diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-0.txt | 5267 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-0.zip | bin | 91779 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h.zip | bin | 214036 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/53491-h.htm | 5652 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 32174 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/images/iillusfp.jpg | bin | 24897 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/images/illus01.jpg | bin | 19259 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/images/illus02.jpg | bin | 17820 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/53491-h/images/illus03.jpg | bin | 29231 -> 0 bytes |
12 files changed, 17 insertions, 10919 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45496d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53491 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53491) diff --git a/old/53491-0.txt b/old/53491-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 34f1a0f..0000000 --- a/old/53491-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5267 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Famous Fights of Indian Native Regiments, by -Reginald Hodder - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Famous Fights of Indian Native Regiments - -Author: Reginald Hodder - -Release Date: November 10, 2016 [EBook #53491] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS FIGHTS--INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - - The Daily Telegraph - - WAR BOOKS - - - FAMOUS FIGHTS OF INDIAN - NATIVE REGIMENTS - - - - -[Illustration: WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. 1914.] - - - - - FAMOUS FIGHTS OF - INDIAN NATIVE - REGIMENTS - - _By_ - REGINALD HODDER - - _Author of "British Regiments at the Front," Etc._ - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO - MCMXIV - - - - -The Author wishes to express his indebtedness to Mr. J. NORVILL for his -valuable assistance and suggestions. - - - - -THE PADISHA'S WORDS - - -"_I look to all my Indian soldiers to uphold the Izzat of the British -Raj against an aggressive and relentless enemy._ - -"_I know with what readiness my brave and loyal Indian soldiers are -prepared to fulfil this sacred trust on the field of battle shoulder to -shoulder with their comrades from all parts of the Empire. Rest assured -that you will always be in my thoughts and prayers._ - -"_I bid you to go forward and add fresh lustre to the glorious -achievements and noble traditions of courage and chivalry of my Indian -Army, whose honour and fame are in your hands._" - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - INTRODUCTION xi - - A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIAN ARMY 1 - - THE SIKHS 9 - - THE RAJPUTS 19 - - THE MAHRATTAS 25 - - THE GURKHAS 42 - - THE DOGRAS 69 - - THE BALUCHIS 73 - - THE BATTLES OF THE GOLDEN DAGON PAGODA 81 - - BHURTPORE 100 - - THE WAR IN SCINDE 104 - - THE FIRST SIKH WAR 109 - - ALIWAL AND SOBRAON 116 - - THE STORMING OF THE TAKU FORTS 131 - - THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR 134 - - TEL-EL-KEBIR AND KASSASSIN 139 - - BATTLES AROUND SUAKIN 143 - - THE FRONTIER FIGHTING OF 1886 149 - - THE RELIEF OF CHITRAL 154 - - BATTLE OF DARGAI 159 - - A LIST OF INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS 162 - - - - -ORDER OF THE DAY.--No. 1. - - -SOLDIERS OF THE INDIAN ARMY CORPS, - -We have all read with pride the gracious message of his Majesty the -King-Emperor to his troops from India. - -On the eve of going into the field to join our British comrades, -who have covered themselves with glory in this great war, it is our -firm resolve to prove ourselves worthy of the honour which has been -conferred on us as representatives of the Army of India. - -In a few days we shall be fighting as has never been our good fortune -to fight before, and against enemies who have a long history. - -But is their history as long as yours? You are the descendants of men -who have been mighty rulers and great warriors for many centuries. You -will never forget this. You will recall the glories of your race. Hindu -and Mahomedan will be fighting side by side with British soldiers and -our gallant French Allies. You will be helping to make history. You -will be the first Indian soldiers of the King-Emperor who will have -the honour of showing in Europe that the sons of India have lost none -of their ancient martial instincts and are worthy of the confidence -reposed in them. - -In battle you will remember that your religions enjoin on you that to -give your life doing your duty is your highest reward. - -The eyes of your co-religionists and your fellow-countrymen are on you. -From the Himalayan Mountains, the banks of the Ganges and Indus, and -the plains of Hindustan, they are eagerly waiting for the news of how -their brethren conduct themselves when they meet the foe. From mosques -and temples their prayers are ascending to the God of all, and you will -answer their hopes by the proofs of your valour. - -You will fight for your King-Emperor and your faith, so that history -will record the doings of India's sons and your children will proudly -tell of the deeds of their fathers. - - JAMES WILLCOCKS, - _Lieut.-General_ - _Commg. Indian Army Corps_. - - CAMP, Oct. 10th, 1914. - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Our native army in India is principally composed of Sikhs, Pathans, -Punjabi Mussalmans, and Gurkhas. Each of these races has acquired in -its own way a high reputation for valour and martial skill, and it need -not be doubted that the men drawn from these sources in the East to -confront a relentless foe in the West are absolutely reliable. - -Quite a third of the Indian Army is composed of Sikhs. They are not -exactly a race, but are a military and religious caste, the only modern -importation into their religion being a savour of socialism. The Sikh -sect dates from the fifteenth century, when Baba Nanak raised them, so -to speak, from the indiscriminate mass, to governing positions in the -Punjab. This was partly owing to their strong religious sentiment, but -principally to their military capabilities. In course of time, they -came to dominate the whole of Northern India, and reached the height -of their power under the Maharajah Runjit Singh (1780-1839). The -Sikh wars of 1845-6 and 1848-9 are a matter of history. In these both -British and Sikhs fought with the utmost gallantry. But, since 1849, -the brave Sikhs have been loyal British subjects, and have fought on -our side not only in the Indian Mutiny, but in Abyssinia, Afghanistan, -China, Burma, Somaliland, and Tibet. At the present time, the Indian -Army includes thirteen Sikh battalions, and there are one or more Sikh -squadrons in each of the cavalry regiments, as well as a company or two -in each of the infantry battalions. - -The Khalsa Sikh is the beau-ideal of everything high and noble in the -Sikh race. Stirred by the depths of his own religion, he fought and -conquered at its behest. And to him is owing the high reputation and -romantic popularity of an honoured name. The Khalsa Sikh is derived -from many different castes, but principally from the Jats of the -Punjab, whose character has responded to, and whose development has -been moulded by, the self-reliant, warlike, and manly teachings of -their ideal lawgiver and hero, Govid Singh, from whom their name is -derived--the word Sikh being originally Singh. - -It is to the Jat element that the Sikh owes his most lofty -characteristics. Thus the Jat Sikh respects himself wisely. His racial -pride is based on the knowledge that he is justly, and without doubt, -the flower of India. With him, as with all others who undertake great -deeds in the present, the natural stimulus to such deeds is the -stirring song of heroic achievements in the past. - -The Pathans emanate from the Afghan race, and inhabit the hills of -the north-west frontier of India. While many of the clans are Shiahs, -the majority are orthodox Mussalmans. These Pathans, who frequently -figure in novels dealing with Indian life, are, in their way, romantic -figures. They are not only tall, handsome, and striking in appearance, -but they have also a very independent character, obeying discipline -for discipline's sake, and their officers for love of them. It is very -strange that their facial characteristics are decidedly Jewish in type. -It may be asked why there are only Company regiments, and no Class -regiments of the Pathans. The reason is that, while they do not possess -all the qualities which make for the complete efficiency of the Class -regiment, they have unusual merits which are a very desirable leaven to -almost any body of fighting men. They are certainly an admirable factor -in combination with Sikhs and Punjabi Mussalmans. - -The Punjabi Mussalmans were the original inhabitants of the Punjab, and -their strong characteristics are still uppermost in that province. By -race they are both Rajput and Jat, but their clans are many. From their -wealthy families are recruited many fine cavalry regiments. They have -a particular leaning towards mountain cavalry work, and this tendency -has been fostered by the Government. Taking them all round, they are -most efficient and courageous soldiers, and their attachment to their -officers is proverbial. - -As to the Gurkha, he needs but slight introduction. He is, so to speak, -the "Little Benjamin" of the force from India, and excites great -interest by his high courage and remarkable skill. - -When the Gurkhas were told that they were wanted to fight in the great -war they asked, "Shall we all be killed?"; and the officer said, "Not -all." They inquired, "Shall a great many be killed?" He replied, -"Possibly." Then they asked, "Will a hundred come back?" "Perhaps so." -"That will be enough," they said; "our people will know that we have -fought well." - -The Gurkha's skill with his _kukri_ is so remarkable as to appear -absolutely unerring. Given a human mark--let us say in the shape of a -German--he can take off his nose or ear, or pierce his eye with deadly -precision. No knife-thrower in the world can so accurately and closely -fence in a man standing against a wall as can a Gurkha with some twenty -knives--without drawing a drop of blood. A soldier writing from the -front concludes his mention of these terrible little men with the -passage: "God help the Germans these men come across, for nobody else -can. Death to them is a pastime." Yet, though the art of throwing the -_kukri_ is perfection itself among the Gurkhas, it must not be supposed -that they make a practice of throwing it at the enemy. They would not -run the risk of losing the beloved weapon for the sake of killing _one_ -German. - -The well-known fighting races inhabiting the Punjab, such as the -Sikhs and Pathans, are supplemented by a considerable number of -smaller fighting castes. All these are either of Rajput, Jat, or -Tartar descent; but, being mostly Mahomedans, they are prone to claim -Moghul or Arab origin. Though not very distinct from some of the more -unwarlike Punjab castes, they have, at some period of their history, -displayed enough valour to acquire the ascendancy over neighbouring -districts, and the memory of this has given them that pride of blood -and race and that spirit of self-reliance which so largely constitute -the martial instinct. The smaller Mahomedan fighting tribes of the -Punjab are often grouped together under the generic term "Punjabi -Mahomedan." - -The most important, from a military point of view, are the _Ghakkars_, -who make excellent soldiers. They are fine men, fierce, proud, and -high-spirited. - -_Awans_ and _Sials_.--These were at first soldiers, and latterly -agriculturists. During the Mutiny the Sial chief remained loyal, and -rendered active assistance by raising a small body of cavalry from his -tribe for Imperial use. - -The Kharrals are also a well-built, hardy tribe, possessing the martial -instinct in a high degree. The Bhattis and the Khokars are also among -the warriors of India. - - [NOTE.--The warriors of India have a score to settle with the - Germans. It is a private matter not to be mentioned in the same - breath with the whole-hearted loyalty of the Indian troops, but at - the same time it will lend a keener edge to every _kukri_, a more - formidable point to every lance and bayonet, a more deadly aim to - every bullet. What rankles justly in the Indian's breast in this. - During the Boxer Insurrection of 1900 the Germans treated the brave - Indian troops fighting by their side as if they had been the dirt - of the earth. Our noble Indians, whose traditions were clothed - in glory long before the Germans knew proper clothing of any - kind, have not forgotten this. For fourteen years they, too, have - been looking forward to "the day." And now it has come. "For the - Padisha and the Right!"--if one could read their thoughts--"and, - incidentally, a squaring of accounts!"] - - - - -A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIAN ARMY - - -COMMANDS.--A Command is one of the principal administrative -portions into which the Army of India is divided. There are four -such Commands--the Punjab, Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. Each Command -is presided over by a Lieut.-General, and is further divided into -first and second class districts, commanded by Major-Generals and -Brigadier-Generals respectively. The principal executive authority is -vested in the Commander-in-Chief in India, subject to the control of -the Governor-General, who is, by law, the supreme head of the Army. - - -NATIVE CAVALRY.--A regiment of native cavalry, with the exception of -the Guides and the Lancers of the Hyderabad Contingent, consists of -four squadrons. The strength varies slightly, but is usually eight -British officers, one medical officer, seventeen native officers, and -608 noncommissioned officers and men. - -The native cavalry, with the exception of the Body-Guards and the -three regiments of Madras Lancers (now the 26th King George's Own -Light Infantry, the 27th Light Cavalry and the 28th Light Cavalry), -is organised on what is called the Silladar System, _i.e._, the -horses, saddlery, clothing, equipment and war arms (except carbines -and revolvers) are the private property of the regiment, and are -provided for by funds to which all ranks pay donations on joining, with -monthly subscriptions throughout their entire service. This system is -characteristic of their dignity and standing. The original donation, or -_assami_, is returned on a man being pensioned or discharged. A baggage -mule or pony, and a driver who acts as grass-cutter, are maintained -by every pair of fighting men. Two Sowars, mounted on fast-trotting -camels, are attached to each squadron for the rapid conveyance of -orders over long distances. The native cavalry is armed with sword and -carbine. Lancers carry their own special weapon in addition. All corps -are trained in the use of the lance, which in some regiments is carried -by the front-rank men. - - -THE RANKS.--The native ranks and their respective duties are as -follow:-- - - _Risaldar-Major._--The chief native officer of the regiment. The - badge of his rank is a crown worn on each shoulder-strap. He - commands a half-squadron, and is the confidential adviser of the - Commandant in all matters relating to the native ranks. - - _Risaldar and Ressaidar._--Half-squadron commanders. The badge of - the former is three stars; of the latter, two stars, worn on each - shoulder-strap. - - _Woordie-Major._--Native adjutant. He is generally a Ressaidar. - - _Kot Dafadār._--The senior non-commissioned officer of the regiment. - - _Dafadār._--Sergeant. - - _Solutri._--Veterinary subordinate. - - _Sowar._--Trooper. - - -NATIVE ARTILLERY.--A native mountain battery has an establishment of -five British officers, three native officers, and 253 non-commissioned -officers and men. The armament consists of six 2.5 in. R.M.L. guns, -carried on mules. - -The only native field batteries now maintained are those of the -Hyderabad Contingent. Each battery consists of two British officials, -two native officers, and 128 non-commissioned officers and men. The -armament consists of two six-pounder S.B. guns and two twelve-pounder -howitzers. - - -NATIVE INFANTRY.--A single battalion of native infantry is organised in -four double companies, and has a complement of nearly twenty British -officers, one medical officer, sixteen native officers, and eighty -non-commissioned officers. The strength of the rank and file varies -from 800 in the Punjab and Bengal to 720 in Madras and Bombay. To -facilitate transfers in war time, the infantry, with a few exceptions, -is organised into groups of two or three linked battalions, having a -common regimental centre. Each battalion has a reserve, varying in -strength from 218 to 160 men. - -Native ranks and duties are:-- - - _Subadār-Major._--Principal native officer of the battalion and - confidential adviser of the Commanding Officer on all matters - relating to the native ranks. He also commands a company. - - _Subadār._--Company commander. - - _Jemadār._--Subaltern. - - _Havildār-Major._--Sergeant-major. - - _Quarter-Master-Havildār._--Quarter-master-sergeant. - - _Havildār._--Sergeant. - - _Naick._--Corporal. - - _Sepoy._--Private. - - -RECRUITING.--For recruiting purposes, India is divided into districts, -each in charge of an officer, who recruits only for some particular -race. All recruiting parties detached from regiments work under his -orders, and all candidates for enlistment are brought to him for -approval after undergoing medical examination. The number of applicants -for service, especially for the Silladar Cavalry, is often in excess -of the number of vacancies available. Recruits must be from sixteen -to twenty-five years of age. There is a comparative scale of chest -measurement to height, the minimum in each case being 33 in. and 5 feet -6 in. Special standards are allowed for Gurkhas, Dogras, and Mazhbi -Sikhs. A native soldier enlists for three years. At the end of that -time he may either claim his discharge or prolong his service up to -twenty years, when he becomes entitled to a pension. All enlistments -are for general service, with liability to serve wherever required. - - -RACIAL COMPOSITION.--Regiments of native cavalry and battalions of -infantry are organised on the class system. They may be composed -entirely of one class, when they are called "Class" regiments, or -they may be recruited from three or four classes, kept apart in -separate companies, when they are styled "Class Company" regiments. -For instance, the 14th Sikhs, composed of eight companies of Sikhs, -would be an example of the former, while the 30th Punjab Infantry, -composed of four companies of Sikhs, two of Dogras, and two of Punjabi -Mussalmans, would serve as an example of the latter. - - -FORAGE AND RATIONS.--The native soldier pays for his own food and, in -the Silladar Cavalry, also for the upkeep of his horse. A regimental -bazaar is attached to each corps, from which the men purchase their -rations. When the cost of the daily ration exceeds Rs. 3.8.0 per month, -compensation is granted by the Government for the difference. On field -service the native soldier draws free rations, and in addition to his -ordinary pay is granted a special monthly allowance. - - -QUARTERS.--The quarters of native troops, except in Burma and on the -North-west Frontier, are ranges of huts, called lines, which have to -be built and kept in order by the corps temporarily occupying them. To -defray the cost of repairs, the Government makes an allowance, which is -paid monthly. - - -EDUCATION.--Each regiment and battalion has a school, at which -attendance is voluntary. Sepoys are required to pass an easy -examination in reading, writing, arithmetic and drill before promoted -to non-commissioned rank. - - -BANDS.--These are maintained by infantry, but not by cavalry. All -Gurkha battalions and many corps in which Pathans are enlisted have -pipers as well as bandsmen, buglers and drummers. The pipers make -their own pipes, in imitation of the Scottish bagpipes, and acquire -considerable efficiency under the instruction of Highland bandmasters. - - -FURLOUGH AND LEAVE.--The popularity of service in the native army is -largely due to the liberal manner in which furlough and leave are -granted. - - -DRESS.--The dress of the native army is picturesque and distinctive. -Kilmarnock caps are worn by the Gurkhas and Garhwalis, otherwise -the universal headdress is the turban or pugri. In the Silladar -Cavalry all uniforms are provided under regimental arrangements. In -the other regiments clothing is issued by the clothing factories at -Calcutta and Madras, but the khaki uniform, and all necessaries, such -as great-coats, boots, pugris, haversacks, water-bottles, bedding, -cooking-pots, etc., are purchased or manufactured regimentally, and may -be had from the quarter-master at fixed prices. - - * * * * * - -Most of our native Indian soldiers are either peasant proprietors -or cultivators, and on retirement from service return to their -former employment. Some, however, accept minor posts with the civil -administration, such as those of caretakers or messengers. - -The Indian soldier is generally excellent in sports and athletics. -The skill of the Sowar in tent-pegging, lime-cutting, and his daring -feats of horsemanship are well known. In the infantry, wrestling is a -favourite amusement, and certain classes, more especially Gurkhas, are -keen sportsmen in the all-round sense of the word. - -The military and agricultural classes of India are seen at their best -in the native army. Enthusiastic in his profession, endued with great -pride of race and considerable spirit, the native soldier feels that -there is a _camaraderie_ and a community of interests between himself -and his British officers which are wholly lacking in his relations -with civil officials. Daily intercourse in the lines, and in various -games and sports, affords opportunities for mutual acquaintance, and -enables British officers to acquire that personal influence over their -men which has been so largely responsible for the brilliant results -achieved by most of our great men of India. - - - - -THE SIKHS - - -There are three great classes of Sikhs: the Sikh by race, the Sikh -by religious sect, and the Sikh by political conviction. They are, -however, divided tribally as follows:-- - - The Jat Sikhs, - The Khattri Sikhs, - The Kamboh Sikhs, - The Lobana Sikhs, - The Sikh Chuhras or Mazhbis, - The Sikh Tarkhans, - The Kalal Sikhs. - -THE JAT SIKHS.--Our Jat recruits are drawn from the Eastern Jats, a -race of hardy husbandmen. They are, so to speak, a clan of Indian -agricultural peasantry. They came originally from the highlands of -Scythia. These men possess the necessary instincts of the soldier, and -their history has been marked by stern, hard fighting. - -THE KHATTRI SIKHS.--These are the merchant caste of the Punjabis. - -THE KAMBOH SIKHS.--These make excellent soldiers, being of very fine -physique and possessing great courage. They have always been noted -for their cunning strategy, which now, being far less "slim" than in -former times, has developed into the permissible strategy of war. - -THE LOBANA SIKHS.--These are the social equals of the Jats. - -THE SIKH CHUHRAS or MAZHBIS.--The term "Mazhbis" has now come to be -applied to all Chuhras who have adopted Sikhism as their religion. -The true Mazhbis are descendants of certain Chuhras, who rescued in -a heroic fashion the body of Gurai Teg Bahadur from the Mahomedans, -thus saving it from being dishonoured. In return for this, Gurai's -son, Govind Singh, bestowed upon them the title of "Mazhbis Rangreeta" -("Chosen Brave"), and invited them into the fold of Sikhism. Therefore -the name Mazhbis belongs properly to the descendants of these -particular Chuhras' families. Inspired as they are by the glorious -history and traditions of Khalsa, these men make excellent soldiers. - -SIKH TARKHANS.--Tarkhans are carpenters by caste and profession. They -are intelligent and industrious men, of whom about 20 per cent. are -Sikhs by religion, the rest being Hindu or Mahomedan. Sikh Tarkhans, if -carefully recruited, could supply a fair number of good soldiers. - -KALAL SIKHS.--The Kalals are by caste and profession distillers and -wine merchants on a small scale. Twenty-five per cent. of these have -now embraced Sikhism, the rest being Hindu or Mahomedan; the Hindus -being about 50 per cent. of the whole, and the Mahomedans about 25 per -cent. Sikh Kalals are often styled Alhuwalias, from the fact that the -famous and important Alhuwalia Misb was founded by the Kalal convert to -Sikhism. The Chiefs of Kapurthala have always been Kalals by descent, -and, since the rise of the Sikh Kalals to political prominence, they -have largely given up their original profession to take to the more -respectable avocations of merchandise and agriculture. The Kalals have -a reputation for "enterprise, mercy and obstinacy"; and the Sikh Kalals -make good soldiers, being of good physique and great hardihood. - -The stately, manly Sikh has a character all his own. He has the manly -virtues of honesty, industry, and tenacity well developed. He is -independent, patient, and full of methodical, laborious energy; and, of -all the Sikh tribes of whom this description is more or less true, the -Jat may be particularly mentioned. - -The Sikh race is drawn from the Punjab tribes, such as the Jat and -Khattri, who from time immemorial have been renowned for their sturdy -grit and independence. It may perhaps be said that the Jat-Sikh -combines especially the best qualities of the Pathan races with those -of the Sikh tribes. - -All the Punjab races are, as a rule, impatient of control, but the Jat -is particularly so, exercising in his impatience a fine quality of -individual freedom. This, together with the fact that he is neither -truculent nor turbulent, provides him with one of the finest qualities -of a well-disciplined soldier, in contradistinction to the machine-made -soldier. Well understood, he can be, and has been, well managed. -Encouraged to continue in his own peaceful agricultural ways, he is -reasonable and contented in doing his work; but if he is roused by what -he considers unjust aggression, or any unsolicited interference, he is -a dangerous man to deal with. - -These salient characteristics of the Jat, combined with other qualities -cultivated by British rule and example, have tinctured practically the -whole Sikh race. - -Respect of self and pride of race have now improved from the Sikh -character the early intolerance and ungovernable spirit emanating from -the Jats. Even the Sikh religion, as taught by its founder Nanak, has -modified the hard-and-fast prejudices of the Hindu on the one hand, and -on the other has eliminated the baser rancour and fanaticism of the -more exoteric Mahomedanism. - -The Sikh of to-day is a level-headed, sober-minded, tolerant man, -keenly alive to practical issues. And from this may be judged his -valour as a soldier. In the thick of battle the Sikh is cool and -resolute. He is possessed of grim determination and tenacity. Just as -in any emergency of social life he will keep his head with admirable -self-restraint, so in the clash of battle he can be relied upon to -do the right thing at the right moment in the right way. While not -possessing quite so much _élan_ as some other tribes, he more than -compensates for that lack by his immunity from any tendency to panic. - -The high-class Sikh may always be known by his stately bearing and -lofty courtesy. His every movement is graceful, and the general -impression one would get on the approach of a real Sikh is simply this: -"Here comes one who is a prince in his own country." This dignity -of bearing extends even to the lower classes, especially among our -Sepoys, who carry themselves with an easy elegance, much of which is -attributable to their splendid physique and the due consciousness of it. - -It is not too much to say that of all the fine races of the East there -is no type of man superior to the Sikh. In innate breeding he can -tread the razor-edge between independence and insolence, between firm -resolution and unreasoning obstinacy, between the present value of -tradition and the dead husk of the glorified past. In his respect of -himself he commands respect from others, and, combining the essential -instinct of the soldier with the acquired love of practical ideals -he can see with a single eye what the doubleheaded vulture of Prussia -cannot see with four. - -Constant fighting and an iron discipline had kept the Sikhs in order -during the lifetime of Ranjit Singh, but after his death the army -became unmanageable. - -The history of the Sikh War is too well known to need more than passing -reference. The troops of the Khalsa were defeated after a series of -hard-fought battles, in which they showed soldierly qualities of the -highest order. In the decade which followed the conquest of the Punjab, -the British Government, impressed with the fighting capacity of their -former opponents, determined to employ them as soldiers in their own -army. - -On the outbreak of the Mutiny, which from the first was identified -with the restoration of the Moghul power, there was an immense -revival of Sikhism. Hundreds of Sikhs who had turned their swords -into ploughshares flocked to Lahore, and eagerly took service in the -regiments there being raised by Lord Lawrence. All were filled with -an intense longing to range themselves on the side of justice and -right. All were anxious to assist in the capture of Delhi--a city -associated in their minds with the heroic struggles and reverses of -their forefathers. The spirit of the Khalsa, which had suffered greatly -by the defeats on the Sutlej, was aroused at the thought of a conflict -between Sikhism and Islam--a conflict the memory of which is now not -only nobly forgotten, but to be blotted out for ever by heroism and -sacrifice; for both Sikh and Mahomedan of India have joined hands -in common cause against the enemy of all human progress. Both have -espoused our cause with a devotion and loyalty which is almost without -parallel in history. - - -THE SIKH REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - - -_Cavalry_ - -The following regiments contain squadrons of Sikhs:-- - - 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse). - - 3rd Skinner's Horse. - - 4th Cavalry. - - 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry. - - 7th Hariana Lancers. - - 9th Hodson's Horse. - - 10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse). - - 11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse). - - 12th Cavalry. - - 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers. - - 16th Cavalry. - - 18th King George's Own Lancers. - - 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). - - 20th Deccan Horse. - - 21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier - Force) (Daly's Horse). - - 22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry (Frontier Force). - - 23rd Cavalry (Frontier Force). - - 25th Cavalry (Frontier Force). - - 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse). - - 30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse). - - 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. - - 32nd Lancers. - - 33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry. - - 36th Jacob's Horse. - - 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse). - - 38th King George's Own Central India Horse. - - 39th King George's Own Central India Horse. - - -_Infantry_ - -The following regiments are composed exclusively of Sikhs:-- - - -14TH KING GEORGE'S OWN FEROZEPORE SIKHS. Raised July 30th, 1846. - -Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales. The Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Lucknow," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan 1878/79," -"Defence of Chitral," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -15TH LUDHIANA SIKHS. Raised 1846. - -Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"China 1860/62," "Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar 1880," -"Afghanistan 1878/80," "Suakim 1885," "Tofrek," "Chitral," "Punjab -Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -23RD SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1857. - -Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Abyssinia," "Peiwar Kotal," -"Charasiah," "Kabul 1879," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1878/80," -"Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _chocolate_. - - -32ND SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1857. - -Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs. - -MOTTO.--"_Aut viam inveniam aut faciam._" - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -34TH SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1887. - -Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -35TH SIKHS. Raised 1798, disbanded 1882, reformed 1887. - -Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -36TH SIKHS. Raised 1858, disbanded 1882, reformed 1887. - -Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab Frontier," "Samara," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -47TH SIKHS. Raised 1901. - -Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - -The 48th Pioneers, 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), 52nd Sikhs (Frontier -Force), 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force), and 54th Sikhs (Frontier Force) -are Sikh regiments with other tribes intermixed. - - - - -THE RAJPUTS - - -The chief characteristic of the Rajput is his pride of blood. -Representing as he does the higher military castes of India, his one -ambition has always been to wield a sword, and wield it well. For ages -in the past the Rajput maintained his supremacy in one or another part -of India. Claiming descent from the sun and the moon, and later from -those two heroes of the Mahabharata--Rama and Krishna--the Rajput -maintains that his ancient and noble blood has flowed in the veins of -kings from times more remote than any other history can record. That -old but immortal legend of the Bhagavad Gîta, in which Prince Arjuna -held a discourse with Krishna, the supreme Deity, in his war-chariot, -drawn up between the opposing forces of Kauravas and Pandavas, is -regarded by the Rajput as peculiarly his own. It is not to be wondered -at, then, that, possessing from time immemorial this lofty poem, so -sublime in its aspiration, so pure and tender in its piety, the Rajput -has always been a man of high and noble sentiment and lofty ideals. He -is, as the literal rendering of his name implies, the "Rajah's son," -and in war has always displayed most noble and fearless qualities. - -It cannot be said that the Rajput is content to shine in the reflected -glory of the past. In ancient times he devoted his life to making -epic history, and in these days this serves him for an ever-present -tradition from which he will draw the necessary material to add another -volume to that history. Let him dream of the past achievements of his -race, his ancient glory in war; let him sing the songs that he has -made, and shake off the sloth of peace, and so rush into battle; for -out of such dreams and stirring songs springs all human greatness. - -There is no questioning the bravery and stamina of the Rajput. Under -a good commander who knows how to appeal to him, the Rajput will face -death in any grim form. He has a spirit so fierce and dauntless that -naturally it is tinctured with the changing tides of strong emotion, -which at times may have its drawbacks; but he is, even more than the -Gurkha, a soldier fit for a special task; indeed, his dash and heroism -are so remarkable that even the Gurkha will sometimes claim to be -directly descended from the Rajput. - -There is no history to record of the Rajput as a race, for each Rajput -state and clan--and there are a large number of them--has its own -history. Roughly, they may be described as more or less pure-blooded, -modern Hindu (Brahminical) representatives of the early Aryan emigrants -into India. - - ... "The mild Hindu - Of far-off Rajputana, - (Who) smiles to think how very few - Will ever reach Nirvana," - -is not the Rajput. It is a mistake to suppose that the Rajputs are -the inhabitants of the province bearing their name. They form but a -small part of the population of that province, nor are they by any -means restricted to it, being found in large numbers from the Indus -to Benares. A large section of the Rajputs of the Punjab, having -been converted to Mahomedanism, have thereby lost their distinctive -character of Rajputs, who, retaining the religion of their forefathers, -are essentially Hindu. And among them are seers and philosophers of the -highest degree--men whose feet Nietzsche and Treitschke are not worthy -to kiss. And in the Rajput's championship of the higher things he is -instinct with the wisdom of India, who sends him westward; India, who -through the mouth of her sublimest poet says, from a platform undreamed -of by the Teutonic philosopher, - - "Near to renunciation--very near-- - Dwelleth eternal peace." - -Each separate Rajput clan has its own peculiar customs and rites, while -holding the general customs and rites in common with the whole Rajput -race. This peculiarity is strongly marked by the fact that the same -clan living in different countries has, in addition to its own general -clan rights, others which seem to have been born out of its separate -environment. The Rajput in Rajputana invariably marries out of his -own clan, but if he allows his daughter to marry into a lower clan he -suffers in social position. A Rajput may legally marry more than one -wife, and he is permitted by his social and moral code certain things -which some other codes condemn. - -In the process of recruiting among Rajputs it is a simple matter to -tell the real from the false by the following points. A true Rajput -will eat with his illegitimate children, but not out of the same dish; -he will allow his natural son to smoke his hookah, but only provided -he draws the smoke through his closed hand. He will eat food prepared -and cooked by the natural children of any Rajput, but he will not eat -_with_ them, nor under any conditions allow them to smoke his hookah. - -The Rajput woman is noted for her bravery and high ideal of honour. -Woe betide the husband or brother who has not all his wounds in -front. There are many tales of Rajput women snatching a dagger from -their waistband and plunging it into their hearts rather than suffer -dishonour. There are even stories current as to their fighting ability, -telling how on occasion they have fought valiantly in the field, and -even led troops to victory. - - -THE RAJPUT REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - - -2ND QUEEN VICTORIA'S OWN RAJPUT LIGHT INFANTRY. - -BADGE.--The Royal and Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria within the -Garter. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi 1803," "Leswarree," "Deig," "Bhurtpore," -"Khelat," "Afghanistan," "Maharajpore," "Punjab," "Chillianwallah," -"Goojerat," "Central India," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87," -"China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -4TH PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR'S RAJPUTS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Leswarree," "Bhurtpore," "Kabul 1842," "Ferozeshah," -"Sobraon," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _black_. - - -7TH DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S OWN RAJPUTS. - -BADGE.--The Duke of Connaught's Crest and Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," "China -1858/59," "Egypt 1882," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Pekin 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -8TH RAJPUTS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Sobraon," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -13TH RAJPUTS. (The Shekhawati Regiment.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Aliwal," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -16TH RAJPUTS. (The Lucknow Regiment.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Lucknow" (with a Turreted Gateway), "Afghanistan -1879/80," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - - - -THE MAHRATTAS - - -For geographical reasons connected with facility in recruiting, the -Mahrattas are divided into two parts: the Konkani Mahrattas and the -Dekhani Mahrattas. The whole race was originally confined to the -country known as Maharashtra, but since their rapid acquirement of -power in India they have spread beyond the limits of that country. They -may now be found in the heart of the Central Provinces on the east, -Central India on the north, and on the borders of Rajputana to the -north and west. - -Mahrattas are generally divided into three classes:-- - - 1. Brahmans. - 2. Chatris--_i.e._, those who claim Rajput descent. - 3. Sudras--those belonging to agricultural and - trading classes. - -The best of the soldiers are probably those recruited in the Dekhan, -who are short, hardy and brave. Most of the Mahrattas in our ranks -are recruited from the Konkan. They are taller and smarter than the -Dekhanis, who, nevertheless, excel in endurance. The hillmen are nearly -always more hardy than the inhabitants of the plain. - -There is no history of the early Mahrattas, but as it is tolerably -clear that the Mahratta language is Aryan, it follows that the race has -at least Aryan blood, although ethnologists set it down clearly to be -of Turanian or Dravidian origin. - -It seems a curious thing that the Mahrattas were not brought up from -the cradle of their race as fighting men, since they have proved -in our first meetings with them such excellent foes. It is certain -that if they are not born fighters, they have become good soldiers. -Mr. Grant Duff in his "History of the Mahrattas" distinguishes them -very clearly in a military sense from the Sikhs and the Gurkhas, -while admitting that they make excellent soldiers. "The very fact of -their having played so conspicuous and not always ignoble a part in -the history of India," he says, "marks them out as a race with some -qualities of the genuine soldier. The Duke of Wellington, who had such -ample opportunities of forming a judgment in regard to them, rated -them highly; and there can be no doubt that, with the discipline which -the British officer enforces, and his personal example of courage, -constancy, and devotion to duty, the Mahrattas can still be made into -good soldiers, despite the enervating and softening influence which a -long spell of peace appears to have on India." - -Authoritative historians have said that the courage of the Mahrattas -of old was the courage of the freebooter; that they were at the best -bold buccaneers, who were capable at times of courage because it paid -them, but that the moment the prospect of gain was taken away, their -courage oozed out. These writers maintain that the highest instincts of -the soldier were never theirs. The reason of that was necessarily that -the loyal and steadfast adhesion to a good cause, which has led the -highest human types, in all ages, willingly to sacrifice their lives, -never inspired them. Consequently, they were devoid of that spirit -which takes death with proud indifference from motives of patriotism. -One of these writers says: "The Mahrattas all through history have -never sacrificed a whole skin unless there was something very tangible -and substantial to be got thereby." Neither has Britain. We have never -sacrificed, and never intend to sacrifice, our men for anything less -than "something very tangible and substantial to be got thereby." The -criticism on both sides then simply amounts to this: that courage -is not a thing in itself, but a quality depending on motive, with -knowledge; and the Mahratta, although he may have lacked both in the -past, has certainly acquired them now. - -Again, it has been contended that the Mahratta lacks the elegant -proportions of the Jat Sikh, the robust, well-knit figure of the -Gurkha, the lofty personal courage of the Pathan--in short, that he -is cast in a mould that is anything but heroic. But, when we come to -consider that there is in the Mahratta an essential sturdiness and -tenacity, we find eventually, and apart from all superficially striking -characteristics, the pabulum out of which the finest soldiery can be -made. - -In physique, the Mahratta is somewhat under the average height. His -skin is dark, and his features irregular. But in those features one can -discern a tremendous capacity for endurance. He may not be a cultured -man--either falsely or truly--but, in the ranks, he possesses those -natural adjuncts to steady, quiet strength, tractability, gentleness, -patience, and a general willingness to fall in with the idea of someone -who obviously knows more. - -The Mahrattas in the 1st Bombay Infantry (Grenadiers), now the 101st -Grenadiers, proved their grit at Maiwand. In a tough fight they held -good till more than half their number were gone. Again, at Suakin, in -1885, the Mahrattas in the 28th Bombay Infantry (Pioneers), now the -128th Pioneers, proved, without a doubt, the nature of the qualities -already mentioned, which will indubitably find further development in -the present state of war. - -Like the Rajputs, the Mahrattas are chiefly Hindus. They have strange -objects of worship, such as trees and snakes. Their deities are -principally incarnations of Shiva, the Destroyer, such as Etoba and -Kandoba. Like all the Hindus, they still maintain a strong belief in -Spirit, and, like all races who, in their early stages, have clung to -that belief in darkness, they have developed a broader knowledge, which -has always walked arm-in-arm with superstition towards enlightenment. -Yet, especially in time of war, the Mahrattas throw aside all caste -prejudices, even eat in common among themselves, and are not unwilling -to accept a drink from Tommy Atkins himself. - - -A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MAHRATTAS - -Various theories have been advanced as to the origin of the -Mahratta-speaking races of Western India. It is a generally accepted -idea that, though the higher classes are to some extent of Aryan -blood, the majority of the people are descended from aboriginal tribes -who settled in the country long before the Aryans commenced their -emigration from the Oxus. - -The Mahratta country extends from Bombay in the north to Goa in the -south, and from the Indian Ocean in the west to the Central Provinces -and the Nizam's Dominions in the east. The tract is divided into two -well-defined portions by the Ghats, a chain of hills running parallel -with the coast. The strip of country near the sea, from the mouth of -the Taptee to Goa, is generally known as the Konkan, and was formerly -infested with pirates and brigands. The table-land of the Dekhan to -the west of the Ghats has been inhabited for numberless generations -by cultivators, shepherds, and herdsmen, and it was not until the -Mahomedan persecutions had driven these peasants into rebellion that -they developed any warlike instincts, and became aware of their own -capacity for conquest. - -Considering the power to which they at one time attained, it seems -remarkable that no mention should have been made of the Mahrattas in -history from the time of the Mahomedan conquests in the thirteenth -century to the reign of Aurangzeb. It would appear, however, that -during this period the country on each side of the Ghats was divided -into numerous Hindu principalities, which paid tribute to the Mahomedan -Kings of the Dekhan and Golkonda, but were never really subdued. A -Mahratta family of the Bhondle tribe, which claimed to be of Rajput -descent, had been for many generations in the service of the Sultans -of Bijapur. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, a son of this -family, named Sivaji, turned brigand, and supported by his peasant -followers, who rapidly developed into soldiers, commenced a series of -daring raids in the rich plain country to the east of the Ghats. -In 1664 Sivaji changed the scene of his operations to the coast, and -sacked the town of Surat, carrying off booty to the value of a million -sterling. The British factory recently established there by the East -India Company was successfully defended by the merchants, supported by -sailors from their ships, but the exploit excited general alarm, for -Surat was not only a great emporium for trade, but the port at which -Mahomedan pilgrims embarked for Mecca, and landed on their return to -India. - -[Illustration: WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.] - -By this time the Moghuls were thoroughly alarmed. The levying of -the "chanth," or fourth share of the revenue, by the Mahrattas was -seriously affecting their finances, for Sivaji's raids extended to -the south, and as far to the east as Bengal. Large Moghul armies took -the field against his followers, but on the whole with very little -success. The Mahrattas were loose hordes of lightly-clad horsemen, -who lived on fruit and grain. They were the Cossacks of India, ever -hovering round camps and armies to carry off treasure, though unable to -face the heavy-armed Moghuls in the open field. The latter, however, -were generally very wanting in activity. Mahrattas could easily escape -from fortresses if driven out by starvation, and few Moghul commanders -dared to follow them into the winding paths of the Ghats, whither they -would retreat, lest the Moghuls, in their turn, should be cut off or -starved into submission. Meanwhile, troops of Mahratta horsemen might -be scouring the plains, harrying and plundering the peaceful villages, -ready to gallop back at the first warning to their fastnesses in the -hills and jungles. - -Sivaji died in 1680, after a brilliant career of conquest. From then -until 1707 the Mahrattas were weakened by quarrels among themselves, -which caused the principal power in the state to be gradually -transferred from the Bhonste descendants of Sivaji to a family of -Brahmans, who were their hereditary Peishwas or Ministers. - -Under these "Mayors of the Palace" the Mahratta power reached its -zenith. Satara was their original capital, but there were powerful -Mahratta governments established at Poona, Gwalior, Nagpur, Indore, and -Baroda; and, towards the close of the eighteenth century, they started -on a career of conquest which made them masters of India from Delhi to -Cape Comorin--a career which was only checked by the rising power of -the British. - - -"WILD MAHRATTA BATTLE" - -At the time that the Mahratta Dominion was at its zenith in India, it -came into clash with the ever-widening rule of the British. In 1803 the -Mahratta Dominion extended from Hyderabad to Mysore as far as Delhi. In -addition to this its dependencies and territorial possessions in India -were far greater than those of the British. - -The second Mahratta War was declared in August, 1803, and General Lake -marched on Delhi. The British forces consisted of about 22,000 men in -two equal divisions, one under Lake and the other under Wellesley, but -the Mahrattas outnumbered this little force by seven to one. - -The first event of the war was the attack on the fortress of Aligati -by Lake. Here our men had a foretaste of the nature of "wild Mahratta -battle" and of the terrible valour of the enemy. History records that -the Mahrattas "fought like lions," and it was not until 2,000 of their -number were slain that they finally surrendered. During the following -week came the fall of Delhi, after a most determined conflict raged in -sight of its minarets--a conflict in which the enemy lost 3,000 killed -and wounded and 68 guns. A month later the famous stronghold of Agra -was taken. This was an important victory, as in those days Agra was -practically the key to Northern India. - -In this campaign it was fully recognised that the Mahrattas were men -of good fighting quality. At the battle of Leswarree, when Lake was -outnumbered and forced to retire to wait for his infantry and guns -to come up, the prowess of the Mahrattas came as a surprise to him. -When some reinforcements arrived he attacked again with still greater -determination. On this occasion his horse was shot under him, and -his son, dismounting to offer his own horse, was severely wounded. -At the same moment, Lake, turning as his son fell, felt a shot pass -between his arm and his chest, which, if he had not moved, would have -found its way through his heart. But Lake was a man of cool judgment -and imperturbable courage. Mounting his son's horse, he surveyed the -field of battle and quickly made up his mind to decide matters by the -bayonet. Our troops greeted the word of command with a hearty cheer, -and immediately the 76th, admirably supported by the Native Infantry -Corps, swept down upon the enemy in a furious charge. But Lake's -generalship was matched by that of the Mahratta Chief, who instantly -ordered his cavalry to charge. It was a tense moment, and it was -rendered dramatic by the sudden appearance of the British Dragoons -galloping to the relief. "Horse and foot," says a historian, "met in -one great shock of battle; sabre rang out against bayonet and musket -flashed against pistol and carbine. A short period of indescribable -_mêlée_ ensued, in which the fate of the day was decided." - -The Mahrattas were defeated. They were a foe as worthy in those days of -our steel as they are now, our comrades-in-arms, worthy of the Empire -they defend. - -Meanwhile Wellesley in the south was trying conclusions with Madhi -Scindia and the Rajah of Madhpur. In conjunction with Col. Stevenson -he had 7,000 men, who chased Scindia for three weeks, the wily chief -having decided to fight on chosen ground. At length, on September -23rd, 1803, Wellesley, after a fatiguing march, reached the bank of -the Kaitna River. He was waiting for Col. Stevenson, with whom he -had prearranged a plan, but when he discovered that the enemy was in -camp on the other side of the river, he concluded that his chance of -bringing Scindia to action was "now or never." Accordingly he resolved -not to wait for Stevenson, but to attack at once. This was a daring -decision, for Scindia's forces numbered 17,000 foot, of whom 10,500 -were highly disciplined infantry; and his artillery, consisting of -the regular equipment supplemented by 115 guns, was far stronger than -that of the British. In addition to this his Mahratta Horse numbered -about 30,000. The little British army that was getting ready to defeat -this gigantic force numbered 4,520 men, of whom 1,170 (74th and -78th Regiments) were British Infantry, 2,000 Native Infantry, 1,200 -Cavalry, and 150 Artillery. The Mahrattas saw this piece of audacity -and stood awhile in amazement, but, wise in their generation, they -forbore to call the force opposing them "contemptible." When the rest -of the world came to have something to say about it, Wellesley simply -remarked: "But had I not attacked them I must have been surrounded by -their superior cavalry, my troops had starved and I had nothing left -but to hang myself to my tent-pole." But it may be justly contended -that it was not wholly a case of Hobson's choice, for Wellesley, like -Nelson, knew when to be rash and how to be rash, and it might have been -said of him, in the words of the French Admiral about Nelson, that his -genius lay in the fact that he could rightly estimate every weakness of -his enemy. - -The battle which followed was of a terrible and terrific nature, but it -ended eventually in a glorious victory for the British. From first to -last, Wellesley, having conspired with the luck of war, left no single -point to the luck of chance. - -From an elevated plain he could see the whole Mahratta force encamped -on the north side of the Kaitna, where the banks of that river were -very steep. Their right, consisting of cavalry, extended to Bokerdon; -their left, consisting of infantry, with ninety pieces of artillery, -lay near the village of Assaye, which has given its name to the -memorable battle. - -Wellesley resolved to attack the infantry on its left and rear, and for -that purpose he moved his little army to a ford beyond the enemy's -left, leaving the Mysore and other irregular cavalry to watch the -Mahratta cavalry, and crossing the river only with his regular horse -and infantry. He passed the ford, ascended the steep bank, and formed -his men in three lines--two of infantry, and the third of horse. This -was effected under a brisk cannonade from the enemy's artillery. -Scindia, or the European officer who directed his movements, promptly -made a corresponding change in his line, giving a new front to his -infantry, which was now made to rest its right on the river and its -left upon the village of Assaye and the Juah stream, which flowed in a -parallel direction with the Kaitna. Scindia's numerous and well-served -cannon did terrible execution among Wellesley's advancing lines, -killing men and bullocks, and drowning the weak sound of his scanty -artillery. At one moment such a gap was made by cannon-ball in the -English right that some of the Mahratta cavalry attempted to charge -through it; but the British cavalry in the third line came up and -drove the Mahrattas back with great slaughter. Finding his artillery -of little or no use (the guns could not be brought up for lack of -bullocks), Wellesley gave orders to leave it in the rear, and bade the -infantry charge with the bayonet. - -His steady, resolute advance in the teeth of their guns had already -awed the Mahrattas, who would not stand to meet the collision of -the English steel: their infantry gave way, and abandoned the guns. -One body of them formed again, and presented a bold front; but -Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell charged them with the British cavalry, -broke and dispersed them, and was killed in the moment of victory. -Wellesley's Sepoys having proceeded too far in pursuit, many of -Scindia's artillerymen, who had thrown themselves down among the -carriages of their guns as though they were dead, got to their feet -again, and turned their pieces against the rear of the advancing -Sepoys; and at the same time the Mahratta cavalry, which had been -hovering round throughout the battle, were still near. But Maxwell's -charge soon silenced the desultory artillery fire, and Scindia's -disciplined infantry went off and left ninety pieces of cannon, nearly -all brass and of the proper calibres, in the hands of the victors. -Wellesley led the 78th British infantry in person against the village -of Assaye, which was not cleared without a desperate combat. - -Assaye cost Wellesley twenty-two officers and 386 men killed, and -fifty-seven officers and 1,526 wounded. Excluding the regular cavalry -which had remained on the other side of the river and had not been -engaged, the total number of killed and wounded amounted to nearly -one-third of his force. The general himself had two horses killed under -him, one shot and the other piked; every one of his staff officers had -one or two horses killed, and his orderly's head was swept off by -a cannon-ball as he rode close by his side. The enemy, who had fled -towards the Adjuntee Ghat, through which they had poured into the -Dekhan, left 1,200 dead, and a great number badly wounded on the field -of battle. - - -THE MAHRATTA COMPANY REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - -Although there are no Class Regiments composed wholly of Mahrattas, -they form in Company Regiments the bulk of the following bodies of -Infantry:-- - - -103RD MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. Raised 1768. - -4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Mysore," "Seedaseer," "Seringapatam," "Beni Boo -Alli," "Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Abyssinia." