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Recent British
battles on land and sea
James Grant
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Recent
British Battles
On Land and Sea.
BY
James Grant,
Author of "Old and New Edinburgh/' "The Ronnance of War," &c.
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS,
CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited:
LONDON, PARIS ^ NEW YORK.
[all KIUHT!) RBSeKVEU.]
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7 MAY 85 ^^
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PACK
1.— The Expedition to Perak (1875-6) >...,,. i
II.— The Jowaki Expedition (1877) , . . . , . .9
III.— The War in Kaffirland (1877-81) :— The Comrats of Guadana and Ibeka . " . 11
IV.— The War in Kaffraria {cotUimtcJ) \—Tu^ Combats of Lrsisi— Umzintzani (1877) . . 17
v.— The War in Kaffraria {continued) :— The Combat of Nyumoxa— Relief of Fort Warwick—
The Fight at Quintana . . . . . . . .24
VI. -The War in Kaffraria {concluded) :— Affairs in the Perie Forest— Rebellion in Griqua.
land— Death of Sandilli . . . . . . -32
VII.— The Basuto War (1879-81):— Morosi's Mountain— The Failures Before It, and Final
Capture. . . . . . . . . -33
VIII. —The Basuto War {concluded) :— Letherodi's Village— Operations ai Mafeteng— Combat
AT THE GOLAH MOUNTAINS— THE LAAGER AT UmTATA . . . .47
IX.— The Second Afghan War :— Introduction— The Attack on Ai.i Mi'sjin . . '54
• X.— The Second Afghan War {cotitinued)\—1\vz Kurram Column and its Co.mmander— The
March to the Kurram Valley . . . . . . -58
XI.— The Second Afghan War {continued) :— The Storming of the Peiwar Kotal . . 64
XII.— The Second Afghan War {continued) :— The Sappri Defiles- The Fight at Siafoodeen . 71
XIII.— The Second Afghan War {continued) :— The Khost Valley Expedition— Fighting the
Mangals — Capture of Candahar— Fighting the Mangals Again— End of the Khost
Expedition . . . . . . . . '77
XIV.— The Second Afghan War (concluded) :— The Disaster to the ioth Hussars— Combats at
FUTTEHABAD AND DeHOURUK— ThE PEACE OF GUNDAMUK . ..89
XV.— The Third Afghan War :— Destruction of the Cabul Embassy . . .99
XVI.— The Third Afghan War {continued) :— The Battle of Charasiah— The Asmai Heights —
Cabul Entered by the British Troops— Explosion at the Bala Hissar— The Fight
AT Shahjui . . . . . . . . . io6
XVII.— The Third Afghan War {cotttinued) :— Fighting Round Cabul— Conflict at Asmai— Our
Troops Shut Up in Sherpur . . . . .118
XVIII.— The Third Afghan War {cotttinued) :— The Atfack on Sherpur . . .126
XIX.— The Third Afghan War {continued) :— Introductory Remarks— The Battle of Ahmed
Kheyl— Massacre at Dubrai— Skirmishes — Sir Donald Stewart Governor of Cabul 130
XX.— The Third Afghan War {cotttinued) :— Raids and Outrages— Abdur Rahman— Fight of
Syazabad — Mutiny of the Candaharee Troops . . . • "37
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vi BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND ANCT SEA.
CHAPTER ^ PAGE
XXI. — The Third Afghan War {contimud) . — The Baitle of Maiwand, or Kushk-i-Nakhud . 143
XXIL— The Third Afghan War (r<w/fViw<'</):—CANDAHAR Invested . . . • ^57
XXIII.— The Third Afghan War ^continued) :— A Last Glance at Cabul— Sir Frederick Roberts's
Letters of Readiness -Commencement of his Famo^^ March . . .161
XX IV. —The Third Afghan War [continued) :— The Sortie from Candahar— The March of
General Stewart— The March of General Phayre . . . .165
XXV.— The Third Afghan War {continued) -.—The March of Sir Frederick Roberts— The Re-
connaissance OF THE 31ST of August . .- . . . .17a
XXVI.— The Third Afghan War {concluded) :— The Battle of Baba Wali, or Candahar . . 179
XXVII.— Changes in the Equipment and Army Organisation— The War Balloon— The "Steam
Sapper "—Rifles AND Bayonets— The New Drill— Gunnery— The 8o-Ton Gun— The
Largest Crane in the World— Star Shells— 13 and 7 Pounders— The Nordenfeldt
Gun— Army Promotion Warrant— The Territorial Regiments . . .189
XXVIIL— The Zulu War :— Introductory— The Ancestors of Cetewayo— His Army— Zulu Weapons
— Sekukuni and his Stronghold . . . . . . .195
XXIX.— The Zulu War {contintud) :— The Sons of Sirayo Cause of the War— Operations of the
Right Column, uth to 23RD January— Combat of Inyezane . . .203
XXX.— The Zulu War (r^»//»/#^//) :— Operations of the Centre Column, iith to 23RD January-
Tub Disaster of Isandhlw ana— Defence of Rorke's Drift . . .209
XXXI.— The Zulu War (r<wi//ww^</) :— Operations of the Left Column, iith to 23RD January—
The Blockade of Etschowe— Colonel Pearson's Two Raids . . .226
XXXII. — The Zulu War [continued) : — The Relieving Column — The Laager at Ghingilovo . 234
XXXIII.— The Zulu War [continued) :— With the Leff Column— The Fight at Intombe— Storming .
THE InHLOBANE MOUNTAIN— ThE SUBSEQUENT DISASTER . . . .24!
XXXIV.— The Zulu War [cotttinued) :— Brigadier Wood Attacked at Kambula— Arrival of Re-
inforcements— Reorganisation of the South African Field Force . . 252
XXXV. — The Zulu War [continued): — With the First Division— Fort Napoleon — Arrival of Sir
Garnet Wolseley ........ 260
XXXVI.— The Zulu War [continued) :— With the Second Division— Buller's Scouts— Zulu Ambas-
sadors .......... 262
XXXVIL— The Zulu War (continued) :— Death of Prince Louis Napoleon— Trial of Lieutenant
Carey, 98TH Regiment . . . . . . . . 26S
XXXVIII.— The Zulu War [continued) :— Resumed Advance of the Second Division— Skirmish at the
Erzungayan Hill — More Zulu Envoys— Skirmish near the Umlatoosi River . 273
XXXIX.— The Zulu War [continued) :— On the March to Ulundi— The Expedition beyond the
Umvolosi . . . . . . . . .279
XL.— The Zulu War [continued) :— The Battle of Ulundi . . . . .286
XLI.— The Zulu War [continued) :— The Second Division Broken Up— Some Operations of the
Second — A "Durbar** by the Umlatoosi . . . . . .292
XLII.— The Zulu War [continued) :— Reorganisation of the Troops in South Africa— Plans of
Sir Garnet Wolseley— Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke's Column— Lieutenant-Colonel
Russell's Column ........ 298
XLIII.— The Zulu War [continued) :— Pursuit and Capture of Cetewayo . , ^04
XLIW. —The ZVLV War [cone/uded) . . . . . . 3*^
XLV.— The Operations against Sekukuni . . . . . 3^5
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CONTENTS.
VII
CHAFFER P'^GE
XLVI.— The Operations against Sekukuni (concluded) , , . . . .321
XLVII.— The Transvaal War :— Introductory— The Transvaal— The Boers— Their Discontent
AFTER THE ANNEXATION ........ 329
XLVIII.— The Transvaal War {cofil^micd) -.—The Affair at Brunkers Spruit— The Murder of
Captain Elliot . . . . . . . * . '335
XLIX.— The Transvaal War {continued) :— The Leaders of the Boers— Their Army— The Battle
of Laing's Nek . . . . . . . . .341
L.— The Transvaal War {cotttinued) :— The Battle of Ingogo River or Schain's Hoogte . 351
LI.— The Transvaal War {continued) :— Arrival of Sir Evelyn Wood— The Relieving Column 358
LIL— The Transvaal War {continued) :— The Battle of Majuba Hill . . .362
LIIL— The Transvaal War {continued) :— The Eight Days* Armistice— Proposals for Peace . 370
LIV.— The Transvaal War {continued) :— Our Garrisons Besieged in the Transvaal— Wakker-
stroom—Standerton— Pretoria— LvDENBERG—PoTCHEFSTROOM . . . -373
LV.— The Transvaal War {concluded) . . . . . .382
LVL— The Egyptian War :— Introduction— Arabi Pasha and the Khedive . . .383
LVII.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— The Bombardment of Alexandria . . .388
LVIII.— The Egyptian War {cotitinued) :— Alexandria after the Bombardment . . .398
LIX.— The Egyptian War (r^w//Vi/«r</) :— Strength and Composition of the British Army— The
Sailors' Ironclad Train— The Skirmishes at Ramleh . . . .401
LX.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— The Army Detailed— Night Surprise of the 6oth Rifi.es
Picket — Alison's Reconnaissance of Kaf rdow a r— Reconnaissances by Lieutenant
DORRIEN AND CaPTAIN PaRR— SuEZ CaNAL OCCUPIED BY THE FLEET . . . 406
LXI.— The Egyptian War {continued) \^ A Skirmish by the Mahmoudiyeh Canal— Capture of
Chalouffe— The Indian Contingent ...... 417
LXII.— The Egyptian War {continued) -.—Proceedings at IsmaYi.ia— The Skirmishes at Tel-ei.-
Mahuta— The Seizure of Kassassin Lock ...... 423
LXIIL— The Egyptian War {continued) :— Operations of the Second Division at Alexandria and
Ramleh— The Treasure Chests — The Transport Service .... 431
LXI v.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— The Egyptian Army— Capture of Mahmoud Fehmy—
Graham Attacked at Kassassin Lock— The Cavalry Charge under Baker Russell —
The Mutilation of the Dead ....... 435
LXV.— The Egyptian War {continued):— \<\Tn the Second Division— Departure of the High-
land Brigade for IsmaYlia ....... 446
LXVI.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— With the Head-quarter Division— The Naval Brigade
— Arabi proclaimed a- Rebel — Soldiers in Disguise — The Second Engagement at
Kassassin ......... 449
LXVIL— The Egyptian War {contintud) :— With the Second Brigade of the First Division— Alex-
andria : The Works There— Smith-Dorrien*s Mounted Infantry— The Egyptian
Deserters— The Fate of Professor Palmer and his Companions . . . 460
LXVIII.— The Egyptian War {continued) : With the Army before Tel-el-Kebir— A German Glance
AT the Camp— The Line of Advance— The Reconnaissances of the iith and i2th
September— The Battle of Tel-el-Kebir . , . . . 465
LXIX.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— Some Notabilia of Tel-el-Kebir , . •477
LXX.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— Surrender of the Lines at Kafrdowar— Of the Forts
at Aboukir and Elsewhere near Alexandria . . .481
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vui BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
CHAPTER TAGI
LXXI.— The Egyptian War {continued) :— The Advance upon Cairo— Capture of Zagazig and Bel-
BEis— The Capture of Arabi and Toulba Pashas— Surrender op the Garrison and
Citadel of Cairo . . . . . . . • 489
LXXIL— The Egyptian War {cmtinued) -.—Occupation of Taiwah— Return of the Khedive to
Cairo— The Quarters of the Troops at Cairo . . . . '497
LXXIIL— The Egyptian War {continued) :— The Explosion at Cairo— The Hospital Service— The
Transport Service . . . . . . . .506
LXXIV.— The Egyptian War {contintud) ;— The Cairo Review— The War Office Returns— Proposed
Egyptian Army— The Procession of the Holy Carpet . . , .508
LXXV.— The Egyptian War {contintud) :— Arabi given up to the Khedive— Return of the Troops
—The War Medal— Sir Garnet Wolseley's Last Despatch . . S^S
LXXVI.— The Egyptian War {concluded) :— The Army of Occupation— Our Interest in the Canal—
The Trial of Arabi ........ 520
LXXVIL— The Expedition to Sherboro, 1883 . . . . . . 526
LXXVni.— The War in the Soudan :— Causes of the War— The Mahdi .... s 32
LXXIX.— The War in the Soudan (continued) : -British Operations at Suakim • . . 557
LXXX.— The War in the Soudan {continued) -.—The Column for the Relief of Tokar— The Ad-
vance TO El Teb . . . . . . . .541
LXXXL— The War in the Soudan {continued) :— The Battle of El Teb . . . .546
LXXXn.— The War in the Soudan {continued) :— The Advance on Tokar— Letter from the Sheikhs
—Camp of the Black Watch— The Advance on Tamai • . . . .551
LXXXHL- The War in the Soudan {continued) :— The Battle of Taxiai .... 557
LXXXIV.— The War in the Soudan {continued) :— Some Incidents of the Battle of Tamai— Subse-
quent Operations . . . . . . . . ^di
LXXXV.— The War in the Soudan {concluded) i—Yigkt at the Wells of Tamanieb— Flight oi-
OsMAN— Close of the Campaign . . . . . . • S^^H
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGB
The Battle of Tamai Frontispiece
Anny and Navy I
Mr. J. W. W. Birch 3
The Barracks at the Residency, Banda Bahni, Perak
River, with the Graves of Mr. Birch and Captain
Innes 6
Blue-jackets and Marines Poling the British Troops up
the River Perak 7
Attack on an Afreedi Town 12
Tribal Map of South Africa 13
Kreli, Chief of the Galekas iS
Fight between the Galekas and the Fingoes at Butter-
worth River (Oct. 4, 1877) 19
General Sir Arthur Cunynghame, K.C.B. ... 24
Oudtshoom Mounted Volunteers Starting for the
Eastern Frontier 25
King William's Town, from near the Aqueduct . . 30
The Battle of Quintana 31
Volunteers Meeting a Loyal Kaffir and his Family 36
Sandilli, Chief of the Gaikas, and his Wives . 37
Sergeant R. G. Scott, V.C, Cape Mounted Rifles . 42
Thaba Bodgo, the Stronghold of the Basutos . . 43
A Basuto Scout 4$
The Residency, Maseru, Basutoland, Abode of the Chief
Magistrate, Commandant Griffiths ... 49
Major W. M. Laurence 54
Ali Musjid and the Khyber Pass .... 60
Plan of the Attack on Ali Musjid (Nov. 21, 1878) . 61
Shere Ali, Ameer of Cabul 66
Mi4> showing March of General Roberts to Peiwar
Kotal (Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 1878) ... 67
Plan of Attack on Peiwar Kotal (Dec 2, 1878) . 72
General Roberts, V.C 73
First Sight of Candahar 78
General Biddulph 79
General Donald Stewart, C.B 84
Plan of the Road from the Shutargardan Pass to Cabul 85
General Sir 5>amuel Browne 90
PACE
Accident to the Tenth Hussats . • • • 91
Major Wigram Battye 96
Camp of Ameer Vakoub Khan, Gundamuk . . 97
Sir Louis Cavagnari {Jrom a Photograph bf Mr,
John Burke) .103
Interior of the Britbh Residency, Cabul, looking South 108
Plan of the Battle of Charasiah (Oct. 6, 1879) . . 109
The Ameer Vakoub Khan 114
Foraging Party of the 67th Attacked by the Afghans
(Nov. 9, 1879) "5
Plan of the Sherpur Cantonments . . . .120
Action in the Chardeh Valley (Dec 11, 1879) : Trying
to Save the Guns 121
View in Cabul : the Bala Hissar and Part of the City
from Deh Afghan 126
Plan of the Operations round Cabul (Dec 9—15, 1879) 127
Plan of the Action at Ahmed Kheyl, near Ghazni
(April 19, 1880) 132
Plan of Ghami (1880) 133
General Ross's Division Crossing the Logar River on
its Way to Meet Sir Donald Stewart . . .138
The Bridge, Cabul 139
Abdur Rahman Khan, Ameer of Afghanistan . . 144
Plan of General Burrows* March to the Helmund (July
4— 29» 1880) MS
Colonel Galbraith 150
Colonel Galbraith at the Battle of Maiwand . . 151
The Battle-field of Maiwand 156
Eedgah, or North Gate, Candahar . . . -157
Graves of Major Blackwood and Men of the 66th
Regiment, Maiwand 162
Brigadier-General H. F. Brooke . . .163
Plan of the Sortie from Candahar (Aug. 16, 1880) . 167
Tomb of Ahmed Shah, adjoining the Citadel, C^dahar 168
Rev. G. M. Gordon 169
Plan of General Roberts's March from Cabul to Can-
dahar 174
Colonel Shewell 175
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
The Argandab Valley, showing on the Right the Hills
of the Baba Wall Pass i8o
PUn of the Battle of Candahar (Sept. i, i8So) . .181
Lieutenant-Colonel Brownlow, C.B 186
Captain St. John Frome 186
Battle of Baba Wali : the Highlanders Clearing a Village 187
General Sir Frederick Haines, Commander-in-Chief of
the Army in India 192
The Catling Gun as used in the British Navy . .193
Sir Theophilus Shepstone 198
Interior of a Zulu Kraal on the Tugela River . . 199
Colonel Pearson 204
General Plan of the Operations in Zululand, 1879 . 205
Plan of the Fight at Inyezane (Jan. 22, 1879) . 208
Lord Chelmsford 210
Plan of the Marches near Isandhlwana between Jan.
I2th and 22nd, 1879 211
Plan of the Battle of Isandhlwana (Jan. 22, 1879) 214
Isandhlwana : the Dash with the Colours . .216
Lieutenant Melvill {from a Photograph by Messrs.
Heath cmd BuUinghanty Plymouth) .217
Lieutenant Coghill 217
Rorke*s Drift before the Attack .... 220
Plan of the Defences at Rorke*s Drift (Jan. 22, 1879) . 221
The Defence of Rorke's Drift 222
Lieutenant Bromhead 223
lieutenant Chard 224
PlanoftheFortat Etschowv 228
Cetewayo, King of the Zulus 229
Plan of the Marches of Pearson (Jan., 1879) ami of
Chelmsford (April, 1879) to Etschowe . . 234
Fort Pearson, on the Lower Tugela River . . 235
Plan of the Battle of Ghingilovo (April 2, 1879) • 237
Dabulamanzi, one of the Zulu Lenders .it Isandhlwana
and Ghingilovo 240
Colonel Red vers Buller 241
Plan of the Disaster on the Intombe River (March 12,
1879) 243
Attack of the Zulus on the Escort of the 80th Regi-
ment at the Intombe River 246
Colonel Weatherley 247
Plan of the Fight on the Inhlobane Mountain (March
28, 1879) 249
Captain the Hon. Ronald Campbell .... 252
Commandant Piet Uys, of the Transvaal Mounted
Volunteers 253
Plan of the Battle of Kambula (March 29, 1879) • 255
MajorCJeneral E. Newdigate, C.B 258
Frontier Light Horse, on Vedette Duty, Discovering
Zulus near Wood's Camp, on Kambula Hill. . 259
Colonel Drury Lowe, C.B 264
Prince Louis Napoleon and Party l>efore the Zulu
Surprise 265
Plan of the Ground where Prince Luuis Napoleon was
Killed (June i, 1879) 267
Prince Louis Napoleon 270
Kraal where Pnnce Louis Napoleon and his Party Off-
saddled and were Fired at . . . . . 27 1
Peace Messengers from Cetewayo .... 276
Lord Chelmsford {a Portrait Sketch by an OffUer made
shortly before the Battle of Ulundt) . . .277
Sir Evelyn Wood 282
Plan of Laagers on the March to Ulundi . . • 283
Dispositions in the ** Square " at Ulundi (July 4, 1879) 286
Plan of the Battle of Ulundi (July 4, 1879) . . 288
Captain the Hon. E. V. Wyatt-Edgell ... 289
Chargeof the 17th Lancers at Ulundi. . . . 295
Lancers Returning from a Foray .... 295
Swazi Scout 300
Sir Garnet Wols«ley*s Camp at Ulundi : Zulus Coming
In to Give up their Arms 301
Plan of the Ground where Cetewayo was Captured . 306
Major Marter 307
Major Marter and his Men Guarding Cetewayo in the
Native Kraal 312
Memorial Stone on the Spot where Prince Louis Napo-
leon was killed 313
Sketch Map of .SekukuniVs Country . . . .318
Sekukuni 319
Bovane, the Swazi Commander-in-Chief . . , 324
Storming of .Sekukuni*s Stronghold : Sir Garnet
Wolseley Cheering on the Swazies . . . 325
Heidelberg 331
Map of the Country l^etween Newcastle and the Trans-
vaal 336
Colonel Anstruther .... . . 337
Map of the Theatre of War in the Transvaal . . 342
View near Pretoria 343
Plan of the Battle of Laing's Nek (Jan. 28, 1881) . 347
Colonel Deane 348
Covering the Retreat of the 58th Regiment after tli.;
Battle of Laing's Nek 349
Plan of the Action on the Ingogo (Feb. 8, 1 881) . 354
S. J. Paul Kruger, President of the South African
Republic 355
Plan of the March to Majuba Hill (Feb. 26, 1881) . 360
Sir George Pomeroy Colley {from a Photograph by
Messrs, Maull and Fox, London) . . . 361
Plan of the Summit of Majuba Hill (Feb. 27, 1881) . 366
Sir George Colley at Majuba Hill . . . .367
P. J. Joubert, Commandant-General of the Boer Forces 372
President Kruger*s Country House .... 373
Market Street, Pretoria 378
Mr. J. H. Brand, President of the Orange Free State . 379
The Artillery of the South African Republic . . 384
Church Square, Pretoria 384
Tewfik, Khedive of Egypt 385
The Old Harbour, Alexandria 39c
Plan of the Bombardment of Alexandria (July 1 1 , 1882) 391
The Bombardment of Alexandria .... 396
Admiral Seymour (afterwards Lord Alcester) . . 397
Arabi Pasha 397
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
XI
PACE
The Khedive*s Palace at Ras-el-Tin, Alexandria . 402
Landing Troops at the Khedive*s Palace at Alexandria
after the Bombardment 403
Arabi Pasha's House, Cairo ..... 408
Map of the Delta of the Nile, showing Sites of Actions
and Strategic Points in the Egyptian Campaign
(July— Sept., 1882) 409
Lieut. -General Sir John Adye, Chief of the Staff . 414
Major-General Sir E. B. Hamley, Commanding the
Second Division 414
Food for the Troops : Landing Cattle at Port Said . 415
Suez 420
Ismallia 420
Major-General Sir Herbert Macpherson, Commander
of the Indian Contingent 421
Steam-ships Passing through the Suez Canal . . 426
British Soldiers Cutting a Dam constructed by Arabi
at ^lahuta 427
M. de Lesseps 432
Mahmoud Fchmy, Chief of Arabics Staff . . . 433
Hand Sketch of the Action at Kassassin (August 28,
1882) 438
The Guards Charging the Guns at Kassassin . . 439
Lieutenant-General Willis, Commanding the Fir.^t
Dimion 444
Major-General Sir A. Alison 444
Street in Suez . 44^
Citadel of Cairo, from the Nile 450
The Indian Contingent— the 13th Bengal Lancers . 451
Lieutenant Henry Gribble, 3rd Dragoon Guards {/'rom
a Photograph Ity Messrs, Robimon and SonSy
Loiuion and Dttblin) 456
Second Battle of Kassassin (Sept. 9) : Capture of Two
knipp Guns by the Royal Marines . . .457
Wells of Moses, near Suez ...,,. 462
Professor Palmer 463
PAGB
Colonel Goodenough, Commanding the Royal Artillery 468
Colonel Nugent, Commanding the Royal Engineers . 468
Plan of the Battle of Tel-el- Kebir (Sept. 13, 1882) . 469
The Highland Brigade Storming the Trenches at TeK
el-Kebir 474
Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson 475
Lighthouse on the Pharos Island, Alexandria . . 481
H.M.S. /m, with the Gunboats Beacon and Decoy ^
Blockading Damietta 487
Occupation of Zagazig, after the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir 492
Arabi's Prison in the Abbassieh Barracks . . , 493
Bab-el -Footoh, one of the Gates of Cairo . . . 498
Cavalry Demonstration in the Arab Quarter, Cairo . 499
A Narrow Way in Cairo {by Walter C. Horslcy) . . 504
Explosion at Cairo Railway Station i Bursting of Shells
and Ammunition 505
Surgeon-General Hanbury 510
The Hon. J. C. Dormer, Deputy- Adjutant-General . 510
The Review at Cairo : March Past of the Beloochees . 511
Sir E. B. Malet 516
Arrival of the Royal Marines at Chatham . . .517
Lord and Lady Wolseley and their Daughter {from
a Photo^-aph by y. Thomson^ *iOKy Grosvettor
Street, ir.) 523
Free-Town, Sierra Leone 529
Slave Gang Crossing the African Desert . . . 534
The Bahrel-Gazelle 535
Map of the Country betw een Eg>'pt and the Soudan . 540
Admiral Sir W. Hewett 54 1
Plan of the March to El Teb (Feb. 28-29, 1884) . 54^
General .Sir Gerald Graham 547
Plan of the Battle of El Teb (Feb. 29, 1884) . . 55*
The Battle of El Teb 553
Commander Rolfe 55^
Plan of the Baltic of Tamai (March 13, 1884) . . 559
Arabs of the Soudan 5^5
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Perak Expedition.
River. The principal stream by which this torrid
country is watered is the Perak, which, after a
mountain course of about ninety miles, falls into
the Straits of Malacca. The southern part of the
state has fine alluvial plains, the whole containing
105 cantons, or districts. Until 1822 it was sub-
ject to Siam, but latterly has been under its own
hereditary Sultans.
It had become necessary to have British ships
of war permanently stationed in the Straits of
Malacca, ostensibly to repress the bitter civil wars
that were always taking place among the Malay
chiefs; but, as our flag was perpetually suffering
outrage from various causes, the Earl of Kim-
berley, when Secretary of State for the Colonies,
gave orders to the Governor of the Straits Settle-
ments to adopt decided measures for the enforce-
ment of order in the Malay Peninsula — " a name
which, in its widest application, is given to that
narrow strip of land extending from the broad
mass of the Hindo-Chinese peninsula southwards,
from the parallel of 13° 30' north latitude to that of
1** 14, and between the meridians of 98* and
104* 17' east — a total of 83,000 square miles.*'
In the September of 1873 the earl had written
to Sir Andrew Clarke, instructing him to discover
the advisability of appointing a British officer as a
Resident, after the Anglo-Indian fashion, in one of
the Malay states. This was, perhaps, chiefly with
reference to Perak, which was rent by civil war, and
other contentions that frequently found their way
into Wellesley Province, which is British territory,
and where our police stations were perpetually being
attacked by the Malay and Chinese combatants in
Larut
The latter sometimes had the hardihood to fire
on the boats of our men-of-war when off the coast ;
and it soon became evident that if the policy of
non-intervention were persisted in much longer,
the Chinese miners of Larut and the Malay
marauders from Perak would be fighting their way
into the streets of Penang and Singapore, which is
now deemed the London of Southern Asia.
During our first war with Burmah* the King
of Siam invaded the Malay state of Quedah, a
woody, mountainous, and marshy country, from
which the East India Company had purchased
Penang; and as Britain greatly wished for the
neutrality of the Siamese monarch, he was con-
firmed in all he could conquer, after committing
awful cruelties upon the unfortunate Malays, who
from thenceforward became the bitter enemies of
his people, harassing them by sea in their war-
• See Vol II.. pp. 560-73.
boats, till ultimately the Malay pirates, as they
were justly named, became the terror of all
voyagers in those waters, as they seized all mer-
chant vessels, and ravaged that portion of the
peninsula which belonged to the King of Siam.
This state of matters led to the outrage which
we must first record, as leading to the Perak
expedition. A war of disputed succession which
ensued there, induced Lieutenant-Colonel Sir
William Drummond Jervois, C.E. (an officer who
had served in the Kaffir war of 1846-7, and
surveyed 2,000 miles of the country). Governor of
the Straits Settlements in 1875, to accept a sur-
render of sovereignty from Ismail, a pretender to
the crown of Perak, On this, Mr. J. W. W. Birch,
formerly Colonial Secretary at Singapore, was
appointed as Resident — a post for which he was
eminently qualified.
Matters remained quiet in our newly-acquired
territory till early in November, 1875, when Ismail
— ^repenting perhaps of his arrangement, which in-
cluded the settlement of a lawful Sultan, named
Abdullah — rose in arms at the head of some robber
chiefs and their followers, attacked the British
Residency, tore down the standard, and the
placards which officially announced the change of
rulers, barbarously murdered Mr. Birch when in
his bath, shamefully mutilated his body, and
carried it off; but his assistant, Mr. Swettenhom,
escaped to Singapore.
All the native rajahs were suspected of com-
plicity in this outrage, the ultimate object of which
was to expel the British, and place the plotter Ismail
on the throne.
To punish them. Captain Innes of the Royal
Engineers, with 170 bayonets, 60 of which
belonged to H.M. loth, or North Lincolnshire
Regiment, with some armed peons, and the sepoys
of Mr. Birch's body-guard, attacked with musketry
and rockets a strong stockade held by the Maha-
rajah Lela on the bank of the Perak River. Innes
was repulsed and slain, while Lieutenants George
Booth and Armstrong Elliot, with several men of
the loth, were wounded, some of them severely.
As they were retiring in good order, the stockade
was abandoned by the Maharajah, in whose village
Mr. Birch had been murdered.
On tidings of this event reaching Singapore
General Colbome at once left that place for Perak,
at the head of 300 men of the 80th (or Stafford-
shire Volunteers) ; artillery was sent from Bengal ;
and from the China station there came the Modeste
(corvette), the Thistle^ Fly^ and Ringdove^ three
gunboats.
The Residency, which was situated near the
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Perak Expedition. J
REPULSE OF THE MALAYS.
Perak River, was at that time secure, as the
Ciovernor, prior to Colborne's landing, had manned
it with nearly 800 European troops, and 80
artillerymen, while the Sultan Abdullah offered to
aid him with his men and war-prahs ; but by this
time the Malays of Ismail, encouraged by the
death and defeat of Innes, had become both de-
fiant and confident, and resolved to hold their
stockade against us.
Against these works, which stood up amid the
green, steamy jungle, and dense mangroves that
fringed the oozy bank
of the stream, a decided
movement was made by
a body of troops under
Commander Stirling, on
the 14th of November,
1875, as ^^ states thus in
his despatch to Admiral
Ryder, then command-
ing the squadron at Hong
Kong : —
" On Sunday morning
all the available officers
and inen of H.M ships
Thistle and Fly were
brought up the river and
quartered in the Resi-
dency; native boats were
fitted to receive two
12-pound howitzer field-
pieces, one 7-pounder
boat*s - gun, two 24 -
pounder naval rockets,
and a Cohorn mortar-
tube, and with much '^' ^'
difficulty fifteen other na-
tive boats were obtained to transport the troops ;
and on the same evening, after reconnoitring
as far as Qualla Truss, a place of disembarka-
tion was determined on, on the right bank of
the river, about a mile below that stockade which
was attacked on the 7th instant On Monday
morning the whole force moved up the river,
and disembarked at the place determined on,
without opp)osition. When about six hundred yards
from the first stockade at Qualla Biah, the enemy
opened fire on our boats, which was at once re-
plied to, but we were unable to silence them or
drive them out of the stockade till our boats were
within three hundred yards of and enfilading it, and
the artillery had brought their guns into play, when,
after having received no reply to our fire for some
time, the troops advanced, took possession, and
found it abandoned Two guns were captured here.
" Continuing our way up the river, I directed the
rockets and shells to be thrown into the jungle to
clear the way for the troops, who burned the
houses on the way as they advanced ; and about a
mile below Passir Sala the enemy again made a
stand and opened fire on us with their rifles, but
with no effect, and they were soon dislodged
Nearing Passir Sala, to about a thousand yards,
two guns were brought to bear on us, and also a
fire of musketry on our flank ; the latter, however,
was quickly silenced by the advancing troops,
while the boats shelled
and rocketed the village
of Passir Sala, taking up
a position at six hundred
yarils. The practice from
the 7-pounder gun and
rockets was excellent"
This attack and ad-
vance, which had been
carefully projected by
H. M. Commissioner,
Major Dunlop, by Cap-
tain Stirling of the
Thistle^ and Captain
Whitla of the loth Foot,
proved successful, and
the resistance at Passir
Sala, where the Maha-
rajah Lela was supposed
to be, was brief indeed.
The troops carried the
village at a rush and with
a hearty cheer, as the
slender Naval Brigade
was landed The stock-
ade surrounding Lela's
house was dashed to pieces by cannon-shot ; the
house was bombarded, pillaged, and given to the
flames, while the enemy, shrieking and yelling with
rage and dismay, brandishing their rifles and dag-
gers, and with their long coarse hair floating on
their shoulders, fled on every hand; but it was
impossible to estimate their loss, as they contrived
to bear away all their killed and wounded.
Here were taken six pieces of cannon, a quantity
of small arms and ammunition, and Mr. Birch's
books, papers, and personal property were re-
captured The whole force engaged numbered
only 450 men ; of these 300 were fierce, active,
and wiry little Ghoorkas, armed with their native
kookerie, or crooked knife, in addition to the
bayonet, and the remainder were men of the loth
and artillery.
The officer commanding in Perak, General Col-
VV. BIRCH.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Perak ExpediuoD.
borne, having been informed that Lela and the pre-
tender Ismail had marched through a place named
Blanja and advanced to the Kinta, resolved, on
the 14th December, with the concurrence of Major
Dunlop, and Captain Stirling of the Thistle^ to
advance instahtly, through the dense and all but
impervious jungle, from the bank of the Perak
River to that of the Kinta, and take possession of
the town of that name.
Three miles from Blanja the first opposition was
encountered, at a turn of the narrow path, where a
fire was suddenly opened on the advanced guard,
led by Lieutenant George Blagrove Paton, of the
I St battalion of the loth Foot It came from a
stockade, which was artfully concealed amid the
dense greenery of the jungle, at about thirty yards*
distance.
He returned the fire with promptitude, and a
Royal Artillery gun, with a naval rocket-tube, was
at once brought to bear upon the position, which
was speedily captured ; but among other casualties
Dr. Randall received a severe wound in the thigh.
Here again it proved impossible to ascertain
either the strength or loss of the enemy, who
opened fire from another stockade situated on
rising ground, which suddenly barred the advance
of our troops, after a further march of ten miles.
It was instantly carried by storm, and on the
following morning, the 15th of December, our
soldiers and blue-jackets advanced again, and with-
out molestation reached the mines of Papan. From
that point a reconnoitring party, led by Mr. Swet-
tenhom and guided by a friendly rajah, named
Mahmoud, went forward, and halted on open
ground, within two miles of Kinta.
On the 17th another stockade was stormed by
the main body, and the enemy fled to their boats
on the river ; after which Kinta was captured, and
General Colborne deemed it necessary to occupy
all that part of the country with his troops, till
matters were settled and the murderers of Mr.
Birch surrendered to justice.
It was now well known at this time that the
treacherous Ismail and his adherent the Maharajah
Lela were lurking in the adjacent jungle, though
their exact hiding-place could not be ascertained
The followers of the latter had begun to desert
him in considerable numbers, and several China-
men offered, if well paid for the deed, to lay his
head, and the heads of all the other rebel chiefs, at
the foot of the general, who, of course, rejected the
barbarous proposal.
The Victoria Cross was won by Captain, after-
wards Major, George Nicholas Channer, of the
Bengal Staff Corps, during the operations against
these successive stockades, and the following is the
record of the particular act of bravery for which
that coveted distinction was awarded to him : —
"For having, with the greatest gallantr>% been
the first to spring into the enemy's stockade, to
which he had been detached with a small party of
the ist Ghoorka Light Infantry, on the afternoon
of the 20th December, 1875, by the officer com-
manding the Malacca column, to procure intelli-
gence as to its strength, position, &c Major
Channer got completely in rear of the enemy's
position, and finding himself so close that he could
hear the voices of the men inside — ^who were cook-
ing at the time, and keeping no look-out — ^he
beckoned to his men, and the whole party stole
quietly forward to within a few paces of the
stockade. On jumping in, he shot the first man
dead with his revolver. His party then came up and
entered the stockade, which was of a most formid-
able nature, surrounded by a bamboo palisade.
About seven yards within was a log-house, loop-
holed, with two narrow entrances, and trees laid
latitudinally to the thickness of two feet The
officer commanding reports, that if Major Channer,
by his foresight, coolness, and intrepidity, had not
taken this stockade, a great loss of life must have
occurred, from the fact of his being unable to bring
guns to bear on it ; from the steepness of the hill
and density of the jungle, it, must have been taken
at the point of the bayonet" {London Gazette^
14th April, 1876.)
"George Nicholas Channer," says Lieutenant-
Colonel KnoUys, " entered the Bengal army in 1861.
In the winter of that year he took part in the
Umbeyla campaign. For his services he received
a medal and clasp. In 1864 he served with
General Wylde's column in the Jadoon country,
and then went through the Luschais campaign. As
captain he accompanied the ist Ghoorkas to the
Malay Peninsula. During the operations of 1875-6
he was present at numerous engagements, and at
the surprise and capture of the Malay stockades in
the Bukit Putas Pass, when he led the advanced
party, composed of his own regiment"
Sir William Drummond Jervois, Governor of the
Straits Settlements, at a meeting of the Legislative
Council, in reference to the first circumstances
which rendered the presence of Mr. Birch as
Resident, on the Indian system, necessary at
Perak, announced that the chief cause of his death
and the consequent failure was the incompetence
of the Sultan Abdullah, whom we had placed upon
the musnud or throne.
Sir William, a distinguished officer, who had
served against the Boers in 1842, and been Director
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Pcrak Expedition.]
STORMING OF KOTAH LAMA.
of Fortifications under Sir John Burgoyne twenty
years afterwards, and secretary to the Permanent
Defence Committee under the Duke of Cambridge,
stated, "that Abdullah, contrary to the reports
which had previously been made of him, and which
represented him as vicious in character and feeble
in health, spoke and acted in a manner which gave
promise that he would well discharge his duties as
a Sultan. But from all I can learn," he added,
"this apparent improvement in his bearing and
conduct was due to his having temporarily aban-
doned the pernicious use of opium. Shortly after
his accession he speedily relapsed into his old
habits. He has, moreover, shown much duplicity,
and this, combined with immorality, will account
for his having become unpopular with the people ;
while the prevalent habit of opium-smoking, to
which he is addicted, has been the great stumbling-
block to the conduct of business."
The Resident had proposed a scheme of taxation,
to put an end to the black-mail levied by each local
rajah on that part of the Perak River near his
dwelling ; but Abdullah had refused to ratify it, and
obstinately disr^arding all advice, instead of living
within the income prescribed for him by the treaty
of Pankor, resorted to the old Oriental policy of
extortion among his subjects.
Under such a regime Perak could not prosper,
though Larut did ; but there the British Govern-
ment was the ruling power. Eventually Sir William
Jervois seems to have come to the conclusion that
the deposed pretender, Ismail, was personally
attached to British interests, but was swayed by
the views of the chiefs who surrounded him, and
was afraid to let that fact be known.
In the end he wrote to Sir William, suggesting
that he would rule Perak, and be guided by a
Resident; but the former declined the proposal
" It would be absurd to do so," wrote Sir William.
" We have deposed Ismail, and put up Abdullah ;
and now it would be absurd to depose Abdullah
and put up Ismail"
On visiting Abdullah, he found that the weak-
ness of hb character had not been exaggerated.
" His imbecility was manifested at every turn," he
reported " As, however, I wished to give him a
fair trial of the promises of amendment which he
had made to me, I determined, if he would
consent, to adopt a policy of ruling the state in his
name. Under the proposed policy, British officers
will hold in their hands the control of the revenues,
the appointment of officials, the imposition or
removal of taxes, the superintendence of the police,
the establishment of new stations, the formation of
new roads and communications- in fact, everything
connected with the administration of the country.
In a word, my proposal is to govern the country in
the Sultan's name by British officers, to be styled
Queen's Commissioners, aided by a Malay council"
These were the innovations which were so much
resented by Ismail and Lela, and which led to
the murder of Mr. Birch. They nearly amounted
to the virtual annexation of all Perak ; but the
Earl of Carnarvon (who, upon the formation of
Mr. Disraeli's cabinet in February, 1874, had been
again appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies),
together with the British Government, fully en-
dorsed the entire policy of Sir William Jervois at
Perak,
The 4th of January, 1876, saw the inauguration
of fresh operations against the insurgent Malays.
On that day Brigadier-General Ross, advancing
from Qualla Kangsa, attacked and stormed Kotah
Lama, the stronghold, or nest, of the most turbulent
of the natives.
To achieve this he had moved along both banks
of the Perak River, but in greatest strength along
the left, where Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot Ashley
Cox, of the 3rd Buffs, who had served at the fall of
Sebastopol, and been wounded at the attack on the
Redan, commanded, with some of his own regi-
ment, a party of the Royal Artillery, with one field-
piece, and the ist Ghoorka Light Infantry. On
the other bank was Captain Young, with a party of
the latter corps and only fifty of the Buffs ; while in
the mid-channel a detachment in three boats crept
upward under Captain Gardiner. Lieutenant-
Colonel Cox boldly entered the village of Kotah
Lama, disarmed all its male inhabitants and sent
word thereof to the brigadier.
That officer, with his staff, then crossed to a
ghaut, or landing-place, near the centre of the
village, when suddenly his slender party was nearly
surrounded by a crowd of yelling and ferocious
Malays, armed with spears and muskets — ^a crowd,
of whose arms Colonel Cox could not have been
cognisant ; and but for the steadiness of our blue-
jackets and marines, none of the staff would have
escaped.
" Just before this attack was made," to quote the
London Gazette of i8th February, 1876, "several
officers moved away in the direction of the river,
200 yards distant Major Hawkins was, it is sup-
posed, following them, when he was fatally wounded
by a spear. No one seems to have seen him fall ;
but Captain Garforth reports that William Sloper,
A.B., came up to him on the ground, shot two
Malays who were coming towards him, and stopped
with him, until he said, *Save yourself; you can
do no good to me now.' "
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Perak Expedition.
Surgeon-Major W. CoUis, of the ist battalion of
Buffs, who accompanied this expedition, reported
medically that in all fatal cases the Malay spears
completely transfixed the body ; " and the fact of
men having been wounded in several places, showed
the close quarters that the force fought at, and the
determined resistance of the Malays."
The latter fled into the jungle ; Kotah Lama,
Solama, to the end that together they might effect
a surprise — which was successfully achieved.
On the 19th January, 1876, I hey attacked and
completely routed Ismail, with great loss. He had to
fly, and leave behind him seventeen elephants, with
all his luggage. Among those killed under his
standard were Pandak Indut, the actual assassin of
Mr. Birch, and the Rajah Kadda, who had been
THE UARRACKii AT TUB RESIDENCY, UANDA BAHRU, PERAK RIVER, WITH THE GRAVES 01-'
MR. BIRCH AND CAPTAIN INNES.
which contained great stores of rice, was given to
the flames ; after which Brigadier Ross, with his
entire force, marched back to Qualla Kangsa.
Sir William Jervois about this time obtained
certain information that Ismail, with an armed
force, was hovering among the wild and primitive
mountains that overlook the Perak River. On this
he despatched Superintendent Hewick, with a Body
of armed police and some of the Sultan Abdullah's
most trusty soldiers, to open a communication
with Che Karim, a friendly chief, at a place n^med
active in the enlistment of the hostile and hardy
Patani men against us from their own territory,
which is subject to the King of Siam, and lies
north of the peninsula.
On the 2ist of the same month our troops
attacked with rockets and artillery the village of
Rathalma, drove out the Malays, and put them
completely to flight, without a casualty on our side ;
and after much wandering and misery in the jungles
and other wild places, the ex-Sultan Ismail was
captured on tho 22 nd of March, and in token
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Perak Expedition.) THE SURRENDER OF ISMAIL.
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8
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Perak Expedition.
of his complete surrender, laid his royal in-
signia at the feet of Major Anson, at Penang, from
whence he was sent to Singapore, together with
another hostile leader, named Datu Sagor, who
was treated as a civil prisoner, while the luckless
Ismail was released on his own recognisances.
"This petty war might have grown into one of
great importance, had there been a Burmese
difficulty on the tapisy and still more so if we had
been embroiled with the Chinese ; for the Perak
revolt was only crushed by the reinforcements
which we poured in from Calcutta and Hong
Kong. Little as this conflict is known of at home,
we had no less than three naval brigades employed
in it, or attached to the different forces. That
under Captain Alexander Butler accompanied
Captain N. C. Singleton, of the Ringdove^ and
comprised officers and men of that ship and the
Modeste^ which co-operated with Major-General
Colborne on the Perak River; that under com-
mander Edmond H. J. Garforth, of the Philomel^
comprising officers and men of the Modeste,
Philomel^ and Ringdove^ who co-operated with
Brigadier-General Ross in the Larut field force
(northern attack); and that under Commander
Francis Stirling, of H.M.S. Thistle^ which co-
operated with Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, in Sunghir
Ujong, and in the Sunghir and Lakut Rivers."
A complete blockade of the northern bank of
the Perak River was established under Commander
Bruce, R.N. This was to prevent the secret intro-
duction of arms, ammunition and other warlike
stores. General Colborne highly appreciated and
applauded the sailor-like qualities of the officers
and men of Her Majesty's ships, whose heavy work
consisted in poling — as oars were useless in jungly
waters — the boats laden with guns, shot, shell, and
stores, for days against strong currents that ran at
the rate of four miles an hour, under a fierce and
burning sun, and in carrying guns, rockets, and
ammunition, in addition to their own arms and
accoutrements, "through the dense dark jungle,
over paths that were so nearly impassable that only
seven miles could be gained in each day."
The naval brigade under Captain Butler was for
an entire month without vegetables or bread, and
had no other food than tinned meat and the flesh
occasionally of a wild buffalo. They were often
drenched by torrents of tropical rain, and had
frequently to march through muddy water waist-
belt deep. On their advance to Kinta, they had
to toil their way through a jungle so dense and
dark, that during all that time not a vestige of sun
or sky was visible overhead; and during the ten
days' advance they were without cover of any kind,
and slept in the damp, dewy open. "The
rapidity of the successes of the various expeditions,"
wrote Vice-Admiral Ryder, in his despatch, dated
Singapore, 17th January, 1876, "was owing, I learn
from officers of rank, mainly to the special and
professional aid given by the naval brigades, as
rocket and gun parties, and in fitting and managing
the country boats, which alone could be used. It
has been most gratifying to me to hear from all
quarters, but one opinion of the blue-jackets and
marines — their constant cheerfulness in under-
taking the heavy daily work which fell to their
share, their intelligence and zeal."
All the commanders of these brigades were pro-
moted and decorated ; nor were two humble seamen
forgotten — one who saved the life of Dr. Towns-
hend at Kotah Lama by slaying the Malays who
were about to spear him, and the other who
remained to the last by the expiring Major Haw-
kins, and shot those who were about to muti-
late his body. And so ended the expedition to
Perak.
When the latter was ceded to, or acquired by,
the British Crown, the Malays applied for thousands
of acres in excess of what we could allot Again,
the Dinding Islands — where the Dutch had once a
fort on the fine harbour formed between them and
the mainland — had no sooner cctoie into our pos-
session than the Malay population in a few months
increased from what Sir Andrew Clarke described
as a handful to four hundred souls. The largest
isle is twenty-one miles in circumference.
"Under British sway," says a writer on the
Straits Settlements, " these have increased till they
number one hundred and twenty (per square mile),
while in the States governed by native sovereigns
they have sunk down to about seven souls in the
square mile. The chiefs cannot control their oi^*n
subjects, far less Chinese emigrants from the Straits
Settlements ; and the question is, who shall keep
the peace in the Malay Peninsula ? If it be not
kept, then some of the richest and most fertile
provinces of Asia will become what Sir Andrew
Clarke found in Larut and Perak when he went to
the Straits — *huge cockpits of slaughter.' The
contagion of turmoil will ever be in danger of
spreading into our own territories, unless we defend
them by a force which might be better employed
in maintaining a just and orderly government all
through the peninsula, protecting its trade with
our colonies, and gradually evolving out of lands
devastated by piracy, plunder, chronic wars of
succession, and changeless misrule, a well-regulated,
peaceful, industrious, and affluent confederation of
states."
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TlM Pauah Valley.]
JOWAKI RAIDS.
CHAPTER II.
THE JOWAKI EXPEDITION (1877).
About the period of the foregoing expedition to
Perak, another was despatched to operate against
the Jowakis, a ferocious hill-tribe on the Afghan
frontier.
The Indian Government had adopted t^^^o lines
of policy on the North-western frontier of our
Indian Empire. Following the advice of that able
administrator, General John Jacob, upon the Scinde
border, they recognised the authority of the Khan
of Khelat, and through his power were enabled to
bridle the lawlessness of the armed clans, without
having to undertake the duty of punishing the
offenders themselves; but our policy upon the
Punjab frontier was rather to foster the mutual
hatreds and jealousies of the various hill-tribes,
and preclude the commencement of that which
scarcely ever existed — cohesion and the growth of
a responsible power among them ; but, unlike the
Scottish Highlanders, the clannish attachment of all
Afghan tribes is more to the community than even
to the chief Hence arose the continual raids, and
our expeditions to avenge them. We can always
enter their rocky fastnesses when in force, and
drive back their armed bands, at a daily loss of life,
but beyond diminishing their numbers, we can do
little more.
The Jowakis are a branch of the Afreedies, a
great sept which is split up into many tribes and
factions, but occupying a vast extent of the hilly
country that overlooks the plain of Peshawur from
the west and south. In the October of 1877 they
made a sudden raid and, descending swiftly from
their secluded mountain fastnesses, after slaughter-
ing defenceless peasants and giving their villages
to the flames, had the hardihood to attack a
detachment of our troops that was guarding com-
missariat stores near the frontier, undeterred by a
punishment they had received in the preceding
month of August, when Colonel Daniel Mocatta,
of the Bengal Staff Corps, then commanding the
3rd Sikhs, advanced with a small force through the
savage Tortung Pass into the Turki and Sheendah
Valleys, where he burned thirty villages, and did
a great deal of other damage.
October and November saw the raids of the
Jowakis continued, especially at night, like those
of the moss-troopers of old In these. Major
Lance, of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry, was severely
wounded, and many of our Khuttuck allies were
murdered, and their horses and property carried
off
The latter are a numerous tribe upon the
Afghan border, westward of the Indus, where
they occupy the Salt range to Kalabagh, upon the
Indus. Their arms are long juzails and sabres,
with round shields, having four brass bosses in the
centre of each. Their garments are long and flow-
ing, with ample scarves, worn, like the Scottish
plaid, over the left shoulder and across the breast
In November, 1877, a regular expedition was
detailed to act against the Jowakis, led by Generals
Sir F. Pollock, K.CS.I., of the Bengal Staff Corps,
Ross, and Keyes, C.B., — the last as brigadier,
commanding the Punjab Frontier Force.
General Keyes led the main body, which con-
sisted of 2,000 men (including the 5th Regiment
of Ghoorkas), a small number of cavalry, and six
field-pieces.
Advancing steadily through the perilous defiles,
Keyes successfully attacked the Jowakis, destroyed
their villages and crops, and blew up or dismounted
a number of their fortified towers. Among them
was one of considerable strength, at a place called
Khudhar, in the Paiah Valley.
"Na I column came through the Tortung
Pass," says Lieutenant Oswald C. Radford, 2nd
battalion of the 25 th, or King's Own Borderers,
Staff Officer to Colonel Mocatta ; " No. 2 column
through the Gundiali Ravine, and met at Turkl
From the low hills overlooking the Paiah Valley
an extensive prospect was obtained; the valley,
which is wonderfully fertile, being studded with
picturesque little villages, each walled and having a
round tower. We occupied all the villages, which
we found deserted, the enemy having carried off
their goods and chattels. All the time we were
there, the Jowakis sat on the surrounding hills, and
fired at us from behind rocks and bushes, &c,
wounding several men. The time was spent in
cutting their crops, surveying the country, and
blowing up their towers."
The ist December saw General Keyes in front
of Jummoo, the principal stronghold of the Jowakis,
a town situated between two mountains, and ap-
proached through the Valley of Jummoo, which is
rich, well cultivated, and watered by a fine stream,
but surrounded by hills steep and rocky, and, with
the exception of a thin scrub of thorn, quite bare.
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The firearms of the Jowakis are long-barrelled
flint-lock and fire-lock guns — the latter of ancient
and primitive construction — furnished with matches,
and all having long loose slings.
No continued occupation of the Jowaki country
was contemplated, but simply the punishment of
the people, the surrender of their arms, and the
general opening up of the district
In front of Jummoo the troops were chiefly
posted along a bare, stony hill, the crest of which
has been described as forming a perfect Redan,
open towards the rear. Along this line were built
breastworks of stone, to prevent the troops from
being fired into in the rear ; and between the breast-
works and traverses the soldiers constructed little
huts and tents with their own blankets, and rough
country matting found in the villages — shelter which,
though rather imperfect, was better than none
when the rainy weather came.
" To form the left attack on Jummoo, we started
at three a.m. on the ist December," wrote Lieu-
tenant Radford, "and at daybreak were at the
top of a succession of ridges, over which our
road led The geological formation here is re-
markable, but is more likely to delight a man of
science than a soldier on the march, as the valleys
run lengthways with the range of hills. The strata
have all gone mad, and are standing on their edges,
the softer rock between them having been washed
out ; the result is a .succession of precipitous
ridges, topped by a natural wall of rock^ A mule
battery, however, will go over very rough country,
and the mountain guns crossed without any
accident."
In Jummoo and the valley before it, the
Jowakis were taken completely by surprise, and fled
to the mountains, leaving behind them a great
quantity of guns and swords, abandoning their
dwellings in such haste that the troops in many
instances found the fires alight, and bread baking
before them. The British casualties were reported
at only nine in number, and those of the Jowakis
at twenty-five.
For a little time the movements of General
Keyes were somewhat impeded by rains, and
January saw the Jowakis retiring fast to the most
inaccessible part of the mountains.
In the Valley of Jummoo the troops stayed a
short time to collect the cattle and bum the
scattered villages. The Paiah Valley was next
entered ; the people were seen flying in all direc-
tions, and our men capturing the villages.
" We are now waiting for the head men to come
in and make friends," says the writer before
quoted : " which they will soon do now, I fancy,
as the cold weather is telling on them, and their
cattle are dying in large numbers from exposure.
The land, too, is all lying idle just when they
ought to be tilling it for the spring crop of next
year. Altogether, what with the loss of men,
cattle, and villages destroyed, &c., they have had
a wholesome lesson. We have nothing but our
bedding with us, and each" officer has half a mule
for his traps. Our mess-house is made of tar-
paulin, and the tables out of some doors. Most
of our fellows sleep in the mosque, which is like a
cowshed in England; but, cleared out, is now a
bedroom with nine occupants. The weather is
now nice and cool : quite frosty in the morning.
We bathe, fish, and play polo ; so altogether we
might have worse quarters."
Towards the end of January, 1878, fifty head
men of the Jowaki tribe arrived at the camp of
Generals Keyes and Pollock to make overtures for
peace, and withdrew after hearing the British
conditions and agreeing to give them full con-
sideration. They then quitted the camp, asserting
that the terms were unacceptable.
On the 15th of February hostilities were re-
sumed, when a body of 250 British cavalry attacked
and completely defeated the Jowakis, who fled,
leaving their slain behind them. We had six
wounded, and captured six prisoners, three of
whom were leaders of influence ; and soon after
the petty strife came to an end. "Humanity
apart," it has been aptly said," these little wars are
much to be deprecated in these inflammable times.
Our position in India is not altogether unlike that
of the Turks in Europe— we are not a nation there,
but an encampment"
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KaffirlaiuLl
THE NATIVES OF SOUTH AFRICA.
II
CHAPTER III.
THE WAR IN KAFFIRLAND (1877-81) : — THE COMBATS OF GUADANA AND IBEKA.
Kaffraria, or Kaffirland, is that district of Africa
which lies westward of oxir Cape Colony. It has
an area of 10,000 square miles, and has a Kaffir
population estimated at 450,000 by General Sir
Arthur Cunynghame, Lieutenant-Governor and
Commander of the Forces there between 1874 and
1878.
The Fingoes and Gaikas occupy that portion
which is named British Kaffraria, and is occasionally
called the Ciskei; while the Galekas, Pondos,
Pondomise, Tambookies, and Griquas occupy the
Transkei, or Kaffraria proper. "The Portuguese
navigators," says Malte-Brun, "after doubling the
Cape of Good Hope, found the inhabitants of the
eastern coast of Africa more advanced in civi-
lisation in proportion as they approached the north,
where the Arabs had introduced their own manners
and religious belief. These Mahommedans, de-
signated under the vague name of Kaffirs^ />.,
•heretics,' all the natives of those countries into
which the Mohammedan religion had not been
introduced ; and under the name of Kafarahy or
Kaffraria, the Arabian geographers comprehended
the whole interior of Africa. Kaffraria might thus
reach to Nigritia, line the Indian Ocean from Zeila,
as far as Brava, and again extend to the borders of
the sea to the south of Sofala."
Their language is soft and harmonious ; but " I
never could perceive," says Dr. Vanderkemp, "that
they have any religion, or any idea of the existence
of a God .... A decisive proof of what I here
say with respect to the national atheism of the
Kaffirs is, that they have no word in their language
to express the Deity."
The various tribes have the same language, and
evidently are all descended from one common
stock. Among them, the Fingoes, whose name
signifies "dogs," and who have been persecuted
almost to extinction by the rest, are our only firm
allies. Though somewhat cowardly at first, under our
rule they have developed fighting capabilities, and
have always joined our side. They live peacefully
in their kraals^ or villages, and are generally wealthy
in cattle. The whole of the Transkei is now under
British rule, and we may hope thus that the many
barbarous customs which have prevailed there for
unknown ages will gradually pass away. " No one
will, I presume," says General Cunynghame, "object
to depriving the Kaffir of his gun on the pseudo-
philanthropic principle that it is like depriving a
child of his toy."
The warfare we are now about to relate was that
waged against us by the Gaika chief Sandilli, Kreli
the chief of the Galekas, and others, who began it
by attacking our allies the Fingoes.
Till about the middle of July, 1877, the only
Colonial force — after the most unwise disbandment
of the old Cape Mounted Rifles — was a corps,
nominally a thousand strong, called the Frontier
Armed Mounted Police, clad in a costume scarcely
equal to that of a railway porter. It was a dress of
corduroy, dipped in logwood dye till it became
unbearably stiff. With this was a cap having a
small peak, and leggings to go over the trousers.
When dry, this clothing was so hot that the men
longed to throw it off; and when wet, became so
heavy that the weight could scarcely be borne. Yet
thus clad they were expected to encounter supple,
active, and powerful savages, almost in a state of
nudity, free and unencumbered by anything. Each
man had a red blanket, and their firearms were a
carbine and revolver.
Son»e of the officers had been in the royal ser-
vice, and one troop was artillery and trained to
handle a Woolwich 9-pounder, and three 7-pounders
on mountain carriages.
There was no provision for the sick, or for the
transport of food or ammunition — no commissariat
beyond each trooper's saddle-bag — and thus, when
the war broke out, the sick and wretched troopers
for days were literally starved. (" With the Cape
Mounted Rifles.")
Our Kaffir enemies being furnished with muskets,
and even with rifles, in addition to their knives
and assegais, were much ,more formidable enemies
than in earlier Cape wars.
As regards the causes of the strife which began
in 1877, Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of the Cape
Colony, in a despatch to the Earl of Carnarvon,
from King William's To^n, indicated them in
reply to a memorial from the Aborigines Protec-
tion Society which had been placed before him.
Sir Bartle had been long in the Indian Civil Ser-
vice, and was afterwards our Special Commissioner
with reference to the slave trade in East Africa.
He stated that he was at one time inclined to
think that the Galekas in attacking the Fingoes had
no idea, at first, of fighting either with the colonists
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Goadua.!
THE GALEKAS AND THE FINGOES.
13
or Her Majesty's forces ; but he r^etted to add
that the balance of evidence had been accumulat-
ing on the other side, and there was every reason
to believe that those leaders whom the Galeka
tribes were blindly following, were acting as
members of a general combination against the
white man, his ways, and all that belonged to
him. He saw no reason to doubt that the
instructions given to the Galeka columns in-
cluded more than the mere attack upon the
one black and the other white ; as the latter lived the
longer, they were filled with doubts, ana believed
that there would be no war. But, nevertheless,
the natives continued to buy and dry oxtails, to be
worn round the legs and arms in battle, and to sell
their cattle to purchase weapons; and colonists
know that when the KafHrs do this, mischief is
impending.
The entire available force of the Mounted Police,
of 13 officers and 295 sabres^ with 3
Ty^klchiHg Co. d</. €t $i.
TRIBAL MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Fingoes. They were, he added, naturally a fine-
spirited and intelligent people; moreover, the
Gaikas were once as turbulent as the Galekas;
but now, "some of the Gaikas, trained as school-
teachers, might be listened to with pleasure and
profit by a London congregation or audience."
On the 24th of September, 1877, Kreli sent his
sons to escort, or expel, all Europeans out of the
Galeka country. Prior to this the Kaffirs had been
going through many strange rites and superstitious
performances with the witch-doctors. In one in-
stance two of the chiefs consulted ¥nth them as to
the future and the fortune of the coming war, and
they actually barbarously skinned two oxen alive,
c
field-pieces, was assembled at a place called Ibeka,
under Commandant Charles Griffiths, an old and
experienced officer, who had been many years
British Resident in Basutoland.
As the Galekas could not bear to see those who
had been so long their serfs, free, independent, and
becoming rich and prosperous by their own pro-
vidence under British rule, a column of them,
fully 5,000 strong, crossed the border and fiercely
attacked the Fingoes and a small body of Police,
on the 25th of September, at a hill called by the
natives Guadana, and by the British Mount
Woodhouse.
After severe fighting the Fingoes fell back, but
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BRITISH BATTLES ON lAND AND SEA.
[Gnadana.
the Police held their ground against the mighty
odds that surged around them, whooping and
yelling for their blood — and held it, too, with stem,
determined valour.
Our force here consisted of only 80 Police, with
1,500 Fingoes — the whole under Inspector G. B.
Chalmers, of No. 3 Troop, whose official report to
Commandant Griffiths, dated Lusisi Camp, 28th
October, is as follows : —
" In accordance with your instructions I have
the honour to report, that on the 26th ult, while
returning to Idutywa reserve, from the Ibeka
Camp, I was apprised of the fact that the Galekas
had attacked the Fingoes on the Government
reserve, near the Guadana. I continued my
march along the main road, and when about two
miles from the Impulse^ opposite Guadana, I ob-
served the Galekas had crossed in numbers and
attacked the Fingoes, and that an engagement was
taking place between the two tribes.
" In obedience to orders received — in the event
of a battle — I proceeded to the scene of action in
support of the Fingoes. Before taking any pro-
minent part, I sent back to the Impulse to acquaint
Mr. AyHfT, who was there in command of a large
Fingo contingent, that the Galeka army had crossed
into British territory. On the arrival of this gentle-
man with about 1,000 Fingoes, I halted the gun
and the men under my command, Mr. Ayliff with
his Fingoes marching to the top of the hilL To
avoid surprise, I sent Sub-Inspector Hamilton to
Mr. Ayliff to receive a report as to the position of
the Galeka army.
" This officer returned with a request from Mr.
Ayliff that I should march on with the gun and
men, which I did. On arrival I found the Galeka
army in three divisions at the foot of the hilL On
our appearance the enemy made a move towards
us, and I immediately gave the order to the officer
in command of the artillery — Sub-Inspector
Cochrane — to open fire with the 7-pounder. After
the tenth round the gun became disabled, and I
gave the order: *The gun will retire, under Mr.
Cochrane and the escort' ....
"Before entering into action my men were ex-
tended in skirmishing order on the brow of the
hill, the horses having been left out of sight, in
hand, and in charge of the usual number of men.
The Fingoes under Mr. Ayliff were placed on the
left flank, between the gun and the Guadana forest,
so as to command the bush ; my men were placed
on the right of the gua
" When the Galekas came within rifle range, I
ordered the Police to commence firing, and con-
tinuous independent firing was kept up for nearly
two hours, which checked the enemy until the gun
retired. When the Fingoes saw this they made a
general retreat, running among our horses and
causing great confusion.
"Finding that we were deserted, and that by
remaining on the ground any longer the whole
European Police would be sacrificed, I ordered
the men to retire. The confusion by the Fingoes
rushing about in all directions caused several of
our horses to break loose, and through this unfor-
tunate circumstance one officer and six men fell
victims to the emeny. The remainder retired in
order, and the gun was taken safely to Idutywa.
The firing from the 7-pounder was most effective,
and so was that of the Sniders. The estimated
loss on the Galeka side was at least 200, besides
wounded.
" I may say that the Fingoes, when asked why
they retreated so soon, replied that they had been
watching the gun, and when they saw it move they
thought it was time to leave the battle-field I
cannot attach any blame to our men in the engage-
ment ; they stood their ground until the very last,
fired steadily, and were it not for the gun breaking
down I have no hesitation in asserting that the
result would have been different"
The trail of this unlucky gun was of colonial
make, and faulty ; the proper carriage having been
lost in the Windsor Castle.
The whole force in the camp at Ibeka had been
reduced to 43 men, with two field-pieces ; thus,
had the Galekas advanced in force, as they did six
days subsequently, they must have captured these
guns, all the ammunition, and everything else, in-
cluding the "slaughter cattle," as those animals
intended for the butcher are called in the Cape
Colony.
Thus was the war in Kaffraria inaugurated
General Cunynghame reported, that "nothing
could exceed the bravery of Inspector Van Ho-
henan, who lost his own life in his endeavour to
carry off the field one of the men (Private Evans)
who had been wounded, and, while he was en-
deavouring to place this man on his own horse, he
was shot through the body, and died like a Britisli
soldier. I had the honour in assisting to raise a
cairn to hb memory. Its position commands
Galekaland"
An eye-witness says, "Some days after, when
with a strong party we went out to recover the
bodies, we found all oxu* poor comrades in a dread-
ful state,"
Evans had seventeen assegai wounds in him;
one man was scalped Van Hohenan had his feet
cut off, for the sake of his long boots ; all were
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CAPTAIN ROBINSON AND THE GALEKAS.
^S
stripped of their clothes, and had their stomachs
ripped open. " Not one of the party that saw this
icarfiil sight," he adds, " but swore a fearful ven-
geance if ever they got hold of any of the niggers.*'
Perhaps the most revolting sight was a dog lying
gorged by the side of his dead master, on whose
body it had been feeding for days. Galeka dogs
were frequently seen eating dead Galekas.
It was asserted that whenever the latter took the
field, a hare was invariably seen leading them, and
hence the disasters that befell them. A witch
doctor was consulted, and he accused Lindixowna
— Kreli's second son— of being a wizard, and
sending the hare to produce misfortunes ; and for
this Lindixowna was barbarously put to death.
" The war was generally known among the natives
as * the women's war/ " says General Cunynghame,
" from the fact that it was mainly owing to the sex
that the flagging interest among the men was main-
tained. As if by preconcerted action, the women
taunted the young men with having become the
white man's slaves, instead of warriors like their
fethers."
But the strife was soon to assume great propor-
tions.
The appearance of a Kaffir warrior when pre-
pared for battle is wild and singular. His caross,
or mantle, is cast aside ; his defensive covering is
an oval shield of hardened hide, which hangs on
the left arm, while a bundle of assegais is grasped
in the right hand, and two lofty plumes of the
feathers of the grey crane are fastened to his head
by a leathern fillet, and, by their horn-like aspect
impart something fiendish to his appearance. " I
was much struck," says Rose, "with the strong
resemblance that a group of Kaffirs bears to the
Greek and Etruscan antique remains, except that
the savage drapery is more scanty, and falls in
simpler folds."
The deadly assegai of the Kaffir is now, un-
fortunately, too well known to us ; but it is curious
to find a weapon of a name nearly similar was used
by the Moors, as recorded in the " Dictionnaire
Militairc" for 1 758, thus : ^^Zagaie — a weapon made
in the form of a long dart, which the Moors use in
batde, and which they cast with extreme dexterity."
An attack on the station at Ibeka, in Fingoland
—distant seven miles from Butterworth and fourteen
from the hill and wood of Guadana — being now
expected, it was fortified with all haste. The only
building there was a dwelling-house, with some
stables and other offices, surrounded by an earthen
rampart and a ditch, and shaded by some beautiful
blue gum trees, which were visible for miles around
it The whole place was about 250 yards square.
It was appropriated as quarters, with a store and
magazine, by the Armed Police, who now worked
hourly, digging rifle-pits and making sand-bag bas-
tions for their three pieces of cannon, while out-
lying and inlying pickets were posted nightly to
preclude a surprise. The men slept in their
clothes, fully accoutred, till they grew weary
and longed for a conflict; and in a few days it
seemed as if this longing would be gratified, when
500 mounted Galekas suddenly came galloping up
within a few hundred yards of the works, with a
white flag of truce displayed, and accompanied by
an interpreter.
They were commanded by Sidgow, a son of
Kreli, who said he wished to see the chief of the
white men, and came resolutely forward in front
of his party, accompanied by a few dingy warriors,
while, followed by two troopers, Captain Robinson
rode out to meet him. He came to express his
father's regret for the slaughter of the Police at
Guadana, saying they wished to flght the Fingoes
alone ; and would the white chief permit them to
be attacked ?
In the meantime the three pieces of cannon had
been loaded with case-shot and run through the
embrasures.
" Do you see those guns ?" said Captain Robin-
son, addressing Sidgow. "There are sixty-three
bullets in eaoh. Go home like a good boy," he
added, banteringly but flrmly, " and tell your papa
Kreli that if you, or any of you, attempt to cross
the border, we shall fire on you, and the blood
must be on your own heads !"
On this Sidgow and his party rode slowly away.
The Cape Government was now becoming alarmed,
and as the only regular troops on the frontier con-
sisted of a portion of the ist battalion of the 24th
Regiment, without cavalry or artillery, volunteers
were called out, and preparations made, but on a
meagre scale, to defend the border towns; and
severe fighting ensued on the 28th of September.
On the morning of the previous day large bodies
of Kaffirs were observed to be constantly on the
march towards Kreli's kraal, which was seven miles
distant from the isolated and advanced post at
Ibeka ; but save the exchange of a few stray shots
with our vedettes, little of importance transpired,
though the holders of Ibeka were on the eve of a
desperate conflict with many thousands of wily
savages, thirsting for blood and plunder.
" I have already mentioned the house and the
sod wall surrounding the buildings at Ibeka," wrote
a trooper who was present "To the east the
ground gradually ascends, forming at the top a
stony and elongated ridge, which slopes down
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
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towards the river Xaxa on the south. Towards
Butterworth, which lies to the north-west, the
ground is flat, with occasional boulders of various
kinds. Towards the north the ground is also flat
for about the distance of a mile. It then slopes
gradually down to the Butterworth River. In front
of the house, and facing the south, the ground falls
directly by a gentle slope for at least a mile and a
half This declivity is intersected by a small
stream, which separates it from the stony hill I
have already mentioned. .... Immediately in
front of the house is the boundary between
Fingoland ' and Galekaland. This boundary is
denoted by a small footpath, with an occasional
cairn of stones."
The nature of the ground around this fort, which
Commandant Griflliths still held with his three
7-pounders and a handful of men, was more favour-
able for its assailants than its defenders ; for, even
at a long distance, the cannon were only available
on the south side, as the low ground intervening
afforded excellent shelter to an approaching force.
On the day of the conflict so many Police had
been despatched to hold other points, that only
120 sabres remained at Ibeka, with 2,000 unre-
liable Fingoes under Sub-Inspector Allan Maclean
and Veldtman ; these with six European Volun-
teers from the neighbouring trading station, con-
stituted the entire force to oppose the army of
Kreli, now 8,000 strong, and led, less by Sidgow
than by the ferocious witch doctor, 'Nita, a womaa
Tidings soon came that the latter were forming
in columns of squares, their favourite mode of
advance, and by eight in the morning their masses
were seen hovering darkly on a hill, where they
halted, about a mile and a half distant from Ibeka.
The horses, which till now had been grazing close
by the improvised fort, were at once brought in,
saddled, bridled, and tied to a picket-rope. Shell
and case-shot were piled up beside the guns,
ammunition boxes placed all round the walls, and
the men told off" to their posts, while barrels of
water for the thirsty or the wounded were set at
distances within the enclosure.
Kreli was present, but his son Sidgow com-
manded, and received his final orders, which were,
to destroy all the Fingoes and drive away the
Police, adding, " You can breakfast at Ibeka, have
dinner at Butterworth, and then be on your way
for the Komgha and the colony, where you will be
joined by your friends j" by whom he meant the
Gaikas.
A little after nine o'clock the enemy were re-
inforced by 2,000 mounted warriors, who, after a
short halt advanced upward to the stony ridge on
the left of Ibeka, in front of which was the sloping
ground. The whole force of Kreli now came on,
the columns being lost sight of from time to time
in the hollows that intervened, while the mounted
men stole swiftly up under cover of the ridge.
When within 1,200 yards* range the Galekas
threw forward skirmishers, who crept upward,
firing — a movement opposed by 500 Fingoes under
Veldtmaa On the extreme left the remainder of
the Fingoes, under Allan Maclean, a resolute
Scottish officer, supported them, the Police being
thrown out in skirmishing order to the left and
front
AVhen the mounted men crowned the ridge they
were shelled, and two rocket-tubes, which now
opened on them, did terrible executioa Fire was
then opened with the 7-pounders, and the action
became general along the whole line. Into the very
heart of the squares the shells went plumping and
exploding, causing great slaughter, till the columns
were completely broken, and the enemy, extending
themselves in loose skirmishing order, rushed for-
ward again and again, till within fifty yards of the
muzzles of the guns.
The case-shot proved too much for them ; fre-
quently they fell back to take rest ; and at intervals
came surging forward again in the smoke, over
their dead and dying, with no better success. By
this time the shell and rockets had completely dis-
persed their mounted mea
About five in the evening they gathered together
in all their fury for a final effort On they came,
whooping and yelling, in one mighty scrambling
mass — their crane plumes imparting a devilish
aspect to their heads, their leathern shields upheld,
rifles and assegais brandished, their white teeth
glistening, their eyes gleaming with the lust of
blood and slaughter — but only to be mowed down
by shells and rockets. Right up to the muzzles of
the cannon they came ; but shell, case, rockets, and
Snider bullets proved too much for them again, and
they began to waver.
Then down on their flank swept the Fingoes,
inspired by hatred, rage, and revenge, led by Allan
Maclean, sword in hand, accompanied by only
fifty of the Cape Police, led by his brother John
Maclean, cheering as they poured in a heavy fire,
and then charged with fixed bayonets.
On this the Galekas wheeled about and fled,
abandoning muskets, assegais, blankets, and ever}^-
thing that might impede their flight fi-om those
whom they had hoped to beat so easily. As long
as they were within range the plunging fire of
the 7-pounders followed them.
From ten in the morning till five in the after-
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DEFEAT OF THE GALEKAS.
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noon the flight had lasted, and darkness was
coming on when it was over, and the brave few in
Ibeka had time to look about them. More than
a thousand were the casualties of the Galekas,
while, "wonderful to relate," says the author of
the "Cape Mounted Rifles," "we had not one
man killed, and only four or five wounded. The
Fingoes lost about forty men, and eleven wounded."
In their flurry and haste the Kaffirs had fired
too high, yet the house was peppered with bullets,
and several horses were hit in the gardea The
wounded Galekas were all carried off" by their
people in the night, so their number could never
be exactly knowa
The night that followed was a miserable one to
the toil-worn holders of Ibeka. The cold was
intense, and the rain fell heavily ; no fires could be
lighted or food cooked; and all night they re-
mained under arms, with their loaded cannon
pointing through the sod wall
When day broke, and the night and the rain had
passed away together, it was seen that the Galekas
had returned to nearly the same ground they had
occupied on the preceding day. Unrested and
unslept, the heroic little garrison stood to arms.
Intent on a dreadful reprisal for the past slaughter,
the Galekas came stealthily up the stony ridge again,
to turn the flank; but Maclean and his Fingoes
rushed to the crest of the ridge, and opened fire,
on which the foe fell back. Again the 7-pounders
played on them at 2,400 yards' range, spreading
such terror and astonishment into the sable masses
that they never got very close to Ibeka, on which
this was their last attack, as they had never seen
cannon before, and were petrified with fear at the
eflect of shell — a missile they utterly failed to com-
prehend— bursting with such deadly effect among
them at 1,000 yards' range, disembowelling men
and tearing them to pieces. "They fought well
and pluckily," says the author before quoted ; " the
way they repeatedly charged, I shall never forget
They came on with a determined rush; and if
numbers only could have availed, they would have
proved irresistible."
At ten o'clock on the morning of the second day
a heavy fog came on, and continued till noon,
when it cleared off*, and left a bright and sunny
day. When it rose skyward like a curtam, to the
astonishment of those in Ibeka, not a Galeka was
seen near it
By the lights of their camp-fires it was found
that they had retreated to a distance of ten miles,
and ere long were supposed to be concentrating
their strength at Kreli's kraal for defensive pur-
poses.
Two days afterwards some Fingoes brought into
Ibeka the body of 'Nita, the witch doctor, who had
been slaia She had distributed amulets to the
entire army as charms against the white men's
bullets. She was tattooed all over, and her face
displayed intense energy of character. She it was
who procured the death of Lindixowna, who was
starved for several days, half beaten to death, and
then buried alive.
" It is said," writes General Cunynghame, " this
prophetess, or sorceress, had told the Galekas that
one of the messages from the spirits of their
ancestors was a mandate to give up their old tactics
of loose skirmbhing, and to attack in heavy close
columns, after the manner of the British soldiers ;
and this was the cause of the departure of the
Galekas from their usual system of fighting, and of
their attacking our posts at Ibeka and elsewhere in
masses."
Her head was packed in a rocket box, and sent
as a curiosity down to King William's Town,
CHAPTER IV.
THE WAR IN YiXTTVLKRlK {continued) : — THE COMBATS OF LUSISI — UMZINTZANI (1877).
These affairs on the frontier with the Galekas, and
the fact that the Gaikas, a great sept, were ruled
by Sandilli, a drunken and dissolute old man, at
length fully alarmed the Cape Government
General Sir Arthur Cunynghame, Lieutenant-
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the forces in
South Africa, now assumed the chief command.
He was a distinguished officer, who had served as
aide-de-camp to Lord Saltoun during the latter
part of the war in China, and was present at the
storming of Chin-Kiangfoo and Nankin. He was
also a veteran of the Crimea, where he had served
fi-om the battle of the AUna till the fall of
SebastopoL
Detachments of her Majesty's 24th Regiment
were sent to Komgha, PuUen's Farm, and Impetu.
Large numbers of Volunteers and some mounted
Burghers were despatched to Ibeka — all well
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
llbeluL
equipped and well horsed, but totally without dis-
cipline, as they could go home when they pleased.
H.M.S. Active J a steam corvette, left Cape Town
with 200 of the 88th Regiment for the front, under
Major Edward Hopton, who had been severely
wounded at the storming of the Redan. Meetings
were called in all the principal towns, where
volunteers flocked to enrol for active service.
the general commanding, in order that they might
become well acquainted with the country, in case —
as seemed by no means improbable — ^the services
of her Majesty's regular troops would eventually
be necessary in the land of the Galekas.
Having a dread that excesses might result from
armed men being without perfect discipline, in
consequence of the cruelties outrages, and mutila-
KRELT, CHIEF OF THE GALEKAS.
The East London Volunteers, by occupying several
police stations, released the troopers for service in
the field; 300 burgesses were enrolled for the
defence of King William's Town.
Commandant Griffiths now received orders to
enter and sweep the country of Kreli and his men.
Under his orders were all the troops that could be
mustered in this emergency. These consisted of
3,000 Europeans, including the Frontier Armed
Police, and 5,000 Fingoes officered by white men,
without whose leadership it was impossible to rely
upon them ; and in the country this force was to
penetrate, the armed men were estimated to amount
to between 18,000 and 20,000 in number.
Staff officers were attached to Griffiths* force by
tions of the Kaffirs, Sir Arthur Cunynghame issued
the following General Order : —
" His Excellency the General Commanding the
Forces is anxious to impress upon the troops
generally, that in all cases where the ability of so
doing exists, prisoners of war should be made,
rather than that the enemy should, even in battle,
be put to death without necessity.
" W. Bellairs, Colonel,
" Deputy-Adjutant-GeneraL**
Owing to red-tapeism, want of sufficient ammu-
nition and other supplies, several days were
unfortunately wasted at Ibeka, and meanwhile the
Galekas were strengthening themselves in every
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iiek.] PREPARATIONS FOR FURTHER CONFLICT. 19
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
rKf«U'<KiML
way, but chiefly by reinforcements from several
tribes that were as yet supposed to be at peace
with the Cape colonists, especially the Gaikas and
Bomvanas. " In feet, any Kaffir who wanted to
have a fight joined the Galekas, who asked no
questions. The enemy were daily augmenting
dieir forces at Kreli's 'great place* (hk kraal), and
at kngth about fifty of our Volunteers, who were
out on a foraging expedition some few miles from
Ibeka, had a brush with the enemy. Two of our
number were severely wounded, but their comrades
managed to bring them in."
Two days after, the Galekas ventured to come
within sight of our sentries, and to dance, yell, and
fire off their muskets as a challenge for us to attack
them. At last the commandant resolved to make
an assault upon the great kraal^ as his forces were
becoming discontented at being detained in camp
doing nothing. At daybreak one morning two-
thirds of the troops at Ibeka were ordered to march,
with two days' rations in their haversacks, and with
two pieces of cannon.
A march of some miles by a rough road brought
the forces to the foot of a very steep hill, up which
they had to toil, and take the various positions
assigned them. The Artillery and a troop of
Volunteers were to hold the summit ; the remainder
of the latter were posted on the extreme right of the
guns, and a mile on their left was a body of the
Armed Police ; while No. 3 troop, mustering only
eighty sabres, formed the reserve ; but the whole
were to advance simultaneously at the first sound
of the trumpet
They were now in front of the kraal of Kreli,
the most formidable chief in all KafTraria. Past it
flowed the Xoxa River for about half a mile at the
foot of a very steep hilL There stood the hut of
Kreli, with several others around it, large thorn-
trees dotting the space between.
Near the beast and calf kraals are the humble
huts of the Kaffirs, always built by the women.
They draw a fair circle on the ground about twenty
feet in diameter, and place on its circumference
long rods, about a foot apart, leaving space for an
entrance. These they bend and join, forming so
many interlacing arches, with wattle-work between.
The dome is supported by strong poles within, and
the whole is then thatched with straw and clay.
From the situation of the kraal on the hill, the
enemy had but one way of escape — a flat space
that opened out towards the Manubie Forest, a
mile and a half down the river. Unluckily for his
plans. Commandant Griffiths had not sufficient force
to hold this outlet, though his guns covered it for
the whole distance.
On the arrival of the Fingoes, who were some-
what slow in coming to the front, they were
directed to go round the base of the green grassy
hill on which the attacking force was posted, and
then wheel to the left, to drive the Galekas under
the fire of the Volunteers on the right A troop of
Police accompanied them.
A few straggling musket-shots reverberated
among the hills, and the orderly trumpeter sounded
the "advance." The guns reached the crest of
the hills at a gallop and were wheeled round with
muzzles towards the enemy ; the limbers were cast
ofi", and a sharp fire with shrapnel shell opened on
the kraal, with all its flimsy huts, while the Volun-
teers, Armed Police, and Fingoes, dismounting,
opened an independent file fire at the distance of
only 200 yards.
The Galekas were taken completely by surprise,
and fled for the outlet by the bank of the Xoxa,
pursued for more than three miles by all the forces
except the reserve, the guns being continually fired
upon them as opportunities served. The wretched
fugitives were terribly cut up, yet they halted, and
made a resolute stand for about ten minutes.
Finding, however, that Griffiths* troops were
gradually working round them, and pouring in a
heavy fire the while, they fled to the bush.
This rally was made at the springs on the Butter-
worth River, where for a little space they "opposed
the advance of the Mounted Burghers, but were
successfully overcome by Wainwright with the
Volunteers, in which service he was severely
wounded," as reported by Griffiths.
It has been considered strange that the latter
did not send the guns in pursuit, with case-shot;
they were well horsed, the gunners well trained, the
way was flat, and they would have been of the
greatest use in scouring and raking the bush.
The troops returned to Ibeka dissatisfied that
they were not permitted to pursue the enemy to
the end, and so crush out the war. It was soon
known that Kreli, who had lost altogether 1,550
men, was anxious to make peace after his kraal
was destroyed by fire, but, by some mistake on the
part of the authorities at Ibeka, he was denied the
opportunity of doing so. Moreover, his tribe had
been thus terribly cut up, while the white men had
suffered very little loss.
In the capture and destruction of the kraal their
entire casualties were only nine, with three horses
killed.
The general reported that the arrangements
made by Commandant Griffiths were excellent,
but that he was compelled to fall back on Ibeka
for want of supplies, especially of ammunition.
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TRAGEDY AT A CAVE IN GALEK ALAND.
21
After waiting twelve days for these, this active
officer was compelled to advance without them,
and having by some means procured seven days'
rations for his troops, with Fingoes as guides, he
marched past where the ashes of Kreli's kraal
stood, and advanced towards Lusisi in Galekaland,
along a good road, bordered by beautiful pastures,
intersected by small streams, and dotted here and
there with fine coppices.
Lusisi had been a trading station, thirty-five
miles from Ibeka, but only the ruins of it remained,
as the whole place had been burned when the
war began.
Within fifteen miles of it Griffiths halted, and
encamped on a hill, waiting for his expected sup-
plies ; but as none came, he advanced to his desti-
nation, and encamped there, on low ground, in the
form of a square, with the baggage-waggons on one
side of the laager and the three 7-pounders in the
centre. That night the rain fell in pitiless torrents,
and so, miserably enough, passed the first hours of
the troops in Galekaland, with the scouts of the
enemy hovering on the hills in front
By daybreak next morning the outlying pickets
fell back, reporting the approach of the enemy,
and the trumpet sounded " to arms." The troops
were posted in extended order round the camp,
while five troops were ordered to dismount, picket
their horses, and advance towards an adjacent
bush. This body formed the main fi-ont On its
extreme right a great force of sombre Galekas was
seen swooping down from the hills; fire flashed
out from the masses as the engagement began,
when they had nearly surrounded the camp. The
firing was heavy on both sides ; but Griffiths was
unable to use his field-pieces, as the Fingoes were
skirmishing in the bush and endeavouring to drive
the Galekas out
The latter, after a two hours* engagement, sud-
denly retreated, pursued by the whole force, till
torrents of rain fell, and Griffiths desired his
orderly trumpeter to sound the " retire."
Some time afterwards, tidings came to camp that
some Galekas — supposed to be chiefs of distinction
— had obtained concealment in a cave. On this
two of the Fingo leaders — brothers, named Goss,
firontier farmers, living on the Umtata River, both
universally liked and respected — went with a few
of their men to ferret them out To reach the
cave, the mouth of which was about two feet high,
it was necessary to ascend a stream. The Fingoes
entered resolutely in a creeping, position, and were
all shot dead
William Goss then approached with three men,
and they were also shot dead — Goss through the
heart Two more Fingoes, with Michael Goss, flien
approached ; the former were shot dead, and Goss
was wounded in the arm. He called for more to
follow him, but he and they were all shot dead,
save one who escaped
Allan Maclean and his Fingoes now came up
and he boldly tried to enter with two. One was
shot, and Maclean had his arm grazed by a bullet,
so it became necessary to try other measures to
unearth these resolute savages, and volley-firing
was resorted to at 150 yards firom the mouth of
the cave, into which the occupants only receded
farther.
" A Fingo now climbed up the bank right above
the cave, armed with an assegai," says the author of
"The Cape Mounted Rifles." " A stick was then
cut, and a hat put on it Now, as only one man
could come out of the cave at a time to fire, they
felt pretty sure of getting one ; so they put the
stick with the hat round the comer. A party of
men were in readiness to rush into the cave directly
the shot had been fired from it A nigger came
out of the cave to fire at the hat, and was imme-
diately stabbed through the neck by the Fingo
above, and in the confusion that followed the party
rushed in and killed the remainder of the men
inside. There were seven Galekas in all On our
side we lost eleven Fingoes and the brothers Goss,
who, poor fellows, both left widows and large
families. We buried them the next morning, and
thus in the middle of Kaffirland they found their
graves."
While Griffiths* force was at Lusbi, half drowned
by incessant rain, and half starved from want of
rations. Major Elliot, an active officer, who had
collected a body of 3,000 loyal Tembus, took up a
position at Fort Bowker, the mounds of which —
thrown up during a contest with the Galekas fifteen
years before — were still surviving, and the plan of a
campaign for the complete dispersal of the enemy
was now resolved on.
With this view, three columns were formed, and
a 7-pounder was attached to each.
The whole force under Griffiths is thus given by
General Cunynghame : — Frontier Armed Police,
500 sabres ; Burghers, 1,000 ; Fingoes, between
3,000 and 4,000 ; Tembus, under Major Elliot, and
holding Fort Bowker, 3,000.
The enemy now began to fall back, making but
feeble attempts to resist, retiring along the sea
margin towards the mouth of the Bashee River,
across which they sent 6,000 women, with all their
children, into Bomvanaland, in November, 1877, to-
gether with a great quantity of cattle. The Bom-
vanas^ while anxious to prevent these fugitives from
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Uousntzam.
crossing, would not fire for fear of injuring the
women ; but finding it useless to attempt prevent-
ing their passage, they withdrew to the various
mountain paths, with the view of confining the
Galekas to the bank of the Bashee and obstructing
their further progress inland.
In advancing, the three columns were in extended
order by day, and at night formed a camp. Their
progress was slow and laborious, having to ford
many rivers, and being often without food, which
was acutely felt by the men, owing to the hard
work they had to perform.
"Affairs," wrote the general, quoting the com-
plaints which appeared in the Cape papers, "reached
a climax at our camp, when, during three days of
incessant rain, we were almost wholly without pro-
visions, our sole food consisting of meat, without
even a pinch of salt, and a few mealies given us by
the Fingoes. Shortly after this, at a place where
we effected a junction with the commandant, we
were ordered to start when the rations were two
days overdue ! On our refusal, we were told to be
careful what we were about ; that it amounted to
mutiny, &c But on the men remaining firm, Mr.
Maclean spoke to the commandant, and eventually
we were served out with a handful of broken
mouldy biscuits, some men, but not all, being
fortunate enough to get a very small quantity of
bad meat .... When a patrol is warned (for
duty) it is arranged so that we have to thrust hot
and reeking meat into the saddle-bags, and take
green coffee, thus being deprived of our only luxury,
and having frequently to throw away the meat;
instead of being warned in time, to dry the one,
and grind, with two stones, the other."
"Those who are acquainted with the Crimean
war," adds the general, in a note, " will remember
the green coffee."
The provisions were not weighed, but served out
in pannikins according to the judgment of the
quartermaster ; and, by reason of the want of proper
utensils, the meal was often mixed upon an old
macintosh.
Such were some of the pleasures of the Galeka
campaign.
The whole tribes were now represented as being
thoroughly disheartened, breaking up into small
bands, and refusing to answer the war cry of their
chiefs, and the capture of Kreli himself was believed
to be only a thing of time ; and in November the
Government was actuallyadvertising for applications
for grants of farms of 300 acres each, in the western
portion of the conquered land, bon& fide personal
occupation being one of the conditions.
The Burgher force now demanded their dis-
charges ; and as there was no law to retain them
against their will, they marched home, taking with
them all the cattle they could collect, while Elliot's
column returned to Tembuland, and Griffiths'
force to Ibeka ; but the strife was not yet over, as
the moment Fort Bowker was abandoned the
Galekas returned from the Bashee River, and the
land swarmed with them agaia
Thus a smart engagement ensued on the i3lh
of November, near the Umtata River, in which
sixty Galekas were killed, and ten of the Colonial
troops.
Prior to this, Mapassa, a Galeka of consequence,
had left the tribe of Kreli, and crossed the river
Kei into the Colony with a great body of followers.
A fatal mistake was made in not disarming these
men, who squatted upon the richest land, retaining
their muskets, assegais, and cattle. Eventually all
these people made their way in the night to San-
dilli and fraternised with the Gaikas, who, though
not yet at open war with us, were only waiting their
time.
On the 2nd December, 1877, a sharp combat
took place at Umzintzani, a few miles from Ibeka.
On the road towards the mouth of the Kei River
there was a large trading station known as Holland's
Shop, which had been burned to the ground by the
Galekas. Towards this place a patrolling force
was sent on the date givea It consisted of Infantry
Volunteers from Fort Elizabeth, two pieces of
cannon, and the 9th troop of the Police; the
whole being under the command of Captain
Zachary S. Bayly, formerly adjutant of the 9th
Foot, and who afterwards became colonel of the
Armed Police when that force was re-constituted
as the new Cape Mounted Rifles.
The patrol left Ibeka at 4 a.m. ; but was not
fairly on the road till 9. A few miles' steady
marching brought it opposite the place where stood
the ruins of Kreli's kraal, when a couple of troopers
came galloping back with orders from Inspector
Bourne, who was with the advanced guard, to press
on, as the Galekas were in force in firont and had
attacked him. Captain Bayly, with Lieutenants
Wells and Stigant, with the artillery, went forward
at a hard trot, and the infantry followed as quickly
as possible.
" We marched as fast as we could for a couple
of hours," wrote one who was there, " and arrived
at a place called Holland's Shop. We found that
the Police had been fired on, and one of their
horses shot in the shoulder. The Galekas
could be seen on a ridge opposite to us.
Below us was a deep kloof leading to the Buora
Kuga River. As far as I could judge, the Police
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DEFEAT OF THE GALEKAS.
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and. Graham's Town Artillery were sent round to
the opposite side to drive the enemy down the
kloof towards us, we marching down the ridge on
our side to meet them as they came through ; but
we could not get a chance at them then, as they were
too far off for us to use our rifles."
In the deep kloof or valley the dark figures of
the Galekas were seen in great strength. This
was about three in the aftemooa
The Police advanced guard had opened fire on
them at 250 yards, and were holding them pretty well
in check, when Lieutenant Wells came galloping up
to their aid, and had a gun, which was remarkably
well horsed, unlimbered and brought into action, and
poured case-shot into the bush with murderous
effect — ^while the yells of the Galekas, ascending
from the kloof, seemed to rend the sky.
Shell after shell went whistling and shrieking
into the dark leafy hollow, out of which the Galekas
soon went, rushing to join those who crowded the
ridge, and who from thence made a movement to
turn Bayl/s flank — a daring attempt
A body of Police was sent to bar this mancBuvre,
on which fully 500 Galekas made a wild and furious
rush on the httie force that remained — only twenty
Police and twelve artillerymen! The order was
given to "retire" while they were yet 150 yards
distant The Police speedily mounted and fell
back — ^all save three luckless fellows, whose horses
had broken loose. Two got safe under the muzzle
of the gun, but a third — named Wellesley — whose
thigh-bone had been broken by a shot, was imme-
diately assegaied, though he fought desperately on
his knees, and slew four Kaffirs before he was des-
patched. Many were shot down by the troopers
and artillerymen there, as they clustered in a mob
about the miserable man, stabbing hiip to death.
Lieutenant Wells waited till the Galekas were
within sixty yards of the gun, and fired a case-shot
with terrible effect into the midst of them. Then,
instantly taking advantage of the terror, confusion,
and slaughter that had ensued, he limbered up, and
withdrew at a gallop, bringing off with him the two
Police troopers in safety to the top of a steep hill.
The enemy continued to hover in front, till,
gathering in force about two hours before the
ruddy sunset peculiar to Africa, they prepared to
charge Bayly's force; but the two guns were
brought into action, and sent into them round after
round of case-shot, till the Galekas were driven
to seek shelter behind boulders and ant-heaps.
The sun had now set, but the clear, bright
African moon was shining overhead in a cloudless
sky ; and favoured by its light, the Galekas again
advanced en masse, pouring in a fire, and pressing
on towards the guns,' and many were wounded.
"For perhaps ten minutes our men were ex-
cited," says the writer before quoted by General
Cunynghame, " and many fired at random. Not
for long, however; they soon settled down to
steady work, reserving their fire until they covered
a foe. But for quite an hour and a half there was
one incessant rattle of musketry, and it is little less
than a miracle that any of us escaped. And the
danger was as great from the rear as the front, for
fear of being hemmed in ; bullets fired from one
flank passed over to the other. Not till after eight
o'clock did the enemy's fire slacken, and a chance
was given us to breathe."
They retired again into the deep woody kloof, and
were seen no more that night
Of their loss it is impossible to judge ; but one
thing is certain — the guns and Snider rifles made
fearful havoc among them, and a great number of
their wounded were carried off. All that remained
were assegaied and ripped up by some Fingoes who
came on the ground next morning.
About the ridge there lay eighty bodies, and the
wounded were supposed to amount to hundreds.
Some of the killed were men of importance, judging
from their ornaments.
This fight at Umzintzani (so called from a small
river of that name) caused no small anxiety along
the whole frontier. It was now known that, leaving
all their young women, cattle, and valuable pro-
perty beyond the Bashee, they had taken the
field again, desperate and unencumbered.
The enemy were said to be under the command
of Sidgow, a chief who was asserted to bear a
charmed life. He had been many times wounded,
and often escaped captiure with great diflSculty.
He was notorious for his intense hatred of all
white men, and was alike brave and intelligent
At this crisis the Cape Government strove to
bring the Burghers and other volunteers to the
front, but they had been so badly treated on
previous occasions that one and all of them refused
to serve.
** It was impossible that the Governor could see
an army of savages collecting on the border of the
colony, and threatening any day to overrun it,
without taking the most strenuous measures in his
power to disperse and destroy them," . wrote Sir
Arthur Cunynghame. " He saw that this could not
be accomplished by the neglected defensive forces
of the colony, and, despite the chances of a re-
bellion within our frontier, he requested me to use
my utmost endeavour to collect together the best
force I could, and march them over the Kei This
was on the 6th of December, 1877."
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H
liRlriSH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Ibeka.
CHAPTER V.
THE WAR IN KAFFRARIA {continued) '. — ^THE COMBAT OF NYUMOXA — RELIEF OF FORT WaRWICIC—
THE FIGHT AT QUINTANS
The generaVs first act was to order every available
man of the 88th Connaught Rangers, then at Cape
'J own, to the front, while fifty men of the 24th
Warwickshire Regiment were mounted for cavalry
cervice. Arms were placed in the hands of every
and a small artillery force was soon organised;
there were no troops to defend King William's
Town after the 24th were scattered over eight
stations, and " there were no stores for a march, no
transport, no mounted men, no regular artillery-
GENERAL SIR ARTHUR CUNYNGHAME, K.C.B.
non-combatant of the forces in King William's
Town, and even the band of the 24th had to lay
aside their instruments for instruction in gunner>%
A 7-pounder, weighing 150 pounds, was placed in
their charge, and the rapidity with which these
musicians acquired their gun drill delighted all.
After only ten days' instruction they were able
to load and come into action in fifteen seconds ; but
there was no duty whatever which that gallant old
24th Regiment was not equal to.
Horses were purchased to drag four 7-poundcrs,
men, and the civil Government would not, or could
not, supplement any of these requisites. The War
Minister urged the advance of Her Majesty's
troops without these essentials. *Push over the
Kei,* said he, ' with a few Scotch carts ; cross by
the nearest route, the Chickaba.' I should ill,
indeed," wrote Sir Arthur, "have performed my
duty to Her Majesty or the colony if I had sent
200 men — all that could be possibly brought to-
gether— wildly, without transport, ammunition, or
guns, into a dense bush, across a river running
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26
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Kom^lui.
through stupendous ravines, under the conditions
recommended, * with a few Scotch carts,' and over
a drift which afterwards proved impracticable."
Early in December some of Her ' Majesty's
troops began to cross the Kei River, and marched
to Ibeka. From that point their operations were
to begin, together with the Frontier Police, for the
clearance of Galekaland for the third time. Posts,
called Komgha, PuUen's Farm, and Impetu, had
been occupied for some time previously. The
troops from thence were moved to Ibeka^ their
places being taken by part of the Connaught
Rangers. A Naval Brigade, furnished by H.M.S.
Active^ with two guns and two 24-pound rocket-
tubes, took part at Ibeka.
A corps of infantry, called Pulleine's Rangers,
and another of cavalry, called Carrington's Horse,
were raised respectively by Major Henry B. PuUeine
and Lieutenant Carrington, of the 2 4tlt Regiment
Lieutenant Raphael Clements of the same corps led
the Mounted Infantry ; and the entire command in
the Transkei was entrusted to Colonel Richard T.
Glyn, of the 24th.
"On the 2 1 St December," says the general
commanding, "I left King William's Town to join
the forces in the Transkei Passing by Deadman's
Gully, Hangman's Bush, and Murderer's Kop (a
gloomy list of prominent points), I arrived that
evening at Komgha."
Prior to that, on the nth of the same month.
Captain Robinson, of the Frontier Police, with a
force of ICO men and 500 Fingoes, had an en-
counter with the Galekas, who lost 30 men and 60
cattle before they were put to flight
According to Streatfield, the dresses of our
Fingo levies were peculiar, and varied greatly.
A few were fairly clad in suits of cord, but the
majority wore dilapidated garments of every size
and shape, while "their head-gear was something
marvellous to behold. Two of them had old top
hats, which, under the circumstances, looked more
ridiculous than anything else." A corps of 500
Fingoes will march fifty miles in a day, without a
man falling out "They act according to their
lights," he adds. " They well know that no quarter
would be shown to them by the Kaffirs \ and from
their infancy they have been brought up to regard
pain and death as nothing, and think it is the proper
thing to kill all Kaffirs that fall into their power."
On the 1 6th of December, when H.M.S. Active
and the Florence^ which had come to the east coast
with troops and Marines, sent a surf-boat into
Mazeppa Bay to discover a safe landing-place, the
Galekas disputed the attempt, till they were dis-
persed by eight shells firom the first-named ship.
" I offered 500 head of cattle, or ;^i,ooo, for die
capture of Kreli — not dead or alive, but to be de-
livered safely into camp," says Sir Arthur Cunyng-
hame. "This reward continued to be offered
to the end of the war ; but, to the honour of the
Galekas be it said, that although they were in such
a starving state as to be actually eating the bark of
the trees, no traitor was found base enough to
betray him. It reminds one of the days of the
Pretender, when a reward of ;;^3o,ooo could not
induce a Highlander to betray his prince."
On the 26th of December the columns started ;
the centre was led by Colonel Glyn; the right,
from the springs, under Major Hopton; the left
under Captain Upcher, of the 24th Foot ; and to
each column was allotted a portion of the Artillery,
of the Naval Brigade, and of the Mounted Police,
besides 1,000 Fingoes.
The ravines, mountains, and especially the rivers,
presented great obstacies; but the latter were
crossed by pontoons, and 1,500 head of fine cattle
were speedily captured, while H.M.S. Active^ under
Commodore Sullivan, steamed slowly along in
sight of the beautiful coast as the troops advanced,
and communicated with them at the mouth of the
Bashee River.
The officers in command were at first imable to
ascertain where the 'Galekas were, and in what force ;
but by the 29th it was known that the Galekas, who
held the country in their rear, were all in arms
under Sandilli, that the mails had been seized,
that communication with the colony was cut off,
and that matters generally looked very serious.
In the last days of December, small bodies of
troops, sent to clear the roads for postal service,
were fired on ; and Major Moore, of the 88th, who
had left the camp at Komgha, with a strong patrol,
to meet the post-riders carrying the mails on the
Kei road, was fired on, and compelled to retire
with loss; but the major won the V.C, as the
Gazette thus records : " For his gallant conduct
in risking his own life in endeavouring to save that
of Private Giese, of the Frontier Mounted Police,
on the occasion of the action with the Galekas,
near Komgha, on the 29th of December, 1877."
Private Giese had been unable to mount his
horse, and was left at the mercy of the KaflUrs, on
perceiving which, " Major Moore rode back alone
into the midst of the enemy, and did not desist in
his endeavour to save the man until the latter was
killed. Major Moore having shot two Kaffirs and
received an assegai wound during his gallant
attempt"
Soon after this, occurred the murder of the
brothers Tainton, and Mr. W. C Brown, by the
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Nynmoxa.]
PURSUIT OF THE KAFFIRS.
27
natives, about eleven miles from King William's
Town, an event which created a great sensation
along the frontier.
In the middle of January, 1878, after various
movements, a very sharp conflict ensued, which
General Cunynghame calls the battle of Nyumoxa.
Having received information that the Galekas
were concentrating near the Kei in strength, to-
gether with the Gaikas of Sandilli, orders were sent
to Colonel Glyn, who was then at the mouth of the
Bashee, to march back at once to Ibeka ; to which
place he came in three days by forced marches,
the soldiers, sailors and police being full of delight
at the prospect of grappling with wily enemies who
had so often eluded them.
At daybreak on the morning of the 13th the
troops marched to join the Quintana column, now
commanded by Major Owen, of the 88th Foot
Scarcely had his camp been reached, when Lieu-
tenant Coghill came galloping up to General
Cunynghame, announcing the advance of the
enemy. Large bodies of them were visible on
some adjacent heights.
Captain Robinson, R.A., with seventy Mounted
Police and two 7 -pounders, remained in the rear
to protect the camp. The order to advance was
given. Colonel Glyn (an officer who had served
with the 82 nd Regiment in the Crimea, and wore
a medal and clasp for Sebastopol) took command
of both columns ; Major Owen led his own, which
was in the first line of attack ; Captain Upcher led
the second.
The grotesque-looking Fingoes, 200 in number,
under Captain Veldtman, preceded the advance,
and disposed themselves with musket and assegai
to co-operate in the attack. On reaching the brow
of a hill, the dusky masses of ' the enemy were
perceived in vast strength, and on beholding our
columns they advanced resolutely.
Our first line consisted of one company of the
24th, on the right ; another of the 88th, on the
left. In the centre were the guns, under Lieu-
tenant Kell, and a rocket party of blue-jackets,
under Lieutenant Cochrane ; and another with men
of the 24th, under Lieutenant Maine, of the Royal
Engineers.
In.spector Bourne's troop of Police, posted some-
what in the rear, commanded a deep kloof to
protect the left flank; Inspector Chalmers' troop,
on the left, commanded another. The reserve was
formed by Captain Upcher's party, consisting of
the 24th Regiment, and some Marines under Lieu-
tenant Dowding.
The scene of this encounter was an undulating
plain, with a rugged foreground, kloofs, deep and
darkly- wooded with the most luxuriant foliage, lying
on either flank ; whilst the ground immediately in
front of the position sloped away into a small
valley, covered by long feathery grass, rough
boulders, and tangled brushwood, excellent for
skirmishing.
At half-past four p.m., while the enemy were
swarming on the face of the opposite hills, the first
rocket was sent hissing into them. Three men
fell, and the Kaffirs, totally unaccustomed to such
fiery missiles, dispersed, and began to descend into
the kloofs on either flank. Independent file-firing
was begun by Inspector Bourne's troop, and then
the action became general along the whole line.
The troops now broke into skirmishing order;
led by Major Owen, the 88th rushed on with a
wild Irish cheer, and opened a hot fire on the
Kaffirs, whose dark nude forms were visible as
they came creeping up the kloofs to take advan-
tage of the long grass and rugged ground in front.
Four of the 88th fell — three were severely wounded ;
and finding them hotly engaged, Colonel Glyn
reinforced the skirmishers by the mounted men
of the 24th, who, leaving their horses on the brow
of a hill, dashed down, under Lieutenant Clements,
to the aid of their Irish comrades, and the Kaffirs
were forced to fall back into the kloofs ; but
eventually, as they came on again in great force.
Colonel Glyn was compelled to bring up his small
reserve.
Under Captain Upcher, this force came into
action at the double, and breaking into skirmishing
order, overlapped the enemy's flank on their right,
and by a galling and biting fire drove them back,
and slowly and sullenly they retired, returning the
fire of the troops.
Again they were driven into the kloofs, which,
unluckily for them, were now manned by Veldt-
man's ferocious Fingoes, who attacked them, and
did terrible execution, the bullet beginning what
the knife and assegai were sure to finish fully.
The kloofs and wooded krantzes were heavily
shelled during the action by the two 7 -pounder
guns under Lieutenant Kell of the 88th, and their
deepest recesses were searched by the flaming
rockets of the two parties detached for that i)ur-
pose.
After a conflict of an hour and a quarter, the
Kaffirs gave way, were pursued from bush to bush,
and driven from every point where they strove to
make a rally. As usual they carried off most of
their wounded; fifty-four lay dead in front of the
position, "and from the number of wounded
brought in on the following day, and the subse-
quent discovery of mpre bodies in the kloofs and
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Iini>etu.
woods, we may fairly conjecture that a salutary
lesson was administered to them."
Four chiefs of rank were among the slain.
The soldiers of the 24th were much elated, the
more so that the action was fought on the anniver-
sary of Chillianwallah, in which, some twenty years
before, the regiment so much distinguished itself,
and saw thirteen of its officers laid dead on the
mess table.
Several instances of the killing powers of the
Martini-Henry rifle were remarked in this combat ;
indeed, it was almost the first occasion in which
our soldiers used it "All of them," says the
general, " were eclipsed at the Water Kloof when
the Sergeant-Instructor of Musketry of the 90th
Perthshire Light Infantry killed a Kaffir by a
deliberate aim at 1,800 yards' distance — a little
over a mile ! Near Baillie's grave, one of the
enemy made himself defiantly conspicuous to a
party of the 2nd battalion 24th Regiment Several
shots were fired at him, which caused the fellow
gradually to increase his distance. At slightly over
1, 000 yards the native appeared to consider himself
safe ; but an officer came upon the scene, and at
his first shot the whooping and dancing Kaffir
received a fatal bullet between the shoulders."
On the 8th of January the general had received
a very alarming message in cypher firom Captain
Warden, commanding a detachment of the 24th
Regiment in Fort Warwick at Impetu. It was
brought by a loyal native, who successfully eluded
the enemy, and contained intelligence that the
slender force at Impetu was surrounded and cut
off, as were also seventeen unfortunate men in a
place called Fort Linsingen. It ran thus : —
" We are surrounded on all sides by Kaffirs, who
are destroying everything. Spencer is here with
his men from Port Buffalo, all except the
party at Fort Linsingen. I do not see my way to
relieving them at present, the enemy being so
strong between us in the Chickaba. It will be as
much as we can do to hold our own here.
Spencer's camp was attacked last night; it adjoined
our redoubt Enemy driven off. No loss to us.
Expect some will occur after in some form, as they
appear so very determined. In broad daylight yester-
day they carried off about 100 of our commissariat
oxen. The Chickaba is full of Kaffirs, under five
chiefs. We want ammunition to complete our re-
serve, and also Sniders for Volunteers. I should
like a field-piece, also some rockets ; our position
is so very open and exposed. We have supplies
for about ten days. Ten families in * laager * here.
Have seventy women and children, who passed the
night in the ditch of our fort Maclean has not yet
returned We are obliged to be under arms all
night Can you send me any sandbags ? "
The relief of Impetu was at once resolved on.
The following morning saw Lieutenant-Colonel
Lambert, of the 88th (who, when a subaltern, had
been wounded at Inkerman and in the assault of
the Redan), leave Komgha with a force of three
7-pounders, 467 infantry, 86 horse, called Sansom*s
Volunteers, and 250 Fingo levies.
Without opposition the colonel reached Fort War-
wick, which had been constructed by the company
of the ist battalion 24th Regiment then occupying
it, and was situated twenty miles south-west of
Komgha, on the south side of the Chickaba River.
" The road between had been impracticable, except
for strong parties," says Streatfield, "as Kaffirs
swarmed over all the district, and only a few days
before, a mounted policeman, carrying despatches,
had been killed His horse was shot under him,
and though he called to his companions for
assistance, they galloped off and left him, and he
was found dead, with his body mutilated by assegais.
The fort was a very snug little place, well built,
with huts and tents inside." The colonel found that
Captain Wardell, who commanded there, and was
afterwards killed at Isandhlwana, had relieved the
seventeen soldiers at linsingen, and he brought
the whole back to Komgha, together with a long
train of waggons, over 100 women and children,
300 head of cattle, and 2,349 sheep.
Preparations were now made for an attack on the
enemy, who were gathered in great numbers in the
Chickaba Valley, which is about thirteen miles long,
beginning at a pomt opposite to the end of the
Tala ridge, and lying parallel with the river Kei.
The valley is covered with dense bush, so thickly
interwoven as to render movement impossible in
some places. There were no roads, and the only
paths down to it were rugged, perilous, and pre-
cipitous. " It was very important,** wrote the
general, "that a native Fingo force should be
collected for the attack upon Chickaba, which can
be traversed only with great difficulty by British
soldiers alone. The Fingoes spy out an enemy,
and firmly rely upon the Britbh when they have
occasion to retreat They perform most excellent
service, and evince much bravery, quite equal to
either the Gaikas or the Galekas, or any other
tribes who have become famous warriors."
A short time prior to the advance upon Chickaba,
Captain Boyes had been killed in the bush there,
and Captain von Leinengen, a brave and excellent
officer, nearly shared the same fate at the hands of
some Kaffirs, who crept stealthily towards him
through the long reedy grass.
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CARRINGTON'S LIGHT HORSE.
29
The troops for the attack on Chickaba left
Komgha on the 14th of January, 1878 ; the right
column under the command of Colonel Lambert,
and the left under Major Brown, both of the 88th
Regiment With each were 200 Europeans, includ-
ing Police and Volunteers, with 1,000 Fingoes.
On the 15th the force reached Impetu, and was
there strengthened by Captain Brabant with the
East London Volunteers, who had already had a
brush with the enemy, from whom he had taken
3,000 head of cattle and a vast number of sheep ;
and ere dusk Colonel Lambert had captured 4,000
more.
On the following morning an attack was made in
a long, deep, and woody ravine, that teemed with
Kaffirs and their cattle. The enemy showed a
bold front, but for a time only, as they were driven
out with the loss of forty men, and 4,000 more of
their cattle were taken.
They were strongly posted over an area of nearly
twenty miles square of difficult and woody country,
yet it was completely cleared by the effective shell
and rocket firing ; the latter kind of missile, being
altogether beyond their comprehension, filled them
with dismay.
Another important blow was soon after struck at
Quintana by the column of Colonel Glya Tidings
came that the Gaikas and Galekas, under Kiva,
Sidgow, and McKinnon, were gathering in the
valley of the Kei, at the foot of the Tala ridge,
and it was supposed that they meditated an attack
upon Ibeka, or Quintana, which is twenty miles
distant from that place.
At both posts large quantities of ammunition and
other stores had been collected, the capture of
which would have been a stroke of good fortune to
the enemy, and a serious one to the British troops,
as the provisions accumulated in these places repre-
sented the entire stores available in the TranskeL
A strong detachment of the Frontier Police, with
two 7-pounders, was sent to Leslie's Mission (which
stands midway between the two stations), under the
command of Captain Robins, and was intended as
a reserve in case of either being attacked by Kreli
or Sandilli, both of whom were close by.
By the advice of Captain Nixon, of the Royal
Engineers, the general had selected Quintana as a
defensive post, and shelter trenches had been con-
structed there ; and on sure intelligence coming
that it was to be the point assailed, preparations
were made for the event
The force stationed at Quintana consisted of
three companies of the Warwickshire, 50 troopers
of Carrington's Light Infantry, 25 of the Naval
Brigade, with a 24-pound rocket-tube, a Police
troop of 60 sabres, and a gun detachment of 11
men, a 7-pounder of the Cape Town Artillery, 200
Fingoes, under Allan Maclean; Captain Upcher, of
the 24th, commanding the whole
Quintana stands on an elevated spur, round the
base of which flows a small stream. On three
sides the position sloped down; on the fourth it
was flat, and crowned by the road that leads to
Ibeka. On the north rose a hill overlooking a
deep gully and stream, and about a mile distant was
another hill covered with thorny trees — positions
that would have rendered Quintana untenable had
the enemy been furnished with artillery.
In front, or to the west, lay level ground,
studded by trees and shrubs, that afforded excel-
lent cover for skirmishers.
Upcher formed his infantry in square, with a gun
at each of three comers, and the waggons were col-
lected in laager close by. At daybreak on the 7 th
of February the Klaffir scouts were seen on the
hills in front, when a drenching rain began to fall
that wetted every one through.
At six a.m. the Light Horse, under Carrington, a
few Police, and one company of the 24th, under
Captain Rainsforth, were sent out to draw on the
enemy, which they did with success, for as they
pretended to fall back, Kreli with his Galekas
advanced from the south, and Sandilli with his
Gaikas from the north-west, all exulting on seeing
the advanced party fall back, though firing. They
were above 4,000 strong, and came furiously
towards Quintana, some in columns and some
skirmishing, across the open green veldt, ignorant
of the force that was concealed in the shelter
trenches.
When they were within 500 yards, the troops rose
and opened a heavy fire on the astonished Kaffirs ;
the rocket-tube commenced at the same moment,
and the field-pieces with their terrible case-shot.
Yet they withstood and returned this fire for about
twenty minutes.
They had tolerable shelter in rear of the trees
and bushes, and a heavy mist that came on com-
pletely obscured their movements for a time ;
but when it fortunately lifted, in about half an
hour, it was found that they had crept to within
150 yards of the trenches !
A few more rounds of case-shot from the
7-pounders, with the close file-firing from the Mar-
tini-Henrys, made them turn and fly, pursued by
the fleet-footed Fingoes and Carrington *s troopers
on the spur, with bridles loose, Carrington himself
leading the way, revolver in hand, some 200 yards
ahead of the pursuers.
Robinson's detachment now came up and joined
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Quintana.
in the chase, and his field-piece did effective service.
The enemy had 300 killed Round the camp the
dead and wounded lay thick, and the latter were
soon put out of pain by the Fingoes in their usual
fashion.
Our casualties only amounted to nine among the
peaceable guise, and purchase stores ; they follow
the army with both food and ammunition. It is
thus unavoidable that they should be occasionally
killed On one occasion a woman came forward
leading a band of warriors. She had wisps of
straw in her ears — a charm which she believed
KING William's town, from near the aqueduct.
Fingoes, two of Carrington's Horse wounded,
one Police trooper wounded, and three horses.
" From this defeat the Gaikas and Galekas never
recovered," wrote the general " They never again
showed themselves in bodies in the field, but only
haunted the bushes and kloofs in small bands,
whence it was necessary to hunt them out like
animals. Several painful sights were often seen on
these occasions. Women with infants were shot,
and found dead or dying. But in these wars the
women take a considerable part; they form the
KafSr commissariat; they venture into towns in
rendered not only her, but her party, invulnerable.
In ignorance of her sex, a private took aim at her,
and shot her dead, upon which the natives ran
away."
On the day of the victory at Quintana, another
was gained elsewhere.
A certain Umfanta, brother of Gongalizwe, chief
of the Tambookies, had joined the disaffected, and
the whole country up to the North Aliwal Border
was in a state of warlike agitation ; while Gon-
gabele, with the revolted Tembus, had taken post
on strong ground at the confluence of the Black
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REVOLT OF THE TEMBUS.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Pcric Forest
and White Kei, which the Kaffirs had been able to
hold in the last war, despite the gallant attacks we
made upon it
Commandant Griffiths was despatched against
him, at the head of 1,200 men.
He advanced in four small divisions from Staal-
klip upon the post of Gongabele, through the most
difficult country ever yet traversed by British troops,
and, attacking the rebels, routed them in every
direction. Many were slain, among them a brother
of Gongabele, fighting bravely. Griffiths' force
had only five casualties, and he captured about
3,000 head of cattle and 5,000 sheep.
Soon after the affair of Quintana, the 90th Perth-
shire Light Infantry, with a field battery, arrived
from Britain, a welcome addition to our slender
forces. Tini Makomo, a Kaffir chief, had been
allowed to settle in that important and dangerous
position, the Water Kloof, and had to be driven out
Many petty confficts, all more or less destruc-
tive of human life, ensued in various quarters,
though the imperial forces had been withdrawn
from Transkei, and to the Frontier Police had been
assigned the chief duty of patrolling the land of
the Galekas, who were thoroughly broken up, and
many had fled to the territories of the Pondos,
Pondomise, and other tribes.
Kreli was never captured ; but after a long period
of wandering from place to place, surrendered him-
self to the Cape authorities, and was permitted to
settle in the vicinity of his old kraal, where, says
a writer in 1881, "he will train up the young men
of his tribe to make war upon the white man
whenever they may be strong enough as a tribe,
or combine with other tribes for the same pur-
pose."
CHAPTER VI.
^ i
THE WAR IN KAFFRARIA (concluded) \ — AFFAIRS IN THE PERIE FOREST — REBELLION IN GRIQUALAND —
DEATH OF SANDILLL
In the foregoing pages we have shown, by the
small losses on our side and the enormous casualties,
comparatively, on the other, the futility of naked
savages, armed with old muzzle-loader muskets,
contending with trained troops, furnished with
deadly weapons of precision, killing at vast dis-
tances— futile, at least, till our short-service men
or youthful soldiers had to contend with men of
dauntless courage and splendid physique, the Zulus
and Boers.
Early in February, 1878, it became known that
Sandilli, with a great number of Gaikas, had as-
sembled in the Perie Bush, on the Amatola Moun-
tains, a vast forest, commencing twelve miles north
of King William's Town, and also that there was a
good deal of fighting going on near Fort Beaufort,
held by a detachment of H.M. troops, 200 strong.
Streatfield records that, with his Fingo levy,
raised at Keiskamma Hoek, he was ordered to
march from Komgha to King William's Town on
the 14th of the month. Then he was sent for by
General Thesiger, who despatched him, with his
party, to the Raboula River post, twenty miles
north of the town, with a waggon of stores for
Lonsdale's Fingoes, stationed at that village, which
is situated amid magnificent scenery, overlooked
by the Buffalo range of wooded mountains, 5,000
feet above the level of the sea "Lovely as the
scenery was," he states, "it certainly looked a
most awful country in which to hunt Kaffirs ; and
so, indeed, it proved Well did the Fingo leaders
know the Buffalo Range before the next three
months passed by."
On the J 8th an attack was to be made upon the
mountains and the Perie Forest, instructions for
which were given by Colonel — afterwards Sir
Evelyn — Wood, then quartered at Keiskamma
Hoek. "About 200 of Lonsdale's Fingoes had
come the day before to reinforce me for the
attack," says Streatfield "My orders were to
ascend the mountains with my corps, and when at
the top, get touch of Brabant's colunm on my right
and Colonel Wood's on my left, and then to
advance in a south-easterly direction, fighting our
way right through to the bottom of the range on
the south side. Colonel Wood's and Brabant's
columns had orders to ascend the mountains by
passes on my right and left respectively."
The troops toiled up the steep slopes, marching
in the dark, the naked feet of the native levies
making scarcely any sound Every here and there
dark tufts of bush — the very places for Kaffir
ambushes — were passed By daybreak the summit
was reached, and the sound of firing announced
that Brabant's column was engaged with the enemy,
who proved to be in considerable force.
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SCOURI^fG TriE fiustt.
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On an elevation some 800 feet above Streat-
field's column, the bayonets of Colonel Wood
were seen glistening. In front the ground fell
away for two or three miles with a steep descent,
free from bush, terminating in two open plateaus,
divided by a deep kloof, beyond which spread im-
penetrable jungle. Ravines were around the troops
on every side, and in all of them were caves, rocks,
and krantzes innumerable, forming the strongholds
of the Kaffirs; for old Sandilli had chosen the
ground on which to keep his enemies at bay.
Streatfield pushed on to the assistance of Bra-
bant " The firing had been for some time, and
still was very heavy, and on our way down we met
many wounded men being carried out of action.
We soon reached the middle of the fighting, and
got into the bush on the south side of the plateau,
from which the firing seemed heaviest"
By bayonet and bullet the Kaffirs were ferreted
out of the caves, and from behind rocks and trees,
till they were fairly driven with loss, and with their
fire completely silenced, into the depths of the
forest Brabant's casualties were eleven men hit
and thirteen horses killed.
As the attack on him had been premature.
Wood's column did not get into action. He was
joined by Streatfield on the upper ridges, and then
the troops bivouacked for the night, a cold and
misty one, with only their blankets, on mountains
5,000 feet high.
Next day all the plateaus, and even the bush,
were scoured, especially with shells and rockets.
" It was a beautiful sight," we are told, " to see
amid those mighty mountain ranges the shells
flying through the air, and then bursting far away
over the tops of the trees ; and it was glorious to
hear the echoes thrown backwards and forwards
between the beetling crags that frowned over the
grand old forest below. Every now and then a
rocket went roaring past, leaving a thin tram of
smoke in its wake far behind, and buried itself in
the deep jungle. It was, indeed, a rare and
wonderful scene ; seldom would it fall to the lot of
any one to witness such an effect, combined with
the almost unrivalled grandeur and beauty of the
surrounding scenery."
This process greatly scared the Kaffirs, but it is
supi)osed that few were killed by it on this occasion,
for forty-nine out of fifty of those dangerous
missiles were fired at haphazard into the thou-
sands upon thousands of acres of dense primeval
forest
Sandilli's horse — a well-known white one — ^was
said to be captured that day.
An officer named Bradshaw, captain of a Fingo
levy, was shot through the brain, and buried soon
after in his blanket He was killed by a secret
shot after the day's work was over, being seen
lingering in the open thoughtlessly.
Many were slain thus in the Kaffir wars, by
carelessly loitering near a tuft of bush in which
an enemy lurked unseen.
Though a few random shots were fired by the
Gaikas in the night at long ranges, they made no
attack ; yet they were swarming in the forest around
the position, which was held by 500 European
troops and 1,000 men of the native levies. The
officers of the latter force could not restrain their
wild and unruly men from maintaining a heavy and
useless fire in every direction, as long as the dark-
ness or their ammunition lasted. Thus a Hot-
tentot corps, armed with Sniders, who at sunset
had thirty rounds per man in their pouches, had
not a single round among them when day broke.
In this afiair of the Perie Forest the Kaffirs were
reported to be in three divisions : Matanzima with
the right wing, Edmund Sandilli with the left, and
Sandilli, with Gongabele, commanding the centre.
Meanwhile, operations against the native in-
surgents were in progress elsewhere.
Colonel Henry Wellington Palmer, of the 90th
Regiment, who had served with the 74th High-
landers throughout the Kaffir war of 185 1-3, and
knew his work well, with 1,200 men and four
7-pounders under his command, occupied Fort
Relief and the Scholm Kloof, menacing Tini
Macomo early in March.
The forces employed consisted of four companies
of the 90th, a party of Artillery, Volunteers, and
Fingoes. On entering the Blinkwater Valley they
were fired upon, and in the skirmish that ensued
some of the enemy were killed and wounded, and
forty-seven taken prisoners, with 300 head of fine
cattle. The troops then moved into the woody
Water Kloof, but owing to the torrents of rain
which fell at the time and the rugged nature of the
country, operations were greatly retarded ; but
eventually 900 head of cattle were captured, fifty
men made piisoners, and twenty shot dead, and by
the 19th the Water Kloof was cleared.
General Thesiger, having concentrated the Im-
perial and Colonial troops around the Perie Forest,
had every outlet guarded, and the story of -the war-
fare in this quarter is simply that the Gaikas,
finding their lines of retreat cut off, attacked our
forces furiously, in almost every instance with over-
whelming numbers, forcing us to retire and take
up fresh positions. " They have never been able
to leave the bush," says a despatch of March the
26th, " and every day they are in it adds to
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Inufaa lododo.
the impossibility of their ever coming out of it
victorious."
Yet a few days before that date, Sandilli was
reported to have sent a messenger to the general, .
asking upon what terms he would be permitted to
surrender, and was informed that no conditions
whatever would be made with him.
Captain Donovan and Lieutenant Ward, two
very gallant officers of the Diamond Fields Horse,
fell into an ambuscade when out reconnoitring and
were slain ; while a number of officers and men
were also killed by lightning, «r accidentally shot by
their native comrades, which added to our casual-
ties in this desultory strife. Its perils seemed to
increase when tidings came that, urged on by
Cetewayo, King of the Zulus, the Kaffirs, under the
formidable Sekukuni, had made two raids into the
Transvaal — one at Orighstadt and the other in the
Waterfall Valley, burning the farmhouses, killing
their white occupants, and carrying off the cattle —
and that the fugitives were flying on every side to
the bush, where they hid by day, till, by nightfall,
they could seek places of safety.
On the 27th of April, 1878, fresh operations were
inaugurated at the Buffalo Range. Colonel Evelyn
Wood commenced his march by the light of a
waning moon with a party of the Frontier Police, a
detachment from the 2nd battalion of the 24th
Foot, Streatfield*s and Lonsdale's Fingoes, and a
body of Volunteers.
After waiting some time for the arrival of 1,000
Fingoes from the other side of the Kei River, 100
miles distant, Colonel Wood made a combined
attack upon the insurgents at two places, called
Tutaba and Kandoda (or Intaba Indodo), at day-
break on the 30th of April.
" Lonsdale, with Major Hackett and a company
of the 90th, were in support upon my right," says
Streatfield, •* and I, with Captain Laye and another
company (of the 90th), had the Tutu Bush to scour,
beating, as on former occasions, towards the
Intaba Indodo. On my left was another corps of
Fingoes, who had to beat up the Zanyockwe Valley
and the bush on the left of it Wood, with more
of the 90th, a gun under Captain Smith, R.A, and
a corps of Hottentots, were advancing up a ridge
on Lonsdale's right From the side of the Intaba
Indodo were the 2nd battilion of the 24th and
Frontier Light Horse, under Major Buller, a corps
of loyal Kaffirs (Siwannies), and some other Volun-
teers, who advanced towards us.**
The Intaba Indodo (which means the Mountain
of the Man) rises some 2,000 feet above a plain
very abruptly amid a wild and hilly country. Every
feature of nature here— rock, herb, and tree — is on
an enormous scale, and nothing can exceed the
grandeur of the scenery or the leafy density of the
tropical bush.
Sunrise was beginning to gild the summit of
the great mountain peak when operations com-
menced by Wood's column coming to close
quarters with the enemy, in strong force upon the
Makabele Ridge, while traversing a path through
very thick bush. For some time he was stoutly
opposed ; and here fell Lieutenant Saltmarshe, of
the 90th, who was shot dead just after assuming
command of the advanced guard, after Captain
Stephens, of the same regiment, had been borne to
the rear with a bullet through his jaw.
Several privates of the 90th were killed and
wounded ; but the enemy were soon thrown into
utter confusion by a searching and trenchant fire at
close range, when they fell back, carrying off their
wounded, but leaving 126 dead behind them.
Their punishment would have been greater, but
about 400 yelling and frantic women threw them-
selves in a mass between the Kaffirs and our fire,
thus enabling them to escape in that quarter.
All the forces from both sides of the mountain
advanced steadily during the day, meeting with
resistance more or less well sustained at different
points, by Kaffirs lurking in the bush ; but by four
in the afternoon every kloof and ravine had been
successfully scoured, and all the enemy's cattle and
horses were taken.
Some fighting ensued in the Zanyockwe Valley,
where twenty-one Kaffirs were killed, and 100
women and children subsequently gave themselves
up to the British.
" I went to the funeral of the poor fellows of the
90th who had been killed the day before," says
Streatfield. " The burial of those killed in action
is always a sad and solemn sight ; and I could not
help thinking, when they were Englishmen, of those
who loved them in their own dear land, and who
would soon be mourning for the relatives who lie
buried so far away in the shadow of the South
African mountains."
The body of Lieutenant Arthur Saltmarshe, who
was quite a youth, was conveyed to King William's
Town, and interred in the cemetery there with all
military honours.
On Wednesday, the 8th of May, a third engage-
ment took place in the Perie Forest, and it proved
to be the last one there.
After moving in the dark, the troops, as soon as
there was light enough, began to penetrate slowly
and quietly into the bush path. A few Fingoes led
the way ; then came two companies of the 2nd
battalion of ihe 24th ; then the rest of the Fingoes,
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P^e Forest]
TROUBLES In GRIQUALAND.
35
the Frontier Light Horse of Carrington, and some
other Volunteers.
Streatfield's Fingoes were attached to the corps
of Major Buller, CB., of the 6oth Rifles, an officer
who had served with the 2nd battalion of his
regiment throughout the Chinese campaign of
i860, with the Red River Expedition of 1870, and
was now at the Cape on particular service. ** He
was a splendid worker, and never seemed to tire,
however great the amount of hard work, and where-
ever the stiffest amount of work was, he was sure to
be found In action, if you could ascertain for
certain where most bullets were flying, you would
be pretty safe in venturing your last dollar that
Buller would be in the middle of it" •
When the bush path reached a plateau, Streat-
field's Fingoes were extended in the jungle to pick
off the Kaffirs as they took to cover, while the rest
of the column pushed quickly forward into open
ground ; but few of the enemy were to be seen, as
they had obtained timely warning of the expe-
dition. His skirmishers kept working to the front,
when Lonsdale, with his Fingoes, reached the
plateau through the bush from the Buflalo heights,
and some companies of the Perthshire Light
Infentry now came upon the ground.
Carrington's Horse and the two companies of the
24th were still pressing on, when a hot fire was
poured upon them by a number of Kaffirs, who
had perched themselves securely among some steep
rocks at the edge of the bush, and from this natural
fortress their fire came spurting out in incessant white
pufls, causing many serious casualties. Captain
McNaughton, of Carrington's Horse, was shot dead
through the chest ; Corporal Macabe and others of
the same corps were killed Captain Whalley fell
wounded, and thirteen Fingoes were killed, and
some more of other corps ; and this position re-
mained untaken till Majors Buller and Lonsdale
came up with a few white Volunteers and Fingoes.
Sword in hand, and in a dashing manner, they
rushed right under cover of the precipitous rocks,
climbed up close to the Kaffirs, shot many of them
down, and put the rest to flight through the
krantze. Both Buller and Lonsdale had several
narrow escapes.
Fighting of this kind went on all day long
around the various plateaus in the mountain
forest, and the contest was resumed on the fol-
lowing day. Amid it, Captain Godwin Austen, of
the 24th (and formerly of the 89th), had a singular
escape. He was descending some rocks at the
head of his men, when a rifle behind him exploded
• Streatfidd's "A Ten Months* Campaign."
The bullet traversed his back, ripping his tunic to
pieces, breaking his flask to shivers, and giving him
an ugly wound, for which he had to retire to
King William's Town. The Kafiirs, who on that
day numbered about 600, were completely driven
back, with a loss of only seven Fingoes.
By the 21st of May the enemy was breaking up
more than ever. Sandilli and Edmund SandilU
again sued the Government for peace, but an un-
conditional surrender was demanded
Meanwhile, perilous work was going on elsewhere
in Griqualand West, or the Diamond Fields, a dis-
trict having an area of 15,500 square miles, with a
permanent population of 1,000 whites, 4,000 blacks
and a fluctuating population of 40,000 diggers ; but
though the strife there was recent, the accounts of
it are somewhat meagre.
The Griquas are a tribe of mixed race, descended
from the Dutch colonists and the aboriginal Hot-
tentots. Adam Kok made an exodus with his
mixed people from this territory in 1861 into a
country north of Kaffiraria, which, having been
visited by the Zulus, obtained the significant title
of No Man's Land It is called Griqualand West,
and there his people now reside.
On the nth of June the stronghold of the
Griqua revolters in Victoria West was attacked by
Inspector Nisbett, of the Armed Police, with 113
mounted men and the Victoria Volunteers, covered
by a fire fi-om his 7-pounders, and the fort was
carried after a six hours' contest The rebels, 800
strong, retreated with the greatest precipitation
when they did give way. They tossed aside their
muskets, and many flung themselves over precipices,
at the foot of which their mangled bodies were found.
Two thousand sheep and many horses, cattle, and
waggons were captured, and Nisbett had only three
men wounded, according to his report fi-om Fort
Lanyon — so named from the Lieutenant-Governor
of Griqualand West, Colonel W. Owen Lanyon, of
the 2nd West India Regiment.
On the 17th of June, 1878, there was a sharp
skirmish among the Magnet Hills. The Griqua
rebels were driven out of their entrenchments, but
took refuge in almost inaccessible caves. Being
exposed to a galling fire from these — a fire which
could not be effectually returned — our troops were
obliged to retreat, leaving fifteen men on the
ground behind them.
Thirty Volunteers, on the 6th of July, attacked
and completely routed a body of natives near
Kuruman, with a loss only of five killed and five
wounded ; but Colonel Lanyon, in an official des-
patch, declared that this movement was undertaken
against his express wish.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
tiCoefaS.
Two affairs were fought soon after, in both of
which our troops were successful. The first attack
was made by Colonel Warren, in the rocky Wittins
Kloof, on the 9th, in which the rebels were re-
pulsed, and 1,050 cattle and sheep taken ; and the
second was at Koegas, on the 15th, when thirteen
of the enemy were killed, a vast quantity of cattle
captured, and our only casualty was one private
wounded — the result of the arms of precision being
all on one side. On the 20th they were defeated
intensely cold that in the morning my blanket was
frozen right through. I have ridden over a thousand
miles, and had eight engagements with the enemy,
so I do not think I have been lazy. Our Volun-
teers are a splendid lot of fellows, and have done
their work well. Every position the enemy held
was strong, and always on a mountain, so the fact
of our being so successful says much for the pluck
of * our boys.' I do not suppose there has ever
been an instance before when so formidable and
VOLUNTEERS MEETING A LOYAL KAFFIR AND HIS FAMILY.
again, with the loss of fifty killed and 2,600 cattle
and sheep taken. Our loss was one killed and six
wounded.
The men our troops had to encounter had all
been hunters from their youth, were tolerably well
armed, and from the positions they took and
fortified, evinced a better knowledge of war than
the naked savages we had to meet elsewhere ; but
by the courage and energy of the Volunteers alone
the insurrection was quelled.
An officer commanding one of those regiments
writes thus, under date July 8th, in one of his
letters :— " On Wednesday I returned here, after
being away ten weeks, and I must say I was glad
to get back to a roof and a bed once more. All
this time I have never slept in a house or with my
clothes off, and a rifle has shared my couch — /.^.,
the ground — alongside of me. The weather was so
widespread a rebellion was put down wholly by
Volunteers ; and bearing in mind that it is so young
a colony and so small a population, it is highly
creditable to the people. I have had 700 men in
the field, and I have not had a single trained
officer to help me. I have had to raise, equip,
drill, and feed them; and this latter work is no
easy matter in a country where even water is scarce,
and every requisite has to be carried from this place.
In some instances we have been 200 miles from the
source of supply, and our only means of transport
were cattle waggons. It has been most anxious
work, for the livcS of the men were valuable, all
being men of good means, with people dependent
on them. With Volunteers one must lead, so I have
always had a hot time of it, for the enemy, knowing
me, always gave me a shower. I have had some
wonderful escapes, but was only hit once, and then
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Koega*.i VOLUNTEER SERVICES. 37
»
i
S
a
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Iddengi.
by a stone splinter on my cartridge-belt It dented
a cartridge, but that was alL I thought I was at
last going to have some quiet here, to carry out my
civil duties, but, alas ! my hopes were dashed, for
yesterday I received a despatch to say that a com-
mandant had crossed the border with a weak force,
and got the worst of it I must now start on
another long ride of 120 miles to relieve him, as he
lies dangerously wounded and surrounded His
act was reckless, and in direct disobedience, for
his sole duty was to protect the district I expect
we shall have some hard knocks. I have not got
many men to take with me, the bulk of * our boys'
being in the field with the officer whom I left to
finish the campaign. Some evil-disposed people
have got up a foolish charge of cruelty against our
men, because a foolish bragging boy wrote to a
more foolish father that we gave no quarter nor
asked for any. I need hardly say that the charge
is wholly false, for never has a war been conducted
in a more humane manner. Being always in the
firont myself, I am able to speak with certainty on
this point ; and all my orders have been very strict
regarding mercy. Our fellows have behaved so
splendidly that a charge of this kind is doubly un-
just I would go anywhere with my mea"
In the other quarter of Kaffraria a rumour had
been floating since the beginning of June that old
Sandilli had been killed, but until the 7th of the
month it was not known with certainty. On the
following day, however, his body was brought into
the Volunteer camp at Isidengi, north-eastward of
the Perie Forest, in which he had lurked so long.
"How it was the old man met his death will
never be known for certain," says the author of " A
Ten Months' Campaign;" "but there is not the
least doubt that Lonsdale's Fingoes were the men
who rid us of our troublesome enemy, and thereby
put a decbive end to the war, for after his death
there was scarcely any fighting whatever, and every-
thing in the country rapidly assumed the usual
peaceful appearance. It was not known that he
was killed till a few days after the event happened,
and the fact was then reported by a Kaffir to a
Volunteer officer, and the man added that he could
take him to where the body could be found. This
he did, and all that remained of this remarkably
rebellious old individual was carried in triumph on
a horse to Isidengi"
He was a fine-looking old man, with an almost
snow-white beard, but the hair on his head still
dark, though in his seventieth year. Wild animals
had devoured a portion of his body. He was
buried on the morning of the 9th, in presence of
all the Volunteers and a company of the 24th,
under Major Dunbar, who had served with the
34th in the Crimean and Indian campaigns.
Before he was interred the Fingoes filed past the
body, and exultingly shook their assegais in the
dead warrior's face. He was then wrapped in an
old piece of sail-cloth and buried by them. The
day was a lovely one, and everything around
looked bright and beautiful The birds were sing-
ing in the thorn-wood trees, and the white tents
and scarlet uniforms looked bright in the cloudless
sunshine as his grave was covered in — the quiet
resting-place of the warlike Sandilli, the last chief
of the Gaikas.
On the 28th of June an amnesty was proclaimed
for all, his sons excepted; and Edmund Sandilli, with
Mantinzini and seven councillors, was captured
on the 30th by Mr. Levy, the Government agent,
with the emigrant Tambookies. This was supposed
to be the last scene in the desultory Frontier War,
and the Volunteers wefe disbanded or sent to the
Transvaal The Gaikas were settled in new loca-
tions beyond the river Kei, and formally handed
over to the care of Captain Bljrthe.
CHAPTER VIL
THE BASUTO WAR (1879-81): — M0R0S1*S MOUNTAIN — THE FAILURES BEFORE IT, AND FINAL CAPTURE.
At the period to which we have been referring
the Imperial and Colonial troops in the Cape
Colony were as follows : —
The 2nd battalion of the 3rd Kentish Buffs ; the
I St battalion of the 13th Somersetshire Light In-
fantry; the ist battalion 24th Warwickshire, with
the staff and some artillery.
The local forces consisted of Prince Alfred's
Volunteer Guard, four companies; the Cape
Volunteer Cavalry the Cape Volunteer Artillery,
and Duke of Edinburgh's Volunteer Rifles; the
Kaffrarian Volunteers; the Queenstown, North
Aliwal, Grahamstown, Wodehouse, and Tarkastad
Volunteers, some corps consisting of only one
company each. The Combo Militia are in the
West African Settlements.
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Morosi's Moantaio.]
BASUTO DISTURBANCES.
39
In Natal were the Natal Carbineers, the Kar-
kloof Carbineers, Victoria, Durban, Stanger, New
Germany, Ixopo, Newcastle, Maritzburg, and Royal
Durban and Alexandra Mounted Rifles ; the Buf-
felo Border Guard, the Mori Yeomanry, and Natal
Hussars, all consisting of one troop each, splen-
did shots and hardy men, but having among them
scarcely one officer of the line.
In 1879 the Government resolved to change the
Frontier Armed Police into the force now known
as the Cape Mounted Rifles ; and Major Garrett
Moore, of the 88th, who had served with that
regiment in India, at the siege of Lucknow and
elsewhere, was appointed to the command, for which
he was well fitted, having long served as adjutant
This resolution was scarcely fair to men who
had joined the corps to act as police; never-
theless, on the 2Sth of July the whole force was
made distinctly a cavalry regiment, without their
wishes being consulted. More than two-thirds of
the force demanded their discharges, which alarmed
the Government, who gave them to about eighty
of the most clamorous. Out of 600 troopers, 250
were made prisoners for mutiny, and were kept so
long in suspense that many contrived to desert;
thus a state of things existed at King William's
Town that was little known at home. Major
Moore, becoming disgusted with these matters,
was succeeded by Colonel Bayley, through whose
exertions the dissatisfaction of the men was quieted,
and the Cape Mounted Rifles became what they
are styled — 3. corps second to none in the Imperial
service.
To preserve coherence of narrative, before enter-
ing on the battles and other startling events which
were occurring collaterally in Afghanistan, we shall
record the principal event of the year 1879 in Cape
Colony — the war in Basutoland, and the attacks
on the mountain of MorosL
Prior to that event, in the October of 1878, there
had been some fighting in the Transvaal, where a
British detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Philip
Gilbert, of the 13th Regiment, 400 strong, had
been compelled to fall back before an overwhelm-
ing force of Kaflfirs, who, encouraged thereby,
made a night attack upon his bivouac, but were
driven back with heavy loss, while a patrol advanced
to within five miles of the town of Sekukuni, and
carried ofl" a large number of cattle.
In the subsequent November an attack was made
on a stronghold belonging to one of Sekukuni's
chiefe. The British troops destroyed 300 houses
and a great quantity of grain, with the loss of only
one man killed — a sergeant of the 13th Regiment
—and eleven men wounded.
An amnesty had scarcely been proclaimed among
the rebels in Griqualand West, before the troubles
began in Basutoland — a district which had a
population of 150,000, and was supposed to be
easy to govern. They had been reduced to a
miserable state by the wars of Chaka the Zulu.
The battle of Berea was fought between them and
the British in 1852, and peace was established. In
1868, after continued strife with the Orange Free
State, the boundaries were defined, and the Basutos
became a portion of the Cape Colony. An Act of
the local Parliament, in 187 1, confirmed this.
When the troubles referred to broke out, the
Government raised an additional force — a brigade,
consisting of three regiments of Yeomanry. The
following was the cause of the Basuto troubles : —
An old chief nan\ied Morosi dwelt in the south-
west comer of Basutoland, ruling a tribe called
the Baphutis. He had a son named Dodo, and
several others.
The tract of country he occupied had been
bestowed upon him by Moshesh, chief of the
Basutos, for services in war, particularly against the
Orange Free State.
Morosi had been a famous warrior in past times,
and commanded the army which had been chiefly
the means of defeating Sir George Cathcart, when
he attacked the Basutos in 1853. In old age he was
now enjoying the reward of his services, when he
became involved with our Government through his
sons ; an event which culminated in his own death,
the slaughter of one portion of his people, and the
expulsion of the rest
At the beginning of the year 1879, ^^ common
with the Basutos, of whom he and his people
formed a part, he had been living under British pro-
tection ; and the resident magistrate of his district
— Mr. Austin, afterwards killed in the war — lived at
a place called Silver Spruit One of Mr. Austin's
duties was the collection of a hut-tax from the
people at stated periods. Twelve black policemen
were under his orders, but there were no European
troops nearer than Palmetfontein, twenty-five miles
distant
This hut or house tax, was one which the people
through their chiefs agreed to pay when their
country was taken over ; but now Dodo, inspired
by that spirit of revolt which seemed so prevalent
among the natives, stirred up the Baphutis to resist
it ; and nothing was left for Mr. Austin but to
commit the offenders to prison until the tax was
paid
Dodo threatened Mr. Austin fiercely, and de-
clared he would release the prisoners; so an
attempt was made, unsuccessfully, to arrest him ;
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40
BRITISH BATTLES ON l^AND AND SEA.
[Morosi's Mountain.
for the black j)olice were Baphutis, the culprit
was the son of their chief, and they, no doubt, had
a common interest in the matter.
At the magistrate's request fifty troopers of the
Cape Mounted Rifles were ordered to a place
called Stork Spruit, but ere they could reach it
Dodo broke open the prison, and let loose all who
were in it Mr. Austin demanded the surrender
of the ringleaders, but Morosi either could not, or
would not, give them up ; and the former, finding
his life in peril, retired in haste to Stork Spruit, on
which the Baphutis destroyed the Residency and
all its buildings, betaking them at once to musket
and assegai
The Rifles rode instantly into Morosi's country,
and had a brush with him, killing many, with
the loss of three troopers. , Thus was another
petty war inaugurated
Morosi now took possession of a lofty mountain
near Stork Spruit, and for many days defied all
attempts to dislodge him, his garrison consisting of
1,500 Baphutis, with many wives and children.
Still wishing to give the old warrior a chance, the
Government offered him peace and his own lands
if he would give up Dodo and the leading revolters.
" Morosi requested to be allowed a week for con-
sideration. During the interval he gradually re-
moved the whole of his tribe, with their cattle and
horses, to another mountain about twenty miles
distant, from which he never came down alive."
Most artfully and skilfully was this achieved, and
none knew of it till the time came for his answer,
when the mountain at Stork Spruit was found to be
garrisoned by only a few women and children, who
were allowed to join their friends.
For a time the Government was perplexed. The
country was most difficult of access ; forage — ^grass
especially — was scarce ; there were no roads, and
the mountain whereon Morosi had perched himself
was known to be a position of great natural strength,
having thereon well-built fortifications, the erection
of which had been — for ten years — the pet hobby
of the old warrior of Berea, He had spent all his
energies and skill on it ; thus the mountain was
deemed almost impregnable. Houses and huts
covered the summit of it, and therein he had
stored up ammunition, cattle, and food, and feeling
that he was well prepared to stand a siege, resolved
to defy every one.
" Morosi's Mountain," writes one who was at the
storming of it, " stands at an elbow of the Orange
River. On three sides it is perfectly perpendicular.
The fourth is a slope of about a mile, and sub-
tending an angle of about thirty degrees. This
slope was protected by a series of schanzes, or
walls, about from eight to twelve feet high, loop-
holed for rifles and guns, and very strongly built
Artillery against the walls was utterly useless ; the
shell might knock a stone or two away, but nothing
approaching a gap would be produced. About
nine of these walls were placed at intervals up this
slope. They were built right across, and if you got
over one it was only to be stopped by another just
in front of you, and so on right up to the top. The
top of this mountain was about a mile long and
half a mile broad, and was also completely schanzed
in every direction. Cross schanzes (or traverses)
were built in between those running across, so
whenever you attempted to get over one of these
walls you were met by cross-firing in three or four
directions."
The Baphutis are excellent marksmen, and kept
these fortifications constantly manned ; thus it was
certain death for a white man to ventiure within five
hundred yards of their loopholes.
Some twelve hundred yards from the lower, or
outermost wall on the slope, b a narrow neck of
rock, called the Saddle, terminating in a hill The
whole length of both is about seven hundred yards.
The Orange River, or Gariep, turns sharp round the
mountain on the north side, and as it flows towards
the north-east is joined by the Quithing, a tributary
stream. In that quarter is a large fissure, named
Bourne's Crack, in which there are great natural
steps, some twenty feet or so apart, overlooked at
the summit by a mass of impending rocL " Across
the fissure I have described," says the writer above
quoted, " at the top, was a distance of about six
feet, and from the summit of the overhanging rock
to what I may call the first step was about twenty
feet From the top to the bottom of this precipice
was a distance of about seventy feet It is neces-
sary to trouble the reader with these minute details,
as it was up this last place the mountain was
eventually taken."
When Morosi first took possession, and defied
the Government, three troops of the Cape Mounted
Rifles had been sent with orders to envh-on the
mountain, and cut off all communication between
it and the surrounding country — a service for which
this force, mustering only 250 men, proved quite
inadequate, as so much ground had to be covered
and secured
Thus a body of the newly-enrolled Yeomanry
was sent to reinforce them, and the Premier of
Cape Colony sent with them three guns he had
purchased — aWhitworth 12-pounder, and two steel
rifled guns — from the Orange Free State, and plenty
of ammunition, but omitted to call out the Volun-
teer Artillery.
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MorosTs Moantain.]
ATTACKS UPON THE MOUNTAIN.
41
The Yeomanry individually were fine men, but
untrained, and not very well led ; thus, when they
were dismounted for a regularly organised attack on
the 5th June, under the command of one of their
colonels, they were roughly repulsed by the
Baphutis, with the loss of twenty men, while that
of the enemy was nothing ; indeed, the Yeomanry
never got within a hundred yards of the first wall,
through the dark loopholes of which the muskets
of the Baphutis belched forth fire, smoke, and
bullets with a deadly aim.
On this occasion Surgeon-Major Edmond Baron
Hartley, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, received the
coveted V.C, " for conspicuous gallantry displayed
by him in attending the wounded under fire at the
unsuccessfiil attack on Morosi's Mountain in Basuto-
land on the 5th June, 1879, and for having pro-
ceeded into the open under a heavy fire, and
carried in his arms from an exposed position
Corporal A. Jones, of the Cape Mounted Rifle-
men, who was wounded. The surgeon-major then
returned under the severe fire of the enemy, in
order to dress the wounds of the other men of the
storming party."
Another event as unpleasant as this repulse
occurred about the same time. A troop of the
Colonial Yeomanry, encamped not fiEu: fi'om the
mountain at the delta of the Quithing and Orange
River, was surprised by the Basutos, who sud-
denly overix)wered the sentries, and rushed among
the tents, in which many were assegaied before
they could reach their arms and turn out. A
hand-to-hand fight ensued for about an hour, when
the enemy were driven off, after six men had been
killed and fifteen severely wounded. Great in-
dignation was expressed at the military mismanage-
ment (of the Colonial officers) which permitted such
a disaster to occur.
The next attack on the mountain was to
take place in July, after the troops had been
reinforced by Artillery, Burghers, a Hottentot con-
tingent, and a fourth troop of the Cape Mounted
Rifles.
The day previous to the attack, Sergeant Scott, of
the Cape Mounted Rifles, with seven men, gallantly
volunteered to creep up at night, and toss in shells
with lighted fuses to drive the enem/s marksmen
fi-om behind the loopholes. They proposed to
lie dose under the stone wall until the escalade was
ready to advance.
These eight brave fellows succeeded in getting
up safely and unseen, and lay close beneath the
waO with their deadly missiles, waiting for daylight
The Commandant-General Griffiths — late of the
Armed Police — ^volunteered to lead the assault.
which was bungled, it has been said, by the Yeo-
manry and Burghers, who were to support the Cape
Mounted Rifles, the latter, as trained troops, having
the honour of leading the way.
The bugles rang out the " advance." Sergeant
Scott and his party flung in their shells to clear the
first wall of its defenders, which they did success-
fully, and, rushing forward, the Riflemen carried it,
while Scott was borne to the rear desperately
wounded, the third shell having burst in his hand,
shattering it, and injuring three others of the party.
The Cape Rifles carried the wall and shot down
a number of the enemy, but had to fall back, as the
Burghers and Yeomanry utterly failed to support
them ; nor could they be induced to advance in
any way. The Rifles suffered severely; Captain
Surmon was shot through the lungs, and thirty-four
other casualties occurred
Sergeant Scott had his hand amputated, and
received, deservedly, the Victoria Cross.
Though the month was June, the firosts of the
Cape winter were coming on, and the nights under
canvas were bitterly cold The Baphutis were
exultant, and made fi-equent sorties ; but, save that
mentioned, no other surprise was achieved
A party of the Rifles went up one night to re-
connoitre, and was surprised One was wounded
and taken prisoner. Next morning his head was
seen on a pole on the summit of the mountain,
and a few hours after his body was flung over the
outer, or lower, wall
The horses were now dying daily; the whole
force was suffering firom sickness ; provisions were
got with difficulty, and no grass could be obtained
for the cattle. So, leaving but a few to watch the
mountain, chiefly native levies, the Cape Rifles,
with the Artillery, marched to Fort Ibeka, which
they reached in twenty-three days, and went into
winter quarters, leaving old Morosi in undbputed
possession of his mountain.
In the October of 1879 the troops were before it
again, with their guns and carriages all refitted,
and the Cape Rifles fireshly mounted and newly
equipped A march between high hills, with
several rivers to ford, brought the troops past the
neat houses and flour-mills of Stork Spruit, to a
post called Thomas's Shop, so named from a man
who once kept a lonely store there. At this place
a hospital had been built for the service of the force
employed in blockading the mountain. It was
fortified for defence, and surrounded by a high
stone wall From there a fan: but narrow road
leads to the mountain, fifteen miles distant It is
cut out of the hill sides, and has sharp and
dangerous turns, in some places passing along the
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42
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Morosi'i Moantain.
edge of cliffs having a sheer descent of 500 feet
into the Orange River.
When the troops came again in sight of Morosi's
Mountain, as day was breaking, they thought it
looked blacker than ever, and the walls seemed to
have risen in height The entire force consisted
now of only 350 of the Cape Mounted Rifles,
they were always fired when a native showed his
black woolly head A picket was posted day and
night on the rock called the Saddle, 300 yards from
the first wall, and then a lively fire of musketry
was kept up between the Rifles and the Baphutis
of Morosi, without many casualties on either
side. This was chiefly to show the enemy that the
SERGEANT R. G. SCOTT, V.C, CAPE MOUNTED RIFLES
some Yeomanry and Burghers, with four pieces of
cannon, and the Fingoes.
After Colonel Bayley came to assume the com-
mand, the Yeomanry, Burghers and Fingoes were,
very singularly, sent to their homes, the colonel
declaring that he would rather storm the mountain
with the men of his own regiment alone, than he
would have them impeded by ill-trained troops.
He encamped his Rifles opposite the sloping
side of the mountain, its western face. A strong
stone wall was built round the tents or huts, and
immediately below the camp opened a pretty green
valley, wherein the horses were placed
The colonel placed his guns at a point 1,000
yards distant from the first or lower wall, and
besiegers were on the alert, and to preclude any
night sorties on the camp.
The changing the picket was the most exciting
and perilous part of the work, as the relieving force
had to pass within 400 yards of the first wall to
reach the Saddle, which they always did at a rush
" The whole camp used to turn out to watch the
relief, and unmercifully we used to chaff our com-
rades who were about to be shot at The men got
so used to this daily one-sided shooting match, that
they took it quite as a matter of course. Our chaff
evidently acted as an antidote to the enemy's guns,
for not one was on any of these occasions wounded,
though the escapes were narrow as well as nu-
merous." (" With the Cape Mounted Rifles.")
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Moron's Moontaan.) THE CAPE RIFLES. 43
i
i
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44
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
t,Morosi's Mountain.
Colonel Bayley resorted to many devices to
induce old Morosi to descend into the open and
assail the camp ; but he was too wary, and knew
the advantage of remaining strictly on the defensive.
The mountain was shelled by the heaviest guns,
but with what effect was then unknown. Star
shells were frequently sent up at night, illumi-
nating the whole mountain with a weird and
ghastly light, showing its bold and rugged outline,
the massive faces of the loop-holed walls rising tier
above tier, with the dark spaces between, and
enabling the soldiers to take a correct aim with the
guns while the light lasted, after which several
rounds were fired in succession ; but as the result
of this was unknown, the colonel ordered it to be
discontinued
Almost nightly this formidable mountain fortress
was reconnoitred by small parties, noiselessly, to
find a suitable place for an escalade. Colonel
Bayley and his officers made no secret that this was
the plan they meant to adopt, as a mortar was
ordered from King William's Town, and scaling-
ladders were being constructed at Aliwal, to which
a railway ran from the former place ; but no time
for the desperate venture was stated.
The mortar, with its equipments, came at last,
and it proved to be an old brass one from the Cape
Town Museum, as it bore the inscription, " George
Rex, J 802," having been cast seventy-seven years
before, for throwing 1 6-pound shell. The fuses that
accompanied it had been stored for years unknown.
Thus it was deemed necessary to make a careful
trial of them. They were supposed to bum twenty
seconds before exploding the shell
" No. I burnt four seconds, then went off with a
shoot ; No. 2 would not bum at all ; No. 3 bumt
five seconds, and then blew out the whole of the
composition. The result of using these fuses would
probably have been the injury or destruction of the
entire mortar squad."
Some were now manufactured out of the Cape
Rifle 7-pounder fuses, and for safety iron bands
were put round the bed of the venerable tnortar,
which was dragged to within 600 yards of the first
wall, at which a few experimental shots were thrown,
and made a gap in it But the natives manned it
and their loopholes, and poured from them so heavy
a fire that the mortar squad had to rush for shelter
behind some stone heaps till the guns swept the
schanzes, and then the mortar was dragged back
into camp.
"We had to fire this mortar," says the Cape
Rifleman who commanded the squad, "at a distance
of 600 yards from the centre schanze of the moun-
tain, and it soon became apparent that if we did
not wish to lose some of our number, a bastion, or
some protection, must be built for the men who were
working the mortar. Volunteers were called for, to
build it There was no difficulty ; forty men at once
came forward, and each picking up a large stone at
about 800 yards, ran with it to the point determined
on for the bastion, and deposited it A sufficient
quantity of material being thus collected, we ad-
vanced to build, and here the cunning and skill of
Morosi significantly displayed themselves. Whilst
we had been collecting the stones, not a shot had
been fired by his side, as we were scattered ; but
directly we were, so to speak, massed, the natives
commenced firing at us, volley upon volley. We
cheered, and piled up the stones as hard and as
quickly as we could, knowing full well that the
higher we got the wall, the more cover we should
enjoy. We were without arms of any description,
and within 500 yards of the first schanze,. when, I
suppose, it suddenly occurred to them the purpose
for which we were building. Their fire suddenly
ceased, and numbers of the enemy appeared on
the schanzes, as if they intended charging."
By having to resort to stones for cover, it is
evident that neither fascines nor sand- bags were
procurable ; but a sortie was prevented by Colonel
Bayley, who opened with his large guns, and under
cover of this fire his men built a species of bastion,
semicircular in form, twenty feet in length, and eight
high. To the right of it the wall of a house served
as a magazine. They roofed it with hides, and
over the rough wall of the hastily-constmcted bas-
tion hung more hides, to prevent the concussion
of the mortar throwing the loose stones down.
Under cover of night it was brought into position,
and at daybreak astonished the Baphutis by break-
ing their walls, and throwing its destructive shell
over the whole moufttain. In short, the veteran
mortar of 1802 proved a complete success. Its
shells were thrown over the schanzes, so that they
might roll down and explode among the men
behind them, and with this view the practice made
by the Cape Riflemen was excellent
For five nights and days the mortar squad re-
mained in their little bastion firing at intervals,
while a squad was detailed to prevent them firom
being attacked, and all knew that they were on the
eve of a final assault
On the Sunday before it, the Bishop of Bloom-
fontein and two other English clergymen arrived,
and held Divine service in the little camp. Their
presence was much appreciated by the brave fellows
of the regiment, with whom one of them, the Rev.
Mr. Russell, remained, and when the time came
actually went up with the stormers.
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Morosi's Mountain .1
STORMING THE STRONGHOLD.
45
The scaling-ladders arrived, but proved weak
and defective, so the Riflemen resorted to the
method of tying two together, and strapping them
with iron bands.
On the night before the assault it was proclaimed
in camp that a reward of ;;^2oo was offered for old
Morosi, dead or alive; the same sum for Dodo;
^^^ jC^Si ^^^ promotion, to the first officer or
man on the mountain.
The assault was to be made at the dip of the
moon behind the hills, about half an hour after
midnight The stormers were to dress as they
chose, and to arm as they chose, but all were to
have their rifled carbines and revolvers; while
parties of six natives were told off to the scaling-
ladders.
Previous to the night of the assault the old
mortar had been incessantly discharged for four
days and nights, at intervals of ten minutes in the
latter, at various times in the former; and as then it
was worked by its adventurous squad alone, they
were beginning to be thoroughly worn out The
heavy guns were fired at intervals during the day
before the attack, and both they and the mortar
were to cease at midnight
The mountain was to be assailed by scaling-
ladders up the great fissure in the rocks, called
Bourne's Crack — already described — and another
on the krantz adjoining it, and officers were told
off to lead the two forlorn hopes. During the
preceding day, twenty-five men of the Wodehouse
Border Guard, under Lieutenant Mulenbeck, and
fifty Fingoes, under the redoubtable Allan Maclean,
came into camp, raising Bayley's force to 400 white
men and 100 natives.
"The Fingoes," says Tomasson, adjutant of the
Irr^ular Horse, in his narrative, "are the most
loyal race in South Africa; we have redeemed
these people from a life of abject slavery, and in
return they are loyal and grateful Gratitude is
scarce in South Africa ; the fact is therefore worth
mentioning. Previously to our taking them in
hand, they were veritable hewers of wood and
drawers of water to their fiercer neighbours. They
fought fisdrly under various leaders — Lonsdale,
Pattel, and others, in the Gaika and Galeka wars
of 1877. They submitted to be disarmed in 1880,
but have had their arms restored, and are now
fighting with us against the Tambookies, Basutos,
and Tembus."
The day was passed by the whites in athletic
sports, playing cards, and writing letters; and at
sunset the picket on the Saddle Rock was relieved
by Mulenbeck and his Borderers, with orders to
hold the position at all hazard, and endeavour to
fight their way into the schanzes the moment the
attack began.
The bright Afiican moon was beginning to sink
towards the dark and undulating hills that over-
hang the Orange River, when the tents were struck
at eleven p.m., and in silence the stormers fell in,
and with hearty good wishes irom their comrades
at the gims, marched off for the base of the moun-
tain, about 1,500 yards distant
In case of a repulse and sortie, at that time a
strong breastwork was being constructed in a comer
of the stone camp wall It was made of casks and
bags of mealies, as a place of shelter and retreat ;
and this was all the more necessary as the Fingoes
had discovered that a body of Tambookies, who
came in that evening — natives of the Transkei —
meant to pillage the camp the moment the Rifle-
men left it " Though these Tambookies were
nominally friendly to the Cape Government, and
had professedly come to assist, as their home is on
the borders of Basutoland, it was highly probable
that, in the event of the storming party meeting
with a repulse, they would act as reported. Had
they done so they would have met with a very
agreeable reception."
But the treacherous Tambookies, to their no
small surprise and disgust, were ordered to join in
the assault, to ascend a gully on the left of the
slope facing the camp, and the moment the artillery
ceased firing they were to join the storming party.
Three rockets in quick succession were to be the
signal to advance. The last segment of the great
silver disc of the moon had just dipped behind the
opaque ridge of the hills, and on the waters of the
Orange River her lustre had faded out, when the
three rockets, red and roaring, described three fiery
arcs in the darkened sky, and the stormers, with
their ladders, rushed to the front, and began the
perilous ascent
Lieutenant C Springer of No. 3 troop, planted
his scaling-ladder a little to the right of the great
fissure known as Bourne's Crack, and ascended,
followed closely by his men. He was just nearing
the summit, when a Baphuti put his head over the
krantz, and cried in Dutch, —
" Do not venture here, or I shall shoot you."
" Shoot away ! " cried Springer ; and he shot the
Baphuti, who, in looking over, exposed himself too
much, but his bullet grazed the shoulder of the
lieutenant, and ripped his shirt
The sound of these shots brought the whole
garrison of the mountain to arms.
Our soldiers were fast going up the ladders now,
dragging the latter after them, and fixing them in
fi-esh places ; while the enemy, expecting an attack
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46
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Moron's Moantain.
as usual in front, were all in the schanzes, and
lining the loopholes with their muskets, little aware
that they were being taken in fiank.
There were only thirty of them at the real point
of attack, and these were quickly all shot down.
Within five minutes of the first planting of the
ladders there were two hundred men on the
mountain, helping each other up. Meanwhile
Lieutenant Mulenbeck, with his men of the Border
Guard, had fought his way up from the Saddle, and
actually reached the fourth schanze, shooting down
the Baphutis in the preceding three.
Headed by Allan Maclean, the Fingoes, all
thirsting for blood, had reached the summit of the
gulley assigned to them as their place of ascent ;
but the treacherous Tambookies had refused to
advance. They were sent back by Captain Hook,
disarmed by the Artillery, and made prisoners.
A few minutes after the first 200 men of the
storming party were up, the faulty ladders gave way
under the excited crowd that followed, and the
latter had to be pulled up by the hands of those
above ; and by that time the enemy had quitted
the schanzes, s\^d came rushing to the other side of
the mountain, to meet and resist the escalade.
" Front — form line ! " was now the order ; and
cheering heartily, the Cape Rifles charged across
the flat summit of the mountain, driving the be-
wildered enemy headlong before them. The latter
faced about more than once, and the combat was a
hand-to-hand one — but very brief, as the Baphutis
were cut down or shot where diey stood; and
those who escaped the bullet or cold steel were
hurled over the precipitous sides of the moun-
tain, and dashed into mangled heaps below ; while
the Rifles, dividing into four parties, scoured
every nook, cranny, and possible hiding-place, for
Morosi and Dodo.
Many Baphutis were found concealed in caves
of the mountain. From these they were dragged
forth and shot ; and after several resolute attempts
to storm a cave in which Morosi was hidden, he
too was brought out and shot; but Dodo, the
original cause of all the strife, could nowhere be
discovered.
Just as the sun was rising the British colours
were hoisted on the mountain, and at the same
moment the head of old Morosi was placed upon
a staff in the centre of the camp below. He had
been shot by a Rifleman named Whitehead, who had
a narrow escape, as Morosi's last bullet traversed the
peak and crown of his cap. Whitehead did not
know whom he had shot, and on the body being
brought down by another soldier, the latter received
the reward
It seems incredible that amid all this slaughter,
and amid the almost universal destruction of
Morosi's garrison, our casualties should only be
two men wounded and one Fingo killed by the
accidental shot of a comrade. " Four old women,
Morosi's wives, two children, and one paralysed
man, constituted the prisoners; all the rest were
either killed or had escaped."
Dodo, with 120 men, got away by leaping off the
giddy cliffs into the Orange River. How many
perished in that awful and desperate plunge it is
impossible to say.
The closing act of the day was to strip, flog, and
drive the disarmed Tambookies out of camp ; and
they fled away, shrieking with pain and spite.
On that mountain Morosi had successfully
defied every effort of the Cape Government to
dislodge him for nine months, and his resistance
had cost several lives and a great deal of money.
It is said that the scene it displayed after capture
is beyond description. The effect of the old
mortar and the shells had been terrible. Nearly
all the women and children were lying there in
heaps, torn to pieces, dbembowelled, and maimed
in every way by iron splinters and case-shot Ere
they perished thus, they had all been mad with
terror ; go where they might, the flying iron fiag-
ments found them.
Dead and dying cattle were lying in all directions,
with enormous quantities of bones. The former,
with the great stores of com and other food, with
the fine springs, might have enabled Morosi to
hold out for months longer.
The walls were all demolished, and a strong
square stone house was blown up, with seven tons
of ammunition it contained. These operations and
the burial of the dead occupied all the troops an
entire week; and fourteen days after its capture
saw the mountain once again abandoned to its
former loneliness, while the troops were marched
back to their quarters at Ibeka and elsewhere.
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Ual«tengl
OPERATIONS AGAINST LETHERODI.
47
CHAPTER Vill.
THE BASUTO WAR (cOttcluded) \ — LETHERODl's VILLAGE — OPERATIONS AT MAFETENG — COMBAT AT THE
GOLAH MOUNTAINS — ^THE LAAGER AT UMTATA.
Many more corps of Volunteer horse, foot, and
artillery, beyond those we have enumerated, were
now enrolled for service in the Cape Colony, and
regiments of regular troops began to arrive from
the mother country.
In the strife which ensued, the Basutos fought
with all the courage and daring that was antici-
pated, and certainly with more than savage skill.
They proved themselves admirable horsemen, and
dexterous in the construction of stone defences,
and the manner in which they availed themselves
of these, saved them from more than one defeat,
and in many a charge they displayed more moral
fibre than their old enemies, the Zulus.
Like the Scottish Highlanders of old, they
trusted greatly to the fury of their first onslaught ;
yet their engagements were often marked by feints
and ambuscades.
On the 1 2th of September, 1880, when Colonel
Carrington, with only 70 men of the Cape Mounted
Rifles, was making a reconnaissance near the village
of a rebel chief named Letherodi, in Basutoland,
he was assailed by the latter at the head of 1,200
mea This warrior took possession of the road
along which the Colonial troops were advancing,
and attacked them with the greatest spirit A
sharp engagement ensued; but in the end the
Colonial troops prevailed, drove back their as-
saikmts, and pursued them for three miles. They
then entrenched themselves in the compound of
the Residency, and had there to sustain several
skirmishes, before their frail position was sur-
rounded, as it was eventually by Letherodi.
On the 1 7th September a small party, under an
officer named Sherrington, who had been sent out
to bum the kraals, and seize any grain that might
be found in the vicinity of Letherodi's village, was
assailed by 800 mounted Basutos, who poured in
a heavy, but, fortunately, ineffectual fire. The
critical position of this little band being observed
at the Residency, 30 men were sent to reinforce
them, and the whole then fell back in good order
upon Delphiny, a strongly-built storehouse, gar-
risoned by Fingoes. In the retreat three men
were lost ; one — Private MacGee — ^being wounded
and dismounted. Lieutenant Clarke bravely en-
deavoured to place the wounded soldier on his
own horse; the animal proved restive, and both
were overtaken, and assegaied to death. Another
private, named Bernard White, was also cut off.
The enemy's loss was computed at 50 killed of
the men of Letherodi
The force of the latter soon increased to 7,000
men, for the Basutos had now been joined by the
Tambookies, a tribe numbering about 98,000.
On the 22nd September, Letherodi, at the head
of his men, furiously attacked, at Mafeteng, the
Colonial entrenchments, which were well barri-
caded, but now occupied by only 200 Cape
Mounted Rifles under Colonel Carrington, and
some 200 Native Police under Mr. Barkly, a
magistrate. The dark-skinned savages came on in
splendid and fearless style, at a fierce gallop and
in immense numbers. Charging with irresistible
force, they drove in the outposts and swept off the
cattle. Advancing then from every point in a
semi-military manner, with supports and reserves,
notwithstanding a heavy fire from the Colonial
troops, they obtained possession of a little village
named Nishapi, four hundred yards distant from
the entrenchments.
More severe fighting ensued; the Residency —
where Carrington's " handful " of men fought for
their lives — was almost completely surrounded.
And now the skill exhibited by the Basutos was
very remarkable. They attacked furiously in flank
as well as in front, throwing up shelters as they
proceeded.
They loopholed the garden wall, and through
it poured in their fire. They were to a great
extent armed with Snider and Martini-Henry rifles,
and when falling back with great loss before a sortie
made by the resolute but slender garrison, and
continually dismounting to pick up their killed and
wounded, they nevertheless held their ground till
the descending night enabled them to bear away
all their fallen, leaving behind them one hundred
dead or disabled horses.
The loss on the Colonial side was only four
wounded. The enemy remained in sight of the
Residency, and without attacking ; but communi-
cation was entirely cut off with Maseru, and Cap-
tain H. S. Montague, of the Mounted Rifles, who
volunteered to carrydespatches after the engagement,
got safely through, but was fired upon near the Free
State border by the Basutos, who challenged him.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
fMafeteO^
On the 15th October Colonel Carrington de-
stroyed the enemy's position in front of Mafeteng,
and the Colonial forces had subsequently an
engagement with about 1,000 Basutos, and com-
pletely routed them, after a very spirited encounter.
acquired. This was not done without protest
Warnings appeared in the newspapers, and all who
knew the Kaffirs were uneasy."
A war of race seemed to be infecting all the
native tribes at this time. In a kind of people's
A BASUTO SCOUT.
A great mistake was committed at an early
period by the Cape Government in not prohibiting
the sale of firearms among the natives. "The
Government," says Sir A. Cunynghame, "blinded
by a desire to secure cheap labour, allowed the
natives to arm, until at least 400,000 muskets and
rifles, some of them breechloaders, had been
parliament held by the Basutos, " a seeming bar-
barian, strangely garbed in blanketing, jack-boots,
and feathers, with umbrella in one hand and
assegai in the other," made a long speech, the
details of which proved that he read the news-
papers, and was not ignorant of the existence of the
Aborigines Protection Society.
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Mafeteng.]
tNGAGEMENTS WITH THE BASUTOS.
49
" The fault the Cape Government finds in us," he
remarked, "is that we are black; and a member
of that Government said in Parliament that we are
the natural enemies of the white because we are
blacL Is this the language which should be used
by a gentieman and a high official ? What would
they say of it in England and in Exeter Hall ?"
It was the Tyali sept of the Tambookies which
combined with the Basutos in the insurrection.
The Basutos permitted Clarke's relieving force to
advance some eight miles into their country, but
instead of venturing upon a pitched battle, con-
tented themselves with cutting off a detachment of
troops that found itself separated from the main body,
and (according to the Standard) killing twenty-six
and wounding ten more, "a list of casualties very
unusual in Kaffir warfare, and quite sufficient to make
the Basutos consider the engagement a victory."
THE RESIDENCY, MASEkU, BASUTOLAND, ABODE OF THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE, COMMANDANT GRIFFITHS.
Towards the end of September, 1,200 Basutos
attacked a place called Mohale's Hoek, and next
day 5,000 again assailed Mafeteng. Fighting con-
tinued all day at both places, but eventually the
enemy were repulsed, and again, as elsewhere, the
losses of the Cape Mounted Rifles were trivial.
The latter place was relieved by a force under
Colonel Clarke, with a loss, according to the
official account, of thirty-two killed and ten
wounded. Clarke increased Carrington's little
garrison by 1,600 Europeans, with two pieces of
cannon and a store of provisions; but the combined
force was in danger of losing its basis of communi-
cation with the Orange Free State and Natal
Mafeteng, the scene of these operations, is a
few miles from the Boer frontier, and after the
relief Colonel Clarke could not at once leave
Basutoland, as his departure, whatever the cause,
would be ascribed to inability to carry on the war
in the enemy's countr)', and be a signal for an
immense extension of the then area of hostilities.
The whole of the Cape Mounted Rifles, some 650
strong, were now in Basutoland. One wing, under
Carrington, was partly shut up in Mafeteng; the
other was with Colonel Bayley, their leader, at
Maseru. Each of these was a magistrate's station,
containing several buildings, capable, if loopholed
and entrenched, as they were, of being defended.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SE.\.
[Golah Moontain.
In October the Basutos attacked Bayley's
position, and after fifteen hours' firing compelled
the Colonial troops to take shelter, in two de-
tachments, in the Resident's house and the
extemporised fort which adjoined it In the
former were 300 Rifles; in the latter a dozen
European citizens, and some 200 loyal Basutos —
doubtful allies to men fighting for their lives
against kindred savages.
The enemy attempted to carry both buildings by
storm, and under cover of night fought their way
to within thirty yards of the walls, without success.
They succeeded, however, in reducing all the
adjacent buildings to ashes, and leaving the station
shrouded in smoke and sheeted with flame, carried
off" all the stores they could lay hands oa
After Colonel Clarke did eventually move, for the
purpose of operating against the Tembus, Colonel
Carrington, who had resumed the command of the
Mafeteng column, issued firom that place early in
the morning of the loth November, 1880, with the
view of forcing the enemy to engage, and he
marched in the direction of Maseru.
On the following day the column entered the
picturesque Sochalo Valley, and encamped; and
during the 12th the adjacent country, which is
elevated and rugged, like all Basutoland, was
scoured and reconnoitred
Information having reached the colonel that the
enemy was in force at the Golah Mountain, six
miles from the camp, every available man was
ordered to the front to carry the positioa For
four miles the column advanced without opposition,
till it entered a valley overlooked by low hills,
some of which were studded with scraggy bushes.
Then, with loud yells, the enemy, who had been
lurking under the hill ridges (and undetected
apparently by any mounted scouts), charged down
simultaneously on Carrington's front and both his
flanks.
The larger body, estimated at 2,000 men, dashed
upon the right flank with vengeful fury, and com-
pelled the 2nd Regiment of Yeomanry to recoil
upon its supports. There, however, they rallied,
and closing their ranks, spurred furiously, and
charging sword in hand, drove back the enemy
with terrible slaughter, hewing them down right
and left. So close did these naked or half-clad
Basutos come, that twelve of their dead lay within
twenty-five yards of Carrington's front
The Cape Town Volunteers, with a gun, under
Captain Cochrane, rendered great assistance on this
flank.
The number of the enemy which charged the
left, numbered about 800 only, but they, too, forced
the 3rd Yeomanry to fall back, huddling them in
wild confusion among their supports, with whom
" they were at one time actually mixed up ; " but a
captain, named Minto, succeeded in rallying them,
and drove the Basutos back.
The charge upon the front, or head, of the
column was repulsed by a dose artillery fire, and
then the whole Basuto force galloped fiiriously
back to their first position along the ridges of
Golah Mountaia
Several efforts were made to lure them down
into the open level, but without avail For two
hours the column remained on the ground, thinking
to achieve this purpose, and then began its march
back to camp in the Sochalo Valley, which was
reached unopposed about half-past four in the
evening.
The enemy's loss was never ascertained, but was
supposed to have been very severe, owing to the
close quarters they obtained in the fury of their
charges. As usual, most of the dead were carried
or dragged out of the field ; but a great number of
bridles and saddles, covered with blood, were
found on it The Colonial losses were only six.
The hitherto loyal Basutos of the Leribe district
had now joined their fellows, and rose in open
rebellion against us. Major Bell, their magistrate,
telegraphed on the 8th November that a large force
of them, " led by Joel and other chief Basutos, had
attacked his Residency. The fighting lasted two
hours, during which three of the Colonial force
were seriously wounded; while the enemy lost
severely, seventeen of their chief people having been
left dead on the field."
They were successful, however, in driving off" all
the cattle. Jonathan Molappo, a chief who always
professed great loyalty to the Queen, arrived at the
head of his men, but contrived to do so when too
late to be of service ; and on the i ith. Major Bell
reported that Joel had captured the Sickwane
Mountain, which Jonathan was supposed to have
strongly fortified on behalf of the authorities.
Various encounters now ensued on every hand,
while Ferreira's and the Diamond Field Horse
marched vi^ the Orange Free State to the succour
of Major BelL
Mr. Ayliff; with fifty Europeans and seventy
Fingoes, attacked the rebel Bomvana in his kraal
on the 13th, and drove out with the bayonet 300
Basutos, and although compelled at one period to
fall back, it was only to gain time; for in the
second attack he utterly routed the party, and
slew forty-three, while on his own side he had
only two wounded.
Captain Landry, with 200 men, on the loth had
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Hafeteng.!
SURGEON McCREA^S BRAVERY.
5t
encounta^d more than i,ooo Basutos on the
boundary of Tembuland, and routed them, with the
loss of ten killed and one of the Colonial force, a
Captain Blackway. In a second encounter Captain
Von Linsingen, CM.G.,hisson, and three troopers,
were killed
The early days of December found the inde-
fatigable Carrington still patrolling, and scouring
the country around his perilous post at Mafeteng.
On the ist his camp had been attacked, but after
an hour's fighting the Basutos were repulsed, but
not before they had wounded some of his mea
Six days after, he began a seven days' patrol Large
bodies of the dusky enemy came in sight the
moment he quitted his camp, and an exciting race
ensued to obtain possession of a dominating ridge.
They met face to face on the summit, but Carring-
ton's men held the position. The fighting was
severe while it lasted. Several of the Kimberley
Horse suflfered, and Captain Bremner of that corps
died of his wounds. This was a corps raised in
Kimberley, the seat of Government in Griqualand
West and the Diamond Fields.
A dreadful storm of great hailstones came on,
and under cover of it the Basutos made a dash at the
commissariat cattle, attacking the camp and pressing
on the pickets, but were driven off after an hour's
conflict, leaving traces of blood everywhere upon
the whitened ground.
During these operations Surgeon John Frederick
McCrea, of the ist Regiment of Cape Mounted
Yeomanry, obtained the Victoria Cross, "for his
conspicuous bravery during the severely contested
engagement with the Basutos on the 14th January,
1 88 1, at Tweefontein, near Thaba Tseu, when, after
the enemy had charged the Burghers in the most
determined manner, forcing them to retire with a
loss of sixteen killed and twenty-one wounded,
Surgeon McCrea went out for some distance under
a heavy fire, and with the assistance of Captain
Buxton, of the Mafeteng Contingent, conveyed a
wounded Burgher, named Aircamp, to the shelter
of a large ant-heap, and having placed him in a
position of safety, returned to the ambulance for
a stretcher. While on his way thither. Surgeon
McCrea was severely wounded in the right breast
by a bullet, notwithstanding which he continued to
perform his duties at the ambulance, and again
assisted to bring in several wounded men, con-
tinuing afterwards to attend them during the
remainder of the day, and scarcely taking time to
dress his own wound, which he Was obliged to do
himself, there being no other medical officer on the
field Had it not been for his gallantry and devo-
tion to his duty, the sufferings of the wounded
would undoubtedly have been much aggravated,
And greater loss of life might probably have en-
sued" • (
There were nearly 1,000 Burghers under Car-
rington about the end of January. They refused
to serve longer, contending that their legal term of
service had expired; and, as neither flogging nor
shooting was allowed under the regulations of their
service, the colonel had no means whatever of
enforcing discipline, and many began to leave.
Some of these men were Dutch, and the growing
troubles in the Transvaal increased their reluctance
to remain.
Prior to some of these events in the neighbour-
hood of Mafeteng, a terrible tragedy had taken
place in Griqualand East, in consequence of the
proposed arming and enrolment of the Pondomise
for British service. There, north-eastward of the
Umtata River, lay the countries of Umhonholo
and Umditswa, chiefs of that tribe. The Resident
with the former was a Mr. Hope, and with the
latter a Mr. Walsh. When the war broke out with
the Basutos, chiefly owing to the attempt of the Cape
Government to disarm them, Mr. Hamilton Hope
was requested by the Cabinet to raise a native con-
tingent of Umhonholo's Pondomise, to assist in the
prosecution of the contest
The chief at first declined, and then consented
to enrol 1,000 men if arms and ammunition were
furnished him; so Mr. Hope procured him 500
Martini-Henry rifles and 18,000 rounds of ball
cartridge, and a day was named to prepare the
force for the field after the practice of certain
heathen rites. Two European clerks, named
Warren and Henman, were to be the chief officers,
and on the day appointed they proceeded to Mr.
Hope's house, at a place named QuembiL
Before the arming, Umhonholo invited them and
Mr. Hope to witness the war-dance of the tribe ;
and Mr. Hope, having some intuitive dread of mis-
chief, told the clerks not to accompany him unless
they chose. " I must myself attend," said he ; " it
is now too late for me to go back; besides, my orders
are urgent that this contingent should be raised"
However, they insisted upon attending him to
Umhonholo's " great place" to see the war-dance.
With them was Mr. Davis, whose farm was near.
The dance began by the savages closing round
Hope, Warren, and Henman in a circle, while
Davis was drawn aside by the chief. The moment
he was gone, the three other Europeans were
murdered. Mr. Hope was seized by the beard,
and a spear-head was buried in his heart His
* London GatetU,
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52
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
rUnit£.tx
two clerks were tossed into the air, and then re-
ceived on spears as they descended, while the
savage war-cry rent the sky.
Mr. Davis made his escape in safety, but prior to
doing so asked the chief why he permitted this
barbarous act ; and his reply was that he ** wanted
to kill Government, as it was getting too strong for
him ;" but doubtless, whatever were his secret in-
tentions, the sight of the fine new rifles and
ammunition had been tempting, and inspired the
desire for resistance
Next day saw all the stations and trading stores
in the land of the Pondomise given to the flames,
and the Europeans flying for their lives to Umtata,
which takes its name from the river, there flowing
through gorges full of fine trees, uplands that are
rich in grass, and a thick forest and bush.
There a laager was made under Major Elliot,
the chief magistrate ; a meeting was formed ; a
volunteer corps enrolled — every white man who
could serve joining it — ^and all available arms and
ammunition were collected and distributed There
were, however, only twenty muskets for 250 men.
All day long the terrified fugitives came pouring
into Umtata, with their wives and families, and
ere long, to the horror of those in the laager, the
dark forms of the Kaffirs began to hover on the
hills above it, Umhonholo having now joined in
the rebellion, with all the Basutos on the east side
of the Drakensberg Range.
Near Umtata stood a few houses about a mile
distant from each other, and on these the Kaffirs
descended, pillaging and destroying everything,
without the fugitive owners being able to prevent
them.
At last, says an eye-witness, "flesh and blood
would stand the sight no longer," and in the even-
ing a party of twenty crossed the Umtata and
bravely attacked the Kaffirs, though more than
twenty to one, and compelled them to fly, leaving
all their plunder behind them.
Major Elliot now formed three little corps of
mounted men — one to act as an intelligence corps,
and the other two for garrison duty. They were
young men, well horsed and equipped, could
shoot to perfection, and were exasperated by the
loss of all they possessed. Their orders were to
scout day and night, and discover the operations
of the enemy — a duty in which they had many
narrow escapes. They were commanded by an
ex-sergeant of the Cape Mounted Rifles.
The other corps were composed of the European
inhabitants of the Umtata district, with a few
trustworthy Hottentots. One was commanded by
an old sergeant of Police, and the other by a clerk
of Major Elliot's. A week after the outbreak the
laager was complete. The waggons were all placed
round it ; boards eight feet high were secured
outside them, with loopholes. The Kaffirs still
threatened Umtata, but did not attack it, and afcer
the arrival of an ample supply of rifles, ammuni-
tion, a party of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and
some Volunteer Artillery, the post and people
were considered safe.
Meanwhile, Mr. Walsh, the resident magistrate
with the other chief, Umditswa, at Tsolo, had taken
refuge in his gaol, and had fortified himself therein,
with a small supply of food and 300 rounds of
ball cartridge, resolved to sell his life as dearly as
possible ; and to effect his release at any cost was
deemed necessary. With him were thirty-four
men, women, and children.
Negotiations were set on foot with a chief named
Umquiliso, to ascertain whether he would assist,
though it was doubtful whether he could be trusted,
as he had already allowed all the traders under
his protection to be pillaged and their houses to be
burned. It was shrewdly suspected he might only
temporise to procure a supply of arms, and then
destroy the relief party en route; so Major Elliot
resolved to entrust the duty to his Volunteers alone.
Sue of these were selected from the Intelligence
Corps, and with them went a brave missionary
named Morris, whose intimate knowledge of the
language and habits of the savages would be foimd
most useful
From the smallness of the party, and the
numbers and ferocity of those they might have to
contend with, all in Umtata felt the expedition to
be of a dangerous character, and there were few
chances of its proving successful
Mr. Granville, the leader, on the way made prisoner
one of Umquiliso's chief councillors, and kept him
as a hostage for that personage, who joined him
next with 150 Pondos; but that mischief impended
was evident, by the war-cry being heard in the
woods, while bodies of mounted natives were
galloping to Umditswa's kraal as to a general
muster place. After many diflSculties and perils
Mr. Granville reached Tsolo, and brought out
Mr. Walsh, hb wife, daughter, and seven children,
with the other Europeans, and placing them in a
waggon "ready spanned," into which the cattle
were traced, set out at once for Umtata, with the
unpleasant knowledge that Umhonholo's people
were collecting to attack and cut off the whole
party.
However, so skilful were his arrangements, so
rapid his movements, and so bold was his bearing,
that though delayed at St Paul's by a terrible
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END OF THE FIGHTING IN BASUTOLAND.
53
thanderstonn, and with the enemy hovering about
him in a menacing way in every direction, he
brought the whole safely into Umtata, after an
absence of exactly fifty hours, during which time
he had travelled fifty-eight miles.
A large force of Europeans had now been raised
in Cape Colony and Natal These were concen-
trated towards Umtata, and quickly cleared the
country of rebels. In February, 1881, there were
no less than 15,000 white men in the field. Im-
mense numbers of cattle were captured, and num-
bers of the enemy killed in casual skirmishes and
encounters.
Hemmed in on every side, Umditswa gave him-
self up ; Umhonholo fled, and reached the moun-
tains, after a ftitile encounter with Colonel Baker's
Horse, in which he was severely wounded, and had
300 of his men killed. After this, Umquiliso and
smother Pondo chief promised to give all their aid
to the Government.
At another point, early in January, 1881, the
Colonial forces, under Colonel Wavell and Com-
mandant Frost, gained a victory over the Tam-
bookies, slew 80, and captured 8,000 cattle and
5,000 sheep — their herds being always the chief
and most valuable property of the natives. The
British casualties were only four men wounded.
By the i8th of February Commandant Frost
reported that the war was over in Tembuland,
and that all was " now becoming a matter for the
police."
Early in the month great numbers of the rebel
Basutos, eastward of the Drakensberg, a name
given to a portion of the Quathlamba Mountains
that form the boundary between Natal, the Free
State, and Basutoland, seeing the hopelessness of
the strife, began to lay down their arms and sur-
render ; and by the Government it was announced
that all who submitted to authority "might expect
not only justice, but generosity."
Nevertheless, on the 13th of February, Colonel
Carrington, by a brilliant dash, captured a strong
position, which gave him, with guns and cavalry,
the entire command of the road as far as the
Boleka Ridge, from Mafeteng, half way to Morija.
Around the ridge, on which he encamped, were
rich crops that he completely destroyed. En-
raged, no doubt, by this, one of his advanced
patrols, consisting of 560 men with three guns,
was attacked in a resolute manner by 3,000 rebels,
who were routed, as usual, with severe loss. An
armistice, commenced that day at sunrise, ended
on the 24th, and the 26th of March saw fighting
recommenced bitterly at Boleka and two places
called Leribe and Maseru in Basutoland. At the
first-named the conflict lasted no less than six
hours, and in it Colonel Carrington was wounded.
The natives were strongly entrenched on the
mountain of Boleka, which rises some twenty miles
from Mafeteng, and overlooks the village of
Letzea, where skirmishes had occurred many times
before. In the petty fight at Leribe Mountain
Major Laurence was killed.
At Maseru no important advance had been made
since the war began, the garrison there having
been almost constantly beset by the enemy.
The three encounters at these various places
were all indecisive ; but the Basutos contrived to
sweep away 190 horses, and the same number of
cattle from General Clarke, who commanded at
the front, and thus crippled the operations of his
column.
But the war was dying away in Basutoland,
and enough has been recorded to show the de-
structive, toilsome, and desultory nature of it:
"handfuls'' of white men, often isolated, standing
the siege of thousands of blacks, driving them off
the open field, in every case inflicting serious losses
on the enemy, while marvellously few suffering
themselves, save in one notable instance — the sur-
prise of some Yeomanry at the Kalibane Hill,
where they had been sent too far forward without
supports, and met with slaughter when the Basutos
got among them with assegai and battle-axe, a
weapon which the papers mention in this instance
for the first time.
Letherodi, who was among the first to throw
down the gauntlet, began early to profess anxiety to
make his submission ; and Letsea, a paramount
chief, whose attitude had been long very equivocal,
began to protest his unswerving loyalty ; and so the
war, which was never popular at home, where
people could not forget that the Basutos had at
one time done us good service, fortunately ended,
and a treaty of peace was concluded with them in
the end of April, 1881, they agreeing to accept the
terms offered them by the Governor of Cape
Colony.
The Disarming Act, the original cause of all the
mischief, was nominally to remain in force ; but
all Basutos who could be safely entrusted with the
possession of their arms were to have them regis-
tered, and returned, on paying a licence of a pound
yearly.
Full value was to be paid for every musket
surrendered — which was always done reluctantly, for
a reason that has been excellently stated in words
that may be quoted here. " A Basuto warrior,"
says the writer, " loves his gun, wretched weapon
though it generally is, with a depth of affection
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54
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Afghanutaa.
which we in this country cannot realise. It is
dearer to him than parents, wife, and family, and
only when utterly subdued will he consent to its
form of s,ooo head of cattle. There was to be a
general amnesty, but no confiscation of land. The
standard of weights and measures was to be the
MAJOR W. M. LAURENCE.
surrender." Loyal natives and traders who had
suffered in the war were to be compensated by the
tribes responsible ; all Government property cap-
tured was to be returned, and a fine paid in the
same as in Cape Colony. This arrangement ig-
nored all the previous demands of the Government
upon the Basutos, and conceded all that was asked
for by the latter before the war broke out
CHAPTER IX.
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR : — INTRODUCTION — ^THE ATTACK ON AU MUSJID.
We now enter upon the story of a more noble and
stirring strife than any detailed in the eight preced-
ing chapters — a strife in which hard battles were
brilliantly fought with fierce and hardy enemies, and
in most instances won; in which a march was made
by Roberts and his gallant column second to none
in the annals of war, and in which a rich reward of
glory and Victoria Crosses was gathered
We have already* described the character of the
Afghan people, and how the constitution of their
tribes resembled that of the Scottish Highlanders
till the early part of the last century. It has been
well said that " These followers are perfectly true to
their chiefs, and they remind one very much of
♦ Vol. III., chap. V.
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Afehanistan.1
THE TROUBLES OF SHERE ALL
55
what a chief and his clan were in the Highlands of
Scotland in other days, A chief in this part of the
world rules over a valley, just as the Highland chief
ruled in a wild Highland glen. A khan here has
his armed men, who go out with him when he
moves about, ready to do whatever they are told,
and ask no questions why or wherefore. *The
Macgregor' or *The Macpherson' was the same.
Here we have physical geography producing similar
social and political conditions in far distant parts of
the world."
Afghanistan is the natural barrier of India, and
for such a purpose no country could be better
adapted, consisting, as it does, for the most part of
bleak and rugged tableland, overlooked by stupen-
dous mountain ranges, intersected by savage passes
and deep and precipitous ravines, only by means
of which an invading army can force its way to the
banks of the Indus. "To such a march," says
Bremner, in his "History of India," "even unop-
posed, the physical obstacles were all but insur-
mountable; but when to these was added the
hostility of a population proud of freedom, full of
courage, and accustomed to war and pillage as their
daily occupation, the invasion of India by a forced
passage through Afghanistan was an obvious im-
possibility. It is true, no doubt, that on more than
one occasion conquering armies have marched from
that quarter; but there is reason to believe that they
never would have succeeded had they not previously
purchased the aid, or, at least, the forbearance, of
the mountain tribes commanding the passes."
Another feature in the strength of that frontier
was obviously our retention of Candahar as a
barrier fortress. The Afghans are fanatical Mo-
hammedans, turbulent, warlike, and so averse from
every kmd of control, that they once said to the
traveller, Mountstuart Elphinstone, " We are con-
tent with discord, we are content with alarms, and
we are content with blood ; but we will never be
content with a master."
The land has seen many revolutions, and has
been sometimes divided under two Ameers— one
ruling in Cabul, and the other southward in
Candahar.
In 1869 the entire country was governed — if it
can be so said — by Shere Ali, one of the sons of
Dost Mohammed Khan, against whom we fought
victoriously in 1842. Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of
India, consented to have an interview with him in
the following year at Umballa, when the Ameer
requested that we should do more in support of
him and his claims than the British Government
had hitherto deemed prudent He returned home
in a very dissatisfied frame of mind, for he feared
the advances of Russia across the deserts of
Central Asia, and it had been his wish to obtain
our support against both foreign and domestic
enemies ; and from that time he became open to
the advances of Russia.
In 1873, Lord Northbrook re-opened negotiations
with Shere Ali, with whose prime minister, Noor
Mohammed, he had interview at Simla, and the
latter strove to obtain a definite assurance that his
master might rely on Britain if he were menaced
by Russia. Meeting, however, with little en-
couragement, the Ameer became more suspicious
and uneasy, and he entered into a correspondence
with General KaufTmann, the Russian officer com-
manding in Central Asia, and displayed in many
ways an unfriendly feeling towards us.
In 1877 he resolutely refused the project for
admitting a British Resident at his Court, for three
reasons : first, the persons of British subjects would
not be safe — as the event proved ; secondly, they
might make demands that would occasion quarrels;
thirdly, if British agents were admitted, Russia
would demand the same privilege.
Prior to all this, in 1872, an arrangement had
been entered into between Lord Granville and
Prince Gortschakoff, by which Afghanistan was
declared to be " outside the sphere within which
Russia should be called upon to exercise her
influence." The Oxus was laid down as the
boundary of the territories of the Ameers of
Bokhara and Afghanistan, and of the legitimate
influence of Russia and Great Britain ; and thus a
limit was set for a time to the restless ambition of
General Kauffmann. But this did not prevent him,
in 1878 — the period of which we now treat, and
when the two empires were " diplomatically at war "
— from sending the fatal Stoletoff Mission to
CabuL "We have thus," says Geddie, "to
thank him for the cost and trouble of the Afghan
war; and the unfortunate Shere Ali, who died
near the Oxus while fleeing for refuge to his faith-
ful * friend,'" also owed to him the loss of his
kingdom.
It was in the summer of 1878 that KaufTmann
sent an embassy on a grand scale, accompanied by
a military escort, from Samarcand, a city of Bokhara
which Russia had seized about ten years before,
and thus thought he had opened the avenue that
would eventually lead to British India !
Government now thought it time to take pre-
cautionary measures, and Lord Lytton, then
Governor-General, intimated to the Ameer through
a native, Gholam Hussein Khan, that he intended to
send to Cabul a mission of rank, of which General
Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain, K.CB., K.S.L,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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was to be the head The latter started from
Peshawur on the 21st of September, 1878 ; the em-
bassy mustered nearly 1,000, including 12 British
officers and 234 soldiers. Arrangements were made
with the Afreedies, a freebooting clan, for a safe-
conduct as far as the Afghan outposts ; and Major
Louis Cavagnari, with a slender escort, preceded
the embassy to Ali Musjid to arrange for further
safe-conduct
At that fort, which is just within the Afghan
frontier, and at the entrance to the •formidable
Khyber Pass, the mission was turned back. The
officer in command crowned the heights of the
pass with his troops, and threatened to fire, saying
that he had no authority to allow the mission to
proceed; so, after an interview of three hours'
duration. Major Cavagnari was compelled to ride
back to Jumrood. As Sir Neville was not in
sufficient force to attack, and moreover, as his
mission was not of a hostile nature, he returned
to Peshawur.
A letter was now sent to the Ameer demanding
an apology for the " insult " at Ali Musjid, and per-
mission for the presence of a British Resident at
Cabul; and as no answer came to this ultimatum
within the time prescribed, the Viceroy formally
proclaimed war, on the 21st of November, 1878.
A reply arrived several days after ; but it was then
too late.
The warlike operations began on the very day
war was proclaimed, by General Sir Samuel Browne,
CB., advancing on Ali Musjid. This distinguished
officer had served ia twelve battles, including
Chillianwallah, and in the attack and defeat of the
enemy at Seerpoorah he had captured the guns and
camp, and received two dangerous sword wounds,
one of which severed his left arm at the shoulder,
but won him the Victoria Cross.
The whole force under his command wore karkee
— a colour resembling drab — which rendered them
all but invisible at a little distance.
At six in the morning of the 21st of November,
the 3rd Brigade, and part of the 4th, under
Sir Samuel Browne, marched to within a mile and
three-quarters of Ali Musjid, and halted to allow the
elephant battery of heavy guns to come up, the
brigade under Colonel Macpherson, operating on
the other slopes of the Shagai Hill, to clear certain
heights that commanded the advance on the right.
Browne's immediate force consisted of the 51st
Light Infantry and 8ist Foot; the 6th Native In-
fantry and 45th Sikhs, with an elephant battery and
battery of mountain guns.
On this brigade, which was commanded more
immediately by Colonel Appleyard, a veteran of the
Burmese and Crimean wars, fell the roughest part
of the work. " This column was made up of seven
companies from the 27th Punjaub Infantry, under
the gallant and lamented Major Birch; 100 men
of the 14th Sikhs, led by Captain Maclean; and
three companies of the 8ist Queen's Regiment,
commanded by Colonel Chichester. Time had
been given for the ist and 2nd Brigades to get into
their places, the latter starting over-night, and the
former, four hours before the march of Appleyard's
force."
The scenery amid which the troops were moving
was alike solemn and picturesque. Rising like waves
of the sea, a succession of low hills surrounded Ali
Musjid, which was perched upon one of them, with
a space of level field in its front and the bed of
the river on its right fiank. It stood about 500
feet above the stream (one newspaper correspon-
dent says "only some 1,000 feet") — a massive
Indian fort, armed with fifteen guns, and com-
manding the deep gorge of the famous Khyber Pass,
and there might be seen, even at that exciting time,
"men driving mules, threading their way, and
carrying the fruit of Cabul to India, and caring
nothing whatever either for the British troops or
the Afghans, unconcerned with politics, so long as
their grapes and tobacco got safely to the plains of
Hindostan."
It was built of hardened mud faced with stone ;
in shape an irregular parallelogram, with a solid
round tower at each comer, connected by a series
of bastions ; and in position it sloped do^vn the
eastern side of the height it occupied
The Khyber River flowed past the front of the
British position, and past the village of Lalla
China, the scene of Cavagnari's interview with Faiz
Muhammad about the mission.
With no small skill the Ameer's general had
drawn a line of fortifications across the historical
pass, the natural advantages of which they utilised
with a judgment and science that seemed to indi-
cate a European source. Southward of the moun-
tain range, through a cleft in which runs the Chora
Pass, the lower spurs of the Khyber Hills were tower-
ing up, all manned by the troops of the Ameer, and
connected with the main line by batteries and ad-
vanced posts. There the bright arms were seen
glittering in the sun, and through the field-glasses
might be seen also the dark faces, the odd uniforms,
and, in many instances, the flowing garments, of
the Afghans.
The bugles sounded ; and the attack on Ali Musjid
was commenced, by the 8ist Regiment and 14th
Sikhs throwing forward a line of skirmishers to
clear the villages and cover the mountain spur;
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while a battery of 9-pounders got into position a
mile and three-quarters from AH Musjid.
Now the fighting began in earnest ; the spurts of
white smoke from the line of skirmishers were
darting incessantly forth; and when the enemy
opened, as they did at once, upon our men with
acctiracy (having previously practised at the same
range), the booming of the guns and the crash of
exploding shells awoke the echoes of the hills on
every hand ; but the missiles passed through the
extended line without doing much harm; while
our artillery, after some random practice, found
the right range, and kept it with deadly effect
with shot and shell, and ere long the guns of
Ali Musjid were completely silenced; the troops
of all arms b^an their triumphant and impetuous
advance, and the deep hoarse booming of our
4o-pounder8, as they opened with an acciuate and
destructive fire upon the enemy, reverberated from
hiU tohilL
On coming in sight of the advanced defences of
thq Afghans, already referred to, amid the wild
mountain scenery, the Sikhs still went forward in
skirmishing order full against the centre of the
enem3r's position. After pushing through one or
two petty villages, and clearing the mountain
scrub of lurking Afghans — ^in some instances by the
bayonet — they came upon the sungahs^ or strong
transverse entrenchments, and breastworks, formed
of rough boulders and earth, held in great strength
by A^han troops, and in one instance armed by
three pieces of cannon; and here again serious
doubts were entertained as to whether the native
military engineers could have constructed lines of
defence so well.
Sharp, indeed, was the work that ensued now,
and the narrow gorges soon became shrouded in
smoke, while the clatter of the breechloaders was
incessant; and then the Sikhs lost their only
British officer, who was struck by an Enfield bullet,
while seven native non-commissioned officers and
twenty rank and file fell killed and wounded.
Quickly, and inspired by fiery valour, the 27 th
Punjaubees came in support, but under a heavy 'fire
from the trenches and sungahs ; and though the
hour was late, and evening closing, they were
tempted, somewhat imprudently, it is alleged, to
make a furious rush over the broken ground at the
securely posted Afghans. Had there been one
more hour of daylight they might have succeeded,
and carried the works ; but the fast waning light
was all in favour of the foe, who poured his rifie
and gun-battery fire upon the assailing Punjaubees
with such terrible effect that their casualties were
great ; and among them were reported Major Birch
and Lieutenant Fitzgerald, the first to give their
lives in this campaign. They fell near one another,
within a stone's throw of the muzzles of the Afghan
guns.
Darkness now rapidly descended. The bugles
sounded the "retire," and as the 27th and Sikhs
were falling back reluctantly from the apparently
impregnable fort, the fire on them was redoubled,
and many more killed and wounded were added to
those who already strewed the narrow way.
The 8ist (or Loyal Lincoln Volunteers), which
had been held in readiness to support the attack
here, had no casualties, although within range.
Acting with the 3rd Brigade, and including in
its ranks the 51st, the 4th Brigade, with a mule-
battery of mountain guns, and the heavy 40-pounders
dragged forward like toys by a train of elephants,
had been sharply engaged meanwhile upon the
British right, and pushed forward under a heavy
fire of musketry ; but the movement was so scien-
tifically made, and the necessary ground for the
final advance occupied so rapidly, that only one
man was killed and six were wounded.
The gun-batteries came thundering and clattering
along the stony bed of the Khyber River, and up
the open ground, where the Afghans had previously
been studying the ranges, and were then raked a
little by the enemy's cannon planted in their out-
lying camp. One gunner was killed, and many
more, with several horses, wounded, as the guns
with their limbers went clattering past the open
spaces.
On these operations Ali Musjid looked down
from its height ; its guns silent, its walls shattered,
gaping, and rent, as the night fell, and all the
positions were occupied as intended, and although
the feeling was general that it was to be regretted
the 27th had not succeeded in completing their
rush at the sungahs^ no doubt was entertained that
the morning would see the matter ended — there,
at least The keen hill air made our men sup
better than they could sleep. But all around
them lay many brave fellows who would never
waken more.
Just as the grey light that preceded the swiftly
coming golden glory of the Indian dawn^ was
stealing down the mountain sides, a Cashmere
merchant cautiously approached the advanced
pickets at the lower end of the pass. When
brought into the lines, he stated that he " had been
a prisoner in Ali Musjid for four days past, but
risked a bullet to come over and tell the Sahibs
that there was nobody now inside the fortress.
The Ameer's general in command had heard late
in the evening of Tytler's brigade being in his
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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rear. This column had been sent round before-
hand from Jumrood with a long start, in order to
descend between the hills from the northward, and
occupy Kala Kushta, thereby cutting off the retreat
of the garrison. The Cashmerian declared that, so
soon as the Afghans got news of this alarming fact,
nothmg could be wilder than the panic which arose
in the stronghold The commandant either ordered,
or permitted, an immediate flight ; and the man
said we should find them all gone, without taking
away a gun or a sack of corn."
It was found to be as the Cashmerian stated :
Ali Musjid was deserted ; the fires were burning in
its fire-places; the guns were still trained and
loaded ; the tents for 2,000 men in the adjacent
camp were empty, and flapped mournfully in the
morning wind The tent-fittings and rifles were
also abandoned, with Ave pieces of cannon ; and it
was now discovered that the enemy had been using
against us Enfield rifle-mUskets and cartridges of
1871. The castle was armed with fifteen guns,
but the official report states that twenty-two were
taken there.
The retiring foe were now seen from the heights
above the fort, streaming away in the direction of
Jellalabad
So what General Kauffmann and others so fondly
deemed the gateway to India, was once again in
the pos^ssion of British bayonets, and amid hearty
cheers, the Union Jack was run up on the ramparts
of Ali Musjid
A detachment of sappers was sent to clear the
heights and occupy the battery on the ridge, and
there seven more guns were found abandoned,
with great stores of ammunition, food, and clothing.
There, too, lay many dead and wounded, and
our troops bivouacked on the enemy's ground
All agreed that the Afghan position was skilfully
chosen and ably entrenched ; that their skirmishers
at the outposts and the defenders of the breast-
works fought well ; but that our superior artillery
practice caused the collapse of everything.
Hoping to escape Tytler's brigade, the Ameer's
general, Gholam Hyder Khan, in silence and
secrecy led his soldiers up the pass. But the
same intense darkness which first favoured this
manoeuvre betrayed the fast retreating Afghans,
as they came right face to face with our troops at
Kala Kushta !
Overnight, the ist battalion of the 17th Foot
— whose white colours already bore the word
"Afghanistan" — with the ist Sikh Infantry and
the Guides, had taken post there, and were on
the alert Surrounding the fugitives, they took a
vast number of prisoners, including, it was sup^
posed, the general, Gholam Hyder Khan, and the
Mir Akhur, or Ameer's Master of the Horse, a
bitter foe to British interests.
Great was the political effiect of all this swift
success on the bearing of the Khyberese tribes
towards us, as they thoroughly appreciated British
fidelity towards them, since they were included in
the ultimatum, and a demand was made for their
security and fair treatment Perhaps it was to
evince this fiiendliness, that the Aireedies — ^though
by no means particular — intercepted 500 soldiers
of the Afghan army, and pillaged them of arms,
clothing, and everything. It was now believed
that the influence of the Cabul Court on the hill-
men was annihilated.
CHAPTER X*
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR (continued) :— THE KURRAM COLUMN AND ITS COMMANDER— THE MARCH TO
THE KURRAM VALLEY.
