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JOURNAL 
 
 A SUBALTERN 
 
PRINTED KY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH, 
 
LEAVES FROM THE JOURNAL 
 
 A SUBALTERN 
 
 THE CAMPAIGN IN THE PUNJAUB 
 
 SEPT. 1848 TO MARCH 1849 
 
 WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS 
 
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON 
 
 MDCCCXLIX 
 
.DS477 
 •63 
 
 S3 
 
 MBNRY MORSE STEPHENS 
 
ac_ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The following pages have already in part ap- 
 peared in the Times newspaper, and are now 
 presented more at large, and in a separate form, 
 in compliance with the wishes of some, w T ho had 
 read them with interest in the columns of that 
 journal. 
 
 It is hoped that the importance of the lead- 
 ing events recorded, and the fresh renown 
 which these have added to the British arms, 
 will be deemed to justify the publication of 
 even so slight an attempt to illustrate them ; 
 while the fact that this was written without 
 any view to the press, and, from the nature of 
 the case, is published without the youthful 
 
11 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 writer's privity, will secure the kind indulgence 
 of the reader. 
 
 May the same grace be accorded to a Father, 
 when he expresses his sense of the mercy that 
 has exempted his own house from sorrows 
 which at this time press so heavily on others. 
 While in the act of tracing these lines, he has 
 received from a bereaved parent a memorial of 
 one — the gallant comrade of his own boy — who 
 died on the field of Goojerat. May the Almighty 
 Himself assuage the anguish He thus permits ; 
 and in the hour of our national successes, may 
 we never be oblivious of the blood which pur- 
 chased them, or, amidst our domestic gratula- 
 tions, of the mourning relatives of our Hero- 
 Dead. 
 
 June 16, 1849. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. MARCH TO RAMNUGGUR, . 
 
 II. BATTLE OF RAMNUGGUR, . 
 
 III. CROSSING THE CHENAB, . 
 
 IV. BATTLE OF CHILIANWALLA, 
 V. CAMP AT RUSSOOL, . 
 
 VI. BATTLE OF GOOJERAT, 
 
 VII. MARCH TO ATTOCK AND PESHAWUR, 
 
 1 
 
 55 
 
 73 
 
 94 
 
 126 
 
 142 
 
 195 
 
THE 
 
 JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 MARCH FROM SUBHATOO TO RAMNUGGUR. 
 
 Subhatoo. Sept 20, 1848.— Ordered to 
 inarch. All hurry, bustle, and confusion. 
 Half of us haven't got tents — none of us have 
 got any money — every one is in a whirl of 
 excitement. Words cannot express the trouble, 
 worry, and annoyance of a start ; the procur- 
 ing carriage — settling accounts — paying ser- 
 vants — hunting for a tent, for at present I 
 have nothing but a hat to cover me — raising a 
 little money for the march — writing letters — 
 
 A 
 
 / 
 
2 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 paying farewell visits — in fact, I am in a state 
 of mind bordering on distraction. The news 
 from Mooltan is, that Shere Singh has gone 
 over to the enemy with seven thousand men ; 
 and therefore General Whish was obliged to 
 retreat fourteen miles from the town, to where 
 he has intrenched himself. There has been an 
 attempt at a massacre at Lahore, while Major 
 Lawrence is in an awkward state of siege in 
 Peshawur. Kote Kongra, a hill fort, is also 
 reported to have been taken by four thousand 
 Sikhs. The folly of trusting to these newly- 
 raised troops is now evident ; the only force 
 in the place was half a Sikh regiment. 
 
 Sept. 24. — At daybreak the reveillee sounded, 
 and we all formed up in front of the barracks, 
 gave three cheers for Mooltan, and then set out 
 on our march, the band playing, of course, 
 " The girls we left behind us ; " marched to 
 Kassowlie to breakfast. Staid at Kassowlie 
 till half-past three, and then marched down 
 to Kalka, where we arrived at dark, after a 
 march of twenty miles ; dined thirty-five in 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 3 
 
 the mess-tent, and slept in an empty one 
 which I happily found ; woke in the middle 
 
 of the night by , who walks in his sleep, 
 
 pulling me out by the heels, and insisting 
 I was in his bed. These rascally Sikhs took 
 two prisoners of the 10th Queen's, and hung 
 them up before our pickets, who were too 
 weak to attempt any rescue. Young Lloyd 
 also, a poor ensign, who advanced before his 
 party to parley, was treacherously set on, 
 and cut to pieces. There will be fearful ven- 
 geance taken for all this, if we get the better 
 of them ; not a man would be spared by our 
 infuriated soldiers, in a case like this. They 
 say we shall require six more European regi- 
 ments from Bombay, in addition to the force 
 already on its march towards the scene of 
 action. 
 
 Sept. 25. — Subaltern of the day. Up at day- 
 break, and inspected the provisions, and marched 
 off the guard ; spent the morning looking out 
 for a tent, and procuring carriage ; after a great 
 deal of trouble, got hold of two camels — no tent 
 
4 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 as yet. It is fearfully warm here at present, 
 about ninety-five degrees under cover. Took 
 a bathe in the afternoon at sunset ; went round 
 my guards ; posted sentries round the camp ; 
 went to mess ; round again at twelve, and 
 turned in. 
 
 Sept 26. — Up early and bathed. We have 
 not yet procured sufficient carriage for half the 
 camp, but hope to get off to-morrow ; went 
 out shooting in the morning, and saw nothing 
 but one quail, which I killed ; read all after- 
 noon, bathed again, went to mess, and then 
 retired to my tent — a sort of small canvass 
 covering which I managed to purchase cheap, 
 
 just room for 's bed and mine, not very 
 
 respectable or commodious, but good enough 
 for a subaltern. 
 
 Sept. 27. — At half-past one the bugles 
 sounded, and the camp, from a state of perfect 
 repose, was instantly all alive — drums beating, 
 mallets going, camels roaring, or groaning, or 
 whatever is the name of the unearthly noise 
 they make when disturbed. In half an hour 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 5 
 
 every tent was struck, and we stumbled through 
 the ground to join the column which was drawn 
 up in the road ; pitch-dark, and very close ; 
 marched along with our companies some way ; 
 then fell to the rear and mounted our horses, 
 and toiled along for about two hours and a 
 half, almost choked with dust, and nearly fall- 
 ing off our saddles every moment, from an over- 
 powering sensation of sleepiness. At last, day 
 broke, and we halted for a quarter of an hour, 
 while the men rested and had their grog. We 
 then proceeded, and another two hours brought 
 us into camp ; had a good wash and break- 
 fasted ; read all morning ; bathed, took a ride 
 on Deception in the evening over the plain — at 
 last I can take a free gallop without danger of 
 breaking my neck ; went to mess. The dak 
 came in at dinner-time ; no news, except that 
 Shere Singh is looked on with suspicion by 
 Moolraj, and as yet they have not coalesced ; 
 two brigades are on their way up from 
 Bombay. Went to bed early, and was 
 unwell during the night from the effects (I 
 
6 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 believe) of the bad water, which here is exe- 
 crable. 
 
 Sept. 28. — Obliged to halt, as we have not 
 yet been able to procure carriage for one 
 bazaar. Fresh disturbances have arisen ; the 
 dak is stopped ; the Patialah Rajah, who lies 
 right in our route, has risen with a large force. 
 What dependence is to be placed in a native ? 
 He was one in whom the government had great 
 confidence, and he held his territories as a fief, 
 being bound to furnish ten thousand men when 
 needed, which he fulfils by furnishing them 
 against us. 
 
 Sept. 29. — Up at one, marched at two ; no 
 one can imagine the discomfort of these first 
 three hours, stumbling along in the dark, 
 wrestling with an overpowering sensation of 
 sleep, in clouds of dust which nearly stifle you, 
 rendering nothing discernible but the tail of 
 the horse before you. Every now and then 
 Somnus gets the best of it, and over you lurch 
 on one side, and are brought up with the 
 muzzle of a musket in your eye ; or, riding 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 7 
 
 along unconscious of all around you, hear a 
 snort and a neigh, and bang go a pair of hind 
 legs into your horse's stomach, having got 
 cheek by jowl with the most vicious steed in 
 the regiment. At last day breaks, and you 
 halt for half an hour. Certainly the spectacle 
 that the regiment presents then, is not creditable ; 
 every man is powdered over with a thick coat 
 of fine dust, from his whiskers down to his 
 shoes — no recognisable colour about him ; all 
 are a uniform dirty hue, and hardly distinguish- 
 able from the sandy plain on which they stand, 
 or rather sink. At the halt the men get their 
 grog, (and they want it, poor fellows !) and the 
 officers assemble in groups and discuss sand- 
 wiches and coffee, or refresh themselves from 
 their flasks. I stretch my horse-cloth on the 
 ground, light my cheroot, and recline in a state 
 of blissful quiescence until the bugle sounds, 
 when we proceed on our march. Arrived 
 in our ground about seven, a sandy plain, 
 with not a vestige of herbage within sight ; 
 breakfasted, wrote journal, and went out shoot- 
 
8 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 ing ; wandered about all morning, but had no 
 luck; dined early. Heat awful — the thermo- 
 meter mounts to 100° in my tent at noon : 
 what would you think of that in England % One 
 dog went mad, and was shot instantly ; he 
 
 managed to bite on his hand, but, as he 
 
 applied burning instantly, no bad effects resulted. 
 Had a very pleasant ride in the evening on 
 Deception : took tea, a walk about the camp, 
 and then went to bed. 
 
 Sept 30. — Marched at half-past two ; got 
 into our ground at sunrise; breakfasted. Staid 
 at home in a state of perspiration till three, 
 when I went out shooting ; took tea alfresco, 
 went to bed ; no news ; forty men in hospital 
 since we left Subhatoo. 
 
 Sunday, Oct. 1. — Halted; heat oppressive 
 all day, at one time 110 in my tent ; however, 
 I got on very well, barring the inconvenience. 
 Here is nothing to do unfortunately, when we 
 cannot go out, there being only three books in 
 the camp. I write almost all day now, being 
 very fond of scribbling — not that I ever expect 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 9 
 
 to produce anything worth reading, but for my 
 own amusement. With what regret, on a day 
 like this, do I look back on our quiet Sundays 
 at home ! How different is everything here ; 
 Sunday is no day of rest in India. 
 
 Oct. 2. — Received a letter from the Mooltan 
 camp ; they are still confined to their intrench- 
 ments, and have continual skirmishes. They 
 say at Simlah that we are to form one of a 
 brigade under General Gilbert, and march 
 straight to the scene of action ; but we may, 
 after all, be sent to the Hazerah country, to 
 fight Chuttur Singh, who will, it is expected, 
 give us lots to do. The Chief says that he 
 does not expect that the campaign will be over 
 for sixteen months yet ; it will be hard if, in 
 that time, there fall not a little glory and prize- 
 money to our share. Eight hundred horse, 
 with one of the Sikh Sirdars, joined the enemy 
 the other day, and he promises one thousand 
 more. We marched this morning at four, a 
 short march of eight miles ; encamped at Bussi 
 Kusbi, in the centre of an arid plain as usual ; 
 
10 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 heat the same ; several of the officers ill. 
 Strolled out with my gun in the morning, but 
 found the heat too great, and returned ; spent 
 the day sighing for the breeze, and drinking 
 limes and water — profitable amusement you 
 will say. I likewise passed some time in 
 gazing on certain trees, in a certain picture in 
 my desk, and wishing myself under them, 
 which was also very profitable. Rode Wee 
 Pet in the evening ; took tea outside my tent ; 
 walked about the camp until nine, and then 
 retired. 
 
 Oct. 3. — Marched at three, thirteen miles ; 
 sand ankle-deep ; very hard work for the men, 
 but they went along beautifully ; got into our 
 ground at sunrise, breakfasted, and here I sit 
 in the mess-tent. The 4th N. I. are just one 
 march ahead of us in the same route. Too hot 
 to go out ; wrote all morning. 
 
 Oct. 4. — First bugle at half-past two,marched 
 at three ; five ladies in their palkees passed us on 
 the road, the fair inmates evidently on their 
 way down to a less troubled neighbourhood ; 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 1 I 
 
 encamped at Lusbi Khan ka Surae ; went out 
 with some grey -hounds in the evening, and had 
 a very fine course after a fawn. 
 
 Oct. 5. — Marched at three, twelve miles ; a 
 continued struggle through knee-deep sand ; 
 walked a good part of the way ; good exercise 
 for the muscles ; reached camp at sunrise, 
 breakfasted, and tried to get a little sleep — no 
 go — my tent is too hot for the balmy god; the 
 sun quite beats through it, and renders it un- 
 safe to stay in it without a hat. My bedstead 
 is sunk half-way up the legs in sand, and every- 
 thing in the tent is powdered over beautifully 
 with fine particles : how does that suit your 
 ideas of comfort \ Finding the sleep a failure, 
 I brought my desk into the mess-tent, and 
 
 indited an epistle to C , and wrote rhymes 
 
 till two, when I adjourned to my tent, and 
 luxuriated in a mussack of water. I should 
 like you just to have a look at our camp, as it 
 stands, to take away some of your Byron- 
 derived ideas of the beautiful East. We are 
 pitched on a hard ploughed field, each clod like 
 
12 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 a flint. Every man you see appears to be drunk, 
 from the impossibility of steering straight, or 
 walking without stumbling ; the weary camels 
 are lying in a variety of uncomfortable pos- 
 tures, lolling out their great tongues, and 
 pumping up the water from their intestine 
 wells, with a loud gurgling sound, very un- 
 pleasant to the ears. What Byron meant by 
 calling the camel mute, I can't imagine ; of all 
 the harsh, horrid, discordant, grating, beastly 
 noises I ever heard, the groans of a camel, 
 being loaded, are the worst. It commences 
 about half-past eight p.m., and lasts, all through 
 the camp, till you go to sleep, which one soon 
 learns to do under any circumstances in 
 India. 
 
 Well, so much for our ground ; now for the 
 surrounding country. Picture to yourself a 
 scene in the wilderness, all barren, bleak, and 
 sandy to the edge of the horizon, reflecting the 
 rays of the burning sun with a glaring heat 
 that almost puts your eyes out ; not a tree nor 
 bladed herbage in sight — nothing but some 
 
JOURXAL OF A SUBALTERN. 13. 
 
 scanty stunted shrubs, that make you hot to 
 look at them. Oh for the shade^of the scented 
 limes ! for the refreshing coolness of the even- 
 ing breeze, rich with the fragrance of the sleep- 
 ing flowers ! — and all that sort of thing — which 
 means, I wish I were out of this, and walking 
 up and down the long walk with my sisters ; 
 or what, to my shame be it spoken, I should 
 like a little better, playing cricket in the Lion's 
 Close. Not that I would give up the chance 
 of gaining a ribbon to wear in my button-hole 
 in the coming campaign. 
 
 Oct. 6. — Up at half-past two; marched at 
 three, twelve miles; got into Loodhiana at 
 sunrise, — beastly hole — nothing but sand. 
 Met the 4th N.I., the 70th, and the 8th 
 cavalry, and some artillery, all encamped here ; 
 staid in all morning; dined, and took a ride 
 about the place — nothing to be seen; sat up 
 till ten in the moonlight. They say here that 
 we are to be brigaded with the 29th and 98th 
 Queen's — if so, we shall form a beautiful Euro- 
 pean brigade; the 29th and 98th are splendid 
 
14 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 regiments, and very strong. The 9th Lancers, 
 and 3d and 14th Light Dragoons are to be 
 formed into a cavalry brigade : and with three 
 troops of horse artillery and two foot batteries, 
 these form the European portion of the rein- 
 forcements ; the rest will be made up with 
 native corps ad libitum. These are only on- 
 dits; at present nothing is very certain con- 
 cerning our future movements. 
 
 Oct. 7. — Marched at three; lost our way in 
 the dark, the advanced guard going one way, 
 and we the other; consequently the march, 
 instead of being ten miles, was about fifteen, 
 through heavy sand. The men were very much 
 knocked up; — walked most of the way, and 
 arrived in camp rather late. The accounts, in 
 the Delhi, from Mooltan, are not very satis- 
 factory: daily demonstrations; advances and 
 retreats; reconnoitring parties, attacks of the 
 picquets, videttes, and other manoeuvres ; but 
 no fighting on a decent scale. I wish those 
 two fools, Moolraj and Shere Singh, were not 
 at loggerheads. Fm afraid they will illus- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 15 
 
 trate the fable of the lion and the two bulls 
 — and we shan't get any fighting after all. 
 Moolraj's men are said to amount to 30,000 ; 
 if so, he is a fool not to attack at once. The 
 report of the capture of Kote Kongra was 
 one of the many panic-engendered lies which 
 now flit about in shoals, making a man 
 entirely undecided what to believe. 
 
 Forces are daily joining the enemy; the 
 whole Punjaub is inimical to us, and in case 
 of the least reverse, we should have them 
 about our ears like a swarm out of an upset 
 bee-hive. This state of suspense is very 
 vexatious; and we are rather afraid, too, on 
 account of the weakness of our numbers, of 
 being sent to garrison Jullundur : it would 
 make us frantic. Two ladies were stopped 
 in their palkees the other day, daking down 
 to Ferozepore — stripped of everything down 
 to their clothes, and turned back. The roads 
 are not safe, except to large parties. I staid 
 at home all day ; too hot to do anything ; 
 even eating was impossible. Went out with my 
 
16 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 gun in the evening down to the Sutledge; shot 
 a teal; had a pleasant walk along the banks; 
 numbers of fish leaping out of the water at 
 every step ; the river is very clear and rapid. 
 Close by here is the field of Aliwal, w r hich I shall 
 go out and see to-morrow evening. The ground 
 we are pitched on at present was the en- 
 camping place of the Sikh army. I had a 
 good walk, and came home to the camp as 
 the "Roast Beef" sounded: we always dine 
 late on the halt, but I stick to my early hours, 
 which I find much more wholesome. Had tea 
 
 with M outside; the evenings are very 
 
 pleasant now — beautiful clear moonlight, and 
 blue skies : even this scenery has its charms at 
 night, the bright moonshine glistening on the 
 white sand, and bathing it in a broad sheet of 
 boundless brightness. 
 
 Oct. 8, Sunday. — Had a good sleep to make 
 up for lost time ; staid in my tent all day ; rode 
 out in the evening to the field of Aliwal. No- 
 thing to be seen but a wide plain, and the 
 tomb of a young officer who fell there, and was 
 
J0UKNAL OF A SUBALTEKN. 17 
 
 buried on the spot. Took tea on my return, 
 and went to bed at ten. 
 
 Oct. 9. — Up at half-past two, and marched 
 at three ; road very heavy and dusty. No news, 
 except that they say that Shere Singh has left 
 Moolraj. After dinner, I had a gallop on 
 Deception down to the Sutledge. The river is 
 very rapid here, and there are lots of alligators 
 to be seen. The country is in a very bad state, 
 from the want of rain. The Rajah here says, 
 that, if they do not get some in a few days, 
 there will not be a man left in this part of 
 the country; all will have gone to the foot 
 of the hills, driving their cattle along with 
 them: in fact, there is a great dread of a 
 famine. The heat to-day was almost stifling : 
 out of curiosity I borrowed a thermometer, 
 and placed it in my tent ; immediately it 
 rose to a 110° — ten degrees hotter than it is 
 in the mess tent. Such a season has not been 
 known. 
 
 Oct. 10. — On duty. Started before the regi- 
 ment with the advanced guard ; marched along 
 
 B 
 
18 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 till daylight, and then waited for the corps. 
 Halted with them until it was time to take the 
 lead again, and then trudged on into camp ; 
 drew up the guard, piled arms, and waited 
 until the regiment passed; presented arms to 
 the Colonel, dismissed my men ; inspected the 
 provisions ; marched off the guard, saw the 
 ammunition packed, and went to breakfast. 
 Heat intense ; wrote part of the morning, put 
 a pillow under the mess-table, and slept the 
 rest: the glass is 104° even there. Bathed at 
 two, dressed, and went to dinner : a hot heavy 
 meal, which no one can eat. Took a ride by 
 myself at sunset over the desert, for really the 
 country about here is nothing else. Very close 
 and sultry ; if we do not get rain soon, I'm 
 afraid we shall have no cold season at all. 
 Walked about camp all the evening. These 
 moonlight nights are truly lovely ; there is an 
 utter peacefulness, a breathless repose about 
 them, which sinks refreshingly on the languid 
 spirits after the burning heat of the day. The 
 skies, with their myriads of shining stars, are 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 19 
 
 such as, even at home, I don't believe on our 
 most beautiful evenings I have ever seen — a 
 soft, gleaming, milky hue spreads over the fir- 
 mament, in whose exceeding splendour the 
 stars are almost lost, so vivid is the light which 
 streams over the whole expanse of heaven. I 
 was too excited to rest, and paced up and down 
 the camp till a late hour, when all were sunk 
 in repose. What a time is the calmness of 
 such moments for meditation ; how busily, 
 when all else is tranquil, does thought hover 
 over the fields of the past and future, and how 
 deep do we feel the utter loss of the one, 
 and the awful momentousness and obscurity 
 of the other ! God make us better for the 
 future, and bring not up the irrevocable 
 deeds of the past against us ! After going 
 round the guard for the last time, I retired to 
 bed. 
 
 Oct. 11. — On rearguard. After the regiment 
 had marched, I had to stay and see all the 
 baggage off the ground ; and a nice piece of 
 work I had of it. As soon as I had set one 
 
20 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 officer's servants to work packing his traps on 
 the camels, and galloped on to another, the 
 fellows would leave their work, and sit down 
 and smoke their hookahs; and, on coming 
 round again, I found my men sitting on the 
 ground, and things just as I left them. I tnen 
 adopted a new method, waiting by the camel 
 until each separate establishment was under 
 weigh, and had left the ground. I then went 
 on to another. In this manner, after a good 
 hour's worry and abuse, I managed to get the 
 ground clear. I then marched off the guard, 
 and we walked along merrily till daybreak, 
 when I halted for twenty minutes; spread my 
 horse-cloth on the ground, and enjoyed that 
 which getting up every morning at half-past 
 two, and a hot march, makes particularly re- 
 freshing — viz., a full-length recline on the sand, 
 and a fragrant weed. The men piled arms, 
 and sat or stretched themselves on the ground 
 in groups, amusing themselves with passing 
 their unsophisticated comments on the passers 
 by. Poor fellows! they are in great spirits at 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 21 
 
 the prospect of seeing service at last : after so 
 many disappointments, it will be cruel if they 
 are not gratified — that is, if there is anything 
 to be done. 
 
 When I thought we had rested long enough, 
 I gave a last stretch, gathered up my limbs 
 and proceeded to camp, which we reached a 
 little after sunrise. Went to the colonel's tent, 
 and reported all correct, answered all his ques- 
 tions — he is very strict, and pulls you up for 
 the least omission; — breakfasted; spent the day 
 as usual ; heat worse than ever. General 
 Whish has retired seven miles further from 
 Mooltan ; no news of importance ; they say that 
 Lord Dalhousie has permission either to annex 
 the whole of the Punjaub, or to withdraw 
 altogether from it. I hope they will annex it, as 
 there will be lots to do, and a large augmenta- 
 tion of the army. At any rate we must thrash 
 Moolraj. Poor Mrs Lawrence failed in her 
 attempt to reach Lahore; she was seized, 
 stripped of all she had with her, and sent back 
 to her husband, who was anxiously waiting to 
 
22 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 hear of her arrival in safety. He, poor fellow, 
 is left in his fort with none but Sikh troops for 
 his garrison, and a reward offered for his head by 
 Chuttur Singh. The place he is in, too, has no 
 great strength, and must fall before a deter- 
 mined attack: I wish they would send us to 
 relieve him. 
 
 Oct. 12. — Marched at three; so close we 
 could hardly breathe ; obliged to halt twice in 
 a short march of nine miles. Wrote all morn- 
 ing ; bathed ; dined, and went out, riding in 
 
 the evening with ; saw a paria, and 
 
 gave chase. I took the lead on Wee Pet, and 
 we were flying along at full speed, the dog just 
 ahead, when all of a sudden my horse plumped 
 up to his knees in a morass, and nearly fell ; 
 but a strong pull, and his own stout little legs, 
 carried him through. I looked round, and 
 
 beheld poor , horse and man, lying in a 
 
 heap in the centre ; the rider shot well ahead, 
 and almost buried in the bog, and his horse 
 floundering along on his nose and knees : how- 
 ever, no one was much hurt, either horse or 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 23 
 
 man. Caught the horse, picked up the rider, 
 and continued the chase ; but doggie was too 
 far ahead, and could not be overtaken. Came 
 back to camp, laughing all the way at poor 
 
 , who was one moving mass of mud, 
 
 from the nose down to the boots. Spent the 
 evening strolling about the camp, and talking 
 disconsolately about my future prospects with 
 
 T , who is a great chum of mine. 
 
 Oct. 13. — Marched at three; a slight variety, 
 in the shape of low briery jungle, relieved the 
 tedium of the road. Arrived in camp very early, 
 and were entertained with a dust storm until 
 twelve — very common occurrence here, I believe. 
 Wrote all day, it being the only thing I could 
 do, and in the evening strolled out for about 
 six miles with my gun, saw nothing, and had 
 my walk for my pains. Evening spent as usual ; 
 slept outside, and sent my tent ahead ; awak- 
 ened in the middle of the night by a dust storm 
 sweeping over me, and saw my hat quietly 
 trundling out of camp. Went to sleep again, 
 and woke up with a cold. 
 
24 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 Oct. 14. — Marched at half-past three, very 
 chill until sunrise ; halted about half a mile 
 from Ferozepore, adjusted our plumage, and 
 then marched into the station, colours flying, 
 and the band playing splendidly. Drew up in 
 line before our camp, and saluted the insignia. 
 The regiment looked very well, and a lot of 
 
 people rode out to meet us, my old friend S 
 
 amongst the rest. In the evening rode on the 
 course, and dined at the 31st mess. Things 
 seem to be going on very well ; the whole coun- 
 try between this and Lahore has risen. There 
 are large bands of hostile cavalry infesting the 
 road, under some robber chief or other, and they 
 say that the Sikhs are determined to make one 
 last effort : the Chief is expected down with all 
 speed, and there seems a prospect of lots to do. 
 And now, as for Ferozepore. Such a hole as 
 it is! — a row of dreary, dusty bungalows and 
 barracks, looking out disconsolately and sourly 
 on the bleak plain. There is not the faintest 
 suspicion of a tree, or a vestige of herbage, for 
 ten miles round ; my grass-cutter has to go a 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 25 
 
 day's journey to get fodder for the horses. 
 Grain, too, is awfully dear : how the poor brutes 
 are to live, I don't know. I am trying to sell 
 both mine, and will walk like the men ; I don't 
 see why I shouldn't, as well as they. At any 
 rate, anything is preferable to seeing the brutes 
 starve before my eyes, as must shortly be the 
 case if things do not take a better turn ; and 
 what makes it the more aggravating is, the 
 staying here doing nothing, whilst others are 
 reaping honours under the walls of Mooltan. 
 But as long as hope continues to smile, as long 
 as home glimmers, however faintly in the dis- 
 tance — as long as there is the remotest chance 
 of battles, prize-money, distinction, or an hon- 
 ourable death, I shall keep up my spirits, and 
 never say die, as long as my head is above 
 
 water. When that is impossible 
 
 So has been living in clover lately, bask- 
 ing in the smiles of beauty. Happy fellow ! 
 On me no smiles beam sunshine, no eyes look 
 welcome when I come. I am a poor, disregarded, 
 snubbed, and devil-may-care sub. That is, 
 
26 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 I believe, what is called being independent — 
 viz., having to pay your own tailor's bills, with 
 nothing to pay them with ; having to feed your- 
 self, with no means to procure food ; and having 
 to be answerable for your own actions, with no 
 discretion to govern them. I am, however, in 
 capital health, and hope to continue so, as this 
 is the only thing we poor soldiers can afford to 
 keep. 
 
 Sunday, Oct. 15. — Staid in camp all day; 
 much tormented with the dust, which is so fine 
 that the slightest puff of wind raises it in clouds. 
 There is a large force at present encamped here. 
 All the reinforcements for Whish have been 
 countermanded, as they dare not leave the sta- 
 tion unprotected. There is an encamping- 
 ground marked out for twenty thousand, most 
 of them on their way up. 
 
