Having now a respectable home, and an easy income, I began to look
around me for a wife, to share my fortune, and to drink with me of the
salubrious cup of contentment. I had been for some time intimately
acquainted with a most respectable family, the father of which was a
conductor to the commissariat department. He had three daughters, whom
he took great pains to bring up in a respectable manner, and they all
did credit to his fatherly care, and lived together in great affection
and domestic comfort. To the eldest of these I became most sincerely
attached. I asked her hand in marriage, and it was granted; but the
father stipulated, that, in consideration of his daughter's tender
years, the marriage was not to take place for the space of two years. In
the meantime, every preparation was to be made for our mutual happiness.
Thus things went on till the latter end of the year 1815, when my good
friend the colonel was promoted to the rank of major-general, and
consequently bade farewell to his old corps, the 24th Dragoons, in which
he was respected and loved. Scarcely had he departed, when I drew up a
short memorial to the Marquis of Hastings, then Governor-General of
India, and my new commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Philpot,
immediately dispatched it to head-quarters, Calcutta, accompanied with a
handsome recommendatory letter from himself. When I presented this
memorial to my commanding officer, he replied, "Shipp, I am glad you
have done so. I was yesterday speaking to your friend, Major Covell,
about you. I will forward it with pleasure, and I hope it may succeed."
Some twenty days after this, I was sent for in a great hurry to the
riding-school, where the colonel was looking at some young stud horses.
I immediately attended the summons. He was standing with his back
towards the riding-school door when I entered, so I waited at some
distance, when the adjutant said, "Here is the sergeant-major." The
colonel immediately came up to me, seized my left arm with the hand of
his right, and thus led me out of the school. No sooner were we out of
sight than he pulled out a letter, and I shall never forget his delight
when he grasped my hand, and said, "Shipp, I sincerely congratulate you
on your appointment. The Marquis of Hastings has been pleased to meet
both your and my wishes; you are appointed to an ensigncy in his
Majesty's 87th regiment,[13] and directed to join that corps
immediately: but this you must promise me, to keep the affair secret
till to-morrow, or I shall be teased out of my life for your
appointment. I would ask you to dine with me to-day, but for this wish
to keep it a secret. I shall therefore have that pleasure another time."
I expressed my most sincere thanks; the colonel put the letter into my
hand; he went to his horses again; and I went to evening parade.
In the evening, after my duty was done, I went down to see my intended,
and to tell her and her family of my good fortune. On my walk hither I
had a most strange feeling; it was not that of elation of spirits, but
rather of a dreary and gloomy turn. In this mood I reached the abode of
my little wife, before I was aware of my near approach, and had almost
stumbled upon her good father before I perceived him. Indeed, I should
have passed him but for his usual salutation, "Ah, John, is that you?
how are you?" This address roused me from my reverie, and I replied,
with affected dignity, "Come, Sir, be a little more respectful to your
superior officer, or I shall send you to the congee-house." Here I could
not help lowering the ensign's mighty dignity, by bursting into a loud
laugh. The old gentleman did not seem to know what to make of it; but I
suppose he thought me tipsy, for at last he said, "What's the matter,
John? you seem a little out of sorts this evening." I then took his arm;
we walked together towards the house; and on the way I told him the
whole affair. He replied, "Then of course that will break off the match
with my poor Ann; you will now look higher." At this the ensign's blood
rose, and he got nettled, and warmly replied, "You have mistaken your
man, Sir. I could never, after winning the affections of any woman,
forsake or desert her. No: it was with tenfold pleasure I came down to
assure her of my unalterable affection." Here my friend gave me his
honest hand, and I have no doubt his heart with it; and thus, hand in
hand, we entered where all the family were seated round a table at work,
their usual evening's employment.