Prior to the advance of Sir Samuel Browne on
Ali Musjid there had been formed the famous
Kurram column, or field force, under General
Roberts, and preparations had been carefully made
ere war took place.
Every Native Regiment detailed for active ser-
vice had been augmented, early in October, by 200
men, and every troop of cavalry by sixteen sabres —
an order which did not affect the remainder of the
t^Jative Army ; and the concentration of troops on
the frontier went on rapidly, with the intention of
occupying Candahar and the Kurram Valley.
The troops for the Quettah column were most
energetically pushed forward, regiment by regiment,
instead of waiting for a general rendezvous ai
Moultan, as was first intended. Intense enthusiasm
prevailed among the native troops, and the warmest
loyalty to Her Majesty's cause was displayed, espe-
cially by those Indian princes in the frontier dis-
tricts where hostility to the Afghans is more than
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THE KURRAM COLUMN.
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tradidonaL Many offered their troops and personal
aid, with gifts of transport-cattle, elephants, and
stores. The Khan of Khelat was among the most
active in giving assbtance to the forces passing
through his territory. He supplied 20,000 maunds
of wheat at the market price, and offered all the
Brahin and other camels in Beloochistan for the
service of the expedition.
Hearing of all these preparations, the Ameer issued
3,000 stand of arms to the Ghilzie and Kanaris
tribes, hoping they would first bar our way. The
former can produce 20,000 fighting men at any
time, and perhaps are as warlike now as when they
invaded Persia and set a king upon its throne.
By a Government general order, dated 9th
November, 1878, the Kurram column was consti-
tuted, under Major-General — afterwards Sir
Frederick — Roberts, with the usual number of
staff officers and commissariat
Surgeon-General F. F. Allen, CB., was at the
head of the Medical Department, and Colonel
Perkins at the head of the Engineers.
All the principal officers and many of the sub-
alterns were trained soldiers and veterans in war.
The artillery, consisting of two troops of Horse
and Royal Artillery, two mountain batteries, and
an, ordnance park, was under Lieutenant-Colonel
A. H. Lindsay, who had served at the siege and
capture of Delhi and Lucknow.
The cavalry, consisting of one squadron of the
loth Hussars and the 12th Bengal Cavalry, was
under Colonel Hugh Gough, CB., V.C, of the
latter corps.
First Infantry Brigade.
Colonel A. H. Cobbe, of the 17th Foot, com-
manding, had served as a volunteer with the field
force at Delhi.
Second battalion 8th, or King's : Colonel Drew.
Twenty-ninth Bengal Native Infantry: Colonel
Gordon.
Fifth Punjaub Infantry : Major McQueen.
Bhopal Contingent : Colonel H. Forbes.
Second Infantry Brigade,
Colonel J. B. Thelwall, C.B., commanding, had
seen a long career of brilliant fighting service in
the Punjaub, Oude, and elsewhere, and had a
thigh smashed by grape-shot at Chillianwallah.
The Duke of Albany's Highlanders : Lieutenant-
Colonel, Brownlow.
Twenty-first Native Infantry: Major Collb,
B.S.C
Second Punjaub Infantry: Lieutenant-Colonel
TyndalL
Fifth Ghoorka Regiment : Major Fitzhugh.
The regiments detailed to join the Kurram
column, after the commencement of hostilities,
were the C Battery of the Royal Artillery, a
squadron of the 9th Lancers, the ist and 14th
Bengal Cavabry, the 2nd and nth Native Infantry,
and Her Majesty's 67th Hampshire Regiment,
and 92nd Gordon Highlanders.
By the ist of November, 1878, the total strength
of the field force was 13,269, exclusive of the
contingent of the Punjaub chiefs.
General Roberts, who commanded this force and
whose name became so prominent in connection
with the Afghan campaign, is the son of one
of those hard-working soldiers who have done so
much to consolidate our power in India, General
Sir Abraham Roberts, K.CB., who served tmder
Lord Lake at the storming of Kalunga (where the
gallant Rollo Gillespie fell), and led a brigade in
the Afghan war of 1838-9.
After passing at Addiscombe, Frederick Roberts
was commissioned as second lieutenant in the
Bengal Artillery in 1851 ; and in 1857, three weeks
after the outbreak of the Mutiny, he was promoted
to a lieutenancy in the Horse Artillery ; and it
was said of him that when not occupied by official
work in his tent, he was always with his battery or
in the trenches.
In 1857, when Delhi was finally assaulted, and
carried against fearful odds, he was wounded, and
had his horse killed under him. After the capture
he went with Greathed's column to the relief of
Agra, and in a fight at Bolundshur had another
horse killed under him. On the loth of October
he reached Agra, to find the camp attacked, even
before the tents were pitched, by the Gwalior
mutineers, and throughout that day of intense
heat he was foremost in the pursuit
He next served with the column that advanced
to Lucknow, and in a combat at Kanouje had his
horse wounded under him. Joining Lord Clyde's
column at Cawnpore, he served at the final relief
of Lucknow, and was present in many sanguinary
affairs, in one of which, at Khoda Gunj, he won
his Victoria Cross, for a deed recorded thus in the
Gazette : —
"Lieutenant Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Bengal
Artillery, on following up the retreating enemy
on the 2nd January, 1858, at Khoda Gunj, saw
in the distance two sepoys going away with the
standard. Lieutenant Roberts put spurs to his
horse, and overtook them just as they were about
to enter a village. They immediately turned round
and presented their muskets at him, and one of
them pulled the trigger ; but fortunately the cap
snapped, and the standard-bearer was cut down by
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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this gallant young officer, and the standard taken
possession of by him. He also, on the same day,
cut down another sepoy who was standing at bay
with musket and bayonet, keeping off a sowar.
Lieutenant Roberts rode to the assistance of the
gaining that experience which now stood him in
such stead, when he had to lead the Kurram
column against the hardy mountain warriors of
Afghanistan.
A lieutenant-colonelcy was conferred upon him
ALI MUSJID AND THE KHYBER PASS.
horseman, and rushing at the sepoy, by one blow
of his sword cut him across the face, killing him on
the spot"
When troubles broke out on the north-west
frontier, 1863, Roberts, who had been gazetted
brevet-major, 13th November, i860, the day after
his appointment as captain, was soon found at the
front, at the storming of T^loo, the capture of
Umbeylah, and the destruction of Mulkah, there
for his services in Abyssinia; and in 187 1-2 he
was again in the field, as assistant quartermaster-
general and senior staff officer, ^ith the Cachar
column, sent to punish the predatory Lushais.*
" Instead of the rocks, walls, barren heights, and
fur-coated warriors of the north-west, he had to
meet the sparsely-clad braves of the north-east,
• Vol. Ill , p. 297,
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GENERAL ROBERTS.
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manning their bamboo stockades, pitched in the
midst of aknost impenetrable jungles.''
Then he served at the capture of the Khuleyl
villages, and the attack on the heights of Northlang ;
he gave Taikoom to the flames, and in January,
1^72, won a Companionship of the Bath.
, On the 30th January, 1875, while still in the
Kohat is a small cantonment which lies south
of Peshawur and is separated from it by rugged
mountains — spurs off the mighty Safed Koh range,
which towers to the height of more than 15,000
feet above the long valley through which the
Kurram River flows.
Though prettily situated, the little cantonment is
40 Pr. Battery ^=bir?CAi K.uai
N3w— Tbe riglit taming xoorement of the lit Brigade (Macphcrson) on Uie RhotAB Ridgo, and the 2nd Brigade (Tytter) on Eala
Kodite in rear of All Huajid, atarted from Jumrood, and is not shown in the plan. Afghan entrenchments ""
PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON ALI MUSJID (NOV. 21, 1878).
quartermaster-general's department as deputy, he
was promoted to the rank of full colonel, but
continued his departmental duties until the out-
break of the Afghan war in the close of 1878,
when he was selected to command the central
column of advance into the dominions of the
Ameer.
Seven weeks before the attack on Ali Musjid, and
the pass it overlooked, Roberts arrived at Kohat,
and assumed command of the troops which had
already been ordered to assemble there.
o
in unpleasant proximity to the Jowaki and Afreedi
clans. It lies nestling amid groves of dark poplars
and pale green willows ; and from the kotal near it
could be seen on one hand the Kurram Valley, lost
amid the distant dusky mountains, with the stream
winding through it like a silver streak.
The first troops at the muster-place were the
29th Native Infantry, with a battery of Horse
Artillery, and all the rest came rapidly marching
in. " And go where you will," wrote one who was
present, "you will find the same opinion — entire
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BRITISH BATFLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Kapyanj.
confidence in our chie£ In the prime of life, of
well-known gallantry, and by his long work with
the head-quarter staff thoroughly acquainted with
all the minor details which go so much towards
assuring the success of any force, General Roberts
is, I am sure, destined to add to the fame he has
won ahready."
As the cold was intense, two good blankets per
man were issued to the troops, and Cashmere
puitieSy or leg bandages. These are made of a
strip of woollen cloth, two yards and a half long,
with a tape sewn on to one end. They are worn
round the calf of the leg from the ankle to below
the knee, and secured by the tape. " For either
mounted men or infantry soldiers they are a most
useful, warm, and neat-looking dress," says Colonel
Colquhoun, who commanded the Artillery; "but
the only objection b they take a little time to put
oa Nearly every one, officers and men, wore
them through the campaign."
Swords were issued to the grass-cutters, who only
ran the greater risk thereby, as the weapon was
sufficient to insure the destruction of its wearer at the
hands of any Pathan who might wish to possess it.
A hospital was formed at Thai, for which place
the head-quarters moved on the i8th of November,
and in every respect the troops were now in
readiness for an instant advance.
On the 20th of November the following divisional
order was issued : —
" The Major-General commanding the Kurram
field force notifies that all the troops and others
who are now, or hereafter may, come under hb
command will from to-day, and until further
orders, be held to be engaged * on active service
in the field' in the sense of the ii8th Article of
War."
The bridge by which the river was to be crossed
was now fully constructed, of plain trestles with a
i2-feet roadway. Some Afghan soldiers who
occupied the fort at Kapyang, and who were wont
to come down and wash their faces and bathe in
the river, and within sight of our sentries, came
frequently to observe its construction, without
molesting the Engineers ; and when the river was
crossed, the fort was found to be evacuated.
On the morning of the 21st, while Browne's
column was operating elsewhere, the troops began
to cross the river, the squadron of our loth
Hussars, with the Native Cavalry and a mountain
battery, leading the way, under Colonel Gordoa
Ali Musjid was taken as we have described, the
pass opened up, and the general advance began.
The war was transferred to the difficult mountain
country lying between the invaders and Cabul ; and
the force was divided into three columns, which
were to penetrate by three different routes.
At daybreak on the 21st the frontier was crossed.
Major-General Roberts and his staff proceeded with
the troops under Colonel Gordon. The Punjaub
Infantry crossed the river by the bridge ; but the
Hussars crossed below it — to act as flanking parties
and to intercept the flight of the garrison supposed
to be in Kapyang — and opened out in skirmishing
order, with carbines unslung, from the river-bed to
the top of the bank on the other side
Gordon's orders were to surprise and prevent the
destruction of the fort, which, as stated, was dis-
covered to be deserted by all save two men, a
Turi and a Ghilzie, who were evidently deserters,
though they stated that they had been placed as
sentinels at the end of the bridge.
Kapyang was found to be a square mud fort,
with round towers at the comers, which proved
useful as signal posts ; consequently for a few days
it was occupied by a signalling party. Camping
ground was selected, advanced pickets posted on
some low hills that overlooked it; the Pioneers
began the construction of a road up the steep
bank from the river ; while the squadron of the
loth and the 12 th Bengal Cavalry proceeded to
reconnoitre and find out the position of the
enemy.
The path for a few miles lay along the bank of
the Khyber, after which it turned inland up a
rough gorge, to surmount a low kotal, or slope,
that would have made a good position had it been
manned From thence the road dipped down
again, till Ahmed-i-Shama, eight miles distant, was
reached — covered by the cavalry in about an
hour, but too late to overtake the fugitives from
Kapyang.
Here and there hawk-nosed and dark-eyed
Afreedies were seen sitting like \'ultures on the
watch. The advance force halted for the night at
Ahmed-i-Shama, a mud-built fort in a ruinous
condition, with dwarf palms growing about it
The road track passed through stony gullies, that
were a source of trouble to the Horse Artillery.
" About a mile from the camp at Ahmed-i-Shama,"
says Colonel Colquhoun, " a reef of rocks crops up
in vertical strata, the track going along the edges
of these rocks and the intervening spaces of earth.
The continuous traffic of ages has, however, worn
a fairly good path even along this ; but here and
there detached boulders from the heights above
had bedded themselves, blocking the pathway, and
till these were removed or blasted the guns could
not be taken along. The banks were too high and
diflUcult to allow an alternative road to be made
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ON THE ENEMAS TRACK.
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down into the river-bed at this place, without
more labour than was involved in the removal of
obstructions, which were speedily cleared away by
the united labours of the Pioneer Regiment and of
the Sappers and Miners, when the Artillery marched
on the following day."
From this we may judge of the toil of the on-
ward march, and of some of the local difficulties
with which the troops had to contend.
After the first few miles of the road were passed,
few obstacles occurred to prevent a tolerably quick
' advance through a number of picturesque little
villages that dotted the bank of the river. Their
inhabitants seemed friendly, the headmen paying
obeisance to General Roberts, and all offering eggs,
fowls, and dried fruit for sale. But it was not so
everywhere, as the Zukka Kheyls were giving
some trouble in the vicinity of Ali Musjid, where
300 of them erected a breastwork and kept up a
fire for three hours upon the regiment left in
camp, till j)ickets were thrown out and every point
watched
By this time General Browne had pushed on to
Lundi Khani, fifteen miles from Ali Musjid, and
was also met by the headmen of villages, coming
out to congratulate him and pay their respects.
There he bivouacked, while Major Cavagnari rode
forward to Loi Dakka, some ten miles farther on,
which he reached at seven in the evening ; and
there Mohammed Shah, Khan of Lalpura, chief of
the Mohmunds, and hitherto the Ameer's ally,
made submission to him.
The progress seemed tolerably easy as yet ; but
Cabul was not to be reached without fighting.
On the 24th November, when moving through
the Darwaza Pass, General Roberts received tidings
that the Ameer's troops had evacuated the Kurram
Fort, leaving a gun behind them in their haste, and
were retreating across the Peiwar KotaL That
night the dwarf palm scrub and dry grass were set
alight by some chance, and blazed in all directions,
with such rapidity as to endanger the tents ; but on
the 26th the head-quarters were at the Kurram Fort ;
and on an open plain to the westward of it, be-
tween two nullahs, the camp was pitched
This stronghold, the name of which is now so
^uniliar, was originally called Fort Mohammed Azim,
after its builder. In the usual fashion of architec-
ture in that part of the world, it is constructed of
mud, and its interior can only be described as a
succession of holes half full of rubbish and filth.
Oblong in form, it measures 120 feet by 50 feet
each way, with a keep 30 feet high, and walls 6 feet
thick. It has eight bastions, each surmounted by a
round tower. The whole is surrounded by a moat,
crossed by a drawbridge and covered way. Around
the four sides of the wall were the huts which the
garrison occupied On two of the circular bastions
were the officers' quarters ; one was well finished,
and glazed with coloured glass.
Within it lay a brass 9-pounder, dismounted, and
close by was a garden, or orchard, eighty yards
square, where yet remained the vines, apples,
quinces, and other fruit-trees planted by Mohammed
Azim.
Magnificent scenery rises all round it, and noble
forests clothe the mighty hills till the limit of trees
is reached, at 11,000 feet From the sides of the
hilb spurs run out at angles, enclosing narrow
valleys, through which brawl mountain torrents,
bordered by the most luxuriant vegetation; and
there grow many trees familiar to the English eye —
the oak, the ash, the hawthorn, and chestnut, side
by side with the cedar, olive, and fig.
There b excellent fishing in the Kurram River,
which takes its rise in the upland vales of the
Saratiga, "or Black Stone Mountain," and the
woods teem with monal pheasants, ibex, and small
game, as well as with bears and panthers.
At the head of two squadrons of cavalry, the
general made a reconnaissance towards the Peiwar
Kotal, about twelve miles distant Several villages
in the vicinity were in flames, and to the east of
Peiwar three regiments of Afghan infantry were
seen falling back, with twelve pieces of cannon.
As no time was to be lost in following up the
enemy, the camp attendants and equipage were re-
duced to a minimum. One bell tent was allotted
to fifteen British soldiers, one tent of two parts to
twenty sepoys, officers' baggage was limited to half
a mule load, and all sick men, and those who were
" likely to knock up," were left at the Kurram Fort
To hold the fort there were also left two guns of
the Royal Horse Artillery, and three of the Royal
Artillery, besides a squadron of the loth Hussars, and
the 7th company of Sappers and Miners ; and on
the 28th the troops were to advance in two columns,
to force the passes, where bloody work was con-
fidently expected ; but all were full of enthusiasm
and in the highest spirits.
At five a.m. the bugles sounded, and the regi-
ments for the front formed up at the time ordered ;
but owing to the rocky ravines and deep water-
courses in the vicinity of the camp, and the extreme
gloom of the winter morning, an hour elapsed
before the force moved off, and then it was found
that four guns were with the right column instead
of being divided between the two.
The cold was intense, and snow was falling on
the Peiwar Kotal
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Peiwar KolaL
General Roberts rode at the head of the left
column, which, about ten a.m., arrived at Habib
Kila, a fourteen miles' march, which occupied
four hours. There information reached him that
the Ameer's troops had abandoned their guns at
Peiwar Kotal, and were in disorderly retreat to
Cabul : these tidings, though pleasant, proved
false. But it was necessary, before acting, to ascer-
tain the truth of the report, as the moral effect of
getting the guns would be great, especially as the
distance to the foot of the Peiwar Kotal was only
about seven miles by road, and there was every in-
ducement to make a dash forward, instead of wait-
ing at Habib Kila while the enemy strengthened
their position.
The path from the Peiwar village to the kotal
ascends a valley, the whole of which, for three and
a half miles after passing the cultivated patches of
the village, is covered with jungle, at the end of
which stood a village called Turrai, inhabited by
Mangals; and, as the Afghan troops were known
to have been in it, there was a necessity for ascer-
taining whether they were there stilL
The left column was ordered to turn a ridge on
the south side of the valley, and seize Turrai ;
while orders were sent to the right brigade to
march by Habib Kila up the regular road by the
Peiwar, and support, if necessary, the attack on the
left
No enemy was found on the southern ridge, so
the troops moved on towards the village, filing
down by a rugged mountain path, that did not lead
exactly to the village, but into a ravine, south of
the kotal, and then they came in sight of the
Afghans on the mountain crest, high overhead.
The officer in command found he could do
nothing in that direction. Precipitous mountains
that started out of the ravine barred the way, and
he had no direct orders to attack, so he fell back
upon Turrai, a little way in his rear.
The Afghans, who had been gesticulating
violently, capering, and brandishing their weapons,
on seeing thb retrograde movement, came exult-
ingly down, and opened fire on the regiments as
they moved towards the village.
A steady double brought the troops across the
ravine and up the opposite slope, when the main
body of the enemy were evidently warned that their
flank was menaced; yet a smart skirmish ensued
as the 29th Punjaub Infantry began to drive them
back. A wing of the sth Punjaub, under Captain
Hall, was in support lower down, on a steep knoll.
The 29th went boldly up the difficult face of the
hill overlooking the ravine, till the steepness of it
precluded all further ascent ; then two mountain
guns, under Lieutenant Jervis, were brought into
action, and shelled the enemy, but as the latter
were now behind shelter trenches and stems of
trees, not much damage was done them, so the
troops fell back by alternate regiments.
Considering the number of men engaged here,
our loss was singularly slight Captain A. Reed,
of the 29th, was struck in the vicinity of the
spine, but soon recovered ; a native officer of the
5th was mortally wounded. The other casualties
were only the driver of a mountain battery killed,
and eight sepoys wounded.
The falseness of the report that the guns had
been abandoned, and also that no enemy was left
in the ravines in the neighbourhood of the road to
Turrai was now ascertained. So the general halted
and encamped, to give his troops a thorough rest
prior to the important operations of the morrow;
and great was the difficulty experienced in pitching
tents in the dark among the scattered hill-oaks and
I scrub-jungle which covered the ground.
CHAPTER XL
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR {continued) : — ^THE STORMING OF THE PEIWAR KOTAL.
Owing to the exhaustion of the men and cattle
from their late fatigue, and the impossibility of
keeping up supplies, the attack on the Peiwar
Kotal was delayed for three days, and meanwhile
the camp was shifted to a more secure site than
that selected on the previous night
Meantime, it became known at head-quarters
that Dakka had been occupied without opposition,
though the Mohmunds plundered it before our
troops arrived. The road to Lundi Khani, which
lies through the Khoord Khyber Pass, was the
scene of several outrages ; robberies were frequent,
two murders were committed on it, and an officer
bathing in the river was fired at. So intoxicated
were the frontier clans with plundering the Ameer's
fugitive soldiers, that they could not sometimes
distinguish friends from foes.
On the 27th General Biddulph's force in the
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Fbimur Kotal.l
PREPARING FOR THE ATTACK.
6S
Pishin Valley captured the Moonshee of the Ameer,
together with the revenue accounts ; and two days
after, General Browne reconnoitred the Jellalabad
road for ten miles, as far as Hazamas. But the
officer commanding at Ali Musjid telegraphed to
Jumrood — Anglid^ "Meeting of the Waters" — three
miles from the Khyber, that the marauders there
had given him serious trouble.
On the 2nd December Major Cavagnari, with a
body of troops and two guns, with the aid of the
Kahi Kheyls, punished certain Afghans who had
attacked our convoys. A portion submitted;
others resisted, and were shelled by his artillery.
The fortified towers were dismantled, and the head-
men of villages arranged to post strong guards on
the heights in the Shada-Hagia Pass, thus securing
the road to Dakka.
Colonel Perkins, of the Royal Engineers, as a
preliminary to the attack, made a careful recon-
naissance of the Peiwar Kotal, accompanied by two
companies of the 23rd Pioneers.
In our front lay a valley, up which the road to
the kotal wound for about two miles from the
camp. Across the summit, or saddle, of the steep
ascent, the enemy had thrown up a battery of field-
guns, the fire of which could rake the whole pass.
On either side of the kotal were two steep hills, on
which were guns in battery, which could throw a
deadly cross-fire upon an ascending force. On the
enemy's right a lofty and impending rock formed a
position fi*om which the pass — there from crest to
crest of the hills, about 1,000 yards across — could
be swept by a fire of musketry.
The troops of the Ameer occupied the entire
line of the upper hills for a distance of four miles,
and at either extremity were guns in position to
meet any flank attack that could be made, and
loftier and more inaccessible hilb covered their
line of retreat Here, as often elsewhere in these
campaigns, European, and not Oriental, skill was
suspected in the construction of the defences.
Meanwhile, Major CoUett, with two other com-
panies of the 23rd Pioneers, reconnoitred another
pass, known as the Spin Gawi route. They reached
the summit of a ridge, five miles fi-om the camp
and 1,200 feet above it, overlooking the Spin Gawi
ravine. It was then ascertained that the road up
to the ridge seemed easy and practicable for troops
of all arms ; that it appeared to be on the line to
the Peiwar Kotal ; and that a force working from it
towards the latter would pass over a series of
dominating positions.
The enemy did not hold this point in force ; a
picket on a knoll and a couple of guns only were
there. Accordingly Major Collett suggested that the
attack should be made in this direction, where the
features of the ground were less strong in a military
point of view ; and the plan was, by a night march
to reach the top of the ravine, storm it, and turn
the enemy's position at the Peiwar KotaL
The troops detailed for the turning force were
the 29th Native Infantry and 5th Ghoorkas, under
Colonel Gordon ; No. i Mountain Battery, and a
wing of the Albany Highlanders, the 2nd Punjaub
Infantry, and 23rd Pioneers, under Brigadier
Thelwall, with a four-gun elephant battery — ^to
march from camp at ten o'clock.
The remainder of the troops for the direct attack
were under Brigadier Cobbe.
To lure the enemy into the idea that the attack
was to be wholly in front, a party of Pioneers began
to construct a sham battery near the village of
Turrai, and to strengthen the supposition a battery
of artillery and the 12th Bengal Cavaby, which
had just come into camp from the rear, were
ostentatiously paraded in the same quarter. " If we
could have looked behind the wall of rock that
rose in our front," says Colonel Colquhoun, "we
should have seen that the enemy also had received
their reinforcements, four regiments of infantry
with a mountain battery, and were meditating an
attack on the camp ; but though they had the will,
by not attacking on the night of the ist they lost
their opportunity for ever."
Heavy clouds of mist, that veiled the summit of
the Safed Koh, and the recent shock of an earth-
quake, warned the general that whatever was to be
done would need to be done quickly.
The eventful night of the 1st December came.
The bright camp-fires shed their wavering light on
the white streets of tents, when, without sound of
drum or bugle, the troops fell silently into their
ranks, the companies were told off, and the bat-
talions formed. To prevent any native treachery,
so well was the secret of the proposed operations
kept, that the dhooly bearers of the 29th Regiment
went blunderingly forward towards the kotal, till
turned back by the outlying picket
The night, though starry, was intensely dark till
about ten o'clock, when a pale and waning moon
arose ; but still the turning force remained unseen
in the deep and gloomy recesses of the Spin Gawi
nullah (/>., the White Cow Pass), up which they were
toiling to reach the crest, crowned by the two guns
referred to.
General Roberts accompanied this column, the
march of which was, by necessity, tedious and
slow; the cold became intense as the troops
ascended (for even the camp they had left was
8,006 feet above the level of the sea), but was
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[PetfvarKouL
most felt by the mounted officers, whose hands
and feet became benumbed. As the ascent con-
tinued, the path became worse, the loose boulders
the reports of two rifles, discharged suddenly in the
ranks of the 29th Punjaub Infantry, startled all, and
exasperated the officers. Colonel Gordon instantly
SlIERE ALI, AMEER OF CABUL
larger, and the furrows of the dried-up pools
deeper.
Little time could be given for an intended rest,
as the progress was so slow that unless the Spin
Gawi Pass was ours before daybreak, many lives
would be lost in the great attack on the kotaL
Save the tramp of the marching feet, and the
hard breathing of men, no sound was heard, till
halted the regiment, and the general kept it thus
while two companies of the 72nd Highlanders,
with the 5th Ghoorkas, passed to the front
The names of the men who fired could not be
ascertained then ; yet a native officer who smelt
some of the rifle-barrels discovered them, but, to
screen his Mohammedan co-religionists, he kept to
himself the information he had gained No doubt^
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KoULJ
TRAITORS IN THE PASS.
67
however, existed in the minds of all that some of
the Pathans who were in the ranks of the 29th, had
conceived an idea that they should not fight against
their neighbours,, the Afghans, and fired these shots
to rouse the posts at the head of the pass ; and this
view was confirmed by the behaviour of a party of
the regiment, who deliberately made their way back
to camp, asserting that they had lost their track in
reached, and ere long the troops found themselves
confronted by an abattis formed by felled trees,
which were laid over each other to the height of
eight feet, and completely blocked the way.
The Afghan picket which lined it poured a fire
into the Ghoorkas, who, led by Major Fitzhugh
and Captain Cook, made a gallant rush at it,
the major showing the way over, sword in hand
MAP SHOWING MARCH OP GENERAL ROBERTS TO PEIWAR KOTAL (NOV. 2$ TO DEC. I, l878).
the dark. Most of these men, as well as the two
traitors who gave the alarm, though luckily without
avail, were eventually tried by court-martial
The head of the column was very near the
sununit about six o'clock, but the morning was
still dark, and the path by which the troops moved
now was almost invisible, so dense and gloomy
were the trees that overshadowed it Feeling their
way, the troops pushed on, expecting every moment
to grapple with the enemy.
Nor had they long to wait before the shrill
challenge of an Afghan sentinel, responded to by
two shots, showed that his position had been
Fierce was the hand-to-hand combat with bayonet
and clubbed musket that ensued now, but the
mountaineers, overpowered by the furious pressure
of the advancing troops, fell back upon another
barrier eighty yards in their rear, where another
stand was made ; but they were soon swept away
by the valour of the wiry, active, and ferocious
little Ghoorkas, aided by the Albany Highlanders,
while the rest of the wing of the latter, ascending
by their right flank, partly hidden by the dense
timber that clothed the precipitous slope of the
hill, gradually forced their way into the fighting
line.
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»BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[PehrarKotaL
Side by side the Ghoorkas and Highlanders
now rushed on together, though in the gloom of
the morning they were unable to know how many
stockades were yet before them.
About I GO yards from the second stockade
towered up an entrenched knoll ; but the stormers
soon carried that post, and some forty dead
Afghans, whose bleeding corpses lay within about
as many yards, attested the stubbornness with
which tfiey defended their position, and carried
off a 7-pounder mountain gun.
There was not much daylight yet, but enough to
show that the enemy were in crowds about a knoll,
the summit of which was crowned by our High-
landers. Captain J. Andrew Kelso, with two guns,
was ordered to take post on the right, while the
two other guns were halted at the bottom of the
hill by General ThelwalL
Kelso was advancing at the head of his guns
when he was shot dead through the head About
the same time one of his guns was disabled, so
there were only three available there for the rest of
the day. The Highlanders were now driving the
enemy up the slopes amid the dark pine woods,
enveloping the stems of these in rifle smoke, while
their ringing cheers were heard ever and anon. The
Ghoorkas were pushing on in similar fashion, when
the Afghans closed in and prepared to charge
them down hill
This was perceived by Major Galbraith, of the
85th Foot, the Assistant Adjutant-General, and he
was in the act of directing the fire of the men near
him to check this movement when an Afghan
crept up close and levelled his rifle at him. The
major attempted to shoot the man with his re-
volver, which hung fire. Seeing this. Captain
Cook, of the Ghoorkas, closed with the Afghan,
threw him down, and the major, on his pistol
being restored to order, shot his assailant, and
Captain Cook won the Victoria Cross.
Day was still only dawning, and it was just
possible to see the positions which had been
gained by the Ghoorkas, the Highlanders, and the
29th Punjaubees. The post had been won by the
two former corps, supported however by the 29th,
who, when they reached the summit of the hill,
were successful in repelling an attack made on the
right by those Afghans who had fallen back before
the furious advance of the 72 nd, a movement in
which Lieutenant Munro was wounded.
The enemy, now utterly disheartened, were seen
streaming away across the plateau of the Spin Gawi
Pass, towards the Peiwar Kotal; and so long as
they were within sight and range, the mountain
guns poured shot and shell upon them.
By half-past seven a.m., the whole of the column
under Thelyall, the elephants excepted, were on
the summit of the corpse-strewn Spin Gawi ; and
General Roberts was able to flash the intelligence
to Brigadier Cobbe, who was taking his own account
of the enemy elsewhere.
His operations were as follows . —
At five o'clock on the morning of the 2nd Decem-
ber, five pieces of cannon, under Major Parry,
R.A, escorted by a party of the 8th, or King's,
moved into position, in the dark, to engage the
batteries at the head of Peiwar Kotal Pass and the
Crow's Nest, as it was named. As soon as day-
light served, the booming of the guns woke with
tremendous reverberations the echoes of the wooded
mountain gorge. The major's first object was to
silence the fire from the Crow's Nest, and then
direct all his energies against the guns on the
kotal.
His battery was exposed \o a heavy fire through-
out the day ; shot and shell fell fast around it, but,
miraculously, he escaped without a casualty. At
first much of thb might be attributable to the
peculiar gloom of the morning. So loud was the
firing that it roused even the garrison in the distant
Kurram Fort, though they knew not what was
going on. " The course of the engagement could
be traced by the red flashes which shone bright
against the dark background of the mountains. It
was an anxious time, however, for the lookers on,
but still, as the flashes rose higher and higher on
the mountains, their spirits rose too. The firing
on the part of the Afghans seemed to be severe —
sometimes independent, sometimes in volleys ;
their shelb bursting in the air gave somewhat the
appearance of guns fired from lower positions But
at a distance of twenty miles, in the dusk of a
December morning, the size and extent of the red
flashes were the only guide in determining the
nature of the fire."
At six o'clock in the morning, the 8th Foot and sth
Pimjaub Infantry advanced up the valley, and took
post on certain spurs that ran down into it, to the
right front of Parry's battery ; while Brigadier Cobbe
and his staff occupied a vantage spot on a high
knoll in the centre of the ravine ; and from the time
Parry's guns opened, till half-past two in the after-
noon, they were continually at work, short intervals
only being allowed to cool them when they became
dangerously hot
About daybreak, the sound of smart firing on
the right had warned Cobbe's column that an
action was in progress there, and that Thelwall
was pressing up the Spin Gawi Pass. Parry's
battery had gone into action at about 3,000 yards,
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I>«hnr Koul.]
CAPTURE OF THE KOTAL
69
SO, although the infkntry were somewhat in ad-
vance of him, they were still beyond effective
range for either Snider or Martini-Henry rifles,
and were accordingly moved steadily forward, pass-
ing up the rear and across the tops of the wooded
spiurs which nm into the valley, and by half-past
nine had attained the crest of a ridge sufficiently
advanced from which to open fire on the enemy,
who lined another, which connected the summit of
the pass with the part called the Crow's Nest
The morning was beautiful ; the warmth of the
bright sun tempered the keenness of the air and lit
up the landsoipe, the bold natural features of
which were very striking ; but as the enemy's rifle-
men crowded the pine-covered slopes of the Peiwar
Kotal, few cared then to appreciate artistic effects.
The 23rd Pioneers had led the way, followed by
the 2nd and the 29th Punjaubees ; and then came
the mountain battery under Lieutenant Jervis. To
"feel" the enemy, who seemed buried in the
dense pine forest, and as it was besides necessary to
advance with caution, a line of skirmishers was
thrown forward, and was speedily so lost to view in
the forest that the officers could do little but superin-
tend those in their immediate vicinity.
ITie white puffs of smoke that spurted up amid
the greenery alone served as objects to aim at on
each side; and our troops had to work slowly
through the woods, climbing or crawling over the
stems of fallen pines, driving the enemy before
them, till they were cleared off the ridge on which
our troops took post, and then on both sides there
was kept up an incessant musketry fire. "Thus
the engagement continued ; the Afghans on the
hill in crowds, and on our side the line of the 23rd
Pioneers, 2nd Punjaub Infantry, and 29th Punjaub
Infantry, broken up into groups, as the ground or
the trees obliged the skirmishers to collect under
shelter from the withering fire from the opposite
hill, distant at this point about 50 yards, widening
out to 150 as the Afghan hill receded on the
further side of the valley."
The results were not sufficiently satisfactory as
yet to warrant the heavy expenditure of ammu-
nition, so an advance was made and another ridge
won. In making this movement. Brigadier Cobbe
was severely wounded, and had to resign his
command to Colonel Barry Drew, of the 8th
Foot
As our infantry attack now began to develop itself
more fully, the Afghan guns ceased to reply to Parr/s
cannonade, and turned their fire upon the former ;
but meanwhile the 5th Punjaub Infantry, under
Major McQueen, had pushed vigorously forward,
and were now close to the main ridge, which they
soon gained, and formed directly across the enemy's
flank — a powerful position, from which they
were shortly after summoned to reinforce Thel-
wall's brigade, which was being hotly pressed, and
from this period in the action their connection
with the I St Brigade ceased. "It is only due to
this fine regiment," says an eye-witness, "to say
that they showed the greatest dash and gallantry.
From time to time in the lulls of the fight we
could hear Stirling's guns beyond the hills, but
their advance seemed to be progressing slowly.
Ten o'clock was the hour at which we hoped to
see signs of wavering in the enemy, induced by the
arrival of Thelwall's brigade threatening their line
of retreat But this hour had long passed, and
still the force on the kotal seemed unshaken. Our
infantry, now reduced to the 8th Foot and some
forty or fifty men who had become separated from
other regiments, again advanced, and this time got
within 800 yards of the Afghan guns. Still their
gunners fought them splendidly, under our wither-
ing fire, and it took a good half-hour of fast shoot-
ing before they reluctantly abandoned them."
Our handful of troops had now daringly, and in
the face of mighty odds, worked their way upward
close to the summit of the pass, but in front of
them they found a deep and unforeseen chasm,
which had to be dipped into ; and it was now
seen that, after ascending the opposite bank and
traversing a mile and a half of the roadway, if such
the rocky path could be called, the kotal would
only be gained then, and this under a fire of cannon
and musketry!
This seemed to be a task impossible for any
troops to perform.
Nevertheless, at two o'clock a message came
from the right column directing an immediate ad-
vance if the enemy was wavering, of which they
had shown no signs yet A hasty council was held,
and it was resolved to advance at once in the good
old fashion, and trust to the British bayonet It
was not a time for a moment's hesitation, and right
gallantiy did the soldiers of the old 8th, or King's,
go to work.
The fire from the heights seemed to fall harm-
lessly among them as they went plunging down to
the road, and in less than ten minutes the kotal
was in their hands, while a good ringing British
cheer rang along the line, and the Afghans gave
way, flying in such haste that they left their tent«*
standing, food ready cooked, and everything they
had. There, too, was their artillery camp, where
the gunners had left their silver-mounted brass
helmets, as well as their guns and carriages, to
mark their late occupancy. The helmets had been
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
[Peiwtf KotaL
made in Cabul, after the pattern of those of our
heavy dragoons.
By this time the evening was well advanced.
Cannon (i8- pounders), waggons, ammunition-
boxes, and general camp equipage, with fragments
of shells and round-shot — even old Korans — lay
in all directions. Grain was strewed over all the
ground, and vast numbers of loose coats lined
with sheepskin. These were eagerly appropriated
by our soldiers, as well as the half-burned tents,
for the Afghan camp had caught fire.
Strong pickets were at once thrown out, and a
line of communication established with ThelwalFs
columa Tents for the 8th came up at nine o'clock,
but many had no other shelter than the bare hill-
side, but near a good fire, as the cold was intense.
Numerous drums were found among the spoil, and
one relic which excited no small surprise — a
much-worn shabraque of the Scots Greys — a regi-
ment which has never been in India.
The dead Afghans lay in heaps, and in one place
lay six camels, all killed apparently by the same
shell
The view from the position was magnificent ; the
whole vast extent of the Kurram Valley lay at the
feet of the victors ; snow-capped mountains rose to
a mighty altitude on the right, that seemed to dwarf
the really high hills, covered with pine forests, on
the left
The enemy's strength had been above 4,000
men, which, in a position so strong as the kotal,
was worth five times that number in the opea
Their gunners, however, had much to learn in the
proper adjustment of time-fuses, as it was a merci-
ful thing for our troops that at least fifty per cent
of their shells exploded in the air.
This, perhaps, may explain the smallness of the
total loss in both brigades. Two officers were killed
— Major Anderson, of the 23rd Pioneers, and Captain
Kelso, of the Royal Artillery, with twenty rank and
file ; two officers were wounded — Brigadier Cobbe
(shot through the thigh), and Lieutenant Munro,
72nd, with seventy rank and file.
Major Anderson, who was second in command
of his regiment, had been ordered by the general
to clear a wood in front, with a party which proved
too weak for the purpose. He was killed, and his
body left in the hands of the enemy. It was after-
wards found, terribly mutilated, a circumstance that
greatly exasperated his brother-officers against the
enemy, "so much so that the old surgeon-major
of the 23rd Pioneers loaded his double-barrelled
gun with slug shot, and went about vowing destruc-
tion to every Cabulee. The doctor was a great
personal friend of Major Anderson*s, and his rage
did him credit," says the correspondent of the
Standard^ "although it had, perhaps, one little
tinge of the ludicrous about it to those who did
not understand the depth and sincerity of his
feelings. On that day, when the mutilated remains
of Anderson were found, the life of any Cabulee
would not have been worth much purchase, if he
had encountered on the field either man or officer
of the 23rd Pioneers."
In the Spin Gawi Pass groups of stiffened bodies
lay about the stockades stormed by the High-
landers and Ghoorkas. Many were those who
had died of their wounds, or been bayoneted to
death at the moment they were attempting to
escape. Every body had been stripped by the
Tuns, who occasionally varied their odious work
by mutilating and gashing the slain with their
deadly charahs^ or native knives. "Hanging
round the necks of some of the bodies," says the
writer before quoted, " I observed simple charms —
perhaps a coin— perhaps a bit of silk twisted with
gold. Why the Turis had left these trinkets un-
touched I cannot say, unless it is that they draw
the line of desecration at trinkets, which are sup-
posed to have direct communication with the
mysterious powers of good and eviL I saw two
dead men locked in each other's arms. Perhaps
they were brothers."
In one stockade lay more than fifty naked dead,
and on the bare road of the Spin Gawi, and among
the woods of the Peiwar Range, lay at least a
ghastly hundred more, stripped and desecrated by
the Turis.
The Turis, whose chief abode is in the Kurram
Valley, belong to the Shiah persuasion of Moham-
medanism. Being thus at variance with the majority
of the Pathan and Afghan tribes, they were not un-
willing, in their hatred of the latter, to accept British
rule.
Those who had joined us were now remforced
by their brethren from the valley, and they swarmed
over the deserted camps in search of plunder.
" Some," says Colonel Colquhoun, " had brought
ponies, and even camels, with them to carry off
their spoils, and quickly they made a clearance of
everything portable. The soldiers of the 8th, or
King's Regiment, who had been allowed to fall out
for a time, were not slow in annexing the posieens
which they found, and, despite their general dirty
appearance, they were very glad to wear them, as
the cold wind was beginning to blow through the
pass, where it was freezing hard in the shade.
Every ruffian who had come to the spoil was
armed with, at least, his long Afghan knife. Hold-
ing this in front of him with one hand«. each
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SCENE AFTER THE VICTORY.
71
snatched up all he could, putting it away in
bundles made out of the clothes he picked up.
Nothing came amiss to them ; loaded shells even
were carried off, though as far as possible they
were prevented from taking anything of the kind"
Among the incidents of the conflict the escape
of Oqptain WoodtKorpe, of the Engineers, was per-
haps the most remarkable. A ball struck the butt-
end of his pbtol, knocking the weapon to pieces ;
it then ran round his back, tore up his pocket-
book, and passed through his tunic in front Save
that his back felt as if seared by a hot iron, he had
no other injury.
As time wore on it became necessary to put an
end to the scene of confusion that reigned on and
around the Peiwar KotaL The "fall in" was
sounded ; the men stood to their arms ; the out-
lying pickets were detailed, and the captured
cannon and ammunition put in order for removal
by the artillery.
Save the dead, no sign of the enemy was visible
anywhere. They had vanished among the forests,
or along the Cabul road, so Colonel Hugh Gough,
CB., V.C, who had followed with a few cavalry,
reported that they were out of sight
At four o'clock on the evening of the 4th Decem-
ber, the wail of the pipes of the 72nd Highlanders,
playing the slow and solemn air, "The Land o*
the Leal," was borne on the soughing winter wind
through the gloomy pme forest of Zabardast
Kala, as the soldiers bore the bodies of Major
Anderson and Captain Kelso (who left a wife and
several children to mourn him), to lay them side
by side in one grave.
General Roberts acted as chief mourner, and by
the stretcher in which each of the dead men lay,
stepped the officers of the regiment to which he
belonged
Such was the last incident connected with the
Peiwar Kotal, and it was not without a very
solemn effect upon all who witnessed it
And when the troops marched, the unmarked
graves were left in their loneliness amid the forest
solitude.
CHAPTER Xn.
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR {continued) : — ^THE SAPPRI DEFILES — ^THE FIGHT AT SIAFOODEEN.
It was discovered that between October 12th and
November nth the Ameer had proclaimed Sijehadf
or holy war, against the British, as a document
found at the Peiwar Kotal proved
It stated that for years he had been preparing
the weapons of war and instructing his soldiers.
He exhorted all true Mussulmans to rally round
him in behalf of their religion. "Wage a holy
war," so ran the edict, " on behalf of God and his
Prophet, with your property and your lives. Let
the rich equip the poor. Let all die for the holy
cause. A foreign nation, without cause or the
slightest provocation, has made up its mind to
invade our country and conquer it"
This document then went on to urge the Afghan
tribes to a determined resistance to the white
infidel, promising Paradise to those who died in
battle, everlasting torments in the next world to all
cowards who shunned it, and ten thousand torments
to all who accepted British money. The English
were described as worthless infidels, breakers of
all treaties, a people animated by greed, avarice,
and vanity, deceit and treachery ; and this procla-
mation was signed by the Ameer^s military secretary,
by his highness's order.
In the conflict at the Peiwar the Afghans had
every advantage in their favour, writes an eye-
witness, " as the only point—excepting, of course,
the leadership and discipline of our men — in which
the superiority might have been on our side was
nullified by the conditions of the fight Our long-
range artillery could have but little effect on their
position, while our rifles in close fighting were but
slightly superior to the Enfield rifles opposed to
them, except in the matter of breechloading. They
had the knowledge of the ground, in which we
were deficient; they had their own discipline,
which was good, as they obeyed their leaders, who
showed them the way to attack ; they were de-
fending their own country, and they had ample
provisions and ammunition to continue the fight
for many a day ; but with all these advantages in
their favour they could not stand against the onset
of our troops at the Spin Gawi, and thus gave us
the key of the position, from which we could
operate on their flank and rear.''
Their captured cannon were all rifled, brass,
iron, or steel, and of great precision at 2,500 yards.
The day after the conflict the troops moved fix>m
the ground on which they had bivouacked to a
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LAIlKheyL
position nearer the mouth of Peiwar gorge, about
a mile from Zabardast Kala, where a camp was
pitched, the 8th, or King's, remaining meanwhile at
the kotal, which was strengthened by guns, while
the road in its vicinity was improved by our
Sappers. For the winter General Thelwall was
placed in command of the troops, who were to
hold that post and the village of Turrai, while the
These troops halted at Ali Kheyl, ten miles east'
ward of the kotal, and on the Cabul road, after
a march through rice-fields, passing numerous
villages inhabited by Jagis, who gathered under
the shadow of their mud-walled huts, men, women,
and children, staring in sullen wonder as the
column filed past As usual, the men were ail
amply armed. ~
AfOMANS..
PLAN OF ATTACK ON PEIWAR KOTAL (DEC 2, 1 878).
remainder-formed a column under the command of
Colonel Barry Drew, and began the march for Ali
Kheyl in the following order : —
The advanced guard consisted of a detachment
of the 1 2th Bengal Cavalry, a wing of the 23rd
Pioneers, and a mountain battery.
The main body consisted of the Duke of Albany's
Highlanders, the 2nd and 5th Punjaubees, and the
5th Ghoorkas.
The rear guard was formed by another wing of
the 23rd Pioneers and four Horse Artillery guns,
carried on elephants.
Ali Kheyl proved to be a village of considerable
extent, built on a hill, with water runnels flowing
through all its principal streets. On the north is a
hill — a continuation of the Safed Koh — 1 1,800 feet
high ; and on every hand are mighty hills, all more
or less high.
Acting on information he received at this place.
General Roberts resolved on making a dash farther
on, to the Shutai^gardan Pass, some twenty-five
miles distant, with a small flying column, consisting
of 250 Highlanders and 250 Ghoorkas, with two
guns of the mountain battery, the whole corn-
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Shatargardan.]
ON THE WAY TO CABtjL
>5
manded by Colonel Brownlow, a veteran of the
wars in the Crimea and Central India, and who after-
wards fell gallantly at the head of his Highlanders
at the battle of Candahar.
He halted for the night near a place called
Hazardaracht, or "the Forest of the Thousand
Trees;" and next day the general, with only loo
men, pushed on to the top of the Shutargardan,
11,500 feet high, with the double object of ascer-
homes, with no more excitement in store than a
tribal feud, or an occasional assassination.
The Ghilzie tribe, who dwell in the vicinity of
Shutargardan, and were supposed to be favourable
to the cause of the Ameer, received our troops in
the most friendly manner, as did many of the
frontier tribes, whose fighting force was stated, on
the authority of the Punjaub Government, at that
time to be not less than 170,200 mea
GENERAL ROBERTS, V.C.
taining its difficulties and features with a view to
future operations; and he discovered that no
point so formidable as the Peiwar Kotal presented
itself, though the road from thence to Cabul
abounded in narrow and rock-bound defiles.
Immediately below the pass lay hills that 'gra-
dually diminished in height till they sloped down
into a vast and fertile plain in a high state of
cultivation, and dotted by innumerable picturesque
villages, among them Khushi, where the routed
Afghans were said to have rallied after their dis-
astrous defeat Thb rally General Roberts had
reason to believe never took place, the Afghan
soldiers preferring to seek the quiet of their own
H
On the loth December the reconnoitring party
returned to Ali Kheyl, where a company of the
29th Native Infantry were to remain for the winter,
and next day the 2nd and 5th Punjaubees, with
the Horse Artillery, marched back to the Kurram
Fort, as the cold was becoming intense.
General Roberts now decided to return by a
southern route to the Kurram P ort, and to explore
the country between that valley and the Hurriab
by a march through the Sappri defile; and on the
way the baggage of his four regiments, although
on a reduced scale, made — with the commissariat
camels — a somewhat long column.
The 13th of December saw his force pushing
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Kunam Fort
home to winter quarters through a five miles' gorge,
by a rough and stony path, overlooked by many
savage heights and ridges — places most suitable for
ambushes.
After a time a number of Afghans were seen
perched high upon these ridges, watching the
troops on the line of march defiling below ; but, as
they were supposed to be merely shepherds watch-
ing their flocks, no notice was taken of them, and all
except the 5 th Ghoorkas pushed on ahead of the
t>aggage without molestation to a village called
Keriah, where the camp was to be for the night
Before the rear of the column had quitted the
ravine more country people were seen collecting
on the rocks, and when Captain F. Goad, transport
oflftcer, was walking close to a part of the small
baggage guard of the Albany Highlanders, a sudden
volley from above was poured upon the whole.
Captain Goad fell wounded, his right thigh-bone
being broken by a bullet, which passed through his
left leg after breaking his sword and scabbard.
Sergeant William Greer, of the 72nd, with three
other Highlanders, placed him under shelter of a
rock, and devoted their attention to the enemy.
They were only four men against a great number,
under good cover too, but they could not desert
a wounded officer as long as they could defend
him ; and by steady and careful firing, picking off
their men in quick succession, they kept the foe
at bay. Ignorant of this, the main body of the
column was still pushing on, while the rear-guard,
under Captain Powell, of the 5th Ghoorkas, was
being continually attacked by the more daring of
the enemy, who, greedy for plunder, swooped
down in parties as the ground allowed them, while
the rest kept up a fire from above.
Captain Powell received two wounds — one
through the lungs — of which he subsequently died ;
but he brought off the baggage from his assailants,
who proved to be Mangals, without the loss of a
camel. Our casualties in this affair were — one man
killed ; two officers, eight soldiers, and three camp-
followers wounded A sick Highlander, who was
being carried in a dhooly, fired all his ammunition,
sixty-two rounds, at the enemy, " and as he was a
good marksman, he never fired without getting a
fair shot"
For his courage and devotion, Sergeant William
Greer was promoted to lieutenancy in the 72nd
Highlanders in April, 1879.
Captains Powell and Goad were buried side by
side in a little cemetery, where the remains of
several of our soldiers lie, near the Kurram Fort.
Arrangements were now made for the winter
quarters of the army in Afghanistan.
The early days of January, 1879, saw the head-
quarters of the 1st Division, with two brigades
of infantry, two batteries of artillery, and some
cavalry, quartered at Jellalabad, under General
Macpherson. His other infantry brigade w^as at
Jumrood, and consisted of the Guides and ist
Sikhs, under Colonel Jenkins.
Brigadier Tytler was at Basawul with the 17 th
Queen's, and at Dakka were the 45th Sikhs, 27th
Native Infantry, and Hazlerigg's battery. As far
back as that place Sir Samuel Browne was in com-
mand, as chief of the ist Division. In rear of it
was General Maude, as chief of the 2nd Division.
At Lundi Kotal, midway between Dakka and
Ali Musjid, the 6th Native Infantry were stationed.
Three companies of Madras Sappers were engaged
on the improvement of the road through the
Khyber Pass ; and with the troops in Peshawur, it
was estimated that 13,000 men could take the
field, if necessary.
Two Russian officers, a doctor, and thirty
Cossack lancers, were at this time still in Cabul,
and it was currently said that two Europeans were
seen among the defenders of the Peiwar KotaL
The excitement roused by our victory there had
partly died away in the Kurram and Hurriab
Valleys, but not so in the adjacent Khost Valley,
through which flows the Shamil River. At Budesh
Kheyl, on the Kurram, the hillmen still evinced a
little hostility, by cutting the telegraph wires, and a
mollah was inciting the villagers to resist ; and in
the Khost Valley our convoys were constantly
menaced with attacks, so General Roberts resolved
that it should be explored thoroughly. It was a
district that no European had ever visited, and
was quite unknown ; but it was resolved that there
should be no movement in that direction till early
in January, that the troops might enjoy their well-
earned rest ; and meanwhile the mutineers of the
29th Native Infantry, and the two sepoys who had
given an alarm by discharging their rifles on the
night the Spin Gawi Pass was attacked, were tried
by court-martial.
The latter, Hazrat Shah and Mira Baz, were
sentenced — the first to death by hanging, and the
second to 730 days' imprisonment The rest were
all transported or imprisoned, for various periods,
and as there were no handcuffs in camp, they were
secured by telegraph wire.
On the 3rd of January the troops detailed for
the Khost Valley expedition, consisting of a
squadron of the loth Hussars, the 5th Punjaub
Cavalry, the 28th Native Infantry, No. 2 Mountain
Battery, and a wing of the 72nd Highlanders, began
their march ; then came the baggage camels and
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Stafoodeen.]
FIGHTING IN THE PLAIN OF CANpAHAR.
75
mules, the line of route being closed by No. i Moun-
tain Battery and the 21st Punjaub Native Infantr)'.
But prior to detailing its operations we must refer
to a fight that took place at Siafoodeen on the 4th
of the same month with a portion of General
Stewart's column in the vicinity of Candahar, and
menacing that city.
On this occasion Brigadier Palliser commanded
the advanced guard of cavalry moving against the
Cabulees, consisting of the 15 th Hussars, the ist
and 2nd Punjaub Lancers, whose uniform was
dark blue fisu:ed with red, and the 3rd Scinde
Horse. To this force had been added nominally,
the 32nd Pioneers, 25th Punjaub Infantry, the
2nd Beloochees (or 29th Bombay Infantry), and a
battery of Horse Artillery.
This array seems imposing, but so much was
the field strength reduced by escorts, convoys,
water-guards, and so forth, that it was far short of
what it should have been. On the first day's
march, it was said that so many duties had to be
furnished, and so many men were occupied in
dragging along bullocks and waggons, the ist
Brigade dwindled down to a company of the 60th
Rifles, with the brass band of the regiment
Colonel Palliser led the advance, and on that
duty did good service. At Guaja orders were
issued that his brigade should move in two
columns — the right under Lieutenant-Colonel F. G.
Kennedy, of the Bengal Cavalry ; the left under
himself, strengthened by the guns and infantry
already detailed
On the morning of the 4th he broke up his
camp at Shahpussan, and advanced through a
heavy and blinding storm of dust to a place called
Muhammed Ameen. The approach to the plain
of Candahar lies through sandy deserts, marked
everywhere by the furrows of the last year's plough-
ing, and fertile enough, if well irrigated, yielding
wheat, rice, dates, and almonds.
These sandy wastes are intersected by abrupt
nmges of hills, rugged and still nameless. Twelve
miles from Shahpussan rises a range of such hills,
chiefly rock, through which open three defiles,
that unite on the road to Candahar, but are only
a hundred yards or so in length.
The Afghans had heard enough of the British
advance to conceive that a camp would be pitched
under shelter of these hills, and sent out two
regiments of cavalry and one of militia to attack it
in the night
The Afghan commander posted a picket of
about 100 men on the Kolcut Peak, and another
opposite it in the Golow defile, thus holding two
commanding positions, both overlooking roads
that were only a quarter of a mile apart Mean-
while the main body of his cavalry was scouring
the vicinity, pillaging the country, the plunder of ^
which he accumulated on some sandy hillocks
three miles in his rear.
Colonel Kennedy, with the right column, was
advancing on the Golow Road, while Brigadier
Palliser, with the left, passed under the cliff known
as the Kolcut Peak. A storm of dust was at that
time sweeping over the plain of Candahar, and this
enabled a squadron of the 15 th Hussars, engaged
in scouting and "feeling" the way, to see the
Afghan picket before being themselves seen.
Dismounting, with unslung carbines, they fired a
volley, slew six pf the enemy, drove the rest in
headlong flight towards the river Dori, and
captured their baggage. Hearing the firing.
Brigadier Palliser moved down the narrow defile
with caution, but at the same time Colonel
Kennedy met a strong force of Afghans, debouch-
ing from the Golow defile in his front
Having with him four pieces of cannon, he
unlimbered, opened fire at once, and compelled a
retreat Palliser from the opposite hill heard the
report of the guns, and judging the course
correctly, wheeled his Hussars to the right and
rode in the direction, intending to cut off the
flight of those attacked by Kennedy, though the
ground there was awkward for cavalry, its whole
surface being strewed with large loose pebbles.
On gaining the crest of a ridge which had con
cealed his movements, he saw three strong squad-
rons of horse retiring leisurely from the pass, and
their good order and appearance were such as to
deceive every one for a moment, especially amid
the drifting sand ; and they, on their side, believed
our Hussars to be their own troops, withdrawing
from the Kolcut Peak.
But Major George Luck, of the 15th, command-
ing the Hussars, recognised the dark hairy caps of
Afghans — which had been at first mistaken for the
loonjees worn by our Bengal Cavalry — ^just as a low
ridge intervened, but when that was passed the
parties were only 300 yards from each other.
The clatter of swords as they were swiftly drawn
from their steel scabbards first let the Afghans
know their mistake, as their tulwars are sheathed
in wood, and they fired a ragged volley ; but in
another moment a hundred British blades and
forty Bengal lances were among them, as our
people charged with headlong fury. For the
moment the enemy stood the shock, and, then
turning, fled in wild rout to Candahar.
Twenty-four were killed on the spot, and nine
prisoners were taken, and many must have got
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BRITISH BArrLKS 0>J LaKD AND SEA.
lSiaS6o6vcti,
away severely wounded, in a body of 300 men.
Only two Hussars and five Lancers were wounded
'on our side ; but the old complaint was heard on
' every hand about the wretched regulation swords,
which, as usual, would not cut ; all the slain or
disabled, therefore, suffered by the point alone.
So it was in the Peninsula cavalry combats,
when the French dragoons were frequently only
bruised and contused by our swords, which were,
as they are now, made by manufacturers who are
not swordsmen, whereas in India they are made
for men who, feeling that their lives depend upon
their weapons, will not wear what they cannot use
to some purpose. So it was with our Highland
swordsmen of old, who used the edge of their
claymores quite as often as the point.
While the Hussars cleared the way at the Kolcut
Peak, the two battery guns attached to Brigadier
Palliser*s column were being leisurely driven by the
path which the Hussars had left. It must be re-
membered that the dust-storm was still blowing,
and the way lay through a rocky hollow. Suddenly
the gunners saw three Afghan horsemen within a
few yards, and recognised them. The guns were
wheeled round, and retired upon the 2nd Belooch
and Native Infantry regiments, which were on the
march in their rear.
They npw came up at the double; the guns
again advanced more quickly. A hurried move-
ment over very rough ground brought the column
to the bank of the river Dori, when, as the murky
dust-clouds began to settle down, they perceived
a great cavalry force occupying a ridge of sand-
hills about a mile in front
They seemed loth to abandon a very large herd
of cattle — the plunder of the adjacent country.
Great bodies of them were moving hither and
thither, but in a disciplined manner and betraying
no unusual excitement, while they drove, and with
sword and lance goaded, the cattle into a gorge
between the sandhills. But now shell after shell
from our cannon began to drop plump into the
middle of them, carrying death and destruction on
every side.
The Beloochees next opened fire upon them.
The cattle were abandoned, and the whole of the
horsemen, estimated at 1,000 or 1,200, vanished
among the sandhills. At two a.m. they were seen
at full speed splashing through the Tamack River,
one of the two branches of the Helmund between
which Candahar is situated — a long ride of eight
hours' distance.
On the following day our scouting parties found
eight dead horses, and a number of newly-made
graves, where these Candaharis had evidently
halted, to snatch a mouthful of food, and rest their
weary horses.
The Ameer's brother had come from Cabul ex-
pressly to lead these men, and his presence with
them accounts for this conflict at Siafoodeen. The
son of Mir Afzul, the Governor of Candahar, was
also present.
A short march on the morning of the 6th of
January brought about a junction of the two
divisions at Muhammed Ameen, though it proved
a long one for General Biddulph through the
Golow defile.
A redistribution of the cavalry now gave General
Fane, C.B., some work to do. He had assigned
to him the 15th King's Hussars, to whom were
attached 140 sabres of the 3rd Scinde Horse, a
sapper company of the 25th Native Infantry, and
three Horse Artillery guns, and with these his
orders were, to move along the western road to the
Tamack River, while General Palliser moved ahead
of him.
As the troops advanced it became evident that
the skirmish at Siafoodeen had greater results than
would be due to its importance as a mere engage-
ment The Afghans have a great belief in their
own invincibility, and on the night of the affair at
Siafoodeen the villagers of Shahpussan said taunt-
ingly to Captain Molloy, the generaPs interpreter,
" Afghans do not fight at a distance ; our custom
is to draw our swords when we can see each other's
eyes."
But it was rather a mortifying discovery to those
on the plains of Candahar that less than half their
number of British troops would charge them upon
jaded horses, and, more than that, defeat them too.
The prisoners taken declared that they thought the
whole invading force was behind our " handful *" of
the 15th Hussars.
" It may very likely be so," says a writer, " and
we may admit that victory would have been dearly
bought had the trained swordsmen of Cabul, with
their razor-like blades, met our troopers face to
face. The action may be ranked as one amongst
many proofs that fortune is on our side."
The fugitives from Siafoodeen drew off our route,
only halting for a couple of hours at a village among
the hills. There they plundered everything they
could lay hands on — oxen, horses, fodder, and
cash ; thus when our commissariat officers visited
the place in quest of provisions, none were pro-
curable.
Near the river was another village with a fortified
post of the Ameer's. The commandant, somewhat
to the surprise of General Stewart, sent him, by
two well dressed and richly-accoutred chieftains of
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THE DRESS OF THE AFGHAN CAVALRY.
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the place, a letter in which he professed his gocxi-
will, and readiness to oblige; so supplies of
every kind were got there, but not sufficient in
quantity.
Though peopled and richly cultivated, the
country now occupied by Stewart's column was
unable to furnish provisions for an army, even
though the inhabitants were permitted to fix their
own prices.
"Just as our column reached a district where
the people could and would supply us, its promise,"
says a correspondent, " was blighted by the out-
rageous proceedings of the Afghans. In the first
place, every village is deserted, and when we
have persuaded the people to return, distrust over-
comes even their love of money. But this camp
is only two marches from Candahar. We may
have to fight, but we shall certainly get food as we
advance. Unluckily no prices are laid down, nor
any system of obtaining supplies. Individuals buy
as they please, and the highest price naturally rules
the market The evil of this practice is becoming
so plain, that the simple remedy cannot be delayed
much longer."
Spies now reported that there were in Candahar
only 4,000 horse and one regiment of infantry,
armed, with smooth-bore muskets, and that there
were five siege-guns in the city, but no field
artillery.
As yet the war, though one of toil, had been of
a somewhat trifling character, and finally, till the
terrible Cavagnari catastrophe, it dwindled down
into a series of detached skirmishes with ferocious
hill-tribes.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR (ron/tnued) l-'THE KHOST VALLEY EXPEDITION — FIGHTING THE MANGALS —
CAPTURE OF CANDAHAR — FIGHTING THE MANGALS AGAIN — END OF THE KHOST EXPEDITION.
The Ameer had introduced into his army many of
the most recent improvements in musketry and
artillery, which were unknown to it in the old wars
of 1840 and 1841 ; and he had some troops
grotesquely dressed in tartan kilts, which they wore
over breeches, in imitation of our Highland regi-
ments, whose aspect and bearing had excited so
much terror and surprise in India during the
Mutiny. He had also adopted helmets of brass
for his gunners, but the costume of the genuine
Afghan horseman was pretty much the same as it
was in the days of our disastrous retreat from
CabuL
It consists of an ample turban of dyed linen or
of striped blue cotton, called a honjecy about
seven yards long, one end of which in cold
weather, or when in the field, for the double
purpose of warmth and protection against a sword
cut, is wound round the throat The cummerbund
is of the same material, and answers the purpose of
a tablecloth and coverlet The next garment is a
kooriOy or shirt, fastened down the right side, and
not permitting any of the body to be seen. There
is also a caftan^ or cloak, of ample dimensions,
made of broadcloth or camel's hair. Loose
trousers, and boots to the knee, complete the dress.
The colours are dark green, brown, or black.
When not in use the shield is slung over the back.
Among their horse equipments, so lately as 1839,
the Delhi Gazette mentions helmets and breast-
plates, but such appear to be things of the past
now.
An eye-witness describes some of Shere Ali's
cavalry thus : — " The men were dressed in old
British red- cloth uniforms, with white belts, more or
less pipe-clayed, rather baggy blue cotton trousers,
with long boots innocent of blacking. The only
purely native garment about them was their head-
dress— a copy of the present British helmet ; but
being made rather shapeless, of a soft dark grey
felt, it was not becoming. The officers were very
much the same as the men ; but the colonel who
commanded the regiment was dressed in an old
staff* tunic, with gold embroidery. Nearly every
man carried a whip with a wooden handle, which
was stuck into his right boot when not required ;•
and a number of them carried eye-shades, which
were slung round their necks when not in use."
Their arms would seem to have been smooth-
bore carbines, carried over the right thigh, muzzle
downwards, and the Indian tulwar. Their horses
looked full-fed, but hardy, and superior to the
general run of Cabul horses, heavy in the forehead,
yet well adapted to a mountainous country.
Among the petty contests referred to in the
preceding chapter, we may note the following : —
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REPUI^E OF THE WAZARIS.
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On the I St of January, a body of Kuki Kheyls
blocked up the road between AH Musjid and
Jumrood, but General Roberts sent out a force
and cleared the \s'ay ; otherwise there might have
been a serious loss of Povindah camels, 500 of
which went through the pass about that time.
Five days afterwards a strong band of Mahsua
Wazaris made a raid into British territory, and
plundered and burned Tank. On being attacked
by cavalry they fled and were pursued to the
us, they would have taken a deal of time and
trouble to punish ; but though the Ameer did his
best to stir them up, he was only partially success-
ful, and in but one isolated instance was there any
attack made on our border."
But in consequence of their menacing Bunnoo,
reinforcements were sent to that part of the frontier,
and our officers were quite prepared The cavalry
attacked a party of marauders, slew two, and
captured forty, with a large herd of cattle ; while
GENERAL DIDDUI.PH.
mountains, and reinforcements were sent to Dera-
ismail-Khan and Bunnoo to prevent a repetition of
the outrage, as certain fanatical mollahs from
Cabul were among these people, inflaming them by
harangues.
A section of the Wazari tribe inhabits the Khost
Valley, of which we are about to treat "The
territory of the Wazaris extends from this point to
Thai, then eastward towards Bunnoo, and south
as far as the Gomal Pass, which is their main road
to Hindostan. As a tribe, they are the finest of
any on the north-west frontier. The men are
physically finer and braver than their neighbours,
and if the tribe had not been on good terms with
the 4th Punjaub Cavalry and the 4th Sikhs inter-
cepted and attacked another band of Suleiman
Kheyls, and cut down seventy of them, our loss
being only two killed, Captain Shepherd and nine
soldiers wounded.
The troops, as detailed in the preceding chapter,
to form the Khost Valley column, under General
Roberts, began their march.
The objects of the expedition were to discover
the resources of that hitherto unknown district —
the Khost country — in men and supplies, and to
ascertain in what manner the inhabitants, by com-
bination, could affect our lines of communication,
especially if we advanced to CabuL
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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General Roberts's column was not sufficiently
strong to undertake the conquest of that great
valley, if the people were very hostile ; thus annex-
ation formed no part of his i)lan as yet. Another
advantage to be gained was, that from the Khost
Valley we might, if necessary, despatch a force to
conquer the Wazari tribes, whose chief town,
Kanigoram, was not far distant There was also a
prospect of exploring the way to Ghazni, which
stands beyond the Jadran Mountains and the
Zurmat River.
To carry out this last idea, a much stronger
force was necessary, as the mountains to be
traversed are occupied by the Mangals, a fierce
and warlike tribe.
"The Khost Valley," says Colonel Colquhoun,
"had, till this time, been represented on the map
by a blank space ; the streams which run into the
Kurram River at Hazir Pir were just marked at
their embouchure as the roads by which the
Ameer's sirdars went to collect the revenue. Be-
yond this fact nothing was known, except that the
Afghan governor, after the flight of Shere Ali, had
expressed his willingness to make over the charge
of the country to us. This, of course, implied that
the expedition would be a quiet walk through the
country, which expectation was very nearly realised
The first march, and to a little distance beyond,
had been reconnoitred by Captain Carr, deputy-
assistant quartermaster-general, who reported the
country open, and accessible for cavalry, so far as
he had seen from the summit of the Dhonni Kotal,
a distance of about fifteen miles from Hazir Pir."
The camp at Koobee was struck at eight a.m. on
the 6th January, and an hour after, the march began,
preceded by a squadron of the loth Hussars, and
with flanking parties furnished by the 5 th Punjaub
Cavalry. The sun was bright ; the air was fresh
and crisp.
The camels and mules, with tents and stores,
had been sent on ahead, and cavalry and infantry
extended across the country to the right and left
for their protection. The line of march was stony,
rocky, and jungly, and after issuing fi-om a pass the
Wazari hills, bathed in the purple light of morning,
came in view, and many villages embosomed
among trees, with a broad yellow plain in front
Before the pass was quitted, Akram Khan, the
Naib, with a band of ragged and wild-looking
horsemen, met the general, and rode with him
towards his fort of Matoond, which had towers at
each corner and a keep in the centre. Every
tower was crowded with men, whose arms glittered
in the sunshine as it streamed through the loop-
holes.
These men were ordered by General Roberts to
come forth and line the road They did so, and
were all seen to be utter tatterdemalions,
armed in a singular and various manner. " Some
had belts, from which hung powder-horns, and
leather pockets for bullets, slugs, and flints ; some
belts on which were sewn numerous little cases for
powder, each about the size of a Snider cartridge ;
some had belts from which leather pouches and
long strings hung down all round Besides these,
ever}' man wore a cummerbund, into which knives
and pistols were stuck to such an extent that it
would have been a puzzle to discover a vacant
place in which an additional weapon could be
thrust"
As if to balance the weight of these, every man
carried a juzail, or flint-lock rifle slung across
his back;, and at the head of each line were a
standard-bearer and drummer, who rattled furiously
their calfskins as the general rode past
Akram Khan promised to make over the fort
and all the records of the valley at a future time,
but as he was mistrusted, the greatest care was taken
when the camp was pitched The head-quarter tent
was in the centre ; the loth Hussars on the right ;
then the 72nd Highlanders and 21st Native In-
fantry facing the east ; the 5th Punjaub Cavalry the
south ; and the rest of the force the west, with the
convoy of camels between the two Native Cavalry
corps. No rear-guards were required, as all faced
outwards, and the outlying and inlying pickets slept
fully accoutred ; but, though no Mangals could be
seen, rumour asserted they were hovering in the
neighbourhood
By seven o'clock in the evening signal fires began
to blaze on every hill, shining brightly through a
hazy moonlight ; at other points were seen ruddier
flashes, caused by throwing handfuls of loose
powder upon hot embers ; and it soon became but
too evident that a vast horde, who had a code of
signals known well to themselves, were gradually
surrounding the little column.
" What are they doing ? " " Are they preparing
for a night attack!^' were the constant inquiries
on every hand
General Roberts rode round the camp, posted
strong pickets at the most vulnerable points. Rifle-
pits were dug, and men concealed in them ; and for
that night no man unarmed or slept, and so passed
the hours.
Early on the morning of the 7 th it was an-
nounced that the Mangals, Wazaris, and Khostwals
were assembling in their thousands to assail the
camp ; and three camel-men, who had gone into a
village to purchase fodder, were set upon, murdered
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BRUSHES WITH THE NATIVES.
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by knives, and their bodies hacked to fragments in
the most horrible manner, while the foe succeeded
in carrying off no less than seventeen camels.
The enemy could be seen assembling in great
strength, and in dusky-like masses, north-westward
of the camp, and their intentions evidently were to
make a simultaneous attack upon it as soon as their
forces, scattered through the valley, could be got in
hand.
An immediate rush was made for the camp
by all the muleteers and camel-men who had gone
out to seek or purchase fodder; and the next
circumstance that attracted attention was the
manoeuvring of a troop of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry,
who had ridden out to reconnoitre, under Captain
Carr, and as they were returning shots were heard,
and a cavahy horse was seen to gallop riderless
across the open.
The cavalry were pretending to fall back, to lure
on the Mangals, who were too wary to fall into a
snare ; but they were not less than 2,000 strong, and
arrayed under two standards, a red and a white one.
General Roberts sent his cavalry out again in a
north-west direction, followed by the 28th Native
Infantry, under Colonel Hudson, and a mountain
battery, under Captain Swinley. On the appearance
of the cavalry, under Colonel Gough, the occupants
of the villages in the plain fled towards the foot of
the mountains with all speed The squadron of the
loth Hussars dismounted and skirmished up a
small knoll, from which they drove the enemy, who
placed themselves upon another, where they gathered
in a mass.
The cavalry made some excellent shooting with
their short Martini-Henry carbines, and this was
about the first time that the new dismounted exer-
cise had come into play ; but the enemy manned
their native rocks, and blazed away bravely and
industriously, but very vainly, with their long flint-
lock and match-lock juzails, while the shooting of
our men was cool and steady, as if they had been
at target practice on Wormwood Scrubs — their
carbines taking effect with deadly accuracy up to
500 yards, while the cumbrous juzail was useless at
more than 300 yards.
On discovering this, the enemy began to move
off for loftier rocks and ridges in their rear, and the
order was given for the cavalry to mount and charge.
This was at once attempted, and it seemed pretty cer-
tain that many would be sabred ere the rocks were
reached But so broken was the ground that the
cavalry got no nearer than sixty yards of them, so
the fugitives ran safely up the second ridge, turning
round only now and then to fire a shot, or utter a
yell of rage or derision.
General Roberts was riding over to see what was
in progress here, while Barry Drew remained in
charge of the camp, with a mountain battery,
under Major Morgan, a wing of the 72nd High-
landers, under Colonel Clarke, and the 21st Pun-
jaubees, under Major Collis, when suddenly a
startling musketry fire burst forth on every side of
the valley. " What was before suspected was now
apparent Our little army," says an eye-witness,
" was literally surrounded by hostile tribes. Crowds
of nfen could be seen moving across the plain
towards the camp, east, west, north, and south.
After inspecting what the cavalry were doing on
the northern side, and seeing that the enemy were
retreating up the mountains. General Roberts rode
back in the direction of the camp, and gave orders
for the disposition of the troops. From the number
of armed men who had assembled at the village of
Koondie and the line of villages extending south-
wards, we could now see that the enemy had not
laid their plans without a certain amount of method.
They had been gathering overnight in the villages
to our right and rear, and a considerable portion
had shown themselves, with their standards, on our
left front, in order that the greater part of our
troops should be drawn thither, while their main
attack should be made on our rear and flanks.''
To support the cavalry and the north generally,
the 28th Punjaub Infantry were despatched at the
double towards Matoond The left wing, under
Colonel Hudson, Major Hills, and Lieutenant
Long, formed to the front, and went forward to the
valley where the Hussars and Punjaub Cavalry
were endeavouring to close with the enemy ; while
three companies, under Major Marshal and Lieu-
tenant Dennis, remained behind in the open to
support the left wing in case of necessity.
Ere Hudson could bring his men into action,
No. I Mountain Battery, under Captain G. Swinley,
R.A., and Lieutenant E. A. Smith, had attained
the summit of the knoll lately quitted by the
enemy, and was sending shell after shell, smoking
and whistling, into the mountain, up which the
foe were wildly climbing. Higher and higher their
white standard could be seen mounting, as the
bearer struggled upward from rock to rock. A
shell burst right over it, and slew the mollah or
priest who bore it Another picked it up, waved
it vauntingly above his head, and went clambering
on with the rest
In a short time the Mangals had reached a
rugged crest, where their dark figures, in flowing
dresses, could be seen swarming against the blue
sky-line, but ere they reached that point their
movements had been accelerated by the effects ol
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infantry fire. Shells were now thrown at them,
but failed to do much damage, as the Mangals,
whenever the gun flashed, threw themselves down
behind the ridge till the missile exploded, on which
they jumped up, danced wildly, and uttered shrill
yells of derision.
The cavalry now rode to the village near Ma-
toond, where they came upon crowds of the armed
enemy, who fled at their approach, into the houses
or away to the hills; but many, however, were
shot down by carbines.
The Afghans on the ridge ceased their dancing
after a time, and seemed to dislike the screaming
of the shells and the fragments as they crashed
upon the rocks, for they dashed in wild crowds up
the hill behind it, and never stopped till they got
over its summit
While all this was going on, elsewhere our men
had their hands full on every side. Cannon were
blazing and pounding away at the villages to the
westward, and shelling the positions along the line
to the south and east Fifty Albany Highlanders
were marched out to the north of the camp, lest a
raid might be made upon it in that direction,
while the remainder of their regiment marched to
the left, to disperse any of the enemy that might
be there.
A serious attack eventually menaced the right
front Mangals and Khostwals in thousands, with
some Wazaris, covered the plain in front of
Koondie and other villages on the south, where
they brandished their knives, fired off* their match-
locks, and yelled what was supposed to be their
war-cry.
Brigadier Barry Drew on this, advanced the
whole force at his disposal in a line that covered
the camp. Captain Morgan's two mountain guns
were brought into action, and threw several shells
into these masses, producing a marvellous effect
The enemy could not withstand the terror the
explosives excited, and were soon seen streaming
off" towards the villages in their rear and towards
the south. An Afghan cavalier on a black horse,
who seemed to be one in authority, was killed, and
his horse, with its saddle empty, galloped wildly
across the country.
As soon as our cannon opened fire in front, a
general fusilhde of matchlocks in rear showed
that the enemy meant to close in from that direc-
tion, where good cover had been afforded to them
by some old Afghan cavalry lines, which enabled
them in vast numbers to steal within half a mile of
the camp ; but they were completely repulsed.
While all this was going on, the fort of Ma-
toond did not appear to be occupied by the enemy ;
but the tattered troops of Akram Khan from its
roof were watching the wild work that was going
on in the valley, and if the exciting day had been
unfortunate in the sequel for our troops, the Khan
no doubt would have made common cause with
the hordes who had come down from the hills.
On the previous night some of the mysterious flashes
that had been seen, had been given from the
summit of the keep.
At three in the afternoon the 21st Infantry ad-
vanced in skirmishing order, their flanks covered by
cavalry, against the village of Koondie. One of the
2 1 St was shot dead by a ball fired from the wall
surrounding the village, which was the last effort of
the enemy in that quarter ; as when a party of the
regiment burst in, with bayonets fixed, the place
was found to be completely abandoned.
The chowney, or cantonment, of Akram Khan's
troops had been occupied at an early hour of this
busy and exciting day by some hundred Mangals,
who blazed away over the walls with their match-
locks at useless ranges, till a couple of guns were
turned upon the edifice, and it was soon evacuated,
and its garrison fled to a cluster of villages known
as Mohammed Kheyl, where again they took heart
and manned the boundary walls.
Under Captain Carruthers a party of the 21st
advanced against them in extended order, and
kept up an independent file-firing, while over their
heads shells went plumping into Mohammed Kheyl
from the guns of Captain Jervis. The latter
proved too much for them, and in a short time
they were all swarming over the plain, while many
flung themselves into the river, in a desperate
attempt to reach the Wazari Hills.
Major J. C. Stewart, with forty sabres of the 5th
Punjaub Cavalry, now came on the ground there
" You had better charge," said General Roberts.
Stewart said he was quite ready, but added, was
he to make prisoners?
" No — your force is too small for that purpose,"
was the reply ; and away went the cavalry on the
spur. "They disappeared from sight for a few
seconds, where there was a depression in the
ground," says an eye-witness; "then they reap-
peared, and in another minute they were among
the fugitives! Sabres flashed in the air, as each
man bent down to his work, or wheeled to face a
foe. One sowar broke his tulwar over the head of
an Afghan. He leaped off" his horse, seized the
dead man's gigantic knife, and rode on in the
charge. The duffadar of the regiment, and the
finest swordsman in it, was chasing a man, who
turned round and took a steady aim with his
juzail, and the duffadar fell dead with a bullet
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through his brain. Major Stewart was riding over
a wounded man, who bent upwards and made a
cut at his horse, which took effect under its right
eye," The charge was a brilliant one, if short;
twenty-one Afghans were killed, and about the same
number were severely cut and slashed. The fugi-
tives continued their flight till they disappeared
into a valley which is occupied by the Garbaz
sect
The retreat of about ninety was, however, cut off,
and they were made prisoners in a village where
they had taken shelter.
General Roberts now ordered that all the villages
we had taken should be looted and destroyed — most
welcome news to the camp>-followers, who were
soon seen in hot pursuit of sheep and fowls. The
commissariat department was early at the work,
and secured an immense quantity of grain and
upwards of 500 head of cattle ; but hundreds of
tons of the former perished in the subsequent
conflagration, which speedily sheeted all the frail
edifices in flames.
Our loss during this stirring day was only two
men killed, four wounded, and three camel-drivers
murdered The enemy's loss was at least 100
killed and twice that number wounded, according
to one account ; eighty killed and eighty wounded
according to another. So much for the merits
of the clumsy old muzzle-loading matchlock as
opposed to breech-loading rifles and steel cannon,
and of discipline against mere bravery. It was six
o'clock before the day's work was over.
" The night that set in upon this arduous day,"
says the correspondent of the Standard^ ** was
one of wonderful beauty. The moon shone in a
blue sky that was flecked with ripply snow clouds.
On the broad plain around us villages were burning
luridly. Sometimes, as a roof fell in, the sprays of
fire shot high into the air. Altogether the scene
was one as suggestive of the horrors of war as
remarkable for its terrible beauty. The weather
was cold, but we had indeed warmed our hands at
the villages of Khost"
Before the moon had risen, however, the camp
was roused by the sound of firing, the cause of
which was very unexpected. It appeared that
there had been an organised attempt to rescue the
captured prisoners, who were under a strong guard
of the 2ist Native Infantry, commanded by a
subahdar, Makkan Singh, a little way from the
camp, with an outlying picket posted 150 yards
fimher on.
The prisoners were arranged in three long lines,
and all were ordered to sit on the ground. Each
line was fastened by a rope, which was passed
round each man, and then secured into the ground
by wooden pegs. The plea for keeping these
prisoners was, that they belonged to the Garbaz
Wazari tribe, unconnected with the Khost country,
and should each, before being released, pay a fine
of fifty rupees for helping the Mangals in the
mischief they had done.
Two rifle-shots had been heard that do not
seem to have been fully accounted for, and the
prisoners imagined they were the signal of an
attempted rescue. They accordingly sprang from
the ground simultaneously, and began furiously to
sway from side to side, in the hope of breaking the
ropes, or tearing up the stakes to which they were
tethered.
Their excitement was terrible to witness. Several
snatched at the rifles of the sepoy guard, and tried
to wrest them away ; hence ensued a series of
desperate personal combats, in which three rifles
were broken. One powerful Wazari contrived to
get clear of his rope, and, though bayoneted in
the leg, rushed away — only to be fired on by the
outlying picket, and killed. Another who got free
from his bonds, was shot dead by the revolver of a
native officer.
Makkan Singh saw that unless extreme measures
were immediately taken the whole prisoners might
break loose and effect their escape. So while these
masses of excited and desperate men were swaying
and wildly wrenching, the guard loaded, and either
shot down or bayoneted every man who persisted
in struggling. Sobered by this terrible punishment,
seeing the dead men hanging in the ropes, and by
the groans and cries of others who were bleeding
and dying, all who were untouched crouched and
grovelled on the ground helplessly and in terror.
They bent forward their heads, nor dared to
raise them up. For a time it was difficult to tell
who were dead or who alive, so still did they lie,
until the soldiers undid the ropes, and separated
them from each other.
The dead were placed in the centre, and the
wounded were left to sit as they were, tied to other
men; it was then ascertained that ten had been
shot or bayoneted to death, and twelve others
wounded more or less severely. For that night
nothing, save rough bandaging, could be done for
the latter.
They were all put close together : a large tar-
paulin was spread over them to exclude the biting
wind, and thus they lay till morning. Thinly
clothed as most of them were, almost shelterless,
and with the thermometer falling below freezing
point, their sufferings must have been great.
On Thursday morning the political oflUccr with
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SE^
IZaker.
the column, Colonel Waterfield, accompanied by a
troop of cavalry, made a circuit of the villages
near Matoond, and could find no appearance of
the enemy.
General Roberts, full of pity for the wretched
prisoners, after ail they had undergone, released
all the survivors of the night*s calamity, for which
they seemed very grateful They humbly salaamed,
and would have kissed his feet, had he permitted
them, ere they departed, with orders to bring
ultimately the village of Durgai, belonging to the
Thunnies at its southern end, all places where no
European foot, probably, had ever trod before
On the 15 th of January his camp was in the
plain of Matun, or Matoon, and on the 20th he
ordered a royal salute to be fired, in honour of the
capture of Candahar, intelligence of which had
been telegraphed to him by the Government
Sir Donald Stewart, with his division, had been
pushing on to Candahar, which is the principal
GENERAL DONALD STEWART, C.B.
provisions into camp, for which they would be
paid.
On the loth of January, a company of the 12 th
Native Infantry, with band playing merrily and
colours flying, under the Subahdar Makkan Singh,
took possession of Akram Khan's old fort at
Matoond, which was to be utilised as a hospital.
Three red silk triangular pennons, a dozen of old
matchlocks, some iron and powder, were the only
things found in it. Major Collis was appointed
commandant
Further explorations of the great Khost Valley
were continued by General Roberts, accompanied
by Akram Khan, till he reached Dehgan, and
city in Western Afghanistan. On the 4th of
January, Major Luck, of the 15 th Hussars, with
100 men of his regiment and thirty of the ist
Punjaub Cavalry, when reconnoitring in a place
called the Mel Pass, north of the camp at Zaker,
met some of the enemy's mounted scouts, and in
pursuing them came upon 200 Mohammedan
fanatics, among whom were many moUahs, drawn
up to dispute his passage.
The moment Luck's party came within view
they rushed down towards it, screaming, yelling,
gesticulating frantically, and brandishing their
weapons, till they came within 200 yards of the
cavalry, who poured into them a volley from their
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CAPTURE OF CANDAHAR.
8S
carbines, on which they fled up the steep ravines,
where it was impossible to follow them, but not
before they had killed five of the 15 th Hussars
and wounded many more. The chief mollah and
several of the enemy were killed, and all their tents
and baggage taken.
On his return to head-quarters, Major Luck was
ordered to join Colonel Kennedy, and soon after
surprised a party of Afghan cavalry in a gap of
the hills, and a sharp engagement ensued. Here
the Ameer's first and second horse regiments were
column halted at Khusab, a small town about
fifteen miles from Candahar, and on the following
day he was at Zaker by eleven o'clock, three miles
from the city, which he entered at noon, followed
by General Biddulph and his force. They passed
through the Shikarpore Gate, and were accom-
panied by the leading inhabitants, the Ghilzie,
Seistan, and other chiefs.
Thus, this important city, the key of the whole
country, became ours without firing another shot,
having been deserted by the troops of the Ameer,
Approz. 8oale of Miles.
Tyf9grafhif Etching C«.,sc.
PLAN OF THE ROAD FROM THE SHUTARGARDAN PASS TO CABUL.
engaged, while a third acted as a reserve. His
brother was also present
The Afghans were routed, with loss of 150 men,
and in this gallant little combat each ofi^cer of
Hussars slew his man, for it was a hand-to-hand
affair. Major Luck killed two, and the Hon.
Rupert Leigh, a young lieutenant, after a sharp
encounter with a gigantic Afghan, made him
prisoner. The general physique of our adver-
saries, judging from the prisoners generally, was
alleged to be uncommonly fine ; and it was con-
sidered rather significant that Russian gold coins,
of the mintage of 1878, were found upon their
persons.
On the 15 th of January, Sir Donald Ste worths
whose last battalion there, had fled that morning
to Cabul.
The wing of a Punjaub regiment garrisoned the
citadel, the walls of which have withstood the
cannon of Aurungzebe and echoed to those of its
conqueror. Nadir Shah. Great quantities of
powder, shell, and small-arm ammunition were
found in it by Sir Donald Stewart, but no artillery,
save one howitzer and one gun.
The whole city seemed perfectly quiet ; deputa-
tions of the trade guilds waited upon Sir Donald ;
measures were put in progress to rectify the absence
of all constituted authority, and business was carried
on without difficulty.
Two days afterwards, the report of musket-shots
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
tDcHgan.
rang in the streets, and an Afghan fanatic, bleeding
with wounds and brandishing a bloody charah^ or
native knife, was seen rushing about in a state of
religious frenzy. Many of our soldiers drew their
side-arms and tried to bayonet him. With a
sudden lunge he drove his charah into the body of a
rifleman, but next moment was cut down by the
sword of a Native Cavalry officer.
Prior to this, he had wounded in the hand Cap-
tain Harvey, who had run his sword through his
neck ; he had stabbed Lieutenant Willis, of the
Artillery, dangerously in the breast, and severely
wounded a sergeant and gunner of the same corps.
Lieutenant Willis died soon after of his wound
Taking advantage of the temporary confusion
thus occasioned, a sepoy of the Ameer's disbanded
infantry seized the bridle of Major St John's horse
and daringly fired a pistol at him. He missed the
major, but was cut down, taken, and hanged next day.
By express order of the Ameer, his father-in-law,
Mir Afzul Khan, the fugitive governor of Candahar,
was ordered to harangue the tribes of the Pishin
Valley, in Southern Afghanistan, which is inhabited
chiefly by the Tereens, and is crossed by the great
caravan road through the Khojuk and Bolan
Passes. He informed them that troops had been
dispatched from Herat to Candahar, and that the
great warlike tribes upon the Punjaub frontier had
all been collected for an immediate attack upon
the British. He urged instant hostilities on be-
half of the Ameer,, and pointed out how petty
injuries might be inflicted upon the invaders.
The Mir added, on his own account, that on the
4th and 5 th instant brilliant victories had been
achieved over them by the Afghan troops.
The result of all this was a series of very
murderous outrages at Pishin and elsewhere. A
night attack was made on the ist Punjaub In-
fantry, who gallantly repulsed it, and slew many of
their assailants, while large bodies of disbanded
Afghan soldiers, wandering about, made the frontier
roads everywhere perilous. But General Stewart,
with a column, now began his march towards
Khelat-i-Ghilzie ; and General Biddulph with
another towards Girishk.
Meanwhile General Roberts, with the Khost
Valley column, was not idle.
Captain Arthur Conolly, of the Meywar Bheel
Corps, was now selected to raise and command a
body of Khost levies, 200 horse and 200 foot, to
replace the garrison first detailed to hold the valley.
The Khostwals would not take service, so the ranks
of this new force were chiefly filled by the Turis,
who had no fear of the Mangals.
On the 23rd of January General Roberts was
informed that a great force of the latter was col-
lecting again about twelve miles distant, with a view
of making an onslaught on the camp by night To
break the force of such a movement as this he re-
solved to entrench the post completely, before
dusk, under the direction of Captain J. A. S.
Colquhoun, R.A. There was a great scarcity of
trenching tools, and there were no baskets wherein
to carry earth, thus it was impossible to execute
such a work within the given time The fort and
walled garden were, of course, included in the line
of defences, and though the troops worked with
hearty goodwill, there was still a gap on the southern
face, which it was necessary to fill up before dusk
came, and for this purpose the saddles of the 1,200
camels which were in camp, when placed three
high, made a breastwork 400 yards long, and just
made up the space, fpicketed down by ropes and
tent-pegs, to prevent them fi-om being overthrown.
Meanwhile a party of cavalry, under Colonel
Gough, reconnoitred for six miles beyond the village
of Dehgan, and discovered, by the hostile attitude
of the inhabitants, that the Mangals were certainly
hidden there, though he saw none ; and no shots
were fired, but charahs were brandished in the
faces of the troops as they passed. But tidings
that the camp was fortified, and the firing of a few
star-shells by night, each brilliantly illuminating the
ground for a space of 800 yards by 400, so eflec-
tually scared the Mangals that no attack was made
there.
On the 25th the general held a durbar, at which
most of the head men of the valley were present
He told them that the quarrel of the British was with
the Ameer alone, as he was under Russian influence,
and " buoyed up with the hopes of men, arms, and
money,'' from a treasury now empty after the
Turkish war, and that if he persisted in fighting he
would have to follow his father. He added, that
he (the general) had no desire to hurt the men
of the valley if they would only keep the peace.
Food and money were given to them ; but, says
Colonel Colquhoun, "their unkempt and savage
appearance was heightened by the wild look in
their eyes, which was comparable to nothing but
the restless glance of a wild animal, always on the
watch for prey and enemies."
The general having marched his column to a
place called Sabbri, about twelve miles distant, had
barely arrived at that place when an express reached
him, at ten o'clock, to the effect that the news of his
departure had excited the restless Mangals, who
were gathering in force to storm the camp at Ma-
toond, and destroy all therein. Thus to relieve it
became his first object
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ATTACKED BY THE MANGALS.
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On the 29th of January he started from Sabbri
at daybreak with the squadron of the loth Hussars,
the 3rd Punjaub Cavaby, part of the Highlanders,
the 28th Punjaub Native Infantry, and No. 2
Mountain Battery, leaving Barry Drew in com-
mand of the rest, in an entrenched camp ; for the
gathering of the Mangals was evidently a serious
one, and they could easily detach some 3,000 men to
attack his isolated force, so breastworks were con-
structed of officers' baggage, soldiers' kits, camel
saddles, and everything that was available. It was
' a clear morning ; a faint mist like a gauze veil lay
in the valleys, and the pine-trees, gemmed with
frost, sparkled in the early light as the troops
marched on.
Captain Wynne, with a party of signallers, now
ascended the southern range. From the peak of
one of the hills he was able to overlook the Ma-
toond plain and fort, and **he signalled about
twelve o'clock that the whole valley was black
with the crowds of Mangals that had come down."
The sudden appearance of Roberts about half-
past nine am. disconcerted them ; they were pre-
pared to make a pitiless massacre of the 300 men
he had left at Matoond, but not to face the column
¥rith which he approached it now.
The general, on relieving his little garrison,
resolved to empty the fort and abandon it The
powder was thrown loose into the wet ditch ; the
bullets and flints were pocketed by the levies, and
all the grain that could not be carried o£f was
destroyed by fire, while the enemy, about 6,000
strong, hovered at a little distance, looking oa
At noon the retreat began. The 28th Punjaubees
and the mountain battery moved off, while the
cavalry trotted out briskly, and took up a position
within a mile of the enemy. Under Captain
Bulkeley, the squadron of the loth Hussars was
thrown out in skirmishing order about 600 yards in
advance of the Native Cavalry, and some of the
marksmen dismounted to try the effect of their
Martini-Henry carbines on the dark masses of the
enemy. Shrieks and cries of rage and agony
followed every shot, and many were seen to toss
up their arms wildly, and fall forward on the earth
dead.
Encouraged by the slender aspect of the line
attacking them, the Mangals, under the orders of
their leaders, many of whom were well mounted,
rode forward regularly skirmishing, till they came
within range of the carbines, and then one com-
mander, whose white horse rendered him very
conspicuous against the dark background of the
crowds behind him, fell from his saddle, to ride no
more
So dense were the masses of the enemy that
every bullet must have told, some, perhaps, twice.
The fall of the white horseman, and the firing of
the loth, averted the forward movement ; and on
our skirmishers remounting, and trotting back on
their supports, the movement was conceived to be
not a panic, but a desire to lure them into the open,
when our cavalry could charge and ride through
them sabre d la main.
While the cavalry covered their rear, the infantry
and artillery by half-past twelve were three miles
and a half from the enemy, and then the trumpet
sounded to cease carbine firing, and retire — a
movement effected as if upon parade, by alternate
squadrons, and ere long the halted Mangals were
seen swarming into the abandoned fort and
trenches, doubtless in search of plunder; and by
five p.m. the whole force was united in the camp
at Sabbri, after a march of twenty-four miles.
Lest the restless Mangals might yet make an
attack in the night, every precaution was taken,
with camel-saddles and so forth to strengthen the
defences round the tents. Next day the march of
exploration was resumed, till the column reached a
gorge in the mountains, and the troops saw at their
feet the whole country that intervened between the
Khost and Kurram Valleys.
That night the camp was pitched on dry terraced
paddy fields, and by nine next morning the force
had pushed on to Hazir Pir.
Brigadier Thelwall, C.B., commanding at the
Peiwar Kotal, had reported an expected attack
upon that post by the Mangals, a tribe, says
Colquhoun, which can always "furnish about
20,000 fighting men, armed, like their neighbours,
with matchlocks of varying excellence, and the
usual knives. The tribe, being off any of the roads
troubled by Afghan troops, did not come much
into contact with the Afghan Government, and
considered itself virtually independent, though
acknowledging in a way the supremacy of Cabul,
so long as its obedience was not tested by a demand
for tribute or taxes."
It was fortunate our slender force, broken up
as it was, was not attacked by the Mangals in all
their united strength, as in that case it might have
been annihilated.
When they purposed to attack the Peiwar Kotal
its garrison consisted of only four weak companies
of the 8th, or King's, under Major Tanner ; three
Royal Artillery guns, under Major Perry ; the 2nd
Punjaub Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tyn-
dall ; a party of the 12th Bengal Cavalry, and the
company of Sappers and Miners — all mustered
only 1,000 men.
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BRITISH BAlTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[iCheUu.i<;hIlne.
The Mangals, who were to make the attempt
simultaneously with the attack on Matoond, were
4,000 strong, aided by 2,000 of the Hasan Kheyl
Jajis. They laid their plans well, and the secret of
their movements was excellently kept ; and it was
only at midnight on the 4th of January that our
express from Ali Kheyl reached Brigadier Thelwall,
informing him that the kotal would be attacked by
6,000 men, but that the time of their doing so was
unknown.
They came pouring down the Hurriab Valley,
while a few for food turned off to the village of Ali
Kheyl, where there resided one solitary European,
Captain Rennick, as the representative of the
British Government — an isolated and desperate
situation. Rennick knew that if he was slain his
death would be amply avenged ; but he had
attached to him the villagers of the place, which is
about twelve miles westward of the kotaL
When our cavalry vedettes at a place called Byan
Kheyl reported the advance of the Mangals into the
Hurriab Valley, Brigadier Thelwall prepared at once
for resistance.
His main defences consisted now of block-
houses on three points, all within rifle range of each
other, forming three angles of an isosceles triangle,
with sides about 500 yards long, and a base of 650
yards.
Round these block-houses, an abattis of felled
trees formed an outer line of defence. Two
cannon armed the house at the apex of the triangle,
and a third was placed in the southern block-house,
in front of which a company of the 8th was hutted.
But the little garrison felt that to face a foe in
daylight, when the means of attack and defence
were visible, was a simple matter with the same duty
in the gloom of a winter night, and when the dense
pine forests prevented the approach of an enemy
from being seen till all were muzzle to muzzle.
As the attack appeared to be postponed, Thel-
wall sent to Habib Kila and the Kurram Fort for
reinforcements, and accordingly 150 Highlanders
and 200 Ghoorkas reached him, after a march of
nineteen miles, with the Peiwar Kotal to climb
at the end, in six hours ; so the expected attack
came to nothing, and the Mangals retired to their
native fastnesses, without even prevailing on the
Jajis of Ali Kheyl to surrender Captain Rennick as
a victim to their knives.
Elsewhere the movements of our troops were all
successful. On the 29th of January Sir Donald
Stewart reached Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and captured it
without firing a shot, its garrison, 500 of the
Ameer's militia, taking to flight at his approach.
On the same day General Biddulph entered
Girishk, where he threw a pontoon bridge over the
Helmund, and was welcomed by the inhabitants as
a deliverer. Here the fort is a formidable one, as
it commands the right bank of the river and the
approaches to a ford.
From Khelat-i-Ghilzie attempts were made to
communicate with General Roberts's column by
native runners.
Prior to the intended advance on Cabul, for
which preparations began early in February, the
movements and events were all of a minor nature ;
but amid them a Victoria Cross was won by
Lieutenant Reginald Clare Hart, of the Royal
Engineers, an oflficer who had already distinguished
himself elsewhere by saving human life.
He won his cross, as the Gazette records, for
hb gallant conduct in risking his life to save that
of a private soldier. "The Lieutenant-General
commanding the 2nd Division of the Peshawur
Valley Field Force, reports that when on convoy
duty with that force, on the 31st of January, 1879,
Lieutenant Hart, R.E., took the initiative in run-
ning some 1,200 yards to the rescue of a wounded
sowar of the 13th Bengal Lancers, in a river-bed,
exposed to the fire of the enemy, of unknown
strength, from both flanks, and also from a party in
the river. Lieutenant Hart reached the sowar,
drove off* the enemy, and brought him in under
cover with the aid of some soldiers who accom-
panied him on the way."
On the return march from Girishk, Biddulph's
rear-guard, the 3rd Scinde Horse, was suddenly
attacked at Khushi - Nakhud by some 2,000
Dooranees, who were beaten off* with the loss of
150 cut down, but not before Major Reynolds and
five troopers were killed, and Colonel Malcolmson,
with eleven others, wounded.
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OCCASIONAL SKlRMISHEa
89
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR {conciudcd) : — ^THE DISASTER TO THE lOTH HUSSARS — COMBATS AT
FUTTEHABAD AND DEHOURUK — ^THE PEACE OF GUNDAMUK.
At length the Ameer was beginning to find the
hopelessness of his cause. On the 13th of
December he had fled from Cabul, intending to
visit General Kauffmann at Tashkend, in Central
Asia ; but he was seriously ill before he started,
and after enduring much agony from gangrene, he
died at a place called Mazar-i-Sherif, in the
northern part of Afghanistan, on the 21st of
February, 1879, and was succeeded by his son,
Yakoub Khan, with whom he had been at
variance, but whom he had released just before
his flight from CabuL
For a time it was thought that the death of
Shere Ali, and the succession of Yakoub, would
complicate matters in Afghanistan, and some
unpleasant episodes were reported from Jellalabad,
where, in March, Sir Samuel Browne was concen-
trating his force, while General Maude relieved
his post between that place and Dakka. Roberts
was at the same time concentrating his troops at
the Peiwar Pass, and improving the road for the
passage of guns and baggage in the Cabul direction
at Shutargardan.
Near Maidonak, in the Shinwarri country, a
surveying party was attacked ; a non-commissioned
officer was killed, and Captain Leach and Lieutenant
Barclay were wounded, the latter severely. A force,
under General Tytler, marched against the offenders,
who came to immediate terms, which included fines,
the destruction of all their fortified towers, and the
giving of hostages for the peaceful escort of the
surveying party over all their country. But this did
not prevent two grasscutters from being barbarously
murdered among the hills ; while at Dakka some
camels of the Bhopal battalion were carried ofi^ and
two men of the 17 th were killed on guard The
tel^raph wires were fi-equently cut, and all these
disturbances were attributed to Yakoub Khan's
instructions to Abdullah Mir.
In consequence of threatened attacks by hostile
tribes in the neighbourhood of Jellalabad and
Lughman, an expedition early in the month of
March was sent to the latter district, under
Brigadier-General Jenkins, and proved a very suc-
cessful movement, with important political results.
Lughman lies on the north of the Jellalabad
valley; it extends to the lower ridges of the
Hindoo Koosh, and is bordered on the east by
Kafiristan. The expedition marched from Jellala-
bad by the newly-made bridge over the Cabul
River, and was absent four days. The ill-fated
Louis Cavagnari accompanied it ; the people seemed
well disposed, and came from their villages in
thousands to gaze upon the Feringhees, and there
occurred only one unpleasant incident
A man came out of a village holding an axe,
concealed behind his back, with one hand, while
with the other he seized the bridle of a horse
belonging to one of the Guide Cavalry. This led
to the natural assumption that he was a Ghazi bent
on mischief, so the rider cut him down on the
spot before he could strike a blow. "It is just
possible," says a correspondent, " that his intentions
with the axe may have been misunderstood ; but, if
such was the case, he had only his own country-
men to thank for his fate. After the experience of
our soldiers, both European and native, it will be a
very dangerous game for an Afghan to put himself
in a doubtful position before them with a weapon
in his hand"
The next expedition towards Lughman was
marked by a terrible disaster to the loth, or Prince
of Wales^s Hussars.
It was on the evening of Monday, the 31st of
March, when, between five and six, two columns
were suddenly ordered for service One was under
Brigadier Gough, and consisted of about 400
bayonets of the 17th Foot, 300 of the 27th, and
300 of the 45th Native Infantry Regiments, four
Royal Horse Artillery guns, under Major Stewart,
and two squadrons of the Guide Cavalry. The
orders of this column were, that it was to move
out at one o'clock next morning. It was unknown
at the time in what direction it was to march, but
Lughman was supposed to be the object in view
with it, as well as with the other column, under
Brigadier-General Macpherson.
His force consisted of detachments from the ist
Infantry Brigade, 300 of the Rifles, under Colonel
Newdigate ; 300 of the 4th Ghoorkas, under Major
Rowcroft, and 300 Punjaubees, under Colonel
Rogers; the Hazarah Mountain Battery, under
Lieutenant De Latour, Royal Artillery, a company
of Sappers, and a squadron each from the loth
Hussars and the nth Bengal Lancers.
The latter were all to be in readiness to march
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Cabul River.
at nine o'clock that night ; and as the orders were
unexpected, there was considerable bustle in
camp to get rations and the baggage train in order,
as General Macpherson*s force was to have four
days' provisions with it
The moon was little more than a quarter old as the
troops fell into their ranks, but it gave light enough
to show the glitter of sword and bayonet blades
as they moved off, the sections quickly disappearing
India, " is a line of tragedy and misfortune. That
line of tragedy and misfortime may now be ex-
tended a couple of miles farther to the east, for
that will give very nearly the point where forty-six
lives were, on Monday evening, suddenly swept out
of existence."
The littie force of cavalry accompanying Mac-
pherson's column consisted, as detailed, of a
squadron of the loth Hussars, under Captain
OEMERAL SIR SAMULL BROWNE.
in the cold wintry sheen that changed the hoar
frost to diamonds on every wall and tree. There
had been a long cricket match during the day ;
many of the officers were thus somewhat weary,
and some surprise was expressed at the brevity of
the time given to prepare, and at the hour of
parade, which seemed to indicate a night march.
For all this, those at head-quarters had their own
reasons, as subsequent events proved ; but prior to
these a sad accident befell our gallant loth Hussars.
The troops moved westward, and to many it
proved their last march in this life.
The line of ground between Jellalabad and
Cabul, so far as it is connected with the history of |
R. C. D'Esterre Spottiswoode (formerly of the 21st
Hussars), and another of the nth Bengal Lancers,
the whole under the command of Major K A.
Wood, of the first-named corps.
The orders to these officers were, to cross the
Cabul River at a ford situated about a mile below
the camp, a place from which a temporary bridge
had, most unfortunately, been only recently re-
moved; and they were then to wheel up the left
bank of the stream, march through Besoot and
Darunta, after which they were to accompany the
column to Lughman, to which the infantry ad-
vanced by the Jellalabad side of the CabuL
They had not been long gone when our troops
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Cabol River.
were seriously alarmed by a number of horses gal-
loping wildly into camp with their bridles trailing,
their saddles empty, and their trappings soaked
with water.
At that precise time the bed of the stream is not
always covered ; but when the hot weather comes,
and the long-gathered snow melts in the Afghan
mountains, it is not so. The volume of water
then flows in mdte than one channel, and it was
in anticipation of this that the bridge had been
removed, and fixed up elsewhere.
At the fatal spot in question, the Kaleh-i-Izack
(the Fort of Isaac) ford, where the cavahy were
to cross, the river forms two branches, the first
thirty feet in breadth, with an average depth of only
thirty inches of water; and the crossing was
made in the murky moonlight, at a point where an
irrigation channel shot off abruptly from the Cabul.
This point was crossed with ease. Then came a
species of island, covered by soft sand and large
round water-worn boulders.
Beyond lay a larger mass of water, about 150 feet
in width, but the line of the ford was not straight,
and 350 feet of water had to be traversed upon it
The passage went first down the Cabul at an
oblique angle, till it reached the end of an islet close
to the left bank, and it turned upward again for a
short distance to where the ford ended.
A lieutenant of Engineers measured the place,
and found the average depth thirty inches, and in
the deepest place three feet It was constantly
being crossed in the day-time by natives on horse-
back, by camels and bullocks. Now it was to be
crossed in night ; and dim as was the moon, but for
the light it gave, the disaster would have been greater.
In front of all were the local guides, followed
closely by the Bengal Lancers, all of whom crossed
in safety. The mules of this squadron followed
next, and as there is always a tendency when cross-
ing a stream to edge lower down with the current,
the Hussars were ordered not to lose the direction
taken by those ahead, but keep well up against the
stream.
However, there must have been some swerving,
for before they had reached the centre they found
the water rising high upon them, but they saw
all in fi-ont of them safe on the other side, and
never doubting that they were in the same track
they pushed onward in confidence, till the water
flowed over their holsters and saddle-bows, at
the rate of nine miles an hour — and below the ford
it was still more swift
Their spirited horses began now to feel the
difficulty of keeping a footing; they got restive,
ignoring spur and bridle. Thus the current soon
forced them downward into deeper water, when
the whole squadron was swept away towards the
rapids, and became a mass of confusion — brave
men and terrified horses contending desperately in
the dim moonlight, and amid the rushing waters,
for their lives !
The Hussars were in heavy marching order, fully
accoutred, and supplied with ammunition — circimi-
stances enough to drag down a strong swimmer even
in smooth water. In their terror the horses threw
most of their riders, whose bodies when found
showed that in too many instances several of the
poor fellows must have been stunned or hopelessly
maimed by kicks, and thus rendered incapable of
saving themselves, if it were possible to do sa
The terrible rapids were only a few yards below
the ford, and when the horses once lost their foot-
ing and were swept into the dark rushing current,
all hope vanished
Where the rapids ceased there lay a deep pool of
water, when the torrent lulls a little in its career,
and it was at that point, that those who had strength
left to struggle, succeeded in getting to the banks
on either side. But too many failed : when the
roll was called over after the accident only thirty
Hussars answered to their names, out of seventy-six,
so there were forty-six of our men who would re-
spond to the call never more. Lieutenant Harford
was among the missing.
Captain Spottiswoode was mounted on a remark-
ably fine horse, which had lately come from
Europe. It was able to swim well, and reached
the other bank in safety, but not at the end of the
ford. Twice it sank to the girths in dangerous
quicksands, the last time falling on his rider and
lying on him, so that he was . nearly drowned, for
his head was a short time below water ; and while
all this terrible episode was passing, the Bengal
Lancers could only sit in their saddles and look
helplessly on.
The description given by the Hon. James
Napier (son of Lord Napier, of MagdaJa), a
lieutenant of the loth Hussars, is grimly graphic
in its details, and his experiences must have
been the same as those of many others. "His
watch he found had stopped at 10.55 P-^^
He was riding at the head of the squadron,
together with Captain Spottiswoode ; Lieutenant
Greenwood and Sub-Lieutenants Harford and
Grenfell were behind. They entered the stream
following up the mules of the nth as closely as
they were able. The water was soon up to
their feet; then it rose as high as their knees,
and began still to get higher. As it reached the
saddles, Napier called out to Spottiswoode that
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THE CALAMITY TO THE TENTH HUSSARS.
93
'it was getting rather awkward' Napier's horse
had already begun to be restive, and he was almost
instantly swept away, the animal kicking and
plunging so that he was thrown off its back. He
was thrown a number of times, and once he lost
the reins. At last he found himself away altogether
from the frantic beast, and being a good swimmer,
his first idea was to get rid of his sword and belt,
but after some useless attempts he gave it up as
hopeless. He had sunk in the effort, and now
struck out to get to the surface ; but the water was
very cold, and, encumbered with his heavy boots,
sword, revolver, and cartridges, he was unable to
keep himself afloat He felt himself sinking ; he
had only been getting occasional mouthfuls of air,
and at last, as he felt his strength going, and hope
with it, his feet touched the bottom. Feeling this,
he roused himself to a final effort, and pushed
forward, finding the water get shallower as he
advanced He was so weak that he could not
reach the dry land, and was obliged to sit down,
with the water up to his waist, and take a rest
Shortly afterwards he heard a voice call out, * Is it
you, Mr. Napier ? ' This turned out to be one of
the men, who had also escaped, and who came and
helped him on to the bank, or what proved to be
an island, below where the accident took place.
At first he could not stand from exhaustion, but
was able to get back to camp, when he found that
his own horse as well as Harford's had retiuned
before him. As he was swept down, while even in
the agonies of saving his own life, he noticed that
the river was crowded with men, horses, and white
helmets floating past"
Amid all that scene of death and dismay, there
came no cry from any of our perishing soldiers ;
each battled with the cruel water as he would have
battled with a foe ; and many of the dead bodies
showed that attempts had been made, like those
of Napier, to get rid of belt and sword, but in
every case without avail Some of them had a
hand raised to the head, in which position it had
stiffened in death ; these had received kicks from
hoofs (says a correspondent), and the hand had
either been raised by way of protection or through
pain in the place kicked
All the horses snorted wildly as they felt them-
selves swept away by the torrent ; many rolled over
on their backs and beat the air with their hoofs,
for the heavy saddles, the slung carbines, and other
trappings, tended to overweight them. About a
dozen were drowned One unfortunate Hussar
was swept a long way down the river, but got into
a native boat, where he was found next day dead
firom cold and exhaustioa
On the escaped horses coming as they did into
camp, it was soon known that some most unwonted
accident had taken place; the soldiers rushed to
the river-side with lanterns, and the doctors went
off with restoratives, and a long and anxious search
was made for the drowned, nineteen of whom were
found huddled together at the point where Mr.
Napier got ashore.
Two days after, all these men were interred in
one long grave, in a cemetery that had been formed
at the west end of the camp, after the troops
entered Jellalabad The whole of the troops at-
tended; two military bands, and Sir Samuel Browne,
with his staff, were present It was a strangely
solemn scene to see the bodies, each rolled in
a blanket, lying side by side, in that long and
ghastly grave.
On the 4th of April the body of Lieutenant
Harford was found, fully accoutred (save that his
scabbard was empty), and Mr. Napier brought it to
the camp in a (Uiooly, and, together with a soldier
of the 17 th who had been mortally wounded at
Futtehabad, Harford was buried by lantern light,
between seven and eight in the evening.
This was another solemn and very impressive
sight " The sun had set, but a nearly full moon
was casting gleams of light through a cloudy sky ;
there had been thunder and rain in the afternoon,
and the dark clouds were yet lingering about the
snowy peaks of the Ramkoond Mountains and the
Safed Koh Range ; and when the funeral pro-
cession began, vivid flashes of red lightning were
producing strange effects of light and shade, as the
coffin, on an artillery gun-carriage, and draped
with the Union Jack, moved away^ followed by the
sombre figures of the mourners and officers attend-
ing, mostly in dark military cloaks. Instead ot
the * Dead March in Saul ' the Rifle Brigade band
played a more modem piece, which sounded like
the loud wail of Oriental mourners."
A reward of ten rupees was offered for every
body recovered from the river. Some were re-
covered, and buried severally near the places where
found T^e loth Hussars were now all in advance,
but Captain Spottiswoode remained in camp to
give evidence before a Court of Inquiry, and
conduct the final interments of his men.
Meanwhile, ignorant of the catastrophe we have
been relating at the Cabul River, the troops were
proceeding to the scene of their service elsewhere.
On the 2nd of April — ^three days after the Hussar
calamity — was fought and won the conflict which
was known as the battle of Futtehabad
With the force already detailed under his com-
mand, the brigadier moved out of Jellalabad to
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Futtehabod.
anticipate the intended attack of the Khugianis, a
warlike and unruly tribe, and at dawn on the ist,
spies reported to him that these people, to the num-
ber of 5,000 men in arms, were collecting at a place
called Kaja, nine miles south of Futtehabad, which
means the "Town of Victory," for when a battle
has been fought and won by unperial arms,
** Futteh " is usually prefixed to the name ; towns
of Hindostan, therefore, beginning in this way are
innumerable.
Gough threw out reconnoitring parties to over-
look Kaja and Gundamuk, and on the 2nd of
April the party from the former place retimied,
about ten in the morning, to report that large
masses of the enemy were in that direction.
At noon the officers of the outlying pickets saw,
through their field-glasses, some thousands of
Khugianis, only five miles from camp.
To protect or support the reconnoitring party at
Gundamuk, the brigadier moved out of his tem-
porary camp, with four guns, two squadrons of the
loth Hussars and Guides Cavalry, and marched
south-west of Futtehabad, leaving 600 infantry to
follow as speedily as possible. The remainder of
his force was to protect and hold the camp.
He gained the summit of a species of plateau,
which sloped gently from north to south, and was
bounded on the east by a deep and brawling
mountain stream — the Khora Su, and by a similar
torrent on the west; and from thence could be
seen, about three miles distant, the enemy, in con-
siderable force, entrenched behind stone walls and
sungahs^ or breastworks.
The key of this position — ^their right — ^was un-
assaikble, in consequence of the rugged and
naturally scarped sides of the foaming torrent,
while the left was similarly protected Thus the
only means of attack was one delivered directly
in front
Leaving 600 yards of his position to be occupied
by his infantry when they came upon the ground,
the brigadier drew up his little force in line, the
guns under Major Stewart, and one troop of the
loth on the left. When the Gundamuk recon-
noitring party came in — two small parties of the
loth and Guides, under Major Wigram Battye —
the attempt was to be made of driving the enemy
out of their position.
Accordingly, Stewart's guns opened fire at 1,400
yards, gradually closing up to 1,200, and then fell
back, a movement which produced the effect de-
sired. The enemy, encouraged thereby, came
swarming out fi*om the rear of their defences with
defiant and exulting shouts, scattered in the open
as skirmishers, and even attempted a flank move-
ment by scrambling down a ravine in the rocky
side of the mountain torrent, and coming up again
within 250 yards of our guns, actually succeeded
in emptying a few saddles and wounding several
cavalry horses.
Gough, still bent on luring them to their own
destruction, now ordered a further retirement,
which was more quickly performed, and admirably
answered his purpose, for the enemy's centre
thinned and began to melt away ; but from their
great length of front they nearly turned his left
flank. The infantry now came quickly into action,
and effectually checked them in that quarter.
They reached the plateau unseen, by a dip of the
ground, and came into action, briskly file-firing,
and got so close as to use their bayonets occa-
sionally ; and it was about this time that Lieutenant
N. C. Wiseman, of Her Majesty's 17th Foot, was
killed in gallantly attempting to capture a standard
from the enemy. A letter from the field thus
details the episode, as related by Private Clarke,
of the same regiment, who performed a prominent
part in the struggle : —
** He says that they (the 1 7th) were in skirmishing
order, and only about 300 yards fi-om the sungahs.
The Afghans, seeing them all (lying) on the ground,
thought they were killed or wounded, and this
tempted them to come out The 17 th — or at least
the company Wiseman belonged to — fixed bayonets,
and made a charge. Wiseman was twenty yards in
front of his company, and thus got close to the
Afghan bearing the flag. He ran forward, and
seizing it in his left hand, sent his sword through
his head in about the lower part of his cheek. The
Afghan fell, leaving Wiseman in possession of the
flag. Clarke shot another man, whom he saw
coming to attack Wiseman, but he could not say
exactly who it was that cut him (the lieutenant)
down, as he was knocked over by a severe blow
from a stone, and it was while down that he
shot the man coming up and flourishing his knife."
Clarke adds that he was knocked down a second
time by another stone, and avoided the knives of
the Afghans by rolling over ; and that there were
only three or four men with Wiseman at that time,
as the call had been sounded to "retire;" but
being so far in advance, it was not heard by these
few men, who were thus left to struggle against
great odds. In a minute after, the order was given
to advance again, and during the brief interval, the
Afghans had found time to gash Wiseman's body
with their charahs and strip it of everything valuable.
Though rather small in stature, this young oflficer
had a brave spirit in him. He was nephew to the
cardinal of the same name.
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PuttehahacL)
DEFEAT OF THE KHUGIANIS.
95
The Horse Artillery now moved to the right,
ind sent shell after shell screaming and exploding
among the enemy; but so little were the latter
disheartened as yet, that they pushed on to within
400 yards of the muzzles of the guns ; and now, as
they were all well out in the open, an order was
given for the Guides and Hussars to charge.
Major Battye, supported by the latter, at the head
of his own brilliant cavalry, cut and re-cut his way
sword in hand through the wild herds of shrieking
Khugianis. For a time the fight was dose and
deadly, and sword-blades, as they swept trenchantly
down on right and left, were seen flashing in
the sunshine ; and in this affray the brave Battye
fell At the very commencement of the charge two
bullets pierced his thigh, but he still kept his
saddle, though bleeding profusely, and though
some of his Guides begged him to have the limb
bound.
"There is no time for that just now," was his
reply.
A few minutes after, his horse was shot under
him, receiving at the same instant a ball in its head
and another in its body. Its rider fell with it to
the ground, and almost immediately a third bullet
passed through his left arm, entered his chest, and
penetrating to the lungs, killed him; but not
before he heard, what must have been a welcome
sound to his dying ears — for Battye was one of the
bravest and best beloved officers of the Indian
army — the wild cry for vengeance that burst from
his cavalry as they spurred madly on the enemy,
and spared none. Lieutenant Hamilton is said to
have slain eight in succession with his own hand.
The general slaughter was so effective that the
Khugianis, though they made a stem resistance,
began to fall back; at last they fled, and were
pursued by the cavalry for five miles, no quarter
being given. "Revolvers were found to be of
little use," says a correspondent "An officer of
the Hussars shot a man twice, but the bullets
seemed to have no effect. He therefore threw his
revolver at the man, and while the latter was
staggering from the blow, cut him down with his
sabre."
Captain Holmes, of the 45th Sikhs (known as
Rattray's Sikhs), had a narrow escape. A ball that
rebounded from a rock struck the revolver that
hung at his waistbelt, glanced into his watch-
pocket, smashed the works of his repeater, but
failing to penetrate the outer case, remained there.
This was his second escape, having been but
slightly wounded before.
The loss of the enemy was above 400 killed on
the field and in the pursuit, and many hundreds
wounded Our general casualties were not over
forty, the Guides suffering most
Major Wigram Battye had been dangerously
wounded in 1863, when serving with the Guides
Infantry at Umballa; and in 1870-1 he was with
the Germans in their war with France, and was at
the siege of Paris. In 1878 he commanded the
expedition with Louis Cavagnari to Sapra; and
it is somewhat of a coincidence that his brother.
Lieutenant Battye, a mere boy, fell at the head
of the Guides, before Delhi, in 1857, as recorded
in our third volume, his last words being — " Z>u/c€
et decorum est pro patria moril "
Major Battye and Lieutenant Wiseman were
buried side by side in the military cemetery at
Jellalabad, much about the same time that Lieu-
tenant Harford and his companions were laid
there.
After his victory. Brigadier Gough made a
reconnaissance as far as Gundamuk, without en-
countering opposition on the way.
While it was thought on one hand at this time,
that Yakoub Khan might be negotiating some
terms of peace with Major Cavagnari, it was pretty
evident, on the other, that he was stirring up the
frontier tribes to give us trouble. As a proof of
this, a letter to the Khugianis was found after the
engagement at Futtehabad, said to bear his seal
and signature, in which they were urged "to cut
the throats of all these Kaflirs and Infidels, and
send their souls to Jehenum," adding, that if they
required assistance he would send them soldiers.
Many quotations were given from the Koran.
" This system of quoting from the Koran," says a
writer, "points to the tendency which has been
shown, not only by the present ruler of Afghanis-
tan, but by his father, to give the contest with
Britain the character of a religious war, or Jehad,
We have a further illustration of this in the
utilbing of the mollahs, or men of priestly
reputation, to go about stirring up the trib^
wherever such movements are wished for."
The day after his victory, Gough was occupied
in blowing up the towers of some of the villages,
the people of which had taken part with the
Khugianis, when the principal chiefs made their
appearance and prayed that the destruction might
cease, as they would be answerable for the peaceful
conduct of their people.
The 2nd Brigade of the ist Division (Tytler's)
was now encamped three miles beyond Futtehabad,
in the direction of Cabul.
Rumours were now rife that the Mohmunds,
the Shinwarris, and Afreedies were rising in our
rear, and that it would be necessary to teach the
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feklTisM MttLES OH LAND AND SKA.
[MansnflL
people a severe lesson before the general advance
of the I St Division could take place ; and so far
as the Afreedies were concerned, that had been
effectually done by General Tytler (some days
before the conflict at Futtehabad) in a sharp
cavalry affair at Dehouruk, of which we may now
treat in detail
Before leaving his post at Basawul, to join Sir
Samuel Browne for the general advance on the
of the 24th of March. The roads were steep and
rough, the night was pitchy dark, and the guide
twice lost his way. Thus day broke ere the troops
had come within ten miles of the village which it
was Tytler's intention to surj^rise and destroy, so
he galloped on with the cavalry, leaving the
infantry to come forward as fast as possible.
On coming in sight of the village, which was
named Mansum, Lieutenant Heath, with the
MAJOR WIG RAM BATTY E.
.Afghan capital, he resolved to punish some
villages in the vicinity of Peshbolak and the Fort
of the Safed Koh, called Dehouruk, for firing
upon a party of his men who had been endeavour-
ing to purchase some necessaries from the in-
habitants.
Peshbolak is a village of Afghanistan, in a dis-
trict of the same name, on the road from Peshawur
to Cabul, and four and a half miles south of the
Cabul River.
His force, which consisted of only 540 infantry,
with some Lancers and two mountain guns,
marched from Basawul at one in the morning
Lancers, was ordered to advance by a rough
ravine, through which a river ran, and which lay
on the left side of the place, and, if possible, to get
into the rear, so as to cut off the retreat of the
people into the mountains, which ran in long wavy
ridges up to the base of the stupendous Safed
Koh.
The cavalry had proceeded but a few yards up
the bed of the stream, when a fire was opened
upon them by the enemy, from ground above and
farther up — a fire that was sharp enough to compel
them to fall back. The din of tom-toms was now
heard in all the neighbouring villages and hamlets.
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Mansum.]
A BRUSH WITH THE AFREEDIES.
97
and the people manned the enclosing walls, while
others crowded outside with their old flint-locks.
Firing was begun from the village of Mansum, a
little in Tytler's rear, and from a body of Afreedies
assembled on a number of terraced cultivations on
his right, and across a ravine parallel to that in
which the Lancers had been repulsed Tytler
instantly dismounted a portion of the latter,
picketed their horses amid a clump of sheltering
panies were detached to keep down, by every effort,
the fire from a village on the right rear, the cavalry
simultaneously crossing a ravine to the right running
parallel to the main attack, and hurling back with
the point of the levelled lance the enemy, who
were gathered on the plain to the number of 300
men, armed with flint-locks.
Threading their way, the Lancers worked round
a bend in the bank of the nullah, from which they
CAMP OF AMEBR YAKOUB KHAN, GUNDAMUK
trees, and despatched an orderly to hasten the
march of his infantry.
By this time Lieutenant Heath had joined the
main body of the Lancers, and skirmished along
the low terraces which intersected all the culti-
vated land in these hilly parts. For half an hour
the cavalry skirmishers were able with their carbines
to keep the enemy at a distance, till the infantry
came up at a quick march, when General Tytler
immediately assumed the offensive.
With two companies in extended order the
mountain battery advanced against the village oi
Mansum, while at the same time two other com-
J
suddenly emerged on the little plain, and swiftly
formed up into line.
" Trot — gallop — charge ! " were the orders of
Major Thompson, and forward they rushed on the
spur ; yet, singular to say, the undisciplined enemy
met them with remarkable steadiness ; allowed them
to approach within sixty yards, and poured into
them a volley with their antiquated flint-locks which
emptied two saddles.
In another moment the cavalry had swooped
furiously down upon them with levelled lance.
The Afreedies, on perceiving that their volley had
not stopped the advance, wavered for a moment,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Gundamuk.
and then closing in, stood their ground, with sword,
pistol, and juzail, firing steadily with the latter.
But this lasted barely a minute. The charged
lances bore them back and down as the riders burst
through and through them. After a tough struggle
the surviving Afreedies were seen flying to the
hills, casting away their weapons as they ran — and
leaving sixty slain behind them.
The supports having now moved up, the weary
troops halted and piled arms, to breakfast.
The village of Mansum, and four other hamlets,
had been destroyed — literally blown to pieces — by
the guns and the infantry, the villagers in all taking
to flight (after a brief struggle), save one resolute
old man, who locked himself up in the summit of
an ancient tower, and fired away till his last charge
of powder was expended, and then a sepoy of the
27th Native Infantry shot him through the head:
The mollahs of these villages had been rousing
the people against us by preaching from the Koran,
and some were shot there, two with the Koran held
in front of their breasts; but the Martini-Henry
bullets passed through the volumes, though one was
fully three inches thick, and the other was curiously
bound in a gaudy pattern of English bed-room wall-
paper.
The bearers had believed that with these books
in their hands, the bullets of the " Kafirs" would
be harmless against them. " All this was the mere
accident of battle; but had these men passed
through the action scatheless, the power of
the Koran, and their sanctity, would have
been established beyond a doubt After the fight
with the Khugianis six mollahs were caught, and
shot^ next day, so we may suppose that they had
something to do with the polite and pious letter of
Yakoub Khan which was found"
All the time the troops were at breakfast the din
of tom-toms, or native drums, was heard among
the mountains and in the neighbouring villages,
from which the armed men could be seen pouring
out to join the then routed Afreedies ; but by ten
o'clock, after seven massive towers had been blown
up, amid clouds of dust, by the sappers, General
Tytler withdrew to his first position.
The moment his rearward movement began, the
Afreedies followed closely, reoccupied their posi-
tions, and from amid the smoke of the burning ruins
opened a fire upon the troops, who were not slow
in responding, especially with the mountain guns.
When the left nullah was crossed, the inftiriated
Afireedies poured down with frantic speed, and
came very close to our skirmishers, who were in
extended order, and retiring in most regular order,
by alternate companies.
They enveloped the entire rear-fi-ont and both
flanks of Tytler^s force, waving flags, shouting yells
of defiance, and availing themselves adroitly of
every bit of cover while keeping up their flint-lock
fire.
Here and there little bands would venture within
a hundred yards, brandishing their gleaming c/uzraAs^
as if about to charge, but our effective rifle fire
cooled their ardour; and so for three miles the
rearward movement continued, over very rough
ground, till the open was reached, when the cavalry
became available, and then Tytler charged after
the formation of his column.
The cavalry covered the rear, retiring by alternate
squadrons. The Afreedies never ventured within
thrusting distance of the glittering liance-heads, but
gradually hung back and, gathering in masses sullen
and discomfited, watched the troops file past Pesh-
bolack, but followed them no farther. And thus
ended a very successful expedition, in which the
enemy, besides many hundreds wounded, lost more
than 250 killed
The Khan of Peshbolack, having shown firiend-
ship to the British troops, was naturally afraid of
the ready vengeance of the enemy, so General
Tytler left two companies of Native Infantry to pro-
tect him, and marched back to the camp at BasawuL
Perceiving that matters were getting hopeless
now, and dreading the advance of our imited
columns on Cabul, the young Ameer, Yakoub
Khan, announced his intention of holding a peace-
ful interview at Gundamuk with Major Cavagnari,
for the solution of all difficulties.
On the 8th of May, 1879, he was met by the latter,
who was accompanied by a detachment of the loth
Hussars and the Guides, at Surkhab, on the firontier.
British troops of all arms lined the route to the
camp, a distance of two miles and a half. Sir
Samuel Browne and his staff" received the Ameer
(who was then in his thirty-first year) at the end of
the line, with a salute of twenty-one guns.
Gundamuk is a walled village, twenty-eight miles
westward of Jellalabad. It is surrounded by
luxuriant wheat-fields, tall and solemn looking
cypresses, with a considerable extent of forest,
and is celebrated sorrowfully as the place where, in
the disastrous first Afghan War, the last portion of
General Elphinstone's army, retreating from CabuL
was massacred, only one man. Dr. Brydone, reach-
ing Jellalabad, covered with wounds ; so it was a
place of ill omen.
The conduct of the subsequent negotiations
was placed in the hands of Major Cavagnari,
Deputy Commissioner of Peshawur, and on the
26th of May a treaty of peace was signed Its
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TREATY WITH YAKOUB KHAN.
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chief objects were to place the foreign affairs of
Afghanistan under British control ; to guarantee
that country against foreign (/>., Russian) aggres-
sion, by the aid of British money, arms, and
troops, if necessary ; to provide for the support of a
British Resident and his suite in the dominions of
the Ameer, and to transfer to our Indian Empire
the Kurram, Pishin, and Sibi valleys; while the
British military authorities were to have complete
command over the Khyber and Mechin passes.
The surplus revenue of the territory thus annexed
was to be paid to the Ameer, after deducting the
expenses of the administration ; and he was also to
receive an annual subsidy of six lakhs of rupees
{jC6o,ooo) while he adhered to his engagements.
So the vexatious, yet not inglorious war, came
for a time to an end, and the troops in the valley of
Jellalabad were withdrawn at once within our new
frontier, lest their presence should excite the
Afghans, all less inclined to obey an Ameer who
was now supposed to be under British influence ;
and for the same reason he returned to Cabul
alone, and the despatch of the Resident was de-
ferred for a time.
Thus the intended advance on Cabul did not
then take place ; but it did not alter the prospect
of the column in the Kurram Valley. So, on tidings
coming of the intended treaty, as it was necessary
to select a site for a pretty permanent cantonment,
General Roberts, with his staff, rode off to Shaluzan,
to inspect ground selected by Major Collet, the
assistant quartermaster-general, on the loth of
May, and while negotiations were yet pending at
Gundamuk.
They were escorted by a detachment of Ghoorkas
and a signalling party. Captain Martin having got
his sights, went down a mountain spur a little way
to fill in some ground that could not otherwise be
observed, and he had barely rejoined his party
when a general alarm was caused by the appearance
of a strong band of armed men ascending to their
position, a strong one, on a peak, clear of trees,
juniper bushes, and prickly thorns, which abound
in that district A warning had previously been
received, to " look out, as there was a band of 800
Mangals in the neighbourhood."
These had already fired on some unarmed men,
who had gone from the camp to the Hurriab stream
to collect brushwood, and the fire was returned by
tlieir escort, and some resolute 92nd Highlanders,
who were fishing, but had taken the precaution to
carry their rifles with them.
On hearing this firing. General Cobbe went to
escort back the staff and survey party, on whom
the Mangals opened fire when they saw their
figures on the crest against the sky ; so an
exciting skirmish ensued Nor did the Mangals
draw off until they saw the fiery little Ghoorkas
defiling down below, as they crossed at a " double "
the open land near the village of Sappri.
On the 24th of May Roberts reviewed the united
Kurram force, mustering 5,500 infantry and 1,200
cavalry, with twenty-nine pieces of cannon.
The Governor-General in Council at Simla, on
the nth of July, after complimenting all the troops
in the field, "recommended to Her Majesty's
Government that a medal, with clasps for those
present at Ali Musjid and the Peiwar Kotal, be
awarded to all officers and men engaged in the
late Afghan war."
And so for four months after the signing of the
Treaty of Gundamuk there was peace beyond the
banks of the Indus and among the mountains of
Afghanistan.
Deserved and well-won honours were bestowed
' on all the leaders ; and the ill-fated Pierre Louis
Napoleon Cavagnari, C.S.I., for his diplomatic ser-
; vices was made a Knight Commander of the Bath.
CHAPTER XV.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR : — DESTRUCTION OF THE CABUL EMBASSY.
A CONTINUED peace seemed almost certain now,
especially after the reception of such a letter as the
following, from the Ameer to the Governor-General,
on the 7th of June, 1879 : —
After compliments, "Be it known to your
Excellency that, since the day of my arrival from
the British camp at Gundamuk, I have been very
happy, and that I am exceedingly pleased with, and
happy for, the reception and treatment accorded to
me by the British officers, which will doubtless tend
to produce the fruits of friendship, unity, and
concord. Although I had resolved to come to
Simla, and give myself the unbounded pleasure of
a joyful interview with your Excellency, for the
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purpose of strengthening friendly relations, the
combination of these circumstances prevented me
from carrying my intention into effect
"There were, in the first place, the intense
heat of the weather; secondly, the existence of
cholera, which, in obedience to the Divine decree,
has made its appearance in these quarters; and,
thirdly, the anarchy existing in the interior of
Afghanistan, to attend to which is the most im-
portant of all matters. After completing my tour
through the country, during which I shall inspect
the frontiers and provinces, and introduce good
government therein, I intend, God willing, towards
the close of the next cold season to set out for
my destination, and have a joyful meeting with
your Excellency, for the purpose of making firmer
the basis of firiendship, and drawing closer the
bonds of affection and amity in a suitable and
appropriate manner. Further what can I write,
beyond expressions of firiendship and goodwill ? "
This somewhat fulsome Oriental letter probably
hastened further arrangements ; accordingly, on
the 17 th of the same month. Major Sir Louis
Cavagnari left Ali Kheyl for the Afghan capital,
and at the Shutargardan Pass was met by an
escort of the Ameer's troops, who received him
with every honour.
He arrived at Cabul on the 24th, accompanied
by Mr. William Jenkyns, a young member of the
Punjaub Civil Service (who was to act as secretary
to the Resident), Dr. Kelly, an army surgeon, and
Lieutenant Hamilton, V.C, who was in command
of an escort, consisting of twenty-six troopers and
fifty infantry of the Guides Corps.
At first the whole party were, to all appearance,
well received, both by the Ameer and his people ;
but after a while the former, notwithstanding his
written desires for " friendship, unity, and concord,"
grew cold, and saw less of our envoy, while the
mob showed signs of turbulence.
We believe that it was about this time that the
European visitors discovered a curious English
tomb, that lies, or lay, in a small burial ground
eastward of the Peshawur Gate, and to which a
reference was made in the Times. It is described
as small, and of marble, laid flat, and with this
inscription running round the sides : — " Here lyes
the bodye of Joseph Hicks, the son of Thomas
Hicks and Edith, who departed this life the nth
of October, 1666."
How, and in what capacity, an Englishman
happened to be in Cabul in the reign of Charles
XL, is as great a mystery as the identity of the
other solitary Englishman who cut the inscrip-
tion.
The months of July and August passed quietly
enough, though some Afghan troops, which had
come in from Herat, used insulting, and even
threatening, language to the Resident, and quarrels
took place between them and the men of his
escort Roving brigands infested all the roads
about the city. The authority of Yakoub Khan was
evidently very feeble ; and it is said that Sir Louis
Cavagnari received distinct information that the
lives of himself and his companions were in
danger; but the letters which these gentlemen
sent to India gave no signs of apprehension.
The houses of the Residency "had been as
thoroughly cleaned and put in repair as Orientals
think wholesome and necessary, or, perhaps, in
deference to European whims, a little more tho*
roughly than usual Furniture of English style,
and some of it of English make — ^mementoes, it
may be, of the other ill-starred visitors of 1842 to
the treacherous city — was in sufficient quantity,
and provisions were lavishly abundant From the
Ameer himself, as from the commandant, *dalis'
of fruit and vegetables, fish and milk and sweet-
meats, were daily provided, and whatever Cabul
could offer in the way of entertainment or amuse-
ment was readily forthcoming. Morning and
evening the envoy and his staff, attended by a
handful of the Guides, and a few of Shara Khan's
crack cavalry, rode out through the city to the
different places of interest in the neighbourhood
towards the Chardeh Valley, on the one hand, or
out between the nearly-meeting hills westward to
the Killa-Kazi plains."
They were quartered in the Bala Hissar, or
citadel of Cabul, a place incapable of being de-
fended, owing to the ruinous condition of its walls
and ramparts, and where, on the bath-room walls
and elsewhere, there remained pencilled scribblings
in Russian characters, left by the late Muscovite
mission. Occupying the acclivity of a hill, on the
south-east side of Cabul, this edifice, which was a
royal palace, completely overlooked the city, and
the broad and fertile valley of orchards and
gardens through which the Cabul River, clear,
shallow, and rapid, flows on its way to the Indus.
The Bala Hissar formed an irregular pentagon,
and contained within its precincts stabling for
1,000 horses. It had a wide ditch and, had the
walls been strong enough, was capable of defence,
in a way, against troops unprovided with cannon.
Among some relics of the old war which Sir
Louis Cavagnari's embassy brought to light, was
one of a nature so interesting that we are tempted
to insert it here, especially as it contains the names
of many officers and others, the hostages, belonging
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DESTRUCTION OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY.
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to "that doomed army," the story of which is
related in the early chapters of our third volume.
It was a certificate, given by the captives to their
keeper, Beha-uddun, and runs thus : —
"Buddeabad, Lughman, March ii, 1842.
" Beha-uddun, whom Sirdar Mahommed Ackbar
Khan has placed in charge of the ladies and others
of the Cabul force detained in this place, having
requested a certificate of his conduct, we, the
undersigned, have much pleasure in stating that
he has conducted himself with great kindness and
attention, showing every desire to make our situa-
tion as little irksome as possible."
TJien followed the signatures : —
"C Elphinstone, Major-General ; J. Shelton,
Brigadier ; C Mackenzie, Assistant Political Agent,
for self and C. Griffiths, Major; J. A. Souter,
Captain, 44th Regiment; Vincent Eyre, Lieutenant,
Artillery ; B. Waller, Lieutenant, Horse Artillery ;
G. H. P. Lawrence, Captain, Cavalry; W. Anderson,
Captain, Shah Soojah's 2nd Cavalry ; (a name here
illegible); J. Boyd, Captain; H. Robinson, Cap-
tain ; A. M. Anderson ; Fanny Macnaghten ; John
Macgrath, surgeon ; Emily Eyre ; B. Melville ; F.
Sale; A. Stiurt; A. Walker; M. Trevor; G. Mein;
Lieutenant; J. Trevor; (a name illegible); J. C
Boyd; G. E. B. Mainwaring."
This document was still in possession of the
original recipient, then in his seventieth year,
Beha-uddun, who represented himself as the Syud
of Candahar, and stated that he accepted the care
of the unhappy hostages, of whom he retained a
vivid personal recollection. Old General Elphin-
stone, who died in the tower of Bamian, he de-
scribed as always suffering firom sickness and a pain-
ful wound he had received in the retreat, and unable
to speak any language but English. Lady Mac-
naghten was constantly in tears ; but Lady Sale ex-
cited his admiration by her courage and resolution.
He remembered several of the children by name.
Matters still seemed quiet at Cabul till the 12th
of September, on which Taimar, one of the soldiers
of the Guide Corps, after twelve days of wandering
and great suffering in the savage mountain passes
that lie between Cabul and Lundikhani Kotal,
where our advanced force was posted, reached that
place in a state of exhaustion with the terrible
tidings that the Residency had been attacked, and
that all our people therein had been barbarously
massacred — tidings which the general at once tele-
graphed to the Viceroy at Simla.
Taimar, the trooper, was an Usbeg Tartar, and no
doubt found among the troops that had come in
firom Herat many of his own race, and to that cir-
cumstance owed his escape from Cabul.
He stated that on the morning of the 3rd of
September, about eight o'clock, the Turkistani
Ordal Regiments (said by one account to be three
in number, by another to be twelve) were paraded
for arrears of pay, in the Bala Hissar. Daud Shah
gave them one month, but they claimed two, and
broke out into open mutiny. A soldier cried,
" Let us kill the envoy, and then the Ameer ! "
and rushing into the courtyard, they proceeded to
stone some of the servants of the Residency ; and
then the Guides, without orders from their officers,
betook them to their carbines, and opened a fire
from the windows or open galleries.
The mutineers rushed away to procure their
arms and ammunition, and returned in a quarter of
an hour ; thus all in the Residency might perhaps
have escaped had they made the attempt.
The roof of that edifice being commanded by
other and loftier houses, was untenable, yet Sir
Louis and his party made a sort of shelter-trench
to protect them, and firom the windows fired on
the horde of mutineers, who were now joined
by the people of the city. Hope of successful
defence or of victory there was none. Nothing
was left for them but to fight to the last of their
blood and their breath !
About one o'clock, Sir Louis Cavagnari was
severely wounded in the forehead by a bullet
which ricochetted from a stone wall, and then, it is
said, but dubiously, Mr. Jenkyns sent for a
moonshee to write to the Ameer, who of course
was perfectly cognisant of what was in progress.
But the moonshee was too terrified to do so.
Taimar wrote, stating that the Residency was
attacked, and his letter was sent by an old Guide
trooper named Gholam Nabbi Kabuli, while
Cavagnari was carried indoors and attended by Dn
Kelly. No answer came ; but Gholam afterwards
told Taimar that the Ameer wrote on the letter,
" If God will. I am just making arrangements."
Mr. Jenkyns despatched a second letter, it was
said, demanding aid ; but its bearer, a Hindoo, was
cut to pieces by the mutineers. Two hours after-
wards. Lieutenant Hamilton sent Taimar out with
a letter promising six months' pay to the mutineers,
who had now reached the roof of the Residency.
He courageously went into the midst of the
infuriated crowd, armed and in his uniform, to
deliver the message. His life was saved by an
officer, but he was flung from the roof of the
Residency, and falling on another lower down,
became insensible, and was robbed of all he had
To his Usbeg blood he perhaps owed his escape
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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from the fate that befell his predecessor. Taimar,
whose narrative we must follow, was now dis-
armed and placed in confinement with one of his
comrades, who had escaped While lying there
they heard the din of the musketry and the yells
of the Afghans as the unequal conflict proceeded
to its bitter end.
All the afternoon and night the tumult raged,
but the • imprisoned could see and know nothing
of it Taimar was probably forgotten, for just
as day was breaking on the 4th of September
he contrived to escape, and pass through the
fanatical mobs, who were gathering afresh for
blood and pillage.
He had been stripped of his Guide uniform —
drab-faced and piped with red, and embroidered
with drab lace — and could pass unnoticed. He
got clear of the precincts of the Bala Hissar, and
when once out in the plain, among the walled
gardens, mud forts, groves, and orchards which
cover it, his dark face enabled him to thread his
way at will, without molestation or suspicion
Thus it was he was enabled to relate all he
heard and saw, as he actually revisited the
Residency.
It would seem that the mutineers, on returning
armed, after bursting through the city gate of the
Bala Hissar, made at first for the arsenal buildings,
and after looting these, turned their attention to
the Residency and attacked the gate of it ; but so
stout was the defence made there by rifle, sword,
and bayonet, that the assailants were checked, and
eventually set the house on fire.
They had discovered that loftier buildings, as
stated, commanded the flat roof of the Residency,
the upper storey of which, being an ordinary hot
weather sleeping-place, open all round, consisted
of a wattled and plastered roof, supported by slight
wooden pillars. Thus the mutineers were enabled,
by their fire from the arsenal especially, to drive
the gallant defenders ultimately to the ground
floor, where for four hours they made an heroic
resistance against the mob that surged around
them, so close that the young oflftcers of Cavagnari*s
suite were firing their pistols into the very faces of
their assailants with deadly effect
It was at this time that the fine old Afghan
general, Daud Shah, came riding from the Ameer's
palace, and called upon the troops " to desist from
their infamous crime ! "
But they dragged the veteran soldier from his
horse, wounded him by a bayonet, and finally
stoned him, and carried him back to his master in
a dying condition. Two other oflficers of rank, one
a Sirdar, who strove to quell ihc disturbance, were
fired on and forced to retire. The Residency, too
large for the small garrison that had to defend it,
was now surrounded on its four sides, and lighted
brands flung on its roof soon set the upper storey in
flames. Then it was that the urgent messages are
said to have been sent to the Ameer — which seems
the only doubtful or confused point of Taimar's
story, for around the edifice was a mob of frantic
men bent on murder, and around the palace an
equally frantic mob of mollahs and their fanatical
followers, threatening the Ameer.
Despairing of all succour now, the surviving
heroes of the embassy "charged out in a body,
and from the trench that had beert dug before the
Residency, defied the Moslem dogs to the last"
It must have been at this time that Cavagnari
received his wound, and was carried indoors.
"The fire was still crackling overhead, and very
soon the roof fell in, preserving the envoy's body
from the last insult of a savage foe" Dr. Kelly
had already been wounded, and was helped into
the building by a trooper of the Guides.
On the morning of the 4th, as stated, Taimar
visited the scene of these horrors to glance at
the vnccck and the corpses of his companions. In
the courtyard, across a mountain gun, stripped of
his jacket, and wofuUy gashed, lay the body of the
gallant young Hamilton; and beyond it, in the
trench that the Afghans failed to storm, were heaped
thick and charred by fire, the corpses of the heroic
Guides. Each man had died where he stood, and
in their rear were the smouldering ruins of the
building wherein Cavagnari, Kelly, and others were
lying.
Mr. Jenkyns, the secretary, had also perished
He was a native of Aberdeen, and had been twelve
years in the North-West Provinces, where his legal
and linguistic abilities secured for him a high
position in the Civil Service.
Some 410 Afghan corpses lay by. The number
of wounded would probably be treble that, as
every cartridge fired by the desperate few must
have told among the masses.
Then the survivor — of his comrade in the prison
we hear nothing more — turned his face towards
the passes that led to India. "All about the
city there were Afghans enough — the whole hive
seemed restless with multitudinous motion ; but
when the solitary traveller (after the hideous uproar
of the past night) had cleared the city precincts,
the old desolation of the dreary hill country lay
stretched before him, and along the rugged ways
hardly a man was moving. The high road had
dangers for the escaped trooper ; and it was pro-
bably the distance, and halts he had to make, that
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THE MASSACRE AT CABUL.
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kept him twelve days and nights upon the road
between the Afghan capital and the British
camp."
The Queen and the Viceroy both telegraphed
messages of condolence to Lady Cavagnari, who
Personally he was popular with the natives, as he
spoke their languages fluently. Owing to his sun-
burnt features and dark hair, he was capable of
assuming an Oriental dress so readily and success-
fully as to render him most valuable in cases where
SIR LOUIS CAVAGNARI. {From a Photograph hy Mr, John Burke's
was then in Edinburgh. Sir Louis had sent to her,
shortly before, sketches drawn with his own hand, of
the fatal Residency in which he had found a tomb.
The Queen's message was delivered by the Lord
Provost in person, by royal command. Sir Louis was
only in his thirty-seventh year, and was first heard
of in the Jowaki campaign, and had the highest
reputation as a political officer and gallant soldier.
pluck and promptitude, with adroit demeanour,
were requisite.
Yakoub Khan expressed his deep grief for the
monstrous outrages perpetrated by his people under
the very windows of his palace, but these ex-
pressions were not believed in ; and now the Indian
Government began to insure a sharp vengeance on
all concerned in them.
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"We had been encamped at the Kurram for
some three months during the summer of 1879,"
says Major Mitford, of the 14th Bengal Cavalry, in
his interesting narrative, "and all, Europeans and
natives alike, were suffering more or less from the
intense heat and malaria — sufferings made much
more unendurable in the case of the former by the
intense dulness and ennui which prevailed, and
which were but little ameliorated by an occasional
languid game of lawn tennis or polo. Men were
talking of furlough, and looking eagerly for the
time when leave to England would be granted,
when the news of the attack on the Residency at
Cabul, and of the massacre of poor Cavagnari and
all his followers, burst upon us like a thunder-clap.
All were in the wildest state of excitement, not
diminished when, two days later, came the order
for our regiment to advance and join the leading
column at Kushi, the first halting-place in the
Logar Valley."
The immediate advance of the British troops
through the Shutargardan was deemed, of course,
the first movement necessary; but could not be
executed for a time. To move troops over the
stupendous ridges of the Afghan mountains and
into Cabul at once, was simply impossible, for want
of transport, that element so necessary having been
disorganised by the great mortality of camels and
cattle during the progress of the late desultory
war. With the Kurram field force alone no less
than 9,496 camels had either died or been aban-
doned, or had strayed away.
The formidable nature of the country to be
traversed compelled some delay in the arrangements
for transport
The route of advance for the northern columns
would be along the stony and boulder-strewn bed
of the brawling Khyber, and up and down the
precipitous steeps of the Lundikhani Kotal, through
that deep and desperate mountain cleft, the Khoord
Khyber, and by Jugdulluk through the defiles of
the Khoord Cabul, all presenting every possible
difficulty for the transport of baggage, stores, and
guns, elephants and camels.
Our troops in advancing would labour under
every disadvantage, not only in the direction of
the mountain spurs, but in the chances of being
harassed by the hillmen — Ghilzies, Mangals, Moh-
munds and Khyberees, Afreedies, Shinwarris, and
the rest
The Government of the Viceroy made the
greatest efforts to grapple with the difficulty, and
hurry forward the army to sustain the power of
the Ameer as our nominal ally ; for it became evi-
dent that if aid did not reach him he would pro-
bably be slain by his insurgent troops, or have to
betake himself to flight as our friend^ or put him-
self at the head of the outbreak as our open
enemy.
Sir Donald Stewart's column again entered and
seized Candahar, which it had so recently quitted,
while a force was despatched to hold Khelat-i-
Ghilzie. General Massey occupied the Shutar-
gardan Pass, and General Baker, advancing by
the same defile, took up a position at KushL
Towards the end of September, General Sir
Frederick Roberts was ready to begin a campaign,
the object of which was the conquest of Cabul
at the earliest date.
General Bright, C.B., who had served in the
Eastern campaign, and had led the 19th Regiment
at Alma and Inkerman, was appointed to com-
mand the force assembling along the Khyber route,
with Colonel Wemyss as chief of his staff*; Colonel
Tucker was Director of Transports. General
Bright was to command from Attock to Jugdulluk,
at which latter point the Khyber column was to
co-operate with General Roberts moving by the
Kurram road The troops to advance under
Roberts were thus detailed, under date "Simla,
loth September, 1879," in the Madras Times : —
Horse and field artillery, two batteries; one
mountain train battery ; one squadron Her
Majesty's 9th Lancers; 67th South Hampshhre
Regiment; 72nd Infantry, Albany Highlanders;
92nd Infantry, Gordon Highlanders; 12th and
14th Bengal Cavalry; 5th Ghoorkas and wing of
the 5th Punjaub Cavahy ; 23rd Pioneers ; 5th
and 28th Punjaub Infantry; 3rd Sikhs and one
company of Sappers and Miners : — making a total
of barely 8,000 men.
To advance simultaneously and open communi-
cation between Peshawur and Cabul : —
Five batteries of artillery, two regiments of
British cavalry, and four of Native ; two regiments
of British infantry and four of Native, with two
companies of Sappers, in addition to the troops
then holding the Khyber as far as Lundikhani
Kotal and the valley of Peshawur.
The garrison at Kurram was to consist of
three batteries, two regiments of cavalry, and
nine battalions of infantry, two of which were
British.
By the 19th of September our troops had recon-
noitred close to Kushi, which is within thirty-five
miles of Cabul, where twelve strong regiments,
with many guns, were reported to be stationed.
In the cavalry and most of our infantry regi-
ments, blue, scarlet, and gold had been discarded,
and the dress substituted was karkee^ or mud colour.
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THE ADVANCE ON CABUL.
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with putties^ or leg bandages. The Highland troops,
however, retained their tartans. The white and
scarlet pennons were laid aside by the Lancers.
The authorised weight of an officer's " kit," con-
sisting of a tiny double-roofed tent, seven feet
square, was eighty pounds ; i>ersonal baggage was
restricted to the same weight.
Several of our infantry regiments had been at
Ali Kheyl, within sixty-five miles of Cabul by road,
for some months, and had made their camps neat,
laying down plots of turf, and marking the paths
with pebbles ; many of their canvas dwellings were
sheltered by the boughs of trees. The mess tent
of the 92nd Highlanders was made commodious by
an excavation three feet deep, a plan learned in
the Crimea, and that of the 72 nd was in a comfort-
able hut ; but when the forward movement began,
these little comforts had to be relinquished for an
open camp in the Shutargardan Pass and at
Kushi, where the troops that had come from the
Kurram Valley and elsewhere were awaiting the
arrival of General Roberts with the main force.
During the night of the 19th of September the
camp of the 72 nd Highlanders was suddenly fired
into. A group of officers were standing about a
wood fire, chatting and smoking, when the shots
from a neighbouring hillside came whistling among
them. They immediately scattered the burning
logs, so that the enemy might have nothing to aim
by, and while in the act of doing so were fired at
again, a regular volley of musketry being poured
mto the camp; but only one Highlander was
wounded, as he was hurrying, rifle in hand, out of
his tent
The picket and sentries of the 72nd made good
use of their arms, and a company was sent out to
clear the ground. The assailants, who were sup-
posed to be Ghazis, or fanatics, under religious
excitement, fled, but not before extinguishing the
lighted beacon used to show the way to the
position.
On the 22nd of September the Mangals attacked
a convoy of laden mules, escorted by only eleven
soldiers of the 5th Punjaub Infantry, under a
British oflScer, in an out-of-the-way spot at the
entrance of the pass. Eight sepoys and fifteen
muleteers were slain, chiefly by knives, resistance
being useless, as the Mangals were above 400
strong.
At the same time they attacked a tower at the
summit of the Sirkai Kotal, or Red Pass, so named
from the peculiar colour of the road which as-
cends it
It was held by a party of the same regiment,
under an oflicer, who repulsed them: but they
ensconced themselves among some adjacent rocks,
and maintained an annoying fire upon the de-
fenders of the tower, till two companies of the 72 nd
came from their camp two miles distant, on which
the enemy fled by unknown paths to their
mountain summits, from which they poured a
volley in defiance of their pursuers, among whom
it did no harm, as they used their firelocks at
400 yards' range.
On the 24th of September, General Baker, C.B.
and V.C., with his brigade, reached Kushi, "the
Village of Delights," and reported that the country
around it was barren, but that the Logar Valley
looked like an oasis in the desert, it was so
fresh and green ; and that abundant supplies
were furnished by the people. On the follow-
ing day he reconnoitred the Cabul road with his
cavalry.
On the 27 th of September an advance was made
by cavalry through a fertile valley near the banks
of the Logar stream to Zurgan Shahr. This vale
is the chief granary of Cabul, and is thickly studded
with villages, all walled and gated — each a fort in
itself, and of no mean strength, owing to the height
of the walls.
On the 2nd of October the camp at Shutar-
gardan, 11,200 feet above the level of the sea, was
attacked unsuccessfully by some of the hostile and
independent tribes in the vicinity, chiefly Ghilzies,
but they were repulsed with the loss of thirty killed
On our side Major Griffiths, of the 3rd Sikhs,
Sergeant Dubria, of the signalling party, and three
of the 3rd Sikhs, were wounded. This regiment
and the 21st Punjaubees held a strongly entrenched
position in the Shutargardan Pass.
Previous to this, on Sunday the 28th of Septem-
ber, a band of most unexpected guests arrived at the
advanced camp of Kushi. It consisted of twenty-
five horsemen, including the leading men of Cabul,
and headed by the Ameer Yakoub Khan in person.
They rode in and surrendered themselves, the
Ameer saying that he had no longer any power left,
having been dethroned by his own mutinous
troops. " What his true reasons for this step may
have been," says a writer, "we never knew; cer-
tainly not the one he gave, for no Afghan ever told
the truth intentionally."
Tents, and a guard of honour furnished by the
Gordon Highlanders, were given him. Next day
was marked by the arrival of General Roberts ; and
all the bands joyously played him and his staff
into camp, while every face brightened, as all knew
that stem work was close at hand now. The
Ameer did not condescend to leave his tent, but
lay on a couch in the doorway, with a field-glass in
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[Charuiah.
his hand He evinced neither curiosity nor excite-
ment till the Highland bag-pipes struck up ; but
at all other times preserved an aspect of stolid
apathy. " He is a man of about six or seven-and-
thuty," says Major Mitford, " with a light almond
complexion and a very long hooked nose, the
lower part of the face hidden by a black beard
and moustache, the eyes having a dazed expression,
like that of a freshly-caught seal This is said
to have been caused by the five years* confine-
ment in a dark cell, to which his father, Shere Ali,
subjected him for conspiring against him."
He had with him his son, Sirdar Gahza Khan,
and old Daud Shah, still suffering from the
wounds inflicted during the mutiny at Cabul, and
which were dressed by British medical officers.
General Roberts was instructed from Simla to
issue a manifesto to the Afghan people, to the
effect that the British army was advancing on
Cabul for the object of avenging the treachery of
our enemy, and that all peaceable inhabitants would
be unmolested ; but, if opposition were offered, all
t>ersons with arms in their hands would be treated
as enemies of the British Government Non-com-
batants, women, and children were advised to
withdraw to places of safety.
After some interviews with the Ameer, General
Roberts concentrated his whole force at Kushi.
The advance on Cabul began in earnest, and the
first blow for vengeance was struck on the field of
Chir Asiih, or Charasiah as it is spelt on our
regimental colours.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR (continued) \ — THE BATTLE OF CHARASIAH — THE ASMAl HEIGHTS — CABUL
ENTERED BY THE BRITISH TROOPS — EXPLOSION AT THE BALA HISSAR — THE FIGHT AT SHAHJUL
Charasiah, the scene of this encounter, is about
twelve English miles from Cabul, and its name
means the "Four Water-Mills.** The troops en-
camped there on the night of the 5 th October,
after passing through the romantic Sang-i-Nawishta
defile. Cavalry patrols scoured all the vicinity,
and the troops, weary with the past day's march,
turned in early, little aware that they were on the
eve of a sharp general engagement
Meanwhile a sure guard was kept over Yakoub
Khan in the British camp, where all mistrusted
him, believing that he had given himself up only
on pretence, and that his real object was to dis-
cover our weak points.
At daybreak on the 6th October, two cavalry
patrols were sent along the roads that led from
Charasiah to CabuL That which lay to the north,
and which, after crossing the Chardeh Valley, enters
the south-western suburbs of the city, at Deh
Muzung, was reconnoitred by a party of twenty
men of the 14th Bengal Lancers, under Captain
Neville, while the southern road, leading through
the Sang-i-Nawishta, was taken by Captain
Apperiey, with twenty of the 9th Lancers.
At nine a.m. Captain Neville reported that his
party had been fired on from a village, and that
one of the Lancers had his horse killed under him;
and Captain Apperiey reported that he had oc-
cupied another village and was now hard pressed
by the enemy. Major Mitford, with twenty
Lancers, was at once sent to succour Apperiey,
while some Native Infantry went at the double in
Neville's direction.
It was further reported that the enemy were
advancing in great force from the direction of the
city, occupying the defile and range of hills to the
north, between Charasiah and Cabul, and soon
these points were seen to be crowned by troops.
City people and parties of Ghilzies appeared on
the hills overlooking both flanks of the camp ; and
it was added that the road to Khairabad, where
the 5th Division had encamped, was threatened —
news which brought all Roberts's force under
arms; for along that road General Macpherson
was advancing with a large convoy of stores and
ammunition. Warning was sent to that officer, with
some assistance in cavalry, and it was found that
it would be absolutely necessary, at all hazards, to
carry the heights in front before evening.
Meanwhile, ere the cavalry patrols came in, a
battle had been fought, in which they encountered
a little exciting work. "We outstripped our
guide," wrote Major Mitford, "and, taking a
wrong turning, I came upon Neville, who showed
me which way the 9th patrol had gone, and after a
scramble across country I hit on the right path,
which I found blocked by villagers carrying beds,
clothes, cooking pots, and, in short, all their
removable household goods, in the direction of our
camp. I soon heard firing ahead, and at five
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ADVANCE OF THE NINETY^ECOND.
107
minutes past ten came up with Apperle/s party.
His men had dismounted, and he had placed them
in a capital position, occupying a shallow ditch
surrounding a small square mud fort, under cover
of which he had placed his horses."
In front of this improvised post rose a range of
steep and rocky hills, broken in front by the Sang-
i-Nawishta Pass, which means "The Written
Stone," from an ancient Persian inscription carved
on a mass of rock in the middle of the defile,
stating that the road had been made in the reign
of Shah Jehan — a rock afterwards removed to the
fkx)nt of Sir Frederick Roberts's quarters at Sherpur.
• Round the left of the post rose another range
of hills, steep, barren, and stony. On the left
fr-ont were some garden walls, from which the
Afghans were firing, but their bullets seemed
chiefly to be expended in the air or against the
mud walls of the fort, into which they sank with a
dull thud. The range showed that they used
rifles, with the sighting of which they were totally
unacquainted.
In a garden to the right of the post was a small
dismounted party of the 12th Bengal Cavahy, and
all were busy returning by carbine fire that of the
enemy, who occasionally showed themselves, but
carefully kept among ground too broken to permit
cavalry in the saddle to act against them.
Mitford received orders from the chief of the
staff" to hold his ground, as succours were near ;
and they soon appeared — three Royal Artillery guns,
under Major Parry, and a wing of the Gordon
Highlanders, under Major G. Stewart White;
100 of the 23rd Pioneers, and two squadrons of
the 5th Punjaub Cavalry, sent by General Baker,
to, whom the task of carrying the heights was
assigned
White took command of the post now, as senior
officer ; and then heavy firing on the left announced
that Baker was pushing on towards the hills, along
the green slopes of which the white smoke of
cannon and musketry was seen eddying in the
morning breeze.
When Major White's mixed force moved from
under cover, the heights on both sides of the
Sang-i-Nawishta Pass were seen manned by the
enemy, carrying innumerable standards — red, green,
white, dark blue, and yellow, the colours of the
different tribes, or of the villages from whence
the people came. The dark battalions of the
Ameer's regular but revolted troops, were all clad
in sombre brown, faced with red ; and conspicuous
among them were the Ghazis, or religious fanatics,
in spotless white.
The three guns at this point now opened fire on
the nearest crowded hiU, and to them four rifled
mountain guns in the pass replied, making very good
practice indeed.
" I mean to drive the enemy off* the hills on our
right with my own men," said Major White, of the
92nd, confidently, and ordered the guns to advance
and direct their fire on the crest of the nearest
eminence, where a number of men with standards
were posted. They therefore advanced to within
1,500 yards, and again opened fire.
" I had now been joined by Captain Neville
with his patrol," says Major Mitford, **so I
took the gun escort, leaving the 5 th Punjaub
Cavalry free to act should an opportunity occur.
Meanwhile we had leisure to watch the advance
of the 92 nd, which was a splendid sight The
dark green kilts went up the steep rocky hill-
side at a fine rate, though one would occa-
sionally drop, and roll several feet down the slope,
showing that the rattling fire kept up by the
enemy was not all show. Both sides took
advantage of every available atom of cover, but
still the gallant kilts pressed on and up, and it was
altogether as pretty a piece of light infantry drill
as could be seen."
The fire of Parry's guns was meanwhile excel-
lent ; shell after shell exploded fairly on the crest
of the hill he aimed at, and whenever the enemy
could be seen preparing to charge, as they often
did. Shell after shell was sent in return, but
they passed over the heads of our troops, exploding
in the rear or plunging harmlessly into a soft
ploughed field. By four p.m. Parry silenced these
guns; the Highlanders were still advancing, and
here it was that their commander won his Victoria
Cross.
Finding that neither rifle nor artillery fire would
dislodge the enemy, he resolved to storm the hill
in person. " Advancing with two companies of
his regiment, and climbing from one steep ledge to
another," says the Gazette, " he came upon a body
of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering
his force by eighteen to one. His men being
much exhausted, and immediate action necessary,
Major White took a rifle, and going on by himself,
shot dead the leader of the enemy."
This action so intimidated the enemy there, that
they fled down the other side of the hill, and the
Highlanders crowned it with a ringing cheer. The
four mountain gtms were now captured in the defile ;
the horse of one, a beautiful grey, was found torn
almost to pieces by a shell, yet still living, till a
carbine ball put it out of pain. Though an im-
portant result had been gained, our losses at this
point were only three Highlanders killed and six
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STORMING Ttt£ HEIGHTS.
109
wounded; one cavalry soldier killed and three
wounded
the 5th Ghoorkas, 5th Punjaub Infantry, and
23rd Pioneers following. The ground here was
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF CHARASIAH (OCT. 6, 1879).
Meanwhile, General Baker had pushed through
the range of hills towards the Chardeh road, the
Albany Highlanders leading the van ; No. 2
Mounted Battery, some Gatlings, the wings of
of a most precipitous nature, and held by a
column of the enemy above 4,000 strong, under
six standards. Our troops made their way bravely
onward and upward, under a rolling and rattling
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
LCabul
musketry fire. They met with a most stubborn
resistance, for over two hours, although they were
splendidly handled by Baker, and ably led by
their officers.
Here, singular to say, the mountain guns proved
of little use and the Catlings broke down at once,
both circumstances being due to the acute angle of
elevation.
At last the hill was taken in rear by a turning
movement made to the right by the Gordon High-
landers, who, with pipes playing and colours flying,
came rushing up the slope of the hill ; the enemy
gave way, and the leading brigade crowned the
heights and manned the defile before dark.
By four o'clock the Afghans were completely
routed, and fled towards Cabul, with the loss of
two standards, four hundred killed, a vast number
of wounded, and twenty pieces of cannon, of
various calibre, including some breech-loaders and
mountain guns.
Our losses were, Captain Young of the 5 th
Punjaub Infantry, Lieutenant Fergusson, 72nd
Highlanders, and Dr. Duncan, of the 23rd Pioneers,
wounded, and about eighty rank and file killed and
wounded.
Strong pickets were posted for the night in every
direction, as large bodies of Chilzies were hovering
about ; and as the general expected to be able to
march nearer Cabul on the morrow, he ordered all
tents to be struck and packed, so the camp became
a bivouac
These formidable Chilzies, who had now joined
the enemy in force, and were fighting against us,
are an inner circle of hill-men along the frontier
from Peshawur and Quettah, and are in them-
selves a nation distinct from the Afghan of the
plains, the Cabulees, Heratees, Candaharees, and
other tribes of Persian origin, and more than once
they have distinguished themselves in history by
independent action. In the Afghan war of 1839-42
the Chilzies were our most indefatigable and
dangerous enemies, when they swarmed upon the
skirts of our unhappy retreating army. Half of
the fighting in those perilous campaigns was against
them, and half the losses we suffered in the field
were inflicted by their hands, as their juzails were
almost superior to the old " Brown Bess " of those
days.
They have harassed all our generals ; thus, while
Craigie was holding Khelat-i-Chilzie against 7,000
of them, Pollock was imperilled by a gathering of
them in the Shinwarri Valley. In the Khoord
Cabul passes, and along the eastern fi*ontier, they
were ubiquitous, and are hardy, brave, cruel, and
treacherous.
Badshah Khan, their chief, our telegrams from
India told the people at home, had come forward
with offers of assistance and assurances of friend-
ship, yet it was to him that Yakoub Khan assigned
the safe keeping of the road from the Shutargardan
Pass to the gates of Cabul ; and now it was con-
fidently hoped that Ceneral Roberts would find
means to make a settlement, by which these pesti-
lent Chilzies, as a nation of hill robbers, would
cease to exist; and he reported that the engage-
ment on the 6th had evidently been so arranged,
that the Chilzies should attack our rear and flanks,
while our advance was opposed in front, by a force
from Cabul, on the hills above Charasiah.
On the day after the battle, " we (the cavalry)
paraded next morning at five o'clock, the 7th of
October," says Major Mitford, " and our men were
kept waiting, mounted, in a bitterly cold wind, for
a considerable time. At last we moved off, taking
the same route we had taken the day before, and
passing the scene of action, entered the narrow
part of the pass, which consists of a winding, stony
road, in some places slabs of granite, with a steep
rocky hill rising on the left, and the deep stream
of the Logar flowing on the right We passed
several Afghan guns, deserted en route^ some having
apparently been abandoned because they had got
into difficulties from which the teams could not
extricate them ; others had broken wheels or
axletrees. These were all afterwards brought into
camp."
The forward movement on Cabul had been re-
sumed, but the 7th of October passed quiedy.
Ceneral Roberts was before Cabul on the morn-
ing of the 8th, and found that though the enemy
had abandoned the picturesque old city, a body of
Afghan troops who had returned from Kohistan,
had entrenched themselves on a high hill in rear of
the Bala Hissar, and that it would be necessary to
dislodge them before entering the pkice. General
Roberts sent Ceneral Massey, with eight squadrons
of cavalry, round by the north of the city to watch
the roads leading to Bamian and Kohistan, and to
cut off the enemy's retreat, while Ceneral Baker
delivered an attack in front
Baker was unable to attack on the evening of
the 8th owing to the darkness, and before daylight
came in, Macpherson had joined him with Her
Majesty's 67th Regiment, the 28th Native Infentry,
and four Horse Artillery guns on elephants. After
this, the enemy, deeming discretion the better part
of valour, fled in the night, abandoning twelve
pieces of cannon — six field and six mountain guns.
The cavalry were at once ordered in pursuit under
Ceneral Massey and Brigadier-Ceneral Cough. They
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GENERAL ROBERTS BEFORE CABUL.
Ill
moved off, at first at a walking pace, about ten a.m.,
probably because the plain in the immediate vicinity
of Cabul is encumbered by obstacles, isolated forts
or small square enclosures, loopholed, and so-called
orchards and walled gardens, all affording cover
for skirmishers, especially if trained and dis-
ciplined.
One of the objects of our cavalry here was to
keep away from these covers as much as possible,
as none knew what force might be lurking behind
the loopholed walls, so they rode out into the
open plain towards the Siah Sang (or "Black
Rock"), and past the abandoned cavalry lines of
the Ameer's army. On their left rose the towering
Bala Hissar, with its crenelated ramparts and
great bastions glowing red in the morning sun,
high above even the smoke of the city, the
background of the whole being the barren rocky
crest of the Takt-i-Shah, and the great ridge of
Asmai, which was occupied by a considerable force
of the enemy.
It is an irr^ular rocky ridge, about i,ooo
feet high, very precipitous, and in many places
completely inaccessible from the plain below. It
separates the valley of Cabul from that of Chardeh,
and has a total altitude of 6,700 feet above the
level of the sea.
Here, then, were the Afghans, clustering with
their dark figures in relief against the grey granite
rocks, and their arms flashing in the sunshine.
General Massey now wished to open a helio-
graphic communication with Sir Frederick Roberts,
but this proved impossible, as the great ridge of the
Siah Sang intervened The cavalry could now
see a body of our infantry, with some light moun-
tain guns, creeping up the eastern flank of the
Asmai heights, and Massey, instantly concluding
that this movement was made to clear them, set
off with his cavalry on the spur for a pass
named the Owshar Kotal, at the western extremity,
and went along the front of the extensive Sherpur
cantonments, which lay under the shadow of the
Behmani ridge.
Wthin these, a very extraordinary sight presented
itsel£ There, packed wheel to wheel, stood the
whole reserve of Afghan artillery — ^guns of every
kind and size, with mortars, tumbrils, and spare
carriages. There was no time to count them then,
but eventually they were found to number seventy-
two pieces of cannon and mortars, including
seventeen Armstrongs, and among the former was
an old Dutch brass gun, bearing the date 1625.
How it ever found its way up country so far as
the mountains of Cabul is as great a mystery as
that of the Scottish cannon of the Covenanting
times, which, as we have recorded in its place,
was found upon the ramparts of Bhurtpore.
The enemy were still in their rocky position
when the cavalry drew their bridles to breathe '
their horses, in some swampy ground, where they
were fired upon by small parties that came rushing
down the spurs for that purpose. A shell from one
of our mountain guns now exploded on the crest
of the height, when the enemy raised shouts of
derision, waved their standards, and danced like
madmen ; but the next exploded with more fatal
effect It ended their defiant hilarity, and sent
them all flying to cover behind every available
rock. As the cavalry were actually in rear of the
position, every action of the enemy was perceptible
to them.
The mountain guns continued to make good
practice, yet did not inflict much damage, as they
could not be brought closer, and the ground was,
by its nature, utterly impracticable for the mules
that drew them. Seeing that the enemy had no
appearance of abandoning the Asmai heights,
General Baker, leaving a squadron of the 12 th,
and another of the 14th Bengal Regiments to
watch their movements, led the rest of his cavalry
through the Owshar Kotal to the Chardeh plain,
where there is a clear bright stream, and there the
horses were watered.
With the rest of his brigade he now prepared to
watch a camp that had been formed near a village
named Deh Mozung, near the entrance to Cabul,
and on the main road to GhaznL Here the
native guides abandoned them, but were overtaken,
and shot on the spot ; and about this time the firing
on the Asmai heights began to die away.
Indeed, the enemy were so dispersed now, that
the cavalry of Massey and Gough overtook only
small parties, who made little or no resistance ; but
the duty, after sunset, was not without its perils,
especially among unknown ground when darkness
fell, and some of the Bengal Cavahy, in proceeding
to villages on the plain of Chardeh, where they
were to bivouac for the night, went astray. " How-
ever," says Major Mitford, " after riding some three
or four miles over ditches, round walls, &c, our
trumpet was answered by our own regimental call,
and we made for a high-walled village with a garden
attached The approach was through a very narrow
passage, between walls reaching well above our
heads -y and just as the rear files of my squadron
were entering it, a volley was fired into them from
a patch of brushwood barely twenty yards off. The
rear was instantly turned, and plunging down a
watercourse, went through the copse in the dim twi-
light They did not fire a shot, but next morning
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
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seven bodies showed that the lances had done
their work — not a bad score for eight men at night
We packed as best we could into the garden, already
occupied by the 5th Punjaub Cavalry, and drawing
up in sections {ie.^ four abreast) in the broad dry
water channels, each man lay down as he dismounted
alongside his horse, while the officers took posses-
sion of a small square platform in the centre."
This was the village of Killa KazL
The 9th Lancers, who occupied a neighbouring
village, were fired upon in the same manner by a
hidden party in the dark. And with the cavalry so
passed the night of the 8th of October.
Next morning they departed for a reconnaissance,
riding in single file along the narrow bridle-paths
and through water-courses, till they struck on the
main road to Ghazni, which was wide, but muddy.
Along it the brigade went at a gallop, passing many
evidences of the hasty flight of the enemy, for the
Kohistanees, the Ghilzies, Logarees, and other tribes
who had assembled to fight the Briibh, had all fled
through the Owshar Kotal, which had been left
open, and were now retreating quickly to the moun-
tain fastnesses. On all sides lay abandoned tents,
cooking vessels, and dying Cabul ponies.
The brigade continued to gallop on, though
more than one troop-horse sank under its rider,
and was found dead and stiffening when the force
returned in the evening, till a small watch tower,
named the Kotal-i-Takt, was reached at the head
of a valley, and a report came that the enemy were
in sight on some hills to the right.
Leaving the 14th Bengal Cavalry in reserve, the
9th Lancers and 5th Punjaub went at an easy pace
along the foot of the hills, while the 12th Bengal
Cavalry reconnoitred the Ghazni road. File-firing
now rang along the hills held by the Afghans, which
overlooked the fertile Maidan Valley through which
the Cabul flows. It was briskly responded to by
the skirmishers of the main body, extended on foot
with their carbines. They shot about a dozen or so
of the enemy, and routed them, with the loss of a
white standard fringed with blue, and embroidered
with warlike texts from the Koran.
The weary cavalry now turned their horses' heads
towards Cabul, and en route were met by people of
the villages, proffering fruit for sale — melons, pome-
granates, and magnificent grapes, which proved
most welcome to the thirsty troopers.
On the loth General Gough, with four guns, the
9th Regiment, 24th Punjaub Infantry, and the loth
Bengal Lancers, marched to attack and clear out
Barikab, on the road to Jellalabad ; and by that
time General Hughes, with his column, had pushed
on to within fourteen miles of Khelat-i-Ghilzie.
By this time Roberts was encamped on the
Siah Sang range, immediately overlooking, and
within 1,300 yards of, the city and Bala Hissar.
Up to that period he had captured no guns, and
expected to find thirty more in the citadel
On Sunday, the 12th of October, Sir Frederick
Roberts made his public entry into Cabul. Early
on that morning the cavalry furnished a chain of
double vedettes for two miles round the camp to
bar ingress, lest some mad fanatic might make
an attempt upon the life of the general
The procession started from head-quarters at ten
o'clock, the son of the Ameer riding on the right
hand of General Roberts. Too wary, or too
cunning, Yakoub Khan became sullen at last,
pleaded indisposition, and remained in camp.
From the latter to the gate of the Bala Hissar the
way was lined by our troops in the best uniforms
they could muster. The 9th Queen's Royal
Lancers led the way, and were conspicuous for
their smart and gallant bearing.
Each corps presented arms in succession ; and
on reaching the citadel gate, the general read in a
loud voice to the assembled people the proclamation
already referred to, and the terms of which were
these : —
'* As the inhabitants have pertinaciously opposed
the advance, after warning, they have become
rebels, and added to the previous guilt of abetting
the murder of the British envoy and his com-
panions. Though the British Government could
justly and totally destroy Cabul, yet in mercy the
city will be spared, but a punishment to be re-
membered is necessary j therefore those portions of
the city which interfere with the military occupation
of the Bala Hissar will be immediately levelled,
and a heavy fine be imposed.
** Cabul and the surrounding country for a radius
of twelve miles will be placed under martial law ; a
military governor will be appointed, and the in-
habitants are warned to submit to his authority.
" This punishment of the whole city does not
absolve individuals. Searching inquiry into the
circumstances of the outbreak will be made, and
the participators dealt with.
" Carrying arms is forbidden in the city, and
within a radius of five miles ; persons found armed
within a week from the date of this proclamation
are liable to the penalty of death.
"All articles belonging to the late embassy to
be delivered up; also fire-arms or anununition
formerly issued to, or seized by, the Afghan troops
to be produced. Rewards to be given for all rifles
brought in.
" Rewards are offered for the surrender of any
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Cabul.]
EXPLOSION AT THE BALA HISSAR.
1^3
person concerned in the attack on the embassy, or
for information leading to capture. Similar rewards
are offered for any person who has fought against
the British troops since September 3rd ; and larger
rewards are offered for rebel officers of the Afghan
army."
He then took formal possession of the city in the
name of Her Majesty, and our standard was hoisted
on the walls. The Horse Artillery guns, which
were drawn up near the gate, now thundered forth
a royal salute, waking every echo in the ancient
courts and walls, followed by three ringing British
cheers for the Empress of India.
Meanwhile the Afghans looked on, silent and
sullen, with hatred in their dark and, in many
instances, hideous, faces. Though many of the
children are almost beautiful, says the writer before
quoted, yet they "develop into most villainous-
looking scoundrels. Shylock, Caliban, and Sycorax
his dam, have all numerous representatives, though
I think the first is the commonest type, on
account of the decidedly Jewish cast of most
Cabulees* features, and the low cunning and cruelty
which supply the only animation in their other-
wise stolid countenances, true indices of the mind
beneath — fatalist by creed ; false, murderous, and
tyrannical by education. In this description I do
not include the Kizil Bash (Persian) or Hindoo
setders, who preserve their own distinctive features,
both mental and physical."
Elsewhere he says the very names point to a
Jewish origin; as, for instance, Ibraham for
Abraham ; Izhac for Isaac ; Yakoub for Jacob ;
Ishmad for Samuel; Moosa for Moses; and
Zahariah for Zachariah.
The troops now marched back to their respective
camps. The ceremony was over, but the work of
the army did not end with it Yet, so nearly did
General Roberts conclude that little more re-
mained to be done in the way of fighting, that
he telegraphed requesting that the siege train
which was coming up with the Khyber column
might return to India, "as the heavy guns and
howitzers originally presented by the British
Government to the Ameer are now in our posses-
sion."
On the 13th instant, to impress the populace,
there was a march of the troops of all arms,
horse, foot, and artillery, through all the
principal streets of Cabul, of which General
Hill was appointed military governor, assisted
by the Nawab Gholam Hussein Khan. But this
display was without effect elsewhere, as on the
following day, at an early hour in the morning, our
post at Ali Kheyl was attacked by a great body of
Mangals, Shinwarris, Hassan, and Ahmed Kheyls,
mustering above 1,500, who were repulsed with a
loss of twenty-three killed and many wounded.
After this, the 8th and 29th Native Infantry Regi-
ments, with a detachment of cavalry, made a
brilliant counter attack, with the loss of only five
wounded.
Our posts at the Shutargardan Pass and Sirkai
Kotal, on being menaced, were reinforced by the
2 1 St Punjaub Infantry, under Major Collis, with
two guns. He was attacked by the enemy 2,000
strong, and the latter having subsequently been
reinforced by 2,000 men, assailed his little force
with incredible fury.
Major Collis charged them with the bayonet,
hurling the confused hordes back upon each other
till they were compelled to fly, leaving more than
forty killed and 200 wounded on the ground,
together with two standards. Our losses were only
two killed and fourteen wounded, one most
severely — Captain George Waterhouse, of the
Bengal Cavalry.
The next event was an explosion at the Bala
Hissar. It was generally understood that in the
magazine there, 820,000 shot and shell were stored,
a great number of Snider rifles, and six tons of
gunpowder, or 250,000 pounds, according to
General Roberts^s report
About two p.m. on the i6th of October, a deep
and heavy roar rang through the citadel, and there
was seen a startling sight A dense and mighty
column of dark smoke suddenly shot skyward,
rising in what looked like a solid mass for more
than 2,000 feet, after which it suddenly ex-
panded and " spread out at the top like a gigantic
dark grey palm-tree, and remained in this shape, a
heavy opaque mass of the. thickest smoke, for fully
sixty seconds."
During that time it appeared to be quite un-
affected by the explosions of live shell and boxes of
cartridges, or by the showers of stones, beams, and
debris that swept through it At last the wind
slowly rolled the column of smoke away, and then
the red flames were seen, as they had got an entire
hold of the magazine, where for twelve consecutive
hours incessant explosions continued.
It was now found that Captain Edward Dun-
combe Shaftoe, R.A., the Commissary of Ord-
nance, who had been on duty in the arsenal, three
native officers, including the subadar major, of the
5th Ghoorkas, who had been counting pay for their
men in an adjacent verandah, one of the 67 th
Foot, and several native soldiers, had perished in
the explosion.
The 67th were encamped in a garden of the Bala
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BRITISH BATPLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[CabiiU
Hissar, and thus narrowly escaped annihilation, so
by order of General Roberts they were at once
removed to the general camp on the Siah Sang
range. He also reported to Simla that there was
"no reason to suppose the explosion occurred
except by accident Powder and ammunition were
Highlanders, though the kilt is usually deemed a
preservative costume against that scourge.
It was considered remarkable that though six
weeks had elapsed since the fatal 3rd of Septem-
ber, fire was found to be smouldering among the
charred beams and bricks of the Residency. There,
THE AMEER YAKOUB KUAN.
lying all about Every precaution had been taken
— the gates shut, a guard posted, and no one
admitted save on business ; endeavours were being
made to check the progress of the fire and pre-
vent the explosion of the larger magazine, which
would be the cause of great damage to life and
property in the city."
Though snow had fallen for several inches in the
Hindoo Koosh, cholera made its appearance
among the European troops and in the Gordon
too, lay several human remains, among them one
skull recognised as that of a Sikh, by the long
black hair on it
On the 27th, the Kotwal of Cabul, and four
other ruffians who had aided and abetted him in
the attack on the Residency, after being duly tried
and convicted, were brought out for execution,
under a guard of the Gordon Highlanders. Solemn
and grim though the procession was, "a roar of
irresistible laughter," we are told, escaped the
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CabuL]
THE EXECUTIONS AT CABUL.
"S
European bystanders on seeing in it thirty camp-
sweepers, clad in the jackets, kilts, and drawers of
the Ameer's " Highlanders," with black felt helmets
placed over their turbans. These had dug a
trench, and were now to act the part of sextons.
"The Kotwal was dressed in a velvet skull-cap,
a vest of green silk (the Mohammedan colour), and
loose white trousers. He walked firmly up the
ladder, and tried if the drop were secure before
stepping upon it. He was then blindfolded and
Residency, inciting people to rise, treacherously
firing on and killing wounded soldiers."
From the report itself it appears that the prin-
cipal offence of many of those executed, was that of
having " borne arms against their lawful sovereign
at Charasiah." Sir Frederick Roberts justified
capital punishment for such a cause on the ground
of the repeated statement of the ex-Ameer, when
a guest and ally in our camp, that " all who fought
against us at Charasiah were traitors to him."
FORAGING PARTY OF THE 67111 AITACKED BY THE AFGHANS (NOV. 9, 1879).
pinioned, which put a stop to the ceaseless telling
of his beads, which he had continued up to that
time. The rope was then put round his neck, the
provost-marshal (an officer of the 92nd) dropped
his handkerchief, and the wretch went to answer
for his crimes before a higher tribunal"
General Roberts's "Report" upon the actual
number of executions which took place at Cabul,
was as follows: — Four were executed for dis-
honouring the bodies of the officers of the em-
bassy; four for possessing property belonging to
it ; six, " for being armed within five miles of the
camp ;" four, " for attacking escorts, in view (sic) to
releasing prisoners ;" and sbcty-nine for " murdering
camp followers, participation in the attack on the
The attitude of the Ghilzies was still question-
able, and almost daily alarming accounts reached
General Roberts of revolts, ifpicuteSy and petty
attacks, which proved harassing to his troops else-
where.
In the last days of October a strong Taraki-
Ghilzie force, supposed to be 3,000 at least, as-
j sembled at Shahjui, in the vicinity of Khelat-i-
j Ghilzie, intending to attack the garrison of General
Hughes, while a portion of them were to be
engaged in plundering some approaching convoys.
They were led by Sahib Jan,.a notorious moun-
tain freebooter ; of the men, 500 were cavalry.
General Hughes, hearing of their approach, de-
tached a reconnaissance in force, under Colonel
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Cabul.
T. G. Kennedy, 2nd Punjaub Cavalry, early in the
morning of the 24th, towards Shahjui, to antici-
pate the approach of Sahib Jan. The colonel
came suddenly upon a force of 900 of the Ghilzies,
through whom he charged, sword in hand, at
furious speed, and cut down their leader and forty-
one men.
Colonel Kennedy's entire force consisted of three
Royal Artillery guns, the 2nd Punjaub Cavalry,
and detachments from the 59th Foot and 2nd
Beloochees.
The cavalry engagement was a well-contested
and hand-to-hand affair; and the Ghilzie horse
were put to flight, while a body of their infantry
was most gallantly dislodged from a strong position,
with the bayonet, by the party of the 59th Foot,
under Captain Euston H. Sartorius, who was
wounded, as were Captain Broome (squadron
officer) and twenty-four of his Punjaubees, while
only two privates were killed.
Here it was that Sartorius won the V.C, for
conspicuous bravery at Shahjui, in leading a party
of five or six men of the 59th Foot "against a
body of the enemy of unknown strength, occupying
an almost inaccessible position on the top of a
precipitous hilL The nature of the ground made
any sort of regular formation impossible, and
Captain Sartorius had to bear the first brunt of the
attack from the whole body of the enemy, who
fell upon him and his men as they gained the top
of the precipitous pathway." His bravery attained
complete success, and the occupants of the hill top
were all slain. In this encounter Captain Sar-
torius was wounded by sword-cuts in both hands,
and had one of his men slain.
"There have been great rejoicings throughout
the division since the beginning of this month,"
says a correspondent, "owing to the capture, on
October 30, of a large quantity of treasure outside
the city. On that day, Captain Kellie M*Callum
marched down with 200 men of the 92nd High-
landers, and, guided by a political officer, surrounded
a building said to contain a vast amount of treasure.
A search was made, and soon a couple of rooms
were found piled up with boxes ; these, on being
opened, were found to contain all sorts of miscel-
laneous articles, from soap to brilliants and gold,
besides beautiful china, silks, satins, and costly
furs, handsome guns, swords, and pistols. By
dusk Captain M*Callum and the officers with him
had secured and loaded on pack animals, expressly
brought for the purpose, over nine lacs' worth of
treasure, most of it in tillahs, the gold coin of the
country. ;^9o,ooo at one haul is not bad, but
darkness compelled these officers to leave any
number of boxes unsearched on the premises;
these boxes are also supposed to contain quantities
of loot So the doors were carefully locked, and
the political officers placed seals on them. A
handsome star, part of the order of the Medjidieh,
encrusted with brilliants, with a centre of large
emeralds, formed part of the capture."
A correspondent who spent a fortnight with
Macpherson's Flying Column in the Khoord
Cabul, and other defiles, says that reconnaissances
were made there on the 7th November, and
that the troops marched down that savage valley
from the tomb of Baba Issah to the banks of the
Cabul River. On the 8th it was crossed by a ford,
waist-belt deep, and fi'om thence a hitherto un-
known route was explored towards Jellalabad, the
tents being left behind, and bivouacs being made
on the left bank of the stream.
On the 9th, as flour ran short, all the adjacent
mills were seized, and meat diet was issued to the
native troops.
The villagers resenting all this, attacked a com-
pany of the 67 th Hampshire, consisting of only
twenty-eight rank and file, under Captain Arthur J.
Poole (an officer who had served against the Taeping
rebels in China), and lieutenant Carnegie, who
had been foraging four miles from camp.
Overwhelmed by numbers, the slender company
had to retreat, leaving three of their force
behind. One who was wounded in the hip had to
be abandoned, and was dreadfully mutilated before
death. His companion, seeing this, flung- himself
into the Cabul to avoid a similar fate, and perished
miserably, despite the efforts of Captain Poole and
others to save him.
Poole and five privates were wounded. Facing
about, for two hours this little band had to hold
their own, till support came up, and the enemy
fled, but only eight dead were found.
Next day the troops returned to Baba Issah, and
from thence to the Lutaband Pass, near Cabul,
where by this time some sixty Afghans had been
hanged for complicity in the late revolt The
bodies of all were interred near the gallows — nol
burned.
The barracks of the Ameer's late army in the
Sherpur cantonments had been completely cleaned
out, and were now fitted with doors and windows
for the occupation of European troops.
On the nth November an amnesty was granted
to all who had merely fought against the British
troops, on condition that they gave up their arms
and returned to their homes.
The abdication of the Ameer now somewhat
altered the features of our presence in his territorj';
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CabOL]
MURDER OF LIEUTENANT KINLOGH.
"7
and by order of the Viceroy, General Roberts issued
a proclamation to the effect that, in consequence of
that event, and of the outrage at the British Em-
bassy, the British Government were now compelled
to occupy Cabul and other parts of Afghanistan,
and he invited the Afghan authorities, chiefs, and
sirdars to assist him to enforce order in the districts
under their control, and to consult with him con-
jointly.
The population of the occupied districts would,
it was added, be treated with justice and be-
nevolence; their religion and customs would be
respected, and loyalty and good service to the
British crown would be suitably rewarded On the
other hand, all offenders against the new adminis-
tration would be severely punished.
The proclamation concluded by stating that the
arrangements for the permanent government of the
country would be made after due consultation with
the sirdars, tribal chiefs, and representatives of the
principal provinces.
But the stormy and sturdy Afghan mountaineers
failed to see that they owed either " loyalty or good
service" to the British crown. Matters grew
darker, and Roberts, had to double the guard of
** honour ^ over the Ameer, as it became known
that he meant to escape if he could
In this month Lieutenant F. G. Kinloch, of
the Bengal Staff Corps, was murdered by Orakzai
marauders en route to join his regiment, the 12th
Bengal Cavalry, at Kushl He was a son of Colonel
Grant Kinloch, of Logic, near Kirriemuir in Scot-
land He was a young officer of exceptional promi-
nence and ability. He entered the 92nd Gordon
Highlanders on the 28th of February, 1874, and
two years later joined the 5 th Bengal Cavalry
as a probationer for the staff corps. He soon
became officiating adjutant of the regiment, but
resigned his post in order to see active service,
and it was while pushing up to join Sir F. Roberts's
advance brigade that he met with a soldier's death,
lieutenant Kinloch had passed many professional
examinations with great credit, having gained an
extra first-class certificate of the School of Musketry
at Hythe, and been specially mentioned for pro-
ficiency in military law, surveying, and fortification,
at the garrison course in India.
A detachment of troops was sent to avenge him,
and did so effectively, under General Tytler.
On the 2 1 St of November General Baker marched
out of the ^herpur cantonments with a brigade to
Maidan, about twenty-three miles down the Ghazni
road, for the double purpose of collecting forage
and unearthing some Afghan troops, who were
known to be hiding in the district, after having
borne a part in the recent massacre.
His force consisted of two Royal Artillery guns,
a squadron of the 9th Lancers, two of Native
Cavalry, 500 Gordon Highlanders, and 400 Native
Infantry, all of whom covered the distance in two
marches ; and on the 22 nd they were joined by
General Roberts, who was an indefatigable horse-
man, and lost no opportunity of exploring and
reconnoitring; thus he remained till the 25th a
spectator of the operations of General Baker.
On the 23rd the cavalry were sent eight miles
towards the Bamian road, for the purpose of arrest-
ing a certain Bahadur Khan, chief of a district
and walled village, whom the general wished to call
to account for his contumacious conduct in refusing
to sell forage on payment, or to come into camp
and pay his respects.
Old Bahadiu: Khan, however, had not as yet
seen his way to comply with eitlier request His
village was situated at a bend of the road at the
foot of some green hills, which partly encircled it
The cavalry approached in extended order, and
with great precaution, till within 200 yards of the
boundary wall, when fire flashed from its loop-
holes as the long musket barrels were levelled
through them, and then the village and the hill-
sides became alive at once with armed men, who
fired hotly on the cavalry, till the latter got out of
range, but with the loss of three horses. As matters
looked a trifle serious a messenger was sent back
to camp for orders.
As the position was reported to be a strong one,
and the hill-men were said to be in force. Baker
resolved to attack next day about dawn ; but all
were found to have departed So to punish Bahadur
Khan, the whole day was spent in burning
every village belonging to him; and thus nine
were flaming at once within their fortified walls
as the troops marched back to the Ghazni road
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
IC^UiI.
CHAPTER XVIL
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) : — FIGHTING ROUND CABUL — CONFLICT AT ASMAI — OUR TROOPS
SHUT UP IN SHERPUR.
On the 8th of December, in a season when the
weather is bitterly cold there, when hoar-frost covers
the ground, and the prevailing north wind — the
wind of Perwan, as it is called — is keenest in the
plain of Cabul, two squadrons of the 14th Bengal
Lancers, a corps composed almost entirely of Jits
— a race whom Tod, in his " History of Rajahstan,**
says are descended from the ancient GetcB, or Jutes —
was ordered to the westward of Cabul, with orders
to take post near a place called Huft Shuhr,
tidings having come of a threatened advance of
Kohistanees from that quarter. The Lancers were
attached to General Macpherson's brigade, which
was ordered to take the road to Argandeh, and
there await the approach of the enemy. The brigade
then consisted of three squadrons of cavalry, six
companies of Her Majesty's 67th Regiment, 3rd
Sikh Infantry, 5th Ghoorkas, and four pieces of
cannon.
The following morning saw a force depart from
the cantonments of Sherpur for the purpose of
cutting off the enemy's retreat after being attacked
by Macphersoa It was led by General Baker, and
consisted of 450 Gordon Highlanders, 450 of the
Sth Punjaub Infantry, 25 Sappers, two squadrons
and a troop of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry, and four
pieces of cannon. He took the Chardeh route.
Next day, loth of December, the fighting began,
and for nearly fourteen days after there was little
rest for the troops.
For these movements some explanation is neces-
sary.
At the time that Sahib (or, as he was sometimes
called, Mohammed) Jan was making his futile attempt
at Shahjui, General Roberts was endeavouring to
open up communications with General Bright
through the passes of Khoord Cabul, and Jugdulluk
— a movement which Sahib Jan was bent on frus-
trating. And though disturbing rumours now said
that Yakoub Khan's levies in Turkistan were
mustering again, that a force of Turkomans, under
Russian leaders, was marching on Herat, and that
Mir Afzul Khan, the Governor of Funah, was
unpopular, and creating troubles in that quarter.
General Roberts kept his eyes chiefly on the mal-
contents of Ghazni and Kohistan.
And now the two brigades we have detailed
marched, because Sahib Jan was reported to be at
the head of the Kohistanees and others, approaching
CabuL The Sahib was undoubtedly a dangerous
adversary. A thorough freebooter, he had all the
audacity of a guerilla chief, with the real or pre-
tended sanctity of a mollah. He had gone into
Afghanistan ostensibly to collect an army to assist
the British ; but when he did muster his selected
men, it was under the green standard of Islam, and
for the recapture of Cabul.
Another man of the same character, named
Asmuloollah, had meanwhile been collecting
another force in the wild fastnesses of Kohistan,
and sought to effect a junction with his compatriot
But General Roberts's scouting had been for too
efficient for this to be managed without his know-
ledge, hence the movements referred ta Unfor-
tunately, the first feature in them was a defeat
On the morning of the nth of December, at
an early hour. General Massey, who was at Killa
Owshar, with four Royal Horse Artillery guns, two
squadrons of the 9th Lancers, and one of the 14th
Bengal Lancers, was ordered to march at nine
o'clock a.m., and join General Macpherson on the
Ghazni road. Killa Owshar is near the foot of
the small kotal of the same name, over which the
Argandeh road runs, and is on the northern edge of
the Chardeh Valley.
To understand clearly the fight that ensued, the
reader must bear in mind the topography in the
vicinity of Cabul Under General Roberts our
troops were encamped at Sherpur, on a plain to
the east of the city, while Macpherson's brigade
occupied the Chardeh Valley to the west of it On
the north and south of Cabul rise strongly-fortified
hills which overlook it, but break away farther into
a series of spurs, that are neither fortified nor, in
a strategic sense, very important
The enemy advanced from the southward, and
should have been met beyond the spurs in that
direction by Massey's cavalry and Macpherson's
infantry together; but the combined attack mis-
carried, as the former came into action unsupported,
and were driven back. "This would have laid
open to the enemy the defile which leads to the
plain before Cabul, and exposed, therefore, to a
rush, the city itself; but the 72nd stopped the way,
and Sahib Jan's men, failing to make any impres-
sion on the path-keeping Highlanders, tried to
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ACTION IN THE CHARDEH VALLEY.
119
•rush' the city on the other side, and fell across
Macpherson's brigade moving round from Chardeh
upon them."
The valley through which Masse/s cavalry pro-
ceeded at first was intersected in every direction by
innumerable watercourses for the purpose of irriga-
tion, and many of these were bordered by lofty
poplars, that grew so closely together that no horse
could pass between them, while many parts of the
open ground were so swampy as to be impassable
by horse and man alike
It was when nearing Killa Kazi, on the Ghazni
road, that on thb morning a Victoria Cross was
won by the Rev. J. W. Adams, of the Bengal
Ecclesiastical Establishment, then a chaplain to
the Cabul Field Force. Some men of the 9th
Lancers, having fallen with their horses into a wide
and deep ditch, when the enemy was close upon
them, Mr. Adams rushed into the water which
filled it, dragged the horses from above the men on
whom they lay, and extricated them all, he being
at that time under a heavy fire and up to his waist
in water. At that time the Afghans were rapidly
pushing on, their leading men getting within a few
yards of the gallant and devoted chaplain, who,
having let go his horse to render effectual assistance,
had to make his escape on foot, which, providen-
tially, he succeeded in accomplishing.
By this time it had become apparent that not only
were the Kohistanees approaching firom the west
and north-west, but also that a totally distinct force
was coming from the direction of Ghazni, on the
south, over ground that in the season is a mass of
smiling vegetation, when grapes and pomegranates,
apples and quinces, almonds and walnuts, all grow
together in abundance.
The last-named column had in its front an open
road to the city, held by 420 men ; all were at
Massey's disposal The enemy attacked ,him with
great force and fury in ground most difficult for
cavalry to act All fought valiantly, but none more
so than Captain Neville's squadron of the 14th,
which numbered only forty-four lances all told
Lieutenant Forbes, of the latter, who had his horse
shot under him and was wounded in the leg amid
the wild meltey was assisted to a seat on one of the
guns by Captain Neville and Captain Chisholm, of
the 9th Lancers. He was then left with Lieutenant
Hardy, of the Artillery, who seated him on a
limber.
In retiring, the guns took a wrong turning.
Roberts's report states that they were " upset and
temporarily abandoned," and during the delay the
enemy swarmed down upon them in vast hordes.
The cavalry gave way ; the drivers cut the traces
of the guns, and called upon Hardy to gallop away
with them.
"No; I cannot desert my guns," he replied
gallantly ; " nor can I desert that poor youngster,"
alluding to the helpless Forbes ; so they were cut
to pieces, together with Hearsey and Ricardo, of
the 9th Lancers, fighting to the last; for these
officers were "the beau ideal of young English
manhood — frank, generous, outspoken, and fear-
less— ^the men who can do and die when the need
comes."
And the need had come !
The guns were now in the hands of the enemy,
who overturned them into some pits that opened
by the wayside, and then followed up the slowly
retreating cavalry, who successfully held them in
check, till they rushed away to the right, and
through orchards and plantations made their way
to the summit of the Takt-i-Shah (/>., "the
Emperor's Throne") from whence they could
command the Bala Hissar, then held by a solitary
picket of our infantry.
In this affair we had eighteen killed, including
four officers, and twenty-five wounded, including
Stewart Clelland and Stewart Mackenzie, of the
9th Lancers, and Cook, of the 3rd Sikhs. The
guns were subsequently retaken by the Ghoorkas,
under Macgregor, on the arrival of Macpherson's
force.
Major Mitford, of the Bengal Lancers, was sent
with a party to bring in the bodies of the dead, but
found them so gashed and mutilated that it was
impossible to put them across empty saddles, so he
had to leave them where they lay.
He records in his picturesque narrative that, save
the light of the stars, it was dark when he got back
to quarters, after some narrow escapes from death.
"At this time the stars were shining most
brilliantly. Orion's belt, I believe, stood just
above the highest peak of the Takt-i-Shah like a
brilliant fiery cross. I heard the men behind
me [his Jits] talking earnestly, and, turning in
my saddle, I saw one of them pointing to this
collection of stars, saying something at the same
time of which I could only catch the words sahib
and nishan (* ensign ' or ' badge '). On asking
what they were talking about, a native officer rode
up and said they had all come to the conclusion
that the appearance of this nishan was super-
natural, and foreshadowed the victory of our arms
in all future struggles with the Afghans."
Meanwhile reinforcements had been called in
from the Lutaband camp, some miles fi-om Cabul,
and the corps of Guides, one of the crack Indian
regiments, reached the camp at Sherpur.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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During the 12th, General Roberts had been
unable to communicate, even by heliograph, with
and firing was resumed even in CabuL Thus an
officer of the 72 nd Highlanders, who had fallen
PLAN OF THE SHERPUR CANTONMENTS.
General Baker's brigade, and during the entire day
a skirmishing infantry fire was kept up without
cessation on the holders of the Takt-i-Shah hill,
wounded, and was being brought into cantonments in
a litter, was fired on from the house-tops, and shot
through the eyes, losing the sight of one entirely.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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General Roberts had evidently for some time
previously been preparing for the arrival of Sahib
Jan*s force, and the preliminary skirmishes that
had taken place at various points showed how
extensive was the tribal combination against us.
Yet all fell out as the general anticipated, excejH
the misfortune that befell Massey's slender column
of cavalry.
General Macpherson by his subsequent advance
retrieved that accident, repulsed with his High-
landers the enemy*s movements towards Cabul,
and compelled them to ascend the Takt-i-Shah,
where General Baker blocked them up or held
them at bay.
Macpherson had held a high point above the
Bala Hissar, but had failed to dislodge the enemy
from a lofty peak, where their position was strong
and kept by a great force.
His losses on the 13th were two men of the 3rd
Sikhs killed; Lieutenant Fergusson, of the 72nd,
Major Cook, of the 5 th Ghoorkas, and Lieutenant
Fasked, of the 3rd Sikhs, wounded. On that day
Baker's brigade made a combined attack upon
the enemy. It was led by the Gordon Highlanders,
with dashing bravery, under Major White; Lieu-
tenant St. John Forbes was killed, together with
his colour-sergeant, Drummond, in a hand-to-hand
fight — claymores opposed to tulwars. The Guide
Cavahy made a brilliant charge, under Major G.
Stewart, as did the 9th Lancers, under Captain S.
Gould Butson, who was killed, while Captain
Scott Chisholm and Lieutenant C W. Trower fell
wounded. The details given of these events are
most meagre; but the entire British loss during
these weary and exciting days was forty- three killed,
of whom six were officers, and seventy-six wounded,
of whom ten were officers.
On the 13th of December the Victoria Cross
was won by Lieutenant W. H. Dick Cunyngham,
of the Gordon Highlanders, for conspicuous
bravery and coolness in the Sherpur Pass, in
having exposed himself to the full fire of the
Afghans and, by his example and encouragement,
rallied the men, who were beaten back, and had
been wavering at the summit of the hilL
Major Cook, V.C, of the 5th Ghoorkas, died of
his wound, and a monument was erected to his
memory in the Collegiate Church of his native
place, St Andrews, Fifeshire, in the following
year.
Shortly after daylight on the 14th of Decem-
ber, large bodies of the enemy, arrayed under
standards, were unexpectedly seen hovering again
on the heights of Asmai, and at nine a.m. the
cavalry, taking a route parallel to them, approached
Owshar Kotal, and halted in the open plact
between it and the Begum's Lake. Some Afghai
cavalry ai)peared here, one of them reconnoitring
ours through a field-glass. He then fired a shot,
to which two officers responded with the rifles of
their orderlies, and for some time a useless duel
was maintained, while some of our infantry, with
mountain guns, moved steadily along the heights
to meet the Kohistanees, who were swarming along
them from the west towards Cabul.
The main body of Baker's brigade had now
taken post at the ruined village of Biland Kheyl,
which faces a break in the heights round Jhe
AUabad Kotal. This pass he had seized to cut in
two the enemy's force on the heights, and fi-om it an
excellent view of the crest and the entire northern
side could be obtained On each side of this
kotal the barren hills of rocky shale rose up for
many hundred feet in altitude, with many trees
about their base — poplars and mountain pines, the
j'elgoozeh, remarkable for cones larger than arti-
chokes, with seeds resembling pistachio nuts.
The pass was now armed by four mountain guns,
under Lieutenant Montanaro, and some slender
detachments of infantry.
The entire force under Baker was ridiculously
small to be termed a brigade. It consisted of the
14th Bengal Lancers, 300 strong; 72nd High-
landers, 200; Gordon Highlanders, 100; Guides
Infantry, 450 ; 5th Punjaub Infantry, 470 ; with
four pieces of cannon ; in all, with gunners, only
1,600 men of all arms.
Montanaro*s guns were firing at a body of the
enemy, who were retiring eastward of the kotal,
driven back in their attempt to reach the city by
some of our troops (who manned the height round
Deh Mozung), and leaving a long train of killed
and wounded wretches behind them, many of whom
were frightfully torn and lacerated by shell splinters.
Montanaro's guns next proceeded to shell a square
fort 1,600 yards distant, occupied by Afghan horse-
men. From his elevated position on the kotal he
was able to let shell after shell drop plump into the
enclosure — a process that proved so unpleasant to
the occupants that they dashed out, and galloped
westward at full speed
Bodies of the enemy were now perceived ad-
vancing in two directions — one through the village
of Indiki, in the direction of the Logar Valley,
and the other from the Kohistan road on the west
The latter came rapidly on, as if to attack the
mountain guns of Montanaro, and their advance
was a very exciting one, as it was marked by the
waving of many coloured silken standards, the
flashing of steel blades, and many a white pufl" from
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REOCCUPATION OF THE CITY BY THE AFGHANS.
123
their rifles and matchlock juzails ; while ever and
anon a leader would rush out, gesticulating violently
and brandishing his sword.
At their head rode a man on a chestnut horse,
bravely caparisoned, surrounded by many mollahs
in their floating snow-white vestments, who gave the
signal for the war-cry of Islam, which was taken up
by thousands of voices with frantic fervour till rock,
mountain, and wood re-echoed again with "y4
Allah!'' ''Va Allah!'' ''Yd Allah!"
