_1859-1860. PLYMOUTH. DEVONPORT_
First incident--Our men--Disaster at Taku--Wrecks--A launch--
Phrenology--Aspect of affairs--Warships to China--Militia and
Volunteers--Improved conditions--Regimental schools--Female
hospital--Windsor--Most Honourable Order of the Bath--
Preparations--Mines--Cheesewring--Affairs--Decade--Mutiny medals.
Soon after our arrival I became the possessor of a horse and carriage,
both purchased from “a friend.” With pleasant anticipations I started
on our first drive, accompanied by my wife and her lady friend. We
had not proceeded far along the country road before the animal bolted
clean away; after wildly rushing for some considerable distance, the
carriage came in contact with the embankment, was upset and broken to
pieces, the two ladies severely injured. The accident happened at the
entrance to a country house; the ladies were admitted thereto for a
little, a glass of wine given to each; they were driven home, after
which no inquiry was made regarding them. This first experience of
“hospitality” impressed us at the time, and now is noted as in its way
characteristic. We had not been “introduced” to the family.
Unfortunately it so happened that among the men of the 10th there were
some who used not wisely the balance of “batta” still remaining unspent
by them. The result was that they brought obloquy upon themselves, and
to some extent upon their more steady and well-behaved comrades who
were altogether undeserving of it. So it happens on other occasions;
the actual number of men in a regiment who commit crimes may be small,
though their offences may be statistically considerable.[204]
In September attention was painfully drawn to the unfortunate failure
at Taku of the war vessels conveying the British and French ambassadors
to the Peiho _en route_ to Pekin, that failure involving the loss
of three gunboats and 464 men belonging to them. From that moment
it became evident that troops and ships must prepare for service in
the Far East, and although, as the 10th had so recently landed, it
was unlikely that the regiment would as a whole be concerned, it was
probable that some individual officers might be so; several of us
accordingly took an opportunity of making ourselves acquainted with
the current of events in China from the date of the _Arrow_ affair in
October, 1856, to that of the Taku incident alluded to.
Following close upon the news of that disaster came the wreck of the
_Royal Charter_, involving the loss of 470 lives, near Bangor, during
one of those autumn storms so frequent on English coasts. Public
sympathy was much aroused by these events, quickly following each other
as they did. Unhappily the last named was not at the time isolated of
its kind, though in its details not exceeded in painful accompaniments
by any.
A new war vessel--the _Narcissus_ frigate of fifty guns--being to be
launched, the ceremony proved not only interesting but impressive, in
respect to sentiments it evolved. An immense assembly met by invitation
in Devonport Dockyard to witness the event; as the hour of four
struck, the beautiful ship glided amidst a round of cheers into what
thenceforward was to be her proper element; her career in the future in
that respect like the career of the new-born infant--uncertain, beset
by risks.
Very different in character was another “function” at which I
“assisted”; namely, a lecture with demonstrations on phrenology, the
“correctness” of that “science” being illustrated by the lecturer by
references to the characteristics of the Hindoo in respect to mildness,
gentleness, and tractability. To those of us recently returned from
scenes already described, his remarks and demonstrations seemed
outcomes of misapplied knowledge. Yet, such as they were, they “went
down” with the enlightened British public, as represented by that
particular audience.
Various circumstances, domestic and foreign, combined to render
regimental life one of uncertainty, at the particular time now referred
to. In India more than one column of our forces were actively engaged
against the rebels who declined the terms of the gracious Proclamation
already mentioned. The recently enlisted men for so-called “European”
regiments of the late East India Company had combined in what was
called “The White Mutiny”; they were shipped to England, there to be
discharged the service.[205] Disaffection had appeared in two native
cavalry regiments stationed at Hyderabad.[206] With regard to Europe,
the condition of affairs in and relating to Italy was disturbed and
uncertain. In France, the effusions of certain Colonels, added to
other indications hostile to England, seemed to have an unpleasant
significance, more especially that in which an appeal was made to the
Emperor “to give the word, and the infamous haunt in which machinations
so infernal are planned”--namely, London--“should be destroyed for
ever.”
A strong fleet of combined English and French warships proceeded to
China. Extensive stores and supplies of all kinds were shipped for
that destination, magazines were replenished; appearances indicated
that important operations were in the near future. Uncertainty and
speculation regarding probable events pervaded all ranks pertaining
to regiments now available for emergent service; all held themselves
prepared accordingly.
Various Militia regiments, embodied during the Crimean War, still
occupied barracks throughout England; at Devonport and Plymouth the
Warwickshire and Dublin Regiments, together with the Forfar Militia
Artillery, being quartered. Second battalions were in progress of
being added to the twenty-five first of the line. Now also, for the
first time since the Revolutionary War, regiments of Volunteers were
being rapidly formed. So important was the occasion considered to be
that special invitations were issued to witness in the Town Hall the
first parade of the Volunteers belonging to what were called “The Three
Towns,” and to inaugurate the formation of the regiment so constituted.
The building was well filled by officials and others; great was
the enthusiasm with which the ceremony passed off, the numbers of
Volunteers in the ranks of the new regiment being ninety-three.
Some changes, having for their object the improved condition of the
soldier, were now in course of introduction. Thus orders were issued on
the subject of corporal punishment, the infliction of which was reduced
to a minimum. In other respects the stringent methods heretofore
considered necessary for the maintenance of discipline were so relaxed
that old officers were wont to predict a number of evil consequences as
sooner or later sure to follow.