On entering the room, the father, addressing himself to the domestic
circle assembled, said in a jocular manner, "Mrs. H. and children,
permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Ensign John Shipp, Esq., of
the Horse Marines--I mean His Majesty's Own Irish Regiment of Foot." I
made a bow worthy of his Majesty's commission and of the corps to which
I was appointed; but this profound obeisance only set the young ones
tittering, and one of them, the youngest, had the impudence to point
the finger of derision at me, saying, "He an ensign! so is my cat,"
which cat she immediately paraded on the table on his two hinder
extremities, calling him "Ensign Shipp." After this I seated myself
close to my little intended, and whispered the whole truth into her ear;
but, instead of evincing the joy which I expected, she turned pale and
gloomy. I inquired the cause. She was humble as she was good, and she
replied, "I am sorry for it; for I suppose you will not condescend to
look upon a poor conductor's daughter." Here the ensign's ire was again
roused to a pitch far beyond that of a sergeant-major, and I said, "What
the devil (I could not help the warm expression) do you all take me
for?--man or beast? No, Ann; have a better opinion of me." I then
extended my hand towards her, and pledged the honour of an ensign that
it was hers, and hers only. She seized my hand and bathed it with her
tears. I then directed the conversation into a new channel, by turning
my indignation on the little one who had metamorphosed the cat into an
ensign; but, as I bethought myself that I really had seen less sagacious
animals bearing that commission, I kissed her for her impudence, and
forgave her.
The following day I had my hair cut _a la ensign_, and ordered a new
suit of regimentals; and the third day I dined at the mess of my old
corps, to which I had a general invitation during the time I remained at
the station. I received the most marked kindness from the regiment on my
promotion. Invitation followed upon invitation, so that it took up
nearly the whole of the ensign's time to make and write excuses; the
officers vied with each other in politeness and liberality; and I shall
ever remember the generosity of the late 24th regiment with feelings of
gratitude.
Having arranged my affairs, I left Cawnpore for Dinapore, on the 1st day
of January, 1816, having first concerted everything for my marriage as
soon as I should be settled with my regiment. I reached the station
where my corps was quartered, in five days--a distance of four hundred
miles.
On the morning of the 5th day I landed, for the purpose of reporting my
arrival to my commanding officer. After wandering about the station a
considerable time, without seeing a single European soldier, at last I
met a woman, and I asked her if she would have the goodness to inform me
where I could find the commanding officer of the 87th regiment. I found
by her manners (I mean ill manners) that she had early paid her devoirs
to the shrine of rum. I repeated, "Will you, my good woman, have the
goodness to inform me where I can find the 87th regiment?"
"What! the old Fogs?"[14] said she.
"Fogs!" said I, "no: the 87th regiment, I mean."
"Is it making fun of me you are?"
I replied, "No, my good woman: I really want to find where the 87th
regiment are."
"Sure they are just after laving this place, becase they are gone away
these three big days."
"Gone!" I repeated, "where?"
"Fait, to fight against Paul."
"Paul!" said I, "who the devil is he?"
"Arrah! bad luck to you, is it after mocking Judy Flanagan you are, you
tafe?" I again assured the woman that I was in earnest (for she had put
herself in a boxing attitude), and informed her that I was an officer of
that corps. Here she burst into a loud horse-laugh, slapping her legs
with both her hands, "You an officer of the old Fogs! ha, ha, ha! Arrah,
none of your blarney, honey."
"However you may laugh," said I, "I am an officer of the old Fogs, as
you call them, and I am come to join them."
"Then," replied she, "you might have saved yourself the trouble, joy;
for the divel a one is here, except the quarter-master, and I could not
find him this morning; but does your honour really belong to the old
Fogaboloughs?" I pledged the honour of an ensign, upon which she
stretched forth her brawny paw, and grasped my hand, saying, "Give us
your daddle, your honour; sure I am always glad to see any of the old
corps here." She gave me positive proof of her attachment to the
regiment, by nearly squeezing my hand off, and she was about to confirm
the whole with a kiss, but I parried her in this kind intention. She
then entered on a eulogium of the regiment. "The divel a better corps
within a whole day's march. The regiment is a credit to your honour.
Och, thase are the boys for fighting!" Here she pulled up her petticoats
nearly to her knees, and commenced capering and humming a tune. I could
not help laughing, for she footed it with the skill of a dancing-master.
When she had pretty nearly winded herself, she again seized my hand, and
asked me for something "to drink his honour's health, and success to the
old Fogs." I told her that, if she could inform me if there was any
person belonging to the regiment at the station, I might be inclined to
give her something to drink.