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _black_. - - -105TH MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. Raised 1788. - -4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, two companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Mysore," "Seedaseer," "Seringapatam," "Beni Boo -Alli," "Kahun," "China 1860/62," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _black_. - - -110TH MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. Raised 1797. - -4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Central India," "Abyssinia," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _black_. - - -114TH MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. - -4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -116TH MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. Raised 1800. - -4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan 1879/80," "British East Africa 1901." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -117TH MAHRATTA LIGHT INFANTRY. - -4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - -There are companies of the Mahrattas also in the - - 107th Pioneers. - 108th Infantry. - 109th Infantry. - 121st Pioneers. - 128th Pioneers. - - - - -THE GURKHAS - - -The Gurkha is more closely a brother-in-arms to Tommy Atkins than is -any other native soldier. These brave little men swell with pride--and -their chest expansion is enormous--when they are referred to as the -"Highlanders of India." Their eyes twinkle and their white teeth gleam -in a smile of joy at this well-deserved honour bestowed upon them for -many a valiant fight. To stand by the side of their big brothers of -the Black Watch, the Seaforth, the Gordon, the Cameron, and the Argyll -and Sutherland Highlanders in glory and renown is their Nirvana of -bliss; and now, in the greatest conflict of Europe, to fight, and if -need be to die, in the same line with them for the great King-Emperor -(the Padisha), in the defence of the world against tyranny and wrong, -is absolutely the crowning moment in the history of this valiant -little man of Nepal. As the Gurkha marches to-day to the tune of The -Marseillaise, played on a weird collection of instruments approaching -as nearly as possible to the bagpipes, his cheerful spirit is glad -beyond words to be in line with the heroes who claim his special -admiration, and his one thought is "Shall we fight side by side with -the Gordons, as we did at Dargai, or with the Argyll and Sutherland -Highlanders, or with the Seaforths?" - -But behind his cheerful countenance and jaunty way of carrying himself -lies a bulldog courage which, in turn, commands the admiration of his -big brothers-in-arms--the British Highlanders. Those gleaming teeth -are exposed in no kind of smile when he grips the deadly _kukri_ in a -hand-to-hand encounter, and there is no twinkle in the fierce black -eyes as he sets his face to the foe, with the cool determination "never -to go back," which is a tradition of his race. - -On this point, Lt.-Col. Newnham-Davis, writing in "Town Topics," -declares that "The Gurkha is the most thorough little man I have ever -met in campaigning; he will never go back. He tackles any job that is -given him like a bulldog, and he is never beaten. In manoeuvres, as in -action, one thing a Gurkha regiment will not do is to go back. - -"I have seen the Chief Umpire and all his satellites vainly trying to -explain to the native officers of a Gurkha company on manoeuvres that -they were surrounded and outnumbered and out of action, and that they -must therefore retire from the mimic fight. The Gurkhas grinned and -stopped where they were, and it was only by sounding the 'cease fire' -and telling the little men to get back and cook their dinners that the -Chief Umpire moved them off the ground." - -"In the spring," says the Colonel, writing on the Gurkha War, "the -little Gurkhas--jovial little fellows, broad-chested and big-limbed, -short in stature, with their Tartar eyes, noses like pugdogs, and great -good-natured gashes for mouths--flock down to enlist in our regiments. -Brave as lions, vain as peacocks, faithful as dogs, with few prejudices -in peace and none in war, the Gurkhas are the special friends and -companions of our men. - -"The stately Sikh throws away his food if a white man's shadow falls -upon it, and between the Mahomedan and the Christian is always the bar -of religion, but on a campaign the Gurkha eats his food with as few -formalities as Tommy Atkins drinks his wine, and is good company at the -camp-fire." - -The Gurkha has a merry wit and an equally happy conceit, as the -following incident will show. After the assault on Bhurtpore, where -the Gurkhas raced with the grenadiers of the 59th for the bridge, the -British soldiers praised them for their bravery. They returned the -compliment by the following characteristic remark: "The English are as -brave as lions; they are splendid Sepoys, and _very nearly_ equal to -us." - -It may be seen from the above incident that the vanity of these little -men is colossal. Indeed, it is only exceeded by their loyalty and -gallantry, which can never be questioned, since Lord Roberts, the hero -of Kabul, has accorded them the highest and warmest praise. - -When Col. Younghusband, travelling in the Pamirs with an expedition of -Gurkhas, met the great Russian explorer Gromschefski, a native officer -of the Gurkhas asked leave to speak to Younghusband. "Tell him," he -said, pointing to the big Russian, "that though _we_ are small men, all -the rest of our regiment are taller than he is." - -The only ritual the Gurkha observes is that he washes his hands and -face and takes off his head-dress before cooking his meals. Any meat -that chances to come the Gurkhas' way they call _shika_ (game). It -is permitted by their religion to eat anything they have killed when -hunting, but in their native land they prefer a kind of food made -from rice. In the British service they take kindly but temperately to -anything that the canteen supplies. - -The Gurkhas were originally protectors of the cows, and this in India -is a more or less Divine right. The Hindu regards the cow in the light -of his mother, and frequently the beef-eating habit of the Sahib is -pathetically reproached by the native in these terms: "What! would you -eat your mother?" It may be permissible to stretch the derivation of -their name in the present day and apply it to the fact that Britain is -now their mother, and that they flocked westward to assist her in her -great effort to uphold and ensure the integrity of the world. - -The Gurkhas, or Gurkhalis, claim descent from the Ranas of Udaipur in -Rajputana. Long ago, when they were driven out of their own country by -the Mahomedan invasion, they sought refuge in the mountainous tracts -about Kumaon. From this point they gradually began to invade the -country to the eastward, as far as the city of Gurkha, Noakote, and -ultimately the valley of Nepal, and even Sikkim. It was only when they -attempted to force their way southwards that they were met and repulsed -by the British. The Treaty of Seganli, which put an end to the Gurkha -War of 1814, set a definite limit to their territorial expansion. - -In general character the Gurkha is bold and self-reliant. On his -gentler side, while extremely independent and self-centred, he is -frank, faithful, and capable of fine, heroic loyalty. All his ideas of -war and sport are modelled on European ideas. Though resembling in many -ways the little Jap, he is built on far sturdier lines. As a humorist -once remarked of his race: "They are 5 feet high in some places, and 5 -feet round in others." Their movements in attack resemble lightning -rapidity as nearly as anything human can. Essentially a phlegmatic -race, they are supposed to lack sentiment and emotion, but education -and touch with Western civilisation have proved to a great extent that -these qualities were potential. In many ways they have been brought -out as true sentiment and emotion of the steadier and more genuine -kind. This fact, with their natural gaiety of disposition and their -good-humoured carelessness of good or evil hap, is no doubt the reason -that they make such fine soldiers. There is no grumbling on the part of -the Gurkhas. - -The Gurkha in battle is terrible, and almost weird in his methods. His -ways are the ways of no other living soldier. And this brings us to a -consideration of that remarkable weapon, the _kukri_. It is a heavy, -curved knife, as sharp as a razor, and its drawing cut, inflicted -with much skill and little force on anything in motion, has terrible -effects. For instance, the intrepid Gurkha will wait for the tiger of -the jungle to spring, and then, at the right moment, will step aside, -leaving his deadly knife to follow the movement of his arm across the -tiger's throat. - -This wonderful knife, which the Gurkha loves as the British gunner -loves his gun, has a small hilt, such as is common to all Indian -swords. The blade is about nine inches long, and has a point as sharp -as a needle. Both the hilt and the blade are curved, so that the weapon -does equally well for the drawing cut or the thrust. Owing to the -extreme thickness of the broad blade the weapon is remarkably heavy--a -property devised obviously for the purpose of gaining the full force of -inertia when the _kukri_ is wielded by the dexterous hand and wrist of -the Gurkha. One authority on this weapon says that the weight of the -razor-edged blade would drive it half through a man's arm if it were -only allowed to fall from a little height. One can imagine, then, the -terrible effect if used for the drawing cut of the broad-sword. In the -Gurkha's experienced hand its sharp edge carves through both bone and -sinew, proving it to be a weapon as formidable as can be conceived. The -method of this little warrior with the _kukri_, then, may be described -as an inhibition of force and an exhibition of skill, for by means of -it he will quickly cut to pieces any man of gigantic strength and build -who does not understand his mode of attack. - -Many years ago, during the conquests on which we founded our Eastern -Empire, our men frequently came into clash with the Gurkhas. In those -days they were, as enemies, as formidable as they are to-day invaluable -as brothers-in-arms. Here is a description of one battle incident in -which we suffered severely at their hands: "Brave as lions, active -as monkeys, fierce as tigers, the wiry little men came leaping over -the ground to the attack, moving so quickly and keeping so far apart -from each other that rifle fire was of little use against them. When -they came near our soldiers they suddenly crouched and dived under -the bayonets, striking upwards at our men with their _kukris_ and -ripping them open with a single blow, then darting off as rapidly as -they came." Until our men learnt this mode of attack they were greatly -discomfited by their little opponents, who got under their weapons, -cutting or slashing with knives as sharp as razors, and often escaping -unhurt from the midst of the bayonets. - -In all the history of invasion and conquests, of floating dynasties and -mushroom empires in the East, the most sanguinary chapters deal with -the British subjugation of the Gurkhas. - -At a time when the Gurkhas were only some twelve thousand strong their -reputation as fighters stood high. Many a time and oft had they raided -neighbouring territory, carried off cattle, and even extorted tribute, -so that at length the British authorities realised that there was only -one course to take, and the message was sent to the bold Gurkha Chief: -"Keep within your own territory or beware of the consequences." But -this ultimatum was treated with scorn by the Gurkhas. Their haughty -spirit could not brook such a demand. Hot blood seethed in their -veins, and hot words were spoken at their council meetings. Their -natural warlike spirit rose to the occasion and they declared war. - -That war of 1813-14, and that conquest of a truly warlike race, form a -record of one of the most heroic achievements of the British Army. - -Nepal, the home of the Gurkhas, is situated on the slopes of the -Himalayas. Its natural barricade on the north is a mighty line of -peaks soaring against the sides of heaven up to the roof of the world, -covered with everlasting snow. In front and to the south dense forests -protect it from the approach of an invading host. Terrible were the -difficulties and hardships of our men in these forests. Despair -almost drove them back, while the prospect of utter failure seemed to -stare them in the face. But, as if in a forlorn hope, our men went -on, toiling and moiling towards the borders of Nepal; and, with the -tenacity that saves every hopeless situation, gained at length the -walls of Kalanga. - -The fort held out for a long time, but fell at length, though not -until the heroic garrison of six hundred had been reduced to seventy. -It was here that brave General Gillespie fell as he was cheering his -men forward to a fruitless attack. At the outset he had reckoned -upon an easy conquest, but owing to the staunch resistance of the -Gurkhas, reinforced by their natural advantages, he found the greatest -difficulty. - -There are many incidents recorded of the Gurkhas in this war, but -perhaps the following is characteristic. When a party of our troops -were searching for the enemy's outposts, they happened to fall in with -a band of Gurkhas. The fierce little men raised a yell and produced -their deadly _kukris_; then, after a brief consultation, their leader -strode forward into the open and challenged the English officer in -command to a settlement by single combat. His challenge was no sooner -offered than it was accepted, and Captain Showers advanced to meet -him. A short, sharp fight then took place on the plain separating the -two opposing forces; steel met steel, and, after a quick passage, the -Gurkha's blood ran crimson in the snow. He had met one who knew his -methods. - -This war dragged slowly and wearily to a close. Finally there came a -time when the Gurkhas were compelled to sue for peace. By the treaty -drawn up at the conclusion of hostilities large tracts of territory -were ceded to the British; but, as this treaty had to be sent to the -Governor-General for approval and signature, there was a delay, and -during that delay the bold spirit of the Gurkhas rose against this -admission of defeat, and when the treaty was returned they flatly -refused to sign it. At this hostilities were resumed, and the British -again proceeded to attack. - -This time they had a larger share of the luck of war. By the guidance -of a party of smugglers they were enabled to penetrate right into the -Gurkha stronghold unobserved. Their path lay through deep ravines, -darkly enclosed by rugged precipices and shrouded in the gloom of dense -overhanging trees. Threading their way through these eerie approaches, -they at length came up behind the Gurkhas, who were patiently waiting -and watching the regular avenues of approach. Being suddenly attacked -in the rear, the Gurkhas were demoralised, and, though they fought -bravely, were defeated. This action proved decisive. Again they -were conquered, and, from that time, they have nobly admitted the -superiority of their conquerors. A few years later their indomitable -spirit was linked with that of the British, and they were fighting side -by side with the white man in Asia. - -The Gurkhas of to-day adhere to the Hindu religion. In their appearance -there is a strong trace of Mongolian blood, as shown by their -almond-shaped eyes, high cheek bones, and firm but mobile lips. - -In early times Nepal consisted of a great number of petty states -constantly at war with each other. Thus it happened that, by conquest -and reconquest, and intermixture of tribes, the term "Gurkha" became -geographical rather than ethnic; that is to say, the name does not, -strictly speaking, apply to any special tribe or race, but to the -inhabitants of the locality known as Gurkhá. - -The principality of Gurkhá owes its existence and name to a yogi called -Guraknath. He lived in a cave in a hill in Central Nepal. To this holy -man came many devotees daily, and, in the neighbourhood of his cave, -there soon sprang up a village which in time spread its boundaries -until it assumed importance as the City of Gurkhá, so named after the -yogi. In further course of time it became the capital of the district, -to which, and to its inhabitants, it gave its name. - -It is interesting to note that this yogi Guraknath is still held in -great veneration by all Gurkhas, and to-day their battle-cry may be -heard in Europe--"Guru Guraknath Kijai" ("Victory to Guraknath!"). - -The Gurkhas are conquerors of no mean order. Their principal conquests -took place in the middle of the eighteenth century. In the year 1599 -Drabiya Sah elected himself Gurkha Rajah, and, about 140 years later, -the eighth in descent from him--one Narbupal Sah--invaded the Nepal -valley. The invasion was unsuccessful and he was driven back, but the -spirit of invasion was not defeated. He was succeeded in 1742 by his -son, Prithwi Narayan Sah, a lad twelve years old. This boy grew up -into a sensible, brave man of great ambitions, and in time became a -very capable general and diplomat. It was to his genius as a ruler -and a general that the Gurkhas owed their ultimate conquest of the -region of Nepal. His first invasion failed, though he and his warriors -fought with splendid courage. Later, having subjugated several of the -neighbouring states, he strengthened his army from these sources, and -undertook a second invasion in 1765. Again he was utterly defeated; but -he was a man of heroic courage, and, in his third invasion in 1768, in -the course of which he was defeated as often as he was successful, he -finally seized Khatmandu--by superior "strategy" as it was known in -those days--and dictated terms of peace in the heart of the valley of -Nepal. - -Prithwi, the conqueror, then removed his capital to Khatmandu, which -has ever since remained the capital of the Gurkha kingdom. He died in -1775, after a great and terribly eventful reign of thirty-three years. - -Pratap Simha Sah, who succeeded his father Prithwi, attempted the -conquest of Sikkim, but failed utterly. In Sikkim the Maharajah -obtained the victory over him in so many battles that the Gurkha king -was forced to sign away some of his eastern territory; but the Gurkhas -returned again and again to the attack, until, in 1776, they utterly -defeated the Sikkim Maharajah at the battle of Chinepore, and more than -regained their lost possessions. - -In 1776 the wars of conquest still continued. Another great man arose, -Ran Bahadur Sah, uncle to Pratap Simha Sah's infant son, who was on -the throne. Bahadur Sah was a man of ability, and, as Regent, decided -to subjugate the Chaobisi principalities. He conspired with the Rajah -of Palpa, one of the Chaobisi states, agreeing to a division of the -spoil in return for his assistance. The Gurkha-Palpa alliance was -then formed, and nearly all the Chaobisi states were subjugated, the -Gurkhas keeping the lion's share. Meanwhile the Gurkha armies in the -east, under General Saroop Simha, were victorious, and the whole of -the Rai and Limbu districts of eastern Nepal were conquered. For some -time after that they continued the extension of their rule in Sikkim -and parts of Tibet. This latter invasion brought upon the Gurkhas a -strong Chinese army, which utterly routed them in the year 1792. In -consequence of this the Regent was executed by order of the infant -king, who himself, on account of his later atrocities, was forced to -abdicate in 1800. After some years of exile in India he returned as a -firebrand to Gurkha, and died unhonoured and unmourned in 1807. - -It was during the second and third Afghan wars that the Gurkhas and -the Highlanders fought together in an admirable combination. A brief -description of these two wars, containing some graphic incidents of -battle, and showing the part the Gurkhas and the Highlanders played -together, will be found in the following chapter. - - -SOME BATTLES IN WHICH THE GURKHAS HAVE FOUGHT - -It is interesting to trace to-day the heroic exploits of the Gurkhas -through campaigns in which they have fought side by side with the -Highlanders of our own country. Space admits of only a brief account, -but it will serve to show exactly how and why the Arms of Lord Roberts -come to bear, as supporters, a Highlander and a Gurkha. - -The second Afghan war (1878-80) was brought about by the discovery of -Russian intrigues with Shere Ali. Although the Amir had been advised -by Lord Lytton that he was sending Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain on -a mission to Kabul, he made no satisfactory reply either in assent or -dissent; but when Sir Neville reached Ali Musjid, a fortress on the -Afghan frontier, his embassy was confronted by an armed force, and, not -possessing sufficient troops to attack, he was compelled to turn back. -Smarting under this affront--for it had been clearly laid down that -his mission was not of a hostile nature--he returned to Peshawur, from -which point an ultimatum was despatched to Shere Ali. This led to the -formal proclamation of war on November 21st, 1878. Ali Musjid was the -scene of the first battle, in which, under Sir Samuel Browne, the 6th -Native Infantry, the 45th Sikhs, and 27th Punjab Infantry were engaged. - -Prior to this battle the Kurram Column, or Field Force, had been -formed, under General Roberts. The native troops included in this force -were as follow:-- - -1ST INFANTRY BRIGADE--29th Bengal Native Infantry, 5th Punjab Infantry, -and the Bhopal contingent. - -2ND INFANTRY BRIGADE--21st Native Infantry, 2nd Punjab Infantry, and -5th Gurkhas, under Major Fitzhugh. - -This famous Kurram Column immediately took the field, and their first -engagement of importance was at Peiwar Kotal. To the 29th Bengal Native -Infantry and 5th Gurkhas, under Col. Gordon, No. 1 Mountain Battery, -a wing of the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own) Highlanders, the 2nd Punjab -Infantry and 23rd Pioneers, under Brigadier Thelwall, was assigned the -task of turning the enemy's position, while a feint was to be made upon -their front. The turning force set out during the night of December -1st. A writer who describes that campaign says: "The bright camp-fires -shed their wavering light on the white tents, when, without sound of -drum or bugle, the troops fell silently into their ranks, the companies -were told off, and the battalions formed.... Nor had they long to wait -before their challenge was responded to by two shots, showing that the -position had been reached. And ere long the troops found themselves -confronted by an abattis formed by felled trees which, laid over each -other to the height of 8 feet, completely blocked the way." - -On this barricade, the Gurkhas, led by Major Fitzhugh and Captain Cook, -made a fierce rush. A stern conflict ensued--a hand-to-hand fight with -bayonet, _kukri_, and clubbed musket; and the Gurkhas drove the enemy -back to a second barrier nearly 100 yards to their rear. Here they made -another stand, but the ferocity of the lithe and wiry Gurkhas, and the -stern valour of the Highlanders--their right wing falling upon the -enemy's flank--combined to drive the Afghans from this second stockade -with considerable loss. - -Here it was that the Gurkhas and the Highlanders rushed on together -side by side in a memorable charge, none of them knowing the strength -and number either of the enemy or his further stockades. In the -uncertain light of early dawn they drove the enemy up the hillside like -chaff before the wind. For a time the Afghans fled in disorder, then -suddenly they rallied and prepared for a wild charge downhill. Major -Galbraith of the 85th Foot was the first to see their intention, and -he immediately directed the fire of his men to demoralise and check -this movement. While he was doing this an Afghan crept up behind some -bushes, and, levelling his rifle at him, took careful aim. Suddenly the -Major observed him, and, with the rapidity of lightning, raised his -revolver and pulled the trigger. The weapon missed fire, but his prompt -action had disturbed the Afghan's aim, and in another moment Captain -Cook of the Gurkhas had closed with the native and flung him heavily. -There was a quick fight between them, during which Major Galbraith, -more fortunate this time with his revolver, sent a bullet through the -Afghan's heart. For his brave act in saving the Major's life Captain -Cook gained his V.C. But the nation was compelled to mourn this hero -very soon, for it was in the following campaign at Sherpur, while -leading the Gurkhas, that he was mortally wounded. - -By the dawn of day the Gurkhas and the Highlanders, with the assistance -of the 29th Punjabis, had taken some important positions, and by the -time the sun rose the enemy was defeated. - -This victorious campaign was carried on through the craggy ravines of -Sappri as far as Siafooden, where the Afghans made a stand and gave -battle a second time; but here again the Gurkhas and the Highlanders -were the principal factors in their defeat. The subsequent brilliant -rush on Shaturgardan Pass was also made glorious by these Highlanders -of Britain and Asia. The campaign ended on May 26th, 1880. - -Again, in the third Afghan war, the Gurkhas, in common with different -regiments of Highlanders and some native regiments, won great -distinction. - -Sir Louis Cavagnari, who had concluded peace after the first campaign, -undertook a personal mission to Kabul. This time the mission was well -received--at least at first--but there soon came a time when the -Afghans, taking advantage of the necessary inferiority in the numbers -of our peaceful mission, insulted it, at first vaguely, then openly, -apparently with the idea of goading the Governor to a quarrel. Insult -on insult gave fuel to the fire thus aroused, and at last, when the -insults became unbearable, the Governor and his staff protested so -vigorously that the Afghans seized their opportunity and massacred -them. Immediately following on this came the declaration of war by -Shere Ali. After the preliminary battles at Charasiah and Asmai the -British force advanced to Kabul. There was very severe fighting around -the capital, and another sharp engagement at Asmai, after which our -troops found themselves entrapped in Sherpur. Here the Gurkhas won a -lasting glory for themselves by the recapture of some of our guns which -had been taken by the enemy. - -During this campaign the Gurkhas took part in the battle of Sijazabad. -Here the enemy took up a strong position on the side of a steep hill, -which they had further strengthened by barricades of earth and stone. -From one to another of these they were driven point by point by the -determined assault of the 4th Gurkhas, 14th Punjabis, and the 9th Foot. -This was a battle in which all our outnumbered forces, especially the -Gurkhas, showed remarkable _élan_. For many hours the Gurkhas stormed -one barricade after another, always driving the Afghans up the hill -with bullet, bayonet, and _kukri_, until at last the enemy's final -defence was taken. It was in this battle that an incident occurred -which shows, not only the Gurkha's quality, but his primitive methods -of revenge--which methods, needless to say, are now somewhat modified. -Towards the close of the uphill battle, when the enemy was in full -retreat, a single Gurkha, in advance of his fellows, had just shot -one of the Afghans, when two of them suddenly sprang up from behind a -rock near by. They were Afghan hillmen--fanatics pledged in the name -of Allah to the last drop of blood for Islam. They shared the belief, -common among Orientals, that death under this pledge was the entrance -to Paradise, where the houris are born of pure musk. With a spring one -of them fiercely plunged his dagger into the unfortunate Gurkha, while -the other with a sweep of his tulwar clove the head of the dying man. -Swift as was this passage of arms, still swifter came the retribution. -Lieut. Gordon of the 92nd Foot despatched one of the hillmen, and the -other immediately fell, riddled by Gurkha bullets. With a ferocious cry -the Gurkhas swept down upon the two stricken hillmen, and with their -terrible _kukris_ hewed them in pieces. But as the time of Samuel and -Agag has departed, so has this primitive lust of revenge been gradually -modified in the Gurkha by his association with the humanity of the West. - -The Gurkhas were in the famous march of General Roberts on Kandahar, -which immediately followed the battle of Sijazabad. It was towards the -end of this march that the Gurkhas and the 92nd Gordon Highlanders -made an attack on the little village of Gundi-Moolah-Sahibdad. In this -memorable assault the Gurkhas and the Gordons almost strove with one -another for the _kudos_ of the victory. But the _kudos_ may easily be -said to belong to them jointly. And in recognition of this the Gordon -loves to talk about his little comrade-in-arms, while the Gurkha -worships the Gordon to such a degree that he would lay down his life -for him. - -The Afghan strife closed--let us hope for ever--with the battle -of Kandahar. This conclusive fight stands in history as a signal -tribute to the tenacity of the British soldier in general, and to the -generalship, since tried and proved and never found wanting, of Lord -Roberts. Says a historian, "It was remarkable for the generalship and -cool judgment Roberts had shown, and also for the courage displayed by -his troops.... On every occasion we were far outnumbered by the enemy, -who were equal to our men in physical strength, and armed with nearly -the same weapons; but Roberts trusted to the courage of his slender -army and to its perfect discipline, which were conspicuous alike in -the savage defiles of the Kurram Valley, on the rocky heights of the -Peiwar Kotal and the Spingawi Pass, in the lines of Sherpur, and on the -splintered bluffs of Asmai." - -The Kandahar Field Force was disbanded in September, 1880, and -Roberts' last act before returning to India was to distribute -distinguished-service medals to the 72nd and 92nd Highlanders and -the 5th Gurkhas. These are his words on that occasion, and no doubt -every Gurkha at the front to-day has them, or their translation, -in his memory, for they have, more than anything else, confirmed -and ratified a brotherhood-in-arms between the Gurkhas and the -Highlanders:--"Soldiers of the Kandahar Field Force, I am glad to have -this opportunity of giving medals for distinguished conduct to the -men of the 72nd and 92nd Highlanders and the 5th Gurkhas. They have -deservedly won them. I say from my experience as a soldier that no men -with whom I have served can have better deserved these rewards; and -it is an additional pleasure to me to have seen the other day of what -material my Highlanders and Gurkhas are made. I can but hope it may -be my good fortune to have such good soldiers at my side when next I -go into action.... You may be assured that the very last troops the -Afghans ever wish to meet in the field are the Scottish Highlanders and -the Gurkhas." - -After this, from one who is now a veteran of England, who can doubt -that, as the Gurkhas marched towards the front, their hearts went -before them to their big brothers of former frays, with the hope that -they would be in close touch in the battle line? - - -THE GURKHA REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - -The following is a complete list of the ten Gurkha Regiments (each -composed of two battalions), with their Battle Honours, etc.:-- - - -1ST KING GEORGE'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES (The Malaun Regiment). - -Raised at Subathu in 1815, chiefly from Gurkha soldiers of Amar Singh, -by Lieut. R. Ross. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Bhurtpore," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," "Afghanistan -'78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _scarlet_. - - -2ND KING EDWARD'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES (The Sirmoor Rifles). - -Raised at Nahau (Sirmoor) in 1815, by Lieut. F. Young, from Gurkha -soldiers, who took service with the British on the termination of the -first phase of the Nepal war. Granted a truncheon for distinguished -service at Delhi, 1857. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher of Edward VII. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Bhurtpore," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," "Delhi," "Kabul -'79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _scarlet_. - - -3RD QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised at Almora in 1815, by Lieut. Sir R. Colquhoun, Bart., from -Gurkha soldiers, who took service with the British after the fall of -Malaun and the conquest of Kamaon; supplemented by transfers from the -Gorakhpur Hill Regiment, and originally designated the Kamaon Battalion. - -BADGE.--The Cypher of Queen Alexandra. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Burma -'85/87," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -4TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised in 1857, by Lieut. D. Macintyre, as an extra Gurkha regiment. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Ali Masjid," "Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah," "China -1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -5TH GURKHA RIFLES (Frontier Force). - -Raised at Abbotabad in 1858, by Capt. H.M.F. Boisragon, as the 25th -Punjab Infantry, or Hazara Gurkha Battalion. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," "Kabul '79," "Kandahar -'80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -6TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised at Chanbiaganj (Cuttack) in 1817, by Capt. S. Fraser, as -the Cuttack Legion. Subsequently the 42nd Gurkha Rifles. Present -designation, 1903. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -7TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised at Thayetmyo in 1902, by Major E. Vansittart, as the 8th Gurkha -Rifles; became 2nd Battalion of the 10th Gurkha Rifles in 1903. Present -designation, 1907. - -_Col._--Field-Marshal H.H. Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum. - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -8TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised at Sylhet in 1824, by Capt. P. Dudgeon, as the 16th or Sylhet -Local Battalion; 1st Battalion was subsequently known as the 44th, 2nd -Battalion as the 43rd. Present designation, 1903. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -9TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised at Fategarh in 1817, by Major C.F. Fagan. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Bhurtpore," "Sobraon," "Afghanistan '79/80," "Punjab -Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - - -10TH GURKHA RIFLES. - -Raised in 1890, by Lt.-Col. C.R. Macgregor, from the Kubo Valley -Police Battalion, and originally known as the 10th Regiment of Burma -Infantry.[1] Present designation, 1903. - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _black_. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: It is a singular fact that the old 10th Madras Infantry -(1st Burma-Gurkha Rifles), raised in 1766, bore the honours "Carnatic," -"Mysore," "Amboor," "Assaye," "Ava," "Burma '85/87," and in 1900 Capt. -J. Henegan was a wing commander. He is now, at the time of writing, -Lieut.-Col. commanding the 1st Battalion of the present 10th Gurkha -Rifles. - -Another peculiar point will recommend itself to military students. In -"Whitaker's Naval and Military Directory" of 1899 and 1900 the 17th and -19th regiments of Madras Infantry are given, but the 18th regiment is -omitted. This, however, is not the only instance of the kind. As in the -case of our 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers there have been certain regiments -that have disappeared for a time from the Army List, the numbers of the -others remaining unaltered.] - - - - -THE DOGRAS - - -There is some little doubt about the derivation of the word "Dogra." -Some say it is derived from the Indian word "dogur" or "dugur," meaning -"hill" or "mountain," and that the Dogra country is so called because -the whole of it is more or less mountainous. Others maintain that -the origin of the name is found in two Sanscrit words, "do," meaning -"two," and "girath," meaning "lake," there being two small lakes of -great beauty known as Man Sur and Sardin Sur. The first derivation is -most probably the correct one, for it is a matter of history that the -pioneer Rajputs, who left the plains to make their home in the hills to -found the Dogra principalities, styled themselves Dogras, or Hillmen, -as distinguished from men of the plains. - -The district of Dogra lies between the rivers Chenab and Sutlej, -including all the hills and valleys on the slopes of the Western -Himalayas. - -The Dogra is a shy, reserved man, with considerable strength of -character. He may not be so brilliant as the Pathan, nor so tenacious -and subtle as the Gurkha, but he has a high idea of honour, is very -self-respecting, and makes a capital soldier. Since he is always -ready to cast aside his social prejudices he affords recruiting -officers little trouble. The virtues of this solid, quiet, resolute, -reliable man are seen in moments of peril, when, without any boasting -or striking of attitudes, he will face certain death with a calm -determination to do before he dies. - -From the above description it will be gathered that the Dogra is -simple-minded and generous, capable of the highest loyalty, and a -complete stranger to anything like treachery or cruel barbarity. It is -through the combination of all these qualities that the Dogras as a -race have justly earned, and faithfully maintained, the reputation of -being among the best fighting material to be found in India. - -The Dogra's physique is not so fine as that of the Pathan or Sikh. -He is a man of average height, somewhat sparely built, with fine, -sensitive features. His complexion is fair, though not as fair as that -of the Todas. - -The Dogras are very particular in all matters relating to food and -drink. They are keen sportsmen, and in rifle-shooting they maintain a -fair standard of excellence. Hawking and snaring birds are favourite -pastimes among them, and even such games as tip-cat, leap-frog, and -hop-scotch are not unknown to them. - -This brave and loyal race were faithful to us during the Mutiny, and -their services at the siege of Delhi were invaluable; but as early as -1849 their soldierly qualities had been recognised, for it was at that -time that the Government enlisted great numbers of them in the Punjab -Frontier Force. The reason of this lay chiefly in their military value, -although it was at the same time evident that they would be useful to -balance the influence of the Sikhs, who were still imbued with Khalsa -traditions. - -The 2nd Sikh Infantry, raised at Kangra in 1846, consisted entirely of -Dogras. This was the regiment that ratified its loyalty by assisting to -quell a rebellion of its own countrymen. Later, in the second Afghan -war, this same regiment, the majority still being Dogras, fought -gallantly at the battle of Ahmad Khel. Indeed, there was a moment in -this battle when victory or defeat depended entirely on this regiment. -At this critical juncture it behaved splendidly, and disaster was -averted. - - -THE DOGRA REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - - -_Company Regiments--Cavalry_ - -It must be borne in mind that Company Regiments are those which contain -squadrons or companies of different native classes. The following -regiments of Indian Cavalry contain Dogras in the proportions given: - - -_7th Hariana Lancers_, one squadron. - -_9th Hodson's Horse_, half a squadron. - -_10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers_ (Hodson's Horse), one squadron. - -_11th King Edward's Own Lancers_ (Probyn's Horse), one squadron. - -_12th Cavalry_, one squadron. - -_13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers_ (Watson's Horse), one squadron. - -_16th Cavalry_, one squadron. - -_19th Lancers_ (Fane's Horse), half a squadron. - -_21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry_ (Frontier Force) (Daly's -Horse), half a squadron. - -_23rd Cavalry_ (Frontier Force), half a squadron. - -_25th Cavalry_ (Frontier Force), one squadron. - - -_Class Regiments--Infantry_ - - -37TH DOGRAS. Raised 1858, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887. - -Comprises 8 companies of Dogras. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -38TH DOGRAS. Raised 1858. - -Comprises 8 companies of Dogras. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -41ST DOGRAS. Raised 1900. - -Comprises 8 companies of Dogras. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - - - -THE BALUCHIS - - -The Baluchis are said to come of Arab stock. Their legends and -traditions attribute their origin to Hamzah, an Arab of the Koreish -tribe, which claimed the honour of including the prophet Mahomet as -one of its number. Mahomet is said to have been Hamzah's nephew. -Notwithstanding the fact that some Mahomedan peoples are in the habit -of employing elaborate fiction in their claims to close connection with -their prophet, it still remains that there is much evidence in favour -of the general tradition existing among the Baluchis as to their Arab -origin. - -The traditional Hamzah, progenitor of the Baluchi race, is regarded -as one of the most important of the early Mahomedan chiefs. He is -pictured as a mighty warrior, a man of Herculean strength and high -courage; hence his romantic and classical sobriquet, "Lion of God." The -tradition runs that Hamzah was killed at the battle of Ohod in 625 A.D. -His descendants and adherents settled about Aleppo, whence they were -driven by Yezid, son and successor of Muavia, and first Omeyeid Kalif. -It seems that the reason for this expulsion was that Hamzah and his -tribe had given assistance to Hössein, grandson of the prophet, in his -attempt to oust Yezid from the position which he had occupied. - -Being driven forth into the desert, the tribe migrated eastward as -far as Persia, where, as pastoral nomads, they wandered and lived and -multiplied to such an extent as to cause considerable alarm to the -Persian monarch. It is to this sojourn that the Baluchis attribute -their obvious admixture of Persian blood and characteristics. As their -rapid increase in numbers promised trouble to the Persian kingdom, -steps were taken to expel them, and they ultimately descended into an -uninhabited tract south-east of Mekran--a country to which no one laid -any definite claim. From this point they gradually spread over the -whole of the country now known as Baluchistan, driving before them all -the peoples who had so far emigrated to that region. It will be seen -from this that the probabilities are decidedly in favour of the Arab -origin of the Baluchis. Yet it has been contended by some that they are -a race of Turkish stock, since certain of their rites and customs seem -to be drawn from that source; nevertheless it is more probable, from -all the available facts, that the Turcoman and Persian characteristics -and survivals are merely the result of a temporary admixture. - -Very little is known of the early history of the warlike Baluchis -beyond what can be drawn from tradition, unsupported by any written -historical records. One of their chief traditions is that Jalal Khan, -who led them out of Persia, had four sons, named Rind, Hot, Lashari, -and Korai; and a daughter named Jato. At the present day there are five -distinct tribes which still bear the names of these five children of -Jalal Khan; but of these tribes the Rind and Lashari soon acquired, by -reason of their superior force of character, a predominant influence, -so that, as the people multiplied and split up into an ever-increasing -number of tribes, all these fell under the domination of the Rind or -the Lashari. Gradually in this way all the Baluchi race came to be -divided under two great heads, the Rind and the Lashari--a division -which has been determined, not by descent, but by political sympathy. - -The Rind division possess a great traditional hero, Mir Chakar, who -is supposed to have lived in the sixteenth century, and to have been -a powerful dependent of the Moghul Emperor Humayun, giving him great -assistance in his re-conquest of the Delhi throne. In return for this -Humayun bestowed upon Mir Chakar a large tract of land on the frontier, -and it is more than probable that the Baluchis' settlements on the -southern frontier were founded in this way. - -The Lashari faction also had their traditional hero, Mir Gwahram Khan, -of whom many stories of heroism are recorded. His name has still a -sound of glory for the Lasharis. - -The Baluchis follow the Mahomedan religion, but, like the Gurkhas, they -are not religious by nature, preferring practical pursuits and tangible -material ideals, chief among which is war. It is not that they are less -bigoted than many of the other races, but rather that they are more -practical. Their language is a rude and far-off dialect of the early -Persians, and they have no form of written literature. - -Although the Baluchi differs greatly from the Pathan in the matter -of religion, there are many points in common in regard to social -character. The Baluchi has the manly, frank, brave, strong nature of -the Pathan, with a fund of patience rendering him capable of enduring -endless hardship, and a fine dignified carriage and physique combined -with a spirit of quick daring and sudden ferocity; to these qualities -he adds the virtues of truth, fidelity, and simple generosity. His -condemnation of servility, insolence, deceit, and treachery in many -tribes is indicative of his character. His wild, free, open-air life, -combined with the artificial restraints of civilisation, has given him -a bold and resolute air of vigour and self-reliance. It redounds to his -fundamental integrity to find still existing in Baluchistan a kind -of altar or sacred stone--"a stone or cairn of cursing--erected as a -perpetual memorial to the treachery of one who betrayed his fellow." -His chivalry is superior to that of some more cultured races, for, -wild as he is, he will not harm the women and children even of his -bitterest foe. Yet his moral code allows him to plunder and to loot -on a wholesale scale. But set against this is his strong adherence to -discipline, a quality which has developed more and more during his -closer touch with the British. - -If a Baluchi were allowed his own choice of weapons in any fight -whatever, his immediate selection would be a long knife, a sword, -and a shield. He has never found any material use for the matchlock, -which has always been so dear to the heart of the Pathan. He is a -born knifer, and loves to kill at close quarters--a fact based upon -the primitive blood-thirstiness of his nature, "blood for blood" -being his motto. The tales of the Baluchi's prodigal hospitality to -a stranger within his gates, and then waylaying and murdering him on -his departure, must be discredited in these days, when these fierce -instincts have been turned into worthier channels. Nor should any -credence be accorded to such stories of degradation as picture him -the habitué of the opium, hemp, and gambling dens; for, though he -may have been prone to wild excesses, recent years have seen nobler -ambitions placed before him, and certainly those Baluchis now showing -their loyalty and love for Britain and the right on the battlefields -of Europe are not of the class of whom these stories have been told. -A word of praise must be given to the Baluchi's horse, which he rides -as if it were a part of him. Baluchistan produces some of the finest -horses in the world. - - -THE BALUCHI REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS - - -_Cavalry_ - - -37TH LANCERS. (Baluch Horse.) Raised 1885. - -Class Squadron Regiment. 2 squadrons Derajat Mussalmans (including -Baluchis), 1 squadron Pathans, 1 squadron Sikhs. - -UNIFORM.--_Khaki serge_, facings _buff_. (No service.) - -[Illustration: WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.] - - -_Infantry_ - - -126TH BALUCHISTAN INFANTRY. Raised 1825. - -Class Company Regiment. 2 companies Hazaras, 1 company Khattacks, 1 -company Waziris, 2 companies Baluchis and Brahmans, 2 companies Sikhs -and other Jat Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Persia," "Khooshab," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_ (_red serge trousers_), facings _scarlet_. - - -127TH QUEEN MARY'S OWN BALUCH LIGHT INFANTRY. Raised 1844. - -Class Company Regiment. 4 companies Pathans, 2 companies Hill Baluchis, -2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BADGE.--In each of the four corners the Cypher of Queen Mary. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Abyssinia," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Burma -1885," "British East Africa 1897/99." - -UNIFORM.-_Green_ (_red serge trousers_), facings _scarlet_. - - -129TH DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S OWN BALUCHIS. Raised 1846. - -Class Company Regiment. 4 companies North-west Frontier Pathans, 2 -companies Hill Baluchis, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Persia," "Reshire," "Bushire," "Khooshab," "Kandahar -1880," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Egypt 1882," "Tel-el-Kebir." - -UNIFORM.--_Green_ (_red serge trousers_), facings _scarlet_. - - -_130TH KING GEORGE'S OWN BALUCHIS._ (Jacob's Rifles.) Raised 1858. - -Class Company Regiment. 3 companies Pathans, 2 companies Mahsuds, 3 -companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan 1878/80," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Green_ (_red serge trousers_), facings _scarlet_. - - - - -THE BATTLES OF THE GOLDEN DAGON PAGODA - -(Burmese War, 1824) - - -Diminished by sickness and death, brought on by hard service during -an inclement season, by defective provisions, and by the ordinary -casualties of war, Sir Archibald Campbell's forces at Rangoon were -greatly weakened. But the opportune arrival of the 89th British -Regiment from Madras, and of parts of two detachments which had subdued -the islands of Cheduba and Negrais, raised the effective strength just -at the critical moment. By the end of June, 1824, the Burmese in this -quarter appeared to have somewhat recovered from their defeats at our -hands. Chiefs of the highest fame, who, until they came in contact with -our troops, had always been victorious, were sent down the Irawaddi -from Ava and from Prome, with orders to slay or torture and mutilate -every Burmese soldier that did not fight to the utmost; and one of the -brightest of golden umbrellas, Sykya Wongee, minister of state, was -appointed commander-in-chief, with positive commands from the Golden -Foot to attack and drive the British at once into the sea. Following -this, on the first day of July, all the woods in Sir Archibald's front -exhibited bustle and commotion; 8,000 men had crossed to the Rangoon -side of the river; the jungles around all seemed animated; clouds of -rising smoke marked the encampments of the different corps of the -Burmese army in the forest; and their noisy preparations for attack -formed a striking contrast to the still and quiet of our readiness. - -Golden Dagon Pagoda was the key of the British position. This splendid -edifice, in itself a fortress, is a little over two miles from the town -of Rangoon. In shape it resembles an inverted speaking-trumpet; it is -338 feet high, and is surmounted by a cap made of brass, 45 feet high; -the whole is richly gilded. The base of this pagoda is a conical hill, -flat at the top, and rising about 75 feet above the road. - -In the neighbourhood of this gorgeous building Sir Archibald Campbell -placed a whole battalion of British troops. The two roads running -from the pagoda to the town were occupied by our forces, native and -European. The minor pagodas, bronze houses, and pilgrims' houses -along these two roads afforded good shelter to the troops against the -stormy weather, and some further shelter from the attack of an enemy -whose artillery was somewhat light. Two detached posts completed our -position--one at the village of Puzendown, about a mile below the town, -where the Pegu and Rangoon rivers meet; the other at Kemmendine, about -three miles above the town; this second post being chiefly intended to -protect our shipping against the descent of the enemy's fire-rafts. - -On the morning of July 1st the enemy issued in dense masses from the -jungle to the right and front of the Golden Dagon Pagoda. Detaching to -their left a column, which succeeded in setting fire to part of the -village of Puzendown, their main body came boldly up to within half -a mile of Rangoon, and commenced a spirited attack upon part of our -line. But two field-pieces, served with grape and shrapnel, presently -checked their advance, and then a brilliant charge by the 43rd Madras -Native Infantry put them all to flight. In a very few minutes not a man -could be seen of the Burmese host, except the killed and wounded; nor -could anything be heard of them except a wild screaming of baffled fury -coming from the depths of the forest. - -Their defeated commander was brought to book by the Golden Foot, and -degraded. Then a still higher minister of state, named Soomba Wongee, -who had arrived with reinforcements, took the command, and commenced -stockading his army in the most difficult and intricate part of -the forest, at Kummeroot, about five miles from the Great Pagoda, -intending, chiefly under cover of night, to carry on such a system -of desultory warfare as would harass, and ultimately destroy, our -sickly, worn-out soldiers. He also fortified a commanding point on -the river about Kemmendine, in communication with his stockaded camp, -hoping by this means not only to obstruct the navigation of the river, -but also to construct and employ numerous fire-rafts. But this new -commander-in-chief had scarcely finished his works when he was driven -from them with a terrible slaughter. - -It was on July 8th that Sir Archibald Campbell embarked with one column -for the attack of the position upon the river, and Brigadier-General -MacBean, with a land column, marched upon the forest stockades at -Kummeroot. The works on the river were found to be so formidable that -it was judged necessary to employ breaching vessels; accordingly a brig -and three Company's cruisers, manned by seamen of his Majesty's and -the Company's navy, under the superintendence of Captain Marryat, soon -opened a heavy cannonade and silenced the enemy's guns. Our troops then -pushed across the river in boats, entered the practicable breach which -the firing of our seamen had made, and carried all those works with -comparatively trifling loss. The Burmese suffered severely in killed, -and many of them were drowned in trying to escape across the river. - -The operations of the land column, under MacBean, were equally -successful. It was unprovided with artillery; but the storming parties, -who escaladed stockade after stockade, consisted entirely of British -troops. Here, again, the slaughter was dreadful. Soomba Wongee, and -several chiefs of high rank, with 800 men, were killed within the -stockades; and the neighbouring jungles were filled with the unhappy -creatures who were wounded, and left to die from want of food and care. -Some of these poor Burmese were found by the English soldiers, and -brought into our hospitals; but, unfortunately, none of them recovered. -The monsoon rains were now at their height. The adjacent country -was almost wholly under water. Nothing was to be obtained from it. -Again, disease spread so rapidly among our troops that the outlook was -desperate. - -Meanwhile an Expeditionary Force, consisting of his Majesty's 89th -Regiment and the 7th Madras Native Infantry, under the command of -Colonel Miles, was detached from Rangoon, with a considerable naval -force, to subdue the maritime possessions of his Burmese Majesty to -the eastward, in the hope that their loss might induce him to sue for -peace. The success of the expedition was complete: Tavoy surrendered. -Mergui was taken by storm, and British protection was welcomed by the -inhabitants of the entire coast of Tenasserim. - -Some few weeks later Sir Archibald Campbell attempted to release such -of the inhabitants of Rangoon as were desirous of returning to their -houses; and, by means of the sudden, unexpected, and, to the natives, -inexplicable movement of our steamboats, a few families who had been -driven to the villages at the heads of the numerous creeks which branch -off from the Rangoon river were released from their guard, and joyfully -took the opportunity of returning to their city. It was to the report -of these people of the kind treatment they met with that our army was -afterwards indebted for the return of the great body of the men whose -services and exertions contributed to the final success of the war. - -Having, so far, failed in all his undertakings, the Lord of the White -Elephant now sent his two brothers, the Prince of Tonghoo and the -Prince of Sarrawaddy, with a whole host of astrologers and a corps of -"Invulnerables," to join the army and to direct the future operations -of the war. The astrologers were to fix the lucky moment for attacking; -the "Invulnerables" had some points of resemblance to the Turkish -Delhis; they were the desperadoes, or madmen, of the army, and their -madness was kept up by enormous doses of opium. The corps consisted of -several thousand men, divided into classes; the most select band of all -being called the "King's Own Invulnerables." - -The Prince of Tonghoo established his headquarters at Pegu, and the -Prince of Sarrawaddy took post at Donoopew, upon the great river, about -sixty miles from Rangoon. In the beginning of August the Prince of -Sarrawaddy sent down a force to occupy a strong post at the mouth of -the Pegu River, a few miles below Rangoon, giving his people strict -orders to block up the channel of the river in our rear, so that not -one of the "wild foreigners" or "captive strangers" might escape the -punishment that was about to fall upon them. Brigadier Smelt was at -once sent, with a small corps, to dislodge Sarrawaddy's force. Our land -troops were brought to a standstill, when within musket-shot of the -place, by a deep and impassable creek; but a party of sailors from his -Majesty's ship _Larne_, under Captain Marryat, threw a bridge over the -creek; and, as soon as the column of attack pushed forward, the enemy -began to fly, leaving eight guns and a quantity of ammunition in their -stockade. A strong pagoda, with a numerous garrison, and with cannons -pointing down every approach, was next carried with equal facility. -Other posts on the rivers and creeks were then attacked and taken. Such -of the enemy as had had any experience of our way of fighting seldom -stopped to fight in their stockades; but a new set of people from the -interior made a good stand in a succession of stockades on one of the -rivers, and cost us the loss of a good many brave men. - -All this time the astrologers were busy casting the lucky moment. -Finally they told the Prince of Sarrawaddy that the moment had come -for a decisive action; and, on the night of August 30th, a body of the -"King's Own Invulnerables" promised to attack and carry the Golden -Dagon Pagoda, in order that the princes and the sages and pious men in -their train might celebrate the usual annual festival in that sacred -place--which was now crowded with English grenadiers. And, true so -far to their promise, the "Invulnerables," at the hour of midnight, -rushed in a compact body from the jungle under the pagoda armed with -swords and muskets. A small picquet, thrown out in our front, retired -in slow and steady order, skirmishing with the "Invulnerables" until -they reached the flight of steps leading from the road up to the -pagoda. The moon had gone down, and the night was so dark that the -enemy could be distinguished only by a few glimmering lanterns in their -front; but their noise and clamour and the volume of their threats -and imprecations launched upon the impious strangers if they did not -immediately evacuate the sacred temple proved their number to be very -great. - -"In a dense column," says the historian, "they rolled along the narrow -pathway leading to the northern gate of the pagoda, wherein all seemed -as silent as the grave. But hark! the muskets crash, the cannons roar -along the ramparts of the British post, drowning the tumult of the -advancing column; and see!