawabgunge; and as their carriages were old, and the road very bad, they much retarded their progress. However, they succeeded in pitching their tents before the sun was powerful.
On the 22nd they marched again at three A.M., and arrived at the Cantonments at Lucknow at nine, where they encamped. Soon after this the rains set in, with a violent thunderstorm which flooded the tents on July 8; and the men were employed to build huts, partly out of the remains of ruined bungalows which had been destroyed by the rebels, in order to shelter them during the rainy season. But no such provision was made for the officers, who continued in tents. Here the Battalion remained for more than three months, during which time the men suffered much from cholera and from their recent exposure to the weather.
On July 22 the 2nd Battalion left Nawabgunge for Fyzabad in order to assist Maun Singh, who was besieged by the rebels. They struck tents and marched eight miles to Dundirah, many men falling out from fatigue. On the next day they proceeded to Turkani, six miles, and on the 24th, intelligence having been received that Maun Singh could not hold out four days longer, they pushed forward to Derriabad, thirteen miles, instead of halting at the end of eight miles, as was intended. This was a most distressing march; the weather was very hot, the thermometer being at 105° in the tents; and numbers of men were taken ill on the way. They halted on the 25th, it having rained all night, but started again at four on the 26th, and encamped at Burehke Serai. On the next day they proceeded to Begumgunge, and on the 28th tents were struck at four in the morning; but in consequence of the heavy rain they did not start till half-past-six. They marched seven miles, and encamped at Samao, on the banks of the Gogra. On the 29th they reached Fyzabad after a march of thirteen miles, only to find that the rebels had left it that morning, and crossed the Gogra; however, the Horse Artillery got up to the bank in time to get a couple of shots at the last boat-loads. The Battalion halted at Fyzabad for a fortnight, during which time, on August 6, the camp was shifted to platforms on account of the rain; but while this was being done a violent storm came on, and the men were drenched before the tents could be pitched.
On the 9th Brigadier Horsford, with a portion of the 7th Hussars, the Madras Fusiliers, a troop of Horse Artillery, and some native troops, proceeded to Sultanpore; and the 2nd Battalion, being ordered to reinforce him, started soon after three on the morning of the 16th. It was a dreadful march. Soon after starting, they lost their way in the dark. The country being flooded from the rains, it was some time before they could find a track; and even on this the water was ankle-deep. Having marched about four miles, they halted for a rest. It came on to pour, and the rest of the way the men were up to their knees, sometimes to their middle, in water. The mud, too, on which they walked was slippery and fetid. Under these circumstances they did not reach their camping-ground at Butturpore, a distance of twelve miles, till one o’clock in the afternoon. Even then their sufferings were not at an end. The Commissariat carts were not up, and it was three o’clock before the drenched Riflemen got their tents pitched and broke their fast. On the 17th they marched to Perownee, nine miles, a repetition of the discomforts of the preceding day, save only that no rain fell. The men frequently fell into holes that had been made for planting trees; a source of merriment to his comrades, but of misery to the unfortunate diver himself. On arrival at Perownee there was considerable difficulty and delay in finding a spot dry enough to pitch a camp. At last some rocky eminences were fixed on, which cropped up above the plain and stood up above the flooded ground. Here the tents were pitched without order; for the men were obliged to place them wherever the scanty ground afforded room.
On the next day they marched to Burtenpore, six miles, with less discomfort, the day being fine and the road tolerably good. Here they halted on the 19th, to allow the Commissariat hackeries, which had fallen two marches behind, to come up. And on the 20th moved on to Sultanpore on the Goomtee, by a very good road. They found the enemy, with a force of about 10,000 men, occupying the opposite bank of the river, here not more than a hundred yards broad. They therefore halted, observing the enemy, and exchanging occasional shots with them, until General Grant came up on the 23rd with reinforcements. On the 25th the Madras Fusiliers began to cross the river without opposition. This occupied some days. And on the 25th the 2nd Battalion was paraded at three o’clock to cross; but the Madras Fusiliers not having completed their passage, the Riflemen were ordered into bungalows for shelter. Later in the evening, however, Sir Hope Grant having received intelligence that the Madras Fusiliers were hard pressed, ordered the Battalion to cross immediately. They were accordingly turned out at eight, and about two hours after began to cross the river, much swollen by the rains, on rafts. Of these there were only two, formed of old rum barrels, each calculated to convey twenty-four or thirty men. However, Colonel Hill got over as quickly as possible with two companies, who reached the opposite bank about midnight; and after a march of about two miles, reached the ridge occupied by the Madras Fusiliers. But it appeared to have been a false alarm, for there was no appearance of danger. The men, therefore, piled arms and bivouacked; and the night passed quietly, except that the rebels kept up a constant fire on the picquets. On the next morning a couple of tents were got over for the companies on the right bank, and the remainder of the Battalion crossed and encamped on the plain. On the 27th at sunset the enemy, who were about two miles or more distant, turned out as if for an attack; but they did not venture within 1,200 yards.
On the 28th the rebels, by giving a gun great elevation, and probably half burying it, contrived to throw a few shot into the Riflemen’s camp; doing no damage to them, however, though they killed an old woman, and knocked over an elephant, by hitting him on the pad, but, except rolling him over, doing him no hurt.
On the 29th they paraded at two in the morning, and marched at three to the cantonments, making a circuit to get well round the enemy; but to their great disappointment the enemy had gone off during the night. The Riflemen waited under topes till the baggage came up, when they pitched their tents, heavy rain coming on just as they did so.
The Battalion halted at Sultanpore for some weeks with little change, such as, for instance, a company (under Lieutenant Sotheby) recrossing the Goomtee to protect the heavy guns.
On October 4 six companies of the 3rd Battalion, under Colonel Glyn, moved into Lucknow. And on the 5th Captain Alexander’s company marched at nine in the evening to join an expedition to Sundeelah (about forty miles from Lucknow), commanded by Brigadier Barker.
This party, consisting of 100 men, was in charge of Lieutenant Andrew Green,[299] and accompanied by Ensign Richards; for Captain Alexander had been ordered to take a detachment up the country.
On arrival at Sundeelah on the 7th, information was received that a large force of rebels were about four miles off at a place called Jamo.
At daybreak on the 8th, therefore, the column marched to Jamo. On approaching the enemy’s position, which was a strong one, a village on high ground and surrounded with dense jungle, fire was opened on them from guns posted in the village and from matchlocks in the jungle. The Riflemen were extended in skirmishing order on the right, and entered the jungle. Lieutenant Green had warned the men not to lose communication with their files; but in the thickness of the jungle three men got separated, and were surrounded and wounded by the enemy. Hearing firing, Lieutenant Green at once made for the place, and was immediately surrounded by six rebels. He shot two with his revolver. As he was in the act of dismounting to attack the others, he was cut down and hacked at while on the ground. Springing to his feet, however, he managed to knock down two more of his assailants with the butt of his revolver, and drawing his sword, he kept the others at bay. While he was about to fall back in search of some of his men, he was attacked by three more of the enemy and a second time cut down. Again getting to his feet, he contrived with his wounded right hand to shoot another man, who was in the act of cutting at him with his tulwar, and whose blow, descending as he fell dead, inflicted a deep wound on Green’s head. Colour-Sergeant Mansel,[300] meantime, had heard the firing, and was making his way to the part of the jungle the sounds seemed to proceed from, when he came on a Rifleman wounded and retiring, who informed him that Lieutenant Green had come to his assistance, and was then hard pressed by several Sepoys. Hurrying on in the direction the man had pointed out, the Sergeant soon was attacked by a rebel, whom he succeeded in shooting; but before he could reload his rifle he was set upon by another man, who cut at him with his tulwar. After a severe struggle Sergeant Mansel knocked him over by a blow with the butt of his rifle, and soon after he came upon Green lying bathed in blood outside the jungle, and with the help of two Riflemen carried him fainting to the rear.
