C. R. JOHNSON'S *r T> 10^ I* 1 3| THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES LIFE CKYERAL H. HAVELOCK, K.C.B. THE LIFE or GENERAL II. HAVELOCK, K.C.B. BY J. T. IIEADLEY, ACTHOk or " XAPOLEOX AKD Hid MARSHALS," " WASHIVOTOX AKD HIS OUttALS, "SACKED MOCSTA1VS," BTC. 1 And at tlicir head rod* Havelock hi fearlea forehead bare- Hi* warllVe loeki, worn thin and white, aware with erery air." ILLUSTlivVTED. NEW YORK? CilAKI.KS SCUir.NER, 124 GRAND STREET. MDCCCLIX. ENTERED according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by CHARLES SCRIBNER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. W. H. TINSON, Stereotyper. GEO. RUSSELL & Co., Printers. CONTENTS. CHAPTER L Havclock's Birth and Childhood Early Training His Courage and Daring Gets a Black Eye Military Tendencies Called " Phlos" for his Grarc Demeanor His Religious Tendency and Love of Study Chooses the Profession of the Law His Brother William serves under Wellington Havelock obtains a Lieutenant's Commission After Eight Years' Service at Home embarks for India Is converted on the way Stationed at Fort William, in Calcutta Commences Religious Instruction of his Soldiers War with Burmah Havelock's First liiittlc The Baptist Missionaries Is taken Sick, and returns to Hindostan Rejoins the Army Is engaged in Three separate Actions Dre. Price and Judson Bearer of Presents to the King Receives a Patent of Nobility Scene at Dinner Religious Ser- vices in a heathen Temple 21 CHAPTER H. Joins the Army at Dinapore Appointed to the Staff of Lord Com- bermere Marries the Daughter of Rev. Dr. Marsham Forms a Church in his Regiment Marches to Agra His Soldiers rebuild a Chapel there Appointed Interpreter to the Regiment at Cawnpor* Appointed Adjutant in his own Regiment Great Opposition to VI CONTENTS. the Appointment, based on Havelock's Religious Habits and Prac- tices Again goes to Agra Bungalow, in which his Wife and Children were sleeping, burned down Two Servants and one Child burned to Death Havelock's Resignation Forms Temper- ance Societies 60 CHAPTER HI. Havelock in Affghanistan Causes of the Affghan Invasion Injustice of the British Government English Army assembled to put Shah Soojah on the Throne Havelock appointed Aid to Sir Willoughby Cotton Appointed temporary Post-master of Division His Views of the Equipment of the Troops The last Excuse for War re- moved Havelock's Descriptive Powers Violations of Treaties Havelock's View of it March of the Army Its Appearance Havelock's Views of the Campaign Havelock taken Sick His View of use of Liquor by the Troops His Description of Bukhur Advance on Hyderabad* Crossing the Indus Desert Appearance of the Country Bolan Pass A Storm Sufferings of the Army The Kojuk Pass Scarcity of "Water Havelock's Views of Con- quests gained by Negotiation Gandahar Spirit Rations give out Fortress of Ghuznee carried by Storm March to Cabool Havelock's able summing up of the Campaign Return to India. . 58 CHAPTER IV. Lord Elphinstone appointed Commander-in-chief Havelock sent back to Cabool in charge of Detachments Finds the Key of Cabool given up Unwise Conduct of British Officers Havelock instructs his Men His Habits during the Winter and Summer Sale ordered to force the Passes toward Jellalabad Havelock joins him Forcing the Khoord Cabool Pass Returns to Cabool Reads a Strange Pro- phecy in his Tent, among the Mulberry-trees Resolves to rejoin Sale Breaking out of the Insurrection Folly of Lord Elphin- Btone Murder of Burns Spread of the Insurrection Mortality CONTENTS. V 1 1 of the Troops Havelock'a Policy Rejected Akbar Khan Humili- ation of the British Army Murder of the Convoy Commence- ment of the Retreat.. . 110 CHAPTER V. Havclock, Sale's chief Reliance Sent at Midnight by Officers to per- suade Sale to attack a Fort Succeeds Retreat to Jcllalabad Havelock's Plan of Fortifying it A Sortie Successful Experiment of total Abstinence Another Sortie Vague Rumors of the Capitu- lation of the Army News confirmed The Brigade ordered to evacuate Jcllalabad It Refuses Havelock's Views of the Order Anxious watching of the Cabool Road Approach of a single man Story of the Frightful Retreat Massacre in the Khoord Cabool Pass Women and Children delivered up to the Aflghans Army sinks in the Jugdulluck Pass Retribution Have- lock prays with the Brigade Council of War Broadfoot and Havelock oppose the entire Council An Earthquake shakes down the Defences Advance of the Relieving Force Havelock plans an Attack on" the Afghan Camp It is successful Pollock arrives Army advances to Cabool Appearance of the Passes Release of the Prisoners Havclock plans the Battle of Istalifle Army returns to India Grand Reception of the Illustrious Garrison at Ferozepore ISO .CHAPTER VL Havelock accompanies his Family to Simla Is appointed Persian Interpreter to Sir IIughGough Battle of Maharajpore Broadfoot and Havelock Campaign of the Sutlej Battle of Moodkhec Havclock has two Horses shot under him Is poisoned S.ilo kill-Ml Battle of Ferozepore Battle of Aliwal Battle of Soliruon Havelock's Horse shot under him Fearful Slaughter Hawlock's Bethel Tent Accused of baptizing the Soldiers 182 VI 11 CONTENTS. CHAPTER YII. Havelock's Illness Death of his Brother William Havelock's Reli- gious Practice and Views on Sectarianism Returns to England to recruit his Health Visits Germany Leaves his Wife and three Children at Bonn and returns to India His domestic Qualities as exhibited in his Letters to his Family Arrives in Bombay Reviews at Poonah Personal Appearance of Havelock Is appointed Quar termaster-Gen eral Repairs to Simla Visits the Chapel at Seram- pore Is appointed Adjutant-General Letter to his Wife Accom- panies General Anson to Delhi Receives a Telegraphic Dispatch from Lord Elphinstone, offering him the Command of a Division in the War against Persia 207 CHAPTER VIH. Arrives at Bushire Attack on Fort Mohammerah Description of the Scene Havelock ordered back to India Is shipwrecked Gathers Passengers and Crew around him, to return Thanks for their Deliverance Arrives at Madras, and hears of the Death of General Anson Proceeds to Calcutta Appointed Brigadier, and sent forward to Allahabad. . . . . 221 CHAPTER IX. Causes of the Mutiny in India Annexation of Oude Confiscation of the Soil Proclamation of the Queen abolishing the Power of the Company Sir Henry Lawrence appointed Chief Commissioner in Oude Mutiny in Lucknow Lawrence fortifies himself Sir Hugh Wheeler intrenches himself at Cawnpore Mutiny of the Native Troops Nana Sahib lays Siege to the Garrison Its Sufferings Desperate efforts to drive back the Enemy Capitulation and Mas- sacre... ,236 CONTENTS. 1 \" CHAPTER X. Ilavelock'n Advance to Cawnporc Starts in a Rain-storm First En- campment in a Snipe Swamp Painful March Battle of Futtt-h- pore Battle of Aong Battle of Pandoo Nuddie Battle of Cawn- pore Bravery of young Havclock 248 CHAPTER XL The Massacre of Cawnpore Ilavclock burns Nana Sahib's Palace Havclock's General Order General Neill's mode of Punishing the gepoya Ilavclock advances to the Relief of Lucknow Battle of Oonao Battle of Busherut-gunge Resolves to retire to Cawnpore Disarms the Lascars Havelock's second Advance towards Luck- now Combat at Busserutgunge Pursues the Enemy Again re- solves to fall back Rcoccupics Cawnpore Attack on Bithoor Sir Colin Campbell's Censure of Havelock and his Son Outram appointed to the Command 26G CHAPTER XIL Mortality among the Garrison Defeat of Lawrence by the Rebels Blowing up Muchee Bhawun Description of the Residency Death Scene of Lawrence Of Miss Palmer Confusion and Suffer- ing of the Garrison Effluvia from Dead Cattle An Attack of thi> Km-my Sickness Flics An Attack repulsed Excitement of the Garrison on hearing Firing in the direction of Cawnporc News from Havelock's Force Effect of the Report of his Retreat Despair of the Garrison Springing of Mines Diary of one of the Officers Also of the Wife of one of the Chaplains Increased Sufferings of the Garrison News that Havelock was again advanc- ing Final Approach, and joy of the Garrison 297 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIH. Havelock waits at Cawnpore for Reinforcements He Las no Chap- lain Outrani Arrival of Reinforcements His generous refusal to take the Command Havelock crosses the Ganges Attacks the Enemy Outram charges with a Cudgel Painful March The Can- nonading heard around Lucknow Fight at the Kaiserbagh Have- lock enters Lucknow Terrific Street Fight Excitement in the Garrison Reaches the Residency The Welcome 321 CHAPTER XIV. New Difficulties Outram and Havelock resolve to remain with the Garrison Havelock pushes his Line of Defence further towards the City His Troops occupy a Palace Havelock finds Lucknow undermined An Incident illustrating Havelock's Character Scarcity of Provisions Havelock countermines Campbell's ap- proach Reviews the Army The Highlanders Campbell encoun- ters the Enemy Massacre at Secunderabagh Severe Fight around a Mosque Havelock advances to Meet Campbell Garrison Re- lieved Havelock taken Sick His Last hours Closing Scene Is Buried in the Alumbagh His Character Campbell falls back on Cawnpore 346 INTRODUCTION IT may seem strange that a full and extended biography of so distinguished a general as llavelock should be first attempted by an American. But it must be remembered that llavelock was one of those rare characters that be long to the race, and are not the exclusive property of any nation. The mere fact that when the news of his death reached this coun- try, the flags of the shipping in the port of .v York were hung at half-mast a mark of respect never before shown at the death of any chieftain or potentate of the Old World shows how deeply the sympathies of the American people were enlisted in his career. Doubtless, the chief reason of the apparent neglect in England to give a ft i story of Havelock's life may be found in the following statement made by Rev. Mr. I'rock in his sketch of Have-lock's religious character: " From the pen of John Mursham, u Xll INTRODUCTION. Esq., a memoir may be looked for, as soon as there has been an opportunity of obtaining the necessary documents, and submitting them to the deliberate investigations which their impor- tance will require. Some time perhaps a twelvemonth must elapse on account of the length of the period which the memoir will em- brace, and of the carefulness with which the voluminous materials must be examined and employed." Both of these gentlemen being brothers-in-law of Havelock, this announcement by the latter would naturally arrest any inclina- tion on the part of others to write his bio- graphy. A twelvemonth was certainly the shortest time in which the materials could be collected and arranged. The present work was commenced at the urgent request of a friend of Havelock's family, and of the missionaries with whom Havelock was on the most intimate terms, and on his assurance that the pressing engagements of Mr. Marsham would prevent him from accomplish- ing an object so near to his heart at least for several years. Still I declined to complete it until I received the undoubted 'information that Mr. Marsham had not commenced his work, and would* not for three years, if he ever did. The field thus being clear, and having INTRODUCTION. XI 11 obtained through this friend, and through an- otlur in India, all the necessary materials, I Iccmed it lit and right that the fruit of what has been to me a labor of love should be given to the world. It may be objected to that so much war and bloodshed should be mingled in with the life of an eminent Christian ; but this is designed to be a military biography. JIavelock was a mili- tary man. and his eminence did not arise from his rare Christian virtues, but these virtues be- came known through his greatness as a war- rior. To take advantage of his military renown to make more widely known his Christian dial-actor, and then to ignore the military career by which that renown was won, is to be guilty of a deception and trickery unworthy of the biographer of ao straightforward and truth- ful a man as Havelock. Besides, it would be manifestly unjust. Havelock was proud of his profession, and loved active service, and whether the man of peace can reconcile this with his re- ligious character or not, he has no right what- ever to present him with half of his life and character cut away. Havelock would have scorned such a man, and held in low estimation religious principles that would sanction such disingenuousness. XIV . INTRODUCTION. It is an error to suppose that Havelock was singular in his religious character ; the English army has had many distinguished Christians among its officers such as Captain Hedley Vicars, Col. Gardiner, General Burns, the Lawrences, Nicholsons, Edwards, etc. He dif- fered from many others only in the boldness of his course, and the public manner in which he showed his faith and devotion. As the promi- nent position his name at present occupies is that of a great commander, the tracing of his military career should be the chief object of his biographer. Only a small portion of his cor- respondence is inserted, and that simply to illus- trate his private social character. So also many facts relating to his religious course are omitted, because they would be a mere repeti- tion of what has already been given, and belong more especially to a strictly Christian biogra- phy. His religious character is, however, fully brought out. It may be thought that I have dwelt with unnecessary length on those campaigns in which Havelock acted only in a subordinate capacity ; but to understand a man's character it is necessary to trace the events and scenes in which he has been educated. Havelock's mili- tary greatness was not the growth of an hour, X. XV Inn the result of severe study ami long service in the field. 1 have given the main outlines of Afghan campaign, because, in the first, place. Ilavelock, although only a staff officer during its progress, did more than any com- mander towards saving it from ending in total ace, and in the second place, in its length, and in the varied events and scenes that marked L^C, there seems to be the type of which -iege and relief of Lucknow are the anti- type. Not only did this campaign lay the foundation of Havelock's future greatness, but in tracing its progress, can see the hand ( t' Providence preparing the Christian soldier for those trying scenes amid which his life closed. On these accounts I have deemed it important to enter more into detail of the Afghan campaign than at first sight would seem necessary. My personal views or prejudices respecting the course of the East India- Company, from its first aggressive movements until now, I have endeavored to keep in abeyance as having no place in a work of this kind. The invasion of mist an and the annexation of Oude are the only two events of which I have spoken with severity. Of the first, my severest lan- !; ((notations from Knirlish histo- XVI INTRODUCTION. rians, who are regarded in Great Britain as standard authority. In condemnation of the last, I have but reiterated the sentiments of the best and wisest statesmen of England. In contemplating the life of Havelock, many are troubled at the outset to reconcile his military and Christian profession. I have touched on this point in the body of the memoir, but since it was written, my attention has been called to an interesting work entitled " The Higher Christian Life," by the Rev. Mr. Boardman, in which he takes up the question, " Can any man be a whole-hearted Christian and yet a military man ?" He meets it frankly, and those who will take the trouble to refer to his arguments, will be surprised to find how much their views have grown out of a mere feeling which a little reflection would have changed. I have not space for his able discussion of this question, but the main points are the first Gentile to whom the Gospel was preached was a Roman military officer, Cornelius, who is commended as a devout and prayerful man. It was of a centurion, too, that Christ said, " I have not found so great faith no, not in Israel." He says, moreover, that the army and navy are simply a "national police, in principle just what the civic police is to the INTRODUCTION. XV 11 city, and the sherifialty and constabulary:; ountry." That it is right to have a police on the high seas to protect commerce from pirates, and one on the land to defend the frontiers from invasion, no one will deny. He that when the necessity of a navy and army is admitted, the whole question is settled ; lor whatever is necessary for the protection and conservation of good government, it is proper for good men to engage in. He might have added, that if a military profession is inconsistent with Christian character, then the first duty of chaplains in the navy and army is to preach desertion. If they cannot be con- stant Christians and follow their calling, it is manifestly the duty of officers to resign, and men to desert, for the claims of God are above all other obligations. The seamen of the North Carolina, who shared so largely in the religious movement in New York, the past year, would not place a high estimation on the Christian teacher who should inculcate such doctrines. No one believes those converted sailors would be less efficient in the hour of action because they have become conscientious religious men. It is impossible to give all the authorities to whii'h I have been indebted in compiling this memoir. With regard to the various cam- XV111 mTKODUCriON. paigns in which Havelock was engaged during his long service, I have consulted not only every work that has been published, but the official papers issued in India. I am indebted, also, to the standard papers and periodicals of England. I am under especial obligations to Blackwood's invaluable magazine for matter relating to the campaign in the Punjaub. Dr. Kaye's valuable work on the war in Afghanistan I found to fill an important hiatus in my materials relating to the closing scenes of that event. In two of the most important of Havelock's earlier campaigns, I have made use almost entirely of Havelock's own journals and accounts. One of these, written in his youth, his own family did not possess, and it was obtained only by rare good fortune even in India, and through a gentleman of high position in Calcutta. In writing the history of the last campaign of Havelock, I have made use of all the authentic accounts published in England, em- bracing various diaries by ladies, and officers, and civilians. For the incidents connected with Havelock's boyhood I am indebted en- tirely to the able and highly interesting sketch of his religious character by Rev. Mr. Brock. After having exhausted all these sources of in- INTRODUCTION. XIX formation, my collection of materials would still have been incomplete but for the generous vst of two gentlemen one a friend of Havelock's family, and the other a man of high position and influence residing in India. They do not wish their names mentioned in connec- tion with this memoir, but I cheerfully confess that but for them the book would not have been written. LIFE OF GENL HAVELOCK, CHAPTER I. Havelock's Birth and Childhood Early Training His Courage and Daring Gets a Black Eye Military Tendencies Called " Phlos" for .rave Demeanor His Religious Tendency and Lore of Study Chooses the Profession of the Law His Brother William serves under Wellington Havelock obtains a Lieutenant's Commission After Eight Years' Service at Home.embarks for India Is converted on the way Stationed at Fort William, in Calcutta Commences Religious Instruction of his Soldiers War with Burmah Havelock's First Battle The Baptist Missionaries Is taken Sick, and returns to Hindostan Rejoins the Army Is engaged in Three separate Actions Drs. Price and Judson Bearer of Presents to the King Receives a Patent of Nobility Scene at Dinner Religious Ser- vices in a heathen Temple. HAVELOCK was born at Bishop Wearmouth, in >unty of Durham, on the 5th of April, 17!'.", being the third of a family of seven children. ipts have been made to trace his lineage hack to an illustrious Danish family ; but nothing definite .i\vn of his ancestry beyond two generations. Us grandfather, who lived in Lincolnshire, 91 22 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. removed to Yorkshire, where Henry Havelock's father was born. The latter being in moderate cir- cumstances, went to Sunderland to improve his for- tune by engaging in ship-building and commercial pursuits. Acquiring sufficient property to support a family, he married Jane, daughter of John Carter, a conveyancer. When young Havelock was four years old, his father, having purchased Ingress near Dartford, in Kent, Co., removed thither. Havelock's after religious character was, doubtless, owing much to the careful training of his mother, during the first six years of his life, while under the paternal roof. She was accustomed regularly to assemble her children around her, and after reading a portion of Scripture, converse and pray with them. The lessons she inculcated and the religious truths she implanted in his young heart remained there to bring forth their fruit in due time. At the age of five, he, with his brother "William, was sent to school at Dartford, three miles distant, and placed under the charge of Rev. I. Bradley, curate of Swanscomb.* These two lads ambling to Dartford on two ponies, and the gallant Colonel heading a charge * It is possible there may be an error in this date, for Havelock himself makes a difference of a year in his age at this time. In his own memoranda, he says that " in January, 1801, William and Henry went to school at Dartford as parlor boarders," etc., but in a letter to his son, dated June 4th, 1853, he mentions: "In the month of January, 1800 (this is 1853), my brSther William and I were taken on ponies away to school at Dartford," etc. If his memorandum is correct, he was six the April after he entered school, but in this letter he says he vrnsjive in April. HIS MILITARY TASTE. 23 of cavalry, and the great Commander leading hia army to victory, present one of those striking con- trasts, which fortune sometimes seems to delight in. lie remained here three years. At this early age he evinced great fondness for reading, and like all boys of an ardent temperament, took great delight in accounts of battles and sieges. This taste for military affairs was much increased by the wonder- ful career Napoleon was then running. The rapidity and boldness of his marches, the extent of his rces and the sudden aud terrible shocks with which he fell on the monarchs of Europe, were well lated to intlame the imagination, and he eare- fully followed all his movements, and in the secluded - of the park marked out the various fields of :, remarshalled the battalions and fought his battles over a^ain. In this way the natural ten- y of the child to a military life became a lixed and permanent characteristic. u rally adventurous and daring, he excelled his '! mates in those feats requiring courage and sUMe fri^liK-m-'l. I was thinking about the bird's e r On another occasion, having been drawn into a quunvl by interfering for a schoolfellow who was not 24 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. receiving fair play in a fight, he got a black eye. His teacher observing it, asked what ha Pindar. There wore sonic thirty boys on this form, among whom AValpole stood first on the list and JIavelock fourth. During his stay at this school ho exhibited those strong religious tendencies for which he was so remarkable in after life. Having once made up his mind that it was his duty to examine the doctrines of the Bible and ascertain the obligations resting on him to his Maker, he did so, and the charge of " cant- ing Methodist," and laugh and sneer so powerful to drti-r one of his age from any open religious acts, had no effect upon him. ^Neither did it require any strong religious principle in him to withstand them. It mattered not what it was that he resolved upon, for when his mind was once made up, scorn and derision only iixed him tinner in his purpose. Although as a boy and as a man fixedness of will was one of his strongest characteristics, yet at this time not li ing irritated him so much as to be called obstinatr. Several of his schoolmates joined him in his ivli- gious exercises, and meetings were regularly held in one of the sleeping rooms of the house. A portion of the time at these meetings was commonly do- voted to the reading of a sermon by one of the number, followed by a familiar discussion of the leading thoughts it contained. Although Ilavelock had received his early religious bias from his mother, as he grew- older lie began to doubt some of the doctrines she had taught him to believe. He was not peculiar in this respect, for reflecting young men, who have received great and important truths in childhood, almost invariably 2 26 LIFE OF GENERAL I1AYELOCK. when they come to examine them for themselves, pass through a short period of semi-skepticism. The rock on which Havelock threatened to split was the doctrine of the trinity, and for a while' he adhered to the Unitarian belief. But he discovered that he had begun wrong in his investigations. Instead of ascertaining if the Bible was true, and then seeking to find out what it actually taught without reference to its apparent contradiction to reason, he first established by argument that it was inconsistent and impossible that Christ could be both God and man, and then endeavored to make the Bible harmonize with his theory. A very common error. As his father had not the means of giving him a university education, it was now time to choose a profession. Governed doubtless somewhat by the early formed wish of his mother, although she was now dead, and somewhat by his love of study, he selected the profession of the law, and at nineteen years of age became a pupil of the celebrated Chitty, with Talfourd* for a fellow clerk. He prosecuted his studies, however, only a short time. Four years previous, his brother "William joined the army, and immediately entered on active service under Wel- lington in the Peninsular War. He was with that general in his memorable retreat before the advanc- ing hosts of Massena, until the lines of the Torres Yedras shut him in. The stirring scenes and fierce battles that intervened the after retreat of Massena, * Afterwards Judge Talfourd, the author of " Ion." WILLIAM I1AVI .I.oi K IN SPAIN. L'7 and the stern and bloody pur-nit of Wellington, furni.-hed end!e-> themes for the young ;>nd chival- rous r-oldier in writing to his brother at home, and were well calcnlati-d to reawaken the martial s-pirit that had characterized the latter in his early boy- hooil. On one occasion, the Spaniards halting in their advance against the enemy's works, although urged on by their officers, young Hurt-lock was si-nt by General Altern to ascertain the difficulty. He found their ranks perfect, but the soldiers irre- solute. Enraged at their cowardly bearing, he wared his hat orer his head, and shouting to them to follow him, he buried the rowels in his steed, and with one bound cleared the abattis and drove headlong amid the enemy. Excited by the chivalric daring of this mere stripling, they shouted " the fair boy, follow the fair boy!" and dashed after, breaking with resistless fury through the French ranks. I Jut whaterer dreams of military renown Hnvelock may hare indulged in, the overthrow of ^Napoleon - to hare banished them effectually, and he entered on the study of the law. But the sudden landing of this wonderful being on the coast of France again, his triumphal march to the capital to .-it down on his recovered throne amid the acclama- f the people, .-ummoned Europe once more to arms. an d rekindled the military ardor which had suli.-ided with the peace. Young Havelock caught the enthusiasm; his law books became di>ta>teful to him, and he wrte to his brother to get him a place in the army. This was not so easy for a young subaltern to do, ami for a time nothing was 28 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. accomplished. But his brother, who was a brave, dashing officer, served at Waterloo as aid to Baron Altern, and bore himself so gallantly, and rendered such valuable assistance, that the latter at once became his friend and interested himself in his behalf. His influence soon procured for Henry the appointment of second lieutenant in a rifle brigade. His whole course of life was now changed, and though it may seem a little singular that one so studious and religiously inclined should have chosen the military profession, it must be remembered that with all his religious tendencies and conscientious regard for duty, his nature demanded action, while to his fearless, daring spirit danger was only a plea- sant excitement. His desire for military distinction, however, was doomed to a long disappointment. The second over- throw of Napoleon brought peace to troubled Europe, and the bewildered kings and emperors he had over- thrown on so many battle-fields were glad to give their armies rest. Stationed sometimes in England, sometimes in Ireland, travelling on short leaves of absence through portions of France and Italy, his time passed with no incidents worthy of special record. He read works relating to his profession, and studied Hin- dostanee and Persian, in anticipation of an exchange into an India regiment an object he was anxious to accomplish. Nearly eight years of comparative idleness passed in this way, when much to his grati- fication he was transferred to the 13th light infantry, and in January, 1823, set sail for India. In the is own I*: i same vc.-scl in which he sailed wen- Major Sale, with whmii late had destined he should afterward* pa>s through terrible sceiu -s, and .lames ( iardner. a lieu- tenant also of {\K- l:;th, and a very devout Christian. This officer soon ascertained the state of Havelock's mind, ami t> t .k great interest in conversing with him on religious subjects. It was through his influence, llavelock says, " that the Spirit of God came to him with its oilers of peace and mandate of love, which, though tor some time resisted, were received, and at length prevailed." While sailing on the broad Atlantic, "there was wrought," ] u . sai,^ "that great change in his soul which has been of unspeakable advantage to him in time, and lie trusts lias secured him happiness through eternity." From this time his actual Christ- ian lite commences. Hitherto it seemed that he had rather been feeling his way through much uncer- tainty, but n.iw he accepted the terms of salvation as offered in the Scriptures, and by the simple act of faith and suhmi.-sion, became a disciple of Christ. Religion was ever after his daily life. The immo- rality of a camp lift the jests and ridicule of his brother ollicers the injurious influence he knew his course would exert against his advancement the obstacles constantly flung in his way to di.-h. him, the thunder and tumult of battle could : shake hi> >teadfast tru.-t in heaven or move him in the lca>t from his calm religious course. It is not to ]>]";uiy arrived in Calcutta. TIu> garrison was immediately astir with excitement, while Ilaveloek was elated that his long-cherished for active service was about to be gratified. Burmah had originally been subject to the adjoining kingdom of Pega, but had revolted in 1753, ami established a separate dominion, ruled by the govern- ment of Ava. From that time it had steadily pro- gressed in power, and though but little was known definitely either of the country or people, still it was evident, after making proper allowance for Eastern exaggerations, that it was a formidable enemy to contend with. The ostensible cause of the war was the refusal of the Company to send back a large number of fugitives who had lied to the British terri- tory for protection. A quarter of a century previous, a thousand peasants men, women and children half naked and starving, and made desperate by oppression, swarmed over the frontier and claimed British protection. A parcel of waste land was a>signed them, and they formed themselves into a colony, which, rapidly increasing by the arrival of other fugitives, at this time numbered 4<>,000. The government at Ava peremptorily demanded their surrender. This the English refused to do, and it had been a bone of contention in Lord AVelloley's administration and all through that of Lord 1!.. ing>'s. Hitherto the British had been ver\ ciliatory and diplomatic, for they had their hands full in the Ghoorka and Pindaree wars, and could not alford to make an open enemy of this powerful nation. But peace at length bein^ iv>toivd, the 32 LITE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. Company took more decided ground. The Burmese government had some cause of complaint in the duplicity that marked all the negotiations during a long course of years, and it was evident that the non- compliance with the original demand was but a small part of the causes that finally precipitated hostilities. "With the vanity and self-confidence so characteristic of the Asiatic people, the Burmese believed their only difficulty would be, to compel the British to fight. Of their power to drive them into the sea they never doubted, and so to make a col- lision inevitable, they, in September, boldly invaded the Company's territory and slaughtered the British guard at the island of Shapure, situated at the en- trance of the arm of the sea that divides Chittagong and Arracan. "When Lord Amherst, who had succeeded Hast- ings as governor-general, resolved on war, the first difficulty to solve was how to get at the enemy. The alluvial plains of the Irrawady were to be the field of battle, but these could be reached inland only by crossing a mountain range G,000 feet high and impassable for artillery. To get there by water it would be necessary for an army first to take Rangoon at the mouth of the Irrawady, and ascending that stream, demolish the barricades, storm the forts along the banks, and fight its slow and toilsome way into the heart of the country. "With steamboats, this would have been comparatively an easy matter, but for troops to push themselves slowly up stream exposed to an incessant fire from the jungles and forti- fications on shore, was a more serious undertaking. KA.NT.OON TAKK.V. 33 There was, however, no other course left to pursue, and ll.oix) men, half of whom were European j, were placed under Sir Archibald Campbell, and set sail fur liangoon. Ilavelock received the appointment of deputy assistant-adjutant-general at headquarters, and looked forward with high hopes and eager expectations to the approaching conflict. The fleet arrived off the mouth of the Kan- goon River on the 10th of May. The news of the hostile approach of so large a force, lilled the inhabitants of the city with consternation, and the governor immediately ordered all the English roidents of the place to be thrown into prison. But as this decree did not include the American missionaries, soon after, " to obviate the mischief which might arise from geographical distinctions, too nice for the apprehension of IJurman subordinate officers, it was further ex- plained as comprising all 'who wore Engli.-h hats.'" 1 "Thus," says Ilavelock, "the American missionaries who had been long established in the land, engaged in the most sublime of labors, were brought within the circle of its terror-." Tin- stirring excitement of his first campaign could not divert the sympathy of the young lieutenant from tin- American missionaries, on whom lirst fell the evils of the war. On the 11 th the fleet the Li f fey leading and carrying the commander and young llavelock moved up the river and anchored abreast Uan- goon. It was soon discovered that " the means of det'ene.- were contemptible," and in order to o* 3i LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. spare the town, a regular cannonade was not at once resorted to. The Burmese had only one battery from which they opened a harmless fire on the frigate. The latter returned it with occa- sional shots until the commander finding that hi's forbearance was construed into weakness, ordered heavy broadsides to be poured in. This was the first action Havelock had ever witnessed, and he saw, with undisguised delight, the destructive effect of the British shot. Said he, " Then the Liffey opened her fire in earnest, not with a broadside, but in one long, loud, steady, continuous roar killing, shattering, crashing, splintering, dis- mantling. The effect was theatrical. In a mo- ment the battery was silenced, and the barbarians driven in panic from their guns." The fire, how- ever, well-nigh proved fatal to the prisoners, and among them the missionaries, for the gov- ernor had ordered them all to be executed the mo- ment the first gun was heard. As the vessels approached, the executioners began to sprinkle sand on the floor of the prison to receive the blood, sharpen their knives on the brick-bats, and feel the necks of the captives, as they would those of some animal, and brandish their weapons in exultation over the sanguinary deed they were about to commit. But the Liffey had scarcely opened its fire, before a thirty-two pound shot came crashing through the walls of the prison, followed the next minute by another, which so alarmed the mur- derers that they fled in affright. Having silenced the battery on shore, the commander effected a MIS>:o.\AIili I). 35 landing, and Ilavelock hud ilio pleasure of. assist- ing in throwing open the prison doors, to some of the captives, and witnessing thrir joy at the unexpected deliverance from a dreadful do,.m. '"The American Wade," he says, "was ami.n^.-t them." In ])assing through Rangoon, Ilavelock could find no " object of interest in it, except that it rivaled a feeling of joyful surprise in the reflecting mind, to see the cross of the Saviour displayed in the midst of idolatry, on the top of the little chapel of the Arminians." On the 28th, Ilavelock accompanied General Campbell in making a reconnoisance of the enemy's position, in the forest, beyond the city. Two companies of the 13th were attached to the party, with which a furious and successful assault was made upon some field-works of the Burmese, llav^lock was under a severe fire in these encomi- um! exhibited, here at the outset, that con- tempt of danger and chivalrous bearing in battle, which ever after distinguished him. The barba- rians fought bravely, and "fell," Ilavelock said, "in heaps under the bayonet." All efforts at nego- tiation failing, Campbell, on the 9th of June, pro- ceeded up the river to attack fort Kemmendine. The road was inundated, and the ponderous guns of the battering train had to be dragged along by soldiers, ankle deep in water. The next day the works were carried by storm, and Ilavelock's regiment again covered itself with glory. Sale attacked the fort in the rear, and when he came to 36 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the stockade, lie called " upon one or two of his men to assist him in climbing the parapet, and suddenly threw himself, sword in hand, amongst the amazed spearsmen within. Soldiers who are thus led, are seldom slow to follow. There were soon men enough at the side of their leader to protect him." Tired by the sight, Havelock threw himself in the thickest of the fight, cheering on the troops. That night, as the army lay bivouacked on the shores of the mighty river, with the standards drooping in the pouring rain, the young Christian soldier felt that he had started on a new life. The thunder and tumult of the day were over, and the massive waters rolled calmly, solemnly on, while ever and anon the booming of cannon swept through the dark and slumberous woods, awakening new thoughts and emotions within him. It is so rare that a young man of such a marked religious character voluntarily chooses the profession of arms, that one is quite curious to know what the reflections of young Havelock were after this battle. This brilliant opening of the campaign, however, was soon overcast with disaster. The army could make but slow progress through the thick jungle that bordered the stream, while from every leafy screen before them the bullets of the enemy thinned their ranks. But far worse than all, was the pesti- lential air, which, rising from the surrounding swamps, fell like a shroud around the European soldiers. Sir Archibald dared not expose his men to the almost certain death that awaited them if they should continue to advance up those deadly shores STORMING A I' 37 by day and sleep in the thickets at night; but it wa> almost as bad to stay in Rangoon during the summer and autumnal months. There was no escape, therefore, and the British commander had t> look nn and see his army melt away before an invisible foe. In a few works hall' of his troops were on the sick list. The Burmese, aware of this Mate of things, redoubled their efforts to exterminate the British, and on the first of July attacked their position in three columns, but wore ivpul-ed at all points. On the 8th, orders were given to destroy some works that had been put up to bar the ascent of the stream. The land column was commanded l>y (Jcneral Macbean, and was formed in part by a detachment of Ilavelock's regiment. Sale, who v to head the storm, harangued his troops before starting. Their loud responsive cheers assured him there would be no flinching that day. Ilavelock, carried away by the excitement of the scene, said : "The bugles sounded the signal to advance. The thrilling call was repeated by each corps with the regularity of a day of h'eld exercise. At once the mass was in motion. It passed the screen of thicket. In an instant the bullets of the liurm. were whirling round our heads. The 13th advaneed in perfect silence the 3Sth loudly cheered both in the most perfect order. The column made its way aero-s the plain, knee deep in mud and water, but rapidly and steadily. It reached the work the ladders 'were lixed. Then each section unslung its firelocks and lixed its bayonets, with the pre- ci-ion of the platoi.n, and began to a-cend in the 38 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. face of the barbarians. Section after section, leaping down, disappeared in the work." Here again lie saw Iris commander exhibit that personal prowess for which he was so remarkable. " A Barman chief singled out a soldier of the 13th. He aimed a blow at his head. Major Sale, who was near, interposing his own sabre, parried the cut. He, in his turn, made a cut at the chief. The blow caused the Burman to stagger ; but the major's sabre shivered like glass to the very hilt. Instantly closing with his enemy, he wrested from him his broad gilded \veapon, and striking the barbarian with his full force below the ribs, nearly severed his body into two portions." After this there was not much severe fighting for many months. The British army became reduced by disease to 3,000 men capable of bearing arms. Among the sick was young Havelock. Wasted away by the liver complaint, he obtained leave of absence, to try the effect of change of air; and returned to Calcutta from whence he went to Bom- bay, and travelled through the Deccan. At length, the Burmese having raised a new army, besieged the British so closely in Rangoon that the place was becoming untenable, and Sir Archibald Campbell wisely concluding that desperate conditions required desperate action, took 1,500 men all he could spare and dividing them into two columns, and placing himself at the head of one of them, fell with Buch resistless valor on the besieging army of 20,000, that though protected by stockades, and defended by cannon, they in fifteen minutes were totally defeated, TMK KNKMV KKITLSKI). 39 and took refuge in tlie surrounding jungle-. Dis- heartened l>y this discomfiture.', they then retired towards Promo, the second city in the kingdom) closely followed by Campbell. Fighting his way onward, he arrived before the place on the iM;!i of April, and next day entered it without opj>o- .-ition. The heavy rains now setting in causing the Irrawady to overflow its banks, he was compelled to remain inactive for several months. In the meantime, young Havelock having re- covered his health, returned to Burmah and joinc-d the army. In November, the Burmese in great force advanced against the British in Prome, throwing nj> stockades and intivnchmcnts at every step. Campbell resolved to sally forth at once and attack them in their position. ( 'arry ing out his plans, he, on the 1st of December, at- tacked their left, and carried it. The next day tin- assault was ienewed and Havelock's regiment and the .'{^th were selected to storm the centre. Although this consisted of intrenchments two miles in length, it was carried in gallant style. Sale saw with undis- guised admiration the gallant bearing of Havelock, and from that hour formed an attachment for him that ended only with life. Tho right, now com- pletely uncovered, made but feeble resistance, and the whole army dispersed, leaving their artillery and munitions of war behind. In speaking of the advance of the column in the morning, Havelock said, u The spectacle was lieauti- ful. It was one of the finest days of an Indian De- cemberclear, bright and cool. The line of march 40 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. lay directly transverse to the great Irrawacly, which rolled majestically along at the foot of rocks of varied outline, wooded to the summit. In its channel rode the thirty vessels of the flotilla, all prepared for action. Horses and men of the lengthened column glittered in the clear sunshine, as issuing from be- hind the curtain of the forest, they gradually spread themselves into the plain, and all was bustle and ani- mation." The way being thus cleared, Campbell moved with but little opposition towards the capital of the em- pire. But, though the enemy was too thoroughly humbled to oifer any serious resistance, a worse foe soon assailed the army. Cholera broke out, and raged with terrific violence among the panic-stricken troops. The line of march passing through thick jungles and inhospitable swamps, the mortality in- creased frightfully. Still the commander-in-chief, anxious to follow up his success, would not halt, but pressed on over every obstacle. The appalling sights that Havelock was compelled to look upon during this desolate march were not those which kindle the enthusiasm of the chivalric soldier. For fifty miles up the river and all along the road by which the enemy had retreated, unburied bodies lay festering in the sun. At night the troops could hardly pitch their tents for the corpses that covered the ground, and when the morning bugle called them to resume their march, naught but ravaged fields and deserted blackened villages in ruins marked the way. Dogs keeping watch and ward over their dead masters, broke with their dismal howls the solitude of this ATTACK ON MILLOON. 41 mournful scene, while the stench from tin- count los cor j si's tainted the air, and increased the sickne.-s that threatened to annihilate the army. "Mutilated lodies of the refractory peasantry," said Havelook, k * \vere found in numbers floating down the stream of the Irrawady of many victims the arms had been amputated at the elbow of many the legs had been sawed oft' at the knee joint. A line of crucifixes was MI n in the valley below Meeaday. Already crows and kites hovered over the skeletons which hung upon them, suspended by the hair of the head and the wrists and ankles." "Weak and exhausted by disease, and rendered still more dispirited by the s of horror through which they passed, the troops continued to stagger wearily on until at last they readied Patanaga near the capital. Here pro- posals of peace met them, which being accepted, soon signed by commissioners on both sides, and the war seemed over. Iu-1'..iv the king had affixed his name to the treaty, howi-ver, the Burmese ascertaining the weakness of Campbell's force, found a pretext for breaking it oil'; and renewing hostilities, assembled 18,000 troops in the intivnehed camp of Milloon, which covered the ad- vance to the capital. Against these " Retrievers of the king's glory," as they styled themselves, Campbell, on the 19th of January, advanced twenty-eight guns, and opened his tire. Fora while shot and shell fell in a continuous shower into their camp. k "The deaf- ening peals," said Ilaveloek, "succeeding with a ra- pidity which suggested tin- image of unchecked vcngo- anc,- falling in thunder upon the heads of th-e de- 42 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOoK. ceitful barbarians." In tlie meantime two columns of attack were formed, one of which was to land from the boats. This consisted of one brigade, led by Sale and Major Frith. Havelock accompanied it, and the troops impelled by their eagerness, landed before the others could arrive, arid rushed on, carrying everything be- fore them. The Burmese, dismayed, again sued for peace, and sent the American missionary, Dr. Price, to treat with the British commander. At first, both lie and Dr. Judson had been thrown, into prison as Englishmen, the Burmese not knowing " the dis- tinction between the United States and the United Kingdoms." But when they understood the differ- ence " they began," said Havelock, " to treat the fellow-countrymen of Washington, first, with some- what more humanity, and at length with something like consideration." An American missionary enter- ing headquarters as an envoy, was a novel spectacle, and Havelock remarked, " It was curious to see a very staunch republican thus converted into the re- presentative of the Burman despotism." Campbell soon ascertaining that the king was negotiating simply to gain time, gave orders to advance, and on the 9th of February came upon the whole Burmese force, 18,000 strong. Their numerous artillery was drawn up in the form of a semi- circle, all converging on the road along which it was supposed the English must pass. But Sir Archibald, who had resolved to attack this over- whelming force with only 1,800 men, had no inten- tion of running such a gauntlet of fire, and exe- cuted a double flank movement, which took the A DANGI i:rs I'OSITION. 4.T enemy completely by surprise. General Cotton cora- mamled the left, while the eommander-in-chief, at tin- head of the 13th and 89th, led the right. Have- lock, who accompanied him, saw with delight thi> strategic: mo\ ctnent, so admirably adaj>ted to coun- terbalance the weight of numbers. After a short conflict, the enemy gave way at both extremities, and rubied to a field-work in the centre. But not liin g euld now stop the excited troops, and storming this, they carried it with terrible slaughter. The rout was complete, and the enemy fled, leaving guns, ammunitions, and everything, in the hands of the victors. During the hottest of the engagement, Campbell with only his staff and thirty men, became separated u the main army. Shot flew around in every direction, and for several minutes Ilavelock was red-ugly anxious tor the fate of his commander. Slowly retiring before the barbarians who pressed after, waving their sabres over their heads, and Wont- ing, Campbell at length reached an eminence, and ordering the 13th to be recalled by bugle, said 4 ' the whole Burman army shall not drive me from this hill." Ilavelock surveyed their critical posit ion with some solicitude, until he saw the bayonets of the 80th moving to the rescue. "The lord of the earth and sea," as he was styled by his, followers, was now compelled to sue for peace in earnest, and Dr. Price was again sent to camp. Dr. .ludson was liberated, and joii with Dr. Price as envoy to the British camp. The release of this "American mis.-ionary of dis- 44 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. tinguished piety from a horrid tliralldom," Have- lock said, " was among the purest sources of exultation." Terms of pacification having been settled, Captain Lumson, Havelock, and Assistant-surgeon Knox, were selected to bear some presents to the monarch. Numerous delays and endless ceremonials had to be endured before Havelock could get sight of the " lord of the earth and sea." With bare feet he at length mounted the great staircase of the palace, and passing through crowds of curious spectators, reached the spacious hall where the presentation was to take place. This was done with all the pomp, majesty and show which distinguish an Eastern court. Amid low chants and repeated prostrations to the marble floor, and the murmuring of the word " sacred !" " sacred !" the king advanced. After the officers had mentioned the presents of which they were bearers, refreshments were brought in on trays. Three other trays followed, on each of which Avas a superb ruby ring. A Burman officer then came forward and bound a fillet of gold leaf on the head of Havelock and his com- panions, on which was printed a title of nobility, and they became " valorous, renowned rajahs." The king was dignified and self-possessed ; " but once," Havelock said, " in spite of his studied im- mobility of character," he saw him " raise his eyes and indulge in a long stare of uncontrollable curi- osity at the three officers of that army which had placed his crown in jeopardy." After the conclusion of peace, the commander-in- 8CKNK AT DINNER. 45 chief gave a grand dinner to the Burmese Commis- sioners, at which Ilavelock was present. During dinner a scene occurred of a serio-comic character, which interested Havelock exceedingly. At the C5 v breaking out of the war, as has been previously 1, Rev. Dr. Judson, on a charge of being a I3ritis.li spy, was thrown into prison. Loaded with irons, he was kept in a loathsome apartment with a hundred others for two years. The devotion and courage of his wife during this heavy trial are well known. The story of their puflerings had been rehearsed at headquarters, and Sir Archi- bald took particular pains to have them at this dinner to the commissioners, and to the con- sternation <>f the latter, placed Mrs. Judson at his right hand. Noticing their agitation, Campbell, turning to Mrs. Judson, remarked, "I fancy these gentlemen must be acquaintances of yours, and judirinir from their appearance, you must have used them ill." In giving an account of it, Dr. Judson says : "Mrs. Judson smiled. The Burmans could not understand the remark, but considered themselves the subject of it evidently, and their faces Mere blank with consternation. " ' What is the matter with yonder owner of the pointed beard?' pursued Sir Archibald, 'he seems to be seized with an ague lit.' " ' I do not know,' answered Mrs. Judson, fixing her eyes on the trembler, ' unless his memory may be too busy. He is an old acquaintance of mine, and 46 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVKLOCK. may probably infer danger to himself from seeing me under your protection.' ' : The fact was, that of the most barbarous of her husband's oppressors, this very man was the chief. To herself personally his behavior had been cruel in the extreme. On Mrs. Judson's reciting this at the table in English, expressions of indignation burst from the listening officers. The man, though not un- derstanding the language, became obviously alarmed at the intimations of their anger, and only when Mrs. Judson, addressing him in an under tone in Burmese, assured him he had nothing to fear, was he at all composed. Even then it was clear to every- body that he was ill at ease. " I never thought," remarked Dr. Judson, when he told the story, " that I was over and above vindic- tive; but really it was one of the richest scenes I ever beheld." The recital of her wrongs and her husband's per- secutions made a deep impression on Havelock, and did not tend to weaken his determination to suffer persecution and endure trials for his religious belief. Although one would think that a soldier in the excitements of a first campaign might relax some- what in the active duties of a religious teacher, the following incident^ related by the Rev. Mr. Brock, shows that he never lost an opportunity to instruct his troops : "There is in Rangoon a famous heathen temple devoted to the service of Boodh, which is known as the magnificent Shivcy Dagoon Pagoda. It is rRAYKK-MKKTIXO AMONG IDOLS. 47 deemed the glory of the city. Of ft chamber in this building, Ilavelock obtained possession for his own purposes. All around the chamber were smaller images of Boodh, in the usual position, sitting with their legs leathered up and crossed, and the hands' resting on the lap in symbol and expression <>f iv i M>SC. No great changes were necessary to prepare the place for Christian service. It needed no cere- monial exorcising to make it fit either for psalmody or prayer. Abominable idolatries had been wit- 1 there beyond all doubt, but no sacerdotal purifications were requisite ere adoration of the true (iod could be oll'ered and service weU<^ieCMDg to Him, through Jesus Christ. Ilavelock remembered well that 'neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem' were men to worship the Father now. To the true worshippers any place might become a place for worship. Even the pagoda of Shivey Jhigoon might be none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven. " Accordingly, it was announced that that would be the place of meeting. An officer relates that as he was wandering round about the pagoda on one occasion, he heard the sound, strange enough as he thought, of singing. He listened and found that it was certainly psalm singing. IK- determined to follow the sound to its source, and started for the purpose. At length he reached the chamber, and what should meet his eye but Ilavelock, with his. Ilible and hymn-book before him, and more than :i hundred men seated around him, giving car to his proclamation to them of the glad tidings of 48 LIFE OF GENEKAL IIAVELOCK. great joy. How had they got their light by which to read, for the place was in dark shade ? They had obtained lamps for the purpose, and putting them in order, had lit them and placed them one by one in *an idol's lap. There they were, those dumb but significant lamp-bearers, in constant use ; and they were there, we may be well assured, to sug- gest stirring thoughts to the lieutenant and his men." That young officer in a heathen temple, surrounded by troops he has just led through the smoke of battle, praying and singing psalms, is certainly a most extraordinary spectacle. He believed in deeds, however, as well as words, and although he had the slender pay of a subaltern, he sacredly devoted one-tenth of his entire income to religious purposes. Havelock's instruction to his men did not make them worse soldiers, however much they might be derided by others. This was soon apparent to com- manding officers, and from the time Havelock made so many "saints" in the 13th till its original mem- bers were all gone, it was relied upon whenever hard fighting was to be done. It is related, that during this campaign, the gene- ral being told of a sudden irruption of the enemy in camp, ordered out a certain troop. The officer replied that the men. were drunk. " Then," said the commander, " call out Havelock's saints ; they are never drunk, and Havelock is always ready." The bugle sounded the ranks of the " saints " closed sternly up, and with him at their head who had so HAVELOCK'S SAINTS. 49 often led them in prayer, the troops charged on the enemy and scattered them in flight. It is recorded by some that this incident occurred in another cam- paign. The time, however, is of small importance t\\cfact remains the same. CHAPTEB II. Joins the Army at Dinapore Appointed to the Staff of Lord Com- bermere Marries the Daughter of Rev. Dr. Marsham Forms a Church in his Regiment Marches to Agra His Soldiers rebuild a Chapel there Appointed Interpreter to the Regiment at Cawnpore Appointed Adjutant in his own Regiment Great Opposition to the Appointment, based on Havelock's Religious Habits and Prac- tices Again goes to Agra Bungalow, in which his Wife and Children were sleeping, burned down Two Servants and one Child burned to Death Havelock's Resignation Forms Temper- ance Societies. FROM the close of the Burmese war in 1826 to 1838, when Havelock joined the army to invade Affghan- istan, his life presented very few incidents of a pub- lic nature to attract the attention of the biographer. As it has already been stated in the introduction, this is not intended to be a Christian biography a his- tory of his inward experience, trials, hopes and growth in grace but a sketch of his public career, with so much of his private life as may be necessary to a proper appreciation of his character. These twelve years passed in daily routine of his military duties, discipline of his troops, study of military science, and in acquiring a knowledge of the Ori- ental languages. In the interval of these duties he 50 1116 MAKUIACJli. 51 devoted himself to the religious instruction of the men under his charge. AVhenever he was stationed near missionaries, he mingled much in their so attended their prayer-meetings, and engaged with tlu-iii in devotional exercises and in exhortation. In ISi'T he joined the army at Dinapore, and was si urn after appointed by Lord Combermere adjutant to the depot of king's troops at Chinsurah, a place situated on the Ganges, only about twenty miles from Calcutta. He here commenced and fini>hed the memoirs of his first campaign. Attention to the duties of his profession, devotion to intellectual pur- suits, instead of, like other officers of hie age, spend- ing his time in various amusements, and a consistent Christian useful life, made up his daily history. At this time the llev. Dr. Marsham was located at Serumpore, only a few miles distant, and llavelock frequently rode over to visit him. He soon became deeply interested in his daughter Hannah, and the next year, February Oth, married her. She proved to be a worthy companion for one who walked with God, and deserved to the fullest extent the wealth of all'eetion he lavished on her, and the exalted inti- mation in which he held her to the day of his death. Their married life was indeed beautiful as their pri- diaraeters were pure and lovely. Two months after thi.