--see by the flash of our guns, the column -reels back, the 'Invulnerables' fall, mortally wounded, and the rest -turn their backs on the holy place, and run with frantic speed for the -covering of the jungle." - -Our grape-shot and our musketry broke the spell--those "Invulnerables" -ventured no more near any of our posts. But a far more terrible enemy -came within the lines; the dysentery broke out among our troops, -killing many of them, and reducing more to a most emaciated and feeble -state. Scarcely three thousand duty soldiers were left to guard the -lines. Floating hospitals were established at the mouth of the river; -and bread was now furnished in sufficient quantities, but nothing -except change of season or of climate could restore the sufferers to -health. Mergui and Tavoy, portions of our conquest on the sea-coast, -were represented by the medical officers who visited them as admirable -convalescent stations; and thither a number of our soldiers were sent, -and with the most beneficial result. Men who had for months continued -in a most debilitated state at Rangoon, rapidly recovered on arriving -at Mergui, and were soon restored to their duty in full health. - -The Lord of the White Elephant now determined to call down from -the mountains of Arracan his prime favourite, and to carry off the -Governor-General in golden chains. Bandula obeyed the call, and led his -reinforced army from the mountains of Arracan to the Irawaddi river. -He had begun his march about the end of August, at a season of the -year when none but Burmese could have kept the field for a week, much -less have attempted to pass the unhealthy jungles and the pestilential -marshes of the country. The distance, by the shortest route, was more -than 200 miles; but Bandula, gathering fresh forces in the latter part -of his long march, reached Donoopew before Sir Archibald Campbell knew -that he had left Arracan. Happily, our troops, though woefully reduced -in numbers, were now fast recovering their health and strength; and two -fresh British regiments, some battalions of native infantry, a regiment -of cavalry, and a troop of horse artillery arrived from Calcutta and -Madras, together with some admirable trotting cattle of the true Mysore -breed. Five hundred native boatmen came round from Chittagong, and were -busily employed in preparing boats for river service. - -The rains had now ceased at Rangoon; and Sir Archibald Campbell, -strongly reinforced, was completing his preparations for the ascent -of the Irawaddi, and for an attack upon Prome, when he learned that -Bandula had reached Donoopew with 60,000 fighting men, a considerable -train of artillery, and a body of Cassay horse, the best cavalry in -this part of Asia. Bandula's musketeers were estimated at 35,000 men. -Other numerous bodies were armed with gingals, which carried an iron -ball of from six to twelve ounces, and were mounted on a light carriage -easily dragged about by two men; and great numbers were attached to -the guns which were transported on the backs of elephants. The rest of -the host were armed with swords and spears, and scattered through the -army were more of the "Invulnerables" who had not yet tasted the sour -grape of English guns, and who were amply provided with charms, spells, -opium, bhang, and betel-nuts. As Bandula proclaimed on all sides his -intention of riding at the head of his invincible army, with horses and -elephants and all manner of warlike stores, to capture and destroy the -British at Rangoon, it was deemed proper to wait for him there with a -view to a decisive battle. - -The enemy came down to the neighbourhood of Rangoon in boats. Our -posts, consisting of redoubts and fortified pagodas, were speedily -constructed, connecting the great Golden Dagon Pagoda by two distinct -lines with Rangoon and the river, and leaving a disposable force for -moving to the support of any point that might require such support. The -post at Kemmendine was also strongly occupied, and was supported on -the river by his Majesty's sloop _Sophie_, Captain Ryves, a Company's -cruiser, and a strong division of gunboats. - -On November 30th Bandula's great army assembled in and behind the -dense forest; and his line, extending from the river above Kemmendine -in a semicircular direction towards Puzendown, might be distinguished -by a curved line of smoke rising above the trees. During the ensuing -night the low, continuous murmur and hum of voices proceeding from the -enemy's encampment suddenly ceased, and were speedily succeeded by -the distant but gradually approaching sounds of a multitude in slow -and stealthy movement through the woods. Our troops soon became aware -that the enemy's masses had approached to the very edge of the jungle, -within musket-shot of the pagoda, apparently in readiness to rush from -their cover to the assault at the break of day. - -The day had scarcely dawned on December 1st when hostilities commenced -with a heavy fire of musketry and cannon at Kemmendine, the reduction -of that place being a preliminary to any general attack upon our -line. The firing continued long and brisk, and from their commanding -situation at the Great Pagoda, though nearly two miles distant from the -scene of action, our men could distinctly hear the yells and shouts of -the infuriated assailants, occasionally returned by the hearty cheer of -the British seamen as they poured in their heavy broadsides upon the -resolute and persevering masses. The thick forest which separated us -from the river shut out all sight of what was going forward; and, when -the firing ceased, we remained. There was a short period of anxiety, -though little doubt as to the result of the long and spirited assault. -At length, however, the thick canopy of smoke which lowered over the -fierce and sanguinary conflict gradually dissolved, and there could -be seen the masts of the vessels lying at their old station off the -fort--a convincing proof that all had ended well on that side. - -Meanwhile the enemy had been seen on the west side of the river, -marching across the plains of Dalla towards Rangoon. They were formed -in five or six different divisions, and moved with great regularity, -led by numerous chiefs on horse-back--their gilt umbrellas glittering -in the rays of the sun--with a sufficiently formidable and imposing -effect. Opposite Rangoon the leading column of five or six Burmese -divisions began entrenching and throwing up batteries, while their main -body was stockading in the jungle. In the course of the day several -heavy columns issued from the forest, and successively took up their -ground along a woody ridge, gently sloping towards Rangoon. Here they -commenced operations with their entrenching tools, and with such -activity and good will that in the course of a couple of hours their -whole line was covered; their flags and banners, which had been flying -in profusion, all disappeared, and nothing was seen but a parapet of -fresh-turned earth, gradually increasing in height. The moving masses, -which had so very lately attracted anxious attention, had sunk into -the ground; and, by anyone who had not witnessed the whole scene, the -existence of these subterranean legions would not have been credited. -The occasional movement of a chief with his gilt umbrella from place to -place, superintending the progress of their labour, was the only thing -that now attracted notice. By a distant observer the hills, covered -with mounds of earth, would have been taken for anything rather than -the approaches of an attacking army. Even to those who had watched the -whole strange proceeding, it seemed the work of magic or enchantment. -But, thus working like moles in the earth, the Burmese could no more -see than they could be seen; and, in the afternoon, Major Sale, with -his Majesty's 13th Regiment and a regiment of Madras Native Infantry, -moving rapidly forward upon the busily employed and too confident -enemy, fell upon them before they were well aware of the visit, and -drove the whole line from their earthworks with considerable loss. - -These Burmese trenches were found to be a succession of holes, capable -of containing two men each, and excavated so as to afford shelter both -from the weather and the fire of any enemy; even a shell lighting in -the trench could at most kill but two men. As it was not the Burmese -system to relieve their troops in making these approaches, each hole -contained a sufficient supply of rice, water, and even fuel for its -inmates; and under the excavated bank a bed of straw or brushwood was -prepared, in which one man could sleep while his comrade watched. When -one line of trench was completed, its occupiers, taking advantage -of the night, would push forward to where the second line was to be -opened, their places being immediately taken up by fresh troops from -the rear, and so on, progressively. The Burmese understood this art of -warfare, but our men--especially our Native Infantry--also understood -that art, and the enemy's weaknesses as well. - -Attacks were made on Kemmendine that day and were all repulsed by our -troops or by the seamen of our little flotilla. But it was not until -night that the Burmese made their last desperate effort to open their -way down the river, and so get possession of the port of Rangoon. -The soldiers had lain down to rest, when suddenly the heavens and -the whole surrounding country became brilliantly illuminated. The -enemy had launched their fire-rafts into the stream with the first -of the ebb-tide, and had now applied the match to those huge masses -of combustible materials, in the hope of driving the _Sophie_ and -our other vessels from their stations off Kemmendine; and as these -fire-rafts came down, it was seen by the light of their flames that -they were followed by a vast fleet of war-boats, whose crew were ready -to take advantage of the confusion which might ensue if any of our -vessels should be set on fire. As the rafts floated rapidly down to -Kemmendine with the ebbing tide, columns of attack moved once more by -land against that well-defended post, with artillery, gingals, and -musketry. - -But the skill and intrepidity of British seamen proved more than a -match for the numbers and devices of the Burmese; after gazing for -a while at the red, blue, yellow and green flames of the mighty -fireworks, our sailors leapt into their boats, pushed off to meet the -flaming rafts, secured them with their grappling irons, and conducted -them safely past our shipping or ran them ashore to finish their short -but vivid life of fire and flame upon the river bank without injury to -anyone. If these fire-rafts could have reached the harbour of Rangoon, -which was now crowded with transports and vessels of all kinds, the -effect might have been very tragic; but the British tars said that none -should pass Kemmendine Point, and none did pass. Kemmendine, where -the river makes a sudden turn, was the only point from which the rafts -could have been launched with effect. Fully aware of this, Bandula -ordered attack upon attack to be made, and for seven days no rest by -night or by day was allowed to our troops or to our seamen there. But -every effort of the enemy failed--even their land attack on Kemmendine. - -On December 5th, when the stores of the Burmese left wing were brought -forward from the jungle to their foremost entrenchment in front of -Rangoon, and were fairly within our reach, Sir Archibald Campbell -ordered a decisive attack to be made upon their army. Major Sale, with -one column 800 strong, and a troop of British dragoons, who had only -been landed the preceding day, was directed to fall upon their centre; -and Major Walker, with 500 men, was sent to make a vigorous attack on -their left wing. The operations of these two columns of troops were -greatly facilitated by Captain Chads of the navy, who proceeded up the -Creek to a point within gunshot of the rear of the enemy's line, with -the man-of-war boats and a part of the flotilla, and began a heavy -cannonade which distracted the attention of the Burmese and prevented -their strengthening their front. Our two columns broke through the -entrenchments, and completely routed both the centre and the left with -vigorous bayonet charges; but Major Walker and a good many of his -gallant comrades fell. The loss of the Burmese was appalling; they were -driven from every part of their works into the jungle, leaving the -ground behind them covered with dead and wounded, with all their guns, -entrenching tools, gilt umbrellas, and a great number of small arms. On -December 6th, Bandula tried to rally his defeated troops, and with some -success. On the 7th the Burmese made their last and grand attack on the -Great Pagoda, but they were beaten, driven back to their entrenchments -by the British bayonet, and finally into the depths of the jungle. - -Our troops at that post, worn out by seven days and nights of incessant -fighting and watching, could not pursue the flying enemy, who left in -the trenches a great number of dead--nearly all stout, tall, athletic -fellows, who might almost have measured with English grenadiers, -and who had evidently belonged to the flower of Bandula's army. -During these seven busy and fiery days the Burmese, in addition to a -prodigious loss of life, had lost every gun and their entire stores. -The survivors fled towards Donoopew, but they were stopped in their -flight by some great and terrible chiefs, who had been sent down with -numerous reinforcements, and they rallied at Kokeen, about four miles -beyond the Great Pagoda. - -It is said that when Bandula counted his forces he found them reduced -from more than 60,000 fighting men to less than 25,000. Nevertheless, -this favourite of the Lord of the White Elephant was allowed to retain -the chief command. His first move was to entrench and stockade himself -at Kokeen, after which he employed incendiaries to burn the invaders -out of Rangoon, and destroy all their stores and powder magazines. -On the night of December 12th the cry of fire resounded through the -town of Rangoon, and nearly the whole of that flimsy, bamboo-built -place seemed to be immediately in a blaze. The incendiaries had placed -their matches in various parts of the town, and had set fire to them -all the same moment. One half of the town was burned; but the flames -were prevented from reaching our depot of stores and ammunition. This -attempt, which was very nearly successful, brought down a rapid attack -upon Bandula's new position, and defeat and ruin upon himself. On -December 15th--three days after the midnight fire at Rangoon--1,500 -British troops and sepoys, unaided by artillery, under the command of -Brigadier-General Willoughby Cotton, drove Bandula and his mighty host -from all their entrenchments and stockades at Kokeen, and strewed the -position with his dead in thousands. - - - - -BHURTPORE - -(1826) - - -If any fortress in India could have been with good reason called -impregnable, that fortress was Bhurtpore. In the early years of the -nineteenth century the chiefs and rajahs of Hindustan were wont to say, -"Yes, you may bully us, but go and take Bhurtpore!" Their belief in its -impregnability was well founded, for in 1805 Lord Lake had attacked it -vigorously, but had failed to reduce its well-fortified works manned by -staunch and numerous defenders. After suffering terrible losses he was -compelled to withdraw, leaving this Jat fortress with a still stronger -claim to impregnability than it had ever possessed before. - -When it was once decided by the British Government that Bhurtpore must -fall, the question immediately arose, where was the man to take it? The -East India Company Directors interviewed the Duke of Wellington, asking -him to find a man capable of taking this fortress. The Duke gave them -an answer. He said, "You can't do better than have Lord Combermere. -He's the man to take Bhurtpore." "But," replied the directors with -great surprise, "we thought that your Grace had not a very high opinion -of Lord Combermere, and did not consider him a man of genius." "I -don't care a tuppenny damn" (that was the Iron Duke's favourite par of -exchange in hot words) "about his genius. _I tell you he is the man to -take Bhurtpore!_" And the Duke was right. - -There were 25,000 men in the Bhurtpore garrison, and they represented -the most warlike races of India. When Lord Combermere set out with -Bhurtpore as his objective, his army consisted of 30,000 men of -very mixed quality. On reaching the fortress he began with heavy -bombardment. Then for a week he carried forward his siege works, -covered by Gurkha sharpshooters, whose eyes were so keen and whose aim -so sure that no man of the enemy could show his head above the ramparts -with impunity. - -Point after point was won until, at last, a small breach was made by -the artillery; and into this breach Lord Combermere flung a force -in which were included 600 dismounted men from the various cavalry -regiments--eighty from the 11th Light Dragoons, eighty from the 16th -Lancers, 200 from Skinner's Horse, and forty from each regiment of -native cavalry. - -Skinner's Horse is one of the earliest formed of the many distinguished -Native Irregular Cavalry Corps which have fought for Britain. They -had been under Colonel Skinner for many years, and had served him in -many wars; thus they had come to respect and love him as tribesmen do -their chief. There is a touching story of their valour and faithfulness -during the storming of Bhurtpore. A party was told off according to -rota duty, for the whole regiment had volunteered for the dangerous -service. Skinner placed at their head Shadull Khan, one of his oldest, -most faithful, and trustworthy native officers. Then he spoke to them -as follows: "This is the first time you are going into danger when -I cannot accompany you; but such is my affection for you all that I -cannot allow you to part from me without carrying with you something -dear to me." Then, taking his son by the hand--the lad had only lately -entered the corps--he continued: "See, here is my son. Take him and -gain for him such honour as you have won for his father." - -This shows clearly what Colonel Skinner thought of Skinner's Horse, -and also what he knew they thought of him. Old Shadull Khan stepped -forward, and, taking young Skinner by the arm, cried out, "Farewell, -our commander! Trust in God, who never deserts those faithful servants -who do their duty and who, please God, will now do their utmost to -maintain the honour of the corps." - -Although the assault on the breach had been planned, it was postponed -for that day, as on further consideration Lord Combermere deemed it was -not practicable. It took place later, after a great explosion of mines -which the engineers had placed beneath the ramparts. On entering the -widened breach our troops encountered fierce opposition. There was a -hand-to-hand fight of the most desperate description, and it was not -until after some hours of fierce fighting that the enemy surrendered. - -The Iron Duke's words were justified; Lord Combermere had taken -Bhurtpore, and that successful assault on a fortress long regarded -as impregnable was one which yields in brilliancy and courage to few -in the British annals of war. Its beneficial effect on British rule -and influence in India was as striking as its place among battles is -dramatic. - - - - -THE WAR IN SCINDE - -(Meeanee, 1843) - - -"Let there be sixty or a hundred thousand," said Sir Charles Napier, "I -will fight." - -This was when he moved away from the banks of the Indus and found that -an overwhelming force of the enemy was massing in his rear, while -another large force held Meeanee in his front. In the spirit of his -words he pushed forward with 2,600 of all arms, including officers -fit for duty in the field, and the result was the important battle of -Meeanee. - -The positions of the Baluchis were formidable. In the first place they -had a natural ravine in their front. Again, they had 5,000 cavalry and -more than 30,000 infantry, with fifteen guns. Their wings rested on -dense woods which extended on each side of the plain in front for a -considerable distance, so as to flank the British lines on both sides -when it should advance. But, in no mood to be intimidated by these -natural advantages of the enemy, Sir Charles Napier and his little -force fell impetuously on him by the front. The fighting which ensued -was terrific. Our men gradually forced their way across the level -plain, swept as it was by the Baluchi cannon and matchlocks, and -finally crossed the ravine and began the ascent of the high, sloping -bank beyond. - -With matchlocks laid ready in rest along the summit, the Baluchis -waited until the assailants were within twenty yards before they -discharged a volley. But the active British offered an uncertain mark, -and this, combined with the steepness of the declivity, accounted for -the inconsiderable result of their fire. - -Now the 22nd (the Cheshire Regiment) were on the top of the bank, -thinking to bear down all before them, but "they staggered back in -amazement at the forest of swords waving in their front. Thick as -standing corn, and gorgeous as a field of flowers, stood the Baluchis -in their many-coloured garments and turbans; they filled the broad, -deep bed of the ravine, they clustered on both banks, and covered the -plain beyond. Guarding their heads with their large dark shields, they -shook their sharp swords, beaming in the sun, their shouts rolling like -a peal of thunder, as with frantic gestures they dashed forward with -demoniac strength and ferocity full against the front of the 22nd. But -with shouts as loud, and shrieks as wild and fierce as theirs, and -hearts as big, and arms as strong, the Irish soldiers met them with the -queen of weapons--the musket--and sent their foremost masses rolling -back in blood." - -The Baluchis closed their dense masses, and again the shouts, the -rolling fire of musketry, and the dreadful rush of their swordsmen -were heard and seen along the whole line; and such a fight ensued as -has seldom been recorded in the annals of war. These wild warriors -continually advanced, sword and shield in hand, striving in all the -fierceness of their valour to break into the opposing ranks; no fire of -small-arms, no thrust of bayonets, no sweeping discharges of grape from -the guns, which were planted in one fearful mass on the right, could -drive the gallant soldiers back; they gave their breasts to be shot at, -they leaped upon the guns by twenties at a time; their dead went down -the slope by hundreds, but the gaps in their masses were continually -filled up from the rear; the survivors of the front rank still pressed -forward with unabated fury, and the bayonet and the sword clashed in -full and frequent conflict. - -Our loss in officers was heavy, and our native troops, deprived of -leaders though not of gallantry, were several times forced into -rearguard action; but at a given moment a charge made on the enemy's -right by our entire but small body of horse, under the command of -Colonel Pattle, won the day. The Baluchis had kept their ground for -more than three hours, but now they began to retreat in masses, still -keeping well together, with their broad shields slung over their -backs and their heads half turned towards their pursuers. The victors -followed closely, pouring in volley after volley, until tired of -slaughtering. "Yet," says Napier, "those stern, implacable warriors -preserved their habitual swinging stride, and would not quicken it to a -run, though death was at their heels." - -In this conflict our officers and men, together with our native -troops, showed the greatest courage. The chief part of the battle was -a hand-to-hand fight. "The noble soldier Pennefather," as Sir Charles -Napier admiringly called him, fell on the top of the bank, to all -appearance mortally wounded, and his place was instantly taken by Major -Pool. Major Teesdale, followed by his sepoys, rode desperately over the -ridge into the midst of the Baluchis, and was instantly killed by shot -and sabre. Major Jackson followed the heroic example of Teesdale, and -met the same fate. Two brave havildars kept close to them in advance of -their regiment, and, like their leaders, they were also killed, but not -until they had slain several of the fiercest of the enemy. Lieutenant -M'Murdogh, of the General's staff, rode, like Teesdale and Jackson, -into the very heart of the Baluchi mass; his horse was killed under -him, yet he rose instantly, and meeting Jehan Mohabad, one of the most -warlike of the chiefs, slew him in the midst of his clan. Then, while -engaged with several in front, one came behind and struck at him, but -a sergeant of the 22nd killed that enemy so instantly that his blow -fell harmless. - -M'Murdogh turned and did the same service for his preserver, cleaving -the head of a Baluchi who was aiming at his back. Captain Jacob and -Lieutenant Fitzgerald performed similar exploits. Six European officers -and sixty sergeants and privates were killed, and fourteen officers and -about 200 men wounded. The loss of the Baluchis was enormous; a careful -computation gave it as 6,000--1,000 bodies were heaped in the ravine -alone. What greater proof is wanting of the great courage and tenacity -of the Baluchi warrior, who is now linking his glorious traditions with -ours by deeds worthy of his ancient prowess? - - - - -THE FIRST SIKH WAR - -(Moodkee, 1845) - - -It can hardly be said that when Sir H. Hardinge arrived in India in -1844 he found our frontier forces insufficient in numbers or unprepared -for action. When the first Sikh War broke out in December, 1845, there -were at Umballa 12,000 men with 32 guns, at Ferozepore 10,472 with 24 -guns, and at Ludhiana 7,235 with 12 guns. Including the force of 1,800 -at the hill stations this made a total of 32,479 men with 68 guns--a -very respectable little British army. - -On December 7th and 8th news came from Lahore to the effect that -preparations were being made on a large scale for artillery, stores, -and all the munitions of war, but as yet no infantry or artillery -had been reported to have left Lahore, nor had a single Sikh soldier -crossed the Sutlej. On the 9th, at night, Captain Nicholson, the -assistant political agent at Ferozepore, reported that a portion of -the Sikh army had approached within three miles of the river. On the -10th no intelligence was received from Lahore confirmatory of Captain -Nicholson's report, and the opinion continued to prevail that the Sikh -army would not cross the Sutlej. Our troops, however, moved on the -10th, 11th, 12th, in pursuance of orders given on the 7th and 8th; and -the whole of the forces destined to move up to the Sutlej were in full -march on the 12th. Some days later the whole of the Ludhiana force was -moved up with the Umballa force, restricting the defence of Ludhiana -to the fort, which could be securely garrisoned by the soldiers left -at that post, unless attacked by heavy artillery, which was a very -improbable contingency. - -This fine body of men, by a rapid march on Busseean, an important point -where the roads leading from Umballa and Kurnaul meet, formed the -advanced column of the army, and secured the supplies which had been -laid in at Busseean. Up to the morning of the 12th, the information -from Lahore had not materially varied; but, by the reports received on -that day, the general aspect of affairs appeared more warlike. Still -no Sikh aggression had been committed, and no artillery had moved -down to the river. On the 13th, however, Sir Henry Hardinge received -precise information that the Sikh army had crossed the Sutlej, and was -concentrating a great force on the left bank of the river. Sir Henry -immediately ordered Brigadier Wheeler to march, with 4,500 men and -twenty-one guns, early on the 14th from Ludhiana to Busseean, which -place had been filled with provisions by arrangements made through -Major Broadfoot with the native chiefs--provisions upon which the -British army depended in its advance to Ferozepore. By the afternoon of -the 14th, Brigadier Wheeler was in front of Busseean. The main column, -under the Commander-in-Chief, from Umballa, did not reach Busseean -until the 16th. - -The Sikhs had not completed the passage of their heavy guns until -the 16th, and, by the 17th, the advance of the force under the -Commander-in-Chief began to tell upon them, for on the 17th the main -body, consisting, according to the Sikh accounts, of 25,000 regulars -and 88 guns, under Lal Singh, took possession of the wells around the -village of Ferozeshah, whilst Tej Singh with 23,000 men and 67 guns -remained opposite to Ferozepore. Now the only road by which an army can -march from Busseean to Ferozepore (on account of the scarcity of water) -passes through Moodkee, and is about twenty miles, Ferozeshah being -mid-way. Knowing that the Commander-in-Chief must carry these works -before he could relieve Ferozepore, the Sikhs commenced on December -17th to throw up entrenchments around the wells at Ferozeshah in -order to stop the advance of the column under the Commander-in-Chief. -Not knowing the strength of his column, and thinking it was only the -advance guard of the British army, 12,000 Sikhs, chiefly cavalry, and -22 guns, under the command of Lal Singh, left the camp at Ferozeshah, -early on the 18th, and had taken up their position at Moodkee before -the arrival of the British army. No sooner had our troops arrived than -a scout sent by the political agent brought the news that the enemy was -only three miles away. - -The British troops hastily got under arms and moved to their positions. -Sir Hugh Gough immediately pushed forward the horse artillery and -cavalry, and directed the infantry, accompanied by the field batteries, -to move forward in support. Sir Hugh's own description is a good one. -He says, "We had not proceeded beyond two miles when we found the enemy -in position. To resist their attack, and to cover the formation of the -infantry, I advanced the cavalry, under Brigadiers White, Gough, and -Mactier, rapidly to the front in columns of squadrons, and occupied -the plain. They were speedily followed by the five troops of horse -artillery under Brigadier Brooke, who took up a forward position, -having the cavalry then on his flank. - -"The country is a dead flat, covered at short intervals with a low but -in some places thick jhow jungle, and dotted with sandy hillocks. The -enemy screened their infantry and artillery behind this jungle and such -undulations as the ground afforded; and whilst our twelve battalions -formed from echelon of brigade into line they opened a very severe -cannonade upon our advancing troops, which was vigorously replied to by -the battery of horse artillery under Brigadier Brooke, which was soon -joined by the two light field batteries. The rapid and well-directed -fire of our artillery appeared soon to paralyse that of the enemy; -and as it was necessary to complete our infantry dispositions without -advancing the artillery too near to the jungle, I directed the cavalry -under Brigadiers White and Gough to make a flank movement on the -enemy's left, with a view of threatening and turning that flank if -possible. With praiseworthy gallantry, the 3rd Light Dragoons [now -known as the 3rd (King's Own) Hussars], with the second brigade of -cavalry, consisting of the Body-guard and 5th Light Cavalry, with a -portion of the 4th Lancers,[A] turned the left of the Sikh army, and -sweeping along the whole rear of its infantry and guns silenced for a -time the latter and put their numerous cavalry to flight. Whilst this -movement was taking place on the enemy's left, I directed the remainder -of the 4th Lancers, the 9th Irregular Cavalry[2] under Brigadier -Mactier, with a light field battery, to threaten their right. - -"This manoeuvre was also successful. Had not the infantry and guns of -the enemy been screened by the jungle, these brilliant charges of the -cavalry would have been productive of greater effect. - -"When the infantry advanced to the attack, Brigadier Brooke rapidly -pushed on his horse artillery close to the jungle, and the cannonade -was resumed on both sides. The infantry, under Major-Generals Sir Harry -Smith, Gilbert, and Sir John M'Caskill, attacked in echelon of lines -the enemy's infantry, almost invisible amongst wood and the approaching -darkness of night. The opposition of the enemy was such as might have -been expected from troops who had everything at stake, and who had long -vaunted of being irresistible. Their ample and extended line, from -their great superiority of numbers, far outflanked ours; but this was -counteracted by the flank movements of our cavalry. The attack of the -infantry now commenced, and the roll of fire from this powerful arm -soon convinced the Sikh army that they had met with a foe they little -expected; and their whole force was driven from position after position -with great slaughter, and the loss of seventeen pieces of artillery, -some of them of heavy calibre; our infantry using that never-failing -weapon, the bayonet, whenever the enemy stood. Night only saved them -from worse disaster, for this stout conflict was maintained during an -hour and a half of dim starlight, amidst a cloud of dust from the -sandy plain, which yet more obscured every object." - -Our troops in this battle consisted of 3,850 Europeans and 8,500 -natives, making a total of 12,350 rank and file, and 41 guns. Sixteen -officers were killed and 200 men; forty-eight officers wounded and 609 -men, of whom 153 died subsequently of their wounds, or were disabled. -Amongst those who fell was the hero of Jellalabad, Sir Robert Sale; -he had his left thigh shattered by grape-shot, and the wound proved -mortal. Had there been more daylight, the rout of the enemy would have -been more complete; as it was, seventeen of their guns out of twenty -were captured, and their loss in killed and wounded was very severe. -Yet it must be said that, in this battle of Moodkee, our friend the -enemy fought bravely and well--so well that, casting a backward glance -on that day of glorious deeds, we are now proud to claim him as a -friend indeed. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 2: Native regiments.] - - - - -ALIWAL AND SOBRAON - -(1846) - - -Badly beaten at Ferozeshah, the Sikhs naturally expected that the -British troops would at once follow up their advantage by crossing -the Sutlej and advancing on the capital; but in order to do this -successfully it was necessary to wait the arrival of the powerful -battering train now moving upwards with the Meerut force under Sir -John Grey, consisting of the 9th Lancers, the 16th Lancers, and her -Majesty's 10th and 53rd Regiments of Foot, with the 43rd and 59th -Regiments of Native Infantry. - -The Sikhs, mistaking this delay for irresolution, resolved to make -another effort to maintain their position on the left bank of the -Sutlej; and for this purpose they began to construct a new bridge -of boats, not very far from the spot where they crossed the river -after having been driven from Ferozeshah. Our Army of the Sutlej was -stationed some distance from the river, and no opposition was offered -by them. The bridge of boats was soon constructed, and works thrown up -in front of it with much military skill, in a position very favourable -to defence. The opposite banks were high, and the river, where the -bridge was laid, made a slight curve inwards, so as to throw those -banks sufficiently forward to afford protection to both flanks of -the advanced position from heavy artillery placed in battery. Above -the bridge, and not far from it, was a good ford, which facilitated -the communications with the forces on the opposite bank. Advantage -had also been taken of the slenderness of our troops at Ludhiana to -effect a passage for a force of about 10,000 men of all arms, in the -neighbourhood of that town. No attack was made either on the town -or cantonment of Ludhiana; the object of this force appeared to be -rather to entrench itself near the place at which it crossed, in order -to obstruct our progress and to cut off the passage of supplies to -Ferozepore, and to intercept the communication between the posts. - -As soon as the Meerut force joined the Commander-in-Chief's camp, -immediate measures were taken to reinforce the Ludhiana post and the -station at Busseean. Some native infantry, some light cavalry, and some -guns were sent thither, and the sick, the women, and the children were -removed thence to Umballa. Meanwhile Sir Harry Smith had been detached -to reduce Dhurmkote and keep open the communication for supplies and -ammunition from our rear. Sir Harry was now reinforced, having with him -7,000 men and 24 guns, and it was confidently believed that he could -at one and the same time relieve Ludhiana and protect the whole of our -rear. Dhurmkote was evacuated at his approach. On the way from Jugraon -to Ludhiana he lost a good deal of his baggage, and sustained some -heavy fusilades, which he did not wait to return. His troops were much -harassed when he reached Ludhiana, but his presence put an end to the -consternation which was becoming general in that part of the country. - -The Sirdar Runjur Singh had strongly entrenched himself at Aliwal, -about eight miles to the westward of Ludhiana. He had 15,000 men and 56 -guns, and on the evening of January 26th he received a reinforcement -of 12 guns and 4,000 regular troops. Sir Harry Smith most gallantly -attacked the Sikhs on January 28th with not more than 16,000 men in -all. The right of the Sikh force rested on Bundree, and their left on -Aliwal. When they had advanced a short distance from their entrenched -camp, they cannonaded the British for half an hour, until our brave -fellows stormed the village of Aliwal, the key of their position. The -whole of the British line then began to advance. Her Majesty's 16th -Lancers charged in the most gallant style, but the Sikhs lay down -on the ground and the Lancers could not easily reach them. In this -position the Sikhs did deadly work with their muskets and keen swords. -The 16th Lancers had upwards of a hundred men killed or wounded. The -great mass of Sikh infantry could be broken only by our artillery. One -Sikh cannon after another was captured. So ably were the orders of -attack conducted, each column and line arriving at its point of attack -to the very moment, that the enemy was soon driven headlong back over -the river, and all their guns were captured or destroyed. Only one gun -was carried by the Sikhs to the opposite bank, and there it was spiked -by Lieutenant Holmes, of the Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of -the Horse Artillery, who forded the river in pursuit. The victory was -complete, and great was the confusion among the Sikhs. - -After this complete and decisive victory there was a breathing -space in the campaign. The Sikhs at Sobraon went on strengthening -their position, while Sir Hugh Gough waited for his artillery and -reinforcements. From January 14th till the beginning of February the -enemy was industriously employed in building defences, under the -direction, it is said, of a Spanish engineer. The army under Sir -Charles Napier, which had been assembled at Sukkar by order of the -Governor-General, consisting of 16,000 men, was moving up to the left -bank of the Sutlej towards Ferozepore, and would have proved, had -the war lasted, a most valuable reinforcement to the Army of the -Sutlej. It had by this time reached Bhawalpur, opposite Mooltan, and -as the Nawab of that place had intimated to the British Government his -intention of remaining neutral, the Governor-General, feeling that the -blow must be struck and the contest decided at Lahore, requested Sir -Charles Napier to come on with his staff in advance of his army, and to -join him without delay, being desirous of having the assistance of that -distinguished officer in the pending struggle. Sir Charles Napier did -not, however, arrive in time to add to the glories of Sobraon, but the -heavy guns from Delhi reached the Commander-in-Chief's camp on February -9th. - -Although on the first intelligence of the battle of Aliwal, and at -sight of the numerous bodies which floated from the neighbourhood of -that battlefield down to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, the Sikhs -seemed much shaken and disheartened, they now appeared to be as -confident as ever of being able to defy us in their entrenched position -and to prevent our passage of the river. The soldiers were chiefly -those who had been trained by the French and Italian officers. They had -strong walls, only to be surmounted by scaling ladders, which afforded -a secure protection for triple lines of musketry. In all they were -34,000 men with 70 pieces of artillery; their position was united by a -good bridge to a reserve of 20,000 men on the opposite bank, on which -was a considerable camp and some artillery, commanding and flanking our -field-works. - -Sir Hugh Gough's forces consisted of 6,533 Europeans and 9,691 -natives, making a total of 16,224 rank and file, with 99 guns. Sir -Hugh ordered this force to march at half-past three, on the morning of -Tuesday, February 10th, when his men would be fresh and there would be -a certainty of many hours of daylight. The troops began to move out -of camp at the very moment appointed, and they marched in silence to -their destination. Sir Hugh was now strong in cavalry and very strong -in artillery. He at once put his battering and disposable artillery in -position in an extended semicircle, embracing within its fire the works -of the Sikhs. - -It had been intended that the cannonade should commence at daybreak, -but so heavy a mist hung over the plain and river that it was necessary -to wait. It was half-past six before the whole of the artillery was -developed. Dr. Macgregor, in his "History of the Sikhs," gives a -graphic description of the opening of the action. He says: "Nothing -could have been conceived grander than the effect of the batteries when -they opened, as the cannonade passed along from the Sutlej to Little -Sobraon in one continued roar of guns and mortars; while, ever and -anon, the rocket like a spirit of fire winged its rapid flight high -above the batteries in its progress towards the Sikh entrenchments. -Well might the Commander-in-Chief call the opening of the cannonade -'most spirited and well directed.' The Sikh guns responded with shot -and shell, but neither appeared to do much execution; the latter were -seen bursting in mid-air ere they reached the British batteries, while -some of the shot passed over Rhodawala, and struck the ground in -front of General Gilbert's division. It now became a grand artillery -concert, and the infantry divisions and brigades looked on with a -certain degree of interest, somewhat allied, however, to vexation, -lest the artillery should have the whole work to themselves. The -Commander-in-Chief, however, was determined to give full play to an arm -which he had not possessed to an efficient extent in other hard-fought -battles. It was reported that the guns were to play for four hours at -least; but there is some reason to believe that the rapid firing had -nearly exhausted the ammunition before half that time had elapsed, -and it was once more to be proved that the British Infantry were not -to remain mute spectators of a battle. 'Notwithstanding,' wrote the -Commander-in-Chief, 'the formidable calibre of our guns, mortars, and -howitzers, and the admirable way in which they were served, and aided -by a rocket battery, it would have been visionary to expect that they -could have silenced the fire of seventy pieces behind well-constructed -batteries of earth, planks, and fascines, or dislodge troops covered -either by redoubts or epaulements or within a treble line of trenches.'" - -The utmost ingenuity of the Sikhs and their European advisers had been -exerted to render the works at Sobraon vastly superior to those at -Ferozeshah. They had aimed at absolute impregnability, and a French -officer assured Tej Singh that it was utterly impossible for the -British to make good their entrance. But it may be said they reckoned -without the small host opposing them. The British were now about -to try with the musket and the bayonet. At nine o'clock, Brigadier -Stacey's brigade, supported on either flank by Captain Horford's and -Fordyce's batteries, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lane's troop of horse -artillery, moved to the attack in admirable order. The infantry and -guns aided each other correlatively. The former marched steadily on -in line, which they halted only to correct when necessary, while the -latter took up successive positions at the gallop, until at length they -were within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs. -But notwithstanding the regularity and coolness, and the scientific -character of the assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well supported, so -hot was the fire of cannon and musketry kept up by the Khalsa troops -that it seemed for some moments impossible that the entrenchments could -be won under it. This fire was all the more formidable from the fact -that the Sikhs employed zumburuks--guns mounted on camels and carrying -pound shot. - -There was a temporary check or pause, but, soon, persevering gallantry -triumphed, and the whole army had the satisfaction of seeing Brigadier -Stacey's gallant soldiers driving the Sikhs in confusion before them -within the area of their encampment. Every impediment was cleared, -the entrenchments were passed, and our matchless infantry stood -erect and compact within the Sikh camp. Said the Commander-in-Chief: -"Her Majesty's 10th, 53rd, and 80th Regiments, with the 33rd, 43rd, -59th, and 63rd Native Infantry, moving at a firm and steady pace, -never fired a shot until they had passed the barriers opposed to -them--a forbearance much to be commended, and most worthy of constant -imitation, to which may be attributed the success of their first -effort, and the small loss they sustained." - -This attack was crowned with all the success it deserved, and, led -by its gallant Commander, Major-General Sir Robert Dick, obtained -the admiration of the army, which witnessed its disciplined valour. -When checked by the formidable obstacles and superior numbers to -which the attacking division was opposed, the second division, under -Major-General Gilbert, afforded the most opportune assistance by -rapidly advancing to the attack of the enemy's batteries, entering -their fortified position after a severe struggle, and sweeping through -the interior of the camp. This division inflicted a very severe -loss on the retreating enemy. Together with a portion of Gilbert's -division, the troops advanced immediately the order was received. But, -if intended to support Stacey on the right of the enemy's position, -they missed the object, for they unfortunately came in front of the -centre and strongest portion of the encampment, unsupported either -by artillery or cavalry. Her Majesty's 29th and 1st European Light -Infantry, with undaunted bravery, rushed forward, crossed a dry nullah -and found themselves exposed to one of the hottest fires of musketry -that can possibly be imagined; and what rendered it still more galling -was that the Sikhs were themselves concealed behind high walls, over -which the European soldiers could not climb. To remain under such a -fire without the power of returning it with any effect would have been -madness--the men would have been annihilated. Thrice did Her Majesty's -29th Regiment charge the works, and thrice were they obliged to retire, -each time followed by the Sikhs, who spared none. Similar was the fate -of the 1st European Light Infantry, who, in retiring, had their ranks -thinned by musketry and their wounded men and officers cut up by the -Sikhs. To the latter, the nullah afforded an admirable defence, for the -slope was in their favour, while the Europeans on the high bank were -completely exposed. At length the second division, which at Ferozeshah -had driven the Sikhs before them, capturing their guns at the point of -the bayonet and entering their encampment, were led to the right of the -entrenchment at Sobraon. The second division was followed by the first -division, which, under Sir Harry Smith, dashed against the enemy's -left. Yet it was not until the 3rd Light Dragoons, under Major-General -Sir Joseph Thackwell, had moved forward and ridden through the openings -of the entrenchments in single file, re-forming as they passed them, -and galloped over and cut down the obstinate defenders of batteries -and field-works--indeed, it was not until the weight of three entire -divisions of infantry, with every field-artillery gun which could be -sent to their aid, had been cast into the scale--that victory finally -fell to our troops. The fire of the Sikhs slackened, then almost -ceased; and the victors, pressing them on every side, swept them in -masses over the bridge of boats and into the Sutlej, which a sudden -rise of seven inches had rendered scarcely fordable. - -[Illustration: WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.] - -In their efforts to reach the right bank through the deepened water, -they suffered a terrible carnage from our horse artillery. Hundreds -fell under this cannonade; hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in -attempting the perilous passage. - -Thus terminated, in the brief space of two hours, this most remarkable -conflict, in which the military combinations of the Commander-in-Chief -were fully and ably carried into effect. The enemy's select regiments -of regular infantry had been dispersed, and a large proportion -destroyed, with the loss, since the campaign began, of 220 pieces -of artillery taken in action. Over sixty-seven guns, together with -upwards of 200 camel-swivels, and numerous standards were captured -within the entrenchments. Before the hour of noon this great battle -was over. It might, indeed, be well termed a glorious fight and -complete in its results. The battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and -Aliwal had weakened the power of the Sikhs, but the battle of Sobraon -had completely broken it. It was, of course, bought at a dear price. -Her Majesty's 29th Regiment alone lost in killed and wounded thirteen -officers, eight sergeants, and 157 rank and file. The loss of the 1st -European Light Infantry was still heavier. Her Majesty's 31st, which -had fought most nobly at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Aliwal, had seven -officers and 147 rank and file killed and wounded at Sobraon. Her -Majesty's 50th, or Queen's Own, had twelve officers and 227 rank and -file killed and wounded. Her Majesty's 10th Foot lost three officers, -three sergeants, and 127 rank and file. These regiments suffered the -most, but others suffered severely. The total loss was 320 killed, -2,063 wounded. The brave Sir Robert Dick, who led the attack on the -entrenchments, received a mortal wound after he had entered them. Says -the historian: "Thus fell, most gloriously, at the moment of victory, -this veteran officer, displaying the same energy and intrepidity as -when, thirty-five years ago in Spain, he was the distinguished leader -of the 42nd Highlanders" (the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch). - -Fearful had been the loss of the Sikhs. Five days after the action, and -when the walls of the entrenchments had been nearly levelled with the -ground, the sandbank in the middle of the river was completely covered -with their dead bodies, and the ground within their encampment thickly -strewn with carcasses of men and horses. - -Before daylight the next morning six regiments of native infantry -and six guns had, by means of country boats, crossed the Sutlej at a -point nearer to the capital than where the débris of the Sikh army -was stationed. On the following day the bridge of boats was nearly -completed by the able and indefatigable Major Abbott, of the Engineers. -Had the British then followed up the Sikhs they might have made their -way without resistance to Lahore, and have there renewed the conflict; -but such was not the intention of our commanders, and the capital of -the Punjab was destined to be occupied by the British without any -repetition of the life-consuming struggles which had occurred on the -left bank of the Sutlej. If pressed, they would have fought hard in -their despair; but the power of the Sikhs was in reality destroyed. -Sham Singh, Dhubal Singh, Hera Singh, Kishen Singh, Mobaruck Ali, -Newaz Khan--all their bravest sirdars and leaders had perished. The -discomfited warriors who survived, being left to themselves, began -to disperse. Our army quietly crossed the river, and took undisputed -possession of Kussoor, which, in former times, had twice defied the -power of Runjeet Singh. On February 14th the Governor-General announced -by proclamation, dated from Kussoor, that the British army had crossed -the Sutlej and entered the Punjab, "in accordance with the intentions -expressed in the proclamation of December 13th last, as having been -forced upon him for the purpose of effectually protecting the British -provinces, and vindicating the authority of the British Government, and -punishing the violators of treaties and the disturbers of the public -peace." - -The Government of Lahore paid, as an indemnity for the expense of the -war, about one million sterling. The Jullunder Doab, the district -between the Beas and Sutlej, was confiscated and proclaimed British -territory. All the guns we had taken were to be retained, and all those -which the Sikhs had ever directed against the British were to be given -up, and the Sikh army was to dismiss and break up for ever and a day. - -This Punjab war is remarkable for the fact that it was the cheapest and -shortest ever waged. It cost the British Government about £2,000,000, -and lasted only sixty days. An indemnity of £1,500,000 from the Lahore -Durbar and Ghoolab Singh resulted, with a net annual revenue from -confiscated territory of £500,000. But these things could never be so -valuable to us as the whole-hearted loyalty and bravery of the gallant -Sikh himself, who to-day fights as nobly and fiercely by our side as in -the old "forties" he strove against us. And if in those days, to our -cost as well as our admiration, we learned the meaning of the "Pride of -the Punjab," we shall soon be able to appreciate it from a different -standpoint. - - - - -THE STORMING OF THE TAKU FORTS - -(1859) - - -The trouble arose between the allied French and British and the -Chinese over Tien-tsin, the port of Pekin. On June 25th, 1859, Admiral -Hope attempted to force the entrance of the Pei-ho River at the -Taku Forts with a few gunboats, but his endeavours were frustrated. -In the following year allied forces of British and French troops, -under General Sir Hope Grant and General de Montauban, were landed -at Peh-tang, some eight miles north of Taku, while the allied fleets -safeguarded their movement by watching the mouth of the river. These -troops marched inland to avoid the marshes intervening between Peh-tang -and Taku, and joined battle with the Chinese Field Army, defeating them -at Sin-hid on August 12th. Two days later they descended the north bank -of the Pei-ho and seized the town of Tang-ku, three miles north of the -forts. - -The Taku Forts were four in number, and the question arose between the -two generals as to the best method of attack. Sir Hope Grant was in -favour of beginning with the smallest fort, but de Montauban maintained -it would be better to cross the river and attack the largest fort in -the south first. After some friction the former course was adopted, -but Montauban was so little in favour of it that he sent only a few -hundred men and attended the battle himself merely as a spectator, -and without his sword. But this unfortunate little difference was -soon forgotten in the deadly work of the day. Many brave deeds were -done; the most furious conflict took place when the storming party -reached the fort and were crowded together between the inner ditch -and the ramparts. Here they were safe from the Chinese musketry, but -they immediately became a target for big stones, cannon balls, and -stifling stinkpots which the Chinese dropped on their heads. Again and -again the scaling ladders were planted against the ramparts, where the -Chinese caught them and either pulled them up into the fort or hurled -them down, shooting or spearing all who gained a footing within reach -of their weapons. The officers and men tried to force entries where -the artillery had broken down the embrasures for the guns. A gallant -Frenchman sprang on to the ramparts, clubbed a Chinaman with his rifle, -snatched another which was handed up to him, fired, and immediately -fell speared through the head. Another with a pickaxe gained the -top of the wall and tried to break it down; the brave fellow was -immediately shot dead, but Lieut. Burslem, who was behind him, seized -the pickaxe and continued the work. With many another heroic deed of -this kind the fort was eventually captured, the Chinese capitulating -after very heavy losses. Our Indian troops behaved with the greatest -gallantry in this momentous struggle. - - - - -THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR - -(1880) - - -When Yakoub Khan learned that Sir Louis Cavagnari had been sent on a -mission to Kabul, his grief and repentance over his terrible outrages -seemed beyond expression. He protested too much, and nobody believed -him; indeed, before the mission had set out, there had been quite -sufficient incentive for the British Government to teach the native -authorities at Kabul a severe lesson. When the truth of the matter was -felt, rather than known, three columns were despatched to the seat of -trouble. The most important of these, which proceeded by the Kurram -Road, was led by General Roberts. Its composition was as follows:--Two -batteries Horse and Field Artillery; one Mountain Train battery; -one squadron 9th Lancers; 67th South Hampshire Regiment; 72nd (Duke -of Albany's Own) Highlanders; 