I have now to give some account of the Camel Corps, which, as I
have stated, was formed at Lucknow on April 5, 1858, by drafts of
100 men from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, to which were eventually
added 200 Sikhs. I have mentioned (p. 381) the names of the officers
attached to this corps. The command of it was first proposed to
Lieutenant-Colonel Julius Glyn of the 3rd Battalion; but on his
declining it and preferring to serve with his Battalion, it was
conferred on Major Ross[311] of that Battalion.
The men were to be mounted each on a camel, with a native driver
to guide the animal. On April 7 they made their first attempt at
camel-riding. The camel is, in fact, rather a difficult animal to
sit, and the effects of this first lesson were rather ludicrous;
the men clinging on in every possible position and appearing most
uncomfortable. On the 8th they had two hours more of this drill, and
the men began to sit much steadier; and this practice was repeated on
the next day.
On the 10th the Camel Corps marched to the Dilkoosha at 5.30 in the
morning, and encamped there for the completion of the formation of
the Corps, and for camel-riding drill. But the ground on which they
were encamped being found to be unhealthy--eight or ten men of the
3rd Battalion company having sickened--the camp was moved on the 12th
at five in the afternoon to the front of and close to the Dilkoosha.
The men now made good progress in riding the camels; but with arms
and accoutrements they found it harder to sit the camels, or to sling
or dispose of their rifles. On the 16th Sir Colin Campbell inspected
them, and seemed well pleased at their progress. The Camel Corps were
all this time without a surgeon; and as the men were sickening daily
from the climate, without a regular hospital or medical officer, this
was a serious evil.
On the 27th they left the Dilkoosha at five in the morning, and
marched about five miles to Jellalabad, where they found mud huts and
plenty of mango trees to shelter them from the sun.
While here, at about nine in the evening they experienced a dust
storm, accompanied with vivid flashes of lightning. This was followed
by a heavy fall of rain, which cleared and refreshed the atmosphere.
On the 28th the Corps marched at four in the morning eleven miles to
Bunnee bridge. They halted on the 29th; and on the 30th struck tents
at four in the morning, and marched seventeen miles to Bussarutgunge,
and occupied some out-buildings of a mosque. On this march they
loaded, as rebels were constantly crossing the road. It was found
that the pace of the camels was a little over four miles an hour.[312]
On May 1 they marched to Cawnpore, fifteen miles, and occupied
cantonments near Wheeler’s intrenchment. They had marched from the
Dilkoosha to Cawnpore with the 200 Riflemen only, and 250 camels.
At the latter place they found 150 camels awaiting them, which made
up the mount to 400; and steps were at once taken to raise the two
companies of Sikhs, of 100 each, to complete the Corps to its full
strength of 400 men.
While here Major Ross received a letter from Sir Colin Campbell,
saying that the Camel Corps was a _Corps-d’élite_; and that the
officers were to be very carefully picked, as there would be a great
deal of independent command.
On the 4th they were ordered to march at midnight to Ukburpore, with
stores for Sir Hugh Rose and mortars for the column commanded by
Colonel Maxwell, 88th Regiment. The convoy did not arrive, however,
till about two on the morning of the 5th, when they started and
marched with a long train of hackeries. After proceeding fourteen
miles they halted and pitched tents at eight in the morning. This day
was most fearfully hot, the thermometer reaching 117°. At half-past
eleven at night they struck tents, and marched at midnight. In about
an hour they reached the Rind river and began crossing; but the
convoy and train of hackeries was some two miles long, so that it
was eight o’clock in the morning before all were got over. Then they
continued their march to Ukburpore, about fourteen miles from their
last halting-place, and reached it about 11.30. This day, like the
last, was extremely hot; and as the men did not get in till near
noon, and the rear-guard not till 1.30, they felt the heat extremely.
They encamped on one side of the canal (then dry) in a white burning
plain, without a tree on it, and only some small bushes.
On the 8th the Camel Corps was taken out at a trot, about two miles.
The men were now beginning to get accustomed to the action of the
strange beasts they bestrode, and they found sitting on them more
easy.
Up to this time no General Order had been issued for the formation
of the Camel Corps; one unpleasant consequence of which was that
no pay, regimental or otherwise, was issued to the officers or to
the men. They complained much, too, of their native camel-drivers;
a most ruffianly and undisciplined set of men. As an instance of
their ferocity, I may mention that on the 11th one of these men shot
another with his carbine; and not content with thus wounding him, cut
him over the back of the neck with his sword. The health, too, of the
Rifle companies was unsatisfactory; sunstroke and apoplexy carried
off several men; and their loss in the week ending May 12 was ten men.
On the 13th, striking tents at half-past three in the morning, they
moved their camp about a mile and a half, in the hope of finding a
more healthy situation for it.
