The Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments, Volume 2 (of 2)

Chapter LXXII: Introduction: Military character of the Highlands (39)

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The 93rd was not employed on the 17th further than in holding
the different positions taken on the previous day. The 53rd and
90th captured the Mess-house, Hospital, and Motee Mahul. The
communication with the Residency was now opened, and there was great
joy among the relieving force when Generals Outram and Havelock
came out to meet the Commander-in-Chief.

On the evening of Nov. 18th, 1857, the distribution of the 93rd,
which was now completely broken up, was as follows:--Head-quarters
under Col. Hay, consisting of 120 men, occupied the Serai in rear
of the European barracks; three companies under Lt.-Col. Ewart held
the barracks; one company under Capt. Clarke held the Motee Mahul,
while part of the garrison of the Residency held the Hern Khanah
and Engine-house. These two latter positions secured the exit of
the garrison. One company and part of the light company, under
Capt. Dawson, held the Shah Nujeef, and kept in check the enemy’s
batteries placed close down on the eastern bank of the Goomtee. All
these parties were constantly on the alert, and exposed night and
day to the fire of the enemy’s artillery and musketry. On the 18th
only 1 man was wounded.

During the 19th, 20th, and 21st the evacuation of the Residency
was carried on, and by the night of the 22d all was ready for the
garrison to retire. The whole was successfully accomplished, the
retirement taking place through the lane by which the relieving
force had approached the Secunder Bagh on the 16th. The brigade to
which the 93rd belonged had the honour of covering the retreat as it
had led the advance of the main body on the 16th;[575] and, early on
the morning of the 23d, the whole regiment was once more together in
the grounds round the Martinière, but retired and bivouacked behind
the Dilkoosha during the afternoon. From the 19th to the 23rd the
93rd had 6 men wounded and 1 man killed. Two unfortunate accidents
occurred on the 23d: a corporal and 3 men were blown up by the
explosion of some gunpowder, and Colour-Sergeant Knox, who answered
to his name at daylight, did not appear again; it is supposed that
in the uncertain light he had fallen into one of the many deep wells
around Lucknow.

Thus was accomplished one of the most difficult and daring feats of
arms ever attempted, in which, as will have been seen, the 93rd won
immortal laurels. But its work was by no means done.

On the 24th the army continued its retrograde movement towards
Cawnpoor, staying three days at the Alum Bagh, removing the baggage
and the sick, to enable preparations to be made for the defence
of that position. On the 27th the march was resumed by the Bunnee
bridge, the army encumbered with women, children, sick, and baggage,
which, however, after a little confusion, the main column got clear
of. Next day, as the march went on, the sound of heavy firing was
heard; and when the troops were told that it was the Gwalior rebel
contingent attacking Cawnpoor, they, fatigued as they were, braced
themselves for renewed exertions. About ten o’clock on that night
(the 28th) the main column arrived at within a short distance of the
bridge of boats at Cawnpoor. Between heat, and dust, and hunger, and
exhaustion the march was a dreadfully trying one, yet not a man was
missing by twelve o’clock that night. A short but welcome sleep came
to renew the strength of the brave and determined men.

At daylight on the 29th the enemy commenced a heavy fire on the
entrenched camp and bridge of boats. Peel’s guns immediately opened
fire, under cover of which the 53rd and 93rd approached the bridge,
and, under a perfect storm of shot, shell, and bullets, succeeded in
crossing it, and in gaining the open plain close to the artillery
barracks, taking up a position between this and the old sepoy lines
in front of the city of Cawnpoor, and near that sacred spot where
General Wheeler had defended himself so long and nobly against the
whole power of Nana Sahib. By this movement the communication with
Allahabad was reopened, the only casualty to the 93rd being Ensign
Hay slightly wounded. All the convoy of women, wounded, &c., was got
over, and by December 3rd the greater portion were safely on their
way to Allahabad, and everything nearly ready for an attack on the
rebel army.

On the morning of December 1, as the 93rd was turning out for
muster, the enemy opened fire upon it with shrapnel, by which
Captain Cornwall, Sergeant M’Intyre, and 5 privates were severely
wounded. The regiment, therefore, took shelter under cover of the
old lines, returning, except the picquet, at night to the tents, and
continuing so to do until the morning of the 6th.

On the morning of the 6th the 93rd paraded behind the old sepoy
lines, afterwards moving to the left and keeping under cover until
the whole disposable force of the army was formed in mass on the
left, under cover of the new barracks and some ruins behind them.
Brigadier Greathead kept the line of the canal, extending from
the fort; Walpole crossed the canal on Greathead’s left, so as to
secure all the passes from the city. While these operations were
being carried out, Hope’s brigade, consisting of the 42nd, 53rd,
and 93rd, supported by Brigadier Inglis, moved away to the left,
towards the open plain where the enemy’s right rested, while the
cavalry and horse artillery, making a wide sweep, were to turn the
enemy’s right flank, and unite their attack with that of Hope. On
debouching into the plain, the enemy opened fire, when the 53rd and
Sikhs were immediately thrown to the front in skirmishing order,
and pressed eagerly forward, while the 93rd and 42nd, in successive
lines, followed rapidly up. Notwithstanding the unceasingly hot
fire of the enemy, which began to tell upon the men, still onward
in majestic line moved the Highlanders, for a time headed by the
Commander-in-Chief himself, who rode in front of the 93rd.