But steadily and bravely, at a rapid double along
' the ridge on the east, came the war-worn 72 nd
Highlanders, with a few Sikh Infantry, who, having
swept their immediate antagonists ofl* the heights,
now came up at a rush to save the cannon from the
enemy.
"On they came," says Mitford, "from both
sides, but the mountaineers had easier ground, and
perhaps better wind, than our men, and came first
to the guns, which had waited a moment too long.
While they were being strapped on the mules a
human wave, crested with foam of steel, swept over
them, and the gunners had to run for their lives.
Some of the 72nd, headed by Captain Spens and
a colour-sergeant, tried to check the enemy, but
they were far too few, and their gallant leader fell
immediately, his head severed from his body by
the stroke of an Afghan knife, wielded in death
agony by a man through whose body Spens had
already driven his claymore; and for some time
the enemy were in possession of the kotal and two
of our guns."
The infantry nearest at hand — the Guides and
5th Punjaubees — were sent up by General Baker
to disloc^c them ; but so strong was the position
now won, and so overwhelming the force of the
enemy, that these corps had to fall back with loss.
Nor was it until reinforcements arrived from the
camp at Sherpur that the guns were recovered,
and escorted by the 14th Bengal Lancers to the
cantonments. Our losses on the 14th were nineteen
killed, including Captain Spens and Lieutenant
Gainsford, of the 72nd Highlanders; eighty-eight
wounded, including Captain Gordon, of the
Gordon Highlanders, Captain Battye, of the Guides,
and Lieutenant Egerton, of the 72nd.
In this day's fighting two Victoria Crosses were
woa The first by Major Arthur George Hammond,
of the Bengal Staff" Corps, for defending the summit
of a hill with rifle and fixed bayonet against a large
number of the enemy while the troops fell back
after the rush at Montanaro's guns, and carrying
off in his arms a wounded sepoy within sixty yards
of the enemy's musketry.
The other was won by Corporal George Sellar,
of the 72nd Highlanders, "for conspicuous gal-
lantry displayed by him on the heights of Asmai,"
in having in a marked manner, under a heavy fire,
and dashing on in front of the enemy, " engaged
in a desperate conflict with an Afghan, who sprang
out to meet him. In this encounter Lance-Corporal
Sellar was severely wounded."
General Macpherson now signalled from the
Bala Hissar that great and increasing masses of the
enemy were advancing from the north, south, and
west ; so the troops were ordered to retire into che
cantonments of Sherpur, where they were shut up,
while the enemy that night re-occupied the Bala
Hissar and the entire city of Cabul !
The enormous abundance of arms possessed by
the Afghan population was a fact worthy of attention
at the time, as it pointed to Shere Ali's prepara-
tion for and expectation of hostilities. Although
by this time we had captured at various places
nearly 200 pieces of cannon, as many more
were scattered through the country — at Herat, in
the northern and western provinces, and else-
where. Small arms of all kinds we had captured
by thousands ; and after many regiments had been
disarmed there still remained in Afghanistan,
according to the Ameer's "Arsenal Returns,"
40,000 rifles, chiefly of British manufacture. The
ammunition already taken or destroyed, had been
enormous in quantity ; but, as compared with the
stores remaining in the country, was quite incon-
siderable. " These facts," said a writer at the time,
" while proving the diflScult task that lies before
us, if effectual disarmament is to be carried out,
proved also that the Afghan War was not under-
taken a day too soon. Had the soldiers who have
just been beaten at all points, been as well trained
to the use of their arms as they are brave, our loss,
deplorable as it is, would have been very severe
indeed; for the country, intersected by such an
immense number of watercourses, studded with
villages, every wall in which is loopholed, and
abounding in rocks and steep hills, is singularly
favourable to sharp-shooting and ambuscade."
The people of Cabul now freely sympathised
with the tribal bands who occupied it, thereby
forfeiting their claim to the clemency of General
Roberts ; and every quarter of it was now infested
by disbanded vagabonds of the Ameer's late army,
deserters from the provincial forces, refugees from
justice in India and Persia, armed swashbucklers
of the genuine Oriental type, steeped to the lips in
cruelty and crime, and only waiting fresh oppor-
tunities for pillage and slaughter.
Thus December saw the whole country once
more aflame. A jehad or holy war was preached;
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BRITISH BArrLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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the Governor of Maidan, whom we had appointed,
was murdered, and the army of General Roberts
was seriously menaced and imperilled by an exten-
sive rising of the warlike tribes.
By the 15th of December he estimated the
strength of the enemy at 30,000 men ; he reported
that he was confident he would be able to restore
British authority, but required to be reinforced,
and with this view he ordered Gough*s force up
from Gundamuk, and Arbuthnot*s brigade Trom
Jellalabad.
Our officers, who generally carry Britain and old
British sports with them wherever they go, had now
to relinquish what they had actually begun for a
very brief period to enjoy, after the capture of
Cabul — their cricket matches and football in the
Shah Bagh ; and the officers and troopers of the
Bengal and 9th Lancers had to forego their polo on
yabooSy or Cabul ponies, on the plain of Behmaru ;
while snipe-shooting in the jheels on the other side
of the city had come to an abrupt termination, by
the sudden influx of very different game ; and the
Masonic Lodge which had been established by the
72nd Highlanders, had no more meetings now. It
was called the Seaforth Lodge, and Captain Stewart
Mackenzie (9th Lancers) was its Master.
The fighting men of the mollahs' army then at
Cabul, must have been collected by these priests
from over a very large tract of country, so sparsely
populated is south-eastern Afghanistan ; and it
was considered as certain that if that force were
shattered, neither Sahib Jan nor Muskh-i-Alam
would be able to collect another, should they preach
over the land from Balkh to Candahar.
By loopholing, entrenching, and barricading.
General Roberts left nothing undone to strengthen
the post held by his slender army at Sherpur, and
more especially on its face towards the city. The
Behmaru Hills, to the north of his position, neces-
sarily came within the line of his defences, as they
overlooked them from the rear. The front to the
city was formed by a continuous loop-holed wall,
about 2,000 yards long and sixteen feet in
height, with a ditch in front, and a banquette for
infantry. In rear of this rampart, on the left flank
of which was a mud wall extending to the hamlet
of Deh Behmaru, was a range of excellent bar-
racks, about a mile long, capable of holding 5,000
Europeans comfortably.
Spacious gateways, occurring at intervals of 400
yards, had been converted into officers' quarters.
Detached forts covered the flanks. It was borne
in mind that it was occupation of the Behmaru
heights by the Afghans, in 1842, that rendered the
position of Elphinstone's army quite untenable, on
nearly the same ground which Roberts had now
rendered almost impregnable.
For several days now severe and desultory fight-
ing ensued all round Cabul, and by the 15th the
losses of the 9th Lancers alone were reported to be
equal to one troop, yet nothing very decisive oc-
curred till the 23rd of December.
On the 15 th a Victoria Cross was won by Captain
(afterwards Major) William John Vousden, of the
Bengal Staff Corps, for exceptional gallantry dis-
played by him on that day, on the Koh Asmai
heights, by charging with a small party into the
centre of the retreating Kohistanees, by whom his
men were greatly outnumbered, and who did their
utmost to enclose and cut them off.
After rapidly charging through and through the
enemy, backwards and forwards several times,
hewing them down right and left, they swept round
to the opposite side of a village and regained their
troop.
The force shut up in Sherpur made a total of
only 7,000 men, horse and foot, with twenty-three
pieces of cannon, including two Gatling guns, and
five months' supplies of most necessaries. Roberts
had sagaciously emptied all the Cabul granaries
and stores on his own behalf; thus the great
army of the mollahs, on flocking in, found only
emptiness.
On the 1 6th a patrol of cavalry was sent out to
two hills, about a mile or more west of Sherpur,
with orders to watch carefully the Kohistan road,
and report all movements thereon, as armed parties
were passing continually to and fh) between the city
and the mountain gap called Owshar KotaL
The moment this patrol came in sight the enemy
began firing from the Asmai Range, where they
were ensconced ; but as they were beyond musket-
shot this was a simple waste of ammunition. They
had, however, no fear of running short, as the con-
tents of the other magazine at the Bala Hissar had,
by some unaccountable mistake, not been taken or
destroyed.
The enemy in large bodies now left the cluster
of villages in which they had been passing the
night at the foot of the kotal, and began to form
themselves in something like disciplined order
across the road leading to the pass, till the whole
range from the latter to that shoulder of the
Asmai heights which overhangs the city — a
distance of three miles — was covered by them ;
a line that bristled with flashing steel, while along
it, at intervals, were brilliantly-coloured standards
waving in the wind ; but a heavy fall of snow pre-
vented any operations of consequence. The night
proved intensely cold, yet the work of barricading
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PREPARING FOR A GRAND ATTACK.
"5
with sand-bags went on, and the openings or
gateways for the passage of troops were blocked
up with gun waggons when not in use ; and from
the 13th of December till the 3rd of January the
troops were without rations of rum, the only
spirits being a small supply of whisky, which the
Gordon Highlanders disbursed to all comers on
Christmas Day.
During the whole of the night of the 1 7th our sen-
tries were fired at, and on the following day, when
the cold dawn stole in, strong parties of sharp-
shooters were found to have established them-
selves under cover of certain ruinous walls, which
in some places came within 400 yards of the
defences, and from these they opened a fire on
any man who showed himself. As many of
them shot high, in ignorance of rifle range, they
generally failed to hit, but their bullets, after
passing over the walls, fell among the horses and
camp followers within the enclosure. These were
removed elsewhere under cover, but not before
some shots had proved fatal
On the 18th there was a report that scaling-
ladders had been seen in immense numbers, and
that the enemy were prepared to storm the walls ;
so Roberts manned their entire length, with
supports at intervals in the ditch, and all men
knew that if once that tumultuous and outnumber-
ing horde got in, small mercy would be shown
on every hand.
All the Lancers took their lances with them to
use as pikes on foot, but no opportunity was given
them, as the enemy never came on, and all the
troops were withdrawn to quarters except the
sentries (which were doubled at night) — one to
every hundred yards of wall
Every hour was harassing and demanded watch-
fulness; but all kept their posts hopefully, aware
that the approach of Gough, fi-om Gundamuk
(though attacked by Ghilzies, whom he drove back),
and of Arbu^hnot, from Jelhlabad, would bring
about a crisis.
In some desultory fighting on the 19th, the
gallant young Montanaro, who fought his guns so
pluckily on the Asmai heights on the 14th, was
mortally wounded, and died fourteen days after.
The road from Jugdulluk to Cabul was open
now, and General Gough, with more than 2,000
men, was fast coming up, while General Bright,
with 8,000 men, was close behind; and Roberts
began to fear that if the enemy heard of these
movements they might meditate escape; thus
he said that if Gough "would only come on
without loss of time, . not troubling himself about
ammunition or supplies (which the Sherpur
cantonments could afford him), he would settle
affairs at Cabul at once."
On the 22nd of December numbers of Kohis-
tanees were reported to have come through the
pass on the north-west of the Behmaru ridge, so a
patrol of twenty Bengal Lancers was sent out to
inspect, with orders to fall back instantly if fired
on, which speedily came to pass, but at a safe
distance; and every village in the valley contri-
buted a platoon from its loop-holed walls, thus
proving that they were full of the enemy ; and it
was observed that of all the herds of cattle which
daily used to graze by the margin of the long
narrow lake which borders the Kohistan road,
not one was to be seen on this day, as they had
been kept within the village enclosures, a circum-
stance that excited suspicion of some event being
on the tapis.
Thus General Roberts was not surprised when,
from Kuzzil Bash scouts, or spies, he received in-
formation in the evening that before dawn next
morning, an attack would be made upon his post
at every point, the signal for which would be the
lighting of a great beacon on the shoulder of the
Koh Asmai ridge, just above the city.
The Kuzzil Bashees further reported, that for
several days previously scaling-ladders capable of
admitting two men abreast, had been constructed
in Cabul ; thus orders were issued for the entire
force to be more than usually on the alert at four
o'clock in the morning.
Every day had served to make the defences
stronger. Abattis were largely employed every-
where. There was a gap between the western face
of the Behmaru heights and the western walls of
Sherpur, which made that angle very weak, and
this our Engineers closed by ingeniously inter-
locking and embedding the wheels of captured
cannon in the earth, and by many other devices.
A flanking fire was also brought to bear upon
this point from the heights, and it was further
strengthened by occupying and loopholing a large
house with high walls in an adjacent village. The
bastions or solid towers of Sherpur were capable
of being armed with guns. The country around
was full of luxuriant* gardens and orchards enclosed
by high walls, and numerous villages, some within
gunshot, all fortified in the Afghan fashion.
Besides the twenty-three pieces of cannon with
the force, Colonel Gordon, Commandant of the
Royal Artillery, had utilised for the defence
eighteen captured guns, and two eight-inch how-
itzers, all of British make, and four 7-pounder
mountain guns of native manufacture.
All these were placed in position with admirable
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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skill, and though the ammunition available for
them was very indifferent, yet they did excellent
service in the course of immediate events. The
troops were told off, as far as possible to the
defences nearest their quarters, with a strong
reserve — strong, at least, under the circumstances
— posted at the mouth of the Behmaru gorge.
Army than the tough little Ghoorkas." A wing of
the 23rd Pioneers and 5th Punjaub Infantry held
the gorge at the western foot of the heights, as
far as the general's gateway.
Some companies of the 28th Native Infantry,
and one of the 67 th, held the eastern gateway, and
that brilliant regiment, the Guides, was posted at
VIEW IN CXBUL: the BAIA IIISSAR and part of the city from DEII AFGHAN.
This consisted of the veteran Gordon Highlanders
(nearly all long-service men) and wings of the
67th Hampshire and 72nd Highlanders.
The Behmaru heights were held by the 3rd
Sikhs and 5 th Ghoorkas, " their monkey faces and
squat little figures forming a ludicrous contrast to
those of their handsome stalwart neighbours. Small
and ugly as they are, though, there are no pluckier
or more faithful men in the ranks of the Native
Behmaru. The remainder of the British regiments
mounted the parapets and gateways nearest the
barracks. General Hills commanded from Sir
F. Roberts*s gateway to the Behmaru gorge,
and General Gough from there to Behmaru.
Generals Macpherson, Murray, and Brownlow
shared the rest of the defences between them.
So passed the night, in preparation, and the
morning of the eventful 23rd drew on.
CHAPTER XVIIL
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) I — THE ATTACK ON SHERPUR.
As expected, at five minutes past six, and while
the morning was yet dark, a great and very
brilliant light suddenly burst forth from the Koh
Asmai summit — the light of a carefully built war-
beacon, fired, as it was aften^'ards known, by the
supposed holy hand of the aged Muskh-i-Alam, the
chief mollah, who had been carried up there in a
dhooly on purpose.
Instantly a dull roar of many thousand voices
rose from the city on the morning wind; and
above all could be distinguished the cries of *^y$
Allah/'' ''YiAilahr ''Demi Zkenr
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THE AFGHAN ATTACK.
127
REFERENCES.
A. GtH. Baker^t Cam^, zUh Dteemher,
B. G€H. Baker's Attache/ Takt-iSkak, isikDec.
C. Gem. Baker's Attack o/Asmai HHU, x^th Dec,
D. Gen, MacpkersetCs Camp^ gtk December.
E. Gen, Mac/kersem's Attack 0/ Kam, lotk Dec
F. Gen. Macphtrson't ami Masters \ ^. _
FigktnearKatL ) xxihDee.
O. Ge». Macphertoris A ttack t^Sker \
Darwaza HeighU. f »4MZ)«f.
H. Gen.MatseysAttmckofTakt'i'Skak.x^thDtc.
tmdmgain em 23/4 Dec*
«oaae of Miles.
1 a
-'il
PLAN OP THE OPERATIONS ROXJND CABUL, DEC «>-xs. 1879.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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These were chiefly uttered by the mollahs, amid
the monotonous rattle of innumerable war drums,
which had a very startling effect after the previous
dead silence, and is known to be the sure prelude
to desperate and deadly work. Day had not yet
broken, but the silvery stars, and the snow which
covered the whole country, prevented perfect dark-
ness, even after the signal fire had sunk low and
died out
Quietly, quickly, and resolutely our soldiers fell
in, every company and regiment at its post as-
signed, the dismounted Lancers with lance and
carbine in the defences.
On the south-west angle of the cantonments
some straggling shots were heard, and ten minutes
later there was a smart musketry fire from and
against the parapet held by the 72nd Highlanders.
But the firing in that direction was a feint, for
suddenly from the north-east, or exactly opposite
quarter, and close to the village of Behmaru,
yells rent the sky, as if a myriad fiends had broken
loose, and matchlock, firelock, rifle, and pistol were
all at work, causing an underbass, or ceaseless roll
of small-arm fire, broken at intervals by the hoarse
boom of a heavy gun, as the living tide of the foe
came on, in hope to repeat the massacre that began
in 1842 under those hills of Behmaru, and ended
at Gundamuk, when Elphinstone's force of 16,500
souls perished — all save one man ! Mingling with
the din was the continuous cheer of the British
troops ; while the war-cries of the Sikhs responded
to the yells of the mollahs, and the shrieks and
screams of the frantic Ghazis — while bullets came
whisding past in showers, or spattered and thudded
on the stone walls, splintered the abattis and lore
through the tents. And all this wild work went on
under a peaceful starry sky.
The amount of firing seemed to indicate that the
real attack in force and fury was at the Behmaru
quarter, as day began to dawn and the pale winter
sun arose-on that snow-clad scene of bloodshed.
Working their way onward, taking cover in rear
of every ridge, mound, stone, or other object that
served their purpose, the enemy displayed con-
siderable courage and determination, and ultimately
got possession of a small village beyond the de-
fences, fi-om the boundary wall of which they were
enabled to pour a very heavy musketry fire both on
the defences of Behmaru and the east end of the
height; but this fire, though galling, proved, for-
tunately, nearly harmless.
The mountain guns which, chiefly, could be used
at this point, failed to dislodge them. So resolute
was the attack, and so great the numbers of the
enemy, mostly Kohistanees, that General Baker
twice sent reinforcements from the reserve. These
numbers were constantly receiving accessions of force
as more men crept up from the captured village,
and on one occasion they seemed to have made
up their minds for a rush at the works, as some,
who were evidently leaders, came to the front
waving standards and shouting, till some quiet
" pot shots " knocked over a few, and sent the rest
in hot haste to cover.
While the attack was maintained at this point,
the enemy enveloped the whole south and west
front with a very brisk fire fi-om the orchard walls
and other cover, sending many of their bullets well
into the interior of Sherpur. They also showed
large bodies of men, and for some time it was
uncertain that they did not mean to make a serious
attack from the south and west also.
General Roberts, \^ho was duly informed by
telegraph and heliograph of all that was passing at
the principal points, about ten o'clock, after a little
lull in the firing, and when crowds of the enemy
were seen slowly crossing the plain north of the
village of Behmaru, resolved to advance four guns
of the G Battery 3rd Brigade, through the gorge
in that direction, so as to bring a cross fire to bear
on the village outside.
The 5th Punjaub Cavalry dismounted, and moved
also through the gorge, with the object of operating
on the enem/s flank, but the latter were beyond
carbine range.
At this time an Afghan leader, mounted on a
fine chestnut horse, bravely and coolly rode forward
in the teeth of our infantry fire, and in the open
gave some orders to his men, who were under cover
of a wall. He was in the act of gesticulating and
pointing, sword in hand, to our defences, when a
bullet reached some vital part He threw up his
arms wildly, and fell from his horse.
He must have been a man of rank, for his fol-
lowers rushed forth, placed his lifeless body across
the saddle, and carried it away.
The cross fire from the Royal Artillery guns soon
drove the enemy out of the village, and their dis.
lodgment from this point of attack, together with
the slaughter they had undergone, so dispirited
the Kohistanees that they began to stream in
crowds out of all the villages they occupied, towards
the gap that led to Kohistan. And now it was
that once more reference was made by our native
troops to the nish&n^ the starry cross that had shone
above the peak of Takt-i-Shah.
This was about one p.m., when the firing had
nearly ceased, and Sir Frederick Roberts knew
that now was the time for his cavalry to act He
leaped on horseback, and ordering every sabre in
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pursuit, rode to Behmaru to make the necessary
arrangements; but a little time elapsed before
they were in their saddles, as all the troopers had
been on dismounted duty in the defences, and
consequently at some distance from their horses.
But one squadron, which had been in reserve,
swept on the spur round the base of Siah Sang,
and did terrible execution with the sword
Among those who escaped safely were the Sahib
Mohammed Jan and the venerable mollah whose
hand had fired the war beacon.
Had our whole cavalry been as speedily available
at that time, a crushing blow must have been
inflicted on the disheartened and disorganised
enemy.
General Roberts made arrangements for clearing
the villages to the east and south-east of Sherpur,
being aware that the Afghans who lurked therein
might annoy the advancing force of General Gough
next morning.
While Massey, with the cavalry, was circling well
round to the north-east of Sherpur, intercepting
and cutting off the flying fugitives before they could
reach the shelter of their precipitous hills, many
who still held some remaining villages on the east,
fearing that their retreat to the city would be cut
off when Massey returned, lost heart, and went
swarming up the Siah Sang hills.
Two officers, Captains Dundas and Nugent, of
the Royal Engineers, with a party of sappers,
covered by a few cavalry, had gone out with orders
to blow up the towers of two villages, south-east of
Sherpur, from the walls of which the enemy had
annoyed the troops greatly. Unfortunately they
used an Afghan fuse, taken fi-om the stores found
in the Bala Hissar, and being faultily constructed,
it exploded the mine too soon, and both officers
were killed among the ruins.
When evening fell, the firing had almost entirely
ceased, only an occasional shot being heard, fired
by some fanatic or desperate fellow still lurking
under cover ; and when darkness came on, the
cavalry returned at a slow trot, weary and blown,
after a long and hot pursuit
There seem to have been various opinions as to
the enemy's strength, for after telegraphing that
they were 30,000, Mitford quotes a letter of Sir
Frederick Roberts, in which he says, " I am of
opinion that not more than 60,000 took the field
at any one time." He estimates their losses at
"not less than 3,000 killed and wounded." Our
own losses were astonishingly small— only five
killed and thirty-three wounded, including Lieu-
tenant Gambler, of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry, and
Lieutenant Bum-Murdoch, of the Royal Engineers.
To make General Gough's march on the 24th
quite safe, a force was sent early in the morning to
occupy the Siah Sang range, a precaution which
proved unnecessary, as their recent failure had
caused the whole of the insurgents to disperse to
their homes under cloud of night
On the same day, in the afternoon, the 5 th
Punjaub Infantry marched into the city, and for-
mally reinstated General Hills in his office as
military governor. The appearance of the once
grand bazaar was deplorable : the shops were
destroyed and defaced, and all business seemed to
have been totally suspended. A company of the 5 th,
under General Hills, occupied the Kotwal for the
night ; but lest the Bala Hissar might have been
treacherously undermined, it was not occupied by
the troops till carefully examined. •
While the enemy were in possession of it, con-
stant explosions had been heard, more than 130
tons of gunpowder having been left there. It was
said that on one occasion the followers of rival
chiefs were quarrelling about the possession of a
cask containing about 100 pounds. The larger
party got possession, and were triumphantly carry-
ing it off, when one of the baffled faction ex-
claimed, " If we cannot get it, you shall not keep
it ! " and casting a lighted fuse into it, blew himself
and all who were present, above 100 in number,
to pieces.
On the 24th the cavahy brigade set out in two
divisions, one riding by the Sang-i-Nawishta gorge,
while the other went by the Owshar Kotal, and
both met in the plain of Chardeh, without seeing
any of the enemy, save dead, or the wounded who
had dropped by the wayside. A dreadful snow-
storm drove the cavahy back to quarters at full
speed about nightfall
On Christmas Day General Gough's column
came in, sorely disappointed at being too late
to share in the recent action ; and the 9th Foot
and 4th Ghoorkas were quartered in the Bala
Hissar, which was found to be safe. On the last
day of the year the dead were buried in the
cemetery at the north-west angle, under the Beh-
maru hilL
The snow was deep in the cantonments of
Sherpur when New Year's Eve was celebrated,
amid hot whisky and water, by the officers of all
corps in the mess of the 92nd Highlanders; a
party went off to head-quarters, in the old Scottish
fashion, to " first foot " the general, who, on hearing
cries for him, came forth, somewhat dhhabilUy
in the first hour of the New Year's Day, and
laughing, said, —
" The 92nd have always come to the front when
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/ called on tAem, so I suppose I must do the same
now."
Yakoub Khan's wife and mother, and Yaha
Khan's wife (daughter of the celebrated Sirdar
Ackbar Khan), three ladies, who had left nothing
undone to keep up the excitement, and were sup-
posed to contemplate flight, were brought prisoners
into the cantonments at Sherpur, prior to being
sent on to India.
With reference to the fighting qualities of the
Afghans, an able paper that appeared about this
time in the Pioneer says, "An Afghan never
thinks of asking quarter, but fights with the ferocity
of a tiger, and clings to life till his eyes glaze and
his hands refuse to pull a pistol trigger, or use a
knife in a dying effort to kill or maim his enemy.
The stem realities of war were more pronounced
on the battle-fields of Afghanistan than perhaps
they have ever been in India, if we except the
retribution days of the Mutiny. To spare a
wounded man for a minute was probably to cause
the death of the next soldier who unsuspectingly
walked past him. . . . One;thing our men
certainly learned in Afghanistan, and that was to
keep their wits about them when pursuing an
enemy or passing over a hard-won field There
might be danger lurking in each seemingly inani-
mate form studding the ground, and unless care
and caution were exercised, the wounded Afghan
would steep his soul in bliss by killing a Kafir
just when life was at its last ebb. This stubborn
love of fighting in extremis is promoted, doubt-
less, by fanaticism, and we saw so much of it that
our men at close quarters always drove their
bayonets well home, so that there should be no
mistake as to the deadliness of the wound The
physical courage which distinguished the untrained
mobs who fought so resolutely against us, was
worthy of all admiration ; the temerity with which
men, badly armed, and lacking skiUed leaders,
clung to Uieir positions, was remarkable, to say
nothing of the sullen doggedness they so often
showed when retiring. But when the tide of the
fight set in fully against them, and they saw that
further resistance would involve them more deeply,
there was so sudden a change always apparent,
that one could scarcely believe that the fugitives
hurrying over the hills, were the same men who
had resisted so desperately but a few minutes
before. They acted wisely; they knew their
powers in scaling steep hills, or making their
escape by fleetness of foot ; and the host generally
dissolved with a rapidity which no one but an
eye-witness can appreciate. If cavalry overtook
them, they turned like wolves, and fought with
desperation, selling their lives as dearly as ever
men sold them ; but there was no rally in the true
sense of the word, and but faint attempts at aiding
each other. Their regular troops were but little
amenable to discipline, by reason of deficient
training, and tliey resorted to the tactics they had
pursued as tribesmen when once they were forced
to retire."
This mode of fightmg, and this kind of spirited
fury, were strikingly manifested in their attack on,
and retreat from, the cantonments of Sherpur.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) \ — INTRODUCTORY REMARKS — ^THE BATTLE OF AHMED KHEYL
MASSACRE AT DUBRAI — ^SKIRMISHES — SIR DONALD STEWART GOVERNOR OF CABUL.
Our garrisons remained in Cabul and in the
annexed territory, but we had not been long in
fancied power before there was soon opened a
new chapter in this terrible Afghan war ; and
so early as the 20th of January it was deemed
necessary to strengthen, by some cavalry, the
head-quarters of the Khyber column, holding Jelku
labad, imder General Bright, and matters in
Afghanbtan soon appeared to be as far from settle-
ment as ever. But having uprooted the consti-
tuted authority there, we were bound, in justice to
the more peaceable of the inhabitants, and also by
the consideration of our own prestige with regard
to our Indian Empire, not to leave the land a prey
to anarchy; though the "strong, friendly, and united
Afghanistan," of which Lord Lytton spoke, seemed
somewhat of a myth as yet
More than ever it became evident that one of the
most troublesome features of Afghan warfare is that
we can never tell when the enemy have had enough
of fighting; and it was shrewdly suspected by
some that they found profit as well as pleasure by
being in conflict with us.
As the early spring days crept on, aU remained
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quiet at Cabul, from whence, on the 21st of
March, 1880, Sir Frederick Roberts wrote thus to
a friend : —
"We have been well provided with literature
and warm clothing, and have got through the
winter better than we might have expected. The
troops are in excellent spirits, and will, I hope,
finish the campaign with credit to themselves.
Our sick list has been, and still is, remarkably
small — ^a little over 4 per cent of British, and
just under 4 per cent, of native troops. You
would be much gratified with the hospital wards,
which, owing to the kind forethought of yourself
and other friends, are brightened up by a number
of pretty pictures, adding greatly to the comfort
and pleasure of the sick and wounded soldiers."
It was an important fact at this time that, with
few exceptions, there were present at Cabul all
the representatives of the dominant and reigning
branch of the Barakzye tribe. Of the seven
surviving sons of Dost Mohammed Khan — the
leading destroyer of Elphinstone*s army— five were
there with their families, and his descendants in
the third generation were numerous.
Among the latter, only Abdur Rahman, Tahir
Khan, and Ayoub Khan (of whom we shall hear in
the future) were absent
At Ghazni there was understood to be a dis-
agreement between the Great Mollah and the
Sahib Mohammed Jan ; and rumours began to be
heard in the cantonment at Sherpur of warlike
musters and gatherings amongst the mountains —
musters large or small — which were not without
significance.
It was some of these rumours, probably, which
caused the demonstration made by General Bright
along the Khyber line, when about the 15th of
February he marched with a force into the
Lughman Valley to blow up some of the forts,
and assign others to the keeping of friendly
chiefs.
Before the end of the month suspicions were ex-
cited of an attack to be made on our troops in and
about CabuL Accordingly preparations were made
to move up the whole of General Bright's force and
that of Sir Frederick Roberts, with whom Sir Donald
Stewart was to co-operate by a movement from
Candahar, with some 40-pounders for the capture
of Ghazni, thus placing the turbulent Sahib Jan
between two fires. Meanwhile a splendid road,
passable for waggons and heavy artillery, was being
constructed between Peshawur and Cabul, with
permanent forts, barracks, and telegraphs between
Jellalabad and India.
A bustle of preparation pervaded all the posts
occupied by our troops, and the middle of March
saw what has been described as a continuous chain
of camels, oxen, mules, ponies, and men threading
the deep dark mountain defiles that lead from
Peshawur to the Afghan capital. But the waysides
were littered by the dry bones or fast decomposing
remains of other baggage animals which had
perished of toil, disease, and cold during the past
war ; and out of the deep ravines, over which the
gorged kites were ever hovering, there rose a
hideous stench which loaded the air. We have
said the Kurram column alone lost 9,496 camels.
How many had already perished in the war,
Government alone knew; but one writer says
that by the 22nd of March, 1880, the number was
little short of 80,000.
Petty outrages were beginning again, and at
Cabul the order was re-issued that persons found
armed within a five-mile radius would be arrested.
On the 27 th of March, Fort Battye was attacked
in the night ; an officer — Lieutenant Angelo — was
killed, with nine men, and eighteen more were
wounded, two mortally. Fort Battye stood
eighteen miles on the Indian side of Gundamuk,
in the Khyber Pass, amid a barren wilderness of
rocks and stones, and was constructed of mud
only. The whole affair was over in twenty
minutes. After a brisk fusillade the enemy retired,
leaving six dead, and carrying off their wounded,
traces of whose blood were found on many of the
hill paths next day. Our wounded were terribly
slashed and cut with charahs.
Three hundred men were promptly sent up by
General Bright, but unless the villages to which the
assaikints belonged could be known, nothing would
be done. " We may burn a village or two," wrote
one who was present, " but what retribution is this ?
In the majority of cases these so-called villages are
abodes of little higher architectural pretensions
than the leafy bowers of the chimpanzee. A few
rough bundles of coarse grass for thatch, a stone
or two, and a few sticks, form a hovel into which
the happy possessor can just creep."
A new feature in the war in Afghanistan was now
becoming prominent — the extreme dislike of the
fighting classes of India for service there. Thus, on
March the i6th, the following order was issued
from the Adjutant-General's Office at Simla:—
" With a view to facilitate recruiting for Native
Infantry regiments of the Bengal, Madras, and
Bombay armies now employed on field service in
Afghanistan, or in mobilised reserves, the Govern-
ment of India has authorised the grant of a
bounty," under certain rates stated. " This," says
the Spectator^ "is the first time, we believe, that
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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bounty has ever been needed in India, and the
amount is equivalent to more than seven months*
full pay. It is given, too, in a country where twenty
years ago there were three lads waiting eagerly for
each sepoy vacancy, and when Lord Beaconsfield
believed he could raise half a million of men."
to occupy Ghazni, Sir Donald began his march
northward by two routes for some distance, till he
drew together his entire force, which consisted of
only 7,000 men. His position at Candahar was
occupied by a Bombay division under General Prim-
rose, also charged with care of the road to Quettah.
REFERENCES,
itt Position of British.-"
2nd Position 0/ Dritiih,.
Afghans, — ^..,
2nd Punjabi
Cavalry
Scale ofa Mllo.
PLAN OF THE ACTION AT AHMED KHEYL, NEAR GHAZNI (APRIL I9, 1880).
Early in April ensued Sir Donald Stewart's des-
perate battle at Ahmed Kheyl, which led to the
capture of Ghazni.
On the 1 7 th of that month General Ross marched
to effect a junction with him, at the head of 668
cavalry, the 9th Foot, the 24th Punjaubees, and
the 4th Ghoorkas — in all 4,000 men, with ten pieces
of cannon — a movement which, for reasons to be
explained, he failed to achieve.
Quitting Candahar with his division, with orders
Tidings of Stewart's march seemed to have spread
like wildfire through the tribes, and doubtless it
was their emissaries from Ghazni who roused the
Kakkars and other mountaineers, that fell upon our
luckless post at Dubrai (an incident to be related
in its place), on the road to Quettah.
As Sir Donald ascended the valley of Tumak,
rumours reached him that the Ghilzie malcontents
were assembling in arms near Mukur, resolved to
dispute his advance ; and their operations on the
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STEWARTS PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.
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Quettah road were doubtless part of a plan which
they hoped would induce Stewart to halt, if not
to retire.
Sir Donald knew that any success achieved on
the southern road must prove trivial or temporary,
so the wary old soldier continued steadily his march
to the north.
His force was compact, handy, well equipped
for its work, with a good train, including four heavy
described as a good position, twenty-three miles
south of GhaznL
Their numbers were estimated at 15,000, horse
and foot, composed of Andarees, Tarakees, Suleiman
Kheyls, and other tribesmen. The position they
held near Ahmed Kheyl, was an undulating ridge
of the Galkoh Mountains. It extended across
Stewart's front, and along his left flank.
When the enemy were first in position, three
PLAN OF GHAZNI (l8So).
battery guns ; and his route by under the ramparts
of Khelat-i Ghilzie, so famous for Craigie Halkett's
defence in the old Afghan war. Beyond that point
the country became most unfavourable for Afghan
tactics, being open, or without much cover; thus
the enemy would be compelled to fight a pitched
battle, if they fought at all
Stewart neglected no means to keep himself well
informed, as he had sufficient cavalry through whom
to gather intelligence. Whatever he might have
learned previously, on the morning of Monday, the
19th of April, when marching from Mushaki, the
enemy were seen in front, occupying what has been
miles distant, tho leading brigades advanced to the
front in the following order : — One troop of the
19th Bengal Lancers, 3rd Ghoorkas, 2nd Sikhs,
59th Nottinghamshire, the rest of the 19th Lancers,
and 2nd Punjaub Cavalry. On drawing near the
enemy, the infantry brigade of General Hughes
was ordered to "form for attack;" the markers
hurried to the front ; the brigade was ordered to lie
down while the artillery, under Waters and Camp-
bell, moved forward and opened fire at 1,200 yards'
range, or at 1,500 yards, according to another
account ; but so rapid was the advance of the foe
that the range had to be quickly reduced to 400,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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and finally to case-shot distance. The latter was
soon expended, and then the guns were loaded
with shrapnel, with heads towards the charge, to
explode at the muzzle, a process that covered the
ground before the cannon with heaps of dying and
dead, fearfully torn and mutilated.
Meanwhile the enemy, though keeping their front
to the road as if to bar our advance, were gradually
making their way, under the concealment of some
grassy ridges, to their own right, so far as eventually
to turn our left flank, which was reinforced by a
squadron of the 19th Lancers ; at the very time the
enemy's cavalry poured down two ravines in the
form of the letter V, "and struck the Bengal
Lancers before they could charge," according to
one account They were sent to the right-about,
and pursued " right into the centre of our position,"
says another. Our force then, it adds, assumed
the shape of a semich-cle, with a gap in the centre.
Simultaneously with the attack on our left, the
.enemy's infantry, a horde of fanatic and frantic
swordsmen, their bright tulwars and charahs
flashing in the sun, with streaming banners and
wild yells, came rushing down, and delivered an
attack upon our front and flanks, and many made
their way between one regiment and the guns,
through the gap referred to.
According to an eye-witness, there were few more
brilliant examples of heroic valour than those
exhibited by the Afghans, as under a tremendous
musketry and artillery fire they pressed forward to
the attack ; and never before in any encounter with
British troops have they exhibited anything like the
magnificent bravery which they showed in the
attack. Our infantry stood firm, and poured a
terrific fire into their line, while the artillery
ploughed them down with showers of grape ; and
the cavalry, with lances levelled, made several
splendid charges through their dense and yelling
masses.
Sir Donald Stewart personally commanded on
the ground, and twice the Ghazni swordsmen
nearly hewed a passage to where he stood. General
Hughes was sharply hit, and nearly unhorsed, by a
sqent ball, when well to the front, but was able to
remain in his saddle and direct operations. "At
this crisis our line was penetrated," says the corre-
spondent of the Standard^ " and both flanks turned,
the artillery having fired away all their case-shot"
The whole reserve, consisting of the 19th
Punjaub Infantry, two companies of Sappers, one
of the 60th Rifles, and one of the 25th Native
Infantry, which was doing duty as the general's
escort, was now ordered up to support the guns,
and reinforce the fighting line.
The infantry stood firm, making a most gallant
stand, mowing down the enemy with a biting
musketry fire ; but their right flank was shaken by
the desperate onslaught of the enemy. At this
moment the Ghazni horse charged furiously down
upon the left flank, rolling our cavalry back before
the weight and impetus of their attack; and, mingled
in a struggling throng, the seething and surging
mass of men and horses, all in wild niilke^ came
down upon the 3rd Ghoorkas.
Colonel Gyster quickly formed the latter in
company squares, thus leaving open spaces through
which friends and foes could pass together.
As the Ghazni horse swept through these, the
3rd Ghoorkas opened upon them a blighting fire of
musketry, point blank, in which Her Majesty's 59th
Regiment, the 2nd Sikhs, and 19th Punjaub
Infantry, joined. Most fearful was the eflfect of
this sudden and concentrated fire. In the wildest
confusion, rising, sinking, kicking, plunging, and
rolling over each other, went the Afghan cavalry ;
and then our own, relieved from the pressure on
their rear, fell upon the shattered column with
lance and sword, hurling it back through or between
the squares, and the great crisis of the day was
over.
The whole enemy fell back, and though a body
of them, under cover of some villages and orchard
walls, kept up a parting fire, which hit a few, they
all fled ultimately; and Colonel Maclean, with
the I St Punjaub Cavalry, dashed off" in hot
pursuit, and falling upon a body that had rallied
on an eminence, he hewed them down on all
sides, and once again the headlong flight was
resumed
The battle was now completely won ; " but for a
time victory had been doubtful, and had the whole
of the enemy's force been thrown upon us at the
critical moment, the consequences would have been
very serious. As it was, the victory was complete
and crushing, and a blow has been inflicted upon
the Afghans," said a writer at the time, "from
which they will be long ere they recover."
A long pursuit by cavalry was not possible, as
protection for the baggage and convoys was re-
quisite.
The casualties on our side were seventeen killed
and 115 wounded, including Lieutenant Young, of
the 19th Lancers, dangerously; Captain Corbet, of
the Royal Horse Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel
Lawson, commanding the 59th Foot ; Lieutenants
Watson, 59th, Stewart, 2nd Punjaub Cavalry, and
York, 19th Bengal Lancers. Colonel Lawson was
son of an ex-Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and had
served with distinction in the China War.
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THE KAKKAR ATROCITY.
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Above i,ooo of the enemy lay dead on the
ground, with more than 2,000 wounded Stewart
immediately after the engagement marched his
division forward from Ahmed Kheyl to Nani, a
distance of nine miles nearer Ghazni, to which he
swiftly sent forward his cavalry ; and that city, so
long the capital of the troublesome Ghilzies, and
the head-quarters of the Sahib Mohammed Jan,
became ours without firing a shot.
The Afghans frequently made a point of carrying
off their dead ; but at Ahmed Kheyl they had to
leave them where they lay. Some of their wounded
were picked up and taken to the hospital for treat-
ment, much to their surprise, it being so unlike
what they did to our wounded, whom they were
wont to savagely mutilate and dishonour.
Mohammed Jan had fled now, and his where-
abouts was doubtful
We have referred to the collateral movement of
the enemy on the Quettah road. On the night of
the 1 6th of April a great force of tribesmen,
including fully 1,000 Kakkar Pathans, a race
far exceeding in the most utter savagery any
other in Afghanistan, attacked a post at Dubrai,
between Chaman and Candahar, held by Major
Sydney James Woudley and a party of the 19th
Bombay Infantry, of which he had previously been
adjutant
The duties assigned to him were those of Road
Commandant, and kept him on the line of com-
munication, and while on this service he had halted
for the night at Dubrai
It is said that he had received a warning on the
previous evening that he would be attacked, and
when that event took place, not by the main body
of the insurgents, but a strong force of them,
he and his entire party perished, save one, who
gave the following narrative of the encounter : —
" I was one of the major's escort, and had come to
Dubrai from Chaman on Friday, making a double
march. About five p.m. it was reported to the
major sahib that the post would be attacked that
night by a large body of men. The major sent
out two of the mounted local levies to ascertain
the truth of the report, and with the others set to
work to strengthen the defences of the post in
preparation for an attacL These two men never
returned. At about eleven o'clock the post was
attacked by some 800 men. We defended it as
long as our ammunition lasted, and then the enemy
rushed in, in a body. I was standing next to the
major sahib, who was defending himself with his
sword, and I saw him cut down. Two men came
at me. I shot one with my last cartridge, and
made good my escape over the parapet, and into
the hills, where I hid till daylight. Seeing that
the enemy had cleared oflf, I ventured to return,
and on entering the enclosure saw the dead bodies
of the major sahib and other defenders of the post
I then left, and made my way to Candahar through
the hills. I met a Kafila on the road ; the men
gave me something to eat, but would not allow me
to accompany them. The enemy carried off every-
thing of value at the post, and completely gutted
the place. I am certain we killed over twenty five
of them."
The Wali of Candahar discovered the villages
from whence these assailants came, and destroyed
them all
To add to the growing darkness of the political
horizon, almost every station on the Humai route
had been attacked or menaced by large Panazi
gatherings, causing the suspension of all road-
making and railway worL These disaflfections,
led by prominent chiefs of tribes, were all insti-
gated, it was supposed, by an ardent follower of
Mohammed Jan.
Sir Robert Sandeman, Assistant Commissioner
of the Dera Ghaza Khan district, an officer who
had been wounded at Lucknow, and served with
the Oude column, gave the Kakkar tribe severe
lessons more than once ; but in the country mid-
way between the Khojuk Pass and Candahar, the
cavalry could always act with effect, and nimble
though the limbs of the hill-men were, they did not
always suffice to carry them beyond the lances and
carbines of the dashing Scinde and Bombay Irre-
gulars.
On the 25th of April a brilliant encounter took
place between our troops at Charasiah and the
Logarees.
Information having been brought to Colonel
Jenkins, commanding at Charasiah, that he was
about to be attacked at two a.m. on Sunday, he got
his force, consisting of a wing of the Gordon
Highlanders, the Guides Corps, and two Royal
Horse Artillery guns, under arms, and resolved
to anticipate the Logarees, who were above 4,000
strong.
A cavalry party went forward to reconnoitre,
and when day broke the enemy were seen posted
on a semicircular hill, a mile to the south-east of
Jenkins's camp, and then they began at once a
distant fire of Martinis and Sniders, pillaged, no
doubt, from the arsenal in Cabul
The tents were instantly struck, and with the
baggage removed to a hill in the rear. The
Highlanders took a hurried breakfast, then dis-
positions were made to prevent the enemy
from approaching too near, and the Guides
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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Cavalry, with loo infantry, were disposed as a
reserve. The small camping ground and the little
ruined forts that were near it, were occupied by
infantry; and while these arrangements were in
progress, the enemy on the semicircular hill were
being so constantly reinforced from the side of the
Chardeh Valley and other directions, that they
almost surrounded the slender force of Colonel
Jenkins, and began to shout exultingly, in the
usual anticipation of a great slaughter.
They exhibited the utmost daring, and were
only prevented from carrying the position at a rush
by the unflinching aspect and steadiness of our
troops, who were exposed to a heavy fire from all
directions from daylight till noon. Sir Frederick
Roberts, on being informed by heliograph of the
state of affairs, sent from the cantonments at
Sherpur a reinforcement under Brigadier Hubert
Macpherson, one of his most active officers.
These consisted of the other wing of the 92 nd
Highlanders, the 45th Native Infantry, a few of
the 2nd Ghoorkas, and two screw guns, all of
which came to Charasiah at noon precisely, and
arrangements were at once made between the
brigadier and Colonel Jenkins for an attack. '^
General Macpherson, with his new force, fell on
the enemy's left, and Jenkins, with his original
force, on their right and centre. Both attacks
were delivered with the greatest brilliance, and the
Logarees were driven back on every hand. They
fled, and were pursued by sabre and case-shot, the
Guides Cavalry and Horse Artillery, with their light
screw guns, following them down the Chardeh
Valley, where, by four p.m., not one of them re-,
mained in sight, save the dead and wounded ; and
at that hour the troops marched back to Sherpur,
which was further strengthened now, while extra
precautions were taken to guard against the sur-
prise of detached forts and garrisons.
Our total casualties were thirty-two wounded,
chiefly of the Guides, many most severely. That
regiment had nine horses killed and twenty-four
wounded The enemy's loss was very great No
less than 100 dead lay before the 92nd High-
landers, and wounded in proportion.
The chief leader in this attack was Mohammed
Hassan, ex-Governor of Jellalabad, a zealous
partisan of Yakoub Khan. His personal standard
was captured. The head men of the Logarees
derived considerable advantages from the presence
of our troops in their country, and one in
particular, Jamal Khan, of Barkhan, had become
very wealthy by providing bullocks for our trans-
port service.
Some anxiety was now felt at Sherpur and
Cabul by the non-appearance of General Ross's
column, which had marched towards Ghazni on
the 17th of April to form a junction with General
Stewart, and was to await his arrival at Syazabad,
about fifty miles from CabuL It was well known that
General Ross had to encounter several difficulties
about supplies on the way, as the people were far
from fi-iendly. The anxiety was relieved when it
became known that Sir Donald Stewart's force
was at Syazabad on the 28th of April, and, with
that of General Ross, would be at Argandeh, within
fourteen miles of Cabul, on the 2nd of May.
General Ross en route had not been without
partial annoyance from the insurgents, some of
whom had ventured to assault his camp on the
25th of April, but were dispersed with the loss of
sixty shot down. On the 29th, Sir Donald sent a
detachment to punish the local chief, the Mollah
Abdool Guffoor, of Langar, who had been the
prime mover of the attack on Ross, and had cut
off the post between his camp and CabuL
General Stewart had marched from Ghazni for
the latter place on the 25 th of April. Two days
before that, his division had a rough encounter
with 6,000 Ghilzies, who had occupied a strong
position at the village of Orzoo, a few miles firom
the city. He routed them with the loss of 400
killed and wounded, while his own casualties were
only two killed and eleven wounded. It was
afterwards ascertained that this body was but the
advanced guard of a much larger force assembled
in the Shilgar Valley, under the old Mollah
Muskh-i-Allam, but all of whom at once dis-
persed to their homes among the mountains.
On the 2nd of May, Sir Donald Stewart entered
Cabul and took command, with the general con-
trol of political affairs. The troops lately under
him were encamped at the southern end of the
Logar Valley, and soon after, there moved through
it a force of 4,000 strong, under Sir Frederick
Roberts.
The troops in and about Cabul were now
deemed sufficiently strong for any operations
that were likely to be undertaken, but the country
having been without a settled government for
eighteen months, was in a state of great disorder,
and teemed with armed and desperate men. The
population of Cabul, comprising, as it did, besides
its own ferocious hudmashes and peculiar rabble,
the partisans of various leaders, each with his own
private and selfish ambition, was always ready for
any excitement; and the appearance of Abdur
Rahman on the scene delayed any settlement,
and seemed likely to lead to fresh complications,
though the Government were inclined to look
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THE VICEROY AND THE BRITISH FORCES.
^37
with favour upon his pretensions to the perilous
post of Ameer; and, like a true Afghan, he no
sooner received Lord Lytton's overtures than he
craftily pretended, in a circular letter to the chiefs,
that the British had offered him the Ameership
of all Afghanistan, " as it was ruled by his grand-
lather, Dost Mohammed Khan." He also thanked
God that the gates of friendship were at last
open between himself and the British, and hoped
to meet all the chiefs in Cabul shortly.
Anyway, though Lord Lytton seemed to con-
sider Abdur Rahman the most powerful of the
various aspirants to the throne of Afghanistan, we
can scarcely believe that the proposed settlement
was intended to include the Kurram Valley, the
Shutargardan and Khyber Passes, all won by the
brilliant valour of our slender armies. There is
little doubt that Abdur Rahman misrepresented
the proposal of being offered a united Afghanistan,
in the hope of rousing a national feeling in case of
a refusal.
In one of his despatches about this time, the
Viceroy paid the following tribute to the leader
and soldiers of the British Cabul Field Force :—
" The Governor-General in Council unreservedly
shares in the appreciation expressed by his Excel-
lency the Commander-in-chief of the high ability,
firmness, insight, and judgment displayed by Lieu-
tenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts throughout
the events recorded in his admirable report, and
also of the brilliant conduct of the officers and men
under his command, to whose soldier-like instinct,
intelligence, and courage on the most critical
occasions, the success of the result is largely
due.
" The Governor-General in Council desires also
to add to those of his Excellency, his grateful
acknowledgments of the great humanity which,
from first to last, has marked the conduct of
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts in the
exercise of his arduous command, and also to ex-
press the deep sense entertained by the Govern-
ment of India, of the irreparable loss sustained by
the Queen, and the whole Empire, in the death of
the brave men who have so nobly perished in the
course of these operations."
But the battles of Maiwand and of Candahar
had yet to be fought !
CHAPTER XX.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued)'. — RAIDS AND OUl'RAGES — ABDUR RAHMAN — FIGHT OF
SYAZABAD — MUTINY OF THE CANDAHAREE TROOPS.
A GREAT number of raids, outrages, and excite-
ments, at the hands of the hill-men, occurred be-
tween the date of Sir Donald Stewart's arrival at
Cabul and the great crisis caused by the advance
of Ayoub Khan fi-om Herat
Afghan politics, if we may so call them, ran so
high, that even mothers sought to imbue their chil-
dren with them by nursery songs, and a curious
specimen of one of these may be quoted from
the Lahore Gazette : —
"Mohammed Jan is the hero of the field,
Come, my child, and let us eat grapes !
His battle is now well ordered in the field,
Come, my child, &c.
Daud Shah is a mighty man.
Come, my child, &c.
Wall Mohammed is a devil,
Come, my child, &c.
Yakoub Khan is brave and staunch,
Come, my child, &c.
Musa Khan is the Ameer for Afghan,
Come, my child, &c.
Abdur Rahman is the child of the Russ,
Come, my child, &c"
And so on, for twenty-four lines more.
The 9th of May saw Sir Frederick Roberts with
a strong force in the Logar Valley, to settle the
country and collect supplies. In the Kurram
Valley, about the same time, a band of Wazarees
attacked our post at Sappri, taking the little garri-
son there by surprise. They scaled the low walls
which surrounded the camp, softly and unseen,
and then with their usual yells and frantic cries
they fell with knife and tulwar on the occupants.
Lieutenant Wood, one of the Bengal police
officers, who had been lately appointed to the
transport department, and was sleeping outside
his tent, was at once cut to pieces. Ten more were
killed on the spot, and sixteen were wounded,
before the assailants were driven off; and the public
prints reported that " similar outrages were becom-
ing matters of almost daily occurrence in Kurram."
On the 1 8th of May Sir Frederick Roberts
destroyed all the fortified towers of Padashah
Khan, a Ghilzie chief; but on the following day
2,000 Safees rose in arms at Besi, but were cut off
by a force from Jellalabad, with the loss of fifty
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
(Logar Valley.
killed, while the British had only ten wounded.
In this skirmish General Doran, late commandant
of the 27th Native Infantry, commanded. He
had served in the Sutlej, Hazara, and China
campaigns, and was an officer of experience.
Two young officers of the 51st Foot, Lieutenants
B. S. Thurlow and Herbert Reid, when riding
The fortitude he displayed on this occasion was
brought before Parliament by Lord Waveney, but
the Commander-in-chief did not consider that any
special mark of Her Majesty's favour was called for.
In the middle of June our pickets in the Logar
Valley w^ere constantly fired into at night, and
bodies of insurgents held together at Zurmat and
GENERAL ROSS S DIVISION CROSSING THE LOGAR RIVER ON ITS WAY TO MEET SIR DONALD STEWART.
about three miles from their cantonments, were set
upon by some forty hill-men. Thurlow was shot
dead, his head pierced by a bullet Lieutenant
Reid's Cabul pony bolted with him, but as soon as
he could master the animal, he bravely returned to
the body of his friend, when he was again fired
upon, a bullet tearing away his sleeve and part of
his jersey. Perceiving that nothing more could be
done, he rode back to his post and brought out a
detachment, by which the body of the deceased
officer was recovered and saved from mutilation.
Khan\^ar. A convoy was attacked on the 19th,
near the Jugdulluk Kotal, and raiders were found
on the railway line at Quettah.
Amid this state of things, and though tidings had
come that Ayoub Khan, at the head of a force
advancing from Herat, had reached Farah, Sir
Donald Stewart received orders, about the loth of
June, to withdraw his forces with the least deby
compatible with the health of the troops, as " it is
desirable that Cabul should be evacuated not later
than October 31st"
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LogarVaiiey.j MOVEMENTS OF AYOUB KHAN. 139
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SE.\.
[Candahar.
Orders were also given for the return to India of
the surplus staff, stores, and ammunition, which
might not be required So early as April it had
been contemplated to withdraw our troops from
Afghanistan, and support as the new ruler of
the country, Abdur Rahman, nephew of the late
Shere AIL
We are told that at this time he was uncertain of
his power in Turkestan, and was anxious to know
what would be required of him by Britain, if he
assumed the responsibilities of Ameership ; for he
would seem to have learned much during his
residence in foreign territories, and was determined
to see his way clearly before he committed himself.
" A portrait of him, taken at Tashkend," says the
Times^ " shows him to be a big stout man, with a
rather heavy and sensual face, but with a shrewd
expression. He was dressed in a sort of Russian
uniform, and wore no turban or Afghan cap on his
head. His manners are described as singularly
courteous, and he is even eloquent in conversation
He has no confidential advisers, and transacts all
his own business, writing all important letters with
his own hand. He is very suspicious of attempts
against his life, and takes great precautions against
them. He has not yet succeeded in paying his
troops; but they are well fed, and are at present
content"
Under date of the loth June, we read the follow-
ing from General Hill's camp in the Logar Valley.
" The insincerity of Abdur Rahman in treating
with us is clear from the following circumstances.
Letters and presents are constantly arriving from
him for the tribal chiefs ; he has appointed our
great enemy, Mohammed Jan, to be commander-in-
chief throughout Afghanistan. Sirdar Alam Khan,
our Governor at Ghazni, while here, on his way
back to Ghazni, received an autograph letter
asking his assistance ; and lastly, he proclaims that
he was ready to fight for the restoration of Yakoub
Khan, in order to conciliate that faction."
From all these incidents it was not difficult to
gather that some desperate work was fast being cut
out for our troops ere they left Afghanistan ; and
the last week of June saw another fight with the
irrepressible Ghilzies at Syazabad, about half-way
between Cabul and Ghazni.
A strong force of them took post on the side of
a steep hill, which they fortified with sungahs of
earth and stones. Out of these they were driven
by bullet and bayonet, the 4th Ghoorkas, the 14th
Punjaub Infantry, and H.M. 9th Foot attacking
them with great spirit, in unbon with De Latour's
battery.
But the action lasted several hours, the Ghoorkas
behaving nobly, storming one sungah after another,
and driving the defenders up the hill with the
bayonet It was towards the close of this toil-
some and desperate day's work, when an active
little Ghoorka, who was among the advanced
skirmishers, had just discharged his rifle after the
retreating Ghilzies, that two of them started up
from a shelf of rock just at his feet, where they
liad lurked unseen.
They were both Ghazis — ^fanatics, who, in the
name of Allah, had devoted themselves to death in
the service of Islam — ^thus, as they believed, in-
suring for themselves instant admission to the bliss
of Paradise. One of them instantly stuck his
dagger into the throat of the unfortunate Ghoorka,
while the other, by one trenchant stroke of his
tulwar, cleft his head in two to the teeth.
These actions were as sudden as they were
determined; but so was the retaliation. Lieu-
tenant Lome Govan, of the 9th Foot, instantly
slew one Ghazi by a stroke of his sword ; and the
other fell at the same moment, shot by the
Ghoorkas, who then drew their terrible kooheries
or curved native knives, the use of which they
often prefer to the bayonet, and hacked the
bodies of both to pieces.
Colonel Rowcroft commanded here, under the
orders of Generals Ross and Gough.
By the nth of July orders were sent to our
Engineers to prepare for the demolition of the forts
we had erected about Cabul ; though at that time
large numbers of the Khan of Khelat's sepoys were
deserting, and Ayoub Khan was still upon the
march, and tidings of his advanced cavalry having
reached Backwa were causing excitement at Can-
dahar.
The Wali of that city had moved out to the
Helmund, with a body of troops, to quiet by his
presence some of the local tribes, who are ever
prone to violence; and now the steady march of
Ayoub rendered it necessary that the Wali should
be reinforced by a brigade of British troops, which
accordingly marched out of Candahar to his sup-
port It was then supposed that if Ayoub persisted
in his rashness, the combined British and Can-
dahar forces would put a summary stop to his
operations, but our officers now began to remark
that it was a curious coincidence that Abdur
Rahman's approximation to Cabul was almost
simultaneous with his kinsman's bold march fi-om
Herat to C*idahar.
The supporting brigade was under General
Burrows and Colonel St John.
On the nth July they reported that the
supplies were abundant, the Helmund everywhere
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The Helmniid. 1
AYOUB KHAN'S PROCLAMATION.
141
fordable ; that the advanced column of the Wali's
troops was about twenty miles north-east of
Giriskh; that Mir Mohammed Khan, a cousin of
the Wali, had attempted to incite the troops to
mutiny, but foiling, had fled from the camp, pur-
sued by cavalry.
General Burrows and the colonel soon dis-
covered that his incitements had not been without
avail, and that the troops of the Wali were ready
to mutiny at any moment, having been greatly
corrupted by a veteran regiment, which had
accompanied him from Cabul in the preceding
year.
Till now the Wali had been under no appre-
hension of trouble — Giriskh is nearly eighty miles
westward of Candahar, and is a post of some im-
portance on the western bank of the Helmund —
and had felt confident when stationing his advanced
deteu:hment at the place named.
The oflScer in command of the reinforcements
was Brigadier-General Reynolds Scott Burrows, of
the Bombay Native Infantry, who, though he had
obtained his ensigncy so far back as 1844, had not
seen mudi active service, but enjoyed the reputa-
tion of being an excellent staff officer.
His small force consisted of six Royal Horse
Artillery guns, with 220 men, under Major Black-
wood ; 300 sabres of the 3rd Light Cavalry, under
Major Currie; 220 Scinde Horse, under Colonel
Malcohnson, all dressed in the most picturesque of
military costumes — ^a thick turban, loose collarless
shirt, and cummerbund, — their chief weapon
being a long and deadly bamboo lance; the
66th Berkshire Regiment, 512 strong, under
Colonel James Galbraith; the ist Bombay
Grenadiers, 515 bayonets, under Colonel Ander-
son; 512 of the 19th Bombay Infantry (known as
Jacob's Rifles), under Colonel Mainwaring; and
40 Sappers : making a total of only 2,319 men.
Ayoub Khan had left Herat with 4,500 regular
infantry and 1,500 regular cavalry, with 36 guns
and a considerable force of irregular horse, all
drawn fix>m the most fierce and warlike of the
western tribes — and these were his advanced guard.
The proclamation which he scattered broadcast as he
came on, told the people of the wealth and plunder
to be won by the slaughter of the detested British.
A portion of it ran thus : —
" Soldiers of the true Faith ! We march to the
conquest of our city of Candahar, now in possession
of our bitter enemy, the Feringhi, whom we will
drive back with our steel, and win back the capital
of the south. The garrison is weak and we are
strong ; besides, we are fighting for our homes and
native land, and our foe is not prepared for us with
either food or ammunition for a siege. The
bazaars of the city are full of British gold, and this
shall be the prize of the conquerors when we have
chased away the invaders from our soil Let us
march on, then, day by day, with the determination
to conquer or die ! "
This document was distributed in every town
and village between Herat and Candahar, in the
hope of inciting the Ghazis, or religious fanatics, to
join in a species oijehad^ or holy war, against us.
On the 13th of July Colonel St John, our
political officer, obtained certain intelligence of the
mutinous spirit that had infected the troops of the
Wali, and the veteran regiment in particular,
already referred to.
On the 14th General Burrows, acting on this
information, ordered the Wali Shere Ali to shift his
camp from the west bank of the Helmund to the
east, in close proximity to the British troops.
This order was issued on parade at daybreak, so
their tents were struck and baggage packed soon
after sunrise, but that was the immediate signal for
revolt
In a moment the ranks were broken, and a rush
was made for the Wali's artillery, six 6-pounders,
which were on a high bank, and they were limbered
up and the horses harnessed amid shouts of
vengeance against the Wali and his staff. He, with
the latter and his cavalry, withdrew to the east bank,
where our troops were posted. Meanwhile his
infantry, after pillaging the post and baggage,
began, with derisive shouts, their march along the
river bank in the direction of Herat, with the open
intention of joining Ayoub.
This was about seven in the morning. General
Burrows sent an order to our advanced camp,
which was about a mile up the river, that they were
to be intercepted There General Nuttall, who
commanded, ordered "boot and saddle'* to be
blown, and rode off with all the available cavalry
to bar the progress of the mutineers, while a strong
detachment of the 66th got under arms to support
him, and the 3rd Bombay Cavalry made a sweeping
circuit round some hills on the right, to hold them
in check till our artillery came within range : a
movement which they performed at a swinging
gallop.
Meanwhile, Major Blackwood went galloping
along the east bank with his guns, to choose avail-
able ground from whence to shell the enemy, who
were then hurrying along, not like disciplined
soldiers, but as a disorganised mob, their bayonets
and barrels swaying and clashing against each
other.
The cavalry now wheeled into line, and a troop
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The Hekmiid.
dismounted to act as skirmbhers, every third man
holding three horses. Excellent cover was found in
rear of a long ledge of rock, and the masses of the
enemy presented an easy mark for the sharp carbine
practice that ensued, under the orders of Major
Currie; and now Colonel Malcolmson, with two
squadrons of the Scinde Horse, opened a cross fire
from another flank, which had a further demoralis-
ing effect, and the line of retreat became dotted
with killed and wounded.
At half-past twelve, according to the TimeSy
Blackwood's guns, which had been delayed by the
diflficulty of crossing water-cuts and irrigation
channels, came into action, as an eye-witness thus
relates : —
" * Shall I give them a shell or two, sir ?' inquires
Blackwood of the general, who is riding with the
battery. * By all means,' replies our chief; * but be
careful of our own people.' The guns now take
•action right,' are in position, unlimbered, and
ready for the word, and in another moment a shell
is dropped into the column of the mutineers, who
still, however, manage to retire along the plain,
though galled and harassed on every side. Two
or three daring and most effective charges made
by our cavalry now compel them to form square,
and this enables our shells to do more execution.
For more than an hour these tactics were repeated:
a dropping carbine fire, an occasional shell from
our Horse Artillery, and now and then, when the
ground admitted, a brilliant rush of turbaned horse-
men upon the seething and broken masses of the
unfortunate wretches, whose situation now became
desperate. The knowledge that one or more of
these regiments were part of the Cabul garrison
last autumn, and probably shared in the massacre
of the brave Cavagnari, took away, however, any
feelings approaching to commiseration and pity,
and more than one exclamation of delight came
from our gunners as the firing went on, and became
more deadly as we came to closer range."
It was in this cavalry and artillery pursuit that
poor young Hector Maclaine, a lieutenant of the
latter force, and whose ultimate fate was so deplor-
able when he fell into the hands of Ayoub, made
himself most active.
The course to be followed at the first lay
through a low jungle and across some difficult
water-courses. At the last ditch but one. Hector
Maclaine got the four leaders of one of his guns
almost embedded in mud, but he extricated them
after great trouble, threw a quantity of timber that
chanced to lie near across the ditch, and skilfully
got his guns over and into action again.
A combined charge was now made by Colonel
Malcolmson and Major Currie, at full speed with
headlong force and weight This broke the columns
of the enemy in an instant, and abandoning their
guns, ammunition, and everything, they scattered
and fled, every man racing for life, hotly pursued
by the lance, the sword, and many a shrapnel
shell
The cavalry surrounded the guns, and then a
smart fire was opened on them by a number of
mutineers, who had concealed themselves unseen
amid some rocks. They were soon dislodged, all
save a few desperate Ghazis, who held on well for a
time, and then all was over with them.
The cavalry pursued them for some distance, but
were recalled to bring the captured guns, waggons,
treasure, and stores into camp. The loss inflicted
on the mutineers — 200 according to one account,
only 50 according to another — ^was not particularly
heavy, owing to the nature of the ground, which
afforded cover, and caused the expenditure of much
ammunition without eflect ; but a dangerous body
of men, whose defection in the hour of battle might
have been most disastrous, had been dispersed and
got rid of for a time, as of course they all joined
Ayoub Khan, who was still pressing on. Among
the slain men were a colonel of artillery and two
captains of Cabulee regiments.
In consequence of this defection, the plans (rf
General Burrows were entirely altered, and on the
following day he fell back upon Kushk-i-Nakhud,
or " The Shepherd's Tomb," where many signs of
cultivation were to be seen, and where stands an
old fort, but too dilapidated to be of use in war£u^
Our own loss on the 14th was only three of the 66th
wounded, and a few horses killed.
The 17th of July brought tidings that Abdur
Rahman was advancing with troops and a train of
sixteen mountain guns; that the tribes were all
seething in the south and in other quarters ; and on
the following day, or thereabout, the 17th Bengal
Cavalry quitted Cabul, the first step in the intended
retirement; yet a letter written from Safed Sang
near the city, on the 19th, contains the following : —
" The hostility of the Afghans towards us is not
only unabated, but is ever increasing in virulence.
The plan which the authorities have pursued of
* deporting ' leading Afghans to India has excited
the bitterest hostility. Mohammedan and Hindoo
alike meet death with even disdainful fortitude, but
exile to a strange land has for them peculiar
terrors. Our correspondent," writes the Manchester
Guardian, " points out that the removal of Yakoub
Khan led to the attack on General Roberts from
Cabul, and the expulsion of that officer. General
Daud Shah's deportation produced the most
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WEAKNESS OF BURROWS* FORCE.
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dangerous combination among the Mohmunds that
our forces have had to deal with, and the passage
of the Mustoufi, once our most trusted agent,
through the Khyber region, on his way to Meerut,
produced an immense commotion and stir among
the tribes, and led to severe engagements. Our
correspondent describes the sufferings of the troops,
whether native or European, from the heat and ex-
cessive labour, njscessitated by the weakness of the
various garrisons, and states that if the occupation
is to be prolonged through another winter it will
become a very serious question as to how the troops
are to be provided The mortality and invaliding
consequent upon the terrible cold of the last winter
were very great, and the difficulty in obtaining
recruits from India to fill up the gaps thus formed
in the fighting line becomes daily more marked.
It has become necessary to look to Madras for our
sepoys instead of the fighting races of the Punjaub
and Upper India, and a bounty of 50 rupees, or
nearly ^5, has been sanctioned for all recruits.
For a native soldier to receive this amount on en-
listment is equivalent to a bounty of £$0 being
offered to a recruit in Britain."
Our troops at Kushk-i-Nakhud found supplies
plentiful, but wood scarce. It was there that on
the 26th of February of the preceding year the
soldiers of Aboo Bukur attacked General Biddulph's
rear-guard, consisting of two squadrons of the 3rd
Scinde Horse and 120 bayonets of the 2nd
Beloochees, and were signally repulsed, with the
loss of over 100 men ; and there it was that the
gallant Major Reynolds, of the Scinde Horse, was
killed, while charging at their head
Before detailing the startling events that occurred
at Kushk i-Nakhud and Maiwand, it may be ne-
cessary to glance at the military situatioa
The former place is situated as nearly as possible
midway between Candahar and the Helmund
River, and exactly at the delta of the routes from
Girishk and Hyderabad, by either of which Ayoub
Khan, being now unopposed, could cross the
Helmund at will by its many easy fords. The
position has been deemed bad, as it was intersected
by canals, water-courses, and the stone walls of
gardens, vineyards, and ruinous houses, affording
easy cover to an artful enemy, who might decline
or deliver an attack at his option.
Matters were already looking serious, as General
Burrows' column was now attenuated to not more
than 1,600 bayonets, with 500 sabres and ten guns,
while Ayoub — whose very name won him favour
with the Mohammedans, as it means Job, and is taken
from that of the standard-bearer of the Prophet,
who was killed at the first siege of Constantinople
in 668 — had with him, as reported, 4,000 regular
infantry, 4,000 Ghazis, and 4,000 horse, and he
was not wanting in Russian officers to lead his
Afghan artillery, and give their European experience
in the choice of positions, and how to attack or de-
fend them.
In Candahar were only the Poonah Horse, the
19th and 29th Bombay Native Infantry, with
fourteen guns, making, however, in all little over
3,000 men, with a small sick list Hourly they
waited with no small excitement the arrival of news
from Kushk-i-Nakhud, while hard at work pulling
down or blowing up, amid clouds of dust, and the
blaze and thunder of exploding mines, all those
houses too near the ramparts which impeded
artillery fire, strengthening the gates by flanking
works, and restoring all trenches and gaps. But
the weather was fine and not over hot, and on the
occasion when Colonel Hills made his final inspec-
tion of the city and citadel, " the evening sun was
setting," wrote one who was present, "and the
horizon around, bathed in gold and purple, almost
realised to the eye those glorious Eastern landscapes
which the pencil of Stanfield, Grieve, or Beverley
gave to the stage in spectacular dramas. The
fading light, bathing in its warm tints the surround-
ing verdure, and the glint of many small streams,
shone upon the white walls of citadel and mosque,
and imparted a fairy-like grandeur to the scene."
CHAPTER XXL
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) :— THE BATTLE OF MAIWAND, OR KUSHK-I-NAKHUD.
Encouraged by the desertion of the Wall's troops,
and by the number of Ghazis that were joining him,
Ayoub crossed the Helmund at Hyderabad, and
was still coining on. Accordingly, a cavalry recon-
naissance set out from the camp at Kushk-i-Nakhud.
It consisted of two Royal Horse Artillery guns,
under Captain Ramsay Slade and the unfortunate
Lieutenant Hector Maclaine ; a squadron of the
3rd (Queen's Own) Light Cavahy (formerly the
4th Irregular Horse), under Major Currie and
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LKoshkU-Nakhnd.
Captain Willoughby ; a squadron of the 3rd Scinde
Horse, under Captain Gordon and Lieutenant
Monteith — in all, only 200 sabres.
As the service these men were going on was
with not an ounce of superfluous weight, and a
muscle well developed by constant lance and sword
exercise in the manage. The men were, as a rule,
uncommonly well mounted, and I was surprised to
ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN, AMEER OF AFGHANISTAN.
most important, and as there was every chance of
them coming into personal contact with some of
Ayoub's well-skilled and well-equipped cavalry,
Major Currie suggested that they should all be
picked troopers and perfect swordsmen. Conse-
quently, as Major Ashe tells us in his " Personal
Records of the Candahar Campaign," "the men
were splendid-looking specimens of the race from
which they came : long-limbed, lean, and sinewy.
see such an evidence of breeding, as well as sub-
stance, although few of the animals were up to
much weight .... The men, as a rule, ride
well, depending, however, less upon the balance
than our British troopers, and riding more with the
knees and calf, while I particularly noticed that
they did not hang on to the bridle. The bamboo
lance in the hands of these fellows b a most deadly
weapon, and their constant practice at tent-pegging
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Sanshar.^
CURRIERS RECONNOITRING PARTY.
MS
has made them as certahi of their mark as a well-
aimed bullet from a rifle. Most of these men are
fer better swordsmen than our own troopers, whose
cumbersome sabres, that won't cut and cannot
point, with their heavy steel scabbards, are not to
be compared with the native tulwar, whose keen
and razor-like edge enables its owner to lop off" a
head or a limb as easily as cutting a cabbage."
It was arranged that the sections of fours should
and among them were letters from Ayoub to native
chiefs, who were then in the British camp as
allies !
The guns were in the centre of the reconnoitring
party, which, after a long mardi, halted within four
miles of Sanghar, where 500 of Ayoub's cavalry
had been seen scouting a day or two before.
Vedettes were posted, and the troops breakfasted
under the cool shadow of a mango grove ; but in
REFERENCES,
Aycu9s March* — >
C^mbmU,^ ... ^
Boiae Of ICHos.
ro «M£»i
PLAN OF GBNBRAL BURROWS* MARCH TO THE HELMUND QULV 4—29, 1880).
always, if possible, consist of the same men.
Guided by two Ghilzies, who had narrowly escaped
a pursuing party of Ayoub's cavalry over difficult
ground, and with whom they had a deadly combat,
on the morning of the 22nd July, Major Currie's
reconnoitring party quitted the camp in light
marching order at two o'clock a.m., lighted by the
misty rays of a weird-like moon, across the face of
which the black clouds were scudding before a high
and gusty wind
On the dead body of an Afghan trooper, who
had been recently shot by the Ghilzie spies, was
discovered a leathern despatch-bag, full of impor-
tant papers, which were sent to General Burrows,
N
half an hour after they were mounted again, they
saw by the field-glass a large body of horsemen
moving slowly across the plain, their lance-heads
and other bright points glittering in the sunshine.
Currie wheeled his force to the left, and got
cover for it in rear of a hillock, while the enemy,
all unconscious of his presence, came deliberately
on. At the end of this eminence there opened a
deep and wooded nullah, with rocks strewn about
it, compelling the whole to make a wide detour,
which eventually brought it face to face with the
enemy, and within carbine range.
They at once threw forward a body of skir-
mishers, who advanced rapidly across the plain in
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Mai wand.
extended order, firing quickly, but very much at
random, from the saddle ; then Major Currie
checked them by a similar movement, but in a
different manner, by making some of his cavalry
dismount in the mode to which the sections of
fours had been trained — thus : No. 3 of each sec-
tion held the other three horses, two on his right
and one on his left, which enabled him to gallop
quickly to the rear, when the squadron fought on
foot The latter, enabled to take a better aim,
drove in the mounted skirmishers, while the main
body remained ready to charge, and the guns were
taken at a rapid pace to the crest of a hill, which
enabled them to command the front, and enfilade
the Afghans in flank.
Taking advantage of every bush and stone,
Currie's skirmishers got nearer and nearer the
enemy, and every now and then a man or horse
went down, or was conveyed limping to the rear.
" Meanwhile, in the front of their main body, com-
posed of about three hundred horsemen, rode a
tall officer, mounted on a grey horse of remarkable
size and splendid action. With our glasses," says
Major Ashe, "we could see him snatch the standard,
or guidoHy fi-om the standard-bearer, and evidently
exhort his men to follow him. At this juncture a
shell, well aimed from Slade*s gun, dropped within
a yard or two of the front rank. This was enough,
for the line of Afghan skirmishers wheeled sud-
denly round like one man, and galloped madly to
the rear."
The main body became thereby mfected with a
panic, and cantered off in confusion towards the
river, where a large force of infantry were seen,
with some guns in position ; and while they cantered
on, Slade dropped a few more shells into them ;
but as nothing more could be done, and the where-
abouts of the enemy had been distinctly made
known, Currie's reconnoitring party returned to
camp, after having been twenty-one hours in the
saddle.
Battle was now looked for hourly ; and day and
night a vigilant watch was kept, yet not so vigilant
but that the enemy were enabled to surprise some
of the Scinde Horse on out-post duty and kill two
of them.
On the following day, the enemy's cavalry were
seen boldly reconnoitring in the immediate vicinity
of General Burrows' camp. According to informa-
tion supplied by Colonel St John, the political
officer, Ayoub was still at Hyderabad on the 23rd,
but between that date and the 27 th, unknown to
our leaders, he had worked his way secretiy along
the northern slopes of a range of hiUs that bounded
the plain where the British camp stood, until he
reached Maiwand, only three miles fi-om it, and
from whence, when the hour came, he was able to
deliver his attack with such force, and such a
fatal sequel !
Early in the morning of Tuesday the 27th July,
Colonel St. John, after receiving distinct information
of Ayoub*s presence at Maiwand, sent information
of it to General Burrows, who at once gave orders
for an advance against the enemy. "Without
being taken by surprise," wrote an officer who was
in the camp, "I may at once say that on the
previous evening no one had the smallest idea of
the proximity of our antagonists, whose flank
march, screened by the hills to the north, showed
strategy of no mean order, while on our side the
unguarded portal and the pathway left on our right
are faults that have yet to be explained."
The regiments were formed in contiguous
columns, and breakfast — the last breakfast it proved
to many — was served to them in the ranks,
while the cavalry dismounted and the infantry
piled arms to partake of their slender meal, when
other messengers came hurrying in from the
front, to reiterate that Ayoub's advanced guard was
really at Maiwand, three miles distant only, and in
force.
At half-past eight in the morning, the 3rd Scinde
Horse, with two pieces of cannon, went out to " feel
them," and by nine, the deep hoarse boom of the
artillery announced that the duel had b^un between
these two arms art the head of the valley, the
avenue to which had been somehow left open,
and so the enemy wtre feeling their way west-
ward along the slopes of the hills. The ground
Burrows selected to fight upon was not so strong
as that occupied by the camp he was leaving, as
the undulating ground in his front gave every
cover and shelter from his fire, and their guns,
which took post on the heights, and were superior
to ours in number, soon told disastrously upon our
troops in front and on the flank.
Though the cavalry skirmished sharply till one
o'clock, the battle was chiefly maintained by the
artillery. Meanwhile, Ayoub was pushing forward
out of the valley, deploying regiment after regi-
ment into line, and showing six brigades of ably-
handled cannon in front ; seven regiments of
infantry — one of which was, no doubt, the old
Cabulee battalion — formed his centre; on their
right were 400 cavalry; and 2,000 Ghazis, with
more infantry, formed the left
There was a corps de reserve of cavalry and
infantry, with more guns, all judiciously posted on
the best ground on the sloping sides of the hills,
and a fine array the whole made with their arms
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MaiwaixLl
CHARGE OF THE GHAZIS.
'47
glittering in the sun, and their colours and pennons
streaming on the wind.
General Burrows* formation was thus: — Five
gunsy under Major Blackwood, were posted at
intervals along the front ; five companies of Jacob's
Rifles, under Colonel Mainwaring, held the extreme
left; next them were the 66th, under Colonel
James Galbraith, "who, with his Majors, Oliver
and Ready, had been identified since boyhood with
the raiment"
On the left were the ist Bombay Grenadiers,
under Colonel Anderson, a most popular officer.
In rear were the small force of cavaby, kept out of
range of fire as much as possible, and consisting
only of 300 of the 3rd Light Horse under Major
Carrie, Bud 200 of the Scinde Horse under Colonel
Malcolmson.
In fix>nt of the line was the general, accom-
panied by Colonel St John, the Nawab Hasan Ali
Khan, Major Blackwood, and the whole staff.
•* Our position, I must honestly own, was faulty
in th^ extreme," wrote an officer who was present ;
•* but it was made worse by our slight entrench-
ments, and the old Afghan outposts, of which a
handful of resolute men might have made a second
Hougoumont Kushk-i-Nakhud, a ruined village,
but offering a splendid ^'n/ d^appui in front of
our camp, should have been held by the native
r^ments, as the place could have been entrenched
in an hour, and was flanked on the right by the
mined Afghan fort of which I have already spoken,
and which, in its turn, was again commanded by
the spur of a hill on our right, and which coign of
vantage, had we posted a couple of guns ^ there,
would have commanded the road to Candahar,
and secured us at least a safe means of retreat"
The initiative was taken by Ayoub's cavalry,
which, accompanied by a few pieces of cannon,
made a feigned demonstration against our right
front, that would have been unassailable in its old
position ; but the ruse was not seen through, and
the already weak force of Burrows was further im-
paired by the despatch of two guns and a squadron
of cavalry, which were drawn away by the enemy's
feigned retreat, and were eventually captured
So it would seem that General Burrows, instead
of availing himself of the natural features of the
place, strengthening them by earthworks and abattis,
and garrisoning the ruined village and the old Afghan
fort, quitted a fairly good position, and pushed
through the open into the trap prepared for him by
a powerfril adversary, who had carefully felt his
way westward along the slope of the hills over-
looking the plain.
When eleven o'clock came, an artillery duel had
lasted for two hours ; but the range was too great
for it to be effective on either side; however,
ultimately, the enemy's guns were so well served,
that the superiority of ours in weight of metal and
rifling went for nothing.
The advantages of the ground, fort, and village
were neglected, and the order was given for the
the line to advance and support the two guns and
the squadron that had been lured away. Though
few in number, our rifled 9-pounders were superior
in range and accuracy of fire over the Afghan
smooth bore artillery, but this became lost when the
range was decreased to a thousand yards, for their
fire, when concentrated, began to tell fearfully upon
our men and horses ; but our breechloaders made
greater havoc on the dense masses of Ayoub's
infantry, who were armed with inferior firearms.
This was speedily noticed by the prince and his
sirdars, so their regular cavalry on the right, 2,000
strong, came thundering forward at the charge to
break our left^ while the ferocious and fanatic
Ghazis were let loose on our front and right
Ayoub Khan seemed to have all his wits about
him when he expended in the first attack the
enthusiasm of this death-devoted contingent,
" which, if restrained till some critical part of the
engagement, might have resulted, as it has so often
done in these Afghan fights, in their fatally impeding
and thwarting the manoeuvres of their comrades of
the regulars."
These stalwart, muscular, and frantic devotees to
the cause of Islam, in the fury of their head-
long rush, proved too much for the ist Bombay
Grenadiers and Jacob's Rifles, who began to fall
back, while Ayoub, taking advantage of thus dis-
tracting the attention of General Burrows, led some
regular regiments in column to within three-quarters
of a mile of the camp, and under cover of the
undulating ground, when sufficiently near us sud-
denly and skilfully deployed them into line on the
crest of a ridge.
General Burrows, according the editor of " Per-
sonal Records of the Candahar Campaign," saw all
this when it was too late to undo the mischief.
" Tell Colonel Mainwaring to throw back his left
companies, or he will be outflanked, and send him
a troop of Scinde Horse," said the general, as he
shut his field-glasses and galloped to the right of
the line, where the other danger, already stated,
was to be encountered, and where the yelling
Ghazis, under cover of an infantry fire and that of
their high guns, on the very ridge that we should
have occupied, on our right, were hurling back the
two regiments of native infantry. Fierce and bitter
was the conflict now on both sides.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[MalwwKL
Two of our guns were captured, and recaptured
by the bayonet, while piles of dead and dying lay
around and between their wheels ; and in the end,
after Jacob's Rifles were forced back step by step,
by sheer dint of numbers, one of the guns remained
in possession of the enemy permanentiy, and was
turned by them upon our recoiling troops. Bloody
indeed was the hand to-hand struggle ere this was
achieved, and the brave young Osborne, who
fought that gun to the last, died with devotion by
its side.
Though a withering musketry fire still swept the
ground around the captured gun — and where the
dead and wounded lay the thirsty sand was red and
soaked with blood — the frantic Ghazis, courting
death as the avenue to heaven, came fearlessly on,
the tallest and bravest fanatics bearing their
standards, and the soldiers were fairly borne off
their feet by the desperate rush.
These Ghazis, who, by themselves, outnumbered
our total force, pressed furiously upon the entangled
mass of native infantry, while the main body of
their regulars came steadily on in support
In the centre, the Berkshire Regiment had,
meanwhile, alternately been ordered to lie down
and advance, thus escaping the fire of Afghan
shells which whistled over them. In the rear and
centre of their line, clad in his full uniform, and
conspicuous on an iron-grey Arab, rode their
colonel, the gallant James Galbraith, cheering
them on.
"Spare your ammunition, my lads," he was
heard to cry ; " fire low and steadily — give them the
cold steel ! "
A sudden charge upon the right centre was now
checked by Major J. Tobin Ready of the 66th,
commanding the flank company, by wheeling it up,
and pouring in a fusillade at 200 yards* distance ;
and with great difficulty he prevented his men,
flushed as they were with success, from dashing
with their bayonets after the Afghan infantry.
Unhappily this success was only that of a minute
or two.
As our centre— where the 66th "were fighting
with that majesty with which the British soldier can
fight," as Napier said of old, of the men of Badajoz
and Ciudad Roderigo— moved forward, our right
and left flanks were both weakened and compelled
to fall back, till Burrows' position became like a
two-sided triangle, the apex being the 66th, and the
sides the Native Regiments, already fearfully cut up
by the Afghan artillery on the heights to the
right and left.
In short, the whole force had advanced into a
cul-de-sac of death and destruction.
In vain now did General Burrows send out
flanking parties to skirmish up the hills, which he
should have occupied and held before the batde
began; in vain did he now seek to dislodge the
enemy firom them ; while moving swiftly along the
ridges, the irregulars of Ayoub came swooping like
a herd of tigers upon the baggage guard, which held
a walled enclosure, and consisted of one company
firom every regiment
Suddenly appearing in still greater numbers, the
Ghazis, with heads stooped behind their shields,
fell with unexampled fury upon the rearguard,
causing great disorder, but a company of the 66th
restored, for a time, that confidence which seemed
to have been shaken out of the Bombay Grenadiers
and Jacob's Rifles. Captains Walter Roberts and
Lynch, of the 66th, rallied their men so resolutely
that the baggage and stores were saved then, with
the loss of a hundred killed and wounded, among
the former the gallant Roberts himself. He fell,
sword in hand, over the bodies of six Ghazis whom
he had shot or cut down.
It was now two o'clock, and the British centre,
where the noble Berkshire Regiment held its ground,
was still unshaken, though still unsupported on
either flank, and their steady fire, directed by
Galbraith, had now nearly pierced the Afghan
centre, where piles of prostrate bodies displayed its
dire effect The colonel, conspicuous in his scarlet
tunic, seemed a special mark to the enemy, and
within fiVQ minutes he escaped nearly as many
bullets. One cut the crupper of his saddle, and
another passed through his horse's mane, others
grazed him perilously near.
Bufrows sent an officer, urging him to dismount
" No, my dear fellow," he replied ; " duty tells
me my men should see their colonel as they
always see him on parade, mounted and con-
spicuous not only to them but to the enemy."
Ayoub had brought up a couple of guns to
enfilade our weakened right flank, and had moved
up his regular infantry to make a charge under
cover of their fire. Early in the day Galbraith had
seen the importance of this position, and asked to
be permitted to occupy it by two companies of his
devoted 66th, with two guns, but was refused-
" The ground we should have held," says Major
Ashe, "was abandoned to the foe, and our men
were assailed from the very point where we should
have galled and thrown back the enemy. While
this manoeuvre was being carried out by Ayoub,
our cavalry and artillery, being, I must own,
somewhat badly posted, suffered severely; while
Galbraith, an officer of much Indian experience,
made his men lie down to avoid the terribly hot
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DEATH OF GALBRAITH.
149
fire which now, from rifle and smooth bore, from
9 and 12 pounders, poured its shells upon us. At
this time — ^half-past two — all I could see of our
position was as follows : — O* :r cavalry and artillery
were doing but little, being in both cases terribly
out-numbered by the enemy, who rained shot and
shell upon us till the horrors of Sedan seemed, on
a smaller scale, to be revived. * Oh, for one hour
of Roberts I ' cried one of the subalterns, as with
boy-like insouciance he lit a cigarette and felt his six-
shooter and sword. * We are in a mess ; but a man
who could handle troops like old Oakes, or Sayer,
or Val Baker, would get us out of this rat-trap ! ' "
By three o'clock Ayoub Khan delivered his final
stroke.
Alone, of all our force, had the Berkshire Regi-
ment pushed steadily on through masses of cavalry
and infantry and hordes of Ghazis armed with
tulwar and shield, yelling and shouting like fiends
on all sides. Galbraith, on his grey Arab, was
bareheaded now, a stroke fi-om a sword having
knocked off his helmet, for which the giver of the
stroke suffered dearly. He cheered on his men,
and shoulder to shoulder the steady British line —
the narrow apex of the broken triangle — through
the hordes of turbaned Ghazis, through the rolling
smoke, through the lurid light of the blazing gun-
fire and bursting shells— went up the fatal slopes,
where many were to leave their bones for ever.
Burrows, to do him justice, did all a brave
soldier could do to retrieve the falling fortunes of
this most fatal day ; and had one other battalion of
Britons been in the field, the story of Maiwand had
been different Galbraith and his senior major,
Valentine Oliver, finding themselves well to the
firont and alone now, with only four companies, on
a deadly ridge swept firom flank to flank by thirty
guns — placed and pointed, it was shrewdly suspected,
by Russian gunners — saw that their only chance of
escaping annihilation was to fall back upon what
had been their camp ; and thus, at three o'clock,
they found themselves near it on the Candahar
road, the point fi-om which they had started in the
morning, but completely cut off from the artillery
and cavahy.
These 400 men fell back in splendid order,
under a fire fi-om more than 4,000 rifles, that were,
luckily, alike ill-aimed and ill-sighted. They did
so by alternate wings, Galbraith commanding one
and Oliver the other. Twice the cavalry came
thundering on, with lances and tulwars glittering
through clouds of rolling dust, and twice in clear
English rang out the orders —
" On the centre sections — form square ! Prepare
for cavalry ! "
While sheets of flame and lead came from the
rear ranks, the flashing bayonets of the front bore
back both horse and man, and many an Afghan
cavalier, in all his glittering bravery, rolled with his
turbaned head in the dust, while riderless chargers
galloped madly away on every hand.
Fast fell our soldiers as this sad day wore on.
All the force was falling back on the camp. The
left wing, where Jacob's Rifles had been posted
with two guns, was in hopeless disorder, the
skeleton companies of the 66th alone holding the
enemy in check. Galbraith fell while leading the
rear-guard on, and Majors Oliver and Ready were
both badly hit
The heroic Galbraith was last seen on the bank
of a nullah, wounded, and compelled to kneel on
one knee, with one of the regimental colours in his
hand, with his officers and men rallying bravely
and devotedly round him, and there his body was
afterwards found. Here, too, fell Captain Hamilton
MacMath, who, had his life been spared, would
have won high distinction in the service. Close
by him Lieutenant Harry Outram Barr was shot
dead across his colour. Captains Stephen Garrett
and James Cullen were both killed while command-
ing their companies and giving their orders coolly,
as if upon parade. Captain Roberts was mortally
wounded, as we have said, in the garden. There
also fell Lieutenants Rayner, Chute, Olivey, and
Honywood. The last two were seen holding the
colours — laden with nine Peninsular honours — the
pole of one being shattered — as rallying points.
Honywood was shot dead while holding the
colours high above his head and shouting, " Men,
what shall we do to save this ? "
Sergeant-Major Cuppage was shot down while
carrying a colour, and many other oflftcers and men
perished in attempting to save those treasured
emblems, the colours of their regiment — the old
66th of gallant memory, a regiment dating from
1758.
On the regiment, or what remained of it, falling
back from that fatal ridge, the enemy had further
developed his attack, advancing not only on the
flanks, but in front and rear, although the fire of
the Berkshire told heavily. Ayoub's reserve came
suddenly from behind the hills, with hordes of
yelling Ghazis in front Jacob's Rifles, which were
attempting to cover the left, were completely rolled
up, and fled to the rear of the 66th, carrying with
them the band of that regiment.
"My children, for heaven's sake, form square
and keep steady ! " cried Colonel Anderson to his
Grenadiers in Hindostanee.
But it was too late, and the Ghazis were so close
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upon them that they dashed their very shields
against the soldiers' faces.
The infantry had now become separated, as we
have said, from the cavalry and what remained of
the artillery ; so now some remnants of the former
force, 66th men, Jacob's Rifles, and Bombay
Grenadiers, made a species of desperate rally in an
enclosure, which measured eighty feet each way.
down masses of stone upon the swarms of assailants
who still came pouring on, "and in a few mo-
ments," wrote one, " we were grappling these lithe
and sinewy fanatics by their throats and beards,
and knives and bayonets contended in the deadly
clash. Twice did we beat them back, hurling
their bodies, alive or dead, over our shelter walls,
while the shouts of defiance given by our men
COLONEL GALBRAITH.
with walls twenty feet high, wherein the sick and
stores had been deposited ; but the whole story of
the battle becomes more confused than ever.
It would seem that the fire of our soldiers began
to slacken, owing to the scarcity of ammunition,
while that of the enemy became hotter and more
galling than ever on the enclosed building, and
the Ghazis were thus emboldened to come to closer
quarters. They made a rush upon the northern
and eastern faces of the building, and a desperate
hand-to-hand struggle, with sword, bayonet, and
clubbed musket took place within it.
On the walls stood our brave officers, hurling
were met by yells of rage from our assailing
hordes."
A little hope was given the defenders when they
saw that one of our guns had escaped the enemy
and had opened fire on them when, luckily, they
had no cannon in that quarter. Our artillerymen
worked it nobly and with deadly effect, but so
quickly, that by continual firing it became too hot
to be serviceable, and it fell into the hands of the
enemy.
More Ghazis were now seen crawling from a
neighbouring gorge, ready to hurl their fury upon
the enclosure, a movement which struck a panic
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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into the hearts of the sepoys, who now clamoured
to be led forth to meet them in the open. General
4 Burrows, who had faced all this carnage, and stood
' amidst the hottest fire with the unflinching courage
of a genuine British officer, vainly called on them
to imitate the dogged courage of the 66th; but
the panic increased, and fearing it might infect the
latter corps, he decided to make a retreat along
the Candahar road, lest all should be destroy^
where they stood. As the report of Colonel St
John gave it, " after a severe fight in the enclosed
ground. General Burrows succeeded in extricating
the infantry, and brought them into line of retreat"
Meanwhile he gave no account of the non-com-
batants, who, to the number of some thousands,
weje streaming wildly along the open road, en-
deavouring to save the baggage ; and with this
stream of fugitives the remnants of our infantry
were soon mingled.
Our cavalry, however, were still charging the
enemy, and the Royal Artillery stuck bravely to
the last gun they retained in that quarter. Two
were cut down beside it ; a third was brained by a
matchlock ; a fourth, when the Ghazis clung to the
wheel to prevent it from being carried off, was
saved only by the valour of Major Blackwood, who
was then desperately wounded, and of whom it was
said ** that not a better soldier or braver man ever
served the Queen." But the gun was lost, and
from that moment all became a confused and
disastrous flight
Major Blackwood fell soon after. He was the
son of Major Blackwood, formerly of the 59th
Bengal Native Infantry, and latterly a partner of
the well-known Scottish publishers of the same
name. With him in this last desperate effort there
perished Lieutenants T. R. Henn of the Royal
Engineers, and William Hinde of the ist Bombay
Native Infantry.
In forwarding some documents to Simla, Lieut -
General Primrose, commanding the ist Division
in Afghanistan, wrote thus . —
" I have it on the authority of a colonel of the
artillery of Ayoub Khan, who was present at the
time, that a party of the 66th Regiment, which he
estimated at 100 officers and men, made a most
determined stand in a garden. They were sur-
rounded by the whole Afghan army, and fought on
till only eleven men were left, inflicting enormous
loss upon the enemy. These eleven charged out
of the garden, and died with their faces to the foe,
fighting to the death. Such was the nature of their
charge and the grandeur of their bearing, that
although the Ghazis were assembled round them
not one dared to approach to cut them down.
Thus standing in the open, back to back, firing
steadily and truly, every shot telling, surrounded
by thousands, these eleven officers and men died ;
and it was not until the last man had been shot
down that the Ghazis dared to advance upon
them. He further adds that the conduct of these
men won the admiration of all who witnessed it*
Thi6 was the testimony of a man who witnessed
the scene, and gave the information before Brigadier-
General Daubeny proceeded to Maiwand. From
an examination of the ground, fi^om corroborative
evidence, and from the position in which the bodies
were found, I have not the least hesitation in stating
that this account is true; and I think his Excel-
lency will agree with me when I say that history
does not afford a grander or finer instance of
gallantry and devotion to Queen and country than
that displayed by the 66th Regiment on the 27 th
of July, 1880."
It was a repetition of the awftil Afghan tragedy
that occurred near Jugdulluk in 184 1 at Lai Teebah,
or the Hill of Blood, as it is now named.
As evening was drawing near, the Afghan cavalry
poured in fast-increasing masses over the hills,
when they saw the relics of Burrows' force streaming
out of the enclosure, jostling and hindering each
other in confusion at its gate. Their squadrons
were on the hills that skirted one side of the pass
into which Burrows had been lured early in this
fatal day, and a few of ours were still lingering on
the opposite acclivity, when the gallant Currie who
commanded, saw the former preparing to attack
him.
He had by him but a few files of his noble
Scinde troopers — few but undismayed — and at the
head of these he boldly faced the vast mass of the
enemy, who were led by a tall Afghan, covered
with gold embroidery, and by whose side rode the
bearer of a gold and blue standard, that had been
conspicuous amid the carnage all day.
" Follow me— charge ! " cried Currie, brandishing
his sword, and he pierced through and through the
enemy's cavalry as if they had been a bank of
smoke, fairly rolling them up ; but soon the roar
of musketry, the booming of heavy artillery, and
the smoke and dust that obscured the clear
evening sky, announced that Ayoub had brought
up men of other arms to support his cavalry, y^
Currie charged more than once to enable the
fugitives to attempt some formation on the Can-
dahar road.
But the Afghan cavalry seemed mysteriously to
increase in numbers, as they issued from nullahs
and hollows where they had lain in ambush, and
spreading over the open, cut down all they could
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RETREAT OF THE BRITISH.
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overtake, spearing the wounded as they passed
them ; and a few unfortunate creatures who had
taken refuge in the musjid or tomb of an Afghan
santon, 800 yards from the road, were surrounded
and slaiightered therein to a man.
The very road was slippery with blood, and all
along it was a fierce tide of flying men, and on every
side were heard yells and oaths, shouts, curses,
and the bellowing of laden camels, with incessant
random shots in the rear. The troops were with-
our ammunition was captured ; in fact, all that was
saved was what the men were enabled to carry
with them from the field. We had been savagely
attacked on leaving our entrenchments, and how
we escaped annihilation is yet a mystery. In two
hours we had only accomplished about six miles of
our wretched journey, as we had to face about
and defend ourselves at every bend and turn
of the road, and it was impossible not to fore-
see and foretell in the horrors that we saw
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF MAIWAND OULY 27, 1880).
out water, and by some terrible fatality, the Can-
dahar road indicated by the general — the upper
one — vras not taken, but the lower, which at that
season is always utterly without it
" Not until two hours after we had started did
we commence to realise the helpless nature of our
condition," wrote an officer who was present " We
had been under arms since daylight, about four
a.m., and it was now six p.m. We had been march-
ing and fighting against an overwhelming enemy
since nine a.nL, and had been thoroughly beaten,
leaving about half our force killed upon the field,
with two of our guns lost, and the colours of the
66th and Bombay Grenadiers taken. Nearly all
around us, the fate that might yet be in store for
ourselves."
At the head of this disconsolate and desperate
column, all with their horses wounded and bleeding,
rode Colonel Mainwaring, commanding what was
called the advanced guard, with Major River and
Colonel Griffiths; Burrows had the centre, doing
all he could to cheer and encourage his men, and,
sooth to say, on that memorable 27th of July,
wherever fighting had been most desperate, there
had Burrows been found, and while two horses
had been shot under him, he escaped without a
wound, and during this terrible night retreat he
had been able to save more than one wounded
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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man by placing him en croupe upon his horse. By
his side rode Captain Grant and Lieutenant Lynch,
both wounded
General Nuttall, with the remnants of his cavalry,
had the rear-guard.
In silence and depression the troops now struggled
onward, frenzied by burning thirst after a long day
of such toil and fierce excitement ; and strong men
and weak lads alike threw themselves down in
despair. Order and method gradually departed
amid the gloom of night; soldiers and camp fol-
lowers were all huddled together "in one inex-
tricable mass of moaning and agonised humanity."
Nearly all the horses were wounded or lame,
and had their tongues fevered and blistered with
thirst Such were a few of the horrors of the
retreat to Candahar !
Nine thousand Afghans were close upon them,
and closer still were three thousand swift Heratee
horse, that more than once rode through the
fugitive masses, cutting them down till their sword
arms ached, after thirty miles of massacre and
pursuit If any soldiers ever reached Candahar,
they owed their safety to the fact that Ayoub's
horsemen spent their strength upon the defenceless
non-combatants, and that so much of their flight
was by night The pursuit was continued to within
ten miles of General Primrose's camp, along a way
littered with torn and plundered baggage, dead
cattle, and stiffening corpses.
There were but two brief halts during this
terrible night, and on both occasions the Afghans
attacked mercilessly. Hoaz-i-Madad Khan, six-
teen miles from the field, was reached, and just as
the troops struggled through the villages there, the
enemy, taking advantage of the grey dawn, pressed
upon the rear, till General Nuttall delivered a
brilliant charge, with the few troopers he had left,
and further, by a ruse, punished the pursuers.
Hearing the clatter of hoofs along the road rear-
ward, he posted fifty of his least tired men and
horses in ambush, and the plot succeeded well
As the last lagging camel or two was sighted,
the Afghans made a dash forward at a gallop.
The infantry in rear opened files, and, to their
astonishment, let them pass through; but the
moment the last horseman passed the files were
closed and drawn up, with bayonets fixed and
front ranks kneeling, across a road impassable for
cavalry, and bounded on both sides by high rocks.
A volley was poured into them ; on this they tried
to escape by a flank movement through a vineyard,
when Nuttall's ambush charged and cut them down
to a maa
Five miles farther on, where the column de-
bouched upon a plain, it was again overtaken, and
then most of the baggage was seized and the camp
followers cut to pieces.
Seven miles westward of Candahar, on the road
to Herat, is a place called Kokeran; and there,
fortunately for Burrows' fugitives, they were met by
a small force, whose presence enabled those who
were at the head of the column, when almost dead
with fatigue and thirst, to struggle through the
Herat Gate of the city.
" Meanwhile," writes a correspondent, " along
the road between Kokeran and Candahar the sun
rose upon a long string of stiffened corpses,
and the ghastly remains of those who had fallen
out from sheer exhaustion. One paramount desire
animated those who still pressed on, though all
order was lost, and soldiers and camp followers,
men and officers, mules and baggage-animals, guns
and ammunition carts, pushed on confusedly to
the front Surging backwards and forwards, this
seething, bleeding and dust - stained mass of
humanity, made up principally of the miserable
crowd of camp followers, who, in their agony and
terror, overwhelmed the handful of the 66th, who
were still showing a bold front, gave a mark to the
enemy, which they took advantage of with their
long juzails firom the neighbouring cliffs."
Our losses on that disastrous 27th of July and
the subsequent retreat were as follows : —
Europeans killed — Officers, 20; non-commis-
sioned officers and men, 290; total, 31a Euro-
peans wounded — Officers, 8; non-commissioned
officers and men, 42 ; total, 50.
Natives killed — Officers, 1 1 ; non-commissioned
officers and men, 643 ; total, 654. Natives
wounded — Officers, 9, non-commissioned oflScers
and men, 109; total, 118.
Followers, killed, 331 ; wounded, 7. Horses,
killed, 201 ; wounded, 68.
The total number of killed and missing amounted
to 1,302 ; and among the few who unhappily fell
into the hands of Ayoub was Hector Maclaine, o(
the Artillery, whom he kept a close prisoner, and
took about with him from place to place.
Almost all the ammunition was lost, together with
400 Martinis, 700 Sniders, and the two 9-pounders.
But it must be borne in mind that we had only six
pieces of cannon, opposed to the thirty-six of the
Afghans, by whom, shortly after the action, the
telegraph wires to Bombay were cut; but not
before General Primrose, commanding in Canda-
har, had sent home the tidings of our defeat
For conspicuous bravery at Maiwand, the
Victoria Cross was bestowed on Sergeant Patrick
Mullane and Gunner James CoUis, bpth of the
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RESULTS OF THE BATTLE.
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Royal Horse Artillery. In the former instance,
the award was made ; for endeavouring to save the
life of Driver Pickwell Istead. The non-com-
missioned officer, when the battery to which he
belonged was on the point of retiring, and the
enemy were within fifteen yards, unhesitatingly
ran back, and lifting up Istead, placed him on the
limber, when, unfortunately, he died of his wounds
almost immediately. Again, during the retreat,
Seigeant MuUane firequently volunteered to pro-
cure water for the wounded, and succe^ed in
doing so, by going into one of the viU^es in
which so many men lost their lives.
In the second instance, the Cross was bestowed
on Gunner Collis, for conspicuous bravery during
the retreat; when the officer commanding the
battery was endeavouring to bring on a limber with
wounded men under a cross fire, he ran forward
and drawing the enemy^s fire on himself, thus
attracted their attention from the limber.
The dead were not all buried till about the 17 th
of September, and their identification was as
painful a task as ever fell to the lot of soldiers to
perform. Upon the line of retreat 146 were
found and buried. In the enclosed gardens,
where the last stand was made, and the two pairs
of colours were lost, 122 were buried. The
villagers had already buried those who fell on
the actual field of battle ; and though the graves
were opened, for the somewhat useless purpose of
identification, and the bodies re-interred according
to nationality (though many are supposed to have
been overlooked), the approximate number was
40a Besides, the sirdar of Khelat-i-Ghilzie
reported that he buried 100 elsewhere.
Representatives of all the regiments were present
at the identification, which was conducted by
Lieutenant Beresford-Pierse, of the 66th. The
Burial Service of the Church of England and the
Catholic Funeral Mass were read, the Rev. Mr.
Cane and the Rev. Father Jackson officiating.
The band of the 7th Fusiliers played the " Dead
March in Saul;" and then the rifles of their
comrade poured three farewell volleys over the
dead, and a high cairn was erected in a conspi-
cuous position on the field.
Many dead were totally unaccounted for; they
must have straggled away from the line of retreat,
and died in lonely places, or been murdered among
the hills. The horses were all left unburied ; and
in the enclosures, where the fighting was hottest,
the ground was ploughed up by shot and strewn
with exploded shell, the debris of waggons, harness,
accoutrements, and remnants of uniforms. **We
have counted 400 graves of the enemy's regular
troops," says the report "Those of the Ghazis
are scattered everywhere, and many were carried
away to die in the villages round. The natives
state that their loss was almost fabulous."
Ayoub Khan's victory was curiously celebrated
at Cabul by his mother, performing her son's
marriage to three beautiful ladies, to whom he was
betrothed, by what is called the ceremony of the
sword — the sword in this case representing the
bridegroom.
The result of the unfortunate battle of Maiwand
caused some recrimination and dispute among
the officers in command, and led to two courts-
martiaL One on the gallant Major Currie, and the
other on Colonel Malcolmson. Generals Nuttall
and Burrows were the chief witnesses against the
former, who was accused of misbehaviour before
the enemy, when ordered to detach a troop to
succour the rear-guard during the retreat, having
"proceeded with another troop required for duty
at a distance from the enemy, instead of going to
the post of honour and covering the retreat"
It was a vexatious charge, of which he was
honourably acquitted.
That against Colonel Malcolmson was chiefly
for having out-marched the retreating force, and
for openly advising the abandonment of the guns
and baggage. The chief witnesses in this case
were also Generals Burrows and Nuttall. The
Indian press unanimously deplored the prosecu-
tion of Colonel Malcolmson, who, however, was
honourably acquitted ; while General Burrows was
removed from the Brigade Staff.
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ARRIVAL OF THE FUGITIVES FROM MAIVVAND.
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EEDGAH, OR NORTH GATE, CANDAHAR.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) :~ CANDAHAR INVESTED.
At Candahar, the arrival of the first portion of the
broken column, chiefly composed of camp followers,
their terror-stricken and woebegone aspect, with their
excited accounts of what had taken place, spread
an alarm and positive panic through the entire
city; and such was the confusion, that sentinels
quitted their posts and guard-rooms were emptied ;
public offices and stores were abandoned by their
keepers and occupants, an impression having gained
ground that a bloodthirsty foe, flushed with con-
quest, was already at the gates ; and now for a last
glance at the closing episodes of the retreat
The rear of the whole was now protected by 250
cavalry, and two Horse Artillery guns, under
Burrows and Nuttall, who left nothing undone to
save the wounded and the weary from falling into
the hands of the merciless foe, between Kokeran
and the Herat Gate, by having them placed, as they
fell exhausted, on the guns and Cabul baggage-
ponies, which remained
On a steep crag overlooking a portion of the road,
o
where the rear-guard determined to make its last
stand, a large body of Ghazis were swarming now ;
and on its all but inaccessible summit, they had
actually contrived to get one of their lighter guns
into position. Each body of Ghazis was as usual
led by a chief, having a distinguishing banner.
Shell after shell from this gun came crashing
downward into the disordered mass which was
wearily defiling below and unable to return the fire,
though a deep ravine protected them from rifle shot.
In this deadly emergency. Major Tobin Ready, of
the 66th, volunteered to dislodge the foe.
Taking with him only fifty men, all that could be
spared, he bravely ascended the heights, the nature
of the ground fortunately concealing his move-
ments, until he had gained a footing for his
devoted little band within 200 yards of the mob of
fanatics, who were intently firing on the column.
Crossing the height, Ready softly and secretly
got his men lodged in rear of some rocks, all
breathless but full of ardour to avenge the fall of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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their beloved colonel and so many gallant com-
rades, " As the caps of our * Berkshires ' appeared
upon the ledge of rocks to the right of where the
enemy were posted, and as they dashed at the
Ghazi standards, a ringing cheer, such as Britons
alone can give, went forth from our stormers,
whose hearts were evidently in their work, and
would take no denial to what they had resolved to
achieve."
Their hearty cheers from such an unexpected
quarter, smote the Ghazis with sudden dismay;
they recoiled before the little but steady line of
avenging bayonets, and went leaping, plunging, and
tumbling down the rocks in all directions, while
their standards were captured, and the stragglers
below were enabled to continue their march un-
molested In this last affair. Colonel St. John had
his horse shot under him, and Burrows was seen
galloping wherever the fire was hottest, men falling
the while by his side on every hand ; and it was
with intense relief that the survivors of his force
found themselves at last in the old cantonments
of Candahar, which are about a mile and a half
westward of the city, and situated on the road to
Kokeran.
They consisted of three great blocks of barracks,
built east and west, with an enclosure of forty-three
acres, called the Sappers' Garden, and were about
forty years old. Here General Primrose com-
manding in Candahar, had his head-quarters ; and
preparations were at once made to resist any
attack.
In round numbers, he had only 3,000 men as a
garrison ; but felt confident that he could hold out
till relieved by Generals Phayre or Roberts, and
yet, if both failed him, he knew that every British
soldier in Candahar would be mercilessly
slaughtered if the city was taken. He had ten
Artillery guns, the Poonah Horse, the 7th Fusiliers,
the 19th and 29th Bengal Native Infantry, while
the remnants of Burrows' troops made up his little
force.
Roberts was still far away in Cabul, thus it was
expected that the immediate succour would come
from General Phayre, who held Quettah and the
posts along the line, with six battalions of Bengal
Infantry, three regiments of cavalry, three com-
panies of Sappers, and three batteries of Artillery.
The anxiety for our small garrison in Khelat-i-
Ghilzie, was great at this time. There Colonel
Tanner had with him only one Bombay regiment,
two companies of the 66th, and a few cavalry and
artillery. As far back as the i6th of July, Ayoub
had written to the villages around the fort threaten-
ing them with fire and sword if they sold supplies
of any sort, as he was about to drive the British
out ; and a formidable Ghilzie chief in the vicinity
named Mohammed Aslam Khan, was supposed to
be in secret communication with Ayoub.
Now, once again, as in 1839 and 1842, Candahar
was to be the scene of important operations by the
British troops. The capital of an extensive province
of the same name, it has a fortress near it on a pre-
cipitous rock, and which, before the introduction of
cannon, was deemed, like many others, impregnable.
In very early times it was the residence of a Hindoo
prince, mentioned in Sanscrit poetry as the Rajah
of Gandhara. Ferrier says that it was one of the
seven cities built in the interior of Asia by Alexander
the Great, and it is said to have been called from
the Gandharas, who migrated from the westward
of the Indus in the fourth century. Under the
Parthians and Sassanides, its history is enveloped
in darkness, till the successors of Mohammed in-
vaded Persia.
In the first age of the Hegira, the Arabs pene-
trated to it "In the year of the Hegira, 304
(a.d. 916), in the Caliphate of Moktader, when
digging for the foundation of a tower at Candahar,
a subterranean cave was discovered, in which were
about 1,000 Arab heads, all attached to the same
chain, which had evidently remained in good pre-
servation since the year of the Hegira, 70, for a
paper with this date was found attached by a
silken thread to the ears of the twenty-nine most
important skulls, with their proper names."
Major Le Mesurier, of the Engineers, in his
work on "Candahar in 1879," mentions that he
saw a moimd, which might once have been a
tower, from which some earth had fallen away,
disclosing several skulls. This was at the northern
part of the old city, and just before mounting the
steps leading to the old shrine where the stone
leopards are ; Nadir Shah destroyed the old city,
after a siege of eighteen months, and put the
garrison to the sword, and founded Nadirabad two
miles to the south-eastward On the assassination
of this great conqueror in 1747, it fell into the
hands of Ahmed Shah, during whose life it was the
capital of the Afghan monarchy, but on the dis-
memberment of the latter, the brothers of Dost
Mohammed Khan established themselves at CabuL
In the days of Elphinstone, Candahar was sup-
posed to contain 100,000 souls, but its population
is perhaps less than half of that now. In form
the city is an oblong square, enclosed, according
to one account, by a mud wall 27 feet high, 26
feet thick at the base, and 14 feet thick at the top,
with a ditch 9 feet deep ; but according to another,
by an outer wall 10 feet high, 18 feet thick, with
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ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DEFENCE.
159
a chemin des rondes i8 feet wide and 20 high, and
also a covered way 30 feet wide. All the leading
Duiani families have houses here, and many of
them are large and elegant Near the palace stands
the tomb of Ahmed Shah, with a cupola richly
gilded and painted (see p. 168). He restored the
ancient name of the city, which, standing as it does
on the great road between India and Persia, soon
became wealthy and prosperous.
Villages cluster round Candahar on three sides ;
cornfields, vineyards, orchards, and luxuriant
gardens, make a veritable oasis of the plain, which
is girdled by rugged hills and desert wastes, though
through a gap in the former, the beautiful Argandab
Valley may be seen stretching for miles, with its
canals glittering in the sunshine, and its lovely river
banks teeming with fertility; and at the time
Primrose was making his preparations, the Indian
com, clover, barley, lucerne, mulberry and poplar
groves, and the red rose trees in all their perfec-
tion and beauty, adorned the landscape around
Candahar.
But watch and ward had to be surely kept now,
for hourly our sentinels, when watching the vista to
the east, where the plain of Candahar opens into
the Argandab Valley, expected to see the ciouds
of dust that would announce the approach of
cavalry, and behind them the great army which
success and fanaticism had mustered, sweeping up
from the orchard lands and willow-bordered stream,
in hope to plunder a city now enriched by our
occupation of eighteen months.
Into the citadel the general withdrew all his
troops, deeming the cantonments untenable. The
strength of the fortress and the peculiarities of its
construction were such as to banish any fear of not
holding it till relief came, either from Quettah or
CabuL Not only were the outer walls of vast thick-
ness, but the citadel itself was a complication of
formidable earthworks, behind which a disciplined
garrison could easily hope to defy an unscientific
assault. No less than forty miles of telegraph wire
were used in making entanglements without the
walls, and all the gates were plated with iron.
Such was the labyrinth of walls within walls, that
even after several days* residence there, our officers
were oflen perplexed in making their way from
point to point The city is built close up to, and
under, the external fortifications, and from the
cover of these close buildings an attacking force
could ply their batteries at the closest range, and
even perhaps effect a breach, but then they would
have to encounter a series of defences all in rear of
each other, and of great strength. Though lying
as it does upon the plain, and open to shell fire on
one side from high hills, it was confidently hoped
that, with its subterranean magazines and intricate
walled enclosures, the citadel of Candahar would
withstand the most desperate assaults of the
Afghans.
By the nth the defences were completed, and
all buildings outside that might afford cover to an
attacking force had been demolished ; and with the
exception of fresh meat, all kinds of provisions were
abundant Afghans found in the city were ex-
pelled, lest they might open the gates to the enemy,
and in revenge they set fire to the cantonments, and
so destroyed the property that the officers had been
compelled to leave in their rooms. This conflagra-
tion was rather perilous work, as the barrack
buildings were all mined.
From the day of the battle of Maiwand, spies,
scouts, and patrols kept General Primrose well
acquainted with the movements of Ayoub, who, on
the night of the 27th, had bivouacked on the field,
and assigned to his cavaby and the Ghazis the task
of pursuing the fugitive force of Burrows.
On the 4th of August he had reached Kokeran
— a walled village with a fort — by slow stages, a
mode of advance caused by the motley nature of
his levies, which swelled in number day by day, as
the news of his success became talked of in the
villages.
He had promised his followers the sack of
Candahar, and had he advanced without delay, it
is possible that he might have accomplished his
purpose ; but his troops were now beginning to hang
back, and the opportunity for striking an effectual
blow slipped from them. Quarrels arose, rival
bodies fired into each other, and Ayoub is said to
have been wounded while endeavouring to quell
this disturbance. Nevertheless the tribes to the
south of Candahar, on hearing of our defeat were
all up in arms, and the small British posts on the
line from Quettah were, in several instances, com-
pelled to fall back and unite for common protection.
Our outpost at Sibi was suddenly attacked by the
Murrees and Pathans of the surrounding hills.
They fell upon a convoy, retiring with railway
stores and a treasure chest, in a pass near Gun-
dakin Duff, and after killing sixteen soldiers and
twenty coolies, carried off the baggage the latter
were escorting, with ;^i 5,000 in cash. This was
considered rather a startling episode, as, though the
hill-men of Afghanistan have always been prone to
rob and murder, the Murrees had for years past,
under the rigorous rigime of Sir Robert Sandeman,
abandoned their old predatory habits. Sibi, an
isolated firagment of Afghanistan, situated in
Beloochistan, was the experimental terminus of a
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line of railway which it was hoped would one day
run between India and Candahar,
On the isth of August about 2,000 Afghans,
belonging to the Kakkar tribe, made a night attack
upon our post at Kuch. Their onslaught was
delivered suddenly and furiously, but the garrison,
consisting of 300 men of the i6th Bombay Native
Infantry, under Colonel Pierce, repulsed them with
great loss.
On the following day our detached camp at
Kachamadan was attacked at four in the morning
by another body of Kakkars, who were defeated
with the loss of 80 killed.
By the nth of August Ayoub was in front of
Candahar, having still on his hands the unfortu-
nate prisoner, Hector Maclaine. He had with him
37 guns, of which six were 12-pounder Armstrongs,
and about 5,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and a
number of Ghazis, averaging about 5,000 men.
He proceeded to throw up siege works, which
were stated to be of an insignificant character.
He began at once to practice against the city with
his Armstrongs, as if his gunners were seeking out
the exact range. This, and the erection of earth-
works, showed that a siege, rather than an assault,
was contemplated, and by the middle of the month
the city was almost surrounded. The telegraph
wires were cut in every direction, so thus, for a
time, Candahar was isolated from the rest of the
world.
From his guns on the hills Ayoub sent shot and
shell into the city every day. On the 15th Father
Jackson's little Catholic chapel was turned into a
hospital, and his services were conducted in a tent
On that day, as there was still no appearance of
relief coming, an inner defence was constructed
round a part of the city. It consisted of sacks of
sand and 60,000 sacks of flour; "but as we use
up a number of these daily," wrote one of the
besieged, " the wall will not long retain its present
dimensions."
A messenger, who got out of the city and
reached Quettah, informed the general there, that
Primrose had on his hands 382 sick and wounded.
Ayoub Khan was not destitute of military skill.
He was ten years younger than his cousin Abdur
Rahman, whom we had placed upon the throne,
and, whether from training at European hands, or
his own intuitive knowledge, evinced no small skill
in handling his troops among their native mountains,
and in adapting the villagers who joined him to act
as skirmishers. Accustomed from childhood to the
use of arms and scenes of bloodshed, simple and
abstemious in their mode of life, ever in the oi>en
air upon the sides of their giant mountains,
inured to toil and as reckless of their lives as of
the lives of others, these men were capable of an
amount of endurance that far overbalanced the
regular formations, the severe drill and ordinary
conditions of our well-trained, but weedy, boyish
short-service soldiers.
He had devoted adherents and keen spies in
every village, who made him acquainted with every
effort we made to obtain supplies of food and
forage, and the many details which accompany the
often artificial wants of a European army. " Our
long lines of elephants, camels, bullocks, carts
transporting huge tents, together with tables,
chairs, waterproof clothing, tinned meats, and
other unwieldy and unnecessary — so we think —
items of our military equipment," says a writer at
the time, "give him enormous advantages in our
present struggle. But when to these impedimenta
we add the hordes of native followers, outnumber-
ing, by a large percentage, our actual fighting men,
vast allowances must be made for any mistake
which a well-meaning, but not brilliant, British
leader may commit"
General Primrose estimated Ayoub's strength
before Candahar at 10,000 men, but this number
was greatly increased by fresh arrivals.
In opposition to the advice of his sirdars he
refused to deliver an assault, on the somewhat
easily met excuse, that he had no scaling-ladders,
and that he must breach the walls with his cannon
before he could venture to storm the city. His
resolution intensely dissatisfied the Heratees and
all who sided with them and were impatient for
slaughter and pillage ; so many of them left his
camp, and set out on their way homewards in
sheer disgust
General Phayre, CB.,' at Quettah, was still
unable to move for want of a commissariat train,
and from the beleaguered citadel of Candahar
General Primrose continued to look in vain for
succour from the east
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ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN.
i6i
CHAPTER XXni.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued)', — A LAST GLANCE AT CABUL — SIR FREDERICK ROBERTS'S
LETTERS OF READINESS — COMMENCEMENT OF HIS FAMOUS MARCH.
We are indebted to the " Personal Records," so
ably edited by Major Ashe (late of the King's
Dragoon Guards), for some vivid glimpses of what
was passing in Cabul, while Primrose was waiting
and watching at Candahar.
All things seemed to indicate a probable evacua-
tion of Afghanistan, and many believed that the
moment we did so the party of Mohammed Jan,
which was then holding aloof, would fight our
nominee, Abdur Rahman. Most valuable was the
presence of our troops in Cabul to the Ameer, and
they kept matters quiet till his own plans were
matured; and the Indian Government began to
think it was on the eve of a satisfactory settlement
of affairs, and that, in supporting Abdur Rahman,
they had found an Afghan sirdar with whom an
agreement was desirable and possible, before our
troops retired to what was popularly known as
" the new and scientific frontier."
But if Lord Lytton was careful to promise little,
Abdur Rahman was too cunning and cautious a
politician to pledge himself to much until he felt
himself secure upon the throne ; and when the
Marquis of Ripon became Viceroy he wisely
resolved to carry out the negotiations which his
predecessor had inaugurated.
About the i8th of July, the same time when
117 captured guns from Cabul were received by a
triumphal parade of our whole garrison at Rawul
Pindee, Abdur Rahman arrived at a place called
Charikar, a littie distance from Cabul, where an
oflScer, who visited him, describes his great tent as
resembling a marquee, divided into an audience-
hall, dining-room, and two chambers, carpeted
with Afghan rugs, and guarded by 200 men,
armed in every conceivable manner, with battle-
axes and round shields of hide and metal, chasse-
pots. Martinis, Minie rifles and matchlocks.
Two days afterwards a formal meeting was
arranged between him and Sir Donald Stewart, the
Governor of Cabul, at a spot a little way west-
ward of the Sherpur cantonments, where he was
received by a guard of honour, with the Queen's
colours, and, with a manly air and bearing, he
made a speech, in which the following passage
occurred : —
" An exile for fifteen years, I now see my native
mountains again, and have obtained, through God
and my right, my hereditary birthright — the throne
of my fathers. But the means by which this
success has been achieved, are due to my British
friends, and to the Empress, whose cause is always
just On my right I see the general to whose
generous diplomacy I owe my present position, and
ungrateful should I be, were I not now to express
my regard and esteem to one, who like myself, is
a soldier more than a politician."
The Viceroy, on the 3rd August, issued orders
to Sir Frederick Roberts to march from Cabul with
a relieving force of all arms to Candahar, a distance
of 318 miles, through a mountainous country,
peopled by fierce and warlike tribes, each or all of
which might at any moment start into hostility and
seek to bar his way — a country of rocks, ravines,
and primeval jungles, where wheeled carriage has
never been known, even for artillery in the field.
" At last ! at last ! Our orders have arrived, and
our work is cut out for us!" was the exclamation of
Sir Frederick, over whose face a glow of delight
spread as he read the despatch from Simla.
He ordered the camp equipage to be reduced to
a minimum, by allotting ten British soldiers to each
mountain-battery tent, usually intended to hold six,
and fifty to each sepoy tent, of which the usual
number is thirty-two. Thirty-four pounds of kit
were permitted to each British soldier, and twenty
to each native; one mule to each officer, and
one to each mess of eight members.
The force to be marched was made up as follows :
— Cavalry : the 9th Lancers ; 3rd Punjaub Cavalry ;
3rd Bengal Cavalry, and Central India Horse;
1,615 men. Artillery: two Royal Artillery
batteries, and one mountain battery ; 608 men
and eighteen guns. Infantry : 2nd battalion 60th
Rifles ; the Albany and Gordon Highlanders; 15th
Sikhs ; 23rd Pioneers ; 24th and 25 th Punjaub
Native Infantry ; 2nd, 4th and 5th Ghoorkas ;
2nd and 3rd Sikh Infantry; 7,490 men. There
were 10,484 chargers, mules and other baggage
animals to be foraged for; and with these were
8,134 native followers.
The ammunition carried by the ordnance park
amounted to 236 rounds per gun, and 100 rounds
per rifle, the remainder being in regimental charge.
Carefully did Roberts study all the details for his
splendid march, one of the finest achievements in
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GENERAL MACPHERSON.
1^3
military history. Thirty days' mm, tea and sugar,
with five days' flour were allotted to the Europeans,
and the same proportion of rice was reserved for
the natives; with 23,000 pounds of attah, and
28,000 pounds of grain — the former for the men,
and the latter for the animals. And as it happened
of an Arab fanatic. He served in the Persian Cam-
paign, at the batde of Khooshab and the capture
of Mohammerah. "It was in the advance on
Lucknow," says a London print, " from the Char-
bagh Bridge, on the 25th of September, 1857, that
Macpherson won the most precious guerdon of
BRIGAD.ER. GENERAL II. F. BROOKE.
to be known that the autumn crops of Indian corn in
the Logar Valley were now well grown, a plentiful
supply of green forage would be found on the march.
Roberts's column moved into the camp near Cabul
on the 6th of August, only three days having been
consumed in making full preparations.
The two Highland regiments — both renowned
in song and story — with the gallant 6oth Rifles, made
up only 1,800 British bayonets in all. The three
infantry brigades were commanded by Brigadiers
Baker, Macgregor and Macpherson, the latest an
ofl^cer of very great experience, who had been
adjutant of the 78th Highlanders in 1856. In that
regiment he got his first commission, and his first
wound when in garrison at Aden from the sword
civilised war — the prize of valour. His kilted lads
were defending the passage of the troops and
baggage, and flinging the captured guns and
ammunition into the canal, when the enemy
assailed them in overwhelming numbers. For
three hours a slender rear-guard of the 78th fought
as demigods are fabled to fight ; the enemy
brought two brass 9-pounders to bear on them.
Macpherson rushed to the front, followed by his
men, bayoneted the gunners, seized the guns,
hurled them into the canal, and calmly resumed
their defensive position. For this, Herbert
Macpherson was awarded the Victoria Cross by the
unanimous election of his own men."
The cavalry brigade was commanded by the
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gallant Brigadier Gough, and the flower of it
was the 9th, the fine old Lancer regiment of Sir
Hope Grant, whose memory is yet green in its
ranks.
In his tent, Sir Frederick Roberts explained to
his chief officers the details of his intended march,
and next day issued the following General
Order :—
"It has been decided by the Government of
India, that a force shall proceed with all possible
dispatch from Cabul towards Khelat i-Ghilzie and
Candahar, for the relief of the British garrisons in
these places now threatened by a large army under
the leadership of the sirdar Mohammed Ayoub Khan.
Sir Frederick Roberts feels sure that the troops
placed under his command for this important duty,
will cheerfully respond to the call made upon them,
notwithstanding the privations and hardships
inseparable from a long march through a hostile
country.
" The Lieu tenant-General wishes to impress upon
both officers and men, the necessity of preserving
the same strict discipline which has been so suc-
cessfully and uniformly maintained since the com-
mencement of the war, and of treating all the people
who may be well-disposed towards the British troops
with justice and forbearance. Sir Frederick Roberts
looks confidently forward to the successful accom-
plishment of the object of this expedition, con-
vinced as he is, that all ranks are animated by the
proud feeling that to them is entrusted the duty
and the privilege of relieving their fellow-soldiers
and restoring the prestige of the British arms."
A banquet was given to the generals in Cabul,
and from the account of it we get a description of
the usual dress of staff and regimental officers then
at CabuL From this source we learn that the dress
comprised white jean patrol jackets, starched and
glazed ; waistcoat and overalls of the same mate-
rial; a pith helmet with a white and gold pug-
garee ; on duty a white belt ; in the evening a
gold one, with patent leather boots and gilt
spurs.
On the 8th of August, the famous march began.
The whole army was drawn up in contiguous
columns outside the cantonments of Sherpur, with
the guns and cavalry on the flanks and the baggage
in the rear, and soon after, Sir Frederick Roberts
came on the ground with Sir Donald Stewart.
This was just at daybreak, but despite the early
hour, a vast multitude issued from the city to watch
the departure.
At half past five o'clock all officers commanding
corps and batteries were summoned around him,
by the general, who said : —
"Gentlemen, by the desire of Sir Donald
Stewart I have sent for you to thank you for the
admirable manner in which all my instructions
have been carried out, and for the perfect state in
which your men have appeared this day. The
march of a division of 10,000 men over 300 miles
of an enemy's country, in a given time, is a task
which I have undertaken, and which I feel con-
fident I can carry out ; relying, as I do, on the zeal
and devotion of those who are now under my
command. Our march will doubtless be watched
with anxiety by our friends in Candahar, and by
those belonging to us at home. We must, there-
fore, show that British soldiers can now accomplish
what their forefathers achieved in old times ; and
that, upon an occasion like the present, we can
make any sacrifices to carry out the task set be-
fore us."
At six o'clock the order was given " to move off
by fours in successive brigades from the right," and
the advanced guard, consisting of a squadron of
the 9th Lancers, with two mountain guns, trotted
on to the usual distance in front, while a similar
force formed the rear-guard.
In the early part of the morning the sun had
been obscured by dark clouds and dense mists
ascending from the Cabul River; but when the
march began these were dispersed ; his rays came
out with ruddy splendour, and lighted up the
glittering columns that defiled in compact order
across the plain, with drums beating and the High-
landers with all their pipes playing.
Mobs of fanatics and hill-robbers came to gloat
over our departure, some of them almost nude,
others in loose shirts and trousers of red or blue
cotton. They beat tom-toms, danced, shouted,
and uttered demon-like yells, while brandishing
their deadly knives in exultation and defiance, and
seeming to hint at a night attack if the troops
encamped on open ground
Leaving the Maidan road the army proceeded
by the lower route towards the Safed Sang, its
first day's halt
The march was a very trying one. For days
the August sun beat fiercely down upon the weary
column, and Sir Frederick Roberts was so affected
by the heat that he had a sharp attack of fever,
which would have placed hors de combat any one
else less determined to achieve the great task he
had in hand.
His men were all in splendid order for march-
ing, and so eager were they, that they would have
traversed thirty instead of sixteen miles a day ; but
Roberts was too i)rudent a soldier to hurry his
men, or risk knocking up the weaker pedestrians.
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though his idea was to increase the length of each
march, as the troops — all seasoned soldiers — got
into training.
So excellent were the commissariat arrangements
that the supplies w^ere always ready for issue the
moment a brigade halted, so no man was kept a
moment waiting for his food or ration of spirits ;
though the length of the column was necessarily
great, one day extending fully six miles, between
the advance and rear guards.
Meanwhile, some bloody work ensued, some-
what uselessly, at Candahar.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued): — THE SORTIE FROM CANDAHAR— ^THE MARCH OF GENERAL*
STEWART — THE MARCH OF GENERAL PHAYRE.
Lieutenant-General J. Maurice Primrose, who
commanded in Candahar, was an officer who had
seen much service 'with the 43rd Light Infantry,
during the Kaffir War of 185 1-3, and had been
D.-A. -Quartermaster-General of the 2nd Division.
He accompanied the Expedition to the Orange
River, and was present at the action of Berea. He
commanded the famous " Fighting 43rd," as his
corps was named, on its march from Bangalore
to Calpee, a distance of 1,300 miles, during the
hottest season of the Indian Mutiny, and com-
manded one of the seven columns, under Brigadier
WTieeler, specially ordered to clear a large district
infested by numerous hordes under rebel chiefs,
and yet, with all his great experience, he permitted
an ill-devised and ill-judged sortie to be made
from Candahar.
It was at the instance of Major-General Henry
Francis Brooke, formerly of the 109th, or Old
Bombay Infantry, a Crimean officer, this attempt
was made. For several days the troops had been
irritated by an incessant rifle fire from some
villages about a mile and a half from the city wall,
and more particularly from one named Deh
Khoja, lying within range of the citadel and on its
eastern face. The main position of Ayoub was
known to face the east, and spies had brought
General Primrose information that he had with
him thirteen regular regiments and thirty-seven
or thirty-eight pieces of cannon, many of them
rifled, a very numerous force of cavalry and of the
fanatical Ghazis.
General Brooke requested permission to lead
the sortie, stipulating, however, that the village of
Deh Khoja should be bombarded by our guns.
An officer, named Vandeleur, major of the 7 th
Fusiliers, specially requested that he might serve
in this sortie, urging that he had attained a great
knowledge of the locality while frequently quail
shooting thereabout, and that he was certain we
should find the village no easy matter to assault
Several soldiers and camp followers had been
murdered by the inhabitants of it, prior to the
approach of Ayoub; and some officers were of
opinion that it should be severely bombarded but
not otherwise attacked
On the 1 6th of August, about 4.30 a.m., or two
hours before daylight, the troops for the sortie fell
in, in front of the Cabul Gate. "The night was
somewhat misty, but the moon now and then lit
up the bronzed faces of our sepoys, many of whom,
to say the truth, seemed not particularly elated at
the prospect of our venture."
The sortie consisted of 300 picked men of the
Light Cavalry and Lancers, with 900 bayonets,
furnished respectively by H.M. 7th Fusiliers, the
19th and 28th Native Infantry.
Eight days prior to this, General Primrose had
sent some guns up to an eminence named the
Picket Hill, overlooking the old cantonments, and
from there excellent practice had been made upon
the loopholed walls of 'Deh Khoja, in which, and
in other hamlets to the right and left of it, Ayoub
had posted a strong force of his irregulars, and by
these. General Primrose had been informed, should
an opportunity occur, a night attack would be
delivered against the Cabul and Durani Gates of
Candahar.
In addition to the walls of Deh Khoja being
very full of loopholes, they were more immediately
only approachable through a wilderness of orchard
walls and broken ground.
The innumerable irrigation channels that inter-
sected the plain lying between the city and the
main village seriously obstructed the line of march
to the latter, especially in the movements of the
field artillery. Prior to this sortie Ayoub had occu-
pied the burned cantonments, and thus given much
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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amusement, with excellent practice daily to our
gunners, at 900 yards, till they shelled him out
On the 7th of the month he had posted two strong
brigades on the Herat road, while his cavalry and
right flank occupied steep ground near the ruins of
old Candahar, and, on the whole, it would be
difficult to conceive a stronger front than this,
which enfiladed the village, the approach to which
was cut by deep canals and water-courses, which
could only be crossed at places few and far
between.
As the grey dawn was stealing in, the field-guns
opened fire upon Deh Khoja, which was then seen
to be strongly garrisoned and reinforced from the
adjacent villages. General Brooke now deployed
half his little band of infantry into line, extending
them in skirmishing order, with 100 cavalry on
each flank, and thus they moved steadily across
the open plain as the sun rose, taking advantage of
whatever cover they could find in the gardens and
orchards through which they were compelled to
thread their way, firing the while at the loopholed
wall, which now seemed studded with flashes.
Two hundred yards in front of the Cabul Gate
there yawns a deep ravine, beyond which there
rises a mass of rock, forming a natural ditch and
rampart There Brooke met his first serious
obstacle. Ayoub had manned it by 500 sharp-
shooters, whose rifles inflicted considerable loss
upon the sortie ; Colonel Malcolmson of the Scinde
Horse had his charger shot under him, and was
badly wounded in the sword arm.
Major Cruickshank, of the Royal Engineers,
with only fifty men, was now ordered to take
ground to the left and enfilade these sharpshooters
on one flank, while Colonel Shewell charged them
vigorously on the other, with part of the Scinde
Horse, and swept the nullah ; but one of our guns
became wedged in it, and had for a time to be
abandoned.
The Ghazis now made a rush to carry it off*, and
a desperate combat ensued between them and a
party led by Lieutenant-Colonel Nimmo, of the
28th Bengal Infantry, Lieutenant Wood, of the
Transport Corps, and two other officers. The
hand-to-hand fight was close and deadly, steel
ringing on steel, till the blades emitted sparks, but
after several repulses, a company of the Royal
Fusiliers, by a bayonet charge, with one final rush,
drove back the enemy, yet not without loss, and
some delay was now caused by the conveyance
rearward of the wounded, who otherwise would
have been mutilated and massacred by the hordes
of villagers who were gathering in the distance.
"All the ordinary obstructions to a successful
defence or to an effective sortie accumulated upon
us in an aggravated form," >^TOte an officer.
" Whether in climbing steep ridges, crossing the
Candahar watercourses, forcing rocky defiles, or
attacking villages encompassed by loopholed walls,
all the knowledge of locality was, unfortunately,
entirely in favour of the enemy."
The latter had, without doubt, received fi-om
some one within Candahar, intelligence of the
intended sortie, for the troops composing it were
barely in position outside the city gates when a
strong force of Afghan cavalry, led by a chief
conspicuous for the brilliance and severity of his
charges at Maiwand and elsewhere, came rushing
down the steep slopes, and with wild war-cries
attacked alike the advanced skirmishers and the
unsupported guns. Nothing would have checked
this furious attack but the stem steadiness of the
company of Fusiliers, which had cleared the nullah
of the Ghazis and resolutely held post on the
summit of it
The peculiar manner in which Afghan villages
are constructed, and the knowledge the inhabitants
in their own simple way show of field fortification,
ought, it was said, to have suggested an attack by
night and not by day. In the former, the small-
ness of the assailing force could not be known, and
if it pressed courageously on, might perhaps have
achieved the end in view.
General Brooke, on horseback, field-glass in
hand, was behind a small breastwork we had
captured on the left flank of Deh Khoja, and from
there he saw a great body of swordsmen and
matchlockmen pouring forward furiously to the
attack, and rushing across a plateau in his fi*ont,
led by a standard-bearer, who wore a long and
floating loonghee of scarlet and gold.
It was seven in the morning now, and the troops
had only worked their way to within some hundred
yards of the village. The fire from the matchlocks
— cumbrous and antiquated though these weapons
were — was uncommonly steady, and all Brooke's
efforts, both with rifle fire and cavalry charges,
proved unsuccessful for a time.
With shield braced on the left arm, the swords-
men made more than one furious and headlong
rush upon the flanks; but these were advan-
tageously posted, and the rapid fire of the little
mountain guns mowed them down in heaps and
threw them into disorder. Brooke now ordered a
general advance of the whole force, though our
losses had become heavy in the open, while the
nature of their position gave every cover to the
enemy, and he. Colonel Newport, Major Trench,
and Lieutenants Stayner, Marsh, and Wood, were
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Candah^.]
FAILURE OF THE SORTIE.
167
all severely wounded, but were still pushing on in
the thickest of the combat
An order now came from General Primrose to
fall back on the city if possible ; but fearing that
enough had not been done for honour, Brooke
declined yet to obey. Our leading companies
were already at the village wall, but it was evident
that they would be cut off to a man if not vigorously
supported; so General Brooke led on a squadron
was riding with Colonel Malcolmson of the Scinde
Horse, was ordered to retire at once, and the street
was held by the fire of the Sappers and a com-
pany of the 7th Fusiliers till the movement was
effected.
General Primrose's report justified the belief
that we were defeated, and that the defeat was due
to a certain inexcusable ignorance of the enemy's
strength; for, as the village is so near Candahar,
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of the Scinde Horse, and the main street of the
village was carried
At this juncture Major Cruickshank, with his
Sappers, effected a lodgment in a ruined building,
surrounded by a large garden, and there held at
bay the enemy, whose force was increasing fast, as
men came pouring in from the adjacent villages,
till a ball fi-om a matchlock in the groin struck
him down, and a dozen swordsmen rushed forward
to hew him to pieces.
The gallant Brooke saw his terrible plight, and
though badly wounded himself, strove to save him
by assisting him with his stirrup ; but in the wild
milee that ensued both were carried away in the
rush and instantly killed Colonel Newport, who
there could have been no great difficulty in ascer-
taining the force holding it, yet the general ad-
mitted that his information was faulty.
"We got through the vilbge," he says, "but
finding it strongly occupied and reinforced by
contingents from other villages, we had to retire to
the fortress,'* He states that the enemy's loss was
heavy; that our cavalry made two charges and
" cut up " a good many ; 2,000 were supposed to
have fallen. But the sortie was not successful in
accomplishing the object in view, and thus failed
to relieve the Candahar garrison of the danger that
menaced it on the east
The retreat was not an unmolested one, and
had it not been for Malcolmson and the brilliant
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BRITISH LOSSES IN THE SORTIE.
169
manner in which he le<J his Scinde Horse in more
than one charge across our flanks, the day would
indeed have been a disastrous one. He drove
back the pursuing enemy, who with their usual
persistence assembled in firing groups on every
rock, knoll, and coign of vantage, and with sword
and lance they were chased along the precipitous
ridges, and thence back in confusion to Deh Khoja.
instinct for discovering any weak points, and were
quick to avail themselves of them.
Thus, our losses were out of all comparison with
the number of men engaged — some 200 men, in-
cluding the general, his old fnend Major Cruick-
shank; Colonel Newport, of the 28th Native
Infantry, who was thrice wounded and was last
seen with Colonel Shewell, trying to save a dis-
REV. G. M. GORDON.
While this was in progress, the Sappers and
company of the 7th Fusiliers had skilfully, and
with wonderful rapidity, thrown up a breastwork,
and this, flanked by a couple of mountain guns,
they held with resolute bravery, and enabled our
'disordered infantry to retire in a manner less un-
pleasant than actual flight Yet the conflict
during the short retreat was sometimes more
desperate than in the advance; as those wild
mountaineers, the Ghazis, though ignorant of all
discipline, and armed with rude matchlocks, short
swords and battle-axes, seemed to have a natural
abled soldier. There also fell Le Poer Trench, of
the 19th Bombay Infantry, and Lieutenant Stayner;
with Lieutenant Frederick Wood and Everard
Marsh, two gallant officers — mere lads — of the Royal
Fusiliers, The chaplain, the Rev. G. M. Gordon,
who, with the greatest devotion, returned from the
Cabul Gate to a place where five men lay bleeding,
and endeavoured to assist the dhooly bearers, was
shot with several men by one volley of musketry.
Major T. Burton Vandeleur, of the Fusiliers, who
was mortally wounded, died in the hospital, which
was soon full to overflowing. Lieutenant Galfrid
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170
BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[CabuL
de Trafford, of the 7th, and Dr. Stewart, of the
Poonah Horse, were among the wounded.
" As the Heratees forced us back into the city/'
wrote Father Jackson, the Catholic chaplain to the
forces, "most of our dead had to be left where
they fell. One of my poor men died of his wounds
as soon as" he was brought in, and before I could
do anything for him. Two others died during the
day, after receiving extreme unction. One of these
men had completed his period of service (21 years)
and became entitled to a pension on the very day
of his death. I have also lost my poor clerk, the
soldier who used to serve my mass every morning ;
but I feel that I have gained another intercessor
before the throne of God. As God has His saints
in every condition, so are they to be found among
soldiers I "
General Brooke, who lay with the rest of the
dead in Deh Khoja, served with Lord Napier of
Magdala in the China War, and his fall, though in
the attempt to succour his friend, was greatly
deplored. He was in his forty-fourth year.
When acting as aide-de-camp to Napier, at the
assault on the Taku Forts, he was struck down by
a ball at the side of the former, who, at that
moment, was examining the operations through his
field-glass, and making observations from time to
time about them. He never removed the glass
from his eyes or took the least notice of the
incident, but continued to watch intently the
advance of the storming column. " It raised my
opinion of Napier greatly," said Brooke, then a
captain, to a friend ; *'it showed how perfectly he
was master of himself; he rather liked me, and I
am sure he was sorry I was hit ; but there was no
use in his stooping down to help me, he knew
there were others about to do all that, and he
would not distract his attention for an instant from
the real business he had in hand."
The 26th of August came, and still there was no
appearance of succour for Candahar. On that day
it was found, none knew why, as yet, that Ayoub
Khan had moved his army from the immediate
vicinity of the city, and that the villagers of Deh
Khoja had fled en masse. General Primrose now
went out at the head of 200 men to collect and
inter the remains of our slain. " The bodies had
been stripped of their clothes by the Heratees," says
the chaplain before quoted, "and the heads of
many of them taken away. The vultures, too, had
been feeding on them. They were in a frightful
state of decomposition, and the odour proceeding
from them was intolerable. Over fifty only were
collected, and out of this number only \iyQ could be
identified. When all the remains were collected,
they were laid in a trench and the funeral service
was read over them."
Among the remains identified, were those of
General Brooke, which were sent home to his
native country, and buried in his family vault at
Colebrooke in December, 1880.
The recent expulsion of the Afghan element,
estimated at 10,000 souls, by General Primrose,
tended to recruit the ranks of Ayoub Khan ; but it
was deemed better to have them fighting for him out-
side the walls, than concocting treachery within them.
In January, 1879, ^^ Candaharees received our
garrison, if not with friendship, at least without any
manifestation of hostility, and were content to let
us be their masters. Occasionally the Ghazis came
in from the villages of the Zamindawar, or the
neighbouring mountains, pledged by vow to murder
at least one Briton ; but with these the population
showed no sympathy, and as time passed on their
feelings seemed to deepen into something more
cordial, and they believed that we were to occupy
their city for ever. Our soldiers went about the
streets as safely as if they had been there for a
century, and the money they spent made them
welcome everywhere.
Now all this had become changed by the
vicinity of Ayoub Khan, who had still young
Maclaine a prisoner in his camp, and for whose re-
lease many efforts were made without avail The
Looniab, whose name frequently occurred in de-
spatches, acted as the chief of Ayoub*s staff, and
was a very efficient officer. The Looniab is the
title of the Governor-General of Afghan Turkestan,
one of the four viceroyalties into which the country
was divided before we invaded it
One of General Primrose's chief anxieties was the
water supply, but it soon proved to be abundant, as
well as food and ammunition.
British troops were now moving on three lines of
march through Afghanistan.
General Sir Donald Stewart from Cabul to
Jellalabad, a distance of 80 miles ; General Pha>Te
from Quettah, to relieve Candahar, 140 miles ; and
General Roberts, with the same object, including
the relief of Khelat-i-Ghilzie, a distance of about
320 miles.
Not\\'ithstanding the unfortunate events at Mai-
wand and in front of Candahar, it was now, as the
Marquis of Hartington announced in Parliament,
the undoubted intention of the Indian Government
to withdraw the whole of our troops from Cabul,
the retirement from which, he added, was made
with the entire consent and concurrence of Sir
Donald Stewart, who had telegraphed thus to the
Viceroy on the 5th August : —
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CaboL]
FIGHTING THE HILL-MEN.
171
" All our objects have been attained, and nothing
remains to be done but to hand over Cabul to the
Ameer, who b naturally anxious to establish him-
self in his capital, and bring his government into
working order. Politically the withdrawal from
Cabul will be well-timed, and it happens that we
shall leave it on the day fixed for the purpose two
months aga The state of affidrs at Candahar
renders it highly necessary that we should avail
ourselves of the present opportunity, while the
country remains quiet dnd free from complication."
On the morning of the 12 th August, Sir Donald
drew the whole of his^division outside the canton-
ments, and placed Cabul in the virtual possession
of the Ameer.
The ist Brigade, under Major-General Hill, V.C.
and CB., comprised the Queen's 9th Regiment,
28th Punjaub Native Infantry, 45th Sikhs, three
troops of the ist Punjaub Cavaby, the Guides
Cavalry, four gtms and some Sappers.
The 2nd Brigade, under Brigadier Hughes, was
composed of the 59th Regiment, the Guides
Infantry, 3rd Ghoorkas, a squadron of the 2nd
Punjaub Cavalry, and two guns.
The 3rd Brigade, under Brigadier Daunt (a
Crimean officer), consisted of the 67th Regiment,
7th Punjaub Infantry, and the 4th Brigade of the
Royal Artillery; in all 7^500 fighting men, with
twelve pieces of cannon.
That the retiring movement must have been an
anxious and an arduous one to Sir Donald, is shown
by the army of non-combatants he had to guard
and bring on with him towards India. The camp
followers, refugees, pilgrims, and others, who took
advantage of his escort to escape from anarchy,
were not less than 30,000 men, including the sick,
wounded, and lame, whom General Roberts had
left behind, and 20,000 beasts of burden all to be
fed and cared for, on a route that was full of many
perils, through savage defiles and over enormous
mountain passes. With the Ghilzies at the Cabul
end of the Khyber, the Mohmunds halfway through
it, and the Afreedees at the other end, the homeward
march of Sir Donald bade fair to be a series of
desperate fights and onslaughts, as the Afghans
would be sure to believe that Ayoub had frightened
us out of the country.
As the long and cumbrous column began its
weary march, detachments of the Ameer's in-
fantry, dad in drab-coloured uniforms of European
pattern, and cavalry that seemed only straggling
bands of savage marauders, were seen moving into
the Sherpur cantonments, to guard some stores of
which Sir Donald had made Abdur Rahman a
present Already the cruelty and violence of his
troops had excited the attention of the Ameer,
as " these men were the curse of the country they
are supposed to protect They take what they
want fi-om the villages, without any recompense,
and commit the most lawless excesses without any
fear of retribution, for their officers, as a rule, share
the spoil wherever they go."
It was impossible not to feel a little humiliation,
says a writer in " Personal Records " of the cam-
paign, at the invasion of our cantonments by a
filthy rabble of Cabulees who swarmed into them
the moment they were quitted. Arabs, Jews, Mussul-
mans, and Budmashes of all kinds, crowded round
the baggage and stores with greedy eyes and hearts,
even when we were in preparation for the march.
Before break of day the advanced guard, con-
sisting of cavalry and artillery, had moved off, but
the sun was up when the main body got into
marching order, and along all the hills that over-
hung the route predatory hordes of mountaineers,
all armed to the teeth, could be seen looking on
with impotent rage and greed, many of them
leaping from rock to rock, with wild gestures.
Two friendly Afghan sirdars rode with the
column for several miles during the first morning
march, and though incensed by the conduct of the
hill-men, explained that they were exceptionally
lawless, and opposed to the Barukzye rule.
After four days' marching Sir Donald's unwieldy
column, winding its way like a long and mighty
snake though the defiles, only reached Seh-i-baba
in three days, the whole of one being spent in
traversing only five miles of the desperate country
that lay between the last camp at the Lataband
Pass and that point The baggage animals suffered
terribly with the stifling heat in the narrow and
rock-t>ound mountain paths; but not a shot had
been fired from the heights, as the mighty train,
with all its encumbrances, dragged its length into
camp at Seh-i-baba, on Saturday night the 14th
August, and on the 21st he safely and successfully
established his head-quarters at Jellalabad, and
found the country quiet around him.
Though delayed by want of commissariat
animals. General Phayre, on receiving a telegram
from General Primrose, reporting the result of
Maiwand and requiring assistance, made his pre-
parations at once to quit Quettah, which is in
Beloochistan, and after a consultation with Sir
Robert Sandeman he at once called in all the
outposts lying between that town and Candahar,
and telegraphed down to Dadur and Jacobabad to
bring up all reinforcements.
There were gatherings of Pathans and Kakkars
in the vicinity of the Pishin Valley, and it was but
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Candabar.
too evident that any hostilities on the right flank of
General Phayre^s route would delay or weaken his
progress. Hitherto he had held the country from
Chaman to Quettah with a force of 3,000 men.
On the 2ist of August he moved out to
Khojuck, and on the 27th he reached Chaman,
while his cavalry, under General Wilkinson, arrived at
Killa AbduUa. Chaman is about midway between
Quettah and Candahar. It is a strong post, a
miniature citadel, on a site of great natural strength.
Some miles farther on brought him in sight of
the white tents of our post at Gatai, where some
fighting ensued General Phayre had called in
the outposts at Mel Mandi, Abubraman, and Dubrai
to Gatai, intending to concentrate them at Chaman ;
but the hill-men of the Khoja Mountains, who
from their lofty summits can see far across the
immense plain, and are ever on the watch for
plunder, came down from their eyries, and inter-
cepted them at Gatai The garrison in Chaman
Fort were on the look-out too. They had
watched the long column of rolling dust coming
along the road from Dubrai to Gatai, and had seen
also another cloud of dust, which had no connection
with the movements in hand, passing swiftly at
right ] angles across the plain towards the same
point, and the shout of "Kakkars in motion!"
brought all under arms.
In a few minutes a squadron was in the saddle
and off on the spur, and from the fort the great
sand clouds could be seen rolling across the plain,
and the gallant Scinde and Poonah Horse, clad in
green uniforms — as noble cavalry as ever drew
sabre — came galloping up. The fight had just
commenced, and the little detachment was gallantly
holding out against the Kakkars, who, at the sight
of the cavalry, with a bright steel mountain gun,
made off to the hills in wild flight
The march was continued beyond Gatai through
a dismal level for many miles, and then among hills
that throw out spurs which overhang the road,
rendering it dangerous if planted by ambush^; and
there are steep inclines covered with loose shingle ;
and both Dubrai and Mel -Mandi were perilous
points if Ayoub wished to opf)ose Phayre's advance
to Candahar. The valleys were thickly populated
by tribes whose hostility was but too easily excited,
and the greater part of the way lay through wastes
of sand and rock, abounding in dangerous intervals
of ravine and defile.
At last his column came in sight of Candahar,
with that citadel to which such interest was then
attached. "The first sight of this city," says a
writer, "realises all one's dreams of the East, few
the surrounding verdure and the glitter of water
give it the appearance of great fertility and luxury,
while the noble-looking citadel and stately mosque
close by, impart a striking grandeur to the scene.
But all the beauty vanishes on approach. The
houses are, generally, on a dead level of in-
significance, half ruined and huddled together in
irregular masses, the mosque is wretchedly dilapi-
dated, and the citadel itself disappointing."
Fortunately for General Primrose then, its
strength was no illusion.
On the 4th of September General Phayre and
his staflf arrived at Candahar, but afterwards re-
turned to his division, which was encamped at
Karez-i-Rarak, twelve miles to the southward of the
city (where supplies were abundant), for great
events had taken place three days before, and its
services proved now to be unnecessary.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR {continued) : — THE MARCH OF SIR FREDERICK ROBERTS — ^THE
RECONNAISSANCE OF THE 3 1ST OF AUGUST.
The first day's halt of General Roberts was, we
have said, at Safed Sang, though his ist
Brigade and his Engineer park, with its eighty
mules, pushed on as far as Zargunshah in the
Logar Valley, in both of which places there is
good camping ground, with the two great requisites,
fuel and water. " My experiences of Indian and
Afghan marches are anjrthing but pleasant to look
back upon," wrote one who was presentj " and the
horror of the hour, or hour and a half, preparing
for the road will not be easily forgotten. The
discordant bellowing of the over-loaded camel, and
the debris caused by an elephant who has quarrelled
with his mahout, the screams of the native drivers,
and the objurgations of the British soldier, make
an inferno worthy of a modem Dante."
A portion of the march lay through a fertile and
beautiful country, by Hissarak, Zaidabad, Haidar
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Haftasia.)
EN ROUTE FOR CANDAHAR.
173
Kheyl, Haftasia and Shasgao. Without much toil
the steep mountain ridge which shuts in the
southern end of the lovely Logar Valley by the
Zamburia Pass and the Wardek Defile, was
traversed, but after that the road became difficult,
especially for the passage of the mountain guns,
each of which was in two pieces, and thus borne by
two mules.
Sir Frederick had impressed on all ranks the
necessity for strict obedience on the line of march,
and at every halt he had a careful inspection of
men and cattle. Sore backs and foot-sores, galls
and accidents were instantly reported, and all ranks
were divided into squads, for greater convenience
in issuing supplies and detecting casualties ; while
his wisdom in choosing the Logar Valley route
was justified by the rapid success of his advance.
He had to purchase on the line of march 1,330
additional yaboos or ponies and 379 camels and
donkeys, for the carriage of foot-sore soldiers, as he
tells us in his long despatch of the 26th September,
from Quettah. It is further stated that by the de-
sertion of the whole of the Afghan drivers, belonging
to the transport, shortly after leaving Cabul, and
of the Hazara drivers, directly their own country
was reached, exceptionally heavy work was thrown
upon the troops.
The average length of the day's marches was
sixteen miles, or four miles over what is deemed a
fair day's march. An enemy to short service and
boy soldiers in time of war, he particularly watched
the hardihood of his regiments.
" While on the march to Candahar,*' said he, in
his speech at the London Guildhall in the following
year, " I made it my business to find out every day
how many men of each corps had fallen out on the
way. I discovered that the 72 nd Highlanders had
more casualties, in proportion to their numbers, than
either the 6oth Rifles or 92nd Highlanders, and on
further inquiry I ascertained that the majority of
cases occurred amongst men of the last draft, in
fact among the young soldiers. The average
service of the 72 nd Highlanders on our leaving
Cabul was, sergeants, 13^4 years; corporals, 12*/^
years; and privates, 7 years; and of the 92nd
Highlanders, sergeants, 15 years; corporals, 11
years; and privates, 9 years. I have not the return
of the 2nd battalion of the 6oth Rifles, but feel
satisfied that the men were not of less service than
those of the 72nd Highlanders. Such a return as
this it will be quite impossible ever to prepare
again '\{ our system of short service is persisted in,
and it will be impossible for a British force ever
again to perform such a march as those magnificent
troops I had the honour to command made
from Cabul to Candahar. No commander would
undertake such a service except with soldiers upon
whose discipline, spirit, and endurahce he could
thoroughly rely."
On this subject the correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph writes thus forcibly : — " I was at Rawal
Pindi when the 8th Yoot were there, and I told
you in one of my letters of the demoralisation of
the regiment when in cantonments. *What else
can you expect from such a mob of boys?' was said.
Again I saw the 8th on the march, and it is
miserable work recalling such a scene. On the
first occasion they were on the high road, the day
was hot and the hills were trying. But the boys
were in their shirt-sleeves, with their uniforms and
accoutrements piled on the backs of the animals
they were escorting, or heaped upon the dhoolies
the natives were carrying. ... On the next
occasion I saw them on the march, and it was then
I was struck with the contrast which Sir Frederick
Roberts brought forward with such terrible effect
against the fatal system that gives us these boy-
soldiers; the particular piece of road was a very
nasty hill, and the 8th were apparently thoroughly
beaten by it The complement of those who had
already fallen out was so large as to have filled all
the transport available, and so the others sat
mopping their faces by the roadside, looking
utterly disheartened as the stream of native troops
and animals, cavalry, and artillery elephants wound
up the way past them. A native regiment came
striding along in capital form, and one stalwart
fellow said in Hindostanee to the next man, ' Wah-
wah ! if these are European soldiers, we had better
put them in dhoolies and carry them up the hill'
But I soon had my revenge of them for the sneer ;
for very soon after, I saw the same regiment halted
to let the 72nd go by, and it was a sight all the
nation should have seen, to see these active
Highkinders swinging along up the hill ! "
Great is the beauty of the Logar Valley where
our troops made several halts, at all of which
many officers were busy with their pencils, making
artistic sketches. With all the toil that was thrown
upon them, the troops were delighted with their
peaceful march through the long valley of the
Logar, studded as its sides were with groves,
where the bamboo spread its feathery foliage over
the bright masses of the peepul, the magnolia and
the acacia, called the cabul, tufted with ball-like
flowers of golden hue, and having a delicious
perfume. In other places long garlands of the
Afghan jasmine hung from the rocks.
General Roberts daily sent messages back to the
Ameer at Cabul, to keep him au courant of his
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
CLofRT Vallejr.
PLAN OF GENERAL ROBERTS*S MARCH FROM CABUL TO CANDAHAR,
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF ROBERTS'S MARCH.
August 6th, Broke up Cantonments ; yth, Rest ; 8th, Charasiah, Beni-Htssar, and Indiki ; 9th, Concentrate at Zaidabad ; lolh, Htaiank,
Zargunshah, Dadu Khel (near these places); xith, Baraki-Rogan, Baraki- Barak, Padkao ; xath, Unak, Amir Killa, Zaidafaftd; isdi
Concentrate at Haidar Khel; 14th, Shasgao; 15th, Ghazni ; i6th, Yarghatta (by Ahmed Kehl); 17th, Chardeh; x8th, Oba Kares; xglh,
Mukir ; 90th, Kila-i-Tuman ; 21st, Gargai ; aznd, Baba Ka Zai ; 23rd, Khelat-i-Gilzie ; 34th, Rest; ajth, Jaklak; 96ch, Tiraodas Minar;
97th, Poma2ai(Kehl«i«Akhund); 38th, Robat; a^th, Rest; jotb, Mohmand; 3xst, Candahar*
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Kh<lat.i-Ghiu...|
INCIDENTS OF THE MARCH.
I7S
progress; but it was somewhat significant that at this
very time the tidings of his succession to the Afghan
throne caused a general illumination of all the
Russian garrison towns in central Asia, and that
at Masari Sherif a salute of loi guns was fired on
the occasion; but then, as Lord Hartington ex-
plained in the House of Commons, the Ameer was,
and had been, for twelve years a pensioner of Russia.
former place, through a fertile and beautiful
district, Haidar Kheyl was reached.
On the 13th, General Roberts marched from Haf-
tasia, through terrible defiles, where the road was so
naiTow and the impending cliffs, at an elevation of
8,700 feet, so near, that his flanking parties could
converse with each other with ease, and at night the
troops found the atmosphere in their tents delightful
COLONEL SHEWBLL.
The travellers met by the troops and even
men going to field or market were armed with
swords and shields, matchlocks, spears, and some
had bows and arrows; and it was remarked that
instead of the softness of expression and bearing
so apparent in our own sepoys, these mountaineers
had a proud step, a keen stern eye, and the loud
rough voice of those who live perpetually in the
open air.
At Shekhabad, eighteen miles from Maidan (the
first halting place), one brigade made a divergence,
and effected a junction with the column at
Haftasia. After an eleven miles' march from the
The general permitted the officers to shoot, and
many a fine bag of snipe and teal was acquired on
the march.
After passing Shashgao the famous Pass of
Sher-i-Dana, 9,000 feet in height, was left behind,
and the troops marched near the tomb of the great
Sultan Mahmoud of Ghazni, who died in the year
1030, weeping over the gold and precious stones
from which he was parting for ever. His tomb,
situated amid a solemn grove, is a low square tower,
with an elegantly arched and pointed doorway.
Here the head men of Sher-i-Dana came forth in
their picturesque costumes and escorted the general
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
ITamak.
two-thirds of the way through the mountains, by a
road that must have been constructed at enormous
labour, and is overhung by ebony, iron, and other
magnificent forest trees.
On the 15th he reached Ghazni, on the left
bank of a river bearing the same name, eighty-eight
miles west of Cabul, and commanding access to the
Gomal Pass, a point of great strategical importance.
A few miles farther on, the column passed Ahmed
Kheyl, the scene of Sir Donald's fight in the pre-
ceding April, and the grass was already green on the
graves of those who had fallen there and been
buried almost side by side, friend and foe alike.
Roberts now relieved the garrison of Khelat-i-
Ghilzie, after traversing 240 miles in seventeen
marches. The garrison under Colonel lanner
consisted of only 170 men of the 66th, and a por-
tion of a Belooch corps, with two pieces of cannon.
He took on the garrison with him, making over the
fort to an old sirdar named Mohammed Sadik Khan,
a Toki chief Up to this date, his casualties had
been only one Highlanjier and seven sepoys dead,
with several missing, who were supposed to have
been murdered.
One day there was some skirmishing, when part
of the rear-guard was attacked, in a deep and
romantic valley by the margin of a beautiful stream,
by some fanatical robbers, as it was coming into
camp, but a dozen or more of the assailants were
quickly shot down.
The hour of march was generally from two to half-
past each morning. After Khelat-i-Ghilzie was left
behind, " during our last week's marches," wrote a
cavalry officer, " the scenery has been exquisite in
its variety, displaying a singular combination of
romantic wildness with charming fertility. One
day our columns would wind through luxurious
valleys interspersed with hamlets, vineyards, and
flower gardens, and the next we found ourselves
struggling up mountain ridges and forcing our path
through Alp-like passes, overhung by toppling cliffs,
looking as though some terrific convulsion of nature
had rifted the hill-side asunder, and scarped the
precipice more regularly than could be effected by
the hand of the cleverest engineer. Sometimes
looking below, we saw streams rippling in the
moonlit and misty dells, and above us rose naked
rocks and splintered precipices, while the varied
uniforms of our moving stream of soldiers, their
glittering arms— now seen, now lost amid the
windings of our route — gave a moving and pano-
ramic character to the tout ensemble^ that would
make the fortune of an artist if reproduced on
canvas."
From their camp on the banks of the Tarnak, on
the 26th of August, the troops were a little later
in beginning their march. There was no moon,
and at that early hour the sky was cloudy, with
fitful gusts of rain, but after the stars came out,
the dark mountain masses became visible for many
a mile, and among them — as scouts had informed
General Roberts — thousands of Afghans were
lurking, and thirsting for the blood of his troops.
At four a.m. the leading regiments moved ofT
quietly and without being molested through a
defile, and it was not until the rear-guard approached
it, that a heavy, ill-aimed fire came rattling out of
the darkness, from a concealed breastwork con-
structed among the rocks.
The baggage was clear of the defile, and all the
guard had to do was keep these robbers at bay til!
the long train of mules and camels reached the
shelter of the main body. The flanks of it were
held by some Highlanders and native troops — ^all
picked marksmen — and these, unknown to the
enemy, dominated the breast-work formed on the
right of the road, and were for a time hidden by
the tall crags, but for a time only, for no sooner had
the officer commanding the rear-guard opened on
the sungah a fire of shrapnel, common shell, and
shot from his mountain guns, than the enemy in
swarms came rushing down from the higher slop>es,
leaping over clefts and chasms that none but a
born hill-man would face, and with loud yells
rushed to attack our flanking parties.
The shrapnel fire, while it prevented them fi-om
assaulting the main body of the guard, drove them
on the very muzzles and bayonets of the flankers,
and the firing and fighting now seemed to be in
mid air.
The Afghan mode of fighting somewhat re-
sembled that of the Scottish Highlanders till the
middle of the last century. A musketry fire is
poured in, and under cover of it the fearless
swordsmen rush to the attack, only too glad to
have a hand-to-hand combat with men whose
weapon they deem only a bayonet
All their efforts, however, failed to dislodge our
pickets from the crags, and about an hour after the
conflict began a larger body of them, who had only
fired an occasional shot, moved forward from their
position, their juzailchees and matchlockmen post-
ing themselves skilfully amid a pine forest, ^md
opening a rattling and roaring fire, which, with
better marksmen, would have proved destructive in
the extreme.
The sharp and unfailing fire delivered by the
Highlanders and sepoys rendered all their efforts
abortive ; they fell fast on every hand, and the rest
were driven up the hills, leaving numbers of dying
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Candahar.]
MACPHERSON'S TUSSLE WITH THE FOE.
177
and wounded men, rolling and shrieking in agony,
yet thinking more of the faith they fought for than
of the life they were losing.
These men fought after the usual manner of
the Afghan peasantry ; but the troops of Ayoub
Khan were well-disciplined. The experiences of
our leaders, since the days of Lord Keane, were
that the Afghan soldiery were an armed rabble ;
now the whole force of Ayoub was a well-ordered
one, and, as an officer wrote in the United Service
Magazine^ "drill-sergeants and adjutants don't
drop down from heaven; nor is musket practice
learned by intuition. Armstrong guns don't grow
on the rocks of Afghanistan, neither are even such
tactics as Ayoub Khan's troops showed themselves
up to, learned without teachers."
On the 31st of August General Roberts was
close to Candahar, and ascertained that Ayoub had
his head-quarters at Mazra, that all his best forces
were with him, and that he had been endeavouring
by mines to break up the roads leading to his
position from Candahar.
In the afternoon the general sent for his
brigadiers, Macpherson, Hugh Gough, Macgregor,
and Colonel K F. Chapman, R.A., Chief of the
Sta^r, and expressed his desire for an acute cavalry re-
connaissance, which was to be further utilised to clear
the hills that lay beyond the old cantonments, and
which were held by the enemy in considerable force,
and commanded the water supply in that direction.
At first General Roberts thought it would be
necessary only to drive these troops from the hills
and so prevent them from plumping shells into our
camp ; but after-consideration induced him to make
the reconnaissance in strength and convert it into a
serious attack if deemed necessary ; at all events
the position was to be inspected, and it was to be as-
certained if there were any possibility of turning it
At ten a,m., on the 31st, the party moved off
under Brigadier Gough. It consisted of the 3rd
Bengal Cavalry, the 15th Sikhs, two mountain guns,
and a few of Macpherson's brigade. Bearing away
under cover of some low hills, to the right went
the cavalry and guns, while Herbert Macpherson
marched his infantry steadily to the front The
proposed plan was to drive the enemy off the low
range of hills, that acted as a kind of glacis to the
Pir Paimal range, south-west of Candahar, while
Gough and Chapman took the guns and cavalry
along the Herat road, in the hope of luring the
enemy to turn his attention in that direction ; and
the plan succeeded well
At one p.m. the infantry and guns halted, while
the cavalry advanced two miles farther, and found
the enemy strongly entrenched at the village of Pir
Paimal, from whence they opened fire. The
cavalry then fell back slowly, while the guns came
into action to test the range.
Little resistance was made to Macpherson, who
headed the infantry on a grey charger, and before
he could use the bayonet the Afghan pickets on the
hills were seen streaming rearward into some ad-
jacent gardens. At the foot of the hills Macpherson
dismounted and gave his horse to an orderly. He
then threw forward his men in skirmishing order,
with right and left supports, and a feeding reserve
in the rear. He sent a company of Sikhs to turn
the enemy's left, and taking post in the centre of
his skirmishers, desired them to keep in line and
pace with himself, and in this fashion he proceeded
steadily up the heights. " The Afghans have shown
us what they can do," wrote an officer, "and of
what stuff they are made when opposed to native
troops, however good; but they were not quite
prepared for the direct assault of a Highland regi-
ment, which, in open day, with its colonel at its
head, was steadily climbing a steep ascent, and
would infallibly try conclustons with the bayonet in
a few moments. The Afghans, therefore, retired
as we advanced, an occasional shot from both sides
being all the damage done. Our troops pursued
them along the ridges, and here several were over-
taken by the sturdy Highlanders, whose mountain
training was now of value in the race."
A great body of the enemy now came pouring
into a hollow in front till it was filled with them,
but there, with shouts of defiance, they were held
in check by the steady fire of the, 15th Sikhs, and
the whole position became enveloped in smoke,
streaked with flashes. Macpherson ultimately
allowed them to come within 200 yards, when he
rapidly closed in upon his left files until he came
in front of them, and opened a heavy file firing
which did terrible execution, and drove them again
to cover, some into a wood on the left, and the re-
mainder into a nullah below.
Macpherson, meanwhile, was looking anxiously
to see Gough's cavaby come riding up upon his
right, for the Afghans from the walled enclosures of
the villages had again opened a smart fire upon
him, supported by their guns upon a ridge above
them, and these were making perilous shell practice.
Half an hour was passed in anxiety, and still there
was no sign of Brigadier Gough ; but then it became
known that he was hotly engaged on the right, and
with his two litde mountain guns was holding not
less than 5,000 Afghans at bay !
The latter broke, but rallied again and again,
and each time with increasing numbers, attacking
his front and left ; but as they came on in masses
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Cambhar.
the deadly shrapnel smote them down like grass,
tearing through them from front to rear, and the
moment these masses reeled or recoiled, Gough
dashed into them with his cavalry, and hewed them
down on every side like sheep, driving them to rocks
and broken ground, where horses were unable to
follow them.
Brigadier Macpherson now sprang on his horse,
and accompanied by his brigade-major. Captain
R. E. C Jarvis, of the 67th Foot, and an orderly
bugler, galloped away to the eminence on the right,
and through his field-glass could make out the
somewhat critical position of Brigadier Gough. The
former had with him parties of the Gordon High-
landers, 23rd Pioneers, 24th Bengal Native In-
fantry, the 2nd Sirmoor Ghoorka Regiment — in all
only 400 men, as it had been deemed advisable to
keep the main body of his brigade fresh for the too
probable hard work of the following day.
To strengthen Gough's hands, Macpherson re-
solved to quit the position he had gained, drew
back his left and concentrated his strength on the
other flank, in the bed of a stream, a tributary of
the Argandab, while on hb left rose the abrupt
slopes of the hills he had just swept and quitted.
They were thickly timbered with forests of dark
pines, with open spaces and knolls, most excellently
arranged for the posting of pickets. The ground
in his front opened into the beautiful Argandab
valley, intersected by many glistening streams and
other watercourses.
Macpherson soon saw that his position was not
a desirable one ; that, in short, his little force was
posted in a deep gorge with heights towering on
each flank, and in front a narrow defile nine miles
long, with an enemy well posted on the impending
crags, from which they could hurl enormous masses
of rock, already loosened by crowbars for the
purpose. On his left was a wing of Ayoub's
army ready to open an enfilade fire if he moved
that way ; and to crown all, night was fast closing
in!
He resolved to approach by moving on the left
of the Karez Hill, up a track which was simply the
bed of a stream encumbered by rough boulders
and enormous masses of rock tufted with mangrove
and jungle, and then the progress was rendered
slow by the men having to proceed in Indian file,
at a time when they were sorely fatigued, though
the pure mountain stream, up which they pro-
ceeded, prevented further suffering from thirst
They had scarcely cleared the pass through which
the stream was running, and arrived within some
hundred yards, when a sudden musketry fire
spurted out from the broken and jungly ground.
and hundreds of Afghan swordsmen flung them-
selves like a living flood upon the 2nd Ghoorkas,
who were leading, but Macpherson quickly formed
them in company squares en echelon. Supported by
the Gordon Highlanders, they poured in a deadly
volley, and then both regiments conmienced inde-
pendent file-firing from the right of faces.
The Afghans, unable to withstand this, gave way,
and took to flight, pursued by the active litdc
soldiers of Nepaul, whose terrible kookeries made
short work of those they overtook. A cavalry
trumpet was now heard ringing out on the extreme
right, and the bannerols of the Lancers, led by
Gough, were seen fluttering down the green crest of
a hill, and the junction was effected.
The enemy had at one time come on in such
strength and boldness, that it was deemed advisable
to have the whole of the 3rd Brigade and part of the
I St under arms, but they were flying now, pursued
by the Ghoorkas and Lancers, yet turning at bay
ever and anon, and refusing all quarter \ when the
latter came back, their horses were covered with
foam, and the bannerob of their lances were
dripping with blood.
But the villages in the plain were yet to be
attacked. These were three in number, under the
shelter of three great heights — spurs of the vast and
conical-shaped mountains in the rear. The most
strongly fortified was the Chuzireae. On the loftiest
peak, commanding the whole position, the Afghans
were formed in great strength, with standards flying,
and all the natural difficulties of the ground were
enhanced by the formation of sungahs^ or breast-
works, to resist an assault
Macpherson*s line of skirmishers, spread across
his front, had driven in all the outlying parties of
the enemy, and had closed up to within 500 yards
of Chuzireae, and were halted, awaiting supports
and the arrival of the mountain batteries.
When the latter opened fire with shot and shell,
the troops crossed the level space, and then began
a swift ascent from rock to rock, and ten yards in
front of his kilted men, the most conspicuous officer
there, was the colonel of the 92 nd, who carried each
defence in succession at the bayonet's point, breast-
ing up the mountain side steadily and gallantly,
and standard after standard vanished out of sight
as the works were captured, and the chief vilk^e,
with its height, fell into our hands, the guns mean-
while shelling the fugitives on the ridges beyond.
The object of the reconnaissance was now fully
attained, and the key to Ayoub's position felt and
mastered. Such was the stirring prelude to the
great battle of the morrow, and with it the march
ot Roberts may be said to have ended.
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C'^ndahar 1
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BATTLE.
179
CHAPTER XXVI.
1*HE THIRD AFGHAN WAR (concluded) :— THE BATTLE OF BABA WALI, OR CANDAHAR.
Sir Frederick Roberts now knew that the main
position of Ayoub was on the Baba Wali range, on
the right bank of the Argandab River — a ridge, the
topmost crests of which are fiilly 5,000 feet high,
and capped with snow in winter where they are not
fringed with forests of solemn dark pine, which in
some places extend down to the plain. Many
villages studded the mountains, one of the chief
being Gundi-Moollah-Sahibdad, and the roads be-
tween these were mere mule tracks.
There is only one other pass, the Murcha Kotal,
due north of Candahar. The mountain on the
eastern side is very precipitous, and along its
southern base lie the plains of Pir Paimal, over-
looked by scenery of the grandest description, and
south-west, always hazy in the distance, stretch the
still more vast plains of Candahar. After quitting
the base of the hills, the Argandab widens in its
course southwards, and at certain seasons expands
to a great sheet of water.
Ayoub's head-quarters were at the village of
Mazra, in a narrow vale on the northern slopes,
and strongly entrenched
Few oflScers, perhaps, slept much on the night
before the eventful ist of September. A bright
moon silvered the groves of the plain and the
waters of the Axgandab, and ever and anon the
howls of the prowling jackals were heard around
the guarded camp.
The army breakfasted betimes, almost while the
stin was below the horizon, and all officers com-
manding brigades were summoned to the general's
tent at half-past fi\t a.m. on the morning of the ist,
C^neral Primrose being present among them. As
to what ensued we must quote from the " Personal
Records of the Candahar Campaign."
"'I have sent for you, gentlemen,'" said Sir
Frederick Roberts, "*not to a council of war,
which implies a difficulty or a doubt in regard to
action, but to point out to you my plans for the
attack I propose making this morning. From the
report made to me yesterday by the chief of the
staff, Colonel Chapman, I find that Ayoub's
position is as follows: — His camps are situated
on the range of hills extending from the Argandab
westerly to the Pir Paimal. To pass this ridge,
there are, as doubtless you may be aware, only two
openings from Candahar, the Baba Wali and
Murcha. The latter is the more difficult, but the
former is the more strongly held by the enemy,
who have several guns on its crest The Murcha
Pass is covered by several dried-up canals, which
General Cough and Colonel Chapman consider
formidable obstacles. Then in rear of thb posi-
tion there is, you will find, a detached hill marked
here on the map, and connected with the outer
ridge by a number of detached orchards and gar-
dens. I purpose, therefore, attacking the south-
west portion of the ridge with three brigades of
infantry massed in rear of the Piquet Hill, while
our 40-pounders on the extreme right of the hill,
supported by the 7 th Fusiliers and Rifles, engage
and silence Ayoub^s guns on the Baba Wali. The
Candahar garrison will meanwhile watch, and be
ready to operate on the Murcha Pass, while part of
General Cough's cavalry will act independently on
the left, and cut off any fugitives on that flank.
The real attack will, therefore, be made first by
clearing the gardens in front of Gundi-Moollah-
Sahibdad, then by storming that village in front,
then by turning the Paimal Hill, and finally taking
the Baba Wali in reverse, and the sirdars' camp at
Mazra in flank. I feel convinced, gentlemen, that
if the villages and ridge of Pir Paimal can be
turned, the Baba Wali Kotal would be untenable.
I look, gentlemen, to you to carry out my in-
structions, and I leave the details to you.'"
By eight o'clock the whole army was in position,
the tents struck, to be ready for any contingency,
and stored, with everything else, within a walled
enclosure. One day's cooked rations were in the
haversack of every officer and man. As the troops
took their ground, says the author of the " Per-
sonal Records," it was impossible not to be struck
by the splendid appearance and peculiarly fine
physique of the Highland regiments, " their chest
measurement, muscular development, and the
bronzed hues of sun and wind giving a martial
appearance beyond all other corps;" and he adds
that on this morning he shared the national dish
of oatmeal porridge with the Gordon Highlanders.
We have stated in Roberts's words briefly the
duty which was assigned to the Candahar garrison,
namely, to watch the Murcha Pass, and, besides
this, to attack the Baba Wali with the heavy cannon,
making also a feigned attack, while the real one was
to be delivered by the ist and 2nd Brigades on the
left, and to be worked round to the enemy's right
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THE ATTACKING FORCES.
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For this task General Primrose had with him
four companies of the 7th Fusiliers, the 19th
the canal at Haidar Khan to the Piquet Hill
on the right and the Karez Hill on the left
jy^Eteit^^^
PLAN OF THK BATTLE OP CANDAHAR (SEPTEMBER I, 1880)
if.aCcATth, 4 0».a8thN.l. ;i?, t/n R.H.A. ; C. 1 Co. 66th. i Co. aSth N.l. ; A « Ca »8ih N.l. ; r, c/a R. A. ; /; a Co«. 66ch, 6/8 R.A. ;
G, X Co. 66ch, a Cos. tst N.I. ; H, 5/11 R.A. 4o-Prs. ; /, 4 Cos. 7th, 4th N.L, 19th Sappers ; K, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, yd Sdndo
Horse, Poonah Horse.
Native Infantry, two companies of the ist Ghootka
Grenadiers, four companies of the 66th and two of
the 28th Native Infismtry, all holding the line from
Q
Between these two eminences was posted a
battery of artillery to cover the real attack, to be
delivered on Gundi-Moollah-Sahibdad, while in
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I82
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Candahtf.
rear of them were the brigades of Macpherson and
Baker. To the left of the Karez Hill, to cover the
advance of the latter, was a battery of screw moun-
tain guns, and on the left of these, commanding a
village named Gundigan, was a battery of Royal
Horse Artillery, under Major Tillard.
We can imagine the emotions with which Hector
Maclaine, then a closely-guarded prisoner in
Ayoub's camp, must have beheld these preparations
on this auspicious morning.
At half-past nine a.nL General Roberts mounted
his well-known brown Arab, and, riding to the west
of the Karez Hill, from whence he could survey the
whole field, gave the signal for action, and the
deep boom of four 40-pounders announced that the
strife had commenced, and Baker's brigade began
to advance in skirmishing order, with the shot of
Tillard*s battery booming and screaming over their
heads, while they lay down, till reinforced, in front
of a wooded hill, from whence a heavy musketry
fire was opened on them.
Roberts sent an orderly to General Baker, with
orders to work more to the left out of range of Gundi-
MooUah, idiich was held by a strong Afghan force,
that fired with remarkable precision, and which he
shelled with the screw battery.
"The instructions given by Major-General Ross
to Brigadier-General Macpherson,'^ says Sir
Frederick in his despatch, "were to make his first
attack on that village, after which he was to clear
the enemy from the enclosures which lay between
it and the low spur of the hill short of Pir PaimaL
He further ordered Brigadier-General Baker to
advance in a westerly direction, and clear the gardens
and orchards in his immediate front The attack
upon the village of Gundi-MooUah-Sahibdad was
made by the Ghoorkas and 92nd Highlanders, under
the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. Battye and
Lieutenant-Colonel Parker respectively, two regi-
ments of the I St Brigade being in support The
village was carried in the most dashing style,
Ghoorkas and Highlanders vying with each other
in the rapidity of their advance. The enemy
withdrew sullenly and leisurely, a good number
remaining in the village to the last, to receive a
bayonet charge."
All this was achieved under a hot fire from the
garden walls and house windows, and the 92nd
distinguished themselves in many desperate hand-
to-hand combats.
Assisted by Tillard's Horse Artillery guns. Baker
and Gough were steadily advancing. In the first
line of the infantry brigade were the 72nd High-
landers and the 2nd Sikhs, with the 3rd Sikhs and
5th Ghoorkas as supports, with the 2nd Beloochees
acting as a reserve. Most desperate indeed was
the fighting among the loopholed wall-enclosures,
the Ghazis, who fought here, frequently hurling
themselves like tigers upon our soldiers, dashing
their shields against the bayonets till the brasses
rang, their eyes glaring wildly, and their bronzed
visages smeared with gunpowder and blood.
Hurling themselves against our ranks, which were
shoulder to shoulder, in the grand old British
fashion, they grappled with the men, and strove
to wrest their muskets away, undeterred by the
volleys poured into their very eyes. So close was
the attack that one of the Highlanders was cloven
to death through his helmet; and here their
colonel, Brownlow, fell in the act of giving an
order to his men.
"The loss in clearing these enclosures," con-
tinues Sir Frederick in his despatch, "was neces-
sarily severe, Lieutenant-Colonel Brownlow, CR,
Captain Frome, and Lance>Sergeant Cameron — a
grand specimen of a Highland soldier — being
among those who fell Lieutenant-Colonel Brown-
low met his death while gallantly leading his
regiment, the 72nd Highlanders, and in him the
army has experienced a great loss. He had on
many occasions highly distinguished himself as a
leader — at the Peiwar Kotal, during the operations
around Cabul at the latter end of 1879, and
notably on December 14th, by his brilliant con-
duct in the attack and capture of the Asmai
Heights. Of the regiments of this (the 2nd)
brigade, the 72nd Highlanders and the 2nd Sikhs
had the chief share of the fighting. They were
the two leading battalions, and frequently had to
fix bayonets to check the determined rushes of the
enemy."
Major Ashe records the narrow escape of an
officer named Menzies at Gundi-Moollah. When
capturing a walled enclosure, he suddenly found
himself in an ambush of fully 300 Ghazis, whose
leader, a tall and powerful fanatic, rushed at him
with a terrific yell, brandishing the while a tulwar
with one hand and a standard with the other.
Accepting the challenge, the Highlander rushed
half-way to meet him. The Ghazi raised his
tulwar to give one of those terrible back-strokes,
which, if delivered straight at the neck, are so
difficult to ward off. But Menzies, quick as
lightning,'ran him through the heart Then before
he could extricate his weapon, which was a true
old Scottish Andrew Ferrara, he was cut down by
two Ghazis from behind. These in turn were
despatched by a corporal of the 72nd Highlander,
and Menzies was carried into an empty adjacent
house, but no sooner had his men quitted him than
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VICTORY OF THE BRITISH.
183
a Ghan crept in through a window, and stabbed
him in the shoulder. A Ghoorka, who saw the act,
was fortunately in time to despatch the fanatic with
his kookerie.
After most severe fighting, the ist and 2nd
Brigades emerged at the point of the hill near Pir
Paimaly "and bringing their left shoulder^ forward/'
reported the general, " they pressed on, and swept
the enemy through the closely-wooded gardens and
orchards which cover the western slop^ of the hill
The village of Pir Paimal was in pur possession
soon after nooa When I heard from Major-
General Ross of the success of the troops under
his command, I determined to support his further
advance by the 3rd Brigade, which had been drawn
up in front of the village of Abasabad, with the
double object of being a reserve for the ist and 2nd
Brigades, and of meeting a possible coimter-attack by
the enemy from the Baba Wali Pass. The capture
of the Pir Paimal, however, brought our troops in
rear of the pass, and feeling that nothing was now
to be feared from the enemy's left, I pushed on
with the 3rd Brigade to join General Ross."
The latter had found the troops he encountered
to be Ayoub's regulars, belonging, it was believed,
to the revolted Candahar regiments. Whatever
they were, Ross soon had them in full flight up the
valley, pursued by a hot artillery fire, dealing
death and wounds among them. Ross, on seeing
the advantage won, and knowing well the courage
and resolution of his soldiers, had determined to
push on without waiting for reinforcements. The
position to which the enemy retired, after leaving
the Pir Paimal, was an entrenched camp westward
of the Baba Wali Kotal, commanding an open
^>ace of ground. This entrenchment they were
evidently prepared to defend resolutely ; reinforce-
ments were rapidly pushed up from their reserves,
while the guns on the Baba Wali Kotal were
wheeled round, so as to increase the heavy artillery
fire that was poured upon our troops.
It became necessary, says General Roberts, to
take this position at once by storm, and recognising
this with true soldierly instinct, Major G. Stewart
White, who was leading the advanced companies of
the 92nd Highlanders, called upon his men for
"just one charge more to settle the business."
The screw-gun battery had been shelling the
enemy with a disastrous and well-dfrected fire, which
was supported by a portion of the 2nd Ghoorkas
(or Prince of Wales's Own) and the 23rd Pioneers,
Joyfully and with alacrity the Highlanders responded
to the call of their favourite leader, and, without
pausmg to recover breath, drove the enemy from
their entrenchments at the point of the bayonet.
Then it was that Roberts exclaimed, "Nothing
could be finer than the rush made by those two
regiments, the Ghoorkas and the Highlanders, and
how well the 23rd and 24th worked up in sup<
port!"
The gallant Stewart White, ever foremost, was
the first to reach the enemy's guns, being followed
by the Sepoy Inderbir Lama, who, placing his rifle
upon one of the guns, exclaimed that it was " cap-
tured in the name of the Prince of Wales's Own
Ghoorkas!" Another was secured by Major
White, and special mention was made of this when
he received the Victoria Cross. Here ensued,
perhaps, the heaviest hand-to-hand fighting of the
day.
While the ist Brigade was dashing at the enemy's
last position, a portion of the 2nd Brigade, consist-
ing of half a battalion of the 3rd Sikhs, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Money, charged a body of the
enemy on the extreme left, and captured three
more guns. The enemy were now almost com-
pletely routed, for when the screw-battery moved
forward again, and began to throw shell into
the already broken masses of the enemy, the
helmets of Baker's brigade, with puggarees floating
in the wind, appeared on the ridge that overlooked
the entrenched village of Mazra, and Ayoub's camp
was at our mercy.
The Afghan force was quite defeated now, its
guns, thirty-two in number, captured, its regiments
demoralised, and their leaders in full flight, yet such
was the confined nature of the ground that no
distinct notion could be formed of the real con-
dition of affairs, " and it was impossible for Major-
General Ross," says Sir Frederick, " to realise the
extent of the victory he had won. He, therefore,
expecting the enemy to take up a fresh position,
and to continue the resistance, ordered the ist and
2nd Brigades to halt and replenish their ammuni-
tion. When this had been done, and the troops
had advanced about a mile, Major-General Ross
found himself in sight of the whole of Ayoub
Khan's camp, standing deserted, and apparently as
it had been left in the morning, when the Afghans
moved to the attack."
With his camp he lost all his artillery, including
two Horse Artillery guns which had been taken by
his troops at Maiwand.
There appeared to have been no attempt what-
ever made to remove the goods and chattels with
which the many-coloiured tents were filled. Bed-
ding, clothes, cooking utensils, and even food, had
been left (the latter in many cases burning over
still lighted fires). Not far from the centre of the
camp was Ayoub's o^vn tent, and in front of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Candahar.
another near it lay the still warm and bleeding
corpse of poor Hector Maclaine. The ruffians
who were guarding him, when they saw the camp
about to be captured, in a moment of frenzy or
cruelty called him forth, and deliberately cut his
throat !
This sight inflamed the fury of our troops, and a
strict and vengeful search was made for the perpe-
trators of the atrocity, but in vain. His miserable
fote excited universal commiseration ; and here we
may be permitted to quote some lines on the sub-
ject, from the most popular of English periodicals : —
" Hector sounds well in a stoiy of battle.
Homer had some such old hero in Troy.
Schoolboys may doubt ; but the roar and the rattle
Cannon and smoke— that's the school of the boy.
Woolwich cadet ! — oh I so cruelly slain :
Why did they leave you, young Hector Maclaine?
"Leave you, my lad? when your " pals " all adored you.
Was there one comrade refused you his life?
War is full dear ; but we could not afford you,
You who rejoiced in the drum and the fife.
Ours is the loss, but to fiame is the gain :
Why did they kill you, young Hector Maclaine ?
** How our hearts beat when we thought we could save you ;
We were so cheery, and you, boy, so far.
Unfurl the colours ! We thought they could wave you
Hope from the lads to the far Candahar I
Strike up the pipes ! for we'll at him again :
Roberts is marching to Hector Maclaine I
*' Merciless fote ! When the Highlanders started.
Firm in their purpose to rescue a friend.
Out from the ambush the enemy darted,
Called the last roll, stabb'd— and that was the end I
Just as we breasted the hiU from the plain.
Died, like a soldier, young Hector Maclaine I
** Died? Why, of course, he met death like a hero.
Baring his breast whilst the prisoners fled.
He was the victim, his gaoler the Nero,
Piling his body on heaps of the dead.
Still, ere you fell, and were mixed with the slain,
Scotland was true to you— Hector Maclaine I" *
Before he perished, this unfortunate officer must
have known that his comrades were victorious, for
the murder, in its very act, must have told him the
glad truth that British bayonets were avenging the
disaster of Maiwand, while British cheers could be
heard ringing out ever and anon between the gusts
of volleyed musketry. In his tent were found his
pipe, his journal, and a bit of dry crust, of which
he was supposed to have been making his last
meal Some other trifles were found there by
Edwin Smith.
He was the eldest son of Osborne Maclaine, of
Murtle, Aberdeenshire, and belonged to the B
Brigade of the Jloyal Horse Artillery^ lo . which
Jie had been appointed in January, 1872.
• Punch, September 18th, 188a
During the close of the engagement Sir Frederfck
Roberts noted the following officers and men for
"special gallantry and forwardness": — Major G.
Stewart White, Lieutenant C. W. H. Douglas,
Corporal William McGillvray, Privates Peter
Grieve, John Mackintosh, and D. Gray, of Ae
92nd Highlanders, Major S. R Beecher, Havildar
Gopal Borah, and the Sepoys Inderbir Lama and
Tikaram Kwos, of the 2nd Ghoorka Regiment
Shortly before the final advance, Major-General
Ross wished to inform Sir Frederick Roberts, by
heliograph, that he had succeeded in turning the
enemy's position, and directed Captain Stratton,
22nd Foot, Superintendent of the Army Signalling
Department, to proceed, with a company of the
24th Punjaub Native Infantry to the Baba Wall
KotaL This brave officer had gone but a short
distance when a Ghazi sprang out of a ravine close
by, and shot him dead.
" In Captain Stratton," wrote the general, " her
Majesty's service has lost a most accomplished and
intelligent officer, under whose management army
signalling, as applied to field service, reached a
pitch of perfection probably never before attained
His energy knew no difficulties, and his enthusiasm
was beyond praise. He had won the highest
opinions from all, and his death was very deeply
felt throughout the whole force."
Our casualties were : killed, of all ranks, 40 ;
wounded, of all ranks, 228; total, 268. It was
difficult to estimate the loss of the enemy, but it
must have been considerable, for upwards of 600
bodies were buried by us between Candahar and
the village of Pir Paimal alone.
"Probably 1,200 would not be an overesti-
mate," concludes Sir Frederick, in his despatch of
the battle.
With the capture of Ayoub's camp at Mazra the
strife did not cease, and we have to detail General
Cough's pursuit of the routed Afghans at the head
of his cavalry.
After the battle, Ayoub fled towards Kakrez, en
route to Herat, where, as a beaten man, he must
have felt that a doubtful reception awaited him.
He had no baggage, and was escorted by only two
hundred Heratee horse. His Kakrez Cabulee
infantry fled up the Argandab Valley, and were
cut down in great numbers.
The British cavalry were in two brigades, that
from Cabul being under the orders of Brigadier
Hugh Gough, C.B., while the cavalry from Canda-
har were under the command of General NuttalL
The first-named leader had, at the commencement
of the action, taken his brigade round the Baba
Wali Kotal into the Argandab Valley, and was
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UTTER DEFEAT OF THE AFGHANS.
i8s
engaged, though out of sight, the entire day
watching the development of the attack on the Fir
PaimaL
An officer in "Personal Recollections" thus
vividly describes the scene, as viewed by the
cavalry: — "Imagine two gaps, cut shield-shape, out
of. this (mountain) range — the one called the
Murcha Kotal, and the other the Baba Wali
Kotal — ^and in them four batteries of guns manned
by Afghan soldiers, sworn to defend the position
and exterminate the infidel Then look across the
intervening space between the river and these
defences, and see what resembles three long ser-
pents belching forth flame and smoke, as they
wind their sinuous course up the reverse slopes of
this position. It is high noon, and the sun, till
lately hidden by light and fleecy clouds, rising over
the green and flowery valley, bursts out in increased
splendour, as we watch our gallant fellows march-
ing up the heights, regardless of the well-served
guns that still continue to play from Ayoub*s well-
placed batteries. Ever and anon we could see a
mass of Afghans come down with a rush on our
fellows, and then the sun glanced on the glittering
and terrible steel barrier which met and stopped
their course."
So passed the day.
At eight p.m. Gough received the pencilled order
firom Sir Frederick Roberts, and immediately gave
the command, " Stand by your horses ! " The buzz
in the ranks, where the men had been " at ease,"
changed to dead silence; flasks, cigars, sand-
wiches, and biscuits disappeared as the sharp
trumpets rang out in succession: "Prepare to
mount ! " " Mount ! " and a thousand horsemen were
in their saddles at once, and in five minutes after,
as the routed enemy were seen crossing the Argan-
dab in full flight, he proceeded to follow them up
on the spur. They proved to be Ghazis and
other irregulars, seeking to make good their escape
to Kakrez.
In consequence of the nature of the valley — its
broken ground, rocks, and ravines— the action of
the pursuing cavalry was much hampered; but
even with these impediments before them, their
able leader soon overtook the enemy, for the
Native Light Cavalry are admu-ably equipped for
all kinds of active work. Formerly the Indian
trooper carried a pistol in his wallet ; now he had
a Snider carbine, and, together with his uncom-
monly sharp sword, had a lance, with a bright steel
point and blue and white bannerol His uniform
consisted, and consists, of a tunic of dark blue
serge (like a Norfolk jacket), girt by a scarlet
cummerbund, a dark blue loonglue^ or turban,
wound tightly round a wadded skull-cap, like an
Egyptian tarboosh, and yellow pyjamas tucked
into long boots of brown untanned leather, with a
lance socket at each stirrup. His carbine is slung
on the ofl* side, and the cloak is strapped over
the wallet On the near side are slung his bhoosa
(or grain) bag, with the horse's blankets and pegs.
Gough's command consisted of the 9th Royal
Lancers, 3rd Bengal and 3rd Punjaub Cavalry, and
two squadrons of the ist and 2nd Central India
Horse; he had aheady made himself familiar
with the ground he had to traverse, and he had
been during the day left to his own discretion as
events wore on.
General Nuttall, at the head of the 3rd Bombay
Light Cavalry and 3rd Scinde Horse, crossed the
Baba Wali Kotal, and keeping on the nearer bank of
the Argandab, took up the pursuit on a line parallel
to Gough's, which was on the other side, and both
continued it along the stream as far as Mansurabad,
a distance of fifteen miles from Candahar, cutting
down the flying foe on right and left, and 500 are
believed to have perished.
The cavalry did not get back to camp till past
ten o'clock, when many of their horses were found
to be quite knocked up.
The casualties among the officers were : Colonel
Francis Brownlow, C.B., and Captain St John
Frome, both of the 72nd Highlanders, and Stratton,
of the 22nd, Rowcroft, of the 4th Ghoorkas, and
Chesney, of the 23rd Pioneers, killed; Captain
Charles Stewart Murray and Lieutenant Munroe,
72nd, Lieutenants Stuart, Menzies, and Donald
Stewart, 92nd Highlanders, Lieutenant-Colonel A.
Battye, of the 2nd Ghoorkas, and Major Slater, of
the 2nd Sikhs, wounded
Colonel Brownlow, whose loss was deplored by
his Highlanders, had served with them in the
Crimea, at Kertch and the siege of Sebastopol, in
India at the storming of Kotah, and the pursuit of
the rebels under Tantia Topee and Rao Sahib, in
1858-9. He was an ensign of 1854, and a colonel
of 1877.
By the 2nd of October there died of their
wounds at Candahar Colonel Shewell, of the Staff
Corps, one private of the S9th Regiment, and
thirty-three Highlanders.
The army held Ayoub Khan personally respon-
sible for the murder of Lieutenant Maclaine, whom
doubtless he intended to exchange for some of his
relatives who were in our hands, but in the rapidity
and desperation of his flight he had neglected to
give any special orders for his prisoner's safety.
Machine's diary, which was found, ending isth
August, said he was badly treated till the arrival of
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BRITISH BATIXES ON LAND AND SEA.
Sirteep at the camp of Ayoub. The moment the
latter had fled, the guard over him and six of our
LIEUT&NANT-COLON£L liROWNLOW, C.B.
sepoys paraded them all for execution. Maclaine
and one sepoy perished, but the rest escaped in the
confusion.
After the battle was over, the general rode up to
the head of every battalion, and personally thanked
it for the victory. Sentinels of the 92nd High-
landers were posted on Ayoub*s tent, to prevent it
from being pillaged. An eye-witness described it
as containing " a couch of rich damask, covered
with matting of the finest description, with some
large leopard-skins as a counterpane, shaded and
curtained by rich shawls draped above the bed ; a
number of costly weapons hanging from the hooks
of the tent-poles ; a double-barrelled rifle of English
make (Lancaster), with an inscription in Persian,
showing it to have been a Russian general's gift ;
pipes of all kinds, handsome chogas, turbans, and
other articles of dress, evidently lately in use, lay
about, and gave a life-like aspect to the scene."
A repast, consisting of a rich pillau and a kid
roasted, and stuffed with almonds and raisins, &c.,
was also found laid and ready. Among other
plunder taken was an elephant.
On the day after the battle General Roberts and
his staff" rode over the field, and found the carnage
about Gundi-Moollah-Sahibdad far beyond what
had been anticipated, and although all night long
fatigue parties had been at work bringing in the
wounded, groans of suffering were heard on every
hand, while the place was strewn with stark and
mangled corpses, from which came a sickening
odour of blood, and amid which the chargers of
the staff" had to pick their way. Many cavalry
horses, pitiably mutilated by shells, were seen
wandering and straggling in search of food and
water. In one place lay six Ghazis in a mangled
heap, all struck down by the same shell
Everywhere lay dark pools of blood, in which the
flies were battening, while the vultures floated over-
head, or perched on the dead horses and riven
ruins of the loop-holed walls ; everywhere lay lances
and round shields, pistols, rifles, and broken
tulwars. Many of our dead and wounded had
fallen under the charahy or Afghan knife. It is
used with terrible eff"ect, but hardly ever for direct
blows, and its strokes being aimed usually at the
outside of the arm or leg, thus produce frightful
and enormous gashes. The Afghan never gives
CAPiAlN ST. J9UN FKOMK.
point with his charah, A trooper of the 3rd Sikhs
had his bridle arm lopped off" at the elbow by one
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OuKbhar.i AFTER THE FIGHT. 187
I
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o
H
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
Candahar.
blow of a charah^ the wielder of which lay head-
less beside him.
More corpses, dead mules and horses, Afghan
drums and standards, abandoned cannon, shattered
ammunition carts, and every imaginable kind of
debris^ marked the effect of Tillard's Horse
Artillery guns, and the line of flight which
Gough and Nuttall had taken with their cavalry.
All our dead were reverently interred. The
Reverend Mr. Cane and Father Jackson read
their several services ; the band of the 7 th Fusiliers
played the "Dead March in Saul;" and a high
cairn in a conspicuous position was erected on the
field of battle.
Many dead were, of course, buried along the
line of the retreat, and in the gardens in rear of the
position.
The battle of Baba Wali, or Candahar, was Sir
Frederick Roberts's last act of importance here, and
the concluding feature of the Afghan strife. It was
remarkable for the acute generalship and cool
judgment he had shown, and also for the dashing
^lan and brilliant courage displayed by his troops.
From first to last, and from the greatest to the most
minute detail, every danger had been foreseen,
and every probable mishap calculated. On every
occasion we were far outnumbered by the enemy,
who were equal to our men in physical strength,
superior to many of them in activity, and armed
with nearly the same weapons; but Roberts trusted
to the courage of his slender army and to its
perfect discipline, which were conspicuous alike in
the savage defiles of the Kurram Valley, on the
rocky heights of the Peiwar Kotal and the Spingawi
Pass, in the lines of Sherpur, and on the splintered
bluffs of AsmaL Nevertheless, we must bear in
mind, as a writer in the Army and Navy Ma-
gazine has it, " that the greater portion of Sir
Frederick Roberts's force was composed of seasoned
old soldiers. Had he attempted such enterprises
with the raw boys to be seen staggering under their
rifles here at home, can any one doubt that the
result would have been disastrously different ? "
The Candahar Field Force was broken up in
September, and before proceeding to India, the
last act of General Roberts was to distribute dis-
tinguished service medals to the 72nd and 92nd
Highlanders and the gallant 5th Ghoorkas. They
were formed on three sides of a square, in close
columns, and the general, who has an admirable
bearing on horseback, touched his helmet, and, with
a clear and well-pitched voice, according to The
Times of India, thus addressed the men : —
" Soldiers of the Candahar Field Force, — I am
glad to have this opportunity of giving medals for
distinguished conduct to the men of the 72nd and
92 nd Highlanders and the 5 th Ghoorkas. They
have deservedly won them. I say, from my ex-
perience as a soldier, that no men with whom I
have served could have better deserved these
rewards, and it is an additional pleasure to me to
have seen the other day of what material my High-
landers and Ghoorkas are made. I can but hope
it may be my good fortune to have such good
soldiers by my side when next I go into action.
The 72nd have, I grieve to say, to mourn the loss
of their colonel, as fine a leader of men as I have
ever seen; and with him fell an equally gallant
spirit, Captain Frome, and many brave men, among
whom I must mention Sergeant William Cameron,
that grand specimen of a Highland soldier ! But
the 92nd had also a heavy loss, Colour-Sergeant
Richard Eraser and other good soldiers being
amongst the slain. On the 2nd September no less
than fourteen gallant fellows were laid in one grave,
and many of their comrades are now lying wounded
in our hospital But in all this you have a British
soldier's consolation : that of knowing that you did
your duty nobly. I believe in my day I have seen
some hard knocks given and received, but never do
I remember noticing a greater look of determination
to win a battle than I observed in your faces on
that morning of the ist September !
" Not even the bravest Afghans could stand
against such a bold attack. Yes ! you beat them
at Cabul, and you have beaten them at Candahar ;
and now, as you are about leaving the country, you
may be assured that the very last troops the
Afghans ever wish to meet in the field are Scottish
Highlanders and Ghoorkas. You have indeed
made for yourselves a name in this country ; and as
you will not be forgotten in Afghanistan, so, you may
rest assured, you will never be forgotten by me."
Then three ringing cheers were given by the
Highlanders, that echoed far away into the city
and among the heights above Candahar.
A clasp for Candahar was ordered to be worn
with the war medal, and a bronze star was bestowed
on all who shared in Roberts's famous march. Six
clasps were given for the six chief events of the
war ; and several orders of merit, for bravery in the
field, were bestowed upon sepoys of the various
native regiments which were brigaded with our own.
A vote of thanks to the officers and soldiers of
the army was unanimously passed in Parliament ;
the Council of India granted to Sir Frederick
Roberts and Sir Donald Stewart a pension of
;^i,ooo a year each for life, or, if they preferred it,
a capital sum of ;^i 2,500; and to the troops six
months' batta.
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MILITARY BALLOONS.
189
CHAPTER XXVIL
CHANGES IN THE EQUIPMENT AND ARMY ORGANISATION — THE WAR BALLOON — THE " STEAM SAPPER " —
RIFLES AND BAYONETS — ^THE NEW DRILL — GUNNERY — THE 80-TON GUN — ^THE LARGEST CRANE IN
THE WORLD — STAR SHELLS — 1 3 AND ^ POUNDERS — ^THE NORDENFELDT GUN — ARMY PROMOTION
WARRANT — ^THE TERRITORIAL REGIMENTS.
In previous portions of this work we have glanced
at the gradual changes in the arms, armour, cloth-
ing, and equipment of our forces by land and sea ;
but the innovations, inventions in weapons, altera-
tions in uniforms, and in military organisation
^nce the period of the Ashantee War* have been
so numerous as to require an entire chapter to
describe them.
The military engineer of the present time, with a
knowledge of the principles of fortification, road-
ftaaking and pontooning, must also now understand
the use and preparation of electric cables and insu-
lated wire, mine-cases, single and multiple discon-
hectors, circuit closers, signalling by heliograph, ex-
plosion by dynamite, and a host of other matters, all
tnore or less complicated in their details, and most
of which were as unknown to our soldiers fifty years
ago as to those of Julius Agricola.
The apparatus for visual signalling — a science
which proved of gneat service both in Afghanistan
and in the war in Zululand, which we are about to
Tiarrate — b in itself no small matter to understand,
and requires the care of a thorough electriciaa
In 1880, early in the year, a Military Balloon
Committee prosecuted their researches into the
methods of utilising the science of aeronautics
for siege operations, and into the construction of
balloons for the ascent of one or two persons to
a height of 800 feet, and 2,000 yards from a battery
armed with an 8-inch howitzer. The gunners
in charge of the latter were ordered to find the
range of the balloon, and bring it down. The dis-
tance of an object in the air was found more diffi-
cult to estimate than of one on land, but it was
judged to be a mile off, and the howitzer was laid
at a venture. The first shot was unsuccessful, but
the second shell was aimed and timed so skilfully
that it burst in front of the balloon.
Being a shrapnel shell, containing 300 balls,
about 180 pounds in weight, it splintered and burst
in a spreading cone, and as some of the missiles
lacerated the envelope of the balloon, it quickly
fell to the earth. The success of this experiment
proved that it would be unsafe to ascend in a war
► Vol. III., pp. 302.374.
balloon for reconnoitring purposes within 2,000
yards of an enemy's lines, though it did not detract
from the value of the balloon as a new agent in
warfare. In cases of extremity, however, it may
even be necessary to incur the risk of making a
reconnaissance in the air at dangerously close
quarters ; but, as a general rule, balloons will be
called into requisition only at very long ranges
beyond the reach of cannon.
