Dost Mahomet usurps the throne of Afghanistan--Meerut division
ordered to assemble five miles from Delhi--The King inspects
our army--Pass through Maharajah Rimjut Sing's country--The
Punjaub--Sir H. Vane--Hindoo Koosh--General John Keene--Cross
the attack--Sufferings on the Sandy Plain--Valley of
Shaul--Entrance to Bolam Pass--Lieut. Imvariety--Candahar--Crowning
Shah-Soojah--Through the Pass--First sight of Dost's Army--Battle
of Ghuznee--Storming--Col. Sale--Citadel sacked--Feelings
after Battle--Natives--Orders received for Cabul--March--Cabul
Camp opposite city--Enter--Supposed some of the Lost Tribes
of Israel--Proof--Affecting scene at the Death of our Colonel
Arnold--finding of two old tombstones with date 1662--Russian
ambition--Elphinstone left to protect Shah-Soojah--Back to
India through the Kyber, swarming with Kyberees--Dost and
his commanders prisoners with us--General Avetavela escorts
us through Peshwa--Punishment of Robbers--Crossing the
Boundary--Meerut--Memorial.
[Sidenote: Meerut division.]
The order for marching for active service at last came, and on
the 25th November, we left Meerut to join the force assembling
under General Sir Henry Vane, to proceed to Afghanistan to replace
Shah-Soojah on the throne usurped by Dost Mahomet. The force he was
to have under him consisted of the entire Meerut division--three
brigades of cavalry--three of artillery--and three regiments of
infantry--the 16th Queen's Lancers were commanded by Colonel Robert
Arnold, and were eight hundred strong.
Our route lay through the City of Delhi, so famous in all Indian
annals--the city, beautiful as we passed through, must have been
almost a paradise before being sacked and plundered by Nider Shah,
the Persian adventurer--he and his army are reported to have carried
off one hundred and fifty camel loads of treasure, consisting of gold
and silver--jewels and articles of great value. The principal street
running through the city is called Chan-de-la-gore, a stream of water
dividing it all through, with orange and tamarand trees on each of
its banks,--the bazaars were crowded with people, and goods for sale,
chiefly jewellery, silverware, and in some, costly apparel, such
as the gorgeous Cashmere shawl, and elegant Persian carpet. I must
reserve a full description of Delhi to another part of my experience.
The army, under the Commander-in-Chief was to assemble on a plain
five miles from Delhi, and was to number thirty thousand men of
all arms. To this rendezvous we marched. The following day we were
reviewed before the King of Delhi, he and his Court could not help
but be well pleased with the dashing fellows that passed before
them, we then continued our march through the protected Sikh States,
until we arrived at the Sutleg river, where we halted until a formal
permission to proceed was secured from the Maharaja Runjiet Sing in
order to pass through his country, the Punjaub. At this time the
Maharaja or king was very powerful, had a large army, with four
French generals in his service--Avitavula--Ventura--La Court and
Belasses. Permission was granted to pass through to upper Scinde.
[Sidenote: Sufferings on the sandy plain.]
At this distance of time, and looking back on the misery endured in
that dreadful march. The country is very sandy--the heat is intense,
and days without water. Eventually, after much suffering we reached
Attack, or the upper waters of the Indus near Hyderabad. Here we
halted a while and refreshed, Sir Harry Vane refusing to proceed
through those sterile mountains of the Hindoo Koosh without strong
reinforcements to keep his communications open with the rear. General
Sir John Keene was ordered up with a force from Bombay, consisting of
the 4th Light Dragoons, accompanied by artillery and infantry. Sir
Harry Vane, through illness, not feeling able to continue in command,
resigned, left for home, but died on the passage.
Crossing the Attack river, on the 15th January, new horrors presented
themselves thick and fast; the country still continued very sandy,
in fact a desert, no appearance of anything around or ahead of us to
instil a hope of comfort; again we had great suffering through want
of water. Before we proceeded far it was deemed advisable to send
back the elephants, and as for the poor camels they dropped off by
scores for lack of food, the tents and a great part of the baggage
and forage had to be burnt, the men were attacked with dysentery in
its worst form, and many died. This may be allowed was an auspicious
commencement of my military life in India. Did our men regret, or
get faint-hearted?--No. Did we think of home and all its comforts,
and the little thought there of the endurance of her soldiers?--we
did; but there was no such thing as repining--though we did think too
much was expected. Endurance has an end,--and that those who plan
such designs, should be obliged to accompany the army through this
country, and put up with, and be content with all we had to put up
with, without a sign of discontent.
[Sidenote: Candahar--crowning Shah-Soojah.]