> event he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Mack, of the Uaptist persua.-ion, ami through life- continued a firm believer in the tenets of that denomination. In the latter end of this year, the depot was moved down to Fort William, at Calcutta, when he joined his regiment again at Dinapore. 52 . LIFE OF GENERAL nAVELOCK. commenced a systematic course of religious instruc- tion of the Baptist soldiers of the 13th regiment. His exertions were crowned with so much success that at one time the church of the regiment num- bered thirty, men and women together. The follow- ing year the troops were moved northward to Agra. Here the soldiers rebuilt a chapel, where they assem- bled for worship, and Havelock had the satisfaction eleven years after of finding there a good congrega- tion with a pastor over them. He himself records that his instruction of the Baptist soldiers while stationed at this place was blessed with much suc- cess. He continued his study of the Oriental lan- guages so. assiduously that in the following year he passed examination in them before the committee appointed for that purpose, and then started for Cal- cutta, between 700 and 800 miles distant, to be ex- amined by the College of Fort "William. His acquire- ments proving satisfactory, he was appointed acting interpreter to the 16th regiment, stationed at Cawn- pore. Little did he dream, -when he entered that place, with what feelings he should one day lead his victorious columns through its gates. The next year, 1835, he was appointed adjutant of his own infantry under Col. Sale, and returned again to Agra. Sale received him with warm congratula- tions, for he had watched the young lieutenant ever since the campaign in Ava ; and not sharing the pre- judices of others against his religion, saw capacities that would one day be acknowledged. Being a fear- less, chivalric soldier himself, he admired the lofty courage of Havelock. APPOINTED AIUITANT. 53 As soon as this vacancy in tlic regiment was kno\vn, tliere were of course many applicants for ir, llavrloek among the number. "When it was found that his claims were being strongly pushed, the most strenuous efforts were made to defeat him. This attempt developed the vast amount of spleen, preju- dice and passion which Havelock's religions course had created. l'i!e> of letters were forwarded to Lord Bentinck, the governor-general, in which he was called a fanatic and an enthusiast. His conduct was described, and his prayer-meetings and religious services ridiculed and derided. In short, so deter- mined was the opposition, that Lord Bentinck would doubtless have dismissed the application, had it not been for Ilavelock's friends, who knew his worth and unquestioned fitness for the place, as well as his ambition and deep anxiety to obtain it. Boldly defying any one to speak a word against his qualifi- cations or moral character, they pressed his claims respectfully, but firmly. In exacting obed: enforcing discipline, in military skill, courage and energy in every quality that goes to form a com- plete soldier he stood preeminent. Lord Bentinck felt perplexed. To settle the . tion, he ordered a return to be made of the oil committed in every company of the regiment. This was an unfortunate decision for the other applicants, but it reflected great credit on the governor-general. The examination of the records removed all his doubts at once, for he found that Havelock's " saints " were the most sober, obedient, and best behaved men in the regiment in short, model soldiers. 54: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. This was a sufficient answer to all objections of the kind that had been urged. "It seems," said the governor-general, after he had perused the document, " the complaint is that his men are Baptists. I wish the whole regiment were Baptists" and forthwith sent Havelock his appointment. When asked after- wards how he came to make it, his curt reply was, " because he was the fittest man for it " an answer that the dispenser of patronage can rarely give for his acts. Havelock saw at once that his religious course would materially interfere with his promotion. Courage, fidelity, knowledge, ability were all of little value, if, when off duty, he presumed to in- struct soldiers in the principles of morality and virtue, and point them to the Saviour of men. Ho might swear, and sometimes become noisy over his wine, this would never be mentioned against him, but he must not pray. To serve the devil he saw would not interfere with one's promotion if he was a good soldier, but the same qualifications would go for nothing if he served God. It is well he lived long enough to let the Christian world put its seal of condemnation on such a principle of action. Although Havelock was ambitious, and his whole energies were devoted to advancement in his profes- sion, he would receive no promotion at the sacrifice of his principles, and he continued as usual his reli- gious exercises with his men. The next year the regiment marched to Agra, some seventy miles north of Delhi. His wife accompanied him, and not being in good health, he sent her and his young family to a small town a little northeast RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION. 55 of Kurnal, and farther up among the Himalaya mountain.-, for change of air. No sooner were the troops settled in their new cantonments, than the Baptist soldier?, with the proceeds of their slender pay which -their good habits had allowed them to save, built a chapel for religious worship. They had become so attached to Jl;i\ clock's prayer-meetings and exhortations, that they could not do without a place to meet in. "While Haveloek was stationed here, a sad calamity overtook him. A few days before Mrs. Ilavelock was to return to Kurnal with her family, among whom was an infant daughter a few months old, the bungalow which she occupied caught fire and was consumed, with all its contents. It was a bright night, and not a breath of air was stirring, when the inma; aroused from their midnight sleep by the cry of fire. The cottage was small and composed so much of light bamboo work and dry thatch, that it had hardly taken fire before it was in complete Conflagration. The mother's first thought Wl her children, and she rushed into the flames after them, reckless of everything but their dear lives. She was literally wrapped in fire when she bore her two little boys safe into the open air. The infant daughter, too, was dragged out, but so dreadfully burm-d, that it soon died. Two M-rvants al.-o lost their lives, and Mrs. Ilavelock, in her desperate efforts to save her children, was so dreadfully burned, that it was at lirst thought she (ul-: recover, and although her life was saved, she confined to her couch for six weeks. That very day, 56 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. Havelock had received a letter from her in which she said she hoped in a few days to present to his embrace three rosy children. The next morning, while Havelock was sitting at the breakfast table with his brother officers, an officer came in and handed him a letter with the sad tidings that his wife and family lay dying, lie uttered not a word, but the pallor of death spread over his features, and he arose and left the room. As soon as his regiment heard of it, they ame in a body to express their sympathy, and begged him to let each man dovote one month's pay to com- pensate him for the loss of his properly. This of course he refused, but he thanked them with a swelling heart for this proof of their affection. Obtaining leave of absence, he flew to Landour swift as his good steed could bear him, and the spectacle that met his gaze was appalling enough to unnerve the stoutest heart. The wife he loved better than his life, lay writhing in intolerable pain upon her couch. Two of his servants were stretched in death, while there, before him, lay the charred and blackened form of his infant daughter. Ah! then the strong man needed all his faith to support him, and never did his deep religious trust shine forth with more beauty than under this heavy trial. He meekly bowed his head to the stroke, saying, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." For six long weeks he clung to the sick bed of his wife, nursing her with unceasing care, and consoling her with those precious promises in which both believed. FAMILY ARLICTION. 57 The mother yearned for her lost babe, and lie min- gled his tears with hers, and then pouivd fourth his earnest supplications that God would help them both to ho sul>mi.->ivo, and make this great affliction the means of bringing them nearer to Him whose chastisements are inllicted in kindness on his child- ren. Those were sorrowful days to JIavelock, and sad was the last visit of himself and wife to the little grave of their babe. During this period of anxiety. and suffering, Have- lock's letters to his wife's father breathe the spirit of ^nation and calm trust in his merciful Father. Shortly after this calamity, he received lot UTS from England announcing the death of his father, in Exeter, in his eightieth year. The next year his wife's father, Dr. Mai-sham, died in the full hope of a better life to come. Havelock remained at Kurnal, continuing his religious teachings and devoting him- self especially to the promotion of temperance among his troops. Not only did he feel more and more the evil effects of liquor, but he had occasion to see ho\\- much the habit of drinking not only stood in tin- way of all attempts to reach the hear the men who indulged it, but crippled and batllod the efforts of those who really wished and stn\e to lead a Letter life. Thin during the long in' that clap>ed before the invasion of Afghanistan, he continued to live the life of the Christian soldier, neglecting neither his private studies, public duties nor Christian labors, but in all and each funnelling an example to others. 3* CHAPTER III. Havelock in Affghanistan Causes of the Affghan Invasion Injustice of the British Government English Army assembled to put Shah Soojah on the Throne Havelock appointed Aid to Sir Willoughby Cotton Appointed temporary Post-master of Division His Views of the Equipment of the Troops The last Excuse for War re- moved Havelock's Descriptive Powers Violations of Treaties Havelock's View of it March of the Army Its Appearance Havelock's Views of the Campaign Havelock taken Sick His Vie-w of use of Liquor by the Troops His Description of Bukhur Advance on Hyderabad Crossing the Indus Desert Appearance of the Country Bolan Pass A Storm Sufferings of the Army The Kojuk Pass Scarcity of Water Havelock's Views of Con- quests gained by Negotiation Candahar Spirit Rations give out Fortress of Ghuznee carried by Storm March to Cabool Havelock's able summing up of the Campaign Return to India. THE fifteen years of repose that followed the Bur- mese War furnished but few chances of promotion, and Havelock remained a subaltern. Twenty-three years of the very prime of his life had therefore passed, when the Affghan invasion suddenly opened to him a path to higher renown. The soldier likes active service, and he is not apt to pause and question the justice of his government in entering upon a war. His duty is to obey orders and win victories. Proba- bly there never was an act committed by either a civil- CAUSES OF TIIK AITi.IIAN INVASION. ized or uncivilized nation so utterly without justifica- tion as the invasion of Afghanistan by the IJritish. This is not the place to go into all the details of the trickery, duplicity, open shameful violation of solemn treaties, and contempt of guaranteed rights that marked its progress. The avowed purpose of Napo- leon of invading the British India possessions by way of Persia and the Indus created the greatest excite- ment in England, and an envoy was dispatched to Persia, who concluded a treaty with the king, by which the latter annulled all former treaties with European powers, and bound himself not to permit any European army to psuss through his dominions towards India, and also to aid the Company in any war it might wage with the Affghans. England, on the other hand, promised to assist Persia with men, or sufficient money and stores if she was invaded, and at the same time pledged herself not to interfere in any hostilities between Persia and AU'ghani>tan, unless requested to by both parties. The overthrow of Napoleon di>-ipated the tears in that quarter, but the colossal power of Russia, which had been joined with that of France in the meditated invasion, still re- mained to threaten the integrity of the Indian Empire. Kumora of Russian emissaries in the Persian court ; of Russian officers drilling Persian troops; inter- cepted letters revealing formidable conspiracies. ! abroad until the English in imagination already beheld the heads of the Russian columns along the Indus. The Russian government denied emphatically the truth of these reports ; but when in 1837 the Persians commenced open hostilities against 60 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. Herat, the western fortress of Affghanistan, it was declared to be the work of Russian machinations, and the first step of that power towards breaking down the barriers that protected the western frontier of the British Empire in India. The Indus was then that boundary. Aifghanistan embraced at this time most of the powerful kingdoms that lay between the Indus, and Persia and Russia. A few princes, only, called the Ameers of Scinde, whose territories lay directly upon the western branch of the Indus, had been enabled to maintain their independence. This vast territory was crossed by mountain ranges, through which an invading army must march by the most fearful passes. The movements against Herat, called the gate of Hindostan, although set on foot for the sole pur- pose of adjusting local differences, aroused the sus- picion of the India government, and it resolved to counteract them. The grand object was to make the ruler of Affghanistan a firm ally of England. Dost Mohammed had driven out Mahmoud Shah and his son Kemram from Cabool, the capital of the country, but they had taken refuge in Herat, a fragment of the Douranee Empire, and held it. Dost Moham- med, however, ruled the central provinces which commanded all the passes from Persia to India. He was a popular ruler, and clearly the one with whom the English government should form an alliance. Emissaries were therefore sent to him, who found him eager to consumate one, as he was a usurper and needed the countenance and support of the English to maintain his power. Alexander Burnes, an envoy ilAMMKI). sent by Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India, found him prepared to negotiate at once ; but in the first place the contemptible presents which Auckland, in carrying out his new system of economy and re- trenchment, had sent to him and to the women of his harem, disgusted him. In the second place, the envoy possessed no powers. lie was not authorized to promise the annual stipend of 50,000, which the prince demanded indeed, could pledge neither men nor money. Here was a chief who "held the k< of India in his hand," and whom the Russian emis- saries were endeavoring to approach with magnifi- cent bribes, permitted, through the weakness and parsimony of the governor-general, to go over to the enemy. The result was, an understanding between the Shah of Persia, the Chief of Candahar, and Dost -Mohammed, the first development of which was the movement on Herat. Foiled in this intrigue, the governor-general looked a round for some other prince or chief whom he could help to the throne of Afghanistan, and thus secure an ally. He finally selected ShahSoojah, who, years before, had usurped the throne of Aii- .siistan, but, unable to hold it, had been dis- possessed by his brother, and compelled to i;. refuge with the Sikhs, who occupied the banks of the Sutlej, in Northern India, and who had !> d by the ambition and energy of Kunjeet Sir from a >ma!l tribe to a powerful nation. Strip] of everything by this crafty and unscrupulous chiet'tani, he at. length, after incredible hardships, made his escape into the Hritish territory. II. 62 LIFE OF GENERAL IIA.VELOCK. he had remained in exile for thirty years ; and him, a weak, irresolute tyrant unpopular with his sub- jects while he ruled, and an object of derision in his exile the English government resolved to place over Afghanistan, to protect the Indian empire from Russian aggression. Thus was taken the first wicked step in this wicked war, for which such a terrible retribution was preparing. Runjeet Singh, the former enemy of Shah Soojah, promised, to the astonishment of the latter, also to help him to his throne ; and a tripartite treaty was formed, embracing these two barbaric chieftains and England. The work of preparation now went briskly on, and it was supposed that, by the end of November, the " Army of the Indus," as it was called, would all be assembled at Ferozepore, a town lying upon a branch of the Indus in the northwestern part of Hindostan. The main force, drawn from Bengal, consisted of 28,000 men, 100,000 camp followers, and 30,000 beasts of burden. But of this vast army there were only four English regiments the 13th, to which Havelock (who was at this time appointed to a captaincy) belonged, was one of these. When this movement began, it was feared that this regiment, which, during the latter part of the summer, had suffered severely from cholera mor- bus and fevers of various types, would not be able to take the field. But with the cooler weather in the autumn, the soldiers recruited rapidly. Colonel HAVI.I.o.'K - i:r -IMKNT. Sale, its senior lieutenant-colonel, was ord the command of a brigade, and asked whom he would like lor a brigade-major. Having witnessed Ilavelork's efficiency in the field, he instantlv selected him. As his promotion to a captaincy removed all ob- jections on the score of rank, Havelock never dreamed there would be any difficulty in securing the nomination. It was therefore with great surprise and disappointment that he, soon after, received in- formation that Sir Henry Fane, the commander-in- ch ief of the Indian forces, had selected a senior offi- cer in his corps for the position. His long services, coupled with Sale's request, should have secured him the appointment, and it was with no little chagrin he that his efforts would be restricted to the com- mand of a company of light infantry. Not long after, Sir Willoughby Cotton arrived at Kurnal, to take command of his division. A- brigadier-general, he commanded the troops from Madras, during the war in Ava, where ho had of; met Havelock (who was on the general staff) in pre- sence of the enemy, and witnessed his coolness, judg- ment and decision when under h're, and was so p!<-ased with the conduct of the young officer, that :il'ter\v:ird-; took a de t -p interest in his advance, nient. lie was delighted to inert Ilavtlock again, and when hr learned how he had been disappoint. 'ved to secure him as a member of h!- t lie rcin.-tated in power to take care of British interots in the Doiiranee Empire. But the Persian army being no longer in the way, a less invadinir force was neces- Mtry. and a reduction therefore took place. Allaire having assumed this new aspect, Sir Henry Fane resolved to return home, and leave the command of the army to Sir Willoughby Cotton, until he was joined by the force coming up from Hcml-ay. when .vhole would devolve on Sir .John KVane. 66 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. From the arrival of the governor-general in camp on the 27th November until the army was put in motion, reviews, showy pageants, entertainments, and feats of mimic war filled up all the interval. The novelty of these exhibitions amused liavelock, and he de- scribes them in his journal with a vividness that shows great power of delineation. The ceremonial visit of the Punjaub chief from his encampment on his side of the river to Lord Auckland on the other, is thus graphically given : " Lord Auckland, habited in a blue coat embroidered with gold and wearing the ribbon of the bath, his secretaiies in the showy diplomatic costume of similar color and richness, Sir Henry Fane in the uniform of a general officer, covered with orders, the tallest and most stately per- son in the whole procession of both nations, the numerous staffs of the civil ruler and military chief in handsome uniforms, made altogether a 'gallant show,' as their animals with a simultaneous rush, urged by the blows and voices of the mokautsj* moved to the front. Forward to meet them came on a noisy and disorderly though gorgeous rabble of Sikh horse and footmen, shouting out the titles of their great chief, some habited in glittering brocade, some in the buruntee bright spring yellow dresses, and some wearing chain armor. But behind these clamorous foot and cavaliers were the elephants of the Lord of Lahore, and seated on the foremost was seen an old man in an advanced stage of decrepitude, clothed in faded crimson, his head wrapt up in folds * Drivers. GRAND DISPLAY. 67 of the same color. His single eye still lighted up with the fire of enterprise, his grey hair and heard, and countenance of calm design assured the F; !iat this could be no other than the old of the Punjaub.' The shock of elephants at the- mo- ment of meeting was terrific. More than a hundred of these sagacious animals, goaded on by their dri- vers in a contrary direction, were suddenly brought to a stand still by the collision of opposing fronts and forehead-. This was the most interesting mo- ment, for now the governor-general, rising up in his houdah, approached that of the chief, returned his salaam, embraced him, and taking him by the arm and supporting his tottering frame, placed him by his side on his own elephant. All this was ma; amidst the roaring, trumpeting, pushing and crushing of impetuous and gigantic animals/' The return visit of Lord Auckland " introduced a display of a kind very diilerent from the foregoing, but picturesque and interesting. The two British -ed down from their tents at an early hour in the morning, through the lofty jungle and reeds to the ford of the (iharru. The river was securely bridged, and the elephants did not hesitate, one after the other, to venture on the planks which trembled beneath their ponderous pressure. On the right bank the lancers, as the elite of the BritMi cavalry, \v-iv drawn up on cither side, and beyond them, in extended and glittering line, helmeted and habited in hmi? dresses of yellow, were seen the liorsenu the Pimjaub." On all this gorgeous pageant the :-n sunlight lay, while over the tramp of do- 68 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. - pliants and noise and tumult arose the strains of martial music, adding still greater life and excite- ment to the scene. As the Punjaub chief approached to salute the governor, and just as he had received him into his houdah, " a startling and irregular rattle of small artillery was heard from the swivels mounted on the backs of camels, and fired by the drivers, who now lined the adjacent bank. The animals on which these grotesquely-habited drivers were mounted aloft, frightened at the noise of their own guns, moved wildly about at each discharge." The " lofty portal of a gay pavillion of crimson shawl cloth," received the guests. After much conversation, car- ried on through an interpreter, there " followed (says Havelock) the degrading scene of a crowd of dancing girls and male buffoons, introduced to amuse the illustrious visitors." When this was over, they made the tour of the tents, admired the silver campbed of the chief, and " the richness and beauty of the shawl- cloth pavilions. The light which entered through their kunats, refracted by their crimson walls and roofs, gave to all the gold on the dresses of both nations the appearance of silver, turned all the scarlet into white, and displayed all countenances as over- spread with ghastly paleness." In the evening, a grand entertainment was given on both banks. The two camps blazed with the assemblage of costly and gorgeous ornaments, while, to complete the whole, the river, the crowded shores, surrounding scenery, and the wilderness of tents fluttering with gay streamers, were illumined with fire-works, got up with a magnificence known only in the East, The GII:LS. 69 whole heave-US above was a canopy of fiery net-work, while temples, and towers, and flowers, and figures, and omuim-nts of every variety of form and color turned night into day. Over the roar and rush of the multitude and shouts of applause, there came explosions of artillery and wild bursts of music. One of the peculiar features of the old chiefs reception was \hibition of his songstresses- ami dancers, that in successive groups came swaying into the tent in vo- luptuous dances, and with still more voluptuous songs ami costumes. Ilavelock, in speaking of it, says, "The time will, it is t<> be hoped, come in India when na- tional custom will be no longer pleaded as an excuse for the introduction, as in this occasion, of groups of chonil and dancing prostitutes, for such those Kun- chunees are known to be, into the pivsence of the of the family of a British governor-general, or those of the individuals of a nation profeing to fence its morals with the securities of decorum." Ilavelock was struck with the change of the manners in Uunjeet Singh in these evening entertainments, for he jested familiarly with all who approached him, and " pressed, almost forced, upon his illustrious - of the right bank potations from his own cup of the liery beverage which he himself quail's with delight a distilled spirit which a Sikh alon. appreciate. The hardest drinker in the British camp could not indulge in it with impunity for six succes- ; : ghts; but K-injeer. as brutally preeminent in his vices as he is unrivalled in entrapping and powering his enemies, has made it his ' pet tipple* for l'>rty years." 70 LIFE OF GENE11AL I1AVELOCK. These successive shows were followed by martial displays of both forces. First came the marshalling and review of the British army, concluding with a mimic battle. The exhibition of the Punjaub chief on the following day, Havelock said, was respectable, as his troops had been drilled by French officers, but lacked the pomp and imposing effect of his prouder ally. These extracts show that Havelock could wield the pen as well as the sword. Tims the two armies amused themselves in fire- works, and shows, and entertainments as if nothing but a holiday march was before them, little dreaming to what a tragedy all this was but a gay prelude. " Could the future have been foreseen, the arid march, the muffled drum, the wasted host would have arisen in mournful solemnity before the dazzled vision."* Those festivities, however, had at length to give way to sterner scenes, and on the 10th of December the army of invasion took up its line of march. Shah Soojah, the unfortunate prince whom the Eng- lish government was about to reinstate on his throne, was furnished with 6,000 native troops from British India, and directed to march in advance, in " order to keep up the appearance of the movement being a national one, and not supported by foreign bayonets." In fact the governor-general in his pro- clamation had used the following extraordinary lan- guage: "His Majesty, Shah Soojah, will enter Aff- ghanistan surrounded by his own troops, and will be supported against foreign interference and, factious * Alison. TREA1V VI... 71 opposition, by a British army" If it were not for the wicked design this was mount to cover, and for the fearful results that followed, the shallowiu- transparency of the flimsy disguise would provoke- only mirth and derisive laughter. "Sup; again.-t foreign interference" forsooth! Supported l> i/ foreign interference it should read, rutting this imbecile- old usurper in front, followed by the mander-in-chief of the army of India, with lo,ouo men as simple retainers to prevent any "foreign interfer- ence" in approaching his kingdom, whose subjects waiting with open arms to receive him, capped the climax of this stupendous folly. But at the out- set a new ditliculty arose the army of invasion could not get into the Alfghan territory except by passing through the possessions of the independent Ameers of the Scinde. More than this, the Indus must be the base line of operations, and kept open tor the purpose of transmitting military store- of all kinds. Hut in the treaty of 1SJJJ the English govern- ment expres-ly agreed, on condition those chiefs would open the Indus to merchant vessels for the purpose of commerce, that no vessel of war nor military stores of any kind should ascend its waters. stipulations would seem to present a somewhat formidable barrier fr the governor-general to conn-, but having entered on .. I of bad faith, duplicity and inju-tirc. he wa~ i to proceed, and bluntly told the Ameers, without any attempt at di.-gui-v-. that that article of the treaty was null am! Knowing that the IJritish force would pass through their territory witli or without permission, they reluctantly 72 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. granted leave. But when, beyond tins, Bukhur, the only fortress of any consequence on the Indus, and the key to their possessions, was demanded, the bitterest complaints arose. Procrastination, all sorts of subter- fuges were resorted to, in the vain hope of avoiding this humiliation ; but the English diplomacy invariably came to one ultimatum " surrender it peaceably, or we will take it forcibly." Of course there can be but one result to such negotiations, when one party is strong and the other weak, and Bukhur was surrender- ed. It seems strange that Ilavelock, with all his con- science and sense of justice, should hitherto have not had one word to say against the wicked, totally inex- cusable conduct of the English government, but on the contrary justified it on the ground of self-defence. In this case, however, the outrage and breach of faith were too apparent to be overlooked, and he says : " ' MaLheur a ceux qui ne respectent pas des traites,' as said Napoleon when Malta was withheld from his grasp in 1803, an exclamation which might justly have been echoed by the Ameers of Hydera- bad, of Meerpore and Khyrpore, upon this expression of calm contempt on the part of the British of sub- sisting engagements being communicated to them in 1838. To ask for Buckhur after this announcement of our views and intentions, and to persist in the request after the negotiations of Colonel Pottinger had already made the Talpoor princes aware of our intentions of forcing upon them stipulations yet more galling to their feelings, was to tell them that their days of independence were numbered, and that Scinde was shortly either to be reduced to the condi- Al'l'i \K\.\< ; ARMY. ti.m t, and iinal ma.--a.-rc." Ilavdock enjoyed the impo.-ing H-le, and in speaking of the long and jl march >ays: "These were the halcyon days of the army." ry morning, an hour and a half before day- light, the bugle sounded the reveille, and the order "to horso" resounded through the camp, and in a few minutes the glittering escort of the Commander- in-chief was in motion. When there was no n torches were lighted and borne along the line. Tin- waving trains of bla/.ing lights, now winding, amid 4 74: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. clumps of date trees now stretching for miles along the road, till, mere spots of fire, they were lost in the distance had a strange and weird ap- pearance. Thus, day after day, all through the clear, pleasant month of December, and a part of January, they marched down the Indus, the only drawback to their pleasure being the frequent deser- tion of the native troops, and the theft of their camels. Havelock's functions as post-master of the divi- sion, had ceased, as it was intended they should, at Ferozepore, and Major Sage was appointed post- master of the army. Some of the Indian journals, in noticing the fact, asserted that Havelock had been removed, and congratulated the army in having se- cured so able and competent a man as Major Sage. Havelock complained of this as unfair, and in speak- ing of it, said : " The truth is, the comparison might have been spared, since the only office in the de- partment which I once held, was that of post-master to a division alone, on the march from the Jumna to the Sutledge. In the discharge of the duties of that short-lived appointment, it is sufficient for me to have been honored with the approbation of the general on whose recommendations I received the appointment." A man who never neglects his duty, and commits no blunders, cannot fail to be keenly alive to any intimation that he has been guilty of both. Although in this campaign Havelock was to act in the comparatively irresponsible character of aid- de-camp, yet he as thoroughly mastered everything HIS MILITARY ABIU1V. 75 connected with it, as the Commander-in-chief, and flowed in tlu- end, that he was far abler to con- duet it than the governor general himself. II '- 9 of the manner in which negotiations liad been carried on, his exact knowledge, not only of .ctual force in the field to be overcome, but tin- probable resistance and difficulties that would have to bo met in the pr f the campaign evince how thoroughly he had studied both the means to be used and the object to be accomplished. lie exhibits a breadth and clearness of view a comprehensiveness of plan and thorough know- of all the details, that would stamp him as at commander, even if he had never led an army. With that extraordinary appreciation of fact stripped of all pretence and disguises, he saw the utter folly of those protracted negotiations, in which iitlicult to tell whether bribery or duplicity bore the palm; l'r he knew that the Ameers along the banks of the Indus perfectly understood the whole matter. While the British envoys pretended to treat them as independent princes, they took away their forts, assumed the control of the Indu>, right in the face of a solemn treaty, and marched through their territory. The approach of the heads of columns clinched all negotiations, and it was hardly worth while, with bland smiles and kind en- treaties, to beg for that which was to be taken at aiiv rate'. The Ameers might smile back, and with professions of friendship accept the polite invitation to trample on one treaty and mak- another that 76 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. reduced them practically to bondage ; yet in their dark hearts they cursed the bayonets that forced them to such hypocrisy. Havelock saw this, and predicted the result, which, years after, occurred. His doctrine was, if a thing is to be done, let it be done in a straightforward, manly, soldier-like man- ner. As they were marching down the bank of the Indus, in the latter part of December, a little incident occurred quite illustrative of Havelock's character. One day he had been in the saddle a long time, under a bright sun, carrying orders to different por- tions of the army, and returned to head-quarters somewhat fatigued.- Shortly after, he had two slight paroxysms of intermittent fever the first attacks of the kind he had ever experienced during his long sojourn in India. In referring to it, he says : "There was nothing in surrounding localities to cause such an affliction, and I therefore attributed it, partly to rather prolonged exposure on one occa- sion to the rays of the sun, and partly to having, at the suggestion of friends, modified (since the army had taken the field) the habits which they deemed too austere for the fatigues of active service, and consented to drink a few glasses of wine daily, instead of restricting myself, as I had done for many months, to pure water. The fever was speedily checked ; and on the disappearance of its symptoms, under skillful treatment, I resolved henceforth to legislate for myself in dietetics, and resuming my former system, abjured entirely the use of wine, as well as of all stronger potations. A single example i-i I.-ANCI: v:i;ws. 77 docs not prove a rule; but my own cxperiei well as that i-t' a few others in the Bengal contin- gent, certainly goes to establish the- fact that water- drinking is the best regimen for a soldier." Although after this he was e\p. .>,-f fact in this, as well as in everything else, he abjured the use of all stimulants, because they were injurious to his health, and strove to drive them from the army because he knew they made .-oldiers wur.-e, in every iv.-pect, instead of better. At length, on the 21st of January, the army drew u | opj incite the famous fortress of Bukhur. "11 Ilavelock, "a spectacle awaited the troops which the young and enthusiastic might deem fully ;iv them for all the fatigues of their "previous marches. A noble river, of little less than one thousand yards in breadth, is the Indus at (ioih Amil, but here, where it is impeded by the i ishmd of Uukhur, it expands into a wide hay to em- brace and pas- the >]taele. the rcsi.-tance of which to its waters seems only to add fury to their natural impetuosity. On cither bank are here seen two large groves of date-trees, clothing, f'-r a certain dis- tance, the. hills of limestone rock which Wretch out liL- two huge arms, the one towards Cut ch (Jumlava, 78 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the other into the territories of Meer Roostum. Those wood-crowned heights, though not lofty, pre- sent a striking contrast to the level plain around them, green only with corn and tamarind bushes. The town of Roree is wholly built of sun-burnt bricks ; but raised on limestone crags in the bend of the little gulf, it lays claim to a wild kind of beauty ; whilst on the same bank, a magnificent pile of rocks, of the same formation, surmounted by the painted and glittering spires of a Zyarut Gah, and insulated when the river is swollen, arrests the admiration of the spectator. Thence his gaze is at length withdrawn to the fort of Bukhur, and the view into the expanded reach of the Indus below it. The landscape 011 the Indus, as viewed from our camp, was completed on our right by the heights of Sukhur, a ruinous, but once extensive town on the right bank, in which tottering mosque, minaret and Edgah, yet glittering with purple and gilding, tell of the faded magnificence of the Mohammedan rule." Although the treaty, by which Bukhur was to be given up, and a bridge allowed to be thrown across the Indus, had been signed, Meer Roostum, the ruler of this province, still delayed acting upon it. lie strove, in every way, to postpone the day of degra- dation. Besides, exciting news had come from lower down the river. The Bombay troops, under General Keane, as stated before, were on the way up the Indus in boats. Between the two armies, preventing a junction, lay Hyderabad, the Ameer of which had declared war, and took the field it PROSPECTS OF BOOTY. 79 was stated with 25,000 men. That lie would be al.le to stop tlu- troops coming up the river, unle>s they li;ul assistance, seemed very probable; and Sir Willonghby Cotton was anxious to march to their relief. Mecr Roostum knew this, and hoped he w>uld be induced to go before the fortress was sur- rendered into his hands trusting to the fortunes of war to postpone it indefinitely. But the general would imt stir till he held this key of the river, and yet he could not delay his march. After exhausting every device and excuse for his procrastination, the Ameer, seeing that nothing could avert the painful humiliation, reluctantly gave the order for the garri- son to evacuate the fortress. The transfer of the fortress being made, the com- mander-in-chief could now turn his attention to the relief of the Bombay army, lying below Hyderabad, and on the 1st of February the heads of the columns ivalry and infantry entered the date-trees that lined the river below Bukhur, and pressed rapidly on towards the magnificent prize of a city filled with ingots of gold, jewels, and millions of -treasure. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed in the army, extending from the general down through all grades to the soldier, in view of the approaching conquest; each calculating his share of the hoards so long shut up in a mysterious round tower in the centre of the great fortress of the city. Shah Soi.juh was forgot for the time in these day and night dreams of the soldier. Even Havelock caught the contagion, and sa\ - : "Hyderabad appeared to he our destined prey, 80 . LIFE OF GENERAL HAVE LOCK. and its wealth our lawful prize the fair requital of the labors of one force, and a noble and rightful compensation for the vexations endured by the other." By what system of ethics Havelock would prove that this city, whose prince was guilty of nothing but trying to preserve his territory from invasion, could be a lawful prize, it would be difficult to tell ; while the " labors " of which he seems to think it to be a "fair requital" are the very deserving ones an invader always performs. The "vexations" for which he deems it a "rightful compensation" are those which all robbers have to undergo. It must be remembered, however, that he was viewing the mat- ter simply as a military man, who in war regards captured cities that resist, lawful prizes. Those bright anticipations, however, were doomed to disappointment. The Ameer, seeing what a heavy force was advancing against him, prudently accepted the conditions offered by the envoy, Colonel Pottinger, and the armv was ordered to return -to o ' / Bukhur. " Its officers and men, with light purses and heavy hearts, turned their backs on Hyderabad, from which they had hoped never to recede until they had made its treasures their own." Shah Soojah having already passed the Indus, the Bengal army with its vast multitude of camp fol- lowers crossed over horse artillery, camels, wagons, and cavalry in long procession, and encamped on the farther side. Reaching the city ef Shikapore in two marches, the army rested for two days. As the officers here examined their maps, and traced out the CROSSING A ri:sF.i;T. 81 they were to take, they looked with dismay on tin- sandy docrt.-, and lofty mountains, and Ionic and ten-Hie detilcs which wore to bo passed, l-'nun Shika- ]>orc to Dadur, which lies at tin- mouth of the Holan I'a>>, it is a hundred and forty-six miles. The ditHculties of the march now commenced. Long stretche- of arid and burning sand impregnated with salt, that "crackles under the feet of the horses as they traverse it," with no shrub or plant except a species of wild thorn, relieved occasionally by a strip of vegetation, told fearfully on camels, horses and men. The road was soon strewed with carcasses, team-. pp>\ i-ions, and ]>rescntccl the appearai, having been traversed by a fugitive army in t-wift and disastrous retreat, rather than by one advancing to victory. "At length they came,'' says Ilavelock, "to an unbroken level of twenty-seven miles of sandy de-ert, in which there i.- not only neither well, spring, stream nor puddle, but not a tree, scarcely a bush, or herb, or blade of gr;;-." Sir AVilloughby Cotton, having his eavalry and horse artillery safe over this ite tract, prepared to cross himself with his stall'. At three ..'clock in the morning on the third of March, Ilavelock was awakened by the r-hrill call of the bugle, and in a few moments the cavalcade, com POM -d of (ici:erals Cotton and Arnold and their stall'-, and an escort of light cavalry, wh.e bugles rung merily in the clear morning air, struck out into a sharp gallop, and pushed forward into this barren . The moon phone brightly, revealing object with the distinctness almost of daylight ; 4* 82 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK but soon the last shrub disappeared, and nothing could be seen but a flat surface of sand bounded by the horizon. Following the furrow made by the sappers, they swept rapidly forward, the -ground " flying up in flakes " beneath the steady stroke of the horses' hoofs, the air growing colder as morn-'' ing approached. Nothing occurred to vary the monotony and dreariness of the scene except now and then a group of camp followers, loitering behind the columns that had passed, would be roused by the horses from the dreary fire where they had assembled to bask, smoke and talk of their hardships, or little parties startled from their sound sleep on the sand, " dreaming perhaps of the villages and plenty they had left in Hindostan." At length a glimmering light was seen ahead surrounded by a group of men. Galloping up they found breakfast already prepared and spread on the ground. A relay of fresh horses for all the officers except Havelock stood saddled and bridled ready for their riders. A good break- fast by the light of the moon, and an hour's rest, and again they were bounding over the desert. Although Havelock's horse, like the others, had been hard pressed during the morning, still, being a splendid Arab charger, he struck out fleetly as the rest, and making the whole twenty-eight miles in four hours, was apparently as fresh as when he started. As day dawned a cold northwest wind swept by, and in the distance, dimly looming through the mists of the sea- like desert, rose the Brahoick chain of mountains, through which wound the dark and dreaded defile known as the Bolan Pass. The hot plains of Cutch BOLAN PASS. AN PASS. 83 Gumhiva had m-xt I" be traversed, of which then; profane national saving, which Ilavdock said might be translated : <>be, good Lord, fries poor mortals so well, Why Uk'st thou the trouble to fabricate hell?" torchlight, by moonlight, through storm, heat, and cold, the weary army struggled on, and finally arrived at tlic mouth of the Bolan Pass, having made :ie hundred and forty-six miles in sixteen days. N" provision could be found here, and as but a month's supply remained on the beasts of burden the order was issued to push on. A day, however, was lost in pursuing and catching the doolie bearers of Havelock's regiment. These poor camp followeiNj struck with horror at the awful defile before them and looking upon it as the very gate of death, broke away in a body. At length they were brought back, and the next day, the l"th, the column was put in motion. -tail' lorded the Bolan stream by torchlight and soon after entered the mountain. This pa-s is nearly miles long, shut in by stupendous dill's or moun- tain heights now widening int.* a sterile plain, co- vered with loose stones, three or four mi! and then closing .-avagcly together till the high and cavernous walls of rock approach to within forty- five feet of each other. The path is ilinty and rough, at tirst gradually and then rapidly ascending until it . :i devaiion of six thou.-and feet above the level of the - Tin- next morning was Sunday, but they were in .ddle by live o'clock, and llavdoek j 84 ' LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. " Even Sunday slimes no Sabbath-day to us." The night before had been pleasant and warm, but now an ominous darkness veiled the sky the wind moaned through the gorges while the weird light which the torches threw on crag and cliff made still more savage the aspect of the surrounding scenery. Backwards and forwards across the narrow stream the water sometimes reaching to the saddle-girths the little band kept steadily on. At length the rain came down in torrents, and as the light of the torches pierced the black strip of sky overhead, the huge drops could be seen dashing obliquely across the crags, showing that while all was still below, the blast was fiercely sweeping the heights above. General Cotton having accidentally left his cloak behind, his staif in courtesy refused to put on their overcoats, and drenched to the skin, urged their weary animals over the difficult path. The torrent began to swell, and was soon foaming nearly three feet deep through the gorge. An officer was therefore sent back to halt the head of the advancing column till daylight, lest in crossing the stream so often some disaster might occur. It was a dark and rainy day, and all the next night the clouds continued so empty themselves on the tents that had been pitched among the rocks of a mountain valley. The following morning by eight o'clock the rain had slackened, but the mountains on either side were concealed by curtains of rolling mist, the lower folds of which " depended into the plain, and above these vapors were seen clouds of the darkest hue." The fourth day they came to that part of the deiile called the pass of Beebee Kanee, cele- TIIfNDKi: STOUM. 85 brated as tlie re>ort of banditti, The next morning early they parsed it, and I lavelock, who had a for tin- picturesque and was peculiarly inij ble to natural scenery, paused on his horse to see his gallant 13th come out of it. "They halted," he "a lew iimnients to close up the rear of their column alter crowing the stream, and then advanced hy bu- gle ngnal, which rung amidst the caverns and loftv peaks. They formed during their short pause of rest finely grouped figures in the mountain picture, and truck it, he leaped into the open air, when down came everything with a run, catching tv i-vants under the ruins. When they mounted, before daylight, it was without the aid of torches, which could not be lighted in such a storm, and they 86 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAViXOCK. set forward in the gloom, the sound of the bugle scarcely heard in the roar of the blast which they had to face. Tims day after day they toiled on, pitching their tents at night beside the foaming torrent and underneath overhanging cliffs, until at length they came to the last defile near the head of the pass. This savage gash in the mountain, ten miles long, is not straight but winding, and so narrow that there is room only for the head of a single column. A few resolute men posted here could keep a host at bay, while from the perpendicular crags above, stones and loose rocks might easily be rolled down on the im- prisoned troops below. The thousands on thousands pouring through this narrow, dark defile infantry, cavalry, horse artillery, siege trains, and endless troops of loaded camels presented a new and strange spectacle to Havelock. Now and then the strains of cavalry bugles and the music of the bands, swelling and echoing along the cliffs and among the caverns of the mountains, enlivened the scene. But the camels, unaccustomed to such stony paths and rough ascents, gave way in great numbers, and their huge carcasses being rolled into the stream, tainted it so that the remaining troops which followed some days after, suffered for want of water. Moving slowly forward, the commander and his escort ever and anon heard the heavy explosions as the engineers blasted the rocks that impeded the passage, until they came to the last and worst ascent of the whole route. As they approached this, they saw the narrow path before them so crowded with TOP OK THE PASS. 87 the weary camels heavily laden, that, unwilling t<> !o their progiv, they reined one .-ide an-i the slope ill its original rnggedness. All dismounted and led their horses but Ilavelock. lie, trustin" to the spirit and siire-footedness of his splendid Aral), spurred him up the ascent. Once the horse came t<> his knees, l>ut recovering himself, carried his rider safely to the top. Here he with the rest of the .-tat'f remained for three hours, superintending the ascent of the baggage. "It was a singular put painful sight," he says, " to behold the heavy laden camels toiling up this rocky steep, crowded in double and triple line as their drivers pressed them on." Slip- ping at every step, they sunk under their burdens son 10 ivl'ii-ing to make another effort, reckless alike of t^ie imprecations and blows of their dri\< ;-. At last the highest point of this extraordinary delile won, and lo! before them stretched a plain nearly 6,000 foot above the level of the ocean, ' 1 thick in its barrenness, and shut in on even- side by mountains .~>,nOO feet high, bleak and solemn, on the top of the highest of which ran long streaks of snow. There was a majesty in the silence of the vast dead level as the mountains cast their Miadows the dark carpet of its withered heritage/' The cold was severe, the thermometer falling to 34 by the time they got under canvas. A little 1 daylight on the 2id, they began to traverse this " unhappy desert," as it is called. It was bitterly cold, and as Ilavelock remarked, those who had 'grilled so l,.ng as he had in India," felt it keenly. Tw. dav< after, thev reached Quettah, in the valley 88 LIFE OF GENERAL IIA.VELOCK. of Shawl, where head-quarters were fixed and where they were to wait for the arrival of Iveane, the new commander-in-chief. While here, the troops suffered for want of provisions, which were now growing frightfully scarce. The apparently friendly chief on whom they had relied, proved false, and it was plain that an effort to starve the army to death was to be made. The rations of the soldiers and camp followers were at once cut down first from a pound to a half, then to a quarter of a pound of flour per day. The multitudes of camp followers felt this sacrifice more than the soldiers they grew gloomy and sad with apprehension, and the curtains of a terrible fate seemed falling around the Bengal army. " The timorous," says llavelock, " already heard the break- ers of destruction ahead." * At length, on Sunday, the Tth of March, the advancing columns were once more put in motion, and the army took up its route for Candahar, the western capital of the territory over which Shah Soojah was to assume the reins of government. As they wound down the elope, followed by long trains of baggage, they made a grand and warlike display, the bands playing merrily in the morning air. In regular order and perfect discipline the force was moved steadily on day by day, although provisions grew more and more scarce. The cavalry horses lay down beneath their riders and never rose again, 116 perished in a few days, while those which were still able to march grew thin and weak, and in a few more days would be wholly unfit for service. At length, on the 13th, they reached the narrow gorge Bfl - OF THK AUMV. 89 of the Ko/.uk. When Ilavelock's regiment arrived at the siuiunit, they "piled their anus, stripped oil their coats, and in the form of strong fatigue parties, com- menced the work of dragging up the guns." Up tliis declivity and down into the valley beyond, u battery of six nine-pounders was carried by manual labor alone, while all night long the weary troops continued to defile over the mountain. It took two brigades the whole of next day to get two mortars and four battering guns across. These were followed by upwards of 200 carts laden with shot and shell. As they continued to advance, the want of water was added to that of food, and the pangs of hunger were iner.-ased by the agonies of thirst. Men and camels would lick the sand where water had been, and towards evening the suffering of the troops became so iir that for awhile they threatened to break over all di-cipline. The next day, Sunday, was one suffering; for officers and men were alike parching with thirst. The little water Havehu-k received for his share, he divided among the feeble of his regiment. The appalling spectacle of an army half famished ami peri.-hing with thir>t, saddened him, and he says, "thousands felt this day that all the izit'ts of tha: public praise and ordinances were forgotten in -abbath of unwilling penance, would have been worthless t. man if in his anger he had withheld the oft-n-dc-pi-i-d birring f water." The next morning the exhausted soldiers n. menred their march, in a cold north wind pasted over the dry and sterile plain where they had en- camped -climbed an opposing ascent, and t"iled 90 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. wearily on to a vale ten miles in advance, where they expected to find water. Disappointed in this, it was resolved to push on another ten miles to the river Dooree. With the sun beating down into the narrow defile, around which the frowning crags closed, as if in hate, the panting troops pressed for- ward, searching eagerly on every side for signs of water. "Anxious looks were cast to every green mound in the arid waste, and its base searched by panting crowds in search of the limpid stream." The half-starved cavalry horses staggered as they marched along, again and again stopping or lying down with their riders in all the agonies of thirst many never to rise up again, and leaving, says Havelock, " in the mountain passes, melancholy traces of this day's suffering and perseverance. British dragoons and native troopers were seen eagerly sharing with their chargers muddy and fetid water, drawn from puddles at the side of the road, the very sight of which would, in Hindostan, have equally sickened all to whom it was offered." To- wards evening, they came in sight of the river Dooree, sparkling through the trees. In a moment all order was lost, and amid the shouting of men and the neighing of horses, the troops rushed confusedly forward and plunged into the stream. Unable to control themselves, some drank till they bloated and died. Such evidence of the power of endurance possessed by troops was carefully noted by Have- lock. At length, on the evening of the 25th, just as they had taken up their camping ground amid green HIS vn:\v <, fields, tlicy heard the roar of artillery and rattle of mn>ketry in advance, and saw white columns of smoke rising over the trees, which announced that Shah Soojah was reeiitering the chief city of western Afghanistan. Tlio next day tliey reached Candaliar, which had been surrendered without a blow, yielding to British gold, llavclock had no taste for conquests gained through bribery or the double dealing of so- t-ailed peace commissioners. One down-right hard encounter, he said, would outweigh " the results of months of intrigue and negotiation ; and the cla.-h of steel for a few short moments will ever gain for the British a greater advantage than all the gold in their coffers can purchase." In her conquests in Asia, lu- wished to see England " Xon cauponantcs belluni sc-d belligerentes.*' Tin-re spoke the soldier. AVliat. mountain ranges, and plains, and desert -, had been traver.-ed since llavclock set out be- 'i three and lour months previous from !' The carcasses of 20,000 camels and horses marked the line of march from the Indus to Canda- har. But the wild, barren, inhospitable tract wafl now over, and the weary, broken down army was al- lowed to ivp..se for two months, recruiting, and wait ing f.>r tin- crops to ripen, to furnish provisions in their march to Cubool. Ila\ clock passed the lime not on duty in examining the city and Mil-rounding country, in praying and conversing with his old oomrai the li'.ih, and in forming temperance BCK 92 LIFE OF GEXEKAL HAVELOCK. among the troops. In the latter employment lie was very active, for lie was convinced that if spirits could be banished from the army its efficiency would be vastly increased. There were grand shows and military displays and reviews before the army took up its march for Ca- bool, the capital of Affghanistan, 320 miles distant. Ninety miles this side of the city, however, and on the direct route, stood a formidable fortress, called Ghuznee, where Dost Mohammed had resolved to make a stand for his throne. On the 27th of June, the army, in three columns, was put in motion ; and day after day, over the plains, through the scattered villages of the Affghan tribes, it kept monotonously on. The 9th of July, the spirit rations of the British troops gave out, and Ilavelock unexpectedly found that his long wished- for experiment had got to be tried. lie had some misgivings as to the immediate result, for to take away so powerful a stimulant at a time when the troops were suffering the want of a good vegetable diet, and wholesome pure water, and that, too, in the midst of a march of 300 miles, lie felt would test the constitution sorely. But if time were given, he was convinced that, even under these unfavorable circumstances, his theory would be con- firmed ; and that in addition to their increased dis- cipline, " the troops would enjoy an immunity from disease, which will delight those who are interested in their w r elfare." At length the grey walls and lofty citadel of Ghuznee, with its approaches guarded by horsemen, burst on the view. Wearied GHCZN i 93 l.y drawing his heavy sir-,- -mis so tar. and being told liy dc-erters that Glui/nee would n,.t be e Mivngth, and well garrisoned. Ilavclock condemned the negh-et t<> bring forward the heavy guns, as 11 great military en-.-r, for to carry such works by escalade, he .slid, would involve a loss that the army could ill afford in its isolated state, in the heart of the enemy's country. Sir "NVil lough by Cotton rode forward with his staff to reconnoitre, and as Ilayelock, with his com- radis, was surveying the fortress through their tele- si-Mju-s, a sharp lire was opened on them. A full reconnoisance, however, was finally effected; and the statement of a deserter that every gate was walled up except the one in the direction of Cabool, ascertained to be true. Keane, seeing how impivg- nalilr the place was to his light piece.-, revived to move round to the Cabool gate, and by blowing that iect an entrance. That evening, at four o'clock, the army took up its march the cavalry moving to the right, and the infantry to the left circling the fortress out of cannon shot. The latter were weary, and having several streams to cross, and a nigged ascent to make, did not reach their place of en- campment till long after dark. All the baggage and camp followers got belated on the heights, and re- mained there through the night. Thfc trops w.