Chapter XIV: Part 14

On the morning of the 10th. the British marched on Bushire, a walled town, which surrendered unconditionally, after a bombardment of upward of four hours. No loss was sustained; sixty-five guns, with large quantities of ammunition and warlike stores, were here captured. The garrison, consisting of about two thousand, (a large number having previously effected their escape, and several drowned in the attempt), grounded their arms in front of the British line, and were on the following morning escorted by the cavalry some distance into the country, and then set at liberty. Her Majesty’s 64th., under Major Stirling, shared in this success.

A stronger expedition subsequently proceeded from Bombay, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram; this was composed of two divisions, one of which was under Brigadier-General Havelock, and the other under Major-General Stalker; the 78th. Highlanders were added to this force. On the evening of the 3rd. of February, 1857, Sir James Outram marched against Sooja-ool-Moolk, strongly posted in an entrenched camp at Borazgoon. Each man carried his great coat, blanket, and two days’ provisions, but without any tents or other equipage; the rain fell heavily, and the nights were bitterly cold. The position was reached in the afternoon of the 5th. of February, when the Persians rapidly retreated, leaving their camp, ammunition and equipage in the hands of the British.

On the return march during the night of the 7th., the rear-guard was attacked by the Persians, who were kept in check until daybreak, when the enemy, amounting to between six and seven thousand men, were perceived drawn up near Koosh-ab. Two mounds in their centre, on which they placed their guns, served as redoubts, and some deep nullahs on their flank were lined with skirmishers. In the action that followed, the enemy’s guns were silenced by the British artillery; the cavalry drove his horse from the field; and on the advance of the infantry, the Persians broke and fled, throwing away their arms and accoutrements in their flight. By ten o’clock the defeat of the Persian troops was complete.[140]

After this victory the British bivouacked for the day close to the battle-field, and at night, by another route, accomplished a march of twenty miles, over a country rendered almost impassable by the incessant heavy rains. After a rest of six hours, the greater portion of the infantry continued their march to Bushire, which was reached before midnight, thus performing another most arduous march of forty-four miles under incessant rain, besides fighting and defeating the enemy during its progress, within the short period of fifty hours. On the morning of the 10th. the cavalry and artillery arrived in camp.

The loss in the action of Koosh-ab on the 8th. of February was limited to sixteen killed and sixty-two wounded. Lieutenant Frankland, of the 2nd. European regiment, was the only officer killed.[141] This officer, together with Captain Forbes, commanding the 3rd. regiment of Light Cavalry, and Lieutenant Doveton Downes Greentree, of the 64th. regiment, both severely wounded (the latter losing his leg), received special mention in the Governor-General’s Notification.

For some months the Persians had been engaged in fortifying their position at Mohammerah, a place at the confluence of the Karun and Euphrates rivers. Batteries had been erected of solid earth, twenty feet thick, and eighteen feet high, with casemated embrasures, armed with heavy guns, commanding both sides of the river, but Lieutenant-General Outram resolved to attack them. Their army estimated at thirteen thousand men, with thirty guns, was commanded by the Shazada, Prince Khauler Mirza, in person; whilst the Anglo-Indian troops consisted of about five thousand. This place was bombarded on the 26th. of March by five steamers and two sloops of war of the Indian navy, under the command of Commodore Young. The action commenced soon after daybreak, and the Persians stood to their guns well till 10 a.m., when the magazine in the north battery blew up. Three more explosions followed; the enemy’s fire slackened, and by one o’clock was completely silenced. A fire of musketry was then opened from the batteries, until storming parties were landed from the ships, who drove out the Persians, and took possession of their works and guns. Brigadier-General Havelock landed the troops, but no portion of the military force was actively engaged, except some European riflemen sent on board the war vessels, as the Persians fled from their entrenched camp without waiting an attack. Meanwhile a treaty of peace had been in progress, the ratifications of which were exchanged at Bagdad on the 2nd. of May, whereby Herat was agreed to be evacuated, and all interference with the internal affairs of Afghanistan was to be avoided.

The regiments employed in this expedition, were the 14th. Light Dragoons, the 64th. and 78th. regiments, 3rd. Bombay Cavalry, Poonah Horse, 1st. Scinde Horse, 2nd. Bombay Europeans, Bombay and Madras Sappers and Miners, and 2nd., 3rd., 4th., 5th., 8th., 11th., 15th., 20th., 22nd., 23rd., 25th., 26th., 28th., and 29th. regiments of Bombay Infantry.

NORTH WEST FRONTIER.
1849–1863.

The first of the principal of the expeditions during this period was into the Eusufzye country, north of Peshawur, December, 1849. This expedition, under the command of Brigadier Bradshaw, 60th. Rifles, was despatched to chastise the Hill tribes on the Swat Border, and several of their villages were captured and destroyed. The British troops engaged in this affair were the 60th. Rifles and the 61st. Foot.

AGAINST THE AFRIDIS.
FEBRUARY, 1850.