Through much suffering we reached the valley of Shaul, through
Beloochistan to the entrance of the Bolan Pass. This gradually rises
to an elevation of something like 12,000 feet. It appears as if some
convulsion of nature--and I have no doubt of it--split the mountain
completely in two. At this time no Doctor Russell or Archibald Forbes
ever thought of such a mad freak as to accompany an army--they are
free to do so now, because perhaps, in many particulars the army
is better equipped and provided for--comforts unknown to us, are
supplied now--and so it should be--for the soldiers who fought for
England half a century ago, must have been hardier, and possessed
of greater endurance, to do as they did on hard rations, and often
half rations, with less formidable arms, no possible comfort, and
discipline almost carried to extremes.
In passing through the valley we were obliged to dismount, and
actually pull or drive our horses along, they were so used up.
While camped in the Pass, Lieutenant Inverrity strayed from his
regiment, was surprised by a party of Beloochees, and cut and hacked
to pieces. After losing many horses and men, and having undergone
much privation and suffering, we arrived at Candahar, here we rested
to somewhat recruit our health--procure fresh horses, and here we
crowned Shah-Soojah. The rest we had here was very acceptable,
and after all we endured on the sandy plains, and through the
valley--the refreshment, plentiful here for the inner man--was in
abundance--grapes and pears were very large, and vegetables without
stint--the cabbage here is about the size of an ordinary wash-tub,
very sweet and good. The inhabitants vied with each other to please
us, as we were the first British troops they ever saw. The city,
like all places of note in India, is very attractive, the houses
flat-roofed--any woman you meet in the street all belong to the low
caste, very heavily veiled--the High caste women are never seen out.
On the 4th of June we broke up camp and started for Ghuznee, our
way lying through the Bolan Pass. As we approach, its appearance is
formidable, the mountains at each side seem to reach to the clouds,
they have an ascent of 14,000 feet. Arriving at Ghuznee on the 21st
July, we observed on the hills, Hadjie Khan the commander of Dost
Mahomet's army encamped with twenty thousand men. Ghuznee is strongly
fortified--cut out of solid rock, on the slopes of a hill, surrounded
by a moat. As the enemy commenced firing on the 22nd with heavy shot,
our commander thought better to move the camp back about two miles.
[Sidenote: Battle of Ghuznee--storming.]
On the morning of the 23rd, we moved up at three o'clock, and got
into position. One division of cavalry opposite the gate on the
Cabul road; one part of our force moved off to our left, to watch
the enemy on the hills, and make a feint attack on their position on
the opposite side, so as to draw their attention from us. We were
occupied in placing batteries so as to command the gate; at the
same time Colonel Thompson, of the Engineers, was laying a chain
cable to throw a bridge across the Moat. When this was accomplished,
a mine was laid under the stone buttresses, and at a quarter to six
o'clock the mine was opening, and up went the gates with a terrific
crash. The storming party, consisting of the 13th Light Infantry,
under Colonel Robert Sale; the 2nd or Queen's, under Sir Thomas
Wiltshire; when the bugle sounded, commenced their attack under a
heavy fire--the 13th had the honour of leading. The enemy every
where made a terrific resistance. Colonel Sale was knocked off his
horse and trampled upon, still he ordered the bugler to sound a
retreat, instead of which, whether intentional or not, the advance
was sounded. Nothing could daunt the ardour and bravery of the men.
They soon gained a footing inside, where hand to hand encounters was
carried on in its most relentless form, and in half an hour, both
regiments were firmly established inside the walls. By day light the
British flag was mounted on the Citadel, many of the enemy having
thrown themselves therefrom, rather than surrender, to the Moat
below, a distance of 150 feet. We were ordered to enter and seize the
horses, which were running wildly without riders, which we did after
some hard work, and brought them to the prize agent outside. We were
annoyed, however, very much, through having to encounter the worst
of firing, as many of the Afghans popped at us from loop-holes and
windows in every street of the city. When the sun rose on the hills
the Infantry could plainly be seen ascending the greatest heights
of the Citadel, far above the city; here they got into the bank,
and loaded themselves with money. Many of the enemy were trying to
escape to the valley away on our left; these, and the force on the
mountains, kept our troops in that direction busy. By 2 o'clock,
p.m., all was over, and Ghuznee was in possession of the British.
[Sidenote: Feelings after battle.]