Green received fourteen sabre cuts and one gunshot wound. Four of these wounds were obliged to be sewn up on the ground, and as soon as he was brought back to camp his left arm was amputated below the elbow, and his right thumb was taken off. Faint from loss of blood and from excessive fatigue (for the Riflemen had been under arms from four in the morning till three in the afternoon), it was not thought that he could rally, and for some days his life was despaired of. He was, however, moved to Lucknow on the 21st.
Few men, probably, have ever survived so many and such severe wounds.
Besides Lieutenant Green, three Riflemen were (as I have said) wounded on this day.
It will be anticipated that Brigadier Barker speaks highly of this gallant deed in his despatch of October 9.
‘The party of the Rifle Brigade, under Lieutenant Green’ he says, ‘gallantly rushed up the high position in front of the village, and captured a six-pounder gun.’ ... ‘Among the wounded (and I am sorry to say he is dangerously so) is Lieutenant Green, Rifle Brigade.... This officer had behaved so gallantly all through the day that I most deeply lament this misfortune.’ Ensign Richards also was favourably mentioned in this despatch.
The Adjutant-General of the Army in India, also, in forwarding this despatch to the Secretary of the Government, by the direction of the Commander-in-Chief adds, ‘I am also to request marked attention to the gallantry of Lieutenant Green of the Rifle Brigade, who has been dangerously wounded.’ And the Governor-General in his General Order publishing these despatches, states his ‘great satisfaction’ at the conduct of Lieutenant Green.[301]
On the 12th Captain Alexander, who had returned to Lucknow on the previous day, proceeded to take command of his company, and arrived at Sundeelah on the 13th.
On the 13th this company were engaged in a daur[302] to the fort of Mandaula, which was blown up, and three guns were taken. And on the 18th three more companies, Atherley’s, Stephens’, and H. Newdigate’s, under command of Major Oxenden, marched from Lucknow and joined it at Sandeelah.
On the 21st the Brigade under Brigadier Barker proceeded to attack the fort of Birwah, which was held by Gholab Singh and about 700 rebels. The four companies of the 3rd Battalion, commanded by Captains Alexander and Stephens, and Lieutenants Percival and Cragg, and led by Major Oxenden, accompanied this force. They paraded at two A.M., and soon after marched in the direction of Birwah, and arrived before it about seven in the morning. Brigadier Barker had resolved to attack the west front. A few hundred yards from the fort was a village on a mound, which was intrenched and occupied by the enemy’s picquets. It was surmised that, as in so many previous instances, the rebels would not have awaited the approach of the column. But the assailants were soon undeceived; for a puff of smoke issued from a large circular bamboo jungle on the right, and a round shot flew over the column. The Riflemen were then hurried to the front; and with some native police and an eighteen-pounder and mortars, gradually inclined to the right till they came to the village, from which they drove in the enemy’s picquets, and it and the intrenchments were at once abandoned. They were then halted and ordered to lie down in a wood beyond the village. In front was an impenetrable bamboo jungle, out of which shots came now and then to show where the fort was, but so thick was the mass of bush and thorns that they could not see the walls; though from the reports of the guns they did not seem to be more than 100 yards off.
The mortars were placed in the village, and the gunners were directed to pitch their shells over the Riflemen, and to let them fall near a flag-staff which was supposed to mark the centre of the fort; but the enemy foreseeing this had moved the flag-staff to the further side, so that the shells went over the fort altogether. The fire of the mortars appearing thus to produce no effect, the eighteen-pounder was brought to where the Riflemen were lying down among the trees, in order to endeavour to make a breach in the wall. Lieutenant Percival was sent with twenty men of the company in his charge into the jungle, with orders to move along the ditch, to mount the breastwork of the outer defences, and to clear it of the enemy. This was rapidly effected. They drove the enemy before them, who abandoned the outer works, leaving a gun in their hands, and escaping through the jungle, retired to the fort. In this service two Riflemen were killed.
At this time a shell fell near Major Oxenden, who was on horseback close behind the line of skirmishers, wounding his horse; wounding also Colour-Sergeant Mansel in two places, and knocking over one or two more Riflemen.
The eighteen-pounder continued to be fired point-blank through the jungle; and a lane was speedily cleared by its fire, and the wall of the fort was discovered about seventy yards distant.
As the fire of the mortars appeared to produce no effect, Brigadier Barker ordered the fort to be assaulted about half-past two in the afternoon. Captain Alexander’s company, which had left camp fifty of all ranks, increased by a section of another company, was to act as the storming party; while 100 Riflemen were to keep down the fire from the place. At the same time another regiment (the 88th) was sent round to the opposite face of the fort, to force an entrance by blowing open the gate; while the native police were to occupy a gate on another side, by which it was anticipated the rebels might attempt to escape. Some of the native police who were left with the Riflemen were to carry the scaling ladders. Captain Goodenough, R.A. Brigade Major (who had joined the stormers as a volunteer), and Captain Alexander crept forward through the jungle, close up to the ditch, to reconnoitre it.
All being thus prepared, Alexander’s company advanced through the jungle, the natives carrying the long bamboo ladders, till they came to a space clear of jungle, extending thirty or forty yards from the ditch. The enemy opened a heavy fire from the rampart, by which several Riflemen were shot down, Corporal Rudd being killed by a shot through the head. The native police dropped the ladders and disappeared, and the stormers had to carry them themselves. When they were placed in the ditch, which was here about twelve feet deep,[303] and the Riflemen began to descend them, the rungs gave way, and they had to let themselves down hand over hand. The ladders were then tilted over to the other side to help the stormers to get up the breach, which was very imperfect and almost perpendicular. It seemed to them nearly forty feet to the top of the breach, and they were almost up to their waists in water in the ditch. Richards was the first man at the top of the breach, and Sergeant Maloney closely followed him. Just before they got to the top of the breach a gun exploded over their heads, with which the enemy had no doubt intended to welcome them on arrival, but which was fired a few seconds too soon. When the stormers reached the top of the wall the enemy ran away; and the Riflemen having waited a minute or two there to allow the remainder of the company to join them, moved forward, and found themselves in a kind of broad street with houses on the right-hand side, and the wall of the place on the left. At the further end, near the entrance to a courtyard, were four or five guns with some of the rebels near them. The Riflemen went at them as hard as they could, and took the guns before they could be discharged; and the enemy retreated into the courtyard, meaning probably to escape by the other gates. But at these the 88th and the native police met them and headed them back. Then it was that the hardest fighting took place. The rebels, being thus caught in a trap, fought bravely for a time. Many of the Riflemen were hit. Richards, while fighting hand to hand with a gigantic rebel, whom he succeeded in thrusting through the eye with his sword, was shot from a window, and received more than one wound. One ball traversed the thigh, and passed out at the back of the leg, just below the knee-joint. Sergeant Maloney picked him up and carried him away bathed in blood. This youth, barely eighteen years of age, had shown uncommon valour, both on this occasion and at Jamo a few days before. He died of these wounds at Lucknow on December 8. Captain Alexander was also slightly wounded at this time in the neck by a pistol bullet and in the left shoulder by an arrow.
The enemy broke up, however, and retreated into the different houses; and as these were loopholed and fortified, it was difficult to dislodge them. Some of the houses were broken open; and the Riflemen, taking advantage of whatever cover they could find, picked off the rebels whenever they showed themselves; which they did on the roofs of the houses, to hurl down stones or beams of wood on the assailants. A Rifleman had his sword, which was fixed on his rifle, bent nearly double by the blow of a great log of wood which fell on it. Thus the fighting went on till night. Gholab Singh, it was reported, and some of his followers had retreated to a house in the centre of the fort, from which a smart fire was kept up. This house was set on fire, and about ten o’clock the greater part of it was blown up by the Engineers. Yet Gholab Singh with twelve men escaped by making a rush, jumping from the wall, and getting into the jungle, though troops—not Riflemen—were left to prevent his escape. With this exception the defenders were all killed.