On approaching the broken ground near the bridge, it was found
necessary to alter the formation somewhat. The enemy disputed the
passage of the bridge by a heavy shower of grape, which, however,
caused little loss. As the regiment cleared the bridge, the enemy
retired, and at the same time Peel’s heavy guns came limbering up,
and as they passed along the left of the 93rd, a number of the men
seized the drags, pulled them to the front, and helped to place
them for action. They opened, and caused the enemy to retire still
further, when the 93rd again formed into line, as also did the
42nd, and both continued to advance still under a heavy fire, for
the enemy’s artillery disputed every inch of ground. But gradually,
steadily, and surely the Highlanders pressed on, urging the enemy
back, until at last the standing camp of the Gwalior contingent
opened to view, when the Commander-in-Chief ordered Nos. 7 and 8
companies to advance at a run and take possession. It was empty, but
no preparations had been made to carry off anything. The hospital
tents alone were tenanted by the sick and wounded, who, as the
soldiers passed, held up their hands and begged for mercy; but the
men turned from them in disgust, unable to pity, but unwilling to
strike a wounded foe.

After passing through the camp, the 93rd formed line again to
the right and advanced, still annoyed by a galling fire of round
shot and shrapnel. During a momentary halt, Lieut. Stirling was
struck down by a round shot, and General Mansfield, who was with
the regiment at the time, was struck by a shrapnel bullet. The
advance continued, and the enemy drew back, disputing every foot
of ground. General Mansfield with some guns, the rifles, and 93rd
secured the Subadar’s Tank in rear of the enemy’s left, while Sir
Colin Campbell with a small force, including two companies of the
93rd, pressed the pursuit of the routed Gwalior contingent along
the Calpee road. By sunset the rebels in the city, and on the left
beyond it, had retired by the Bithoor road.

The casualties to the 93rd were 2 officers and 10 men wounded. That
night the regiment bivouacked in a large grove of trees which had
been occupied in the morning by the enemy, who, unwittingly, had
prepared an evening meal for their opponents, for beside the many
little fires which were still burning were found half-baked cakes,
and brazen vessels full of boiled rice.

The centre and left of the rebel army retreated during the night by
the Bithoor road, but were followed on the 8th by General Hope Grant
with the cavalry, light artillery, and Hope’s brigade, and early on
the morning of the 9th, after a long march of twenty hours, they
were overtaken at the Serai Ghât on the Ganges, attacked, dispersed,
and all their guns, 15 in number, and ammunition taken.

Thus was defeated and dispersed the whole of the rebel army which
but a few days before had exultingly laid siege to the entrenched
camp at Cawnpoor: broken, defeated, pursued, and scattered, it no
longer held together or presented the semblance of an organised
body. That evening the force encamped close to the river, and next
day fell back on Bithoor, where it remained till the end of the
month.

The next few days were occupied in clearing the rebels from the
whole district around Lucknow, the British force advancing as far
as Futtehgurh. Here it was encamped till the 1st of February 1858,
when the camp was broken up. The Commander-in-Chief returned to
Cawnpoor, and the troops commenced to move by different routes
towards Lucknow, now become the centre of the rebel power. Hope’s
brigade marched to Cawnpoor, and on arriving there was broken
up, the 53d being removed from it. This was a source of great
disappointment both to that corps and the 93rd. The two regiments
having been together in so many dangers and difficulties, and having
shared in the glorious relief of the Residency of Lucknow, a feeling
of attachment and esteem had sprung up between them, which was
thoroughly manifested when the 93rd left Cawnpoor and passed into
Oude on the 10th of February; the band of the 53rd played it to the
bridge of boats, by which the 93rd crossed the Ganges, and both
officers and men of the former lined the road in honour of their old
comrades.

From the middle to the end of February, the army destined to attack
the city of Lucknow was collecting from all quarters, and stationed
by regiments along the road leading thither from Cawnpoor, to
protect the siege train in its transit. By the end of the month the
largest and best equipped British army ever seen in India, led by
the Commander-in-Chief in person, was collected in the Alum Bagh
plains, prepared for the attack. A new organisation of the army
now took place, new brigades and divisions were formed, and new
brigadiers and generals appointed to each.

