FOOTNOTES:
[299] Lieutenant-Colonel Green, Captain of a company at Chelsea Hospital.
[300] Sergeant William Mansel was appointed Ensign in the 12th Foot, August 24, 1859.
[301] ‘London Gazette’ and MS. Narratives of Colonel Green and Mr. Mansel.
[302] i.e. An expedition, literally, a run.
[303] It was found afterwards by measurement to be nearly forty feet wide, and thirty feet deep, with three or four feet of mud at the bottom.
[304] ‘ ... Rifle Brigade—Colour-Sergeant Maloney; Private Etteridge.’
[305] Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Sotheby.
[306] ‘My Diary in India,’ ii. 370.
[307] Captain G. C. Lane, half-pay.
[308] Mr. Piper is now Paymaster of the 63rd Regiment.
[309] This seems to have been called also Sidhonia Ghât.
[310] i.e. blackguards, scoundrels: a name applied by the soldiers and the loyal to the rebels.
[CHAPTER XIII.]
I have now to give some account of the Camel Corps, which, as I have stated, was formed at Lucknow on April 5, 1858, by drafts of 100 men from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, to which were eventually added 200 Sikhs. I have mentioned ([p. 381]) the names of the officers attached to this corps. The command of it was first proposed to Lieutenant-Colonel Julius Glyn of the 3rd Battalion; but on his declining it and preferring to serve with his Battalion, it was conferred on Major Ross[311] of that Battalion.
The men were to be mounted each on a camel, with a native driver to guide the animal. On April 7 they made their first attempt at camel-riding. The camel is, in fact, rather a difficult animal to sit, and the effects of this first lesson were rather ludicrous; the men clinging on in every possible position and appearing most uncomfortable. On the 8th they had two hours more of this drill, and the men began to sit much steadier; and this practice was repeated on the next day.
On the 10th the Camel Corps marched to the Dilkoosha at 5.30 in the morning, and encamped there for the completion of the formation of the Corps, and for camel-riding drill. But the ground on which they were encamped being found to be unhealthy—eight or ten men of the 3rd Battalion company having sickened—the camp was moved on the 12th at five in the afternoon to the front of and close to the Dilkoosha.
The men now made good progress in riding the camels; but with arms and accoutrements they found it harder to sit the camels, or to sling or dispose of their rifles. On the 16th Sir Colin Campbell inspected them, and seemed well pleased at their progress. The Camel Corps were all this time without a surgeon; and as the men were sickening daily from the climate, without a regular hospital or medical officer, this was a serious evil.
On the 27th they left the Dilkoosha at five in the morning, and marched about five miles to Jellalabad, where they found mud huts and plenty of mango trees to shelter them from the sun.
While here, at about nine in the evening they experienced a dust storm, accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning. This was followed by a heavy fall of rain, which cleared and refreshed the atmosphere.
On the 28th the Corps marched at four in the morning eleven miles to Bunnee bridge. They halted on the 29th; and on the 30th struck tents at four in the morning, and marched seventeen miles to Bussarutgunge, and occupied some out-buildings of a mosque. On this march they loaded, as rebels were constantly crossing the road. It was found that the pace of the camels was a little over four miles an hour.[312]
On May 1 they marched to Cawnpore, fifteen miles, and occupied cantonments near Wheeler’s intrenchment. They had marched from the Dilkoosha to Cawnpore with the 200 Riflemen only, and 250 camels. At the latter place they found 150 camels awaiting them, which made up the mount to 400; and steps were at once taken to raise the two companies of Sikhs, of 100 each, to complete the Corps to its full strength of 400 men.
While here Major Ross received a letter from Sir Colin Campbell, saying that the Camel Corps was a Corps-d’élite; and that the officers were to be very carefully picked, as there would be a great deal of independent command.
On the 4th they were ordered to march at midnight to Ukburpore, with stores for Sir Hugh Rose and mortars for the column commanded by Colonel Maxwell, 88th Regiment. The convoy did not arrive, however, till about two on the morning of the 5th, when they started and marched with a long train of hackeries. After proceeding fourteen miles they halted and pitched tents at eight in the morning. This day was most fearfully hot, the thermometer reaching 117°. At half-past eleven at night they struck tents, and marched at midnight. In about an hour they reached the Rind river and began crossing; but the convoy and train of hackeries was some two miles long, so that it was eight o’clock in the morning before all were got over. Then they continued their march to Ukburpore, about fourteen miles from their last halting-place, and reached it about 11.30. This day, like the last, was extremely hot; and as the men did not get in till near noon, and the rear-guard not till 1.30, they felt the heat extremely. They encamped on one side of the canal (then dry) in a white burning plain, without a tree on it, and only some small bushes.
On the 8th the Camel Corps was taken out at a trot, about two miles. The men were now beginning to get accustomed to the action of the strange beasts they bestrode, and they found sitting on them more easy.
Up to this time no General Order had been issued for the formation of the Camel Corps; one unpleasant consequence of which was that no pay, regimental or otherwise, was issued to the officers or to the men. They complained much, too, of their native camel-drivers; a most ruffianly and undisciplined set of men. As an instance of their ferocity, I may mention that on the 11th one of these men shot another with his carbine; and not content with thus wounding him, cut him over the back of the neck with his sword. The health, too, of the Rifle companies was unsatisfactory; sunstroke and apoplexy carried off several men; and their loss in the week ending May 12 was ten men.
