Chapter IV (1)

OPERATIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF DELHI.--SHOWER'S
COLUMN.--SEATON'S
COLUMN.--GUNGEREE.--PUTIALEE.--MYNPOOREE.--RIDE TO
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S CAMP.--JUNCTION OF FORCES.--SHUMSHABAD.

CAMP, DELHI, _Sept. 26th_.

My letters are of necessity short and newsless, for I am
scarcely ever able to sit down to write what can be properly
called a letter. Anything so mismanaged as the prize
property has been, or so wasted, I never saw; so much so,
that I look upon the appointment of prize agents at all as a
simple injustice to the army, _i. e._, to the officers.
Colonel Seaton has given up the prize agency in disgust, and
I refused it altogether; he is taking you a real trophy from
Delhi, no less than the turquoise armlet and signet rings of
the rascally princes whom I shot; not actually worth twenty
shillings, but I know they will be prized by you and the
dear ones at home. Tombs declares I shall get a C. B. for
capturing the King, &c., and, between ourselves, I _ought_
to have anything they can give me, for it was a fearful
risk, and, I must say, the "General's" share in it was about
as meritorious as his recognition of the service was
gracious! but you will see _he_ will get the reward; but
never mind, I did my duty, perhaps something more, and have
got the reward of my own conscience, and certainly the voice
of the army, as the hero of this "crowning mercy," as they
call it.

We march to-morrow instead of on the 20th, as we ought to
have done, to clear out some of the hordes at Humayoon's
Tomb. I disarmed them when I took the princes, and collected
all the arms, &c., into one spot, leaving as large a guard
as I could spare, and yet the "General" has actually never
sent until to-day to relieve the one or secure the other,
and now only at my urgent representation! We shall be back
from our expedition in four or five days. Colonel Showers
commands.

CAMP, HUMAYOON'S TOMB, _Sept. 28th_.--I have been out all
day and at work, varied by divers summonses from the
Brigadier, and by such _very_ amusing duties as packing off
the royal family's lower branches into Delhi.

Poor Greathed! he was, indeed, a loss to every one! With the
column sent out here (to complete with 1,500 men the work of
which I had overcome all the difficulties with 100), a young
civilian was sent to carry on political duties, and take
charge of the different members and hangers-on of the Royal
family. In an hour I had got possession of the persons of
seven of the remaining sons and grandsons of the King who
were "wanted;" they were made over, according to orders, to
this civilian, and, two hours afterwards, all had escaped!
In consequence of this we are halted here, and parties sent
out in all directions to recapture the fugitives.

I shall try to get down in the Oudh direction to join Napier
and his chief.

I confess I am much gratified by the congratulations I
receive on all sides regarding the capture of the King and
the retribution on the Shahzadahs; but I expect no reward,
perhaps not even thanks. The Government will be delighted at
the fact, but will perhaps pretend a reluctance to the
judgment having been effected, which they certainly do not
feel, and will probably throw all the _onus_ on me. To tell
the truth (in spite of all the praises and prophecies of the
army), I expect nothing by this campaign but my brevet
majority, and that was due to me for the Punjaub war.

The execution of the princes could be hardly called one of
"unresisting" enemies, since they were surrounded by an
armed host, to whom we should have been most unquestionably
sacrificed if I had hesitated for an instant. It was _they_
or _we_, and I recommend those who might cavil at my choice
to go and catch the next rebels themselves! The King was
very old and infirm, and had long been a mere tool, a name
in the hands of the Shahzadahs, Mirza Mogul in particular;
moreover, the orders I received were such that I did not
dare to act on the dictates of my own judgment to the extent
of killing him when he had given himself up; but had he
attempted either a flight or a rescue, I should have shot
him down like a dog; as it is, he is the lion without his
claws, now his villanous heir-apparent is disposed of. I
must be prepared to have all kinds of bad motives attributed
to me, for no man ever yet went out of the beaten track
without being wondered at and abused; and so marked a
success will make me more enemies than friends, so be
prepared for abuse rather than reward; for myself I do not
care, and I am proud to say that those whose opinion I value
most highly think I did well and boldly.

CAMP NEAR THE KOOTUB, _Sept. 29th_.--We got here so late
to-day, that, before our tents were pitched and washing and
breakfast over, the time to close our dak has arrived.
Thanks for letters, which are balm to my wounded spirit,
vexed as I am to find that even here, in the field, working
as I have done, and successful as I have been, I am not safe
from the malignant influence of ---- and his myrmidons. From
the day that he put ---- into power at Delhi, I experienced
a difficulty never found before in carrying on my duties,
and a system of backbiting and insinuation which could never
have existed, if it had not been encouraged, if not
engendered, by listening to. This meanness _et id genus
omne_ has commenced, and has decided me on the course you
have so long urged, namely, to give up the Intelligence
Department.

I have done quite enough to establish my name in the army,
and as much as one man can do. We return to Delhi, I hope,
to-morrow, for we have done little enough by leaving it. The
other column, which went out across the Jumna, has had an
engagement with the enemy at Bolundshur, and thrashed them
soundly. This will open the road to Cawnpore. I shall write
to Napier to-day, to see if he can get my regiment sent
towards Oudh, or anywhere near him.

