_1858. THE AZIMGHUR FIELD FORCE_
The force extemporised--Jounpore--Tigra--Azimghur--Prestige--
Casualties--Pursuing column--Mr. Venables--Night march--Painful
news--Ghazepore--Recross the Ganges--Arrah--Preparations--Beheea--
Jugdispore--Resting--Jungle fight--Chitowrah--Heat and exhaustion--
Work under difficulties--Our commissariat lost--Peroo--Bivouac--
Return to camp--Threatened attack--Village destroyed--Our physical
condition--Dhuleeppore--Preparing for attack--Guns recaptured--A sad
duty performed--Sick and wounded--Messenger mutilated--Keishwa--
Slaughter--Force to Buxar--Non-effectives--The force ceases to
exist--General orders, thanks, and batta.
The task of the 10th was looked upon as finished; the regiment had
been sixteen years in India, the entire period continuously in the
plains. With an expression of glee on the part of the men was the
order received to commence our homeward march,--that is, to proceed
towards Calcutta, there to embark for England. On the 28th of March
the regiment turned its back on Lucknow; after several hours of weary
progress it reached its camping ground. About midnight we were roused
from slumber by the arrival of a cavalry escort and Staff Officer, with
orders that the regiment should march forthwith towards Goorsagunge,
there to form part of a field force under command of Brigadier-General
Lugard, its object to raise what had become the siege of Azimghur by
the combined rebel forces just mentioned. Before ten o’clock on the
29th our soldiers, to use their own expression, had “done twenty-eight
miles of road, heel and toe,” disappointed at the unexpected change in
destination, but also, in their own phrase, “ready for the new work
cut out for them.” Other portions of what was to be the Azimghur Field
Force[188] quickly reached the appointed rendezvous, and the process
of organization was complete. Then we learned that the combined rebel
force under Koer Singh surrounded Azimghur; that a body of British,
while _en route_ thither from Benares, had suffered severely while
in conflict with them; that therefore the rapid advance of that under
General Lugard was urgently called for.
Continuing our march from day to day, we traversed much of the route by
which our advance upon Lucknow had recently lain, it being marked by
whitened bones of men slain, ruins of villages, and huts destroyed by
fire; otherwise no event worth notice occurred until the 9th of April,
by which date we had reached Budlapore. On the morning of that day our
force marched from its camp at 2 a.m., proceeding thence direct to
Jounpore, a distance of twenty miles. There information was received
that the rebel troops around Azimghur were commanded by Mendhee Hussun,
Koer Singh being present with them.
Men and animals, tired out by fatiguing marches, were equally
constrained to make one day’s halt. On the morning of the 11th
information led General Lugard to deviate from the regular route and
proceed towards Tigra, situated on our left, adjoining the left side
of the river Goomtee, the rebels under Gholam Hussun being reported
to have there taken up a position. A reconnoitring party speedily
discovered the point taken up by about 500 rebels with two guns; they
were at once attacked by our irregular cavalry, eighty of their number
killed, the remainder dispersed, though this small affair lost the life
of Lieutenant Havelock, cousin of our Adjutant.
Another day’s halt to rest our men and animals; the heat already
severe, 102° F. in our tents. Resuming our progress, our force arrived
within striking distance of Azimghur after darkness of the night had
closed in, and bivouacked on the position assigned to us, the rebels
for some time disturbing our rest by their bullets that kept dropping
among our ranks. With dawn on the 15th the several members of our body
militant were at their posts, prepared for the work before them. As the
10th moved forward past a strip of dense jungle that skirts the river
Tonse, a smart fire was opened upon us from the thicket, as also from a
grove at some distance across that stream. The first of these positions
was at once attacked by our artillery, the infantry rapidly following;
by means of a dilapidated bridge hastily repaired, some cavalry and
artillery got across and so attacked the second. Other portions of our
force were engaged with similar activity at the points assigned to
them respectively, the result being, that after losing considerably in
their numbers, the rebels fled pell-mell, and as we entered the city
only some of their killed and wounded were anywhere met with. It was
subsequently found that they had lost some guns, much equipage and
stores, and that, under command of Koer Singh, they were in full flight
towards the Ganges.