On the 13th, striking tents at half-past three in the morning, they moved their camp about a mile and a half, in the hope of finding a more healthy situation for it.
On the 15th Colonel Maxwell, to whose column the Camel Corps was at that time attached, received a communication from Sir Hugh Rose, who was then advancing slowly towards Calpee, which was said to be occupied by 8,000 rebels with six guns. In consequence of this the Camel Corps was ordered to march in the evening, but was afterwards countermanded. However, further messages having been received from Sir Hugh Rose, they were ordered off, and marched on the 16th about half-past two in the morning. They were to have marched about eight miles; but as the ammunition carts which the 88th Regiment had with them were not able to get across a river or nullah, the Camel Corps halted after a march of two miles and pitched tents. Captain Nixon’s troop started again at half-past six in charge of the convoy; and having crossed the river, halted at about five miles and a half from the starting-place at half-past ten. Major Ross with the remainder of the Camel Corps came in about two. The whole halted till half-past four, when they trotted into their camping-ground, where they arrived by six o’clock. Lieutenant Eyre, who had charge of the convoy of ninety-five carts of ammunition, got them in with his escort about seven. The name of this halting-place was Bhogneepore. A good deal of firing had been heard in the direction of Calpee. They halted on the 17th, and on the next day the Riflemen of the Camel Corps were ordered to march at one the following morning, to take a fort about twelve miles off, in which it was reported that there were fifty or sixty fanatics; but the order was countermanded in the evening.
On the 19th a good deal of firing was heard. And the Camel Corps was ordered to cross the Jumna. They struck tents at half-past six, but as they were preparing to move off the order was countermanded; and they halted during the 20th. But Major Ross, with some of his officers, crossed the Jumna and visited Sir Hugh Rose’s camp.
The Camel Corps moved at about one on the morning of the 21st, to join Sir Hugh Rose’s force before Calpee. They crossed the Jumna at a ford so deep that it was up to the saddles of the camels. After crossing they joined the 2nd Brigade of the force under Sir Hugh Rose, and encamped about half-past seven.
The camp was very inconvenient, especially on account of the difficulty of getting water. For though they were not far from the river, yet the ravines which intersected the country and the steepness of the banks of the Jumna, made it impossible to obtain water without going two or three miles round. After the Riflemen had got over, 200 camels were sent back under Lieutenant Eyre, to bring over part of the 88th Regiment. Two Riflemen died of sunstroke on this march, for the heat was very great, the thermometer standing at 117° in the tents. The fort of Calpee, which stands on high ground, unapproachable from the river, and surrounded on all sides by ravines and a plain dotted only by a few topes of trees, gave them an occasional round-shot, just to let them realise that an enemy was close to them.
On the 22nd they had just sat down to breakfast, when an order came that they were to hold themselves in readiness to turn out at a moment’s notice. That moment soon came; the ‘assembly’ sounded, and mounting their camels they formed up with the brigade to which they were attached. In front of them were thousands of rebels advancing. Soon an officer came up in great excitement, and ordered the two Rifle companies of the Camel Corps to advance to the right. On doing so they found the rebels driving before them the picquet, or rather they had already driven it in, and were almost on some heavy guns which were in position there. The rebels were steadily advancing and within a hundred yards. Then the Riflemen jumped off their camels, and doubling up to where the picquet was, extended as best they could, and with a ringing cheer went at the rebels. The fire of musketry was very heavy; and the rebels let the Riflemen get within eighty yards of them, but then they fled. In this way the Riflemen went on in pursuit, doubling through the ravines with which the country is much intersected, and availing themselves of such cover as there was; but there was very little. In this affair (called the battle of Goolowlee) the Rifle companies had but three men wounded, but twenty-five men were disabled by the sun, as was also one officer, Lieutenant Eyre. For the heat was fearful; and the pace the Riflemen went at up to the picquet, now charging, then pursuing the rebels, was very exhausting. Yet, weary as they were, the 2nd Battalion company of the Camel Corps had to remain on picquet.
The help of these Riflemen on this occasion was most opportune; for the enemy had crept up under cover of the ravines to the battery, which was placed 500 or 600 yards beyond the right of Sir Hugh Rose’s position; the picquet posted there had given way; and the rebels would assuredly have had the guns, from which they were not more than fifty yards distant, and in good cover from a ravine.
On the 23rd, about two in the morning, ‘rouse’ sounded, and their camels came up; but they were without orders. After waiting about two hours a staff officer appeared, who informed them that they ought to have been with Sir Hugh Rose long before. They mounted their camels and the staff officer undertook to show them the way; but as he could not wait he left them to themselves. So proceeding in the dark as best they could, they happily fell in with Sir Hugh Rose about daybreak. They made a long circuit to the left, and on arriving at a well which a cavalry picquet had just deserted, the rebels opened on them from two guns with a brisk fire of shot and shell; aiming well, but not hitting any of them. These guns were so well concealed in a ravine that our artillery could not touch them. They then dismounted and covered the advance, Captain Nixon’s company forming the reserve. They kept on advancing and returning the enemy’s fire for some time. At length, when the rebels saw the skirmishers working round their right flank, they fled, and the Riflemen, on arriving at Calpee, about two miles distant, found that the Sepoys had disappeared and that the place was empty.