CAMP, DELHI, _Oct. 1st_.--I was quite unable to write
yesterday, as we did not return here and get under cover
till after dark. I have to march again to-morrow towards
Rewarree with another column under Brigadier Showers, a most
gentlemanly person and gallant soldier, but sadly prolix and
formal in all his arrangements, thereby spinning out an
ordinary march to the dimensions of a day's journey. I am
sorry to say my unlucky ankle gives me more pain and
annoyance than before, and the doctors tell me it will never
be better until I give it _perfect rest_; and as this said
rest is perfectly impossible, I must bear it as patiently as
I can; but it is a sad drawback to my comfort and activity.

You will rejoice with me that the detachment (of Hodson's
Horse) under Hugh Gough, who were sent with the column
across the Jumna, behaved extremely well in that action at
Bolundshur, and have been much praised. I am very glad,
indeed, of this; it is a great thing for a new regiment to
be successful at a cheap rate in its first few encounters;
it gives a _prestige_ which it is long in losing, and gives
the men confidence in themselves and their leaders. In this
affair our loss was trifling, though the cavalry were
principally employed. Poor Sarel, 9th Lancers, wounded
severely, I am sorry to say. I fancy _we_ go to Goorgaon and
Rewarree. Whether we see the enemy is doubtful, and it may
be merely a "military promenade," to settle the minds of the
inhabitants. I long to get down towards Outram, and Oudh,
and Napier.

I am so glad you have written home, for I was out of the way
when the "Overland mail" left, and we none of us knew of its
being dispatched. It was a sad fatality which attended the
two last, both from and to England. England! How the writing
the very name even fills me with sweet home memories and
home longings; and though, during the last five years and
three quarters, my life has been more blessed than I ever
dreamed it possible that life could be, still there are
times, and they increase in frequency, when my heart yearns
for all its dear earlier ties. Yes, we must get home next
year, somehow, even if we have to live on barley bannocks.

I, and most other people, considered that I and my party had
a right to all we found on the King and princes; but the
General, to whom I referred the question, thought
otherwise; so I gave up all except some of the personal arms
of the princes (those of the King were taken by the
General). The swords which I secured, thanks to the officers
assembled when the arms were made over, are historically
most valuable. One was worn by, and bears the name of,
Jehangire, and the other is stamped with the seal of Nadir
Shah! They are singular and interesting trophies, or rather
relics, of the house of Timour the Tartar.

DELHI, _Oct. 2d_.--I have remained behind the force for a
day, in order to settle the business and pay up and
discharge my Intelligence Establishment. I am so busy that
my letter will of necessity be a short one. My having been
out in camp has prevented my getting at the people and
officers, who are all in the city and palace. We, that is,
the cavalry, artillery, and some infantry, are outside on
the glacis of the city, and much pleasanter it is, I think;
especially as I have good shelter under the roof of an old
mosque in a serai, where we can all put up together without
jostling. I feel quite a free man now. I have no work to do
but my regiment; though, truth to tell, _that_ is quite
enough for one man, even with so able and willing an
assistant as Macdowell. I do not reckon on much fighting
where we are going, and the weather is now getting very
tolerable. The country we are going into is also much
healthier than Delhi, and I expect much benefit from the
change of air and quiet marching. After our return I shall
get away, if but for a week; and then my anxiety is to join
Napier, wherever he may be.

DELHI DISTRICT, _Oct. 3d_.--I was yesterday four coss from
Bullnagurh, and the Rajah actually came out in his carriage;
yet I had strict orders not to interfere with him, so the
force marched off in another direction this morning without
striking a blow, though the place was full of the Rajah's
armed retainers and fugitive Pandies from Delhi, and they
ought all to have been exterminated. The consequence is, he
will give us trouble hereafter.[59] To-day we struck off to
the right to this place (marching at Brigadier Showers's
favorite pace of six miles in five hours), and go on
to-morrow through Goorgaon to a place called Rewarree, where
one Toli Ram, a farmer of Government revenue in better
times, but who now "affectionates" independent authority,
has collected a force round his fortlet of some 4,000 to
5,000 men, and shows fight; but again I opine we shall have
a tedious march for our pains. I grieve daily in all
bitterness for poor Nicholson's death. He was a man such as
one rarely sees; next to dear Sir Henry, our greatest loss.

CAMP, GOORGAON, _Oct. 4th_.--Even the camp before Delhi (so
long our abode that I write it mechanically) was more
favorable for letter-writing than our present more peaceful
but more moving life. We started at three A. M. and arrived
here about nine. I had then to go through the village or
town with the Brigadier, and it was noon before we got a
tent pitched and breakfast ready; before I had finished I
was summoned by Showers to give him some information as to
some "Moofsids;" and now at two P. M., though I am still
unwashed and unshorn, I am ordered to be ready at three with
a party to proceed to punish some refractory villages a few
miles off. I shall be back, I trust, at dark, to dinner and
bed, for we march again at midnight. Tell ---- the swords I
have kept are beautiful, and historically most valuable. It
was like parting with my teeth to give up those to the
General; I should not have cared so much if he had done
anything towards the winning them. It will be something
hereafter to wear a sword taken from the last of the House
of Timour, which had been girt round the waists of the
greatest of his predecessors; if I ever part with it, it
shall be "in a present," as mine O. would say, to our good
Queen! She ought to give me her own Cross for it; and that's
a fact, though I say it!