On February 28, 1858, the 93rd arrived at the Alum Bagh, and
on the following morning, March 1, moved, with two troops of
horse artillery, the 9th Lancers, and 42nd Highlanders, round
Major-General Outram’s rear and right flank, behind the fort of
Jelalabad, and, making a sweep of some miles, came suddenly upon
an outlying picquet of the enemy about a mile to the south of the
Dilkoosha. The enemy, taken by surprise, fell back fighting, but in
the end fled in disorder to the Martinière, leaving the Dilkoosha
and the villages and enclosures on both sides to be occupied by
their pursuers. Towards the afternoon other brigades and regiments
followed, and took up positions on the left, extending so as to
communicate with Major-General Outram’s right. In this position
the whole force bivouacked for the night; and in a day or two the
regimental camp was formed close to the river Goomtee, where it
remained till March 11. From March 2nd the regiment was employed
every other day as one large outlying picquet, and posted in a dense
tope of trees surrounded by a high wall. A constant fire was kept
up on this position by the enemy, happily with no loss to the 93rd.
The regiment was also kept constantly employed in other duties. On
the 9th, along with its brigade, the 93rd took part in the storming
of the Martinière, which was given up by the enemy after a very
slight resistance, only a few of the 93rd being wounded. The enemy
were pursued by the 42nd and 93rd, the latter pushing on beyond
Banks’s bungalow, and taking possession of a large garden close to
the enemy’s second chain of works, which was formed by the Begum’s
Palace, the Mess House, the Motee Mahul, the old Barracks, the
Shah Nujeef, and the Secunder Bagh. While this was being effected,
the 53rd, which had been allowed to rejoin their comrades of the
93rd, made a dash at the Secunder Bagh and took possession, just
as a large body of the enemy was approaching to garrison it. The
93rd bivouacked in the garden for the night. During the day the
enemy had been driven close up to the city by other sections of the
army, and the next day was employed in making breaches in the Begum
Kotee or Palace, a large pile of buildings and enclosures in front
of and covering the celebrated Kaiser Bagh, known to be strongly
garrisoned, and fortified and protected, as the enemy considered it
to be the key of the whole position.

At 3 o’clock P.M., on the 11th, it was announced to the 93rd that
the honour of assaulting the position was allotted to them by the
Commander-in-Chief. The regiment formed up in a patch of thick wood
close to road leading directly to the front of the Begum Kotee,
and thence to the Kaiser Bagh. It was told off by Brigadier Adrian
Hope into two divisions,--the right wing, under Col. Leith Hay,
consisting of the grenadiers, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 companies, and the
left wing, under Bt. Lt.-Col. Gordon, consisting of Nos. 5, 6, 8,
and light companies; the former to assault and enter by the front
breach, and the latter by that on the right flank of the position
made by the battery from Banks’s bungalow. No. 7 company was left to
guard the camp. At 4 P.M. the large guns became silent, and at the
same time the enemy’s musketry fire slackened. At this moment the
93rd wound out of the enclosures, advanced up the road, and, without
a shot fired at it, got under cover of some ruined buildings,--Col.
Hay’s division almost in front of the gate, and Col. Gordon’s to the
right flank.

At a signal given by Brigadier Adrian Hope, both storming parties
emerged from their cover, and each dashed at headlong speed,
and with a deafening cheer, right at its respective breach. The
enemy were taken by surprise, but quickly manning the walls and
loop-holes, poured a perfect storm of musketry on the advancing
columns. Not a man fell, for the enemy fired too high; not a man
wavered, and, under a storm of bullets hissing over and around
them, the gallant stormers came close up to the breaches, but were
suddenly, though only for a moment, checked by a broad ditch, the
existence of which was not known before. A moment of surprise, not
hesitation, ensued, when a few of the grenadiers, headed by Capt.
Middleton, leapt into the ditch, and were immediately followed by
the whole. Colonel Hay, Capt. Middleton, and a few more having
gained the other side of the ditch, dragged the others up, and then,
one by one, they commenced to enter the narrow breach. At the same
time the left wing storming party, with equal rapidity and daring,
had gained the breach on the right, and the leading files, headed by
Capt. Clarke, effected an entrance.

Every obstacle that could be opposed to the stormers had been
prepared by the enemy; every room, door, gallery, or gateway was
so obstructed and barricaded that only one man could pass at a
time. Every door, every window, every crevice that could afford the
slightest shelter, was occupied by an enemy; and thus, in threading
their way through the narrow passages and doorways, the men were
exposed to unseen enemies. However, one barrier after another was
passed, and the men in little parties, headed by officers, emerged
into the first square of the building, where the enemy in large
numbers stood ready for the struggle.

No thought of unequal numbers, no hesitation for a moment, withheld
the men of the 93rd, who, seeing their enemy in front, rushed
to the encounter; and for two hours the rifle and the bayonet
were unceasingly employed. From room to room, from courtyard to
courtyard, from terrace to terrace, the enemy disputed the advance;
at one moment rushing out and fighting hand to hand, at another
gliding rapidly away, and taking advantage of every available
shelter. No one thought of giving or asking quarter; and useless
would any appeal for mercy have been, for the Highlanders, roused to
the highest state of excitement, were alike regardless of personal
danger, and deaf to everything but the orders of the officers.
There were two wickets by which the enemy could escape, and to
these points they crowded, many of them only to meet destruction
from parties of the regiment stationed outside. One wicket was to
the right rear, and the other was to the left front, both opening
to roads that led to the Kaiser Bagh. The left wing, on gaining
an entrance through the right breach, drove the enemy with great
slaughter across to the wicket on the left flank of the buildings,
and followed hard in pursuit up the road leading along this flank
of the Begum Kotee to the Kaiser Bagh; then retired, and taking up
positions along the side of this road, kept in check the enemy’s
supports that attempted to come down this road, and destroyed such
of the garrison as attempted to escape. As the leading companies of
the right wing were effecting their entrance at the front breach,
Capt. Stewart led his company, No. 2, along the ditch round to the
right flank of the position, seeking another entrance. He failed in
finding one, however, but met a small party of the 93rd belonging to
the left wing, supported by the 42nd, engaged with a large body of
Sepoys. The enemy had been driven back by a rush, and a large brass
gun taken from them and turned upon themselves in their retreat.
The enemy, reinforced, returned to the attack, and obliged their
opponents to retire slowly. A party of the regiment under Capt.
Middleton arriving, the enemy again retired, leaving their brass
gun in possession of the 93rd. At this moment, and at this point,
numbers of the enemy were shot down or blown up in attempting to
escape by the wicket on this side of the buildings. At last, about
7 o’clock P.M., as darkness was closing in, the masses of the enemy
had disappeared, the fire had slackened, the position was won, and
the regiment rested from its struggle.

