Lumsden of the Guides: A Sketch of the Life of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Harry Burnett ...

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Preface

In compiling the following sketch of the life of Sir Harry Lumsden, it has been our endeavour, as much as possible, to let him and his associates speak for themselves. Probably, however, no one could have been less conscious than Lumsden that he was leaving behind him any material from which even an outline of his career could be obtained. It was not till after his death that a search at Belhelvie resulted in the discovery that his mother had carefully preserved the full and interesting letters which her son had written to his parents during his Indian career. These letters are produced almost in their entirety. They reveal their author's character with singular felicity from boyhood onwards. Indeed, it may truly be said, "These letters are Harry Lumsden/'

In addition to letters, we have some anecdotes specially recorded for the late Colonel Sir Henry Yule, R.E., together with many rough pencil notes, too fragmentary to be produced as they stand. Full use, however, of these notes has been made, and portions of the narrative have been based on them, the original phraseology being as far as possible adhered to viii PREFACE

From Lumsden's official diaries we have quoted in full detail the description of the march of the Mission from Peshawur to Candahar, as given in chapter xv. The account of the life of the Mission at Candahar, and the constitution of the Afghan army as described in chapters xvi and xvii., is founded on the diaries. Where original material has failed we have not hesitefcd to quote from notes and writings bv Sir F. K. Pollock, Sir Henry Daly, the Rev. T. P. Hughes, Colonel J. Peyton, Colonel H. C. E. Ward, and from the published lives of Sir Harry's contemporaries Sir Henry and Sir John Lawrence, Lord Clyde, John Nicholson, also from Trotter's India, Paget and Mason's Narrative of North-West Frontier Expeditions, and from the early Regimental History of the Guides. A remarkable series of letters written by Herbert Ed wardes, Commissioner of Peshawur, to Lumsden at Candahar, describing the progress of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58, is given almost in full in chapters xviiixxiv.

We are indebted to Mrs. J. T. Walker for permitting the original drawings in her album of the Amir Dost Muhammad Khan and of the village of Akora from the pencil of the late Colonel W. Fane to be copied for this work; and also to the authorities of the South Kensington Museum for the copy of the portrait of Eesaldar Futteh Khan, of the Guides, by W. Carpenter, and to the many associates and old friends of Harry

PREFACE ix

Lumsdeii for the use of their notes and personal memoranda. ** It will be noticed that we have taken care to avoid overloading the text with genealogical details, which might hinder the flow of the early part of the narrative. Those of our readers who would learn more of the history of the ancient Scottish family of Lumsden will find a full account thereof in an excellent book by lieutenant-Colonel H. W. Lumsden, B.A., entitled, Memorials of the Families of Lurnsddine, Lumisden, or Lumsden, printed under the auspices of Mr. David Douglas, of Edinburgh.

A word or two of explanation is perhaps necessary in regard to the manner in which we have transcribed Oriental namea No very hard and fast line has been followed. Where custom has clearly sanctioned a popular mode of spelling, as, for instance, Delhi, Cawnpore, Cabul, etc., we have followed custom in our text; where we have had— or thought we had — a tabula rasa, we have followed the Jonesian system more or less closely, e.g., Afridi, Yusafeai, Muhammad. For the most part we have allowed Oriental names to stand as we have found them in the original letters and books quoted; occasionally, however, in order to prevent the confusion which might arise from the very varied ways of spelling such names of common occurrence as Afridi, Abazai, Yusafzai, we have tried to make the spelling uniform throughout, as x PREFACE

we thought it possible that a reader coming across Eusafzie, Yoosufzye, and Yusafzai, might well be puzzled to know whether these names represented three different places, or only one place. We have employed accents as sparingly as possible, only inserting them when we thought a reasonable doubt might arise as to whether a vowel was long or short

Contents

CHAPTER 1. paob

Captain Thomas Lumsden — Boyhood and education — At Futtehgurh — Afghanistan — At Gundamuk and Cabal — Return to India— At Attock . . ... 1

Chapter II

On the Sutlej — Adventure in the district— The Sutlej campaign — Battle of Sobraon . . ... 11

CHAPTER IH.