They reached Calpee about ten, and put up in a house till five in the afternoon, when they marched to their camping-ground; a dusty place, but with plenty of water: a luxury they had not had for some days. The force opposed to them was the Gwalior Contingent, the same the Riflemen had met at Cawnpore; and here, as there, they fought harder and stood longer than any other enemy they had encountered in India. They were commanded by Tantia Topee.
In this action the Riflemen had one sergeant and two privates wounded, one of them severely.
In his despatch reporting these engagements, dated, Gwalior, June 22, 1858, Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn) writes thus:—
‘The very important service rendered on this occasion by Major Ross, commanding Camel Corps, requires that I should make especial mention of the ability and resolute gallantry with which he led his brave Corps.... Lieutenant Buckley[313] of the same Corps attracted my attention by the spirit with which his party attacked and bayonetted rebels; for which I beg to mention him specially.’
On the 24th, being the Queen’s birthday, they paraded at sunrise, presented arms, and gave three cheers, while the English flag was hoisted on the fort of Calpee.
They halted during the next day; and on the 26th they marched at two in the morning, and moving along through the ravines, reached the ford of the Jumna by which they had crossed on the 21st, but which was now (owing to rain on the preceding day) running with a strong current. Four natives were drowned in crossing. On reaching the other side they marched to Bhogneepore, which they reached about half-past eight, having made a march of about fifteen miles; and they rejoined Maxwell’s column.
On the 29th they marched to Ukburpore, about sixteen miles, and encamped in the same tope of trees they had occupied on their march from Cawnpore to Calpee.
On the 30th they marched to Suchendee, about fifteen miles, and arriving at about seven o’clock pitched their camp in a cool and pleasant place under some trees.
On the 31st they moved at the usual hour, and reached Cawnpore about half-past six. They occupied barracks near Wheeler’s intrenchment.
They halted at Cawnpore for some weeks, during which time they received orders to equip for fresh service; and Sikhs having now been enlisted, two companies of the 80th, which had been for a short time attached to the Camel Corps, now returned to their regiment. The camel-drivers were also drilled by non-commissioned officers sent from the Lahore regiments, and gradually became somewhat more like soldiers and obedient to discipline. The Riflemen were ordered to draw from Allahabad capes and yellow gaiters, which added somewhat to their appearance, and very much to their comfort.
On June 8 they were inspected by Sir Colin Campbell, who expressed himself well pleased with their appearance, and gave them final orders for their equipment and completion. He also complimented them on their conduct at Calpee. They had received up to this time 80 volunteers from Sikh regiments, and 50 Sikh recruits. And 180 Riflemen were effective.
It was intended that they should remain at Cawnpore during the rainy season; but the rains having been unusually late this year, they received a telegraphic message on July 20, directing them to be prepared to move at a moment’s notice, as they were wanted for special service. And on the 22nd they marched at four in the morning, and encamped about thirteen miles on the road to Allahabad. On the next day (or rather in the night) they marched at midnight and made a march of about twenty miles. On the 24th they reached Futtehpore after a march of fifteen miles; and on the 25th proceeded to Khaga, about twenty miles. It had rained, and the roads were very slippery; one camel came down, and the long march had to be gone over carefully. On the 26th they made a march of sixteen miles. The rains had now set in, and their camp and their clothes were in a perpetual state of moisture. On the next day they marched seventeen miles; and on the 28th reached Allahabad after a march of twenty miles, and occupied barracks. On the 29th they were inspected by the Governor-General (Lord Canning) and Sir Colin Campbell, who expressed themselves well satisfied with their appearance and performances: a very satisfactory result of the pains they had taken with their drill and with their drivers while at Cawnpore.
On the 31st the Camel Corps began crossing the Ganges in boats, which, with the transfer of the baggage across the river, occupied the whole day and part of the next, for the Ganges is here about three miles broad. In this passage two or three camels were lost.
On August 2 they made a march of eighteen miles, which, being performed at a jog-trot, was soon got over; yet their tents were not pitched till eleven o’clock. On the 3rd they proceeded to Gopeegunge, about sixteen miles. On the next day they made a long march of twenty-four miles. And on the 5th reached Benares, after a march of fifteen miles, and encamped on the parade-ground in front of the cantonments.
