1856–7--13TH LIGHT DRAGOONS
The Regiment at Scutari--Typhoid and inflammation of the lungs--
Scutari Hospital--Tender and brutal attendants--My mother nurses
me--Garrison life in Ireland--The Regimental Doctor--Lord
Seaton--Gazetted to 17th Lancers--Join on board ship.
At the end of the year an order was received for two Cornets to proceed
to the Crimea, and I was one of those nominated. When we left the
Barracks on the 1st January, we were accompanied to the station by all
the soldiers and half the townspeople, for the war fever had not even
then died out.
It was blowing freshly when the steamship left on the 3rd with some
Infantry recruits, young officers, about 50 lads of the Royal Engineer
Train, and their horses. In my Diary letters, written up daily, there
is a description of all my companions, but I cannot trace that there
was any Senior officer appointed to command, and if he were appointed
he certainly never asserted his authority. The breeze became a gale
when we got out into the Channel, and all the men and officers except
myself were very sick. No officers came to table for three days, and
the horses got no attention beyond what I endeavoured to procure at
the hands of some sea-sick recruits. There was an Engineer officer
on board, and he sometimes visited the horses, but I do not think he
had official charge of them. Before we got to Gibraltar we had thrown
overboard fifteen out of fifty horses, and there a Veterinary surgeon
came on board and had some of the worst cases disembarked, and to my
great relief put a farrier on board. I appreciated his help, for I was
never in bed during the seven days at sea till midnight, and three
nights not at all, when I was trying to keep the horses alive.
It was very cold on deck, and the sea-sick recruits posted as sentries
on the horse deck would always, unless watched, tie up the wind-sails,
and go to sleep. I landed my own horses fit for gentle work at Scutari
on the 22nd January, but the surviving Royal Engineer Train horses
could not have been effective for many months.
The Cavalry officers, when they heard that they were going to Turkey
from the Crimea, sent home for hounds, and so a few days after my
reaching Scutari I had some hunting, jackals giving better runs than
foxes in Turkey. I had on the 17th of February an unusual experience.
We were running a jackal when I saw an eagle swoop some distance off;
on galloping up to it, I found it had struck and killed a hare, which
it held until dismounting I ran up, when it left me in possession.
Four days later I was sent to Hospital.[50] I became very ill, and had
it not been for the Captain of my Troop, Percy Smith, who had brought
the Regiment out of action at Balaklava, after showing distinguished
courage, I should have added one to the many who rest under the
cypress trees in the Scutari cemetery, where the doctors believed I
had contracted the fever when going round guards at night. When I had
been some little time in Hospital, Captain Smith brought a namesake,
Doctor Smith, President of a Pathological Committee, who had been
sent out by the Government, to visit me. Doctor Smith asked the young
Medical officer who had charge of the case how he was treating me, and
on receiving a reply said, “Oh yes, for typhoid; he’ll die later from
that, but now he is in imminent danger from pneumonia.” Heroic measures
by the application of leeches and blisters were adopted; indeed, where
I had not one or the other, I was covered with mustard poultices. My
case was now handed over to Assistant-Surgeon S. M. Webb, M.D., a
clever doctor employed on Staff duty in the Hospital, to whom my mother
later expressed her deep gratitude for his care and skilful attention.
Captain Smith wrote by every mail to my parents, but before the worst
account reached them, the Medical officers telegraphed that while
my recovery was very doubtful, I should probably live sufficiently
long for my parents to see me. This telegram was received at the same
time as a few lines I had scrawled on the 21st February, and on the
9th March my parents left Marseilles in the _Borysthene_, reaching
Constantinople on the 19th March. In the meantime I had been at the
point of death, acute inflammation of the lungs and typhoid having
brought me to the verge of the next world. I heard the Senior officer
desire the doctor in charge not to worry me by giving me any more
medicine, saying as he left the ward, “The boy must die--let him die
in peace.” I was attended by Private Stanley, my soldier-servant, and
two female nurses, one, Susan Cator, who had been sent out from St.
Thomas’s Hospital, and another whose name I suppress, for I detested
her, and with reason. The bones of both my hips had come through the
skin, and this woman, instead of wetting the lint before she changed
it, used to tear it off roughly, bringing away flesh and drawing blood.
I shuddered every time she approached me, and generally wept when
Susan Cator left the ward. She always put in thirty-six hours out of
forty-eight, because she knew I disliked her companion. I was relieved,
however, of the woman’s presence soon after my mother arrived.