Lahore — Assistant to Henry Lawrence — Kangra— Jullundur — The Maharani and Lai Sing — To Cashmere — Revolt against Gulab Singh — In Cashmere— Ordered to Hozara . 19

Chapter IV

Campaign on Nainsukh River — In the Hozara country— A successful stratagem— At Rawul Pindi— Sikhs as soldiers — Old pistols , ♦ . . ♦ . . 28

Chapter V

Attack on Babuzai — A village surprised — In Yusafzai— Explosion of a raft — On the Cabul river — Duties as Commander of Guides — At Lahore — Kan Singh's conspiracy — To Sheikhopoorah— Deportation of Maharani — Journey to Ferozepore . 37

CHAPTER VL

At Lahore — Guides seize Umritsur — At siege of Mooltan — Charge of Guide cavalry— Letter from Henry Lawrence — Winter campaign, 1848-1849— Charge of Guide cavalry at Eutova — On the Chenab — Battle of Goojerat — At Peshawur • . 49 xii CONTENTS

CHAPTER VIL r AO »

At Peshawur— Drilling of the Guides — Punjab Frontier Force— Defence of Frontier — Raising of the Guides— Story of Dilawur Khan — Murdan, headquarters of Guides — Early life of Dilawur Khan— Argument with Cabul high priest — Dilawur Elian's last service — At Chitral— Death of Dilawur Khan 61

CHAPTER VIIL

Objections to civil employ — At Peshawar — Expedition against border villages — Causes of expedition — Attack on Sangao— Fighting in Bazdara valley— Punjab border policy . . 74

CHAPTER IX.

Eohat Pass — Lumsden and Coke — District officers at Peshawur— Fort of Attock — Lumsden's burj — "Cease firing" — Zakha-khel Afridis— Horse stealing— Rhamat Khan, Orakzai — Capture of a robber . . ... 88

CHAPTER X.

Colin Campbell on Teerah— Letter from Peshawar— Lord Dalhousie visits Peshawur — Defence of the Frontier— Inspection by Governor-General— In the burj— Border posts . 94

CHAPTER XL

Momund expedition — Building of Michni fort — Demolitions by elephants — Recognition of services — Letter from Governor- General — Sir John Lawrence at Murdan — Guides attacked by Mokurrum Khan — Gallantry of Guide cavalry — Resaldar Futteh Khan* . . 108

CHAPTER XIL

Action of Punjpao — Operations against Utmankhels— Defeat of enemy — Withdrawal of troops — In the Cashmere cave — Outside Cashmere cave — Sir Colin resigns command — Sir Colin Campbell . . . • ... 112

CHAPTER XIII.

Home journey— Reappointed to Guides — Parade along the Frontier — Gallant rescue by Jack Peyton — Two white leopards — Peyton in Cashmere— An avalanche— Buried in the snow— Legacy of rifles . . . . ... 121

CONTENTS xiii

CHAPTER XIV. faob

An envoy from Gabul— Treaty with Afghanistan— Message from the Amir — Amir arrives at Peehawur — Appointment of Candahar Mission — Dost Muhammad Khan — The Amir and Sir John Lawrence— Sayings of the Amir— Amir returns to Cabal. . 131

CHAPTER XV.

Letter from Lord Canning — Mission starts for Candahar— In Kurram — Speen Gowie route — Among the Jajis — The Sher Dahan Pass — Ghuzni — Qhuzni to Kelat-i-Ghilzai — Meeting with Futteh Mahomed Khan — Letter to Lord Canning . • 141

CHAPTER XVL

Reception at Candahar — Life at Candahar — Famine — Description by Bellew — Akhundzada Nur Muhammad — Attempt on Sirdar's life . . ... 155

CHAPTER XVIL

Afghan army — General Sher Muhammad Khan — General Firamosh Khan — Treachery of a converted Kafir — Establishment of dispensary — Dr. Bellew and the Heir- Apparent — Doctors differ — Balm of Gilead — Moderation and intoxication . . 162

CHAPTER XVIII.

Outbreak of the Mutiny — Effect on Candahar people — Letters from Herbert Edwardes — Mutiny in India — Meerut — Delhi — Umballa — Persians evacuating Herat — Snipe shooting — Anxiety to rejoin Guides— Spread of Mutiny — Troops at Peshawur disarmed — Death of Commander-in-Chief — Critical state of India — Arrow-headed letter . . ... 173

CHAPTER XIX.

Excitement in Afghanistan — Taking of Delhi ridge — Letter from Sir John Lawrence— Reinforcements for Delhi — Prowess of a Guide Resaldar — Glorious appointments — Letter from Lord Dalhouflie—"Kismut"— Death of Quintan Battye— Edwardes confident . . . . ... 187

CHAPTER XX.