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders; 12th and -14th Bengal Cavalry; 5th Gurkhas and a wing of the 5th Punjab; 23rd -Pioneers; 5th and 28th Punjab Infantry; 3rd Sikhs, and one company of -sappers and miners, making a total of barely 8,000 men. - -So determined was the spirit of these men that, as battle followed -battle on the way to the capital, Yakoub Khan, with twenty-five -principal citizens of Kabul, eventually surrendered. It was probably -a subterfuge on the part of the Amir to say that he no longer had any -power over his people. At all events, he was kept in durance vile, and -next day General Roberts advanced on Kabul. Then followed the battle of -Charasiah. - -Charasiah is twelve miles distant from Kabul, and its name signifies -"Four Water-mills." Here the tired troops camped, while cavalry patrols -were sent out to scour the vicinity. Like the Saxons on the eve of the -Battle of Hastings, our men little thought that the dawn would bring -a decisive battle; but, unlike the Saxons on that occasion, though -exhausted, they were always ready for any emergency that the morrow -might bring. In evidence of this, two cavalry patrols pushed forward -along the ways that led to Kabul before the first light of dawn. The -northern road was taken by a party of twenty men of the 14th Bengal -Lancers, under Captain Neville, while twenty of the 9th Lancers, under -Captain Apperley, took the southern road. Three hours later, as Captain -Neville's party was passing through a village, one of his men had his -horse shot under him. At the same time, Apperley, in another village, -was being hard pressed by the enemy. Major Mitford, with twenty -Lancers, was immediately sent to his relief, while a band of native -infantry was despatched in all haste to succour Neville. Following -immediately on these operations came news that the enemy was advancing -in great force from Kabul. They were focussing on the passes of the -northern hills. It then became an immediate matter of British tactics -to forestall or dislodge them. The event proved that they had to be -dislodged, and in this matter there was severe and prolonged fighting -before they were driven back. Ultimately the enemy fled incontinently -towards Kabul. - -Some incidents of this battle are worth recording. It was here that -Major (afterwards Field-Marshal Sir George) Stuart White won his -Victoria Cross, while commanding the 92nd Highlanders. For a long time -he pounded the enemy with artillery, and raked him with rifle fire, but -all in vain; he could not dislodge the obstinate foe. The most decisive -method was to storm the hill, with a view to the ultimate efficiency of -cold steel. - -Says the _Gazette_: "Advancing with two companies of his regiment, he -came upon a body of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering his -force by eighteen to one. His men being exhausted, and immediate action -necessary, Major White took a rifle, and, going on by himself, shot -dead the leader of the enemy." - -And this was where the Afghans were at a disadvantage. The loss of -their leader meant everything to them, for they were not as our -soldiers--every man a leader if emergency requires. They began to fall -back on the further slope of the hill, fearing the onslaught of the -Highlanders, who were on top of it, victorious. It is extraordinary -that in this important engagement our losses up to this point were -nothing more than three Highlanders killed and six wounded, one cavalry -soldier killed and three wounded. - -While this engagement was proceeding, General Baker was leading his -72nd Highlanders across the hills, with a following of No. 2 Mounted -Battery, some Gatling guns, and the wings of the 5th Gurkhas, 5th -Punjab Infantry, and 23rd Pioneers. They fought their way over -precipitous ground, and through 4,000 of the enemy. The resistance -they met with remains to this day as a proof of the fighting powers of -our then enemy. After two hours' stubborn fighting, regulated by the -able generalship of Baker, the hill was at last taken in the rear by a -flanking movement of the Gordons. It was a scene to live in the memory, -when the gallant 92nd, cheered on by Cameron's pipes, stormed the hill. -The dash and vigour of the assault no doubt carried the position, but -the moral effect of Cameron and his pipes, to say nothing of brave -colours flying, had to be reckoned with. - -From this point the march on Kabul was unimpeded. When General Roberts -arrived he found the place abandoned by the enemy. But there still -remained some Afghans entrenched on a high hill to the rear of Bala -Hissar, in such a position that it was necessary to dislodge them -before entering the city, especially as behind them the enemy was in -great force on the Ridge of Asmai. There was very severe fighting over -the dislodgment of these Afghans, but on the fourth day General Roberts -had removed every obstruction to his entry into Kabul. It was a great -moment when he hoisted our Standard on the walls of Kabul. - - - - -TEL-EL-KEBIR AND KASSASSIN - -(1882) - - -The British campaign arose out of the rebellious ambition of Arabi -Pasha. The culminating point of the campaign was the battle of -Tel-el-Kebir--the word signifying "A large village." Arabi Pasha was -of common origin, having risen from the ranks of the Viceroy's army to -the position of a somewhat famous colonel. His motto was "Egypt for -the Egyptians." In this he left out of account the fact that Britain -had tremendous interests in Egypt, including £4,000,000 of Suez Canal -stock. Blinding himself also to the fact that Britain could not afford -to lose the direct route to India, Arabi Pasha continued to oppose the -growth of British influence even up to the point that he wished to rule -Egypt himself. - -The free expression of this ambition led to the bombardment of -Alexandria and the destruction of Arabi's forts. Being defeated, his -hatred of British influence grew stronger than ever. He retired into -the interior and began mobilising his countrymen. As soon as this was -known, it became necessary to send out a British army to hunt out -the rebellious Arabi and put an end to his ambitions for ever. This -army, under the command of Sir Garnet (afterwards Viscount) Wolseley, -comprised 40,000 men, and was derived from India, Malta, Cyprus and -Gibraltar. - -This force landed at a port on the Canal and pressed on towards -Kassassin. The rebels attempted to check its progress at Mahuta, but -they were easily driven off. Very soon afterwards General Graham, -with his vanguard, arrived at Kassassin, where he entrenched himself -in obedience to a strict order to hold it at all costs. Many attacks -were made, but they were all successfully foiled. There were two -considerable engagements contested here, but they were merely -preliminaries to that at Tel-el-Kebir, which was of the greatest -moment. The 13th Bengal Lancers were engaged on the occasion when the -Egyptians made a second attack at Kassassin. Then they were moved up to -Tel-el-Kebir. - -The fortified defences of Tel-el-Kebir were very strong. The British -were in position before the first streak of dawn, and everything was -"all Sir Garnet," as Tommy Atkins has constantly said ever since. There -was silence as the soldiers lay waiting for the word to advance, and, -when at last it was given in a subdued tone, all arose and marched -forward, and their footfalls on the soft sand were almost as noiseless -as footfalls on the snow. Of this mysterious nocturnal advance in the -silence of a mysterious land, a historian says: "The darkness around -and above, with the stars shining down as they had done in the time of -Pharaoh and the other dynasties of Egyptian kings lying entombed in -the Pyramids ... weird and ghostly was the effect of the dim streaks, -looking like shadows of moving clouds, but which were really lines of -men stealing over the desert." - -The first indication that our approach was discovered came in the -form of some scattered shots fired by the enemy's sentries; then -came a bugle call from within the enemy's lines. This filled our men -with enthusiasm, for it meant that the action would begin in the -darkness, which was to our advantage. For a few minutes they marched -on stealthily, then the whole line of the enemy's entrenchments, which -had been unknown to us, was now clearly revealed by the sudden blaze -of rifle fire. The simultaneous flash was so great that it lit up the -whole scene. Immediately the British bugles sounded the charge, and -our men on the instant sprang forward with loud cheers, then advanced -rapidly but steadily on the foe. - -The terrible conflict which ensued soon became general, and the -infantry, once in close grips with the Egyptians, inflicted severe -loss with the bayonet. It was to this astonishing "infantry" that the -credit of victory was mainly due; the artillery and cavalry, together -with a fine force of marines, were responsible for the infliction of -heavy punishment on the foe in the confusion of their retreat. - -In this battle the 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Light Infantry -("Brownlow's Punjabis") fought with great bravery, and, by their heroic -deeds, added "Tel-el-Kebir" to the list of their battle honours. - -During the course of the Egyptian campaign two other Indian regiments -of cavalry, besides the 13th Bengal Lancers, and two of infantry -besides the 20th, fought bravely, and all bear the "honours" of "Egypt -1882" and "Tel-el-Kebir." The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Sappers and -Miners (a native corps) also bear these "honours," in addition to -"Suakin 1885" and "Tofrek." - - - - -BATTLES AROUND SUAKIN - - El-Teb } 1884 Hasheen } 1885 - Tamai } Tofrek } - - -Everywhere throughout the Sudan the Mahdi, or False Prophet, had -waged a successful rebellion against the authority of the Egyptian -Government, which, since the crushing defeat of Arabi Pasha at -Tel-el-Kebir, had fallen under Britain's protection. In order to bring -this truculent disturber to submission it was necessary to send a -British army to the relief of Tokar near Suakin. The Sudan had for a -long time been the impenetrable stronghold of the slave trade. "If any -part of God's earth was dyed with human blood," said Lord Wolseley, -"it was this," and now in addition to this there was the memory of the -treachery at El-Obeid, the capital of Kordofan, where Hicks Pasha's -army was treacherously led into ambush and ultimately massacred. The -Mahdi was not present in this battle, but he came later to see the body -of Hicks, who was the last to die, and thrust his spear through the -Pasha's body as an example to be followed by all his sheikhs. All this -blood--more than the blood of slaves--cried out for vengeance. - -As the rebellion spread eastward, Osman the Ugly hastened thither and -further inflamed it. This man was a slave trader, whose chief grievance -was that he had been ruined by the prohibition of the vile traffic. For -a time he had a victorious career, completely annihilating force after -force of Egyptian troops. During his investment of Sinkat and Tokar, -Baker Pasha was despatched with a force of 3,600 men to the relief of -those two towns. But here another terrible slaughter of the Egyptian -troops took place in the battle--or rather, the massacre--of El-Teb. -An eye witness says of this: "Inside the square the state of affairs -was almost indescribable. Cavalry, infantry, mules, camels, falling -baggage and dying men were crushed into a struggling, surging mass. -The Egyptians were shrieking madly, hardly attempting to run away, but -trying to shelter themselves one behind another." - -"The conduct of the Egyptians was simply disgraceful," said another -English officer; "armed with rifle and bayonet, they allowed themselves -to be slaughtered without an effort at self-defence, by savages -inferior in numbers and armed only with spears and swords." - -Seeing the uselessness of attempting to rally such material, Baker, -with his staff, put spurs to his horse and charged the enemy. This -small band of determined men cut their way through the formidable -array of swords and lances. Soon after this the defenders of Sinkat, -finding their stores almost exhausted, decided to fight their way out. -Accordingly, 400 men, with many women and children, set out from the -town. The men fought valiantly, but they were overpowered by numbers, -and only six men and thirty women were left to tell the horrible tale -of butchery. - -Meanwhile Tokar was still under siege, and Sir Gerald Graham was sent -with a small force to relieve it. At El-Teb he came in contact with the -Mahdi's forces; this time the victory was on our side. Having crushed -the Mahdi for the time being, he set out for Suakin, which was the -concentration point of the Government in its now extensive preparations -to humble Osman Digna. They had called on the rebel chiefs to lay down -their arms, but the call had met with a most defiant reply. Sir Gerald -advanced on Tamai and bivouacked within a mile of the enemy's position. -All night long the British were harassed by shot and shell, but victory -came in the morning, though with regrettable loss of life. It was none -the less crushing, however, and was followed by a temporary cessation -of hostilities. It was not until the following spring that Osman Digna -had recuperated sufficiently to face the British troops again. In the -campaign which followed, his hordes were successful until after the -battles of Hasheen and Tofrek. - -It was early in the morning that General Graham with less than 1,000 -men arrived at the foot of the hills to the east of Hasheen. He -established himself with his staff on one of the hills, and from that -point directed the battle which ensued. The wells of Hasheen lay below -in the valley. - -With the light of day the whole place was seen to be alive with -riflemen. Says an eye-witness: "They crowded on the Hasheen hill; they -swarmed through the underwood, and nothing could be seen but little -puffs of smoke rising over the trees. Here and there a shriek, a groan, -a gap in the ranks, instantly filled up, showed that some of the -enemy's bullets had found a billet. But for one that hit, a thousand -whistled harmlessly over us." Volley answered volley from both sides, -and the bullets began to fall thick and fast. Where the Sikhs were -engaged the fire was especially furious. The enemy showed considerable -bravery, but after a while the distant fire of our troops proved too -hot for them. Two squadrons of the Bengal Lancers, making a gallant -show with their turbans, streaming pennants, and flashing spears, were -launched against them, and some desperate fighting now took place -in this part of the field. One of the squadrons was dismounted for -the purpose of firing volleys, but, being taken at a disadvantage, -was driven back with the loss of nine men. The Arabs were led on to -the attack by an old sheikh mounted on a camel. He waved his spear -frantically, and his equally fanatical followers rushed round the -Bengalese flank to their rear. One Lancer officer--an Englishman--was -seen to hew down two Arabs in quick succession; while the life of -another officer was only saved by the steel breastplate underneath his -tunic, which before his departure his wife had insisted on his wearing. -On the right, too, about the same time, a similar charge was made by -the other two squadrons of Bengal Cavalry and the 5th Lancers. This -rapid movement completely checked and scattered a large body of the -enemy who were advancing down the Hasheen valley with the intention of -turning the British flank. The swarthy-faced Indian troops, with their -eyes flashing friendly rivalry beneath their turbans, vied with their -fresh-complexioned British comrades to carry off the chief honours of -that charge; and so strong was this admirable rivalry that history can -only say "Honours easy." - -In the action at Tofrek the Indian Brigade were engaged and showed -striking gallantry. The 17th Bengal Native Infantry (the Loyal -Regiment) gave some ground at a very important moment, but it was -against fearful odds. No more need be said than that "Tofrek" is among -their battle honours. - -Orders were given to Generals McNeill and Hudson to advance to a -certain spot and construct three zarebas at a distance of from six -to eight miles from Suakin. Here, at Tofrek, they suddenly found the -enemy upon them. In the conflict which ensued, the main brunt of the -assault fell upon the 15th Sikhs and the 28th Bombay Native Infantry. -Time after time they received assaults with heavy fire, firmly standing -their ground and maintaining an intact line. The battle raged most -furiously round the Sikhs, a fact which was afterwards confirmed by the -hundreds of dead Arabs which lay in front of their position. The Bombay -Regiment, though not in the thick of the fight, fought bravely, as -proved by the toll of the enemy's dead and wounded. - - - - -THE FRONTIER FIGHTING OF 1886 - - -In the frontier fighting (1886) against the Afghans and Tibetans many -important events occurred. Those of greatest interest were the survey -by the Afghan Boundary Commission, under Colonel Sir West Ridgeway; -General Sir G. White's march with his Flying Column to the Zhob Valley; -the Manipur Massacre; the attack by tribesmen on the Fort of Chilas, -and the Wazaris' fierce assault on the troops encamped at Wano. - -The Afghan Boundary Commission, which had returned to India in -1886, after a two years' survey in the wild country to the north, -was commanded by Colonel Sir West Ridgeway. Among his troops was a -detachment of the 11th Bengal Lancers and 20th Punjab Infantry, who, -to quote the Official Gazette, "have upheld throughout by discipline, -endurance, and good conduct the credit of Her Majesty's Army." - -The work before them was difficult and dangerous, but the British -officers and native soldiers carried it to a successful issue with -unflagging cheerfulness and invincible courage. - -Sir G. White's march into the Zhob Valley may be described in terms -of equal praise. The Flying Column marched rapidly through the valley, -and reached Thanispa on October 15th. From that point they hurried on, -meeting with little opposition, and finally took possession of the -entire country, bringing the chiefs to terms, and binding them over -to cease the predatory raids which had been the occasion of all the -trouble. - -The Manipur Massacre, a terrible affair, arose, four years later, -through the ambitions of a would-be usurper. In this case it was the -ruler's own brother who caused the trouble. On September 22nd, 1890, -at two o'clock in the morning, the Residency in Manipur was startled -by the sound of musketry. Then, while the inmates were preparing for -the worst, the Maharajah himself came running, in a state of panic, and -told Mr. Grimwood, the Agent, that his brother had attacked the palace, -and that, as he had given up all hopes of retaining power, his only -course was to abdicate in favour of the usurper. - -The Maharajah was allowed to escape from the country, but no sooner did -he find himself beyond the reach of his brother's strong arm than he -made up his mind to return. After having weighed the whole facts of the -case, the Government decided that the usurper was the better man, and -therefore they took steps to keep the Maharajah at a distance, and to -expel the Senapatti, whose ambitions and ideals were not for the good -of Manipur. - -In accordance with instructions, Mr. Quinton, Chief Commissioner in -Assam, set out for Manipur to further the intentions of the Government. -His force consisted of 400 Rifles of the 42nd and 44th Gurkha -Regiments, which were deemed sufficient reinforcement to the 100 Rifles -of the 43rd Gurkhas already at Manipur. This little band of 400 arrived -at Manipur on March 22nd, and, after consultation, it was decided to -call a _darbar_, so as to declare and ventilate the decision of the -Government. It was in the back of the Government's mind to effect the -arrest of the Senapatti. But he had evidently got to know this; at all -events, neither he nor his followers attended the _darbar_. - -Notwithstanding Mr. Grimwood's intervention, in which he explained -to the usurper that the Government was favourable to him, nothing -satisfactory could be brought about with either side. The fact was that -the usurper, as well as the Senapatti, was entirely antagonistic to the -aims of the British; consequently, the _darbar_ was a complete failure. - -There was no time to be wasted, and there was no time to speculate on -what was "on the other side of the hill." At daybreak on the 24th, -Colonel Skene, with 250 men, called at the palace to arrest the missing -chief. The Manipurs had foreseen this. They were well prepared. They -had 6,000 men and two guns as a welcome, and, though the gallant 250 -put up a tremendous fight, they were ultimately forced back to the -Residency. Swift after them came the enemy with their guns. A fierce -siege of the Residency then followed. Towards evening there was a -lull, and an armistice was agreed upon. But the natives, not knowing -at that time the far-reaching failure of Punic, or Prussian, faith, -played false. Mr. Quinton, Colonel Skene, Mr. Grimwood, Lieutenant -Simpson of the 43rd Gurkhas, and Mr. Cossins, Assistant Secretary of -the Chief Commissioner, were made prisoners by treachery, and then the -guns belched forth again on the Residency. In the morning the little -garrison was forced to retreat, and they took the road towards Cochar, -their way being lighted by burning villages on every hand, while far -in the rear the Residency itself proclaimed the temporary triumph of -the natives. In this retreat was Mrs. Grimwood, whose record of her -remarkable escape will be remembered. - -It was a retreat, not a rout. The brave fighters of the greatest -rearguard action in history, in the present war, may well call to mind -that rearguard action on a small scale, when our troops were, so to -speak, pursued by defeat, fighting against it all the way. At last they -fell in with Captain Cowley, in command of a small band, and, joining -forces with him, they made their way to Lakhpur. - -Meanwhile, General Graham, with half a battalion of the King's Royal -Rifles, No. 2 Mountain Battery R.A.; two battalions 4th Gurkhas and -12th Madras Infantry, and two guns, set out from Burma to the rescue -of the battered but not beaten troops. General Collett, commanding a -column, also made in all haste for Lakhpur. On the arrival of these -two contingents the city was speedily taken. But--and here is the -pity--before they could get to Manipur, the officers above mentioned, -treacherously taken, were treacherously massacred. - - - - -THE RELIEF OF CHITRAL - -(1895) - - -In the relief of Chitral a number of native regiments took part. In -the spring of 1895 Britain was suddenly called to attention by the -news, flashed along the cables, that hell had broken loose in Chitral. -This probably meant that a few British officers, with a small band of -Sikhs and other native troops, were in a most dangerous position in the -capital of that state. The probability soon became a certainty, and -great alarm was felt as to their safety. The next piece of bad news was -that the British were hemmed up in a small fort, and, in that desperate -position, were defending it against fearful odds, beating off wild -hordes of tribesmen, and fighting, in grim despair, against the clock, -hoping that time might bring succour and relief. And the jeopardy of -this situation was not lessened by the fresh news that two little -sections of the British army from Gilgit had to scale mountains more -rugged than the Alps before penetrating into the lowlands of Chitral to -the relief of the little garrison. - -After news of an engagement on March 7th no tidings were received -from Chitral Fort. Meanwhile came the official report of the -defeat of Captain Goss at Mastuj, he and fifty-six men having -been killed--fifty-six out of a total of seventy-one. This, with -the death-like silence of Chitral, was appalling; and immediately -Major-General Sir Robert Low was ordered to mobilise on the frontier of -the enemy's territory, and Colonel Kelly, commanding the 32nd Pioneers -in the Gilgit district, was given _carte blanche_ to plan the relief of -Chitral in whatever way might seem best to him. - -The journey from Gilgit to Chitral is a stupendous undertaking for -an army. The distance is 220 miles, and the way lies over a gigantic -range of mountains containing passes deep with perpetual snow. When it -became known that Colonel Kelly had actually undertaken this journey -in the hope of reaching Chitral in time to render assistance to the -beleaguered British, the heart of Britain was contracted. There was a -chill fear abroad, and the despairing word "impossible" was in constant -use. In the clubs men who knew those mountains gazed into each other's -eyes and borrowed what hope they could. The apparently impossible had -often been attempted before, and proved possible; so the nation waited, -nursing that fire of courage which is always kept burning in its -breast. - -Low's force was as follows:-- - - 1ST BRIGADE (General Kinloch).--Royal Rifles, Bedfordshires, 1st - Sikhs, 37th Dogras. - - 2ND BRIGADE (General Waterfield).--Gordons, Scottish Highlanders, - 4th Sikhs, Guides' Infantry, Field Hospital. - - 3RD BRIGADE (General Gatacre).--Seaforth Highlanders, Buffs, 25th - Punjabis, 4th Gurkhas, Field Hospital. - - DIVISIONAL TROOPS.--Guides' Infantry, 11th Bengal Lancers, 13th - Bengal Infantry, 23rd Pioneers, Bengal Sappers, East Lancashire - Regiment, 29th and 30th Punjabis, Field Hospital. - -Colonel Kelly's force consisted of two parties:-- - -(1) 200 Pioneers, 2 mountain guns, 40 Kashmir sappers, with 100 -Hunzanagur levies. - -(2) 100 Kashmir troops, under Lieut. Gough. - -Low forced Malakand Pass. The enemy's strength was on the left side of -the pass. Low brought his artillery to bear on this position, while the -4th Sikhs and Guides were thrown forward to scale the hills and carry -the breastworks of loose stones; after which they were to work along -the ridges and turn the enemy's flank. - -No sooner had they come within range than the hillmen poured a fierce -fire into their ranks; but our men could not reply, as their stern -business was to climb, and climb as quickly as possible. And a most -desperate ascent it was, for they had to contend against not only a -hail of bullets, but an avalanche of boulders as well. The officers -suffered heavily, from the simple fact that they could easily be -distinguished by their helmets among the turbaned troops. - -It was a long and tragic climb, but at last it came to the point of -the bayonet on the crest of the hill, and after more than three hours' -fighting the defenders abandoned the position. The Sikhs and Guides, -who carried this important point, had been nineteen hours under arms. - -During this time the Scottish Borderers and the Gordons had forced -their way up the centre of the pass until they now came to the last -climb, which was the steepest of all. But it was their own native task -that was before them, and, point by point, they scrambled upwards, -helping each other up, and never flinching under the constant storm of -lead. Seeing the desperate nature of their situation, Low despatched -Kinloch's infantry to their support: the King's Royal Rifles on the -left and the Bedfordshires and Dogras on the right; the 15th Sikhs -being held in reserve. The Borderers and the Gordons not only held, but -gained ground, and the Bedfordshires, when they came up, pushed right -through the fighting line, and, supported by the Dogras, finished the -fight the Borderers and the Gordons had so long contested. Clear over -the ridge they drove the hillmen, and the Dogras never ceased pursuit -of the routed foe until the survivors were dispersed in the Swat valley. - -Kelly encountered much severe fighting on his difficult journey, and -his daring and successful mission of relief can never be forgotten. -The principal engagement, however, was at Malakand Pass, where, though -victorious, Sir Robert Low's small force lost seventy killed and -wounded. - -Besides the many native regiments which took part in the relief -of Chitral, special honour is due to the 14th (King George's Own) -Ferozepore Sikhs, who were prominent in its defence. Their bravery of -despair and their heroic patience in that defence have bequeathed to -them a heritage of glory in the annals of Britain; and - - "The gold of glory, put to use, - More glory doth beget." - - - - -BATTLE OF DARGAI - -(1897) - - -The storming of the Dargai Heights was the most daring enterprise of -the Tirah Expedition. In the middle of October, after much delay in the -setting out, and just in time to meet the worst of the early winter -storms, the Expedition duly reached its first camping-place beneath -the ridge of Dargai. This was the initial obstacle to its advance -into the Rakzai country. In order to clear this ridge, Sir William -Lockhart sent forward the second division of his force, under General -Yeatman-Biggs, which engaged the enemy in a desperate conflict at -mid-day on October 18th. The 4th Brigade, under General Westmacott, -advanced from the Chagru Kotal against the front of the ridge, while -the 3rd Brigade, under General Kempster, swept round to the south and -west. This brigade, however, which had set out from Shinwari two hours -before daybreak, had been delayed, and was not yet at close quarters, -when the Gurkhas, covered by the fire of the Scottish Highlanders from -the low ridge opposite the Heights, and by the mountain-gun batteries -from Chagru, sprang forward across the open space, and began to climb -like mountain cats up the steep and narrow zigzag of the ridge. After -them came the Borderers, and the enemy, observing the rapid approach of -the stormers, fled before our infantry had reached the summit. - -Orders had been given that as soon as the ridge was cleared our men -were to return to Shinwari, but their obedience to this order had -an unfortunate result. The enemy immediately took it as a sign of -weakness, and returned to the attack. They quickly regained the ridge, -and, rushing down its front, harassed our retreating men. Thus a -brilliant victory assumed the complexion of a defeat, and the moral -effect of this upon the tribesmen was not to our advantage. - -A more conclusive battle, however, took place two days later at about -the same spot. General Lockhart gave orders that the frontal attack -on the heights should be combined with an advance down the defile, -but in the event General Yeatman-Biggs decided to confine himself to -the former. Again the Gurkhas were flung forward. But this time the -tribesmen had increased their force, and the brave little men left many -dead and wounded in their track. The Dorsetshires and the Sherwood -Foresters followed them, and they in their turn suffered very heavily. -For a whole hour death was as common as life, but there was no thought -of retreat; it was a time for indomitable courage and tenacity. - -A moment arrived, about noon, when the 1st Gordons and the 3rd Sikhs -prepared for a furious charge. The shrill pipes struck up as the -Gordons, led by Colonel Mathias, dashed out into the open space, -crossed it, and began to scale the steep hillside beyond. Difficult -as this stupendous task appeared to the onlookers, it was achieved by -these heroic mountaineers, though not without great loss. Once on the -ridge the battle was won. The enemy, unable to check this determined -assault, abandoned his position and fled in confusion. This time the -ridge was not only cleared, but held for good; and our forces found -their way open before them through the Chagru Kotal Pass. - -In this Tirah Expedition there was much valuable native blood shed, -expecially in the Khurmauna Defile, where a native officer and -thirty-five Sikhs were cut off in a ravine and every one of them -killed. The Gurkhas, to whom the life of a victory is that only a few -come back, had their full share of the joy of battle, with well-earned -glory, in this immortal storming of the Dargai Heights. - - - - -A LIST OF INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS - - -The following is a list of the Indian Native Regiments from the ranks -of which the 70,000 now fighting at the front are drawn:-- - - -_Indian Cavalry_ - - -GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S BODY-GUARD. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Java," "Ava," "Maharajpore," "Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," -"Aliwal," "Sobraon," "Seetabuldee." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -1ST DUKE OF YORK'S OWN LANCERS. (Skinner's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Bhurtpore," "Kandahar 1842," "Afghanistan 1879/80," -"Pekin 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Yellow_, facings _black velvet_. - -_Colonel-in-Chief_--THE KING. - - -2ND LANCERS. (Gardner's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Arracan," "Sobraon," "Punjab," "Egypt 1882," -"Tel-el-Kebir." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _light blue_. - - -3RD SKINNER'S HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan," "Ghuznee 1839," "Maharajpore," -"Khelat," "Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," "Aliwal," "Kandahar 1880," -"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _yellow_. - - -4TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -5TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -6TH KING EDWARD'S OWN CAVALRY. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher of King Edward VII. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punniar," "Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," "Sobraon," "Egypt -1882," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Punjab Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - -_Colonel-in-Chief_--THE KING. - - -7TH HARIANA LANCERS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -8TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -9TH HODSON'S HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Suakin 1885," "Chitral," "Punjab -Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _white_. - - -10TH DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN LANCERS. (Hodson's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Abyssinia," "Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -11TH KING EDWARD'S OWN LANCERS. (Probyn's Horse.) - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher of King Edward VII. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Lucknow," "Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ali Masjid," -"Afghanistan 1878/79," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - -_Colonel-in-Chief_--THE KING. - - -12TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Abyssinia," "Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," "Kabul -1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _blue_. - - -13TH DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S LANCERS. (Watson's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan 1878/80," "Egypt 1882," "Tel-el-Kebir," -"Punjab Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_, lace _silver_. - - -14TH MURRAY'S JAT LANCERS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Charasiah," "Kabul 1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_, pugri _scarlet_. - - -15TH LANCERS. (Cureton's Multanis.) - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -16TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _blue_. - - -17TH CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _white_. - - -18TH KING GEORGE'S OWN LANCERS. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -19TH LANCERS. (Fane's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan -1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _French grey_, lace _silver_. - - -20TH DECCAN HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Central India." - -UNIFORM.--_Rifle-green_, facings _white_. - - -21ST PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR'S OWN CAVALRY. (Frontier Force.) (Daly's -Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan -1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -22ND SAM BROWNE'S CAVALRY. (Frontier Force.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan -1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -23RD CAVALRY. (Frontier Force.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -25TH CAVALRY. (Frontier Force.) - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Charasiah," "Kabul 1879," -"Afghanistan 1878/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Dark green_, facings _scarlet_, pugri _scarlet_. - - -26TH KING GEORGE'S OWN LIGHT CAVALRY. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Ava," "Afghanistan -1879/80," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_French grey_, facings _buff_, lace _silver_. - - -27TH LIGHT CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Seringapatam," -"Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_French grey_, facings _buff_, lace _silver_. - - -28TH LIGHT CAVALRY. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Maheidpoor." - -UNIFORM.--_French grey_, facings _buff_, lace _silver_. - - -29TH LANCERS. (Deccan Horse.) - -UNIFORM.--_Rifle green_, facings _white_. - - -30TH LANCERS. (Gordon's Horse.) - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Central India." - -UNIFORM.--_Rifle green_, facings _white_. - - -31ST DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S OWN LANCERS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan," "Ghuznee 1839," "Punjab," "Mooltan," -"Central India," "Burma 1885/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -32ND LANCERS. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Central India," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _white_. - - -33RD QUEEN VICTORIA'S OWN LIGHT CAVALRY. - -BADGE.--The Royal and Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria within the -Garter. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Ghuznee 1842," "Kabul 1842," "Hyderabad," "Persia," -"Reshire," "Bushire," "Koosh-ab," "Central India," "Abyssinia," -"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _scarlet_. - - -34TH PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR'S OWN POONA HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Corygaum," "Ghuznee 1839," "Afghanistan," "Kandahar -1842," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," "Persia," "Reshire," "Koosh-ab," -"Bushire," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _French grey_. - - -35TH SCINDE HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Cutchee," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," "Punjab," -"Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Persia," "Central India," "Afghanistan 1878/79." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _white_. - - -36TH JACOB'S HORSE. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Cutchee," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," "Punjab," -"Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Afghanistan 1879/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Blue_, facings _primrose_. - - -37TH LANCERS. (Baluch Horse.) - -UNIFORM.--_Khaki serge_, facings _buff_. - - -38TH KING GEORGE'S OWN CENTRAL INDIA HORSE. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab -Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _maroon_. - - -39TH KING GEORGE'S OWN CENTRAL INDIA HORSE. - -BADGES.--The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and Imperial -Cypher. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab -Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _maroon_. - -_Colonel-in-Chief_--THE KING. - - -_Cavalry and Infantry_ - - -QUEEN VICTORIA'S OWN CORPS OF GUIDES (Frontier Force--Lumsden's). - -BADGE.--The Cypher of Queen Victoria within the Garter. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Delhi," "Ali -Masjid," "Kabul 1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Chitral," "Punjab -Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _red velvet_, _scarlet_ (cloth) for the ranks. - - -19TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan '78/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -20TH DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN INFANTRY ("Brownlow's Punjabis"). - -4 companies Pathans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan -'78/80," "Egypt '82," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Punjab Frontier," "China." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _emerald green_. - - -21ST PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -3 companies Pathans, 1 company Punjabi Mussalmans, 3 companies Sikhs, 1 -company Dogras. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Abyssinia," "Afghanistan '78/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _scarlet_. - - -22ND PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"China '60/62," "Afghanistan '79/80," "Punjab -Frontier." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -23RD SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1857. - -8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," -"Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _chocolate_. - - -24TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 1 company Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Afridis. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab -Frontier," "Malakand," "Pekin 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -25TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -3 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, -1 company Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -26TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Afridis, 2 companies Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan '78/80," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _scarlet_. - - -27TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"China '60/62," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _scarlet_. - - -28TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 3 companies Pathans, 1 company -Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Charasiah," "Kabul '79," "Afghanistan '78/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -29TH PANJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Peiwar Kotal," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -30TH PANJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan '79/80," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," -"Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -31ST PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -32ND SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1857. - -8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -33RD PUNJABIS. Raised 1857. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans, 2 companies Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _emerald green_. - - -34TH SIKH PIONEERS. Raised 1858, disbanded 1887, but recently re-formed. - -8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _blue_. - - -35TH SIKHS. Raised 1798, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887. - -8 companies Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -36TH SIKHS. Raised 1858, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887. - -8 companies Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab Frontier," "Samana," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -45TH RATTRAY'S SIKHS. Raised 1856, added to Bengal Army 1864. - -8 companies Sikhs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Defence of Arrah," "Behar," "Ali Masjid," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Malakand." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _white_. - - -46TH PUNJABIS. Raised 1900. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Afridis, 1 company Orakzais, -2 companies Lobana Sikhs. - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _emerald green_. - - -47TH SIKHS. Raised 1901. - -8 companies Sikhs. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _yellow_. - - -48TH PIONEERS. Raised 1901. - -4 companies Lobana Sikhs, 4 companies Jats. - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _black_. - - -51ST SIKHS (Frontier Force). Raised 1846. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan '78/79," "Pekin -1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _yellow_. - - -52ND SIKHS (Frontier Force). Raised 1846. - -3 companies Dogras, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, -1 company Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Punjab," "Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan -'78/80." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _scarlet_. - - -53RD SIKHS (Frontier Force). Raised 1847. - -4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Khattaks, 1 company -Punjabi Mussalmans. - - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '79/80," -"Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _black_. - - -54TH SIKHS (Frontier Force). Raised 1847. - -4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 -company Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Pegu," "Delhi," "Chitral." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _emerald green_. - - -56TH PUNJABI RIFLES (Frontier Force). Raised 1849. - -3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Khattaks. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Peiwar Kotal," "Afghanistan -'78/79," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _black_. - - -62ND PUNJABIS. Raised at Madras 1759. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Rajputs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Mysore," "Assaye," "Nagpore," "China." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -66TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Trichinopoly 1761. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Rajputs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Seringapatam," -"Bourbon," "China." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -67TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Trichinopoly 1761. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Mysore," "Ava." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -69TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Madras 1765. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Ava," "Pegu." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -72ND PUNJABIS. Raised at Cuddalose 1767. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Ava," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab serge_, lacings _white_. - - -74TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Vallose 1776. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Maheidpoor," -"China," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -76TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Trichinopoly 1776. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Hindu -Jats. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Seringapatam," -"Ava," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -82ND PUNJABIS. Raised at Ellore 1788. - -2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Hindu Jats. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Ava." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -84TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Vellore 1794. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Rajputs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Seringapatam," "Assaye," "Bourbon." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -87TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Trichinopoly 1798. - -4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Hindu Jats. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Maheidpoor," "Lucknow," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Scarlet_, facings _emerald green_. - - -89TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Masulipatam 1798. - -3 companies Sikhs, 3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Brahmans, -1 company Rajputs. - -UNIFORM.--_Drab serge_, facings _blue_. - - -90TH PUNJABIS. Raised at Masulipatam 1799. - -4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Brahmans, -1 company Rajputs. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Ava," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Burma '85/87." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab serge_, facings _black_. - - -91ST PUNJABIS (Light Infantry). Raised at Trichinopoly 1800. - -3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, -1 company Hindustani Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOURS.--"Maheidpoor," "China 1900." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab_, facings _cherry_. - - -92ND PUNJABIS. Raised at Madras 1800. - -4 companies Sikhs, 4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans. - -BATTLE HONOUR.--"Ava." - -UNIFORM.--_Drab serge_, facings _white_. - - -[For the Gurkha Regiments and others not mentioned in this list the -reader is referred to earlier chapters.] - - The Daily Telegraph - WAR BOOKS - - Price One Shilling each net, cloth. - - - HOW THE WAR BEGAN. J.M. KENNEDY. - - THE FLEETS AT WAR. ARCHIBALD HURD. - - THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN. GEORGE HOOPER. - - THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIÉGE. J.M. KENNEDY. - - IN THE FIRING LINE. A. ST. JOHN ADCOCK. - - GREAT BATTLES OF THE WORLD. STEPHEN CRANE. - - BRITISH REGIMENTS AT THE FRONT. REGINALD HODDER. - - THE RED CROSS IN WAR. M.F. BILLINGTON. - - FORTY YEARS AFTER. H.C. BAILEY. - - A SCRAP OF PAPER. E.J. DILLON. - - HOW THE NATIONS WAGED WAR. J.M. KENNEDY. - - AIRCRAFT IN WAR. ERIC S. BRUCE. - - FAMOUS FIGHTS OF INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS. REGINALD HODDER. - - THE RETREAT TO PARIS. ROGER INGPEN. - - THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE. MARR MURRAY. - - HACKING THROUGH BELGIUM. EDMUND DANE. - - MOTOR TRANSPORTS IN WAR. HORACE WYATT. - - THE SLAV NATIONS. - - THE SUBMARINE IN WAR. C.W. DOMVILLE FIFE. - - - PUBLISHED FOR THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - BY HODDER & STOUGHTON, WARWICK SQ., - LONDON, E.C. - -_Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and -Aylesbury_--1414681 - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Famous Fights of Indian Native -Regiments, by Reginald Hodder - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS FIGHTS--INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS *** - -***** This file should be named 53491-0.txt or 53491-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/4/9/53491/ - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/53491-0.zip b/old/53491-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1255746..0000000 --- a/old/53491-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h.zip b/old/53491-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 73da254..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h/53491-h.htm b/old/53491-h/53491-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 3001a5b..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/53491-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5652 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Famous Fights of Indian Native Regiments, by Reginald Hodder. -</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.small { - font-size: small} - -.medium { - font-size: medium} - -.large { - font-size: large} - -.x-large { - font-size: x-large} - - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} -.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} -.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } -.ph5 { font-size: small; margin: 1.12em auto; text-align: center;} - -.hang { - text-indent: -2em; - padding-left: 2em} - -p.drop:first-letter { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - font-size: xx-large; - line-height: 70%} - -.uppercase { - font-size: small; - text-transform: uppercase} - - - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} -hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} - - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - - - - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: #004200 double 4px; - margin-left: 30%; - margin-right: 30%;} - -.bbod {border: #004200 solid 4px; - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - - - - -.caption {text-align: center;} - - - - - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Famous Fights of Indian Native Regiments, by -Reginald Hodder - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Famous Fights of Indian Native Regiments - -Author: Reginald Hodder - -Release Date: November 10, 2016 [EBook #53491] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS FIGHTS--INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="ph2"> THE DAILY TELEGRAPH <br /> -WAR BOOKS -</p></div> - - - - - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/iillusfp.jpg" alt="at the front" /> -</p> - - -<p class="caption"> WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. 1914.</p> - - - - -<p class="ph1" style="margin-top:5em;"> -FAMOUS FIGHTS OF<br /> -INDIAN NATIVE<br /> -REGIMENTS</p> - -<p class="ph5" style="margin-top: 5em;"><i>By</i></p> -<p class="ph3">REGINALD HODDER</p> - -<p class="ph4"><i>Author of "British Regiments at the Front," Etc.</i></p> - -<p class="ph4" style="margin-top: 10em;">HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO<br /> -MCMXIV -</p> - - - - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 10em;" >The Author wishes to express his indebtedness to Mr. <span class="smcap">J. -Norvill</span> for his valuable assistance and suggestions.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" style="margin-top: 10em;" /> - -<p class="ph2">THE PADISHA'S WORDS</p> - - -<p>"<i>I look to all my Indian soldiers to uphold the Izzat of the British -Raj against an aggressive and relentless enemy.</i></p> - -<p>"<i>I know with what readiness my brave and loyal Indian soldiers are -prepared to fulfil this sacred trust on the field of battle shoulder to -shoulder with their comrades from all parts of the Empire. Rest assured -that you will always be in my thoughts and prayers.</i></p> - -<p>"<i>I bid you to go forward and add fresh lustre to the glorious -achievements and noble traditions of courage and chivalry of my Indian -Army, whose honour and fame are in your hands.</i>"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">CONTENTS</p> - - -<table summary="toc" width="60%"> -<tr> -<td> -</td> -<td><span class="smcap">page</span> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#INTRODUCTION"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">xi -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#A_GENERAL_DESCRIPTION_OF_THE_INDIAN_ARMY"><span class="smcap">A General Description of the Indian Army</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">1 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_SIKHS"><span class="smcap">The Sikhs</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">9 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_RAJPUTS"><span class="smcap">The Rajputs</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">19 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_MAHRATTAS"><span class="smcap">The Mahrattas</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">25 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_GURKHAS"><span class="smcap">The Gurkhas</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">42 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_DOGRAS"><span class="smcap">The Dogras</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">69 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_BALUCHIS"><span class="smcap">The Baluchis</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">73 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_BATTLES_OF_THE_GOLDEN_DAGON_PAGODA"><span class="smcap">The Battles of the Golden Dagon Pagoda</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">81 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#BHURTPORE"><span class="smcap">Bhurtpore</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">100 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_WAR_IN_SCINDE"><span class="smcap">The War in Scinde</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">104</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_FIRST_SIKH_WAR"><span class="smcap">The First Sikh War</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">109 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#ALIWAL_AND_SOBRAON"><span class="smcap">Aliwal and Sobraon</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">116 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_STORMING_OF_THE_TAKU_FORTS"><span class="smcap">The Storming of the Taku Forts</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">131 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_THIRD_AFGHAN_WAR"><span class="smcap">The Third Afghan War</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">134 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#TEL-EL-KEBIR_AND_KASSASSIN"><span class="smcap">Tel-El-Kebir and Kassassin</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">139 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#BATTLES_AROUND_SUAKIN"><span class="smcap">Battles Around Suakin</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">143 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_FRONTIER_FIGHTING_OF_1886"><span class="smcap">The Frontier Fighting of 1886</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">149 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#THE_RELIEF_OF_CHITRAL"><span class="smcap">The Relief of Chitral</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">154 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#BATTLE_OF_DARGAI"><span class="smcap">Battle of Dargai</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">159 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td><a href="#A_LIST_OF_INDIAN_NATIVE_REGIMENTS"><span class="smcap">A List of Indian Native Regiments</span></a> -</td> -<td align="right">162 -</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">ORDER OF THE DAY.—No. 1.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Soldiers of the Indian Army Corps</span>,</p> - -<p>We have all read with pride the gracious message of his Majesty the -King-Emperor to his troops from India.</p> - -<p>On the eve of going into the field to join our British comrades, -who have covered themselves with glory in this great war, it is our -firm resolve to prove ourselves worthy of the honour which has been -conferred on us as representatives of the Army of India.</p> - -<p>In a few days we shall be fighting as has never been our good fortune -to fight before, and against enemies who have a long history.</p> - -<p>But is their history as long as yours? You are the descendants of men -who have been mighty rulers and great warriors for many centuries. You -will never forget this. You will recall the glories of your race. Hindu -and Mahomedan will be fighting side by side with British soldiers and -our gallant French Allies. You will be helping to make history. You -will be the first Indian soldiers of the King-Emperor who will have -the honour of showing in Europe that the sons of India have lost none -of their ancient martial instincts and are worthy of the confidence -reposed in them.</p> - -<p>In battle you will remember that your religions enjoin on you that to -give your life doing your duty is your highest reward.