the command of Captain Abbott, played upon them with great effect;
and after contesting the day until every fort and place of defence
had been taken and destroyed, they fled, dispersing themselves
among the neighbouring hills, where it was impossible to pursue
them. Their loss was very great, including most of their leaders.
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment had Lieut. Dalway M‘Ilveen _killed_, and
seven rank and file _wounded_; several men of the regiment died
suddenly from apoplexy, caused by the heat of the sun and want of
water. Thus ended the action of Mazeena, in which the behaviour of
the THIRTY-FIRST regiment elicited the highest commendation from
Brigadier Monteath, who stated, in his despatch of the 27th of
July, that
“at one time the interiors of five-and-thirty forts were in a
blaze along the valley, the enemy contemplating the scene from
the heights in the vicinity of Secunder Khan’s fort, where they
had taken up positions, and from whence they were driven in
gallant style by the advance, consisting of the light and two
battalion companies of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, the
light companies of the thirty-third and fifty-third regiments
of Native Infantry, and the corps of Jezailchees under _Major
Skinner_, of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment.
“It gives me great pleasure to record the zealous conduct of
the troops generally, and the cheerful and praiseworthy manner
in which the soldiers of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment
laboured to drag the guns up such places as the horses,
notwithstanding their unequalled qualities, were incapable of
doing.
“My thanks are very justly due to _Lieut.-Colonel Bolton_, of Her
Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, for the able manner in which he
conducted the duties of covering the retirement of the force; and
particularly so to _Major Skinner_ for the zealous and gallant
manner in which he led the advance against the enemy.”
The Brigadier also acknowledged the services of other officers
belonging to the force under his command, in which number was
included Lieutenant and Adjutant Lugard, of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, who acted as Major of Brigade.
The brigade of Brigadier-General Monteath, having thus performed
most successfully the service for which it had been detached, now
marched to join the main army at Jellalabad, and arriving there
took up its old ground. On the 22nd of August the army marched in
two divisions, and proceeded without opposition, but suffering
intense fatigue from the labour of dragging the artillery and
stores over the almost inaccessible paths, until it arrived at
Soorkhab, distant four marches from Jellalabad.
On the British leaving Soorkhab, the Affghans showed themselves
in force, and the rear-guard, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel
Bolton, was so hard-pressed by thousands of the irregular troops
of the enemy, that Brigadier Monteath thought it necessary to halt
the brigade at the entrance of the Jugdulluck pass, to enable it to
form a junction with the main column, which it did after suffering
considerable loss. The Ghilzees hotly contested the passage of the
pass, but after a sharp engagement they were driven off with much
slaughter.
In this action Lieut.-Colonel Bolton had his horse shot under him
in two places, and Lieutenant Shaw, of the regiment, was wounded.
The next day (9th September) the Affghans were so much dispirited
by their defeat, that the division marched to Jugdulluck without
further opposition than a little skirmishing with the rear-guard,
and Lieutenant Brooke, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, was wounded.
On the 10th of September, it having been ascertained that Akbar
Khan with 20,000 men had established himself in the Khoord Cabool
pass, in order to cover the capital and fight a pitched battle with
the British, the second division was ordered to join the first by a
forced march to Tezeen, where Major-General Pollock was encamped.
This junction was effected on the 11th of September, with little
loss, although a running fight was kept up the greater part of the
way. In fact, the advance to Cabool was a succession of skirmishes,
oftentimes by night as well as by day.
The camp was attacked on the night of the 12th of September, but
the enemy made no impression, and little loss occurred, although
all the piquets of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment were engaged until
daybreak.
Shortly after daybreak on the 13th of September the army moved off
its ground towards the _Tezeen Pass_, the advanced guard, commanded
by Sir Robert Sale, being composed of three companies of the ninth
regiment, three companies of the thirteenth or Prince Albert’s
Light Infantry, together with two companies of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, under Captain Baldwin and Lieutenant Greenwood.