The casualties of the Riflemen were 2 officers (Alexander and Richards) wounded; 1 corporal killed, 2 others wounded, of whom 1 died; Colour-Sergeant Mansel dangerously wounded, arm amputated; 1 bugler severely wounded; 1 private killed, and 24 privates wounded: 3 dangerously and 12 severely. Captain Alexander and some of the men were wounded by barbed arrows. A long procession of doolies carrying these (and other) wounded soon after set out from Sundeelah to Lucknow.
Brigadier Barker, in his despatch dated October 24, 1858, thus speaks of the conduct of the Riflemen:
‘Major Oxenden, commanding Rifle Brigade, deserves the greatest credit for the manner in which he handled his men, and disposed them for the assault of the breach.... Captain Alexander, Rifle Brigade, commanding the storming party, deserves the greatest credit; and Lieutenant Cragg and Ensign Richards, who accompanied him, displayed the greatest courage; the latter, as I have stated, was the first at the top of the breach, but I regret to say was shortly after dangerously wounded.... Assistant-Surgeon Storey, Rifle Brigade [and others], deserve the greatest praise for their attention to the wounded during the night.... The names of the men mentioned in the margin[304] have been brought to my notice by their commanding officers as having particularly distinguished themselves.’
I have now to resume the account of the movements of the 2nd Battalion after their halt of six weeks at Sultanpore. On the morning of October 11 this Battalion struck tents at four in the morning, and recrossing the Goomtee marched with a force under Sir Hope Grant to the north-east, in the direction of Tandah. They encamped that night at Itkowlie after a march of five miles; on the next day they proceeded to Rajahpore, nine miles; on the 13th, starting soon after three, they made a march of fifteen miles on a very hot day, and encamped at Dospore, where they halted till the 18th, when they moved to Akberpore, ten miles. After a halt of two days they resumed their march on the 21st; they encamped that night at Simree, nine miles; moved to Jasingpore, twelve miles, on the next day; and returned to Sultanpore, fourteen miles, on the 23rd.
They did not long remain here; for on the 26th they marched on an expedition towards the fort of Amethie. Starting at four in the morning, they encamped at Doadpore after an eleven miles’ march. On the 27th they started at the same hour; four companies of the Battalion formed the advanced-guard; and as the rebels were expected to fight here, the Battalion formed up before entering the jungle. The enemy had erected two batteries on the road. There was a river running through, with a bridge which the batteries commanded. But before the troops came up, the enemy had deserted this position. The cavalry pursued them; but the country being full of jungle and intersected with ravines, could not come up with them. At the end of a twelve-mile march the Battalion encamped; but struck tents again at three in the afternoon, and marched five miles further to Jugdespore. They did not camp here till nine at night, when it was pitch dark; and the men were much wearied with their long and fatiguing march.
On the 28th, leaving their camp standing, they marched at four in the morning, about six miles into the jungle to a fort called Kataree. On arrival they found it deserted. The fort was blown up, and they took five guns, one brass and four iron. The former had an inscription in Persian, stating that it had belonged to Rajah Buksh Ullah Khan Bahadoor. It had been employed in the Sikh campaign. The iron guns, being unserviceable, were destroyed.
It appeared from the traces on the ground that the rebels had occupied with considerable numbers the positions they had gone over in the late marches. Many of these were strong and commanding; and had the enemy dared to make a stand they might have harassed our people considerably; but their courage had failed them, and all were found unoccupied. The Battalion returned to their camp at Jugdespore about seven in the evening.
On the 29th they marched to Gooreabad, nine miles. A weary march, for the siege guns could not be got forward in consequence of the frequent occurrence of nullahs and aqueducts for irrigating the country. These were broken down by coolies; yet the progress was very slow, and they did not camp at Gooreabad, till after eleven.
On the 30th they started at four in the morning; and it was intended to make a march of seventeen miles. But from the same difficulties in moving the heavy guns as occurred the day before, the camp was pitched at Itterowah, after marching nine miles, which it took six hours to accomplish.
On the 31st the Battalion marched to Ettyah, eight miles, and halted there for some days.
On November 9 they marched at four o’clock in the morning. The country being cultivated there was great difficulty in getting the siege guns forward, and the treasure chest broke down. Thus hindered, it took the Battalion some thirteen hours to make a march of eighteen miles; and they did not encamp, about a mile and a half from the fort of Amethie, till five in the evening. Here they formed a junction with the Commander-in-Chief’s army, which was encamped about five miles from them, on the north-east of the fort; while General Wetherall’s force was on the south-west. The Riflemen expected to assault the fort on the morrow. But when that morrow came, Loll Madhoo, the Rajah of Amethie, came into camp and capitulated, declaring that he had no power over his people, and that he had been compelled, in order to save his own life, to fire on the English troops the day before.
But though the Rajah had himself surrendered, no doubt to secure his personal safety, the occupants of the fort evacuated it in the night, and disappeared through the jungle. Wherefore on the 11th the Battalion received an order to start in pursuit; and marched at three o’clock in the afternoon through very dusty roads nine miles to Gowriegunge, and did not reach their camping-ground till seven o’clock in the evening. On the 12th they proceeded to Ettyah, nine miles.
On the 13th, starting at six in the morning, they marched twelve miles to Pursaidepore, near Salone, where they arrived at twelve, having on the march crossed the river Sie. At eight o’clock at night they received a sudden order to move their camp further; and accordingly on the 14th, at five in the morning, marched four miles, and arriving at seven pitched their camp at Secrian, near the entrance of the jungle, and furnished strong outlying picquets.
On the next day, starting early in the morning, they marched fourteen miles by a very bad road and through clouds of dust to Shunkerpore. This was a stronghold of Beni Madhoo, and it was hoped that by concentrating the columns on it, he might be caught. But however there was a fresh disappointment. In the dark hours of the morning he managed to evade the picquets, and to escape with his followers, guns and baggage. As soon as his flight was discovered on the morning of the 16th, the Battalion received a sudden order to march in pursuit, and starting at seven o’clock proceeded to Roy Bareilly, where they pitched camp about two in the afternoon.
On the 17th they made a march of sixteen miles to Mohungunge, starting at six and not arriving till about two, several long halts having been made for guns to come up, the road leading through much thick jungle.
On the 18th they made a long and tedious march of fourteen miles to Jugdespore, where they halted for four days. On the 20th they received an order to go on a reconnaissance, leaving their tents standing, and paraded for that purpose; but the order was countermanded.
On the 23rd they resumed their movements; and starting at six in the morning arrived at Inhona, after a short and easy march of seven miles, at a little after nine.
On the 24th the left wing of the Battalion, under Major Warren, received during the night orders to move (with part of the 7th Hussars and some guns) to the assistance of Colonel Galwey’s column. That officer, it appeared, had come to some fort which had no guns; but on its occupants being called on to surrender they had refused, and had fired on and killed an Engineer officer and some men. The Riflemen marched at six in the morning to Koilee, twelve miles, but on arrival there found that the garrison of the fort had during the night crossed the Goomtee and disappeared. This wing, therefore, after a day’s halt at Koilee, marched on the 26th to Bekta, seven miles; and on the 27th, after a short march of six miles, rejoined Head-quarters at Hydergurh.