The Afridis are a fierce and warlike tribe inhabiting a series of steep and rugged hills lying between the Kohat and Peshawur districts. They are good shots, and if combined, could muster 15,000 to 20,000 fighting men. The Punjab Government paid them an annual subsidy of 5,700 rupees in return for their protecting the pass from Peshawur to Kohat. But in spite of this arrangement, on February 2nd, 1850, a body of Afridis attacked a body of Sappers making a road in the Kohat pass, killed twelve of them, and put the rest to flight. To punish them for their treachery, a column, under the command of Sir Colin Campbell (afterwards Lord Clyde), who was accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Napier, forced the pass, in spite of the efforts of the Afridis, routed them, and burnt their villages. As usual in hill campaigns the heaviest of the fighting fell on the rear of the retiring force in its march to Peshawur.[142] The regiments that took part in this expedition were the 60th. Rifles, 61st., and 98th. Foot, besides Native troops. In the latter part of the year 1851, the Mohmunds, a tribe inhabiting the Khyber Pass, committed a series of depredations on villages under British rule, and made an attack on a fort at Shubkuddur. To chastise them, on October 25th, Sir Colin Campbell left Peshawur with a force of about 2000 men, including two companies each of the 61st. and 98th. Foot, and destroyed several of their villages with their stores of grain. After some skirmishes Sir Colin, leaving garrisons at Shubkuddur and Dubb, returned to Peshawur in February, 1852. In the same month the Mohmunds made another inroad, and in March Sir Colin again took the field against them, with a column of 2500 men, consisting of a troop of Horse Artillery, the 32nd. Foot, and several Native regiments. On March 20th. the Mohmunds attacked him in force at Pung Rao, but after a hot action of three hours were repulsed with considerable loss. Another skirmish took place in April, near Shubkuddur, and on the retreat of the Mohmunds, Sir Colin, with the Europeans, returned to Peshawur. But the disturbances on the North West frontier were far from being over. The Ootman Khail,[143] or tribe, of Afridis, began to make incursions into British territory, and on the 7th. of May, Sir Colin, with the 32nd. Foot, a wing of the 53rd. regiment, the Guide Corps, and some regiments of Punjaubees and Goorkhas, marched against them, and after a few skirmishes captured and destroyed, with small loss, the strongly fortified hill village of Praunghur.

On May 17th Sir Colin attacked about 8000 of the enemy at a village called Istakote, at the entrance of the Ranize Valley, and a smart action followed, in which Sir Colin himself headed the cavalry of the Guides in a charge, with the result that the hill men were driven back in confusion. They suffered severely, but were not subdued, though checked for a time.

AGAINST THE HUSSUNZIES AND BOREE AFRIDIS.
1852–53.

A party of Hussunzies having murdered two British officials, and the tribe refusing to surrender the murderers, an expedition was dispatched to chastise them. The Hussunzies occupied the western slopes of the Black Mountains, a height of about 10,000 feet above the sea level, and trusted to the inaccessibility of their stronghold, which had hitherto defied every assailant. In December, 1852, two Brigades took up a position at the foot of the Black Mountain, and three columns commanded by Colonel Napier (afterwards Lord Napier of Magdala), Colonel Mackeson, and Major Abbot, were formed for the assault. After an obstinate resistance all three columns won their way up the steep ascent, and bivouacked for three nights on the summit of the so-called impregnable Black Mountain. The villages of the enemy were burnt in the sight of their owners, and the columns, with little loss, descended the mountain and were broken up. No British regiment seems to have been engaged in this affair.

In the latter part of the year 1853, the Boree Afridis inhabiting the country near the Kohat Pass, began to commit depredations, and refusing any reparation or promise to abstain from similar acts in the future, a force under the command of Colonel Boileau, with Colonel Napier, was sent against them in November. The troops comprised the 22nd. Foot, the Guides, 66th. Goorkhas, and Native Infantry. The expedition was ably planned and successfully executed; the principal villages of the enemy were destroyed, and the Afridis taught a lesson which they long remembered.

AGAINST THE LURRUCKZAI MOHMUNDS AND MEERANZIES.
1854–55.

To punish the Mohmunds for their raids into British territory, in August, 1854, an expedition commanded by Sir Sydney Cotton was despatched against them. After an unimportant skirmish or two the principal villages of the Mohmunds were taken and destroyed, and the troops returned. The 22nd. Foot was the only British regiment which took part in this affair. The Meeranzies, a Pathan tribe, occupying the hilly country near Thull, for a long time had made incursions into British territory, sacking the villages, and carrying off the inhabitants for ransom. At length the Punjaub Government resolved to chastise them, and in April, 1855, a strong force of 3500 men under the command of Brigadier (afterwards Sir Neville) Chamberlain, marched towards Meeranzie. On April 30th. he was attacked by the enemy in Upper Meeranzie, but after a brief action drove them back in confusion. The hill men were pursued, their villages and stores of grain destroyed, and a severe retribution dealt them for their long continuous acts of hostility against the defenceless inhabitants of the British border. None but Native troops were employed in this expedition.

AGAINST THE AFRIDIS AND BOZDARS ON THE DEJERAT FRONTIER.

The expedition against these tribes in March, 1857, is generally known as the Bozdar Hill Expedition. In it Native troops only were employed, under the command of Brigadier Neville Chamberlain, and Colonels Green and S. Browne. The principal affair in this campaign was the forcing of the Khanbund defile.[144]

AGAINST THE CABUL KHAIL WUZEREES, 1859, AND THE MAHSOOD WUZEREES, 1860.

During the year 1859 the Cabul Khail Wuzerees began to grow troublesome, they made plundering incursions over our border, and in one of them murdered Captain Mecham. It being determined to send a force into their country, Brigadier-General Chamberlain marched from Kohat with nearly 4000 native troops of all ranks, in December, and found the enemy posted in a range of hills near the Kurum river. Here they had removed their families, flocks, and stores of grain, and had strongly fortified their position with breastworks. On December 22nd. the attack was made in two columns, and after two hours hard fighting the Wuzerees were driven from ridge to ridge, leaving their tents, and as much of their cattle as they could not remove, in the possession of the assailants. A few days afterwards their chiefs submitted, and agreed to terms for peace. Three months had scarcely passed, when the Mahsood Wuzerees, a far more powerful tribe, who had made forays on British villages for years, poured down from their hills upon the lands of the Nawaub of Tonk, which were under British protection, and plundered and burnt in their customary manner. On hearing of this act of aggression the Indian Government resolved to teach these freebooters a lesson once for all. Brigadier-General Chamberlain took the field at the head of about 5000 Native troops, with Lieut.-Colonel Lumsden as second in command; and on April 17th., 1860, entered the hills, carrying sixteen days’ provisions. After traversing a difficult and unknown country, the Brigadier encamped at Paloseen, and hearing that the enemy was in force near, marched in search of them, leaving Colonel Lumsden with about 1300 men in charge of the camp and baggage. The Mahsoods saw their opportunity. On the night of April 22nd., 3000 of them silently gathered in a depression to the rear of the British, and early on the following morning drove in the pickets and furiously assailed the camp. Luckily Colonel Lumsden was on his guard. Two chieftains of the enemy fell by his hand, and his men, cheered by their leader’s example, checked the rush of the Wuzerees, and in ten minutes utterly routed them with heavy loss. General Chamberlain, finding his information false, returned to Paloseen, and a few days later forced the Burara Pass, after some severe fighting. He next assaulted and captured the town of Kaneegoum, situated about 7,000 feet above the sea level, with trifling loss. On May 11th. he captured Mukeem, the principal town of the Mahsoods, who suffered heavily. The place was burnt, the towers blown up, and the troops returned to Bunnoo; having defeated a tribe which had never before been worsted, and penetrated a hostile region previously almost unknown. The expedition was a complete success, and added much to the prestige of the British in the eyes of the neighbouring clans. For their distinguished bravery in this campaign six native soldiers were decorated with the Order of Merit. The operations in the Eusufyze country, in the latter part of the year 1863, formed part of what is known as—