They remained here during the 6th. On the 7th the camels were got across the river, a slow and difficult operation, as the boats drifted some three miles down the stream from the strength of the current. And on the 9th they marched at five in the morning to the Raj Ghât, a distance of about four miles. On arrival there an order was received from Colonel Turner, commanding the force on the Great Trunk road, to send fifty men, with a proportionate number of officers, to Mohuneea, which was about thirty-seven miles distant, and to be there by twelve o’clock that night. Captain Newdigate, Lieutenants Austin and Eyre, were selected for this duty. They chose the best camels; and, having crossed the river, immediately started off. They halted for two hours at Noubutpore, twenty-seven miles south-east from Benares, having travelled at the rate of seven miles and a-half an hour: a great pace for even a swift camel to maintain. Remounting, they finished their march at Mohuneea, tired and wet through. They there found Colonel Turner, who had intended to start them off immediately for a place six miles farther, and across country. But a tremendous shower coming on about one o’clock in the morning (of the 9th), this intention was abandoned, or rather postponed. Besides, the camels were so tired that they could not have gone farther without rest. The officers and men, therefore, sought shelter and repose in carts, or wherever they could find it, till nine in the morning. They then started, having received some biscuit and tea; but they soon found the road impassable for the camels. In two miles they had six casualties, two camels having to be dug out of the mud. They therefore dismounted, and marched forward, up to their knees in mud and slush. After proceeding about two miles and a quarter farther they halted, having information that the enemy, who had intelligence of their approach, had disappeared. Some cavalry were sent on to ascertain whether this report was correct, and on their return in about an hour with information that it was so, the camel detachment began to retrace their steps. And up to the middle in water, and with a burning sun beating on their heads, they marched back to Mohuneea. On their arrival there they had no change of clothes, so that they spent the rest of the day and night in great discomfort.
But at six in the morning of the 10th the remainder of the Camel Corps came up with their baggage. On the 11th they marched at half-past two in the morning, and proceeded fifteen miles and a half to Jehanabad, a large village, about fifteen miles from Sasseram. An order was received in the afternoon for two officers and fifty men to be left at this place, as the enemy was expected. Captain Nixon and Lieutenant Buckley remained with this party, which rejoined the Corps at the camp of Kurroundea on the 17th.
On the 12th the Camel Corps started at one in the morning, and marched twenty miles to Kurroundea, about four miles beyond Sasseram, where they formed a standing camp, and the Engineers built sheds for the men. The rebels were expected to cross the Great Trunk road, and to endeavour to escape into a range of hills about four miles from Sasseram. The camp stood close under a spur of these hills. A picquet, consisting of an officer and thirty men, was posted about a mile from the camp, to watch the road from the north. This picquet was relieved every third day. Altogether this standing camp of Kurroundea was a pleasant change for the officers and men; after their long moving about in the plains, the sight of hills was refreshing; and the grazing being excellent, the camels enjoyed the change as much as their riders.
On the 15th a detachment of the Camel Corps, consisting of twenty-five Riflemen and fifty Sikhs, under command of Lieutenant Eyre, marched from Kurroundea at six in the morning, en route for Shergotty. They proceeded on camels about six miles to Dearee, where they halted for breakfast. At three in the afternoon they crossed the river Sone in flat-bottomed boats. It is here about three miles broad, and the crossing took about an hour and a half. On reaching the other side they found bullock-waggons awaiting them; into which the men being placed, four in each, with one walking beside every waggon as a guard, they proceeded through the night, and arrived at three in the morning of the 16th at Norungabad, about thirteen miles from the river.
They left it again at half-past three in the afternoon, and arrived at Shergotty about six in the morning of the 17th, where this detachment continued for some time.
The Head-quarters of the Camel Corps continued at Kurroundea, and soon after, on the 20th, an order arrived at noon for every available man of the Camel Corps to accompany Colonel Turner. Accordingly eighty Riflemen and some Sikhs under Major Ross started from Kurroundea at half-past one in the afternoon, and marched about twenty miles to Nassreegunge on the Sone, where rebels were reported to have been sent by Oomar Singh to collect revenue. On arrival they found that 150 rebels had been at Nassreegunge in the morning, but had quitted it, leaving about twenty men behind in charge of the place. These were taken quite by surprise, and sixteen were killed; and two, who were slightly wounded, escaped. The Riflemen bivouacked near an old indigo plantation.
In the night a detachment of the 37th Regiment arrived; and in the morning Colonel Turner started with twenty-five men of the Camel Corps on four elephants, under Lieutenant Austin, some Sikh Cavalry, and the party of the 37th. But this party of the Camel Corps returned to Kurroundea on the 23rd, having only captured two or three prisoners. The other portion of the Camel Corps marched back from Nassreegunge to Kurroundea on the 21st.
On the 25th Lieutenant Jeames, with twenty-five men of the Camel Corps, marched on foot to Nassreegunge, as the rebels were expected to return and destroy it. This detachment returned to camp on the 30th.
On September 3 Lieutenant Scriven was sent with thirty men to join Colonel Turner at Bikrumgunge, as the troops at that place had been attacked by the rebels, whom, however, they had driven off.
On September 5 Major Ross, with 50 of the Camel Corps, two guns, a few Sikh Cavalry, and 40 of the 37th Regiment, started from the camp to join Colonel Turner, who was twenty-six miles distant towards Jugdespore.[314] Their first day’s march was about twenty miles to Sunjowlee Khas, and on the 6th they reached Bikrumgunge early in the morning, and effected their junction with Colonel Turner and the party under Scriven. After halting for breakfast, they paraded again at half-past ten, and leaving all their baggage under a guard, proceeded to a village, Surajpore, about five miles off. This was a large and strong place, and about 500 rebels occupied it. But, notwithstanding the disparity of the attacking force, they abandoned it after firing a few shots at the advanced guard of cavalry. The Camel Corps pursued them as far as Kullanee, but could not come up with them. And the rebels having disappeared, they returned to Bikrum in the afternoon, where they halted during the next day. The Riflemen had a hard day’s marching and skirmishing, sometimes up to their hips in water.