With the introduction of the national system of education into
regimental schools, the reading of the Holy Bible in them was
looked upon as seriously menaced in the present and threatened with
prohibition in the near future. According to orders issued on the
subject, “the Bible is only to be read, and religious instruction of
any kind given, during one hour per week, and then in the presence
of the Roman Catholic priest.” Many among us looked with dread and
apprehension to the probable outcome of the changes so begun.
That in the large garrison of Plymouth and Devonport there existed no
regular hospital for the wives and children of soldiers seemed to most
of us a very anomalous circumstance. Correspondence on the subject
between myself and the Divisional authorities was without practical
result. Taking advantage of the popularity and influence of Miss
Nightingale at the War Office, I addressed myself to that lady. In a
marvellously short space of time orders were received to set on foot
such an establishment; they were quickly carried out, very much to the
benefit of the classes for whom it was intended.
On January 15, 1860, I received a letter from the Registrar of the
Bath, directing me to hold myself in readiness to proceed to Windsor,
there to receive the Insignia of that Order, to which I had some months
previously been gazetted.[207] Two days thereafter--namely, on the
17th--a further letter ordering my attendance at Windsor Castle, at
quarter before 3 p.m. precisely, on the 19th. On the 18th I proceeded,
taking my dear wife with me, to that Royal burgh. The early part of the
forenoon of the 19th was occupied in visiting some of the points of
interest connected with the Castle, more especially the Round Tower and
St. George’s Chapel, the latter containing that most beautiful work of
art, the cenotaph to the Princess Charlotte.
Punctually at the hour appointed, those of us who were to be similarly
honoured drove to the Castle. We were shown into the Oak Room, and
there, taking count of each other, discovered that our party numbered
fourteen. Luncheon over, a messenger announced that Her Majesty was
ready to begin the ceremony of investiture. The Lancaster Herald,[208]
who had meantime very courteously initiated some of us in the
formalities to be observed, then mustered us in our order. He led the
way, we following, into the great corridor, at a door opening into
which we were halted, to be called in our turn to the Royal presence.
The first to enter was an officer upon whom the honour of knighthood
was to be conferred. Each Companion was summoned in his order of
seniority as such. The cross with which we were severally to be
invested was by the Lancashire Herald carried upon a cushion of crimson
velvet. The door being opened, we separately entered a small apartment,
at the further end of which stood the Queen; at her right side the
Prince Consort. Our names announced, we advanced, making obeisance as
we did so, knelt upon the right knee; the cross was attached over to
the left breast by Her Majesty; we kissed hands, retired backwards,
profoundly bowing the while. Thus we emerged, and the ceremony was
over.[209]
Preparations on a large scale for the expedition to China were in
rapid progress, the military forces to be sent thither comprising
regiments direct from England, others, British and native, from India.
Public attention and a good deal of adverse criticism were directed
to what was looked upon as excessive naval and military estimates in
a so-called time of profound peace. At important military and naval
stations, fortifications were much extended, and newly armed with
Armstrong guns; for, although there was much of what was ludicrous in
the “boastings of the French Colonels,” the fact was apparent that
their expressions were not altogether unnoticed by our authorities.
Excursions in various directions were taken; some with the object of
seeing places of historical interest, some to take note of the early
spring flora, others to examine geological features of the neighbouring
country. One such visit was to copper mines near Liskeard, there to see
for the first time the beautiful “peacock” ore brought from the depths
of earth and displayed to our gaze by means of a hammer wielded by the
sturdy arms of “Captain Jane,”--for the superintendent of the mine was
a woman so named.
At a little distance from the Canadian and Phœnix mines rises the
Cheesewring, a granite hill some 1,200 feet in height, the rocks
on its summit so piled upon each other as to thus give rise to its
particular name. On some of those rocks were marks of boulder action,
also tracings that bore distinct resemblance of vessels in ordinary
use by Hindoos at their worship on the banks of the Hooghly, and now
attributed to the Druids, one of whose places of sacrifice this _tor_
may perhaps have been.
More and more did the state of uncertainty and unrest in which
regimental officers had to perform their duties increase during the
early months of the year, by the condition of affairs in Continental
Europe. With regard to items of the general complication then noted,
the following extract from my diary, written at the time, reads
somewhat strangely to-day, namely: “France resolved upon the annexation
of Savoy, notwithstanding the strongly expressed opposition of England
against that measure; the threatened occupation of Tetuan by Spain,
opposed by England, as being against the terms on which England
remained neutral between that country and Morocco.”
The first decade of wedded life completed,[210] the following reference
to the occasion was written at the time: “Notwithstanding all that
I have undergone since that event, sufficient of my early romance
remains to enter in this place the motto which on that occasion
surrounded the bon-bon broken by my bride and myself at our wedding
luncheon--‘My hopes are in the bud; bid them bloom.’” As the paragraph
is being transcribed, the fifth decade is not far from completion. With
affection chastened and sanctified by trial and affliction, I express
to the Almighty humble gratitude that from bud my hopes have indeed
advanced to bloom--holy and refined.
Towards the end of April, soldiers and officers of the 10th received
their medals awarded for the campaign connected with the Indian Mutiny.
No pomp and circumstance of military display took place on the occasion
of their doing so. On the contrary, from the manner in which the
distribution took place, all such accompaniments were intentionally
avoided. It was while walking on the public thoroughfare in Devonport,
that by accident, as it were, I met a sergeant in whose hand was a
packet of little card-case boxes; one of these he presented to me--it
contained my medal. I then continued on my way!