On the 15th Colonel Maxwell, to whose column the Camel Corps was at
that time attached, received a communication from Sir Hugh Rose,
who was then advancing slowly towards Calpee, which was said to be
occupied by 8,000 rebels with six guns. In consequence of this the
Camel Corps was ordered to march in the evening, but was afterwards
countermanded. However, further messages having been received from
Sir Hugh Rose, they were ordered off, and marched on the 16th about
half-past two in the morning. They were to have marched about eight
miles; but as the ammunition carts which the 88th Regiment had with
them were not able to get across a river or nullah, the Camel Corps
halted after a march of two miles and pitched tents. Captain Nixon’s
troop started again at half-past six in charge of the convoy; and
having crossed the river, halted at about five miles and a half from
the starting-place at half-past ten. Major Ross with the remainder of
the Camel Corps came in about two. The whole halted till half-past
four, when they trotted into their camping-ground, where they arrived
by six o’clock. Lieutenant Eyre, who had charge of the convoy of
ninety-five carts of ammunition, got them in with his escort about
seven. The name of this halting-place was Bhogneepore. A good deal
of firing had been heard in the direction of Calpee. They halted on
the 17th, and on the next day the Riflemen of the Camel Corps were
ordered to march at one the following morning, to take a fort about
twelve miles off, in which it was reported that there were fifty or
sixty fanatics; but the order was countermanded in the evening.
On the 19th a good deal of firing was heard. And the Camel Corps
was ordered to cross the Jumna. They struck tents at half-past six,
but as they were preparing to move off the order was countermanded;
and they halted during the 20th. But Major Ross, with some of his
officers, crossed the Jumna and visited Sir Hugh Rose’s camp.
The Camel Corps moved at about one on the morning of the 21st, to
join Sir Hugh Rose’s force before Calpee. They crossed the Jumna at
a ford so deep that it was up to the saddles of the camels. After
crossing they joined the 2nd Brigade of the force under Sir Hugh
Rose, and encamped about half-past seven.
The camp was very inconvenient, especially on account of the
difficulty of getting water. For though they were not far from
the river, yet the ravines which intersected the country and the
steepness of the banks of the Jumna, made it impossible to obtain
water without going two or three miles round. After the Riflemen had
got over, 200 camels were sent back under Lieutenant Eyre, to bring
over part of the 88th Regiment. Two Riflemen died of sunstroke on
this march, for the heat was very great, the thermometer standing
at 117° in the tents. The fort of Calpee, which stands on high
ground, unapproachable from the river, and surrounded on all sides by
ravines and a plain dotted only by a few topes of trees, gave them
an occasional round-shot, just to let them realise that an enemy was
close to them.
On the 22nd they had just sat down to breakfast, when an order came
that they were to hold themselves in readiness to turn out at a
moment’s notice. That moment soon came; the ‘assembly’ sounded, and
mounting their camels they formed up with the brigade to which they
were attached. In front of them were thousands of rebels advancing.
Soon an officer came up in great excitement, and ordered the two
Rifle companies of the Camel Corps to advance to the right. On doing
so they found the rebels driving before them the picquet, or rather
they had already driven it in, and were almost on some heavy guns
which were in position there. The rebels were steadily advancing and
within a hundred yards. Then the Riflemen jumped off their camels,
and doubling up to where the picquet was, extended as best they
could, and with a ringing cheer went at the rebels. The fire of
musketry was very heavy; and the rebels let the Riflemen get within
eighty yards of them, but then they fled. In this way the Riflemen
went on in pursuit, doubling through the ravines with which the
country is much intersected, and availing themselves of such cover
as there was; but there was very little. In this affair (called
the battle of Goolowlee) the Rifle companies had but three men
wounded, but twenty-five men were disabled by the sun, as was also
one officer, Lieutenant Eyre. For the heat was fearful; and the pace
the Riflemen went at up to the picquet, now charging, then pursuing
the rebels, was very exhausting. Yet, weary as they were, the 2nd
Battalion company of the Camel Corps had to remain on picquet.
The help of these Riflemen on this occasion was most opportune; for
the enemy had crept up under cover of the ravines to the battery,
which was placed 500 or 600 yards beyond the right of Sir Hugh Rose’s
position; the picquet posted there had given way; and the rebels
would assuredly have had the guns, from which they were not more than
fifty yards distant, and in good cover from a ravine.
On the 23rd, about two in the morning, ‘rouse’ sounded, and their
camels came up; but they were without orders. After waiting about two
hours a staff officer appeared, who informed them that they ought to
have been with Sir Hugh Rose long before. They mounted their camels
and the staff officer undertook to show them the way; but as he
could not wait he left them to themselves. So proceeding in the dark
as best they could, they happily fell in with Sir Hugh Rose about
daybreak. They made a long circuit to the left, and on arriving at a
well which a cavalry picquet had just deserted, the rebels opened on
them from two guns with a brisk fire of shot and shell; aiming well,
but not hitting any of them. These guns were so well concealed in a
ravine that our artillery could not touch them. They then dismounted
and covered the advance, Captain Nixon’s company forming the reserve.
They kept on advancing and returning the enemy’s fire for some time.
At length, when the rebels saw the skirmishers working round their
right flank, they fled, and the Riflemen, on arriving at Calpee,
about two miles distant, found that the Sepoys had disappeared and
that the place was empty.
They reached Calpee about ten, and put up in a house till five in the
afternoon, when they marched to their camping-ground; a dusty place,
but with plenty of water: a luxury they had not had for some days.
The force opposed to them was the Gwalior Contingent, the same the
Riflemen had met at Cawnpore; and here, as there, they fought harder
and stood longer than any other enemy they had encountered in India.
They were commanded by Tantia Topee.
In this action the Riflemen had one sergeant and two privates
wounded, one of them severely.
In his despatch reporting these engagements, dated, Gwalior, June 22,
1858, Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn) writes thus:--
‘The very important service rendered on this occasion by Major
Ross, commanding Camel Corps, requires that I should make
especial mention of the ability and resolute gallantry with
which he led his brave Corps.... Lieutenant Buckley[313] of the
same Corps attracted my attention by the spirit with which his
party attacked and bayonetted rebels; for which I beg to mention
him specially.’