My mother came to see me on the 20th March, the Lady Superintendent
of the Hospital receiving her as a guest until I left Scutari. My
father’s life was heavily insured, and as he had to ask permission of
the Companies before he passed out of Europe, he could not come to see
me until a fortnight later. When my mother arrived I was too ill to
recognise her, or rather to realise we were in Asia; but when she came
again next morning--for I generally had lucid intervals from delirium
every forenoon--I expressed my joy at seeing her, but could not believe
she had been to see me the previous day.
When my mother had been three days in the hospital, she opened the ward
door quietly while the brutal nurse was with me, and saw her, clenching
her fist, strike me in the face. My head had been shaved for the fever,
and I used to rub it continually while delirious, singing the refrain
of a negro melody, which was then on every barrel organ, concerning “An
old nigger, whose name was Uncle Ned.” When I came to the line, “He had
no wool on the top of his head,” I rubbed my head until it bled. The
nurse had been rebuked for allowing me to do this, and it was when I,
all unconscious, continued to rub my head, that she struck me. It did
not matter to me, for I felt nothing, although I knew previously that
she had held my arm to prevent my doing it. My mother flew at her, and
I never saw her again.
After my mother’s arrival my state improved, but, as often happens in
such cases, I had more than one relapse, and I asked whether I might
be taken to the Naval hospital at Therapia; but, not unnaturally, the
Medical authorities declined to receive me. In the second week in April
it appeared to the doctors that I was not progressing towards recovery,
and standing behind a screen they discussed with my mother the best
course to be adopted. They pointed out that my state was so precarious
that they did not care to accept the responsibility of moving me,
although they believed that my recovery, if I remained in hospital,
was impossible. My mother said, “Better give him the chance of going
to England,” and the Senior doctor replied, “We are afraid he will die
between this room and the beach.” When they had left the ward--for this
conversation took place in the doorway--my mother came to my bedside,
asking, “Did you hear? What is your decision?” I replied, “Start
to-morrow.” And on the 15th April we went on board the _Great Western_,
arriving four days later at Malta.
We had intended to stop there a week or so, to rest me, but the fine
grit off the houses restarted hemorrhage in my lungs, and so we left,
travelling by short stages, and reaching Folkestone on the 1st May. It
is curious that my feet were so enormous from dropsy, although I had no
flesh on my bones, that there was not a pair of shoes or slippers in
Paris into which my feet would go, so when we embarked at Boulogne I
had to walk down the pier in my stockings.
I went to Fontainebleau the following August, and lived in a French
family for two months to learn the language. I lodged over a grocer’s
shop opposite the Barracks, occupying apartments adjoining those of
a Squadron commander of a Cavalry regiment. He was a man of some
years’ service, and realised that as I could not talk French, and he
could not talk English, I should appreciate being left alone; but
his brother-officers were not satisfied until they had entertained
me. Though I could not converse with my kind would-be hosts, I could
make myself understood in French, which is easier than carrying on
conversation.
We had some amusing games of hide-and-seek several mornings in
succession. When I was leaving my tutor’s house, the officers tried
to overtake me, but I evaded them; eventually, however, six of them
turned out, and seeing two in front, I retreated, but there were two
behind me. At the first cross street there were two more coming up
both streets, and so I then gave in, and went to their entertainment.
My fellow-lodger put his charger at my disposition every day when he
did not require it for parade, and there was a general desire to be
courteous to the young Englishman.
In spite of the remonstrances of my Troop Captain, Percy Smith, who
deprecated my joining until my health was thoroughly established, I
reported for duty at Cahir in Ireland on the last day of the year,
being most warmly received by my brother-officers, who insisted on
my hunting next day with the Regimental pack. Captain Jervis mounted
me on his Crimea baggage-horse, and I was equipped with spurs, whip,
and boots, contributed by different Subalterns. We had excellent
sport, the baggage-horse developing brilliant and hitherto unsuspected
jumping powers. He had a past history: stolen in the early days of the
campaign, he was seen, recognised, claimed, and recovered by his owner
from a French cart, late in the siege of Sevastopol.
I enjoyed my life, except for the want of sufficient money, which
pressed on me daily. Several of my companions had about £400 or £500 a
year, and it was not only that I experienced the difference of having
only £250 per annum, but in our ignorance my mother and I had not
calculated the numerous initial expenses of a Cavalry regiment, and
thus I was always behind the world in my income.