-re therefore left without tents, attendants, or food- hungry and weary, bivouacked on the r,M ground y* LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. till morning. Havelock sat out the chilly night without sleeping " the dark and lagging hours " re- lieved only, he said, " by the explosion of cannon, as occasional shots were hurled towards the camp, or the flashing of lights at intervals from the citadel answered by corresponding fires in the plains, showing that intelligible signals were passing be- tween the garrison and their friends without." At length the long wished-for and tardy dawn broke over the hills, and soon all was commotion. The first thing, of course, was to get down their tents, and baggage, and stores, which, in the broad daylight, they easily effected.* Hyder Khan could not imagine what object the English had in thus getting between him and Ca- bool. But-, towards evening, seeing the field-bat- teries planted on the heights, and the camel batteries in the plains below, he judged that an attempt would be made to carry the place by escalade, and had the ramparts well manned. After dark, the separate columns took up their respective positions, and the wind being high and boisterous, neither their tramp nor the roll of artillery wheels could be heard. * Havclock relates tlie following ludicrous incident that occurred in his regiment in the morning : " A medical officer of the 13th, reproved a sick soldier for want of care of his health, on account of the manifest effect produced on his wasted frame by exposure to cold during the night. The man said in his defence, ' Why, sir, what could I do ? The black fellows set down my litter in the dark, on the top of that mountain, and as I did not know how near the enemy might be, I was obliged to leap out, and take my arms, and stand sentry over myself the whole night.' A new species of out- post duty." GHUZNEE 61 !.', In the meantime, the engineers and the men detailed lor that pui'po.^-, had crept to the gate with 900 pounds of powder in twelve bags, and placed them so that they could be fired on an instant's notice. About three o'clock in the morning, everything being ivadv, the Knglish, in order to divert the attention of the _;<-d from the real point of attack, suddcnly opened their fire. The heavy guns from that hitherto dark and silent fortress, replied with a terrific explosion. The round shot passed with a rushing sound through the air, the sharp rattle of musketry raaig out in the darkness in every direction the whole northern side became a sheet of flame from the hotly worked batteries, while blue lights appeared in rapid succession on the ramparts to reveal the :nents the besieged could not comprehend, and enable them to see what was the nature of the mischief designed against them and all was excite- ment, and tumult, and uproar around the devoted place. The besieged, hearing a bustle in the pauses of the gale near the entrance, displayed a large ami brilliant blue light directly over the gate, to a.-certain its origin, but just as the glare fell on the street below, the powder exploded, and down tumbled the ponderous gate, bringing with it, in wild ruin, the massive masonry, and huge, shivered beams that t-up- ported it. A black column of smoke mounted swiftly upward, followed by a sudden pause. Tho stormers were ignorant of what had happened, but the next moment, there rung out, loud and di>tinct over the thunder of the guns and roar of the blast, the huglc- call to advance. With a cheer, the forlorn hope, 96 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. under tlie gallant Dennie, rnslied into the smoked and darkened opening, and, groping their way be- tween the yet standing walls, fell furiously upon the enemy. Nothing could be seen distinctly, but there came out of the darkness the clang of weapons, as bayonet and sword-blade clashed against each other in the desperate fight. On through the gloom, and close and murderous fire of the enemy, that deter- mined band steadily, but slowly, made its way. General Sale, who was to support them, immedi- ately pressed forward, while his skirmishers swiftly closed to the sound of bugle. As he approached the gate, he met an engineer officer who was stunned and confused by being thrown down when the pow- der exploded, and asked him how matters were going on in advance. He replied that the gate was blown in, but the passage remained so choked up by the ruins, that the forlorn hope could not force an entrance. Knowing instantly that to press on, under such circumstances, was only to sacrifice his men uselessly, Sale paused, and ordered the retreat to be sounded. The loud, unwelcome blast was heard even above the roar of the combat and almost equally loud roar of the gale, and the gallant band halted in the very moment of victory ; but, like all brave troops, ever reluctant to obey the call to retreat, they did not immediately fall back. A few minutes more of delay, and the victory would have been lost, and that living tide of valor rolled back mortified from the walls. But fortunately at that critical moment another engineer officer appeared, of whom Sale anxiously inquired after tne stormers. " They A PERSONAL CONFLICT. 97 are through the gate," was the reply. Sale instantly ordered the bugle to sound the advance again, and with a shout from both within ami without the walls, the column marched on. Dennie had fought his way through the darkness, until he saw the twink- ling of a star, and a strip of blue sky over the sea of heads that blocked the streets, and then he knew they were in the place. The delay, though short, brought mischief with it, for it left quite a space between the head of Sale's advancing column and the forlorn hope. Into this a large body of Affghans, scourged from the ram- parts by Dennie's fire, dashed with the hope of escaping through the gateway. Finding themselves hemmed in, they fought with the ferocity of tigers. The struggle was territic. " One of them," says Ilave- lock, "rushing over the fallen timber, brought down . 'lier Sale, by a cut in the face with his sharp nal ire. The Affghan repeated the blow as his oppo- nent was falling, but the pummel, not the edge of his sword, took effect this time, though with stun- ning violence. He lost his footing, however, in the effort, and Briton and Affghan rolled together among the fraetured timbers. Thus situated, the first care of the brigadier was to master the weapon of his adversary. lie. snatched at it, but one of his lingers met the edge of the trenehant blade. He quickly withdrew his wounded hand, and adroitly ed it over that of his adversary, BO as to keep fast the hilt of his sa1>re. But he had an active and rful opponent, and was himself faint from lose of blood. Captain Horshmw, of the i:jth. aid-de-cump 5 98 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. to Brigadier Baumgardt, happened, in the mtlf'e, to approach the scene of conflict ; the wounded leader recognized, and called to him for aid. Kershaw passed his drawn sabre through the body of the Aifghan, but still the desperado continued to strug- gle with frantic violence. At length, in the fierce grapple, the brigadier for a moment got the upper- most. Still retaining the weapon of his enemy in his left hand, he dealt him with his right a cut from his own sabre, which cleft his skull from the crown to the eyebrows. The Mohammedan once shouted 'Ue Ullah !' ' O God !' and never spoke or moved again." Sale, recovering his feet, directed the movement of his column calmly as if nothing had happened. Soon the loud shouts and steady firing that came from within the walls told that the British had estab- lished themselves there, and the reserve under Cot- ton rapidly closed up to the gate ; but the entrance was so choked with the troops in advance, that it was compelled to halt, and present a target to the hidden marksmen on the ramparts, who poured in a galling fire. At length the entrance was cleared, and the column pressed in. The fierce combat and shouts, and the ghastly spectacle presented by the butchered soldiers in the gateway, had fired Have- lock's blood, and it was with delight he heard the command to wheel to the left, and clear the ram- parts, from which they had suffered so while under the walls. They were driving all before them, when a loud shout proclaimed that the citadel was won, and Havelock, with an exclamation of delight, saw that the first colors planted on its ramparts were those of A i SCENE. 99 his own regiment. At this moment, amid the shout- ing, and lirinir, and wild tumult, the scone suddenly ued a new character. In the open space at the foot of the citadel were gathered groups of exhausted soldiers, leaning on their muskets for a moment's rest, and near them a la ri:e number of wounded, who had been coll thnv before bring removed to a place of greater safety. Around the outer edge of this area, hundreds of Afghan horses, frightened by the fire and shouts of the troops, were wildly galloping as if no longer under the control of their riders. Suddenly, as if moved by a single impulse, the whole body wh< and da-lad down on these detached parties. As they rushed fiercely on, they cut right and left with their keen-edged swords, a single blow of which was sufficient to finish the unhappy victim on whom it fell. Blinded by rage, they cut at the wounded and well alike, and even inflicted horrible gashes on their own frightened steeds. A wild volley was poured into them from the slopes of the citadel, but soon friend and foe were completely commingled, and it became a hand to hand light. Two or three soldiers would irt-t around one horseman, and hunt him like a dog till they killed him. The scene was one of fearful meiit. As Havelock rode down into this strange , he witne.-sed the effect of a sword-cut from one of these desperate men. As he was passing near a wounded soldier, that, covered with bl 1 fn-m his breast to his boots, lay in a swooning state in a litter, with one arm dangling over tho side, he saw an Atighan dash by in a fierce gallop, making for 100 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the gateway, who, without drawing rein or pausing in his flight, with one sweep of his keen blade, cut that drooping arm through bone and all, so that it barely hung by the flesh. The poor fellow arose, sup- porting it with the other hand, and staggered against the wall in speechless agony. A shower of balls fol- lowed this act of wanton cruelty, and the fierce rider, while yet at full speed, tumbled from his steed, pierced through and through. " The scene," says Havelock, " now excited feelings of horror mingled with compassion, as one by one the Affghans sunk under repeated wounds upon the ground, which was strewed with bleeding, mangled, and convulsed and heaving carcasses. Here were ghastly figures stiffly stretched in calm, but grim, repose ; here the last breath was yielded up through clenched teeth in attitudes of despair and defiance, with hard struggle and muttered imprecations ; there a faint " Ue Ullah" or " buraee khooda," addressed half in devo- tion to. God, half in the way of entreaty to man, alone testified that the mangled suiferer yet lived. The clothes of some of the dead and dying near the entrance had caught fire, and in addition to the agony of their wounds, some were enduring the torture of being burnt by the slow fire of their thickly wadded vests, and singed and hardened coats of sheepskin." This frightful scene being over, Havelock's column was ordered to sweep the narrow streets. As it did so, a scattering fire was kept up from the houses, killing and wounding several officers and men. Soon, how- ever, the last shot was fired, and amid the loud and pro- LOT OF TOTAL AUSTIN! of the troops, the commandeHn-dbiflf through tin- vanquished place, la two t-hort hours the struggle wa> over, ;uipensable por- tion of a soldier's rations." This was a triumphant vindication of hi> theory, for one Mich Micc.-r.ful ex- periment was better than all argument. To Uritish otlicers e.-pccially was rhe behavior of the troops after the storming of Uhu/nee overwhelming pn,f that the absence of liquor humani/.es and elevates the ier. 102 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. The loss to the British in killed and wounded in the assault was only 187, while that of the enemy was nearly 700. Sixteen hundred prisoners were taken, while 1,000 horses, 300 camels, mules, provisions, arms and armor, and various Asiatic accoutrements became the booty of the captors, and were delivered into the hands of the prize agents. The excitement of the victory, and the rehearsal of personal experiences for a time absorbed every one. These having passed by, Havelock, as was his custom, turned his attention to a close examination of the place. The ruins of old Ghuznee, the surrounding orchards bending under their loads of unripe fruit, the mausoleum of the " stern invader Mahmood," with its " famous gate of two leaves of sandal wood embossed with brass," by turns occupied him. Dost Mohammed, ninety miles distant at the capi- tal heard with dismay of the capture of his strongest fortress, and forthwith sent his brother to treat with the English, but his terms were not accepted ; and on the 31st of July the victorious army took up its line of march for Cabool. Dost Mohammed's author- ity was found to have less influence over his troops than British gold and British bayonets, for after he had placed his artillery along the banks of the Cabool River, and began to make vigorous preparations for the defence of his capital, they commenced deserting him in great numbers. Finding that his army, and with it his throne, were gone, he took with him a small band of desperate men and fled. While Colonel Outram was dispatched in pursuit of him, the army drew its length- ened line along towards the city that now stood with A m AI in i i. \ AII i.v. in;; open gate- t<> receive it. At length, on the 4th of Au- gust, it emerged from the last mountain ja.-s into a beautiful valley, within one march of the place. The was enchanting lofty crags completely hemnu h- ing .-hade-. Villages and mud forts sprinkled the plain in every direction, which was still more enlivened bv tho stirring >t rains of martial music, and the moving columns of infantry as they streamed out of the pass. Soon the white tents of 5,000 soldiers dotted the fields in every direction, and gaiety and rest took the place of the toilsome march. The next morning, at a quarter before two, the moon rose over the dark mountain tops, and a few minutes after, "a single cannon was heard, whose reverberations among the craggy eminences had not ceased when trumpets, bugle and drum, echoing among the rocks, summoned all slumberers to the labors of another march." llav.-lo.-k's long life in camp had jiot deadened him to the poetry of such a scene, and ever and anon lie dashes off one of those vivid pictures which i the nature of a true arti.-t. The next day they came upon the deserted artillery of Dost Mohammed. Havclock surveying the military preparations which that prince had made and abandoned, traced out a plan by which they might have been o\en-"iue, but IH tho true spirit of a soldier, remarked, but here he might at least have died with honor." The 7th was 104: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. fixed for the final close of this stupendous farce, the grand entry of Shah Soojah into his recovered capital. At three o'clock the glittering cavalcade set out for the city, three miles distant. The king, accompanied by the commander-in-chief, envoy and minister in diplomatic costume, and generals and their staff, led the advance, mounted on a splendid white charger " decorated with equipments mounted in gold, a jewelled coronet of velvet precious stones scattered in profusion over the arms and breast of dark Ulh-halik, while his waist was encircled by a broad heavy belt of gold, sparkling with rubies and emer- alds. But the Koh-i-noor was not there." In des- cribing this pageant, Havelock indulges for the first time in a piece of quiet satire, doubly pungent from the language in which it is clothed. Moonshe Molran Lall had been brought into Affghanistan to do the dirty work of British diplomatists, and se- duce his countrymen into treason, and for nothing else; yet he, too, must bear a conspicuous part in this ridiculous spectacle. Havelock writes: "And let me not forget to record that Moonshe Mohun Lall, a traveller and an author, as well v as his talented mas- ter, appeared on horseback on this occasion in a new upper garment, of very gay colors, and under a tur- ban, and of very admirable fold and majestic dimen- sions, and was one of the gayest as well as the most sagacious and successful personages in the whole cortege." Havelock's manly, upright nature re- volted at this public way of paying a man for his baseness, and he shows how keen he could thrust when he chose to strike. As the cavalcade ap- KMUANCE OF CABOOL. 105 proached the city, the whole rich valley lay spr out beneath them, the green orchards extending far as the eye could reach. The streets were crowded with spectators, forming literally a sea of heads; but as the restored monarch rode through them, not a single shout greeted him. Surrounded by an ominous silence, he took the route to his pa! This magnificent monarch that a nation 14,000 miles distant, had placed on his throne, "run with childish eagerness," says Ilavelock, " from one small chamber to another of the well-remembered abode of royalty, deplored aloud the neglect and damage everywhere !ble, and particularly lamented the removal of the panels of mirror from the sheethumuJtuL"* The army had not been long quartered around ; >ool before the soldiers found their way to the places where rum was clandestinely sold, and in that city where intemperance had been punished by law by Dost Mohammed, whom they had just driven from his throne, scores of drunken Christians, as they professed themselves to be, were Been stairirering along the streets. Ilavelock was mortified at the humiliating spectacle, and contrasting the elevated Christian-like conduct of the Afl'ghan chief with that of the English commissariat, who immediately after their arrival entered into a contract for the stij , of the troops with liquor, exclaimed, "How strange are the contradictions in human character and between the conduct of men and their professions. The name of apartincnU, the walla of which are corercd with squares of mirror, conjoine'l l>y RoM or silver frnmo.work. 5* 106 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. It is to be feared that the Affghans, like other nations invaded by our armies, will soon be taught the differ- ence between Britons drunk and Britons sober." He cautioned those whom he had induced to become tem- perate, against temptation, and persuaded others who by their forced abstinence had overcome the habit of drinking, not to put themselves under its baleful influence again. He now had time to talk and pray with his troops, and strengthen and encourage them. Some had fallen at Ghuznee, others had not yet recovered from their wounds. His frequent visits to these and the sick always lighted up their counte- nances with a smile. Though the strictest of disci- plinarians, no officer ever more completely shared his soldiers' trials, and hardships, and sufferings than he. During the two months Havelock remained here, he not only visited the surrounding country, saw and en- joyed all that was beautiful and delightful in the city, but he carefully investigated the whole campaign, studied the character of the people, the nature and value of their defences, and drew a plan for the future, which after events proved would have saved, if it had been adopted, England a fine army and her govern- ment in India chagrin and remorse. Cabool, though on a plain 5,000 feet above the level of the sea, rests at the foot of two mountain ranges. At the roots of these stands the fortress, while on an eminence still above and overlooking the city below, is the Bala Hissar or citadel. The relation of this to Cabool and of Cabool to Afghanistan made a marked impression on him. At length, in the middle of October, Sir John Keane, commander-in-chief, resigned the com- RETURNS TO INDIA. 107 maud of the troops to Sir AVilloughby Cotton, ami started lor India. Ho bad scarcely left, li'-v. when news came that Major Ramsy, who liad exer- the I'nnctioiis of commander-in-chief in Bengal, was preparing to leave Meerut. No successor hav- ing been yet appointed, and Sir Willonghby being tlio next in seniority, lie resolved to return home to take his place. In a few hours, lie with his escort <>t' horse was soon on the track of Sir John Keane. All of Ilavelock's plans for the coming winter were thus suddenly broken up. The morning of the 16th of October was cold and piercing, as 1 lav clock rode from Cabool, and, while durkne-s still lay on the sleeping city, turned his towards the Indus. The army when it left the banks of this river the previous spring, kept nearly northwest and then north, or somewhat parallel with it. The com- mander-in-chief and Sir AVilloughhy Cotton returned by a different route. They struck directly ca>t, passing through Jellalabad, the famous Khyhcr Pass, and Peshawer, moving nearly in right angles to tin- inarch from Candahar to Cabool. In this way they could reach the Indus in a little over a fort- night, though striking it much further up than where the army crossed it. As llaveloek spurred through the Khoonl Cabool Pass, crossing the stream that rolls down it, twenty-eight times, the water con- gealing iijM>n his hoots and the legs of his horse, he little thought how memorable it would BOOI1 ne in the annals of I'riti-h India. Nor when he examined the defences and p<>-iti"ii of 108 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. Jellalabad and wound through the dark defile of the Khyber Pass, did he dream how deeply and terribly his future fate was interwoven with them. He at length reached Serampore, and closed, as he thought, his campaign in AfFghanistan. In doing so, he put on record his views of what the future course and policy of the government should be, which exhibit his remarkable military capacity, that accident or chance at last gave room and field for development. He discusses the compara- tive feasibility of the different lines of inva- sion the objections to each, and the objects to be gained, and shows, throughout, that he possessed in a remarkable degree the power to carry out the maxim " that the practice of war consists in a wise selection from the midst of conflicting evils and difficulties." He then points out the true line of policy, if England means to keep in peace and quiet- ness, what she has gained by force of arms, and finally, traces clearly the only course by which the army can maintain itself in case of resistance. His views show a profound knowledge of the whole subject, and his language, when compared with what afterwards transpired, sounds like prophecy. After going over the whole ground, he says, " First, as all the convoys of supplies for troops in Afghanistan must traverse a part of the Sikh dominions, there must be no medium in the character of our relations with the Sikhs ; they must either be established on a footing of the closest intimacy and of undissembled confidence, or change at once into avowed hostilities." Subsequent events proved the correctness of this <>F ms vn.\v. opinions. He says that Oabool must be held :it all ha/.ards, and that Kntrland should as F<>OII think of Minvnderini,' Fort William as it. This is indispeiisi- lle to the armed occupation of Ail'irhanir-tan. But it cannot be done unless the army retains possession of the citadel. " All depends," he says, " in a '!>/ point of view, on a firm hold of tin Jlnlhment, and the entire provisions for the winter stowed in a small fort outside both cantonments and ei .found was tin- dream of security, that altl some parts of the kingdom Merc nearly the whole time in rebellion, and required constant attention, t he- officers recklessly wounded the feelings of the Ca- boolese and the chieftains who had attached them- 112 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. selves to the court of Shall Soojah, by enticing away, in broad daylight, the members of their harems. This wrong and shame burned in their hearts, and while insurrection was showing its head in distant provinces, elements of wrath were gather- ing in the capital itself. For a whole year Have- lock saw this great wrong, though often and bitterly complained of, go unredressed. But the higher swell- ed the tide of corruption and vice, the more faith- fully did he devote his time to the spiritual welfare of the noble 13th. He read and prayed with them, as of old, and keeping aloof from the city, pitched his solitary tent in a grove of mulberry-trees, where nothing could interfere with his reflective and de- votional habits. In the meantime, he had been ap- pointed interpreter to Elphin stone. "VYhile these events were transpiring, Dost Moham- med, who had be^n defeated on the Hindoo Kish, escaped from his traitorous captor, and reappeared in the field in Kohistan, between Cabool and Jellala- bad. Sale was immediately dispatched against him with his brigade. Driven from his strongest positions, the daring chieftain at last, despairing of success, surrendered himself a prisoner. This brought a season of peace, and through the winter, and spring, and summer Havelock main- tained a regular svstem of instruction with his o v troops. While other officers were fanning the flames of hatred and rebellion by their immoral life, he pursued the even tenor of his way, enjoying " that peace which cometh from above." Too intel- lectual to be amused with trifles, too conscious of his CIIAKAI ii 1:1 . 1 1;; :>on>iliihty l his niakrr to squander his time in mere amusements, he devoted thi.- \*n\g in- .1 to serious thought and reading, ami in endea- voring to win the erring hack from their MIL-. IK- did not wear a solemn aspect, nor aliect monkirdi hahits. lie enjoyed with the rest the ludicrous amazement of the CahooK-.-e, when they taw the English officers skimming on skates over the fro/.cn waters of the Cabool River in the winter; and also the long and pleasant rides through the fertile valleys in the summer. lie loved nature and mirth; still ronir intellectual bent of his character made him dilferent from his as.-.ciaU :-, and ^ave him u natural >uperiority that all felt, though they mi^ht not undei>tand it. He was one of the few men made to command, who seem more natural, more them.-el\v-, when under pvat responsibilities or intrusted with a dilHcult, dangerous task, than at any < ther time. Sale and llroadfoot were his inti- iViends, and to these he >poke freely his oj>inion of the cours<> the English were pursuing with the All'^han chiefs. With the close of the. summer the evidences of decp-.-eatcd disatlcctioii aplin 1 to appear, and soon the news came that the (Jhil/.ees had ari.-en and blockaded the passes to Jellala- had. Sale was immediately Bent out to force them, and Btille the insurrection in its infancy. Ilavelock saw with impatience bis regiment march without him, for he had made those pa.-svs himsvlf, examined them carefully, and knew i-very inch of ground. He had forded the turbulent stream of the famous Khoord Cabool Pas-, when the water fr-./.e to his 114: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. steed and himself had fixed in his mind every spot where a defence could be made, and how it should be surmounted, and he determined, if possible, to be present when his regiment entered this fearful defile. He therefore went to the commander-in- chief, and asked permission to join the brigade. His request Avas granted, and the next day he started on a swift gallop along the road the column had taken, the bearer of dispatches to Sale. The latter received him with the warmest expressions of delight, for he felt doubly strong with him by his side. The succeeding day they entered the narrow de- file, Sale leading the noble 13th. Soon the enemy opened a fierce fire on the head of the column, when Sale ordered a charge. Struck at the first onset by a ball, he was led out of the fight, and the gal- lant Dennie took his place. Under him the 13th cheered and made a rush, and drove the enemy from their position. But these wild mountaineers rallied as often as they were dispersed, and from heights almost perpendicular, poured down a scourging fire on the troops massed together in the gorge below. For eight miles they toiled on through this horrible defile, fording the stream nearly thirty times, ex- posed the whole distance to the balls of the enemy. The wild encampment in this savage gorge, the rocks lined with dark mountain eel's, shouting and pouring down their deadly fire, the desperate assault and weary march, made up a week that Havelock long remembered. His regiment bore the brunt of this prolonged conflict, and lie himself was everywhere TII: 09 (.on. 1 1.-, t. eneourairiiii,' the troops by his pn ice. After tlio pa>s \va> cleared, Sale gent him back to Elphinstone with dispatches. Having delivered them, he repaired to his tent in the mulberry jrrove, and heiran to reflect on his own position and that of the army. The absence of Sale's brigade at a time when the whole heavens were gathering blackness above Cabool, and vairue rumors, more fearful from their mystery, were whispered from mouth to mouth, seemed ominous. In view of this state of things, he i to question seriously whether it was not his duty to ..Her his services airaiu to Sale. Uncertain what course to adopt, he took up his Bible that lay Oil the table, and opened it casually at the 'V.th chap- ter of .Jeremiah, 1'Jth and 19th verses, and read with profound emotions what seemed to him at the time the laniruaire of God directed to him. "Go and speak to Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, saying, thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of I>rael : Uchold, I will brim,' my words upon this city for evil and not Mtd, and they ^hall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver tlu-e. in that day, saith the Lord, and thou shalt not he. given into the hands of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee, ise thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord." By the time Havelock had lini.-hed reading thc>e. verses, his decision was taken he resolved to leave that doomed city, and obtaining pcrmis sion to join Sale, hastened at once to his camp. 116 LIFE OF GENERAL UAVELOCK. Soon after, the whole brigade moved on to Tezeen, where it remained ten days, while Macgregor endea- vored to patch up a peace with the chiefs. It then extended its march to Gundamack, where it again halted. But the bright November sun that looked down on the quiet encampment in the valley of Gundamuck, flashed over a quite differ- ent scene at Cabool. The prophetic words that llavelock had read with such strange emotion in his tent among the mulberry trees was about to be fulfilled. The storm had burst and Cabool was ablaze with insurrection and reeling to the blows of an infuriated populace. Before dawn on the 2d of November, the conspirators were abroad, and ere the sun arose, Sir Alexander Burns, who was about to succeed McNaghten as British envoy at Cabool, was murdered, and he and his brother cut to pieces by Affghan knives, and the treasury of the Shah's pay- master sacked of nearly a hundred thousand dollars. Maddened by excitement, the insurgents then rushed, shouting, into the houses, slashing wildly in their fury at every obstacle that crossed their path, and cutting down servants as well as soldiers on guard, and even children and women. Like the swelling tide of the sea, the clamor and confusion grew louder and louder in the devoted city, but not a step was taken to quell the mutiny. Two hundred resolute men could have restored order at this time, and from the commencement to the terrible close of the fearful tragedy, " llavelock and his saints " could have saved the army. But emboldened by the apathy of the troops, the excited crowd increased in numbers, and ixst Kitix TI<>N. 117 wildly through the streets, setting fire to buildings, gutting shops, and slaying all the inmates of officers' houses. The city was shaking from limit to limit with the terrific uproar, and rapine and violence ran riot through the streets, while troops lay quietly in their cantonments within half an hour's march of the place. The only step taken during the whole day \vas made by the contemptible Shah Soojah himself, who sent out a small hod v of his Ilindostanees, who of course were overwhelmed by the impetuous masses. Early in the morning, Elphinstone and the envoy, McNaghten, were in- formed of the insurrection, but the latter, although he was told that English officers, and women and children were being butchered, pretended to regard it as a small affair, and not worth attending to. Under the influence of some strange infatuation, both he and Elphinstone stood still and saw a mob of 100 swell to thousands without any show of interference. It is not necessary to go into details or explanations of the conduct of the envoy and commander-in-chief. One thing is plain, McNagh ten stubbornly shut his eyes to the magnitude of the evil, while Lord Elphin- sNme exhibited the incapacity and irresolution of a child. " We must sec," said he, " what the morning brings, and then think what can be done." So the next morning, before daybreak, the drums beat to arms, but not a movement was made till three o'clock in the afternoon, and then only three companies and two horse artillery guns were sent out. Of course this weak deta<-liment could not penetrate a cit\ rounded and tilled by such a vast and angry mult i- 118 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. tude, and another night settled down on the quiet army looking off on Cabool ablaze with burning buildings, and from which arose the incessant and ever-increasing roar of the angry surge of popular fury. The next day, the commander-in-chief set about strengthening his cantonments, while McNaghten dispatched a swift messenger to Sale, directing him to retrace his steps at once to Cabool. In the mean- time, the commissariat fort, which had been built outside the cantonments, and some 400 yards distant, and which contained all the stores for the support of the army, was threatened. The place was held by only eighty men, and though the salvation of the army depended on its preservation, Elphinstone did nothing but try to help this little garrison evacuate it in safety. Again and again appealed to to save the stores, he promised, then hesitated, and finally post- poned all action ; till driven to despair those eighty gallant defenders dug themselves out under the walls and escaped. From the walls of their cantonments the troops looked down on this ill-armed rabble car- rying away their stores with feelings of rage. Even the feeble old Shah Soojah, as he saw the disgraceful proceeding from the citadel, exclaimed, " surely the English are mad." By noon, thousands who heard the news had gathered around the fort to get their part of the booty of " the English dogs," and loaded down with their plunder marched away, under the very noses of the English soldiers. The latter, enraged beyond all control, demanded to be led against the enemy. Elphinstone, alarmed at this state of feeling, resolved to retake the fort, and sent out fifty English MMANDKKS o.r.M;i:i I.. 119 s and two hundred Sep<>y> to do ir. lie watched their advance from the gateway, but they had not proceeded far, before, imagining the detaehnient in ,-r of being cut oft', ho recalled it. The Sepoys returned muttering curses against their imbecile commander. Of course, the boldness of the insur- gents increased, and a large army sprung into tence right around the English cantonments. Had Havelock's views been adopted, and at the outset of the disturbance the army been marched into the citadel, and shelled the city, the insurrection would have disappeared as suddenly as it arose. Instead of doing this, it lay idle until Klphinstone, by the llth, had become so paralyzed that ho proposed to McNaghteu to make tcrm-s with the insurgents. McNaghten, however, would not listen to terms lie still looked anxiously toward Jellalabad, and every morning hoped to hear the thunder of Sale's guns, as he cleared his way through the cloud of All'ghan warriors that environed the city. The humiliating details of all that followed would till a volume, hut having failed in courage, the English commanders tried bribes, and secretly offered large rewards for the heads of the chiefs. General Shel- t->n, who occupied the citadel with his brigade, recalled to assist Klphinstone, who, in addition to his incompetency, had received u severe fall from his horse. But the two commanders quarrelled the latter complaining that proper re.-pect was not paid to his authority the former that vacillation and irreso- lution marked all the commander-in-chief's conduct. Shelton was brave as a lion, and again and again, 120 LIFE OF GENERAL HAYELOCK. by his almost superhuman efforts, saved the weak detachments sent out under him to retake forts. Occasionally there shot forth gleams of British valor, but an incompetent commander always makes inefficient soldiers, and troops that had heretofore looked with contempt on the enemy, now recoiled before their charge ; and the British bayonet, so long- the terror of the civilized world, became the derision of Affghan barbarians. At length dispatches were received from Sale, stating that he could not advance to Cabool. This news cast a deeper shadow on the prospect of the garrison, and it was proposed at length to occupy the citadel. Divided opinions prevented this. Nearly three weeks of suffering and almost constant defeat had only proved the correctness of Havelock's opinion, yet the citadel was not occupied. There the troops could not be molested from thence sallies might be easily made, and provisions obtained, and the army rest secure till spring, when relief would have been sent. But the same infatuation that led them at first to abandon it, still drove them on to destruction, and day by day the terrible truth forced itself with more certain painful conviction upon the leaders that capitulation was inevitable. The enemy at length occupied a height that overlooked the can- tonments themselves, and the immediate safety of the garrison demanded their dislodgment ; so on the 23d Shelton was sent out against them with only one gun. This, though served with fearful effect, soon became so heated as to be useless, and the Affghans closing in all sides round the devoted band, drove them AKIJ.U: KUAN. 121 down the slope and took the gun. Shelton, "the one- armed veteran," stood amid the raining balls, and shouted to his men to charge, but (a sight rarelv wit- -ed in British troops) not a bayonet fell into posi- tion. He seemed impervious to bullets, and though his ollieers rallied bravely to his support, nothing could arrest the panic-stricken troops, and they were chased like a herd of sheep back to their canton- ments; and if the Affghans had followed up their success, they could have swept the cantonments also. But they contented themselves as thev withdrew in mutilating the dead and wounded that lay scattered on. every side, and rending the air with loud >hoiits of exultation and cries of deri- HOU. That night was one of gloom and despond- ency. The soldiers had lost all hope and heart, and the olliccre saw that their power over them was gone. Tlie November shadows lay dark around those canton- ments, but a darker future spread out before them. iin thev turned their eves to the citadel it was 9f */ m>t yet I.M. late, but the prophetic words that lla\e- lock had read in his tent must become fulfilled, and ihe demoralized army stumbled wildly on to dotrtic- tion. Fight ing was now over, and McNaghtcn turned to negotiate. November was drawing to a dose when a new actor, and one whose name was ever after to be linked with the tragic history of that army, appeared on the scene. This was Mohammed Akbar Khan, son of Dost Mohammed, whom the English held, together with the n -t of his family, prisoners of war. He had a throne t,, regain, and his own and his father's wrongs G 122 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. to redress. Tall, handsome, with large, dark, glowing eyes ; frank, fearless a joyous companion, yet terri- ble as a storm in battle, he was jnst the man for those wild chieftains to rally about. The negotiations, however, did not prosper, for the Affghans demanded the entire surrender of the Eng- lish army. This was too deep a degradation, and McNaghten again urged the general to make the attempt, even at this late hour, to reach the "Key of Cabool," but the latter would not consent. Some- thing, however, must be done, for starvation stared them in the face, so on the 10th of December McNaghten made a draft of a treaty, and met the Aifghan chiefs in conference, in which it was agreed that the British troops should evacuate every part of Affghanistan, and the king they had marched so far to enthrone should vacate his seat ; while on their part, they promised security to the army in its humili- atingmarch back to India. But McNaghten could not yet abandon all hope of escaping this terrible alternative, and managed to procrastinate the day of retreat. At length, on the morning of the 18th of December, the heavens became overcast, and soon the snow began to fall. All day long the clouds shook down their fleecy showers, and at night the troops looked out with dismay on mountain and val- ley, gleaming white under the wintry stars for they thought of the savage mountain gorges before them, the painful inarch, and the frosty bivouac. Although every day reminded him more and more of the stern rigors of winter, that would add inconceivably to the perils of a retreat, Mc^aghten acted like one who Ml'RDEB OF M'NAGHI 123 lia.l lost his head. Right in the face of a rat i tied treaty, In- endeavored to bribe over lirst one chief, and then another, to turn traitors to their friends, and help him out of his ditliculties. I'rc-ents were made, and golden rewards offered in vain. At i the young chief, Akbar Khun, sent him pro- poeals, stipulating that for a certain sum of money he would go over to tlie English, and they might remain where they were till spring, and then with- draw as if of tlu-ir own accord. Palpable as the trap was, the envoy Pepped into it without a mo- -itation, and appointing a meeting next day in order to carry out the conditions. Kiphinstone and others warned him, but he would listen to no remonstrance: his ease had become de>perate, and he was willing to resort to desperate means to extri- cate himself. So on the morning of the 23d, accom- panied by a few horsemen and his staff, he set out for the chieftain's camp. < hi his arrival, a short coii- ver.-ation was held on horseback, when they all dis- mounted, and some horsecloths being spread on the snow, MeNaghten threw himself on the bank in a reclining position. Two of the staff, seated behind him, soon saw with alarm that the circle of wild Aff- ghans was gradually narrowing around them, and remonstrated. The chiefs lashed out with their whips as if to keep them back, but Akbar said it was of no consequence, they were all in the secret. Suddenly a rush was made, when ICoNaghten'fi throe companions v cd from behind, and lifted on horses and s-pcd away. One "slipped to the ground and was cut to pieces. Akbar 124: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. Khan threw himself on the envoy, who struggled so desperately that the fiery chieftain became enraged, and drawing a pistol, McNaghten's own gift, shot him through the body. "The look of wondering horror that sat upon his upturned face will not be for- gotten by those who saw it to their dying day." The next moment he was literally hacked to pieces by Affghan knives, and the bleeding fragments borne about the city as trophies. Six thousand British soldiers saw a British ambassador murdered in broad daylight on the open plain, his body cut in pieces and carried about in triumph, and yet no shout of vengeance rent the air, not a blade Hashed in the sunlight, but the cannon slept dumb in their places, and the sword reposed in its scab- bard. Where were Sale, and Havelock and Broadfoot and Dennie then? "Would those gallant spirits have also become so demoralized ? It is said the officers were not aware at the time of what had happened. Whether this be true or not, they knew it the next day. The envoy was dead, but negotiations must go on, and Sir Eldred Pottinger was selected to fill the mur- dered man's place. Yainly striving to arouse Elphin- stone to a sense of his obligations to guard the honor of his country, he was also compelled to enter into negotiations with the overbearing chiefs. In addition to the old terms, it was now stipulated that the coin in the public treasury should be given up to the chiefs ; that all but six of, the British guns should be left behind, and that General Sale, with his wife and daughter, and all others of rank who were married WINIKU APPROACHES. 125 and luul daughters should remain as hostages until Dost Mohammed and his family arrived from Hin- :i. All but the last was acceded to, and it M-ems strange that even this was carped at after they had submitted to the other terms. On their part, the chiefs promised provisions, and guaranteed the safety ot' the retreating force. Then came the painful ceremony of surrendering the guns. Cannon after cannon went over to the haughty, contemptuous enemy, while from every side came notes of warning that treachery was intended. But there was now no rallying power in the army, and on the Gth of January, 1842, it prepared to commence its retreat. For more than two months it had endured humilia- ;o which English troops hud never before been subjected. A breach was made in the wall of the cantonment, and the earth, as it was displaced, being thrown into the ditch, formed a bridge, over which the l>:iL r LMi:v pas.-cd into the open plain. The Cth of January dawned clear, and cold, and the flaming sun, as it rolled up the cloudless heavens, looked down on one of those glorious wintry landscape* seen only in mountainous countries. The keen cut- ting air was filled with frosty particles, which, as the sunbeams pierced them, seemed turned into spark- ling mi.-t, while, far as the eye could see, a white and glittering carpet lay spread out over the plain ; and beyond, the mountains, robed in virgin white, rose solemn and stately into the heavens, their colossal proportions redoubled in the clear atmosphere. r by ascended countless columns of smok. 126 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. Cabool, as erect and steady as pillars of marble in the stirless air. But not one of those 16,000 saw the beauty and glory of this bright winter's morning to them it wore the mantle of death. As they shrunk from the biting frost and turned towards the snow- covered plain, they thought of the long and fearful march before them, of the terrific Khoord Cabool Pass, and the horrors that there awaited them. Shelton had advised Elphinstone to load the bag- gage the night before, so as to be ready to start when the moon rose, but the orders were not given, and it was half-past nine when the advance guard moved out of the fort and took up its line of march. The close array of the glittering helmets of the cavalry, the long, regular lines of bayonets, flashing in the sun, presented a stirring spectacle as they moved and swayed over the snowy plain. It seemed impossible that those steady troops had disgraced the colors which floated above them, and at that very moment, instead of showing the terrible front of battle, were the scoff and by-word of the undisciplined barbarians who gazed upon them. The Cabool Hiver could be forded in several places in perfect safety, and as expedition was of vital importance to the English, it should have been done, and the army pushed on with the utmost rapidity to the Khoord Cabool Pass. But Elphinstone had ordered a temporary bridge* to be built of gun wagons, and that nothing should be wanting in the series of blunders, these had not been sent forward in time. Shelton hastened to * The Affghans had destroyed the permanent bridge some time before. THE KETREAT. 127 Elphinstone and urged him to make more dispatch, but the commander-in-chicf rebuked him for his haste, and" quietly continued his breakfast. In the ;ime the head of the long column had readied the river and halted, while the thousands behind kept pressing on in inextricable confusion. At length Colin McKenzie sped in a swift gallop to Elphiustone's quarters, to urge on the infatuated commander the necessity of greater dispatch. He found him sitting on horseback before the door, apparently totally bewildered. Pointing to the stream of people dammed up and stagnant, and to loud of fierce Affghans hovering like vultures around them, he besought him to give orders for the army to advance or turn and light. The rear guard, mounted on the walls of the can- tonment, looked down on this scene of confusion with sad forebodings. All day long that immense throng was pouring out of the opening and spreading in lawless impetuosity over the plain. Camels, ponies and bairuM-v. went floundering through the deep ftm , w the 1 :.',> ni <-amp followers pressing up>n and throwing into di>order the troops; while, to in- still more the bewildering tumult, there arose from the arrested host at the bridge, shouts, and yells, and cur.-es the stem order of otlic-ers mingling in with the cries and oaths of camel drivers, and loud laments of the Hindustanis, and .-hrii-U of ehihlreii. The river was at length bridged, and over it the wild host streamed; but, unaccustomed to siu-h in- tense cold, and insulhYieiitly protected, the Sepoyi !i to sink along the line IH\V, never to rise again. All through that terrible night Cabool was in an uproar, and the shouts and yells of hovering barbarians were incessantly borne to the drowsy ears of the suffering multitude. The hour of retribution had come; the laws of CM justice were about to be vindicated, for the clock of de>tiny was tolling the last hour of the " army of the Indus}' Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel : Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil and not for good, and they shall be accom- plished in that before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy lite >liall be a prey unto thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord." The first part of the strange language spoken in the "tent among the mulberry trees " has come to pass ; shall the second also be fulfilled? CHAPTER Y. HAVELOCK AT JELLALABAD. Havelock, Sale's chief Reliance Sent at Midnight by Officers to per. suade Sale to attack a Fort Succeeds Retreat to Jellalabad Havelock's Plan of Fortifying it A Sortie Successful Experiment of total Abstinence Another Sortie Vague Rumors of the Capitu- lation of the Army News confirmed The Brigade ordered to evacuate Jellalabad It Refuses Havelock's Views of the Order Anxious watching of the Cabool Road Approach of a single Horseman Story of the Frightful Retreat Massacre in the Khoord Cabool Pass Women and Children delivered up to the Affghans Army sinks in the Jugdulluck Pass Retribution Have- lock prays with the Brigade Council of War Broadfoot and Havelock oppose the entire Council An Earthquake shakes down the Defences Advance of the Relieving Force Havelock "plans an Attack on the Affghan Camp It is successful Pollock arrives Army advances to Cabool Appearance of the Passes Release of the Prisoners Havelock plans the Battle of Istaliffe Army returns to India Grand Reception of the Illustrious Garrison at Ferozepore. WHILE this night of humiliation and horrors was closing around the main army at Cabool, Sale's brigade was preparing to cover itself with unfading glory. In his refusal to obey the order of Elphin- stone he was governed very much in his decision by Havelock, who had more influence over him than 130 SAI.K'S < IIIKK UKI.IA.V l:;l any other ollicer in tin- army. Jt would IK- in; ing to know how much the prophecy which the latter ivad at Cabool had to do in the formation of his judgment. An impression so profound as the one lie received from it must necessarily have exerted an important influence on his decision. It was well for Sale, and it might be added, for the British government, that llavelock was with that brigade. Sale was as brave and gallant an officer as ever lc Mffadd/* To this ability and those soldierly qualities which all conceded, he added a calm, quiet judgment, a decision that never wavered, and a will that nothing but death could break down. His rapid glance swept the whole field of difficulty, and his mind d almost by intuition to fix on the proper course to pursue. That being once settled, no doubt disturbed his equanimity or retarded his n< All might he,itate and waver about him, A: re.nminod 132 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. immovable. In this respect lie was the direct oppo- site of Elphinstone. The latter received his im- pressions from the last man who conversed with him, while the former left his impressions on every one who approached him. This steadiness of character and inflexibility of purpose did not result from self- confidence or indifference to other people's views, but from the deepest convictions of his judgment, joined to indomitable courage. Cool and firm as a rock amid the tossing tides of battle, he was equally firm and unagitated in the hall of council. It is impossible to foretell what might have happened, had Havelock not been with that brigade; yet one thing seems clear, that but for him the conquests in Affghanistan would have been lost to the English. Not to men- tion all the important movements set on foot by his advice, the conduct of the council of war afterwards held in Jellalabad, forces the conviction that his firm decision prevented the brigade from attempting to retreat through the Khyber Pass back to India, which would have been the finishing act of humilia- tion and the crowning calamity of this disastrous campaign. Havelock was looked upon by the officers as the guiding spirit of the army. There was a strik- ing illustration of this at the very outset. While the army was halting at Gundamuck, on the first of November, a chief having returned from Cabool be- gan to garrison a fort which he owned, in the vicinity of Sale's camp. Large reinforcements were rapidly collecting there, and it would soon be too formidable to be attacked, while at the same time it would seri- ously threaten Sale's camp. Havelock, who had -UADE8 SALE TO MAKE AX ATTACK. narrowly watched these movements, informed Sale of them, and recommended him to attack the fort In-fore it was completely garrisoned, and occupy it with his own troops. With that strict regard for rank and that military deference which characterized him, having acquainted his commander with the facts and given his opinion, lie remained silent. A short time after, the same information was brought toMacd ivil officer of the army. Happening to dine that day in the mess-tent of the sappers, with Broadfoot and Backhouse and Dawes, the latter two brave artillery officers, he communicated the news to them, when all agreed that the fort must be taken before the reinforcements should arrive. Mac- r left the table, and hastening to Sale's tent, urg'-'l him earnestly to order an assault to be made. The general, however, refused to give his consent ; he had no men to spare for a hazardous attack, and the moral effect of a defeat would be ruinous. Mac- >r argued and pleaded in vain, and disappointed and discouraged, returned to his friends and informed them of his failure. It was now midnight, and the que-tion arose, what next could be done? II reinforcements were n the march for that fortress, and the urgency of the case demanded immediate action. At length I'roadfoot paid their only hope lay in HaTelock that he had more intluence with Sale than all the other officers put together, and if any one could cause him to change his determina- tion it was he. After a lengthy discussion, it waa determined that Broadfoot and Backhouse should go to Havelock at once and request him to persuade 13i LTFK OF GENERAL HAVKLOCK. Sale to reverse Iris decision. These officers accord- ingly went to Iris tent aroused him from sleep, and told him their errand. To their surprise, they found that he was acquainted with all the facts, and had already vainly recommended Sale to attack the fort. Feeling how important it was that this matter should be immediately attended to, they besought him to go to Sale again. It was now nearly two o'clock in the morning, but Ilavelock, moved by their earnest solicitations, arose and dressed himself, and repaired to the general's quarters. Sale, at first, was surprised at this unseasonable visit from Ilavelock, knowing that no trifling matter would bring him there at such an hour. The latter, being now backed by the civil officer, and some of the best military officers of the brigade, urged on Sale his former views as to the necessity of taking the fort. He met every objection of the general as it rose, and told him that defeat was not to be anticipated, while the moral effect on the enemy in seeing the army, through fear, allow an important fortress to be quietly garrisoned within two miles of their camp, would be as great as a defeat. Sale, at length, yielded to his urgent persua- sion, and promised that the attempt should be made. Ilavelock returned to the officers, who were delighted at the result of the interview. They hoped the order would be immediately issued, and made preparations to have the troops ready to march by daybreak. But with Havelock's departure the general's vacilla- tion returned, and he waited for another interview with the former, and it was not till sunset that the order was finally given. The attacking column advanced AN AVKl'Sil. che rfully, hut the enemy, not waiting its near ;ij>- !i, tied in every direction. Thus was this <-.>in- manding place taken without firing a shot. It is ft range how quick vacillation in a commander is no- !>y troops, and how rapidly it demoralizes them. The English soldiers had already begun to feel de- sponding when this l)loodless victory put them all in high spirits again, while from that hour on the otlieers felt that they had a powerful support in HaveWk. impossible to say what the result would have, :f that fort liad been allowed to become strongly -oned, because no one can foretell half the casu- alties that will occur when troops on one side are confident and daring and on the other dispirited and desponding. In the meantime a council of war was called as to the linal course the brigade should take, in which it was determined to tall back on .lellalabad ; and on the llth of November the camp was broken up and the march commeneed. It was not yet broad daylight when the troops were put in motion, but the iicrce mountain tribes were already astir, and could he galloping along the steep hill-.sides, and gathering on their summits. Soon they came ru.-hiug down with loud cries on the rear guard, in order to carry oil' the bairiraL-v. Though repulsed, they constantly returned to the charge, and thus for miles tormented the army, till at length the gallant Dennie dealt them such a .-ring blow that they retired in dismay, im; his cavalry in ambush, he advanced with his infantry to repel an attack, and then, as if ala: retreated rapidly past his cavalry into an open plain 136 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. farther on. The triumphant enemy rushed with loud and defiant shouts after them, but the moment they passed the ambuscade, and were fairly in the open space beyond, there pealed forth the loud and thril- ling notes of the bugle sounding the charge, and the next moment the plain shook under the steady gal- lop of the avenging squadrons. Paralyzed by this sudden apparition, and hemmed in between two foes, the affrighted wretches lost all heart, and were hewn down without mercy. The sword literally drank blood that day, and it is said that the horsemen grew weary with incessant striking. The brigade was not harrassed after this, and the next day marched into Jellalabad. As the head of the column entered the city, the inhabitants, taken entirely by surprise, fled in dismay. But scarcely were the regiments in their quarters, when the town was surrounded by an infuriated multitude, who, with frantic gestures and still more frantic yells, threatened death to the Eng- lish if they did not leave the place. Guards were posted at all the gates, and the men stood to arms, being allowed to rest only by companies with their officers beside them. Sale then summoned his chief officers to a council of war, and it was discussed whether an attempt should be made to fortify the whole place or only the citadel. Sale thought it would be impossible to defend the entire city with his small %rce, for the walls extended nearly a mile and a half in circumference, and were in a most dilapidated condition. In some places they had tumbled into the ditch, filling it up so completely that the people passing and repassing into the A SORTIK. 