Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny 1857-59 Including the relief, siege, and capture of Lucknow, and the campaigns in Rohilcund and Oude   By: William Forbes-Mitchell

OF THE

GREAT MUTINY

1857 59

INCLUDING THE RELIEF, SIEGE, AND CAPTURE OF LUCKNOW, AND THE CAMPAIGNS IN ROHILCUND AND OUDE

BY WILLIAM FORBES MITCHELL LATE SERGEANT, NINETY THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1910

First Edition (Extra Crown 8vo) 1893. Reprinted 1894 Reprinted (Crown 8vo) 1895, 1897, 1904 Shilling Edition 1910

To the

OFFICERS, NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN,

STILL LIVING,

OF THE OLD NINETY THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS,

AND TO THE MEMORY OF

THOSE WHO FELL DURING THE MUTINY

OR HAVE SINCE PASSED AWAY,

These Reminiscences

ARE RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

BY THEIR OLD SERVANT AND COMRADE,

WILLIAM FORBES MITCHELL,

LATE NINETY THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.

CALCUTTA, April, 1893.

INTRODUCTION

These Reminiscences are submitted to the public in the trust that they will be welcomed alike by soldier and civilian. They are recorded by one who was himself an actor in the scenes which he describes, and who viewed them from a novel and most unusual position for a military historian the ranks.

They have been carefully perused by an officer who was present at many of the operations mentioned; and considerable pains have been taken to verify, wherever possible, those incidents of which he was not personally cognisant.

The interest of Mr. Forbes Mitchell's straightforward and soldierlike story is enhanced by the coincidence that he takes up the pen where Lady Inglis laid it down; and it is hoped that this volume may prove an acceptable continuation of her touching narrative of the Defence of Lucknow, and that, as a record of the Great Mutiny, it may furnish another thrilling chapter in that unparalleled story of suffering and of heroism, of man's bravery and of woman's devotion.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGE THE NINETY THIRD HIGHLANDERS SAIL FOR CHINA COUNTER ORDERED TO CALCUTTA ARRIVAL IN INDIA 1

CHAPTER II

THE MARCH UP COUNTRY FUTTEHPORE CAWNPORE 9

CHAPTER III

START FOR LUCKNOW SIR COLIN THE DILKOOSHÁ MARTINIÈRE SECUNDRABÂGH 26

CHAPTER IV

THE NINETY THIRD ANECDOTES OF THE SECUNDRABÂGH GENERAL EWART THE SHÂH NUJEEF 51

CHAPTER V

PERSONAL ANECDOTES CAPTURE OF THE SHÂH NUJEEF A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE 74

CHAPTER VI

BREAKFAST UNDER DIFFICULTIES LONG SHOTS THE LITTLE DRUMMER EVACUATION OF THE RESIDENCY BY THE GARRISON 94

CHAPTER VII

BAGPIPES AT LUCKNOW A BEWILDERED BÂBOO THE FORCED MARCH TO CAWNPORE OPIUM WYNDHAM'S MISTAKE 114

CHAPTER VIII

ANECDOTES ACTION WITH THE GWALIOR CONTINGENT ITS DEFEAT PURSUIT OF THE NÂNÂ BITHOOR JOHN LANG AND JOTEE PERSHÂD 135

CHAPTER IX

HODSON OF HODSON'S HORSE ACTION AT THE KÂLEE NUDDEE FUTTEHGHUR 160

CHAPTER X

THE STRANGE STORY OF JAMIE GREEN 172 CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI

THE SIEGE OF LUCKNOW SIR COLIN APPOINTED COLONEL OF THE NINETY THIRD ASSAULT OF THE MARTINIÈRE A "RANK" JOKE 194

CHAPTER XII

ASSAULT ON THE BEGUM'S KOTHEE DEATH OF CAPTAIN M'DONALD MAJOR HODSON WOUNDED HIS DEATH 205

CHAPTER XIII

JUNG BAHÂDOOR GUNPOWDER THE MOHURRUM AT LUCKNOW LOOT 219

CHAPTER XIV

AN UNGRATEFUL DUTY CAPTAIN BURROUGHS THE DILKOOSHÁ AGAIN GENERAL WALPOLE AT ROOYAH THE RÂMGUNGA 231

CHAPTER XV

THE BATTLE OF BAREILLY GHÂZIS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT HALT AT BAREILLY ACTIONS OF POSGAON, RUSSOOLPORE, AND NOWRUNGABAD REST AT LAST! 252

APPENDIX A

HISTORY OF THE MURDER OF MAJOR NEILL AT AUGUR 271

APPENDIX B

EUROPEANS AMONG THE REBELS 278

APPENDIX C

A FEW WORDS ON SWORD BLADES 286

APPENDIX D

THE OPIUM QUESTION 292

CHAPTER I

THE NINETY THIRD SAIL FOR CHINA COUNTER ORDERED TO CALCUTTA ARRIVAL IN INDIA