The proposition to use what is known as the
" Steam Sapper " had effect given to it when, at a
march past of the Chatham garrison, in August,
1877, before the Duke of Cambridge, the Artillery
Reserve and Engineer Park stores went by, drawn
by traction-engines. The first drew three 32-
pounders on travelling carriages; the second fol-
lowed, drawing two 32-pounders and two 12-
pounders, and was followed by several others,
drawing waggons filled with shot, shell, and military
stores. These "Steam Sappers" will drag heavy
guns up steep slopes, and can steer a long train
safely round a comer. The band playing these
traction-engines past, marched on foot before the
duke and a brilliant staff, including many foreign
attachis.
In 1 88 1 the rifles used in the British service
were the Martini-Henry and Snider Enfield, and
carbines having the same constructors- names were
used by the artillery, with the Westley-Richards
carbine for the cavalry.
The Martini-Henry rifle is far superior to any of
its predecessors. The inside of the barrel is con-
structed with grooves, so as to give the bullet a
twist when leaving. These are seven in number.
The rifle, with the bayonet fixed, is 5 feet ii^^
inches in length. The trajectory is 8'i feet when
the rifle is sighted for shooting at 500 yards, and
the velocity of the bullet in the air is 1,320 feet
per second. The bullet turns round once in
twenty-two inches.
The Snider — the weapon now going out of use
in the army — has a barrel with three grooves only ;
its length, with the bayonet, is 6 feet o^^^ inches, its
trajectory 11 '9 feet at 500 yards, and the velocity
of the ball only 1,270 feet per second, the projectile
turning once in 78 inches.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
rWoolwich.
The Snider is loaded at the breech by means of
an opening block, which works upon a pin, and
shuts backward and forward from right to left,
being thrown open by a smart action of the right
thumb to receive the cartridge. The cavalry car-
bines are much upon the same principle, whether
Martini-Henry or Snider.
When a ball leaves the rifle it rises considerably
in the air, and falls again in a curve to its destina-
tion. This is the trajectory. Thus, as we have
said, the bullet rises 8' i feet in the Martini-Henry
and 11*9 in the Snider. The trajectory of the old
Enfield was 15 feet; hence the superiority of the
later weapoa
It was in 1842 that the flint-lock — ^the old
" Brown Bess " of innumerable glories, had a new
kind of smooth-bore issued in its stead; and in
those days a man was considered a first-class shot
if he struck the target with it at a hundred yards.
In 1878 a new and longer bayonet was issued to
the infantry, with a series of brass studs upon the
scabbard.
With the new and improved fire-arms came in
the new system of drill, as evolved in the " Field
Exercises and Evolutions of Infantry," specially
issued in April, 1877. It was then stated that in
future, battalions would be raised to their full
strength by the addition of men from the Reserves.
Part V. of these instructions deals with the
manoeuvres and tactics of more than one battalion,
that is to say, with the application of the drill (con-
tained in the former Parts) to the requirements of
actual warfare, and to the features of the ground
to be worked over. It insisted that the adaptation
of the formation of troops to the nature of the
ground was, under the new conditions of warfare,
essential and demanded the most careful study.
This referred to the loose formation and to finding
cover at long ranges.
Respecting the new drill, the general order urged
that the regulations concerning it were not to be
taken as rules, but as guides, to point out the general
direction. "These regulations, as such, are useful
and requisite ; but it must be distinctly understood
that as regards the distances between the fighting
line and the supports, and between the supports
and the main body, and as regards reinforcing
the fighting line from the supports, it is impossible
to lay down any hard and fast line, so much must
depend upon the circiunstances of the case, and
upon the intelligence with which the officers
actually upon the spot appreciate the situatioa"
Drill and formations were to vary according to
the nature of the ground, " as a blind adherence
to the words of these instructions in real war or
under varying circumstances of ground, cannot
fail to prevent the development of individual
intelligence, which is essential to the success of
modem tactics."
Most wonderful have been the changes and
improvements in gunnery within the last few years.
We have now 2,000-pounders, weighing 100 tons,
and loo-ton muzzle-loaders ; yet the art of war is
not revolutionised.
The first trial of the famous 80-ton gun took
place at Woolwich in 1877, when five rounds were
fired from it, the charges employed being 425
pounds of powder, and a shot 1,703 pounds in
weight with each round, the concussion seeming
to rend the very air. The muzzle velocities regis-
tered about 1,587 feet per second. In August,
1883, an important experiment was made at Shoe-
buryness, for the purpose of testing the eff*ect of its
fire, in the presence of the War Office Committee
and the Commandant of the School of Gunnery.
A representation of one of the most massive forts
at Spithead was built on the marshes, 60 feet long
by 20 feet wide, and divided into four sections, the
whole constructed of granite blocks, backed up
with teak and concrete. The monster gun, on an
experimental carriage and line of rails, was placed
in position at 200 yards' distance from this target,
and loaded with 450 pounds of pebble powder, and
a shot weighing 1,700 pounds, including the gas-
check. It was fired by electricity, and presently
a tremendous crash on the target was heard,
which, after an initial velocity of 1,588, had been
struck exactly in the centre. The shot had cut
through both iron slabs and granite facings, and
was embedded about 6 feet deep in the concrete
behind. This representation of a fort cost some
thousands of pounds.
But this gun was far outdone by one which Herr
Krupp constructed at Meppen, in Westphalia, in
1879, and at the testing of which two British
officers from the War Office were present The
80-ton gun had a calibre of 16 inches, a total
length of 27 feet, with a bore 24 feet long. The
EJrupp gun had a superior length of bore, being
2 if inches calibre, as against 18 in the former.
The charge for it consisted of 385 pounds of
prismatic powder, and the projectile was a chilled
iron shell, 1,660 pounds in weight, with a bursting
charge of 22 pounds of powder. The estimated
velocity of this shell was 1,640 feet per second.
At Woolwich, in the following year, the most
powerful crane in the world was constructed,
capable of lifting three or four loo-ton guns at
once; but the purpose for which it was pro-
vided was not to do work which other appliances
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could accomplish in detail, but to meet the evident
necessity for dealing with ordnance so enormous
as to defy all the means available for mounting
them on their carriages. The motive power, of
course, was steam, and the crane was calculated to
raise i,aoo tons in case of need. This wonderful
machine was designed by Mr. Fraser, the Deputy-
Superintendent of the Royal Arsenal, and the
work was carried out by General Younghusband
and Colonel Eardley Maitland, an officer who
served with the Artillery in Havelock's column,
and under Outram, in some of the brilliant actions
of the Indian revolt
In 1878 star shells of a new pattern were intro-
duced into the service, and manufactured in great
quantities at Woolwich. These shells were intended
to be fired from a 6*3-inch mortar, and were by far
the most effective of their kind for reconnoitring by
night Each shell contained twenty-one magnesium
stars, which, when it exploded in the air, lighted
up a large tract of country with great brilliance,
for a few moments or a few minutes, as might be re-
quired, and proved most successful during the war
in Afghanistan.
In 1880, 13-pounder breech-loading guns were
constructed at the Royal Gun Factories ; and the
Moncriefif principle of mounting guns on disap-
pearing carriages, which allow the weapon to sink
under cover of the parapet with the recoil, and rise,
when loaded, to the firing position by the action of
a counter-weight, was extended to all British stations
abroad, such as Bermuda and others, where the
system seemed to suit the style of defences.
One of the most useful inventions in artil-
lery was the jointed 7-pounder mountain battery
guns^ constructed in the same year by Colonel
C B. Le Mesurier, R.A., and some of which were
employed by General Roberts's army with excellent
effect in Afghanistan. The old mountain gun was
limited in its weight to 200 pounds, and was
carried by a mule. Colonel Le Mesurier for-
tunately conceived the idea of increasing the length
and weight of the weapon, by making the muzzle
and breech in two portions, to be screwed to-
gether by what is called "a trunnion hoop;"
each portion might be 200 pounds, thus requiring
two mules for its conveyance. The gun was rifled,
muzzle-loaded, and composed of steel, and could
be conveyed by mountain paths and passes, where
ordinary artillery would be useless. In many of
the recent op>erations we have described, this gun
was found to be of essential service in the march,
when the ordinary 9-pounder field guns were left
in the rear. Although throwing a 7-pound pro-
jectile, these jointed guns are very different from
those light 7-pounder steel guns which we used
in the Abyssinian and other African campaigns.
They are nearly 6 feet in length, and only 2^
inches in calibre, slightly increasing in the
powder-chamber. On service no difficulty has yet
been experienced in unscrewing the parts after an
action, which was the most serious obstacle appre-
hended, as it might have prevented the removal of
the gun from the field. In general efficacy, they
have won the greatest credit
Breech-loading guns, for the Royal Horse
Artillery and field brigades, were passed by
Colonel Maitland in 188 1, and issued for service at
Woolwich. These guns have been constructed —
as far as was pmcticable, seeing that they are
breech-loaders— on the model of the muzzle-loading
13-pounder, which is deemed the finest specimen of
British ordnance. Both are 3 inches in calibre at
the bore, enlarged to 6 J in the powder-chamber. A
turn of a lever unlocks the breech-pin, which, when
withdrawn, is seen to be a solid metal drum, about
10 pounds in weight, and screwed into the gun by a
thread surrounding the whole cylinder, except at
intervals, where the horizontal ways are smoothly
cut, so that the drum can be easily taken out when
in position, to clear the remaining jambs. A half
turn of a screw releases it in a moment, and being
received by a carrier, it swings round on a hinge
to the right, leaving the breech open for loading.
The fittings are of bronze, formerly called gun-
metal, but the gun itself is chiefly of steeL The
whole of the barrel is steel, and it is only in the
rear that wrought-iron coils are shrunk on to
strengthen and support it The weight of this
beautiful gun is only 8J hundredweights.
Sinde our Catling gun struck such terror into
the hearts of the Ashantees, on the banks of the
Prah, this most formidable weapon has been made
more perfect and more simple in construction. Its
weight has been reduced to nearly one half, while
the rapidity of its fire has been increased. Instead
of the old drum-feeder, which was fed at the side of
the gun, the new one is an upright case (holding
forty cartridges), enabling 600 rounds per minute
to be fired with the greatest ease. The crank-
handle by which it is worked is now only 7 inches
long ; four revolutions empty one of the feeders,
which is instantly replaced by one of the servers of
the gun. In both services we have still about 250
old-pattern Catlings, and all who witnessed the
effective service that a half-battery of them did at
Ulundi, in sweeping away an encircling advance of
Zulus, bore testimony to the value of our investing
in this destructive form of weapon. We apply the
Boxer cartridge to the new Catling; but the
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Americans use a solid metal cartridge-case, stamped
out of the sheet " We — though from the nature
of our service, small-arm ammunition is subjected
to more severe trials than in any other army in
the world — use a compound of iron and brass,
which is weak, and admits moisture so readily, that
fires twelve solid steel shot per second. The selec-
tion of this weapon, in preference to the Catling
or Hotchkiss revolving cannon, was made only
after a series of exhaustive experiments, showing
all the improvements that had been recenriy
effected by Mr. Nordenfeldt in his gun.
GENERAL SIR FREDERICK HAINES, COMMANDER-IX-CHIEF OF THE ARMY IN INDIA.
a trifling exposure ruins the powder and the fulmi-
nator. This was demonstrated over and over
again in Zululand during the wet season, when men
carrying their cartridges in a bandoleer, got so
many misfires, that many began to lose confidence
in their ammunition."
In April, 1880, the Admiralty settled the long
and much vexed question as to the kind of machine
or mitrailleuse which was best fitted for use in the
Navy, to repel the attacks of torpedo boats, by
adopting the Nordenfeldt four-barrelled gun, which
In July, 1883, the five-barrelled Nordenfeldt
gun, mounted on an ordinary infantry carriage,
was adopted as an auxiliary arm by the Central
London Rangers ; and a detachment of ten men,
under Captain Armit, at Dartford, showed that the
time taken, from order to halt, in reversing the
gun, opening the limber, mounting carriage-hopper,
and firing fifty rounds, was only twenty-two seconds.
Among other changes, the year 1882 saw the
New Army Warrant issued, comprising " the whole
system of appointment, promotion, and retirement
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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of officers in the combatant ranks of the army ;" and
the system in future was thus stated : A subaltern
must pass for captain within six years of his first
commission, or quit the service. He may retire,
after fifteen years' service, but must after twenty,
and so on with the other ranks. However, the
new and, to the army, somewhat unsatisfactory
system of compulsory retirement came into opera-
tion on the ist January, 1881.
Changes of all kinds followed each other
quickly now. The shako, which had been worn
by the line in various fashions for some eighty
years, was discarded, and for all troops, not High-
land, a spike helmet was substituted — for the Line
and Artillery in September, 1877, and for the
Marines three months after.
The collar badges of officers were transferred to
their shoulder-straps, to be worn on full dress,
undress, stable, and shell jackets. These were
trivial matters, but the year 1881 saw a complete
revolution effected in the organisation of the army
— a revolution alike distasteful to officers and men.
All the ancient, and now historical, regimental
numbers were abolished, and the battalions were
linked together into what was called "Territorial
Regiments," in too many instances most gro-
tesquely. The warrant for this alteration came
into effect on the ist July, and began thus : —
" The infantry of the Line and Militia will in
future be organised in Territorial Regiments, each of
four battalions for England, Scotland, and Wales, and
of five battalions for Ireland ; the first and second
of these being Line battalions, and the remainder
Militia. These regiments will have a territorial
designation corresponding to the localities with
which they are connected, and the words * Regi-
mental District ' will in future be used in place of
* Sub-District.* In those regimental districts where
more than the requisite number of militia battalions
exist, the supernumerary battalions will either be
converted into Artillery or Engineers, or absorbed,
according to circumstances."
The 26th Cameronians and 90th Perthshire
-Light Infantry were formed into the Scottish Rifles,
with head-quarters at Lanark ; the 83rd, or Dublin,
and 86th, or County Down, became Irish Rifles.
"All distinctions, mottoes, badges, or devices ap-
pearing hitherto in the Army List, or on the
colours, as borne by either of the Line battalions of
a territorial regiment, will in future be borne by
both these battalions; and battalions which have not
hitherto borne a special device will adopt a national
badge — English regiments, a rose; Scottish, a
thistle; Irish, a shamrock; Welsh, a dragon."
National lace for the four divisions was ordered,
with their devices embroidered upon it. It was
further commanded that, save when battalions
were faced with blue, English regiments were to
have white facings and colours; Scottish, yellow
(the Royal livery of Scotland) ; Irish, green.
" The black line," continues the warrant, " will
be maintained in the lace of all territorial regi-
ments any of whose battalions are now authorised
to wear it. The following regiments in addition to
those (now five in number) wearing the kilt will
adopt it, viz., the 72nd, 73rd, 75th, and 91st. All
other Scottish regiments will wear trews and the
Highland jacket. Militia battalions will wear * M '
on the shoulder-strap above the title of the terri-
torial regiment Scottish Militia battalions belong-
ing to a regiment whose Line battalions are kilted
will, instead of the kilt, wear trews of the same
tartan. The Royal Aberdeenshire and the High-
land Light Infantry Militia will, however, continue
to wear the kilt"
Gold lace and ornaments, in lieu of silver, were
also ordered to be worn by the officers of the
entire militia force; and even the constitution of
the Royal Regiment of Artillery was changed, by
being formed into English, Scottish, and Irish
divisions, with head-quarters in the three countries.
An attempt made by the War Office to abolish
the use of clan tartans was successfully contested by
many meetings of Scotsmen ; but the substitution
of a very theatrical brass helmet, in lieu of the
feather-bonnet, was also mooted at the same time.
The old order of precedence as regarded the re-
constructed corps was carefully considered ; but
the alteration did not affect any prior to the 25th
King's Own Borderers, the ist Royal Scots having
as usual, precedence over the whole Line. But
some of the alterations involved were ludicrous.
"Is it possible," asks a writer, "for even a War
Office clerk to know that a soldier belonged to
* The Royal West Surrey Regiment (the Queen's) '
if he saw *T.R.W.S.R.T.Q.' on his shoulder-
strap ?"
And this is only one instance out of many that
showed the folly of abolishing the old regimental
numbers, which were used again and again in
despatches and by newspaper correspondents in
Egypt, alike for distinction and brevity.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ZULUS.
'95
CHAPTER XXVIIL
THE ZULU war: — INTRODUCTORY — ^THE ANCESTORS OF CETEWAYO — HIS ARMY — ZULU WEAPONS —
SEKUKUNI AND HIS STRONGHOLD.
Before detailing the original cause of this, in
many ways, disastrous strife, it may not be out of
place to glance briefly at that which is but little
known, namely, the past history of the Zulus, whose
king was so lately resident among us — a people
of whom we have heard much, and are likely to
hear more; and who, it is not impossible, may
eventually become a portion of Her Majesty's
subjects in South Africa.
Zululand is the region north-east of Natal, ex-
tending to Delagoa Bay, and has an area of 10,000
square miles, with a black population of 150,000,
the most warlike of all the Kaffir tribes. " Zulu,"
in the native language, is a word signifying
" heaven," and was adopted by the tribe at the out-
set of its victorious career. Cetewayo, the late
king, in his real character, almost rivalled his prede-
cessor Dingaan, in cruelty, and Chaka, in military
talent of its own kind.
About the year 1780 the Zulus were a race who
found a meagre livelihood on the shores of the
Mozambique Channel, and in the north and east
of what is now known as Natal Warlike by
nature, athletic, tall and well-formed, they surpass
most African tribes in ordinary intelligence, but are
superstitious, savage and cruel ; yet they readily
enough pecnitted British subjects to settle in their
domains near Port Natal, and even assisted them
in cultivating the land. They have long known
the use of iron, and how to point their deadly
assegais with it, and also of firearms, which they
obtained from American traders. Then* chief
articles of commerce are ivory, gold-dust, indigo,
cotton and silk, pearls and corals, and British
goods are chiefly required in barter.
Towards the close of the last century, we are
told by Sir T. Shepstone (in his Cape of Good
Hope Report), the two countries at present known
as Zululand and Natal were thickly populated by
many native tribes, closely located together, and
intermarrying with each other, living in peace and
amity, possessing flocks and herds, and cultivating
the soil from which they drew sustenance. Each
tribe had its own chief— a patriarch — possessing
the powers of life and death.
TTie Zulus were then an inconsiderable tribe,
occupying only a small portion of the country near
Ae White Umvolosi River, and were tributary to the
Umtitwa, a powerful tribe holding the country now
called Zululand.
Jobe, chief of the Umtitwa, had two sons, and
when old age came upon him, he made arrange-
ments for the succession. To Tana, the elder, he
assigned a royal kraal as a residence ; but Tana,
with his younger brother, Gondongwana, began to
plot against the life of their father, who now resolved
to put them to death. Tana was slain, but Gon-
dongwana escaped, with a wound from a double-
barbed assegai. It was dressed by his sister, who
assisted him in his flight, and gave him a particular
kaross, or mantle.
His personal history occasioned the great changes
in the destiny of the immense native population
occupying the country from the Zambesi to St
John's River, and led to Natal becoming a British
colony. His adventures, escapes, and perils, as he
wandered about, would make a large volume. He
eventually made himself chief of the Umtitwa
power, and, in compliment to his wonderful
history, he was designated Dingiswayo, or the
Wanderer.
He no sooner found himself established as chief
than he introduced the principles of military orga-
nisation which he had learned while wandering
among the white men for some fifteen years. The
chief of the then small Zulu tribe had an illegitimate
son called Chaka, who was bom in 1787, and was
energetic and talented, but gave ofience to the
family of his father by the airs he assumed, and he
was eventually compelled to enter one of Dingis-
wayo's regiments as a soldier, about 1805, and
won a high reputation in tribal war. After Chaka
had been long enough in Dingiswayo's army to
master the system introduced by that chief, his
father died, and he became chief of the Zulus in
1 8 10. His warriors in war fought with the heroism
of desperation, well aware that after the fighting
was over they would all have to undergo the
terrible ordeal of "The Coward's Bush." Then it
was that Chaka was wont to review them on
return from an expedition, and there it was that he
dealt out praise or blame.
Drawing the regiments up in a huge semicircle,
he made them march past in succession, and, as
each passed a certain spot, the deadly order was
issued, " Bring forth your cowards!"
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Then all who had, or were supposed to have,
failed in battle were brought forth, and put to
death on the spot He created an Imperial Guard
of 15,000 warriors, who were ready at an hour's
notice to march fifty miles, and " eat up " a town
or tribe in two days. Having heard something of
the battle of Waterloo, he said to Mr. Nathaniel
Isaacs, who visited him in 1825 : " Yes, there are
only two chiefs in the world : my brother George,
he is King of the Whites ; and I, Chaka, am King
of the Blacks." •
By this time, in self-defence, the neighbouring
tribes had been compelled to adopt the new mili-
tary system, which so completely baffled ours at
Isandhlwana and elsewhere, and many battles took
place on every side, till eventually Chaka be-
came— after killing the king who had shown him
such hospitality, and exterminating half his people
— sole and despotic monarch of what might be
deemed a kingdom. As a sort of sacrifice to the
manes of his mother, whom he conceived his father
had ill-used, he had a massacre, which lasted a
fortnight, and was witnessed by Isaacs, the Natal
trader, who averred that 10,000 people perished.
One of his palaces had its name changed to the
" Place of Slaughter," to commemorate the fact of
his there putting to death a whole regiment of
married soldiers, with their wives and children,
because they had been defeated in battle.
Chaka, the uncle of Cetewayo, was now growing
old, and his brother, Dingaan, put him to death in
1828, when he was in the act of giving an audience
to an Amapondo deputatioa Dingaan, who suc-
ceeded, was only a modification of his brother,
and, to avoid starvation and the other horrors of
insecurity, some of the Amapondos and other tribes
became Zulus, and Natal was transformed, from a
peaceful and cultivated country, into a wilderness,
in which the remnants of the denizens were always
killing or being killed.
The arrival there of the emigrant Boers in
1837-8 introduced a new element into the politics
of the country, and a fresh influence upon the Zulu
population. When the Boers came, they found
the subjects of Dingaan, King of the Zulus, occu-
pying the whole of the upper part of the Tugela
Valley, including the lower portion of the Mooi,
Bushman's, and Buffalo Rivers, down to where
Fort Buckingham stands now; while from that
point to the sea the left bank only of the Tugela
was occupied, because the inhabitants had been
driven away by order of Dingaan, to prevent them
from fraternising with the European settlers.
♦ " The Zulus and the British Frontiers.'*
Dingaan, in heart as treacherous and savage as
his predecessor, became incensed by the trespasses
of the Dutch Boers upon what he deemed his
territories, and began to scheme vengeance.
He invited M. Retief (whose family is still in
Natal) the Dutch leader, with all his commando,
to the number of sixty — all principal persons — to
a dinner of friendship, to celebrate a. treaty of
alliance ; and on pretext of Dingaan's anxiety that
his white guests should take an active part in the
festivities, they were requested not to bring their
muskets ; so the whole party — though previously
warned by Thomas Halstead, an Englishman, of
meditated treachery — ^went into the presence of the
royal savage to return no more.
" During the interview," says Sir William Harris,
of the Bombay Engineers, *' 3,000 Zulu warriors,
standing up to dance, formed a ring round them,
and for a time alternately retreated and advanced
in the customary manner, until gradually pressing
closer, they at length, upon a signal made by
Dingaan, while the farmers were in the act of
qualflng malt liquors, which had been liberally
handed round, rushed with one accord upon their
defenceless victims. The Dutchmen were dragged
about half a mile across the river by the hair of the
head, and their leader having been first osten-
tatiously butchered, the Zulus fell upon and
despatched the rest — ^knocking out the brains of
some with their war clubs, impaling and twisting
the necks of others. Halstead, unable to quiet
his own apprehensions, had concealed in his coat-
sleeve an open clasp-knife, with which he stabbed
two of the warriors who were preparing to seize
him, and for this achievement, after having been
made the spectator of the horrible massacre of all
his hapless companions, he was skinned alive, and
put to death by means of the most revolting and
barbarous cruelties."
Encouraged by this, Dingaan resolved to cut ofi"
the British settlers, whose presence had been en-
couraged by Chaka, and he despatched an over-
whelming force against them. " In the dead of
the night of the 17 th February," says the officer
above quoted, in his "Expedition into Southern
Africa," " 10,000 savages dashed peU-mele into the
sleeping camp, arousing its inmates with whoop
and yell, and drove off 20,000 head of cattle,
after butch^ing some six hundred souls, without
reference to age or sex, barbarously cutting ofl" the
breasts of the women, and crowning the massacre
by dashing out the brains of the helpless children
against the wheels of the waggons."
Among aU the Europeans now went forth the
cry for revenge, and no white man disregarded it
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DEFEAT OF DINGAAN BY THE BOERS.
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for hundreds of miles around. In April, 1838,
impatient for action, 400 mounted Boers, under
Piet Uys, marched upon Unkunkinglove, and
found the whole Zulu army drawn up on the
heights for its defence, with two divisions advan-
tageously posted in that form which proved fatal to
our troops — a. crescent — with a reserve in the rear.
Some of the horses took fright at the clatter of
assegais on shields and the whoops and yells of
the Zulus, and eventually the Boers were routed.
The aged Piet Uys perished while endeavouring
to save a comrade. His son, a boy of twelve years,
fought bravely, and perished by his side, and both
fell covered with wounds. On this same day the
few Natal settlers who remained, under a Scots-
man named Biggar, marched, 900 strong, to co-
operate with the Boers, though only half that
number had arms and ammunition, and while
attacking a post on a bare bleak hill were sud-
denly surrounded by the Zulu army 1 2,000 strong.
The Natal men then threw themselves into a circle,
the spearmen forming its outer face, the musketeers
within, and after a bloody struggle of several hours'
duration the Zulus broke in, two-thirds of the
settlers were slain, Biggar and thirteen other leaders
perishing among the number.
But Dingaan's career was drawing to a close,
as half the Zulu tribe revolted against him under
Panda, his brother, and joined the Dutch, against
whom he prepared to take the field, with a large
force, among which were a hundred warriors finely
mounted and armed with muskets as well as
assegais.
Leisurely gathering their forces together, under
Andreas Pretorius, of Graaff Reinet, the Euro-
p>eans prepared for vengeance and the demoUtion
of the Zulu natioa He had 600 horse and four
pieces of cannon, with which he encamped on the
night of the 15th December, within a laager formed
of waggons, and within a short distance of Unkun-
kinglove, and 10,000 warriors surrounded him
before dawn. Afler a succession of terrible onsets,
in which 5,000 natives perished, the Zulus were
repulsed They were mown down by the cannon
and musketry of the Boers, and their power was
effectually broken, while the casualties of the
Dutch, as given by Sir William Harris, were only
three farmers wounded, including Pretorius.
Dingaan set fire 10 his thatched capital and fled
to the Amaswazi, a hostile native power in the
north. They received him courteously, and then
murdered him in the night. This expedition of
Pretorius is still called by the Boers D^r Volks
Raid^ as they deem it the Marathon or Bannock-
burn of Natal.
Panda was now proclaimed King of the Zulus
in 1840, and at once assumed the government, if
such it can be called, and for some years subse-
quently he had the good sense to prefer trading
to fighting, and by the advice of the Colonial
authorities relinquished many of the savage and
despotic habits of his ancestors, and confirmed the
territorial grant of Natal to the Boers.
A portion of the people who originally accom-
panied him into Cape Colony on his revolt, went
back with him, but a large section, though they
had fought on his side, and had contributed to his
being made king, refused to do so, as they pre-
ferred the protection of the Boers to being any
longer Zulu subjects.
They were about 100,000 in number — the
aboriginal inhabitants of the country, embracing
the first opportunity that offered itself to them of
occupying their ancient homes without being
subject to Zulu rule. The rapidity with which
events succeeded each other prevented many from
joining their respective tribes at the time, so that
migration from the Zulu country of individuals
and families connected with these tribes, was very
considerable for several years after Panda became
king.
He killed only as many of his people as was
necessary to impose order among the rest, and,
dying in 1872, was succeeded by his son Cetewayo,
who was duly installed in power by Sir Theophilus
— then Mr.— Shepstone, the Representative of the
British Government, which now ordained that no
Zulu should be put to death without a fair trial,
and that the king's sanction should be obtained
before the final sentence of the law was put in
force.
But the son of Panda, while assenting, dis-
sembled. He commenced to re-organise an army,
which had become somewhat demoralised by the
timid policy of his father. He collected all the
old regiments and formed them into new ones, and
strengthened the bonds of discipline, order, and
duty among them. In a very short time that
discipline, such as it was, and enforced by torture
and death, became perfect, while its mobility
remained as remarkable as ever. Such was the
army of Cetewayo, in 1878.
** Against whom was this formidable engine to
be used?" asks Captain Hallam Parr. "Was it
for his amusement that Cetewayo had turned, like
a savage Frederick the Great, his nation into
soldiers ? Was it necessary, in order to resist the
Swazis or keep down the Tongas, that he should
keep up an army of 50,000 men, or had he been
fired by ambition and bitten by the same lust of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Zaiuland.
conquest as Chaka ? I may venture to say that all
South Africans and all those who have made the
burning questions of South Africa their study, with
very few exceptions, think the last explanation is
the one which discovers the policy of the Zulu
king."
Prior to entering on the story of the war it may
not be out of place to give a description of the
ground is apt to break off above the blade, a
circumstance which was turned to advantage by
one celebrated Zulu chief We are told that
" before joining battle he made his followers cut
half-way through the staff just above its junction
with the metal head The consequence was that
when the spear went home into a human body the
shaft remained intact, but if it struck a shield, a
SIR THEOPHILUS SH£PS10NK.
weapons with which this formidable army was
equipped, the weapons our soldiers had to en-
counter.
The word assegai, as we have elsewhere shown,
does not belong to the vernacular, but comes from
the Moorish zagaie^ a dart (p. 15), and the Zulu
name for the weapon is umkanto. The shaft —
which has an average length of five feet, and is as
thick as a slender walking-stick — is cut from the
assegai tree, the fibre of which is not unlike
mahogany. It is britde, yet elastic, and gives the
short spear that peculiar vibration on which much
of its accuracy when launched depends.
If awkwardly thrown, the shaft on entering the
tree, or the ground, it snapped, and became
useless to the enemy."
The assegai heads are usually blade-shaped, but
some are barbed — even double-barbed — while
others are a mere spike. In the first form a
ridge always runs along the centre of the metal,
which is concave on one side and convex on the
other, as the Zulu has an idea that from this
peculiarity 0/ shape, the blade will act as the feathers
of an arrow do. The blades are made of soft iron,
so that when blunted by use they may be sharpened
more readily. The iron is fitted into the wood,
not the wood upon the iron.
By making the tang of the blade red-hot, it can
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s
3
O
X
H
o
3
s
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Zu!u!and.
be forced into the thickest end of the shaft, which
is then secured by a thong of wet hide, that
contracts as it dries and becomes strong like a
ferrule of steeL
There are two kinds of assegais ; one for launch-
ing at a distance, the other, for stabbing — the in-
vention of Chaka — has a blade that is long and
straight. With this deadly weapon the Zulu kills
alike his enemy and his game, and so sharp b it
that he can shave his head with it. The warriors
of Chaka carried very large shields, as those of
Cetewayo did, but they had only one assegai,
instead of the handful with which they were wont
to go into actioa Hence they were trained to
move more swiftly, to fight in compact masses, and to
close with the enemy. Hope of reward, with the
certainty of what awaited them at " The Coward's
Bush " in case of failure, made them quite invincible
when opposed to neighbouring tribes ; but with their
conflicts with the Dutch Boers other conditions
arose, and the old assegais and the old mode of
fighting were resumed, and in his army Cetewayo
reverted to the use of the stabbing assegai, and
with it the use of the musket In defiance of the
prohibitory laws concerning the importation of fire-
arms into Southern Africa, as we have already
stated, as many as 400,000 rifles, many of them
breechloaders, have passed into the hands of the
natives.
Cetewayo is known to have acquired many
thousand rifles through St Lucia and Delagoa
Bays ; some of them came from Genoa, and some
from Birmingham, especially when afiairs were
looking black in Afghanistan, and we were on the
verge of a war with Russia.
The war clubs used by the Zulus and other
KaflSr tribes vary from fourteen inches to six feet
in length, and are furnished with a knob — hence
the name knobkerie. The shorter is hung at the
girdle, and is used as a club at close quarters, or to
be hurled after game, but the Zulus give a preference
to the long-shafted weapon. They are usually
made of acacia wood and some of the horn of the
white rhinoceros.
^ The defensive weapon of the Zulu is a shield
made of ox hide, oval in form, and quite imper-
vious to the passage of an assegai. This com-
pletely covers him from head to foot A central
stick, long enough to project beyond each end, is
within the shield, and forms the grasp for the left
hand, while daubs of black, white, or red denote
the particular " regiment " to which they belong.
Married soldiers alone can wear the isikokkOy or
head ring (in which Cetewayo occasionally figured
in England) ; they, too, carry white shields, while
the unmarried carry black, when by valour in the
field they have earned the right to bear one at all.
" The shields," says a writer, " are not the private
property of the recipients, but of the king, who
claims by right the hides of all the cattle in the
military kraals. Each hide is supposed to furnish
two shields — a large one for war and a smaller one
for the chase. A number of men are constantly
employed in converting hides into shields, and
special store-huts are set aside for them when
made."
Thus, as these were the king's property, it often
happened that young warriors, whose addresses
had been paid to the girls of a tribe with which
they had been fighting, sent home their shields
from the field of battle by their fiiends, and
returned with their late foes to prosecute their love
suits.
Prior to our war with him, Cetewayo showed
much dexterity and some diplomacy in the way in
which he played off the Boers of the Transvaal
against the Natal Government; and the estimate
formed of his character by Captain Parr, in his
" Sketch," is that he was an able, but unscrupulous
and extremely ambitious savage, commanding n
strong standing army of young warriors, all eager
for battle, and whose presence and existence
menaced with ruin the border farms and home-
steads which were but within a short distance of
his capital
Preluding the war with Cetewayo, were the first
operations against his ally Sekukuni, during the
February and October of 1878.
So far back as August, 1876, an unsuccessful
attack had been made on his mountain fortress, of
which detailed accounts are given in " The Trans-
vaal of To-day " by Mr. Aylward, who belonged to
the Lydenberg corps of foreign volunteers, en-
rolled by the Dutch Republic, under Captain Van
Schlieckmann, a gallant young Prussian officer of
the highest connections and character, nephew of
General Von Manteuffel He was killed in a
skirmish near Steelport, on which Aylward assumed
the command of the small but well-equipped force,
in which were many Britons, Germans, and
Americans, who contrived to beleaguer Sekukuni
till February, 1877, and compelled him to sue for
peace, though they failed to storm his stronghold,
and were repulsed with loss.
When the troops in South Africa were handed
over by General Sir A. T. Cunynghame, to Lieu-
tenant-General the Hon. F. A. Thesiger (after-
wards Lord Chelmsford), at King William's Town,
in British Kaflraria, on the 4th of March, 1878,
they consisted only of the following : —
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Lydenberg. )
OPERATIONS AGAINST SEKUKUNL
301
Two batteries of Royal Artillery ; one company
of Royal Engineers; the 24th, 88th and 90th
Regiments in the Cape Colony ; the 3rd Buffs and
80th in Natal ; and the 13th Light Infantry in the
Transvaal — in all about 5,000 men.
A wide-spread feeling of restiessness and hatred
tQwards the white races had been for some
time known to exist among the natives of South
Africa, says the "Narrative of the Field Operations
in the Zulu War " (a scarce work, prepared by the
Intelligence Branch of the Quartermaster-General*s
Department, and one we may have frequently to
refer to). And at the date when the war was ended
by the death of Sandilli — as related in its place — dis-
turbances claiming serious attention had occurred
in remote districts ; and while a war with the Zulus
was deemed not improbable, hostilities were
actually in progress in Griqualand West, in the
country on the north-west of that territory, and in
two districts of the Transvaal — one near Bloemhof,
on the western side of the Transvaal, and contain-
ing considerable areas of pastoral and agricultural
land, and the other near Lydenberg, known as
Sekukuni's country.
The latter chief, who, with his tribe, was of Basuto
descent, and was the most powerful one acknow-
ledging the supremacy of King Cetewayo, after the
attack by Aylward on his fortress, was left in un-
disputed possession of it on promising to pay a fine
of cattle. At the date of these operations the
boundaries of the Transvaal were very imperfectly
defined, and while the Republican Government
regarded the operations they had inaugurated,
as "undertaken in self-defence against an insub-
ordinate chief living far within the boundaries of
the Republic," the view taken by our Government
was that Sekukuni was not a rebel against the
Transvaal, inasmuch as his territory formed no part
of that dominion, and that the war waged against
him was an unjustifiable aggression against an in-
dependent ruler; but when, in 1877, the Transvaal
was annexed, Sekukuni's country was included,
without any question, in the new territory added to
the British possessions.
The fine of cattle remained unpaid to the new
rulers, and though demanded, was not pressed
In February, 1878, Sekukuni, as if to provoke
hostilities, acting under the influence of Cetewayo,
despatched a force, in conjunction with followers of
his sister, Legolwana, to make a severe raid on a
neighbouring chief, Pokwana, who was friendly to
the British, and a sharp conflict ensued, the result
of which was that the assailants were defeated.
Early in the next month, Sekukuni, on receiving
a remonstrance from Captain Clarke, the British
Commissioner for the district, being encouraged
by the presence of fresh envoys from Cetewayo,
replied " that the British were afraid to fight — that
the country was his, not theirs ; that the white men
must leave, and he was quite ready for war."
At this time the only force available for the
maintenance of order was a slender body of Police
and three companies of the first battalion of the
13th Regiment at Pretoria, from which they could
not be spared, as their presence was requisite to
hold in awe a portion of the Boer population, who
bitterly resented the recent annexatioa Under
these circumstances Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the
Administrator of the Transvaal, applied for addi-
tional troops to be sent to his assistance.
Consequently, three companies of the 90th Perth»
shire Light Infantry (now known as the Scottish
Rifles) marched from Pietermaritzburg for Utrecht,
while at the same time three companies of the
13th Somersetshire moved from the latter place to
Standerton and Pretoria, while fifty local Volun-
teers proceeded firom thence to Fort Weeber, on
the borders of the wild and mountainous district
ruled by Sekukuni, and aided by a contingent
furnished by Pokwana, attacked Masselaroon, the
stronghold of his sister, Legolwana.
Like most of the Basuto towns, Masselaroon
was quite capable of making a strong defence.
Round a strong conical hill, the sides of which
were well covered with thorn-bush, were clusters
of native huts, built upon platforms levelled arti-
ficially. Each of these clusters was environed by
a dense hedge of prickly pear, while the sides of
the hill were scarped, and the approaches leading
from one platform to another were strongly
stockaded, and flanked by rifle-pits.
This fastness was of such strength that it could
not be stormed easily, and as the native con-
tingent was useless for such an attempt, the Volun-
teers and Police could only clear the northern end
of the hill, and carry off some cattle ; thus matters
in the Transvaal remained still unsettled when, in
April, two companies of the 13th Foot left Pretoria
for Lydenberg, and another marched for Mid»
dleberg; but though Legolwana submitted, her
brother Sekukuni remained in open revolt, and the
small force opposed to him could only hold the
fortified posts near the Lulu Mountains, among
which his famous stronghold was situated; but these
posts were insuflScient to withstand the marauders
of his tribe, who, in a combat on the Magnet
heights, repulsed the Volunteers, of whom sixteen
were killed or wounded They next assailed a
detachment of the Diamond Fields Horse, con-
sisting of eighty-three troopers, and carried off fifty-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[Lydenbef;^
two horses and all their cattle, and it soon became
evident that the local forces were quite unable to
cope with this revolted chief.
General Thesiger had now established his head-
quarters at Pietermaritzburg, and he resolved to
increase the imperial troops in the Transvaal by
one battalion of infantry. This officer — afterwards
Lord Chelmsford, K.C.B., of whom we must often
make mention — held the local rank of lieutenant-
general, with the office of Lieutenant-Governor of
the Cape of Good Hope.
He entered the army in 1844 as an officer of the
Grenadier Guards, and served at Sebastopol and
against the Sepoy mutineers in Central India. In
1858 he was lieutenant-colonel of the 95 th, or
Derbyshire Regiment, and in 1867 accompanied
Lord Napier of Magdala to Abyssinia as Adjutant-
General, in which capacity he was most favourably
mentioned in the despatches to the War Office.
From that time till 1876 he was Adjutant-General
in India, and had in every way the reputation of
being an active and experienced soldier.
On the 13th of August he placed the command
of all the troops in the Transvaal in the hands of
Colonel Henry Rowlands, V.C. The 80th Regi-
ment was now sent thither, and the force in Natal
was further strengthened by the arrival of the
2nd battalion of the 24th Foot fi^om the Cape,
while the Frontier Light Horse, 200 strong, became
also available for service in the Transvaal.
On the 28th the head-quarter column of Colonel
Rowlands* force marched from Pretoria into the
long narrow valley of the Oliphant River, across
which he moved on the 8th of September, and
leaving a company of the 13th to occupy an en-
trenched camp, he reached the Spekboom River,
but not without various skirmishes with the enemy,
who occupied the rugged hills on either side of
his route.
On the 3rd of October he continued his advance
from Fort Burgers to attack Sekukuni, at the
head of 130 men of the 13th Foot, 338 of the
Frontier Horse and Mounted Infantry, with two
7-pounder Krupp guns, that had formerly belonged
to the Transvaal Republic He marched up a
valley and through a very rough country, and
bivouacked near a dry water-course, where a little
water was found for the men and horses by digging
in the sand, and there he was attacked on three
sides in the night, repulsing the enemy with loss.
The extreme dryness of the season, and the
consequent want of water, so seriously affected his
force, that Colonel Rowlands, on thh sth of
October, ordered a retreat to Fort Burgers, and
on arriving at the pools where the column had
halted on the preceding day, the ground was found
in possession of a strong force of the enemy.
Unable, from the smallness of his force, to achieve
anything. Colonel Rowlands continued his retreat
for fifteen miles, and ultimately reached Fort
Burgers, with his men, horses, and cattle utterly
exhausted by trying marches under a burning sun
and without water.
No further attempt was now made against the
formidable Sekukuni, whose stronghold is described
by Captain Lucas as a tremendous natural fortress,
being a kind of "triangular enclosure of camel-
thorn hedges, backed with thick stone walls, and
occupying a sort of platform at the head of a ravine
between precipitous cliffs ; the two paths or lanes
of approach were barricaded with stone, and com-
manded on each side by a series of walled passages
with many compartments, resembling pews along
the aisles of a church."
On the 27 th October Colonel Rowlands attacked
a kraal belonging to one of Sekukuni's dependents,
situated about five miles from the British camp, on
the Spekboom River. The position was a strong
one, as the rocks and caverns afforded a great
amount of cover to the defenders. The force
engaged consisted of three guns, 140 horse, 350
infantry, and 250 native troops. The place was
stormed successfully; sixteen of the enemy were
killed and many wounded, the loss on our side
being eleven wounded.
Active operations in the Lydenberg district were
now brought to a close, and all our troops were
withdrawn to various garrisons in the Transvaal
and to the frontiers of Zululand, where war was
imminent; indeed. General Thesiger firom the time
of his arrival in Natal had been taught to regard it
as a possible, if not probable, contingency.
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Zululaad.]
THE AFFAIR OF SIRAYO.
203
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ZULU WAR (continued): — ^the sons of sirayo cause of the war — operations of the right
COLUMN, IITH to 23RD JANUARY — COMBAT OF INYEZANE.
The Zulu army at this time consisted of about
40,000 men, in addition to which were two royal
regiments, each having its own kraal, or head-
quarters. Five of these corps consisted of un-
married regiments, the others of single and married
men. Each was divided into two wings, and each
company had a captain and subaltern.
" The Zulu army as at present constituted," says
the Report of the Intelligence Department at the
time, "is drawn from the entire male population,
as every male between the ages of sixteen and sixty-
five is called upon to serve, without exemption.
The military force consists of fourteen corps, or
regiments, divided into wings, right and left, and
the latter into companies. These, however, are
not of equal strength, but vary immensely, even from
ten to two hundred, according to the numerical
strength of the corps to which they belong. In
fact, the companies and regiments would be more
correctly termed families, or clans, and each corps
possesses its own military head-quarters, or kraal,
'with the following hierarchy: namely, one command-
ing officer, chief, or Induna-Yesibaya ; one second
jn command, major, or Induna-Yohlangoti, who
has charge of the left wing ; two wing and company
officers, according to the need of the battalion. As
a rule, all these officers have command of men of
the same age as themselves, and the method of
recruiting is as follows : — At stated and periodical
intervals, usually from two to five years, a general
levy takes place, when all the youths who happen
at the time to have attained the age of fifteen are
formed into a regiment, and undergo a year's pro-
bation, during which time they are supposed to
pass from boyhood to manhood. As the regiment
becomes disciplined and seasoned, it receives large
drafts from other corps, so that as the elders die
out, young men come in to fill up the ranks. The
entire Zulu army consists of thirty-three regiments,
married and unmarried No one in Zululand,
male or female, is allowed to marry without the
king's permission, and this is never granted till the
men are forty years of age. They then have to
shave the crown of the head, put a ring round it,
and carry a white shield, in contradistinction to the
unmarried regiments, who do not shave their heads,
and carry coloured shields. Many of these regi-
ments are too young for active service, others are
too old ; consequently, it is estimated that about
twenty-five regiments would be able to take the
field, and these would perhaps muster 40,000. . . .
We have heard a great deal about the drill of these,
but their movements, so far as we can learn, are
few and very simple, but very quickly performed in
their own way. They form circles of regiments, in
order to outflank the enemy. From this formation
they break into columns of regiments, or companies,
and from these into skirmishing order, with sup-
ports and reser\'es. The sole commissariat of the
Zulu army consists of three or four days' grain,
carried by the lads who follow each corps, and,
if necessary, of a herd of cattle driven with the
column."
Between the sable monarch at the head of this
formidable organisation and the British Govern-
ment, matters had been growing more and more
perilous, till two conspicuous outrages in the early
part of 1878 brought them to a crisis — these were
what were called the affair of Sirayo and the Middle
Drift difficulty.
Sirayo and his tribe had a quarrel with the
Ischeni, a royal tribe; the king was appealed to,
and in settling the dispute Sirayo lost all his cattle.
Shortly after this, one of his wives fled with her lover
into the land of Natal, accompanied by another wife.
Nothing was done at the time, and all evidence
proves that by Kaflfir law "a woman is not the
slave of her husband. He has no property in her.
He cannot, according to native law, kill, injure, or
cruelly treat her. He cannot legally sell her, and,
with the exception of paying cattle to her father as
a dowry upon marriage, there is nothing to indicate
that native law or custom treats the wife as a
chattel"
Nevertheless, early one morning in August, 1878,
the occupants of a police kraal in the Umsing divi-
sion of the Klip River were roused by the shouts of
an armed band, which surrounded their residence,
and found themselves in the presence of 300 Zulus,
led by two sons of the chief Sirayo.
"We intend no harm," said one, "provided we
are not resisted ; but we demand the persons of the
two women, wives of our father Sirayo, who recently
took refuge here, and if they are given up to us
we shall return at once."
The band was too strong to resist; the unfortunate
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Middle Drift.
women were surrendered, or rather, dragged out
of the hut in which they were concealed One of
them was carried across the Buffalo in open day-
light, and put to a J[)arbarous death. The same
night the incursion was renewed ; the other woman
was carried off and slain. It mattered not that
they had committed an offence against Sirayo;
they were found on British soil and under the pro-
tection of British law, and it seemed pretty plain
you Englishmen kill your wives, or yoiu: father's
wives, if they run away ? "
Meanwhile the affair of the Middle Drift
occurred The Government were constructing a
road from Kranz Kop to the Tugela River, when
Lieutenant Smith, the engineer, was attacked by
the Zulus, and, with his men, stripped of clothing
and severely maltreated. Reparation for this was
also demanded by the Government, which was
COLONEL PEARSON.
now that Cetewayo meant to try conclusions with
the British Government, for Sirayo was a favourite
chief, and these young men were his favourite
sons.
The surrender of them was demanded, and in-
stead, Cetewayo sent ;^5o. This sum was re-
turned, and the offenders again demanded
Cetewayo only shrugged his shoulders; and a
plain intimation was sent that if the two lads were
not given up by a certain date, war would be
declared against him.
The defence made by the sons of Sirayo was : —
" We did it ; they were our father's wives : they
forsook him, and deserved to be killed Do not
quite aware of how Cetewayo had instigated
Sekukuni.
Reparation was demanded in the form of 500
head of cattle; it was also required that the whole
of Cetewayo's large army should be disbanded ;
that freedom of marriage should be allowed ; that
justice should be impartially administered : that
missionaries should be allowed to return to Zululand ;
and that British Residents should be appointed for
the settlement of disputes. It was further intimated
to Cetewayo, that unless he complied with the
terms on or before December the 31st, "then on
January ist, 1879, the British army would com-
mence the invasion of his land, and would enforce
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Middle Dfifti
BRITISH FORCES IN ZULULAND.
ftos
Scale of Hllee.
6 0 6 10 15 SO 86
Tiiiii T I I I I I I =d
GENERAL PLAN OF THE OPERATIONS IN ZULULAND, 1879.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
' LTagda River.
them at the point of the bayonet" But Cetewayo
was unable even to sign his name, "and was as
ignorant and savage as some of our Nonnan kings,"
and it was not thought likely he would submit
During the whole of December Lord Chelmsford
had worked arduously in the organisation of the
troops under his command, which he formed in
three columns, thus : —
No, I Column; Head-quarters^ Lower Tugela,
Colonel Charles Pearson, 3rd Buffs, commanding.
Naval Brigade. — 170 seamen and marines of
H.M.S. ActiveyWih one Gading and two 7-
pounders, under Captain Campbell, R.N.
Royal Artillery. — Four guns, one Catling, and
rocket battery, under Lieut W. N. Lloyd, R.A.
Infantry. — 2nd battalion 3rd Buffs, under Lieut-
Col. Henry Pamell ; and afterwards six com-
panies of the 99th Regiment
Mounted Infantry. — 100 men, under Captain
Piercy Barrow, 19th Hussars.
Volunteers. — Durban, Stanger, Victoria, and
Alexandra Rifles, and Natal Hussars, 40 men
per corps, all mounted.
Native Contingent — 1,000 men, under Major
Shapland Graves, 3rd Buffs.
No, 2 Column ; Head-quarters^ Helpmakaar,
Colonel Richard Glyn, 24th Regiment, commanding.
Royal Artillery, N Battery, 5th Brigade, with two
7-gounders, under Major Harness, R.A.
Infantry. — Seven companies, ist battalion 24th Regi-
ment, and 2nd battalion 24th, under Lieut -CoL
Degacher.
Natal Mounted Police, under Major DartnelL
Volunteers. — Natal Carbineers, Buffalo Border
Guard, Newcastle Rifles, 40 men per corps,
mounted.
Native Contingent — 1,000 men, under Rupert
Lonsdale, late 74th Highlanders.
No, 3 Column ; Head-quarters ^ Utrecht,
Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C, C.B., 90th Regiment,
commanding.
Royal Artillery, nth Battery, 7th Brigade, with
four 7-pounders and two rocket tubes, under
Major E. Tremlett, R.A.
Infantry. — ist battalion 13th Regiment, and 90th
Regiment
Mounted Infantry. — 100 men, under Major Russel,
1 2th Lancers.
Frontier Light Horse, 200 strong, under Major
Redvers Buller, C.B., and the 6oth Rifles.
Volunteers. — Kaffrarian Van-guard, Commandant
Schermbrucker, 100 strong.
Native Contingent — The Swazis, 5,000 strong.
The Swazis came from the country north of the
Zulus, and were their hereditary enemies.
The native levies raised by Lord Chelmsford, in
addition to his European forces, amounted in all to
7,400. These were clothed with the conventional
blanket of the country, in addition to a uniform
costume, consisting of a corduroy tunic and
breeches, with long boots of untanned leather
and broad-leaved sombrero hat, and their leaders
were generally officers who had retired from the
British army. Their arms were all serviceable rifles,
of Sheffield and Birmingham make
There was also a contingent of Boers, under
Piet Uys, a splendid body of men, and all crack
shots.
The known temper of Cetewayo rendered his
acceptation of the ultimatum more than doubtful,
and consequently it was necessary to make the
most earnest preparations for that war which was
sure to ensue ; And for the contemplated offensive
operations the transport question became, as usual,
a serious difficulty.
A great number of ox and mule waggons were
collected for the commissariat service of the three
columns. The former were ponderous vehicles,
capable of carrying 8,000 pounds^ weight, and drawn
by teams varying from eight to eighteen oxen. Thus
no less than 28,533 Worses, mules, and oxen were at
one time or other employed in transport
Colonel Pearson, commanding the right column,
had served as adjutant of the 31st at the si^e and
fall of Sebastopol ; Colonel Glyn, commanding the
centre, was also a Crimean officer; and Colonel
Evelyn Wood, commanding the left, was also an
officer of very great experience. He entered the
Navy in 1852, and served in the Naval Brigade
under Captain Peel ; was severely wounded when
carrying a scaling-ladder at the storming of the
Redan, and was specially mentioned in the des-
patches of Lord Raglan. He served in the Indian
campaign on the staff of Somerset's Brigade, and
was present in many engagements, and won his
V.C. in the jungles of Seronge, at the head of
Beatson's Horse.
Redvers Buller, C.B., who had the Frontier Light
Horse under him, had served with the 60th Rifles
in the China campaign of i860, and in the Red
River Expedition, ten years subsequently.
It had been decided that the invasion of Zulu-
land should be made by the simultaneous advance
of the three columns by three different routes, while
a fourth column, composed mainly of the native
troops, under Colonel Durnford, R.E., should
move forward at a later date, between the lines of
the advance of the centre and right columns.
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CHARGE OF THE ZULUS.
207
All these columns were complete in themselves.
Communications were to be kept up on the flanks,
thus giving cohesion with the effect of an advance
in one extended line. The country in which these
operations were to take place may be described as
being over 15,000 square miles in extent Its lead-
ing natural features are lofty open grassy downs,
furrowed by deep water-courses, and broken by
abrupt rocky eminences, the remainder being a line
of low-lying alluvial country, varying from twenty
to forty miles broad, and bordered by the sea.
All the rivers are fordable when not at full flood.
Wood and fuel are plentiful along the coast, but
on the uplands they are scarce and bad, consisting
chiefly of brushwood growing on the mountain
sides, and in the rugged kloofs and ravines.
The climate is warm, moist, and feverish, but
dry and bracing in altitudes 3,000 feet above the
level of the sea.
During the time allotted for the receipt of Cete-
wayo's reply, stores were collected at certain points
near the frontier as rapidly as the difficulties of
transport permitted. As there was no regular
cavalry in South Africa, two squadrons of mounted
infantry were, early in December, posted at various
I)oints along the frontier. These men were mounted
on South African horses, and at first carried the
regulation infantry rifle and bayonet, but were after-
wards armed with Swinbum-Martini carbines and
bowie-knives, which they could fix to the muzzles.
The 2nd Squadron had also swords.
Cetewayo's term of grace had expired ; the nth
of January, 1879, had come and gone, and no sign
had come from him ; but the Natal Mercury
announced that he had shot all the inmates of
three kraals, because they had bewitched the
daughter of a chief.
On the following day the war had begun, and
the Tugela was successfully crossed, the Zulus
offering but slight resistance, and falling back into
the interior as our troops advanced. The first to
cross were the Naval Brigade of the right column
(to details of which we shall first confine ourselves),
the next were the Natal Mounted Volunteers, and
then Colonel Pearson's infantry, who were ferried
over in a pont, or fiat-bottomed boat, 30 feet long,
hauled across by oxen.
While a work called Fort Tenedos, with a large
store-house, was being erected on the left bank
of the Tugela, Colonel Pearson started with
the first section of his column, leaving the
others to follow, under Colonel Welman, of the
99th R^ment He was accompanied by fifty
store-waggons, and marching through an undulating
and grassy country, free alike of bush and Zulus,
he reached the Inyorie River, and encamped on
its bank.
Colonel Wehnan came on next day with hb
command and eighty waggons.
The whole of Pearson's column now continued
its march towards the Inyezane River, where there
was open ground, and then, on the 22nd January —
he halted for some hours to rest his cattle and
breakfast his troops. A mountain ridge, known as
Majia Hill, was now in front, and on it the dark
figures of scouting Zulus were seen.
Colonel Pearson ordered the Natal Contingent to
disperse them, which was accordingly done ; but
another dusky band showed themselves on a spur
of the same hill, and in order to reach this spur it
was necessary to cross a wooded ravine, with a
marshy bottom, and when the company, under
Captain Hart, emerged on the open ground beyond,
a large body of Zulus appeared on the face of the
hill, from which they opened a heavy fire at 400
yards' range.
They came on in the finest style, advancing
rapidly over the slopes, skirmishing in extended
order like regular troops, rushing from bush to rock
in a steady, but stealthy manner, till within 150
yards of the outposts. Hart's men, being in the
open, had to bear the brunt of all this, and
almost at the same moment they had one officer,
four non-commissioned officers, and four privates
killed, as they failed to understand the order to
" retire."
The foremost waggons had been parked for the
halt when this heavy firing was heard in front, and
Colonel Pearson, on learning that the enemy were
there in force, advanced with two Artillery guns,
the Naval Brigade, and two companies of the Buffs,
and took post on a knoll rising from a ridge, along
which the road ascends to Etschowe. From thence
he could see dense and sombre masses of the
enemy working round his right flank towards the
rear of his column, where the long string of waggons
was now moving slowly up to park, and against
these masses shells and rockets were now dkected
with terrible effect
Two companies of the Buffs and one of the
Royal Engineers now darted out in skirmishing
order, and, supported by some of the 99th Lanark-
shire, ferreted the Zulus out of the jungly ground
into the open, where they fell under the fire of
Pearson's guns on the knoll, which hailed shot and
shell among them.
Colonel Welman, of the 99th, now availed him-
self of this favourable time, when the Zulus were in
a state of confusion, to send forward Captain
Wynne and Major Barrow with some infantry.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
tloyezAiM.
These, with, skirmishers and flankers on the left,
and supported by two half companies of the Buffs
and 99th, moved forward at a rapid pace.
The Zulus seemed bewildered by these move-
ments, but not beaten, and Commander Campbell,
with the Naval Brigade, seeing that they were making
a flank movement to the left, at once obtained per-
mission to drive them out of a kraal about 400 yards
heights beyond the kraal, which a few minutes be-
fore had been crowded by warlike savages, who now
fled in all directions, terrified by the death and de-
struction dealt among them by the rocket battery.
On the field 300 of them lay dead, and double
that number of wounded were carried off by them
into the bush. Pearson's whole loss was only 10
killed and 16 wounded.
PLAN OF THE FIGHT AT INYEZANE (JAN. 22, 1879).
from the knoll Captain Hart, with his native
levy, supported this movement, and possession was
gained of some high ground to the left of the
Etschowe road, and thus the flank movement — a
favourite one in Zulu war — was effectually checked.
Colonel Pearson and Colonel Parnell, of the
Buffs, had their horses shot under them, and
several ofl5cers remarked that the fire of the Zulus,
who were 5,000 strong, was particularly directed at
all the leaders. Colonel Parnell, whose command
had acted as a kind of reserve, now deployed at
the double, and coming up on the right of the
Naval Brigade, he swept, with the bayonet, the
After a halt the march was resumed for about
four miles beyond the Inyezane River, to a ridge
on which the column halted, and on the following
day five companies of infantry were sent off to help
Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Ely, of the 99th, who,
with three companies of the regiment, was toiling
onward with a convoy of 70 waggons laden with
stores and ammunition.
On the 23rd of January the column reached the
old mission station at Etschowe. The deserted
buildings were still in good repair, and as the
position was a strong one, Colonel Pearson pro-
ceeded to make it more formidable as a depot for
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Valley.l
A BRUSH WITH SIRAYO'S PEOPLE.
209
this line of invasion, especially as water was close
to the new fort and well under its fire.
Here news reached the column of the terrible
disaster at Isandhlwana, and, after taking council
with his officers, Colonel Pearson resolved to
remain where he was, confident that he could
hold his ground for a couple of months at least
To save food he sent back the mounted men and
Native Contingent, retaining 1,200 British troops,
for whom he had 320 rounds per man in store.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE ZULU WAR (rtW/rWt^tf^) :— OPERATIONS OF THE CENTRE COLUMN — IITH TO 23RD JANUARY — THE
DISASTER OF ISANDHLWANA — DEFENCE OF RORKE's DRIFT.
On the night of the loth January, the 2nd, or
centre, column, under Colonel Glyn, encamped on
the right bank of the Buffalo River, at a place
called Rorke*s Drift It must be borne in mind,
amid these operations, that though cattle-tracks
and footpaths traverse Zululand, no such thing as a
r^ular road exists. The only wheeled transport
which had ever entered these savage regions
were the waggons of occasional traders or sports-
men, and the old grass-covered ruts left by these
were the sole guide of our officers in selecting the
line of advance.
After seeing the crossing of the Lower Tugela
successfully achieved, though the current was deep,
broad, and rapid, Lord Chelmsford, with an escort
of Mounted Infantry and some Volunteers, started
to communicate with Colonel Wood, whom he
believed to have crossed the Blood River, and to
be now approaching the left flank of the centre
column, and, after a brief consultation with him,
the general returned to his own camp at Rorke's
Drift
In the morning of the 12th January, at half-past
three, a force under Colonel Glyn, consisting of four
companies of the 24th Regiment, some of the
Natal Native Contingent, and most of the mounted
men, left the camp to reconnoitre the country of
Sirayo, which lay to the eastward Lord Chelms-
ford and his staff accompanied this force, which
after a five miles' march reached a ravine in the
valley of the Bashee River, where a considerable
nimiber of cattle had been collected, and though
they were unseen, being concealed in rocky
krantzes, their lowing loaded the morning air.
A body of Zulus now appeared on the hills
above, and against these the mounted men ad-
vanced, while the rest of the force pushed up the
valley towards where the cattle were known to be,
with orders to climb a hill on the left, work round
to the right of the enemy's position, and attack and
bum a kraal belonging to Sirayo's brother, whose
surrender Government had required as one of the
men who had violated British territory.
The moment the infantry got into motion, a
sputtering fire was opened upon them from Zulus
who were concealed behind boulders and bushes.
The attack was led by the Native Contingent under
Commandant Brown, the companies of the 24th
acting as supports. The men of the former force
dropped so fast that it required every effort of the
white officers to get them to advance.
Gradually, however, they worked their way,
planting in their bullets wherever a dark face or
leg appeared, and when they had got within a short
distance of the enemy's position, the men of the
24th made a rush at it
Briskly fired the Zulus from their rocky hiding-
places, and while one party of them made a resolute
stand at a cattie kraal, another startled the troops
by sending some huge boulders, which they had
disengaged by levers, crashing down amongst them ;
but the enemy were driven up the hill, and put to
flight in half an hour.
Meantime, the mounted men under Colonel
Russell had quite a little engagement of their own,
as they mounted the side of the hill and drove in
the enemy, and by half-past nine a.m. the whole
affair was over. Sirayo's kraal, which lay farther
up the Bashee Valley, was burned later in the day,
and about 1,000 cattle, sheep, and goats were
captured. Of the Zulus 44 were killed or taken ;
our casualties were 14. Among the dead lay
Sirayo's youngest son, and it was learned from a
wounded prisoner that the chief himself, his eldest
son, and other relatives, were not far off, at the
head of a Zulu ImpL Sirayo's eldest wife and
daughter, with a number of other women and
children, were captured, but were sent back to
their kraals by order of Lord Chelmsford.
On the 17 th of January he rode out to the fatal
Isandhlwana Hill, which, as fuel was easily obtain-
able there, he selected as the next halting-place of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[IflaadhlwaiuL
the centre column. The country, open and tree-
less, seemed quite deserted, and as no ^ulus had
been seen near Rorke's Drift, no earthworks to
cover the crossing-place had been constructed
name which (according to the Intelligence Report)
signifies ** The Little Hand," but which, with more
probability, has been translated " The Lion HilL"
To the westward it is abrupt and precipitous, but
LORD CU&LMSFORP.
there. At the camp on the Bashee River, however,
a low wall or parapet was formed on the exposed
faces.
Leaving two companies of the ist battalion 24th
Regiment at Helpmakaar, and two of the 2nd bat-
talion at Rorke's Drift, the column marched on the
20th January, and accompanied by 100 transport
waggons, moved on to the hill of Isandhlwana, a
slopes downward on the east to a water-course. At
both ends are ridges or spurs that connect it with
the smaller undulations, of which the more level
part of the landscape consists. Over its western
ridge passes the track from Rorke's Drift. On the
immediate right was a koppie^ or group of small
hills, and others, covered with huge, grey boulders,
were seen rising in succession away to the Bufilo
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iMndhlwaiuLj
POSITION OF THE CAMP.
21
river. To the left of the camp, at a mile's distance, I head-quarters of Lord Chelmsford On the rif
a long ridge ran southward, and towards the east ) were the guns and mounted corps, lining the vei
PLAN OK THE MARCHES NEAR ISANDHLWANA BETWEEN JAN. I2TH AND 22ND, 1879.
opened an extensive valley. On the extreme left of
the camp, facing this ridge, were pitched the tents
of the Natal Contingent Between these and the
next two regiments, intervened a space of 300
yards. Occupying the centre were the British
regular infentry, and just above them were the
of the road "The camp, therefore," says Maj
Ashe, " literally had its back to a wall"
The waggons of the column, on arriving in cam
were formed up in rear of the ground occupied 1
the corps to which they were attached, accordi]
to the Report of the Intelligence Department
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Isandhli
As Zulus were reported to be in the vicinity on
the night of the 20th, orders were issued for a
reconnaissance to be made on the following day
in the direction of a rocky fastness known as
Matyana's stronghold, ten miles south-east of the
camp, the circle of outposts from the centre of
which extended about 2,500 yards by day, and
about 1,400 yards by night, while the mounted
vedettes were, of c6urse, thrown still farther
forward
At half-past four on the morning of the 21st, the
Mounted Volunteers and Police, under Major
Dartnell, proceeded to reconnoitre the higher
ground, while two battalions of the Native Con-
tingent, under Commandant Lonsdale, worked
their way round the southern side of the Matakala
Mountain, to examine the valleys below it
The reconnoitring party bivouacked at some
distance from the camp, from whence blankets and
provisions were sent out to it on pack-horses in
charge of mounted infantry, with whom Major
Dartnell sent back a note, stating that there was
a clear view over the hills to the eastward, and
that the number of Zulus seen there about sunset
was so great, that he did not deem the force
with him and Lonsdale strong enough to attack,
and requesting that three companies of the 24th
might be sent out next morning.
A force was detailed to support him, and marched
out of camp before daybreak. The men were in
light marching order, without greatcoats or blankets,
and each had one day's cooked rations with seventy
rounds of ammunition. This force was accom-
panied by Lord Chelmsford and his staff.
"At six a.m. on the 22nd," says the author of
the " Story of the Zulu Campaign," " a company of
the Natal Natives was ordered to scout towards
the left, the enemy having appeared in that direc-
tion. Whilst these were away. Colonel Durnford
arrived, about nine o'clock, with a rocket battery
under Colonel Russell, R.A., 250 mounted natives
and 250 native foot News was brought in that
the Zulus in very large numbers were driving the
pickets before them. A later messenger — a native
without uniform, supposed by some to be a Zulu
purposely sent with false intelligence — brought the
news that the Zulus had divided into three columns,
one of which, it was supposed, was about to attack
Colonel Dumford's baggage, still on the road from
Rorke's Drift, the other to harass Lord Chelms-
ford and Colonel Glyn's party in the rear, while
the third was to hover round and watch the camp.
Finally came the news, * Zulus retiring in all direc-
tions.' Colonel Durnford thereupon asked Colonel
Pulleine to lend him a couple of the 24th com-
panies, but he declined, saying his orders were to
guard the camp, and he could not, under the cir-
cumstances, let them go without a positive com-
mand. Durnford then determined to go on with
his own force, which he divided into three, one
part being sent up the hill to the left (east), one to
the left front, and a third to the rear, in the direc-
tion of Rorke's Drift, to act as escort for his
baggage, which had not yet arrived. The rocket
battery was with the party that proceeded to the
front, under Colonel Durnford in person, to a
distance of four or five miles from the camp, but
being unable to keep pace with the mounted force,
was soon left behind."
Weakened by these detached parties, the troops
left in camp consisted of thirty mounted infantry
for vedettes, about eighty mounted Volunteers and
Police, two guns, and seventy men of the Royal
Artillery, five companies of the ist 24th, one com-
pany of the 2nd 24th, two companies of the Natal
Contingent, and ten native pioneers.
The reconnoitring force was still far from
Isandhlwana, and the Zulus in sight of it were
seen to be retiring on what was afterwards found to
be a preconceived plan ; and prior to attacking a
hilly position which they held, the general and his
staff made a halt for breakfast At this period a
messenger came from Colonel Pulleine that the
enemy, 600 strong, had appeared on the left of
the camp, and that he had sent out mounted men
to patrol in that direction. Lord Chelmsford then
ordered the Native Contingent to return at once to
the hill of Isandhlwana.
Soon after, an encounter took place with the
enemy in front ; forty were killed and some taken
prisoners. It was about noon now, and a suspicion
that something was wrong at the camp first arose
in the minds of the general's party.
One of the prisoners admitted that Cetewayo
expected the muster of a large army — at least
25,000 men — that day, and even as he spoke the
sound of heavy guns boomed throxigh the sunny
atmosphere.
" Do you hear that ? There is fighting going on
at the camp !" was now the cry.
And now a native on horseback came galloping
down from a lofty ridge, to announce the startling
intelligence that he could see the smoke of the
firing enveloping the Isandhlwana Hill, and the
flashing of the big guns there !
Lord Chelmsford and his staff galloped to the
crest of the hill. Looking through their field-
glasses in the direction of the camp, to them all
seemed quiet then. The sun shone brightly on
the white tents; no signs of firing were visible;
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CLOSING IN ON THE BRITISH.
it^
bodies of men were seen moving about, but they
were put down as those of our own troops.
'*This was at a quarter before two o*clock," says
Captain Lucas of the Cape Rifles, in his narrative,
"and not the faintest suspicion of any fatality
seems to have crossed the minds of the general
and his staff. It was not until a quarter to three
that Lord Chelmsford turned his horse towards
the camp."
WTien he, with Colonel Glyn's detachment, had
come within four miles of it, they met with the
Natal Native Contingent, which, on seeing that
the camp had been attacked by an overwhelming
force, had halted in a state of indecision and
dismay. Half an hour afterwards a solitary horse-
man was seen approaching the generaPs somewhat
bewildered party. He proved to be the gallant
Commandant Lonsdale, who had ridden on in
advance, and " the first words he uttered struck
every one with consternation — *the camp is in
possession of the enemy, sir !'"
Lonsdale had approached very near the camp
when his attention was arrested by a bullet
whistling past him. Looking up, he saw the Zulu
who had just fired ; at the same time he saw what
appeared to be groups of our soldiers in their red
tunics bustling about the tents. He got within
ten yards of the latter when he saw a Zulu come
out of one with a blood-dripping assegai in his
hand He then perceived that the wearers of the
red uniforms were all Zulus ! He wheeled round
hb horse, and escaping a shower of bullets, gal-
loped off to warn Lord Chelmsford of the dreadful
trap into which he and all his party might have fallen.
And now we must relate what occurred in absence
of the general and main body of the column.
The body of troops despatched from the camp
to the left, as reported by Colonel PuUeine to Lord
Chelmsford, had become engaged with the enemy
almost'immediately ; firing was heard all along the
crest of the hill, and in about half an hour Colonel
Dumford's mounted men reappeared, hotly pursued
by the Zulus, who came over the crest in dark
thousands, throwing out a dense cloud of skir-
mishers as they advanced, keeping up a desultory
fire, and all in camp rushed to their arms.
" The Zulu army came on in regular battalions,
eight deep," says the Daify News, " keeping up a
steady fire, until well within assegai distance. They
then ceased their fire, and hurled assegais. Our
men kept up a very steady and telling fire, and great
numbers of the enemy dropped, but without check-
ing their progress. The places of the men who
fell were constantly filled by comrades."
Prior to this the rocket battery had been over-
taken, and its gunners, after a hand-to hand con-
flict, destroyed to a man, with Colonel Russell,
but not before he had sent up three rockets as an
alarm.
The cavalry on the left were now being driven
vigorously back, and Captain W. Eccles Mostyn
was ordered to advance with two companies of the
devoted 24th to the eastern neck of the Isandhlwana
Hill, where, at the distance of a mile and a half,
the Zulus were pressing in great force along the
north of it, to outflank the camp on the right, and
with this wing of the enemy he became at once
engaged
The remaining two companies of the 24th were
sent to the left of the camp, and formed in skir-
mishing order near the Royal Artillery guns, which
were already in action, and all men knew, as the
horns of the Zulu army, advancing in a vast serai-
circle, closed on them, that they had to fight for
bare existence now !
It was then half-past twelve p.m.
Lieutenant Pope's company of the 24th was
thrown forward in extended order directly in front,
near the waggon track, till his left files touched the
right of those near the guns.
On this part of the field (says the Intelligence
Report), owing to the Zulu advance being retarded
by the mounted men, the pressure was as yet
less severely felt than on the left, when the enemy,
descending from the heights they had occupied,
forced the defenders to fall back, and take up a
fresh position, about 300 yards from the camp.
This movement, while tending to unite the two
portions of the force, had the effect of leaving the
Native Contingent in a somewhat advanced position
on the right of the companies of Younghusband,
Mostyn and Cavaye at the salient of the defensive
line, which now formed merely two continuous
faces, one turned northward and the other east-
ward, and, so far as could be afterwards ascer-
tained after all the dire slaughter and utter confusion
that ensued, these troops were occupied with the
enemy in their immediate front, till, at one p.m.,
they were found posted thus : —
On the left, and facing the north, were the
companies of Younghusband, Mostyn and Cavaye
in extended order, with two of the Native Contin-
gent on Cavaye's right, and near them were the
guns firing shot and shell eastward To the right
of the guns was one company of the 24th in ex-
tended order facing the east, and the remaining
company of the 24th was stretched over the space
between this point and that held by Lieutenant
D'Aguilar Pope, which formed the right of the
infantr}' line on the waggon track.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
Beyond this, and at some distance in advance,
was a force of mounted men, composed of those
left behind in camp, and of those who had been in
front with Colonel Durnford The remainder of
tion, is 4,522 feet above the level of the sea; but
the camp upon its eastern slope was in no respect
prepared for defence. The tents were all standing,
just as they had been left when the troops under
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF ISANDHLWANA QaN, 22, 1879).
the Native Contingent was held as a kind of reserve
in real* of the defensive line, all now hotly engaged,
and was to have been employed to pursue the
Zulus when recoiling from the attack which — fol-
lowing the experience of previous Kaffir wars — they
Were to be encouraged to make.
The summit of the precipitous rock in front of
which our troops were now fighting with despera-
Chelmsford and Glyn marched out that mornings
and their occupants were chiefly officers' servantSi
bandsmen, clerks, and other non-combatants, who,
until they were attacked, were unconscious of
danger. Fifty waggons, which were to have gone
back to^he commissariat camp at Rorke's Drift,
about six miles in the rear as the crow flies, had
been drawn up the evening before in three lines on
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ItanJliluamuJ
THE LAST STAND.
215
the neck between the track and the hill, and were
still parked in the same position. All other
waggons were in rear of the camps of the various
corps to which they were attached The oxen
having been collected for safety when the Zulus
first came in sight, were with these waggons, and
many were regularly yoked in.
Meanwhile the Zulus had been steadily advanc-
ing eight deep as described, with their skirmishers
in front, without check or halt, moving from the
north-west in a deep formation of horseshoe shape,
the left horn directed towards the British right, the
right horn descending a scroggy and grassy valley
at the back of the Isandhlwana Hill, while the force
of the central mass was delivered directly at the
open camp.
This was a little after one p.m., and then it was
that our unfortunate soldiers were fully able to
realise the strength of the enormous force that was
advancing against them. Extended in a long thin
line, covering 2,000 yards, they saw themselves
opposed to a Zulu army 14,000 strong, 10,000 of
whom were hurling their strength against the camp,
regardless of the heaviest losses.
By this time the foremost ranks of the Zulus
were within 200 yards of the Native Contingent,
which broke and fled, thus leaving a gap in the
line, through which the Zulus poured like a living
flood, and all in an instant became hopeless con-
fusion, and before Mostyn's and Cavaye's com-
panies of the 24th had time to form rallying squares,
or even to fix their bayonets, they were slaughtered
to a maa Captain Younghusband's company,
which was on the extreme left, succeeded in re-
treating till a species of terrace or ledge on the
southern face of the fatal hill was reached, from
which spot they could see the Zulus using their
stabbing assegais on all they overtook with fearful
effect, their loud yells and demoniac shrieks load-
ing the air, as the din of the musketry began to
pass away.
The cannon had been firing case-shot latterly,
but as the enemy closed in they were limbered up
to retire; the limber gunners, unable to mount,
ran after them towards the camp, but the Zulus
who came up from the west were already there,
and assegaied every man of them, save a serjeant
and eight gunners in camp. Major Smith was
slain in the act of spiking a gun, amid the most
frightful meife and carnage, where horse and foot,
Briton and Zulu, friend and foe, black and white,
formed a dense, struggling, and fighting mass of
apparently maddened men.
All who could escape endeavoured to make
their way towards the Buffalo River, but that was
impossible for even mounted men. The ground
was rugged, intersected by water-courses, strewn
with great boulders, over which the most active
of the bare-footed Zulus, with foot-sole like a
horse's hoof, could speed faster than a horse itself;
and then in front rolled the river, swift and un-
fordable, and everywhere jagged with sharp rocks.
Those who reached the track that led to Rorke's
Drift — ^the only hoped for shelter — found it to be
completely blocked by the enemy. Most of the
fugitives were entirely ignorant of the country
through which they sought to make their way,
and numbers were overtaken and slain by the
swift Zulus. The route taken by the majority of
the fugitives was along a deep water-course and
thence to a point on the Buffalo, four miles dis-
tant from the camp. So hot, however, was the
pursuit that no dismounted European succeeded in
traversing even half of that distance, and of the
horsemen who reached the river, many were shot
or drowned in attempting to cross, more were
slain on its banks, and only a few weak, thirsty,
worn, and wounded creatures succeeded in reach-
ing Helpmakaar.
Colonel PuUeine, of the 24th, on perceiving that
all was lost and that the camp was in the hands
of this terrible enemy, called to Lieutenant Mel-
vill, and said : —
" You, as senior lieutenant, will take the colours
and make the best of your way from here ! "
He then shook MelvilFs hand, and exclaimed,
while seeming quite cool and collected —
"Men of the 24th, here we are, and here we
stand to fight it out to the end ! " and there he
perished with his gallant fellows of the old War-
wickshire.
Lord Chelmsford's written orders to him were
afterwards found on the field
Colonel Durnford, R.E., who, on his return to
camp, had remained near the mounted men, would
seem to have determined at first to form those
under his command more compactly, and ordered
the " retire " to be sounded, just before the Zulu
rush had pehetrated the line of defence, and as
their right horn was closing in. At a stone
koppie, or isolated rock, the colonel, with a party
of mounted volunteers, 24th men, and others
who had rallied round their commanding officer,
Henry Pulleine, held their ground gallantly
together, though attacked on all sides ; but when
the last cartridge was expended, the end could not
be long delayed
Melvill was adjutant of the ist battalion, and
rode off with the colours, accompanied by Lieu-
tenant Neville Coghill, of the same corps, and
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2i6 BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA. ns««DJw«uu
ISANDHLWANA: THE DASH WITH THE COLOURS.
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IsandhlwrnDA.]
THE t)AStt WlTli THE COLOURS.
51)
Private Williams. These fugitives were closely
pursued, according to Captain Hallam Parr,
and held on together, with difficulty, till they
reached the Buffalo, where Williams was swept away
LIKUTENANT MELVII.L.
{Fp0m n Photograph by Messrs, Heath and Bnllinghamt Plymouth.)
by the current and drowned MelvilVs horse
was shot in the stream, and the colours slipped
from his grasp. Lieutenant Coghill reached the
Natal side in safety, but on seeing Melvill cling-
ing to a rock, while seeking vainly to recover
the lost colours, he forgot all thought of self-
preservation, and bravely rode back to his com-
rade's assistance, and his horse was also shot.
They both reached the Natal bank and tried to
struggle on, but in vain.
" The Zulus opened a heavy fire on our people,"
says Colonel Glyn in his despatch, "directing it
more especially on Lieutenant Melvill, who wore
a red patrol jacket"
" There are, not many hundred yards from the
river's side, two boulders, within sbc feet of each
other, near the rocky path. At these boulders
they made their last stand, and fought until over-
whelmed Here we found them lying side by
side," says Captain Parr, " and buried them on the
spot, where they fought and fell so gallantly.
There is no need to remind Englishmen of their
conduct While we remember the Zulu War it will
not be forgotten. They did not die in vain ; ten
da)'s after they fell the colours were found in the
rocky bed of the Buffalo."
T
Melvill, however, was a Scotsman, and Coghill
was Irish, and the heir of a baronetcy as the son
of Sir J. Jocelyn Coghill, of Drumcondra, in the
county of Dublin. Melvill's watch was found to
have stopped at ten minutes past two p.nL
The Queen's colour was subsequently found, as
stated by Major Black of the 24th, and was after-
wards presented to Her Majesty at Osborne, when '
she tied a wreath of immortelles to the staff head in
memory of the two young officers who perished in
defence of it The colours of the 2nd battalion of
the 24th had been left in the guard tent when the
regiment marched out of camp, and were never
seen again. The regimental colour of the ist
24th was at Helpmakaar in comparative safety.
Of the awful scene in camp no white man saw
the end ! Of the conflict in and around the camp
but little information exists. After the defensive
line was broken, for a brief period men fought
hand-to-hand in and among the tents. The only
companies which appear to have made an organised
resistance were Captain Younghusband's and the
other two on his right, which made a wild and
desperate attempt to rally. On the terrace below
the Isandhlwana Hill he fought with his men till
their ammunition was expended ; now no more
LIEUTENANT COGHILL
could be procured, as the waggons were in posses-
sion of the Zulus, and they all died where they
stood.
This was about two p.m.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[ISUKlhll
The Zulus themselves afterwards described how
our brave young officers called on their men and
encouraged them, and how often they charged
through the little square (presumably of Young-
husband's company), till, after their heavy losses,
they became reluctant to attack it They told
how the red soldiers taunted them to come on, and
how, when ammunition fell short, they remained
just beyond the bayonet blades, on which they
often tossed the bodies of their own dead, and
launched in their assegais, and then, rushing on,
ended the one-sided conflict " Ah ! those red
soldiers at Isandhlwana," many Zulus said, " how
few they were, and how they fought ! They fell
like stones — each man in his place." (" Sketches
of the Kaffir and Zulu Wars.")
We are told that one tall man, a corporal of the
24th, slew four Zulus with his bayonet, which stuck
for a moment in the throat of his last opponent,
and then he was assegaied. The only blue-jacket
in camp, a man of H.M.S. Active^ was seen, with
his back against a waggon wheel, keeping a crowd
of Zulus at bay with his cutlass, till one crept be-
hind and stabbed him to death between the spokes.
A Natal Volunteer, who had been sick in hospital,
was found dead with his back against a boulder
near the hospital tent, with about a hundred fired
cartridges about him, his revolver empty, and a
bowie-knife crusted with blood in his hand
"You will have seen of our great disaster at
Isandhlwana," wrote a resident in Durban to a
friend in England, " only a short distance fi-om our
border, where every man was butchered, those
wounded tortured, and the sick in hospital and the
dead horribly mutilated. The latter is not said
much of in the papers, but the men who returned
with the general saw enough of it — one poor little
drummer boy held up on a bayonet. . . . But
it is evident that our general was out-generalled by
the Zulus, from not having sufficient cavalry scouts
to ascertain where the mass of the enemy was."
{Daily News,)
The description of the stand made by the last
man, as given in the Natal Times^ is full of pathos.
He struggled up the steep hill in rear of the camp,
till he reached a small cave or crevice in the rocks,
into which he crept, and with his bayonet and
rifle kept off the enemy. The ground in front of
this cave fell abruptly down, and the Zulus, taking
advantage of the rocks and stones scattered about,
endeavoured, two or three at a time, to approach
and shoot him.
The soldier, however, was very wary, and in-
variably shot down every Zulu as he appeared.
He did not blaze hurriedly, but quietly dropped
the cartridges into the breech-block of his rifle,
took deliberate aim, and killed a man at every shot
At last the Zulus became desperate, and, bringing
up a number of their best shots, poured in a con-
centrated volley and killed him. "This had
lasted far into the afternoon, when the shadows
were long on the hills, probably about five p.nL"
A Zulu narrative of the conflict, as taken down
from the lips of Methlagazulu, son of Sirayo, when
a prisoner in Pietermaritzburg Gaol in the subse-
quent September, is not without interest, and is
corroborative of what we have related.
"We were fired on," he stated, "first by the
mounted men, who checked our advance for some
little time. About the same time the other regi-
ments became engaged with soldiers who were in
skirmishing order. When we pressed on, the
mounted men retired to the donga, where they
stopped us twice. We lost heavily from their fire.
My regiment (the Ngobamakozi) sufiered most
When we saw that we could not drive them out of
the donga, we extended our horn to the bottom of
it, the lower part crossing and advancing on the
camp in a semicircle. When the mounted men
saw this they came out of the donga, and galloped
to the camp. Our horn suffered a great deal both
from the mounted men and a cross-fire from the
soldiers, as we were advancing to the camp, the
Nonkenke and Nodwengo regiments forming the
left horn [a mistake for the right], circled round
the mountain to stop the road, the main body
closing in on the camp. I then heard a bugle-
call, and saw the soldiers massing together. All
this time the mounted men kept up a steady fire,
and kept going farther into camp. The soldiers
when they got together fired at a fearful rate, but
all of a sudden stopped, then they divided, and
some commenced running. We didn't take any
notice of those running away, thinking the end of
our horn would catch them, but pressed on those
who remained. They got into and under waggons
and fired, but we killed them all in that part of the
camp. (Those who ran took the direction of the
Buffalo River, some throwing their rifles away, and
others firing as they ran). When we closed in we
came on a mixed party of mounted and infantry
men, who had evidently been stopped by the end
of our horn. They numbered about a hundred.
They made a desperate resistance, some firing and
others using swords. I repeatedly heard the word
* Fire !' given by some one; but we proved too many
for them, and killed them all where they stood
When all was over I had a look at these men, and
saw an officer with his arm in a sling, and widi
a big moustache, surrounded by carbineers and
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Isacdhlwana. ]
THE SCENE IN THE DESOLATE CAMP.
219
other men that I didn*t know. W© ransacked the
camp, and took away everything we could find ; we
broke up the ammunition boxes and took out all
the cartridges. We practised a great deal at our
kraals with the rifles and ammunition. Lots of us
had the same sort of rifle that the soldiers used,
having bought them in our country, but some who
did not know how to use it had to be shown by
those who did."
This son of Sirayo has been described as a per-
fectly trained Zulu warrior, without an ounce of
superfluous flesh on his lithe and muscular limbs,
an exquisitely modelled figure, but with an eye the
expression of which made the beholders shudder.
"You can imagine," wrote one, "the tiger-like
spring of such an enemy ; the fierce gleam of the
eyes as the deadly assegai plunges into the victim's
heart, and the quiver of the muscles as the longer-
handled weapon b hurled forward with unerring
aim."
He was named Methlagazulu, signifying "the
eyes of the Zulu nation," because his father's kraal
looked towards that part of the British territory on
which Cetewayo had so long kept a close watch.
The Zulu reserve, consisting of some 4,000
men, took no part in the action, but simply drove
off the captured cattle, waggons, and plunder.
When these were moved off", they took most of their
dead with them in the waggons, piled on the debris of
flour, sugar, tea, biscuits. When the ground was first
seen after the disaster numbers of horses lay dead,
shot in every position, besides mutilated oxen, mules
stabbed and gashed, while thick among them,
scattered in gory clumps, lay the bodies of our
soldiers, with only their boots or shirts or perhaps
a pair of trousers to indicate to what branch of
the service they belonged. In many cases they
lay with sixty or seventy empty cartridges beside
them, showing the desperation with which they
fought and died.
On that miserable day there perished of our
troops on and around the hill of Isandhlwana
twenty-six imperial officers and 806 non-commis-
sioned officers and men, while the loss of the
colonial forces was not less terrible, and included
twenty-four officers. Five entire companies of the
1st 24th fell, with ninety men of the 2nd battalioa
The loss in materiel was put down at 102 waggons,
1,400 oxen, two 7-pounder guns, 400 rounds of
shot and shell, 800 Martini-Henry rifles, 250,000
rounds of ball cartridge, ;^6o,ooo worth of com-
missariat supplies, a rocket trough, a number of
tents, and, for some time, the colours of the 24th
Foot
On the same afternoon about 250 men of the
13th Light Infantry and 24th, who had been on the
march upward from Pietermaritzburg, left Help-
makaar for Rorke's Drift En route they met some
of the fugitives from the camp, who informed them
of the great disaster there, on which they went back
at once to reinforce the infantry posted at Help-
makaar.
And now to return to Lord Chelmsford. After
meeting Commandant Lonsdale with his appalling
intelligence, he sent an order for Colonel Glyn*s
troops at their bivouac to march instantly on
Isandhlwana. He formed the native battalion
which accompanied him in line, with a few mounted
men on the flanks, and in this order marched
forward for about two miles. He then halted it
behind a ridge, which concealed it from those
who might be in the camp, and sent forward the
mounted infantry to reconnoitre. They returned
with intelligence that the Zulus in many thousands
were in full possession of the camp.
It was four p.m. when the order reached Colonel
Glyn, who came up with Lord Chelmsford at ten
minutes past six. The column was formed, the
mounted men were sent in front, the guns were in
the centre with three companies of the 2nd batta-
lion 24th on either side of them, the advance was
resumed, and by seven, when the sun set, the camp
could be seen about two miles distant Several
tents had disappeared The daylight faded rapidly
out, and about a quarter to eight, when the column
was within half a mile of the lion-shaped mountain,
darkness completely enveloped the camp, with all
its ghastly objects. Merely the black outline of the
adjacent hills was visible, and on the crests of those
to the northward, the equally black figures of the
Zulus could be seen against the sky, and the last
glow of the day that had gone.
The column was now halted, and a fire of
shrapnel shell was directed by the artillery against
the neck south of the Isandhlwana Hill, over which
the road passes to Rorke*s Drift. To this no reply
was made, so the column advanced to within 300
yards of it, and opened with shell again, while
three companies of the 2nd 24th, under Major
Black, went forward with orders to seize the koppie
to the south of it This was done without opposi-
tion, and then the troops marched into the camp,
which they found silent, and deserted by all save
the dead Chelmsford^s shattered force had
marched thh-ty miles, and had not tasted food
for forty-eight hours. Their pouches were not
well filled now, and had they been resolutely
attacked by the Zulus they must have shared the
fate of those they saw stretched around them, and
among whom they bivouacked
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Rorke's Drift.
At four a.m. on the following morning the
column started for Rorke's Drift (/>., ford), on a
sad retreat; but there the first glad tidings they
heard, were of the glorious defence made by Chard
and Bromhead, two young subalterns, with a hand-
ful of men, at the Drift
At Isandhlwana the Zulu army was commanded
by a skilful chief named Tshingwayo, who seems
Sir Edmond dc Gonville Bromhead, Bart, of
I'hurlby Hall, Lincolnshire, and had already served
with his regiment in India. And with him was
associated in the defence Lieutenant J. R. Merriot
Chard of the Royal Engineers, who had previously
served at Bermuda, and had been ten years in the
service.
On a rocky terrace on the Natal side of the
RORKES DRIFT BEFORE THE ATTACK.
to have fought though the state of the moon was
considered unpropitious, and the savage ceremonies
which usually preceded an action had not been
performed.
The successful defence of the commissariat camp
came about thus.
When the centre column advanced on the 20th
of January, one company of the 2nd 24th, under
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, had, with a small
party of the Natal Native Contingent, been left
to guard the ponts, some sick men, and stores
at Rorke's Drift This officer was only twenty-
three years of age, and was the youngest son of
Buffalo, about a mile from the crossing-place, stood
two stone buildings, with roofs of thatch, belonging
to the Swedish mission station. Close to these the
company of the 24th had encamped. The eastern
edifice, formerly a church, was now filled with
stores, while the other, which had been the dwell-
ing of the missionary in that savage solitude, had
been formed into a little military hospital
The nearest troops to this sequestered post — a
post in the silence and solitude of an unknown
wild — were two companies of the ist 24th at
Helpmakaar, ten miles distant, and Major Spalding,
who was in charge of the line of communications,
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Rorke's Drift.]
PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE.
221
hud nddai over to. that place to bring up one of
tbese companies, leaving, for the time, the entire
command of the Drift on Lieutenant Chard, R.K
About three in the afternoon of the 22nd, as this
officer was watching the ponts on the river, there
cime galloping up from the direction of Isan
dhlwana, on horses flecked with foam, Lieutenant
Adendorff, and a carbineer, with tidings of what
had befallen the camp. The carbineer was des-
While these preparations were in progress, an
officer of Durnford's Horse came in with about 100
troopers, and was asked by Lieutenant Chard to
send them out as vedettes, and when pressed, to
fall back in defence of the post At 4,30 this
officer returned to say that the Zulus were close at
hand ; that his men were already terror-stricken,
had refused to obey orders, and had basely galloped
off to Helpmakaar. About the same time, Captain
PLAN OF THE DEFENCES AT RORKE*S DRIFT (jAN. 22, 1 879).
Tjr/H>Mtchiiii! C«.sc
patched on the spur to Helpmakaar, while the two
cheers hastened to the post to prepare for a de-
fence, that would doubtless prove a desperate one,
as the enemy were known to be advancing.
Chard immediately drew in his small garrison,
and, in concert with Bromhead, proceeded to have
the tents struck, and to loop-hole and barricade
the storehouse and hospital, and to connect the
defences of the two, which were thirty yards apart,
by mealie sacks and bags of Indian com, forming
part of the commissariat stores, and with these
and a few waggons a laager was formed in hot
haste. The pont guard was called in, and all men
fit for duty were told off to their respective posts.
Stephenson and his detachment of natives also
drew off. It was at once perceived that the line of
defence was too extended for the small force that
remained, so an inner entrenchment was built of
biscuit boxes.
The little garrison was now reduced to the
company of the 2nd 24th, consisting of about
eighty bayonets, the total number within the post
being 139 men, of whom thirty-five were sick in the
hospital
The parapet of biscuit boxes across the larger
enclosure, was only two boxes in height, and it
had barely been completed, at 4.30 p.m., when the
sound of firing was heard, and some 600 of the
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Rorke's Drift.]
ATTACK OF THE ZULUS.
223
enemy came in sight round a hill to the south, and
advanced at a swift run against the post, and not-
withstanding a tremendous cross fire, came within
fifty yards of the southern wall ; where, availing
themselves of the cover afforded by the cookhouse
and ovens, they kept up a heavy fire in return.
Meanwhile their main body moved to the left,
round the building used as a hospital, and made
our soldiers held the other, and then a series of
desperate assaults were made, and repelled splen-
didly with the bayonet ; and there Corporal Schiess
of the Natal Native Contingent, was conspicuous
for his bravery.
The fire of the enemy from the rocks and caves
was badly directed, but it took the post so com-
pletely in reverse, that about six p.m., Chard and
LIEUTENANT BROMHBAa
a rush at the north-west wall and the breast-work
of mealie bags; but after a short and desperate
struggle, they were driven back with heavy loss to
the adjacent bush. The mass of the Zulus who
were still coming on lined a ledge of rocks near the
post, and filled some caves overlooking it, about a
hundred yards distant, from which they kept up a
continual fire ; while others, advancing somewhat
more to the left, occupied the garden, the hollow
road, and bush in great strength.
Taking advantage of the latter, which the gar-
rison had not had time to destroy, they advanced
close to the wall, and held one side of it, while
Bromhead drew their men behind the entrench-
ment of biscuit boxes. "All this time," says
Lieutenant Chard in his report, "the enemy had
been attempting to force the hospital, and shortly
after, set fire to its roof. The garrison of the
hospital defended it room by room, bringing forth
all the sick who could be moved before they retired ;
Privates Williams, Hook, R. Jones, and W. Jones,
24th Regiment, being the last men to leave, hold-
ing the doorway with the bayonet, their own
ammunition being expended From the want of
interior communication and the burning of the
house, it was impossible to save alL With most
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224
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Rorkc** Drift.
heartfelt sorrow I regret that we could not save
these poor fellows from their terrible fate." Five
unfortunate sick soldiers were thus burned to death.
One sick soldier had a narrow escape. He suc-
ceeded in getting away from the hospital, and hid
in the bush all night exposed to a cross fire.
Two heaps of mealie bags were now converted
into a species of redoubt, Commissary Dunne, a
Jones, and Robert Jones, with Corporal William
Allan and Private Frederick Hitch, all of the 24th,
received the V.C. for their valiant defence of the
hospital.
The Zulus were now 3,000 strong. Six times
they got inside the barricades, and six times they
were hurled back by the bayonet and clubbed
rifle ere they retired to the kraaL Throughout the
LIEUTENANT CHARD.
gallant Irish officer, working hard at it and
exposing himself freely, though a man of great
stature, and thus a second line of fire was obtained
all round. The hospital was a sheet of fire ; the
darkness had fallen, and the little post was com-
pletely surrounded on every side, and the defenders
after repulsing many attempts to storm it, and
doing so with the greatest gallantry, were forced to
retire to the centre, and then to the inner wall of a
rough stone kraal on the east, and that place they
retained throughout
Privates John Williams, Henry Hook, William
entire night the desperate struggle went on, and
assault after assault was made and repulsed. Our
soldiers fired with the greatest deliberation and
coolness, not wasting a single shot, and aiming by
the light of the burning hospital as long as it
lasted.
At four o'clock on the morning of the 23rd, the.
firing of the Zulus ceased ; they began to draw off
defeated and disheartened, and by daybreak had
passed out of sight over the hills to the south-west
Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead then patrolled
the vicinity, collected all the arms of the dead
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Isandhlwana.]
BURYING THE DEAD.
22S
Zulus, and proceeded to strengthen their miserable
defences in case the attack might be renewed, and
just as they were removing the thatch, about seven
in the morning, a large body of them were seen
on the hills again.
Lieutenant Chard had contrived, by means of a
friendly Kaffir, to despatch a note to the officer
commanding at Helpmakaar for aid ; but about
eight p.m. the column under Lord Chelmsford came
in sight, to the joy of the defenders of Rorke^s
Drift, who were thus saved from another attack and
from too probable extermination, as the enemy
retired immediately.
It would seem that Major Spalding, who had
started on the previous day to Helpmakaar, was.
returning in the evening towards Rorke's Drift, with
the two companies of the ist 24th Regiment^
under Major Upcher. Riding on in advance of
these, Major Spalding arrived about sunset, within
three miles of the environed post, when the Zulus
opposed his progress, and he saw the mission
house on fire; and probably believing all to be
lost, he ordered the two companies back to Help-
makaar. When Chelmsford's column reached
Rorke's Drift, his famished men were supplied
with food, and measures were taken to improve
the defences of the post ; but , the disaster at
Isandhlwana had deprived the centre column of
its whole transport, and rendered the troops com-
posing it incapable of making any offensive move-
ment, as the officers and men found themselves
with nothing but what they stood in.
The number of British defending Rorke's Drift,
was eight officers and 131 non-commissioned
officers and men ; of these fifteen were killed and
twelve wounded, two mortally. The attacking
Zulus consisted of the Undi and Udkloko regiments,
4,000 strong, and of these 370 lay dead around the
post How many were wounded was never known.
Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead received the
thanks of both Houses of Parliament, were pro-
moted to the rank of majors, and each received
the Victoria Cross.
The Court of Inquiry which was held to sift the
causes leading to the disaster at Isandhlwana, lies
somewhat apart from our purpose.
Lord Chelmsford >vrote urgently home for
reinforcements — three British infantry regiments
at least, two of cavalry, and one company of
Engineers.
**The cavalry," he stated, "must be prepared
to act as mounted infantry, and should have their
swords fastened to their saddles, and their carbines
slung, muzzle downwards, by a strap across the
shoiUders. The swords should be, if possible,
somewhat shorter than the present regulation
pattern. At least 100 artillerymen, with farrier,
shoeing smith and cojlar maker, must be sent, out
at once to replace the casualties in Lieutenant-
Colonel Harness's battery. A dozen farriers or
good shoeing smiths are urgently required for the
several columns, and two additional veterinary
surgeons for depot duty would be very valuable."
Singular to say, the home authorities failed to
comply with these requests.
Before referring to the operations of Colonel
Wood's column and the blockade of Etschowe, we
shall close the story of Isandhlwana by that of the
interment of the dead, which did not take place till
the month of June, five months after the action.
The party detailed for this mournful service
consisted of thirty dragoons under Captain Willan,
K.D.G., and Lieutenant Taffe of the i6th Lancers;
fifty dismounted dragoons under Lieutenant Burney
of the ist Royal Dragoons; sixty of Major Dartnell's
Mounted Police; 140 of the 2nd battalion of the
24th under Captain Williams; 100 of Tataloka's
Mounted Natives, and 1,000 native levies, the
whole under the command of Brevet Lieutenant-
Colonel Black of the 24th Regiment
Two mule waggons accompanied him, carrying
picks, shovels, and reserve ammunition. When
the party came to the hill where their gallant com-
rades were lying, great difficulty was experienced
in finding the bodies, as the grass had grown so
high that in many places it overtopped the heads
of the searchers. Letters, papers, and photographs
of loved ones far away at home were mixed up with
brushes, boots, and saddlery of every kind, cut to
pieces. According to an eye-witness, " the stench
from the carcases of the horses, mules, oxen, and the
remains of the poor fellows who had fallen, was
fearful . . . Birds of prey did not appear to
have been at their horrid work, but there were unde-
niable traces of them outside (the camp) and along
the way the fugitives took. One of the first things
picked up was a sling of the colours of the 24th.
Many of the recovered letters and photographs were
very little the worse for exposure. Some regi-
mental books were found, together with a con-
siderable amount of money, cheques, and other
property."
A strange and terrible calm seemed to reign in
this solitude of death and nature. Grass had
grown luxuriantly about the waggons, sprouting
from the se«d that had dropped from the loads,
falling on soil fertilised by the blood of the gallant
fallen. The skeletons of some rattled at the touch.
In one place lay a body with a bayonet thrust to
the socket between the jaws, transfixing the head a
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
(Uaodhhrmoa.
foot into the ground Another body lay under a
waggon covered by a tarpaulin, as if the wounded
man had gone to sleep as his life-blood ebbed
away.
In one spot over fifty bodies, including those of
three officers, were found, and close by another group
of about seventy, and considering that they had
been exposed to the weather for five months they
were in a singular state of preservation. Among
those recognised were Captain Wardell, Lieu-
tenants Anstey and Dyer, and Paymaster White,
all of the 24th Regiment
To the left of these lay a group of the Natal
Carbineers, with the body of Colonel Dumford
covered with stones. "Peace to his ashes !" says
Captain Gillmore, in his " Ride through Hostile
Africa," " for a braver soldier never drew a sabre
or bestrode a charger, and I have a right to know,
as I was acquainted with him from childhood."
He was known by his long moustache, his mess-
jacket, and two finger-rings. Elsewhere lay twenty
of the Natal Police, who were buried by their com-
rades. About 200 bodies were interred on the
first day. The greater part of them were found
lying on their backs, with outstretched arms. This
was accounted for, as the Zulus always disem-
bowel the fallen.
A second visit was paid to continue this grim
task. On the right of the hill was found a very
large group of slain around the body of an officer,
in a position which they had evidently held till the
last man perished There, too, lay the body of a
Zulu chief, covered by shields and stones. Many
bodies were buried by the fugitives' path, ^ere
they lay in small groups. Near a tree, nine were
found beside a waggon, the horses of which were
assegaied in the traces. Here lay the bandmaster
of the 24th ; in a pocket were his watch, two rings,
and his will, dated a day before his death. " Rider
and horse, officer and private, boy and man, their
grim and parchment-looking skins half-eaten by
the carrion birds and half covering the bleaching
bones, gave to the scene a terrible and weird
significance which can never be forgotten."
In two days 500 were buried, but many must
have escaped observation. Several evidences were
found of the ferocity of the hand-to-hand struggle.
In one place lay a 24th man, with a Zulu in front
of him. He had a knife buried to the haft in his
back, showing that he had been assailed behind
after killing his enemy. Close by was a Carbineer
lying above a Zulu ; he, too, had been stabbed in
the back.
Had the 24th been allowed sooner to perform
this duty, for which the survivors volunteered
again and again, the work would have been more
satisfactorily done, and many relics recovered that
would have been precious to fiends at home.
Amongst other mementoes, there was found — ^as
was stated in an advertisement issued in July fh>m
the United Service Club, Edinburgh— close to the
remains of an officer, a jnouming-ring set with
seven rosette diamonds, inscribed " In memoriam,"
with a date and initials.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE ZULU WAR {continued)', — operations of the left column IITH to 23RD JANUARY — ^THE
BLOCKADE OF ETSCHOWE — COLONEL PEARSOn's TWO RAIDS.
The left, or No. 3, column, under Colonel Evelyn
Wood, whose name has now become a " household
word," was encamped on the loth January at
Bembas Kop (which literally means an isolated
hill), on the Blood River.
On the afternoon of that day he marched with
two Royal Horse Artillery guns, six companies of
the 90th, or Perthshire Light Infantry, six of the
13th Light Infantry, the greater part of Wood's
Irregulars, and the Frontier Light Horse, and
moved down the left bank of the stream.
Great were the difficulties of this march, as, in
addition to those caused by marshy ground, it was
necessary to cross tributaries which flow down from
the Halatu and Icanda Mountains to the Blood
River, through solitudes long tenanted only by the
Kaffir crane, the wild duck, and snipe. To render
the deep beds of these streams passable by guns
and waggons, the banks had to be cut down, but
by six in the evening the troops halted after a nine
miles' march.
On the following day, at two in the morning,
Colonel Wood marched with a slender flying column
composed of the Frontier Horse, the two guns»
forty-eight infantry marksmen in mule waggons,
and 600 irregulars, leaving the remainder of his
force to follow in support at nine miles' distance,
under Colonel Philip E. Victor Gilbert, 13th Foot,
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PREPARING FOR A BLOCKADK
227
an officer who served at the battle of the Tchemaya,
and fall of Sebastopol, and in the Indian campaigns
of 1857-8.
Through darkness and fog from the marshlands,
Colonel Wood pushed briskly on, guided by that
gallant old Dutch farmer, Piet Uys, till he came
within twelve miles of Rorke's Drift, where he had
the interview with Lord Chelmsford already re-
ferred to, and from whom he learned that the
central column had, without opposition, crossed the
Buffalo River. On the morning of the 13th, after
reaching Umoolooni, he was again on Bembas
Kop, with the country around it impassable in con-
sequence of the heavy rains to which his troops
were exposed. His object was to cover Utrecht.
Amid all .these movements, though Colonel
Wood captured large quantities of cattle, no en-
counter took place with Zulus, yet they were
present in arms and in large numbers, as they
seemed to be without definite orders from Cete-
wayo as to how they were to receive the British.
Wood remained for five days on Bembas Kop,
making reconnaissances with his mounted troops,
and on the i8th of January he advanced to the Inse-
yene (or Sandy River), a distance of ten miles, and
had a slight skirmish with the enemy on the banks
of the White Umvolosi River.
The two following days saw him moving along
the stream, till he encamped near the kraal of
Tinta, a chief who submitted, and, under a guard
composed of a company of the Perthshire, was sent
towards Utrecht On the 20th the Light Horse
made a reconnaissance to the summit of the Zungen
range — lofty, flat-topped mountains — but were met
by the Zulus in such strength that they were com-
pelled to fall back ; and next day the construction
of a stone laager fort was begun on the bank of
the Umvolosi, where the stores were deposited, in
charge of a company of the 90th, while at midnight
on the 2ist the column moved on a patrol towards
the Zungen range of mountains. When there was
no rain these night marches were not unpleasant
The Zungen range is the name given to the
western portion of some hills which extend from
east to west for the distance of twenty miles. The
central of these is named the Inhlobane Mountain,
which was yet to figure prominently in the annals
of the Zulu War, and the eastern is the Ityenka.
Forming his column into three sections to scour
these mountains, two reached their summit unop-
posed, driving back some bands of Zulus and captur-
ing their cattle ; but when the eastern extremity was
reached, some of the enemy, estimated at 4,000
men, were seen at drill on the slope of the Inhlo-
bane Mountain. "Theur evolutions, which were
plainly visible by the aid of a glass, were executed
with ease and precision ; a circle, a triangle, and a
hollow square, with a partition across it, being
formed rapidly by movements of companies."
On the morning of the 24th January, Colonel
Wood advanced again, and dispersed a body of
Zulus on the north side of the mountain. During
the brief engagement he received tidings of the
startling disaster at Isandhlwana, and he imme-
diately decided to withdraw to his old position on
the White Umvolosi, and on the 25th his column
reached Fort Tinta.
We must now recur to the movements of Colonel
Pearson's column, which reached Etschowe on the
23rd of January, and where he lost no time in
turning the old Norwegian mission-station into a
fort, to be defended at all hazards and against all
comers.
It occupied a very commanding position, being
nearly on the summit of the Tyoe Mountains, more
than 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, in a
district wonderful for its natural beauty. Away to
the north, through green grassy plains, rolled the
blue and winding Umtalazi River, and beyond it
rose pastoral undulations, devoid of bush, but
dotted here and there by dwarf-trees and date-
palms. On the south lay a hilly and open country,
bounded by the Umkukusi Mountains; on the
westward lay the Hintza Forest, a great primeval
wood, into the pillared stems and leafy gloom of
which even the African sun seldom penetrated.
To the east there stretched to the coast of Port
Durnford some forty miles of undulating country,
and away to the south-east there started up an
abrupt eminence of rock, 600 feet higher than the
old mission station.
The latter consisted of three brick structures
thatched with straw, for which Colonel Pearson
substituted less inflammable materials. These were
utilised as military stores; and the church, also
built of sun-dried brick and roofed with galvanised
iron, was turned into a hospital, while its tower
was selected as a look-out place, and proved of
great service when signalling was resorted ta
While the troops were working hard engrafting
a fort upon these edifices, and were ignorant of
what had befallen the centre column at Isan-
dhlwana, on the 28th of January Colonel Pearson
received the following message from Lord Chelms-
ford :—
" Pietermaritzburg, 27th January, 1879.
^* Consider all^my instructions as cancelled, and
act in whatever manner you think most desirable
m the interests of the force under your command
Should you consider the garrison of Etschowe as
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Etschowe.
too far advanced to be fed with safety, you can
withdraw it Hold, however, if possible, the posts
on the Zulu side of the Lower Tugela. You must
be prepared to have the whole Zulu force down
upon you. Do away with tents, and let the men
take shelter under the waggons, which will then be
in a position for defence, and hold so many more
supplies."
Though it was impossible from this brief
Though he selected Etschowe as a depdt, in
consequence of the edifices which already existed
there, it was not without disadvantages as a per-
manent fort On three sides it was conmianded
at a short range, and some dangerous ravines, filled
with sheltering timber, through which the foe could
creep unseen, lay dose to it Plenty of good
water was at hand ; but there was not, as yet, a
large stock of provisions in store, and a convoy,
REFERENCES,
A. C»ponmureM
B. LoophoUd BtdUimgt,
O. Rocktt Tmies. .
O. SUckade.fTwTicr*).
E, Entrattce f»r Watering pttrtUx,
F. Ramd into Ditch for Horut,
\
PLAN OF THE FORT AT ETSCHOWE.
memorandum to realise the extent or nature of the
recent calamity, still it was sufficiently apparent to
Colonel Pearson that the situation had somehow
changed A council of war was held, and it was
decided by a small majority not to retreat to the
Tugela.
Colonel Pearson, at an early period, began to
experience the inconveniences of a blockade ; his
communications were cut off, and it was found
that out of twelve messengers belonging to his
Native Contingent, whom he had sent with des-
patches during the first week of February, only one
arrived at hb destination, all the others having
been killed on the way.
which was on its way with more, might be cut oft
While, therefore, it was determined that Etschowe
should be held and fortified as strongly as possible,
it was also decided to reduce the number to be fed
by sending back all the mounted men and nearly
the whole of the Native Contingent, consisting of
two battalions, to Fort Tenedos, so called from
H.M.'s ship of that name.
In its construction the fort was a six-angled
work, about sixty yards wide, with a ditch eighteen
feet deep, and twelve yards broad "At the
bottom it was," says the Capt Argus^ "profiisdy
studded with assegai heads, to the number of
several thousands, and the fore-ground was mined
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CETEWAYO. KING OF THE ZULUS.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Etsdiowe.
with dynamite The parapets, carefully rivetted,
were proof not only against musketry fire, but even
field artillery, of which the enemy knew not the
use.
"Two well-built curtain walls ran out from its
southern angles, enclosing a fine kraal for cattle
and horses ; and at its end was constructed an
irregular redoubt, with a deep ditch and thick
mud walls, defended by gigantic spiky thorns laid
along the parapet Day by day the troops, when
not on other duty, were employed in felling trees
to form abaUiSy hewing out gabions, cutting loop-
holes, filling sand-bags, and contriving every species
of entanglement Each face of the fort was cleared
up to 800 yards, shelter trenches were dug for the
first line of defence, and the ranges were carefully
marked for the artillery and musketry fire Every
man had his proper place assigned him, and was in
it on three minutes' notice."
At night outlpng pickets, to the number of 300
men (chiefly natives), with five European officers,
were thrown out to a distance of nearly five miles,
as stated by the Cape Argus — a distance which
seems somewhat great
The convoy of supplies, escorted by three
companies of the 99th Regiment, two of the 3rd
Buflfs, and two of the Native Contingent, the whole
under Colonel Winchelsea Ely, with seventy-two
waggons (six more were abandoned by the way),
came safely into the fort, and on the 30th of
January, in obedience to Lord Chelmsford's in-
structions, the garrison, instead of occupying tents
without the defences, took shelter at night beneath
the waggons ranged alongside the parapets within.
The total strength of Pearson's force on that day
consisted of 1,292 white and 65 black combatants,
with 47 white and 290 black non-combatants.
Colonel Pearson applied to Lord Chelmsford for
seven more companies after be heard of Isan-
dhlwana; but the general deemed it unadvisable
to send them, and again suggested a withdrawal
to the Lower Tugela.
Much more correspondence ensued to the same
efiect, and Colonel Pearson began to think of
making a midnight march rearward ; but by that
time, about the nth February, the Zulus were
showing themselves in considerable strength near
the fort, hovering in a menacing manner, without
attacking it, and not even availing themselves of
the eminences referred to, from which they might
have harassed the garrison with their musketry.
The old Kentish Buffs were told off to the two
northern £aces. At the west angle was one gun,
with a detachment of Artillery, and in the east
salient were two guns, with a stronger party. The
rocket-tubes were in charge of some Marines. A
company of Buffs held the gateway, with the loop-
holed church tower to retreat into. The south
face was held by the 99th Lanarkshire with a
Catling gun, and for three miles along the Tugela
torpedoes had been sunk in its bed by the blue-
jackets.
The two Line regiments had their bands with
them, and these played daily, to cheer the men.
Lieutenant Henry Rowden, of the 99th Regiment,
commander of the Mounted Scouts, had, by the end
of February, explored all the country in the direction
of the Isangweni military kraal, about three miles
from Etschowe, and reported that upwards of
1,500 men were collecting. It belonged to the
Isangu married regiment, men whose average age
was fifty-four years, and stood on tableland, with
forests running parallel on each side of it Not
far fix)m it was a fortified kraal belonging to Dabu-
lamanzi, a brother of Cetewayo, and Colonel Pear-
son was determined to attack and destroy both
these places on the first possible opporttmity.
At times it looked now as if the war were about
to dwindle into mere bush-fighting, or into isolated
and desultory attacks on, and by, the enemy, with
the probability that the latter, if worsted, would
retire into their rocky fastnesses and fever-infected
swamps, where we should scarcely dare to follow
them with impunity.
On the I St of March we find the Special Border
Agent, Mr. J. Eustace Fanin, writing thus to the
Colonial Secretary : —
**As regards Inyezane, Cetewayo contends that
Colonel Pearson provoked the attack made on him
by burning kraals and committing other acts of hos-
tility along the line of march. He now asks that
both sides should put aside their arms and resume
negotiations, with a view to a permanent settlement
of all questions between himself and the Govern-
ment The king also states that he would have
sent a message some time since, but was afraid,
because when he sent eight messengers to the
Lower Tugela they were detained; and he now
begs that they may be sent back. I only asked
the Entumeni men one question — ^viz., whether the
Zulu army was assembled. They say it is not ; the
men are all in their kraals."
When the 2nd of March came, the latest news
which the isolated garrison of Pearson had received
was on the 8th of February, and they were in utter
ignorance of the progress of the war and the fate
of their comrades elsewhere; but on the former
date there was great excitement among them, when
a singularly bright light was suddenly visible in the
direction of the Tugela, and which, though at first
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A RAID FOR PROVISIONS.
231
supposed to be a burning kraal, proved to be a
flashing signal
For a time nothing could be read or understood
till the following day, when the message was dis-
covered to be : — " Look out for 1,000 men on the
13th. Sally out when you see me to "
Nothing more could be made out till the 5th,
when the light flashed again, and the message was
read thus : — " From Colonel Low, R. A, to Colonel
Pearson. About 13th instant, by general's orders,
I advance to support you with 1,000 men, besides
natives, as far as Inyezane Be prepared to sally
out to meet me with your surplus garrison there by
signal I may come by Dunn's Road Make
answer by flag on church."
Tantalising clouds enveloped the sky for the
next few days, thus rendering communication by
flashing impossible ; but a few days after, a runner
from Etschowe informed the signallers that their
messages were understood.
Great efforts were made' by Colonel Pearson to
reply by signals, but owing to want of proper
appliances, his first efforts were unsuccessful A
fire-balloon made of tracing-paper was tried, and
also a screen, 15 feet by 12 feet, set up on the
sky-line, but both these proved failures. Captain
McGregor then tried to direct the sun's rays by a
small mirror to that point near the Tugela from
whence the flashing came, and flashes were pro-
duced by covering and uncovering the mirror.
With an eye to relief or escape, in the beginning
of March a route was surveyed by the Engineer
officers from the fort to a point on the path that
led to the Lower Tugela. As it ran through a dis-
trict fairly open, by its use a long detour with guns
and waggons would be rendered unnecessary. It
was three miles in length, and working parties
were daily employed on it, cutting down the steep
banks of the water-courses and into the sides of the
hills ; and though often fired at by the Zulus, still
the work progressed
A message now came that the relief was post-
poned till the ist of April, when the entire garrison
would be enabled to fall back, and consequently
the ordered march to Inyezane on the 13th did
not take place. By this time sickness was extend-
ing in the fort There were twenty-five men on
the list, and two deaths had occurred — those of
Captain Herbert J. Williams, of the Buffs (formerly
of the 4th, or King's Own), and Mr. Coker, a mid-
shipman, who was a great favourite with all — a
spirited lad, who fought his Catling gun with great
gallantry at the combat of Inyezane — and they
were buried with military honours just outside the
fort
Though on the 15th of March large numbers of
the enemy were seen moving past Etschowe in the
direction of Inyezane, Colonel Pearson, to vary the
monotony of life in the garrison, and especially as
provisions were running short — the whole of the
slaughter oxen having been consumed, and the
troops being now supplied from the lean and
sinewy carcases of the draught bullocks — resolved
on making two raids in succession^ and these were
carried out with great spirit
The fortified kraal of Dabulamanzi was the most
important point of these attacks. For the expedi-
tion the forces detailed were 100 bayonets of the
Buffs and Lanarkshire Regiment, twenty-five of the
Naval Brigade, with their Catling gun, and a body
of mounted Scouts, under Lieutenant Rowden,
of the last-named corps.
Moving out of the fort at five in the morning,
they descended the steep slopes that led to the
river, and along a valley that narrowed as they
proceeded. In some places their path was flooded
by perilous spruits, or feeders, of the main stream ;
but Rowden's Scouts knew every portion of the
country well, though the track was often hidden by
sharp thorns and shaggy bush.
In some places bluffs overhead looked down on
the party, and were explored by the Scouts, lest
they might be manned by the enemy. Sunset
found the expedition at a cx>nsiderable distance
from Etschowe, and a halt was made at a point
where there were grass and water for the night,
during which no one slept, " as they had several
alarms, and it became evident, from certain indica-
tions known to the experienced in Zulu warfare,
that they were being reconnoitred by the enemy,
though in all probability not in sufficient force to
deliver an attack."
As it was quite possible that messengers might
be despatched to adjacent military kraals, and a
force brought that might exterminate them all in
five minutes, an officer and two men made a recon-
naissance in the dark round the bivouac, and dis-
covered some caves that had evidentiy been
recently occupied, amid a savage waste, strewn
with enormous boulders of stone.
From them a path led to a piece of table-land
some 50 yards in diameter, on a solid kop, or rock,
200 feet above where the three explorers stood,
and by the wehrd gleams of the moon they were
able to see that it was a point which twenty resolute
men might hold against an army, and there too
was a cave, affording additional protection. As
these three adventurous men were returning to the
bivouac, they were startled to see the dark outlines
of several figures moving silentiy in the adjacent
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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bush, and on these tidings every man stood to his
arms.
The grey of the early dawn enabled them to
see the enemy hovering in large bodies on . the
opposite ridges, and evidently puzzled by the move-
ments of this handful of white men, the more so
as one of Rowden's Scouts tied a handkerchief to
an overhanging branch before leaving the kop, thus
giving them the idea that a detachment occupied
it, and that it was a signal, they knew not for what
However, the error served the troops admirably,
and they were enabled to reach the summit of the
kop (which means literally a hmd\ and to get up
their Gatling gun too. The horses could not
ascend, but were knee-haltered in an excellent
position half-way up; and when by sunrise the
country was swept by field-glasses, the kraals of
Dabulamanzi and his neighbour Ungakamatue
were both visible. Armed bodies of Zulus were
seen departing in all directions, as if on errands
of importance, and, aware of their superhuman
activity, it was concluded that forces would soon
arrive, and all retreat to Etschowe be cut off.
To be besieged on the kop without provisions
would ensure capture by starvation, so it was
evident that it must be quitted at once.
As the kraal of Dabulamanzi was only a mile
distant, as the road by which they had come was
certain to be ambushed, and as one of the Scouts
Kpew another path, it was boldly resolved to return
by it, with what spoil they could collect in making
a raid on the kraal
Some of the soldiers cut long canes, fastened
them between ledges of the rock, and fixed some
coloured clothes thereto, leading watchers to be-
lieve there was a garrison still on the kop, which
was quitted silently and swiftly through some dense
bush on the reverse side, and down a deep and
gloomy kloof almost closed in by hills 600 feet in
height They reached the vicinity of the kraal, but
not before the enemy had opened fire on them at
700 yards from various points, which would have
been most destructive had they been armed with
rifies instead of old muskets.
By sound of bugle the skirmishers of the Buffe
were closed in on the fifty men of the Lanark
shire, who formed the reserve, and both advanced
through the kloof at a double, preceded by the
mounted men ; the kraal was swept from end to
end, and set in flames, thus destroying all the
stores of grain, while men, women, and cattle fled
in all directions. Two large packages of mealies
were brought off, but the force was too slender to
pursue the flying cattle, and the journey back
to Etschowe became imperative.
The raiders had not proceeded above ten miles
on their return, when they found, to their dismay,
that their line of retreat had been discovered, and
that they had dark ravines and woody krantzes,
that might be full of men, to traverse. As the
party pushed swiftly on into the shadow of a dense
forest, they lost sight of the pursuing Zulus, who
eventually, in about an hour, to the number of
2,000, gained upon them quickly, and inspired by
rage, were seen brandishing their assegais and
waving their shields above their heads.
Evening was at hand, a mist was rising, and
another hour would see these few Britons under the
guns of Etschowe, but when within three miles of
the latter, the rear-guard, consisting of a few men,
were attracted by dark objects moving among some
rocks on their left rear. " So fitful was the view
obtained, however, that the men were unable to
ascertain whether they were Zulus or some of the
larger species of baboon, which often come out of
their holes and caves to look at any human
creature passing by. A steady watch was, how-
ever, maintained, and before many minutes they
could plainly see that a large body of the enemy
had — by the most tremendous pedestrian feat —
succeeded in getting almost on a level with them,
in a position to assail them in flank."
Soon this was done by a sharp volley, poured in
at fifty paces' distance. Ten mounted men — only
ten — all crack shots, now endeavoured to cover the
flank, and did so with success. Galloping to a
commanding position 500 yards firom the Zulus,
they dismounted, and opened a fire every shot of
which told with such deadly effect that the Zulus fell
back, as if waiting for their main body ; and as the
mist rose, they were seen carrying off their killed
and wounded on the branches of trees freshly torn
down. A running fire was kept up till the fort was
reached, l)ut this had no effect upon the pursued,
whose fire in return decimated the foe, and even-
tually they drew off, just as the sun went down
behind the mountains.
Though less protracted. Colonel Pearson's noct
expedition proved a more successful one. He
learned from trustworthy sources that a body of
Zulus was escorting a convoy of cattle for the
royal kraal at Ulundi, and that its leader, having
some contempt for the weakness of the Etschowe
garrison, had only some 450 men to form the
escort, which Pearson also understood to be not
more than seven miles from the fort, and not far
from the Inyezane River.
For this expedition there were detailed only
twenty blue-jackets, with the small Engineer force,
forty of the 3rd Buffs, twenty of the Lanarkshire,
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THE COMING RELIEF.
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and the mounted Scouts of Rowden. " No Catling
was to accompany, as the utmost celerity of move-
ment was requu'ed, and if the expedition did not
succeed in its first dash, an immediate retreat upon
the guns was to be made."
They marched from the fort in the dark, at half-
past three in the morning of the 21st March, and
reached the Inyezane River, which flows, 200 yards
broad and 25 feet deep, for miles between moun-
tains, the lower slopes of which are covered with
splendid timber ; above these start out bluffs and
precipices more than 1,000 feet in height The
immediate banks of the stream ate fringed
luxuriantly with bamboo reeds, usually 12 feet in
height, between which the tracks of the huge
hippopotami are traceable at all times.
About eight a.m. a herd of cattle was sighted at
grass, and by rapidly skirting the base of a hill, the
little party cut in between it and a body of Zulus,
who had bivouacked in front of some caves, and
were busy cooking at fires lit in the open. The
scouts, who had seen all this — themselves unseen —
from the summit of a bluflf, came sweeping down at
a canter, and fell furiously upon the Zulus, to cover
the retreat of the infantry, who captured thirty-five
fine iat cattle.
A desultory fire was now opened from the hill-
sides by the enemy, whose numbers seemed to
increase mysteriously on all hands, and in a short
time it got within range of the rear-guard, wound-
ing three ; but by noon the whole party was safe
in thd fort, where the cattle were a welcome sight
to the half-starved soldiers.
On the day before this last raid, a runner arrived
from the Tugela with despatches, in which Colonel
Pearson was distinctly informed that the column to
relieve him would start on the 29th of March.
During the previous fortnight the road we have
referred to had been steadily in progress, and by
the 2 1 St was nearly complete.
It was asserted in the Cafe Argus about this time
that Cetewayo had prohibited the attack of forti-
fied posts, diat in Uie case of Colonel Pearson's
garrison at Etschowe, it was his intention to starve
out the garrison, by preventing all communication
with the colony, that for this purpose a large force
had been posted along the line of route, that two
recent attempts to get through parties of the natives
had been frustrated, and that a convoy of any
length required a stronger escort than Lord Chelms-
ford had at his command. " By making a detour
of a few miles, it is stated that the whole of the
bush and *ugly' country could be avoided by a
force marching without waggons," adds the Argus.
" Possibly the men sent back will retire along this
road, all the available cavalry being sent out from
Fort Tenedos to its assistance. With fewer mouths
to feed, Pearson may succeed in holding out until
reinforcements arrive, and the offensive can be
resumed all along the line . . As regards the
various fortified posts from Maritzburg to Rorke's
Drift, the border patrols, consisting of police,
volunteers, and natives, report the Zulus in force
near the river every other day, but no attempt at
passage has been made by any large bodies of the
enemy. Small marauding detachments of twenty
or thirty men frequently make their way across, and
it is believed that the Zulus living near the river
continue to fraternise with the natives upon this
side, to whom the Government, apparently, dares
give no order to retire to some assigned distance
inland."
Colonel Pearson, anticipating now the termina-
tion of the blockade, made preparations for the
removal of the waggons which had been used as
traverses within the fort, and under which his
officers and men had slept in their great-coats and
blankets.
Lord Chelmsford signalled on the 29th that a
force 500 strong was to make a sally from Etschowe,
and act in concert with the relieving column, in
case the latter should be involved in a conflict On
the last day of March and the first of April the
mounted men of the column were discerned by the
field-glass at a great distance, and afterwards the
laager formed by the main body in the valley of
the Inyezane
A force was detailed to sally out, as ordered, and
the night of anxiety wore on ; the moon disappeared,
and dawn broke in the east over the hill-tops, but
before the detachment could sally out on the
morning of the 2nd, the relieving column was seen
to be hotly engaged.
Ghingilovo, the scene of this encounter, was in
a direct line, and only a few miles distant from
the fort, but the nature of the country between
the battle-field and Etschowe was so rough and
impracticable that it could only be reached by
a great detour, to accomplish which four hoiu^
would have been requisite, and as useful co-opera-
tion was impossible, no sally was made from the
anxious little garrison in Etschowe, whose situation
would soon become perilous indeed if Lord
Chelmsford was defeated
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
CGhiogBova
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE ZULU WAR {continued): — the relieving column — the laager at GHlNGILOVa
Fort Tenedos, the base from which Lord ! W. L. Pemberton, 6oth Rifles, was composed of a
Chelmsford proposed moving to succour isolated Naval Brigade from the Boadiceay of sixteen guns,
Etschowe, was distant thirty miles from the latter, j 200 strong, with one Gatling, the 37th Hampshire
PLAN OF THE MARCHES OF PEARSON (JAN., 1879) AND OF CHELMSFORD (APRIL, 1879) TO ETSCnOWE.
even by the road which had been discovered, and
almost made by the garrison of that place, and in
wet, stormy weather the encumbrances of transport
made the march no easy matter.
The vanguard of the leading division, under
Colonel Low, R.A., was composed of blue-jackets
and Marines, drawn from H.M.'s ships Shah and
TenedoSy of twenty-six and twelve guns respectively
— 640 altogether, with two Catlings, the Argyle-
shire Highlanders, 900 strong, the Lanarkshire
Regiment, 400 strong, 180 Kentish Buffs, 350
mounted men, white and native, and a local con-
tingent : in all, 350 horse and 3,720 infantry.
The second division, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Regiment, a battalion of the 60th Rifles, making
together 1,800 bayonets, with some 9-pounders and
rocket-tubes. The commander of this division
served throughout the Indian Mutiny, and had his
left hand shattered by a bullet at Cawnpore.
The convoy numbered 113 waggons, 50 light
and strong two-wheeled Scotch carts, and 56 pack
mules. Each waggon had a team of 20 oxen.
Every man carried in his spare and expansion
pouches 200 rounds of ball ammunition. The
convoy marched in the most compact order,
flanked and escorted by Commandant Nettleton's
Native Contingent, 887 strong, on the right, and
Captain Barton's on the left.
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ON THE EVE OF BATTLK
235
The disastrous affair of Isandhlwana had greatly
shaken the confidence of the native levies, and
it was only after very considerable trouble, and by
making it clearly understood that all deserters
would be shot, that their obedience was secured
distance to be traversed before any real difficulties
began.
On its reaching the Amatikulu and Inyoni
Rivers, an entrenched camp was formed, the
waggons being drawn up in a square, with a shelter
FORT PEARSON, ON THE LOWER TUC.ELA RIVER.
The rain had fallen heavily, and the Tugcla, at
the point where the column crossed it, was 600
yards broad The route adopted was different
from that by which Colonel Pearson had marched
in January : it passed through a more open country,
was nearer the sea-coast, and, for the passage of
horse, foot, and convoy, was safer, as it gave the
Zulus few opportunities for ambush or surprise,
and thus the column had achieved nearly half the
trencli twenty yards distant outside. Between this
and the waggons and Scotch carts the troops
bivouacked, as all tents had been left behind The
oxen were sent out and fed the moment the bugles
sounded a " halt," and were thereafter taken within
the enclosure for the night Strict silence was
enjoined
The Amatikulu River was crossed on the 31st
of March, and at noon on the following day the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
(Gliaigilova
column occupied an eminence a mile distant from
the Inyezane River, where another waggon laager,
of 130 yards each face, was formed Close by
it flowed the Ghingilovo stream, through long,
feathery, and waving grass ; but as the district was
free from bush, it could afford no shelter to the
enemy.
We have referred to the system of signalling
that was adopted by this column and those on the
church tower at Etschowe ; and, indifferent though
it was. Colonel Pearson contrived to let Lord
Chelmsford know that his last raid had been a suc-
cessful one, that some cattle had been captured,
and that the road he had cut through the bush
southwards would shorten the advance by five
miles ; also, that he was under no apprehension of
starvation or assault for a few days yet ; but should
the column be delayed, he resolved to make a reso-
* lute sortie for life and liberty.
This message was written out, and read to the
troops, who received it with three hearty cheers.
The 57th Regiment, the "Old Die-Hards" of
Peninsular fame, which bad recently arrived from
Ceylon, suffered in a greater degree from wet and
cold than the troops that had come from home.
On the I St of April large bodies of Zulus were
visible in the distance, and during the following
night many signal-fires were seen blazing redly on
the northern hills, plainly indicating that a great
force was mustering in the vicinity, but the night
passed without alerte or alarm. The rain fell heavily,
wetting all to the skin ; the weird moon shone in
fitful gleams between black and flying clouds, and
no sound was heard near the camp but the howl of
the jackal and the scream of the expectant wild
bird
On the 2nd, at dawn, the mounted men cantered
out to reconnoitre, while the infantry unpiled and
stood to arms within the trenches.
No one knew precisely where the Zulus were, as
Captain H. S. Barrow, of the 19th Hussars, had
reconnoitred on the ist for eight miles to die north-
east without seeing any trace of them; yet an
^ attack might take place at any moment, and Lord
Chelmsford pointed out to the various officers the
important points of danger and defence in his
laager, which overlooked the remains of the old
kraal of Ghingilovo.
In front of the laager, behind a trench and an
abattis, were posted the 6oth Rifles, in theur dark-
green tunics; the blue-jackets of the Shah^ with
their " buU-dogs," as they playfully termed their
destructive Catling guns, held the right angle of
the entrenchment
Next them was a detachment of the 57 th, and
at the second comer were placed two Royal Artil-
lery 7-pounders; the rear fisice was held by the
Argyleshire Highlanders; at the next angle were
two more Catlings, under Lieutenant Cane, of the
Shahy with that ship's rocket battery; and, prolonging
the defences, were posted two more companies of
Highlanders, three of the 3rd Bufis, and then the
Lanarkshire Regiment About six in the evening
a general hum of intense satisfaction rose from
the laager, when Zulus were seen advancing in
skirmishing order, with dense masses in support,
some miles distant from the right front
On the opposite bank of the Inyezane two
columns appeared, and these, after passing the
stream at different points, rapidly deployed out-
wards, assuming a loose formation that en2d)led
them to take advantage of any cover afforded by
the ground, which in some places was studded
with patches of bush, and in others was open but
swampy.
Advancing from near a ruined mission station,
the right of these^ two columns attacked the front
or north face, held by the Highlanders. Through
long grass, the skirmishers of the Unembomanabo
and Unemsilya regiments came on, in somewhat
dose, rather than fully extended, order, flanked, as
usual, by- encircling horns, composed of die
Nodwengo and Nonkenke regiments, yelling, and
brandishing their shields and weapons.
Somapo commanded the whole, with Dabula-
manzi as his second
The men of the 60th, in their dark-green uni-
forms, as they lay flat behind a shallow breastwork,
were scarcely seen by the advancing enemy, at
whom they could take deadly aim with rifles rested
firmly on the bank of earth.
In savage pride the Zulus came on, 10,000
strong. "Their white and coloured shields, the
crests of leopard and feathers, and the wild ox-tails
dangling from their necks, gave them a terribly un-
earthly appearance. Every ten or fifteen yards
their first line would halt, and shot would be fired,
and then, with a hideous yell, they would again
rush on with a sort of measured dance, while a
humming and buzzing sound in time to their move-
ment was kept up."
When they were within 300 yards of the laager
a sheet of flame seemed to garland it It became,
as it were, zoned with fire, as the breechloaders
and deadly Catling guns opened at once together,
and in heaps the Zulus of the first line fell dead or
howling and writhing on the earth, while the rest
reeled and wavered, as they seemed to realise that
this conflict was one in which their favourite
weapon, the assegai, would prove useless, yet they
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SPLENDID VALOUR OF THE ZULUS.
237
struggled to within twenty yards of the shelter-
trenches.
Fearless and desperate in the fierce longing to
deal death among their enemies, the sight of the
fisilling only seemed to inspire the main body to
firesh exertioa They dashed through their line of
wavering skirmishers, thrusting some aside and
hurling others to the ground in their fury to close
in and grapple with the defenders of the laager.
confusion or hesitation, was made by the Zulus,
whose masses now hurled their strength on
the face of the laager held by the 57th and
Argyleshire Highlanders. If their courage seemed
greater here their welcome was quite as hot
"The 91st," says Major Ashe, "had not so many
good marksmen in their regiment as the colonel
could have wished, as many of his best shots were
taken to supply Indian reliefs, but even the
REFERENCE
^m/iw ..M..... ....ate
Lmagtr /..... 6otk.;R.N.; Gatiinr.
» .. 99^*.; 3rd,; gist,
M J.^.. Gatlinei otst.i o Ponndert.
H 4 Slth, * "^ ^
B
0.
0.
I — .
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF GHINGILOVO (APRIL 2, 1879).
yf^.KUhing L».tc
For twenty minutes a shower of lead and iron was
poured upon these naked masses, the places of the
fallen being taken by others coming on, as columns
in succession deployed in excellent order from the
rear, reinforcing and feeding the first line, halting
to fire, advancing, and re-loading. Beaten back
twenty times, these brave fellows rushed forward
twenty times with greater fury than ever.
Their attack on the face held by the 6oth was
completely and signally repulsed, and Lord Chelms-
ford rode along the line complimenting the Rifles
on their behaviour.
About half-past six o'clock a sudden and well-
executed change of front to the right without
youngest soldiers seemed to gain skill and in-
spiration from what they had seen performed by
the 60th."
Close and deadly was the fire poured in by the
Highlanders and their comrades of the West
Middlesex ; but the fierce yells of the Zulus had
ceased now, and their masses struggled onward in
" the mute valour of despair," and sure and terrible
would the work of extermination have been had
they once succeeded in breaking into the laager.
Four times they flung themselves against it,
but were hurled back by the dreadful fire that
smote them, and at one time — ^about seven o'clock
— it seemed as if they were upon the verge of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(GhiogUoinx
achieving an entrance, for, to make sure of their
work, many of them were seen kneeling in the
open and firing from behind bleeding piles of their
own dead to pick off the defenders of the breast-
works.
But now, over the heads of the latter, a new line
of fire was opened by the Native Contingent, who
had climbed into the empty waggons, and reinforced
the defence where it was needed most Upon the
left face of the laager the Zulus now made their
last, their despairing and supreme effort, led by
Dabulamanzi in person. They rushed to within
twelve feet of the men's rifles, and several chiefs
seized the heated barrels with the left hand, and
with the right stabbed wildly with the assegai
broken or shortened for attack at close quarters ;
yet, despite all their furious efforts and fearless
courage, they never succeeded in achieving a hand-
to-hand conflict, in which their numbers must
eventually have borne our people dowa
It is recorded that the various ranges of our
rifles were distinctly traceable, by the lines or
swathes of dead black bodies, with white shields,
that lay at 100, 200, and 300 yards, in rear of each
other.
At last they gave way, and began to retire in
confusion. On the first signs of wavering in their
ranks Captain Barrow's mounted men filed out of
the laager, formed squadron, and fell furiously
sword in hand upon their right flank. A few shots
were fired as Barrow's men advanced, and then the
Zulus fled with the speed of horses, with Barrow
and his troopers in close pursuit The sword-
blades of the latter were seen flashing and whirling
in the morning sun, as cuts were given to the right
or left, and point to the front, till the weapons
were literally dripping to the hilt in the red work
of slaughter.
The loss of the Zulus was 1,200 men ; of the
British, only 9 killed and 52 wounded. Among the
latter young Lieutenant Johnson of the Lanark-
shire, was hit early in the conflict Colonel H. H.
Crealock, CB., the Military Secretary, and Captain
W. C. F. Molyneux of the 22 nd Foot, Lord
Chelmsford's aide-de-camp, had their horses shot
under them; and Colonel F. Vernon Northey of
the 60th, was badly wounded, but never left his
men till he fainted from loss of blood, " At the
close of the action, however, and when he was
roused from his state of insensibility by the ringing
cheers of the British, which proclaimed the flight
of the enemy, he suddenly raised himself on one
hand from under the waggon where he was lying,
and joined in the shouts of the men, thus bursting
the bandaged wound and causing violent haemor-
rhage to recommence. This gallant and valued
officer subsequently died, on the afternoon of the
6th, having lingered in considerable pain for four
days." He had served in the Oude campaign with
the 60th Rifles, including the capture of Fort
Mittowlie, and the action of Biswah.
Such was the result of the attack on Ghingilovo
Laager, which lasted about an hour and a half.
About 800 Zulus were buried on the field, and
300 rifles, discarded in their flight, were sub-
sequently gleaned. It was soon discovered that
another great column of some 10,000 men had
been despatched against us, on the day after
Somapo had marched from the royal kraal at
Ulundi, but, fortunately, it failed to effect a junction
with his force.
Congratulations from Etschowe having been
received and acknowledged by signal, the victorious
troops passed the remainder of the day at
Ghingilovo, when Lord Chelmsford had the laager
reduced in size, but made stronger, as he had
resolved to leave a part of his force there, while he
pushed on to Etschowe, fifteen miles dbtant, with a
flying column.
Leaving portions of the Buffs and 99th, with a
party of the Shah's men to garrison Ghingilovo,
under the command of Brevet Major Walker of the
99th, he marched for Etschowe with the 5 7th, 6oth
Rifles, and Argyleshire Highlanders, escorting 58
Scotch carts laden with stores, and preceded by
mounted infantry under Captain Barrow, and some
volunteers and scouts under John Dunn, who had
t)een a resident in Zululand for many years before
the war broke out His great knowledge of the
country proved invaluable during the campaign,
and at its close he was appointed chief of one of
the districts into which Zululand was partitioned.
The route chosen led up the right bank of the
Inyezane, as far as the fort near which Pearson had
fought on the 22 nd of the preceding month. From
thence to the ranges near Majia Hill a track
was followed, and on all sides were seen skins,
furs, feathers, shields, assegais, and rifles, cast
away by the fugitives from Ghingilovo, but no
dead bodies. Several small streams were forded,
and extra grog was served out on these occasions,
but as no vestige of the Zulu army could be seen,
the bugles sounded "halt" for breakfast, and the
"prepare to dismount," and "off saddle" for Barrow's
men, and fires were lit to cook the coffee.
The future progress of the column was much
delayed by the natural difficulties of the road, after
recent rains.
As Etschowe was reached, so says a correspondent,
the order of march up the ridge became straggling,
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BURNING OF DABULAMANZl'S KRAAL.
239
and as the sun was setting the fort was neared It
was a time of intense interest to all, when the camp
which had been so long; isolated was approached ;
and with what emotions of joy must the holders of
it have beheld the convoy coming ! During thek
many weeks of imprisonment they had oflen
cheered themselves by singing in hearty chorus
" Hold the fort ! a convoy 's coining,
WoriclacKwithawiU!
Flash the signal back to Hopton,
Weare jolly stilL"
The 6oth, under Pemberton, pushed on in
advance with the general, who all at once shouted,
" Here 's Pearson ! " as that gallant fellow, on a
grey charger, dashed round a hill, with his staff,
and at the head of 500 men. "How are you?"
asked Chelmsford, as they cordially grasped each
other's hand, and rode on towards the fort The
cords of discipline were relaxed, and the soldiers
raised three of those ringing cheers that come from
British throats alone, and the enthusiasm increased
when the 91st marched in with all thehr pipes
playing.
By six p.m. Barrow's men were at the fort, where
the column arrived about midnight ; and thus the
relief of Etschowe was fully effected. During the
ten weeks* blockade, four officers and twenty-seven
soldiers had died, and at this date the number of
sick amounted to about 1 20.
As the attack we recorded as having been made
upon Dabulamanzi's kraal, did not include the
private residence of that formidable personage,
Lord Chelmsford had barely arrived at Etschowe
than he resolved to have another raid in that
quarter, and with Barrow's Mounted Infantry,
to attack the chief kraal, which stood near the
Entumeni HiU, some eight miles distant
Accordingly, on the 4th April, at eight in the
morning, Barrow's men got under arms ; their cos-
tume was a Norfolk jacket, now pretty well stained
and patched, and high untanned boots. Accom-
panied by the general, Colonel Crealock, with
his wound still open, Dunn, and some officers, as
spectators, the indefatigable captain set out, his
whole force, in saddle and on foot, amounting to
only 225 men, who moved from the fort in sections
of fours.
A four-mile progress over fragrant and elastic
turf brought them in sight of the kraal, though little
of it could be seen, since, instead of being built, as
such places usually are, on some precipitous rock, ^
it stood amid cosy, gentle, and grassy undulations,
and its precise locality was at first known when
some Zulus were seen running, as only these people
can run, and driving cattle before them.
Detaching portions of his men right and left,
as scouting flankers. Captain Barrow, of the 19th
Hussars, who, as one of those officers ''specially
employed," held the local rank of major, led the
direct way to the kraal at a canter ; and the place
was surrounded without a shot being fired as yet
Lieutenant Rawlins and a few men were now
ordered to search, and set it on fire at once, pro-
vided there were no women or children in it, and
as none were there, it was set in flames at several
points.
While this was in progress, a musket-shot came
from a spot near it, and a small group of Zulus, led
by Dabulamanzi in person (as John Dunn, who knew
him, affirmed after Rooking through his field-glass),
were seen aiming with deliberation about 1,200
yards of£ A few shots were exchanged, and the
kraal was left sheeted in flames, and hidden among
volumes of dense white smoke.
On the 5th April, having destroyed as much of
the laboriously-constructed works at Etschowe as
time would permit, the column, with that of
Pearson, began the return march to Ghingilovo, five
miles distant from which Lord Chelmsford halted
and encamped, but not without a small disaster
occurring. A young sentry of the Argyleshire
Regiment, imagining that he saw Zulus in the
darkness, fired without challenging, as he ought
first to have done.
The picket to which he belonged fell back ; John
Dunn's men, who were out scouting, now also fell
back, and, in doing so, stumbled against a picket of
the 60th, composed of young men, who recklessly
opened fire at once, in defiance of all their officer
could do to prevent them ; and thus one of their
own number was killed and four wounded, with
nine of the luckless scouts.
After reaching Ghingilovo Lord Chelmsford
issued orders with reference to guarding and
strengthening the camp there, and departed on
the following day, en route for Durban, to
organise new plans for an immediate advance,
prior to detailing which we must refer to some of
the important operations of the left column again
after the 24th of January, and during the spring
months of die year.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Ghingilova.
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KambuU.1
BULLER'S NIGHT MARCH.
241
CHAPTER XXXIIL
THB ZULU WAR {continued) :— with the left column— the fight at intombe— storming the
INHLOBANE mountain — THE SUBSEQUENT DISASTER.
When tidings of the disaster at Isandhlwana reached
Brigadier Wood, then with the left column at the
Zungi Mountain, he fell back on Fort Tinta, where
he halted on the 25th January, and by the 31st
resolved to secure the same result by means of a
raid of cavalry, composed of the dashing •Frontier
Horse, under Colonel Redvers Buller, and the
Dutch burgher force, or troop of Piet Uys, 140 strong.
COLONEL REDVERS UUI I.ER.
had reached the banks of the White Umvolosi. On
the same day he marched to Kambula Hill, where
water was plentiful, wood easily obtainable, and
where, accordingly, he formed an entrenched camp.
En route he had obtained full particulars con-
cerning the Maglusini or Baglusini kraal, which
he knew to be a muster place, and where were
large quantities of Indian com and other stores for
the use of the Zulu armies, and towards which great
droves of cattle had been seen driven.
Unless he proceeded with caution, and without
ostentation, it appeared obvious to Colonel Wood,
that the destruction of these magazines could be
achieved only with a severe loss of men. He thus
V
At four in the morning of the ist February these
troops left Kambula, and marched on the Maglusini
kraal. This great centre of resistance lay thirty
miles eastward of the camp, in the middle of a
natural basin surrounded by precipitous hills.
Through these hills lay a pass, to hold which,
and secure a retreat, Buller left thirty troopers,
while, about half-past twelve p.m. he descended
towards the kraaL As t\so other kraals, those of
Umbelini and Ingatini, were in the vicinity, the
greatest caution and secrecy in movement were
necessary.
When the kraal came in sight, great herds of fine
cattle were seen quietly grazing on the green hill-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Kambnla.
sides. The kraal was very well built, and whether it
held a strong force or not was quite unknown to
BuUer's men, and this doubt added largely to the
excitement of the raid. No alarm or suspicion had
been roused as yet, and the double fact of the
smallness of the force, and of its being composed
entirely of mounted men, contributed to the success
of the attack.
Throwing out a few vedettes, BuUer felt his way
carefully forward, and was ere long observed by
some Zulus who were idling about, but who, on
seeing his marksmen, fled to the hills, where they
were speedily joined by others in some force. After
exchanging a few shots, the troopers made a headlong
dash at the kraal, which was captured almost with-
out resistance, six men only being slain, and its
huts, two hundred and fifty in number, with im-
mense stores of grain, were instantly given to the
flames. Then the troopers at a gallop, often using
their swords as goads, gathered the cattle, to the
number of 400, in one great herd, and drove them
ofi'in triumph, in the face of 300 men, who offered
no opposition, either to the flankers or rear-
guard.
Fort Kambula was finished on the 2nd of
February, and armed with two guns, and before the
loth two more successful raids were achieved,
under BuUer, one into the Eloya Mountains, and
another towards the Inhlobane Mountain, which
resulted in the capture of 500 head of cattle, without
any serious resistance.
While a new and stronger fort was being con-
structed, and occupied at Kambula, on the 15 th
Brigadier Wood made an attack on the great
military kraal of a warlike chief named Manyanyoba,
who had been killing and plundering in all
directions in the valley traversed by the Intombe
River. Prior to moving against this chief, who had
been joined by Umbelini, known as the Swazi
pretender, another turbulent warrior, who, in 1878,
had expelled the German military colonists from
their farms near Luneberg, several careful recon-
naissances had been made, and from the local
knowledge of a Dutch trooper of Piet Uys\ Colonel
BuUer was enabled to carry out the instructions of
Colonel Wood with success.
On the night of the 14th, at ten p.m., the force
detailed for this service got under arms ; they were
composed of thirteen sabres of Buller's Horse, and
fifty burghers under Piet Uys, 417 of Wood's Irre-
gulars, eight Kaffrarian Rifles, and 100 Luneberg
Natives. In profound silence, without lights, bugles,
or other accessories, they moved off" to the bush, not
even a scabbard being permitted to clink ; and the
single gun which accompanied them had its wheels
bandaged with strips of raw hide, for the double
purpose of muffling their sound, and protecting
them from the sharp rocks and boulders amid
which lay a portion of the route.
The bright moon rose, and by its silent light they
crossed the river at a ford, and got quickly into the
bush, without being heard or seen by the occupants
of some adjacent villages. A two hours* brisk
march brought them to an open plain, traversed by
a watercourse, through which they rode, and just
as the grey dawn stole quietly in, the gun was got
into position, and BuUer gave the troopers their
final instructions.
Before them rose a range of mountains that
averaged 1,000 feet in height "This range ran
along the valley leading to the smaller kraals in
the distance. Half the cavalry were now sent away
by Colonel BuUer to the left, with instructions to
gain the bush, and wait dismounted, imtil the
shells were heard. They were then to dash
forward at a swinging canter, and cut off" the cattle
seen to be feeding on the slopes, which manoeuvre,
if carried out, would drive them into the hands of
Piet Uys and his men posted on the right Just
as the sun began to appear above the horizon, the
gunners managed to hit off" the range to a nicety, and
the second sheU crushed and burst right into the
centre of the interior circle, where the cattle are
placed at night, and which is usually surrounded by
the beehive-shaped huts in which the Zulus live."
The sudden explosion of these dreaded and — to
them — inconceivable missUes caused the wildest
commotion instantly in the kraal; flames burst
forth, and mighty columns of white smoke began to
ascend from it ; amid these, dark figures were seen
rushing about, and yeUs of men mingled with the
bellowing of terrified oxen.
As BuUer's Horse dashed forward on the kraal,
the male occupants fired a ragged voUey, and fled
up the steep rocks, where no cavalry could fbUow
them, and fi^om whence they opened a file firing.
The fighting and coUection of cattle lasted about
half an hour ; of the Zulus, 34 were shot, and our
losses were two killed, three wounded, and one
missing; but 400 head of cattle and two large
flocks of sheep and goats, were brought off" by
Colonel BuUer, whose men got safely into camp at
Kambula, after having been in the saddle for about
nine hours.
On the same day a force under Colonel
Rowlands, CB., late of the 34th Foot, and one of
the nine officers "specially employed," was also
engaged. That officer had been ordered to join
Brigadier Wood, with a mixed force, composed of
103 Transvaal Rangers, 15 Boers, 240 of Fairlie's
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River.]
THE LAAGER BY THE RIVER.
243
Swazis, and 75 Vos' Natives. While marching on
the road from Luneberg to Derby, where a wing of
the 80th was entrenched with two guns, Rowlands
found the Talaka Mountain occupied by the
enemy, who manned the rocks and caverns on its
southern side. He attacked with only partial
success, killed seven Zulus, and captured 197 head
of cattle. After another affair on the 20th at the
Eloya Mountains, Colonel Rowlands and his men
Kaffrarian Rifles, a corps raised from the survivors
or descendants of the German Legion settled in
British Kaflfraria after the Crimean War, but they
had now gone to join Wood's column at Kambula.
Supplies for the garrison at Luneberg were being
forwarded from Derby, and as twenty waggons
laden with various stores were known to be on the
road on the 7th of March, a company of the 80th
under Captain David B. Moriarty, who had served
PLAN OF THE DISASTER ON THE INTOMBE RIVER (MARCH 12, 1879).
Started for Pretoria, as the attitude of the Boers in
. the Transvaal had become menacing, and then all
the troops in the Luneberg and Derby district were
placed under Brigadier Wood's command.
These and a few other petty movements, pre-
luded what was known as the disaster on the
Intombe River — an event somewhat similar to
the calamity at Isandhlwana, though, fortunately,
less in magnitude.
Luneberg was at this time occupied by five
slender companies of the Both (Staffordshire
Volunteers) under Major Charles Tucker, who
had served in the Bhotan Expedition in 1865.
He had also with him for a term Schembrucker's
with the 6th Foot in the Hazara campaign of
1868, was ordered to march from Luneberg, to
meet and escort the convoy, which had arrived at
the ford on the Intombe.
At first only a portion of the waggons of the con-
voy came, but with these the construction of a V-
shaped laager was begun, resting on the river's bank.
The situation was perilous, owing to the vicinity of
a kraal belonging to Umbelini, the notorious Swazi
freebooter, who had given much trouble of late.
The last of the convoy did not arrive till the
9th of March, when the waggon laager was com-
pleted, the flooded state of the Intombe rendering
its passage impracticable. More rain fell; the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Intombe River.
river remained swollen, and on the nth, when
Majbr Tucker, full of anxiety, visited Captain
Moriarty's company of seventy-one bayonets, he
found it encamped on the bank, waiting for the
water to subside.
" Major Tucker, on inspecting the arrangements
for defence, considered the waggons too far apart,
and objected to the space left between the last
waggon of the laager and the river bank, but did
not order any change to be made."*
On that day it was reported by the native
waggon drivers that Umbelini's people were gather-
ing in arms. The camp has been described as
being " pitched in a most dangerous position, with
it5 face towards some high ground, covered here
and there with dense bush, while its rear was rest-
ing upon the swollen river, across which Lieutenant
Harward and thirty-four men were posted. No
particular precautions appear to have been taken,
excepting that a sentry was posted about fifteen
paces from the front of the camp, on the Derby
side," according to one account ; or, according to
another, with the exception of a guard stationed
on each bank, each furnishing two sentries, but
no pickets, the force being probably too slender to
provide them. •
On the morning of the 1 2th, at half-past four, while
a thick haze rested on the swollen river, a shot was
heard from the unfortunate sentry, while he shouted,
mechanically, " Guard, turn out ! " at a time when
the officers and men on both sides of the river
" were lying asleep and undressed." The shot and
call made all stand to arms, for which there was
barely time, as a force of 4,000 Zulus led, it is said,
by Umbelini, was upon them !
Lieutenant Harward placed his thirty-four men
under cover of a solitary waggon on his side, and
made what dispositions he could to fire on the
enemy's flank, while amid the dim light and gauzy
mist, the whole valley could be seen swarming with
dark-skinned savages, who at once surrounded the
waggons, and assegaied the soldiers, in some in-
stances ere they could leave their tents. The
butchery — for it was no fight — was soon over, since
all was confusion in a moment
Captain Moriarty was killed just as he left his
tent, sword in hand, and his detachment on the
left bank, being completely surprised, could offer
no resistance to an attack so sudden and over-
whelming.
The party on the other bank, taking advantage
of the cover afforded by the waggons and also by
some ant-hills, near the Intombe, opened a close
* Report, Inlelligeace Department.
fire on the Zulus, but failed to prevent 200 of them
from crossing.
Lieutenant Harward, who commanded the party
on the right bank, ordered his men to fall back on
a farmhouse in their rear, and mounting his horse,
galloped off to Luneberg for aid, leaving his hand-
ful of men to struggle as best they could without
an officer to lead them.
Meanwhile, Colour-Sergeant Anthony Booth, of
the 80th, did what Harward should have done.
He rallied the few men who survived on the south
bank of the river, and covered the retreat of fifty
soldiers and others. The commanding officer of
the 8oth reported that, but for the coolness and
bravery of this non-commissioned officer, not a
man would have escaped with life; and so
Sergeant Booth was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The Zulus followed his party, consisting of only
ten men, for three miles, but so bold was the front
he showed, that he held them in check and retired
without further loss. His resolute valour secured
the escape of several fugitives from the left bank,
who were without arms and some without clothes,
and who were now in headlong flight for Luneberg.
Major Tucker, on receiving the report of Lieu-
tenant Harward, started at once with a small
mounted party for the Intombe, followed by 150
bayonets of the Both, and on his arrival found that
the Zulus had retired, carrying off with them the
whole of the oxen, small-arm ammunition, rifles,
blankets, and every scattered object of value,
though, curiously enough, the waggons were only
half pillaged.
Of the twenty-one men of the 80th, posted on
the lefl bank of the Intombe, only twelve escaped,
and some of those on the right bank also fell ;
making the total casualties 62 out of 106. Dr.
Cobbin, two conductors, and fifteen drivers and
leaders belonging to the Transport Department,
also perished.
The dead were buried by Major Tucker, where
they lay. They had all been stripped by the
enemy.
Exaggerated details of this catastrophe renewed
the terror which had been excited during the
previous month in Natal, where a local print had
the following passage: — "There are only 10,000
whites — men, women, and children — in Natal, and if
30,000 savages, skilled in military movements, and
now effectively armed with the best that a British
generaPs captured camp could yield, had come
down flushed with victory, they could have devas-
tated the land most thoroughly . . . Her Majest/s
forces are now, so to speak, sucked out of every
garrison in South Africa, and drawn towards the
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Inhlobanc]
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK.
245
scene of immediate danger. The gaps they leave
have to be filled by the volunteer forces, and in
many instances the individuals of the latter have
forsaken business, family, and home, to do garrison
duty for several montiis, wherever it may be
required More than that, every male civilian
between the ages of eighteen and fifty, is now
enrolled as a member of a burgher force to de-
fend, if need be, the towns and villages which
may be denuded of volunteers by the latter being
sent to the front."
There were called into existence during the
Zulu War, no less than thirty-six different corps of
volunteers, horse and foot, making an average force
of 9,114 mea When the Natal Native Contingent
was first raised, ten per cent of the rank and file
were supplied with fire-arms. Afterwards they were
armed entirely with fire-arms, Martini-Henrys,
Sniders, and muzzle-loaders.
■ On the 20th February in the following year.
Lieutenant Henry Harward, of the 80th Foot, was
tried by a general court-martial, at Fort Napier,
Pietermaritzburg, by order of the Commander-in-
chief, for abandoning his post at the Intombe in
the face of the enemy ; but the court recorded a
verdict of "not guilty." The proceedings of the
court were submitted to the Commander-in-chief,
who recorded the following minute : — " Disapproved
and not confirmed — Lieutenant Harward to be
released and to return to his duty," and the
animadversions that followed were ordered to be
read at the head of every regiment in Her Majesty's
service.
It was about the time of this catastrophe that
Uhamu, a half-brother of Cetewayo, whom the
latter kept prisoner in one of his kraals, escaped,
and was brought by Captain Norman Macleod to
Derby, accompanied by 700 followers. He urged
that the Zulu army was demoralised, that Cetewayo
was unable to collect a strong fighting force, and he
seemed to cherish the idea that his own submission
might change the situation, and that he would be
made king in place of Cetewayo, just as Panda
was installed in place of Dingaan. For the time, he
was sent to Utrecht
About the latter end of March, Colonel Wood
received a letter from Lord Chelmsford, acquainting
him with the steps he was about to take for the
relief of Pearson's column at Etschowe, and giving
instructions for a diversion that must be made on
the 28th of the month.
Wood's force had been strengthened by Schem-
brucker's corps, 106 strong; Raafs Transvaal
Rangers, 100 men ; and Weatherley's Border
Horse, 61 troopers, with a squadron of 100 mounted
infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel J. Cecil Russell,
of the 1 2 th Lancers.
On the 26th of March he summoned to his tent
Colonel Buller and Piet Uys, and told them that
he had received information, that a great herd of
cattle — the chief wealth of the Zulus — had been
seen on the Inhlobane Mountain, about twelve miles
distant from the camp at Kambula, from which it
was quite visible. The hill was well wooded, full of
caves, and was in fact a natural fastness ; and as
several reconnaissances had been made of it, the
brigadier and Buller were familiar with its fea-
tuies. "This mountain was deemed impregnable
by the Zulus," says Captain Tomasson ; " it was a
huge square mass with precipitous sides, a flat top,
some four or five miles long, and of a good breadth.
There was only one way up, which was hard and
difficult, and at the other end there was a way
down, but it was well-nigh impracticable. Possibly
there may have been unknown cattle-paths down its
sides."
Colonel Wood was aware that bands of Zulus
guarding herds of cattle had been for some time
lurking amid its rocky recesses, and that in com-
pliance with orders from Cetewayo, these bands
had been reinforced by regiments sent from
Ulundi, for the purpose of delivering an assault upon
the camp at Kambula. Thus, to take the initiative
and strike a decisive blow before more forces were
concentrated, was now necessary, and would effect
the diversion desired by Lord Chelmsford.
On the southern side of the Inhlobane Mountain
there is an almost inaccessible ledge or terrace, on
which the dome-roofed kraals of the natives were
built, but the summit, which could only be reached
with the greatest difficulty, was uninhabited, and
used as a place of safety for the cattle of the people
who dwelt below.
The attacking force was to be furnished by the
Mounted Infantry and native levies, operating
against the mountain simultaneously at both ends
of it That sent against the eastern flank was to
be the chief attack, while the other was to create a
diversion and act as a support, but was not to assauU
if a desperate resistance was encountered.
The total of the mounted force was 495 men,
according to Major Ashe (but the details of it
differ), each furnished with three days' rations and
100 rounds of ball cartridge. All were picked
swordsmen and marksmen. The horses were
carefully inspected, and any that seemed faulty,
were retained and others substituted for them, and all
these animals were so well trained and docile, that
many would come from grass when summoned by
their masters' whistle.
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246 BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA. rinhiobiu>6.
ATTACK OF THE ZULUS ON THE ESCORT OF THE EIQHTIETH REGIMENT AT THE INTOMBE RIVER.
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Inhbbane.]
CLIMBING THE HILL.
247
The eastern reconnaissance was to bd under
Lieutenant-Colonel BuUer, and the western under
Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, both of whom were to
send out scouts to watch for a Zulu army, said to
be advancing on Kambula. On the 27th^ Buller
marched from camp with 400 horse and some
natives, 675 in all, and after a thirty miles'
circuitous route, bivouacked five miles south-east
of the mountain ; and about noon the same day,
Russell, with 250 horse, a rocket battery, a
Under cover of the morning mist he reached
the mountain, and ultimately, under the same
friendly cover, the summit Prior to this, the
brigadier having been distinctly informed by
Umtongo, the youngest of Cetewayo's innumerable
brothers, that a Zulu army was on the way from
Ulundi, pushed on to make a junction with Colonel
Buller and Weatherley and Piet Uys, lest they
should be cut off.
The steep path by which Buller led his column
COLONEL WEATHERLEY.
battalion of Wood's Irregulars, and 1 50 of Uhamu's
warriors, in all 640, after a fifteen miles' march,
bivouacked four miles from the western flank of the
mountain. In the evening the brigadier followed
with his staff, including Captain the Hon. Ronald
Campbell
The night was damp and gloomy. The steep
and precipitous Inhlobane could be seen in the
gleams of the fitful moonshine, now in light, and
anon in shadow, while the passing clouds seemed to
foretell a day of storm.
Buller was for no more delay, and at half past
three a.m., the word was passed quietly and quickly
round for the men to stand to their horses, mount
and march.
was scarcely passable for mounted men, yet Captain
Tomasson states that the Irregulars led up their
horses by the bridle, and on arriving at the top,
"the men scattered and fired at their foes below
them on the rocks. Captain the Baron von
Sleitenkvon was here shot, as he was leaning over
the edge of the hilL" He was a lieutenant of the
Frontier Horse.
The firing on the summit of the hill could now
be heard by the other column, which the brigadier
ordered to push on, and as the ruddy sun was now
up, a broken or bloody assegai, a battered shield,
a dead troop-horse, and some Zulu corpses, could
be seen here and there, indicating the line by
which Buller had fought his way upward.
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^4^
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
{lohlobane.
Most of the party with the brigadier had now
dismounted, and, quitting their horses below a
ledge of rock, ascended on foot. Wood himself
leading his horse, with his staff and a small escort,
was a little in front of Weatherle/s men, when, at a
short distance from the summit, a heavy and well-
directed fire was poured upon them, flashing out
from some dark crevices in the rocks above.
Here Mr. Lloyd, Political Agent, fell mortally
wounded while riding at a savage to cut him
down, and the brigadier's horse was killed — dis-
embowelled by a dreadful assegai wound
The shot which killed Lloyd tore one of Colonel
Wood's sleeves to pieces.
As these and other casualties seemed to proceed
from one cavern in particular, the brigadier or-
dered Colonel Weatherley to send a few bayonets
to clear the place, at a time when he and his son,
a gallant and chivalrous boy, aged only fifteen,
were cheering on their men. As there was some
delay in having this order obeyed, Captain the
Hon. Ronald Campbell, of the Coldstream Guards,
Chief Officer of the Staff, dashed forward, sword
in hand, followed by Lieutenant Henry Lysons,
Corporal Fowler, and three others of the Perth-
shire (now Cameronian) Regiment; but just as
they reached the dark entrance, Campbell was shot
through the head, after which every Zulu in the
place was slain. He was the second son of John
Campbell, Earl of Cawdor.
Colonel Weatherley and his men now moved on
briskly to join Buller's force on the summit, while
the brigadier and his escort descended to a ledge
of rock where Mr. Lloyd lay. He was now dead,
so his body and that of Captain Campbell were
buried together near the foot of the mountain.
Colonel BuUer, on gaining the high plateau —
and to reach it more than one man had to clamber
by clinging to vine creepers — saw how great was
the area of the flat mountain top, where some
2,000 cattle were now collected, and that the Zulus
who had been guarding them were dispersed.
Accompanied by Piet Uys the colonel examined
the plateau and the tracks by which a descent
from it might be made, and of these there
appeared to be three, viz., that at the north-eastern
end by which the ascent had been made, and two
at the western end, both more difficult to traverse
than the first, which, as it was secure from a
flanking fire, Buller resolved to use for the retreat
of at least a part of his force.
It was now the hour of nine a.m., and all
seemed quiet on the summit, the Zulus having
concealed themselves among the rocks and in
caverns and crevices. Buller returned to the east
end of the mountain, and sent Captain Barton, of
the Coldstream Guards, his second in command,
in search of Colonel Weatherley, with orders to
return with him to Kambula by the route south of
the mountain, which had been adopted on the
preceding day.
Barton had scarcely departed on this errand
when Buller saw a Zulu army, fully 30,000 strong,
approaching the mountain fi-om the south-east,
looking, from the colour of their shields and the
hue of their skins, like huge grey-speckled masses,
moving amid the morning haze.
This army, the approach of which was known
to Colonel Wood, who never could conceive it
capable of compassing the distance it had marched
in three days, was still about six miles distant ; and
it was calculated that the force on the mountain
might thus have an hour's start
The retreat of that portion of the force now
ordered back to the fortified camp at Kambula, was
then so seriously threatened that two troopers were
sent after Captain Barton with orders " to return by
the right of the mountain,** an expression by which
Buller intended to convey the idea that he was to
adopt the homeward route by the north, instead of
the south, as at first proposed.
By this time the captured cattle had been
collected by Raafs Transvaal Rangers and
Wood's Irregulars (two corps, about 138 and 460
strong, respectively), near the western extremity
of the tabular summit of Inhlobane, and towards
this point Buller and the men with him at once
proceeded, in hopes that they would gain the
support of Colonel Russell's force, which had been
directed to that end of the mountain.
But mistakes had already occurred, and these
led to another disaster. Had Wood's column, or
portion of the attack, together with that of
Weatherley, come on the scene of action in time to
support the brilliant advance *of Buller in the first
place, all would have gone well; "but a delay
caused by their missing the track, had enabled the
Inhlobane followers of Umbelini and Manyanyoba
to hold their own ground until the arrival of the
Ulundi army. Buller did all that a skilled general
could do to bring off his men with small loss ; but
from the nature of the ground it was, in this
instance, impossible for cavalry to work with any
degree of celerity."
Russell's force was now in position on a small
plateau, about 150 feet below that occupied by
Buller. Viewed from thence, the path upward
seemed totally impracticable for horsemen, con-
sequently Russell made no attempt to ascend As
it was impossible to see, fi-om the place where he
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Inhlobane.]
DANGERS OF THE DESCENT.
249
was posted, what was occurring above, Colonel
Russell — about seven in the morning — sent Cap-
tain Browne with twenty mounted infantry, to com-
municate with Buller's party on the upper plateau.
Without opposition he reached it, and after con-
ferring with Major Tremlett, R.A., and Major W.
Knox Leet of the 13th Regiment, a veteran of
the wars in India, he returned to report "that
all was quiet on the upper plateau, but that the
misconstrued, and the latter officer had taken
post at the eastern end of Zungi Mountain, six
miles from the spot towards which Russell had
hastened with his mounted men.
Meanwhile the Zulus were coming on, advancing,
in a line of five contiguous columns, with a cloud,
of skirmishers thrown out in front and both flanks,
forming as usual, two horns and a centre.
The approach of the army was now seen by
REFERENCE
A. RntseWi First Pttsition ; RouU _... ^
B. li^kert put Uys /eU ; Buller's Route 5^
C. Wcatkerhy &- Bartm kilUd ; Route >^
D. Where Capt. Campbell was killed ; Wood's Route >
E. Zulu Army seen thence by Wood.
ScaleofaMllQ. "^^^^'Z:.--'^:^-— ^.^^/^ \
1 0 I E"-^-^*--.2v< 1
PLAN OF THE FIGHT ON THE INHLOBANE MOUNTAIN (MARCH 28, X879).
path was almost impracticable even for men on
foot"
By nine a.m., Colonel Russell saw the approaching
Zulus, and to all who noticed the rapidity with which
they advanced, it must have been apparent that
there was a decided prospect of all on the moun-
tain being cut off and pitilessly slaughtered. He
ordered his men to abandon some cattle they had
collected and to secure their own retreat to the
open country below. He sent the native troops
back towards Kambula, and drew up his mounted
men at the base of the mountain to cover the
retreat of Buller, instead of joining Colonel Wood,
for here some instructions would seem to have been
the Zulu inhabitants of the mountain, who came
out of their hiding-places in increasing numbers
and began to harass the movements of Buller
towards the western end of the plateau. The
difficulties of the descent became more evident
than ever; no support came from Russell's party,
and Buller had no alternative but to continue the
perilous line of retreat to which he had committed
himself. The mountain side " could be considered
passable by horses only, by reason of the fact that the
rocks of the encircling precipice here presented some
appearance of regularity, and formed a series of
ledges from eight to twelve feet wide, in which an
insecure foot-hold could be obtained, the drop
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
(Inhlobafla.
from one ledge to the next being about three or
four feet"
How horses were got either up or down such
ground, seems a riddle, yet such is the description
of it as given in the Report of the Intelligence
Department
The native portion of BuUer's force descended
first, their rear being covered by the Frontier Light
Horse, and now the dire havoc began. The Zulus
of the mountain promptly occupied the rocks close
to the line of the descent and poured a hot fire at
point blank range into those who were helplessly
endeavoiu-ing to get their struggling and scrambling
horses over the almost impassable obstacles that
barred their descent, and the casualties now
became serious indeed.
In many instances the poor horses had to jump
down three or four feet, then falling they broke
their legs or necks, while the riders after discharging
their carbines, became helpless, and were at the
mercy of assegais thrust or launched.
" Save for the heroic efforts of Colonel Buller,"
says Captain Tomasson, "it would have been
extermination. Six lives he is known to have
saved that day personally, and how many more
by his orders and example, it would be im-
possible to tell Major Knox Leet of the 13th
Light Infantry, serving with some native allies,
brought out Lieutenant Smith, of the Frontier Light
Horse, on a pack-horse — ^his own being shot — and
earned the V.C Some of the Light Horse kept,
in some measure, the advancing Zulus back and
enabled the rear-guard to extricate themselves."
An officer and sixteen men were lost, and here
fell the gallant old Dutch farmer, Piet Uys, the
leader of the Boer contingent — " splendid, manly,
honest, simple and taciturn Piet Uys, whose
father, uncles and cousins, fought and fell in the
old wars with Dingaan." He was last seen with
his back to a rock, standing across the dead body
of his favourite grey horse, with six Zulus lying
dead at his feet, his empty revolver in his left
hand, a bloody sabre in his right, and two assegais
quivering in his body.
At last the lower plateau was reached down that
rocky way, strewn with bodies and splashed with
blood. The force was now disorganised; many
were dismounted, their horses having escaped their
hands and fallen over the rocks, and if the fears
which all entertained, of an immediate attack of
the great army from Ulundi had been realised, no
man would have escaped to tell the tale No
attack was made as yet, and Buller, who had been
forty-eight hours in the saddle, and was severely
contused by a bullet, rallying his men drew them
towards the Zungen Mountain, unmolested save by
the fire firom the Inhlobane Zulus.
It would appear that Captam Barton, on joining
Colonel Weatherley, proceeded with him towards
Kambula, till they found themselves near the Zulu
army, which by this time had approached the fetal
Inhlobane so close as to leave no outlet between
its right fiank and the mountain. From this posi-
tion, a most perilous and critical one, they thought
to extricate themselves by wheeling about and
endeavouring to cross the Ityenka Nek, and
obtain a safe line of retreat on the north. The
passage to this was already barred on one hand by
Zulus who had come down from the mountain, and
on the other by a portion of the advancing army.
Desperate was the fighting now, as they attempted
to hew out a passage through the holders of the
Ityenka Nek, and to the valour and coolness, the
devotion and heroism of Buller, it was due that
any ever reached the camp at Kambula. With his
own hand he covered the rear of the retiring
column, charging again and again into the dense
masses of ferocious Zulus, who were all athirst for
blood and carnage ; and not until he saw the last
of his men out of that terrible gorge in the rocks
did he take time to draw breath or think of his
own safety.
All the Border Horse except eight troopers were
slain. Captain Barton and eighteen of the Frontier
Horse perished, with Colonel Weatherley and his
son, a boy in his fifteenth year, a sub-lieutenant
Great were the slaughter and confusion, so that in
some instances adjutants and sergeants had much
trouble in making out the lists.
" Nothing could be more sad than Weatherle/s
death," says Major Ashe. "At the fetal hour
when all save honour seemed lost, he placed his
beloved boy upon his best horse, and, kissing him
on the forehead, commended him to another
Father's care, and implored him to overtake
the nearest column of the British horse, which
seemed at that time to be cutting its way out The
boy clung to his father, and b^ged to be allowed
to stay by his side, and share his life or death.
The contrast was characteristic, — the man, a
bearded, bronzed, and hardy sabreur^ with a
father's tears upon his cheek, while the blue-eyed
and fair-haired lad, with much of the beauty of a
girl in his appearance, was calmly and with a smile
of delight loading his father's favourite carbine.
When the two noble hearts were last seen, the
father, wounded to 'death with cruel assegais, was
clasping his boy's hand with his left, while the
right cut down the brawny savages who came to
despoil him of his charge."
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Inhlobane.]
REWARDS FOR VALOUR.
251
Colonel Frederick Augustus Weatherley had
previously served Her Majesty as a lieutenant in
the 4th Light Dragoons (now Hussars), and as a
captain in the Inniskilling Dragoons, under date
28th January, 1862.
So steady was the advance of the Zulu army, and
so dense their formation, that a broad tract of
grass, over which they advanced, was completely
destroyed by their bare feet
Brigadier Wood, after ordering Lieutenant-
Colonel Russell to the Zungen Nek in the early
part of the day, went himself about noon to this
place — ^viz., the low ground at the eastern base of
the Zungi Mountain, and, finding that he was not
joined by that officer and his force, he sent a fresh
order, directing him " to move eastward from the
point to which he had gone, and cover the re-
treat of the natives belonging to Buller^s force, who
were suffering heavy loss at this time."
Before this order could be delivered, Russell,
in consequence of a mistake in the term " Zungen
Nek," had aheady taken up a position at the end
of the Zungi Mountain, and ere he could push on
to the assistance of the native troops they had
been cut off, almost to a man, and his force reached
Kambula about nine p.m., unmolested by the Zulu
army, which was worn out by its long and rapid
march. The Zulu loss was estimated at 3,000, and
Cetewayo was said to have been a spectator of the
conflict (Daily News,)
Heavy indeed were the casualties- of the day.
There were killed about fifteen officers and seventy-
nine non-commissioned officers and men; one officer
and seven men wounded. But the number killed
was uncertain, as several were reported missing,
among others Captain Robert Johnstone Barton, of
the Coldstream Guards, and formerly of the 9th
Lancers, whose remains were not found and identi-
fied till the 28th of May, 1880, by a small party
sent fi-om the Ityotyosi River by Brigadier — after-
wards Sir Evelyn — Wood, K.C.B., and then ac-
companying the Empress Eugenie.
It would appear that Captain Barton had de-
scended safely to the open country north of the
mountain, and was endeavouring to make his way
back to Kambula, but, having taken a dismounted
soldier up behind him, he was pursued, and thus
easily overtaken near the Monzana River by some
mounted Zulus, who were pursuing him and other
fugitives from the Ityenka Nek. Finding escape
together impossible, Captain Barton and his com-
rade separated, and the latter, being unarmed, was
slain at once ; and Barton, whose revolver was out
of order and thus thrice missed fire, was shot from
behind and assegaied by the same Zulu who, four-
teen months after, guided the party to where his
remains were found undistiu-bed amid the solitude
of the African veldt
Redvers Buller obtained the V.C. "for his
gallant conduct in the retreat at Inhlobane, in
having assisted, while hotly pursued by Zulus, in
rescuing Captain D'Arcy, of the Frontier Light
Horse, who was retiring on foot, and carrying
him on his horse, until he overtook the rear-
guard ; also, for having, on the same date and
under the same circumstances, conveyed Lieutenant
C. Everitt, of the Frontier Light Horse, whose
horse had been killed under him, to a place of
safety. Later on. Colonel Buller, in the same
manner, saved a trooper of the Frontier Light
Horse, whose horse was completely exhausted,
and who otherwise would have been killed by the
Zulus, who were within 80 yards of him."
The V.C. was also given by Her Majesty to
Lieutenant Henry Lysons, " 2nd battalion,
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and Private Fowler,
of the same corps (then 90th), for having, in a
most determined manner, advanced over a mass of
fallen boulders, and between walls, that led to a
cave in which the enemy were hidden. It being
impossible for two men to walk abreast, the as-
sailants were, consequently, obliged to keep in
single file, and, as Captain Campbell was leading
he arrived first at the mouth of the cave from
which the Zulus were firing, and there met his
death. Lieutenant Lysons and Private Fowler
immediately dashed into the cave, from which led
several subterranean passages, and firing into the
chasm below succeeded in forcing the occupants to
forsake their stronghold. Lieutenant Lysons re-
mained at the cave's mouth for some minutes during
the attack, during which Captain Campbell's body
was carried down the slopes."
Doubts have sometimes been expressed as to
whether the Zulus always mutilated the slain — at
least, beyond ripping them open. Of this they
make a particular point, according to a Natal cor-
respondent of the JDaify News^ in consequence of a
universally prevalent superstition, that if an enemy
is killed in battle, and his body afterwards swells
and bursts, so will that of his slayer burst open
alive. So intense is this belief of theirs, that at the
attack on Rorke's Drift, after the fate of the day
had been decided, several Zulus were seen to pause
under a heavy fire, and deliberately rip up the few
who were killed on our side, outside the entrench-
ment Cases have been known in which Zulus,
who have been unable to perform this ghastly
ceremony, have committed suicide, rather than
await what they conceived to be their inevitable fate.
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252
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Kjunbola.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE ZULU WAR {continued)', — BRIGADIER WOOD ATTACKED AT KAMBULA— ARRIVAL OF REINFORCE-
MENTS— RE-ORGANISATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FIELD FORCE.
Flushed with their next unexpected success in the
affair at Inhlobane, the Zulus resolved to attack
the British camp on Kambula Hill, but of this in-
tention the brigadier had fortunately timely notice.
in its ranks, who were ignorant that he had at*
tached himself to the British. From them he
learned that the Kambula camp was to be attacked
on the a9th, "about dinner time," and he was
CAPTAIN THE HON. RONALD CAMPBELU
On the morning of the 29th March, a party of
Raaf s Transvaal Rangers had left the camp to re-
connoitre at daybreak. Tempted by the splendour
of the African morning, when the parrots and
monkeys were screaming and chattering, and when
the vultures wheeling aloft in circles, indicated
where a carrion horse or a dead man lay,
they rode on for more than ten miles till they
reached the Umvolosi, where they met a fol-
lower of Uhamu, with whom they returned to
camp.
On the preceding day, it would appear that this
man had found himself close to the advancing
Zulu army, and to have joined some acquaintances
bringing this intelligence to Brigadier Wood, at the
time he fell in with Raaf s Rangers.
He added, that he believed a very bad feeling
existed in the ranks of the Zulu army, where num-
bers of men were serving quite against their incli-
nation, and were finding that instead of getting
booty in the form of cattie and sheep, arms and
plunder, their kraals were being burned by the
British, and their flocks and herds carried oflf.
This was not the only source of information
Colonel Wood had, as spies were constantly
passing, and moreover, he had received a detailed
report of the enemy's force from a Zulu on the
evening of the 27th.
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lumbuia.! THE ZULU SPY AND HIS NEWS. 253
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254
BRITISH BATFLES ON LAND .\ND SEA.
On this eventful morning, two companies of
the 13th Light Infantry were absent in the
mountains cutting wood for fuel, and as the
latter was absolutely necessary the brigadier did
not recall them until that duty was carried out,
which was done, fortunately, before the enemy
appeared.
The brigadier had but few preparations to make,
as in his camp every corps and company had their
allotted place to repair to, the moment the bugle
sounded. The position occupied by the fort was
exceptionally strong, at the end of a long and
isolated hill, and the fortifications, if they could be
called so, were three in number. The first, which
was manned by parties of the 13th and 90th
Regiments of Light Infantry, was on the highest
ground, and faced with stone; and thb Wood
commanded in person.
On the gentle slope below it, was a square cattle
laager formed of waggons, averaging about 50 yards
square, on the brow of some rocks, and held by one
company of the 13th; and about 50 yards distant
was another laager having seven sides, 200 yards
in length, by 150 in breadth, manned by the main
bodies of the 1 3th and 90th Regiments, and some
Irregulars. This laager had within it all the horses,
and the hospital.
Between the fort, as the stone-faced entrench-
ment was called, were placed the guns, four in
number. Two more mountain guns, seven-
pounders, were close to it.
The ground on the north of the position sloped
gently down ; but to the south some abrupt ledges
afforded a considerable amount of cover close at
hand, unseen by the defenders. Dinner was over
by a quarter to one ; the tents were then struck ;
the men repaired to their posts, and the boxes of
reserve ammunition were opened and placed in
convenient spots. This was done rapidly and with-
out the least confiision, as all the preparations for
defence had been practised previously.
From eleven p.m. the Zulus were reported to be
in sight, and were perceived advancing in dense
masses from the direction of the Zungi Mountain,
and, as on the previous day, in five deep columns.
At first the brigadier feared that, as the point to
which they were directed did not seem very
apparent, their object was to pass Kambula and
advance on Utrecht, which, though provided with
a strong fort into which the inhabitants might
retreat, offered a somewhat tempting bait to
invaders.
In their alarm after Isandhlwana the authorities
of that town had besought the brigadier to quit
Kambula, and garrison Utrecht, but he had de-
clined to do so, believing that it was sufficiently
protected and covered by the position he had
taken up.
About noon, and for some time after it, the
general line of the enemy's advance had been
westward, but when they reached a point nearly
due south of the camp they made a change of
direction, and, while one portion of the army
moved to its right and circled roimd the north side
of Wood's position, the columns of the other con-
tinued to advance for some distance, and then
wheeled up against its western side. The right
horn, having a shorter distance to march, had by
this time reached its point of attack, and halted,
but out of gun-shot
Some mounted men, led by Russell and the in-
defatigable BuUer, now rode out, for the double
purpose of reconnoitring and luring on the enemy,
as the brigadier wished to irritate them into an
attack on one side before the other, and beat them
in detail; and the action commenced by the
mounted men riding up to within range of the
right horn, dismounting, and opening fire. Though
the discipline of the Zulus was good, it was not
strong enough to restrain a column — said by one
authority to be 2,000 strong, by another 7,000 —
when attacked by only a hundred men ; thus the
whole of the right horn sprang up, broke from line
into column, and ran at a tremendous pace along a
ledge situated at the beginning of some cultivated
land, hoping to entice the cavalry to attack them
on broken and difficult ground. But Buller and
Russell restrained their men from attempting any-
thing of the kind, and fell back towards the laager,
in which movement Lieutenant Edward S. Browne,
of the 24th, won the V.C., by galloping back and
twice assisting on his horse, under a heavy fire and
when within a few yards of the enemy, one ot the
Mounted Infantry, who otherwise would have
fallen into their hands.
Fed by supports and reserves, a cloud of agile
skirmishers began to scale the north firont of
Wood's position at a quarter past two o'clock.
The mounted men had now retired within the
laager, and fire was opened by the artillery and
infantry from their strong defensive position, and
so tremendous was the first volley poured in by
the Perthshire, says Captain Tomasson, that the
Zulus " never again attacked the face of it" Here,
as elsewhere, the sturdy Boers of poor Piet Uys,
then lying dead on the distant mountain, handled
with deadly precision their old national weapon,
the long, single-barrelled fver, carrying an enormous
bullet, suited for the destruction of big game,
and whenever a dark head or a grey shield
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Kamlmla.]
THE ZULU ASSAULTS.
2SS
appeared above a rock or tuft of grass their fire I
was planted in with terrible effect i
The Zulu left now worked round to the west of j
the camp, while the cefntre advanced against its i
southern face, and, availing themselves of the cover j
afforded by its steepness, they crowded there in
vast numbers, and assaulted the lesser laager \
where the cattle were, with such fury that the com-
pany of the 13th posted there had to fall back into
upon them a steady and most destructive fire
Dark bodies with buffalo shields soon strewed
all the ground, or rolled down the rocks with
bloody and gaping wounds; but other athletic
warriors, with yells of vengeance, sprang into the
places of the fallen, and still the human stream came
onward and upward, and these two companies
soon became exposed to such a severe enfilade
fire from a number of Zulus posted on a lofty spur
Scale of Taxdt
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF KAMBULA (MARCH 29, 1879).
the other, after losing heavily. It was led by
Captain William Cox, who commanded the skir-
mishers at Almora in the Indian campaign.
Encouraged by this success, a Zulu column
1,500 strong now formed up on the west of the cap-
tured cattle kraal, where they were sheltered from
the fire of the main laager, on which they evidently
contemplated a very serious attack ; but before it
could be delivered. Colonel Wood directed a
counter movement to be made by two companies
of the 90th, under Major Robert Henry Hackett.
They advanced over the slope steadily, as if on
parade, and, getting into the rear of the laager,
took the Zulus completely by surprise by pouring
to the westward, that they were withdrawn by sound
of bugle, and took post again within the defences.
In falling back upon these. Major Hackett fell
severely wounded, and was carried out of the fire.
Lieutenant Bright of the 90th — a mere boy — fell
mortally wounded, and died soon after. He has
been described as " a clever, cheery feUow, a capital
artist, a good musician, and a most accomplished
officer. It was in running forward to pick up
Hackett that poor Bright received his death-
wound"
Hackett had been shot in the head, yet the
doctors expected to save him, but with, the loss of
his eye-sight
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256
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Kambola.
Meanwhile, from the redoubt on the height, the
two 7-pounders were smiting the naked masses
heavily with grape and canister, till ere long the
whole face of the rocks, up which they struggled,
became slippery with blood. Lieutenant Nichol-
son, who fought his guns with ardour, was mortally
wounded in the temple, fell forward upon one of
them, and died soon after.
The Zulus who occupied the cattle laager were
unable to remove any of the beasts ; but as the posi-
tion on Kambula consisted now of only the main
laager and the little redoubt, they were enabled to
crowd below the rocks and steep ground, to within
200 yards of the former, and hence to assault it, which
they did several times with undaunted bravery;
"but the two English and Scotch Light Infantry
Regiments vied with each other in noble rivalry,
|ind beat back the hordes of the Zulus upon the
two most exposed flanks."
Meanwhile, four field-pieces that were with-
out the laager, yet under the shelter of it, were
worked with the most tremendous effect by Major
Tremlett, R.A., who shifted them from time to
Jtime, as the movements of the enemy necessitated,
and to the brilliant practice they made, much of the
subsequent victory was due; while issuing out at
the head of their mounted men, Buller and Russell
executed some brilliant and destructive charges,
which had a terrible effect upon savages totally un-
accustomed to cavalry.
The action was a protracted one, but in time the
Zulus began to see the impossibility of crossing the
open space which separated them from the laager.
At half-past five p.m. a shiver seemed to pervade
the masses, and the vigour of their attack began to
slacken. Lieutenants Smith and Lysons, seeing
some Zulus advancing to assegai a wounded soldier
of the 13th, who was lying under fire in the open,
rushed out, and, led by Captain Woodgate, carried
him into shelter, and in doing so, Woodgate had
his helmet smashed by a bullet; yet so incessant was
the clatter of the breechloaders, that the Zulus were
strewn like leaves in autumn beneath the biting
iire.
Brigadier Wood now ordered a company of the
13th to retake the cattle laager, and one of the 90th
to advance on the right to the edge of the preci-
pitous rocks, from whence they poured a heavy
fire into the Zulus who were now giving way.
Captain Cox of the 13th, though suffering greatly
from a wound and loss of blood, gallantly led his
men on this arduous duty.
The mounted men, who, after having placed their
horses within the laager, had been assisting in the
defence of it with their carbines, now sprang^ into
their saddles, betook them to their swords, and
were led by Buller and Russell against the now
retreating enemy, whom, for more than seven miles,
they pursued like a flock of sheep until night fell,
while the infantry and native levies scoured the im-
mediate vicinity of the camp, and killed all whom
they found in concealment
The attack lasted from half-past one p.m.to half-
past five, when the retreat commenced. It was
greeted with a ringing cheer, and when the mounted
pursuers filed out of camp at full speed, they
were saluted from the forts with shouts of applause,
which told them how much the infantry would have
liked to join in the work of vengeance.
The army which fought this day at Kambula,
was subsequently ascertained to have comprised —
with Umbelini's men — 25,000 in all, and had been
assembled at Ulundi specially to deliver an attack
on Brigadier Wood's camp. The right horn was
composed of the N'kobamakosi regiment, which,
in consequence of its losses at Isandhlwana, was
eager for distinction and revenge, and suffered
very severely by prematurely commencing the
action in attacking BuUer's Horse.
The loss inflicted on the Zulus this day is
stated in the public prints as 3,000 ; but the War
Office Report reduces this number to 2,000;
1,500 dead bodies lay in the vicinity of the camp
at nightfall, but in the morning many were found
to have been carried off. By the 3rd April, 800
Zulus were buried, and 326 fire-arms were gleaned
up ; some of these were our own Tower weapons.
The British force engaged numbered in all only
1,998, and its casualties amounted to eighteen
non-commissioned officers and men killed, eight
officers and fifty-seven non-commissioned oflicers
and men wounded Many died of their wounds,
among these were Lieutenants Nicholson, White,
and Bright
On the day after the engagement our dead were
aU buried on Kambula Hill, the burial service
being read in the most impressive manner by
Brigadier Wood in person.
Many wounded Zulus were brought into camp,
where their wounds were dressed, and finding the
soldiers kind to them, they became wonderfiiUy
communicative Their army dispersed inunediatdy
after the action, which is generally believed to have
saved the Transvaal fi-om a Zulu invasion.
The gallant Major Hackett of the Perthshire
lost the sight of both eyes from his wound, and in
the July of the following year, was presented to
Her Majesty, by his brother. Colonel J. B.
Hackett, V.C, a veteran officer of long and dis-
tinguished service.
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Kambola.]
REINFORCEMENTS FOR ZULTJLAND.
257
The wounded were sent to Utrecht, a distance
of about thirty miles, under protection of an escort,
and the author of "With the Irregulars in the
Transvaal," who was on this duty, describes their
sufferings as great, owing to the rough roads that
were like tracks, and the ill-hung waggons and
ambulances. The first halt was made at the Blood
River, so named from some old battle between the
Zulus and the Boers, on which occasion it was
dyed with the blood of the slaia It divides the
Transvaal from Zululand, and was now in full flood
" The flood was so high that the waggons could
not cross, and ambulances had to be sent for from
Balte Spruit on the opposite side ; they arrived at
ten p.m., a light span bridge was thrown across the
river by a company of the 13th Regiment, and the
camp entrenched for the night A most miserable
night was then passed by the Irregulars, who had
crossed to the opposite bank ; the swamp was four
inches deep in water, the mosquitoes aggressive in
the extreme, and the only way to rest was to lean
against a waggon wheel Towards day the bridge,
which had broken down by the force of the current
during the night, was repaired. The sick and
wounded had to be carried through the worst part
of the swamp to the waggons, a quarter of a mile off".
They could not be got nearer, the ground was so
soft. The suflerings of the wounded must have
been extreme, as they were carried in dhoolies
over the rough ground and through deep pools. It
was curious to observe the difference in men thus
equally suffering; some never uttered a sound,
others groaned most horribly; some expressed
fierce anxiety to be getting on ; others were sunk
in profound apathy, and seemed utterly indifferent
to all around them. .... We often had to
halt to administer brandy to some poor fellows who
were sinking, and once or twice to find that some
of the number had breathed their last in spite of
all the care that under such circumstances could be
given them."
A day or two afterwards, this escort rejoined
Wood's column at Kambula, bringing fresh
ammunition to replace that recently expended on
the 28th and 29th of March ; and once, when on
escort duty, they discovered a trooper of Weatherle/s
Border Horse, named Grandier, who had been
taken at Inhlobane, and sent back from Ulundi, to
undergo torture at the hands of Umbelini's men.
He had escaped, and when found, was naked,
famished, and all but dead from exhaustion. Some
days before this, Umbelini's career had been cut
short by the pistol of Captain Prior, of the 80th
Regiment, after a twelve miles' pursuit
The effects of the officers who fell on the 28th
and 29th of March, were sold in camp, and high
indeed were the prices realised for provisions.
Tins of preserved meat, sold at home for one
shilling, went for six or eight; matches fetched nine-
pence per box ; while cigars and tobacco brought
fabulous prices.
Reinforcements were now coming out fast
from England, and about this time the Colonist
newspaper says : — " The Zulus are dispirited ;
Cetewayo means to await the attack in the heart of
his own country, and is said to be preparing a last
retreat for himself. It is in a ravine between high
rocks, said to be accessible only in front, and
through a morass impassable, or nearly impassable,
in wet weather. If defeated, he says he will retire
and make his last stand there, and kill himself,
rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. It
is added, that he says he will however first kill his
indunas — not a very likely threat for him to have
given utterance to, whatever he may intend."
As related, it had been determined by Lord
Chelmsford that the position at Etschowe should
be completely abandoned after the relief of the
blockaded garrison, which reached the Tugela on
the 7th April ; and the 9th saw the general at
Durban, where the bulk of the welcome reinforce-
ments had already disembarked, and where he
could see no less than sixteen magnificent steam
transports, some of them the largest afloat, in the
outer anchorage, twenty-three store and other
vessels in the inner harbour, and thirty more in the
roads, while steam cranes were at work on every
wharf, landing all the munitions of war.
Among the arrivals were the ist Dragoon Guards
and the 17 th Lancers ; two batteries of Royal Ar-
tillery and an ammunition column ; a company and
a half of Engineers ; the Royal Scots Fusiliers ;
the 58th, 60th, 91st Argyleshire Highlanders; the
94th, and drafts for all the other corps in Cape
Colony, making a grand total of 418 officers, 9,996
men, 1,868 horses, and 238 waggons ; and not the
least remarkable figure, among the brilliant group
of staff" officers who were there to greet Lord
Chelmsford, was that of the ill-starred Prince
Louis Napoleon, who had reached Durban two
days after the conflict at Kambula, and was ap-
pointed an extra A.D.C. on the head-quarter staflf.
The conveyance of all these troops to Natal had
been marked by only two misfortunes worth men-
tion— one, when the City of Paris ran ashore in
Simon's Bay on the 23rd of March, and had to
transfer her living freight to H.M.S. Tamar ; and
the other, the disaster that befell the Clyde^ which
was totally wrecked near Dyer's Island, seventy
miles farther eastward.
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2S8
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Kambula.
She had left the docks at Capetown on the 2nd
April, after bringing from home fifteen officers and
534 men, all volunteers to make up the shattered
strength of the 24th Regiment, the whole under
the command of Colonel Davis, of the Grenadier
Guards. After being twelve hours enveloped in
fog, the watch suddenly found her, within a few
lengths of herself, close among rocks and breakers,
and though the engines were instantly reversed,
she went crash ashore at twenty minutes past six
war into the very heart of Zululand, Lord Chelms-
ford found the reorganisation of his forces and a
change of plans alike necessary. After some
alterations, the following arrangements were made
on the 13th of April, and these must be borne in
mind with reference to the operations about to be
detailed.
No. I column was now designated Na i Divi^
sion South African Field Force, under the com-
mand of Major-General Hope Crealock, C.B.
MAJOR-GKNERAL E. NEWDIGATE, C.li.
a.m., on a rock between the island and the main-
land. Discipline was never relaxed, and the
weather was calm and beautiful. By half-past
eleven Colonel Davis had all the troops rowed
ashore, and the vessel was abandoned. She sank in
the night, with 15,000,000 rounds of rifle ammuni-
tion, four Gatling guns, and other stores.
The soldiers who first reached the shore selected
a convenient place whereon to bivouac, and pro-
visions from the beach were conveyed to them in
the waggon of a neighbouring farmer, and there
they remained till brought to Durban by the
Tamar,
As all fear of an invasion of Natal was now at an
end, and as it was resolved to carry an offensive
Brigadier Wood's force was to act independently,
as " a flying column ; " and the remainder of the
troops in Utrecht were to constitute Na 2 Division,
the command of which was given to Major-General
Newdigate.
On landing, the infantry began the forward
march at once, but the cavalry were retained for a
week at Durban to get the horses into condition
for service. The greater portion of the force took
fresh ground at Kambula on the 14th of ApriL
There the redoubt was still occupied, but a new
entrenched camp was formed 700 yards westward
of the old one. Sanitary reasons compelled this.
The whole air was redolent with a horrid odour, for
in the crevices and among the Jong, rank grass lay
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(TogeU River.
in corruption the bodies of Zulus who had crawled
away to die, undiscovered and unseen.
On the 15 th of April, and before new operations
began, the following was the general position of
our troops in South Africa. Lord Chelmsford,
with the Lancers, Dragoon Guards, and Artillery,
was still at Durban. The 2nd Brigade of the ist
Division (57th, 60th, and 91st), with a portion of
the Naval Brigade, held Ghingilovo, while the
I St Brigade (Buffs, 88th, and 99th Regiments) held
the left bank of the Lower Tugela.
The 2nd Division (Scots Fusiliers, 58th, and
94th) were on the march for Doomberg, a wooded
mountain between the Blood and Buffalo streams,
and Wood's flying column, constituted as before
described, held the entrenched position at Kam-
bula, while Utrecht was garrisoned by the Both
Regiment
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE ZULU WAR {continued) : — with the first division — fort napoleon — ^ARRIVAL OF SIR
GARNET WOLSELEY.
The chief features of the new campaign against the
Zulus were these.
The two divisions operating from separate bases,
one at Utrecht and the other at Durban, while
holding communication with Brigadier Wood's
Flying Column and Major-General Marshall's
cavalry brigade, were to have one common
object in view — an advance upon Ulundi — the
chief kraal, or capital of Cetewayo.
Major-General Crealock, commanding the ist
Division, left Durban, and on the i8th April his
head-quarters were established at Fort Pearson,
near the mouth of the Tugela. He had served with
the Perthshire Regiment at the siege of Sebastopol,
at the storming of the Quarries, and in the attacks
upon the Redan. He had been D.A. Quarter-
master-General in China in 1857, in several Indian
campaigns, and lastly at the capture of the forts of
Tangkoo and Taku.
By Lord Chelmsford's orders, he was to march
upon the Emangwene and Undi military kraals, on
the north bank of the Umlatoosi River, attack and
burn them ; he was to form a strong and permanent
fort at Inyezane — the scene of Pearson's fighting
on the 22 nd January — and store therein two months'
provisions for his column, while an intermediate
fort was to be established between that point and
the Tugela. After the destruction of the kraals,
the further movements of his command were to be
at Crealock's discretion, Ulundi being the object
of the northern force, in support of which, an en-
trenched post and supply depot should be estab-
lished by General Crealock near Sl Paul's Mission
Station.
In obedience to these orders, two forts were
formed, at the points indicated on the 24th and
29th of April, and named respectively Forts
Crealock and Chelmsford. After much delay,
^ caused by the extreme difficulty of carrying the
j requisite materials from Durban, a pontoon bridge
was constructed across the Tugela by the 7th May,
j which was replaced in the subsequent month by a
semi-permanent trestle and pontoon bridge, while
the telegraph had been previously extended to Fort
Chelmsford.
Up country the climate is usually bracing and
healthy, but the low-lying coast region in which the
ist Division encamped, was very unhealthy and
much enteric fever broke out The and Brigade,
under Colonel Clarke, though its camp at Fort
Chelmsford and its position was better in a
sanitary way than that of Ghingilovo, suffered so
severely that 18 ofiicers and 479 men of the line
were sent back sick from Forts Chelmsford and
Pearson before the 17th June, and 71 officers and
men died. The troops suffered from the effluvia
caused by the decomposition of dead oxen and
horses, lying in kloofs and along the vraysides,
tainting and poisoning the air.
Great were the transport difficulties of the posi-
tion, and by the middle of May forage was always
apt to fail from the almost universal practice of
grass-burning by the natives ; and the oxen which
were thus obliged to travel farther for their food,
fell off in condition and became unfitted for hard
work. Waggon owners grew very chary about
encountering the risks which journeying in Zulu-
land necessitated ; and by May large numbers of
animal^ perished, the daily average being ten, and
as these were all hired, the indemnity paid by the
British Government for each ox that died, or was
lost, was ;^20,
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Port Dnmibra.J
AMBASSADORS FROM CETEWAYO.
-261
Great difficulty, too, was experienced in obtain-
ing natives to drive the transport teams; but
eventually their numbers were made up, and the
requisite two months' provisions having been
amassed at Fort Chelmsford, the division was
ready to march, but the month of June was
advanced before this was achieved, and on the
13th the forward movement began.
On that day, with the intention of concentrating
the division at Fort Chelmsford, a portion of the
ist Brigade, consisting of the 2nd battalion of the
Buffs, Lonsdale's Horse, a corps raised by Com-
mandant Lonsdale in Cape Colony, in February,
1879, and two guns, marched from the Tugela.
The rest of that brigade followed on the 17 th, on
which day the actual advance of the division may
be said to have commenced, and two days after the
Major-General and his staff were at Fort Chelms-
ford with the Naval Brigade under Commodore
Richards, KN.
The march to that place was up a steep ascent,
and then along grassy table-land to the westward,
and then by a steep descent into the valley of the
Amatikula, where masses of crystalline pebbles
were seen glittering amid the silver sand, and the
scene was made beautiful by yellow convolvuli,
tiger lilies, and osier bushes.
On the 19th, in the afternoon, Major-General
Crealock rode out to reconnoitre the Umlalaz
River for six miles. A camping ground was chosen,
and on the 20th a column, under Major Bruce of
the 91st Highlanders, composed of that regiment,
two Royal Artillery guns, a detachment of Engineers,
and the 4th battalion of the Natal Native Con-
tingent, went forward in that direction. It was
about this time, we are told, that " an enlightened
Kaffir, being spoken to by a gentleman with
reference to the arrival of the 91st Highlanders, re-
marked in the coolest manner possible — *0h, your
English soldiers are nearly all killed, and you are
obliged to get Scotchmen to assist you now.'"
On the 2 1 St the remainder of the division
advanced, and on the following day the passage of
the Umlalaz was effected without opposition, a
pontoon bridge being thrown across, where it was
thirty-five yards wide and ten feet deep. The
valleys through which the troops marched were
observed to be very fertile, with swelling undulations
often cultivated, with alternations of pine timber,
rich grass and prickly jungle.
The eminence on the right bank of the stream,
where the ist Division encamped, was named Na-
poleon Hill, in honour of Prince Louis Napoleon,
whose fate has to be recorded when we refer to
the other columns.
On the 23rd of June, General Crealock and
Commodore Richards, with the mounted men,
made a reconnaissance eastward of Napoleon Hill,
and approaching the coast they ascertained that
Port Durnford was about six miles north of the^
mouth of the Umlalaz, and was merely an open,
lonely and sandy beach, on which the surf is ever
thundering with unusual violence. There signals
were afterwards exchanged with H.M.S. Forester^
which the commodore ordered to sail for Durban,
with orders for the transports to be at Port Durnford
by the 29th June.
The only result of the reconnaissance of the
23rd was, that the troops accompanying Crealock,
viz., the 91st Highlanders and two guns, came upon
some 250 Zulus driving a large herd of cattle,
which, after a little skirmish, they captured (with
the loss of only one man), besides a number of
women and children, who implored protection and
food, and to whom, as they seemed famishing,
biscuits and mealies were served out at once.
On the 25th June, a small fort to hold one
company was formed on the left bank of the
Umlalaz. It occupied the crest of a hill, covering
the pontoon bridge, and was named Fort Napoleon.
The following day, the mounted men made an
expedition towards the Ungoya Hills, supported by
the 3rd battalion of the 60th, two guns and 200
natives under Brigadier Clarke, while the Naval
Brigade, the Buffs, and 200 natives moved towards
Port Durnford and encamped for the night
On the same day, some stalwart Zulus, fully
equipped and armed for war — one of them a
corpulent chief, named Umsintwanga, clad in an
old horse blanket, with a tippet of leopard skin, and
bearing an elephant's tusk — came from Cetewayo
with proposals for peace, through an interpreter,
and, as a symbol of friendship, laid the huge ivory
offering at the feet of General Crealock, who in-
formed him that all communications on that matter
must be made to Lord Chelmsford ; but eventually
he sent the tusk to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies.
The 27th saw the divisional head-quarters at a
place called Five Kraal HilL " The long ranges
of mountains which completely separate the coast-
line from the interior, here stand out in magnificent
relief, and though they are at a distance of sixty
or seventy miles, they present a sharply defined
outline in the morning air, their ravines, water-
courses and terraced heights, appearing with almost
supernatural distinctness."
As yet nothing was seen of the enemy in arms,
but knowing the wily and crafty nature of the
people, every movement and advance was made
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262
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Dorbui.
with the greatest care. On the 28th of June, the
division reached camping ground on a plain about
a mile from the coast, where the Umlalaz flows into
the Indian Ocean. Southward lay the coast range
of sandy hills through which the broad stream
forces its solitary way, and on the other three sides
were wide and desolate marshes.
The transports were now seen off shore, and the
Naval Brigade ran out hawsers, by which surf boats
could be drawn up and stores landed, while the
general was giving to the flames a number of kraals
on the banks of the Umlatoosi River.
Sixty tons of supplies and thirty mules were got
on shore, and a work, called Fort Richards — after
the commodore — was formed between the camp of
the I St Brigade and the sea. On the 2nd of June
the weather was so wet and stormy, with such a
dreadful sea on, that all communication with the
vessels in the anchorage was suspended. Among
these vessels was H.M.S. Shah^ which having left
Durban the day before with his Excellency Sir
Garnet Wolseley and his staff, had arrived off Port
Dumford that day.
Sir Garnet, who was not only to be Governor,
but Commander-in-chief and High Commissioner
in Natal and the Transvaal, had reached Durban
from London on the 28th June, and been sworn in
at Pietermaritzburg; after which he had re-embarked
at Durban, and sailed along the coast in the Shah,
to join the ist Division ; but as the weather and
the surf showed no sign whatever of abatement, he
returned to Durban, and the transports all put to sea.
On the 4th of July, the Emangwene military
kraal was burned by the mounted men and 200 of
John Dunn's scouts, the whole being commanded
by Major Barrow of the 19th Hussars. It stood
nine miles from the Umlatoosi River, and seemed
to have been long unoccupied, so not a shot was
fired on the occasion, though about 200 Zulus were
seen hovering on the green hill slopes at some
distance, and a few were made prisoners.
Next day the destruction of the old Undi
kraal was resolved on, by the same force imder
Barrow, while Brigadier Clarke followed him with
a supporting force, consisting of one battalion,
one Catling, one 9-pounder, the Naval Brigade,
and 500 natives, as resistance was expected, and
Major-General Crealock, with his staff, was
present
Marching by the light of a brilliant moon, at
half-past three a.m., from their bivouac at the lower
drift of the Umlatoosi, the force came to a deserted
Norwegian mission station, and the military kraal
was reached at a quarter to ten a.m. It con-
sisted of 640 huts, which were destroyed by
fire, and a few Zulus who lurked near it were made
prisoners.
On the 7 th of July Major Barrow's force and the
Native Contingent, returned to the camp near Port
Dumford ; and Sir Garnet Wolseley, having again
left Durban, rode into it in the evening, and with
his arrival ends for a time the somewhat uninterest-
ing operations of the ist Division of the South
African Field Force.