These had in the meanwhile had an encounter with the enemy. For Brigadier Horsford had, before starting for Koilee, directed Colonel Hill to march towards Lucknow, taking with him the other wing of the Hussars and some Horse Artillery, and to attack a force of rebels supposed to be about two marches in that direction; and to protect the baggage of the entire column.
Colonel Hill came up with the rebels on the 26th near Hydergurh. The Riflemen were first engaged, and as the enemy were making a running fight of it, the cavalry and Artillery galloped up through the skirmishers, and did considerable execution. The Riflemen took a gun; and the Hussars under Sir William Russell pursued the Sepoys and cut them up. The Riflemen then encamped at Hydergurh; and halted there till December 2, when they marched sixteen miles to Monshegunge, and encamped there for the night. And starting on the following morning at five o’clock, arrived at the Dilkoosha, Lucknow, after a fourteen-mile march, at half-past nine.
On December 5 the 2nd Battalion, forming part of a force under the command of Lord Clyde, started at six in the morning from Lucknow, and made a march of twenty miles, arriving at Newabgunge at about three or four in the afternoon, when the men got their breakfasts.
On the 6th they struck tents at five, and paraded at six, but did not get off till seven, when, making a very long march of twenty-two miles, they proceeded to Gunnespore, Byram Ghât, which they reached about three. The men were very tired and hungry, for they had had nothing to eat till about five, when they got their breakfast. On the way intelligence was received that the rebels were crossing the river. The cavalry and Horse Artillery pushed forward; and sixteen Riflemen and an officer (Lieutenant Sotheby[305]) were mounted on the limbers. They went as hard as they could go; but when they came to the Ghât they found the rebels had been too quick for them, and had crossed the river. However, the Riflemen got a few shots at them. The 7th Hussars after this chase were much astonished to hear the words, ‘The Rifles to the front;’ for they fancied the whole Battalion was coming up, and could not understand how they had kept up with such a pace as the Hussars and guns had been going. However, only Sotheby and his sixteen Riflemen then answered this call. For it had been a joke with these Hussars when they were an advanced guard with the Riflemen (and they had been on many): on the part of the troopers, ‘that they could not get rid of these little fellows;’ on the part of the Riflemen, that they ‘marched the horsemen down,’ and ‘could not make them march fast enough.’
On the 7th some companies of the Battalion were suddenly paraded at half-past one, and with the 7th Hussars went five miles up the river in search of rebels; but returned unsuccessful at seven in the evening.
The great object was now to cross the Gogra; and as there was a difficulty in forming a boat-bridge at Byram Ghât, Lord Clyde determined to proceed to Fyzabad where a bridge already existed. Accordingly on the 8th the Battalion, starting at six in the morning, made a march of twenty miles to Derriabad, which they reached at three in the afternoon. On the next day they marched seventeen miles to Begumgunge, and on the 10th another long march of nineteen miles to Fyzabad. In these long marches few Riflemen, if any, fell out, though the marches lasted from six in the morning till two or three in the afternoon, the hottest hours of the day.
On the 11th the Battalion crossed the Gogra by a bridge of boats. The river is here about 600 yards broad, having a great expanse of sand on each side. The turn of the Battalion to cross came at four in the afternoon, and they afterwards marched about six miles on the other side to Newabgunge, where they encamped about six. On the 12th, starting at six in the morning, they arrived at Jamkapoorah at noon, and on the next day marched to Dheras, fifteen miles. On the 14th they proceeded to Secrora, another march of fifteen miles, and on the day following to Kurrunpore, eleven miles. Mr. Russell, the ‘Times’ correspondent, who was accompanying the Commander-in-Chief’s column, thus writes of the Battalion under this date: ‘The Rifle Brigade who are with us are as hard as nails; faces tanned brown, and muscles hardened into whipcord; and to see them step over the ground with their officers marching beside them is a very fine sight for those who have an eye for real first-rate soldiers. Lord Clyde is greatly pleased with the officers because they do not ride on ponies, as many officers of other regiments are accustomed to do.’[306]
On the 16th, though tents were struck at five in the morning, the Battalion did not march in consequence of rain till eleven, when they moved to Khariat, where, after a march of ten miles, they encamped at three.
On the next day they marched in heavy and constant rain to Baraitch, where camp was pitched in a very beautiful spot at eleven in the forenoon. Here they halted for five days: the first halt they had had since they left Lucknow, nearly a fortnight before; and very acceptable it was to the men, though not without its discomforts. For the night after their arrival was, as the day of their march had been, one of incessant rain. And tents and everything men and officers had on or possessed were saturated with wet. The morning revealed a swamp, rather than a camp; many of the tents stood in pools of water in which the men waded ankle-deep. A dense fog, too, came down from the hills, and took away all hope of drying their clothes. Whether for this reason, or on account of the increasing cold which now began to be severely felt, the Riflemen resumed their cloth clothing on the next day. However, the remaining days of their halt at Baraitch were fine.
On the 23rd they again started at six in the morning; but soon after leaving Baraitch they were halted, and their route altered. They then made a march of fifteen miles, in the course of which they forded the river, and arrived at Jeta at two.
On the 24th the order was to march as usual in the morning; but as the men turned out rain came on, and the ‘halt’ was sounded, luckily before the tents were struck. Their halt here gave them an opportunity of making their arrangements for keeping Christmas on the morrow. But these were very near being useless; for Lord Clyde issued an order that the soldiers were to have their dinners at one, and march at two. Great was the consternation; and fears of all the good things they had provided being unconsumed or eaten half-raw pervaded everyone. However, before the dreaded hour, staff officers, who had been sent out to observe the roads, reported that they were in too bad a state from recent rains for the troops to move. The Commander-in-Chief, therefore, unwillingly postponed his intended march. Serenity was restored to hearts which knew no fear save that of losing the one good dinner long hoped for; and the day was spent happily, the more so as it was fine.
But after this recreation, hard work soon began again. The Battalion marched at six in the morning of the 26th. It was very foggy, but cleared up about eight. After marching some twelve miles, they were halted to allow them to eat their breakfast. Here they stayed about two hours, resuming their advance at half-past one. Two companies of the Battalion, under Captain Fremantle, with cavalry, formed the advanced guard.
On their arrival near a jungle Sir William Russell, who commanded the advance, ordered these two companies to the front, and desired them to extend at the entrance of the jungle. They did so, and advanced, and about four in the afternoon found the enemy in a tope of trees, who opened upon them with two guns. The advanced companies then, with the cavalry, Horse Artillery, and five other companies of the Battalion, formed line and advanced. The cavalry and Horse Artillery soon distanced the Riflemen; and while the former attacked the flank of the enemy, the Riflemen brought their right shoulders forward, and went on at the double. They pursued the enemy, who did not make any stand, for five or six miles. The Battalion encamped at Churdah about eight o’clock, the men being very weary; for they had marched about twenty-one miles, and the latter part of it in pursuit of the rebels had been got over at a very quick pace. The Riflemen killed three Sepoys in this chase, and five guns were taken.
On the 27th it was understood that the Battalion was to halt; but at nine o’clock they received orders to march in an hour. They started, therefore, about ten, and after a march of about six miles, came to a thick jungle, and were ordered to assault the fort of Mejidia. The attack was confided to the Riflemen. Brigadier Horsford’s orders to Colonel Hill were to advance to within 400 yards of the fort: then to open fire on the embrasures. Mortars and heavy guns were ordered to the front, and cavalry to the flanks. This took some time. Then the Battalion advanced to the front face; two companies skirmishing; two supporting them; two moved to the left; the remainder in support. A sharp fire was opened, and was returned for some time by a fire of grape from the fort. The Riflemen continued their fire for about two hours, picking off the gunners at the embrasures. After that time the fire from the place slackened; and Colonel Hill, having solicited and obtained permission to advance, the Battalion moved forward. A difficult thorny hedge interposed, which was soon cut down by the swords of the Riflemen, and entrance was effected into the fort, which was found to be evacuated. The Battalion took possession of the stores and muniments of war, powder, shot, etc., which were found there; and encamped in the evening after a very hard day’s work. One sergeant and 6 rank and file were wounded, of whom one died on the next day.