"Thank your honour," said she; "sure, the adjutant, and one Captain
Bell, are left behind."
"The adjutant here?" answered I, "what--sick or on duty?"
"Neither, your honour: he is confined as snug as a bug to his own room,
and is a prisoner besides. Sure, there has been a mighty blusteration
and hubbub between him and the same Captain Bell."
I inquired what had been the matter.
"Matter, your honour! matter enough: there has been bloody murder
betwixt them; and sure there is no end to the murders in this regiment."
"What! have they been fighting?" said I, meaning a duel.
"Fighting! sure enough."
"Is the captain also a prisoner?"
"Snug enough, joy."
"Will you be kind enough to show me where the adjutant's quarters are?"
"To be sure, honey: he lives just over against the corner house, just
over by the other side of the chapel, and forenent the main guard-room:
sure anybody will inform you that knows."
"I fear I shall never find it, with all these leading points," said I;
"give me some place near it."
"Well, your honour, do you see yonder woman standing all alone, with a
man spaking to her? Or can you see the house round the corner?"
Finding now, from the information proffered by this lady, that the more
explanatory she attempted to be, the more unintelligible she became, I
cut the matter short by giving her a rupee, and I took my leave of this
ardent admirer of the old Fogs, with her parting benediction, "God bless
your honour; may your honour never die till the side of an old house
fall on you and kill you!"
Having parted from this pretty specimen of my new regiment, I inquired
for the adjutant's quarters, which were pointed out to me. At the door I
met a soldier, of whom I inquired if the adjutant was at home, and was
informed he had just gone out. I said I would wait till he returned; so
I seated myself, and in about five minutes after he came in; and, when I
informed him who I was, he gave me a hearty welcome, invited me to
breakfast, and I remained with him the two days I stopped at the
station. From this officer I learned that the regiment had left two days
before, against the Nepaulese. This was a piece of news that delighted
me much, although I had not a single thing prepared for such a campaign,
nor was it probable I could procure what was necessary, after the whole
country had been drained of cattle, &c., to supply the army. But,
notwithstanding this, in two days I was ready, so far as carriage; but,
as I could not, by any possibility, get a tent, I was obliged to
manufacture one, something like what our gipsies use, out of a
setterenge, or Indian cotton carpet.
Thus provided, I commenced my march to join the old Fogs, who had
preceded me five marches. The first day I accomplished a distance equal
to the regiment's first two days' marches. The next day I completed two
more, and was handsomely treated by an indigo-planter, in the district
of Tirhoot, where their liberality is noted. I sent on my things, the
next morning, twenty miles, and desired that they might be conveyed
twenty more, should I not reach them that night. I spent the day with my
liberal host, the planter; slept there, and, after eating a hearty
breakfast, started the next morning on horseback, my kind entertainer
having laid horses for me on the road. I overtook my things about two
miles from their destination, and put up at another indigo-planter's.
Here I met a young officer, who was also on his way to rejoin the same
division, and, as it proved after a little conversation, the same
regiment. He was very young, and seemed delicate; and, I thought, but
little calculated for such an arduous campaign as the one in prospect.
Here we regaled ourselves till next morning, when we thanked our host
for his liberality, and bade him farewell. This was the last indigo
factory on our road, and travelling without protection was attended with
some little danger, the lowlands being proverbial for murders and
robberies. We were, therefore, now obliged to proceed with caution. In
the day-time we remained in our tents, and at night slept in some hut or
temple. Neither tents nor mud walls were any safeguard against the
desperate thieves in these districts; besides, these lowlands abounded
with tigers, bears, hyaenas, wolves, jackals, &c.; and, as these had not
been much accustomed to the sight of Europeans, we could not tell how
far they might be induced to go for such unusual delicacies; so safety
was the parole.
The first march I taught my young companion the art of becoming his own
butcher, cook, &c.; for I killed, skinned, washed, cooked, and eat a
fine young kid, of part of which I made a curry, and grilled the
remainder; of this my young friend partook, with most excellent
appetite. After tea we moved into a village for the night; for some
suspicious fellows had already been seen loitering about. When thus
travelling, I would recommend people to show their fire-arms, and in the
dusk of the evening to fire them off. The dacoits, or low thieves, in
India, although a most desperate set, have the greatest dread of
fire-arms, and will seldom approach those whom they know to possess
them, however ill-disposed they might be under other circumstances.