137 country had made roads over them. In one place they were levelled for a quarter of a mile, with the exception of a single gateway, and the garrison in that section was just as much exposed as if in the open plain. Added to this, ruined forts, old mosques, tombs, gardens, etc., not more than thirty or forty yanls distant from the walls, surrounded it on every side, from which a murderous iire could be kept up on the garrison while repairing the works. But llavelock was clearly of the opinion that the moral effect of cooping themselves up in a citadel would be bad, for it would indicate a fear of the enemy. Dennie, and Broadfoot, and others held the same views, and so it was resolved to fortify Jellalabad. Broadfoot, commander of the corps of sapper?, was appointed garrison engineer, and immediately made the tour of the city. The ruined buildings outside the walls were strongly garrisoned by the enemy, who, at any time they chose, could enter and make a street fight of it. This, however, they neglected to do, and Broadfoot went to work with his accus- tomed energy in collecting materials with which to commence operations. But the enemy were assem- bling in great numbers, and it was evident that unless some heavy blow was struck then, the work- men would be continually molested. So on the ItJth, three days after they had entered the city. Sale ordered Colonel Monteith to take a detachment of men and attack them. Before marching out, how- ever, this gallant oflicer ascended to the top of a flat- roofed house, and surveyed the surroundini: country. Far away he could count the castles of the chieftains 138 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. dotting the hill-sides, while nearer by in the plains he saw large bodies of Affghans occupying the gardens and inclosures, and scattered about on the mountain slopes, numbering in all some 5,000 men. Having satisfied himself on what point the attack should be made, he descended and put himself at the head of his column. As it emerged into the open plain the Affghans saw it, and immediately signal guns were fired, bugles sounded the rally, and from all sides the excited foe came rushing together. As soon as Mon- teith came within range he opened on them with his artillery, and still advancing, ordered a charge, which scattered the barbarous hordes in every direction. Then came the turn of the cavalry. The bugles rang out, and the excited squadrons swept by. The panic-stricken enemy no longer offered resistance, but fleeing hither and thither were hewn down remorselessly by the horsemen. Havelock stood beside Sale on the ramparts, and watched the whole movement of the detachment, the attack, the rout, the victory. This severe chastisement stopped farther annoy- ance from the enemy, and the garrison worked with- out interruption. Ditches were cleaned out, ram- parts rebuilt, guns mounted, and Jellalabad became a beehive of industry ; and the men, although put on half rations, and receiving no grog, performed their allotted tasks with the utmost cheerfulness. There were no spirits to be had in Jellalabad ; yet the European soldiers, having always been accustomed to it, seemed now, while worked to their utmost capacity, and on only half rations, to need it more BOLMKi:s WITHOUT GROG. tluui ever. But to the surprise of all except Ha\v- lock, they performed their full day's work without exhaustion, were cheerful, and improved so much in discipline and orderly conduct, that the whole ga: soon equalled Ilavelock's model 13th. Ilavelock was delighted with the result of the experiment. Here again, and in different circumstances, his favorite theory was completely vindicated. Everything seemed to combine to test the question whether ardent spirits were not in every respect detrimental to the soldier. The first experiment wa> tried on the troops in the midst of a most painful march under a burning sun and through a desolate country, where farinaceous and other wholesome food could not be obtained. The second, in a desperate assault on a fortified place, in which it was evident that spirits were not needed to give resolution and courage; while the conduct of the troops in the moment of victory showed the huinanixing effect of total abstinence. Last of all, it had now been tried, not .on men in the exciting inarch and desperate assault, but in the dull routine of daily and exhausting toil, and while confined to half rations. In each and every instance the i-xperi- mejit had been successful; and in this last, a: long trial, it was not only proved that the soldier could do without grog, and that he 1 more orderly and effective, but actually grew more cheer- ful and contiHti-if. Kxperimeiit had therefore re- d every possible objection to HavelockV posed reform. Matters went thus quietly on through the month ; but a large body of Affghans having at length col- 140 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. lected around the fort, Sale sent Dennie out on the 1st of December to attack them. He was com- pletely successful, and again the industrious little garrison plied the spade and shovel, and the mud walls continued to rise around them. But while they were thus inclosing themselves within safe defences, Sale and Havelock had long and sad inter- views over the rumors that from time to time came from Cabool. Vague reports reached them of the condition of the army ; and finally, one that it had capitulated but this they could not credit. It seemed impossible that 5,000 British soldiers had surrendered to those half-disciplined mountaineers. At length, however, the painful news was confirmed by a letter received on the 2d of January from Sir Eldred Pottinger, announcing the astounding fact, and that the army was about to retire on Jellalabad. Sale's cheek blanched when he heard this, for his wife and daughter were with that army, and he could well imagine what those passes, which he found so terrific in summer, must be in mid-winter, not to mention the known treachery of the Affghan chiefs. He had a long and confidential interview with Havelock, and they and the officers discussed together the probable fate of the army in its attempt to pass those defiles. Dennie unhesitatingly declared that it would be totally destroyed, and but one man be spared, and he only, to bear the terrible tidings to the garrison of Jellalabad. Sorrow and gloom fell on that devoted band, still they toiled at their fortifications, looking anxiously along the Cabool road to see the heads of the advancing columns. On the 8th another THK BRIGADE LEFT ALONE 141 was received from Pot linger, d at ing that their position wa- daily he< ling more perilous, and that it was not impossible they would have to light their way through the mountains to Jellalabad. The next day some horsemen were seen approaching along the Cabool road, and when challenged at tlie gate, said they had a letter addre.->ed to Captain MacGregor. On opening it, MacGregor found it to contain an order for the brigade to evacuate Jellalabad, and take up its march for India. On no other terms w>uld the Ail'glians treat at Cabool, and Elphinstone and Pottingi-r were compelled to sign the reluctant in.-tructions. Sale immediately called a council of war. and laid the letter before it. Those brave men decided unanimou>ly that the order ought not to bo obeyed. llavelock's view of the matter can be obtained from Sale's dispatch to Sir Jasper Nicholls, Commander-in-chief in India for it must be remembered that Ilavelock wrote all General Sale's di.-patehes during the siege of Jellalabad. In it he .-ays.: u As regards my own line of conduct in this dillicult crisis, I am of opinion, in the ab of instructions from India, that I am at liberty to choose between the alternative of being bound or not by the convention which was forced from our and military commander with the knives at their throats, according as I see one course or the other t.> be most conducive to British interests. It does not absolutely impose any obligation on my force, which is no party to it, and under the consideration of its having been extorted by force unless it should be ratified by the governor-general in council. If, 142 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. therefore, I see a prospect of being reinforced from Peabawur, within the period for which my provisions and ammunition, will last, I propose to hold this place until I receive orders to the contrary. If, however, any untoward incidents should preclude the prospect of Brigadier Wild's crossing the Khyber, I should esteem it wiser and better to retire upon Peshawur with the debris of the force of Cabool on its reach- ing me than to remain here ; but in no event would I retire unsupported by other troops to Peshawur, unless absolutely compelled to do so by the failure of food and ammunition." This dispatch is written in the clear, nervous style so characteristic of Havelock. Days of suffering suspense followed. Eyes were constantly strained along the Cabool road to catch the first sight of the coming army, or of swift riders bringing tidings of its fate. The workmen on the ramparts, with their arms and accoutrements piled beside them, would ever and anon turn their eyes in the same direction, and a sentry was stationed where he could look along the road to report the first appearance of any one ap- proaching. Sale, whose wife and daughter were sharing the fate of the army, was kept in a state of the most painful suspense. Again and again he would mount the ramparts and gaze long and anx- iously in the direction of Cabool. In the savage, snow-covered mountain which bounded his western vision, he knew that his wife and child were en- gulfed, for the army was to march on the 5th or 6th ; hence it had been a week on the road, without even a rumor of its fate reaching Jellalabad. THE SOLITARY HORSEMAN. 143 "Why do we hear nothing at all? he often inquired of himself and Haveloek. The latter gave him such :ufort as he could, but he remembered the prop!: he had ivad in hi- tent under tin- mulberry trees, and it now came back with all its original power and solemnity. At length, on the 13th, the sentry saw a jle horseman coming along the Cabool road. The w<>rd passed like lightning to the commander, and through the garrison, and the next moment the ram- parts were lined with officers "looking out with throbbing hearts through unsteady telescopes, or with straining eyes tracing the road."* The traveller was a white-faced man, mounted on a miserable, exhausted ]>ony that seemed scarcely able to stand, while the rider, equally exhausted or wounded, lay clinging t his neck. Slowly, painfully, that solitary horseman "came reeling, tottering on. A shudder ran through the garrison. That solitary horseman looked like tin- messenger of death." "Did 1 not say so? here comes the messenger," laimed Dennie. For a moment the profoundest ctl on the ramparts lined with olhY- It soon, however, became evident that both man and horse would give out before they reached the fort, and Sale ordered a body of cavalry to ride quickly to his rescue. Scarcely had the bugle sounded before the excited horsemen sprung through the gateway, and striking their spurs home, went at a headlong gallop along the road. The officers clustered around the entrance as the troopers brought Dr. Ktye. 144 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. in the exhausted and wounded man. As soon as ho could speak, he said in feeble tones, " that he was Dr. Brydon, and he believed the sole survivor of an army of 16,000 men." Sale, and Havelock, and Broadfoot, and MacGregor, and Dennie gazed for a moment on each other in stern silence, while o\er many a face there crept the hue of death, for wives, and daughters, brothers, fathers, or friends of some or all of them were in that army. The whole garrison was struck dumb with terror and astonishment. When Dr. Brydon was sufficiently recovered to speak, he gave imperfectly the outlines of the following story of the retreat, which rivalled in horrors Napoleon's fearful retreat from Moscow : The morning dawned gloomily on the dispirited, distracted army after its first night's encampment in the snow, and it arose from its frozen bed a wild, ungovernable multitude. The baggage and camp followers, obeying no orders, floundered on ahead, for the Affghans were already pressing on the rear. The rear guard bore up manfully against their fierce onsets, but encumbered by the crowd of camp fol- lowers, it threatened every moment to be swept away with the rest. In the meantime a chief, named Zemaun Khan, who had always been truthful, kind and forbearing, sent a letter to Pottinger, re- questing him to arrest the army, and he would fur- nish provisions and a force to scatter the marauders that troubled it. Pottinger showed the letter to Elphinstone, who seeing the gorge ahead darkened by the warlike hordes, and the exhausted condition of the Sepoys, ordered a halt. The fiery and fearless FATAL ni.I.AY. 145 Shclton hurried to him, and urged liim to advance at once before the Khoord Cabool detile hec.une impass- able. Once beyond it, and he thought they would .;'.. Hut Klphinstonc, still spell-bound to the of liis disgrace, refused to stir. He ga/ed gloomily on the gathering storm, yet seemed power- to move one step to escape its fury; and there at the mouth of tin's fatal gorge the disor host again halted, and without food or fire lay down in the snow. During the afternoon Pot- tinner observed a column of horsemen 600 strong, advancing on a gallop across the snowy plain. < >M sending a llag of truce to meet it, he learned that its chief was Akl>ar Khan, the son of Dost Mohammed, and the murderer of McXaghtcn. An interview followed, in which the chief spoke in a friendly inan- and promised to furnish both provisions and proteetion, but hostages he said must be given that Sale would evacuate Jellalabad. Before a reply could lie ,-ent, night came on. and the general, against the eanie-t remonstrance of Shelton, determined t. remain where he was till morning. Still lingering till the thread of treachery was complete, he passed another night of horrors and suffering. The heavens were serene, the stars shone bright above, but the wintry night never looked down on a sadder sight than that benumbed and freezing host as it lay a dark and stirless mass in the snow, and under the blacker shadow of that gloomy delile. Here miserable Sepoys were attempting to keep up a little heat by holding their hands over their burning accou- trements, and there a group of officers handling the 7 146 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. hot ashes of a pistol-case to prevent their fingers from stiffening with frost, but the vast proportion flung themselves with the recklessness of despair along their bed of snow. The retreating army had made but ten miles in two days, but its mournful path was piled with stiff- ened forms, that the bugle call would never rouse again. Before the army marched, Akbar Khan demanded four hostages, as security that Sale should evacuate Jellalabad, and named Shelton as one. But this indomitable soldier bluntly refused to deliver himself up, and determined to attempt to cut his way through all opposition with such brave hearts as would stand by him ; at all events he preferred, he said, an hon- orable death to indignity. At length three were agreed upon Major Pottinger, Captains Lawrence and Colin Mackenzie. The order was then given to advance, and the doomed host poured tumultuously forward towards the Khoord Cabool Pass. This de- file, as stated before, is five miles long, and a mere deep gash cleaving the mountain nearly to its base, through which now tumbled a fierce mountain tor- rent, fringed with ice. Between it and the cliffs a narrow shelf furnished a rocky path, cut in twain twenty-eight times by this turbulent stream. Its cavernous portal opened like the descent to Hades, and to render the scene still more appalling, a blind- ing snow-storm set in, darkening the atmosphere, as if to foreshadow the doom that awaited the army. As the head of the advancing column became swal- lowed up iu this gloomy gorge, the turbulent multi- KHOORD CABOOL PASS. 1 17 tulo crowded al'trr, more like a herd of excited cattle 'ng through a narrow pas-age-wa\ than a dis- ciplined h ( .~t. Suddenly shouts and yells burst from the liill-.-id''-, and then came the deadly volleys of the ungovernable Ghilzyes. Delving alike the order !' Akhar Khan, and that of their own chieftains, they continued to rain death on the helpless, confused below. Scarcely a show of resistance was otfered, and over the dead and dying, over the aban- 1 baggage and animals, this, but so recently victorious army of Bengal rushed on, impelled only ly Tear, and thinking only of escape. Young and frail children calling after their lost mothers through the storm, delicate women, some on the verge of childbirth, some with infants at the breast, struggled along on horseback amid the distracted, tricking multitude, IITe Lieutenant Stuart, the husband of SaleV daughter, rcceivt-d a mortal wound, but wa> ^till borne on, with his wife riding by hi> >ide. Here, too, the mother was struck by a bullet, but like a true M>ldi. !'- wife bore up uncomplainingly, and re- t'u-ed to dismount. Oh ! it was a scene of terror and of woe inconceivable, indescribable. The horrible tumult that .-t niggled uji from that narrow abyss was like the confused cry that might arise from a thou- sand wrecks sinking together in a storm. A' length this living torrent debouched at the fur- ther end. but 3,000 remained behind to bleach along ' -ot of the cliffs, or be rolled down by the moun- tain stream. Bleeding, and hungry, and famine- struck, the army again lay down in the snow, only to repeat the horrors of the nights already passed. 148 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. morning Akbar Khan dispatched a messenger to Elphinstone, requesting delay, and promising to send provisions and protect the march. Held back by his frightful destiny, the general ordered a halt. The indignant remonstrances of Shelton, and of every superior officer the declaration that it would insure the total destruction of the entire column, was of no avail, and the army again bivouacked in the snow. To make the day and the encampment still more dismal and distressing, another heavy snow-storm set in, wrapping the uncovered host in one vast winding- sheet, while the cold, biting north wind, sweeping down from the snow-clad summits of the mountains, pierced to the very bones. There were only four tents left, of which the general had one, the ladies two, and the sick one. There were about fifty women and children in all, who, thinly clad, exhausted with hunger and fatigue, lay crouched together, without fire, in two tents. To write, if possible, the records of this fearful day, in still more ineffaceable lines on the hearts of Lady Sale and her daughter, the hus- band of the latter expired in her arms amid great suffering. But all the horrors of the past and pre- sent, and gloomy prospects of the future, were no- thing to these frail sufferers compared to the appall- ing intelligence which they received in the after- noon, that they had been surrendered into the hands of the son of Dost Mohammed, to become his guests, his prisoners, or his victims, as circumstances might decide. The result proved that it was a wise mea- sure, for if they had gone on it would have been to inevitable destruction ; but to what a depth of degra- THK WoMKN SURRENDERED. 1 }! dation has Britisli vajor fallen, when it is compelled to surrender Knirlish mothers, wives ami children to the tender mercies of barbarians I Where wa- llav.- lock and his glorious 13th then, who had scaled the almost inaeressihh; heights of that same fearful pass only a short time before, and, mile after mile, e!> a terrible path for the army by the bayonet? It was true that Akhar Khan's father and family were in the hands of the English to deter him from violence, but if news had been received of Dost Mohammed's escape, or had Akhar Khan fallen in combat, who could guarantee the safety of the-e helpless women from death or perhaps from even a worse fate? It was a bitter humiliation to that army to surrender its guns at ( 'abool, and deep and loud murmu rings arose at the disgrace; but now disgrace and terror had extin- guished the la-t spark of heroNm, and tin- wnmen s;irrendi-red with h feel in ^ than the cannon. Some had husbands with them, and these were allowed to share their captivity a solace it is true, but afford 5 n^ no protection. The shattered host was now on a lii^li plateau, and liefi.ro descending into the plain beyond, had to traverse a narrow gorge. On the loth of January they started tor this defile, but frostbitten and be- numbed, mo>t of them were unable to hold a musket or pull a triir_rer. "Hope seems to have died in ev^ry breast, the wildiie-- of terror was exhibited in . countenance."* At the entrance of this gorge stood arrayed a large body of Afghan mark.smen, Vid. Eyre. 150 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. who opened their fire as the exhausted column ap- proached; The Sepoys, driven to utter despair and frenzv, threw down their arms and fled. Taking advantage of the consternation and confusion that followed, the Aifghans rushed down with their long knives, and slaughtered the men as if they were but sheep in the shambles. The little baggage that had been preserved from the general ruin, and the public treasures were captured, while " the dead and dying choked up the defile." The army had now dwindled to four hundred and fifty soldiers, and these were held together only by the indomitable courage of Shelton. "With this mere handful of brave men he once more illustrated British valor, and shed a few last gleams of light on the disastrous retreat. Of sixteen thousand that had left Cabool scarce four thousand remained ; nearly all of these being camp followers, they only crippled and overwhelmed the gallant little band, that was deter- mined to cut its way to Jellalabad or perish in the at- tempt. " Nobly and heroically," said Shelton, " these fine fellows stood by me." -Aye " nobly and heroically" would they all have stood by a competent leader. Akbar Khan sent a message to these, demanding their surrender, but Shelton indignantly spurned the dis- honorable proposal. This lion-hearted man had never learned the word surrender, and spiking his last gun, "pushed on, sword in hand, through the crowd of camp followers, bands of Afighans, and the snowy wilderness." But enfeebled by starvation, encumbered with such a lawless crowd, and encircled with clouds of Afighans, every step was fraught with 6HELTON 8 BRAVEKY. l.'l tin- deadliest peril, linking "to >hake oh", under cover (.;' night, the curse of camp followers, which had sat on them with such destructive tenacity from the first,'' they started at ten o'clock. It was a clear. . night, when this famished, benumbed, but still undaunted little hand stole quietly away and took uj) their line of march. But their movements were detected, and in an instant the camp was in a tumult, and the frightened hordes crowded after. They had not gone far when the enemy became apprise* 1 of their flight, and followed in pursuit. Coming up with the dark moving mass, they poured in a destruc- tive volley, and fell on with their long knives. The unresisting, frightened multitude made a rush forward, overwhelming and almost trampling under :ie small hand of soldiers. But, reforming them, Shelton fell with such fury on his pursuers, that they re<-..iled in dismay, and stealing round to the front, again charged the crowd of camp followers. The panic-stricken wretches immediately surged back to the rear, and thus backward and forward they ebbed and llowed over those who alone could save them. governed only by fear and urged on by the terror of iir. The wintry morning dawned clear am! bright, and the unclouded sun rose gloriously the .-lu.w-covercd mountains, but its lirht beamed no joy to tho.-e fugitive:., tor it n\r:i!l all the ciir- rounding heights crowned with their mercileBe fbon The\ '.1 ten mihs from Jugdulluck. Sending on the crnwd, Shelton with his few bra\> boldly faeed the overwhelming numbers that now gfttliered darkly around him. lb- gave \ol!,v )..r \.,!!. 152 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. when the enemy finally pressed too close and insult- ingly upon him, charged them with such ferocity that they broke and fled. They, however, still con- tinued to hover on his flank and rear, and with their deadly jezails rapidly thinned the ranks of his Spartan band. He was compelled to fight the whole ten miles, and that little column could be tracked by its blood on the snow. At length, weary, hungry and benumbed, they reached Jugduljuck. Of all that noble army only this handful remained, and for them there appeared no relief. Taking shelter behind some ruined walls, they sat down to rest, and panting with thirst, scooped up the snow and ate it. Three bul- locks having been found among the camp followers, they were killed and distributed to the famished soldiers, who, seizing the. bleeding flesh in their hands, tore it with their teeth like dogs, and de- voured it still reeking with the warmth of life. They then lay down in the snow to snatch a brief repose, but had scarcely composed themselves, when volley after volley was poured into their midst. A handful rallied, and with the paymaster at their head, charged so resolutely that the barbarians turned and fled. All that night and the next day they halted there, exposed to the bullets of the enemy. Akbar Khan, who had followed on, now sent a mes- sage to Elphinstone, Shelton, and Captain Johnson, inviting them to hold a conference with him. They accepted his invitation, and were received with kind- ness and urbanity. Tea and food were placed be- fore them, of which they partook gladly, and then sat down In-fore a bhr/.ing lire and conversed. The A trenail chid' promised to send f>d and water to the tarnishing troop-, but insisted that the three <>Hi- -hould remain as hostages f.r the evacuation of Jeilalabad. Elphinstone remonstrated against his detention, saying that to separate from hi- remaining soldiers would appear dishonorable. Gal- lant and noble of heart, though he had committed a fatal blunder, he wi.-hed to share with them its results. Hut the chief would not permit them to return, neither did he >end food or water to the army. He promised, however, to protect and save the n. hie remnant of the force, but the chiefs of the surround- ing region came flocking in with their followers, and heedless of his remonstrances, determined to have their share of the slaughter. I'.ribes and threats were alike disregarded. The love of money yielded to the thirst for blood. At length, however, large promi.-cs of pay having been made, Akbar Khan said he had conciliated the chiefs, and the column would be allowed to march to Jeilalabad undisturbed, lint at the very moment these otTers of protection were being uttered, the enemy began to clo.-e in upon the di-heartencd band. There was clearly no hope in remaining where they were, and at eight o'clock on the evening of the 12th, llrigadicr Anquetcl. on whom the command now devolved, gave the order to march. No sooner had they set out than the Atl- ghans fell on the camp followers, and with their long knives slaughtered the helpless wretches without mercy. As soon' as they could shake them clear, however, the soldiers turned and ! LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the miscreants. They then resumed their march, and soon came to Jugdulluck Pass. The cliffs here seem rent apart, and their perpendicular sides inclose the narrow ascending path like a lofty wall. The snow lay white and gleaming on the earth, and the stars shone bright above, but all was dark and silent in that gloomy gorge. Like some huge serpent winding its way into a cavern, the long column dis- appeared in the defile, and struggled onward and upward. It was a fearful night march, and there seemed something ominous in. the death-like silence that brooded over the abyss. But as hour after hour passed by, and naught was heard save the clatter of the horses' hoofs over the rocky ground as the officers spurred them forward, and the muffled tread of the men, all took courage, and at last, to their great relief, gained the summit. But scarcely had they reached it, when, to their utter consternation and despair, they saw a dark barricade stretching di- rectly across the path, behind which stood crowds of Aifghans awaiting their approach. "With a wild cry the camp followers fell back on the soldiers. These, however, closed sternly up, and moved straight on the gleaming barricade. The next moment that dark gorge blazed with fire, and rang with groans, and shrieks, and shouts, and yells of savage triumph. From above, before, and behind, the fire of the overwhelming enemy was incessant and deadly. Packed in a dense mass, unable to retreat or advance, the remnant of the British army sunk where it stood, and disappeared forever. Offi- cers and soldiers, and camp followers lay mingled LAST of. T1IK AKMY. her in ;i confused heap, but the bloody blades of thu.se brave officers told that they had not died Unavenged. A lew strong, desperate men, twenty otHcers and forty-live soldiers, cut their way through all obstacles, and continued their llight toward (iundamuck, wiiere they arrived at daybreak. The sun never rose on mure weary, desperate men. As they stood there in the wintry morning, nearly all of them bleeding from their wounds, they saw the country alive with the inhabitants who gathered with threatening aspects around them, and demanded their arms. These they refused to give up, when the crowd rushed upon them, and a hand to hand fight commenced. Though they stood one against a hundred, and were worn out with fatigue and inces- sant fighting, they for a while cleared a terrible path for the m. selves through the multitude. l>ut. one by one, they fell under the long knives of the rabble, till nearly all were murdered and the rest taken pri- soners. A few, however, had kept on without halt- ing, but the-c fell one after another until only .i\ reached Futtehabad. They were now but sixteen miles from Jellalabad, and hope began to dawn on them. As they approached the place, some pea- pants came out of their houses and oli'crcd them bread to eat. Famished, aiid worn, and weary, they stopped a moment to satisfy the pangs of hunger. Hut while they tarried, some armed inhabitants of the town came out and attacked them. Two \\ . once cut down. The other four put spurs to their horses and attempted to escape, but were pursued, and three of them overtaken and slain. I >r. 156 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. alone of that army of 16,000 men reached Jellalabad. Such were the awful tidings the sole survivor bore to that brave garrison. Havelock might well now close the Book of Jeremiah, far the prophecy was accom- plished. It was a wild and fearful tale, and a solemnity like that which fills the house of the dead, rested on the hearts of those brave men. Scarce one but had bro- thers, or relatives, or friends, in that slaughtered army. They might well, too, be serious over their own pro- spects. Shut up in that far distant country ; sur- rounded by hostile tribes who had become embold- ened by success, and were burning with hate with fearful mountain passes before and behind perhaps a similar fate awaited them. The English government had committed a dread- ful crime in thus trampling on its own solemn treaties, and invading a peaceful territory, and conquering its cities, and slaughtering its unoffending inhabitants, for no higher motive than the lust of power, and ter- rible was the penalty it paid. Says one distinguished English historian, in speaking of this catastrophe, in this " the reader recognizes the one great truth that the wisdom of our statesmen is but foolishness, and the might of our armies but weakness, when the curse of God is sitting heavily upon an unholy cause. ' For the Lord God of recompense shall requite.' ' Says Aliron, in speaking of it, "Overwhelming from its magnitude heart-rending from its suffering awful from its completeness the Affghanistan disas- ter is one of the most memorable events of modern times. Rivalling the first crusade in the entire de- KI ii;ii;t , struction with which it was attended, the Moscow campaign, in the terrible features by which it was distinguished, it will long rivet the attention of man. Without doubt, it must be regarded by those who Contemplate national events as regulated by an over- ruling Providence, as a signal sample of retributive justice or'the punishment of a nation for the glaring and unpardonable- crime of its rulers." " Conceived in injustice, it was cradled in error, and executed in incapacity." One is curious to know what such an eviden: hibition of Ci>d's anger against an unrighteous cause liare souls to their last account, than a hundred such as he could save. How he could win honors and promo- tion by helping to carry out a scheme so cursed of God, or enjoy them when won, may seem strai hri-tian reader. l!ut it must be remembered that if it be conceded that it is necessary for nations to have armies, the more good men in them the better. iment of ( 'hristian soldiers, however, who should assume to condemn the orders of government, and to march wherever ordeivd, w.iuld he guilty of mutiny, and the officers shot. Pint this is not all ; the man lighting in the ranks in a wicked wa: no more than the subject out of the ranks. He that w..rk>, and he that pays for it, arc on precisely the same footing. If Government enters in an unjust war, her subjects must both engage in it, and pay tor 158 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. it, or be counted rebels ; and it makes no differ ence in what particular form one works, so that he help it to succeed. The tax payer and the soldier are equally responsible. Government has nothing to do with a man's private belief, nor has it a right to require him to commit a personal wrong ; but in making war, levying troops and imposing taxes, it exercises its legitimate power, and for its misuse must alone be held responsible. Govern- ments, though liable to do wrong, must be supported, otherwise there will be no government and anarchy succeed. There is, therefore, nothing derogatory to the Christian in the profession of arms the great question is, can he brave its temptations, and not only lead a godly life himself, but teach others to follow his example ? This Havelock did, and thus estab- lished a great fact, the results of which will hereafter be felt wherever Protestant troops are found. Although the total annihilation of the army cast a gloom over the garrison of Jellalabad, the men were kept at work upon the fortifications, and by the mid- dle of the month, a rampart six feet high crowned the walls that encircled the place. It was a time to be solemn and thoughtful, for the piles of unburied dead that lay between them and Cabool had turned the place into one of mourning. Havelock suggested to Sale the propriety of assembling the entire garrison to offer up thanks to Almighty God, who had enabled them to complete the works necessary for their de- fence. The latter assented, and ordered the brigade to be called together. When they were assembled in their ranks, Havelock advanced, and with head un- HIS KKI.lt. lots HABITS. [59 covered, said ;> Let us pray ;"and that voice, so steady and strong in battle, sent up its thanksgiving and pe- tition to the throne of grace. The scoffer was silent, and the proudest soldier reverent ; for God, had shown how powerless was human effort when Ilis anger had been provoked. Cut off from all apparent help, they frit their dependence on Him. What, a strange spec- tacit- in a P>ritish army, and how singular that such a course should not subject an officer to derision. Ilavelock, however, maintained the high respect and lve of officers and men, for the soldiers saw that his religion was not linked to pusillanimity or weakness of character. There was not a more intrepid man in the whole British army. lie was strong and fear- It loth in and out of battle, and had all those quali- ties in perfection which a soldier loves. It is a curi- ous fact related of Ilavelock, that throughout his lite, whenever he came under a heavy fire, his stern gravity unlient, and he became chatty and cheerful. The whistling of bullets, the crash of cannon, and the movements of the columns seemed to exhilarate him, and his strong heroic heart beat time to the music of battle. It bent to nothing but the Lord of Hosts, but at his feet it lay humble and penitent as a child. During all his stay at Cabool and at Jclhilabad, it was his custom to devote two hours every morning to reading the Scriptures, prayer, ami religious medi- tation. It' any movements were to be made that would interfere with this arrangement of his time, ho arose two hours earlier than usual. His ac- customed rest he could forego, but not these daily communions with Heaven. A man who thu- >eri- 160 LIFE OP GENERAL HA.VKLOCK. ously devotes two hours at the commencement of each day's duties to self-examination, calm thought and earnest supplication for help from on high, must move with a serene conscience and an unfaltering trust amid temptations and perils, that would prove too strong for most men. He sees what is hid from others faith carries him beyond the ever shifting tu- multuous events of this life to serener scenes, and the anchor of his hope is not cast in the troubled waves of time, but dropped in the still waters of the bound- less hereafter. There is a sublimity about Havelock's religion, for it is a great momentous fact ever pre- sent with him nay, like the atmosphere, surrounding his every movement. In the quiet of his tent, among the nfulberry-rtrees, and amid the thunder and car- nage of contending hosts, he feels equally in God's presence^ and leans without wavering and doubting on the arm of Infinite love. To such a man death is not the gloomy portal leading to dreaded mystery, but the gateway to happiness and glories unspeakable. The situation of the garrison at Jellalabad now became exceedingly painful and critical. In ad- dition to the gloomy reflection that the army in front was no more, there came the disheartening news that General "Wild, in endeavoring to force the Ivhyber Pass in the rear and relieve them, had been shame- fully beaten and compelled to retire. The passes on both sides were now completely blocked up by the enemy. It therefore became a grave question what course ought to be pursued, whether to hold Jellala- bad until further news from the governor-general should be received, to negotiate for a safe retreat to WVII.KD OPIXIOX9. the Indus, or to force tin- Khylu-r Pa and tight their way to the frontier. la the meantime, Shah Soojah to MacGregor that he wanted nothing more of the army except to see it out of the country. t'nder the.-e circumstances, Sale thought it was best to ne- gotiate for a sate retreat, but being decidedly opi liy Havelock, he resolved to call a council of war, and on the 20th of January it met in his quarters. Mac(Jregor opened the session by reading Shah So.. jah's letter. lie then stated that Sale, as well as himself, thought there was little hope of help from government, and as the king wished them to leave untry it was their liest course to do so. He then read the letter he and the general had written to the king and the terms on which they proposed to evacuate .lellalabad. A stormy, disorderly del. ate followed. All was confusion and excitement otlicers interrupted each other and it was evident that passion and not reason would control their action, llaveloek, who was present only as member of the stall', looked quietly, silently on; for having previously urged every argument in his jxwcr in vain, he now patiently waited the result. lie had made his bosom friend, Broadfoot, acquainted with the proposition that would bo offered and of his ineffectual attempt to persuade Sale against it. These, two men, So warmly attached to each other, were alike in courage, truthfulness, and high of honor, but totally unlike in temperament. ['. lock was grave, almost to sternness, never lo-ing tor a moment the perfect balance of his feelings or his thought-, while Hroadfoot was impetuous as a 102 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. storm. His straightforwardness and generosity won Havelock's heart, while the latter's unerring judg- ment and self-possession had given him almost unlimited influence over his friend. Broadfoot took the paper containing the proposed terms of capitulation, and with an expression of scorn and contempt, dashed it on the ground. He denied that the Government had abandoned them spurned the idea of surrender declared it unworthy of British soldiers and said they had far better fall sword in hand than trust to their treacherous enemies. Opposition only roused him the more, and he became violent and extravagant. Finding, however, that the majority were in favor of the proposition offered by MacGregor, lie, in order to obtain delay, moved an adjournment, which was carried, and the discussion transferred to knots of officers in their quarters. Broadfoot felt that he had weakened his cause by his violence; Havelock frankly told him so, and regretted it the more as such vast consequences hung on the action of the council. The former reproached himself for his intemperance, and at his friend's sugges- tion drew up his views on paper. He then submitted them to Havelock, who passed them in review before his cool, correct judgment, and, with the earnest re- quest that his friend would hold his eager feelings in check, handed him back the paper. The council met next day, and Broadfoot, fortified by his previous resolution and Havelock's suggestion fought nobly against the proposed humiliation. MacGregor on the one hand representing the commander, and Broadfoot on the other, backed by Havelock, occu- IFAVELOCK AND BROADFOOT. pied in--: of tin; time. When, ill reply to tin- qtic>- tioji of Broadfoot, - where was the security that they should not ho sacrificed in their retreat through the Khybcr Pass, as the main army had been in the Khoord Cabool?'' Sale answered, "that if the treat v \\a- violated he would kill the hostages." Broadfoot exclaimed : '* Kill the hostages, would youl when for every Affghan hostage slain, they could massacre two women." Sale thought of his wife and daughter prisoners in the enemy's camp, and was silent. The thrust told. Thus step by step, he battled manfully against his commander, and when he came to the la.-t ]">int which had been urged by MacGregor. vi/.., that, being abandoned by the Indian Government, they had a right to look out for themselves, he -aid even if it were so, that a higher duty roted on them than the one they held to the governor-general of In- dia. The honor of the country at home was committed to their care, and to this no British soldier had any right to prove recreant. AVhen Broadfoot had d, Ilavdock broke silence, and taking the same high platform of principle and of patriotism, declared views, in his judgment, to be unassailable and to have his unqualified indorsement. His clear, calm, tones and grave aspect, combined with the great con- fidence all had in his ability and judgment shook the council; but the letter, altered only in not demanding hostages, was finally voted through. After the vote, JJn.adfoot remarked, that he hoped they would be sati.-lied with the figure they would cut if news of the approach of relief .-hoiild arrive just as they marching out of Jellalabad a humbled army. The 164 LIFE OF GENERAL IIA.VELOCK. blunt Dennie declared that under such circumstances lie would not go. " You will be made to go," replied Broadfoot, grimly. The letter was sent, and the Shah replied that if the proposals were sincere, they should affix their seals to them. The council was again called together, and Macgregor urged the members to affix their seals. Broadfbot remonstrated, saying that as their proposals had not been accepted, the whole subject was open again; he, therefore, moved a reconsideration of the original proposition. He then offered the draft of a letter to the council, in which he proposed to refer the whole matter to the governor-general. A warm and vehement debate followed, and the council adjourned in a storm. After an hour's cooling, they came to- gether again. In the meantime, however, the per- sonal appeals and arguments of Broadfoot and Have- lock had brought over Dennie and Captain Abbot, while Colonel Monteith proposed a new letter to the Shah, which left the matter still open, and pledged the garrison to nothing. This was finally accepted. The two friends had secured both advocates and time, and Sale and Macgregor saw that the tide was turning against them. Great was the joy of Havelock and Broadfoot when the very next day after the letter was sent, a messenger arrived in camp, stating that an ar- my was marching to their relief. No one talked any longer of capitulation, but set to work strengthening their defences, for Akbar Khan, having left the slaugh- tered army in the gorges of the mountains, was now gathering his forces around Jellalabad. From the ram- parts the " white English tents " that sheltered them AN KAKTIIv.1 \KK. could be Seen and seemed to Uttera taunt that ll:r burned to resent. Thegarri.M.n felt secure In-hind their works if supplies could only be obtained. for they had worked BO encrg.-tically under I Jroad foot's direction, tliat, as Jlaveloek said, in writing Sale's dis]ateli : "The plaee was secure against the attacks of anv Asiatic army not provided with siege artillery." The laliorof three months, however, was to disappear in a tew moments, llavdock, after giving an able report on the state of the works, adds : "But it pleased Pn-v- idence, on the I'.Hh of February, to remove in an in- stant, this ground of confidence. A tremendous earth- quake shook down all our parapets, built up with >o much labor ; injured several of our bastions: cast to round all our guard-houses; demolished a third of the town ; made a eon>iderahle breach in the ram- part of a curtain in the lYshawur face, and reduced the ( 'alx.nl L rate to a shapeless mass of ruins. It sa- vors of romance, but it is asober fact that the city was thrown into alarm within the >pace of a little more than one month, by the repetitions of full one hun- dred !-h'>cks of this terrific phenomenon of nature." Thi.- earthquake occurred a little before noon. There was not a cloud on the heavens, and scarce a breath of air stirring. Tho blue sky bent peacefully over the snow-clad summits of the distant mountains, while the plain below, dotted with the white tents .f the foe, lay peacefully sleeping in the sunlight. "No cloud came mufiling up the sun," no ominous hu>h fell on natim no premonitory tremor but suddenly then- broke on the startled garrison a heavy rum- bling sound, a- if ten thousand carriages were driven 166 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. furiously over subterranean arches. The wild and un- earthly roar and clatter was followed by a long, s-wift, undulation like an under-sweeping billow. As sud- denly the earth grew still again. All by this time had rushed into the open air, and stood gazing up and around in the wildest consternation. The next mo- ment the uproar recommenced with tenfold violence the earthquake was on the march, and before its terrible power the massive walls and buildings waved to and fro, like reeds in a tempest ; then came a deafening crash, as if the framework of the earth had given way. The ground heaved and tossed like a broken sea, bringing down ramparts and gates, and lofty walls, in one common ruin. A cloud of dust rolled upwards, blotting out the sun, and enveloping the shuddering troops in impenetrable gloom. When it had cleared away, they saw the defences which they had toiled so faithfully upon during the long winter, a mass of ruins. The whole surrounding valley was filled with dust, and the neighboring mountains exhibited huge fissures, while loosened cliffs went thundering down their sides. It was the most terrific earthquake ever known in the country. The uncovered garrison, as they looked on their ruined defences, expected every hour to see the Affghans storming over them. But the indomitable Broadfoot no sooner perceived the shock to be over, than he told off the whole garrison into working par- ties. The men fell to with a will ; and so rapidly did the ruins assume a formidable appearance again that the Affghans declared that English witchcraft had ADVANCE OF TIIK IM.I.IIF. I*'.? 1. to preserve .lellalabad alone, of all the unwinding pla< Although Akbar Klian did not seem inclined t.. ri>k an open encounter with the garrison, lie suc- ceeded iu investing it so closely that both men and animals began t< sutler for want of provisions, and the appeal.- t' Macgregor and Sale to the relieving to advance became urgent and constant. Pol- lock, who commanded it, still halted at Peshawur. His heart n -ponded to the calls from Jelhilabad, but there lay 1 let \vcen him and his companions in arms : >nnitlable Khyher Pass, swarming with foes, and he cmld not risk his army in its rugged detiles until augmented by reinforcements. At length, on : :ith of March, the long-expected dragoons anused up noiselessly and jm>h. in \v open, and he pushed ( >n to .Tellalabad. 108 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. In the meantime the beleaguered garrison became so straitened for want of provisions that the soldiers were put on half rations. On the 1st, however, a sortie was made, by which five hundred sheep and goats were captured, and driven, with loud shouts, into the fort. The next day Sale distributed this welcome supply, but the 25th regiment, composed of Sepoys, refused to accept their share, and sent a deputation to the commander, stating that animal food was not so necessary to them as Europeans, and begged that the gallant 13th might have their por- tion. On the 5th the day that Pollock won the pass spies from Akbar Khan's camp reported that the for- mer had been beaten back with great slaughter, and so the next morning the chieftain's artillery thundered forth a royal salute in honor of the victory. Another report came in that Cabool was in a state of revolu- tion, and Akbar Khan was about to march thither. Havelock, with others, thought they had borne the insults of those barbarians long enough, and if they ever designed to strike a blow at the taunting mur- derers of their companions in arms,, the time had come. Havelock told Sale so, and proposed that an immediate attack should be made on the Affghan camp. The latter, with his usual disinclination to assume responsibility, objected the enemy was 6,000 strong, while but 1,000 could be spared from the garrison to make the attack. Havelock deemed a thousand quite sufficient, and pressed his views with so much earnestness, that Sale consented to call a council of war, and submit the matter to it. When it met, a majority of the members fell in with Have- TIIK up A-iT.\cKi D. views. Still Sale hesitated, and but l\>r his it eonlidcnce in llavelock'sconsummatejiidirnient :ui(l military ability, it is probable lit- never would have consented. Had tin- latter objected, the attack would not have been made. Sale rarely acted in opposition to IIa\ 'lock'.-, views, and the instance in which he recently liad, was not calculated to make him wish to do so again. The calm, determined resolution and personal intlu- o of the latter had just saved him and his army fr< -m disgrace, if not from annihilation, for the opposition of the gallant but impetuous Broadfoot would have been overcome at the outset but for Havelock. Sale i this, and did not feel inclined so soon to act in conflict with one who had saved him from committing a fatal error, and gave his consent. Ilaveloek then laid down the plan of attack, which was accepted by the council. The Attghan army so far outnumbered the force which could be brought against it, that Havelock thought the troops should be kept compact, a ml tin- blow dealt be sudden and heavy. The Cabool Ki which flowed in the rear of the enemy's camp, was now .-wollen and turbid, and Havelock proposed that an overwhelming attack should be made directly upon {],,. .-amp it-elf, and the disordered host driven into the .-tream. This was cam* ing out Napoleon's favorite tactics in the Italian campaign, when hi.-^ force was so disproportionate to the enemy. Hi.-> plan beiug agreed upon, Sale directed three columns of infantry to be formed, of which J Jennie was to command the centre, composed of the l-'Jth, Moii- teith the left, and Havelock the right. At daylight 8 170 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. next morning the columns moved out of the western gate, and took up their line of march. Akbar Khan saw the coming storm, and drew up his army in front of the camp. It was an imposing array, and as the early sunlight glittered on the long lines of bayonets and flashing swords of the horsemen, as they stood massed together ready for the charge, Sale might well doubt the expediency of the movement. As the columns approached the enemy, Sale changed the mode of attack, and committed what well-nigh proved a fatal error. Instead of adhering to Havelock's simple plan, he ordered Dennie to make off to the right, and attack a fort in which the enemy was observed to be in strong force. ]STo sooner did Akbar Khan see a third of the attacking army thus withdrawn, than he ordered his cavalry to charge. The bugles rang out, and the heavy squadrons came down on Havelock's body of infantry like a whirlwind. Havelock quietly awaited the coming shock, and with his brave little band met it as the rock meets the wave. His demeanor was calm as ever, but his eagle eye, always so keen and pierc- ing, now flashed with redoubled brilliancy. He felt in a great measure responsible for this attack, and yet his quick glance saw in the movement of Dennie irretrievable ruin; for he knew that with his 360 men alone, he could make no head against the blazing batteries, while such an overwhelming mass of cavalry was constantly thundering on his flank ; and galloping up to Sale, he said, in a manner and voice that spoke more than language can utter, that if Dennie was not instantly recalled the day was lost. Sale immedi- THE VICTORY. 171 ately dispatched an aid-de-camp to recall Dcnnie, but tin- order was not received till that gallant officer had paid with his life for his commander's error. Muling steadily at the head of his column, he had but just entered the outer wall when a ball passed through his sword belt, and he bent forward on his horse. Two orderlies led him out of the fight to- ward Jellalabad, but he never lived to reach the town, and died with the thunder of cannon sounding in his ears. As soon as his column returned, the whole force, in accordance with Havelock's plan, moved straight on the enemy's camp. The artillery dashed for wan I on a gallop, the infantry pressed rapidly after, and although again and again the heavy squadrons of horse came down on Havelock to resist his advance, nothing could stop the now thoroughly aroused troops. Through the raining balls, over the batteries they kept on their terrible way, and trampling down the "crowd- ing battalions, overthrowing their horse, and finally storming the camp itself, rolled their enemies into the river, or sent them in wild flight over the fields. They then set the camp on fire, and amid the shouts of the victors, and shrieks and cries of the dying, the flames spread, wrapping tent after tent till the whole field was in a hlaxc. In the spaces between, the dead lay in heaps, while horses ami horsemen went rolling down the turbulent river. The battle was over liy seven >Yl..ek. The victory was complete, and the troops marched back to quar- ]. laying triumphant strains. Morning had at length broke over this gallant garrison. For live 172 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. months they had been shut up in Jellalabad, watch- ing with brave hearts the steadily increasing dangers that environed them, and now they had not only inflicted a terrible chastisement on their insulting foes, but heard at the same time that the column of relief was at their doors. The band of Havelock's regiment was sent out to meet the force, and as they came in sight struck up a joyful welcome. They then played the well known tune, " Oh, but ye've been lang o' coming," and thus led the delighted troops to the walls of the place. The ramparts were manned, and as the head of the column, with stream- ing colors, came up, the cannon thundered out their welcome, and cheer after cheer went up from the brave garrison. As they passed the colors, they in turn gave three ringing British cheers, and the band of each regiment played a lively air, and un- bounded delight reigned on every side. The cloud that had so long hung over their heads had suddenly disappeared, and the sunshine of victory and of deli- verance filled all the sky. Soon after this, Havelock was appointed interpreter to Pollock, in accordance with Sale's request, made in the following postscript to a letter written a fort- night before : " P. S. Understanding from the third part of the letter from the Adjutant-General, that the authority of Major-General Elphinstone has ceased, I venture to mention to you that Captain Havelock, 13th Light Infantry, was appointed in general orders Persian Interpreter to the Major-General, so long as he com- SAI.K's OPINION' OF HATELOCX. 173 mamled in Affghauistan. He was, by his permission, s-er, attucbed to me from the period of my force leaving Cabool, and I bave received from him \ ( ry v.il liable assistance in every way tbrougbout our operations, as I have already intimated in my public dispatches. I trust you will pardon my undertaking to say, that if you would be pleased to reappoint him t-> the same situation under yourself, I feel per- suaded that his local experience would render him most useful to you. In the meantime I have nomi- nated him Persian Interpreter to myself, subject to confirmation, as I cannot, under present circum- ) dispense with his services" Sale might well admit this, for it is no disparage- ment to others to assert, that but for his advice, intlu- ence and unbending decision of character, the garrison would have surrendered Jellalabad, and attempted to retreat to India. It barely avoided this disgrace as it was. Pollock, who now assumed the command, was anxious to march forward to Cabool, but the Gov- ernment, disheartened by the recent disasters, re- solved to withdraw its army from Afghanistan. He, however, declared that he had no carriage ani- mals to effect this in safety, and could not obtain them before fall. After much vacillating on the >f the governor-general, it was finally settled that the army should remain at Jellalabad for the present. In the meantime, tidings were received from the prisoners. They had endured hardships and priva- . and MI tiered much, but had not been assailed 174 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. bj any violence. Lord Elphinstone gradually sank away, and in April died. Akbar Elian sent his body to Sale ; but through some error of one of the mount- ain tribes, it was stopped on the way, taken out of the chest in which it was placed and stoned. It, however, eventually reached Jellalabad, and was buried with military honors, in the corner of the fort, beside the brave Dennie. Generous and brave, it was better that he should die thus, rather than live to hear the recriminations of his countrymen, and bear the disgrace of his government. Negotiations were constantly going on for the re- lease of the prisoners ; but Akbar Khan would listen to no proposals that did not include the withdrawal of the army. Under the governor-general's strange and contradictory orders, which might be construed in any way, Pollock was for a while undecided, but finally resolved to take advantage of their ambiguity, and march on the capital the moment he could hear from General ISTott, who had held Candahar, 320 miles the other side of Cabool, that he would ad- vance on the city in conjunction with him. At length the welcome news came that he would, and on the 20th of August, Pollock put his columns in motion, with Havelock as deputy assistant adjutant- general. At the Jugdulluck pass, the Affghans made a stand, and crowned all the heights. It was here that the last terrible slaughter of the army took place, and the bones of those who fell, lay in heaps on every side. These wild warriors had raised a large barrier com- posed of bushes, stones, and skulls, and bones of A CHARNEL HOUSE. 175 :i piled together. The British troops could not vanee a loot without coming on the frightful t. uials, of tliat massacre. This nerved them with ten- , and up apparently inaccessihle heights, jardless of number or difficulties, they charged with shouts of vengeance. The Afghans, who had 11 a whole army butchered there, were amazed at this new energy of their enemies. They fought braveh , as if it miild not last long, but were at length com- pletely routed, and fled along the mountain paths, king their distant homes for safety. At Tezeen, 'ntering the Khoord Cabool pass, Akbar Khan d his forces for a last struggle ; but though his '/ought well, nothing could resist the impetu- t' the British soldiers. Over batteries, over 3, through clouds of cavalry, they pushed on with the bayonet, scattering everything before them. le, with Ilavelock by his side, rode at the head of the gallant 13th, and stormed position after position, with a t'ury that nothing could withstand. 1 l:t\ dock, with his usual good fortune, escaped being hit, but the 1'ormer was struck down by a ball, though und pr >vecl not to be serious. Pollock then pushed on through Khoord Cabool Pass, which presented to the en ra^i-d soldiers the appearance of a vast charnel h.>use. The bones of their companions in anus ! the way. Thousands of skeletons, more or less ! the path the whole distance, wringing m the avenging troops deep curses and threats of retribution. At length, oil the 15th <-t' S.