 Tuesday, Oct. 1 7. — Our old friends the artil- 
 lery are encamped here. Rode over to their 
 
 camp, and took a cup of tea with B Nothing 
 
 going on at Mooltan : a lot of wine stores fell 
 into Moolraj's hands the other day. He kept 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 27 
 
 the brandy, but not being able to appreciate 
 the beer, which the niggers call mila panee, 
 dirty water, he allowed it to proceed to our 
 camp. There is a good story told of him, 
 whether true or not I can't say : his followers 
 boned a lot of hermetically sealed provisions in 
 tin cases, and not having seen anything of the 
 sort before, he mistook them for canister-shot, 
 andfired nothingfrom his guns for three days but 
 fresh lobsters, pickled salmon, potted shrimps, 
 and other delicacies, supplying the whole Bri- 
 tish camp with a shower of the freshest Eng- 
 lish provisions. We have been put into a fresh 
 brigade with the 70'th and 45th N. I. The 
 29th have suffered very much : they left Kus- 
 sowlie 1300 strong ; and out of that have now 
 400 in hospital. Colonel Godby has command 
 of our brigade. The 69th N. I. move down to 
 the bridge of boats to-day to protect it, as there 
 
 is great chance of an outbreak there. S 
 
 dined with me in the evening, and thus closed 
 the events of the day. 
 
 Oct 18. — The mornings now are getting 
 
28 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 very cold, though the day-heat is as bad as 
 ever ; nothing of consequence occurred all clay. 
 I wish the old Chief would look sharp, and 
 come down ; there will be no fun until he 
 arrives. 
 
 Oct. 20. — Eckford's brigade and the artillery 
 marched this morning for Mooltan ; Lord Dal- 
 housie is on his way up. 
 
 Oct. 21. — How little we know about our 
 movements. Yesterday not one of us expected 
 to move for a fortnight at least, and now we 
 are ordered off on Monday morning with the 
 3d Dragoons and 9th Lancers, and our brigade, 
 — namely, ours and the 70th N. I., who took 
 the place of the 45th, who have not arrived 
 yet, to effect a junction with the forces at 
 Lahore; so we are likely to have the first of 
 the fighting after all. Staid at home all day, 
 and had a game at cricket in the evening with 
 
 C and T , and half-a-dozen niggers as 
 
 fags. A farewell party to was given 
 
 to-night. The evening passed off very plea- 
 santly. Colonel, I mean Brigadier, Godby 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 29 
 
 proposed his health, and he returned thanks 
 in a very sincere, if not brilliant speech. After 
 that, we hoisted him up in his chair, and told 
 the band to strike up, and carried him round 
 the table in state. Lots of loyal toasts were 
 afterwards proposed — " The army of the Pun- 
 jaub," — " John's own brigade, " — " The army 
 of Mooltan," — and " The girls we left behind 
 us : " they were all enthusiastically drunk, but 
 none, I need scarcely say, like the last. Eck- 
 ford's brigade has been recalled. There is a 
 report that the enemy are advancing on the 
 capital, which is glorious news for us. What 
 is in store we cannot say, but the brigadier, 
 our late colonel, is in great spirits, and rubbing 
 his hands at the idea of gaining more laurels. 
 God bless you for your anxious love ! I trust 
 He will protect me in His mercy, however un- 
 worthy, and that your prayers for me may not 
 be in vain. 
 
 Oct. 22. — Staid in camp all day ; very dusty, 
 and lots of the phenomena called devils going 
 about. What is here called a devil is an im- 
 
SO LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 inense pillar of dust whirling round and round, 
 and catching up everything in its progress ; it 
 is in shape like a pyramid, reaching often more 
 than half a mile in height, very black and thick 
 towards the bottom, but light and vapoury 
 towards the apex. Whatever touches it imme- 
 diately breaks it up, so you may imagine the 
 pleasure of one of them walking through your 
 tent. I have seen six or seven wandering about 
 the plain at the same time, and with very little 
 
 wind. So dear little E is growing up quite 
 
 a hero ! You had better educate him for this 
 country, he would get on splendidly ; only, if 
 you ever think of such a thing, you cannot 
 begin too early. The studies appropriate 
 are, first of all, mathematics, fortification, and 
 arithmetic, as far as it is connected with keep- 
 ing accounts. A thorough knowledge of the lat- 
 ter is very necessary : not any of your intricate 
 forms of double entry, and all that sort of thing, 
 but enough to enable him to keep his own ac- 
 counts accurately, and take the management of 
 any public office that may offer. Let him learn 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 31 
 
 French thoroughly. Latin and Greek are only 
 accomplishments out here ; and though every 
 gentleman should of course have a knowledge 
 of them, they will be of no use to him in his 
 profession. Confine his education to what is 
 called useful knowledge — viz., history, geogra- 
 phy, composition, arithmetic, and modern lan- 
 guages j in these he cannot be too well up. Of 
 course, any other accomplishments will be of 
 advantage to him, but these should be his chief 
 studies. Let him be taught to act and think 
 for himself early, and learn to consider himself 
 answerable for his actions. But all this is 
 sending coals to Newcastle, I well know, espe- 
 cially as I suppose you would just as soon think 
 of flying, as of parting with the little fellow ; 
 and I myself am doubtful whether I would 
 really advise it. The advantages are these, — 
 to any one who gets an appointment, be he the 
 veriest dolt that ever breathed, it is a provision 
 for life, after he has once got over the first two 
 years. To an intelligent and industrious man, 
 with a little interest, it is a splendid opening 
 
32 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 to future preferment, sooner or later ; but it 
 carries with it this drawback, that of perpetual 
 exile from your native land, and all you love 
 best. You cannot attain any post of eminence 
 under twenty years, or even realise sufficient 
 to enable you to live comfortably at home ; and 
 if you obtain a good appointment, you cannot 
 without loss throw it up, and take your fur- 
 lough even. You don't get your bread till you 
 have no teeth to eat it with ; you spend the 
 flower of your life in a foreign land, and return 
 home with the means, but not the power of 
 enjoyment. A man, I should say, would be 
 happier if he could realise a competence in 
 England, than revelling in wealth in this coun- 
 try ; — but enough of this. 
 
 Oct. 23. — Up at half-past three ; marched 
 at half-past four ; got clear of Ferozepore, and 
 proceeded about four miles, when we had to 
 ford a broad stream. One of our men got into 
 a small quicksand, and had great difficulty in 
 extricating himself, amidst the roars of the regi- 
 ment, which must have been very aggravating 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 33 
 
 to him fts he was floundering about. Halted 
 on the other side for half an hour, and then 
 marched on till we reached the Sutledge ; 
 crossed the bridge of boats, and entered the 
 Punjaub, the renowned land of the five rivers; 
 and a very barren, ugly-looking land it is at 
 present. Got into camp rather late, and en- 
 camped with the 70th on our front, and the 
 cavalry and artillery on the rear and flanks. 
 Went over during the day to the camp of the 
 5th light cavalry, who are out here for forage ; 
 
 had a long talk with T ; dined, and played 
 
 at cricket in the evening. 
 
 Oct. 24. — Marched at half-past four. A 
 camp-follower was attacked and robbed during 
 the night ; he is much wounded, and not likely 
 to recover. The country is much infested with 
 thieves ; there is a celebrated tribe of them, 
 who inhabit the banks of the Sutledge, and 
 who are very expert at their trade. Encamped 
 at Kussoor ; advised not to leave camp, as 
 there are several strong bands of robbers 
 
 prowling about the vicinity. Staid in my 
 
 c 
 
34 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 tent all day reading, and played cricket in the 
 evening. 
 
 Oct. 25. — Marched at half-past four ; short 
 march ; nothing worth recording. 
 
 Oct. 26. — Marched at half-past four — eight 
 miles ; bitter cold ; came on to rain violently 
 after breakfast. Staid in our tents all day, 
 except when, as officer of the day, my duties 
 compelled me to go and get drenched. After 
 dinner it cleared up, and we had a game at 
 cricket. At sunset I posted the sentries round 
 the camp, and played the flute till nine, when 
 I visited the guard, and turned in. 
 
 Oct 27. — Up at half-past one ; a despatch 
 had come in the night, ordering our immediate 
 arrival at Lahore ; so we had to make a forced 
 march of it, and knock the two into one. Being 
 the officer on rearguard, I had to stay behind, 
 and see all the baggage off the ground, which 
 took me about an hour and a half. I then 
 followed the corps with my company ; did the 
 twenty miles in beautiful time, and arrived in 
 camp soon after the brigade. We are pitched 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 35 
 
 about two miles from this mighty city, (Lahore,) 
 but as we move on across the Ravee river to- 
 morrow, I shall have no time for sight-seeing. 
 Rode over to cantonments in the evening, to 
 get a few things I wanted. Dined late, and 
 turned in. The troops here are constantly v v 
 under arms from alarms of the enemy, who 
 make repeated night excursions across the river, 
 and retire again on being menaced. 
 
 Oct. 28. — Marched at five ; passed through 
 cantonments with the band playing, and pro- 
 ceeded about five miles down to the Ravee, 
 which we crossed by the bridge of boats, and 
 encamped about half a mile on the other side. 
 Here with our brigade, and the cavalry and 
 artillery, we are to form a sort of army of 
 defence. Breakfasted and retired to my tent, 
 where I spent the morning reading, and was 
 reclining quietly on my bed, when I thought I 
 heard an unusual uproar in the camp — mounted 
 orderlies galloping about, and people inquiring 
 what was the matter ; so I turned out, and 
 found that a party of the enemy had walked 
 
36 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 off with fifty of our camels, while out grazing, 
 and had killed a few of their drivers. The 
 cavalry were out instantly in pursuit, and the 
 grenadier company was ordered to be under 
 arms, and ready at a moment's notice. After 
 a couple of hours the cavalry came back with 
 most of the camels, which, on being pursued, 
 the enemy had left, and taken to their heels. 
 They have been very bold and annoying lately, 
 and attacked a little fort the other day on the 
 river, in which there was only a few of the 
 Durbar troops, who were quietly massacred. 
 Since then, there has been always a guard of 
 sepoys and a European officer there. They like- 
 wise attempted to burn the bridge of boats; and 
 succeeded in destroying two of the boats, but were 
 beaten off. We caught a spy in camp to-day, 
 and packed him off to Lahore to Sir F. Currie 
 — as yet we have a very vague idea of the force 
 or locality of the enemy. Two thousand are 
 said to be hovering about in the vicinity, and 
 we are obliged to keep a sharp look-out. 
 .Chuttur Singh has, they say, no less than 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 37 
 
 50,000 followers, but he is not within ten 
 marches. Shere Singh likewise has a large 
 force of rabble. If they don't show some fight 
 with all this, they are not worth much. Poor 
 
 is deadf How common are these sad 
 
 incidents in a soldier's life, and, alas! how little 
 regarded ! No news from Mooltan j played 
 at cricket ; dined and turned in ; but all ready 
 to turn out again, if there should be the least 
 alarm : none however took place. 
 
 Sunday, Oct. 29. — All quiet; prayers read by 
 the commanding officer in camp. The weather 
 has become very pleasant now, after the rain 
 we had the other day. Rode over to Lahore 
 in the afternoon, and hunted out the quarters of 
 
 F B . You remember him, I dare say. 
 
 Found him living in one of the city gates, where 
 his regiment is quartered ; had tiffen with 
 him, and a talk about old times, and rode back 
 just before sunset, — as it is not advisable to 
 be out after that time, unless you want your 
 throat cut. 
 
 Oct. 30. — Out on parade. All the officers 
 
38 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 have been ordered to rub up their sword 
 exercise, and a very amusing spectacle it 
 was. Had to stay in camp all day, as my 
 company was in picket, and all the officers 
 belonging to a company on duty have to be ready 
 at a moment's warning. Spent a very stupid 
 day in camp. The nights are bitter cold now, but 
 in the daytime the sun still continues very hot. 
 Oct 31. — Parade in the morning. After 
 breakfast crossed the river and rode into Lahore 
 to play cricket. Had a very nice game with a 
 lot of officers from the different corps there, 
 spent a very pleasant day, and met an old school- 
 fellow. H and C must remember him 
 
 — B by name : he boarded at P — 's. He 
 
 seems a very nice fellow, belongs to 46th N. I. 
 Returned to camp in the evening — went to mess. 
 A party of the 46 th dined with us, — as genial 
 a set of fellows as I wish to see, — lots of sing- 
 ing and fun after dinner. Had a long chat with 
 
 B on old times, and spent a very happy 
 
 evening. You have no idea how pleasant it is 
 to meet any one you know in this dreary land, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 38 
 
 and recall with him old scenes of past enjoy- 
 ment. Tell Mr P , if jou see him, that he 
 
 wished to be remembered. 
 
 Nov. 1. — Parade after breakfast. Rode into 
 Lahore, and spent the day with B ; re- 
 turned to camp in the evening. 
 
 Nov. 2. — Up early in the morning, and 
 walked over with one or two other men to 
 Jehengire's tomb. It is a splendid building, and 
 well repaid us for our long walk. The whole 
 dome, which is of immense size, is composed of 
 the most beautifully polished marble, of various 
 colours. Read the description at the beginning 
 of Esther, and you will have a good idea of it, 
 bating the gold and silver. There was a miser- 
 able self-mutilated Faqueer at the gate, with 
 his legs, all-no-how. There are swarms of these 
 disgusting fanatics, in every shape of unnatural 
 deformity, to be seen at every Hindoo place of 
 worship, and a very profitable thing they make 
 of it : the respect they excite among the 
 natives reminds me of the jolly old days of the 
 grey Friars. Saw r all that was to be seen, and 
 
40 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 returned to camp. Lost my breakfast, rode into 
 
 Lahore, tiffed at the artillery mess with B , 
 
 who has followed us to Lahore, and got posted 
 to a battery here. Played cricket after dinner, 
 and then went over to inspect a batch of young 
 
 Arabs with , mounted on a very showy 
 
 little grey, perfectly unbroken ; and a very pretty 
 piece of work he gave me. For the first tw r o 
 minutes, I did not know whether I was on the 
 ground or in the air ; however, at last I 
 mastered him, to the great admiration of the 
 Arab merchant. Rode the little horse back to 
 
 camp, rode another, and a mad tear we 
 
 had of it. When we arrived there, we found 
 that we were to march in the morning to meet 
 the enemy, who are said to be only thirty miles 
 off. 
 
 Nov. 3. — Marched at five. Walked the first 
 twelve miles, as I have lent both my horses, 
 being unable to feed them myself. But at last, 
 as good luck would have it, I got hold of a 
 beautiful young Arab, full of blood and spirit, 
 belonging to a friend, and rode the remaining 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 41 
 
 four miles of the march. It was awfully hot ; 
 we didn't arrive in camp until twelve, and got 
 nothing until near two. Pleasant work cam- 
 paigning ! it reads very pretty in one of Charles 
 Lever's novels ; but experience of it dispels the 
 charm. They say that we shall meet the 
 enemy to-morrow : they have seized on a small 
 town, where all our commissariat stores for the 
 army were laid up, and we are going to drive 
 them out. Our force consists of our own regi- 
 ment, the 70th N. I., 14th Dragoons, 5th Light 
 Cavalry, and 12th Irregulars, one battery, and 
 three troops of horse-artillery. 
 
 Nov. 4. — Marched at daybreak, the artillery 
 in front, the cavalry on the right and left, and 
 the 70th on our rear. At one time we expected 
 to have a fight before we got into camp, but we 
 saw no enemy; and after a weary march of 
 twenty miles in a scorching sun, we reached 
 our encamping ground about twelve o'clock. 
 Had to wait another hour on the bare plain 
 before our tents came up ; and up to this hour, 
 which is nearly 4 p.m., I haven't tasted food. 
 
42 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 We march directly after dinner, as they say the 
 enemy are close ahead, and intend to make a 
 stand of it, — so good-by for the present, as I 
 feel the cravings of hunger very strong, and I 
 can't fight on an empty stomach. Evening, — 
 Our march countermanded — heaven knows why. 
 The enemy are five thousand strong — nine 
 miles ahead, in a fort ; and they say they will 
 wait for us. If they do, it will be sharp work, 
 as cavalry will be no good there : all the fighting 
 will devolve on the infantry. Got dinner at 
 five, and, feeling rather tired, turned in soon 
 after sunset. 
 
 Sunday, Nov. 5. — Marched at four. How 
 our men strode along! The — th, who followed 
 in our rear, were literally obliged to run, to keep 
 up with us. Marched nine miles, and came in 
 sight of the fort ; halted, and sent a squadron 
 of the 12th Irregulars on to reconnoitre. Two 
 strange flags were floating on the ramparts, and 
 we thought that all was right, and we were 
 in for a good fight. I dare say, when the cam- 
 paign is over we shall not be quite so eager. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 43 
 
 Imagine our disgust when Ave found that the 
 enemy had retreated on the Chenab, and the 
 forts were held by a friendly force. Marched 
 five miles more, and weary work it was in the 
 hot sun : my face is burnt to a cinder, and 
 crawling along on horseback makes you feel it 
 all the more. As for walking, it is fearful work, 
 after the sun has risen. How often have I wished, 
 as I toiled along ankle-deep in sand, that my 
 tailor had paid less attention to fit, and 
 more to comfort. But the worst part of it is, 
 having to wait an hour after you reach your 
 ground, with no protection whatever from the 
 sun, and nothing to sit down on, except the 
 heated ground. I have put John Company and 
 myself down as quits from this day ; whatever 
 extra work he takes out of me, I shall consider 
 him my debtor. Got into our ground at ten, 
 tents up at eleven, breakfasted at twelve. 
 The enemy are collected at Wuzeerabad, about 
 twenty miles off, in force — some say 25,000, 
 some 30,000 — and as it is thought hardly 
 prudent to attack them with 4,500, we are 
 
44 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 to halt here, until reinforced by EckforcTs 
 brigade. 
 
 Nov. 7. — Marched at five o'clock. Intelli- 
 gence arrived in the night that Shere Singh 
 was marching on Lahore by the Ramnuggur 
 road, — so made a cut across the country, altering 
 our intended route, to intercept him. Marched 
 thirteen miles, and halted at eleven, about ten 
 miles from Ramnuggur. Heard guns distinctly 
 towards the end of our march — though, what 
 the deuce they were firing at, we could not 
 make out. The sound evidently came from 
 Ramnuggur, where our spies say that Lall 
 Singh is at present with three thousand men 
 and twenty-four guns, Shere Singh advancing 
 in his rear with eighteen thousand men. Got 
 breakfast at one, and are ordered to hold our- 
 selves in readiness to march again at four. 
 Evening. — March countermanded. Went to 
 mess, and was sitting after dinner, when a 
 mounted nigger brought the news into camp 
 that the enemy were coming down upon us, and 
 intended to make a night-attack. Every one 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 45 
 
 was instantly on the alert — pistols loaded, 
 swords laid handy, and all ready to turn out at 
 a moment's warning. Went to bed at ten, and 
 the night passed off without anything occurring. 
 Nov. 8. — Up early, heard guns from Ram- 
 nuggur, and found out afterwards that it was 
 a salute fired by the enemy to hail the arrival 
 of Shere Singh, who has joined with his whole 
 force — so that there is now a body of 20,000 
 men within eleven miles of us. General Cureton 
 has received strict injunctions not to act on the 
 aggressive, nor to advance an inch until the 
 arrival of the Chief, who, they say, will arrive 
 on the 15th, with a large army. Eckford's 
 brigade joins us to-morrow. From Mooltan 
 we hear that Moolraj made a sally the other 
 day, and was beaten back : no operations, how- 
 ever, will be commenced until the 1st of Janu- 
 ary. Went to mess, and then walked out to 
 
 see E , who was in outlying picket, about 
 
 a quarter of a mile from the camp. It was a 
 beautiful moonlight night — very cold — and I 
 enjoyed my walk. Found him bivouacking 
 
46 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 under a tree, with his men wrapped up in their 
 greatcoats, and strewed about the ground 
 sleeping, until their turn for standing sentry 
 came round. And on all sides were dark muffled 
 figures, pacing slowly up and down — the moon- 
 beams gilding their polished bayonets; and 
 every now and then the peremptory challenge 
 of "Who comes there?" arrested some poor 
 nigger, who was quietly strolling into camp, 
 in the innocence of his heart, and found 
 himself disagreeably undeceived, and nothing 
 for it but to sleep in the open air. Sat with 
 
 E , talking for about two hours, and then 
 
 returned to camp. 
 
 Nov. 9. — Moved our ground about a mile, 
 to make room for Eckford's brigade, which 
 came in about seven, consisting of three native 
 corps, and one battery — so we are now pretty 
 well off— the 31st, 56th, and 73d. There 
 is a rumour to-day that Gholab Singh has 
 gone over to the enemy; if he has, we shall 
 have as much to do as we can manage. So 
 much the better for us. Holmes, of the 1 2th 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 47 
 
 Irregulars, was out with his patrol, when they 
 had a rencontre with the enemy. He had only 
 eighty men with him, and yet he rode backwards 
 and forwards before the party, who consisted of 
 four hundred horse, and offered them battle. 
 But they wouldn't come on. Just as well for 
 him that they didn't ! He is a brave fellow, how- 
 ever, and got his present command by a piece 
 of daring at Sobraon : he swam his horse over 
 the river in face of the enemy, spiked a gun, 
 and swam back again, under fire all the while, 
 and the river running like a sluice. Nothing 
 more happened all day. We are all expecting 
 to be attacked, and all are in readiness. Went 
 to mess, and walked about some time after- 
 wards, enjoying the deliriously clear moonlight. 
 Nov. 10. — Up early. The brigade was out 
 on parade, and we had a lot of manoeuvring 
 and running about. Breakfasted, wrote, and 
 then walked over to the 31st; tiffed there, 
 and was sitting quietly afterwards listening to 
 their band practising, when we heard a great 
 uproar, and several sepoys came rushing past 
 
48 LEA YES FROM THE 
 
 the tent, crying out — " An attack ! an attack ! 
 the enemy are coming down!" Every one was 
 out of the tent like magic. I returned for my 
 cap, which I had forgotten, and made all speed 
 to my own camp. The alarum sounded as I 
 was on my way, and all the troops turned out, 
 and stood to their arms in an incredibly short 
 space of time. Threw off my shooting-coat, 
 pulled on a red jacket, buckled on my sword, 
 
 and rode out with to see what was going 
 
 on. I wish I hadn't. I started off at a brisk 
 pace, and my horse ran away with me over 
 rough ground about three-quarters of a mile. 
 Pulled him up at last by the out-lying dragoon 
 picket, and found he had sprung the back 
 sinew of his fore-leg, and was dead lame. My 
 luck again ! I shan't be able to sell him now. 
 The alarm turned out to be a false one after 
 all, and I had nothing for my trouble, but a 
 lame horse. Poor little pet ! I'm afraid I 
 shall have to shoot him. Returned to camp 
 very much disgusted, as you can suppose — " I 
 never loved a tree, &c." Went to mess, and 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 49 
 
 spent a very miserable evening ; but, thank 
 goodness, I'm a bit of a stoic, and soon came to 
 the conclusion that what's done cannot be 
 helped. Still I felt very uncomfortable, when 
 I went to have a look at the poor fellow before 
 going to bed : saw that his bandages were all 
 right, and kissed him, and wished him good 
 night. 
 
 Nov. 11. — Nothing worth mentioning oc- 
 curred in our camp, except that two miserable 
 camp-followers were cut up, and brought in 
 dead from a neighbouring village, where they 
 had gone for supplies. We hear from Mooltan 
 that they had a brush the other day — three 
 or four officers killed, and sixty men wounded, 
 names as yet not known. Chuttur Singh had 
 taken possession of Peshawur, and seized 
 twenty of our guns ; Shere Singh has with- 
 drawn all his troops and artillery from this 
 side the river, and is on his way to join his 
 worthy governor. Gholab Singh still remains 
 faithful to us ; but there is no knowing what 
 side he will take, if things were to go at all 
 
50 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 against us. Called on the 31st. S is laid up 
 
 with fever; sat some time with him, and then 
 returned to camp. Didn't go to dinner, but 
 
 stayed and kept De M company. 
 
 Sunday, Nov. 12. — My turn for duty. Up at 
 
 daybreak, and relieved B ; marched off the 
 
 guards — and here I am for the day, with my 
 tent pitched right in front of the camp, next to 
 the quarter-guard; and here I shall have to 
 stay until I am relieved to-morrow morning. 
 Rather lively work ! with not a soul to speak 
 to, except the men of my guard, with whom, 
 of course, I can hold no intercourse except on 
 duty. The 46th and 36 th N. I. arrived 
 this morning, and the 53d Queen's are ex- 
 pected shortly ; so we shall soon have a large 
 force here. Staid with my guard all day, 
 went to mess in the evening, returned to my 
 tent, and sat outside waiting for the captain 
 to come round, which he did at eleven ; turned 
 out the guard, and made my report ; then 
 passed round the camp, and visited the sen- 
 tries ; walked about till twelve, then went into 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 51 
 
 my tent, and wrote till about two ; when I 
 lay down with my clothes on, all ready 
 to turn out if necessary, and went to sleep as 
 well as the cold, which was piercing, would let 
 me. 
 
 Nov. 13. — Up at sunrise, waited till I was 
 relieved, and returned to camp ; went to see a 
 cricket-match played between the horse and 
 foot artillery; heard an account of the late 
 affair at Mooltan read : it seems to have been 
 a very sharp fight, and to have reflected great 
 credit on our troops. A large body of Gene- 
 ral Courtlandt's Sikh force went over to the 
 enemy just before, and something was neces- 
 sary to rouse the spirits of the others. No- 
 thing worth mentioning occurred in the day. 
 
 Nov. 14. — Played cricket-match all day ; 
 awful hard work playing in the sun. At mess 
 in the evening, we heard a great deal of firing 
 from the other side of the river — probably 
 some new force has joined the enemy, and 
 they were giving them a salute. Walked 
 about some time, and then went to bed. You ve 
 
52 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 no idea what I suffer from the cold in the 
 wretched hut I live in ; it is open to the 
 wind in all directions, and the air now is 
 piercing cold. I lie and shiver in my bed, and 
 can scarcely get any sleep : pretty work this 
 campaigning for a delicately-nurtured youth 
 like myself! 
 
 Nov. 1 5. — Continued cricket-match — the 
 officers of our corps against the officers of the 
 camp: the first game that has ever been 
 played in these wilds, I fancy, considering no 
 Europeans have ever been here before. Came 
 back to camp rather exhausted with my day's 
 work ; it's not like playing cricket in England 
 this! Had a bathe and went to mess. We 
 are to march to-morrow to dislodge some ad- 
 vanced troops of the enemy, who have crossed 
 the river — and are very likely to have a skrim- 
 mage. 
 
 Nov. 16. — Marched at four — bitter cold, 
 the 2d Europeans in front, and the six native 
 corps bringing up the rear : the cavalry as 
 usual on either flank, except the 3d Dragoons, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 53 
 
 who acted as advanced guards with one troop 
 of horse-artillery. About ten o'clock we heard 
 guns ahead, though at some distance, and 
 we all hoped that we were in for it ; but no — 
 it isn't in the nature of the brutes to stand ; 
 and when we arrived at our ground about 
 twelve o'clock, after a most fatiguing march 
 in the hot sun, we found all clear, and no enemy 
 in sight. Pitched our camp, and got breakfast 
 at one o'clock. I am rather unwell, from the 
 effects of my exertions yesterday, and the sun 
 to-day; but, by keeping quiet, hope to be all 
 right in the evening. Not allowed to keep 
 quiet, however. My poor horse was brought 
 back, with a strong recommendation to me to 
 shoot him, as he was in great pain : loaded my 
 gun, and had him led about a quarter of 
 a mile out of camp, when I put an end to 
 the poor fellow's misery. His death was 
 instantaneous, and I didn't stay to look at him, 
 but returned to camp, feeling as if I had lost 
 an old friend. General Campbell and his 
 reconnoitring party were fired on to-day, from 
 
54 JOUKNAL OF A SUBALTEKN. 
 
 a small neighbouring fort, held by about fiye 
 hundred of the enemy ; why they are not dis- 
 lodged I can't say. We have enough to lick 
 thirty thousand of them. 
 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 BATTLE OF EAMNUGGUR. 
 