_Oct. 5th_, 3 A. M.--We got back last night at dark, from
our visit of retribution to Dholkote, having "polished off"
a goodly number of rebels from Irregular Cavalry Regiments,
and others who came out armed to the teeth, and making great
demonstration of attack, but turned of course when we
charged. Had we not absurdly been sent out in the afternoon,
instead of morning, so that it got too dark for work, we
should have cleared the place entirely. I had a most kind
letter of congratulation from ---- yesterday. He seems very
ill, poor fellow! How thankful I am that my health stands
work so well; not that I do not feel it; and it will _tell_
more still some day. I question whether there is a single
one of us, however strong or unwounded, whose constitution
does not pay for the Siege of Delhi. The weather is getting
very pleasant, except in the middle of the day; but what a
contrast to the climate of the Punjaub! Many thanks to Lord
William for his offer of horses. I only wish I had the power
of using them, but there is no chance, I fear, of my getting
to Simla, though I may to Umbala. I hear General Wilson has
gone to Meerut, and General Penny come to Delhi in his
stead.

PATHONDHEE, _Oct. 5th, noon_.--I add a few lines to my
letter of this morning to say that all is safe and well.
Nothing has occurred but a skirmish with our advanced guard
and some Sowars of Toli Ram's, who came, I honestly believe,
in all good faith, to bring an offer of submission; but the
business was bothered by mutual distrust, so they turned,
fired at our advance, and bolted at speed, my men after them
as hard as they could go. They brought back about a dozen
horses whose riders they had disposed of; very acceptable
they are too, for "mounting" my men is my greatest
difficulty. We have made a good bag of the Irregular Cavalry
rascals during the last few days,--among them a native
officer of the 9th Irregular Cavalry, who deserted at Delhi,
(selling Chamberlain a pretty considerable bargain too,) was
caught and shot. Seaton will rejoice at this. General Penny
reigns at Delhi.

There is no chance of my regiment being stationary this cold
weather, I imagine, for the country is still in a very
unsettled state, and will be so for a long time to come.

CAMP, REWARREE, _Oct. 6th_.--We arrived here, after a
tediously protracted march, at eleven this morning, only to
find my prediction verified, that the birds would be flown
and the nest empty. Mr. Toli Ram bolted yesterday, and left
only an empty fort and his guns behind him; in good hands it
would have given us considerable trouble, and he was
evidently a clever fellow, and had adroitly and promptly
contrived so as to be first in the field, should our power
have ceased. We found extensive preparations, and large
workshops for the completion of military equipments of all
kinds, guns, gun-carriages, gunpowder, accoutrements, and
material of all kinds. He had already done much, and in a
couple of months his position would have been so strong as
to have given him the command of all the surrounding
country, as well as the rich town and entrepot of Rewarree,
close to the walls of his fort. Had our empire fallen, he
would have mastered all the surrounding villages and
districts, and probably extended his power on all sides, and
founded a "Raj" like that of Puttiala or Jheend, to fall in
its turn before the (then) newly aroused energies of the
Sikhs. At the same time he was prepared, if we won the day,
to profess that he had done all this solely in our
interests, and to preserve the district _for us_ from the
Goojur population. This is now his line of defence. Showers
yesterday sent to tell him that if he would come in and give
himself up, as well as his guns and arms, he should be
treated on his merits. This he would not do, and has
eventually sealed his fate by bolting. The extent of his
warlike preparations is too obviously the result of his
really hostile, than of his professedly friendly,
intentions. I do not know where we go next; back to Delhi, I
trust, when I hope to find General Penny willing to forward
my wishes by sending me on to join the army. It will spoil
my new regiment to keep it on mere police duty.

CAMP, REWARREE, _Oct. 7th_.--We have been all day in the
saddle, wandering about distant villages, but we did not see
an enemy, and the inhabitants seemed very glad to see us,
for the runaway rebels had plundered every place they passed
through. The whole body of horsemen who were here up to two
days before, fled in all directions when they heard of our
approach, (though their numbers were immense, they say 7,000
to 8,000,) and now, ride where we will, in any direction for
fifteen miles round Rewarree, not an armed man is to be
seen.

Only this morning we heard of the capture of Lucknow, dimmed
by the death of General Neill. Are all our victories to be
purchased at the costly price of her best and bravest? Even
I, loving my profession as I do, a "soldier to the
backbone," as Sir C. Napier used to say, sicken at the
remembrance of the good and brave and noble who have fallen.
Poor Neill! he is a loss indeed. I trust our dear friend has
escaped. I looked tremblingly through the list, and rejoiced
to find the name of Napier not there. And now for matters of
the lower (surely the lowest) world. I have drawn no pay
either for the A. Q. M. Generalship or my regiment, except
an advance of 500_l._ for current expenditure. I have as yet
been able to get no pay abstracts passed; and, indeed, such
is the confusion of all things, from the want of some
central authority, that no one knows where, or by whom, we
are to be paid; so I have to draw money for my men "on
account," to be settled hereafter; as yet, however, I take
care that it shall not exceed a third, or at utmost half
their pay, to be safely within the mark. Men and horses
cannot live on "nothing a day and find themselves," and any
regular office-work is utterly impossible while we are kept
so perpetually in the saddle. It is rather hard on a new
regiment, "raised on service,"--and a little hard on their
commandant too,--but all will come straight in the end, I
doubt not. I thought I mentioned that when we went to the
Kootub the first time with Colonel Showers, I secured the
rest of the King's sons and grandsons at Humayoon's Tomb;
but the whole were most discreditably allowed to escape by
the young civilian sent out with the force; or, as he says,
by the Brigadier; but it was his business, and not the
Brigadier's. I also found out a lot of silver and money,
worth, I should think, 20,000 or 30,000 rupees, and 20 or 30
elephants; all which goes to swell the prize money. We ought
to have a good proportionate sum each, for there has been
an immense deal of property taken altogether, I should
think; but the want of care and management will lessen it
considerably. As a specimen,--when Seaton was prize agent,
(and they could not have found a better or more upright,) a
quantity of property of all descriptions was brought in and
put on the "chiboutra" in front of the house he was in. He
immediately sent to ask the General either to appoint a
place to stow it in, or for a guard to put over it. The
answer was in General Wilson's usually _brusque_ style. "He
had no guard to spare, and Colonel Seaton must secure the
property as he could." Colonel Seaton's reply was to resign
the prize agency. He could not well do otherwise after this
and other specimens.