On the 24th, being the Queen’s birthday, they paraded at sunrise,
presented arms, and gave three cheers, while the English flag was
hoisted on the fort of Calpee.
They halted during the next day; and on the 26th they marched at two
in the morning, and moving along through the ravines, reached the
ford of the Jumna by which they had crossed on the 21st, but which
was now (owing to rain on the preceding day) running with a strong
current. Four natives were drowned in crossing. On reaching the other
side they marched to Bhogneepore, which they reached about half-past
eight, having made a march of about fifteen miles; and they rejoined
Maxwell’s column.
On the 29th they marched to Ukburpore, about sixteen miles, and
encamped in the same tope of trees they had occupied on their march
from Cawnpore to Calpee.
On the 30th they marched to Suchendee, about fifteen miles, and
arriving at about seven o’clock pitched their camp in a cool and
pleasant place under some trees.
On the 31st they moved at the usual hour, and reached Cawnpore about
half-past six. They occupied barracks near Wheeler’s intrenchment.
They halted at Cawnpore for some weeks, during which time they
received orders to equip for fresh service; and Sikhs having now been
enlisted, two companies of the 80th, which had been for a short time
attached to the Camel Corps, now returned to their regiment. The
camel-drivers were also drilled by non-commissioned officers sent
from the Lahore regiments, and gradually became somewhat more like
soldiers and obedient to discipline. The Riflemen were ordered to
draw from Allahabad capes and yellow gaiters, which added somewhat to
their appearance, and very much to their comfort.
On June 8 they were inspected by Sir Colin Campbell, who expressed
himself well pleased with their appearance, and gave them final
orders for their equipment and completion. He also complimented
them on their conduct at Calpee. They had received up to this time
80 volunteers from Sikh regiments, and 50 Sikh recruits. And 180
Riflemen were effective.
It was intended that they should remain at Cawnpore during the
rainy season; but the rains having been unusually late this year,
they received a telegraphic message on July 20, directing them
to be prepared to move at a moment’s notice, as they were wanted
for special service. And on the 22nd they marched at four in the
morning, and encamped about thirteen miles on the road to Allahabad.
On the next day (or rather in the night) they marched at midnight
and made a march of about twenty miles. On the 24th they reached
Futtehpore after a march of fifteen miles; and on the 25th proceeded
to Khaga, about twenty miles. It had rained, and the roads were very
slippery; one camel came down, and the long march had to be gone
over carefully. On the 26th they made a march of sixteen miles. The
rains had now set in, and their camp and their clothes were in a
perpetual state of moisture. On the next day they marched seventeen
miles; and on the 28th reached Allahabad after a march of twenty
miles, and occupied barracks. On the 29th they were inspected by the
Governor-General (Lord Canning) and Sir Colin Campbell, who expressed
themselves well satisfied with their appearance and performances: a
very satisfactory result of the pains they had taken with their drill
and with their drivers while at Cawnpore.
On the 31st the Camel Corps began crossing the Ganges in boats,
which, with the transfer of the baggage across the river, occupied
the whole day and part of the next, for the Ganges is here about
three miles broad. In this passage two or three camels were lost.
On August 2 they made a march of eighteen miles, which, being
performed at a jog-trot, was soon got over; yet their tents were not
pitched till eleven o’clock. On the 3rd they proceeded to Gopeegunge,
about sixteen miles. On the next day they made a long march of
twenty-four miles. And on the 5th reached Benares, after a march of
fifteen miles, and encamped on the parade-ground in front of the
cantonments.
They remained here during the 6th. On the 7th the camels were got
across the river, a slow and difficult operation, as the boats
drifted some three miles down the stream from the strength of the
current. And on the 9th they marched at five in the morning to
the Raj Ghât, a distance of about four miles. On arrival there an
order was received from Colonel Turner, commanding the force on the
Great Trunk road, to send fifty men, with a proportionate number of
officers, to Mohuneea, which was about thirty-seven miles distant,
and to be there by twelve o’clock that night. Captain Newdigate,
Lieutenants Austin and Eyre, were selected for this duty. They
chose the best camels; and, having crossed the river, immediately
started off. They halted for two hours at Noubutpore, twenty-seven
miles south-east from Benares, having travelled at the rate of seven
miles and a-half an hour: a great pace for even a swift camel to
maintain. Remounting, they finished their march at Mohuneea, tired
and wet through. They there found Colonel Turner, who had intended
to start them off immediately for a place six miles farther, and
across country. But a tremendous shower coming on about one o’clock
in the morning (of the 9th), this intention was abandoned, or rather
postponed. Besides, the camels were so tired that they could not have
gone farther without rest. The officers and men, therefore, sought
shelter and repose in carts, or wherever they could find it, till
nine in the morning. They then started, having received some biscuit
and tea; but they soon found the road impassable for the camels. In
two miles they had six casualties, two camels having to be dug out
of the mud. They therefore dismounted, and marched forward, up to
their knees in mud and slush. After proceeding about two miles and a
quarter farther they halted, having information that the enemy, who
had intelligence of their approach, had disappeared. Some cavalry
were sent on to ascertain whether this report was correct, and on
their return in about an hour with information that it was so, the
camel detachment began to retrace their steps. And up to the middle
in water, and with a burning sun beating on their heads, they marched
back to Mohuneea. On their arrival there they had no change of
clothes, so that they spent the rest of the day and night in great
discomfort.