 I 
 
 By the bye, as you have a good map of 
 India, I may as well give you an idea of our 
 present position. Look out for Ramnuggur on 
 the Chenab river, and then run along to the 
 right, until you come to Wuzeerabad. We 
 occupy a central position between the two, 
 about ten miles on this side ; and both places 
 are held by the enemy, who keep up an inces- 
 sant cannonading at vacancy — either, I believe, 
 to get used to the sound, and to keep their 
 pluck up, or else try and frighten us. Shere 
 Singh expresses his determination to fight 
 shortly ; I hope hell stick to his resolution. 
 
56 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 We have a beautiful view of the Cashmere 
 range here. As brigade-subaltern of the 
 day, I had to go and march off the rear 
 picket at sunset ; posted them about five hun- 
 dred yards in rear of the regiment, and placed 
 my sentries so as to establish a line of commu- 
 nication between us, and the other camps ; 
 ordered my tent out, and returned to dinner. 
 At mess, from some report that the enemy 
 intended an attack, three companies, Nos. 1, 2, 
 and 3, were ordered out, to form an outlying 
 picket in front of the camp ; so I had to 
 withdraw my men, and go with my company. 
 
 Captain C being ill, E and myself had 
 
 charge of it. Marched the men out, about five 
 hundred yards, and then pitched our tents, and 
 prepared to pass the night as pleasantly as 
 possible, which was rather difficult, as after we 
 had posted our sentries, and received our orders, 
 every five minutes some staff-officer came gal- 
 loping in, and we had to stand to our arms. 
 At last, however, it grew quiet, and we retired 
 to our tents, where we wrapped ourselves up 
 
 i 
 
t 
 
 JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 57 
 
 as warm as possible, smoked our cheroots, and 
 sat and talked. There was an incessant firing 
 from Ramnuggur all night : we could see 
 plainly the flash of each gun as it was dis- 
 charged. What they were wasting their powder 
 on, heaven only knows ! About two, we lay 
 down with our swords on, and slept till day- 
 break, though the cold was so intense that I 
 awoke several times. 
 
 Nov. 17. — Up at daybreak. Struck our 
 tents, and marched back to the camp ; joined 
 the regiment, which was drawn up in front, 
 under arms, and waiting for orders. After an 
 hour and a half s shivering in the cold raw air, 
 we were informed that the Sikhs had retired 
 again, and that we were to return to camp, 
 and repitch our tents. Breakfasted and wrote. 
 Poor Deception is very ill ; I'm almost afraid 
 I shall lose him : misfortunes never come singly. 
 Gave him some medicine, and then returned 
 to my writing-desk, which is almost my sole 
 occupation, when there is nothing exciting 
 going on. 
 
58 LEAVES EKOM THE 
 
 Nov. 18. — The 61st Queen's came in this 
 morning, and Wheeler's brigade is only a 
 short distance off, so that we are no longer 
 the only European infantry present. 
 
 Sunday, Nov. 19. — Divine service in the mess 
 tent : the first time we have been able to attend 
 public worship for many months. The service 
 was read by our commanding officer, and a 
 very impressive sight it was. All the Protes- 
 tants of the regiment were present, drawn up, 
 standing round the walls of the tent, with the 
 officers in the centre. There was something 
 very solemn in the spectacle of so many gallant 
 soldiers listening in respectful and devotional 
 silence to the precepts of Christianity, and 
 joining in the responses of our beautiful church 
 service. Spent the day in my tent, went to 
 mess, and retired early. 
 
 Nov. 21. — The Commander-in-chief has 
 arrived at last, with a large accession of 
 troops. Our army now consists of about fifteen 
 thousand, of which there are about five thou- 
 sand Europeans. Went to mess in the even- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTEKN. 59 
 
 ing, and sat up rather late, when an aide-de- 
 camp came in with an order to the brigadier, 
 that we were to muster at three o'clock in per- 
 fect silence, and to march, leaving our camp 
 standing, and one brigade to guard the camp. 
 Consequently I turned in, to get a little sleep, 
 as these silent movements looked very much 
 like work. 
 
 Nov. 22. — Paraded at three, and marched 
 in total silence. Traversed about twelve miles 
 across the country before daybreak, and drew 
 up before a small fort where the enemy had 
 lately been. The horse artillery were order- 
 ed on ahead, and, before five minutes had 
 elapsed, we heard them hard at work, banging 
 away like mad. Waited with great impatience 
 for the order to advance, and the whole of the 
 infantry moved forward in echelon of regi- 
 ments. Passed the fort, and there, before us, 
 on the other side of the river, lay the enemy's 
 camp: we could see them plainly, and they 
 appeared an immense army. Halted within 
 range, piled arms, and watched the operations. 
 
60 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 Our artillery were hotly engaged with theirs, 
 firing from opposite sides ; and we, as we 
 afterwards heard, had been ordered forward 
 to effect a diversion in favour of the artillery 
 — that is, to draw off the enemy's fire, (very 
 obliging of the Chief!) — so we sat down and 
 smoked our cheroots, and were fired at. How- 
 v ever, all their shot was wide, and either went 
 over us or to one side. One ball passed close 
 over Lord Gough's head — rather a near shave 
 — and killed two men out of the 61st on our 
 right. One of our guns got fixed in a quick- 
 sand, and they were obliged to leave it to the 
 enemy. Presently a body of Sikhs crossed 
 over, and commenced an annoying fire on our 
 artillery. The 3d and 14th Dragoons charged 
 them, and drove them back, but with con- 
 siderable loss. General Cureton was shot 
 dead at the head of his regiment ; Colonel 
 Havelock likewise killed. Colonel Alexander 
 lost an arm, and several of the officers re- 
 ceived bad wounds. Fifty of the dragoons 
 were killed or wounded ; several artillerymen 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 61 
 
 killed. The infantry suffered very slightly; 
 not a man of ours touched. The fire at 
 last got so hot that we were obliged to re- 
 tire out of range. The enemy are on the 
 other side of an unfordable river, and in a 
 very strong position, and we have no boats. 
 General Cureton's death is a great loss; he 
 was a splendid officer, much beloved, and a 
 personal friend of the Chief's. Two of his sons 
 are with the army. I saw him, poor fellow, 
 just before his death ; he was riding along in 
 front of our regiment, when a round-shot passed 
 close over his head. Somebody remarked — 
 "Rather a near shave that, general." — "Oh, 
 I am used to it," replied he, smiling, and strok- 
 ing his mustaches. In three minutes more, 
 he was lying on the sand with a ball through 
 his head, and many a brave fellow by his 
 side. We are to wait for the arrival 
 of our heavy guns and ThackwelFs bri- 
 gade. Bivouacked the whole day in the open 
 air, without anything to eat, or put our heads 
 under. The enemy kept up an incessant firing 
 
62 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 all day, as if in derision of us, and we certainly 
 have not done much good this time. I got my 
 head underneath a saddle, and slept till sun- 
 set, when I had to go with my company 
 on out-lying picket. Marched them off five 
 hundred yards to the front, posted my senti- 
 nels, and lay down on the ground, until the 
 dew falling, and the chilliness of my limbs, 
 warning me of the danger of doing so, I got 
 up and walked about, and by this means 
 managed to keep myself warm. Drank off a 
 glass of rum, and eat a piece of bread, which 
 my sergeant brought me very kindly, and felt 
 " pretty jolly under creditable circumstances." 
 The enemy still kept up firing. I saw the 
 bright flashes of the guns quite plainly ; then 
 came a rushing sound over my head through 
 the air, and then the booming report followed. 
 However we were protected by a rising ground, 
 and none of the shot came near us. About 
 eleven my tent came up ; I pitched it, and, wrap- 
 ping myself in a cloak, went to sleep — only 
 awakened at intervals by the excessive cold. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 63 
 
 We shall have a hard battle soon j and perhaps 
 my fate may be that of many a brave fellow, 
 who marched this morning full of life and 
 daring, and now lies cold and motionless in the 
 long sleep of death : if it should be so, my last 
 thoughts were of you — my love remained 
 unchanged unto the end. God bless you all! 
 I trust, indeed, that the- same Providence that 
 has watched over me hitherto will protect me 
 now, and we shall meet again ; but, whatever 
 happens, you shall hear of me as doing my 
 
 part bravely as a soldier and a . 
 
 Nov. 23. — Withdrew my picket at day- 
 break, and came into camp. Had my tent 
 pitched, changed my clothes, and enjoyed the 
 luxury of a wash, which I was not able to 
 obtain yesterday. Got breakfast at nine, and 
 you may imagine that we enjoyed it. We do 
 not, I believe, do anything to-day, but are 
 waiting for the arrival of our commissariat. 
 The list of casualties, as far as we can ascer- 
 tain, are — General Cureton, killed; Colonel 
 Havelock, missing; Colonel Alexander, wound- 
 
64 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 ed; Captains Riley, Gaul, and Fitzgerald, 
 with sword-cuts — the latter mortally ; two 
 officers, whose names I don't know, with spent 
 balls; twenty-seven men killed, and twenty- 
 . three wounded out of the 14th Dragoons, 
 and seven or eight in the 3d Dragoons. The 
 reason of the loss sustained by the 14th was, 
 that in their charge they came on a deep 
 nullah or ravine; the 3d Dragoons pulled up; 
 but the 14th — splendid, dashing fellows — they 
 all charged through it ; and, in the confusion 
 into which they were thrown, they were fired 
 into by the enemy, who chose their position 
 with great tact, — and a number of them 
 knocked over. However they formed on the 
 other side, charged, and drove the enemy into 
 the river, a great number of whom were 
 drowned in the crossing. Several other officers 
 were wounded whose names are not yet known, 
 and one or two of the artillery. The loss of 
 the gun was a serious affair. Holmes of the 
 12th Irregulars was wounded — shot through 
 the lungs, I hear, while lifting up the body of 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 65 
 
 General Cureton. Staid at home writing all 
 morning, tiffed, and then put on my full 
 dress to attend the funeral of General Cure- 
 ton. Rode to the burying-ground ; but, just as 
 the procession arrived, there was an alarm, the 
 drums beat to arms, and we had to gallop 
 back to camp as quickly as possible. Dressed, 
 and joined the regiment in front, where we 
 were drawn up for half an hour, and then 
 dismissed. Dined, and went to bed early, 
 where I enjoyed a good night's sleep. We 
 do not move, I believe, until Thursday, but 
 are to wait for the arrival of some twenty-four- 
 pounders. 
 
 Nov. 24. — Breakfasted, and wandered about 
 camp, doing nothing. One of our men was taken 
 prisoner this morning. He wandered foolishly 
 outside the pickets, and was carried off by 
 one of the enemy's cavalry. Two sepoys 
 also of the 21st were cut to pieces. Another 
 sepoy was badly wounded, but managed to 
 crawl into camp : his whole back is laid open, 
 but he is likely to recover. Several of our's 
 
66 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 saw him, and say he is a fine brave fellow and 
 bears his wounds splendidly. As the doctor 
 was sewing them up, he asked for a little 
 water, and while drinking, said — " Never mind 
 me, Sahib ; go on stitching." By the bye, I 
 quite forgot to say that the 5th Light Cavalry 
 behaved beautifully the day before yesterday ; 
 they have twenty-seven killed and wounded. 
 Evening. — Our dak from Lahore has been 
 seized, and a lot of parcels. The enemy are in 
 great feather, and ride along within half a mile 
 
 of our camp, and close to our pickets. W 
 
 of the 24th N. I. knocked over one with his 
 rifle, the other day. He was strolling about, 
 with a native blanket over his shoulders, out- 
 side the videttes, when a Sikh horseman, 
 seeing what he thought an unarmed man, 
 rode at him, and was going to cut him down, 
 
 on which W quietly dropped his blanket, 
 
 and shot him dead. Shere Singh wrote in this 
 morning, to say, that if we will give him up 
 Lahore, he will not molest us. Hell alter his 
 tune before long. Major Lawrence, his wife, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 67 
 
 and child, have, I am sorry to say, been taken 
 by Chuttur Singh. Attock is besieged by the 
 same gentleman, and bravely defended by 
 Lieutenant Herbert, who is in charge of it with 
 nineteen guns. The Chief, it is said, wishes to 
 allow the two Singhs to effect a junction, and 
 take them in one fell swoop. Took a ride out in 
 the evening to the observatory, and had a 
 look at the enemy through a telescope; they 
 are in great numbers on this side of the river, 
 and seem to be very busy doing something. 
 As for their guns, they give them no rest day 
 or night — perpetual banging. They must have 
 the magazines of the world at their disposal. 
 Went to bed early. 
 
 Nov. 25. — We are very busy now, throwing 
 up batteries to commence operations. Two 
 companies of our's are out to-day. The man 
 of our regiment who was taken prisoner yes- 
 terday was brought in this morning by four 
 Sikhs, with " Shere Singh's compliments. " 
 He is such a perfect fool that they could get 
 nothing out of him. No more can we ; though 
 
68 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 questioned by several of the staff, he could 
 give no information whatever. He said that 
 " the murthering thieves had tied him to a 
 log, and put a guard over him ;" but " sorra 
 a bit did he get to ate or drink/' and he was 
 half-famished. He is a perfect Yahoo — just 
 caught from the wilds of Ireland, and can 
 speak very little English. He belongs to my 
 company, to its credit ; but as we only want 
 hands, not heads, it's no matter. Went over 
 in the afternoon to visit the batteries, and see 
 how the work was getting on. They fired 
 two guns at us, which came unpleasantly 
 close, but did no damage. Took a short ride 
 in the evening. General Wheeler has had a 
 brush with the enemy a short distance off, and 
 gave them a nice thrashing. The belief is, 
 that if we don't gain a victory soon, Gholab 
 Singh will join the Sikhs immediately, with all 
 his force. 
 
 Sunday, Nov. 26. — Breakfasted, and then 
 had to go with my company to finish the work 
 at one of the batteries. Completed it by 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 69 
 
 twelve, and returned to camp. Attended divine 
 service at four, performed by the army chap- 
 lain for our division. After that, I had to go 
 and bury a poor fellow in my company who 
 died last night. His grave was dug under a 
 large tree, a short way from camp ; and in it, 
 after the solemn service had been performed, 
 his body was laid. No coffin covered his 
 remains: his bed-clothes disguised, though 
 they could not hide, the rigid form of the 
 corpse; and thus he was lowered in. Three 
 volleys were fired over him, and all departed, 
 except a few who staid to see the work com- 
 pleted. I was much pleased with an action of 
 theirs, which showed a great deal of feeling. 
 Before the earth was thrown in, they brought 
 a number of green boughs, and two of them 
 descending, wove a sort of leafy canopy over 
 him, to keep the earth from pressing too 
 heavily on their unconscious comrade. How 
 soon, I thought, may such a grave, or even a 
 less ceremonious one, be mine ; no friend or 
 relative will ever know the spot — none ever 
 
70 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 shed a tear oyer it. Far away from human 
 habitation — no countryman may pass the place, 
 until the name is obliterated by time. 
 
 " One in the region of the East, 
 By a dark stream is laid, 
 The Indian knows his place of rest, 
 Deep in the cedar shade." 
 
 Went to mess in the evening, and after a 
 short time retired to bed. 
 
 Nov. 27. — Up at sunrise ; paraded for the 
 inspection of his Excellency the Commander- 
 in-chief. After a quarter of an hour's shivering 
 under arms, his lordship with his staff behind 
 him swept by. The colours were lowered, the 
 band struck up, the men presented arms, the 
 officers saluted — and on passed the glittering 
 and prancing cavalcade, and we returned to 
 our tents. Poor Fitzgerald died in the night : 
 " poor fellow !" say all who hear of it, and he 
 is forgotten. I am on duty to-day, and have, 
 as usual, to pitch my tent by the guard, and 
 remain there in lonely stupidity ; but as to- 
 morrow is the last day for the mail, I will 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 71 
 
 spend my day in writing. Remained all day 
 at my post ; went to mess in the evening ; dined, 
 and then returned. The enemy were firing 
 away at a fine rate, saluting the new moon. 
 I hear General Steinbach, the leader of Gholab 
 Singh's army, has had a brush with Chuttur 
 Singh, who is on his way down, and given him 
 the worst of it. Slept in my clothes all night ; 
 had to turn out three or four times to make 
 my report to the different officers going round ; 
 but at last got to sleep. 
 
 Nov. 28. — Returned at sunrise ; wrote letters 
 all day. The enemy are very busy mining on 
 both banks of the river : we can see them 
 plainly through a glass. We are waiting the 
 arrival of our heavy guns to commence the 
 attack — it will be a hard piece of fighting, if 
 they only remain firm. Colonel Havelock has 
 never been heard of, and there is but little 
 doubt of his fate ; he was seen wounded and 
 surrounded by the enemy. Holmes is doing 
 well ; he is a splendid fellow, and brave as a 
 lion : he was shot while carrying off General 
 
72 JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 
 
 Cureton's body alone from under a heavy fire. 
 Received your last letter to-day, and my uncle's ; 
 paraded in the afternoon, and in the evening 
 had to go out with my company on picket ; 
 passed the night under arms, as the Chief ex- 
 pected an attack ; however, all was quiet. And 
 now I must conclude for the present. Before 
 this reaches you, there will have been an 
 engagement. With my tenderest love to all, 
 good-by. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 CROSSING THE CHENAB. 
 
 Nov. 29. — Marched in my picket at day- 
 break ; dressed ; walked about till breakfast- 
 tiine ; and then, having devoured my morning 
 meal, sat down to complete my overland des- 
 patch. Upon my life, I pity you, if you ever 
 get it, and have to read it through : I did so 
 myself, and I assure you it was very hard work, 
 and I only got the packet finished just in time. 
 Felt in rather low spirits after I had sent it 
 off ; so took a walk over to the artillery, to 
 freshen myself. Joined a lot of fellows at 
 
 B ? s tent, and discussed very learnedly 
 
 the best mode of attack ; sat there chatting 
 
74 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 until sunset, and then returned to camp. Took 
 a mussack of cold water, very cold — capital 
 thing for the health ; went to mess ; dined, 
 and sat some time discussing our present cir- 
 cumstances. The enemy are strongly intrenched 
 — the bank on both sides probably well mined ; 
 and their guns so well masked that it would 
 take our artillery a good two hours to dislodge 
 them at such a distance as eight hundred yards. 
 But enough — we shall see what we shall see. 
 
 Nov. 30. — Paraded at sunrise for exercise ; 
 had a couple of hours of it ; breakfasted, and 
 here I am. Staid in camp all day writing. 
 We are to attack to-morrow. Campbell's divi- 
 sion has moved off to the right about nine 
 miles, to cross at a ford, and take the enemy in 
 flank ; we attack, I believe, in front. The 
 heavy guns have arrived, and a lot of our men 
 are out to-night constructing a battery for them. 
 Went to mess, and spent a very pleasant even- 
 ing. About nine a vidette came galloping in, 
 to say that the enemy were advancing ; got all 
 ready ; but it turned out to be a false alarm. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 75 
 
 Walked out, and yisited the picket ; had a 
 
 chat with T , and then came back and 
 
 went to bed. 
 
 Dec. 1. — We attack to-day, I believe at 
 one, as soon as General Campbell has got to 
 his place — and then for my first action. Break- 
 fasted at eight, and here I am writing : if I 
 ever finish this page, I hope to have something 
 worth recording. Evening. — At nine o'clock the 
 right wing was ordered out to work at the 
 throwing up of a new battery in front of the one 
 we raised the other day, and about three hun- 
 dred yards in advance ; the left wing had been 
 working at it all night, and we relieved them. 
 Heard, that from Sir Joseph Thackwell's and 
 Campbell's divisions being opposed at the place 
 where they were intended to have crossed, they 
 had gone on to Wuzeerabad, and therefore the 
 attack could not take place that day. Worked 
 away until four o'clock, when we finished the 
 battery : it consists of two 24-pounders, three 
 mortars, and four eight-inch howitzers. There 
 is another battery thrown up on the left of this. 
 
76 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 They say we shall attack for certain to-morrow 
 morning. Spent a very pleasant evening at 
 mess ; had an argument with several of our's 
 in defence of Sir Walter Scott's poems, which 
 they had the bad taste to pronounce second- 
 rate : — you've no idea how one enjoys a quiet 
 dinner and a comfortable chat, after being. out 
 all day in the sun. Turned in about ten, and 
 slept like a top. 
 
 Dec. 2. — Breakfasted at eight ; some unfore- 
 seen delay has detained Sir J. Thackwell, and 
 we don't attack to-day after all. Out at nine 
 with the right wing, to act as a covering party 
 to the artillery. The Chief came up at ten, 
 and, after reconnoitring for some time, would 
 stand it no longer, and ordered the batteries to 
 open on the enemy. They commenced an up- 
 roar such as I never heard before ; the twenty- 
 fours went off with a roar that shook the very 
 earth ; and the shot rushed through the air 
 with a noise like a mighty winged spirit, till 
 the very atmosphere was stunned. I was look- 
 ing through a telescope all the time, and saw 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 77 
 
 where each shot took effect. The enemy were 
 all in their trenches in five minutes, the tents 
 struck, and not a man to be seen ; some of 
 the shells were beautifully pitched, and burst 
 right above them — they must have done great 
 execution. Presently they opened on us with 
 their batteries, and kept up a sharp cannon- 
 ading all day : however, we were so well pro- 
 tected that only one man was knocked over, 
 losing his leg just below the knee ; an ammu- 
 nition-waggon was blown up by one of the 
 shells, and exploded with an awful row, but, 
 wonderful to say, not a soul was hurt. We 
 continued out all day, during which time the 
 firing was kept up ; we were then relieved and 
 marched into camp. Dined, sat a short time, 
 and went to bed, as I have to go out again 
 with a working party at one o'clock. 
 
 Dec. 3. — Up at one, and dressed. Joined 
 the right wing in front, and marched off for 
 the new battery. Somehow or other, in the 
 dark, we managed to lose our way, and, after 
 two hours' walking about, found ourselves on 
 
78 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 the banks of the river, and so close that we 
 could hear the enemy talking and working. 
 Crept back again in total silence, expecting to 
 be opened on every minute, and at last man- 
 aged to reach camp, whence we started again, 
 and, after a good deal of trouble, and walking 
 at least six miles, found out our party, who 
 were throwing up a breastwork within 150 
 yards of the river ; relieved them, and worked 
 away in total silence until daybreak, when we 
 had finished, and had constructed two batteries, 
 and a breastwork of 300 yards at least, with 
 a deep ditch for infantry. At daybreak we 
 expected their batteries would have opened 
 upon us ; but all was quiet, and not a man to 
 be seen on the other side of the river. They 
 have evidently withdrawn all their guns to 
 oppose Campbell. At eight o'clock we were 
 marched back again, and had just time to 
 change our clothes, and take a hasty breakfast, 
 when the whole brigade was ordered to march 
 and join Campbell. Started at ten, and 
 marched along the river to the right. The sun 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 79 
 
 was fearfully hot, and the men were so knocked 
 up with night-work, that it was quite painful 
 to see their haggard appearance : they haven't 
 had their accoutrements off for two days. I 
 had got no horse, so I had to trudge along too, 
 as well as I could ; and hard work it was, I can 
 tell you. After having walked about all night, 
 reached the river at four o'clock, and halted 
 while the boats were got ready. From two 
 o'clock until evening we heard a heavy cannon- 
 ading on the other side of the river — Thackwell 
 and Campbell evidently hard at work. We were 
 half mad at the idea that there was an action 
 going on and we should be too late. We could 
 see plainly immense clouds of smoke and dust 
 rolling along on the other side ; and, though 
 we worked like horses, the boats were not ready 
 until five. All the officers were up to their 
 waists in water until seven o'clock, keeping the 
 men back from crowding into the boats ; and 
 such a scene of shouting, struggling, and con- 
 fusion, you never saw. It was all we could 
 do, to restrain the men from overloading the 
 
80 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 boats ; but at last we succeeded in crossing the 
 whole regiment over : the 70 th and 45th, how- 
 ever, were unable to cross that night. Drew 
 up on the other side ; piled arms, and prepared 
 to bivouac for the night in our wet clothes. 
 One man in my company managed to lose his 
 shoes and unmentionables ; so I, in the softness 
 of my heart, lent him my cloak, and spent the 
 night as well as I could, which, without cover- 
 ing, food, or fire, was miserably enough. I was 
 obliged to walk about until my clothes dried, — 
 and then lay down on the damp ground, and 
 slept at intervals of a quarter of an hour ; vary- 
 ing the amusement by starting up and rushing 
 furiously up and down, until I got into a glow ; 
 then lying down again, until the cold obliged 
 me to repeat the process. And thus we passed 
 the night, all of us most excessively miserable ; 
 and never, I believe, was dawn of day more 
 welcomed than that which broke on 
 
 Dec. 4. — By nine o'clock all the troops were 
 crossed over, and, after devouring, like so many 
 cannibals, some fragments of bread and cold 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 81 
 
 meat, which made their appearance about eight 
 o'clock, we resumed our march. Major Tait, 
 with the 3d Irregulars, joined us from the main 
 body, and gave us an account of yesterday's 
 proceedings. About two o'clock the enemy 
 opened their fire on Campbell's division, which 
 our artillery returned with interest, doing great 
 execution ; and this continued all day. The 
 Chief having given orders not to advance, the 
 infantry were not engaged ; so we have lost 
 nothing by not being up. The game at long 
 bowls continued all afternoon : our loss was 
 trifling ; but the enemy suffered very severely. 
 Lall Singh, one of their bravest sirdars, is re- 
 ported killed ; and in the night — would you 
 credit it 1 — they left their intrenched position ; 
 and when we joined the army, they were in 
 full retreat toward the Jhelum, leaving their 
 defences at Ramnuggur, which, as we have 
 since discovered, we could not have taken with- 
 out immense loss. They were enormously 
 strong ; intrenchments six deep ; and their 
 magazines so constructed as to be entirely 
 
82 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 bomb-proof. The river in front was breast- 
 high, and very swift ; so the Chief may congra- 
 tulate himself on having gained possession so 
 cheaply. However, the enemy suffered a good 
 deal; some four hundred were lying dead on the 
 ground as we passed ; horses and men strewed 
 about in heaps : it was my first view of the 
 horrors of war, and a very sickening sight it 
 was. Our troops suffered greatly from fatigue 
 and hunger. The sepoys have not tasted food 
 for two days ; and the Europeans are almost 
 as badly off. An officer's charger was shot 
 dead, close to the 61st Queen's, and, before 
 half an hour was passed, they had roasted him, 
 dismembered him, and eaten him : rather deli- 
 cate feeding, you will say. Well ! to cut a long 
 story short, we marched the whole day without 
 food. The Chief crossed over at Ramnuggur 
 and joined us, and we followed as fast as we 
 could on the enemy's retreat ; but with tired 
 men and horses it was cruel work ; and after 
 twenty miles it was mere crawling along. How- 
 ever, we went toiling along until nine o'clock 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 83 
 
 at night ; officers and men equally done up ; 
 and then we halted, and, after devouring half 
 a loaf of bread each, lay down by our arms, 
 and passed another night on the bare ground, 
 saturated with dew, and half frozen. I awoke 
 two or three times in the night, and so great 
 was the universal fatigue, that, from the large 
 army assembled there, not a sound was heard. 
 I could have fancied myself alone on the vast 
 plain : at last, in spite of cold and everything 
 else, I fell asleep, and slept till morning. 
 
 Dec. 5. — Up at daybreak ; picked some 
 bones, and walked about until ten o'clock, when, 
 to our great delight, our tents made their ap- 
 pearance. Pitched them as quickly as possible; 
 luxuriated in a mussack of water, and a change 
 of linen ; and then, throwing myself on my bed, 
 enjoyed a most refreshing sleep. I have got 
 no bad effects from the last two days' bivouack- 
 ing but a return of my old cough, which I have 
 regularly every winter. Got dinner at half- 
 past four ; and thirty more hungry men, 111 
 venture to say, never sat down to table. We 
 
84 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 halt here, I believe, for some time. The enemy 
 are about fifteen miles ahead ; they have been 
 augmented by the Peshawur troops, who, it was 
 reported, had joined before under Chuttur 
 Singh ; but such was not the case. I suppose 
 we shall be at them soon. 
 
