Captains R. Glyn’s and Dillon’s companies of the 2nd Battalion and Captain Atherley’s company of the 3rd Battalion were on picquet. In the course of the night Lieutenant Eyre, who was with this picquet, while out patrolling came upon the body of Major Smith, beheaded and mutilated. And in the morning of the 7th with a party of ten men, accompanied by Captain Dillon, he went out, found the body, and brought it in. They were fired at by the Sepoys, but did not suffer any damage. During the night there were several alarms, but without result; but about nine o’clock the enemy attacked this picquet in great force. They were said to be about 10,000 in number. They advanced, covered by the fire of three guns placed in a tope of trees. The picquet at once fell in, extended, and advanced, with two guns of the Royal Horse Artillery, and drove the enemy back into the town, capturing one ammunition waggon. The fire was very severe, but the casualties were only one man of the 3rd Battalion wounded. But there were some hair-breadth escapes. Lieutenant Baillie’s sword was struck, and a Sergeant (Kemp) of the 2nd Battalion had his trousers torn, but without being wounded. The picquet continued to occupy the advanced position to which they had moved until the evening, when they were relieved about six o’clock.

The two Rifle Battalions had been moved up about 150 yards in front of their camp, into which the enemy pitched round shot; but they halted there in reserve, and were not actually engaged, the companies on picquet having repulsed the attack and disposed of their assailants. On the morning of the 7th they pitched the tents which had come up the night before; and they continued in this camp during that day and the 8th.

On the morning of the 9th the two Battalions paraded at five at their alarm-posts. The object of the day’s work was to drive the rebels out of the Yellow Bungalow, the key of their position, and from its neighbourhood. From the Kookrail to the Yellow Bungalow is a sandy plain, while the ground from the Bungalow to the Iron bridge is occupied by suburban villages and enclosed gardens. On the other side of the Fyzabad road the ground is wooded. The two Battalions advanced in skirmishing order, while other troops followed in contiguous columns, three companies of the 3rd Battalion under Colonel Macdonell, Lindsay’s being extended, pivoting on their left, and an equal number of the 2nd Battalion prolonging the line. Moving forward, they forded the Kookrail river (about knee-deep), and soon after found the enemy. The Riflemen advanced to a small village in broken ground and well wooded, a very strong position if the enemy had availed himself of it; but the Sepoys retired without firing a shot. Colonel Fyers took his company to attack this village. The Riflemen then passed through this wooded ground at the double, and came out into the open. The skirmishers then brought their right shoulders forward, and advanced, the enemy retiring before them until the right of the line had moved up to the neighbourhood of the river. They then came to the Yellow Bungalow, and the Riflemen went at it with a rush. Lieutenant Cooper and Corporal Bradshaw, V.C., were the first over the wall of the compound surrounding it. There was a lane, with the Bungalow on one side, and some outhouses on the other. Some of the 2nd Battalion passed along the lane and came out in the open country beyond, where was a village on the right. Captain Nixon with part of his company passed through a lane which ran along the village, while the remainder, under G. Curzon, went forward. The Riflemen were here exposed to a smart fire, but not of Artillery. There was a bungalow on the right, which a company of the 3rd Battalion under Captain Deedes occupied. Captain Fremantle, collecting as many men of his company as were near him, kept away to the right, clearing the houses in front of the guns, which were following him. This was disagreeable work, as it was impossible to tell how many of the Sepoys were in these houses; but the men backed him up, and the houses were cleared. The guns then opened at the gate of the Badshahbagh. Some additional guns moving to the right, Fremantle with his company covered their advance and lined a wall. They were here ordered to take a house in their front, which they did with a rush, and held it for an hour and a half, exposed to a heavy fire of musketry; till they were ordered by General Walpole to set fire to some villages, which they did under heavy fire, and then returned to and lined the former wall.

The enemy now gave way; and, though they showed some cavalry (Lancers with a green flag), on a battery being brought up and opening fire, they moved off in confusion along the bank of the river. Unfortunately, there was some space between the right of the line and the river, and some enclosures, and they got away. But they were pursued by some Horse Artillery; and Colonel Macdonell, carried away by the ardour of the moment, charged with them. Captain Nicholl killed one man with his revolver.