On the 28th they were engaged in destroying the fort, and securing the stores of grain, etc., found in it. In the course of the day the Riflemen discovered two guns hidden in the jungle within the fort.
On the 29th the first orders were still to halt; but about eleven they received orders to march, and did so about noon, back to Nanparah, ten miles, but by a route different from that by which they had come on the 26th.
Here it was understood that they were to halt for three days. And accordingly on the 30th many officers of the Battalion went out shooting, the band played at five, and all things denoted a halt; when a sudden order was issued that the Battalion was to march at eight in the evening. They did so; half the men were carried on elephants, five on each, and half marched, turn about, ride and tie. The motion of the elephants was strange to the men; some were made sick by the motion, and some tumbled off; but gradually they settled down. The night was pitch dark, and those marching occasionally fell into holes and water-courses, undistinguishable in the darkness. So they moved on till four in the morning; when, it being ascertained that if they continued their march they would reach the enemy’s position at Bankee (whither they were bound) before daylight, a halt was ordered. And they remained tormented by the cold and heavy dew; for no fires were allowed, for fear of alarming the enemy whom Lord Clyde hoped to surprise. This halt was probably continued too long. At any rate, a march of five miles remained to be got over; and the troops did not reach the enemy’s position till eight. The cavalry (Carabiniers) were ordered to advance, and soon found themselves in front of a thick jungle occupied by the enemy’s skirmishers and guns; to whose fire they offered an easy mark, without their being able to return it or to dislodge them. They were therefore withdrawn; and the Riflemen were hurried to the front, and ordered to skirmish through the jungle. Three companies were extended under the command of Major Warren, Captain Singer and Lieutenant Lane,[307] accompanied and directed by Colonel Hill, who dismounting accompanied the centre company, Lieutenant Lane’s. On entering the wood they found a cart track, along which the enemy were endeavouring to withdraw a gun. The Riflemen pushed on at the double along this track, occasionally getting a glimpse of the gun in their front, while the enemy’s skirmishers were retiring rapidly before them, and turning off into the jungle. Thus it happened that the advance of the Riflemen in the cart track was very rapid, while that of those in the jungle on each side of it was much slower, as they could not force their way through the tangled wood nearly so fast. The track was about a mile in length to the point where it reached the end of the jungle. By the time the Riflemen got there the gun had quite distanced them. On arriving at the end of this belt of jungle the whole of the enemy’s force was seen on an undulating plain beyond, some few hundred paces distant.
The Riflemen, hurrying along the track in pursuit of the retreating gun, had arrived at the edge of the jungle completely out of breath; and Colonel Hill, on counting them, found himself accompanied by only twenty men, with Lieutenant Lane and a Colour-Sergeant (Piper).[308] As it was impossible to know where the remaining skirmishers and the supports were at the moment, it was necessary to act with caution; and the small party were ordered to remain hidden at the edge of the jungle, while the enemy’s movements were observed. They seemed to be contemplating a retreat. At this time three officers rode up from the rear; and one of them, Sir Henry Norman, brought orders from Lord Clyde for the Riflemen to retire. Colonel Hill pointed out to him that the jungle was merely a belt; that if Lord Clyde was aware of this he would probably wish to push on; and that as the jungle was cleared, cavalry could now advance and act on the plain. The staff officers accordingly galloped off, and soon afterwards a squadron of the 7th Hussars came up. Meanwhile Major Warren’s and Captain Singer’s companies had made their way through the jungle, and joined their comrades at the edge of it. Sir William Mansfield soon came up, and by his permission Colonel Hill advanced with two companies, Warren’s and Lane’s, in skirmishing order. While the rest of the Battalion, which had passed through the jungle, were halted on the bank of a small but deep nullah, or river, which intersected the plain, successive squadrons of the 7th passed on their right flank; and though checked for a moment by the nullah, and exposed to the fire of a battery of six guns, which the enemy had placed on the opposite bank of the Raptee, charged the enemy’s cavalry who were making for the ford of the Raptee, caught them on the bank, and engaged them in the river. The Riflemen, who were in an excellent position to observe this charge across the plain, saw with admiration this gallant feat of arms performed by their comrades of the 7th. Soon after this the Riflemen retired through the jungle, and pitched their camp about four o’clock two miles and a half from the scene of the action. But the men did not get settled till the evening, and it was eight o’clock before they got food. They had been under arms from eight o’clock the night before; had marched twenty-nine miles—most of it night marching—from Nanparah, and two and a half back to Bankee; and had been engaged from an early hour in the day.
In this affair the 2nd Battalion had one man wounded.
I have now to return to the 3rd Battalion, which we left at Lucknow, where they were stationed from the time of the battle of Nawabgunge. The Head-quarters left Lucknow at four o’clock on the afternoon of November 22, four companies being still with Major Oxenden at Sundeelah. They marched to the Alumbagh, and halted there while the men had their tea and the officers their dinners. They started again about nine, and proceeded to Bunnee bridge, which they crossed, and then halted again from about 2.30 to 5.30 A.M. They then proceeded to Nawabgunge on the Cawnpore road, which they reached about nine and encamped. The object of this move was to intercept Beni Madhoo, who was said to be at the head of a very large force of rebels. Here they halted for a couple of days; and on the 26th they marched in light order and leaving their camp standing, to Busserutgunge. Soon after they had started, however, a note came in from Colonel Glyn, who was in charge of a party some twenty miles distant, conveying information of the supposed whereabouts of Beni Madhoo. This was opened by the Quarter-master, who was in charge of the camp, who despatched a messenger with it to Colonel Macdonell. The Battalion returned to Nawabgunge on the morning of the 27th, not having seen anything of Beni Madhoo or his army. On the 28th they marched to Bunteera, thirteen miles; and on the next day to the Alumbagh, where they encamped. But in the afternoon they received orders to start again and march into the Cantonments at Lucknow, which they did not reach till eight o’clock at night, when they had to put up their tents in the dark. Their rest here was not long; for at four the next morning they received an order to march and join the Head-quarter division, a large force of the enemy being supposed to be near. They moved, therefore, to Buxee-ke-talou, and halted there on December 1. On that night, the detachment under Colonel Glyn, consisting of three companies, rejoined the Battalion, and the whole marched at daybreak the next morning for the fort of Oomria. They kept the road for some time, and then struck across country through thick jungle. On approaching the fort, which on account of the density of the wood surrounding it they could not see, they were attacked, but soon drove their assailants back. They then halted till the baggage came up. Later in the day, the 5th Fusiliers, supported by the Riflemen, approached the place, but were met by heavy fire from two of its faces, which caused some loss. As the men had had a long march and it was late in the day, they were withdrawn; and arrangements were made to storm the fort on the next day. Camp was therefore pitched, but unfortunately within range of the guns of the fort. This made it uncomfortable, and some damage was done; but it was too late to move camp, and the men were tired. So they slept soundly, though an occasional shot fell among the tents. In the morning the usual discovery was made: the enemy had disappeared in the night, leaving behind him ammunition and most of his property. This fort had evidently been a residence of the Rajah; for many articles of women’s furniture and belongings were found in some of the apartments: the property, no doubt, of some of his wives. It was as well that the Rajah and his troops had preferred discretion to valour; for the works were very strong, one within the other, and with two deep ditches. The loss, therefore, must have been considerable if it had been defended with any tenacity.
The Riflemen halted on the 4th and 5th, and were engaged in demolishing the fort and blowing up the mud walls round some fortified villages near it. At one of these a gun was found concealed.