On the 8th, Colonel Turner having received intelligence that some rebels were likely to cross the main road about four miles farther towards Jugdespore, they started early to intercept them. After about an hour and a half’s march they came in sight of a large body of rebels posted in a village on the right. The Camel Corps, the cavalry, and the two guns started to attack them. But owing to the rains the roads were deep with mud; the rice fields on each side were under water, with a thick deposit of mud beneath it, and it was impossible for camels, or horses, or guns to move rapidly; so that the rebels escaped before these troops could reach them. Whilst they were engaged at this work, a party of the rebels made an attack on Bikrum, and came up within a few hundred yards of the trenches there thrown up for protection. However, several of them were killed or wounded, and amongst them the leader of the attack. On receiving intelligence of Bikrum being assailed, the force in the field fell back, and pitched their tents there just before dark; having been out from half-past three in the morning till six in the evening, during great part of which time the sun was extremely overpowering.
On the 9th they started about an hour before day on their return, and marched back ten miles to Nokah, and encamped; and on the 10th, after a march of sixteen miles, reached their camp at Kurroundea.
On the 12th Captain Nixon and Lieutenant Jeames, with 20 Riflemen and 30 Sikhs, were detached to Sunjowlee Khas, and did not rejoin Head-quarters at Kurroundea till October 26.
On the 23rd the Camel Corps (forming part of Colonel Turner’s force) marched to Nassreegunge, where they halted on the 24th. On the next day they moved to Behta, some miles farther up the Sone, and were occupied on that day and the 26th in destroying several boats which the rebels had concealed under boughs of trees and in the mud. On the latter day Captain Newdigate, with thirty men of the Camel Corps, was sent to Sukreta, where a rebel Rissaldar, Unjoor Singh, was said to be. But he had left the evening before, and this detachment returned to Behta. On the 27th, having intelligence that some rebels were not far off they marched some distance to Khurona; and a spy having come in while they were halting for breakfast, and having reported that the enemy were close at hand, they started in pursuit, the cavalry taking one direction and the Camel Corps another. The former, 120 Sikhs, under Mr. Baker, found the rebels in a village, and by making a feint of retiring, drew them out into the open; when wheeling round, they attacked them, and succeeded in killing about 100, all mutinied Sepoys, with small loss to themselves. Their opponents numbered 700. The Camel Corps came up at the close of this engagement, but the rebels had then fled so far that it was useless to pursue them, and they encamped near Suhejne.
They halted on the 28th to allow supplies to come up from Bikrumgunge; and on the 29th marched to the westward and south of Jugdespore, in order to drive the rebels from the surrounding villages into that place; and in the afternoon came to Kooath, a village which had been occupied just before by some 300 of the enemy; but who, on hearing of their approach, had fled in such hot haste that it was impossible to overtake them. They encamped at Dawuth, where they halted on the 30th, and were occupied in collecting arms from the villages in the neighbourhood. During the last four days they had been exposed to heavy rains.
On October 1 they moved on to Roopsaugor, about thirty miles north of Sasseram, whence they moved towards Soombursa. But, as usual, the enemy fled at the first approach of the Camel Corps, and they returned to the camp at Roopsaugor.
And on the 3rd proceeded on their route to two large villages, Dinareh and Kochus, which were said to be occupied by rebels. They reached the former on the 4th, after a most fatiguing march, the country being under water and deep in mud; and on the 5th arrived at Kochus. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining information. The populations of the villages, which in this part of the country are scattered about at distances of scarcely half a mile, were evidently friendly to the rebels; and all knowledge of their whereabouts or of having seen them was persistently denied. Yet it afterwards turned out that a body of rebels, under a chief they were in search of, were hiding in a village within a mile of their track. On arriving at Kochus it was ascertained that the darogah or headman of the village had been actively collecting supplies for Oomar Singh; and after pitching camp a visit was made to his house, which was full of grain. This having been given to the natives, his residence was burned. But they had no sooner marched from Kochus than Oomar Singh and his gang, who had been hiding in the high sugar-cane fields, entered it.
On the 7th the Camel Corps made a long march, and returned to their camp at Kurroundea. But their respite from work was not long; for on the 8th they were ordered to start again, and marched at four in the afternoon. And after halting at Nokah three or four hours during the night, reached Bikrumgunge at seven in the morning of the 9th. And on the next day moved towards Jugdespore; encamping that night at Deonar, and on the 11th at Sukreta. For the next fortnight the Camel Corps were on the move, often day and night, to harass the rebels in the Jugdespore jungles and the Kinsey hills, and to endeavour to prevent their escape from Jugdespore.
Thus on the 15th Newdigate started with 13 Riflemen and 13 Sikhs at a quarter to six for Nurainpore, about nine miles from Sukreta, with orders to bring in two rebel Zemindars; but he found that they had escaped. So after burning their houses, he returned to the camp at Sukreta.