The wounded were all collected and taken by Dr Munro to the
regimental camp. All the medical officers were present throughout
the day, the assistant-surgeons Sinclair and Bell with the right
wing, and Menzies with the left, accompanied the stormers; Dr Munro
remained outside to receive the wounded.

The casualties amounted to 2 officers (Capt. C. W. M’Donald and Lt.
Sergison), and 13 men killed; 2 officers (Lt. Grimstone and Ensign
Hastie), and 45 men wounded. The losses of the enemy must have been
enormous, as next day 860 dead bodies were buried, all found within
the different enclosures; many must have escaped wounded. It was
afterwards known that the garrison consisted of eight picked Sepoy
regiments, altogether amounting to nearly 5000 men, who had sworn to
die in defence of this position of the city. The 93rd numbered about
800 men.

Several individual acts of bravery, performed both by officers
and men, are well worthy of being recorded. Lt. and Adjt. M’Bean
encountered eleven of the enemy in succession, and after a
hand-to-hand fight killed them all; for this he received the
Victoria Cross. Young Captain M’Donald had been wounded severely
in the early part of the day by a splinter of a shell in his sword
arm, but refused to retire to hospital. On entering the breach at
the head of his company, cheering them on, he was shot through the
thigh, and in this disabled state, was being carried to the surgeon,
when a bullet passed through his neck and killed him. Lt. Sergison,
in attempting to break open a door, behind which a number of the
enemy were concealed, was shot dead. Lt. Grimstone received a wound
while in hot and deadly pursuit of an enemy, whom he overtook and
killed. Capt. Clarke, several paces in front of his company, was
the first man of his party to enter the breach. Indeed, almost all
the officers had hand-to-hand encounters with single enemies. The
pipe-major, John M’Leod, was the first to force his way in at the
front breach, and no sooner was he in than he began and continued
throughout the whole of the fighting, in places perfectly exposed,
to cheer and encourage the men with the wild notes of his bagpipes.
No words are sufficient to express the gallantry and devotion and
fearless intrepedity displayed by every man in the regiment; and
well deserved indeed was the meed of high praise contained in the
general orders of Major-General Lingard and the Commander-in-chief.
All the operations connected with the storming of the place were
conducted by Brigadier Adrian Hope, and the position was carried by
the 93rd Highlanders exclusively, supported at first by part of the
42nd, and the 4th Punjab Rifles.

The Commander-in-Chief, Sir Colin Campbell, colonel of the regiment,
was sitting in Durbar with Jung Bahadoor,[576] when an aide-de-camp
hastily entered his presence, with the intelligence that the Begum
Kotee was taken after a hard struggle and severe loss. The gallant
chief sprang from his seat, and exclaimed, “I knew they would do it.”

On the afternoon of the 13th the regiment was relieved and returned
to camp, where it remained till the evening of the 20th, when, with
the exception of No. 7 company, it returned and took up a position
around the Imambarah, preparatory to an attack which was to be made
next day on the last position held by the enemy on the north side
of the city. During the interval between the 13th and the 20th, the
Kaiser Bagh, Imambarah, and other positions had been taken from the
enemy; the regiment, however, had no share in these operations.

On the 21st the 93rd, supported by the 4th Punjab Rifles, after some
severe skirmishing and street fighting, succeeded in expelling the
enemy from several large mosques and enclosures, situated at the
north end of the city. Only 11 of the 93rd were wounded.

This terminated the fighting within the city, which was now
completely in possession of the British. The 93rd returned to the
Dilkoosha, and remained in camp till April 7th, when it was ordered
to prepare to form part of a force destined for Rohileund, under
Brigadier-General Walpole.

It will have been seen that no regiment was more frequently
employed than the 93rd in all the operations against Lucknow, under
the Commander-in-Chief, who intrusted to this trustworthy regiment
some of the most difficult duties.

At daylight on April 7th, the regiment moved from the Dilkoosha,
and joined the rest of the force about five miles on the north-west
side of Lucknow. This force consisted of the old Crimean Highland
brigade, the 42nd, 79th, and 93rd, two troops of horse artillery,
some heavy siege guns, the 9th Lancers, some Native Infantry,
Sappers, and Native Cavalry, all under Brigadier-General Walpole.
The strength of the 93rd was 41 officers and 833 men.

The “Old Highland Brigade” thus reunited, was commanded by Brigadier
the Hon. Adrian Hope. The force continued to march in a north-west
direction till April 16th, a day which can never be forgotten by
the 93rd, for with every certainty of success, energy, ability, and
desire to fight, the force was entirely mismanaged.

Before the regiment marched from Lucknow, Bt. Lt.-Col. Charles
Gordon, C.B., the senior major, an officer who had served many
years in the 93rd, took leave, having effected an exchange with Bt.
Lt.-Col. Ross, commanding a depôt battalion in Scotland.