After moving carefully along the pass for about two miles, the
Affghans were discovered, in great force, occupying strong
positions on the heights on either side, while their artillery
and cavalry were formed some distance farther on in the pass
itself. The action commenced by a heavy fire from the enemy on the
advanced guard of the British; and the distance being too great for
musketry, from the effect of which also the Affghans were covered
by extensive _sunghas_, or intrenchments formed of large blocks
of stone, for the whole length of their position, it was judged
necessary for the troops to ascend the heights, and drive them from
their posts at the point of the bayonet.
This service was most brilliantly performed on the left heights
by the ninth and THIRTY-FIRST regiments, and on the right by the
thirteenth light infantry.
The companies ascended the face of the mountain under a most
galling fire, from the effects of which many casualties occurred,
and not returning a shot until the ledge was gained: a combined
volley within ten yards of the enemy, followed by an immediate
charge of bayonets, drove him from his defences with great
slaughter, and the heights were gained. For this service Captain
Baldwin received the brevet rank of Major.
The Affghans’ advanced posts being driven in and pursued as far
as the broken and difficult nature of the country would admit,
they retired upon their supports, which were, with great judgment,
defended by endless _sunghas_, erected in every position from which
a fire could be brought on advancing troops.
The British, having gained the heights, and being reinforced by
fresh troops, pushed on, and, storming one intrenchment after
another, threw the Affghans into great confusion. The artillery,
having been brought up, played upon them with terrific effect,
while the British cavalry, having charged and overthrown their
horse, posted in the pass, and taken their guns, together with the
state tent of Akbar Khan, the fortune of the day at this early
period evidently smiled on the British arms; but the warlike
mountaineers, who composed the Affghan army, fought with desperate
valour to retrieve the day. Attack after attack was made upon the
troops occupying the posts from which the enemy had first been
driven. Reckless of life, the stern fanatics came on to be shot
down from the defences which they had themselves thrown up. In a
series of desultory attacks the day declined, and the British,
having obtained possession of every height commanding the pass,
the remains of the Affghan army made a _détour_ among the hills,
falling with great fury upon the British rear-guard, commanded by
Colonel Richmond, of the thirty-third regiment of Native Infantry.
Here they were so warmly received that their discomfiture was
completed, and the day was won. The victorious British encamped
for the night in the valley of Khoord (Little) Cabool, a village
distant about sixteen miles from Cabool.
In this action Lieutenant Pollard received a severe contusion from
a large block of stone while attempting to take a standard. Major
Skinner, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, highly distinguished himself
with the force which was detached under his command, and which
proceeded, in the afternoon of the 12th of September, across the
hills towards the valley of Khoord Cabool by a route different from
that of the main army. On the march, Major Skinner came suddenly in
presence of a greatly superior number of Affghans. Notwithstanding
that the country was difficult and imperfectly known, by a series
of skilful manœuvres he extricated his troops from the perilous
situation in which they were placed, and defeated the Affghans, who
exceeded five times his force, with great slaughter, on the 13th of
September.
So complete was the defeat of the Affghan army on the 13th of
September, that Akbar Khan escaped from the field accompanied only
by a solitary horseman.
The enemy acknowledged to have lost fifty-three chiefs and persons
of consequence, and 700 men. The casualties on the part of the
British amounted to 185.
Major-General Pollock, in his despatch dated 14th of September,
again acknowledged the services of Lieut.-Colonel Bolton and Major
Skinner, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment.
No impediments now existed to the advance of the British on the
city of Cabool. On the 15th of September the army arrived at
Cabool, and encamped on the race-course. On the following day the
place was occupied and the standard of England hoisted on the
highest pinnacle of the battlements of the Bala Hissar (Upper
Fort), on which occasion the flank companies of the THIRTY-FIRST
formed part of the guard which garrisoned the citadel. The British
colours were hoisted daily as long as the army remained at Cabool.
All the objects of the campaign having been gained, and the rescue
of the prisoners effected,--among whom were several officers
and ladies (Lady Sale, the partner of the gallant defender of
Jellalabad being among the number), also three serjeants, three
drummers, and thirty rank and file of Her Majesty’s forty-fourth
regiment,--the Anglo-Indian army commenced its march towards
Hindoostan on the 12th of October, after having destroyed the grand
bazaar of Cabool, named the Chahar Chuttah, where the remains
of the British Envoy had been exposed to public insult by the
infuriated Affghans.