 Dec. 6. — Here we are still, all comfortable 
 but awfully disgusted. We have gained a 
 strong position, but we have lost the enemy ; 
 and when we shall catch them again, heaven 
 only knows. The artillery lost between twenty 
 and thirty men killed and wounded, and several 
 officers. Our men have suffered a good deal 
 from the cold and exposure ; several have lost 
 the use of their limbs, and one poor fellow is 
 dying. They say that, after we have taught 
 these fellows a lesson, the Punjaub is to be 
 abandoned, and that now we are to go back to 
 Wuzeerabad until we hear of the fall of Mool- 
 tan, and to try and entice the Sikhs to advance 
 again. Where they are at present, we cannot 
 touch them : they have taken up their quarters 
 in a large forest on the Jhelum, where cavalry 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTEUN. 85 
 
 and artillery are useless. Wrote most part of 
 the morning ; tiffed, and then played a game 
 at cricket. 
 
 Dec. 8. — Paraded for the inspection of the 
 Chief. Had to wait the usual time in the 
 cold. At last he came, — called out the major, 
 and commended us highly for our steadiness 
 on the 22d, and our spirited exertions since — 
 and kindly gave us credit for qualities 
 which we have hardly bad an opportunity 
 to prove ; although, I have no doubt, we 
 should have been all he called us. However, 
 we shall have a chance yet. After breakfast it 
 came on to rain, and poured in torrents all 
 morning. In the afternoon, it cleared up a little, 
 and we changed ground for about two miles. 
 In the evening, it came on again — the whole 
 country was flooded, and we had literally to 
 wade over to the mess -tent. In the middle of 
 
 dinner, R , whom I knew very well at 
 
 Benares, and who has exchanged out of the 
 48th N.I., into our corps, arrived : he had 
 ridden all the way from Ramnuggur in the 
 
86 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 rain, and was wet through. Brought him in, 
 and gave him food, and something to keep off 
 the bad effects of his ducking, and put him into 
 my bed for the night, while I went and slept on 
 
 the floor in B ? s tent ; — and a very pleasant 
 
 time I had of it — with about six dogs tumbling 
 over me all night — walking over my face — 
 lying on my chest — and other amusing gambols. 
 
 Dec. 9. — Up at daybreak, dressed, wandered 
 about through the camp, which presented very 
 much the appearance of the bed of a river 
 just drained off. Breakfasted; presented 
 
 R to the commanding officer — played 
 
 cricket all day, and leap-frog by moonlight. 
 
 Sunday, Dec. 10. — Staid at home all day; 
 sent my letter of introduction to Major Tait : 
 I have had it in my desk for two years now, 
 and never hoped to have an opportunity of 
 delivering it. However, here he is, with his 
 corps pitched close to us : a very fine set of 
 fellows they are. I never should guess Major 
 Tait to be a brother of the Doctor's — there is 
 not the slightest resemblance either in voice or 
 
JOURNAL OP A SUBALTERN. 87 
 
 feature, — though I doubt not there is in cha- 
 racter, as Major Tait is universally liked. 
 
 Dec. 11. — Up early, and took a ride on 
 
 B 's mare before breakfast. I am sorry 
 
 to say Deception is so reduced with the 
 influenza, and his recovery so extremely 
 doubtful, that I have been obliged to part 
 with him for about a quarter of his value ori- 
 ginally ; and now I am without a horse, and 
 if I ever have another that's worth a song 
 
 well, never mind! Breakfasted, wrote 
 
 in the morning, and read a book on natural 
 history which I managed to get hold of — 
 played a game of cricket in the afternoon — 
 bathed, and went to mess. 
 
 Bee. 12. — All quiet. We don't know what 
 we are going to do. We changed our encamp- 
 ing ground this afternoon, and are now in 
 front of the whole army, at the commencement 
 of a thick thorn jungle. 
 
 Bee. 13. — Up early, and went out coursing 
 in the jungle in front. Saw nothing but a re- 
 connoitring party of the enemy, which, as we 
 
88 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 were only three in number, and unarmed, 
 checked our further progress. Returned to 
 breakfast. There are a great many rumours 
 about at present, and it is doubtful whether 
 they will not make some rotten treaty after 
 all. Major Lawrence is a prisoner in the 
 enemy's camp, and a good deal of negotiating 
 is going on. 
 
 Dec. 14. — Took a walk in a garden 
 about two miles off, where we amused our- 
 selves with eating oranges, and pelting one 
 another with citrons and pomegranates, which 
 hung on the trees in clusters. Spent an hour 
 there wandering about very pleasantly, and 
 then raced back to camp. I don't think I 
 shall ever keep a horse again, as I can almost 
 always get a mount from somebody, — a friend's 
 horse and my own spurs, shall be my maxim. 
 Played quoits — took my daily bathe — dined 
 at the artillery mess. Met Sir Richmond 
 Shakespeare, who commands the battery near- 
 est us: he was knighted for rescuing some 
 ladies in Cabool, and seems a very intelligent 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 89 
 
 man. He has travelled a great deal in Russia 
 — and some of his stories were very amusing 
 and instructive. 
 
 Sunday, Dec. 1 7. — Service in the mess tent. 
 At home all day. I don't know what we are 
 to do next. Rather an odd state of things, 
 with the enemy within twelve miles; but I 
 believe we are waiting for the fall of Mooltan. 
 
 Dec. 18. — We were ordered to march to- 
 morrow, but the order was countermanded. 
 In the middle of the night, we had a most 
 tremendous storm — the thunder literally shook 
 the ground, and the rain came down in tor- 
 rents, dripping through my miserable tent, and 
 wetting me to the skin. Spent a very pleasant 
 evening in consequence. 
 
 Dec. 19. — Bitterly cold after the rain, — a 
 cutting wind blowing all day. Wrote, wandered 
 about, and was very miserable. 
 
 Dec. 21. — Another cricket-match; nothing 
 but cricket now-a-days. The enemy carried off 
 200 of our camels to-day out grazing. As it 
 chanced, I saw a poor old villager brought in, 
 
90 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 shot through the head. The ball had passed 
 through his temples, and his long gray hair 
 was dabbled with blood, which trickled through 
 the bottom of the bier, leaving a crimson trail 
 along the ground. A few months ago, the 
 sight would have sickened me; but I have 
 seen so many such lately, that the feelings 
 grow callous, and a passing sensation of oppres- 
 sion and pity was all the emotion it excited. 
 
 Dec. 23. — At the quarter-guard on duty: 
 wrote letters, and indulged in melancholy 
 retrospections. 
 
 Sunday, Dec. 24. — Service in the morning. 
 
 Received your last dear over-land read 
 
 it, and wrote all day. Took a meditative walk 
 towards sunset, and thought of past Christmas 
 days; returned, and wrote again till mess- 
 time. Retired early. 
 
 Dec. 25. — It is Christmas day. No merry 
 bells are pealing their glad notes through the 
 air — no green boughs adorn our desolate-look- 
 ing camp. There is a forced cheerfulness on 
 every brow, hiding the achings of a sad heart. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTEKN. 01 
 
 They are thinking of the Christmas days passed 
 by, poor fellows! and the contrast with the 
 present seems to mock them. At a season 
 like this, my heart yearns towards you. How 
 vividly and how brightly fond memory calls up 
 the past — how sweetly sound the voices of 
 years gone by ! God bless you all ! A merry, 
 merry Christmas to you, and a new year 
 radiant with happiness. Bang go the big 
 guns ! — they are firing a salute in honour of the 
 good old time. Merrily bubbles the old tin 
 pot, in which the men, poor fellows! are boil- 
 ing a round ball of mysterious compounds, 
 which, in the innocence of their hearts, they 
 call a plum-pudding — (the confounded thing 
 was hissing away all last night) — and very 
 proud they seem of their performance. " Re- 
 minds you of Christmas at home, this, sir V 9 
 said one of them to me. " Oh ! very much so, 
 indeed," said I. But this is no day for 
 repinings — let me at least keep up a semblance 
 of old times, and not insult the spirit of the 
 day by a clouded brow. 
 
92 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 u Hope has not ceased in my bosom to dwell, 
 And with radiant finger it beckons me on." 
 
 Up at sunrise, and took a walk; distributed 
 a few merry Christmases to various discon- 
 solate-looking individuals ; attended Divine 
 service. Partook of the Christmas dinner, 
 and spent as merry an evening as we could, 
 with the help of a few songs, and a skirl on 
 the bagpipes, which drew all the Scotchmen 
 in the regiment round the mess-tent. 
 
 Dec. 26. — The Bombay troops have at last 
 arrived at Mooltan, and operations were to 
 have commenced to-day. 
 
 Dec. 27. — Up at daybreak, and rode over 
 
 to Ramnuggur with Sprot and De M , to 
 
 the Chiefs camp. One-third of the army is 
 behind at Ramnuggur with the headquarters, 
 on this side of the river, about six miles off. 
 
 Thus ends the journal for the present. I 
 am sorry I have no tale of battle to tell : we 
 have had lots of hard work, and some danger, 
 but no general action. The affair of the 3d 
 was a brilliant thing for the artillery ; but the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 93 
 
 infantry and cavalry had nothing to do. 
 Where we shall be when you receive this, I 
 don't know. Mooltan will probably have 
 fallen, and a blow have been struck towards 
 the destruction of those 40,000 gentlemen who 
 have taken up their quarters in such near 
 proximity to the army of the Punjaub. And 
 now, farewell. I trust that, in the next de- 
 spatch, I shall have a tale to tell. Give my 
 best love to all at home, and wish them for 
 me a merry Christmas, and a happy new year ! 
 Do not be uneasy about me ; I am under the 
 protection of Him who ordereth all for the 
 best. 
 
 Camp, Keila, Dec. 28, 1848. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BATTLE OF CHILIANWALLA. 
 
 Dec. 29. — Up at daybreak, and yisited 
 the provisions ; relieved guard, breakfasted, 
 played a game at cricket, wrote letters, went 
 to mess, &c. 
 
 Dec. 30. — Up early, marched off my guard; 
 went down to the 70th, and found a lot of fel- 
 lows practising leaping. Of course, I couldn't 
 resist the opportunity ; leapt up to my lip on 
 
 level ground ; can H or C beat that 
 
 now 1 Had a foot-race afterwards, and lost it 
 by a little — I suppose from being out of prac- 
 tice. 
 
 Dec. 31. — Marched to church parade in the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 95 
 
 afternoon with the regiment. The service was 
 performed by Mr Whiting, the army chaplain, 
 in front of the camp, where all the European 
 troops were drawn up in a square. After it was 
 over we marched back again, with our band 
 playing. Sat up till twelve, to see the new 
 year come in. 
 
 And here I am, after all the perils with 
 which your fancy has doubtless pictured me as 
 surrounded, safe and sound as ever, and about 
 as ignorant of what will be the result of the 
 campaign as when I last wrote. Lord Gough 
 won't let me into his confidence, and I'm afraid 
 I shan't be knighted this time. However, the 
 Duke of Wellington didn't come out very strong 
 in his first campaign, so there is some hope for 
 me yet. Still, often do I long for the expira- 
 tion of the years that must transpire before 
 I again set foot in old England : what a time 
 it seems ! But it will pass quickly with me — 
 shifting and changing, marching, novelty, and 
 all that, make short work of the months that 
 seem to crawl to you, poor stationary indivi- 
 
96 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 duals. One thing I thank God for — I still 
 keep my health, and am never sick or sorry. 
 It is a great blessing out here, and I cannot be 
 sufficiently thankful for it. I think the way I 
 have been living this campaign would have 
 killed most people : — exposed to heat, cold, 
 damp, and every description of discomfort, — 
 with a piece of rag stuck on the top of three 
 poles, called a tent, to cover me, open to every 
 quarter of the heaven, and through the top of 
 which I nightly study astronomy. And yet, 
 instead of being laid up with rheumatism, or 
 prostrated with fever, I am in better health 
 than most people in camp, and care no 
 more for discomforts, than if I were as accus- 
 tomed to exposure as a battery-horse, which is 
 about the worst-treated animal I know. All 
 this I attribute to having a good constitution, 
 and not having been made a molly-coddle of 
 at home. 
 
 1849. Jan. 1. — A happy new year to you ! 
 Awoke at daybreak, by the band playing "The 
 Light of other Days " at my tent. Very much 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 97 
 
 obliged to them for the compliment, but wished 
 them at the time anywhere else. Got up, 
 however, and dressed. This is the commence- 
 ment of a new year, the third new-year's day 
 away from home. If three years ago I had 
 looked forward, and seen where I was to spend 
 this, I should have been considerably aston- 
 ished. Here I am, pitched in the midst of a 
 howling wilderness, with a sea of tents around 
 me. If I go out to play a game at cricket, 
 and hit a good swipe to point, the field has to 
 fish the ball out from among the w r heels of a 
 battery ; if I hit to leg, it goes slap into a 
 stand of arms ; and if to long-slip, it goes in 
 amongst the sepoys' pots and pans, and pro- 
 bably destroys some poor devil's dinner. That's 
 what you call cricket under novel circum- 
 stances ! However, this is only our practice- 
 ground; for matches, w T e have a piece of ground 
 about a mile in the rear. 
 
 The Chief has moved his camp up from 
 Ramnuggur to within three miles. A small 
 body of troops has been sent off on a scour, to 
 
98 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 intercept a Sikh chief who is on his way, with 
 some cavalry and two guns, to join Shere 
 Singh. Whether they will succeed or not is 
 doubtful. 
 
 Jan. 2. — Rode over to the Chiefs camp, 
 to play a cricket-match. The same every day. 
 
 Jan. 5. — The suburbs of Mooltan have 
 fallen — the work of destruction has begun ; and 
 while I write, many, whose fond relatives are 
 anxiously waiting for the next letter from a 
 son, a brother, or a husband, are lying in that 
 voiceless sleep from which no sound shall wake 
 them ; and the next letter these fond ones will 
 receive will bear the news of death on its sable 
 borders. One of the enemy's magazines was 
 blown up by a shell from our mortars, and an 
 immense breach formed by the explosion. The 
 Sikhs immediately after sprang up on the bat- 
 tlements, and fired a salvo from every gun on 
 us. They are all brave fellows in that devoted 
 garrison, and many a regiment will lose the 
 number of its mess before the proud standard 
 of England waves over its walls. They will 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 99 
 
 have attacked by this time, and all is probably 
 over. The loss at present is rather heavy : 
 fifty-four killed and wounded, of whom eighteen 
 are officers — names as yet unknown. Playfair 
 and Gordon of the 60th Rifles, killed, we know 
 of. They say in the Chiefs camp that we shall 
 be at long bowls again before next week is 
 over. 
 
 Jan. 7. — News from Mooltan — the city has 
 fallen. The attack was made at two breaches 
 at the same time. The 1st Bombay Fusileers, a 
 sister corps, were the first to plant the standard 
 on the walls. The other breach was found im- 
 practicable. So we have taken the shine out 
 of the Queen's this time. Paraded for church 
 service in the afternoon. We were all ordered 
 to be on the alert in the morning, on account 
 of large bodies of the enemy having been seen 
 in front. Had to wait half-an-hour for the 
 clergyman, who did not come after all, and the 
 service was read by the brigadier. 
 
 Jan. 8. — ... At dinner there was 
 an alarm, and my company was ordered out ; 
 
100 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 so we had to leave the un tasted viands, and 
 sally forth. . . . The alarm proved, as 
 usual, to be a false one, and originated in a 
 small party of cavalry, who were escorting pro- 
 visions from a neighbouring village, having been 
 attacked by two hundred of the Sikhs, and one 
 of them cut down. The rest galloped in and 
 gave the alarm to our pickets, who spread it 
 to the camp. 
 
 Jan. 9. — Marched at eight o'clock to change 
 ground to our right front, our brigade as rear- 
 guard. I never saw anything like the filth of 
 the camp ; it certainly was a necessary move- 
 ment : dead camels, bullocks, and tattoes lying 
 about in all directions, all raw and half-devoured 
 by the jackals and vultures, who hardly took 
 any notice of us as we passed. Several camels 
 fell down on the march, and were left to die. 
 The niggers have a prejudice against taking 
 away any life, except that of a human being ; 
 and if a poor brute is unable to proceed, from 
 lameness, weakness, or any other cause, he is 
 left, where he falls, to linger out his last agonies, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 101 
 
 and perish by a death of starvation at last. 
 
 . . . Went out with my company on 
 picket at sunset, five hundred yards in front, 
 posted the sentries so as to communicate with 
 the cavalry on our right, and the 70th on our 
 left, and then lay down in our clothes. There 
 
 are three of us with the company, N in 
 
 command. Passed the night without being dis- 
 turbed by any one except Jack Frost, who is 
 in great force now. 
 
 Jan. 10. — Marched in with the picket. 
 
 . . . Parade for inspection of General 
 Gilbert at half-past four. 
 
 Jan. 11. — Paraded for the inspection of the 
 Chief, who told us we were to attack to-morrow. 
 Played a cricket-match against the artillery. 
 
 . . . God bless you all, and preserve 
 me in the hour of battle to embrace you again ! 
 
 Jan. 12. — Marched at seven o'clock, and 
 got up to the place on the borders of the jungle 
 where the enemy were ; but they had retired to 
 their defences ; and when we reached our ground 
 about two o'clock, after a most fatiguing march, 
 
102 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 they had all decamped. We pitched our camp 
 for the day, dressed, and went to dinner. We 
 attack without doubt to-morrow. Spent a 
 very happy evening, and retired about twelve, 
 after shaking hands with one another. . . . 
 
 Jan. 14. — Two days have passed over, and, 
 thank God I am here to tell you. We have 
 had as severe an action as ever was fought in 
 India. But I will go back, and give it 
 you all in detail. On the morning of the 
 13th we marched at seven, struck our tents, 
 took a glass of wine all together, and drank to 
 every man's safety in the approaching action. 
 Marched about ten miles, and came upon a 
 thick jungle, where we were halted about an 
 hour. The artillery went ahead — and presently 
 we heard the cannonading commence — bang, 
 bang went the guns, one after the other, in 
 one continued, stunning roar ; and our hearts 
 beat, and our pulses quickened with anticipa- 
 tion. The enemy took it up, and a tremendous 
 fire was kept up for about half-an-hour, when 
 the word came for the infantry to advance — 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 103 
 
 " Fix bayonets ! Load ! Deploy into line ! 
 Quick march ! " And just then came a roll of 
 musketry, that drove us almost to madness. 
 " Quick march ! " And into the jungle we 
 plunged in line with a deafening cheer, the 
 roll of musketry increasing every moment. 
 On we went at a rapid double — dashing through 
 the bushes, and bounding over every impedi- 
 ment ; faster rolled the musketry — crash upon 
 crash the cannon poured forth its deadly con- 
 tents. On swept our brigade, and, gaining an 
 open space in the jungle, the whole of the 
 enemy's line burst on our view. "Charge!"' 
 rang the word through our ranks, and the men 
 bounded forward like angry bull-dogs, pouring 
 in a murderous fire. The enemy's bullets 
 whizzed above our heads ; the very air seemed 
 teeming with them ; man after man was struck 
 down, and rolled in the dust. But a passing 
 glance was all we could give them. And on- 
 ward we went, bearing on their line with a 
 steadiness which nothing could resist. They 
 fired a last volley, wavered, and then turned 
 
104 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 and fled, leaving the ground covered with dead 
 and wounded. Pursuit in a jungle like that 
 was useless, where we could not see twenty 
 yards before us ; so we halted, and began to 
 collect our wounded, — when all of a sudden a 
 fire was opened upon us in our rear. A large 
 body of the enemy had turned our flank in the 
 jungle, and got between us and the rest of the 
 troops ; another party were on our left ; and 
 we found ourselves, with one light field-battery, 
 completely surrounded and alone in the field. 
 The word was given, " Right-about face ! " and 
 we advanced steadily, loading and firing as we 
 went. Captain Dawes' battery was the saving 
 of us : — as the cavalry were bearing down, the 
 brigadier shouted, "A shower of grape in 
 there !" and every gun was turned on them, the 
 men working as coolly as on parade ; and a 
 salvo was poured in, that sent horse and man 
 head over heels, in heaps. If it had not been 
 for that battery, we should have been cut up to 
 a man. The fire was fearful ; the atmosphere 
 seemed alive with balls : I can only compare 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 105 
 
 it to a storm of hail. They sang above my head 
 and ears so thick, that I felt that if I put out 
 my hand, it would be taken off. A man was 
 knocked over on either side of me, and I ex- 
 pected every moment to be hit, so incessant 
 was the storm of balls. I thought about you 
 all, and breathed a short prayer — it was all I 
 had time for, for we were obliged to be almost 
 everywhere at once, keeping the men in line, 
 which, from the jungle, was extremely difficult. 
 Our firing was beautiful : every man was as 
 steady as a rock, and fired low and well ; while 
 the sepoys on our right were blazing away 
 into the air, and taking no aim whatever. 
 
 All this time the enemy were dodging about 
 the bushes, banging away at us, and then dis- 
 appearing. At last General Gilbert rode up, 
 and said to Steel, " Well, major, how are you? 
 Do you think you are near enough to charge V 
 "By all means," said Steel. "Well, then, 
 let's see how you can do it." " Men of the 
 2d Europeans, prepare to charge — Charge ! " 
 And on we went with a stunning cheer. Poor 
 
106 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 Nightingale was shot in the head, and fell at 
 my feet. I had just time to order two men 
 to pick him up. The Sikhs fought like devils. 
 They charged down on us, singly, sword in 
 hand, and strove to break through our line. 
 But it was no go ; and after a short struggle 
 we swept them before us, and remained mas- 
 ters of the field. This is only what happened 
 in our part of the field. The battle was gene- 
 ral all over the line, and we were in the extreme 
 right, and the thickness of the jungle prevented 
 our seeing what was going on anywhere else. 
 We took three of their guns in our second 
 charge, and spiked them on the ground. After 
 all was over, we did what we could for our 
 wounded — and a fearful sight it was, and one 
 to make a man's heart bleed : poor fellows 
 lying on the ground and writhing in agony, and 
 not a doctor or drop of water to be got. One 
 poor fellow in my company was mortally wound- 
 ed in the stomach, and lay bleeding t(5 death ; 
 another had his leg struck off, and the quiver- 
 ing of his frame was fearful. The enemy lay 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 107 
 
 in heaps around — some dead, some dying — but 
 fierce and untamed even in their dying struggle : 
 numbers of them were bayoneted by our men 
 in the act of rearing themselves up, and taking 
 aim at the officers. Several of our wounded 
 were cut to pieces in the rear, where we had 
 been obliged to leave them in the charge. Sur- 
 rounded as we were, it couldn't be avoided, and 
 fearful was the retaliation the Europeans took 
 for it — not a man was spared. The battle 
 lasted for three hours ; and so maddening was 
 the excitement that it seemed scarcely half-an- 
 hour. 
 
 The Chief rode down our line afterwards : we 
 gave him three cheers ; and proud we were of the 
 praise he gave us. In short, we have gained our- 
 selves a name. The brigadier and major did all 
 that commanding officers could do. The colours 
 were carried gallantly by De Mole and Toogood, 
 the two senior ensigns, and are shot through and 
 through. Our own loss is about seventy killed 
 and wounded; and our not having lost more 
 may be attributed to the beautiful order we 
 
108 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 kept, and the admirable way in which we were 
 supported by Captain Dawes' battery. But 
 alas ! in other parts of the field, the loss has 
 been tremendous. The 24th Queen's charged 
 up to a battery, and just as they gained the 
 muzzles of the guns, exhausted and out of breath, 
 grape was poured into them, and they were 
 driven back in confusion, leaving 450 of their 
 men on the ground. The 56th N. I. suffered 
 dreadfully too, and lost their colours : four guns 
 of Captain Christie's troop were taken by the 
 enemy ; Christie killed. The enemy were 
 60,000 all arms — which was fearful odds. They 
 overlapped us in numbers on each flank. Such a 
 mass of men I never set eyes on, and as plucky 
 as lions : they ran right on the bayonets of the 
 24th, and struck at their assailants when they 
 were transfixed. Men who have seen many a 
 campaign, say it was the ugliest piece of fight- 
 ing they ever had anything to do with — a 
 general action in a jungle, where you couldn't 
 see twenty yards, and were pelted at from every 
 bush. My leaping powers were in great requi- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 109 
 
 sition, and saved me many a scratch. Every 
 one fought as if the blood of kings was in his 
 veins, and each man emulated his fellow. If 
 we had only had two more hours of daylight, 
 we should have taken every gun they had, and 
 smashed them altogether ; but, even as it is, 
 their loss must have been tremendous. In front 
 of our regiment they lay in heaps of thirties 
 and forties ; and in other parts of the line, 
 where our artillery was thicker, the carnage 
 was immense. I had two or three very nar- 
 row escapes ; a man's arm was taken away 
 with a round-shot, touching me ; I had one 
 shoulder-knot shot off; and a fellow who was 
 lying with a leg smashed, about ten yards in 
 front, was taking a steady aim at me, when I 
 rushed forward to disarm him. He fired, and the 
 ball whizzed past my ear; I tried to save him, 
 but before I could interpose, he was riddled with 
 bayonets, and so, I am sorry to say, were 
 almost all the wounded. There is no holding in 
 the men when their blood is up. Our loss was 
 somewhere on three thousand killed and 
 
110 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 wounded; and the slaughter amongst the officers 
 is very great. Thirteen officers of the 24th 
 Queen's alone are lying dead in one tent, and 
 three more are dying. Nightingale's wound is 
 very dangerous ; the ball went in over the eye, 
 and traversed round the skull. But I am sick 
 of the details of slaughter ; our victory is dearly 
 purchased. 
 
 At sunset we collected as many of our 
 wounded as w r e could find, blew up all the 
 ammunition that we had taken, and moved out 
 of the jungle into the open ground, where we 
 piled arms and bivouacked on the ground. 
 A more wretched night I never passed : it came 
 on a thick drizzling rain, and we were wet to 
 the skin — to sleep was impossible, and we were 
 almost perishing with thirst. In my wander- 
 ings about in search of water, I came upon the 
 field hospital, and the sight I saw there I shall 
 remember to my dying day — poor wounded 
 wretches lying on the ground without a thing 
 to cover them. " Water — water — water ! " 
 was their ceaseless cry, and not a drop was 
 
JOUKNAL OF A SUBALTERN. Ill 
 
 there to slake their thirst. All the hospital 
 apparatus was behind, and there was not a 
 single comfort for the poor fellows : even medi- 
 cal assistance was very scarce ; many were lying 
 bleeding on the cold earth for hours, without 
 having a soul near them. The ghastly sight of 
 suffering, the fearful wounds and hideous gashes 
 that met my eyes, would poison an angel's 
 dreams. Never was dawn — a miserable and a 
 rainy one as it was — so welcome. 
 
 Jan. 14. — At daybreak the ground was 
 marked out for an encampment, and we moved 
 up in order. A mounted officer was sent off 
 for the baggage, and we kept ourselves warm 
 by walking about. The Chief then rode all 
 along the line, and congratulated us on our suc- 
 cess. We gave him three enthusiastic cheers — ■ 
 caps flew up in the clouds — and the fine old 
 fellow, with his grey hairs uncovered to the rain, 
 passed on along the troops, speaking kindly to 
 all, and one wild ringing cheer went down from 
 one end to the other. At eleven o'clock our 
 tent came up, and we got something to drink, 
 
112 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 and, throwing off our wet clothes, turned into 
 bed; and in spite of the storm of rain and wind 
 which lasted through the whole day with great 
 violence, slept like tops till dinner-time, when 
 we had the first food we had tasted for two 
 days. And didn't we just enjoy if? Put my bed 
 into Sprot's tent for the night, as my own was 
 leaking like a sieve. 
 