_Oct. 8th._--I go on an expedition early to-morrow morning
to some villages, and shall be too late back for writing.

_Oct. 11th._--Only three words to say that I am safe and
well. I cannot ascertain whether we go back direct to Delhi,
or by Jhujjur, to annex the Nawab's country. Everything is
perfectly quiet here, and the weather is really cold in the
mornings: we shall all improve by the change, though fever
is very prevalent amongst the natives. The Europeans are
gaining strength daily.

CAMP, JATOO SANA, _Oct. 13th_.--We shall be at Jhujjur, I
believe, in a couple of days; where part of General
Cortland's force and the Jummoo troops will meet us, and
they will, I fancy, be left in occupation, and we return to
Delhi, where I hear a force under General Penny is to be
formed to go towards Rohilcund. It is more than probable
that we shall accompany him. If I am allowed to go to a
station to _form_ my regiment, I shall certainly try for
Umbala. The bazaars at Meerut, Cawnpore, &c., are all
destroyed, and I could get nothing I wanted. Here I am
interrupted by an order to start on a "_dour_," which will
keep us out till midnight, if not longer.

_Oct. 14th._--My expectations of yesterday were fulfilled,
and we did not return till midnight to dinner, having been
in the saddle, without a halt, since 3 P. M. Some rascals
had chosen to go and make free with the grain, &c., left
behind in Toli Ram's fort at Rampoora, outside Rewarree, as
soon as our last detachment had come away; so I was sent
back to disturb their operations. Unfortunately Colonel
Showers was too long in making up his mind to send us, and
though we marched at the rate of more than seven miles in an
hour, it was dark before we came up with the tail of the
party, just as they were decamping with their booty; so we
only accounted for about thirty or forty. I was very weary,
so stayed behind for a few hours' rest, the column having
marched at 2 A. M. to Nahur, on the road to Dadree, where we
are to be joined by a portion of General Cortland's force,
and the Dick Lawrence Invincibles from Rohtuck. We then move
on Jhujjur, but not the smallest prospect of
opposition,--all the masses of Raughur and other horsemen
melting away at our approach. I have written to Chamberlain,
as Adjutant-General, to get me a couple of months to
collect, complete, and clothe the regiment. At all events,
if we cannot be spared, I have begged that the whole
regiment may be kept together, and not scattered piecemeal
over the country, as it is now.

CAMP, DADREE, _Oct. 16th_.--The Jhujjur Nawab has, or will
give himself up; so not a shot will be fired, for all the
swarms of Irregular Cavalry have dispersed to their homes,
or rather to the hills and jungles, for shelter and
security. Colonel Greathed's column has reached Agra, and
there had a fight; a regular surprise,--our people being
attacked while at breakfast! However, the enemy were
thoroughly thrashed eventually, and lost camp and guns. Poor
French, of the Lancers, is the only officer whose name I
have heard as killed. A report has reached me from Simla
that you have got some magnificent diamond rings, &c., taken
at Delhi. This is rather good, considering the only rings I
sent you were the princes', and not worth twenty rupees
altogether, and the only "diamonds" were in that little
broach I bought from a sowar more than a month before Delhi
was taken,--so much for the veracity of your good-natured
_friends_ at Simla! It is too rich. I like Macdowell
increasingly,--he is so thoroughly honest and gentlemanly,
and brave as a lion. In Wise, too, I am fortunate; and Wells
is a fat, good-tempered, willing-to-work school-boy. We do
very well indeed together, and I have profited by past
experience, (and perhaps the natural result of increased age
and knowledge of the world,) but things are very different
_now_ and _then_.

We were waked up at midnight, and got to our camping ground
at 11 A. M., and there found neither tents nor breakfast. We
march on to Jhujjur early to-morrow. The Nawab has made his
submission, and we have nothing to do but receive it and
move on.

CAMP, KUNOUND, _Oct. 19th_.--We left Dadree at 1 A. M.
yesterday, and marched ten miles to Jhujjur, found the force
dispersed and fled, and took possession of the (very nice)
fort, with heaps of guns and ammunition. My men were out
after the fugitives till half-past ten. At noon we marched
again (the 6th Dragoon Guards and my regiment), under
Colonel Custance, to Nahur, twenty-four miles, which we
reached at sunset. At 3 A. M. this morning we came on here,
seventeen miles, and took one of the strongest forts I have
seen, with fourteen guns, some very heavy ones, and five
lacs of rupees, which, alas! is to be considered Government,
not prize property. I was only out of my saddle for one hour
yesterday, from one in the morning till sunset, and then
only to get some cold food under a tree! But I am quite well
and strong, much better than I was at Delhi; and as Colonel
Custance and his officers are remarkably agreeable
gentlemanlike people, we have had the most really pleasant
days since leaving Delhi. The worst of this raid is that it
takes me from all chance of getting away for a few days
until our return.