When, as already mentioned, the rebels from their position in the
jungle opened fire upon the 10th, the demeanour of our men, hardened
as they were by long service in India, and accustomed to the work of
war, was such as vividly to illustrate the advantages of having old
soldiers under such circumstances. Although taken by surprise, our men
wavered not; with equanimity our Colonel,[189] as he turned towards
them, said, “Steady, men, steady.” There was a sharp fire of musketry
into the brushwood, instantly followed by a charge with the bayonet;
native voices were heard as the sepoys recognised the soldiers they
had to deal with, calling to their comrades, “_Bhago, bhago bhai, dus
pultan aya_” (Run, brothers, run; the 10th have come). A minute more,
and those who escaped bayonet thrusts by our men were in rapid flight.
Resulting from the day’s encounter a considerable number of dead had
to be interred, and wounded attended to. For the latter accommodation
had to be procured, as well as for our sick, whose numbers had been
rendered considerable by the great fatigue and exposure undergone
during our recent long and arduous marches. As a guard to those so
provided for, as well as to hold the city now in our power against
further attack, and leave our force unencumbered for further action,
the 34th was detailed to fulfil both duties.
A column under command of Brigadier Douglas started in pursuit of the
body of rebels directly under Koer Singh. They having made a stand
against Douglas as soon as the first panic of defeat had somewhat
subsided, the pursuing column was on 17th reinforced by additional
artillery, cavalry, and part of the 84th. Within a few hours thereafter
the sound of active firing told us what was taking place; then the
arrival of wounded men declared that serious work was being done. In
due time we learned that the rebels had been defeated, a hundred of
their number killed, and one of their guns captured.
Among the wounded so brought in was Mr. Venables, an indigo planter,
a typical representative of the rough, ready, and energetic men who
collectively become the makers of Greater Britain. Mr. Venables had,
by his own force of character, prevented open revolt in the district
of Azimghur after the 17th N.I. had mutinied, and, by means of levies
raised and commanded by himself, repelled an attack by the latter;
subsequently on various occasions he was in actual conflict against
the rebels. Gangrene of the wounded shoulder took place, and within a
very short time his death occurred, much to the sorrow and regret of
those of us with whom he had been associated. After his death it was
discovered that he wore upon his bosom the wedding ring of his deceased
wife. She had died at Azimghur, and now his body was laid in a grave
close to the remains of her for whom his affection was manifest in
tangible form.
On the 23rd General Lugard learned that notwithstanding their recent
defeat the rebels under Koer Singh were advancing, as if to threaten
Ghazepore. At 9 p.m. our force was in motion towards them. The night
march was long and trying; for some hours our way was enlivened by
the clear moonlight, but the air was hot and sultry. Occasional halts
were necessary to enable the men to rest for a little, and refresh
themselves with draughts of water. Arrived at Mohumdee next morning,
several hours elapsed before camp equipage arrived and tents were
pitched, for as on various previous occasions our men outmarched their
transport train. There news reached camp that Koer Singh had so far
succeeded that nearly all the men commanded by him had got across the
Ganges; but that Douglas, having arrived and opened fire upon them
from the left bank, their chief had been severely wounded,[190] and of
themselves many put _hors de combat_.
Later in the day the painful news circulated in camp that a small
force, composed of men of 35th, the Naval Brigade, and some Sikhs, sent
from Arrah to intercept the rebels then in rapid flight from the Ganges
to Jugdispore, had met with disaster at their hands. The force referred
to was that under the command of Captain Le Grand, 35th Regiment.
Two successive marches during the hottest period of each day, and we
were at Ghazepore. Officers and men, forced by reason of seasonal
temperature to dispense with outer uniform, wore only _khakee_ trousers
and woollen shirts, the sleeves turned up for sake of comfort. Thus
equipped, dusty, and grimy, our aspect presented a sorry contrast to
the neat and in some instances elegant turn-out of men and women who
rode out from cantonments to see our force march into camp.
Resuming the march next morning, the occurrence of a rain storm
drenched us, but even that was an agreeable relief in the great heat
and dust heretofore prevailing. No halt took place, but throughout that
day and following night our wearied men continued what was indeed their
forced march. By daylight on May 2 we arrived at Synhee Ghat. There,
by means of steamers ready for the purpose, the work of crossing the
Ganges rapidly proceeded, and by 9 a.m. we were in the Arrah district.