THE UMBEYLA CAMPAIGN.

The cause of this war was the predatory incursions of a body of Mussulman fanatics, and rebels, driven from Bengal at the time of the Mutiny, who occupied the town of Mulkah, on one of the lower spurs of the Mahabun, a ridge situated on the right bank of the Indus, about forty miles from Attock. A force of about 5600 men of all arms was assembled in the Eusufyze country on October, 1863, under the command of General Chamberlain. On October 19th., with little opposition, he took possession of the Umbeyla Pass, and established outposts on his flanks in the mountains on both sides, strengthened with breastworks as far as possible. The most advanced post on the left flank was called the “Eagle’s Nest,” and that on the right the “Crag Picket,” and both posts were invisible from the camp. On October 25th. the enemy made an attack on the right, but were driven back by Colonel Keyes, and lost one of their standards. The next day a fierce assault was made upon the “Eagle’s Nest” post, and after four hours hard fighting the Hill-men were repulsed with severe loss, but nearly half of the defenders were killed or wounded. In the early morning of the 30th., the “Crag Picket” being held by only twelve men, was surprised and taken by the enemy, but it was splendidly recaptured, after a desperate hand to hand conflict, by a small party of Pathans, led by Colonel Keyes (who was wounded), and Lieut. Fosbery, who, for his gallant conduct, received the Victoria Cross.

In the meantime an attack had been made on the front of the camp, which was defeated, the assailants suffering heavily. The bodies of the British slain were found shockingly mutilated by the enemy, and from that time no quarter was given on either side.[145] On the night of November 12th., the “Crag Picket,” held by 160 men, under Colonel Brownlow, the successful defender of the “Eagle’s Nest,” was again furiously assailed by about 3000 of the enemy, who made repeated attempts to storm the works. In spite of heavy loss they made a determined attack on both sides of the weakest angle of the post, pulled down the wall, hurling the stones on the defenders, and gained possession of part of the defences. Colonel Brownlow called for volunteers, drove the enemy out, rebuilt the wall, and held the post till morning. Shortly after daybreak the garrison was relieved by a party of Punjaubees under Captain Davidson. Before they were properly in position the Hill-men made another assault, killed Davidson and many of his men, and captured the post, but it was retaken shortly afterwards by the 101st. Bengal Fusiliers led by Colonel Salusbury. On November 18th. there was more severe fighting, and on the next day, the enemy, reinforced by tribesmen from Swat, Bonair, and other places, made repeated and desperate attempts to recapture the “Crag Picket,” which was held by 200 men of the 101st. Fusiliers and 20th. Punjaub Infantry. After a hard struggle for four hours the defenders were driven out, and for the third time the “Crag Picket” fell into the hands of the enemy. In this affair two officers and a large number of men were killed. General Chamberlain ordered the 71st. Highlanders to the front, which regiment, led by himself and Colonel Hope, without a check, carried the position at the point of the bayonet, and held it; but both the leaders were severely wounded in the conflict. General Chamberlain being thus disabled, General Garvock took the command, advanced against the enemy, captured and burnt the village of Laloo, and drove the tribesmen back into their valleys.

On December 16th. the troops descended from the hills, destroyed the village of Umbeyla, and offered battle to their opponents on level ground. Most of them declined the encounter, but a body of 250 Ghazees made a frantic charge on the column, and were slain to a man, and with this action the Umbeyla expedition came to an end.[146] In this brief but sharp campaign of two months, 19 officers and 238 men were killed, and 47 officers, and 670 men wounded. For his services General Chamberlain was created a K.C.B. The British regiments employed in these operations were the 1st. Battalion 7th. Fusiliers, 71st., 93rd., and 101st. Fusiliers.

BHOOTAN.
1864–65–66.

Bhootan is situated in the north-east of India, and comprises the almost unknown and mountainous region lying between the Himalayas and the British Provinces. The inhabitants are a different race from all others in Hindostan, and apparently of Mongolian origin. They profess Buddhism, and are ruled by a temporal and spiritual Governor, known as the Deb and Dhurma Rajahs. The Dhurma Rajah has the most extensive power, and is always a member of the priesthood. The Bhootanese had made raids into British territory for years, and refusing to release their captives or to agree to any terms of pacification, the Indian Government determined to annex a portion of their frontier and to put an end to their outrages for the future. In November, 1864, a field force was organised in three columns, under the command of Brigadier Mulcaster, who operated on the right from the Assam frontier, and Brigadier Dunsford, C.B., who crossed the Teesta river and advanced on the left. On December 3rd. General Dunsford pushed up the Ambiok Valley and captured the post of Dhalimcote, with trifling loss. Another place called Chamoorchee, containing a monastery full of sacred books, was assaulted and taken on the 1st. of January, 1865. In the meantime a column under Colonel Watson had marched across the Dooar and taken possession of a fort called Buxa, and General Dunsford having established posts at the foot of the hills, and completed his arrangements for the annexation of the country lying between Dhalimcote and the frontier near Darjeeling, returned to his camp in the plains. The force under General Mulcaster, crossed the Brahmapootra, advanced up the Darungah Pass and captured the important hill post of Dewangiri at its summit. This place contained three great temples, situated on a ridge nearly 2000 feet above the level of the plains below. A small garrison was left in possession and the annexation of the Dooars was erroneously supposed to be completed.