KUNOUND, _Oct. 20th_.--I have just had a very nice and
welcome letter from ----, dated Calcutta, 5th September. He
had had a long talk about me with Mr. Talbot, who told him
that General Anson's representations had done much good, and
that it was admitted on all hands that my exculpation _in
re_ the Guides was complete, and that no higher or more
flattering testimonials were ever seen; so that, please God,
I shall be righted at last; and _justice_ is all I want. I
leave those who injured me to the punishment of their own
conscience, and have no desire that their sins should be
visited upon them more than that. God saw that I was too
proud and happy at having gained the highest object of my
worldly ambition, and so chastened me, that now mere earthly
honors or success are becoming gradually of less importance
to me. To go home with an untarnished name, and to get the
repose both of body and mind which _home_ alone can give, is
now the climax of my desires.

This is a very healthy country, but sandy, and, no doubt, at
times fearfully hot; even to-day there is a hot wind
blowing, and yet by midnight it will be freezing!

CAMP, KUNOUND, _Oct. 21st_.--Another long day without a dak.
I have "betwitted" Captain Trench, who has charge of the
Post-office, for taking more care of himself than he does of
us; but of course he denies the soft impeachment _in toto_.
I begin to despair of getting back to Delhi, as we do not
march hence till the 23d, and even then it is uncertain in
what direction we go. _Au reste_, I am not sorry as it is,
for my men and horses were beginning to suffer. I had this
morning thirty-eight men and forty-three horses sick! If
Captain Fenwick is still at Simla, will you ask him if he
can get me one of the new pattern saddles he introduced into
the 9th Irregular Cavalry? I will gladly pay the cost and
carriage, and thank him into the bargain. Saddles are my
greatest difficulty in getting my regiment into order. I am
doing tolerably in the way of horses, and gradually
remounting the men, who came down badly horsed, with
captured cattle. The swords also are better than they were,
from the same source. My ankle gives me so much pain that I
have been forced to take to a small pony to ride even about
camp, so as to avoid walking even for fifty yards.

_Oct. 22d._--We march to-night towards Rewarree, and shall
get there on the 24th; from thence a part goes to Goorgaon,
and waits the arrival of the larger portion of the troops
which are to go into the Mewattee country, and punish some
rascals who have plundered the large town of Sonah. The
Brigadier is planning a series of manoeuvres, by which he
intends to surround and capture 4,000 Mewattees. I shall be
very much surprised if we see one of that interesting race!

I fear that if my men form part of the manoeuvring party, we
shall not get to Goorgaon for six or seven days, or perhaps
ten, but I hope for the direct route. In either case, as we
shall do nothing, I would rather do it with as little
fatigue to man and horse as possible. The detached state of
this regiment is enough to ruin it. Three troops are at
Agra, or thereabouts, under Hugh Gough; the sick and depot
at Delhi, and portions of five troops here; but it seriously
increases the difficulty of managing a totally new regiment,
and it is hardly fair either to the men or to the commanding
officer. I have remonstrated, but, I suppose, with very
little effect, as I have had no answer. I trust, indeed, I
may get all together and go towards Oudh.

_Oct. 23d._--To-day we still halt, and I hear a rumor that
on our return we go on to Agra. My other troops are on their
way to Cawnpore, so that, I think, there is every chance of
my getting that way too. However personally I might wish to
be quiet at Umbala for a time, I cannot ask not to be sent
on one of two expeditions with the same end, and
unquestionably for _our_ best interests. Oudh, where Napier
is in power, is the best field open. Tell ---- he may
unhesitatingly contradict the story about the rupees. It was
born in Delhi, and was partly the cause of General Wilson's
bad behavior to me; the money, 60,000_l._, was brought to me
late one night by the men, who had been desired (as Colonel
Seaton will corroborate) to secure prize property for him
and the other agents. We marched at daybreak next morning,
and I had only time to make it over to Macdowell to see it
locked up in the regimental chest for safety before we
started. When I returned, three or four days afterwards, a
story had been circulated by the native who had disgorged
the coin, that I had kept the money for myself! Of course
the very day I returned it was, with heaps of other things,
made over to the agents. And so stories go in this world.
The amount of petty jealousy excited by what my friends call
my "successes" is beyond belief. The capture of the King and
his sons, however ultimately creditable, has caused me more
envy and ill-will than you would believe possible, but I
have had too much experience of humanity, during the last
few years, to care for envy now; and, conscious as I am of
my own rectitude of purpose at least, however I may err in
judgment, I go on my way rejoicing.

CAMP, PATONDHEE, _Oct. 27th_.--I am indeed most humbly and
earnestly grateful to the good God who has so mercifully
spared[60] what was so infinitely more precious to me than
life itself; and I do feel how entirely our hearts should be
filled with gratitude to Him for the bountiful mercies which
we mutually and individually have experienced at His hands
during the past year: the preservation of us both from
_such_ perils; my reemployment in an honorable position; my
ability to do such good service to the country at such a
crisis; the preservation of health in such a time of
exposure; my beloved wife's power and will to tend the
wounded, and succor the distressed; my complete, though
tardy, vindication from unjust charges; my almost assured
freedom from debt;--all these mercies are almost more than
my full heart can bear, and I sink on my knees in humble
gratitude at the foot of His throne who has done such
wonderful things for us. May He crown all other blessings by
granting us a safe reunion.