We were now reunited to the column which under Douglas had been
recently sent on from Azimghur, it having succeeded in preventing Koer
Singh’s men from falling upon Arrah after inflicting on a small body of
our troops the disaster already mentioned.
Not until the 4th were all our stores and equipment transferred to the
right side of the river, and our force in readiness for further work.
The following morning our camp was pitched at Arrah,[191] and thus an
opportunity afforded us to visit places in and around that station with
which some recent painful events were associated. A building occupied
a few months past by a civil servant now presented the appearance of
a star-shaped fort from the embrasures of which the muzzles of guns
projected; masses of ruins told where other bungalows had been. There
stood the small fortified house, its walls loopholed and battered by
rebel bullets, a memorial of the gallant defence made by Herwald Wake
and his few comrades until relieved by Major Eyre. At a little distance
eastward from the city is the scene of the great disaster of July
30, already alluded to more than once; the road by which our men had
marched, bordered on either side by isolated houses, at one spot by
a clump of “toddy” palms, at another by a tope of mango trees; there
the Hindoo temples at which, it was said, certain of our men on that
occasion were offered as sacrifices to Kali; there the trees on which
others were hung, though, as expressed by those on the spot, the events
referred to are as far as possible “hushed up.”
Information reached General Lugard that the rebels in considerable
force had taken up a position at Jugdispore. He resolved to march upon
and attack them without unnecessary delay. All extra establishment and
equipment was left to be retained in store; sick and men otherwise
non-effective eliminated; commissariat and transport suited for service
on which we were about to enter, alone set apart for the purpose;
mobility and efficiency the two qualities held in view.
In the lightest possible marching order our advance began on May 27.
While it was yet dark, thirteen miles of road were got over; two
more after daybreak, we then arrived at our intended camping ground;
our only incident the capture of a spy,[192] in the act of counting
the numbers and noting the composition of our column. The rebels had
determined to oppose us _en route_. For that purpose they took up a
position in a tract of jungle through which the road extended near
Beheea; there our artillery opened fire upon them, and thence they were
quickly expelled. The aspect of the sky portended a dust storm; it was
now upon us with all the usual violence of such meteors, the air so
laden with dust that for a time all was dark. Then came a deluge of
rain, soaking us completely, converting the hitherto parched ground
into a swamp, but reducing the temperature from 100° to 85°. As the sky
became clear, a strong body of rebels were observed advancing towards
us. At once a party was dispatched against them; brisk fire by the
artillery, then our cavalry dashed in among them; they broke up and
soon disappeared in the jungle. All through next night the camp was on
the alert; pickets patrolled in all directions. In early morning of the
9th our advance was resumed.
During the march parties of rebels hovered on either flank, but at a
safe distance from our column. As we neared the town of Jugdispore the
enemy advanced upon us from front and flanks. When they came within
striking distance, our column, already prepared for such an emergency,
took the initiative; our men, to use their own expression, “went at
them with a will.” Before sunset that town, together with the palace of
Koer Singh, were in our possession.
The 10th was a day of comparative quiet; men had to rest after their
arduous work; those prostrated by heat and fatigue be attended to,
information obtained regarding movements of the fugitive enemy, and
arrangements made for further action against them. While our force was
thus enjoying comparative quiet, news reached our commander that the
rebels had taken up a position at Chitowrah, situated deep in a dense
jungle, some seven miles distant from our present camp; that a column
comprising the 6th Regiment was in a position near Peroo to co-operate
with us; that the column under Sir Hugh Rose was steadily closing
around Jhansi; and that in Rohilcund our troops had obtained several
important successes.
In the forenoon of the 11th a sufficient guard for its protection
being left in camp, a strong body[193] of our force marched to attack
the rebel position at Chitowrah. It had not proceeded more than three
miles when an earthwork across the road for a short time interrupted
progress; that obstacle overcome, a heavy fire from the dense jungle on
our flanks and front opened upon us. As a reply our artillery opened
with grape, after which skirmishers dashed into the thick forest,
with the result that they carried all before them; but pursuit was
impossible by reason of its density.