When all opposition ceased, and one went through the city, now filled
with sounds of wailings, he cannot but be struck with the dreadful
havoc war brings with it. This was my first general action, and
although when in the heat of it, I felt no pity for any one, at
least I cannot remember feeling so, still, when the desolation is
complete, and you are met everywhere with its sad effects, property
destroyed, mutilation of brutes, horses, camels, &c., dead, and
writhing in pain from wounds; wounded men and women every where
begging for mercy or succour, the dead piled all round, the most
hardened must give way to sadness. Shah-Soojah, our newly crowned
king, was busy on our right, hanging and shooting traitors, some
of them leading Chiefs who had fallen into his hands. The whole of
the 24th was occupied in burying the dead, and on the following day
Hadjee Kan came in, and gave up his sword, a beautiful one, the hilt
studded with costly gems; for its possession the officers had a race,
which was won by the 4th Light Dragoons. The horses captured, all of
them valuable Arab or Turcoman were sold by auction, the proceeds
appropriated as prize money.
We halted here three weeks, sending out detachments to scour the
country for Dost Mahomet's troops. During this time the inhabitants
began to be much familiarized to us, and brought on all the supplies
we required. We had much trouble, however, in striking bargains, as
they do not speak Hindoostanee; but this we did experience, their
great liking for us, over the regular Indian troops, our Sepoys.
On the 2nd February we received orders to prepare for an advance on
Cabul. Colonel Cureton was to proceed with two troops of the 16th
Lancers and three troops of heavy artillery as an advance, my troop
was one of these. On the 3rd, our way lay through high rocky passes,
these we had to ascend, not without great difficulty, and on the
second day's advance, we came upon four guns planted so as to command
a lead in the road. They were loaded, but abandoned. The artillery
unloaded them, blowing up the timbrels, one of the men through
accident having his arm blown off. Our march through the gorges and
passes was very tedious till we arrived at Cabul, the capital.
[Sidenote: Cabul--camp opposite city--enter.]
As we approached, the inhabitants gathered to greet us, and a right
hearty welcome we got, as we were the body guard of the King, and
the first British soldiers they ever saw. Encamping opposite the
main gate, we were supplied with all the dainties of the city--milk,
bread and fruit in any quantity. They were very kind, particularly to
us horsemen, and would take no money in return. As we had two days
before the headquarters with General Keene would arrive, I had many
a stroll through the city and the bazaars; but as Cabul has come
into great notoriety since I was there, and has been described over
and over again, I will not enter into much detail. The inhabitants
are mostly Mahomedans, some Armenians and Hindoos, who are generally
merchants. They strike one on first appearance with the Jewish type
of features, and it would not, perhaps, be risking too much to say
they are descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israel, for we
read in the 9th chapter, 1st Book of Kings, that King Solomon gave
to King Hiram, in exchange for wood brought to build the Temple,
twenty cities, and he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. We
found at that time plenty of Russian money and goods, showing that
that nation then, as lately, had an avaricious desire for possession
of the country. The people are mostly of fair complexion, and the
women are certainly very fine looking, of the Circassian type. After
the arrival of General Keene, we commenced forming batteries and
trenches. One sad occurrence overtook our regiment, which caused more
profound regrets, more heart-felt sorrow, than anything else that
could possibly befall us, and that was the death of our old esteemed
Colonel Arnold. He was fully half a century in the army, loved his
men as a father his children,--a splendid cavalry officer, six feet
two inches high. Feeling he could not live much longer, he desired
to see his regiment before he died. His cot was brought out, he,
having all the appearance of death, propped in it. The regiment was
formed on foot, three deep. We then marched slowly past him, giving
one sorrowful look, and that a long one, at our poor Colonel. Tears
filled all eyes. The officers, as their troops passed, fell in at
the side of the cot, and when all had passed through, his lips were
constantly moving, seemingly muttering some farewell, he audibly
exclaimed "My poor, dear fellows," fell back and expired. His remains
were interred with great military and masonic honours in the Moslem
cemetery.
[Sidenote: Elphinstone to protect Shah-Soojah.]
While we remained at Cabul, his grave was often visited, and many
a deep regret was expressed over it. While looking about the many
stones marking the place of the departed, I was struck with a stone
erected to the memory of two English people, dated 1662. How they
came to Cabul, or anything about them, no one could inform me. It was
certainly an early period--nearly two centuries ago.
The object of the expedition became now a matter with which every one
was acquainted. Shah-Soojah, an ally of our Government, was placed
on the throne, to counteract Russian ambition to our Indian Empire,
Russia at the time was engaged in war in Circassia.
Towards the end of September, leaving General Elphinstone with
a small force to protect the king, the remainder of the troops,
under Sir John Keene, left Cabul on our march towards India,
_via_ the Guddulek and Kyber Passes, taking Dost Mahomet and his
commander-in-chief as prisoners of war. The 16th Lancers acting
as body-guard, had also the care of the prisoners. The force now
consisted of my regiment, two troops Horse Artillery, one regiment
native infantry, with Skinner's Irregular Horse. Our route lay
towards the Gillum river; this our horses had to swim. Colonel
Curston, now commanding the 16th, nearly lost his life. As his horse
rolled over in the current, one of his men ran along the bank, and,
although heavily booted and spurred, jumped in, caught him by the
hair, and thus pulled him out.