When I rejoined at the end of 1856, I had been suffering ever since I
had left Scutari from an in-growing toe-nail. I should have gone into
the Hospital at Cahir at once but that three of the Subalterns, who
had been for fifteen months at the Riding School, were about to be
dismissed, and I did not wish to lose the chance of passing out with
them; but on being “dismissed,” I went to Hospital and had the nail
extracted. Our Assistant Surgeon was one of the most charming of men;
he kept the accounts of our Mess, Hounds, and Coach, but could not have
enjoyed much practice of surgery in the Army. The Hospital Sergeant, a
Light Dragoon, was not well trained, and after I was insensible left
the room to look for something, with the result that the handkerchief
sprinkled with chloroform dropped from my nose, and I felt the doctor
slit the nail down the centre and then extract one half, the pain being
sufficient to make me run round the room. Having obtained the bottle
of chloroform and pocket-handkerchief, I administered the anæsthetic
myself, and felt no more pain.
Soon after I joined at Cahir my brother-officers went to some races
at Bansha, Tipperary, and I was left in Barracks as Orderly Officer.
Besides the usual duties, I had to superintend the sale of cast troop
horses, and the Orderly Officer was in those days forbidden to leave
Barracks except on duty. These difficulties, however, only enhanced my
desire for sport, and obtaining the Adjutant’s permission, and promise
to answer for me, I sent word to the kennel huntsman to take the hounds
on, and to ask a “looker” to mark down a hare. This he did, and having
sold the troop horses, I laid the hounds on, and for ten minutes had
a delightful run by myself; Irish hares are stronger than those in
England, and I had chanced on a good one. Presently, however, I crossed
a high bank, dropping into a grass field, bounded on all sides by high
perpendicular banks affording no foothold, while three countrymen were
sitting on a gate, which was the only exit. The hounds had streamed out
of sight, and after making three attempts to cross the bank I turned
back from the threatening attitude of the men with shillalahs on the
gate, and tried to jump the bank over which I had descended into the
field; there I equally failed, and one of the Pats, with perhaps some
feeling for the horse, said, “You may as well come to the gate; no
horse ever got out of this field.” I went up and asked them to open it,
and they said tranquilly, “Half a crown each, or the best hiding you
ever had.” I paid, but the day cost me more, as the hounds came home
in dribblets, for I never caught them again, and I had to silence the
kennel huntsman.
In the spring of the year the Regiment was broken up into small
parties, and employed in keeping the peace at elections, occasionally
making very long marches. The only serious trouble we ever had,
however, was at Tipperary, and there some of my brother-officers had
their uniforms spoiled by the unsavoury missiles aimed at the electors
they were escorting.
Some of my young comrades will sympathise with my troubles in paying
soldiers. The Paymaster brought me over £100 at a time, and before my
Captain rejoined I disbursed in small amounts £284, without having even
a lock-up desk with me.
Previous to my rejoining the Regiment it had been reported as below the
standard of efficiency of Regiments at home, which was, indeed, and is
the case with every corps when it has been for some time on service.
The General (Infantry) in command of the District announced his
intention of inspecting the corps every fortnight, and after I rejoined
he came up frequently from Cork. He was, I understand, an indifferent
horseman, but be that as it may, he inspected us only on foot parades
and in Barrack-room arrangements.
We had three Subalterns who were unusually ignorant of their duty,
and who always prepared for the day of inspection by copious notes
on the wrist-bands of their shirts, on which they noted down all the
information which the General ordinarily demanded, such as the price
of button-sticks, braces, men’s socks. I heard him ask the officer who
had been so long in the Riding School, what the men had for dinner. He
looked very puzzled, and replied, “Beer, sir, beer, I suppose.” Another
Subaltern, old in years, for he had left the Army previous to, and
rejoined during the Crimean campaign, shortly afterwards, when examined
by the Colonel for the rank of Captain, on being asked the hour of
watch-setting, gravely answered, “Seven o’clock, sir.” The standard of
knowledge was not high, but these two gentlemen knew less, I think,
than the others; for they were superseded on parade, others being given
command of Troops, or Squadrons, from which they were sent away. I
first commanded a Squadron on parade, to my great pride, on the 27th
June 1857. The Commanding officer was a good-natured man, but neither
constitutionally nor physically fitted for a Light Cavalry officer.