The heat of the day, great as it was in the open ground, was
overpowering while we traversed the forest already mentioned. It
was fortunate for all of us that this contingency had been foreseen
and provided for by General Lugard; skins full of water, carried by
elephants, camels, and bullocks, forming part of our equipment on
the occasion. At short intervals of time and distance, soldiers and
officers indiscriminately placed themselves under the open mouths of
those skins, had their heads and clothing drenched; then continuing
their march until the hot wind effected complete evaporation, they
again and again underwent a similar ordeal. Nevertheless, many
staggered, some fell from heat and exhaustion, others gasped for
breath. Considerable numbers had to be brought along in doolies; among
those so prostrated was Colonel Fenwick.[194] Exhausted as we were, it
was fortunate for us that our enemies were wanting in resolution to
take advantage of our condition.
Wearied and fatigued as were men and officers, little in the way
of food was needed. Tea--that ever-agreeable beverage under such
circumstances--was about the only thing obtainable at the time. Rest
was out of the question during the night. Impressions of the day’s
work, repeated _pings_ of musketry from the adjoining jungle, the thud
of bullets on the ruined walls among which we lay, the occasional
arrival of wounded men,--all combined to banish sleep; while to those
engaged in looking after sick and wounded, whose numbers had become
considerable, their work left them worn out and exhausted.
Daylight of the 12th revealed to us the scene of action. In jungle
recesses mangled corpses; in the ruins, now utilised as “barracks” for
effectives, and hospital for those struck down, whether by wounds or
sickness, heavy moans of the suffering were intermingled with coarse
jests of their more fortunate comrades. The unpleasant fact transpired
that our commissariat supplies had fallen into the hands of the rebels,
while the force was engaged against them in the jungle as already
mentioned. Breakfast for men and officers became a meal more nominal
than real; orders were issued for the march to be resumed southward,
so that our force might the more effectively co-operate with another
making its way from that direction.
Early in the afternoon our force was on its march towards Peroo, with
a view to effect that junction. As we advanced, the forest became less
and less dense; emerging therefrom into open country, the burnt remains
of huts and villages were passed. Some stray shots reached us from
small concealed bodies of the enemy, but these were quickly silenced
by parties of our men detached for that purpose. Without opposition in
more serious form we arrived, while it was still daylight, at a mango
tope, in which we bivouacked for the night, all necessary precautions
being first taken against surprise. During that night a thunderstorm
burst over us; this was followed by heavy downpour of rain, which
soaked us to a degree that made sorry objects of us, situated as we
then were, and at the same time reduced the ground that formed our beds
to the condition of a marsh.
A raid was made upon cattle and rice, both of which were found among
some ruined huts; the former were shot, and with the latter cooked,
the meal thus provided being savoury or otherwise according to whether
individuals had or had not in their haversacks a small reserve of salt.
At dawn next morning a strong party was detached to bring in supplies
sent on to us from camp. It was not long before that escort was engaged
with the rebels by whom it was attacked _en route_, and having defeated
them, proceeded to obtain the needed supplies, with which in due time
it returned to us. As a part of that escort were some young soldiers
of the 6th Foot, recently arrived from the Cape of Good Hope. On their
arrival back from that duty they were in so exhausted a condition
that when time arrived to break up our bivouac they had to be removed
by means of bullock-carts, elephants, and gun-carriages; the older
soldiers of the same party, though much exhausted, were able to resume
the march with their respective companies.
In the great heat now prevailing, the distance of nineteen miles that
separated us from our standing camp was got over by ten o’clock that
day; many so exhausted that, unable to keep up with the column, they
followed as best they could, arriving as so many stragglers, but
fortunately for them, unmolested and undiscovered by the rebels. During
the absence of our column, our camp, left under protection of the 84th,
was threatened by the rebels, who, however, were easily beaten off.
An attempt, made by men engaged for the purpose, to burn down the
jungle--work in which had already cost us the lives of many men--was
but partially successful. While at one point this was in progress, from
another came indications of attack by a considerable body of well-armed
rebels. The 10th were quickly in movement towards them, a few of their
bullets telling among our ranks. Soon, however, the enemy disappeared
in the dense forest, our men returning to the comparative quiet and
“comfort” of their tents.