The first week in October we entered the Kyber Pass, and although
the mountains on both sides swarmed with Kyberees and Ghysaltees,
they made no hostile demonstration, and allowed us to pass. Had
there been any attempt at a rescue, we had previous orders to shoot
the king, now captive, and his commander-in-chief. After a tedious
march through the rugged pass, we reached the fort of Jumrood, which
stands at the mouth of the Plains of Peshwa, and the French General
Avetavela was governor of that district for the king of the Panjaub.
He came to meet us and pay his respects to Sir John Keene, and escort
us through the Province of Peshwa. Here we halted five days, during
which time I saw thirty bodies hanging in trees, and was informed
that was the punishment meted out by the French General to robbers,
mostly hill tribe men.
[Sidenote: Crossing the boundary--Meerut.]
The Panjaub is a very fertile country, abounding in game, wild boar,
deer and pea fowl. We killed no bullocks on our march, out of respect
to the inhabitants, as they are mostly Brahmins and worship the
bull as sacred. We crossed the Sutledge, the British boundary, and
arrived at Meerut in complete rags, horses and men worn and jaded;
what clothes we had, patched with sheep and goat skin. We left just
sixteen months before, in all the ardour of youth, bright scarlet
and gold lace, now sad-looking spectacles--brown as mahogany, and
faces covered with rough hair. Our losses during that time were very
great. Besides our Colonel, we left two hundred officers and men
behind, almost all through hardship and fatigue. The loss during the
campaign in horses alone was 3,000, in camels 1,400. On arriving
at Meerut we subscribed a week's pay each, had a handsome marble
monument erected to our departed comrades in the churchyard. We now
required some rest, and we had it. As the recruits from England were
awaiting us, they relieved us from duty for awhile, and having a
large amount of pay and battier money due us, we gave ourselves up to
rest--recreation such as one can have in a hot country--and general
enjoyment. The area of India is about 1,558,254 square miles. From
the northern extremity of the Punjaub to Cape Cormoran in the south,
it measures 1830 miles; its greatest breadth is about the same; its
population is about 270,000,000.
[Sidenote: The prevailing religions.]
The prevailing religions are Buddhism, Brahminism, and Mahommedism.
The first contains many excellent moral precepts and maxims, but
practically it is a religion of Atheism. The doctrines of merit
teach its devotees to believe in the transmigration of souls. "If
any man sin" it tells him to build a pagoda, or carve an idol, it
threatens him with degradation into a soulless brute, it leaves him
without hope, without a god in the world. Brahminism is idolatry
in its most debasing forms. It has three hundred millions of gods,
but no creed; sun, moon, and stars are deified; sticks, stones, or
a lump of clay smeared with red paint, are convertible into objects
of superstitious reverence. The rites which it imposes are impure,
and sensual. Mahommedanism differs from the other two in that it
is not idolatrous. It professes a reverence for the supreme being,
but like all human systems of religion it is unsatisfactory, it
recognizes no divine mediator between God and man; maintained by
the sword, it exercises a cruel and despotic sway over the minds
of its votaries, it is remorslessly intolerant and persecuting,
deprives men of liberty, upholds slavery and polygamy, and degrades
women to the level of the brutes. It is one of the most powerful
anti-Christian systems in the world, holding under its iron sway
one hundred and seventy-six millions of the human race. A tradition
prevails that Christianity was first introduced by Saint Thomas the
Apostle. However that may be, when the Portuguese arrived in India,
A.D. 1500, they found a large body of professing Christians with
upwards of a hundred churches, who traced their history for thirteen
hundred years through a succession of bishops to the Patriarch of
Antioch. The Hindoos resisted all attempts of the Portuguese priests
to convert them to the Roman Catholic faith. "We are Christians,"
said they, "and do not worship idols." Many of them were seized and
put to death as heretics. Many missionaries went to India in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. But the East India Company did
not encourage the mission work, as they seemed to keep the natives
ignorant of Christianity, and by keeping the Hindoos and Mahomedans
antagonistic to each other it aided them in their conquests and
growing power. But recently a great many colleges have been built in
Bengal, Bombay, and Madras by rich Parsee merchants, and the Hindoo
youth are deriving great benefit, and since steam has opened up the
rapid passage and the voyage shortened through the Suez Canal they
have more frequent intercourse with the European, his manners and
customs.
[Illustration: (Vignette)]
[Illustration: (Vignette)]