 Jan. 15. — A miserable, wretched day — the 
 rain pouring down in torrents. Visited our sick 
 men in hospital, and spoke to the poor fellows. 
 They are doing as well as can be expected, and 
 great hopes are entertained of poor Nightingale. 
 We brought in, I am sorry to say, only about 
 twenty of the guns we took; the enemy, I 
 fear, have recovered the rest : however, they'll 
 have some work to unspike them. Mooltan, 
 is reported to have fallen, and they say we 
 are to follow up our advantages directly. The 
 Sikhs, though they have received a smashing, 
 are by no means done for yet, — and, from the 
 way in which we have suffered, it is a very 
 ticklish business. Confound this jungle work. 
 
JOUENAL OF A SUBALTERN. 1 1 8 
 
 Oh ! for one day at the scoundrels in the open. 
 At four o'clock I went with the rest of the 
 officers to the funeral — a melancholy office it 
 was. The heavens were black with clouds, 
 and the rain poured down incessantly. Twenty- 
 five officers were buried in one spot ; thirteen 
 of the 24th Queen's were brought up one after 
 another, and buried in one grave. Briga- 
 dier Pennycuick and his son were buried in 
 another. The father was cut down first ; and 
 his son threw himself on his body, and was 
 killed there. Major Christie was buried in the 
 same grave with his men ; they fell together — 
 and now they sleep together in the bed of glory. 
 Ekins, the Deputy- Adjutant-General, was 
 buried there also. The enemy, we hear, have 
 not crossed the river, but are about four 
 miles ahead. . . . . Waded over 
 to mess, where a most miserable attempt at 
 dinner awaited us. The servants are unable 
 to light a fire sufficient to cook with, and con- 
 sequently everything was raw : however, we 
 
 were thankful to have whole throats to eat 
 
 H 
 
114 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 with. The rain continued all night, and 
 my bed-clothes were wet through ; but it 
 did not hinder me from sleeping soundly till 
 morning. 
 
 Jan. 16. — Still raining — wretched, wretched 
 weather, and very disheartening to the troops. 
 Went to the hospital — the men are most of 
 them doing as well as can be expected. One 
 poor fellow in my company, who was shot close 
 to me, died in the night. Nightingale is in a 
 dangerous state, but hopes are held out of 
 him. Young Godby is severely wounded, and 
 young Cureton killed. They say we are to 
 wait here for reinforcements; and indeed it is 
 necessary, for we are awfully crippled. At 
 four o'clock we buried poor Walden. The 
 clergyman was unable to attend, so I had to 
 read the service over him : the rain was pouring 
 all the time, and as there was no gravedigger 
 present, the men had to fill in the grave with 
 their hands and bayonets. The enemy's tents 
 are plainly to be seen on a hill about four miles 
 off. A sepoy, who had been taken prisoner, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 115 
 
 was sent back this morning with a message 
 from Shere Singh. He says that the enemy's 
 wounded are lying in heaps on the hill with- 
 out any attendance — left to die of their 
 wounds. 
 
 Jan. 1 7. — A beautiful day, thank God ! The 
 bright sunshine has come out again ; and no 
 one who has not experienced the misery of 
 wading through a wet camp, with mud up to 
 the ankles, can appreciate the blessing dry 
 weather is to a campaigner. Rode out to see 
 the battle-field — a sickening sight it was. The 
 enemy had come down in the night, after we 
 left the ground, and murdered every wounded 
 man. Many of them had evidently only been 
 hit in the legs, and they were gashed about in 
 a fearful manner. Every man had his throat 
 cut, and many their heads clean cut off. One 
 poor man of ours was obliged to be left behind in 
 the charge, and a lot of the enemy came down 
 and literally hewed him in pieces. Another, 
 who is now lying, doing well, in the hospital, 
 was awfully cut about too. He says that they 
 
116 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 took him and tossed him up in the air, to see 
 if he was alive ; but, as he himself quaintly 
 expressed it, " he had the presence of mind to 
 be dead/' The most fearful sight of all was in 
 front of the battery where the 24th had been 
 repulsed. One hundred and fifty of them lay 
 dead on the ground. They were literally in 
 heaps. The hideous way they had been 
 mangled by these inhuman fiends no tongue 
 can describe ; and no mercy will be shown by 
 our infuriated soldiers to any who fall in their 
 way. There were immense heaps of Sikhs 
 lying there too, but they had taken away the 
 greater number. They fired a salute of twenty- 
 one guns this morning, to commemorate the 
 arrival of some new rebel gentleman with a 
 large force. . . . Five companies had to 
 go out as a working party — we are, " 'tis true, 
 pity 'tis, 'tis true," intrenching ourselves — that 
 looks very much like waiting for the arrival of 
 the Mooltan troops. . . . Europeans we 
 want ; without more European infantry we can 
 do nothing. . . . Worked away at the breast- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 11 7 
 
 work until seven o'clock, when we were relieved. 
 All this style of thing falls upon the Europeans, 
 as the sepoys have a prejudice against it — no 
 fools they, for that same. However, T was 
 glad to see them clearing away the jungle in 
 front. 
 
 Jan. 18. — Played a game at cricket ; it has 
 become a sort of monomania with me. You 
 remember how fond I was of it at home ; I am 
 twice as much so now. At four o'clock, I went 
 out with my company to the front, to protect the 
 working party — a very pleasant duty to be 
 ordered on suddenly, as it entails the necessity of 
 going out supperless and tentless, and passing a 
 night sub Jove aperto, which in the month of 
 January tendeth to the congealing of the blood 
 in the extremities of the limbs. So out we went. 
 T E and myself. Posted the sen- 
 tries, lit a fire, and stood chatting around it till 
 about ten, when it evanesced ; so we wrapped 
 ourselves up in our cloaks, and slept till day- 
 break. 
 
 Jan. 19. — Two of the Sikh Sirdars came 
 
1 1 8 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 oyer to us to-day ; one of them, Elahee Bux, 
 commands the Sikh artillery. From their ac- 
 count, with a couple of hours' more daylight, 
 we should have totally routed them. Shere 
 Singh and a great portion of the army had 
 gone across the river, and were brought back 
 the next morning : they say our artillery did 
 fearful execution, and they considered that it 
 was all up with them. We lost all our band 
 instruments, our canteen, and our treasure- 
 chest — no private property, however, is missing. 
 Sales are going on, daily, of dead officers' effects, 
 which go for one eighth of their value — a piece 
 of injustice both to a man's friends and to his 
 creditors. But it can't be helped. 
 
 Jan. 20. — Found a snake under my bed 
 this morning, and took the liberty of killing 
 him. Two of the 9th Lancers who were taken 
 prisoners the other day, were sent back this 
 morning with Shere Singh's compliments. They 
 seemed rather sorry to come back, as they had 
 been treated like princes, pilawed with cham- 
 pagne and brandy to the masthead, and sent 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 119 
 
 away with ten rupees each in his pocket. Shere 
 Singh is evidently providing for the worst, and 
 making as favourable an impression as he can. 
 The Sirdars are a fine set of fellows enough ; 
 it is only the rabble that perpetrate all these 
 atrocities. There are six of their wounded now 
 in our hospital, and treated with the greatest 
 care. 
 
 Jan. 21. — Divine service at eleven o'clock in 
 tire mess tent ; after that took a walk out to 
 the trenches. There is a breastwork thrown 
 up along the face of the camp, interspersed 
 with batteries here and there. Whilst we were 
 down, a lot of the enemy came and attacked 
 our cavalry picket, and fired at the videttes. 
 However, a nine-pounder shot pitched into the 
 middle of them was very persuasive, and they 
 quickly went to the right-about. We are ex- 
 pecting an attack every night and day, and are 
 all ready for them. By the bye, I have been 
 
 lucky enough to procure a decent tent. B 
 
 has bought a new one, and lent me his old 
 one. I should surely have been laid up if 
 
120 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 I had continued in my own little memento 
 mori. 
 
 Jan. 22. — A very miserably juicy day, rain- 
 ing like a water-pot — very dark and very 
 wretched. What an influence a wet day has 
 on a man's mind ! You remember how out of 
 sorts I used to be at home, when I could not 
 get out ; so you can form a feeble picture of 
 what I am now T , where, instead of a large 
 house, a warm fire, &c, I have a small com- 
 fortless tent, no carpet, damp ground, all up 
 and down like a small common — no table, a 
 chair without a back, and a bed with rickety 
 legs. If I wish to go over to the mess tent, 
 I have to wade across a place like the Slough 
 of Despond, stumbling over tent-ropes, slipping 
 into holes, scratching myself in bushes, and 
 arriving there wet through, and finding every- 
 thing just as miserable as what I left. The 
 camp is a regular lake. I was obliged to 
 make a spindle-shanked Hindoo carry me over 
 to breakfast — and what did the ill-favoured 
 heathen do, but drop me into the midst of the 
 
JOURNAL OP A SUBALTERN. 121 
 
 deepest pool. So, of course, I rolled him in the 
 mud to make all quits, and arrived at mess 
 about twice as wet and dirty as I should have 
 
 been if I had walked. Dined with T in 
 
 his tent, and had a comfortable chat. About 
 nine I attempted to get home — it was as dark 
 as a wolfs mouth ; and after half-an-hour's 
 stumbling about up to my knees, through mud 
 and water, I found myself, I don't know 
 where. The rain was pouring down all the 
 time, the wind was blowing me almost back- 
 wards, and I couldn't see a yard before me. 
 T never was in such a fix in my life ; it took 
 me a good hour to find my tent, and when I 
 did, I was quite done up. Obliged to sleep 
 in my clothes, according to order — so lay down, 
 and pulling off my boots, dropped off. The 
 rain continued all night without intermission. 
 I never witnessed anything like it, even in the 
 rains. If there had been an attack, I don't 
 believe a man in the camp would have heard 
 it. 
 
 Jan. 23. — Raining all day. 
 
122 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 Jan. 24. — Fine weather at last. Obliged, 
 however, to keep quiet, as I have strained a 
 set of muscles by over-exertion. My legs are 
 not my own this morning, and I hobble about 
 most ludicrously. I begin also to suffer from rheu- 
 matism, and must try and look out for a cheap 
 blanket, or I shall be unfit for service. To- 
 wards evening, the Sikhs fired a salute of 
 twenty-one guns : I suppose some other black- 
 guard has joined them. With the battery 
 spy-glass one can see beautifully into their 
 camp, and nice work they are evidently pre- 
 paring for us. Large parties are working per- 
 petually, throwing up defences. A fresh 
 battery appears every day. The Chief held a 
 council of war to-day. 
 
 Jan. 25. — Not very well. About two 
 o'clock there was an alarm, and my company 
 was ordered out on advanced picket. Took 
 out my miserable old tent, and arranged our- 
 selves for the night. At sunset we were visited 
 by the brigadier, and received orders, in case 
 of an attack, to hold our position until most 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 123 
 
 of us were killed, and then to retire on the 
 breastwork in rear. Dined in the dark, as a 
 candle in ray tent is a luxury I have not en- 
 joyed this whole march, and then lay down in 
 my clothes. At ten o'clock, it began to pour 
 with rain, and lasted without a lull all night. 
 At two I had to go my rounds, and of course 
 got wet through ; came back, and lay down 
 again — though, for all the protection my canvass 
 was, I might as well have been in the open air. 
 The tent rocked to and fro, at every gust of 
 wind; the water rushed through its many 
 apertures, and I expected it down every 
 moment : however, that didn't hinder me from 
 falling fast asleep, and sleeping soundly till 
 morning. 
 
 Jan. 26. — Woke at daybreak. Still raining 
 violently. The tent was so flooded that the 
 water rose half-way up the legs of my bed, on 
 the top of which I lay very much in the posi- 
 tion of the ark on Mount Ararat. Not being 
 able to rise, I made the best of my position, 
 and went to sleep again. At eight o'clock it 
 
] 24 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 ceased, and the sun came out brightly. The 
 clouds all cleared away rapidly, and slunk off, 
 as if they were ashamed of having spent a 
 night in persecuting three harmless subalterns 
 and a company of unfortunate Europeans. 
 Waded out of my tent, and fished about till I 
 found a piece of ground, on which I stood to 
 get dry — breakfasted there, and then lay down 
 on my bed, and read till the sun had dried up 
 the greater portion of the surrounding pools. 
 At two o'clock a royal salute, thundered out 
 from our big guns, announced the welcome 
 intelligence of the fall of Mooltan. I was 
 looking through the glass at the Sikh camp, 
 and I could see, as the loud report from the 
 heavies came booming through the air, it 
 seemed to swarm with human beings. Thou- 
 sands on thousands seemed to be rushing about, 
 evidently not knowing what to make of it. 
 Bowie, one of our politicals, came into our 
 camp to-day on parole, with a proposition 
 from Shere Singh as to terms ; but the only 
 terms we can give them, I suspect, they will 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 125 
 
 find hard to swallow, without a little more fight- 
 ing — namely, unconditional surrender andgiving 
 up all their guns. He says that Shere Singh 
 treats him like a brick : he has twenty men to 
 guard him all day and night — and, such is their 
 idea of us, a bottle of brandy is placed on his 
 breakfast-table every morning. They boast 
 that they are not at all afraid of us, and, if it 
 were not for those madmen of Europeans, they 
 would thrash our sepoys hollow. 
 
 Jan. 27. — Breakfasted in bed, and kept 
 
 quiet till evening. Dined at Major T -'s. 
 
 Met Captain B there, and had a long 
 
 chat with him about Warwickshire. Mounted 
 a horse, and picked my way back through the 
 mud to our camp about a mile off. The Sikhs 
 fired a regular salute in honour of the new 
 moon this evening, and kept it up the greater 
 part of the night. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 CAMP AT RUSSOOL. 
 
 Camp, Chilianwalla. Feb. 3. — Since I 
 sent off my last packet, I have been spend- 
 ing my time very pleasantly in bed, amusing 
 myself with lotions, leeches, and the doctor. 
 I am now allowed to sit up for a short time, 
 because I have nothing to lie down on — seeing 
 that my bed, having long been screwed on its 
 pins, last night, as, in my dreams, I was fight- 
 ing a single combat with a dozen or more 
 Sikhs, just as I made a furious lunge, and 
 skivered a fellow, of a sudden gave way with a 
 crash, and awoke me most disagreeably to the 
 realities of life by depositing my back on the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 127 
 
 corner of a box. Therefore, whilst my couch 
 is being repaired, I will give you a short ac- 
 count of what has been going on in these last 
 few days. . . . The treasure taken at 
 Mooltan, amounts, it is said, to some three 
 millions of pounds — rather a considerable sum, 
 J and all lawful prize-money. General Whish 
 is on his w r ay up, by the other bank of the 
 Jhelum, and w r ill join us soon. The Sikhs are 
 very noisy, and very busy : they have shifted 
 their position considerably. We also have 
 been hard at work throwing up batteries, re- 
 doubts, &c, as it is supposed that Shere Singh 
 may screw up his courage to attack us before 
 General Whish arrives. . . . Brigadier 
 Godby is removed to take command at Lahore, 
 and we are to have somebody else, which we 
 are all very sorry for. One of our cavalry 
 pickets had a small skirmish with the enemy 
 yesterday, and drove them back. 
 
 Feb. 5. — Still in bed, and how sick I am 
 of it I need not say. I don't think I have 
 ever been confined so long before, except when 
 
128 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 I broke my leg ; and if it was wearying work at 
 home, you may imagine what it is here, poring 
 oyer one well-read book — rejected at any other 
 time for its extreme dulness, but now read 
 over and over again in vain search for amuse- 
 ment ; — counting the patterns of the tent, 
 enumerating the holes in the roof, the irregu- 
 larities in the floor, the pieces of paper strewn 
 about ; speculating on the doctor's next visit, 
 looking longingly at the bright sunshine out- 
 side, and the cricket-bat in the corner of the 
 tent ; playing half a tune on the flute, and 
 laying it down in disgust ; and then, when the 
 shades of evening come down, and everything 
 is dull and gloomy, lying awake and listening 
 to the howling of the jackals, who congregate 
 in troops on the battle-field in front, or to the 
 challenge of the sentry ; and counting the lazy 
 hours as they creep along. Oh ! it is a lively 
 thing — a sickbed in camp ! Nothing particular 
 has occurred to-day, except the detection of a 
 Baboo in the Chiefs office, who is said to have 
 been in the habit of sending over to Shere 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 129 
 
 Singh a copy of every order that has been 
 issued since the commencement of the cam- 
 paign — so that not a movement have we made 
 that the enemy has not been acquainted with 
 beforehand : that accounts for the excel- 
 lence of their manoeuvres. The rascal has 
 escaped to their camp. At the redoubt, there 
 is amusement going on in the sharpshooting 
 line — the Sikhs creeping out, and firing at 
 our sentries, and the pickets returning the 
 compliment. The duty is very heavy ; more 
 than half the regiment is under arms every 
 day. I wish that General Whish and his 
 force would arrive — only let me get on my 
 pins first. 
 
 Feb. 6. — Couldn't stand the confinement any 
 longer, so have persuaded the doctor to let me 
 crawl about a little. Colonel Godby has gone 
 to Lahore, and Brigadier Penny has command 
 of our brigade. It is getting near the hot 
 weather, and many are the conjectures as to 
 our future movements. ... If the next 
 fight is a decisive one, we shall perhaps return 
 
130 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 to cantonments, ; but still a large force will 
 have to be kept on the frontier. . . . 
 Perhaps we shall stay where we are, and make 
 a bit of a station. Pretty living that will be ! 
 I think I can see the house of my constructing, 
 in which I shall have to swelter through the 
 hot weather. I expect that either here or at 
 Lahore will be the summer quarters of what 
 are left of us : however, " sufficient for the day 
 is the evil thereof." That's true : indeed, it 
 generally is. . . . The pickets are popping 
 away very lively in front — another skrimmage, 
 I suppose. These Sikh gentry never give us 
 any peace. They have moved their camp con- 
 siderably more over to our right, and have 
 evidently got some cunning dodge on the tapis. 
 I wish they would do something. I never so 
 thoroughly felt before the misery of idleness — 
 forced idleness as it is : I suppose that's what 
 makes it so disagreeable. I have no occupation 
 for mind or body, except thought ; and what is 
 there to think of ? I think of home — it gives 
 me the blues ; I think of India — it gives me 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 131 
 
 the spleen ; of my future prospects — not cheer- 
 ing ; the next fight — chance of being knocked 
 over — not comforting. If I escape — a hot sea- 
 son, sub Jove aperto — probably get liver, or 
 cholera, or dysentery — all enlivening ! It's no 
 good thinking. So I try to do something — 
 take up Chambers's Journal, open a place I 
 know by heart, throw it down, and take up a 
 pen ; try to write, but feel too stupid to write 
 to you, and too much out of sorts for any- 
 thing else ; throw that down, and get my 
 flute ; begin to play mechanically some old 
 air that reminds me of home, and leave off with 
 a sigh ; crawl out of my tent, and into some- 
 body else's : find the worthy occupant just as 
 ennuye&s myself — lying on his bed and spitting 
 on the floor, by way of amusement. Sit down 
 opposite him, and look at him for a few minutes 
 — then give a yawn and go out. Wander some- 
 where else, and find the next man smoking 
 like a steam-engine, and looking at the ceiling — 
 ask him how he is, and he returns the compli- 
 ment. After that, conversation flags — stay about 
 
132 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 two minutes, and then bolt — and so on through 
 the camp. I feel myself getting duller and 
 duller, stupider and stupider, every day. A 
 lively addition I shall make to the family 
 circle when I come home ! So, if you ever 
 meet a very stupid Indian officer, and you, my 
 fair sisters, are inclined to turn up your noses 
 at him, substitute pity for contempt : he was 
 probably a very sharp boy when he left home — 
 considered, perhaps, the genius of the family — 
 until for want of nourishment the flame went 
 out, and he became, in the general stagnation, 
 as torpid as the rest. Mooned about all day. 
 . . . Went to mess, brightened up a little, 
 discussed military topics with . 
 
 Feb. 7. — Much better. Wrote to the doc- 
 tor to put me off the sick-list. Rode out to the 
 advanced picket, visited the officer on duty. 
 Had a few balls at cricket, like a fool as I was, 
 and returned to camp. Spent a pleasant 
 evening. Men brighten up at dinner-time. 
 
 Feb. 8. — Up early. Went out to join my 
 company at the redoubt — a strong fortified 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 133 
 
 work thrown up to our right about a quarter of 
 a mile — where we have our light field-battery, 
 two companies of our. regiment, and two of 
 the 70th. The enemy have divided their 
 force, and have a large body of men in our 
 rear, and likewise on our right. Their object 
 evidently is to entice us to attack them, and 
 decide the question before Whish comes up ; 
 but it won't do. ... The Sikhs have 
 a large picket in sight, on the top of a 
 low range of hills, and their impudence is 
 increasing daily. There is a small village, 
 about five hundred yards in front of the 
 redoubt, which we hold for the sake of a well 
 there ; and they come down in swarms, creep- 
 ing through the jungle until they are about a 
 hundred yards off, and then blaze away at us 
 with their matchlocks — which is anything but 
 agreeable, as you cannot show yourself without 
 having a dozen balls whistling over your head. 
 . . . They have just walked off with a 
 flock of goats right under our noses — the camp- 
 followers will, in spite of injunctions, drive 
 
134 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 their cattle out beyond the pickets, and the 
 consequence is, that they are continually being 
 carried off. . . . At sunset, dressed — ready 
 to receive the Chief, who pays a visit here 
 every evening with General Gilbert, when he 
 takes a long look at the enemy, asks a multi- 
 tude of questions difficult to be answered, com- 
 muneth with his staff, and departs. . . . There 
 are six of us down here — Major Talbot in 
 command — and we make a very pleasant 
 party. . . . Were smoking our cheroots after 
 dinner, when we were told that, instead of 
 sleeping comfortably in our beds, as we sup- 
 posed, E , T , and myself were to go 
 
 down and relieve one another in charge of 
 the village. ... So, at nine o'clock, off we 
 marched all together — our niggers, with our 
 beds, bringing up the rear — posted the sentries 
 
 round the village; and, as E had first 
 
 watch, T and I lay down, and went to 
 
 sleep. Had not lain half-an-hour when it 
 began to rain — so we had to bundle our beds 
 into a small faqueer's hut, where we had the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 135 
 
 company of about twenty sepoys ; so that, alto- 
 gether, we were pretty closely packed. How- 
 ever, I managed to sleep sound. At eleven, 
 
 T relieved E , who went back to 
 
 camp; at two, I relieved T . It had 
 
 cleared up, and was a beautiful moonlight 
 night. Visited the sentries, and walked about 
 the village in conversation with the Surbadar. 
 Three of the enemy's horsemen passed close 
 by, but, for fear of alarming the camp, I 
 wouldn't allow the sentry to fire. I could 
 have knocked over one with the greatest 
 ease. 
 
 Feb. 9. — Went down to the village. Spent 
 the night as the last, except that we had our 
 beds in the open air. 
 
 Feb. 10. — Received your letter. Delighted 
 
 beyond measure at the good news about C . 
 
 I am as proud as Punch, and as happy as a 
 king; and only lament that I have no one 
 here to rejoice with me; so I must even 
 keep the joyful intelligence to myself, and 
 vent my exultation in a few private capers in 
 
136 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 my own tent. . . . I am more pleased than if 
 I had been presented with a staff appointment, 
 or made a knight in presence of the army. 
 Nightingale is doing well. His is a miracu- 
 lous recovery. He went off yesterday with the 
 rest of the wounded to the provinces, on his 
 way home. . . . We expect General Whish's 
 force about the 20th, and then we will teach 
 these gentlemen a lesson — if they don't give in 
 beforehand, which they don't seem inclined to 
 do. We shall have a hundred pieces of artil- 
 lery. Just fancy the noise they 11 make in 
 the land. The Sikhs have a strong position, 
 though; and all sorts of agreeable things, in 
 the shape of intrenchments, batteries, and 
 mines, they have in pickle for us on that 
 hill. 
 
 Feb. 11. — Put on the sick-list again, I am 
 sorry to say. My expedition to the redoubt 
 has not done me any good. Ordered to keep 
 my bed, to which, however, the fates were not 
 propitious ; for, about half-past ten, three guns, 
 fired from the heavy battery on the mound, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 137 
 
 gave the alarm; and of course, in spite of the 
 doctor, out I turned — threw on my clothes, 
 sword, and pistols, and joined the regiment at 
 the alarm-post. The whole army was under 
 arms in less than ten minutes. The foe, they said, 
 were coming down upon us ; — but after waiting 
 out an hour, not a bit of an enemy could I 
 see; so, being on the sick-list, I returned to 
 my tent. Lord Gough was out in the rear 
 to-day, with some cavalry and horse artillery, 
 and had a small skrimmage with the enemy, 
 in which a few of them were knocked over. 
 An offer of free pardon was sent over to-day, 
 I hear, to all the rebels, provided they give 
 up their guns, and come and deposit their 
 arms in front of our camp, — Shere Singh and 
 his father to be allowed money to live on, but 
 no territory. Of course, they won't accept these 
 terms without another thrashing. In bed 
 again, and about as comfortable as a tied-up 
 pointer, or, if you like the simile better, a 
 chained eagle. ... I have but this moment 
 discovered that to-day is Sunday — being away 
 
138 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 on duty, and haying nothing here to mark that 
 day more than any other. If it were not for 
 my journal, I should not know the day of the 
 week or month. I told you, I believe, that 
 the Sikhs carried off our band instruments the 
 other day, so that we have nothing now but 
 our fifes and drums. It is a loss of four thousand 
 rupees to us; however, it can't be helped. 
 
 Feb. 12. — Here I am dressed for the day — 
 on my bed — with a borrowed table at my side, 
 on which lie my desk, my pistols, and a 
 bottle of lotion — a pipe and a Shakspeare. 
 I have just taken my breakfast. Cold tea, 
 milkless and sugarless, stands at my elbow, 
 into which I occasionally dive for refresh- 
 ment; and now, to while away the weary 
 hours, I will go on with my journal. I was 
 dreaming of home all last night, and awoke 
 with the impression so vividly on my mind, 
 that I could hardly shake it off. . . . The 
 Sikhs have all of a sudden abandoned their 
 strong position at Russool, and gone off to the 
 right. The only reason that can be supposed 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. ]39 
 
 for their evacuating a place of such great 
 strength is, that they were unable to procure 
 sufficient supplies for their immense army. As 
 soon as they were off, General Gilbert, and a 
 lot of officers from our camp, galloped over 
 to see it ; and, from all accounts, it's a good 
 thing for us that they have abandoned it ; as, 
 if resolutely defended, it could not have been 
 carried without fearful loss. First, there was 
 a long breastwork dotted with batteries, ex- 
 tending for a good mile. In front of this there 
 was a deep ravine ; and close on the trench 
 an immense barrier of thorns, which must have 
 brought up our infantry for a time; whilst a 
 heavy fire would have been poured into them 
 from the very muzzles of the guns; — that 
 gained, there was ravine after ravine for a 
 quarter of a mile, with only one or two narrow 
 paths, and the whole raked by their guns on 
 the heights. The sides of the ravine were all 
 scarped down, so as to be insurmountable; and 
 to have toiled through these obstacles, all the 
 time exposed to their murderous fire, would 
 
140 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 haye been terrific work. At last came the 
 village of Russool, on the summit of a crag 
 some sixty feet high, sheer perpendicular on 
 all sides, and covered with batteries — only 
 one narrow pass up to it, where scarce eight 
 men could walk abreast; and this could have 
 been destroyed by them in a short time. Of 
 course we should have taken it if we had 
 attacked it ; but there would have been few to 
 rejoice at the victory. I am not good at 
 describing a strong position; but this, all the 
 generals say, was a tremendous one. However, 
 they're out of it now. . . . Several men 
 have just come in from the battle-field; the 
 bodies of the dead are still lying there in heaps, 
 and poisoning the air; the jackalls howl all 
 night over their loathsome banquet. Such are 
 the horrors perpetrated by man for a few 
 miles of land, a quibble in a treaty, or a short- 
 lived glory. God! how is glory obtained, that 
 men should be so proud of it! 
 
 Thus ends my journal for this stupid fort- 
 night; however, you cannot expect a general 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 141 
 
 action every packet. There will probably be 
 one in the next. 
 
