The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95th

by William Henry Cope

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.