On the 16th Brigadier Douglas entered Jugdespore, but the enemy eluded him and escaped. However, on the 18th they were driven out of the jungle. On the 20th Colonel Turner directed Colonel Ross to push on with part of the Camel Corps. Taking with him Major Newdigate and 2 other officers, and 55 Riflemen, he came on the enemy. As they approached them another body appeared on their right flank flying before some cavalry. The enemy were in force, upwards of 100 cavalry and 600 infantry. The Riflemen at once dismounted from their camels and skirmished up to the village of Sukreta, which the enemy occupied. Here they had a hard fight; for besides the superiority of the rebels in numbers, the village, being surrounded by bushes, formed a strong position; and the rebels, finding they could not get away, fought better than their usual wont.[315] This fight lasted for nearly an hour, when the rest of the Camel Corps and of Turner’s column came up. Among these was Lieutenant Scriven of the 2nd Battalion, who, rushing up to the assistance of his comrades, was shot immediately. Besides his loss one Rifleman of the 2nd Battalion was killed and two were wounded severely, of whom one afterwards died; and of the 3rd Battalion two Riflemen were killed, and one sergeant and three privates wounded. The Adjutant of the Camel Corps (not a Rifleman) was also wounded. Of the enemy 70 dead, all rebel Sepoys, were counted in the village; and two or three times that number in the surrounding fields. The survivors fled towards the hills, and being pursued by some Horse under Major Havelock, were cut up and dispersed. On the next day the Camel Corps proceeded up the Sone and prevented the rebels crossing to the right bank of that river. They afterwards returned to their camp at Kurroundea.
Captain Newdigate, however, was detached with thirty-two Riflemen on camels, to join Major Havelock’s force, which consisted of about 200 men of the Military Train, some Sikh Cavalry, and some of the 10th Foot mounted on ponies. The Riflemen had no baggage.
On the 21st they marched to Sydha, and after halting there two hours proceeded to Khooath Khas, where about four in the afternoon they came on the rebels, who fled at their approach; the Camel Corps pursued them till after dark, the cavalry cutting up a good many, and encamped at Sethan. At sunrise on the 22nd this detachment marched by Suhejne to Jendonee, whence, after a short halt, they proceeded to Dinareh. They there halted two hours, and on the 23rd reached Kochus, and thence proceeded to Kyree, where they halted for breakfast. But intelligence of rebels being in the vicinity being brought in they started without it. They found the rebels in about three miles, and on their flying lost trace of them for two or three hours, but again came upon them near Khurgurh. They pursued them till they fled across the Great Trunk road about nine miles to the north of Sasseram. This was the very place where they had been ordered to drive them across, and where they were to have been intercepted by the Native Cavalry; but unfortunately these had been deceived by false intelligence of the rebel movements, and were not in the right place. The Camel Corps detachment went on to Jehanabad, their camels being quite exhausted. Here Newdigate found Major Ross with 100 men of the Camel Corps; and leaving the greater part of his detachment there he proceeded to Kurroundea with the wearied camels and ten men.
The Camel Corps were soon again in pursuit of the rebels, who, after crossing the Great Trunk road, got into some hills above Sasseram. On the 27th they marched, 120 Riflemen and 80 Sikhs, at half-past twelve to Akbarpore, near Rotas, where they arrived about ten at night. On the next day they marched to Khyrwa, where they breakfasted, and in the afternoon proceeded to Jeelokhur, and encamped; but Captain Nixon with about half the men went on to Nowadah. This detachment on the next day proceeded to Jadoonathpore, where they were followed on the 30th by the remainder of the Camel Corps. This place was about fifty miles from Sasseram, and on the Sone. Their position here was to guard one of the passes to the hills and to prevent the rebels coming down.
On November 3 and 4 the Camel Corps crossed the Sone, the bed of which is here some two miles broad and fringed with a range of high hills on each bank. On the 6th they marched to Purtee; on the 7th to Muktowar; on the 8th towards Kotah Ghât, when, finding rations running short, and no supplies likely to come up, they returned to some distance beyond their camping-ground of yesterday. On the 9th they marched to Pandoochoona; and on the following day recrossed the Sone to Jadoonathpore, and encamped, sending a detachment to Nowadah. On September 13 Newdigate was sent on a patrol to Jaca, about seven miles from the top of the pass through the hills. Incessantly moving in pursuit of the rebels, the Camel Corps again crossed the river on the 14th and 15th; marching on successive days to Pipra, Gao Ghât, Hurdee, and Choopan. Leaving this on the 20th, they recrossed the river at daylight and marched to Robertgunge, where they arrived at half-past three in the afternoon, and leaving it again at ten at night, reached Pannoogunge at two in the morning of the 21st and encamped. Here patrols reported that the rebels had escaped into Oude; they therefore turned back to their camp at Kurroundea, where they arrived on the 30th. They were soon ordered to follow the rebels; and starting on December 3 in five days arrived at Benares, where they encamped and halted till the 10th.