 P.S. Feb. 14. — I hear this morning that 
 Shere Singh has been fool enough to run his 
 head into the snare, by going back to Wuzeer- 
 abad. I hope it's true; — an open country 
 and no favour! 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BATTLE OF GOOJERAT. 
 
 Camp, Chilianwalla, Feb. 13. — Still con- 
 fined to this weary bed, by these tedious swell- 
 ings. I shall let them take their own course 
 in a few days, if they don't get better. The 
 Sikhs have all moved away, and gone, no one 
 knows where. However, we shall hear in a few 
 hours, as we have reconnoitring parties out. 
 
 Feb. 14. — Just finished, and sent off my 
 despatch, when an order came down for us to 
 march in an hour, as the Sikhs had gone round 
 our rear, and are, they say, marching on 
 Lahore. Got up and dressed, and went over 
 to the mess to get some food before starting. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 143 
 
 All the tents were struck — and we waited about 
 two hours in the sun, expecting to march — 
 when the movement of the troops was counter- 
 manded till to-morrow morning. Pitched my 
 tent, and got into bed again; not at all bene- 
 fited, as you may suppose, by the exercise. If 
 Shere Singh has really marched on Lahore, he 
 is playing a very bold game, and we must look 
 sharp, or hell get there before us. It may 
 be only a ruse of theirs ; however, we shall 
 see. Staid in bed all day rather impatiently. 
 There will be some work to be done soon, and 
 I am by no means in working condition; how- 
 ever, if I am carried, I will go with the corps. 
 Feb. 15. — At four o'clock the advance 
 sounded, and off we marched from the ground 
 on which we expected to have decided the 
 campaign. Until the sun rose it was very 
 cold — and the road was strewed with dead 
 bodies of camels, horses, and oxen, making 
 the atmosphere almost pestilential. At eight 
 it grew hot, and towards mid-day awfully so. 
 After having been confined so long, I could 
 
144 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 not stand the heat — my head felt like lead — 
 and I thought I should have dropped from my 
 horse two or three times. I saw one horse- 
 artilleryman fall heavily to the ground, and 
 lie there senseless, struck by a coup~de-soleil 
 At one o'clock we got clear of the dreadful 
 jungle : I hope I may never see its face again. 
 At half-past two, we arrived at Lussoura, after 
 a march of twenty miles, the most fatiguing we 
 have had yet; and there we halted. Stuck 
 my sword in the ground, and put my cloak on 
 the top of it, to make a sort of covering for my 
 head, till the arrival of my traps — then tied 
 a wet towel round my head, and lay down 
 with a racking headach, and my swellings 
 much inflamed: however, a couple of hours' 
 sleep set me all right. 
 
 Feb. 16. — Marched at five. The doctor gave 
 
 o 
 
 me a doolie, so I was carried along very com- 
 fortably. The march was only seven miles, 
 and we got to our ground, Sadoolapoor — where 
 the action was fought on the 3d of December — 
 before it got hot. Whish was to have joined 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 145 
 
 us to-day ; and we are to march on again in 
 the night twenty miles to Goojerat, where the 
 enemy are said to be. Evening. — We do not 
 march to-night, as Whish has not joined us. 
 
 Feb. 17. — We had been ordered to halt 
 to-day ; but about eight o'clock an order came 
 for us to strike our tents, and after swallowing 
 a hasty breakfast we marched. Went along 
 in a doolie, all ready to turn out, in case of 
 there being anything to be done. However, 
 the march passed off quietly — we only went 
 seven miles, and then pitched our camp. The 
 10th Queen's and 52d N.I., from Mooltan, 
 joined us this morning; the rest of General 
 Whish's force are behind, but expected to- 
 morrow, or the next day. We shall probably 
 not wait for them. We all anticipate 
 fighting next morning. 
 
 Feb. 18. — Marched about nine; and after a 
 tramp of about eight miles, pitched our camp 
 within three miles of the enemy. We expect 
 to go at them fresh to-morrow morning; but 
 there's no saying. The 8th N.I. arrived in 
 
 K 
 
146 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 the night. Afternoon. — There is a sudden 
 rumour that Shere Singh has fled with 4000 
 men. Evening. — Still rumoured that Shere 
 Singh has given us leg-bail ; but I don't believe 
 it myself. Elephants have been sent to bring 
 up the 53d Queen s, 60th Rifles, and the 1st 
 Bombay Fusileers. We wait here for them 
 to-morrow — and then I opine we shall go and 
 knock this place Goojerat down about the 
 Sikhs' ears. Nothing occurred to-day, except 
 hanging two or three camp-followers for plun- 
 dering. 
 
 Feb. 19. — Halted all day. This is a beau- 
 tifully rich and fertile country : for miles and 
 miles round there is nothing but luxuriant 
 green corn-fields. I am pitched right in the 
 centre of one, and have a soft verdant carpet 
 under my feet. Just imagine the damage an 
 army like this must do to the crops. The 
 60th Rifles, 1st Bombay Fusileers, and 32d 
 foot have arrived; Markham's brigade, and 
 the rest of Whish's force will come in the 
 evening; and then we shall have altogether 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 147 
 
 about 25,000 men, and more than a hundred 
 pieces of artillery. 
 
 Feb. 20. — Here I am again : we have not 
 fought yet, but there is little doubt but that 
 
 we shall engage to-morrow and then 
 
 won't there be a smash ! We marched at one 
 o'clock to-day, and have moved up close, so as 
 to go at them fresh in the morning, and have 
 lots of time to complete the victory. The 
 artillery, twenty-two heavy guns, are to open 
 at 1200 yards — then the whole line at 800, 
 600, 400, 200— and then let loose the in- 
 fantry. The cavalry have been ordered not 
 to draw rein until their horses drop in the 
 pursuit. Tippoo is counting his chickens before 
 they're hatched, you will say; however, the 
 event will show. And now, good-by. God 
 bless you all ! " A soldier's grave, or a 
 thousand merks," as Mr Bothwell says in Old 
 Mortality. 
 
 Feb. 22. — Here I 'am again, hungry, thirsty, 
 and tired ; but, thank God, all right. I have 
 not tasted food for eight-and-forty hours, bar- 
 
148 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 ring a brace of hard-boiled eggs, which I got 
 hold of at half-past twelve o'clock to-day — and 
 therefore I am rather faint ; but we have 
 cooked Shere Singh's goose, and now I will tell 
 you all about it. 
 
 Feb. 21. — At half-past five turned out of 
 bed — dressed ; and then, regardless of expense, 
 considering the occasion, brewed a large jorum 
 of tea with sugar and milk — unwonted luxu- 
 ries, but very consoling in the raw morning. 
 Spent an hour strolling about and chatting 
 with those around. Every one seems to be in 
 remarkably good spirits, and more amiable than 
 wont, when there is a chance of your place 
 being empty before night. Those whom at 
 other times you hardly exchange a word with, 
 come in now for a cordial good-morning ; and 
 towards your friends the moment seems to draw 
 you closer, and make your heart expand with 
 greater warmth. Well, at seven o'clock we 
 were all under arms, and the Chief cantered 
 down the whole line, receiving the cheers of 
 each regiment as he passed. At half-past seven 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 149 
 
 we advanced in order of battle, quarter-dis- 
 tance ; column of brigade at wheeling distance ; 
 the heavy guns in the centre, and the light field 
 batteries at intervals along the line, with the 
 horse-artillery and cavalry on either flank. I 
 went along in my doolie for the first three miles ; 
 indeed, I was in great pain, and I wanted to 
 save my strength until required. At last a gun 
 fired from the enemy's outpost told me it was 
 time to be stirring ; and, luckily for me, as I 
 jumped from my doolie, both my wounds burst 
 at once, and I was relieved immediately, and 
 able to walk without pain. I mounted a horse, 
 and rode along with my regiment, until the 
 order came to load, fix bayonets, and wheel 
 into line — when we all dismounted, and joined 
 our companies. But I am so sick for want of 
 food, that I must leave off till I have devoured 
 some of the half-cooked viands I expect directly. 
 . . . I have eaten, and am filled, and the 
 tea-kettle is hissing merrily, so I hope soon to 
 get something to drink : the water here is so 
 thick with mud that a horse would refuse it. 
 
e 
 
 150 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 After we had wheeled into line, we advanced 
 about a quarter of a mile, and then the enemy 
 opened on us from the whole of the front. The 
 round-shot flew about us, and ploughed up the 
 ground in all directions. Five or six men were 
 knocked down in as many seconds, when we 
 were ordered to lie down, and the artillery 
 advanced about two hundred yards to the 
 front — the big guns opening first — and instantly 
 the roar of more than a hundred pieces of artil- 
 lery shook the very earth, pitching round-shot 
 and shells into the enemy from less than three 
 hundred yards, they returning our fire with 
 great spirit and precision. At the end of an 
 hour, we were ordered to advance another hun- 
 dred yards, and then lie down again. A com- 
 pany from each regiment in the brigade was 
 sent up to the front to support the troop of 
 horse-artillery attached to us ; and, poor fellows, 
 they suffered dreadfully, being brought in, one 
 after another, wounded — some with legs shot 
 off, some cut in half, some torn with grape — 
 until scarcely half of our rifle company was left. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 151 
 
 All this time the fire was very hot on us, carry- 
 ing off three men at a time, shells bursting over 
 us, or burying themselves in front, scattering 
 the earth in our faces. There was a constant 
 line of doolies from our regiment to the hospi- 
 tal, as, one after another, the men were carried 
 off. The troop in front (Fordyce's) suffered 
 dreadfully — every shot pitched right into them ; 
 and the gallant manner in which they worked 
 their guns is beyond all praise. Twice had 
 they to retire to the rear for fresh horses 
 and men, and each time as they came up 
 again, and passed through our line, we gave 
 them a hearty cheer ; and the fine fellows 
 waved their caps, and dashed on again in 
 advance, as if death was a joke to them. 
 This lasted about two hours — during which time 
 the enemy's fire was evidently slackening — when 
 a very annoying fire was opened upon us from 
 a village about two hundred yards in front, 
 and our brigade was ordered on to storm it. 
 Our men, who had been held down all this 
 time, started up with a cheer. It was the last 
 
J 52 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 some of them gave, poor fellows ! A round- 
 shot took off a man's head close to me, and 
 spattered his brains in my face — the bullets 
 whizzing about like hail — and as we came nearer, 
 grape was poured into us, but not a man wav- 
 ered for a second. " Officers to the front- 
 Lead on your men I" shouted the major ; and 
 we sprang forward amidst a shower of balls, 
 dashed across a deep nullah, gave one rattling 
 volley, and poured into the village at every 
 point. Many of the Sikhs stood and fought 
 like men, but the greater portion (there must 
 have been at least 1000) left the village at one 
 end as we entered at the other. Those who 
 remained were shot or bayoneted on the spot. 
 There was no quarter given. A number of 
 them shut themselves up in the houses, but our 
 men beat down the doors, and poured in volley 
 after volley, and sullenly and savagely they 
 died fighting to the last. We captured three 
 of their standards in the village — and then, 
 leaving the left wing to keep possession, we 
 defiled to the right ; and found ourselves under 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 153 
 
 a hot fire of grape and canister, totally unsup- 
 ported, as we had advanced in front of the 
 whole line to storm the Tillage, and the troop 
 of horse-artillery had been obliged to retire, 
 being temporarily disabled. This was the most 
 deadly fire we were exposed to during the day, 
 the balls hissing about like winged serpents. I 
 was talking to Sprot, and made some remark 
 about the fire, and he answered me with a 
 smile, and I turned my head to watch For- 
 dyce's troop of horse-artillery coming up again 
 to our support ; when I looked round, Sprot 
 was lying at my feet in his blood. I tried to 
 raise him, but he was stone-dead. A ball had 
 struck him on the back of the head, and had 
 entered the brain. And there he lay — the finest 
 young fellow in the corps — the life and soul of 
 the mess, beloved by all — struck down in his 
 prime. The smile was still on his lips as when 
 he spoke to me last; and but for the blood that 
 bedabbled his curling hair, and the cold blue 
 hue about his lips and eyelids, you would have 
 fancied him in a peaceful sleep — so calm, so 
 
154 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 painless was the expression of his countenance. 
 He was one of my chief friends ; but it was no 
 time for lamentation ; and after taking one long 
 gaze at his pallid face, a moment ago so full of 
 life and manly beauty, I rejoined my company. 
 A troop of horse -artillery dashed past us at a 
 gallop, drew up, unlimbered, and returned the 
 enemy's fire. The whole line of infantry was 
 seen advancing ; our guns poured in a wither- 
 ing fire ; the enemy left theirs and fled. The 
 cavalry charged in amongst them, and the horse- 
 artillery rattled on at a gallop, mowing them 
 down in heaps, while we took possession of 
 their guns and camp, leaving the cavalry to 
 deal with the fugitives ; and awful execution 
 they did amongst them, as we afterwards heard. 
 The 3d and 14th Dragoons, 9th Lancers, 
 Scinde horse, and all the regular and irregular 
 cavalry, pursued them with the horse-artillery 
 for ten miles, and cut them down by hundreds. 
 Not a rein was drawn till the horses could go 
 no further ; their sabres drank deep of blood 
 that day, and they returned wearied and jaded, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 155 
 
 and glutted with slaughter. No attempt was 
 made at rallying — the rout was complete — and 
 long will the Sikhs have cause to remember the 
 battle of Goojerat. The whole line of their 
 flight was strewed with dead. We advanced 
 into their camp over heaps of dead and dying. 
 It wanted nothing more to show the gallant 
 stand they had made. Everything was in con- 
 fusion — tumbrils overturned, guns dismounted, 
 waggons with their wheels off, oxen and camels 
 rushing wildly about, wounded horses plunging 
 in their agony, beds, blankets, boxes, ammuni- 
 tion, strewed about the ground in a perfect 
 chaos ; the wounded lying there groaning, some 
 begging to be despatched, others praying for 
 mercy, and some, with scowling looks of impo- 
 tent rage, striving to cut down those who came 
 near them, and thereby insuring their own 
 destruction — for but little quarter, I am ashamed 
 to say, was given — and even those we managed 
 to save from the vengeance of our men were, 
 I fear, killed afterwards. But, after all, it is 
 a war of extermination. The most heart- 
 
156 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 rending sight of the day was one I witnessed in 
 a tent I entered. There, on the ground, bleed- 
 ing to death, lay a young mother ; her leg had 
 been carried off by a round-shot, and the jag- 
 ged stump protruded in a ghastly manner 
 through the mangled flesh. She held a baby 
 to her breast — and as she bent over it with 
 maternal anxiety, all her thoughts seemed to 
 be of her child. She appeared totally regard- 
 less of the agony she must have been suffering, 
 and to think of nothing but the poor infant 
 which was drawing its nourishment from her 
 failing breast. I gave her some water — and 
 she drank it greedily, raising her large implor- 
 ing eyes to my face with an expression that 
 was heart-rending to witness. I was obliged 
 to leave the poor creature, and go on with the 
 regiment ; but the remembrance of that sight 
 will live with me till my dying day. 
 
 After we had spiked all the guns, and sent 
 them to the rear, we advanced about a mile, 
 and there halted, and commenced collecting the 
 enemy's ammunition, which was scattered about 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 157 
 
 in immense quantities all over the field. They 
 had been unable to carry anything off, so rapid 
 had been our advance, and there was powder 
 and shot lying everywhere in heaps, enough to 
 replenish all the magazines in Europe. About 
 this time a horrid accident took place. Two 
 of our men, and four sepoys of the 70th, in the 
 unthinking way peculiar to the lower classes, 
 went and sat down by one of the ammunition 
 waggons we had captured — when the Europeans 
 took out their pipes, and began to smoke ; a 
 spark communicated with the powder, and the 
 whole blew up, leaving these six poor fellows 
 hopelessly scorched on the ground. One man's 
 head was blown off, and he was the happiest 
 of the whole — for the agony the others must 
 have suffered is indescribable. One of them 
 started up and commenced running about all in 
 flames, until, overcome with the torment, he fell 
 to the ground. All this time no one dared go 
 near him, as his ammunition-pad was in a blaze, 
 and had not yet exploded. It was fearful to 
 see the flames eating into his vitals, and his 
 
158 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 unavailing struggles to free himself from them. 
 At last, I saw a piece of a tent lying on the 
 ground, which I snatched up and threw over 
 him ; but there was no hope for him. All of 
 them, in their agony, had torn off every stitch 
 of clothing ; and the black and scorched flesh 
 hanging in strips — their withered tongues pro- 
 truding from their mouths, in which the blood 
 was gurgling, as they gasped for breath — their 
 faces like blackened masks, and their eyes start- 
 ing from their sockets — their groans, and the 
 screams for water, with which they pointed to 
 their parched mouths, showed a frightful picture 
 of some of the horrors attendant upon war. 
 They were all taken to the hospital instantly ; 
 but none was likely to recover. I hope I 
 may never witness such a sight again — excru- 
 ciating suffering without the power of rendering 
 assistance. The Commander-in-chief came 
 down the line just after this catastrophe, and 
 we stood to our arms and cheered him as he 
 passed. He expressed himself highly pleased 
 with our regiment, and told Major Steele he 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 159 
 
 might be proud of us. After he had passed, 
 the major gave us a short speech, and told us 
 to salute the colours, as we had done them 
 honour. We then piled arms, and I went over 
 to the hospital. We have suffered fearfully — 
 nearly one hundred and fifty killed and wound- 
 ed, out of little more than four hundred. After 
 speaking cheerily to the wounded men, poor 
 fellows ! as they lay on the ground with their 
 mangled limbs, (they seemed grateful for any 
 kindness, and brightened up so when any of 
 their officers came near them, that it made one's 
 heart swell,) I passed on from doolie to doolie, 
 looking at all the patients. Some, alas! whose 
 stiffened forms showed their state, were past 
 speaking too ; others were in too great pain to 
 be sensible ; but many, I am glad to say, 
 seemed likely to do well ; and several men, 
 whose legs had been taken off, lay smoking their 
 pipes and chatting to their comrades, as uncon- 
 cernedly as if nothing had happened. At last 
 I came to poor Sprot's doolie ; he lay there 
 just as he fell — so calm and natural, he looked 
 
160 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 as if you could wake him with a touch — save that 
 the ashy hue of death had already begun to 
 spread over his face. How full of life he was 
 in the morning, and look upon him now ! I sat 
 by him for some time, till they came to lay him 
 out ; and then I cut a button from his jacket 
 as a keepsake, and left him. After this I went 
 to the doctor to have my hand dressed, for I 
 am amongst the slightly wounded, having been 
 hit with a grape-shot in the left hand, and 
 having a piece taken out of my right wrist ; 
 however, you see I can write, so it isn't very 
 bad. At sunset our camp arrived, and I pitched 
 my tent ; but there was no food to be got — so 
 I dined off a cup of tea. At night, there was 
 one of the most beautiful sights I ever saw. 
 All the enemy's ammunition that had been 
 taken, was blown up in different parts of the 
 field : every moment a thundering explosion 
 shook the ground, and lit up the whole heavens. 
 There must have been nearly a thousand of 
 them, for they lasted all night. I did not get 
 to sleep for a long time, for I was over-tired 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 161 
 
 from the violent exercise and excitement, after 
 being confined so long, and my thigh pained 
 me very much ; but about three o'clock, I 
 managed to drop over. And this ends the battle 
 of Goojerat, one of the most decisive fought 
 in India. We have taken sixty of the enemy's 
 guns — which were all they had with them, — and 
 totally routed them, with comparatively little 
 loss ; although we don't yet know the amount. 
 Feb. 22. — We had expected to halt after 
 the hard work of yesterday, and, indeed, the 
 troops needed it ; but at nine o'clock, before 
 we could get any food, our division, commanded 
 by General Gilbert, and the Bombay forces, 
 were ordered to march in pursuit, and take pos- 
 session of the Pooran pass, — that place in the 
 hills I mentioned in my last. After swallowing a 
 cup of tea, off we started, leaving our wounded 
 behind, and marched all day through a blazing 
 sun. The men suffered fearfully for want of 
 water. After marching about fifteen miles, 
 many of them dropped down ; the road was 
 strewed with Europeans and sepoys ; and not a 
 
162 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 drop of water could be obtained. Our men 
 stood it the best, but they were greatly dis- 
 tressed ; and when we arrived, after twenty-five 
 miles, at our halting place for the night, every 
 one was knocked up. It may seem strange to 
 you that men should be so fatigued with march- 
 ing twenty -five miles, but they had hardly 
 tasted food since yesterday morning — they 
 had no water, and were under an Indian sun. 
 A little after sunset our tents came up, when I 
 got the first meal I had tasted for forty-eight 
 hours. I could not get any water to wash with, 
 though — it was too precious, dirty as it was ; 
 however, I managed to get a cup of tea, after 
 which I sat up writing to you until it struck 
 twelve. 
 
 Feb. 23. — In the middle of last night, or 
 rather about two o'clock this morning, the storm, 
 which a heavy cannonading almost always 
 brings on^i came down ; and I was awakened 
 from a sound sleep by the tent being blown 
 down about my ears, and being nearly suffo- 
 cated in the folds. Anything like the fury of 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 163 
 
 the storm, I never could have imagined; it was 
 a regular hurricane. The wind roared in a 
 most frightful manner ; the loose ropes flogged 
 the canvass with a noise like thunder ; the rain 
 came down in torrents, and all was confusion 
 and uproar through all the camp — every one's 
 tent either down, or else in great danger. The 
 shouting of the niggers, the swearing of the 
 Europeans, the kicking of the horses, the flap- 
 ping of canvass, and the roaring of the tempest, 
 made as pretty a Babel of utter confusion as 
 you would wish to hear. De M and my- 
 self cowered down under the wet folds of the 
 tent, and waited patiently till it should give 
 over. I was so tired out that I don't believe 
 I should have cared for anything ; and I actu- 
 ally fell asleep in the midst of it, and did not 
 awake until morning, when the storm had 
 lulled : but there was still a miserable cold, 
 cutting wind, and we started on the march 
 anything but comfortable. Marched along all 
 day, the men keeping up bravely. Nothing 
 seems to tire them. Last night they didn't 
 
] 64 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 appear able to go another mile ; and to-day 
 they came along as fresh as ever. At one 
 o'clock we reached the pass. The Bombay 
 division halted at the entrance, and we went 
 on through it — and a most formidable gorge it 
 appeared to be : a thousand men could have 
 held it against an army, there being only one 
 narrow path through it, and that very rough 
 and broken. How we got our guns through, I 
 can't imagine. The scenery was superb — wild, 
 and picturesque, — but we were not able to enjoy 
 it ; for, just in the centre of the pass, a tremen- 
 dous storm of wind and rain, mingled with hail, 
 came on, and we were wet to the skin. The 
 thunder was awful, and seemed just above our 
 heads. The pass was three miles long, and 
 heartily glad we were when we reached the 
 extremity, and got into the open country. We 
 marched about another mile, making sixteen in 
 all, and then halted — rain still pouring down, 
 and a cold wind cutting us nearly in two : it 
 was very miserable, I can assure you. We had 
 then to wait a good two hours before our tents 
 
JOUKNAL OF A SU13ALTEKN. 1 65 
 
 arrived, not having tasted food all day — so 
 that there was a regular rush towards the mess 
 camels when they made their appearance. I 
 cut off a piece of half-raw beef as big as my 
 fist, and devoured it on the spot, so hungry 
 
 was I 
 
 Feb. 24. — At nine o'clock marched for the 
 town of Jhelum on the river, where we received 
 information that a party of the Sikhs were 
 trying to cross with some three or four guns. 
 Passed a number of them lying dead in the 
 road, evidently cut up by the cavalry in ad- 
 vance. Arrived at our ground, close to the 
 banks of the river, about five o'clock. The 
 enemy have been too quick for us, and are 
 over with their guns on the other side, com- 
 manding the ford with them, so that we cannot 
 cross with our small force. They have ten 
 thousand men, and about thirty guns, which 
 they had left there formerly ; so I suppose we 
 shall wait here for the Bombay division to 
 come up. Indeed, I doubt if we can go on — 
 the gun horses are all completely knocked up, 
 
] 66 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 and so are the men. Our baggage arrived 
 soon after us, and I spent a more comfortable 
 evening, and got a better dinner than I have 
 had for some time. After all, there is a good 
 deal of pleasure in this style of life ; because, 
 when you do get comfortable, it is such clover. 
 
 Feb. 25.— A halt 
 
 I saw Major Tait yesterday ; he says thecavalry 
 must have cut down thousands. Poor wretches ! ■ 
 they have got little reward for their service. 
 Shere Singh was to have paid them after they 
 had thrashed us ; they have none of them 
 received anything yet, nor are likely. The 
 enemy are very busy burning their boats on 
 the other side of the river. Some of our artil- 
 lery were ordered down to pepper them, but 
 not a troop or battery was able to move : all 
 the horses are completely done up. We don't 
 know what is to be done next; but I can't 
 think there will be any more fighting to signify. 
 It will soon be awfully hot. We have not yet 
 ascertained our exact loss ; but it must be 
 considerable — twenty-five killed and wounded 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 167 
 
 in my own company alone, out of forty men. 
 The whole loss of the army is estimated at 
 about five hundred, out of which three hun- 
 dred were in our brigade, which was almost 
 
 the only one actively engaged 
 
 Feb. 26.— Halting still. We have lots of 
 work before us. I hear that scoundrel, Dost 
 Mahommed, has joined the Sikhs, and has 
 brought more guns. There were numbers 
 of the Affghans fighting against us at Goo- 
 jerat — so I suppose we shall finish the 
 campaign in Peshawur. A son of Dost Ma- 
 hommed was killed in the action the other 
 day. A number of dead and wounded Sikhs 
 have been found in the villages about here, 
 and brought into the hospitals — poor fellows ! 
 The villagers hate them, the Sikhs having 
 been very oppressive ; and now is their time 
 of retaliation. The Sikhs, you know, are 
 mostly soldiers and of the Hindoo persuasion, 
 and the villagers, Mahommedans and serfs to 
 the former, who make them do all the cultiva- 
 tion of the country, and levy by force and 
 
1 68 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 plunder the means of an idle subsistence. . 
 Our orders have come out now, and 
 everything is settled. We are to cross the 
 Jhelum under General Gilbert ; and you will 
 probably hear of me at Attock in a short time : 
 so our hardships are not over yet. However, 
 I like adventure, and rather prefer this gipsy 
 mode of life to the routine of cantonments ; 
 besides, I hear it is a beautiful country, and 
 grapes and apples are as cheap as dirt there — 
 so, en avant ! The Commander-in-chief may 
 send us to the antipodes, if he likes, for what I 
 care. Mark Tapley's maxims for ever ! 
 
 Feb. 27. — Marched at daybreak along the 
 banks of the Jhelum about nine miles, and 
 arrived at another ford, opposite to which we 
 encamped. I suppose we cross to-morrow 
 morning — the left wing of our regiment are 
 ordered to the island to-night, to take posses- 
 sion of a village there. It is now evening, 
 and I am drinking tea alone in my tent. One 
 feeble candle stuck in a bottle renders darker 
 surrounding objects. The green corn — for I am 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 169 
 
 pitched as usual in the middle of a corn-field — 
 rises half-way up the legs of my table; and 
 there is a stray goat belonging to some one, 
 yerj coolly regaling himself on the same. So 
 much for the romance of my present position. 
 I really think I should consider myself a hero 
 by this time, if there were not so many in the 
 same condition. Two general actions, and the 
 possibility of more, when six months ago we 
 did not expect to see a shot fired. How little 
 we can tell what's going to happen ! However, 
 I am very glad we have seen service, just to 
 give one reason to be proud of our little corps, 
 for other qualities than its appearance on 
 parade; and proud I am to belong to it. A 
 finer set of fellows never wore cross-belt; 
 their behaviour the other day was superb, and 
 the only difficulty was in holding them in. 
 They seemed to look on fighting as a pastime, 
 and were quite merry all the time. Shere 
 Singh, I hear, is feeling very small now, and 
 wants to come to terms. Hang him ! How- 
 ever, he is a fine fellow in his way; although 
 
170 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 it is said he didn't trust his precious body 
 under fire on the 21st. But now it is getting 
 late, and we have to be up early, and cross 
 the river, — another word for wet feet, and no 
 breakfast, I imagine. I hope my accounts 
 won't tempt any of my brothers to make red 
 scarecrows of themselves ; beatus ille, qui pro- 
 cul negotiis, happy is he who is well out of it, 
 — though I like it amazingly myself. Good 
 night ! Barring a howling dog, a troop of jack- 
 als, and a sleepless camel outside who roars 
 all night, all is hushed in repose. 
 