Long before daylight on the 16th of April 1858 the force was under
arms, and moved cautiously a few miles across country, when a halt
was called, the baggage collected, and a strong guard told off to
protect it; this guard consisted of two guns and detachments from
every corps. About 10 o’clock A.M., the whole force cautiously
advanced through some thick wood, and came suddenly on a native mud
fort, the garrison of which immediately opened fire with guns and
musketry. The 42nd was in advance, supported by the 93rd, the 79th
being in reserve. The guns were quickly placed in position, and
opened a rapid fire on the fort, while the 42nd and two companies
of the 93rd and 4th Punjab Rifles were pushed forward close to the
walls, under cover of some low banks, and commenced a brisk fire
on the garrison. The 42nd occupied the cover in front, the 93rd on
the left flank, and the Punjab Rifles on the right flank of the
fort. During the whole day things remained in this state; the guns
played on the fort without the least effect, and the skirmishers
exchanged shots with the garrison, with but little loss to the
enemy, while that of the 93rd and the rest of the force was severe
and irreparable.

Brigadier the Hon. Adrian Hope, a leader not only admired but
beloved by his brigade, and by the 93rd especially, fell while
endeavouring to find out the arrangements of the fort, and see if
there was any means of entering; not that any order had been given
to assault, but it is more than probable that had he lived a few
hours longer, an assault would have taken place. For an hour or two
the guns played upon the fort, but after the death of Hope nothing
was done, and the force outside only continued to get the worst of
it. While the other regiments suffered severely in officers and men,
the 93rd thus lost their much-beloved brigadier, while 6 men were
wounded.

At sunset the force was withdrawn, and to the amazement of all
(the enemy firing at the force as it retired), the camp was formed
within a mile of the fort. Next morning the fort was empty, the
enemy having vacated it during the night, evidently at leisure,
for nothing was left except the ashes of their dead and a broken
gun-carriage. The force having taken possession of the place,
measures were at once taken to destroy it. Originally it had been
a square enclosure, but had fallen into decay; it was so open and
unprotected by any work behind, that a regiment of cavalry might
have ridden in. And before this paltry place was lost the brave
Adrian Hope, who had passed unscathed through the fierce fires of
Lucknow and Cawnpoor. In the evening his remains were buried with
military honours, along with two officers of the 42nd.

On the death of Brigadier Hope, Col. Hay, C.B., of the 93rd assumed
command of the Highland Brigade, and Major Middleton that of the
93rd. Next day, April 17th, the force resumed its march, and in
three days afterwards, at the village of Allahgunge, the enemy in
force were again encountered, attacked, and dispersed, with a very
large loss to them, but none to their assailants. Here Bt. Lt.-Col.
Ross took command of the 93rd.

The force stayed at Allahgunge for three days, during which it was
strongly reinforced, and the Commander-in-Chief himself took command
of the entire army. On the 27th of April the largely augmented force
moved _en route_ for Bareilly and Shahjehanpoor, where it arrived
on the 30th of April. The army moved again next day, and on the 4th
of May was joined by another brigade. On the 5th it encountered a
rebel army on the plains east of Bareilly, which after an engagement
of some hours retired. This was a most trying day, for the heat was
tremendous; the 93rd was the only regiment that did not lose men
from the effects of the heat, neither had it any casualties during
the engagement. On the 7th the city of Bareilly was taken possession
of. On that day a wing of the regiment, under Lt.-Col. Ross, was
employed to dislodge a body of the enemy which had occupied some
buildings in the city. After a struggle of some hours the enemy were
all dislodged and killed, the casualties of the 93rd being only 3
men wounded.

The regiment had now a rest of five months, during which it remained
at Bareilly, where, however, the men suffered extremely from fever;
and there were also a good many cases of sunstroke, a few of which
were fatal.

On October 17th, the 93rd marched to Shahjehanpoor to form a brigade
along with the 60th Royal Rifles and 66th Ghoorkas; along with this
were some guns, cavalry, and regular troops, all under command of
Brigadier Colin Troup. Two days after the junction of the regiments
the whole column entered Oude, and in the second day’s march
encountered a large body of rebels at a village called Poosgawah,
in which they had entrenched themselves. From this position they
were quickly expelled, and the force breaking up into small columns
followed in pursuit. No sooner had the bulk of the force passed
through the village than a body of rebel cavalry appeared in the
rear, and attacked the baggage as it was struggling through the
narrow entrance into the village. The main body of the baggage
guard was far in the rear, and the enemy was at first mistaken for
the irregulars of the force, until they began to cut up the camp
followers. At this moment, the sick of the 93rd, 12 in number, who
at Surgeon Munro’s request had been armed the night before, turned
out of their dhoolies, and kept up a sharp fire, which held the
enemy in check until the arrival of the Mooltanee Cavalry, which
had been sent from the front, and which immediately dispersed the
enemy’s cavalry. The regiment lost 1 man killed.

The force remained in the vicinity of the village for a few days. At
daylight on October 26th it was under arms, and the enemy was found
in position at a village called Russellpoor, on the opposite side of
a deep nullah, flanked on one side by a large village, and on the
other by some rising ground. The guns and the 6th Rifles attacked,
the main body of the 93rd being held in reserve; one company, under
Captain M’Bean, supported the heavy guns. The enemy were driven
from their position and put to flight, with considerable loss to
themselves, particularly on the right, where Captain M’Bean’s
company was engaged.