It will be seen by the foregoing letters that Hodson's Horse had, by this time, acquired such proportions that they admitted of being divided. One detachment, under Lieut. Gough, had been sent with Colonel Greathed's column towards Agra, and afterwards joined Sir Colin Campbell's force, and took part, with much distinction, in the final relief of Lucknow by Sir Colin and Sir James Outram.

The main body, with their commandant, accompanied Brigadier Showers, and were of great service in anticipating the movements and cutting off the retreat of the flying enemy, as well as in scouring the country and bringing in supplies. Their rapidity of movement and dashing courage made them a terror to the rebel forces, who had, on more than one occasion, painful experience of the keenness of their sabres.

In the course of the expedition, the forces of several rebel rajahs were defeated, their strongholds captured, with many guns, and treasure amounting to 70,000_l._ taken, besides large quantities of cattle.

On one occasion upwards of 1,700 head of cattle had been taken. When they were brought in, Brigadier Showers exclaimed, "Hang me! what in the world am I to do with them? It would take half my force to convoy them back to Delhi. I can't take them." On this Captain Hodson said, "Well, sir, will you sell them to me, and let me take my chance?" "Willingly," said the Brigadier; so the bargain was struck for two rupees a head. Captain Hodson sent them off, under charge of their drivers and two or three of his own sowars, to Delhi, where they arrived safely, and were of course sold at a large profit.

The speculation turned out a good one, but the chances were against it. No one else, probably, under the circumstances, would have run the risk, and the cattle would have been left behind.

I mention this anecdote as showing that in small things as well as great my brother refused to acknowledge difficulties, and deserved the character given him of being the most "wide-awake" man in the army. Shortly afterwards he invested part of the proceeds in a house at Umbala, which happened to be then put up for a forced sale at a great depreciation. This consequently went among his friends by the name of the "cow-house."

A short time before the return of the column to Delhi, he applied for a few weeks' leave, in order to join his wife, who had come down from Simla to Umbala.

On November 3d he wrote to his sister from Umbala:--

After nearly six months of separation, I was happy enough to
get back here yesterday night, and find my wife well, and
all but recovered from the effects of her frightful
accident, the most wonderful escape, perhaps, from imminent
peril ever recorded. I take the first holiday I have had
since the 15th May, to write a few lines to you, my dearest
sister, to say what deep and real pleasure and comfort your
letters bring to me, amidst danger and toil and fatigue; and
how cheering it is to feel that, come what may, I am sure of
your loving sympathy and constant affection. I received
yesterday your letter of the 4th May, and could not but be
most forcibly struck with the contrast between my
circumstances individually, and those of the country, then
and now. No one will rejoice more than yourself at the
sudden change, and at the tolerable success which has been
permitted to my labors....

_Nov. 15th._--Here my pen was arrested by the news that the
mail was gone. In these days all regularity is set at
defiance, and again we have been startled by a notice to
send our letters within half an hour, and that, too, in the
midst of preparation for a hurried return to Delhi and
Meerut, to rejoin my regiment. We march at once to join Sir
Colin Campbell and the army assembling at Cawnpore for the
reconquest of Lucknow.

I am getting on famously with my regiment; men of good
family and fighting repute are really flocking to my
standard,[61] and before the end of the year I hope to have
1,000 horsemen under my command.

I had a letter the other day from ----, at Calcutta, from
which I learn that at last the truth is beginning to dawn on
the minds of men in power regarding me. They now say that my
remonstrance will be placed on record for preservation, "not
for justification, which it is fully admitted was not
required," and that "no higher testimonials were ever
produced."

How much I have to be thankful for, not only for restored
position and means for future distinction, but for safety
and preservation during this terrible war, and for my dear
wife's escape.

You must not misunderstand my silence. I was compelled to
leave the task of writing letters to Susie; I had barely
time to keep her assured of my safety from day to day.

On the 2d December, "Hodson's Horse" were ordered to join a movable column under Colonel Thomas Seaton, C. B., proceeding down the country towards Cawnpore, in charge of an immense convoy of supplies of all kinds for the Commander-in-Chief's army. The convoy was calculated to extend over fifteen miles of road,--hackeries of grain, camels, elephants, horses,--and but 1,500 men and four guns to protect them all. At Allygurh the forces, marching respectively from Delhi and Meerut, united on the 11th. On the following day Colonel Seaton, leaving the convoy under the protection of the guns of the fort, proceeded by forced marches to look after some large parties of the rebel army who were encamped in the Doab.

On the 10th, my brother wrote to his wife from

CAMP SOMNA, _14 miles from Allygurh, Dec. 10th_.

After four days of forced marches we joined the column this
morning, and march on to Allygurh to-morrow. We have been
quite out of the way of letters, both going and coming,
until to-day. The "enemy," who were supposed to have been in
our front at Khasgunge, have all disappeared, and there
seems to be no immediate prospect of our finding another.
Alfred Light marched down with me from Meerut to this place,
and now goes on with Colonel Seaton as orderly officer, I am
glad to say. We have a frightful convoy and crowd, but I
hope not for long. The head-quarter people, Colonels Keith,
Young, Becher, and Congreve, are with us. It is said that
our friend Napier is to be Adjutant-General of the
army,--delightful, if true. I have only just got my tent up,
and it is nearly dark, so I can only say that I am safe and
well.