Peshawur citizens faithful — Mission should hold fast — Surprise of Narinjee— Delhi still holds out— Mutiny of 26th N.L— Second attack on Narinjee — Death of Henry Lawrence — Events before Delhi . . . . ... 108 xiv CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXL nc«

A fanatic mullah— Sydney Cotton's activity— Mutiny of 51st N.L at Peehawur — Affairs in Afghanistan — Death of William Lumsden— Letter from Sir J. Lawrence . . . 907

CHAPTER XXIL

Assault on Delhi— Delhi taken— Death of Nicholson— Effect of fall

CHAPTER XXm.

Accident to Dr. Bellew — Havelock holding Lucknow— "In accord- v ance with the treaty 11 — The Guides to return — Affairs at Herat — Taylor at Herat — Inglis's Lucknow despatch — John Tower Lumsden — Return of the Guides — Reception at Peshawur — Speech by Sydney Cotton— The "gallant Guides' 1 . . 219

CHAPTER XXIV.

Conversion of Hindu boy — Excited mullahs — Broken vows— Watching events — Recall of Mission — Procuring camels — News from Lucknow— Military music— Persia— The Bolan and the Khyber 232

CHAPTER XXV.

Lumsden's opinions — Border tribes— Edwardes on Candahar Mission — Order by Governor-General — With the Guides again — Life at Murdan — Ward's description of Lumsden — Vaccination — Pollock describes Lumsden — A political officer . • . 243

CHAPTER XXVL

Waziri expedition — Bugles sound "Fall in" — Waziri land — Gallantry of Charles Eeyes — 6th Punjab cavalry — Attack on Lumsden's camp — Repulse of enemy — Advance to Kani Goram . . 264

CHAPTER XXVII.

Attempted assassination — Hyderabad contingent — Minute by Lord Canning— The Deccan — Treaties with Nizam — Sir Salar Jung Indebtedness of contingent — Umbeyla war — Marriage — Tiger shooting . . . . ... 263

CHAPTER XXVIIL

Umballa Durbar— The Amir Sher Ali— Lord Mayo — Close of

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXIX. tag*

Life at Belhelvie — Wood-carving — Hawks — Fishing and shooting — Resigns the Service — Roberts and Norman — The Guide Corps — Punjab Frontier Force — Frontier Force Dinner — Belhelvie churchyard — The guide of the Guides . ... 279

APPENDIX A.

Recruits — Native officers — Non-commissioned grades — Religion and prejudices — Punishments — British officers — Power of subordinates — Pay and necessaries — Ball practice — Cavalry — Barghirs Accounts and bazar — Commanding officer — Expeditions — Field requirements — Mountain train guns — Cavalry in hill warfare — Rear-guards — The attack — Supports and reserves — Camps and pickets— Tricks of hillmen — Intelligence • . . 891

APPENDIX B.

Hawking— Age and moulting— Catching hawks — Points and training— Breaking-in — Hawking— Food and physic — Varieties of sport — Wild fowl and chakor — Netting — DogB — Game in Afghanistan • • • ... 316

APPENDIX C.

Note to Page 5 . . . ... 329

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

To fiim pagt Early Days— John and Harry Lumsden. From a picture at Belhelvie by Pettenhoffer .... Frontispiece

Attook, ok thb Indus, 1852. From a drawing by Lieut. P. S. Lumsden 10

Plan or thb Battle or Sobraon, February 10th, 1846 . 14

Plan or thb Passage or thb Nainsukh, February, 1847 28

Rrbaldar Futtbh Khan, Khan Bahadur, Corps or Guides. From

a drawing by W. Carpenter . ... 54

Akora Village, Entrance to Eohat Pass. From a water-oolour

drawing by Lieut W. Fane . .84

The Guide Burj, Pbshawur. By Lieut H. Hawes, Guide Corps, 1851 88

The Amir Dost Muhammad Khan, 1857. From an original sketch by

"Doctors Differ." Dr. Bbllew and the Heir- Apparent. By

Autograph Letter from John Nicholson to H. B. Lumsden,

Lumsden with thb Guides. From a water-colour drawing by R. Simkin 248

Brigadier-General H. B. Lumsden, C.B. From a picture by J.