The Battalions halted from 8.30 till two in the afternoon, when they went under the shade of a tope; and they encamped for the night on the ground they had so gallantly won, in the open à cheval on the Fyzabad road, with their left 200 yards from the Goomtee.

The casualties of the 2nd Battalion were 5 men wounded.

On the 10th the Riflemen shifted their camp to near the Yellow Bungalow. A party under Lieutenants Grey and Dugdale, on escort to bring up the mortars, were engaged, when 1 sergeant (Richards) and 1 private were wounded. The two Battalions furnished outlying picquets, some of which were not relieved for forty-eight hours.

On the 11th the two Battalions paraded on the Fyzabad road a little before six, in order to make a reconnaissance in force to ascertain the possibility of crossing by a bridge to Lucknow. The Riflemen, leading in skirmishing order, were distributed among orchards, buildings of various kinds, and narrow streets. They skirmished through these as well as they could, each captain acting in a measure independently, and handling his company as he thought best. The streets were so intricate and the continuity of the Battalions so broken that no other system was possible. The Riflemen worked their way through these obstructions, and reached the mosque on the Old Cantonment road, which commands the approach to the Iron bridge. This bridge they were ordered not to cross. But, leaving the mosque in charge of other troops, they proceeded to fight their way to the Iron and Stone bridges. At one place the skirmishers came to a high wall, and dividing, passed some to the right and some to the left. And coming to the other side, they found themselves in a perfect labyrinth of streets, lanes and gardens. The enemy retreated before them, hiding among the buildings and enclosures, and were driven across the bridges. Major Bourchier’s company of the 3rd Battalion succeeded in getting a commanding position, and killed some fifty of the enemy. The camp of the rebel 15th Irregular Horse was surprised, and two guns and the standard of that regiment were captured by the Riflemen. As the 3rd Battalion were passing through the narrow street of a village which had been set on fire, they were blocked by one of the captured guns in their front sticking fast or being overturned, and had some difficulty in escaping the flames.

On approaching the Iron bridge Captain Wilmot, 2nd Battalion, found himself with only four men of his company at the end of a street opposed to a large force of the enemy. One of the men was shot through both legs, and was quite helpless. Corporal Nash and Private David Hawkes took him up and carried him to the rear; and though Hawkes was himself severely wounded, he continued to carry him under fire from the enemy, Captain Wilmot with his revolver keeping back the enemy and covering their retreat.[288] Eventually the Riflemen cleared the whole of the suburbs near the Old Cantonment road as far as the Iron bridge.

The casualties of the 2nd Battalion were considerable. Captain Thynne, while in a house drinking some water, was struck by a round shot, which shattered his arm and leg. The latter was at once amputated, but he died about two hours after. He was buried that evening in a tope of trees close to the camp of the Riflemen.

His loss was much regretted by his brother-officers, by whom he was much esteemed. ‘No one in the whole regiment,’ writes one of them, ‘was more liked or could be more regretted. He was always a cheerful and agreeable companion, and a right good soldier besides.’

Lieutenant Cooper was also severely wounded in the neck; the ball passed out of his shoulder through the lung. He died on the 19th, and was buried at the Dilkoosha. Five privates were also wounded, of whom two died of their wounds.

In his despatch Major-General Sir James Outram thus reports: ‘The enemy held the ground in great strength in front of the Rifle skirmishers, commanded by Brevet-Major Warren, Captains Wilmot and Thynne, and Lieutenant Grey, who all behaved most gallantly.... The spirit and dash of the men during this critical operation was most remarkable, and merits my highest commendation.’ He also mentions with especial commendation Brigadier-General Walpole, Brigadier Horsford, Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, commanding 2nd Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, commanding 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade. Major Ross, Captain Nixon, and Lieutenant Eccles were also favourably mentioned in despatches.

On the 12th there was an attack, or a threatened attack, on the mortar batteries, and three companies of the 3rd Battalion were sent down to protect them. There was still, too, some fighting about the bridges. With this exception, the Rifle Battalions were not engaged on this or the following day; but furnished picquets and covering parties for guns.

The picquet duty at this time and till the end of the operations at Lucknow was very severe and harassing, the picquets being sometimes on for forty-eight hours; one, indeed, was not relieved for three days and nights. The weather too was very hot; and swarms of flies by day and of mosquitos by night made these duties anything but agreeable.