The Government had issued orders for the breaking up of the Dooar Field Force early in February, and arrangements were made for the civil rule of the newly annexed territory, in districts, by deputy-commissioners. But all this time the Bhootanese had been actively preparing for a general attack upon the whole line of posts from Chamoorchee to Dewangiri. Before daybreak on the morning of January 30th a furious attack was made on the garrison of the latter place; but Colonel Campbell, in command, as soon as the enemy could be seen, charged upon and routed them. The Bhootanese though repulsed, harassed the garrison by destroying their supply of water, and at length established themselves at the mouth of the Darungah Pass, cutting off Campbell’s communication with Assam. The garrison, not being strong enough to dislodge the enemy, and being also short of ammunition, Colonel Campbell evacuated his post in the night,[147] and after many difficulties and dangers reached head-quarters. Buxa, and the other posts were attacked in a similar manner, but in most cases the Bhootanese were beaten off, and the garrisons as far as possible strengthened. The 55th. regiment, with some companies of the 80th., and two batteries of Royal Artillery were ordered to the front, and with some regiments of Punjaub Infantry marched for the north-east frontier, under the command of Brigadier-General Tombs, V.C., and Brigadier Fraser Tytler. On March 15th., the latter officer with his brigade recaptured Balla, and Buxa and Chamoorchee a few days afterwards, with small loss. The brigade under General Tombs marched to recapture Dewangiri, fighting their way through passes which the enemy had fortified with stockades. The troops arrived before the place on April 1st., and Dewangiri was carried by storm the next morning. Being untenable during the rainy season, the buildings were destroyed, and on April 7th. the force began its return to India. General Tytler fixed his head-quarters at Gowhatti, and a series of posts were established from Lower Assam to Darjeeling, which for the time effectually curbed the Bhootanese. But though defeated they were not subdued, and in 1866 the Indian Government assembled a force of about 7000 men, to enter Bhootan in two columns, and to thoroughly reduce the inhabitants to submission. The troops had scarcely commenced their march, when the Deb Rajah of Bhootan, overawed by these preparations, granted all that was demanded of him, and concluded a treaty with Colonel Bruce, the civil commissioner. The British troops that took part in these operations were Royal Artillery, the 55th. and 80th. Regiments.

LOOSHAI.
DECEMBER, 1871–FEBRUARY, 1872.

The Looshais, a predatory tribe inhabiting the hilly country to the north-east of Chittagong, had long been a trouble to the Indian Government. Their constant raids on villages under British protection,[148] which they plundered and destroyed, was the cause of an expedition being sent against them in December, 1871. A force of three regiments, with Artillery and Sappers, and a Coolie Corps, under the command of General Bourchier, operated from Cachar, and a smaller column, under General Brownlow, from Chittagong. The enemy, armed with old muskets, bows and arrows, spears, and knives, showed a bold front, and their mode of fighting in their dense jungles and trackless hills was much in their favour.

But General Bourchier steadily advanced among steep and wooded hills, by rugged paths winding along the face of precipices, capturing village after village by storm, and destroying them with the stores of grain they contained, till the Looshais begged for a cessation of hostilities. This was granted, but the enemy suddenly resumed the offensive, and after a few more skirmishes, in one of which the General was wounded, the stronghold of Poiboi, the Looshai leader, situated on a hill 8,500 feet in height, was taken and burnt; and the head men of the tribe agreed unconditionally to the terms of peace dictated to them by General Bourchier.

The column returned to Cachar in March, 1872, and was broken up.[149] No British troops were engaged in this affair, but the medal and clasp were given to the Native regiments and their European officers.

PERAK.
NOVEMBER, 1875–MARCH, 1876.

Perak is situated on the west side of the Malay peninsula, to the south of the Wellesley Province. Being the scene of almost constant strife between the Chinese and Malays, which often disturbed the peace of the adjoining British territory, culminating in a civil war between claimants to the succession as Sultan, Col. Sir W. D. Jervois, Governor of the Straits Settlements, in 1875, accepted a surrender of the sovereignty from Ismail, one of the claimants, and appointed Mr. W. J. Birch, as British Resident in Perak. For some time all went on well, but in November, Ismail, weary of the restraint of the Resident, and intending to seize the throne for himself, attacked the Residency at the head of a band of maurauders, tore down the British flag, and murdered Mr. Birch in his bath, afterwards shamefully mutilating his body. Most of the native rajahs joined Ismail, and an attack on a stockade held by one of them, by Captain Innes, R.E., with a handful of the 10th. regiment and some Sepoys, was repulsed, and Innes himself killed.

The news of this disaster reaching Singapore, General Colborne, with about three hundred men of the 80th. regiment, set out at once for Perak; artillery was sent from Calcutta, and a squadron consisting of the “Modeste” corvette, and the gunboats “Thistle,” “Fly,” and “Ringdove,” came from Hong Kong. An advance was made up the Perak river by a small party of troops, and a Naval Brigade under Captain Whitlaw of the 10th. regiment, and Commander Stirling, of H.M.S. “Thistle,” which captured and destroyed the fortified village of Passir Sala, the hold of the Maharajah Lela, and with other things gained possession of six guns, a quantity of small arms, and Mr. Birch’s books and papers.

General Colborne, commanding in Perak, on hearing that Ismail and Lela were at a town called Kinta, marched through the dense jungle against them, storming stockades in his route, and capturing Kinta, which he occupied with his troops. Ismail and the Maharajah fled into the jungle.

