Twelve Years Of A Soldier's Life In India Part 31

_February 14th._--Your telegram has been going the rounds of all the camps before it found me out. Indeed, you must not be anxious on my account, or listen to the wild reports which are always rife. Be sure, if anything were amiss, there are plenty of our friends here to send you the truth.

I could not dream of your coming to Cawnpore. I would not hear of it even at Futtehgurh, for, though your nursing and presence would be infinitely precious to me, a camp is no fit place for you. I am, indeed, going on wonderfully, and but for the attack of inflammation I spoke of, and which turned out to be erysipelas, I should have been quite well before this; and as it is, I am actually nearer to a total cure than the men (Sikhs even) who were wounded the same day. My abstinence from spirit-drinking has stood me in good stead.

_February 15th._--No letters again to-day! I wish the Commander-in-Chief would come out from Cawnpore, and there would be some chance of better postal duty. He is said to be waiting until the convoy of ladies from Agra has pa.s.sed down, lest anything should occur to disturb the road where he had crossed into Oude with the army,--a not unlikely thing to happen. I have just seen a notice of my birth, parentage, and education, and services, in the _Ill.u.s.trated News_, as also Seaton's account of the capture of the Princes. Strange to say, the former is not wrong or exaggerated in any princ.i.p.al point. The latter is also in the _Evening Mail_, and I have the honor of appearing in big print in the leading article. I see also a letter signed "A Civilian;" not a bad _resume_ in its way. I can c.o.c.k and fire a pistol with the right hand, and am constantly working the arm about to prevent its growing stiff; and I want to show how much the _will_ has to do with getting over these things.

OONAO, _February 16th_.--I have this morning succeeded in exhuming four letters from the bottom of about a hundred-weight of correspondence addressed to all parts of the world; the bag was sent up here in the night for people to find their letters as they could. Mine have made me so happy. This has been a red-letter day too, for I have at last seen our friend Napier. He rode out here with Sir Colin, and I need not say how thoroughly delighted I was to see him once more. He is looking better but older than when we parted, but his charming, affectionate manner is as nice as ever. G.o.d bless him! I do love him dearly, as if he were indeed my born brother. A note from him arrived while he was here; it had been three days going ten miles! Sir Colin was most kind and cordial, and prophesies I shall soon be Lieut.-Colonel. I told him I feared there was small hope of that, unless my majority could be counted as for the Punjaub campaign, as Lord Dalhousie promised, but that it had not been put on record. He immediately said, "Oh, I'll do that with the greatest pleasure; let me have a memorandum of your services, and I'll do all I can for you, and I hope soon to shake hands with you as Lieut.-Colonel, C. B., and Victoria Cross to boot." I confess I liked this, because it was spontaneous; it is not the first time I have heard a whisper about the Victoria Cross, and I confess I do care most for this; I would rather have it than be made a duke. My arm is going on admirably, and you may be quite satisfied about me now I am near our friend; he will always do what is kind, that we may be quite sure of, and all that is best and tenderest too, where you or I are concerned. I shall try to get away immediately after Lucknow is taken, but I fear every man may be needed for some time, even after that much-desired event takes place.

CAMP, OONAO, _February 17th_.--I grieve deeply at your anxiety, and can scarcely understand your "terror at the very name of Cawnpore and Lucknow," except for what has pa.s.sed. I am not nearly so much exposed to peril here as at Delhi; the place, too, and time of year are more healthy; so continue to "hope on," bravely now as ever, until the end, which must be very soon.... I am going to spend to-morrow in Cawnpore with Napier, and have a big talk. The delay in the brevet is an accident, _not_ owing to the home authorities.

It has gone home now, and my name is in it, Sir Colin told me.

CAWNPORE, _February 19th_.--I shall ride back to Oonao early to-morrow morning; the temptation of Napier's society was irresistible; it is such a pleasure to see him again. There will be no move hence until the 23d, I think, though it is getting rapidly hot in this hateful place; but on the other side the river it is cool, and Lucknow is even more so, I hear. Osborn Wilkinson has been here, and has gone on towards Alumbagh. I shall try and get him for my regiment, if but to do duty; he is a fine fellow and thorough soldier.

OONAO, _February 20th_.--I rode out from Cawnpore this morning; Colonels Napier and Lugard accompanying me for some miles,--the latter only arrived yesterday; he is to command a division as Brigadier-General, I am glad to say. Our friend is nicer than ever, and looking well.

_February 21st._--As far as I can learn, we (_i. e._, my Horse) shall have but little to do with the actual capture or a.s.sault of Lucknow, and I fancy our duty will be protecting the flanks and rear of the army from incursions of the enemy's cavalry, &c. General Lugard came out this morning to take the command. I hope Napier will soon follow.

I am very anxious to get on and get the affair over.