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment was again constantly engaged in
desultory skirmishes with the Ghilzees and Afreedee tribes which
infested the passes.
At the _Jugdulluck Pass_ the Affghans again made head, and a severe
action occurred on the 18th of October, in which the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment sustained some loss, but the Ghilzees were put to flight
with great slaughter. Lieutenant Thomas Pender, of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, received a severe wound near Seh Baba, from the effects
of which he died on the 18th of November.
Major-General McCaskill, in his despatch dated 20th of October,
1842, recording the attacks on his division by the predatory tribes
of the mountains between Tezeen and Gundamuck, stated that,
“Throughout these affairs the conduct of the troops employed,
including the second and sixteenth Native infantry, temporarily
attached to me, has deserved my highest approbation, and I feel
it to be my duty to record, that in the advance to Cabool, and
in retiring from it, the bravery of that portion of the fourth
brigade which took part in the active operations, namely, Her
Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, and a wing of the thirty-third
Native infantry,--the remaining wing and the sixth Native
infantry having been detained to garrison Jellalabad and
Gundamuck,--as well as their endurance of privations and fatigue,
have been beyond all praise. No troops could, in every respect,
have behaved better; and I feel myself to be deeply indebted to
Brigadier Monteath, C.B., and to Lieut.-Colonel Bolton, of Her
Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST, and to Lieut.-Colonel Richmond, of the
thirty-third Native infantry, for the able and gallant manner in
which they have been led.”
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment arrived at Jellalabad on the 23rd of
October, and, after destroying the fortifications, proceeded thence
on the 27th to Peshawur, where it arrived in the beginning of
November.
The campaign having now been brought to a close, the THIRTY-FIRST
reached Ferozepore on the 19th of December, having been in the
field for eleven months during this arduous campaign.
On arrival at Ferozepore the THIRTY-FIRST regiment joined the “Army
of Reserve,” which had been assembled on the frontier, and where
the Governor-General, Lord Ellenborough, and General Sir Jasper
Nicolls, the commander-in-chief in India, had proceeded to receive
the army of Affghanistan.
For his services connected with the command of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Bolton was made a Companion of the Bath,
and appointed aide-de-camp to the Queen, with the rank of colonel.
In testimony of the services of the THIRTY-FIRST during the
campaign in Affghanistan, Her Majesty was graciously pleased to
authorize the regiment to bear the word “CABOOL, 1842,” on the
regimental colour and appointments.
[Sidenote: 1843]
On the breaking up of the army at Ferozepore, the THIRTY-FIRST,
commanded by Colonel Bolton, was ordered to Umballa, a place
about 170 miles to the south, and which had never been previously
occupied by troops. Here the regiment arrived on the 27th of
January, 1843, and, cantonments having been marked out, barracks
were commenced for the men, and ground allotted for the erection of
bungalows for the officers.
On the 5th of May the THIRTY-FIRST sustained a severe loss by the
death of Major and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Skinner, a zealous and
talented officer, whose services are frequently alluded to in the
historical record of the regiment.[27]
In May, 1843, the regiment was ordered to Khytul, and formed part
of a force under Major-General Fast, which was sent to reduce the
city and state of Khytul to British subjection. The force arrived
at Khytul after about a week’s march, and the enemy, after a slight
show of resistance, evacuated the city, which was occupied by the
British troops. All the objects of the expedition having been
fulfilled, the regiment returned to its cantonments at Umballa.
All, however, remained under canvas, exposed to most intense heat,
until July, 1843, when the men were housed, and a few of the
officers got shelter. In October, 1843, an outbreak occurred at
Lahore, and the Maharajah, Shere Singh, was shot at a review by his
brother-in-law, Ajeet Singh; after this event the youthful Dhuleep
Singh, a reputed son of the late Runjeet Singh, was placed on the
throne.
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment was in consequence ordered to the
frontier, and marched for Ferozepore on the 16th of November, where
it arrived on the 1st of December, 1843, and remained as a corps of
observation.