On January 4th, 1876, Brigadier-General Ross, with a column composed chiefly of a detachment of the 3rd. Buffs and Goorkhas, attacked and stormed Kotah Lama, the stronghold of the Malays, but in the affair Major Hawkins was killed. Kotah Lama, which contained large stores of rice, was burned, and the troops returned to Qualla Kangsa. On the 19th. Ismail was attacked and routed with loss, seventeen elephants with all his baggage being taken; and after much wandering in the jungle, on March 22nd. he himself was captured and sent to Singapore.

The war was ended, and Perak has since remained under British protection. The success of these operations were greatly due “to the aid given by the Naval Brigades[150] as rocket and gun parties, and in managing the country boats, which alone could be used.”

The British troops engaged were: Royal Artillery, 1st. Battalion of the 3rd. Buffs, and detachments of the 10th. and 80th. regiments.

JOWAKI.
1877–78.

The disturbances in the Malay Peninsular were scarcely settled when the Indian Government was compelled to despatch an expedition against the Jowakis, a ferocious tribe of the Afridis, occupying the hills on the Afghan border to the west of the Indus. During the months of October and November, 1877, they swept down from their mountains on the plains below, slaughtered the inhabitants, burnt their villages, and carried away their cattle and property. In one of these raids they had the daring to attack a detachment of troops guarding stores near the frontier, though a few months previously they had been severely chastised by a small force sent against them under Sir R. Pollock. To put an end to these continued incursions, and to reduce these freebooters to submission, a regular force was organised under the command of Generals Keyes and Ross, the former being Brigadier. General Keyes with the main body advanced through the defiles, attacked the Jowakis, destroyed their crops and walled villages, and blew up many of their fortified towers. On the 1st of December he reached Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the tribe; a town situated in a fertile and cultivated valley, watered by a fine stream. The town was captured with trifling loss, the Jowakis being taken by surprise, abandoned their goods and dwellings and fled to the mountains. Here General Keyes for a while halted, while the troops scoured the adjacent valleys, taking away the cattle and burning the villages.

About the end of January, 1878, the head men of the Jowakis came into the camp and made overtures for peace; but on learning the terms on which it would be granted, declined to accept them, and withdrew. Hostilities were resumed, and on February 15th., a body of troops, consisting almost entirely of cavalry, inflicted a crushing defeat on the tribesmen, which effectually dispersed them, and resulted in their unconditional surrender. The British regiments employed in this expedition were the 9th. and 51st. Foot, and 4th. Battalion Rifle Brigade.

NAGA.
1875–1880.

In January, 1875, a party of about seventy Sepoys and Coolies, under the command of Lieutenant Holcombe, were sent by the Indian Government to survey a wild tract of country in the north-east part of Assam, inhabited by the Nagas, an uncivilized race, whose name is derived from _Nag_, the Hindustani word for a snake. As their name implies, these people are very treacherous, and regardless of human life; but theft they regard with detestation. Clothing they entirely dispense with, but fantastically tattoo their totally naked bodies. A premeditated and sudden attack was made by them on the surveying party, and Lieutenant Holcombe, and the whole of his men were killed on the spot, or severely wounded. A force, under Colonel Nuthall, was at once dispatched to punish the tribe for this massacre, and after seven days’ march the troops reached the jungle-covered hills of the Nagas. There was very little fighting, and with the loss of one man, the villages and stores of grain of the enemy were destroyed, and their flocks and cattle captured. The effects of this lesson lasted for a long time, but about the close of the year 1879, the Nagas, of Konoma, renewed their outrages, and murdered Mr. Damant, the political agent in charge of the Naga Hills, and were again severely chastised in January, 1880, by a column commanded by Brigadier-General Nation.

No European troops were engaged in either of these expeditions, but the medal and clasp were given to the Native regiments employed, and their British officers.

BURMA.
1885–87, AND 1887–89.

The relations between the Indian Government and Burma had for some time been unsatisfactory, but in 1885, Thebaw, the despotic and extravagant King of Burma, finding his treasury exhausted, in an endeavour to replenish it, entered into fruitless negotiations with the French. He then began to extort money on different pretexts from the “Bombay and Burma Trading Company,” and on the agents of the Company refusing to pay the blackmail demanded from them, they were harassed and plundered, and at last fired upon by some of the King’s troops. Remonstrances having proved to be useless, the British representative was instructed to break off the negotiations, and an ultimatum was presented to the King, which embodied the British demands, one of them being that a British agent should be received at Mandalay. Thebaw replied by a proclamation, in which he stated that the British had made ridiculous proposals which he could not accept, and called on his subjects to fight in defence of their country and religion. He further declared his intention to conquer and annex the country of the “barbarians.”

An expeditionary force was dispatched to Burma under the command of General Prendergast, who arrived at Thayetmyo November 14th. A British proclamation declaring the dethronement of King Thebaw was issued to the Burmese people, and the first hostile act was the capture of one of the King’s war vessels by two armed launches from H.M.S. “Turquoise,” after a smart encounter. General Prendergast advanced up the Irrawaddy, and on November 16th. shelled a position which the Burmese had fortified on the left bank of the river, and which they abandoned on the landing of the troops. Next day, another position at Minhla, was attacked and carried by storm, after a contest of three hours, by three regiments of Native Infantry, with small loss, and General Prendergast marched for Mandalay.[151] On November 26th. he reached Ava when he was met by an envoy from Thebaw, requesting an armistice, and terms of peace. The General replied that the only terms he could offer were the surrender of the King, his army, and Mandalay.

The following day the messenger returned with orders from Thebaw to accede to all demands. Ava at once surrendered, the garrison laid down their arms, and on November 28th. Mandalay was occupied by the British troops without opposition. The day after, the King surrendered to General Prendergast at Mandalay, and with his queen, and about seventy members of his court, was put on board a steamer and sent to Rangoon. Soon after he was removed to a place of security in British India, and on January 1st., 1886, Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India, announced the annexation of Upper Burma to the British Empire.