But at six in the morning of the 10th the remainder of the Camel
Corps came up with their baggage. On the 11th they marched at
half-past two in the morning, and proceeded fifteen miles and a half
to Jehanabad, a large village, about fifteen miles from Sasseram. An
order was received in the afternoon for two officers and fifty men to
be left at this place, as the enemy was expected. Captain Nixon and
Lieutenant Buckley remained with this party, which rejoined the Corps
at the camp of Kurroundea on the 17th.
On the 12th the Camel Corps started at one in the morning, and
marched twenty miles to Kurroundea, about four miles beyond Sasseram,
where they formed a standing camp, and the Engineers built sheds for
the men. The rebels were expected to cross the Great Trunk road,
and to endeavour to escape into a range of hills about four miles
from Sasseram. The camp stood close under a spur of these hills.
A picquet, consisting of an officer and thirty men, was posted
about a mile from the camp, to watch the road from the north. This
picquet was relieved every third day. Altogether this standing
camp of Kurroundea was a pleasant change for the officers and men;
after their long moving about in the plains, the sight of hills was
refreshing; and the grazing being excellent, the camels enjoyed the
change as much as their riders.
On the 15th a detachment of the Camel Corps, consisting of
twenty-five Riflemen and fifty Sikhs, under command of Lieutenant
Eyre, marched from Kurroundea at six in the morning, _en route_ for
Shergotty. They proceeded on camels about six miles to Dearee, where
they halted for breakfast. At three in the afternoon they crossed
the river Sone in flat-bottomed boats. It is here about three miles
broad, and the crossing took about an hour and a half. On reaching
the other side they found bullock-waggons awaiting them; into which
the men being placed, four in each, with one walking beside every
waggon as a guard, they proceeded through the night, and arrived at
three in the morning of the 16th at Norungabad, about thirteen miles
from the river.
They left it again at half-past three in the afternoon, and arrived
at Shergotty about six in the morning of the 17th, where this
detachment continued for some time.
The Head-quarters of the Camel Corps continued at Kurroundea,
and soon after, on the 20th, an order arrived at noon for every
available man of the Camel Corps to accompany Colonel Turner.
Accordingly eighty Riflemen and some Sikhs under Major Ross started
from Kurroundea at half-past one in the afternoon, and marched about
twenty miles to Nassreegunge on the Sone, where rebels were reported
to have been sent by Oomar Singh to collect revenue. On arrival they
found that 150 rebels had been at Nassreegunge in the morning, but
had quitted it, leaving about twenty men behind in charge of the
place. These were taken quite by surprise, and sixteen were killed;
and two, who were slightly wounded, escaped. The Riflemen bivouacked
near an old indigo plantation.
In the night a detachment of the 37th Regiment arrived; and in
the morning Colonel Turner started with twenty-five men of the
Camel Corps on four elephants, under Lieutenant Austin, some Sikh
Cavalry, and the party of the 37th. But this party of the Camel Corps
returned to Kurroundea on the 23rd, having only captured two or three
prisoners. The other portion of the Camel Corps marched back from
Nassreegunge to Kurroundea on the 21st.
On the 25th Lieutenant Jeames, with twenty-five men of the Camel
Corps, marched on foot to Nassreegunge, as the rebels were expected
to return and destroy it. This detachment returned to camp on the
30th.
On September 3 Lieutenant Scriven was sent with thirty men to join
Colonel Turner at Bikrumgunge, as the troops at that place had been
attacked by the rebels, whom, however, they had driven off.
On September 5 Major Ross, with 50 of the Camel Corps, two guns, a
few Sikh Cavalry, and 40 of the 37th Regiment, started from the camp
to join Colonel Turner, who was twenty-six miles distant towards
Jugdespore.[314] Their first day’s march was about twenty miles to
Sunjowlee Khas, and on the 6th they reached Bikrumgunge early in
the morning, and effected their junction with Colonel Turner and
the party under Scriven. After halting for breakfast, they paraded
again at half-past ten, and leaving all their baggage under a guard,
proceeded to a village, Surajpore, about five miles off. This was
a large and strong place, and about 500 rebels occupied it. But,
notwithstanding the disparity of the attacking force, they abandoned
it after firing a few shots at the advanced guard of cavalry. The
Camel Corps pursued them as far as Kullanee, but could not come up
with them. And the rebels having disappeared, they returned to Bikrum
in the afternoon, where they halted during the next day. The Riflemen
had a hard day’s marching and skirmishing, sometimes up to their hips
in water.
On the 8th, Colonel Turner having received intelligence that some
rebels were likely to cross the main road about four miles farther
towards Jugdespore, they started early to intercept them. After
about an hour and a half’s march they came in sight of a large body
of rebels posted in a village on the right. The Camel Corps, the
cavalry, and the two guns started to attack them. But owing to the
rains the roads were deep with mud; the rice fields on each side
were under water, with a thick deposit of mud beneath it, and it was
impossible for camels, or horses, or guns to move rapidly; so that
the rebels escaped before these troops could reach them. Whilst they
were engaged at this work, a party of the rebels made an attack on
Bikrum, and came up within a few hundred yards of the trenches there
thrown up for protection. However, several of them were killed or
wounded, and amongst them the leader of the attack. On receiving
intelligence of Bikrum being assailed, the force in the field fell
back, and pitched their tents there just before dark; having been out
from half-past three in the morning till six in the evening, during
great part of which time the sun was extremely overpowering.