</p> - -<p>The eyes of your co-religionists and your fellow-countrymen are on you. -From the Himalayan Mountains, the banks of the Ganges and Indus, and -the plains of Hindustan, they are eagerly waiting for the news of how -their brethren conduct themselves when they meet the foe. From mosques -and temples their prayers are ascending to the God of all, and you will -answer their hopes by the proofs of your valour.</p> - -<p>You will fight for your King-Emperor and your faith, so that history -will record the doings of India's sons and your children will proudly -tell of the deeds of their fathers.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 60%"> -JAMES WILLCOCKS,<br /> -<i>Lieut.-General</i><br /> -<i>Commg. Indian Army Corps</i>.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Camp</span>, Oct. 10th, 1914. -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a></p> - - -<p>Our native army in India is principally composed of Sikhs, Pathans, -Punjabi Mussalmans, and Gurkhas. Each of these races has acquired in -its own way a high reputation for valour and martial skill, and it need -not be doubted that the men drawn from these sources in the East to -confront a relentless foe in the West are absolutely reliable.</p> - -<p>Quite a third of the Indian Army is composed of Sikhs. They are not -exactly a race, but are a military and religious caste, the only modern -importation into their religion being a savour of socialism. The Sikh -sect dates from the fifteenth century, when Baba Nanak raised them, so -to speak, from the indiscriminate mass, to governing positions in the -Punjab. This was partly owing to their strong religious sentiment, but -principally to their military capabilities. In course of time, they -came to dominate the whole of Northern India, and reached the height -of their power under the Maharajah Runjit Singh (1780-1839). The -Sikh wars of 1845-6 and 1848-9 are a matter of history. In these both -British and Sikhs fought with the utmost gallantry. But, since 1849, -the brave Sikhs have been loyal British subjects, and have fought on -our side not only in the Indian Mutiny, but in Abyssinia, Afghanistan, -China, Burma, Somaliland, and Tibet. At the present time, the Indian -Army includes thirteen Sikh battalions, and there are one or more Sikh -squadrons in each of the cavalry regiments, as well as a company or two -in each of the infantry battalions.</p> - -<p>The Khalsa Sikh is the beau-ideal of everything high and noble in the -Sikh race. Stirred by the depths of his own religion, he fought and -conquered at its behest. And to him is owing the high reputation and -romantic popularity of an honoured name. The Khalsa Sikh is derived -from many different castes, but principally from the Jats of the -Punjab, whose character has responded to, and whose development has -been moulded by, the self-reliant, warlike, and manly teachings of -their ideal lawgiver and hero, Govid Singh, from whom their name is -derived—the word Sikh being originally Singh.</p> - -<p>It is to the Jat element that the Sikh owes his most lofty -characteristics. Thus the Jat Sikh respects himself wisely. His racial -pride is based on the knowledge that he is justly, and without doubt, -the flower of India. With him, as with all others who undertake great -deeds in the present, the natural stimulus to such deeds is the -stirring song of heroic achievements in the past.</p> - -<p>The Pathans emanate from the Afghan race, and inhabit the hills of -the north-west frontier of India. While many of the clans are Shiahs, -the majority are orthodox Mussalmans. These Pathans, who frequently -figure in novels dealing with Indian life, are, in their way, romantic -figures. They are not only tall, handsome, and striking in appearance, -but they have also a very independent character, obeying discipline -for discipline's sake, and their officers for love of them. It is very -strange that their facial characteristics are decidedly Jewish in type. -It may be asked why there are only Company regiments, and no Class -regiments of the Pathans. The reason is that, while they do not possess -all the qualities which make for the complete efficiency of the Class -regiment, they have unusual merits which are a very desirable leaven to -almost any body of fighting men. They are certainly an admirable factor -in combination with Sikhs and Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p>The Punjabi Mussalmans were the original inhabitants of the Punjab, and -their strong characteristics are still uppermost in that province. By -race they are both Rajput and Jat, but their clans are many. From their -wealthy families are recruited many fine cavalry regiments. They have -a particular leaning towards mountain cavalry work, and this tendency -has been fostered by the Government. Taking them all round, they are -most efficient and courageous soldiers, and their attachment to their -officers is proverbial.</p> - -<p>As to the Gurkha, he needs but slight introduction. He is, so to speak, -the "Little Benjamin" of the force from India, and excites great -interest by his high courage and remarkable skill.</p> - -<p>When the Gurkhas were told that they were wanted to fight in the great -war they asked, "Shall we all be killed?"; and the officer said, "Not -all." They inquired, "Shall a great many be killed?" He replied, -"Possibly." Then they asked, "Will a hundred come back?" "Perhaps so." -"That will be enough," they said; "our people will know that we have -fought well."</p> - -<p>The Gurkha's skill with his <i>kukri</i> is so remarkable as to appear -absolutely unerring. Given a human mark—let us say in the shape of a -German—he can take off his nose or ear, or pierce his eye with deadly -precision. No knife-thrower in the world can so accurately and closely -fence in a man standing against a wall as can a Gurkha with some twenty -knives—without drawing a drop of blood. A soldier writing from the -front concludes his mention of these terrible little men with the -passage: "God help the Germans these men come across, for nobody else -can. Death to them is a pastime." Yet, though the art of throwing the -<i>kukri</i> is perfection itself among the Gurkhas, it must not be supposed -that they make a practice of throwing it at the enemy. They would not -run the risk of losing the beloved weapon for the sake of killing <i>one</i> -German.</p> - -<p>The well-known fighting races inhabiting the Punjab, such as the -Sikhs and Pathans, are supplemented by a considerable number of -smaller fighting castes. All these are either of Rajput, Jat, or -Tartar descent; but, being mostly Mahomedans, they are prone to claim -Moghul or Arab origin. Though not very distinct from some of the more -unwarlike Punjab castes, they have, at some period of their history, -displayed enough valour to acquire the ascendancy over neighbouring -districts, and the memory of this has given them that pride of blood -and race and that spirit of self-reliance which so largely constitute -the martial instinct. The smaller Mahomedan fighting tribes of the -Punjab are often grouped together under the generic term "Punjabi -Mahomedan."</p> - -<p>The most important, from a military point of view, are the <i>Ghakkars</i>, -who make excellent soldiers. They are fine men, fierce, proud, and -high-spirited.</p> - -<p><i>Awans</i> and <i>Sials</i>.—These were at first soldiers, and latterly -agriculturists. During the Mutiny the Sial chief remained loyal, and -rendered active assistance by raising a small body of cavalry from his -tribe for Imperial use.</p> - -<p>The Kharrals are also a well-built, hardy tribe, possessing the martial -instinct in a high degree. The Bhattis and the Khokars are also among -the warriors of India.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>[<span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The warriors of India have a score to settle with -the Germans. It is a private matter not to be mentioned in the same -breath with the whole-hearted loyalty of the Indian troops, but at -the same time it will lend a keener edge to every <i>kukri</i>, a more -formidable point to every lance and bayonet, a more deadly aim to -every bullet. What rankles justly in the Indian's breast in this. -During the Boxer Insurrection of 1900 the Germans treated the brave -Indian troops fighting by their side as if they had been the dirt -of the earth. Our noble Indians, whose traditions were clothed -in glory long before the Germans knew proper clothing of any -kind, have not forgotten this. For fourteen years they, too, have -been looking forward to "the day." And now it has come. "For the -Padisha and the Right!"—if one could read their thoughts—"and, -incidentally, a squaring of accounts!"]</p></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="A_GENERAL_DESCRIPTION_OF_THE_INDIAN_ARMY" id="A_GENERAL_DESCRIPTION_OF_THE_INDIAN_ARMY">A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIAN ARMY</a></p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Commands.</span>—A Command is one of the principal administrative -portions into which the Army of India is divided. There are four -such Commands—the Punjab, Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. Each Command -is presided over by a Lieut.-General, and is further divided into -first and second class districts, commanded by Major-Generals and -Brigadier-Generals respectively. The principal executive authority is -vested in the Commander-in-Chief in India, subject to the control of -the Governor-General, who is, by law, the supreme head of the Army.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Native Cavalry.</span>—A regiment of native cavalry, with the -exception of the Guides and the Lancers of the Hyderabad Contingent, -consists of four squadrons. The strength varies slightly, but is -usually eight British officers, one medical officer, seventeen native -officers, and 608 noncommissioned officers and men.</p> - -<p>The native cavalry, with the exception of the Body-Guards and the -three regiments of Madras Lancers (now the 26th King George's Own -Light Infantry, the 27th Light Cavalry and the 28th Light Cavalry), -is organised on what is called the Silladar System, <i>i.e.</i>, the -horses, saddlery, clothing, equipment and war arms (except carbines -and revolvers) are the private property of the regiment, and are -provided for by funds to which all ranks pay donations on joining, with -monthly subscriptions throughout their entire service. This system is -characteristic of their dignity and standing. The original donation, or -<i>assami</i>, is returned on a man being pensioned or discharged. A baggage -mule or pony, and a driver who acts as grass-cutter, are maintained -by every pair of fighting men. Two Sowars, mounted on fast-trotting -camels, are attached to each squadron for the rapid conveyance of -orders over long distances. The native cavalry is armed with sword and -carbine. Lancers carry their own special weapon in addition. All corps -are trained in the use of the lance, which in some regiments is carried -by the front-rank men.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The Ranks.</span>—The native ranks and their respective duties are -as follow:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><i>Risaldar-Major.</i>—The chief native officer of the regiment. The -badge of his rank is a crown worn on each shoulder-strap. He -commands a half-squadron, and is the confidential adviser of the -Commandant in all matters relating to the native ranks.</p> - -<p><i>Risaldar and Ressaidar.</i>—Half-squadron commanders. The badge of -the former is three stars; of the latter, two stars, worn on each -shoulder-strap.</p> - -<p><i>Woordie-Major.</i>—Native adjutant. He is generally a Ressaidar.</p> - -<p><i>Kot Dafadār.</i>—The senior non-commissioned officer of the regiment.</p> - -<p><i>Dafadār.</i>—Sergeant.</p> - -<p><i>Solutri.</i>—Veterinary subordinate.</p> - -<p><i>Sowar.</i>—Trooper.</p></div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Native Artillery.</span>—A native mountain battery has an -establishment of five British officers, three native officers, and 253 -non-commissioned officers and men. The armament consists of six 2.5 in. -R.M.L. guns, carried on mules.</p> - -<p>The only native field batteries now maintained are those of the -Hyderabad Contingent. Each battery consists of two British officials, -two native officers, and 128 non-commissioned officers and men. The -armament consists of two six-pounder S.B. guns and two twelve-pounder -howitzers.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Native Infantry.</span>—A single battalion of native infantry is -organised in four double companies, and has a complement of nearly -twenty British officers, one medical officer, sixteen native officers, -and eighty non-commissioned officers. The strength of the rank and -file varies from 800 in the Punjab and Bengal to 720 in Madras and -Bombay. To facilitate transfers in war time, the infantry, with a few -exceptions, is organised into groups of two or three linked battalions, -having a common regimental centre. Each battalion has a reserve, -varying in strength from 218 to 160 men.</p> - -<p>Native ranks and duties are:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><i>Subadār-Major.</i>—Principal native officer of the battalion and -confidential adviser of the Commanding Officer on all matters -relating to the native ranks. He also commands a company.</p> - -<p><i>Subadār.</i>—Company commander.</p> - -<p><i>Jemadār.</i>—Subaltern.</p> - -<p><i>Havildār-Major.</i>—Sergeant-major.</p> - -<p><i>Quarter-Master-Havildār.</i>—Quarter-master-sergeant.</p> - -<p><i>Havildār.</i>—Sergeant.</p> - -<p><i>Naick.</i>—Corporal.</p> - -<p><i>Sepoy.</i>—Private.</p></div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Recruiting.</span>—For recruiting purposes, India is divided into -districts, each in charge of an officer, who recruits only for some -particular race. All recruiting parties detached from regiments work -under his orders, and all candidates for enlistment are brought to -him for approval after undergoing medical examination. The number of -applicants for service, especially for the Silladar Cavalry, is often -in excess of the number of vacancies available. Recruits must be from -sixteen to twenty-five years of age. There is a comparative scale of -chest measurement to height, the minimum in each case being 33 in. and -5 feet 6 in. Special standards are allowed for Gurkhas, Dogras, and -Mazhbi Sikhs. A native soldier enlists for three years. At the end of -that time he may either claim his discharge or prolong his service up -to twenty years, when he becomes entitled to a pension. All enlistments -are for general service, with liability to serve wherever required.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Racial Composition.</span>—Regiments of native cavalry and -battalions of infantry are organised on the class system. They may be -composed entirely of one class, when they are called "Class" regiments, -or they may be recruited from three or four classes, kept apart in -separate companies, when they are styled "Class Company" regiments. -For instance, the 14th Sikhs, composed of eight companies of Sikhs, -would be an example of the former, while the 30th Punjab Infantry, -composed of four companies of Sikhs, two of Dogras, and two of Punjabi -Mussalmans, would serve as an example of the latter.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Forage and Rations.</span>—The native soldier pays for his own -food and, in the Silladar Cavalry, also for the upkeep of his horse. -A regimental bazaar is attached to each corps, from which the men -purchase their rations. When the cost of the daily ration exceeds Rs. -3.8.0 per month, compensation is granted by the Government for the -difference. On field service the native soldier draws free rations, and -in addition to his ordinary pay is granted a special monthly allowance.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Quarters.</span>—The quarters of native troops, except in Burma and -on the North-west Frontier, are ranges of huts, called lines, which -have to be built and kept in order by the corps temporarily occupying -them. To defray the cost of repairs, the Government makes an allowance, -which is paid monthly.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Education.</span>—Each regiment and battalion has a school, at -which attendance is voluntary. Sepoys are required to pass an easy -examination in reading, writing, arithmetic and drill before promoted -to non-commissioned rank.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Bands.</span>—These are maintained by infantry, but not by cavalry. -All Gurkha battalions and many corps in which Pathans are enlisted -have pipers as well as bandsmen, buglers and drummers. The pipers make -their own pipes, in imitation of the Scottish bagpipes, and acquire -considerable efficiency under the instruction of Highland bandmasters.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Furlough and Leave.</span>—The popularity of service in the native -army is largely due to the liberal manner in which furlough and leave -are granted.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">Dress.</span>—The dress of the native army is picturesque and -distinctive. Kilmarnock caps are worn by the Gurkhas and Garhwalis, -otherwise the universal headdress is the turban or pugri. In -the Silladar Cavalry all uniforms are provided under regimental -arrangements. In the other regiments clothing is issued by the -clothing factories at Calcutta and Madras, but the khaki uniform, -and all necessaries, such as great-coats, boots, pugris, haversacks, -water-bottles, bedding, cooking-pots, etc., are purchased or -manufactured regimentally, and may be had from the quarter-master at -fixed prices.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Most of our native Indian soldiers are either peasant proprietors -or cultivators, and on retirement from service return to their -former employment. Some, however, accept minor posts with the civil -administration, such as those of caretakers or messengers.</p> - -<p>The Indian soldier is generally excellent in sports and athletics. -The skill of the Sowar in tent-pegging, lime-cutting, and his daring -feats of horsemanship are well known. In the infantry, wrestling is a -favourite amusement, and certain classes, more especially Gurkhas, are -keen sportsmen in the all-round sense of the word.</p> - -<p>The military and agricultural classes of India are seen at their best -in the native army. Enthusiastic in his profession, endued with great -pride of race and considerable spirit, the native soldier feels that -there is a <i>camaraderie</i> and a community of interests between himself -and his British officers which are wholly lacking in his relations -with civil officials. Daily intercourse in the lines, and in various -games and sports, affords opportunities for mutual acquaintance, and -enables British officers to acquire that personal influence over their -men which has been so largely responsible for the brilliant results -achieved by most of our great men of India.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_SIKHS" id="THE_SIKHS">THE SIKHS</a></p> - - -<p>There are three great classes of Sikhs: the Sikh by race, the Sikh -by religious sect, and the Sikh by political conviction. They are, -however, divided tribally as follows:—</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 40%;"> -The Jat Sikhs,<br /> -The Khattri Sikhs,<br /> -The Kamboh Sikhs,<br /> -The Lobana Sikhs,<br /> -The Sikh Chuhras or Mazhbis,<br /> -The Sikh Tarkhans,<br /> -The Kalal Sikhs. -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Jat Sikhs.</span>—Our Jat recruits are drawn from the Eastern -Jats, a race of hardy husbandmen. They are, so to speak, a clan of -Indian agricultural peasantry. They came originally from the highlands -of Scythia. These men possess the necessary instincts of the soldier, -and their history has been marked by stern, hard fighting.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Khattri Sikhs.</span>—These are the merchant caste of the -Punjabis.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Kamboh Sikhs.</span>—These make excellent soldiers, being of -very fine physique and possessing great courage. They have always been -noted for their cunning strategy, which now, being far less "slim" -than in former times, has developed into the permissible strategy of -war.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Lobana Sikhs.</span>—These are the social equals of the Jats.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Sikh Chuhras</span> or <span class="smcap">Mazhbis</span>.—The term "Mazhbis" -has now come to be applied to all Chuhras who have adopted Sikhism as -their religion. The true Mazhbis are descendants of certain Chuhras, -who rescued in a heroic fashion the body of Gurai Teg Bahadur from the -Mahomedans, thus saving it from being dishonoured. In return for this, -Gurai's son, Govind Singh, bestowed upon them the title of "Mazhbis -Rangreeta" ("Chosen Brave"), and invited them into the fold of Sikhism. -Therefore the name Mazhbis belongs properly to the descendants of these -particular Chuhras' families. Inspired as they are by the glorious -history and traditions of Khalsa, these men make excellent soldiers.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Sikh Tarkhans.</span>—Tarkhans are carpenters by caste and -profession. They are intelligent and industrious men, of whom about 20 -per cent. are Sikhs by religion, the rest being Hindu or Mahomedan. -Sikh Tarkhans, if carefully recruited, could supply a fair number of -good soldiers.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Kalal Sikhs.</span>—The Kalals are by caste and profession -distillers and wine merchants on a small scale. Twenty-five per cent. -of these have now embraced Sikhism, the rest being Hindu or Mahomedan; -the Hindus being about 50 per cent. of the whole, and the Mahomedans -about 25 per cent. Sikh Kalals are often styled Alhuwalias, from the -fact that the famous and important Alhuwalia Misb was founded by the -Kalal convert to Sikhism. The Chiefs of Kapurthala have always been -Kalals by descent, and, since the rise of the Sikh Kalals to political -prominence, they have largely given up their original profession to -take to the more respectable avocations of merchandise and agriculture. -The Kalals have a reputation for "enterprise, mercy and obstinacy"; and -the Sikh Kalals make good soldiers, being of good physique and great -hardihood.</p> - -<p>The stately, manly Sikh has a character all his own. He has the manly -virtues of honesty, industry, and tenacity well developed. He is -independent, patient, and full of methodical, laborious energy; and, of -all the Sikh tribes of whom this description is more or less true, the -Jat may be particularly mentioned.</p> - -<p>The Sikh race is drawn from the Punjab tribes, such as the Jat and -Khattri, who from time immemorial have been renowned for their sturdy -grit and independence. It may perhaps be said that the Jat-Sikh -combines especially the best qualities of the Pathan races with those -of the Sikh tribes.</p> - -<p>All the Punjab races are, as a rule, impatient of control, but the Jat -is particularly so, exercising in his impatience a fine quality of -individual freedom. This, together with the fact that he is neither -truculent nor turbulent, provides him with one of the finest qualities -of a well-disciplined soldier, in contradistinction to the machine-made -soldier. Well understood, he can be, and has been, well managed. -Encouraged to continue in his own peaceful agricultural ways, he is -reasonable and contented in doing his work; but if he is roused by what -he considers unjust aggression, or any unsolicited interference, he is -a dangerous man to deal with.</p> - -<p>These salient characteristics of the Jat, combined with other qualities -cultivated by British rule and example, have tinctured practically the -whole Sikh race.</p> - -<p>Respect of self and pride of race have now improved from the Sikh -character the early intolerance and ungovernable spirit emanating from -the Jats. Even the Sikh religion, as taught by its founder Nanak, has -modified the hard-and-fast prejudices of the Hindu on the one hand, and -on the other has eliminated the baser rancour and fanaticism of the -more exoteric Mahomedanism.</p> - -<p>The Sikh of to-day is a level-headed, sober-minded, tolerant man, -keenly alive to practical issues. And from this may be judged his -valour as a soldier. In the thick of battle the Sikh is cool and -resolute. He is possessed of grim determination and tenacity. Just as -in any emergency of social life he will keep his head with admirable -self-restraint, so in the clash of battle he can be relied upon to -do the right thing at the right moment in the right way. While not -possessing quite so much <i>élan</i> as some other tribes, he more than -compensates for that lack by his immunity from any tendency to panic.</p> - -<p>The high-class Sikh may always be known by his stately bearing and -lofty courtesy. His every movement is graceful, and the general -impression one would get on the approach of a real Sikh is simply this: -"Here comes one who is a prince in his own country." This dignity -of bearing extends even to the lower classes, especially among our -Sepoys, who carry themselves with an easy elegance, much of which is -attributable to their splendid physique and the due consciousness of it.</p> - -<p>It is not too much to say that of all the fine races of the East there -is no type of man superior to the Sikh. In innate breeding he can -tread the razor-edge between independence and insolence, between firm -resolution and unreasoning obstinacy, between the present value of -tradition and the dead husk of the glorified past. In his respect of -himself he commands respect from others, and, combining the essential -instinct of the soldier with the acquired love of practical ideals -he can see with a single eye what the doubleheaded vulture of Prussia -cannot see with four.</p> - -<p>Constant fighting and an iron discipline had kept the Sikhs in order -during the lifetime of Ranjit Singh, but after his death the army -became unmanageable.</p> - -<p>The history of the Sikh War is too well known to need more than passing -reference. The troops of the Khalsa were defeated after a series of -hard-fought battles, in which they showed soldierly qualities of the -highest order. In the decade which followed the conquest of the Punjab, -the British Government, impressed with the fighting capacity of their -former opponents, determined to employ them as soldiers in their own -army.</p> - -<p>On the outbreak of the Mutiny, which from the first was identified -with the restoration of the Moghul power, there was an immense -revival of Sikhism. Hundreds of Sikhs who had turned their swords -into ploughshares flocked to Lahore, and eagerly took service in the -regiments there being raised by Lord Lawrence. All were filled with -an intense longing to range themselves on the side of justice and -right. All were anxious to assist in the capture of Delhi—a city -associated in their minds with the heroic struggles and reverses of -their forefathers. The spirit of the Khalsa, which had suffered greatly -by the defeats on the Sutlej, was aroused at the thought of a conflict -between Sikhism and Islam—a conflict the memory of which is now not -only nobly forgotten, but to be blotted out for ever by heroism and -sacrifice; for both Sikh and Mahomedan of India have joined hands -in common cause against the enemy of all human progress. Both have -espoused our cause with a devotion and loyalty which is almost without -parallel in history.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE SIKH REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Cavalry</i></p> - -<p>The following regiments contain squadrons of Sikhs:—</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 1em;">2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse). -<br /> -3rd Skinner's Horse. -<br /> -4th Cavalry. -<br /> -6th King Edward's Own Cavalry. -<br /> -7th Hariana Lancers. -<br /> -9th Hodson's Horse. -<br /> -10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse). -<br /> -11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse). -<br /> -12th Cavalry. -<br /> -13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers. -<br /> -16th Cavalry. -<br /> -18th King George's Own Lancers. -<br /> -19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). -<br /> -20th Deccan Horse. -<br /> -21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier -Force) (Daly's Horse). -<br /> -22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry (Frontier Force). -<br /> -23rd Cavalry (Frontier Force). -<br /> -25th Cavalry (Frontier Force). -<br /> -29th Lancers (Deccan Horse). -<br /> -30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse). -<br /> -31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. -<br /> -32nd Lancers. -<br /> -33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry. -<br /> -36th Jacob's Horse. -<br /> -37th Lancers (Baluch Horse). -<br /> -38th King George's Own Central India Horse. -<br /> -39th King George's Own Central India Horse. -</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Infantry</i></p> - -<p>The following regiments are composed exclusively of Sikhs:—</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>14th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs.</b></span> Raised July 30th, 1846.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales. The Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Lucknow," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan 1878/79," -"Defence of Chitral," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>15th Ludhiana Sikhs.</b></span> Raised 1846.</p> - - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"China 1860/62," -"Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Suakim -1885," "Tofrek," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>23rd Sikh Pioneers.</b></span> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Abyssinia," "Peiwar -Kotal," "Charasiah," "Kabul 1879," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan -1878/80," "Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>chocolate</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>32nd Sikh Pioneers.</b></span> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Motto.</b>—"<i>Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.</i>"</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan 1878/80," -"Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>34th Sikh Pioneers.</b></span> Raised 1887.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>35th Sikhs.</b></span> Raised 1798, disbanded -1882, reformed 1887.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>36th Sikhs.</b></span> Raised 1858, disbanded -1882, reformed 1887.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab Frontier," -"Samara," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>47th Sikhs.</b></span> Raised 1901.</p> - -<p>Consists of 8 companies of Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - -<p style="margin-top:2em;">The 48th Pioneers, 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), -52nd Sikhs (Frontier Force), 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force), and -54th Sikhs (Frontier Force) are Sikh regiments with other tribes -intermixed.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="THE_RAJPUTS" id="THE_RAJPUTS">THE RAJPUTS</a></h2> - - -<p>The chief characteristic of the Rajput is his pride of blood. -Representing as he does the higher military castes of India, his one -ambition has always been to wield a sword, and wield it well. For ages -in the past the Rajput maintained his supremacy in one or another part -of India. Claiming descent from the sun and the moon, and later from -those two heroes of the Mahabharata—Rama and Krishna—the Rajput -maintains that his ancient and noble blood has flowed in the veins of -kings from times more remote than any other history can record. That -old but immortal legend of the Bhagavad Gîta, in which Prince Arjuna -held a discourse with Krishna, the supreme Deity, in his war-chariot, -drawn up between the opposing forces of Kauravas and Pandavas, is -regarded by the Rajput as peculiarly his own. It is not to be wondered -at, then, that, possessing from time immemorial this lofty poem, so -sublime in its aspiration, so pure and tender in its piety, the Rajput -has always been a man of high and noble sentiment and lofty ideals. He -is, as the literal rendering of his name implies, the "Rajah's son," -and in war has always displayed most noble and fearless qualities.</p> - -<p>It cannot be said that the Rajput is content to shine in the reflected -glory of the past. In ancient times he devoted his life to making -epic history, and in these days this serves him for an ever-present -tradition from which he will draw the necessary material to add another -volume to that history. Let him dream of the past achievements of his -race, his ancient glory in war; let him sing the songs that he has -made, and shake off the sloth of peace, and so rush into battle; for -out of such dreams and stirring songs springs all human greatness.</p> - -<p>There is no questioning the bravery and stamina of the Rajput. Under -a good commander who knows how to appeal to him, the Rajput will face -death in any grim form. He has a spirit so fierce and dauntless that -naturally it is tinctured with the changing tides of strong emotion, -which at times may have its drawbacks; but he is, even more than the -Gurkha, a soldier fit for a special task; indeed, his dash and heroism -are so remarkable that even the Gurkha will sometimes claim to be -directly descended from the Rajput.</p> - -<p>There is no history to record of the Rajput as a race, for each Rajput -state and clan—and there are a large number of them—has its own -history. Roughly, they may be described as more or less pure-blooded, -modern Hindu (Brahminical) representatives of the early Aryan emigrants -into India.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 30%;"> -... "The mild Hindu<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of far-off Rajputana,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Who) smiles to think how very few</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Will ever reach Nirvana,"</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>is not the Rajput. It is a mistake to suppose that the Rajputs are -the inhabitants of the province bearing their name. They form but a -small part of the population of that province, nor are they by any -means restricted to it, being found in large numbers from the Indus -to Benares. A large section of the Rajputs of the Punjab, having -been converted to Mahomedanism, have thereby lost their distinctive -character of Rajputs, who, retaining the religion of their forefathers, -are essentially Hindu. And among them are seers and philosophers of the -highest degree—men whose feet Nietzsche and Treitschke are not worthy -to kiss. And in the Rajput's championship of the higher things he is -instinct with the wisdom of India, who sends him westward; India, who -through the mouth of her sublimest poet says, from a platform undreamed -of by the Teutonic philosopher,</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 30%;"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Near to renunciation—very near—</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Dwelleth eternal peace."</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Each separate Rajput clan has its own peculiar customs and rites, while -holding the general customs and rites in common with the whole Rajput -race. This peculiarity is strongly marked by the fact that the same -clan living in different countries has, in addition to its own general -clan rights, others which seem to have been born out of its separate -environment. The Rajput in Rajputana invariably marries out of his -own clan, but if he allows his daughter to marry into a lower clan he -suffers in social position. A Rajput may legally marry more than one -wife, and he is permitted by his social and moral code certain things -which some other codes condemn.</p> - -<p>In the process of recruiting among Rajputs it is a simple matter to -tell the real from the false by the following points. A true Rajput -will eat with his illegitimate children, but not out of the same dish; -he will allow his natural son to smoke his hookah, but only provided -he draws the smoke through his closed hand. He will eat food prepared -and cooked by the natural children of any Rajput, but he will not eat -<i>with</i> them, nor under any conditions allow them to smoke his hookah.</p> - -<p>The Rajput woman is noted for her bravery and high ideal of honour. -Woe betide the husband or brother who has not all his wounds in -front. There are many tales of Rajput women snatching a dagger from -their waistband and plunging it into their hearts rather than suffer -dishonour. There are even stories current as to their fighting ability, -telling how on occasion they have fought valiantly in the field, and -even led troops to victory.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE RAJPUT REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - - -<p class="hang" style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput -Light Infantry.</b></span></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badge.</b>—The Royal and -Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria within the Garter.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi 1803," "Leswarree," "Deig," -"Bhurtpore," "Khelat," "Afghanistan," "Maharajpore," "Punjab," -"Chillianwallah," "Goojerat," "Central India," "Afghanistan -1879/80," "Burma 1885/87," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs.</b></span></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Leswarree," "Bhurtpore," "Kabul 1842," -"Ferozeshah," "Sobraon," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>7th Duke of Connaught's Own Rajputs.</b></span></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badge.</b>—The Duke of Connaught's Crest -and Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," "Aliwal," -"Sobraon," "China 1858/59," "Egypt 1882," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Pekin -1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>8th Rajputs.</b></span></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Sobraon," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>13th Rajputs.</b></span> (The Shekhawati Regiment.)</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Aliwal," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>16th Rajputs.</b></span> (The Lucknow Regiment.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Lucknow" (with a Turreted Gateway), -"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_MAHRATTAS" id="THE_MAHRATTAS">THE MAHRATTAS</a></p> - - -<p>For geographical reasons connected with facility in recruiting, the -Mahrattas are divided into two parts: the Konkani Mahrattas and the -Dekhani Mahrattas. The whole race was originally confined to the -country known as Maharashtra, but since their rapid acquirement of -power in India they have spread beyond the limits of that country. They -may now be found in the heart of the Central Provinces on the east, -Central India on the north, and on the borders of Rajputana to the -north and west.</p> - -<p>Mahrattas are generally divided into three classes:—</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 5%;" > -1. Brahmans.<br /> -2. Chatris—<i>i.e.</i>, those who claim Rajput descent.<br /> -3. Sudras—those belonging to agricultural and -trading classes. -</p> - -<p>The best of the soldiers are probably those recruited in the Dekhan, -who are short, hardy and brave. Most of the Mahrattas in our ranks -are recruited from the Konkan. They are taller and smarter than the -Dekhanis, who, nevertheless, excel in endurance. The hillmen are nearly -always more hardy than the inhabitants of the plain.</p> - -<p>There is no history of the early Mahrattas, but as it is tolerably -clear that the Mahratta language is Aryan, it follows that the race has -at least Aryan blood, although ethnologists set it down clearly to be -of Turanian or Dravidian origin.</p> - -<p>It seems a curious thing that the Mahrattas were not brought up from -the cradle of their race as fighting men, since they have proved -in our first meetings with them such excellent foes. It is certain -that if they are not born fighters, they have become good soldiers. -Mr. Grant Duff in his "History of the Mahrattas" distinguishes them -very clearly in a military sense from the Sikhs and the Gurkhas, -while admitting that they make excellent soldiers. "The very fact of -their having played so conspicuous and not always ignoble a part in -the history of India," he says, "marks them out as a race with some -qualities of the genuine soldier. The Duke of Wellington, who had such -ample opportunities of forming a judgment in regard to them, rated -them highly; and there can be no doubt that, with the discipline which -the British officer enforces, and his personal example of courage, -constancy, and devotion to duty, the Mahrattas can still be made into -good soldiers, despite the enervating and softening influence which a -long spell of peace appears to have on India."</p> - -<p>Authoritative historians have said that the courage of the Mahrattas -of old was the courage of the freebooter; that they were at the best -bold buccaneers, who were capable at times of courage because it paid -them, but that the moment the prospect of gain was taken away, their -courage oozed out. These writers maintain that the highest instincts of -the soldier were never theirs. The reason of that was necessarily that -the loyal and steadfast adhesion to a good cause, which has led the -highest human types, in all ages, willingly to sacrifice their lives, -never inspired them. Consequently, they were devoid of that spirit -which takes death with proud indifference from motives of patriotism. -One of these writers says: "The Mahrattas all through history have -never sacrificed a whole skin unless there was something very tangible -and substantial to be got thereby." Neither has Britain. We have never -sacrificed, and never intend to sacrifice, our men for anything less -than "something very tangible and substantial to be got thereby." The -criticism on both sides then simply amounts to this: that courage -is not a thing in itself, but a quality depending on motive, with -knowledge; and the Mahratta, although he may have lacked both in the -past, has certainly acquired them now.</p> - -<p>Again, it has been contended that the Mahratta lacks the elegant -proportions of the Jat Sikh, the robust, well-knit figure of the -Gurkha, the lofty personal courage of the Pathan—in short, that he -is cast in a mould that is anything but heroic. But, when we come to -consider that there is in the Mahratta an essential sturdiness and -tenacity, we find eventually, and apart from all superficially striking -characteristics, the pabulum out of which the finest soldiery can be -made.</p> - -<p>In physique, the Mahratta is somewhat under the average height. His -skin is dark, and his features irregular. But in those features one can -discern a tremendous capacity for endurance. He may not be a cultured -man—either falsely or truly—but, in the ranks, he possesses those -natural adjuncts to steady, quiet strength, tractability, gentleness, -patience, and a general willingness to fall in with the idea of someone -who obviously knows more.</p> - -<p>The Mahrattas in the 1st Bombay Infantry (Grenadiers), now the 101st -Grenadiers, proved their grit at Maiwand. In a tough fight they held -good till more than half their number were gone. Again, at Suakin, in -1885, the Mahrattas in the 28th Bombay Infantry (Pioneers), now the -128th Pioneers, proved, without a doubt, the nature of the qualities -already mentioned, which will indubitably find further development in -the present state of war.</p> - -<p>Like the Rajputs, the Mahrattas are chiefly Hindus. They have strange -objects of worship, such as trees and snakes. Their deities are -principally incarnations of Shiva, the Destroyer, such as Etoba and -Kandoba. Like all the Hindus, they still maintain a strong belief in -Spirit, and, like all races who, in their early stages, have clung to -that belief in darkness, they have developed a broader knowledge, which -has always walked arm-in-arm with superstition towards enlightenment. -Yet, especially in time of war, the Mahrattas throw aside all caste -prejudices, even eat in common among themselves, and are not unwilling -to accept a drink from Tommy Atkins himself.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MAHRATTAS</p> - -<p>Various theories have been advanced as to the origin of the -Mahratta-speaking races of Western India. It is a generally accepted -idea that, though the higher classes are to some extent of Aryan -blood, the majority of the people are descended from aboriginal tribes -who settled in the country long before the Aryans commenced their -emigration from the Oxus.</p> - -<p>The Mahratta country extends from Bombay in the north to Goa in the -south, and from the Indian Ocean in the west to the Central Provinces -and the Nizam's Dominions in the east. The tract is divided into two -well-defined portions by the Ghats, a chain of hills running parallel -with the coast. The strip of country near the sea, from the mouth of -the Taptee to Goa, is generally known as the Konkan, and was formerly -infested with pirates and brigands. The table-land of the Dekhan to -the west of the Ghats has been inhabited for numberless generations -by cultivators, shepherds, and herdsmen, and it was not until the -Mahomedan persecutions had driven these peasants into rebellion that -they developed any warlike instincts, and became aware of their own -capacity for conquest.</p> - -<p>Considering the power to which they at one time attained, it seems -remarkable that no mention should have been made of the Mahrattas in -history from the time of the Mahomedan conquests in the thirteenth -century to the reign of Aurangzeb. It would appear, however, that -during this period the country on each side of the Ghats was divided -into numerous Hindu principalities, which paid tribute to the Mahomedan -Kings of the Dekhan and Golkonda, but were never really subdued. A -Mahratta family of the Bhondle tribe, which claimed to be of Rajput -descent, had been for many generations in the service of the Sultans -of Bijapur. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, a son of this -family, named Sivaji, turned brigand, and supported by his peasant -followers, who rapidly developed into soldiers, commenced a series of -daring raids in the rich plain country to the east of the Ghats. -In 1664 Sivaji changed the scene of his operations to the coast, and -sacked the town of Surat, carrying off booty to the value of a million -sterling. The British factory recently established there by the East -India Company was successfully defended by the merchants, supported by -sailors from their ships, but the exploit excited general alarm, for -Surat was not only a great emporium for trade, but the port at which -Mahomedan pilgrims embarked for Mecca, and landed on their return to -India.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="at the front" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.</p> - -<p>By this time the Moghuls were thoroughly alarmed. The levying of -the "chanth," or fourth share of the revenue, by the Mahrattas was -seriously affecting their finances, for Sivaji's raids extended to -the south, and as far to the east as Bengal. Large Moghul armies took -the field against his followers, but on the whole with very little -success. The Mahrattas were loose hordes of lightly-clad horsemen, -who lived on fruit and grain. They were the Cossacks of India, ever -hovering round camps and armies to carry off treasure, though unable to -face the heavy-armed Moghuls in the open field. The latter, however, -were generally very wanting in activity. Mahrattas could easily escape -from fortresses if driven out by starvation, and few Moghul commanders -dared to follow them into the winding paths of the Ghats, whither they -would retreat, lest the Moghuls, in their turn, should be cut off or -starved into submission. Meanwhile, troops of Mahratta horsemen might -be scouring the plains, harrying and plundering the peaceful villages, -ready to gallop back at the first warning to their fastnesses in the -hills and jungles.</p> - -<p>Sivaji died in 1680, after a brilliant career of conquest. From then -until 1707 the Mahrattas were weakened by quarrels among themselves, -which caused the principal power in the state to be gradually -transferred from the Bhonste descendants of Sivaji to a family of -Brahmans, who were their hereditary Peishwas or Ministers.</p> - -<p>Under these "Mayors of the Palace" the Mahratta power reached its -zenith. Satara was their original capital, but there were powerful -Mahratta governments established at Poona, Gwalior, Nagpur, Indore, and -Baroda; and, towards the close of the eighteenth century, they started -on a career of conquest which made them masters of India from Delhi to -Cape Comorin—a career which was only checked by the rising power of -the British.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">"WILD MAHRATTA BATTLE"</p> - -<p>At the time that the Mahratta Dominion was at its zenith in India, it -came into clash with the ever-widening rule of the British. In 1803 the -Mahratta Dominion extended from Hyderabad to Mysore as far as Delhi. In -addition to this its dependencies and territorial possessions in India -were far greater than those of the British.</p> - -<p>The second Mahratta War was declared in August, 1803, and General Lake -marched on Delhi. The British forces consisted of about 22,000 men in -two equal divisions, one under Lake and the other under Wellesley, but -the Mahrattas outnumbered this little force by seven to one.</p> - -<p>The first event of the war was the attack on the fortress of Aligati -by Lake. Here our men had a foretaste of the nature of "wild Mahratta -battle" and of the terrible valour of the enemy. History records that -the Mahrattas "fought like lions," and it was not until 2,000 of their -number were slain that they finally surrendered. During the following -week came the fall of Delhi, after a most determined conflict raged in -sight of its minarets—a conflict in which the enemy lost 3,000 killed -and wounded and 68 guns. A month later the famous stronghold of Agra -was taken. This was an important victory, as in those days Agra was -practically the key to Northern India.</p> - -<p>In this campaign it was fully recognised that the Mahrattas were men -of good fighting quality. At the battle of Leswarree, when Lake was -outnumbered and forced to retire to wait for his infantry and guns -to come up, the prowess of the Mahrattas came as a surprise to him. -When some reinforcements arrived he attacked again with still greater -determination. On this occasion his horse was shot under him, and -his son, dismounting to offer his own horse, was severely wounded. -At the same moment, Lake, turning as his son fell, felt a shot pass -between his arm and his chest, which, if he had not moved, would have -found its way through his heart. But Lake was a man of cool judgment -and imperturbable courage. Mounting his son's horse, he surveyed the -field of battle and quickly made up his mind to decide matters by the -bayonet. Our troops greeted the word of command with a hearty cheer, -and immediately the 76th, admirably supported by the Native Infantry -Corps, swept down upon the enemy in a furious charge. But Lake's -generalship was matched by that of the Mahratta Chief, who instantly -ordered his cavalry to charge. It was a tense moment, and it was -rendered dramatic by the sudden appearance of the British Dragoons -galloping to the relief. "Horse and foot," says a historian, "met in -one great shock of battle; sabre rang out against bayonet and musket -flashed against pistol and carbine. A short period of indescribable -<i>mêlée</i> ensued, in which the fate of the day was decided."</p> - -<p>The Mahrattas were defeated. They were a foe as worthy in those days of -our steel as they are now, our comrades-in-arms, worthy of the Empire -they defend.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Wellesley in the south was trying conclusions with Madhi -Scindia and the Rajah of Madhpur. In conjunction with Col. Stevenson -he had 7,000 men, who chased Scindia for three weeks, the wily chief -having decided to fight on chosen ground. At length, on September -23rd, 1803, Wellesley, after a fatiguing march, reached the bank of -the Kaitna River. He was waiting for Col. Stevenson, with whom he -had prearranged a plan, but when he discovered that the enemy was in -camp on the other side of the river, he concluded that his chance of -bringing Scindia to action was "now or never." Accordingly he resolved -not to wait for Stevenson, but to attack at once. This was a daring -decision, for Scindia's forces numbered 17,000 foot, of whom 10,500 -were highly disciplined infantry; and his artillery, consisting of -the regular equipment supplemented by 115 guns, was far stronger than -that of the British. In addition to this his Mahratta Horse numbered -about 30,000. The little British army that was getting ready to defeat -this gigantic force numbered 4,520 men, of whom 1,170 (74th and -78th Regiments) were British Infantry, 2,000 Native Infantry, 1,200 -Cavalry, and 150 Artillery. The Mahrattas saw this piece of audacity -and stood awhile in amazement, but, wise in their generation, they -forbore to call the force opposing them "contemptible." When the rest -of the world came to have something to say about it, Wellesley simply -remarked: "But had I not attacked them I must have been surrounded by -their superior cavalry, my troops had starved and I had nothing left -but to hang myself to my tent-pole." But it may be justly contended -that it was not wholly a case of Hobson's choice, for Wellesley, like -Nelson, knew when to be rash and how to be rash, and it might have been -said of him, in the words of the French Admiral about Nelson, that his -genius lay in the fact that he could rightly estimate every weakness of -his enemy.</p> - -<p>The battle which followed was of a terrible and terrific nature, but it -ended eventually in a glorious victory for the British. From first to -last, Wellesley, having conspired with the luck of war, left no single -point to the luck of chance.</p> - -<p>From an elevated plain he could see the whole Mahratta force encamped -on the north side of the Kaitna, where the banks of that river were -very steep. Their right, consisting of cavalry, extended to Bokerdon; -their left, consisting of infantry, with ninety pieces of artillery, -lay near the village of Assaye, which has given its name to the -memorable battle.</p> - -<p>Wellesley resolved to attack the infantry on its left and rear, and for -that purpose he moved his little army to a ford beyond the enemy's -left, leaving the Mysore and other irregular cavalry to watch the -Mahratta cavalry, and crossing the river only with his regular horse -and infantry. He passed the ford, ascended the steep bank, and formed -his men in three lines—two of infantry, and the third of horse. This -was effected under a brisk cannonade from the enemy's artillery. -Scindia, or the European officer who directed his movements, promptly -made a corresponding change in his line, giving a new front to his -infantry, which was now made to rest its right on the river and its -left upon the village of Assaye and the Juah stream, which flowed in a -parallel direction with the Kaitna. Scindia's numerous and well-served -cannon did terrible execution among Wellesley's advancing lines, -killing men and bullocks, and drowning the weak sound of his scanty -artillery. At one moment such a gap was made by cannon-ball in the -English right that some of the Mahratta cavalry attempted to charge -through it; but the British cavalry in the third line came up and -drove the Mahrattas back with great slaughter. Finding his artillery -of little or no use (the guns could not be brought up for lack of -bullocks), Wellesley gave orders to leave it in the rear, and bade the -infantry charge with the bayonet.</p> - -<p>His steady, resolute advance in the teeth of their guns had already -awed the Mahrattas, who would not stand to meet the collision of -the English steel: their infantry gave way, and abandoned the guns. -One body of them formed again, and presented a bold front; but -Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell charged them with the British cavalry, -broke and dispersed them, and was killed in the moment of victory. -Wellesley's Sepoys having proceeded too far in pursuit, many of -Scindia's artillerymen, who had thrown themselves down among the -carriages of their guns as though they were dead, got to their feet -again, and turned their pieces against the rear of the advancing -Sepoys; and at the same time the Mahratta cavalry, which had been -hovering round throughout the battle, were still near. But Maxwell's -charge soon silenced the desultory artillery fire, and Scindia's -disciplined infantry went off and left ninety pieces of cannon, nearly -all brass and of the proper calibres, in the hands of the victors. -Wellesley led the 78th British infantry in person against the village -of Assaye, which was not cleared without a desperate combat.</p> - -<p>Assaye cost Wellesley twenty-two officers and 386 men killed, and -fifty-seven officers and 1,526 wounded. Excluding the regular cavalry -which had remained on the other side of the river and had not been -engaged, the total number of killed and wounded amounted to nearly -one-third of his force. The general himself had two horses killed under -him, one shot and the other piked; every one of his staff officers had -one or two horses killed, and his orderly's head was swept off by -a cannon-ball as he rode close by his side. The enemy, who had fled -towards the Adjuntee Ghat, through which they had poured into the -Dekhan, left 1,200 dead, and a great number badly wounded on the field -of battle.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE MAHRATTA COMPANY REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - -<p>Although there are no Class Regiments composed wholly of Mahrattas, -they form in Company Regiments the bulk of the following bodies of -Infantry:—</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><span class="u"><b>103rd Mahratta Light Infantry.</b></span> <br />Raised 1768.</p> - -<p>4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Mysore," "Seedaseer," -"Seringapatam," "Beni Boo Alli," "Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," -"Abyssinia."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><span class="u"><b>105th Mahratta Light Infantry.</b></span><br /> Raised 1788.</p> - -<p>4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, two companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Mysore," "Seedaseer," -"Seringapatam," "Beni Boo Alli," "Kahun," "China 1860/62," -"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><span class="u"><b>110th Mahratta Light Infantry.</b></span> <br />Raised 1797.</p> - -<p>4 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Central India," -"Abyssinia," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><span class="u"><b>114th Mahratta Light Infantry.