[Sidenote: 1844]
The THIRTY-FIRST, commanded by Colonel Bolton, C.B., continued at
Ferozepore, where the regiment was joined by ninety-three recruits
from England. On the 16th of January, 1844, the regiment was
inspected, and elicited great praise from Major-General Hunter
of the Company’s Service, and again on the 16th of February, by
Major-General Sir Robert Dick, K.C.B., who expressed great praise
as well of the soldierlike and gallant bearing as of the high state
of discipline of the regiment.
The weather becoming extremely hot, the regiment marched from
Ferozepore on the 19th of April, 1844, _en route_ to Umballa, where
it arrived on the 2nd of May.
On the 30th of December, 1844, his Excellency General Sir
Hugh Gough, Bart., Commander-in-Chief in India, inspected the
THIRTY-FIRST, in review order, on which occasion he expressed
himself highly satisfied with the soldierlike appearance of the
regiment.
[Sidenote: 1845]
On the 12th of March, 1845, a detachment of recruits and
volunteers, consisting of one major, one captain, three
lieutenants, two ensigns, one assistant-surgeon, with four hundred
and seventy-one rank and file, joined the regiment from the lower
provinces, under the command of Major Spence.
Many men continued to die from the effects of the Cabool campaign,
but the station in itself proved healthy until July, when it was
visited by cholera in a most fearful manner. On the 26th of July
the regiment was ordered into camp, about two miles from the
barracks, at a few hours’ notice, with orders for one officer per
company, as well as the medical officers, constantly to remain in
camp under Major Spence, where they continued until the 5th of
August. In one month the regiment lost by cholera eighty-nine men,
women, and children.
After the death of Maha Shere Singh, the Punjaub was in a state of
anarchy; the juvenile sovereign, Dhuleep Singh, under the tutelage
of his mother and uncle, was unable to control the turbulent Sikh
chieftains, and open hostility soon manifested itself against the
British Government in India.
In the beginning of December, 1845, the inclination of the Sikh
Sirdars to invade the British territories appeared to increase,
and about the 11th of that month, with a large army and a
well-appointed artillery, they actually crossed the Sutlej, the
boundary river which separates the Punjaub from the British
dominions.[28]
The Commander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Hugh Gough, sent
immediate orders for the Umballa division of the army, which had
lately been considerably increased in strength, to be pushed on
towards the invaded frontier.
Previous to its march, this force had been formed into divisions
and brigades. The first brigade of the first division was composed
of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, and two regiments of Native infantry,
viz., the twenty-fourth and forty-seventh regiments. The first
division was commanded by Major-General Sir Henry Smith; Colonel
Bolton, C.B., of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, was appointed Brigadier
to command the first brigade. Lieut.-Colonel Byrne, the next senior
officer, assumed the command of the regiment. Captain Garvock was
appointed Brigade-Major to the first brigade, and Captain Lugard,
Assistant-Adjutant-General to the first division.
It being of the utmost importance to aid the division of the army
in the defence of Ferozepore, a fort on the left bank of the
Sutlej, where the British Government had large magazines containing
munitions of war, a park of artillery, military stores, and
equipments for the field army, which protected the frontier, it
was necessary to push on the Umballa division, with all possible
speed, by rapid and forced marches, towards the point near which
the Sikhs, after having crossed the Sutlej, were assembled in
large force, emboldened by numbers, and their army composed of
well-disciplined troops, with a numerous and well-appointed
artillery. This army had been instructed and trained in European
tactics and discipline by French and Italian officers; it was
confident in its own strength and in the powerful aid of its
formidable artillery.
It was evidently the object of the enemy to prevent the junction
of the Umballa division with the Ferozepore field force, to cut
off the latter division, and to capture the fort and magazines of
Ferozepore, before the Umballa division could arrive at the scene
of action. The enemy hoped also to have a rich booty in the plunder
of the large town of Ferozepore. The Sikhs knew and calculated the
distance the Umballa troops had to march before they could reach
the vicinity of Ferozepore, one hundred and fifty miles, and the
nature of the country through which they had to march; but they did
not calculate on the energy, patient endurance of hardships, and
privation, which the British soldier would cheerfully undergo, when
he knew, that his brave and heroic Commander-in-Chief was leading
him in person against the foe, who had dared to invade the British
possessions.