CHAPTER XXXVL
THE 2ULU WAR {continued) : — with the second division — BULLER's scouts— ZULU AMBASSADORS.
We have now to detail some of the movements
of the 2nd Division, preluding the tragedy in
which Prince Louis Napoleon so speedily closed
his mortal career.
The 1 6th April saw the infantry regiments of
the 2nd Division marching towards the north
of Natal, by Greytown, Estcourt, and Ladysmith ;
while, on the following day, the mounted men left
Durban and proceeded, by ten mile marches, with
a halt every third or fourth day.
On the 17 th Lord Chelmsford moved his head-
quarters from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, and
was accompanied by the Prince. Before leaving
Britain, the latter had obtained permission to serve
with our troops in Zululand as a spectator. He
was the bearer of a letter from the Commander-in-
chief to Lord Chelmsford, requesting assistance
to his views, and accordingly his lordship attached
him to his personal staff.
Lord Chelmsford sought, in vain, to bring about
such a change in the existing laws of Natal as would
enable the military authorities to impress transport,
as at that time none was forthcoming, and the
Isandhlwana disaster had struck such terror into
the class who became drivers and leaders of waggon
teams, that desertions were numerous; and the ma-
jority of those who undertook such duty, stipulated
that the engagement should end at the frontiers.
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ZoDgen Nek.]
BULLER^S RECONNAISSANCE.
263
On the 22nd April, Lord Chelmsford set out for
the scene of active operations, and on his departure
Major-General the Hon. H. H. Clifford, V.C., C.B.,
took command at Pietermaritzburg.
General E. Newdigate, who had served in the
Eastern campaign, and won the Cross of the
Legion of Honour, while his division was on the
march contrived to visit Brigadier Wood at
Kambula to consult for future operations, and on
the 2nd of May an entrenched camp was formed
at Landmann^s Drift, on the Buffalo River, in which
the bulk of the division remained for some time,
till the arrangements for its advance were com-
pleted. On the 3rd, Lord Chelmsford, accompanied
by Prince Louis Napoleon and others visited
Wood's camp at Kambula, and the former expressed
himself greatly satisfied with all the arrangements
for the defence of the place.
On Sunday, the 4th of May, after church parade.
Lord Chelmsford suggested that a reconnaissance
should be made towards the White Umvolosi
Valley, to select ground for an entrenched camp
within easy distance of Doornberg and Conference
HilL The former post was midway between the
Blood and Buffalo Rivers, and the scenery there-
abouts was somewhat similar to that of Natal —
grassy plateaux, broken by stony ^nd rugged hills,
and tufted with trees of what our soldiers called
" cabbage-tree wood," the leaves being like those of
the cabbage, and the wood like that of the alder,
moist and full of pith.
The day was bright and pleasant, and BuUer
paraded a party of his Horse, which, when first
raised, had worn any kind of dress they chose, but
now were almost uniformly clad in broad-leaved hats
with coloured puggarees, baggy brown-cord breeches
— all now copiously patched with untanned leather
— patrol jackets of mimosa colour, also patched,
laced gaiters coming high over the knee, and
coloured flannel shirts open at the bronzed neck of
the weather-beaten wearer. Their firearms were
rifles of various patterns, slung across the back;
their other weapon was a long sabre#
Their horses were more useful than showy, and
often somewhat of the cob kind, but wiry and
active as antelopes.
Buller rode off on his reconnaissance with his
party, but was soon signalled back, by an announce-
ment that his movements were watched by a body
of Zulus on some adjacent hills. A three miles'
ride, however, brought him into a rugged plain
south-west of the Zungen Nek, where the winding
track was bordered by mimosa thorns. There a
couple of bullets whizzed past, but no enemy could
be seen, till after a time, by Wood and some
others, who had cantered to the front, some dark
figures were detected creeping along in the bush,
and so intently watching this distant group of
staff officers, that they were unaware of their re-
treat being nearly cut off by some twenty of Buller's
sabres; but the latter found themselves suddenly
on the verge of some precipitous rocks, about 300
feet in height, down which they descended by a
narrow track, their horses* hoofs throwing showers
of loose stones and sand on every side, as they half
slid, half scrambled to level ground.
Thinking it possible to capture some prisoners,
from whom information might be obtained, the
general's escort was detached for that purpose.
Accordingly they reached a kraal, and having col-
lected some cattle, began to return through the dense
thorns that covered the sides of a narrow valley, in
which they found themselves. The precipice we
have reftrred to barred their way, and, while seek-
ing to find a ford in the Umvolosi River, they
perceived one of BuUer's troopers making signs
of danger, for the bush in their rear teemed with
the enemy. A few minutes later the escort came
upon a horde of dark, copper skinned savages,
loading the air with unearthly yells, leaping and
brandishing their assegais and firearms. The ford
was found in time, and the escort splashed through
ghth-deep, and two men, who had been left to
drive the cattle, also escaped, their movements
being covered by a few well-directed shots.
The Zulus, with yells of baffled rage, followed so
close that more than once the rear sections had
to face about and charge to silence their fire, till
the open ground was reached. But the whole
country seemed alarmed now. In quick succession
signal-fires of dry grass blazed up, columns of smoke
rose high in the clear air, and they were repeated
from kop to kop, showing that the whole place was
garrisoned, and that the movements of the scouts
and escort were alike watched ; and the cattle in
wild herds could be seen, as they were driven out
of the wooded kloofs and little valleys into inac-
cessible places.
After his escort rejoined him, the general re-
sumed the reconnaissance, and about twelve miles
from Kambula had, from an eminence, a complete
view of the beautiful valley of the \Miite Umvolosi,
with the southern slopes of the fatal Inhlobane,
and, near Conference Hill, the white tents of the
2nd Division gleaming in the blaze of the bright
sunshine
On the summit of the Zungen Nek, they were
met by Buller, whose men were still skirmishing
with some Zulus, who were in force and in a
position from which to annoy the invaders, who
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Zungen Nek.
were now in a kind of natural amphitheatre, the
outer edges of which were sometimes 1,000 feet in
height, scored with ghastly fissures and perforated by
dark caverns, from which white jets of smoke and
bullets were perpetually issuing, while the dis-
mounted men, availing themselves of every cover,
worked their way upward on two sides, and shot
back into the holes as opportunity offered.
" The Zulus finding the situation rather too h^t,
one by one began to escape, and the moment a
the orders to fall back, remount, and return to
camp, a movement that was greeted by defiant and
exultant yells from the savages who were left in
their holes unearthed.
It was now known that a line suitable for the
' advance of Wood's Flying Column, led from Con-
ference Hill to Ibabanango, but no other route had
been found as yet, by which the 2nd Division
under Newdigate could join in the advance. How-
ever, holies were entertained that the necessity for
COLONBL DRURV LOWE, C.B.
dusky form was seen gliding through the thorns,
half-a-dozen rifles rang out, sometimes succeeded
by the crushing sound of the body of a huge savage
rolling from a high rock to the stones below. It
was wonderful to see into what small crevices these
big Zulus had squeezed themselves. Sometimes
three or four would get together in one spot,
generally a small cave almost inaccessible from above
or below, and could be approached only by working
along the sides, under the fire of dozens of other
caves and loopholes, every one of which seemed
scooped out for the purpose of creating a cross-
fire." (" Story of the Zulu Campaign.")
As Lord Chelmsford had now achieved his
object— an examination of the country — he gave
making a detour so long might be avoided by a
more direct way from the new camp at Landmann's
Drift, after some cavalry reconnaissances beyond the
frontier were accomplished
Lord William Beresford of the 9th Lancers, who
had got leave for six months from India, after he
had served at the capture of Ali Musjid, in Afghanis-
tan, and had come to Africa in the sheer love of
fighting and adventure, was appointed stafi" officer
to Colonel Buller.
Several reconnaissances were made ; one on the
16th of May, by a squadron of the 17 th Lancers,
who rode to Vecht Kop, while Bettington's Horse
searched round Conference Hill, without either meet-
ing with the enemy. On the 21st May at four a.m,,
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266
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[helea HilL
Colonel Drury Lowe— whose name is now a
household word — with a wing of the King's
Dragoon Guards, a wing of the Lancers, and ten
Natal Carbineers, dashed across the Buffalo, pro-
ceeded up the Bashee, and past the ruins of Sirayo's
kraal, as far as Isandhlwana, while General Marshall,
with the remainder of the mounted troops, two guns
and four companies of the 24th, swept the heights
on the eastern side of the stream. And on the
23rd of May Colonel Harrison, A.Q.MG., es-
tablished the fact from his own observation that
the Ibabanango Mountain could be reached from
Landmann's Drift by a practicable track leading
by the Itelezi Hill, so this line was chosen for the
advance of the 2nd Division, which was now to
enter Zululand at JCoppie Allein, where Bengough's
Natives, the 2nd battalion of the ist Natal Regi-
ment, was sent on the Queen's birthday.
Much useful information regarding the geogra-
phical features of the country in which the new cam-
paign would lie, had been furnished by the reports
and sketches, made by Colonel Buller, Lord William
Beresford, and Prince Louis Napoleon, whose pen
and pencil sketches were alike clear and vivid, and
who had won all hearts in the camp. One day
when out on a reconnaissance with Captain Bet-
tington, they were fired on from a kraal At once
drawing his sword, the Prince dashed forward,
crying, " Come along — come along, Bettington ! "
and it was all that brave officer could do to
moderate his ardour. On another occasion, when
on a three days' patrol with Buller, some Zulus were
seen on the top of a hilL The advance was ordered
to feel their strength. The Prince was spurring
forward and trying to head the charge, when he was
recalled and kept in check by Buller. It was now
known that no large bodies of Zulus were within
twenty miles of the Blood River, or indeed anywhere
between the Buffalo and the White UmvolosL
On the 27 th May, the advance of the 2nd
Division was resumed, and by the 30th it was
concentrated on the Blood River, by which
time the Flying Column from Kambula was at
Munhla Hill, eighteen miles distant. Wood having
received orders to move parallel with, and slightly
in advance of, Newdigate, in a south-easterly direc-
tion towards the Itelezi HilL The force of the
latter was about 10,000 strong, with 480 baggage
waggons, with provisions for thirty-one days.
Continuing the advance, on the 31st May,
General Newdigate, with the ist Brigade of his
division, and Harness's battery, crossed the river and
encamped on its left bank. The country in front
had been by this time fully examined, and it was
decided that the division should march north of the
Itelezi Hill, and between the Tombokala and
Ityotyosi streams. The selection of the route, and
the choice of the camping ground upon it, fell of
course to the department of the Quartermaster-
General, and Prince Louis Napoleon, who had tired
of the partially inactive life of an extra A.D.C,
was now fully attached to this important branch of
the staff.
No large body of the enemy was yet seen, and
the Zulus appeared to have gained military wisdom
from experience. They seemed no longer to
hurl their strength against the bayonet and the
deadly breechloader, or face the "fiery assegais,"
as they designated the rockets. Their new rule
was to avoid fortified camps and armed detach-
ments, and to content themselves by overrunning
defenceless territory and carrying off cattle.
Each division had to march accompanied by its
supplies. These and reserve ammunition "f<»
5,000 soldiers for five months will extend a dis-
tance of two and a half miles," says a writer ; " the
rest of the train will be nearly as long, and re-
member that adequate protection will have to be
afforded against a Zulu rush from adjacent caves.
You will then understand something of the diffi-
culties and risks in our path in transport alone."
About this time John Dunn met two ambassadots
at Fort Chelmsford, who confirmed the previous
message brought by Umgwene from the Zulu chiefs,
with the sanction of Cetewayo. This message they
repeated, adding, " Take the soldiers from Zululand,
and then we will conform to terms."
General Crealock replied that the negotiations
must be conducted with Major-General Newdigate's
column. The ambassadors then presented to John
Dunn the following message from Cetewayo: —
" Dunn, — I was wrong not to take your advice, and
accept the hard terms of the British. You knew all
from the beginning. Then why not show them
their injustice to me ? "
Dunn answered, "It is too late now — I am
powerless."
Two clever scouts about the same date, May 31,
interviewed several Zulu chiefs, and held indirect
communication with the scouts of the king. They
reported that the chiefs generally wished for peace,
but were too afiaid of the king, who was resolved on
battle unless favourable terms were granted to him.
On Sunday, the ist of June, the 2nd Division
moved from the Blood River to the Itelezi HiD, a
long and lumpy mass, the brown slopes of which
are serrated with ravines and kloofs. It stands
some little distance within the Zulu frontier, is
precipitous in some places and had many kraals
upon its lower slopes, and was the lurking-place of
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PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON'S LAST JOURNEY.
267
many Zulus, who acted as spies along the border
and otherwise made themselves objectionable.
The original intention of the general had been
to harass out these skulkers and scour the hill.
With this object, a detachment of the Dragoon
Guards from Dundee had been detailed to cross
the Buffalo at Robson's Drift, to push round the
south-western extremity of the hill, and then to cut
off all fugitives; while the 17th Lancers from
of the Ityotyosi River, and, as the district up to that
point had been fully reconnoitred some days before,
and no Zulus had been seen, the only escort
detailed on this occasion to guard the Prince,
consisted of six troopers of Bettington's Horse
(No. 3 Troop Natal Horse), and six of Shepstone's
Basutos — Native Horse.
The Prince was accompanied by Lieutenant J.
B. Carey, of the 98th, or Prmce of Wales's
ROOKY HILLS
K. Prime*
B. Trooptr^
Scale
PLAN OF THE GROUND WHERE PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON WAS KILLED (jUNE I, 1879).
Landmann's Drift, were to encircle the hill on the
west On the north were to be posted Betting-
ton's Horse, while Bengough's battalion of natives
was to penetrate into the heart of the mountain,
and thoroughly search its defiles and crannies, but
circumstances prevented this programme from
being carried out
On the morning of the ist of June, Prince Louis
Napoleon started in advance of the column, to select
camping ground for the division to occupy at the
close of the next day's march, and with instructions
to examine the nature of the country through which
that movement must lie It had been arranged
that thb temporary camp should be on the banks
Regiment, D. A.Q.M.G., who applied for permission
to join the party in order to verify some observa-
tions he had previously made, and at a quarter past
nine in the morning they started from the camp
at Koppie Allein, where a friendly Zulu volunteered
to act as guide, but only Bettington's six European
troopers reported themselves to Lieutenant Carey,
Shepstone's six Basutos having failed to appear.
With this slender escort, the Prince pushed on
over an open and grassy country, and reached the
Itelezi Hill a little after ten o'clock, and when
General Wood's column was in motion from
Munhla Hill towards the Ityotyosi River.
On that same day, Wood — whose orders were
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Iteleti Hm.
to keep one clay's march ahead of the 2nd
Division — ^was reconnoitring in advance of his
column. On his left were BuUer's Horse scattered
over the undulations on either flank of him ; in his
front lay grassy slopes, scored and torn by water-
courses. Rain had fallen over-night to swell the
latter, but the morning was clear and bright, and
the sky cloudless.
On emerging from a thick and thorny under-
wood, interspersed with tall wavy bamboos and
drooping date-palms, General Wood came to the
placid waters of a deep river, on which, however, a
ford was discovered at a place shaded by fan-palms
and acacias, and soon he perceived some of the
vedettes on higher ground signalling the approach
of mounted men, whom they afterwards reported to
be evidentiy fugitives. Then came Colonel Buller,
with twelve of his troopers, as curious as the
brigadier and his men were, to discover who these
riders could be. They all spurred on together, and
on rounding the base of a cliff came upon Lieutenant
Carey, and four troopers of Bettington's Horse,
riding at a furious pace
In a few minutes more the secret was revealed,
and Lieutenant Carey, whose horse was almost dead
beat and covered with foam, related to General
Wood the circumstances under which Prince Louis
Napoleon had been killed.
CHAPTER XXXVIL
THE ZULU WAR {cOfttinued): — death of the prince LOUIS napoleon — TRIAL OF LIEXTTENANT CAREY,
98TH REGIMENT.
The horse ridden by the Prince when he left the
camp at Koppie Allein, and which was, perhaps,
eventually the cause of his death, was a large grey,
awkward, clumsy, and an inveterate buck-jumper.
At the place on which the 2nd Division was to
march, near the Itelezi Hill, the Prince .and Lieu-
tenant Carey were met by Lieutenant-Colonel
Harrison, A.Q.M.G., and after some little time
spent in discussing the water supply necessary and
available for the intended camp, the two became
separated from the colonel, and the Prince moved
forward with his eight companions to complete the
reconnaissance for which he had come.
" After crossing the spruit, which in rainy weather
helps to fill the Ityotyosi River," says the Cape
Argus of that date, " they arrived at a flat-topped
hill, nameless in our maps, but which is a con-
spicuous feature in the landscape of this portion of
the Zulu frontier, and here the Prince, directing his
men to slacken girths for a while, took a sketch of
the country."
After spending nearly an hour on the flat-topped
mountain, which was steeped in all the light and
splendour of a real South African noontide, the
party rode along the ridge between the Tombokala
and Ityotyosi Rivers, and about two o'clock p.m.
descended from the high ground towards a kraal,
200 yards distant from the latter stream. The
kraal was of the usual native kind, consisting of a
circular stone enclosure, about twenty-five yards in
diameter, with five huts built on the outside.
These were empty, but as some dogs were prowling
about, and the remains of food were found, it was
evident they had become untenanted only recently.
Between the empty kraal and the river, stretched
a luxuriant growth of coarse Tambookie grass,
about six feet high, with mealies and Indian com
interspersed. This closely surrounded the huts on
every side except the north and north-east, where
lay the ashes and broken earthenware strewn about,
as of a common cooking-ground It was open for
about 200 yards, and at that distance from the
kraal was a donga, or dry water-course, about ei^t
feet deep, through which, in rainy seasons, the stoilm
waters of the mountains found their way into the
bed of the Ityotyosi.
On reaching the kraal at three p.m., the Prince
ordered the party to off'-saddle and knee-halter for
grazing. This was done and the men made some
coffee and rested. As the dogs were seen lingering
near the huts, "the presumption of course was,"
says the Cape Argus^ " that the animals, attached to
their masters' homes, had remained there after the
Zulus had deserted the kraal ; but seen in the light
of the dreadful event that immediately followed, it
is more than probable that the dogs belonged to the
Zulus, who were actually then stalking the Prince
and his companions, who were completely oflf their
guard and chatting together." All the party having
turned their horses into the grass and grain crops,
the hour wore on, and it is horrible to think of
what was passing so near them !
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DEATH OF PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON.
269
All this time, concealed by the deep donga and
the tall grass, and along the path afterwards
taken by the fugitives, some forty or fifty Zulus —
the exact number was never known — were creeping
slowly and stealthily towards their unsuspecting
victims. Stealing noiselessly out of the donga,
they made their way, completely concealed by
the Tambookie grass and other rank vegetation
to the water's edge, and there, it is supposed, lay
lurking until the bustie of preparation for a start,
should afford them an opportunity of rushing upon
the Prince's party.
At about ten minutes to four o'clock the native
guide reported that he had seen a Zulu come over
an adjacent hill, and this was interpreted to the
Prince by Corporal Grubb, who knew the language
well
" You can give your horses ten minutes more,"
said the Prince looking at his watch. But the
Kafl&r's intelligence had roused suspicion, and the
order was given to " saddle-up at once ! " Every
man went in search of his horse ; and the escort,
whose Martini-Henry carbines had not yet been
loaded, were soon standing by their horses in
different places near the kraal, waiting for the order
to mount — waiting for death !
"Prepare to mount!" cried the Prince. The
order had scarcely left his lips, when with a startling
crash, there burst through the cover a volley from
at least forty rifles, and the long reedy grass swayed
as if beneath a stormy wind, when the hidden Zulus,
with fiendish shouts, rushed towards the Prince
and his companions.
" Usula !" was their cry; "death to the English
cowards ! " The latter epithet had often been
hurled at oiu- men elsewhere by the Zulus, parti-
cularly at Inhlobane and Etschowe.
The horses all swerved at the suddenness of the
tumult and some broke away. Private Rogers, of
Bettington's Horse, was shot before he could mount,
and those who did mount, could hardly control their
horses, which, terrified by the shots, shouts and
yells of the Zulus, bore them wildly across the
open ground, and towards the deep and perilous
donga
The Prince was' unable to mount his horse, which
was sixteen hands high, difficult to mount at all
times, and still more so in its then state of terror;
and one by one the party galloped past, while the
Prince, who was extremely active, endeavoured to
mount by vaulting.
" Dkpkhez-vouSy sHl vous plait. Monsieur I " cried
Private Letocq, of Bettington's Horse, a French-
man, as he dashed past lying across his saddle;
but the unfortunate Prince made no answer, already
striving his best, and in a minute he was face to
face with the savages !
Yelling and firing after the fugitives, the Zulus
burst from their covert The Prince's horse followed
the rest, and he was last seen by Letocq, holding
his stirrup leather with the left hand^ trying to keep
up with the animal and mount He must have made
one desperate and despairing attempt to leap into
the saddle by clutching a holster ; but the strap gave
way, he fell to the ground, and the horse as it shot
away after the rest, trod on him ; for a moment, he
covered his face with his hands on finding himself
abandoned.
Turning in his saddle for a second, Letocq
looked back again, and saw the Prince running on
foot, pursued by the swift Zulus only a few feet be-
hind him; they had all assegais in their hands.
Then Letocq looked the way he had to ride, and
no one — save the foe — saw the awful end. " The
rest," says the Argus, "galloped on towards General
Wood's camp, and after going three miles met the
general himself and Colonel BuUer. They made
their report, and those officers looking through their
glasses, saw the Zulus leading away the horses they
had taken, the trophies of their successful attack.
Troopers Rogers, Abel, and the Kaffir guide were
killed, Abel being shot in the back by a Martini-
Henry bullet as he was galloping from the kraaL"
The remainder of the party, consisting of Lieu-
tenant Carey and four troopers, achieved the pas-
sage of the donga unhurt, at different points, and
reached Brigadier Wood, as stated, after crossing
the Tombokala, and proceeded at seven p.m. to
the camp of the 2nd Division, now pitched at the
Itelezi HilL
Lieutenant Carey, on whom much obloquy —
rightly or wrongly — rested, 7/as not an Irishman, as
many supposed from his name, but a native of the
south of England.
When the party returned to head-quarters it was
dark, and nothing could be done then towards as-
certaining the fate of the Prince.
" The news of his death," wrote an officer who
was in the camp, " fell like a thunderbolt on all !
At first it was regarded as one of those reports that
so often went the rounds. Bit by bit, however, it
assumed a form. . . . Even then people were
incredulous, only half-believing the dreadful tale."
There was little sleep in the camp that night, and
long after the bugles had sounded "lights out," the
soldiers lingered in groups and talked with bated
breath of this new disaster.
When morning dawned, strong parties were sent
alike from Wood's camp and that of the 2nd
Division, to visit the scene of the catastrophe. A
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Itelezi Hill
grim silence prevailed in the ranks of the searching
parties ; the pennons of the Lancers fluttered gaily
in the wind, but the hoofs of their horses made no
sound on the soft and elastic turf. Low whispers
and murmurs were heard occasionally as the troopers
neared the fatal spot, and lance and sword seemed
tended order, the troops approached the donga,
which General Marshall and three other officers
crossed on foot. Among those taking part in the
search, and somewhat in advance of the rest, was
Lieutenant Dundonald Cochrane of the 32nd Regi-
ment, then in command of some Basutos; he was
PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON.
to be held with a stronger grasp than usual, and then
a malediction escaped more than one bearded soldier
when some vultures and hawks were seen to rise like
a covey, and wing their way upward from the long
Tambookie grass and other rank luxuriance near the
deserted kraal
About 100 Zulus who were found lurking in some
bushes and caves, were speedily and roughly dis-
lodged by some of the 17 th Lancers, dismounted
and led by Adjutant Frith, and advancing in ex-
seen to pause suddenly, and with reverence to take
off his cap. Then all knew what he saw, and on a
small bank of sand, i^ithin the donga, with some
wild flowers under his head as a pillow, naked, all
save one foot, and the reliquary and locket con-
taining his father's miniature on his neck and
a gold armlet on his wTist, lay the handsome
young Prince — dead, and pierced by sixteen ass^ai
wounds.
Near him lay the body of his little white tenier.
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iui«iHiii.i FINDING OF THE PRINCE'S BODY. 271
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272
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Itelezi HOL
which, at least, was faithful to the last, and remained
till an assegai laid hint) dead by his master's side.
The correspondent of the Paris Figaro^ with the
unrestrainable passion of a Frenchman, flung him-
self down by the Prince, weeping and wringing his
hands.
The Prince's lace was composed and almost
smiling, the eyes were open, though one was injured
by the cruel wound which gashed the lid and eye-
brow, and must have caused instant death. Save the
wounds in the chest and front, the body was not
mutilated, and no desecration of it had occurred,
and even the usual coup de grace — the Zulu gash in
the stomach — was, says Captain Tomasson, inflicted
lightly, as if something in the look of the dead had
impressed the ferocious savages that they had struck
down no common foe, for the body of Trooper Abel
was found riddled with assegai wounds and the final
gash given with more than ordinary vigour. In the
donga, at a little distance, was the body of Rogers,
not lying, but propped against a bank, and though
pierced with wounds and gashed, the eyes were open
and glaring into space with a ghastly and horrid
expression.
The Prince's right hand grasped a tuft of
human hair, conclusive evidence that he had not
perished without a close and deadly struggle;
all the ground around where he lay was trampled
and torn, and tracks of blood showed the way his
slayers had fled Whether he had used his re-
volver was then unknown, but he had certainly not
used the sword he loved so well — the sword of his
father, the Emperor. His spurs lay near him,
together with his watch and rings, which, like the
relics at his neck, were supposed to be potent
charms, and which the savages dared not take away.
Some interesting particulars of his death were
afterwards gathered by General Wood from eighteen
Zulus, who were concerned in the tragedy. They
were these : —
The attacking party numbered forty, of whom
twelve followed the Prince, and were concerned
immediately in his death. The Zulus having sur-
rounded the party, fired and rushed on them as
they were in the act of mounting. The Prince not
having succeeded in doing so, ran alongside of his
horse till it broke away from him, on the further
side of the donga, about 220 yards from the kraal
where the party had off'-saddled. The Prince fol-
lowed his horse into the donga, until closely pressed
by his pursuers, when he turned upon them, in the
words of the Zulus themselves, "like a lion at
bay." Struck by an assegai inside the left shoulder,
he rushed at his nearest opponent, who fled out of
the donga and got behind another Zulu, who, coming
up, fired at the Prince when only ten yards from
him. The Prince returned the fire with his pistol,
and faced his now rapidly-increasing foes, until,
menaced fi"om his right rear and struck by another
assegai, he regained the level spot on which he had
first stood in the donga, and where he was com-
pletely surrounded He then seized an assegai
which had been thrown at him, for in struggling
with his terrified horse his sword had fallen from
its scabbard He thus defended himself against
seven or eight Zulus, who stated that they did not
dare to close on him till he sank exhausted by
loss (^ blood in a sitting position.
Thus, though an accomplished swordsman, he
had been by accident deprived of his sword, but
sold his life dearly, fighting to the last
Our soldiers raised the body, and laid it on a
bier formed by lances of the 17th covered by cut
rushes, mealies, and a cavalry doak, and in relays
the loving and respectful hands of his comrades
bore it along by difficult and rough ground towards
the camp at the Itelezi Hill.
When thecamp was reached, the body was received
by General Newdigate, with the entire 2nd Divi-
sion under arms. When the sad cart^e came within
the lines, a gun-carriage was brought ; the body
was laid thereon wrapped in linen and covered by
the Union Jack, and then a funeral service was
performed by the Rev. Charles Ballard, the Roman
Catholic Chaplain to the Forces, Lord Chelmsford,
who was deeply affected, being chief mourner.
The same evening it was enclosed in a rough deal
coffin, and sent by mule-cart to Pietermaritzburg.
On arriving near Lad)rsmith, there occurred one <rf
the most touching, because simple, scenes in the
whole of the long, sad progress that ended at Chisel-
hurst The body remained for the night upon the
veldt at the entrance of the village, with a guard of
honour round it From the schoolhoiise there
came, and lined each side of the way, a long
procession of black children with their har-
monium, and as the body was taken away they
sang a hyma " There was much of pathos in the
sound of the sweet sad strsun uprising in the chill
morning air; this entirely spontaneous mark of
sympathy for the 'young chief' was but one proof
of the feeling that all in the colony, whatever their
age, colour, position, or sex, had in the sadden
close of that bright young life."
The body was escorted by a party of the 58th
Regiment to Pietermaritzburg; and ultimately^
after mass at the Catholic Church in Durban — it
was embarked on the nth June, on board H.M.S.
Boadicea^ and afterwards on board the Orontes for
conveyance to England
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THE ADVANCE INTO ZULULAND.
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• The Prince's major-domo was for some reason
left behind As might be expected, he was incon-
solable for the death of his young master.
It seems but fitting to close this — the most
remarkable episode of the Zulu War — by a brief
reference to the court-martial on Lieutenant Carey,
with whose name all Europe was familiar then. It
was preceded by a Court of Inquiry, held on the
loth June, in the camp of the and Division
upon the Upoko River, and the following is the
finding : —
" The court is of opinion that Lieutenant Carey
did not understand the position in which he stood
to the Prince, and, in consequence, failed to
estimate the responsibility which fell to his lot
Quartermaster-General Harrison states in evidence,
that Lieutenant Carey was in charge of the escort,
while Lieutenant Carey alluding to it says : — * I do
not consider that I had any authority over it' After
the precise and careful instructions of Lord
Chelmsford, stating, as he did, the position the
Prince held, and that he was invariably to be
accompanied by an escort in charge of an officer,
the court considers that such difference of opinion
should not have existed between officers of the
same department
"Secondly, the court is' of opinion that
Lieutenant Carey is much to blame in having
proceeded on duty with part of the escort detailed
by the Quartermaster-GeneraL The court cannot
admit the plea of irresponsibility on Lieutenant
Carey's part, inasmuch as he took steps to obtain
the escort and failed ; moreover, the fact that the
Quartermaster-General was present at the Itelezi
Ridge, gave Lieutenant Carey the opportunity of
consulting him on the matter, of which he failed to
avail himself.
" Thirdly, the court is of opinion that the selec-
tion of the kraal where the halt was made, surrounded
as it was by cover for the enemy, showed a
lamentable want of military prudence.
" Fourthly, the court deeply regrets that no effort
was made to rally the escort and show a front to
the enemy, whereby the possibility of aiding those
who had failed to make good their retreat might
have been ascertained"
A general court-martial, of which Colonel Glyn
was president, was held on Lieutenant Carey on the
1 2 th June, in the Upoko Camp, on the charge of
having behaved in an unsoldierlike manner before
the enemy; but the sentence was kept secret,
awaiting its confirmation by H.R.H. the Com-
mander-in-chief in Britain ; and meanwhile Carey
was sent home under arrest But, in consequence
of some technical irregularity, the proceedings of
the court were declared null and void, and he was
ordered to return to his duty.
Although the Prince held a somewhat undefined
position in the South African Field Force, he
had formed friends innumerable, and the general
feeling was one of intense regret that his high-
spirited impulses were not more controlled by those
into whose hands his life had been entrusted
" The excitement is too great," said a writer at
the time, " to reason calmly upon this subject ; but
the reflection is forced upon us, that here has been
solved one of the most difficult problems of French
history."
CHAPTER XXXVIIL
THE ZULU WAR {continued) : — resumed advance of the second division— skirmish at the
ERZUNGAYAN HILL — MORE ZULU ENVOYS — SKIRMISH NEAR THE UMLATOOSI RFVER.
On the 3rd of June, the 2nd Division again
moved forward, and encamped near the junction of
the Tombokala and Ityotyosi Rivers, within half a
mile of the spot where Prince Louis Napoleon had
been killed Brigadier Wood's column, which had
marched on the preceding day, was now on the left
front of the division, and advanced on the further
side of the Ityotyosi
By this time the horses of our cavalry were
rapidly deteriorating under reduced rations of eight
pounds of bad oats and no hay, and some officers
were beginning to fear that horses unfitted for
cavalry work would prove an encumbrance rather
than an advantage.
For a wonder, the hospital organisation of the
force seemed adequate. By May, two field hospitals
had been formed at Landmann's Drift ; No. i with
seventy-five beds under Surgeon-Major Elgee, and
six surgeons on service with it, with medicines,
ambulances and transport then all ready to move.
No. 2 field hospital, under Surgeon-Major Heather,
with fifty beds and five surgeons, was in the same
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Erzangayan.
State of preparedness. The base hospital for the
2nd Division was constituted at Ladysmith, having
150 beds with four surgeons.
On the 4th of June, the division crossed the
Ityotyosi River, and encamped on the ground just
vacated by the Flying Column, which had moved
onward to the further bank of the Nondwene River.
On the evening of this day, news was received that
a considerable force of the enemy was a few miles
in front of Wood's camp.
Indeed, a cavalry patrol under Colonel Buller,
had a narrow escape from being entrapped by 2,500
Zulus, who were discovered in time, and the attempt
failed ; but on receipt of this intelligence all the
cavalry were ordered out, and an earth-work was
formed round the tents, as the enemy's force was
thought to be but the vanguard of a larger body.
General Marshall with the cavalry — Lancers and
Dragoon Guards — of the division, started at half-
past four a.m., on the 5th, and proceeding by the
camp of Wood's column, reconnoitred the track in
advance, as far as the Upoko River (sometimes
called the Tenemi) when he effected a junction
with Buller and his Irregular Horse, and on
reaching the ground where the ambuscade had been
planned on the previous day, a dark mass of Zulus
were seen in the plain below it, and near them were
some kraals which Buller had fired, all blazing at
once — yet the scene was a beautiful one.
The morning sun had just risen over the opposite
mountain, and turned to golden sheen the river that
rolled at its base. Between these, on a green plain,
were the blazing huts. The hill was seamed with
stony ravines, and clothed with mimosa bushes.
Away on the left, toward Inhlazatye, or the green-
stone mountain, gleaming redly in the sunshine, and
beyond it, was known to lie the great kraal of Cete-
wayo, the object of the combined operations.
The order was given to advance.
"Frontier Light Horse, the centre — BuUer's Horse,
the left— Whalley's the right," cried Colonel Buller.
In the meantime the Zulus had massed, moved off
by companies, and taken up a position in the
dongas at the base of the Erzungayan HiU, where
thick bush and high reedy grass gave them cover.
When the river was crossed, BuUer's force advanced
at a gallop, to within 300 yards of the enemy, and
dismounted. The horses were then led rearward,
out of the hottest fire, by those men told off for
the purpose.
Cover was taken in long grass and behind ant-
heaps, from whence a steady fire was opened ; but
there the hill side was studded with aloes, which
amid the eddying smoke of the musketry, frequently
looked like dark Zulu figures, amd there many a shot
was thrown away. On an ant-heap stood Buller,
watching through his field-glass the effect of the
firing, which went on for some time, till the enemy
made a flank movement on the right, and
poured in a volley at eighty yards from the edge of
a mealie field into which they had crept Buller
saw this, and knew that a large Zulu force was in
reserve.
The order was consequently issued to " retire,"
the movement was well performed, the river was re-
crossed and the Irregulars were formed on its other
side. "Apart from the chances of getting hit,"
wrote one who was present, " the scene was pretty in
the extreme, to see the whole face of the hill dotted
with litde puffs of white smoke. We had eight or
ten men hit — none mortally, and fifteen horses,
killed or wounded The Imperial cavalry had
meanwhile come on the scene, and by General
Marshall's order advanced to the attack."
Led by Colonel Drury Lowe, the troops of the
17 th Lancers, with all their pennons fluttering, ad-
vanced in gallant and imposing order.
Drury Lowe, whose name will occur fi^uently in
these pages, entered the army as a comet in the 17th
Lancers in 1854, after taking degrees at Oxford
He joined his regiment in the Crimea in the follow-
ing year, and was present at the battle of Tchemaya
and the siege and fall of Sebastopol. He was next
in the Indian War, and served in the pursuit of the
rebel forces under Tantia Topee, and in the action
at Zurapore. After having been in command for
twelve years he was placed on half-pay, but was re-
instated in his old regiment in February, 1879 (the
then colonel having met with a serious accident, just
before embarking for the scene of war in South
Africa), and he it was who led in the charge and
pursuit of the Zulus at Ulundl
"Marshall," says the correspondent of the Daify
NewSy whosedetails of theseoperationsare very ample,
" could hardly hope to succeed in such a country,
with his serried squadrons, where Buller had con-
fessed himself foiled, with his light skirmishing
sharpshooters mounted on nimble rats. He was
conscious of the lack of opening for him, and thus
told Drury Lowe to take his Lancers down to
water in the stream, while he sent a troop of dra-
goons to the right to guard against the contingency
of Zulus creeping down the river bed. One squadron
of Lancers had been left, halted in reserve on the
slope behind us. Lowe took his three squadrons
down into the river bed, and crossing, deployed on
the plain beyond He was full of soldierly eager-
ness to give his young troopers their * baptism of
fire,' and he had the genuine cavalryman's con-
viction that there are few things within the scope
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LOWE'S LANCERS IN PEtllL.
275
of fighting that resolute cavahy cannot accomplish.
Marshall sent Lord Downe (of the 2nd Life
Guards, his aide-de-camp) galloping after him to
enjoin cautioa Nelson had a blind eye ; Lowe
has a deaf ear to any injunction he does not relish.^
The Irregular Cavalry who now looked on, ex-
pressed regret to see these splendid Lancers sent on
this service, believing it to be a mere waste of life,
as the enemy were too strongly posted to have any
serious damage done to them, and it seemed hope-
less to expect cavalry to ferret them out of their
holes and cover.
Lowe trotted them up into a line with the now
smoking kraals, and saw between him and the
thorn-clad hill slopes the tall and waving stalks of
the mealie fields. Through these he resolved to
sweep with his men, and let those who might lurk
therein feel the points of British lances. One
squadron he despatched to the left beyond the
burning kraals, with the rest he rode straight at
the mealie fields.
"Gallop !" rang out the trumpets, and the fine
English horses stretched themselves over the smooth
springy sward that led to the mealies. With lances
imslung the troopers dashed on, the Zulu bullets
firom the hill — ^all aimed too high — whistling over
their heads. The reedy stalks of the dead mealies
rustled as they were crushed beneath the hoofs, but
no Zulus were hidden there ; and leading his men
close to the edge of the thorns, Lowe ordered some
to dismount and open fire with their carbines against
those who lurked therein and behind the adjacent
rocks, and there twenty-five Zulu corpses were found
in August by Colonel Russell's column when cutting
firewood.
Mounted and passive, the remainder of the
squadron formed a very conspicuous jnark, and had
the Zulus fired better Uian they did, they must have
emptied many a saddle.
The cavalry were now ordered to fall back, but
not before the Lancers lost one of their best officers,
Lieutenant and Adjutant E. F. C Frith, a capital
soldier and general favourite. Three mounted men
were close together — Frith, Colonel Lowe, and
another — and their horses being all of a light colour
offered an excellent mark for the enemy's bullets.
One shot firom a Martini-Henry struck Frith, who
threw up his arms and fell forward on his saddle-
bow. Those nearest lifted him, but he was dead
when they touched him — shot through the heart
His body was placed across his saddle, and his horse
was led slowly to the rear.
The firing party and advanced squadron now
began to fall back; but for retiring cavalry the
nature of the ground was extremely awkward.
From their inaccessible fastness, beyond the under-
growth of prickly thorns, the Zulus continued to fire,
while other savages, running swiftly along the bed
of the river, opened on one flank, while a third party
hovered on the other, and the whole position of our
little cavalry force would become perilous should
the fire be concentrated on the only point where
the stream could be crossed — ^its sweep or convexity.
- " The time had come for Marshall's cool courage
and prompt grasp of the situation One stretch ot
the river he had covered with dragoons. The
charge of the other he had entrusted to Shepstone's
Basutos. He withdrew the regular cavalry slowly
across by alternate squadrons, continually keeping a
front to the Zulus, and striving, but in vain, to lure
them firom their fastnesses and give him a chance
at them in the open. Having recrossed the river,
we halted on the slope, and then for some time, the
Zulus came out and made us long for artillery.
They formed companies out in the open, and
swarmed all about their blazing kraajs. They
hooted so loudly that we could hear them, and
they gave us a lesson in tactics! Keeping our
attention fixed by their evolutions in the open,
they sent men creeping down along the river-bed
from both flanks, till they opened fire on us down
at the bulge of the convexity."
Over the broken ground it was impossible to
charge, and reinforcements were seen swarming
round both shoulders of the Erzungayan Hill;
Marshall had no infantry, British or native, and no
alternative was left him. Again the trumpets
sounded the " retire," and the two parties of cavalry
rode back to camp and their respective columns ;
after which the 2nd Division occupied new ground,
by marching to the Isandhlwana HilL
Three Zulu envoys of rank had presented them-
selves at Wood's camp on the evening of the 4th,
and as Lord Chelmsford happened to be there he
had an interview with them. The party in all con-
sisted of nine — three seniors, three juniors, and
three lads, who were mat bearers. The six men
carried shields and assegais, and the principal one
had a dingy, faded shawl, tied round his brown and
muscular throat. He and his suite were very
sullen and sulky, because, through some mistake,
no food was offered to them.
On the evening of the 5 th, after the fighting.
Lord Chelmsford resumed the interview.
Various communications had passed previously
between the British authorities and Zulus purporting
to bear peaceful proposals from Cetewayo, but up
to this time they had generally been deemed spies
or impostors, and the original ultimatum was the
only definite statement of the British demands
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PEACE PROPOSALS FROM THE ZULU KING.
277
which had been announced Though not of the
highest rank, these envoys seemed to have really
come from the Zulu king, and they were desired to
return and inform him, that before any terms of
3. That one Zulu regiment, to be named by
Lord Chelmsford, should come in under a flag of
truce and lay down its arms at the distance of one
thousand yards from the British camp
LORD CH&LMSFORD (a PORIRAIT SKETCH BY AN OFFICER
MAOK SHORTLY BRFORK THE BATTLE OF ULUNDl).
peace could be considered, the following conditions
must be complied with : —
1. The restoration 01 the captured oxen at the
king's kraal, together with the two 7'pounders
taken at Isandhlwana.
2. A promise to be given by Cetewayo, that
all arms taken during the war should be collected
and surrendered
A written statement of these conditions was
given to the envoys, who were then dismissed to
Ulundi. Prior to their departure, Lord Chelmsford
gave no promise of the arrestment of operations.
These envoys seemed greatly impressed by the
appearance of our forces, particularly the Dragoon
Guards and Lancers ; and the younger men pointed
to the infantry, saying, " There b the wall we could
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Fort Newdigattf.
never break through." They knew nothing about
the colours of the and 24th, left or lost at
Isandhlwana ; nor could they be made to under-
stand what " colours " meant, and on being shown
a British flag, they said with great simplicity, that
"Cetewayo would never wear anything like that"
Many attacks on our troops appeared about this
time in prints at home ; they were accused of inhu-
manity in burning down kraals, by writers who knew
not what kraals were. There were three kinds of
kraals in Zululand — the royal, the military, and the
domestic, a hamlet of beehive-like wigwams. The
first-named were filled with cattle and stores of
mealies to reward the warriors; and the second
were fortified depots, rallying points, and each was
a sort of barrack, or garrison.
In the South Afirican Field Force at this time,
the use of the razor was almost entirely abolished,
and so beards became very fashionable. General
Newdigate trimmed his grizzled beard square in
the fashion of Henry VIIL, while Brigadier Wood
wore his cut in a peak; those under their com-
mand are said to have trimmed their beards after
the same style. Concerning the bearing of the
troops, a writer says : — " Field service, with, please
Providence, some genuine fighting experience
thrown in, evokes the finest qualities of the
soldier. It forges the true link of mutual good
feeling between officers and men; it stimulates
esprt^ de corps ; it brings good men to the front,
and incites men less good to emulate the fine ex-
amples they see before them; it blots out the
baser phases of garrison life at home ; it teaches
self-reliance, ! manliness, and a rude homely
patriotism, quite different from the gassy swagger
of the music halL" This observer also remarked
that in the camp there was less foul speech than in
barracks ; that the men were kindlier one to another,
and generally graver and more earnest than when
in garrison.
On the 6th of June the 2nd Division remained
halted on the bank of the Nondwene River, and a
long train of waggons containing a fortnight's pro-
visions were unloaded, that they might be sent to
the rear for more supplies ; two forts of solid stone
/ were commenced, and the post was named Fort
Newdigate.
To be ready for any surprise at night, the camp
was surrounded by parties of infantry with supports
in rear, and a chain formed by the native levies
between. At nine p.m. on the 6th of June one of the
latter thought he saw a Zulu creeping in the gloom
towards them, and fired three shots, the recognised
signal that the camp was attacked, and the soldiers
of the 58th, or Rutlandshire Regiment, ran in on
their supports, the officer in command of i?diich fired
two volleys, blindly and at random, and retired into
one of the unfinished works, which, in consequence,
was named by the soldiers "Fort Funk." The
alarm spread, the tents were struck, and the troops
manned the waggon laager, and, fearing his pickets
might be shot down. General Newdigate ordered
the bugles to sound the " close," and two rounds to
be fired by the heavy artillery, while the troops
opened fire from every face of the laager upon —
nothing !
Orders were promptly issued for this blind and
blundering fire to cease, as the outposts had not
been withdrawn ; but not until two sergeants and
seven men had received several gunshot wounds —
one mortal — from their own comrades. Several
oxen were shot, their drivers frightened almost to
death, and the heaped-up tents riddled with shot
Order was restored when the moon shone out bright,
and showed there was no enemy near, so the tents
were pitched again.
Two companies of the Scots Fusiliers, with two
Gatlings, and a company of the Native Contingent,
were left to garrison Fort Newdigate, with a squadron
of Dragoon Guards to keep open communications,
and the 2nd Division moved forward to the Upoko
River, the scene of the skirmish on the 5th of
June.
The duty of escorting the empty waggons referred
to, was entrusted to Brigadier Wood's Flying Column,
which was joined by half the cavalry of the 2nd
Division, and during its absence on escort duty
BuUer's mounted men took its place.
On the next advance Colonel W. P. CoUingwood,
of the Scots Fusiliers, a Crimean officer, who dis-
played great courage and presence of mind when
the Spartan troopship was wrecked on the Afiican
coast in 1856, was left in command of Fort Newdi-
gate, and Fort Marshall, five miles distant, was garri-
soned by the remaining companies of his regiment
The delays which had occurred in the progress
of the war, and the manifest want of harmony
between the military and civil authorities in Natal
led, as rdated, to a change in the supreme com-
mand, and it was in the camp at Upoko that Lord
Chelmsford received, on the i6th of June, the some-
what mortifying telegram, announcing his super,
session by Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley.
With the force now welded together, consisting
of 4,062 Europeans, 1,103 natives, and 14 pieces of
cannon (including two Gatlings) at that time. Lord
Chelmsford deemed himself certain of striking a
final blow at UlundL Considering all the difficulties
that General Crealock with the ist Division had
encountered, the Commander-in-chief had thought
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SKIRMISHES
•
it would be only fair to give him and his force the
honour of drawing the first blood in the final attack,
but the coast sickness had proved so fatal to
Crealock's commissariat train that he was unable
to avail himself of Lord Chelmsford's chivalrous
kindness.
The operations of the 2nd Division and of the
Fljring Column were now combined
All longed to wipe out the stain of Prince Louis
Napoleon's death. On the 19th of June the forward
march was resumed, and the ascent of a steep spur of
the great Ibabanango Mountain having been accom-
plished, Wood encamped on the left bank of the
river there, with the division a little way in his rear.
: On the 2oth, when marching between two branches
of the Umlatoosi River, a skirmish took place
between some Zulus and Buller's Horse, a corps
raised by Major F. C Buller, of the Ceylon Rifles,
an officer who had served through various African
wars and in Borneo. The Irregulars forming the
advance guard had left the camp before dawn, to
examine the ground over which the column was to
pass. Forming two detachments, they examined
the hills on the right and left of the route. Buller's
Horse were on the former flank and unearthed
some Zulus, who fired a volley and then fled over
the crest of a hill, ere the troopers could climb its
steep side.
On the sununit was a long plateau covered with
rich short grass, and bordered by, a deep gorge
some miles below. Through this some Zulus were
seen driving cattle towards a river. This Major
Buller suspected to be a mere lure, and issued
orders that no capture was to be attempted, and
this, as the sequel showed, was fortunate. Riding to
the spur of the ridge that overhung the gorge, his
troopers opened fire with their carbines, and no
sooner had they done so, than a volley from rifles
was given from a knoll, 200 yards off on the right
. An officer was despatched with twenty-five troopers
WITH ZULUS.
279
to dislodge these Zulus, and took ground on another
spur, outflanking them, and both parties of Irre-
gulars now opened on the stragglers 600 yards below.
The latter took shelter in a donga, which was fired
into whenever a ^ark head appeared. About 300
Zulus were seen stealing out of the lower end of
the gorge and down the river bed, to make a two
miles' detour, and cut off Buller's Horse, while those
in the donga fled out of it and attempted a charge,
but were repulsed with the loss of thirty killed.
The detouring body had in the meantime crept
round the base of the hill, so Buller ordered his party
to fall back, which they did with some captured
cows and sheep. Such skirmishes were of daily
occurrence. "In the fiace of much superior
numbers, our small force of fifty men," says one
who was engaged, " had inflicted a loss of about
forty on them. Their total numbers were about
700. The party which had early in the day
gone to the left, had exchanged shots with an enem)*
posted in an inaccessible kloof"
On the 2ist of June, the Flying Column made
a short march of about three miles, and crossed
the left bank of the eastern Umlatoosi, while the
division came up from the Ibabanango spruit, and
encamped on the right bank.
As it was evident that these continued advances
menaced Ulundi every day, more Zulus were now
seen, and small skirmishes took place, while the
enemy made many determined attempts to bum
up the tall grass along the line of march, and all
vigilance was requisite to prevent them from doing
so, for bebg dry as tinder, it caught fire at once, im-
perilling the ammunition boxes, and what the men
carried in their pouches. Every day a broad strip
was cut around the camp lest tents and all might
be burned ; but sometimes the enemy would fire a
large strip within rifle range and then take to flight,
and on some occasions the troops lay among black
ashes.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THB 2ULU WAR {continued^ :— ON THE MARCH TO ULUNDI— THE EXPEDITION BEYOND THE tJMVOLOSL
Though the Home Government, influenced by
a section of the English press, sent out Sir Garnet
Wolseley to supersede Lord Chelmsford as Com-
mander-in-chief, the latter was fortunately able, as
we shall soon relate, to complete his plans for
the final blow before that supersession took effect
On the 22nd of June, Wood moved forward a few
miles, while the division remained in camp, and
Newdigate, whose teams of oxen required rest, gave
the troops a holiday. Wood as he advanced carefully
noted every stream, rock, and feature of the route,
which lay through jungle, long grass, and among
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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sandstone boulders, while the trumpet of the elephant
could be heard at times in the thickets. Two com-
panies of the Perthshire, with two of the 58th, one
of Engineers, two 7-pounders of Colonel Harness's
battery, R.A., and Bengough's natives were now
detached to construct and garrison a work to be
called Fort Evelyn, on the left bank of the Um-
latoosi; and so quickly did they toil, that by
the next evening it was quite defensible, with an
outwork constructed on an bland in the stream,
situated amid rapids and picturesque cascades,
overhung by thomwood and wild lemon trees. It
was reached by garlands of sweet scented creepers
like baboon-ropes — a work of great peril, the slightest
mistake involving death.
On the 24th, the Flying Column marched to the
summit of the Jackal Ridge, while the 2nd Division
encamped at the base of it.
While patrolling in front of the column that day,
Buller and his Horse came on some eighty or so
Zulus busy burning the grass, to destroy the forage
for horses and oxen : of these he made short
work, and might have slain them all if he had
chosen ; but it was afterwards decided that an attack
in force should be made upon five kraals, which he
reported having seen in the district of Usipezi,
guarded by a rather formidable Zulu impL
The natural features of the country as seen from
the ridge were beautiful The valleys on the left
were full of green bush, wherein the cotton tree and
castor-oil plant grew wild; in the foreground in
some places the hills were of red rock, and crested
with luxuriant timber, while at their bases grew the
aloe with its spear-like leaves and tall scarlet spikes,
and the pale green foliage of the spekboom, which
is said to be the favourite food of the elephant
From the heights could be seen in the distance
what was supposed to be Ulundi — that mysterious
royal kraal of which traders had circulated such
fabulous accounts. Vague stories of the wealth of
Cetewayo went about, says an officer of the
Irregulars, with splendid visions of loot in the shape
of ostrich feathers, diamonds, and gold dust " In-
credible stories," he adds, "of the amount of
treasure taken at Isandhlwana were circulated. We
believe the real amount was ;£'3oo. It is needless
to say these golden visions were (eventually) broken,
not a man of the Regulars being a sovereign the
better for any loot taken. Some of the Irregulars
got small sums from deserted kraals. The amount
taken altogether was small. The men took pains to
conceal anything they did take, as they were afraid
of being made to disgorge."
On the 25 th, prior to the intended attack on the
kraals. Wood's column advanced again, and early
in the day an unknown stream with steep banks
and a soft muddy bed had to be crossed, a difficulty
achieved by laying down grass mattings found in ^
deserted kraals ; but as there was only one crossing-
place the delay was great, and the time occupied
seven hours, the division following.
The advance now brought the troops in sight of
the kraals seen by Buller, and while the column
halted, at daybreak on the 26th a force to attack
them paraded for Lord CheUnsford's inspection.
It consisted of two squadrons of the 17th Lancers,
Buller's mounted men, two 9-pounder Royal Artil-
lery guns, and two companies of Bengough's natives.
The kraals stood in the 'Mpembene Valley, five
miles north of the camp, and hot work was expected
there. The guns, and Drury Lowe's gallant Lancers
in their blue and white-faced uniform, with red and
white pennons fluttering, took a circuitous path,
and speedily crowned some heights above the
kraals, which were shelled and all burned in succes-
sion without much opposition, for, though a skirmish
ensued, not a British soldier was touched.
These kraals or barracks consisted in some in-
stances of 2,500 huts each, and in them were found
baths, buckets, canteens, a hymn book, and little
prints of Roman Catholic saints, all brought from
Isandhlwana. By the gunners on the hills, while
the smoke of the blazing kraals ascended into the
clear sky in five great columns, a compact body
of Zulus, estimated by Tomasson at 2,000 strong,
was seen advancing, but the guns opened fire, two
shells exploded in their fi-ont, and they retired, pur-
sued on the spur by the Frontier Light Horse and
mounted Basutos, who killed only a few, however,
perhaps because the atmosphere then was hot,
stifling and fragrant, like that of a conservatory at
home.
Both columns niarched to the Enlonganeni Hill,
and encamped there on the 27th, and Buller, who,
with his unwearied Horse, was out reconnoitring
between that point and the White Umvolosi, which
there rolls in all its breadth through a valley covered
with brushwood, met three envoys from Cetewayo,
who bore two elephant's tusks, and were accom-
panied by a herd of 150 commissariat oxen cap-
tured at Isandhlwana. On being conveyed to the
camp, they handed to Lord Chelmsford a letter
written on behalf of the Zulu king by a Dutch
trader named Vijn, who, having been among the
Zulus when the war broke out, had remained with
them since.
This letter was in reply to Lord Chelmsford's
communication of the 5 th of June, fi-om his camp
at Nondwene, and was to the effect " that the cattle
sent were all that could be collected, the rest having
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THE MARCH TO ULUNDI.
281
died of lung disease ; that the anns demanded could
not be surrendered, as they were not in the king's
possession ; that the two 7-pounder guns were on
their way, and that the British troops must now
retire."
The Zulu messengers left the camp, bearing with
them the elephant's tusks, and a written reply from
^e general, who informed Cetewayo "that, as the
conditions had not been complied with, the British
army would still advance ; but, that as some cattle
had been delivered, this advance would be delayed
until the evening of the 29th, to allow time for the
fulfilment of the remainder of the conditions."
Lord Chelmsford also expressed his " willingness to
make peace, and modified the preliminary condi-
tions by stating, that the surrender of such arms
captured at Isandhlwana as were in possession of
the Zulus now with the king would be accepted,
and that a body of his retainers to the number of a
regiment (1,000) might make their submission by
laying down their arms, instead of this being done
by a regiment named"
The troops had two entu-e days' rest during the
halt by the Enlonganeni HilL In the afternoon of
the 28th, Lord Chehnsford received a telegram from
Sir Garnet Wolseley, informing him of what he knew
already, that Sir Garnet had assumed the command
in South Afiica, and requesting a plan of the cam-
paign, with the positions of the troops, to be for-
warded to him.
Sir Garnet had at that time assembled the Dur-
ban Kaffir chiefs, seventy of whom responded,
some of them travelling a hundred miles to the
meeting, when it was explained to them that a great
white chief had come across the sea to talk with
them and deliver the words of the Great AVhite
Queen. After thanking them, he said : —
" The Great Queen orders me to finish the war
forthwith, and I shall do so, if loyal subjects will
help me as I wish. I am informed by the generals
in front that they have plenty of men, but that the
cattle are dymg. The British can easily beat the
Zulus and all the tribes helping them. Even should
the war continue for years, the Great Queen will go
on sending out armies, as the British always do
what they say they will do. I shall not leave Afiica
until the war is finished This is a war against a
king who has broken his promises, and not against
the people, whom the Queen does not wish to de-
prive of their cattle, their land, or their property.
The Queen desires the war to be finished quickly,
and I can do so in six or eight weeks, if the
chiefs provide carriers."
Hearty expressions of approval followed this
address, and many chiefs stepped forward with
offers of assistance, among them Sikalo, a young
induna, whose fiather with forty of his tribe fell at
Isandhlwana.
Sir Garnet wished 4,000 carriers to carry supplies
in the Ashantee fashion, and on the 30th of June,
he telegraphed to the Secretary of State for War,
that he was organising them.
Ulundi was now not more than sixteen miles
distant fi-om Ix)rd Chelmsford's camp at the En-
longaneni Hill, and it was decided that the troops
moving from thence against it, should be in light
marching order, without kits or tents, and with
rations for ten days only. The latter supplies were
to be borne in light ox-waggons, which, with the
mule-carts for the regimental reserve ammunition,
were the only transport vehicles, about 200 in all,
that were to accompany the force.
On the 29th, while these waggdtis were sent back
to Fort Marshall for more supplies, the rest of the
ox-waggons were formed into a laager on the hill
with entrenchments and strong abattis of trees, felled
and pegged down for the protection of all stores,
which were entrusted to the care of two companies of
the 24th (full of disappointment at being left behind);
and one non-commissioned officer and two privates
from each company of both columns, which on the
following day moved down from the hill into the
valley of the White Umvolosi, and bivouacked by
a small stream on the level ground between the hill
and the river, which ran in the distance like a great
silver flood through the green valley, its banks
thickly studded with spiky aloes, mimosa and other
tropical trees, including those strange stiff and gaunt-
looking euphorbias, whose leafless outlines suggest
the idea of Indian idols, and are so peculiar to
South Afiica.
Here, about midway, two other messengers from
Cetewayo were received by Lord Chelmsford, before
whom they laid the sword of Prince Louis Napo-
leon, which had been recovered from the small tribe
by whom he was slain. It was easily recognisable
by the cypher n, worked into the hilt, and was
regarded with mournful interest and curiosity by
all who saw it. Rumour said it had belonged to
the Great Napoleon, but it certainly had been worn
by Napoleon IIL
They brought another letter written by the Dutch
trader Vijn on behalf of Cetewayo. It promised
that the two field-pieces and some more cattle would
come in on the following day. It was addressed
" From Cetewayo to liord Chelmsford," and Vijn
at the peril of his life, had written on the outside,
^^IfyouconUy come strong — ihere art 20^000 of t?um^
a noble message, deserving of remembrance. There
were many Zulus about Cetewayo who could read
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aSs
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LThe TJmvolotI,
English, and had one of them seen this warning, tor-
ture and death would have been the doom of Vijn.
In Lord Chelmsford's reply, the terms of peace
were further modified to the surrender of the guns
and i,ooo rifles, in lieu of the submission of i,ooo
men, and as water was scarce in his present camp,
the general announced his intention of moving
dose to the Umvolosi, but promised to go no
enemy was seen advancing on the opposite bank,
and as an immediate attack was apprehended, the
2nd Division instantly formed a laager on its
leading waggon. The Zulus, however, did not
cross, and no attack was made.
Next day saw its waggons parked with those of
Wood's column, so as to form a double laager, and
the whole of the 2nd was occupied in cutting down
SIR EVELYN WOOD.
farther than the bank of that river before noon on
the 3rd of July, to give ample time for the fulfil-
ment of the conditions stipulated, adding that if •
the Zulus made no opposition to this trifling advance,
he would burn no more kraals.
Next day, ist July, saw the march of the columns
continued, through a difficult country, covered with
long reedy grass that swayed to and fro in the wind,
and great sharp cactus and mimosa bush, and with-
out opposition the White Umvolosi was reached.
At thirty minutes past one p.m., while Wood's
column, which was leading, was getting into posi-
tion on the bank of the stream, a large force of the
and clearing away the bush on all sides, and build*
ing a stone fort on a rising eminence close by.
At two a.m. on the morning of that day, the
Irregulars of Wood's column had been ordered to
get under arms for watching and reconnoitring
work, and that hour saw them leave the camp
amid moonless, starless, and pitchy darkness.
They knew not upon whom they might fell, as
for the four preceding days reviews of the Zulu
troops had been in progress, and impies of 4,000
strong would march nearly to the banks of the
river in a menacing manner, and then return, but
every movement was closely watched
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The UmvoIosL]
THE ZULU WAR-SONG.
283
Amid the gloom of the morning, the Irregulars
rode for some miles in the strictest silence, till they
reached a ridge that sloped down to where the
dark current of the broad Umvolosi rolled noise-
lessly past, and there they dismounted to rest
their horses. Then, at some miles' distance,
rising and falling through the quiet air, was
heard the war-song of the Zulu army — at times
a mighty volume of sound from many thousands
the warsong still floated upward from the valley of
the river. Thus far one account Another states
that during the 2nd no Zulu force was seen (this
probably means by the headquarter force); and
that Cetewayo's intentions still remained unknowa
A herd of those white cattle which are the
peculiar property of the king was observed in the
course of the day coming from the direction of
Ulundi, and seemed to have been sent thence
2nd. DIVISION
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PLAN OF LAAGERS ON THE MARCH TO ULUNDI.
of voices united ; at other times dying away, weird
and solemn.
They were supposed to be guarding the ford
below, and every moment the Irregulars expected
to be engaged, but their orders from Chelmsford
were not to fire till fired on. As day came in they
mounted, and rode a little way to another ridge,
from whence they could see the valley of the Um-
volosi filled with the dark masses of the enemy, but
chiefly posted at two fords below. Trotting back,
they saw the long trams of baggage waggons de-
scending the slopes in rear, and the sun flashing on
the rifle-barrels of the columns as they got under
arms for any emergency, while the weird music of
as a peace-oflering ; but before they could reach
the fords on the river they were driven back by the
Zulu troops, who were indignant at the prospect of
these animals being surrendered So passed the 2nd
of July, and the dawn of the important 3rd — the
last day of grace — stole in. The defensive prepara-
tions at the fort and laager continued all day, un-
disturbed by the enemy.
Noon came; the hour named for the receipt
of a reply passed; none had arrived, and this
silence was deemed as a rejection of the final pro-
posals sent to Cetewayo. It was, however, known
long after, that the messengers who had visited Lord
Chelmsford on the 30th had been falsely informed
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[TheUmTokaL
on their return to Ulundi, that Vijn, "Cete-
wayo's Dutchman," as he %vas named, was gone
thence, and no other translator being then
available, the letter they bore was never delivered
to the king, but remained in possession of one
of them unopened till the i8th of the following
October, though, as its purport had been explained
to them, it might have been conveyed to Cetewayo
orally, and thus averted much loss of life^
Two hours before noon on the 3rd a sputtering
fire was opened by the Zulus from the rocks on the
left bank of the river, at our men watering their
horses in its bed, which was the sole source of
water supply for the force ; and as this straggling
fire was maintained along the front for about two
miles, after noon was passed, all negotiations were
naturaUy deemed at an end A soldier of the 90th
was wounded, more than one horse was hit ; the
Zulus became more insolent, and all the watering
and bathing operations went on under fire, yet the
orders for the day enforced comparative inactioa
Through glasses women could be seen hurriedly
burying the valuables belonging to the different
kraals, seven of which were in sight all at once.
At one p.m. a reconnaissance in force was under-
taken by Colonel Buller with the mounted men of the
Flying Column, while guns were brought up to
cover his retreat, in case he should be hard pressed
Accompanied by Lord William Beresford, Buller led
his Irregulars down the river, crossed it in a rapid
gallop to the left, turning the flank of a large bluff,
the front of which was lined by the enemy's sharp-
shooters until they were dislodged by a couple of
shells, that went whistling among them. Meanwhile
every waggon in the laager, and every coign of
vantage, was crowded by officers and men, to
watch the movements of the Irregular Horse, whose
object was twofold — to turn the enemy on the
bluff, from whence their fire had been so annoying
all morning, and to proceed as far as possible with
safety on the way to Ulundi, observing the ground
on every hand
Sending a portion of his force by the ford of a
waggon-track, Buller with the main body crossed
lower down, and moved round the southern end of
the bluff. After galloping up the opposite bank,
where the aloe, the mimosa, and other tropical
shrubs grew thick, and firom amid which the
steinbok and duiker fled with affright, the Horse
pushed on in a helter-skelter after the Zulus,
who fled in hundreds towards the great kraal of
Unodwengo. At the head of his best mounted
men, the heroic Buller went galloping on towards
Ulundi ; but between it and him lay deep hollows,
with one intersecting them at right angles.
Suddenly fi-om each of these hollows, through
the chief of which flowed a stream named the
'Imbilane, there sprang up a body of 5,000 Zulus in
front and flanks, pushing boldly forward with the
double object of encircling the force and cutting off
its retreat
BuUer's command consisted of the Frontier light
Horse, the Mounted Infantry, the Basutos undor
Captain Cochrane, the Natal Light Horse under
Captain Watt Whalley, a regular soldier of fortune,
who had served in the Mutiny, China, and Abys-
sinia, in the Papal Zouaves, and in the Carlist War
as colonel The other corps were Rangers, mixed
Hottentots, and broken men from the Diamond
Fields.
"Halt, and fire, without dismounting," were
now the orders of Buller; but, as several volleys
responded, they had to wheel about and fall back
with the Zulus after them. Commandant Raa^
who had seen many a fierce border raid and fray,
had halted near the Unodwengo kraal, with his
Rangers as supports, and their close fire kept the
Zulus in check, but a steady retreat was all that
could be achieved, and not without loss. In gal-
loping back, with the fleet-footed Zulus in hot chase,
some of our Irregulars went splashing girth-deep at
the point where they had first crossed the Umvo*
losi, others went sweeping down by the bluff that
overhung the river, pressed hard on both flanks
by the horns of the advancing Zulu column, which
threatened to cut them off entirely, and might have
done so but for the fire of Major Tremlett's
9-pounders, and, as it was, on the left of the re-
treating force, the fighting was all but hand-to-
hand, while many of Buller's horses were seen
carrying double, thus saving those whose cattle had
been shot under them.
To one of these the Adjutant of the Light Horse
gave his charger, and the fellow — a German —
actually rode off on it, leaving his preserver help-
less in the open. The Zulus were advancing
rapidly. Lord William Beresford saw, after cutting
his way through fifty Zulus, a trooper of the Light
Horse dismounted and reeling, giddy with pain,
and, wheeling his horse round, resolved to save
life or lose his own. He ordered him to mount
behind him, but, as the man did not know
English, he delayed to obey it, and was with
difficulty saved from a cruel death. "All this
took place while the Zulus were racing over the
150 yards that separated them from the pair, there-
fore it occupied but little time— enough, however,
to earn two or more V.C.'s. Commandant Cecil
D'Arcy, who had earned his V.C over and again
on the Inhlobane day, and who, though then
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THE ADVANCE IN FORCE.
285
recommended for the decoration, did not get it, as
he was an Irregular, now earned it again. He like-
wise rode back to save a dismounted and stunned
man. He jumped off his horse, and attempted to
lift the man bodily into the saddle ; this he could
not do, and, whOe trying, strained his back, so
severely indeed as to have to miss the battle of the
next day — probably the first fight for three years
he had missed in South Africa. The Zulus closed
on him rapidly, and he was only able, crippled as he
was, to avoid them and get away, without accom-
plishing his object'* (" With the Irregulars.'')
The unfortunate trooper was overtaken and as-
segaied, with four others, and thirteen horses were
killed. The Zulu loss was at least a hundred.
Colonel BuUer had penetrated altogether about
six miles beyond the river, and the expedition
might have had a better effect had some infantry
and guns during the interim taken possession of the
bluff referred to, and more effectually covered his
retreat, which now the Zulus considered a victory,
and their songs of triumph were heard loading the
air in the early part of the night, as they marched
and counter-marched from kraal to kraal Buller
had objected to firing the kraals, though close to
them, lest the Zulus might charge under cover of
the smoke.
During the whole night of the third July, the
howls and singing of the Zulus could be heard, and
a night attack on the British laager was anticipated
but none was made.
They drank enormous quantities of ufywala, or
Kafiir beer, that night, a sour beverage like thin
gruel; yet they contrived to get intoxicated on
it, and it was seen flowing out of the mouths of the
woimded and dying next day.
Lord Chelmsford was so pleased with the result
of Buller's reconnaissance, that he resolved to lose
no time in advancing at once on Ulundi Accord-
ingly a litde before daybreak on the morning of
the 4th July, Wood with his Flying Column crossed
the White Umvolosi, leaving the ist battalion of the
24th and other Europeans, to the number of 529,
with ninety-three natives, under Colonel Bellaurs,
in laager with all the heavy baggage and supplies,
and he occupied the bluff commanding the upper
or waggon ford.
The river was crossed by the combined force,
having a total strength of 4,166 Europeans, and
958 native troops, with two Catlings and twelve
pieces of cannon.
Under Buller, the Irregulars, who had been in
the saddle long before dawn, pushed on ahead of
the combined column. Each of the former had
provisions for a day and a half^ with 100 rounds of
ball cartridge. They cantered through the river,
scaring in flights the vultures, then gorging them-
selves on the slain of the previous day, that were
lying there ghastly and torn, among the tamarind
and acacia trees, the convolvuli, wild guava and
sweet-scented bush, which fiinged the bank of the
rippling river, and amid^which the great bees began
to hum as the morning sun arose.
The order of march was as follows: — 80th
Regiment, with four Royal Artillery 7-pounders, two
9-pounders, and two Catlings; 90th and 13th
Regiments; 94th and 58th Regiments, with two
7- and four 9-pounders ; the Royal Scots Fusiliers
in rear, covered by three squadrons of the 17 th
Lancers. The infentry were drenched to their
waist-belts in fording the river.
About half-past seven Buller's Irregulars, after
pushing on unopposed, through rough and jungly
ground, eastward of the Umvolosi, reached the open
country. Nothing of the enemy was seen by
them as yet, excepting dead bodies here and there,
marking the line of yesterday's conflict On passing
the Unodwengo kraal, however, masses of them
were seen on the adjacent hills moving rapidly,
yet keeping out of sight as much as possible, as
they evidently did not think the time had come
to attack the invaders on the plain. Detachments
were now hurrying from the kraals, and through
field-glasses it could be noticed how companies
swelled into regiments, and regiments into impies.
They were also seen massing in the bush, along the
banks of the little river Unodwengine, and at
Ulundi; and soon the riders came to the body
of a poor prisoner whose shrieks had been heard
over night It was tied to a stake and mutilated
beyond all description ; but the sight called forth
deep threats and imprecations fi'om all who saw it
The Irregulars looked back from their saddles
as the sun rose above the hills, and could see the
imposing sight of the column coming on, the
fluttering pennons of the Lancers in their blue
uniforms lapelled with white; the bright steel
barrels and bayonets of the scarlet-clad infantry;
while, in the hollows where the Zulus were gather-
ing, all was gloom as yet, for they lay under the
shadow of the great mountains.
The trumpets sounded — the forward movement
began again, and ground was passed wherein the
women of the kraals had buried their valuables,
and then the horses began to stumble, as pits, to
entrap them, had been dug and covered over with
coarse creeping grass.
And now we have to relate the story of the
advance of the force in hollow square, perhaps the
first instance of such a movement in war.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
CUlnndL
CHAPTER XL
THE ZULU WAR (continued) : — the battle of ulundl
The order was given for the troops to form a large
hollow oblong square, with Engineers' tool-cart,
ammunition and bearers in the centre, under Major
Chard and Captain Ainsley. The Flying Column
under Wood held the post of honour in front, and
anon as circumstances requured, his clear voice rang
out the order, "The square will wheel to the left"
or " right," as the case might be. This advance in
hollow square was a most imposing sight At first
the formation was somewhat loose, but only so that
/i
ii4 R.A. .. r
(7 Pounder.)^*-
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(7 founders)
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(0 Poundart)
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4 Companies 68th. ^^^rt
8
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"/e R.A.
(9 Pounders)
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6 Companies 90th.
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4 Com|>anles 04th. ^^
"/S R.A.
^7 Pounders)
DISPOSITIONS IN THE *< SQUARE" AT ULUNDI QULV 4, 1879).
the general formation on this eventful day was as
shown on the accompanying diagram.
. The infantry on the sides of this hollow square
marched in sections of fours, those in the front and
rear faces being deployed, and thus formed, the ad-
vance began about eight in the morning, covered
by cavalry scouring the front and both flanks under
Buller, while two squadrons of the 17th Lancers,
under Colonel Drury Lowe, with Captain Shep-
stone's Basutos, formed the rear-guard.
In the centre, with all hb staff, rode Lord
Chelmsford in rear of the front face, and ever and
a few minutes would close all up and make a human
wall The colours — the first time for many days —
were all flying, and the bands were playing, a very
unusual circumstance, as the bagpipe is generally
the only instrument heard before or in action. The
stirring music, says Tomasson, vibrated through
every heart and made all impatient for battle. The
guns were marched parallel with the infantry.
The general march of this huge rectangle was
north-eastward, between the Ndabakaombe and
Unodwengo kraals. It soon reached propitious
ground. "Are we to fight here?" asked Colonel
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THE ZULU ATTACK.
287
BuUer. « No," repUed Lord Chelmsford, " a Uttle
fiarther on." Past the two kraals, about 2,000 yards
north of which lay the great curcular grave of
Panda, the father of Cetewayo, the march was con-
tinued till a favourable position was reached ; then
Lord Chehnsford wheeled the rectangle half-right
and halted it, with its front towards Ulundi, which
lay due east and about half a mile distant, with a
ruined mission church and a group of gum trees
half way between.
About two miles off were steep hills, the sides of
which were strewn with grey boulders. To the right
of the square rose lower hills covered with thorn
trees, running towards the mouth of the White
UmvolosL In the rear and on the left spread a
broken country, scarred by stony dongas and
sloping valleys, studded with mimosa bush and
strange, stiff, gaunt euphorbias. The position was
in a kind of amphitheatre, where stood three great
military kraals, die chief one being that of Ulundi.
Close by there yawned a gloomy hollow, used by
the Zulus as a place of execution since the days of
King Chaka, and all around were the fields and
demesne of Cetewayo.
Buller and his ubiquitous riders dashed about
here and there to tempt on the Zulu columns,
which were seen advancing from various quarters.
This was about half-past eight in the morning. At
the extreme end of the amphitheatre the sun shone
strongly upon a long line of great white oval shields,
marching in a species of double column, with
skirmishers thrown out in front and on the flanks,
in imitadon of European tacdcs, as they emerged
from the base of the hill, and occasionally the barrel
of a rifle or the blade of a knife emitted an ominous
gleam.
At the same time the mounted Irregulars under
Buller were far out, hovering on three sides of the
square, which was all closed up now, shoulder to
shoulder, with every gun and rifle loaded, while the
anmiunition boxes were opened and the doctors got
out their instruments; but from some error, the
right, where it was thought the Lancers would have
acted, was at first unprovided for. A remedy was
soon found, as the mounted Basutos and Native
Contingent under Dundonald Cqchrane rapidly
deployed in excellent style, and skirmishing towards
the Ndabakaombe kraal, held the enemy pluckily
in check. The first kraal was fired, some of the
Basutos having applied flint and steel with great
deliberation to the work, and the lapping flames
and rolling smoke ascended skyward together.
The next was the kraal of King Panda, wherein he
had dwelt of old, named Unodwengo, which was also
fired, but the smoke, as it rolled along the ground,
proved such a screen to the advancing Zulus that
Lord Chehnsford ordered its immediate extinction.
Still anxious to lure them on, Buller sent forward
twenty horsemen under Captain Parminter, with
orders to "ride close and draw them, but not
dismount, and to watch the donga on his right"
Parminter obeyed, and on seeing so small a force
advancing, the Zulu front in that quarter opened to
make a trap, while sending a body down into the
donga to cut them off. Enraged at being bearded
by only twenty men, who rode right up to them and
poured in a carbine fire, they began to advance
firing at random. A German trooper, in defiance
of BuUer's orders, dismounted to handle his carbine,
and his horse, terrified by the yells of the Zulus,
swerved wildly round and prevented him mounting.
His peril was seen by Captain Parminter, who
assisted him into his saddle, and, over ground pitted
with artificial holes and covered with grass, the
twenty troopers rode furiously back towards the
square, which stood still and motionless in the
morning sunshine, but which was soon to be girt by
a spitting fire of flashes and glittering steel. Already
the booming of the artillery was heard, and the
fierce squishing sound of the rockets as they were
launched into Ulundi — ^the royal kraal — and set
more than one hut on fire.
Great was the Zulu terror of these fiery missiles,
which, as they make a hideous rush and screaming
sound through the air, produce always a great
effect upon animals and uncivilised men; and
savages sneaking in high grass or light bush will
fly in terror from what seem to them, as they call
them, living devils.
A litUe after nine saw the whole of the mounted
men inside the square, standing by their horses'
bridles and looking quietly about them, and the
whole front being clear now, and almost free from
bush, the artillery opened fire in a manner that
proved most destructive in the ranks of the enemy.
Their circle gradually contracted as they came
within musketry range, and the action soon became
general, with cannon, Catlings and Martini-Henrya
Our ranks were four deep, the two front kneeling
as if to receive cavalry. The casualties among the
British troops, formed as they were in so dense an
order, and exposed to a converging attack from so
many thousands, would have been very serious,
had the fire of the attacking foe been at all accurate,
but as the sequel proved, the loss was comparatively
small The enemy had extended their formation,
so as to embrace the four sides of the square, ad-
vancing in skirmishing order, steadily and for a time
silently, as yet not clashing their shields, but well
disciplined and orderly in aspect The whole
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
OJUaiL
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OP ULUNDI ijVLY 4, 1879).
square was now involved in eddying smoke, amid
which the dismounted cavahy looking silently on —
their faces at times half seen, half hidden — while
overhead the Zulu bullets whistled and screamed,
but with different notes, the sharper ring of the
Martini-Henry being discernible from the duller ping
of the Snider, while the rough-cast balls of the En*
fields and long elephant guns sounded more heavily
than either. "If we are hit to-day," wrote an
Irregular, " let it be by a rifle ball if possible. The
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tJtondi.1
WITHIN THE "SQUARE/'
289^
unmistakable thud of bullets, as they strike horse
or man, is not often heard. Horses spring up
into the air as they are struck, sometimes crying
in their agony. A stretcher party, the pillow abready
dyed, passes us. All things seem in pretty good
form now, so we can take a walk round the square.
. . . The doctors are busy at work with the
red cross of St George flying overhead, and Army
Hospital men are busy bringing them patients.
Meanwhile, rushing on like the rolling waves of
the sea in a storm, came the swarming Zultis^
with their white shields before them, leaping over
the soft springy turf, with wild gestures and demon-
like yells, fierce, stern, fearless, with set teeth and
gleaming eyes, only to be hurled back from the
faces of the square, all shattered, bloody and broken
by the tempests of lead and .iron from the shrapnel
shells that were poured into them; — ^yet on they
CAPTAIN THE HON. B. V. WYATT-KDGELL.
Arcliibald Forbes, who had laid a level hundred
there would be no fight, is there, looking not one
whit dismayed by its loss ; he stands with note book
and pencil in hand, taking in everything at a glance,
and knowing probably more about the business than
any one there. Melton Prior is moving about also,
sketch-book and pencil busily occupied. There too
was the clergyman, Mr. Coar, who was standing at
the head of a grave, quietly reading the burial
service, while the bullets whistled overhead. A
touching picture enough, as the bodies w^ere laid in
a hastily made grave — it was certainly a unique
position for an army chaplain."
z
would come again. " Steady, my hds," Evelyn
Wood was heard to cry more than once ; " fire low
and not so fast''
Under cover of the Unodwengo kraal, northward
of which grew clumps of euphorbia trees, one great
impi, led by a daring chief on a white horse, who —
imitatively perhaps— formed it in hollow square, with
unearthly war-cries and piercing yells, dashed itself
like a living sea upon the right rear angle of the
square, where two 9-pounder guns were placed,
flanked by two companies of the Scots Fusiliers
under Major Hazelrigge, a Crimean officer, and
four of the 58th Foot, and two of the 94th.
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^290
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AN6 SEA,
[Ulundl
This was a skilful movement, as every engineer
knows that the salient angle of a. square, like that
of a bastion, is its weakest point But the shells of
the two 9-pounders were sent into the mass with
the deadliest effect, while the eight infantry com-
panies pouring an oblique, yet concentrated fire, at
the very moment when a hand-to-hand conflict,
bayonet against assegai, seemed imminent, shattered
their order, broke and rolled up the square, hurling
back the living over the dying and dead, and after
a pause the warriors of the white horseman fled in
tumult and dismay.
Amid all this hurly-burly, in the centre of the
square might be seen Chelmsford in his saddle
amid his staff" ; Buller with a cigarette between his
lips and the field-glass at his eyes ; one or two of
the mounted officers were hit, and as the enemy's
bullets went high, it was a marvel they were not all
shot down. Gunner Morshead, though severely
wounded in the leg, crawled to the Catling Battery,
and assisted the sergeant to fill the carriage
drums.
In the direction of Ulundi, large masses of the
enemy could be seen, by those who were mounted,
lying among the long grass, but affording no mark
save the smoke of their firing, which there as every-
where flew high, probably from their ignorance of
how to sight the rifle. Colonel Drury Lowe was
knocked off* his horse by a spent bullet, but sprang
into his saddle again.
While the right rear angle of the square was
repelling its assailants, the front attack was again
developed, as a dip in the ground there enabled the
Zulus to re-form out of fire, so that the gallant
80th under Major Tucker had to reserve theirs till
the black shaven heads were seen to rise in line
above the grassy mound, and then they poured in
a volley so deadly and direct, that the attack
slackened ; the Zulu line wavered and ceased firing.
" The Zulus," says the Report of the Intelligence
Department, " firing wildly, pressed forward in their
usual loose order, and sought to close with the
British troops; but the steady and well-sustained
fire of the infantry, supported by the Catlings and
artillery, rendered this impossible, and at no point
did they succeed in approaching nearer than thirty
yards."
A want of concert in their action was perceptible,
and though reserves were on the ground — those,
however, lying among the grass in the direction of
Ulundi not being brought up — the check which the
advanced portions received was soon taken ad-
vantage of. In half an hour after our infantry fire
opened, they were seen falling back in close masses
that rapidly became disorganised under the storm
of bullets and shells rained upon them, and then
the wavering mob broke into headlong flight
This was at twenty-five minutes past nine a.m.,
and then Chelmsford resolved to let slip the
Lancers after them.
"Go at them, Lowe," he cried, waving his
helmet to the men, who gripped their weapons
with willing hands and fearless hearts ; " but don't
pursue too far."
Leading them out firom an opening in the rear face
of the rectangle, Drury Lowe advanced in column of
troops from the right, while the guns were tearing
up the flying masses with their shell fire.
"From troops, form squadron — trot!" cried
Lowe ; " form line — ^gallop — Charge I "
A roaring cheer burst from the infantry square,
as the gallant Lancers swept at racing speed, with
all their weapons lowered in the rest, the i)ennoDS
streaming ahead of their horses' manes.
On they went like a whirlwind, driving the
fugitives headlong into a donga; anon rooting
them out of it, they forced them to fly for safety
to the mountains, that rose northward of the battle-
field ; but when flanking the donga, half a Zulu
regiment, that had been hidden among the long
grass to cover the retreat, rose as one man and
poured in a rifle volley. Many saddles were
emptied, a splendid young officer. Captain the
Hon. Edmond Vemey Wyatt-Edgell, fell in the act
of leading on his men, who, maddened when they
saw him fall, dashed in their spurs all the deeper
to take a sure and bloody vengeance.
"A moment more,'' wrote his friend and col-
laborateur in the "Story of the Zulu Campaign,"
" and the bristling line of steel meets the black and
shining wall of human flesh, rent, pierced, and
gashed, by a weapon as death-dealing and un-
sparing as their own assegai Still, though crushed
and stabbed by the lances, and though their fierce
army was scattered like sea-foam, the Zulus fought
in stubborn knots, nor cried for quarter, stabbing
at the horses' bellies as they went down, and irynxg
to drag the men ofi* them in the mSle^, The lance
was now relegated in most instances to its sling,
and the heavy sabres of the troopers became red
with gore."
Deeply was Edgell's fall avenged by the 17th
Lancers. He had been a cornet of 1 866, and was
the eldest son of Henrietta Baroness Brave
(whose family was raised to the peerage by Henry
VIIL) and grandson of Mr. Otway, of Ot^-ay
Castle, Tipperary, and he had just qualified him-
self for admission into the Staff" College.
In this pursuit the efficacy of the lance as a
cavaby weapon was abundantly proved.
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Ulundi]
TOTAL DEFEAT OF THE ZULUS.
291
To follow up the Lancers, a troop of the King*s
Dragoon Guards under Captain Brewster, with the
mounted men of the Flying Column under BuUer,
issued together from the front of the square,
and pursued, with Lord William Beresford many
yards in advance of the whole, cutting down scores
till they won the crests of the hills ; but even there
the Zulus were not safe, as the shrapnel shells,
fired with time-fuses, were continually exploding
amongst them.
Those bands which fled towards the hills were
small and scattered ; but ere they could gain their
eyries, the Irregulars came up with many of them,
and then rifles were resorted to once more, as the
former, diverging from the line of pursuit taken by
Lowe and his Lancers, swung on the spur round
some hills on the right When overtaken, the
Zulus fired and then used the assegai; the
Irr^ulars used their carbines in pistol fashion.
Many Zulus hid among the long grass, or feigned
death, trusting to escape afterwards.
A lively musketry fire was opened by them from
the summit of a hill too steep for horses, where a
number of fugitive parties converged ; and all who
died, died hard, no cry for mercy or quarter ever
escaping their lips. Amid the fury of the chase,
one huge Zulu was seen with a muzzle-loading
elephant gun, which had hung fire, and at the
nipple of which he was prodding away with perfect
coolness till a revolver shot settled him for ever.
The effects of the shell-fire and rockets were
seen to be terrible, by the mutilation of the dead ;
while, on the other hand, those slain by the rifle
were little disfigured, a very small orifice where the
bullet went in, and a larger at its exit, alone being
discernible.
After our wounded had been attended to, the
troops of the two columns, still retaining their
rectangular formation, moved about a mile nearer
Ulundi, and halted on the banks of the Imbilane
stream, where they rested and dined on the contents
of their haversacks; and at two p.m. the troops
marched, but slowly, as the wounded had to be
carried on stretchers, back to their laager on the
right bank of the Umvolosi, which was reached at
four in the aflemooa
The British loss on this day amounted to two
ofHcers killed, including Captain Wyatt-Edgell, and
the Hoa W. Drummond, reported missing, but
whose body was afterwards found, and ten non-
coomiissioned officers and men; the wounded were
nineteen officers, including Lieutenant Pardoe of
the 1 3th, mortally, and sixty-nine non-commissioned
oflicers and men.
The attacking force consisted of twelve regiments,
set down at 20,000 men, of whom not less than
1,500 fell No Zulu wounded were found on the
field of Ulundi. Our Native Contingent with
their assegais and knives despatched all they could
find. It was said, that had permission been given
to the Zulus to remove their wounded, and our
forces been withdrawn to enable them to do so,
they would certainly have availed themselves of the
privilege, and the moral effect of such clemency
might have been great The absence of hospitals
was given as an excuse ; but until the kraals were
destroyed, the plea was scarcely valid ; besides, the
surgical stafi" was very numerous.
Native eye-witnesses of the conflict asserted that
the Zulus fought without much heart, and only to
save their national honour, made a show of re-
sistance. They described with admiration and
terror the terrible execution done by the Catling
guns, and the charges of the Lancers ; and when
detailing Buller's reconnaissance on the previous
day, they told how a party of his cavaby fell into
an ambush, but burst through the Zulu force, losing
fifteen men, but killing thrice that number.
Cetewayo was said to have been present on
horseback ; other accounts state that it was one of
his brothers, and that he quitted Ulundi on the day
before the battle ; but, by the result of this action,
the power of his people was completely broken, and
a conviction brought home to his best-trained
warriors, that their superiority in numbers was of
no avail against the weapons and the discipline of
the British troops, even when in the open and un-
defended by military works. The Zulu army began
to melt away, and the people returned to their own
kraals.
Before the rearward movement began, BuUer
and his Irregulars were pushing on towards the
great royal kraal.
"Now, then,'* cried he, "who is to be first in
Ulundi ? " thus waiving his own right to be so.
Every spur was applied then, and a dash was
made for the kraal, round which was a stiff thorn
hedge, its boundary measuring 700 yards by 550.
Rushing his pony at it. Lord William Beresford
fiew over it like a bird, and landed himself among
the dome-roofed huts. The residence of Cetewayo
was found to be a square house built of mud, sur-
rounded by tall wooden fences, evidently con-
structed to guard against surprise. The floor was
of clay, and strewn with empty champagne and
square Geneva bottles. Two elephant's tusks were
found, and — most singular to say — a large box full
of London newspapers, among which were the
Illustrated London News^ Graphic^ 7'm^, and others
full of references to Cetewayo and his Zulus.
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29^
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[UloiKfix
A troop was now despatched by Colonel Buller
to burn a kraal farther on, and to Captains
Tomasson, Prior of the 8oth, and Parminter was
assigned the duty of destroying the royal kraal. By
these three officers the 10,000 huts which made up
Ulundi were burned. Being dry, they were easily
consumed. " The burners rode from hut to hut,"
says the first-named officer, " with flaming torches
of grass, and, after hard work, got everything in
flames. The huts were small and bad, save those
around the king's house for his chief wives ; the
others were decidedly the worst huts we had seen
in Zululand- At the bottom corner was a splendid
pile of skins ready to make into shields."
Several Zulu women, who had been watching the
fight from the hills, had been killed that day acci-
dentally by our shells. Before the troops left the
bank of the Umvolosi, the burial of Captain Wyatt-
Edgeirs body took place by the river side, a sight
that was very impressive, as he was lowered into
his lonely grave by his sorrowing comrades in the
dead of the night
Many were the surmises now in the two columns
^ to what the next move would be; but these
were soon set at rest by an order, on the 5 th of
July, to effect a junction with the ist Division
under General Crealock. Both columns began
their backward march to the camping ground
below the Enlonganeni Heights, where Wood's
troops bivouacked, while the 2nd Division
iascended and encamped in the fortified laager
above. There the tents awaiting them were
pitched ; the troops who had been drenched with
rain were enabled to get dry and to refit ; yet the
men behaved admirably, and jocularity and good
humour reigned supreme.
On Sunday morning, the 6th July, two of the
13th Light Infantry, who had died of their wounds.
were buried. On the preceding eveniog Lord
Chelmsford had received another communication
from Sir Garnet Wolseley, brought by native
runners, and sent up by General Crealock from
Port Durnford, notifying the new movements he
meant to inaugurate.
Lord Chelmsford's orders were that he was to
return with the 2nd Division and all the
wounded to Fort Newdigate, and march the Flying
Column to join Sir Garnet Wolseley, by the way of
Kwamagwasa and St Paul's.
The night of the 6th of July proved a stormy
one, with torrents of rain and a bitterly cold wind,
and these lasted with more or less violence during
the two subsequent days, rendering all movement
for the time impossible, and adding to the sufferings
of the wounded The horses and oxen had great
mortality among them in consequence.
News of the victory of the 4th July reached Sir
Garnet at Fort Pearson on the following day,
and his congratulations, telegraphed from that
place, were received by Lord Chelmsford on the
8th of the month.
The news was conveyed to Fort Pearson by a
telegram from Mr. Archibald Forbes, the war
correspondent of the Daily News, The latter came
into Pietermariuburg, looking gaunt, grizzly, and
worn ; and his clothes were almost in tatters by
riding through thorns, and plastered with mud
He had ridden about 300 miles in fifty hours, with
one thigh swollen by a spent bullet — the first
hundred miles through the enemy's country, ovef
rugged and mountainous ways, without proper roads
and entirely alone, and at the no small risk of being
cut off by the straggling bands, then scattered over
all Zululand He rode all through the night, which
was dark, with a thick fog, and twice lost his way.
Mr. Forbes's exploit was a notable deed
CHAPTER XLL
THE ZULU WAR {continued) : — the second division broken up — some operations of the
SECOND — A "durbar" BY THE UMLATOOSI.
On the evening of the 8th of July, copies of the
General Orders issued by Sir Garnet Wolseley on
the 28th of June reached the camp at Enlonganeni,
and Lord Chelmsford decided at once to resign his
command and return to Britain without delay.
He ordered a parade of all arms that he might
take farewell of the troops who had served him so
faithfully. General Newdigate massed them in a
hollow square of three sides — Lord Chelmsford with
his staff forming the fourth. He kindly praised all
for their good service in the field and good conduct
in camp and bivouac, and added these words : —
"For the courage, coolness, and devotion yon
have all displayed wherever I have been with you
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Port DurafordJ
SIR GARNET WOLSELEY^S PLANS.
293
my best and warmest thanks are due. For the un- '
selfish devotion, untiring energy, and good humour
with which you have encountered hardship, fatigue,
and privation I find it hard to express my gratitude
sufficiently. In all senses you have done your duty
as British soldiers ! "
Cheers were on the lips and in the hearts of all,
but discipline restrained them.
On the loth of July the retrograde movement
began, and it was found that the sick and wounded,
of whom there were about 100, bore the journey well;
twenty five were in stretchers and cots, borne by
natives, four men to a stretcher and six to a cot, and
a company was told off daily to pitch the hospital
tents. This most unexpected movement of course
led Cetewayo and his chiefs to suppose that our
losses at Ulundi, together with lack of military skill,
and not the new plans of another commander-in-
chief, led us to forego the advantages we had
gained.
Four days* marching saw the 2nd Division and
Flying Column passing Fort Marshall, on the Upoko
River, and then the sick and wounded, escorted by
two companies of the Scots Fusiliers and Bengough's
Natives, were sent on to the convalescent hospital
at I^dysmith.
The breaking up of the 2nd Division took
place on the bank of the Upoko on the 26th of
July, by the departure of one troop of the 17th
Lancers, a company of Engineers, and four of the
94th, for Fort Newdigafe, with orders to proceed to
the valley of the White Umvolosi, and there con-
struct a work to be called Fort Cambridge.
Major-General Newdigate now took leave of the
troops. The 17th Lancers, then under orders for
India, handed over their horses to the King^s
Dragoon Guards, and the rest of them moved
to Dundee and elsewhere, prior to their employment
in the Transvaal, where the cloud of war was
gathering. Others formed garrisons for the various
new forts ; for when Sir Garnet Wolseley took over
the command from Lord Chelmsford, he found a
complete chain of these, such as had never before
been seen in South Africa, along the whole Zulu
frontier, from the Blood and Buffalo Rivers to the
mouth of the Umvolosi and Port Dumford on the
Indian Ocean, encompassing on three sides the
kingdom of Cetewayo.
On the 5 th of July, and before the victory at
Ulundi could be known to the troops of Crealock's
divbion, 700 Zulus, with all their women, children,
and cattle, came into his camp near Port Dumford,
to make submission and seek protection; They
had all heard of the battle, yet, strange to say, not
a whisper of it escaped them. To impress them,
General Crealock ordered a muster of his entire
division, letting every available man parade, yet his
strength was but weak after all, even with the blue-
jackets of the Active and Shah.
When line was formed an aide-de-camp was sent
to the Zulus, who were halted on the crest of a hill,
to advance and disarm, on which 300 muscular-
looking warriors approached in good order,
proffered a salute, and laid down their assegais, with
seventy muskets, nearly all of obsolete patterns.
Before leaving Durban, Sir Garnet had tele-
graphed to General Crealock to report direct to him
and not to Lord Chelmsford.
All drafts marching to the front were ordered to
halt, and volunteers were permitted to disband.
The published despatches of General Crealock
proved amply his inability to form any junction with
the 2nd Division before the battle of Ulundi,
and it was the result of no want of exertion on
his part, but solely owing to the manner in which
the movements of his troops were crippled and
hampered in a savage country, especially by sickness
among his teams of oxen; but that his time had
not been wasted was evinced by the extent of roads
he had made, and by the many raids achieved, thus
making harassing diversions, which rendered Cete-
wayo less able to repel or inflict any defeat upon the
2nd Division.
Sir Garnet Wolseley had brought out with him
several of his old staff, and some joined him sub-
sequently. Colonel Pomeroy CoUey took up the
duties of chief of the staff, and Captain Ederick and
Lord Gifford, V.C., who had distinguished himself
so much in Ashantee, joined from his own regiment,
the 5 7 th. Sir Garnet made many important changes.
Among other orders issued was one which gave
great dissatisfaction — to suspend military operations
upon the still refractory Sekukuni, against whom
several successful patrols had been sent; and
Colonel Owen Lanyon having, after serious diffi-
culties and unavoidable delays, completed all his
arrangements for an attack, was ordered to fall back,
and thus all that was now undone had to be done
over again, in the close of the following year.
When Sir Garnet Wolseley, on the night of
Sunday, 6th of July, rode into General Crealock's
camp, amid a storm of rain and wind, accompanied
by Major Brackenbury, Captains Creagh and Fitz-
maurice (together with Dr. W. H. Russell, the
veteran war correspondent), he did not attract much
attention, though Crealock and his staff rode out a
few hundred yards to meet him ; but the clean-
shaven chins, white helmets, and new uniforms
of him and his party contrasted strongly with
the war and weather worn aspect of the officers
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294 BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA. [UiandL
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Port Dnraford.)
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
29s
and men of the ist Division. The severe storm
which had swept the eastern coast of Zululand, as
well as the heights of Enlonganeni, for fully sixty
hours, abated somewhat on the morning of the 9th
of July, and the tremendous surf on the white
beach at Port Dumford having moderated, the
landing of supplies for the troops was resumed.
When Sir Garnet came, the war was thought to
be carried on one day in the week, the division
could not lack supplies, and its line of communica-
tions by Forts Chelmsford and Napoleon were to
be abandoned; while Wood's Flying Column,
which was ordered to remain at Enlonganeni was
to draw its supplies by the old line through Fort
Newdigate and Landmann's Drift
All connection between the ist Division and
LANCERS RETURNING FROM A FORAY.
be over so far as fighting went ; but Cetewayo had
to be captured, and Sekukuni crushed, and the
north-west of Zululand was still in arms, though by
the number of its dead and those that were fast
submitting, the nation was deemed to be crippled
beyond the power of doing us mischief now.
The news of the victory at Ulundi which reached
Sir Garnet on his way to Port Dumford, led to an
alteration in the proposed operations of the ist
Division, which it was decided should be exclusively
supplied from that place, as 120 tons of supplies
could be landed there daily despite the surf, in fine
weather, and it was calculated, that if landing could
the garrisons in Forts Crealock and Chelmsford was
now severed, and on the loth July, Sir Garnet
Wolseley transferred the troops there to the com-
mand of Major-General the Hon. H. H. Clifford,
whose authority extended over all the lines of com-
munication instead of being reduced to those within
the borders of Natal.
On the 14th of July, a column consisting of the
5th Regiment, a troop and company of Royal
Engineers, Dunnes Scouts, four companies of the
Natal Native Contingent, Jantzi's and Mafunzi's
Natives, and two guns, all under Lieutenant-Colonel
Baker Russell, but only 1,600 men in all, marched
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The UmlatoosL
from Port Durnford to the lower ford on the Um-
latoosi River with ten days' provisions, and Sir
Garnet Wolseley with his staff came to the camp
there on the same evening.
Escorted by the mounted men under Major
Barrow, Sir Garnet rode on the 15 th to St Paul's
Mission Station, when he found that Lord Chelms-
ford had just arrived with Wood's column, which
he inspected on the following day (when the V.C
was bestowed upon Major Chard, one of the
heroes of Rorke's Drift), and then returned to the
camp at the Umlatoosi, accompanied by Lord
Chelmsford and his personal staff, and on the 17th,
the latter — whose resignation had been accepted —
started on his return to Natal He accompanied
Sir Garnet Wolseley for a short distance until their
ways separated, the latter returning to the Umla-
toosi, and Lord Chelmsford making his way back
to the frontier by Etschowe.
He reached Durban on the 20th of July, and
Pietermaritzburg next day ; a ball at the former town,
and a banquet at the latter were given him with all
the brilliance, and certainly all the warmth and
sincerity these new communities could afford ; and
on the 5 th of August he sailed from Cape Town
for England, where he and many of his brave
comrades were welcomed with all the honours they
deserved.
Meanwhile the Flying Column which had
marched to a deserted mission station at Kwama-
gwasa, and commenced the constructbn of a
fort, left there a company of Wood's Irregulars,
160 mounted men of BuUer's force, and two com-
panies of the 94th with two 9-pounders, and then
marched on the 13th towards St Paul's.
Prior to this, while the column had been posted
on the Magnumbonum Heights, after enduring there
storms of wind and icy rain, under which bullocks
and horses perished in dozens, on the 7th July
Colonel BuUer made one of his raids. Starting
with two troops at three am., he rode for a whole
day amid the drenching and blinding rain of a
thunder-storm and captured a fine herd of cattle.
AVhile at the mission station of Kwamagwasa they
found the dead bodies of Lieutenant Scott Douglas,
a signalling officer, and Corporal Cottier, of the
17 th Lancers, who had escorted him. They had
been missing for some days, having ridden from the
Magnumbonum Heights to the next fort, and
returning in the fog had lost their way, and fallen
among some of the people of Dabulamanzi, by
whom they had been surprised and slain while
resting under a^tree.
Corporal Cottier had evidently died hard, as
evidences of a terrible struggle were seen all round
where his body lay. Neither had been mutilated.
They were buried where they were found. The
mission station here had formerly been the resi-
dence of Bishop Robertson, and is described as
being a beautiful spot, closely planted with fine
lemon trees and gardens, then desolate, where the
Cape gooseberries were growing wild.
The district between the Umlatoosi and St
Paul's was found to be in a very quiet state, the
people having returned to their usual avocations,
after bringing in many Enfield nmiskcts, but no
Martinis. It was not certain, however, that re
sistance on the part of the northern chiefs and
of Cetewayo was at an end, and on the iSth Sir
Garnet Wolseley resolved to re-occupy Ulundi
(although Lord Chelmsford had been ordered to
fall back from that point), and from there to dic-
tate the terms of settlement for Zululand.
To all the most powerful chiefs who could be
communicated with, notices had been sent desiring
them to meet the new Commander-in-chief in the
camp on the Umlatoosi on the 19th of July, and
on that day a large number presented themselves,
and surrendered arms and cattle belonging to Cete-
wayo; but all these chiefs belonged to the east
coast tribes, and no sign of submission had been
made as yet by those of the inland and northern
clans.
On this day the camp by the Umlatoosi pre-
sented rather a picturesque spectacle.
With the Queen's colours a guard of honour was
drawn up outside the tent of Sir Garnet Wolseley,
while for the reception of the Zulu warriors a large
space had been enclosed by mimosa branches, and
from an early hour of the morning the Zulus had
come trooping in dark bands down from the hills
in every direction. As the deputation from each
tribe, preceded by its chief and chief men, came
into camp, it was formed up in a mass, of some
18 feet deep ; 250 chiefs with their immediate fol-
lowers were present, each man attired in his best
bravery, cow-tails, copper armlets and anklets, with
plumes of feathers, and all armed with carved
knobkeries, which they laid before them when
they squatted on the mats and skins provided for
them.
Among these were Cetewayo's two brothers,
Dabulamanzi and Magwendi, both contrasts to
Uhama The two former were muscular savages of
considerable stature ; the latter was a corpulent
and unwieldy man. They wore fillets of ostrich
feathers, heavy arm-rings of burnished copper, and
necklaces of monkeys' teeth and small shells.
Mr. Fynny, the Border Agent, acted as inter-
preter, and to Sir Garnet's speech — which we give
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CONFERENCE OF ZULU CHIEFS,
297
§omewhat abbreviated — they all listened with rapt
attentioPv It ran thus : —
" Tell them," said he, " I am glad to see them ;
because their coming here shows that they wish for
peace, as the great Queen does in whose name I
speak. We have been at war with Cetewayo — not
with his people. While he ruled, life and property
were not safe anywhere in Zululand. His marriage
laws prevented people from settling and becoming
wealthy and prosperous ; men were slain and their
cattle taken without trial. I wish to end a system
that left no peace along our borders, nor among
the Zulus at home. We have now beaten the king,
and burned his kraal ; he is a fugitive in the bush,
and shall never again rule in the land. I rode
over to St Paul's the other day, and there found
the people quietly living in their kraals. All may
do the same ; but all must give up their arms and
the king's cattle, and the country shall be ruled
according to the old laws of Zululand I shall
appoint the chiefs who are to rule, and divide the
kingdom into districts. Zululand shall be for the
Zulus. All will be allowed to marry, to work, and
become rich. The Queen wishes the Zulus to be
happy. Those who have arms must give them up
— they have no escape. The Swazies on the north
and the Tongas are only kept by my orders from
invading Zululand Uhamu and his soldiers are
moving upon the west, and I myself am going
with my troops to Ulundi, when I shall announce
to the Zulu people the arrangements I shall make
for the futiure government of the country."
On this (according to the correspondent of the
Daily News) two or three chiefs spoke, expressing
their satisfaction at the words of the general
Magwendi, however, had some high words with
the chiefs who were present, and as they
tried to shout him down, something of a scene
erisued
At this " durbar," if we may term it so, the face
of Redvers Buller, the gallant leader of the Irre-
gular Horse, was missed, as was also that of
Evelyn Wood, both of whom were returning home
on medical certificates. On the preceding day
there was a parade of the famous Flying Column
at St Paul's, and both these favourite and brilliant
officers came forth to say farewell They were
loudly cheered, and Buller's voice fairly broke
when he addressed his hardy Irregulars, and long
after he withdrew, says Captain Tomasson, did
their eyes " follow his figure as it went up the hill
from us. Aftei' his departure the interest in every-
thing was over, as he was the hfe and soul of the
column. Many an Irregular read with honest pride
the enthusiastic welcome that England gave to Sir
Evelyn Wood and Colonel Buller, our leader and
beloved chief. Not a few but owed their lives to
the latter, and right glad we were to see that he
got the CM.G. and was made A.D.C to the
Queen, honours well deserved by him."
The command of the Flying Column then de-
volved upon Colonel Harrison of the Royal
Engineers.
On the 19th the Frontier Light Horse started
for Landmann's Drift, and Baker's Horse for Fort
Tenedos, as both corps were to be disbanded Sir
Garnet Wolseley supposed that for the measures he
was about to inaugurate a large force would not be
required, and thus he proceeded to reduce that
already in the field A Marine battalion, consist-
ing of 1,146 men of all ranks, which had arrived
in Simon's Bay, he ordered home to Britain, while
the Naval Brigade was embarked at Port Dumford
It was 400 strong, and was conveyed away in the
City of Venice transport
The Flying Column, after remaining for a time
at St Paul's, making roads and reconnoitring, was
denuded on the 21st July of Raafs Rangers, the
I St Squadron of Mounted Infantry, and two com-
panies of the Perthshire; the 13th Light Infantry
were under orders for England, and began the
march for Natal, so that by the end of the month
Evelyn Wood's Flying Column had ceased to
exist
So had Crealock's division.
During its encampment at Port Dumford it had
undergone much of inactivity and sickening delay,
consequent on the weary and irregular advance to
the Umtalazi, the misunderstanding of the naval
and military authorities concerning the position and
capabilities of Port Durnford, the waste in the
commissariat, and the ignorance of transport ar-
rangements. As Crealock, aware of the coming .
changes, had resolved to resign his command, he
ordered a general parade on the 21st of July, and
made a brief address to the troops.
There paraded the 3rd Buffs, 60th Rifles, 91st
Highlanders, the Naval Brigade of the Boadicea^
three troops of local horse, and a 7-pounder
battery. They were drawn up on the bank of the
thickly-wooded river, close down to the waters of
which grew the tall reeds and over-arching date-
palms, under which the crocodiles oflen bask in
the mud and ooze — a scene overlooked on the east
by the Libomba range, more than 2,000 feet in
height
After the usual wheel into line and march past
of the division, in worn, faded, patched, and
tattered uniforms, the soldiers were addressed by
General Crealock, who informed them that Sir
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(StPanri.
Garnet Wolseley was about to disperse them ; but
he thanked them all for their good conduct and
their constant work borne without a murmur,
and ended by wishing every officer and soldier in
the ranks prosperity, success, and a hearty farewell
Two days afterwards the division was broken up.
But Cetewayo was still King of the Zulus, and up
to this date was reported to have a large force of
fighting men with him . The details of his regiments
present at Ulundi proved this, and many even then
prognosticated, what was afterwards proved, the
unwisdom of putting up puppet kings in his stead.
CHAPTER XLIL
THE ZULU WAR (continued)'. — reorganisation of the troops in south AFRICA— plans of sir
GARNET wolseley — LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CLARKE's COLUMN— LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RUSSELL'S
COLUMN.
The future operations as planned by Sir Garnet
Wolseley for the final conquest of Zululand were to
be as follows : — A brigade was to hold St Paul's,
and a military post for 400 men was to be
established at Port Dumford, and another on the
heights of Enlonganeni; on the Umlatoosi a
regiment was to be entrenched, while a battalion
of the Native Contingent was to hold the line of
the Tugela. To co-operate with Uhamu in the
west. Colonel Baker Russell was to advance imme-
diately from St Paul's, while Colonel the Hon.
George Villiers, of the Grenadier Guards, was also
to join Uhamu (or Oham, as he is often called) and
organise some corps of burghers, Natal men, and
Zulus, to hem in Cetewayo in that quarter, while
Macleod, late of the 74th Highlanders, was to
organise and lead 5,000 Amaswazi warriors, and
march them straight into Zululand if necessary.
Colonel Clarke was to march his column direct
upon Ulundi, or rather the ashes of it ; and mean-
while there was convened at St Paul's the great
council of Zulu chiefs on the 19th of July, to
arrange definitely for the temporary government of
the country.
The troops were now formed in two great columns
under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mansfield Clarke,
of the 57th Regiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel
Baker Russell, C.B., of the 13th Hussars, both
officers of experience and distinction.
Colonel Clarke had served with the 57 th in
Warre's column on the Taptee River, in co-operation
with the central India Field Force in 1858 ; in the
New Zealand War three years afterwards, and was
present at the action of Katikara, and the capture
of many Maori positions, and was frequently
mentioned with honour in the despatches of the
general commanding ; while the services of Colonel
Baker Russell were still more varied.
He was at Meerut with the Carabineers when the
Sepoy mutiny broke out, and at Kurnaul where
Colonel Gerrard was killed ; he was present with
Seaton's column at the battle of Gungaree, where,
after his three senior officers were slain, he com-
manded the squadron of his regiment and a detach-
ment of the 9th Lancers; again, he commanded
the cavalry in the action of Putteali, where over 700
were killed. " To Lieutenant Russell," wrote Sir
Thomas Seaton in his despatch, " who commanded
the cavalry, as well as his brave companions in arms,
my thanks are specially due for their gallantry in
action and vigour in pursuit" He led the cavalry
at Mynpooree, when 250 rebels were cut down, and
was with his regiment when Bareilly was taken and
General Penny fell ; he was at the relief of Bareilly
and Shahjehanpore, the capture of Remai, and the
destruction of Fort Mahundee. He was in all the
operations in Oude, and served with the Agra Field
Force under Brigadier Showers, in Central India,
during the pursuit of Tantia Topee.
The component parts of these two commands
were as follows : —
lieutenant-colonel Clarke's column.
Royal Artillery and Gatling Battery —
Major J. F. Owen, R.A.
Royal Engineers, 20 men, Captain Blood, R.E.
(57th Regt, Major Knox Tredennick.
60th Rifles, Major TuffnelL
80th Regt, Major Charles Tucker.
2nd Squad. Mounted) ,, . ^
Infty.. 5 companies / **^J°' ^^.''-
Colonial Troops.
European.
I St Troop Natal Horse . . Captain de Burgh.
Lonsdale's Horse, 2 troops . Captain Lumley.
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CLARKE'S COLUMN.
299
Native,
Jantzi's Horse Captain C D. Hay.
Mafunzi's Horse .... Captain Nourse.
Natal N. Contingent, 4 batt Captain Barton.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL B. RUSSELL'S COLUMN.
Imperial Troops,
Cavalry— I Squad, ist K.D.G.
Royal Artillery, No. 5 Battery Lieut-CoL Harness,
R.A.
Royal Engineers, 2nd Company.
94th Regiment Lt-CoL Sydenham
Malthus.
ist Squad. Mounted Infantry Captain Browne, 24th
Foot
Colonial Corps.
Lonsdale's Horse, i troop
Frontier Light Horse . . . Captain D'Arcy.
Transvaal Rangers .... Commandant Raa£
Natal Mounted Police . . . Captain Mansell.
Native.
2nd Batt N.N. Contingent ) Major HarcourtM. Ben-
Mounted Natives . .J gough, 77thRegt.
Colonel Clarke's orders were to march north-
wards from Port Durnford and re-occupy Ulundi,
as already stated.
As the submission or capture of Cetewayo was,
of course, deemed essential to the permanent settle-
ment of his country, in unison with the advance of
the two columns, Uhamu with his followers was to
advance from Luneberg and resume the occupation
of his original district between the Black Umvolosi
and the Pongola Rivers, while the Swazies, who were
to assemble on the bank of the latter, under Cap-
tain Macleod, were to make a demonstration in the
north, completing the circle destined to hem in
Cetewayo, and prevent his escape — if he should
attempt it — into the country of the Amatonga.
These Swazies, who were now to co-operate with
our troops, are a people of whom very little is
known. Their country lies north of Zululand.
"They are," says Sir Arthur Cunynghame, "pro-
bably as brave as the Zulus, but have not the
same military discipline. They are hereditary
enemies of the Zulus, and if backed by Europeans,
would probably fight against them. They assisted
the Boers in their attack on Sekukuni's country in
the North Transvaal, and fought while the Dutch
ran away." They are a mixed race — being a cross
between the Zulus and the aborigines of Swaziland.
Those who dwelt along the frontiers of Wak-
kerstroora, a mountainous and woody district, north
of the Transvaal, and rich in coal, owed, until the
war broke out, allegiance to Cetewayo ; but quarrels
lUt)se and the races became bitter enemies, hence
their readiness to respond to the invitation of Sir
Garnet Wolseley. Their weapons are much the
same as those of the Zulus, though their shields
are smaller, woven of stout reeds and covered with
undressed buffalo hide. Their lances are heavy,
and they carry a knobkerie and knife. Strings of
teeth are their favourite decoration, and they are
able to brew a decoction that very closely re-
sembles beer. They are rather a race of hunters
and agriculturists than warriors specially, as the
Zulus have been since the days of Dingaan and
Panda.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke's Column began its
march at ten in the morning of the 24th July, and
moved from Port Durnford to the left bank of the
Umlatoosi, where the 57th Regiment, which had
held the drift of this river since the 14th, joined
him, together with the mounted men under Major
Barrow.
On the 25th, he left the Umlatoosi and con-
tinued his march. The column was now accom-
panied by a field hospital andj supply train of 106
waggons, which were to be filled with stores on
reaching St Paul's, where the commissariat depot
was to be re-filled by the carrier corps from Port
Durnford, and by the mule train from Fort
Chelmsford.
On the 26th, Clarke's Column reached the middle
drift of the Umlatoosi and encamped on its right
bank. Reports were now current that Cetewayo
with his troops was in the Umvolosi swamps, and
that he had sent messengers to John Dunn, asking
whether, if he surrendered, his life would be safe,
and the answer sent was " yes."
On the 27 th the march was resumed, to the
carrier station on the Umlatoosana, and on the
following day, after moving ten miles farther, the
column passed the ruins of the Ondine kraal, which
had been burned on the 6th of July by the mounted
men under Major Barrow. On the 29th, the
column once more crossed the winding Umlatoosi,
at the ford known as the Upper Drift, and encamped
on the bank of the Idongo, which flows at the base
of the Inkwenke Mountain.
Next day a convoy of fifty-six waggons with
supplies overtook the column, and Colonel Clarke
sent it forward immediately up the steep and richly-
wooded hill, which was crowned by the ruined
buildings of St Paul's mission station; but so
great were the difficulties of the ascent there, that
it was two p.m. before the convoy was clear of the
road, and half-past eleven p.m. before the last wag-
gon with its team of wearied oxen reached St Paul's.
There the colonel was joined by ^^^^ companies
of the 80th, the Natal Pioneers, and two Catling
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[St. PaoTi.
guns, all of which were sent forward to Kwama-
gwasa, with seventy waggons. The main body fol-
lowed next day, and the entire force, including
drivers, leaders, and others, now mustered only
2,159 whites and 1,257 blacks, along with 198
waggons, fifty-four Scotch carts, and six ambulances,
which were encamped a mile beyond the Fort of
Kwamagwasa, foi*merly named Fort Robertson.
he had tidings of serious disturbances in Pondo-
land, where Diko, a subordinate chief, with about
500 men, had advanced to attack the Xesibes, a
tribe in alliance with England and under her protec-
tion, and burned all their kraals up to the Resi-
dency, where Captain Blythe lived. They also
massed in the direction of Kokstadt, which was
garrisoned by volunteers, repulsing a party of
SWAZI SCOUT.
Here a battery of two 9 -pounders joined Colonel
Clarke, whose force, after suffering severely from
rain-storms, encamped on the Heights of Enlon-
ganeni on the 6th of August. Next day, halting on
the same ground which had been occupied by
Lord Chelmsford on his march to Ulundi, a site
was chosen for a work to be called Fort Victoria,
and during the afternoon Sir Garnet Wolseley rode
into the camp, escorted by a squadron of the King*s
Dragoon Guards.
Sir Garnet after leaving Durban had proceeded
to Pietermaritzburg, which he reached on the 26th
of July, and where he remained four days. There
twenty-five of the Cape Mounted Rifles, under Mr.
Hawthorne and friendly natives, with the loss of
two killed and six wounded — the campaign in
Zululand having thus filled the minds of the
usually slothful Pondos with ambitious dreams.
Lieutenant-Colonel Bayley, with a detachment of
the Cape Mounted Rifles, was sent against them
from Butterworth, and soon put an end to the tur-
moil there. Malgora, the leader of the rebels, vras
shot, and 150 of his men were taken prisoners, but
Klas Lucas, the only remaining insurgent chief,
escaped.
To add to growing troubles, the Boers in the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Rorke's Drift.
recently-annexed Transvaal were agitating for inde-
pendence, and threatening to appeal to arms. To
secure matters in that quarter, the head-quarters of
the King's Dragoon Guards were sent to Pretoria,
under Colonel Henry Alexander, who had served
with that regiment in the China War, and had been
in the battle of the Tchernaya five years before.
On the 28th of July Sir Garnet Wolseley tele-
graphed to the Secretary of State for War that he
would leave Pietermaritzburg on the 30th to join
Clarke's column, and advance on Ulundi, adding,
"Cetewayo has lately sent messengers of inferior
rank to some of our outposts, saying that he wishes
to surrender, but fears being killed ; answers have
been sent advising surrender, and promising not
only life safe, but good treatment; but I have
reason to believe these messengers are only spies
sent to ascertain our movements."
Pietermaritzburg, a town which will be frequently
referred to in subsequent chapters, is the chief one
in Natal, and its name is stated to be compounded
from the names of the old Boer leaders, Pieter
Retief and Gert Maritz, and at the period at which
we have now arrived its population numbered
about 6,500. It is so subject to thunderstorms
that every house has a lightning-conductor. In Dr.
Mann's edition of Brook's work on the colony, it
is described as standing upon a plain which runs
from east to west, with lofty mountains sheltering it
on the north- At the west end a ridge rises some
feet above the town, "and is crowned by the
military station of Fort Napier, a kind of barrack
defended by an earth rampart This work over-
looks and entirely commands the town, but is itself
dominated by higher ground to the north-west
The city retains exactly the same form of arrange-
ment that it had when first laid out by its Dutch
founders. It consists of eight parallel thorough-
fares, about 180 yards asunder and a mile and a
half long, and these are crossed at convenient
intervals by transverse streets of similar character,
something more than a mile in length."
These streets were often crowded by idle Zulus,
armed with assegais and knobkeries, though such
were forbidden by law.
Of the organised forces of the town, the most
popular was the corps of Carbineers, formed in
1864. The Pietermaritzburg Rifles and City Guard
comprised a total of 250 men, but the inhabitants
could furnish 1,000 in arms. Fort Napier was
armed by about twelve pieces of cannon, of various
dates, shapes and calibre.
On the 30th, Sir Garnet Wolseley quitted Pieter-
maritzburg with his staff, rode to Greytown, and
from thence with his escort proceeded to a temporary
camp at Umsinger, and reached Rorke's Drift on
the morning of the 3rd August, and there he
bestowed the Victoria Cross upon Private Hook,
of the 24th, at a parade of the troops, remarking
truly in a brief speech, that it seldom fell to the
lot of a general to confer the highest reward the
sovereign could bestow on a soldier, on the very
scene of his achievements.
He critically examined the position, and received
some despatches which determined the movements
of the subsequent week. It was reported that
Cetewayo was lurking in a kraal in the Ngome
Forest, and Colonel Villiers had but an indifferent
report to give of the king's brother Uhamu and
of his levies, while Captain Macleod asked for
European troops to keep his Swazies under control,
suggesting that he should content himself with
watching to prevent Cetewayo's escape, and not
tempt the former by a sight of the Zulu kraals and
cattle, " for, to allow them to cross the border," he
wrote, "would be risking naurder, rapine and all
sorts of atrocities, which, if once begun, it would be
impossible to stop."
Continuing his route by Forts Marshall and
Evelyn, with escorts furnished by their garrisons,
he reached Enlonganeni, and came up with Colonel
Clarke's column at Fort Victoria. Critics now
began to aver that he was not acting as if peace at
any price were his object ; he had made great efforts
to reduce the field force and the expenditure, yet
nevertheless considerable friction ensued.
Severe storms of wind and rain began on the
7 th of August, and continued for two days. The
weather became piercing, causing a serious loss of
oxen; 452 belonging to the column p)erished in
sixty hours, and in addition to these 195 were left
sick at Fort Victoria with fifty-four store waggons^
It was one of these storms which our troops so
frequently experienced in South Africa during the
months of June, July, and August " The air at
one moment is perfectly calm, and the next wild
with terrific storms," says Mrs. Wood. " The sky
so sweetly serene at noon, willj before half an hour
passes be darkened by clouds which shroud the
land as a pall. For months the long draughts parch
the earth, the rivers may be forded on foot, the
flocks and herds pant for refreshing waters and
green herbage. Suddenly * a cloud no bigger than
a man's hand ' appears at the horizon, and lo ! the
elements 'rage and swell, thunder booms upon the
air, darkness covers the land, the arrows of the
Almighty dart from the angry heavens, striking
death and terror wheresoever they fall."
Many chiefs promised to be present at Ulundi
on the 10th of August, and a satisfnctory meeting
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Ulundi.]
SUBMISSION OF CHIEFS.
30;^
was held with a powerful one named Mbelebele,
at the foot of that beautiful mountain range, the
Libomba. He brought above 200 guns, and many
others promised to surrender arms, cattle and am-
munition, if peacefully amnestied. He also brought
tidings that another powerful chief named Man-
gondo, whose principal kraal was near the Ink-
lankla River, would make submission, could he be
assured of escaping the vengeance of Cetewayo. ^
Some time after, two chiefs named Mangumana
and Sintwayo, explained to Mr. John Shepstone
that the reason they did not come in sooner, was
their inability to collect their people. The battle
of Ulundi, they said, had utterly crushed the Zulu
nation ; and in answer to the question, " Why did
you not bring in your arms ? " they replied, " Most
of them are lost or concealed, and we had not
time to collect them."
They were told that they and three other chiefs
would be detained as hostages till the two pieces
of cannon were sent ja This displeased them,
but they became more assured when Mr. Shepstone
told them they might occupy the few huts in the
kraal at Ulundi that had escaped the conflagration ;
and the presence of John Dunn inspired them
with greater confidence. They seemed to long for
peace, and were sick of war, " which," they said,
" had been waged against them for offences of which
they were innocent"
They gave up 600 head of cattle.
On the loth of August, Sir Garnet Wolseley arrived
at Ulundi, and found the valley completely deserted,
but soon after messages came in from various chiefs
expressing their desire to make submission. The
few huts that had escaped the torches of the
Irregulars were thoroughly examined, and several
relics of Isandhlwana were discovered. There were
also found portraits of the Queen and Prince of
Wales, presented to Cetewayo on his coronation,
if his ceremony of installation can be termed so.
Leaving Sir Garnet at Ulundi, where on the very
day of his arrival, he obtained information which
eventually led to the capture of Cetewayo, we shall
briefly refer to the movements of the two columns
of Colonels Clarke and Baker Russell.
On the loth August, the former encamped on
the right bank of the White Umvolosi, and on the
following day joined the head-quarters' camp at
UlundL While on the march in that direction,
his Mounted Infantry pushed on towards the Black
Uravolosi, and reached a kraal of Cetewayo's
named Mayizekane, which was supposed to be a
formidable place for the protection of one of his
great arsenals, but was found to be only an ordinary
military kraal, circular in form, and about 100 yards
in diameter. It had already been destroyed by the
retreating Zulus.
Some rockets and 7-pounder shells were found in
it, and in a ravine about a mile distant Major Hugh
M'Calmont, of the 7th Hussars, found the two
7-pdlinders captured at Isandhlwana. The Zulus
had made these guns — of which they scarcely knew
the use — serviceable by screwing ordinary rifle
nipples into their vents, but otherwise they were quite
uninjured. They were re-mounted on their car-
riages, which were standing close by, and brought
into the camp at Ulundi by the Mounted Infantry.
The military kraal at Mayizekane was again visited
on the 1 2 th by a patrol, which was accompanied by
Sir Garnet Wolseley. More rockets and captured
stores were found, and a large quantity of powder
which had been secreted in some adjacent caves
was blown up.
In all this we have anticipated the movements of
Colonel Baker Russell, who had marched from St
Paul's on the 26th of July with his column, which
reached Kwamagwasa seven days after, and two
companies of the Perthshire which had been
stationed in that post were replaced by two of the
94th. On the 30th he halted on the Jackal Ridge,
and was joined by the Artillery with two 7-pounder
guns from Fort Evelyn, and two more joined him
on the 2nd of August On the 9th, after being
joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, with the rest
of the Artillery, he moved eastward, adding to the
meshes of the net which was closing around the
fugitive Cetewayo, and crossed the White Umvolosi,
while his cavalry pushed rapidly on and reconnoitred
the country as far as Bethel, a deserted and ruined
German mission station.
Next day he reached another abandoned station
at Elongana, on the site of which a redoubt, named
Fort George, was commenced. Leaving there his
infantry, artillery, and waggons. Colonel Russell at
dawn on the 13th of August at the head of only
340 mounted men (80 of whom were natives)
started eastward, and rode beyond the Black
Umvolosi. The country was steep, wild, rugged,
and occupied in great numbers by Zulus. These
seemed prepared to dispute the further advance of
the slender patrol, but ultimately it reached un-
molested the mission station at a place named
Rheinstorf.
The immediate object of this swifl expedition of
Baker Russell was to reach Umkondo, where
Cetewayo was reported to be lurking; but at
Rheinstorf it was ascertained that fully thirty-five
miles of most difficult country would have to be
traversed ere Umkondo could be reached ; and as
during the night the only native guide had lost
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courage and deserted, and many of the horses were
already exhausted by the march from Fort George, the
colonel decided to proceed no farther, but to return
by a different route, and thus see more of country.
On the 14th, the column moved westward, and
crossing the head waters of the 'Mhlusi River,
bivouacked ten miles eastward of the Black
Umvolosi, still in pursuit of Cetewayo, who was
then in the recesses of the Ngome Forest At day-
light next morning the march was resumed back to
Fort George.
While this detachment was away, many Zulus
had arrived there, surrendering to the garrison their
arms and the cattle of the king, and during the
week that followed, reconnaissances made through
the adjacent country secured the submission of
those chiefs who were not disposed to tender it
voluntarily. "All this was accomplished without a
shot being fired," according to the Quartermaster-
General's report, yet the newspapers under date the
19th have it thus : —
" With the exception of a raid into the Luneberg
district, in which Zulus were killed, and of small
parties firing on Baker Russell's cavalry, no sign of
a hostile spirit has been evinced during the recent
expeditions, but the attitude of the people is not
always amicable. The country is generally described
as desolate. Few cattle were seen, and the people
often fled from the kraals on Baker RusselPs march,
which was effected in the face of immense difficulties,
the weather at times being very bad"
Colonel Baker Russell now began to move
towards the northern district of Zululand.
Leaving a garrison of two companies of the 94th
Regiment and some native troops in Fort George,
on the 25 th of August he began his march towards
Fort Cambridge, about twenty miles distant, and
halted on the White Umvolosi. Ascending the
valley through which this stream flows, he reached
the Inseke Mountain on the 26th, and sent 200
mounted men on a scouting expedition as far
forward as the Zungen Nek. Thither his column
moved on the 28th, and afterwards all the neigh-
bourhood of the great Inhlobane Mountain was
patrolled by the Mounted Infantry without any
hostile natives being seea
In fact, the land seemed to have become empty
and desolate.
Near the mountain a redoubt was constructed,
and named Fort Piet Uys, in honour of the gallant
Dutch leader; and a mounted party when
patrolling in the vicinity of the Dumbi Mountain,
discovered and buried the remains of some poor
fellows who had fallen after the attack at Inhlobane
on the 28th March, and been lying there exposed to
the weather and the vultures for six months. These
men had belonged to Weatherley's Border Horse
and Barton's Corps.
Leaving one company of the 94th as a garrison
for Fort Piet Uys, Colonel Baker Russell marched
his column on the ist of September to the Pivan
River, and crossing it next day, entered the Transvaal
and marched in the direction of Luneberg.
By this time he had learned that Colonel Villiers,
who was then with the people of Uhamu, had
effected a junction with Captain Macleod's Swazies
beyond the Pongola River; and more than all, that
Cetewayo had been captured on the 30th of August
Why the latter had resisted all the terms offered
to him, had been long beyond conjecture, unless
he, with the natural instincts of a savage mind, dis-
trusted them. It was said that Dabulamanzi had
warned him, that if he surrendered he would be
sent beyond the seas, and that chief was escorted to
the rear in consequence.
Dabulamanzi, however, was a thorough traitor,
whose hope was, that if Cetewayo committed
suicide in his despair, or died in the forest, of
starvation, he would be Sir Garnet's or the Govern-
ment's nominee to the kingdom of Zululand
CHAPTER XLIIL
THE ZULU WAR {continued) :-—vvvcs\J\T and capture of cetewayo.
The result of the various movements of the two
columns under Colonels Clarke and Baker Russell
was, that many Zulu chiefs tendered their sub-
mission to Sir Garnet Wolseley at UlundL And
ere long there seemed good reason for hope that
Cetewayo might act in a similar manner.
Colonel Villiers of the Grenadier Guards, with a
force composed of sixty-five Europeans and 3,050
natives, pretty well organised, held the district Ih>
longing to Uhamu, and by the 13th of August had
effected the junction referred to, with the 5,000
Swazies of Macleod, thus completing the chain on
that side of Zululand.
Meanwhile, Lord Gifford, of Ashantee feme,
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CETEWAYO'S DUTCHMAN.
305
with a band of Jantzi's men, was closely following up
the king, and 200 of the 57th Regiment patrolled
the hills beyond Amanse Kranze, supported by 500
natives under Captain Barton. A chain of pickets
held the Enlonganeni district, from the Middle Drift
on the Umvolosi to St PauFs, and there seemed no
avenue for Cetewayo to escape by.
" One very remarkable refutation of the theory
that Cetewayo was universally, or much hated by
his people, is the tenacity with which they shield
him,'' wTOte a correspondent at the time. " It is a
native of Holkmd, named Viljoen, a cripple, who
has been in his service as a powder maker, who
has now gone out from our head-quarters as guide
to Barrow's cavalry, to the place where the king
and his wives with a few men are said to be hiding,
and Barrow has been ordered not to come back
without his prisoner. Some of the ladies of his
house are said to have gone off with their protectors
to various kraals, but none of his own people have
tried to betray him."
This Cornelius Viljoen (or Vijn, of whom men-
tion has been already made) is by others said to
have acted as a kind of secretary to Cetewayo, to
whom he transferred his services, after having been
in the employment of Sekukuni, when that power-
ful chief was at war with the Boers, and no doubt
he had been waiting for some time past an oppor-
tunity to abandon the falling fortunes of the Zulu
king. He had from time to time given his con-
querors much useful information, and he it was
who jotted the warning on the piece of paper that
was sent in with the sword of Prince Louis Napoleon,
regarding the strength of the army that was assem-
bled at UlundL
By the result of that field, as of others elsewhere,
it had become evident that the strategy and tactics
of the Zulus had proved their own destruction.
" They never seemed to know where their strength
lay, or to understand their weakness," says the
writer before quoted. " In the work supplied by
authority as guidance to our officers, it was stated
that the Zulus were given to night attacks. It is a
remarkable fact that they never made one at all
<rhe force which came down on the position at
Rorke's Drift, began the assault at four p.m. or there-
abouts, and although they continued their efforts
to break down the heroic defence of the front long
after midnight, their energy was expended by that
time, and serious assaults were relinquished after
five or six hours' irregular demonstrations and
fearful onslaughts. Night attacks, especially after
Isandhlwana, would, if we are to^ judge from what
occurred there, when there was no attack at all,
have probably produced great demoralisation. The
advantage to be gained by them would have been
obvious to an intelligent foe ... A mass of
black men would offer a very poor mark for the
rifle under cloud of night The Zulus, acquainted
with the country, and possessed of an overwhelming
superiority of force, could easily move round and
encircle a camp in the dark."
A rush on the laager would have given them all
the benefit to be gained by numbers, surprise, and
physical strength, when opposing the shield and
assegai to the fixed bayonet. They had not availed
themselves of the advantages they really possessed,
and now were ready to admit that " their heart was
gone,'* and that all hope of successful resistance, even
if they wished for it, was past.
It would appear that on the afternoon of Sunday
the loth of August, as Sir Garnet Wolseley, with
another officer, was walking near the camp, or
head-quarters, which had been established on the
site of the king's kraal at Ulundi, he observed a
lame man, worn with toil apparently, making his
way towards that place. Through the glass it could
be seen that he often looked behind him, as if
dreading pursuit This footsore traveller proved to
be no other than Mr. Vijn, or Cornelius Viljoen,
the Natal trader, popularly known as " Cetewayo's
Dutchman," and who had latterly been a kind of
prisoner in his kraal. " His aspect and general
appearance were, to put it mildly," says Major Ashe,
"more those of a badly-dressed scarecrow than
those of a human being, and his haggard and
hungry contour, his wearied look, lean and meagre,
with eyes deeply sunk in their orbits, and his
parchment-like cheeks, hollow and cavernous,
all spoke with an eloquent voice of the ordeal he
must have undergone while the enforced guest of
King Cetewayo."
Food and wine were given him to restore his
wasted strength, and he announced himself as the
bearer of a verbal message from the fugitive king to
the effect that, his army being dbpersed, he was
collecting cattle and was about to surrender them.
A personal surrender on the part of Cetewayo
was not referred to in any way in this message, and
thus, at the request of Sir Garnet Wolseley, Vijn
ventured to return to him, with the object of in-
ducing him to submit peacefully, his safety and good
treatment being solemnly guaranteed.
At noon on the 13th of August, Cornelius Vijn
once more appeared at Ulundi, and reported that
his mission had failed, as Cetewayo had left the
kraal where he had last been seen, and retired into
the Ngome Forest, a wild and savage district between
the Isquebesana and Ibululwane Rivers, tributaries
of the Black Umvolosi, and overlooked by the
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fBUclc Umvolosi
Ngome range of mountains. Thus a party of
mounted men was promptly detailed, under the
guidance of Vijn, to proceed to the kraal where
Cetewayo had been the day before, and, if possible,
to effect his capture.
This party was under the command of Major Percy
H. S. Barrow, of the 19th Hussars, and consisted
of a troop of the ist Dragoon Guards, 60 Mounted
Infantry, and some natives, making a total of only
started from the- camp at three in the afternoon of
the 13th of August
Traversing the dense bush, through which the
Umbellan, a tiny river, flows, in many places almost
hidden by the jungle, they reached the Black
Umvolosi about midnight, and halted for some time
and marked a large tamarind tree as a guiding post
when returning, as they hoped to do, by the same
route, and then the march northwards was resumed
PLAN OF THE GROUND WJIERE CfcTtWAYO WAS CAPTURED.
300 men, with orders to traverse that district where
the chiefs were still holding out, and among whom
the king was supposed to have taken refuge. * This
party had taken with it but three days' preserved
rations, as the forest was only about thuty miles
distant from Ulundi as the crow flies, and all were
in light marching order. With the party under
Barrow went Major Richard Marter, K.D.G., Lord
Giffbrd, Captains Hay and Hardy, and Mr.
Herbert.
As the ways to be traversed were rough, steep,
and devious, all detailed for the expedition were
carefully inspected as to harness and accoutrements
by Sir Garnet and Colonel Pomeroy Colley, and they
The chief difficulty the force experienced was that
of keeping together while proceeding along a narrow
path, through dark and thorny bush, infested Ly
baboons, rock rabbits, and huge toads, causing
great delay during the dark hours, and no small
anxiety also, as John Dunn had warned them that
the district they had to traverse had become in-
fested by lions, and on that very morning an ox had
been carried off* by one outside a Zulu kraal close
by. Two varieties of the lion are stated to infest
South Africa, the yellow and the brown, but these
colours are said by Colonel Harris to depend upon
the animal's age, and belong to one distinct species.
Be that as it may, John Dunn's warning was not
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Black UmvolosL]
HUNTING FOR CETEWAYO.
307
forgotten by Barrow's party after the Black Umvolosi
was left in the rear.
Morning saw the party riding amid rich forest and
other scenery, where the graceful date-palms drooped
their long leaves, and the purple peaks of the
Libomba Mountains stood up against the deep dark
blue of a cloudless sky. In their scarlet tunics.
party rode up, and surrounded, with arms loaded,
the kraal where Vijn had seen Cetewayo on the
1 2 th. By this time nearly all the party had their
clothes torn, and their hands and faces cut and
bleeding by the thorny and spiky shrubs through
which they had to force their way.
The kraal was found deserted, but the fact was
MAJOR MARTER.
white helmets, and glittering accoutrements,' the
King's Dragoon Guards looked very picturesque as
they rode in file amid the strange tropical trees and
giant undergrowth of trailers and brilliant flowers,
but there were no eyes to see the effect other than
their own. Antelopes glided past, and occasionally
scared troops of the eland, with greyish bodies,
brown heads, and long twisted horns, each large
as a bullock, went crashing through the woody
▼istas.
It was not until one p.m. on the i4'th that the
ascertained that Cetewayo had left it only on the
previous afternoon, and consequently could not be
very far off, though he had been warned to fly by
unseen scouts and signal fires.
The troop of the King's Dragoon Guards had
now been so long in the saddle — for the last ten
miles under a fierce and burning sun, and over
fearfully rough and broken ground— that the horses
were almost done up. Barrow thus resolved to leave
them at the empty kraal, and push on at three p.m.
with the lighter portion of the mounted men, and
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he subsequently found he had been upon the
king's track for two days nearly, as he reached
another kraal wherein the former had slept the
night before.
On Thursday, the next day, the party had a
fatiguing journey, over ground which they described
as " awful," in a most difficult and hilly country,
till sundown, when another kraal was reached,
where Barrow resolved to bivouac till the rising of
the moon. This, however, occurred so late that he
did not start till sunrise on the morning of the 15 th,
when the active Lord Gifford, who was scouting
ahead with a few men, discovered and caught an
old man in whom Vijn recognised a personal
attendant of Cetewayo, about whose movements all
his statements were studiously contradictory and
improbable. However, he was induced on the
1 6th to guide the party to a spot where his
master had passed the night of the 14th, and there
all direct traces were lost
By this day's march. Major Barrow and his party
were brought back to the left bank of the Black
Umvolosi, but somewhat below the point where
they had marked the tamarind tree after crossing,
and there his men were divided. Only three days'
provisions having been taken, he started on the
1 7th to return to Ulundi, while a small detachment
under Lord Gifford advanced resolutely eastward,
down the great valley of the Umvolosi, proceeding
among wooded hills, where the thin blue smoke of
many kraals could be seen ascending high in the
pure air, showing that the district was populous,
and often by treeless wastes and flats, where the
jungles of bamboo and mimosa made the way all
but impenetrable.
As it was asserted by some natives who were met,
that it was the king's intention to seek shelter in
the rugged country known as the Iconda Forest,
which lies southward, and west of Kwamagwasa,
Lord Gifford's detachment, on the 17 th, moved
across the White Umvolosi, and reached an eleva-
tion of 2,000 feet above the valley through which
it flows. Near a kraal they met a stalwart Zulu
warrior armed with a bundle of assegais, and carry-
ing a long canvas bag like one for containing
cricket-bats, and in it was found a handsome ex-
press rifle, some cartridges, and that which excited
some surprise — a hand mirror ! These, of course,
were supposed to be the property of the king,
on whose trail they believed they were certainly
following closely.
Though it was now ascertained that the king
himself was still near the Black Umvolosi, yet it
appeared not improbable that he might essay an
escape on the same path by which he had sent for-
ward his property, and therefore, while Locd Gifford
returned by the country northward of the Black
Umvolosi, Sir Garnet Wolseley, on learning these
facts, despatched a party of the ist Dragoon Guards
to patrol the district near Kwamagwasa.
Meantime, while encamped at Ulundi, Sir Garnet
received the submission of many more important
Zulu chiefe. Among these were Umnyamana,
Cetewayo's prime minister, Usukane, and his sons
or brothers, Umkihland, and Tshingwayo, the com-
mander of the army at Isandhlwana. On the
following day he telegraphed thus to the Secretary
of State for War :—
"Ulundi, Aug. i8th, 1879.
" Troops have been in pursuit of Cetewayo since
13th inst, but have not yet succeeded in capturing
him. He has only two or three following him.
Umnyamana, the king's prime minister, Tshing-
wayo, and other important chiefs surrendered here
on the 14th, bringing more than 600 of the king's
cattle ; 100 more captured by the troops. Three
of the king's brothers have surrendered here.
Arms and cattle are coming in daily and to other
posts. I am in communication with Usibebu, next
in importance to Umnyamana, and confidently
expect him to surrender here this weeL Villiers
advanced from Luneberg with his burghers and
armed natives on the 1 2 th, and expected to be opposed
on the Assegai River. I have sent orders to stop
the advance of the Swazies — the king is known
not to be in that quarter. Remains of the Hon.
W. Drummond were discovered near Ulundi and
buried. The health of the troops remains excel-
lent Horses and cattle much improved"
The Hoa William Drummond, a son of Viscount
Strathallan,had been in the Intelligence Department
The reported movement of Cetewayo towards the
Iconda Forest led to the detaching on the 17th
of August of a party of officers and men to intercept
him. They were under Captain Herbert Stewart,
of the 3rd Dragoon Guards (formerly of the 37th
Foot), and moved in a south-easterly direction, but
failed to find him, and many other expeditions that
were sent out during the latter days of August were
equally unsuccessful.
Among the minor events of this week occurring
elsewhere, may be noted the mysterious robbery of
;^5oo from the Pay Department of Fort Pearson,
and the burning of the records of the Buffs at
Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg. "With r^ard to
the first-named matter," says a writer, " it is only
the beginning of a very pretty story of departmental
fiction and recrimination. . . . The recovery
of a considerable portion of the money has since
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THE SEARCH FOR THE ZULU KING.
309
been telegraphed. The supposition is that it has
been buried in the neighbourhood, and the re-
ward of ;^5o has been offered for the conviction
of the offenders. In the meantime the whole men
of the guard to which the possessor of the sus-
pected sovereigns belonged have been placed under
arrest"
A soldier had been found with gold in his posses-
sio» for which he could not account
The burning of the records of the Buffs and
other corps was an instance of gross carelessness.
It occurred in the so-called " barracks " of Fort
Napier, which were simply grass huts like those
of a Zulu kraal "In one place were the
papers of the 17th Lancers, in another those
of the King's Dragoon Guards; the documents
of the 94th occupied a third hut, those of the
58th a fourth, while in a fifth were entrusted the
records of the Buffs. A sergeant who slept in the
last got drunk, and, it is said, upset a paraffin lamp
with the result that in a very few minutes the whole
place was in a blaze. Cash-books, ledgers, tabulated
documents, together with a large amount of miscel-
laneous property, were hopelessly destroyed, the
greater part of the documents being of a nature
which rendered them difficult to replace. The heat
of the fire may be judged of from the fact that a
silver watch was picked up afterwards melted into
a solid mass.''
As Cetewayo was still at large, an infantry force,
consisting of the 3rd battalion of the 60th Rifles
and two companies of Barton's Natives, marched
from Ulundi on the 23rd of August, and encamped
on the bank of the Black Umvolosi, posting guards
at the crossing places on the river.
Information was received by Lieutenant-Colonel
Clarke, who was in command, from the chief of the
staff, that during the night of the 26th Cetewayo
was believed to be proceeding towards the Ngome
Forest, and that Major Marter, of the King's Dra-
goon Guards, was ordered to proceed in that direc-
tion on the following morning. Accordingly, on
the 27th of August, that officer set out with a force
consisting of a squadron of his own regiment, a
company of the Native Contingent, Lonsdale's
Horse, and an officer with ten mounted infantry.
It is doubtful if Lord Gifford knew of the de-
parture of this expeditioa He knew, however, that
the king was pursued by some of the native in-
fantry, three companies of the 57th, and 150 of the
I St Dragoon Guards; but he felt it a point of
honour that he should succeed in the capture of the
fugitive, whose pursuit had been entrusted to him
by Barrow ; but with all their marching and counter-
marching on information alternately right and
wrong, Cetewayo always contrived to be some thirty
or forty miles ahead of them.
Proceeding by the 'Ndaza kraal, and from thence
up the valley of the Ivuna River, Major Marter — who
had three of his horses eaten by lions on this service
— with his party reached the summit of the Nenge
Mountain the same evening, and bivouacked near
Umgojana's kraal. At ten a.m. on the following
morning, when halted near a stream which there
flows westward into the Ibululwana, a Zulu appeared
who, after conversing on indifferent subjects with
Mr. Oftebro, the interpreter, remarked somewhat
suggestively, while pointing towards the Forest of
Ngome, " I have heard that the wind blows from
this side to-day ; but you should take that path until
you come to Nisaka's kraal."
It was well known that the Zulus were extremely
averse to afford direct information as to the where-
abouts of their king ; but Major Marter resolved to
act promptly on the hint conveyed in this speech,
and consequently followed the track indicated as
leading to the kraal of Nisaka.
While on their way there a native runner was
met, carrying a note in a cleft slick. It was from
Lord Gifford, and addressed to Captain Maurice,
Royal Artillery, but being open, was, under the cir-
cumstances, read by Major Marter.
Lord Gifford, as has been shown, had never
returned to camp since he had left it on the 13th,
but had been indefatigably searching the wild
country in every direction, and thus, on the morn-
ing of the 28th, the two parties commanded by
himself and Major Marter respectively were at no
great distance apart, but were acting independently,
and by that time Gifford's men and his horses were
tired, hungry, and incapable of much exertion,
after the terrible work they had undergone during
fifteen days and nights in the bush, and now they
were actually within six miles of the kraal where
he was told the king was lurking.
The note in the cleft stick contained no clue as
to either the actual position of Lord Gifford or the
hiding-place of the king ; and the bearer of it was
sent on that he might, if he could, deliver it to
Captain Maurice, who had started from Ulundi on
the 26th August with a third party to visit the
kraals in the districts of Umgojana and Umnya-
mana, and whom the note never reached, as it was
brought back to Lord Gifford
The latter, on the 27th, had obtained the distinct
information as to where the king was concealed —
the Kwa Dwasa kraal, which was described as
being closely surrounded by dense and thorny bush
on every side save one — and Lord Gifford resolved
to wait till night-fall before attempting the capture.
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[Ngoine Forest.
Dark hours so passed in the South African
bush were not without many grave perils and
terrors, for often the yells of wild dogs and the
barking of baboons announced the vicinity of some
great beast of prey, and the crackling of fallen
branches suggested the crawling of a poisonous
snake.
Meanwhile, Major Marter moved up to Nisaka's
kraal, and, on asking there for guides, without
mentioning what his intentions were, he obtained
two, who led his party to the summit of the
mountain range, where the kraal of Umlungutu, Ni-
saka's brother, was situated. The mountains here,
overlooking the Ngome Forest, are all flat-topped.
The western side of that on which the major now
found himself was most precipitous, and, after dis-
mounting, he was asked by his guides to look over
into the densely-wooded valley that lay more than
2,000 feet below.
Only two miles distant a small kraal could be
seen by the side of a rocky stream, and therein
it was concluded that Cetewayo would be dis-
covered.
In fact, the place on which the major and his
comrades now looked so eagerly was the Kwa
Dwasa kraal, which Lord Gifford had discovered
about the same time to be the resting-place of the
fallen king ; and the major, ignorant of GifTord's
intention and hope, decided on taking action at
once.
As mounted men could not reach the bottom of
the valley without making a tedious circuit. Major
Marter desired his troopers to relinquish their steel
scabbards and all accoutrements that were likely to
rattle, and led his squadron northward three miles,
till a less precipitous face of the hill was reached,
while a small detachment was left on the mountain
in charge of the discarded accoutrements and pack-
horses. At the same time a company of the
Native Contingent was ordered to make its descent
down the steep hill-side towards the kraal, but to
remain closely concealed in the forest till they saw
the red-coated cavalry emerge from the head of
the narrow valley.
At a quarter to two p.m. the King's Dragoon
Guards began to lead their horses by the bridle
down the steep and perilous slope, and by three
o'clock they had reached the bottom of the valley,
but with the greatest difficulty. They crossed the
rocky bed of a stream and remounted in a hollow out
of sight of the kraal Next they had to circumvent
the barrier of a snake fence, a marsh, some long
grass and rocks, but after a two miles' gallop they suc-
ceeded in completely surrounding the place, while
the Native Contingent dashed across from their
hiding-place, and formed up on some open ground
to the south of it.
In reality they were the first men on the ground,
as they were on foot, and could move over natural
obstacles more quickly than the horses. They
rushed into the kraal, shouting to the startled
followers of the king, " The white men are here^-
you are taken ! "
Major Marter rode directly up to the entrance
of the kraal, and called upon Cete¥rayo to yield.
" Enter — I am your prboner," Cetewayo was heard
to reply. As he might have to encounter a snare
or some madness born of savage desperation, the
major prudently declined this invitation, and again
summoned the king to come forth. Then the
unfortunate Cetewayo, looking weak, weary, foot-
sore, and very sick at heart, came out of the
humble little kraal With a certain amount of
dignity, he repelled a Dragoon Guardsman who was
about to seize him.
" White soldier," he exclaimed, " touch me not —
I surrender to your chief! "
The few occupants of the kraal being taken com-
pletely by surprise, made no resistance, and were all
captured. They consisted only of the king, a chief
named Umkosana, nine men and a boy, five women
and a girl One of the men who was too infirm to
travel was left behind. The rest were removed as
prisoners of war. As they were all on foot their pro-
gress was necessarily slow, and thus it was dark when
the party which left the scene of this important cap-
ture at four p.m. arrived at another kraal, five miles
lower down the valley, and overlooking the Ngome
Forest, where the king and his companions — strictly
guarded — were placed for the night; and next
morning the whole party again moved forward.
This was on the 29th of August
Major Marter met Lord Gifford and his men
about eleven in the forenoon. The latter had heard at
five o'clock on the preceding day, that the capture
had been achieved, and consequently he had re-
mained where he was in bivouac for the night ; but
now having obtained all requisite particulars from
Major Marter, he departed for Ulundi, which be
reached on the evening of the same day, and
there made his report of the affair to Sir Garnet
Wolseley.
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Ulundi.J
CAPTURE OF CETEWAYO.
3"
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE ZULU WAR (condudcd).
It would appear from a relation of his movements
given by himself, after the battle of Ulundi, that
the king was not present in that action, but that one
of his brothers, Uziwetu, who had been mistaken
for hhn — in company with Cornelius Vijn, or
Viljoen, the Dutch trader, had witnessed the conflict
from the summit of an adjacent hilL On tidings of
the defeat being brought to him, Cetewayo retreated
into the bush beyond the Ntabankulu Mountains,
and ere long, to his surprise, he heard of the retreat
of the British forces, and he lived for three weeks
in a kraal belonging to his prime minister.
From this kraal and others, he had, as related,
sent various messages concerning terms, but with-
out definite proposals, as he had a fear of being
killed out of hand by our patrols. After many
wanderings to escape the white men's scouts, he
travelled one evening as far as the bank of the
Black Umvolosi and slept there. On the following
day, tidings came that the white men were in the
adjacent bush, on which he bade all the women,
escape as best they could, and concealed himself
among some long grass on the summit of an
eminence, just above a ford of the river, where he
coxild watch the movements of a patrol, and hear
the soldiers talking and laughing. "As soon as
they had passed, he and five or six followers, who
were all the retainers that remained with him,
journeyed farther up the Black Umvolosi, and lived
for some days in various kraals. Remaining for
three days in one kraal he was joined by one
of his wives. Finding the troops still on the trail,
he now struck across the country into the Ngome
Forest, where news reached him, that Umnyamana
had, instead of making terms for him, promised
Sir Garnet Wolseley to use his best endeavours
to capture and deliver him up, should he be
found in any of the kraals in his, Umnyamana's,
district Cetewayo was much grieved and ex-
cbimed, * Why does Umnyamana do this ? \Vhy
does he act treacherously [towards me ? Why does
he not send a message to me, to tell me to deliver
myself up ? ' "
He then moved to the kraal at Ngome, where he
was taken by Major Marter, afterwards Colonel and
AD.C. to Her Majesty.
Major Marter having sent a message to Lieutenant-
Colonel Clarke, desiring that a mule cart should be
sent to meet him, moved forward to the *Ndaza
kraal, which was reached before dusk on the
evening of the 29th of August Shortly before
reaching it, three men and one woman (attendants
of the king) attempted to escape in the bush,
through which, from its density, the whole party
had to proceed in Indian file. They had been
warned that death would be the penalty of such
an attempt, and the escort, acting in obedience to
orders, fired promptly. Two men fell dead ; the
other man and the woman escaped.
On the following day two companies of the 60th,
sent by Colonel Clarke, were met, with a mule cart,
in which the king and some of the women were
placed, and at ten on' the morning of the 31st the
whole came into UlundL
On beholding the ruins of his great kraal,
Cetewayo for the first time showed symptoms of
considerable mental distress; but otherwise his
bearing and his fortitude were admirable. It was a
singular coincidence, which very possibly weighed
upon his mind, that the day on which he was
marched a prisoner through his ruined capital to
captivity, was the anniversary of his coronation.
At two p.ra. on the same day, the king, with his
attendants, under an escort commanded by Captain
Poole, of the Royal Artillery, was despatched to
the coast by the way of Kwamagwasa and St Paul's,
to Port Dumford, where he embarked on the 4th
of September for Cape Town, and on his arrival
there was placed for a time in honourable captivity
in the Castle.
With his capture the Zulu War ended ; and it was
frequently urged that Sir Garnet Wolseley, while
insisting upon the delivery of all arms should have
insisted upon the surrender, if possible, of the lost
colours of the 2nd battalion of the 24th Regiment
" With regard to these," says a writer, " I believe
it to be fact, that when the Zulu War first began the
officers of the regiment, knowing the kind of fight-
ing they were going to have, were very anxious to
leave them in Pietermaritzburg, Sir Henry Bulwer
offering to take charge of them ; the wish was, how-
ever, overruled by Lord Chelmsford, with the result
that the colours of one of the most distinguished
line battalions are, in all probability, decorating
some kraal in the heart of Zululand."
Nothing now remained but to make a political
settlement of the country before it was evacuated
by our troops. It had been decided by Sir Garnet
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312 BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND AND SEA. [Uinndi.
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Ulundl. I
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF ZULULAND.
313
Wolseley that Zululand should be divided into thir-
teen separate districts; and on the ist of September,
a number of the chief men of the country, including
John Dunn, witnessed and put their marks to an
agreement, the preamble of which ran thus : —
" I recognise the victory of the British arms over
the Zulu nation, and the full right and title of Her
Majesty Queen Victoria to deal as she may think
fit with the Zulu chiefs and people, and with the
Zulu country; and I agree and hereby sign my
tives fi-om justice were to be surrendered, and in all
disputes the decision of the British Resident, Mr.
W. D. Wheelwright, was to be accepted.
Mr. Wheelwright was entrusted with the general
supervision of the different chiefs, and the details
of the boundaries of their respective districts — work
of an arduous and responsible character — were ar-^
ranged by three officers, Lieutenant-Colonel the
Hon. C Villiers, of the Grenadier Guards ; Captains
J. AUeyne, Royal Artillery, and H. Moore, of the
MEMORIAL STONE ON THE SPOT WHEELS PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON WAS KILLED.
agreement, to accept from Sir Garnet Joseph
Wolseley, G.C.M.G., K.CB., as the representative
of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the chieftainship
of Zululand, &c, subject to the following terms,
conditions, and limitations."
This document consisted of eleven clauses. By
these each chief was to respect the boundaries of
the territory assigned to him through the Resident
of the division in which it was situated ; the Zulu
military system was renounced, and men were to
marry when they chose. Arms and ammunition
were not to be imported into Zululand. Life was
not to be taken without a fair trial, and witch-
craft or witch-doctors were not to be tolerated. Fugi-
B B
4th Regiment Captain Alleyne had served with Sir
Garnet Wolseley on the Red River Expedition
from Canada in 1870.
On the 2nd of September, the troops encamped
at Ulundi were inspected by Sir Garnet Wolseley,
and the evacuation of Zululand began forthwith.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, with the 57 th, 3rd
Battalion of the Rifles, the Gatling Battery, and the
Natal Horse, started on that day for St Paul's,
from whence he made his way into Natal by
the route through Entumeni, and the central
ford of the Tugela, while another column
consisting of the 80th Foot, and two 9-pounder
guns, marched about the same time for Utrecht
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[ItyoCyosL
by the Inhlazataye Mountain and Conference
HilL
Sir Garnet Wolseley and his staff remained in
UUindi till the 4th of September, when he pro-
ceeded to Utrecht, where he arrived on the 9th.
Four days before that, Colonel Baker Russell and
Colonel Villiers attacked the Manganobas in their
caverns by the Intombe River, and killed eight of
them. Two of our troops were wounded. These
were about the last shots fired in the Zulu War, and
the road to Derby was unsafe until this last hand-
ful of the enemy was dispersed.
Captain Macleod's 5,000 Swazies were sent back
to their kraals full of dissatisfaction, because Cete-
wayo was left alive, and meanwhile, the bearing of
the latter was deemed extraordinary; he seemed
quite content to pass the rest of his life free from
the cares of his savage kingdom.
The stores which had been collected at the
various posts having been removed or con-
sumed, all these points were abandoned, and by
the end of September, 1879, the last detach-
ment of Her Majesty's troops had left Zululand
behind it
The total losses in action during this war were
as follows : —
Killed — 76 officers, 1,007 non-commissioned
officers and privates, with 604 natives.
Wounded — 37 officers, 206 non-commissioned
officers and privates, with 57 natives; and in
the period between nth January and 15th of
October, 1879, '7 officers and 330 men died of
diseases consequent on the operations in Zululand ;
and 1,286 non-commissioned officers and men
were sent home invalided.
The approximate cost of the war was ;^5,23o,323.
In this war, great honour was due to those whose
charitable labours led them, at the risk of their own
lives, to visit Zululand to succour the sick and
wounded. From the report of the South African
Aid Committee, it would appear that Surgeon-
General Ross accompanied by Dr. G. Stoker as
assistant commissioner, and a number of ladies
arrived at the seat of war, at a time when fever
was at its worst among our troops at Helpmakaar,
Rorke's Drift, and on the Lower Tugela, and when
it was absolutely necessary that a vigorous effort
should be made, if valuable lives were to be rescued
from death.
This party dispersed over those parts of the
country occupied by our troops, visiting the field
hospitals, and wherever their services might be
required, setting up movable ambulances, and
bringing soldiers who were sick away from pest-
stricken places. Later on, we find that Dr. Stoker
accompanied Colonel Villiers* column, and under the
direction of the latter went to several places suc-
couring the wounded and ailing British, and Zulus
as well It is satisfactor>' to learn that these great
results were achieved at a cost of less than seven
thousand pounds in all, and that for this small
sum, the best ambulance that ever left Britain,
went for more than twenty thousand miles without
losing one of its members, and came home with
the warm commendations of every officer and official
with whom it had to do.
Medals and clasps were freely given to the troops
engaged, and medals even to those who were
employed in Natal firom January jith to Sep-
tember ist, 1879, but who never crossed the border.
The latter were, of course, without clasps.
In closing our narrative of the Zulu War, it is
impossible to omit some reference to those pilgrims
of the heart, if we may term them so, who went as
far as South Africa, to visit the graves of some who
had fallen and were dear to them.
Among these were the young i\ddow of Captain
Ronald Campbell, who was slain on the Inhlobane
Mountain (daughter of the Right Rev. the Bishop
of Rochester). She accompanied the Empress
Eugenie, and Sir George Scott-Douglas, Bart, of
Springwood Park, Roxburghshire, whose son. Lieu-
tenant J. Scott-Douglas, of the 2nd Battalion of
the Royal Scots Fusiliers, serving in the Intelligence
Department, was killed near Fort Evelyn on the
I St of July — a young lad of only four years' service.
Guided by three soldiers, lent by General Clifford,
he reached the Lower Tugela and proceeded to
Kwamagwasa, where lay the solitary graves of his
son, and the young Irish corporal of the 17th
Lancers. They were found protected by an en-
closure formed by Colonel Thynne, of the Cold
stream Guards. Sir George erected memorial
crosses of grey Aberdeen granite over them, and
planted the spot with flowers, and on the graves of
the corporal some seeds of the shamrock sent by
his mother firom Ireland.
The more important pilgrimage of the Empress
Eugenie attracted, as her son's death had done, the
attention of all Europe.
Travelling under the title of Countess of Pierre-
fonds, and with a suite including Sir Evelyn and
Lady Wood, Mrs. Ronald Campbell, Dr. Scott, who
had medical charge of the Prince in Zululand, and
Lieutenant Slade, R.A, her aide-de-camp, so to
speak — ^an intimate Artillery fiiend of her son — ^all
clad in the deepest black, she reached Durban,
and occupied the room in the Government
House which had been occupied by her son.
Travelling by Cape carts, she was in time to reach
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ItyotyoM.]
END OF THE ZULU WAR.
315
Ityotyosi, where the Prince was killed, strange to
say, on the anniversary of the event
She expressed a wish to ascend where the am-
bulance stopped to take up the remains of her
son. From there she proceeded on foot towards
the stony donga, following precisely the track
taken by Dundonald Cochrane and other officers,
who went in search of the corpse. The way
was rough and stony, but, in spite of all remon-
strances, she persevered in her loving intentions
to visit the spot, ah-eady marked since April, 1880,
by the obelisk which Major Stubb of the Royal
Engineers had placed there, by order of Queen
Victoria.
" In the distance," says the Gauiois^ " gleamed
the white monument, thrown into sharp relief by
the dark background, but it only seemed to catch
the eyes of the Empress when she got to the
bank of the donga. Then she lifted her hands
as if in supplication towards heaven; the tears
poured over her cheeks, already worn with sorrow
and vigils ; she spoke no word and uttered no cry,
but sank slowly on her knees. A French priest
repeated the prayers for the dead, and the servant
Lomas, who had been an eyewitness, went through
the sad story of what happened last year."
Round the spot where the two troopers who fell
at the same time as the Prince are buried, a wall
had been built, within which some small trees and
violets, the Napoleonic emblem, had been planted.
Gebooda, the leader of the Zulus who attacked the
Prince, in presence of Major Stubb, had stood by
these two lonely graves, and, with uplifted hands,
had solemnly declared that they should never be
violated, and, as Zulu superstition with regard to
the dead is deeply founded, there is every prospect
of the promise being faithfully kept
The tents of the Empress were pitched in the
valley, and there she remained two days.
On the I St June, according to the Natai Times^
those of the Catholic faith who accompanied her
were invited to join in a solemn service, after
which they retired, and during the night the Empress
prayed over the spot where her son had fallen.
Funeral tapers, together with wreaths of immortelles
sent by the Queen, were placed on the spot, on
the graves of the troopers, and even of the Basutos
who fell with the Prince. " On the following day,"
says the Gaulois, "she went to Fort Napoleon,
and thence to Rorke's Drift, and on the fifth day
she visited the field at Isandhlwana, and prayed
with the Englishwomen who had come there to
mourn their husbands and brothers."
So ends our story of the Zulu War.
One fine quality which the Zulus possess, says the
author of " Through the Zulu Country," is a readi-
ness to forgive and forget " They bear no malice,
and considering that rightly, or wrongly, we invaded
their country, slaughtered thousands of their best
warriors, burnt their kraals, carried off their king,
and reduced them — the most powerful nation in
Southern Africa — to the condition of a conquered
race, it is surprising how little resentment is enter-
tained towards us. They say it is the fortune of
war; it is past and there is an end of it; and
they welcome the Englbhman wherever he goes
with the same cheerful and hearty greeting."
As one of their songs (which has happily been
given in English by the editor of "The Cape
and its People ") has it : —
*• My brethren, let our weapons,
Our warlike weapons all. .
Be beaten into ploughshares.
Wherewith to till the soil.
•• Our shields— otu- shields of battle.
For garments be they sewed,
And peace both north and southward
Be shouted far abroad.
* * Northward, I say. and southward,
On every side afar ;
Through Him who ever liveth.
The Lord of all that are."
CHAPTER XLV.
THE OPERATIONS AGAINST SEKUKUNL
We have already referred to the first part of these
movements which were inaugurated against this
powerfiil ally of Cetewayo, and which extended
from February to October, 1878, and which were
suspended after costing, according to the Daily
^eufs of June, 1879, half a million of money.
The reader may remember that Sekukuni was a
powerful Basuto chief, who, from his almost inac-
cessible stronghold in the district called Lydenberg,
had given the Cape Government much annoyance,
had acknowledged the supremacy of Cetewayo, and
had taken up arms against the Boers, when the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Lydenberg.
Transvaal Republic attempted to wield authority
over the " disputed territory " on the left bank of
the Blood River, claimed by the Zulus as theirs.
Colonel Owen Lanyon had been ready to take
the field against Sekukuni in June, but his advance
was suspended by order of Sir Garnet Wolseley, on
the arrival of the latter at Pietermaritzburg ; and he
was now reported to be in no way intimidated by
the fate of his friend Cetewayo, or by the facts
that other chiefs were also hostile, while the Boers,
who were full of strange delusions as to the exhaus-
tion of British resources by the Basuto and Zulu
Wars, were thinking of nothing but a conflict
Colonel Baker Russell, who at this time was at
Luneberg, was appointed to command the new ex-
pedition against Sekukuni, with a force consisting
of the 52 nd and 94th Regiments, with some cavalry.
Irregular levies, and four pieces of cannon, though
the season was deemed an unhealthy one for
military operations.
Towards the end of August, 1879, Colonel
Harrison, of the Royal Engineers, was ordered to
make a careful survey of the military positions
around the Lulu Mountains, wherein the territory of
Sekukuni lay, and he reported that all the rich and
once prosperous border farms were deserted, and
the lands were waste, while cattle-lifting was greatly
practised by the people of Sekukuni, who recklessly
fired upon all comers, and murdered friendly
Kaffirs close to our outposts. ** The chief, like one
of the robber barons of the Middle Ages, was sur-
rounded by all the warlike and lawless spirits of the
country, whom he attracted by hopes of plunder.
Occupying a mountain range of fifty miles long by
fifteen wide, and a grand valley fitted for the
pasturage of his flocks and herds, proud of his past
successes and preparing for constant aggressions,
Sekukuni sought, as he said, to become a great
power, one of the three of which he spoke — * Let
Cetewayo be king of the Zulus, Somsten (Shepstone)
king of the Transvaal, and Sekukuni be king of
the Basutos.'"
It was the suggestion of Colonel Harrison that
either he should be acknowledged as chief within
certain boundaries, which would be guarded by a
chain of posts sufficiently strong to overawe his
armed bands, or that his power should be altogether
broken, and himself be reduced to the grade of a
tributary. The former plan would involve the ad-
mission of defeat which his fierce and proud spirit
would resent, together with the serious cost of
keeping many mounted men in an unhealthy district,
with the risk of constant broils and trouble.
The latter plan could be achieved by a direct
investment of his fastnesses by blockade, or by
formidable expeditions against them from fortified
posts; but this was deemed tedious. The third
suggestion of Colonel Harrison was to establish a
complete cordon of posts around Sekukuni's chief
mountain, and to strengthen the volunteer garrisons
of Fort Burgers on the Steelpoort River and at
Jellalabad (or Fort Spekboom), which were five miles
apart, and then to increase that at Fort Oliphant,
near the junction of the Phiroo River with the
Oliphant, on the other side of Sekukuni's strong-
hold, and make it a depot of supplies. A column
of 400 infantry, 150 cavalry, two 9-pounders and
some rocket-tubes, a Royal Engineer detachment,
and a Native Contingent, was to advance against
Sekukuni's " Town," as it was named, and bom-
bard it, while a similar column should advance
from Fort Weeber (which stands equidistant nearly
from Forts Spekboom and Oliphant), and seize a
chosen point on the Lulu Mountain, so that by
these combined operations the hostile chief should
be reduced to flight or surrender.
Major Clarke, of the Royal Artillery, pending
operations, was sent as Special Commissioner for the
Lydenberg district, to negotiate with Sekukuni, and,
as much was expected from his talent and influence
on the obstinate and self-reliant chief, a few da>^
passed before peace or war was decided on — but
it was soon the latter; and meanwhile Baker
Russell's column was gradually moving up the
valley of the Intombe River towards Lydenberg.
** The story of Sekukuni," says a writer, " is one
which may have to be told of other chiefs, till all
South Africa be annexed up to — ^yes, up to the
limits of European greed and native endurance, or
the white man be forced back by the sheer weight
and pressure of numbers, and the adverse con-
ditions of his social existence as the Kafllir increases
and multiplies."
When the Dutch emigrants under Potgieter
penetrated into the north-eastern district of what is
now termed the Transvaal, they found that power-
ful tribe, the Swazies, to which we have more
than once referred, possessing, in addition to what
they now occupy, a mountainous district near the
present Lydenberg, in which a Basuto chief named
Sitate was established, and whom the Swazies
deemed a tributary, after having driven him into a
part of the country which they claimed as their
own, near the Crocodile River.
Potgieter received from the Swazies a district in
which Sitate's "principality" stood; and he per-
mitted the Basuto chief to remain, and then by
skilful alliances with those who were retreating
before the tide of Dutch emigration, he became in
time powerful enough to assume a superiority over
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TROUBLES WITH SEKUKUNI.
317
all the Boers near his borders ; and when his son
Sekukuni succeeded him, his Basutos, who had
acquired firearms as the price of their labours in
the Diamond Fields, asserted their independence,
and drove the Dutch from their farms near his
stronghold, though they were pennitted to remain on
paying blackmail to Sekukuni for his protection.
Forts Weeber and Burgers were built by the
Dutch as barriers against him, and on our annexing
the Transvaal we succeeded to the feud that existed
between this Basuto chief and the Boers ; and on
the 22nd of October, 1879, Sir Garnet Wolseley
left Pretoria with his staff to oversee the operations
against the famous mountain stronghold His
efforts to secure a peaceful settlement with Seku-
kuni had failed, and he now announced his resolu-
tion to punish the haughty Basuto with the utmost
severity, as he had totally failed or refused to pay
the fine of cattle referred to in our twenty-eighth
chapter.
The first instalment of the cattle had actually
been sent, but was returned by Sir Theophilus
Shepstone as not being the sufficient number,
and Major Clarke had informed Sekukuni that the
whole fine — about 2,000 head — must be paid, if he
would live in peace.
On the 2ist October, the major's messengers
returned to Fort Weeber, with information that
Sekukuni had ordered a cessation of hostilities,
and summoned a council of his chiefs, after which
his message to Major Clarke was somewhat to the
following effect : —
" You are my master, and I am a subject of the
British Queen. I want to see you particularly, and
feel sure that if we met, terms could be made. I
am poor and needy. On a former occasion I paid
you cattle, but they were returned, and now I have
lost so heavily by the effects of long sickness and
poverty that I am unable to pay any at all."
Major Clarke, who knew that the chief was as
wily and false as any Afghan, replied, that " if he —
Sekukuni — wanted peace, he must pay the fine of
cattle in full ; that an army was coming up from Zulu-
land, and the Great Chief, Sir Garnet Wolseley, was
to lead it in person, so that there was no time for
delay.''
He was also told that Cetewayo was a prisoner,
and that he would suffer the same fate if he resisted ;
but the chiefs replied, " that the English, though
great in war and diplomacy, were the greatest liars
in the world." They added that it was for the
British to come to them, not them to go to the
Britbh ; and that the mass meeting of the people
which Sekukuni assembled was all for war — and
war it was to be !
This was at a time when the weather was intensely
hot for fighting, and the season in which the horse-
sickness is fast developed, and some of the usual
confusion, incident to the beginning of our greater
wars, ensued. In some places commissariat agents
were selling off all kinds of transport and stores
as fast as they could, the Zulu strife being just over ;
in others, they were purchasing both with equal
energy. Volunteers who had just been disbanded
and disarmed, were re-enrolled and equipped;
and long trains of oxen and lumbering waggons
began once more to traverse the grassy veldt
towards Fort Weeber and Lydenberg ; but, as usual,
the commissariat was found faulty.
Sir Garnet Wolseley placed Colonel Harrison as
officer in charge of his base at Pretoria (now the
capital and seat of government of the Transvaal
Republic), informing him, " that he relied on him
altogether for supplies, and that if he failed, the
whole campaign would be abandoned."
"This," said the correspondent of the Daily
Telegraphy " is a striking commentary on the insou-
ciancey and, indeed, contempt, with which representa-
tions concerning these very supplies were received
by certain officers a short time before. Whether it be
wise for the general-in chief to proceed to the front
before all is ready for the field or not, it is evident
that he can, when there, form a better opinion of
the situation than he could if he remained at the
base ; but it is contrary to the practice of the great
masters — Lord Chelmsford is thought to have erred
greatly, when he hurried to his advanced camp,
and diminished the pressure his presence exercised
on those who were organising the mathiel in the
rear."
Major Fitzgerald Creagh, of the 8oth Regiment,
who had served in the New Zealand wars with the
50th, at the storming and capture of various camps
and pahs, and who had considerable knowledge of
the Transvaal, was selected by Colonel Harrison to
examine the dep6ts at Middleberg, Lydenberg and
elsewhere, and it was thought strange that no wai-
balloon was used to inspect the stronghold of
Sekukuni, who, with his followers would have been
stricken with terror, on beholding such an object
hovering above them in the air.
By the i8th of November, the troops had closed
up in some points to within sixteen miles of the
stronghold.
At Fort Oliphant, a small irregular earthwork,
having a square bastion at each corner, and a ditch
and trench furnished with prickly thorn bushes, two
companies of the 94th, under the ill-starred Major
Anstruther, were encamped under canvas; near
them were the huts of the Native Rustenberg
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Fort Olipluuit.
Contingent, raised in that district which is named
" the Garden *' of the Transvaal, on the northern
slope of the Magaliesbergen. In a gorge below
the Fort, flows the Oliphant, or Elephant River, ere
it dips into a valley, between two spurs that jut
out from the mountain range, then held by Seku-
kunL
This fort was to be the base of the left attack,
pheasants, pigeons, and hares abounded amid the
long wavy grass of the veldt, thus contributing to
the slender resources of the dinner table ; but amid
the same grass snakes lurked, several of them five
feet in length, and of their bites some horses and
mules died.
Captain Macgregor, of the Royal Engineers,
achieved some good reconnaissances of the Lulu
.Approx. Scale of Hlles.
SKETClf MAP OFSEKUKUNl'S COUNTRY.
and from it was the approach to another post, Fort
Albert Edward, held by the head-quarters of the
94th, under Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, on the line
taken by the Commando of the Transvaal Republic
in the former war.
Colonel Baker Russell came from Fort Weeber
on the 1 6th, and reconnoitred the country along
the left bank of the Oliphant for five miles beyond
the out-posts, drawing fire more than once from
Sekukuni's scouts, and no small abuse from his
spies who hovered about
In the vicinity of these detached posts the officers
found excellent sport for their guns, as antelopes,
range held by Sekukuni ; but its secrets were yet to
be revealed Plunder, beyond the cattle, karosses,
shields, and arms of his tribe, there was nothing to
expect, though rumour, curiously enough, said that
he had amassed treasure to the value of ^40,000
in gold, as each of his subjects who visited the gold
fields was obliged to deposit a sovereign at his feet
on returning.
While the little force of Europeans and its large
Native Contingent were preparing to attack the
Lulu Mountain, much severe work had to be done
at Fort Oliphant
On the 2oth of November, Captain Dahl came
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Sekukuni's «*Town."J
THE "FIGHTING KOPPIE."
319
into camp at the head of his Native Levy, 1,450
strong. He was a Dane, who had been in the
United States Navy at the outset of the war in 1 861,
and after being in Meade's Army Corps, served in
doubt that had it been held by well-armed and
disciplined infantry, and adequately provisioned,
it could have been taken only after a regular
siege and the expenditure of much shot and shell
SEKUKUNl.
the Chinese army, and was present at the massacre
in Tientsin, after which he became a settler in the
Transvaal The Swazies were now on the march to
Fort Weeber, but 1,350 Knob-noses, after proceed-
ing twenty miles, deserted.
Sekukuni*s " Fighting Koppie," as it was ap-
propriately named, was naturally enough deemed
impregnable by the Basutos, and there can be little
At first view it seemed a mighty and conical heap
of boulders rising from the green plain to the
altitude of some hundred feet, with a base of
the same length, and in outline it was like a ridge
pole marquee. Grey boulders and vast slabs of
rock piled over each other formed the sides, and
upon these and at the foot grew trees of great size
and masses of jungly brushwood.
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320
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
(OUphant River.
Viewed externally, it seemed to be only one of the
ordinary hills called by the Dutch "koppies"; but
it was in reality one of the most singularly cavernous
hills in the world. Its whole interior was honey-
combed by nature, intersected by passages and
galleries leading into great chambers, with chinks,
clefts, and crannies forming natural loopholes for
musketry, and in one place there yawned an appal-
ling chasm, which had never been fathomed, and
was believed to contain water at the bottom. When
in the agonies of thirst on the third day of their
blockade, some of Sekukuni's people went down by
means of great leather thongs tied together, none
of them ever came up again ; no noise was heard
from them. Those in the cavern overhead shouted
again and again but got no reply, so those who
went down into the dark depths presumably from
one cause or another, died The koppie has been
described as being like a vast tortoiseshell, with
massive rocky partitions and galleries within it, and
had the Basutos been well supplied with provisions
and water they might, as we have said, have made
a very prolonged resistance. Its atmosphere was
pleasant and cooL
The garrison which manned it was about 14,000
strong, but of these, only 4,000 could be depended
upon for defence. The rest were better suited for
scouting, and predatory or cattle-lifting expeditions. .
When all was ready, Sir Garnet Wolseley left his
camp near Fort Weeber on the 21st of November,
and the banks of the Ngoaritse (a tributary of the
Oliphant) were made lively for a time by the presence
and departure of convoys of ox and mule waggons,
the ambulance train, the Scots Fusiliers, with pipes
playing and drums beating, the artillery under Knox,
the horse regiments of Ferreira and Carrington, the
advance and commissariat trains, with more than
one squad of donkeys from the Zoutspansberg.
The aspect of the volunteer cavalry was somewhat
varied and even picturesque. Carrington's Horse
comprised all sorts and conditions of men, even
Japanese and Americans, who had scanty prospects
in life before them when the war ended and with
it their five shillings per diem ; while so wild and
mutinous was their spirit that he was obliged to flog
thirty-five of them in one day ; and all the Dutch
under Ferreira and in the Rustenberg force openly
declared that they would join the Boers the moment
they revolted.
On the night of the 22nd there was a dreadful
storm, when Wolseley's tent was blown down ; and
all night long, through the canvas of the tents, the
pink lightning in the western sky could be seen
flashing, while a storm of dust swept through the
camp with a rushing sound
On the 23rd November, Commandant Ferreira
and Captain Dahl with his Zoutspansberg natives,
attacked the kraal of Umgane, one of Sekukuni's
most valued adherents, and on the firing being
heard in a valley some miles away, Sir Garnet
Wolseley, Colonel Baker Russell, Colonel Bracken-
bury, Major MacCalmont, and Captain Maurice
McCreagh of the Royal Artillery, galloped off to see
the result
Entering the valley through which the Oliphant
flows, the scene of this encounter was amid huge
rocks and boulders, from which the storms and
waterspouts of ages had long since washed the soil
away, and yet enough seemed to remain for the
roots of the palm-like euphorbias and the more
humble tribes of lilaceous plants, that served to
impart a greenness to the place.
As Sir Garnet's staff came cantering up over
ground strewed by withered stalks and great yellow
pumpkins, the sound of shots was heard amid the
rocks, and clouds of smoke rolled over the hills in
front
The latter proceeded from the huts of Umgane's
kraal, which was now in flames, within its boundary
hedge of gigantic cacti All along the hillside
above the kraal rose puffs of smoke, as the men
of the Zoutspansberg contingent kept firing their
muskets at those of Umgane, and the contest
seemed a very confused one. And there was seen
Captain Dahl in his shirt-sleeves, "hoarse with
thirst and shouting," says an eye-witness, " in the
midst of his savage-looking warriors, who were
streaming out of the kraal, laden with skins,
carcases, spears, baskets, and articles of native
manufacture, in much excitement, and he told
Colonel Russell how he had stormed the hills in
front of us, while Ferreira had carried the farthest
ridge and gained the valley between two lines of
mountain."
He gained more, for already some of his men
had retired from the fight with 300 head of cattle
and many sheep and goats. He had despatched
700 men up the steep slope between two hills
commanding the kraal, and then sent 400 to the
right, while Ferreira, pushing on from the left,
took his way up some precipitous hillsides, fight-
ing and disputing every foot of the way. Yet the
defence was weak, for 500 good men might
have held the place against ten times their
number. *-Dahl had not tasted water for six
hours, and the heat was oppressive. Never shall I
forget his look as he drank the water which Colonel
Russell gave him from his bottle," says the writer
before quoted "Umgane was killed and many
of his people." He was the first chief whose voice.
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Water Koppic]
DEFEAT OF UMGANE
321
at the councils of Sekukuni, was for immediate
war.
Some women and children were also killed in
the confusion. Umgane would seem to have been
in a cavern, from whence he fired at Dahl as the
latter came up. The ball ricochetted from a rock,
and wounded Dahl in the hand, as he summoned
Umgane to surrender, promising that his life
should be spared The chief fiercely and scorn-
fully refused to capitulate, and fell dead under a
volley which was fired into his cavern. Dahl had
only seven casualties.
Only about 200 men defended the kraal ; all the
rest were gone to join Sekukuni Some 300
women and children were captured. Many of the
former carried the latter in their anus and wept as
they were marched off by Dahl's men from their
blazing homes ; but Sir Garnet Wolseley gave orders
that all should be kindly treated and set free in a
day or two.
As Captain Stuart was coming down the hill,
with a number of Ferreira's Horse in Indian file,
the sergeant-major stooped to take a kaross, or
mantle, from the mouth of a cave, and at that
instant fell, shot through the heart, at a time when
it was thought that all the fighting was over, or
nearly so. His comrades rushed into the cave, and
every man found there was shot or cut down.
" It would be well,'' wrote the correspondent of the
Daily Telegraphy "if Irish or Highland peasants,
or English artisans, had such clean, well-kept, and
comfortable homes, as those from which volumes
of flame were coming in front of us, and the wide-
spread cultivation around spoke well for the
industry of the people who were killed or ruined —
their houses destroyed, their wives and children
carried into captivity ; but it was hoped that the
ease with which the place was taken, and the
severity of the lesson would have a proper effect
upon Sekukuni and his councillors. After a halt
of half an hour or so in front of the kraal, and a
consultation with Colonel Russell, Sir Garnet
Wolseley turned to ride back to camp, passing on
his way groups of the 2^utspansberg natives, in
front of whom warriors were capering with musket
and assegai in hand, showing how they had killed
the Mekat^s of the mountain."
Afler a thirty miles' ride the staff came back to
camp hot and weary.
Ferreira and Dahl received orders from Colonel
Baker Russell to hold the advanced ground they
had taken, and at an early hour in the morning all
the mounted men available were sent under Major
Carrington to the vicinity of Umgane's kraal, prior
to the seizure of a post named the Water Koppie,
within a short distance of Sekukuni's stronghold.
That night the heat in camp at Albert Edward was
oppressive— the very tents seemed to crackle with
electricity.
So thus ended the attack on Umgane.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE OPERATIONS AGAINST SEKUKUNI (continued).
On the night of the 24th, notwithstanding the over-
powering heat, a force of 300 mounted men with
some infantry, 200 Scots Fusiliers and 200 94th,
in mule waggons, proceeded from Fort Alexandra,
which is seven miles distant from Albert Edward
Camp, and seized without opposition the Water
Koppie, where the infantry entrenched themselves.
Five miles distant 8,000 Swazies, under Macleod
and Bushman, firom Fort Burgers had taken post,
and with Sir Garnet Wolseley there were now
11,000 natives and 1,400 European troops.
As he intended to make the most of the moon-
light, and cover the ground to the Water Koppie,
which he considered the key to his position against
Sekukuni, the head- quarter tents were struck at
four p.m. on the 26th, and preceded by the Scots
Fusiliers, with their pipes and bugles playing alter-
nately, the march began through a difficult country,
to which, ere long, a thunderstorm caused the
troops additional trouble by harassing and imped-
ing the progress of the column, which instead of
reaching the ground fresh and with a prospect of
rest early on the 27th, did not get to camp
till the evening sun was low in the sky, and all
were wet, sodden, and weary. The 21st had been
under arms for twenty-four hours consecutively,
and without food. All animals and waggons were
put in laager under a strong guard; the bugles
sounded *• lights out " early, as orders were issued
that the tents would be again struck at two am. on
the morrow, and all lay down in their boots and
clothing, lest the Basutos from the mountain
should try a night attack, which they might
have done in front and rear, as the ground was
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322
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[SekuknDTt Town.
favourable for such movements, but the short night
was passed in perfect quietude.
Thus the force of Colonel Russell lay in laager
upon the plain, within a mile and a half of the
point of attack.
At two a.m. the orders went round to strike the
tents ; the low hum of voices passed along the can-
vas lines as each in succession went down, and the
pegs and mallets were bagged by the light of the
stars and lanterns, and in less than an hour all
were under arms and formed up in front of the
camping ground, near a rugged ravine, through
which flowed a rain-swollen stream, that separated
the troops from the point of attack, and all moved
off in profound silence at half-past three.
The Lulu Mountain is divided in two by a
gorge named the Matlake. The south-eastern
portion is well watered, and, like maRy African
mountains, of tabular form, so flat that cavaby
might act on its summit, and it is accessible from
several points.
But the north-west range, where Sekukuni dwelt,
is diflicult of access, rocky, and rugged His
kraal, or city, as it was called, could be approached
from the north by means of a valley, but neither by
guns, waggons, or horses. Below the town is a
koppie, or isolated hill, 150 feet high, with a base
of 600 feet round, which formed the key of the
position.
We have already described this famous and
cavernous stronghold. Amid the cyclopean masses
of which it is formed, the entrances of the caves
were not vbible from the valley, which was fertile
in maize, and lies between the two ranges of hills,
and contracts to little more than a mile at the
distance of two from the town, which was divided
into three great blocks or kraals — one occupied by
Holoqua, a brother of Sekukuni, the second by a
chief named Sowazi, and the third by Sekukuni
himself.
Westward of where Sekukuni's kraal stood, is a
detached and conical koppie, ridged by great
masses of sandstone, its sides, like those of the
greater hills, generally covered with trees and bush ;
but parts there are which are merely bare masses
of rock, between which were the entrances to the
caverns, and these entrances were covered by stone
walls, which became formidable obstacles to an
attack delivered in front, though perhaps weak if
enflladed.
Sir Garnet Wolseley's " General Orders,'* issued
on the 27 th, gave a succinct account of what he
intended should be done. The concentration of
the Transvaal Field Force was achieved, as we have
described, amid storm and rain. It was arranged
that the Swazies from Fort Burgers, under Major
Bushman and Captain Macleod, should crown the
ridge above Sekukuni's town at a quarter past four
in the morning, and move upon it eastward down
the mountain side, while the main column in three
divisions should deliver an attack from the west
The right under Ferreira, consisting of his own
Horse, and the contingents of Rustenberg and
Mapoch, was to assail the southern portion of the
town at a quarter past four a.m. The central attack
was to be made under Colonel Murray, with a de-
tachment of his own regiment, the 94th, six com-
panies of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and a detach-
ment of the 80th ; four guns of the Transvaal Ar-
tillery and two of the Rustenberg companies covering
the train of reserve ammunition, were also to attack
the Fighting Koppie.
The left attack was under Major Carrington,
24th Regiment, and was composed of all the
mounted men (Ferreira's excepted), the Rusten-
bergers, and DahFs Zoutspanbergers, and was to be
delivered on the north side of the town, from a
ravine leading up the hill that commanded the
centre of it
A slender detachment was left to guard the
laager, with the cattle and stores, under Lieutenant
O'Dell, 52nd Foot, while Captains E. J. Henry
Spratt, of the 29th, Fraser, 60th Rifles, Walter Glyn
Lawrell, of the 4th Hussars, and Christian, of
Ferreira's Light Horse, were appointed to act as
orderly officers to Colonel Russell.
No bugle calls were to be permitted in the action.
The ground had been thoroughly reconnoitred,
but as the troops advanced from the laager,
across the ravine and the stream in the starlight,
there was a good deal of splashing, discomfort, and
toil in getting through the water; then Colonel
Russell, with Captains Stewart, Spratt, and Lawrell,
dismounted, and after giving their horses to grooms
to be kept out of the fire, went forward to super-
intend the disposition of the attacking force. Sir
Garnet, with Major Hugh M*Calmont, of the 4th
Hussars, and Lieutenant-Colonel H. Brackenbury,
R. A., the military secretary, an oflScer of very varied
and distinguished service, took post to the left of
the guns.
" If you were to stand on the level ground out-
side Holyrood," says a writer, " and look towards
the Calton Hill on a fine moonlight night, you
would see something like the outline of the hills
over Sekukuni's Stadt There were two or three
watch-fires visible at the base, but all the interven-
ing space was void, and in our camp there was
silence, broken only by the neighing of horses."
The dawn came in clearly and brilliantly, en-
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Sekukonrs Town.]
ATTACK ON THE BASUTOS.
323
hancing the great natural beauty of the scenery, and
adding interest to a very exciting episode ; but the
Basutos in their rocky eyries were enabled thereby to
get a clearer view from the schanzes, to acquire the
range, and their balls began to whistle close, while
the white smoke, streaked with fire, spirted out of
the dark cavern mouths.
At a quarter past four, as there was at first just
sufficient light to discern the form and outline of
the mountain fortress, about 500 yards distant, the
Transvaal Artillery gims, under Captains Knox and
Reid, and Lieutenant Brackenbury, were taken off
the mules, put together and placed in position, as
well as two 6-pounder Krupps and two 7-pounders ;
while Ferreira moving off to the right with 80 dis-
mounted men — Mapoch's 600 Kaffirs did not ap-
pear— and Carrington to the left with 700 natives,
161 Volunteers, and 34 Mounted Infantry, ascended
the hills with their men.
" There was only a faint flush of dawn in the
east," says a graphic correspondent, " as the flash
of the first gun, followed by the report and the
smacking noise of the shell against the stronghold,
woke up the echoes of the hills, and, ere the rever-
beration had rolled away in the valley, a fierce yell
and the blast of innumerable war-horns from koppie
and mountain announced that the Basutos were
ready for us. The light of the bursting shells was
now answered by the sparkle of musketry ; but the
enemy fired wildly and wasted their powder.
Scarcely had the guns opened when the Basuios in
caves on the chain of hills in rear of the camp,
began to join in, and for a few moments it seemed
as if Sekukuni had hit upon the device of a counter
attack ; but the camp guards replied, and the an-
noyance on that side was properly estimated and
discounted."
This was by the activity of Lieutenant O'Dell.
The Scots Fusiliers and 94th forming the centre
took their ground quietly, and did not deliver any
fire, while the guns pounded away till the sun was
well up, and all the features of the place could be
seen distinctly.
About six o'clock, against the clear sky line,
numerous black dots or points were seen moving
and massing along the crests of the hills, and des-
cending into the savage dongas and rugged fissures.
These were some of Major Bushman's Swazies
pouring down in dark and naked masses — naked,
save for their leopard skin kilts, head-dresses of
ostrich feathers, and fillets of fox and lynx tails —
with their cowhide shields, spears and sheafs of
glittering assegais, towards the now blazing kraals
where Carrington was aheady engaged. But their
weapons were useless against the rifles of the
Basutos, lodged in caves and behind rocks and
stone walls; and they were compelled to retire
in shattered masses under a dreadful fire, and seek
shelter behind the crests, over which they had come,
with their lofty feather head-dresses waving in the
breeze.
Before this took place, it would seem that one
column, 500 strong, had descended a gorge to the
left of that which it should have taken, and be-
came exposed to a dreadful fire from the Basutos
perched on some near rocks. Unable to reply by a
shot, with savage courage and rage, they made a
furious rush up these cliffs, and caught the Basutos
with their backs to one precipice, and their feet to
another, and an eye-witness describes the scene
that followed as a fearful one. " Before the Basutos
could re-load, the Swazies had fairly got among
them, and hurled them down the cliff, not without
great loss to themselves, for the Basutos clung to
their enemies, met assegai with assegai and musket
stock, and dragged their opponents over with them
into the ravine, the edges of which were hemmed
with vultures that evening. The column of Swazies
on the right of the ledge of rocks, nearly 4,000 strong,
began meantime to drive the Basutos down from
crag to crag towards their left point As they
advanced at 6.25, Ferreira pushed on from below,
and the flames of the kraals of the king's town, and
the rush of captured cattle into the plain, marked
the line of his progress. Equally, on the left, the
volumes of smoke from the northern town told
where Carrington was, and his men could be seen
all the morning working their way through the
difficult bush and ravines filled with rocks, now
halting to open concentrated fire on a schanze, now
scrambling like goats along the ledges, till they
joined hands with the Swazies in the centre, over the
middle toA^Ti.*'
Meanwhile Major Carrington, with the force
already detailed, had worked his way round to the
left, and had speedily become engaged with the
Basutos on the hills above it. The Transvaal
Mounted Rifles, and Border Horse quitting their
saddles, charged up the hill on foot, and soon
stormed the first line of schanzes, ably supported
as they were by the Mounted Infantry, under Lieu-
tenant De Courcy O'Grady, of the 94th Regiment ;
and then the whole, rushing with cheers up the
steep and rugged ground, drove the Basutos out of
the second line of defences higher up, and won
a ridge of sombre-looking rocks, though under a
plunging downward fire, which ultimately drove back
the Native Contingent ; on this the men of Seku-
kuni made a rush upon Carrington's men and
their horses below, but were compelled to retire
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3*4
feRlTISH fiATTLES OM LAND AND SEA.
(Sekukuni't Town*
under the withering fire that bowled them over in
heaps.
About half-past six, the left wing of the Swazies
appeared over the hill tops in this quarter, and came
in the shoulder, and Sergeant-Major Constable was
conspicuous for his bravery. During all this fight-
ing the centre had been chiefly in observation; but
a little after six a.m. the Scots Fusiliers deployed
BOVANK, THE SWAZI COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
down towards the dark ridge just mentioned, and
within an hour the united divisions had cleared out
the caverns and defences of all but the dying and the
dead, and then Major Carrington descended towards
the central town, the huts of which he left sheeted with
flame, as he worked his way downward to the plain.
In the early part of this conflict. Captain
Maurice, of the Artillery, had a dangerous wound
in front and on the left of the guns, towards the
Koppie, at a time when the Zoutspanbergers and
Rustenbergers on the right refused to go on, though
horse- whipped by Baker Russell and his aide^ie-
camp, though cursed by Dahl, and though they had
roasted and eaten the right hand of the ^dlant
Umgane (who had been killed shortly before) to
inspire them with courage.
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Sekukuni'.tawni ATTACK OF THE SWAZIES. 325
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326
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Sekukuni's Town.
Ere the Scots Fusiliers deployed in skirmishing
order, along their front poured a horde of Swazies,
their assegais all bloody, laden with plunder from
the burning kraals, and leading boys and girls by
the hand — their own children they asserted them to
be, who had gone up the mountain to see the fight ;
though it was strongly suspected they were little
Basutos who were to become slaves in Swaziland.
The centre attack under Lieutenant-Colonel
John Murray, of the 94th, was directed chiefly
against the stronghold alone. A portion of the
Scots Fusiliers, in skirmishing order, kept up a fire
on what was called " the tower," from which the
enemy had exchanged shots with them before the
advance. The 94th, under Major Anstruther, on
the right of the Transvaal Artillery, had been
similarly engaged from an early hour till a quarter to
ten. For four consecutive hours the koppie had
been shelled, doing no great physical damage to the
enemy, till two of the guns were sent round to the
left to take it in flank, and it was to this manoeuvre
the Scots Fusiliers conformed.
From the cavernous recesses of the koppie
various kinds of bullets came pinging, whistling or
whirring, for some were fragments of stone lapped
in lead, amd others were big charges from elephant
guns. A man of the 80th had his spine traversed
by one, as he lay on the ground taking " pot shots;"
a snider ball killed Colonel Russell's horse under
him. The Fusiliers and 94th never permitted a
puff of smoke to appear without paying close atten-
tion to the spot from which it issued.
The chief attack of the centre column was made
by the Scots Fusiliers and two companies of the
94th, under Captain George Froom, on their left,
with one company of the same regiment on their
right, while a third was in reserve ; and in the
advance, the Fusiliers had two men killed, two
officers and eleven men wounded, and the 94th
seven, thus proving how bad was the general firing
of Sekukuni's thousands.
"At eight o'clock," says the correspondent with
the staff, " the scene was a mere spectacle, but one
of extraordinary animation and beauty. There
were still puffs of smoke cropping out on the hill
sides, where some of the Swazies were hunting the
Basutos to death in their caves; but the gross
tumult of the musketry was restricted to the plaia
The kraals vomiting out smoke and tongues of fire
formed the chord of an arc of nearly one and a half
mile long. From the centre town on the left, all
round the Fighting Koppie to the right, the plain
was seamed by the regular red lines of the British
infantry firing on the fortress, with shifting clouds
of Swazies, Zoutspanbergers, Mapoch's Kaffirs,
and Rustenbergers looking on, enjoying the
fusillade, and especially interested in the practice
of two guns which had now been moved round to
the north side of the koppie. Several changes of
position were made occasionally, and firom eight to
half-past eight the skirmishers were pushed nearer
and nearer."
Every man in the detachment of the 80th — save
one who was ill — volunteered to join in the assault
when it was to be delivered; and by nine, when
the cannonade ceased, and the crisis was approach-
ing, there was a silence over all the place, except-
ing an occasional shot or so, the blowing of war-
horns ajid the crackle of the burning kraals that
shrouded the hills and ravines in smoke.
Anon the guns opened more briskly than ever,
and the orders were issued for " a general advance
to carry the koppie by storm." This was about a
quarter to ten o'clock. When the signal was given
by two rockets from the left — one to "prepare," the
second to " advance," with ringing cheers the Scots
Fusiliers and 94th made a rush at the stronghold in
splendid order. In ten minutes the rocks seemed
alive with red-coats and Swazies, half seen, half
hidden in eddies of smoke. Sword in hand Baker
Russell led them on from his point of the position.
Ferreira rushed on from the right, and the leading
companies of the 94th had a regular race to be first
at the koppie with the 21st, whose pipers were soon
at the foot of it, " beating the ground with their feet
and filling the air with the breath of battle, while
playing with infernal energy, sending out skirls
which sounded far above the fusillade, the screams
and yells of the combatants."
So rapid was the advance, so furious the rush,
that scarcely a man dropped till the troops were
inside the place. Fire and smoke still spouted from
cave and cranny, and every Basuto who failed to
win cover perished on the spot ; but many a Swazi,
with feathers, shield, and assegai, came crashing
down the rocks, which perhaps his bare feet had
failed to surmount ; and wild and picturesque was
the intermingling of tattered uniforms, with native
war-gear in the melke^ while the Europeans strove
to wriggle through the narrow entrances of the well-
manned caverns, and to close hand to hand with
those who were within.
The three towns were all in flames below, but
by eleven o'clock the koppie was solidly held by
British troops — the 21st and 94th — who crowned
its summit ; below them the whole hill sides seemed
alive with Swazies — ^led by Bushman, Campbell, and
Macleod — with volunteers and men of the Native
Contingents, all closing in and upward to join in
the conflict
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Sekakanrs Town.]
SURRENDER OF THE BASUTO CHIEF.
3«7
Colonels Murray, of the 94th, and Hazlerigg,
of the 21st, large men, on large horses, though
conspicuous objects, escaped the enemy's fire ; and
Colonel Russell, steaming with perspiration, for the
day was one of intense heat, hurried on foot — as his
horse had been shot — to congratulate Sir Garnet on
the successful attack, though the fighting was not yet
over. " At 10.30," says the Daily Telegraph's corre-
spondent, " the Fighting Koppie, in which Sekukuni
enshrined his faith, belonged practically to Queen
Victoria ; but inside its stony bowels was still hidden
a band of desperate and resolute men, of women
and children, of wounded and dead — a fearful
combination. When next day the resources of
science were brought to bear on the hard rocks,
and gun-cotton or dynamite — perhaps both — in the
skilfiil hands of Captain M'Gregor, tore open the
caves or filled them with a rain of broken boulders,
and the madness of thirst and hunger, and the
stench of corpses came upon the survivors, in that
dreadful charnel-house, there must have been an
accumulation of horrors not easy to match in the
records of human misery and endurance. ... No
Highlander of bygone days — no follower of the
ancient Lochiels, of the Farquharsons of old, or
the Forbeses of Newe — could display more de-
votion to their chief than these black fellows to
Sekukuni They died in the koppie; when all
was over, they sought death almost certain in at-
tempts to break through our lines, driven desperate
as they were by thirst and starvation, because he
told them not to surrender, and they guarded the
secret of his hiding-place most tenaciously, coming
out of their caves and giving themselves up to their
mortal enemies in the hope of deceiving the pursuers
by the assurance that the king was not there."
The explosions when the caves were blown up
by gun-cotton on the 29th reverberated among the
mountains loud as tropical thunder.
The I St of December found the chief Mapeshla,
a fat and stout man, with others still holding out
among the remaining caverns, and though two com-
panies of the Scots Fusiliers, under Captain Daniel
Auchinleck, were detailed to watch the caves and
prevent their defenders from coming out to the
springs, on that day many wretched creatures came
out screaming —
" Water — water ! give us water ! "
The Fusiliers did not fire on them, but an in-
terpreter informed them that if they surrendered
they should receive both food and water.
These gallant Basutos had been lords of the
land for three centuries and more, and had never
before been conquered. There is a tradition
among them, says the graphic writer last quoted,
that long years ago, an expedition of white men
clad in steel came out of the sea, and all perished
among the mountains, where up to this day, old
wheel-lock muskets are found in the caverns.
These men are supposed to have been Portuguese
musketeers fi-om Delagoa Bay, who called their
settlement Lorenzo Marques, after its first dis-
coverer in 1544.
On the ist of December, Sekukuni was still
holding out, and the most of our troops, with their
coats thrown off, unable to wear them in the heat,
were watching the caverns, rifle in hand, clad only
in their trousers and shirts.
The Victoria Cross was bestowed on Privates
Flawn and Fitzpatrick, two Irishmen of the 94th,
for bravery here on the 28th of November, in
carrying out of action. Lieutenant Cumming Dewar,
of the ist Dragoon Guards, who had a thigh shat-
tered by a bullet At the time he fell, he had with
him only these two soldiers and six of the Native
Contingent Being incapable of moving without
assistance, the latter proceeded to carry him down
the hill, but deserted him, when some thirty of the
enemy appeared in pursuit, about forty yards
distant ; and he must have been killed, but for the
humanity and valour of Privates Flawn and Fitz-
patrick, who carried him alternately, one covering
the retreat and firing on the enemy.
On the evening of the 28th November, when
McGregor began to blow up the caverns, and
enormous masses of rock were tossed upwards, a
party was seen to escape from one — and among
those composing it was Sekukuni, who was re-
cognised. A strong detachment of the Scots
Fusiliers was sent up to cut off all access to water
from the new cave in which he had taken shelter —
called the Marine Cavern, twelve miles up the
mountain, and there he surrendered at six a.m. on
the morning of the 2nd December, to Major Clarke
and Commandant Ferreira. He and his imme-
diate followers were without food, and there he
made his last desperate stand There was some
firing without any casualty on our side, and after
an attempt had been made to light a fire at the
cavern's mouth and smoke him out, he surrendered,
and was borne out on a stretcher, and conveyed
to the camp in a waggon, surrounded by crowds
of men, women and children.
He proved to be a thin elderly man, bent with
rheumatism, with a face of that type belonging to
his race the Mekatees, as the Dutch name them,
though we term them Basutos. His wife, a pleasant-
looking young woman, with a babe m her arms,
and a boy at her knee, accompanied him into the
bell-tent that was assigned him, under a guard.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Pretoria.
Our losses amid all this, fighting were not
severe — some twelve Europeans killed and fifty-six
wounded, yet the Swazies lost at least 300 — some
say 500 — killed. But they never counted their
dead,, nor cared for them, and scarcely ever carried
off their wounded
^ Captain Macaulay, of the Transvaal Mounted
Rifles (late of H.M. Lancers), and Captain Walter
dyn Lawrell, of the 4th Hussars, were killed —
the latter as he was leading Captains Brackenbury
and Spratt, both heavier men, up the rocks. He
was shot through the head by a Basuto, whom his
servant, an old Hussar, shot immediately after-
wards. Captains Maurice McCreagh, R.A., Mac-
Corbie of Baker's Horse, and Beeton of the Native
Contingent, with Lieutenants O'Grady, 94th, and
Dewar, K.D.G., were among the wounded
Among those who fell leading the Swazies was a
Scottish soldier of fortune, popularly known as
"Shipka" Campbell, whose loss was greatly re-
gretted, and who there closed a career so varied
and adventurous that we are tempted to notice it
briefly.
A. H. Campbell had come to South Africa in
1878, on a tour of exploration, after having served
at the storming of several pahs in the New Zealand
War, and after serving as major, under Suleiman
Pasha, at the Shipka Pass. He became the idol of
the Turkish troops, and in the intervals of military
duty acted as correspondent for a leading London
paper. He led the forlorn hope at the storming of
the Russian Fort St Nicholas at the head of a few
hundred men, with remarkable bravery. He fought
in the Kamarli Pass,^and when the Ottoman army
fell back across the snow-clad wastes of Roumelia,
the last officer to embark on board the fleet
was Sfiipka Campbell He intended to explore
Africa up to Timbuctoo, but the Zulu War caused
him to change his mind He proceeded to Swazi-
land, seeking there to enlist the sympathies of the
natives in the British cause. He was a man of
robust and powerful frame, and hardships that
would have killed other men had no effect on him.
As a soldier of fortune, he was ever ready to
go anywhere and do anything. He came with
Macleod and the Swazies against Sekukuni. During
the engagement on the 28th November, he was
warned not to go near a certain cave as it was
full of Basutos; but heedless of the advice, he
stooped down to enter, and rolled over dead under
a volley from its recesses, and we believe his body
was never found, though minute searches were
made in the caves, into one of which the Basutos are
supposed to have dragged it He had a presenti-
ment he was to fall, of which he spoke many times
before the action, and he rashly seemed to do his
best to bring his fate about
Captains Lawrell and Macaulay, with six
European privates, were buried in a row outside
the camp, at six in the morning.
Sekukuni was sent in a mule waggon to Pretoria,
together with his wife, two daughters, his brother,
and two attendants. He was not without fear of
being killed by the Swazies en route. He was sick,
and now laid the blame of the war on his chiefs
and people, who would not consent to pay taxes or
tribute to the British.
To Major Clarke was assigned the charge of his
" country," as it is named
Sekukuni arrived with Sir Garnet Wolseley at
Pretoria on the 9th of December. His reported
treasure of gold coin and diamonds, we need
scarcely say, was not discovered, though Com-
mandant Ferreira prosecuted an active search for
it Many women who had been captured by the
Swazies were taken from them by order of Sir
Garnet Wolseley and set at liberty; buj many
more with their children perished in the exploded
caverns of the Fighting Koppie.
A series of military posts was established
throughout the acquired district, under Colonel
Murray of the 94th, who was placed in command
of a Flying Column, to dominate the Lulu
Mountain. On its southern slope, Fort Victoria
was to be held by two companies of the 94th,
some of the Native Contingent, and twenty Trans-
vaal Mounted Riflemen, under Captain James
Browne of the 94th.
Fort Albert, with a little garrison, held the other
slope; while Forts Albert Edward, Oliphant,
Weeber, and Burgers, were all to be similarly
maintained, and it was confidently hoped that, in
a short time, Sekukuni being hopelessly a captive,
all his mountaineers would submit
The head-quarters now marched for Pretoria by
the bush veldt road and crossed the Oliphant — a
difficult process as the stream had become swollen;
the heat was great and supplies were scanty.
The troops brought away with them all the
captured arms. In most cases these were of
very inferior quality — old Tower muskets, that
probably had done service under Wellington, as
many of them had flint locks, or were early per-
cussion old rifles and double-barrelled guns. The
pouches were full of substitutes for bullets, and
there was plenty of powder in large buffalo horns.
The march back to the recently annexed
Transvaal was very arduous. " It was usual," says
a correspondent, " to have the tents struck at three
a.m., and to start at half-past three, for there was
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RISE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC
329
moonlight, and how the lions, leopards, and
wolves put up with such irruption in their hunting
time, I do not know; but I can answer for its
effect on my own temper, when aggravated by sun,
dust, and slow riding for thirty miles a day through
the stifling bush. Sometimes, by way of a change,
the tents were struck at half-past two ; in fact we
only went to sleep in order to be roused again, and
when a halt came, every man sought out a bush
and took a short repose, the men who were
carried in the waggons having by far the best
time of it, for the officers had to ride, and the
jog, jog, day after day, made one hate the sight
of a saddle." This was a common experience.