</b></span></p> - -<p>4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">116th Mahratta Light Infantry.</span></b><br /> Raised 1800.</p> - -<p>4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan 1879/80," "British East Africa -1901."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">117th Mahratta Light Infantry.</span></b></p> - -<p>4 companies Konkani Mahrattas, 2 companies Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 -companies Dekhani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - -<p>There are companies of the Mahrattas also in the</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 35%;"> -107th Pioneers.<br /> -108th Infantry.<br /> -109th Infantry.<br /> -121st Pioneers.<br /> -128th Pioneers. -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_GURKHAS" id="THE_GURKHAS">THE GURKHAS</a></p> - - -<p>The Gurkha is more closely a brother-in-arms to Tommy Atkins than is -any other native soldier. These brave little men swell with pride—and -their chest expansion is enormous—when they are referred to as the -"Highlanders of India." Their eyes twinkle and their white teeth gleam -in a smile of joy at this well-deserved honour bestowed upon them for -many a valiant fight. To stand by the side of their big brothers of -the Black Watch, the Seaforth, the Gordon, the Cameron, and the Argyll -and Sutherland Highlanders in glory and renown is their Nirvana of -bliss; and now, in the greatest conflict of Europe, to fight, and if -need be to die, in the same line with them for the great King-Emperor -(the Padisha), in the defence of the world against tyranny and wrong, -is absolutely the crowning moment in the history of this valiant -little man of Nepal. As the Gurkha marches to-day to the tune of The -Marseillaise, played on a weird collection of instruments approaching -as nearly as possible to the bagpipes, his cheerful spirit is glad -beyond words to be in line with the heroes who claim his special -admiration, and his one thought is "Shall we fight side by side with -the Gordons, as we did at Dargai, or with the Argyll and Sutherland -Highlanders, or with the Seaforths?"</p> - -<p>But behind his cheerful countenance and jaunty way of carrying himself -lies a bulldog courage which, in turn, commands the admiration of his -big brothers-in-arms—the British Highlanders. Those gleaming teeth -are exposed in no kind of smile when he grips the deadly <i>kukri</i> in a -hand-to-hand encounter, and there is no twinkle in the fierce black -eyes as he sets his face to the foe, with the cool determination "never -to go back," which is a tradition of his race.</p> - -<p>On this point, Lt.-Col. Newnham-Davis, writing in "Town Topics," -declares that "The Gurkha is the most thorough little man I have ever -met in campaigning; he will never go back. He tackles any job that is -given him like a bulldog, and he is never beaten. In manœuvres, as -in action, one thing a Gurkha regiment will not do is to go back.</p> - -<p>"I have seen the Chief Umpire and all his satellites vainly trying to -explain to the native officers of a Gurkha company on manœuvres that -they were surrounded and outnumbered and out of action, and that they -must therefore retire from the mimic fight. The Gurkhas grinned and -stopped where they were, and it was only by sounding the 'cease fire' -and telling the little men to get back and cook their dinners that the -Chief Umpire moved them off the ground."</p> - -<p>"In the spring," says the Colonel, writing on the Gurkha War, "the -little Gurkhas—jovial little fellows, broad-chested and big-limbed, -short in stature, with their Tartar eyes, noses like pugdogs, and great -good-natured gashes for mouths—flock down to enlist in our regiments. -Brave as lions, vain as peacocks, faithful as dogs, with few prejudices -in peace and none in war, the Gurkhas are the special friends and -companions of our men.</p> - -<p>"The stately Sikh throws away his food if a white man's shadow falls -upon it, and between the Mahomedan and the Christian is always the bar -of religion, but on a campaign the Gurkha eats his food with as few -formalities as Tommy Atkins drinks his wine, and is good company at the -camp-fire."</p> - -<p>The Gurkha has a merry wit and an equally happy conceit, as the -following incident will show. After the assault on Bhurtpore, where -the Gurkhas raced with the grenadiers of the 59th for the bridge, the -British soldiers praised them for their bravery. They returned the -compliment by the following characteristic remark: "The English are as -brave as lions; they are splendid Sepoys, and <i>very nearly</i> equal to -us."</p> - -<p>It may be seen from the above incident that the vanity of these little -men is colossal. Indeed, it is only exceeded by their loyalty and -gallantry, which can never be questioned, since Lord Roberts, the hero -of Kabul, has accorded them the highest and warmest praise.</p> - -<p>When Col. Younghusband, travelling in the Pamirs with an expedition of -Gurkhas, met the great Russian explorer Gromschefski, a native officer -of the Gurkhas asked leave to speak to Younghusband. "Tell him," he -said, pointing to the big Russian, "that though <i>we</i> are small men, all -the rest of our regiment are taller than he is."</p> - -<p>The only ritual the Gurkha observes is that he washes his hands and -face and takes off his head-dress before cooking his meals. Any meat -that chances to come the Gurkhas' way they call <i>shika</i> (game). It -is permitted by their religion to eat anything they have killed when -hunting, but in their native land they prefer a kind of food made -from rice. In the British service they take kindly but temperately to -anything that the canteen supplies.</p> - -<p>The Gurkhas were originally protectors of the cows, and this in India -is a more or less Divine right. The Hindu regards the cow in the light -of his mother, and frequently the beef-eating habit of the Sahib is -pathetically reproached by the native in these terms: "What! would you -eat your mother?" It may be permissible to stretch the derivation of -their name in the present day and apply it to the fact that Britain is -now their mother, and that they flocked westward to assist her in her -great effort to uphold and ensure the integrity of the world.</p> - -<p>The Gurkhas, or Gurkhalis, claim descent from the Ranas of Udaipur in -Rajputana. Long ago, when they were driven out of their own country by -the Mahomedan invasion, they sought refuge in the mountainous tracts -about Kumaon. From this point they gradually began to invade the -country to the eastward, as far as the city of Gurkha, Noakote, and -ultimately the valley of Nepal, and even Sikkim. It was only when they -attempted to force their way southwards that they were met and repulsed -by the British. The Treaty of Seganli, which put an end to the Gurkha -War of 1814, set a definite limit to their territorial expansion.</p> - -<p>In general character the Gurkha is bold and self-reliant. On his -gentler side, while extremely independent and self-centred, he is -frank, faithful, and capable of fine, heroic loyalty. All his ideas of -war and sport are modelled on European ideas. Though resembling in many -ways the little Jap, he is built on far sturdier lines. As a humorist -once remarked of his race: "They are 5 feet high in some places, and 5 -feet round in others." Their movements in attack resemble lightning -rapidity as nearly as anything human can. Essentially a phlegmatic -race, they are supposed to lack sentiment and emotion, but education -and touch with Western civilisation have proved to a great extent that -these qualities were potential. In many ways they have been brought -out as true sentiment and emotion of the steadier and more genuine -kind. This fact, with their natural gaiety of disposition and their -good-humoured carelessness of good or evil hap, is no doubt the reason -that they make such fine soldiers. There is no grumbling on the part of -the Gurkhas.</p> - -<p>The Gurkha in battle is terrible, and almost weird in his methods. His -ways are the ways of no other living soldier. And this brings us to a -consideration of that remarkable weapon, the <i>kukri</i>. It is a heavy, -curved knife, as sharp as a razor, and its drawing cut, inflicted -with much skill and little force on anything in motion, has terrible -effects. For instance, the intrepid Gurkha will wait for the tiger of -the jungle to spring, and then, at the right moment, will step aside, -leaving his deadly knife to follow the movement of his arm across the -tiger's throat.</p> - -<p>This wonderful knife, which the Gurkha loves as the British gunner -loves his gun, has a small hilt, such as is common to all Indian -swords. The blade is about nine inches long, and has a point as sharp -as a needle. Both the hilt and the blade are curved, so that the weapon -does equally well for the drawing cut or the thrust. Owing to the -extreme thickness of the broad blade the weapon is remarkably heavy—a -property devised obviously for the purpose of gaining the full force of -inertia when the <i>kukri</i> is wielded by the dexterous hand and wrist of -the Gurkha. One authority on this weapon says that the weight of the -razor-edged blade would drive it half through a man's arm if it were -only allowed to fall from a little height. One can imagine, then, the -terrible effect if used for the drawing cut of the broad-sword. In the -Gurkha's experienced hand its sharp edge carves through both bone and -sinew, proving it to be a weapon as formidable as can be conceived. The -method of this little warrior with the <i>kukri</i>, then, may be described -as an inhibition of force and an exhibition of skill, for by means of -it he will quickly cut to pieces any man of gigantic strength and build -who does not understand his mode of attack.</p> - -<p>Many years ago, during the conquests on which we founded our Eastern -Empire, our men frequently came into clash with the Gurkhas. In those -days they were, as enemies, as formidable as they are to-day invaluable -as brothers-in-arms. Here is a description of one battle incident in -which we suffered severely at their hands: "Brave as lions, active -as monkeys, fierce as tigers, the wiry little men came leaping over -the ground to the attack, moving so quickly and keeping so far apart -from each other that rifle fire was of little use against them. When -they came near our soldiers they suddenly crouched and dived under -the bayonets, striking upwards at our men with their <i>kukris</i> and -ripping them open with a single blow, then darting off as rapidly as -they came." Until our men learnt this mode of attack they were greatly -discomfited by their little opponents, who got under their weapons, -cutting or slashing with knives as sharp as razors, and often escaping -unhurt from the midst of the bayonets.</p> - -<p>In all the history of invasion and conquests, of floating dynasties and -mushroom empires in the East, the most sanguinary chapters deal with -the British subjugation of the Gurkhas.</p> - -<p>At a time when the Gurkhas were only some twelve thousand strong their -reputation as fighters stood high. Many a time and oft had they raided -neighbouring territory, carried off cattle, and even extorted tribute, -so that at length the British authorities realised that there was only -one course to take, and the message was sent to the bold Gurkha Chief: -"Keep within your own territory or beware of the consequences." But -this ultimatum was treated with scorn by the Gurkhas. Their haughty -spirit could not brook such a demand. Hot blood seethed in their -veins, and hot words were spoken at their council meetings. Their -natural warlike spirit rose to the occasion and they declared war.</p> - -<p>That war of 1813-14, and that conquest of a truly warlike race, form a -record of one of the most heroic achievements of the British Army.</p> - -<p>Nepal, the home of the Gurkhas, is situated on the slopes of the -Himalayas. Its natural barricade on the north is a mighty line of -peaks soaring against the sides of heaven up to the roof of the world, -covered with everlasting snow. In front and to the south dense forests -protect it from the approach of an invading host. Terrible were the -difficulties and hardships of our men in these forests. Despair -almost drove them back, while the prospect of utter failure seemed to -stare them in the face. But, as if in a forlorn hope, our men went -on, toiling and moiling towards the borders of Nepal; and, with the -tenacity that saves every hopeless situation, gained at length the -walls of Kalanga.</p> - -<p>The fort held out for a long time, but fell at length, though not -until the heroic garrison of six hundred had been reduced to seventy. -It was here that brave General Gillespie fell as he was cheering his -men forward to a fruitless attack. At the outset he had reckoned -upon an easy conquest, but owing to the staunch resistance of the -Gurkhas, reinforced by their natural advantages, he found the greatest -difficulty.</p> - -<p>There are many incidents recorded of the Gurkhas in this war, but -perhaps the following is characteristic. When a party of our troops -were searching for the enemy's outposts, they happened to fall in with -a band of Gurkhas. The fierce little men raised a yell and produced -their deadly <i>kukris</i>; then, after a brief consultation, their leader -strode forward into the open and challenged the English officer in -command to a settlement by single combat. His challenge was no sooner -offered than it was accepted, and Captain Showers advanced to meet -him. A short, sharp fight then took place on the plain separating the -two opposing forces; steel met steel, and, after a quick passage, the -Gurkha's blood ran crimson in the snow. He had met one who knew his -methods.</p> - -<p>This war dragged slowly and wearily to a close. Finally there came a -time when the Gurkhas were compelled to sue for peace. By the treaty -drawn up at the conclusion of hostilities large tracts of territory -were ceded to the British; but, as this treaty had to be sent to the -Governor-General for approval and signature, there was a delay, and -during that delay the bold spirit of the Gurkhas rose against this -admission of defeat, and when the treaty was returned they flatly -refused to sign it. At this hostilities were resumed, and the British -again proceeded to attack.</p> - -<p>This time they had a larger share of the luck of war. By the guidance -of a party of smugglers they were enabled to penetrate right into the -Gurkha stronghold unobserved. Their path lay through deep ravines, -darkly enclosed by rugged precipices and shrouded in the gloom of dense -overhanging trees. Threading their way through these eerie approaches, -they at length came up behind the Gurkhas, who were patiently waiting -and watching the regular avenues of approach. Being suddenly attacked -in the rear, the Gurkhas were demoralised, and, though they fought -bravely, were defeated. This action proved decisive. Again they -were conquered, and, from that time, they have nobly admitted the -superiority of their conquerors. A few years later their indomitable -spirit was linked with that of the British, and they were fighting side -by side with the white man in Asia.</p> - -<p>The Gurkhas of to-day adhere to the Hindu religion. In their appearance -there is a strong trace of Mongolian blood, as shown by their -almond-shaped eyes, high cheek bones, and firm but mobile lips.</p> - -<p>In early times Nepal consisted of a great number of petty states -constantly at war with each other. Thus it happened that, by conquest -and reconquest, and intermixture of tribes, the term "Gurkha" became -geographical rather than ethnic; that is to say, the name does not, -strictly speaking, apply to any special tribe or race, but to the -inhabitants of the locality known as Gurkhá.</p> - -<p>The principality of Gurkhá owes its existence and name to a yogi called -Guraknath. He lived in a cave in a hill in Central Nepal. To this holy -man came many devotees daily, and, in the neighbourhood of his cave, -there soon sprang up a village which in time spread its boundaries -until it assumed importance as the City of Gurkhá, so named after the -yogi. In further course of time it became the capital of the district, -to which, and to its inhabitants, it gave its name.</p> - -<p>It is interesting to note that this yogi Guraknath is still held in -great veneration by all Gurkhas, and to-day their battle-cry may be -heard in Europe—"Guru Guraknath Kijai" ("Victory to Guraknath!").</p> - -<p>The Gurkhas are conquerors of no mean order. Their principal conquests -took place in the middle of the eighteenth century. In the year 1599 -Drabiya Sah elected himself Gurkha Rajah, and, about 140 years later, -the eighth in descent from him—one Narbupal Sah—invaded the Nepal -valley. The invasion was unsuccessful and he was driven back, but the -spirit of invasion was not defeated. He was succeeded in 1742 by his -son, Prithwi Narayan Sah, a lad twelve years old. This boy grew up -into a sensible, brave man of great ambitions, and in time became a -very capable general and diplomat. It was to his genius as a ruler -and a general that the Gurkhas owed their ultimate conquest of the -region of Nepal. His first invasion failed, though he and his warriors -fought with splendid courage. Later, having subjugated several of the -neighbouring states, he strengthened his army from these sources, and -undertook a second invasion in 1765. Again he was utterly defeated; but -he was a man of heroic courage, and, in his third invasion in 1768, in -the course of which he was defeated as often as he was successful, he -finally seized Khatmandu—by superior "strategy" as it was known in -those days—and dictated terms of peace in the heart of the valley of -Nepal.</p> - -<p>Prithwi, the conqueror, then removed his capital to Khatmandu, which -has ever since remained the capital of the Gurkha kingdom. He died in -1775, after a great and terribly eventful reign of thirty-three years.</p> - -<p>Pratap Simha Sah, who succeeded his father Prithwi, attempted the -conquest of Sikkim, but failed utterly. In Sikkim the Maharajah -obtained the victory over him in so many battles that the Gurkha king -was forced to sign away some of his eastern territory; but the Gurkhas -returned again and again to the attack, until, in 1776, they utterly -defeated the Sikkim Maharajah at the battle of Chinepore, and more than -regained their lost possessions.</p> - -<p>In 1776 the wars of conquest still continued. Another great man arose, -Ran Bahadur Sah, uncle to Pratap Simha Sah's infant son, who was on -the throne. Bahadur Sah was a man of ability, and, as Regent, decided -to subjugate the Chaobisi principalities. He conspired with the Rajah -of Palpa, one of the Chaobisi states, agreeing to a division of the -spoil in return for his assistance. The Gurkha-Palpa alliance was -then formed, and nearly all the Chaobisi states were subjugated, the -Gurkhas keeping the lion's share. Meanwhile the Gurkha armies in the -east, under General Saroop Simha, were victorious, and the whole of -the Rai and Limbu districts of eastern Nepal were conquered. For some -time after that they continued the extension of their rule in Sikkim -and parts of Tibet. This latter invasion brought upon the Gurkhas a -strong Chinese army, which utterly routed them in the year 1792. In -consequence of this the Regent was executed by order of the infant -king, who himself, on account of his later atrocities, was forced to -abdicate in 1800. After some years of exile in India he returned as a -firebrand to Gurkha, and died unhonoured and unmourned in 1807.</p> - -<p>It was during the second and third Afghan wars that the Gurkhas and -the Highlanders fought together in an admirable combination. A brief -description of these two wars, containing some graphic incidents of -battle, and showing the part the Gurkhas and the Highlanders played -together, will be found in the following chapter.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">SOME BATTLES IN WHICH THE GURKHAS HAVE FOUGHT</p> - -<p>It is interesting to trace to-day the heroic exploits of the Gurkhas -through campaigns in which they have fought side by side with the -Highlanders of our own country. Space admits of only a brief account, -but it will serve to show exactly how and why the Arms of Lord Roberts -come to bear, as supporters, a Highlander and a Gurkha.</p> - -<p>The second Afghan war (1878-80) was brought about by the discovery of -Russian intrigues with Shere Ali. Although the Amir had been advised -by Lord Lytton that he was sending Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain on -a mission to Kabul, he made no satisfactory reply either in assent or -dissent; but when Sir Neville reached Ali Musjid, a fortress on the -Afghan frontier, his embassy was confronted by an armed force, and, not -possessing sufficient troops to attack, he was compelled to turn back. -Smarting under this affront—for it had been clearly laid down that -his mission was not of a hostile nature—he returned to Peshawur, from -which point an ultimatum was despatched to Shere Ali. This led to the -formal proclamation of war on November 21st, 1878. Ali Musjid was the -scene of the first battle, in which, under Sir Samuel Browne, the 6th -Native Infantry, the 45th Sikhs, and 27th Punjab Infantry were engaged.</p> - -<p>Prior to this battle the Kurram Column, or Field Force, had been -formed, under General Roberts. The native troops included in this force -were as follow:—</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">1st Infantry Brigade</span>—29th Bengal Native Infantry, 5th Punjab -Infantry, and the Bhopal contingent.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">2nd Infantry Brigade</span>—21st Native Infantry, 2nd Punjab -Infantry, and 5th Gurkhas, under Major Fitzhugh.</p> - -<p>This famous Kurram Column immediately took the field, and their first -engagement of importance was at Peiwar Kotal. To the 29th Bengal Native -Infantry and 5th Gurkhas, under Col. Gordon, No. 1 Mountain Battery, -a wing of the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own) Highlanders, the 2nd Punjab -Infantry and 23rd Pioneers, under Brigadier Thelwall, was assigned the -task of turning the enemy's position, while a feint was to be made upon -their front. The turning force set out during the night of December -1st. A writer who describes that campaign says: "The bright camp-fires -shed their wavering light on the white tents, when, without sound of -drum or bugle, the troops fell silently into their ranks, the companies -were told off, and the battalions formed.... Nor had they long to wait -before their challenge was responded to by two shots, showing that the -position had been reached. And ere long the troops found themselves -confronted by an abattis formed by felled trees which, laid over each -other to the height of 8 feet, completely blocked the way."</p> - -<p>On this barricade, the Gurkhas, led by Major Fitzhugh and Captain Cook, -made a fierce rush. A stern conflict ensued—a hand-to-hand fight with -bayonet, <i>kukri</i>, and clubbed musket; and the Gurkhas drove the enemy -back to a second barrier nearly 100 yards to their rear. Here they made -another stand, but the ferocity of the lithe and wiry Gurkhas, and the -stern valour of the Highlanders—their right wing falling upon the -enemy's flank—combined to drive the Afghans from this second stockade -with considerable loss.</p> - -<p>Here it was that the Gurkhas and the Highlanders rushed on together -side by side in a memorable charge, none of them knowing the strength -and number either of the enemy or his further stockades. In the -uncertain light of early dawn they drove the enemy up the hillside like -chaff before the wind. For a time the Afghans fled in disorder, then -suddenly they rallied and prepared for a wild charge downhill. Major -Galbraith of the 85th Foot was the first to see their intention, and -he immediately directed the fire of his men to demoralise and check -this movement. While he was doing this an Afghan crept up behind some -bushes, and, levelling his rifle at him, took careful aim. Suddenly the -Major observed him, and, with the rapidity of lightning, raised his -revolver and pulled the trigger. The weapon missed fire, but his prompt -action had disturbed the Afghan's aim, and in another moment Captain -Cook of the Gurkhas had closed with the native and flung him heavily. -There was a quick fight between them, during which Major Galbraith, -more fortunate this time with his revolver, sent a bullet through the -Afghan's heart. For his brave act in saving the Major's life Captain -Cook gained his V.C. But the nation was compelled to mourn this hero -very soon, for it was in the following campaign at Sherpur, while -leading the Gurkhas, that he was mortally wounded.</p> - -<p>By the dawn of day the Gurkhas and the Highlanders, with the assistance -of the 29th Punjabis, had taken some important positions, and by the -time the sun rose the enemy was defeated.</p> - -<p>This victorious campaign was carried on through the craggy ravines of -Sappri as far as Siafooden, where the Afghans made a stand and gave -battle a second time; but here again the Gurkhas and the Highlanders -were the principal factors in their defeat. The subsequent brilliant -rush on Shaturgardan Pass was also made glorious by these Highlanders -of Britain and Asia. The campaign ended on May 26th, 1880.</p> - -<p>Again, in the third Afghan war, the Gurkhas, in common with different -regiments of Highlanders and some native regiments, won great -distinction.</p> - -<p>Sir Louis Cavagnari, who had concluded peace after the first campaign, -undertook a personal mission to Kabul. This time the mission was well -received—at least at first—but there soon came a time when the -Afghans, taking advantage of the necessary inferiority in the numbers -of our peaceful mission, insulted it, at first vaguely, then openly, -apparently with the idea of goading the Governor to a quarrel. Insult -on insult gave fuel to the fire thus aroused, and at last, when the -insults became unbearable, the Governor and his staff protested so -vigorously that the Afghans seized their opportunity and massacred -them. Immediately following on this came the declaration of war by -Shere Ali. After the preliminary battles at Charasiah and Asmai the -British force advanced to Kabul. There was very severe fighting around -the capital, and another sharp engagement at Asmai, after which our -troops found themselves entrapped in Sherpur. Here the Gurkhas won a -lasting glory for themselves by the recapture of some of our guns which -had been taken by the enemy.</p> - -<p>During this campaign the Gurkhas took part in the battle of Sijazabad. -Here the enemy took up a strong position on the side of a steep hill, -which they had further strengthened by barricades of earth and stone. -From one to another of these they were driven point by point by the -determined assault of the 4th Gurkhas, 14th Punjabis, and the 9th Foot. -This was a battle in which all our outnumbered forces, especially the -Gurkhas, showed remarkable <i>élan</i>. For many hours the Gurkhas stormed -one barricade after another, always driving the Afghans up the hill -with bullet, bayonet, and <i>kukri</i>, until at last the enemy's final -defence was taken. It was in this battle that an incident occurred -which shows, not only the Gurkha's quality, but his primitive methods -of revenge—which methods, needless to say, are now somewhat modified. -Towards the close of the uphill battle, when the enemy was in full -retreat, a single Gurkha, in advance of his fellows, had just shot -one of the Afghans, when two of them suddenly sprang up from behind a -rock near by. They were Afghan hillmen—fanatics pledged in the name -of Allah to the last drop of blood for Islam. They shared the belief, -common among Orientals, that death under this pledge was the entrance -to Paradise, where the houris are born of pure musk. With a spring one -of them fiercely plunged his dagger into the unfortunate Gurkha, while -the other with a sweep of his tulwar clove the head of the dying man. -Swift as was this passage of arms, still swifter came the retribution. -Lieut. Gordon of the 92nd Foot despatched one of the hillmen, and the -other immediately fell, riddled by Gurkha bullets. With a ferocious cry -the Gurkhas swept down upon the two stricken hillmen, and with their -terrible <i>kukris</i> hewed them in pieces. But as the time of Samuel and -Agag has departed, so has this primitive lust of revenge been gradually -modified in the Gurkha by his association with the humanity of the West.</p> - -<p>The Gurkhas were in the famous march of General Roberts on Kandahar, -which immediately followed the battle of Sijazabad. It was towards the -end of this march that the Gurkhas and the 92nd Gordon Highlanders -made an attack on the little village of Gundi-Moolah-Sahibdad. In this -memorable assault the Gurkhas and the Gordons almost strove with one -another for the <i>kudos</i> of the victory. But the <i>kudos</i> may easily be -said to belong to them jointly. And in recognition of this the Gordon -loves to talk about his little comrade-in-arms, while the Gurkha -worships the Gordon to such a degree that he would lay down his life -for him.</p> - -<p>The Afghan strife closed—let us hope for ever—with the battle -of Kandahar. This conclusive fight stands in history as a signal -tribute to the tenacity of the British soldier in general, and to the -generalship, since tried and proved and never found wanting, of Lord -Roberts. Says a historian, "It was remarkable for the generalship and -cool judgment Roberts had shown, and also for the courage displayed by -his troops.... On every occasion we were far outnumbered by the enemy, -who were equal to our men in physical strength, and armed with nearly -the same weapons; but Roberts trusted to the courage of his slender -army and to its perfect discipline, which were conspicuous alike in -the savage defiles of the Kurram Valley, on the rocky heights of the -Peiwar Kotal and the Spingawi Pass, in the lines of Sherpur, and on the -splintered bluffs of Asmai."</p> - -<p>The Kandahar Field Force was disbanded in September, 1880, and -Roberts' last act before returning to India was to distribute -distinguished-service medals to the 72nd and 92nd Highlanders and -the 5th Gurkhas. These are his words on that occasion, and no doubt -every Gurkha at the front to-day has them, or their translation, -in his memory, for they have, more than anything else, confirmed -and ratified a brotherhood-in-arms between the Gurkhas and the -Highlanders:—"Soldiers of the Kandahar Field Force, I am glad to have -this opportunity of giving medals for distinguished conduct to the -men of the 72nd and 92nd Highlanders and the 5th Gurkhas. They have -deservedly won them. I say from my experience as a soldier that no men -with whom I have served can have better deserved these rewards; and -it is an additional pleasure to me to have seen the other day of what -material my Highlanders and Gurkhas are made. I can but hope it may -be my good fortune to have such good soldiers at my side when next I -go into action.... You may be assured that the very last troops the -Afghans ever wish to meet in the field are the Scottish Highlanders and -the Gurkhas."</p> - -<p>After this, from one who is now a veteran of England, who can doubt -that, as the Gurkhas marched towards the front, their hearts went -before them to their big brothers of former frays, with the hope that -they would be in close touch in the battle line?</p> - -<p class="ph2">THE GURKHA REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - -<p>The following is a complete list of the ten Gurkha Regiments (each composed of two battalions), with their Battle Honours, etc.:—</p> - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles</b></span> (The Malaun Regiment).</p> - -<p>Raised at Subathu in 1815, chiefly from Gurkha soldiers of Amar Singh,by Lieut. R. Ross.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Bhurtpore," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">2nd King Edward's Own Gurkha Rifles</span></b> (The Sirmoor Rifles).</p> - -<p>Raised at Nahau (Sirmoor) in 1815, by Lieut. F. Young, from Gurkha -soldiers, who took service with the British on the termination of the -first phase of the Nepal war. Granted a truncheon for distinguished -service at Delhi, 1857.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher of Edward VII.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Bhurtpore," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," "Delhi," -"Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab -Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised at Almora in 1815, by Lieut. Sir R. Colquhoun, Bart., from -Gurkha soldiers, who took service with the British after the fall of -Malaun and the conquest of Kamaon; supplemented by transfers from the -Gorakhpur Hill Regiment, and originally designated the Kamaon Battalion.</p> - -<p><b>Badge.</b>—The Cypher of Queen Alexandra.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan -'78/80," "Burma '85/87," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">4th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised in 1857, by Lieut. D. Macintyre, as an extra Gurkha regiment.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Ali Masjid," "Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah," "China -1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">5th Gurkha Rifles</span></b> (Frontier Force).</p> - -<p>Raised at Abbotabad in 1858, by Capt. H.M.F. Boisragon, as the 25th -Punjab Infantry, or Hazara Gurkha Battalion.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," "Kabul '79," -"Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">6th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised at Chanbiaganj (Cuttack) in 1817, by Capt. S. Fraser, as -the Cuttack Legion. Subsequently the 42nd Gurkha Rifles. Present -designation, 1903.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">7th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised at Thayetmyo in 1902, by Major E. Vansittart, as the 8th Gurkha -Rifles; became 2nd Battalion of the 10th Gurkha Rifles in 1903. Present -designation, 1907.</p> - -<p><i>Col.</i>—Field-Marshal H.H. Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">8th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised at Sylhet in 1824, by Capt. P. Dudgeon, as the 16th or Sylhet -Local Battalion; 1st Battalion was subsequently known as the 44th, 2nd -Battalion as the 43rd. Present designation, 1903.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">9th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised at Fategarh in 1817, by Major C.F. Fagan.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Bhurtpore," "Sobraon," "Afghanistan -'79/80," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 2em;"><b><span class="u">10th Gurkha Rifles.</span></b></p> - -<p>Raised in 1890, by Lt.-Col. C.R. Macgregor, from the Kubo Valley -Police Battalion, and originally known as the 10th Regiment of Burma -Infantry.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Present designation, 1903.</p> - - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="ph3">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> It is a singular fact that the old 10th Madras Infantry -(1st Burma-Gurkha Rifles), raised in 1766, bore the honours "Carnatic," -"Mysore," "Amboor," "Assaye," "Ava," "Burma '85/87," and in 1900 Capt. -J. Henegan was a wing commander. He is now, at the time of writing, -Lieut.-Col. commanding the 1st Battalion of the present 10th Gurkha -Rifles. -</p> -<p> -Another peculiar point will recommend itself to military students. In -"Whitaker's Naval and Military Directory" of 1899 and 1900 the 17th and -19th regiments of Madras Infantry are given, but the 18th regiment is -omitted. This, however, is not the only instance of the kind. As in the -case of our 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers there have been certain regiments -that have disappeared for a time from the Army List, the numbers of the -others remaining unaltered.</p></div></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_DOGRAS" id="THE_DOGRAS">THE DOGRAS</a></p> - - -<p>There is some little doubt about the derivation of the word "Dogra." -Some say it is derived from the Indian word "dogur" or "dugur," meaning -"hill" or "mountain," and that the Dogra country is so called because -the whole of it is more or less mountainous. Others maintain that -the origin of the name is found in two Sanscrit words, "do," meaning -"two," and "girath," meaning "lake," there being two small lakes of -great beauty known as Man Sur and Sardin Sur. The first derivation is -most probably the correct one, for it is a matter of history that the -pioneer Rajputs, who left the plains to make their home in the hills to -found the Dogra principalities, styled themselves Dogras, or Hillmen, -as distinguished from men of the plains.</p> - -<p>The district of Dogra lies between the rivers Chenab and Sutlej, -including all the hills and valleys on the slopes of the Western -Himalayas.</p> - -<p>The Dogra is a shy, reserved man, with considerable strength of -character. He may not be so brilliant as the Pathan, nor so tenacious -and subtle as the Gurkha, but he has a high idea of honour, is very -self-respecting, and makes a capital soldier. Since he is always -ready to cast aside his social prejudices he affords recruiting -officers little trouble. The virtues of this solid, quiet, resolute, -reliable man are seen in moments of peril, when, without any boasting -or striking of attitudes, he will face certain death with a calm -determination to do before he dies.</p> - -<p>From the above description it will be gathered that the Dogra is -simple-minded and generous, capable of the highest loyalty, and a -complete stranger to anything like treachery or cruel barbarity. It is -through the combination of all these qualities that the Dogras as a -race have justly earned, and faithfully maintained, the reputation of -being among the best fighting material to be found in India.</p> - -<p>The Dogra's physique is not so fine as that of the Pathan or Sikh. -He is a man of average height, somewhat sparely built, with fine, -sensitive features. His complexion is fair, though not as fair as that -of the Todas.</p> - -<p>The Dogras are very particular in all matters relating to food and -drink. They are keen sportsmen, and in rifle-shooting they maintain a -fair standard of excellence. Hawking and snaring birds are favourite -pastimes among them, and even such games as tip-cat, leap-frog, and -hop-scotch are not unknown to them.</p> - -<p>This brave and loyal race were faithful to us during the Mutiny, and -their services at the siege of Delhi were invaluable; but as early as -1849 their soldierly qualities had been recognised, for it was at that -time that the Government enlisted great numbers of them in the Punjab -Frontier Force. The reason of this lay chiefly in their military value, -although it was at the same time evident that they would be useful to -balance the influence of the Sikhs, who were still imbued with Khalsa -traditions.</p> - -<p>The 2nd Sikh Infantry, raised at Kangra in 1846, consisted entirely of -Dogras. This was the regiment that ratified its loyalty by assisting to -quell a rebellion of its own countrymen. Later, in the second Afghan -war, this same regiment, the majority still being Dogras, fought -gallantly at the battle of Ahmad Khel. Indeed, there was a moment in -this battle when victory or defeat depended entirely on this regiment. -At this critical juncture it behaved splendidly, and disaster was -averted.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE DOGRA REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Company Regiments—Cavalry</i></p> - -<p>It must be borne in mind that Company Regiments are those which contain -squadrons or companies of different native classes. The following -regiments of Indian Cavalry contain Dogras in the proportions given:</p> - - -<p><i>7th Hariana Lancers</i>, one squadron.<br /> - -<i>9th Hodson's Horse</i>, half a squadron.<br /> - -<i>10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers</i> (Hodson's Horse), one -squadron.<br /> - -<i>11th King Edward's Own Lancers</i> (Probyn's Horse), one squadron.<br /> - -<i>12th Cavalry</i>, one squadron.<br /> - -<i>13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers</i> (Watson's Horse), one squadron.<br /> - -<i>16th Cavalry</i>, one squadron.<br /> - -<i>19th Lancers</i> (Fane's Horse), half a squadron.<br /> - -<i>21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry</i> (Frontier Force) (Daly's -Horse), half a squadron.<br /> - -<i>23rd Cavalry</i> (Frontier Force), half a squadron.<br /> - -<i>25th Cavalry</i> (Frontier Force), one squadron.<br /> -</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Class Regiments—Infantry</i></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">37th Dogras.</span></b> Raised 1858, disbanded -1882, re-formed 1887.</p> - -<p>Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>38th Dogras.</b></span> Raised 1858.</p> - -<p>Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><span class="u"><b>41st Dogras.</b></span> Raised 1900.</p> - -<p>Comprises 8 companies of Dogras.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_BALUCHIS" id="THE_BALUCHIS">THE BALUCHIS</a></p> - - -<p>The Baluchis are said to come of Arab stock. Their legends and -traditions attribute their origin to Hamzah, an Arab of the Koreish -tribe, which claimed the honour of including the prophet Mahomet as -one of its number. Mahomet is said to have been Hamzah's nephew. -Notwithstanding the fact that some Mahomedan peoples are in the habit -of employing elaborate fiction in their claims to close connection with -their prophet, it still remains that there is much evidence in favour -of the general tradition existing among the Baluchis as to their Arab -origin.</p> - -<p>The traditional Hamzah, progenitor of the Baluchi race, is regarded -as one of the most important of the early Mahomedan chiefs. He is -pictured as a mighty warrior, a man of Herculean strength and high -courage; hence his romantic and classical sobriquet, "Lion of God." -The tradition runs that Hamzah was killed at the battle of Ohod in -625 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> His descendants and adherents settled about Aleppo, -whence they were driven by Yezid, son and successor of Muavia, and -first Omeyeid Kalif. It seems that the reason for this expulsion was -that Hamzah and his tribe had given assistance to Hössein, grandson of -the prophet, in his attempt to oust Yezid from the position which he -had occupied.</p> - -<p>Being driven forth into the desert, the tribe migrated eastward as -far as Persia, where, as pastoral nomads, they wandered and lived and -multiplied to such an extent as to cause considerable alarm to the -Persian monarch. It is to this sojourn that the Baluchis attribute -their obvious admixture of Persian blood and characteristics. As their -rapid increase in numbers promised trouble to the Persian kingdom, -steps were taken to expel them, and they ultimately descended into an -uninhabited tract south-east of Mekran—a country to which no one laid -any definite claim. From this point they gradually spread over the -whole of the country now known as Baluchistan, driving before them all -the peoples who had so far emigrated to that region. It will be seen -from this that the probabilities are decidedly in favour of the Arab -origin of the Baluchis. Yet it has been contended by some that they are -a race of Turkish stock, since certain of their rites and customs seem -to be drawn from that source; nevertheless it is more probable, from -all the available facts, that the Turcoman and Persian characteristics -and survivals are merely the result of a temporary admixture.</p> - -<p>Very little is known of the early history of the warlike Baluchis -beyond what can be drawn from tradition, unsupported by any written -historical records. One of their chief traditions is that Jalal Khan, -who led them out of Persia, had four sons, named Rind, Hot, Lashari, -and Korai; and a daughter named Jato. At the present day there are five -distinct tribes which still bear the names of these five children of -Jalal Khan; but of these tribes the Rind and Lashari soon acquired, by -reason of their superior force of character, a predominant influence, -so that, as the people multiplied and split up into an ever-increasing -number of tribes, all these fell under the domination of the Rind or -the Lashari. Gradually in this way all the Baluchi race came to be -divided under two great heads, the Rind and the Lashari—a division -which has been determined, not by descent, but by political sympathy.</p> - -<p>The Rind division possess a great traditional hero, Mir Chakar, who -is supposed to have lived in the sixteenth century, and to have been -a powerful dependent of the Moghul Emperor Humayun, giving him great -assistance in his re-conquest of the Delhi throne. In return for this -Humayun bestowed upon Mir Chakar a large tract of land on the frontier, -and it is more than probable that the Baluchis' settlements on the -southern frontier were founded in this way.</p> - -<p>The Lashari faction also had their traditional hero, Mir Gwahram Khan, -of whom many stories of heroism are recorded. His name has still a -sound of glory for the Lasharis.</p> - -<p>The Baluchis follow the Mahomedan religion, but, like the Gurkhas, they -are not religious by nature, preferring practical pursuits and tangible -material ideals, chief among which is war. It is not that they are less -bigoted than many of the other races, but rather that they are more -practical. Their language is a rude and far-off dialect of the early -Persians, and they have no form of written literature.</p> - -<p>Although the Baluchi differs greatly from the Pathan in the matter -of religion, there are many points in common in regard to social -character. The Baluchi has the manly, frank, brave, strong nature of -the Pathan, with a fund of patience rendering him capable of enduring -endless hardship, and a fine dignified carriage and physique combined -with a spirit of quick daring and sudden ferocity; to these qualities -he adds the virtues of truth, fidelity, and simple generosity. His -condemnation of servility, insolence, deceit, and treachery in many -tribes is indicative of his character. His wild, free, open-air life, -combined with the artificial restraints of civilisation, has given him -a bold and resolute air of vigour and self-reliance. It redounds to his -fundamental integrity to find still existing in Baluchistan a kind -of altar or sacred stone—"a stone or cairn of cursing—erected as a -perpetual memorial to the treachery of one who betrayed his fellow." -His chivalry is superior to that of some more cultured races, for, -wild as he is, he will not harm the women and children even of his -bitterest foe. Yet his moral code allows him to plunder and to loot -on a wholesale scale. But set against this is his strong adherence to -discipline, a quality which has developed more and more during his -closer touch with the British.</p> - -<p>If a Baluchi were allowed his own choice of weapons in any fight -whatever, his immediate selection would be a long knife, a sword, -and a shield. He has never found any material use for the matchlock, -which has always been so dear to the heart of the Pathan. He is a -born knifer, and loves to kill at close quarters—a fact based upon -the primitive blood-thirstiness of his nature, "blood for blood" -being his motto. The tales of the Baluchi's prodigal hospitality to -a stranger within his gates, and then waylaying and murdering him on -his departure, must be discredited in these days, when these fierce -instincts have been turned into worthier channels. Nor should any -credence be accorded to such stories of degradation as picture him -the habitué of the opium, hemp, and gambling dens; for, though he -may have been prone to wild excesses, recent years have seen nobler -ambitions placed before him, and certainly those Baluchis now showing -their loyalty and love for Britain and the right on the battlefields -of Europe are not of the class of whom these stories have been told. -A word of praise must be given to the Baluchi's horse, which he rides -as if it were a part of him. Baluchistan produces some of the finest -horses in the world.</p> - - -<p class="ph3">THE BALUCHI REGIMENTS, WITH THEIR BATTLE HONOURS</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Cavalry</i></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">37th Lancers.</span></b> (Baluch Horse.) Raised -1885.</p> - -<p>Class Squadron Regiment. 2 squadrons Derajat Mussalmans (including -Baluchis), 1 squadron Pathans, 1 squadron Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Khaki serge</i>, facings <i>buff</i>. (No service.)</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="at the front" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Infantry</i></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">126th Baluchistan Infantry.</span></b> Raised -1825.</p> - -<p>Class Company Regiment. 2 companies Hazaras, 1 company Khattacks, 1 -company Waziris, 2 companies Baluchis and Brahmans, 2 companies Sikhs -and other Jat Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Persia," "Khooshab," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i> (<i>red serge trousers</i>), facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">127th Queen Mary's Own Baluch Light Infantry.</span></b> Raised 1844.</p> - -<p>Class Company Regiment. 4 companies Pathans, 2 companies Hill Baluchis, -2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Badge.</b>—In each of the four corners the Cypher of Queen Mary.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Abyssinia," "Afghanistan -1878/80," "Burma 1885," "British East Africa 1897/99."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>-<i>Green</i> (<i>red serge trousers</i>), facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis.</span></b> Raised 1846.</p> - -<p>Class Company Regiment. 4 companies North-west Frontier Pathans, 2 -companies Hill Baluchis, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Persia," "Reshire," "Bushire," -"Khooshab," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Egypt 1882," -"Tel-el-Kebir."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Green</i> (<i>red serge trousers</i>), facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">130th King George's Own Baluchis.</span></b> -(Jacob's Rifles.) Raised 1858.</p> - -<p>Class Company Regiment. 3 companies Pathans, 2 companies Mahsuds, 3 -companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan 1878/80," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Green</i> (<i>red serge trousers</i>), facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_BATTLES_OF_THE_GOLDEN_DAGON_PAGODA" id="THE_BATTLES_OF_THE_GOLDEN_DAGON_PAGODA">THE BATTLES OF THE GOLDEN DAGON PAGODA</a></p> - -<p class="center">(Burmese War, 1824)</p> - - -<p>Diminished by sickness and death, brought on by hard service during -an inclement season, by defective provisions, and by the ordinary -casualties of war, Sir Archibald Campbell's forces at Rangoon were -greatly weakened. But the opportune arrival of the 89th British -Regiment from Madras, and of parts of two detachments which had subdued -the islands of Cheduba and Negrais, raised the effective strength just -at the critical moment. By the end of June, 1824, the Burmese in this -quarter appeared to have somewhat recovered from their defeats at our -hands. Chiefs of the highest fame, who, until they came in contact with -our troops, had always been victorious, were sent down the Irawaddi -from Ava and from Prome, with orders to slay or torture and mutilate -every Burmese soldier that did not fight to the utmost; and one of the -brightest of golden umbrellas, Sykya Wongee, minister of state, was -appointed commander-in-chief, with positive commands from the Golden -Foot to attack and drive the British at once into the sea. Following -this, on the first day of July, all the woods in Sir Archibald's front -exhibited bustle and commotion; 8,000 men had crossed to the Rangoon -side of the river; the jungles around all seemed animated; clouds of -rising smoke marked the encampments of the different corps of the -Burmese army in the forest; and their noisy preparations for attack -formed a striking contrast to the still and quiet of our readiness.</p> - -<p>Golden Dagon Pagoda was the key of the British position. This splendid -edifice, in itself a fortress, is a little over two miles from the town -of Rangoon. In shape it resembles an inverted speaking-trumpet; it is -338 feet high, and is surmounted by a cap made of brass, 45 feet high; -the whole is richly gilded. The base of this pagoda is a conical hill, -flat at the top, and rising about 75 feet above the road.</p> - -<p>In the neighbourhood of this gorgeous building Sir Archibald Campbell -placed a whole battalion of British troops. The two roads running -from the pagoda to the town were occupied by our forces, native and -European. The minor pagodas, bronze houses, and pilgrims' houses -along these two roads afforded good shelter to the troops against the -stormy weather, and some further shelter from the attack of an enemy -whose artillery was somewhat light. Two detached posts completed our -position—one at the village of Puzendown, about a mile below the town, -where the Pegu and Rangoon rivers meet; the other at Kemmendine, about -three miles above the town; this second post being chiefly intended to -protect our shipping against the descent of the enemy's fire-rafts.</p> - -<p>On the morning of July 1st the enemy issued in dense masses from the -jungle to the right and front of the Golden Dagon Pagoda. Detaching to -their left a column, which succeeded in setting fire to part of the -village of Puzendown, their main body came boldly up to within half -a mile of Rangoon, and commenced a spirited attack upon part of our -line. But two field-pieces, served with grape and shrapnel, presently -checked their advance, and then a brilliant charge by the 43rd Madras -Native Infantry put them all to flight. In a very few minutes not a man -could be seen of the Burmese host, except the killed and wounded; nor -could anything be heard of them except a wild screaming of baffled fury -coming from the depths of the forest.</p> - -<p>Their defeated commander was brought to book by the Golden Foot, and -degraded. Then a still higher minister of state, named Soomba Wongee, -who had arrived with reinforcements, took the command, and commenced -stockading his army in the most difficult and intricate part of -the forest, at Kummeroot, about five miles from the Great Pagoda, -intending, chiefly under cover of night, to carry on such a system -of desultory warfare as would harass, and ultimately destroy, our -sickly, worn-out soldiers. He also fortified a commanding point on -the river about Kemmendine, in communication with his stockaded camp, -hoping by this means not only to obstruct the navigation of the river, -but also to construct and employ numerous fire-rafts. But this new -commander-in-chief had scarcely finished his works when he was driven -from them with a terrible slaughter.</p> - -<p>It was on July 8th that Sir Archibald Campbell embarked with one column -for the attack of the position upon the river, and Brigadier-General -MacBean, with a land column, marched upon the forest stockades at -Kummeroot. The works on the river were found to be so formidable that -it was judged necessary to employ breaching vessels; accordingly a brig -and three Company's cruisers, manned by seamen of his Majesty's and -the Company's navy, under the superintendence of Captain Marryat, soon -opened a heavy cannonade and silenced the enemy's guns. Our troops then -pushed across the river in boats, entered the practicable breach which -the firing of our seamen had made, and carried all those works with -comparatively trifling loss. The Burmese suffered severely in killed, -and many of them were drowned in trying to escape across the river.</p> - -<p>The operations of the land column, under MacBean, were equally -successful. It was unprovided with artillery; but the storming parties, -who escaladed stockade after stockade, consisted entirely of British -troops. Here, again, the slaughter was dreadful. Soomba Wongee, and -several chiefs of high rank, with 800 men, were killed within the -stockades; and the neighbouring jungles were filled with the unhappy -creatures who were wounded, and left to die from want of food and care. -Some of these poor Burmese were found by the English soldiers, and -brought into our hospitals; but, unfortunately, none of them recovered. -The monsoon rains were now at their height. The adjacent country -was almost wholly under water. Nothing was to be obtained from it. -Again, disease spread so rapidly among our troops that the outlook was -desperate.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile an Expeditionary Force, consisting of his Majesty's 89th -Regiment and the 7th Madras Native Infantry, under the command of -Colonel Miles, was detached from Rangoon, with a considerable naval -force, to subdue the maritime possessions of his Burmese Majesty to -the eastward, in the hope that their loss might induce him to sue for -peace. The success of the expedition was complete: Tavoy surrendered. -Mergui was taken by storm, and British protection was welcomed by the -inhabitants of the entire coast of Tenasserim.</p> - -<p>Some few weeks later Sir Archibald Campbell attempted to release such -of the inhabitants of Rangoon as were desirous of returning to their -houses; and, by means of the sudden, unexpected, and, to the natives, -inexplicable movement of our steamboats, a few families who had been -driven to the villages at the heads of the numerous creeks which branch -off from the Rangoon river were released from their guard, and joyfully -took the opportunity of returning to their city. It was to the report -of these people of the kind treatment they met with that our army was -afterwards indebted for the return of the great body of the men whose -services and exertions contributed to the final success of the war.</p> - -<p>Having, so far, failed in all his undertakings, the Lord of the White -Elephant now sent his two brothers, the Prince of Tonghoo and the -Prince of Sarrawaddy, with a whole host of astrologers and a corps of -"Invulnerables," to join the army and to direct the future operations -of the war. The astrologers were to fix the lucky moment for attacking; -the "Invulnerables" had some points of resemblance to the Turkish -Delhis; they were the desperadoes, or madmen, of the army, and their -madness was kept up by enormous doses of opium. The corps consisted of -several thousand men, divided into classes; the most select band of all -being called the "King's Own Invulnerables."