 Feb. 28. — Tents struck at five, marched 
 down to the river at six, and commenced cross- 
 ing. It was a very broad swift stream, and 
 fording was attended with considerable danger. 
 I saw several camels swept off their legs and 
 carried down with their loads. A lot of bul- 
 locks, also, and horses were drowned, and a few 
 camp-followers ; but our men all got safely across 
 in about two hours. I, being on the sick-list, 
 got over on an elephant without wetting my feet. 
 Halted on the island for an hour or so, and 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 171 
 
 then marched down to the other ford. The 
 first was bad enough — but this was a tremen- 
 dous one, about two hundred yards in breadth, 
 very deep, and the stream running like a sluice. 
 It was fordable only to elephants and camels 
 without their loads. Lots of the latter, who 
 missed the ford, were carried down the stream 
 and drowned. Poor brutes ! how they struggled. 
 It took us the whole day to cross this place ; 
 all the camels had to be unladen, and their loads 
 carried over on elephants ; the men went over 
 in the same way, and very slow work it was. 
 I don't believe we ever should have effected 
 it before night, but that about two o'clock 
 five boats sent down by Gholab Singh arrived, 
 and then we got on faster. As it was, it was 
 sunset, and every man in the regiment had 
 crossed over, before I was able to get my traps 
 across. After I had seen the whole safe in 
 boats, I got into one myself, and took my turn. 
 There was no one at the other side when I 
 reached it — they had all gone on to the camp ; 
 and not liking the idea of walking in my bad 
 
172 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 state, I looked about for the means of eques- 
 trian conveyance, and at last espied a vicious 
 little pony, belonging to one of ours, without 
 saddle or bridle. However, " a friend in need ;f 
 so, avoiding a dexterous attempt to bite, and 
 another to kick me, I vaulted on his back, and 
 set forth. Had to ford another branch of the 
 river — shallow, but so strong that it nearly car- 
 ried my little tat off his legs. Precious glad 
 when I got into camp — but had to wait a good 
 hour for my tent, the camel that carried it 
 having lost his legs in the last ford, and fallen 
 — so everything was wet through. " That's what 
 I call pleasant, said Mr Brown." Took tea 
 and turned into bed. The Sikhs have all gone 
 from this part of the country. General Stein- 
 bach joined us to-day, with a lot of Gholab 
 Singh's riff-raff. 
 
 March 1. — The beginning of the hot weather, 
 when all peaceable people are snug in canton- 
 ments : however, it is very pleasant as yet. 
 Marched at eight, and crossed three more fords. 
 I never saw such a river as this is : happily 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 173 
 
 we are at the other side of it now ; for, of 
 all the twisting, winding, interminable streams 
 that ever baffled patience, this is the worst. 
 We have had to cross it six times in the space 
 of two miles. Encamped at about a quarter 
 of a mile distant ; got something to eat. We 
 consider ourselves lucky when we do that now; 
 and, like Captain Dalgetty, victual ourselves for 
 an indefinite period, when provender is within 
 our reach. Got to bed as soon as my tent 
 arrived, which was not until about two hours 
 after we had reached our ground. Reason why 
 — the camel had fallen down again in the last 
 ford, and took a long time to get on his legs. 
 The cattle are all getting worn out ; and I ex- 
 pect some day to have my traps left in the 
 jungle : however, I'm a philosopher. We march 
 to-morrow towards Attock ; the whole army is 
 over the river by this time. The despatches 
 are not published yet, and we have heard no- 
 thing about our future movements ; there is 
 little doubt, however, but that we are bound 
 for Peshawur. Lay still all day. I hope soon, 
 
174 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 by keeping quiet, to be all right again ; but you 
 cannot imagine how irksome lying in bed is to 
 me at such a stirring time. At sunset we had 
 a tremendous storm of thunder and rain, but 
 
 it did not last long. Dined with De M , 
 
 who always stays from mess, and keeps me 
 company. Three more of our men have died 
 of their wounds. 
 
 March 2. — It rained so heavily in the night, 
 that we are unable to march until one o'clock. 
 Our brigade then starts alone with Dawes' bat- 
 tery, to take possession of Rhotas, which the 
 Sikhs have just evacuated. Evening. — Just 
 dined. We have had a long march ; but the 
 beautiful scenery we passed through amply 
 repaid us. Started at one o'clock, and, after 
 five hours' march, entered the hills that form 
 the pass leading to Rhotas. The scenery was 
 grandly wild and picturesque — the road the 
 bed of a torrent, on each side of which the hills 
 rose almost abruptly, clothed in the richest 
 verdure — while all beneath was one tumbled 
 mass of black rocks. The strength of the place 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 1 75 
 
 defies description. Luckily for us, there was 
 no enemy near, or they might have peppered 
 us nicely. After about three miles, the pass 
 grew so narrow that not more than four could 
 walk abreast. The ascent became very steep 
 also ; and on turning a corner we came in sight 
 of the fort of Rhotas — a magnificent structure, 
 reminding one of the castles of old, situated at 
 the summit of a towering hill, and commanding 
 a view of the whole of the surrounding country. 
 To it we advanced by a narrow defile, hewn 
 out of the solid rock, and overtopped by beet- 
 ling crags, from which we should have been 
 exposed to a raking fire if there had been an 
 enemy, which happily there was not. The 
 path wound along under the walls of the fort 
 for half a mile, and then we gained the sum- 
 mit, and the principal gate of the place. Some 
 of us went in to see the interior, but the bri- 
 gade passed on, and descended by the same 
 narrow defile to the plain on the other side. 
 Walked all over the fort ; it is a place of im- 
 mense natural strength, and at the time in 
 
176 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 which it was built must have been impregnable 
 — that is, three hundred years ago ; but now it 
 could be knocked to pieces with artillery in a 
 very short time, being commanded by several 
 of the neighbouring heights ; and from the rear, 
 where it is much lower, running nearly down 
 to the plain, it could be shelled beautifully. 
 An immense deep rocky chasm runs the whole 
 way round, making a splendid natural fosse. 
 The place is of great extent, a good three miles 
 in circumference, if not more. From the walls 
 we had a beautiful view of the surrounding 
 country — a vast heaving ocean of green corn, 
 bounded only by the horizon, through which 
 we could descry the silver waters of the Jhelum 
 winding in the distance, and flashing in the 
 light of the setting sun. It was a landscape 
 that would have done John Company's heart 
 good to gaze on — such a fat, rich, and fertile 
 country, added to his gigantic empire. Few 
 Europeans have set eyes on it before. We are 
 unveiling the arcana of this rich champaign ; it 
 has been a sealed volume hitherto, and I hope 
 
J0UKNAL OF A SUBALTEKN. 177 
 
 to have some strange things to relate during 
 my progress. I lose a great deal by not being 
 well at present, and therefore unable to go out 
 sight-seeing. But I trust soon to be all right, 
 and never was invalid more impatient. I am 
 all abroad this month, from not having received 
 letters from home. I look for them every 
 fortnight as regularly as clock-work, and feel 
 quite miserable when I don't receive them. I 
 am afraid, that due has been lost. A lot of our 
 letters was intercepted by the Sikhs last month, 
 and mine probably were among the number. I 
 only hope that it has enlightened the ill-favoured 
 Pagan who had the perusal, for the Company, 
 I fear, will scarcely give me compensation for 
 it. Had a most delightful walk from the fort 
 to our encamping ground. The delicious cool 
 evening air, with the verdure of the surrounding 
 country, made me almost think myself at home 
 again. Miserable delusion ! Waited about two 
 hours on the ground till our camels crawled up ; 
 then made myself comfortable for the night ; 
 drank tea ; wrote a little, and went to bed. 
 
 M 
 
1 78 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 March 3. — We halt here until the rest of 
 the army arrives, and then, I suppose, we shall 
 push on for Peshawur. Fifty of the enemy's 
 horsemen came in to-day, and gave themselves 
 up. Poor fellows ! they are starving, and had 
 offered their horses for one meal. war ! such 
 are thy trophies ! My heart bleeds for the poor 
 wretches. Hunger always with me will cover 
 a multitude of sins ; and I believe if the veriest 
 wretch that ever disgraced the human species 
 were to come to me and beg for food, I should 
 pity and relieve him. The enemy are said to 
 be about eighteen miles off, though in what 
 number I know not. Instead of halting for 
 the coming up of the rest of the army, we 
 march on to-morrow. 
 
 March 4. — Marched at six, ten miles ; coun- 
 try very hilly, and intersected with ravines and 
 broken ground, so as to make it extremely diffi- 
 cult for troops to pass. Arrived at our ground 
 about ten, breakfasted, and waited for our 
 tents, which arrived sooner than usual. It is 
 the hottest day we have had yet, and gives 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 179 
 
 us a foretaste of what we are to expect. 
 Sick of being invalided, so reported myself well 
 in the evening. I think, by keeping tolerably 
 quiet, I shall do very well. Shere Singh is 
 trying to make terms for himself, only requir- 
 ing his life to be insured, and a promise that 
 he shall not be transported. The Sikhs have 
 retreated again at our approach ; if they knew 
 how easily they might cut up our brigade and 
 the two batteries, we should be in a very ugly 
 predicament — twelve miles in advance of the 
 whole army, and in a country almost impass- 
 able. 
 
 March 5. — Marched at five, very cold — 
 entered the Borahkee pass. The road lay 
 along the bed of a river — shocking bad ground 
 — perpendicular hills on either side — a beautiful 
 place for an ambush. Marched eight miles 
 and a half, got into our ground early, wrote 
 letters, or rather journal. I am hungering for 
 a letter : I hope I shall receive one soon, or 
 else I lose all spirit. Your letters are the cor- 
 dials which keep me going from one fortnight 
 
180 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 to another, and make the time pass pleasantly. 
 Beware how you let me forget home, and home 
 associations : you don't know how important 
 it is, out here, to be kept constantly in mind 
 that there are other ends to live for, nobler 
 than the present hour. If it were not for 
 these recollections, many would become reck- 
 less, and care little what became of them. 
 
 March 6. — Marched at five; entered fresh 
 defile — the scenery magnificent. I wish I 
 could sketch, to give you some idea of the wild 
 grandeur of the mountain defiles we have tra- 
 versed. The gorge reached for eight miles — the 
 most rough and uneven road we have had yet. 
 At the end of that, we came to the key of the 
 pass, an ascent of a quarter of a mile — almost 
 perpendicular — the 
 
 "'Ax^oTarav uvroropov, precipitate, abrupt/' 
 
 of old (Edipus — where only one camel could 
 pass at a time. After we had surmounted 
 this, we came upon a vast plain, intersected 
 with ravines. The artillery had great difficulty 
 in scaling them ; the horses were obliged to be 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 181 
 
 taken out, and the guns dragged up by men. 
 It took three hours to get them all to the top. 
 Marched on about two miles, till we were 
 quite clear of the ravines, and then halted. 
 One artilleryman had his leg smashed in three 
 places, by one of the guns breaking loose and 
 running back on him. The enemy are only 
 fourteen miles ahead. All the Sikh infantry 
 have deserted, and they have nothing but 
 cavalry and artillery left. One thousand came 
 hi yesterday, and gave up their arms. Major 
 Lawrence and Bowie are in a very critical 
 position. We can never catch these fellows if 
 they fly from us — they go two miles to our 
 one ; and if they are hard pressed, the pri- 
 soners are at any time liable to be murdered 
 by some fanatic rascal or other. Bowie man- 
 aged to send a letter in yesterday, saying that 
 they were beginning to be ill-treated, and 
 begging us to make exertions to liberate them. 
 We passed by a village where the Sikhs had 
 blown up a quantity of their ammunition, but 
 not having a correct idea of the power of gun- 
 
182 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 powder, they had exploded three of themselves 
 and eleven villagers, besides two houses. They 
 were lying about in small bits, arms and 
 legs all blackened and shrivelled, and hardly 
 distinguishable. The Commander-in-chiefs 
 notification appeared yesterday — I see we are 
 mentioned as the only brigade actively engaged. 
 Got some breakfast, and wandered about all 
 day, vainly waiting for our tents ; felt very miser- 
 able and unwashed. It was very hot too. We 
 had dinner at dusk. It became so cold that we 
 had to walk about to keep ourselves warm until 
 12 o'clock, when our tents made their appear- 
 ance. Pitched, and turned in, but alas ! — 
 my misfortunes will never cease — my bed was 
 broken to pieces, my chair likewise ; and — 
 the unkindest cut of all — a bundle contain- 
 ing the greater portion of my shirts, pocket- 
 handkerchiefs, towels, socks, and white trousers, 
 had been lost on the road, and how I am to 
 replace them I know not ; however, I am, as 
 I said before, a philosopher, and in spite of 
 my losses, which are no trifle, I slept. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 183 
 
 March 7. — Halted. Up at nine, break- 
 fasted, dressed, and went and played a game 
 at cricket — tiffed, and wrote letters. A hun- 
 dred of the enemy came in and gave up their 
 arms to-day ; a message has been sent to Shere 
 Singh to say, if he carries on the prisoners any 
 further, a price will be put on his head. I fancy 
 this will bring him in. 
 
 March 8. — Marched at five ; the first two 
 miles the road ran through a succession of 
 yawning chasms, ravine after ravine, up and 
 down hill. Such a frightful place you never 
 saw : it took us a good two hours to get through 
 it. But after passing that, it was comparatively 
 easy work — only an occasional hundred yards 
 of ravine. We had to halt, every now and then, 
 to let the artillery get on, which made the 
 march a most tedious one. It was twelve 
 o'clock before we reached our ground, where 
 we found breakfast ready ; at two o'clock our 
 tents came up, and it began to rain. We 
 hear that Abbott, with some of Gholab Singh's 
 troops, has taken possession of a pass in front 
 
184 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 of Shere Singh, and he must now either fight 
 or yield. Evening, — I have just heard that 
 the prisoners, Major and Mrs Lawrence, Her- 
 bert, and Bowie, have been sent in, and 
 are now in our camp ; if this be the case, we 
 shall probably see Mr Shere himself before 
 long. Five hundred Sikhs came and laid 
 down their arms to-day. It is raining hard, 
 and it is dinner-time, — more certain news to- 
 morrow. 
 
 After dinner. — It is all true ; Major Law- 
 rence, and his wife and two children, Herbert, 
 and Bowie, arrived this evening. Shere Singh 
 comes in to-morrow, and so the campaign with 
 the Sikhs is over. We may have some fighting 
 with the Affghans, but I suspect not. Good 
 night. 
 
 March 9. — Shere Singh has come into camp 
 — not as a prisoner as yet, but to try and make 
 terms. He wishes to be allowed to send in the 
 guns and arms on hackeries, but Gilbert will con- 
 sent to nothing but the whole army marching by, 
 and depositing the arms at his feet ; and to these 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 185 
 
 terms I believe lie has consented, because he can't 
 help himself. But I must go and have a peep. 
 I have seen Shere Singh and the prisoners. 
 Mrs Lawrence and the children appear in ex- 
 cellent health and spirits. How glad she must 
 be to get amongst her own people again ! How- 
 ever, I hope her fame will go a great way 
 towards reconciling her to the hardships she 
 has endured. She says that, until the retreat 
 of the Sikhs, when she had to march night and 
 day, she was treated with the greatest consi- 
 deration and respect, and so were all the rest 
 of the prisoners. Shere Singh is a short, fat, 
 ugly little fellow, very much marked with 
 the smallpox, and as black as your hat. At 
 one o'clock we marched fourteen miles — worse 
 ground than ever ; miles of ravines — chasms 
 on either side — here and there a small culti- 
 vated spot smiling in the midst of the wilder- 
 ness 5 all the rest was a black and barren waste. 
 The sun was fearfully hot. Encamped in an 
 open space near to a large dome, said to be 
 built by Alexander the Great, under which 
 
186 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 Bucephalus — credat Judceus — lies buried ! 
 After sunset it became very cold, and we had 
 to wander about, or lie down on the ground, 
 as we pleased, until ten o'clock, before our tents 
 came up. We then got something to satisfy our 
 hunger — it was flesh, and had undergone a sort 
 of operation before the fire, and that is all I 
 can say for it ; but we were too hungry to be 
 fastidious. As soon as I had bolted some food, 
 I went to bed, very thankful at having that 
 luxury, instead of sleeping, as we expected, in 
 the open air. It is astonishing what a few 
 things a man really wants. Give me a covering 
 for my head, something to keep me warm, and 
 anything in the shape of food, and I can go 
 on for a long time ; but the sub Jove aperto 
 work is rather too much of a good thing to 
 make a constant practice of. It may do very 
 well for Harold the Dauntless, and that sort 
 of gentleman, who had a skin like ox-hide, and 
 the constitution of a 24 -pounder, — who 
 esteemed a stone for a pillow; a luxury. 
 Happy fellows, whose luxuries w T ere so cheap ! 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 187 
 
 But to delicately-nurtured youths like myself, 
 liable to all the maladies which afflict the 
 human frame, a tent and a bed are almost 
 necessaries. 
 
 I had a long talk with Shere Singh's head 
 man to-day, about the action. I asked him, 
 among other things, " where his master was 
 during the fight/' He angrily denied the report 
 of his having fled early in the day, and said 
 he was in front of his army the whole time, 
 and had three horses shot under him. 
 
 March 10. — On duty. Up at seven. In- 
 spected the provisions — which consists in taking 
 a handful of rice, tea, or coffee, in your hands, 
 and pretending to know if it's good or not — 
 looking knowingly at two dozen or so quartered 
 sheep — and breaking a loaf of bread in half, 
 and eating a piece. Marched off my guard, 
 
 relieved B , and here I am on my solitary 
 
 tour of duty at the quarter-guard. We halt 
 to-day, I am happy to say. We are all glad 
 of a little rest, and prize it the more from the 
 hard work we have had lately. To-morrow, I 
 
188 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 believe, or the next day, we enact the last scene 
 of the Sikh campaign, and receive charge of 
 Shere Singh and his remaining guns. Khan 
 Singh is coming in with his followers and fifty 
 zamborrucks — a species of small gun, carried on 
 a camel, and holding a pound-ball or so. We 
 are sure now of having to pass the hot weather 
 either at Peshawur or Attock. What we shall 
 do for houses, I don't know ; but I suppose 
 there will be some species of dwellings found 
 for us, if the enemy don't destroy them before 
 we arrive — in which case we shall have to dig 
 holes under our beds, and luxuriate there 
 through the heat of the day. Dost Mahommed 
 writes to the governor-general, and hopes 
 that " though appearances are a good deal 
 against him, his excellency will consider him 
 as our sincere friend." The scoundrel! Bowie 
 has got copies of a lot of letters from him to 
 Shere Singh, urging him to join in a crusade 
 to sweep the Feringhees from the country. 
 He has regularly compromised himself with us, 
 and made the Sikhs his enemies by his half 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 189 
 
 measures and the outrages committed at Attock. 
 Parade for the inspection of General Gilbert. 
 We march to-morrow, to receive the Sikh 
 guns in order of battle — a wise precaution, as 
 there is no knowing what treachery these 
 fellows may be meditating. Staid with my 
 guard all day, and wrote letters — turned out, 
 and fell in with my guard during parade — 
 presented arms to the general, and after that 
 went to see Khan Singh's followers come in. 
 They marched in bodies of two hundred ; and 
 each man, as he passed, threw his arms on a 
 heap in front of the general's tent. There 
 were about one thousand of them ; and I never 
 saw anything like the reluctance with which 
 they seemed to part with their weapons. 
 Many of them were fine gray-haired old fellows, 
 with large flowing white beards, probably some 
 of Runjeet Singh's veterans. One old fellow 
 I noticed in particular: he stood for a long 
 time looking wistfully at his arms, and the 
 pile before him, and evidently could not make 
 up his mind to give them up. At last the 
 
190 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 officer on duty came and touched him on the 
 shoulder, and ordered him to move on; he 
 then threw down his sword and matchlock 
 with a crash, and turned away, saying, with 
 tears in his eyes, " All my work is done now." 
 I quite pitied the poor fellow's feelings, and 
 should have liked to give them all their arms 
 back again, had I not known that they would 
 have felt the greatest pleasure in cutting our 
 throats the next minute. After they had 
 deposited their weapons, they went away — 
 goodness knows where — probably without a 
 farthing in their pockets to procure food with. 
 There was an immense pile of muskets, match- 
 locks, tulwars, (native swords,) spears, zambor- 
 rucks, and six or seven guns of heavier metal, and 
 one ten-inch mortar. As I went away, I met 
 a company of pioneers coming to break up the 
 matchlocks. The swords will probably be sold 
 by auction. Posted sentries, dined, and sat 
 up reading for some time. 
 
 March 11. — Struck my tent at half-past 
 four. Pouring with rain, and bitterly cold. 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 191 
 
 Joined the regiment, and had to remain 
 drenched and shivering for two hours before 
 we marched. The Bombay column preceded 
 us. We had been told that there was a 
 chance of a fight, and the men were in capital 
 spirits, in spite of the weather. Marched along 
 for eight miles, until we came to a very narrow 
 and difficult pass, where we had to halt in the 
 rain till the Bombay division had passed 
 through. It took us about three hours before 
 we got to the other side of it — the pioneers 
 having to go ahead and clear a road for 
 the guns. All this in a pouring rain was 
 very agreeable, as you may imagine. Hunger, 
 wet, and cold, are great drawbacks to the 
 pleasure of wearing a red jacket, at the time, 
 though they rather enhance it afterwards. I 
 am, for my part, very seldom dull here ; march- 
 ing, bivouacking, fasting — being laid up, wet 
 through, or comfortable — I generally keep 
 up my spirits and laugh at my hardships: 
 a fortiori — if I remember right, that's the term 
 in dialectics — should those at home be the 
 
192 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 very essence of light-heartedness. . . . After 
 we had got through the defile, (I shall be an 
 enemy to hill scenery for life,) we emerged on 
 a small plain surrounded by hills, where we 
 saw our camp, and that of the Sikhs in the 
 distance. Found, to our joy, that the mess- 
 tent was up, the camels having preceded us by 
 a short cut. Got inside, and wrung the wet 
 out of our clothes, as well as we were able, and 
 then made an onslaught on some very suspi- 
 cious-looking chops. Hunger appeased, I wan- 
 dered over to see Chuttur and Shere Singh, 
 who had arrived before we came up. Father 
 and son, and all the other Sirdars, were sitting 
 in a circle on a carpet in the general's tent. 
 They seemed quite happy, and were talking 
 and laughing away as if it was quite a joke 
 being prisoners. In the afternoon the guns, 
 twenty-six in number, were brought in : their 
 artillerymen brought them up to the park, 
 unlimbered, dismounted, gave up their swords, 
 and went off. They were all very nice brass 
 pieces, two of them the guns lost at Chilian- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 193 
 
 walla. The rest of the army come in, I 
 hear, to-morrow. After I had witnessed all 
 that was to be seen, returned to camp. The 
 rain increased into a regular storm at night. 
 The thunder was such as you only hear in 
 India — at times perfectly stunning, and so close 
 that you would fancy you were in the clouds. 
 The lightning lit up every object with a terrible 
 distinctness, and the water poured down like 
 a deluge. Sat up writing for a long time, 
 and enjoying the storm. There is nothing I 
 like better than thunder and lightning, if I am 
 under cover. 
 
 March 12. — About one o'clock was gladden- 
 ed by receiving the long-expected overland. 
 I need not say what pleasure it gave me. 
 Five thousand Sikhs laid down their arms in 
 camp to-day; the rest come in to-morrow. 
 By the bye, I forgot to tell you of a conversa- 
 tion I had with a Sikh yesterday. I was 
 asking him questions about the battle. He 
 said, " he knew nothing about it, except what 
 happened in the village." — " Oh, you were in 
 
194 JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 
 
 the village, were you?" said I; " why didn't 
 you hold it?" — " Well," replied my friend, 
 " what was the use ? — the Europeans came on 
 us like so many devils, and seemed determined 
 to have it — so we ran; what could we do?" — 
 " It was the best thing you could have done," 
 said I. With which anecdote, illustrative of 
 native savoir vivre, I will conclude for the 
 present. 
 
 Camp, Rawull Pindee. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MARCH TO ATTOCK AND PESHAWUR. 
 
 Rawull Pikdee, March 13. — Struck our 
 tents at 4 a. m., and waited outside for a 
 couple of hours, when an order came down 
 countermanding the march until twelve o'clock, 
 as the river was too much swollen by the two 
 last days to be fordable. Repitched one 
 tent, and lay down again. At twelve we 
 marched, I went along in a doolie: by the 
 bye, you don't know what a doolie is 1 It is 
 a rude kind of palkee, very light, made for the 
 purpose of carrying the sick, and borne by four 
 men ; has a cane bottom, and is open at the 
 top and sides, over which a cloth is thrown to 
 
196 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 to protect you from the sun. Altogether it 
 looks very much like a coffin. Reached the 
 banks of the river — a swift stream running 
 over a rocky bed, at the foot of a barren range 
 of hills. Here I had to get out and ride 
 across. Thousands of the Sikhs met us on our 
 march, going to lay down their arms. It was 
 strange to see us passing so coolly and indiffe- 
 rently those with whom, but a short time back, 
 we were waging war to the knife, — jostling 
 one another in the ford, and, without looking, 
 brushing by those whom, a week ago, you 
 would only have approached sword in hand. 
 Every man, as he reached our side of the ford, 
 deposited his arms on an immense heap that 
 lay on the bank. The reluctance of one poor 
 fellow to part with his tulwar quite affected 
 me. After he had thrown it down, he came 
 and prostrated himself, a la Hindoostan, at the 
 feet of the officer on duty at the pile, and 
 begged, in the most pathetic manner, to have 
 his sword back again. Of course it could not 
 be done — and heaven only knows what atroci- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 197 
 
 ties he may have perpetrated with it. After 
 we had crossed the ford, we had to ascend the 
 range of hills ; and as there was only one nar- 
 row pass crowded with troops, I made my 
 bearers deploy to the left, and discovered a 
 precarious sort of path just practicable. Got 
 out of my doolie again, and scrambled up as 
 well as I could to the summit, leaving my 
 bearers to follow. The scene, when I had 
 reached it, was superb — our division of the 
 army crossing the river, and winding along the 
 plain — the Sikhs trooping slowly in, and 
 throwing their weapons on the glittering pile, 
 which shone like silver in the bright sunshine 
 — the Bombay camp pitched at a short dis- 
 tance — (you don't know what a picturesque 
 thing a camp is) — and all around, the black 
 wild mountains, with bright green patches of 
 cultivation in their bosom. It was a most 
 beautiful and novel sight — one to remember 
 and admire, but not to be described. Sat 
 down on the top of the crags, and gazed upon 
 the scene below, until my doolie toiled up to 
 
198 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 the top. Numbers of the Sikhs passed me in 
 my wild and lonely situation, — but we did not 
 molest one another ; — great forbearance on my 
 part, seeing I was unarmed. The country at 
 the top was flat, and cultivated for a few 
 miles, when there was another bleak range of 
 hills. This is a regular land of mountains. 
 Got into my doolie, and, leaving the regiment 
 in the pleasant occupation of dragging the 
 captured guns up the steep road, proceeded to 
 the camp, which was only a short distance a- 
 head. It was a most lovely afternoon, — a 
 sweet fresh wind blowing over the mountains, 
 and filling one's mind with visions of home. 
 Found my tent had arrived by a different 
 road; had it pitched and went to bed; spent 
 the evening alone, drank tea, and read the 
 despatch, which has come out. It is wonder- 
 fully true — without even excusable exaggera- 
 tion. However, this is not needed; the re- 
 sults speak for themselves. The Chief, I see, 
 gives the credit of storming the village to the 
 whole brigade. General Gilbert has done us 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 199 
 
 justice, and states that it was stormed in a 
 gallant manner by the 2d Europeans, with 
 only the loss of eight killed, and 135 wounded. 
 The number who have since died makes the 
 number up to twenty, with poor Sprot : and 
 very many of the wounded, I am sorry to say, 
 are disabled for life. The Sikh guns that we 
 have in camp amount to 36 : two of them are 
 French guns with the Paris mark on them, 
 and quite new ; kind of our friends across the 
 Channel ! I can scarcely get beyond a guess 
 of the number of the enemy who have given 
 up their arms, but I should say about 15,000. 
 A number of them object to doing so, and we 
 march to-morrow to bring them to their senses. 
 So good-night— To sleep ! 
 