On the 10th of December the THIRTY-FIRST received the order to
march, and the morning of the 12th saw the regiment leave Umballa,
mustering 30 officers and 844 men.
After long and harassing marches of twenty-five to thirty miles a
day, the severe nature of which it is impossible to describe, the
regiment arrived at the village of _Moodkee_ about two o’clock in
the afternoon of the 18th of December, having on that day performed
a march of not less than twenty-five miles: some idea may be
formed of the sufferings which the men endured from fatigue on
this eventful day, when it is known that at the last halt, about
two miles from Moodkee, scarcely _fifty_ men were left with the
colours; and for miles to the rear they might be seen staggering
forward through the soft sand in an exhausted state from want of
water and rest.
The soldiers were in the act of pitching their tents, and had
eaten nothing, when the alarm was given that the enemy was
close upon them in force. The THIRTY-FIRST rushed to arms, and
forming the right of the first brigade of the first division,
under Major-General Sir Henry Smith, formed in quarter-distance
column, left in front, advanced two or three miles, deployed on
the grenadier company, and so continued the line formed by the
regiments on their right.
The THIRTY-FIRST were now on ploughed land in front of a thick
jungle of thorny bushes, and moving forward under a heavy fire of
round and grape-shot, entered the jungle, through which it was
impossible to move in anything like a correct line, and beyond
which the Sikhs were formed. It was here that the gallant Colonel
Bolton received his death-wound;--his last emphatic words to the
men were, “_Steady_, THIRTY-FIRST, _and fire low_,”--when man
and horse came down together; but he did not allow himself to be
removed from the field until the action was over. The regiment now
found itself in front of a battery of fourteen or fifteen guns.
By this time the men were falling quickly under severe discharges
of grape from the guns, a few yards only distant, which were
also protected by a battalion of infantry, from which withering
volleys were sent into the ranks of the THIRTY-FIRST, who, however,
returned it with interest, and the intrepid valour of the men bore
down all opposition. One continued fire from the regiment laid low
nearly the whole of the enemy’s artillery-men opposed to its part
of the line, while the bayonet disposed of such of the remainder
of the foe as had not time to save themselves by flight. The
opposition of the Sikhs was desperate; but nothing could resist the
bravery of the British troops, who drove them from one position
after another with great slaughter: all their advanced guns
remained in the hands of the British.
It was not till an hour and a half after sunset that this hand to
hand conflict was over, when the rolling of musketry gradually died
away, and the British found themselves undisputed masters of the
field. Soon after the commencement of the action, Lieut.-Colonel
Byrne being severely wounded, the command of the regiment devolved
upon Major Spence, the senior major.
The regiment, being much broken and scattered over the field in
pursuit of the enemy, was re-formed in quarter-distance column, and
marched back to within about a mile of Moodkee, where it bivouacked
on the sand until daylight, and then returned to camp.
In this short but hard-fought action the regiment suffered
severely. Of 30 officers and 814 men, who went into action, 9
officers and 155 rank and file were killed or wounded.
The following officers were killed or wounded in the action at
Moodkee:--
Colonel Bolton C.B., } Mortally wounded.
commanding first brigade }
Lieut.-Colonel Byrne Severely ”
Captain Willes Mortally ”
” Bulkeley Dangerously ”
” Young Dangerously ”
” Lugard Slightly ”
Lieut. Pollard Slightly ”
” H. W. Hart Killed.
” Brenchley Mortally ”[29]
Assistant-Surgeon Gahan, } Mortally ”
9th foot, doing duty }
In this action Lieutenant Bolton, of the twenty-first Fusiliers,
acted as aide-de-camp to his father Brigadier Bolton.
The army was commanded in the action by General Sir Hugh Gough, the
Commander-in-Chief, aided by the counsel and military experience of
the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge. The following extract is
taken from the despatch of the Commander-in-Chief, dated 19th of
December, 1845:--