Sir Harry Lumsden at Home, 1895 . . ... 278

Diploma or Merit, Military Exhibition, 1890— m Woodcock and Partridge." Designed and carred by Major-General Sir H. B. Lumsden . • . • ... 280

Map or the Afghan Frontier . • • . At the end

LUMSDM OF THE GUIDES

Chapter I

Birth — Parentage — Thomas Lumsden's service in the Bengal Artillery — Retirement and death — Harry Lumsden's boyhood and education — Indian cadetship and appointment to 59th N.I. — Passes examinations — Interpreter and Quartermaster with 33rd N.L — On expedition to Cabul in 1842 — Letters to family.

Harry Burnett Lumsdbn first saw the light during a storm in the Bay of Bengal, on board the East India Company's ship Rose, on the 12th November, 1821. His father, Lieutenant Thomas Lumsden, fourth son of Hary * Lumsden of Belhelvie Lodge, Aberdeenshire, haying entered the Bengal Artillery in 1808, went home on leave in 1819, married Hay, daughter of John Burnett of Elrick, an estate not far from Belhelvie, and was returning to India with his wife in the following year, when their eldest son was born. Thomas Lumsden had already, before his marriage, been marked amongst his brother officers as one above the crowd. He had served with the Horse Artillery at the siege of Hatrass and at the capture of Kalunga in 1817, and in the two succeeding years in the Pindari campaigns under the Marquis of Hastings, by whom his services were specially brought to

* Sic An old Scottish mode of spelling Harry.

B

CAPTAIN THOMAS LUMSDEN

CR. I.

notice. His homeward journey in 1820 was of a type not very usual in the early part of the century. Instead of taking the ordinary sea route, vid the Cape of Good Hope, Thomas Lumsden accompanied his distinguished cousin, Matthew Lumsden, Professor of Persian and Arabic in Calcutta, on a difficult overland expedition through Persia, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Austria, and France to England. The travellers were overtaken by a snowstorm in tbe Caucasus, during which Thomas Lumsden lost a valuable gold watch. Several years later, however, Matthew Lumsden made a second journey over the same route, and greatly to his surprise was presented with his cousin's watch by certain monks, who stated that it had been found on a mountain path. The watch has now become an heirloom in the family, and has been inscribed with the appropriate motto Nil desperandum. Lieutenant Lumsden, having rejoined the headquarters of the Bengal Artillery, was promoted to be captain in the following year, 1822, and was appointed to the command of the 1st Troop 1st Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery. With that troop he was employed in 1825, in the first Burmese war, and was present throughout every siege and action. The despatches of that campaign bear testimony to the good service of Captain Lumsden, the attention of Government "being specially attracted to his gallant conduct " in continuing, while badly wounded, to direct his guns during the attack on Napade on December 25 th.

On the conclusion of peace three officers were specially chosen to convey the ratification of the treaty to the" golden fort at Amerapura, viz., Captain Thomas Lumsden, Lieutenant Henry Have-

18*7 BOYHOOD AND EDUCATION 3

lock,* Deputy Assistant Quartermaster- General, and Assistant Surgeon George Knox. Honours were not in those days very liberally conferred on officers of the East India Company's forces ; but on the accession of Her Majesty the Queen, Thomas Lumsden (then a colonel in the army) was appointed a Companion of the Bath.

Captain Lumsden continued in command of the same troop of Horse Artillery till he obtained his majority in 1832. He was then appointed to the charge of the gun-carriage agency at Futtehgurh, which he retained until he retired from the service in 1842. He died at Belhelvie Lodge in 1873, the father of six sons and five daughters.

In 1827 young Harry Lumsden had been sent home and placed in charge of his grandmother at Belhelvie, and under the guardianship of his father's brother, Henry Lumsden of Tilwhilly and Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire. The boy's first school was the Bellevue Academy, in Aberdeen, then conducted by the Rev. George Tulloch and his wife — a French lady, familiarly known to her husband's many pupils as "Madame," The rudiments of education were well taught by Mr. Tulloch and his assistants, discipline being rigidly enforced by a liberal use of the rod. Harry was much liked, both by masters and boys. He had a happy facility for languages, which he combined with great power of application. He was gifted with a food llemper, a happy disposition, great originality, and aptness. From boyhood to old age he gave his whole might to his pursuits, whether of work or play. His love of nature was intense — animals were his

* Afterwards General Sir Henry Havelock.

4 AT FUTTEHGUBH oh.i.

friends, field sports his passion. The mountains, the rivers, the glens of Aberdeenshire, and the birds and beasts and fishes which dwelt therein, kindled his enthusiasm while he was a mere child.