On the 9th they started about an hour before day on their return, and
marched back ten miles to Nokah, and encamped; and on the 10th, after
a march of sixteen miles, reached their camp at Kurroundea.
On the 12th Captain Nixon and Lieutenant Jeames, with 20 Riflemen
and 30 Sikhs, were detached to Sunjowlee Khas, and did not rejoin
Head-quarters at Kurroundea till October 26.
On the 23rd the Camel Corps (forming part of Colonel Turner’s force)
marched to Nassreegunge, where they halted on the 24th. On the next
day they moved to Behta, some miles farther up the Sone, and were
occupied on that day and the 26th in destroying several boats which
the rebels had concealed under boughs of trees and in the mud. On
the latter day Captain Newdigate, with thirty men of the Camel Corps,
was sent to Sukreta, where a rebel Rissaldar, Unjoor Singh, was
said to be. But he had left the evening before, and this detachment
returned to Behta. On the 27th, having intelligence that some rebels
were not far off they marched some distance to Khurona; and a spy
having come in while they were halting for breakfast, and having
reported that the enemy were close at hand, they started in pursuit,
the cavalry taking one direction and the Camel Corps another. The
former, 120 Sikhs, under Mr. Baker, found the rebels in a village,
and by making a feint of retiring, drew them out into the open;
when wheeling round, they attacked them, and succeeded in killing
about 100, all mutinied Sepoys, with small loss to themselves. Their
opponents numbered 700. The Camel Corps came up at the close of this
engagement, but the rebels had then fled so far that it was useless
to pursue them, and they encamped near Suhejne.
They halted on the 28th to allow supplies to come up from
Bikrumgunge; and on the 29th marched to the westward and south
of Jugdespore, in order to drive the rebels from the surrounding
villages into that place; and in the afternoon came to Kooath, a
village which had been occupied just before by some 300 of the enemy;
but who, on hearing of their approach, had fled in such hot haste
that it was impossible to overtake them. They encamped at Dawuth,
where they halted on the 30th, and were occupied in collecting arms
from the villages in the neighbourhood. During the last four days
they had been exposed to heavy rains.
On October 1 they moved on to Roopsaugor, about thirty miles north
of Sasseram, whence they moved towards Soombursa. But, as usual,
the enemy fled at the first approach of the Camel Corps, and they
returned to the camp at Roopsaugor.
And on the 3rd proceeded on their route to two large villages,
Dinareh and Kochus, which were said to be occupied by rebels. They
reached the former on the 4th, after a most fatiguing march, the
country being under water and deep in mud; and on the 5th arrived at
Kochus. Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining information.
The populations of the villages, which in this part of the country
are scattered about at distances of scarcely half a mile, were
evidently friendly to the rebels; and all knowledge of their
whereabouts or of having seen them was persistently denied. Yet it
afterwards turned out that a body of rebels, under a chief they were
in search of, were hiding in a village within a mile of their track.
On arriving at Kochus it was ascertained that the darogah or headman
of the village had been actively collecting supplies for Oomar Singh;
and after pitching camp a visit was made to his house, which was full
of grain. This having been given to the natives, his residence was
burned. But they had no sooner marched from Kochus than Oomar Singh
and his gang, who had been hiding in the high sugar-cane fields,
entered it.
On the 7th the Camel Corps made a long march, and returned to their
camp at Kurroundea. But their respite from work was not long; for on
the 8th they were ordered to start again, and marched at four in the
afternoon. And after halting at Nokah three or four hours during the
night, reached Bikrumgunge at seven in the morning of the 9th. And
on the next day moved towards Jugdespore; encamping that night at
Deonar, and on the 11th at Sukreta. For the next fortnight the Camel
Corps were on the move, often day and night, to harass the rebels
in the Jugdespore jungles and the Kinsey hills, and to endeavour to
prevent their escape from Jugdespore.
Thus on the 15th Newdigate started with 13 Riflemen and 13 Sikhs at
a quarter to six for Nurainpore, about nine miles from Sukreta, with
orders to bring in two rebel Zemindars; but he found that they had
escaped. So after burning their houses, he returned to the camp at
Sukreta.
On the 16th Brigadier Douglas entered Jugdespore, but the enemy
eluded him and escaped. However, on the 18th they were driven out
of the jungle. On the 20th Colonel Turner directed Colonel Ross to
push on with part of the Camel Corps. Taking with him Major Newdigate
and 2 other officers, and 55 Riflemen, he came on the enemy. As
they approached them another body appeared on their right flank
flying before some cavalry. The enemy were in force, upwards of 100
cavalry and 600 infantry. The Riflemen at once dismounted from their
camels and skirmished up to the village of Sukreta, which the enemy
occupied. Here they had a hard fight; for besides the superiority
of the rebels in numbers, the village, being surrounded by bushes,
formed a strong position; and the rebels, finding they could not
get away, fought better than their usual wont.[315] This fight
lasted for nearly an hour, when the rest of the Camel Corps and of
Turner’s column came up. Among these was Lieutenant Scriven of the
2nd Battalion, who, rushing up to the assistance of his comrades, was
shot immediately. Besides his loss one Rifleman of the 2nd Battalion
was killed and two were wounded severely, of whom one afterwards
died; and of the 3rd Battalion two Riflemen were killed, and one
sergeant and three privates wounded. The Adjutant of the Camel Corps
(not a Rifleman) was also wounded. Of the enemy 70 dead, all rebel
Sepoys, were counted in the village; and two or three times that
number in the surrounding fields. The survivors fled towards the
hills, and being pursued by some Horse under Major Havelock, were
cut up and dispersed. On the next day the Camel Corps proceeded up
the Sone and prevented the rebels crossing to the right bank of that
river. They afterwards returned to their camp at Kurroundea.