On the 6th they marched to Futtehpore, and just before their arrival there had a skirmish with some rebels, who appeared to be a rear-guard protecting a gun which had passed some time previously, and the tracks of which were plainly visible. It was an eighteen-mile march; and the skirmish at the end of it made the men weary enough. They did not reach their camping-ground, in a field of tall dâl, till after dark, and did not get their dinners till late at night. On the 7th they marched to Betwa, where was a strong fort which they found unoccupied, the enemy having evacuated it in the morning. Their fires were still burning when the Riflemen reached it in the afternoon. It was as usual surrounded by thick jungle. They halted on the 8th and 9th to demolish this fort.
On the 10th they marched sixteen miles to Nawabgunge on the Fyzabad road, the battle-field of June 13. In this march they passed several small forts and intrenchments, some of which had evidently been but recently evacuated; and some had been strengthened and repaired at the expense of much labour by those who had not the courage to defend them.
On the 11th they made a march of sixteen miles towards Derriabad, which they passed through on the following day, and after a dusty march of eighteen miles, halted for the night at Burehke Serai.
On the 13th they reached Mobaruckgunge on the Gogra at one in the afternoon, after a hot, dusty and fatiguing march of fifteen miles. For though the nights were cold, the mid-day sun was very hot.
On the 14th they marched to Fyzabad, and turning to the left before they entered that town, encamped on the bank of the river near a large mud fort.
On the next day they crossed the Gogra by the bridge of boats, as their comrades of the 2nd Battalion had done four days before; both forming part of the army assembled under Lord Clyde, which was to drive the enemy into a corner, from which it was hoped if Jung Bahadoor, the Chief Minister of Nepaul, stood true to us, he could not escape, and so to terminate the war. After passing the river and marching three miles, they forded a river about three feet deep. This and its sandy banks much retarded the baggage, which also had been delayed by the obstinacy of the elephants, who would not venture on the bridge, and were made to swim the river under the lead or guidance of an old elephant. It was late, therefore, before their baggage came up and they encamped at Wuzeergunge.
On the 16th they made another long march to Gonda, where they encamped near some ruined bungalows, said to have been once occupied by the officers of a native regiment, who were murdered by their men.
Here they remained till after the close of the year without any incident of importance, save that two companies (Major Bourchier’s and Captain Windham’s) went out on a daur on the 21st and returned on the 23rd.
On January 3, 1859, the 2nd Battalion shifted camp to Purainee, about a mile from Bankee.
On the 6th they marched at seven in the morning to the bank of the Raptee, and encamped at Sudheeria Ghât[309] about ten.
On the 8th Lord Clyde and the greater part of the force quitted the frontier; leaving the 2nd Battalion, the 7th Hussars, and some native troops, under Brigadier Horsford, to watch the fords of the Raptee.
On the 12th the Battalion shifted camp to Ballapore, on the banks of a tributary of the Raptee; and at eleven at night three companies, Captains R. Glyn’s, Blackett’s and Dillon’s, marched, under the command of Major Vaughan, of the 5th Punjaub Regiment, and crossing the Raptee, proceeded about sixteen miles, when they came on the rebels and killed twenty-five out of about thirty. They returned to camp on the 14th.
On the 26th they again shifted camp close to the Raptee.
At last, on February 8, they received authority to cross the frontier into Nepaul, Jung Bahadoor having given consent to their entering that territory. On the 9th, therefore, they marched at five in the morning and crossed the Raptee. They then moved through about five miles of very dense jungle with very large trees, and passed a mark like a mile-stone, which denoted the boundary of Nepaul. They then went round the spur of the mountains, and debouched on a large plain. They went on some miles farther, when the Brigadier ordered Colonel Hill, with a wing of the Battalion and some native troops, to recross to the right bank of the Raptee, where, at a crossing called Sidka Ghât, the enemy were reported to be in force, with fifteen guns in position.
This force was told off: two companies to proceed along the river’s bank; two under Major Warren to press through the jungle on the left, and to endeavour to intercept the enemy or to fall on their right flank; and the native troops under Major Vaughan to act in a similar manner, but on ground farther removed from the river.
The companies near the river extended in skirmishing order, the right file resting on the river’s bank. After advancing some distance they found themselves in front of a hill, which they were obliged to file round along the water’s edge. This was no easy work, for the ground was very difficult, and interspersed with rocks and great boulders. As they were thus proceeding, on reaching a bend of the river they found themselves in front of the guns of the enemy, who were in a strong position on some rising ground. These guns immediately opened on them with grape, but did little mischief, as the fire flew over their heads, wounding one man only. The Riflemen moved rapidly forward, and as soon as they were clear of the rocks formed and proceeded across the shingle, keeping up a smart fire which did much execution.
But the rebel gunners stood by their guns till the Riflemen were close upon them. Then they bolted and escaped into the jungle, giving the slip to Major Vaughan, whose force had been sent round to intercept them. They left fourteen guns and a mortar in the hands of Hill’s force.
The other wing, with Brigadier Horsford, having given the attacking party twenty minutes’ start, moved on along the plain, keeping the Raptee on the left, till about three in the afternoon, when they entered a dense forest. The ground became hilly and the road bad. At half-past three they made another halt of twenty minutes, and were just falling in when they heard guns open in the front. They pushed forward, and soon came to a very steep hill, which they ran down, and found themselves on the bank of the river, and saw the skirmishers of the other wing entering the jungle on the opposite bank. They were ordered to halt; and after their fight the other wing recrossed the Raptee and joined them, and they then marched to camp, which they found pitched about four miles off, and which they did not reach till seven at night, after one of the hardest day’s work they had ever had. For they had passed through dense and difficult jungle; had scrambled over rough rocks, and had moved over shingly and fatiguing ground; besides marching not less than twenty miles. A non-commissioned officer (Sergeant Braun) was very nearly drowned in crossing the Raptee. He fell twice, but one of the men on the right bank rescued him.
They remained in this camp till the 12th, when it was shifted to the tributary of the Raptee, near a jungle which seemed to be interminable. The rain was very heavy, and the camp-ground became a perfect swamp.
In his despatch reporting this action, Horsford favourably mentions Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, Major Dillon and Lieutenant Fryer.
On the 14th, very sudden orders were received at eleven P.M. for three companies, Captain Fremantle’s, one under the command of Lieutenant Sotheby, and another, to start on an expedition under command of Major Ramsay of the Kumaon Battalion. These companies accordingly paraded at half-past three in the morning; but owing to a delay in the arrival of elephants did not move off till half-past four. They crossed the Raptee five times, and as it was deep and rapid, the men for the purpose of crossing were mounted on elephants. They then marched forward; and at about six arrived at the edge of the jungle and formed up. They went on at a very brisk pace till half-past nine, when they halted for twenty minutes, sending on a spy to bring word if he could see anything of the enemy. Starting again, they marched through a gorge in the hill, and by the side and bed of a mountain stream, till half-past eleven; when, it being suspected that they had missed their way, a Goorka was despatched, who soon returned with the intelligence that they were on a wrong track. They therefore retraced their steps, and soon meeting the spy, were disappointed at hearing from him that the enemy had departed. At one o’clock they came up to the ground they had occupied, and found the ashes of their fires still smouldering. Here the Riflemen bivouacked, no tents having been taken with this detachment; but their rations did not come up till four o’clock. They had marched about sixteen miles over bad ground at a very rapid pace, and were much wearied.
On the 16th they returned to the camp of the Head-quarters, marching at half-past six, and arriving at one.
On the 17th the Battalion, starting at six in the morning, marched back to Sudheeria Ghât, where they camped about half-past eleven.
