Compiled & Drawn by Captn H. M. Moorsom, Rifle Brigade.
E. Weller, Litho.
London, Chatto & Windus.
PLAN OF
CAWNPORE
in 1857.
I have now to trace the march of Fyers’ detachment of three companies, Captains the Hon. B. R. Pellew’s (commanded by Lieutenant Grey[273]), Warren’s, and the Hon. L. W. Milles’,[274] whom we saw were together with Woodford’s detachment at Allahabad. They marched from Lohunga at midnight on the 23rd-24th in charge of Commissariat stores; rum, rice, sugar and ammunition on donkeys. They marched about sixteen miles, and halted under a tope of trees till about two the next morning; when they proceeded to Futtehpore, about sixteen miles further, the stores in their charge being a great impediment to their progress. They left Futtehpore again on the 26th, and marched about seventeen miles. As the men were pitching their tents, a messenger on a camel (the same who had met Woodford) came in with a pencil note from General Windham, addressed to the officer commanding the detachment, urging him to make all speed, as troops were wanted. The few tents already pitched were immediately struck. Fyers placed the stores he was escorting in charge of the police, and directed the men to carry only what was absolutely necessary. After a halt of three hours in making these arrangements, he started again, placing the most footsore and the sick on elephants, and marched the men, weary as they already were, about nineteen miles further, allowing them short halts at intervals. Many of the men were so fatigued that when a ‘halt’ was sounded, they fell asleep almost as soon as they lay down on the ground. After a halt about midnight for one hour, during which a ration of rum was issued, falling in again, they marched forward till the morning, when Fyers gave them another halt of an hour to prepare some breakfast. Having had some tea and biscuit, they started again very weary and footsore; but now the sound of heavy guns and the rattle of musketry quickened the men. They pushed forward with increased vigour, and arrived at Cawnpore when the troops were retiring. They found the force engaged there in full retreat; a mixed multitude of soldiers and civilians, these last carrying property of various kinds, and endeavouring to make their way to the intrenchment.
The distance from Futtehpore to Cawnpore is forty-eight miles and three-quarters. It was marched in about twenty-six hours, the first stage with all the impediment of the convoy of stores. The men were wearing the European dress: cloth clothes and shakos. The march of this detachment has never been exceeded in endurance and rapidity; and Dr. Reade, who accompanied it, states that ‘all were well able for any service when the march was over.’ It strikingly resembles in more points than one the march of the 1st Battalion (with the Light Division) from Calzada to Talavera in 1809. It differs from it in this, that Fyers’ detachment came up in time to take part in the fight of which the sounds had quickened their advance.
For on reaching Cawnpore Windham met them, on his way from the front to the intrenchment, whither all were retreating; and putting himself at their head, he led them through the streets, ordering Fyers to fix swords, and prepare to defend the intrenchment. This they did well, gaining the high praise of General Windham, who then and long afterwards expressed in strong terms how important the arrival and the action of these companies had been to him. Footsore and weary as they were on their march, their fatigue was forgotten as soon as the sounds of fight told them that work was to be done; and they fought in Cawnpore and in defence of the intrenchment as if they were fresh from their camp. When they got to the intrenchment they were refreshed with an issue of grog, biscuits and tea, after which they were despatched on outpost duty: another parallel to the march to Talavera.
On this day Ensign Travers was wounded by a bullet in the shoulder, 2 sergeants and 4 men were also wounded.[275]
The companies took up their position for the night in a ruined house.