The arrival of the fallen Sekukuni at Pretoria
afforded the inhabitants an opportunity for great
rejoicings ; and there was a review and field day,
which — though the troops were rather tattered
and patched in costume — was deemed the finest
military spectacle ever witnessed, as yet, in the
Transvaal On this remarkable occasion there
went past in marching order, Curling's Battery of
9-pounders, the ist Dragoon Guards, the 4th or
King's, the 58th Rutlandshire, and the 80th Staf-
fordshire, under Colonel Harrison ; and it was on
this occasion also that Sir Garnet Wolseley be-
stowed the Victoria Cross upon Commandant
D*Arcy in presence of all the troops and people
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE TRANSVAAL WAR: — INTRODUCTORY — THE TRANSVAAL — ^I'HE BOERS — THEIR DISCONTENT AFTER
THE ANNEXATION.
The Transvaal, more usually named " The Trans-
vaal Republic," to distinguish it from the other
South African Republic, takes back its origin to
the great northern migration of the Dutch from
Cape Colony in 1836. Discontented with British
rule there, after long wandering through the
territory now known as the Orange Free State,
they found theh- way over the Drakensberg range
to Natal, and there opened a new chapter in the
history of that settlement In 1836 the first party
of Dutch was strengthened by a second, under
Maritz and Pieter Retief, whose names are now
perpetuated in that of the capital, Pietermaritz-
burg.
Unlike the Free State, the Transvaal was never
at any time claimed, or acknowledged, to be
British territory. Its founders were certainly
British subjects, but in 1852, the territory in which
they had settled was formally recognised as a free
and independent state, with its own tricoloured flag.
This was finally adjusted at what was then known
as the Sand River Convention, held in 1852, in a
treaty to which the representatives of the British
Government and those of the young Republic
were contracting parties.
Since that time, the progress of the district has
been very remarkable, year after year adding to its
great and varied wealth, while the discovery of
gold on its eastern side attracted the attention
of capitalists, and the attention and cupidity of
emigrants. Dr. Thomas Burgers, when President
of the Republic, visited Europe in 1875, and
arranged with a Dutch company and the Portuguese
Government, for the construction of a railway
between Delagoa Bay, a settlement of the latter
power, and Pretoria, while the Portuguese tariff at
the Bay was modified in favour of the Transvaal
commerce. " At various times the boundaries of
this state have been modified, and in some instances
the changes have been made the subject of dispute,
now with some native neighbour, now with the sister
Republic, and anon with the British Government,
as protector of native interests or as arbiter."
The year 1876 saw the Transvaal at war with
Sekukuni, resident within the alleged limits of its
territory ; the Boers failed to conquer him, and for
a time their monetary affairs went from bad to
worse. The Republic fell into a state of bank-
ruptcy; the treasury was empty; the claims on
all hands were very considerable; and when on
the 1 2th of April in the following year. Sir Theo-
philus Shepstone, armed with necessary authority
from the British Government, annexed the Trans-
vaal as British territory, the change seemed to be
welcomed by a large proportion of the more in-
telligent of the inhabitants, though it afterwards
appeared that the great bulk of the farmers were
opposed to it
As a grazing country for sheep, cattle, and
horses, it is unsurpassed; it is well wooded in
many places, and is considered the granary of the
interior, being rich in corn-growing land, while it is
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The Transvaal
favourable to the production of sugar, cotton,
coffee, and all tropical fruits. The mineral wealth
of the Transvaal is great, including lead, iron,
cobalt, and silver. " We believe there is no other
country in the whole world," says the report of an
Agricultural Show at Potchefstroom in 1876, "that
could have presented to the public gaze such a
variety of minerals, &c, as were seen in the room
set apart for their exhibition. We saw gold, both
quartz and alluvial — not in small quantities, but
pounds in weight — coal by the ton, silver, iron,
and lead. We do not know what to say about
this last mineral, but there it was, not in small
lumps, as previously exhibited, but in immense
quantities of ore, and molten bars by the hundred"
No authentic returns of the population have been
issued ; but the whites, including those of the Gold
Fields, are estimated at above 50,000, whilst the
natives, according to a return procured by Sir
Garnet Wolseley, were somewhat under 800,000.
The language of the former is chiefly Dutch, and
the Dutch Reformed Church is the dominant
ecclesiastical institution.
The range of the Transvaal, territorially, is con-
siderable, extending over six degrees of latitude
and seven of longitude, or 1 20,000 square miles.
Its northern boundary is the Limpopo River,
which forms also a part of its western frontier ; the
Vaal and the Buffalo Rivers bound it on the south ;
the Hart River on the west ; the Orange Free State
and Natal also lie to the south ; and Zululand and
Portuguese settlements bound it on the east
The conditions of life are rugged and rude, as
the area is out of all proportion to the population,
and much of the country is in a wild and primitive
state, especially in those mountain regions which
are remote from the larger towns. It is entirely
inland territory, with an average elevation of 7,000
feet above the level of the sea.
U Despite their dogged Dutch industry and steady
commercial progress, the white inhabitants have not
been persona gratcB to all dwellers within their
borders. Colonel Butler, however, has given the
following historical survey of the Boers and their
ancestors : — " Two hundred years ago, four ships
sailed from Holland, carrying to regions that
then lay at the uttermost bounds of the then
known world, certain French Huguenots, exiled by
the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Those
vessels carried together about 150 men, women,
and children, all French citizens. Among them
there were many good names — names which little
more than a century later were figuring high in
that roll of marshals and generals of France
which the Revolution and its ^eat soldier gave to
fame — Hugo, Joubert, Jourdon, Retief, Arnold,
De Villiers, Bertrand, Fouch^, Du Plessy, Mouncey,
Serrurier, Victor, and many others — who selected
the distant Dutch colony of South Africa as their
future home. The exiles brought to the little
colony strength and mental power of a new kind.
Fifty years later their French language had died
out, and the second and third generation had inter-
married among the Dutch, and the all-conquering
mother tongue had its usual triumph. But these
150 French Huguenots made a mark upon the
colonial community that has never been effaced
from the national character. It was a Retief who
led the 'Great Trek' into the northern wilds. It
was a De Marais who headed a few hundred fol-
lowers against the hosts of the Matabele king in
1837. It was a Cellier who read the service in the
laager on the Black Umvolosi on that Sunday
morning when the Zulu army, in that * chest and
horn formation,' so familiar to us years later, moved
to the attack of the Dutch camp. It was a Joubert
who covered the beaten wreck of the Boer 'com-
mando ' after the disaster on the White Umvolosi,
and another Joubert is the moving spirit in the
Transvaal revolt The French Huguenots, and the
much larger number of Dutch employes of the old
East India Company, were the ancestors of the
people whom to-day we call Boers — a people slow
to think, but not easily to be turned from their
thought when once they have found it ; slow to em-
bark in any movement, but certain to follow it to
its extreme end when once it has been begun. A
homely, sober, quiet, dull race of beings, as full of
faith in God and fair dealing between man and man
as this world holds human sample of."
Captain I^mb, of the Scots Fusiliers, about the
time of the war we are now going to relate, pub-
lished some interesting particulars about these
colonists at Pietermaritzburg. A Boer, he states,
be he rich or poor, lives entirely on his farm, which
may consist of hundreds or thousands of acres,
though he cultivates only a few of these near his
homestead, for kitchen consumption ; his money
he invests in grazing stock. He is up by daylight,
reckons all the animals in his kraal, and after re-
turning to a pipe and a cup of black coffee from the
hands of his vrouWy spends the day at his door,
smoking and watching the lonely country road;
cleanliness is unknown to him, and he performs his
toilet, if at all, on the dinner table. But every Boer
from his youth upward is armed and accustomed to
the rifle as a sporting weapon, in the use of which
few men can compete with him as regards accuracy,
aim, and judgment of distance ; thus he is by no
mesons an enemy to be despised ; and the Boer
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The Transvaal.
possesses the most modern and expensive rifles,
such as the Winchester repeating, Westley-Richards,
Enfield Snider, and Martini-Henry, with ammuni-
tion of the best kind
V Each man has one horse, if not two, small in
stature but perfect to shoot from. Their com-
missariat is of the humblest order — slips of freshly
killed ox, salted and dried in the sun. Coffee is
never 'taken in the field, and each man has to
provide his own food, forage, horse, and ammu-
nition.
Our regular cavalry as they were equipped at the
time of the war, could not, according to Captain
Tomasson, be useful against these Boers. " Firstly,"
he writes, "Boers* horses are the best; secondly,
cavalry carbines carry 600 yards ; Boers* rifles 1,200
— ^result, the Boers can keep 800 yards away, and
can simply pour in shot after shot without reply.
Their extreme mobility will always keep them
out of range of cavalry. On being charged
they disperse and fly, and their knowledge of the
country will always enable them to avoid being
trapped"
And now to state briefly what led to our strife
with these people. They alleged that the British
Government took forcible possession of the country
their fathers had found for them ; that they used
every means in their power to get redress, and
that after three years of patient waiting, nothing
was left to them but armed resistance.
The contention on our side was, that the Trans-
vaal Republic was in a state of anarchy and bank-
ruptcy, and unable to defend its frontier against en-
croaching savages, who, if unopposed, would take
possession of the whole territory, to the danger of
our own. In support of these opinions, therefore.
Sir Theophilus Shepstone, as related, went to Pre-
toria, and declared the South African Republic no
longer independent, but an appendage of the British
Empire ; and so little was the force displayed on
this occasion, that he had only twenty-eight men
with him, who might have been made prisoners in
five minutes.
Such w^ the case on which the Boers resolved
at last to join issue with the British Government
The annexation took place on the 17th of April,
1877, when the British flag was hoisted on the
chief town Pretoria, and though President Burgers
protested against it, he counselled peaceable sub-
mission; a body of our troops arrived, and the
obnoxious war tax was abolished. In his protest,
the President said, that he could not draw the
sword with a prospect of success in defence of the
independence of the state against a nation so
powerful as Britain. The first proclamation issued
by Sir Theophilus Shepstone, as Administrator of
the Transvaal ran as follows : —
" Whereas it has been represented to me from
different parts of the country, that the pressing
demands made upon the people for payment of the
war tax, and threats to take their property in satis-
faction thereof, have caused much distress and
uneasiness ; and it is also urged that the scarcity of
money in the country renders it impossible that
such an impost can be readily paid ; and, whereas
it is excessively gratifying to me that my first ad-
ministrative act should be one of relief to the
burgesses of the Transvaal :
" Now, I have taken these grievances and diffi-
culties into consideration, and, being anxious to re-
lieve as far as in my power the monetary pressure
upon the people in these scarce times, and being
convinced that a way can be found to pay the debts
of the country by easier means than this levy fur-
nishes, and without placing too heavy a burden on
its people at one time, and so destroying its means
of prosperity :
" I do hereby proclaim and make it known, that
I have thought it best to suspend the law by which
this levy is imposed until, with the assistance of the
people, some more acceptable plan can be devised;
and in order to do equal justice in the meantime
to those who have already paid this levy, I have
thought it right that the payment made by them
shall be looked upon and treated as an advance on
account of future ordinary taxes.
" (Signed) T. Shepstone,
" Administrator."
When the troops under Colonel Pearson came to
Pretoria, there was no semblance of opposition to
the annexation ; supplies came freely ; the farmers'
wives baked bread for our soldiers on the march,
and Boer waggons carried their stores and baggage ;
but despite all this there was no doubt a sense of
wrong. By the 12th of April, some Boer delegates
met the High Commissioner near Pretoria, when
a stormy interview ensued, and he ah-eady charged
them with endeavouring to excite the people. But
the Boers protested with stubborn perseverance
that they had done no such thing, and demanded
their old independence.
Colonel Owen Lanyon promised them railwa)^
telegraphs, and even a composite standard, to con-
sist of the Transvaal flag surrounded by the Union
Jack, but they scouted "the somewhat curiously
checkered bunting that was dangled before their
eyes," and waited in sullen hope, while vague pro-
mises of some responsible local government were
held out to them. The independence agitation
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BOER PROTESTS AGAINST ANNEXATION.
333
continued to work, and taking advantage of the
recent intelligence of the disturbed state of Europe,
the Boers heard or invented extravagant stories of
the weakness of the Home Government, and urged
that the time was at hand when freedom could be
achieved. In Cape Colony the situation was viewed
with anxiety. There it seemed that if we peace-
fully held the Transvaal, millions of money would
be required to develop its resources, all of which
must come from without ; and that we would next
add to our South African possessions a frontier of
1,500 miles, the possessions of native tribes, of
whose numbers and resources we were ignorant
Rowland Atcherley, in his " Trip to Boerland,"
tells us that the projected railway schemes never
took effect, the Administrator declaring that they
were not desirable. " None of the promises were
performed; the Volksraad was not recalled, and
very few of the old officials received their back pay.
Taxes were being raised meanwhile with alarming
rapidity ; a licence for sale, which before the an-
nexation cost ;£^2o, was now raised to ;£So; the
military occupation had to be paid for, as well as
the sinecure posts which had been given to the
Administrator's hangers-on; so that the Boer,
who never had any cash, and whose only wealth
consisted of his cattle, was very hardly pressed."
July saw a protest against the annexation laid by
Mr. Paul Kruger, M. Bock, and other delegates,
before the Earl of Carnarvon in London ; and in
the following October a bold Boer named Rensburg
prepared to take the initiative by gathering an armed
band from the mountains, declining to stand his
trial for assaulting a sheriff, and refusing his bail
bonds to the extent of ;^5oo.
On the 24th of September a meeting of delegates
was held at Heidelberg, in the Hoogte Veldt, and
resolutions in favoiu" of independence were passed
The loth of November was named for a mass
gathering, and not one of the party who were present
visited Sir Garnet Wolseley, who halted there on
his march, prior to the attack on SekukunL
On the 15th October a serious outbreak took
place at Middleberg, into which fifty Boers, armed
and mounted, rode, and declining to recognise the
British Government, demanded ammunition from
the stores, even while they knew that the ist
Dragoon Guards and artillery were coming against
them, under Colonel Owen Lanyon.
Soon after came intelligence from Potchefstroom
of a seizure of ammunition there, showing that there
was a ramified and pre-concerted scheme to defy
the Government There Boers entered the stores,
and said that they had plenty of powder and ball,
but took the cartridges to show the British authori-
ties that they defied its ordinances, basing their
doing so on the plea that the I^androst had refused
them permits to purchase ammunition, which was
necessary for the destruction of vermin.
Meetings of Boers, armed and mounted, to the
number of 1 50, of 300 and 400, were now reported
from time to time as occurring in the Swart Ruggens,
in the Rustenberg district and elsewhere, and it
was evident that secret preparations were in progress
everywhere on the banks of the VaaL
Matters rapidly became more gloomy, and early
in December, 1879, we find the following passage
in the reply of M. Bock on behalf of the people's
committee in the Transvaal, to Mr. Stigant and
other gentlemen who had formed a deputation to
the Governor : —
" We repeat our thanks for your intercession, and
hope the Home Government will listen to your
patriotic voice ere it is too late ! But we feel deeply
grieved by the reply of Sir BartJe Frere ; it is a
mere continuation of misleading statements. The
annexation took place under deceit, by threats of
force, not only of Zulus, but of her Majesty's
troops. Also, it is beyond our conception how the
Governor could state that President Pretorius threw
up his office on account of lawlessness. It is like-
wise false that the Transvaal case was fully put be-
fore the Home Government by the two deputations.
The fact is, that the Secretaries of State declined
to enter into the case. No wonder if the Home
Government receive such statements they continue
their cruelty against us. By the statements of his
Excellency it can be proved that the majority of the
Transvaal people were against the annexation, and
in answer to his words, * Soldiers must follow police-
men, and soldiers upon soldiers, till the law is
obeyed,' we say let his Excellency remember his
own words, * w^ do not rely upon regiments but on
rightr'
Sir Garnet Wolseley now issued a notice to the
people, to the effect that the old laws against treason
and sedition were still in force, and that all guilty
of such offences, and of intimidating or coercing
the Boers to attend meetings, would be punished
without favour.
In the close of 1879 a great Boer convention was
held at Wonderfontein, at which about 6,000 were
present, some of whom came from the adjacent
Orange Free State. There were on the ground 5 10 ox
waggons, many other vehicles, and a large number
of horsemen. All who were present, after listening to
several inflammatory speeches, dispersed, but in a
very determined and irreconcilable mood. They
constituted their "Respublica in Imperio," nomi-
nated their president, decided on the Convocation
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The TransvaaL
of their Volksraad for April 6th ensuing, and an-
nounced their resolve to proclaim their indepen-
dence on the 1 2th, the anniversary of Sir Theophilus
Shepstone's act of annexation. Dr. Jorissen sent a
letter to Mr. Gladstone, stating the Boer case, and
the meeting— a sullen and sombre one — passed a
vote of thanks to the Cape Town deputation which
had gone to Sir Bartle Frere, and for the support
they had received from the gentlemen composing it
in their efforts to shake off British rule. Meanwhile
at Pretoria, thirty-five miles distant, vigilant pre-
cautions were taken, with outlying pickets, chains
of sentinels and cavalry posts, as though an attack
were imminent
But the storm did not burst yet. An idea seemed
to prevail in the minds of the British authorities
that though the Boers might threaten, they would
not dare to fight. Thus, the ist Dragoon
Guards were sent away for a time and no cavalry
were left in the Transvaal to meet a nation
of troopers. Battalion after battalion was hurried
away from thence and Natal. At the very time when
the Boers were declaring independence, had they
made good their threats and risen, there were only
three infantry corps, viz., 2nd Battalion of the Scots
Fusiliers, the 58th, the 94th, and a battery of artillery
in the Transvaal, none of these in complete strength,
recruited by raw lads, and stationed far apart
A squadron of the King's Dragoon Guards, four
guns, and a company of the 4th Regiment, under
Major Le Grice, R. A., was ordered from Standerton
to Heidelberg on the 24th of September, 1879, ^
it had been named as the great place of the Boer
meeting.
The 91st Highlanders were at the Cape, the 3rd
Battalion of the 60th Rifles in Natal, and it was not
long after the formidable meeting at Wonderfontein
that the Boers met at Heidelberg, and set up their
government
With reference to the Boer assembly, the follow-
ing is portion of a confidential memorandum (in
which the comments upon the Boers are certainly
open to question) issued to officers by the general
commanding, to ensure all posts and camps against
surprises : —
" I do not think myself there is any likelihood of
an attack being made by the Boers upon us, but
those who know them best, some of whom are Boers
themselves, assert they are quite capable of sneaking
up to a picquet or small camp under cover of night,
and, assassin-like, pouring in one or two volleys and
then galloping off. I am convinced they are too
great cowards to make any attack in an open
manner.
" The camps round Pretoria can easily be pro-
tected from any such murderous attacks by out-
lying picquets of infantry posted round the adjacent
hills, and by cavalry patrols night and day. The
only party upon which such an attempt is possible
is the squadron of the King's Dragoon Guards, on
the Potchefstroom road, about eight miles fi-om
Pretoria. The officer commanding that squadron
must be instructed to shift his camp when the
weather is fine, nearly every afternoon — the later
on towards evening the better — ^and when the
weather is very settled, he should occasionally
bivouac ; his patrols to go out at uncertain hours.
** It is the custom of the Boers to go about the
country armed, so they must not be molested for
doing so. In case of any large body of armed Boers
approaching his post, he should fall steadily back
towards Pretoria, leaving his camp standing if there
is not time to strike and remove it ; but he will re
move all his horses and as many men as he can
mount on them, leaving a few dismounted men to
watch the tents, &c, left behind He will
do all in his power by a display of coolness, tact,
and good temper, to avoid a collision, but if he is
fired on he must charge at once. When any body
of Boers approach him, he will draw swords and
keep them drawn as long as they are near enough
to molest him, that he may be ready to charge at
any moment It is my wish to do everything com-
patible with the honour of her Majesty's army to
avoid any collision between the military and the
Boers." (Report of the Chief of the Staff, fol. 47.)
Soon after this order was issued the affair at
Brunkers Spruit, which we are about to describe
had inaugurated the strife, and tended greatly to
embitter it, the more especially since all the ac-
counts of it despatched by telegrams and private
messages were grossly exaggerated at first
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COLONEL ANSTRUTHER AND THE BOERS.
335
CHAPTER XLVIIL
THE TRANSVAAL WAR {continued) I — ^THE AFFAIR AT BRUNKERS SPRUIT — THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN
ELLIOT.
On the 20th December, 1880, Lieutenant-Colonel
R. Philip Anstruther of the 94th, with the head-
quarter companies, band and colours of that
regiment, about 250 strong only, was escorting a
convoy from Lydenberg to Pretoria, a distance of
200 miles, when there occurred an attack on his
soldiers, in relating which we shall chiefly follow
the narrative of one who was present, Mr. Ralf
Egerton, in the Cq^e Argus,
Whatever might have been expected, no declara-
tion of war had been made, and on approaching
Brunkers Spruit, ignorant that the hills and rocks
in its immediate vicinity were secretly manned by
an unknown number of Boer riflemen in ambush,
the colonel had permitted some of his soldiers to
sling their arms, and even to pile them by the
wayside, while putting their shoulders to the
waggon wheels, like active and earnest fellows, as
they were, to urge the heavy convoy along a rough
and precipitous road.
The band had ceased playing. The time was
about twenty minutes past one in the day, and
Colonel Anstruther, with Conductor Egerton, was
riding about fifty yards in front of the column to
select a camping-ground near the Spruit, which is
about thirty-eight miles from Victoria, and the
colonel, on wheeling round his horse to inquire
why the music had ceased, saw about 150
mounted Boers formed up on the left of the road
in a kind of military order, ten paces between each
horse.
At that time they were some five hundred yards
from the column and on its left flank. The
colonel galloped back, and instantly gave the order
to halt, on which the leading waggons and escort
were closed up well to the front
A flag of truce was now seen approaching, and
Conductor Egerton rode forward to meet it, and
the bearer — who was alone — gave him a sealed
despatch, which he handed to Colonel Anstruther,
who read it aloud. Its purport was that the
Republic having been declared in Heidelberg, and
the Dutch people being determined to maintain it,
any movements of the British troops were pre-
judicial to their interests, and that if the colonel
advanced beyond the Spruit, they should consider
the act a declaration of war, and he must be
raponsible for the consequences.
Colonel Anstruther refused to be warned. '* My
orders," said he, " are to proceed from Lydenberg
to Pretoria, and thither I shall go ! "
Each then rode back to his own party ; almost
immediately after, firing commenced, and all the
rocky vicinity became filled with fire and smoke,
as an unseen foe opened a murderous fusillade on
the slender force of Anstruther.
The firing is said to have lasted about twenty
minutes only. The regiment had instantly been
formed in skirmishing order, four paces apart, but
in the first ten minutes nearly all the officers were
hit, as the Boers, who lurked behind rocks and
trees singled them out successively as objects to aim
at, and they were posted on high ground, while the
94th men had only the long grass to lie among.
The Boers also directed their fire at the oxen,
and the ammunition waggons, which were dis-
tinguished by little red flags. "All the officers
were wounded," wrote Conductor Egerton, "and
the account of their wounds as stated by
Sergeant Bradley is correct Between thirty and
forty men were killed, and seventy or eighty
wounded. The doctor told me that in killed and
wounded he had one hundred and twenty." Dr.
Wood, the surgeon, was not hit On the other
hand, the Times correspondent at Durban, stated
that the disaster was exaggerated ; that only thirty
men were killed and wounded, the remainder
being disarmed and allowed to proceed to Pretoria.
Renter's telegram estimated the casualties at 200.
Every account varied. The General Commanding,
under date December 24th, reported "120 killed
and wounded, the rest taken prisoners, colours
saved. Shall be glad to have a cavalry regiment
quickly."
While the fighting went on, the band and some
regimental prisoners were getting the reserve
ammunition out of the leading waggon.
Lieutenant Herbert A. C. Harrison, the adjutant,
was shot dead; Captains Maclean, Naime, and
James McSwiney, Instructor of Musketry, Lieutenant
J. C. Hume, and the Lieutenant-Colonel com-
manding, and Conductor Egerton, were all severely
wounded. Carter, of the Commissariat, was
reported as mortally wounded.
Seeing so many officers on the ground, his men
falling so fast, and the opposing fire so heavy,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
Lfironkers Spnxlt
Colonel Anstruther — according to Mr. Egerton's
report — desired some to wave their helmets and
handkerchiefs in token of surrender, and the sur-
vivors were accordingly made prisoners of war.
" Mr. Carter, of the Commissariat and Transport
Staff, was missing when I left ; but I saw his horse,"
says Mr. Egerton. " The band were, at the time
of the attack, pbying the last piece they were to
MAP OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN NEWCASTLE AND THE TRANSVAAL.
In the convoy were thirty-four waggons and carts,
and many of the men escorting these could not
reach the main body in time, as it extended more
than half a mile, and the rear-guard was of course
behind all, and consisted of only twenty bayonets.
play on the march, as they were to join the ranks
on getting into camp. The Boers took off the
arms and ammunition and three waggons. The
remainder were standing there when I left The
Boers formed a circle round the regiment, and
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SURRENDER OF THE BRITISH.
337
Commander P. C. Joubert gave leave for the men
to take what rations they pleased, and pitch the
tents for the wounded, and work the water carts.
I heard the Boers talking about *when we take
Middleberg and Lydenberg.* "
Joubert gave Mr. Egerton permission to arrange
about getting doctors and ambulances, and allowed
him a horse, but no weapons. He also allowed
Sergeant Bradley to accompany him. Before
The intention of turning the band into the ranks
would seem to show that Colonel Anstruther was
not without some prevision of coming evil A
print of the time states, that he actually had some
intimation of what he might expect, as one of the
survivors of the catastrophe related, that when the
column reached Oliphant River, three gentlemen
arrived from Middleberg and held a conversation
mth the colonel, and the result was, that orders
COLONEL ANSTRUTHER.
departing on this mission, he contrived to conceal
about his person, under his coat, the colours of the
94th, which, he states, the men tore from the poles
and gave hinL These colours bore, "Seringa-
patam," "Ciudad Rodrigo," " Badajoz," "Sala-
manca," " Vittoria," " Nivelle," " Orthes,'' and other
honours, and had never before been degraded.
Joubert inquired where the cannon and colours
were. Mr. Egerton replied, that there were no
guns, and, as not belonging to the 94th, he knew
nothing about the colours, which were supposed to
be under Mrs. Fox, wife of the sergeant-major, as
she lay on the ground most severely wounded.
D D
were issued for every man to sleep with his rifle
beside him, and a laager was formed every night.
Two days after, a Kaffir reported to the adjutant,
Lieutenant Harrison, that Boers were in the
neighbourhood, and shortly afterwards a number
of horsemen, about a thousand or so, appeared in
sight for a time.
It is further said that when nearing Bmnkers
Spruit, a mounted infantry man pointed out to the
colonel what he considered to be horsemen in
sight ; and after looking through his field-glass, the
colonel handed it to Mr. Egerton. "I looked,"
he wrote, "and am sure they were cattle. This
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
£Brankers Spruit
report was made about five hundred yards before
we arrived at the point of attack, and the supposed
mounted men reported, were about twelve miles
distant The Boers were hidden from view in a
valley on the distant side of the rising ground firom
which they fired. When I first saw them they were
galloping at good speed to the crest of that rising
ground."
Only one dead and five wounded were seen by
him, on their side, when the conflict was over, for
' the fire of the 94th did not seem to take effect, nor
did they seem to find the range, which may be
accounted for by their not being seasoned soldiers,
but lads of the new system. Egerton concludes : —
"On my way I was challenged many times, but
they let me go, on hearing that I had a pass. The
reason I was so long on my way was, that I was
wounded and kept off the road, so that I might
not be taken with the colours."
The survivors stated that during the time the flag
of truce was flying the Boers kept advancing, and
had the officers and non-commissioned officers
" spotted," and upon the first volley the latter fell
at once. The 94th kept up the firing for ten
minutes, but they were picked off, were out-
numbered, and their ammunition gave out, and
when Colonel Anstruther fell mortally wounded he
ordered them to surrender, saying, " he had better
leave a few men to tell the story." The survivors
state that they were inspanned like bullocks in a
waggon and driven in that way to Heidelberg, some
of them holding the yokes while others pushed the
Boer waggons. The Boers cracked their whips
over the heads of the soldiers and drove them like
a lot of oxen, and it took them three days to get to
Heidelberg.
The member of the regiment whose name came
before the public most prominently in connection
with this calamity, was Mrs. Smith, widow
of the bandmaster of the 94th Regiment, whose
husband was shot by her side, while she was
wounded in the head, as was also her little child,
Jessie Smith. Yet, in all the natural agony of her
mind, her conduct in that melancholy affair was
such as to elicit general admiration. She tore up
her clothing to bind the wounds of the men under
fire, and saved many from bleeding to death ; and
with regard to her. Colonel W. Bellairs, C.B., after-
wards published the following district order, prior
to her return home : —
"Pretoria, April 5th, 1881. The officer com-
manding desires to thank Mrs. Smith, widow of
the bandmaster of the 94th Regiment, for the good
service she rendered at Brunkers Spruit fight, in
assisting the wounded. Mrs. Smith was herself
present in the midst of the action ; but, though
surrounded by dead and dying, she in a courageous
way set about alleviating the sufferings of the
wounded, and for upwards of three months has
continued to be unremitting in attention upon
them under very trying circumstances. Such true
heroism and devotion merit recognition and high
praise. Colonel Bellairs therefore takes the oppor-
tunity of Mrs. Smith's return to England publicly
to refer to the good acts she has performed" She
was recommended for the Cross of St Catharine,
and afterwards, at a meeting of the Chapter of St
John, held at St John's Gate, General Sir John St
George, K.CB., presiding, she was awarded the
silver medal for deeds of gallantry on land.
We have elsewhere* told the story of a similar
heroine of the 94th — Marion Reston — when the
regiment so numbered was known as the old Scots
Brigade, and covered itself with glory at the siege
of Matagorda.
By the affair at Brunkers Spruit the Boers had
commenced war against the Queen ; the slaughter
fixed the destinies of the Transvaal, and materially
altered the whole situation, by encouraging the
farmers with hope for that future to which they
had committed themselves.
Complications and hostile operations — ^for which,
as usual, we were not prepared — now succeeded each
other quickly. Colonel Sir Owen Lanyon, CB.,
CM.G., of the 2nd West India Regiment, who had
been obliged to weaken his force at Pretoria, in
order to put down resistance to the Government at
Potchefstroom, had only one course to adopt, as he
could not relinquish the post of Administrator at
the behest of the insurgent Boers. He had sum*
moned the luckless 94th from Lydenberg, with
what result we have shown, and Colonel Bellairs
marched with such men as he could collect to put
down insurrection in the latter place; but every-
where the despised Boers acted with resolute courage
and unwonted promptitude. Attacking Potchef-
stroom in force, they captured Major Clarke and
Commandant Raaf, in a country court house with
a party of the Scots Fusiliers, killing an oflEicer—
Captain Falls — of the latter corps, and four British
residents ; but they were shelled out firom the fort,
on which they were unable to make any impression,
and evacuated the town, with the loss of 120 killed,
and many wounded.
A third body of Boers, said to be 2,500 strong,
attacked Pretoria, the seat of the Government,
which they occupied, the Administrator and his
officers having to seek refuge in the fort Utrecht
• Vol. II., p. 413.
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CAPTAIN LAMBART AND THE BOER&
339
and Standerton were all menaced, and ultimately
invested.
The oflficer commanding at Newcastle reported,
about January 5th, that 200 Boers had entered
Natal, taken up a strong position on the road to the
Transvaal, and pushed on their mounted patrols to
within sixteen miles of his post
The season was an unfavourable one for cam-
paigning. Cold weather had prevailed to a great
extent, and the mountains had till recently been
covered with snow, which had then fallen con-
siderably in the Middleberg district During No-
vember the rain had been so severe as to cause
alarming floods; violent hailstorms, accompanied
by hurricanes of wind, had swept over the Trans-
vaal, and bitter cold and rain prevailed about the
time Pretoria was attacked.
Ere long the indignation excited by the attack on
the 94th — " under a flag of truce,'* as, for a time,
was falsely alleged — was increased by a barbarous
and cold-blooded murder.
Captain F. R. H. Lambart, of the Royal Scots
Fusiliers, was returning from the Orange Free State
(on the 1 8th of December, 1880), where he had
been buying horses for Commandant Ferreira's
corps, in the recent operations against the Basutos,
when he was suddenly surrounded, disarmed, and
made prisoner by about twenty Boers, some thirty
miles from Pretoria, and conveyed to Heidelberg,
where he found about 8,000 of them in arms, and
the tricoloured flag of the Transvaal Republic
flying.
There he met Captain J. M. Elliot, paymaster of
the 94th, who had been brought in with forty men
of that regiment, all prisoners of war.
On the 24th of December the new Government
of the Transvaal offered these two officers the
alternative of quitting that province on their parole
d'honnfuTy or of remaining as prisoners, and they
chose the former, on which an escort of Boers was
told off* to see them across the nearest ford on
the Vaal River, which lay about twenty-five miles
distant, and that there was studied treachery in this
arrangement became painfully apparent ere long.
They quitted the Boer camp in a waggon or
carriage about one p.m., and passed through the
town of Heidelberg, which is in a district rich in
grass-lands, and has a good high-road connecting
it with Pretoria, about fifty miles distant After
proceeding about eight miles the two doomed
officers noticed that they were not being taken the
right route. Captain Lambart mentioned this to
their escort, but was told it was all right How-
ever, as he. had been "look-out officer" in the
Transvaal, he knew better, and that it was all
wrong, yet they had no alternative but to obey
their guards.
At nightfall they found themselves near a ford of
the river, and were ordered to " outspan " till next
morning, the escort saying that " they would look
for the drift" Inspanning at daybreak, they all
started again, and after driving across the country
for some hours. Captain Lambart told the escort
that he and Captain Elliot would remain where they
were until the proper drift was found. Shortly after
the Boers returned to say that it " had been found,"
and on reaching the banks of the Vaal and the
Klip the former river was discovered, by recent rain-
floods, to be utterly impassable save by a small
punt, capable of holding only two persons at the
utmost ; and by that the relentless Boers said they
must crt)ss.
Captain Lambart urged that it was impossible to
get his carriage and horses over by so tiny a craft,
and that it was not the one by which their general
had said the passage was to be made. They were
mockingly told that " it was Pretorius's punt," and
that they must cross by leaving the carriage behind,
and swimming the horses. This they refused to do,
as they should then have no means of travelling
farther. " I asked them," says Captain Lambart,
" to show me their written instructions, which they
did (written in Dutch), and I pointed out that the
name of Pretorius was not in them. I then told
them that they must either take us back to the Boer
camp again or on to the proper drift We turned
back, and after going on a few miles the escort sud-
denly disappeared."
Thus deserted, the two officers tried to escape
by following the course of the Vaal, in the hope of
finding a suitable ford. After two days of devious
and difficult travelling they were roughly stopped by
two armed Boers, who presented a letter from the
Republican Government, charging them with break-
ing their word of honour, and commanding them
to cross the Vaal at the nearest drift, wherever it
might be. Theyagreed to this,and arranged that they
would cross at Spencer's Drift, as being the nearest
As they left a farm-house, near which they had met
those men. Captain Lambart again urged that
they were being guided in the wrong direction.
" Never mind," replied one, " come on across a
drift that is close at hand" Lambart then re-
marked to Captain Elliot, "they are taking us
back to Pretoria, which is forty miles distant,"
and suddenly the escort of two men became
increased by six more armed men, making eight
in all
" I suppose they are determined we shall not
escape," said Lambart, " of which they need not be
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The Transvaal
afraid, as we are too anxious to get over the
border."
Night had closed in now. They drove sharply
do\\Ti to the river, and pointing to the opposite
bank, the Boers said mockingly, "There is the
drift-cross ! "
The time was one of pitchy darkness ; there was
no moonlight, and not even a star was visible, and
the lightning was flashing vividly on the current of
the flooded river, as it went roaring past
" Had we not better wait till morning, as I do
not know the drift ? " asked Captain Lambart.
"No— you must cross at once!" was the im-
perious reply.
Thus urged, he drove the horses into the dark
river, when they immediately fell into a hole. Out
of this he got them with much difficulty, but had
barely advanced a few feet when they were stuck
against a rock. So strong was the current and so
deep the stream, that the vehicle was overturned,
and the water rushed over it Captain Lambart
now called out to the Boer leader on the bank to
send assistance, or would they return ?
" If you do," replied the ruflfian, " we shall shoot
you."
Turning to Captain Elliot, who was holding on
by his side, Lambart said, " we must swim for it,"
and asked him if he was able to do so. He replied
in the aflfirmative. " If you cannot," said Lambart,
" I will stick to you, if I can."
While they were speaking a volley from the bank,
at ten yards' distance, was fired, and with a single
cry, Elliot fell mortally wounded into the .water.
Lambart sprang after him and was swept down the
river under its rapid current On gaining the
surface he could see nothing of his companion,
whose name he called repeatedly without receiving
any response. Another random volley now made
the water hiss around him, and striking out for the
opposite bank, he reached it in about ten minutes,
but with great difficulty, as it was all black and
oozy mud, amid which, for a time, he stuck fast
Eventually he reached the summit, and ran for
about two hundred yards, under a constant fire, his
figure being revealed every minute or two by the
vivid flashes of lightning that burst through the
pitchy sky.
" I was now in the Free State," he relates ; " but
where, I could not tell, and knew my direction was
south. Though it was raining, hailing, blowing
hard and bitterly cold, an occasional glimpse of
the stars showed me I was going right I walked
on all night, and next day till one o'clock, and
eventually I crawled into a store kept by an
Englishman, named Mr. Groom, who did all in
his power to help me. I had tasted no food since
the previous morning at sunrise, and all the Dutch
farmers had refused me water. So, without hat or
coat, which I had left on the bank of the Vaal,
and with shoes worn through, I arrived exhausted,
at the place of the above-named gentleman, who
kindly drove me to Heilbronn, where I took the
post-cart to Maritzburg. I fear Captain Elliot
must have been killed instantly, as he never spoke,
neither did I see him again. I have to mention
that both Captain Elliot and myselfj on being told
by the South African Republican Government
that the soldiers (of the 94th) who had been taken
prisoners were to be released on the same con-
dition as ourselves, expressed a wish to take charge
of them, which was refused ; but we were told, that
waggons, food, and money, should be supplied to
take them down country. Yet when they reached
Spencer's Drift, over the Vaal, they were turned
loose, without any of the above necessaries."
In the middle of January a Court of Inquiry sat
at Fort Napier, to investigate the circumstances
under which Captain Lambart was so barbarously
driven out of the Transvaal, and Captain Elliot was
so treacherously murdered. The body of the latter
was found floating in the Vaal River, and buried
on the Free State side by a kindly Boer named
Vosloo. Bullets were found to have passed through
the temples, a wrist, the left leg, and the back.
Till these events occurred, the general com-
manding, like some others, seemed to doubt that
the Boers meant war; on the 17th of the pre-
ceding November, he wrote thus to the Secretary
of State for War, with reference to the great Boer
meeting : —
" My personal opinion is, that the Boers will not
have recourse to force, but reports reach me from
every side that they intend to fight. Men who for
the last two years have scouted the idea are now
convinced that the Boers mean openly to resist our
Government They have recendy been seizing all
the ammunition they could lay hands on, in out-
lying stores, and at Middleberg before our troops
arrived there. It is known that many of them are
removing their families from their farms into the
Orange Free State before attending the meeting.
It is anticipated that several thousand armed men
will be present on the day named, and it is evident
that in such an assemblage, a very small cause
might lead to the most serious results."
On the 31st of December, eleven days after the
afiair of Brunkers Spruit, the general com-
manding issued the following orders as to the dis-
tribution of the troops in the Transvaal, and the
measures to be taken for the defence of the various
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The Transvaal.]
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BRITISH FORCES.
34^
posts, the distribution of supplies, and for the con-
centration of a strong force at Pretoria: —
" Memorandum.
" The distribution of the troops in the Transvaal
will be as follows ; —
" Pretoria : — Headquarters and two companies of
2 1 St Royal Scots Fusiliers, one squadron King's
Dragoon Guards, two guns Royal Artillery.
"Rustenberg. — Two companies 21st Royal Scots
Fusiliers.
"Wakkerstroom. — Head-quarters and four com-
panies 58th Foot, Head-quarters and two
squadrons King's Dragoon Guards, Head-
quarters and two guns Royal Artillery.
•*Standerton. — Two companies 58th Foot, fifty
Mounted Infantry (21st Royal Scots Fusiliers),
twenty Mounted Infantry (58th Foot).
'•Heidelberg. — One company 58th Foot, one
squadron King's Dragoon Guards.
"Lydenberg. — Head-quarters and three co.'s 94th
Foot, and twenty mounted men (same corps).
"Middleberg. — One company 94th Foot, and
thirty mounted men (same corps).
" Fort Victoria ) ^ , , „
" Fort Albert J ^"^ company each 94th Foot
"Marabos Stadt— Two companies ditto."
Small-arm ammunition, in the proportion of
180 rounds per man, was to be ready for infantr>',
with 100 rounds for cavalry, including the amount
carried in the men's pouches. At each of the
stations mentioned the construction was ordered of
a good square redoubt, with parapets eight feet high,
proof against rifle-shot, and having ditches wide
and deep ; the sides of these redoubts were to be
twenty-five yards long within, with entrances narrow
and easily closed.
Each little garrison was to have preserved meat
and other rations for thirty days, and forty boxes
of reserve ammunition were to be kept in each re-
doubt Until actually threatened, the garrisons were
to be encamped about one hundred yards from the
works. A sufficient supply of slaughter cattle,
ranging fi-om twenty to one hundred head, was to
be kept at the ten posts named.
All ordnance was withdrawn from the northern
district of the Transvaal to Pretoria, and ammunition
at the rate of 300 rounds per gun was to be main-
tained for them Arrangements were also made to
discontinue the postal service between Pretoria and
Fort Weeber, and for a regular weekly service to
and from Fort Albert, both with Middleberg and
Lydenberg ; but the latter place was soon to be
in a close state of siege.
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE TRANSVAAL WAR {continued) : — THE LEADERS OF THE BOERS—THEIR ARMY — ^THE BATTLE OF
laing's nek.
So Strong was the feeling in Cape Colony that the
Boers had been unjustly treated by and after the
annexation, that it was at first feared that, if hos-
tilities were carried to any great length, the whole
Dutch colonists would declare war against the
British Government, and deputations were sent to
the capital of the Orange Free State, with the
following objects : —
I. To obtain a permit to send over the Free State
border into the Transvaal certain loads of rifles and
ammunition belonging to the Boer co-operative
stores at Potchefstroom, then in the hands of a
storekeeper at Winburg in the Free State.
II. To inquire whether soldiers made prisoners
of war might be passed into the Free State.
III. To inquire whether the Free State Govern-
ment would prevent British troops from passing
through its territory.
IV. To inquire the cause of stoppage of the
post for the Transvaal beyond Kronstadt
The tenor of the replies to all these queries was
never precisely known ; but it was understood that
permission to transmit arms and ammunition was
refused. The Dutch farmers made no secret of
their perfect sympathy with their countrymen in the
Transvaal ; and, though British subjects, they were
found, as the Cape papers stated, "to be within
a measurable distance of rebellion."
Even the citizens of Amsterdam got up an address
to Britain in favour of the independence of the
Transvaal, prepared by Professor Harting, of the
University of Utrecht
On the 15th of December, 1879, the Boers are
said to have sent a letter to Colonel Lanyon, signed
by Kruger, the two Jouberts, Pretorius, Jorissen,
and Bock, stating that the people, tired of British
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342
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[The Transvaal
Franikwa.
Befkgtd GarrUom.
Scale ofMOes
T J ? y ^ y *<> ^ <^o 7P ^
MAP OF THE THEATRE OF WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL,
misrule, had formed themselves into a Republic,
and demanding that the Government so established
by them should be placed in a position to assume
the administration of affairs, in default of which
they had no alternative but a recourse to arms, and
that even then they were only aiming at the pre-
servation of the sanctity of the treaty entered into
by her Majesty's Government
A day or two after the fight at Brunkers
Spruit, the South African Republic was declared at
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The Transvaal.]
THE REPUBLIC AGAIN SET UP.
343
Heidelberg, with Kruger as President, Joubert as
Commandant, Dr. Jorissen as Attorney-General,
and Bock as Secretary of State. Middleberg was
captured, and the whole country seemed to pass
into the hands of the insurgent Boers. Business
was entirely suspended, and small parties of ten or
twelve were reported as roaming about, falling upon
harmless travellers, whom they robbed and mal-
had been received from Colonel Lanyon. The
officer, however, gave the order to move on. Then,"
says Joubert, "I commanded to charge. Within
130 yards we charged, dismounted, and fired. It
was a matter of fifteen minutes. All the wounded
were sent to Pretoria. There are over fifty killed,
many wounded, the remainder are prisoners."
By the 31st December the garrisons of Standerton
VIEW NEAR PRETORIA.
treated. Stores occupied by Englishmen, or by
Dutchmen with British proclivities, were plundered,
and they are said to have fired upon the Rev. Mr.
Jooste, of Potchefstroom, when he went to their
camp with remonstrances.
It was after sending to Colonel I^nyon the letter
referred to that Joubert in his new capacity of com-
mandant set out to intercept the convoy with the
94th Regiment. He reported to his Government,
somewhat differently from Colonel Anstruther's
account, " that he had sent a messenger, requesting
the British officer in command to stop until a reply
and Wakkcrstroom were well entrenched and sup-
plied, but no attack had, as yet, been made upon
them.
In the South African papers of this time we find
notices of the Boer leaders. From them it would
appear that S. J. Paul Kruger, whom they elected
as President of the Republic, had first become
prominent as a leader of the people known as
Doppers, an extremely strict body of Dutch Pres-
byterians, peculiar in their dress, manners, and
mode of life ; and in religious disputes between the
northern Boers and those of Utrecht and Lyden-
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344
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[The Transvaal.
berg he led the lormer against the latter, but with-
out any serious collision. When the war broke out
he was then in his sixtieth year, and was deemed a
man of sincere patriotism and inflexible honesty.
He had been a member of the Executive Council
of the Republic under President Burgers ; and
after the annexation had travelled twice to London
to protest against that measure. He was attended
by some of his colleagues on the occasion of his
first visit, when they saw Lord Carnarvon, by whom
they were summarily dismissed, with the informa-
tion "that it was altogether impossible for her
Majesty's Government to entertain the idea of re-
versing the action of Sir T. Shepstone."
Indignation meetings were speedily held in the
Transvaal, many signed memorials were prepared,
and with these Kruger and Joubert again sailed for
London, to find Sir Michael Hicks-Beach as in-
flexible as Lord Carnarvon. Meanwhile there had
been formed in London the Transvaal Inde-
pendence Committee, whose objects were to watch
the interests of the Boers and to promote a peace-
ful solution of the difficulty. Its chairman was
Captain E. Hope Verney, R.N.
Early in January, 1881, President Kruger ad-
dressed a letter to the Landrost of Heilbronn, dis-
claiming on the part of the Boer Government all
knowledge of Captain Elliot's murder; and to
enable the Triumvirate to discover the perpetrators,
the assistance of the Border people was asked for,
**in order that the cowardly murderers may be
dealt with ; " but it was asked in vain.
Petrus Jacobus Joubert was the representative
of an old French Huguenot family, long settled
in South Africa, and was in many ways a remark-
able man. It was said that till he was nineteen
he had never seen a newspaper or any book
save the Bible. He had served in some
expeditions against the natives, and treated
them with considerable severity. He was not un-
willing that governors might exercise authority over
the Transvaal in the name of the Queen, but in-
sisted on their being elective, and on the restora-
tion of the Volksraady or Boer Parliament, and
that no patronage or authority should be exercised
by any person foreign to the land— in short, a com-
plete system of Home Rule. He, Kruger, and Mar-
tinus Wessel Pretorius formed the Boer triumvirate.
By the middle of January, 1881, Pretoria,
Potchefstroom, Lydenberg, Wesselstroom, and
Standerton, were all isolated and beleaguered by
the Boers ; and the question was, Could all these
places hold out till reinforcements came ?
Wesselstroom, the capital of Wakkerstroom,
stands on a spur of the Drakensberg range, 5,300
feet above the sea, amid a mountainous and grassy
district, the northern boundary of which is the
VaaL Pretoria also stands on high ground, with
streets laid out in a regular manner, like those of
Potchefstroom, concerning which there were most
fears, as on New Year's Day it was known to have
supplies for only one month.
At Newcastle, which is 160 miles distant from
Pretoria, and consists of a Dutch church, a few
scattered houses, and one or two hotels (one of
which is named the Plough), there is a small fort
of €ome strength, named Fort Amiel, from the
colonel of the 8oth Foot, situated on a hill, and
overlooking the veldt, which is there covered with
rose-tinted and flowering grasses that give a strange
bloom to the scenery.
The Boers now in the field against us were the
immediate descendants of the Trek-Boers of 1836
and 1838— the dogged and determined men who
fought against Dingaan the Zulu, under old Uys,
Mantz, and Potgieter ; but the total strength they
brought against us was never precisely known.
About the middle of January, and before the battle
of Laing*s Nek, the Times correspondent at Durban
estimated that only 7,000 Boers were under arms,
of whom 2,000 were serving through fear. Captain
Lambart, while a prisoner, reckoned them at 8,000 ;
and the correspondent of the Standard telegraphed
at that time, that **the Boers must muster fully
10,000 mounted men under arms, and the numbers
are continually swelling by arrivals from up-country
farms and from the Free State."
Meanwhile, though accurate information of the
strength of the Boer army was wanting, it was
known to be divided into three main groups or
columns. Of these, the head-quarters of that
nearest the Natal frontier were at a place called
Meeks, a small settlement thirty miles north of
Newcastle. This force was under Commandant-
General Joubert, with an advanced post on the
Ingogo River, a second column was concentrated
on the Waterfall River, with its head-quarters at
Heidelberg, while the third was in the neigh-
bourhood of beleaguered Potchefstroom. Of their
fighting qualities very contradictory accounts were
given.
One act of reprehensible barbarism the Boers
were guilty of when they destroyed a great work
that had been accomplished in 1879 — namely, the
establishment of telegraphic communication with
Europe and the outer world This workTiad been
achieved under many difficulties, such as lack of
skilled labour and of good material, with the em-
barrassments attendant on the construction of the
lines over a rugged mountainous country, amid
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Laing's Nelc]
THE BOERS' WAR-SONG.
345
destructive elements, floods, thunderstorms, and
rapacious white ants. Not content with cutting
the wires, which, as belligerents, they were entitled
to do, they uprooted, burned, or otherwise de-
stroyed the poles, which had all been specially
imported because there was no indigenous wood
suitable. They also cut and severed the wire into
shreds, with characteristic wantonness, so that it
never could be used again.
They got up a " war-song," which they chorused
and sang in their laagers amid the consumption of
much tobacco. This ditty appeared in the North
German Press, and ran as follows : —
" Leave us alone ! Leave us alone !
You shall not rob us of our own ;
WewiUbefree! WewiUbefree!
Our birthright shall our standard be.
•* Our fathers' sweat, our fathers' blood,
Have soaked the ground on which they stood ;
Our mothers' tears, our mothers' toil.
Have hallowed this Afric soil
••This is our land ! This is our land !
Reclaimed by our fathers' hand ;
Reclaimed once, we claim it now,
As made a garden by our plough.
••We ask, what has to us been left ?
We win no longer be bereft !
For Fatherland and freedom dear,
We die, or live, and vanquish here ! "
Another song of the period protests against the
hateful English language being forced upon a Dutch-
speaking people, while the Staats Courant^ or official
gazette of the Transvaal Republic, contained articles
that were expressive of calm determination, if not
absolute hope of future victory and freedom from
British thjaldom.
The battle of Laing's Nek (or Neck) took place
on the 28th of Januar>% 1881, and was announced
by the following brief telegram from Sir George
Pomeroy Colley, commanding in Natal and the
Transvaal, to the Secretary of State for War : —
" Mount Prospect, Jan. 28. — ^Attack on Pass re-
pulsed Casualties heavy — not yet known. I hold
the camp three miles from Nek until arrival of
reinforcements."
In this manner was another defeat at the very
outset of the Transvaal campaign announced to the
British public.
Sir George Pomeroy CoUey's force, called the
"Relief Column," as it was meant to succour
Colonel Bellairs at Potchefstroom, and the other
garrison in Pretoria, marched from Newcastle on
the 24th of January. It was composed of portions
of the 58th Regiment, 60th Rifles, a small detach-
ment from the 2nd Battalion Scots Fusiliers, the
Naval Brigade, and a few men of different corps —
875, or about 1,000 of all ranks — a "scratch"
force, in fact, and like that which he led at Majuba
Hill, totally inadequate for the duty to be done—the
capture of a strong position, held by a superior
force.
He had Mrith him six pieces of cannon, exclusive
of two Catlings. Owing to the difficult nature of
the roads, two days were consumed in marching
thirty-seven miles to the frontier.
On the 26th, after crossing one of the roughest
bits of country imaginable, the advanced guard came
in sight of the Boers massed on the Drakensberg
range. A camp was formed about three miles from
it and entrenched.
The morning of the 28th came in with rain and
mist Skirmishes between patrols ensued, but no
casualties were reported, and the handful of troops
under Colley were in the highest spirits, though a
heavy storm broke over the camp on the preceding
night. By it the telegraph wires rearward and the
operator's waggon were injured.
At half-past six a.m., on the 28th, the troops left
their camp to attack the Boers, whose actual strength,
under Joubert, it was impossible to tell, but who
were in a very strong position on the Drakensberg
Mountains, the well-known range of hills which form
the natural barrier between Natal, the Free State,
and Basutoland. Their topography has not yet been
sufficiently ascertained, but they attain an altitude
of 9,000 feet in some places. Several passes exist
by which the trade of the interior is carried on, and
Laing*s Nek, so called from some Scottish settler,
is one of these. The Vaal, the Orange, the Tugela,
and several other large streams, have their rise in the
greater heights of this range, which, by the bye,
under the name of Mont aux Sources^ was ^miliar
to the old French missionaries.
Before the troops, while forming in order of attack,
rose the undulating line of green mountains, in the
centre of which a steep and zig-zag road led to the
ridge named Laing's Nek ; Laing's Farm, well culti-
vated, and enclosed by strong stone walls, lay at the
foot of the road.
On the lower ground to the left of the British
position was a ridge, with a farm-house and clumps
of trees, whereon the Naval Brigade took post, and
from which they ultimately shelled the Boers out of
a ravine in their front
To turn Icing's Nek by a movement to the
right, the portion of the 58th Regiment present,
moved up steep slopes held by the Boers in
masses, with skinnishers all along their front Here
the general led the way with the 58th and some
guns, while the cavalry were in rear. An order
had been given to partially dye the tropical helmets,
but they were still fatally conspicuous.
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346
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Laing's Nek.
The 6oth Rifles were in the centre of the attack-
ing force, who were all made distinct to the closely-
covered Boer marksmen by their white helmets.
At half-past nine the -engagement began by the
Royal Artillery, under Major Poole, on the right,
shelling the heights and ravines, while the 58th
moved into their position. By ten the latter had
reached their last cover, and approached to scour
a ravine, in which the lurking Boers awaited them,
without much firing as yet.
It was thought possible to take with the bayonet
this position, which Major Poole had reconnoitred
over night. In aid of this movement a squadron
of seventy mounted men, led by Major Brownlow,
I St Dragoon Guards (who was soon wounded),
and by Captain Cecil Lumsden Hornby, of the
58th Regiment, rode up to the extreme right of the
kopjie to take the Boers in flank ; but a cloud of
smoke and storm of bullets issued out of the ravine,
and in five seconds half their saddles were empty,
and riderless horses, with trappings bloody and
bridles loose, were madly galloping rearward.
Troop-Sergeant-Major I^unny actually hewed his
way into the Boer entrenchments, but fell dead,
with six rifle balls in his body.
The crippled squadron retired, reformed, and
again with brilliant valour charged up the hill, but
nothing could withstand that storm of withering
fire. It fell back again, with a loss of seventeen
killed and wounded, and thirty-two horses killed,
wounded and missing, and the triumphant shouts of
the Boers followed them in their retreat
By this time the 58th were under fire. The Boers
actually charged the regiment, but were driven back,
fighting desperately. The first rush uphill tried the
soldiers of the 58th severely. The ground was
steep, the grass wet and slippery with the recent
rains ; but after a two minutes* halt and rest to
gather breath, they advanced to a ridge between
them and the edge of the ravine.
No sooner did their white helmets top the green
summit, " before they had time to deploy, and while
they were rather crowded together," than a terrific
volley from the front smote the leading companies,
which were also enfiladed from the right flank.
For five minutes the men endured this, returning
it as best they could, the wounded and dead
falling against and impeding the motions of those
who were untouched as yet, till Colonel Deane called
on the regiment to charge. At that moment his
horse was shot under him, and he fell Springing
to his feet, sword in hand, he shouted, reassuringly,
" I am all right, men ! " but the words had hardly
escaped him when he fell again, and rolled over in
agony, mortally wounded
The Cape Argus remarks : — " We imagine firom
such published references to the battle of Laing's
Nek as we have seen, that the heroic conduct of
the late Colonel Deane, who personally commanded
the chief attack, is not yet fully known to the public
We are in a position to state that a telegram firom
Sir George P. Colley was received by the general
commanding the Cape Town forces, which com-
mented in the warmest terms both upon the
'splendid gallantry' with which the deceased
officer led the charge in which he fell, and the regret
with which his death had inspired both officers and
men. It appears that Colonel Deane's horse was
killed ; he extricated himself and rushed on on foot
till he was shot His body was found ten yards
beyond the farthest point reached by any other
officer or man of the force. There are not many
grander stories in the military history of our nation,
and we should be glad to know that such an instance
of magnificent though fatal courage had been con-
spicuously brought to the knowledge of her Majesty
the Queen, who above all things has ever manifested
sympathy and regretful admiration for her paladins
who have died on the field of honour. The colonel
had particular confidence in the 58th Regiment,
with whom he died, and often stated that he had
never met with a better-behaved body of men."
Colonel Bonar Millet Deane was Quartermaster-
General at the Cape, and was in his forty-first year.
He entered the army in 1854, as an ensign in the
96th Regiment
Major W. H. Hingeston of the 58th, who, with
other officers, had kept to the fi-ont, cheering on
their men, now assumed the command, and gave
the word to fix bayonets, prior to a rush ; but he
too fell mortally wounded. All this time the Bocts
had kept close within their trenches, while our men
lay on the ground, taking a shot at them whenever a
head with its broad-brimmed hat appeared \ but
when they started up to charge, the fire they first
poured in was terrible and deadly indeed, at 200
yards* range.
There Major Poole and Lieutenant Henry Dolphin,
of the 58th, were killed, and their bodies were found
lying well in front of where their men lay dead in
swathes, like grass beneath a scythe. Captain Love-
grove was wounded, and nearly every non-commis
sioned officer was killed or wounded.
Reinforced from the rear, the Boers made their
attack with such fury that the black silk colours of
the 58th, heavily covered with old honours, were
taken, and the bearers killed. Indeed, all officers
were deliberately picked off by the enemy's select
marksmen.
Lieutenant Baillie, a mere boy subaltern, but a
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DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH.
347
gallant one, who carried one of the colours, on
falling mortally wounded was succoured by Lieu-
tenant Peel, who carried the other.
" Never mind me," he exclaimed, while choking
with blood, " save the colours."
Peel then took both colours, but fell into a hole,
on which Sergeant Brindstock, thinking him shot,
seized both colours, and bore them to a pkce of
on their camp, which had been held by one hundred
Scots Fusiliers, fifty of the Army Service Corps, and
thirty of the Naval Brigade, with their two Catling
guns. The only officers of the 58th who came out
of the field, were Captain Edward Lovegrove
(wounded). Lieutenants Stephen Jopp, Archer
Bolton, the Hon. Richard Monck, and O^Donnel
(wounded). Lieutenants Morgan, Hill, Peel, and
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF LAING'S NEK (JANUARY 28, 1881).
safety ; but they were recaptured only by a
desperate rally of the 58th, who were then forced
to retire, their retreat being covered by a fusillade
from the remainder of the column, and a hot fire
fi-om the guns and rocket-tubes of the Naval Brigade,
who, while the enemy were in the open, delivered
some shots with splendid effect, which did incredible
damage.
The survivors of the conflict alleged that they saw
armed men of colour fighting in the Boer ranks, and
these were supposed to have been their waggon
drivers.
After a three hours' conflict the troops fell back
Lacy, with Quartermaster Wallace. Captain
Hornby now commanded this luckless regiment
Out of five staff officers, only Major Essex, who
escaped at Isandhlwana, reappeared
The enemy took the boots, leggings, and accou-
trements of all our dead and wounded.
When the retreat began the Boers showed them-
selves defiantly and exultingly, and kept up a
constant fusillade till the fire of our shells and
rockets cooled their ardour.
On reaching the foot of the hill the remains of
the 58th Regiment refilled their pouches, reformed,
and were bravely prepared, if so ordered, to
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348
hRlTISH hAtTLES ON LaND AND SEA
[Latilgs Ndc
advance and again attempt to storm it ; but Sir
George Colldy believed that it would be impru-
dent to do so.
Private Brennan bayoneted a Boer when in the
act of shooting at a wounded soldier, who lay
helpless on the ground and calling out for mercy.
A flag of truce was sent out for the suspension
of hostilities while the wounded were brought in
and the dead buried, at which latter service the
Rev. Mr. Ritchie, Military Chaplain, officiated.
Many of their dead lay undiscovered among the
ravines and stony dongas into which they fell.
Forty dead lay close to our lines.
Their position at Laing's Nek was almost
impregnable. The pass was steep, rugged, and
difficult, and the force holding it was computed
to be 3,000 strong, though some accounts reduce
it to only a third of that number. Our troops
dashed upward with undaunted bravery, but it
was unavailing against the numerical force of the
COLONEL DEANE.
The dead officers were brougnt into camp; the
soldiers were interred on the field.
The services of a surgeon were offered to the
Boers, and accepted by them.
Considering the smallness of the force in action,
the British losses were severe, and consisted of
208 infantry, including thirty-nine mounted men
killed, and eighty wounded. It was at first re-
ported that the Boers butchered our wounded as
they lay bleeding on the field ; but the falsity of
this was shown by the number brought into
camp, as well as by Sir George CoUey's offer of
a surgeon to the Boers, whose losses were never
ascertained with certainty — an offer which would
never have been made had the general not had
thorough confidence in their integrity and courage.
enemy and the superiority of the latter in the use
of the rifle, to which they are trained from child-
hood. Moreover, when the Boers rose like a cloud
out of the donga, the ammunition of the 58th — as
young soldiers always fire fast and wildly — was
beginning to run short, and their supplies failed to
reach them. The fighting at times was almost
hand-to-hand.
After the engagement General Colley addressed
the troops, complimented them on their gallant
conduct, and announced his intention of holding
the camp where it was until reinforcements arrived
In Major Joseph Ruscombe Poole, who fell at
Laing's Nek, the Royal Artillery lost one of its
most skilful and experienced officers—one who was
perfect in the drill and technical details of his
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Lain?* Nek.] SEVERE BRITISH LOSSES. 349
en
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[Laing s Ndc
branch of the service. A bold and able horseman,
he was "judiciously selected by Colonel Reilly, R.A-,
from a host of artillery officers to act as his aide-
de-camp ; and afterwards as brigade major in the
Zulu campaign, Major Poole performed his duties
with admirable tact, skill, and precision, and at the
close of the war was entrusted with the custody of
the fallen Cetewayo.'*
A few years previously, when a subaltern, he had
served in the same battery with Captain Slade,
R.H.A, afterwards known as the "Gunner Hero
of Maiwand," and a close friendship always existed
between them.
A Boer version of the fight at Laing's Nek came
to the public, through the Dutch Press at Bloem-
fontein, the capital of the Orange Free State, in the
following characteristic report from Commandant-
General Joubert : —
" To Mr. S. P. J. Kruger, Vice-President
"Head-quarters, Jan. 28, 1881.
"Sir, — As I mentioned in my last, I expected
an attack at any moment, and so it occurred .This
morning about seven o'clock we were assailed in
our position, and after about thirty shells had been
fired over our men, the mounted men (blue-
jackets ?) received orders to storm. They came so
close that the powder burned each other. Though
their loss was not great they had to retreat, but
then the infantry (red-coats) stormed, and came so
close that the dead on both sides fell in among
each other. One of the officers even fired in
among our men with his revolver before he was
shot, — but then the Lord helped us !
" There being so few men in the field, the rein-
forcements I sent hither arrived just in time to
assist, so that they also had to retreat We had a
very severe conflict The opportunity for the
British cannon was too great, and we suffered
heavily — twenty-four of our best men were disabled.
On the side of the enemy there lay ninety-five dead
and wounded, and many had been carried off
before we reached the place. Those who had
been removed were all wounded. I believe that
nearly 200 have been disabled. The cannon
ceased firing, and then some one came with a flag
of truce to me, and the following note written in
pencil : —
" *To Commandant-General P. J. Joubert.
" * Sir, — You will do me a great service if you
will allow me to send doctors to look after the
wounded who are lying in front of your position,
and men to bury the dead.
" * I have the honour, &c,
" * G. POMEROY COLLEY.'
" I hereupon replied : —
" * Your Excellency, — For the sake of humanity
I agree to your request, and at the termination of
the battle I shall deliver up your dead.
" * P. J. Joubert, Commandant-General.*
" In the meantime, a second flag of truce arrived
with a doctor, whom I allowed to go in with two
men to look after the wounded. I then saw a
great number of men approaching ; but told them
they must go back until the conclusion of the
battle, or I would fire upon them. The troops
then withdrew with their cannon which had come
within our range. Perceiving this, I allowed 150
unarmed men to come and fetch theu* dead and
wounded, naturally after taking possession of their
rifles and ammunition. We had to see the enemy
withdraw, as it would have cost the lives of many
of our bravest men, had we attacked (attempted ?)
to do more, as the locality was so entirely in favour
of the British troops, that we would have been
in the very mouth of their cannon. A son of our
worthy friend Dirk Uys is among the number of
those mortally wounded. In haste,
" P. J. Joubert."
It was creditable to Sir George Colley, that he
lost no time in having the unfortunates who fell
interred at once, as those great carrion birds, the
Kaffir vultures, had a repulsive habit of hovering
over our South African battle-fields ; but at Laing's
Nek nothing was left them to pick save the
slaughtered horses.
While the troops remained in camp in sight of
Laing's Nek, heavy rains fell over all the colony.
The season w^as said to be an unprecedented one,
the roads being almost impassable, and along those
near Newcastle, at every mile or so, were com-
missariat and other waggons hopelessly embedded
in the mud. The troops from India, after leaving
Pietermaritzburg, in the first days of February',
made strenuous efforts to push forward — the 15th
Hussars training their horses on the march, so as
to be ready for service the moment they arrived
The 4th of February saw the Boers, now 5,000
strong, still encamped on the other side of Laing's
Nek, where they had strongly entrenched a
post which it was impossible to turn, and were
pushing forward their patrols to within six miles of
Newcastle. Their numbers were daily increasing,
as they enrolled even their domestic Hottentot
servants, and boys and old men, the Free State
assisting them with both men and money.
Biggarsberg — midway between the Drakensberg
and the Tugela, and taking its name from Biggar,
a Scotsman — ^had been occupied by the Natal
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Incogo River]
AGITATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOERS.
3SI
Mounted Police, and was believed to be safe from
an attack of the enemy; but at Newcastle the
troops were all in laager, and the townspeople had
enrolled themselves as Volunteers, though well
aware that if the enemy assumed the offensive,
all buildings and stores would be at their mercy.
Fortunately, Joubert foiled to avail himself of the
opportunity open to him, of advancing into a colony
that was all but defenceless.
Within a week after the severe check sustained
by Sir George Colley, Lord Kimberley telegraphed
to him in these terms : —
"I think it right to intimate to you, as you
have instructions to assume the functions of
Governor when you are able to enter the Trans-
vaal, that — whenever you may succeed in re-estab-
lishing the Queen's authority there — all questions
affecting the future administration and settlement
of the country, as well as questions as to dealing
with those who have taken part against the G9vem-
ment, should be reserved by you for the considera-
tion of her Majesty's Government"
The Dutch Red Cross Society at the Hague
officially announced that it was making arrange-
ments to render medical aid for the Boers in the
Transvaal, and on the 7th February ^1,000 was
sent by it to the Dutch consul at Cape Town for
that purpose, with an inquiry whether a Dutch
ambulance corps would be permitted to proceed to
the seat of war.
A little afterwards a petition on behalf of the in-
surgent Boers was sent to the Queen from the Dutch
people, to which Lord Tenterden replied, that it
was contrary to established usage for such petitions
from the subjects of foreign states to be laid before
her Majesty; but that the petition in question
would be sent to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies.
CHAPTER L.
THE TRANSVAAL WAR (continued) :— THE BATTLE OF INGOGO RIVER OR SCHAIN'S HOOGTE.
Sympathy for the cause of the Boers was expressed
in various quarters. At Graaf Reinet, in the valley
of the Sneeawbergen, only 150 miles west of
Grahamstown, a great meeting had been held for
their support, and a decision to that effect was
unanimously come to by the Dutch settiers.
Throughout the kingdom of Holland subscrip-
tion lists were opened for the men of the Transvaal,
though professedly intended for the wounded only,
and the proclamations issued by the central and
local committees appealed to the national sym-
pathy of Dutchmen, fighting for freedom, honour,
and national independence. In many of these
proclamations the struggle of the Trajisvaal Boers
was likened to the old wars of the Dutch against
their Spanish conquerors. Under date 13th
January, firom the Hague, Der Vaderland published
a statement by Jonkheer Beerlaerts Van Blokland,
declaring that he was authorised by Mr. Courtney,
the British Under-Secretary of the Home Depart-
ment, to announce the following passage in a letter
written by that gentleman in reference to Professor
Harting's address on behalf of Transvaal inde-
pendence : — " I trust you and your fellow-country-
men will not cease to appeal to the better nature
of Englishmen on behalf of your kinsmen in South
Africa." The General Peace League of the Nether-
lands also wrote a letter to Mr. Gladstone on the
subject of the Transvaal, begging him to adopt a
policy of reconciliation.
On the defeat at Laing's Nek becoming known
at home, the Government decided on immediately
forwarding reinforcements to Sir George Colley.
These were to be made in large " scratch " drafts,
the object being to make good our recent losses
with as little delay as possible, and to provide for
contingencies in order to keep up the force in South
Africa; but, as was now too often the case, all
regiments were below their proper strength, and
had to be filled up by volunteers from others,
collected anywhere and anyhow.
Meanwhile the Boers were closely watching the
fords of the Buffalo River, and firing on all our scouts
that.approached them ; and two companies of the
Gordon Highlanders, which regiment — the veterans
of Roberts's fights in Afghanistan — had come up,
and guarded the passage of the Ingogo River (a
tributary of the Buffalo), were brought into Colley's
camp on Prospect Hill on the 3rd February, to
increase his slender force there. But it was ex-
pected, or suggested, that the 58th Regiment,
which had been reduced by fighting to about 200
men, "among whom there was scarcely a single
old soldier," should be relieved by one of the new
battalions on their way up, and fall back upon
Newcastle.
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352
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Infiogo River.
Potchefstroom in the Transvaal, about 150 miles
distant from Newcastle, and twenty-five miles north
of the Vaal River, was at this time, like several
other small towns, closely invested by the Boers,
and its surrender to them was deemed certain,
unless it was relieved by force of arms ; and it was
difficult to conceive how Sir George Colley was to
achieve this in his present position, which was
certainly precarious. His small original force
had now been greatly diminished, and after the
failure to storm Laing's Nek he had encamped on
\he further side of the Ingogo, while the main body
of the Boers lay to the south-eastward in the
Drakensberg Mountains, hoping to be able to hold
his ground there till reinforced, and to keep open
his communications with Newcastle in the rear, for
there were his stores and depots in the small place
named Fort Amiel, garrisoned by 150 sick or
wounded convalescents !
The latter force was incapable of doing anything
to open the line of supply ; and it was well known,
that if the wily and wary Boers, who knew every inch
of the country, could work round Colley's post
and cut off alike supplies and reinforcements, they
might capture his camp and Newcastle too, so the
operations in this quarter had reached a critical point
It was asked by some, why did General Colley
march with a mere handful of men, into such a
strong and defensible country ? He was compelled
to march with such men as he could collect, and
probably was moved to adopt the bolder course in
the belief that his presence there would draw off a
considerable number of the enemy from the neigh-
bourhood of Potchefstroom, Standerton, Lyden-
berg, and Pretoria, then all closely besieged.
The physical features of the country in which
Sir George Colley had now taken post, were such
that an enemy in possession of the salient points of it,
could, if well-organised and well-disposed, effectually
stop all communications, and leave the mountain
ways to any force but an overwhelming one, for all
the passes are strong, and can be taken only at the
point of the bayonet
There the roads, such as they were, wound for
a distance of two miles or more, over steep and
rugged mountains of the Old Red Sandstone forma-
tion, varying in altitude from 5,000 to 7,000 feet,
studded with those enormous boulders peculiar to
the Cape Colony, forming natural fortresses, with
shot-holes and embrasures impregnable almost to
any force. This Drakensberg range pervades and
dominates the greater part of the Transvaal, its
highest elevation at Manchberg, near Lydenberg,
(the siege of which we shall detail in its place),
being 7,177 feet
Off this range are thrown a series of small
spurs, the result of volcanic agency in times un-
known, with peak-topped hills called "koppies,"
the source of a thousand springs that fertilise the
grassy veldt below.
Such is the range of mountains that looked down
on the camp of Sir George Colley by the Ingogo
River, about fifteen miles distant from them.
At daybreak on the 8th of February, a convoy of
forty waggons laden with stores and ammunition
was prepared to start from Newcastle, for the relief
of Colley's column on the Ingogo. Some of these
were old Dutch bullock waggons, drawn by as
many as fourteen oxen, with a forelooper^ or Kaffir
boy, to lead the foremost, while the driver of each
team had dijamboky or buffalo whip, with a bamboo
handle eighteen feet long.
The Boers heard of this convoy through their
keen and active scouts, and came down in strength
— at least some 500 riflemen — to intercept it, while
Sir George Colley, correctly guessing that they
would not lose the opportunity of capturing forty
waggons laden with such valuables, lef^ his camp in
front of Laing's Nek, in order to meet the convoy
and escort it within the trenches.
The convoy, it would ultimately appear, he
looked for in vain. It never left Newcastle, even
though the long teams of oxen had been inspanned
for that purpose. Mounted Boers had been seen
hovering about the roads and heights in dangerous
numbers, and as the garrison of Newcastle
mustered only 150 invalids, as we have said, it
would have been worse than madness to have
attempted any movement ; so the convoy was re-
tained, till reinforcements from Natal could furnish
an escort
All unaware of this. Sir George Colley, with a
force of about 500 men, including all arms, with
four guns, marched out at eight a.m. to keep the road
open, and descending a slope from a place called
Hatley's Farm, reached the Ingogo River. On a
piece of commanding ground on the northern side
he left his two mountain guns, with a company of
the 6oth Rifles, to cover his retreat across the
stream in case he should have to fall back, or be
much harassed by the Boers, and with the remainder
of his force advanced through the river.
The enemy were now seen on horseback, but,
upon a shell being thrown among them at 1,500
yards' distance, they galloped off and, taking shelter
behind a long grassy ridge or succession of emi-
nences, dismounted, hobbled or knee-haltered their
horses, and took post in great security, lying on
their faces, covered by long reeds, gigantic plants,
and loose stones.
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Ingogo River.l
THE BOERS' FIRE.
353
As the troops had not anticipated a long and
heavy day's fighting, the general told them before
marching, at eight in the morning, they were about
to make a demonstration only, and would be back
to camp in time for dinner.
Against the grassy ridges referred to, Sir George
continued to advance; and there, with that military
eye, which they certainly possessed for the selection
of positions suited to their skirmishing and sharp-
shooting tactics, lurked the sturdy Boers, " men
who could neither march, manoeuvre, nor even
form sections of fours, but were resolute in heart,
muscular in figure, and deadly marksmen, who
were accustomed to bring down the fleet springbok
at full speed from their saddles, and stalk all the
great game with which Southern Afirica abounds."
When the fight, which was a species of rifle duel,
began, an examination of the ground above the
Ingogo proved that our position was as bad a one
as could possibly have been chosen. Our men had
no shelter whatever, the plateau on which they lay
being commanded on all sides by heights, which
the Boers manned, amid splendid cover, that
enabled them to creep up at times, with impunity,
to within ninety yards of the rifle muzzles, so that
it was a marvel any man escaped to tell the tale.
For six hours, with shot and shell, did Colley
strive to clear out that cover in vain. Scattered
along the grassy ridge, the Boers held their ground,
displaying the same fatal marksmanship they had
always done. So closely did they lurk in cover,
scarcely showing even a head, that our soldiers —
even our best-trained men of the 6oth Rifles — could
only find their whereabouts, and in what direction
to fire, by the white smoke that spirted swiftly up
from amid the long grass, sending a deadly bullet
among them in the open.
At times the rapid discharge firom the breech-
loaders amounted to one continued roar, and
each time that the Boers worked forward nearer
to our position the shrapnel shells drove them back
with loss. The cannon from time to time bore a
part in the strife ; but so close was the practice of
the Boers, that after a time it became impossible
to work them ; for, being utterly unsheltered and
fought in the open, the gunners were slain the
moment they stood up, and, with the exception of
one oflScer — Lieutenant Parsons, who was wounded
later in the day— every ofllicer, gunner, driver, and
horse was hit or shot down very soon after the con-
flict began; and the guns, carriages, and limbers
were all starred and whitened by bullet marks.
For an hour the cannon were completely
silenced ; only the dead and the dying lay under
them, and about their wheels. Some of our in-
fantry then began to work one, and kept it in action
throughout the day ; but it was a dangerous duty,
and the devoted fellows who volunteered for it had
continually to be replaced.
The greatest portion of the fighting was main-
tained at the distance of 700 yards ; but even when
the enemy were closest no bayonet charge was
attempted. Our wounded were hit again and again
when crawling in agony to the rear, and many help-
less creatures perished thus miserably. Their blood-
splashed faces, in many instances, presented a
ghastly contrast to the whiteness of their tropical
helmets, though many, we have said, had been
dyed clay colour.
The Boers fired slowly and steadily, that every
shot should tell ; and their success here, as else'
where, showed the great value of irregulars, skilled
in the use of the rifle, and trained to find cover,
and also the destruction which can be wrought by
a long-range fire against troops armed even with
fine artillery.
Beyond the giant ridges of the Drakensberg
the ruddy African sun was beginning to set,
and as it did so, and cold shadows began to
involve the valley of the Ingogo, the flashes of
the musketry seemed to sparkle out redder and
brighter; but, as night fell, the Boers began to
desist from the attack, and the British at the
same time to fall back, while, probably, all thought
of the convoy was forgotten, save, perhaps, by the
general, who by this time had lost all his staff!
An attack being anticipated, preparations were
made to spike the guns at a moment's notice ;
ammunition was buried, rifles were smashed at the
small of the butt, and every precaution was taken
to prevent the enemy from availing himself of
aught that might remain on that fatal field.
Upon retu-ing, our troops had no means of
bringing off" the wounded, who were left on the
ground all night, the surgeons remaining with them,
with the white flag of Mercy flying in the darkness,
amid which many must have bled to death, un-
known and unseen. The river rose to the men's
waist-belts as they re-crossed it.
All the horses in the traces of the ammunition
waggon were shot down, and it was left on the field
when the force fell back ; at four o'clock next
morning Lieutenant Carrol, with a party of six men
and twelve horses, left the camp to try and bring it
in, but failed. They reached the waggon but
were unable to bring it off", as the Boers were in
force close by, cutting off even his retreat to camp ;
but he dashed through them sword in hand, and
escaped in safety.
The rain fell all night in torrents, swelling the
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354
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Ingogo River.
current of the Ingogo, cutting off Colley's retreat,
as the Boers fondly hoped. The fierce wind
blew in angry gusts, adding greatly to the miseries
of the wounded, among whom the faithful surgeons
were still hard at work, when the grey dawn of the
loth came in, but they contrived to send off six
ambulances laden with the maimed, who were un-
molested by the enemy on their way down, and all
pouches and chew grass, while toiling over the
rocks and hills, and dragging the guns when the
horses failed.
Such was the retreat from the Ingogo, or Schain's
Hoogte, as the hills were called which the Boers
manned.
While the fighting was in progress at the Ingc^o,
the Boers elsewhere were pushing on, and by the
PLAN OF THE ACTION ON THE INGOGO (FEBRUARY 8, 1881),
those wounded at Ingogo on the 8th were brought
into Newcastle on the following day.
All that remained of the force got into camp at
six in the morning after the battle. The losses
were severe, but one officer was particularly re-
gretted, Lieutenant Wilkinson of the 6oth Rifles,
who was drowned in the now swollen Ingogo,
which he was supposed to have re-crossed with a
view to succour the wounded. At all events, he
perished when the troops were defiling through the
river in the gloom and obscurity.
In falling back, the men had no water on this
most wretched march, and they had to lick their
afternoon had driven in the vedettes of the ^
Mounted Police, and appeared within three miles
of Fort AmieL A magistrate of Newcasde went
out to meet them with a flag of truce, and ex-
pressed a hope that they would allow the ambu-
lances to come in, urging that those who should be
without food or water since the engagement began
would be in a terrible state. In general the Boers
here were far from unkind to our wounded men.
General CoUey now telegraphed that the roads
to his camp must be considered as definitely
blocked; that all reinforcements must fight their
way up, as he was too weak in force to meet or
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logogo River.]
PERILOUS POSITION OF THE BRITISH.
35S
assist them in any way. An officer was also sent
rearward to hurry on a squadron of the 15th
Hussars, whose coming was awaited with intense
A writer says that at Ingogo " the tactics of the
Boers are described as admirable. They moved
from the flank, opening fire from time to time from
8. J. PAUL KRUGEK» PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
anxiety, as an attack was hourly expected, and if it
were made before succour came the commissariat
cattle would be lost, as it was altogether impossible to
defend them, and their loss would cripple the move-
ments of the brigade now on its way to the front.
unexpected positions. For our men to advance and
charge with the bayonet was impossible, for they
would all have been shot down before reaching the
enemy. Our position at sunset appeared desperate !
The men had no rations, and a most difficult
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Ingo^o River.
country lay between them and the camp, the
enemy being certainly close at hand. At nine p.m.
General Colley ordered the force to march as
quietly as possible down to the river. The horses
which remained were harnessed to the guns, and
all left the position without the enemy discovering
that the movement was in progress. There was
great difficulty in crossing the river, which was
rising rapidly with the falling rain. At last, all,
with the exception of the wounded and an ammu-
nition waggon, left on the ground, got across."
Damp and misty after the rain of the past even-
ing and night, the morning of the 9th came in,
and Dr. McGann, a humane and noble-minded
Irishman, who had spent so many hours among
the wounded, described their sufferings as terrible.
Down the kloofs of the Drakensberg the cold wind
came in gusts, driving the drenching rain before it
all the livelong night, the pitchy darkness of which
was lit ever and anon by vivid flashes of rose-
coloured lightning. The cries of the wounded for
water and succour were heartrending, " and many
sucked and chewed their blankets."
It was twelve at noon when the waggons came
to take them to Newcastle. Many of them had
lain on the field for thirty-six hours, and their
bearing and endurance excited the admiration of
alL During the action they had behaved
splendidly. The officers averred that their men
remained perfectly cool and free from all panic,
even at times when the fire was most deadly, and
when it seemed as if every man must be shot do\vn.
Many of the Boers left their position and spoke
to the men with the waggons; they offered no
objection to the removal of the wounded, whom
they assisted into the waggons, and to whom
they spoke kindly, deploring the war as the result
of English injustice, adding, that it was their duty
to shoot down all foreign soldiers who came into
their country. They made no bravado, but quietly
expressed an absolute confidence in tiie result of
the war that had been forced upon them, and said
that British troops had no chance whatever against
them.
Sir George Colley reported their losses as heavy,
while they affirmed that they had only twenty
killed and wounded; and, as our soldiers all
averred that they scarcely saw more than a head
of the enemy, so close was their cover, their asser-
tion was believed to be true; and, had not the
general succeeded in getting off as he did on the
night of the 8th, his surrender next morning, with
every man, horse, and gun, was inevitable. The
Boers were prepared to attack him at daylight ;
but had not kept strict watch, believing that the
rain had rendered the Ingogo unfordable; thus
they were greatly disappointed when dawn revealed
that the British had escaped.
"I rode over the ground yesterday, where the
Boers intend making their stand against the next
advance," wrote one who was present " The road
descends to a deep glen, about two hundred yards
broad at the bottom, with a steep grassy slope on
the opposite side, at the top of which the Boers
will probably entrench. There is not much cover,
but the advance of the troops can be effectually
covered by artillery. The presence of the Hussars
will probably change the conditions of warfare; but
one regiment of cavalry is hardly enough. The
enemy's vedettes now face our own, six miles
hence." Elsewhere he added, "So far we cannot
be said to have fairly gauged the fighting power of
the Boers, for they have not been opposed by a
well-handled force of all arms. In the last fight
there were but three hundred rifles hemmed in on
all sides, and unable to assume the offensive. At
Laing's Nek the troops were rashly handled, as is
agreed on all sides, and in fact, only the 58th were
engaged. It is impossible to judge from those two
affairs what the Boers will do, when fairly pressed
and forced. The knowledge that their horses are
always at hand is not likely to encourage desperate
resistance."
Our losses, as telegraphed, were sbcty-three rank
and file (including sergeants) killed; sixty-one
wounded, and eight missing ; of the officers three
were killed, four wounded, and one — Lieutenant
Wilkinson— dro^Mied.
Among the officers killed were Captain John
Colling MacGregor, of the Royal Engineers, the
Assistant Military Secretary, in his thirty-first year,
and Captain Carlyle Greer, R.A., an officer of much
experience and in the prime of life, who had served
in the New Zealand War of 1863-4, and been pre-
sent at the attack on the Gate Pah, and the action
at Maketu. He had come out with his battery to
the Cape during the course of the Zulu War.
The other two officers were Lieutenant J.
Raymond Garrett, 60th Rifles, in his twenty-second
year ; and Lieutenant Maurice O'Connell, who was
about the same age and belonged to the same
regiment He was a grand-nephew of the famous
O'Connell, and eldest son of Sir Maurice J.
O'Connell, Bart, Killamey.
After the engagement. Sir George Colley again
offered medical assistance to the Boers, which— in
his despatch — he says they declined in grateful
terms, and asked permission to send their wounded
by waggons through our lines.
At three p.m. on the 9th, the telegraph wire
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IngP£:o River.3
BRITISH CASUALTIES.
357
between his camp and Newcastle ceased to act for
a time, the Boers having injured it, and as large
bodies of them were seen hovering between that
place and Biggarsberg, the position seemed to
become more critical every hour ; but every pre-
caution was taken against attack. Captain
Fraser, of the Engineers, left nothing undone to
put Newcastle in a state of defence, and every man
there was ready to stand to arms if called upon.
The following is from the Column Orders issued
by Sir George Colley, on the day after the con-
flict at the Ingogo, with reference to Artillery and
Rifles :—
"Mount Prospect, Feb. 9th, 1881.
" I. The Major-General commanding desires to
express his high admiration of the conduct of the
officers and men of the Royal Artillery and 3rd
Battalion 60th Rifles in the action fought yesterday
against vastly superior numbers. The Artillery well
sustained the reputation of that corps, by the* way
they served their guns under a murderous fire, and
brought them out of action, notwithstanding their
heavy losses in men and horses ; and the conduct
of the 3rd Battalion 60th Rifles, their unflinching
steadiness and discipline under fire, and the perfect
order, coolness, and spirit with which the night-
march was carried out, was worthy of any veterans.
"The Major-General has again to deplore the
loss of one of his personal staff" — Captain Mac-
Gregor, R.K, his military secretary, and right-hand
man — ^whose loss, he believes, will be as much, re-
gretted by the force generally as by the Major-
General himself; of Captain Greer, R. A., who was
killed at his guns, setting a noble example, worthily
followed by the men under him ; of two young
officers of the 60th Rifles — Lieutenants Garrett
and O'Connell — who fell in the gallant performance
of their duties.
" IL The Major-General feels sure that the force
engaged yesterday will join with him in specially
recognbing the distinguished conduct of Lieutenant
Parsons, R.A., who directed the fire of the artillery
in a most exposed position, till two-thirds of his
men and horses were disabled, and he was ordered
to retire, and who was afterwards severely wounded
while directing and refitting his guns ; of Surgeon
McGann, whose unremitting attention to the
wounded, under a heavy fire, did honour to the
branch of the profession to which he belongs ; and
of Sergeant-Major Wilkins, 3rd Battalion 60th
Rifles, who was to be seen wherever the fire was
hottest, setting an example of cheerful gallantry and
cool, steady shooting.
"(Signed) E. Essex, Staff'-Officer,
"Natal Field Force."
The facts rendered apparent by the result of this
conflict by the Ingogo River were that, in spite of
Sir George Colley's assurances that the attacks of
the Boers were repulsed, the firuits of the victory,
with the possession of the field, remained with
them, while he had to make a hurried retreat in the
dark. That our soldiers were unable to charge was
no imputation on their courage. They felt and saw
the fire of an enemy who remained almost unseen,
or showed only a head now and then as the ceaseless
fire was maintained. Thus our troops, from the
open, could inffict no serious loss in return.
On one side were the trained soldiers of the
newest system of warfare, accustomed to manoeuvre
with the precision of clockwork and the steadiness
of a wall ; on the other, but a body of farmers
and sportsmen, yet inspu-ed by the dogged
courage of their ancestors, who fought against
Ferdinand of Toledo and the fleets of Oliver
Cromwell.
At the Ingogo our guns were rendered all but use*
less from the first, by the rain of bullets that staned
them all over, and smote down man and horse ; and
it was to the rain the survivors of that fatal en-
counter owed their escape, as the enemy believed
that the fast-rising flood would render the passage
rearward impossible ; and, as it was, an officer and
seven men were swept away.
We believe an order was issued to dye the white
tropical helmets of the troops a kind of clay-colour
before they left Newcastle in January, but a rifleman,
who was wounded at the Ingogo, and whose letter
found its way into the papers, states : — " I got a crack
in the head from a bullet, and am still in hospital with
it, owing to the white helmet I wore offering a pal-
pable mark for the enemy to aim at as we were
lying down. . . . Can anything be more ridicu-
lous than to clothe us in dark-green, to prevent ob-
servation, and give us as a head-dress, a staring
white helmet that can be perfectly seen a quarter of
a mile off" with the naked eye, and affords a splendid
target to aim at ? "
On a reconnaissance being made of the Boers' posi-
tion, it was found to be four miles in extent ; its left
flank protected by the gorge of the Buffalo River, and
the right by some of the steepest hills of the Drakens-
berg. The line of heights between these points
they had strengthened by means of entrenchments,
covered, apparently, by another line in the rear.
It was evidently a position of great strength, and,
if held by a sufficient force, might have been ahnost
impregnable; but the Boers were not in force
enough to cover it against a vigorous attack.
The Boers now gladly accepted the offer of the
Durban Red Cross Society to send them ambu-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
CThe TrnwraaL
lances and medicine, of which, together with splints
and lint, they were in the greatest need
Ere long they cut the telegraph wires between
Newcastle and Ladysmith, and the post-carts be-
tween Durban and Newcastle had to turn back ;
while, as the Boers were then collected in numbers
south of the latter town, it was natural that they
should attempt to deprive the garrison and people
there of all news of the relieving column, on which
their safety depended, and of which they naturally
supposed that Sir Evelyn Wood had now taken
command.
CHAPTER LL
THE TRANSVAAL WAR {cofltinuei) : — ^ARRIVAL OF SIR EVELYN WCX)D — ^THE RELIEVING COLUMN.
About the 14th February 1,500 Boers took post in
another quarter — ^at the Horn River, five miles
above Ingagane, with the intention, it was sup-
posed, of watching the advancing column under
Sir Evelyn Wood. The President of the Orange
State, under date 15 th February, repudiated all
intentions of assisting the Transvaal Boers in any
way, by a letter addressed by himself to Mr.
Philip T. Blyth, the Free State consul in London ;
but at that very time Cornelius de Villiers, with a
command of Free Staters, was reported to be
scouting on the Berg between Muller's and
Reenen's Passes ; while the public prints stated
that over seventy officers of the Dutch army had
volunteered to proceed at their own expense, vid
Brindisi and Delagoa Bay, to assist with their
practical knowledge the Transvaal Boers then in
insurrection, but, at the urgent request of the
Dutch Transvaal Committee, had postponed their
departure for a time; while mass meetings of
Dutchmen took place in New York and New
Jersey to express sympathy with the Boers and
subscribe for them.
These sentiments seemed to be on the increase.
Ardent sympathy began to be expressed in the
Orange Free State, and at a meeting held in
Bloemspruit, Kronstadt, it was decided to send
cattle and horses into t*he Transvaal for the use of
the insurgents ; and a lengthy document addressed
to the Volksraad, and signed by " Kruger, Vice-
President of the Soutli African Republic," was
circulated at Bloemfontein, setting forth the grie-
vances of the Boers, and declaring that, whether they
won or lost in their struggle with Great Britain, the
result of tlie war would be freedom for Africa such
as America enjoyed. "Africa will be for the
Airicander, from the Zambesi to Simon's Bay ! "
But the Volksraad seemed to be in favour of strict
neutrality.
About the same time the Flemish population of
Belgium began to move actively in the matter, and
signed an address to the king to use all means in
his power to bring about a cessation of the war.
At this time several outrages were committed
by the Boers on the loyal inhabitants of Utrecht, a
town in a district of the same name, the most
south-easterly part of the Transvaal, and not more
distant from Durban than 100 miles as the crow
flies, and each house in which is situated in the
centre of a large and well-planted gardea Some
300 insurgents occupied it, burned the houses of
several British residents, seized some stores, fined
two of the inhabitants £z^^ each, and the re-
mainder of the loyal population JQ^ each, but
whether for support of the Boer war-chest or their
own pockets was unknowa
On the 14th of. February General Sir Evelyn
Wood's column, on the march from Ladysmith,
consisting of the 92nd Highlanders, the 2nd Bat-
talion of the 60th Rifles, 300 of the 15th or King's
Hussars, 90 of the Natal Police, and a Naval
Brigade of fifty men with two guns, left the
camp at One Tree Hill, eight miles firom Biggars-
berg, at twelve o'clock at night, with mounted
scouts three miles distant on either flank.
The Natal Police and a few Hussars rode in
advance across the Ingagane River, to explore
those heights where the Boers were supposed to be
in position and on the watch. Finding that none
were there, this advanced party concealed them-
selves, but on strong ground, till the remainder of
the column crossed the river and halted for a
brief rest
At half-past three the march was resumed,
Sir Evelyn Wood and Major Dartnell with the
advance party leading the way, and after pro-
ceeding about four miles, the scouts reported that
the enemy were in strong force above the Horn
River, when they fell back out of range on the
approach of a squadron of our Hussars. The
column then laagered, the Boers being two miles
distant - '
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GENERAL COLLEVS RECONNAISSANCE.
359
At four o'clock next morning the forward move-
ment was resumed; a few Boers showed them-
selves, but retired, not without firing a few shots,
and the column, without further opposition, reached
Newcastle about noon, to the great joy of the in-
habitants and the slender garrison.
Before the approach of the column the enemy
had looted several waggons that fell into theu* hands
at Ingagane; they took all the provisions and
bottled beer, but set 200 casks of the latter abroach,
inspired by the strange fear that they were poisoned.
Sir Evelyn's march from Ladysmith was too
rapidly performed to give the Boers time to entrench
themselves. During the Zulu War this brilliant
officer, whose operations in that strife we have fully
detailed, was distinguished for the judgment with
which he wrought his commissariat cattle, and, con-
sequently, for the speed with which he was enabled
to cover long distances, and yet always managed to
halt, with cattle untired.
In this last march to Newcastle he adopted the
same system, advancing in accordance to the con-
venience of the commissariat animals, but his
soldiers were somewhat worn out by the unusual
system of marching and "laagering" every few
hours. He knew, however, that the latter would
recover after a few hours' rest, but that oxen if once
overworked, are too often virtually broken down for
good.
General Colley arrived at Newcastle on the 17th,
and reported that no Boers had been visible along
the road ; but nothing was to be done for a few
days, the relieving column being too much fatigued
by its rapid march. At noon he had a meeting
with Sir Evelyn in Fort Amiel, when a council of
war was held.
On the following day the Boers fired on, and
drove in our vedettes on the Umquelo Mountain, a
spur of the Drakensberg range, above the camp at
Mount Prospect, to conceal, apparently, the march
of their force returning to Laing's Nek from the
Horn River.
Sir Evelyn Wood and his Hussars were not long
idle at Newcastle. With a squadron of them he
left that place a day or so after his arrival, and
crossed the Buffalo, leaving a detachment of the
Gordon Highlanders there to act as a support
Striking into the old post-cart road, a mile or two
from the camp, he crossed the stream at a point
five miles eastward of Schain's Hoogte, the scene
of Colley^s second repulse, and rode nearly thirty
miles into the hostile Transvaal.
He came within ten miles of the beleagured
garrison of Wakkerstroom, on the western slopes of
the Drakensberg, and visited one of the laagers
which the Boers had constructed near the fort for
the purpose of enforcing its blockade. The works
were deserted, so, without seeing any sign of the
enemy, the reconnoitring party retiUTied to New-
castle about four in the afternoon, after a ride of
fully seventy miles.
It was thought strange that General Wood, when
so near the isolated garrison, did not visit it ; but
it should be borne in mind that the purpose of the
patrol had been fully served — an assurance was
obtained of the enemy's absence along the whole
route to Wakkerstroom ; but it did not follow that
there were not plenty of them beyond it.
Moreover, the South African twilight is of very
brief duration, and the Highlanders holding the
left bank of the Buffalo River had to be considered,
for, not being mounted, they required time to get
back to Newcastle.
Early in the mornmg of the next Thursday Sir
George Colley crossed the Buffalo with a party of
the 15 th Hussars, to reconnoitre the left flank of
the Boer position, where it rested on the river. He
found that though the Boers had strongly fortified
all that part of their position on which he made his
last attack, theu* earthworks were weak, apparently,
towards the flank of their line. One who was with
his staff graphically describes the locality thus : —
"Black and frowning gorges, across which weird
and savage rocks flung their grey and purple
shadows, made the wood, even at noontide, as
black as night In the valley we have left it is light
all around, bathing the shrubs and wild flowers with
sunshine and warmth, but eternal gloom seems to
dwell in the pass. Away above us to the left frowns
the ghasdy height called by the natives *Amayuba,'
and by the Dutch * Spitzkop,' so soon to be a name
of evil omen to our men. Along the narrow ledge,
above a dizzy precipice, where the mist of the
foaming torrent steams and darkens the path, lies
the only perceptible road by which to climb. The
mountains rise around, the very perfection of naked,
desolate, appalling sublimity, and looking as if they
were the scene of some Titanic conflict in bygone
ages. None but the bolts of heaven could have
imprinted scars like those we see upon the furrowed
ridges of the hilL See the pinnacles, so torn, so
ragged, that shoot aloft into the sky ! See those
hideous gashes in the mountain ! Earthquake only
could have made it so. How the huge rocks must
have tossed and strained whilst buffeting in the
rude embrace of the lightning ! "
After his return to camp, a body of 200 Boers
occupied the ground from which he had reconnoi-
tred theu- position; but an artillery fire, at 2,500
yards, was opened upon them from a 9-pounder,
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360
British ba-^ttles on land and sea.
(Majuba HUl
and after a shell or two had burst over their heads
they dispersed in haste.
On the 24th Sir Evelyn Wood had gone to
Pietermaritzburg, with an object that had not then
transpired ; and the result of Sir George Colley's
reconnaissance was the conception of that very
bold and skilful, but most lamentable movement
on the Majuba Hill, in which he lost his life.
captain in June, i860. Before this he had served
on the Cape Frontier in 1858-9, and in 1 861 in
the occupation of Kreli's territory, the defeat and
death of Tola, and other petty affairs; but was
twice thanked by Government and was made
Brevet-Major in 1863.
He had served through the China War of 1860^
and, passing the Staff College two years subse-
Ji'5>i>* ' *^'* '^^^' — ••.^
Troop ISth.Husskrd
(dismounted) V^*
DciacJiminis on 20HU r*1
Rein/inxemtnis on rjth^ 1^
PLAH OF THE MARCH TO MAJUBA HILL (FEBRUARY 26, 1881).
Sir George Pomeroy CoUey, K.C.S.I., CB.,
and CM.G, Governor and Commander-in-chief of
Natal, was the youngest son of the Hon. George
Francis Colley (formerly Pomeroy) of Ferny, in the
county of Dublin, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy,
and of Francis, his wife, daughter of the Very Rev.
Thomas Trench, Dean of Kildare, and grandson of
the fourth Viscount Harberton. He was bom on
the ist November, 1835, and in 1852 was gazetted
to an ensigncy in the 2nd or Queen's Royal
Regiment; he was a lieutenant in 1852, and a
quently, was appointed Brigade-Major of the
Western District, an office which he held till 30th
June, 1866. He had no other staff occupation till
1870, when he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the
General commanding the Southern District He
was thus engaged until May, 187 1, when he was
nominated one of the professors of the Staff Col-
lege, and was thus employed till 30th November,
1873, when he was appointed to the command of
the transport in the Ashantee Expedition, with
which he served until the close of the operations,
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Majuba UilLJ
SIR GEORGE COLLEY.
361
including the battle of Amoaful, the defence of the
posts at Quarman and Fomanah, the battle of
Ordahsu, and capture of Cooniassie. For his
services, which were several times brought to the
notice of the authorities in the despatches of his
In April, 1876, he was selected to attend Lord
Lytton to India in the capacity of military secre-
tary, and two years subsequently was transferred to
the office of private secretary, a j)ost which he
filled nominally till the 19th of February, 1880,
SIR GEORGE POMEROY COLI EV.
(From a Photograph by Meurs. Mault and Fox, London.)
friend. Sir Garnet Wolseley, he received the brevet
rank of colonel in 1874, with the Companionship
of the Bath ; and when, in the following year. Sir
Garnet Wolseley was despatched to Natal to ad-
minister the government of the colony, and give
advice as to the best form of defensive organisation,
he selected Sir George CoUey as his private secre-
tary, and, on the return of Sir Garnet to Europe, he
was appointed Quartermaster-General at Aldershot
though from the 9th of July in the preceding year
until the 7 th of October he was chief of the staff to
Sir Garnet Wolseley in South Africa, with the rank
of brigadier-general, at the time when Lord
Chelmsford had brought the Zulu War virtually to
an end by the battle of UlundL He was made a
Commander of the Order of St Michael and St
George in 1878, and Knight Commander of the
Star of India in 1880, and was appointed Governor
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
rMsyolaHiU.
and Commander-in-chief of Natal, and High Com-
missioner for South-Eastem Africa, with his head-
quarters at Pietermaritzburg ; but almost imme-
diately after the breaking out of the Transvaal War
he started for Newcastle, and, without waiting for
reinforcements from Britain, advanced with the
slender column of relief to meet two severe re-
pulses under the shadow of the Drakensbeig.
CHAPTER LIL
THE TRANSVAAL WAR {continued) : — ^THE BATTLE OF MAJUBA HILU
After the fatal and futile conflict at Ingogo there
was for some days a lull in the active operations,
but both sides were preparing for a great — ^it might
be decisive — struggle; both were entrenching,
receiving supplies and reinforcements. The result
of the last two encounters had proved to our
leaders that the Boers were precisely what Sir
Evelyn Wood and other skilful officers had vainly
urged the Government to organise — mounted in-
fantry on the principle of what the dragoons were
of old — well-armed, well-horsed, and deadly shots,
" and not like our raw three years' recruits of the
fatal new system, who blaze off their ammunition
without knowing what they are aiming at" " These
sturdy farmer sj)ortsmen," wrote one who fought
against them, " treat our British soldiers much as
they would a herd of antelopes. They circle round
at a gallop on both flanks, approach gradually as
the arc narrows, and then, when at a convenient
range, dismount, pick off their victims, and are
ready at once to remount and to retire, or advance
to some fresh coign of vantage. Their well-trained
horses are always near at hand and in readiness
for a new movement, and a victory won over such
enemies as these can never be decisive, as they
have only to withdraw under cover, and out of the
reach of our guns and rifles, to dash upon us again
from some least-expected quarter. The celerity of
cavalry, the solidity of infantry, and the trained
experience of bush warfare are the qualifications of
these men, whose courage and coolness are fully
equal to those of the most disciplined veteran
troops."
On the evening of the 26th of February, there
were detailed in the camp for a secret expedition,
180 Gordon Highlanders, 150 of the 58th, 150 of
the 2nd 60th Rifles, and 65 blue jackets, under
Commander Romilly, too slender and too mixed a
force for the work in hand, as a few hours proved.
These men paraded in dead silence close by Sir
George CoUey's tent at nine o'clock, after the bugles
had blown the " last post," with seventy-five rounds
ofammunition in their pouches — 545 bayonets in all,
exclusive of Army Hospital Corps, Staff, &c Had
these 545 been of one corps, led by their own officers,
even in these days, when our military cohesion
seems a thing of the past, the result might have been
different, and Majuba Hill might have been held till
our reserves came on later next day, and then the
Boers would have been placed between two fires.
Again were shoulder to shoulder in war, the men
of the Gordon Highlanders with those of the old
Rutlandshire, as their predecessors had been,
when, in Egypt, they fought around the Tower of
Mandora, but alas ! no laurels were to be gathered
now as then, under the guidance of the gallant
Abercrombie.
The order was given in low tones, and not
another word was spoken, as the column moved
out of camp at ten o'clock, in sections of fours,
with rifles at the "trail" — but passive obedience
and silence are still the characteristics of the British
soldier. The destination was kept a profound
secret till the moment of starting, and then it
became known, that the point to be attained was
the high hill on the left of the Nek, known as the
Spitzkop or Majuba — the former name being des-
criptive of a sugar-loaf or peaked hill — and that it
was intended to take the Boer position in flank.
As long as our soldiers think they are going to
fight, they care little where the field or the foe may
be ; but on this occasion, the staff could not help
remarking that poor Sir George Colley looked, as
one described it, " tired, careworn, and haggard, as
he marched along in silence at the head of the
column."
" I mean to take the hill," said he to the corre-
spondent of the Standard^ "and should the enemy
attempt to cut me off, the 2nd 6oth and the
Hussars are within call at Newcastle. We are
taking three days' rations with us, and before these
are finished we ought to be thoroughly secure."
There are two lofty hills — one directly on the
left flank of the Boer position, the other nearer the
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Majuba HilL)
THE MARCH TO THE HILL-TOP.
363
Nek and commanding it A ridge connects them
both.
The night was pitchy dark at first, and the
march across a country unknown to the men, was
toilsome in the extreme. At first the way was
over comparatively level ground, but it was at the
base of the hill the real difficulties began. Prior
to this, there was a halt now and then, and the
wavy outline of the Drakensberg could be traced,
in deep black masses, against even the darkness of
the sky. The path narrowed so much that after a
time the sections of fours were diminished to
Indian file, necessitating a sad delay, ere the
summit could be attained.
At a precipitous part of the hill a company of
Rifles was left, and at the base one of Highlanders.
Their helmets were dyed brown now, but their
colour came curiously out of the gloom. In their
care the horses were left These men were all
ordered to set about entrenching themselves at
once, while the remainder, just as day was nearly
breaking, and they were already getting worn with
a rough march of six hours, guided by Kafiirs,
began the ascent, a work of terrible toil, as in many
places the ground was most precipitous, the men
having to crawl on their hands and knees, up
dongas and over boulders, dragging their rifles
after them, as best they could, up ways that even
mountaineers might have shrunk from in open day-
light
Ever and anon, large stones and boulders,
loosened by the feet of the climbers rolled
thundering down into the obscurity below ; and in
some instances, when, after enormous labour, our
soldiers thought they were at the top, they had to
descend and veer to the right or left before ascend-
ing again ; and but for the native guides, though
sometimes at fault, the summit would never have
been attained. The task would have been one of
toil to unencumbered men ; but to soldiers armed,
accoutred, and carrying their ammunition, water-
bottles, and three days' provisions in their haver-
sacks, it was painful in the extreme. In some
places prickly jungle and long grass had to be
toiled through. At one part the foremost men were
brought to a complete halt, on finding themselves
opposed by a massive wall of smooth and^ slippery
rock, totally bare of vegetation, causing a retro-
gression of some hundred yards to reach a path-
way on the left — ^a mere guUey or water-course,
encumbered by boulders; and by that route
Colonel Stewart, Chief of the Staff, and a few of
the foremost men reached the top, fVom whence
they could see Laing's Nek, behind its dark crest,
and the fires of the Boer encampment, in long dotted
lines sparkling out, as lighted for their meaL The
Nek seemed about 1,500 yards below Majuba
Hill; far away were the dark kloofs of the
mighty Drakensberg, sunk in blackest shadow, and
far down below rolled the broad bosom of the
Buffalo River, its silvery haze expanding in the
growing light of day.
Majuba Hill completely enfiladed the enem/a
position, and had we had men enough to hold it,
and, more than all, had cannon been there, Laing's
Nek would speedily have been untenable.
To facilitate his exertions in the ascent, which at
one point was barred by an almost impenetrable
zone of the densest bush, the general had substi«
tuted for his ihilitary boots and spurs a pair of
socks and slippers, and wore them throughout the
subsequent engagement
The first part of this desperate and most rash
expedition was achieved The summit of Majuba
was won, and the troops found themselves in a
spacious saucer-shaped plateau, about 1,000 yards
in circuit, constituting a kind of natural circular
breastwork, which they believed they were quite
capable of defending, and all flattered themselves
that the success would be complete.
** I was beside the general when he passed the
word down for all the troops to come up," says one
already quoted. "Although quiet and self-pos*
sessed, I still fancied that in his anxious and care*
worn countenance there were traces of deep and
suppressed excitement It was twenty minutes to
four when the first men emerged on the summit of
the mountain ; but before the last had clambered
up it was nearly five o'clock. In the interval, those
of us who were first up lay down in the grass to
snatch a half-hour's sleep." The last sleep in life it
proved to many ! The general slept, too, and at a
time when entrenchments should have been formed
As the sun rose, and the Boers saw steel glitter
ing on the summit of Majuba, and anon red-coats
dotting its sky-line and overlooking their position,
they were observed to rush from their fires into their
laager, in evident rage and consternation. They
were, at first, apparently struck with a panic ; some
were saddling and mounting their horses in hot
haste ; others were in-spanning the teams to their
waggons, as if about to retreat, and some had
actually fled
The troops were posted at intervab of ten paces
betv^een their files round the summit, each man
making or discovering a little stone or turf defence
to lie behind, while the Naval Brigade and fifty
men of the 58th were placed as a reserve in the
centre of the hollow. The fighting line was not
exactly on the extreme brow of the hill, an error
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fiRlTISH fiATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LMajuba Hm.
that proved fatal eventually. Already the men,
after the toil of the past night, felt perishing with
thirst, for their water-bottles were empty; but,
fortunately, Lieutenant Hector Macdonald, of the
Gordon Highlanders, dug a well, and struck upon
water.
Meanwhile, on the slope and scarp of the
mountain were the most admirable bits of cover
skirmishers could desire; but, either from the
smallness of the force or a misunderstanding as to
the mode of defence, these were left untenanted
till occupied by the Boers in their ascent; and
from these very posts and points our men were
shot through the head and chest when, to com-
mand them, they crossed over the crest above.
No order as to independent or other file-firing
would seem to have been issued, and thus, as soon
as the Boer laager became lit up by the sun, some
of our younger soldiers began to take pot-shots at a
party of mounted Boers, who were far beyond range !
"Silence those fellows at once!" said the
general, when he heard the firing and began to
consider the ammunition; but it was too late.
Roused fiilly by the sound, the whole Boer force
now got under arms, though wild confusion seemed
to prevail in their camp. Men in hundreds were
seen rushing up to man the entrenchments on
the Nek ; others proceeded to drive in their grazing
cattle and horses from the mountain slopes ; while
a number came furiously galloping round the base
of the Majuba Hill, regardless of the fire that was
opened on them, and, disnnounting^ crept out of
sight to secret places, from whence, with deadly
aim, they sent shot after shot upwards; and Sir
George Colley passed an order round for the skir-
mishers only to fire when they had the enemy
within practicable range.
During the subsequent hour wave after wave of
Boer skirmishers came on round the left face of the
hill to feed their fighting line, and disappeared
beneath the slope, and at nine o'clock they opened
a hot fire upon a part of the hill which was held
by only twenty Gordon Highlanders under Lieu-
tenant Ian Hamilton (instructor of musketry), who
reported to the general that he suspected the Boers
to be assembling in great strength under the giddy
slope beneath his position, where they were, as yet,
out of sight
He was offered a reinforcement of twenty more
Highlanders, but took only ten, and even with these
he succeeded in checking the enemy's fire, while his
men behaved with splendid coolness, delivering their
fire only when a Boer's head became visible, and
by twelve o'clock only four of themselves had been
wounded, but these four still continued fighting.
Some time before this, the general, with his staff
and Commander Romilly, of the Naval Brigade,
furnished by H.MS. BoadUea^ were standing on a
part of the plateau which the enemy's fire had fiedled
to reach, when suddenly a puff of smoke spouted
from a clump of bushes about 900 yards down the
hilL A shout rose fi-om the group, and Com-
mander Romilly was seen to roll over and over again
on the ground, mortally wounded, by an explosive
bullet it was afilirmed, though, we believe, it had
gone completely through his body. This incident,
which occurred in full view of all, was not without
a bad effect on our young soldiers, who saw that to
be exposed to a Boer marksman at any possible
range was certain destruction.
In their plan to cut off the force the Boers pro-
ceeded very methodically, and, surrounding the whole
hill, maintained a constant fire, starring with lead
the stones behind which our men lay, but more
often dealing death among the latter. Still our men
were cool and confident, and the possibility of the
position being carried had not yet occurred to any
of them.
Between twelve and one the Boers' fire began to
slacken, and it actually seemed as if they were
drawing off, which, however, was far from bemg
the case, as it was soon found that they were
strongly reinforcing their fighting line, and shortly
after one a terrific fire, accompanied by shouts of
triumph, suddenly burst forth from the lower slopes
of the hill on the right, the side on which the firing
had all along been very heavy, and a tremendous
upward rush began to be made by the enemy.
The rocks and bushes, the tufts of spekboom and
boulders on the slope, became suddenly alivb with
active and powerftil Boers, in shovel-hats and leather
trousers, grim, swarthy, and bearded colonists,
leaping from crag to crag, jostling and pressing
upward, with a hungry, blood-famished glare in
their eyes, the very fever of battle, combined with
the dogged look of men prepared to dare all — to
do or die !
A hail of bullets was shrieking overhead and all
around our men. The skirmishing line under
Hamilton gave way, and all the rest became exposed
to a desperate fusillade, and an evident recoil began.
Lieutenant Ian MacDonald, of the 92nd High-
landers, a brave fellow, who had been promoted
ft-om the rank of colour-sergeant by Sir Frederick
Roberts for brilliant valour at the Peiwar Kotal and
the battle of Charasiah, was now seen, revolver in
hand, threatening to shoot down any man that
passed him. Many did get away, and disappeared
on the side of the hill next the camp, "but some
150 good men, mostly Highlanders, blue jackets,
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Majabft HilL]
THE LAST STAND.
36S
and old soldiers of the 58th, remained to man
the ridge for a final stand," says the correspondent
of the Standard^ who afterwards came to be known
as " Majuba " Cameron. _
The fire these men received and gave was
something awfuL Thrice the Boers hurled their
strength against them, and thrice they recoiled, and
in the lulls of their firing our soldiers were heard
crying to each other, " Well not budge from this !
Well give them the bayonet if they come closer."
Then Colour-Sergeant Fraser, of the Gordons,
was shot down, with both legs shattered just
below the kilt, with many of his comrades
in the Afghan War, just as their career of
long and glorious service was drawing to a
close, and all that the manhood and devotion of
this mixed band of seasoned men could do was but
to stem the advancing torrent for a time.
" Hold your ground, my lads ! " Colonel Stewart
was heard to cry again and again to those who were
wavering elsewhere.
**Now is the moment to give them the cold
steel !" an impatient officer would cry.
" Not yet, not yet," the general is reported to
have said.
"The officers shouted, * Rally on your right !'" says
the Times correspondent, " which would bring them
to the left rear near the general with about fifty men.
They did rally, and came to the crest of the hill,
when Colonel Stewart, Major Fraser, and Captain
MacGregor, staff officers, and indeed every officer,
with revolver and sword in hand, encouraged the
men by word or action."
The whole Boer fire was turned on the last point
of defence in the left rear. There the men were
crowded behind a clump of stones, but the officers
made them extend to the right and left, lest they
should be outflanked Our direct rear at one part
was held by only thirty men ; luckily, the ground
there was so steep the Boers were unable to scale
it, thus all their efforts were hurled against the left
"Men of the 92nd Highlanders, don't forget
your bayonets!" cried Major Fraser. Colonel
Stewart called on the men of the 58th, and Captain
MacGregor on those of the Naval Brigade, and
all did their duty steadily and well.
In some places the Boers were seen, pipe in
mouth, taking pot-shots quietly, as they do when
practising at pumpkins rolling down a hilL Nearer
and nearer the fatal cordon of death was closing
round the devoted band on the hill of Majuba, and
through the smoke the officers were seen doing
their utmost to urge the defence. In the centre of
a group that held a knoll was seen Sir George
Colley, animating the men and behaving in the
most resolute manner, though, one by one, they
quickly dropped around him.
With fixed bayonets, and shoulder to shoulder,
at last, formed in semicircle, our men continued
firing, while ammunition began to fail Many
more fell, but there was no shelter to which they
could be removed, and, if there had been, not a
man could have been spared to succour them.
The Boers at last reached the few men who held
the true front ; the latter brought their bayonets to
the charge, but beyond striking distance, and all
save three were shot down where they stood. With
the general there were barely 100 men of the main
body left The advanced line had been long since
shot down or driven in upon the last or main
position. This has been described as being about
200 yards long by 50 broad, where the whole sur-
vivors now lined the rim of the basin with fixed
bayonets to repel the assailants. The Boers, with
fierce and exultant shouts, swarmed up the side of
the hill, and made furious attempts to carry it at
a rush, but each time were driven back by the
bayonets, many of which were dyed with blood.
After each rush the firing, which ceased during the
mHky broke out with renewed fury, and again the
air became alive with whistling bullets. '
All at once Sir George Colley was seen to throw
his arms above his head, to reel wildly forward, and
fall dead, shot through the brain, and then allwaslost !
The Daily Telegraph asserted that he was shot
ia the act of giving the order to "cease firing,"
believing that all was over.
Gathering near the edge of the slope at that
moment, the Boers made a headlong rush at a
point beyond that which they had been before
attacking, and where there were but few to oppose
them. Like a living tide they burst over the
edge, and the position was taken. The main line
of the defenders — if such a term can be applied
to the miserable remnant that remained — finding
themselves taken in reverse, made a rush along
the plateau and sought to rally, but in vain. The
fierce shouts and storm of bullets came together.
There was a mad rush with the Boers close behind;
" the roar of musketry, the whistling of bullets, and
the yells of the enemy made up a medley which
seemed infernal All around the men were falling ;
there was no resistance, no halt — it was a flight
for life," writes an eyewitness. "At this moment I
was knocked down by the rush and trampled upon,
and when I came to my senses the Boers were
firing over me at the retreating troops, who were
moving down the hill I was taken prisoner, and
led away. On the hill I found the body of Sir
George Colley, shot through the head."
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366
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LlAajttba HiU.
" The handful of Highlanders were the last to
leave the hill," says the Times^ "and remained
there throwing down stones on the Boers, and
receiving them at the point of the bayonet" The
down the rough dongas, a few got through the
leaden storm and escaped ; while others, worn by
the weary night march, the dreadful ascent of the
hill, and the horrors of a day of toil and slaughter,
/
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C Cen.CoUey felL
D Occupied by Reserve.
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gznd /tnedly retremted.
Pcnnti Ttni/bwted.
G Directions of Boer/ire^
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PLAN OF THE SUMMIT OF MAJUBA HILL (FEBRUARY 27, l88l).
6oth Rifles fought their way gallantly back to camp,
and all their officers escaped.
Pell-mell down the slopes fled those who sur-
vived the defence of the hill, flying as British
soldiers had never, perhaps, been seen to fly before,
while the bullets hissed and tore after them.
Tumbling over rocks and boulders, phmging
dropped exhausted, and were killed without resis-
tance on their part, or compunction on that of the
Boers^ whose pursuit was checked when the camp
guns were turned on them from Mount Prospect,
and did considerable execution among them. No
fears were entertained for the safety of the camp,
but every preparation for a vigorous defence in case
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MigubjiHiiLi THE FLIGHT FROM MAJUBA. 3^7
SIR GEORGE COLLEY AT MAJUBA HILL.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Majofaa Hm.
of an attack was made by Sir George Colley*s
successor in the command, Colonel Dunn Bond,
of the 58th.
Tidings of the defeat excited great consternation
at Pietermaritzburg and at Durban, where all the
ships in harbour hoisted their colours half-mast high.
Several men who had concealed themselves in
the rocky holes and jungle of the mountain, came
dropping into camp by twos and threes next morn-
ing, worn out with fatigue and thirst All night
the rain fell heavily ; the cold was intense. Some
of the wounded men were carried to a farm-house
near the hill ; but the majority lay where they fell,
exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and many
who fell into the dongas were never seen again.
None of the 60th Rifles were engaged in the
defence of the position. General Wood telegraphed
thus to Mr. Childers from Fort Amiel, on the 20th
April, about the 60th : — " None on Majuba. One
company sent out with spare ammunition to join
the supporting company of the 92nd, and retired
with it by orders from Prospect Camp, bringing all
the ammunition in. Two companies posted three
miles off covered the retreat steadily, and I am per-
fectly satkfied with their behaviour."
It was computed that of the men who remained
on the hill until the last of the conflict, not more
than one in four escaped. " Only eighteen out of
one hundred and twenty Highlanders returned to
camp," according to the Standard ; 180 are
given as having been detailed. This telegram
must have been an exaggeration or mistsdce
An Irishman named Aylward was at this time
acting as military secretary to Commandant- General
Joubert
On hearing of General Colle/s fall, Colonel Bond,
of the 58th, commanding in the camp at Mount
Prospect, while taking precautions for the defence
of the latter, made arrangements to bring in the
dead and wounded. Ambulance waggons, with
flags of truce flying, were sent out with strong fatigue
parties, amounting to 100 men, in charge of Dn
Howard Babbington and his staff*.
The Boer general gave the Time^ correspondent
a pass to the camp, on condition that he would
show him his account of the engagement before
despatching it to that journal, and inquired of him
who was the officer of rank that had been killed
The reply was, " * Take me to him.' We went to
where* the body lay, \nth the face covered by the
hteimet. Bythe dothing I recognised the body,
and, lifting the helmet, saw the face of our poor
gbneral) the bravest soldier of the day, a com-
inander loved and admired by every man, from the
highest to the lowest The Boers doubted me, and
questioned me again and again as to whether it was
really the general I gave them my word of honour
that it was really General Colley, and they were
satisfied. No word of exultation escaped their lips.
I said, * You have killed the bravest gentleman in
the field' They said, * Yes, he fought well.' "
After the action the Boers were heard shouting
to our men to come, as no harm would be done to
them. Those who obeyed the summons were the
only prisoners they made, as few were captured on
the hill itself.
Colonel Bond sent a note to the Boer com-
mandant, asking him to restore the' generafs
body, which was brought into camp in the after-
noon, and lay for a considerable time in an ambu-
lance waggon, near the hospital, attended by an
orderly. There was one bullet-wound in the fore-
head ; all the buttons had been cut off the uniform,
as mementoes of the slain, probably.
It is said that when the party of red-coats bote
the body out of the Boers' camp the commander of
the latter sent a message of condolence to Lady
Colley. The funeral took place at sunset The
body was conveyed to the grave on a gun-carris^
The pall-bearers were Colonels Ashbumham, Parker,
and Bond ; Majors Ogilvie and Elmes ; Captains
Vibart and Smith, with Lieutenant Brotherton.
Sir George Colley's widow was Edith Althea,
daughter of Major-General Hamilton, CR, Assis-
tant Quartermaster-General in the Crimea. They
were married in 1878.
Another gallant officer was laid by his side, in
presence of all the officers, and detachments from
every regiment— Commander Romilly, who led
the Naval Brigade.
Many who Were marked as " missing " in the fkst
casualty lists were afterwards found dead or wounded
in the dongas, or among the jungle.
The Victoria Cross was bestowed upon Lance-
Corporal' Jos^h John Farmer, of the Army Hos-
pital Corps, for conspicuous and devoted bravery
at Majuba, " where he showed a spirit of self-
abnegation, and an example of cool courage which
cannot be too highly commended," says the
Gazette. "While the Boers closed with the
British troops near the well, Corporal Farmer held
a white Hag over the wounded, and when the aim
holding the flag was shot Aroug^, he called out
that he had another. He then raised the flag with
the other arm, and continued to do so until that
also was pierced by a bullet"
The actual strength of tiie force engaged on and
about Majuba Hill on the 27th amounted to thirty-
five officers and 693 non-commissioned officers and
men all told
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lii^ttfaaHUl.]
CASUALTIES IN THE BATTLE.
369
The casualties were : — Officers : Killed, 2 ;
wounded, 9 ; prisoners, 7 ; missing, i.
Non-commissioned officers and men : — Killed,
82; wounded, 122; missing, 12. The details
were thus : —
Killed : Major-General Sir G. Pomeroy Colley ;
Captain the Hoa C Maude, attached to the 53th
Regiment
Wounded :^-58th Regiment — Captain Morris,
Second Lieutenants Hill and Lucy. 92nd Regi-
ment— Major Hay, Brevet-Major Singleton, Lieu-
tenant Hamilton. 94th Regiment — Capt Anton.
H<M.S. Boadicea — Commander Romilly, mortally.
Prisoners : — 94th Regiment — Lieutenant Miller,
wounded Not wounded: s8th Regiment — Cap-
tain Hornby ; 92nd Regiment — Captain Alexander
MacGregor ; Lieutenants Wright, Hector Mac-
donald, and Staunton.
Missing : — Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, 3rd Dra-
goon Guards (afterwards reported as taken prisoner) ;
Major Fraser, RE. (afterwards returned to camp) ;
Lieutenant Tramer, H.M.S. Boadicea^ wounded,
and since dead, in the enemy's hands. Two doctors
died of their wounds — Surgeon Landon and Sur-
geon-Major Cornish.
Major Singleton, of the 92nd, after lingering for
two months under his wounds, died in the camp at
Mount Prospect, to the great regret of ^1 the
Gordon Highlanders, with whom he had served for
twenty years.
General Sir Evelyn Wood bore testimony in his
despatch to the conspicuous bravery displayed by
Lieutenant Lucy, of the 58th, and of Captain
MacGregor, Lieutenants Hamilton and MacDonald,
and Private Murray, all of the Gordon Highlanders,
and more particularly of Corporal Farmer, for whom,
as we have seen, he obtained the Victoria Cross.
The unexpected reappearance of Major Fraser in
camp was a source of congratulation on all hands,
as he was a favourite officer. When going to the
south-west comer of the hill, where the Boers were
firing at a fifty yards' range, he suddenly lost his
footing, slipped, and rolled down the steep rocks for
about 300 feet, when he fell into a thickly-wooded
donga, where he lay, half senseless, till night
came on. He then cautiously endeavoured to
make his way towards the camp at Mount Pros-
pect, amid the dense mist and heavy rain that
prevailed, hoping by some lucky chance to attain
the right road; but through the entire night
he was stumbling over rocks and into watery
dongas. The pocket compass he had with him
had got out of order, and was worse than use-
less. When day broke he lay close in a donga to
conceal himselC
When night again fell he set out once more in the
direction of the camp, watching the while the chain
of Boer vedettes, and at last reached Mount Pros-
pect, bruised, sore, and well-nigh worn out, having
been forty-eight hours without food
His report on the action on Majuba showed that
the ammunition did not altogether fail; that the
troops had a toilsome night-march and difficult
ascent of the hill, round the brow of which they
were extended, showing on the sky-line, which they
ought not to have done ; " but they only followed
a habit which is too commonly seen at British
manoeuvres, and even at Aldershot"
It was urged that if the men were exhausted they
would have been still more so had they begun to
entrench themselves ; but the answer to that is, that
a very short time is sufficient to create cover against
troops unprovided with artillery, and the advantage
of cover is the feeling of security it gives, which
amply compensates for the nerve force expended in
its acquisitioa
The Boers asserted that their losses at Majuba
were only eight men, of whom but one was
killed, but the correspondent of the Daily News was
of opinion "that their losses were 160, and over,"
which would bring their loss nearer to that of the
British, which was close upon a hundred killed and
mortally wounded, as many men died of their hurts
soon after the engagement
A letter from Joubert to President Kruger gave
the Boer loss at twenty-four, and rather oddly
asserts that there were only seventy men at first to
oppose the British, but reinforcements came up at a
critical time. The Boers' statements were to some
extent borne out by the fact that our burial parties
did not find on the ground a single dead or
wounded Boer! They afterwards acknowledged
their loss to be about fifty.
The difficulty of bringing down our own wounded
was excessive, owing to the extreme steepness of
the hilL The prisoners — fifty-seven of all ranks —
were sent to Heidelberg, and were in every way well
treated while there. The officers were liberated on
parole, and placed in the best houses in the towa
" Talking with me," says the correspondent of
the Standard^ "they— the Boers— ascribed their
victories, not to their arms or bravery, but to the
righteousness of their cause. As to the complete-
ness of their victory there can be no question. They
carried by sheer fighting a position which the
general himself considered to be, defended by the
force at his command, impregnable. Even now I
can hardly understand how it was done — so sudden
was the rush, so instantaneous the change from what
we regarded as perfect safety to imminent peril"
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370
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Majaba HOL
CHAPTER LIIL
THE TRANSVAAL WAR (continUtd) \ — THE EIGHT DAYS* ARMISTICE — PROPOSALS FOR PEACE.
One lesson was unmistakably taught us by the
fight of the 27th February — that it was worse than
useless to trust to mere discipline or drill in
attempting to face the Boers with numerically
inferior forces. In such warfare, with the new
physique of our army, they were more than equal
to us man for man. They openly expressed con-
tempt for our infantry, but genuine fear of our
cavalry and artillery.
In his interview with the correspondent of the
Standardy Joubert complained that General Colley
had undertaken the movement of the previous day
while negotiations for peace were pending, and he
did not expect any hostile action. It was replied
to him that firing had been in progress daily
between the pickets, that ours were continually
shot at, and some men had been killed.
Joubert then went on to say that the people of
the Transvaal were quite prepared to treat for
peace, but only on the basis of liberty. He asked
his listener to tell the British public that he was
sure they and their Ministry meant to do what was
right ; but that the English officials worked for
their own ends, and wilfully misrepresented facts.
"Great Britain," he added, "is now fighting for
honour and domination ; the Boers for liberty. For
that they were prepared to die, and the God of
Battles was with them ! "
Joubert was accompanied by Aylward, who
appeared to be his chief adviser, and was some-
what offensive and abusive to the visitor.
On the 28th of February Sir Evelyn Wood,
before his departure from Pietermaritzburg, was
sworn in as Governor of the Colony, in succession
to Sir George Colley.
The head-quarters of the 97 th (or Earl of Ulster's
Regiment) reached the camp a few days after the
battle, leaving strong detachments at Ingagane and
at Biggarsberg, and the 83rd were 'known to be
coming on, as were the Inniskillings, but slowly,
their English horses having been weakened by the
voyage out ; but the 15th Hussars were in splendid
order, their Cape horses being fairly trained by
this time.
About this period another outrage by the Boers,
somewhat similar to the murder of Captain Elliot,
excited great indignation. Dr. Barber, accom-
panied by Mr. Dyas, as his assistant, proceeded
under the auspices of the Red Cross Society |
— some asserted on the invitation of the Boers
themselves — to attend to the wounded On ap-
proaching the camp at Laing's Nek, they were
arrested by the vedettes, and taken before Joubert,
who charged them with being spies. They were
kept tied to a waggon for three days and
nights until heavy rains set in. They were
then ordered to recross the border under escort
Dr. Barber and Mr. Dyas then proceeded to
make their way on foot, their horses having been
taken fi-om them by order of Joubert They had
barely proceeded forty yards when their escort fired
on them. A ball passed through Dr. Barber's
brain, and he fell dead. Dyas was shot in the
back, and escaped only by feigning death, after
which he contrived to reach Newcastle.
With reference to the action at Majuba Hill, the
Dutch Transvaal Committee issued the following
address : —
" To the People of Great Britain.
"It is with the deepest regret that we again
learn of a disastrous defeat of the British troops in
South Africa, We cannot, therefore, but feel the
necessity of making an earnest appeal to every honest
Englishman to support us in our efforts to restrain
the Government from proceeding with its present
unfortunate policy. We ask what benefit is to be
obtained for England's honour or glory by the
sacrifices she is compelled to make in this war — a
war provoked by self-seeking men, who have
deceived the Government for their own interests.'
Many of the best officers of England have been
slain, her choicest soldiers doomed, and a people
who have long peacefully besought the English
nation for freedom are to be exterminated, because,
driven to desperation, they seek their rights by the
only resources which remain to them.
" What will future history say of this miserable
Transvaal War ? People of England, we appeal to
you to help us ! We appeal to you to cease not
your protests against injustice. Insist on the recall
of your troops, and leave to a far distant nation the
blessings which as freemen you yourselves have
dearly purchased, and which you hold most dear.
" T. Stuvt, President,
" Dutch Transvaal Committee."
At a conference between Sir Evelyn Wood,
Major Fraser, and Captain Maude, for British
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MajubaHilLI
AN ARMISTICE.
371
interests, and the two Jouberts and Fouchcr for
those of the Boers, an armistice for eight days, to
commence on the 6th of March and terminate at
midnight on the 14th, was agreed to, in order to
give time for the discussion of terms of peace,i and
permit Kniger to reach Laing's Nek and partici-
pate in the negotiations.
The following were the terms agreed to : —
The British troops were to be at liberty to make
any movement they chose to or from Prospect Hill
downwards, but no forw:u-d movement was to be
made from either position. The Britkh, however,
were not debarred from crossing the Buffalo River.
There was to be restriction to the continued
advance of reinforcements to the front
Similar conditions were imposed upon the Boers.
They were to make no advance beyond the Nek,
and were not to scout on either side.
The British had permission to send eight days'
full rations to their garrisons in the Transvaal in
charge of Boer officers, and to withdraw their
wounded from these places.
The negotiations were concluded by both parties
lunching together, with perfect good feeling on each
side. To the British troops the temporary lull in
the strife was a great boon, as they were well-nigh
worn out by night-work and the inclement weather.
There were then 798 wounded men in hospital
Many of their sores showed symptoms of gangrene,
and the wretched camp was perpetually flooded
and wet
Many of the Boers took advantage of the armis-
tice to visit their farms and families. It was calcu-
lated that before it concluded Sir Evelyn Wood's
force at the front would muster fully 5,000 men.
It would consist of 1,200 cavalry, including the 6th
or Inniskilling Dragoons, the 15th Hussars, and
a squadron of the King's Dragoon Guards, with a
corps of Mounted Infantry. He would have
fourteen pieces of cannon, 1,300 bayonets of 2nd
and 3rd Battalions of the 6oth Rifles, 200 of the
58th Regiment, 550 of the 83rd, 700 of the Gordon
Highlanders, 780 of the 97th ; besides be would
have the Naval Brigade with the Gatling guns,
and he was soon joined by his old comrade in
the Transkei and Zulu Wars, Colonel Redvers
Buller, V.C
The brief armistice had barely been agreed to
before Joubert's treatment of the loyal inhabitants
of Utrecht began to excite some very warm indig-
nation in the British camp at Mount Prospect
When the conference was in progress Sir Evelyn
Wood proposed that the line of demarcation, which
neither party should cross, should run from east to
west, midway between oiu: camp and that at Laing's .
Nek, which would have brought within our boun-
dary the greater part of Utrecht, the inhabitants of
which had always sympathised with us, and which
forms the most south-easterly portion of the
Transvaal.
Joubert, with ulterior views, strongly objected to
this, and Sir Evelyn waived the point, consenting to
the Buffalo River as the boundary, but little antici-
pating the use to be made of the concession by
Joubert, who immediately sent about half a battalion
of Boers to Utrecht, when they cleared the town
and adjacent country of its inhabitants, dragging
the men to Laing's Nek for military service, and
driving the women and children to find refuge where
they could — conduct which excited indignation, as
being a violation of the spirit, if not of the letter, of
the armistice.
Immediately afler the conclusion of the latter,
the rain continued to fall in torrents; the rivers
were swollen, the roads became impassable, and the
troops on their march to the front had to remain at
their different halting-places, and the Boers every-
where were in the highest spirits, and confidently
predicted the downfall of all British supremacy in
South Africa. Meanwhile the abolition of corporal
punishment and the lack of any stringent sub*
stitute, were placing our leaders in grave difficulties,
as serious military crimes began to occur in the
face of the enemy, and in districts without prisons
of any kind, and in more than one mstance sen-
tinels were found on their posts intoxicated
In the first days of March, I^dy Colley came
from Newcastle to visit her husband's grave near the
camp at Mount Prospect
The Boers expressed their confidence that in the
event of hostilities being renewed, the war would
spread over the whole of South Africa, as they
affirmed that all the Dutch of the Free State and
the Britkh Colonies were ready to join them, which
was, perhaps, the best argument against our giving
in to them. Negotiations between Sir Evelyn Wood
and the Boer leaders were resumed, at a place
called O'Neill's Farm; but Lord Kimberley and
the British Cabinet tel^aphed their inability to
accept the proposals of the Boers, and the armistice
was extended by three days, that Joubert might
consult his colleagues and President Brand of the
Free State.
. Joubert on this occasion objected to provisions
being sent to any but soldiers in the Transvaal
garrisons ; but General Wood insisted that the term
''garrison'' included all persons within the lines of
defence.
Although the Boer leaders expressed their deter-
mination to have an acknowledgment of the corn-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND ANt) SEA.
(Majuba HilL
plete independence of the Transvaal, they were not
indisposed to accept some of Lord Kimberley's
proposals, and his plan for a Royal Commission ;
while the promise of an amnesty had a wonderful
effect, particularly on Joubert, against whom a
charge in connection with the murder of Captain
Elliot was still pending; but, meanwhile. Sir
Evelyn made every preparation, in the event of the
war being resumed, and Majors Clarke and Eraser
carefully reconnoitred the whole line of the Buffalo,
while Prosi>ect Hill, where Colonel Walker corn-
March, all the troops were in readiness for a forward
movement, and at this time much sickness prevailed
in the Boer camp.
An armistice of forty-eight hours, to permit the
conclusion of peace negotiations, was now practi*
cally agreed to. According to the terms of the pro-
posed treaty, the Boers were to obtain an autonomy
as to all domestic affairs, but were to acknowledge
the British flag, and submit their foreign affairs to
our revision.
As several Transvaal Englishmen had fought in
p. J. JOUBERT, COMMANDANT-r.ENERAL OF THE BOER FORCES,
raanded now, was so strongly fortified as to be im-
pregnable against a force without cannon.
A withdrawal of the Boers from their formidable
position at Laing^s Nek was insisted on by the
British Government, with the threat that if they did
not consent hostilities would be resumed Joubert
dreaded the dispersion of his forces, and considered
that if fighting was resumed, the armistice must prove
a distinct misfortune for his party, which, as yet, had
been victorious in every encounter. He knew that
the blood of many of his followers had somewhat
cooled ; and the desire of Britain to treat them
with apparent fairness made many regret the action
they had taken, and some who had returned to their
homes declined to take up arms again. Moreover,
as the armistice was to expire finally on the 21st of
the Boer ranks and many Dutch had aided our gar-
risons, and acted as scouts, it was decided that there
should be no reprisals ; but the news of the coining
peace, after so many disasters, created the greatest
emotion in Cape Colony, where some people, with
great extravagance of language, declared that
British prestige in Africa was destroyed.
All arms, ammunition, and property taken on
both sides during the hostilities, were to be restored,
and the independence of the Transvaal was to be
acknowledged, subject to conditions to be setded
by the Royal Commission. Our garrisons were to
remain in the Transvaal without interfering in any
way with the affairs of the countr>\ The Boer
forces were to disband at once, and the murderer
of Captain Elliot to be surrendered to justice
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TREATY OF PEACE.
373
CHAPTER LIV.
THE TRANSVAAL WAR (continued) :— OUR GARRISONS BESIEGED IN THE TRANSVAAL— WAKKERSTROOM—
STANDERTON — PRETORIA — LYDENBERG — POTCH EFSTROOM.
Shut in from the outer world, and ignorant of what
was in progress at Prospect Hill and elsewhere, our
tions in the Transvaal," by the Chief of the Staff; but
after that date many alterations and modifications
PRESIDEiNT KRUGER'S COUNTRY HOL'SF.
garrisons in the land of the Boers, isolated and far
apart, still kept their colours flying, and stood by
the guns both day and night. But to avoid con-
fusion or repetition, we propose to give briefly the
details of each siege as they occurred
We have already * quoted the memorandum of
the troops composing these garrisons as given in the
privately printed "Journal of the Military Opera-
♦ Sec Chap. XLVIIL
were made in their strength and composition ; and
all were very small for the work to be done.
Wakkerstroom, in the northern part of the Trans-
vaal, on the slopes of the Drakensberg, and in a
district rich in coal, had been held by a small party
of the 58th Regiment under Captain Harlovcn
Saunders since the commencement of the hos-
tilities, and been pretty closely blockaded. On the
arrival of the convoy of provisions sent through the
Boer lines in accordance with the agreement between
CG
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BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND -AND SEA.
[Pretoria.
Sir Evelyn Wood and Joubert, Captain Saunders,
suspecting some treachery on the part of the Boers,
refused either to receive the supplies, or recognise
the flag of truce, threatening to fire uj)on it
This of course was early in March, and reports
liad reached head-quarters that his garrison was
becoming straitened for food about the 13th of
February, but calculated on holding out " ten days
longer." This fact, and the desertion of their
blockading laager by the Boers, as already related,
led to a false rumour that the troops in Wakker-
stroom had capitulated.
Captain Saunders on becoming convinced of the
truth of the flag of truce, had the provisions carried
into the fort on Kaffirs* heads, as he would not
permit the Boer escort or the waggons to come
within two miles of his sentries.
The Boers now agreed to collect and forward
returns of the killed and wounded at the various
beleaguered towns in the Transvaal. That from
Wakkerstroom, under date March 20th, was to the
effect that the garrison, under Captains Saunders
and Power, and Lieutenant Read, with 174 men,
had only two sick in hospital
Standerton, in the Transvaal, underwent eighty-
eight days of close investment by the Boers.
Here was a force of the 94th (now for the first
time called the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught
Rangers), under Major E. W. Montague, with
some of the 5 8th, under Lieutenant Compton.
The former officer organised a corps of volunteers,
planned the works, and maintained the defence of
the town against numbers that seemed overwhelm-
ing, and cut off some of his patrols, particularly on
the 8th of January. At the close of the invest-
ment or blockade, during which he contrived to
keep a clear space of two miles round the town, and
to repel many attacks that were chiefly made by
night, he had several wounded in the care of D'rs.
Parkinson, Eraser, and Lloyd ; and when the regi-
ment marched for England, he received the fol-
lowing address : —
" Colonel Montague — Dear Sir, — Before leaving
the scene of your past labours, we — a remnant of
your old Volunteers — are desirous of presenting you
with a token of our esteem, and beg your accept-
ance of the accompanying [purse of gold and
sea cows' tusks]. It will tend to refresh the
memory of the siege of Standerton, and events
in connection therewith. It is with sad hearts that
we look upon your departure, and of the gallant
men, our old comrades, during the siege. We shall
never forget you and the gallant 94th. Sharing
dangers forms a bond of brotherhood—that bond
is now rudely severed, and we must now say
* Farewell' Although forsaken and ignored by our
country, our hearts will ever warm at the sight of
the national uniform ; and we all wish the gallant
soldiers * God speed.' Your old friends,
** Standerton, " The Volunteers.
"Transvaal, Nov. 6th, 1881."
The "forsaking" referred to, was a sense that the
British colonists had of being abandoned to the
Dutch, under whose domination, they openly de-
clared, life and property would be insecure.
. The siege of Pretoria, if the word is applicable to
the Boer operations, was a somewhat stirring aflair.
Pretoria, the seat of government, and chief town
in its district, one of great fertility in tropical and
semi-tropical products, a town having three churches
and several newspapers, including the Staat Cou-
rant and Volkstem^ and the line of all mail and
passenger waggons from Cape Town to the Diamond
and Gold Fields, stands on high ground, 4,500 feet
above the level of the sea. Its streets are laid out
at right angles, with Dutch formality, and shaded
by rows of trees.
The fort there was described as a brick building
(with a ditch round it), in which all citizens attached
to the British rule had taken refuge. It was
situated in an open plain, about a mile from the
town. A range of hills commanded it ; but as the
Boers had no cannon, that did not matter, though
the fort had been built at a time when the latter
were " troublesome," about the period of Sir Bartle
Frere's visit, and consisted of some barrack-like
buildings enclosed by a large wall This was
impervious to rifle bullets, and if adequately sup-
plied, the place might hold out long against any
force the Dutch could bring against it. The
Aapjies, a streamlet, flowed near it. The garrison,
which was likely to be hampered by the shop-
keepers of Pretoria, and the women and children
of the non-Dutch families, consisted of detachments
of the Scots Fusiliers and 58th Regiment, under
Colonel Gildea of the former corps, who had
served as adjutant of the nth Regiment of the
Turkish Contingent for the Crimea, till its dis-
bandment in May, 1856.
Under date 13th December, when the Boer
agitation was most active in all parts of the
country, and the Government was experiencing
the greatest difficulty in discovering who the
leaders of it were, so secret were their operations,
it was reported from Pretoria, that there was no
European Police there, and that the whole force of
that nature were 100 bastard natives, raised by
Major Clarke for service in the northern distrk:ts>
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COLONEL GILDEA'S SORTIES.
375
and the only mounted force available for any
emergency consisted of that formed by the
detachments of the 21st and 58th at Pretoria and
Standertoa When the Boers rose, many British
subjects and Africanders came into the former
place for refuge, leaving their farms and property
at the mercy of the insurgents.
The blockade of Pretoria began on the 17th of
December, after which, every other day was but a
series of sorties, engagements, and patrols, for
nearly three months, simultaneously with the
investment of Potchefstroom.
We may njention here, that the total number of
Boers in arms everywhere was not supposed to
exceed 6,000.
On the 6th January, Colonel Gildea made a
sortie from Pretoria and attacked the Boer laager
twelve miles distant, and lost more men than he
would otherwise have done, through the treachery
of the defenders. As his Scots Fusiliers were work-
ing their way by independent file-firing close up to
the laager, the Boers hoisted a white flag in pre-
tended token of surrender; and on our men
coming from cover, under a belief that the firing
was over, a volley was poured into them, killing or
wounding three sergeants and eighteen men.
Colonel Gildea and his orderly, while both
bearing white flags in response, were fired upon
within sixty yards' range, but both escaped.
This was the third time that the Boers had
made a treacherous use of the white flag. The
laager was stormed ; fourteen were shot down and
twenty taken prisoners, but the rest escaped ; and
as it was known that they captured large numbers
of British uniforms, Colonel Gildea resolved to be
on his guard, lest they should be utilised for a sur-
prise. His messenger to Fort Amiel with tidings
of this affair, was long on the way, extreme care
being necessary, as the Boers shot all natives whom
they suspected of bearing letters of any kind
The same bearer brought a letter from Major
Montague at Standerton, stating that his post had
been attacked several times, and always in the
night, but that the Boers had been repulsed on
every occasion.
On Sunday the i6th — at a time when the Boers
in large force were still menacing Pretoria, en-
deavouring to harass the place in every way and
carry off" the cattle— Colonel Gildea with a strong
patrol, again attacked the laager, and they took to
the hills, from whence he failed to drive them.
His loss was two killed and six wounded, of whom
two were taken prisoners. The Boer loss was at
least twenty killed, with two of their commandants
among the wounded
While this conflict was in progress, a counter
attack was made on the town, and an attempt made
to capture the cattle. On this, Colonel Sir Owen
Lanyon, with his personal staff" and a few others,
made a brave sally from the fort at a gallop, and
drove them off" without a single casualty on our side.
At this time, it was alleged that isolated British
subjects, neutral persons, and natives, were wantonly
murdered by the Boers in many places. Many were
shot near Pretoria, and " the clothes they wore were
carefully burned to guard against the possibility of
their concealing secret despatches.*'
Rustenberg, a town having three churches, and
situated in what is known as the Garden of the
Transvaal, though defended by only sixty men of
the Scots Fusiliers all this time, was holding out
defiantly. There the little force was shut up in a fort
only twenty-five yards square, under Captain Daniel
Auchinleck, who was wounded in an assault upon
the place, which held out for one hundred days.
The Times of Natal, at the end of January, gives
an interesting narrative of a gentleman who rode
through from Pretoria in four days. "He was
repeatedly fired at All the inhabitants were in
the fort The town was deserted, but was covered
by the guns of the latter." There were 2,000 men
bearing arms, and horses to mount them; with
1,500 head of cattle and 1,000 sheep, and pro*
visions for nine months. " The people in the fort
live as usual, and the papers are printed daily,"
continues the Times of Natal ; " the country around
is patrolled daily within a radius of six miles.
D'Arcy was shot at while patrolling. The day after,
a skirmish took place between 170 Volunteers and
100 Boers at Struben's Farm, thirteen miles north.
The Boers were surprised and a hand-to-hand fight
ensued They lost twenty-seven killed and several
wounded. We had four killed and fvi^ wounded.
The patrol brought back forage and cattle."
In every respect about Pretoria, Colonel Gildea,
with his regulars and Volunteers, seemed to have
completely established an ascendency over the
enemy. On the 4th February, the Boers in its
vicinity were reported to be 2,000 strong ; and it
was asserted that they repeatedly raised the white
flag, and fired under it
In a skirmish fought on the 12th, Colonel Gildea
was severely wounded, and Captain Sanctuary, of
the Pretoria Volunteer Rifles, was killed, and fifteen
men were killed or wounded, as they fell back on
the fort fighting.
By the 6th of April, it was reported that the
total loss of the regulars at Pretoria amounted to
only twenty-nine killed and wounded ; but " that a
very bitter feeling continued to be manifested
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Lydenber;.
against the conditions of peace concluded by the
British Government with the Boers ; " and Swartz-
berg, a native chief, gave notice that if the Boer
rule was again permitted in the Transvaal, he
would fight to the last, and with other chiefs was
resolved to make a protest before the forthcoming
Royal Commission.
The siege of Lydenberg was interesting from the
extreme smallness of the force in the place,
together with the youth of their commander.
It is named from Leyden, in Holland, and lies
180 miles north-east of Pretoria. The discovery
of veins of gold-bearing quartz rock in its
vicinity has conferred a degree of importance
upon it It is situated on a plateau 3,000 feet
above the level of the sea. It is noted for its
coal-beds, and the distant country around it is
beautiful. The inhabitants are chiefly Dutch,
scrupulous on points of religion, and their aversion
to all dancing and gaiety, according to Sir Arthur
Cunynghame, is very pronounced.
"Translated into English," says Rowland At-
cherley in his "Trip to Boerland," " Lijdenberg
signifies the City of Sorrows, and its aspect does
not belie its name. Situated in the middle of a
stony desert, its houses hidden from view by the
thickly-planted weeping willows with which they
are surrounded, the town presents the appearance
of a cemetery. Even when you walk through it
an unaccountable moumfulness steals over your
thoughts ; every sound is hushed, and you feel as
if you were walking in a city of the dead. Grass
grows in the streets ; on the market square one
might lose a span of oxen. The plan of Lij-
denberg b large, and its streets many; but its
houses few. So with its people. Were it not for
the proximity to the gold-fields Lijdenberg would
hardly be alive. At the time of my visit there
were about 200 inhabitants scattered over an area
of two square miles. Five stores, a bank, two
canteens, an old Dutch church, a dilapidated
hospital, a prison (locally styled the fronk\ a court-
house, and about twenty-five private houses com-
pleted the number of buildings in the town."
The little garrison, to the care of which this
place was committed, consisted of only 53 non-
commissioned officers and men of the 94th Regi-
ment ; 8 Royal Engineers, 6 Army Service and
Army Hospital Corps; Conductor Parsons and
Dr. John J. Falvey, a clever medical officer, who
had served in the campaign against Sekukuni ; the
whole bemg commanded by Lieutenant Walter
H. C. Long, of the 94th, a lad in his twenty-second
year, whose girl-wife wrote a little memoir of the
siege, which she gracefully inscribed "To the
memory of Colonel Anstruther, the officers, non-
commissioned officers and men of the 94th Regi-
ment who fell at Brunkers Spruit"
It was when on their march from Lydenberg to
that place that the skirmish occurred.
The unexplained report of rifles fired in the
town by night had more than once alarmed the
detachment of Lieutenant Long, who was informed
by the Landrost that, in the event of the post being
attacked by the insurgent Boers, the inhabitants
would remain neutral. In obedience to orders, the
young officer blew up an old Dutch laager that stood
near the town, and proceeded to put the huts occu-
pied by his party in a state for defence ; and his
men, though few in number, actually wished to have
a passage of arms with the Boers, as all were irritated
by incivilities they had undergone.
Mounted Boers began to appear in the town,
and to these the Landrost gave permits for hun-
dreds of rounds of cartridges, while loyal settlers
were refused even thirty. On the 23rd came the
terrible tidings that Colonel Anstruther with
the head-quarter wing of the 94th had perished,
and Long^s little party had but one thought-
vengeance.
The huts were fast becoming a species of for-
tress. By the use of two waggons, the ant-hills
for miles around were collected, and their granu-
lated dust, when mixed with water, formed a
strong cement for building a defence formed of
stones from the old laager. The soldiers named
the place Fort Mary, as a compliment to Mrs.
Long; and Father Walsh, a Roman Catholic
chaplain, blessed the rude works, on which the
Union Jack — a merchant ship's ensign — was
hoisted on a pole stuck in an old barrel filled with
earth, and greeted with three cheers.
On the 27th, accompanied by the Landrost,. an
envoy named Dietrick Muller arrived fi'om the
Boer leaders, and was much surprised by the
youthful appearance of Lieutenant Long, whom he
advised to surrender at once if he would save
himself and his men from the fate that had
befallen their comrades, adding that resistance was
hopeless.
Having gained a little time by judiciously tem-
porising. Long proceeded to strengthen his works.
Mines were laid, trenches dug, and obstacles
removed ; wheels, broken waggons, and wire en-
tanglements were laid to prevent the approach of
mounted men; and, in these operations. Sergeant
Day, of the Engineers, who had been with Wood
at Etschowe, was invaluable ; and nine volunteers
joined the garrison.
On the 3rd of January some mounted Boers
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LONG'S GALLANT DEFENCE.
377
appeared in sight, two miles distant, with the Dutch
republican tricolour flying, and next day Long
found that the spring water supplying his post had
been cut off, and that he could rely only on a well,
till the water was restored. On the evening of the
5th, a dark mass was seen descending an adjacent
hill, and ultimately 700 Boer horse drew up in
good order in sight of the fort, where it was soon
known that they had suborned some Kaffir servants
to fire the thatch of the huts.
The fort was now surrounded, and by flag of
truce, its surrender was again demanded in vain,
and by noon on the 6th January, heavy firing began
on both sides, and was continued till four p.m.,
without Long having a man hit, so well were his
people covered On the following day the firing
was resumed at 400 yards, and from one point at only
150 yards, when the Boers took cover among the
ruins of the old Dutch laager, and as yet, the only
creature hit in the fort was a soldier's pet monkey!
Among some arms handed over by the Landrost,
the 94th men found three ponderous elephant guns,
which were mounted on blocks of wood, and the
balls of one of these, eight ounces in weight,
battered down the gable of a house, in which the
Boers had found cover ; but it afterwards burst.
The first casualty now occurred — a little drummer-
boy was hit during the night. On the 8th, at six a.m.,
a deep hoarse boom announced that the Boers had
turned a cannon against Long's frail huts, and that
day several casualties occurred ; and day by day the
little hospital commenced to fill rapidly, as besides
woimded men, cases of typhoid fever began to
appear ; and though the place where they lay had
the Geneva flag flying over it, the Boers had no
regard for it
The morning of the 12th saw two pieces of
cannon pounding Fort Mary, and to the fire of
these sandbags — some prepared by Mrs. Long's
hands — and bales of blankets w^ere opposed, and
after a six hours' cannonade, it was found necessary
to remove the sick and wounded to a stronger and
less exposed hut A party of men was selected to
pick off the gunners, which caused the Boers to
construct a battery on a hill south of the fort, and
there they drew up their guns in the night; but
their fire was silenced again by the rifle practice of
the 94th ; and, as the Boers remained quiet for
three days, the works of the fort were strengthened
in many places; and an English gold-digger, to
whom Long promised ;;^ioo, if he would send a
telegram fi-om Delagoa Bay to England, was dis-
covered and shot by the Boers.
The firing by cannon and musketry was resumed;
several casualties occurred, and those who died were
buried in the earth of the hut wherein they lay.
Sergeant Cowdy was shot through the head while
covering some .sappers with eight riflemen ; on this,
Private Whelan, of the 94th, and a Volunteer,
gallantly rushed out into the open, and bore him
in, in a dying state.
On the 24th, ninety cannon-shot struck the fort,
riddling it, and marvellous were the escapes that
occurred ; so every spare moment was devoted to
the manufacture of sandbags. The three privates
of the Army Service Corps now, with great
ingenuity, constructed a kind of cannon out of the
monkey of an Abyssinian pump, from which they
fired cylindrical shot, composed of crow-bar iron,
cased in lead, and weighing 2 lbs. 6 ozs., with ex-
cellent effect ; and this strange weapon was called
" Mrs. Long's Gun."
Water now ran short, and by the 3rd of February,
during the hottest time of the African summer,
only one pint could be issued, and the poor soldiers
soon began to look haggard and worn out. The
horses were set loose, as there was not even water
to bathe their mouths. When rain fell on a Sunday
after, a little was procured, and a thanksgiving
service was held by Father Walsh, at which all
attended but the sick and the sentinels. Twenty-
two gallons were found in the well ; then the spirits
of the soldiers rose, and they were heard to chorus
merrily, " Hold the Fort"
Day by day the firing went on, and on the 4th
March, " the cry, * The huts are on fire ! ' rang
through the fort," says Mrs. Long in her narrative.
" Smoke was seen issuing from the thatched roof
of the commissariat hut No sooner did the rebels
perceive this, than they opened the fiercest fire we
had yet undergone. Incessant cannonading came
from both guns, and musketry fire on every side.
Every man that could be spared from the walls
was required, not only to extinguish the flames,
but to save the commissariat stores."
Thus, for three hours, the fort was actually held
by eighteen men on sentry duty, against a besieging
force of 700 men !
The Boers had adopted " Greek fire " in metallic
tubes, on the points of arrows shot from a bow to
ignite the thatch, out of which they were pulled by
Private Lee at the risk of his life.
So passed the days till the loth April, when a
flag of truce came from the Boer commandant,
Piet Steyne, with a letter from Aylward — the
Irishman already referred to — announcing the
disaster at Majuba Hill, and asking for an in-
terview, which Lieutenant Long (who had now
been wounded in the arm) and Father Walsh
accorded him in the town, when a truce for twenty-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
ILydenber:^.
four hours was agreed to. Long still declined to
surrender ; the flags of truce were pulled down, the
firing resumed, and he suffered so much from his
wound that he had to resign his command for
three days to Dr. Falvey. During these of^erations
the Zulus stole 175 head of cattle from the Boers,
who pursued them into the bush, when a conflict
The siege of Potchefstroom, was attended — at
its close— by a notable piece of Boer tricker}',
most dishonourable in war. It is a small town
of the Transvaal; its name is strangely com-
pounded from the names of three popular Boer
republicans, and it stands on the banks of the
beautiful Mooi River that flows in branches through
MARKET STREET, PRETORIA.
ensued, and they lost two of their leaders, Becker
and Steinkamp.
On the 29th, after a whole night of unusual
cannonading, another flag of truce was seen
approaching. The bearer brought tidings of the
treaty of peace. And soon afterwards Lieutenant
Baker, of the 3rd Battalion of the 60th Rifles,
arrived, with despatches from Sir Evelyn Wood ;
and after a contest of eighty-four days, the siege
of Fort Mary came to an end, and a detachment of
the Scots Fusiliers, under Captain Burr, arrived to
relieve the worn-out party of Lieutenant Long.
its streets, which are planted with trees. The
town is laid out in long and broad thoroughfares
which cross each other at right angles ; every house
is surrounded by trees, and the site is 4,000 feet
above the level of the sea. It has two newspapers,
the Trannmal Argus and Transi^aal AdiH)katy
several churches, schools, and hotels, and is in every
way a thriving place, in a district of great agri
cultural wealth, where two crops can be obtained
every year, with every facility for the pasturage of
cattle and Angora goats.
It has a fort, one of recent construction, outside
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THE RIVAL FLAGS.
the thoroughfares, and in its centre a building
called the Court House, in which, when hostilities
began, one of our detachments was quartered,
while another was in the fort
The officer in command was Colonel W. Bellairs,
stroom, and tidings soon reached Cai^e Town that
fighting had ensued on the loth of December.
On the 1 6th an armed party entered the town and
proceeded to pull down the British flag, which was
flying on the Court House, in order to replace it by
MR. J. If. BRAND, PRESIDENT OF THE CHANGE FREE STATE.
C.B., on the Staff when the local disturbances first
began, and the resistance to and evasion of local
taxes preluded the conflict. The particular delin-
quent at Potchefstroom was a Boer in good cir-
cumstances, named Bezindenhout, a man of daring
character ; and to coerce his adherents, two com-
panies of the Scots Fusiliers, w^ith twenty-five
Mounted Infantry and two Royal Artillery guns,
under Major Thornhill, left Pretoria for Potchef-
the tricolour of the republic. Some of our officers
who were present remonstrated, and one, said to
have been Captain Lambart, of the Scots Fusiliers,
shot the Boer in the arm who held the halyards.
This was the signal for the outbreak of hostilities ;
a volley was i)oured in by the Boers upon our
Mounted Infantry, who returned the fire. The
town was then cleared, and armed bodies forbidden
to enter it ; but Captain Lambart would seem to
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have been taken prisoner, and sent to Heidelberg.
Shortly after, a number of armed Boers forced their
way into the spacious market-place, and many of
them fell when the firing re-commenced. They
appear to have taken up secure positions, from
which a steady fire was kept up all day. Soon
after it began. Captain A Laurence Falls, of the
2ist, was shot in the breast, and fell dead, while in
the act of talking to Major Clarke, R.A., the
Commissioner, an officer of dauntless courage and
coolness, who had lost an arm in India, and of
whom it was said " he could do as much with one
hand as most people can with two." He was the
same officer who had turned Captain Aylward and
hb Lydenberg Volunteers out of Fort Weeber,
when Sir Theophilus Shepstone effected his coup-
de-main agamst the South African Republic at
Pretoria.
A volunteer, an old man named Wood, was
also killed, and buried beside Captain Falls that
evening, at the back of the Court House ; many
were wounded. Captain Falls was afterwards
exhumed by some British residents, coffined, and
re-interred in the garden of the Standard Bank.
The survivors of our force in the market-place,
twenty Scots Fusiliers, were driven into the Court
House, but on the i8th were compelled to sur-
render, having been, till that time, without food or
water. After the hneute^ the Boers looted the
stores and banks. The Commercial Bank was
ruined by shells thrown in from the fort outside
among the rioters, who had ultimately to retire,
with the loss of loo killed and many wounded.
Among those carried off by them as prisoners
were Major Clarke and the brave Commandant
Raaf, C.M.G., whose services with his Rangers
were so signal in the Zulu War. Like Piet Uys, he
was of Dutch origin, and was at one time supposed
to belong to the anti-annexationist party ; but had
lately been distinguished by his activity on the
other side, and so greatly incurred the hatred of
his compatriots that he was in hourly danger of
being shot by them. He was a resident in the
Orange Free State, and his presence in Potchef-
stroom at this crisis was rather unaccountable.
He was distinguished for his gallantry, and was
mentioned by Colonel BuUer in his despatch after
the battle of Ulundl Colonel Buller said :— " Com-
mandant Raaf, of the Transvaal Rangers, is a
perfect type of the border soldier, brave and inde-
fatigable in African warfare. I have profited
equally by his assistance and by his advice." Com-
mandant Raaf is also mentioned in the despatches
after the attack on Inhlobane, in March, 1879. He
was a young man, and had recently married.
The same afternoon on which they retired
to their camp, the Boers sent a message to Colonel
Bellairs, requiring him to surrender by four p.m., to
which he replied by two cannon-shots, which
whistled right through the market-place. The
Boers then opened a continuous fire upon his
post during the 20th and 21st, but without avail;
and on the 22nd, in their exasperation, they
resolved to starve the garrison out, and also to
shoot some of their prisoners, before Paul Kruger
started, at the head of a large force, to attack
Pretoria.
There were about 300 of our troops in the fort,
and the Boer forces on the 20th consisted of 200
mounted men and 1,000 infantry. They advanced
within 200 yards of the walls, but were driven back
by shot and shell They had only seven killed,
but a vast number wounded. It was after this—
and prior to his departure on the 22nd — that Paul
Kruger held a council of war, at which it was
decided to starve out the garrison. "The walls
are undoubtedly strong," said a report at the time,
" and it is stated that wells have been sunk within
them; but how the men, women, and children
sheltered behind them will be able to endure a
strict blockade is very uncertain. It is difficult to
know in what way they can be relieved, as the
distance from a port is very great, and there are no
troops available for the duty. It has also been
resolved by the Boers to shoot Commandant Raaf
and Inspector Collins."
The fort, which was about 100 yards square,
gave shelter to many families from the town — those
of medical men and merchants. The next officer
in command in the fort was Lieutenant-Colonel
R. W. C. Winsloe, of the Scots Fusiliers, who had
served with that regiment in the Crimea, including
the siege and fall of Sebastopol and the expedi-
tion to Kinburn. He had with him Lieutenants
C. F. Lindsell, Dalrymple-Hay, Kenneth Lean,
and P. W. Brown, of the Fusiliers, with Commissary
Dunn, Major Thomhill and Lieutenant Rundle,
of the Royal Artillery.
The Boers procured an old ship gun, which they
mounted and trained during an attack on the camp,
but were repulsed with loss, and without doing
damage to the garrison, which, as yet, was well
supplied with food and water. In anticipation of
the point on which an assault would be made, the
garrison prepared a mine, which was exploded with
dire effect A rally was made in the confusion,
completing the rout of the enemy, with the loss of
sixty Boers killed.
By February 19th they had fired above 200
rounds from the old ship gun, without achieving
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any great results. They had, however, got excel-
lent cover all round the place, having dug trenches
to within 250 yards of the face of the works. They
protected their trenching parties by large bales of
wool, against which our shells were innocuous, and
it was now a known fact that many men from the Free
State were among the slain at Potchefstroom, some
of whom had been engaged in working the cannon.
News of the disasters at Brunkers Spruit and
Laing's Nek were sent in under flag of truce, as
the Boers thought thereby to damp the ardour of
the garrison; but credit to these statements was
refused Continued night alarms were given by the
enemy, harassing the sentinels and keeping the
garrison on the alert ; but while daily looking out
for expected relief from Sir George CoUey, the
spirits of the men never gave way.
By March nth the garrison in Potchefstroom
was more isolated than ever. The post-carts were
always captured, the roads closely patrolled, and a
stronger cordon of posts formed round the place to
prevent all communication, and ensure a surrender
through starvation The prompt declaration of
martial law at first, however, which enabled the
military authorities to appropriate and economise
all local stores, defeated that plan apparently, and
so well was the issue of food administered under
the direction of Colonel Bellairs and Colonel
Winsloe, that after a protracted blockade, provisions
still remained for the 5,000 ^uls entrusted to their
care.
About the 23rd of March it was found that the
Boers had taken possession of the town prison, an
edifice some 500 yards distant from the fort held
by the Scots Fusiliers, from whence their fire
annoyed the garrison; so Colonel Wipsloe resolved
to drive them out Dalrymple-Hay, with only ten
Fusiliers, volunteered for this perilous service. In
bursting into the prison three of his men were
shot down, but with the other seven he charged
with fixed bayonets through the building, and
killed three Boers. The remainder, twenty-seven
in number, tried to escape by a gate in rear of the
prison, but not before thirteen more were shot dowa
The garrison after this began to relinquish the
hope of relief, and unaware that a convoy of pro-
visions was coming to them, in virtue of the armis-
tice concluded with Sir Evelyn Wood, surrendered
the fort to the Boer commandant, Kronje, who
most dishonourably kept them in ignorance of what
had transpired at Mount Prospect
Tidings of this unexpected event were notified
thus by Sir Evelyn to the Secretary for War : —
"March 28th, 1881 (Fort Amiel), noon.
** Winsloe surrendered Potchefstroom before
my mule waggons, which left Mount Prospect on
the 7th, had traversed the distance — 200 miles.
Terms, all honours of war, retaining private weapons
and property; guns and rifles surrendered, but
ammunition for both to be handed to Brand (Pre-
sident of the Free State) for custody during the war,
after which to be returned to us.
" The garrison not to serve during the hostilities
at present existing. Garrison now marching vid
Kronstadt on Natal"
Great must have been the disgust of the officers
and soldiers to find how they had been deluded by
Kronje, after so gallant and protracted a defence
against great odds; and only twenty-four hours
after their surrender the convoy of provisions entered
Potchefstroom.
The total number of British killed and wounded
during the siege amounted to 108. Most of them
were consequent on our men having to construct
earth-works under a heavy fire firom the besiegers.
When the surrender took place, all provisions, with
the exception of mealies, were exhausted The
Boers by this ruse captured 3,000 rounds of ammu-
nition and two Royal Artillery guns. The garrison
for some time before had been reduced in food to
one pound of mealies and half a pound of Kaflir
com daily per man, with a quarter of a pound of
tinned meat on alternate days.
The Boers knew of the armistice two full days
before the capitulation; they then reinforced
the others who were blockading Pretoria, taking
with them the two guns found at Potchefstroom.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
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CHAPTER LV.
THE TRANSVAAL WAR (concluded).
So completely was the strife supposed to be over,
that by the 28th of March the camp at Mount
Prospect, in face of Laing's Nek, was almost de-
serted, and the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade
alone remained there.
But matters were cloudy still. A Boer named
Corneilson was seized and made prisoner at Heidel-
berg, on the charge of being the actual murderer of
Captain Elliot A meeting of British and Dutch
refugees from the Transvaal was held at Newcastle,
when Mr. Gladstone's effigy was publicly burned
with every mark of abhorrence, in which the savage
element was curiously mingled with the childish,
and resolutions were passed unanimously protesting
against the restoration of the country to the Boers.
A petition to her Majesty was then drawn up,
saying " that confiding in the public declaration of
Sir Garnet Wolseley and Sir Bartle Frere, that the
annexation of the Transvaal was irrevocable, they
had invested their capital in the country, and that
their property was now worthless, and their capital
lost, owing to their having put faith in the words of
her Majesty's representatives. Another resolution
was carried, calling upon all the British and Dutch
residents in the towns of the Transvaal not to
deliver them up to the Boers, and promising sup-
port in the event of the civil war breaking out."
One colonist offered ;^ 1,000 for this purpose,
and the intention was avowed of calling upon the
Swazies and Zulus to assist in driving the Boers out
of South Africa. At Pietermaritzburg the British
ensign on a flagstaff in the market-place was
reversed, and the Transvaal tricolour hoisted over
it, as a mark of defiance. Another British flag was
trailed with every ignominy through the mud of the
streets, and some of our soldiers who attempted to
rescue it were maltreated.
Sir Evelyn Wood threatened to reoccupy
Potchefstroom, but the Boer leaders admitted
that Commandant Kronje had broken alike their
promise and the armistice by suppressing the news
of it. They expressed the most sincere regret,
proposed that the capitulation should be considered
as cancelled, and even acquiesced in the military
re-occupation of the town. Sir Evelyn accepted
the apology and proposals, and directed that all
the captured material of war should be sent to
Standerton.
By this time, Colonel Stewart, Captain Mac-
Gregor, and Lieutenant Wright and others taken at
Majuba Hill, had returned; and sixty-one soldiers of
the Gordon Highlanders and 58th, and sixty taken at
the same place, were marching down under Captain
Hornby, Lieutenants Staunton and Hector Mac
donald, while sixty-nine men of the 94th, taken at
Brunkers Spruit, were following, under Lieutenant
A H. G. Anton, of that regiment
The whole of Natal was very unsettled, and the
arrogance of the Boers towards all British subjects
was insufferable at times.
The Boers broke up from their camp at Laing's
Nek, and retired to a point beyond the border,
where they were to remain for a day before dis-
persing to their homes and farms among the
mountains. They numbered then about three
thousand men, all well mounted, and had with
them two hundred and fifty waggons, drawn by
great teams of fine oxen.
They marched in a kind of military order, each
command under its leader. That of Orange Free
State, which had no business there, mustered two
hundred and fifty riflemen, all splendidly mounted;
and the appearance of the long column, no two
men in which were dressed or accoutred precisely
alike, as they defiled over the long grass of the wild
veldt, was very imposing.
Many expressed themselves far from satisfied
with the proposed terms of peace, and boldly
asserted that if the Royal Commission should cede
any of their land to the British they would resort
to their rifles again ; and they loudly objected to
any garrisons being left in the Transvaal for the
next ensuing six months; and Joubert confessed
that he had, with difficulty, induced his men to
agree to peace. On hearing Lord Kimberley*s
terms, they cried out that war was preferable to
permitting the British to occupy their country for
any time, however short; while among our own
troops, the feeling of intense chagrin at the con-
clusion of war, in which our military prestige was
lost, had now become bitter and intense ; and they
were especially indignant that they had not been
permitted to storm Laing's Nek, where the greatest
of our disasters had occurred
Before they finally moved away from the
Drakensberg, two thousand Boers, formed in hollow
square, received General Wood and his staff; but
beyond that, there was no other demonstration;
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THE KHEDIVE AND HIS MINISTERS.
383
and our officers felt it very humiliating to see num-
bers of the Boers carrying away British accoutre-
ments and Martini-Henry rifles, while actually
wearing portions of our soldiers' kits.
Prior to their dispersal, they displayed the flag of
the Transvaal amid loud acclamations.
The terms of the peace arranged with the
victorious Boers were these : —
The Transvaal recognises as suzerain the ruler
of the British Empire ;
I'he Transvaal to have entire self-government in
internal affairs, yielding all rights connected with
foreign affairs to its suzerain ;
The principle of suzerainty includes the right to
move imperial troops through the country ;
The transfer of the Government to be carried
out in six months.
With the view of separating the Transvaal from
the great tribal states upon its eastern frontier, a
Royal Commission was to have the power of decid-
ing as to its future boundaries in that direction ; and
until its report was finally approved, a British Resi-
dent was to remain at the capital of the Republic
Until self-government was fully accorded, the
question of compensation on either side for acts
not justified by the usages of civilised warfare
would be decided by the commission ; and it was
agreed that there was to be no molestation on
either side for acts done or opinions expressed
during the war.
The hot blood excited on both sides did not
cool readily. Thus, when Sir Evelyn Wood
arrived at Heidelberg on the 4th of April, he found
the official chambers of the Landrost occupied by
a man called Juard, with twenty armed Boers, and
the tricolour of the Republic flying defiantly over
it He at once ordered it to be hauled down, but
the Boers roughly refused to comply. Sir Evelyn
gave them till morning to think over the matter,
adding that if they did not obey his order they
must take the consequences.
On the morning of the 5 th the flag was not dis-
played, but Juard and his Boers still held the
house, and prevented the Landrost from resuming
his duties.
The Boers at Middleberg were at this time
still plundering in all directions, seeking to bring
about a renewal of the war, and, the British settlers
were becoming desperate. All refugees, on their
return to every part of the Transvaal, found theu:
former holdings wasted, their houses wrecked, their
cattle and property carried off". The feeling of
bitterness was general and intense, owing to the
fact that eight thousand Europeans at least, owning
nearly half the property in the country, and who
had invested their money there on the faith of
English representations, were deserted by England,
while two millions of natives were handed over to
their late Dutch taskmasters.
Our total losses in the war were : — officers, 29
killed and 20 wounded ; non-commissioned officers
and men, 366 killed and 428 wounded. In the
House of Commons on the 13th of May, Mr.
Childers stated that the actual number of deaths
from sickness in the Transvaal campaign was re-
ported to be only 25 ; that he only knew of one
case — that of Commander Romilly, at Majuba Hill
— in which an explosive bullet was reported to
have been used by the Boers ; and that the high
proportion of deaths was to be attributed to the
accurate shooting of the enemy, and not to the
alleged murder of our wounded in the field
CHAPTER LVI.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR: — INTRODUCTION— ARABI PASHA AND THE KHEDIVE.
Early in May, 1882, Egypt, a province of the
Ottoman Empire nominally, but practically inde-
pendent, was found in a state of revolution.
The Khedive informed the representatives of the
foreign powers that Mahmoud Pasha, President of
the Council of Ministers, had used language of a
most insulting nature • with reference to their
consuls, and uttered threats against all European
residents. On being questioned by the consuls,
Mahmoud denied the accusation, and proposed
to resign; thus a split in the Cabinet appeared
imminent, and the name of the now well-known
Arabi Pasha became prominent as his probable
successor.
Goaded on by him, the Egyptian Ministry at-
tempted to over-ride the authority of the Khedive,
and to usurp his supreme functions, with the view,
it was believed, of replacing Mohammed Tewfik
Pasha by himself (Arabi) on the Khedivial throne.
Arabi had the boldness to summon an assembly of
the Notables by his own order— an act which was
competent for no one save the Khedive himself;
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BRITISH nAlTLKS ON LAND AND SEA.
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THE ARTILLERY OF THE SOUIH AKRIC/.N REPUliLlC.
and because these Notables refused to acknowledge
his usurped authority, he threatened them with
severe pains and penalties.
Such was the commencement of the trouble that
led to our war in Egypt, though its origin cannot
be imputed solely to the local complications which
preceded our invasion of the country.
Tewfik, though not a very strong-handed ruler,
had viewed with leniency Arabi's military pro-
nunciamiento^ and accepted him as a minister ; but
CHURCH SQUARE, PRET RI A.
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ARABI PASHA.
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afterwards he endeavoured to withstand the further
encroachments upon his royal prerogatives by the
ambitious and unscrupulous soldier who was fast
becoming too powerful for a subject.
Together with France, we have vital interests
in the valley of the Nile, and having invested
;j^4,ooo,ooo in the Suez Canal, attracting there a
perfect accord as to the way in which certain
contingencies were to be dealt with; yet, when
these came, France failed to act. He added that
he "entertained a strong hope that such con-
tingencies would not occur, and that peace, order,
and prosperity would be restored to Egypt without
any employment of force" — language evidently
TFAVFIK, KHEDIVE OF EGYPT.
large proportion of the traffic between Britain and
the East, it was seen from an early period that we
would be compelled to support the authority of the
Khedive.
Thus, on Arabi's position becoming an in-
sufferable one, a mutual agreement was entered
into between our Government and that of France,
mih the concurrence of other European Powers, to
send a joint naval expedition to Alexandria for the
support of Tewfik Pasha. Lord Granville stated
in Parliament that Britain and France were in
H H
I referring to Arabi and all who adhered to
I him.
I This bold adventurer, whose name is now so
j familiar to us, Said Ahmed Arabi, or El Ourabi, is
an Arab of humble origin, born in the Province
of Charkei^h, in Lower Egypt, and belonged to the
fellah class, though latterly it has been claimed for
him that he is lineally descended from Hussein,
youngest grandson of the Prophet of Mecca, and is
thus a member of a family which the Moslems
regard as holy, and their reverence for which it b
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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difficult for the Giaours of the Western world to
realise. His mother was an Egyptian woman — an
Arab of the Arabs — and before his ambition began
to dawn he was wont to boast, so it has been as-
serted, of being " a fellah — a son of the black earth
of the Nile."
"His countenance," says Sir William Gregory,
"is peculiarly grave, and even stern, with much
power in it At first sight it seems somewhat
heavy, until he is aroused, when hb eyes light up ;
then he speaks with great energy, and those
who understand Arabic state his eloquence is
wonderful."
The Correspondence Politique describes him as
six feet in stature, of a dull yellow complexion,
with regular features, a high retreating forehead,
heavy lips, and retreating chin ; his expression
melancholy, without frankness, and furtive. " He
is very rarely excited, speaks softly and without
hurry, and as if he were ever oppressed with a
sense of weariness under the weight of affairs, and
his own ideas pressing him down."
When but a mere boy, he entered the Egyptian
army, and when the war broke out was in his
fiftieth year, and till then had had no opportunity
of proving his courage in action.
His military career was marked only by a restless
and insubordinate spirit that led him into perpetual
intrigues and troubles, though many have averred
that Arabics actions arose from an honest and
patriotic desire to reform the many abuses existing
in the Egyptian military system. By the Khedive
Ismail he was promoted from the ranks, and
subsequently cashiered— even subjected to the
bastinado, it is asserted. In 1873 he was re-
instated in his rank ; and when Tewfik Pasha came
to the throne he made him colonel, with the
command of a regiment
But Arabi never forgot his disgrace or his thirst
for vengeance. During his period of idleness he
devoted himself to scientific studies, it was said,
yet he seems to have acquired only a knowledge of
reading and writing, and to have been master of
no language save his native Arabic He won,
however, among his brother officers, a reputation
for piety, which, added to the degradation he had
undergone, greatly increased his influence, especially
when he became the leader of a party destined to
play an important part in Egyptian politics, and in
that character he was flattered and courted by the
factions which formed the Government
He was the popular idol of the ignorant soldiers;
he soon established a species of military dictator-
ship, and was able not only to overawe the
Khedive, but to put the controlling Powers at
defiance. He imprisoned the former in his own
palace, and compelled him to bestow the post of
Minister of War uix)n himself — Arabi Bey; and
among his first actions in that capacity was the
promotion of himself and a number of other
conspirators to the rank of Pasha, with, of course,
all the emoluments pertaining to it ; and for ten
months prior to the war, it was Arabi, rather than
Tewfik, who was the actual ruler of Egypt
But a crisis was at hand Early in 1882, forty
Circassian officers were charged with conspiring
against the life of Arabi, and on the ist of May a
judgment was pronounced, by which all implicated
in the said plot were degraded and banished to the
Soudan, that part of the African continent which
lies southward and east of the Desert of Sahara,
In the conduct of this trial, several matters induced
the Khedive to withhold his approval of the sen-
tences, which were commuted into simple banish-
ment, without the names of the sufferers being
deleted from the list gf his army ; but no sooner
was this merciful resolution of the Khedive made
known, than the Ministry declined to recognise his
authority, and attempted to convoke the Chamber
of Notables, notwithstanding that the action of
Tewfik Pasha had been approved by his suzerain,
the Sultan of Turkey, while Britain and France
threatened to exercise their joint control
Their warnings were contemptuously disregarded
by Arabi ; the Khedive was virtually deposed ; law
and order appeared at an end ; a vindictive and
threatening attitude was assumed to all Christian
residents; a spirit for having Egypt for the
Egyptians alone seemed to be fast manifesting
itself; and the consuls applied to their Govern-
ments for instructions how to act in the growing
emergency.
Britain and France resolved on a joint naval
demonstration in Egyptian waters ; but Arabi was
evidently as astute as he was daring, and was not
to be easily crushed. He strengthened the defences
of Cairo, and called up the reserve forces; he
seized on the public funds to provide the sinews of
war, and kept in mind that the two controlling
Powers secretly held different views of the further
means to be adopted, should the naval demon-
stration prove a failure. He knew that we would
object to an occupation exclusively French, as the
latter would object to one exclusively British. A
Turkish gendarmerie was in vain suggested ; and
a knowledge of the mutual jealousies that existed
between the two Powers encouraged Arabi in his
career of rebellion, while he and the Sultan were
supposed to be playing into each other's hands, as
the latter longed to recover that supremacy over
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ANARCHY IN EGYPT.
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the land of the Pharaohs which Mehemet Ali
wrested from Mahmoud seventy years before — a
supremacy made more completely irrecoverable by
the firman of 1873, which sanctioned the full
autonomy of Egypt, and enacted the law of primo-
geniture in favour of Ismail Pasha^ the grandson
of Mehemet Ali, and father of Tewfik.
Tewfik was more beloved than any of his brothers
by the Egyptian people; "but that may be ac-
counted for," says Mr. Loftie (in his "Ride in
Egypt," 1879), " by remembering that he was not
bom in his preseni elevated position as heir to the
viceregal throne. His mother was a slave. Her
master's second wife — the Khedive (Ismail) has
now the full number allowed by the Prophet —
was the first to present him with a boy. Soon
afterwards, the slave also presented his Highness
with a son, named Mahommed Tewfik, and in
compliance with the usual Moslem custom, she
was eventually added to the number of his wives,
making the fourth. Then commenced the nego-
tiations and intrigues for altering the succession,
and making it hereditary in Ismail's family. The
second wife was her husband's favourite, and her
son would be his heir. Fabulous sums have been
named as having been spent on the Sultan and his
advisers in order to obtain this favour. Just as the
arrangements were brought to a successful con-
clusion, the son of the second wife died, and so the
son of the bondwoman became heir to the throne."
At the time of his accession to the latter, Tewfik
Pasha was residing with his mother in the secluded
White Palace of Choobra, near Heliopolis.
Seeing that Arabi derided the combined naval
demonstration, the French and British diplomatic
agents at Cairo, in the last week of May, 1882,
delivered to the President of the Council of
Ministers an ultimatum, which required the
temporary banishment of Arabi Pasha from Egypt,
the removal into the interior of his two chief sup-
porters, and the resignation of the entire Cabinet
These conditions were required, said the document,
in order to prevent irreparable mischiefs, and their
due fulfilment would be exacted by the two Powers.
The sole aim was, "the restitution to the Khe-
dive of that authority which belonged to him,
and without which the status qiio is necessarily
menaced."
The Khedive accepted the ultimatum, and the
subsequent and consequent resignation of his
Ministry. All attempts to form a new one failed.
The Khedive endeavoured to take the command
of the army, but it would have nothing to do with
him, and thus, menaced by a military revolt, he
was forced to reinstate Arabi as Minister of War.
Urged by the Powers to resist the presumption
of Arabi, he was assured of support, yet they
neglected to afford him the means of forcibly
vindicating his sovereign authority. It was thought
that Arabi would give way the moment the Anglo-
French ironckids dropped their anchors off
Alexandria ; but the result showed that the hope
would not be fulfilled. The Sultan was invited
to send even a single ship of war thither, that the
Eg>^ptians might have visible proof of his being in
the interest of the Khedive; and Mr. Gladstone,
on the assembling of Parliament, stated, that " the
main object of sending the ironclads to Alexandria
was to protect the Ufe and property of British
subjects ; that no force would be landed unless
life and property were endangered ; that it was
probable that Arabi Pasha, who had completely
thrown off the mask, would depose the Khedive,
and proclaim Halim Pasha in his place ; but that
her Majesty's Government, being parties to
placing the present Khedive on the throne, were
pledged to maintain him there, especially as his
Highness had observed his obligations with perfect
honour."
So Egypt was now in a state of anarchy. The
wealthier European residents thought it prudent to
leave the country, and a general exodus of that
class was only temporarily restrained by the
appearance of the British and French squadrons
before Alexandria on the 20th of May.
In the preceding pages we have endeavoured
to give a brief and comprehensive idea of the
causes that led to the war in Egypt, where, in
1878, there were 68,635 Europeans. The Greeks
numbered 30,000, the French and Italians about
15,000 each ; and, amid other nationalities, the
British only 3,000.
The only interest we could possibly have in that
country — apart from a desire to see it prosperous
and happy — was in retaining the Suez Canal,
and keeping it open for our Indian commerce.
There was no distinct evidence to show that Arabi
contemplated serious interference with it as yet,
though it was not improbable that if pressed he
might ^vreak his retaliatory vengeance upon it ; but
seeing that hostilities finally began, it was somewhat
perplexing to find that, to all outward seeming, the
Sultan, Tewfik, and Arabi were apparently mutually
satisfied with each other, so much so, that when a
Conference was proposed, the Sultan affirmed that
it was no longer necessary.
Yet Arabi had inscribed on his banners, " Egypt
for the Eg>^ptians!" and ere long a plot for the
complete destruction of the Suez Canal was
discovered — the plan of a Russian officer.
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LAkXADdciiL.
CHAPTER LVII.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued) \ — THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA.
The British fleet left Suda Bay, and came to
'anchor off Alexandria on the 20th of May, 1882, in
conjunction with the squadron furnished by France.
It was commanded by Vice- Admiral Sir
Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, G.C.B.,
falsely described in Continental papers as a feeble
old man, our Commander-in-chief in the Mediter- |
ranean, whose commission as captain was dated
19th October, 1854. Before he was raised to the
peerage for an event that little added to the old
lauiels of the British Navy, he was favourably
known to all acquainted with naval matters as a
popular commanding officer. The eldest son of
the late Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour, K.C.H.,
by his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mallet,
daughter of Sir Lawrence Palk, Bart, of Haldon
House, Devonshire, he was born in 1821, and
entered the Navy in 1833. Seven years after-
wards he was promoted to the rank of mate, and
in 1842 he became lieutenant He was com-
mander in 1847, and during the two subsequent
years commanded H. M.S. Harlequin. During the
Burmese War of 1852-3 he served as A.D.C. to
General Godwin, and was posted in 1854; led the
stormers of the Fusiliers at the capture of the Pegu
Pagoda, and was four times gazetted, when he
obtained the command of H.M.S. Meteor, He
filled the post of private secretary to the First Lord
of the Admiralty from 1868 to 1870. He com-
manded the Channel Fleet from 1874 to 1877,
and two years after obtained the command of the
Fleet in the Mediterranean.
Admiral Seymour had early been apprised that the
Egyptians were preparing to bar the channel by sink-
ing barges filled with stones, and he wrote to Toulba
Pasha, the Governor, informing him that if the work
of strengthening the defences did not cease he would
bombard. Toulba replied that no such works were
in progress, notwithstanding which, it was ascer-
tained that the work of fortifying the harbour went
on by night This accusation only elicited fresh
denials, till, to the dismay and perturbation of the
Egyptians, the admiral suddenly caused the electric
" bulFs-eyes," with which his ships were furnished,
to flash all over the forts and harbour. The tell-
tale illumination revealed the fact that, despite
Toulba's disclaimers, the troops in hundreds were
busy on the works, forming bastions and mounting
guns, and that soon the admiral would have no
other resource, if he were to obey his orders, but
pound the place to atoms.
The heaviest artillery in the Alexandrian forts
consisted of 18-ton and 12-ton guns of the old
Woolwich pattern, made by Sir William Armstrong,
at Elswick, for the Egyptian Government in 1868,
and subsequently. The guns of larger calibre fired
400 lb. Palliser shells with a 50 lb. charge of powder.
With a favouring angle of impact, these shells
are capable of piercing 1 2-inch armour plate. " But
as regards the number of guns and strength of the
garrison, the statistics we have as yet been able to
obtain are so conflicting as to be nearly worthless,"
says Colonel Hermann Vogt, writing in the year
after the bombardment
The fleet which the admiral had with him at
Alexandria, and which was to figure in the first
important operation of naval warfare in which
Britain had been engaged for twenty-five years, and
which, indeed, was the first occasion on which our
boasted ironclads, broadside and turret-ships, were
put to the test of actual fighting — if the bom-
bardment of Alexandria can be so described-
consisted of eight ironclads, supported by five
gunboats, as follows : —
Inflexible^ 11,400 tons, turret-ship, moimting four
guns of 81 tons each, and carrying armour of
from 16 to 24 inches.
Temeraire^ 8,540 tons, mounting eight heavy guns,
four of 25 tons each, four of 18 tons each, and
carrying 8 and 10 inch armour.
Superb^ 9,100 tons, mounting sixteen guns, four
being 25-ton guns, and four 12-ton guns, and
carrying armour from 10 to 12 inches thick
Alexandra (Sir Beauchamp Seymour's flag-ship),
9,490 tons, mounting two guns of 25 tons
each, ten of 18 tons each, and carrying armour
of 8 to 12 inches thick.
Sultany 9,290 tons, mounting eight 18-ton guns and
four 1 2 -ton guns; armour 6 to 9 inches thick
Monarchy 8,320 tons, mounting four 25-ton guns,
and two of 6 J tons each ; armour 8 to 10
inches.
Invincible^ 6,010 tons, mounting fourteen guns, tiit)
being 12-ton guns; armour 8 to 10 inches
thick.
Penelope^ 4,470 tons, mounting ten 12-ton guns;
armour 5 to 6 inches thick.
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ADMIRAL SEYMOUR'S ULTIMATUM.
3«9
The gunboats were the Beacon^ Cygnet^ and
Decoy\ of four great guns each ; the Bittern and
Condor^ of three guns each. All these thirteen
vessels were fully manned, and in addition to their
heavy armament, were fitted with torpedoes and
machine guns of the most recent Catling and
Nordenfeldt patterns.
On the 25th of May, the ultimatum of Great
Britain and France was presented to the Egyptian
Government, and three days afterwards saw Arabi
re-appointed, as we have stated, Minister of War.
On the nth of June, subsequently, while our for-
midable fleet was still silently menacing the city
of Alexandria, there occurred the first massacre
which so greatly irritated the people of Britain.
It was on the afternoon of Sunday that a quarrel
took place in one of the streets between an Arab
and a Maltese, when the latter stabbed the former,
and thus began an hneuUy in which as many as
three hundred persons were killed and wounded.
The British consul, having fallen into the hands of
the mob, was savagely beaten, and had one of his
hands injured. The Greek Consul and Italian
vice-consul were also severely wounded. The
roughs of Alexandria armed themselves with
bludgeons, wherewith they belaboured every Euro-
pean they met, while Europeans, in many instances,
opened a fire on the rioters from the windows of
their houses.
For several hours the tumult continued ; houses
were wrecked and shops pillaged, while the so-called
police looked pkicidly on, and order at last was
restored by the Egyptian troops. Many Europeans
were among the killed, including the engineer of
our ironclad, the Superb,
On the following day the consuls-general of the
European Powers were summoned to the Ismailia
Palace, where they found Dervish Pasha and Arabi
Pasha, and several other leading men, closeted
with the Khedive ; and Arabi on his part, it was
reported, " undertook to faithfully execute all the
orders of the Khedive, and also to put a stop to the
preaching in the mosques, seditious meetings, and
the hostile language used by the native press ; "
while Tewfik promised to secure the lives and
property of all European inhabitants.
On Tuesday the Khedive and Dervish Pasha
quitted Cairo for Alexandria, leaving to Arabi the
supreme management of affairs during their
absence, and on the way to the railway-station,
as if to add to the mysteries of Oriental diplomacy,
Arabi rode by the side of the Khedive in his
carriage. Any way, it was fast becoming evident
that the only way to rescue Egypt from anarchy
was to remove Arabi and reduce the army to sub-
jection. It mustered some 12,000 men at Alex-
andria, and Dervish Pasha, as the only Mushir in
the country, claimed the command of it
On the 14th of June there was a panic in
Alexandria, and 18,000 Turkish troops were tele-
graphed for, but none came. The Khedive
seemed to reign at Alexandria and Arabi Pasha
at Cairo; the Europeans were still crowding out
of Egypt, and the ruin of the country, both in-
dustrially and financially, seemed at hand, while
Arabi was virtually its supreme ruler, and the
opinion was fast gaining ground in Britain that the
presence of our troops would be necessary to pro-
tect the canal; while perplexity was increased by
the fact that two days after the first meeting of the
futile Conference, the Sultan honoured Arabi with
an order of high distinction !
On the 6th July, Admiral Se>Tnour sent an
ultimatum to the Egyptian authorities at Alexandria,
and informed them that if they still proceeded
with the erection of batteries armed with guns, to
menace his fleet, he would bombard the city on
the following Tuesday.
The population of the city, at its last census
before this crisis, amounted to 165,752 souls. Its
general appearance, as seen from the decks of our
ships, is by no means striking, and from the land
side it is still less so, being like a stonemason's
yard, with little to break the monotony but a few
palm-trees, a minaret or two, the Roman Tower,
and a consul's flag. "The impression produced
by a first view of the interior of Alexandria," says
Lord Nugent, in his Lands Classical and Sacred^
" is one of melancholy, which deepens into deadly
weariness on further acquaintance with its details.
The filth of its streets and suburbs— the squalid,
unhealthy, penury-stricken look of its population —
the unfinished condition of the new buildings and
the ruinous condition of the old— everything has
an air of neglect, of suffering under discouragement,
which has quenched all energy, all power, and
desire to struggle against it"
European residents, with their requirements and
energy, the opening of the Suez Canal and other
circumstances, had conduced to the improvement
of Alexandria since the time Lord Nugent wrote,
some thu-ty years ago.
" The daily passage of strangers fi-om all countries
in every variety of costume," says Mr. St. John,
" has produced an exceedingly beneficial effect on
the manners of the Egyptians; no description of
raiment, however strange or extravagant, excites
their curiosity ; the half-naked negro from Darfur,
the muslin-clad Hindoo, the pompous Persian, the
gorgeous Greek, and the i)lain Briton — all passing
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Alexandria.
unheeded through the streets of Alexandria and
Cairo, where the most clownish fellah, the most
impertinent slave, and the silliest barber, is never
betrayed into an offensive laugh or stare at the
stranger."
Until about 1850 no Christian vessel was allowed
to enter the old, or western harbour, which, being
the safest and most accessible, was appropriated
to Turkish shipping alone. " Alexandria must be
l^ronounced the key to Egypt,*' says Sir Robert
Wilson, "since in its harbour alone security can
former, and the line of railway running along the
bank of Lake Marabout to Cairo. The battery to
which the first named five ships were opposed was
armed with at least twenty-four heavy guns ; and
those which faced the outer harbour, exclusive of
Forts Mex and Sale, which flanked them, were
armed with fifty-six guns.
The deepest part of the harbour, about due west
and due north of the Catacombs, is from ten to
eleven fathoms; and at little more than a cable
length from the town itself, its depth is from four to
THE OLD HARBOUR, ALEXANDRIA.
be found for ships of any burden throughout the
year."
Prior to opening fire on the works and forts.
Admiral Seymour moved his ships into position,
while the French squadron, instead of co-operating,
steamed out to sea. The Alexandra, Sulian, and
Superb were under weigh, on a north-east by east
line, from 1,500 to 1,900 yards off the batteries
that enclosed the palace, and off Fort Ada ; outside
them lay the gunboats Decoy, Cygnet, and Condor.
The Inflexible and Temeraire lay off the break-
water ; the Penelope, Invincible, and Monarch, with
the gunboats Bittern and Beacon, lay at the mouth
of the outer harbour, between the light on the
breakwater and the batteries raised between the
six fathoms. An old lighthouse occupies the site
of the ancient Pharos, and another was more
recently erected on the point of Eurostos.
At nine o'clock on the evening of Monday, the
loth July, the Invincible, Penelope, and Monarch, like
three mighty leviathans, steamed out towards Fort
Mex. All lights were extinguished on board — ^not
even a cigar or pipe being permitted — and the most
perfect silence reigned in each ship from stem to
stern. Cautiousl)r each great ironclad seemed to
feel her almost noiseless way through the devious
channels and troublesome harbours, where, even in
the sunshine, every care is requisite for the steerage,
esf)ecially of a ship drawing such a depth of water
as the Invincible* But quiet and silent though the
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THE MORNING OF THE BOMBARDMENT.
391
movements of the two ironclads were, those on shore
were not ignorant of them, for suddenly — to add to
the danger and difficulty of egress— the brilliant
harbour light, which had been casting a path of
radiance across the water, was extinguished ; but the
ships were nobly handled, the shallows were left
astern, the new ground reached, and the anchors
were let go at ten o^clock.
The signal to get up steam was given at four
only fear was that the enemy would evacuate the
forts."
The Monarch, the turret-guns of which required
an all-round range of fire, was to engage with steam
up ; but the Invincible and Penelope, being broad-
side ships, prepared to anchor again. Light
quickly flooded the Egyptian sky as the day dawned,
and the entire fleet, including those giants, the
Alexandra, Sultan, and Superb, were seen lying
'~# if
Rmilwayt..,..,^,,,..., ...«.^..
CaKais - ■■
Fcrts yft^tfCim]-^
PLAN OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (JULY II, 1882).
on the morning of the nth; the crew stood to
quarters, and after a quiet cup of coffee in the gun- !
room of each ship, the officers took their posts j
and divisions, with sword and revolver. In half-an-
hour after the ships were hove short on their ;
cables and under weigh, and the order went round
to prepare for action. ** There was a general
feeling of relief," says the correspondent of the
Standard, "that the long delay was over at last,
that diplomacy was exhausted, and that the
question was lo be decided by force of arms. The
men, although quiet and steady from the force of
discipliile, were evidently in high spirits, and the
near each other, opposed to Fort Ada, the Pharos
with its mole, anciently the Heptastadium, and
Ras-el-Tin, while the Inflexible and Temeraire
steamed slowly outside the long breakwater, to
engage Fort Mex, and support the attack on the long
line of batteries that were flanked on the right by
Fort Sale. Ras-el-Tin means the Cape of Figs
(according to Volney), and he calls it the old
port, "into which the Turks admit no ships but
those of Mussulmans."
In the batteries could be seen the Egyptian
gunners grouped beside their guns ; and on seeing
that they were evidently resolved to fight, a
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Alexaodria.
grim smile lit up the bronzed faces of our blue-
jackets and marines, for a general fear had been
felt that the followers of Arabi would permit their
works to be dismantled in peace.
By this time the harbours were empty, the whole
of the merchant shipping and foreign vessels of
war having anchored outside in safety.
At a quarter-past five a ship was seen steaming
rapidly out towards the fleet. She proved to be
the HelicoHy and signalled that she had on board
certain Ottoman officers, and these soon became
visible, in their blue tunics, with gold epaulettes and
scarlet fezzes ; then the countenances of our sailors
fell, and whispers went round the ships of "A
surrender ! " But it would seem that the Turkish
officials had only been trying all night to find
Sir Beauchamp^s flag-ship, as they carried a missive
for him from the Ministry.
"In this communication the latter deprecated
hostilities, offered to dismount their guns, and give
satisfaction to the British demands. The admiral
replied that the time for negotiations had passed.
His demand was that they should, by ^\^ yester-
day evening, agree to the dismantlement of all the
outside forts, and that the present proposal to dis-
mount the guns could not be entertained for an
instant"
They asked for this decision in writing, and
whilst Sir Beauchamp was preparing it, the flag-
lieutenant of the Alexandra (the Hon. Hedworth
Lambton, of the Durham family) conversed with
one of the Turkish officers, who formed one of
the staff" of Dervish Pasha. "He gives us to
understand," says the writer before quoted, " that
he and many others were not sorry the hostili-
ties were about to commence. He said that it
was only so that an end could be made, and the
fate of the two parties into which Egypt was
divided — the one in favour of the Khedive and
the cause of order, the other of Arabi and anarchy
— could be decided. All the time the conversation
was taking place the men were at their fighting
quarters. The most perfect silence that prevailed
was very impressive, nothing breaking it, save the
occasional tinkle of the engine-room bell, or a quiet
order to starboard or port the helm, given by the
captain."
The Helicon steamed away with her answer, and
the flag-ship let go her andior at the distance of
thirteen hundred yards from the shore. At twenty
minutes past six the signal " All ready for action 1 "
fluttered out from the masthead of each vessel,
those beyond the Khedive's palace and Fort Ada,
about four miles distant, responding to the others
at the mouth of the outer harbour, while all
Alexandria was now steeped in the morning
sunshine.
" Load with common shell ! " was the order that
passed round the decks of each at half-past six
o'clock. Thirty minutes after, the bombardment
began by one gun fired from the Alexandra^ and
deep and hoarsely it boomed across the still and
waveless water. No response came firom Fort
Ada, off" which lay the Superb^ but in batteries
opposite the other ships the Egyptians could be
seen hard at work loading their guns, and the
signal to commence independent firing soon flew
at the masthead of the flag-ship.
Then a salvo, as if earth and sky were rent
asunder, shook the air, when the 9-inch guns of
the Invincible belched forth fire, smoke, and iron
from her side, while ten pestilent Nordenfeldt gims
in her tops swelled the din that burst from every
ship in the fleet A dense cloud of sulphurous
vapour enveloped the latter, preventing the effect
of the cannonade from being seen for a time, and
it was ascertained that the shells fell low, so the
sights were elevated afresh.
As the din of battle deepened and the batteries
responded, the roar of the monstrous ordnance
below, the ceaseless rattle of the Nordenfeldt and
Catling guns aloft, with the dreadful rush of the
fiery and explosive rockets which the Monarch was
vomiting from her tubes in quick succession, pro-
duced an impression on all who heard it impossible
to describe and bewildering to endure, for all the
most modern appliances of science in the cause of
death and destruction were there
The rockets were meant to fire the buildings ; but
as some of our readers may not know what a war-
rocket is, we may explain that it is a light iron
cylinder, filled with an explosive powder rammed
under high pressure, and when the latter is lit, the
gas generated rushes out at three holes in the bore
of the missile, and impels it furiously through the
air, while rotation is given by means of a tail-
piece.
From the beginning of the bombardment the
smoke was so dense that nothing could be seen of
the effect produced or of what the Egyptians were
about, though ever and anon a screaming whistle
overhead, or the up-springing of a white column of
water, showed that they were responding with shot
and shell, plumping the latter into the dense bank
of vapour, almost at random in some instances, till
orders were given to cease firing, that the smoke-
cloud might lift and float away before the wind.
Cloud and wind, like the sunshine, were both in
favour of the enemy, for it was some time befwe
the smoke ascended upward like a curtain, and a
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THE BOMBARDMENT.
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glimpse was obtained of the shore, but only to be
lost in an instant, as the guns re-opened; and as
nothing was visible from the deck of the Invincible^
a middy — Mr. Hardy — was stationed in the main-
top to signal the direction in which to throw the
shells.
The Egyptians now responded chiefly with
round shot, and these came thundering thick and
heavy against the iron-cased hulls of the Inflexible
and Penelope, Then round and conical shot began
to whistle between the masts, and the fore-royal
braces of the flag-ship were shot away.
By this time the atmosphere was warm, and the
men fighting the main-deck guns were bathed in
perspiration, and had stripped to the waist, and
between the deliverance of each enormous shot
they sat quietly down to draw breath, and wait
until the smoke floated away ; but too generally it
hung obstinately like a veil between the shipping
and the shore batteries.
The streams of bullets firom the Catlings and
Nordenfeldts must have made it deadly work for
those who manned the batteries; they were evidently
standing well to their guns, but their fire was badly
directed, and the shot flew over our hulls.
By eight a.m. th^ Monarch had silenced a battery
to which she was opposed, dismounted or knocked
its guns to pieces, set fire to the buildings, and
leaving the fort in a milSe of flames, destruction,
and death, steamed away to join the other ships,
which all this time had been pounding Fort Mex,
and by nine o'clock every gun was silent there
except four, two of which were rifled; hence
the hiss of their conical shot sounded different
in the air firom the hoarse hum of those of the
smooth-bore cannon. These four guns, as they
were fought under excellent cover, gave infinite
trouble to the attacking force ; thus the Temeraire
was signalled to advance from outside the break-
water, and assist the ships and gunboats already
engaged. " It was difficult," we are told, " to hit
upon the locality of the guns, seen, as they were,
dimly and occasionally through the smoke ; but by
half-past ten only three maintained their fire. The
guns were concentrated on the Invincible^ and must
have been worked by some of the best gunners, for
they struck us every time, often quite on the water-
line. Before they were silenced we had six men
wounded, one with his foot taken off* by a round
shot, the others by splinters." By eleven o'clock the
fortress was in ruins, its guns silenced, its defenders
killed, wounded, or put to flight, and the Monarch
steamed closer in shore to complete the havoc
more fully.
An hour before this was achieved, Fort Marabout
had opened on the ships fighting Fort Mex, till
Commander Lord Charles W. D. Beresford, with
his gunboat, the Condor^ and the Beacon^ crept in
shore and engaged it. The shot fell thick around
these small craft, and swept in showers between their
masts, but failed to injure them, and after a time
their armament silenced that of Fort Marabout
The officers of the Egyptian artillery were seen
giving a brilliant example to their men by spring-
ing upon the parapets, often in the most exposed
situations, to see or direct their fire. One of the
strong towers of Fort Pharos ere this had been rent ;
it yawned, collapsed in a heap of ruins, and soon
ceased to emit shot at all.
Meanwhile, the other divisions of the fleet were
fiercely engaged with Forts Ras-el-Tin and Ada,
and the connecting works between them. Steadily
and rapidly the Egyptians poured in the return fire.
The roar of the guns was continuous, while the rush
of the heavy projectiles through the air resembled
the low rumble of distant thunder.
Ras-el-Tin, the Khedive's Palace (called often
the Harem Palace), took fire, and was soon sheeted
in a pyramid of flame. The fighting was nearly
over all along the line by twelve o'clock, but the
ships still kept up a murderous and destructive fire,
the more fully to complete the dismantlement of
everything defensive ; and by our shells and
rockets, in the course of the afternoon, several
magazines were exploded, and a very large one
near Fort Ada was blown up by a missile from
the Inflexible^ and seemed to fill all that quarter of
the sky with a mighty cloud of smoke, stones,
slates, and debris.
About one o'clock, volunteers for the shore were
called for on board the Invincible, Their orders
were to enter Fort Mex, and there spike all the
guns which the bombardment had failed to
dismount — an arduous and dangerous duty, as
none knew whether troops were in rear of the
works. Plenty of gallant fellows came forward as
volunteers — men who would face anything — and
from these, twelve were selected for the service,
under the command of Lieutenant Barton Brad-
ford, who was accompanied by Lieutenant Lambton
and Major Tulloch, an officer whose services in
Egypt were most valuable. They departed under
cover of the Bittern and Condor,
To land, they had to swim through surf, which,
thougli the water was calm in some places, rolled
there rather heavily ; but they encountered no
opposition. Fort Mex was deserted by all save the
dead The guns were quickly burst and destroyed
by charges of gun-cotton, after which the party
came off* to the ship without accident
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The Egyptian gunners fought their guns gallantly
till their batteries crumbled around them. Of the
ships opposed to Fort Mex, the Invincible was
struck many times, but only six shots penetrated
her. The Penelope was struck five times, and had
one gun disabled ; while the Monarch was not hit
once.
The ironclads continued the fire till about five
o'clock in the evening, but the forts, demolished
everywhere, had ceased to return it during the after-
noon : by that time the place was nearly all in ruins.
The Superb was struck several times. The
action was completely over by half-past five. At
half past seven the total casualties were reported
on board the flag-ship as follows :—
Alexandra^ killed
Superb „
Sultan „
Inflexible „
... I
... I
... 2
... I
Total ...
•.. 5
Alexandra^ wounded...
Sultan „
Superb „
Inflexible „
Invincible „
Penelope „
••• 3
... 7
... I
... 2
... 6
... 8
Total
27
On the other side, more than 2,000 Egyptians
were said to be lying dead among their shattered
defences, but, as usual in such cases, the numbers
vary, and the Egyptian loss was said to be
unknown.
" I am informed by an officer present with the
Egyptian forces," says the translator of Colonel
Hermann Vogt's work on the war, " that the garrison
of Alexandria numbered 8,000, and the Egyptian
loss during the bombardment was about 900
killed and wounded, of whom 170 were removed
to Cairo."
After the stupendous cannonading and combina-
tion of other hideous sounds on sea and shore for
so many hours, the cessation of them all was like
the breaking of some strange spell, and the
members of the fleet, as they saw the whole sea
face of Alexandria a mass of ruins, could scarcely
realise that the first great fight with the enormous
weapons of modern warfare had been fought and
ended.