Captain Newdigate, however, was detached with thirty-two Riflemen on
camels, to join Major Havelock’s force, which consisted of about 200
men of the Military Train, some Sikh Cavalry, and some of the 10th
Foot mounted on ponies. The Riflemen had no baggage.
On the 21st they marched to Sydha, and after halting there two hours
proceeded to Khooath Khas, where about four in the afternoon they
came on the rebels, who fled at their approach; the Camel Corps
pursued them till after dark, the cavalry cutting up a good many, and
encamped at Sethan. At sunrise on the 22nd this detachment marched by
Suhejne to Jendonee, whence, after a short halt, they proceeded to
Dinareh. They there halted two hours, and on the 23rd reached Kochus,
and thence proceeded to Kyree, where they halted for breakfast. But
intelligence of rebels being in the vicinity being brought in they
started without it. They found the rebels in about three miles,
and on their flying lost trace of them for two or three hours, but
again came upon them near Khurgurh. They pursued them till they
fled across the Great Trunk road about nine miles to the north of
Sasseram. This was the very place where they had been ordered to
drive them across, and where they were to have been intercepted by
the Native Cavalry; but unfortunately these had been deceived by
false intelligence of the rebel movements, and were not in the right
place. The Camel Corps detachment went on to Jehanabad, their camels
being quite exhausted. Here Newdigate found Major Ross with 100 men
of the Camel Corps; and leaving the greater part of his detachment
there he proceeded to Kurroundea with the wearied camels and ten men.
The Camel Corps were soon again in pursuit of the rebels, who, after
crossing the Great Trunk road, got into some hills above Sasseram. On
the 27th they marched, 120 Riflemen and 80 Sikhs, at half-past twelve
to Akbarpore, near Rotas, where they arrived about ten at night. On
the next day they marched to Khyrwa, where they breakfasted, and in
the afternoon proceeded to Jeelokhur, and encamped; but Captain Nixon
with about half the men went on to Nowadah. This detachment on the
next day proceeded to Jadoonathpore, where they were followed on the
30th by the remainder of the Camel Corps. This place was about fifty
miles from Sasseram, and on the Sone. Their position here was to
guard one of the passes to the hills and to prevent the rebels coming
down.
On November 3 and 4 the Camel Corps crossed the Sone, the bed of
which is here some two miles broad and fringed with a range of high
hills on each bank. On the 6th they marched to Purtee; on the 7th
to Muktowar; on the 8th towards Kotah Ghât, when, finding rations
running short, and no supplies likely to come up, they returned to
some distance beyond their camping-ground of yesterday. On the 9th
they marched to Pandoochoona; and on the following day recrossed the
Sone to Jadoonathpore, and encamped, sending a detachment to Nowadah.
On September 13 Newdigate was sent on a patrol to Jaca, about seven
miles from the top of the pass through the hills. Incessantly moving
in pursuit of the rebels, the Camel Corps again crossed the river on
the 14th and 15th; marching on successive days to Pipra, Gao Ghât,
Hurdee, and Choopan. Leaving this on the 20th, they recrossed the
river at daylight and marched to Robertgunge, where they arrived at
half-past three in the afternoon, and leaving it again at ten at
night, reached Pannoogunge at two in the morning of the 21st and
encamped. Here patrols reported that the rebels had escaped into
Oude; they therefore turned back to their camp at Kurroundea, where
they arrived on the 30th. They were soon ordered to follow the
rebels; and starting on December 3 in five days arrived at Benares,
where they encamped and halted till the 10th.
They then marched with orders to join Sir Hope Grant’s column at
Fyzabad. They arrived at Jounpore on the 13th, and proceeded by
Sultanpore to Fyzabad, which they reached on the 20th. Here a letter
from the Chief of the Staff awaited Colonel Ross, directing him to
join Brigadier Barker’s column, about sixty miles north of Lucknow.
They left Fyzabad, therefore, on the 21st, and marched into Lucknow
on the 24th, where they halted for Christmas Day. They marched on the
26th, and encamped about eighteen miles north of Lucknow. The object
of their movement was to watch the right bank of the Gogra, and while
Lord Clyde and Sir Hope Grant were driving the rebels into a corner
between Baraitch and the Nepaul frontier, to intercept any rebels
who might attempt to cross the Gogra. However, on all this march the
Corps was short of camels, many having died in the neighbourhood of
Sasseram, where the climate is said to be very injurious to these
animals. They were therefore ordered to Agra to procure remounts.
They proceeded by Seetapore, Futtehgurh, and Mynpooree to Agra, where
they arrived on January 23, 1859. Having obtained the camels they
required to remount the Corps, they started again on the 26th, under
Brigadier Showers, whose force consisted, besides the Camel Corps,
of two squadrons of the Carabiniers and two squadrons of Irregular
Cavalry. The object of this force was to capture Tantia Topee, who,
with Ferozeshah and a force of some 3,000 or 4,000 horsemen, was
giving trouble to the west and north-west of Agra. On the 27th the
Camel Corps encamped at Bhurtpore. On February 4 they encamped at
Loorkee in the Jeypore district. On the next day they marched at one
in the morning, and reached their camping-ground at eleven. On the
6th they started again at midnight, and arrived at Futtehpore at
half-past eleven, where they halted during the two following days.
