PERSIA—INDIA—1817–1862.
Escaping from the tedious details of peaceful service which for upwards of forty years mark the history of the Seventy-eighth, we now follow that gallant regiment to India—the scene of its early glory, and since embalmed in our memory, as presenting the most splendid testimony to its heroic character.
INDIA.
In 1857 we find it transferred from Bombay to Persia, and engaged in the expedition destined to chastise its vainglorious and presumptuous monarch. An easy triumph crowned the efforts of our arms. At Koosh-ab the Seventy-eighth was present with credit; although that success was achieved rather by diligent perseverance in long marches and battling with inclement weather, than by any very remarkable feat of arms. This name and that of “Persia” were gained for the regimental colour during the campaign, in scenery hallowed by sacred memories, being supposed to be the site of the garden of Eden.
But we hasten to look upon a darker picture—to find our Indian empire on the verge of ruin, convulsed as in the agonies of dissolution; its native military, whom we had trusted and boasted, become traitors; their smothered vengeance, cherished through years of duplicity, bursting forth to deluge our vast dominion, and almost wrest it from us by a cruel rebellion; all that once gloried in the very name of British doomed by an unpitying and relentless revenge to utter destruction, consigned to be the subjects of a gigantic perfidy. The mine had exploded, and awful were the horrors of the tragedy it revealed! Helplessness consumed by the devouring sword; beauty wasted by demons of lust and passion; hopeless bravery sacrificed to satisfy a bloody appetite—whilst with fiendish shouts the villains gloated over the murders in which their hands were embrued and which stained their souls, and rejoiced in the atrocities they had committed.
Never was the British soldier placed in circumstances so trying, and never did he display such heroism—a heroism which, equal to the emergency, was alone able to deliver him from the foul conspiracy of 150,000 armed and trained rebels, who encircled him and thirsted vehemently for his blood.
Delhi, the great central tower of rebellious strength, was the scene of months of hard fighting and sore privation; but over all these British valour triumphing, was rewarded in the reduction of that important stronghold, and the utter discomfiture of its daring defenders. But Lucknow reversed the picture. There we find the British besieged by a countless host of the enemy; there we regard a handful of brave men resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, rather than yield to the ruthless rebels who in multitudes encompassed the Residency. To save the brave garrison from the terrible fate which threatened them, and release the crowd of starving and emaciated women and children who, claiming the protection of the soldier, had found shelter there—to save and relieve these, a little army might have been seen advancing by rapid marches, encountering the greatest dangers, and eagerly pressing onwards to avenge their slaughtered friends. Stirred to marvellous achievements by the appalling traces of massacre perpetrated on the helpless and innocent, and which were too apparent all around—roused to heroic action, nerved to meet death or conquer in the awful and unequal struggle, the little army of Brigadier-General Havelock pressed vigorously forward to help and to avenge. It comprised of European Troops: The third company of the eighth battalion of Royal Artillery, (76 men); the First Madras Fusiliers, (376 men); the Sixty-fourth Regiment of Foot, (435 men); the Seventy-eighth Highlanders, (284 men); the Eighty-fourth Regiment of foot, (190 men); Bengal Artillery, (22 men); Volunteer Cavalry, (20 men). Native Troops: Ferozepore Regiment, (448 men); the Thirteenth Irregular, and the Third Oude Irregular Cavalry, (95 men); Galundauze (18 men).
From Cawnpore the rebels had pushed forward to Futtehpore, purposing to destroy a small detachment of British under Major Renaul, but these having succeeded in effecting a timeous junction with the army of Havelock, the mutineers, amounting to 3,500, were encountered by that chief, and in a few minutes totally routed. The victory was ascribed by the conqueror “to the British artillery, to the Enfield rifle, to British pluck, and to the blessing of Almighty God.”
On the 15th July Brigadier-General Havelock came up with the enemy first at the village of Aeng, and next at the bridge over the Pandoo Nudee, and was successful in each instance. Anew in position under Nena Sahib (Doondoo Punt), the rebels made a momentary stand at Ahirwa, but were immediately defeated by a brilliant charge of our Highlanders. The arch-traitor Nena Sahib, finding himself closely pressed by the British column, and unable to defend Cawnpore, retired from that fortress, after having, with savage barbarity, massacred the women and children who by the foulest perfidy had fallen into his power. The remains of these victims of his cruelty were afterwards discovered in the bottom of a well; and the horrors of the tragedy are said so to have moved the soul of our Highlanders, that, vowing an oath of vengeance on the blood-stained spot, they were stirred to redeem it on subsequent occasions. Pursuing the enemy in the course of his memorable march to Lucknow, Havelock defeated a strong body of rebels gathered near Unao. Thrice he attacked, and thrice he routed the mutineers who had as often congregated at Busherut Gunge, and once at Bithoor. Cholera attacking the British troops, so crippled the little army that, surrounded by foes, Havelock was compelled to delay his further advance until reinforced by Sir James Outram. On the arrival of these fresh troops on 16th September, the command, by seniority, devolved upon Sir James Outram; but with a chivalrous feeling highly to be admired, that excellent officer waived his claim, desiring Major-General Havelock to finish the good work he had so well begun and was so nigh gloriously completing, Sir James serving in subordination as a volunteer.