They then marched with orders to join Sir Hope Grant’s column at Fyzabad. They arrived at Jounpore on the 13th, and proceeded by Sultanpore to Fyzabad, which they reached on the 20th. Here a letter from the Chief of the Staff awaited Colonel Ross, directing him to join Brigadier Barker’s column, about sixty miles north of Lucknow. They left Fyzabad, therefore, on the 21st, and marched into Lucknow on the 24th, where they halted for Christmas Day. They marched on the 26th, and encamped about eighteen miles north of Lucknow. The object of their movement was to watch the right bank of the Gogra, and while Lord Clyde and Sir Hope Grant were driving the rebels into a corner between Baraitch and the Nepaul frontier, to intercept any rebels who might attempt to cross the Gogra. However, on all this march the Corps was short of camels, many having died in the neighbourhood of Sasseram, where the climate is said to be very injurious to these animals. They were therefore ordered to Agra to procure remounts. They proceeded by Seetapore, Futtehgurh, and Mynpooree to Agra, where they arrived on January 23, 1859. Having obtained the camels they required to remount the Corps, they started again on the 26th, under Brigadier Showers, whose force consisted, besides the Camel Corps, of two squadrons of the Carabiniers and two squadrons of Irregular Cavalry. The object of this force was to capture Tantia Topee, who, with Ferozeshah and a force of some 3,000 or 4,000 horsemen, was giving trouble to the west and north-west of Agra. On the 27th the Camel Corps encamped at Bhurtpore. On February 4 they encamped at Loorkee in the Jeypore district. On the next day they marched at one in the morning, and reached their camping-ground at eleven. On the 6th they started again at midnight, and arrived at Futtehpore at half-past eleven, where they halted during the two following days. Tantia Topee now doubled behind them to the southward, passing by Nagpore, and with a portion of his followers gave his pursuers the slip, and it was for some time uncertain in what direction he had gone.
The Camel Corps, therefore, leaving Futtehpore on the 9th, moved southward, marching daily from twenty to thirty miles till the 15th, when they halted for that day at Burroo. Next day they made a march of twelve miles; and on the 17th, passing through the range of hills which runs from north-west to south-east through Rajpootana, arrived at Ajmeer. In all these marches they started about midnight, often marching till one or two o’clock the next day; and seldom halting for a day, and then only because the horses of the cavalry required rest. From Ajmeer the Camel Corps proceeded to Nusseerabad, where they halted for two days; and on the 21st marched still southward, and arrived at Boondee on the 26th.
Thence inclining to the south-east, they encamped at Barah in the Kotah district on March 2. They then moved towards Agra to receive some supplies forwarded from thence, and on the 13th were encamped at Madhoopoora in the Jeypore district. Thence retracing their steps and crossing the Chumbul river, they encamped on the 22nd at Etawah, and on the 29th at Bilowa in the Gwalior district. This country was full of jungle, of which the rebels well knew how to take advantage; so that to trace them, or to dislodge them when tracked, was a most difficult operation. The Camel Corps marched into Goonah on April 7. On the 8th Tantia Topee was captured (by Colonel Meade’s column) about ten miles from Goonah and four from the camp of the Camel Corps. Though he did not actually fall into their hands, there is no doubt that his inexorable pursuit by Brigadier Showers’ force led to his capture, and so indeed he himself stated. For though reserved and uncommunicative to the officers, he spoke freely with the men; and said that had it not been for the incessant chase of Showers’ force, which had run him to earth, he would have cared little for any other troops. He admitted that he had been so closely pressed by them that on one occasion he hid under a bridge they were actually passing over.
During their few days’ halt at Goonah, Colonel Ross had the Riflemen’s clothing, which was dilapidated and of many colours from patches, dyed.
The Camel Corps halted for a week at Goonah, and left it on the 14th at four o’clock in the afternoon to look for Ferozeshah, who with some force was about fifty miles to the south. They came upon him on the 16th near a village, and killed some of his followers; but the rebels scattered at once and with Ferozeshah escaped into the jungle. However, they took nine waggons laden with provisions and eleven prisoners, whom the Sikhs of the Camel Corps immediately shot. They then moved to Supree, where Tantia Topee had been hanged on the 15th. On their arrival there Brigadier Showers left them, and the cavalry which had hitherto formed part of the column also moved off, so that the Camel Corps, under Colonel Ross, alone began their march towards Agra. They proceeded by Kallarus and Gwalior, where they arrived on the 30th, and reached Agra on May 5, where they went into quarters for about four months.
On September 15 they left Agra en route for Saugor, and passing through Muneeah and Dholpore encamped on the banks of the Chumbul on the morning of the 17th. Colonel Ross having endeavoured to find a ford with elephants, but without success, found it necessary to get his Corps across in boats; a difficult operation, as from the camels’ dislike to water it is no easy matter to get them into boats. There were twenty-two boats, most of which held each three, and some few four camels. The stream was wide and rapid, and the ravines which border its banks (as they do many of the large rivers of India) had become water-courses; for much rain had recently fallen. On the morning of the 18th Colonel Ross took over a party with shovels and improved the landing-place, which was knee-deep with mud. He then passed over the two Sikh companies, to find fatigue parties and to establish a camp. This had to be pitched about two miles from the river’s bank, as the ravines extend nearly that distance. Before dark he had succeeded in getting over the camels of three out of the four troops, besides many baggage-animals. Early on the 19th the two Rifle companies crossed; by four on that day the whole Corps, with its baggage, was in camp. Thus, besides the men, 600 camels were got over in two days, and the baggage, which had to be unloaded on one bank and loaded on the other. And much time was lost by the rapidity of the current carrying the boats down-stream. On the 22nd they arrived at Gwalior, where they halted the next day. On the 26th they had some difficulty in crossing the Sinde river; for though the water was not deep the further bank was steep and slippery. On the 27th they encamped at Datia; and on the 28th arrived at Jhansi. On leaving it on the next day they had to cross the Betwa river, about six miles’ distance; which, though less troublesome and tedious than the passage of the Chumbul, was not without its difficulties; and they encamped about four miles beyond it.