_February 22d._--There is not a particle of news of any kind. I had an attack of fever last night, but it is gone this morning, and I am all right again; the wound on my arm is quite closed, and the last bandage discarded; the thumb is still very stiff, and the joint much enlarged. My wounds have healed with unprecedented rapidity; and I cannot be sufficiently grateful that I am so soon enabled to return to my duty. Dear Douglas Seaton has been very ill again, and unable to leave England, as he intended, poor fellow. I believe half his illness is caused by fretting at being away from his regiment now it is in the field; but he never could have stood the trial of those months before Delhi. The Commander-in-Chief tells me that, despairing of getting the list of recommendations for Delhi from India, the Duke of Cambridge is making out a list himself from the despatches, to be corrected hereafter if any omissions occur. The next mail may, therefore, make me a Major, as I was mentioned even in Wilson's despatches. G.o.d grant I may be able to get home; that is my great desire now.

_February 23d._--It is midnight, and we march for Alumbagh at 4 A. M.; so I write a line at once to say I am doing well, and will send a telegram if anything occurs, which I do not expect yet. There has been a big fight, within a few miles of us, between the force under General Hope Grant and the rebels, and there was a bigger on Sunday at Lucknow with Sir James Outram's force. I have got hold of a strip of newspaper this morning, with Brigadier Hope's Shumshabad despatch, in which I figure so prominently that I am inclined to indorse it "Hope told a flattering tale," and send it home to the dear girls. The convoy arrived this morning (_i. e._, the ladies, &c.) from Agra, so I hope the Chief will move soon. I was out all the morning with General Lugard, and was surprised to find how hot the weather is getting (in the sun) even here; but I am quite well--quite.

In a letter of this date to the Chaplain of the Lawrence Asylum, he says:--

... I have only to add that in grat.i.tude for the many and unspeakable mercies which I have received during the past year, and also as a token of most affectionate regret for Sir H. Lawrence, I shall thank you to note the increase of my subscription to the asylum to 100 rupees per annum.

FOOTNOTES:

[59] So he did, but ultimately gave himself up, and was hanged by the authorities in Delhi.--_Ed._

[60] Referring to his wife's almost miraculous escape, when the horse on which she was riding fell over a precipice and was killed.--_Ed._

[61] A letter from Delhi, in October, says:--

"The corps raised by that very gallant officer, Captain Hodson, is composed, more than anything we have hitherto had, of the old sirdars and soldiers of Runjeet Singh's time, in consequence of which, and the skill of their commander, they are already an extremely efficient corps.

"I was talking this morning to a very independent looking Resaldar, who seemed to be treated by his men much more as they do a European officer than is ever seen in our service, and who bore himself as the inferior of no one, and I found that he had been long a colonel of artillery in Runjeet Singh's service, and very openly went through the part he had taken against us in the revolt of 1849."

[62] _From Despatch from_ COLONEL T. SEATON, C. B., _to_ MAJOR-GENERAL PENNY, _Commanding at Delhi_.

"KHASGUNGE, _Dec. 15th, 1857_.

"The General will see by the list of casualties, that Captain Hodson's newly raised body of Horse was not backward, and rendered excellent service. It could not do less under its distinguished commander, whom I beg particularly to mention to the Major-General, as having on every possible occasion rendered me the most efficient service, whether in gaining information, reconnoitring the country, or leading his regiment."

[63] _Extract from a Despatch from_ LIEUTENANT-COLONEL T. SEATON, _dated_

"PUTTIALEE, _Dec. 18th, 1857_.

"After the action at Gungeree I specially mentioned Captain Hodson and his regiment. I can but repeat what I then said, and beg that the Major-General will be good enough to bring this officer, and his great and important services, to the special notice of the Commander-in-Chief."

[64] The following extract from a private letter of an artillery officer, describing the state of the roads, will give some notion of the danger of this ride:--

"MYNPOOREE, _December 29th_.

"Since the 20th of October, no letters have pa.s.sed this road. The 'Kossids,' whose trade it is to carry letters through an enemy's country, would not and could not do it, and no wonder. At one place we saw a poor brute who had gone from us with a letter to the Chief, and had been caught by the rebels. He was hanging by the heels, had his nose cut off, had been made a target of, and roasted alive.

"Pleasant fellows, these rebels, and worthy of all consideration."

[65] Lieutenant R. Mitford, 3d Bengal Fusileers, now Adjutant of Hodson's Horse and V. C.

[66] Mr. Charles Raikes, in his interesting _Notes on the Revolt_, p.