ALLYGURH, _Dec. 11th_.--We arrived here early this morning,
and I found Major Eld commanding and Arthur Cocks doing
Commissioner. Everything perfectly quiet in the
neighborhood, and no large gathering of Pandies anywhere
near. There is a small party at Khasgunge, and I hope we may
be lucky enough to find them, but I doubt their waiting for
us. Meantime we are to march down the Trunk Road, halting
here to-morrow. I cannot get over our parting, each
separation seems a greater wrench than the last.

Of public news there is none, but one broad fact, that since
the 12th ultimo no news have been received from Lucknow, and
not a word even from Cawnpore since the 25th. This
necessarily excites alarm, but still my impression is, that
though our people may be surrounded with a close cordon of
disaffected and rebellious men, who cut off all
communication, yet that any serious harm can happen to a
force of 8,000 or 9,000 Europeans I will not readily
believe. I have 596 sabres with me now, 50 more coming from
Delhi, besides the 140 with Gough,--not so bad that.

_Dec. 12th._--We hear to-day from Agra that the ladies and
sick and wounded from Lucknow and Cawnpore have been sent
down to Allahabad, and the Gwalior Contingent beaten. The
Commander-in-Chief is at Cawnpore, and troops will be
assembling there enough to put down all opposition, and open
the road to Calcutta. We march to-morrow morning from hence,
leaving the "_impedimenta_" behind here until we can
ascertain that the road is clear; when it is so, all will
move on. We have fifteen guns, mostly 9-pounders, with our
small but compact force. Major Eld joins us with a part of
his garrison, and Colonel Farquhar brings 300 Belooches, 200
Affghans, and two guns to our aid. We shall be 2,500
fighting men, and the "fathers of rebels" will hardly
stomach so much as that! Colonel Seaton is doing admirably,
very firm and very wide awake; so all will, I doubt not, go
well.

JULALEE, _Dec. 13th_.--Your letter, inclosing our darling
sister's, found us lying in the dust, with a pea-soup
atmosphere of fine sand all around, discussing hot tea and
eggs, just as I had returned from a _reconnoissance_ to the
front, in virtue of my being the big eye and ear of the
camp.... The paragraph in the _Lahore Chronicle_ was too
absurd, and beneath my notice; but to please you and
Macdowell I consented to his saying anything he pleased on
the subject. Naturally, I must err sometimes in judgment,
even with prayer for my aid; but I never swerve from my one
and only aim, to do my duty as well and strictly as I can;
so the praise or blame of men affect me less than if I took
public opinion and not conscience for my guide. But
_apropos_ of the newspapers, Arthur Cocks tells me that the
_Friend of India_ has apologized for its strictures on my
conduct _in re_ the Shahzadahs; so let that satisfy you, for
nothing I could write, or my friends for me, could ever be
half so effectual as the _Friend's_ voluntary _amende_.... I
intended to have written much to-day, but I was waked at 3
A. M., marched soon after, and with the exception of the
dusty breakfast (cheered by my letters), I was in the saddle
till half-past 2 P. M. Then regimental business, washed and
dressed, then threw myself on my bed for half an hour till
dinner, after which we get to bed as soon as we can, and up
again at 3 A. M., so there is not much time for what I want
to do of private matters. There's a history of a day in
camp.

CAMP, GUNGEREE, _Dec. 14th_.--I have only time to say that I
am safe and well, though we have had a hard fight. The
enemy's cavalry, with three guns and some infantry, came on
from Bilaram to meet us this morning after breakfast,--about
800 horsemen and a mob of foot,--but our guns soon stopped
their progress, and then the Carabineers and Lancers charged
straight down on them in the most magnificent style,
capturing all three of their guns at a dash! I grieve to
say, however, that they paid most dearly for their splendid
courage. All their officers went down. Captain Wardlaw, Mr.
Hudson, and Mr. Vyse, all killed, and Head, of the Lancers,
badly wounded. The infantry were not engaged at all. _We_
attacked their flying cavalry and footmen on the left, and
made very short work of all we could catch. I lost a fine
old Resaldar, our dear old friend Mohammed Reza Khan's
brother. None of my officers hurt; but my horse (Rufus this
time) got a cut.[62]

CAMP NEAR PUTTIALEE, _17th_.--I have but time for one line
again to say that "all's well." We have been on our horses
for eleven hours! The enemy had the boldness to await our
arrival here in great force and partly intrenched. We
attacked them soon after 8 A. M., they firing aimlessly at
us as we advanced, our guns coming into play with fine
effect. I then dashed into their camp with my regiment,
Bishop's troop of Artillery actually charging with us like
cavalry fairly into their camp! We drove them through camp
and town, and through gardens, fields, and lanes, capturing
every gun and all their ammunition and baggage. We pushed on
for six or seven miles, and read them a terrible lesson. The
Carabineers and my men alone must have killed some 500 or
600 at least, all sowars and fanatics. We wound up by
killing the Nawab, who led them on his elephant, after a
long chase and an ingenious struggle, in which he was fairly
pulled out of his houdah. I am very tired, but delighted
with our day's work on Seaton's account. We have captured
thirteen guns and entirely dispersed the enemy. He ought to
be made a K. C. B. for this.[63]