Thus, I have often, on the rivers Hoogley and Ganges, when coming home
at night in a lone boat, escaped being robbed, and perhaps murdered, by
frequently discharging my fire-arms, while others, who have neglected
this precaution, or perhaps not had fire-arms with them, have been
plundered, and in many instances murdered, in spite of the police kept
on those rivers.
The regiment was now only twenty miles ahead of us. We therefore retired
early to rest, intending to reach the corps the following day. We had
not reposed more than an hour, lying upon our things, when I was awoke
by a noise something like the crowing of the domestic cock, and then
like the barking of a dog. I had been too long in the country not to
know that these crowings and barkings were sure indications of robbers
being on the look-out. I therefore seized my pistol, resolving to have a
shot at whatever first made its appearance. For a time all was still.
There were two doorways to the hut in which we had sheltered ourselves;
and, across each of these doorways lay myself and my young friend. I was
wide awake, and he was just dozing, when, all of a sudden, he jumped up,
and bellowed out, so that his voice re-echoed again, "Who is that?" I
jumped up and said, "What's the matter?" He answered, "Some person's
hand touched my face." I replied, "You must have been dreaming." He said
he was confident that what he said was true. "Well, then, if it is,
don't be afraid," said I. This nettled the young soldier, and he
replied, "No, Sir, I am not so easily frightened as you may imagine." I
thought at one time he was going to give me proof of his valour, by
coming to an open rupture with me; but, at last, we both lay down to
repose again, I thinking to myself, "I shall try your courage by-and-by,
my lad." I pretended to be asleep, and soon heard the thieves on the
move again. I therefore stole silently from my bed, and discharged both
my pistols in the air, bellowing out, with the lungs of an ensign,
"Choor! choor! choor!" which my companion perfectly understood to be,
thieves! thieves! thieves! Hearing this, he made a desperate jump over
my bed, and was out with me in a moment; but he afterwards confessed
that he was most dreadfully alarmed. We retired to rest once more, but
had not lain long before I felt a hand cross my face. I immediately
seized the fellow, but he was so oiled that he slipped through my hands
like an eel, and was out of sight in a moment. I ran out after him, but
he was gone like a whisper on the breeze. At this juncture I heard my
companion crying out, "Where are you, Sir? Where are you, Mr. Shipp?
Don't leave me." When I returned, I found him in a dreadful state of
alarm, and, I must confess, I did not myself half like it. These
nocturnal robbers go perfectly naked, with their heads shaved, and oiled
from head to foot. They seemed bent upon robbing us, for it was strange
that they should have returned after I had fired. However, I reloaded my
pistols, and I said, "Now, Sir, I think we may repose till the
morning."--"Repose, Sir!" he replied; "I don't think I shall sleep again
for a week."--"Nonsense!" said I; "we soldiers must not mind these
little skirmishes. Such things as these happen every day, and we laugh
at them. If we had nothing more to disturb our peace than these little
annoyances, soldiering would be a delightful life indeed. The grand
thing is to keep a good watch, so as not to be taken by surprise."
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTES:
[13] The 87th "Prince of Wales's Own Irish" Regiment of Foot,
re-entitled in 1827 the 87th "Royal Irish Fusiliers" (the facings being
changed from deep-green to blue at the same time), now the 1st Royal
Irish Fusiliers. In 1815, when Shipp was appointed to it, the 87th had
_two_ battalions, the first of which, after some years at the Cape and
Mauritius, landed in Bengal in August that year. The second battalion,
which had greatly distinguished itself in the Peninsula, under command
of Sir Hugh, afterwards Viscount Gough, was at Colchester, where it was
disbanded in February, 1817, the effective officers and men mostly
joining the battalion in India.
[14] The 87th was popularly known as the "Ould Fogs" from its Erse shout
in charging _'Faugh a Ballagh_ (Clear the Way). The _sobriquet_ is often
wrongly assigned to the Connaught Rangers.--ED.