On the 14th (the day Sir Colin Campbell took the Imaumbarah and the Kaiserbagh), the two Battalions were suddenly turned out at three in the afternoon, and marched towards the Iron bridge, in order to prevent the Sepoys crossing it; but no enemy appearing, they returned to their camp at half-past five.

On the 16th some Sepoys who remained in the town attacked a picquet of the 3rd Battalion near the Iron bridge, but were driven back.

On the 18th the Riflemen moved their camp to near the Badshahbagh.

On the 19th the two Battalions were ordered, the 2nd to hold the Iron bridge, the 3rd the Stone bridge, while the force on the right bank cleared the town of Lucknow of the remaining rebels. They took up their position at 7.30 in the morning, and remained till 5.30 in the afternoon, when they returned to their camp, much exhausted by the great heat, but not having been actively engaged.

The casualties during the operations at Lucknow were: of the 2nd Battalion, Captain Thynne killed, and 13 men wounded; of the 3rd, 6 men wounded.[289]

On the 22nd the two Battalions were ordered to march on a secret expedition; and parading at half-past ten at night, moved to the Old Cantonment, about five miles from their camp, which was left standing. Here they joined the cavalry which was to act with them. Thence they proceeded in a very dark night for a considerable time, but were at last halted, and ordered to lie down in a dusty road ankle-deep in sand. The night was excessively cold. At five in the morning (March 23) the men having breakfasted, they marched on till eleven, when they were halted for three hours under the shade of a tope; and afterwards proceeded to the village of Koorsee, about sixteen miles from Lucknow, a strong position. But the enemy had for the most part evacuated it, and encamped about six miles farther on. However, the force had a brush, killed about 150 of the rebels, and took 15 guns, 70 camels, and 2 elephants, besides some carts loaded with ammunition, which was exploded during the night. The active part of this affair fell principally on the cavalry, but the Riflemen were drawn up in line, ready to support them if they had been wanted. In his despatch on this occasion Sir Hope Grant mentions Brigadier Horsford, commanding the infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, commanding the 2nd Battalion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, commanding the 3rd Battalion. And on the 24th, the objects of the expedition having been accomplished, they started for their camp at seven, and halting as before during the hottest part of the day, returned to their camp at seven in the evening. Though the weather was very sultry, the men were not wearied; marching cheerfully and singing all the return march. This elicited the marked approval of General Grant, who was in command.

On the 30th the two Battalions moved camp to the Old Cantonment.

On April 5 the Camel Corps was formed by a draft of 4 officers and 100 men from each of the Battalions, and 200 Sikhs. The officers who were attached to it were Captain Nixon, Lieutenants Scriven, Eyre, and G. Curzon of the 2nd Battalion, and Major Ross, Captain H. Newdigate, Lieutenants Austin, Buckley, and Jeames of the 3rd Battalion.

On April 9 the 3rd Battalion moved camp to the Badshahbagh, and on the 15th, taking three days’ provisions, six companies started on an expedition. They marched out beyond the Dilkoosha, and encamped. I cannot ascertain whether they engaged the enemy during the time they were in the field, but on the 24th these companies returned to the camp at the Badshahbagh. And the Battalion soon afterwards went into quarters at Lucknow.

During the fighting from Cawnpore to Lucknow this young Battalion had borne their part in action and in marching with great determination, valour and endurance. But now that excitement had passed away, and no amusement or interest took its place, sickness assailed these young soldiers. Many, both men and officers, fell ill, and numbers of the men died. They were, therefore, left for some weeks in quarters at Lucknow, to recruit their health.

About this time the Riflemen gave up their European clothing, and received instead of it dust-coloured linen, with black facings.

On April 11 the 2nd Battalion (forming part of a field force under Sir Hope Grant) marched from Lucknow to Briesha Talow. They started at half-past four in the morning, and though the distance was but six miles, did not reach their camping-ground till eight, the road being bad, and the progress of the heavy guns consequently slow.

On the next day they continued their march to Utterah, thirteen miles, over a sandy track and through thick jungle, and did not encamp till noon. The day was exceedingly hot, with the thermometer at 110°.