PUTTIALEE, _19th_.--I have just returned from a twenty-five
miles' ride reconnoitring towards the ghats of the Ganges,
and breakfasted _al fresco_ at 11/4 P. M.; so I am not too
fresh, as you may imagine, after the last few days of hard
work and hard galloping. Colonel Seaton tells me that he
wrote to you after our very successful action here. He does
all his work so well and pleasantly that it is a pleasure to
work under him. We have a very compact force and capital
officers, so everything goes on smoothly and comfortably.
The remnant of the gentry we thrashed here seem never to
have stopped running since. Another party have, however,
crossed over from Rohilcund, and are said to be coming our
way. I only wish they may.

_Dec. 20th._--We march back to-morrow, and shall be at Etah
on the Grand Trunk Road on the 24th, when the convoy will
come on to rejoin us. I have ascertained that the result of
our affair here has been to drive the whole of the rebels
out of the country between this and Futtehgurh.

From Etah we shall disperse the Mynpooree party, and then I
think there will be no rebels left in the Doab save at
Futtehgurh, and those the Commander-in-Chief will dispose
of.

KHASGUNGE, _23d_.--The more we move in this direction, the
more do we realize of the satisfactory results of our
expedition and our fight of the 17th. It really was a very
complete affair, and had it been done under the eyes of the
Commander-in-Chief, I should have been made a colonel.
However, I can but admit that every disposition exists here
to give me (perhaps more than) my due. To-day we have for
the first time heard of the Commander-in-Chief's movements.
He comes up in two columns, _via_ the Grand Trunk Road, and
_via_ the Jumna towards Mynpooree. We shall be at the latter
place on Christmas day, I hope, and clear out the remainder
of the rebels who may still be lurking about the roads and
villages. We caught yesterday one of the rebel leaders, an
old Resaldar, covered with honors, pension, and dignity by
our Government! These rascals are as impervious to gratitude
as they are ignorant of truth. The neighborhood of
Futtehgurh has brought vividly home to me the horrors
committed, and the dreadful fate of poor Tudor Tucker, his
wife, children, and the other victims, is ever before me; it
often recalls a sterner judgment when we feel inclined to
_spare_.

ETAH, _Dec. 24th_.--We got here after an eighteen miles'
march, and hear that the Chief was to leave Cawnpore "in a
few days" from the 14th, and would move up the Grand Trunk
Road with one column, sending another to skirt the Jumna.
General Windham is said to be coming up to take the
divisional command at Umbala.

MULLOWN, CHRISTMAS DAY.--There seems a fatality against our
spending these anniversaries together; but my heart is full
of deep and earnest prayer for you and all my loved ones,
and I try to hope that our next Christmas may be spent _at
home_.

We march to Kerowlee to-morrow, and shall be at Mynpooree on
the 27th, there to halt for a few days, until the convoy is
collected and we can hear from the Commander-in-Chief. We
have just heard that Mayhew is the new Adjutant-General, and
Norman, Deputy. This last is a splendid thing, and shows Sir
Colin's determination to put the right man in the right
place, in spite of all the red tape and seniority systems in
the world! I can hear nothing of our dear friend Napier, but
I suppose he is with Sir James Outram.

MYNPOOREE, _December 27th_.--We have just returned from a
sixteen miles' pursuit of the rebel force posted in front of
this place. They only waited until the Horse Artillery guns
opened on them, and then fled precipitately, so we had to
ride hard to overtake them. They flung away their arms, and
became simple villagers with astonishing rapidity; it would
have done credit to the stage. No one hurt but two of my
sowars. We have got all their guns (six in number), and the
Doab is clear now to Futtehgurh.

MYNPOOREE, _December 28th_.--The Commander-in-Chief had not
left Cawnpore on the 16th, but was to do so very soon; we
hope to hear of him. Please send the inclosed notes to the
ladies to whom they are addressed, and if they like to
inclose me any _miniature_ replies, I will take care they
are safely forwarded to their husbands.

MYNPOOREE, _December 29th_.--I _have_ spoken about poor
Wardlaw's effects, and Mrs. ----'s kind offer was accepted
gladly; but a reference to Meerut was necessary, and I have
not yet had a final answer. Poor fellow! never was a more
gallant charge than the last he led, and I agree with his
brother officers that "a kinder friend, a more gallant
soldier, and a better comrade, never stepped than George
Wardlaw." Both his death and that of his comrade, Mr.
Hudson, were perhaps unnecessary,--by which I mean that a
better acquaintance with their enemy might have saved both.
The former, after the charge, dashed single-handed--with a
cheer--into a knot of matchlock-men waiting to receive him,
and was shot dead instantly. Had he gathered together only
half a dozen dragoons, he might have ridden over them. The
other (Hudson) was shot by a wretched fugitive lying
prostrate in a field. Not understanding their tactics, he
rode up to him and halted, thus offering a fair mark for the
villain's ready musket. He was a son of the ex-Railway King.

MYNPOOREE, _December 30th_, 6 A. M.--I am just starting for
the Chief's camp, which is at or near Goorsahaigunge, some
forty miles from hence. I am taking despatches from Colonel
Seaton, and to see that the road is clear. I hope to be back
to dinner. Mac goes with me.