From Bellevue, Harry Lumsden went to Mr. Dawes' well-known school at Bromley, in Kent; and at the age of *». year, and thJ months was -omiaated to a direct Indian cadetship by Mr. John Shepherd — himself an Aberdeenshire man— one of the directors in Leadenhall Street Lumsden's service dated from the 1st March, 1838, and in the same year he was gazetted to the 59 th Bengal Native Infantry, at Moradabad, as an ensign, and marched with his regiment to Loodiana in the cold weather of 1839-40. On arrival in India he spent some time with his parents, Major and Mrs. Lumsden, at Futtehgurh, doing duty with the 34th Native Infantry stationed there. Major Lumsden, knowing his son to be an apt learner, and, at the same time, more than a keen sportsman, took every opportunity to urge the importance of passing examinations in the native languages without delay. Harry obeyed his father to some purpose, and in a comparatively short time qualified himself for high appointments by obtaining the interpreter's and quartermaster's certificates; but he did not neglect his regimental duties. The 59 th was one of the best corps in the native army. He regarded it as his home, and he rapidly became a great favourite both of officers and men. A mark of affection given to him by his companions at this time was the happilychosen name of "Joe," by which he was familiarly known during the rest of his life. No precise reason can be assigned for the choice, though various guesses

1842 AFGHANISTAN 5

might be made. But we may be sure that the merry, bright fellow who was called "Joe" Lumsden by his intimate friends owed the pet name, which he fully accepted, to the kindly feelings with which he was always regarded. In December, 1841, Lumsden was unexpectedly appointed to act as interpreter and quartermaster to the 33rd Native Infantry, then marching to Peshawur to form part of the army proceeding, under the command of General Sir George Pollock, to avenge our disasters in Afghanistan.* Of some of the events of the later part of the year 1842 we have his own accounts in letters which have been preserved.

Gundamuk, 6th September, 1842.

We are all here at last, after great bother with camels having run away and died on the road from overwork. Last night I was up all night, making arrangements for a wing of our regiment to remain and collect grain for the force. We were to have gone to Soorkhdb this morning. When everything was ready, out comes an order that we are not to advance to-day; so I might have had sleep last night. However, one thing is sure, that if any part of the regiment goes on, the Colonel will go with it ; and if he goes, his staff cannot be left, so I must see Cabul, anyhow. Many of our poor fellows are dreadfully disgusted with the idea of having to remain behind with the wing.

Futteh Jungf is now in our camp, having escaped from confinement The prisoners have been carried to Bamean, but one of the chiefs has made a bargain with the General to make them over to us on payment of money.

The people of Cabul are quite disgusted with Akbar, but his name has such a charm now that not one of them has resolution enough to stand against him, though he is murdering hundreds every day.

♦ See Appendix & t Son and successor of Shah Shtya.

AT GUNDAMUK

OH, I»

Futteh Jung thinks that we shall be able to get as much provisions in Cabul as we can desire to bring us back; if only we can once get there, and the advance is to be made to-morrow. Nott has gained a decisive victory over the enemy before Ghuzni, and taken four guns from them. The particulars have not reached us yet, but we are assured that that grand fort has again fallen into our hands. This time we must, I think, send it up to the clouds.

Henry Lawrence has had the greatest difficulty in making the Seikhs — who, from the beginning, have not had their hearts in this business — to come up here to the post He has at last succeeded, but they will not stay here one day unless we leave an artillery battery with them, so Larkins has been told off to remain. . . .

The next letter was written six weeks afterwards, also from Gundamuk, but in the interval the army had advanced to and returned from Cabul.

Camp Gundamuk, 20th October.

Here we are again — safe and sound, thank God — after having gone through some trouble, a little privation, and no end of fighting, and at last retrieved the honour of our country by the destruction of the enemy's army wherever we could find them, ravaging the country all around us for miles, drawing off their sheep, and finishing the campaign by making a bonfire of the capital I think the Afghan nation will rue for generations to come that they ever thought of the treachery by which our last army was cut up, but which we, thank God, have avenged in a most satisfactory manner.

We started from this on the 8th ultimo, and did not see a man the first day, and also got over the second march very well, only having a few shots fired at us, one of which, however, brought down my charger — "as dead as a stone." We received orders on the 10th to make a march to join headquarters at Tezeen, which we did; and next day Colonel Richmond, who commanded the rear guard, ordered

1842 AFGHANISTAN 7

me to stay with him and carry orders, so I was done out of going with the advance. But as soon as the column and baggage had got into the mouth of the Tezeen Pass our work commenced.