On the 13th they started early, and as it was getting light, near Baree came on a force of the enemy with three guns, occupying a ridge at the end of a level plain. Three companies were immediately extended and advanced across it. The rebels opened fire of matchlocks at about 800 yards, and though it continued without intermission, no harm was done. Colonel Hill had intended to go in without returning this fire, but when the line of skirmishers was about 400 yards from the enemy, a hare started up, and one of the Riflemen, unable to resist his sporting propensities, fired at it. Nothing then remained but to go in with a rush, and the enemy at once broke and fled. The Riflemen pursued them till ten o’clock, when they encamped near the scene of the combat. There was a cavalry skirmish; but the ground was broken and unfavourable for them, and the rebels looted some of the baggage.

On the 14th they marched to Burassie, eight miles; on the 15th to Mamdabad, ten; on the 16th to Bilhir, also ten, where they halted one day; resuming their march on the 18th to Filwy, eight miles, they proceeded on the 19th to Ramnagurh, eight miles, where there was another halt of a day. On the 21st they moved to Massoulee, eight miles; and on the day following to Nawabgunge, six miles, where they halted. On the 23rd, 200 Riflemen, under the command of Colonel Fyers (with other troops) went with Brigadier Horsford to Jungerabad, about six miles from Nawabgunge, and took and destroyed the fort at that place.

Starting again on the 26th they marched thirteen miles to Chinhut; on the 27th to the Dilkoosha; and on the 28th to the Alumbagh; having in this expedition swept round that portion of Oude north of Lucknow.

But no rest was given the Battalion. On the day after they marched into Lucknow they marched out of it; now to the south, and halted at Bunnee bridge. On the next day they proceeded seven miles to Kantha; and after one day’s halt there, on May 2 marched ten miles to Poorwah. Sir Hope Grant was anxious to come up with the force under the rebel general Beni Madhoo. So starting again on the 4th the Battalion marched seven miles to Moorawon. On the 5th they halted, but a reconnoitring party was sent out which took five hackeries laden with matchlocks and ammunition. On the 6th they marched seven miles to Dirgpalgunge, and on the 7th five miles to Parthan. Here they halted on the 8th. During this march the men had suffered much from the heat, many having died of sunstroke. The duties, picquets, &c., fell hard too on the officers; for three had been killed since their arrival in India, two had been sent home wounded, and one sick; two were on General Walpole’s Staff, two left sick at Lucknow, and one was sick in camp; so that there were only, besides the Lieutenant-Colonel, five captains and ten subalterns effective with the Battalion.

They marched on the 9th from Parthan to Nuggur, eight miles, and on the 10th to Doondia Khera, seven miles, where they encamped in a shady tope of mango trees.

From this place Sir Hope Grant thought that he could by a night march of some twenty miles, come upon the rebels under Beni Madhoo. Accordingly, at six in the evening the Battalion received orders to march at half-past eleven. But in the darkness of the night the various portions of the column missed each other, and not being able to make out the track, found themselves at daybreak near Nuggur, where they had encamped on the 9th. Here, accordingly, they halted and did not encamp till eight o’clock. They made a short halt there, striking tents at two, and parading in a grove of mango trees, marched at three in the afternoon. It was then fearfully hot, the thermometer marking 118° in the tent. The men were struck down by the sun every moment. ‘Shortly after we marched,’ writes General Hill, ‘the Surgeon, Fraser, rode up to me with the report, “There are fifteen men down; all the doolies[290] are full; what are we to do with the next?” It was a puzzling question, but I suggested elephants; and meanwhile sent to ask permission to make a sick depôt at the first convenient spot, and to leave one company to protect it. However, as the sun got lower the casualties were fewer, and we were enabled to keep on till the enemy were in sight and a halt was made.’