-pten: bool rose once more in view, and the victorious army encamped on the race-course of the city. The 176 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. prisoners who had previously been brought to Cabool, were hurried away on the' approach of the British, and were already traversing the rugged paths of the Indian Caucasus, toiling over the barren wastes and steep acclivities of the Hindoo Koosh. Soon as Pollock arrived at Cabool, he dispatched his military secretary with 600 horse on the route they had ta- ken, but fearing this force might be insufficient, he soon after sent Sale with his brigade in pursuit. Havelock accompanied him, filled with vague fears for the fate of the women and children. For nine days the prisoners had been marched through the mountains, and finally lodged in dirty forts. While lingering here, news came of Akbar Khan's total de- feat at Tezeen, and soon after an order arrived to have the prisoners conveyed to Kooloom, where hopeless captivity would await them. But Saleb Mahomed, who commanded the escort, was not proof against British gold, and being sounded by Cap- tain Johnson, one of the prisoners, finally agreed to take them back to Cabool for 20,000 rupees down, and a guaranty of a life pension of 1,000 rupees a month. The compact was signed and sealed, and on the 16th of September they set out for Pollock's camp. Travelling all that day, they lay down, mother ' and infant, in the clear moonlight at night, with light hearts. They were aroused from their pleasant dreams of friends and home, by the ar- rival of a messenger, with the cheerful tidings that Sir Richmond Shakespear, with 600 horse, was close at hand. Hunger, and fatigue were both forgotten ; and with beating hearts, and eyes overflowing with RESCUE OF TllE I'KISONEBS. 177 thankfulness, they hurried on. At 3 o'clock tliat af- on, as they were approaching a mountain pass, they saw a cloud of dust arising from its summit, ami a little after some horsemen rode into view. In a few minutes they caught sight of the column of cav- alry as it came winding down the gorge, and soon there were eager questionings, and t'.-rvent thanks- givings from that captive band. That night they slept safely encompassed by those 600 horse. As soon as daylight streaked the east, they mounted and pushed on. The way was rough and stony, but light hearts smoothed down its rugged ness, and their sleep at night was sweet. This and the next day they pressed forward with great rapidity, and on the ii had threatened to invade the territory, and quell the anarchy reigning at the capital. The army called " the army of exercise," was assembled at this time at A_T:I. where JIavelock, with the coiiHiiander- in-chief, joined it. Six weeks later, the governor- irenenil himself rode into camp. Ilisarrival alarmed the Mahrattas, and they sent envoys to learn on what term- war could be prevented. All ett'< >r settlement, however, were rejected the surrender even of the person of the usurper failed to give M. Tlie governor-general and commander- in-chief chose to suspect there was treachery at the bottom of all these efforts to effect a reconciliation, and never halted the army until it entered the terri- tory of the Mahrattas. The Mahratta government was entirely independent, and the company had no more right to interfere in its domestic con- though they sadly needed the im< of some strong power, than it had in those of China. Bat Wellington's doctrine that the interests of the 1! niment constituted the paramount power in In- dia, and everything that interfered with them mu>t be put down by military force, had been fully 184 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. adopted, and under this general self-constituted authority, England was determined to investigate and settle all matters to suit herself. The army, never halting to negotiate, kept steadily on, and on the 29th of December came upon the enemy drawn up at Maharajpore and Punnia. The British force of all arms w'as 14,000 strong, with 40 guns. The Mahratta infantry alone equalled this number, while they had in addition 3,000 cavalry and 100 guns. It is evident that both Lord Gough and the governor-general thought their . imposing force would overawe these half wild warriors, and no serious,, engagement would follow, for the ladies of the family of the eommander-in-chief were with the army when it came in sight of fhe enemy's intrench- ments. The position chosen by the latter was well selected, it being a succession of heights witli deep ravines and gullies in front. The dark batteries crowning every commanding point, the long lines of infantry and those 3,000 horsemen ready for the onset, presented a formidable appearance. On the other hand, the steady advance of the disciplined hosts of the British, with their colors flying and bands playing, was imposing in the extreme, and the columns, as they moved one after another to their appointed positions, showed in their bearing the con- fidence of strength and the assurance of victory. The heavy guns were immediately advanced, and the battle opened. The thunder of those 140 cannon arrayed in front of the opposing masses shook the surrounding heights, and soon wrapped the fields in a cloud of smoke. BATTLE OF 11 Ail A RAJ PORE. 185 For a while this battle of artillery raged with terrific violence, but the superior weight of 1 enemy's metal, and the skill and discipline they exhibited, soon convinced the general that if he would silence those death-dealing batteries he must put forth the terrible strength of the British bayonet, and the order to advance was given. This was .ivt-d with loud cheers, and the whole line ad- vanced. Ilavelock was directed to lead the 5Cth Srpoys, and riding to their front, he moved with drawn sword straight on the formidable batteries. The Mahrattas, however, never flinched, and as the unfaltering ranks approached within closer range mowed them down with grape. But closing up tin; rents made by every discharge, treading over the dead and dying that cumbered the ground, the steady battalions kept sternly on, and at the word charged with u cheer, and with one wild wave surged r the entrenchments. Even then the enemy refused to fly, and standing back from their pieces, ivi-d the shock of the bayonet sword in hand. But borne back by the overpowering masses, they were drivrn with horrible slaughter down the heights. Nobly and bravely struggling to rally, they at last threw away their matchlocks, and took refuge in tin- village of Maharajpore, which they attempted to de- tend by the sword. From this, ho\\v\vr. tiny were driven, and with great loss fled to Gwalior, leaving over half their guns in possession of the victors, Nothing could be more gallant than the way IIa\ lock led his regiment of Sqjoys into action, or the steadiness with which he held them under the wither- 186 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. ing fire to which, they were exposed. It is a little singular that this same regiment formed a part of the first body of mutineers he attacked at Futtehpore on his way to Cawnpore. No wonder they there shrunk from a charge of bayonet made under his eye. They had seen him fight, and knew with what strength and unconquer- able resolution he pressed his foes. A' regiment that dared not flinch under the heaviest fire while his eagle eye was upon them, would not be inclined to meet him in close conflict. The loss of the British in killed and wounded was about a thousand, that of the Mahrattas three times as great. Those heights presented a frightful spec- tacle, for they ran blood, while shat-tered gun-car- riages, disembowelled horses and men, and scattered limbs covered them from base to summit. This ended the campaign, the troops entered Gwa- lior, and a treaty was formed, which practically put the destinies of this kingdom in the hands of the British. Hostilities being concluded, the commander-in- chief took a tour of observation through the adja- cent country, accompanied by Havelock, and finally proceeded to Simla, where the latter joined his family. In the next year Havelock was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel by brevet. There being rumors of hostile intentions on the part of the Sikhs, the eommander-in-chief made a tour into the disaffected provinces, accompanied by Havelock. The 13th Light Infantry, in which the latter served so long as an officer, had been Tefilled almost entirely THE TWO FRIENDS. by new men, and he now became detached from it, and was joined to the 53d regiment. The next year lie returned to Simla, where Broad- foot, who the year before had been appointed gov- ernor-general's agent, on the northwestern frontier, visited him. The two old friends enjoyed many pleasant interviews together, and brought backnumv stirring reminiscences of the past. The ground-work of their characters was the same, although their man- ner was so different. Both were men of strung minds, sound judgment, and great practical common sense. Both were straightfonfard and truthful, and the very soul of honor. Both possessed indomi- table energy and firmness, and hearts to which the sensation -of fear was unknown. In both, the love of country was a passion, and life was held light as air when the honor of England was at stake. Have- lock's gravity of demeanor, which so many construed into coldness of character, unbent to the frankness of Broadfoot's congenial nature, and it was beautiful to witness the affection of these two antique heroes. The many try ing and perilous scenes they had passed through together, and in all cases with one mind and heart, served to knit still closer the bonds of attach- ment. Two nobler and braver men England : had in India. This pleasant little episode in the lives of these tw.i eoldiers, however, was of short duration, for the mut- terings of a rising storm in the Sikh states now be- came too loud and threatening to be disregarded, ami Broadfoot hastened off to his post to keep watch of the increasing disaffection. 188 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. CAMPAIGN OF THE SUTLEJ. Havelock said, at the close of the first campaign in Afghanistan : " There must be no medium in the character of our relations with the Sikhs ; they must either be established on a footing of the closest inti- macy and undissembled confidence, -or changed at once into avowed hostility." "With that practical sagacity which distinguished him, he foresaw that the treaties which had been forced from the Ameers of Scinde, by the presence of a large army, would be disregarded, when that army was withdrawn ; and that those savage and warlike chiefs must be treated as friends and equals, or crushed as foes. Ellenbo- rough thought differently, and availed himself of his large force to obtain concessions which a wise man would never have asked. Havelock, with his almost infallible judgment, laid down a policy which after events pronounced wise and statesmanlike in every respect. In some instances he predicted what would happen if certain courses were not pursued, and his prophecy never failed of fulfillment. Swayed by no theory, he made facts the basis of all his views. What he had foreseen very soon arrived. After the withdrawal of the army, the Sikhs became res- tive and hostile, and the lapse of time only made it more evident that as relations of intimacy and friend- ship were not to be established, the Sikhs would force the English to take Havelock's other alternative an attitude of open hostility. EISIXG OF TIIK MKliS. 189 Il.-iiry Ilanlinge, when he succeeded I Elleiiborough in tlio administration of affairs, found a very bitter state of feeling existing through- out the Seinde, towards English rule and English officers. The court at Lahore also exhibited the wildest anarchy, and the most debasing debauchery. It was evident that a storm was gathering on the Sikh frontier, and at length a report reached the governor-general that an army was assembling with the intention of making an irruption into British territory. Though not inclined to believe the ru- mor, he nevertheless began secretly to concentrate a force in the neighborhood of Ferozepore. It is s to mention all the motives attributed to the Sikhs for this movement. The desire to retaliate for wrongs received is a sufficient explanation, and what- -\. r other minor causes may have operated, this lay at the foundation. It must bo confessed, however, that Sir Henry llardinge exhibited extraordinary forbearance in coming to open hostilities in fact, he did not believe half the reports that reached him, incredulity, however, was most effectually dissipated on the 13th of December, by the startling announcement that nearly 50,000 troops, with an immense artillery train, were already across the Sutlej, and threatening the force that he had con- ated at Ferozepore. Affairs at once assumed a most serious aspect. The commander-in-chief had been slowly moving up the Umballa division for three days, but this was not strong enough \ with the whole Sikh force, and lie immediately 190 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. ordered the whole garrison of Loodianah, 5,000 in number, with 21 guns, to abandon the place, and join the advancing army. The troops were now hurried forward with a rapidity that taxed the soldiers' power of endurance severely, for they marched upwards of 20 miles a day for seven days in succession. Of course, to achieve 150 miles in so short a space of time, and carry along the immense train of artillery, provisions, camp equipage, etc., required the most unremitting effort. Hence, but little cooking or sleeping was done on the route, and for the last 24 hours, not a drop of water allayed the pangs of thirst. At length, on the 18th December, they reached Moodkliee, some 20 miles from Ferozepore. It was now the middle of the afternoon, and a halt was ordered, when the exhausted, overtasked troops flung themselves on the ground, thankful for a respite to their toils. Some were reclining on the plain, others were en- gaged cooking food, and all looking forward to an evening and night of repose, when suddenly the hur- ried beat of drums to arms, and shrill blast of the bugle, brought every weary soldier to his feet. BATTLE OF MOODKHEE. The enemy, 40,000 strong, with 40 guns, were close upon them. Hunger and thirst and toil were immediately forgotten, and all was excitement and commotion. The cavalry and horse artillery went rattling forward to occupy the ground, the infantry closed rapidly up to their support, and after ad- vancing a couple of miles, came upon the enemy. BATTLE OF MOODK 191 drawn up in order of battle. The field they had selected on which to measure their strength fr>r the liret time with the British, was a vast sand plain covered with patches of low jungle or thicket. JJehind thc-e, and wherever a sandy hillock fur- nished protection, they had planted their battcru >, and as soon as the British came within range, opened a tremendous fire. The English artillery replied, and under cover of its line of flame, the infantry completed its formation, and moved to its positions. In the meanwhile, the cavalry came dwn like a whirlwind on the enemy's left, drove it hack, and wheeling short around, swept along the whole rear of both the army and batteries, and their cavalry from the field. This sudden apparition of a cloud of horse in their rear, so paraly/ed the Sikhs that, for a time, they ceased to work their pins. A similar, though not so entirely successful a movement, was made on the right. It was now getting dark, and Gpugh resolved to order forward the infantry, and finish the combat. Tho enemy knew at once that the final struggle had come, and as the advancing lines approached, opened a withering fire. For a while the ceaseless roll ot musketry from those immense forces, drowned even the roar of cannon, and lit up the desert plain with spots of flame, and long dazzling lines of light. An English regiment having shown signs of faltering, Ilavelock was ordered to lead it on, and riding to id. took it steadily forward into the tire. In :i few minutes his horse sunk beneath him. Quickly mounting another, he still kept on amid the raining 192 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. balls, when his second charger, with a sudden plunge, fell to rise no more. A third horse was led up to him, and he vaulted into the saddle as cool and unconcerned as he would have done on parade. Seeing him still unhurt, the soldiers cheered. The lines of flame on the English side kept advancing and that of the enemy receding, and whenever the latter made a determined stand, the flash of muskets was followed by a rush of the bayonet. Soon the whole field was covered with the fugitives as they flitted like shadows through the dim- starlight, made still more obscure by the clouds of dust that rolled over the plain. The victory was won, and the thunder of battle gave way to the confused sound of the army going to its bivouac, which in turn subsided into the silence of night, broken only by the groans of the wounded and dying. These lay everywhere, in the jungle, covering the open spaces and around dismounted guns, showing what awful havoc had been made in the dense and crowded masses of the enemy. Although Havelock escaped the balls of the enemy, the latter had reached him in another way, by which they inflicted on him years of suffering. After the battle, weary and parched with thirst, he went to a well, and dismounting took a long draught of water. He then offered some to his noble steed, but he, more sagacious than his master, smelt death in the tempt- ing liquid, and with rare self-control refused to touch it. The Sikhs had poisoned the well, and in partak- ing of the water Havelock planted the seeds of after I>! All! oK SAI.i:. 193 ed long to remind liiia of this day's hard light. The gallant Sale, always in iV>nt when danger thickened, fell mortally wounded by a grape shut. Ilavelock had often rode through tire and death by Me, and again and sixain seen him fall while bravely leading his troops into action, hut they had now fought their last battle together. Under his rship Ilavelock had tirst laced the enemy more than twenty years before, and in the long marches, perilous assaults, and fierce battles that tilled nj> the interval >in--e that time, he had ever t'onnd him a fast friend, a chivalrou.-, soldier, and a kind com- mander. That towering form which lir.-t won his youthful admiration as he followed him in the des- perate charge in IJurmah, was now laid low, while nained to pu.-s through scenes of which he then little dreamed. The next day the enemy retired to their intivnch- meiits at I-'ero/.e.-hah, four miles di.-tant, while (Joiigh to (Jeneral Littler commanding at Ferozepore, and to relieve whom he had made thete extraordi- nary efforts, to form a junction with him. The latter, however, had not waited to be invested in the town, bnt marching out, had taken up a strong position within full sight of the Sikh camp, wh. thou- sand troi.ps were supposed to be assembled, defended by one hundred and twenty pieces of artillery, some of them H\ty pounders. The army remained at Moodkhoe for two days to rest and prepare for the more desperate struggle be- fore it. 194: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. BATTLE OF FEKOZEPOKE. On the morning of the 21st, the order to advance was given, and in a short time the army came in sight of the enemy's intrenchments. These were in the form of a parallelogram, about a mile long and half a mile wide. The shorter ends of this paral- lelogram faced two streams one of the larger sides looked towards the town of Ferozepore, and the other to the open country, which, like the battle- field of Moodkhee, was a large plain, covered with sand hillocks and low jungles. On this side Gene- ral Gough determined to approach. While moving slowly around, out of cannon-shot, he caught sight of a cloud of dust in the distance, which heralded the approach of Littler's columns, and soon they ap- peared in view, marching swiftly forward with streaming banners. The gleaming lines, as they stretched away over the plain, and the monotonous roll of their heavy artillery-train as it trundled along, were welcome sights and sounds, for he knew that he would need every gun and every soldier before the formidable intrenchment in front of him could be carried. It was now nearly three o'clock in the afternoon, and as soon as a junction was formed, the whole force moved rapidly forward saluted as they ad- vanced with the heavy guns of the enemy. The for- mer immediately pushed forward their artillery, and in a few minutes that sandy plain shook and trem- bled under the heavy explosions. The batteries of BATTLE OF FEROZEPORE. 195 the Sikhs, being many of them commanded by ii engineers, were worked with great rapidity and fatal precision. Tlic heavy shot ploughed up the Held in every direction, and went tearing through the thickets, scattering the branches like a sudden whirlwind through the- air. The British artillery, g so much lighter, could not silence, although it checked this overwhelming fire. Slowly but steadily it kept advancing, till just before sunset, it got within two hundred and fifty yards. The commander-in- cliief looked anxious as he saw the declining sun, and :nined to make his final appeal to the bayonet. rder to advance passed along the lines, when the artillery suddenly ceased, and the infantry dashed through the openings of the guns direct on the The 20th Queens, as they swept past the batterii's wore a cheerful smileon their countenances, as if going to a l>an'jnet instead of to death. The artilleri>i>. pmnd of this line regiment, and rcndeivd rnthu.-ia-tic by their gallant bearing, spontaneously If their caps and cheered them as they charged by. The next moment came the crash of artillery, and they were suddenly lost in the smoke that cov- thc field. In the same manner the infantry along the whole line advanced on the dark and omin- ous batteries that confronted them. The Sikhs, sec- ing that the British were about to put forth their final eftort, redoubled their fire. Round shot and shell and grape were rained into the ranks. Yet tho living stepped into the places of the fallen, and clos- ing steadily up, and taking the loads of those - two pounders into their bosoms, swept on with 196 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the irresistible strength of the in-rolling tide of the sea. But this crushing fire, and fortress bristling with bayonets, were not all they had to encounter. On every side hovered clouds of Sikh cavalry, watching their opportunity to dash in and carry confusion into the ranks. Whenever the nature of the ground, or the eagerness of the men to advance, broke the com- pact array, these wild horsemen would suddenly sweep down like a hurricane, compelling .the charg- ing troops to halt and face this new danger. Some- times the infantry, while in the midst of the tempest of shot and shell, which the men nobly struggled to breast, would be forced to form into squares to resist a charge of cavalry, and then, before they could de- ploy again, the iron storm would sweep through their close formations. The men fell by platoons, but nothing could arrest that determined advance, and the intrenchments were at length reached, when the conflict became close and the havoc fearful. Those in command of the batteries now lost sight of the in- fantry in the smoke and dust that covered them, but they could still tell how the battle was going on from the steady roll of musketry, passing from left to right, with the precision of volley firing on parade, and from the gradual slackening of the Sikh artillery which soon ceased altogether. The next moment there arose from the sulphurous canopy a loud huzza. But while the cheer was still ringing over the field, there came a shock and roar as of an earthquake. A mine had exploded right under the feet of the assail- ants, hurling them mangled and torn into the air. The moment's ominous silence that followed, was NIOUT AFTEK THE BATT! I . 197 H ly the crash and roar of artillery from bat- ; by the enemy in rear, while- every- where the earth trembled under exploding mines. irallant Broadfoot, spurring his horse forward, made a desperate leap into the intrenchments. The good steed fell, carrying his intrepid rider with him. Before Broadfoot could extricate himself from his struggling animal, three Sikhs rushed upon him and buried their bayonets in his breast. Night came on in the midst of this wild turmoil, for the sun wrapped in the cloud of battle had gone down unperccived. For a while the deadly conflict was kept up in the gloom, and that inclosure flamed and roared like a volcano, but at length the increas- ing darkness put a stop to the slaughter, and the -; lay down in their ranks to wait for morning. Knglish, notwithstanding the desperate efforts they had put forth, were able to carry only a portion of the positions and part of the batteries. Without food or water, eold, hungry and thirsty they sunk upon the cold ground amid their fallen comrades. The dead lay thick as autumn leaves, while the night air was burdened with the shrieks and groans that rose from every part of the field. On this ghastly spectaele 1 very moon looked down from her serene path- way amid the stars. l>y her peaceful rays the Sikhs at midnight advanced one of their heavy guns, and brought it to bear on the Knglish troops. The latter snatching a short repose, when their lumber was suddenly broken by the missiles of death falling in their midst. The fire was SO well directed, that two regiments had to be called out to capture the 198 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. piece. But all niglit long, whenever the moonlight revealed the position of their enemy, the Sikhs played upon them with artillery, and gun after gun had to be taken at the point of the bayonet. But, with the exception of these few short nocturnal conflicts, the army lay quiet, though suffering terribly from cold and thirst. Soldiers with their pockets full of rupees, would offer all for one drink of water. Amid such sights and sounds, stretched on the cold ground Jbeside his steed, Havelock passed this long night of horror. At length the long looked for morning broke, and the pealing bugle and rolling drum roused up the two armies to recommence the work of death. In a few minutes the field was alive with the moving columns, and shook to the thunder of cannon. The English artillery was ordered forward, and swept on at a gallop till within close range, when " Left about, unlimber for action, front, load, fire," passed in quick succession from battery to battery. But the Sikhs had got their range to a nicety, and hurled such a tempest of iron from their heavy pieces, that the lighter guns of the British were threatened with total destruction. Two were dismounted before they had fairly got into position, while tumbrils were blown up at every dis- charge. In the midst of this desolating fire, Have- lock sat on a splendid charger close by a battery with a glass in his hand, watching the effect of its shot. He was in the most exposed spot on the field, and the balls flew like hailstones around him, but he sat as coolly as on parade, saying, in his usual calm voice, " A little lower, K , a little lower, B ." APPEARANCE OF THE BATTLE-FIELD. 199 :ned a miracle that he escaped being hit. Find- ing that this artillery practice was against him, the Commander-in-chief placed himself at the head <>i' the right wing, while Sir Henry Hardinge took ci>m- mand of the left, ami the whole line advanced. Like -s flood, it swept steadily on through the village, bearing everything down in its p&> Then changing front, it kept on till the entire camp was cleared of the enemy. This being accompli the line halted, and received the two leaders as they rode slowly down the front, saluting them with the captured standards, and cheering till the field shook with acclamations. Though the intrcnchim-nts were won, the Sikhs did not abandon the contest, but in two hours returned with reinforcements 30,000 strong, supported by a large field of artillery. They were again ! ed, but in a short time reappeared with tVc.-h artillery. Being driven back the second time, they abandoned the struggle, and retired slowly and unmo- lested towards the Sutlej. The Briti>h were victorious, but the long list of dead and wounded showed at what a sacrifice they had achieved success. Nearly 2,500 had fallen in those few hours, while the loss of the enemy was ! known. The body of Broadfoot could not at first be found, and as Havclock passed over the Held in search of it, his eye rested on one of the most appalling spectacles that war presents. The dead were everywhere in groups, single and across each other, they covered the entire field. Some wore the stern frown of battle, others, by their contorted fea- tures, showed in what agony the spirit had fled. 200 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. Bodies torn literally to shreds by the heavy shot, legs and arms and heads lying by themselves, and " gar- ments, rolled in blood," met the eye whichever way it would turn. The wreck amid which this mass of humanity lay, made the scene, if possible, still more desolate and mournful, for scattered around were dead and dying horses, broken gun-carriages, and dismounted cannon and muskets, and swords and drums. Brilliant uniforms were strewed thick over this scene of desolation. Ilavelock, who had named one of his sons after Broadfoot, in token of the love he bore him, felt his death deeply. With Sale and him he had fought in the mountains of Affghanistan, and withstood the siege of Jellalabad, and now they had both fallen while he, who had been so near death, had escaped without a wound. For nearly a month the two armies remained station- ary the Sikhs occupied in rearing the fortifications at Sobraon, the English in preparing to cross the Sutlej, and carry the Avar into the heart of the enemy's ter- ritory. The commander-in-chief at Jength being informed that the enemy was threatening Loodianah, dis- patched Major-General Sir Harry Smith with two brigades to repel him. General Smith moved on the 18th of January, and ten days after fought the BATTLE OF ALIWAL. The army encamped on the night of the 27th within six miles of the enemy. The next morning at daylight Smith put his columns in motion, and while they were passing the village of Poorein, ascended BATTLE OP ALIWAL. L'"l to the tops of the houses, and from thence got u dis- tant view of tin- enemy occupying a ridge, on which stood the village of Aliwal. The day was clear and beautiful, and the plain open, so that the eye could sweep at a single glance the intervening space over which the army was advancing. The swords and bayonets glittering in the sunbeams, formed long, (lax/ling lines of light, and undulating above the columns moving forward in order of battle with lly- lors, ]> resented an animated spectacle, and one which would delight the eye but for the carnage of which it was the precursor. About ten o'clock they came in presence of the impo>ing masses of the Sikhs, whose formidable iruns, f-hottcd and in posi- tion, awaited their approach. AVhen the liritir.li had got within four hundred yards, pull' after pull' of Miioke streamed forth along the ridge, and before the reached the English line of battle, balls were dropping amid the ranks. The order was then given lor the artillery to advance. The drivers whipped the horses into a gallop, and kept on till within three hundred yard.-, when ".left about, tire!" arrotcd each gun, and they unlimbered and opened. For three- quarters uf an hour the cannonade was incessant. All this time the infantry lay Hat on their faces; but at length the welcome order to advance was given. The village of Aliwal was carried, and the enemy, though lighting fiercely, \\ lily pres.-ed back. Over the thunder of cannon the clear bugle then sounded the charge, and the cavalry dashed on the dark masr-c- before them, scattering confusion through the ranks. With his left and centre borne back, 0* 202 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the enemy continued to hold his right, which was well protected by a village. Havelock's regiment was ordered to carry this at the point of the bayonet. With sloping arms and rapid tread, they pressed close behind their intrepid leader, and charging into the streets with a cheer, drove everything before them, and pushing on, followed the enemy to the banks of tl^e river. Hemmed in and broken, they here became a disordered mass, on which the British guns played with frightful effect. Crowding into the boats, and throwing themselves into the fords, they endeavored in vain to escape the scourging fire of the English artillery. At length the remnants of the affrighted army reached the opposite bank, and dis- appeared in the distance. The camp baggage, stores, ammunition, were all left behind, together with fifty- six guns. One more conflict was to end this perhaps most brilliant campaign of the British in India. Sobraon, further down the river, and in the Company's terri- tory, had been strongly fortified, and was now held by 30,000 Sikhs, and defended by seventy pieces of cannon, while a strong reserve occupied the opposite bank. On the 10th of February, the commander-in- chief took up his position before these formidable intrenchments. He intended to open the cannonade at daybreak, but a heavy mist lay upon the river and adjacent banks, obscuring objects to such an extent that he resolved to wait till the sun dissipated it. At length it lifted and rolled slowly away down the river, revealing those dark works bristling with can- non. The order was then given, and the battle com- BATTLE OF BOBKAOX. fd. Thunder answered thunder on the banks of the shuddering stream, and the whole valley : under the reverberations of one hundred and twenty cannon exploding on each other. Fur nearly hours this awful cannonade was kept up, strew- ing the eartli with wreck and ruin. At length it became evident to the commander-in-chief that he could not silence the tire of seventy pieces, pro: by earthworks, with his comparatively light artillery, and that, as usual, the bayonet must lini.-h the busi- ness. Havelock's regiment was in the brigade that led the advance, but he himself acted as staff officer to the general. The struggle for the iutrenchments was desperate and sanguinary. When driven back with the bayonet, the Sikhs would again rush fur- ward, sword in hand, to regain their positions, and fought with savage ferocity over their guns. At one time, indeed, it seemed doubtful whether the works could be carried at all. Even after the cavalry had entervd within and swept down on the hose who defended them fought like demons. While galloping through this deadly fire, Huvelock again had one of his narrow escapes. A round shot struck his horse, and passing through the saddle cloth, hurled both horse and rider to the earth. At first it was thought that he was killed, but he rose and mounted another as if nothing unusual had happened. At length the Sikhs gave way, and rushed for the river. Then followed a scene that bailies dr-rription. Over the bridge and into the river, now swollen by recent rains, the turbulent multitude crowded by thousands. The channel WM 204: LUTE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. packed from bank to bank with the frightened wretches, and right into this struggling mass the horse artillery poured an incessant, deadly fire. The water turned crimson in the morning light, and it was enough to move a heart of stone, to witness the horrible carnage of this now helpless multitude. Screams, and cries, and shouts, and yells responded to the roar of cannon, that kept hurling its loads of death into the sinking host without ces- sation. Hundreds rolled over and sunk without an eifort; others struggled frantically with the waves, and turned their despairing eyes on their foes, ere they disappeared forever. The strong trod down the weak, and wild with fear, they crowded so fiercely on each other, that hundreds were forced under and drowned, whom the shot had spared. The stream became choked with the dead, and the morning sun never looked down on a sadder scene than the banks of that river presented. The carnage of this last great battle may be imagined from the fact that the British loss was 2,400, while that of the enemy was more than three times as great; so that, at least ten or twelve thousand fell in little over three hours. Death trod the banks of the Sutlej with rapid footsteps this pleasant morning, and left behind him a spectacle that re- minded one of the memorable sentiment uttered by the Duke of Wellington with reference to Water- loo : " Oh ! surely, next to the regret of losing such a battle, is the grief of having gained it. The most dreadful thing next to a battle lost is a battle won" Sixty-seven cannon, 200 camel swivels, standards and H.VV1 I.< K.'k's UKTMKL TENT. 205 munitions of war, were the trophies of this victory. Ilavelock was everywhere Tinder fire during tho did received the official notice of the comman- in-chief. This battle ended the campaign, for the British troops entered the capital and dictated their own terms of peace. When the army broke np, Uavelock accompanied the commander-in-chief to Simla, where he soon after received the appointment of deputy adjutant-general to the queen's troops at Bombay. On his way thither to enter on his new duti. stopped at Serampore to visit his wife's aged mother, lie ne\er :-aw her again, for in a few months she at the advanced age of eighty. Reaching cutta, lie embarked with the governor of Bombay, and proceeded to Madras and Ceylon, and from thence to Bombay. The three years that Havelock had now been with Sir Hugh Gough, had developed to the latter more and more his great ability. He and Lord Hanlinge ; from Lord Elphinstone, offering him the Command of a Division in the War against 1" UAVELOCK remained at Bombay through the year 1847, except when his increasing ill health forced him to seek change of air. In the meantime Sir AVilloughby Cotton succeeded Sir T. M'Mahon as lo- cal commander-in-chief, and I lavelock joined him at Poonah, a town lying to the south, and inland about a hundred miles from Bombay. But his liver-com- plaint returning, he made a tour through the interior of tin- country, and then returned to llomhay. The year ho was strongly recommend, d to \i>it England for his health, but he concluded to postpone it for a while. Hoping it might he equally etli- cacious, he made another tour through the 1 > . : 208 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. Some time after lie was appointed military secretary to the new commander-in-chief. In the meantime, the hollow peace made with the Sikhs was broken by the latter and hostilities recommenced. In the first encounter at Kammughur, his brother, Col. "William Havelock, was killed, while gallantly charging at the head of his dragoons. In announcing this sad event to his sister in England, he says their brother did not fall " until his regiment sustained a heavy loss, and he had conquered the admiration and sympathy of every brave, man that can look with delight on acts of kindred spirit with his own. . . . His body has never been found, for no one has been able to ap- proach the spot whilst the Sikhs yet remain in posi- tion." The next year Havelock's regiment was or- dered into the field, and he proceeded to join it; but when he reached Indore, about three hundred and eighty miles from Bombay, he received a dis- patch requesting him to return. His health still re- maining feeble, he made a third tour through the Deccan, but the usual beneficial results did not follow. He was taken sick, and, for a time, it was doubtful if he ever would recover. But his good constitution that had never been impaired by excesses, finally triumphed, though he was left an invalid. Unable to attend to his duties, he took the advice of his physi- cian obtained leave of absence on a sick certificate, and on the 3d of October set sail for England. During the three years he remained at Bombay and in its vicinity, he associated much with the Christians in the place. There was a church in the city, of the Presbyterians of the Free Church of Scot- LIBERALITY OF HIS RKI.I. .1- >\. 209 land, with the members of which lie delighted to worship. He took a part in their prayer-meetings and his hand ami purse were both open to assist them Trying out their various plans for the education uml religious instruction of the natives. Ilavelock was wholly destitute of that narrow sectarian prejudice which impairs the excellence of so many even true Christians. lie communed with all evangelical de- nominations, and regarded creeds as of small conse- qnence compared with true piety. Once in a meet- ing :it Bombay, this question of denomination being referred to, lie explained fully and freely his views. Though ho "should part," he said, "with his Baptist principles only with his life, he was willing cordially to frajernize with every Christian who held by the I lend, and was serving the Redeemer in sinccri: truth. And here lie would protest against its being alleged, as adversaries would insinuate, that when men of various denominations met, as this evening, in a feeling of brotherhood, they could only do this, by paring down to the smallest portion, the mass of his religion; on the contrary, he conceived that all brought with them their faith in all its strength and vitality. They left, indeed, he thought, at the door of the place of assembly tin- husks and shell of their :, but brought into the midst of their brethren recious kernel. They laid aside, for a moment, at the threshold, the canons, and articles, and for- mularies of their section of Christianity ; but carried along with them, up to the table at which ho was speaking, the very essence and quintessence of their religion." Tin's broad and Catholic spirit character- 210 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. ized him through life, for he loved true piety far bet- ter than good creeds. Havelock reached England on the 6th of November. He had left his native land twenty-seven years before, an ardent, ambitious youth of twenty-eight, and now returned with his head whitened with nearly three- score years. What changes had passed in that long interval. While the sword of war had cut down his comrades in India, disease had been equally busy with his friends at home. But the hills and shores remained unchanged, and well-remembered spots brought back the memory of the past. After seeking medical advice at London, he re- moved with his family to Plymouth, where his sister resided. The meeting of the two was tender in the extreme, and their subsequent interviews were full of pleasant recollections of home, and of childhood. The winter he remained here flew rapidly by. In March he was presented to the Queen by the Duke of Wellington, and dined with Lord Ilardinge was a guest at the dinner given by the United Service Club to Lord Gough, as well as at the fete got up in his honor, by the East India Company. In the latter part of the month he went to Southampton, to receive the returning widow and fam- ily of his deceased brother. In June he commenced a series of visits to his old schoolmates and friends of his boyhood, some of whom had become judges and theologians, and men of renown, while he had been toiling in his profession under the burning sun of India. Having been advised to try the medicinal waters HAVELOCK IN OKUMAXV. I'll of Germany, lie went, in September, with liis t'amilv to Ems. Here his health improved so rapidly that he began to turn his thoughts once more to India ; and in.w eame, perhaps, the i: re a test struggle of his lie and his wile had both concluded that their little daughter and one boy should remain in Europe to be educated. But they were too young to be left alone, and the mother must stay with them, and he return alone to the field of his labors. He accordingly took a house at Bonn, where ho re- mained with them till the next autumn, steadily im- proving in health, lie then made a Hying vi.-it to England, to bid farewell to his friends, IJeturnin:: in October, he spent but a short time with his family before he departed for India. Having gathered for the last time his little family about him, and e.nu- mended them with tremulous tones to the (Jod in whom he trusted, and kissing them a final adieu, he, on the L'Ttli of October, stepped aboard the steamer, and turned away, little thinking he should never see those dear faces airain. Havelock was a devoted husband and father, for beloved with all the fervor of his strong charaeter. letters which ho sent back almost daily dur- ing his progress 'to Trieste, reveal the intensity of his affections. How beautiful and simple is the letter he wrote to his wife the next night after his departure : " F*AEro*T. " I arrived here this evening, and hope to get on to Leipaic to-mor- row, but have really lost all desire to seo anything or inquire about anything, for I have no one to whom I can communicate my feeling* 212 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. of pleasure or pain. I ought not to write thus, however, as it will grieve you. I have commenced this journey under God's guidance and not an effort on my part shall be spared to do something for you and my little ones. If you knew what I have endured since I parted with you, I fear it would give you pain but my God will support me. Remember I am not the only one who sinks thus when separated from those dearest to him. Read the account of the great Marlborough under such circumstances. But I have Jesus Christ to trust to, and his presence to comfort me. Yet in this mortal state we do feel keenly. Pray for me. " II. II." Two days after lie wrote tlie following letter, which reveals the strong emotion which slept under his calm exterior : " LEIPSIC, Oct. 30, 1851. "I purpose going to see the battle-field (of the Volker-schlacht, as the Germans call it) to-morrow, so I will commence another letter to you in the solitude of my chamber. Oh ! how ardently I desired'to turn back and rejoin you at Bonn, as I lay in my bed at Frankfort. It was a totally sleepless night, a thing, as you know, most unusual with me. I sat up meditating and writing until near eleven, and when called at six had not once closed my eyes ; not even dozed or slumbered for a moment. The bitterness of parting, my position after so many years, which renders it unavoidable, and, I fear, not a few doubts about the worldly future, passed in rapid succession through my brain, which, without being in the least fevered, was so wrought upon that I never slept a single second. But I did indeed find sweet relief in the thought of meeting you in that better kingdom, for all earthly meet- ings are uncertain, and only terminate in longer or shorter separa- tions. Join with me in prayer, that we, through faith in the blood of the Lamb, may be held worthy to partake in his resurrection, and be together with Him and our children in his glory. I know not what lies before me, but I do feel that we are both in the path of sacred duty. Let us do his will and leave the event to God. Perhaps he may be merciful to us and grant that we may soon meet again, though we see not how. " H. H." He can sleep on the cold earth or in the reeking LETTER TO I1IS WI1 i:. swamp-, e of deso- lation that ']]' iv.-.- > him as he thinks of the al' of his wife aud little one.-. Ilavelock sittmg grave and unmoved amid the carnage of battle, and lock turning all night on his restless couch, thinking of his family, seem two dilleivnt persons; lnit the ^tern warrior was at the same time the most tender husband and loving father. At Vienna, before departing for Trieste, he his wife a iinal adieu. After speaking of .-oiiic picture- he had seen in the capital he closes Lng: ' I5ut tell my girls I have now done with pictures, and begin to \\i-li 1 had left Europe with- out H-eing any, for I fear such sights may unfit me f..r the .-tern duties which lie before me. Let them turn their hearts and minds to the grc:tf bu-iness of salvation, and learn to be prac- tical persons, building their hopes of earthly sati.-faetion only on a sense of duty faithfully dis- charged, and their expectations of eternal blessedness on tin- merits of the Saviour." .... " Now though the word tears my heartstrings adieu ! God may grant us a happy meeting sooner than we expect ; but if never on earth, in the presence of Jesus I trust we shall meet." II ivelock arrived in Bombay in December, and for the next five years led a peaceful, quiet life. His religious habits remained the same, and the missionaries in and near Bombay had occasion long to remember his consistent life, his marked piety and his generous aid, both in intlucnce and 214 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. practical benevolence. His correspondence with those at Bonn during this time was constant, a'nd breathes the same spirit of devotion to God, and love to his family. The two following letters are selected out of many, not only to illustrate his character as a father, but to show the relations that subsisted between him and his children. The first, to his little boy, is well worthy of preservation : " MY DEAR GEORGE : " This is your birthday, and here I sit in the sight of the house in which you were born, five years ago, to write you a letter. My office is gone down to Poonah, and I have nothing to do but think of you ; but your brother J. is very busy in the next room, reading Mahratta with his pundit. However, he says that he too will scroll a note for you as soon as his daily studies are over. I daresay H. is remembering you, too ; but he, you know, is a long way off from us now, in the Punjaub. "Now, though a little boy, you ought to have wisdom enough, when you get these lines, to call to mind how very good God was to you on this day, in preserving the life of your dear mamma, who was so sick that no one thought she could recover. At that time, too, I was in very poor health ; but am now so much better, by God's mercy, that I have not had any suffering to complain of since I re- turned to India ; indeed, since I saw you last, when I got on board of my steamer at Bonn, to go up to Mainz, on my way to India. They tell me that uow-a-days it is the fashion for little boys like you to do no work until they are seven years old. So, if you are spared, you have two more years of holiday ; but then you must begin to labor in earnest. And I will tell you what you will have to learn ; the first thing is to love God, and to understand his law, and obey it, and to believe in and love Jesus Christ, since he was 'sent into the world to do good to all people who will believe in him. Then, as it is likely you will be brought up to be a soldier in India, you will have to be taught to ride very well, and a little Latin, and a great deal of mathe- matics, which are not very easy ; and arithmetic, and English his- tory, and French and German, and Hindostanee, and drawing, and LETTERS TO HIS CHILDREN. 215 fortification. Now, you will say this is a groat deal quite a burden, and a cart-load of learning. But if you are, from the first, ycrjr industrious, and never let any day, but the Sabbath, pass over with* out four hours' diligent study, at least, you will soon find that tho mountain of learning before you is cut down into a very little hill indeed. " Now, you must ask your mamma to read this letter to you, and explain to you all the words which you do not understand ; and you must keep it, and read it over every birthday until you are twenty- one years old ; and, year after year, you will be astonished at the lit'le which you knew when yon first received the letter, and how clearly you can comprehend that which then appeared difficult and strange to you. Moreover, you must on this day always read (that is aa soon as you have learnt to read) the 46th Psalm and tho 3d chapter of the 1st Epistle of John, and though, at first, you may not comprehend most of them, yet, at the last, their meaning will be plain to you, and by the teaching of God's holy word, you will learn much good from them. Love always " Your affectionate papa, "HKNRT HAVELOCK." As a companion-piece to the above, take the fol- lowing to liiri little daughter: 1 Mr DKAR LITTLE N- " I am almost an idle man to-day, so yon shall at length havo the benefit of my empty-handcdncss. I have been much, pleased with all that you have written me since my return to India, and still more with the intelligence that your mamma has conveyed to me of your progress in your studies, and most of all with tho account I have had of your attention to the lessons in divine wisdom, given you by Mr. r- days. lie vi-ired the chapel where he had so worshipped, and taking up the Bible from lie- fore the pulpit, read two chapters and prayed alone. From Simla he proceeded to Peshawar, where he stayed most of the winter. In the spring he re- turned to Simla. The next winter, through Lord Hardinge's influence, who knew and appreciated his value, he received the appointment of adjutant- ral. The following letter exhibits the quiet vein of pleasantry that underlaid all Ilaveluck's gravity, as well as the depth of affection he cherished for his " HUD QnmcM CAMP, Gra*o, Fb. 9, 1S8&. " Notwithstanding the reproach under which I lira of being non- observant of notable day*, I have not forgotten that, twonty-wx yean ago, not having been able to muster moral courage enough to ran away against the tid-- in an Indian canoe, I consented to give hostngos to fortune,' and braved the worse danger and 220 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. of domestic life. I have not repented that I will seriously assert and maintain. On the contrary, my submission to the ' yoke ' has been the source of nearly all the satisfaction and happiness which retro- spect presents to me on the chequered map of my sixty years' exist- ence. So, madam, all hail ! best of mothers, and not worst of wives, accept my congratulations, and give me credit for the sincerity and the warmth of affection which urges me this day to pray for your temporal and eternal blessedness, and points to you as the founda- tion of my own best recollections and hopes." In the following month, General Anson, who had been appointed commander-in-chief, arrived in Cal- cutta, and Havelock repaired thither to join him. He remained here in the discharge of his duties till fall, when he accompanied the commander-in-chief on a tour of inspection up the Ganges, and proceeded to Delhi. At Agra, in January, he received a tele- graph dispatch from Lord Elphinstone, offering him, at Outram's request, command of a division in the war against Persia. He accepted it at once, and im- mediately set out for Bombay. CHAPTER VIII. HAVELOCK'B PERSIAN CAMPAIGN. Arrives at Bushirc Attack on Fort Mohammerah Description of the Scene Havclock ordered back to India la shipwrecked Gathers Passengers and Crew around him, to return Thanks for their Deliverance Arrives at Madras, and hears of the Death of General Anson Proceeds to Calcutta Appointed Brigadier, and sent forward to Allahabad. IN 1851 a difficulty arose between England and Persia on the same question that originated tho war in Afghanistan, namely, the threatened oecii]:ition, of Herat. But the extension of the west- ern boundary of her India possessions had taken away tin -. \cuse England then gave i'<>r lu-r inter- iVivnrr in that quarter, viz. : fear of the invasion of Russia. It is true the Russians had pushed forward their boundaries, and undoubtedly wished to extend them further, but how the present movement <>f Persia against Herat could tend to the accomplish- ment of that desire, it would bo difficult to determine. Still the governor-general thought he saw the finger of Russia in the affair, and acted accordingly. The truth is, tho fear that seized England at tlio 222 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. projected invasion of Napoleon and Russia had taken such deep hold that no change of circumstances could eradicate it. It had become chronic. In reply to the remonstrance of England, Persia declared that she had a right to restore tranquillity on her frontiers, and " establish regularity in Herat," and would do so. She was as good as her word. A few months after, however, she acceded to the British demands, and the difficulties seemed about to be settled, when the Shah objected to the appoint- ment of a man named Meeza Hashem Khan, as first Persian Secretary to the British Mission at Teheran. This person was offensive to the Persian monarch, and he declined to receive him, giving as his reason, however, that he had never formerly discharged him from his own service. The British minister then gave notice that he would appoint him British agent at Shiraz. The Persian minister replied that if the lat- ter attempted to go he would be seized and detained, and as a preliminary step ordered his wife to be taken charge of. The British minister met this new move with the threat that if the lady was not released by the next Monday noon he would haul down the British flag, and he did so. Then came court scan- dal about the motives that prompted the British min- ister to take such extraordinary interest in this lady. The Persian prime-minister openly declared that it was because she was his mistress. Thus the rupture that began with the protection of the frontier, finally dwindled down to the protection of the wife of a man who used to be the king's page. She now became the basis of future negotiations the first article in OOCJRT QUABREL8. 