As evening fell, our whole fleet drew off" the
shore, and began to approach each other from the
various points they had assumed during the
cannonade. At that time a dark funereal cloud
hung gloomily over all Alexandria, the result,
no doubt, of the double cannonading — a cloud
which the breeze failed to disperse — and against
this dark background the lurid flames from the
burning palace shot steadily upward. None on
board knew what was in progress in the cit>% or
how the events of the terrible day had affected the
army and the populace; the last rumours that
came on board were to the effect that the canal
would be blocked and the wires to India cut
" The events of the day," says the correspondent
of the Standard^ " showed that the determination
expressed by Arabi and his party to oppose the
fleet to the death had not so far been a vain boast
They fought their guns to the last, but the fire of
the fleet was crushing and the weight of our metal
so superior, that their resistance, though very
creditable, was yet ineff*ective. They appeared to
possess no shells, which was well for us, for had
they used them instead of round shot, our casualties
would have been very much larger. As it is, our
success was achieved at a much smaller cost than
could have been expected, seeing the formidable
nature of the works we had to attack."
Admiral Seymour's plan of attack simply con-
sisted in dividing his vessels so as practically and
simultaneously to bombard the whole of the
Egyptian defences.
The actual monetary cost of this bombardment
is known to few persons beyond officials, but it may
interest the reader to learn a little of what it really
was. On the nth July, says a Report, every round
fired from the 80-ton guns of the Inflexible cost the
nation £^2^ los. per gun. The 25-ton guns of the
Alexandra^ Monarchy and Temeraire cost ^1 per
round each gun. The 18-ton guns of the same
ships cost ;^5 5s. per gun. Each 12-ton gun cost
^3 1 2S. per round. " The Monarch and Bittern
fired each a 6i^-ton gun, the cost being J[^\ 15s.
per round per gua The Beacon and Cygnet had
two 64-pounders, the cost of discharging which is
18s. per round per gun. The Penelope carried
three 40-pounders, the Beacon and the Bittern two
40-pounders each, the cost of discharging which was
I2S. per round per gun. In addition to this, there
is the sum to be calculated for the firing of the
smaller armaments of the Cygnet^ Condor^ and
Decoy:'
All night the Harem Palace continued to blaze,
and higher still rose the flames of another red
conflagration, which the refugee Europeans, who
crowded the steamers outside our ships, beheld
with consternation, as indicating the destruction of
all they possessed by pillage and fire.
On Wednesday, the 12 th July, it was discovered
that Fort Marabout and other works near it,
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AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT.
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together with a Moncrieff battery at Ras-el-Tin,
were yet in a position to give trouble, and that when
these were dismantled, there were other forts within,
capable of great resistance But the intentions of
the admiral were frustrated for the time by the
Egyptians displaying a flag of truce on shore, and
after day dawned a long swell came in from the
seaward, causing the ironclads to roll heavily and
strain on their cables. At eight o*clock captiiins
of ships were summoned by signal on board the
Inflexible^ and all were of opinion that the sea was
too heavy for active operations, as the incessant
rolling rendered all aim doubtful,- and as the town
lay beyond the line of forts, it might suffer from
our shells flying over them.
The Temeraire and Inflexible were therefore
ordered to watch the forts at Ras-el-Tin and
Ada, which they did, till some bodies of troops
were seen at work repairing damages on the latter,
when the signal was hoisted, "Shall we fire to
prevent repairs ? "
Sir Beauchamp's consent was signalled back, and
the two ironclads threw in six rounds of shot and
shrapnel shell, with such deadly effect (notwith-
standing the rolling of the sea) that the workers
fled, on which the firing ceased.
A white flag was now seen fluttering on the
summit of the Lighthouse, and Flag-Lieutenant
the Hon. H. Lambton proceeded in shore with the
Bittern gunboat, having a large white flag flying at
her fore royal truck, to discover the intentions of
the enemy, and all awaited his return in suspense ;
meanwhile, the Temeraire signalled to the flag-ship
as follows : —
" The body of men whom we saw working at the
Hospital Battery dispersed after our last shrapnel
shell was fired, and took refuge in the casemates
close by. We saw about a hundred and sixty men,
armed with rifles, running towards the Lighthouse
Fort They carried (sand) bags. We saw also an
Egyptian general, apparently Arabi himself, sur-
rounded by his staff.''
At three in the afternoon the Bittern steamed
out of the harbour from the arsenal, where the
oflficial divan of the Minister of War and Marine
was situated, signalling as she came along, " Nego-
tiations have failed. I have, therefore, informed
the authorities that you will engage the batteries at
half-past three."
Apparently the flag of truce had been hoisted by
the officer commanding at the Hospital Battery as
a ruse to get his men away in safety ; and Lambton
reported that while the Bittern was steaming in,
large bodies of troops were evacuating the barracks
behind the forts, and quittmg the place in heavy
marching order, while the Ministry had no proposals
of any kind to make, an^ no authority to permit
the occupation of Fort Mex.
At five in the evening, when the atmosphere was
remarkably clear, the Invincible threw a 9-inch shell
into Fort JVIex on speculation. The ship was rolling
heavily, but the gunner had the range exactly. The
missile struck the point aimed at, and set the build-
ings there on fire, but no sign of life seemed in or
about Fort Mex, and it was thought peculiar that the
Khedive*s Ministry should refuse us leave to occupy
the fort which their troops had abandoned.
At six o'clock a white flag was again displayed on
shore, while dense smoke rising over the doomed
city seemed to announce that another conflagration
had begun on a grand, but terrific, scale, and the
admiral sent off an officer to express his irritation
at the useless display of flags of truce; to say
that this was the last he would accept as such;
that he would take the next as a token of uncon-
ditional surrender, and act accordingly.
The bearer of these messages was on board the
Helicon^ with a flag of truce flying; and after a
time he returned to state that he had been unable
to open communication with any one in authority ;
that the arsenal was deserted, and the city pre-
sented a frightful scene. A mighty conflagration
shrouded the whole European quarter in flame,
and the general opinion appeared to be that the
mob was busy plundering and destroying, and
that all Europeans who remained would be cruelly
massacred.
It seemed from the sea that at least two miles in
extent of houses were in flames, as four distinct
fires became blended into one solid and roaring
mass which filled the sky with burning brands and
cast a lurid glare on sea and shore, while from the
maintops of our ships the Arabs could be seen
looting and murdering in the streets.
Before proceeding further with our own narra-
tive, we may here trjinscribe the Egyptian account
of the bombardment of Alexandria, as supplied
by Abdallah Effendi Nedim to the local Arabic
newspaper. Its misstatements are amusing.
"War News. — On Tuesday, 25 Shaban, 1299, at
9 o'clock in the morning (July n, 7 a.m.) the
British opened fire on the forts of Alexandria, and
we returned the fire.
"At 3 o'clock (10 a.m.) an ironchd foundered
off Fort Ada.
"At 5 o'clock (noon) two more vessels were
sunk between Fort Pharos and Fort Adjeml
"At half-past 6 (1.30 p.m.) a wooden man-of-
war of eight guns was sunk.
" At 10 o'clock (5 p.m.) the large ironclad was
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EGYPTIAN ACCOUNT OF THE BOMBARDMENT.
397
struck by a shell from Burj-ez-Zefr, the battery was
injured, and a white flag was instantly hoisted by
her as a signal to cease firing at her, whereupon the
firing ceased on both sides, after having lasted for
ten hours without cessation. Some of the walls
and the forts were destroyed, but they were repaired
ADMIRAL SEYMs^UK (AFTILRWARDS LORD ALCESTER).
during the night The shots and shells discharged
from the two sides amounted to six thousand, and
this is the first occasion that so large a number of
missiles have been discharged in so short a time.
"At 4 o'clock on Wednesday (ii a.m.) the
British ships again opened fire and were replied to
by the forts, but after a time the firing ceased on
both sides, and a deputation came from Admiral
Seymour and made propositions to Toulba Pasha
which he could not accept
" The smaller palace at Ras-el-Tin was struck by
a shell and partially burned.
" Fire broke out in some of the houses near the
great square after the fighting in the morning, and
it was communicated to some shops containing
spirituous liquors. They took fire and blazed up
in flames, which it was difficult to suppress.
" The police of Alexandria arrested some people
who had hoisted flags on certain houses as signals to
the British, and they were put in prison.
"The martyrs among the Egyptian troops
numbered 89 ; but the number of the British who
were killed after the sinking of their ships is un-
known, because they were not buried on shore.
" Some Europeans were found in the town after
the fire had broken out They went to the barracks
at the Rosetta Gate for guides to conduct them to
Ramleh. Suleiman Sdmy sent two guards with
them for protection.
"Mahmoud Pasha S4my came to Alexandria
because, being a soldier, he felt it his duty to share
in the warfare in which hk brethren are engaged,
and may God give them the victory !
"Many natives of Alexandria were at work in
the forts, not considering the danger of death to
which they wer'* exposed, in endeavouring to help
their brethren.
" No soldiers ever stood so firmly to their ix)sts
under a heavy fire as did the Egyptians under the
fire of 28 ships during ten hours.
" A telegram has been received from Constanti-
nople complimenting the Egyptians on their good
shooting, of which Dervish Pasha was witness, and
which he reported by telegraph.
" Some houses near the sea belonging to natives
were struck by shells ; also some belonging sto
Europeans, many of which were thereby destroyed.
The Jesuit Church was also struck by a shell, and a
great part of it was knocked down.
"At 10 o'clock on Thursday morning (8 a.m.),
the fire extended as far as Rue Cherif Pasha, and
the Boulevards of Ramleh and Attarin, and the
police were impotent to extinguish it, because the
inhabitants were flying from the fire of th^ cannons
and from the burning houses.
"At 12 o'clock (7 a.m.) an English man-of-war
was seen to put a small screw in place of a larger
one, carried away by a cannon-shot from the
forts.
" On examining other ships it was observed that
night (sic) [? several] had been severely battered on
their sides, and that one had lost her funnel
ARABI PASHA.
"Up to 6 o'clock (i p.m.) no more shots have
been fired, but soldiers continue to arrive in
Alexandria.
" The fire in the houses is increasing, and it is
feared that most of the town will be burned down.
" (Signed) Nedim,"
1 1
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
rAlexmndria.
CHAPTER LVIIL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR (continued) X — ALEXANDRIA AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT.
Sir Beauchamp Seymour thought the time had
now come when the real state of affairs in the
unfortunate city should be ascertained He or
dered the first lieutenant, William C. C. Forsyth,
of the Invincible^ to take the steam pinnace up
the harbour and reconnoitre, on which Mr. Ross,
a Purveyor of the Fleet, boldly volunteered to
land and make his way into the city, uith the
streets of which he was well acquainted
Prior to this, it had been known by nine in the
morning, that the Grand Square, the Exchange,
and Telegraph Offices had been destroyed ; that in
the last a young Frenchman had been barbarously
murdered; that the prisoners had been released
from jail by the mob ; that awful atrocities had been
committed; while a hundred Europeans, tattered,
pallid, and bloody, who had fought their way in
mad desperation to the beach, after having defended
themselves during a night of accumulated horrors
in the Ottoman Bank, were taken off by the
armed boats of the fleet They reported that
Arabi, before he left with the troops, had the
prisons opened, and that the convicts, joined by
the lower class of the town and by some of the
Bedouins who had been hovering round for some
days, proceeded to sack the city, to kill every
Christian they could find, and to set the European
quarter on fire. From the part they were defending
the Europeans could hear shrieks and cries, and the
crack of pistols and guns. Scores of wretched
fugitives were cut down or beaten to death in their
sight, and hundreds must have been massacred in
that neighbourhood
" It was a strange journey up the harbour," says a
correspondent who accompanied Forsyth and Ross
in the pinnace. "Far behind, now lost to sight,
lay the fleet The city, terrible with great sheets of
flames and clouds of smoke, lit up by innumerable
sparks and flakes of fire, rose before us. Every-
thing seemed still, save for the sound of the flames, a
mere whisper at first, but rising to a roar of crackling
detonations, mingled with heavy crashes of falling
roofs, timbers, and walls. For aught we could
tell, there might be enemies among the dark houses
by the water's edge, and as we softly neared the
shore, the screw revolved more slowly, and we
listened intently for any sound which might tell of
hiding foes. All was quiet, and on reaching the
wharf, Mr. Ross sprang ashore and proceeded alone
on his dangerous mission. The pinnace pushed
off a few yards, and then remained stationary, ready
to run in at a moment in case of his sudden return.
A quarter of an hour passed and then we heard a
footfall It approached rapidly ; the pinnace moved
ahead and touched the wharf just as Mr. Ross
arrived. Then it backed off and steamed for the
fleet Mr. Ross traversed the streets for some dis-
tance, and had, indeed, been arrested only by the
flames. He had seen no living soul in the streets,
and had ascertained that that quarter of the town
was wholly deserted"
Then it vs'as that loud indignation was expressed
by all on board the fleet at the treachery of Arabi
Pasha, who, though Toulba Pasha had commanded
during Tuesday, had, by two exhibitions of pre-
tended flags of truce, paralysed the action of
Admiral Seymour for the whole day, while he was
drawing off his troops in safety.
Before daylight on the morning of Thursday, the
13th, a boat's crew sent in shore found that Fort
Mex, and all the batteries adjacent thereto, were
really deserted
The Bedouins did not enter the city and pillage
it, as at first reported (according to the Daily New5\
but the Place Mehemet Ali and its vicinity were fired
in several places, at five o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon, by the soldiers and mob, who were joined
by hundreds of women ; they sacked every shop,
entered the European houses and murdered the
inmates. " One resident who had good oppor-
tunities of judging, estimated the number massacred
at 2,000."
After the soldiers had pillaged to their hearts'
content, they retired through the gates of the town,
leaving the infuriated mob to continue their work
till morning.
On learning the state of affairs on shore, the ad-
miral ordered the Penelope^ Invincible^ and Monarch
to furnish marines and seamen to form a Naval
Brigade with Catling guns. At ten o'clock on
Thursday morning this force, about 400 strong
only, with rations and water for one day, landed
at Ras-el-Tin, while a torpedo party for spikbg
the guns landed at Fort Kubebe, and spiked
or destroyed with gun-cotton a large numbo* of
smooth-bore cannon. By that time the Helicon
had distributed 170 refugees of various nationalities
among our ships of war, while a heavy swell was
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RUINS OF THE CITY.
399
running, adding much to the misery of the women,
many of whom were among the number. Mean-
while Arabi and his troops were retiring towards
Dahmanhour and Rosetta.
Many hundreds of Egyptian soldiers were killed
by our fire between Adjemi and Alexandria, and
when the Medway Fort blew up every soul in it
perished. The face of the Lighthouse Fort was
pulverised by our shot, which beat two great holes
in the Lighthouse, cracking the whole structure.
Beyond that lay the Arab quarter of the city, and
there every shell which missed the batteries fell
In that district the unfortunate residents had quietly
awaited the result of the bombardment, believing
themselves safe, till shell after shell came exploding
among them, when they fled in terror, leaving dead,
wounded, and all they possessed behind them.
Writing on Thursday night, the correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph described a visit he had paid to
the city, in company with Colonel Long, the African
explorer. He saw the whole centre and European
portions in flames, which no one was trying to arrest,
including the Place des Consuls, the H6tel Europe,
and the French Consulate, but the Rue de TEglise
Anglaise, leading to the Caff de Paradis, was
untouched. They pushed on and saw a party of
our seamen and Marines in a despatch steamer
ready to receive the terror-stricken Khedive, who,
during all this confusion, had been in retirement at
Ramleh, and was now expected near the Pharos.
"Here," he continued, "the officer in command
warned us not to go on alone, but we pushed on to
the landing-place near the Post Office, where, in a
few minutes, there arrived a party of marines and
sailors from the Invincible, These formed into
columns at the bottom of the street leading into
the city, and on going along with them we saw some
Arabs firing a dwelling-house and plundering others.
We had here a small street fight, killing a couple of
rascally Arab robbers ; but the mob thickened, and
the officer fell back for reinforcements, which came
in the welcome shape of a Catling gun from the
Monarch. With this gun a second advance was
made into the middle of the street, and after a
short, sharp fight the party killed five more Arabs,
and partly cleared the vicinity. But beyond was a
howling mass of cut-throats, and our officers, finding
their force very small, judged it better not to
attempt to push into the centre of the quarter.
Meantime a number of Europeans who had hidden
all day and night in the town, came running down.
Some French ladies were among them, whose con-
dition was pitiable to behold."
On the 13th of July the admiral took possession
of Ras-el-Tin ; and about a quarter to three in the
afternoon the Khedive arrived at the palace, on
which a guard of 700 Marines had been placed for
his protection and to occupy the peninsula, and
then, for the first time, he must have felt himself
safe.
It would appear that by order of Arabi Pasha,
the Ramleh Palace was environed suddenly by
Toulba Pasha with a regiment of infantry and two
of cavalry. A party of soldiers burst into the
apartment of the Khedive, shouting that they had
orders to kill him and bum down the building.
After long parleying the loyalty of 500 men was
bought by promises and money, and they escorted
the Khedive and Dervish Pasha, together with the
small bodyguard of the latter to the half-ruined
palace at Ras-el-Tin, where, after great delay in
passing through the burning town, the admiral's 700
Marines received them. The admiral, with Sir
Auckland Colvin and Mr. Cartwright, then visited
the Khedive, who declined to go on board ship as
yet, and expressed his resolution of staying at Ras-
el-Tin, where all the Ministry but Arabi Pasha pre-
sented themselves.
In his first despatch the admiral says : —
" I have to express my great admiration of the
manner in which the officers and men of the
squadron carried out theh* various duties, reflecting
the greatest credit on all concerned ; and I would
make especial mention of Captain Walter Hart
Grubbe, C.B., of the Sultan, and senior officer in
command of the northan division.
" The Egyptians fought with determined bravery,
replying to the hot fire poured into their forts from
our heavy guns until they must have been quite
decimated."
The bombardment of Alexandria — that renowned
city founded twenty-two centtuies ago by Alexander
the Great, the emporium of trade and commerce —
produced consequences which, not having been
foreseen, were not provided against ; and to Europe
it seemed as if the British Government when
sanctioning the bombardment had failed to make
adequate provision for the repression of the disorder,
murder, and anarchy which followed the collapse
of Arabics authority.
In many places were seen iron safes of European
construction lying in the streets, whither they had
been dragged from shops and mercantile offices;
but the skill or force of the thieves had alike failed
to open them.
A correspondent followed the line of Arabics
retreat for nine miles, and in the villages found
the people starving, the soldiers having robbed
them of everything, and the entire route was en-
cumbered by abandoned carriages, dead horses, and
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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the dibris of plunder ; but the lines of rail and tele-
graph wires were still untouched The Bedouins were
reported to have attacked the retreating soldiers,
killed 200 of them, and carried off their booty. The
officials of the Ramleh Railway were now ordered
to prepare for the movement of troops along the
line, and marauders were now being shot publicly
by our people in the great square. The rebels then
diverted the course of the Mahmoudiyeh Canal
which supplies Alexandria with water, and which was
formed with the view of establishing a communica-
tion between that city and the Rosetta branch of
the Nile at Fouah, and was the labour of 250,000
men, of whom 23,000 perished (during the year of
its construction) under the severity of the task,
combined with want of food and pure water.
Lord Charles Beresford was nominated chief of
the British force acting as police in Alexandria.
Orders were then issued for the despatch of all
marauders and looters, each with his case written
out, to head-quarters to be flogged. All incendiaries
were shot on the spot, and all men entering the
gates were disarmed.
The day after his appointment saw five executions
for fire-raising in the great square, and twenty
thieves flogged, while a species of detective police
was organised to search for suspicious persons.
On the 20th July, Omar Pasha Lufti, Governor of
Alexandria, returned there from Cairo, vi& Port Said,
and made the following report to the Khedive : —
** On my way to Cairo, I saw Europeans being
massacred and their houses pillaged at Dahmanhour
and other places, where the rifT-rafT of Alexandria
had arrived. They cut off the hands of the Berberins,
because they had served Christians and signalled
to Europeans during the bombardment At Cairo
a panic prevailed. Pillagers were selling their
plunder in the public places. Arabi had called a
meeting in Cairo of all the Pashas, Ulemas, and
Notables, and had put to them the question,
whether it was right to obey the Khedive's orders
and stop the military preparations, seeing that he
had sold Egypt to the British, and had ordered the
military bakehouses to prepare 1,500 loaves daily
for the British, without making provision for his
own troops. This meeting took place at the
Ministry of the Interior, and the Minister thereof
acted as President, Mahmoud Pasha Baroudi
practically directing the discussion. The Sheikh
Hassan Edeen rose to recommend a holy war
against the British, but, at the instance of the
Coptic Patriarch, more moderate counsels prevailed,
and the meeting appointed a committee to proceed
to Alexandria to verify the accusations made
against the Khedive. It was arranged that this
committee — comprising seven members — should
start on the i8th instant Going from Cairo to
Ismailia, I saw a European and his wife massacred
at the Tookh Railway Station. The Mudirs of
Gurbish, Gibonbich, and Meroniich, who have
been missed from their posts, were imprisoned in
Cairo Citadel for obeying the Khedive; and a
council of war was held daily at Kasr-e-Nil
Barracks, Mahmoud Baroudi presiding."
Everywhere Europeans were being horribly
murdered in cold blood by the Egyptians, to
whom Arabi issued a proclamation, maligning the
Khedive, as conspiring with Christians to effect the
ruin of his country.
The report of Omar Pasha Lufti concerning the
massacre of Europeans at Dahmanhour and Tantah
was speedily confirmed. At Zagazig a German was
mortally wounded ; at Calicub a European family
was dragged out of a railway train, placed on the
rails, and the engine run over them.
At Tantah, Messrs. Crowther and MacAUen were
seized on the platform and taken into the buffet,
where their throats were about to be cut when they
were rescued, and reached Port Said, to report that
100 had perished at Tantah ; while at Damietta, a
Syrian, who was thought to be an Englishman, was
taken from the train and murdered with fearful
brutality.
An Italian, named Castelnuova, who made his
escape from the former place, reduced the number
massacred to eighty-five, whose bodies were disem-
bowelled and left in the streets with the intestines
torn out and flung against walls and windows. '* A
Greek," he related, " was laid on the ground by an
Arab, and his neck hacked by a penknife till it was
severed Two Englishwomen threw themselves
from windows and were fatally injured by the fall
A train was shortly after put on, by Arabi's orders,
to carry away Christian survivors. It was pretty
well filled, there being about 100 persons in all
The passengers had no sooner taken their seats,
than there was a determined attempt made to
murder all as they sat in the carriages. This
attempt was frustrated by a certain Minshowi Bey,
a large landed proprietor, who, by a great effort,
succeeded in getting the train to move off and thus
saved the passengers. It left Tantah and arrived
safely at Zagazig and Ismailia."
Another account from an Italian engineer in the
employment of the Cadastre, stated that at the
beginning all factories were safe. An attempt had
been made on one belonging to a Greek, but the
Berber watchmen had succeeded in beating off
the marauders, until a detachment of 400 troops
came to restore order.
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CALLING OUT THE RESERVES.
401
At Mehalla-el-Kebir, eight Europeans were
murdered; about sixty succeeded in escaping.
The women were described as behaving like
demons from another world "The way they
ill-treated and mutilated the murdered victims,
spat at them, and shrieked about the town, was
truly diabolical. The children, too, were not back-
ward in sbowing their brutal instincts • and all the
fiendish nature of their parents was brought out to
the full"
Such were some of the results of the bombard-
ment of Alexandria.
On the 29th of July, the French Chamber
rejected the vote of credit for the protection of the
Suez Canal, which occasioned a resignation of the
Ministry- at Paris,
CHAPTER LIX,
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued): — ^STRENGTH AND COMPOSITION OF THE BRITISH ARMY — THE SAILORS*
IRONCLAD TRAIN — ^THE SKIRMISHES AT RAMLEH.
On the 8th of July, two days after Sir Beauchamp
Seymour sent in his first tiltimatumy the ist South
Staffordshire and 3rd King^s Royal Rifles were
moved from Malta to Cyprus, to be at hand in case
they were required. On the same day the 1st
North Lancashire and the 2nd Essex left England
for Gibraltar, and the ist Berkshire were pushed on
from that fortress to Malta. This was the com-
mencement of a series of movements within the
Mediterranean, which continued almost uninter-
ruptedly until the despatch of the main force from
the British Isles.
By the middle of the month it became evident
that we were to have hostilities ashore in Egypt,
and the Secretary for War had a long conference
with the Commander-in-chief, and the Adjutant-
General, Sir Garnet Wolseley, who attended a
Council of War. At the Horse Guards and
Admiralty the greatest activity prevailed; all the
more so, perhaps, that we are seldom prepared
for great emergencies.
The two battalions from Malta, despatched on
the 8th, reached Alexandria, viiL Cyprus, on the
13th of July, and were the first British regiments
of infantry which landed in Egypt to reinforce our
seamen and Marines.
The two battalions which first landed at Alexan-
dria were drawn there by the urgency of events,
which presented themselves firom day to day. The
2nd Cornwall Regiment, moving from Gibraltar,
reached Alexandria on the 24th, and a battery of
artillery, with a wing of the ist Sussex, reached
Alexandria on the same day — ^the date on which
the vote of credit was passed.
On the 25 th her Majesty's proclamation called
out the Reserves, to supply the places of the young
recruits, who were found unfit for duty, and on the
30th July the ist Scots Guards, with a total strength
of 797 of all ranks, departed from Kensington
Barracks eastward, amid a scene of such enthusiasm
as London had not seen since the days of the
Crimea. Through the mighty masses that lined
the way from Bird-Cage Walk to Westminster
Bridge, the bands of the brigade played them to
the air, " Scots wha hae,'* and a farewell message
from the Queen accompanied them. The inspec-
tion and departure of the Life Guards and a
squadron of the Blues followed amid a still greater
ovation.
When the Scots Guards sailed from England
they were at the head of a column of ships and
battalions, which, from that day until the occupa-
tion of the Suez Canal on the 20th of August, never
ceased streaming towards the ultimate point of desti-
nation. The last battalion of the original force sent
out was the Royal Irish, which arrived at Alex-
andria on the 21st The Duke of Connaught de-
parted at the same time as the Scots Guards, which
were afterwards in brigade with battalions of the
Grenadier and Coldstream under his orders.
The despatch of troops, horse and foot, formed
but a small item of the work to be undertaken.
There were field-hospitals and ambulances, bearer
companies for bearing the wounded from the field,
the veterinary department, transport and commis-
sariat to convey food, a postal department to
facilitate home correspondence, war balloons, with
a signalling staff, ammunition columns, pontoons for
crossing the streams and canals that intersect the
land of the Pharaohs, a field-park, containing many
things unknown in previous wars, such as waggons,
with a printing press, telegraphic and heliographic
apparatus, and a railway company. In addition to
all this there were militar>' police, an ordnance
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[Alexandruu
Store department, together with an enormous siege
train.
Transport animals alone were wanting.
The force originally despatched from this side
or end of the canal included about i,oio officers,
with 21,200 non-commissioned officers, rank and
file, 54 field-guns, 5,600 horses, and 500 baggage
animals ; and to increase the number of the last
consisting of depots and drafts and one infiantry
battalion, were stopped at the last moment; but
on the whole, not far short of 40,000 men were
sent from Great Britain. But the flower of these
men were the trained reserves.
The troops which came westward from India
were the ist Seaforth Highlanders, all seasoned
veterans of Roberts's campaign beyond the Indus.
THE KHEDIVE'S PALACE AT EAS-EL-TIN, ALEXANDEIA.
— which were urgently wanted — officials were sent
to the most distant countries. "The reinforce-
ments which were prepared after the despatch of
the corps amounted to 280 officers and 10,800
men, so that the total force which had been
despatched and was in the act of being despatched
at the close of the war, from Great Britain and the
Mediterranean stations, amounted to 1,290 officers
and 32,000 men. The Indian Contingent, in-
cluding a small reserve left at Aden, consisted of
170 officers and 7,100 men, thus completing a
grand total of 40,560 officers and men of all ranks
for the expeditionary force." Some of these,
the I St Manchester, one Bombay and two Bengal
battalions of Native Infantry, with a 9-pounda'
field battery and a mountain battery, making
twelve guns, three regiments of Bengal cavalry,
and some Madras Sappers. This force was
accompanied by 3,500 camp followers, including
transport drivers, 1,700 horses, and 5,840 mules
and ponies for baggage They carried with them
one month's provision for their voyage from the
shores of India, and three months' for their opera-
tions in Egypt. The bulk of this Indian Con-
tingent arrived in the canal by degrees, while the
operations for securing the base at Ismailia were
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Aienndri..] THE INDIAN CONTINGENT. 403
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[AlcjDUidrk.
progressing, and at Aden two of the Native
battalions remained as a reserve.
In giving these details we have somewhat
anticipated the progress of events in Egypt
During the days which elapsed between the
bombardment and the arrival of the two battalions
of infantry from Britain, the small naval force
ashore, under Sir Beauchatnp Seymour, was amply
engaged in the work of restoring order and holding
the principal gates of Alexandria against the
possible return of the insurgent army under Arabi ;
and one especially good piece of work was done by
our ever-active sailors in anticipation of operations
to come. A locomotive engine and some trucks,
which luckily had been captured when the town
was first occupied, had been by them converted
into an ironclad train, on which they mounted a
40-pounder.
During the few days referred to, Arabi had a
brief chance of success; he might have returned
to Alexandria with his best troops and vigorously
attacked the small Naval Brigade holding the city
— a movement in which he would, no doubt, have
been assisted by all the malcontents there. But
he let the opportunity pass, and contented himself
with occupying the neck of land that lies between
the lakes of Mareotis and Aboukir, where he was
gathering together — not unfrequently by force — a
number of the fellaheen from various parts of
Egypt, who had been trained to arms in the army
of Ismail Pasha.
Arabics levies of the fellaheen, together with his
original adherents, were at first assembled in the
neighbourhood of Dahmanhour, with outposts thrown
out as far as Kafrdowar.
The first skirmish in the Egyptian campaign took
place early on the morning of the 22nd of July.
A train left the Cairo Station at Alexandria with a
company of the Royal Engineers, having with them
large quantities of gun-cotton, mining tools, and
other requisites for the work of destruction, under
a lieutenant They entered the train, and steamed
away in the direction of Ramleh, from whence a
strong party of the Staffordshire (or old 38th) was
to move in support of the Engineers' train, while
twenty five Mounted Infantry were to scout The
object of this expedition was a double one. The
position of Arabi was to be reconnoitred, and the
railway line between his centre and Alexandria was
to be blown up, to deprive him in future of any
chance of attacking our right, or in any other way
than straight in the face of the Rosetta Gate, from
whence six companies of the Staffordshire began
their march towards Ramleh, which lies on the
coast of the Mediterranean, and from whence a
battalion of the Rifles was to move to cover the
oi>erations. " I rode to the centre of the position,"
says an eye-witness, " where, out at sea, I descried
corvettes from the fleet steaming along close in
shore, evidently covering the advance of the train
containing the Rifles. Presently two companies of
the Staffordshire red-coats halted on the road out-
side the Rosetta Gate, and took up a jxjsition,
sending out pickets, and preparing to hold the
extreme right On we went till a corvette came
close in shore opposite the Ramleh Palace, where
the Khedive had hid during the bombardment"
As the Rifle train reached the station near the
latter town, that with the Engineers steamed on to
the narrow isthmus that lies between the lakes of
Madieh (which opens into Aboukir Bay) and
Mareotis (the Arapotcs of Pliny), where the rail-
way to Cairo runs, and then ran towards Arabi's
lines at Kafrdowar. It skirts the shores of the kdce
— an embankment for nearly twelve miles, or its
entire length. This lake was nearly dry during our
war in Egypt eighty years before, when our troops
let the sea into it to cut off the communication of
the French with Cairo.
The four remaining companies of the Stafford-
shire, with the mounted men, moved to the left,
and joining the Rifles, as the latter detrained, took
post on some high ground, a mile beyond Ramleh
Station. Then it was that the Arab outposts
seemed to become aware of the work in view.
They could see the train halted on the isthmus, but
they were unable to see our troops on the shore
of Mareotis for trees and shrubs that intervened,
so they resolved to come round by the shore and
cut off the engine and carriages.
As they came on, our Mounted Infantry felt their
numbers ; two companies of the Rifles were thrown
forward to check their advance, tAvo others were in
support, while the rest of the battalion held the
Ramleh Station and acted as a reserve; and an
exchange of shots now took place, on which the
Egyptians took cover among some palm-trees,
about three-quarters of a mile distant, for, though
anxious to stop the work, they were evidently afiaid
to come on.
The Engineers had now left the train, and were
hard at work on the line with shovels and pickaxes,
the clinking of which could be heard between the
sharp-ringing rifle-shots, and after an hour's toil,
executed amid considerable anxiety, the mine was
dug, formed, and charged. Slowly the Engineer
train fell back from its dangerous vicinity, till it
halted again at 300 yards' distance, while two Rifle
companies and the mounted men felt their way
along the Mahmoudiyeh Canal bank. The latter
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SKIRMISH AT RAMLEH.
405
force found the enemy, and saw where Arabics
centre was— apparently only about four miles dis-
tant from our own — and that his right was afraid to
advance and attack us.
A signal from the train now showed that all was
ready. With a loud crash, a mighty column of smoke
started skyward, the narrow istlimus was divided ;
rails, sleepers, stones, and earth went flying through
the air, and the line was destroyed. In the skirmish
we did not lose a man, and how the Egyptians fared
we never knew.
Ramleh, which is about six miles distant from
Alexandria, and consisted chiefly of the summer
residences of European merchants, became of great
importance now in a military point of view, as it
was within six or seven miles of Arabics position at
Kafrdowar. Low sandy heights in its rear com-
mand the narrow neck of land connecting the
Alexandrian peninsula with the' mainkmd and
between the lakes. Until the arrival of the Malabar
with the 40th Regiment and a wing of the Stafford-
shire, Sir Beauchamp Seymour was unable to occupy
the towTL On the morning of the 24th of July a
wing of the 60th, with a squadron of Mounted In-
fantry, started for Ramleh, lest Arabi might achieve
its destruction. They had with them a Gatling gun
and a field-piece. The mounted men soon found
that Ramleh was unoccupied, and vedettes were
placed along the Mahmoudiyeh Canal, while a com-
pany of Rifles took post at the swing railway-bridge.
This had scarcely been done when a body of
Egyptian cavalry came galloping, with sabres flash-
ing, along the line of railway, and the Rifles poured
a volley into them at 500 yards' distance, but only
one horse fell, though there was nothing to prevent
the aim of our men from being steady. This suf-
ficed to make the enemy go face about, however,
and scamper away with tidings that we were in pos-
session of Ramleh.
Arabi now sent forward some guns, which opened
with shells. The Rifles rushed to cover, and
responded by a brisk fire. "The sight was a
pretty one. The sea was behind us, with the
magnificent war-ships scattered along the coast
line watching various points. In front was the
low flooded country, with palm-trees towering up
through the morning mist, while the tiny puffs of
smoke from our rifles and the sharp jets from the
guns, gave life and activity to the scene. The
enemy's fire was very inefllicient, the shells for the
most part singing past overhead. Only two shots
took effect on the houses, and one burst near the
Mounted Infantry without doing any harm."
At nine a.m. it ceased, and, as on the other
occasion, there were no British casualties; but as
the smoke of locomotives was seen rolling in the
direction of Kafrdowar, it was supposed that Arabi
was about to reinforce his horse and artillery, so
fresh troops were heliographed for, and speedily
the train brought up a portion of the 46th, who had
just landed from the Malabar^ with two 9-pounders
from the fleet
Means were at once taken to strengthen the
position. Rifle pits were dug, entanglements
formed, the bridge was stockaded, and the soldiers,
fresh from their sea voyage, worked with the
greatest energy and enthusiasm. But the enemy
fired only a few shells and withdrew to safer
distance, which was all the more necessary, as now
four of the six 40-pounders — brought out by the
Malabar — were got into battery near the Water-
works Bridge to command the neck of sand, to
protect Ramleh, and render Arabics position more
untenable when the time came. From the sand
hills our men could distinctly see the white cotton
tunics, scarlet tarbooshes, and glittering bayonets
of Arabics infantry, for the two forces were now
face to face with each other and within the range of
heavy cannon.
About this time, a capture of considerable
political importance was made, when the Khedivieh
mail steamer came into Alexandria from Constanti-
nople, and Ragheb Bey, her second officer, was
arrested by order of Admiral Seymour. Important
documents were found upon him, showing that for
months past — in the true spirit of Oriental
duplicity — he had acted as agent for Arabi, as the
bearer of communications between him, the Palace,
and the Pan-Islamic Committee at Constantinople.
He made a full confession, and gave a list of all who
were in the interest of Arabi, including influential
persons, as being the Sultan's principal agents for
stirring up a leligious agitation in Arab countries.
On his person was found a letter from Constanti-
nople to Arabi in Turkish cypher, with many
testimonials for valuable services rendered by the
latter. Thus, none were suq^rised, when— in
addition to giving him a high military decoration —
the Sultan on the ist August declined to proclaim
Arabi a rebel
Further complications seemed on the eve of
being unearthed, when, about the same time,
another important discovery was made, which
seemed to account for the withdrawal of the French
squadron and the peculiar action of France.
"This," said the Standard^ "consists of a secret
correspondence which passed prior to the bom-
bardment, between the military party and French
officials. It was carried on through the agency of
M. Minet, a Swiss gentleman, a strong supporter
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(AlcaadriA,
of Arabi, in whose camp at Kafirdowar he b now
supposed to be. The correspondence is very im-
portant, and when published will produce a strong
sensation."
It was said to prove incontestably all the sus-
picions entertained, that the military party were
secretly supported by the French.
The Aboukir Forts, which stand about six miles
distant from Ramleh, and the works on which were
being ^strengthened every day, were held by a
garrison in favour of Arabi, which threatened to
fire on two officers of the Khedive, who came in
the pinnace of the Minotaur with an offer of full
amnesty on their submission; so that ship, an
armour-plated one of seventeen large guns, had
orders to watch the batteries on that acute pro-
montory, the rocks of which are supposed to be a
portion of the 400 columns of granite, which
Caradjah, Governor of Alexandria, threw into the
sea, to bar the galleys of the Crusaders from ap-
proaching the port
A holy war was now proclaimed by Arabi, who
despatched dervishes and mollahs throughout the
land announcing, in curiously contradictory terms,
that the British fleet had been sunk, the admiral
killed, and that the sea was covered with corpses
about Alexandria, which had nevertheless been
occupied by the British, who tortured and shot
all who fell into their merciless hands. By such
tidings intense excitement was created among the
ignorant, causing immense masses of the male popu-
lation to flock to the larger towns, clamouring for
arms and to be sent to the front
An illustration of Arabi*s character for cruelty and
duplicity was supposed to be given in a communica-
tion published by the l^mes of 31st September,
describing an interview which took place between
its correspondent and Osman Pasha Rifki and the
other Circassian officers, whose banishment Arabi
had procured
The Pasha related that after arrest they were
placed in a cell of the Abdin Barracks, measuring
only six feet by four, where they were left without
light, food, or water for three days ; they were then
required to furnish evidence of the alleged plot
against Arabi's life. They were next taken to a
room, on the walls of which were written the names
of those they were required to incriminate. From
the roof they were suspended by their thumbs,
their toes just touching the ground, while they were
pricked with bayonets, and directed to the names
on the walls, in the hope that in despair and
agony they might state some facts against one for
whom they had the least regard. Another method
was tried The legs were fixed in a trying position,
nuts were placed on the knees, the back bent, and
the victim forced to kneel Heavy chains were
hung on the extended arms, and when these
dropped, "the knuckles were rapped or burned,"
till an attempt was made to extend them again.
If they resorted to sleep, or insensibility came, the
bayonet prodding was resumed. One of the last
who held out was kept in a dark room for sixteen
days ; he was lashed by Ali Pasha and six soldiers,
after which he was thumbscrewed by the hands of
Ibrahim Bey Fanyi, afterwards Prefect of Caira
The Times correspondent added that the prisoners
he questioned asserted that the man who super-
intended these atrocities was Arabi Pasha. ''I
tried hard," he says, " to shake this evidence ; it
was repulsive to ^e last shred of sympathy that
one preserved for the man proved to be both a
ruffian and a coward ; but I could not"
Be all this as it may, a great crisis was soon to
come in this sudden turmoil in the afiairs of
Egypt
CHAPTER LX.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued) : — ^THE ARMY DETAILED — NIGHT SURPRISE OF THE 60TH RIFLES
PICKET — ALISON'S RECONNAISSANCE OF KAFRDOWAR — RECONNAISSANCES BY UEXTT. DORRIEN AND
CAPTAIN PARR — SUEZ CANAL OCCUPIED BY THE FLEET.
Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley,
G.C.B., who was commander of the army in Egypt,
embarked for Alexandria on the 2nd of August
He had with him a brilliant staff; his military
secretary was Major Leopold V, Swaine, of the
Rifle Brigade ; his private secretary was Major St
George of the 20th Hussars. The chief of the staff
was Lieutenant-General Sir John Adye, a distin-
guished artilleryofficer who had served in the Crimea,
in the Mutiny, and on the North-West frontier.
Brigadier-General Goodenough — also an Indian
veteran — commanded the artillery ; Brigadier
Nugent, CB., who had been in the bombardments
in the Baltic, commanded the Engineers.
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Alexandria.)
THE BRITISH AftMY IN EGVpT.
40?
The cavalry division was led by Major-General
Drury Lowe, already mentioned in these pages as
having served in the Zulu War.
The I St Division of infantry was given to
Lieutenant-General G. H. S. Willis, who served in
all the battles of the Crimea, and for seven con-
secutive months in the trenches before Sebastopol,
but had afterwards been on the staff from 1855 to
1878.
The 2nd Division of infantry was given to
Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Bruce Hamley, of
the Royal Artillery, K.C.M.G. and C.B., who had
a horse shot under him at the Alma, and another at
Inkerman, and was member of the Council of
Military Education from 1866 to 1870.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Hanbury, C.B., was at
the head of the Medical Staff, and Veterinary Surgeon
Meyrick at that of the Veterinary Department
The chief of the Intelligence Department was
Major Ardagh, R.E., chiefly known as a dis-
tinguished instructor at the School of Military En-
gineering.
The Mounted Infantry were under Captain
Henry Hallam Parr, formerly of the 13th Foot,
who had served in the KLafiir War of 1877, ^^^
in the Zulu War as assistant staff officer to Colonel
Glyn's column.
To avoid the confusion of names consequent on
the territorial system, the component parts of the
two divisions are given, by the old regimental
numbers, in the The Army and Navy Gazette^ as
follows: —
First Division.
\st Brigade, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards,
2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, ist Battalion
Scots Guards, under Major-General H.R.H. the
Duke of Connaught and Stratheam, K.G.
2nd Brigade, 2nd Battalion i8th Foot, 50th,
84th, and 87th Regiments, under Major-General G.
Graham, V.C, C.B., Royal Engineers.
Divisional Troops. Two squadrons of the 19th
Hussars, 46th Foot, two batteries of Royal Artillery,
24th Company of Royal Engineers, jith Transport
Company, Half Bearer Company, two field hospitals
and a postal department
Second Division.
%rd Brigade, 42nd Black Watch, 74th High-
landers, 75th Gordon Highlanders (old Stirling-
shire), 79th Cameron Highlanders, under Major-
General Sir Archibald Alison, K.CB.
4M Brigade, 35th, 38th, 49th, and 53rd Regi-
ments.
Divisional Troops. Two squadrons loth Hus-
8Ai^ Srd Battalion 60th Rifles, two batteries of
Royal Artillery, 26th Company of Royal Engineers,
1 2th Transport Company, Half Bearer Company,
two field hospitals, and a postal department, under
Major-General Sir Evelyn Wood.
Cavalry Brigade, Three squadrons of Household
Cavalry, 4th and 7th Dragoon Guards, a brigade of
Royal Horse Artillery, 15th Transport Company,
Half Bearer Company, under Major-General Drury
Lowe, with Colonel Sir Baker Russell as Assistant
Adjutant-General.
Artillery Corps, under Brigadier Goodenough.
— A battery of Royal Horse Artillery, and three
of the Royal Artillery, with ammunition reserve.
Siege Train : Regimental Staff, 4th and 5th
Batteries of the London Division Royal Artillery ;
5 th and 6th Batteries of the Scottish Division Royal
Artillery.
Corps of Engineers: The Pontoon and Tele-
graph Troops of the 2nd and 4th Sections of the
Field Park, the 8th Company Royal Engineers;
Railway Staff, 17th Company Royal Engineers.
Such is an outline of the force which was then
steaming fast for the shores of Egypt The names
and services of many of the commanders have
already figured prominently in these pages.
On the 3rd of August the Marines of the fleet
occupied Suez; and before the arrival of Sir
Garnet Wolseley on the 31st of July, the 60th
Rifles encountered a night surprise.
A comimny of that regiment, under Major H.
Affleck Ward, held a post at some distance in front
of our lines, but which was not to be maintained in
case the enemy showed in force. It was simply a
small edifice amid a clump of picturesque palms on
the bank of the Mahmoudiyeh Canal, a short way
up the Isthmus that led to the position of Arabl
The night was a very clear one and the moon
was remarkably brilliant, being almost full, yet
across the sandy neck between the lakes, and ex-
haled from these and the adjacent marshes, there
lay a heavy mist that rendered objects indistinct, and,
like a London fog, to some extent deadened sound.
With the deep sand muffling the footfalls of their
light Arab horses, under cover of this mist, a body
of the enemy's cavalry stole carefully and stealthily
towards Major Ward's isolated post, and came
close to the advanced sentry before he saw them.
Wavering and indistinct, their figures at last caught
his eye ; he then challenged and fired, on which
a sergeant and five men came hurrying forward
to support him, and after firing, fell back on the
main body of the picket which was now under
arms, and had retired from the palm grove to
the more defensible position afforded by a ditch
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[AlexAodru.
in the rear, from whence they commenced file
firing.
Major Ward could form no estimate of the
enemy's cavalry, h.ut in the mist it seemed con-
siderable, and their movements were directed by
sound of trumpet They kept up a scattered
carbine fire, but as soon as it was replied to from
the ditch it slackened, and they retired, leaving a
dead horse behind them. In accordance with the
if so, the advance was skilfully made, though it
failed. Next night there was an alarm in Alex-
andria, caused by rumours of another massacre.
The patrols used increased vigilance, confiscating
all bludgeons carried by the natives, and people
were enjoined by the town-criers to remain in their
houses after three p.m., the hour named for the
expected emeute.
It was impossible as yet for any British force to
ARABI pasha's HOUSE, CAIRa
^jeneral orders, the picket now fell backalong the canal
to ihe pumping station, and as no more was seen
of the enemy the old post was re-occupied at day-
break. But there happened an event which was
greatly magnified in England, and which resembled
some occurrences in South Africa among our new
and raw soldiers. Four of the picket broke away
from their comrades and fled to the rear, but were
afterwards made prisoners.
The garrison at Ramleh was now strengthened,
as the duties in front of it were heavy. The
object of the enemy in attacking Ward's post had
evidently been to cut off the slender picket ; and
advance towards Kafirdowar without leaving the
city behind them a prey to Arab fanaticism ; and
as the Egyptians have generally been noted for the
use of the shovel and pick-axe, they quickly threw
up trenches and proceeded to make Aiabi's
position a strong one. A knowledge of this
caused Sir Archibald Alison, Bart, the first officer
of rank who arrived on the scene of action, to
make a careful reconnaissance on the evening of the
5th August, and literally to inaugurate the war by
land.
This officer — the son of the historian of Europe
— had always served with distinction since he joined
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KkrandriaQ
SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON.
4^9
BAY OF
PBLUmy
. V «'* 7*Hyt89i,
Approx. Scale of Miles
HAP OF THE DELTA OF THE NILE, SHOWING SITES OF ACTIONS AND STRATEGIC POINTS IN THE
EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN GULY-SEPTEMBER, 1883),
JJ
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
tAIeJtaodm.
the Albany Highlanders as an ensign in 1846. With
that corps he was in the Crimean War, and after-
wards under Lord Clyde in India, where he lost his
left arm at Lucknow, but won the Cross of the Bath.
He was second in command in Ashantee, and led
the brigade at the capture of Bequah, the battles
of Amoaful and Ordashu, and after the capture of
Coomassie received the thanks of Parliament
Between 1862 and 1878 he had served prominently
on the Head-quarter Staflf in several capacities, and
had now come to the East, in that which he
often stated to have been the ambition of his life —
the General of a Highland Brigade.
Taking with him, on the evening in question,
six companies of the King's Royal Rifles, four of
the South Staffordshire, and four of the Duke of
Cornwall's, he advanced on the left, while seven
companies of Marines, 1,000 men under Colonel
Tuson, and the famous ironclad train, manned by
200 blue-jackets under Captain Fbher, of H.M.S.
Inflexible^ and two 9-pounders moved out on the
right The value of training in tactical manoeuvres
at home is said to have been evinced notably on
this occasion, as the men worked with great care
and steadiness over the ground which lay between
the Britbh position at Ramleh and that of the
Egyptians at Kafrdowar.
If the reconnaissance of Sir Archibald Alison did
not procure much information as to the actual
strength of the enemy, it proved at least, according
to the report, **the immense superiority of the
British soldiers over their opponents, not only in
courage, but even in shooting — a superiority as
marked, so far as rifle fire is concerned, as that of
the Boers over our troops in the Transvaal."
Sir Archibald had more than one reason for
making this reconnaissance. The enemy had been
growing bold ; a check was necessary for them, and
he wished to ascertain whether there was any truth
in the persistent statements of the natives — that
Arabi was retiring from his position at Kafrdowar.
After our Rifles crossed the Mahmoudiyeh Canal,
the white-coated Egyptians were seen quickly ex-
tending in skirmishing order, at about 1,000 yards'
distance, to oppose the advance. The Rifles also
extended with their left flank resting on the canal
bank, and their right towards Lake Mareotis.
The enemy halted and then seemed to vanish.
From this it was evident that they were lining an
unseen ditch that lay across our front, screened by
It belt of shrubs or jungle. Out of this their fire
now began to flash, while the Rifles pushed on,
making successive rushes by sections of companies,
the naval guns running parallel with their left on
the towing path. Meanwhile the enemy's bullets
whizzed across the open ground, but as their rifles
were sighted too high, they swept harmlessly over-
head.
By a slow and steady fire the 6oth responded,
and on creeping to within 200 yards of their posi-
tion, the front or fighting line was reinforced by
Colonel Cramer Ashbumham, CB., an oflScer who
had served with the Rifles in India, at the battle of
Budlee-Ke-Serai and the storming of Delhi A hot
fire was maintained on both sides, while our Rifles
gradually worked their way forward from cover to
cover, in groups of five or six, starting at a rush,
and throwing themselves down to aim and fire. But
of the enemy nothing could be seen, save a long
line of white smoke curling through the belt of
dark green jungle.
Gradually the distance between the fighting lines
decreased, and Captain Morrison with the naval
guns was throwing in a searching fire firom the
towing-path, and ere the Rifles were within 100
yards of the enemy, the latter were seen stealing
away rearward — a movement, the result of their
own fear, and not of orders.
At last the officer of our leading company gave
the command —
" Fix swords — forward ! "
The long blades flashed in the sunlight, and the
men pushed on, some fixing and others firing, and
all cheering loudly ; but, to their great disappoint-
ment, the " halt " soon sounded, for the Egyptians
fled in confusion through the jungle, throwing away
their arms and accoutrements as they ran. The
"halt" was commanded by Colonel W. de W.Thack-
well, of the 38th, a Crimean veteran, who was the
senior officer in that part of the field.
From time to time there rose enormous jets of
smoke, each followed by an astounding boom from
the armour-clad train, as the 40-pounder covered the
advance of the Marines, together with a 9-pounder,
which the enthusiastic sailors dragged forward like a
toy. The fire of both was most accurate, and when
the Rifles halted the Marines crossed from the rail-
way to an embankment of the canal, which was
lined by^he enemy, but the Marines fixed bayonets
and dashed at them with a rush. They fled in all
directions. Many were shot down, and many more
drowned or shot in the canal, into which they threw
themselves.
Nothing could have been finer than the charge
of the Marines, and no troops could have stood a
determined attack of this kind. Five men, including
one officer, were taken prisoners. These were fugi-
tives from the position carried by the Rifles. There
twenty-nine lay dead, and a much greater number
beyond
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THE RECONNAISSANCE OF MAHALLA
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In this part of the ground the defeat of the
enemy was complete, but upon the other canal
bank, or the point rather where two embank-
ments come together, the Egyptians were in
strength, and having the water between them and
the Marines, kept up a hot fire upon the latter.
" It was now apparent," says the Standard^ " that the
order to the left attack, under Colonel Thackwell,
had been misunderstood, as they should have ad-
vanced and joined hands with the Marines, in which
case large numbers would have been captured
. . . . Colonel Thackweirs error was one of a
kind which will frequently occur in war. His
order was to advance to the White House on the
canal There were two white houses, and he un-
fortunately stopped at the first, instead of keeping
on to that at the junction of the two embankments,
as intended. At this point the enemy were making
a strong stand They had been greatly reinforced,
and notwithstanding the shells of Fisher's 40-
pounder, kept up a heavy fire on the Marines."
Major Donald, with fifty of the latter, closed up
and kept them finely in check. When one of our
men fell his next file would cry, " Stretcher ! " and
keep his rifle at the "ready" till the sufferer was
borne away.
While Sir Archibald Alison was surveying Arabics
position and making his notes thereon, the enemy
continued to shell the train and throw rockets at
the empty trucks in which the Marines had been
conveyed At half-past six the enemy had showed
in greater force, causing the Staffordshire to advance
again with the 9-pounder, manned by sailors, who
shelled the position with renewed vigour, but the
enemy replied feebly. Captain Fisher's armour-
clad train replied to their rocket fire, but as darkness
was now closing in, the Marines were withdrawn
along the railway line, firing briskly as they retired,
and by this time the whole force engaged in the
reconnaiss2tnce was falling back, headed now by the
reserves in extended order across the sandy plain.
The Rifles retired along the right bank of the canal,
and the Mounted Infantry by the left The trains
returned at a slow pace, and by eight p.m. all were
out of action.
So ended the reconnaissance at Mahalla Junction
on the Cairo Railway. The total loss of the left
column was only two killed and three wounded
One of the latter, an old 38th man, was shot
through the cheek, but went on fighting as if un-
touched; but one of the former was Lieutenant
Howard Vyse, of the Rifles, who, during the
oicounter near the canal bank, took the rifle of
his servant, and most unwisely stood erect against
the skyline to take a shot at the enemy. As he
was aiming, a ball struck his groin and killed him
on the spot
The Naval Brigade suffered most, having two
killed and twenty-four wounded, ten being dan-
gerously sa
Captain Fisher's ironclad train has been thus
described: — "First a full-sized goods waggon, on
which is mounted a 40-pounder Armstrong gun,
and which contains the officers in command of the
detachment, and blue-jackets to work the gun ;
next a waggon, containing 40 men and a Norden-
feldt gun ; then a third, with 40 more men and two
Catling guns. All these waggons are protected by
two-inch armour-plates and sand-bags, and their
occupants are comparatively secure from anything
but bursting shells. After the thfrd waggon comes
the engine, likewise cuirassky well covered with sand-
bags, and behind it follow the requisite number of
ironclad waggons containing the troops destined to
go into action. This train proved of the greatest
use in the action, and it was entirely owing to the
magnificent practice of the 40-pounder that Arabics
9-pounders were rendered innocuous at a very
early period of the engagement"
Another person, however, claimed the general
idea as his by patent, but it has since been proved
that the idea of utilising locomotives in offensive
warfare was suggested in a book published so far
back as 1849 ^Y Mr. James Anderson, CF^, Edin-
burgh, the main object of his invention being to
provide rapid means of coast defence, then occupy-
ing a large share of the public attention.
Drawings of Mr. Anderson's plan were submitted
to the Duke of Wellington and to Lord Hardinge,
at the Horse Guards, in July, 1849, ^^^^ the reply
received was, that as the total estimated cost of
railways and ordnance carriages was above a million
sterling, '*a measure requiring such a large outlay
of public money must necessarily come under the
consideration of her Majesty's Government before
it could be acted upon, and the Commander-in*
chief did not think it necessary to offer any opinion
on the matter."
The reconnaissance proved conclusively that Arabi
was still holding his ground, and the officer taken
prisoner asserted that he had line after line of
entrenchments all the way back to Kafrdowar,
manned by 12,000 men, with 36 pieces of cannon,
rocket-tubes and Gatling batteries.
About the same time a party of our Marines, 200
strong, under Major Phillips, and a party of seamen,
with one gun, under Lord Charles Beresford, were
sent to a village near Mex to search for combustibles.
There they were informed that some 400 Bedouins
were hovering in the neighbourhood behind some
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sand-hills, bent on picking off our advanced sen-
tinels, Arabi having set a handsome price on the
heads of British soldiers. The seamen, with their
7-pounder, got within long range of these fleetly-
horsed men of the desert and killed a few, on
which the rest fled at full speed
On the 6th General Graham took command of
the British positions at Ramleh.
It was about this time that Mr. De Chair, a
young midshipman of the Alexandra ironclad, fell
into the hands of the enemy. He had been sent
from Ras-el-Tin to the Ramleh outposts with
despatches, about five in the morning, and did not
return. Every search was made for him, and a
reward offered, but after a time it was discovered
that he had lost his way, been taken prisoner, and
sent by the Egyptian commandant of Aboukir on
horseback to Arabi, who conversed with him for
nearly half an hour with great kindness, and sent
him on to Cairo, with instructions that he should
be well treated, comfortably quartered, and have
full permission to write to his mother in England.
Though the sternest work of the war had not yet
begun, military duty was hard enough in Alexandria.
In addition to incessant patrols and pickets, with
constant night alarms, our men had to contend with
the ancient plague of Egypt, vermin and fleas, with
which every mouthful of their rations had to be
fought for; and in the first hour of dawn men
might be seen bathing in the fountain of the Public
Square, or sitting on the edge of it, busy in the
hopeless task of shaking fleas out of the clothes they
had been wearing perhaps for forty-eight hours con-
secutively. The heat was excessive now, both
ashore and on board, especially at night when out
of the breeze, and the officers of the fleet suffered
most, as, being without uniforms for tropical climes,
the rules of the service compelled them to wear
frock coats.
On the 8th of August the guns of the Superb^
lying off Ramleh, to cover the ground between the
British lines there and the outposts of Arabi, shelled
a body of Bedouins who were constructing earth-
works to the southward, on the edge of the desert,
at the distance of 2,200 yards from the sea. About
the same time our troops in the Ramleh lines opened
fire upon a party of cavalry, which approached from
Eshet Kewshid, and drove them back after a few
rounds.
Troops were now pouring ashore fast from
Britain, and various military movements took
place daily, petty skirmishes occurring in the
sandy plain near Ramleh, where the Cameron and
Gordon Highlanders were under orders to form
the nucleus of Sir Archibald Alison's Highland
Brigade, and in one of the skirmishes the advan-
tage of the electric light was curiously illustrated.
The Duke of Connaught, then at the head of the
Brigade of Guards, had placed his outposts on the
canal. Suddenly, by a flash of the clear cold glare
of an electric light from a ship of war, as it was
swept round the sandy waste, a patrol of the
enemy's cavalry was seen on the opposite bank.
Our outposts fired instantly, but on the light being
turned in another direction the whole locality was
plunged again in darkness, on which the firing
ceased. Arabi's cavalry were thus enabled to
gallop off, but as they went, casual flashes revealed
them twice again, enabling the picket to send a few
shots in their direction " Whether they incurred
any loss is unknown," says a correspondent, " but
could our outposts have given notice on the instant
to the operators of the electric light, its rays could
have been kept concentrated upon the spot, and the
enemy would assuredly have suffered. Light wires,
with telephones to the outposts, would be of great
value in operations of this kind, as they would
serve not only to direct the operation of the light,
but to give instant notice of what was passing in
the front, by which means the troops would either
be allowed to sleep, or be called under arms, as the
occasion required."
Arabics earthworks were now beginning to look
formidable. Their height was reported to be about
thirty-six feet, with ditches, scarped embrasures,
and well-mounted guns, some of heavy calibre and
excellent make. Early in August our staff credited
him with having eighty guns, at least, in battery at
Kafrdowar, but that many were light field-guns,
while there was a great want of gunners.
The Times correspondent described his position
as a regular earthwork of great height, with em-
brasures. " The work has been carried at right
angles across the railway, and all down the face of
it swarms of white-coated soldiers are visible like
ants on an ant-hilL On the crest sat an oflScer in a
chair, and round him stood his staff; a line of men
lay in a trench guarding the operations. Arabi
evidently has a very energetic engineer with him,
and means to make another Plevna."
At this time two more very dashing reconnais-
sances were made, one by Lieutenant Henry T,
Smith-Dorrien, of the IfwinaUe^ and another by
Captain Hallam Parr.
The former, accompanied by Lieutenant Hamilton,
of the Helicon^ bravely undertook to execute the
duty without escort. At half-past eight on the
evening of the 14th of August they crossed the
Hecla Bridge on the Mahmoudiyeh Canal, held by
the 35th Regiment, and proceeded along the Cairo
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TWO SPIRITED RECONNAISSANCES.
413
Railway till clear of our outposts. They then took
the bearings of the enemy's position and crossed
Lake Mareotis, proceeding the while very cautiously,
often by rough and muddy ways, for about sixteen
miles, and about two the next morning found them-
selves within 300 yards of the Egyptian cavalry
camp ; but as the darkness was great they could get
no details of the position, and resolved to wait till
daybreak, when death might be the penalty of
capture.
They had not moved thirty yards in search of
concealment, when the enemy's pickets saw them
and showed a bright light, which was answered
along the whole line. Finding themselves dis-
covered, they ran for the lake, about a mile distant,
and took to the water for 100 yards, pursued by
the enemy's cavalry, who- halted at the edge and in
extended order, cuttmg off alike advance or retreat
" The horses seemed afraid to face the water in the
dark," reported Lieutenant Dorrien, " and we pre-
sume the reason the enemy did not fire was in
order not to alarm any force we might have had
near. Theu* system of signalling lights was excel-
lent Every time we moved our movement was
flashed down to the nearest man, and answered
along the line. We almost gave up hope, and tied
a white handkerchief on to a wading-pole. After
a brief consultation, we decided to make another
effort before giving up. At four in the morning we
went another 100 yards farther into the lake, and
lay down in two feet of water. Then we think the
troops lost sight of us. At half-past four the lights
disappeared. At a quarter to five we found the
cavalry retreating. We then made a long dHour
towards Mex, and returned to the Hecla Bridge at
half-past seven."
On the morning of the 15th of August the
Mounted Infantry, under Captain Hallam Parr,
made a very dashing reconnaissance. On this
occasion he was accompanied by Colonel Gerrard,
brigade major of General Graham's brigade, the
and of the ist Division of Infantry. They left
the lines at Ramleh about three a.m., with orders to
get as close to those of the enemy as possible, and
to inspect and report upon the exact features of his
position.
Riding quickly and swiftly across the sandy waste
that lies between the Mahmoudiyeh Isthmus and
the Lake of Madieh or Aboukir, they reached the
verge of the cultivated land in front of Kafrdowar
before the sun rose. The main body halted half a
mile out in the desert, while Colonel Gerrard, with
Lieutenant Piggott and six men only, went to the
front
As their white tropical helmets would not fail to
attract the attention even of the drowsy Egyptian
sentries, they took them off while riding boldly
along the flank of the position. The broad red day-
light of the Egyptian morning came fully in before
suspicion was roused, and ere that, several valuable
notes and even sketches had been made. The
enemy were now aware of their presence, and fired
a few shots as they wheeled about to rejoin the
main body, towards which they were proceeding at
a canter, when suddenly a body of Arabi's cavalry
darted out from behind a grove of palm-trees, and
endeavoured to cut them off. Had these Egyptians
acted boldly, using spur and sabre, they must
have succeeded, but, as it was, they rode in a timid
and bewildered manner, which enabled the eight
men to rejoin untouched.
On Captain Parr giving the order to fall back by
sections of fours, the enemy, conceiving the move-
ment to be a flight, gathered courage and came on
in pursuit, led by a picturesque-looking Bedouin
warrior, clad in a long and flowing burnous.
Captain Parr halted his men, and ordered twelve
to dismount and open a fire, which checked the
Egyptian advance. The range was quickly found ;
the leading Bedouin and another fell dead, on
which the rest wheeled about and galloped away at
full speed, leaving the Mounted Infantry to ride
leisurely into camp.
The belts and helmets of the troops were now
being stained; their red serge jackets were fast
becoming discoloured, and as they were badly made
and of indifferent material, they speedily became
crumpled under the belts and accoutrements, to
which every officer and man had added, by order, a
large " gully** knife for common use, hung loosely by
a stout cord from the neck. " The younger troops
here seem far below the usual standard of British
soldiers as I saw them in the Afghan and Cape
campaigns," wrote a correspondent "A great
number of them are scarcely set up at all, and
have no soldierly appearance, besides being dirty
and untidy. Even upon guard they slouch instead
of marching."
The Guards seemed an exception to these
mea The scowling Arabs, as they gathered at
the street comers in Alexandria and Ramleh,
beheld, with a species of sullen wonder, com-
pany after company of the brigade defile past,
and were unable to conceal their emotions of
astonbhment at such stately troops. " I overheard
one," says an eye-witness, " ask his neighbour how
many thousands of them were coming, to which
the other piously replied, *A11 is lost; Islam is
overthrown ! * "
But greater grew the wonder when the Cameron
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Alemdifa.
Highlanders landed from the Orantes^ and after
being inspected by General Adye, marched through
Alexandria with drums beating and pipes playing.
" Their kilts, fine physique, and general smartness,"
LIKUT.-GBN. SIR JOHN ADYE, CHIEF OP THE STAFF.
says the writer before quoted, " excited scarcely less
admiration than did the appearance of the Guards."
The march of the Household Brigade to Ramleh
was no doubt described to Arabi, and would of
course tend to impress him with the idea that at
that point the great struggle of the war would take
place.
When our troops were in Egypt before, under
Abercrombie, Ramleh consisted of a single house,
built of wood, upon a sandy knoll ; and on the
roadway near it in the English cemetery are still to
be seen the graves and tombs of several of his
officers who fell in action or died of disease. The
inscriptions were legible in 1850.
On the 15 th of August the Khedive issued two
decrees, charging Britain with the task of restoring
order in Egypt The first was as follows : —
" We, Khedive of Egypt, make known to the
civil and military authorities in the Isthmus of
Suez, that the Admiral and Commander-in-chief of
her Britannic Majesty's forces are charged to re-
establish order in Egypt, and are authorised to
occupy all the points they may consider useful for
the military operations to be undertaken against the
rebels. We invite the said authorities to bring the
present order to the knowledge of all the inhabitants
of the Isthmus, and particularly the agents and
employh on the Maritime Canal We hereby also
inform all whom it may concern that any opposition
to the present order will constitute z, violation of
our commands, and will expose persons offering
such opposition to the gravest consequences.
(Signed) "Tewfik."
The second decree authorised the conmiandos
of the British forces to prohibit the importation of
coal, or the munitions of war, along the whole
extent of the coast from Alexandria to Port Said.
By these documents the Khedive simplified our
task and legalised the mission of our expedition
to Egypt, at the same time depriving Arabi of
the last shred of a pretence that we were there as
aliens and intruders. Peculiar interests sometimes
create peculiar rights, and we had both in the
Maritime Canal, for it is evident that the Queen
of Britain has a more substantial interest in- the
welfare of Egypt than France or Italy, Germany or
Russia.
Sir Garnet Wolseley, who had suffered firom fever
before leaving England, and had consequently been
advised to make the journey by sea, arrived on the
iSth of August at Alexandria, and on the following
day he issued his proclamation to the Egyptian
people. It stated that the only object of the British
expedition was to re-establish the authority of the
Khedive, who, in virtue of the Sultan's firman, was
the sole legitimate ruler of Egypt It also declared
that our intentions were most fiiendly to all who
loyally recognised the authority of the Khedive;
that the religion, rights, and liberties of the people
MAJOR-GEN. SIR S. B. HAMLBY, COMMANDING THE
SECOND DIVISION.
would be respected, their assistance welcomed, and
all supplies paid for.
On the 17th he ordered the re-embarkation of
such parts of the ist Division 9s had been landed
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ARABre POSITION.
415
This took place on the i8th, the same day that the
British Parliament was prorogued ; and our soldiers,
now bronzed by the African sun, longed to grapple
with the enemy. One who saw the embarkation
details it thus : —
"At the present moment Alexandria harbour
offers a most animated appearance. Along by the
qu^ lie a score of huge troopships with steam
up. Troops crowd their decks. Screaming horses
are being hoisted high in the air in slings. Guards-
who reported every movement, even of the most
trivial nature, to Arabi at Kafrdowar ; the general,
therefore, proclaimed openly that the destination of
his troops was the Bay of Aboukir, where they
were to land after the forts there had been bom-
barded by the fleet
At half-past five in the evening of the day on
which the troops embarked. Sir Garnet Wolseley
examined personally the entrenched position of
ArabL In each embrasure a sentry was posted,
FOOD FOR THE TROOPS : LANDING CATTLE AT PORT SAID.
men, who have all the air of old campaigners,
stand as sentries at every corner. Everywhere are
visible signs of bustle and warlike activity. In the
distance I can hear the bagpipes of the Cameron
Highlanders as they march out to Ramleh, where
they will form part of the force under Generals
Alison and Evelyn Wood, the whole under the
command of General Hamley. The Arabs and
lower class of Europeans look on at the bustle and
movement with amazement depicted on their coun-
tenances, unable to understand why troops who
only the other day landed and marched to the
front, should now be brought back and re^mbarked
on board ship."
It was known that Alexandria was full of spies.
while a small patrol of his cavalry rode some dis-
tance down the railway line, to make sure there
was no sign of that unpleasant visitor, the armed
train, approaching before the usual precautions for
the afternoon were relaxed. By some it was thought
that Arabi himself was among those who came as
near the staff as was prudent Sir Garnet wore a
blue tunic, with brown boots, gloves, and large blue
goggles. With him rode the Duke of Connaught,
Generals Alison, Graham, and a dozen other officers
of distinction, all come to make a long and careful
examination of the hostile position, on which
Arabi's soldiers were seen at work, and he was
leaving nothing undone to strengthen it
Although Arabi had, as yet, taken no steps to
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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damage the canal, he held it at his mercy, and could
at any moment arrest and destroy the traffic on it
He had then 2,000 men, with two guns, within four
miles of it, and 6,000 more, with seven guns,
within an easy march.
Crowds of Arab ruffians, who should never have
been admitted after the bombardment, were now
thronging the half-ruined streets of Alexandria, and
the destruction of the great pump at the Ramleh
railway station, and a fire at the Zizinia Palace, were
believed to be the work of their hands. The fire
was extinguished by our soldiers of the 49th, while
the native police looked on and refused to render
the least assistance.
The fleet sailed on the 19th, and notwithstanding
Sir Gamefs proclamation and the ostentatious
preparations for landing at Aboukir, those who
knew Sir Garnet Wolseley well, believed that he had
his own secret plans and other views. " Those who
best know Sir Garnet," wrote one at the time, " will
be best able to appreciate the nature of this news.
There is no more reticent officer living than the
Commander-in-chief in Egypt — none more careful
in concealing his intentions. That a movement on
a large scale is about to take place is certain, and
as it would be impossible to conceal this, a parading
of ostensible purpose may have been the best way
of concealing this. Before now the enemy have
been deceived by means of the Press, which, pro-
perly worked, is as efficient an agent that way as it
would be the other way, if allowed to publish news
unrestrained. Sir Garnet Wolseley has an absolute
command over the telegraph wires, and a power of
stopping any messages which may be injurious to
his plans."
The officer appointed censor of the Press mes-
sages at Alexandria was the Hon. Colonel Paul
Methuen, of the Scots Guards.
The departure of the fleet from Alexandria
harbour was a very striking scene, as the great
white " troopers " and ironclads came out in suc-
cession, in the brilliance of a beautiful sunset, while
in the cabin of the little Salamis Sir Garnet
Wolseley, surrounded by his stafl*, sat busy over
maps, memoranda, and other papers. The ships
were crowded with redcoats, who cheered each
other vociferously, while the bands loaded the air
with inspiriting music, though white flags were
known to be flying all over the Aboukir Forts, which
did not look as if they meant fighting.
The huge Euphrates with the 60th Rifles led the
way. Every vessel had her station told off", and on
each was a long order with directions regarding the
landing ; and some of the following extracts may
show what these were : —
Previous to disembarkation every officer and
soldier was to have a good meal
They were to carry in their haversacks a day and
a halfs provisions, and every soldier 100 rounds of
ammunition.
Each battalion to have 200 spades of the Wallace
pattern.
The men to carry their valises in their hands
to be deposited upon the beach under a guard.
Besides the rations carried by the men, two da>^'
rations were to be with each regimental transport ;
the commissariat to take the further supply.
All heavy kits to be left on board the ships which
will form the base of the operations.
At 11.55 ^^^ man-of-war ships sent down their
topmasts, and the Nordenfeldt guns were all in the
tops ready for action. A demonstration was made
opposite the Aboukir forts, and the gunners there
stood to their guns. But when night fell, the
whole of the magnificent armament steamed on in
stately procession towards the east
With some surprise it was remarked that the
ships showed their lights, but this was doubtless to
avoid collisions. Moreover, it was too late now
for the army of Arabi to prevent the occupation
of the Suez Canal ; for that same night, according
to previous instructions. Port Said, Kantara, and
Ismailia were seized by detachments detailed by
the Port Said section of the fleet ; and next morn-
ing the Seaforth Highlanders, who had come from
India on the 8th, pushing on from Suez to Cha-
louffe, saved the Fresh-water Canal at that point-
operations we shall detail more fully.
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SKIRMISH BY THE HAHMOUDIYEH CANAL.
417
CHAPTER LXI.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR (fOftHntud) I — A SKIRMISH BY THE MAHMOUDIYEH CANAL— CAPTURE OF CHALOUFFE —
THE INDIAN CONTINGENT.
The naval armament with its freight had scarcely
quitted the harbour of Alexandria when the greatest
activity was displayed by the enemy opposite our
lines at Ramleh. Encouraged apparently by the
departure of the transports and ironclads, not only
did great numbers begin to labour on the earth-
works, but many ventured down to the railway
embankment, within rifle-shot of our advanced
sentinels, and retired after a couple of volleys were
given them.
Sir Evelyn Wood, commanding the 2nd Brigade
of the 2nd Division, when visiting the outlying
pickets, was fired upon, and in every way the enemy
showed more daring and confidence than usual; this,
no doubt, was caused by their knowledge that the
most considerable portion of our force was at sea.
It was therefore resolved that a reconnaissance
should be made to invite their attention, and to
discover the strength and position of Arabics right
at Kafi'dowar.
Accordingly, about half-past three, a wing of the
49th marched from a point below Ramleh water-
works, and proceeded along both sides of the canal
till the clump of palm-trees before mentioned was
reached. This was deemed an advanced post, and
had been the scene already of more than one
encounter. The companies on the left side of the
canal now extended in skirmishing order across the
open sand, while those on the right moved on under
cover of the earthen embankment
Sir Evelyn Wood now sent forward some picked
marksmen, whose fire forced the Egyptian vedettes
to retire with precipitation ; but a heavy fusillade
suddenly broke forth from their infantry, who had
lain concealed in the irrigation ditches of a field of
maize on the left It served to show that a con-
siderable force lurked there ; but— as usual with the
Egyptians when covered thus — their fire was both
wild and high, and all their lead, or nearly so, was
expended in the au*.
Meanwhile our skirmishers were lying flat on the
sand, creeping slowly forward, and throwing in their
fire with coolness and steadiness.
The Egyptians now, about half-past four o'clock,
opened fire firom their battery guns at the bend
of the canal These were in position at Kindji
Osman, at 700 yards* distance, and consisted of
two rocket- tubes, several 9- and 18 pounders, the
working of which exhibited better practice than their
gunners had hitherto shown, and several shells fell
in unpleasant proximity to our men, but fortunately
they plunged either into the canal, or between
our lines on both sides of it It was impossible
to ascertain the numbers in the maize field, as
they never showed out of cover, but they were
estimated to be a battalion on the left embankment,
exclusive of two companies pushed forward to the
littie grove of palms, near a place called the
Antoniades Garden.
As the Egyptian commander found that their
firing seemed innocuous, he now opened upon our
reconnaissance with a great 64-pounder and a 4-ton
gun from the centre of the works at Kindji Osman,
while a large body of cavalry and three battalions
of infantry extended from beyond the embankment
across the sands on our left By this time Sir
Evelyn had reconnoitred the works at 600 yards'
distance, and found them to be excellently con-
structed. The gunners there had now got the exact
range, and eight of their shells burst in the midst of
Captain Rathbone's company of the 49th, their
rifle-bullets at the time shredding away in showers
the long grass above the heads of our men.
Fortunately the shells lodged in the soft ground,
and though many men were covered with mud or
sand, only four were wounded.
General Wood now ordered the " retire " to be
sounded, and the skirmishers fell back, but slowly,
for about 100 yards, with an order that was perfect,
though all the troops were young, and now under
fire for the first time, and the general expressed his
high satisfaction at their conduct
Yet the relief was not unwelcome, when a battery
at Ramleh opened fire, and the ironclad train of
Captain Fisher came steaming furiously up on the
right from Gabarrie, with all its seamen cheering,
as they opened fire with their 40-pounder, and
planted a well-directed shell fairly into the enemy's
position, and thus diverted their fire fi'om the skir-
mishers of the 49th.
Meanwhile the latter, having now taken their
post within the 'palm-tree grove on the left of the
canal, and at the windows and walls of a farmhouse
that stood near, by their fire most effectually pre-
vented any attempt the Egyptian cavalry might
make to charge.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
The fire of the central battery was now levelled
at the armoured train, which the Egyptians would
fain have knocked to pieces, and one of their
largest shells exploded on the line just in front of
the trucks. Orders were now issued for a gradual
retreat; thus, the 49th and the train went back
together, Sir Evelyn conceiving rightly that the
expedition had achieved its object, in compelling
the enemy to reveal his strength and the position
of his batteries.
The cavalry continued to menace the retreat, till
a few shells came whistling out of Ramleh and
compelled them to withdraw. That we had not a
man killed was owing to the skill with which the
skirmishers were handled, and the bad firing of the
enemy. "One man of the 49th had an extraor-
dinary escape. A shell passed between his legs,
and its explosion carried away the seat of his
trousers. He was knocked over by the shock and
covered with mud ; but, after being raised, he was
found to be entirely uninjured.*'
The Egyptian losses were unknown, but firom the
silence and stillness that followed some of our
firing, they were supposed to be heavy. Arabi
evidently deemed his position impregnable, but he
would not venture to leave it, even against such a
small force as the wmg of the 49th Regiment
Next day, at half-past four in the afternoon,
General Wood sent forward the 38th and 49th
Regiments along the embankments of the canal to
make another demonstration. Simultaneously on
the left, the Cameron and Gordon Highlanders
advanced fi-om the Schutz Station, the terminus of
the Ramleh Railway, the whole supported by two
field-pieces.
The Egyptian cavalry deployed into line between
the canal and Lake Mareotis, but fell back as the
Highlanders advanced As yet there was no
musketry fire on either side, but the enemy's
artillery opened with 7-inch guns from Kindji
Osman, as soon as they acquired the range, on
which our troops fell slowly back without loss.
A shell knocked off the helmet of a Gordon
Highlander, yet the kilted line never swerved
The 40-pounders on the Ramleh battery gave
the Egyptians a few rounds of shell, planting one
skilfully into a house on the embankment at Eshet
Kewshid, the pumping station, and tore away a
portion of it As the edifice was full of Egyptian
soldiers, some of them must have suffered from the
explosion.
The Khedive watched these operations with a
field-glass firom the fiat roof of a villa that was
within range of the enemy's heaviest guns. One
of their shells passed completely over our lines,
and fell* without bursting, on the road near the
Ramleh Palace.
To return to the fleet : —
After rounding the point on which stand the
formidable works of Fort Tewftk, off which, about
a mile distant, lies Nelson Island, our fleet, the
largest that had ever been in these waters since
Nelson's time, steamed to the Bay of Aboukir. At
their appointed stations the stately " troopers" cast
anchor, while the ironclads made their demonstra-
tion in sight of the forts, steaming to and fro as if
about to open fire. The little Cygnet^ a composite
gunboat of four guns, bore in and passed the
Egyptian batteries at rifle range. A single sentinel
was seen standing under a tall staff, fh>m which a
white flag was floating out, a sign of peace or truce,
but between the embrasures could be seen the
scarlet tarbooshes of the artillerymen as they stood
by their guns, and as no shot came fi-om them, the
Cygnet steamed out to the fleet
As the evening began to close, the Salamis and
Helicon despatch boats, carrying Sir Beauchamp
Seymour and Sir Garnet Wolseley, were steaming
briskly about the fleet all the afternoon, issuing
fresh orders or making additional arrangements,
and after a time it became known that the bom-
bardment of Aboukir was not the object in view,
but Port Said and Ismailia were the destination as
soon as the darkness fell '' In the distance," says
a writer on board the Orient at this time, '' beyond
the view fi-om the shore, we could see that some of
the transports lyuig outside had already detached
themselves firom the fleet, and were steaming east-
ward Ashore on the low sand-hills, studded with
stimted and peculiarly shaped palm-trees, we could
see an occasional Bedouin moving about, and
watching the long line of great ships, from most of
whose funnels volumes of smoke were pouring.
While the hours to sunset passed slowly, we dis-
cussed whether Arabi would be likely to be deceived
by the ruse, as it was generally supposed that the
ironclads would fire upon the forts, while the troops
at Ramleh made a serious demonstration against the
enemy's entrenchments. In the meantime we shall
be on oiu: way to Ismailia, where we hope to arrive
before Arabi is aware that we have left the nei^
bourhood of Alexandria."
As soon as night fell, the fleet left its anchorage
off Aboukir and steamed away in two long lines,
the different lights showing each its appointed
station, while the brilliant revolving light on the
promontory of Aboukir — the supposed Zephyrium
of Strabo— flashed its radiance far across the waves
as if to guide the course of the armament Not
the slightest concealment was made about this
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OCCUPATION OF THE CANAL
419
movement, perhaps because there was nothing to
frustrate it ; for the lights of the shipping revealed
plainly to the Egyptians, if on the look-out, that
they were all in motion, and the direction in which
they were steaming.
Daybreak found them still ploughing the tranquil
sea, and nine o'clock on that day, the 20th, saw
the sixteen troopships with their escorts entering
the Suez Canal, with the ist Division, in the
following order: — the Ftnelope with 500 Marines
on board ; the Helicon with Admiral Seymour ; the
Tlialia ; then came the SalamiSy with Sir Garnet
and the head-quarter staff; the Rosina Nerissa^
with more Marines ; the Euphrates with the 60th
Rifles and the 46th ; the Catalonia with the 50th,
and the Nevada with the 84th. Then came the
ships with the Brigade of Guards under the Duke
of Connaught, followed by other transports, the
gun-boats steaming astern of all; the Beclay
torpedo-ship ; the furnished boats and others, with
gear, netting and so forth, for the protection of all
against the enemy's torpedoes, in case such should
have been sunk in the canal The canal was in
fiiU possession of the Navy and ist Division on the
20th, and Port Said was ours. Our men landed
there at three in the morning and quietly took
possession, not the slightest resistance being made,
so the Marines and blue-jackets at once began to
throw up earthworks, while the fleet steamed on to
Kantara and Ismallia. We took 180 prisoners,
many of them being surprised in their sleep.
Arabi's governor was put, as a prisoner, on board
the /w, and his predecessor, whom he deposed,
was reinstated. Captain Fairfax, R.N., C.B., was in
command of the town, with his head-quarters on
board the Monarch,
On the 2 ist the fleet was off Ismallia, a new
town, built equidistant from Suez and Port Said.
It protects the outlet of the second canal, which
carries the supply of fresh water from the river
Cairo to the Isthmus. Where the brilliant
little French-like town now stands, there lay till
1862 but the sandy wilderness traversed by the
roving sons of the desert Now a broad quay
borders the lake of Timsah, and streets extend
therefrom, with hotels, caf& and a theatre, well-
stocked shops, and the water of the Nile spouts
high from a beautiful fountain in the Place Cham-
pollion, so named from the great French writer on
Egyptian hieroglyphics.
On that day the disembarkation began, but the
whole force in the canal at that time consisted
only of seven squadrons of cavalry, one battery of
horse, and one of field artillery, with seven battalions
of infantry, besides a small portion of the Indian
Contingent, consisting of a detachment of cavaby,
and a battalion and a half of infantry, who were
partly at Suez and partly at Serapeum.
On the 22nd the disembarkation of the ist
Division was complete, and other troops began to
arrive rapidly in the canal
Early in the morning of the same day, that
column of Arabi's army at Chalouffe, which so long
held the canal in its mercy, was dispersed. This
place— Chalouffe-el-Terraba— is still little more
than a railway station, with a few poor sheds or
houses. It is near to what the French engineers
call the Petit Bassin^ or southern end of the Bitter
Lakes. The railway, the Sweet-water Canal, and
the Maritime Canal, all approach close to each
other at Chalouffe. The railway is at the west, the
Maritime Canal is on the east, and the Sweet
Water Canal is between them
The troops — a portion of the Indian Contingent
— consisted of 200 of the Seaforth Highlanders,
under Major Walter Frederick Kelsey, together
with the seamen and marines of the gunboats
Mosquito and Seagull^ imder Captain Hastings. -
They landed on the west side of the canal, where
Lieutenant Lang, a young officer of the Seaforth
Highlanders, with great bravery, by swimming
under fire, succeeded in procuring a boat, which
enabled them to cross to the west side of the Sweet-
water Canal, and attack the enemy from the
railway. Two Highlanders were drowned here.
The Egyptians, 600 strong, had cut the Sweet-
water Canal, and were strongly entrenched behind
the railway station. The banks of the Maritime
Canal are high, formed of the earth thrown up
when it was constructed, so the ordnance of the
gunboats was useless, save the Gatling guns, which
were worked from the tops of the masts, always a
dangerous position, as offering a tempting mark to
the enemy's riflemen, and the men who do this
duty are more deserving of merit for their bravery
than those who fight on terra fimicu
The French engineers, when they began the
Sweet-water Canal at Chalouffe, found a portion
of the ancient canal formed by Sesostris, King of
Egypt, who lived in an age so remote that many of
his actions and conquests are regarded as fables*
But traces of his canal were found all the length of
its route ; and at that particular spot, from some
peculiarity of its position, it had scarcely suffered
from the accumulations of time. This may account
for its great depth, which occasioned the drowning
of the two Highlanders, who had survived all the
campaigning in Afghanistan to perish as they did.
Chalouffe is of no importance in a military point of
view, and Arabi's troops could have been posted
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[ChalodEk
there for no other purpose than to cut off the
supply of fresh water.
It was captured at a rush by the bayonet; of
the enemy one hundred were killed and wounded
and forty-five taken prisoners, with one cannon,
all their arms, ammunition, and stores. We had
only two seamen wounded. The canal was
repaired and guarded,
and the brigadier recon-
noitred the locality in
force, and soon after the
transport Merton Hall
arrived with the 7 th
Bengal Infantry.
The following is an
extract from the de-
spatch of Rear-Admiral
Hewett, Commander-in-
chief on the East India
Station, detailing the
different operations at
Chalouffe :—
" On Sunday morn-
ing, at daylight, 400
Highlanders, under
Colonel Stockwell, were
disembarked from the
transport Bancoora^ and marched eight miles in
the direction of Chalouffe. Brigadier-General
Tanner, CB., accompanied this force, and at the
same time, I sent my Flag-Captain, Captain A. P.
Hastings, with the Mosquito and 200 of the Sea-
forth Highlanders to Chalouffe, by the Maritime
CanaL
"The party under Colonel Stockwell returned
to Suez about four p.m., without having touched
the enemy ; but later in the day Captain Hastings
returned in a steam pin-
nace to report very suc-
cessful operations from
the gun-vessels. It ap-
pears that the first that
was seen of the enemy
along the canal was a
small cavalry patrol,
about three miles on this
side of Chalouffe, and
his presence in force was
discovered only by a few
heads appearing over
the railway embankment
on the other side of the
Sweet-water Canal, this
embankment forming a
natural entrenchment,
behind which, it was
afterwards discovered,
there were 600 infantry
ready to resist our advance. These men were ex-
tremely well armed and accoutred, and had a
plentiful supply of ammunition with them.
"The coolness and dash of the Highlanders,
ISMAILIA.
with the excellent fire from the ships* tops, seem to
have been the chief causes of success, and the
conduct of all concerned appears to have been in
every way most creditable. I consider that credit
must be given to Colonel Helsham Jones, R.E., for
the fact of there being fresh water in Suez. Opening
the lock-gates above the point occupied kept the
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ADMIRAL HEWETT*S REPORT.
421
canal bel©w full, notwithstanding the waste oc-
casioned through a breach made by the enemy in
the banks of the canal, which has been repaired by
a company of the Madras Sappers.
'*I am in hopes that the action taken at
Chalouffe will do much to secure the safety of the
tarboosh. Only the regular troops were clad in
uniforms; but all were armed with excellent
Remington rifles.
By the capture of Chalouffe our Indian Con-
tingent had fairly inaugurated their share in the
war, and it was originally detailed and constituted
MilJO&-ORNKRAL SIR HERBERT MACPHERSON, COMMANDER OF THE INDIAN CONTINGENT.
canaly and, as the Indian forces are now fast ar-
riving, the Highlanders will go to Serapeum
to-morrow."
The commander of the Egyptian infantry at
Chalouffe was killed. The country in the vicinity
was of a difficult nature, consisting of a suc-
cession of watercourses and sandy ridges. The
prisoners taken, as yet, were all clad in loose
karku tunics, with white drawers and the red
thus. First in honour may be named the Seaforth
Highlanders, so often referred to in our account of
the campaign^ in Afghanistan. There were three
regiments of cavalry detailed for service in Egypt ;
the 6th, from Segowlie, under Colonel Oldfield,
had not been under fire since the Sikh campaign
of 1846, in all the glories of which it shared. The
13th Bengal Lancers, under Colonel R. C Ix)w,
CB., had served throughout the Afghan War, and
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BRITISH BATTLES OK LAND AND SEA
(IftinailaL
the 12th, from Jhansi, under Colonel Sir Hugh
Gough, had already seen service in Africa, having
formed part of Lord Napier's expedition to
Abyssinia, since which they had won laurels under
Roberts at the Peiwar Kotal, Charasiah, and Cabul.
The ist Native Infantry, from Nowshera, under
Colonel Larpent, had not been in action — singular
to say — ^since the siege of Bhurtpore. The 7th,
from Lucknow, under Colonel Worsley, was last
on active service in the campaign of 1846; and
the 20th Punjaubees, from JuUundhur, under
Colonel Rogers, CB., who led them in Afghanis-
tan, were utilised The 45th, so well known as
"Rattray's Sikhs," were ordered from Peshawur,
under Colonel Armstrong, C.B., who led them to
CabuL Three Madras regiments were warned for
service in Egypt, and six from Bombay.
Major-General Macpherson, whose name is
abready familiar to the reader, commanded the
Indian Contingent, and arrived with his staff at
Suez on the morning of the 21st August
Nefiche (from which 5,000 Arabs fled) as well
as Ismaflia was also occupied by our troops, those
of Arabi abandoning Ghemilah and withdrawing to
Damietta; and in consequence of the intemperately
worded protests made by M. de Lesseps against
the occupation of the canal by the British arma-
ment, the French Government addressed to him
an official communication, requesting him to act
with more prudence and observe circumspection in
his language for the future.
At Port Said, the British force holding it
occupied the old Dutch establishment there, the
Government having bought it for use as a barrack ;
and Tewfik's Governor, Ismail Pasha Hamdy, who
had been for five weeks a refugee on board a
Peninsular steamer, was reinstated in authority.
Ismaidia was taken possession of by Captain
Fitzroy, R.N., and the crew of his ship the Oriotu
They nearly surrounded the Egyptian troops, who,
however, escaped, firing a volley as they went, and
wounding Commander Kane. From the tops of
the Carysfort a train laden with troops was seen
approaching Nefiche, but a shot from a 25-ton gun
was sent through it, on which the troops fled.
During the night the ship fired occasional shells to
deter more from approaching, and in the morning
the 46th and 6oth Regiments came in.
Admiral Hewett, prior to his taking possession
of Suez, landed secretly a party of five men, with
instructions to blow up a part of the railway lines
with dynamite, so as to prevent the removal di
the stock to Cairo. The surprise party proved
unsuccessful, as the lines were carefully guarded
by soldiers.
General Hamle/s presence with his force at
Ramleh doubtless bewildered the staff of Arabi
Pasha, and hampered the movements of the latter.
With Suez, Ismailia, Kantara, Nefiche, and Port
Said all occupied by British troops, the canal was
secured from all danger. This did not imply the
abandonment of Alexandria as a base of operations
but the establishment of a second, not precisely in
rear of Arabi's strong and carefully fortified portion
at Kafrdowar, but at a considerably shorter distance
firom Cairo than his main army then was, and
seeming to indicate a direct movement upon the
capital ; while his whole force was unable to
oppose successfully, if divided, one advance fix)m
Ismailia and another from Alexandria. To
Arabi now it must have seemed that to hold
Kafrdowar with the bulk of his army was useless ;
that to fall back precipitately on Cairo would
dishearten and demoralise his troops, while to
advance against either of the two columns into
which Wolseley^s army was now divided, might
be to court certain destruction
The Suez Canal, from end to end, was now
entirely under British control; and the easy and
rapid manner in which the feat had been accom-
plished was in the highest degree creditable to the
naval and military authorities.
The BancoorOy with 400 of the Seaforth High-
landers, left Suez for Serapeum, which they found
deserted, and all the railway stock carried off by the
enemy, the glitter of whose bayonets could be seen
from the end of the Bitter Lake as they retreated in
great force about three miles distant
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A COUNCIL OF WAR.
4«3
CHAPTER LXIL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued): — PROCEEDINGS AT ISMAiUA — THE SKIRMISHES AT TEL-EL-MAHUTA —
THE SEIZURE OF KASSASSIN LOCK.
The troops on landing found that their water sup-
ply was in some places cut off by the enemy having
erected dams across the canal, and thus Sir Garnet
Wolseley with General Graham's force immediately
pushed on to seize and destroy these obstructions
to the flow of water.
"The Fresh-water Canal has been Ming for three
days," he reported to the War Secretary ; " and
although I had possession of Serapeum, I felt it
necessary to push forward and occupy that part of
the canal, which I had been warned was the point
on which it would be most seriously damaged —
about seven miles west of Ismailia."
Serapeum stands between the Great Bitter Lake
and Lake Timsah, on the bank of which stands
Ismailia, and doubtless takes its name from a
temple of Serapis, an Egyptian deity, supposed to
be the same as Osiris.
On the 2ist of August Sir Garnet Wolseley and
Admiral Seymour were both at Ismailia, and by
the noon of that day Nefiche was occupied by
General Graham and the Royal Engineers. The
junction and forts there formed our advanced post
On the same day Mahmoud Pasha Fehmy, chief
of Arabi's staff at Tel-el-Kebir, and two other
officers, openly came to the outposts and gave
themselves up, an event which was deemed sig-
nificant They alleged that many other officers
with their soldiers wished to come in, but were
afiraid to do so, as Arabi propagated reports that
the British shot all who fell into their hands.
Mahmoud Fehmy had been Minister of Public
Works, and was deeply envenomed against all
foreigners, but more particularly the British. They
stated that Raschid Pasha Husni, a Circassian,
one of Arabi's best soldiers, and Mahmoud S4my
were at Tel-el-Kebir, "about thirty miles from
IsmaHia, with 25,000 troops, 11,000 of whom were
regulars," mostly old soldiers recalled to the ranks.
On the 2ist a council of war was held on board
the Salamis at Ismailia, which presented a stirring
scene. A fleet of steamers, their funnels blacken-
ing the sky with smoke, crowded the I^ake of
Timsah, with the far extent of white or yellow desert
as a background, while coundess boatloads of troops
in all kinds of uniforms, horse, foot and artillery.
Rifles, Guards and Highlanders, were towed ashore
by launches, and marched up through the town,
with drums beating, amid groups of abashed and
astonished Arabs, and many other half-admiring
nationalities, the disembarkation proceeding the
while under the personal supervision of Sir Garnet
himself
The cavalry were somewhat late in landing, which
was remarkable, considering how urgently their
services were required, and serious doubts were
entertained as to how much the Life Guards and
Blues, being big men, and, as usual, underhorsed,
would be fitted for the work of Uhlans on the soil
of Egypt, though their dashing bravery, as was
proved in the sequel, was unquestionable.
Major Tulloch was set to work in the formation
of an Intelligence Department He had as sub-
ordinates Messrs. MacCuUoch and Clerk, of the
Egyptian Telegraph, who had rendered invaluable
assistance for some time previously. These three
worked industriously to learn the precise intentions
and disposition of the enemy. At both Port Said
and Ismailia they harassed the staff of Arabi by
sending false information, "and even went the
length of sending me a telegram," says the corre-
spondent of the Standard^ " which I unwittingly
forwarded, saying that the British admiral had
received orders not to land in the canaL A copy
of this telegram was sent to Cairo by the Egyptian
clerk at Port Said, where Major Tulloch tendered
it, and it was published in the local gazette, Arabi
thoroughly believing it"
On the 23rd of August nineteen Greeks were
captured by our military police in the act of pil-
laging at Ismailia in the Arab quarter, and ten of
them were instandy shot
A tramway was now being rapidly laid down
between the railway station and the quay in the
Lake of Timsah, while our Royal Engineers were
forming a railway fix)m the harbour to the Egyptian
raiboad at Nefiche.
A very important general order was now issued
by Sir Garnet Wolseley. Therein he warned all
soldiers that, as corporal punishment was now
abolished in the British army, there was no
medium between the punishment awarded for
minor offences and that of death. "He con-
fidently trusts, however," continues the document,
" in the good sense and honour of the soldiers who
are now fairly started to do battle for their country,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
flsmallk.
that they will respect the inhabitants of the districts
they pass through, refrain from plundering, pay for
whatever they have, and respect the religious
opinions of alL"
He further expressed his desire for native assist-
ance in quelling the rebellion, the entire object of
the expedition being to assist the Khedive in re-
storing peace and order, and in the re-establishment
of hb authority.
Concurrently with this, he issued another pro-
clamation to the people, stating that the British
were not fighting against the Egyptian people, but
the rebels of the Khedive alone. But this did not
seem to prevent some torchlight processions nightly
in the streets of Cairo, by men and boys, calling on
Allah to send death to the English. " Great Allah,
send death to all Christian dogs ! "
In the course of the 23rd General Graham made
a reconnaissance about four miles distant from the
advanced position at Nefiche Junction, towards El
Magfar, and encountered a small picket of twenty
men, who, after an exchange of shots, fled, and in
doing so, some flung away their rifles.
Marines and other infantry accompanied him to
secure the p)osition.
At Nefiche our sentinels looked out over a vast
extent of sandy desert, and with blue veils over
their faces, or blue goggles over their eyes, as a
protection against ophthalmia and the maddening
sand-flies, they presented a rather grotesque ap-
pearance.
"To the left," wrote an eye-witness, "can be
seen the blue waters of Lake Timsah, while in the
distance, rising apparently out of the sand of the
desert, are the masts of the great men-of-war, with
their white ensigns drooping, keeping guard over
the canal The Marines, Guards, Engineers, and
Household Cavalry are all now (23rd instant)
ashore, and would probably vie in physique with
any similar body of men in the world The
brigading the Marines with the Guards has had an
excellent effect, so far as the former are concerned,
and they are determined not to be beaten by the
Guards, while these know that they must exert
themselves to the utmost to hold their own with
the Marines."
Everything now pointed to the urgent necessity
for despatch. The Nile was rising rapidly; the
time for cutting its banks was fast approaching, and
a wide-spreading inundation might perhaps interfere
with — perhaps forbid — the operations of our troops
in the field. " Arabi is probably fully alive to the
value of an inundation as a means of impeding us,"
said a writer at the time ; " he could let loose the
waters without any of the elaborate machinery by
which in peace time the whole system of irrigation
is governed, and he is not likely to be deterred by
any dread of the destructive consequences of reck-
less flooding. Already he has tampered with the
Sweet-water Canal, the volume of which is appre-
ciably diminishing, and the occupation of El Mag£u-
by General Graham was probably intended, not
only as a reconnaissance, but also to bring as long
a length of the waterway as possible within our
grasp."
The temperature was now high, the sun un-
clouded and blazing hot, and along all the road-
ways which were provided with shade the troops of
the I St Division were bivouacking, in absence of
tents, but the general health was excellent, and all
were in the highest spirits. The heat and burden
of the day, in its earliest phases, fell most upon our
seamen, who had to do an immense amount of
heavy work in disembarking stores, dragging pon-
derous guns, bridging apparatus, and ammunition
of every kind
On the 24th of August Sir Garnet Wolscky
n^de his first important demonstration against the
enemy in the vicinity of Abu-Suer and of Tel-cl-
Mahuta, on the Sweet-water Canal, about nine
miles westward of Ismailia. In his despatch of
the 26th he states : —
" A gradual but continual decrease of level in
the canal at this place determined me to push
forward my available cavalry and artillery (very
little of which had landed as yetX together with
the two infantry battalions, which had advanced
to Nefiche Junction on the 21st instant, with the
object of seizing and occupying a position on the
canal and railway, which would secure possession
of that part of the water supply of the desert lying
between Ismailia and the first cultivated portico
of the Delta, which I had reason to believe was the
most vulnerable to damage at the hands of die
enemy.
"The paramount importance of this object,
as affecting all my future operations, induced me to
risk a cavalry movement with horses which had
been less than two days on shore, after a long sea
voyage, and also neutralised the objections, whkJi
I must otherwise have entertained, to placing Ae
strain of a forward movement upon the recent and
partially organised supply service."
Accordingly, while darkness yet hung over
Ismailia, at four a.m. in the morning of the 24th,
Sir Garnet marched out with the squadrons of the
Household Cavalry, the Mounted Infentry, two
Royal Horse Artillery guns, the York and Lan-
caster Regiment, and the Marines — both about
1,000 strong. The troops presented a strange
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ATTACK OF THE ENEMY.
425
aspect OS they filed silently forth to encounter what
might be the enemy in battle, or only a weary
march. All looked grimy, and all were partially
bearded. They were under the immediate com-
mand of Lieutenant-General Willis, commanding
the I St Divisioa
Day broke as they reached Nefiche, the advanced
post of the army, and following the general line of
the railway, about half-past seven a.m. arrived on
the northern side of the canal, about midway
between El Magfar and the village of Tel-el-
Mahuta.
On the route to the latter point nothing eventful
happened. A few fortified huts and shelter-trenches,
taken by our troops on the preceding Sunday, were
passed From these the road lay over a breezy
plateau of sand and up a small range of hills, and
all round the flat horizon were visible our sentinels
and vedettes, but no sign of an enemy could be
detected. "Lying down on the sand," wrote an
eye-witness, "I swept every portion of the sur-
rounding prospect with a glass, until drifting sand
filled my eyes and ears, and compelled me to desist.
I could see no tents, men, horses, or camels, and
it was clear that Arabi's army were massed many
miles farther west The line runs straight through
the hilly ridges, and on reaching Ramses, eight
miles from Ismallia, a sufiScient proof of Arabi's
skill and provision appeared All round, as far as
the eye could reach, the horizon was crowded with
troops, and fire from the batteries immediately
oi)ened, causing the quick deployment of the
British."
At Tel-el-Mahuta, says Sir Garnet, the enemy
had constructed his first dam across the canal, and
after some skirmishing with his scouts and light
troops, it was captiired by a charge of two squadrons
of the Household Cavalry, whose powers of en-
durance Sir Garnet was desirous of severely testing.
" From this point," he stated, " the enemy could
b6 observed in force, about one and a half miles
farther on, his vedettes holding a line extending
across the canal, lining the crest of a ridge which
curved round to my right flank at a general distance
of about 2,000 yards from my front The canal
and railway at Tel-el-Mahuta are close together, and
both are carried through deep cuttings, with mounds
of sand and earth on both sides of them. These
were strongly entrenched, and crowds of men could
be seen at work there.^'
At Mahuta the enemy had constructed a great
traverse or embankment across the railway, with a
solid dam across the canal, affording thus an easy
mode of communication from side to side. From
stat^nients made by some prisoners, taken by the
Mounted Infentry, as well as by the extensive front
covered by the enemy, it was apparent that the latter
were in strength at Tel-el-Msdiuta, while by the
smoke of locomotives that ran constantly towards
the position all forenoon, it was evident that re-
inforcements were coming up from the other
position at Tel-el-Kebir.
Sir Garnet Wolseley estimated the force of the
enemy immediately in his front at 10,000 men, but
he afterwards found that it consisted of only one
regiment of cavalry and nine battalions of infantry,
about 7,000 in number, twelve guns, and a multi-
tude of roving and undisciplined Bedouins.
" Although I had but three squadrons of cavalry,
two guns, and about 1,000 infantry," he states, ** I
felt it would not be in consonance with the tradi-
tions of her Majesty's army that we should retire,
even temporarily, before Egyptian troops, no matter
what their numbers might be ; I decided, therefore,
upon holding my ground till evening, by which
time I knew that the reinforcements I had sent for
from Nefiche and Ismailia would reach me. I con-
sequently took up a position suited to the numbers
at my disposal, with my left resting on the captured
dam over the canal, and the cavalry and mounted
infantry covering the right"
It was now nine in the morning. The Egyptians
had kept gradually strengthening their left flank,
and displayed considerable skill in the manner in
which they swung it round, moving along the reverse
slope of the position, while showing only light
troops upon the sky-line.
At this time two Royal Horse Artillery guns came
up ; they were late, though the officers in command
had made every effort to push them on as rapidly
as possible through the deep soft sand across which
the route lay, and in which hoof and wheel alike
sank at every pace. They took up a good position
on a sandy hillock near the railway bank, from
which a good view of the enem/s position could
be obtained
The infantry were now in shelter-trenches
scooped out of the embankment
By this time the enemy had opened a heavy
artillery fire, while his infantry advanced in excel-
lent attack formation, halting and forming a line of
shelter-trenches about 1,000 yards distant from our
position, while pushing some infantry on the left,
along the canal, to within 900 yards of the dam
held by the York and Lancaster Regiment, which,
in the days of less absurd and cumbrous titles, was
known as the 84th Foot, but the steady and well-
directed fire of that battalion checked the move-
ment on that side.
Shell after shell now fell among the cavalry;
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426
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
[Mahota.
General Lowe's horse was timid, and proved nearly
unmanageable. It was clear that the horses of the
Life Guards and Blues were too heavy and uni\4eldy
for work in Egypt, yet, under the bursting shells, their
colossal riders sat like statues amid a conflagration,
quietly as they had been wont to sit a short time
before in the arched gateways at Whitehall.
From ten till eleven the enemy continued to
develop his attack upon our right and centre. His
guns were splendidly served, and their shells burst
well among our troops ; but fortunate it was that
they were common shell, with percussion fuses,
which, when they plumped deep into the soft and
sun-dried sand, burst in such a fashion that few
splinters flew upward ; and when, after a time, they
voyage, and fatigued by their march across a
desert deep in sand, were in no condition to charge.
Major-General Drury Lowe spoke in the highest
terms of the manner in which the Mounted Infantr)*
were handled throughout the arduous fighting that
fell to their lot during the day. No troops could
have behaved with greater dash or steadiness. I
regret to say that Captain Parr was severely wounded,
and Lord Melgund was also wounded, doing duty
with the Mounted Infantry%"
Viscount Melgund, son of the Scottish' Earl ot
Minto, was a captain of the Roxburgh Mounted
Volunteer Rifles, serving with the Mounted
Infantry.
The heat of the atmosphere had now become
STEAM-SHIPS PASSING THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL.
took to the use of shrapnel, the fuses were badly
cut
Sir Garnet Wolseley felt perfect confidence in his
ability, even with his slender force, to repulse any
close attack of the enemy ; thus, he did not permit
his artillery to open fire for some time after they
were placed in position, as he hoped to lure
the enemy to closer quarters, under the belief that
we were without guns.
AVhen the enemy brought twelve guns into
action, and threw shell heavily into the ranks of
the Household Cavalry and Mounted Infantry with
perilous accuracy, our two Horse Artillery guns
opened upon his twelve with excellent effiect
" The Household Cavalry and Mounted Infantry
were skilfully manoeuvred by Major- General Drury
Lowe on the extreme right to check the enemy's
advance on that side," says the general's despatch ;
"but the horses, just landed from a long sea
oppressive. About noon, two Gatling guns, with i
party of seamen, under the command of Lieutenant
King-Harman, of H.M,S. On'oHy arrived, and came
into action, and the energy shown by them and by
some Marine Artillery who accompanied, excited
admiration.
" The fire opened by the enemy on my right,"
says Sir Garnet, " was as accurate as that which he
had already directed against my front, but although
many shells continued to drop in and around the
hillock, where our two guns were in action, causing
loss to the overworked men of the N Battery, A
Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, they continued lo
work their two guns with great steadiness during
many hours, exposed to a concentrated fire from
twelve guns, and under very tr}'ing conditions 0/
heat, glare, and sunshine."
They were commanded by Lieutenant Hickman.
Later on in the day, when his men were quite worn
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BIVOUAC ON THE FIELD.
427
out, the Royal Marine Artillery volunteered to
assist them, and did so until the close of the day.
At half-past three a forward march made by the
Household Cavaby and Mounted Infantry, under
Drury Lowe, on the right, caused the enemy's left to
withdraw from attack. The three squadrons of the
Household force did not use either their back- or
breast-plates in Egypt By this time, moreover, the
2nd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry (or old 46th) had come up from Nefiche.
had moved from IsmaiQia at half-past one p.m., had
suffered much from the great heat of the desert
march. Shortly after sunset the entire force
bivouacked on the field which they had so tena-
ciously held all day, and the enemy withdrew across
the ridge to his position at Mahuta. I have every
reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the men
engaged, and with the exertions made by the Corn-
wall Light InfEintry and the Brigade of Guards to
reach the field in time to share in our operations."
BRITISH SOLDIERS CUTTING A DAM CONSTRUCTED BY ARABI AT MAHUTA.
At a quarter-past five the Egyptian left again
advanced, under cover of four guns, across a ridge,
and moved with cavalry and a considerable infantry
force down the slope of it, but not near enough to
come within effective rifle or Catling fire; and now
our reinforcements were rapidly coming up.
Colonel Sir Baker Russell, of South African
fame, came galloping in with the 4th and 7th
Dragoon Guards, but both corps mustered only 350
sabres, and at six the Brigade of Guards, under the
Duke of Connaught, came upon the ground. " It
was now too late," continues the despatch, "to
begin an offensive movement ; the troops I had
with me were tired by their exertions in the early
part of the day, and the Brigade of Guards, which
On the following day— the 25 th of August-
orders were issued for a general advance against
the enemy's position at Tel-el-Mahuta, which was
put in execution shortly after daybreak.
Sir Garnet Wolseley, who had returned over-
night to Ismallia, reached the scene of the previous
day's fighting about half-past five in the morning,
accompanied by the Chief of the Staff, Sir John
Miller Adye (Surveyor-General of the Ordnance),
and bringing with him the remaining squadron of
the ist Cavalry Brigade.
His intention was to pivot on his left at the dam
captured on the 24th, about half-way between El
Magfar, a village consisting of a few mud huts, and
Tel-el-Mahuta, and swing round his right to take
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
the enem/s position in flank, and drive him into
the Fresh-water Canal, sending the cavaby com-
pletely round his position to occupy the railway in
his rear, and, if possible, to capture an engine and
some rolling stock ; hence, the heavy work on the
artillery and cavalry under General Drury Lowe.
At the very outset our Life Guards captured eight
prisoners, who were clad as <M*dinary peasants, but
were armed — two with long muzzle-loaders and six
with Remington rifles.
The ist Division, including the Household
Cavaby, the 4th and 7th Dragoon Guards, the
battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, and the 3rd
Battalion of the Royal Rifles had, before the
general's arrival, quitted their bivouacs and ad-
vanced against the enemy in the following order : —
The cavalry and Mounted Infantry, forming the
extreme right, were thrown well forward upon the
desert ridges over which the enemy had carried out
his flank movements on the previous day.
The artillery moved on to the left of the cavalry
towards the summit of the high ground known as
Salahieh, overlooking the line of railway between
the sutions at Ramses and Mahsameh.
The infantry on the left of the artillery advanced
in echelon of half-battalions from the right wing
against Tel-el-Mahuta, the Brigade of Guards
leading.
On the ground occupied by the enemy's guns on
the previous day, seven horses and two camels
were found lying dead. The place was strewed with
ammunition boxes, and our shrapnel shell were
lying about thickly. Several newly-made graves
were there.
^Vhen the summit of the ridge was gained, to the
great disappointment of our troops, the enemy were
seen to be abandoning the earthworks of Tel-el-
Mahuta, and to be retiring along the canal bank
and railway line towards Mahsameh. Their rail-
way trains were seen steaming away towards the
same place.
At twenty-five minutes past sfac a.m. our artillery
came into action against the enemy's infantry and
guns, which were posted on the canal bank west-
ward of the Arab village of Mahuta. As it was of
great importance to secure, if possible, some of the
enemy's locomotives. Sir Garnet Wolseley ordered
the cavalry to push forward with all speed, and
attempt to cut off the remaining trains. Led by
Drury Lowe, the cavalry, with eight Horse Artillery
guns, moved as rapidly as their cattle — which were
in no condition for hard work — would permit, and
inclining towards the left, began that flanking move-
ment, which, had the Egyptians retained their
position, would have b^en carried out by the whole
line, when the enemy must have been hurled into
the canal at the point of the bayonet
Fortunately for our cavahy, the ground they
moved over was harder and better than that they
had traversed on the preceding day.
The enemy's artillery opened at once, but the
unexpected direction taken by our cavalry threatened
their line of retreat, and the steady aspect and
magnificent array of our troops, with all their
shining arms, proved too much for the gunners,
who, after firing a few rounds, began to limber up
in hot haste, while masses of their infantry were
already crowded in the trains and steaming away.
Once in motion, there was no hesitation on the
part of the Egyptian cavalry and artillery, who
galloped ofl" amid clouds of dust, through which a
bright point glittered ever and anon, while columns
of sand rose high in the clear air of the morning,
and amid these the screaming shells of our Horse
Artillery guns fell thick and fast
As our troops pushed on they found Tel-el-
Mahuta deserted ; but beyond it was a series of
entrenchments which the enemy had erected with
considerable skill and industry. One most formid-
able earthwork completely barred the line of rail-
way to Mahsameh, and had they defended it, would
have cost us serious losses. " The enemy offered
considerable resistance in the neighbourhood of
Mahsameh," says Sir Garnet Wolseley in Despatch
No. 2, "but nothing could stop the advance of
our mounted troops, tired even as their horses were.
Mahsameh, with its very extensive camp, left
standing by the enemy, was soon in our possession.
Seven Krupp guns, great quantities of ammunition,
two large trains of railway waggons, loaded with
provisions and vast supplies of various kinds, fell
into our hands. The enemy fled along the railway
and canal banks, throwing away their arms and
equipment, showing every sign of demoralisatioa
Unfortunately there was not at this time a troop
in the whole cavalry brigade that could gallop,
their long march and rapid advance having com-
pletely exhausted the horses, who were not yet fit
for hard work after their voyage from England.
The results of the operations extending over two
days have been most satisfactory. The enemy has
been completely driven from the position at Tel-el-
Mahuta, which he had taken such pains to fortify,
and on which he had, by force, compelled 7,000
l^easants to labour. The canal has been cleared
for more than half the distance intervening between
IsmaTlia and the Delta, and the water supply com-
pletely secured to us."
Some of their infantry who had failed to get
seats in the fugitive trains were seen in full and
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RESULTS OF THE ACTION.
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rapid retreat, with the officers brandishing their
swords and vainly striving to get the disorganised
throng — new levies evidently — into some kind of
order. Some prisoners who were taken declared
that the majority of the men in the ranks had been
dragged from their homes and were fighting against
their will They were commanded by Raschid
Pasha, and the force he had collected at Tel-el-
Mahuta and Mahsameh consisted of ten battalions
of infantry, 8,000 strong, with six squadrons of
cavalry, twenty pieces of cannon, and a great force
of Bedouins. For more than twenty miles from
Ismailia the raibroad to Grand Cairo was now in our
possession.
While our infantry were marching into the
undefended lines of Tel-el-Mahuta, the cavalry,
imder Drury Lowe, made their wide circuit referred
to among the sand hills of the desert, and came
swooping down the railway station at Mahsameh,
after the seven-Krupp-gun battery had been
silenced by our artillery. A small party of infantry
fired a ragged volley, but in a moment our troopers
were amid them and hewing them down with their
long swords. A party of Egyptian cavalry, drawn
up in order, actually made a show of charging ours
in flank; but a single troop of the Life Guards
wheeled and faced them, on which they fled at a
gallop^ An engine with a train was in the station
as our cavalry came up, and it was started at once.
The Dragoons went in pursuit at their utmost
speed and attempted to arrest the progress of the
train by firing their carbines at the driver, but were
unable to hit him, so the trucks were carried off
with the engine, which would have been a useful
and valuable capture. It happened that as the
Egyptian cavalry rode off at full speed, three of
them fell out of their saddles, on which one of our
Horse Guardsmen dismounted to seize and make
them prisoners. One showed fight and wounded
the Guardsman in the hand ; on which the latter,
a gigantic Yorkshireman, named George Browning,
with a sweeping stroke cut the Egyptian literally
in two, twisting up hb sword with the stroke, and
brought away a handsome dagger as a trophy of
his victory.
Our infantry encamped at Tel-el-Mahuta, a fact
important in itself, as securing so many more miles
of the canal
The fighting of these two days proved incon-
testably the vast superiority of shrapnel shells over
percussion. The practice of the Egyptians was
good, but luckily for us, they chiefly used the latter,
which burst in the soft sand, and did little mischief
"While our battery was changing ground, owing
to the enemy having got their range with accuracy,
a shell burst in a driver's body, blowing him into
fragments, but doing no other damage. Our men
never quickened their pace, but moved steadily to
the position assigned them. The first shrapnel shell
they fired burst over two of the enemy's guns, and
at once put them out of action, killing the whole of
the teams and the gun detachments. Not another
shot was fired from these guns during the day."
Owing to the result of the previous day's action
(says Sir Garnet in his despatch) many of the
Egyptian troops had quitted the position during
the night, and upon our guns opening on the morn-
ing of the 25th, the 7,000 labourers fled Raschid
Pasha then gave orders for a general retreat
Military operations in Egypt at that season of the
yearwere particularly trying to the troops engaged,
while the total absence of anything like a road
rendered all movement difficult and fatiguing.
Owing to the fact of this advance having been
made before the lines of railway and telegraph had
been repaired, or the canal cleared of obstructions,
or any regular system of transport effectively or-
ganised, considerable exposure without tents, and
severe privations as regards food, were imposed
upon all ranks.
The casualties of the 24th and '25th are given
thus:—
Household Cavalry — One private killed, twelve
wounded ; ten horses killed
Royal Horse Artillery — One bombardier and two
privates, and ten horses, killed; one gunner
wounded
York and Lancaster Regiment — One private
killed, and six wounded ; twenty-five cases of sun-
stroke.
Royal Marine Artillery — One private killed
Mounted Infantry — Two officers wounded (Parr
and Melgund) ; three horses killed
The general further enumerates forty-eight cases
of sunstroke, one of which was fatal
Among those hit on the 25th was Captain A.
Bibby, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, who was shot
through the lungs early in the action, and five
troopers also were wounded Captain Bibby had
been previously in the 13th Hussars.
During these two days our troops had a hard
time of it On the 24th they had started at four a.m.,
and had had no food all day, save a few biscuits,
under intense heat, and marching over heavy sand,
in which the majority of the transport carts stuck
fast The events of the campaign daily proved the
great value of Mounted Infantry. On the 25th,
while our cavalry sat in their saddles helplessly
under the fire of the enemy's artillery, the Mounted
Infantr)', seventy strong, were far to the front, dis-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
mounted, working skilfully under cover, and picking
off the hostile gunners with carefully-sighted rifles.
Sir Beauchamp Seymour left nothing undone to
assist the Commander-in-chief. He sent a pinnace
with a 9-pounder up the canal on the 24th, and
organised along it a boat service for supplies till a
locomotive could be got for the railway. And three
days after saw an important arrival at Ismailia,
when an engine with nine trucks came steaming in
from Suez, after a five hours' journey. It had been
taken by ship from Alexandria to Suez by Major
Wallace, and there disembarked. The trucks were
filled by men from the Euryalus and Rvby^ bring-
ing with them a Catling gun, a 7-pounder, and half
a company of Madras Sappers.
Of the state of the atmosphere during the two
days' skirmishing prior to the seizure of Kassassin
Lock, the correspondent of the DcUly News has the
following : —
" I do not wish to flatter our army, but I must
say that although this engagement was anything
but serious, so far as hard fighting goes, I consider
our soldiers have acted splendidly ; and I am not
writing without experience in such matters. The
difficulties of the ground were fearful, and the heat
of the sun defies exaggeratioa One's hands and
face became literally roasted. It was like keeping
them before a roaring kitchen fire for ten hours a
day. Of course, persons will complain that the
transport service was insufficient, and assuredly it
was ; but what transport service — and we have the
finest in the world— could face this burning sand
and glaring sun? Readers will perhaps smile
incredulously when I say that this day made the
stirrups literally bum my boots! A great many
transport carts had to be unharnessed to drag the
guns up last night, and I noticed them standing
beside the railway line as I rode to the scene of
action this morning ; but everything is going to the
front fairly well, considering the difficulties that
have to be encountered. The only transport ser-
vice possible in a country such as this through
which we are passing would be one composed of
camels, such as the enemy possess."
Tel-el-Mahuta, which our infantry now occupied,
lies about two miles from Ramses, on the opposite
side of the canal The latter place consisted only
of half-a-dozen wooden houses, some mud huts,
and a pleasant grove of palm-trees. Within it were
several pyramids of stones, each marking a newly-
made grave. Over all rose the outline of its quaint
little mosque, having a square minaret filleted with
broad red and white stripes. Beyond Ramses the
country seemed to be more fertile and pleas^t to
the eye.
The general situation on the day after the cap-
ture of Raschid Pasha's position at Tel-el-Mahuta
was, in some measure, an unusual one. General
Graham, with the Duke of Cornwall's and the
York and Lancaster R^;iments, about 400 Royal
Marine Artillery, and detachments of the 4th and
7th Dragoon Guards, mustering only fifty men,
with seventy Mounted Infiemtry and two Royal
Horse Artillery guns, occupied an advanced posi-
tion at Kassassin Lock; while General Druiy
Lowe, with squadrons of the Life Guards and
Blues, the remainder of the 7th Dragoon Guards;
four Royal Horse Artillery guns, and a battalion
of Marines, remained behind at Mahsameh, where
a large lake adjoins the canal
The Brigade of Guards, under the Duke of
Connaught, was still farther away from the enemy at
Tel-el-Mahuta, and part of his force was, perhaps,
farther to the rear. "Throughout all these early
days of the advance, the Guards worked splen-
didly," says the Tivus, " It was impossible for them
to be present at the action of the 24th, but they
showed the stuff of which they were made by pres-
sing forward through the heat of that day, arriving
on the ground in the evening. On the 25th they
were eager for the fight; but the enemy refused
the combat, and after that their spirit and good
temper were shown by the hearty zeal with which
they carried out the heavy duties of &tigue w<»rk,
aiding by their strenuous labours the preparations
for the advance."
The straggling and remarkable situation in which
the troops were, divided thus into three columns,
one being a small advanced guard, mustering less
than 1,900 men all told, and two guns, the cavalry,
except a few men for outpost duty, some three or
four miles in rear, and die rest of the force sdll
further rearward, was entirely due to the transport
and the difficulties of getting provisions and ammu-
nition sent to the fix)nt
One day — the 27 th of August — was permitted to
pass without an action of any interest along the
line of the canal in this quarter, save the arrival of
a detachment of Tiurkish troops, said to be on their
way to some station on the shores of the Red Sea.
They were not allowed to land on any territory
occupied by the British forces, though the Porte,
on the same day, nominally accepted the terms
of the convention.
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A BRUSH WITH THE BEDOUINS.
431
CHAPTER LXin.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued)', — OPERATIONS OF THE SECOND DIVISION AT ALEXANDRIA AND
RAMLEH — THE TREASURE CHESTS — ^THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
With the departure of Sir Garnet Wolseley and
the I St Division from Alexandria, the military situa-
tion in Egypt was transferred to some point then
unknown (says the author of ** Egyptian Letters "),
and the great ruse de guerre of Sunday, August 20th
— the expected bombardment of the Aboukir Forts
— left people there " in a state of collapse, which
was too complete to permit of accuracy for a time.
True it was that Lieutenant-General Sir Edward
Hamley and his division were out in front of the
town at Ramleh, and that Major-General Sir A
Alison and Major-General Sir E. Wood were
watching Arabics white flag and brown works as
cats watch mice; that the 42nd, 74th, 75th, and
79th (all Highland), the 35th, 38th, 49th, 53rd, and
96th were supposed to be under their orders with
the 3rd 60th, and Marines de plus; and that two
squadrons of the 19th Hussars, six batteries of the
Royal Artillery, and a siege-train, with Engineers
and all field appliances, might be thought by those
who relied on official-looking statements to form
part of the 2nd Division, so that our most eminent
writer on the art of war, Sir E. Hamley, would have
a fair chance of striking a blow at the enemy in
front, or of taking a distinguished part in the
operations against the rebel army."
Sir Archibald Alison had, while he held that
trying position, an independent command, evinced
excellent qualities, and Sir Evelyn's high reputation
also as a leader rested on a good foundation ; thus,
there was every reason to believe that the two
brigadiers of the 2nd Division had work cut out
for them.
The operations between the lines at Ramleh and
those at Kafrdowar seemed to repeat themselves in
the similarity of their details.
On the 23rd of August there were some signs
that seemed to indicate a retirement of the enemy
from Kafrdowar, and on that day the Austrian gun-
boat NautiluSy bound from Said to Alexandria,
when passing the Aboukir Forts, saw a white flag
displayed thereon. Her commander thus supposed
they were occupied by British troops, and sent
ashore a boat's crew, composed of one officer and
twelve men, who were at once made prisoners by
the Egyptians.
Under date of the 23rd it was reported : —
'^ Last night unusual activity was manifest in the
Egyptian camp. Three battalions of their infantry
marched up the railway embankment from Mahalla
Junction, this being the first infantry reconnaissance
that Arabi has attempted. The electric light was
turned upon them ; the column at once halted and
fell back immediately."
In the morning it was found that during the
night they had thrown up entrenchments on their
extreme right across the sands towards the Lake of
Aboukir, in consequence, it was supposed, of the
movement made by the Highlanders on the pre-
ceding Sunday, which threatened to outflank their
position.
The Bedouin horsemen were daily becoming
more troublesome and bold, owing to the enforced
inactivity of our troops, especially at Alexandria.
Thus, at ten at night on the 23rd of August, some
of our soldiers who were stationed in Count Zinia's
house observed a considerable body of these
marauders pillaging in their immediate neighbour-
hood, while some 200 of the enemy's cavalry were
seen only about 700 yards distant
Two companies of the 42nd Highlanders were
sent against them, under Major Richard Ken-
Bayly, who had served with that regiment at
Cawnpore, Lucknow, and elsewhere. They fired
forty rounds at the cavalry (according to one
account, which seems an exaggeration), and the
latter galloped ofi", leaving the Bedouins, who took
refuge in a house, where they prepared to defend
themselves. The Highlanders clambered in, led
by Major Wauchope, and storming the edifice,
captured five of them.
Early in the morning of the next day — the 24th —
a spy was captured while attempting to pass our
lines. He had waded through the shallow Lake
Mareotis, and pretended to have come in as a fiiend
to warn the British against a projected night attack
by ArabL General Wood and his stafi" immediately
rose, reinforced the pickets, flashed signab to
Alexandria, and had all the troops on the alert, but
no attack was made.
In the afternoon of the same day a working party
left Kafrdowar, and began to strengthen their new
trenches towards the Lake of Aboukir. General
Wood telegraphed to the 40-pounder battery to stop
these operations forthwith, and a few well-thrown
shells at once caused a speedy retreat, in revenge
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Alcxaadcia.
for which the Egyptian batteries, towards sunset,
fired heavily in the direction of our advanced post
in Antoniades Garden.
The blue-jackets were now busy in the erection
of a 7-inch gun battery, over which they placed
a board, having this distich painted thereon : —
H.M.S. Inconstant,
" Lay me true and load me tight,
I'll play the devil with Arabi's right''
On the 25 th our outposts at Ramleh could see
the Egyptians removing tents from their position at
There was now reason to believe that the
Egyptians had followed our sailors' example, and
mounted a piece of cannon on a truck. Early on
the morning of the 26th August, an engine from
Kafrdowar pushed this truck to a point behind the
entrenchments formed on the previous day. There
was a large white mantelet on the truck, which, as
yet, prevented our troops from seeing what it
carried. At six that evening an armoured train
left the position at Kindji Osman, and came for-
ward about 300 yards, when two of our heavy guns
M. DE LESSEPS.
Kafrdowar ; and on the following morning about a
thousand of them were seen pitched in front of the
position, which was believed to be a ruse to mask
the withdrawal of Arabi's troops, more especially as
the rumours of his forming entrenchments eastward
of Cairo were now confirmed Yet, all that day
his sappers were seen to be unusually active at
Kafrdowar; and in the afternoon a body of them,
about 500 strong, were at work on his left, forming
new entrenchments across the sands between the
railway embankment and Lake Mareotis, covering
all the ground over which the Marines had ad-
vanced early in the month.
Thus his flanks were now covered by trenches
to Lake Mareotis on one side, and Lake Aboukir
on the other.
from the Waterworks Hill fired five rounds againsc
it, while General Hamley and Sir Archibald Alison
were present Some of our shells exploded close
to the train, but the Egyptians made no response.
One of our shells burst too soon after leaving the
gun, scattering fragments among a picket of the
38th, and then falling into the canaL But from
the 7-inch guns, ahnost every afternoon, half-a-
dozen shots were thrown into Arabi's camp, and
seemed to be generally received with indifference.
The Bedouins were still hovering about Mex
and Lake Mareotis ; and on the morning of the
27 th they appeared in force opposite the fort at the
former place, where the Malta Fencible Artillery
had been recently relieved by the psth, or Derby-
shire Regiment
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kadOeh.]
EGYPTIAN REPULSE.
433
Numbers of them were observed fording the shal-
low lake a few miles beyond the fort, and towards
two p.m. a body of picturesquely-clad horsemen
was seen on the crests of the hills beyond the
firing ensued, but the Egyptians speedily finding
it too hot to endure, abandoned the houses, and
retired with precipitation on their main body, leav-
ing twelve dead and many wounded behind them.
MAUMOUDFAUMY, CHIEF OF ARABICS STAFF. ^
village of Mex, near the western walls of the fort
It was soon followed by two battalions of infantry.
Some of these now pushed forward, and took pos-
session of the more remote houses of the village.
A small detachment of the 95th, led by Major
De Salis, now issued forth to dislodge them. Pass-
ing through the village, the major soon reached
the houses occupied by the enemy. Some sharp
1. L
On our side we had but one man killed, Private
French, and another, named James, wounded (so
severely that his arm was amputated) while forcing
their way into a house at the bayonet's point
"There is no doubt that a strong force of the
enemy are collected in that direction," vrrote an
eye-witness. " From the ramparts of the fort I could
discern skilfully laid-out entrenchments constructed
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA, .
ItUmkk
with flanking works, and with embrasures for
eight guns, on the crest of the hills, on the other
side of the lake between the causeway and the
village of El KhreL The whole hill-sides are
dotted over with the white uniforms of pickets and
sentries, while strong working parties are labouring
at entrenchments."
On the afternoon of the 27 th a sharp artillery
duel ensued at Ramleh between our 7-inch
guns and the enemy*s 15-centimfetre cannon. The
practice of the latter soon became startling from its
excellence. Their shells dropped in rear of the
camp of the 53rd Regiment, and caused it to
change quarters, while one struck the ground
exactly between two of our 7-inch guns
Theirs, at this time, seemed to be superior to ours
in the certainty of their range, though, fortunately,
less accurate in direction.
Two very heavy guns recently placed on our
position beyond the lines on the Waterworks Hill
opened fire against the enemy^s works, on the left
bank of the Mahmoudiyeh Canal, at three in the
aftemooa About twenty rounds were fired ; most
of the shells exploded in the Egyptian trenches,
and did so much damage that the enemy responded
feebly, and about five o'clock a red conflagration
was seen to burst out in rear of their camp, ten
miles from Ramleh.
Prior to this, at half-past four, H.M.S. Minotaur
(an armour-plated vessel of seventeen guns), lying
off" the latter place, had been firing steadily, but at
long intervals, against the enemy's outposts in the
direction of Lake Aboukir, some small redoubts
having been formed by them on the hillocks in the
neighbourhood. Every shell appeared to burst in
the heart of the hostile position. From five until
sunset the fire of the Minotaur became more rapid,
and that of the enemy more feeble. About
noon of that day a numerous force of their cavalry
had been visible in the direction of Aboukir ; but
no large bodies of other troops having been seen,
the impression gained ground that Arabi was with-
drawing the bulk of his force from Kafrdowar to
fight elsewhere.
On the other hand, it was reported that his
troops were demoralised by the result of the
affair at Chalouffe, but that, undismayed by the
advance of the ist Division from Ismailia, he still
meant to hold Kafrdowar, and render that post
impregnable.
Her Majesty's Government, about this time,
issued instructions for securing the safety of the
treasure chests sent over for the use of the army in
Egypt, and the mode to be adopted in making pay-
ments from them. Each chest was a heavy iron
safe, filled with a proper proportion of specie and
notes packed at the Bank of England, and sent in
charge of a responsible officer of the Army Pay
Department, with an armed military escort, to the
ships conveying them out
The principal treasure chest was ordered to be
kept at the base of operations in charge of the
senior officer of the Army Pay Department, Chief
Paymaster W. R. Olivey (ranking as a Lieutenant-
Colonel), whose principal office was to be there.
Lesser treasure chests were sent to the advanced
posts, to the head-quarters of the army, and to
certain intermediate stations on the line of com-
munication, according to orders by the general
commanding.
"Every paymaster having charge of a military
chest," ran the instructions, " is to be held respcm-
sible for calling upon the officers commanding at
their stations to provide a secure place in which to
keep it, and also for the military protection of it
Whenever a military chest containing specie is sent
by road or rail from one station to another, an
officer of the Army Pay Department is to accom-
pany it, and demand an escort for its protectioa
On halting at any station, the paymaster in charge
of a treasure chest has to report his arrival to the
commandant at the station, who will become
responsible for its safety till the paymaster and
escort resume their march. Heads of departments
are ordered to keep the senior pay officer acquainted
with the amount and description of specie they
may require at each station where there is a
military money chest, so that he may provide
accordingly."
As in the Crimean War some stores were issued
to the army which had done service in that of the
Peninsula, so now a considerable portion of those
which went to Egypt had gone through the war in
the Crimea twenty-seven years before. These were
chiefly forage carts, powder and Maltese carts, the
last being used for the carriage of water-barrels. The
more strictly battle materiel had undergone such
changes in the long interval as to be all new, and
the science and skill displayed in the despatch of
the expedition were a strong contrast to the rough
experience of the Crimean campaign, to idiich all
were conveyed in sailing vessels, many of small
tonnage, the horses being swung on board by
girths from piimaces and by manual labour.
The Times admitted that what we have called the
peculiarity of the military situation on the 25*
of August, 1882, was owing to "the difficulty of
conveying provisions and ammunition to thcfiront"
with the ist Division.
In short, already the want of effident tnnqwrt
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TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES.
435
service was felt, and this "at a time when pro-
longed exertion under a terrible sun had weakened
the men ; they were forced to live for two or three
days on biscuits and muddy water, flavoured only
by the dead bodies of Egyptian men and horses."
The cavaby were also short of forage, and candid
friends on the Continent pointed to the usual blot
on our preparations, and gladly prophesied the
downfiadl of English pride.
The character of our regimental transport is
laid down minutely in various general orders.
When feirly organised, it should consist of eight
waggons and four carts : two devoted to supplies —
meat, biscuits, tea, sugar, rum, and so forth ; four
more to blankets and camp-kettles; another for
the quartermaster's stores, with implements for the
armourer, butcher, spare harness, saddlery, oil, and
grease ; the eighth for the conveyance of orderly-
room material — more blankets and cooking utensils.
Of the four carts, one was intended for trenching-
tools; the three others for reserve ammunition,
the second reserve being with the train of artillery.
The transport of an army in the field falls now
into three grand divisions — the General, the De-
partmental, and the ]legimental
Good as all these arrangements are in theory,
we always find some difficulty in putting them in
practice. Yet the transport which went to Egypt
was perfect enough in some respects. Each bat-
talion took with it two water and ten other carts ;
each cavalry regiment two water and six other
carts, with ammunition and forage-waggons, &c
But the transport was not of the most serviceable
character, being composed too exclusively of
wheeled vehicles, which could be dragged through
the deep sand only with difficulty; and thus
came the sufferings of the column operating from
Ismailia and Nefiche along the Wadi Tumilat, for
no rations were issued during a long interval to the
unfortunate men who were manoeuvring at Ramses,
Tel-el-Mahuta, and Mahsameh, though within about
a dozen miles of the base.
To lessen the baggage. Sir Garnet Wolseley and
the officers of his staff set the example of providing
themselves with a new pattern bedstead, which
weighed only seventeen pounds, and folded up to go
inside the camp-bag which every officer was allowed
to take. An officer's kit consisted of this bag, a
bullock trunk of limited dimensions, and a metal
canteen, which, besides serving as a camp-kettle,
contained all the culinary utensils necessary for
three persons.
CHAPTER LXIV.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR (continued) I — THE EGYPTIAN ARMY — CAPTURE OF MAHMOUD FEHMY — GRAHAM
ATTACKED AT KASSASSIN LOCK — ^THS CAVALRY CHARGE UNDER BAKER RUSSELL — ^THE MUTILATION
OF THE DEAD.
Before recording further operations, a glance at
the composition and equipment of the army then
opposed to ours may not be without interest
Its probable strength was variously estimated and
often exaggerated, but shortly before the war an
account of the Egyptian army was published in the
jRfvue MilitcUre de PEtranger^ a paper contributed
to by the French staff, and which b usually correct
and authentic in its statements. The strength
given in that paper as 17,000 men represented,
however, only the theoretical organisation In
1 88 1, the year before the war, there were in
Egypt only six regiments of infantry, numbering
9,000 men, two regiments of cavalry, 1,000,
one raiment of field artillery, 600, one regiment
of coast artillery, 700, making in all only 11,300
men.
Such soldiers as were then [with the colours,
instead of being youths trained as a basis for the
veteran soldiers to gather upon, were, it is said, the
old soldiers themselves. The army formed by
Ismail Pasha had dwindled away; the new or-
ganisation had not commenced to work ; and the
rebellion of Arabi occurred at a time when it was
weaker than at any other period in its history.
Thus, among the thousands who garrisoned the
lines of Kafrdowar, of Tel-el-Kebir, and other
places, there must have beenvastnumbers of veterans
who had been recalled to the colours, and fellaheen,
dragged from their homes and formed into regi-
ments, which could have little confidence in each
other, and less power of cohesion
The army, however, was amply supplied with
Remington rifles; the artillery were said to have
500 Krupp field-guns, of the same pattern as those
used by the Germans in their war with France.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
These were only slightly inferior to the ordinary
muzzle-loaders of the British artillery.
The real resources of Arabi, when he first took
the field, were estimated at about 15,000 men, and
all those that he could draw from the remains of
the old army of Ismail had undoubtedly been well-
trained, but though he had an immense supply of
field-guns, rifles, and stores, he had no efficient
officers or non-commissioned officers. He had,
however, unlimited supplies of excellent workmen,
competent for the erection of military works, but
there seemed to be small prospect of his meet-
ing us in an open and general action, which may
account for the character of his fortifications at
Kafrdowar, Tel-el-Kebir, and elsewhere. He evi-
dently thought that if he held out until the Nile
was high enough, he might give us infinite trouble.
Some days before the attack was madeatKassassin,
Arabics order of battle, if we may call it so, had been
obtained for the first time. As given by the Globe
correspondent on the 24th, his artillery consisted of
eighty Krupp guns and two field batteries, divided
equally between Kafirdowar and Tel-el-Kebir. At
the former place he had one mitrailleuse battery.
At another point, thirty-four miles north-west of
Ismailia, there were three regiments, with four guns
and a squadron of cavalr}'.
At Tel-el-Kebir there were reported to be on the
24th 12,000 men, chiefly young soldiers, according
to one account, the flower of the army according to
another ; besides 6,000 Bedouins and a regiment of
cavalry. It was also reported that the disaffection in
his camp was increasing, that few of his officers were
inclined to support him, and that the rank and file
were restrained from desertion only through fear.
Be all that as it may, they fought toughly in de-
fence of their lines at Tel-el-Kebir.
Regarding the composition of one part of his
army, a writer in the Globe relates what he saw in
the neighbourhood of Tel-el-Mahuta,
"Judging by the immense quantity of hand
palm-leaf woven baskets, the dead Arabs, and
clothing found in the camp and along the canal,
the rebels must have been in great force. I there
saw a great many of those brown felt head coverings
generally worn by the peasantry, or fellahs, in this
country ; and this circumstance, together with the
fact that thousands of hand-baskets, used for carry-
ing provisions, were seen lying about, and that all
the fire-arms taken were old brass-mounted muzzle-
loading muskets, leads me to suppose that the vast
majority of those engaged on the other side were
mere ordinary peasants. In fact, almost all the
prisoners and dead were such."
On the 27th, the arrival of the engine from Suez
enabled the armour-clad train which had been
prepared at IsmaOia to start for the front, which if
did, under Lieutenant Charles K. Purvis, of die
Penelope^ with a 40-pounder, a Catling gun, and
twenty-seven blue-jackets.
A more important result than the wholesale
capture or destruction of war material, consequent
on the brilliant outflanking movement made by
General Drury Lowe's advance beyond Kassassin
Lock, was the capture of an Egyptian officer, in
rank only second to Arabi himsel£
While the general was surveying the village cap-
tured on the 27 th August, a respectable-looking man
came up, and entered into conversation with him in
French. While this was in progress, some ^yptian
prisoners passed under escort going to the rear.
One of these, an officer, exclaimed to General
Drury Lowe —
"That man you are speaking to is Mahmoud
Fehmy, Arabics second in command ! "
The man was at once arrested, and sent to
Ismailia the same evening. It would appear that
Mahmoud Fehmy came out from Tel-el-Kebir in a
train to reconnoitre, alighted, and ascended an
eminence. While he was absent, the engine-driver
caught a sight of some of our redcoats, and in-
stantly putting on the steam, made off with the
train.
Fehmy, accompanied by a native servant, igno-
rant of the departure of the carriages, came leisurely
down hill and entered the village, and to his as-
tonishment found it occupied, not by Egyptians,
but by British troops. On this, with great presence
of mind, he walked up to the general, whose rank
he recognised, and entering into conversation widi
him, hoped to get away unmolested, and would
have done so but for the treacherous exclamation
of the Egyptian officer.
Next to Arabi himself, this was deemed the most
important prisoner that could be taken. Always
the chosen fiiend and counsellor of Arabi, he had
formerly held the post of Inspector-General of
Fortifications, and as a man of science he was the
life and soul of the elaborate system of earth-wOTks
that rose at Kafrdowar, and Tel-el-Kebir, and pro-
bably of those at Tel-el-Mahuta. All the important
telegrams that fell into the hands of our staff were
addressed to Mahmoud Fehmy, and it was evident
that he had despatched some fabulous accounts of
British non-success, as messages from Arabi and
Cairo contained enthusiastic congratulations on
victories that had been neither fought nor won.
He affirmed that no troops had come from Kafr-
dowar to reinforce those at Tel-el-Kebir, where
Raschid now commanded.
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THE ENEMY IN ACTION.
437
When examined at head-quarters, he reported
that there was much suffering and insubordination
in the Egyptian army.
Immediately after the capture of Kassassin Lock,
the artificial dams formed by the Egyptians across
the canal were pierced, and this operation it was —
as the water began to flow slowly eastward — that
first disclosed what our soldiers deemed a piece
of diabolical malice on the part of the enemy. A
number of corpses of men and dead camels had
been thrown deliberately into the stagnant water,
in the hope that an outbreak of some malignant
and contagious fever might be produced among the
British troops, and also in the towns supplied by
the canal. "I write feelingly," says the Times
correspondent on this subject, " for I have to-day
(27th August) drunk some of this water through a
pocket filter. These filters are scarce in camp,
and, of course, they are useless against a mass of
putrid animal matter. The men are continually
filling their bottles at the canal, and it is impossible
to prevent them. The heat is simply insupport-
able, and all creatures with skins must fill them
with water or sufier torments. Since I have been
sitting under the shelter of a firiend's tent, a young
officer of Dragoons fainted on the sand The
hospital on the other side of the canal, a pretty
little mosque of red and white brick, is daily filled
with cases of sunstroke."
In this awful atmosphere, the fatigue parties had
on that day, as on many others, to toil for more
than four hours at the unloading of barges under a
scorching sun; and why some of that work was not
done under the cool shadow of night has never
been explained. The men at work on the dams in
the canal divested themselves of everything but
their tropical helmets.
On the 28th of August, Sir Garnet Wolseley
issued firom Ismailia the following General Order: —
"The Commander-in-chief desires to congra-
tulate the troops on the success attending the
operations of the British force on Thursday and
Friday last, which secured the Mahsameh railway
station, sixteen miles firom Ismailia, in so able a
manner.
"The cavahy and artillery, handled by General
Dmry Lowe, in the brilliant action at Mahsameh,
specially deserve mention, the result being the cap-
ture of the enemy's camp, seven guns, arms, ammu-
nition, and a large quantity of stores.
"The Commander-in-chief also wishes to convey
hb appreciation of the gallant and successful
manner in which Lieutenant Hickman, and the
gunners and drivers of the Horse Artillery, fought
their two guns fi-om early morning until late in the
evening of Thursday, while opposed to a heavy
cross-fire of twelve guns ; and of the assistance ren-
dered by the Marine Artillery, when the Horse
Artillery were fairly exhausted.
"The Commander-in-chief also desires to ex-
press his thanks to Admiral Seymour and the men
of the Naval Brigade for their exertions during the
past few days.
" Head-quarters, Ismailia, Aug. 28.
" (Signed) Wolseley."
All the prisoners we took seemed astonbhed at
the treatment they received in our hands, and few
or none manifested any desire to join Arabi again.
About half-past nine on the morning of the 28th
of August (according to the Times) the enemy com-
menced hb first attempt to drive back the head or
leading column of the ist Division, by delivering
a direct attack at Kassassin Lock.
The position of General Graham, who had with
him there three battalions of infantry — the 46th,
Royal Marines, and 84th, with five guns, a squadron
of cavalry, and the Mounted Infantry — was not a
very favourable one for defence.
Hb troops were divided by the canal, and
although there was a bridge across it, the separation
of hb right wing from his left, if partial in any case,
was complete if he had either to advance or retire.
On the right of his position the desert rose to the
height of 150 feet At a distance of some
3,000 yards there was a millet and palm-covered
plain, and these might easily conceal the move-
ments of a force sent to outflank him.
So early as seven in the morning, according to
the Standard^ heavy gun-firing in the direction of
Kassassin Lock had been heard at Mahsameh
Station, which is four miles in rear of it The
drums beat to arms, the trumpets blew " boot-and-
saddle," and the cavalry, consbting of the three
Household Squadrons and 7th Dragoon Guards,
mounted, while the infantry fell in, ready to march
to General Graham's assistance.
The latter, however, sent to Drury Lowe a mes-
sage that the firing seemed to be in the enemy's
camp, and "was inexplicable, except upon the
supposition that the Egyptians were fighting among
themselves."
Ere noon passed, however, the flags of the sig^
nailers at Kassassin were perceived to be at work,
and tidings came that the enemy was in motion ; on
which Drury Lowe's cavalry turned out again and
rode to Kassassin, while the 19th Hussars came in
from Tel-el-Mahuta, where General Willb had his
head-quarters.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
The enemy, whose object was twofold — to turn
General Graham's flank and impede the work on
the railway — made an attack that was somewhat
unexpected, as the Arabs were supposed to be much
discouraged by recent events.
On the first appearance of their cavalry in the
Lieutenant Pigott, to reconnoitre, and ascertain, if
possible, the strength and actual position of the
enemy; as the undulating ground in the valley
through which the canal runs, afforded good oppor-
tunities for cover and concealed movements.
Major Hart proceeded in the direction of Tel-el-
fji 13 Poundert R.A.
KASSASSIN
A Mountid Tnfantfy and
Detachment 0f4ih D.G.
Cavalry Brignde
From Mahsameh
^
HAND SKETCH OF THE ACTION AT KASSASSIN (AUGUST 28, 1882).
distance, at half-past nine a.m., General Graham
posted his troops under cover, and it soon became
evident that a large force of Egyptian infantry, with
hordes of Bedouins, was moving behind the ridge
of the desert to turn the British flank, though the
enemy showed in strength in diflerent directions.
Graham details his strength thus : 57 cavahy, 70
Mounted Infiantry, 1,738 bayonets, 40 artillery-
men.
General Graham's first act was to send out Major
Hart, V.C, R.E., with the Mounted Infantry, under
Kebir, and had barely ridden two miles, when his
reconnoitring party was fired on by two guns of
great calibre, brought along the railway on trucks,
for the enemy was now learning from us some new
points in the great game of war. Upon this Lieu-
tenant Pigott dismounted his men, who returned
the fire briskly and held their ground well for a time,
though he was eventually obliged to fall back upon
the camp ; where the major reported, about eleven
o'clock, that the turning movement was now taking
place. The enemy's two guns had done no hann ;
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Ka5sa«in.) FEIGNED RETREAT OF EGYPTIANS. 439
en
5
CO
o
o
o
IS
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BRITISH BATTLES ;ON LAND AND SEA.
the range was 4,000 yards at first ; the elevation
was insufficient; the shot fell short and plunged
sullenly into the sand. A scattered line of some
4,000 Bedouins, extending for nearly two miles,
appeared upon the right and front, but the attack
was not pressed, and Lieutenant Pigott, with the
Mounted Infantry, now reported that the enemy
seemed to be retiring, after having halted a con-
siderable distance from the camp.
Their conduct seemed inexplicable. The
cavalry remained by their horses all day, and the
infantry at Mahsameh were kept under arms and in
readiness to march at a moment's notice.
General Graham, on finding that the enemy,
whose force consisted of two strong regiments of
infantry, one of cavalry, a battery of artillery, and
the Bedouins, had fallen back, withdrew his men
firom their exposure to the sun, and sent back to
Mahsameh Drury Lowe, who had been requested
by General Graham not to engage unnecessarily.
Most terrific had been the heat all day, the
unclouded sun beating down with a force almost
insupportable upon the wide and treeless waste of
desert sand No shade was obtainable anywhere
save under canvas, and the hot and breathless wind
raised great storms of sand and dust, which made
respiration alike difficult and painful All this
proved hard work for men and horses.
The Brigade of Guards had also got under arms
to march on Kassassin, but were not called upon
to do so. In camp with them were a thousand
marines, besides the cavalry.
Scarcely had Drury Lowe's Brigade unsaddled
their horses and the men begun to eat, when the
boom of cannon was heard once again at Kassassin ;
and, as it deepened into a heavy and continuous
roar, it was evident that the enemy's retreat had
been feigned, that the attack was this time a real
one, and made in force, for now eight battalions
and twelve guns were assailing the position of
Graham.
Again the half-worn troopers saddled their equally
weary horses, and prepared for the field Though
it was now about four in the afternoon, the cloud-
less sun was yet glaring fiercely down, and a hot
and blasting wind was raising the sand-clouds so
high that it was impossible for the cavalry to see what
was in progress as they came slowly cantering on,
except that through brown dust and yellow haze,
numerous jets of white smoke and red flashes from
the guns were visible.
The cannonade increased in fury, and the
cavalry, followed by the Royal Horse Artillery,
went sweeping round to the right; but so weary
were their horses that they moved at times at a trot,
at others walking, yet all the while pressing towards
the flank of the advancing Egyptian infantry.
" With the movement of such masses of men and
horses the dust rose over the whole scene thicker
than ever, and it was impossible to obtain more
than a general idea of what was going on, while
the sun set in a red glare over the sandy plain."
The fire of the enemy's guns supporting his
infantry attack searched our whole camp, wounding
an officer in the house which had been General
Graham's head-quarters, but which he had given up
for the use of the sick and wounded
The fi-ont line of Egyptian skirmishers was at
least a mile in extent, and they endeavoured to
overlap our left front Remembering that the
assault of the enemy was delivered on the north
side of the canal, it is easy to comprehend the
dispositions of General Graham.
He posted the Marine Artillery on the southern
bank, where they could not be outflanked them-
selves, while pouring a flanking fire on the enemy's
advance. This manoeuvre might have proved an
awkward one had his right flank been overlapped,
for in that case the Marine Artillery would have
had the rest of the advanced force between it and
the enemy, with the canal between them.
In the centre the Duke of Cornwall's Regiment,
mustering 611 bayonets, was posted to the north of
the canal, about 800 yards back from the ground
occupied by the Marine Artillery, and threw for-
ward three companies in extended order, with
supports and reserves (to reinforce the fighting
line), under cover of the railway embankment
The fighting line facing west by north was con-
tinued on the right by the Duke of Cornwall's
Light Infantry, with two and a half companies, the
remainder of the battalion forming supports aad a
reserve.
The disposition of Graham's force was such as
to meet an attack from the north and west, while its
left flank on the other side of the canal was posted
somewhat like the flank to the curtain of a bastion.
The Mounted Infantry and a small force of the
4th Dragoon Guards, dismounted, occupied the 800
yards' interval between the Royal Marine Artillery
and the Cornwall Regiment
According to Sir Garnet Wolseley's despatch to
the Secretary of State for War, " at first, Graham
had but five guns and two and a half battalions,
with a small detachment of cavalry and Mounted
Infantry."
On the extreme right of all were one troop of the
7 th Dragoon Guards, with two 13-pounders, and
an additional two which— according to the Timei
report — had been sent forward from the rear.
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ADVANCE OF THE GUARDS.
44t
When his formation was complete, General
Graham had sent a message to General Drury
Lowe, that "he could do no more than hold his
own and attack the enemy's skirmishers." The
Egyptians were in white uniforms, with fezze&
The fighting was getting hot now, and by five
o'clock reinforcements for the Egyptians were seen
steaming up by train from their rear, while their
cavalry seemed to be pressing forward on the right
The reserve of the York and Lancaster Regiment
was now deployed to meet the attack, and for some
time the 13-pounders were worked with excellent
effect against the enemy ; but unfortunately at this
crisis the ammunition for them was found to be
expended, the magazines were empty, and the guns
had to cease firing, for the Transport Service had
again failed !
No waggons had come up with the guns which
had joined during the fight, we may presume on
account of the deep sandy soil ; though it may seem
that where gun-wheels could go those of waggons
might go too; and the actions of the 24th and 25th
had expended the ammunition which was with
Lieutenant Hickman's pieces originally; and
bitterly now was felt the usual want of efficient
transport If the men's food failed, the heavier
ammunition was certain to fail too.
But luckily, "near the right of our position,"
says General Graham in his despatch to Sir Garnet
AVolseley, " on the line of railway, a Krupp gun,
taken from the enemy at Mahsameh, had been
mounted on a railway truck, and was being worked
by a gun detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery,
under Captain Tucker. This gun was admh^bly
served, and did great execution among the enemy.
As the other guns had to cease firing for want of
ammunition, Captain Tucker's gun became a target
for the enemy's artillery, and I counted salvoes of
four guns opening upon him at once with shell and
shrapnel ; but although everything around and in
the line was hit, not a man of the detachment was
touched, and this gun continued to fire to the end,
expending ninety-three rounds."
But the Egyptians were very determined, and
even pushed detachments across the canal, which
was then only five or six feet deep. These were
always hurled back by that noble corps, the Marine
Artillery.
At a quarter to seven, Graham ordered an ad-
vance, with the object of closing with the enemy's
infantry, about the time he expected Drury Lowe
to deliver his cavalry charge. This advance was
made very steadily by the fighting line, in echelon
firom the left, about 600 yards to the west front,
where the line fired steady volleys by successive
companies, while the reserves followed in rear of
the railway embankment
" On arriving at the point held by the Mounted
Infantry," says the general, " a message reached
me that the Royal Marine Light Infantry (firom
Mahsameh) had come on the ground to our right;
and galloping back, I at once directed them to ad-
vance in order of attack. This advance was con-
tinued for about two or three miles, supported by
the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on the left,
the York and Lancaster being left behind in reserve,
the enemy falling back, only one attempt being
made at a stand, on our left, which broke at the
first volley from the Royal Marines. About a
quarter past eight p.m.," he adds, " I first heard of
the ca\^dry charge from an officer of the Life
Guards, who had lost his way."
The troops had now been steadily advancing in
the moonlight, and thus the general's two aides-de-
camp, in carrying his orders to various parts of the
field, had several narrow escapes in mistaking
detached bodies of the enemy for our own troops.
Fearing some errors might occur in the night, and
seemg no chance of further co-operation with the
cavalry, he ordered the Marines and Cornwall
Regiment to retire at a quarter to nine, and recalled
the other troops to camp.
And now to relate the splendid work done ere
this by Drury Lowe and his cavalry.
The latter had pushed on to the right until com-
pletely hidden from the enemy by some low sand-
hills, and then spurred their weary horses into a
trot, as fast as the heavy soil and their worn contii-
tion would permit It soon become evident to his
troopers that the divisional commander meant to
repeat his tactics in the previous encounter, and to
work round into the enemy's rear. It has been
said that it was a striking proof of his confidence
in his cavalry " that, ¥rith tired horses and night
approaching, he should attempt this manoeuvre
against an enemy of unknown strength and with
fresh horses. Against any other enemy it would
have been rash ; but the result proved that General
Drury Lowe did not over-rate the fighting powers
of his men."
The exact hour of the attack is not given by him
in his despatch to Major-General Willis (dated,
Mahsameh, August 29th, 1882), but fi^om various
reports and letters it would seem to have taken
place about seven in the evening ; and the cavahy
were after that disposed in order for the advance,
delaying a little, however, so as to allow the search-
ing fire from the Horse Artillery to prepare the
deadly way.
Shorn of his rays amid the battle-smoke and the
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442
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[IKaasaasiB.
dust-clouds of the sandy desert, the blood-red
Egyptian sun set with a lurid glare beyond the
mountains that overlook the plain of Muggreh;
then — ^though afterwards the moon shone out — the
darkness fell rapidly ; and while the rattle, the roar,
and the blaze of the conflict that raged along the
canal on their left never ceased — gliding on through
the night, our Household Cavalry, the 7th Dragoon
Guards, and the Horse Artillery, kept the ridge of
waste sand between them and the foe till the time
for charging came.
When the pale moonlight streamed over the grey
sand amid the dust-clouds that enveloped the
horsemen, blade and scabbard glittered out ever
and anon.
As they crossed the ridge at last, a heavy fire
opened upon them, but always too high. "We
could see the flashes of artillery gleam on the
horizon, like the flicker of incessant summer
lightning," wrote one who was present, graphically.
"We slowly drew nearer to the scene of con-
flict It was almost dark, but, unfortunately, we
showed up a black mass against the bright moonlit
sky and ground, and the sudden rush of shell
through the air, followed by the explosion far in
our rear, showed that the enemy had at last
discerned us. They were about 1,500 yards
away, and we saw nine flashes, one after the
other, at short intervals, spurt out, no longer like
sheet-lightning, but in angry jets of flame. Almost
simultaneously, the sky above us seemed to be torn
in pieces as by a mighty hurricane. Shells screamed,
and shrapnel bullets tore up the road on either side
of us."
To disconcert their aim, the brigade now took
ground to the right, so the next shower of shells
went astray. On moving forward again, the
Egyptian gunners saw the cavalry, and sent showers
of shell at them, but again these went overhead,
and as yet neither horse nor man was touched
" Moving most steadily towards the flash of the
rifles,** says Drury Lowe, "the tiny flashes of "the
latter, with the pinging of their bullets, showed that
the enemy's infantry were at work also, and here
and there a horse or man went down, while the
cavalry, advancing in echelon from the left, were
preceded by the 7th Dragoon Guards."
Under cover of the latter, the Life Guards
formed to deliver their charge, under Colonel
Ewart of the ist Regiment, and by word of com-
mand the Dragoons wheeled off* to the right
and left to uncover their front Already Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Herbert Stewart (3rd Dragoon
Guards), Drury Lowe's brigade major, had passed
word along the line —
" The cavalry are to charge these guns ! "
When this order came, an instant of inaction was
allowed ; the splendid black horses breathed heavily,
shaking their chain bridles impatiently; the troopers
set their teeth hard, ere facing the storm of death
that raged close by, and here and there a comrade
dropped with a groan.
" Now we have them ! " cried the. brigadier. Sir
Baker Russell, who was in front ; " trot — ^gallop-
charge ! "
And away went our slashing Household Cavalry,
flanked by the Dragoon Guards, and to the eyes
of the onlookers they all disappeared together,
amid darkness, smoke, and dust, right into the
storm of shot and shell
Led by Baker Russell, and guided by the red
flashes that burst on the obscurity from the muzzles
of the cannon, they charged straight at them,
cutting down the gunners as they swept on to deal
death among the flying infantry who were in
rear or beyond them. RusselPs horse was shot
under him, but mounting another that was riderless,
he kept up with his cavalry, and in a few minutes
the battle was over.
Wild was the scene of confusion that followed
Some guns far apart were still firing, and bodies of
scattered infantry faced about to fire, and dumps
of men and horses dotted all the moon-lit plain ;
but ere long all fled in disorder without the slightest
attempt to form rallying squares.
" The enemy's infantry was completely scattered,"
says Drury Lowe in his despatch, " and our cavalry
swept through a battery of seven or nine guns,
which in daylight must have been captured, but
unfortunately their exact position could not be
found afterwards, and they were no doubt removed
during the night after our retirement The enemy's
loss was heavy, the ground being strewn thickly
with their killed, and quantities of ammunition, ^c"
So ended a grand charge made under cover of
the night, and in every respect worthy of the grand
old reputation of our British cavalry.
Ere it was accomplished, our infantry had a hot
time of it In hundreds the enemy's shell had
burst in a very confined space, and the protection
afforded by the hastily- formed shelter-trenches
proved most insufficient
It was about ten at night when the cavalry came
riding slowly back, and full of high spirits after their
crowning achievement Many were missed in the
darkness, and it was hoped they would turn up in
the morning. Among these was Lieutenant Gribble,
of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, orderly officer to Sir
Baker RusselL
The enemy's force engaged was estimated by
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Kassassin.]
INCIDENTS OF THE FlGHt.
443
General Graham at i,ooo cavalry, 8,000 infantry,
and twelve guns. " I rode over the field at day-
break," he states, " and have had all the wounded
that could be found brought in." He reported our
losses thus : — Eleven killed and sixty-eight wounded
General Wolseley gives the total thus: — ^Total,
three non-commissioned officers and men, five
horses, killed ; two officers, seventy-five non-com-
missioned officers and men, ten horses, wounded
Total, two officers, seventy-eight non-commissioned
officers and men, fifteen horses, killed and wounded
Among the slain was Surgeon-Major Shaw, of the
Army Medical Department, and among the wounded
were Major J. Fitz - Eustace Forrester, Captain
Reeves, and Lieutenant G. G. Cunninghame, of the
York and Lancaster Regiment, Lieutenants H. H.
Edwards, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (on the staff), and
C. B. Pigolt, King's Royal Rifles, commanding
the Mounted Infantry.
Surgeon-Major Shaw was greatly regretted. He
had graduated as M.B. at the Queen's University
in Ireland in 1863, and was admitted a fellow of
the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1868,
five years after he joined the army.
Some of the wounds received at Kassassin were
remarkable. Major Alfi^ed Bibby, of the 7 th
Dragoon Guards (formerly of the 13th Hussars),
after the dash through the enemy's lines, was shot
in the back, the bullet passing through his breast
and out of the body, after grazing the right lung.
I^ieutenant Cunninghame, 46th Foot, serving with
the Mounted Infantry, was shot in the arm, yet
fought at his post till a second ball in the leg placed
him hors dc combat Trooper Burston, of the
Blues, was struck by a bullet which entered the left
side of the neck and came out on the right, and
yet he recovered
Private Harris, of the 46th, one of the Mounted
Infantry, was recommended for the Victoria Cross.
Seeing Lieutenant Edwards, of the Welsh Fusiliers,
lying wounded, he dismounted, and was carrying him
to the rear, when he received a bullet in the spine,
yet he conveyed that officer to a place of safety.
A correspondent of the Times^ in telling the
" Story of a Month's Campaign in Egypt," in refer-
ring to the brilliant manner in which Drury Lowe
delivered his flank attack, repudiated the state-
ments that had been made regarding the black
horses of the Household troops, and theu" sup-
posed inability to endure hardship. He asserted
that his experience was that, in spite of want of
food, incessant work, and intense heat, they were,
when he left them, looking better and more up to
work than any cavahy in the country, not excluding
that fi-om India.
The four guns in the action had but twenty-five
rounds each. The first fired fi-om the Krupp gun
on the truck exploded in it, and injured one of
our men. '
The break-down of the Transport Corps was
bitterly spoken of by all " It is a repetition of
the old story," said a writer in the Army and
Navy Magazine at the time. "In the action at
Kassassin Lock even our infantry fell short of am-
munition, and but for the timely arrival of the
cavalry, we should, there is every reason to be-
lieve, have had to bracket this engagement with
Isandhlwana and Maiwand"
The commissariat struggled hard to send supplies
to the front, but it was not until the railway was in
working order that stores came up and our men were
better fed
During the action at Kassassin Lock a fine inci-
dent is related of the First Bearer Company of the
Army Hospital Corps. They were by some move-
ment of the troops isolated. The medical officer
in charge declined to permit any interruption to
his duty in dressing the wounded, which a change
of position would have caused ; so his forty men
filled their haversacks with sand, made a rough
parapet therewith, and lying down behind it, took
the rifles and ammunition of the wounded, and
defended the latter till the cavalry came up.
An officer who was in the charge, briefly relating
it, said — " We charged at half-past nine last night
The sight was sufficient to make young soldiers feel
uncomfortable. The enemy had about twenty guns
in entrenchments. Every few minutes several guns
would blaze out in the darkness ; it made one feel
a curiously helpless sensation, being fired at in the
dark."
The reason assigned by this officer for the charge
was, that the ammunition being short, it was
ordered to save the position. He stated that
200 were cut down among the guns, while the
infantry nearly all threw themselves on their faces to
avoid the slashing of the Life Guards' swords ; thus
many escaped who must otherwise have perished
Colonel Milne-Home, of Milne-Graden, M.P.
for Berwickshire, who was with the squadron of
the Blues, had some perilous adventures, and was
missing all night after the dash at the guns. Amid
the whizz of bullets and a terrific sand-storm raised
by the galloping hoofs, that hid even his bridle
hand, after the charge he found himself alone,
with none alive near him but one of his own
troopers wounded and dismounted He gave the
latter his stirrup to hold on by first, and then found
him a riderless horse. The colonel was untouched^
though the strap of his helmet and a sling of his
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444
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
scabbard had been shot away. He gave the trdoper
his sword, reloaded his pistols, and after long
searching and wandering about, officer and man
found their way back to the camp next morning.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WILLIS, COMMANDING THE FIRST
DIVISION.
Trooper Bennett, of the Blues, ran a terrible
gauntlet in the charge, says the correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph. His horse bolted and carried
him, when suffering from three wounds received
from cavalry, right through the Egyptian infantry
and among the mounted Bedouins. By the Be-
douins he was surrounded, lassoed, dragged from
his saddle, and would have been cut to pieces, but
for the humane intervention of an officer.
With a rope round his neck, he was then con-
ducted before Arabi Pasha, who, after some ques-
tions, told him that "the English were fools to
fight him, as he had 40,000 men ; that the English
would never return home, as they would be com-
pletely cut up." Bennett was sent to Cairo in
chains, but was otherwise kindly treated When
taken through the streets he was reviled and spat
upon by the mob. His fetters were afterwards re-
moved, and he was placed in the citadel with Mr.
De Chair, the midshipman.
One who visited the scene of the charge two
days after, described it as horrible beyond descrip-
tion, where the Egyptians lay in heaps, hacked,
slashed, and mutilated by the swords of our Guards-
men, which are longer and heavier than ordinary
Cavalry weapons. "One young officer," says a
writer in the Times^ "still held an untouched
cigarette in his stiffened fingers. A young soldier
Of the Blues was lying with hands and feet partly
Crossed as if in sleep. Two other Guardsmen lay
dead in a tent at Kassassin, with wounds which
harmed not the brave soldiers, who were past all
pain, but which will bring lasting infamy on the
Egyptian army. Two wounded Egyptians were
still on the position, and I rode across to Kassassin
to ask that they might be brought in."
On Wednesday, Colonel Tulloch found six more
who had lain there since Monday's fight, among
them an officer of artillery, who, on recovering
after some restoratives were given to him, said that
the Bedouins slew all wounded they found who
were not Mussulmans. According to the Daily
NeiaSy two of the dead Guardsmen were so fear-
fully mutilated as to be quite unrecognisable, their
faces were so gashed. One body had one hand
completely severed from the arm, and the other
nearly so. One of the eyes had been scooped out
of the socket The hands of another body were
hanging to the wrists by mere sinews. "One
wounded Guardsman related how, in the charge,
his horse was shot under him, and in falling broke
his thigh. While lying on the field he saw a soldier
in Egyptian uniform ride by. Seeing that the man
belonged to the regular army he called to him for
help, when the brute rode up and by one cut of his
sabre laid the trooper's cheek open from temple to
chm."
The enemy's loss was estimated at about 400
men, by the above writer, who states that there was
no proper accommodation and no ambulance com-
forts for our wounded at the front, and all who
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR A. ALIbO.S.
were able to bear the journey were sent to the reat
But many had to lie on the floors of the lock-
keeper's house, with a blanket under them, while
the officers were placed in the cooler verandahs.
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CLEARING THE ROAD TO CAIRO.
445
By the result of this conflict at Kassassin, another
barrier on our route to Cairo had been swept away,
and here it m^y be as well to explain the route our
troops would have to pursue from Ismailia. The
first station on the line from the latter to Cairo is
Nefiche, where the Freshwater Canal divides, one
branch going to the !
through the locks foll<
Canal, and parallel wit
After leaving Ne-
fiche the line lies
parallel with the
Freshwater Canal,
and then passing El
Magfar and Tel-el-
Mahuta, reaches the
Lake of Mahsameh,
which is used as a
reservoir, and where
there is a station and
irrigating sluices.
The next station
is Tel-el-Kebir, a
village that was to
find a place in his-
tory now. It is a
little distance from
the line, and is
reached by means of
a drawbridge, which
crosses the canal at
Kishlak. Five miles
across the desert,
beyond it, stands
the town of El
Karaim.
Tel-el-Kebir is
situated in a fertile
district named El-
Wadi, an estate that
belonged at onetime
to the Suez Canal
Company, but was
sold by it to the street
Egyptian Govern-
ment in 1863, for
the sum of ;£'4oo,ooo. Eight miles beyond it, at
El-Abassa-el-Sugra, the Freshwater Canal divides,
one branch of it running on to Zagazig, a town with
38,000 people, and the other bending in a south-
i«resterly direction to Belbeis. Three miles from this
divi^on, is reached the railway station of Abu-
Hammab, situated amid a beautiful country; and
thirteen miles farther on is Belbeis, with a popula-
tion of some 6,000 — a town famous in Crusading
times, and then well fortified. In later days it
was used by the French army to keep open the
communication between Cairo and the coast
Through a country fertile and wonderfully woody
for Egypt, the line is carried, and branching in a
south-westerlydirec-
tion, passes the town
of Shibeen-el-Ya-
hoodeh, or "The
Moundof the Jews;"
then Shibeen - el -
KantaraandKalyub,
and then Cairo.
For the next few
days after the battle
of Kassassin little of
interest occurred at
the front.
General Drury
Lowe, warned by
the events there, re-
moved his cavalry
camp from Mah-
sameh nearer to
General Graham's
position at Kassas-
sin, that waste of
time and strength in
riding over heavy
sand might be a-
voided.
By the ist of Sep-
tember the troops
at Kassassin were
nearly all under can-
vas ; those who were
not had little shelter-
huts made of the
reeds of Indian corn,
which grew in quan-
tities thereby. By
that time three
engines were at work
IN SUEZ. on the line, and
General AVolseley
reported that all in
front would soon be supplied with all they re-
quired— somewhat of a reflection on the trans-
jx)rt service. "An army operating from this
(Ismailia?) as a base," he added, "could be fed
only by railway or canal, or a host of camels,
owing to the absence of roads and great depth
of sand. The obstructions to canal and rail-
way caused by the enemy are considerable.
Camels can be obtained only from the Bedouinsi
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BRITISH BATILES ON LAND AND SEA
[Alexaodria.
some of whom I hope to secure shortly. Railway
service will soon be in good working order, when
our chief transport difficulties will end"
Hitherto the army had been practically without
transport and had to rely on the men-of-war
launches for food
By this time the whole, or nearly the whole of
the I St Division was between Tel-el-Mahuta and
Kassassin. The Indian Division was coming for-
ward rapidly, and its artillery and cavalry were
already up.
The latter — three regiments — were in Drury
Lowe's camp, a mile from Mahsameh station.
General Willis, with the Brigade of Guards, was at
Mahuta, and four infantry regiments were with
Graham at Kassassin Lock.
CHAPTER LXV.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {C0ntinued)\ — WITH THE SECOND DIVISION — DEPARTURE OF THE HIGHLAND
BRIGADE FOR ISMAiLIA.
The last days of August saw the Arabs still busy
with pickaxe and shovel, constructing fresh earth-
works at Kafrdowar and in the vicinity of Lake
Mareotis.
On the 29th the ironclad train, which they had
constructed in imitation of Captain Fisher's, came
steaming out in the morning, but withdrew after
receiving two rounds from the 40-pounders at
Jlamleh, and the Minotaur^ which was still lying
off the latter place, shifted her anchorage 1,000
yards nearer Aboukir.
About this time a correspondent at Alexandria
wrote thus to the Army and Navy Gazette^ with
reference to the staff censorship of the Press : —
" Of all the twaddle talked and written about the
mischief done by war correspondents, the most
senseless is *that they send home information
which ' (in the present case Arabics) * friends may
telegraph to the enemy, and so give them intel-
ligence they may otherwise lack.' If Arabi has
friends in Europe, they would find it impossible to
convey to him any particulars of our position which
could be of the smallest value to him, and of which
he cannot be ignorant Will any one tell us how
it could be done — by what telegraph or by what
post ? There is one sort of valuable news, indeed,
which is freely published, but it is done in London
— namely, the dates of the sailings of troops for
Egypt, the strength of every detachment, the
personnel of every force. From the coast below
Mex every one of these transports can be seen
steaming into Alexandria, and the news carried by
his runners to Arabics camp in an hour. He can
count our force at Ramleh pretty well, and it is
beyond all doubt that he is well served by his
spies, while we have no knowledge of his position
at all"
In the suspicion of spies being about at this very
time, a curious accident happened The chief ctf
the native police at Ramleh, having seen some
Bedouins creeping down towards our outposts,
gave warning of it to the soldiers, who roughly seized
him as a spy, and brought him before the officer in
command of the lines. After an explanation, he
was set free and departed, indignantly declaring
that he would be in no hurry to give the British
information of any kind again.
During the period of forced inaction at Alex-
andria, the dub, called the " Cercle Mehemet Ali,"
proved a veritable godsend to many officers of the
I St Division and of the Navy. "The reading-
room," we are told in a print of the day, " is well
supplied with papers, but the influence of Fiance
may be seen by the number of publications in
French. There is a good table d*Mte^ at which
many officers breakfast and dine The markets
generally are well supplied with melons and other
tempting fruit Plundering still continues in the
outskirts wherever there are unprotected houses,
and there is great irritation among the owners, who
expect the troops to do everything."
About the end of August the Governor of
Alexandria, by order of the military authorities,
issued a wise edict that all cafh and places of
amusement should close by ten at night — an edict
which excited much indignation in the European
quarter of the city ; and on the 29th considerable
reprehension was expressed, even among the British
fleet, when two Arabs — said to be officers of
Arabi's — were flogged, and then keel-hauled on
board an Egyptian frigate in the harbour. In the
latter process they were drawn by a rope up to the
port yard-arm, then dropped into the sea, and
hauled up to the starboard yard-arm, and death
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DEPARTURE OF THE HIGHLANDERS.
447
was believed to have been the result However,
the following telegram from Sir Edward Malet,
dated Alexandria, September 9th, 1882, showed
that the punishment had not ended fatally : —
" The facts with regard to the case of keel-hauling
are as follows : — ^Three Arab porters returning from
a looting expedition fell out, and two of them
attempted to murder the third. The two were
sentenced by court-martial to be keel-hauled, in
accordance with Article 2 of the Naval Code ; both
men are alive. The Khedive has given orders that
no sentences of keel-hauling shall be passed for the
future."
Westward of Alexandria a dashing reconnais-
sance was made on the 29 th of August by Lieu-
tenant Hancock, of the 95th, with twenty men of
that regiment While the morning was yet dark,
they quitted Fort Mex, crossed the abandoned rail-
way embankment which is known as the Causeway,
at the end of Lake Mareotis, and reached a point
close under the enemy's position at Kafrdowar. A
40-pounder and two other guns were seen by them
to have been mounted on the crest of some
newly-formed works. The little party were dis-
covered when day broke, and were hotly pursued
as they retired along the narrow causeway, but
reached Fort Mex without a casualty, having
shot down seven of the enemy.
Sir Evelyn Wood, who was naturally anxious to
make Alexandria safe, resolved to adopt extraor-
dinary means with that view, as his force was small,
and he had extensive lines to cover. He obtained
the Khedive's permission to cut the dykes if neces-
sary, and let the sea once more into Lake Mareotis.
In ancient times, and when navigable, this lake
had been a species of wide land-locked harbour
to Alexandria; but by degrees the border dried
up, and left a pleasant sheet of fresh water in the
centre, till the unavoidable exigencies of war
changed its character completely.
During the siege of the city in 1801, the com-
mander of the British force, with the view of
cutting off the water supply of the French garrison
and its communication with Cairo, flooded the lake
from the Mediterranean — a rather ruthless measure,
by which several villages were swept away and many
lives lost Though the Turks frequently attempted
to repair the dylce, Mareotis is a shallow salt lake
stilL
The Mounted Infantry, which had done such
good service in front of Alexandria, having been
ordered to IsmaJilia^ Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, of
the 95th, or Derbyshire, an officer who had dis-
tinguished himself in Zululand, organised from the
ranks of his own regiment a fresh troop of thirty
men, and with ten of these he made a very dashing
reconnaissance in the direction of Kafrdowar. He
rode along the banks of the Mahmoudiyeh Canal
till he came within 1,000 yards of the works. He
saw distinctly the embrasure of the great Krupp
gun at Kindji Osman, and a sentry pacing in the
entrenchment, but he could see nothing of the gun
itself, and conceived that it had been removed.
He saw enough to make him believe that some
great change had taken place in the garrison.
Previous reconnaissances had been met and re-
pulsed by ample parties of troops; but Smith-
Dorrien encountered only a small force of twenty-
five men under an officer, while the sentries failed
to fire as he advanced : facts which seemed to prove
that, though the entrenchments were still held, the
bulk of the garrison had been withdrawn, probably
to the new lines of works at Tel-el-Kebir,
Mounted Infantry have formed a prominent
feature in all the recent wars we have been de-
tailing, though there is nothing novel in the idea,
as infantry have been mounted before in many
ways, and Kleber in nearly the same country as that
in which our troops were now campaigning, placed
them on dromedaries. '* The Mounted Infantry has
done admirably hitherto," said the Times^ " and it
was formed on the spur of the moment, after arriving
in Egypt Surely this proves rather that ordinary
infantry can become excellent mounted infantry
almost at a moment's notice, than that a force of
this kind should be kept up during peace when its
services are not required."
On the 29th of August orders reached Alex-
andria for the Highland Brigade, under Sir
Archibald Alison, to embark for Ismallia, whither
Sir Edward Hamley was also to go with his staff,
leaving Major-General Sir Evelyn Wood in charge
of the city and the lines at Ramleh, where the 40-
pounders that day threw a few shells into Kafrdowar,
the guns of which responded but weakly.
The Highlanders were most eager to have a
brush with the enemy, and had but one fear — lest
the welcome orders might be countermanded.
To the Europeans of the city the news conveyed
only consternation, as they had no solid proof that
some twenty or twenty-five thousand of Arabi's
troops were not still at Kafrdowar, ready to swoop
down upon them. In reality, the danger lay from
within rather than from without now, but if the city
mobs proved troublesome, the ships could always
land their blue-jackets and Marines.
On the 30th the Scottish regiments embarked on
board the transports Lusitaniay Iberia^ and British
Prince, the first having the staff of the brigade.
Other reinforcements were anxiously looked for, the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
more especially as on the preceding night 300 of
the enemy made a dash at the outposts of the
Sussex Regiment in the Antoniades Garden, but
meeting with a warm reception, retired
" At intervals between one and six o'clock," says
the Telegraphy "the 42nd, 74th, 75th, and 79th
Scottish regiments marched from the railway-station
to the new quays, with bagpipes or bands playing.
The men looked well, after the camping out at
Ramleh, and as they passed through the streets,
crowded with foreigners of every possible nation-
ality, the fine physique and soldierly swing of the
Highlanders evoked praises many and loud."
Before sunset 2,500 men were quietly settled on
board, and soon after, the transports put to sea.
The Ramleh works were now further strengthened
with such guns as could be got from the battered
Egyptian forts, and our strongest artillery there
were 7-ton guns thus obtained. On taking posses-
sion of the forts, our troops destroyed the heaviest
and finest guns, and rolled into the sea 8,000 barrels
of first-class British gunpowder — a singularly need-
less waste.
Though war-balloons had been ordered, none
accompanied the expedition ; thus the Ramleh
garrison was still unable to learn what troops were
behind the opposing lines at Kafrdowar.
On the 31st the outposts of the Sussex Regiment
succeeded in capturing ^y^ signallers, who had been
flashing lights at night-time from the front of our
position into the camp of Arabi, most probably
noting the departure of the Highlanders, and the
consequent diminution of the garrison. Our soldiers
carefully marked the spot where these performances
took place, and having surrounded it, secured the
men, who seemed to be of the fellah class, and
were supposed to be Arab telegraph employ^ in
disguise.
A spy, captured by the same regiment, stated that
Arabi had a dozen such signallers in his camp, and
the practice was still continued On the same date
the Daily News correspondent drew attention to
the fact that already Bedouins were closing up
at the remote end of Ramleh, as " now that the
Scottish regiments are withdrawn, life and property
are no safer now than they were directly after the
bombardment"
The Avenir Militaire at this time was publishing
sketches of what it styled figurants of Arabi, and
first on the list came Mahmoud Sami Pasha, to
whom we have referred elsewhere. This fanatic —
Arabics right arm, we were told — was of Turkish
origin, and served under Ismail Pasha, who gave
him a regiment of cavalry, and married him to the
daughter of his nurse. " Mahmoud," continued
this writer, " b honourable, intriguing, and prudent
He knows how to deceive his enemy, to circum-
vent, and finally to win him over. He makes
himself very humble directly he distrusts, and play's
the braggart the moment he has nothing to fear.
He is therefore a very dangerous man, for he can
do his enemy harm at the moment he least expects
it" — a rather true description of the Oriental
character.
On the arrival of his compatriot, Fehmy Pasha
(taken at Kassassin), in Alexandria, orders were
issued that he was to be handed over to the
Khedive's government, to be dealt with as ministers
might decide, which was accordingly done at the
Palace of Ras-el-Tin.
On the I St of September Sir Evelyn Wood dis-
tributed at Ramleh the bronze Cabul star to the
soldiers of the 49th Raiment At the same time,
an Arab prisoner, who was attempting to escape by
the Ramleh Gate, was shot dead by our sentries
The Highland Brigade, with Sir Edward Hamley
and Sir Archibald Alison, arrived at Isma^ on the
evening of the 2nd of September.
In the Egyptian campaign, save from some of
the Scottish regiments, few " voices from the ranks"
seem to have found their way into print ; but some
of the Highland Brigade thus detail its movements
to the front*
"Dear father," wrote a Gordon Highlander, "I
now take the opportunity to let you know how I
have been faring since I came here. We embarked
on board the s.s. Iberia^ at Alexandria, on the 30th
of August, sailed on the 31st, arrived at Port Said
at six a.m. on the ist of September, started in the
canal, and halted for the night about two miles from
the Lake of Timsah. We started next morning,
and got into the lake, which was crowded with
transports. We lay on board until the 9th, but
went ashore every day on fatigue, sending up pro-
visions for the front
"On the 9th of September we disembarked,
carrying with us our blanket, a pair of socks, towd,
soap, some biscuits, and water. We started at abont
four p.m., and marched into the desert It was the
hardest march I ever had ; it soon made the 1^
tired However, we marched about eight miles,
and lay down for the night Next morning we got
up, and started again about six a.m. We went on
for two hours, when we halted for the day, the
sun being too strong to march under. As we had
no shelter, a great many of us made tents of our
blankets, and lay under them until two p.m. ^Ve
then got the order for the road, and began our
• " Our Highlanders in Eg>pt," by W. Stephen.
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PREPARING FOR ANOTHER STRUGGLE.
449
march about five p.m. A great many men fell out
this day, owing to the heat ; one died of sunstroke,
and was buried in his blanket We marched till
eight o'clock — got some tea made out of w<*ter with
plenty of sand and dirt in it. Next morning we
went on about five miles, and got into Kassassin
Camp, where the ist Division was lying. We
pitched tents, and had a rest all day."
A soldier of the Black Watch, whose letter
appeared in the Edinburgh Daily Review^ wrote
thus to his relations : —
" I am happy to get an opportunity of scribbling
a few lines, although I am now here under a burn-
ing sun. Lying flat on the ground is not an easy
position to write in at any time, but the heat of the
sun and thousands of flies tormenting you make it
a thousand times worse. When I wrote you last
we were just about to disembark at Ismallia. We
did so, and marched .... We were very
tired; it was horrible marching in the soft sand
There were the 42nd, 72nd, 74th, 75th, 79th, and
part of the 78th — all Highland regiments ; also a
few Indian regiments and batteries of artillery."
He detailed the march to Kassassin. " It was
twenty-one miles from IsmaXlia, and a canal of fresh
water ran between the two (places ?). Every regi-
ment had about seventy horses and carts attached
to it, and we brought them up full with us. The
boats had been bringing provisions up as well as
the trains, but still there was not enough, so we had
to remain at Kassassin for two days. We had tents
served out on the third day, and we all got some
biscuits and our bottles filled vdth water, but no
word of what we were to do. We fell in on parade
in fighting order; that is, in the kilt, red serge
(jacket), brown helmet, waist-belt, three ball-bags,
water-bottle and haversack, and 100 rounds a man
of ammunition. All paraded, except one or two Eng-
lish regiments, which were left to guard the stores."
On the march to Kassassin "the Gordons led, then
the Camerons, then the Highland Light Infantry,
and the Black Watch," wrote Quartermaster Elms-
lie, of the Cameron Highlanders. " We marched in
mass of columns at one pace interval, with cavalry
on one flank and artillery on the other, and it was
a grand sight when one could get on a little
eminence. I stopped several times before dark,
and had a look at them, and felt proud indeed of
my country. At Kassassin we found our tents ; on
Tuesday it leaked out that the Highland Brigade
were to lead a night attack on Arabics entrench-
ments."
But in these details we are somewhat anticipating
the events of our narrative.
CHAPTER LXVL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {(Xmtinutd): — WITH THE HEAD-QUARTER DIVISION — ^THE NAVAL BRIGADE — ARABI
PROCLAIMED A REBEL — SOLDIERS IN DISGUISE — ^THE SECOND ENGAGEMENT AT KASSASSIN.
For a few days after the battle of Kassassin, little
of interest occurred at the front, and a period of
pause and expectancy followed in the Wadi
TumHat, though not one of idleness, as all was
preparation for a greater struggle, and Sir Garnet
Wolseley was resolved to make no further advance
until he could do so in force with the High-
landers.
That he was not in a position to push on im-
mediately after Graham's victory at Kassassin was,
no doubt, unfortunate. There were shortcomings
somewhere, and possibly the responsibility for the
usual breakdown of the transport may never de-
finitively be fixed.
The Highland Brigade, as stated, remained on |
ship-board for some days off Ismallia, merely landing |
in detachments to assist in the fatigue duties going 1
on at the base, while the Indian Contingent con- '
tinued to arrive in the canal, and the whole of the
British staff were engaged, with whatever troops
and workmen they could procure, in laying down a
small branch railway from the station to the pier at
IsmaXlia, and the men-of-war launches carried pro-
visions, ammunition, and stores up the canal to
Kassassin Lock.
Thus, while a portion of public opinion at home,
and more especially on the Continent — ever hos-
tile to us — believed that the British troops were
checked, the situation was clearing itself rapidly,
and Sir Garnet Wolseley was developing his plans
for the attack on Tel-el-Kebir, " the very spot on
which, before leaving England, he laid his finger as
the scene of the critical batde of the war."
Notwithstanding the praise bestowed upon the
horses of the Guards by a writer we have quoted,
after Kassassin about forty of these fine animals
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
succumbed, and the remainder were without com
for two entire days.
Raschid Bey, who had resumed the command of
the enemy's troops at Tel-el-Kebir after the capture
of Mahmoud Fehmy, was busy entrenching the
line of sand-hills from his left, across the canal
to that place. For some days the water in the
canal had been falling greatly, owing to a leakage
in its bank above Tel-el- Kebir flooding the low
chiefs they had already negotiated successfully, m
the hope of detaching these tribes from the standard
of Arabi ; and some showed their sincerity by de-
livering 200 sheep at our outposts near Kassassia
On the I St of September Sir Garnet Wolseley
reported : — " I have one engine on the line and
expect another from Suez to-night, and am pre-
paring the land transport companies, some of which
are now landing. A supply of mules has arrived
CITADEL OP CAIRO, FROM THE NILE.
land, and protecting the enemy's right ; but there
was no danger of drought now, as we held so great
a length of the water-way.
Arabi was evidently anxious about his left, and
pushed his extensive line of defensive works so far
in that direction, that to hold them it became
evident he would have to deprive Kafrdowar of its
garrison.
Sultan Pasha and Ferrid Pasha, two Egyptians
of influence, were now at Ismailia, and promised
to advance with our troops to Zagazig, where the
latter was to resume his office of governor. They
had with them a number of proclamations to dis-
tribute among the Bedouins, with some of whose
from Cyprus. I expect 400 more to-morrow from
Malta and Italy, and the large supply collected at
Smyrna and Beyrout, at last released by the
Ottoman Government, are on their way. In a
desert country like this part of Egypt, it takes time
to organise the lines of communication."
Colonel BuUer arrived to take over the Intel-
ligence Department, hitherto under the command
of Colonel TuUoch, and a Naval Brigade was formed
at Ismailia for service at the front It was formed
by Admiral Seymour, at the request of Sir Garnet,
and consisted of one hundred seamen and ten
officers, with a battery of four machine-guns, each
manned by twenty-five men.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
The following ships contributed to form this
battery, viz., the Alexandra^ Temeraire^ Monarchy
and Superb, The battery was under the com-
mander of the Alexandra^ having under his orders
four lieutenants and four sub-lieutenants, with
Surgeon Maclean, of the AUxahdra^ in medical
charge. Sir Garnet Wolseley, before leaving
England, expressed his determination to utilise the
Catling guns of the Navy, having for years highly
valued this weapon in the field, as explained by him
in "The Soldier's Pocket Book." The brigade
was afterwards raised to 250 men, and placed under
Captain Fitzroy, of the Orion,
Writing of the work done at this time by Captain
Harry Rawson, R.N., a correspondent of the Times
remarked that "the work of superintending the
floating transports, of landing thousands of men and
horses, with guns and stores, has been no sinecure,
and the task could not have been given to a more
capable officer than Captain Rawson. The expedi-
tious and satisfactory manner in which it has been
achieved is deserving of the highest praise. The
steamer Nevada^ where he has his head-quarters, is
continually beset by officers of different depart-
ments at all hours of the day ; and it is not too
much to say that he is about the hardest-worked
officer of the expedition."
Meanwhile, at Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir each
side kept a sharp look-out on the other, and morn-
ing and evening small parties of cavalry from both
were out scouting and reconnoitring, and generally
exchanging shots, which, like most fired from the
saddle, were harmless ; and on the 3rd September
Sir Garnet Wolseley, accompanied by Admiral
Seymour, made an inspection of the position.
He heard from Colonel TuUoch the result of his
close and able reconnaissances of the enemy's
works, and then returned to Ismallia.
That officer made vigorous efforts to induce the
inhabitants to come in with provisions from the
adjacent country ; but the Bedouins were found to
be somewhat like the frontier Jowakis and Afreedies
of Afghanistan, unable to resist taking a secret shot
at any unsuspicious straggler, and several of our
soldiers were assassinated thus by lurking marks-
men in the reed-covered fields near Kassassin
Lock.
With regard to transport, a correspondent, under
date the 3rd September, wrote thus : — " The English
carts are an utter failure } the light Maltese carts, or
those known in India as Leyland's mule carts, would
answer admirably, but, of course, are not available.
It is surprising that no efforts have been made to
purchase sufficient camels. Had energy been shown
in this direction, several thousands of these animals
might have been by this time available for carriage.
The authorities, however, seem content to rely
upon the railways and the canaL Our Martini-
Henrys are apt to be rendered unserviceable by
hard usage : the question is really a serious one.
Several weapons were disabled in the last action (at
Kassassin) owing to the cartridges sticking. Orders
are about to be issued forbidding the use of oil on
the rifles in future, for this holds the sand, and leads
to the hanging-up of parts of the locks and breech
apparatus. The Egyptians never use oil, but rub
the various parts of their rifles till the weapons look
as if constructed of silver."
The heat was now increasing rather than
diminishing, and breathless hot winds swept over
the camp from the desert for hours daily.
A party under Major Ardagh, of the Royal
Engineers, accompanied by Colonel Zourah, aide-
de-camp to the Khedive, with a squadron of
Hussars and two field-pieces, went in the night to
look after a body of Bedouins who were reported
to be at Kantara, but found the country deserted
Major MacDonald, of the 13th Bengal Lancers,
with twelve men of that regiment, made an im-
portant reconnaissance of the Tel-el-Kebir entrench-
ments. He had started at half-past four a.m.,
and ridden to the right of these great works, but
was at once pursued, and, to avoid capture, had
to strike northward, and take his way back to
camp behind the sand-hills. He described the
entrenchments as being of a most formidable
character, extending north and south at right angles
across the canal and railway, with one high and
strong earthwork, and three of smaller dimensions.
On the 5th of September the proclamation of
Arabi as a rebel for disobeying the orders of the
Khedive and Dervish Pasha was issued by the
Sultan at Constantinople, and orders for the
Convention were initialled on the 6th, when the
despatch of Turkish troops from Suda Bay was
also sanctioned.
At the same date the War OflSce issued orders
for the despatch of 4,000 more troops from Great
Britain, 3,000 to sail on the 15th of the month, for
the protection of Alexandria, the other 1,000 for
Kassassin. These, numbered of old as the 3rd,
39th, and 103rd, were to go out fully provided
with ammunition and standing camp equipment,
including, for each corps, 985 Martini-Henry rifles,
100,000 rounds of ball cartridge, and 400 double
tents ; while one officer and fifty-four men were to
join the various battalions in Egypt from those
which were at home.
Though no one believed in his sincerity, the
Sultan's proclamation of Arabi as a rebel was in
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Ismailia.]
SERVICE IN EGYPT.
453
substance as satisfactory as such a document could
be. It gave denial direct to the belief which
most of his subjects had entertained of the Sultan
in consequence of his crooked policy through-
out the whole matter. The missive averred that
no zeal for the religion of Islam, no patriotic im-
pulse lured the rebel on his desperate course.
Motives of personal ambition alone prompted him
to organise a revolt in Egypt, and he had persisted
in his designs in defiance of the warnings of his
Sovereign Caliph, and thus all the calamities of
Egypt were due to his selfish infatuation and to the
formation by him at Cairo of an administration op-
posed to the lawful government
If the Sovereign Caliph thought all this of the
adventurer, there was something amusing in the in-
consistency which led to correspondence with him,
to covert encouragement of his pretensions, and
finally to decoration of his person.
Tormented by heat, flies, and other plagues of
Egypt, by bad water, dysentery, and diarrhoea, the
troops at Kassassin were longing with almost fierce
impatience to grapple with the enemy, and end the
war as soon as possible. " I rode out early this
morning (5th September) from the heights, or rather
sand-heaps, bordering the scene of the famous
charge, from which a full view of the surrounding
country can be had," wrote a correspondent of the
Times. " Nothing showed directly north or west ;
but on the south of the canal evidence of the in-
creasing boldness of the enemy was manifest
Nearly three miles south-west of Kassassin stands
the little town of Yorein, a collection of mud huts
surrounded by a wall, which seemed to be entirely
deserted, except that a few quiet-looking country-
men were standing about on the banks of the canaL
Farther west, about a mile, was a tent formed of a
very large piece of canvas stretched over a bar.
On either side of this tent a line of horses extended
north and south, apparently along a picketing-rope,
and Egyptian soldiers were moving about in every
direction. There must have been at least two
hundred thus assembled within half an hour's march
of our camp. The time was a quarter past seven.
Just then General Wilkinson, with an escort of
Indian cavalry, came slowly along the northern
bank eastwards, on his return from a morning re-
connaissance. Some apparently innocent-looking
countrymen took no notice of him, and he rode on
to camp. Immediately afterwards, however, they
clapped rifles to their shoulders, and fired smartly
on our vedettes posted towards the railway. The
white puffs of smoke ran along a line of perhaps a
dozen infantry soldiers suddenly developed out of
the loitering rustics. They fired a parting shot as
a vedette came in to report, and then marched in
line towards their cavalry post already referred to.
Half-a-dozen horsemen rode out to meet them, and
much gesticulation ensued. Their officers, in dark
tunics, looked on from some rising ground behind.
At the same moment a number of cavalry showed
over the ridge immediately north-west, moving
towards the vedette, who galloped in."
The colonel commanding the 19th Hussars had
been fired at some days before from behind a wall,
by a party of men dressed like peasants, an artifice
which proved very unpleasant for the genuine Arab
villagers in the vicinity of the camp, who were
anxious to sell their produce to our troops, as they
were frequently arrested and detained until their
innocence was established.
Officers bearing the Khedive's commission
frequently visited the camp at this time, and their
loitering there was viewed with natural disfavour,
for much might have been observed which, if con-
veyed, however innocently, to quarters in com-
munication with the enemy, might have been pro-
ductive of mischief.
Three or four small engines brought from Eng-
land were, by September 6, set to work on the rail-
way, and it was estimated that about 200 tons of
stores could be brought daily to the front from
Ismailia, and shunts and sidings were laid down to
facilitate the running. On that very day a band of
Bedouins attacked a train of 300 mules near
Ramses, but were repulsed by the fire of the escort
The Arabs were still throwing the carcases of
dead horses and all kinds of foul matter into the
Ismailia Canal, and it was feared that it would soon
become undrinkable.
Regarding the water on shore, after landing at
Ismailia, an officer of the Black Watch wrote thus
to the Scotsman : — " The supply of water is horrible.
It would be called poison at home. The nearest
liquid I know resembling it is that used by the
filter manufacturers to exemplify the properties of
their wares. Here let me state that, bad as this
water is, it has done no great harm, the very few
cases of sickness in the regiment being proof of
this. On the 9th we landed at Ismaflia the
omnium gatherum of war material; we were
formed in column, and started on our first day's
march in the desert to the fi-ont Nothing of
note occurred on the march ; very few men fell out
of the ranks from exhaustion. On arriving at the
camping-ground, we got a drop of tea made, which
was drank thirstily ; we were too much * done * to
eat our biscuit, of which each man carried two
days' supply. Without any other pillow than our
I haversack, or co\ering than a blanket, those not on
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
duty slept the sweet sleep of the weary. After a
short march, the following morning we started for
the second march. On the third day we reached
the head-quarters at Kassassin."
On the 6th of September Sir Garnet Wolseley
reported to the Secretary of State for War that the
enemy had on that day reconnoitred the British
position at Kassassin Lock with a force of cavalry,
but without guns; that a musketry fire had been
exchanged, and that Lieutenant H. C Holland, of
the 15th Hussars (attached to the 19th Hussars),
had been wounded.
The fighting took place chiefly between an
advanced picket of our Indian cavahy and about
200 regular Egyptian horse, aided by a body
of Bedouins, who opened fire fh)m their saddles
at long ranges. While this was going on, 100
Bedouins appeared on the left of the canal, and
rode through the cultivated fields, pursued by our
Mounted Infantry.
Though only a cavaby skirmish and exchange of
shots, these movements indicated a boldness and
dash alike creditable to the Egyptian troops, though
they could neither check nor confuse our own
reconnoitring parties to the full extent, and all now
expected the next advance, as the difficulties of
transport began to disappear before the energetic
supervision of the general But though strong
fatigue parties of troops were always at work.
Government was obliged to employ labour at any
price; thus, gangs of cosmopolitan workmen, French,
Greeks, Arabs, and Italians, earning seven shillings
a day per man, were employed between Ismailia
and Kassassin.
We are told that every slight breach of dis-
cipline among our soldiers, though exceptional
and inevitable among forces in the field, was
eagerly seized by these labourers and made the
subject of fierce invectives. " It must be owned,"
said a writer at the time, " that the abolition of
flogging in the army renders the prevention of
the minor offences of pilfering and drunkenness
difficult in the extreme. Some of the military
authorities have been led to inquire whether an
application of the Civil Code would not meet
such cases ; but as this allows the flogging only of
garotters and those guilty of assault with violence,
it is unavailing in the present circumstances, while
the feeling of disgust among military men at finding
themselves powerless to keep order,- unless by
shooting their men, k extreme,"
At home, so general had been the response to the
call for volunteers fix>m among the officers of the
line regiments, that the military authorities had at
this time a list of nearly 1,000 majors, captains, and
subalterns, representing every corps on home ser-
vice, from which to draw in the event of Sir Garnet
Wolseley requiring their presence in the task of
subjugating Egypt
Tidings now came to Klassassin that a great
Bedouin chief, named Abou Hassan, had sum-
moned 6,000 followers and joined Arabi, inspired
by vengeance for the death of one of his sons by a
shell at Nefiche.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 7th of
September a very bold reconnaissance was made
from the British camp, when General Wilkinson
and Colonel Buller advanced to within one mile
of Tel-el-Kebir, with detachments of the Indian
cavaby and Mounted Infantry. They made
several sketches and notes of the works, guns, and
enemy's position. The latter were supposed to be
asleep, as none were seen in motion till the party
began to retire.
Without reckoning the almost innumerable hordes
of Bedouins collected by a hope of plunder, it was
now estimated that the force in Tel-el-Kebir was
about twenty-seven battalions of infantry, or 19,200
men, six squadrons of regular cavalry, or 900 sabres,
with 40 Krupp guns, besides mountain guns and
rocket-tubes, while in and about the works were
10,000 Bedouins.
Salahieh was supposed to be garrisoned by one
brigade of infantry and 8,000 Bedouins, with twelve
Krupp guns, and it was believed that, in spite of all
the demonstrations kept up at Kafrdowar, the lines
there were no longer held by a large force.
Cairo was reported to be almost denuded of
troops to reinforce Tel-el-Kebir, whither were also
drawn the black regiments hitherto stationed at
Damietta, and reckoned the best troops in the
Egyptian army. They were recruited for in Nubia,
among a race " to whom," says Waddington, " arms
are playthings and war a sport,** and whose men
had finer physique than the fellaheen, and were
better shots than the latter, whose eyesight is
rendered weak by ophthalmia. As our men had
not yet met these black troops, this may explain
the small number of casualties on our side as yet
As the water was still Ming in the canal, and the
lock-gates could not be opened, an enterprising
party of 400 Highlanders, under Lieutenant
Thompson, R.N., dragged — by sheer strength of
arm — over the sand-hills a couple of steel steam
launches, intended to serve as tugs for the flat-
bottomed boats upon the waterway. There were
200 kilts at each rope. Meanwlidle, the enemy
never ceased night or day from labouring at and
strengthening his works at Tel-el-Kebir.
General Willis and his staff arrived at Kassassin
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THE SECOND ACTION.
455
on the 7 th; General Lowe and the cavalry also
came, while the Guards were on their way. The
camp began to assume large proportions ; street
after street of white tents was run up, and as no
measures were necessary to conceal these move-
ments from Arabi, his scouts could see fully all the
menacing changes, as the different camps were
pitched in their full view.
On that day Buller made another reconnaissance,
and approached within a mile and a half of the
enemy's formidable line of works, which were seen
to be bristling with guns, while their cavalry hovered
at a safe distance. The latter seldom advanced
within rifle-shot, but their constant appearance
harassed and exasperated our pickets, which, of
course, were liable to an attack at any moment
when the enemy felt encouraged to do so.
At the same time, the Mounted Infantry on the
left were exchanging shots with the Bedouins, of
whom they killed a few.
On the morning of the 8th of September another,
and probably the final, reconnaissance was made
across the cultivated ground to the desert on the
south side of the canal, and the result confirmed
the truth of what had been reported to Sir Garnet
Wolseley — that the enemy was establishing himself
strongly on that flank.
The force which went out consisted of two
squadrons of Bengal Cavalry, two Royal Horse
Artillery guns, two of the Mountain Battery, and
the 46th, or 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Corn-
wall's Light Infantry, and sixty of the Mounted In-
fantry, under Captain Lawrence. General Graham
commanded in person, General Wilkinson led the
cavalry, and Colonels TuUoch and Redvers Buller
accompanied them. Starting before dawn, they
hoped to surprise and cut off a Bedouin party on the
nearest sand-hill, near the dome-shaped tomb of a
sheikh, but in this they failed. The sons of the
desert were on the alert, and fled with their fleet
horses on the spur to Tel-el-Kebir.
Our Bengalees now opened out from the centre,
and advanced in extended order for a mile and a
half, till the enemy were discovered advancing in
some force, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and a
cloud of Bedouins. The latter, as usual, opened
fire at absurdly long ranges, while our Indian
cavalry fell back upon the 46th, on which the
whole retired into camp, covered by the Mounted
Infantry, and followed by the enemy, who kept up
a straggling fire, shouting and gesticulating violently
all the time. Major Terry and Lieutenant Alison
had their horses wounded under them.
As the reconnoitring force fell back, a long
train, laden with troops, was seen steaming up from
Tel-el-Kebir, showing that Arabi wns ready to
meet it
The 19th Hussars, who had hitherto taken the
whole outpost duty, were now relieved as vedettes
by the Household Cavalry.
On the 9th, Arabi made a reconnaissance of our
position at Kassassin, with which he was himself
present, and as it was on the anniversary of the
original revolt, it was believed that something more
serious than a mere reconnaissance was intended,
as he led out 8,000 men, with twenty-four pieces
of cannon, against us, according to the Times;
" 13,000 infantry, besides regular cavalry. Bedouins,
and a large proportion of artillery " from Tel-el-
Kebir alone, according to the Army and Navy
Gazetie,
A strong column from Salahieh, variously esti-
mated at from 1,500 to 5,000 men, menaced
Wolseley*s right flank, while another on the south
of the canal menaced his left, and the main attack
from Tel-el-Kebir was delivered through the defile
— if such it can be named — formed by the canal
and the railroad.
Our opposing force consisted of the 19th
Hussars, the 13th Bengal Lancers, the Royal Irish,
3rd Battalion 6oth Rifles, the 46th, 50th, 84th, a
battalion of Royal Marines, the Naval Brigade, and
two battalions of Artillery, co-operated with, after a
time, by the Household Cavalry, a 40-pounder on
a railway-truck, and Borrodaile's battery of Horse
Artillery. The odds were, as regards numbers,
about four to one against us, and the enemy were
led by Arabi in person.
Our troops were very nearly being surprised, for
the first intimation that General Graham had of the
coming attack was when Colonel Pennington, with
thirty of the 13th Bengal Lancers, rode out at five
in the morning to post vedettes, and found himself,
to his astonishment, in the presence of three
squadrons of cavalry and a column of infantry,
advancing in regular attack formation.
The former were coming on, firing from their
saddles, as usual, and making no attempt to charge.
Through the misty morning air a second and stronger
line of cavalry could be observed advancing, while far
across the level desert the smoke of several trains
coming on from Tel-el-Kebir could be seen, thus
showing that something more serious was on the
tapis than the usual exchange of morning shots at
long ranges.
Sending two of his Lancers back to camp at a
gallop to give warning of the approaching attack,
Colonel Pennington, with great coolness and judg-
ment, dismounted his remaining twenty-eight men,
and opened fire from behind a sandy ridge. The
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA,
[Kassassin.
hostile cavalry continued to advance steadily, and
eventually surrounded him, on which he gave the
order to mount, and charge home to the British
camp.
His Lancers— clad in dark blue, faced with red —
did so gallantly, with the loss of only one, while
under lance or tulwar ten Egyptians fell in the
dust; and thanks to his cool courage, and the
promptitude of other cavaby and mounted men.
and not a moment too soon, as the enemy were
already crowning the sand-hills, from whence some
of their guns opened upon the advancing columns,
while others concentrated their fire upon the camp.
Many pieces of cannon now came into action at
once, and the scene speedily became lively.
Shells screamed through the camp in great
numbers, exploding among the tents, and throwing
columns of sand and dust high in the air, while
IIEUTENANT HENRY GRIBBLE, 3RD DRAGOON GUARDS.
{From a Photograph by Meurs. Robmson and Sons^ London tout DubUn,)
the infantry and artillery had time to form line of
battle: an operation which they achieved in exactly
twenty-five minutes, though there had been many
harassing false alarms, and the troops had alertes
so often, that they turned out listlessly, in the belief
that it was only another.
" In the meantime, from the sand-hills we could
see the enemy working quietly round our right
flank, their intention being plainly to repeat their
manoeuvres upon the occasion of the last attack,
and to enfilade our camp from the hills there,
Kassassin lying in a saucer-like depression."
The infantry and guns moved out of camp.
panic-stricken horses and cattle broke their picket-
ropes and halters, and careered wildly through the
canvas streets, where syces and other Indian camp-
followers strove in vain to arrest the stampede.
As soon as our artillery could take up a position,
they unlimbered, and opened fire on that of the
enemy, and for a time there ensued a r^ular
combat between the batteries. On the right, the
enemy were steadily pressing back PenningtoK's
turbaned Lancers, who had turned out with gallant
alacrity to support their vedettes ; while in their
fi-ont, at the distance of 2,000 yards, were seen
column upon column of swarthy Egyptian infantiy.
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Kassassin] THE EGYPTIAN ATTACK. 457
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BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[KassasBd.
in their white tunics and tasselled feiizes, with a
front which, extending from their right across the
canal, could not have been less than three miles.
" It was impossible not to give the enemy credit
for skilful tactics," says the Standard corre-
spondent, "and it was not from any fault of the
leaders that the attack was not successful Indeed,
for a quarter of an hour the position of our force
and camp looked exceedingly critical The infantry
were in imminent danger of being outflanked The
commanding positions were all in the enemy's
hands, while line after line of his cavahry and
infantry could be seen crossing the sand-hills."