Short was the rest enjoyed by them. On the third day an attack from
our side was directed upon two villages occupied by the rebels in our
near vicinity. Similar attacks on other villages succeeded each other;
a convoy with supplies from our base at Arrah arrived; attempts on a
larger scale than heretofore to burn down the forest were made, but
unsuccessfully; and so, with the hot season upon us, did all concerned
try their best to carry out the general work we had to do.
Some idea of the physical condition of our troops may best be gathered
from the particulars now to be given. Soon after the middle of May
fevers and bowel disorders had become very prevalent among them; in
other ways they suffered severely from the prevailing heat and fatigue.
As to myself, according to my diary, “from the time I became attacked
at Azimghur, I have found it impossible to throw off my illness, and
now am exhausted and debilitated to a great degree by the continued
heat. Were it not my duty to hold out for the benefit of my wife and
children, I would certainly apply for sick leave.” By that time,
although our force had been only ten days in the field and jungle near
Jugdispore, the number of non-effectives was so great as to seriously
impair its efficiency and mobility; as many of these as could be so
disposed of were accordingly sent under strong cavalry escort to Arrah.
Cases of sunstroke were of occasional occurrence, though far less so
than we had expected. Our transport suffered scarcely, if at all, in
a less degree than our men, thus still further adding to the daily
increasing difficulties under which we were expected to act as an
efficient force. Another phase of our difficulties arose from the want
of vegetables as part of our food. From the day when we first took the
field supplies in this respect have been absent, the result being that
men and officers are more or less suffering from land scurvy.
On the 20th our force made an attack on the village of Dhuleeppore,
recently destroyed, but in the ruins of which a body of rebels had
assembled. The result of that attack was discomfiture to them, though,
unhappily, unusually heavy loss to the assailants.
Then followed a few days of comparative rest to our men; but meanwhile
the rebels re-occupied the position from which so recently they had
been driven. Arrangements were accordingly made for a renewed attack on
that place.
At daylight on the 20th our force was in motion: one portion by a road
just within the skirt of jungle, a second along the plain on which the
affair of a few days before took place. As they drew close upon the
rebel position, fire was opened from two howitzers captured on the
occasion of the disaster to the party under Captain Le Grand already
mentioned. Three rounds were fired before the 10th and 84th were
able “to get at” the rebels. Once among them, the guns were quickly
recaptured, many of the gunners killed, the rebels in flight. Our men
returned to their tents.
Our camp ground had become so offensive, and otherwise objectionable,
that, leaving for a time a body of our force sufficiently strong to
hold its own in case of emergency, the larger portion, under orders
by General Lugard, proceeded to take up a fresh position. The move
involved a march of four miles and upwards. While _en route_ we
traversed the scene of Le Grand’s disaster. Isolated bones, some partly
gnawed, lay scattered about; fragments of utensils of sorts strewed the
surface,--sad relics, in their several ways, of the episode referred
to. A halt was made; the fragments of what had been gallant men
carefully collected and most reverently interred. We then resumed our
way.
The numbers of sick and wounded had now exceeded the capacity of our
transport; it became a matter of necessity to get rid of them, so
that the force might be left ready prepared for further action. Being
provided with a strong cavalry escort, I started with a full convoy
of such non-effectives. We traversed a piece of country directly in
front of the rebels, halting under the shelter of a mango tope during
the hottest hours of daylight; resumed the journey at nightfall, and
reached Arrah before daybreak. There the sick and wounded were disposed
of in hospital; our return journey quickly resumed, and without
adventure we were again with our force in time for further work.
A few days prior to the date now reached, a messenger had been sent
with dispatches from General Lugard to the officer in command of a
column co-operating with his own. The man presented a sorry plight as
he returned to camp; his nose cut off, his right hand severed at the
wrist, his face and other parts of his person besmeared with blood,
himself faint, bewildered, and dazed. After a time he related the
story of his capture. He had reached his destination without mishap,
had delivered the dispatches of which he was bearer, received those
in reply, and started on his return journey with them. While passing
through a rebel village on his way he was arrested, his papers taken
from him, he himself ordered for execution, as traitor and spy. On the
plea that in the state of mutilation inflicted upon him his appearance
would be more deterrent among possible waverers in the rebel cause than
would be the fact of his being put to death, the extreme penalty was
commuted.