He was heavy in body, weighing 15 stone 8 lbs., as I know from having
carried him across the Barrack square for a small bet.
The Major was a charming person, but he neither was, nor did he
pretend to be, a soldier, although later in the year he offered the
Colonel £13,000 to retire: the offer was not accepted, £14,000 being
asked. In the summer, when Lord Cardigan was coming to inspect us, we
had three parades in succession, that the Major might practise the
words of command for the “Carbine Exercises.” He was ordered to do
some Field movements before his Lordship on the Curragh of Kildare.
Calling the Regiment to attention, he gave the order, “Threes about,”
and trotted away for more than half a mile, where, by the help of
the Sergeant-Major, he “changed Front” twice, and then advanced at a
gallop. I looked at Lord Cardigan’s face, but observed no expression in
his eye as he said, “Good, Major; but you were rather too far off for
me to see much.”
Brevet-Major Arthur Tremayne was the next Senior, and the guiding star
of the Regiment. He had taken a degree at a University, and had kept
up his classical attainments, reading Greek and Latin with facility
and pleasure. He was comfortably off for a bachelor, and I owe much to
his thoughtful kindness. He not only lent me all his books, but bought
many which he persuaded himself he wanted, because he thought that it
would improve my knowledge of our profession. I occupied all my spare
time, when not soldiering or engaged in sports, in reading early in the
morning, and late at night, so as to make up for the five years I had
been away from school; for while I was on board the _Queen_ I spent
most of my time aloft at sea, and in the boats when the ship was at
anchor. I read a considerable amount of English Military History, and
with Tremayne’s help went through Virgil. I had done the Twelve Books
before I left Marlborough, but on recommencing in 1857 I find I looked
out absolutely every word in the first page, for I have still got the
interleaved edition I used. Clement helped me in Arithmetic, in which
I was deplorably ignorant. These two men and Stanley Clarke, who was
often away on leave, being very popular in society, made my spare hours
pass pleasantly.
When the Victoria Cross Gazette of the 24th February reached Ireland,
my messmates were very sympathetic with my disappointment; they had
read Lord Lyons’ speech[51] of the 13th February in the previous year,
when at Scutari, where I was then lying in Hospital. I had always hoped
that this warm praise from the Naval Commander-in-Chief, coupled with
the speech[52] of the Commodore in May 1855, would ensure my receiving
the Decoration. Under the advice of the Adjutant, who reflected the
view of my messmates, I wrote to the Adjutant-General, reporting what
the Commodore, Sir Stephen Lushington, had read out on Parade in the
Crimea, and learnt from the Equerry of the Commander-in-Chief that the
letter had been duly forwarded to the Admiralty. I cannot remember to
have received an official reply, but knew at the time that one of the
Lords of the Admiralty was strongly in favour of the Navy following,
in granting it to men who had left the Service, the procedure of the
Army, but the First Lord held the Cross was not only a reward, but an
incentive to valour. In spite of the remonstrances of Captain Peel,
Sir Stephen Lushington, and later of Lord Lyons, who when he returned
from the Mediterranean went to the Admiralty to endeavour to get the
decision reversed, it was maintained.
All through the Spring of the year I was troubled by the want of money,
and found it difficult to live within my income, not so much because of
the ordinary expenses, for my brother-officers had generously declined
to allow me to continue to pay for wine except on guest-nights, but on
account of the number of small compulsory charges. The Horse Guards was
issuing sumptuary Regulations for the reduction of expenditure, as is
being done at the present time, and on the 18th July we had our first
half-crown dinner; but a new pattern frock-coat and other expenditure
was impending, and although officially the Regiments were told the cost
of the Stable jacket was to be cut down, being replaced by a cheaper
form, yet eleven Commanding officers protesting, were told in the month
of June, in the War Office, that they need not trouble themselves, as
the jacket would not be altered.
I made up my mind to leave the Cavalry for the Infantry, or to take
service abroad, for choice in the Foreign Legion in Algeria; but before
I took any steps in the matter news from India turned my thoughts to
the East. We got to Newbridge on the 4th May, being quartered with the
3rd Light Dragoons and a battery of Horse Artillery. My life would
have been very pleasant there, but for the long hours spent at the
Mess table, the General, a “two-bottle” man, frequently dining with
us. My letters often record having sat at table from 7 till 10.40 in
his honour, which to a water drinker was trying. I was not the only
sufferer, for many of my messmates wanted to smoke, which was rigidly
forbidden in the Mess-room, and cigars only were allowed in the
anteroom; cigarettes were unknown; the cheapest cigars in the Mess were
sixpence, and although I have never smoked I proposed at a Mess meeting
that pipes should be allowed after dinner in the ante-room, but no one
was bold enough to second it.