Next day the force moved on to Noorungabad, where it remained
till Nov. 8, 1858, and where the Royal proclamation was read,
transferring the government of India to H.M. the Queen. On the
8th, at midnight, the force got under arms and marched towards
Meethoolee, a strong mud fort belonging to one of the Rajahs of
Oude, who had refused to surrender. By a circuitous route, the force
felt its way towards the fort, upon which it suddenly came about
mid-day on the 10th. Firing immediately commenced on both sides, and
active preparations were made for an assault next day; but it was
found that the enemy had slipped off during the night.

After this the 93rd, until the beginning of February 1859, was constantly employed under General Troup, sometimes united and sometimes detached, hunting the rebels out of their hiding-places, ultimately driving them beyond the Gogra (or Sarúj). Thus ended the work of the SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, in which it took, at least, as prominent a part as did any other regiment, and in which it won for itself never-dying fame. Not, however, did it gain its glory cheaply; between Sept. 30, 1857, and Dec. 31, 1859, the 93rd lost in killed, died of disease, wounded, accidents, and missing, 180 men, besides 58 who were invalided to England. The remainder of its history we must run over with the utmost brevity.

After its great exertions and sufferings, the 93rd stood much in need of rest, and means of restoration for the jaded constitutions of officers and men. Therefore, the route to Subhatoo, a hill station near Simla, was welcomed by the regiment, which set out for its new quarters on Feb. 27th, 1859, and arrived on April 13th. Here it remained till the beginning of November, when it was ordered to Umballah for drill and musketry instruction.

The 93rd was destined to make an unusually long stay in India, as not till 1870 did it again set foot on its native shores. During this time it was kept constantly moving from place to place, but these movements we need not, even if we had space, follow minutely. The two main events which marked this period of the regiment’s history, were a most severe attack of cholera while at Peshawur, and a short campaign against the Mussulman fanatics of the Mahaban hills.

The regiment left Umballah in January 1860, its next station being Rawul Pindee, where it arrived on March 9th, leaving it again on November 14, 1861, for Peshawur, which it reached on the 22nd. The health of the regiment here was at first particularly good, but in May 1862 rumours of the approach of cholera began to circulate. The rumours turned out to be too true, as an undoubted case of cholera occurred in the regiment on the 7th of July; and between this and the beginning of November, it was attacked four separate times, so that there was scarcely a man, woman, or child who did not suffer to a greater or less extent. Among the men there were 60 deaths, among the women 13, and among the children 12. Nor did the officers escape; several of them were attacked, of whom 4 succumbed,--Col. Macdonald, Major Middleton, Ensign Drysdale, and Dr Hope--making 89 in all. It was only by moving out and encamping at a distance from the pestilential town that the epidemic was got rid of, though for a long time after it the regiment was in a very feeble condition.

On the death of Col. Macdonald, Major Burroughs took command of the regiment, till the arrival shortly after of Col. Stisted.

The Record-Book pays a high and well-merited tribute to the
admirable conduct of the men during this terrible and long continued
attack from a mysterious and deadly foe, far more trying than the
bloodiest struggle “i’ the imminent deadly breach.” There was
scarcely a man who did not feel the workings of the cholera poison
in his system; yet, notwithstanding, there was never any approach to
panic, no murmuring or shrinking from duties of the most trying and
irksome kind. At one time the same men would be on hospital fatigue
duty almost every day, rubbing the cramped limbs of groaning, dying
men. Yet no one ever complained or tried to hold back. So long as
their strength held out, they not only performed the duties assigned
to them willingly, but with a kindness, tenderness, and devotion
which can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

It is only simple justice, also, to enter upon record a statement
of the distinguished services rendered during this trying period to
the regiment, by the surgeon, Dr Munro, and the assistant-surgeons,
Bouchier, Hope, and Baxter. No man could have worked more faithfully
than did Dr Munro. Night and day his thoughts were with the men, his
zeal never flagged, his resources never failed, and he seemed never
to think he had done enough. Even when his own strength gave way,
and he was reduced to a shadow, he still clung to his post. None who
witnessed his energy, skill, and love for the men will ever forget
it.

On Nov. 3rd the regiment had reached Kuneh Khâl, from which it proceeded to Sealkote by Hattee on the Grand Trunk road, where the detachments from Peshawur, Chumkunah, and Cherat were waiting to receive it. Sealkote was reached on December 30, 1862.

Into the details of the Umbeyla campaign against the Mussulman fanatics we need not enter, as the 93rd had really no fighting to do. The 93rd, under command of Col. Stisted, set out to join Sir Neville Chamberlain’s force in the Umbeyla Pass, on November 3rd, reaching Permowli, in the Yuzufzai country, on November 25th. Thence a long detachment of the regiment with some artillery, by means of elephants, camels, mules, and ponies, under command of Major Dawson of the 93rd, set out on December 9th to join the force in the Umbeyla Pass, which was reached after a most fatiguing march.