Tantia Topee now doubled behind them to the southward, passing by
Nagpore, and with a portion of his followers gave his pursuers the
slip, and it was for some time uncertain in what direction he had
gone.
The Camel Corps, therefore, leaving Futtehpore on the 9th, moved
southward, marching daily from twenty to thirty miles till the 15th,
when they halted for that day at Burroo. Next day they made a march
of twelve miles; and on the 17th, passing through the range of hills
which runs from north-west to south-east through Rajpootana, arrived
at Ajmeer. In all these marches they started about midnight, often
marching till one or two o’clock the next day; and seldom halting
for a day, and then only because the horses of the cavalry required
rest. From Ajmeer the Camel Corps proceeded to Nusseerabad, where
they halted for two days; and on the 21st marched still southward,
and arrived at Boondee on the 26th.
Thence inclining to the south-east, they encamped at Barah in the
Kotah district on March 2. They then moved towards Agra to receive
some supplies forwarded from thence, and on the 13th were encamped
at Madhoopoora in the Jeypore district. Thence retracing their steps
and crossing the Chumbul river, they encamped on the 22nd at Etawah,
and on the 29th at Bilowa in the Gwalior district. This country was
full of jungle, of which the rebels well knew how to take advantage;
so that to trace them, or to dislodge them when tracked, was a most
difficult operation. The Camel Corps marched into Goonah on April
7. On the 8th Tantia Topee was captured (by Colonel Meade’s column)
about ten miles from Goonah and four from the camp of the Camel
Corps. Though he did not actually fall into their hands, there is no
doubt that his inexorable pursuit by Brigadier Showers’ force led to
his capture, and so indeed he himself stated. For though reserved and
uncommunicative to the officers, he spoke freely with the men; and
said that had it not been for the incessant chase of Showers’ force,
which had run him to earth, he would have cared little for any other
troops. He admitted that he had been so closely pressed by them that
on one occasion he hid under a bridge they were actually passing over.
During their few days’ halt at Goonah, Colonel Ross had the
Riflemen’s clothing, which was dilapidated and of many colours from
patches, dyed.
The Camel Corps halted for a week at Goonah, and left it on the 14th
at four o’clock in the afternoon to look for Ferozeshah, who with
some force was about fifty miles to the south. They came upon him on
the 16th near a village, and killed some of his followers; but the
rebels scattered at once and with Ferozeshah escaped into the jungle.
However, they took nine waggons laden with provisions and eleven
prisoners, whom the Sikhs of the Camel Corps immediately shot. They
then moved to Supree, where Tantia Topee had been hanged on the 15th.
On their arrival there Brigadier Showers left them, and the cavalry
which had hitherto formed part of the column also moved off, so that
the Camel Corps, under Colonel Ross, alone began their march towards
Agra. They proceeded by Kallarus and Gwalior, where they arrived on
the 30th, and reached Agra on May 5, where they went into quarters
for about four months.
On September 15 they left Agra _en route_ for Saugor, and passing
through Muneeah and Dholpore encamped on the banks of the Chumbul on
the morning of the 17th. Colonel Ross having endeavoured to find a
ford with elephants, but without success, found it necessary to get
his Corps across in boats; a difficult operation, as from the camels’
dislike to water it is no easy matter to get them into boats. There
were twenty-two boats, most of which held each three, and some few
four camels. The stream was wide and rapid, and the ravines which
border its banks (as they do many of the large rivers of India) had
become water-courses; for much rain had recently fallen. On the
morning of the 18th Colonel Ross took over a party with shovels and
improved the landing-place, which was knee-deep with mud. He then
passed over the two Sikh companies, to find fatigue parties and to
establish a camp. This had to be pitched about two miles from the
river’s bank, as the ravines extend nearly that distance. Before
dark he had succeeded in getting over the camels of three out of the
four troops, besides many baggage-animals. Early on the 19th the
two Rifle companies crossed; by four on that day the whole Corps,
with its baggage, was in camp. Thus, besides the men, 600 camels
were got over in two days, and the baggage, which had to be unloaded
on one bank and loaded on the other. And much time was lost by the
rapidity of the current carrying the boats down-stream. On the 22nd
they arrived at Gwalior, where they halted the next day. On the 26th
they had some difficulty in crossing the Sinde river; for though the
water was not deep the further bank was steep and slippery. On the
27th they encamped at Datia; and on the 28th arrived at Jhansi. On
leaving it on the next day they had to cross the Betwa river, about
six miles’ distance; which, though less troublesome and tedious than
the passage of the Chumbul, was not without its difficulties; and
they encamped about four miles beyond it.
The Camel Corps arrived at Saugor on October 9.
The object of the operations now about to be commenced was to hunt
all the jungles from the southward up towards the river Betwa, the
line of which was to be closely watched. Ferozeshah was somewhere to
the east of Saugor at the head of a body of rebels, or rather robbers
and others of the evil classes, and was keeping the district in a
state of unquiet.
With this view seven small columns were formed, and the command
of one of them, consisting of his own Corps, an Irregular Cavalry
Regiment, and a regiment of Punjaub Infantry, was conferred on
Colonel Ross. Two companies of the Camel Corps, however, under Major
Nixon, were attached to another column.