The Assistant Adjutant-General, Major and Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel
Morris, 17th Lancers, at the Curragh had studied at the Senior
Department, Sandhurst, and added greatly to the interest of our
Military exercises by the schemes he gave us to work out. We re-fought
many actions of Frederick the Great, and some of Wellington’s Peninsula
battles, which induced reading, and served to weaken, if not to break
down the Mess rule of “No shop” at table.
Colonel Morris was, however, ahead of the Generals, and after he had
pointed out that the Horse Artillery should have advanced previous to a
charge and come into action against the troops to be attacked, we were
startled by the Generals’ decision, that the Horse Artillery should
have _charged_ with the Cavalry.
Lord Seaton, the Commander of the 52nd at Waterloo, was often down at
the Curragh, and overtaking me on the 5th July, when riding back to
Newbridge, he called me to him to discuss the merits of the new carbine
which was then being issued to Cavalry. I was unfortunate with him ten
days afterwards. One of my horses had a hard mouth; it mattered little
when I was acting as Galloper, as I generally did, but on the 15th of
the month I was commanding a troop, and we were ordered to charge up
to the Commander-in-Chief and then halt. My Colonel calling me, said
he did not like an officer to ride without his sword being drawn when
Lord Seaton was present; I was always excused drawing it when on my
second charger, for I never could hold him, nor did I on this occasion.
My fate brought the troop immediately opposite where his Lordship,
surrounded by a numerous Staff, sat, and with my sword pointing over
the horse’s ears, for I had crossed my hands in my vain efforts to stop
him, I careered through the officers, scattering them right and left.
When the bad news came about the outbreak at Mírath, I urged my parents
to get me out to India, and suggested a transfer to the 7th Hussars.
When the battery of Horse Artillery was sent out from Newbridge
Barracks, my impatience became greater, and I wrote on the 7th August
to an agent in London to endeavour to negotiate an exchange.
I got three months’ leave on private affairs, to join a Military
College at Richmond, which had just been started, to prepare officers
for the Senior Department, and went to my parents’ home in Essex to
arrange matters. While I was there worse news was received from India,
and my mother lent me money to try to effect an exchange. I had not
succeeded, however, when I was recalled, and was back at Newbridge
sitting on a Court Martial, on the 14th September, when I received
a telegram asking if I wished to go to the 17th Lancers after the
augmentation, which was always made when a Regiment was put under
orders for India. This would put me under officers who had not joined
when I became a Lieutenant, but I answered joyfully that I should
be grateful. Early in October the transfer was approved, and that
afternoon Tremayne accompanied me to Dublin, and introduced me to the
Officer commanding the 17th Lancers.
That evening I crossed the Channel, and after spending four hours
with my father and mother, went back to Dublin, and on the morning of
the 7th, calling on Colonel Pack, Assistant Quartermaster-General,
Embarking officer, asked him if it was necessary for me to embark that
day, or if I should be safe for another twenty-four hours. I had not
packed any kit, but I was afraid that if I did not get off with the
Regiment I should be sent to the Depôt. Colonel Pack was most kind, and
giving me the assurance I was safe, reminded me of the morning of the
11th April 1855, two years previously, when he heard Captain Peel send
me with the message urging the immediate Assault on Sevastopol.
I spent the afternoon in packing my baggage, and saying good-bye to my
comrades, and by dinner-time was nearly ready. I had arranged with the
stationmaster to travel in a luggage train, which was due at Cork early
next morning, a Sunday; but when my servant at ten o’clock went down
for the car, he returned saying that the driver was so hopelessly drunk
that he could not arouse him. I went down to the guard, consisting of
twelve men, and leaving one sentry in Barracks, took the sergeant and
the corporal and all the privates to the station, carrying my baggage,
one box being very heavy, a Midshipman’s chest in which I had packed
saddlery. Tremayne and another brother-officer, who had gone down to
see me off, went out with me at nine o’clock to the _Great Britain_,
an auxiliary screw steamship, in which I had previously sailed; but
the sea was running so high that the captain of the tug refused to go
alongside. I got on board however, safely in the evening, as the ship
was weighing anchor.