The 93rd remained at the camp in the Umbeyla Pass until December 20th, taking its share in the camp and picquet duties. On December 15th, General Garvock, who had succeeded to the command, advanced with half his force against the enemy, leaving the other half behind to guard the camp. Among the latter half was the 93rd. After General Garvock’s advance, the enemy attacked the camp, with a very trifling loss on the side of the British. General Garvock was completely successful, and the 93rd detachment joined the rest of the regiment at Nowakilla. From this, on December 23rd, under Col. Stisted, the regiment set out for Durbund, where it remained encamped till the end of January 1864. It again set out on February 1st, and after a long march reached Sealkote once more on the 27th.

At all the official inspections of the regiment the reports of the inspecting-officers were perfectly satisfactory.

The 93rd made a long stay at Sealkote, during which it sent detachments to garrison various forts in the surrounding district. It quitted Sealkote on Nov. 1st, 1866, and, under command of Col. Burroughs, proceeded to Jhansi, which, after a long march and many encampments, it reached on January 18, 1867.

During its stay at Jhansi, the regiment sustained a great loss, in the promotion, in March 1867, of Surgeon-Major William Munro, M.D., C.B., to be a Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals. Dr Munro had been surgeon of the Sutherland Highlanders since 1854, when he joined the regiment whilst on its march from Old Fort to the River Alma. He was present with the regiment throughout the Crimean and Indian campaigns, and we have already referred to his conduct during the attack of cholera at Peshawur. By his zeal, ability, and heroic devotion to duty, Dr Munro had endeared himself to every officer and man of the regiment, by all of whom, whilst rejoicing at his well-earned promotion, his departure was sincerely deplored. At his departure he expressed a wish to be enrolled as an honorary member of the officer’s mess, a request that was acceded to with acclamation.

While at Jhansi, the colonel, General Alex. Fisher M’Intosh, K.H., died, Aug. 28, 1868. He had formerly been a major in the regiment, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lt.-General Charles Craufurd Hay.

In August 1869, the regiment was again scourged with cholera, a very large number being attacked, both at Jhansi and among the detachment at Sepree; the deaths, however, were only 11. During the latter part of September, moreover, and throughout October, the regiment was prostrated by a fever, which though not deadly, was very weakening. On October 20th, 50 per cent. of the soldiers at headquarters were on the sick list.

The 93rd, under Col. Burroughs, left Jhansi on December 27, 1869, en route for Bombay, to embark for home, after an absence of 12½ years. Partly by road and partly by rail, it proceeded leisurely by Cawnpoor, so full of sad memories, Allahabad, Jubbulpoor, Nagpoor, and Deolalee, to Bombay, which it did not reach till February 14, 1870.[577] On the same evening, officers, men, wives, and children, 681 in all, were safely on board the troop-ship “Jumna,” which steamed out of the harbour on the following morning. By Suez, Alexandria (where the 93rd was transferred to the “Himalaya”), and Gibraltar, the regiment arrived off Portsmouth on March 21, sailing again next day for Leith, which it reached on the 25th, but did not disembark till the 28th. One detachment, under Col. Dawson, and another, under Bt. Lt.-Col. Brown, disembarked at Burntisland, the former proceeding to Stirling, and the latter to Perth. Headquarters, under Col. Burroughs, disembarked in the afternoon, and proceeded by rail to Aberdeen, and, after an absence of 19 years, was welcomed home to Scotland with unbounded enthusiasm by the citizens. Before leaving India, 117 non-commissioned officers and men had volunteered into other regiments remaining in the country.

After a stay of upwards of a year at Aberdeen, the 93rd was removed to Edinburgh, where on its arrival on June 15, 1871, notwithstanding the miserable state of the weather, it met with a warm welcome. One company was left at Ballater, as a guard of honour to the Queen, one at Aberdeen, one at Fort George, and another was sent to Greenlaw.

On Aug. 4, 1871, while the regiment was stationed at Edinburgh, it was presented with new colours by Her Grace the Duchess of Sutherland. The ceremony in the Queen’s Park was witnessed by about 10,000 spectators. Accompanying the Duchess were the Duke of Sutherland and the Marquis of Stafford. After the old colours, worn and tattered by service in India, had been trooped, and the usual ceremonies gone through, Ensigns Cunliffe and Hannay advanced, and kneeling, were presented with the new colours by the Duchess, who addressed the regiment in a few appropriate and touching words. Colonel Burroughs made an exceedingly appropriate reply, in which he offered for Her Grace’s acceptance the old colours of the regiment, which had waved over so many deadly struggles. The Duchess accepted the colours, returning the Queen’s colour, however, to be placed over the memorial erected in St Giles’ Cathedral to the officers and soldiers who fell in the Crimea. Shortly after, however, it was decided that, owing to the little care taken of the colours at St Giles, they should be removed and sent to Dunrobin, to be placed beside the others. The Duke of Sutherland, in January 1873, was elected an honorary member of the officer’s mess of the 93rd.

The Duke and Duchess, and a large party of ladies and gentlemen, were entertained at luncheon by the officers in the Picture Gallery of Holyrood. After a number of appropriate toasts had been drunk, the tables were cleared away, and reel dancing commenced, and entered into enthusiastically. It is said that till then, no dancing had taken place in Holyrood since the days of Bonnie Prince Charlie; according to some even, not since the days of the “braw gallant” Charles II. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland afterwards went to the Castle, and visited the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and their wives and families, by all of whom they were enthusiastically received. A few days after, the sergeants gave a very successful ball to their friends to celebrate the occasion.