On the 21st the whole Battalion turned out early to take leave of their friends and comrades of the 7th Hussars, who had received the route for Umballa. They had been together for twelve months, and fought together in many brilliant affairs, and undergone together many weary days. Officers and men felt great regret at this parting; for a feeling had grown up between them of such comradeship as is not usual between separate corps.
On the 26th the Battalion marched to a place about three miles on the other side of Bankee, and encamped there; the whole march being about eight miles. On the next day, Brigadier Horsford, under whom they had so long served, started with his Staff for Gonda, to take command of the troops there, and the command of those on the Raptee devolved on Colonel Hill.
On the 28th the Battalion marched to Nanparah, fourteen miles, the country through which they passed being under water from daily rain. For the next few days this rain was so heavy, accompanied often by lightning and thunder, that though daily orders were given to march, they were as regularly countermanded. The camping-ground became first a swamp, then a perfect lake. At last, on March 6, they marched at ten in the forenoon, and arrived at their old camping-ground at Jeta at two in the afternoon. On the next day they proceeded to Baraitch, arriving there at half-past two in the afternoon. The rivers and nullahs, swollen by the rains, were up to a short man’s hips.
They remained at Baraitch till the 28th, when they shifted camp; but the ground chosen being found to be infested with reptiles, they were moved back on the 30th to nearly their old ground.
On April 3 an order was received from Brigadier Horsford for two companies, with some native troops and guns, to proceed to Bankee to watch the ford there, and defend the line of the Raptee. Captain Singer and Lieutenant Nicholl went on this duty.
On the 4th two more companies were ordered to the Raptee; and at half-past four on the morning of the 5th Major Warren’s and Captain R. Glyn’s companies started, and after marching fourteen miles, halted to get something to eat. After which, marching about ten miles farther, they arrived at Bhinga Ghât on the Raptee, their destination. On the 6th they halted there, throwing out strong picquets. On the next day these companies moved back to a tope on the Baraitch road; and on the 8th they started on a reconnaissance at half-past eight, and marched about eight miles. No two villages which they passed through told the same tale. In one the inhabitants had seen the budmashes[310] in thousands; in the next they vowed that not one had been seen for six months. The companies got back to their camp at half-past three in the afternoon, having marched about sixteen miles in the heat of the day.
These companies halted during the 9th and 10th, and marched back to Baraitch and joined Head-quarters on the 11th.
In the meantime the remainder of the Battalion, with the exception of Captain Fremantle’s company which was left at Baraitch, marched at five P.M. under Colonel Hill; and after marching sixteen miles towards Rahdee, found that the enemy, whom they expected to find there, had fled. They therefore encamped about three A.M. And on the next day marched back at six in the evening to Baraitch, where they arrived the following morning at five. The men were very much fatigued, having had two nights’ marching, and having been unable to sleep by day on account of the heat, the thermometer standing at 102°.
At midnight on the 8th-9th Captain Fremantle with his company, 2 Horse Artillery guns, 80 Punjaub rifles, and 150 native police, marched to join a force under Captain Cleveland, 98th Regiment, at Akouna. Halting every hour for ten minutes to rest the men, this force arrived at Akouna, and encamped in a tope at nine in the morning.
On the next day this detachment marched at half-past nine in the morning, some of the men being on gun-waggons and some on elephants, and arrived at Khagupore at half-past three. And on the following morning marched at six to Dahnapore, where they arrived at half-past eleven.
On the 12th they moved to Ramwapore, about five miles distant, and arrived there at eight in the morning.
In the afternoon reports came in that the rebels were encamped about three miles off, and would probably remain there during the night. Accordingly, Fremantle marched his detachment at three P.M., leaving his camp standing. After advancing for some time without seeing anything of rebels, they came on a picquet of Hodson’s Horse, who were marching westward, and who reported that rebels were close at hand. It was then about six. They pushed on, and Captain Cleveland directed Fremantle to take his company, the guns, and some native horsemen round a jungle, and attack the rear of the enemy. After marching about a mile, they turned off the road into the jungle; and after about three quarters of a mile emerged into a kind of plain, though surrounded with jungle on all sides. Here the native guide said he could see a rebel vedette. Fremantle accordingly ordered the Punjaub men to form company and advance; and they had scarcely done so when a volley was poured into them at about forty yards. It was now half-past six, and nearly dark. The native police, who were leading, fled at the first fire, carrying away in their flight a section of the Punjaub men. The remainder of these sat down on the ground and fired at the enemy. Yet Fremantle could neither induce them to face the hill and attack the rebels, nor yet to clear off to the flank, and allow the guns and the Riflemen to act. At last he succeeded in getting them off to a flank; and then the guns opening with grape, and the Riflemen pouring in a steady fire, the flashes from the bushes and the hill in front soon ceased. Advancing up the hill, they found the camp of the rebels, their fires burning, and their bedding and grass for their horses unmoved; but not a man was there. This little affair lasted exactly half-an-hour. One Rifleman was severely wounded. Fremantle then went round the jungle; and, regaining the Fyzabad road, rejoined the main body under Captain Cleveland at nine. And the Riflemen reached their camp at half-past eleven, much fatigued by their marches and their fight.
On the 13th they halted, and on the next day marched back to Khagupore, and on the day following to Akouna, where they halted during the 16th. On the 17th this company marched to take up a position to cover the fords of the Raptee at Gunespore. Here they remained till the 22nd; when, being relieved by Sotheby’s company, which had started from Baraitch the day before, they marched at 2.30 in the morning of the 23rd; and encamping during that day at a village, resumed their march at three o’clock the following morning, and rejoined the Battalion soon after seven on the 24th.
During this time, however, other expeditions had taken place. On the 9th one company, under Lieutenant Eccles, had marched about eighteen miles towards Nanparah, but returned on the 11th.
On the 20th Colonel Hill, having received Brigadier Horsford’s orders to meet him at Nanparah, proceeded thither with three companies of the Battalion. The object was to clear the Jugdespore jungles of a number of rebels who had taken refuge there.
Accordingly, these three companies started from Baraitch in the afternoon of that day, and marched about seven miles. And on the 21st, marching early, they reached Nanparah, after a very long march, and found the Brigadier awaiting them. On the next day they started soon after four, and marched sixteen miles; and on the 23rd made a further march of twelve miles to Hureeha, in the course of which they crossed the Surjoo river, and encamped on its banks.
On the 24th (Easter Sunday) they started soon after two in the morning, and made a march of eighteen miles, nearly half of it through thick jungle; and as the heat was now oppressive, the march was very wearisome. They had now got near the enemy, who was in a delta of the River Gogra. So that on the 25th they struck tents at two. Soon after starting they lost their way in the jungle, so that day broke before they were fairly started. Colonel Hill commanded the infantry of the force employed.
The Rifle companies marched on until they came to a ford of the Gogra. Here they were halted till the cavalry and guns, which had proceeded by another route, came up. On their arrival they crossed the river, which was at the ford waist-deep, holding their pouches up to their shoulders. They formed on the other side, and found the rebels in a large open space in front of a thick jungle. They were evidently surprised, and tried to make off. The Riflemen broke into extended order, and after a very smart skirmish, drove the enemy into a further jungle. Here Dr. Reade had a very narrow escape of his life, being attacked with great audacity by two of the enemy’s Sowars immediately in rear of the supports. The rebels broke into three parties, and so gave the Riflemen some trouble, as they had to pursue them through jungle so thick that it seemed never to have been trodden by the foot of man. However, as the enemy had taken refuge in it, and it seemed impossible then to dislodge them, camp was pitched about eight o’clock, and the Riflemen rested for the night, weary and hungry; for they had received only half-a-pound of bread and a dram of rum till they reached their camp; and they had fought hard and marched far.