223 the new bill of conditions. The Persian minister at first haughtily refused "to enter on a discussion regard- ing such a delicate subject as ladies connected with the royal harem," and thought it disgraceful that the English flag should be struck for a woman. The whole history of this dispute between the Persian court and the English embassy is both ludicrous and ;iceful. The government at home seemed finally to wake up to the worse than childish aspect affairs were assuming, and removed the negotiations to Con- stantinople. The Persian court sent a minister thither with full powers to settle all questions in dispute be- tween the two governments. Lord Stratford de Radcliffe was directed to communicate with him, and on the 17th of October, 1856, negotiations opened between the two ministers. The governor- general of India, however, did not apparently wish an amicable adjustment of difficulties, and on the 1st of November, issued three proclamations declaring war against Persia. At the very time this news reached Constantinople the Persian ambassador had conceded the most important points demanded by Lord Stratford de Radclifle. Of course he at once declared all his engagements void, and immediately r home. It is needless to state here that England would never have acted in this manner towards a nation able to defend itself. Major-General Outram was appointed to the chief command of the expedition against Persia, and asked that Ilavelock might be joined with him in the com- mand of one division. The ships carrying the army 224: LIFE OF GENEBAI, HAVELOCK. of invasion, put to sea Jan. 14th, and on the 3d ult. reached Bushire, lying at the head of the Persian Gulf, a little east of the mouth of the Euphrates. Immediately on the arrival of the troops, prepara- tions were made to march on the intrenched camp of Brasjoon, about fifty miles distant. The movement was entirely successful, the camp was taken, and the Persian army routed. Outram then returned to Bushire, where he remained till March. Mohammerah was selected as the next point of at- tack. This was a strongly fortified place situated on the banks of the Euphrates about a third of the way up from its mouth to the junction of the Tigris. The troops were thereupon reembarked, and on the morn- ing of the 8th, made the mouth of the river. Here they lay quietly at anchor, cooped up in the vessels until the 23d. On the Mth however, General Have- lock arrived in the Berenice. He was at Agra, as stated in the previous chapter, when the dispatch from Lord Elphinstone reached him. Preparations had been made to have his wife and a part of his family come to India during the year, but this cher- ished plan had now to be abandoned. In announcing the fact to his wife, he bears this noble testimony to her virtues as a mother : " You have done your duty nobly to your children, as ever, so especially since I left you for India, in October, 1851. This I fully acknowledge on earth, and God's righteous verdict will corroborate it in heaven. But you must post- pone all plans of coming out to India." " Her child- ren arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her." 1 \TER8 TUB EUPHRATES. lluvi -lock, who had now passed his threescore years, felt this to be an arduous undertaking; "but" said he, " I go in faith in Him who has led me so long, and guided me." Hi> crossed the country from Agra to Bombay, where he was to take ship for Bushire. His son and namesake accompanied the quartmna>ter-general's department. He embarked on the night of the 26th of February, and the next morning the battery on the Apollo Bunder, fired him a salute, "the first expense of the kind," he adds, half sarcastically, "to which I ever put the British government." When he arrived in l>ushire, he was received with great cordiality by ral Outram, "who" said he, "is as kind as he is brave, skillful and enterprising." In writing home, he remarks, " I have good troops and cannon under my command, but my trust is in the Lord Jesus, my tried and merciful friend, to Him all power is intrusted in heaven and on earth, Him I daily seek for, as I see him without shadow of doubt- ing." Here is the old Puritan Ireton over again, who prayed and trusted in God, but looked well to hi* Ironsides and their equipments. He was de! here for some time by adverse winds ; but at length, on the 24th of March, the forces were all assembled at the mouth of the river. The anchors were then .d, and the fleet proceeded slowly up the Euphrates, to the place of rendezvous, thr.v mile* In-low the fortifications which were to bo attacked. The day after the arrival was passed in putting horses, guns and men in the vessels of lightest draught. The 10* 226 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. shores on either side were lined with date-trees, through openings of which groups of curious spectators occa- sionally stole, to gaze on the wonderful apparition of such a fleet cooped up in that narrow stream. The channel at this place was not a mile wide, yet here amid the date-trees that almost overhung their decks, were the flag ship Semiramis and four steam frigates in all seven vessels of war, some mounting sixty-four pounders, together with the steamer Berenice, carry- ing Havelock, and several transports and small steamers filled with troops. The force they were to operate against was estimated to number 10,000 to 13,000 men intrenched in solid earth-works, twenty- five feet high, and eighteen feet thick, and defended by forty cannon. After consulting together, Outram and Havelock decided on the following plan: The vessels of war should first move up opposite the bat- teries and taking position within musket shot, silence their heaviest guns. The transports were then to steam past and effect a landing above, from whence they could assail the fortress in the rear. Just at evening several hundred of the enemy were seen throwing up an embankment on the shore, evi- dently to cover some guns they were dragging towards the river. A half dozen shells soon sent these hurry- ing off in every direction. After dark, some daring engineer officers took a canoe, and rowed up to within 300 yards of the batteries, and there, right under the nose of the enemy, and fronting his most powerful battery, moored a raft, behind a low island, with four mortars upon it. On that raft the adventurous artil- lerymen remained all night without the possibility of THK CANNONADE. reat, and exposed to certain death should the enemy become aware of their presence. At daybreak mortars opened their fire the lirst shell tailing right into the centre of the opposing work, killing and wounding eleven men, who unsuspicious of danger devoutly engaged in their morning prayers. As the ti ret shot broke the silence of the early dawn the vessels of war steamed up towards the batteries with two sloops in tow, which were to be cast off when in position. The Semi minis led the squadron, and as fast as her guns began to bear, she opened her fire. In a few minutes all were in their appointed places, and the cannonade commenced. The morning was bright and beautiful, with just enough breeze to clear away the smoke and pr< it from sett ling around and concealing the combatants; and as the sun rose over the date-trees and flooded the smooth yet swiftly flowing stream with his bourns, he looked down on one of the most stirring and < ing scenes that war exhibits. The water flashed back his light till it glowed like molten silver, con- :ig strangely with tjie dark walls of living green that hemmed it in. Ensigns fluttering from t la-ad, gave to the ships the appearance of a gala day, while the smoke writhing ami twisting up and away, assumed in the morning sunbeams the inoet \\einl, fantastic shapes. Below, however, all was S-UTII, thunderous and terrible. .That vast array of cannon parked in so small a space, and expKxli: each other within almost pistol shot, presented a scene of mingled terror and sublimity. The dark muzzles of the batteries on shore would protrude through the 228 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. smoke for an instant and then be lost in a blaze of fire, while the crash that followed would be answered by the deafening uproar of the British sixty-four pounders, and the sharp rattle of musketry. In the intervals rang out strains of martial music, and ever and anon came the crash of falling date trees, as cut in two by the sixty-four pound shot, they fell with a shock that made the shores tremble. Over the roll- ing smoke arose the hissing shells, and dropped with a dull heavy sound into the earthworks on the bank. For three hours it thundered there on the Euphrates with a power and strength apparently sufficient to heave shores and all from their strong foundations. At length the Persian fire began to slacken, when the signal was given for the infantry to move up. Have- lock in the Berenice led the fleet. This vessel pre- sented an extraordinary appearance, for, with the ex- ception of her paddle-boxes and bulwarks, she was completely crammed with troops. There was scarcely room for them to stand, and thus crowded like cattle in a pen they were to pass through the fire of the enemy's batteries. Her progress was watched with intense interest, for it seemed impossible to run that gauntlet without immense loss of life. Lieut. Chatty, her commander, afraid to trust the perilous under- taking of steering her to any one else, took the helm himself. As the steamer moved steadily up, and came within range of the guns, Havelock mounted to the paddle-box and shouted to his men to lie down. It was impossible fully to obey the order, as there was not room, and those who attempted it, lay shingled one upon another. He took this exposed position in A DARING POSITION. 229 order t<> lime the whole force, and the entire veaeel under his eye. As the steamer made her way through tho tin- which had now reopened with redoubled fury, the shot whistled like hail around his head, cutting the rising on every side; yet he stood apparently emotionless as a column of iron. Several shot also struck the hull, yet strange to relate not a man was killed. Even officers, accustomed to see hair-bread tli escapes, called it providential. A single round shot traversing that living mass would have made fearful havoc. As vessel after vessel came up and passed, the blue jackets at the batteries leaped on their guns and gave cheer after cheer to the troops, which was i even above the roar of the combat in the in lines. Arriving at the point of debarkation, Havelock sent a detachment on shore to clear the bank of skir- mishers. The troops then he-ran to land, and by two o'clock all were safely disembarked except the horse artillery and a troop of dragoons. The tide rising had overflowed the low ground and filled the creeks so that these could not be got off. It was n-solvi-d in with a c-htvr. The works on the land side were so formidable that if tlu-y had been held by firm, resolute troops, they could not have been carried ; but the Per dismayed at the steadily advancing battalions, and the field artillery sweeping up on a trot, 230 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. broke and fled, blowing up their magazine as they retreated. The tents were all left standing, while arms, accoutrements, carpets, saddles, and camp furniture of every description, lay scattered around, attesting the precipitancy of the flight. Havelock immediately started in pursuit ; but the Persians proving too nimble of foot, he abandoned the chase to a few Scinde horse, and ordered the bugle to sound a halt. The troops bivouacked in line of battle, where they stood, and stacking arms, lay down on the ground without any protection. The night being cold, both officers and men suffered severely. The next day, ascertaining that the enemy was beyond reach, Havelock marched back to Mohammerah, where he and his son took possession of one of the Persian tents, and lived together "jolly," he writes to his wife, " as the two parsons you and I met in the railway carriage." To the regret and disgust of all the troops, cessa- tion of hostilities followed; and in a short time it was proclaimed that the war was over. Havelock's division was now ordered back to India ; and in the middle of May he broke up his camp, and embarked on board the Berenice. With him were half of the Highland regiment the Ocean Monarch, which was taken in tow, carrying the other half. Sweltering under a burning sun, they steamed slowly down the gulf, and on the 22d entered the bold, picturesque, but deserted and ruin- crowned harbor of Muscat. Having coaled up, they set sail for Bombay, where they arrived on the 29th. Scarcely had the steamer swung to her moorings, A 8HIPWRE' 231 when the stunning news of the sudden and fearful uj .rising in India, was told to Havelock. The troops were immediately sent round to Calcutta without ibarking. He himself wished to join General :>, then marching on Delhi, but ascertaining that the route through India was unsafe without a stroiii: escort, which could not at that time be spared from Bombay, he, with his staff and several officers, embarked on board the Erin, for Point-de-Galle in (.Vylon, in order to intercept the Bengal steamer on her way from Suez to Calcutta. Along the rocky coast of Malabar, and over a quiet sea, they passed day after day in safety, and on the 5th made the northern end of Ceylon. It was a bright, beautiful ioon, and every one expected to be in port next morning. The moon rose bright and tranquil, and the steamer went dancing along at the rate of eleven knots an hour. Later in the evening, however, tho wind began to freshen the sea became turbulent, and a inl>iy haze fell over tho water, preventing the look-out from seeing far ahead. At midnight a heavy thunder-storm broke over the vessel. Have- l.ick. awakened by the rain driving into the port of abin, rose and shut it. -Before he had fallen ;> again, ho felt a shock as if the vessel had struck. Another followed, which made it certain. Still, confiding so entirely in the good management of the company, and skill of the officers, ho conld not believe that anything very serious had hap- pened. With his accustomed calmness, he was revolving the matter in his mind, when his son, who had been sleeping on deck, walked into his cabin as 232 LIFE OF GEIfEEAL HAVELOCK. calmly as if to call him to breakfast, and said, " Sir, get up, tlie ship has struck !" But while this extra- ordinary scene was passing between father and son, in the cabin, the wildest tumult and confusion reigned on deck. The captain, overwhelmed with the catastrophe, lost his head the officers ran around without receiving or giving orders, except in incohe- rent exclamations. The tiller ropes had snapped with the first shock, for the ship was going eleven knots an hour, when she struck, and she became at once unmanageable. After the first blow, the vessel slid off into deep water again, when the sea came pouring into the fore part in a perfect deluge. All expected to see her go down at once, head foremost, when she again gave two or three heavy thumps, and then lifting with one terrific effort, flung herself bodily nearly across the reef falling on the rocks with a shock apparently heavy enough to crush her like an egg-shell. The passengers and crew were sent headlong over the deck. Every surge, as it now came in, took up her massive frame only to dash it with still greater violence on the rocks, as it receded. All were compelled to hang on the sides and rigging for support. The ship was lost beyond hope or help, and the only question each anxiously asked himself, was, how long could she hold together with such a sea pounding her on the rocks ? Every one prepared for death, and although the officers and crew were wild with excitement and alarm, the military officers aboard were calm. To render this awful scene still more appalling, just then another black and heavy thunder-cloud rose over the AN ZXCITIMG 8CEHB. L'.'lij wrathful sea. The gleaming lightning revealed the breakers cresting ami foaming all around them, while the loud and rattling peals that followed, drowned even the roar of the waves. By the transient light, pale vi.-ages gleamed out for a moment, over the wreck, and every spar and rope was distinctly seen, then all was blackness again. The rain fell in tor- rents, and the wind howled as if in savage rejoicing < ver the ruin round which it swept. Ilavclock, whose calmness no emergency however sudden, no catas- trophe however unexpected or appalling, could for a moment disturb, at once assumed that authority which, from such a man, in such a calamity, is ahvavs acknowledged. Addressing the crew in that quiet, derided tone so peculiar to him, and which once heard in the hour of peril, was never forgotten, said, " Now, my men, if you will but obey orders, and from the spirit cask, we shall all be saved." Blue lights were burned, and guns fired, which brought a crowd to the shore. But four long hours remained till daylight, and whether the ship would hold together till that time, depended on how much wood and iron could stand. But before the light had fairly dawned, one bold fellow on shore stepped out from the crowd, and stripping himself, plunged gallantly into the breakers. Now rising on the crest of the waves, and now sinking from sight, he struck steadily and strongly out, but the sea was wild and smote him back with such fury,. that for a long time it seemed doubtful whether he could ever reach the ship. His strength was fast becoming exhau but he refused to turn back; and at last, to the 234: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. great joy of all on board, his dripping head was seen drifting alongside the vessel. A rope was thrown him, and he was drawn on deck, amid the loud cheers of the crew. His strength was well-nigh gone, and it took him. some time to recover; but as soon as he got the full use of his limbs once more, he took a line in his hand, and again plunged overboard, and swam to shore. A hawser was thus pulled to the beach and made fast, along which, in the early dawn, boats passed to the wreck and took the passengers and crew, a part at a time, safely to land. "When the last man had reached the shore in safety, Havelock addressed them, and asked them to acknowledge the hand of God in their deliverance. They listened attentively while he poured out his thanksgiving to the Father of all mercies. The cold, grey light of early dawn, the dark, retiring storm cloud over the dim yet angry sea, the heaving, spray-covered wreck with her spars still standing amid the breakers, that group of officers in drenched uniforms, the rough fishermen looking in astonish- ment on the scene, and that aged veteran, his white locks uncovered, lifting his calm voice of prayer and thanksgiving over the roar of the deep, combined to form a picture worthy of a painter. In a few hours the main-mast went overboard, and soon after the noble vessel fell apart, and her cargo came drifting ashore. The officers and crew succeeded in saving the treasure on board, but the cargo, valued at a million of dollars, was a total loss; and in a short time the shore was strewed with the most beautiful and costly furniture and pictures, and valuable cases, 235 mingled with broken spars, and boats, and fragments of the wreck.* Had the vessel struck at almost any other point, not a soul would have been saved. Havelock said : " The madness of man threw us on shore ; the mercy of God found us a soft place near Caltura." Conveyances were obtained for Havelock and his officers, by which they reached Galle next day in the morning. Fortunately he found the steamer Fiiv Queen lying at anchor in port. The news from India was too alarming to admit of any delay, and she was onK-ivd to get up steam immediately. Next day plie put to sea. Four days after, HaveWk entered ! ;it them, and awaK the drepe>t de.-iiv that a terrible punishment should be meted out to them. Oude was annexed in 1856. The next year Sir Henry Lawrence ifraa appointed chief commissioner 11 24:2 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. and in the spring took his post at Lucknow, the cap- ital of the kingdom, containing about 300,000 in- habitants. Between it and the River Goomtee, on which it lies, is the residency of the commissioner, which, with its outhouses, covers a large space. Near it stands a strong building called Muchee Bhowun. Lawrence had not long exercised his office before he became aware that a feeling of insubordi- nation prevailed among the troops. At length he was informed that an e"meute was intended, and on the evening on the 30th of May, it took place. A portion of the native troops, after firing the bungalows, and murdering some of the officers, made off. The next day there was an insurrection in a part of the city, followed by the startling news of the mutiny at Futtehpore, and Cawnpore, and Benares. Law- rence immediately began to increase the defences of the Residency and Muchee Bhowun, and demolish the houses standing near, so that they should not furnish protection to the enemy ; and lay up pro- visions for a long siege. The whole horizon grew black with the rising storm, and the frightened Europeans in the surrounding region came flocking in to claim the protection of the garrison. In the meantime Sir Hugh Wheeler was endeavor- ing to intrench himself at Cawnpore, some 40 miles farther down on the Ganges. The European residents of the town, alarmed at the indications of a revolt, flocked into his narrow quarters for safety, where already were assembled the wives and children of the soldiers of the 32d regiment. At midnight, on the 4th of June, the mutiny broke out in the lines, WHKKLKB BE8IEOKD. and by the next afternoon, tin- camp, after having plundered, was deserted. Nana Sahib, who lived at llithoor, a few miles from Cawnpore, received a message from the rebels, asking him to be their corn- ier, and leaf Wheeler'- intrcnchments, when they halted and Xana sent a summons to the general to surrender, ummons being disregarded, he, on the 6th of June, marched into Cawnpore, and opened his fire on the garrison. On this very morning, Ilavelock stood on the lea-h of Ceylon and offered up his thanksgiving for the almost miraculous escape of himself and those on board the steamer from shipwreck. With but eight guns, and behind intrenchments that a man might walk over, Wheeler now com- d that gallant defence which has made him and his heroic band immortal. Xana Sahib had al 24: pounders, which sent the round shot through and through the hospital barracks. There was but one well within the intrenehments, and this was so exposed to the enemy's firo that no one dared to venture near it for water except at night. In a few the buildings were completely riddled, while from fright and exposure women and children died rapidly. 'Hie dead bodies of delicate young ladies and wives of offic6rs would be left during the day, 244: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. amid the ruins, waiting for the fatigue party to come along at evening and throw them in a well outside of the intrenchments ; for there was no place to bury them, nor could they be removed during the day on account of the incessant storm of shot and shell that swept the place. At last the enemy fired heated shells, which set the tents on fire, so that all had to be pulled down, and also ignited the bar- racks in which were the families of the soldiers, to- gether with the sick and wounded. Fanned by a fierce wind, the flames soon wrapt the building, and although the well succeeded in escaping, the invalids and wounded, to the number of forty, perished amid the most frantic cries for help. There being now no place of protection for the wo- men, holes were dug in the earth, and covered with boxes, in which they were placed. Out of these, many would creep at night to sleep under the walls of the intrenchment, with their relatives, only to be startled back by the fiery shells that blazed and burst among and above them. The stench from the dead bodies of horses and other animals that had been shot, and could not be removed, filled all the air, and brought in clouds of flies to torment the sick and wounded, while day and night the shot and shell fell thick and fast on the devoted garrison. Sick- ness and want augmented the suffering, and helped to swell the daily record of mortality. ]STana, in the meantime, amused himself with put- ting to death every European, whether woman or child, that fell into his hands. A hundred and twenty- six, captured in a boat, on their way from Futteghur LAST SORTIE. 245 to a place of safety, were massacred together. His force soon increased to 12,000 men, and be drew his pins closer around the intrenchments. Wheeler .lie-lit sorties to force them back, and though .i.s successful, it was impossible to follow up the advantage gained for want of cavalry. On the 17th he t \vice repulsed the enemy, inflicting a severe loss upon him. At length, cut off from supplies, his garrison starving, he determined to make a last grand effort to force back the advanced position of the rebels, and obtain provisions. At daybreak on the 23d, he called a part of his weak, famine-struck band around him, anut, in passing around it, became exposed to a se- v. iv fire. Shifting his ground, he again halted to \vait for the artillery, which was working its way bravely forward. But in the meantime the enemy concentrated their fire on his new position, which BOOJI became so hot and destructive that Havelock irivw impatient, and resolved not to wait for his guns any longer; and riding along the lines, he, in "the clear tones of his peculiar voice," roused to the highest pitch the courage of his exhausted troops, and as he came up to the Highlanders and the 64th, said "Come, who'll take this village, the High- landers or the 64th 2" Away went the Highlanders, 111:4 the village like a storm. The line then advanced, when they suddenly came upon a 24-pounder, which commanded the entire road, while a new and fresh body of mutineers, with a numerous cavalry, making a horrible din with their large drums and bugles, swept in a semi- circle around them. Havelock, who seemed en- 1 with ubiquity, so constantly present was he in every part of the field, no sooner saw the village carried than he galloped back to look after his wearied artillery forces in the rear. In the meantime the enemy's guns began to play 262 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. with deadly effect on the infantry, compelling them tc lie down for protection. These did not number probably over 900 men, and without artillery or cavalry, lay em- braced in a semicircle by an apparently overwhelming force. That 24 pounder kept sending its heavy shot among them, and the entire field was so completely swept by the enemy's guns that they dared not rise. Twilight had now settled on the plain, and the brave troops who had almost won the day, seemed about to be totally overwhelmed. Encouraged by their advantage, and the apparent terror of their enemies, the rebels, with drums and trumpets, sounded the advance in rapid succession, while en- veloping squadrons of cavalry swept round in the form of a crescent A deadly encounter was close at hand, and yet, for the first time, a fatal vacillation seemed to have seized the British troops. At that critical moment, Havelock, who had just had a horse shot under him, came boldly riding on a hack, the only man who dared show his head upon the field. Galloping unmoved through the fire, he shouted, in that calm, encouraging voice, which always inspires troops with confidence : " Get up, my lads, and take those guns." Doubt, fear, vacillation, all vanished at once. Those brave men only wanted the presence of their glorious leader, and springing to their feet, they gave a shout, that drowned for a moment the blasts of the enemy's bugles. Young Havelock spurred forward, and wheel- ing his horse in front of the 64th, planted himself directly in front of the 24-pounder. At a foot pace, with his eye fixed steadily on the deadly gun, that DARING OF YOUNG I1AVELOCK. 263 blu/ed ulmiir the road, he steered straight for the muz- zle. Its heavy explosions that shook the field and rarrietl death through the ranks, could not make a Millie nerve .jiii ver. Havelock himself, led the High- landers, and it was a glorious sight to see father and sou leading on the last final charge. Although the lather's In-art was bound up in his sou, and the life of the latter seemed scarcely worth a thought in the po.-ition he had taken, yet the danger was forgotten in the pride he felt at the gallant bearing of his boy. When the column had approached within 300 yards, 1-pounder opened with grape, and at every ex- u it seemed that horse and rider must disappear. Jiut the young hero kept steadily on, and the troops, though tl irir ranks were rapidly thinning, pressed sternly, silently after, until close upon the death- dealing pieee. Then, as the iron shower swept the road for the last time, they charged with a loud cheer and captured it. " Hurrah," rang back from the Highlanders, as they witnessed the gallant deed, and away they went, scattering the dismayed rebels in cv.-ry direction, who Hitting in the dim light of eve- over the plain, appeared like the "shifting figures in a panorama/' The troops followed in hot pursuit, but the Highlanders in the centre kept cautioning each other not to fire, and the word con- stantly passed along the line, " The general is in front, don't fire" Yes, he was in front, all of that terrible day, and still led them on till they came in sight of the old barracks of Cawnpore. Here they halted, and as the gallant band stood in battle array before the goal oftheir unparalleled efforts, Havelock 264: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. rode down the line, and poured forth glowing words of praise of their noble conduct. The poor, tired fellows fired with his enthusiastic language rent the very heavens with their cheers. Right well did they deserve all the lavish praise he bestowed on them, for in the middle of July, they had marched 130 miles in seven days, fought four battles, and taken 24 guns. The loss of the enemy was not ascertained, but 300 wounded were found in one house, and a tank dis- covered full of dead bodies. Havelock's loss w r as over 100, or a tenth of his entire force. The baggage had all been left behind, and did not arrive till nine o'clock next morning ; so, after col- lecting together the wounded, " without tents, ra- tions, or grog," the overtasked troops bivouacked on the naked earth. With nothing to eat, and no- thing but dirty ditch water to drink, they passed a night of great suffering. It was sufficiently severe on those poor fellows who had marched twenty-four miles and fought such a desperate battle, to lie down uncovered and supperless, but to the wounded, it was terrible. There they lay, some without legs, others without arms, others still, disfigured by ghastly wounds, loading the midnight air with their groans. It had been a momentous day to Havelock, and though its anxiety and excitement were over, he cared little for food or rest. Yet neither the toils he had endured, nor the perils he had escaped, nor the victories he had won, kept him wakeful, but the thought that only a single w^all divided him from two hundred English mothers and children pining in cap- tivity far worse than death. He Had one consoling Mi.MT AFTKIJ THE BATTLE. 205 reflection, however, the thunder of his victorious guns li;nl carried j<>y to their despairing hearts, and in the morning they should hear the glad shout of their de- liveivrs. Hi.- brave troops, too, bore the hunger and thir.-t of that lni; night without a murmur, for they felt that they were about to be rewarded for all their UK! Bufferings, in rescuing their countrywomen the hands of their merciless jailers. CHAPTER XL The Massacre of Cawnpore ITavelock burns Nana Sahib's Palace Uavelock's General Order General Neill's mode of Punishing the Sepoys Havelock advances to the Relief of Lucknow Battle of Oonao Battle of Busherut-gunge Resolves to retire to Cawnpore Disarms the Lascars Havelock's second Advance towards Luck- now Combat at Busserutgunge Pursues the Enemy Again re- solves to fall back Reoccupies Cawnpore Attack on Bithoor Sir Colin Campbell's Censure of Havelock and his Son Outram appointed to the Command. EAELY next morning while Havelock was planning his attack on the city, a column of smoke was seen suddenly and rapidly to roll upward from the place, followed by an explosion that shook the earth. Nana Sahib had blown up his magazines and retreated. Cheerily the bugle note broke over the encamp- ment, and. the delighted soldiers marched forward in the full belief that they were to release the 200 wo- men and children that pined in captivity. * But in pass- ing through a gate near the building called the Subada Kothee, where the prisoners were kept, the officers were told the terrible news of the massacre. Struck dumb with horror, they turned, and with blanched cheeks and quivering lips, entered the paved court of the building in which the bloody deed had been 988 THE MASSACUi:. . 267 . The awful spectacle that met their gaze as they crossed the threshold, arrested them as if struck by a thunderholt. The pavement was swim- ming in Mind, and scattered over it floated torn frag- ments of ladies' and children's dresses, and long 'rim-on tiv.-st.-s silent, sickening testimonials of the butchery that liad been committed. liti-hing across this gory space, they entered the rooms beyond and gazed around like men in adivam. Tin- apartments were empty, but the blood stood an inch deep on the floor, and in it were swimming la- hats, collars, and portions of their under dresses, bark combs, and children's socks and frills, while all around were the marks of bullets; and on the wooden pillars deep :-word cuts from which hung long tresses of hair carried there by the brutal sword when it cleft the llowing crown. These were not high up, as if aimed against men fighting for their lives, but low . showing that the cruel blows were dealt on rms of crouching women and terrified children. The bodies from whom this crimson tide had tlowcd had all been removed, and only these heart- breaking relics remained. The mother, in the fullness of her prime the accomplished maiden in her v and bloom, and the babe in its budding loveli- ness, had shrieked and died there together, hacked and butchered like wild beasts! Oh! who can tell the heart agonies the piteous prayer for mercy the piercing death-shriek as bullet after bullet, and i!> jKjrformed its deadly mission? In one apartment a row of women's shoes and gaiters earcfully placed along the wall, filled with 268 . LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. bleeding feet. On the other side, arranged with the same devilish care, were a row of children's shoes, filled with children's feet. The officers looked at each other bewildered. Where were the mutilated forms of these victims of diabolical hate ? In passing out of the building they saw arms and legs sticking out of a well, and drawing nearer, found it full of dead bodies. Stripped of all their clothing, these 200 women and children had been pitched, the living on the dead, into this horrible pit, till it was filled from bottom to top. Oh, what a sight for brave men to look upon ! They had faced the cannon's mouth with a smile, and seen their comrades struck, bleeding and mangled from their sides, without a tear ; but this frightful spectacle broke their strong natures down, and they wept like children. Tears, however, soon gave way to rage ; and oaths, deep and awful, were sworn over the mangled remains of those victims of worse than savage cruelty. The Highlanders came across the body of what was sup- posed to be one of General Wheeler's daughters, and cutting the tresses from her head, reserved a part to be sent home, and divided the remainder among themselves. They then sat down and grimly counted the number of threads each one had. "When this was finished, they took a solemn oath before God that for each hair one man should die. An officer picked up a small article of female dress soaked in blood, and as he looked at it, said : " I have spared many men in fight, but I will never spare another. I shall carry this with me in my holsters, and when- ever I am inclined for mercy, the sight of it will be ITM.-IIMKNT 'K Till; SKl'oYS. 269 siithVient to incite UK- tn revenge." A few a little over 1,500 men, made preparation!} lor an immediate advance on Lucknow. 1 no sooner entered on his duties as com- mander, than he began to adniininister summary jus- tier on all the fugitive Sepoys that fell into his hands. -e who were implicated in the butchery, ho iirst made clean up a part of the pool of blood still .ding in the apartment where the massacre took place, and then hung them, and buried their bodies in ditches by the road-side. He adopted this pecu- liar mode of punishment, because the high caste natives think it' they touch blood they will lie damned to eternal perdition. The first one he caught was a Urahmin, who refused to clean up the Mood, but Xeill told the provost martial to apply the la.-h, which soon overcame his reluctance. When task was accomplished, the soldiers swung him up by the neck with as little ceremony as one would hang a dog. The very man through whom the order to ma.-sacre the women came, was discovered in a place of concealment, and after being made to cleanse up a portion of the blood, was taken up and hung on a tree, and left to dangle in the wind and sun. Me died a painful death, for the rope was SO adju- (undoubtedly on purpose, as simple hanging was too good for him), that when he dropped the noose clo-ed over his jaw. Me then got his hands loose and clutched the rope, and endeavored to free him- self, hut two men seized him by the legs and jerked him till his neck broke. About this time, Have-lock heard with grief of the death of Sir II. Lawrence, at Lucknow, and also of 272 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the straitened condition of the garrison, and he de- termined to push on to its relief. To effect this, he knew that with his slender force he would be compelled to fight his way for forty miles to the city, and then break through an army of 20,000 men, strongly intrenched and protected by heavy batteries. The attempt seemed hopeless, but with his accustomed resolution and daring he determined to make it, and immediately commenced the neces- sary preparations for crossing the Ganges. To give the movement a still more desperate character, and if possible to insure his overthrow, the rainy sea- son set in and inundated the whole country. Across the overflowed fields, now turned into swamps, the troops must toil and fight, exposed to torrents of rain, and a blistering sun by turns. They were to have no shelter from either, for in the desperate undertaking before him Havelock could not be encumbered with tents. His slender force, like the athlete stripped for the contest, must be di- veste$ of everything that would impede its move- ments. Never did a brave leader look on a more forbidding prospect, but it had no terrors for him. The 21st of July broke slowly over the army at Cawnpore, for the rain fell in one continuous torrent from the black and overhanging clouds. But the bugle sounded cheerily out, and with cased banners, three regiments marched down to the river and commenced crossing, in order to protect the trans- port of the stores and provisions. The stream was swollen, and rolled swiftly on in the gloom, but one by one the regiments landed, and without tents or HAITI. K "I OONAO. 27-> bedding, bivouacked in a swamp. For four days, tin- work of cro. ing tlic Ganges went on amid the rain, and then the column took up its line of march !'<>r Lucknow. General Neill, with only 250 men, w;i> left ti defend Cawnpore. BATTLE OF OONAO. Tlie force moved oif at half-past five in the morn- ing, and after advancing six miles, came upon the village of Oonao, which had been loopholed and turned almost into a regular fortification, while the inundated state of the country made it impossible to turn it. Three guns swept the road up which Ilave- lock advanced ; but these he^toon silenced with two field-pieces, and continued to move on. As he came r, a long line of white puffs of smoke wa- t> run along the orchard and garden wall that sur- rounded the place, followed by a sharp rattle of musketry. "With a cheer the skirmishers dashed forward, and soon drove the rebel* back into th-.> village. The troops then rushed mi the village it- self, but could not succeed in carrying it. They were all around it, in fact, inside; but every house was a separate fortress, from which the invisi- ble marksmen shot down tho-e exposed in the sfiveN below. Ilavdock, impationtat the jm. traded nice, rode in every direction. The Sepoys lix.cd him, and opened ;i continuous lire <>n his statf. The shot rattled all around him, and at length one of his aids fell. Seeing no other way of taking the place, he resolved to burn it. The 12* 274 LIFE OF GKNK1IAL HAYELOCK. artillery was ordered back, and the thatched roofs fired, while the marksmen, with cocked rifles, stood ready to pick off the first man driven out by the flames. At this critical moment the field engineer, who had gone round to the farther side to recon- noitre, came spurring back, and told Havelock that the enemy, 6,000 strong, was rapidly advancing upon the place. Leaving the Sikhs to finish the village, Havelock ordered the troops to march round to the right, and thus turn the position. The infantry formed anc] moved off in beautiful order, but the fields, being soaked with rain, were so soft that it was almost impossible to get the artillery through. Sometimes a gun, buried to the axle of the carriage, would remain irnmoifcble for five minutes, w r hile those lifting at it became the target for the match- lock men firing from their loopholes. At last, however, they all got round to the main road again, and hurried on through the groves that encircled the place. Emerging from these, a vast plain lay stretched out before them, half covered with water. Through this ran a high, dry road, on or near which were massed 6,000 men, moving steadily down with drums and trumpets playing. The sun was shining brightly, and in its morning beams the glittering swords of the dense squadrons of cavalry, and the long lines of bayonets undulating over the sub- merged fields, combined to form a picturesque scene. As Havelock's slender force emerged from the mango grove, his numerical weakness became re- vealed. But the small, thin line he presented against the imposing masses of the enemy, instead of dis- DKI KAT "K '111]: ICI.l,! 275 heartening the British troops, was received l>y them as an excellent joke, and served only to awaken mirth and laughter. Their only feeling of regret :at they had no cavalry to follow up the rascals after they hud soundly beaten them. This was the line the rebels had ventured to meet the British in the open field, having hitherto fought behind walls and defences, and the officers were surprised to see them advance so steadily. But they halted when within 1,000 yards, and commenced liring with their heavy guns. The English line continued to advance, though slowly, for the artillery was brought forward with difficulty. At length a por- .rot near enough to play with effect on the dense s of the enemy's infantry, while the Enfield began to empty rapidly the saddles of the cavalry. The lire soon became too hot for the latter, and they began to go about by threes. A few minute-; after, a sensation was visible in the in- fantry, and for a moment the line undulated ; then, as if seized by a common panic, the whole broke and tied like a llock of sheep, and never stopped till they reached another village, nine miles distant. Fifteen guns were abandoned in the ilight, which fell into the hands of the British. It was now two o'clock, and the bugle* sounded a halt, to give the weary - time to rest and cook their dinner. All around them were strewed the dead and dying along the road and in the lields their bodies, half submerged in the water; but these grim soldiers felt mpassion, and left the wretches to rot where 276 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. they lay, and ate their meal as coolly as they would have done in their tents. After resting for three hours the troops heard with joy the call of the bugle, and cheerfully took up the line of march for the village (Busherut-gunge) where the rebels had rallied. This was a walled town, surrounded by ditches filled with water. The gate was defended by a round tower, on which were mounted four cannon ; while a house near it was Ibopholed and well defended. Behind the village ran a stream, crossed by a single bridge, to a cause- way that passed through flooded fields beyond. Havelock, wishing to cut off' the enemy's retreat, ordered the 64th to move round the place and get between it and the bridge, while the 78th High- landers stormed the earthworks in front. The lat- ter, however, flushed with recent victory, flung themselves with such fury on the intrenchments that they carried them and the town before the 64th could reach the bridge to intercept the fugitives., Ey sunset the battle was over. Thus, with the ex- ception of three hours, this noble little army had marched and fought from early dawn till nightfall, under the overpowering heat of a July sun. In this last engagement, Havelock's son, who, like his father, loved to be where the shot fell thickest, had a horse shot under him. The shades of evening were now gathering over the landscape, and the wearied soldiers stood lean- ing on their arms in the narrow street of the village, when they suddenly caught sight of Havelock riding slowly along. In an instant the cry passed from lip 8ICKKE88. L'77 t<> lij> "Char the way for tl< tern face ut" Ilaveloek, and he exclaimed " J/ / /// > fellows, you have done that already I" 1 This unexpected reply and compliment electrified the troops, anil they shook the town with their fran- tic cheers ; and as his form disappeared down the street, " God save the General " rolled in earnest ac- cents after him. The troops encamped that night on the causeway :id the town. The ?- \vamps by night and the alternate rains and July sun by day, had begun to make sad work with that little army ; and although the soldiers were ! by their victories, llavelock, with his clear judgment, saw that he must stop in his triumphant march. He had advanced but little over a third of the way to Lucknow, yet a fifth of his force was hors du combat. Cholera and dysentery had al- ready made their appearance, ami were smiting down his troops faster than the bullets of the enemy. His march had but just commenced, and should the cholera not increase, and no h> atllictioM be met with than he had already overcome, ! the rate his force was dimini.-hing, he would have less than 600 men when he reached Lucknow. With such a handful, it would be impossible to force his \\ay through an intrenched city, occupied by 20,0 troops. The night that succeeded this day of victory \va> probably the saddest one llavelock ever i>a>-e.l : for turn which way he would, the insupportable con- 278 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVKLOCK. viction was forced upon liim that lie must retreat. But what would the governor-general, who had committed a great task to him what would the people of England, who had watched his progress with such intense interest and fervent prayers and what would the suffering, hoping garrison of Luck- now say, when they heard he had turned his back upon the enemy? These were painful reflections, and a commander-in-chief could not be placed in a more trying position than the one he occupied ; but his unerring judgment told him he could not ad- vance unless he abandoned his sick and wounded and even then with no prospect of ultimate success. Yet to stay where he was, amid the inundated fields, exposed to the reeking pestilential atmosphere, made still more deadly by the insufferable stench of hun- dreds of unburied corpses, festering in the July sun, would be more fatal to his troops than to advance : he therefore resolved to fall back on Mungulwar, six miles from Cawnpore. Next morning, he visited the sick and wounded, and as he passed through the camp, and saw the high courage of the well, and knew the disappoint- ment that awaited them, his heart sunk within him ; but his resolution was taken, and nothing could swerve him from it. During the forenoon some prisoners who had been taken and court-martialled, suffered the penalty that was inflicted throughout India on the mutineers. Two were hung on the limb of a tree, while two others found more guilty were sentenced to be blown from the guns. These, stripped naked, were SF.1'0 VS KI.oU.N KK'M '111! _ht out and placed in sight of the su^>ended 's. They were splendidly formed men, tall, :l'ul. :md with limbs that seemed modelled tVoin >oine anti([ue statue. Both were iu the prime of life, yet met this horrible death with the same composure they would have lain down to repose. With graceful and dignified step, and head erect, and fearless look, the first walked steadily up to the .loaded cannon, and d carelessly on the muzzle. Not a quiver of the lip, not a change in the expression of the eye, or hue of the cheek was visible, although the Sepoys that 1 on were pale as ashes. "When the soldiers had finished binding him, they stepped back, and the word Fire," broke the breathless silence. A sudden . a muliled report, "a sickening effluvia that taint- ed the atmosphere/' mangled, bleeding and burnt s of flesh scattered in every direction the head ng like a rocket into the sky, and all wa- 'ng daunted, the second met with the same un- flinching eye and scornful look the same dreadful fate.* About two o'clock in the afternoon the order to .fall back to Mungulwar passed through the army. These gallant men could not at first believe it true, that they, victors in every fight, were to turn their backs on the cowardly murderers of women and children. Tfiey were filled with consternation which gav> n murmurs of indignation. A little reflection, ;e may be shocked that Uavelock could inflict so fearful a puni-h- incnt ; but it mu-t he remembered that it is no worse than hanging, and moreover that Huvelock had to obey orders, and hence was no more -ible for the death of these murderers* than a jury which ren- ders a vcrdiet according to the law, or a judge who passe* sentence upon the culprit, or the s-heriff who sees that the sonteno 280 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. however, showed them the injustice of their conduct. They knew a braver, or more determined man than their general never led troops to battle they knew also, that his soul was set on relieving the distressed garrison at Lucknow, and nothing but the most power- ful reasons could swerve him from his purpose. They were also well aware that murmurings and complaints would be of no avail, for he was stern as he was kind, and while they loved him they feared him. Moving back over the scene of their late victory, they reached Oonao towards evening, and encamped. Early next morning they continued their march to Mungulwar, an elevated, healthy position, and began to put it in a state of defence. In the meantime Havelock dispatched his sick and wounded to Cawn- pore, and requested General Neill to send him rein- forcements. Though this brave officer had not half the men he needed, he cheerfully forwarded all but a mere handful, which brought up Havelock's forces to 1,400 men. His artillery was strengthened by two 24-pound guns under Lieutenant Smethell. Havelock inquired of this officer how his native troops had be- haved. The lieutenant replied, "very well except the Lascars, who had threatened some time before to spike the guns whenever they came into action." " I cannot ailbrd," said Havelock, " to have a single traitor in my camp ; call out the detachment." They were paraded, both British and natives, and Havelock, after slowly riding up and down the line, paused and congratulated the British troops on their good fortune in being incorporated into an army of heroic soldiers, who had six times met the enemy, and each time de- in- 281 1 him, capturing his cannon. While making th$ addiv>~. his back was turned towards the Lascars, who . facing the British troops. Tlie moment he had lie wheeled around, and gazing A moment on -hrinking culprits, sternly denounced them as id traitors false to their obligations, and to tin- irovernment that fo-tcrcd them, lie then turned to the British soldiers and ordered them to :n the traitors. Trembling, yet with moody ln>\vs and glowering they submitted to the Havi-Wk then sent them under a light escor ral Neill, to work in the intrcnchments, with - have them shot it' they attempted to r it' they refused t< work with the soli ing disposed of his .-ick and wounded, llave- lo.-k. on the 4th of August, again turned his face i/.icknow. Nothing exhibits the indomitable will and daring of the man more than this second at- tempt with hU -mall force to reach Lucknow. The tirst night he halted on his old battle-field at Oonao. The next morning, hearing that the rebels again concentrated at Busserut-gunge, he marched forward to give them battle. On approaching the place, he directed the iM- pounder- to kcrp along the road, while Colonel Ham- ilton, with the Highlanders and Sikhs, were sent to turn tin- left of the village. Soon the well-known shout of thi- Highlanders, Mending in with that of -ikhs, told that t! making one of their magnificent charges. The enemy at first r slowly and sullenly, taking their guns with them ; but the heavy >hot of the iM-poiindcrs that searched 282 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. every part of the village, soon drove them over the stream. Here they halted, and opened a withering fire on the causeway. Havelock ordered up his artillery, and under the cover of its fire, the 84th dashed across before the rebels could prepare to dis- pute the passage. The heavy guns followed, and opening with grape and canister on the cavalry sent them quickly to the right about, and soon the whole force \vas in full retreat. Havelock then brought over the remainder of his troops, and moving rapidly forward came to a rich farming country sprinkled with hamlets, each one of which was filled with match- lock men. Spreading out his force to the right and left, he swept these -one after another like a whirl- wind. The white puffs of smoke that dotted the fields and villages kept steadily receding, till this belt of cultivation was passed, and the army drew up on the borders of a large open plain on which were half a dozen fortified villages, and as many different camps. One more imposing than the rest occupied an open space with a large red and white striped tent tower- ing above it, while all around, infantry and cavalry were gathered in large numbers. Havelock ordered the 2tt-pounders to throw grape and shrapnell among them, when they quickly dispersed. The infantry had not yet come up, so no pursuit was attempted. Havelock now consulted with members of his staff as to the propriety of advancing further with his weak force. Between the sick and wounded and killed, he was reduced to less than a thousand fight- ing men. With these, even if a free road was left open to Lucknow, he could not storm three strong AGAIN 1 AI.I.s IJAi K. 283 po-.it i. MIS defended by 30,000 men, which barred .itrance to the city. Havelock never confiden- tially ad\i>rd with hut three of his staff otiicer.-. unanimously decided that an advance to the re- lief of the garrison with his present force involved the t>t:il destruction of the whole army. The next morn- ing, then -fore, IK- fell hack towards Mungulwar. Tlie village of Bussernt-gunge presented a ghastly appear- ance as the troops marched through it, for three hun- dred corpses strewed the streets, many of them mangled in the most frightful manner by round shot arm* and legs lying yards away from the bodi whieh they belonged. AY he re they lay the avenging roldiers left them, and leisurely retraced their s-trjis to their old camp, where they rested until the llth. During this time, after much deliberation it was re.- >lv-d to n cross the Gauges. It required a strong effort on the part of Havelock to come to this decision. It was impossible to tell when reinforcements would arrive so as to enable him to advance again to the relief of Lucknow the object of his almost superhuman efforts. In the meantime the garrison, hearing of his retreat, might give up in despair, or be compelled to succumb to the overwhelming force of the enemy, and another Cawnpore tragedy shock the world. Nor was this all. Encouraged by success, and his army swelled l.y ivinf.rcements, Nana Sahib might then surround his little army with 40,000 men and cut off his ' to Allahabad. "NYhiehever way he looked it :n}>eiietrable gloom. His little hand he knew would do all that could be accomplished by so small 284 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. a number; but there is a limit to human strength. Besides, cholera was mowing down his brave troops in camp faster than they fell when storming over the enemy's intrenchments, and where its ravages would end no one could tell. As he surveyed the gloomy prospect around him, he could see but little ground for hope, yet his high courage never faltered a moment, and he wore the same serene, confident look before his men that he did in the heat of battle. But we find what his feelings were in a letter written to his wife in this short inter- val of repose. After stating that he everywhere had beaten his foes, he adds, " but things are in a most perilous state. If we succeed in restoring anything it will be by God's especial mercy. ...... I must now write as one whom you may see no more, for the chances of war are heavy at this crisis. Thank God for my hope in the Saviour. "We shall meet in heaven." Like the apostle of old, he saw the perils that surrounded him, and, like him, could say, " None of these things move me, neither count I rny life dear unto me." The retreat of Havelock from Busserut-gunge was, as he had foreseen, pernicious in its effects for the rebels construed it into a confession of weakness, a final abandonment of Lucknow to its fate ; and taking courage, began to assemble in great numbers. They reoccupied Busserut-gunge, and moved down to Oonao, only a few miles from Havelock's cam]), so as to be ready to fall on his troops the moment they became engaged in the delicate operation of pass- ing the river. Roused by tin's insult, he determined TURNS AGAIN OX HIS FOES. 285 t<> give them another chastisement on the old battle- ground. The troops, however, were not aware of this resolution of their general, and as every- thing but their bedding, even their spare ammuni- tion, hud been sent do-wn to the banks of the river in the morning, they expected shortly to cross over, lint at three o'clock, to their utter ama/.emeiit, they he:ird the bugles sounding the "turn out," and learned that they were once more to seek the enemy at Busserut-gmige. Encumbered with no . with nothing but their clothes on their backs, they cheerfully took up the line of march towards the scene of their former brilliant exploits. Arriving at Oonao, the advanced guard drove out the detachments, and the army bivouacked under tin- trees that surround the village. Uouscd by the trumpet at early dawn, they moved rapidly oil' towards Busserut-gunge. The enemy did not venture again to defend this village, but had in- trenched a place called Boorlcakcchowki, some miles nearer Oonao. They were about 4,000 strong, with 500 cavalry, while Ilavelock's entire force numbered scarcely 800 men. Their right rested on the village itself, and in front of it the left on a mound, which had been converted into a battery. A breastwork and ditch, 400 yards long, con- nected these, on which was massed the infantry. A large swamp lay right in front of this position on which wen- placed MX field-guns. It was impossible to turn it, and Ilavelock saw that, he mu>t lead his little band boldly up in front. This he would not have minded if the ground had permitted him to 2SO LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. move his heavy guns up rapidly, for their over- whelming fire would soon have silenced the enemy's batteries, and the English bayonet could do the rest. But he knew it would be slow work, carrying his artillery over the swamp, while the troops, in the meantime, would be exposed to an overwhelming fire. The only good ground was on the right, against which the 78th fusileers and four guns were sent. The 84th moved off to the left, while Ilavelock, with the remaining force, boldly took the swamp, and pressed straight on the enemy's centre. The moment he came within range, their batteries opened with shot and shell. The air was filled with the hissing shot and exploding shells, while to the right and left the grape came in a perfect shower. Probably there never was a more fearful fire con- centrated in so small a space ; and but for a fortu- nate blunder of the enemy, it is doubtful whether Ilavelock would have brought half of his army out of the battle. The enemy had miscalculated their distance, and most of the iron tempest swept harm- lessly over the heads of the British troops. Under this canopy of death, Ilavelock kept toiling on, until at length he got his guns in position, when their fire shook terribly the whole rebel line. Battery after battery was abandoned, until only the chief redoubt, manned with three guns, remained unsi- lenced. On this the 78th Highlanders advanced without firing a shot. With firm and rapid step, they silently breasted the fiery sleet, until near enough to charge ; then sending over the din of battle that stern, terrific cheer which always her- PUB i-AWM'. .J;K. aided their tinul onset, they .-wept with resi.-tle.-s fury over the redoubt. The gunners at first de- fended their pieces bravely, and kept tiring till those grim Highlanders began to ascend the slope, when they could r-tand it no longer, and turned and tied. Cln-ers to the front, ami cheers to the right and left, were now heard ; and the eighth battle since the 12th of July was won. The cavalry could 11- it follow through the swamps, and the infantry t<.o fatigued to pursue, and so the bugles sounded a halt. ..uge to say. Ilavelock's loss in this engagement was only thirty -live. Hurying his dead, and placing unded on litters, lie marched out of the village, in which :.''.) of the enemy lay dead or dying, and ly retraced his steps to Oonao. The soldiers halted here to cook some food, and then in the cool of the evening moved on to their old ramp. The next morning the pa>-age of the river was effected without molestation, and Havelock found himself once mon- in Cawnpoiv. with no hope, at least for a mouth, it' ever, of being able to advance to the reliet of Lucknow. In the meanwhile, Nana Sahib having been heavily reed by mutineers from various quarters, had reoccupied Bithonr and the adjacent valleys, in order to tMabli.-h his power in that locality, liave- lock saw that this nest of hornets must be broken up, although his troops were worn out, while '.'>;}?> were on the list of sick and wounded. In a dispatch stat- ing these facts, and dated only two days after he had ivrro-i-ed the ( ianges, to ('awnpoiv, he 288 LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. but " 1 do not despond. I must marcli to-morrow against Bitlioor, but it seems advisable to look the evil in the face, for there is no chance but between reinforcements and gradual absorption by disease. I don't halt while the enemy keeps the field." That same day Neill, with a mere handful of men, fell on the left wing of Nana, and drove it in confusion back to Bitlioor. The next day, Havelock put him- self at the head of his band of inviiicibles, and inarched eleven miles to attack the main force, con- sisting of 4,000 men. At noon of a hot August day he came in sight of the enemy's cavalry hovering in front, into which a couple of round shot, at a long distance, were pitched, to make them unmask their position. After reconnoitering, Havelock dis- covered that their centre rested on a bridge which crossed a stream running in front of Bithoor, his right and left on two hamlets, while his flanks were well protected by fields of sugar-cane, which effectu- ally covered them. Bitlioor, occupying a rising ground, with its brick houses and grove of trees, lay farther in the rear, and was also filled with troops. Havelock saw that his favorite measure of turning the enemy could not be adopted here on account of the stream, and he, therefore, moved straight upon their several positions. The artillery opened within 1,000 yards, but soon limbered up and advanced to within 700. After a few rounds it again limbered up, and reopened at canister range. Suddenly the rebel infantry, who had not fired a shot, waiting till the British came within close range, poured in a destructive volley. The guns, drawn by bullocks, CAPTURE OF BITHOOR. 289 kept advancing: but the Highlanders could not >tand thrir -!"W movements, and with a cheer made a ru>h at the battery. The rebels stood to their iobly, and never flinched till the bayonets of tin- Highlanders were at their breasts. It was the !me th"se .-t.