Both portions of the Corps marched from Saugor on the 14th, and
Colonel Ross moved to a position about fifty miles from it. The
country through which he was to operate was covered with wild
jungle, which clothed hills of moderate elevation, the valleys being
watered by clear streams. After pursuing the rebels in and through
the jungle, where, from their invariably decamping as soon as the
troops approached, and from their knowledge of the paths, it was
impossible to catch or intercept them, Colonel Ross with his party
reached Dergowah, about seventy miles to the north of Saugor, early
in December. He proceeded to Heerapore on the 3rd, and halted till
joined by Major Nixon with the other portion of the Camel Corps.
These had been attached to a column under Colonel Primrose of the
43rd Light Infantry; and on October 27 fifty men of the Camel
Corps, twenty-five Riflemen and twenty-five Sikhs, under command of
Lieutenant Ramsbottom, were engaged at the village of Mitharden,
where some rebels were killed. The Riflemen on this occasion had not
their camels, and fought dismounted.
The seven columns employed in scouring the jungle were broken up, and
returned to their quarters; but the Camel Corps remained out still in
pursuit of rebels.
Leaving a small detachment at Heerapore, the Camel Corps marched on
December 11 to Shahgurh, nine miles, and leaving part of the Corps
there, Colonel Ross with the remainder marched about sixteen miles
further to the banks of the Dessaun river, where he encamped. Here
he was joined by Captain Browne, the Assistant-Commissioner; and on
the 12th, accompanied by him, marched at about seven in the morning.
They had advanced some way when a shot was heard in front, and near a
village about a quarter of a mile distant. Word was also passed from
the front that rebels were in the village. Accordingly they pushed on
with all speed, and soon spied a few mounted and some dismounted men
in the jungle. After proceeding about a mile they came on a riding
camel, belonging to the Assistant-Commissioner. Then the shot heard
was explained: some rebels, headed by a noted miscreant, Dowlat
Singh, had murdered the driver of the camel and the servant of the
Commissioner riding behind him, whom he had sent forward with some
despatches. Colonel Ross requested the Assistant-Commissioner to send
forward a few mounted police, to keep on the track of the rebels,
and to hold them in check till the Camel Corps came up, as these
police could ride faster than the pace of the camels. But they soon
returned, saying that the enemy were too many for them to approach
them. If these men had done their duty the Camel Corps might have
come up with them and caught many of the rebels. As it was, they were
delayed for some time in passing two ravines, the banks of which were
thickly covered with jungle. They followed them for a considerable
distance, but could not come up with them. The Camel Corps proceeded
to Marowra, where they encamped.
They continued engaged in this jungle warfare, or rather harassing
of the rebels, till April 1860, when, returning to Agra by the same
route by which they had moved to Saugor, they arrived there on April
30.
During the seven or eight months the Camel Corps were engaged in
this service their duties were most harassing. They marched at
short notices in every direction, wherever and whenever they had
intelligence of an enemy; and almost always without the satisfaction
of finding or engaging one. Often detachments of forty or fifty men
were ordered to mount at a moment’s notice, and to ride thirty or
forty miles as fast as they could, only to find that the enemy they
expected to fight had fled before they approached his lair, or had
scattered into jungle where it was hopeless to pursue.
Soon after their arrival at Agra they received information that
the Camel Corps was to be broken up. They were disbanded on June
1. The company of the 3rd Battalion joined their Head-quarters at
Agra, where the Battalion was quartered; the company of the 2nd
Battalion proceeded by bullock-cart to Subathoo, where they joined
Head-quarters of the Battalion on June 12. The men of the two Sikh
companies were allowed to volunteer into any native corps they wished
to join.
Colonel Ross, in alluding to his unsolicited and unexpected
appointment to a Companionship of the Order of the Bath, assumes that
it was meant as a recognition not only of his personal services,
but of those of all who were in the Camel Corps; and adds this high
testimony: ‘And well do they deserve this recognition of their
services. For we had lots of hard, tedious work, and never once all
the time I was in command had I to speak a second time to either
officers or men. Each seemed to take pleasure in doing what he had to
do, and in assisting me in every way.’[316]
FOOTNOTES:
[311] Now Brigadier-General John Ross, C.B., commanding Brigade in
Bengal, and lately commanding a Brigade in the Malay Peninsula.
[312] This walking pace was fast for the camel, whose walk does
not generally exceed three English miles an hour. The Heirie (or
swift camel) can travel, at a trot, eight or ten miles an hour, and
maintain this speed for many hours; but that pace is very rough and
fatiguing to the rider (‘Illustrated Natural History,’ by the Rev.
J. G. Wood, i. 706). We shall see hereafter what long and what rapid
marches were made by the Camel Corps.
[313] Captain Buckley was killed by the accidental discharge of his
gun, when out shooting November 1868.
[314] This (Jugdespore on the Sone) is a different place from
Jugdespore in Oude, the scene of the operations of the 2nd Battalion
in April, 1858.
[315] This affair is also said to have taken place at Nonadee
(‘London Gazette’) or Hoadeh.
[316] Private letter, January 6, 1861. For this account of the
actions and movements of the Camel Corps I am indebted to the
journals of Captains George Curzon and Eyre; to information from
Captain Austin, and Sergeants Carroll and Walsh; and especially to
the letters of Colonel Ross.