A body of rebels having destroyed an indigo factory and taken up a
position at Kishwa, our force started at 3 a.m. on the 2nd of June
towards that point. As we approached it, a heavy though happily
ineffectual fire was opened against our ranks. The 10th marched
steadily onwards. The rebels did not long remain to permit our men to
close with them; pell-mell they fled, the Madras guns sending several
charges of grape-shot after them, the cavalry then taking up the
pursuit. We afterwards bivouacked in the open.
Driven thence, the rebels returned to their former position at
Chitowrah. By daylight on the 4th of June our force advanced upon them
in two separate columns: the one along the narrow jungle road already
mentioned; the other, under the command of Brigadier Douglas, by the
southern border of the same jungle. As we neared the densest part of
forest, in the heart of which lay that hunting seat of Koer Singh, we
suddenly found ourselves exposed in a semi-circle of fire in front
and both our flanks; fortunately without much damage to our numbers.
There was a momentary halt, then a cheer, and into the forest dashed
the 10th, trusting to their bayonets rather than their rifle fire. The
rebels fled, at first through and from the thicket whence their attack
had been made, our men following close upon them; next, through ruins
of houses and enclosures; through a cactus hedge, across an open plain,
our soldiers gaining upon them in the race, the result being a loss to
our enemies of ninety-four, fallen by bayonet thrust of our regiment
alone. Wearied and exhausted, a short rest had to be allowed to men
and officers. In our return journey towards camp we again traversed
the ground over which the running fight described had taken place; the
rebels killed in the early part of the day were represented by so many
masses of skeletons, blood covered, some few shreds of flesh still
adhering, thus telling what had been the work done in the interval by
jackals, dogs, and vultures.
The immediate result of the rebel defeat at Chitowrah was that their
force divided itself into small parties, each of which seemed to
proceed on its own initiative, some as marauders, others with the
apparent object of making for Buxar, and thence across the Ganges.
With a view to act against the latter, a portion of our force, reduced
as it now was by casualties and sickness, was placed under command of
Brigadier Douglas, and proceeded on the duty assigned to it.
To the regret of all associated with him, General Lugard completely
broke down in health; several of the officers were ill or had been
invalided; the numbers of our soldiers who had become non-effective
was very large. Under the circumstances in which we were thus placed,
the fact became evident that unless it was intended by the responsible
authorities that our force should be permitted to melt away and so
cease to exist, a speedy return to cantonments was necessary to
preserve that portion which still existed of its component elements.
Great, therefore, was the relief with which, in obedience to orders
to return to cantonments, we marched away from Jugdispore on June
15. Our first day’s march was no more than six miles long. Our men,
however, had no longer the stimulus of expected fight to brace them
up; many fell out _en route_, to come in as stragglers during the
day. Continuing our journey, we once again passed through Arrah, then
crossed the Soane, marching into quarters at Dinapore on the 19th of
that month. The Azimghur Field Force had done the work assigned to it,
and now ceased to exist as such.
The arrival of General Orders,[195] in which were contained the
official dispatches relating to work performed by the force of which
we had so recently formed a part, became naturally enough an event of
importance to most of us, gratification to some, disappointment to
others. Much praise was accorded to the 10th Regiment, as a whole, for
arduous work efficiently done, and special reference made to individual
officers whose services were “mentioned” in those dispatches. Paragraph
19 of the Orders in question gave the report by Sir Edward Lugard
thus: “I beg most especially to recommend to His Excellency’s notice
---- [myself], Surgeon of the 10th Foot and Senior Medical Officer
in charge of this force; his exertions have been untiring; though at
times suffering from sickness, he never quitted his post, but continued
his valuable superintendence. I feel more indebted to him than I can
express.” With reference to which the entry made in my diary at the
time was: “I am thankful to God for having enabled me to fulfil my
duties satisfactorily, and, for the sake of my dear wife and children,
hope advancement may speedily follow so handsome an acknowledgment
of services performed.” A few days afterwards we had the further
gratification of reading “Orders” awarding to each of us six months’
batta.