109, says: "At night I warned Mr. Power for duty, to go out with the Brigade. I found it difficult to convince him that 2,000 men, quietly slumbering around, would, in the course of an half hour, be under arms, and on the march to attack the enemy. Scarce a creature in the camp, save General Mansfield, Adrian Hope, Hodson, and I, knew the plans of the Commander-in-Chief. The men had gone to bed as usual, when quietly orders were issued, and by half-past ten, Hope, with his Brigade, was on his march." He then gives several amusing native accounts of the action at Shumshabad, and afterwards adds,--"Rode to see Hodson; he is much cut up about Macdowell's loss, but treats his own wounds very lightly. Being in his sword arm, we shall lose his invaluable services for a time."

[67] Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 2nd son of the late James Macdowell, Esq., of Bengal Medical Service, born 29th October, 1829, appointed to Honorable East India Company's Service, 1846. Served in Punjaub campaign of 1848-9, including pa.s.sage of Chenab at Ramnuggur, and battles of Chillianwallah and Goojerat, in which he carried the colors of his regiment, 2d Bengal European Fusileers (medal and clasp).

Served in Burmah, marched with his regiment to Delhi, and served with it in various engagements, till in August he was appointed second in command of Hodson's Horse.

"This excellent officer, who was Captain Hodson's second in command, and right-hand man, sunk under his wound, to the sorrow of all who knew his rare value as a soldier."--Raikes's _Notes_.

[68] His father's old parish.

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.

ALUMBAGH, LUCKNOW.--THE BEGUM'S PALACE.--BANKS'S HOUSE.--THE SOLDIER'S DEATH.--NOTICES.--CONCLUDING REMARKS.

_To his Wife._

CAMP, ALUMBAGH, NEAR LUCKNOW, _February 24th_.

We arrived here last night at dusk, after a terribly dusty march of thirty-six miles. To-day we had a bit of a fight.

The Pandies, ignorant of the reinforcements which had arrived, had as usual come round one flank of the camp, so we moved out and caught them as they were trying to get back again, and took two of their guns. By "we," I mean my own men and the Military Train men from home. Young Gough, my adjutant, was wounded, and had his horse shot. I was luckily in the way, or it would have gone worse with him;[69] my own horse too (pretty "Child of the Desert") was wounded, and I was obliged to mount a sowar's horse. Gough will be laid up for a month, I fear; it is a flesh wound in the thigh. I do not think Master Pandy will try the same trick again. We have been out so long that there is time for no more to-day than this a.s.surance of my safety.

ALUMBAGH, _February 25th_.--I have been calling on Sir James Outram this morning, and had a most pleasant interview; the brave old warrior greeted me most cordially, professing his satisfaction at having _at last_ met one of whom he had heard so much, &c. &c. The pleasure was certainly mutual, for I have long wished to meet _him_. He made many inquiries about you also, and asked whether you had not been in the hills during the panic, and helped the refugees, &c. How proudly I could answer all his praise in the affirmative. He also asked my opinion of Lord William's administration, and I was glad of the opportunity to testify in his favor.

Altogether this good old soldier's compliments were pleasing to me, particularly as he was not one of those who in my time of trouble pa.s.sed me by on the other side.

The enemy is quite quiet to-day. I fancy we were too much for his philosophy yesterday. Fancy the Queen Regnant coming out on an elephant to meet us, to encourage her wavering followers! I wish the Chief would make haste and finish this business, it is getting cruelly hot already.

_27th._--All quiet still with the enemy. A packet of letters has arrived, and brought me all the comfort I am capable of receiving in this torturing absence; would it were over! I hear the Chief has crossed the Ganges and is coming on here.

I believe we had some [Greek: kudos] for the affair of the 25th, though beyond being exposed to a very galling fire, I did not think much of it myself. Gough's wound is a serious misfortune to me just now; a gallant, go-a-head boy like him is not to be easily replaced, any more than poor Mac is. I myself am laid up with a sore leg; I would not nurse it at first, and now it is so painful I cannot mount my horse or even stand without pain, so I shall go into the next scrimmage on an elephant! Dr. Brougham, however, says it will be well in four or five days. I did not know Greville was going home so soon, I hoped to have shaken him by the _sain_ hand once more before we parted for so long.

ALUMBAGH, _1st March_.--Nothing of public importance is occurring. I am still unable to ride, so I do regimental work. I dined with Sir J. Outram (he is the General commanding here) and with Colonel Haggart, 7th Hussars, last night; the former is quite affectionate in his manner to me.

He would quite charm you, and were I not out of love with vanity, would spoil me; but I confess the respectful homage of the soldiers is pleasanter to my spirit than the praise of great men. I study to be quiet and do my own business without elation and pride, satisfied with the testimony of my own conscience that I strive to do my duty.

_March 2d._--The Commander-in-Chief arrived with a large part of the force this morning, marched straight through our camp, and _at_ the enemy (who of course ran away), and occupied the Dilkoosha, a large garden-house and park near the city. My unfortunate leg prevented my sharing in the fray, I grieve to say, and I am actually in a fright lest he (the Chief) should take Lucknow before I am able to ride!