But Burma for a long time continued in a very unsettled state. The regular Burmese army for the most part had been disarmed, but swarms of “dacoits,” or native insurgents, spread over the country, and encounters between them and the British troops were of constant occurrence. A few weeks after the annexation there were skirmishes with dacoits at Sagaing and Kaddoo; and in April a daring attempt was made to burn Mandalay, the town being fired in four places, and the walled city in two. Hundreds of houses were destroyed, and the incendiaries escaped with little loss. The same month, a small force of two hundred men, under Captain Wace, had a sharp encounter with dacoits, near Bhamo, and was obliged to retreat; and on June 12th. in an affair at Salen, Captain Durnford of the 8th. King’s regiment, was killed. On the 26th. of the same month, in an engagement near Mingyan, Lieutenant Shubrick was slain; and on July 19th., Lieutenant King, with a detachment of the Welsh Fusiliers, at Shwebo, attacked and defeated a body of eight hundred insurgents with loss, taking one hundred and eighteen prisoners.

General Sir Herbert Macpherson, V.C., who had succeeded General Prendergast in the chief command in Burma, died of fever at Prome, October 20th., and General Sir F. Roberts proceeded from India and took the command.

During the month of November there was some sharp fighting. Colonel Lockhart assaulted and captured the camp of an insurgent chief, called the Kemendine Prince, who escaped; and on the 22nd., Colonel Holt of the 2nd. Queen’s regiment, attacked and carried the strong Burmese position of Puzan Myang, at the point of the bayonet, the Burmese leader being among the slain.

On New Year’s day, 1887, a party commanded by Major Jeffreys, Connaught Rangers, attacked the Kemendine Prince at Meiktela, killing him and forty of his followers, but the desultory warfare still continued. Another dacoit leader, called Boshway, gave considerable trouble. His camp was attacked and captured by a party under Captain Golightly, 60th. Rifles on January 30th., but Boshway and most of his men escaped. His good fortune at length deserted him.

In the month of October following, Major Harvey, 24th. regiment, with a party of Mounted Infantry, after a forced march of fifty miles, made a sudden dash on his camp, killed Boshway and dispersed his band. The same month, Major Kennedy, Hyderabad Contingent, and Captain Beville, Assistant Commissioner, were killed while leading an attack upon a village occupied by dacoits. During the whole of the succeeding year, 1888, this guerrilla warfare was carried on, and the British troops were worn out by incessant skirmishing, and the privations they endured in scouring fever-haunted jungles in pursuit of dacoits, often with but little success. At the end of the year a small force of one hundred Mounted Infantry, one hundred of the Rifle Brigade, and about three hundred Native Infantry and Sappers, commanded by Brigadier-General Collett, was sent against a tribe called the Red Karens, who with their chief Sawlapaw had given much trouble. On January 9th., 1889, Sawlon, the chief town of the Karens, was captured, and Sawlapaw fled. In the same month, Lieutenant W. H. Nugent in a daring attempt to carry a dacoit stockade, with but sixteen men of the 17th. Regiment, was killed.

About the end of January, a column composed of a company of the 37th. regiment, and three hundred Sikhs and Goorkhas with two guns, was despatched against the Kachyins and Lepu tribes, in the north-east of Upper Burma. After some weeks of toilsome marching and skirmishing, Khama, the chief town of the Lepu tribe was captured and destroyed, and the troops returned.

Upper Burma is still far from being in a quiescent state, and affairs with dacoits and hill tribes seem to be almost perpetual.

The European regiments which served in Burma[152] in 1885–87 were Royal Artillery, 2nd. Queen’s, 8th. King’s, 13th. Somersetshire, 21st. Fusiliers, 23rd. Welsh Fusiliers, 24th. South Wales Borderers, 51st. Yorkshire, 67th. Hampshire, 104th. Munster Fusiliers and Rifle Brigade. In 1887–89—Royal Artillery, 9th. Norfolk, 17th. Leicester, 37th. Hampshire and Rifle Brigade. The Native troops in the Expedition were—4th. Punjaub, 81st. Bombay Mountain Batteries, 7th. Bengal Cavalry, 1st. Madras and 1st. Bombay Lancers, 3rd. Hyderabad and 2nd. Madras Cavalry, eight companies Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Sappers and Miners, 1st., 2nd., 5th., 11th., 12th., 13th., 15th., 16th., 18th., 26th., 27th., and 43rd. Bengal Infantry, 3rd. Goorkhas, 1st. Madras Pioneers; 3rd., 12th., 13th., 15th., 16th., 17th., 21st., 23rd., 25th., and 27th. Madras Infantry, 2nd. and 3rd. Hyderabad Infantry, 1st., 5th., 7th., 23rd., 25th., and 27th. Bombay Infantry.

SIKKIM.
1888.

The Thibetians having been for some time endeavouring to annex Sikkim, a state lying between Nepaul and Bhootan, on the south-eastern slope of the Himalayas; and treating the remonstrances of the Indian Government as evidences of want of courage and ability to encounter them; in March, 1888, a field force was organised to expel them from the state, and bring the dispute to a conclusion. The force consisted of two companies of the 95th., 2nd. Derbyshire, 32nd. Bengal Pioneers, Goorkhas, etc.; in all about 2000 men, commanded by Colonel T. Graham, R.A. The operations lasted from March, with but little result, to September 24th, when Colonel Graham attacked the Thibetan army of nearly 10,000 men, posted on the Tukola Ridge, and completely routed it. Colonel Sir B. Bromhead was wounded, and the total loss of the victors was very small. This engagement practically ended the Thibetan campaign. A bronze medal and clasp, similar to that in silver issued to the troops, was given to all recognised followers who accompanied them.

HAZARA.
1888.