This was after a march of five miles. The Battalion advanced in skirmishing order; guns accompanying the skirmishers, galloping forward and firing two or three rounds until the Riflemen came up. Thus they went on to the bank of a large nullah, where they had orders to halt. Sir Hope Grant went off with the cavalry; and soon the sound of the enemy’s baggage carts was so distinct that Colonel Hill asked permission to take on his Battalion to capture them. But it was too late, for the daylight only sufficed for a smart skirmish across the open. Meanwhile Colonel Fyers, with two companies, Earle’s under Lieutenant Baillie, and R. Glyn’s, had captured a gun. It was getting dark, the ‘retire’ had sounded, and all had joined the main body except these two companies. The gun was heavy; the ground bad; and the men worn out by heat and fatigue. They made little way with their gun, and it became quite dark. Then some horsemen appeared on the left. A question arose what they were. The general opinion was that they were Sikhs. At last they came near, and Colonel Fyers challenged; the reply was not satisfactory, and he fired his revolver. The Riflemen at once poured a volley into them at thirty yards which emptied half the saddles, and then fixed swords. But the horsemen fled, their leaders were seen through the darkness endeavouring to re-form them, but without success. The Riflemen, not without difficulty in the pitchy darkness, rejoined the Battalion.

In the course of this fight the enemy got in amongst our sick. A smart young Sergeant (Pitt) was being carried in a dooly insensible from sunstroke, when some of the enemy’s troopers came upon it. The bearers fled, and this poor fellow was beheaded; the rebels carrying off the head as a trophy. The mess baggage had also a narrow escape, the Sergeant in charge of it (Sergeant Cann) being obliged to run for his life.

I have said that the men were utterly exhausted by the heat, by their march, and by the fight. They bivouacked on the ground they occupied. But not to sleep the sleep of the weary; for in the night an extraordinary panic arose. Men cried out that the enemy were upon them. Some fired their rifles; some clubbed them and struck out at everyone near them. At last it wore itself out or was allayed; and except some broken heads no injuries were inflicted, at least in the Rifle Battalion. The origin of this panic remains a mystery; the most probable solution is that either some grass-cutters’ ponies or some cavalry horses had got loose and knocked down the piled arms, and so caused an alarm. The loss of the Battalion on this day was three men by sunstroke.

On the 13th they returned to their old camping-ground at Nuggur, where they halted two days. Here Sir Hope Grant received intelligence of a large force of rebels being to the north of Lucknow; he therefore retraced his steps, and the Battalion marched on the 15th to Parthan and encamped under a tope of trees. They had not pitched their tents more than a couple of hours when they were ordered to turn out, the enemy having shown themselves and driven in the camels, which were out feeding. However, the rebels disappeared. On the next day the Battalion marched to Poorwah, seven miles; on the 17th they halted, but on a false alarm they were turned out under arms. On the 18th they moved to Mirree, seven miles; on the 19th to Bunnee, ten miles; thence on the 20th to the Alumbagh; and on the 21st to the Dilkoosha, where they pitched camp on the bank of the Goomtee. On their arrival at Lucknow they sent fifty-three men to hospital; among them the Sergeant-Major and the Quartermaster Sergeant.

They remained at Lucknow only three days, marching again on the 24th to Jellalabad, and on the 25th to Bunnee. In these marches, though the heat was very great, the Battalion did not lose a man, while the regiment with them (53rd) suffered much.

They halted for a week at Bunnee, a respite much needed after almost incessant marches for two months.

On May 11, an attack on Lucknow being apparently anticipated, a force took the field, in order to be ready to move on any point to repel it. Three companies of the 3rd Battalion, under Major Oxenden, therefore moved out of Lucknow and encamped on the Chinhut road. The heat was overpowering, and many men died every day during their stay here, which was but short. For on the 15th they broke up camp and returned to the Badshahbagh.

Early in June, in consequence of repeated alarms of attacks from the rebels, a camp was formed at Chinhut, about seven miles from Lucknow, and four companies of the 3rd Battalion were moved to this camp. On June 8, an attack being expected, they were under arms, but were not engaged, no enemy appearing.

The remainder of the Battalion, marching at about three on the morning of the 12th from Lucknow, were joined at Chinhut by these four companies, by the 2nd Battalion, and the other troops enumerated p. 386, and proceeding about two miles further on, encamped at Utterdowna. This march, for it was the hottest season of the year, was most fatiguing. Leaving the sick at Lucknow, this Battalion had started 702 strong. And yet about 100 men out of that number were more or less disabled in this one march.