In the autumn of 1870, we may mention here, Her Majesty the Queen, having noticed that a detachment of the regiment, under, Capt. M. W. Hyslop, H.M.’s guard of honour at Ballater, wore kilts and plaids of hard tartan, and that after a march in wind and rain the men’s knees were much scratched and cut by the sharp edge of this tartan, the Queen was graciously pleased to direct that soft instead of hard tartan be in future supplied to Highland regiments. Accordingly, as soon as the hard tartan in store was used up soft tartan kilts and plaids were issued to the non-commissioned officers and men of the 93rd; this took place in April 1872.

Another instance of Her Majesty’s womanly disposition, and of her thoughtfulness and care for all about her, we shall mention. During her stay at Holyrood in August 1872, a captain’s guard of the 93rd Highlanders was stationed at the palace. Her Majesty walked across from the palace to the guard-room, and satisfied herself that the guard was comfortably housed and properly taken care of, entering into conversation with the soldiers cooking the day’s rations.

On Monday May 12, 1873, the 93rd left Edinburgh for Aldershot. On the previous Saturday, the Lord Provost (the Right Hon. James Cowan) and magistrates of Edinburgh publicly bade farewell in the name of the citizens to the regiment, the Lord Provost addressing officers and men in the courtyard of the Council Chambers, in a few appropriate and highly complimentary words, to which Col. Burroughs made a brief but feeling reply. The officers were then invited to a banquet in the Council Chambers, and the soldiers were also liberally regaled with refreshments.

On their way to Granton, on the 12th December, to embark on board the “Himalaya,” the 93rd marched through crowds of admiring spectators, and passed the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders on the way to take their place.

It reached Aldershot on the 15th, and occupied D, G, and H lines of the North Camp.

Among the list of recipients of Her Majesty’s favour on her 54th birthday (1873), Col. Burroughs’ name appeared as nominated a C.B., making the ninth officer of the regiment who had been thus honoured.

From a Photograph.]

In July and August 1873, the 93rd, commanded by Colonel Burroughs, took part in the “Autumn Manœuvres” in Dartmoor, and received great praise from the generals under whom it served, as well as special notice from H.R.H. the Field Marshal, Commanding-in-Chief, for its smart appearance on parade, and the excellency of its skirmishing.

On August 8th Lt.-Col. J. M. Brown retired on full pay, after a service of 45 years in the regiment.

On Sept. 28th, Lt.-General Sir H. W. Stisted, K.C.B., was appointed honorary colonel, vice Lt.-General C. C. Hay deceased.

On Oct. 29th, Col. Burroughs, C.B., retired on half-pay, and was succeeded in command by Lt.-Col. M’Bean, V.C., who has well earned the honourable position he now fills.

Lieut.-Col. M’Bean commanded the 93rd during the manœuvres of 1874 at Aldershot, where it remained till the 2nd of July, when it removed to Cambridge Barracks, Woolwich.

The strength of the 93rd, one of the finest Highland regiments, at the present time (1875) is 31 officers, and 642 non-commissioned officers and men, including the depôt.

On the next page we give an engraving of the splendid Centre-Piece
of plate belonging to the officer’s mess, which was designed by
one of the officers of the regiment. The sculpture on one side
is supposed to represent the shot-riven wall of an outwork at
Sebastopol, where an officer of the 93rd contemplates the dead
body of a Russian soldier lying near a private of the regiment,
who reclines severely wounded, the regimental pipe-major, in a
commanding position above the group, playing “the gathering.” The
other side (which we engrave) has an exact reproduction from a
photograph of one of the gateway towers of the Secunder Bagh at
Lucknow, for an account of the storming of which place in November
1857, see pages 790, 791. An officer and private of the 93rd, and
a dead Sepoy, emblematise that terrible Indian struggle and its
result. Ornamental silver shields on each side of the ebony pedestal
bear on one side the badge of the regiment, and on the other the
presentation inscription, describing it as a memorial from some of
the officers (whose names run round a silver rim on the top of the
pedestal) of the part taken by the regiment in the Crimean war of
1854, and suppression of the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

This splendid work of art was inspected by Her Majesty the Queen
at Windsor Castle in July 1870, when she was graciously pleased
to express her approval both of the design and workmanship. It
cost the subscribers nearly £500; and when we consider that it
_exactly_ reproduces the dresses, &c., of the regiment at the period
represented, time will greatly enhance its present value. The
uniform and accoutrements of the Russian soldier are of one of the
regiments overthrown by the 93rd at the Alma, and those of the Sepoy
the dress of one of those rebel corps entirely annihilated in the
Secunder Bagh.

We have the pleasure of giving, on the Plate of Colonels of the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd regiments, the portrait of Major-General Wm. Wemyss of Wemyss, from a painting by Raeburn, at Wemyss Castle, Fife; and that of Sir Henry W. Stisted, K.C.B., from a photograph.

Described on page 800.]

SUCCESSION LIST OF COLONELS AND LIEUTENANT-COLONELS OF THE 93RD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.

COLONELS.[578]

FOOTNOTES:

[568] His portrait will be found on the Plate of Colonels of the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd regiments.

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The Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments, Volume 2 (of 2)Chapter LXXII: Introduction: Military character of the Highlands (39)

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