The operations against the Thibetans were not finished, when an expedition was despatched against the fierce and warlike tribe of the Azokais, inhabiting the Black Mountain, a range lying to the north of Hazara, between the Indus and Cashmere. The tribesmen had been severely punished for their raids, and their villages burnt, by a force commanded by General Sir Thomas Wilde, in October, 1868,[153] which reduced them to sue for peace, and to give hostages for their good behaviour in the future. For many years they remained quiet, but on June 18th., 1888, a body of them attacked a surveying party under Major Battye and Captain Urmston, and massacred the two officers with several of their followers. To chastise the tribe for this outrage, the Hazara, or Black Mountain Field Force, comprising the 15th. Bengal Cavalry, a detachment of Royal Artillery, and a Hazara Mountain Battery, 5th. Northumberland Fusiliers, 18th. Royal Irish, 12th. Suffolk, 107th. Sussex, 78th. Highlanders, 2nd., 3rd., 14th., and 45th. Sikhs, 5th. Goorkhas, 4th., 24th., and 29th. Punjaub Infantry, 34th. Pioneers, and 40th. Bengal Native Infantry, about 8000 men, all told, commanded by Major-General McQueen, and Brigadier-Generals Channer, V.C., and Galbraith, made an entrance into the enemy’s country on October 3rd. Two days afterwards General McQueen encountered and defeated the mountaineers near Surmulbutspur, with the loss of Captain Beley, killed, and Colonel Crookshank, who died of wounds received in the action. On November 2nd., a column under General Channer, principally composed of the Northumberland Fusiliers and Khyberees, assaulted and carried the Gorapher Peak, 9,500 feet above the level of the sea, the most elevated position ever carried by British troops, with the loss of one man killed and one wounded. Convinced of the uselessness of further resistance, on November 5th., the tribesmen unconditionally submitted, and the troops commenced their return march to Oghi.

CHIN-LUSHAI.
1889–90.

The tribes inhabiting the Chin Hills and the Lushai country situated between our Indian and Burmese frontier, had for some years occasionally made incursions into British territory, culminating, on February 3rd., 1888, in an attack on a surveying party under Lieutenant Stewart, 100th. Leinster, in which that officer and two of his men were killed, after a gallant resistance. A punitive expedition was formed, which was divided into two columns, one operating from Burmah against the Chin tribes, under Brigadier-General Symons, in chief command; and the other, commanded by Brigadier Tregear, advanced from Chittagong against the Lushais in November, 1889. The tribesmen made feeble opposition, but as the troops were unprovided with tents, owing to the difficulty of transport, they suffered very severely from sickness, both Europeans and Natives; the Punjaub Coolies suffering most of all. The jungle, through which the troops had to make roads, was very unhealthy; a dense greenish mist being almost always prevalent, and the vegetation soaking wet. During the month of February some skirmishes took place, and a stockade or two was captured, but the natural difficulties of the country, and the climate, were the greatest obstacles to the expedition. The villages and crops of the tribes being destroyed, and they, finding the troops gradually closing in around them on all sides, and roads made through places they had regarded as impassable, grew disheartened and anxious for peace. Their chiefs hastened to tender their submission, and two of them who had been implicated in the attack on the party of Lieutenant Stewart, surrendered (on the assurance that their lives would be spared), and restored the head of that unfortunate officer, with the guns and instruments they had taken in their raid.

A strong fort was erected in a position which commanded the adjacent country, and being connected with posts garrisoned by the Frontier Police, would render hostile incursions by the tribes almost impossible in the future. On April 30th., 1890, the expeditionary force was broken up, having been completely successful. The only European troops employed were: 1st. Battalion 22nd. Cheshire, and 1st. Battalion 25th. Scottish Borderers, in the Burma column.

The officers and men who had already gained the Indian Medal, received the clasp only, inscribed “Chin-Lushai, 1889–90,” and a bronze medal and clasp was given to the authorised Government followers who accompanied the troops.

SAMANA.
1891.

Another expedition against the Meeranzies, who were severely chastised by Sir Neville Chamberlain in 1855, was dispatched from Kohat, April 5th., 1891, under the command of Sir W. Lockhart. The tribesmen were defeated with severe loss at Mastaon, and reduced to submission. The operations were perfectly successful, but the British loss was greater than usual in these frontier expeditions, upwards of one hundred men, including five European and three Native officers, being killed and wounded. Some Native regiments were left to garrison Samana, and the tribes who had recently been fighting against us, readily brought in grass and supplies.

The 1st. Battalion 60th. Rifles, and 96th. Manchester regiment were the only European troops engaged in this expedition, which was ended May 25th., 1891. A bronze medal, as usual, was given to all authorised Government followers of the troops.

THE CRIMEAN MEDAL AND CAMPAIGN.
1854–56.

In December, 1854, the Queen was pleased to command that a medal, bearing the word “Crimea,” with an appropriate device, should be conferred on all the officers, non-commissioned officers, and private soldiers of Her Majesty’s Army, who had been engaged in the arduous and brilliant campaign in the Crimea; and that clasps, with the words “Alma” or “Inkermann” thereon, were to be also awarded to such as were present in either of those battles. In February, 1855, Her Majesty granted a clasp for the action at Balaklava, and in October following, a clasp inscribed “Sebastopol” was added to the Crimean medal, and was awarded to all present between the 1st. of October, 1854, the day on which the Army sat down before the place, and the 9th. of September, 1855, when the town was taken. Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, and Sebastopol, are, therefore, the services to be most prominently described, as they are commemorated not only by the clasps above referred to, but likewise by inscriptions authorized by Royal Authority to be borne on the Regimental Colours of the corps entitled thereto; those having no standards or colours bearing these distinctions on their cap or helmet-plates, and Rifle Regiments on their breast-plates and cap-plates. The following are the Regiments in question:—

ALMA.—4 Light Dragoons; 8, 11 Hussars; 13 Light Dragoons; 17 Lancers; Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Fusilier Guards; 1, 4, 7, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, 30, 33, 38, 41, 42, 44, 47, 49, 50, 55, 63, 68, 77, 79, 88, 93, and 95 Foot; Rifle Brigade.