On June 1 the 2nd Battalion marched again at four in the morning to Meemteker, six miles, but on their arrival found that the enemy, whom it was expected to find there, had disappeared. They therefore halted in a tope. On the 2nd they proceeded five miles to Chumrowlee, a very hot and dusty march, and encamped in the open. On the 3rd, starting at three, they made a march of eleven miles to Poorwah, where they halted for three days; on one of which they were paraded for the inspection of the Rajah of Kuppurthullah, who had arrived in camp with a force of his followers.

Sir Hope Grant having received intelligence about this time that a large rebel force was assembling to the north of Lucknow, he resolved to leave the pursuit of Beni Madhoo, and the Riflemen began to retrace their steps towards Lucknow.

Starting again on the 7th early in the morning they marched to Mirzee, twelve miles, and on the 8th to Bunnee, five miles. These marches were by a different route from that by which they had marched through these places on former occasions. On the 9th they marched to Bunteerah in a very hot wind; on the 10th to Jellalabad; and on the 11th to the Dilkoosha. On this occasion Brigadier Horsford had procured for the Battalion the permission to halt in Lucknow itself, and not merely to march through it as on some previous occasions; which gave them the opportunity of obtaining some much-needed supplies, which they had not had since landing in the country. But the time even for this was short; for on the afternoon of the 12th they marched at three o’clock to Utterdowna, about two miles beyond Chinhut. Here they were rejoined by the 3rd Battalion; and the force now consisted of these two Battalions, and a regiment of Punjaub rifles, part of the Bays, the 7th Hussars, and some Irregular (Hodson’s) Horse.

They started again, after a very short halt of the 2nd Battalion, at about eleven at night. They took with them one day’s rations, cooked, some rum, and all their ammunition. This march was one of the most fatiguing ever made. The men had been without rest the night before, and the heat of the tents by day was so intolerable that sleep was impossible. The road was bad, cut up, and damaged; there was no moon; and the dust was suffocating. So weary were the men that whenever a halt occurred, by a block from a gun sticking fast or turning over, they sank down on the road, many inches deep with dust, and slept. Soon the water carried with the column was exhausted; no wells were near or could be found; and the cries of the men for water were pitiable in the extreme. Numbers of doolies accompanied the column (the 3rd Battalion had sixty); but these were soon filled, and the fainting soldiers were left on the road on the chance of being picked up by the Hospital staff of other regiments, or of rejoining when strength returned.

At last daylight appeared, and they found that by dint of marching all night they had arrived exactly where their chief, Sir Hope Grant, wished them to be, close to Nawabgunge.[291]

In this march and in the subsequent advance on the enemy’s position, the 3rd Battalion led the column, not without some murmurs from their fellow-Riflemen of the 2nd, who held that as so much of the previous hard work had fallen to them, the post of honour ought to have been theirs. Nevertheless, honour and hard work were theirs before the day was over.

Having marched thus in darkness and suffering some nine miles, they turned off the road near Nawabgunge, for the enemy had seven guns in position, and halted.

They sat down, and water having been procured by some camels having come up, the men were given a dram of grog each.