The Camel Corps arrived at Saugor on October 9.
The object of the operations now about to be commenced was to hunt all the jungles from the southward up towards the river Betwa, the line of which was to be closely watched. Ferozeshah was somewhere to the east of Saugor at the head of a body of rebels, or rather robbers and others of the evil classes, and was keeping the district in a state of unquiet.
With this view seven small columns were formed, and the command of one of them, consisting of his own Corps, an Irregular Cavalry Regiment, and a regiment of Punjaub Infantry, was conferred on Colonel Ross. Two companies of the Camel Corps, however, under Major Nixon, were attached to another column.
Both portions of the Corps marched from Saugor on the 14th, and Colonel Ross moved to a position about fifty miles from it. The country through which he was to operate was covered with wild jungle, which clothed hills of moderate elevation, the valleys being watered by clear streams. After pursuing the rebels in and through the jungle, where, from their invariably decamping as soon as the troops approached, and from their knowledge of the paths, it was impossible to catch or intercept them, Colonel Ross with his party reached Dergowah, about seventy miles to the north of Saugor, early in December. He proceeded to Heerapore on the 3rd, and halted till joined by Major Nixon with the other portion of the Camel Corps. These had been attached to a column under Colonel Primrose of the 43rd Light Infantry; and on October 27 fifty men of the Camel Corps, twenty-five Riflemen and twenty-five Sikhs, under command of Lieutenant Ramsbottom, were engaged at the village of Mitharden, where some rebels were killed. The Riflemen on this occasion had not their camels, and fought dismounted.
The seven columns employed in scouring the jungle were broken up, and returned to their quarters; but the Camel Corps remained out still in pursuit of rebels.
Leaving a small detachment at Heerapore, the Camel Corps marched on December 11 to Shahgurh, nine miles, and leaving part of the Corps there, Colonel Ross with the remainder marched about sixteen miles further to the banks of the Dessaun river, where he encamped. Here he was joined by Captain Browne, the Assistant-Commissioner; and on the 12th, accompanied by him, marched at about seven in the morning. They had advanced some way when a shot was heard in front, and near a village about a quarter of a mile distant. Word was also passed from the front that rebels were in the village. Accordingly they pushed on with all speed, and soon spied a few mounted and some dismounted men in the jungle. After proceeding about a mile they came on a riding camel, belonging to the Assistant-Commissioner. Then the shot heard was explained: some rebels, headed by a noted miscreant, Dowlat Singh, had murdered the driver of the camel and the servant of the Commissioner riding behind him, whom he had sent forward with some despatches. Colonel Ross requested the Assistant-Commissioner to send forward a few mounted police, to keep on the track of the rebels, and to hold them in check till the Camel Corps came up, as these police could ride faster than the pace of the camels. But they soon returned, saying that the enemy were too many for them to approach them. If these men had done their duty the Camel Corps might have come up with them and caught many of the rebels. As it was, they were delayed for some time in passing two ravines, the banks of which were thickly covered with jungle. They followed them for a considerable distance, but could not come up with them. The Camel Corps proceeded to Marowra, where they encamped.
They continued engaged in this jungle warfare, or rather harassing of the rebels, till April 1860, when, returning to Agra by the same route by which they had moved to Saugor, they arrived there on April 30.
During the seven or eight months the Camel Corps were engaged in this service their duties were most harassing. They marched at short notices in every direction, wherever and whenever they had intelligence of an enemy; and almost always without the satisfaction of finding or engaging one. Often detachments of forty or fifty men were ordered to mount at a moment’s notice, and to ride thirty or forty miles as fast as they could, only to find that the enemy they expected to fight had fled before they approached his lair, or had scattered into jungle where it was hopeless to pursue.
Soon after their arrival at Agra they received information that the Camel Corps was to be broken up. They were disbanded on June 1. The company of the 3rd Battalion joined their Head-quarters at Agra, where the Battalion was quartered; the company of the 2nd Battalion proceeded by bullock-cart to Subathoo, where they joined Head-quarters of the Battalion on June 12. The men of the two Sikh companies were allowed to volunteer into any native corps they wished to join.
Colonel Ross, in alluding to his unsolicited and unexpected appointment to a Companionship of the Order of the Bath, assumes that it was meant as a recognition not only of his personal services, but of those of all who were in the Camel Corps; and adds this high testimony: ‘And well do they deserve this recognition of their services. For we had lots of hard, tedious work, and never once all the time I was in command had I to speak a second time to either officers or men. Each seemed to take pleasure in doing what he had to do, and in assisting me in every way.’[316]