-rn men had been able to get at the ;h the 1 ia \i. net. and they now used it without iiu-ivy upon them. The British were successful at 1 >< lint, and drove the enemy back into the village. The troops were now thoroughly exhausted, and Ing tlio large inclosure surrounding the resi- inerly occupied by the British agent near . ilmiir themselves on the ground to snatch a l>ut in a few moments the bugles sounded the advance, and they staggered up to drive the rebels from the village itself. This was severe work the streets were narrow, some of them winding, while almost every house had to be carried separately. ()m- Highlander and a Madras fusilecr, reduced to a rille between them, entered,a building where, there were seven Sepoys, and killed the whole of them. of the mutineers, enraged at their defeat, their muskets and withdrew, weeping. No pur-nit was attempted, for the troops were t<> hausted many of them lying utterly prostrate along the n>ad and in the streets. The enemy fled to Soornjpore, whither Havelock wished to follow him, luit without cavalry he saw it would be use- less. Only 50 of the British had fallen, while the enemy had lost between 300 and 400, many of whom had been struck down by the bayonets of the High- landers. After the battle was over, Havelock rode 13 290 LITE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. along the line, and although the troops were scarcely able to stand, they sent up cheer after cheer with the same enthusiasm they did when flushed with their first victory. " Don't cheer me, my lads," he replied, " you did it all yourselves" This march of eleven miles, followed by a severe battle, under the burning sun of an August noonday, proved too much for the already overtasked troops, and that afternoon cholera and dysentery broke out with alarming violence among them. The next day, Havelock marched back to Cawnpore. It was now plain to the most casual observer that the fighting power of that army was exhausted, and nothing more could be expected of it until it had rest. When one considers the prostrating effect of an Indian sun upon European troops, it seems incredible that this army, without tents, and often fasting, could have made the long marches and fought all the severe battles it had, between the 12th of July and 17th of August. These extraordinary efforts however had not been made without a fearful sacrifice they had cost Havelock more than half of his army. Less than 800 men now answered to the roll call ; while on every side the enemy were gathering by tens of thousands. Havelock, in his dispatches to the commander-in-chief, declared that he was ready to fight anything, yet he was convinced that one lost battle would be most disastrous to the British cause. Without reinforce- ments, he said, it was impossible to advance ; in fact, he thought the emergency might arise that would compel him to fall back on Allahabad. VICTORIA CROSS. 291 Two days after the affair at Bithoor, Havelock issued a dispatch calling the attention of government to tin so, who by their personal heroism had rendered themselves worthy of the Victoria cross. In it he mentioned his own son in the following language: " I also recommend for the same decoration, Lieuten- ant Havelock, 10th foot. In the combat at Cawnpore, In- was my aid-de-camp. The 64th regiment had been much under artillery fire, from which it had severely siillered. The whole of the infantry were lying down in line, when perceiving that the enemy had brought out the last reserved gun (a 24-pounder), and were rallying around it, I called up the regiment to rise ane. In went the corps led by the lieutenant, u ho. -till steered steadily on the gun's muz- zle, until it was mastered by a rush of the 64th." Tlii- decoration was an object of great ambition among the younger officers, and often stimulated them to deeds of desperate daring the selection therefore of his son by Havelock, as one worthy to receive it. naturally caused dissnti-t'aetiori among some. It was can fully suppressed, however, till long after JIa\e- lock's death. The officers of the 64th regiment pre- tended that the dispatch reflected on them, and 292 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. i fc finally made their grievances known to the Com- mander-in-chief, Sir Colin Campbell. They com- plained that young Havelock, who was entirely dis- connected with the corps, had taken advantage of his position as member of the staff, to usurp the place of their proper officer, and in so doing had robbed the regiment of its well-earned honors. Besides, they said it reflected on the courage and ability of Major Stirling, as if he were not doing his duty, or that his regiment refused to follow him. He was on foot, they said, because his horse had been wounded by a shell bursting near him. In reply to a statement embody- ing these views, Sir Colin Campbell sent a letter to the adjutant-general, which was laid before the Duke of Cambridge, in which he requested that some step should be taken to relieve Major Stirling from the implied censure contained in Havelock's dispatch. He took occasion also to reflect very severely both on young Havelock and his father. He says, " This in- stance is one of many in which, since the institution of the Yictoria cross, advantage has been taken by young aids-de-camp, and other staff officers, to place themselves in prominent situations for the purpose of attracting attention. To them life is of little value as compared with the gain of public honor, but they do not reflect, and the generals to whom they belong do not reflect, on the cruel injustice thus done to gallant officers who, besides the excitement of the moment of action, have all the responsibility attendant on this situation." Farther on, referring to Havelock's dis- patch, he says : " By such dispatches as the one above alluded to, it is made to appear to the world, that a CAMPBELL'S CENSURE OF HAVELOCK. 293 regiment would have proved wanting in courage ex- cept for an accidental circumstance, such a reflection is most galling to British soldiers, indeed is almost intolerul'lr. and the fact is remembered against it by all the other corps in her majesty's service. Soldiers feel such things most keenly, I would therefore again beg leave to dwell on the injustice sometimes done by general officers, when they give a public preference to those attached to them, over old officers who are charged with the most difficult and responsible duties." This certainly is severe language in a com- mander-in-chief, when applied to any major-general, but doubly so when used towards one who has just closed a long and brilliant career in death. "\Vith re- gard to the censure passed on young Havelock, we have nothing to say, for if he never has any more 13 charge brought against him, than that in a critical moment he placed himself in front of a regi- ment and walked his horse straight up to the muzzle of a 24-pounder, he will need no defenders. The more complaints of that kind the better. The narrow- minn and sufferings, and the spirit in which they were borne by women as well as men, combine t<> make its story one of the most remarkable in the annals of heroism. Out of the 145 officers in the garrison, eighty-three were either killed or wounded, or more than one-half, while many of them were wounded several times. Of the 470 women and 13* 298 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. children 54: children died from disease caused by ex- posure, and the fetid, pestilential atmosphere they were compelled to breathe. Lawrence originally held the entire city ; and on the 29th of June, hearing that the rebel army under Nana was advancing on Lucknow, he resolved to march forth and give him battle. Misled by wayfarers, who re- ported no troops between Lucknow and Chinhut, the force kept on unsuspectingly for several miles, when as if springing out of the ground, there stood before it an overwhelming array of infantry and cavalry, which till that moment had been completely concealed behind a belt of trees. Though taken by surprise, Lawrence immediately directed an 8-inch howitzer to open on the rebel ranks, and check their advance until he could bring forward six guns which were in the rear. But the order for this latter movement was not obeyed, for both drivers and artillerymen were natives of Oude and traitors, and refused to stir. When this appalling news was told to the commander, he galloped up, and seeing his orders received in sullen silence, drew his sword upon them. It was to no purpose ; the drivers overturned the guns in the ditch, and cutting the traces galloped oif to the enemy. He saw at once that the day was lost, and ordered the bugles to sound a retreat. But with the first backward movement the rebels rushed for- ward yelling and shouting, while the cavalry swept down and completely enveloped his small force. Lawrence strove nobly to bear up against this over- whelming tide, but outflanked and deprived of his artillery, he was steadily crowded back into the DEFEAT OF LAWRENCE. 299 streets of Lncknow, where he became completely enveloped in firo from the surrounding houses. The little band, though it struggled bravely against such hopeless odds, was dreadfully cut up. The retreat at length became a flight, which was not arrested until the survivors, staggering from exhaustion and the intense heat of the day, got under cover of their guns. It was the intention of the commander to include a larger space in his defence than the garrison finally occupied, but the heavy losses of this disastrous day so reduced his force that he abandoned it. The fort Muchee Bhawun, some three-quarters of a mile from the Residency, was garrisoned, and he had determined to hold jt, but the enemy following u ji his success, so completely besieged him that his communication with it, if not already cut off, he knew soon would be. He therefore determined to blow it up, and next day dispatched messengers to the commander with orders to that effect. As it was very doubtful, however, whether they would be able to get through, he directed the order to be sig- nalled by the rude telegraph which had been pre- vioii.-ly established on the top of the Residency, to convey information to the fort. But the moment the men appeared on the flat roof, there was such a shower of rifle balls rained upon it that it was found almost impossible to work the telegraph. The ropes rut, the pulleys went wrong, and it was three hours before they were able to convey to the engineer anxiously watching at the fort, the simple dispatch to evacuate the place at midnight, and blow up the 300 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. magazine. As the hour appointed for the retreat to commence, approached, the -troops at the Residency stood to arms, and waited with intense anxiety the arrival of their comrades. It was feared they might be intercepted and compelled to fight their way in through overwhelming numbers. In order to dis- tract the attention of the enemy, just before twelve o'clock the mortars and guns from the different bat- teries were directed to open a rapid and sustained fire. The enemy were completely misled by it ; and amid the deafening explosions of artillery the garri- son of the fort silently and swiftly passed over the intervening space, and approached the lower water gate, as it was called, by which they were to enter. Through some inexcusable blunder the gates were shut, and as the head of the column approached the officers shouted out " open the gates." The artillery- men having charge of the guns above catching the words indistinctly, construed them into the order " open with grape, and sprung to their pieces. In another moment the column would have been torn into fragments, but the mistake was fortunately dis- covered in time, and the gates were thrown open, and the troops marched safely in without the loss of a man. In the meantime, the train to the magazine containing 240 barrels of powder and 6,000,000 of cartridges was lighted. The troops were still stand- ing to their arms when the midnight heavens were illumined by a sudden flash, and the next moment the very earth shook under the tremendous explosion Muchee Bhawun was in ruins. The siege now pro- perly commenced. It is difficult to give an accurate THE RESIDENCY. 301 description of what was called the Residency occu- pied by the garrison. The space inclosed by defences was very irregular in its shape. The main Hue front- ing tin- city was run so as to connect adjacent houses which themselves could be turned into so many sepa- rate forts. A church, post-office, houses for the prin- cipal commissioners and officers, and a group of brick buildings scattered here and there made the place which was inclosed, a little village by itself. In the centre of the northern half stood the Residency pro- per, whore- all the official business of the commis- sioner was transacted. This was a very large and beautiful brick building, capable of holding several hundred people. Standing on an eminence, its roof commanded a splendid panorama, embracing the entire city with its gardens and groves, and the sur- rounding country. At the commencement of the siege, only a portion of the external line of defences was completed, but the soldiers were immediately set to work, and soon surrounded themselves with works which they felt able to hold. The next day after the blowing up of the fort, the garrison was deprived of the services of their brave commander. The morning previous a shell had entered the apartment where he was sitting, con- versing with his private secretary, and burst without injuring either. His staff begged him to change, his quarters to some less exposed situation, but he laugh- ingly replied, that the room was so small another shell would probably never pitch into it. A iVw hours later, as he was reclining on his couch, in the same apartment, listening to some papers that an 302 LIFE OP GENERAL HAVELOCK. officer was reading to him, a shell entered the win- dow, and bursting on the "bed, nearly tore his right leg from his body. He was immediately removed to a house less under fire, where one of the chaplains prayed with him and administered the sacrament. The noble soldier knew that he could not survive, and although his agony was intense, he conversed calmly for an hour. He sent messages to his children, and brothers and sisters spoke tenderly of his wife, long since dead, whom he hoped to meet in a better world called his nephew, George Lawrence, to him, blessed him affectionately, and told him he had always loved him as a son. He then addressed his staff and the other officers, who, astounded at this sudden and great calamity, had crowded round, and bade them all an affectionate farewell. It was a touching scene, the silent room, the group of weeping officers, the calm, steady tones of the dying soldier while all around shot and shell were crashing, and the very building shaking under the incessant explosions of artillery. After the room was vacated, the general became almost delirious with pain, and all the after- noon his screams and cries were most distressing to hear. He continued in this way until the 4th, some- times unconscious from chloroform, sometimes re- peating in a clear, strong voice, after the chaplain, psalms and prayers, as they were read to him, and then again rending his apartment with his cries of agony. The groans and shrieks of the dying veteran heard in the intervals of the booming of cannon, struck painfully on the ear, and sounded like a sad omen to that little garrison beleaguered by 10,000 foes DEATH OF LAWRENCE. 303 thirsting t'r tlicir blood. He died on the morning >t' the 4th, calmly and peacefully as became a Christ- ian soldier. A noble man, a true soldier, a great commander, and a sincere Christian, he rested with the good, leaving a name that will never be spoken but with love and reverence. Halt' an hour before he died, his nephew, George, while walking in the veranda, overcome with grief, received a bullet in his shoulder. He was carried into the same room with him, and it was a mourn- ful spectacle to se^ the young officer, pale with pain, hed near the corpse of his uncle. "No military honors marked the funeral rites of iiief commissioner of Oude. There was neither time nor opportunity for the pomp of grief. A hurried prayer, offered up amidst the booming of cannon and volleys of hostile musketry, performed Idier's iv.|iiiem, as a few spadefuls of earth fell on the mortal remains of one whose name is !>ed among the most worthy of the sons of Eng- land." >re his death, he appointed Major Banks his -sor as chief commissioner, and Colonel Inglis commander of the troops. ( Mi the same day that the general received his mor- tal wound. Miss Palmer, daughter of Colonel Palmer, a beautiful young lady of seventeen, frer-h from Knglund, had her thigh so shattered by a round shot, that it had to l>e amputated. In a fe\v days sin iid in her grave, amid the roar of hostile cannon. For several days the utmost confusion and disorder prevailed in the garrison, for the unexpected defeat *.' 304 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. of the general had precipitated everything, and in shutting out the enemy they had shut out a great many of their servants. Terror and treason drove nearly the whole of the remainder into the city, so that many of the officers had not a single servant. The head of the commissariat was wounded, and his office broken up, while the road that led to the first stores to be opened, was swept by such a deadly fire, that the camp-followers preferred to go without food rather than expose themselves to it, and no rations were distributed for several days. All the available force was needed in the defences, so that the bullocks kept for drawing the guns, and the herds of cattle with which the garrison were to be supplied with meat, remained uncared for, and roamed over the place in search of something to eat, straying fre- quently under the fire of the enemy, where they were shot down in great numbers. These rapidly decomposing under the burning sun, filled the whole place with an insufferable stench. The horses of the officers careered around, and mad with thirst, fought furiously, and fell on every side beneath the raining balls. The women and children, huddled together in the various buildings, gazed with pallid countenances on each other as the heavy shot and shell crashed and burst over their heads, or shrieked with affright as some little child was suddenly torn into fragments by a cannon ball falling into their midst. The sudden change from calm repose and quietness into this wild hurricane of shot and shell, and scene of slaughter, seemed like a dream. Ten thousand rifles and muskets sent their storm of bullets into the THE 8UFFEKING OF THE BESEIGED. 305 devoted place, while gun answering gun, day and night, made the very earth tremble beneath their Amid tin- explosions came the fierce roll of drums and bugle blasts, and yells, and shouts of those clamorous for blood. Every house became a target, and the women and children were safe nowhere above ground. The wife of one of the chaplains writes : \Ve all* sleep on the floor of the Tye Khana, wlu- re we spread mattresses, and tit into each other like bits in a puzzle, so as best to feel the puiikah. The irt'ii tlei nen sleep up-stairs, in a long veranda .-it of a room, on the side of the house least ex- posed to the tire. My bed consists of a purdah and it pillow. In the morning we roll up all our bed- and pile them in heaps against the walls. We have only room for very few chairs down there, which are assigned to invalids ; and most of us take our meals seated on the floor with our plates on our knees. We are always obliged to light a candle for breakfast and dinner, as the room is per- leetlv .lark." The officers and men could not collect the cattle and horses till after dark, on account of the lire ; while night after night they would work till one o'clock in the morning, digging pits with their own hands, in which to hide the putrid carcasses. Round shot would plough up the ground around the grave over which the chaplain was reading the funeral service ; and every day some of the brave defenders, * Eighteen women and children occupied one house. 306 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. as well as children and women, were borne to their last resting-place amid the thunder of cannon. On others, amid all these horrors, came the pangs of child-birth ; and the unconscious babe was ushered into the world by the bursting of shells and the roar of guns. At length, the rainy season set in, and while Have- lock's gallant little band were toiling over the inun- dated fields, on their way from Allahabad to their first battle-field at Futtehpore, the garrison, drenched to their skins, stood to their guns, or lay down, many of them, on the soaked ground. No repose was allowed them for day and night, in storm and sunshine, the enemy kept up an incessant fire or constant alarms. The morning of the 9th dawned slowly, for the heavens were black with the surcharged clouds, and the rain came down in torrents. There was a short lull in the fire of the enemy, and naught was heard save the peals of thunder, as they rolled heavily over the plain ; when suddenly loud shouts rent the air, followed by the shrill blasts of bugles sounding the advance. The next moment two columns of attack were seen moving swiftly on the Baillie's guard gate and the Cawnpore battery ; but as they came near, they met such a withering fire of grape and musketry that they wheeled and fled. One day was now very like ano'ther. The wet weather had added cholera, dysentery, and fever to the catalogue of evils, and everything seemed com- bining to hasten forward the doom that hung over the garrison. The stench from the unburied ani- mals at length became almost intolerable, bringing WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 307 in swarms of Hies that covered the persons of both sick an the siege progressed, the rations were gradually reduced, until each received only a quarter of his usual supply. The enemy had loopholed houses within pistol shot of the llritish works and the mo- ment a man uncovered himself he became the target of a do/en rifles. These the garrison, by brilliant sorties and mines, gradually cleared away. On the L'oth the enemy made a determined effort to get inside the works. From midnight until eight in the morning they kept unusually quiet, when it was reported that a large body of men were march- ing within a few hundred yards of tin- defences. The garrison stood to arms, and at a little after ten a 308 LIFE OF GENEEAL HAVELOCK. mine exploded inside the water gate, and almost up to the river defences. The design was evidently to blow up the Redan battery. The explosion was ter- rific, and as soon as the dust and smoke cleared away, a tremendous cannonade from every gun of the enemy, twenty-five in number, opened, followed by a fierce fire of musketry that swept the Residency like driving hail. Under this fire the troops advanced to the assault of the Redan battery and Innes post. The dark ranks, though riddled with shot, pre- served their formation, and kept steadily on over the dead and dying till within ten paces of the batteries, when the fire became so horrible that after balancing a moment in the vain attempt to bear up against it, they surged, like broken billows, back. This, how- ever, did not end the fight, for a heavy firing was kept up till four o'clock in the afternoon. It was reported that the enemy lost this day nearly a thou- sand men. The next day at noon while Major Banks was stand- ing on the top of an outhouse surveying the enemy's position with his glass, a musket-ball struck him in the head, and he expired without a word or a groan. The native troops attached to the garrison behaved well, but their conduct was closely watched, for had they in any of these encounters joined the insurgents, the works would have been swept and all within butchered. On the 23d a native pensioner who had left the garrison nearly a month before, came in, stat- ing that he had been detained a prisoner thirteen days. He had been, however, to Cawnpore, where he found Havelock's force which had defeated EXCITEMENT OF THE GAKRtSON. 309 il> in three hattles, and said it was about to start for the relief of Luckuow. The tidings spread like wild-lire through t lie Residency, and joyful congratu- lations were heard on every side. The enemy now commenced mining systematically, and the overworked garrison were compelled to countermine. Listening galleries were sunk, and wherever the sound of digging could be heard a mine was pushed in that direction. On the 28th they blew up a mine that the besiegers had run to the Sikh square. The same explosion that destroyed it threw down all the adjacent houses. The next afternoon the garrison was thrown into a the greatest excitement by the sound of distant and heavy firing in the direction of Cawnpore, and all tin >ught that their deliverers were at hand. Every ear was bent to listen, and each dull, far-olf explosion, as it broke like distant thunder over the city sent a thrill of joy through bosoms from which hope had almost fled. Mothers strained their children to their bosoms and wept, some of the soldiers cheered, and at last those on the look-out from the house-tops deelared they could see European troops, and "they are coming! they are coming!" ran from lip to lip. But \vitli the approach of evening all these bright hopes vanished, and depression and gloom suc- lL At this time the stench from the graveyard, caused by the shallowness of the graves, became so insuffer- able that it was pronounced dangerous to have ser- e read there, and so it was performed in the hospital porch. One chaplain, Mr. Folehampton, 310 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. had been shot, and soon after, while in the hospital, died of cholera, so that the duty of burying the dead devolved on Mr. Harris, the only remaining chaplain. During this month of July, the cannonading was almost incessant, and scarcely a day passed without alarms. The little garrison kept steadily diminish- ing, the provisions grew scarcer, and men began to fix the limit when resistance must cease. At length the overwhelming tidings came that Have- lock had retired to Cawnpore, and could make no fur- ther effort for their deliverance until he received rein- forcements w r hen those would arrive neither he nor they could tell. The news fell like a death-knell on that suifering, waiting garrison. The balls of the enemy and sickness together were fast decimating them a new disease in the shape of boils and slow fever had attacked them provisions were running low, the ene- my's number augmenting, and now, to crown all, the door of hope that had just been opened, was sudden- ly, and perhaps forever closed. Brave men looked meaningly on each other, for Cawnpore came back to their memories. It was a pitiful sight, to see this skeleton of an army, standing bravely there amid the "roofless, ruined houses, crumbled walls, exploded mines, open breaches, and disabled guns," beating back, night and day, the overwhelming numbers that crowded to the attack, .with no prospect of relief to cheer them. Knowing their weakness, the enemy raised false alarms in the intervals of real attacks, to keep them standing to their arms, and thus wear them out. If the weary soldier taking advantage of a lull DEPASTURE OF HOPE. 311 in the storm, laid down to snatch a moment's repose, fifes and bugles, and shouts, and the roar of cannon, won Id call him quickly to his post again. Such ex- re and fatigue toll heavily on the troops, and they grew weak and wan, while their numbers be- came so diminished that they could not work all the ries at once, and were compelled to run from one to the other in succession, to repel the enemy. This, however, they cheerfully endured, so long as they knew relief was approaching ; but now, to be thrown back on themselves, was enough to break down the stoutest heart. The weary eye need look no more towards Cawnporc to catch the fluttering of British banners, the listening ear turn no more thither to hear the welcome roar of their guns. In this night ot 1 despair each heart turned to God alone for help, and fervent were the prayers offered up at the divine .-, held soon after the heart-sickening news of llavelock's retreat was received. On the 10th, a mine was sprung opposite Johannes' house, which blew down the defences for sixty feet, giving room for a regiment to pass in perfect order. As soon as the breeze wafted the smoke aside, the enemy, under the cover of a tremendous tire, came down in dense, massive columns, and occupied all the houses in the vicinity of Cawnpore battery. But every effort to get inside of the works was steadily repulsed, and after a long and severe struggle, only thirty succeeded in effect ing a lodgment in the ditch of the battery close to the guns. " A hand grenade was rolled right over into the centre of them, when they bolted and ran back." Simultaneous 312 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. attacks were made on other posts, but they were all repulsed. The next day a portion of the left wing of the Resi- dency, which had become completely riddled with round-shot, fell with a crash, burying six men who were sleeping in it, only two of whom were got out alive. On the 13th, the garrison blew up another exten- sive mine of the besiegers with great success. The latter had started from the inside of a brick house, and never suspecting that their operations were known, kept hard at work up to the very moment the countermine was fired. The earth heaved and lifted to the explosion, and then down sunk the brick build- ing, burying all beneath it. The silence that followed was broken only by the groans and cries of those who lay crushed under the shivered fragments. The enemy were now mining in every direction, and though the garrison made untiring efforts to countermine, they had but few men to spare, while even those were constantly called away to defend the batteries from sudden assault, and hence could work only at intervals. On the 18th, the enemy exploded a mine under one of the buildings in the outer square, occupied by the Sikhs. Three officers and three sentries stood on the top at the time, and were blown into the air, but escaped without injury ; the guard below however were all buried in the ruins. "When the smoke blew away, a clear breach, thirty feet wide, was discovered. A rebel officer sprang to the top, and shouted to his men to follow, but the order had scarcely left his lips when he fell dead. A second leaped to his AN OFFK'F.It's IUAKY. 313 . hut sharing the same fate, the storming party held back. Immediately on the explosion, the drum heat to arms mm were sent to reinforce those who defended the hreach, while boxes, doors, planks, :-y thin^ that could he found, was hurried d<>\vn and piled up to protect the men. Thus wore away the hot, long month of August. Between mining and countermining, and repairing removing guns, erecting barricades, and burying the dead, the garrison had-night work alone for '500 men ; but with their " weakened and dimin- i>hed force they could seldom furnish rndre than three fatigue partie.- of eight or ten men at each relief." The detailed history of the month of September would be a repetition of that of July and August dili'cring only in increased sufferings and accumu- lah-d MOCS. The following is a fair specimen of the diary kept by an officer during the month : u Septemlei' Is?. At 12 o'clock, midnight, the gar- rison was aroused by a heavy cannonade from all sides, and much bugling and shouting Now that the .stagnant water was fast drying up, the mia.-mafic .-!.'tirlu> in \arious parts of the garri.-on . of a morning, almost insupportable/' . . . . ">j)t. ~th. The enemy were unusually quiet with their cannon this morning, contenting them - with mining, while we a- bu>ily endca\ ored to countermine also unusual commotion among them, large numbers crossing and recrossing the bridge of boats; and about 11 A.M., a regiment with colors, and band playing, and about 1,000 match-lock ;>a-.M'd from right to left of our posit ion." .... 14 314: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. " /Sept. Sth. A tolerable cannonade kept up all night The shot fired in by the enemy were yesterday collected, and 280 round-shot, varying from a 24 to a 3-pounder, were gathered from the roof of the brigade mess alone." " Sept. 9th. During the night a shell exploded in a room occupied by a lady and some children, and though almost every article in the room was destroyed, yet all providentially escaped. " Finding this morning that the enemy were rap- idly mining towards the Cawnpore battery, it was deemed advisable that our mine, containing 200 Ibs. of powder, should be exploded, and accordingly, at 10 A.M., it was sprung. The effect was tremendous, and it evidently astonished the enemy, whose miners must have been destroyed. They immediately beat to arms, and opened on us from most of their bat- teries on that side of our position." " Sept. Wth. The rain cleared away towards morn- ing, and all was moderately quiet till 6 A.M., from which hour till 10 A.M., an unusually heavy can- nonade was kept up and replied to by our guns and mortars." .... " Sept. lltfA. .... Much disturbance was heard among the enemy, and the noise of elephants was distinctly heard, as if they were moving some of their guns into other positions. About sunrise two sides of Innes' house, which had been cannon- aded daily with 18-pound shot, fell in .... the post, however, was still nobly held." .... " Sept.- 12th. A tremendous row and noise in the city all night." .... A LADY'S DIAUV. 315 *8epL 1 "///. A smart cannonade at daylight." . . In this manner wort' nearly four months passed. monotonous cannonade was varied only by tho nines brilliant sorties, and tho steady repulse of the a>saulting columns. The following extrai-N taken from a lady's diary during the same month will give some conception of the daily life of the women and children: "SUNDAY, Sept. 13th. Poor little Ina Boileau .di.'d last night; she was very ill all yesterday; AVC knew.>lio could not live. Her poor mother, who had been watching her all night, had fallen a>leep quite oxhauste""r C;i].t. Fulton had just been brought in . killed by a round-shot at Mr. (lubbins's bas- tion. Hi- head was eoni])letely ma>hed. and nothing but tlie mask of the face left. . . . He has a wife and >i\ children at Simla, poor things!" .... "8<>]>t. 14///. ('apt. Fullorton died last night. lie walked out of the hospital window, in the upper ; whether in sleep or delirium is not known. II.' wa- taken up insensible, and never >pko again. A round-shot came through the hospital while .lames wa> there tliis evening, and |>a>sed from one end to the other, two feet above the nienV beds, alarming the poor invalids most terribly." .... 316 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. " Sept. Vlth. The eiglitietli day of our siege. "We were all sitting out in the verandah this even- ing, when an 8-inch shell fell and exploded in a lane not- twenty yards off. No one was touched, but we all flew into the house like frightened sheep." .... "Sept. 19th. James was sent for last night, to see a poor woman, ' the wife of a writer, who was shot through her lungs, as she was sitting at work in her room with her children round her." And again: "Two 18-pounders came through the room Em. B. and I used to sleep in, and where we have always gone to perform our alarmed and hurried toilet ; it was impossible to wash and dress down in the Tye Khana, and so we have hitherto braved the danger." And again : " We take it in turns to watch during the night, for an hour each ; mine is the second watch from 10 to 11 ; Mrs. Boileau takes from 9 to 10, and wakes me just as I am in my first slumber. I don't exactly know what is gained by these night-watchings, except that we are all very nervous, and are expecting some dreadful catastrophe to happen, so that the rest go to sleep more easily if one of the party is known to be awake." These extracts, taken at random, are given to show how the weary months passed with that garrison ; but they convey no idea of the fatigue, privation, suffer- ing from heat, vermin and confinement, the perpetual alarms, and the heart-sickness of hope deferred. There is a limit to human endurance, and as the month of September wore on, it was evident that this long, fearful drama was drawing to a close. INCRKASING DANGER. 31 T | -ions were getting low, and little luxuries for the sick brought fabulous prices: a chicken $8, brandy sT per bottle, a ham $37, and other articles bought at r-imihir rates. But few cattle were left to be butchered; while the little meal that could be obtained was filled with Hies bloated from putridity. Nearly half uf the garrison was dead or disabled, and only .".no were left to keep at bay 50,000. An insufferable stench filled all the atmosphere, and between the suffocating heat by day, and dews by night, the half famished troops drooped and lost their strength. Bowed forms and wan visages met the eye at every turn, and that strange look which the human countenance assumes in gaxing long and steadfastly on a .-low approaching, terrible doom was fast impart- ing one expression to the little garrison. For the thousandth time the fainting spirit had sighed,"have our friends abandoned us to our fate if" and then the memory of Cawnpore would creep like a death- chill through the ijnivering frame, and heart-breaking rs and exclamations escape from despairing hearts. The enemy at length obtained a new supply of guns, with which they erected batteries in all the Ik-Ids and buildings commanding the dilfereiit positions within the Uoidency, and roiind->hot soon came crashing through apartments hitherto secure, bring- ing down walls and knocking furniture and bedding into pieees. Nearly the whole line of defences was now surrounded by batteries, while the bullets from tens of thousands of rifles and mu.-kets searched 318 LIFE OF GENEEAL HAVELOCK. every part of the inclosure. Nor was this over- whelming, enveloping fire the only cause of serious alarm the whole place was being mined, and it be- came impossible for the garrison to ascertain in what direction the enemy were running all their shafts, and even if they did their diminished force could no longer countermine to arrest them. They felt that they were fighting over a slumber- ing volcano, which might open at any moment be- neath their feet and bury their weak defences in ruins then nothing would be left but to sell their lives dearly as possible. The infernal fire to which they had been exposed month after month, and the discordant yells with which those demons had made night hideous, were far easier to be borne than the consciousness that they were walking over mysterious chambers of death, ready to open and receive them. Husbands looked on their wives, and fathers on their daughters with strange meaning in their eyes ; and desperate resolutions were formed in view of the final catastrophe. But the heroism of this little band was destined to meet a worthier fate. At length, on the 23d, a letter was received from General Outram, stating that the' relieving army had crossed the Ganges, and in a few days would be in Lucknow. The glad news ran from mouth to mouth, and from house to house but still they had been told this be- fore, only to be struck back from the sunlight of hope into the abyss of despair. During that afternoon, heavy distant cannonading was heard in the direction of Cawnpore. Are they coming ? was asked in wins- TIIK i:xaiiMi:vr OF HOPE. 319 pered accent-, and the most intense excitement pre- vailed in the garrison. There was that wavering between doubt and hope, which ever fills the bosom with the most jiaiiit'ul anxiety. Eager inquiries were mfide of the otlieers if tliey thought that cannonading proceeded from their friends. Many shook their heads, saying tliey could not have advanced so far on aint of the heavy rains. At five o'clock, how- ever, the deep booming of cannon again broke over the intrenchments sounding nearer than before, and throwing the garrison into an excitement that was pain- ful to contemplate. It lasted for half an hour, then : but there was little sleep in the garrison that, night. The rain came down in torrents, yet through the rushing floods the ear was strained to catch once more the >uind of those guns. Before daylight they weiv again heard, and in the morning, look-outs from the top of the Ke-idency reported that the army wa.- only about four miles distant, and the smoke of can- non could be plainly seen. Doubt was now changed into certainty, and as the explosions, rising louder and nearer proclaimed the advance, the excitement among a portion of the garrison amounted almost to delirium. They ran from one to the other exclaiming, "They are coming! they are coming!" As the deep rev e r- lx rations rolled over the plain, hysterical sobs would burst forth, and tears fall in showers. Never before did the thunder of artillery sound BO musical to mor- tal ears. Tln.se dumb cannon seemed all at once to become conscious beings, dear friends, and to be talking to them in the distance, saying in stern, yet kind language, "We arc coming 1" No lute or harp 320 LITE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. ever thrilled the heart with such wild ecstasy as did the accents that broke from those bronze lips. Aye, they were coming that serried host of braves. With undaunted souls and brows of wrath, and hearts on fire, they had ploughed their way through the wa\ies of rebellion; and now, over frowning batteries, through clouds of foes, over the dead and dying, were sweep- ing on like the avenging angel of God, and soon their battle-shout would ring louder than a thousand bugle blasts over those battered intrenchments. Ah, who can describe the sensations of those within the garrison. Eyes that had long looked unmoved on death now moistened with tears lips that seemed made of iron during this long and terrible conflict quivered with emotion, and hearts that had beat serenely amid the storm of shot and shell heaved' convulsively. God had not abandoned them. His bow of promise spanned the heavens, and his voice of mercy was heard in the incessant and deafening crash of cannon. The brave Inglis and the garrison of Lucknow will remain forever as monuments of human skill, courage and endurance. CHAPTER XIII. HAVELOCK'S SECOND MARCH ON LUCKNOW. Havelock waits at Cawnporc for Reinforcements lie has no Chap- lain Outram Arrival of Reinforcements His generous refusal to take the Command Havi-lock crosses the Ganges Attacks the v Outrun charges with a Cudgel Painful March The Can- nonading heard nroimd Lurknow Fight at the Kaiserhagh Iluvr- lock Enters Lucknow TerriGc Street Fight Excitement in the Garrison Reaches the Residency The Welcome. WIIKS- Havelock halted at Cawnpore, and sent dis- patches to Sir Colin Campbell, who liad arrived in India and assumed command of all the British forces, li- t'rankly stated his condition and prospects, lie told him that his force was reduced to 700 fighting men, while independent of the immense host around Liu-know, an army from (Jwalior, 5,000 strong threat- ened to ent otl' his retreat ; and unless reinforcements eoiild I*- forwarded to him, he should be compelled to fall hack on Allahabad, lieceivin^ assurance that they should be dispatched at the earliest moment, he sat do\vii mi the spot when 1 the gallant "U'lnvler and >n had been massacred, to wait their arrival. The month he remained here inactive, was a loiii^and weary one. Drenching rains followed bv suffocating 14* 322 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. heat, aggravated all kinds of disease, while cholera continued to spread among his little army with fright- ful rapidity. Havelock saw the depressing effect of tliis long inaction and increasing sickness upon his troops, and endeavored in various ways to keep their minds occupied. Every morning and evening he went the rounds of the camp, and it was soon noticed that the same care and foresight that made him so exacting sometimes apparently severe in his military discipline made him also almost parental in his solici- tude for their comfort and welfare, and many a dying soldier who in health had thought him unnecessarily strict, blessed him in his last agonies. To relieve the monotony as much as possible, Havelock introduced various kinds of games and amusements among the soldiers, and every afternoon ordered the bands to play cheerful and spirit-stirring airs. He also had frequent parades and drills, while the volunteer cavalry, com- posed mostly of gentlemen who had placed them- selves under Havelock's banner, were exercised, and their horses accustomed to the explosions of cannon. It is a little singular that up to this time, and in- deed to the close of the campaign, Havelock had no chaplain or clergyman of any description attached to his army. This seems more extraordinary in him be- cause it was so unusual, even with commanders who professed no religion. The one originally attached to the garrison at Cawupore had been murdered with General Wheeler and his troops. He therefore re- mained for months without a chaplain, though living in the midst of death. "Was this omission designed? Did he prefer none to one whose formal routine of HAV1II.OCK \\UllolT A CIIAI'I.AIN. .v,.i>hip so little accorded with the puritanic force anil fervor of his character, or was it difficult to lind a clergyman of the Church of England, willing vu under such a thorough Roundhead as he had eputation of being in the army. Perhaps there is a more natural explanation than either of these one tiling, however, remains true, God was acknow- l by that little band, and from their general's tent there daily went up prayers, as earnest and sin- cere as ever rose from stoled priest ministering at the altar. Though a model military leader, he was also in religion a living epistle, "known and read" of all his troops. It has been already stated that Outram, after the termination of the Persian war, had been appointed to the military command of Dinapore and Cawnpore, and that he was now on his way to the latter place to supersede llaveloek. It was at first the design of tliis ;ille commander to march direct from Benares to Lucknow, a distance of 150 miles, and be joined on the route by llaveloek. But the weakness of the , as well of the garrison at Lucknow, cau-ed him to change his plans, and he proceeded by the <>f Allahabad. On his march, learning that a body of rebels were crossing the country be- i Cawnpore and Allahabad, to cut off the com- munications between the two places, he dispatched Major Eyre to intercept them, who, making a night march, surprised and routed them with great bter. During the long and harassing month of August, lock occasionally wrote home to his wife ; but 324: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVKLOCK. the letters consist of a few sentences evidently written in great haste. August 30th, he writes that he has received his wife's letter, via Marseilles, and closes by saying : " My reinforcements are coming in, and by God's blessing, I shall soon be at the fellows again. . . . . Love to the children." The arrival of reinforcements by detachments kept the camp in a glow during the first half of Septem- ber, and at once roused the army from its despon- dency. On the 15th, the troops that were accompa- nied by Outram himself, came up, and w r ere received with shouts by the whole army. The greeting be- tween him and Havelock was cordial and warm, and not a shadow of jealousy crossed the pure and up- right spirit of the latter, as he surrendered the com- mand to his noble friend. Outram was worthy of the high position to which he had been assigned, for in addition to his great ability as a commander, he was thoroughly ac- quainted with the region about Cawnpore and Luck- now. His knowledge of the country enabled him fully to appreciate the herculean efforts Havelock had put forth to save Lucknow ; and being the soul of honor and chivalry himself, he felt nothing but pride and a true soldier's admiration for his heroic deeds. Instead, therefore, of assuming the command, he immediately, on his arrival, issued orders respect- ing the arrangement of the different brigades and engineer's department, and then adds : " The important duty of first relieving the garrison of Lucknow has been intrusted to Major-General Havelock, C.B., and Major-General Outram feels t 1KAM. 325 that it is due to this distinguished officer, and the strenuous and noble exertions which he has already made to eHect that object, that to him should accrue tlu- li. IK. r of the achievement. Major-General Out ram is coniident that the great end for which General llaveloek and his brave troops have BO long and so gloriously fought, will now, under the blessing of 1'rovideiice, be accomplished. "The major-general therefore, in gratitude for and admiration r>ioner of Oude, tendering his military General Havelock as a volunteer." Never before was M> remarkable an order issued to an army by its commander the days of chivalry can furnish no parallel to it. There is a grandeur in the very simplicity and frankness with which this self-sac- ritice is made, while the act itself reveals a nobleness of character, a true greatness of soul that wins our unbounded admiration. To waive his rank and move on with the column as a spectator, would have shown givat self-denial, and elicited the :pplau.-e of the world ; but not satisfied with this, he joined the volunteer cavalry, and though covered with well-earned laurels, stood ready to win his epaulettes n. All his illustrious deeds in the field that rendered his name immortal, grow dim ! !ory of this one act. When they shall 1" :i, it shall remain the best eulogium that could be pronounced on his name. Kings may confer 326 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. patents of nobility but the loftiest titles can add nothing to the grandeur of such a character. . Men, by their illustrious deeds, often excite the admiration of the world but few ever win its affections. De- corations and external honors may attract and dazzle the eye but they do not gain the heart. Outrani has won the love of all true men in both hemispheres, and sits enthroned where outward signs of greatness pass for but little. !No wonder he is called the " Bayard of the East Indies." No wonder that Sir Colin Campbell, in afterwards confirming this ar- rangement, said : " Seldom, perhaps never, has it occurred to a commander-in-chief to publish and confirm such an order as the following one, proceed- ing from Major-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B. With such a reputation as Major-General, Sir James Outram has won for himself, he can afford to share glory and honor with others. But that does not lessen the value of the sacrifice he has made with such disinterested generosity in favor of Briga- dier-General Havelock, C.B., commanding the field force in Oude." .... Havelock, in his order, thus speaks of Outram's noble and disinterested conduct : " CAWNPORE, Sept. 16th. "Brigadier-General Havelock, in making known to the column the kind and generous determination of General Sir James Outram, K.C.B., to leave to him the task of relieving Lucknow, and rescuing its gallant and enduring garrison, has only to express his hope that the troops will strive,, by their exem- II. \\ HXAI, ADVANCi:. 327 plary and gallant conduct in the field, to justify the confidence thus reposed in them." ,'iything could lend additional interest to that column hiin in t'n>nt, with their left renting on the village of ICungnlwar, and were strongly intrenched in the main mud along which the Uritish column was pass- To carry these batteries would require a sacri- "f men that llavelock could ill afford at the >f his march, and he, therefore, ordered up ihf artillery to fling shot and shell among them, while he lrl the infantry through the muddy and inundated tic-Ids to the right. The enemy observing this movement, >ent out a iield battery to check it ; but the next moment Maude's battery was seen bounding across the plain, aiul in a lew minutes it unlimbered and poured in round after round with such rapidity that the enemy horsed up and retreated. Seeing their flank now fairly turned, the whole army began to withdraw at first slowly, and then as they caught the gleam of bayonets, in great haste. The retreat, however, had hardly commenced, when the bugles of the volunteer cavalry rung out, and the next moment, with the gallant Outram at their head, they swept fiercely along the road. No r did the rebels hear the clattering tempest coming, than they broke and fled in every direction. The day was dark and misty, and at the commence- ment of the battle, there was a drizzling rain which :i sombre aspect to the field. But this soon changed into a pouring shower through which avalry went charging in a black, indistinct mass. Outram, disdaining to use his sword around which so many laurels were twined on such a beg- garly crew, charged with a cudgel only, rapping .varthy wretches over right and left, who 330 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. were astonished at this contemptuous mode of war- fare. His followers, however, were not so chary of their swords, but smote the fugitives without mercy ; and so fiercely did they ride them down, that when the bugle sounded the recall, 120 lay gashed and bleeding in the drenching rain. After the conflict was over, the army resumed its line of march, and passing over the old battle- ground of Oonao, pressed on through the flooded fields till they reached Busserut-gunge, where they encamped for the night. The next morning early they set out in a pouring rain, for neither the ele- ments nor numbers could arrest the march of those who had Cawnpore behind them and Lucknow before them. The enemy, after disputing the passage of the Ganges, had evidently determined to make no fur- ther resistance till Havelock reached Lucknow. They did not even destroy bridges, but seemed to invite him on, imagining that he, with his compara- tively small band, would be inevitably lost in the narrow streets of the city. Though the way was clear of the enemy, yet the sombre sky, the steadily pouring rain, and the in- undated fields, combined to make the march a cheer- less and painful one. The cavalry kept in advance, but horses and riders seemed to droop under the pitiless storm. IsTo flaunting colors were given to the breeze, but, closely wrapped in cases, they rose like " yew-trees " over the regiments. The plumes of the Highlanders no longer waved in the sunlight, but hung dripping upon the soaked tartan ; yet the DISTANT FIRING AROUND LUCKNOW. ta that beat below were stout and bold as .:th they reached a deserted village and halted for the night. They had scarcely taken . i.l' the abandoned huts, when officers and men wen- >tartled by the taint and far-oil' booming of cannon towards Luc know. Each new exp' listened to with intense excitement, for they knew it to be the thunder of artillery around the beleaguered garrison ; and although it tilled them with invpn-Mide longings to move forward, this conlir- u of their hopes that they were not too late joy to every heart. Still Havelock did not know but this might be the iinal struggle, and that cannonading, the herald of the last successful onset. lie, therefore, in the faint hope that the garrison might hear and take courage, ordered a royal salute fired. That was an anxious night in the cam}., and every brave heart in it was ready to shout with ten the early bugle roused the weary army from This day, the I'.'Id, presented a strung contrast to ling one, for the rain had cea.-ed, and the sun no longer veiled by thick clouds came down with scorching, terrific power. The troops as they toiled on through the mud would almost have lie rain of the day before, >.. o\,-r- the heat. The cavalry still kept in advance without linding any signs of the enemy until about two o'clock, when it came upon them strongly posted about two miles from the city. Jlave- iock. M- ing the horsemen .-lowly falling back, ordered 332 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. a halt, till lie could receive a report of the rebel posi- tion and form his plan of attack. He ascertained that their centre and right were posted behind three sand hills, while their left rested on the main road to Lucknow, and also occupied th.e Alumbagh, or gar- den of beauty. This "garden of beauty" was the residence of one of the princes of Oude, and well deserved the appellation it bore. It was composed of a large ornamented brick building, a mosque, pri- vate temple, and several outbuildings. Around these were ornamented grounds interlaced with gravel walks, and decorated with every variety of tropical shrubs and flowers to gratify the eye and please the senses. Where this labyrinth of beauty ended an open park commenced its smooth shorn lawn spreading away on every side, shaded with tropical trees. The entire space was inclosed by a high brick wall, wfah towers of defence erected on each corner. Of course such a spacious inclosure could hold a large body of men, and was capable of a stout defence. The enemy, accustomed to Havelock's way of turning his positions, had selected this spot because the road that led to it passed for some distance through a deep morass, which spreading away on both sides pre- vented a flank movement from being made. This elevated road, called the Grand Trunk road, stretched across the sheet of water like a causeway, and was commanded by the enemy's batteries. Havelock saw at once the advantage of the position, and through what a storm of fire he would be compelled to carry his troops. His decision, however, was quickly taken, and placing a rear-guard over his baggage, he gave BATTLE OF ALUMBA(ilI. 333 the orders to advance. AVith linn and steady step the intrepid column moved into the vortex of tire, and though the ranks were mowed down by the shot and >hell that tore through them, they never faltered for a moment, but swept on until they gained the open space in front of their foes. Havelock had !>loy liis men into line right in front of the rebels' portion, time revealing the paucity of his numbers; but nothing daunted, regiment after regi- ment steadily performed its evolutions under a wither- ing lin-. and .-weeping wrathfully along the enemy's line of battle, reaehed and enveloped his right. Kent into fragments by the shot from the heavy guns of the British, this wing of his army bent back over the Held, and finally broke and fled for the city. During the whole time this fierce conilict was raging, the enemy's cavalry, 1,500 strong, stood in: only a few hundred yards distant. llave- loek watched their movements with no little anxiety, for he expected e\ ery moment to hear the bugle sound the charge, and he knew that the sudden onset of so large a body of horse might embarrass him ;-ly. Hut they sat quiet spectators of the contest as if they had no interest in it whatever, and i rot ted away into the standing corn and cultivation when they saw the battle was lost. While this was going on, a fierce fire was kept up from thi- Alumbagh, but the artillery being brought to hear upon it and upon the centre, the entire army, abandoning all its positions, retreated towards the city. A> they began to stream over the country, the bugles of Outranks gallant band of horsemen 334 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. sounded the charge, and the next moment they swept like a whirlwind along the road. The enemy, terri- fied at the sight of the flashing sabres as they gleamed in the sunset, rushed pell-mell over the Char-Bagh the city bridge which here spanned the canal. Find- ing that he could not hold this position, as the guns of the city commanded it and darkness was coming on, Outram fell back to the Alumbagh. The left, which had also advanced on the retreating enemy, were halted, and retired to the same inclosure, where they bivouacked for the night. Havelock had won another glorious victory, but he had cause for the deepest anxiety his loss had been heavy, and from this battle, fought on the very thresh- old of the city, he could imagine what was before him. But the decisive hour had come retreat was not to be thought of he and his little army must cleave their way through the tens of thousands that held Lucknow, or perish in the attempt. A terrific, per- haps fatal struggle was before him, and as he reflect- ed on what the issue might be, his thoughts reverted to the anxious, waiting hearts in which he knew the thunder of his guns on this eventful day had kindled hope and joy. The next morning he resolved to halt where he was for a day, and give his troops re?t. They had been marching for three days in a deluge of rain, " irregu- larly fed, and badly housed" at night, and had just fought a severe battle, and needed repose. The last decisive struggle was to be no child's play, and he wisely determined to gather up all the strength he possessed before entering upon it. HALT IN THE GARDEN OF BEAUTY. 335 Tlu> few tents they had -with them were then-tore pitched in the garden ; and although an occasional round-.