</p> - -<p>The Prince of Tonghoo established his headquarters at Pegu, and the -Prince of Sarrawaddy took post at Donoopew, upon the great river, about -sixty miles from Rangoon. In the beginning of August the Prince of -Sarrawaddy sent down a force to occupy a strong post at the mouth of -the Pegu River, a few miles below Rangoon, giving his people strict -orders to block up the channel of the river in our rear, so that not -one of the "wild foreigners" or "captive strangers" might escape the -punishment that was about to fall upon them. Brigadier Smelt was at -once sent, with a small corps, to dislodge Sarrawaddy's force. Our land -troops were brought to a standstill, when within musket-shot of the -place, by a deep and impassable creek; but a party of sailors from his -Majesty's ship <i>Larne</i>, under Captain Marryat, threw a bridge over the -creek; and, as soon as the column of attack pushed forward, the enemy -began to fly, leaving eight guns and a quantity of ammunition in their -stockade. A strong pagoda, with a numerous garrison, and with cannons -pointing down every approach, was next carried with equal facility. -Other posts on the rivers and creeks were then attacked and taken. Such -of the enemy as had had any experience of our way of fighting seldom -stopped to fight in their stockades; but a new set of people from the -interior made a good stand in a succession of stockades on one of the -rivers, and cost us the loss of a good many brave men.</p> - -<p>All this time the astrologers were busy casting the lucky moment. -Finally they told the Prince of Sarrawaddy that the moment had come -for a decisive action; and, on the night of August 30th, a body of the -"King's Own Invulnerables" promised to attack and carry the Golden -Dagon Pagoda, in order that the princes and the sages and pious men in -their train might celebrate the usual annual festival in that sacred -place—which was now crowded with English grenadiers. And, true so -far to their promise, the "Invulnerables," at the hour of midnight, -rushed in a compact body from the jungle under the pagoda armed with -swords and muskets. A small picquet, thrown out in our front, retired -in slow and steady order, skirmishing with the "Invulnerables" until -they reached the flight of steps leading from the road up to the -pagoda. The moon had gone down, and the night was so dark that the -enemy could be distinguished only by a few glimmering lanterns in their -front; but their noise and clamour and the volume of their threats -and imprecations launched upon the impious strangers if they did not -immediately evacuate the sacred temple proved their number to be very -great.</p> - -<p>"In a dense column," says the historian, "they rolled along the narrow -pathway leading to the northern gate of the pagoda, wherein all seemed -as silent as the grave. But hark! the muskets crash, the cannons roar -along the ramparts of the British post, drowning the tumult of the -advancing column; and see!—see by the flash of our guns, the column -reels back, the 'Invulnerables' fall, mortally wounded, and the rest -turn their backs on the holy place, and run with frantic speed for the -covering of the jungle."</p> - -<p>Our grape-shot and our musketry broke the spell—those "Invulnerables" -ventured no more near any of our posts. But a far more terrible enemy -came within the lines; the dysentery broke out among our troops, -killing many of them, and reducing more to a most emaciated and feeble -state. Scarcely three thousand duty soldiers were left to guard the -lines. Floating hospitals were established at the mouth of the river; -and bread was now furnished in sufficient quantities, but nothing -except change of season or of climate could restore the sufferers to -health. Mergui and Tavoy, portions of our conquest on the sea-coast, -were represented by the medical officers who visited them as admirable -convalescent stations; and thither a number of our soldiers were sent, -and with the most beneficial result. Men who had for months continued -in a most debilitated state at Rangoon, rapidly recovered on arriving -at Mergui, and were soon restored to their duty in full health.</p> - -<p>The Lord of the White Elephant now determined to call down from -the mountains of Arracan his prime favourite, and to carry off the -Governor-General in golden chains. Bandula obeyed the call, and led his -reinforced army from the mountains of Arracan to the Irawaddi river. -He had begun his march about the end of August, at a season of the -year when none but Burmese could have kept the field for a week, much -less have attempted to pass the unhealthy jungles and the pestilential -marshes of the country. The distance, by the shortest route, was more -than 200 miles; but Bandula, gathering fresh forces in the latter part -of his long march, reached Donoopew before Sir Archibald Campbell knew -that he had left Arracan. Happily, our troops, though woefully reduced -in numbers, were now fast recovering their health and strength; and two -fresh British regiments, some battalions of native infantry, a regiment -of cavalry, and a troop of horse artillery arrived from Calcutta and -Madras, together with some admirable trotting cattle of the true Mysore -breed. Five hundred native boatmen came round from Chittagong, and were -busily employed in preparing boats for river service.</p> - -<p>The rains had now ceased at Rangoon; and Sir Archibald Campbell, -strongly reinforced, was completing his preparations for the ascent -of the Irawaddi, and for an attack upon Prome, when he learned that -Bandula had reached Donoopew with 60,000 fighting men, a considerable -train of artillery, and a body of Cassay horse, the best cavalry in -this part of Asia. Bandula's musketeers were estimated at 35,000 men. -Other numerous bodies were armed with gingals, which carried an iron -ball of from six to twelve ounces, and were mounted on a light carriage -easily dragged about by two men; and great numbers were attached to -the guns which were transported on the backs of elephants. The rest of -the host were armed with swords and spears, and scattered through the -army were more of the "Invulnerables" who had not yet tasted the sour -grape of English guns, and who were amply provided with charms, spells, -opium, bhang, and betel-nuts. As Bandula proclaimed on all sides his -intention of riding at the head of his invincible army, with horses and -elephants and all manner of warlike stores, to capture and destroy the -British at Rangoon, it was deemed proper to wait for him there with a -view to a decisive battle.</p> - -<p>The enemy came down to the neighbourhood of Rangoon in boats. Our -posts, consisting of redoubts and fortified pagodas, were speedily -constructed, connecting the great Golden Dagon Pagoda by two distinct -lines with Rangoon and the river, and leaving a disposable force for -moving to the support of any point that might require such support. The -post at Kemmendine was also strongly occupied, and was supported on -the river by his Majesty's sloop <i>Sophie</i>, Captain Ryves, a Company's -cruiser, and a strong division of gunboats.</p> - -<p>On November 30th Bandula's great army assembled in and behind the -dense forest; and his line, extending from the river above Kemmendine -in a semicircular direction towards Puzendown, might be distinguished -by a curved line of smoke rising above the trees. During the ensuing -night the low, continuous murmur and hum of voices proceeding from the -enemy's encampment suddenly ceased, and were speedily succeeded by -the distant but gradually approaching sounds of a multitude in slow -and stealthy movement through the woods. Our troops soon became aware -that the enemy's masses had approached to the very edge of the jungle, -within musket-shot of the pagoda, apparently in readiness to rush from -their cover to the assault at the break of day.</p> - -<p>The day had scarcely dawned on December 1st when hostilities commenced -with a heavy fire of musketry and cannon at Kemmendine, the reduction -of that place being a preliminary to any general attack upon our -line. The firing continued long and brisk, and from their commanding -situation at the Great Pagoda, though nearly two miles distant from the -scene of action, our men could distinctly hear the yells and shouts of -the infuriated assailants, occasionally returned by the hearty cheer of -the British seamen as they poured in their heavy broadsides upon the -resolute and persevering masses. The thick forest which separated us -from the river shut out all sight of what was going forward; and, when -the firing ceased, we remained. There was a short period of anxiety, -though little doubt as to the result of the long and spirited assault. -At length, however, the thick canopy of smoke which lowered over the -fierce and sanguinary conflict gradually dissolved, and there could -be seen the masts of the vessels lying at their old station off the -fort—a convincing proof that all had ended well on that side.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the enemy had been seen on the west side of the river, -marching across the plains of Dalla towards Rangoon. They were formed -in five or six different divisions, and moved with great regularity, -led by numerous chiefs on horse-back—their gilt umbrellas glittering -in the rays of the sun—with a sufficiently formidable and imposing -effect. Opposite Rangoon the leading column of five or six Burmese -divisions began entrenching and throwing up batteries, while their main -body was stockading in the jungle. In the course of the day several -heavy columns issued from the forest, and successively took up their -ground along a woody ridge, gently sloping towards Rangoon. Here they -commenced operations with their entrenching tools, and with such -activity and good will that in the course of a couple of hours their -whole line was covered; their flags and banners, which had been flying -in profusion, all disappeared, and nothing was seen but a parapet of -fresh-turned earth, gradually increasing in height. The moving masses, -which had so very lately attracted anxious attention, had sunk into -the ground; and, by anyone who had not witnessed the whole scene, the -existence of these subterranean legions would not have been credited. -The occasional movement of a chief with his gilt umbrella from place to -place, superintending the progress of their labour, was the only thing -that now attracted notice. By a distant observer the hills, covered -with mounds of earth, would have been taken for anything rather than -the approaches of an attacking army. Even to those who had watched the -whole strange proceeding, it seemed the work of magic or enchantment. -But, thus working like moles in the earth, the Burmese could no more -see than they could be seen; and, in the afternoon, Major Sale, with -his Majesty's 13th Regiment and a regiment of Madras Native Infantry, -moving rapidly forward upon the busily employed and too confident -enemy, fell upon them before they were well aware of the visit, and -drove the whole line from their earthworks with considerable loss.</p> - -<p>These Burmese trenches were found to be a succession of holes, capable -of containing two men each, and excavated so as to afford shelter both -from the weather and the fire of any enemy; even a shell lighting in -the trench could at most kill but two men. As it was not the Burmese -system to relieve their troops in making these approaches, each hole -contained a sufficient supply of rice, water, and even fuel for its -inmates; and under the excavated bank a bed of straw or brushwood was -prepared, in which one man could sleep while his comrade watched. When -one line of trench was completed, its occupiers, taking advantage -of the night, would push forward to where the second line was to be -opened, their places being immediately taken up by fresh troops from -the rear, and so on, progressively. The Burmese understood this art of -warfare, but our men—especially our Native Infantry—also understood -that art, and the enemy's weaknesses as well.</p> - -<p>Attacks were made on Kemmendine that day and were all repulsed by our -troops or by the seamen of our little flotilla. But it was not until -night that the Burmese made their last desperate effort to open their -way down the river, and so get possession of the port of Rangoon. -The soldiers had lain down to rest, when suddenly the heavens and -the whole surrounding country became brilliantly illuminated. The -enemy had launched their fire-rafts into the stream with the first -of the ebb-tide, and had now applied the match to those huge masses -of combustible materials, in the hope of driving the <i>Sophie</i> and -our other vessels from their stations off Kemmendine; and as these -fire-rafts came down, it was seen by the light of their flames that -they were followed by a vast fleet of war-boats, whose crew were ready -to take advantage of the confusion which might ensue if any of our -vessels should be set on fire. As the rafts floated rapidly down to -Kemmendine with the ebbing tide, columns of attack moved once more by -land against that well-defended post, with artillery, gingals, and -musketry.</p> - -<p>But the skill and intrepidity of British seamen proved more than a -match for the numbers and devices of the Burmese; after gazing for -a while at the red, blue, yellow and green flames of the mighty -fireworks, our sailors leapt into their boats, pushed off to meet the -flaming rafts, secured them with their grappling irons, and conducted -them safely past our shipping or ran them ashore to finish their short -but vivid life of fire and flame upon the river bank without injury to -anyone. If these fire-rafts could have reached the harbour of Rangoon, -which was now crowded with transports and vessels of all kinds, the -effect might have been very tragic; but the British tars said that none -should pass Kemmendine Point, and none did pass. Kemmendine, where -the river makes a sudden turn, was the only point from which the rafts -could have been launched with effect. Fully aware of this, Bandula -ordered attack upon attack to be made, and for seven days no rest by -night or by day was allowed to our troops or to our seamen there. But -every effort of the enemy failed—even their land attack on Kemmendine.</p> - -<p>On December 5th, when the stores of the Burmese left wing were brought -forward from the jungle to their foremost entrenchment in front of -Rangoon, and were fairly within our reach, Sir Archibald Campbell -ordered a decisive attack to be made upon their army. Major Sale, with -one column 800 strong, and a troop of British dragoons, who had only -been landed the preceding day, was directed to fall upon their centre; -and Major Walker, with 500 men, was sent to make a vigorous attack on -their left wing. The operations of these two columns of troops were -greatly facilitated by Captain Chads of the navy, who proceeded up the -Creek to a point within gunshot of the rear of the enemy's line, with -the man-of-war boats and a part of the flotilla, and began a heavy -cannonade which distracted the attention of the Burmese and prevented -their strengthening their front. Our two columns broke through the -entrenchments, and completely routed both the centre and the left with -vigorous bayonet charges; but Major Walker and a good many of his -gallant comrades fell. The loss of the Burmese was appalling; they were -driven from every part of their works into the jungle, leaving the -ground behind them covered with dead and wounded, with all their guns, -entrenching tools, gilt umbrellas, and a great number of small arms. On -December 6th, Bandula tried to rally his defeated troops, and with some -success. On the 7th the Burmese made their last and grand attack on the -Great Pagoda, but they were beaten, driven back to their entrenchments -by the British bayonet, and finally into the depths of the jungle.</p> - -<p>Our troops at that post, worn out by seven days and nights of incessant -fighting and watching, could not pursue the flying enemy, who left in -the trenches a great number of dead—nearly all stout, tall, athletic -fellows, who might almost have measured with English grenadiers, -and who had evidently belonged to the flower of Bandula's army. -During these seven busy and fiery days the Burmese, in addition to a -prodigious loss of life, had lost every gun and their entire stores. -The survivors fled towards Donoopew, but they were stopped in their -flight by some great and terrible chiefs, who had been sent down with -numerous reinforcements, and they rallied at Kokeen, about four miles -beyond the Great Pagoda.</p> - -<p>It is said that when Bandula counted his forces he found them reduced -from more than 60,000 fighting men to less than 25,000. Nevertheless, -this favourite of the Lord of the White Elephant was allowed to retain -the chief command. His first move was to entrench and stockade himself -at Kokeen, after which he employed incendiaries to burn the invaders -out of Rangoon, and destroy all their stores and powder magazines. -On the night of December 12th the cry of fire resounded through the -town of Rangoon, and nearly the whole of that flimsy, bamboo-built -place seemed to be immediately in a blaze. The incendiaries had placed -their matches in various parts of the town, and had set fire to them -all the same moment. One half of the town was burned; but the flames -were prevented from reaching our depot of stores and ammunition. This -attempt, which was very nearly successful, brought down a rapid attack -upon Bandula's new position, and defeat and ruin upon himself. On -December 15th—three days after the midnight fire at Rangoon—1,500 -British troops and sepoys, unaided by artillery, under the command of -Brigadier-General Willoughby Cotton, drove Bandula and his mighty host -from all their entrenchments and stockades at Kokeen, and strewed the -position with his dead in thousands.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="BHURTPORE" id="BHURTPORE">BHURTPORE</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1826)</p> - - -<p>If any fortress in India could have been with good reason called -impregnable, that fortress was Bhurtpore. In the early years of the -nineteenth century the chiefs and rajahs of Hindustan were wont to say, -"Yes, you may bully us, but go and take Bhurtpore!" Their belief in its -impregnability was well founded, for in 1805 Lord Lake had attacked it -vigorously, but had failed to reduce its well-fortified works manned by -staunch and numerous defenders. After suffering terrible losses he was -compelled to withdraw, leaving this Jat fortress with a still stronger -claim to impregnability than it had ever possessed before.</p> - -<p>When it was once decided by the British Government that Bhurtpore must -fall, the question immediately arose, where was the man to take it? The -East India Company Directors interviewed the Duke of Wellington, asking -him to find a man capable of taking this fortress. The Duke gave them -an answer. He said, "You can't do better than have Lord Combermere. -He's the man to take Bhurtpore." "But," replied the directors with -great surprise, "we thought that your Grace had not a very high opinion -of Lord Combermere, and did not consider him a man of genius." "I -don't care a tuppenny damn" (that was the Iron Duke's favourite par of -exchange in hot words) "about his genius. <i>I tell you he is the man to -take Bhurtpore!</i>" And the Duke was right.</p> - -<p>There were 25,000 men in the Bhurtpore garrison, and they represented -the most warlike races of India. When Lord Combermere set out with -Bhurtpore as his objective, his army consisted of 30,000 men of -very mixed quality. On reaching the fortress he began with heavy -bombardment. Then for a week he carried forward his siege works, -covered by Gurkha sharpshooters, whose eyes were so keen and whose aim -so sure that no man of the enemy could show his head above the ramparts -with impunity.</p> - -<p>Point after point was won until, at last, a small breach was made by -the artillery; and into this breach Lord Combermere flung a force -in which were included 600 dismounted men from the various cavalry -regiments—eighty from the 11th Light Dragoons, eighty from the 16th -Lancers, 200 from Skinner's Horse, and forty from each regiment of -native cavalry.</p> - -<p>Skinner's Horse is one of the earliest formed of the many distinguished -Native Irregular Cavalry Corps which have fought for Britain. They -had been under Colonel Skinner for many years, and had served him in -many wars; thus they had come to respect and love him as tribesmen do -their chief. There is a touching story of their valour and faithfulness -during the storming of Bhurtpore. A party was told off according to -rota duty, for the whole regiment had volunteered for the dangerous -service. Skinner placed at their head Shadull Khan, one of his oldest, -most faithful, and trustworthy native officers. Then he spoke to them -as follows: "This is the first time you are going into danger when -I cannot accompany you; but such is my affection for you all that I -cannot allow you to part from me without carrying with you something -dear to me." Then, taking his son by the hand—the lad had only lately -entered the corps—he continued: "See, here is my son. Take him and -gain for him such honour as you have won for his father."</p> - -<p>This shows clearly what Colonel Skinner thought of Skinner's Horse, -and also what he knew they thought of him. Old Shadull Khan stepped -forward, and, taking young Skinner by the arm, cried out, "Farewell, -our commander! Trust in God, who never deserts those faithful servants -who do their duty and who, please God, will now do their utmost to -maintain the honour of the corps."</p> - -<p>Although the assault on the breach had been planned, it was postponed -for that day, as on further consideration Lord Combermere deemed it was -not practicable. It took place later, after a great explosion of mines -which the engineers had placed beneath the ramparts. On entering the -widened breach our troops encountered fierce opposition. There was a -hand-to-hand fight of the most desperate description, and it was not -until after some hours of fierce fighting that the enemy surrendered.</p> - -<p>The Iron Duke's words were justified; Lord Combermere had taken -Bhurtpore, and that successful assault on a fortress long regarded -as impregnable was one which yields in brilliancy and courage to few -in the British annals of war. Its beneficial effect on British rule -and influence in India was as striking as its place among battles is -dramatic.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_WAR_IN_SCINDE" id="THE_WAR_IN_SCINDE">THE WAR IN SCINDE</a></p> - -<p class="center">(Meeanee, 1843)</p> - - -<p>"Let there be sixty or a hundred thousand," said Sir Charles Napier, "I -will fight."</p> - -<p>This was when he moved away from the banks of the Indus and found that -an overwhelming force of the enemy was massing in his rear, while -another large force held Meeanee in his front. In the spirit of his -words he pushed forward with 2,600 of all arms, including officers -fit for duty in the field, and the result was the important battle of -Meeanee.</p> - -<p>The positions of the Baluchis were formidable. In the first place they -had a natural ravine in their front. Again, they had 5,000 cavalry and -more than 30,000 infantry, with fifteen guns. Their wings rested on -dense woods which extended on each side of the plain in front for a -considerable distance, so as to flank the British lines on both sides -when it should advance. But, in no mood to be intimidated by these -natural advantages of the enemy, Sir Charles Napier and his little -force fell impetuously on him by the front. The fighting which ensued -was terrific. Our men gradually forced their way across the level -plain, swept as it was by the Baluchi cannon and matchlocks, and -finally crossed the ravine and began the ascent of the high, sloping -bank beyond.</p> - -<p>With matchlocks laid ready in rest along the summit, the Baluchis -waited until the assailants were within twenty yards before they -discharged a volley. But the active British offered an uncertain mark, -and this, combined with the steepness of the declivity, accounted for -the inconsiderable result of their fire.</p> - -<p>Now the 22nd (the Cheshire Regiment) were on the top of the bank, -thinking to bear down all before them, but "they staggered back in -amazement at the forest of swords waving in their front. Thick as -standing corn, and gorgeous as a field of flowers, stood the Baluchis -in their many-coloured garments and turbans; they filled the broad, -deep bed of the ravine, they clustered on both banks, and covered the -plain beyond. Guarding their heads with their large dark shields, they -shook their sharp swords, beaming in the sun, their shouts rolling like -a peal of thunder, as with frantic gestures they dashed forward with -demoniac strength and ferocity full against the front of the 22nd. But -with shouts as loud, and shrieks as wild and fierce as theirs, and -hearts as big, and arms as strong, the Irish soldiers met them with the -queen of weapons—the musket—and sent their foremost masses rolling -back in blood."</p> - -<p>The Baluchis closed their dense masses, and again the shouts, the -rolling fire of musketry, and the dreadful rush of their swordsmen -were heard and seen along the whole line; and such a fight ensued as -has seldom been recorded in the annals of war. These wild warriors -continually advanced, sword and shield in hand, striving in all the -fierceness of their valour to break into the opposing ranks; no fire of -small-arms, no thrust of bayonets, no sweeping discharges of grape from -the guns, which were planted in one fearful mass on the right, could -drive the gallant soldiers back; they gave their breasts to be shot at, -they leaped upon the guns by twenties at a time; their dead went down -the slope by hundreds, but the gaps in their masses were continually -filled up from the rear; the survivors of the front rank still pressed -forward with unabated fury, and the bayonet and the sword clashed in -full and frequent conflict.</p> - -<p>Our loss in officers was heavy, and our native troops, deprived of -leaders though not of gallantry, were several times forced into -rearguard action; but at a given moment a charge made on the enemy's -right by our entire but small body of horse, under the command of -Colonel Pattle, won the day. The Baluchis had kept their ground for -more than three hours, but now they began to retreat in masses, still -keeping well together, with their broad shields slung over their -backs and their heads half turned towards their pursuers. The victors -followed closely, pouring in volley after volley, until tired of -slaughtering. "Yet," says Napier, "those stern, implacable warriors -preserved their habitual swinging stride, and would not quicken it to a -run, though death was at their heels."</p> - -<p>In this conflict our officers and men, together with our native -troops, showed the greatest courage. The chief part of the battle was -a hand-to-hand fight. "The noble soldier Pennefather," as Sir Charles -Napier admiringly called him, fell on the top of the bank, to all -appearance mortally wounded, and his place was instantly taken by Major -Pool. Major Teesdale, followed by his sepoys, rode desperately over the -ridge into the midst of the Baluchis, and was instantly killed by shot -and sabre. Major Jackson followed the heroic example of Teesdale, and -met the same fate. Two brave havildars kept close to them in advance of -their regiment, and, like their leaders, they were also killed, but not -until they had slain several of the fiercest of the enemy. Lieutenant -M'Murdogh, of the General's staff, rode, like Teesdale and Jackson, -into the very heart of the Baluchi mass; his horse was killed under -him, yet he rose instantly, and meeting Jehan Mohabad, one of the most -warlike of the chiefs, slew him in the midst of his clan. Then, while -engaged with several in front, one came behind and struck at him, but -a sergeant of the 22nd killed that enemy so instantly that his blow -fell harmless.</p> - -<p>M'Murdogh turned and did the same service for his preserver, cleaving -the head of a Baluchi who was aiming at his back. Captain Jacob and -Lieutenant Fitzgerald performed similar exploits. Six European officers -and sixty sergeants and privates were killed, and fourteen officers and -about 200 men wounded. The loss of the Baluchis was enormous; a careful -computation gave it as 6,000—1,000 bodies were heaped in the ravine -alone. What greater proof is wanting of the great courage and tenacity -of the Baluchi warrior, who is now linking his glorious traditions with -ours by deeds worthy of his ancient prowess?</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_FIRST_SIKH_WAR" id="THE_FIRST_SIKH_WAR">THE FIRST SIKH WAR</a></p> - -<p class="center">(Moodkee, 1845)</p> - - -<p>It can hardly be said that when Sir H. Hardinge arrived in India in -1844 he found our frontier forces insufficient in numbers or unprepared -for action. When the first Sikh War broke out in December, 1845, there -were at Umballa 12,000 men with 32 guns, at Ferozepore 10,472 with 24 -guns, and at Ludhiana 7,235 with 12 guns. Including the force of 1,800 -at the hill stations this made a total of 32,479 men with 68 guns—a -very respectable little British army.</p> - -<p>On December 7th and 8th news came from Lahore to the effect that -preparations were being made on a large scale for artillery, stores, -and all the munitions of war, but as yet no infantry or artillery -had been reported to have left Lahore, nor had a single Sikh soldier -crossed the Sutlej. On the 9th, at night, Captain Nicholson, the -assistant political agent at Ferozepore, reported that a portion of -the Sikh army had approached within three miles of the river. On the -10th no intelligence was received from Lahore confirmatory of Captain -Nicholson's report, and the opinion continued to prevail that the Sikh -army would not cross the Sutlej. Our troops, however, moved on the -10th, 11th, 12th, in pursuance of orders given on the 7th and 8th; and -the whole of the forces destined to move up to the Sutlej were in full -march on the 12th. Some days later the whole of the Ludhiana force was -moved up with the Umballa force, restricting the defence of Ludhiana -to the fort, which could be securely garrisoned by the soldiers left -at that post, unless attacked by heavy artillery, which was a very -improbable contingency.</p> - -<p>This fine body of men, by a rapid march on Busseean, an important point -where the roads leading from Umballa and Kurnaul meet, formed the -advanced column of the army, and secured the supplies which had been -laid in at Busseean. Up to the morning of the 12th, the information -from Lahore had not materially varied; but, by the reports received on -that day, the general aspect of affairs appeared more warlike. Still -no Sikh aggression had been committed, and no artillery had moved -down to the river. On the 13th, however, Sir Henry Hardinge received -precise information that the Sikh army had crossed the Sutlej, and was -concentrating a great force on the left bank of the river. Sir Henry -immediately ordered Brigadier Wheeler to march, with 4,500 men and -twenty-one guns, early on the 14th from Ludhiana to Busseean, which -place had been filled with provisions by arrangements made through -Major Broadfoot with the native chiefs—provisions upon which the -British army depended in its advance to Ferozepore. By the afternoon of -the 14th, Brigadier Wheeler was in front of Busseean. The main column, -under the Commander-in-Chief, from Umballa, did not reach Busseean -until the 16th.</p> - -<p>The Sikhs had not completed the passage of their heavy guns until -the 16th, and, by the 17th, the advance of the force under the -Commander-in-Chief began to tell upon them, for on the 17th the main -body, consisting, according to the Sikh accounts, of 25,000 regulars -and 88 guns, under Lal Singh, took possession of the wells around the -village of Ferozeshah, whilst Tej Singh with 23,000 men and 67 guns -remained opposite to Ferozepore. Now the only road by which an army can -march from Busseean to Ferozepore (on account of the scarcity of water) -passes through Moodkee, and is about twenty miles, Ferozeshah being -mid-way. Knowing that the Commander-in-Chief must carry these works -before he could relieve Ferozepore, the Sikhs commenced on December -17th to throw up entrenchments around the wells at Ferozeshah in -order to stop the advance of the column under the Commander-in-Chief. -Not knowing the strength of his column, and thinking it was only the -advance guard of the British army, 12,000 Sikhs, chiefly cavalry, and -22 guns, under the command of Lal Singh, left the camp at Ferozeshah, -early on the 18th, and had taken up their position at Moodkee before -the arrival of the British army. No sooner had our troops arrived than -a scout sent by the political agent brought the news that the enemy was -only three miles away.</p> - -<p>The British troops hastily got under arms and moved to their positions. -Sir Hugh Gough immediately pushed forward the horse artillery and -cavalry, and directed the infantry, accompanied by the field batteries, -to move forward in support. Sir Hugh's own description is a good one. -He says, "We had not proceeded beyond two miles when we found the enemy -in position. To resist their attack, and to cover the formation of the -infantry, I advanced the cavalry, under Brigadiers White, Gough, and -Mactier, rapidly to the front in columns of squadrons, and occupied -the plain. They were speedily followed by the five troops of horse -artillery under Brigadier Brooke, who took up a forward position, -having the cavalry then on his flank.</p> - -<p>"The country is a dead flat, covered at short intervals with a low but -in some places thick jhow jungle, and dotted with sandy hillocks. The -enemy screened their infantry and artillery behind this jungle and such -undulations as the ground afforded; and whilst our twelve battalions -formed from echelon of brigade into line they opened a very severe -cannonade upon our advancing troops, which was vigorously replied to by -the battery of horse artillery under Brigadier Brooke, which was soon -joined by the two light field batteries. The rapid and well-directed -fire of our artillery appeared soon to paralyse that of the enemy; -and as it was necessary to complete our infantry dispositions without -advancing the artillery too near to the jungle, I directed the cavalry -under Brigadiers White and Gough to make a flank movement on the -enemy's left, with a view of threatening and turning that flank if -possible. With praiseworthy gallantry, the 3rd Light Dragoons [now -known as the 3rd (King's Own) Hussars], with the second brigade of -cavalry, consisting of the Body-guard and 5th Light Cavalry, with a -portion of the 4th Lancers,[A] turned the left of the Sikh army, and -sweeping along the whole rear of its infantry and guns silenced for a -time the latter and put their numerous cavalry to flight. Whilst this -movement was taking place on the enemy's left, I directed the remainder -of the 4th Lancers, the 9th Irregular Cavalry<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> under Brigadier -Mactier, with a light field battery, to threaten their right.</p> - -<p>"This manœuvre was also successful. Had not the infantry and guns of -the enemy been screened by the jungle, these brilliant charges of the -cavalry would have been productive of greater effect.</p> - -<p>"When the infantry advanced to the attack, Brigadier Brooke rapidly -pushed on his horse artillery close to the jungle, and the cannonade -was resumed on both sides. The infantry, under Major-Generals Sir Harry -Smith, Gilbert, and Sir John M'Caskill, attacked in echelon of lines -the enemy's infantry, almost invisible amongst wood and the approaching -darkness of night. The opposition of the enemy was such as might have -been expected from troops who had everything at stake, and who had long -vaunted of being irresistible. Their ample and extended line, from -their great superiority of numbers, far outflanked ours; but this was -counteracted by the flank movements of our cavalry. The attack of the -infantry now commenced, and the roll of fire from this powerful arm -soon convinced the Sikh army that they had met with a foe they little -expected; and their whole force was driven from position after position -with great slaughter, and the loss of seventeen pieces of artillery, -some of them of heavy calibre; our infantry using that never-failing -weapon, the bayonet, whenever the enemy stood. Night only saved them -from worse disaster, for this stout conflict was maintained during an -hour and a half of dim starlight, amidst a cloud of dust from the -sandy plain, which yet more obscured every object."</p> - -<p>Our troops in this battle consisted of 3,850 Europeans and 8,500 -natives, making a total of 12,350 rank and file, and 41 guns. Sixteen -officers were killed and 200 men; forty-eight officers wounded and 609 -men, of whom 153 died subsequently of their wounds, or were disabled. -Amongst those who fell was the hero of Jellalabad, Sir Robert Sale; -he had his left thigh shattered by grape-shot, and the wound proved -mortal. Had there been more daylight, the rout of the enemy would have -been more complete; as it was, seventeen of their guns out of twenty -were captured, and their loss in killed and wounded was very severe. -Yet it must be said that, in this battle of Moodkee, our friend the -enemy fought bravely and well—so well that, casting a backward glance -on that day of glorious deeds, we are now proud to claim him as a -friend indeed.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Native regiments.</p></div></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="ALIWAL_AND_SOBRAON" id="ALIWAL_AND_SOBRAON">ALIWAL AND SOBRAON</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1846)</p> - - -<p>Badly beaten at Ferozeshah, the Sikhs naturally expected that the -British troops would at once follow up their advantage by crossing -the Sutlej and advancing on the capital; but in order to do this -successfully it was necessary to wait the arrival of the powerful -battering train now moving upwards with the Meerut force under Sir -John Grey, consisting of the 9th Lancers, the 16th Lancers, and her -Majesty's 10th and 53rd Regiments of Foot, with the 43rd and 59th -Regiments of Native Infantry.</p> - -<p>The Sikhs, mistaking this delay for irresolution, resolved to make -another effort to maintain their position on the left bank of the -Sutlej; and for this purpose they began to construct a new bridge -of boats, not very far from the spot where they crossed the river -after having been driven from Ferozeshah. Our Army of the Sutlej was -stationed some distance from the river, and no opposition was offered -by them. The bridge of boats was soon constructed, and works thrown up -in front of it with much military skill, in a position very favourable -to defence. The opposite banks were high, and the river, where the -bridge was laid, made a slight curve inwards, so as to throw those -banks sufficiently forward to afford protection to both flanks of -the advanced position from heavy artillery placed in battery. Above -the bridge, and not far from it, was a good ford, which facilitated -the communications with the forces on the opposite bank. Advantage -had also been taken of the slenderness of our troops at Ludhiana to -effect a passage for a force of about 10,000 men of all arms, in the -neighbourhood of that town. No attack was made either on the town -or cantonment of Ludhiana; the object of this force appeared to be -rather to entrench itself near the place at which it crossed, in order -to obstruct our progress and to cut off the passage of supplies to -Ferozepore, and to intercept the communication between the posts.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Meerut force joined the Commander-in-Chief's camp, -immediate measures were taken to reinforce the Ludhiana post and the -station at Busseean. Some native infantry, some light cavalry, and some -guns were sent thither, and the sick, the women, and the children were -removed thence to Umballa. Meanwhile Sir Harry Smith had been detached -to reduce Dhurmkote and keep open the communication for supplies and -ammunition from our rear. Sir Harry was now reinforced, having with him -7,000 men and 24 guns, and it was confidently believed that he could -at one and the same time relieve Ludhiana and protect the whole of our -rear. Dhurmkote was evacuated at his approach. On the way from Jugraon -to Ludhiana he lost a good deal of his baggage, and sustained some -heavy fusilades, which he did not wait to return. His troops were much -harassed when he reached Ludhiana, but his presence put an end to the -consternation which was becoming general in that part of the country.</p> - -<p>The Sirdar Runjur Singh had strongly entrenched himself at Aliwal, -about eight miles to the westward of Ludhiana. He had 15,000 men and 56 -guns, and on the evening of January 26th he received a reinforcement -of 12 guns and 4,000 regular troops. Sir Harry Smith most gallantly -attacked the Sikhs on January 28th with not more than 16,000 men in -all. The right of the Sikh force rested on Bundree, and their left on -Aliwal. When they had advanced a short distance from their entrenched -camp, they cannonaded the British for half an hour, until our brave -fellows stormed the village of Aliwal, the key of their position. The -whole of the British line then began to advance. Her Majesty's 16th -Lancers charged in the most gallant style, but the Sikhs lay down -on the ground and the Lancers could not easily reach them. In this -position the Sikhs did deadly work with their muskets and keen swords. -The 16th Lancers had upwards of a hundred men killed or wounded. The -great mass of Sikh infantry could be broken only by our artillery. One -Sikh cannon after another was captured. So ably were the orders of -attack conducted, each column and line arriving at its point of attack -to the very moment, that the enemy was soon driven headlong back over -the river, and all their guns were captured or destroyed. Only one gun -was carried by the Sikhs to the opposite bank, and there it was spiked -by Lieutenant Holmes, of the Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of -the Horse Artillery, who forded the river in pursuit. The victory was -complete, and great was the confusion among the Sikhs.</p> - -<p>After this complete and decisive victory there was a breathing -space in the campaign. The Sikhs at Sobraon went on strengthening -their position, while Sir Hugh Gough waited for his artillery and -reinforcements. From January 14th till the beginning of February the -enemy was industriously employed in building defences, under the -direction, it is said, of a Spanish engineer. The army under Sir -Charles Napier, which had been assembled at Sukkar by order of the -Governor-General, consisting of 16,000 men, was moving up to the left -bank of the Sutlej towards Ferozepore, and would have proved, had -the war lasted, a most valuable reinforcement to the Army of the -Sutlej. It had by this time reached Bhawalpur, opposite Mooltan, and -as the Nawab of that place had intimated to the British Government his -intention of remaining neutral, the Governor-General, feeling that the -blow must be struck and the contest decided at Lahore, requested Sir -Charles Napier to come on with his staff in advance of his army, and to -join him without delay, being desirous of having the assistance of that -distinguished officer in the pending struggle. Sir Charles Napier did -not, however, arrive in time to add to the glories of Sobraon, but the -heavy guns from Delhi reached the Commander-in-Chief's camp on February -9th.</p> - -<p>Although on the first intelligence of the battle of Aliwal, and at -sight of the numerous bodies which floated from the neighbourhood of -that battlefield down to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, the Sikhs -seemed much shaken and disheartened, they now appeared to be as -confident as ever of being able to defy us in their entrenched position -and to prevent our passage of the river. The soldiers were chiefly -those who had been trained by the French and Italian officers. They had -strong walls, only to be surmounted by scaling ladders, which afforded -a secure protection for triple lines of musketry. In all they were -34,000 men with 70 pieces of artillery; their position was united by a -good bridge to a reserve of 20,000 men on the opposite bank, on which -was a considerable camp and some artillery, commanding and flanking our -field-works.</p> - -<p>Sir Hugh Gough's forces consisted of 6,533 Europeans and 9,691 -natives, making a total of 16,224 rank and file, with 99 guns. Sir -Hugh ordered this force to march at half-past three, on the morning of -Tuesday, February 10th, when his men would be fresh and there would be -a certainty of many hours of daylight. The troops began to move out -of camp at the very moment appointed, and they marched in silence to -their destination. Sir Hugh was now strong in cavalry and very strong -in artillery. He at once put his battering and disposable artillery in -position in an extended semicircle, embracing within its fire the works -of the Sikhs.</p> - -<p>It had been intended that the cannonade should commence at daybreak, -but so heavy a mist hung over the plain and river that it was necessary -to wait. It was half-past six before the whole of the artillery was -developed. Dr. Macgregor, in his "History of the Sikhs," gives a -graphic description of the opening of the action. He says: "Nothing -could have been conceived grander than the effect of the batteries when -they opened, as the cannonade passed along from the Sutlej to Little -Sobraon in one continued roar of guns and mortars; while, ever and -anon, the rocket like a spirit of fire winged its rapid flight high -above the batteries in its progress towards the Sikh entrenchments. -Well might the Commander-in-Chief call the opening of the cannonade -'most spirited and well directed.' The Sikh guns responded with shot -and shell, but neither appeared to do much execution; the latter were -seen bursting in mid-air ere they reached the British batteries, while -some of the shot passed over Rhodawala, and struck the ground in -front of General Gilbert's division. It now became a grand artillery -concert, and the infantry divisions and brigades looked on with a -certain degree of interest, somewhat allied, however, to vexation, -lest the artillery should have the whole work to themselves. The -Commander-in-Chief, however, was determined to give full play to an arm -which he had not possessed to an efficient extent in other hard-fought -battles. It was reported that the guns were to play for four hours at -least; but there is some reason to believe that the rapid firing had -nearly exhausted the ammunition before half that time had elapsed, -and it was once more to be proved that the British Infantry were not -to remain mute spectators of a battle. 'Notwithstanding,' wrote the -Commander-in-Chief, 'the formidable calibre of our guns, mortars, and -howitzers, and the admirable way in which they were served, and aided -by a rocket battery, it would have been visionary to expect that they -could have silenced the fire of seventy pieces behind well-constructed -batteries of earth, planks, and fascines, or dislodge troops covered -either by redoubts or epaulements or within a treble line of trenches.'"</p> - -<p>The utmost ingenuity of the Sikhs and their European advisers had been -exerted to render the works at Sobraon vastly superior to those at -Ferozeshah. They had aimed at absolute impregnability, and a French -officer assured Tej Singh that it was utterly impossible for the -British to make good their entrance. But it may be said they reckoned -without the small host opposing them. The British were now about -to try with the musket and the bayonet. At nine o'clock, Brigadier -Stacey's brigade, supported on either flank by Captain Horford's and -Fordyce's batteries, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lane's troop of horse -artillery, moved to the attack in admirable order. The infantry and -guns aided each other correlatively. The former marched steadily on -in line, which they halted only to correct when necessary, while the -latter took up successive positions at the gallop, until at length they -were within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs. -But notwithstanding the regularity and coolness, and the scientific -character of the assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well supported, so -hot was the fire of cannon and musketry kept up by the Khalsa troops -that it seemed for some moments impossible that the entrenchments could -be won under it. This fire was all the more formidable from the fact -that the Sikhs employed zumburuks—guns mounted on camels and carrying -pound shot.</p> - -<p>There was a temporary check or pause, but, soon, persevering gallantry -triumphed, and the whole army had the satisfaction of seeing Brigadier -Stacey's gallant soldiers driving the Sikhs in confusion before them -within the area of their encampment. Every impediment was cleared, -the entrenchments were passed, and our matchless infantry stood -erect and compact within the Sikh camp. Said the Commander-in-Chief: -"Her Majesty's 10th, 53rd, and 80th Regiments, with the 33rd, 43rd, -59th, and 63rd Native Infantry, moving at a firm and steady pace, -never fired a shot until they had passed the barriers opposed to -them—a forbearance much to be commended, and most worthy of constant -imitation, to which may be attributed the success of their first -effort, and the small loss they sustained."</p> - -<p>This attack was crowned with all the success it deserved, and, led -by its gallant Commander, Major-General Sir Robert Dick, obtained -the admiration of the army, which witnessed its disciplined valour. -When checked by the formidable obstacles and superior numbers to -which the attacking division was opposed, the second division, under -Major-General Gilbert, afforded the most opportune assistance by -rapidly advancing to the attack of the enemy's batteries, entering -their fortified position after a severe struggle, and sweeping through -the interior of the camp. This division inflicted a very severe -loss on the retreating enemy. Together with a portion of Gilbert's -division, the troops advanced immediately the order was received. But, -if intended to support Stacey on the right of the enemy's position, -they missed the object, for they unfortunately came in front of the -centre and strongest portion of the encampment, unsupported either -by artillery or cavalry. Her Majesty's 29th and 1st European Light -Infantry, with undaunted bravery, rushed forward, crossed a dry nullah -and found themselves exposed to one of the hottest fires of musketry -that can possibly be imagined; and what rendered it still more galling -was that the Sikhs were themselves concealed behind high walls, over -which the European soldiers could not climb. To remain under such a -fire without the power of returning it with any effect would have been -madness—the men would have been annihilated. Thrice did Her Majesty's -29th Regiment charge the works, and thrice were they obliged to retire, -each time followed by the Sikhs, who spared none. Similar was the fate -of the 1st European Light Infantry, who, in retiring, had their ranks -thinned by musketry and their wounded men and officers cut up by the -Sikhs. To the latter, the nullah afforded an admirable defence, for the -slope was in their favour, while the Europeans on the high bank were -completely exposed. At length the second division, which at Ferozeshah -had driven the Sikhs before them, capturing their guns at the point of -the bayonet and entering their encampment, were led to the right of the -entrenchment at Sobraon. The second division was followed by the first -division, which, under Sir Harry Smith, dashed against the enemy's -left. Yet it was not until the 3rd Light Dragoons, under Major-General -Sir Joseph Thackwell, had moved forward and ridden through the openings -of the entrenchments in single file, re-forming as they passed them, -and galloped over and cut down the obstinate defenders of batteries -and field-works—indeed, it was not until the weight of three entire -divisions of infantry, with every field-artillery gun which could be -sent to their aid, had been cast into the scale—that victory finally -fell to our troops. The fire of the Sikhs slackened, then almost -ceased; and the victors, pressing them on every side, swept them in -masses over the bridge of boats and into the Sutlej, which a sudden -rise of seven inches had rendered scarcely fordable.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="at the front" /> -</p> - -<p class="caption"> WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.</p> - -<p>In their efforts to reach the right bank through the deepened water, -they suffered a terrible carnage from our horse artillery. Hundreds -fell under this cannonade; hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in -attempting the perilous passage.</p> - -<p>Thus terminated, in the brief space of two hours, this most remarkable -conflict, in which the military combinations of the Commander-in-Chief -were fully and ably carried into effect. The enemy's select regiments -of regular infantry had been dispersed, and a large proportion -destroyed, with the loss, since the campaign began, of 220 pieces -of artillery taken in action. Over sixty-seven guns, together with -upwards of 200 camel-swivels, and numerous standards were captured -within the entrenchments. Before the hour of noon this great battle -was over. It might, indeed, be well termed a glorious fight and -complete in its results. The battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and -Aliwal had weakened the power of the Sikhs, but the battle of Sobraon -had completely broken it. It was, of course, bought at a dear price. -Her Majesty's 29th Regiment alone lost in killed and wounded thirteen -officers, eight sergeants, and 157 rank and file. The loss of the 1st -European Light Infantry was still heavier. Her Majesty's 31st, which -had fought most nobly at Moodkee, Ferozeshah, and Aliwal, had seven -officers and 147 rank and file killed and wounded at Sobraon. Her -Majesty's 50th, or Queen's Own, had twelve officers and 227 rank and -file killed and wounded. Her Majesty's 10th Foot lost three officers, -three sergeants, and 127 rank and file. These regiments suffered the -most, but others suffered severely. The total loss was 320 killed, -2,063 wounded. The brave Sir Robert Dick, who led the attack on the -entrenchments, received a mortal wound after he had entered them. Says -the historian: "Thus fell, most gloriously, at the moment of victory, -this veteran officer, displaying the same energy and intrepidity as -when, thirty-five years ago in Spain, he was the distinguished leader -of the 42nd Highlanders" (the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch).</p> - -<p>Fearful had been the loss of the Sikhs. Five days after the action, and -when the walls of the entrenchments had been nearly levelled with the -ground, the sandbank in the middle of the river was completely covered -with their dead bodies, and the ground within their encampment thickly -strewn with carcasses of men and horses.</p> - -<p>Before daylight the next morning six regiments of native infantry -and six guns had, by means of country boats, crossed the Sutlej at a -point nearer to the capital than where the débris of the Sikh army -was stationed. On the following day the bridge of boats was nearly -completed by the able and indefatigable Major Abbott, of the Engineers. -Had the British then followed up the Sikhs they might have made their -way without resistance to Lahore, and have there renewed the conflict; -but such was not the intention of our commanders, and the capital of -the Punjab was destined to be occupied by the British without any -repetition of the life-consuming struggles which had occurred on the -left bank of the Sutlej. If pressed, they would have fought hard in -their despair; but the power of the Sikhs was in reality destroyed. -Sham Singh, Dhubal Singh, Hera Singh, Kishen Singh, Mobaruck Ali, -Newaz Khan—all their bravest sirdars and leaders had perished. The -discomfited warriors who survived, being left to themselves, began -to disperse. Our army quietly crossed the river, and took undisputed -possession of Kussoor, which, in former times, had twice defied the -power of Runjeet Singh. On February 14th the Governor-General announced -by proclamation, dated from Kussoor, that the British army had crossed -the Sutlej and entered the Punjab, "in accordance with the intentions -expressed in the proclamation of December 13th last, as having been -forced upon him for the purpose of effectually protecting the British -provinces, and vindicating the authority of the British Government, and -punishing the violators of treaties and the disturbers of the public -peace."</p> - -<p>The Government of Lahore paid, as an indemnity for the expense of the -war, about one million sterling. The Jullunder Doab, the district -between the Beas and Sutlej, was confiscated and proclaimed British -territory. All the guns we had taken were to be retained, and all those -which the Sikhs had ever directed against the British were to be given -up, and the Sikh army was to dismiss and break up for ever and a day.</p> - -<p>This Punjab war is remarkable for the fact that it was the cheapest and -shortest ever waged. It cost the British Government about £2,000,000, -and lasted only sixty days. An indemnity of £1,500,000 from the Lahore -Durbar and Ghoolab Singh resulted, with a net annual revenue from -confiscated territory of £500,000. But these things could never be so -valuable to us as the whole-hearted loyalty and bravery of the gallant -Sikh himself, who to-day fights as nobly and fiercely by our side as in -the old "forties" he strove against us. And if in those days, to our -cost as well as our admiration, we learned the meaning of the "Pride of -the Punjab," we shall soon be able to appreciate it from a different -standpoint.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_STORMING_OF_THE_TAKU_FORTS" id="THE_STORMING_OF_THE_TAKU_FORTS">THE STORMING OF THE TAKU FORTS</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1859)</p> - - -<p>The trouble arose between the allied French and British and the -Chinese over Tien-tsin, the port of Pekin. On June 25th, 1859, Admiral -Hope attempted to force the entrance of the Pei-ho River at the -Taku Forts with a few gunboats, but his endeavours were frustrated. -In the following year allied forces of British and French troops, -under General Sir Hope Grant and General de Montauban, were landed -at Peh-tang, some eight miles north of Taku, while the allied fleets -safeguarded their movement by watching the mouth of the river. These -troops marched inland to avoid the marshes intervening between Peh-tang -and Taku, and joined battle with the Chinese Field Army, defeating them -at Sin-hid on August 12th. Two days later they descended the north bank -of the Pei-ho and seized the town of Tang-ku, three miles north of the -forts.