On the next day orders were given to clear the jungle. Accordingly Colonel Hill with his Riflemen scoured the whole of the delta, on which these jungles were situated, to the river’s bank. But the rebels forded the river, and made good their escape. However, in the fight of the previous day a number (it is said 200) of them were killed, and some prisoners taken.
On the 27th, having effected the object of their expedition, they began their return, and marched eight miles. On the next day they marched the same distance to Hureeha, having recrossed the Gogra at a different point, where the water was deeper and the current very strong. Some men narrowly escaped drowning, and a bugler (Horton) saved the lives of three men. It was a difficult and dangerous ford, and a rifle and two swords were lost.
On the 29th they marched ten miles to Doobra; on the 30th fourteen miles; on May 1 twelve miles; and on the next day, after a march of sixteen miles, arrived at Nanparah.
Here they halted during the 3rd. And on the following day one company, accompanying the Brigadier and the cavalry, returned to Baraitch. The remaining two companies remained at Nanparah until June 6, when they started on their return to Baraitch.
I have now to return to the movements of Sotheby’s company, which, as I have said, started from Baraitch on the 21st to relieve Captain Fremantle. On that day they marched twelve miles to Bamparah, and on the next seventeen miles to Gunespore. On the 28th they turned out at night, the picquets having been fired upon. From the 4th to the 10th May they patrolled about the neighbourhood. On the 4th they crossed the Raptee, and marched eight miles; on the 5th marched nine miles to Pepree Ghât; on the next day thirteen miles to Akouna, where they halted one day; and returned on the 8th to Pepree Ghât; and on the 10th marched back to their camp at Gunespore. On the 27th half the company proceeded to Bhinga, but finding no rebels there, returned to their camp the same evening. On June 2 the force under Captain Cleveland was broken up, and Sotheby, with the company under his command, marched for Baraitch, where they arrived on the 3rd, and joined Head-quarters of the Battalion.
The Mutiny was now virtually at an end. No enemy remained in the field, and only a few scattered fugitives skulked in the jungle, and these not in numbers sufficient to give uneasiness to our posts, or to necessitate keeping an army on the frontier or in the field. The 2nd Battalion, therefore, received on June 13 an order to march towards Lucknow, halting at Byram Ghât for Captain Singer’s detachment of two companies, which was still watching the fords of the Raptee. On the 15th they left Baraitch at three in the morning, arriving at Puckerpore at half-past eight. The next day they were detained in the morning by heavy rains, but started at half-past four in the afternoon: the heat was intense, and it was like marching in a vapour bath, so that the men were much knocked up. The baggage, too, went astray, and on their arrival at their halting-place about nine at night, there were neither tents, rations, nor grog. The men lay down on the damp ground till two in the morning; and at three resumed their march without refreshment, and at daylight reached Hissampore; but no baggage appearing, they were obliged to set out in search of it, and at half-past eight arrived at a place where they halted, and sent for the baggage, having made a twenty-mile march. But no sooner was their camp pitched than a violent storm came on, blowing some of the tents clean away from the ropes, and leaving their inmates exposed to the full violence of the weather. On the 18th they started again at two in the morning, and arrived at Byram Ghât at seven. The river was much swollen, and there was no bridge. Two companies embarked at half-past seven, and attempted to cross; but the boats missed stays, and did not succeed in getting over. And as in consequence of the wind it was only practicable to cross in the morning or evening, they could not make a fresh attempt till six in the evening, when these two companies got across and landed at 6.20. The Regiment continued crossing on the 20th; and all got across on the 21st, Captain Singer’s two companies from Bankee, which had arrived on the previous day, bringing up the rear. On the 22nd they marched at half-past four, and encamped beyond Ramnaghur, a march of six miles, soon after seven. On the next day they proceeded seven miles. On the 24th seven more, and encamped at Nawabgunge. On the 25th they were unable to continue their march on account of the violence of the rain; but on the next day they made a march of ten miles in the morning, and were ordered to march again at four in the afternoon; but rain poured down steadily, and continued all the evening. On the 27th they marched at half-past four in the morning, and arrived at the Yellow Bungalow at Lucknow at a quarter after eight. Here they encamped, but were ordered to parade again at four. It was so hot, however, that this was postponed till five, when they moved near the Dilkoosha. It had rained every day for some time, the country they had marched through was very wet, and the ground on which they now encamped was a perfect swamp.
Here they remained, furnishing a detachment of three companies to the Imaumbarah, till early in July, when the men were placed in barracks: a comfort few if any of them had enjoyed since they left Dublin two years before. The officers, however, continued in tents. The men now suffered much from their long exposure to the climate, and it is said that in August there were 200 men in hospital. But not till their work was over had they succumbed to fatigue, exposure, or climate. For twenty months they had been in the field; often bivouacked in the open; never once in quarters. They had marched 1,745 miles in 161 marches (not including often shifting their camp to distances less than four miles), and every company-officer—save one who was lame—had accompanied his men on foot in these marches. They were, I believe, the only battalion which, from their landing in November 1857 to their cantonment at Lucknow in July 1859, had not at some time been in quarters; but had kept the field from the date of their arrival till the last day of the Mutiny.
Their casualties in that time may now be summed up.
Of officers, 2 had been killed in action; 4 had been severely wounded; 2 had died of their wounds; and 2 had died of disease. A total of 10 officers.
Of the Riflemen in the ranks there were
| Sergeants | Buglers | Privates | Total | |
| Killed in action | 10 | 10 | ||
| Wounded severely | 6 | 1 | 24 | 31 |
| ” slightly | 29 | 29 | ||
| Died of wounds | 7 | 7 | ||
| ” disease | 11 | 3 | 118 | 132 |
| Invalided, and not included in the above | 3 | 34 | 37 | |
| Grand total | 20 | 4 | 222 | 246 |
There had landed in India, either with the Battalion or by drafts joining it, up to this period: 44 officers, 61 sergeants, 25 buglers, and 1,147 men. So that in this campaign nearly one-fourth of the officers, and a little more than one-fifth of other ranks, were killed, wounded, or invalided.
On October 22 Lord Canning, the Governor-General, made his entry into Lucknow; on which occasion the Battalion escorted him through the town, parading for that purpose at three A.M., and returning to their quarters at nine.
On the 29th they were inspected by the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Clyde, on which occasion there was a review and march-past. And on that evening the Governor-General, accompanied by their old Commander in the field, Sir Hope Grant, visited and went round their barracks.
We left the 3rd Battalion at Gonda in December 1858. On January 9, 1859, Head-quarters, with four companies, marched to Murajgunge, a distance of twenty-five miles; and on the 10th proceeded to the bank of the Raptee and encamped there. On the next day the Riflemen crossed the river on rafts, the baggage elephants and camels being made to wade across, and arrived at Tulsipore in the afternoon. The object of this march was to take over and escort the guns which had been taken at the Raptee and previously. Accordingly, on their arrival at Tulsipore they received from a company of Sikhs three guns and some treasure.
After a day’s halt they started from Tulsipore on the 13th, and recrossing the Raptee arrived at Bulrampore after a fatiguing march of eighteen miles. On the 14th they proceeded to Cughar, seventeen miles; and on the next day rejoined the remainder of the Battalion at Gonda.
After one day’s halt the Battalion started on the 17th for Agra, and passing through Secrora, recrossed the Gogra at Byram Ghât on the 20th. They proceeded to Nawabgunge on the 21st; and on the 23rd arrived at Lucknow. They marched from there on the 25th, and reached Bunteerah on the 27th, and Cawnpore on the 28th. Thence they proceeded by daily marches by Chobeepore, Poorah, Urroul, Mukrundnuggur, Chubramow, Bewar, Shekoabad, and Ferozabad to Agra, which they reached on February 12, and were there stationed.