The Crimean Medal.
]

BALAKLAVA.—4, 5 Dragoon Guards; 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 17 Dragoons; 93 Foot.

INKERMANN.—4 Light Dragoons; 8, 11 Hussars; 13 Light Dragoons; 17 Lancers; Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Fusilier Guards; 1, 4, 7, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, 30, 33, 38, 41, 44, 47, 49, 50, 55, 57, 63, 68, 77, 88, and 95 Foot; Rifle Brigade.

SEBASTOPOL.—1, 4, 5, 6 Dragoon Guards; 1, 2, 4, 6 Dragoons; 8, 10, 11 Hussars; 12 Lancers; 13 Light Dragoons; 17 Lancers; Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Fusilier Guards; 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 38, 39, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 56, 57, 62, 63, 68, 71, 72, 77, 79, 82, 88, 89, 90, 93, 95, and 97 Foot; Rifle Brigade.

Two companies of the 46th., which preceded the Regiment, were present at Alma and Inkermann, and obtained medals for those victories, but the head-quarters and remainder of the corps did not arrive until the day following the last-named battle, and therefore did not receive these inscriptions for the colours. Six officers and two hundred and twenty-five men were granted the medal for the first-named battle, and six officers and two hundred and one men obtained the clasp for Inkermann.

The Crimean medal, designed by W. Wyon, has on its obverse the effigy of Her Majesty, from the die of the Peninsular medal, with the legend “Victoria Regina,” and in the exergue, the date 1854; the reverse has a figure of Fame about to place a wreath upon the brows of a stalwart hero, in classic military costume, bearing a round shield on his left arm, on which is shown the British Lion, with the word “Crimea” on the right of the figure. The ribbon is of pale blue with yellow edges. The clasps are of silver, with acorn ornaments, and severally inscribed “Alma,” “Balaklava,” “Inkermann,” and “Sebastopol.” The name and regiment of recipient are indented or engraved on the edge of the medal. A special clasp for “Azoff” was issued to the Navy, and the Marines received medals with clasps for “Balaklava,” “Inkermann,” and “Sebastopol.” The medal was also given to a selection of the French, Sardinian, and Turkish troops engaged in the campaign.

THE BATTLE OF THE ALMA.
20TH. SEPTEMBER, 1854.

Lord John Russell’s memorable words in the House of Commons, on the 17th. of February, 1854, “May God defend the right,” like those of Nelson, “England expects every man this day will do his duty,” had an electrical effect, and made the country nerve itself for the approaching contest, which, for some time threatening, shortly afterwards commenced. The nation sympathized with the efforts of the Turks, under their distinguished commander, Omar Pasha, and after the terrible massacre at Sinope, hostilities became inevitable.

Before the end of February the Guards and other regiments had embarked for the East, the Queen, from the Balcony of Buckingham Palace, bidding the former farewell. Each regiment as it marched for the port of embarkation, was greeted with hearty and sympathetic cheers, which showed the popular opinion in favour of the coming struggle. Lord Raglan, so long the Military Secretary of the great Duke of Wellington, and afterwards the Master General of the Ordnance, was appointed to the command of the British Forces destined for the East.

The official declaration of war appeared in the London Gazette, on the 28th. of March, and that of the Emperor of the French, the ally of England, was published simultaneously. The first place of rendezvous was Malta, and thence the troops proceeded to Gallipoli and Scutari, and subsequently to Varna, which was reached towards the end of June. After the gallant defence of Silistria, and the repulse of the Russians, in which Captain James Armar Butler, Ceylon Rifle Regiment, and Lieutenant Charles Nasmyth, Bombay Artillery, as volunteers, so highly distinguished themselves, and where the former, with the brave Turkish commander, Mousso Pasha, met a soldier’s death, Turkey became no longer in danger of invasion, and the allied armies, being released from supporting by their presence the valour of the Ottoman troops;—the expedition to the Crimea was determined upon.

On Thursday, the 7th. of September, 1854, the fleet conveying the allied army, sailed from Baldjick Bay, whither the troops had proceeded from Varna, for the Crimea. Cholera still prevailed, but the voyage materially improved the health of the soldiers. The British troops consisted of one thousand one hundred cavalry, three thousand one hundred artillery, and twenty-two thousand five hundred and ninety infantry; making a total, of all arms, of twenty-six thousand eight hundred men. The French troops, under the command of Marshal St. Arnaud, amounted to nearly the same numbers, namely, twenty-six thousand five hundred and twenty-six, which, with seven thousand Turks, under Selim Pasha, attached thereto, made an aggregate force of sixty thousand three hundred men, with one hundred and thirty-two guns, of which sixty-five pieces of ordnance belonged to the British Siege Train. The general rendezvous was the Isle of Serpents, whence, on the 11th. of September, the expedition proceeded direct to its destination, and two days afterwards the fleets halted in the Bay of Eupatoria. The occupation of Eupatoria was gained without resistance, and the same night the fleet sailed for Kalamita Bay, and anchored at 8 a.m. on the 14th., at the position near Old Fort, distant about eighteen miles south of Eupatoria, which had been ultimately selected as the point of debarkation.

The soldiers of No. 1 company of the 23rd. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, under Major Lysons and Lieutenant Drewe, were the first British troops that landed in the Crimea. Some arabas having been seen in the distance, this party was at once dispatched by Brigadier-General Airey, Quartermaster-General, in pursuit of them; after marching some distance they got within reach of the waggons, and fired a few shots at the Cossack escort who were endeavouring to save them. These horsemen forthwith galloped off, leaving fourteen arabas full of fire-wood and fruit, with their drivers and bullocks; this was the commencement of the Land Transport of the Army.

No opposition was offered to the landing, which was effected without any casualties or accidents, save a few horses drowned. The weather, which had been fine, changed; in the afternoon it rained, and at night the troops on shore were deluged, rain coming down in such torrents as could scarcely be surpassed even in India. With morning the clouds cleared away, and a bright sunshine made amends for the past night, and the trials of the first bivouac in the Crimea.