</p> - -<p>The Taku Forts were four in number, and the question arose between the -two generals as to the best method of attack. Sir Hope Grant was in -favour of beginning with the smallest fort, but de Montauban maintained -it would be better to cross the river and attack the largest fort in -the south first. After some friction the former course was adopted, -but Montauban was so little in favour of it that he sent only a few -hundred men and attended the battle himself merely as a spectator, -and without his sword. But this unfortunate little difference was -soon forgotten in the deadly work of the day. Many brave deeds were -done; the most furious conflict took place when the storming party -reached the fort and were crowded together between the inner ditch -and the ramparts. Here they were safe from the Chinese musketry, but -they immediately became a target for big stones, cannon balls, and -stifling stinkpots which the Chinese dropped on their heads. Again and -again the scaling ladders were planted against the ramparts, where the -Chinese caught them and either pulled them up into the fort or hurled -them down, shooting or spearing all who gained a footing within reach -of their weapons. The officers and men tried to force entries where -the artillery had broken down the embrasures for the guns. A gallant -Frenchman sprang on to the ramparts, clubbed a Chinaman with his rifle, -snatched another which was handed up to him, fired, and immediately -fell speared through the head. Another with a pickaxe gained the -top of the wall and tried to break it down; the brave fellow was -immediately shot dead, but Lieut. Burslem, who was behind him, seized -the pickaxe and continued the work. With many another heroic deed of -this kind the fort was eventually captured, the Chinese capitulating -after very heavy losses. Our Indian troops behaved with the greatest -gallantry in this momentous struggle.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_THIRD_AFGHAN_WAR" id="THE_THIRD_AFGHAN_WAR">THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1880)</p> - - -<p>When Yakoub Khan learned that Sir Louis Cavagnari had been sent on a -mission to Kabul, his grief and repentance over his terrible outrages -seemed beyond expression. He protested too much, and nobody believed -him; indeed, before the mission had set out, there had been quite -sufficient incentive for the British Government to teach the native -authorities at Kabul a severe lesson. When the truth of the matter was -felt, rather than known, three columns were despatched to the seat of -trouble. The most important of these, which proceeded by the Kurram -Road, was led by General Roberts. Its composition was as follows:—Two -batteries Horse and Field Artillery; one Mountain Train battery; -one squadron 9th Lancers; 67th South Hampshire Regiment; 72nd (Duke -of Albany's Own) Highlanders; 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders; 12th and -14th Bengal Cavalry; 5th Gurkhas and a wing of the 5th Punjab; 23rd -Pioneers; 5th and 28th Punjab Infantry; 3rd Sikhs, and one company of -sappers and miners, making a total of barely 8,000 men.</p> - -<p>So determined was the spirit of these men that, as battle followed -battle on the way to the capital, Yakoub Khan, with twenty-five -principal citizens of Kabul, eventually surrendered. It was probably -a subterfuge on the part of the Amir to say that he no longer had any -power over his people. At all events, he was kept in durance vile, and -next day General Roberts advanced on Kabul. Then followed the battle of -Charasiah.</p> - -<p>Charasiah is twelve miles distant from Kabul, and its name signifies -"Four Water-mills." Here the tired troops camped, while cavalry patrols -were sent out to scour the vicinity. Like the Saxons on the eve of the -Battle of Hastings, our men little thought that the dawn would bring -a decisive battle; but, unlike the Saxons on that occasion, though -exhausted, they were always ready for any emergency that the morrow -might bring. In evidence of this, two cavalry patrols pushed forward -along the ways that led to Kabul before the first light of dawn. The -northern road was taken by a party of twenty men of the 14th Bengal -Lancers, under Captain Neville, while twenty of the 9th Lancers, under -Captain Apperley, took the southern road. Three hours later, as Captain -Neville's party was passing through a village, one of his men had his -horse shot under him. At the same time, Apperley, in another village, -was being hard pressed by the enemy. Major Mitford, with twenty -Lancers, was immediately sent to his relief, while a band of native -infantry was despatched in all haste to succour Neville. Following -immediately on these operations came news that the enemy was advancing -in great force from Kabul. They were focussing on the passes of the -northern hills. It then became an immediate matter of British tactics -to forestall or dislodge them. The event proved that they had to be -dislodged, and in this matter there was severe and prolonged fighting -before they were driven back. Ultimately the enemy fled incontinently -towards Kabul.</p> - -<p>Some incidents of this battle are worth recording. It was here that -Major (afterwards Field-Marshal Sir George) Stuart White won his -Victoria Cross, while commanding the 92nd Highlanders. For a long time -he pounded the enemy with artillery, and raked him with rifle fire, but -all in vain; he could not dislodge the obstinate foe. The most decisive -method was to storm the hill, with a view to the ultimate efficiency of -cold steel.</p> - -<p>Says the <i>Gazette</i>: "Advancing with two companies of his regiment, he -came upon a body of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering his -force by eighteen to one. His men being exhausted, and immediate action -necessary, Major White took a rifle, and, going on by himself, shot -dead the leader of the enemy."</p> - -<p>And this was where the Afghans were at a disadvantage. The loss of -their leader meant everything to them, for they were not as our -soldiers—every man a leader if emergency requires. They began to fall -back on the further slope of the hill, fearing the onslaught of the -Highlanders, who were on top of it, victorious. It is extraordinary -that in this important engagement our losses up to this point were -nothing more than three Highlanders killed and six wounded, one cavalry -soldier killed and three wounded.</p> - -<p>While this engagement was proceeding, General Baker was leading his -72nd Highlanders across the hills, with a following of No. 2 Mounted -Battery, some Gatling guns, and the wings of the 5th Gurkhas, 5th -Punjab Infantry, and 23rd Pioneers. They fought their way over -precipitous ground, and through 4,000 of the enemy. The resistance -they met with remains to this day as a proof of the fighting powers of -our then enemy. After two hours' stubborn fighting, regulated by the -able generalship of Baker, the hill was at last taken in the rear by a -flanking movement of the Gordons. It was a scene to live in the memory, -when the gallant 92nd, cheered on by Cameron's pipes, stormed the hill. -The dash and vigour of the assault no doubt carried the position, but -the moral effect of Cameron and his pipes, to say nothing of brave -colours flying, had to be reckoned with.</p> - -<p>From this point the march on Kabul was unimpeded. When General Roberts -arrived he found the place abandoned by the enemy. But there still -remained some Afghans entrenched on a high hill to the rear of Bala -Hissar, in such a position that it was necessary to dislodge them -before entering the city, especially as behind them the enemy was in -great force on the Ridge of Asmai. There was very severe fighting over -the dislodgment of these Afghans, but on the fourth day General Roberts -had removed every obstruction to his entry into Kabul. It was a great -moment when he hoisted our Standard on the walls of Kabul.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="TEL-EL-KEBIR_AND_KASSASSIN" id="TEL-EL-KEBIR_AND_KASSASSIN">TEL-EL-KEBIR AND KASSASSIN</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1882)</p> - - -<p>The British campaign arose out of the rebellious ambition of Arabi -Pasha. The culminating point of the campaign was the battle of -Tel-el-Kebir—the word signifying "A large village." Arabi Pasha was -of common origin, having risen from the ranks of the Viceroy's army to -the position of a somewhat famous colonel. His motto was "Egypt for -the Egyptians." In this he left out of account the fact that Britain -had tremendous interests in Egypt, including £4,000,000 of Suez Canal -stock. Blinding himself also to the fact that Britain could not afford -to lose the direct route to India, Arabi Pasha continued to oppose the -growth of British influence even up to the point that he wished to rule -Egypt himself.</p> - -<p>The free expression of this ambition led to the bombardment of -Alexandria and the destruction of Arabi's forts. Being defeated, his -hatred of British influence grew stronger than ever. He retired into -the interior and began mobilising his countrymen. As soon as this was -known, it became necessary to send out a British army to hunt out -the rebellious Arabi and put an end to his ambitions for ever. This -army, under the command of Sir Garnet (afterwards Viscount) Wolseley, -comprised 40,000 men, and was derived from India, Malta, Cyprus and -Gibraltar.</p> - -<p>This force landed at a port on the Canal and pressed on towards -Kassassin. The rebels attempted to check its progress at Mahuta, but -they were easily driven off. Very soon afterwards General Graham, -with his vanguard, arrived at Kassassin, where he entrenched himself -in obedience to a strict order to hold it at all costs. Many attacks -were made, but they were all successfully foiled. There were two -considerable engagements contested here, but they were merely -preliminaries to that at Tel-el-Kebir, which was of the greatest -moment. The 13th Bengal Lancers were engaged on the occasion when the -Egyptians made a second attack at Kassassin. Then they were moved up to -Tel-el-Kebir.</p> - -<p>The fortified defences of Tel-el-Kebir were very strong. The British -were in position before the first streak of dawn, and everything was -"all Sir Garnet," as Tommy Atkins has constantly said ever since. There -was silence as the soldiers lay waiting for the word to advance, and, -when at last it was given in a subdued tone, all arose and marched -forward, and their footfalls on the soft sand were almost as noiseless -as footfalls on the snow. Of this mysterious nocturnal advance in the -silence of a mysterious land, a historian says: "The darkness around -and above, with the stars shining down as they had done in the time of -Pharaoh and the other dynasties of Egyptian kings lying entombed in -the Pyramids ... weird and ghostly was the effect of the dim streaks, -looking like shadows of moving clouds, but which were really lines of -men stealing over the desert."</p> - -<p>The first indication that our approach was discovered came in the -form of some scattered shots fired by the enemy's sentries; then -came a bugle call from within the enemy's lines. This filled our men -with enthusiasm, for it meant that the action would begin in the -darkness, which was to our advantage. For a few minutes they marched -on stealthily, then the whole line of the enemy's entrenchments, which -had been unknown to us, was now clearly revealed by the sudden blaze -of rifle fire. The simultaneous flash was so great that it lit up the -whole scene. Immediately the British bugles sounded the charge, and -our men on the instant sprang forward with loud cheers, then advanced -rapidly but steadily on the foe.</p> - -<p>The terrible conflict which ensued soon became general, and the -infantry, once in close grips with the Egyptians, inflicted severe -loss with the bayonet. It was to this astonishing "infantry" that the -credit of victory was mainly due; the artillery and cavalry, together -with a fine force of marines, were responsible for the infliction of -heavy punishment on the foe in the confusion of their retreat.</p> - -<p>In this battle the 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Light Infantry -("Brownlow's Punjabis") fought with great bravery, and, by their heroic -deeds, added "Tel-el-Kebir" to the list of their battle honours.</p> - -<p>During the course of the Egyptian campaign two other Indian regiments -of cavalry, besides the 13th Bengal Lancers, and two of infantry -besides the 20th, fought bravely, and all bear the "honours" of "Egypt -1882" and "Tel-el-Kebir." The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Sappers and -Miners (a native corps) also bear these "honours," in addition to -"Suakin 1885" and "Tofrek."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="BATTLES_AROUND_SUAKIN" id="BATTLES_AROUND_SUAKIN">BATTLES AROUND SUAKIN</a></p> - - - -<table summary="battles" width="40%"> -<tr> -<td>El-Teb} -</td> -<td rowspan="2">1884 -</td> -<td>Hasheen} -</td> -<td rowspan="2">1885 -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td>Tamai } -</td> -<td>Tofrek } -</td> -<td> -</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<p>Everywhere throughout the Sudan the Mahdi, or False Prophet, had -waged a successful rebellion against the authority of the Egyptian -Government, which, since the crushing defeat of Arabi Pasha at -Tel-el-Kebir, had fallen under Britain's protection. In order to bring -this truculent disturber to submission it was necessary to send a -British army to the relief of Tokar near Suakin. The Sudan had for a -long time been the impenetrable stronghold of the slave trade. "If any -part of God's earth was dyed with human blood," said Lord Wolseley, -"it was this," and now in addition to this there was the memory of the -treachery at El-Obeid, the capital of Kordofan, where Hicks Pasha's -army was treacherously led into ambush and ultimately massacred. The -Mahdi was not present in this battle, but he came later to see the body -of Hicks, who was the last to die, and thrust his spear through the -Pasha's body as an example to be followed by all his sheikhs. All this -blood—more than the blood of slaves—cried out for vengeance.</p> - -<p>As the rebellion spread eastward, Osman the Ugly hastened thither and -further inflamed it. This man was a slave trader, whose chief grievance -was that he had been ruined by the prohibition of the vile traffic. For -a time he had a victorious career, completely annihilating force after -force of Egyptian troops. During his investment of Sinkat and Tokar, -Baker Pasha was despatched with a force of 3,600 men to the relief of -those two towns. But here another terrible slaughter of the Egyptian -troops took place in the battle—or rather, the massacre—of El-Teb. -An eye witness says of this: "Inside the square the state of affairs -was almost indescribable. Cavalry, infantry, mules, camels, falling -baggage and dying men were crushed into a struggling, surging mass. -The Egyptians were shrieking madly, hardly attempting to run away, but -trying to shelter themselves one behind another."</p> - -<p>"The conduct of the Egyptians was simply disgraceful," said another -English officer; "armed with rifle and bayonet, they allowed themselves -to be slaughtered without an effort at self-defence, by savages -inferior in numbers and armed only with spears and swords."</p> - -<p>Seeing the uselessness of attempting to rally such material, Baker, -with his staff, put spurs to his horse and charged the enemy. This -small band of determined men cut their way through the formidable -array of swords and lances. Soon after this the defenders of Sinkat, -finding their stores almost exhausted, decided to fight their way out. -Accordingly, 400 men, with many women and children, set out from the -town. The men fought valiantly, but they were overpowered by numbers, -and only six men and thirty women were left to tell the horrible tale -of butchery.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Tokar was still under siege, and Sir Gerald Graham was sent -with a small force to relieve it. At El-Teb he came in contact with the -Mahdi's forces; this time the victory was on our side. Having crushed -the Mahdi for the time being, he set out for Suakin, which was the -concentration point of the Government in its now extensive preparations -to humble Osman Digna. They had called on the rebel chiefs to lay down -their arms, but the call had met with a most defiant reply. Sir Gerald -advanced on Tamai and bivouacked within a mile of the enemy's position. -All night long the British were harassed by shot and shell, but victory -came in the morning, though with regrettable loss of life. It was none -the less crushing, however, and was followed by a temporary cessation -of hostilities. It was not until the following spring that Osman Digna -had recuperated sufficiently to face the British troops again. In the -campaign which followed, his hordes were successful until after the -battles of Hasheen and Tofrek.</p> - -<p>It was early in the morning that General Graham with less than 1,000 -men arrived at the foot of the hills to the east of Hasheen. He -established himself with his staff on one of the hills, and from that -point directed the battle which ensued. The wells of Hasheen lay below -in the valley.</p> - -<p>With the light of day the whole place was seen to be alive with -riflemen. Says an eye-witness: "They crowded on the Hasheen hill; they -swarmed through the underwood, and nothing could be seen but little -puffs of smoke rising over the trees. Here and there a shriek, a groan, -a gap in the ranks, instantly filled up, showed that some of the -enemy's bullets had found a billet. But for one that hit, a thousand -whistled harmlessly over us." Volley answered volley from both sides, -and the bullets began to fall thick and fast. Where the Sikhs were -engaged the fire was especially furious. The enemy showed considerable -bravery, but after a while the distant fire of our troops proved too -hot for them. Two squadrons of the Bengal Lancers, making a gallant -show with their turbans, streaming pennants, and flashing spears, were -launched against them, and some desperate fighting now took place -in this part of the field. One of the squadrons was dismounted for -the purpose of firing volleys, but, being taken at a disadvantage, -was driven back with the loss of nine men. The Arabs were led on to -the attack by an old sheikh mounted on a camel. He waved his spear -frantically, and his equally fanatical followers rushed round the -Bengalese flank to their rear. One Lancer officer—an Englishman—was -seen to hew down two Arabs in quick succession; while the life of -another officer was only saved by the steel breastplate underneath his -tunic, which before his departure his wife had insisted on his wearing. -On the right, too, about the same time, a similar charge was made by -the other two squadrons of Bengal Cavalry and the 5th Lancers. This -rapid movement completely checked and scattered a large body of the -enemy who were advancing down the Hasheen valley with the intention of -turning the British flank. The swarthy-faced Indian troops, with their -eyes flashing friendly rivalry beneath their turbans, vied with their -fresh-complexioned British comrades to carry off the chief honours of -that charge; and so strong was this admirable rivalry that history can -only say "Honours easy."</p> - -<p>In the action at Tofrek the Indian Brigade were engaged and showed -striking gallantry. The 17th Bengal Native Infantry (the Loyal -Regiment) gave some ground at a very important moment, but it was -against fearful odds. No more need be said than that "Tofrek" is among -their battle honours.</p> - -<p>Orders were given to Generals McNeill and Hudson to advance to a -certain spot and construct three zarebas at a distance of from six -to eight miles from Suakin. Here, at Tofrek, they suddenly found the -enemy upon them. In the conflict which ensued, the main brunt of the -assault fell upon the 15th Sikhs and the 28th Bombay Native Infantry. -Time after time they received assaults with heavy fire, firmly standing -their ground and maintaining an intact line. The battle raged most -furiously round the Sikhs, a fact which was afterwards confirmed by the -hundreds of dead Arabs which lay in front of their position. The Bombay -Regiment, though not in the thick of the fight, fought bravely, as -proved by the toll of the enemy's dead and wounded.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_FRONTIER_FIGHTING_OF_1886" id="THE_FRONTIER_FIGHTING_OF_1886">THE FRONTIER FIGHTING OF 1886</a></p> - - -<p>In the frontier fighting (1886) against the Afghans and Tibetans many -important events occurred. Those of greatest interest were the survey -by the Afghan Boundary Commission, under Colonel Sir West Ridgeway; -General Sir G. White's march with his Flying Column to the Zhob Valley; -the Manipur Massacre; the attack by tribesmen on the Fort of Chilas, -and the Wazaris' fierce assault on the troops encamped at Wano.</p> - -<p>The Afghan Boundary Commission, which had returned to India in -1886, after a two years' survey in the wild country to the north, -was commanded by Colonel Sir West Ridgeway. Among his troops was a -detachment of the 11th Bengal Lancers and 20th Punjab Infantry, who, -to quote the Official Gazette, "have upheld throughout by discipline, -endurance, and good conduct the credit of Her Majesty's Army."</p> - -<p>The work before them was difficult and dangerous, but the British -officers and native soldiers carried it to a successful issue with -unflagging cheerfulness and invincible courage.</p> - -<p>Sir G. White's march into the Zhob Valley may be described in terms -of equal praise. The Flying Column marched rapidly through the valley, -and reached Thanispa on October 15th. From that point they hurried on, -meeting with little opposition, and finally took possession of the -entire country, bringing the chiefs to terms, and binding them over -to cease the predatory raids which had been the occasion of all the -trouble.</p> - -<p>The Manipur Massacre, a terrible affair, arose, four years later, -through the ambitions of a would-be usurper. In this case it was the -ruler's own brother who caused the trouble. On September 22nd, 1890, -at two o'clock in the morning, the Residency in Manipur was startled -by the sound of musketry. Then, while the inmates were preparing for -the worst, the Maharajah himself came running, in a state of panic, and -told Mr. Grimwood, the Agent, that his brother had attacked the palace, -and that, as he had given up all hopes of retaining power, his only -course was to abdicate in favour of the usurper.</p> - -<p>The Maharajah was allowed to escape from the country, but no sooner did -he find himself beyond the reach of his brother's strong arm than he -made up his mind to return. After having weighed the whole facts of the -case, the Government decided that the usurper was the better man, and -therefore they took steps to keep the Maharajah at a distance, and to -expel the Senapatti, whose ambitions and ideals were not for the good -of Manipur.</p> - -<p>In accordance with instructions, Mr. Quinton, Chief Commissioner in -Assam, set out for Manipur to further the intentions of the Government. -His force consisted of 400 Rifles of the 42nd and 44th Gurkha -Regiments, which were deemed sufficient reinforcement to the 100 Rifles -of the 43rd Gurkhas already at Manipur. This little band of 400 arrived -at Manipur on March 22nd, and, after consultation, it was decided to -call a <i>darbar</i>, so as to declare and ventilate the decision of the -Government. It was in the back of the Government's mind to effect the -arrest of the Senapatti. But he had evidently got to know this; at all -events, neither he nor his followers attended the <i>darbar</i>.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding Mr. Grimwood's intervention, in which he explained -to the usurper that the Government was favourable to him, nothing -satisfactory could be brought about with either side. The fact was that -the usurper, as well as the Senapatti, was entirely antagonistic to the -aims of the British; consequently, the <i>darbar</i> was a complete failure.</p> - -<p>There was no time to be wasted, and there was no time to speculate on -what was "on the other side of the hill." At daybreak on the 24th, -Colonel Skene, with 250 men, called at the palace to arrest the missing -chief. The Manipurs had foreseen this. They were well prepared. They -had 6,000 men and two guns as a welcome, and, though the gallant 250 -put up a tremendous fight, they were ultimately forced back to the -Residency. Swift after them came the enemy with their guns. A fierce -siege of the Residency then followed. Towards evening there was a -lull, and an armistice was agreed upon. But the natives, not knowing -at that time the far-reaching failure of Punic, or Prussian, faith, -played false. Mr. Quinton, Colonel Skene, Mr. Grimwood, Lieutenant -Simpson of the 43rd Gurkhas, and Mr. Cossins, Assistant Secretary of -the Chief Commissioner, were made prisoners by treachery, and then the -guns belched forth again on the Residency. In the morning the little -garrison was forced to retreat, and they took the road towards Cochar, -their way being lighted by burning villages on every hand, while far -in the rear the Residency itself proclaimed the temporary triumph of -the natives. In this retreat was Mrs. Grimwood, whose record of her -remarkable escape will be remembered.</p> - -<p>It was a retreat, not a rout. The brave fighters of the greatest -rearguard action in history, in the present war, may well call to mind -that rearguard action on a small scale, when our troops were, so to -speak, pursued by defeat, fighting against it all the way. At last they -fell in with Captain Cowley, in command of a small band, and, joining -forces with him, they made their way to Lakhpur.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, General Graham, with half a battalion of the King's Royal -Rifles, No. 2 Mountain Battery R.A.; two battalions 4th Gurkhas and -12th Madras Infantry, and two guns, set out from Burma to the rescue -of the battered but not beaten troops. General Collett, commanding a -column, also made in all haste for Lakhpur. On the arrival of these -two contingents the city was speedily taken. But—and here is the -pity—before they could get to Manipur, the officers above mentioned, -treacherously taken, were treacherously massacred.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="THE_RELIEF_OF_CHITRAL" id="THE_RELIEF_OF_CHITRAL">THE RELIEF OF CHITRAL</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1895)</p> - - -<p>In the relief of Chitral a number of native regiments took part. In -the spring of 1895 Britain was suddenly called to attention by the -news, flashed along the cables, that hell had broken loose in Chitral. -This probably meant that a few British officers, with a small band of -Sikhs and other native troops, were in a most dangerous position in the -capital of that state. The probability soon became a certainty, and -great alarm was felt as to their safety. The next piece of bad news was -that the British were hemmed up in a small fort, and, in that desperate -position, were defending it against fearful odds, beating off wild -hordes of tribesmen, and fighting, in grim despair, against the clock, -hoping that time might bring succour and relief. And the jeopardy of -this situation was not lessened by the fresh news that two little -sections of the British army from Gilgit had to scale mountains more -rugged than the Alps before penetrating into the lowlands of Chitral to -the relief of the little garrison.</p> - -<p>After news of an engagement on March 7th no tidings were received -from Chitral Fort. Meanwhile came the official report of the -defeat of Captain Goss at Mastuj, he and fifty-six men having -been killed—fifty-six out of a total of seventy-one. This, with -the death-like silence of Chitral, was appalling; and immediately -Major-General Sir Robert Low was ordered to mobilise on the frontier of -the enemy's territory, and Colonel Kelly, commanding the 32nd Pioneers -in the Gilgit district, was given <i>carte blanche</i> to plan the relief of -Chitral in whatever way might seem best to him.</p> - -<p>The journey from Gilgit to Chitral is a stupendous undertaking for -an army. The distance is 220 miles, and the way lies over a gigantic -range of mountains containing passes deep with perpetual snow. When it -became known that Colonel Kelly had actually undertaken this journey -in the hope of reaching Chitral in time to render assistance to the -beleaguered British, the heart of Britain was contracted. There was a -chill fear abroad, and the despairing word "impossible" was in constant -use. In the clubs men who knew those mountains gazed into each other's -eyes and borrowed what hope they could. The apparently impossible had -often been attempted before, and proved possible; so the nation waited, -nursing that fire of courage which is always kept burning in its -breast.</p> - -<p>Low's force was as follows:—</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><span class="smcap">1st Brigade</span> (General Kinloch).—Royal Rifles, -Bedfordshires, 1st Sikhs, 37th Dogras.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">2nd Brigade</span> (General Waterfield).—Gordons, Scottish -Highlanders, 4th Sikhs, Guides' Infantry, Field Hospital.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">3rd Brigade</span> (General Gatacre).—Seaforth Highlanders, -Buffs, 25th Punjabis, 4th Gurkhas, Field Hospital.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Divisional Troops.</span>—Guides' Infantry, 11th Bengal -Lancers, 13th Bengal Infantry, 23rd Pioneers, Bengal Sappers, East -Lancashire Regiment, 29th and 30th Punjabis, Field Hospital.</p></div> - -<p>Colonel Kelly's force consisted of two parties:—</p> - -<p>(1) 200 Pioneers, 2 mountain guns, 40 Kashmir sappers, with 100 -Hunzanagur levies.</p> - -<p>(2) 100 Kashmir troops, under Lieut. Gough.</p> - -<p>Low forced Malakand Pass. The enemy's strength was on the left side of -the pass. Low brought his artillery to bear on this position, while the -4th Sikhs and Guides were thrown forward to scale the hills and carry -the breastworks of loose stones; after which they were to work along -the ridges and turn the enemy's flank.</p> - -<p>No sooner had they come within range than the hillmen poured a fierce -fire into their ranks; but our men could not reply, as their stern -business was to climb, and climb as quickly as possible. And a most -desperate ascent it was, for they had to contend against not only a -hail of bullets, but an avalanche of boulders as well. The officers -suffered heavily, from the simple fact that they could easily be -distinguished by their helmets among the turbaned troops.</p> - -<p>It was a long and tragic climb, but at last it came to the point of -the bayonet on the crest of the hill, and after more than three hours' -fighting the defenders abandoned the position. The Sikhs and Guides, -who carried this important point, had been nineteen hours under arms.</p> - -<p>During this time the Scottish Borderers and the Gordons had forced -their way up the centre of the pass until they now came to the last -climb, which was the steepest of all. But it was their own native task -that was before them, and, point by point, they scrambled upwards, -helping each other up, and never flinching under the constant storm of -lead. Seeing the desperate nature of their situation, Low despatched -Kinloch's infantry to their support: the King's Royal Rifles on the -left and the Bedfordshires and Dogras on the right; the 15th Sikhs -being held in reserve. The Borderers and the Gordons not only held, but -gained ground, and the Bedfordshires, when they came up, pushed right -through the fighting line, and, supported by the Dogras, finished the -fight the Borderers and the Gordons had so long contested. Clear over -the ridge they drove the hillmen, and the Dogras never ceased pursuit -of the routed foe until the survivors were dispersed in the Swat valley.</p> - -<p>Kelly encountered much severe fighting on his difficult journey, and -his daring and successful mission of relief can never be forgotten. -The principal engagement, however, was at Malakand Pass, where, though -victorious, Sir Robert Low's small force lost seventy killed and -wounded.</p> - -<p>Besides the many native regiments which took part in the relief -of Chitral, special honour is due to the 14th (King George's Own) -Ferozepore Sikhs, who were prominent in its defence. Their bravery of -despair and their heroic patience in that defence have bequeathed to -them a heritage of glory in the annals of Britain; and</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 35%;"> -"The gold of glory, put to use,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2%;">More glory doth beget."</span> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="BATTLE_OF_DARGAI" id="BATTLE_OF_DARGAI">BATTLE OF DARGAI</a></p> - -<p class="center">(1897)</p> - - -<p>The storming of the Dargai Heights was the most daring enterprise of -the Tirah Expedition. In the middle of October, after much delay in the -setting out, and just in time to meet the worst of the early winter -storms, the Expedition duly reached its first camping-place beneath -the ridge of Dargai. This was the initial obstacle to its advance -into the Rakzai country. In order to clear this ridge, Sir William -Lockhart sent forward the second division of his force, under General -Yeatman-Biggs, which engaged the enemy in a desperate conflict at -mid-day on October 18th. The 4th Brigade, under General Westmacott, -advanced from the Chagru Kotal against the front of the ridge, while -the 3rd Brigade, under General Kempster, swept round to the south and -west. This brigade, however, which had set out from Shinwari two hours -before daybreak, had been delayed, and was not yet at close quarters, -when the Gurkhas, covered by the fire of the Scottish Highlanders from -the low ridge opposite the Heights, and by the mountain-gun batteries -from Chagru, sprang forward across the open space, and began to climb -like mountain cats up the steep and narrow zigzag of the ridge. After -them came the Borderers, and the enemy, observing the rapid approach of -the stormers, fled before our infantry had reached the summit.</p> - -<p>Orders had been given that as soon as the ridge was cleared our men -were to return to Shinwari, but their obedience to this order had -an unfortunate result. The enemy immediately took it as a sign of -weakness, and returned to the attack. They quickly regained the ridge, -and, rushing down its front, harassed our retreating men. Thus a -brilliant victory assumed the complexion of a defeat, and the moral -effect of this upon the tribesmen was not to our advantage.</p> - -<p>A more conclusive battle, however, took place two days later at about -the same spot. General Lockhart gave orders that the frontal attack -on the heights should be combined with an advance down the defile, -but in the event General Yeatman-Biggs decided to confine himself to -the former. Again the Gurkhas were flung forward. But this time the -tribesmen had increased their force, and the brave little men left many -dead and wounded in their track. The Dorsetshires and the Sherwood -Foresters followed them, and they in their turn suffered very heavily. -For a whole hour death was as common as life, but there was no thought -of retreat; it was a time for indomitable courage and tenacity.</p> - -<p>A moment arrived, about noon, when the 1st Gordons and the 3rd Sikhs -prepared for a furious charge. The shrill pipes struck up as the -Gordons, led by Colonel Mathias, dashed out into the open space, -crossed it, and began to scale the steep hillside beyond. Difficult -as this stupendous task appeared to the onlookers, it was achieved by -these heroic mountaineers, though not without great loss. Once on the -ridge the battle was won. The enemy, unable to check this determined -assault, abandoned his position and fled in confusion. This time the -ridge was not only cleared, but held for good; and our forces found -their way open before them through the Chagru Kotal Pass.</p> - -<p>In this Tirah Expedition there was much valuable native blood shed, -expecially in the Khurmauna Defile, where a native officer and -thirty-five Sikhs were cut off in a ravine and every one of them -killed. The Gurkhas, to whom the life of a victory is that only a few -come back, had their full share of the joy of battle, with well-earned -glory, in this immortal storming of the Dargai Heights.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2"><a name="A_LIST_OF_INDIAN_NATIVE_REGIMENTS" id="A_LIST_OF_INDIAN_NATIVE_REGIMENTS">A LIST OF INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS</a></p> - - -<p>The following is a list of the Indian Native Regiments from the ranks -of which the 70,000 now fighting at the front are drawn:—</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Indian Cavalry</i></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">Governor-General's Body-Guard.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Java," "Ava," "Maharajpore," "Moodkee," -"Ferozeshah," "Aliwal," "Sobraon," "Seetabuldee."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">1st Duke of York's Own Lancers.</span></b> (Skinner's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Bhurtpore," "Kandahar 1842," "Afghanistan -1879/80," "Pekin 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Yellow</i>, facings <i>black velvet</i>.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Colonel-in-Chief</i>—<span class="smcap">The King.</span></p> - - -<p><b><span class="u">2nd Lancers.</span></b> (Gardner's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Arracan," "Sobraon," "Punjab," "Egypt -1882," "Tel-el-Kebir."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>light blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">3rd Skinner's Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan," "Ghuznee 1839," -"Maharajpore," "Khelat," "Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," "Aliwal," -"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">4th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">5th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">6th King Edward's Own Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher of King Edward VII.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punniar," "Moodkee," "Ferozeshah," -"Sobraon," "Egypt 1882," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Colonel-in-Chief</i>—<span class="smcap">The King.</span></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">7th Hariana Lancers.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">8th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">9th Hodson's Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Suakin 1885," -"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers.</span></b> (Hodson's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Abyssinia," -"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">11th King Edward's Own Lancers.</span></b> (Probyn's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher of King Edward VII.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Lucknow," "Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ali -Masjid," "Afghanistan 1878/79," "Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," -"Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Colonel-in-Chief</i>—<span class="smcap">The King.</span></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">12th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Abyssinia," "Peiwar Kotal," "Charasiah," -"Kabul 1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers.</span></b> (Watson's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan 1878/80," "Egypt 1882," -"Tel-el-Kebir," "Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>, lace <i>silver</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">14th Murray's Jat Lancers.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Charasiah," "Kabul 1879," "Afghanistan -1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>, pugri <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">15th Lancers.</span></b> (Cureton's Multanis.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;" ><b><span class="u">16th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">17th Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">18th King George's Own Lancers.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Punjab Frontier," -"Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">19th Lancers.</span></b> (Fane's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ahmad Khel," -"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>French grey</i>, lace <i>silver</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">20th Deccan Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Central India."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Rifle green</i>, -facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry.</span></b> (Frontier Force.) -(Daly's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Ahmad Khel," -"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry.</span></b> (Frontier Force.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Ahmad Khel," -"Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">23rd Cavalry.</span></b> (Frontier Force.)</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">25th Cavalry.</span></b> (Frontier Force.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Charasiah," "Kabul -1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Dark green</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>, pugri <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">26th King George's Own Light Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Ava," -"Afghanistan 1879/80," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>French grey</i>, facings <i>buff</i>, lace <i>silver</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">27th Light Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," -"Seringapatam," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>French grey</i>, facings <i>buff</i>, lace <i>silver</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">28th Light Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Maheidpoor."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>French grey</i>, facings <i>buff</i>, lace <i>silver</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">29th Lancers.</span></b> (Deccan Horse.)</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Rifle green</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">30th Lancers.</span></b> (Gordon's Horse.)</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Central India."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Rifle green</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan," "Ghuznee 1839," "Punjab," -"Mooltan," "Central India," "Burma 1885/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">32nd Lancers.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Central India," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry.</span></b></p> - -<p><b>Badge.</b>—The Royal and Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria -within the Garter.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Ghuznee 1842," "Kabul 1842," "Hyderabad," -"Persia," "Reshire," "Bushire," "Koosh-ab," "Central India," -"Abyssinia," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Corygaum," "Ghuznee 1839," "Afghanistan," -"Kandahar 1842," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," "Persia," "Reshire," -"Koosh-ab," "Bushire," "Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>French grey</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">35th Scinde Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Cutchee," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," -"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Persia," "Central India," -"Afghanistan 1878/79."</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">36th Jacob's Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Cutchee," "Meeanee," "Hyderabad," -"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Afghanistan 1879/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Blue</i>, facings <i>primrose</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">37th Lancers.</span></b> (Baluch Horse.)</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Khaki serge</i>, facings <i>buff</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">38th King George's Own Central India Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," -"Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>maroon</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">39th King George's Own Central India Horse.</span></b></p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Badges.</b>—The Plume of the Prince of Wales and the Royal and -Imperial Cypher.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Kandahar 1880," "Afghanistan 1879/80," -"Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>maroon</i>.</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Colonel-in-Chief</i>—<span class="smcap">The King.</span></p> - - -<p class="center" style="margin-top:2em;"><i>Cavalry and Infantry</i></p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides</span></b> (Frontier -Force—Lumsden's).</p> - -<p><b>Badge.</b>—The Cypher of Queen Victoria within the Garter.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab," "Mooltan," "Goojerat," "Delhi," -"Ali Masjid," "Kabul 1879," "Afghanistan 1878/80," "Chitral," -"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>red velvet</i>, <i>scarlet</i> (cloth) -for the ranks.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">19th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Ahmad Khel," "Afghanistan '78/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry</span></b> ("Brownlow's Punjabis").</p> - -<p>4 companies Pathans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Ali Masjid," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Egypt '82," "Tel-el-Kebir," "Punjab -Frontier," "China."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">21st Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>3 companies Pathans, 1 company Punjabi Mussalmans, 3 companies Sikhs, 1 -company Dogras.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Abyssinia," "Afghanistan '78/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">22nd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Pathans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"China '60/62," "Afghanistan '79/80," -"Punjab Frontier."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">23rd Sikh Pioneers.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Taku Forts," "Pekin," "Peiwar Kotal," -"Charasiah," "Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>chocolate</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">24th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 1 company Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Afridis.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand," "Pekin 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">25th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>3 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, -1 company Pathans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan -'78/80," "Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">26th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Afridis, 2 companies Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan '78/80," "Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">27th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Pathans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"China '60/62," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan -'78/80," "Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">28th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 3 companies Pathans, 1 company -Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Charasiah," "Kabul '79," "Afghanistan -'78/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">29th Panjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Peiwar Kotal," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">30th Panjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan '79/80," "Chitral," "Punjab -Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">31st Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," -"Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">32nd Sikh Pioneers.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Afghanistan '78/80," -"Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">33rd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1857.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans, 2 companies Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">34th Sikh Pioneers.</span></b> Raised 1858, disbanded 1887, but recently -re-formed.</p> - -<p>8 companies Mazhbi Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Chitral," "Punjab Frontier," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">35th Sikhs.</span></b> Raised 1798, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887.</p> - -<p>8 companies Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">36th Sikhs.</span></b> Raised 1858, disbanded 1882, re-formed 1887.</p> - -<p>8 companies Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab Frontier," "Samana," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">45th Rattray's Sikhs.</span></b> Raised 1856, added to Bengal Army 1864.</p> - -<p>8 companies Sikhs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Defence of Arrah," "Behar," "Ali Masjid," -"Afghanistan '78/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Malakand."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">46th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised 1900.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Afridis, 1 company Orakzais, -2 companies Lobana Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">47th Sikhs.</span></b> Raised 1901.</p> - -<p>8 companies Sikhs.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">48th Pioneers.</span></b> Raised 1901.</p> - -<p>4 companies Lobana Sikhs, 4 companies Jats.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">51st Sikhs</span></b> (Frontier Force). Raised 1846.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab," "Ali Masjid," "Afghanistan -'78/79," "Pekin 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>yellow</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">52nd Sikhs</span></b> (Frontier Force). Raised 1846.</p> - -<p>3 companies Dogras, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, -1 company Pathans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Punjab," "Ahmad Khel," "Kandahar '80," -"Afghanistan '78/80."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>scarlet</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">53rd Sikhs</span></b> (Frontier Force). Raised 1847.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Khattaks, 1 company -Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Kabul '79," "Kandahar '80," "Afghanistan -'79/80," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">54th Sikhs</span></b> (Frontier Force). Raised 1847.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 -company Pathans.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Pegu," "Delhi," "Chitral."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">56th Punjabi Rifles</span></b> (Frontier Force). Raised 1849.</p> - -<p>3 companies Sikhs, 1 company Dogras, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 -companies Khattaks.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Delhi," "Lucknow," "Peiwar Kotal," -"Afghanistan '78/79," "Punjab Frontier," "Tirah."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">62nd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Madras 1759.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Rajputs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Mysore," "Assaye," "Nagpore," -"China."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"> <b><span class="u">66th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Trichinopoly 1761.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Rajputs.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," -"Seringapatam," "Bourbon," "China."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">67th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Trichinopoly 1761.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Mysore," "Ava."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">69th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Madras 1765.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," "Ava," -"Pegu."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">72nd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Cuddalose 1767.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Pathans.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Ava," "Burma -'85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab serge</i>, lacings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">74th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Vallose 1776.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi -Hindus.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," -"Maheidpoor," "China," "Burma '85/87"</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">76th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Trichinopoly 1776.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Hindu -Jats.</p> - -<p class="hang"><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Carnatic," "Sholinghur," "Mysore," -"Seringapatam," "Ava," "Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">82nd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Ellore 1788.</p> - -<p>2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Hindu Jats.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Mysore," "Seringapatam," "Ava."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">84th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Vellore 1794.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Rajputs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Seringapatam," "Assaye," "Bourbon."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">87th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Trichinopoly 1798.</p> - -<p>4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Jat Sikhs, 2 companies -Hindu Jats.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Maheidpoor," "Lucknow," "Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Scarlet</i>, facings <i>emerald green</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">89th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Masulipatam 1798.</p> - -<p>3 companies Sikhs, 3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Brahmans, -1 company Rajputs.</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab serge</i>, facings <i>blue</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">90th Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Masulipatam 1799.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 1 company Brahmans, -1 company Rajputs.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Ava," "Afghanistan '78/80," "Burma '85/87."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab serge</i>, facings <i>black</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">91st Punjabis</span></b> (Light Infantry). Raised at Trichinopoly 1800.</p> - -<p>3 companies Punjabi Mussalmans, 2 companies Sikhs, 2 companies Dogras, -1 company Hindustani Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honours.</b>—"Maheidpoor," "China 1900."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab</i>, facings <i>cherry</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-top:2em;"><b><span class="u">92nd Punjabis.</span></b> Raised at Madras 1800.</p> - -<p>4 companies Sikhs, 4 companies Punjabi Mussalmans.</p> - -<p><b>Battle Honour.</b>—"Ava."</p> - -<p><b>Uniform.</b>—<i>Drab serge</i>, facings <i>white</i>.</p> - - -<p style="margin-bottom:10em;">[For the Gurkha Regiments and others not mentioned in this list the -reader is referred to earlier chapters.]</p> - -<div class="bbod"> -<div class="bbox" style="margin-top: 2em;"> -<p class="center"> -The Daily Telegraph<br /> -WAR BOOKS -</p> -</div> -<p class="center"> -Price One Shilling each net, cloth. -</p> -<p style="margin-left:2%;"> -<b>HOW THE WAR BEGAN.</b> <span class="smcap">J.M. Kennedy.</span><br /> - -<b>THE FLEETS AT WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">Archibald Hurd.</span><br /> - -<b>THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN.</b> <span class="smcap">George Hooper.</span><br /> - -<b>THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIÉGE.</b> <span class="smcap">J.M. Kennedy.</span><br /> - -<b>IN THE FIRING LINE.</b> <span class="smcap">A. St. John Adcock.</span><br /> - -<b>GREAT BATTLES OF THE WORLD.</b> <span class="smcap">Stephen Crane.</span><br /> - -<b>BRITISH REGIMENTS AT THE FRONT.</b> <span class="smcap">Reginald Hodder.</span><br /> - -<b>THE RED CROSS IN WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">M.F. Billington.</span><br /> - -<b>FORTY YEARS AFTER.</b> <span class="smcap">H.C. Bailey.</span><br /> - -<b>A SCRAP OF PAPER.</b> <span class="smcap">E.J. Dillon.</span><br /> - -<b>HOW THE NATIONS WAGED WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">J.M. Kennedy.</span><br /> - -<b>AIRCRAFT IN WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">Eric S. Bruce.</span><br /> - -<b>FAMOUS FIGHTS OF INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS.</b> <span class="smcap">Reginald Hodder.</span><br /> - -<b>THE RETREAT TO PARIS.</b> <span class="smcap">Roger Ingpen.</span><br /> - -<b>THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.</b> <span class="smcap">Marr Murray.</span><br /> - -<b>HACKING THROUGH BELGIUM.</b> <span class="smcap">Edmund Dane.</span><br /> - -<b>MOTOR TRANSPORTS IN WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">Horace Wyatt.</span><br /> - -<b>THE SLAV NATIONS.</b><br /> - -<b>THE SUBMARINE IN WAR.</b> <span class="smcap">C.W. Domville Fife.</span><br /> -</p> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p style="margin-left:28%;"> -PUBLISHED FOR THE DAILY TELEGRAPH<br /> -BY HODDER & STOUGHTON, WARWICK SQ.,<br /> -LONDON, E.C.<br /> -</p> -</div> - -<p class="center"><i>Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and -Aylesbury</i>—1414681</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Famous Fights of Indian Native -Regiments, by Reginald Hodder - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS FIGHTS--INDIAN NATIVE REGIMENTS *** - -***** This file should be named 53491-h.htm or 53491-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/4/9/53491/ - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> - - - - - diff --git a/old/53491-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/53491-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a71efc1..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h/images/iillusfp.jpg b/old/53491-h/images/iillusfp.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3d5cd7b..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/images/iillusfp.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h/images/illus01.jpg b/old/53491-h/images/illus01.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7ed58f5..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/images/illus01.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h/images/illus02.jpg b/old/53491-h/images/illus02.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3be366b..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/images/illus02.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/53491-h/images/illus03.jpg b/old/53491-h/images/illus03.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c1b36f1..0000000 --- a/old/53491-h/images/illus03.jpg +++ /dev/null |