Day having now fully broken, they fell in and advanced to a large square plain broken up with nullahs and uneven ground, and surrounded in the distance with topes of trees and villages. The cavalry and guns crossed a small river to the left, and were followed by the 3rd Battalion. This advanced guard was soon engaged, and forced the bridge. On crossing the river they came upon the enemy’s position. They were formed in a kind of crescent, two regiments bearing green flags being drawn up in the centre. The Riflemen advanced in column, preceded by Major Bourchier’s company extended in skirmishing order. As they approached the enemy Colonel Glyn, who was in command of the Battalion, directed the two rear companies to wheel to the right. These were Major Atherley’s and one commanded by Lieutenant Cragg. As they got near the enemy, Atherley found himself facing one of the regiments with the green standard. He extended the companies, and after advancing some way ordered Cragg’s company to lie down, sheltered by some rising ground, and directed Cragg if he saw him retiring, to pass through his files, and charge the enemy. Then forming up his own company in line, he fixed swords and charged the regiment in his front. These were drawn up in all the ‘pomp and circumstance’ of regular troops. They planted their green standard, shouted ‘Deen, deen!’ and stood their ground. The Riflemen engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict, killing many with their swords. It is said that 150 were thus disposed of. One Rifleman having driven his sword fixed on his rifle through the shield of his opponent, was unable to draw it back, and the man making a cut at his hands, he was compelled to let it go, and it was never recovered. Some terrible drawing cuts were inflicted. One Rifleman’s hand was cut off at a blow, the next cut severed the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, the third cut him across the stomach, and killed him. Meanwhile the enemy did not yield. Cragg’s company had come up, and the Riflemen were nearly exhausted. Five of the enemy surrounded Atherley; four of them were shot by Percival with his revolver; the other was trampled on and disposed of by the pony on which Atherley was mounted, which was very vicious. Percival having fired all six barrels of his revolver drew his sword, and resting it against his thigh, began to reload. At that instant, looking round, he saw a native aiming a lance at his side; he evaded it and the man was killed. This sort of thing could not last for ever. The Riflemen, whom the excitement of the fight had animated and borne up after their fatiguing night march, were becoming exhausted. Yet their courage and steadiness were not without their results, for their opponents began to break off and retire. Then Quartermaster Harvey,[292] who had accompanied these companies on his pony, galloped to some of Hodson’s Horse who were near, and urged them to come and charge the regiment opposed to his comrades. He urged in vain. In vain did their officers give the word to advance. Not a man moved. It was well perhaps for him that they did not understand the epithets with which Harvey assailed them. But just then he saw some squadrons of the 7th Hussars approaching. He galloped to them, and told their commanding officer, Sir William Russell, who was leading, that the Riflemen could maintain the unequal fight no longer, and must be overpowered unless help was at hand. ‘We’ll soon clear them,’ was the answer. And in an instant the Hussars were thundering along at the charge.[293] An instant more they were on the green-bannered regiment, cutting them up as they fled at their approach.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the field and against the other body with the green colours, the Riflemen of this Battalion waged an unequal conflict. For they were far outnumbered, and so weary from their night march and the fierce blaze of an Indian sun, that they were scarce able to load, and when loaded could fire only with a desultory aim. Many were struck down by the sun in the fight; and it was impossible to distinguish when a man fell, whether sunstroke or a wound brought him to the ground.

Sir Hope Grant, who commanded in this action, says: ‘I have seen many battles in India, and many brave fellows fighting with a determination to conquer or die, but I never witnessed anything more magnificent than the conduct of these Zemindarees.’[294]

So far we have seen the part borne by the 3rd Battalion, which, as I have said, led the column. We must return to the opening of the battle, and to the 2nd Battalion. In front of it, as they drew near the field, were some large guns, and the delay of getting them over the nullah allowed the other and leading Battalion to get a quarter or half a mile to the front. Before the 2nd Battalion had crossed, and while they were still expecting orders to advance, an alarm was given in the rear. A considerable force of the enemy had found their way to the rear round the right flank, and were cutting up the camp followers. The number of these was large, as the Bays had brought on their camp-equipage; and there was no rear-guard, so that the defence of all this baggage devolved on the 2nd Battalion. At this time, too, Lieutenant Ames, who was coming up with spare ammunition, was attacked. Colonel Hill immediately gave the word, ‘Right-about turn,’ and extended three companies in his now front, sending one under Lieutenant Baillie to protect his right flank, which was threatened. The camp followers were running in in a confused mass, to escape from their pursuers. As soon as these stragglers had passed the line of skirmishers and cleared the front, the skirmishers opened fire, and advancing to the nearest cover halted, awaiting the Artillery which Colonel Hill had sent to ask from the Brigadier. Meanwhile, the now left was enfiladed by two of the enemy’s guns, and Captain Dillon was sent with two companies to take or to silence them.

The skirmishers were keeping up an incessant fire, which the enemy briskly returned, at a distance of about 400 yards, but as the Riflemen were well covered they did not much suffer. As no Artillery made its appearance, Colonel Hill ordered the men to make a rush on the enemy. They did so, and the rebels retired through a village; when the Riflemen were ordered to halt. Having waited there till the enemy had disappeared, the Battalion moved to a tope of mango trees not far from the river, and there awaited further orders.

