Camp, Shumshabad, January 7th.—Here we are on the move again! Colonel Hope's brigade, consisting of the 42d and 73d Highlanders, 2d Punjaub Infantry, a Royal Artillery battery, two guns Bengal H. A., a squadron of Lancers, and half my men—a splendid little force with nothing to do I fear but pull down houses, the owners of which have all escaped. We are only a few miles from the place to which we pursued the enemy from Puttialee, and had Colonel Seaton been allowed to push on then, we should have caught and punished these rascals as they deserved. Brigadier Hope is a very fine fellow and a pleasant; about my age, or younger if anything, though, of course, longer in the army. When he knows more of India he will do very well indeed, I should think. Wise, Macdowell, Gough the younger, and a Mr. Cockerell, are with me. I can make out nothing of our probable plans, or rather of the Chief's. "Waiting for orders" seems to be the order of the day. If something is not speedily decided, the hot weather will be on us before our work is over, and this would tell terribly on us all.
Camp, Kaimgunge, January 8th.—We remain here to-morrow, and then return, I fancy, to head-quarters. I can bear up manfully against absence and separation when we are actually doing anything; but when I see nothing doing towards an end, I confess my heart sinks, and my spirit hungers after rest. I should be very, very glad if dear Maynard would make up her mind to join you. It would be a real comfort to me to think that we had been able to do anything towards contributing to her peace or comfort. Independently of my sincere regard for her, she is her father's daughter, and I owe him too much gratitude and reverence not to desire to show it in every way to all of the name and blood of Thomason.
Kaimgunge, January 10th.—Our time has been taken up with riding about the country after Whippoorwills, which elude our search and grasp, the only consolation being fine exercise in a fine country. Will you ask Lord W. Hay whether, if the report of his going home be true, he will resell me the mules? I should be most thankful to get them again, and twice the number; they are much better for baggage than ponies, carry larger loads, and do not knock up so soon.
Camp, Futtehgurh, January 12th.—We returned from our brief expedition this morning, not having effected much, though we frightened many, I have no doubt. I was just talking to Colonel Hope (himself an old 60th man), about my dear good friend Douglas, when I got your letter inclosing his most welcome one. How rejoiced I shall be if he returns to India with his battalion! I quite long to see him once more. Indeed, as time goes on, old ties of affection and friendship seem to unite themselves more intimately with newer and dearer ones, and my heart pines more and more for home and all which nought but home can give.
Futtehgurh, January 14th.—I was unhappily so much delayed by a tedious review yesterday morning, and an interview with the Chief afterwards, that I did not get to my tent till after post-time, though I am thankful to say I found some very precious missives,—the dear girls' letters were a treat indeed, and gave me very real pleasure. I am beginning to hope that I shall have my previous services recognized; for although I do not know that any record of the promise of a majority was down in Leadenhall Street, still Lord Dalhousie's promise was distinct, and there is evidently every desire on our present Chief's part to do me justice. You ask about my position here, and do not quite understand how the safety of the camp can depend on my vigilance. This referred not to this camp, but to Colonel Seaton's (now at last a Brigadier), where I not only was Assistant Quartermaster-General, but had all the outposts to furnish. Here I am desired to continue my intelligence business; but there is another officer (Captain Bruce) actually in charge of the department. I suppose it is intended rather to employ me when detached from the main force, as the other day under Brigadier Hope. However, I am at present in charge of all in Captain Bruce's absence, and my continuing it or not depends very much on circumstances. Nothing can be kinder or more cordial than the Commander-in-Chief and General Mansfield. We seem destined to halt here at present; half the day has been occupied in changing ground. So when one can't get one's tent pitched till 1 or 2 p. m., there is little time for writing for a post closing at 5, considering that business and eating and washing have to be performed. I must try and write more to-night.
Camp on the Ramgunga, January 15th.—I left off my last letter with a promised intention of writing more last night, but the result of dining with the Chief was, that I was kept up so late and had to rise so early that I was fain to carry my weary limbs to bed at once. We have been occupied all day in getting down here from the big camp at Futtehgurh some ten miles off, so that I am again perforce obliged to renew instead of fulfilling my promise. You will hear of me before this reaches you; General Grant and Majors Norman and Turner having taken wing to Umbâla for a few days. They have had no holiday since May, and heartily deserved one, though I must confess I did feel a little envious when I saw them off. What would not I give for home once more!
We are here to force a passage across the Ramgunga, a confluent of the Ganges on the road to Bareilly; but it does not follow that we shall go there when the passage is open. Brigadier Walpole commands, and we have enough troops to eat up Rohilcund; whether we (i.e., my regiment) partake of the "finish" in Oude or not, no one can pretend to foretell.
Colonel Becher will be at Umbâla soon, on his way home. You will be kind to him I am sure, both because you like him personally, and because he has been most kind and considerate to me. It was very ungracious as well as ungraceful, that his name was not mentioned in the Despatches as it ought to have been; but he is not the only one who has cause to complain of the "ungraciousness" of our Delhi General.
Camp on the Ramgunga, January 17th.—We are still in the same undignified attitude of looking at nothing and doing as little; but the halt has been very useful to me in the way of getting through business, and I have hardly stirred from my table all day. The plundering propensities of some of my men have given me much occupation and annoyance, as I always feel that the ill-conduct of a regiment must more or less reflect on the officers. The rascals will not discriminate between an enemy's property, which is fair game, and that of the villagers and cultivators of the soil. I have several times been obliged to bring them up with a sharp hand to save myself from discredit. I sent three sowars to-day to the Brigadier with evidence and proof enough to hang them, but he begged me to dispose of the matter summarily myself; but as I did not choose to be judge, jury, and hangman all in one, they saved their lives at the expense of their backs, though I believe the punishment was greater to me than to them, for I abhor flogging, and never resort to it but in the extremest cases. Still I must be obeyed by these wild hordes coute qui coute; and when reason and argument fail, they must learn that I will not weakly refrain from sterner measures. I am happy to find Sir Colin ready to back me à l'outrance so as to maintain discipline. Have you written to our dear friends Napier and Prendergast yet? The latter is in Calcutta with his bride long ago. Sir James Outram and Napier have given Mister Pandy a glorious thrashing at Alumbagh. Hurrah!
January 19th.—I had to go over to see the Chief, yesterday, and did not return till night. I also saw good Colonel Seaton and Becher, who (the last) starts in a day or two for home and England. I did know about Mr. Wemyss's good appointment, for Sir Colin good-naturedly gave me the letter to take to him. Wemyss is a lucky fellow, and will, I hope, do credit to his luck. I only wish I had some family interest to bring into play; my lieutenant-colonelcy would be certain. H. Maxwell is to be the new Adjutant of my dear old regiment, and ought to make a good one; there is no one now with the regiment who has any experience of the work, and Maxwell is more likely to learn than many; he has grown such a tall handsome fellow since we saw him at Benares, and is said to be a fine soldier in the field. Mac has a letter from Lord William speaking with enthusiasm of the conduct of some of the ladies during the Simla panics. He does not seem to be the only one who thinks that heroism in the hills is confined to the weaker sex. I am working to get some pay as Assistant Quartermaster-General, in addition to my pay as commandant, which the pay officer objects to, on the ground that one man cannot draw the pay of two offices. They should have had two men to do it then; for I worked like a slave, and the laborer is worthy of his hire. I saw and had a long talk with your "charming" Mr. Raikes yesterday.