 March 14. — Marched at eight; beautiful 
 day. After about three miles, came to the 
 Sikh camp. As anticipated, the sight of us 
 brought them to submission, and they are 
 bringing in their arms as fast as possible. By 
 evening, they had all deposited them, and the 
 country was covered for miles with the disper- 
 
200 LEAVES FEOM THE 
 
 sing multitude. We found an immense quan- 
 tity of ammunition in their camp, which was 
 all blown up. The place we are at now, 
 Rawull Pindee, is celebrated for the manufac- 
 ture of cloth. All the dak packages, that have 
 been lost during the campaign, were found in a 
 magazine here. We shall be at Peshawur in 
 little more than a fortnight, if Dost Mahommed 
 does not make a fool of himself. There we 
 shall get very decent quarters — apples and 
 grapes too, and ice from the surrounding 
 mountains. 
 
 March 15. — I have now passed my two years' 
 service. It seems more like twenty when I look 
 back to my first landing, and more like a month 
 when I think of my leaving home — so vividly 
 do I remember everything connected with that 
 melancholy occasion. Last Christmas was my 
 third away from home — how often I recollect 
 the last there, and pray that I may spend 
 many more such. A protecting Providence 
 has watched over me so far : may it please God 
 to continue it unto the end. They are sad 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 201 
 
 tilings, these breakings up of family circles, — 
 these tearings asunder of those who, from 
 childhood, have been knit together in the bonds 
 of love, — but it must be so. Tents struck at 
 three o'clock — marched at four — a long march 
 of seventeen miles, — country very fertile, and 
 road good, with the exception of an occasional 
 ravine, or dry bed of a river ; the plain covered 
 with a small bright purple flower, which looked 
 very beautiful. In the last two miles, we 
 entered a low jungle, at the foot of a range of 
 hills, abounding in game — deer, partridges, 
 and hares ; — reached our ground about twelve. 
 We are pitched in the jungle at the foot of 
 the hills, through which we shall have to pass 
 to-morrow. The Bombay division follow, — 
 one march behind. We have only three 
 marches to make to Attock now. The Sikhs 
 have all given in — some 25,000 — and 38 guns. 
 Shere and his respected parent are in camp. 
 The heads of the rebellion are spared, and 
 will probably be pensioned for life ; while the 
 miserable instruments are turned adrift, penni- 
 
202 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 less and starving, to seek their distant homes,—- 
 or else have fallen in the senseless contest. 
 These Indian princes never pay their troops, 
 except in cases of victory; and as they are 
 always licked, the deluded soldiers never get 
 paid at all. 
 
 March 16. — Turned out at half-past three; 
 started at five. The country about here is the 
 most beautiful I have seen in India — hill and 
 dale thickly covered with wood, and all in one 
 purple glow from the carpet of flowers which 
 entirely hides the earth. Entered the pass 
 between the hills which Abbott had so oppor- 
 tunely taken possession of; and after three 
 hours or so fighting one's way through camels, 
 horses, and men, emerged on the plain on the 
 other side. Marched sixteen miles, — did not 
 reach our ground until one o'clock. And now, 
 just as we have swallowed some food, washed, 
 and begin to feel comfortable, we are told that 
 we are to march at eight o'clock to-night, and 
 push on to Attock, a distance of thirty-six 
 miles. Jolly — very ! Dost Mahommed, they 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 203 
 
 say, is burning the boats, and we wish to spoil 
 his sport — very natural on his part, and on 
 ours. {After news). — We march at six in- 
 stead of eight, and there is every chance of 
 a tight skrimmage. Dost Mahommed is trying 
 to cross; and, if we catch him in the act, he 
 must fight. I wish we had another European 
 corps with us. The doctor strongly recom- 
 mends my staying behind, — but I can't run 
 the risk of the regiment being engaged and I 
 away. I had rather lose a limb : and so I 
 am to go, and be answerable, or rather respon- 
 sible, for the consequences. So good-bye for 
 the present. 
 
 March 17. — Here I am at Attock, after a 
 night and day of such fatigue and discomfort as 
 I have seldom passed before. But it is pleasant 
 to look back on labours over. And now that 
 I am comfortable again, I would not have 
 missed the march for the world. We started 
 yesterday at six o'clock p. m., and went the 
 whole night at the rate of little more than a 
 mile an hour, the roads being so bad that the 
 
204 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 artillery could make no progress, and we had 
 but little moonlight. I don't know anything 
 more tedious and fatiguing than sitting on 
 horseback, and crawling along at that pace. 
 The inclination to sleep is painful in the ex- 
 treme. Time after time, I nearly fell off my 
 saddle. It was intensely cold, and I had no- 
 thing but my cloak. I would have given worlds 
 to have been allowed to walk. In this miser- 
 able way, we mooned away for twelve miles, 
 and then halted for a couple of hours. Threw 
 myself on the ground, and was asleep in a 
 second. It seemed scarcely two minutes before 
 we had to start again, and it required all my 
 resolution to make me to quit my hard couch. 
 After this, we marched on all night, and until 
 ten o'clock next morning, when we halted, 
 having accomplished twenty-six miles. The 
 sun was very powerful, and I was obliged to 
 resort to my old expedient of hanging my cloak 
 on my sword, under which I devoured the loaf 
 of bread we each had for breakfast, and then 
 fell fast asleep. At twelve o'clock we had to 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 205 
 
 post off again — awfully hot — the men keeping 
 up bravely ; only a few fell out, from sheer in- 
 ability to proceed, and were put on elephants. 
 The road was very good at this part of the 
 march, and we got along splendidly. The fer- 
 tility of the country wonderful — the eye can 
 rest on no spot which is not covered with green 
 corn. All over the plain, as far as we could see, 
 # to the foot of the hills, which shut it in on all 
 sides, it was one mass of cultivation. Verily, 
 it is a goodly land. General Gilbert went 
 ahead with the cavalry and horse-artillery ; and 
 after we had been marching about two hours, 
 we heard firing for a short time. Ten miles 
 brought us to the end of our march, on the 
 banks of the celebrated Indus, and in posses- 
 sion of Attock. At General Gilbert's approach 
 with the cavalry, the Afighans, after firing two 
 or three shots, fled across the river by the 
 bridge of boats, leaving three of their guns, 
 and commenced burning the boats, to prevent 
 our following. They had half completed the 
 work of destruction, when Captain Fordyce's 
 
206 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 troop came up, and opened upon them across 
 the river with grape, which they returned from 
 a few guns, but soon retired out of range. We 
 have saved half the boats, and so have got 
 something by our forced march. Some of the 
 troops were put in the fort to hold it, and we 
 encamped outside. I have not yet seen Attock, 
 as we are pitched in such a position that a 
 bend in the hills conceals it from our view. 
 Our tents arrived shortly after us, and by sun- 
 set we were once more comfortable. General 
 Gilbert was pleased to compliment us on our 
 marching, and justly so ; for thirty-six miles, 
 with sixteen before it, is very good work. Got 
 some dinner at seven, and here I am drinking 
 tea, and giving you an account of my labours. 
 I am not the least the worse for the exercise, 
 which is very lucky, as I might have done 
 myself a great deal of injury. We have got 
 possession of Attock, and, I hope, shall halt 
 to-morrow before we do anything else. Dost 
 Mahommed is at the other side of the river, 
 with, it is said, twelve guns, and 10,000 men ; 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 207 
 
 though I scarcely think he can have the impu- 
 dence to think of meeting us with such a force. 
 That our " best friend" intends to resist, there 
 is little doubt, from his destroying the boats, 
 and firing on us to-day. And now, good-night ! 
 as you won't be surprised when I tell you I 
 am tired. 
 
 Sunday, March 18. — We halt to-day, thank 
 goodness — for we are very much in need of 
 rest. I have had a good night's sleep, and feel 
 rather the better for the march. This has been 
 
 a campaign with a vengeance ; and, as 
 
 says, if they give a year's batta for Chilian walla 
 and Goojerat, the troops that crossed the Jhelum 
 ought to get two years. It is very hot here ; 
 I hope it will not be our summer quarters. 
 Evening. — I have been luxuriating in idle- 
 ness all day — writing a little, reading a little, 
 yawning a great deal, and listening listlessly to 
 whatever news my friends were good enough to 
 tell me. The bridge of boats is completed by 
 this time. We offered the villagers a hundred 
 rupees for every boat they brought us ; and by 
 
208 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 this means, with those taken, managed to get 
 sufficient to reach across. We march to-morrow, 
 and are to make Peshawur in three marches. 
 The Khyberees, or inhabitants of the Khyber 
 pass, have sold it to us. To understand this, I 
 must tell you, if so be you don't know, that the 
 natives of that portion of the earth, taking 
 advantage of their position, levy a black-mail on 
 all who pass through ; and as the only entrance 
 into Affghanistan is by that infernal hole, it 
 is to be supposed they net a very considerable 
 income. Dost Mahommed bought his passage 
 to this side with 10,000 rupees, and we have 
 bribed the chief of the Khyberees with a lac — 
 10,000 down, and the British word for the rest 
 — not to let him through again. He has agreed 
 to this, but says that he cannot hold the pass 
 against guns, if Dost Mahommed choose to 
 force it ; but if we move on as fast as possible, 
 he will keep him in check till we come up ; so 
 it may be hoped we have the enemy in a trap, 
 and he must either fight or yield. We shall 
 have some long marches, though, — the enemy 
 
J0UKNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 209 
 
 having retreated last night, and being a long 
 way off by this time. I fancy they would 
 bolt altogether, if they could. It is five regular 
 marches to Peshawur, but I suppose we shall 
 do it in less than that. Forced marching seems 
 the order of the day — and the general is so 
 pleased with ours of the last two days, that he is 
 very likely to give us some more of it. 
 
 March 19. — Marched at six ; passed under 
 Attock ; halted at the bridge of boats. The 
 guns were crossing at the time ; and as the 
 bridge was very bad, and very narrow, we had 
 to wait about three hours before we could 
 attempt the passage ; during which time I 
 amused myself by taking an observation of 
 Attock, wandering round the base of the rock 
 on which it is situated, and throwing pebbles 
 into the Indus. I was rather disappointed in 
 Attock : it is a common Indian fort, built on 
 the top of a black rock, and surrounded on all 
 sides by the river, but not at all a strong place. 
 It is commanded by every hill around it ; 
 and the only advantage it seems to possess, is 
 
210 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 commanding the crossing of the river. It is 
 very dirty and hot withal. The Indus must 
 be a splendid river in the rains ; but now it is 
 much sunken, very deep and strong, and rushes 
 with awful rapidity through its rocky channel, 
 forming a hundred eddies and small whirlpools. 
 The sun was very hot before we began to cross, 
 which took us an hour. We then halted on 
 the other side ; the men got their breakfasts 
 and we did ditto. The reflection of the sun 
 from the rocks was almost intolerable. After 
 halting for an hour or so, we marched, and 
 entered another of those horrid passes, the 
 worst I have seen yet — very narrow and steep, 
 and very disagreeable to me, as I was riding a 
 friend's horse, which had given way in the 
 loins, and every time there was a crush, and I 
 was obliged to stand still, he give way in the 
 hind-quarters, and almost sat down. The 
 beauty of the scenery, however, more than 
 atoned for this unpleasant way of viewing it : 
 on either side there was a grassy slope strewed 
 with flowers, forming a soft contrast to the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 211 
 
 black hills which rose, frowning one over the 
 other, all around. The pass was three miles 
 long ; and at the end of it we halted for some 
 time, by a delicious cool spring under the sha- 
 dow of some trees. Dismounted, bathed my 
 face and hands ; and (excuse the offence) 
 lighting my meerschaum, stretched myself 
 under the shade of a palm-tree, and luxuriated 
 in the complacent meditations ever inspired 
 by the soothing weed. After a pleasant halt, 
 went on again, gained the plain, and came in 
 sight of the Cabul river, which joins the Indus 
 somewhere near. The road ran along about 
 two hundred yards from its banks; and finding 
 it very hot and dusty riding with the regiment, 
 I fell to the rear, turned off the road, and sat 
 down under a tree for about an hour, when a lot 
 of suspicious-looking personages prowling about 
 the hill over my head, with matchlocks, told me 
 it would be advisable to proceed. Mounted my 
 horse, and, crossing the road, followed leisurely 
 along the banks of the river — and truly there 
 was good excuse for any admirer of nature to 
 
21 2 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 loiter. The plain for miles was clothed with 
 green grass, (an unprecedented sight in India,) 
 and nothing could equal the gorgeous beauty 
 of the carpet of purple flowers which adorned 
 it. It seemed as if you were looking at every- 
 thing through a richly-stained piece of glass, — 
 and the perfume springing from it was most 
 delicious. For miles I rode dreaming on, lost 
 in sweet visions of home and England, until I 
 came to a scene that changed these pleasant 
 feelings. A number of our camp-followers 
 were plundering the crops of an unfortunate 
 old villager, destroying the wood-work of his 
 well, and carrying away all the little the poor 
 man had, utterly regardless of his tears and 
 supplications; and when I came up, the old 
 fellow threw himself flat on his face before me, 
 and besought me in the most piteous manner 
 to save his all from being taken from him. I 
 had a heavy-thonged hunting-whip in my hand ; 
 and didn't I lay it about me ! The blackguards 
 dispersed like lightning; but that wasn't the 
 thing at all. I cantered after each, and thrashed 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 213 
 
 him till he yelled, until I had gone through 
 them all, brought them back, and made them 
 restore everything they had plundered ; and 
 then, with a few final cuts, sent them about 
 their business. The poor old gentleman was 
 very grateful ; but a good deal of damage had 
 been done that I could not repair. After that, 
 I rode over to a village to get a drink of water; 
 and while it was being hoisted up from the 
 well, I got as much information as I could 
 from the villagers. Dost Mahommed had 
 passed by, they said, only the day before, with 
 seven or eight guns, and some ten thousand 
 men. Cantered after the regiment, which was 
 some four miles ahead; passed them, and rode 
 into camp, where I found the mess-tent up. 
 The march to-day was fifteen miles. It was 
 sunset when we arrived on our ground ; got 
 dinner at seven, and had to wait till half-past 
 ten before my tent made its appearance, when 
 I lost no time in getting to bed; — very tired, 
 as you may suppose, from being the whole day 
 in the sun. 
 
214 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 March 20. — Staid behind, and saw every- 
 thing packed and under weigh, and then rode 
 quietly along the road by myself. The morn- 
 ings are most delightful up here — cool, fresh 
 air, like the hills; while down in the plains, 
 we hear, they have got punkahs. 
 
 March 21. — Turned out at twelve last 
 night, and marched at one ; very dark at first 
 starting, but our eyes soon got accustomed to 
 the light, and we got along capitally. The 
 road was surprisingly good. Walked till 
 daylight without stopping, and then halted 
 for half an hour; lay down on the ground, and 
 breakfasted off a sandwich. Went on again, 
 and the men got over the ground splendidly 
 until about the sixteenth mile, when the sun 
 became overpoweringly hot, and they began 
 to look dreadfully distressed. However, there 
 was no sign of flagging; and though, even on 
 horseback, I felt regularly seared, the plucky 
 little fellows strode along with unabated energy : 
 but their reeking brows and limping gait told 
 plainly that there was very little more go in 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 215 
 
 thern. Anything like the heat I have not 
 felt yet. About eleven we came in sight of 
 Peshawur, and reached it at twelve. It is an 
 ugly native city, surrounded with high mud 
 walls, and very uninteresting to the eye. All 
 the gates were closed by order of the general, 
 to prevent plunder, and therefore we could 
 not see the inside. Marched round the walls, 
 and rested beneath them on the other side of 
 the town for about an hour, where we all, 
 officers and men, regaled ourselves with hand- 
 Ms of dates, which were sold in great 
 abundance, and very cheap. We then 
 moved on two more miles to our encamping 
 ground, which we reached at three o'clock, 
 after a march of at least twenty-eight miles. 
 The men are completely done up ; they cannot 
 do much more : it is not so much the distance, 
 as the time they are out, and the little rest 
 they have had lately. They are almost all 
 foot-sore — and what makes it more painful to 
 see is, that they never grumble, but would 
 march on, I believe, till their legs dropped 
 
216 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 off. By Jove ! when you read in books of 
 such and such a general having advanced 
 rapidly by vigorous forced marches, you have 
 but a very vague idea, or rather a thought 
 never enters one's head, of what the poor 
 devils of soldiers suffered from that same ener- 
 getic move, by which the general got so much 
 kvSos. General Gilbert was much pleased 
 with the men, so we have our reward 
 — more than enough for us, to whom a few 
 words of praise is a recompense for any hard- 
 ship. . . . Jack's friend, " General" — (I 
 cannot make out his name) is a very sensible 
 fellow. The 2d Europeans is " the smartest 
 and most active regiment in India," and I 
 am proud to belong to it. Lay in 
 
 the sun grilling for two hours before the 
 baggage arrived ; got a loaf of bread and two 
 eggs ; and here I am, after having enjoyed a 
 good bathe, once more comfortable, and at 
 charity with all men. I fancy now the cam- 
 paign is over, and that we shall be allowed 
 to repose under our laurels — which, by the 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 217 
 
 way, are the only shelter we shall have for 
 some time, for not the suspicion of a house is 
 there here fit for a European ; that scoundrel of 
 an Affghan has burnt them all. We passed 
 the smoking ruins of the cantonments on our 
 march, and Major Lawrence's house, a fine 
 old palace, utterly destroyed. Imagine me, 
 when you get this, inhabiting something in 
 the wigwam style, — stick, dirt, and mats. It 
 will be a very good climate, however ; the 
 sun is powerful, but the mornings and even- 
 ings are cool, and under shelter we shan't 
 want punkahs. There are lots of apples, 
 pears, grapes, plums, and green peas. I had 
 a beautiful bouquet brought me to-day, roses, 
 mignionette, wall-flowers, and poppies. They 
 seemed like old friends, and called up so many 
 pleasant and sad recollections. Some say 
 we (i. e. our brigade) are to go back to 
 Rawull Pindee, and build cantonments there. 
 For my part, I don't care where we go, as 
 long as we have a little rest. We are at 
 least at the end of our tether for the present, 
 
218 LEAVES FKOM THE 
 
 and heartily glad we all are of it. I believe, 
 however, Dost Mahommed has got through the 
 pass. I haven't told you yet what the Sikhs 
 have called our regiment. Some of them, when 
 they came in the other day, inquired which 
 was the corps which stormed the village, and 
 ours being pointed out, said we were a Shitan 
 ha pultun, — a regiment of devils. Rather 
 complimentary in our friends. A subscrip- 
 tion was set on foot the other day for the 
 orphans and widows of the soldiers who fell 
 in the late actions ; and yesterday I read in 
 the paper an advertisement from the chaplain, 
 Mr Whiting, saying he had already received 
 such a large sum on their behalf that nothing 
 more was needed, and requesting the public 
 to suspend their charity until he should have 
 occasion to call on them again. No bad 
 trait this of the Indian public. 
 
 March 22. — I hear from those who have 
 been inside the city (Peshawur) that it is a 
 very fine one ; but I will wait till I see it 
 myself, and then give you an account of it, 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 219 
 
 which I shall soon be able to do, as I am 
 nearly well now. We wait here, I believe, 
 for the Chiefs orders. Dost Mahommed is 
 through the pass, but I suspect we have not 
 done with him : however, that's for wiser 
 heads than mine to determine. 
 
 March 23. — Marched at four to change 
 ground. Staid behind and rode back to 
 Peshawur ; went through one of the gates 
 and out of the other. It is one of the finest 
 native cities I have seen, with the exception 
 of Delhi. The streets are broad and not 
 remarkably filthy, bazaars extensive, lots of 
 shops and houses altogether of a better de- 
 scription than the generality of nigger abodes. 
 The inhabitants are very fair, and have quite 
 a colour in their cheeks ; the women are some 
 of them very good-looking. Having stared 
 my fill, I cantered after the army. There 
 had been a heavy fall of rain in the night, and 
 the country was a regular swamp. In leaping 
 over a broad ditch, my horse fell back, and I 
 slipped over the tail up to my waist in water ; 
 
220 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 scrambled out and dragged him after me, and 
 cantered on about four miles to the encamp- 
 ment ground ; had to wait two hours while 
 they were marking it out, during which time 
 it came on to rain. The mess -tent was 
 pitched about eleven, and we got breakfast 
 at twelve. Waited another hour before my 
 tent made its appearance, changed my clothes, 
 and got into bed. We are encamped close 
 under the hills, and a few miles from the 
 entrance of the Khyber pass. I am a little 
 feverish from the effects of my ducking, but 
 a night's rest will set me all right again. 
 The hills about us are swarming wdth a 
 horde of most bloodthirsty and unscrupulous 
 robbers ; a number of camp-followers have 
 been stripped and murdered, and there is an 
 order against going beyond the pickets, and 
 staying in the city after dark. Patrols are 
 established all along the roads, and the 
 sentries have orders to fire on every one 
 who approaches their post after sunset. 
 These unprincipled gentry hold the neutral 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 221 
 
 ground, and rob, murder, and prey on all 
 who come within their reach ; so we shall 
 have to go about well armed whilst we stay 
 here. By the bye, I have a little trait of 
 national viciousness for you. I noticed this 
 moruing my little page, a small boy, son of 
 my bearer, seemingly rejoicing over two 
 tame quails that he had bought. I was 
 rather pleased to see anything like the 
 characteristics of childhood in the little 
 urchin — the generality of them grow so 
 prematurely old and wicked — so I called him 
 to me, and asked what he intended to do 
 with them. " Oh," said the precocious youth, 
 (he is about twelve,) " I shall keep them till 
 they are a little older, and then they'll fight 
 capitally." There was the innocence of child- 
 hood for you ! I have never introduced my 
 small page to you before. He is a remark- 
 ably smart boy — does as much work as two 
 men — is very much attached to me — always 
 at hand — and rejoices in the name of Laton- 
 man. His old father is in his dotage, so the 
 
222 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 little fellow does all the work — superintends 
 everything, dresses ine, runs messages, takes 
 care of my clothes — in fact does everything, 
 and isn't more addicted to lying, stealing, and 
 cheating, than the rest of his race. The 
 accounts the Sikhs give of the battle of 
 Goojerat is rather amusing. They say that, 
 for the first three hours, the fire on them 
 from our guns was ardens quasi infernum, 
 and almost took away their breath ; and at 
 last, when it slackened, and they rose up, 
 they saw six miles of infantry advancing on 
 them : " What was the use of stopping after 
 that?" 
 
 March 24. — It is deliciously cool after 
 the rain. What a contrast this climate is 
 to the burning heat of the plains ! I trust 
 we shall keep the country ; we then shall 
 have some more good stations, where a 
 European can call his existence living. I 
 was rather surprised yesterday by the seem- 
 ing poverty of a large city like Peshawur, but 
 now that is explained. All the rich mer- 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 223 
 
 chants were so alarmed for their property, 
 during the time that the Sikhs and Affghan 
 army were encamped here, that they buried 
 their goods. A short time will reassure 
 them of our peaceful intentions, and then 
 we shall see something of the celebrated 
 merchandise of the city. Spent my morning 
 as usual. I am very tired of being an invalid. 
 I believe we are nearly sure to get the medal 
 and batta : I hope it is so ; they will both be 
 very acceptable. 
 
 Sunday, March 25. — Staid at home all day. 
 
 March 26. — There is no news in the camp, 
 except that we have got fever, dysentery, and 
 scurvy among the troops, and particularly in 
 our regiment ; the latter will soon be removed 
 by the fruit and vegetables so abundant here. 
 But it would be a melancholy thing to look 
 back some ten years on any European corps 
 in this country, and see how few, how very 
 few, are left. The average of life is hardly 
 ten years. Cholera, liver, apoplexy, battle, 
 and intemperance, make sad ravages amongst 
 
224 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 us ; and the greater number of those who put 
 foot on these shores never leave them again. 
 The 61st Queen's came up yesterday, to sup- 
 ply the place of her Majesty's 29th Regi- 
 ment. The Bombay division is halted two 
 marches from here — the troops too exhausted 
 to come on without rest. Captain Mackenzie 
 of ours was nearly captured to-day, by some 
 of these Afreydees, or mountain robbers. He 
 was riding out towards Jamrood, a fort a 
 few miles off, and a number of them sur- 
 rounded him. One collared him, and another 
 seized the bridle ; but, being a powerful man, 
 he easily shook off his assailants, put spurs 
 to his horse, and escaped. Amused myself 
 all day with playing on a small Sikh fife, 
 which emits the most doleful squeaks, and 
 annoys the camp excessively. I have had 
 at least six deputations begging me to desist. 
 That, and studying Field's Exercises and 
 Evolutions of the Army, (a sweet book,) have 
 formed my day's occupation. I shall become 
 a smart officer, nolens volens, here, as this is 
 
JOURNAL OF A SUBALTERN. 225 
 
 the only book in the camp I don't know by 
 heart. There is a report now, that we 
 are to go back again to the provinces. 
 Ground is being marked out for a canton- 
 ment here, and at Wuzeerabad they are 
 already building ; but it is rumoured that the 
 2d Europeans go to Lahore. I am afraid it 
 is too good news to be true. 
 
 March 27. — It is a lovely day, but getting 
 rather hot, though we still require bed-clothes 
 at night. We hear that Subhatoo is to be 
 done away with as a station, not being con- 
 sidered healthy for Europeans. Oh, the 
 sharp-sightedness of these medical men ! 
 True, we lost a good many men up there, — 
 but how many more should we have lost in 
 the plains 1 The overland news is in to-day : 
 I see in the Illustrated News some very 
 dashing pictures of the charge of the 14th 
 Dragoons at Ramnuggur, Shere Singh's body- 
 guard, &c. How I long to hear what they 
 say of Chilianwalla. We are put to great 
 straits here at present. We have not had any 
 
226 LEAVES FROM THE 
 
 pay issued for three months, and provisions 
 are very dear. The bazaar expenses in the 
 mess alone amount to eighty rupees a month ; 
 and our servants hardly get food enough to 
 keep them alive. 
 
 March 29. — We had such a fearful storm 
 last night, that I was obliged to go to bed 
 before I finished my packet. The candle 
 was blown out — the tent bulged in like a 
 sail — the wind rushed in at every corner — 
 the papers flew out at the door — the tea-pot, 
 cups, and milk-bottle were trundled off the 
 table — everything in the tent rocked and 
 vibrated ; and there was nothing for it but 
 creeping into bed, and shivering under the 
 clothes. However, this occurrence enables me 
 to give you the latest news. It is settled 
 that we go back to Lahore, which I am very 
 glad of. It is a nice station ; and there are 
 quarters built by government for officers. It 
 is thirty marches from here to Lahore, so we 
 shall not be there before May. Awfully hot 
 it will be, but heat I rather like. 
 
 ^ 7 H - 3o /W, 
 
J0U11NAL OF A SUBALTERN. 227 
 
 Excuse the disreputable appearance of this 
 packet. I wonder how I ever manage to 
 write at all. You should see my table ; it 
 requires innumerable tent-pegs to keep it up ; 
 and has been repaired time after time, till it 
 has as much cordage about it as a seventy- 
 four. My chair is one mass of rope, and 
 minus the back ; and my bed has been 
 mended so often that, from being originally 
 made for a man six feet four, it has dwindled 
 down to a place on which one of moderate 
 dimensions finds it difficult to coil up. The 
 tent is the best thing we have got, and that 
 belongs to a friend, and is not impervious to 
 either wind or water. Good-by to you all ! 
 God bless you ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
 PRINTJKD BV WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. 
 
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