Some time after, a large body of cavalry appeared in their rear (the proper rear of the column). These were at first taken for Hodson’s Horse; but infantry soon appeared, and it was ascertained that they were enemies. Two companies of Riflemen moved down into a hollow which afforded good cover; and as the cavalry passed, gave them a volley at about 500 yards. This the infantry returned with a straggling fire and then turned and fled. The Battalion remained in the tope during the day and till about six in the evening, when they were ordered to join the rest of the column, then two or three miles in advance. They reached their camping-ground about seven, and pitched their tents.

I may here note some of the incidents of this fight. As some of the 3rd Battalion were advancing on the enemy, who were receiving them with a sharp fire, some hares were started between the opposing ranks. More than one Rifleman aimed and fired at the hares, not at the foe.[295]

One man, a Ghazee,[296] being cut off from his companions, seemed determined to make a desperate fight for it. Setting his back to a tree, he stood, sword in hand, glaring fiercely on his pursuers, for some officers and men had followed him into the tope. Some shots were taken at him, which he tried to avoid by dodging round the tree, but he was wounded and made more desperate. At last a Pioneer of the 3rd Battalion, Samuel Shaw, rushed at him and closed with him. The Ghazee wounded him on the head with his tulwar, but Shaw, drawing his Pioneer’s sword, sawed at him with the serrated back and despatched him. Shaw rose from the ground covered with blood, but his opponent was slain. Many who witnessed it declared that this combat with a fanatic determined to sell his life to slay his foe, was the greatest instance of cool courage they ever saw. For this act Shaw received the Victoria Cross.

Quartermaster Harvey, on going into a tope of trees where the Battalion were about to encamp, came upon a man who seemed inclined to make off. On Harvey stopping him, he fell at his feet and offered, if his life were spared, to show him where a quantity of powder was concealed. Accordingly, Harvey and Percival followed him, and he brought them to a place where there was a bullock-cart laden with seven casks of powder. This was exploded and the bullocks taken possession of.

The casualties of the Regiment on this day were: of the 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant Lawton severely wounded, and 1 corporal and 2 privates wounded; in the 3rd Battalion, 1 corporal and 11 privates wounded, and 1 Rifleman missing.

But far worse than the injuries done by the enemy’s fire, were the sufferings of the men from exposure to the sun. The 3rd Battalion lost 14 men from sunstroke; in the 2nd Battalion 1 man died of sunstroke, and many others suffered from it, of whom 2 died on the next day, and another on the 15th.[297] Fortunately, the supply of water was plentiful, and the bheesties[298] assiduous in administering it. Some of the men were raving; some lying on their backs as if dead, while the bheesties sprinkled them with water. So great was the exhaustion, that on Sir Hope Grant’s giving an order that tents were to be pitched, Quartermaster Harvey went to Brigadier Horsford to say that in the 3rd Battalion the men were so utterly exhausted that they could not do it, and begged him to allow the men to lie down in the shade. The Brigadier replied that the General’s order must be obeyed, but consented to take him to Sir Hope Grant, to make his report in person to him. Sir Hope insisted, and said ‘the tents must and shall be pitched.’ On Harvey’s return to his Battalion the men turned to, and set about pitching the tents; but many fell down through sheer fatigue, and slept on the tents they were ordered to pitch. Yet they afterwards had reason to see the wisdom of General Grant’s determination; for the shelter of the tents perhaps saved many lives; and as the enemy were still hovering about, and might again attack, it was essential that the regiments should be in some formation.

Thus at about six in the evening the two Battalions encamped on the field of Nawabgunge.

Sir Hope Grant, in his despatch dated June 17, 1858, speaks most favourably of the Rifle Battalions.

‘Brigadier Horsford,’ he writes, ‘I am much indebted to for the very excellent way he led on the infantry, and for the support he gives me upon all occasions.’

He also mentions

‘Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, who with his Battalion so gallantly and successfully protected our rear: a most important service.

‘Lieutenant-Colonel Glyn, a most excellent officer, and whose Battalion, the 3rd, behaved so well, being actively employed during the whole day.’

He also favourably notices ‘200 infantry under Major Oxenden,’ and repeatedly mentions the ‘two companies of the Rifles under Captain Atherley.’

Yet in his published work ‘The Sepoy War,’ Sir Hope Grant, or his editor, Captain Knollys, R.A., gives all the credit of these gallant deeds to the 60th, which was not near Nawabgunge at the time.