The enemy's artillery and cavalry came down the valley, and opened a well-directed fire on the rear guard from a distance of some 1200 yards. The first round shot they sent at us went within two feet of my horse's legs, and sent our doctor, who was leaning on a dooly,* spinning, breaking the dooly to pieces, whilst the next shot killed a sowar's horse.

When the enemy's cavalry had advanced about half-way towards us I went with an order to the officer commanding the 3rd Dragoons (Major Bond) to retire before the enemy, and when they should come well out from the hills to charge.

The moment the Dragoons retired the enemy came out in thousands, horse and foot, thinking our cavalry were repulsed.

The Dragoons retired until joined by the 1st Bengal Cavalry and by Tait's Horse, who, on being formed up, received the order to charge. Every horse shot round, and off went the whole line, boot to boot, as hard as four legs could take them.

In a flash our Cavalry were through the broken enemy like lightning, back again, and through them again. We could see nothing of the actual fighting part of the business, only here and there the glimmer of a sabre through the dust ; but the number of Afghan horses without riders galloping over the plain spoke their own tale, and testified to the masterly manner in which our Cavalry were being handled, and the success of the operation. This lasted for about a quarter of an hour, when the 1st Bengal Cavalry returned, showing their crimsoned blades and one of the enemy's standards, which Goad had captured from Khuda Bux Khan (Chief of Tezeen).

After this, as the enemy's guns were bothering, Lawrence replied from guns with the Seikh force. God only knows what damage he did, but the enemy's guns were silenced in four shots.

By this time the baggage had moved well into the hills, and

* Litter.

8 AT GUNDAMUK AND CABUL an.

we bad to protect it, so could not afford to waste time, or we should have captured them all.

On entering the pass we were received with a heavy fire from the heights on the right. The Colonel sent me to bring up one company, which I did, and went with it to the top of the hilL I pointed out to the party a sungur (or breastwork) they were to occupy, and as soon as I got down again was sent off with another company of the 35th N.I. to the left. Shortly after I was again sent up to the same company, and was giving poor Norton the order to push on to the next hill when he fell at my horse's feet, shot through the mouth. Two Sepoys were also hit, one of whom I took down the hill on my horse.

We gave the Afghans a great mauling, not giving them time to carry off their dead and wounded. We carried most of the sungurs (breastworks) with the bayonet, showing to the world that Sepoys can and will use that weapon, when required to do so, with coolness and effect.

The Colonel told me I had rendered great assistance during the day, and that he was greatly pleased with the way I had carried out his orders. Was not that something to make your firstborn hold up his head?

From this point, so far as we were concerned, we had nothing more to do. We pushed on to Cabul, which we have totally destroyed.

The flag of England was hoisted on the Bala Hissar on the day we arrived, under a salute, and shortly afterwards some troops were sent to destroy the bazaar.

Just fancy, the first European article I found in Cabul was the letter-book of the 1st Troop 1st Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery, with your handwriting. I seized it, but it was taken from my syce* in the town, before we returned from blowing up the bazaar, t

* Groom.

t Harry Lumsden and John Nicholson met for the first time in the city of CabuL They found themselves together in a tough corner, from which they emerged with difficulty. This was the beginning of a very close friendship, which grew stronger and stronger, till Nicholson fell, fifteen years later, in the hour of victory at Delhi

1842 RETURN TO INDIA 9

On the return march to India we had a day's fight in the Jugdulluk Pass, and served the enemy out. Alexander's battery gave shells beautifully planted. One of the Bombay guns broke down, and could not be used after the first shot. Ours are the gun-carriages to be depended upon; not one of the troops up here has broken anything, not even started a »poke.

We arrived here yesterday afternoon, and learned that we are to have a medal and six months' batta. What fun it will be peacocking about with my own regiment, where no other officer has anything of the sort!

You must excuse my not having written to you from Cabul, as every post was sent with the General's despatches, and married men alone were able to send small communicationa Never mind, they will not make me on that account marry a bit sooner; but now that young hopeful is to have a medal, there may be some hope of his being able to pick up a sound and quiet creature one day.

Camp Attok, 16th November, 1842.

We are at Attok, on the home side of the Indus, once more. The General has given out in orders that we are not to halt if it can be avoided. Ferozepore will see us about the 13th proximo. Report has it that we are to be received with all sorts of triumphal arches and parades. I hope to goodness they will not take the trouble, for our men have been worked quite enough, without having to go through all sorts of tumasha* when they get home.