-hot rolled over the green sward. sent from ;itteries, the weary army rested quietly tor twenty-four hours. Hut in the meantime, the baggage and rear-guard, which remained where they had been left previous to the battle, were attacked by the cavalry, and came \\-r\ in-ar being entirely cut off. The onset was sud- den and furious, and the ]>anie of the drivers and cam]) followers so complete, that the latter abandoned thing and lied in such precipitation over the plain that they made a noise like a rushing storm. The rear-guard, however, repelled the assault, and the baggagi- was brought >afely into the Alumbagh. During this day of comparative repose, llavelock and ( tatrtun conferred longand anxiously on the course tracking column should take next morning. They were now on the Cawnpore road to Lucknow, and by following it they would be led straight to the of the Residency. But they knew that when this n>ad became a city street it was trenched and barricaded, while the houses on both sides were lilled with sharp fhoMtrrs making a lane of death in which brave troop.., might die, but through which they could pass. Neither would it do to skirt the a and northern suburbs where the country was open, for the rains had so soaked the earth that it would be impossible to get the heavy guns and "\rr it. Here the knowledge of Lieutenant ons, who had joined Ilavelock's stuff at Cal- cutta, was of great service. He had formerly been 336 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. appointed by the commissioner to survey the city, and fortunately had the rough notes with him. Guided by him, they resolved to fight their way along the Cawnpore road, across the canal, into the main street of the city, and push on till compelled to leave it, when they would take a narrow, rough road that skirted the canal, and led nearly to the Residency. It would be impossible to take the baggage with them in this march of death, and they resolved to leave it and the wounded at Alumbagh, under an escort of 500 men. At eight o'clock in the morning, the thinned and weakened army, now scarce 2,000 strong, was drawn up in battle array ; and though toil and privation had left their marks upon them, a single glance at their faces was sufficient to satisfy the be- holder what the history of that awful day would be. Daring resolution, and high courage were depicted there, and as Havelock looked down the ranks he felt that nothing but annihilation would arrest their march. The men stood impatiently in their places, while Havelock and O.utram conferred anxiously on some doubtful measure ; but at the word " forward " every countenance brightened up with joy. Outram took charge of the leading brigade, and moved off, pushing straight for the bridge. The road was elevated above the surrounding ground, thus leaving the advancing column exposed to a fair view. On either side the grass and weeds arose five or six feet high, while rows of young trees bordered the mar- gin. Still farther on were numerous houses and gardens, all filled with sharp-shooters. The column THE ADVANCE. 337 had proceeded but a short distance, when from both .-idvs, and in front, there came the crash of cannon and rattle of musketry. The tall grass iird with tire from the concealed enemy, while the- round-shot tore along the road with deadly effect. IJut the column never wavered; right through the devouring fire past and over the opposing guns they sternly kept on their way; until they came to a turn of the road, near the bridge, where stood the enemy in vast numbers, awaiting their approach. Both the artillery and musketry were concentrated on this point, and it was literally swept with fire. As the head of the column reached it, round-shot, grape, and canister tore up the ranks so frightfully that it was next to impossible to preserve their .tion, and they were ordered to lie down till the artillery could clear the way. For a short time gun nnswuvd gun in quick succession, and it was one incessant clap of thunder; but the men at : irivw impatient of inaction, and galled by tlu- tire, demanded to be led on the enemy. At length the welcome order to rise and advamv was heard the bugles rung out but high above their shrill blast arose the thrilling cheer of the troops, as led on by younir llavelock, they throw tlu-insclvi's like a looscm-d cliff on the battery, and with one blow crushed out its maddening fire. The bridge having boon won, the inclosurcs and buildings adjacent, from which a severe fire was kept ii]>, were next cleared, in order that the bul- locks might pass with the heavy guns. 15 338 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. The enemy seemed astounded at their sudden de- feat, and for a time there was a pause in the firing. The extricated column then resumed its march, and kept on till it entered the main street of the city, which seemed deserted but there was something ominous, in the look of abandonment. There was no time, however, to speculate on what might lie concealed in that apparently empty avenue. " For- ward" again passed down the line, and closing sternly up, the column pressed rapidly forward. In a moment the entire fronts of the buildings were a sheet of flame every door, window, and aperture belched forth fire, while down from the flat roofs above came the slanting hail. Before it men fell like leaves in autumn ; yet still onward rolled the living tide of valor. There was no confusion or dis- order, and the troops, as they moved forward at the charge step, kept their sections of forces as perfect as if on parade. At the farther end of the street they halted to let the rear brigade come up. Although the halt was a short one, the enemy took advantage of it to close upon the rear, and at the same time reopen a withering fire on the head of the column. It was now evident that the whole distance to the garrison, nearly two miles, was defended just like this first street. Through such a gauntlet of fire, Havelock and Outram both knew that their slender force could never be carried, for it would be annihi- lated before it reached the gates of the Residency. They therefore turned back to the edge of the canal they had just crossed, and took a narrow, rough, THE MABCH OF DEATH. 339 Hieiited -trcct along its edge, which led to a broad avenue near tin.- Kaiser Bagh, or king's palace. \vas the beginning of a succession of palaces, the last of which overlooked the garrison. The enemy not prepared for this movement, and for some time llavelock met with but little opposition. The condition of the street, however, impeded seriously the progress of the heavy guns, for the wheels would sink so deep in the mud that the bullocks were unable to extricate them, and they had to be out by main force and urged forward. At length they reached the king's palace, when sud- denly its massive walls streamed with tire, and it rained a horrible tempest on the advancing column. The fire of grape and musketry from this intrenched position was so deadly, that to ii.-e Ilavelock's own words "nothing could live under :t." T : : .as no shelter behind which the exposed troops could find protection, and llavelock seeing at a irlance that his only salvation lay in the bayonet, the order to charge. Sending up a loud cheer, the maddened soldiers rushed furiously on the bla/ini: muz/.les of the guns, and captured them iirh at a fearful sacrifice of life. Here they joined by the rear-guard, composed of the landers, who had fought their way on through .:me deva>tatinir lire. With their old coi; they had stormed over every obstacle ; but the Bl through which they had passed were strewn thick with bright tartans, and plumes dabbled in blood. A massive gate blocked the way at this point, which had to be blown down, when the column moved forward. 340 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. and passing from street to street, crossed nearly over to the Goomtee River. Here Havelock found the enemy prepared for him, and seeing that their artillery completely swept the road, he directed the column to diverge from it into some open lots and resume it again further on. They had scarcely passed this danger, when they became exposed to a scourging fire from a building called the mess-house and from this point on, the course of the column could be tracked by the dead that strewed the streets. At length, towards evening, the weary survivors found shelter under the walls of the Furred Buksh palace, a large building with an extensive courtyard. For ten hours they had been fighting their way, step by step, through a lane of fire, and hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, were thankful for a moment's respite, and threw themselves in crowds along the paved court. Here Outram wished to halt and wait till morning before advancing on the Residency. The men, he said, were worn out with hard fighting many wounded still remained to be brought up, while it would be impossible to carry the heavy guns through the fire to which the remaining portion of the route was exposed. But Havelock, who had de- termined when he started in the morning, to relieve the anxiously waiting garrison that night, or not survive the attempt, most earnestly objected to this. Meanwhile, the soldiers who at first were glad to obtain a moment's rest, became impatient at the delay. They had fought their way for nearly a hundred miles to rescue their beleaguered com- rades with their wives and children, and they could EXCITKMKNT OF THi; GARRISON. 341 not rest till they thundered at the gates of their prison. The garrison, in the meantlme,\vere anxiously listen- ing for their arrival. They had heard the heavy firing in the morning, and noticed that there was a great sensation in the city. Towards noon they could see the smoke of battle as it rolled upwards over the houses, and a little later, people hurrying out of the city, carrying bundles of clothes on their heads, followed by large bodies of cavalry and men. Although the enemy kept up a steady fire upon them they were too excited to pay much heed to it, but listened with beating hearts to the heavy cannon- ading, as it wound hither and thither through the streets. By four o'clock some officers on the lookout reported that they saw far away, near a palace, a regi- me- i it of Europeans and a bullock battery. Soon at'trr the rattle of musketry was heard in the streets. While they stood listening, a minnie ball went whist- ling over their heads, and never before was the sound of a bullet so sweet to the ear. It was a voice their friends, and whispered of deliverance. Five minutes later, and the Highlanders were seen storming through one of the principal streets, and although they dropped rapidly under the fire from the roofs, windows and doors, there was no falter- ing. Then the long restrained excitement burst forth in cluvr upon cheer "from every fort, trench, and battery from behind sand-bags piled on shat- tered houses from r\vry post still held by a lew gallant spirit*, rose cheer on cheer." The thrilling shouts penetrated even to the hospital, and the 342 LIFE OP GENERAL HAVELOCK. wounded crawled out into the sun, a ghastly throng, and sent up their feeble voices to swell the glad shout of welcome. The conversation between Outram and Havelock was long and earnest. The former was at first firm in his opinion .that they should remain in the palace court and other sheltered places till morning, and Havelock as thoroughly determined to push on. He said the garrison might even then be exposed to the final assault, and if it were not, the enemy could con- centrate such a force around them before morning, that it would be almost impossible to advance. At length it was agreed to leave behind the wounded and heavy guns, and a portion of the army, and with only two regiments, the 78th Highlanders and the Sikhs, attempt to reach the Residency. Outram had been wounded by a musket ball in the arm early in the morning, but though faint with loss of blood, he refused to leave the saddle, and even now would not dismount. Enduring as he was bold and chivalric, he resolved to accompany Havelock and share with him the danger, and if need be death, in this last perilous advance to the relief of the garrison. Everything being ready, these two gallant com- manders put themselves at the head of the slender column, and moved out of the place of shelter. As soon as they entered the street, the houses on either side gaped and shot forth flame ; while to prevent the rapid advance of the troops, and hold them longer under the muzzles of their muskets, the enemy had cut deep trenches across the street and piled up barri- cades. Passing under an archway that streamed with THE LAST EFFORT. 34:3 fire, the gallant Neill fell from his horse, dead. His i-nraired followers halted a moment to avenge his death, but the stern order of Havelock, "forward!" anv.-ted their useless attempt, and the column moved < >n. Each street as they entered it became an avenue of flame, through which it seemed impossible for anything living to pass. Every door and window was ablaze, while an incessant sheet of fire ran along the margin of the flat roofs, which were black with men. At each angle batteries were placed, and soon as the head of the column appeared in view the iron storm came drifting down the street, piling it with the dead. The clattering of grape-shot and musket hulls against the walls and on the pavement was like the pattering of hail on the roof of a house. From out those deep avenues the smoke arose as from the mouth of a volcano, while shouts and yells rending the air on every side, made still more appalling the night which had now set in. Between these walls of fire, through this blinding rain of death, Ilavelock walked his horse composedly as if on parade, his calm, peculiar voice now and then ri.-ing over the clangor of battle. That he escaped unhurt seems a miracle, for in the past eleven hours he had lost nearly one-third of his entire force, while <>f the two other generals one was dead, the other wounded. At length the gate of the Resi- dency at the Baillie guard was reached. A little time was spent in removing the barricades, during which the bleeding ci>lunm iv.-ted, while the moon looked coldly down on the ruins with which they were surrounded. AVhen the passage wu.s clawed, 344: LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. the soldiers, forgetting their weariness, gave three loud cheers, and rushed forward. Cheers without and cheers within, cheers on every side, "betokened the joy and excitement that prevailed, while over all arose the shrill pipes of the Highlanders. The " column of relief" and the garrison rushed into each other's arms, and then the officers passed from house to house to greet the women and children. The stern Highlanders snatched up the children and kissed them, with tears streaming down their faces, thanking God they were in time to save them. Oh, what clasping of hands and throbbing hearts were in that battered inclosure. Havelock and Outram were welcomed with shouts by the soldiers and tears and blessings by the women. Tea was immediately made for them, while the last bottles of wine were brought out to cheer their weary deliverers. Utter strangers embraced each other like friends, and after the first ex- citement was over every tongue seemed going at once, for inquiries without end were made respecting the world from which they had been so long shut out. Havelock, with heart overflowing with devout thank- fulness that he had not been too late, felt in the joy he had brought to those despairing hearts doubly compensated for all the toils he had endured. His mission was accomplished, but along the streets of Lucknow lay one-third of his gallant troops, and there lay, too, his wounded boy, perhaps ere this murdered. The next morning the remaining force with the wounded and the heavy guns were brought in, though at a great sacrifice of life. The rebels closed round HAVELOCK'S SON WOUNDED. 345 them on every side, and the escorts had to fight their way along the streets encumbered with the wounded, 's son was among the latter, and narrowly -d being butchered by the enemy. Bensely Tlu-nihill, husband of Havelock's cousin, was one of n-rison, and when he heard that young Have- lock was somewhere in the city wounded, volunteered to go out and bring him in. Young Havelock reached the Residency in safety, but Thornhill was so severely wounded in the head and arm that he i in a lew days. CHAPTER XIV. FINAL BELIEF OF LTJCKNOW. New Difficulties Outrani and Havclock resolve to remain with the Garrison Havelock pushes his Line of Defence further towards the City His Troops occupy a Palace Havelock finds Lucknow undermined An Incident illustrating Havelock's Character Scarcity of Provisions Havelock countermines Campbell's ap- proach Reviews the Army The Highlanders Campbell encoun- ters the Enemy Massacre at Secunderabagh Severe Fight around a Mosque Havelock advances to Meet Campbell Garrison Re- lieved Havelock taken Sick His Last hours Closing Scene Is Buried in the Alumbagh His Character Campbell falls back on Cawnpore. SOON as the "army of relief" effected a junction with the garrison, Havelock's separate command, which Outram had so generously allowed him to retain, ceased, and the latter became commander-in- chief of all the forces. But at this juncture a new and unexpected difficulty arose. Although Have- lock and Outram had cut their way through unparal- leled difficulties to their comrades and countrymen, and had reached the goal they had struggled so nobly to win, they still found themselves involved in the most serious embarrassments. One thing was certain, if unencumbered with baggage, it had cost them a 846 DILEMMA OF TIIK AUMY. 347 thinl of the entire force to advance, it would be ira- >le with the otlier two-thirds to retrace their . and carry witli them all the sick and wounded and between 4no and 500 women and children. The attempt would provoke the very massacre which they had made such great sacrifices to prevent, and must not be thought of, until every other resource had tailed. Only two courses then remained open either to leave a reinforcement with the garrison, and cut their way out as they had fought their way in, or to i in together until another army could arrive, and, in the meantime, by their greater force, conquer and occupy a larger space than that now inclosed by the defences. The objection to the first, was, that it would 1)0 impossible to leave over 300 behind, and yet hope to force their way once more into the open country. But 300 would not be sufficient to enlarge the present area of the garrison while they would only add so many more mouths to be fed from the already scanty supplies. It was therefore resolved to let the baggage and sick . 11 at Alumbagh under charge of the escort there, and with tin; main army stand by the garrison and at least free it from its precarious dependence on flu- na- tive troops. They were more inclined to adopt this course from the knowledge that troops were on the way from England and China, and must soon reach India. The very next day after the arrival of Ilavelock, 'i ilar incident occurred. Three prisoners were ; tried by drum-head court-martial, when a round-shot from the enemy's batteries, camo and killed the trio on the spot. Immediately after the commanders had come to a 348 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. decision, Havelock was directed to clear the palaces in front of the Residency, and occupy them with his column, while Inglis, who retained the command of the garrison, was reinforced by the brave Madras fusileers. These palaces stretched from the Kaiser- bagh across to the Goomtee River, and were splendid specimens of Eastern architecture. They were sur- rounded with gardens embellished with fountains, fairy-like domes and bridges, while the solid wall that inclosed them furnished an excellent protection to troops. These Havelock carried in rapid succes- sion, with comparatively but slight loss. The three most important were the Kothe, Furred Busch, and Chuttuh Munzil, which lay in a row along the river. Into the gorgeous apartments of these palaces, Havelook's hardy soldiers took up their quarters and strolled carelessly through marble corridors or reclined on luxurious cushions. The costliest China was used by the Highlanders for their scanty meals, while silks and cashmere shawls, and elaborate ornaments lay scattered about, unheeded and uncared for. Around the sparkling fountains of the gardens, and along the shaded gravel walks, lay dead Sepoys, festering in the sun, while to complete the scene of strange contrasts,. came the crash of cannon and blazing shells of the enemy. In the Residency there was no safe place for the multitude of the wounded, and for a long time many of them had to lie out of doors, unattended to, and filling the air with their suppressed groans and sighs of suffering. A few days after Havelock entered the Residency, there occurred one of those little incidents so illustra- A CHARACTEKI8TIO INCIDENT. 349 live of his character. Outran -wishing to inspect the earth-works near the Thuggee jail, took with him his Ft a It' and Generals Inglis and Havelock, and repaired thither. He walked between Inglis and Napier, clad in the rich undress uniform of a major-general the blue frock coat profusely braided, and pantaloons to match while Havelock followed behind in the plain undress of a staff-surgeon without any of the gold and braid that indicate the uniform of a brigadier- general. After Outram had finished his inspection lie harangued the troops, but Havelock had nothing to say, and a mere spectator would never have dreamed that the slight, plainly-dressed figure which kept so completely in the background, was the con- queror of Oude the hero of Lucknow. Unobtrusive in his manner on all ordinary occasions, as he was conspicuous when the stormy tide of battle wavered silent when there was nothing for his troops to do, yet trumpet-tongued when summoning them to the iinal charge, he was at all times a man of deeds, not of words, of facts and not of symbols. In relieving Luck- now, he had accomplished the great mission on which he was sent had performed his duty, and was :ied. Havelock, in clearing and occupying the ground in front of the Residency, had made a startling dis- y; he found six mines constructed under the ;'-es of the garrison, one 200 feet long, directly beneath them and ready for loading. The firing of . which his timely arrival alone prevented, would have left the brave garrison entirely defenceless. Havelock took up his quarters in Mr. Ommaney's 350 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. house, the judicial commissioner of Oude, who had been killed in the siege ; but every morning he made on foot the entire circuit of the palaces and gardens occupied by his troops, two miles in extent, and reported to Outram. He did not, at this time, com- plain of feeling ill, but the loss of flesh and in- creased pallor of his face caused anxiety in those who were intimately acquainted with him. The mental and physical strain he had been under for the last three or four months was too severe for one approaching his threescore and ten, and he now needed healthful diet and pure air. The pestilential atmosphere arising from the cattle that lay putrifying in the open grounds, and the scanty, unhealthy food to which he was reduced, were fast preparing his system for the disease that finally laid him in the grave. The history of the garrison, up to the time of its final relief by Campbell, would be but a re- capitulation of its experience during the long sum- mer months. Havelock entered it on the 25th of September, and remained closely blockaded until the 17th of November, nearly two months. The communication with their provisions at Alum- bagh being soon cut off, food became scarce for horses and men, and they both grew gaunt and thin, till their bones stuck out of their flesh. Casualties constantly occurring cannonading, musketry, bu- gling, and shouts by day and night ; solemn services on the Sabbath amid the roar of guns ; sad prayer- meetings, sickness and death made up the weekly record of the suffering garrison. So accustomed did every one become to this monotony of danger and EXTENSIVE MINING. 351 of death, that even the children made - mimic bat- , and amused themselves with throwing minia- ture shut and shell. As November progressed, provisions became so scarce that Outram and Havelock began to calcu- late the number of days they could hold out. To deride their torment the rebels would hoist cakes on poles from behind walls that separated them from the garrison and tauntingly tell how soon starvation would humble them. Havelock, how- ever, did not remain idle ; the enemy were ac- mining and he countermined. But to save time, he dug a subterranean avenue under that part of his position most exposed, with listening L'alleries attached, in which men were placed so as to hear the approach of miners in any direction. In this way he thwarted every attempt of the emeny and often caused him severe loss, by blowing in his mines. Says Outram : " I am aware of no parallel to our of mines in modern war. Twenty-one shafts, ag- irre^ating 200 feet in depth, and 3,291 feet of gallery, have been exeented. The enemy advanced twenty mines against the palaces and outposts. Of these they exploded three which caused us loss of life, and two which did no injury ; seven have 1)1 own in; and out of seven others the enemy have driven and their galleries taken possession of by our miners." In tliis manner was passed the weary days and weeks, until at length, about tho middle of the month, tho news arrived that Sir Colin Campbell was on his way to their relief. 352 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. It is not necessary to our purpose to survey the state of the Indian Empire at this time, and show the almost insurmountable difficulties that sur- rounded the commander-in-chief. Oude was evi- dently the most important province to be looked after, while Allahabad, 800 miles from Calcutta by water and 500 by the road, must be the base of his operations, whether he should penetrate the Doab and restore the broken lines of communication be- tween Delhi and Agra, or relieve Lucknow by Cawnpore. Leaving all this to the military annalist of the campaign, we at length find the troops from China, and the Highlanders from England safe in Allahabad. The force was insufficient to relieve Lucknow, but at this critical juncture, Delhi hav- ing fallen, General Wilson sent Greathead with a column right down the Doab in pursuit of a party of rebels 5,000 strong. Greathead missed these, but over- took others, and swept everything from his path as he continued his march towards Oude. This column was weak in infantry, but strong in cavalry and artillery, and although its passage over the excited country was like that of a ship through the sea the waves of rebellion closing on its path it pressed swiftly forward, and joined by Hope Grant, who then assumed the command, reached Cawnpore in the latter part of October, adding 600 good swords, and three batteries of field artillery to the relieving force; and last, not least, a long train of much needed beasts of burden. Campbell left Calcutta the 27th of October, and pushed on day and night to the seat of war. Nar- CAMPBELL'S PLANS. 353 rowly escaping capture on the way, ho reached Alla- habad on the 1st of November, and two days after arrived at Cawnpore. lie there received a message from Outram saying, that he could hold out until after the middle of the month, but still urging his '.y advance. The assurance that even this short time could be allowed him, was most welcome to Campbell, and he spent it in hurrying up reinforce- I Ie moved Grant's column on to within seven of Alumbagh, and ordered all the reinforce- - and supplies as fast as they came up to be concentrated on him. .MS of transportation were at length obtained, and a siege train of 24-pounders got up, manned by the sailors of Peel's naval brigade. By the llth, the whole force was concentrated, and Campbell resolved to advance at once on Luck- now. Although, in a strategic point of view, he knew this was not the right course, yet the relief of .rrison was the first object to be gained. Gen- eral Wyndham, the hero effort Redan at Sebastopol, was to be left with a small force at Cawnpore, around which swarmed hosts of rebels, ready to fall upon it soon as the army advanced on Lucknow. A single bridge of boats would form the only connecting link between the two forces, and if that were once : i, nothing short of a miracle could save the army. The natural and safe course, the ret- >tv, was first to rout the rebels threatening his communication, and menac- ing Cawnpore ; but before this could be accomplished the garrison of Lucknow would be massacred. I In- most, therefore, dash on Lucknow, and relieve it, 354 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. and, if possible, be back to Cawnpore before Wynd- hain was overwhelmed. The chances were against him, and had not the most extraordinary good fortune befriended him, disastrous, if not fatal, results would have followed. But, having taken his resolu- tion, he moved with his accustomed energy to its accomplishment. The army, 5,000 strong, was encamped in a vast plain fringed with woods, and the afternoon before commencing his march, Campbell reviewed it for the first time. It was with anxious heart and search- ing glance the old veteran rode down the lines and surveyed the little army on which such tremendous consequences to himself, to others, and to the country hung. The artillery that had come down from Delhi stood horsed, and black from their recent services, looked, with their swarthy drivers, ready for battle. Next to them were the 9th Lancers, with their white turbans wreathed around their foraging caps their flagless lances gleaming in the sun, and the riders fresh from the field of victory. ISText came the wild and picturesquely-dressed Sikh cav- alry, armed with carbine and sabre. The veteran paused a moment in front of the stern but worn and wasted 8th and 75th Queen's, grouped around their standards after which they had so ofted pressed amid the smoke and tumult of battle. Then came the native infantry. All these looked anxiously on the new leader who had been sent to them from over the ocean. Last of all he approached the serried ranks of the Highlanders, nearly 1,000 strong the dark tartans below, the sea of waving plumes above THE mOIILANDEES. .",.".5 tlioir stern visages, proiul bearing and stalwart ing a spectacle that delighted the heart of the old warrior.* As, with gli>tening eye-, he walked his white charger in front of their grim ranks, there suddenly broke over tlie field a cheer, wild and enthusiastic as was ever poured through '-h glen. They had the leader of their choice among themj one of their own race, and when their pipes should play " The Campbells are coming," one Campbell might rest assured that a dark wave was rolling behind him, before which everything human must go down. .t morning the army took up its march for Alumbagh. Carrying all the provisions for men and horses and the multitude of camp followers, it was encumbered with a train of camels and carts drawn by bullocks, and long rows of elephants, the end of which the eye sought in vain to reach. Camp fol- lowers by thousands, clad in every variety of costume, accompanied this immense train, whoso course could tected by the vast cloud of dust that rose over it, and -tretehed to the furthest verge of the horizon. Having reached the Alumbagh without encounter- ing serious resistance, Campbell halted over the 13th to allow some of the detachments from Cawnpore to close up. llavelock in his march, as it has been seen, avoided the main streets of the city, and by a neglected route arrived close to the Ilesidency. Campbell, now the ground was harder, resolved to make a -wider sweep, and instead of crossing the canal where llavelock * Vide Blackwood, on Clyde's Campaign. 356 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. did, circle around the city, till he came to its junc- tion with the Goomtee, and crossing it there, keep the river on his flank in his .advance to the Resi- dency. By taking this route he avoided the narrow streets of the city, for the bank of the river was sprinkled with palaces and inclosures of various kinds, and furnished open ground on which an army might operate with some freedom until he approached the palaces occupied by Havelock, with whom it was his intention to form a junction. He had been induced to take this course by a plan of the city which Outram sent him through a civilian, Mr. Kavanagh, who in the most daring manner, and after numberless, almost miraculous escapes, succeeded in passing the enemy's lines. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 14th, the column was put in motion, and to the amazement of the enemy, instead of entering the city, moved around it to the right and east, towards Dil Koosha, Heart's Delight, a hunting palace of the king, sit- uated on an eminence, about three miles from the Residency. As he approached the park of the palace, he was received by a sharp fire of musketry ; but after a desultory fight of two hours, he advanced, and took possession of the place. The enemy were also driven out of the Martiniere beneath, and all the ground over that side of the canal occupied. Campbell designed to march to the relief of the garrison next day, but through some misunder- standing about bringing up provisions and ammuni- tions from the Alumbagh, he was compelled to halt here twenty-four hours. During this time he CAMPBELL'S ADVANCE. 357 :-aphed to Outnim and Havelock that he would ad\ following day. ving everything but atnmnnition behind, and ordering each soldier to supply his haversack with three day-' provisions, Campbell started early in the morning of the 10th, ;md crossing the canal, advanced uj>on Secunderabagh (Alexander's Garden.) Thib was a large, strongly built building, standing in the midst of a spacious garden 100 yards square, and indo-ed ly a high wall which had been thoroughly looplioled for musketry, and was now defended hy IK- my in great strength. The number left to hold Dil Ko ( ,sha had reduced Campbell's force to hut little over 3,000 bayonets, while 60,000 troops -upposed to be within and around the city. The road he had taken to the Secunderabagh was a narrow lane, which, after passing this palace, led a hundred yards further on, to another large building, also looplioled and occupied in force. Woods were all around, and the open space between these two building.-* was the only place on which cannon could l>e planted so as to reach Secunderabairh, yet this was swept by a deadly cross fire of musketry. Nevertheless, the artillery, led by Blount, dashed on a gallop into the opening, and unlimbering, o] re on the massive walls. In the meantime the. infantry cleared the house further down the lane, thus relieving the artillery from the cross firo of musketry. In an hour the heavy shot had so pounded the walls that the enemy were compelled to take refuse in the main building itself. In this a Miiall opening about two feet square was made, through 358 LIFE OF GENEKAL HAVELOCK. which the Sikhs were ordered to charge, supported by the 93d Highlanders and other detachments. The Highlanders, however, refused to wait, and plunged headlong into the breach, led on by their excited officers, with broadswords waving above their heads, and thrilling shouts. The narrow entrance became so blocked that when the supports came up they could not get near the opening, and sweeping madly round to the gate, blew the lock to pieces with their muskets, and rushed yelling into the building. The 53d, also unable to enter by the breach, forced a window, and lifted each other up through it, and soon the vast building rung with the reports of musketry,, clash of steel, and shouts and cries of maddened men. It was a horrible struggle no quarter was asked, except in a few instances, none was given. The grim Highlanders, whenever an appeal was made, hissed in the ear of the suppliant " Cawnpore" and the next moment buried his bayonet in his heart. Never before could the English soldiers get the murderous wretches where there was no escape, but now the hour of vengeance had come. From room to room, from floor to floor the deadly con- flict raged, the muffled sound of which struggling out, appalled the heart with terror. It was not a sudden rush and the conflict over, but the work of death went on hour after hour for three long hours, then all was still ; and as the crimsoned, haggard avengers staggered out of that Aceldama, they bore on their persons the testimonials of the terrific work they had accomplished. Few wished to EETRIBUTION. 359 * look on the scene that building presented. The floor swam in blood, and in the corners and passage- heaps upon heaps lay the dead two thousand of them. Thus was Cawnpore avenged but many a plume that waved proudly in the morning air, now drooped mournfully over the cold and pallid Attesting that the fearful punishment had not been without heavy sacrifice. To many a wretch that day " Cawnpore " was the last word ever heard on earth. % From tliis point the road to the Residency crosses an open plain 1,200 yards broad. About a quarter uf the way over was a small collection of houses with garden iuclosures, while 250 yards further on, ami 100 yards to the right, stood a mosque (the Shall Xujjeet), inside of a high loop-holed wall, nearly square, and lilled with sharp-shooters. In front of it inclosures, and a fringe of jungle and scattered mud cottages, almost screening the mosque walls from siirht. This was a strong position and must be carried v the army could advance. Peel brought up ! pound mortars, and opened a tremendous fire upon it, but the jungle and mud cottages and inclo- furnished sueh an effectual screen that his heavy shot seemed to produce no impression, while the tire of musketry that streamed incessantly t'roiu the place made sad havoc with his gunners. Still he maintained his fire till 4 o'clock, when suddenly there was heard a loud explosion from the other side of the Goomtce River, and a shot from a heavy gun that had got in position there, came crashing into Peel's battery, blowing up one of his tumbrils. For three 360 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. hours the cannonading had been kept up, and yet the walls of the mosque did not show a fissure. Peel now began to look serious, and a cloud gathered over his face, which usually wore the same cheerf ul smile, whether sitting with his comrades around the table, or wrapped in the smoke of his own broadsides. Campbell sat on his white horse gazing sternly 011 that mosque, while the bullets whistled like hail around him. What next was to be done. To retreat along that narrow, and now crowded lane, would be impossible, yet he could not stay where he was, nor could he advance until that commanding position was taken. For awhile the Indian Empire seemed to hang wavering in the balance. As a last, almost hopeless resort, he resolved to try the bayonet. Riding up to the 93d Highlanders, he addressed a few stirring words to them told them he had not designed to call on them again that day, but said he, u that mosque 'must be taken." He did not attempt to lessen the danger attending the effort, but told them he would lead them himself. Ordering Middleton with the royal artillery to pass Peel's guns, and getting as near the walls as he could, open with grape, and Peel to redouble his fire, he placed himself in front of the Highlanders. Middleton swept in a gallop by Peel the drivers waving their whips, and the gunners their caps, and cheering as they passed and kept on till within pistol shot of the walls, when he unlimbered and opened his fire. Peel at the same time worked his heavy guns with redoubled energy. The crash of artillery was deafening, and under cover of the iron A FEABFTJL CRISIS. 361 hurricane the 93d advanced to the assault. The staff closed around the white steed, and Hope towered in front of the dark column that with rapid tread and Hashing i-yes pressed sternly after. That black line 'f plumes came on like a wave without a crest, and though met with a deadly fire of musketry, surged ^U-adily up to the walls. Vain valor, the solid wall rose twenty feet high without a crack, while they had no scaling-ladders with which to mount it. In the mus- ketry fire that followed, those within, being concealed, had all the advantage, and the assailants dropped rap- idly. Ilopc and his aid-de-camp were both hurled to the ground together, two of Campbell's staff bit the dust, and he himself received a slight wound. In this dilemma he dispatched an aid to Peel, directing him to hurry up with his heavy guns. The gallant cap- tain limbered up, and urging forward the 24-pounders, planted them, amid a shower of bullets, within a few yards of the walls acting as Campbell said, " very much as if he had been laying the Shannon alongside an enemy's frigate." Although huge flakes flew off at every discharge, it was soon apparent that no breach could be made. Some rocket frames were then ordered up, and blazing rockets went skimming the parapets to clear them of the sharp-shooters. Under cover of its fire, Campbell having exhausted his last resource, ordered the guns to bo withdrawn, and the dead and wounded collected and carried to the rear; while the shadows on his brow grew darker than those that were now creeping over the landscape. In this fearful crisis Adrian Hope collected about fifty men, and stealing through a thicket to the riirht 16 362 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. approached the wall where he thought he had noticed before the assault some evidences of the shot having taken effect. Luckily he found a fissure just large enough to allow one man to be pushed through. Sending off in haste for some sappers, who in a few moments came on a run, he and a few others crawled up while the breach was being made wider. The sup- port then rushed in, and quickly forming, ran to open the gate to their comrades. To their astonish- ment they just caught sight of the white dresses of the last of the garrison, as they disappeared in the rolling smoke. The rockets, followed by the appear- ance of the enemy in their midst, filled them with consternation, and they fled into the city. The day was won, and with a sigh of relief, Sir Colin saw the way comparatively open to the Residency, for he had secured a base where his guns could do the rest. Without tents, without camp fires, the weary soldiers lay down in the ranks to wait for the morning. In the meantime the most intense excitement had prevailed in the Residency. From every look-out the course of Sir Colin was watched, by the sound of his guns, and the huge volumes of smoke that rolled heavenward. Havelock had determined soon as Campbell attacked the Secunderabagh, to issue forth and take possession of some houses in front of his most advanced position. When, therefore, he saw that palace enveloped in the smoke of cannon, he ordered a wall, that had hitherto protected him from the enemy, but now interfered with his ad- vance, to be knocked down. The mines which were exploded for that purpose proving too feeble, he HAVELOCK ADVANCES. 363 opened his batteries on it. The round shot went through it as if it had been a piece of pasteboard, and by half-past three it was demolished, and the advance sounded. The troops answered it with a shont, for they had been so long pent up in inaction that they were excited beyond measure at the idea of being at their foes again. " Their cheers echoed through the courts of the palace, responsive to the bugle sound, and on they rushed to assured vic- tory." In a few minutes the enemy were flying in every direction from the buildings adjacent, which were speedily occupied by British troops, and armed with cannon. Before daylight next morning, Sir Colin was aroused by the ringing of bells throughout the city, and the beating of drums, and bugle calls, and expected a general assault but none .was at- tempted. When the ammunition was brought up, Peel opened with his heavy guns on the mess-house. Young Havelock, from the top of the palace, wutfhed this movement with great interest, and soon after three, an officer approaching him, he quietly remarked "they have taken the mess-house." 'Impossible," replied the former. "It is true," rcj>incd Havelock; "I have kept close watch. The rebels are flying from it." It was so ; the place had been carried, and the victorious troops pressed on to the adjacent buildings. Outram and Ilavelock now mounted their horses, ami, through a storm of musketry, rode swiftly towards the relieving army. Young Ilavelock en- deavored to follow, but was soon dropped by 361 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. another bullet through his arm. A shell exploded right between Havelock and Outram, yet both almost miraculously escaped injury. Sir Colin was still advancing amid a heavy fire, when his attention was directed to a group of swift riders galloping towards him. The next moment Havelock and Outram, with their respective staffs, reined up before him. The moment these toil-worn veterans clasped hands with the commander-in-chief, the troops knew who they were, and then there went up a long, loud hurra, that rung over the din of battle. It was fit that these heroes should meet and exchange congra- tulations under the fire of the enemy. The junction of the two forces was now easily effected and the suspense of the long beleaguered garrison relieved. But the anxiety of the com- manders was by no means over, for the formidable task of conveying the sick and wounded, and wo- men and children to Dil Ivhoosa, six miles distant, remained to be performed. In the meantime, however, Campbell kept up a fire from the [Residency, as though he meant to hold it, though this was not his intention ; as his force was too small to reestablish British rule in a city swarming with 60,000 troops besides, every moment that kept him away from Cawnpore, and the feeble garrison there, was full of danger. On the night of the 19th, there- fore, the sijk and wounded, together with the women and children, were removed. This was a sad exodus, for some of the women had just been confined, and were weak, while th e means of transportation were very limited. On foot, or drawn by bullocks and horses, THE RESIDENCY ABANDONED. 365 these 400 women and children streamed on through the darkness their ears assailed by the crash ot cannon and noise of bugles, and shouts of men till at last, like frightened deer, they arrived at I>il Ivhoosa. Only one of the whole was struck by a shot. On the 20th, Peel opened with his heavy guns on the king's palace, and for three days he rained a tempest of shot and shell upon it, making awful slaughter by the bursting of the latter into the crowded courtyards. At length, on the evening of the L'lM, the gaping walls furnished an entrance tor the stormers, and the rebels expected an assault. This was precisely the impression Campbell designed to produce, that lie might more safely withdraw the garrison. This was successfully accomplished, and the troops reached Dil Khoosa without awakening a sus- picion on the part of the enemy. The army followed after. The next morning, while all were rejoicing in their escape, the rebels, supposing the garrison to be still in the Residency, opened their accustomed fire upon it. They, however, soon discovered their mis- take, and raging with disappointment, rushed into the Residency, hoping that some might remain on whom they could wreak their vengeance; but all had escaped. As only a small amount of baggage could be allowed to each, most of the property of the garrison was left behind, and rich dresses, plate, furniture, and children's clothing fell into the hands of the enemy. Giving the women, and children, and sick, one day's rest, the commauder-in-chief prepared, on the 366 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. 24th, to set out for Alumbagh. But in the midst of the buoyant hopes, joyful anticipations, and general delight at their newly-recovered freedom, there came a sudden sorrow. The last few days of toil and ex- citement had proved too much for the exhausted frame of Havelock, and now that the final deliver- ance of the women and children was secured, the unbending will that had kept him up, seemed no longer to sustain him. He was taken seriously ill the night after they reached Dil Khoosa. He had complained of indigestion before, but at midnight of the 20th he was taken with dysentery. The next forenoon he was better ; but his removal at midnight to Dil Khoosa doubtless aggravated his disease. From this time he continued to grow rapidly worse till the 23d, when it became evident that he was fast sinking. He himself was perfectly aware of his approaching end, yet he met his fate with the same composure with which he had faced death so often on the battle-field. He thought of his wife and children far away on the Rhine, whom he should never see more, and felt it would be a relief to die in their midst ; but in this as in every- thing else, he cheerfully submitted to the will of God. He lay on a litter in a common soldier's tent, and would allow no attendance but that of his wounded, gallant boy. On this, the last day of his life, Outram came to see him. The two friends had often faced death together, and passed through trying scenes, side by side, and a warm affection had sprung up between them. Outram approached the side of the dying warrior IIAVKLOCK'S DEATH. 367 and inquired how he was. Havelock replied that lie never should be any better, "but," he added, " for more than 40 years I have so ruled my life that when death came I might face it without fear. I am not in the least afraid," said he ; " to die is gain. I die happy and contented." Bo be it," was the grave and solemn reply of Ou train, as he turned sadly away. Soon after Mr. Gubbings, the financial commissioner of Oude, called to see him. As he entered the low tent, he saw the doctor and one of his aids whispering in a low voice together. A curtain separated the litter on which Havelock lay, from them, and as Mr. Gubbings went behind it, and caught a glimpse of the altered countenance of the veteran, he knew at once that death had marked his victim. lie lay apparently asleep, while on the ground beside him sat his son Henry, pale from his recent wounds, his arm in a sling, gazing mournfully on the face of his father. The tent was still as death, and as Mr. Gubbings looked on the sad spectacle, it seemed almost impossible that only a few days before he had seen that now emaciated form galloping through the smoke of battle. Havelock finding himself rapidly sinking, left his last messages for his wife and children, then told his son to come and see how a Christian could die. He continued to fail through the night, saying but little, but now and then low murmurs would reach the ear, revealing the peace that reigned within, and showing what bright anticipations cheered the passing spirit. The next morning, the 24th, it was LIFE OF GENERAL IIAVELOCK. evident that before another sun went down, Havelock would be no more. But while this strangely serene and peaceful scene was passing within that humble tent, without all was bustle and commotion. Though feel- ing deeply for his dying companion-in-arms, Campbell had no time to lose if he would remove those women and children, and sick, and wounded to a place of safety, and he ordered an immediate march to Alum- bagh. The shrill blast of the bugle, and strains of martial music, and the muffled tread of marching thousands filled all the air ; but they fell on a dull and listless ear in that soldier's tent. Once they would have enlisted his most earnest attention, but now far different sounds were borne to his dying ear, the song of seraphs and the choral symphony of the skies. What to him were the pomp and panoply of war whose eye had already caught glimpses of the invisible things of God ? Fainter and fainter grew the light around him ; brighter and brighter broke the dawn of heaven on his spirit, and peacefully, calmly he sunk to rest. The news of his death soon spread through the army, and many a moist eye was seen among those grim Highlanders on whom he had so nobly relied in his inarch of fire. The body was carried with the re- treating army to Alumbagh, and once more, and for the last' time, Havelock moved with his brave columns ; but the eye that was wont to scan their ranks so keenly, was now lustreless and dead, and the calm voice that had so often roused them to deeds of daring, hashed forever, for the. warrior had gone to that still land where the tread of armies is never heard, and the sound of battle never comes. IIAVELOCK'S GBAVE. 369 They made him a grave in the beautiful ground of the Alumbagh, and next day he was followed to his last resting-place by the commander-in-chief and the staff, and his companions-in-arms. He sleeps on the field of his fame, and his lonely tomb beneath the tropical grove, is hung round with unfading laurels, and never will the Christian tra- vciler or soldier pass it without dropping one tear , ' to him who sleeps beneath. His greatness and goodness will always be kept fresh in the memory of man, and the time will never come when the English mother, as she clasps her babe to her bosom and thinks of Luck now, will not murmur blessings on his name. Although advanced in years, Havelock died in the noontide of his glory, and before envy and malice could cast even a momentary shadow over the splendor of his renown. He had attracted the eye and enlisted the heart of the civilized world, and a nation paused in its swelling shouts of joy and peans of praise, to shed tears on his grave, and shower honors on his name. He lived just long enough to know this, though not to reap its fruits. Havelock was a remarkable character, and like all great military chieftains, possessed opposite qualities, or one might say two distinct characters. Severe in discipline, and stern in command, he often exacted from hig soldiers in great emergencies, services which they thought cruel to demand, yet no one cared so much for their condition, or sympathized so deeply with them in their sufferings. His manner in dif- 370 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. ferent circumstances presented the same decided contrast. When on military duty of any kind, he was grave, reserved and taciturn, which have led many to suppose he was cold and forbidding. But around the table, or among his associates, he was extremely sociable. No one conversed with more ease, or acted, seemingly, with less restraint than he. So also he was one of the safest and most cautious of men, and at the same time one of the most head- long and daring; yet judgment controlled his ap- parently rash and impulsive acts just as completely as it did his more prudent ones. He had also the rare faculty of thinking quick and yet thinking right. To great military genius and thorough know- ledge of his profession, he added a courage seldom equalled, never excelled. It is not, perhaps, too much to say that among the brave officers of India, he was the bravest. Every one, as Napoleon said, has his " moment de peur" but this was not true of Havelock. No one ever saw him lose his self- possession for an instant. He seemed insensible to fear. Danger of whatever kind, or in whatever shape it might come, never agitated him in the least. If it had any effect on him it was a sort of pleasurable excitement, for it was always noticed that he became less taciturn and more sociable when under fire. "When the cannon balls were crashing around him, and the musketry fire was drifting like hail upon his ranks, he seemed peculiarly at his ease. Perhaps the most striking feature in Havelock's character was his great self-reliance. Without being vain or self-opinionated, he had the utmost confidence in his 371 own judgment, and followed its decisions without wavering or hesitation. Hence he was never over- whelmed by responsibility however great, never wavered in any circumstances whatever. Many a brave officer fails here. This calm self-confidence is necessary to great executive ability, without which there cannot be a great commander. Ilavelock exhibited this trait at Jellalabad when he withstood Sale and Magregor, and in many instances afterwards. But it never manifested itself so strikingly as when, after repeated and continuous victories, he turned back on Cawnpore to await reinforcements. Neither the clamors of his soldiers, nor the voice of calumny taunting him with faint-heartedness, if not want of courage, could move his steadfast purposes. He had weighed all the difficulties that lay before him, and knew perfectly well what the result of an attempt to advance would be. Still the temptation to make it was exceedingly strong, for he could not suffer from failure. If he was defeated, the world would put the blame on the government that expected him to do im- possibilities. To his own personal wishes was added military pride ho had been sent to relieve Luck- now, and now to wait to be superseded by another, and take a subordinate place in the rescue of the garrison, was galling in the extreme. But not all of those motives combined could move him he thought only of his country, and resolved to act for her interests, whatever might be said of him. There is something sublime in the deliberate and resolute manner with which he followed his own judgment against those around him. 372 LIFE OF GENERAL HAVELOCK. But it is not the military qualities of Havelock alone that challenge our admiration. He was good as he was great. Not only did he remain un- tainted by the temptations of a camp life, preserv- ing all the pure and noble qualities of an upright man, but what is still more remarkable, he lived an active and ardent Christian. Few, though sur- rounded by Christian influences, and giving their whole time to the culture of the heart, attain to that elevated state of religious devotion and that strong faith which he did amid the looseness of a camp and in the excitements of a military profession. The taunts of his comrades in arms the sneer of the wicked could not move him from his steadfastness of purpose. He not only lived a thoughtful, prayerful life himself, but was active in doing good to others and persuading them to believe in and love that Saviour in whom he trusted. He not only instructed the soldiers in religious truths and prayed with them, but on Sundays erected his Bethel tent and preached to them. This required a higher kind of courage than to storm a battery a moral courage which few pos- sess. This did not result from a wild fanaticism which formed so great a part of the religion of many of Cromwell's soldiers, but from a calm, consistent faith in God's Word and undoubting belief in the truths it revealed. Another has well summed up his history in saying, " "Worn in body, high of courage, pure in heart, of an energy which no difficulties could daunt, of a resolution which no disasters could shake, he sealed his devotion to his country by his blood ; and when the good laborer's work was done RETREAT TO CAWNPORE. 373 he went to receive his reward ill a far distant land." * The life of Havelock teaches one lesson that the Ilritish people would do well to lay to heart: that merit, patriotism and ability are not the sure road to eminence in the English army, but are re- garded light as air compared to aristocratic connec- tions and influence. Havelock's abilities did not lie hid in a corner they were recognized by every com- mander-in-chief and governor-general for a long term of years, but were overlooked at home until the hour of deadly peril came. One would think that the " red tape system" might have disappeared forever after Napoleon's career, but here England treated one of the ablest soldiers she ever had in India with neglect, f<>r the reason that his merit was his sole recommen- dation to favor. We cannot follow further the history of this war. ( "a i npbcll, hearing nothing of Wyndham, marched on the 27th for Cawnpore, taking with him all the wo- men, children, sick and wounded. When he en- camped at night, he heard faintly booming over the plain the sound of cannon in the direction of Cawn- pore, and knew too well what it meant. Filled with anxiety, he marched next morning at seven o'clock, and stimulated to greater exertion by the explosions of cannon that grew more distinct as he advanced, he urged forward his vast convoy without a moment's rest. The wounded groaned and died, the sick over- tasked yielded up their breath, wlnje the carriers Vide Blackwood, October, 1858. 374 LIFE OF GENERAL HAYELOCK. staggered and fell under their burdens yet Campbell could not stop, for at that moment the enemy's can- non might be thundering on the bridge of boats at Cawnpore, and if it were once destroyed "Wyndham was lost. At length some swift horsemen were seen spurring along the road. They came from Wyndham's camp, and reported his double defeat and present perilous position. Campbell ordered the advance guard to fire salvos of artillery to let him know he was com- ing, and then pushed on. The garrison at Cawnpore was hard bestead, and when night closed upon them and they could see no clouds of dust beyond the Ganges promising relief, their hearts sank within them. But at midnight the clatter of horses' feet was heard on the bridge, and soon Sir Colin reined up beneath the ramparts of Cawnpore. Cheer upon cheer rang out upon the night air, for not only was Lucknow saved but Cawnpore should now be saved also. In a few days the entire convoy of women and children and sick was started off for Allahabad, and then he turned like a lion upon his foe, crushing him to pieces. Of the campaign in the Doab that followed we shall say nothing. Early next spring the victorious army was again around Lucknow, and the thunder of guns once more shook the place where Havelock slept. The city fell, and Campbell following up his successes seems to have extinguished the rebellion.* % * Those who wish to follow Campbell in his brilliant campaign will find its history graphically written by Mr. Russell of the London Times. JUSTICE OF HEAVEN 1 . 375 Whatever may be the result of the present now rela- tions established between England and the Indian Empire, the former may see the eternal justice of God vindicated in the expense and bloodshed it has cost her to retain possession of a kingdom she so un- righteously appropriated to her own use. England and America are both essentially grasping and aggressive in their policy, and whatever good may ultimately result to civilization from their conquests, both will eventually find their danger, if not their destruction, in the lust of territory. THE END, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 41584 / A 000 965 861 8