The enemy's cavalry continued their turning
movement until they touched the flank of five
strong regiments, which marched from Salahieh
for the purpose of prolonging Arabi's left and over-
lapping our right
Graham's chief relief at this time came from the
cavahy. To Drury Lowe was again entrusted the
flanking movement, and with his whole division in
hand, he rode out of camp to execute it, making a
long diiour. Pushing far out on the right, he in
turn threatened the enemy's left, and compelled
them to desist from continuing their overlapping
movement Their cavalry fell back, and for more
than half an hour both sides rode far out into the
desert, each endeavouring to get round the other,
occasionally halting, while the light artillery with
each opened fire and sent their deadly shells
screaming and smoking over the level waste.
By this time the enemy's infantry had advanced
on both sides of the canal and railway down the
slopes of the sand-hills, until within i,ooo yards of
ours, while they opened from flank to flank a con-
tinuous rifle fire, that shrouded their line in white
smoke.
Our line was formed thus : — On the south bank
of the canal were the 50th ; on the north bank,
extending across the railway to the foot of the
sandy slopes, were the 60th Rifles, with the Marines
echeloned to their right rear ; and next them were
the 84th.
The Royal Irish and 46th were in reserve.
" The roll of fire was now as heavy and inces-
sant as would have been caused by two great
armies in contention in the days before breech-
loaders, and above the steady rattle of musketry
came the heavier boom of the guns, which kept up
their duel without cessation, the shells shrieking
over the heads of the infantry."
Suddenly, after seeming to be pretty equally
matched in skill, our artillery began to obtain the
upper hand by the superior accuracy of their aim
and rapidity of fire, while that of the enemy
slackened ; about the same time our infantry b^an
to press forward. As the three leading regiments
advanced, the Royal Irish and 46th moved in sup-
port, and the movement developed itself; the enemy
began to fall back, though they had no less than
eighteen battalions engaged. "Their fire was
tremendous," says the writer before quoted; "and
the wonder is where the bullets can have gone!
Eighteen battalions, advantageously posted and
armed with breechloaders, should have committed
tremendous destruction in the ranks of the five
regiments upon whom they concentrated their fire ;
but in point of fact, they scarcely did any harm, as
we had only two men killed : a result which is
absolutely ridiculous in proportion to the number
of men engaged and the weight of lead expended."
But our own fire must have been somewhat of a
failure, for when our line advanced there lay in
front of the Marines twelve dead and four wounded,
and thirty dead in front of the 60th — ^the result,
perhaps, of the enemy never permitting our troops
to get nearer than 1,000 yards.
They now fell back on all hands, so what seemed
likely to develop into a severe general action, with
all the odds against us, was, in fact, little more than
a reconnaissance made in force with men of all
arms. It was clear that the Egyptians could not
meet our troops at close quarters, but must retreat
whenever we advanced.
In falling back, they abandoned three of their
guns ; two fell into the hands of the Marines, and
one was captured by the Rifles. On seeing this,
they halted, and made a show of advancing to re-
take them ; but one volley from the Marines made
them change their mind, and quicken their steps to
Tel-el-Kebir.
Our artillery followed, and played upon them
occasionally, and their guns replied. The gun
captured by the 6oth was abandoned on the bank
of the canal Lieutenant Stanhope stripped, swam
across, and by main strength of arm hurled it into
the water, to prevent its recovery, lest the enemy
should return for it in the night, as they did after
the last engagement
During its long advance our cavalry oqptured a
gun with its entire team ; but they were compelled
to abandon it while in the act of limbering up, in
consequence of one of our own shells bursting over
their heads at the moment In one spot there lay
the bodies of twelve Egyptians, killed by a single
shell ; twenty-five lay dead in another place, killed
by three shells. It was estimated that our Horse
Artillery killed and wounded about seventy of the
enemy, and demonstrated the superiority of shrapnd
over Krupp percussion-shell
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READY FOR THE ADVANCE.
4S9
The cavalry and artillery opposed to General
Lowe having retired, he also withdrew about ten
a.m., and the infantry halted within four miles of
Tel-el-Kebir.
The body of Lieutenant Gribble, killed in the
previous engagement, was found on this occasion,
and buried
The enemy threw up slight shelter-trenches when
advancing, and around these the ground was thickly
strewn with empty cartridge-cases, which illustrated
the reckless expenditure of their ammunition.
Many prisoners were taken, who all seemed to
expect instant death, and many who made the sign
of the cross, as if to please our troops, were pro-
bably Coptic Christians. Our soldiers treated them
with great humanity, and many gave them the
entire contents of their water-bottles, which were
most necessary for their own use, after a morning
of such heat, exertion, and excitement
Little doubt was expressed that had the whole
force pushed on, they would have captured the
enemy's works. BuUer, who accompanied the
cavalry, was actually in consultation with General
Lowe about the expediency of riding on to Zagazig,
when Sir Garnet Wolsele/s express orders came
for the whole force to fall back upon Kassassin.
The hotter spirits were inclined to attribute want
of vigour to Sir Garnet Wolseley because he re-
fused on that day to make a rush at Tel-el-Kebir ;
but the same accusation was sometimes made
against Wellington in the Peninsular War. 'The
works might have been taken ; but elsewhere we
might have found the Egyptian army attempting to
bar the way to Zagazig and Cairo.
Our casualties in wounded were about sixty, in-
cluding Lieutenant Purvis, of H.M.S Penelope^
with the Naval Brigade, who had a foot carried
away while commanding the 40-pounder on the
truck. "Besides those returned as wounded,
many officers and men were contused by spent
balls, which, although the range was too long to
allow of penetration, were yet able to inflict smart
knocks. Oiu: troops advanced very steadily towards
the enemy, who at first fell back in good order, but
soon broke and ran. Had not our cavaby been at
the time far away on our right, they would have
inflicted a very heavy loss upon them. Our men
fired without undue haste, as is proved by the fact
that the consumption of ammunition by the Rifles
averaged only eight rounds per man."
The enemy were led, under Arabi, by Ali Pasha
Fehmy, and prisoners admitted that, so far as they
knew, his object was the capture of Kassassin.
" At the time this action was fought the Guards
were still at Mahuta," says the Times ; "and the
Highland Brigade, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, at
least one battery of artillery, with two squadrons of
the 19th Hussars, and part of the Indian Contingent
were still at Ismailia. Nor were all the requisite
provisions, ammunition, and stores at the front
But now all was ready for the advance. On the
9th — the day of this action — the head-quarters were
established at the front The Highland Brigade
commenced its march. The Guards were brought
up, and the whole force with which it was intended
to strike, was concentrated on the spot by the
nth."
When Sir Garnet started finally for the front with
his staff, the Royal Engineers had prepared for him
a dingy first-class carriage, which they had found at
the station, but he preferred an open truck with
cross benches.
The 2nd Beloochees at this time complained
bitterly that the 72nd Highlanders had all the
medals for the Afghan campaigns, in which they
served together. It may also be noted that as the
Government had not yet issued sporrans and hose
to the latter, they had to go through the campaign
in their old Stuart tartan trews, instead of in the
Mackenzie kilt, as the ist Battalion of the re-
modelled Seaforth Highlanders.
The camp at Kassassin was now filled with
troops of all uniforms — Line, Marines, Rifles,
Cavalry, Highlanders, Artillery, together with a
welcome detachment of the Post-office Volunteers.
It was a tent city, three miles long by half a mile
broad.
"There, under the scorching sun, lie officers and
men, enduring as best they can the perpetual
plagues of heat, of flies, and the occasional torment
of sand-storms," wrote one who was present
" These latter whirl through the camp at intervals,
nearly suffocating horses and men. Then occasion-
ally some frightened or maddened horse will burst
through the camp, dashing down tents and spread-
ing dismay and disorder. But except for incidents
of this kind, we are patiently waiting for the orders
to advance, which must soon come. Separated
from the main camp by the canal, stands a little
village of about seventy huts. These are the head-
quarters. Their occupants, from the general down-
wards, seem to have as little to do as the rest of the
force. Only locomotives and telegraph clerks seem
to have any energy left"
The total force at Tel-el-Kebir was estimated at
this period at 26,000 men, with 5,000 at Sabhieh.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Alexaodra.
CHAPTER LXVIL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued) I — WITH THE SECOVD BRIGADE OF THE FIRST DIVISION — ^ALEXANDRU !
THE WORKS THERE — SMITH-DORRIEN's MOUNTED INFANTRY — ^THE EGYPTIAN DESERTERS — THE
FATE OF PROFESSOR PALMER AND HIS COMPANIONS.
At Alexandria the situation remained as yet with-
out much change, though ahnost daily some striking
event occurred, while Sir Evelyn Wood was inde-
fatigable in losing no chance of adding to the
Strength of his position.
In the turbulent city and its suburbs there was a
seething population of disaffected vagabonds, and,
sooth to say, we had few friends in Alexandria.
Italians, Greeks, and other Europeans scarcely
concealed their dislike, and lost no opportunity of
inveighing against the very troops that had come to
save their lives and property, and sneered at the
lack of discipline which our new military rule
seemed to encourage.
Arabs of all classes were reported to be counting
the hours till Arabi should return as conqueror,
which seemed to them the more probable result, as
he had kept the field without any important check
as yet. In the work of preparing for eventualities.
Lieutenant Percy M. Scott, of H.M.S. Inconstanty
rendered good service at Ramleh in completing the
armament of the lines held by our troops.
Prior to his departure for Ismallia, General
Hamley required some heavy guns mounted, and
three 7-inch 7-ton guns were dug out of the
dibris of the battered forts at Ras-el-Tin, and were
skidded with their carriages, slides, and gear. Great
difficulties were experienced at Ramleh, where the
sand was not solid enough to allow the slides being
properly fixed, as the pivoting bolts had no hold,
but Lieutenant Scott displayed much readiness of
resource. In one case he buried a 32-pounder
muzzle upwards at the fore end of the slide, the
bore receiving the pivoting bolt In another case
he shackled a cable to two common shells, which
he brought up on each side of the gun to the fore-
end of the slide, thus securing it against recoil
The manner in which he mounted the third gun
on the summit of an eminence was ingenious.
Several hawsersuwere spliced together, and one was
run through a leading block, anchored firmly in the
sand by means of sleepers. One end of the hawser
was taken to the sling waggon, and the other to two
engines on the railway, which, steaming easily
ahead, ran the ponderous gun up to its positioa
Lieutenant Scott also superintended the digging
of the cnnal to connect I^ike Mareotis with the
sea ; the cutting was fifteen feet wide and half a
mile long, the object being to prevent the force at
Mex from reaching Alexandria by the shores of the
lake. The final dam was blown up with gun-cotton,
fired by electricity by Admiral DoweE The sea
rushed down the fall of fotu* feet with great force
and rapidity, tearing away a wall which had been
formed to prevent the flood fi'om overflowing a
part of the desert where it was not required.
Daily the boom of heavy guns was heard, as
shots were exchanged between the Minotaur or the
Water-works* 40-pounder battery and that of the
enemy ; and on the 3rd of September the former
shelled a Bedouin encampment between Ramkh
and Aboukir, while a house in which the enemy's
skirmishers used to take post near the Mahmoudiyeh
Canal, was blown up in the night by our Engineers.
On Mahmoud Fehmy being handed over to the
Khedive on the 3rd, at Ras-el-Tin, he promised to
furnish him with a written report of Arabi's forces,
and of the position he had himself constructed, for
he was an engineer of no mean order, and had
designed the earthworks formed at Varna by the
Egyptian Contingent in the Crimean War. In
addition to the detailed report, he also furnished
plans, which, according to the public prints, were
forwarded to Sir Garnet Wolseley.
" I learn," said the correspondent of the Standard^
under date of the sth of September, " fi'om a very
trustworthy authority the following particulars widi
respect to the Egyptian forces around Alexandria.
There are 10,000 men at Kafrdowar, under Toulba
Pasha, 3,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry opposite to
Fort Mex, under Ali Pasha Ruby, and 3,000 infentry
at Aboukir. All these are regulars. There are,
in addition, large bodies of Bedouins, who roam
between these positions, sometimes gathering at one
point, sometimes at another. As surprise is often
expressed," he adds, " at the large number of troops
reported to have been collected by Arabi round
Alexandria and at Tel-el-Kebir, it may be usefu .0
point out that the Egyptian military system b
admirably adapted to secure the maximum of
strength in war time, with the minimum when the
army is on a peace footing. Every man who has
passed through the ranks can be recalled to them,
and the greater portion of the male i-opulation can.
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SMITHDORRIEN'S MOUNTED INFANTRY.
461
in case of necessity, be mustered in the ranks.
Ismail Pasha on several occasions put from 50,000
to 60,000 imder arms — notably, in 1870, when he
apprehended a rupture with Turkey."
On the 6th General Wood went out with a large
fatigue party to bury the dead fish lying in the
canal, the water of which was almost exhausted,
and they had accumulated in such masses as to
taint the air and peril health.
Every other day, under the superintendence of
Colonel Clelland, Chief of the Police, Arabs who
had been found guilty of the murder of Europeans
were executed One, named Altia Hassan, who
had murdered two Englishmen, was marched to
execution on the 7th of September, escorted by
two half-companies of the 96th and three com-
panies of the 95th. He was conveyed, with a
placard on his breast, through the Arab quarter to
Pompey's Pillar — that wonderful column of pink
granite, 114 feet in height — followed by an exulting
crowd of Europeans. The troops formed a hollow
square about the gallows, which was erected in the
open space between the Mosque of El Shagafeh
and Fort CafTarelll The execution was conducted
by the Egyptian police, who placed the culprit on
a table, which was pulled from under him at the
sound of a bugle, and though the fall of the. rope
was insufficient to break his neck, he died without
a struggle. The body swung there till sunset, in
view of an Arab crowd, who muttered, "To-day
it is the Christians who hang the Mussulmans ; to-
morrow it will be the Mussulmans who will hang
the Christians ! " The populace are said to have
cut down the body and borne it away to embalm it,
and honour the criminal as a saint.
On the night before, a daring attempt had been
made by them to spike the 7-inch gun battery at
Ramleh.
Under Lieutenant Scott, in three days the inde-
fatigable sailors of the Inconstant built a wall 4 feet
high, 12 feet broad, and 200 yards long, to prevent
the water of the inflowing sea from penetrating
beyond the disused railway embankment, and when
it was complete they put on it a conspicuous
placard, inscribed —
•• H.M.S. Jneomtant,
* This is the wall that Jack built' "
On the 7th Sir Evelyn Wood sent a party to bum
down a house on the left bank of the Mahmoudiyeh
Canal, near the railway bridge, as the occupants of
it were discovered signalling with lights at night to
the enemy at Kafrdowar. Ramleh was actively
patrolled to prevent any such signalling, and after
nine o'clock all lights were prohibited in houses
beyond the outposts. On the night of the 7th some
mounted Arabs were again detected in suspicious
proxunity to the heavy battery, and although hotly
pursued by some officers of the 38th, they effected
their escape.
Next day Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien rode out
with the Mounted Infantry, and had a smart brush
with the enemy's vedettes on the Aboukir line,
killing some of them ; and in the afternoon, with
the same force, he escorted Sir Evelyn Wood and
his staff in a reconnaissance along the sand-hills
towards Mandora, examining the right of the
enemy's position, over the same ground where the
Gordon Highlanders, in 1801, routed the 6ist
French Demi-Brigade.
Many more native houses beyond the Mah-
moudiyeh Canal were destroyed for strategical
purposes, and some were spared and made defen-
sible, while the advanced camp at the Antoniades
Garden was strengthened by Sir Evelyn Wood, and
stricter control was exercised over all persons
passing our posts. Yet few nights passed without
shots being fired at or by Bedouins and other
marauders, and Smith-Dorrien's Mounted Infantry
were most serviceable in keeping the general
informed of the movements of the enemy in the
wooded country on the left, where, amid groves of
the date-palm, an advance might be made unper-
ceived from our main station; and they also
effectually prevented the enemy's cavalry from
making raids into the now open part of Ramleh,
which had been occupied by the Highland Brigade.
On the 8th of September Admiral Dowell and
Sir Evelyn Wood proceeded in the Condor gunboat
to shell a Martello tower and some earthworks
that had been thrown up around it Under cover
of the latter, the Egyptians had been cutting
trenches across the neck of land between the sea
and the lake, to obstruct any advance by land
against the Aboukir forts.
At the same time, early in the morning. Lieu-
tenant Smith-Dorrien, with his Mounted Infantry
and a company of the 53rd as support, rode in the
same direction on the south, or lake side of the
sandy spit
As the party left the paUn groves in their rear,
against the dear bright sky of the Eastern dawn,
there rose in opaque outline the strong works that
crowned the hillocks between the lake and the sea,
and when the sun rose higher its rays were reflected
by the bayonets of infantry lining the trenches.
But taught by previous experience that Dorrien's
mounted men were better left alone, no forward
movement was made by the Egyptians.
" From the position we now occupied," wrote one
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Alexandria.
who accompanied him, " we had a splendid view
of the enemy's chief position around Kindji
Osman. The appearance of their lines from the
Water-works is most deceptive, the earthworks as
seen from them being merely the narrow base of
an elongated quadrilateral, which stretches back for
miles in the direction of Kafrdowar. From our
position this morning, we could see completely be-
hind the lines which face Ramleh, and could almost
count the successive lines of diagonal trenches and
earthworks along the south shore of Lake Aboukir,
as far as the distant sand-hills that divide the latter
shore of Lake Mareotis saw a group of men ap-
proaching. On being challenged, they threw them-
selves on their faces in token of surrender, and were
made prisoners. They proved to be two majors, a
captain, and two subalterns of the ist Regiment
of the 3rd Division of the Egyptian army, who
had escaped from their camp,, which lay between
Mandora and Aboukir.
They were brought before General Wood, and
examined by him. They stated that great discon-
tent prevailed in the Egyptian camp, and more
especially in their own regiment, and that desertions
WELLS OF MOSES, NEAR SUEZ.
from Lake Edku. Whether these earthworks are
armed, it is impossible to say, but the break of
numerous embrasures could be seen in the sky-line.
Behind the line of works the Egyptian encamp-
ment spreads away into the distance in an almost
unbroken array of tents, which, if they are all
tenanted, would betoken the presence of a very
large force. They are at least corroborative of
my report of Wednesday last, that 10,000 men were
still facing us."
The dull boom of heavy guns was now heard by
the party in rear of the Egyptian lines, suggestive
of their artillery practising to obtain the range in
case of an ultimate attack from that side, or that
discord had broken out in the enemy's camp ; and
the latter proved to be, to some extent, the case.
Late that night the advanced pickets along the
on a large scale were checked only by the presence
of the 3rd Regiment of the 2nd Division, of which
Arabi had formerly been colonel, and which, being
deeply implicated in the original pronunaamunio
of the preceding September, was committed, be-
yond hope of pardon, to his cause.
They further stated that whole companies were
drafted from one battalion to another whenever
Arabi suspected them of disloyalty, while raids
were made on villages for levies of fresh men, who
received arms and ammunition, but no unifbim ;
that the issue of rations was irregular; that,
owing to the rise in the Nile and consequent inun-
dation of great tracts of land, communications
throughout the country were very difficult ; and that
coals were scarce. Arabi daily sent off bulletins of
his victories on the Sweet-water Canal ; in one he
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BEDOUINS AT MEX.
463
stated that he slew 4,000 British soldiers, with an
Egyptian loss of only one horse and one camel ;
that the French had taken Cyprus, and the
Russians India; and that Great Britain had
implored the aid of Turkey, and was tottering to
her fall
Of these deserters, one was a Circassian and one
a Kurd. They had been placed on half-pay when
the revolt began, as they were hostile to it, but had
been recalled to the colours recently, and placed
of Mex, but were attacked and dislodged at the
point of the bayonet
About midnight of the same date, our pickets at
the Ramleh and Rosetta Gates discovered a party
of men attempting to escalade the ramparts and
enter Alexandria. One who, most unwisely, bore
a lighted lantern, was challenged by a sentinel, who,
on receiving no reply, bayoneted him. The whole
party, however, escaped, after which some random
firing commenced over the ground between Fort
PROFESSOR PALMER.
in a regiment which was very lukewarm in the cause
of Arabi.
According to the statements of these five
deserters, the forces around Alexandria still mus-
tered 18,000 men, distributed equally at Aboukir,
Kafrdowar, and Mex, but in almost every instance
the alleged strength of Arabi's forces at different
points seemed to vary very much.
Brisk rifle-firing was heard in the vicinity of Mex
between seven and nine on the morning of the
9th, and then of heavy artillery at a considerable
distance south of Lake Mareotis, which led to the
supposition that Arabi's men had come to blows
with the Bedouins, a large body of whom were
seen approaching Mex. Though shelled by our
guns, a small party forced their way into the village
Creta and some hillocks near the sea, but such
alarms were of almost nightly occurrence now in
Alexandria.
In consequence of the moral effect that heavy
guns were seen to have on half-disciplined troops
like the Egyptians, and of the difficulties that
seemed to bar farther advance, orders were issued
at the Woolwich Arsenal to send out at once thirty-
six siege guns, with 1,136 gunners to work them.
This siege park comprised ten 40-pounders, ten
2S-pounders, six 7-pounders, and eight mortars.
In addition to the regular ammunition, 100 mag-
nesium shells were sent, fitted with time-fuses to
explode in the air, giving a bright radiance, which
serves, like electric light, for operations by night
Before recurring to the more important events
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[Saei.
of the war, we have now to record a dark and
mournful episode that grew out of it — the fate of
three good men and true; for, as it was said,
though many gallant fellows fell in the campaign,
yet neither at Kassassin nor Tel-el-Kebir did there
perish three braver souls than Professor Palmer,
Captain Gill, and Lieutenant Charrington, who
were so foully murdered by the Arabs in the Wady
Sudr.
The correspondent of the Western Morning News
at Suez stated that Lieutenant Harold Charring-
ton, R.N. (Flag-Lieutenant to Sir William Hewett,
V.C, K.CB., and whose commission was dated
23rd June, 1880), had been despatched into the
interior, disguised as an Arab, with jQi^ooo or
^3,000, to purchase camels for the defective
transport service, and that he was accompanied by
the professor to act as interpreter. With them
went Captain W. John Gill, a distinguished officer
of the Royal Engineers ; and soon after their de-
parture from Moses* Wells for the desert, came
alarming tidings of their arrest having been ordered
by Arabi; and though a telegram was received
from Rear-Admiral Sir William Hewett, dated
Suez, nth September, stating, on the authority of
some Towara Bedouins, that they were safe in the
hands of others in Arabia, the mystery that en-
veloped their fate was not unravelled for a time.
Both Charrington's companions were excellent
linguists, and well suited to act as interpreters, but
more particularly Edmund Henry Palmer, who, when
he died, at the age of forty-two, had the reputation
of being the greatest English Orientalist of his day.
He was a native of Cambridge, and rose to be
Lord Almoner's Professor of Arabic in that
university, and it was said there were few English-
speaking men more conversant than he with the
language of gipsies and Arabs, and that " a vaga-
bond was to him a moral — an ethnical — study." He
was master of Arabic, Urdu, and Hindostani.
(" The Life of Professor PaUner," by Walter Besant,
M.A.)
Opportunity was given to him of vbiting Sinai with
the Palestine exploration parties, and on his return
to England in 1869, a new scheme for the explora-
tion of the desert was entrusted to him and Mr.
Drake. He began a Persian dictionary, translated
the Koran, wrote a History of the Jews, acted as
one of the London suite of the Shah of Persia,
indited Romany and English songs, translated
Arabic, Welsh, and Swedish verse. While en-
gaged in such congenial labour the war broke out
in Egypt, and he was sent by Government to the
desert and peninsula of Sinai, at his own peril,
to travel about among the people, and to ascertain
their feelings regarding the Arabi imbroglio, and
detach, if he could, the nomadic tribes from the
Egyptian cause. In pursuance of this object, the
'* Sheikh Abdullah," as he was called, started in
company with Captain Gill and Lieutenant Char-
rington on that mission from which they never
relumed
William John Gill entered the Royal Engineers
in 1864, and an adventurous journey in Northern
Russia in 1873 developed his capacity for explora-
tion. Some years later he undertook an expedition
to China, and made his way through Eastern
Tibet to Falifii, and thence followed the footsteps
of his schoolfellow, Augustus Raymond Margary,
whose murder led to the Yunnan Expedition. In
1872, he was stationed at Aldershot, and ten years
after, when the war in Egypt broke out, he was
despatched by Government on special duty to Suez,
and with his two companions proceeded into the
desert of Sinai.
It seems that they had asked for a Bedouin
escort — not so much for protection as for effect ;
but the suggestion was not acted upon. It is
denied the professor was authorised to bribe the
Bedouins. The sheikhs received a little backsheesh,
after the custom of the East, but the tribesmen
were to be paid as regular troops to protect the
canal; and the fact that the party carried only
;^3,ooo proved that money payments were not part
of their mission. Eventually, die three unfortunate
Englishmen were no doubt betrayed by some of
the sheikhs whom Palmer trusted, and robbery was,
of course, the chief motive for their most barbarous
murder.
Traces of them were found about the end of
October, when the Admiralty received the following
telegram from Captain Stephenson, CB., com-
manding H.M.S. Carysforty of fourteen guns, at
Suez, announcing news from Colonel Warren, 1^
had gone in pursuit, and on the 22nd had reached
the top of the Wady Sudr, and stopped at midday
at Wady Cahalin, where Palmer's party had last
encamped "Swept up the valley in extended
order," continues the telegram. " At a short distance
found remnants of baggage. About a mile from a
spring came on a spot where the baggage was
looted. There were three private letters, some
notes, also a volume of Byron's works belonging to
Charrington ; nothing found belonging to Palmer
or GilL"
About seventeen miles farther on, at a spot
about a thousand feet above the Red Sea, Colonel
Warren's party saw three Bedouins, and captured
one belonging to the Aligal tribe, on whom was
found Charrington's tobacco-pouch, which he
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THE BRITISH CAMP.
46s
declared had been given to him by Ali Murshed,
Sheikh of Terebin. After a time Colonel Warren's
inquiries proved that the three victims were led on
the I ith of August, by order, it was believed, of
the Governor of Nakhl, to the edge of a precipice,
and were there shot, flung over, and left unburied.
The remains of the three were eventually brought
home to England, and solemnly interred in the
crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
A memorial tablet to their memory was erected
at the scene of their murder in the Wady Sudr, and
another to the memory of Captain Gill was placed
in the chapel at Brighton Coll^e^ where he had
been an old pupil
CHAPTER LXVIII.
THE EGYWIAN WAR (continued)'. — ^WITH THE ARMY BEFORE TEL-EL-KEBIR — ^A GERMAN GLANCE AT
THE CAMP — ^THE LINE OF ADVANCE — THE RECONNAISSANCES OP THE ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH
SEPTEMBER — ^THE BATTLE OF TEL-EL-KEBIR.
After the concentration of the forces in the camp
at Kassassin, the troops were allowed to rest for
one entire day.
The correspondent of the Kolnische Zeitung, as
quoted by Colonel Hermann Vogt, of the German
army, in his work on the Egyptians, gives us a
curious description of our camp there, as presenting
a great contrast to the regulations of the army in
Germany, though he is wrong in some of his details.
"Tents are not needed in this climate and under
this sky," he wrote. " The troops only pitch tents
when they remain some considerable time in the
same place ; otherwise, the men make themselves
comfortable on the bare ground, where the never-
failing ants give plenty of trouble. The private
soldiers vary much more than ours. There are
among them old and young, weak and strong. In
general, the strong predominate. Many of them
are splendid men, with muscles like those of the
* dying gladiator.' TThe uniform is the red tunic
and Indian mud-coloured helmet The Household
Cavalry, Rifles, Marines, and Artillery do not wear
red tunics. All, however, wear the sun helmet,
which is of a beautiful shape, but an ugly colour.
They also wear a flannel shirt and needlessly warm
woollen trousers. The little wooden water-bottle
that each soldier carries at his belt appears very
practical, as the water keeps cooler than in flasks of
tin. The saddlery of the cavalry seemed rather
shabby ; the stirrups were rusty, and the unpolished
leather looked rough. The Life Guards wear red,
the Horse Guards blue. They have left their
cuirasses at home, and are armed with swords and
revolvers, carried in a leather holster. The Hussars
and Dragoons are to be distinguished only by their
leggings, as they also wear red tunics and helmets.
The Indian Cavalry look well in their uniform,
which resembles that of the Cossacks. They carry
lances ; their pointed shoes are in the style of the
fifteenth century. All these men have gipsy faces,
with beautiful fiery eyes. They move with a cat-
like softness, peculiar to all southern Asiatics. These
Indians know better than any one else how to
forage and steal Among the British officers, espe-
cially the Guards, are crowds of lords with ^f 10,000
a year and more (?), but without knowing it before-
hand, no one would find it out Lieutenants wear
a star on the collar, captains two (?), majors a crown,
lieutenant-colonels a crown and star, colonels two
crowns, generals two swords crossed. Staff officers
wear a pink scarf instead of a white one over their
helmets. They have almost unlimited liberty as
regards uniform when not on duty. If it is difficult
for the continental European to distinguish between
German regiments, it is more so when British
officers not on duty wear the half military, half
civilian costume." In this he must refer to the camp
alone. "They appear in yellow leather lace-boots
and gaiters, fancy coats, broad belts, gigantic
revolver-pockets, scarfs, &c. Then consider the
military tourists, such as members of Parliament
and relatives of distinguished officers. These
gentlemen, as well as most of the officers, are pretty
men, with white complexion and carefully tended
nails. They parade on their' arrival in their travel-
stained clothes, as though they had akeady gone
through a long campaign. They were fond of
dressing in an eccentric manner, but they could not
compare with the military appearance of many of
the civilians. As far as I was able to judge, they
did not trouble themselves much about their men.
When they inspect horses, saddlery, &c, they do so
in the manner of a merchant inspecting his wares.
However, every one does his duty according
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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to his own £aishion. One effect of the great strict-
ness of our continental discipline is that it is con-
sidered sufficient only occasionally to go minutely
through the prescribed forms, and without ac-
complishing anything very thorough. This is not
so much the case with the English. Accomplish-
ments of a high order are more rare than with
ourselves ; but, on the other hand, the total absence
of them b more rare also."
The Marines and some of our regiments in this
campaign entirely abolished the use of pipeclay ; it
was washed out, and the belts were then stamed
with tea and tobacco-juice to a brown colour, as
were also the hehnets, which, being white, in the sun
proved a most attractive mark for the enemy's
riflemen.
The men in camp had an entire day's rest on the
nth, we have said, but there was no rest for the
staff officers. Tel-el-Kebu* had to be fiilly recon-
noitred, and the line of the advance considered.
The valley up which the route of our troops to
Zagazig would lie is the WadyTumilat, a depression
of the border of the Libyan Desert, asserted by
those learned in ancient Egypt to have been, in
times pre-historic, once a branch of the Nile,
traversing Timsah and the Bitter Lakes to the Red
Sea. Under the Pharaohs here lay a canal, by
which the river recovered its connection with the
latter sea. The line of the valley itself partakes of
the nature ofthe adjacent desert Thesoilatlsmallia
is mere loose sand, but farther west, towards Kas-
sassin, it becomes firmer, strong, and strewed with
pebbles. Along the shores of the canal are traces of
an ancient town of vast extent, and of a once high
cultivation that has passed away. At Tel-el-Mahuta
there still remains a mighty block of granite, bearing
on one side — enthroned between the divinities
Thum and Ra — a representation of King Rameses
II., the alleged conqueror of ^Ethiopia, Libya, and
Persia, and, according to Pliny, the contemporary
of Priam ; while Rameses — the railway station — ^b
the site of the Scriptural town of that name in the
Land of Goshea
Westward of Tel-el-Kebir lie the ruins of the
ancient Pithom, where the Israelites burned bricks,
and where, as we are told in Exodus, they had task-
masters set over them " to afflict them with their
burdens ; and they built for Pharaoh treasure cities,
Pithom and Rameses."
Zagazig, which was ere long to echo to the
pipes of the Black Watch when seized by that re-
giment, is the ancient Bubastis — the site of a mag-
nificent temple of Venus — ^where cats were held in
high veneration, because Diana Bubastis transformed
herself into a cat when the gods fled from Egypt.
Such was the Biblical and classical ground over
which the British troops were now fighting.
The whole welfare of the Wady Tumilat depends
on the existence of the fi^sh-water canal which
traverses it, and which the indolent Turks allowed
to fill with sand. Since it has been re-opened,
imder a new r^me, great tracts have been made
fertile, and it is obvious that the sluices which
regulate the water supply could be made most
serviceable in a strategical point of view.
Up to the 3rd of September there was no
Christian clergyman with die troops at Kassassin,
save one Roman Catholic priest, though a large
clerical staff had been sent out ; and he had to read
a burial service over all 'the dead, after attending
them on their death-beds. The Scottish regiments,
however, had their Scripture-readers.
On the nth and 12th of September Sir Garnet
Wolseley reconnoitred both sides of the enemy's
position, accompanied by the principal officers ol
his staff, in which there rode Colonels Zohrab and
Morice Bey, Lieutenant-Colonels Thumisen and
Abdullah Bey, Dulier Bey and Captain Hussein
Bey Ramzy, and Lieutenant Goodrich, of the
United States Navy. They saw before them a line
of entrenchments some four miles long, extending
from the canal towards El Karain, in the desert ; on
its other bank soft earthworks, with hurdle revet-
ments, which in fortification mean supports outside
of a rampart or parapet, to prevent the soil from
rolling into the ditch.
These works, on which such numbers of fellaheen
had toiled for so many weeks, had a frontage of
6,600 yards, and the intended inundation by Aiabi
south of the position did not seem to have been
carried out At intervals along the line were
redoubts armed with cannon, which were so
pointed as to deliver alike a front and rear fire,
and these redoubts were connected by trenches-
all, doubtless, the result of Mahmoud Fehmy's skill
as an engineer.
Supporting the front line were other redoubts,
which, towards the right centre of the position,
were especially strong : alike because they
crowned eminences that were natural, and were
strengthened by art and skilL Similar works
covered the flanks — an entrenched line and armed
redoubts. They were supposed to be unassailable
by cavalry.
In rear of all these works lay an Egyptian force,
which, says the Times^ can be estimated correctly
only by the fact that 18,000 rations were Bsued
the day before for the regular troops, and 7,000 for
irrqi^lars; "but the strength of the enemy was
known only vaguely to Sir Garnet Wolseley, as his
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THE ADVANCE BY NIGHT.
4h.
despatch admits. I'he practical facts before him
were : the works, the knowledge that they were
fully occupied, the knowledge also of a detachment
at Salahieh, and the certainty that the enemy would
be informed of all his movements by spies."
His experience of an Egyptian sun also told him
that although, even while it beat pitilessly on the
desert sand, British troops could fight and conquer
in the heat of the day, the rough task before them
would be better and more easily achieved in the
cool dark hours of the early morning.
After Sir Garnet had explained to all his generals
and brigadiers the plan of attack, and given each a
sketch of the intended operations, he was seen with
his staff reconnoitring the position, but the enemy's
cavalry issuing from Tel-el-Kebir put an end to the
reconnaissance, and he was back to camp by seven
am. All was quiet there still, and the anxious and
curious press correspondents who called at head-
quarters to glean news were briefly informed there
"was none to telL"
There were then with the commissariat only five
days' provisions for the whole force, but as the
country beyond Tel-el-Kebir was known to be fertile
and rich, it was thought subsistence would be found
there, though it was but too probable that for miles
around it might have been swept by the enemy, in
which case it was hoped that a large stock of
provisions would be captured together with the
entrenchments.
During all that eventful day the enemy's vedettes
remained at a long distance from the camp at
Kassassin, while our reconnoitring parties reported
that they were labouring hard at the earthworks, as
if anticipating the event that was to corae.
All the troops felt that a move would be most
welcome, for, in addition to the discomforts already
mentioned elsewhere, the camp was becoming un-
healthy, diarrhoea prevailing to a considerable
extent, and already many men had been sent rear-
ward to Ismailia.
The pontoons were now all to the front, to enable
Graham's force to cross or re-cross the canal at will
in the work of turning Arabi's lines.
During the day the advanced guard was pushed
forward four miles, while the Indian infantry foU
lowed for two miles, and when the evening of the
1 2th of September came, all knew that the hour of
battle was drawing nigh, and that many who saw
the red Egyptian sun set might never see it rise
again.
The orders were issued for a general advance ;
they were brief, but significant By half-past six
all tents were struck and packed^ ^d ^1 baggage
was piled up along the railway, opposite the camps
of the respective corps to which it belonged. At
these preliminary duties the soldiers worked hard
and cheerfully, while a deep sense of relief per-
vaded all ranks in the knowledge that a long period
of inactivity and comparative inaction, with intense
discomfort, was over, and that the beginning of the
end was at hand.
No bugles or trumpets were allowed to sound
after sunset The West Kent Regiment, the 19th
Hussars, and two companies of the Royal Engineers
were detailed to guard the camp and baggage.
No fires were permitted ; even smoking was for-
bidden ; and the utmost silence was ordered to be
maintained throughout the operations of the night
At half-past one in the morning — after every man
had been provided with a hundred rounds of
ammunition and two days' rations, including tea in
water-bottles (two additional days' supply and thirty
more rounds provided for by the regimental trans-
port)— Sir Garnet VVolseley gave the order to
advance, and the ist and 2nd Divisions moved
off. " The night was very dark," says his despatch,
" and it was difficult to maintain the desired forma-
tion, but by means of connecting files between the
battalions and brigades, and between the first and
second lines, and through the untiring exertions of
the generals and officers of the staff generally, this
difficulty was overcome effectually."
The Indian Contingent, consisting of a Royal
Artillery Mountain Battery, a battalion made
up from three Native Corps and the Seaforth
Highlanders, under Major-General Sir Herbert
Macpherson, V.C, and the Naval Brigade of 250
men, under Captain Fitzroy, of H.M.S. Or/on, did
not move off till half-past two a.m., as to have
done so sooner would have alarmed the villagers
among the cultivated land southward of the canal
Telegraphic communication by means of insulated
cable was kept up to Kassassin all through the
night, between the Indian Contingent and the south
of the canal and the Royal Marine Artillery, with
which Sir Garnet Wolseley moved in rear of the
2nd Division.
The total strength thus advancing to the attack
was given m the Twies at 11,000 bayonets, 2,000
sabres, and 60 guns — "about half that of the
enemy, excluding the Salahieh detachment"
On the extreme right rode the bulk of the
cavalry brigade, and two Royal Horse Artillery
batteries, with orders to sweep vigorously round in
rear of the enemy's line when day broke. Next
them on the left, and forming the right of the
infantry, was General Graham's brigade, the 2nd—
consisting of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal
Irish, Royal Marine IJght Infantr)', York and
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Td^Kebir.
Lancaster Regiment, and the ist Battalion of the
Royal Irish Fusiliers, supported by the Duke of
Connaught and the Brigade of Guards— the last no
longer true to their grand traditions and past history
COLONSL GOODBNOUGH, COMMANDING THE ROYAL
ARTILLERY.
as leading the van — for what reason has never been
explained.
Nearer the lines of railway and canal, forty-two
guns advanced under Colonel Goodenough, sup-
ported by a fourth brigade, made up for the time
of the 6oth Rifles, the Duke of CornwalFs, and
with them, apparently, were the Marine Light
Infantry.
On the same line moved the Highland Brigade,
consisting of the ist Battalion of the Black Watch,
I St Cameron Highlanders, and 2nd Highland Light
Infantry and Gordon Highlanders, under Sir
Archibald Alison, and pioneered, or guided, by the
gallant Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson, R.N., of whom
more anon.
The ironclad train occupied the railway, sup-
ported and manned by the blue-jackets, who had
been drawn from the fleet, and sent to the front to
share in the crowning glory. "The Highland
Brigade on our left, and Graham's brigade on our
right, stole forward through the darkness to the
assault of the enemy's position," says the Times^
" knowing the effect to be produced by the sudden
apparition of a brave enemy, determined to have
no preliminary fire, but to trust only to the shadows
of night to veil his advance."
In moving over the desert at night there were
no landmarks to guide the movements, and their
course was directed by the stars, which was well
and correctly effected, and the leading brigades of
each division both reached the enemy's works
within a couple of minutes of each other.
All orders were issued in low tones — almost in
whispers; the footfalls of the marching masses
were muffled by the sand amid which they trod
The silence was broken only by the occasional
clatter of a steel scabbard or the chain of a gun-
carriage, while the certainty that a great, bloody,
and desperate struggle would commence ere the
first ray of dawn shone over the level desert, with
the expectation of being challenged at any moment
by scouting Bedouin horsemen, combined to make
this march amid the darkness of the morning
one which those who shared in it never ^11
forget Thoughts of home must have been in the
minds of many, amid the stillness of the time,
mingling with those of the stem work in hand ; but
little was said or heard, save a whispered " Silence
there ! " as some one asked for a match, or " Put
out that pipe instantly ! " after it had been surrep-
titiously lit
There were a few temporary halts, to enable the
regiments to maintain touch and cohesion of order,
and to allow the guns and waggons, the jarring
wheels of which seemed to sound strangely loud, to
keep up with the columns.
When dawn was nigh the troops were within
1,000 yards of the enemy, and then a final halt was
COLONEL NUGENT, COMMANDING rHE ROYAL ENGINEERS
made for a brief space to enable the fighting line
to be perfected, and last preparations to be made.
Deepest silence reigned over the Egyptian desert,
and to all who were present it seemed most difficult
to realise as a fact that an army of so many
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THE HALT BEFORE THE ATTACK.
469
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF TEL-EL-KEBIE (SEPTBMBBE 1$, l882).
thousand men of all arms was now in a vast
semicircle round the lines of the enemy, ready to
rush at a signal headlong against those who manned
the heavily-armed batteries that rose, amid the dark-
ness, in an outline even more opaque than gloom.
00
"The attack began on the left," says the corre-
spondent of the Standard^ who rode with the
Mounted Police, "and nothing finer could be
imagined than the advance of the Highland
Brigade. Swiftly and silently the Highlanders
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
ricl-«l-Kebir.
moved forward to the attack. No word was spoken,
no shot was fired until within 300 yards of the
enem/s works (a distance since lessened to 200
yards), nor up to that time did a sound in the
Egyptian lines betoken that they were aware of the
presence of their assailants. Then suddenly a
terrific fire flashed along the line of sand-heaps,
and a storm of bullets swept over the heads of the
advancing troops. A wild cheer broke from the
Highlanders in response ; the pipes struck shrilly
up, bayonets were fixed, and at the double this
splendid body of men went steadily forward. The
first line of entrenchments was carried ; but from
another line of entrenchments, which could scarcely
be seen in the dim light, another burst of musketry
broke out. For a few minutes the Highlanders
poured in a heavy fire in exchange, but it was pro-
bably as innocuous as that of the unseen enemy,
whose bullets whistled overhead. The brigade
again moved rapidly forward. Soon a portion of
the force had passed between the enemy's redoubts,
and opened a flanking fire upon hun."
And here fell that brave sailor, Wyatt Rawson,
mortally wounded.
As the Highland Brigade burst like a torrent
into Tel-el-Kebir, Private Donald Cameron, of the
Cameron Highlanders, is alleged to have been, as
his beautiful monument records, ** the first man to
mount the parapet, and the second to fall.'*
As, despite the first hasty despatch of this action,
the first attack was delivered by the left wing, and,
as the Amiy and Navy Gazette has it, " the High-
landers were inside the position long before the
right attack," ere proceeding to relate the fighting at
other points, we shall quote, in preference to our
own, the words of the one-armed veteran who led
them. Sir Archibald Alison, who has inherited his
father's power of vivid description.
After detailing the impressive nature of the
advance amid the darkness of the moonless night,
and the dull muffled march of the masses through
the desert, he continued thus : —
"It exercised upon me a singular fascination,
and the words of the Roman gladiators came to
my mind, * Ave^ Ccesar Imperator^ morituri te salu-
tant* The first thin dawn of breaking day was
just beginning to lighten the east, when a few shots
fired into our men showed that we had touched the
Egyptian outposts ; the click was heard of fixing
bayonets ; a deep silence followed ; the measured
march was resumed, and suddenly out of the dark-
ness there flashed a long blaze of musketry that
rolled away on each flank, and by the light of
which we saw the swarthy features of the Egyptians,
surmounted by their red tarbooshes, lining the
ramparts in firont of us. I never felt such a relief
in my life I knew that Wolsele/s star was bright.
A solitary bugle rang out, and then, with a cheer
and a bound, the Highlanders rushed in one long
wave upon the works. The first line went down
into the ditch, but for a time could make no way.
Some fell back into the ditch, the majority sprang
over the summit, the rest rushed on, and then the
battle went raging into the centre of the space
behind. While this befell on the centre and right
of the Highland Brigade, the Highland Light
Infantry on the left had a more chequered fight
They came upon a very strong redoubt"
A front attack could not succeed, it would appear;
the ditch was too deep, the ramparts too high.
Filing off* on each side, the Highland Light Infantry
endeavoured to force a way in at the flanks of the
works, and here one of the bloodiest struggles of
the day ensued — a long and stem hand-to-hand
fight, which was not ended till Sir Edward Hamley
had reinforced that regiment — the old 74th — ^by
part of the Cornwall Regiment and the 60th Rifles.
On the other flank of the brigade the Black
Watch was compelled to tarry in its wild rush, in
order to storm a redoubt, the heavy guns of which,
in the now breaking morning light, had begun to
play heavily on Graham's brigade and our ad-
vancing artillery ; and thus it came to pass that,
from both flanks of Alison's brigade being delayed,
the charge straight to their front of the Gordon
and Cameron Highlanders caused them to become
the apex of a wedge thrust into the heart of the
Egyptian army.
The best fighting by the troops of the latter took
place here, when their First Guard Regiments fell
back silently and sullenly before the Highlanders^
even while the latter were under a flank fire.
"Then," continued Sir Archibald Alison, "oc-
curred a matter which all troops are exposed to in
a very severe fight — a portion of our line, reeling
under the flank fire, fell back for a moment Then
it was a goodly sight to see how nobly Sir Edward
Hamley, my division leader, threw himself into the
midst of the men, animating them by voice and
example, and amid a storm of shot, led them on
to the charge. Here, too, I must do justice to
those much-maligned Egyptian soldiers. I never
saw men fight more steadily. They were falling
back up an inner line of works which we had taken
in flank. At every re-entering angle, at every
battery and redoubt, they rallied, and renewed the
fight Five or six times we had to close on them
with the bayonet, and I saw those poor men fight-
ing hard when their officers were flying before us.
At this time, too, it was a goodly sight to see the
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THE CHARGE OF THE HIGHLANDERS.
471
Cameron and Gordon Highlanders, mingled to-
gether as they were, in the stream of the fight ;
their young officers leading in front, waving their
swords above their heads, their pipes playing, and
the men rushing on with that bright light in their
eyes, and that proud smile on their lips, which you
never see in soldiers except in the moment of
successful battle."
Here fell Sergeant-Major McNeill, of the Black
Watch, a magnificent soldier, pierced by three
bullets, after cutting down six of the enemy with
his claymore ; and Lieutenant Graham Stirling fell,
shot through the head, not far firom him.
Quartermaster Elmslie, in his published letter,
states that when the Black Watch had reached the
crest of the works, but still had numerous guns in
front, while the colonel was re-forming them, a
battery of artillery swept past on their right, shout-
ing, " Scotland for ever ! *'
They were one of the batteries of the new Scot-
tish Division, and " were scarcely halted," he adds,
" when their shot and shell were tearing along the
trenches, and making dreadful havoc among the
Egyptians."
In his second and detailed despatch, Sir Garnet
Wolseley states that "the Highland Brigade had
reached the works a few minutes before the 2nd
Brigade had done so, and in a dashing maimer
stormed them at the point of the bayonet, without
firing a shot till within the enemy's lines."
Meanwhile, fighting had begun vigorously on the
other flank. Dawn was faintly stealing over the
Eastern sky, when the crest of a ridge some 500
yards in firont of the Egyptian left became covered
with moving objects, that told darkly against the
pale light It was the brigade of Graham coming
on. A single shot firom the Egyptian lines rang out,
and after that the storm of the battle burst forth.
The Royal Horse Artillery shelled the enemy's
extreme left, where the Egyptians are said to have
been more prepared than tiiey were for the attack
on their right, and for a time held their ground, till
the first jets of fire that spirted out in the darkness
became one long blaze of musketry over the top
of the parapets. Under the guidance of Major
Hart, a staff officer, the Royal Irish were sent to
turn the enemy's left, and with a wild yell, and
all their national and characteristic valour, they
went " straight at the works," carried them at the
bayonet's point, and completely turned the flank
of the position.
Then crowded masses of the Egyptians began to
rush across the open, suffering heavily from our
fire, which mowed them down in hundreds.
Next to the Royal Irish came the old 87th Royal
Irish Fusiliers, and next them the old 94th, now
termed the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers.
These regiments advanced by regular rushes;
but it would seem that the rest of the troops in the
shadows of the plain had not been perceived, and
thus the fire that at first opposed them was of that
involuntary kind which tells of want of discipline ;
but ere long it became a steady fringe of fire spark-
ling out amid the gloom. "Then, with a grand
cheer, the tide of British lads was loose, and the
blood of the men bounded no less strongly in their
veins because their service in the army was to be
six years instead of twelve."
Here our troops had been seen fully by the
enemy, who poured upon them a hail of bullets.
Thick as bees, the Egyptian infantry clustered on
the parapets of the redoubts, and were forced down
the slopes of these into the deep trenches in front
of them. Hundreds of them, lying down, smote the
head of the advancing brigade with their fire ; but
our soldiers deployed with splendid steadiness, and
advanced by sections, making, as we have said,
rushes that were short and sharp towards the
enemy's position, but always under the full control
of their officers.
As they drew near the trenches, they gathered
themselves in groups, and leaped down into the
midst of the enemy; then a hand-to-hand fight
ensued with butt-end and bayonet, and the
Egyptians fell in scores, our officers having many a
personal combat with them ; thus, when the second
line came on, they found the trenches full of dead
and dying Arabs.
The first line of the Egyptian entrenchments, with
all the redoubts, was now fully captured, but the
stronger lay within, armed with twelve heavy guns,
while line after line of shelter-trenches lay beyond.
To have paused for a moment now would, in
the opinion of the Times correspondent, have
been to repeat the dreadful mistake of the Redan
in the Crimea. Thus our troops, cheering with
glorious enthusiasm, again went storming up the
slopes without the hesitation of a second, won the
inner parapets, and bayoneted the gunners before
they had time to abandon their cannon.
About twenty minutes after, the first rush on the
left and that on the right sufficed to put the care-
fully-constructed entrenchments and the redoubts,
with all their flank-firing and formidable artillery, in
the hands of the victorious British troops. Those
of the enemy who were able to fly, fled, followed by
the withering and searching fire of the victors in the
captured positions ; and those other redoubts that
were yet unattacked, and the shelter-trenches lay
beyond; all these availed them not, as the dread of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Td-elKebir.
our cavalry and horse artillery sweeping round upon
their flank and rear caused the Egyptians suddenly
to abandon them.
From the moment that Graham's brigade on
the right and the Highlanders on the left were
through the inner line of redoubts, the actual
resistance of the Egyptians ceased, and the battle
was virtually woa Mingled together in bewildered
mobs, hurried into wild and disastrous retreat, the
Egyptian regiments had no rest given them — no
chance of rallying even for one brief moment.
Ere these attacks had been consummated, and
while they were in progress, the Indian Contingent
and the blue-jackets, all under Major-General Sir
Herbert Macpherson, had been doing their duty on
the extreme left. " They advanced steadily and in
silence," says Sir Garnet Wolseley, in his despatch
of the subsequent day, " the Seaforth Highlanders
leading, until an advanced battery of the enemy
was reached, when it was gallantly stormed by the
Highlanders, supported by the Native Infantry bat-
talions. The squadron of the 6th Bengal Cavaby,
attached temporarily to General Macpherson, did
good service in pursuing the enemy through the
village of Tel el-Kebir. The Indian Contingent
scarcely lost a man, which I attribute to the
excellent arrangements made by Major-General
Macpherson, and to the fact that, starting an hour
later than the ist and 2nd Divisions, the resist-
ance of the enemy was so shaken by the earlier
attacks north of the canal that he soon gave way
before the impetuous onslaught of the Seaforth
Highlanders."
The official report of the operations of the Royal
Marine Light Infantry, furnished by Colonel
Howard S. Jones, who commanded them, to the
Lords of the Admiralty, details them with some
spirit. After the march in the dark was achieved,
they found themselves, just as dawn was break-
ing, about 1,200 yards in front of the northern
portion of the enemy's lines, after having more
than once to make a change of front, owing to the
stars being occasionally obscured
While the brigade of which they formed part
deployed into line, a continuous fire of shot
and shell was poured into it As soon as the
brigade formation was complete, Colonel Jones
formed the Marines for "attack" by sending for-
ward three companies in fighting line, with three
in support and two in reserve ; and as the first of
these in extended order approached the position,
they found themselves destitute of all cover, while
under a fire that every moment increased in fury
and intensity.
Yet the Marines pressed forward up the slope of
the glacis, reserving their fire, as ordered, until within
about 150 yards of the first ditch, when, fixing
bayonets, the fighting line being reinforced by its
supports and by the reserves under Lieutenant-
Colonel Graham, the whole worked their way by a
succession of impetuous rushes, in spite of a terrific
fire of cannon and musketry, to the summit of the
works, and with loud cheers threw themselves into
the ditch, and dashing up the slope of the nine-
foot parapet, met the foe in a close hand-to-hand
fight with butt and bayonet
Thb lasted but a short time, as the Egj^tians
in that quarter broke and fled in all directions,
"The Marines," continues the report, "followed
thpm up for a dbtance of about four miles, until
they came to Arabics head-quarter camp at Tel-el-
Kebir. This they found standing, but evacuated,
it having evidently been left in haste, as everything
appeared in order. Here they were ordered to
halt and occupy some of the deserted tents." The
casualties among the Marines were very severe:
amongst them, "Major Strong, who was shot
through the heart while most gallantly leading his
fighting line up the glacis, within twenty yards of
the enemy; Captain Wardell, one of the most
valuable and efficient officers in the battalion, was
also killed, being shot through the head close in
front of the parapet, while cheering on his men."
The Naval Brigade performed its task as nobly
as if the eye of Nelson himself had been fixed on
every blue-jacket
With Macpherson's brigade, they crossed the
canal by a pontoon bridge at three a.nL, and
marched along the opposite bank to the Naval
Gatling-gun Battery. These heavy pieces sank, at
times, to the axle-trees in the soft sand The men,
however, worked with a will, cursing, however, the
authorities for giving them such clumsy guns to
handle, when, with a little forethought, better
machine-made guns could have been supplied to
the fleet " Would the battery ever be got to the
front in time for action ?" was the thought of all
" Come along, lads ! " " Heave her out of the
hole ! " " There she goes — hurrah ! " were the
expressions heard ever and anon, muttered between
their teeth as the gallant blue-jackets strained evtry
nerve, and taxed their iron muscles to get their guns
forward. The toil was frightful The morning
hours were pitch dark, and the sand to be traversed
so soft that the seamen sank into it more than
ankle-deep as they struggled along, and when they
tallied on at the drag-ropes, it gave freely, aflfording
them no efficient foot-hold.
Their anxiety to get on was intense ; they would
scarcely halt to draw breath, lest they might be too
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BLUE-JACKETS AT THE FRONT.
473
late to share in the conflict ; and daylight had just
begun to dawn at the flat and far horizon when a
staff" officer came up to inform Captain Fitzroy that
he was close to the enemy's position.
Just at that moment the guns in Tel-el-Kebir, on
the right of the Naval Brigade, opened fire, and
the red flashes in quick succession began to streak
the sable sky. The mules were lashed into their
best pace. Inspired by the booming of the cannon,
the blue-jackets strained every muscle, and got
their guns on the double, but General Macpherson
now ordered Captain Fitzroy to halt and recon-
noitre some fields of maize on his left front
Quickly the blue-jackets deployed at a swift
double, with cutlasses fixed to their rifles, and
syrept through the reedy stalks ; but nothing was
there to meet or oppose them, and their battery
resumed its advance. Then almost immediately
the enemy's cavalry, looming through the twilight,
appeared in their immediate firont, and in some
strength.
The guns were slewed round, and instantly
brought into action. A storm of bullets, that tore
up the sand and dust in clouds, swept through the
Egyptian horse, and many saddles were emptied,
while steed and rider went down, and, completely
cowed by the leaden hail, the remainder fled on
the spur.
The guns were limbered up, the mules were
scourged, hands and shoulders were put to the
wheels, and the brigade was soon within easy
range of the enemy's works, then all garlanded
with fire — there were guns in fi-ont, guns on the
right and left, flashing and booming out, and a
storm of rifle-shot sweeping over alL
" Action, front ! " was now the order given and
joyously responded to. The Catlings were whisked
round, and the horrible screwing and shrieking
sound of their discharge began.
" The report of the machine-guns as they rattle
away rings out clearly on the morning air," wrote
an officer. "The parapets are swept The em-
brasures are literally plugged with bullets. The
flashes cease to come from them. The Egyptian
fire in that quarter is silenced. With a cheer, the
blue-jackets double over the dam, and dash at the
parapet, only just in time to find the enemy in full
retreat That machine-gun fire was too much for
them. Skulking under the parapet, they found a few
poor wretches, too frightened to retire, yet willing
enough to stab a Christian if helpless and wounded.
But few wounded were found, and not a single
•casualty occurred among the Naval Contingent"
Before the grand advance of Graham*s brigade,
the Egyptians were flying as fast as those on the
other flank before the furious rush of the High-
landers. The battle was won and practically
over — won in the good old-fashioned British
way, by the cold steel chiefly. If new occasions
demand novel means, old occasions require the old
means, the bayonet and the sword-blade. And now
the only danger accruing was from the bullets of
our own troops, who were firing in all directions
upon the fast-flying enemy, while with loud cheers
the whole line advanced in pursuit, the active
Highlanders leading.
On former occasions our cavalry and artillery had
been mainly conspicuous, but the battle of Tel-el-
Kebir was won by the infantry alone. The defeated
foe did not preserve the smallest semblance ' of
order, but fled, a rabble in confusion, at the top
of their speed. No chance of rallying — had they
been so disposed — was allowed them. The guns
in the redoubts were wheeled round upon their
former masters, and with amazing swiftness por-
tions of our artillery bounded over intervening
ditches and breast-works into the very heart of the
position, and tore the accumulated masses of men
asunder by their fire of shrapnel shells.
At the railway station two trains were suddenly
crammed almost to suffocation with fugitives, and
steamed away at a furious rate before our troops
could reach them. Another engine, on the point
of starting, was blown up by a single shell. Soon
after. General Drury Lowe, with his staff, came
riding up to Sir Garnet in the position, having cut
across the line of retreat, where many were killed
by the horse artillery fire ; but immense numbers
flung away their arms, and delivered themselves up
as prisoners of war.
At the canal bridge Sir Garnet Wolseley dic-
tated his orders to Generals Macpherson and Drury
Lowe.
The former was to move at once with his Indian
Contingent on Zagazig, and the latter, with horse
and sabre, was to continue the work of totally dis-
persing the enemy. As he was speaking, the troops
were cheering Alison and Graham, who came
riding into the trenches. There it was the former,
as he passed the 79th, exclaimed, "Well done, the
Cameron men I Scotland will be proud of this
day's work ! "
Straight over the battle-field, without losing a
moment, went the Indian Contingent and the
Seaforth Highlanders, in hot and swift pursuit, and
together that afternoon they occupied Zagazig, an
important town, said to contain 40,000 inhabitants,
and its possession as a railway junction, where
many lines converge, was certain to prove of in-
estimable value to future operations.
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THE NAVAL BRIGADE.
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The bulk of the Cavaby Division and the
Mounted Infantry, having cut through the flying
masses, rode southward by the road through the
desert upon Belbeis, which they occupied that
evening after a brief skirmish, though the guns
and heavy cavalry were somewhat delayed by
obstacles on the route, and from thence Drury Lowe
was to push on to Cairo.
Arabi escaped our cavalry by galloping off alone
from the field of battle upon a fleet Arab horse.
Brigadier General Nugent, R.E., remained during
the action in command of the left at Kassassin to
cover the rear of the army operations in his imme-
diate front, and to protect that position, with all its
stores and dep6ts, from any possible attack made by
the enemy's column at Salahieh ; and he rejoined
the head-quarter force in the evening at Tel-el-
Kebir, after carrying out the orders he had received.
" In the removal of the wounded on the 13th
and 14th instant to Ismailia,'' says Sir Garnet, in his
LIEUTENANT WVATT RAWSON.
After Captain Fitzroy had led the Naval Brigade
into the main works of the enemy, the halt was
sounded. Then Admiral Beauchamp Seymour,
with his staff, came up, and, addressing the ofllicers
and men, complimented them on their gallantry,
and ordered them to push on to Zagazig. They
gave their admiral a hearty cheer, and, after cooking
a meal most methodically amid the dying and the
dead, started on their march to Zagazig. They
bivouacked for the night six miles from that place,
which they entered on the 14th of September.
When the Brigade of Guards came in, they joined
Alison's Highland regiments, and made themselves
comfortable for a few hours in the abandoned
tents which had belonged to the Egyptians. «
despatch on the battle, "the canal boat service,
worked by the Royal Navy, under Commander
Moore, R.N., did most excellent work, and the
army is deeply indebted to that oflicer, and to those
under his command, for the aid he afforded the
wounded, and the satisfactory manner in which he
moved a large number of them to Ismailia."
The despatches and casualty lists were sent home
in charge of Major George FitzGeorge, of the
20th Hussars, a member of Sir Garnet's personal
staff*. The casualties were most numerous in the
Highland regiments, on whom the brunt of the
fighting fell, as the following lists attest : —
Staff". — Two officers wounded.
2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. — One non corn-
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[TeI^.Kebir.
missioned officer and one man killed ; one officer
and nine men wounded.
2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. — One officer
and seven non-commissioned officers and men
wounded.
I St Battalion Scots Guards. — Four non-commis-
sioned officers and men wounded.
2nd Battalion Royal Irish. — One officer, one
non-commissioned officer, and one private killed ;
two officers and seventeen men wounded.
Royal Marine Light Infantry. — Two officers and
three non-commissioned officers and men killed ;
one officer and fifty-three non-commissioned officers
and men wounded.
2nd Battalion York and Lancaster. — ^Twelve non-
commissioned officers and men wounded.
ist Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers.— Two non-
commissioned officers and men killed; thirty-four
non-commissioned officers and men wounded ; three
missing.
19th Hussars. — One officer wounded.
Cornwall Regiment — One officer and five non-
commissioned officers and men wounded.
Royal Artillery. — Two officers and seventeen non-
commissioned officers and men wounded.
Royal Highlanders. — ^Two officers and seven
non-commissioned officers and men killed; thirty-
seven non-commissioned officers and men wounded;
four missing.
Gordon Highlanders. — One officer and five non-
commissioned officers and men killed ; one officer
and twenty-nine non commissioned officers and men
wounded ; four missing.
Cameron Highlanders. — Thirteen non-commis-
sioned officers and men killed ; three officers and
forty -five non-commissioned officers and men
wounded.
Highland Light Infantry. — Three officers and
fourteen non-commissioned officers and men killed ;
fifty -two non-commissioned officers and men
wounded ; eleven missing.
Royal Rifles. — Twenty non-commissioned officers
and men wounded.
Seaforth Highlanders. — One non-commisioned
officer and one man killed ; three non-commissioned
officers and men wounded.
Native Troops. — One non-commissioned officer
and one man killed ; nine non-commissioned
officers and men woimded.
Chaplains. — One wounded.
Total — Nine officers, forty-eight non-commis-
sioned officers and men killed; twenty-seven
officers and 353 non-commissioned officers and
men wounded ; twenty-two missing.
The comparative immunity of the Seaforth High-
landers is explained by the Times correspondent
thus : — " The leading company was commanded
by an ex-musketry instructor, who cautioned his
men not to fire, save by word of command, and
himself successively named the ranges. The con.
sequence was their fire was so deadly that not an
Eg>T)tian dared show his head above the parapet'^
The Seaforth Highlanders and the Indian Con-
tingent Hfterwards considered that the share they
took in the victory was not sufficiently recognised,
and asserted that 700 dead bodies and thirteen
captured guns were actually counted at the point
where Sir Herbert Macpherson delivered his attack.
We have never seen the actual losses of the
Egyptians stated, but those who have exammed
the field say that they were very great, and thought
it marvellous that so many men could be slain in
so short a time. At the bastions stormed by
Alison's brigade "the enemy lay in hundreds,"
says the correspondent of the Standard^ "while
only here and there a Highlander lay stretched
among them, face downwards, as if shot in the
act of charging."
But few of these were hit in their rush at the
outer trenches; it was after these were stormed
that the greater part of the casualties occurred. A
few feet in front of one of the bastions he saw six
men of the 74th (Highland Light Infantry) aU
lying in a row, heads and bayonets pointed forward,
while immediately in front of these was the body of
young Lieutenant Somerville, who had been leading,
claymore in hand, when a volley laid them all low.
The Egyptian loss he computes at from 2,500 to
3,000, including those slain by the cavalry and
horse artillery, extending over a mile beyond the
position. In several places he counted from thirty
to fifty lying in heaps, and they lay in long rows,
where the Black Watch, getting in flank, enfiladed
the lines they held against our front attack.
When advancing into the first line of entrench-
ments, " such a sight I never wish to see again,**
wrote a soldier of the Scots Guards. " All around
was strewn with dead. There were some with
heads blown off*, and others cut in two. It was a
ghastly sight Farther on we found hundreds of
rifles, thrown down by the enemy in their flight"
The sufferings of the Egyptian wounded— as
many were dying from bayonet stabs and lacera-
tions by exploded shell, that set their cotton cloth-
ing on fire — were awfuL Their cries for aid and
water loaded the morning air, and many were seen
to tear off" their scarlet tarbooshes, and bury their
bare heads frantically in the sand for coolness.
The Scripture-readers with the Highland Brigade
stated that they procured water for many of
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BRITISH LOSSES.
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them, also some large baskets of ripe peaches, of
which " both English and Arab got a share. As
we waved the flies off the latter we could only pat
them kindly, saying, * Allah.' They understood our
efforts to be kind. . . On the morning of the
14th we had worship on the field of Tel-el-Kebir ;
we read the 128th Psalm and sang the 23rd Psalm,
and prayed while many of our comrades were on all
sides of us." (" Our Highlanders," by W. Stephea )
Among our officers who fell we may note the
following : —
Major Thomas Colville, of the Highland Light
Infantry (late 70th and 74th), an ensign of i860 ;
Captain C N. Jones, of the 2nd Battalion of the
Connaught Rangers (94th), attached to the Royal
Irish as a volunteer ; Major Harford Strong, of the
Portsmouth Division of Royal Marine Light
Infantry ; and Captain Wardell, of the same rai-
ment, who had played a considerable part in the
capture of two Krupp guns from the enemy in
front of Kassassin. Lieutenant Luke, who was the
subaltern of his company, avenged this gallant
officer's death a few moments after he fell Watch-
ing the Egyptian who shot him, he closed in, and
by one stroke he severed his head from his body.
Captain Wardell's sword and other relics of him
were brought to England for his widow, in custody
of his servant
Lieutenants Graham-Stirling and J. G. MacNeill,
who fell in front of the Black Watch, were both
very young officers. The former was shot on the
summit of the parapet while gallantly leading on
his company. The latter had joined his regiment
from the militia only on the 29th of the previous
July.
Lieutenants D. S. Kays and Louis Somerville, of
the Highland Light Infantry, were also mere youths,
and in the preceding July the former had been dis-
tinguishing himself more peacefully with the West
of Scotland Cricket Club. Lieutenant H. G. Brooks,
of the Gordon Highlanders, had been gazetted to
the service in March of the previous year.
Among those reported wounded, we may note
Lieutenant Allen Park (niertally), of the Black
Watch, who expired on bo^d the Carthage; Lieu-.
tenant-General Willis, C^j^Colonel Richardson, of
the Cornwall Regiment ;^olonels Balfour, of the
Grenadier Guards, and*Stirling, of the Coldstreams ;
and Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson, R.N. It was not
the first time that Rawson had shed his blood for
Queen and country, as he was severely wounded
in the Ashantee War of 1874. He was most
dangerously wounded at Tel-el-Kebir, while guiding
Alison's brigade by the light of the stars. His
last words to Sir Garnet Wolseley, to whom he
acted as naval aide-de-camp, were exultant amid
his agony — " Didn't I lead them straight,
general !"
He expired on board H.M.S. Carthage^ and a
tablet to his memory in the Royal Garrison Church
at Portsmouth bears an inscription stating that it is
erected " as a token of affection and esteem by
Lord Wolseley and the members of his personal
staff"
While our troops were at Tel-el-Kebir, reposing
after the fatigue and fierce excitement of the pre-
ceding night, a body of Bedouins, some thousands
strong, came down at three in the afternoon upon
the camp at Kassassin, expecting to find it empty,
or, at least, easy to pillage. But the soth Regiment
turned speedily out, and poured several volleys into
them, on which they fled at full speed, with shrieks
and yells. And it was deemed that it would be
necessary to take severe and active measures with
these ubiquitous and wandering desert warriors,
who were hovering in thousands in the vicinity of
Ismailia, waiting for chances of plunder and, if
possible, to loot the town.
Sir Garnet Wolseley, in his evening despatch of
September 13th, estimated the guns taken at Tel-
el-Kebir as numbering between fifty and sixty pieces.
They eventually proved to be sixty-six, according
to the report of Colonel Jones, Royal Marine Light
Infantry.
CHAPTER LXIX.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR (contitiuci) \ — SOME NOtABlLlA OF TEL-EL-REBlR*
Although there were many prisoners, it was
difficult to obtain any authentic account of the
view of the recent fighting held by the enemy.
It was gleaned, however, that when the attack
on Kassassin was planned, to make the Egyptians
bold and resolute in their advance, reports were
industriously circulated by Arabi that Turkish
troops had destroyed Sir Evelyn Wood's gar-
rison at Alexandria, thus relieving Kafrdowar and
the Aboukir forts, and were advancing to support
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
CTeMRebh.
him at Tel-d-Kebir, after driving the British into
the sea.
Fictitious telegrams and messages were manu-
&ctured to induce the untutored fellaheen and
soldiers to believe these reports, to suppose that the
Turks were making common cause with them for
religion, and that in time the Prophet himself was
coming to lead them to victory. This idea, with
others as strange, was enforced by sermons
dictated by the rebel leaders, and publicly preached
by the priests. They also promulgated as a fact
that all who fell fighting for the faith would come
back to earth as spirits, mounted on white steeds,
and armed with miraculous swords for the exter-
mination of the infidels. On this subject the Paris
Temps recorded that an Egyptian servant belonging
to their war correspondent asked the latter whether
he had seen any of these returned spirits from
Kassassin in recent encounters, and on being
answered in the negative, declared that the cor-
respondent could not see them because he was not
an Englishman.
When the attack on Kassassin failed, its non-
success was attributed to the will of Mahomet, who
had decreed that it was at Tel-el-Kebir the British
infidels were to meet their doom.
On the evening of the 13th, prior to our advance,
spies reported to Arabi full particulars of the
coming event, the striking of tents, the formation
of brigades, and the bivouacking of the men : all
notes of preparation which caused him to make
ready for a hot reception of our troops, and no less
than 500 rounds of ammunition were said to have
been issued to every man.
Midnight came, and the vedettes reported there
were no signs of an advance as yet, and this state-
ment produced a certain slackness of watch among
the soldiers of Arabi, who turned into their tents in
what was described as "a state of sleepy confusion."
An alarm was certainly given when an Arab pony
in the British lines neighed a response to another
half-a-mile distant, but still the men of Arabi
thought nothing of it Soon after this an artillery
colonel reported that he heard the clank of
accoutrements at a dbtance. A picket that was
ordered out to reconnoitre refused to do so, and a
vedette who had lost his horse, thinking he could
see it, crept out from the earthworks, and saw the
British army lying down !
He had barely time to report this circumstance
when the roar of batde burst over all the trenches.
Believing themselves to be invulnerable and im-
pregnable, the enemy stood firm for a considerable
time, blazing hard, till their rifle-barrels became
heated with the fierce rapidity of their firing.
" Many things now contributed to their discom-
fiture," says the correspondent of the Standard;
*' but I find that they chiefly laid stress upon die
^t that our cavalry were charging down upon
them, that the Royal Irish Regiment gave vent to
such unearthly yells, and that the strange attire of
the Scots dismayed them. Tliese combined to
drive them to despair; they broke and fled Those
who remained and died were fanatics."
The black Nubian infantry stood a little i^e,
and thus caused many Arabs to die fighting who
otherwise would have fled. But as all their pashas
and senior officers had galloped away, a cry was
raised that the Prophet of God had deserted them.
" One Egyptian officer, who fell under a wounded
camel, remained there all day, being taken for dead
He escaped in the night, and said that the cries of
the wounded were excruciating. He met some
tearing about like maniacs, covered with bayonet
wounds and panting with thirst Others were
crawling along in a state of delirium ; some even
killing themselves." He added that orders had
been issued on the day before the conffict that no
quarter was to be given to the British, and noi^
were to be made prisoners.
The poor Arabs believed in a story diculated
about this time of a miraculous ^;g, laid by a hai
in Tel-el-Kebir, on which was inscribed this l^end :
— '* Arabi has lost the battle because he mutilated
corpses of the enemy. Allah has punished him,
but he will give the victory to him in future if he
will keep his commands."
"I had a communication with a captain and
three lieutenants who were prisoners," states a
newspaper correspondent "They told me that
26,000 men held the trenches. Aiabi lately visited
them daily, and had been there the day before (the
battle), and left at night for Zagazig. When asked,
*Why did you fight for Arabi?' they answered,
* Because we were afraid ; if we had shown any
hesitation he would have had us shot' When
asked again, 'Why did you not rise in a body?'
they answered, * Because we wanted some man to
lead us.'"
The result of Tel-el-Kebir proved that, though
the Egyptian soldiers were unable to meet ours in
the open plain, they were by no means to be
despised within such earthworks as they had con-
structed there; and had Sir Garnet Wolseley
waited for daylight before delivering his attack, our
losses must have been much heavier than they
were. In the opinion of many mistaken critics the
breech-loader was supposed to have rendered Aat
genuine old British weapon, the bayonet, all but
obsolete, but the fearful havoc it made on that
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WINNERS OF THE BATTLE.
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13th of September proved that it is, as ever, irre-
sistible in British hands. The escape of Arabi,
however, delayed peace and the settlement of
Egyptian affairs for a time.
In the PaySy M. Paul de Cassagnac wrote thus
of the battle :—
" The British have won a victory which may be
regarded as decisive The fortified camp at Tel-el-
Kebir has been carried by storm, with a dash that
does the greatest honour to the British army. We
think it extremely unlikely that the Egyptians will
be able to retrieve this terrible disaster, and with-
out any arrih-e pensee of national jealousy, we are
• bound to acknowledge that the English managed
their business admirably. Without allowing them-
selves to be dbturbed by the impatient clamour of
a portion of their journals, or the interested taunts
of the French and German press, they quietly and
coolly prepared their means of action, leaving
nothing to chance, and preferring to wait a little
longer at the outset, so that the blow, when they
struck it, should be crushing and decisive. We
cannot refrain from pointing out that, hampered by
for more adverse conditions, with mountaineers
used to the mists of Scotland, and soldiers not
inured to fatigue, the British in Egypt have not
lost one-tenth of the men that we lost in the first
few days of our war in Tunis. The reason is that
the British army is admirably organised fi'om a
sanitary point of view. We may add that the
troops engaged were specially selected from among
old soldiers, and that alone sufficed to prevent the
picked corps \o%\n% prestige,^^
On this point, ignoring the men of the Reserves,
and the weeding of battalions prior to their em-
barkation for Egypt, Sir Garnet Wolseley wrote
thus in his despatch of the i6th September: —
"I have heard it said of our present infantry
regiments that the men are too young, and their
training for manoeuvring and for fighting, and their
powers of endurance, are not sufficient for the
requirements of modem war. After a trial of an
exceptionally severe kind, both in movements and
in attack, I can say emphatically that I never wish
to have under my orders better infantry battalions
than those whom I am proud to have commanded
at Telel-Kebir.''
These remarks with reference to the excellent
work done by young soldiers excited no small dis-
cussion in military circles at home. Let us take
Alison's brigade for example — the first to storm the
works.
In the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, the men of the
Highland Light Infantry averaged eight years'
service.
The Cameron Highlanders had 460 men upwards
of 24 years of age, 219 between 21 and 24, and none
under 20. Of the whole battalion, 230 belonged to
the Reserve.
Of the Gordon Highlanders, 370 were above 24
years of age, and none under 21, while 154 belonged
to the Reserve They had a steady nucleus of
Afghan veterans in their ranks, and differed widely
from regiments composed of short service men.
The Black Watch, by composition the youngest
regiment in the brigade, had in its ranks 300 men
of over six years' service, all under 20 being left
behind, and their places filled up by the Reserve.
The Seaforth Highlanders were grey-haired men,
who had followed Roberts to the gates of CabuL
At Kassassin the brunt of the fighting fell on the
Royal Marines and 60th Rifles — both regiments of
seasoned men, two- thirds being over 24 years of
age. "Thus the campaign was very far from
proving the merits of boy regiments," says the
correspondent of the Standard^ who elicited some
of these details.
The Duke of Connaught, as Brigadier of the
Guards, was in his place at Tel-el-Kebir, but
whether the Guards were in their proper place was
doubted by the whole army, and by none more
than by the Guards themselves. To serve in a
campaign without firing a shot or using a bayonet
ill became the history, the traditions, and the past
reputation of our corps d*^Jite»
One man, however, had the honour of receiving
a decoration firom the hands of the Queen at
Windsor in the subsequent July. Private Gaw, of
the Scots Guards, obtained the medal for dis-
tinguished service in the field. He received a
bullet in the head in Tel-el-Kebu-, and though thus
severely wounded, he marched with his battalion
to the railway station at the village, a distance of
four miles. Though in great pain, he made light
of his wound, proceeded to Cairo, and for a period
of five days bore his share in all battalion duties.
Unable to endure his sufferings longer, this stout-
hearted fellow went into hospital at Cairo, from
whence he was sent to Netley, where the ball was
extracted from his head on the i6th of March,
1883; and had not this been successfully achieved,
he must have died from the effects of his wound.
" A splendid soldier was lost to the army at the
battle of Tel-el-Kebir in the person of Sergeant-
Major McNeill, of the 42nd Highlanders," says the
Anny and Navy Gazette^ " and it will be long ere
his name is forgotten in the Black Watch. There
are certain facts in connection with the deceased's
career which it may be well to bring to light, re-
flecting as they do to the discredit of- the country
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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he served so well Sergeant McNeill was an un-
married man — ^he had always refused to enter the
married state, because he had a widowed mother.
She was at one time in an infirmary at Aberdeen.
From this he removed her to place her in a more
comfortable home. He put aside a portion of his
pay to cover the cost of Uiis home, and this allow-
ance was paid to the time of his death. Had he
married, his widow would have been entitled to a
pensioa His mother is entitled to nothing ! On
the case being represented, the War Office could
not see its way to make any exception to the
ordinary rules of the service. The officers of the
regiment, on the facts becoming known, at once
subscribed ;;^5o for the bereaved mother, who has
been deprived of a good son and all means of sub-
sistence at the same time."
The same journal contained a very elaborate
description of the monument erected by public
subscription in the secluded churchyard of Moulin,
in Blair Athole, to the memory of Donald
Cameron, of the Cameron Highlanders. Whether
he was really the first man in Tel-el-Kebir may
be problematical, but his regiment asserted it to
the fullest extent, and his memory is not forgotten
in its ranks.
"The first man on the top of this trench.
Private Cameron, was shot dead, and fell almost on
the top of me," wrote Quartermaster John Elmslie.
"Just as we got over, an Egyptian officer was
labouring hard to carry off a gun and ammunition
waggon. I believe the gun did not get so far as the
bridge, but we brought down the officer and the
men on the waggon; I caught and mounted his
horse, and rode it, kilt and all, for the remainder of
the day. I tried to get the waggon away, but the
harness was much broken, so I made four men
mount the horses. By this time the fight was
practically over for the infantry, as we were near
the canal bridge and railway station, and the artil-
lery were making beautiful practice among the
flying Egyptians. For the last mile we were passing
through their tents, standing as they had left them
on the first alarm. Lots of our fellows picked up
valuable articles while going through them, and near
the station immense stores of all sorts fell into our
hands, with a great number of baggage animals and
valuable horses. .... Our regiment formed
up and went into Arabi's standing tents, near the
railway, for the day ; and, after getting a big drink
of water, I rode back over the battle-ground to
look for my carts. Such a sight I shall never
forget! Dead Egyptians everywhere along that
fatal trench — sometimes in heaps. There was very
little quarter given them. Early in the day a poor
young fellow of the 42nd gave a wounded Egyptian
a drink, and as soon as he passed, the wretch shot
him in the back. There were also cases of them
feigning wounds, and shooting when they got the
chance, and the consequence was that our fellows
were very careful not to pass many with much life
in them." (" Our Highlanders in Egypt")
And now, before recurring to the more serious
narrative of the war, we will quote two verses from
a stirring ballad of the battle, written by Private
Sharpe, of the Gordon Highlanders, and circulated
among the soldiers at Grand Cairo in the subse-
quent October, with the approval of Sir Archibald
Alison: —
** Hurrah! my bds, old Scotland's plumes
In trium]^ weU may wave.
And proudly may old England boast
Her sons both staunch and brave ;
And Ireland's pride, the brave Eighteenth,
Who never yet knew fear,
Struck terror to the rebd hearts
That heard their charging cheer.
Hurrah ! hurrah ! the Higfakmd steel
Its bloody work has done.
And fast and for the lebds flew,
For Td-el-Kebir's won I
'* 'Twas on the morning of the twelfth.
We formed upon parade.
And Alison, in words like these.
Addressed his brave brigade :
< My lads,' he said. ' our foes are strong.
Their trenches wide and deep,
And &r and near across the plain
Their heavy guns can sweep ;
So stealthily and silenUy
Our way to-night we'll fed.
And then, ere dawns the morning light.
Upon them with the sted ! ' '
In the October of the same year a detachment
of the Gordon Highlanders had to be sent back
to Cairo to re-inter many of our dead, who had
been exhumed and stripped by the Bedouins The
chiefs of the adjacent villages were warned that
they would be held responsible, and most severely
punished, if this occurred again.
The victory at Tel-el-Kebir was now, with truth,
supposed to have brought about the collapse of
Arabi's power. The decisive blow, when delivered,
struck surely and struck home, and all interested in
the expedition had reason to be more than satisfied
with the result
But the formidable Aboukir Forts were still in the
hands of the enemy, and the worst that could befall
us now would be a desperate and vengeful atuck
from the lines at Kafrdowar upon the slender force
of Sir Evelyn Wood at Alexandria, and with it a
more or less protracted guerilla warfare, which
might not be so easily overcome.
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DEFENCE OF THE CITY.
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LIGHTHOUSE ON THE PHAROS ISLAND, ALEXANDRIA.
CHAPTER LXX.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR (continued) \ — SURRENDER OF THE LINES AT KAFRDOWAR— OF THE FORTS AT
ABOUKIR AND ELSEWHERE NEAR ALEXANDRIA.
Once again the reader must turn his attention
to Alexandria, where Sir Evelyn Wood still com-
manded.
The chief object in disposing troops for the
defence of that city was to render a small force
as efficient as possible. If the worst came, the
Europeans of all nationalities would have to arm
themselves and become welded into one ; and it
had become apparent that this might be necessary,
though nothing more had been heard of the
Committee of Vigilance.
" A direct assault on the city walls, as one may
call the chain of fortifications surrounding Alex-
andria," says Colonel Vogt, "was scarcely to be
feared, even supposing that there were twenty-five
thousand troops at Kafrdowar and Dahmanhour ;
but a revolt in the town, if it occurred simul-
taneously with an attack from the troops in Mex,
Kafrdowar, and Aboukir, might have proved a
very serious peril ; but such was not likely to
occur, unless Sir Garnet Wolseley was repulsed
before Tel-el- Kebir."
We should have mentioned in its place that on
the 27th of August, although a military convention
between Turkey and Great Britain was not then
concluded, the Calypso steamship, with a body of
Turkish regular troops on board, anchored in the
pp
inner harbour of Port Said, when our ironclads at
once sent two armed boats off to her.
The Turkish commander declared that his troops
were not intended to act in Egypt, but to garrison
certain places on the shores of the Red Sea.
However, the armed boats watched her all night,
not permitting a single Turk to land, and a steam
sloop was ordered to accompany her through the
canal for the same purpose.
At Alexandria a wing of the 35 th, or Royal
Sussex Regiment, occupied the Antoniades house
and garden, and, under the efficient supervision
of Lieutenant-Colonel J. O. Vandeleur, converted
the position into one of great strength, commensu-
rate with its importance. By order of Sir Evelyn
Wood, a trench, with a parapet, scarp, and palisades,
was completed round the Arab village on the other
side of the Mahmoudiyeh Canal, which was then
crossed from the road on the side of the Antoniades
Garden by a temporary bridge of boats ; the
garden walls were carefully loopholed for musketry,
the railings closed up by sand-bags, and two lines
of abattis^ formed by felled trees, had been thrown
between the garden wall and the canal across the
road, with emplacements ready for two guns, and
many entanglements for the enemy in case they
attacked the post
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British battles on land and sEa.
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The officers of the wing — Major Grattan (who
had served with the Queen's Royals throughout
the North China Campaign of i860, including the
actions of Tinho, Tangkoo, and the capture of
Pekin) with three lieutenants — were in tents close
by their men on the bank of the canal, which had
then become a shallow puddle, full of mud and
half-choked with frogs and dead fish, yielding clouds
of mosquitoes, to the torment of the soldiers.
The Khedive came to the post occasionally, as
from its flat roof the best view of Arabics camp and
lines at Kafrdowar could be had ; and though the
enemy never shelled it, their fire, when aimed at
Captain Fisher's armoured train, came perilously
close. But the train had not been used since a
15-centimbtre gun had been got into position.
The steward of M. Antoniades was liberal in
supplying the little garrison with fruit and other
delicacies, but the beautiful mansion had been
pillaged by the marauders ; nor had Napoleon's bed
— one of the show treasures of the edifice— escaped
them. Seventy-five years before, two companies of
the same regiment perished on nearly the same
ground, when Macleod's force was cut off on the
embankment between the Nile and Lake Edku,
and ere long their heads, 450 in number, were
exposed in the market-place of Grand Cairo.
On the I St of September, Rear- Admiral Sir
William Hewett, K.CB., landed a Naval Brigade
at Suez, consisting of 150 seamen, drawn from
H.M.SS. Ruby and Dragon (composite corvettes),
with the Royal Marines of the Euryalus^ under the
command of Staff-Commander E. G. Hulton. Sir
William then hoisted his flag, and, with his staff,
took up his residence at Government House.
On the 14th September, early in the morning, a
party of Egyptian officers came from the lines at
Kafrdowar to make overtures for the surrender of
that position, and requested that trains might be
sent out to bring in the capitulating troops ; while,
as an earnest of their sincerity, they sent a working
party to cut the dam on the Mahmoudiyeh Canal,
permitting the water to flow freely in.
At that very time a reconnaissance was in pro-
gress. The Mounted Infantry had orders to
examine the state of the Aboukir railway line, and
starting at half-past three in the morning, rode
straight from the camp to a point beyond Raben
village. Leaving his troop in a sheltered place,
Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, accompanied by Captain
Ewart (late of the 78th Highlanders), galloped along
the line, till within half a mile of the station at Man-
dora, where they found the rails and sleepers torn
up for a distance of about eighty yards, and a deep
trench, fifteen feet broad, cut across the railway.
Riding farther on beyond this point, to pursue
their examination, the two officers came suddenly
upon an advanced Egyptian sentinel He was
about fifty yards distant and, falling back, gave the
alarm to some cavalry and infantry that were in
a wood behind him.
They opened fire upon the two isolated officers,
who wheeled their horses round, and galloped rear-
ward. Daylight was just breaking when they re-
joined the Mounted Infantry, and soon after some
troops of cavalry and the glitter of in&mtry bayon^
could be seen against the sky-line.
A few well-directed shots from our men, empty-
ing a saddle or two, checked their advance, while,
as they were in a well-sheltered position, the
Egyptian infantry responded briskly ; but all their
bullets flew over the heads of Smith-Dorrien's men,
the Remington rifles being sighted far too high few
so short a distance. Indeed, the aim of the
Egyptians was always better at long ranges than at
close quarters.
At eight that morning, a despatch, written on
the night of the 13th, came from Sir Garnet Wol-
seley, announcing the victory at Tel-el-Kebir, and
detachments of troops from Kafrdowar were re-
ported to be in full ffight towards Caira
At ten o'clock, Budros Pasha, Under-Secretary
of the Ministry of Justice, and Reouf Pasha, ex-
Governor of the Soudan, arrived at Kafrdowar,
from whence they wrote to Khairi Pasha, Keeper of
the Khedive's Seals, telling him that the entire
Egyptian army, as well as the city of Cairo, were
ready to surrender to his Highness, and asking per-
mission to come to Alexandria to present to the
Khedive an address fh>m the Notables.
Rubi Pasha, one of the rebel leaders, also signed
this letter, and certified that not only had the dam
across the canal been cut, thus improving the
water supply of Alexandria, but that the telegraph
wires had been repaired, and white flags of truce
were flying over the entrenchments ; and by half-
past eleven our troops were ordered to hold tiiem-
selves in readiness to take possession of them.
On tidings of Sir Garnet Wolseley's victory be-
coming known at Alexandria, it excited the greatest
enthusiasm among all foreigners, as well as the
British colony there. Acclamations were raised in
the Bourse, and crowds of excited Europeans
gathered round the International Tribunal in the
Grand Square, where the telegram was posted up,
and which was then a British military station. Our
soldiers there were loudly cheered, and shouts of
"F/w P'Angleterre!" were raised on every hand
After this, a procession of Europeans of every
nationality was formed, and bearing placards with
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THE FALLEN ARABL
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"God save the Queen!" and " Vwe WolseUy!*'
promenaded the great thoroughfares, preceded
by music, while the Khedive's military band of
Egyptian marines played his hymn in the Grand
Square, and successfully achieved our National
Anthem and " God bless the Prince of Wales."
All knew now that the time was irrevocably past
for Turkish troops landing on Egyptian soil, where
their presence would only have led to dangerous
complications.
Preparations being now complete for letting the
sea into Lake Mareotis, Admiral Dowell fired the
charge, blasting away the last portion of the sea
bulwark.
The water rushed in, foaming and surging through
the gap, and unluckily, as the outlet towards the
lake proved insufficient to carry away the mass of
the flood that tore through the opening, it rose
rapidly, and swept down a portion of the strong
boundary wall built by the seamen of the Inconstant
to guide it into the eastern portion of the lake.
Thus, instead of passing under the railway embank-
ment in the course cut out for it, the water poured
its volume into the western section of the lake,
and so defeated altogether the objects of the under-
taking.
On the 15th September telegraphic communica-
tion was re-established between the palace of Ras-
el-Tin and Cairo, from whence delegates came,
bringing letters from the fallen Arabi and the
Provisional Government, offering submission to the
Khedive, who refused to receive them.
The scene at his palace was now a singular one.
In all the rooms and corridors (says the Times cor-
respondent) were Egyptians bursting with loyalty,
cringing to every European who entered, seeking to
embrace any one who recognised them, batding to
get their names inscribed in the visitors* book, and
loudly thanking God for the defeat of the traitor
ArabL These were, many of them, the same men
who had prayed the Khedive to reinstate him as
Minister of War. " These are the men," he con-
tinued, " in whom English visionaries see * village
Hampdens,' who are the voice of the nation, who
wish the Turk driven from their soil, and desire to
be governed by a pure-minded patriot like ArabL
Among these men, whom I have heard extolling
Arabi, there is not one who would refuse to-day to
pull the rope that hanged him. Let us hear no
more of native public opinion in Egypt"
The same writer states that on Uie isth, while
waiting at Ras-el-Tin to be presented to the Khedive,
a telegram arrived for the latter from the deputy for
Alexandria — who, exactly two months before, was
loud in proclaiming that Arabi was the saviour of
Egypt — expressing a pious wish that " the dog and
pig Arabi might be hanged!" At the moment
of its reception, a soldier rushed in with the tidings
that Arabi was a prisoner.
Thereupon began much cheering and clapping of
hands among the usually grave and stolid pashas ;
Europeans, natives, members of the Meglis, the
master of the ceremonies, and all the princely
household joined in uproarious shouting.
Without ceremony, all rushed into the presence
of the Khedive, and while he was congratulated
on the event, the cheers were taken up without the
palace, and carried through the streets by Arabs
screaming to the fickle populace that Arabi was a
prisoner. The crowds increased, and their noise
became deafening as they rushed through the
native quarters of the city, every man quitting his
work to join in the general psean of delight
The arrangements which Sir Evelyn Wood had
made with the leading Egyptian officers in rela-
tion to the surrender of Kafrdowar were eventually
altered, in consequence of the disappearance of one
of the chief actors in the ceremony of capitulation,
which was to have been followed by the disarmament
and disbandment of that portion of Arabi's troops
which held the lines there — the disappearance,
namely, of these troops t)odily.
On the night of the i6th a report reached Sir
Evelyn Wood that they were leaving in some force ;
and at daybreak on the 17th Captain Slade rode
over to their lines, and found them nearly deserted.
He at once returned to report this strange intelli-
gence, and Sir Evelyn resolved to proceed to
Kafrdowar with the 49th and 53rd Regiments,
which were ordered to get under arms and march
on that afternoon.
There was considerable excitement among the
staff of Sir Evelyn Wood to see the famous lines of
Kafrdowar, when he departed in the afternoon to
take possession of them, accompanied by Captain
Slade, A.D.C, Colonel Newman and Major Norreys,
of the Royal Artillery, Captain Murray, Adjutant
of the 53rd, Lieutenant Hemphill, of the Princess
Charlotte of Wales' Regiment, Lieutenant Rae, of
H.M.S. Inconstant^ Captain Ewart, and four privates
of the Mounted Infantry.
With these rode Yacoub Pasha, Arabi's Under
Secretary for War, and Osman Bey, who had
come over to make his submission on the pre-
vious evening, and their white coats mingled
strangely with the red and blue uniforms of Sir
Evelyn's staff, as the whole group traversed the line
of the railway between " dried-up swamps white
with pestilential masses of dead fish," says a
correspondent, and passing the Malaha Junction,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
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crossed the ground over which our Royal Marines
fought on the 5th of August Three parties of
seamen, Royal Engineers, and hired Egyptian work-
men were busy repairing the railway, which had been
torn up in two places for the distance of 300 yards.
A masonry platform, constructed of massive
blocks of stone, had been built across the line by
the enemy, who had armed it with a 7-inch Arm-
strong gun. This had abeady been removed, and
the workers were engaged in blowingup the cemented
blocks when the general came, and had a narrow
escape The charge was fired at that moment, and
enormous fragments of rock — ^like those of a great
shell — were sent flying through the air over the
heads of the mounted group, to bury themselves
in the sand 200 yards in rear of the point of
explosion.
Riding on by the flank of the redoubts, the staff"
found themselves under the frowning earthworks of
Kafrdowar, on which white flags were fluttering out
on the breeze. To the critical eyes which now
examined these works, they seemed to surpass all
expectation, and the dictum was that, "had they
been held by troops with their hearts in their work,
they would have offered an effectual resistance
against almost any odds."
In addition to these, we may add that the
Egyptian positions at Kindji Osman were found to
consist of three series of entrenched lines of re-
doubts, at four kilometres apart, stretching back to
Kafrdowar, armed with at least 9. and 15-centi.
mfetre Krupp guns ; the number of those of larger
size was, however, small in proportion to that of
the lighter pieces.
Of the great Egyptian column which, but a few
hours before, had manned the elaborate lines at
Kafrdowar, there were seen at first a group of only
some twenty-five or thirty officers, who came reluc-
tantly forward, and salutedSir Evel3mWood. Among
them, wearing the fez and tunic of the Egyptian
artillery, was Lieutenant Paolucci, late of the
Italian flagship CastdfidardOy whose desertion fix)m
her a month before created much speculation at
the time.
The scene has been described by an eye-witness
as a very striking one. The tents of the runaway
troops stood in long white rows, set up with the
greatest regularity. In fi-ont of them were piled
the Remington rifles in beautiful order, their
polished barrels and bayonets glittering in the sun-
shine. Horses and mules stood by hundreds
picketed in their lines. Two batteries of Krupp
9-pounders still looked grimly through their em-
brasures towards our post at Ramleh, and the great
15-centimbtre gun, whose formidable missiles had
been so often flimg into the latter place, was still in
position on the right of the railway line, but was
harmless now, its breech-pin having been abstracted
in the night
The Khedive had telegraphed orders to flie
camp on the preceding evening, that Lieutenant
Paolucci should be secured and handed over to
Sir Evel)m Wood, who accepted the offer of the
correspondent of tlie Standard Xo act as interpreter.
He looked very pale, records the latter, seemed
abashed by his position, and answered the questions
of the general with manifest reluctance. He dfr
dined to give any reasons for his singular conduct,
but admitted that appearances were all against
him. He was asked —
*' Why did you desert and come here among Ae
rebels?"
*' For no reason in particular," was his strange
reply. Sir Evelyn then told him that he could
easily understand Egyptians taking up arms against
us, but for an officer of a friendly power to do
so there was no excuse. He then ordered lieu-
tenant Rae to escort him back as a prisoner to
Alexandria, and hand him over to Sir Edward
Malet
The Shropshire Regiment was now ordered to
post guards and take possession of the works, while
Sir Evelyn Wood proceeded along the line of rail-
way to the batteries of Kindji Osman. On eidier
side of him (says the same writer) was the same
curious scene — a deserted camp, with its rows of
tents and piles of polished arms, its heaps and
masses of forage, ammunition, and every kind of
equipment abandoned A few officers and orderlies,
who were loitering aimlessly about, rose and sainted
Sir Evel3m and his staff* respectfully enough as diey
rode past, while some stragglers cotild be seen
skulking about among the tents, prior to running
away. Captain Slade surprised a muiasim (or
subaltern) in the act of carrying off* a pair of
regimental colours, of which he deprived hun.
" Presently," says Captain Cameron, " we came
upon a train crowded with fellaheen, evidently
soldiers an horn- or two before. They had quickly
doffed the uniform which they had, much against
their will, been forced to assume, and clad only in
homely long white shirts, were hoping to make
good their escape fi*om this distasteful war. Hiis,
however, was not to be just at present Hands
could be utilised, so the general sent them back
to join the working parties on the railway."
It is presumed that these were the men referred
to in another account, which says the Kafrdowar
positions consisted of three successive camps, only
the two foremost of which were entirely abandoned
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THE LINES OF KAFRDOWAR.
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At Kafrdowar itself 6,000 fellaheen, "partially
dressed in uniform," but well provided with
Remingtons, two cavalry regiments, well equipped,
and several horse batteries, with guns of an old
system, were disarmed; and on the morning of
the 17th, 300 mules and thirty camels, laden with
materials of war, were also found there. After all
the prisoners were disarmed, a few companies
remained to guard them.
Proceeding for about a couple of miles by
train, through fields of maize and cotton, dotted
here and there with silent and abandoned tents,
the engine drew up at the village and station of
Kafrdowar, which Sir Evelyn Wood found to be
crowded by mobs of picturesque-looking, but very
dirty, natives, the wreck of Arabi's army, waiting
for trains to take them home in peace to the
villages from which they had been dragged to foce
the perils of war, and they were heard on all sides
keeping up a perpetual refrain of praise to God
that it was all over.
Sir Evelyn Wood was the centre of much good-
humoured curiosity, and on all sides, shouting,
laughing, and quizzing each other, they crowded
round him, till repelled and driven back by the
railway officials, who improvised themselves as
police.
Here camping-ground was selected for the 49th
Regiment, which marched, with bayonets fixed and
band playing, into the first line of entrenchments
at Homshid Park.
Meanwhile our surgeons visited the field hospital
outside the village, and in contrast to the miseries
of which we heard so much at Ismailia, they found
the most perfect ambulance, beautiful tents, soft
carpets, most comfortable beds, ample stores of
medicine, and every appliance for decency and
comfort, under the care of Dr. Muhamed Bey
Islam, who had early won a title to gratitude by
saving the lives of twenty-five Europeans at
Dahmanhour during the massacre there, by con-
cealing them in his house at the hazard of his life.
But now his patients, on hearing that the army
was disbanding, had all made off, and empty beds
alone remained.
The doctor gave his visitors some details of the
Egyptian losses, which had been slight, he averred,
since the 5th of August, on which occasion forty-
two Egyptians were killed and eighty-five wounded,
five mortally. Three officers were among the
killed ; but all serious cases were at once trans-
mitted to the central hospitals at Dahmanhour
and Caira
Had the lines of Kafrdowar been defended by
such hands and hearts as those which stormed
Tel-el-Kebir, by Boers, or even by Afghans, the
loss of life would have been fearful
They are described as consisting of three
parallel lines of entrenchments, in length each from
a thousand to twelve hundred yards, echeloned
diagonally between the Mahmoudiyeh Canal and
the Cairo railway, fronting the north-west
The first line, called Kourschid Pasha (after the
Commander of the Aboukir Forts), was distant about
a mile and a half from the railway junction at Malaha.
Four thousand yards in its rear rose the second
line, called that of Esbat Sheikh Ibrahim; and
6,000 yards farther in the rear was the third, which
held Kafrdowar, and gave a name to the whole.
They were all constructed on the same principle.
The average height of these extemporised fortifi-
cations was forty feet, and the thickness at the
splayed-out embrasures for the guns was thirteen
feet Access to the latter was given by steps in
lieu of ramps, which are sloping communications
that lead from the inward area of a work to the
higher parts of it The redoubts were powerfully
armed with field and si^e guns, and were con-
nected by a continuous line of earthworks, with
other redoubts that commanded the line of the
canal
The extreme left of the position rested on Lake
Mareotis, guarded by a redoubt cut with five em-
brasures, and girdled by a moat ten feet deep and
forty broad.
The extreme right flank had redoubts that faced
Lake Aboukir, and were connected with the chief
works by secure covered ways; and along the
whole frontage were dug from three to six succes-
sive lines of shelter-trenches for riflemen, while
the canal was covered by breastworks across its
bed, and traverses furnished with banquettes. The
war material seized consisted of many thousand
stand of arms, with compete sets of accoutrements,
half a million rounds of ammunition, three heavy
siege guns, six batteries of horse artillery, 800
horses and mules, and an enormous amount of
tentage, forage, and baggage.
Sixty-five railway trucks, laden with arms and the
munitions of war, were sent into Alexandria from
these formidable lines on the evening of the 17th.
In the camp at Fort Asian were found 180 fine
carriage and saddle horses, taken during the pillage
of Alexandria, eleven Krupp guns, an ironclad train,
and swords, &c, for 350 gunners ; and in another
camp, midway between it and Kafrdowar, were
found many swords and rifles, the latter piled, with
tents for 2,500 men, and a Krupp gun battery.
The Bedouins at Kafrdowar had left that place
only two hours before our two regiments entered
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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it, taking all their arms and ammunition off with
them to the desert
At Ramleh the artillery camp was now struck^
and the Naval Brigade withdrawn; but the 35th
and 38th Regiments remained in garrison there,
while the 95th and 96th held Alexandria.
And now tidings came to Sir Evelyn Wood that
a strong body of Egyptian troops from Mariout,
opposite Fort Mex, with colours flying and bayonets
fixed, were on the march round the southern shore
of the lake towards Kafrdowar.
To the latter place he proceeded at once with
his staff, and the railway having now been repaired
by our own troops and the fellaheen prisoners of
war, the train from Ramleh ran straight through
without pause or change. He got the troops
quickly under arms; the whole battalion of the
49th, a wing of the 35th, and three companies of
the 53rd formed up in the open square near the
station, while two companies, with bayonets fixed
and rifles loaded, lined the platform.
" About half-past one p.m.," says a correspondent,
** the shouts of the crowd and clouds of dust pro-
claimed the arrival of the Egyptian troops. Though
weary with their forced march, and covered with
white dust, they bore themselves well marching
through the square ; the officers surrendered their
swords to the general, while the rank and file pro-
ceeded to the railway platform and placed their
rifles and accoutrements in trucks that were waiting
in readiness. First came five battalions of infantry,
altogether over 4,000 mea These were followed
by two squadrons of cavalry, while three batteries
of field artillery, each with six guns fully equipped,
brought up the rear. It was an impressive spectacle.
The majority went through the business with sullen
and stolid indifference, but many of the officers
showed plainly how bitterly they felt the humiliation
of the position, especially the surrender of the
colours, one young ensign offering resistance before
he would part with his flag."
Two hundred officers were sent under guard to
Ramleh, and interned in the Palace of the Khedive,
while the men were dismissed to their homes. The
cavalry, after being disarmed, were marched straight
into Alexandria.
On the same day Suleiman Bey, the supposed
instigator of the burning of Alexandria, was recog-
nised by some passers on the bridge of the Mah-
moudiyeh Canal, who denounced him, and he was
at once made prisoner.
Damietta was now the only place in this quarter
which threatened to give trouble, as Abdellal, the
Pasha who commanded there with some regiments
of Nubian infantry, had vowed that he would never
capitulate to infidels. Thus, the Sultan, Achilles,
and Minotaur were ordered to proceed fi'om Alex-
andria against him, and reduce the place to
submission. These orders were subsequently with-
drawn, and instructions were sent to our squadron
at Port Said to attack Damietta, but with all his
bluster Abdellal hastened to surrender, yet would
seem to have withdrawn the offer, as he still held
out, after the surrender of Kafi-dowar, in the hope
of making better terms for himself, though watched
by H.M.SS. Agincourt and NorthumberlantL
Damietta is situated on the Phatmetic or eastern
branch of the Nile, ninety-seven miles from Cairo,
and the country around it is the most fertile in
Egypt Its population is great, and it contains
many mosques, bazaars, cafis, and kiosks, and the
town itself is built in a crescent form on the right
bank of the river. The bay is protected by batteries
and martello towers, and only those defences could
be bombarded, as ships cannot get up the river.
Reports about Damietta were very contradictory,
says Colonel Hartmann Vogt It was first alleged
that Abdellal, the commandant, was preparing for
a resolute resistance, his garrison being reinforced
by troops from Salahieh. Next it was stated that
he never meant to draw his sword against the
Khedive, and only awaited the orders of his High
ness, who had a knowledge of some great crime he
had committed unknown to Sir Garnet Wolseley.
At last his troops mutinied. They were 7,000
strong, of whom 5,000 were Nubians, and among
these the lack of discipline in the first instance
brought its own punishment Some of his men
deserted to Shirkin, where they destroyed the
railway.
Desertions became so firequent at last that only
800 Nubians remained with him, when an expedition
was fitted out to capture the place. That by sea
consisted of a corvette and two gun-vessels, under
Captain Seymour, of H.M. despatch-boat Iris,
That by land started early on the morning of the
22nd, vici Tantah. A halt was made for the night
at Cherbin, where the soldiers, on the bare earth,
endeavoured to get such rest as sand-flies and
stinging mosquitos permitted, and at daybreak Sir
Evelyn Wood made his final plans for the assault
About midnight a train was heard coming down
the line fi-om the direction of Damietta, and it
stopped at some hundred yards' distance firom the
Cherbin station, and then steamed swiftly back—
an incident which, together with some rumours
heard by the Khedive's aide-de-camp, who accom-
panied Sir Evelyn, suggested the idea of the line
being undermined, and our soldiers b^an to hope
that Abdellal meant to fight
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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The bugles blew the rheiiU at two a.m., and after
the line had been reconnoitred by Captain Slade
the train with our troops steamed slowly on towards
Damietta. "Through the semi-darkness of an
Egyptian summer night, all eyes were eagerly
strained from the windows to catch a glimpse of
the enemy, but as daylight appeared they steamed
past earthworks commanding the line with guns and
horses abandoned, rifle-pits empty, and deserted
trenches, and the troops felt, with deep disappoint-
ment, that there was to be no fighting, and that the
success, from a soldier's point of view, was won by
a mere walk over."
White flags were flying over all the villages that
had been passed, and at Kafr-el-Battikh, the station
next from Damietta, Abdellal was found waiting
with three officers. Saluting Sir Evelyn with his
sword, he surrendered himself prisoner. This was
on the 23rd of September.
In charge of Major Rogerson and a company of
the 53rd Regiment, he was sent on to Cairo by a
train, which at some stations was mocked, jeered,
and stoned by the fellaheen.
The Malta Fencible Artillery were left to garrison
the barracks and forts at Damietta.
Twenty-four field-guns and 17,000 (7,000 ?) stand
of arms (says Vogt) were taken in the place. The
black troops had all fled the night before, and these
numerous deserters were wandering about the
country burning, plundering, and murdering. The
existence of a mob of disbanded soldiers was a source
of real danger, and their destruction seemed a
problem the solution of which was likely to be
found by Sir Evelyn Wood.
"The booty obtained by the British," says
Colonel Vogt, "seems to have been very large;
the quantity will never be known with the accuracy
to which Germans are accustomed. Besides the
figures already quoted from the sources of informa-
tion accessible up to the 20th of September, 30,000
rifles, 30,000 pounds of ammunition, eighteen 12-
pounder guns, and one 6-pounder were brought into
Alexandria. The number of men disarmed,
according to all reports, was at least 20,000. We
make no conjecture as to the numbers who deserted
from their flag before or shortly after the catas-
trophe of the 13th of September, nor what per-
centage deserted subsequently, but we hold to the
figures we have quoted in their entirety. Such a
number — almost as many as a German army corps,
or at least a strong division — ought certainly to have
put very great difficulties in the way of the British."
Prior to all this — on the 14th of September —
Batros Pasha, Renfali Pasha, and Rubi Pasha,
terrified by the fall of Tel-el-Kebir, appeared in
Alexandria from Cairo to present to the Khedive a
loyal address from the inhabitants of his capital—
so change of popular opinion kept pace with
British military success. Sultan Pa^ia had intro-
duced himself as governor into several captured
towns, and was welcomed everywhere. In the
present instance the outward demeanour of the
European colony in Alexandria underwent, as
shown, a considerable change in favour of Great
Britain, and her victories were celebrated with
enthusiasm.
Altogether there were taken in and about the
fortifications of Kafrdowar and Aboukir 700 (some
say 1,000) horses, 17,000 stand of arms, and about
40 Krupp guns, according to the published reports,
apart from what Colonel Vogt states.
Fort Asian was surrendered by the oflBcer
commanding to Sir Evelyn Wood in person. It
consisted of strong earthworks, and had been
damaged very little by the fire of our guns from
Ramleh. It was constructed over the railway,
leaving wide arches to permit the passage of
trains. Some of the stonework had been blown up,
thus Sir Evelyn and his staflf had to clamber over
the debris into the fort, where none of the garrison
were visible, but the commandant and twelve other
officers came forth and surrendered their swords.
Sir Evelyn informed the former that he would
intercede with the Khedive for them all, if they and
their men would work on the repairs of the rail-
way, to which they agreed. Several civilians of the
better class, and said to be merchants, who were
found in the fort, were also sent to work on the
railway.
The easy occupation of all those great entrench-
ments and forts, which so long defied us, and
arrested the attention of our troops in Alexandria
and Ramleh, was obviously of the first importance
in view of those further operations that might
ensue elsewhere, and of eventualities which could
not be then foreseea
It opened up du-ect communication between the
column of Sir Evelyn Wood and Sir Garnet Wol-
seley, restoring to the latter his base upon the
Mediterranean.
The Aboukir Forts were the next to falL
Lieutenant Wentworth V. Bayly, of H.M.S.
Achilles^ had made several valuable plans and
sketches of these forts, of the actual strength of
which little was known at the commencement of
the war. From his description, they were found
to be strongly constructed, and powerfully armed
with 7- and 9-inch guns, and magazines in every
instance well-sheltered. In the proposals of Rubi
Pasha for the surrender of the lines at Kafrdowar,
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DISPERSION OF THE EGYPTIANS.
489
no mention was made of the troops under Kours-
chid, at Aboukir; consequently, on the morning of
the 2Sth September, the Mounted Infantry were
sent out by the general in that direction to recon-
noitre, and ascertain the temper of the garrison.
No vedettes were seen hovering on the sand-hills, and
no red-fezzed infantry lurked in the shelter-trenches,
from which they had lately opened such a fire.
When Mandora was approached, the villagers
received Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien with many
salaams, and a flag of truce was displayed. Ad-
vancing from them towards the martello tower
which had been shelled by the Condor^ he came
upon a detachment of Egyptian troops, who re-
ceived him with every token of surrender. Hostility
was shown by some wild Bedouins alone, who
hovered near with loaded guns, but their sheikh
prudently prevented any firing, though one gun
exploded by accident
It now seemed apparent that the garrison in the
Aboukir Forts did not intend to make a futile re-
sistance. On the evening of the 18th, the force, to
the number of about 6,000 men, marched to Kafr-
dowar, to be disarmed there. En routes a whole
r^ment deserted with its arms, and threw itself
into Damietta. The desertion of detached bodies
of men took place in considerable numbers, as
they were anxious to return to their homes.
Tantah was occupied on the i8th by the British,
and on the 21st Fort Ghemeleh, on the Tanitic
mouth of the Nile, surrendered with its garrison of
eighty men, all the rest having gone to Damietta,
which thus obtained an Egyptian garrison.
At the distance our ships would have to engage
these forts, some two-and-a-half miles, it would not
have been easy to injure them seriously, with
either shot or shell ; but the 19th of September saw
them quietly garrisoned by our red-coats, when they
were taken possession of by the Royal Marines of
the Minotaur^ Sultan^ Achilles^ and Invincible.
Once again the way was now open between
Alexandria and Cairo, vi& Dahmanhour, through
vast fields of green crops, rice, sugar, maize, and
cotton, on which thousands of hands were now
busy turning the fertilising waters of the Nile.
" The only roads for travellers in cultivated Egypt,"
says the author of " Egyptian Letters," under date
23rd September, " are on the banks of the canals,
and from the time we left Kafrdowar till we ap-
proached Cairo, there was, I think, an interval of
five minutes between the detachments of disbanded
soldiers, camp-followers, and fellaheen, streaming
steadily southwards. They made no sign, but
tramped steadily on as we passed, mostly on foot,
some on horseback, others on camels, many on
asses, great, stout, brown fellows — ^here and there a
family en bloc^ old and young, women and children.
. . . Beyond Kafrdowar there were no defen-
sive works of any kind, but it would have been
difficult ground for cavalry or guns to have travelled
over in pursuit, and Arabi could certainly not have
got a cannon away had his lines been forced, imless
he had time to put them on the rail Mr. Le
Messurier gave orders to the engine-driver to run
through the large stations without stopping, which
saved our being stormed at Dahmanhour, where
many thousands had assembled, and their yells as
the carriages flew by were diabolical, and so probably
was their rage. At one o'clock the train reached
Tantah, and here we could pull up with safety, for
a party of the 7Sth had occupied the place from
Tel-el-Kebir, and we were rejoiced by die appear-
ance of the Highlanders on the platform, in the
midst of an enormous crowd."
CHAPTER LXXL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued) \ — THE ADVANCE UPON CAIRO — CAPTURE OF ZAGAZIG AND BELBEIS —
THE CAPTURE OF ARABI AND TOULBA PASHAS — SURRENDER OF THE GARRISON AND CITADEL
OF CAIRO.
The boastful prediction — for such it was deemed
in all military circles — of Sir Garnet Wolseley, that
the war would be over by the 15 th of September,
seemed to be all but verified after the fiall of Tel-el-
Kebir.
We left Sir Drury Lowe with his cavalry at
Zagazig, en route for Cairo, on the evening of the
victory. The strip of land which had been secured
by the latter would not suffice to find provisions
for the troops during any length of time, but as
stores could now come from the rear, this was no
great inconvenience. Many fruits and fresh vege-
tables could now be had, and the change from tfie
dry sand of the arid desert had a beneficial efiect
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Zagadc.
on the troops. At a few miles* distance from Tel-
el-Kebir, the canal from Ismaflia flows side by side
with the Fresh-water Canal, but still the dearth of
water had been considerable in the British camp
prior to the attack on the 13th.
To the advance of the British troops, two routes
lay open now. One by the Ismallia Canal, along
the edge of the desert (traversed by the camel
route to Suez), through Belbeis, Ez-Zuames, El
Menais, and Siryacus to Cairo, some fifty miles or
sa Another follows the line of railway by Abu
Hammab to Zagazig for ten miles, from whence a
branch leads to Benha-el-Asl, " the City of Honey,"
and at Kalyoub joins the same line coming from
Shilbin, and both then run on to Cairo. "But
whether the route via Belbeis is practicable for a
large force," says Colonel Vogt in his work, "is
doubtful To follow the railway line, at least with
the largest body of troops, would be most in ac-
cordance with European tactics of war, as reinforce-
ment and communication with the rear would thus
be rendered easy. It is needless here," he adds,
" to point to the unfortunate effects that a resolute
stand on the part of the Egyptians at Tel-el-Kebir
could and would have had on the small British
force 3 the fact remains that the tactics of the
British general were sharply criticised at home.
The Times reproduced the utterances of an officer
of high rank in Alexandria, disapproving the
transfer of the basis of operations from that place
to Ismailia."
Be all that as it may, the rapid success of Sir
Garnet Wolseley is the best justification of the
measures he took.
On the 13th, Arabi, as usual, made no display of
personal courage, but when all was lost, on a fleet
Arab steed, fled by Belbeis to Cairo, with an escort
— one account says, of one horseman, another says
twenty. He did not, even then, seem to be with-
out hope. He sent orders for his column at
Salahieh to move at once on Damietta, whither he
believed most of the fugitives had gone. He
ordered the dams to be cut, so as to lay the whole
Delta under water, that he might defend the capital;
but encountered, however, an unexpected change
in the opinion of the fickle public
According to his invariable practice, he reported
at Cairo that the Egyptians had been signally vic-
torious at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and with some
impatience the lower orders of the populace awaited
his appearance with the head of Sir Beauchamp
Seymour, who was universally supposed to be the
only British commander-in-chief by sea and land,
as of Sir Garnet Wolseley they knew not a syllable.
But when Arabi was seen to enter the city alone, and
too evidendy a fugitive, all classes turned bitterly
against him, insulted him, and pelted him with
stones on the way from the railway station. His
orders to cut the dams were disobeyed, and at
Cairo all his hope of further resistance died away,
as he and Toulba Pasha, the late commander at
KLafrdowar, soon found to their cost
General Wolseley became aware of such dis-
organisation as would enable him to finish the
campaign at once, and, on preconceived plans,
acted with an energy that astonished many.
While Drury Lowe, with his swift cavalry, was
pressing round the edge of the desert on the evening
of the eventfiil 13 th, Sir Herbert Macpherson —
despite the rumour of important fortifications at
Zagazig — after a forced march of fix>m fifteen to
twenty miles, with the Seaforth Highlanders, and
the rest of his Indian Contingent, save some of the
cavalry, took possession of that place, with four or
five crowded railway trains and their locomotives ;
and then it was that the entrance to the green
delta, after the scarcity, heat, and fatigue of weeks
in the region of the desert, seemed to infuse fiiesh
life in the ranks of our troops.
" Among the most brilliant and spirited incidents
of this brilliant little war," says the Standard^ "the
capture of Zagazig takes a foremost placa It was
effected by the acting-commandant of the 6th
Bengal Cavalry, Lieutenant Murdoch, of the
Engineers, and five troopers of the 6th Bengal
Cavalry. The rest of the corps had been thrown
out in the headlong gallop fix)m the battle-field
The little party dashed through the crowd assembled
round the station, and found there four trains laden
with soldiers, with the steam up, and at the point
of departure. They reined up in front of the first
engine, and with levelled pistols, ordered the driver
to dismount He refused, and was at once shot ;
the rest bolted, as did the passengers, including
some pashas, whose luggage was taken, and
thousands of troops fled across the coimtry. Our
cavalry came up half an hour later."
The important part played by the railway and
the steam-engine in the operations of the two
armies was one of the new features in modern war.
In the days of Abercrombie's campaign, Egypt was
regarded with a species of mystery and awe. Its
desert wastes, and the wild dwellers therein; its
stupendous pyramids and gigantic temples; its
monster-gods and sphinxes; its mummies and
hieroglyphics, all excited wonder and veneration,
for many are the Biblical associations connected
with the name and the banks of the Nile. " Now,"
says a writer, "the powers of steam and the march
of inquiry are fest dispelling the clouds of mystery
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tHE ADVANCE ON THE thV.
4$t
in which Egypt was wrapped It is no longer a
rarity to meet a traveller who has mounted the
pyramid of Cheops, or stood in the halls of Kar-
nac Rapid and easy communication with Europe
has covered the country with a varnish of utter
modemness."
But to resume the advance to Cairo.
The cavalry were despatched by the way of Bel-
beis, and the Indian Contingent by the way of
Zagazig, to be followed immediately by the High-
land Brigade.
At the head of only fifteen hundred men, in-
cluding the 4th and 7 th Dragoon Guards, the 13th
Bengal Lancers, and one battery of the Royal
Horse Artillery, the fearless Drury Lowe rode on to
capture a city containing amid its vast population
more than twenty-seven thousand fanatics, and
garrisoned by ten thousand troops.
He reached Belbeis on the evening of the 13th,
and after a slight skirmish took possession of the
town, where he halted for the night Early on the
morning of the 14th his trumpets blew " boot and
saddle," and he pushed on straight to Cairo, keeping
still on the borders of the desert, without drawing
rein. At every Arab village they passed — places
through which the now fallen Arabi must have gone
in his headlong flight — the people came forth
waving white flags, and proclaiming themselves the
faithful slaves of the Khedive.
Hitherto, on their way to Belbeis they had utilised
the embankment of the Ismailia Canal, which is a
substantial broad-based ramp of earth beaten down
and having an upper surface of some sixteen feet
broad, forming an excellent roadway.
** The advance," says the Standard^ " was headed
by the Bengal horsemen under General Macpher-
son, although Sir Garnet states that General Drury
Lowe was in command."
From Belbeis, bending round, with the heights
of Jebel Dimeskh on their left flank, the cavalry had
to take such paths as were there, overtaking by the
way great numbers of fugitive soldiers, who, when
they saw them, at once flung away their arms and
made every sign of submission.
And now in the distance rose before our swift-
riding cavalry that city of wonders. Grand Cairo —
ih'tKahira of the Arabs, with its great citadel, built
by Saladin of stones from the lesser pyramids, the
dome and minarets of the mosque of Mohammed
All — ^a mosque built of the most beautiful alabaster
veined with white and yellow, while the rocky and
barren ridges of the Jebel Mokattam appeared in
the background, and on the other side, more dim
and distant still, beyond El Ghizeh, the outline of
the wondrous pyramids reddened by the setting sun.
On rode our cavalry, reckless of what might be
before them. " When once the Oriental has been
put to flight, he must not be allowed to rest"
"This expression," says Colonel Vogt, "was put
into the mouth either of General Graham or of
General Havelock, the military authority of the
Times, The last-named officer had sharply
criticised the carelessness of the advanced posts of
the British. According to the maxim now quoted
General Wolseley acted, and with the most brilliant
success."
Evening had come when our cavalry arrived in
front of the Abbassieh Barracks outside Cairo,
where they were met by the Mir-alai, or colonel
in command, with a squadron of horse, the files
of which were in extended order over the open
ground, each man with a white flag fluttering from
his carbine.
The colonel informed General Lowe that the
city with its garrison surrendered, and that no
resistance would be offered ; he also added that all
was peaceful, and that no popular tumult had
taken place. Moreover, he expressed his willing-
ness to supply rations for our men and forage for
their horses.
Notwithstanding all this, the moment was a most
critical one for our party of cavaby, as ten
thousand Egyptian infantry were massed under
arms close by ; but so resolute was the attitude of
the former, and so much had the latter lost heart,
that arms were piled, and the infantry broke their
ranks and re-entered their quarters to await what
might happen.
If any tumult was intended, Suleiman Effendi, the
commandant of the citadel, took vigorous steps to
repress it ; but it was evident the disposition of the
people did not lie that way, though the orders sent
by Arabi in every direction indicated a resolution to
continue hostilities if possible to the bitter end.
The Governor of Grand Cairo was then sent for,
and was told by the general that he was aware that
Arabi Pasha was in the city, and required his imme-
diate capitulation. He then offered to send some
of his cavalry to surround his house, but the
governor replied that such a measure was unneces-
sary, as he would deliver him up.
Arabi by this time was completely humbled.
There had been dissensions among his troops at
the moment of his defeat. His life had actually
been attempted as he fled from the field of Tel-el-
Kebir, and now, at the time referred to, with nearly
all in Cairo hostile to him, he was — if not actually
a prisoner — under the surveillance of the Prefect of
Police.
The governor reentered the city, and about ten
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EVACUATION OF THE CITADEL.
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that night returned with Arabi and Toulba Pashas.
In delivering himself up, Arab! declared to General
Drury Lowe ** that he had at first no intention of
fighting the British troops, for whom he always
had entertained the greatest respect, but that
the war was forced upon him, and for this
he blamed Tewfik, the Khedive; and being a
soldier, when fighting began he went on fighting.
citadel, where he summoned Suleiman Effendi,
commanding there, to surrender. To this, the
latter, after a brief discussion, consented, stipu*
lating that the Egyptian troops should march out
by one gate while the British entered by another
and posted a guard on it
It would appear beyond a doubt that but for the
rapid arrival of our cavaby, there would have been
AKABI'S PRISON IN THE ABBASSIEH BARRACKS.
Now that all was over, the Egyptians and British
were brothers again, and he trusted himself to
British honour as a soldier whose army had been
defeated"
Drury Lowe replied briefly that upon these or
other subjects he could not enter ; that his orders
were simply to arrest Arabi bowed; his manner
throughout the painful interview was both dignified
and composed.
Meanwhile, Captain Watson, of the Intelligence
Department, at the head of the Mounted Infantry,
and two squadrons of Dragoon Guards, made a
detour round the city to the stately and beautiful
QQ
more fighting. The tidings of the late defeat, when
known, had excited great grief and consternation
among the more violent portion of the populace ;
but before they could come to any conclusion
Drury Lowe was upon them.
By twelve o'clock that night our troops had
everywhere replaced the Egyptians at their various
outposts, and no trouble occurred, save that 500
culprits endeavoured to take advantage of the
exchange of masters to escape firom prison, but
were fiiistrated in the attempt
Next morning the troops in the Abbassieh
Barracks were disbanded, and issuing forth they
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
l(>hf^
joyfully thronged the streets and bazaars, prior to
departing for their native villages.
It was remarked by those who knew Arabi that
he looked now twenty years older than he did in
the preceding February. His only remark from
time to time was, "God is merciful — ^all hopes
have vanished ! "
It would appear that when he and Toulba Pasha
reached Cairo, they had a long and earnest con-
sultation with some of their adherents as to whether
or not they should seek the recesses of the desert ;
but that, acting on the advice of M. Ninet, the
Swiss, who had attached himself to the Egyptian
ambulance throughout the war, they came to the
resolution of giving themselves up as prisoners, not
to Tewfik but to the British general
** M. Ninet tells me," wrote the correspondent
of the Standard at this time, "that Arabi con-
siders that the National Party have been shame-
fully betrayed by M. de Lesseps. They entirely
depended upon his assurances that he would
prevent any landing in the canal He had sent
word that he took upon himself to keep the canal
— according to the conventions — outside the sphere
of hostilities. When Sir Garnet Wolseley spread
the report that he was going to land at Aboukir,
Arabi did not believe it, but thought that the
troops were being embarked to prevent the Turks
from landing. Had the Turks landed Arabi hoped
to have made an arrangement with them. The
first news which he obtained of the ships having
entered the canal was from Austrian sailors who
were taken prisoners at the Aboukir Forts. It was
then too late to do anything, as Ismallia was
already in our possession. The result is that the
French are as unpopular with the National as they
are with the Khedive's party. Throughout the
campaign," he adds, "the Egyptians had a com-
plete system of spies in Alexandria and Isma^ilia,
and knew all that was going oa They expected
our attack on Tel-el-Kebu* at midnight It did
not come off at that time, but the troops remained
in the trenches until morning ; therefore, it cannot
be considered in any way a surprise. The
Egyptians were much puzzled by our delay in
taking action after our securing Ismailia."
After the wires had been cut and direct com-
munication with Constantinople ceased, it was
maintained through information received by boats
from Damietta boarding the Austrian Lloyd's
steamer and other vessels coming from Beyrout,
which lay off the coast till so boarded.
Though Arabi was now a prisoner in our hands,
the wild Bedouins were slow to conceive that his
cause was a lost one; and though it was feared
they would continue hostile, the action of isolated
bands of horsemen would soon be neutralised by
our Mounted Infantry.
On the 14th of September Sir Garnet Wolseley,
the head-quarter staff, with the Duke of Connaught,
and one company of the Scots Guards moved on
to Zagazig by train, while a detachment of the
Grenadier Guards was sent by train to the station
of Tel Abou to cut off the retreat of any fugitives
who might be found in that quarter.
Referring to the preceding day a Seaforth High-
landei wrote thus : — " We got into Zagazig at
six p.m., marching sixteen hoiu^ altogether in a
broUing sun and on hot sandy ground. The other
regiments from Europe came on by the train
which runs straight along the canal banL Of
covu-se, we were supposed to be more seasoned
troops, and could do more than the home troops.
I am glad to say we had only one man killed and
two or three wounded (at Tel-el-Kebir)t Our
clothing must have saved us greatly, as it is dyed
the same colour as the sand." {Edinburgh Courant)
From Zagazig the Black Watch were sent on to
Belbeis, but the train broke down, and they had to
sleep for the night on the railway embankment
"At Belbeis," wrote one, "we were kept for eight
days, having nothing but hard biscuits and pre-
served meat all the time, and muddy water to wash
them down with ; and as our valises did not come
for four or five days, we had to content ourselves
with lying in the kilt without blanket or anything
else to cover us. Other luxuries we had too— -the
mosquitoes and sand-flies — who did not forget to
take it out of our bare legs at night ; but what is
the use of a soldier if he can't put up with hard-
ships ? It only makes him appreciate comfort all
the better when he comes to have it"
By an order from Sir Beauchamp Seymour,
the Naval Contingent left Zagazig on the x6th
of September, while the troops were pushing
on to Cairo, and retraced its way to Ismailia,
where it arrived by train at night The bat-
tery was then broken up, the guns and crews
being then sent on board their respective ships,
accompanied, both officers and men, by the praise
of the troops for the courage which they evinced in
the face of the enemy, and for the esprit de corps
which bore them up through all the fatigue and
hardships of marching and attacking, and the cheer-
fulness with which they overcame dangers and
difficulties alike.
On the 15th Sir Garnet Wolseley entered Cairo,
"amid the acclamations of the people," says the
l^pus^ " accompanied by detachments of Guards,
Highlanders, and Marines." He came by txaio,
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DEMONSTRATION OF CAVALRY.
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I along with the Duke of Connaught The Scots
^ Guards and one company of the 71st Highland
Light Infantry were under Major Campbell Sir
Garnet was met at the station by General Lowe,
and after a consultation in the waiting-room, he
took up his quarters in the Abdin Palace.
On hearing of his arrival, Arabi, who still main-
tained his quiet and dignified attitude, expressed
.7 himself as being most anxious to have a personal
interview with the general, who declined to see
I him for the present
Perfect tranquillity still prevailed in Cairo, where
the British troops and the native police took due
precaution against a possible rising of the fanatics.
' The Prefect of Police afforded every protection to
L 150 Europeans, who remained there during the
rebellion against Tewfik, so that none of them
suffered to any serious extent Colonel George
William Knox, of the Scots Guards, the officer
commanding at that time in the citadel, having
discovered that certain prisoners had been cruelly
tortured there, put the Egyptian officer, previously
in command, in chains and under close confine-
ment
: The picturesque and magnificent fortress now
occupied by the Highland Brigade, under Sir
Archibald Alison, once contained a vast dewan^
the roof of which was upheld by thirty-two great
columns of rose-coloured granite, taken from
ancient Egyptian temples. This is now replaced
by a noble modern residence, containing splendid
apartments, and one of the adjuncts of which is a
spacious bathing chamber composed entirely of the
purest alabaster, wherein, we are told, ** the officers
of her Majesty's cavahy and infantry took their
morning tubs."
It is built on the last rocky spur of the Mokattam
range, and contains, besides a spacious barrack, a
great mosque, the famous Well of Joseph, and a
cannon foundry.
And now, from the ramparts of El Kalah, as the
citadel is termed, our red-coated and kilted sen-
tinels could survey the whole extent of the capital
that lay below them — a sheet of flat white roofs,
with cupolas that turned to gold when the red sun
set in his cloudless glory beyond the pyramids on
the plain of Ghizeh, and where the Nile winds
between its verdant banks, and farther away in the
distance the waste of desert sand closed at the
horizon by the mountains of Africa.
But the streets of the city at this juncture pre-
sented a strange and unusual appearance. The
shops were all closed, though every thoroughfare
was crowded by natives. Many of these cast
hostile glances on our soldiers, but the majority
seemed now to rejoice at the course events had
taken, and as each body of our troops, in their
various uniforms, marched through the streets to
the posts and quarters assigned to them, it was
accompanied by crowds of admiring and wondering
Arabs, while from the windows and carved bal-
conies the women waved salutations to them, and
uttered shrill cries of welcome.
Hackney carriages were already on hire; many
of our officers availed themselves of these vehicles,
and the first who used one was the Duke of
Connaught The unfortunate midshipman, De
Chair, was now released. He had been well
treated from first to last The mob had fre-
quently howled at him, but he had been care-
fully protected by his guard.
As the great mass of the Arab population at
Cairo resident in the native town had but little
opportunity of seeing the British troops, or esti-
mating their real strength and general aspect, and
as absurd reports concerning them were circulated
freely, even so far as to assert that the Highlanders
were regiments of women sent out because men
were scarce, it was determined to overawe them by
a display of the force.
Accordingly, on the Saturday after entering
Cairo, the cavalry division paraded in marching
order, and made a progress through all the line of
the native bazaars. It consisted of the squadrons
of the Life Guards and Blues, two Dragoon Guard
Regiments, the Hussars, the Indian cavalry, and
the Mounted Infantry, all with swords drawn,
trumpets sounding, and kettie-drums beating.
The column was nearly three miles long. " Even
to those accustomed to military spectacles," we are
told, " the show of this splendid body of horsemen
in their fighting kits — the men of Mahsameh,
Kassassin, and the ride to Cairo — was magnificent
To the natives of Cairo it was conclusive evidence
that the British were masters of Egypt 1 '*
The column took forty minutes in passing any
given point
The faces of the Egyptian crowds in the native
districts of the city, expressed a sullen hostility that
became blended with amazement as the long
lines of troops filed past, and these culminated in
wonder as the turbaiied Indian Lancers came in
sight, and the effect of these troops, with lance-
points glittering and pennons waving, as they wound
through the dimly-lit bazaars of Cairo, was wonder-
fully striking and picturesque.
The lattices were crowded with white-veiled
women, who peeped out with their black eyes
sparkling in delight at the, to them, most strange
and unwonted spectacle.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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By this time the negotiations for the signing of
the military convention had broken down at Con-
stantinople, in consequence of the views taken by
the Sultan, notwithstandmg the great anxiety of
his Ministry to come to an understanding with
Britain.
He felt that his position as an absolute monarch
required him to maintain his personal prestige at
any hazard Lord DufTerin had urged upon him to
eliminate the three words ^^intervention militaire
Hrangh'e^ as applied to Great Britain and the
Imperial proclamation against Arabi Pasha, but the
Sultan replied that it was impossible to do so for
many reasons, the first of which was that the pro-
clamation having now been promulgated, and owing
its weight to a spontaneous display of imperial dis-
pleasure against a rebellious officer, any subsequent
decree departing from the tenor of the original
would imperil its value, and prove to Europe that
it had been issued at the dictum of Britain.
It was further urged that the objection of the
British ambassador was frivolous, and might be apt
to rouse suspicion that it was adopted to cause
difficulty, because the word ktranglrey as applied to
the British intervention, was logical and natural.
Lord Dufferin also wished his Majesty's autograph
to the memorandum containmg the conditions of
acceptance, which the ambassador had com-
municated to the hitter's private secretary, acting
directly from his Majesty without the influence of
the Ministry.
These conditions were : first, that Baker Pasha
should be the chief of the Turkish staff; second,
that the status of the Turkish corps (Parmie should
lie the same as that at the war in the Crimea ; third,
that the commissariat and transport arrangements
of any Turkish troops in Egypt ^ould be made by
Turkey herself.
But the Sultan's objections to sign were double.
In the first place, these concessions having been
made by him personally, his royal word had been
plighted, and the demand for his signature re-
vealed a lack of confidence — ^a distrust amounting
to a direct insult In the second place, his good
faith had been proved by the orders issued in
his name and published in the Official Gazette^
by which the above-mentioned conditions were
accurately detailed
Such were some of the Turkish arguments in
defence of the course adopted by the Sultan, and
they were by some supposed to show a strong case
on his side, though, considering that in negotiations
of this kind, might makes right, the policy followed
was perhaps not the wisest to pursue.
On the Highland Brigade entering Cairo, it was
first placed in the citadel, but afterwards, as we
have said, for some unexplained reason, the r^-
ments composing it, instead of being quartered in
the comfortable barracks of Kasr-el-Nil, in the city,
were encamped without the walls, and remained
there during the months of October and November ;
and the time was not entirely a peaceable one.
One night in October, some Bedouins, whom the
peculiar garb greatly puzzled, conceiving that they
were the wives of the infidel soldiers, resolved to
make a dash at then* tents, and bear off a few dam-
sels to their homes in the desert With this view,
they came swooping down upon the lines one night,
but the Highlanders quickly betook them to their
rifles, shot down about forty of the Bedouins, and
dispersed the rest
On other occasions, some of the Arabs, in spite,
were wont to fire random shots into the tents,
causing several narrow escapes, and necessitating
some severe patrol duty.
Retribution now fell on many who had been
concerned in outrages during the late rebellion,
especially those who were supposed to have taken
part in the massacre of Europeans and the
night of horrors at Alexandria; and the accoimt
Mr. Percy A. Bamett gave of the personal visits he
made to some of the Cairo dungeons is enough
to make one shudder. The culprits, we are told,
were starved, not more than a third of the very
limited supply of food allotted to them by the
authorities ever reaching them, the rest being ap-
propriated by contractors, gaolers, and servants.
He obtained admission one day with a small
supply of bread, and thus he described the scene
which he witnessed : —
" As soon as the prisoners caught sight of the
food, the horrid clanking of chains grated on my
ears, loud cries and howls came firom the gratings,
and the faces at the aperture multiplied threefold
I could see the poor wretches struggling one with
another for a place in firont, the weakest, of course,
going to the wall, the greediest and strongest
crushing forward And such faces ! Most of
them were revolting enough in themselves, and
could well have spared the loathsome environment
that made them worse. On some, indeed, that
scourge of the East, leprosy, had left its mark;
some were merely ill and hungry-looking; the
better-favoured seemed to stay with their chains
behind — for shame, perhaps. All the foremost cried
out for the bread they saw, and scrambled and
fought like wild beasts for such of the round cakes
as escaped through the bars without being torn
piecemeal in their passage."
Such were the kind of men Arabi let loose on
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OCCUPATION OF TANTAH.
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Alexandria, with authority to pillage, to bum, and
to slay all Christians who fell into their hands.
After entering Grand Cairo, Sir Garnet Wolseley
thought himself justified in telegraphing to the
home authorities — "The war is over; send no
more troops to Egypt" A few days before this he
issued the following general order : —
"The general commanding-in-chief congratu-
lates the army upon the brilliant success which has
crowned its efforts in the campaign terminated on
the 14th instant by the surrender of the citadel
of Cairo and of Arabi Pasha, the chief rebel
against the authority of his Highness the Khedive.
"In twenty-five days the army has effected a
disembarkation at Ismallia, has traversed the desert
to Zagazig, has occupied the capital of Egypt, has
fortunately defeated the enemy four times — on
August 24th at Magfar, on the 25th at Tel-el-
Mahuta, on September the 9th at Kassassin, and
finally, on September the 13th at Tel-el-Kebir,
where, after an arduous night march, it inflicted
upon him an overwhelming defeat, storming his
strongly-entrenched position at the point of the
bayonet, and capturing all his guns, about sixty in
number.
" In recapitulating the events which have marked
this short and decisive campaign, the general com-
manding-in-chief feels proud to place upon record
the fact that these brilliant achievements are to be
attributed to the high military courage and noble
devotion to duty which have animated all ranks
under his command
" Called upon to show discipline under exceptional
privations, to give proof of fortitude in extreme
toil, and to show contempt of danger in battle,
general officers, officers, non-commissioned officers,
and men of the army have responded with zeal
and alacrity, adding another chapter to the long roll
of British victories."
On the 24th of September there were thanks-
giving sendees in all the churches of the British
Isles for the successes of our army in Egypt
CHAPTER LXXII.
THE EGYFnAN WAR {continued) :— OCCUPATION OF TANTAH — RETURN OF THE KHEDFVE TO CAIRO—
THE QUARTERS OF THE TROOPS AT CAIRa
The force at Tantah, consisting of four batteries
of artillery, a regiment of cavalry, and 4,000
infantry, laid down their arms on the i8th Septem-
ber to 210 of the Seaforth Highlanders. The
latter, with two guns, left Benha for Tantah, at the
request of the railway authorities, to enforce order,
as crowds of disbanded soldiers besieged the
station, clamouring for trains to take them to their
homes, and great alarm existed there, as Tantah
was the heart of lawlessness and disaffection in
Egypt In many instances they had seized the
trains and dragged the passengers out of them.
At Tantah the Cadi and two Notables met the
Highlanders near the town, and expressed the
warmest friendship for the British A hollow
square was formed in the market-place, through
which, afler piling arms and surrendering guns and
horses, the Egyptians marched and dispersed to
their homes, after a native had been hanged for
participation in the massacre there.
The train service was now completely re-estab-
lished between Cairo and Alexandria.
The Khedive, on the afternoon of the 20th,
4rove out, escorted by the Bengal Lancers at the
latter city, where their appearance created a pro-
found sensation among all classes, the fact that we
had turbaned and Mohammedan soldiers in our
army never having been fully appreciated by them
before.
Two days before this, a correspondent wrote
thus : — " I had an audience of the Khedive to-day.
I found his Highness cheerful, and pleased, ap-
parently, with the prospect of escaping from this
city to the capital He seems, for the moment,
disposed to a policy of wise severity towards the
leaders of the rebellion, but when reinstated in
Cairo, may possibly incline to the side of mercy.
Much will, of course, depend upon the advice he
will receive from Sir Garnet Wolseley. It was
with no little surprise that I saw at the palace
Ragheb Pasha, Arabi's premier, the man who, with
that rebel leader, proclaimed war against the
British, without consultation with the other
Ministers or the Khedive. It was he also who
ordered the mudirs of the provinces to carry out
Arabi's behests, and to furnish him with supplies.
I understand, however, that Ragheb was not
received by the Khedive"
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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At the Palace of Ras-el-Tin there was present
also at this tune Ibrahim Tewfik, who reported
Public interest was now fast being transferred
from Alexandria to Cairo, to which city the ministers
BAB-EL- FOOTOH, ONE OF THE GATES OF CAIRa
having had a terrible time in Cairo during the
dictatorship of Arabi, whose practice it was to
provide Arabs in the streets there with torn and
blood-stained clothes, while a hired mob excited the
populace by the cry, "See how the Englbh treat us ! "
were all anxious to go. El Jawaiby a Constanti-
nople print, on the i8th September, urged the
Khedive to confiscate the property of all rebels
and to devote the money so obtained to indemnify
those who had lost by pillage and incendiarism.
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C««xl A KHEDIVIAL COMMISSION.
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§
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BRITISH BATfLES ON LAND AND SEA
(Cairo.
The journal pointed out that the rebel chiefs were
immensely rich, and that their property would
suffice fuUy to cover all claims for indemnification.
Two days afterwards the Khedive issued a decree
appointing a special commission to sit at Alex-
andria to inquire into and prosecute all the actors
in the scenes of murder, robbery, and fire-raising
committed there between the nth and i6th of
June.
This commission was composed of four Euro-
pean and three native members, besides a native
President, Abdurrahman, formerly Minister of
Finance. It was to sift each case, report upon it,
and conduct the prosecution of the guilty in the
special court for such purposes. The European
consuls were to be represented, and were em-
powered to make conununications, but were to
have no votes.
Another decree appointed a similar commission
at Tantah for crimes committed in every part
of Egypt during the rebellioa The president of
this board was Mahmoud Falaki, formerly Minister
of Public Works.
So early as the 15th September Sir Evelyn
Wood's Brigade received orders to hold itself in
readiness to proceed to Cairo as soon as the railway
line was in working order, though Alexandria was
again to become the base of the army of occupa-
tion: news which his troops received with intense
satisfaction. They had suffered much disappoint-
ment at not having shared in the actions in the field,
and had a fear of being re-embarked for home
without having any share in the final triumph.
" It was disgusting," says a correspondent, writing
from Alexandria at this time, "to hear the expressions
of loyalty to the Khedive profusely expressed by so
many who had been the closest adherents of Arabi,
but he seemed to take them at their true Oriental
value; thus many of Arabics supporters found the
doors of Ras-el-Tin closed against them, amongst
these the Princes Ibrahim, Ahmed, and Hamil.
Some of the princesses of the Khedive's family
were also said to be seriously compromised."
On the 22nd of September all the rebel officers
under the rank of colonel, to the number of 323,
who had been brought into Ramleh from the forts
about Alexandria and elsewhere, were liberated. The
others, to the. number of fifty, were sent under
escort into the city.
At noon of the same day the Khedive pro-
ceeded to the mosque at Abou Abbas for the usual
Friday prayers, and, curiously enough, was accom-
panied on that occasion by all the native officers of
the 13th Bengal Lancers.
On the 20th there had been an fma4f^ at Dah-
manhour, and some Copts were murdered by the
rioters, against whom the Royal Sussex Regiment
was despatched to seize and punish the guilty.
At a quarter to ten on the morning of the 25 th
September, the British batteries, firing a royal salute,
announced that the Khedive was quitting the Palace
of Ras-el-Tin on hb return to Cairo. From the
hour of night the streets through which he was to
pass, were lined by the troops of Sir Evelyn Wood,
while the Derbyshire Regiment held the railway
station.
In the carriage along with him was Sir Edward
Malet, the British consul-gener^, and his escort
was furnished by a squadron of the 13th Bengal
Lancers, followed by Smith-Dorrien's Mounted
Infantry. The crowds along the line were not
great Many Europeans mingled with the natives.
The Khedive was cheered at some points, but in
general was received with coolness and silence.
The procession was far from being an imposing
one. His carriage and escort were followed by the
members of his Cabinet, who, for the most part,
were conveyed in common cabs.
"As I had to be at the station before the
Khedive arrived," says the author of "Egyptian
Letters/' " I cannot say what reception he met with,
but I hear that it was very respectful, if not cordial,
and the escort of the 13th Bengal Lancers, of
course, produced an effect upon the people These
troopers, with their rolling eyes, fierce up-curled
moustaches and beards, their long bamboo lances
with red and blue pennons, big-turbaned, jack-
booted, and much be-belted, are admirable in the
way of a picturesque body-guard, and have estab-
lished themselves as a feature in the varied scenery
of the Alexandrian streets."
Banners and garlands decorated the railway
station, where a number of Europeans and Levan-
tines were gathered, with many chamberlains and
officials, pashas, beys, moUahs, and Notables, in
turbans and flowing robes, and a crowd of attend-
ants, bearing those curious-looking bundles which
all Orientals prefer to comfortable portmanteaus.
" The 'many sorts and conditions of men present
appeared to be united only by a common ophthalmic
affection."
Followed by his suite, the Khedive entered the
state carriage, accompanied by Sir Edward Malet,
Lord William Seymour, and Colonel H. C Cherm-
side, C.M.C., of the Royal Engineers. The Khedivt
specially sent for Colonel W. H. Macnaughten,
commanding the Bengal Lancers (formerly of the
5th Cavalry), and invited him to a seat in the
carriage, and that purpose-like officer surprised the
native dietaries by unsaddling his own horsey
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RETURN OF THE KHEDIVE.
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throwing the saddle and holsters into the guard's
van, and then joining the royal party.
General Harman, commanding in Alexandria,
with his staff, was at the station to see the prince
oflF, who thanked him for the military show.
The band of the old 95th struck up the Khedive's
Hymn, and the train started, cheered only by a
few Britons who were among the spectators.
Meanwhile, preparations had been in progress to
give him a welcome at Cairo, and it was said that
those who witnessed the scene when, on the after-
noon of the same day, he was escorted through its
streets to his palace by British troops, would never
forget it
From an early hour in the morning the streets
of Cairo had been crowded — those wonderfully pic-
turesque streets, with their lofty and latticed houses,
with domes and airy cupolas, covered with tracery
and gaudy arabesques — by natives and Europeans,
great numbers of the former, who belonged to the
upper classes, hurrying to and fro on donkeys.
Red-coated orderlies and staff officers galloped
quickly about with orders, and closely-veiled women
dung to the garden railings or filled the projecting
balconies, silent and hushed with expectation.
By two o'clock tho drum-and-fife bands of our
infantry and the bagpipes of the Highlanders were
heard in all directions, as the troops marched from
their quarters in barrack, camp, and citadel, and
filed along in double ranks like two human walls
fh>m the station round by Shepherd's fashionable
hotel and the Abdin Palace to the Isma^ilieh Palace,
receiving ¥rith all royal honours the consort of the
Khedive, as she was driven rapidly along in a hand-
some carriage, followed by others containing the
ladies of the harem, while shrill cries of welcome
were uttered by all the women from the house-tops
and balconies.
Sir Garnet Wolseley, with his staff, rode into
the station at three o'clock with a detachment of
the Grenadier Guards, just as the Khedive's train
came steaming and clanking in. No officer was in
full xmiform, but all were in their stained fighting
kits; and after the first greetings were over, the
restored prince took a seat in his carriage, with Sir
Garnet, the Duke of Connaught, and Sir Edward
Malet
The magnificent physique and great stature of
our Household Cavalry seemed to impress him
greatly. In all the land of the Pharaohs there
were no such men as these. As the carriages
passed between the long lines of tall men on great
black horses, the trumpets sounded, the sword-
blades flashed in salute, the band of the Grenadier
Guards struck up the National Anthem» and the
guns from the citadel and those of the battery of
Horse Artillery thundered forth upon the sunny air.
Beyond the Life Guards and Blues, the line was
taken up by the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards,
the 7th, or Princess Royal's Dragoon Guards,
and the smart 19th Hussars. Beyond these,
motionless as walls, were the long lines of our
splendid British infantry, facing inwards, with
bayonets fixed, the dark green of the Rifles and
the martial costume of the Highlanders imparting
variety to the scene.
" Here," says a correspondent, " the peculiarly
shrill greeting cries of the Arab women were almost
deafening, but the deep rows of men behind the
infantry maintained perfect silence. It b true that
Orientals rarely cheer, but even to those accus-
tomed to Oriental impassiveness, the reception of
the Khedive appeared unfortunately, but most dis-
tinctly, cold Here and there a few of the natives
salaamed, but the vast majority of the crowd re-
mained motionless and silent At intervals along
the line, bands of native music were stationed, and
these raised a deafening din as the cort^gg passed
along. According to Egyptian custom, bullocks
were slaughtered, and the vibrating cries of the
women were heard along the whole line of the
route."
This was from the station to the Ghezireh Palace.
The houses of some of the most prominent of
Arabi's supporters were not the least conspicuous in
their display of banners and other decorations,
many of them showing, in that spirit of fickle-
ness or cunning so peculiarly Oriental, the legend,
" A Loyal Welcome."
As the carriage drove along the line Sir Garnet
Wolseley and the Duke of Connaught directed the
Khedive's attention to the different regiments,
and he manifested '^ great interest and curiosity as
he passed between the ranks of the stalwart men
of the Highland Brigade."
Wherever groups of Europeans were gathered,
no matter what their nationality, the cheering as
the carriage passed was loud and enthusiastic ; and
thus, amid the booming of our artillery, which the
fallen Arabi could hear in his prison in the citadel,
between lines of the same bayonets that swept the
trenches of Tel-el-Kebir, the Khedive passed
onward to the Ismallieh Palace.
He bestowed the Grand Cordon of the Osmanieh
on Sir Garnet Wolseley, and also on Sir Evelyn
Wood, when he arrived in Cairo.
Arabi, meanwhile, was making a good impression
on those officers who were entrusted with his
custody. They considered that he had been am-
bitious, but that his intentions, in the main, had
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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been honest He founded his defence on the
Fetma pronounced by the Ulema deposing Tewfik
Pasha, and maintained that he had acted only
constitutionally throughout the whole war.
Pria to the arrival of the Khedive, he had again
besought an interview with Sir Garnet Wolseley, who
declinea to see him. About the same time a large
deputation of the Ulema waited upon the general,
and assured him that no attempt would be made to
excite the religious feelings of the people against
the British, and that they would do all in theu:
power to ensure tranquillity.
General Wood's brigade and the cavalry were
put into the Abbassieh Barracks (formerly the
Palace of Abbas Pasha), and the artillery at Kasr-
el-Boulac, on the left bank of the Nile, with some
at El Dakrur, higher up the river, to bar the line ot
retreat to Upper Egypt The state of these and
other places in which our troops were quartered
was found to be beyond description filthy. This
unsanitary condition was unbearable, and our unfor-
tunate soldiers loudly wished that they were back
again amid the sand of the open desert
Arabics beautiful house was completely looted,
chiefly by the servants of Sultan Pasha, the
Khedive's delegate, who possessed himself of eight
fine horses.
Arrests were now made daily, and among them
was that of ^inet, the Swiss engineer, at the sug-
gestion of the British consul-general He was
a strong sympathiser with Arabi, but was in the
Crescent Ambulance during the Turkish War, and
declared that he acted only in the same peacefiil
capacity at Kafrdowar.
Among Arabi's captured papers were found
numerous telegrams expressive of sympathy, with
offers of service firom German, French, and Russian
officers, all of which he declined, and, with the
exception of M. Ninet, he had no European with
him. Minet was an old man, in ill-health, and
greatly broken down.
Arabi declared to M. Ninet, before the arrest of
the latter, that he had never written any letter what-
ever to Mr. Gladstone, neither had he authorised any
other person to do so, and that any letter so ad-
dressed, and purporting to be fi-om him, must be a
forgery ; adding tfiat his object in surrendering to
the British general was to ensure at his hands the
impartial trial he could never expect at those of his
vindictive enemy, the Khedive.
Under the direction of Sultan Pasha, a series of
wholesale arrests of the supporters of Arabi was
effected All who signed the proclamation drawn
up by the Council and Ulema, authorising him to
prosecute the war and disregard the orders of the
Khedive, were thrown into prison, and many of
these now alleged that they had signed only firom
dread of death if they refiised.
The a6th saw a repetition of the illimiinations
and display of official enthusiasm which accom-
panied the return of the Khedive to his capital,
particularly in the Ismailieh quarter, where there
stood the palace of himself; of his mother, kinsmen,
and princes, of the pashas, and chief European
establishments: all was one blaze of many-coloured
lights, while lamps in long festoons garlanded the
vistas of the principal streets and thoroughfiares,
which were thronged by crowds bearing torches or
lanterns.
In grim contrast to all this were the native dis-
tricts of the city, which were shrouded in darkness,
amid which any chance European who was seen
was hooted or pelted with stones, and nowhere
was a single British flag displayed in any part of
all Cairo, save over Cook's tourist office and at
one or two hotels.
On the 27th the Khedive held a levee, at which
the Duke of Connaught and one himdred and two
officers, including a brilliant staff, were present, but
Sh: Garnet Wolseley, who had become indisposed,
was too unwell to attend. . Nine hundred and
ninety-two representatives of villages in Upper and
Lower Egypt were present, but many pashas and
beys, who had been connected with Arabi, and
wished to be present, were excluded.
Addressing the Ulema the Khedive said, —
"You are the men of letters, and not politicians.
The first who is again guilty of interfering with
politics will be most severely punished ! "
They replied by unanimously declaring their im-
swerving loyalty.
"Tewfik is short, stout, nervous, and by no
means unintelligent," says Mr. Broadley, in his
work entitled, " How we Defended Arabi and his
Friends," " but both eyes cmd nose indicate fetal
weakness of character. Although he has been
educated entirely in Egypt, he knows French well,
and is very fairly acquainted with English. His
thoughts, ideas, and modes of reasoning are, how-
ever, entirely Oriental A constant and uncon-
trollable restlessness of manner affords an unmis-
takable indication of great inconstancy of purpose.
This deplorable want of decision perpetually leads
him to acts wholly contrary to his better nature.
Tewfik is simply an Oriental constitutional monarch
manqui. He has unsuccessfully endeavoured to
please both parties, and has conspicuously feiled to
satisfy either. At one time he might easily have
headed the Nationalists, but deliberately threw his
chance away. From the moment he broke widi
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THE ENGLISH TROOPS IN THE CITY.
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Arabi to dally with Turkey, he became the most
unpopular man in all Egypt It is impossible to
conceal the truth. His future is almosl hopeless ;
a fair start under his auspices is, I fear, impossible."
Opinions somewhat more favourable to Tewfik
could, however, be quoted from other authorities.
But in any case, looking ahead, the prospect was
scarcely to be considered as brilliant
At this very time in many places the tidings of
Arabics fall were utterly disbelieved. At Beniscief,
in Central Egypt, a large town with woollen manu-
factories and cotton-spinning mills, the capital of a
large province on the left bank of the Nile, riots
took place, in consequence of the local authorities
attempting to enforce demonstrations of loyalty.
Flags, lamps, and devices were alike torn down ;
Christians were insulted. The same ebullitions
occurred in other places, the authorities being
powerless to control the rioters wherever there
were no British troops.
Even in Cairo the petulance and insolence of
the mob broke forth at times, and curses against
the Khedive and all Christians were occasionally
shouted in the streets. "There is a princess at
Cairo," says a correspondent, under date of the
27th, "belonging to the Khedive's harem, whose
sympathies with the rebel leader have induced her
to order in Paris a dress trimmed with buttons
having Arabi Pasha's likeness upon them." Doubt-
less he had succeeded in exciting in many quarters
a considerable degree of favour and support
The tidings of Arabi's downfall created a pro-
found sensation at Damascus, where, on the very
day that Tel-el-Kebir fell, the ignorant and credu-
lous Moslem population were exulting in reports to
the effect that tiie Duke of Connaught had been
taken in battle, and that the Queen, his mother, in
her woe and terror, had been compelled to accept
the following conditions : — " A heavy indemnity to
be paid to Egypt for all the expenses of the war,
the Egyptian National Debt, to be cancelled, the
British troops to leave Egypt in disgrace with their
arms reversed. Admiral Seymour and Sir Garnet
Wolseley to have their heads struck off, and the
Queen's only unmarried daughter to be bestowed
upon the victorious ArabL" Among people be-
lieving in such absurdities, the real news created
indescribable consternation and disappointment
The Christians, who had been living for long
before in terror of an outbreak, were exuberant with
joy, while the Mohammedans were inspired by
rage, mortification, and dismay.
The officers imder arrest at Alexandria and else-
where were now brought to Cairo to appear before
a court-mad^ and the British authorities took
every care to prevent the forms of justice from
being abused for the purposes of personal hatred or
vengeance. According to the first arrangements,
no executions were allowed to be carried out with*
out their consent, and by a later arrangement the
court-martial, which was to meet at Cairo, was to
be supervised by British officers of high rank, with
whom the final decisions would rest. This pre-
caution commended itself to all who were anxious
that justice should be done, even to the rebels
against the Khedive.
On the 27 th of September a special commission
was appointed, by decree of the Khedive. It sat
at Cairo, under the presidency of Ismael Bey, with
instructions to take cognisance of all acts performed
by military or civil persons during the rebellion.
The followers of Arabi and the ringleaders were to
be handed over to its mercies. Further, two courts-
martial, one at Cairo and one at Alexandria, were
to try cases handed over by the local commis-
sion. That at Cairo was under Mohammed Renouf
Pasha.
The judgments delivered by these courts were to
be in accordance with martial law, but without
appeal At the same time, a partial amnesty was
to follow. These courts were to be open to the
public, and the accused might have counsel for
their defence.
Thirty-six of the prisoners who were confined in
the great round tower of the citadel at Cairo
eluded the terror of the new tribunal there, by
escaping one night by means of a stout rope.
The feat was one of great peril, and in achieving
it, it was evident that they had been assisted by
accomplices.
Within a few days after the arrival of the army,
though the population continued unfriendly, Cairo
began to resemble an English garrison town in some
respects, from the number of red-coats thronging its
streets, which otherwise looked sombre from the
vast numbers of closed shops; but every succes-
sive train brought back fugitive Europeans from
Alexandria. Many of our troops were now
encamped on the other side of the Nile at
Abbassieh. The Brigade of Guards was fairly
driven out of the citadel by the armies of bugs and
other plagues of Egypt that assailed them. ITie
troops had resumed the use of pipe-clay, and strove
to look as smart as their hideous loose serge jackets
would permit; "but the Highlanders, in karkee.
with snow-white belts, spats, and hehnets, easily
carry away the palm as to appearance," says the
Standard. "There is much discontent among the
troops at the unsatisfactory accommodation pro-
vided for them. The barracks, no doubt, require
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
thorough cleansing before they are fit for habitation,
but considering the number of palaces of members
of the Khedive's family standing empty, many of
them not having been occupied since the day they
were built, it seems hard that, after undergoing the
hardships and dangers of the campaign, after having
commander4n-chief and his staff are so luxuriously
housed, it is strange that the rest of the anny
should be'condemned to such extreme discomforts.
As might be anticipated under such circumstancein
the health of the troops suffers, and the sick list
rapidly increases."
A NARROW WAY IN CAIRO. (By Walter C, HorsUy).
reinstated the Khedive and saved Cairo, the troops
should be obliged to camp out at this unhealthy
season, exposed to the heat and dust by day and
the moisture at night, on a bleak sandy island like
Ghezireh. Here the discomforts of the desert
have to be undergone, together with the miasma
from the surrounding swamps, and even General
Hamley, though a general of division, is under canvas
in sight of half-a-dozen empty palaces. When the
The Palace of Kasr-en-Nooussa, on the Schoubra
road, was assigned by the Khedive to H.R.H. the
Duke of Connaught as his residence in Caira 1^
is situated amid charming grounds on the shady
border of a fashionable drive— the "Rotten Row"
of the city— where the double and single broughams
of the ladies of the harem and the beautiful hoises
ridden by Cairene dandies always muster thickly a*
the sun declines.
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Cairo.! EXPLOSION AT THE RAlLVV^y STATION. 505
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BRITISH BATTLES 0>J LANt) AND SEA.
ICaka
CHAPTER LXXIIL
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued)*. — ^THE EXPLOSION AT CAIRO — ^THE HOSPITAL SERVICE — ^THE
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
On the afternoon of the 28th September all Cairo
was greatly excited by a dreadful explosion at the
railway station, whether by accident or the result of
revengeful incendiarism no one precisely knew.
It occurred when the King*s Royal Rifle Corps,
coming from Benha to take part in the intended
great review, was alighting at the platform, and
some trucks laden with loaded shells and other
ammunition, on the opposite lines of rails, exploded.
Several other explosions followed, and a great
quantity of rifle ammunition in an adjacent truck
blew up with a terrific crash. Some of it had been
captured from the Egyptians, and some was British.
The explosions of live shells continued at intervals
for over three hours. Several men were more or
less severely wounded, among them a surgeon of
the 60th Rifles, and one was killed, amid a din
that sounded like a general engagement, while the
goods shed took fire, and the conflagration spread
rapidly. The troops everywhere got under arms,
and the Duke of Connaught, with the Brigade of
Guards, came promptly on the scene ; but there
was great danger in approaching the burning build-
ings, as splinters of shell were fl)dng in all direc-
tions at intervals of half a minute, and a major of
the Royal Marines was wounded in the thigh.
This event, and the tumult, caused a total sus-
pension of the races organised by our ofl5cers at
the Abbassieh Barracks, and the troops had to keep
the streets clear of the Arab mobs, which gathered
in great numbers.
By some it was alleged that the train had caught
fire by spontaneous combustion, in consequence
of the heat, as the thermometer stood at 106
degrees (Fahrenheit), increased by the iron roofing
of the station. The railway oflicials, however,
expressed their belief that it was due to foul play,
because they observed that the trucks upon two
separate lines of rails burst into a blaze about one
and the same time ; and subsequently to the first
explosion, two Arabs were seized setting fire to
some trucks, one with a can of petroleum, while a
third was detected in the act of setting fire to some
of the rolling stock, but he escaped, though another
was taken while wildly inciting the people to rise
against " the accursed infidels."
As the first fitigments of shell that were in-
spected were found to belong to the Egjrptian
artillery, it was naturally surmised that ignition
first occurred among the Egyptian ammunition ; be
that as it might, the damage, including the loss of
rolling stock, "was estimated at several hundred
thousand pounds, but no private merchandise was
burned.
Though it was generally believed by our officers
that the accident originated through a fiise left by
chance in an Egyptian shell, which had caused it
to explode during a shock when shunting, eig^t
persons were arrested on the 30th, charged with
causing the whole aflair.
Owing to the energetic measures of the troops,
the fire was got under by nine in the evening, but
not before all the goods sheds, containing ten days'
provisions for the army, and about 300 trucks erf
ammunition and other stores, were destroyed ; and
the canal which separated the station firom Cairo
was perhaps the means of saving the city itself from
destructioa
The Guards patrolled the streets, a duty taken
in succession by the Highland Brigade, and then
by that of Sir Evelyn Wood.
The fire was still smouldering on the following
morning, and the native population showed no
regret for the occurrence, but were everywhere
exulting over it, as a new means of making Cairo
uncomfortable to its unwelcome occupants.
Many were at no pains to conceal their senti-
ments, and shouted with delight over the explosion,
adding, " This is the bonfire of the people — ^lit by
them in honour of the Khedive's infidel friends ! "
Requests, moreover, came frequently, but from
Europeans chiefly resident in various parts of the
country, for Britbh garrisons or detachments to
maintain order and protect life; but seeing that
there had been no great riot since the disbandment
of the Egyptian army, save that at the Tantah rail-
way station, our military authorities did not con-
sider it necessary to comply with such wishes, and
the Egyptian Government was in perfect accordance
with Sir Garnet Wolseley on that matter.
The composition of the court-martial excited
some surprise; but no doubt it was diflicult
to get officers of standing to serj^ on a tribunal
entrusted with the punishment of "crimes," in
the committal of which the whole Egyptian people
were virtually guilty; and as an instance^ k
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THE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
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was urged that it was somewhat strange to select
as a member Osman Bey, from Damietta, where
he had commanded the artillery under Abdellal,
to whom he had acted as comrade and friend,
and on whom he was now called to sit in judg-
ment, as on many others who were his own com-
patriots.
The general hospital service of the army in Egypt
was eventually the object of some critidsm.
In the Arab hospital at Cairo, at the date we
write of, were some hundred Egyptian soldiers
suflfering from wounds, the greater number of whom
had been brought there from Kassassin and Tel-el-
Kebir. Most of these were serious cases, as all the
more slighdy wounded men had escaped to their
homes, and only those who were unable to move
were conveyed to Caira
Most of these men had been injured by our
shrapnel shell, against which the Egyptians foimd it
impossible to stand when our gunners obtained the
correct range ; and an Egyptian oflficer admitted
that the guns abandoned at Mahuta and Kassassin
were deserted, owing to the accuracy with which
our shells burst
At Cairo and elsewhere, 534 Egyptian wounded
were treated, 27 capital operations being performed;
202 were sent from the field to the native hospital
at Ismailia; the rest preferred to return to dieir
homes.
In the general assistance given with regard to
conveyance of the wounded, and in other respects,
Surgeon-General Hanbury expressed his gratitude
to Captain Rawson, Commander Moore, Lieu-
tenant Grimstone, and Boatswain Hunill, of the
Royal Navy, for their valuable services.
Concerning our own casualties, it was stated by
the Earl of Morley in Parliament that, taking the
period from the 17th July to the loth October,
which embraced the time from the first landing of
the troops to the conclusion of active operations,
there were 378 wounded non-commissioned officers
and men admitted to hospital, of whom 1 1 died ;
and admitted from other causes, there were 7,212,
of whom 79 died ; that there was a total absence of
pyasmia, and not a single case of loss of sight ; and
that there was a great want of experience, as a body,
in the Army Hospital Corps.
On this subject Lord Bury, on the Report of the
Army Hospital Services, admitted that while the
individual medical officers in Egypt behaved ad-
mirably, the new system under which they worked
could not stand the strain put upon it ; that the
military authority exercised by medical officers was
inconvenient, and that discipline in hospitals should
be administered by competent officers, leaving to
the others their medical duties only ; and that
medical officers should be attached to r^;iments, as
of old, instead of being detailed for duty day by
day from station and other hospitals. Prior to
1873, the organisation of the army medical service
had been purely regimental ; since that time what
is called the unification system had been estab-
lished, under which general hospitals had been
instituted, and medical officers were no longer
attached to regiments, but became units in a
department purely general in its organisation.
The evil under the new system was that medical
men, not being attached to regiments, had no means
of becoming disciplinary officers, consequently, they
entirely failed to carry out that part of their ftmctions.
In the Egyptian campaign Lord Morley said that
the system broke down ; that the medical officers
were personally unexceptionable, but from defective
military training they were unable to maintain that
discipline which was absolutely necessary ; and that
the old system, under which they were regimental
officers, should in some degree be reverted ta
The system pursued in every civilised nation in
Europe was, as a rule, a combination of the advan-
tages of the departmental and the regimental
system, and all the regimental officers and higher
officers of the British service were in favour of such
a system.
Viscountess Strangford, who took so much in-
terest in the sufferers in the Egyptian War, arrived
at Alexandria on the 15 th of September, and after
landing in the Khedive's launch, visited the native
hospital, accompanied by Salem Pasha.
In a very graphic letter, written soon after to
Lieutenant-Colonel F. Duncan respecting her work
in Egypt, she says : — " These wretched rebels have
had the utmost difficulty in collecting an army at
all, and it is most deplorable to look at the poor
fellows. I believe that ninety-nine out of every
hundred were impressed by absolute force, and
were most unwilling combatants. A very large
number are old men who were torn from their
villages, and chained together by the wrist to pre-
vent their running away, while they were forced to
fight in their irons ! All were told every day that if
the English caught them disabled, they would put
them to horrible and cruel deaths. This has led to
many painful occurrences ; some of the Arabs shot
British soldiers who were kindly giving them water
on the battle-fields ; it also induced poor wounded
creatures to crawl away anywhere out of sight, so
that many perished most miserably, or reached
neighbouring villages after long days of suffering.
Of these I have heard terrible descriptions from
those who found them. Very many now lying in
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the Arab hospital had been five days without water
or help of any kind There is little chance of
saving any of these, yet no one can foretell what
nursing may do for them. These natives respond
wonderfully to care and skill, and all we want is to
give it to them. You have seen in the papers,
probably, descriptions of the large Arab hospital
here [Cairo], established by the Government, for
many Englishmen have vbited the 350 men now
lying here from Tel-el-Kebir alone. Twenty-seven
amputations were made on that field by the Arab
surgeons; how much they have suffered since I
could not put into words ! The number of killed
and wounded there, is now ascertained to be, as
nearly as can be counted, about 3,000, but some
are still coming in by threes and fours from the
villages. We visited the Arab hospital at Alex-
andria, which they had intended to ask me to take
over from them, had not the fortune of war carried
the wounded to Cairo. It was a most melancholy
place, and beyond the fact that each patient was
placed on a wretched mattress, and that there were
two visits daily from a surgeon, nothing of any kind
seemed to be done for the poor creatures. We
have a fine airy house, which we hope will be full
in a very few days, and then Arabs may see for the
first time what nursing means. I must not stop to
say more now, except the usual sentence, that I
want a great deal of money, and that if I get it I
am in hope that the skill of our nursing staff will
really make an impression on Egypt"
The war in that country being now virtually at
an end, a question arose as to what was to be done
with the 10,000 mules collected at such expense
and labour for the use of the transport service—
a department which was brought under the notice
of Parliament
The old and faulty system which existed m the
time of the Crimean War had been replaced by a
new Central Department, which, it was allied in
the House (in 1883, on the vote for the commis-
sariat), had utterly broken down in Egypt, though
General Wolseley had unlimited resources at his
conimand. Dr. Cameron asserted that in the cam-
paign large quantities of bad flour and hay had been
bought, and of the thousands of mules collected
two-thirds were useless, that those brought fixMn
Syria were quite imfit for service, while the saddles
bought for them in the East could not be used
The Marquis of Hartington stated that the flour
bought for die troops was not absolutely bad, and
that medical officers were of opinion that, thou^
the bread might have been better, it could be
eaten, and that it had been alleged that the in-
different character of the flour was due to the dr-
cmnstance of its having been purchased by the
Director of Supplies, and not by the Contunissariat
Department, and that flour of exactly the same
description had been bought for the troops sent
on the Zulu Expedition, and sent to Natal and
also to Malta during the Russo-Turkish War-
admissions which, if the flour was bad, did not
improve the matter. He added, with truth, that
in the Egyptian War the essence of the general's
movement was time, and that no doubt the troops
suffered a great amount of trouble and incon-
venience, but it was necessary for him to be for a
period ahead of his supplies.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued): — ^THE CAIRO REVIEW — ^THE WAR OFFICE RETURNS — ^PROPOSED
EGYPTIAN ARMY — THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY CARPET.
While the forces of the expedition remained in
Egypt, Sir Garnet Wolseley gave orders for a review
of the troops, the greater portion of whom were in
Cairo, where they were to pass the Khedive and
his court as one of the last acts in a brilliant
drama.
Sooth to say, seldom had a campaign been more
completely successful or more creditable to a
leader and his troops. The war looked more like
a game of Kriegspiel than a stem reality, so precise,
«o careful, were the plans and calculations of Sir
Garnet Wolseley, and so punctually did he cany
out the scheme he had matured before leavix^
Londoa *^ He was correct almost to a day as to
the date on which the campaign would be over,''
says a military writer at the time. " Not only has
he flnished the war triumphantly, but he has left
no loose threads to be taken up. He has not
merely defeated the insuigents, but he has, so to
speak, burnt up the insurrection, leaving no pesti-
ferous and harassing dregs behind His strategy
and tactics have been able and masterly. Instead
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THE GRAND REVIEW.
S09
of— as an ordinary general would have done —
trying an advance from Alexandria, after previously
capturing the Aboukir Forts and Kafrdowar, he
amused the enemy in front of Alexandria, and then
deceiving every one, includii>g his own generals,
he, by an admirable series' of combinations, in
concert with the Navy, seized the canal, and trans-
ferred his base to Ismailia. When there, instead
of a rapid and showy dash into the heart of the
country, which might have succeeded, but would
have involved great risk, much loss of life, and
would havd won him only a first victory, to be
followed by a prolonged campaign, he decided to
wait imtil he had matured all his arrangements
for one crushing blow, which should end the
campaign ! "
According to the order of the march past at
Cairo, as promulgated by the Deputy-Adjutant-
General, Colonel the Hon. J. C. Dormer, CB. — a
veteran of the Crimean War, of the Oude and
Trans-Gogra campaign, under Lord Clyde, and of
that in China, under Sir Hope-Grant, as Assistant-
Adjutant-General — there was to be first the cavalry
division ; then the Royal Artillery and Naval Bri-
gade ; the Marines to be attached to the Guards ;
and to the infantry under review was to be added
the section of the Post-Office Volunteer Rifles.
The great review and march past of the British
troops took place on the 30th of September in
front of the Abdin Palace, the ordinary official
residence of the Khedive of Egypt, and the scene
of some important events in the history of the
present family; for there Ismail Pasha received
the tidings of his deposition, that banished him to
find a home eventually in London ; there Tewfik
Pasha was formally declared Viceroy ; and there, on
the 9th of the preceding September — just a year
before — occurred that great military demonstration
when Arabi and the mutinous colonels paraded
4,000 cavalry, infantry, and artillery before the
Khedive, besieged the palace, and at the bayonet's
point imposed upon him most humiliating con-
ditions.
From the windows of the same palace, Tewfik,
with all his court in attendance, was now to witness
the review of those 18,000 British troops who had
replaced him on his throne ; while Arabi, firom hb
prison window, which overlooked the same square,
saw the grand array of those to whom he owed his
downfall
The Abdin Square seemed rather small for the
purpose. The palace comprises the entire east
side of it, with wings thrown forward, which form
fully half the north and south sides. Every window
^d balcony of it was crowded, as well as the roof;
and the wife of Tewfik, who had courageously
shared all his perils, was there, .vith her children
from the harem.
The adjacent streets were filled by dense
masses of natives, curious, if apathetic, and more
inclined to yell in hate than to cheer, though with-
out an atom of shame for their crushing defeat
Along one side of the square was a long wooden
pavilion, or covered balcony, gaily decorated with
flowers, hangings, and garlands ; the flag of Turkey
flew in the centre, the Royal Standard of Great
Britain on the right of it, the flag of the Khedive
on the left This gallery was occupied by Egyptian
and European officials. In the central compart-
ment sat Tewfik in full uniform, wearing the Star
of India, an order worn by all his Ministry ; Riaz
wore the order of St Michael and St George ; Sir
Beauchamp Se3miour had the sash of the Osmanieh
over his naval uniform, and all the loyal Ulema
wore their turbans of golden colour. Su" Edward
Malet, with the staff and representatives of the
other five great Powers, were in diplomatic uniform.
In the wings of the grand stand were 500 guests,
chiefly Europeans.
Opposite the Khedive, with a space between, to
admit of the march past, floated the Union Jack as
a saluting-point, and under it sat Sir Garnet Wol-
seley on a bay charger, with General Sir John Adye,
K.C.B., chief of the staff, on his right, and Captain
Wardrop, 3rd Dragoon Guards, aide-de-camp, on
his left Close by was a body-guard of Royal
Marines, in scarlet tunics and white trousers.
At four in the aflemoon the march past began,
and Borrowdaile's battery of Horse Artillery went
by in splendid order, wheel to wheel " At Mah-
sameh their shrapnel shell went a long way towards
causing the panic of the Egyptians, and effectually
silenced the fire of the seven Krupp guns captured
there. They prepared the way for the cavalry
charge at Kassassin on the 9th September, their
terrible fire overturning the carefully-laid plans of
Arabi's generals. The Khedive, perhaps, hardly
knew how much those six quiet-looking guns had
contributed to the present order of thmgs."
To the old Scottish air of " Weel may the keel
row,** the 2nd Brigade trotted jauntily past, followed
quickly by General Drury-Lowe, with the stately
Household Cavalry, in sections of fours, at a steady
trot, all in their fighting kits, their long swords
flashing in the sun ; and scarcely inferior to them
in physique and aspect, came the 4th and 7 th
Dragoon Guards, and then our dashing 13th Hus-
sars, the smartest cavalry on the ground — the men
on whom fell so much of the weary and harassing
out-post duty in front of Kassassia
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Then came the Mounted Infantry, each man
riding with the butt of his rifle resting on his right
thigh, in every fight the first to begin and the last
to end. They were only 60 strong, and out of that
SURGEON-GENERAL HANBURY.
number one officer had been killed and four
wounded, while of the rank and file fully a fifth had
been placed hors de combat.
The picturesque Indian cavalry, the 2nd and
6th Bengal, their curved tulwars glittering, and the
13th Lancers, with red and blue pennons fluttering,
followed, making a gallant show, with their high-
peaked turbans and their restive Arab horses, that
could scarcely be restrained from breaking into a
gallop. " * Look how they glare at the Khedive ! ' "
said some one. " They had been ordered to pass
* eyes left,' and the conscious manner in which they
obeyed the order, not only fixing Tewfik as they
passed, but keeping their eyes on him over their
shoulders after they had passed, justified the ex-
pression." (Times.) Their array was not less dis-
ciplined than that of the best British cavalry, and
the effect they produced on the crowds in the
square was marked indeed. According to the
writer quoted, the heavy field artillery brought up
the rear of this division, consisting of 4,320 horses,
with 60 pieces of cannon. *
The bands, which had hitherto been playing
lively trotting airs for the horsemen, now changed
time, and a quick march heralded the approach of
the Naval Brigade, the blue-jackets from Ismallia,
under Captain Fitzroy,and firom Alexandria, the men
of the ironclad train, under Commander Henderson.
» According to the Standard, '* 30 guns of the Horse Artillery,"
The tars marched with a steady tramp, 350
strong, and elicited the first cheer, with cries of
"Bravo, blue-jackets!" and it was deemed a
merited compliment paid them by Sir Garnet Wol-
seley to place them and the Roysd Marine Artillery
between two arms of the sister service. In many
ways the Naval Brigade had done good sendee
during the war. Our sailors held Alexandria till
the troops arrived ; they had most of the hard
work in dragging the heavy guns mto position, in
entrenching and bridge-building, and — after the
base was changed to Ismallia — in working the
landing-stages there and the launches (by which
the troops were fed) on the canal, and now they
marched past steadily, like well-drilled infantry.
" The British Grenadiers," by drums and fifes,
announced the Brigade of Guards, headed by the
Duke of Connaught, wearing the Osmanieh. " The
leading company of the Scots Guards attracted
special attention, the men averaging six feet two in
height, certainly the highest average in the British
army, and the whole brigade was a remarkably fine
one. After the Guards, the steady stream of
British infantry flowed past in unbroken order, de
ploying into open column as they entered the
square, and forming column of route at the doubk
as they emerged firom the narrow streets with un-
varying discipline."
After the Guards, as senior regiment, there came
THE HON. J. C. DORMER, DEPUTY -ADJUTANT-GENERA »-
the Royal Irish, conspicuous by their hideous
khaki' (or karkee-) coloured tunics, which had been
substituted for their scarlet uniform, and had duly
arrived after all necessity for them was past,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
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The York and Lancaster, with the Royal Irish
Fusiliers in red, followed, the officers of the latter
with crape on their left arm and sword-hilt, in
compliment to the late Colonel Beasley, who had
served in the Indian War with the 87th.
The Cornwall Light Infantry came next, then the
Post Office Volunteers, and then the Royal Marines,
in red tunics and white trousers, and brilliantly-
white helmets.
General Willis, whose wound was healed, now
quitted the side of the commander-in-chief, and
galloped after his division.
General Hamley, whose breast was a blaze of
medals and orders, now came past, at the head
of a company of Engineers, after which the band
at the saluting point stopped.
" Then pipes and drums were heard," says the
Times, "and a whisper of ^ Scozzezi diaboli nudi!^
spread through the crowd, as the appearance of a
one-armed general, conspicuous by his inability to
salute otherwise than by a graceful bow, announced
the arrival of Sir Archibald Alison and his Highland
Brigade. The general, who wore a sprig of native
heather in his helmet, enjoyed almost as much
popularity with the natives as with his own brigade ;
and, rightly or wrongly, the idea has got abroad
that the Highlanders, who bore the brunt of the
fighting, who were the first in the trenches, and who
suffered most severely, were rather ungenerously
ignored in the official despatches. At all events,
the crowd seemed disposed to accord unofficial
honours^ for the second cheer of the day was
accorded to the Black Watch, easily distinguishable
by their red plumes, and led by Colonel Macpher-
son, also sporting the heather. The Gordon High-
landers followed, some companies without officers,
telling their melancholy tale, then the Cameron
Highlanders and the Highland Light Infantry,
whose perfect marching was conspicuous where all
did well"
" The Black Watch " (says the Standard) " went
past to the air of *The Highland Laddie,' the
Camerons to * The Pibroch of Donald Dhu,' which
has been heard upon the scene of many a British
victory."
In firont of the Gordon Highlanders was the
dog of the regiment, "Juno," who went with it
into Tel-el-Kebir, and was decorated with a hand-
some silver collar (on the suggestion of Land and
Water)y with an inscription thus : — " Presented to
*Juno' (ist Battalion Gordon Highlanders), the
heroine of Tel-el-Kebir, by English and Irish ad-
mirers \ " and the appearance of a dog, the " unclean
animal " of the Koran, in such a place of honour
QXQited no small speculation among the Arabs.
Sir Evelyn Wood, looking thin and worn, led
past his brigade, which included the smart 60th
Rifles, and then General Hamley saluted and
followed his division.
The Indian Contingent, under Generals Mac-
pherson and Tanner, closed the parade. The
Seaforth Highlanders, bronzed and war-worn, their
breasts glittering with Afghan medals and Candahar
crosses, and their old colours frittered to a few silken
strips, went past, as the English and Egyptian
bands played in unison " Blue Bonnets over the
Border."
Then came the 7th Native Infantry, with their
colours flying, the 20th Punjabees (almost entirely
Sikhs), and the 2nd Beloochees, in red zouave
trousers and green jackets, with long wavy hair
and tall square-built figures, their colours torn to
shreds.
They were followed by a horde of jabbering
bheesties, or water-carriers, and other camp-followers,
gesticulating like monke3rs, and pointing out the
Khedive to each other with an utter absence of
self-consciousness.
The entire march past occupied one hour and a
half.
"The Guards and Highlanders elicited much
admiration from the foreign critics," says the DaUy
News. "The Indian mule battery also excited
much curiosity, each gun, with its carriage, being
conveyed in six pieces on the backs of as many
animals. The whole procession of mules looked as
harmless and innocent as if carrying cabbages to
market Had the orders of the day allowed, it
might have been worth while to show the Khedive
how the guns could be screwed together and the
battery made ready in forty-three seconds to deal
havoc at 4,000 yards ! Of the Indian Contingent,
the Bengal Lancers and the Beloochee Regiment
were the favourites among the foreign visitors."
Large numbers of people from Alexandria came to
see the review, or defilade, as it should more pro-
perly be called.
. While the troops were passing almost under the
window of his prison, Arabi Pasha was conversing
freely with Colonel Thynne and Mr. Macdonald,
and produced on them, as he did on all who came
in contact with him, a very favourable impression
by hk dignity and gentleness of manner. While
the music of the bands was heard, and the glittering
display proceeded, he said that at the outset he had
only obeyed his orders in fighting the British, and
that when he was obliged to march out of Alex-
andria, his troops were resolved to defend their
country to the last The attack at Tel-d-Kebir, he
urged, was a surprise, and though expected, wa3
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THE BRITISH ARMY IN EGYPT.
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delivered ere the Egyptians were aware of the
close presence of the British troops. He could
have escaped had he chosen to do so ; but he did
not desire to fall into the hands of the Khedive,
and therefore gave himself up to Britain, in
trust that he would be tried by British officers,
with whose decision he would be satisfied. "I am
bound to repeat," says the author of " Egyptian
Letters," whom we have quoted, " that the great
weight of opinion is in favour of his execution ; but
there is at least one general officer of the army who
is a strenuous opponent of it, and who argues ^at it
would be far more politic, and a greater proof of
the Khedive's power, if Arabi's life were spared,
under conditions which deprived him, if so inclined,
of doing mischie£ I would not give much for his
life."
The native crowds in the streets watched the
display with gloomy silence, and it was evident that
if their sympathies were not with us they were
quite as little with the Khedive. Much of the
success of the parade was due to the Deputy-
Adjutant-General Dormer, who had the chief
arrangement of it Passing so many thousand
men, with cavalry and gims, through the narrow
streets of Cairo and a small square without halt or
hitch was a matter of no slight care and skilL
It was conceived that one good effect of the
Egyptian War would be the impression which the
Indian Contingent would take back with them to
Hindostaa The Mussulmans, of whom a large pro-
portion of that contingent was composed, were very
proud of having assisted in replacing a Mussulman
monarch on his throne, and it was hoped that their
good reports would dissipate many false impressions
that had been created in the native mind.
At this time a statement was prepared at the
War Office, which showed the actual strength of
the British forces then engaged on service in Egypt
From this it appears that the head-quarter staff
and regimental stafiT, Royal Artillery, numbered 36
officers, I warrant officer, 81 men, and 65 horses.
The cavalry embarked to the number of 142
officers, 3 warrant officers, 2,252 men, and 2,047
horses. The Royal Artillery, including the Am-
munition Reserve Column, consisted of 79 officers,
1,802 men, and 1,406 horses. The infantry were
made up of 361 officers, 9 warrant officers, 7,799
men, and 546 horses for the staff and transport
The rest are included imder the head of Royal
Engineers, Commissariat and Transport Ordnance
Store, Garrison Artillery, Military Police, and
various, numbering 163 officers, 50 warrant officers,
3,638 men, and 1,423 horses.
These troops did not include the drafts and
depdts sent to the Mediterranean in connection
with the Army Corps, which formed an aggregate
strength of 781 officers, 63 warrant officers, 15,572
men, or a grand total of 16,416 of all ranks, with
5,487 horsea
The staff occupied exclusively one ship, the
cavabry required eight, the artillery nine, and one
other ship was needed for garrison batteries ; the
infantry filled ten ships, and the "various" corps
sixteen. All these left the British shores between
the 27 th of July and the 19th of August, and they
all arrived at Alexandria, Cyprus, and Port Said by
the 5th of September, and without a single accident
A statement of a similar nature was prepared by
the Indian military authorities, setting forth a detail
of 199 officers, 127 warrant officers, and 1,740
British rank and file, 5,497 non-commissioned
officers and men of native Indians, with 6,613
followers, 1,793 horses, 5,087 mules and ponies, or
a total (omitting the followers) of 7,563 fighting
men from India, mth 6,880 quadrupeds.
These were conveyed to Egypt in fifty-two steam
tratnsports, embarking between the 21st of July
and the 4th of September.
The army actually employed in Egypt, and not
counting the reserves at Malta and Gibraltar, or
drafts on the way, therefore reached an aggregate
total at the date of these returns of 23,979 soldiers,
with 12,367 animals.
After the review, fifty men from each regiment of
the Indian Contingent were sent by rail to Alex-
andria to see the ironclads, which, it was rightly
supposed, would impress them more than even a
sight of the Pyramids, which many parties now
visited, as well as other places of interest in the
neighbourhood of Cairo, such as Matarieh, where,
according to tradition, the Holy Family rested in
their flight from Herod, and where a well, still
flowing there, burst forth to relieve them; and
where, close by, on the mounds and obelisk that
mark the site of Heliopolis, or " City of the Sun,"
a bull was worshipped, called Mnevis.
By the end of September the British authorities
at Alexandria had gradually relinquished into the
hands of loyal Egyptians the military stations
they had at first adopted there.
About the 28th of the month, the returning
merchants of the city, who had been able to
examine then: business establishments after the
bombardment and subsequent pillage, found the
result even worse than they could have anticipated
Everything in the houses and stores which was not
stolen had been wantonly destroyed All machinery
had been mutilated and hammered to pieces, and
the robbers had tossed into the canal enormous
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
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quantities of property which they were unable to
carry away. Though the attitude of the popula-
tion, when face to face with Europeans, was obse-
quious enough, insulting cries were frequently heard
at night, and bitter maledictions, while murders,
committed by Bedouins, were of frequent occur-
rence in the country districts. And now the Turkish
Government, in the form of a note, while gratefully
acknowledging the services performed by Great
Britain in suppressing the revolt, asked Lord
Dufferin if he would assign any date for the
evacuation of Egyptian territory by the British
troops.
On the 30th of September an official announce-
ment was issued by the Governor of Alexandria, by
order of the Minister of the Interior, inviting all
persons having information to conununicate re-
specting the authors of the European massacre and
pillage in the city to present themselves at the Pre-
fecture of Police. Those who were able to give
evidence about Arabi Pasha, Mahmoud Sami Pasha,
Suleiman Bey, and others concerned in these
events, were also earnestly requested to attend,
and ere long many arrests in connection with the
affairs of the i ith of June took place. Among
them was Mahomed Ismail, for complicity in the
murder of the English Dr. Ribton.
On the evening of the 2nd of October, Valentine
Baker Pasha arrived from Constantinople, and had a
private audience with the Khedive at Cairo con-
cerning the re-organisation of the Egyptian army.
Baker, who had the reputation of being one of the
first cavalry officers in the British army, served with
the 1 2th Lancers in the Kaffir War of 1852-3, and
was present at the battle of Berea, in Basutoland.
He also served in the Crimean campaign of 1855,
including the siege and fall of Sebastopol, and was
on the escort of the commander-in-chief at the
final assault and capture of the city, and at the
battle of the Tchernaya.
The task which he now proposed to take in hand
was a very arduous and urgent one, and the dura-
tion of the British occupation seemed to depend
entirely upon the progress and success of that
work, as our troops could not be withdrawn until
General Baker could guarantee order. The task
about to be undertaken was imquestionably
troublesome, for in every town and village of
Egypt were soldiers of the disbanded army, many
of them possessing their arms, while now vast
numbers of Remington rifles were in the hands of
the nomadic and pestilent Bedouins. Besides, the
local relations with Abyssinia are always uncertain.
Past experience had shown that the army re-
quired needed not to be numerically very strong :
that about 12,000 would do, but these would have
to compensate for paucity of number by discipline
and warlike quality ; but the impossibility of re-
cruiting such a force from native sources after late
events, and especially from the disbanded fella-
heen, became self-evident ; while side by side with
the proposed new army a gendarmerie was to be
organised, formed, it was suggested, of Albanians,
and a municipal police for towns, drawn alone from
trustworthy native elements.
General Baker was not in £sivour of a fellaheen
army. He had ample opportunities of seeing the
Egyptian Contingent during the Crimean War, and
was unfavourably impressed with their fighting
powers.
On the 5th of October there occurred an event
which excited much speculation among religious
parties at home — ^the departure of the Pilgrimage to
Mecca from Cairo with the Holy Carpet, to which
the British troops presented arms, while a royal
salute of twenty-one guns was fired. Many urged that
to respect the religion of other nations, so &r as not
to give offence vdlfully, is one thing, but that to do
honour to their errors and prejudices is another,
like bowing down to the image set up by Nebu-
chadnezzar. But those who urged this were
probably unaware that a whole British army in
Afghanistan, by order of Lord Ellenborough, paid
nearly equal honours to the gates of the Hindoo
Temple of Somnauth, re-taken, after 800 years, at
the capture of GhaznL
Early on the morning of the 5th the troops got
under arms, commanded by Sir Eveljrn Wood, suid
formed square in the Place Mehemet Ali, where a
mighty concourse of people assembled, while
crowds thronged the roadway from the citadel and
round the mosque, wherein lies buried the sister of
the Prophet
The ceremonial of sending a carpet to Mecca, to
be laid upon his tomb, has, since the days of the
Sultana Soggharet, been a very momentous and
solemn affair for fakirs, dervishes, and moUahs, and
as a matter of policy, it was judged expedient to
order our troops to do that which in past times
was done by those of the Khedive.
At half-past eight the Khedive came on the
ground in a carriage drawn by four handsome
greys, and escorted by a body-guard of Egyptian
cavalry. All the officers of State followed him,
having been received at Ramadan, where the
Sacred Carpet had been deposited on the
previous night, in presence of Sir Garnet Wolselcy,
the Duke of Connaught, and Sir Edward Makt
The Khedive's band began to play when the
holy camel appeared, gorgeously caparisoned, and
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PROCESSION OF THE HOLY CARPET.
&15
seeming to labour under a rich and ponderous
canopy of gold cloth, fringed with massive gold
lace, and covered with bells, under which lay the
carpet, folded and hidden from view. This camel,
being deemed consecrated, was received with intense
reverence by the people, whose murmured prayers
seemed to load the air.
A column of other camels followed, the second
carrying the fortunate sheikh who owned the con-
secrated one. The upper part of his body was
devoid of all clothing, but his loins were girt by a
sheep-skin ; his long hair streamed over his
shoulders in elf-locks, and he rocked himself to
and fro like a madman. Other sheikhs of inferior
rank followed, and a host of frantic Arabs tom-
toming on drums.
After passing seven times — the mystical number
— ^round the square, the troops presented arms, the
royal salute thundered from the batteries of the
citadel in honour of this folly, and the procession
moved off in slow time to the railway station, pre-
ceded by the Indian cavabry, the Royal Irish, and
the 84th, or York and Lancaster Regiment of the
Line, the Beloochees, and Bengal Sappers. Their
bands played the " Dead March in Saul," and kept
it up the whole of the protracted time as the pro-
cession went at a slow funereal pace.
Great numbers of people carried flags with Arabic
devices, and when the procession started, these ac-
companied it, chanting hymns, amid an incessant
tom-toming, and playing discordantly upon all kinds
of musical instruments. Those who were not thus
engaged jabbered continually, while many provincial
sheikhs, clad in brilliant raiment, joined the caravan.
The bulk of the people seemed astonished at the
part borne in all this by their conquerors, and
could not conceive from what impulse such honour
and leniency sprang. The superior classes, how-
ever, were full of praise for it, noting now that their
institutions were let alone, their religion respected,
and their observances supported by us more even
than by their own Government
This was the first occasion — except during the
viceroyalty of Said Pasha— on which the Holy
Carpet was not marched across the desert to
Mecca; but its conveyance most prosaically by
train to Suez was rendered unavoidable by the
war, which prevented it starting at the usual time ;
and it was also the first occasion, since the
Sultana Soggharet et Dur instituted it, 630 years
before, in commemoration of Zobeide's tragic
pilgrimage, that Christian — not to say, British —
soldiers were ever drawn up to do it honour.
The railway-train that carried it on a gaily-
decorated truck was also "consecrated," extra
invocations being made to Mohammed to oversee
the journey ancl preclude accidents.
General Wood had the honour of heading this
extraordinary procession, as he commanded all the
troops on parade. At half-past eleven the railway
station was reached under his guidance, the Holy
Carpet was deposited there in due form, and de-
parted on the first stage of its journey to Mecca.
At Suez a special steamer conveyed it to Jeddah.
CHAPTER LXXV.
THE EGYPTIAN WAR {continued) : — ^ARABI GFVEN UP TO THE KHEDIVE— RETURN OF THE TROOPS— THE
WAR MEDAL — SIR GARNET WOLSELEY'S LAST DESPATCH.
On the 5th of October Arabi and Toulba Pashas
were, according to orders from head-quarters,
handed over by Colonel Thynne, at the Abdin
Barracks, to the Egyptian Government, who placed
them in new quarters at the Garde-Meubles, to be
guarded indoors by Egyptian and out of doors by
British troops. There the remainder of the State
prisoners, to the number of eighty, had been lodged
on the preceding day.
Arabi was first brought before the court on the
afternoon of the 5th, charged with treason and re-
bellion, but absolute secrecy was observed during
the first proceeduigs, and none could then antici-
pate that his ultimate &te would be exile to Ceylon.
Sir John Adye, who was now returning to
England, was succeeded as chief of the staff by
Colonel Dormer.
As most of the troops were now under orders for
home, India, and elsewhere, interest in Egypt began
to centre in the re-organisation of the country. The
lower classes were still strongly inspired by a hatred
of Britain, and the fanatical spirit which the events
of the two preceding years had kindled among them>
and judging of us from their own point of view, they
failed to realise the defeat that had fallen on Arabi
and their national cause, as it had not been sternly
brought home to them in Oriental fashion by
wholesale acts of bloodshed aiid rigour. *'And
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
ICaiia
seeing Aat our troops good-naturedly allowed them-
selves to be hustled in the streets by the Arab mob,
and submitted to the extortion of pedlars, donkey
boys, and drivers, their presence produced littie
more eflfect than does the yearly invasion of tourists."
in contact with Europeans, a better understanding
prevailed, and among influential and well-educated
native curcles anxiety for the future exceeded their
concern for the past Most of them, respecting
power, like true Orientals, had respected Arabi when
SIR E. B. MALET.
They viewed our army as a kind of armed police,
sent by the Sultan to enforce order and restore the
Khedive, and thought that what we deemed a
victory was only the voluntary submission of Arabi
to Tewfik; and this construction of the state of
events was sedulously propagated by the Ulema, to
enhance their position and hide defeat
Among the commercial classes, who come more
he proved stronger than the Khedive, and now that
Britain was stronger than Arabi, their respect was
transferred to her, but not to the Khedive ; as
from the day he sanctioned the presence of her
fleet in Egyptian waters, and took refuge under its
guns, he became a party to the invasion of Darol
Islam, a betrayer of his faith, and a denounced rene-
gade by the Fetwa, whose dictum none can reverse.
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Caira.1 POSITION OF THE KHEDIVE. 5^7
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Cairo.
To allow ample room for our sick and wounded
on their passage home, orders were sent to the head
of the medical staff in Egypt that the Orient
steamer Lusitania^ one of the largest of our trans-
ports, was to be at his disposal, and seven other
vessels were devoted to this duty, two of them
being H.M.SS. Malabar ond, Orontes. The issue of
all medical stores from the home depots was now
stopped
On the 2oth of October the Horse Guards Blue
arrived in the Lydian Monarch at the West India
Docks, and at ten in the morning began their march
to the Albany Barracks, through streets lined by
enthusiastic crowds, who marked with deep in-
terest the bronzed faces, the worn trappings, and
rusty spurs and scabbards of the men. The cheering
was incessant, the excitement almost wild, and the
streets in the vicinity of the barracks were decorated
with mottoes of welcome. The Prince and Princess
of Wales were present, and the former, as colonel
of the regiment, addressed them in the riding-
schooL Immediately after the Blues marched, a
squadron of the 2nd Life Guards started by train
for Slough, amidst enthusiastic cheering, and amid
the like demonstrations they were welcomed at royal
Windsor, and addressed by the mayor, while the
welcome of the inhabitants was cordial and genuine.
Early on the following morning a squadron of the
I St Life Guards arrived in the Assyrian Monarchy
and on the 22 nd marched to Knightsbridge, through
the City, by the Thames Embankment and Picca-
dilly. Though the day was wet and chill, the
crowds were dense, and their enthusiasm irre-
pressible. The Prince and Princess of Wales,
with their daughters, visited the Egyptian troops at
Windsor, and subsequently those at Knightsbridge ;
nor were the invalids in hospital forgotten.
About the same time the Royal Marines landed
from the City of Paris at Portsmouth, receiving
similar welcome as they marched to their familiar
quarters in Gosport Barracks. The men, we are
told, looked bronzed and thin, the extreme youth
of some of them exciting comment; but most
gratifying to the home-returning troops was the
reception they met with everywhere.
On the 17th of October, 1882, the following
general order was issued by H.R.H. the Field-
Marsh^^ Commanding-in-chief concerning decora-
tions for service : —
" I. The Queen has been graciously pleased to
signify her pleasure that a medal be granted to all
her Majesty's forces employed in the recent ope-
rations inEgyp^t, which resulted in the defeat of the
rebel army at *Tel-el-Kebir, the surrender of the
rebel chief, Arabi Pasha, and of the fortresses and
troops under his orders.
" II. The medal will be granted to all troops who
landed in Egypt, and served in that country between
July i6th and September 14th, 1882, both dates
inclusive.
" III. Her Majesty has also been pleased to
approve of the grant of a clasp, inscribed * Tel-el-
Kebir,' to those troops who took part in the night
march from Kassassin, which ended in the assault
on the enemy's entrenchments at Tel-el-Kebir
about daybreak on the morning of September 13th,
1882.
"IV. Rolls to be forwarded to the Adjutant-
General of the Forces without delay.
"V. Staff officers and special service offices
will forward their applications through the generals
under whom they served. General officers who
served as such will forward rolls in favour of them-
selves and their respective staff.
" VI. Officers who served as heads of departments
will furnish returns of officers and others who
served under their command. . . . The names
of men who, under Articles 910 to 912 Army Re-
lations, Vol L, have incurred forfeiture of the
medal, are also to be included in the rolls, and in the
fourth column the reasons which have rendered
them ineligible are to be stated — By command,
" R. C. H. Taylor, A-G."
On the 2ist of the ensuing November 400
officers and men received these medals specially
from the hands of her Majesty at Windsor, and a
literal shower of decorations and orders was be-
stowed upon all the officers of the staff.
On his return to London, Sir Garnet Wolseley
resumed his duties with the staff at head-quarters
as Adjutant-General of the Forces, and on him and
Admiral Sir F. Beauchamp Paget Seymour were
bestowed peerages.
The return of our soldiers and sailors was wel-
comed with a heartiness which, considering the
brevity and character of the campaign, was veiy
remarkable ; and whether in the act of disem-
barking from the stately " troopers " at Portsmouth
or elsewhere, or being entertained at banquets
by their fellow-citizens, or having medals pinned on
their breasts by royalty, their presence was every-
where the signal for an outburst of spontaneous
enthusiasm. "There was a general feeling that
the campaign, as a campaign, had been skilfully
carried out," said a writer. "As soldiers, the
Egyptians may not be foemen especially worthy of
British steel, yet it is easy to see, judging by the
deplorable sickness prevailing among die garnsoo
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SIR GARNET WOLSELEVS LAST EGYPTIAN DESPATCH.
5^9
left in Egypt, that a few mistakes or delays might
have landed us in another Walcheren."
On no occasion was there such a storm of
enthusiasm elicited as when London poured its
thousands to witness the great review of the
Egyptian troops (the army of occupation excepted)
before the Queen on the i8th of November.
The blue-jackets and troops, Guards and Lines-
men, Artillery and Highlanders, that defiled before
her Majesty and the assembled masses of London
were the same that passed the Khedive before the
Abdin Palace, but the emotions of the onlookers
were very different, and shouts seemed to rend the
air in greeting to some, especially the 200 seamen
under Captain Fellowes, Ewart's Household
Cavalry, no longer in faded tunics, topees, and
1^-bandages, but in all the splendour of cuirass
and helmet, scarlet plumes, and snowy leathers ; the
broad-shouldered gunners of Lorraine's Artillery,
the Foot Guards, and each individual regiment of
the line, but more especially the grey-haired and
war-worn 72nd Highlanders, still in their fighting
kits, with their colours torn to ribbons. Nor were
the Post Ofl5ce Volunteers forgotten in the ovatioa
The representatives of the Indian Contingent,
under Colonel Pennington — the deau idial of a
cavalry officer — were cheered to the echo. Even
in London no such objects of interest had been
seen before as the Rissaldars of the Bengal
Cavalry, in green tunics and ample turbans, or
the Rissaldar Major Tahour Khan, of the 6th
Bengal, a veteran of forty years' service, yet with a
sable beard, an eagle eye, and a breast covered with
medals — among them the Punniar star of 1843.
With these were the Rissaldar Major of the 13th
Bengal Lancers, an Afghan from Peshbolak, far
beyond the Khyber Passes ; and on the left of all
rode the venerable Sheikh Rissaldar Urbal Sing of
Loodiana, who in early life had fought against the
soldiers of Hugh Gough, and others their breasts
glittering with stars, crosses, and orders of merit
won in the wars of India.
Colonel C R. Pennington, who commanded
them, had served in the campaign of the Mutiny
in 1858-9, including the siege and capture of
Lucknow, the actions of Jubrowlee and Pama,
where he was wounded, the defeat of Banu
Madhoo, and the operations on the frontier of
Nepaul
On the 14th of November, 1882, Lord Wolseley
— while still Sir Garnet — issued his last despatch
with reference to the troops in Egypt It appeared
in a special supplement to the Gazette^ and was
addressed to the Secretary of State for War, regard-
ing the services of some of his brother officers.
" Sir, — I regret very much that in my anxiety to
lay before her Majesty the Queen the names of
the officers who deserve special mention for their
services during the late campaign, I omitted some
names which I have now the honour to bring to
your notice.
" I. Brigadier-General Wilkinson, who com-
manded the 2nd Brigade of Cavalry, did good
service at Kassassin previous to the 13th of Sep-
tember, and in the march on Cairo he acted with
energy and discretion.
"2. Colonel Drake, senior officer of the
Engineers at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, showed
initiation and zeal throughout the campaign, and
has been very strongly recommended to me by
his superiors.
" 3. I wish also to take this opportunity of saying
how much I appreciated the services of Lieutenant-
Colonel Schreiber, of the Royal Artillery. General
Goodenough speaks of his services at Tel-el-Kebir
as 'prominent of his command; at all times he
shows a high example.' I can myself endorse this
praise from personal observation.
"4. Colonel J. Browne, C.S.L, commanding the
Royal Engineers of the Indian Contingent, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Van Straubenzee, commanding
the Royal Artillery of the Indian Contingent, are
both most deserving officers. They are both recom-
mended to me by Sir Herbert Macpherson for
their untiring zeal, and the ability with which they
conducted their duties.
" 5. Lieutenant-Colonel C. Hayter, Madras Staflf
Corps, performed special transport duty for the
Indian Contingent, and I am glad to have this
opportunity of bringing his name to notice.
" 6. Lieutenant-Colonel W. Luckhardt, principal
Commissariat Officer of the Indian Contingent, is
an officer of great merit He was mdefatigable in
his exertions throughout the campaign.
"7. Colonel T. R. Stevenson, Royal Irish
Fusiliers, was with his regiment throughout
the campaign, until incapacitated by an ac-
cidental wound in his hand He is deservmg of
reward
"8. Deputy-Surgeon-General Colvin Smith was
principal medical officer to the Indian Con-
tingent The arrangements for the sick and
wounded made under his direction were deserving
of all praise.
"9. Surgeon-Major J. H. Beath, M.D., has been
brought to my notice for some special favour, and
I am glad to have this opportunity of recommend-
ing so zealous and hard-working an officer.
** 10. I also wish to mention Major Sartorius,
V.C, for some mark of her Majesty's favour. He
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was spoken of by Major-General Carb, CS.I., in
terms of high praise for the good work he performed
on the lines of communication.
" 1 1. Of the Indian Contingent, I must also
add Lieutenant-Colonel Pennington, 13th Bengal
Lancers, Major Meiklejohn, 20th Punjaub In-
fantry, Captain Baker, Royal Artillery, and Lieu-
tenant Bum- Murdoch, Royal Engineers, as having
distinguished themselves during the campaign.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pennington did admirable ser-
vice on the 9th of September at Kassassin ; and of
the other officers, Su: Herbert Macpherson speaks
in the highest terms of the great energy they dis-
played in all their duties.
"12. Lieutenant Drummond WoliF, Royal
Fusiliers, attached to the Royal Irish, has been
mentioned to me for 'showing a most gallant
example at the battle of Tel-el- Kebir,' and I have
much pleasure in bringing so young and promising
an officer to public notice. — I have the honour, &c,
" G. J. WoLSELEY, Lieutenant-General (late)
" Commander-in-chief in Egypt"
Although honours were bestowed so thickly,
it excited comment at the time that special
notice was not taken of Lieutenant Lang, of the
72 nd, for that act of valour which we have
related in its place, when, with only his helmet on,
he swam the Fresh-water Canal under fire, and
brought off a boat for the blue-jackets of the
Mosquito and his small party of Highlanders, and
landing, led them to the charge. " The Egyptians
must have been astonished," says the JDaify News,
'4o see the singular-looking apparition, in boots
and a cholera belt, running at them with a sword in
its hand"
CHAPTER LXXVL
THE EGVPTUN WAR {concluded) : — THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION — OUR INTEREST IN THE CANAL — THE
TRIAL OF ARABL
Though the rebellion in Egypt had been crushed,
the result of the campaign had not been to make
Tewfik, the Khedive, popular with his subjects ;
thus his deposition or murder — perhaps both —
would assuredly have followed quickly on the de-
parture of the last British soldier.
The troops at first ordered to remain in Egypt
to form an army of occupation were the following
corps, as given by their old numbers : —
To garrison Cairo : — ^The 7 th Dragoon Guards
and 19th Hussars; G Battery B Brigade Royal
Horse Artillery; D Battery ist Brigade Royal
Artillery; Nos. 5 and 6 Batteries of the Scottish
Division of the Royal Artillery ; the 35th, 38th,
42nd, 49th, and 53rd Regiments ; 3rd Battalion of
the 60th, and the 74th, 75th, and 79th Regiments.
To garrison Alexandria: — 2nd Battalion i8th,
46th, and a wing of the 50th (the other wing
going to Cyprus).
In settling the arrangements for this army of
occupation, a very serious question arose as to
what was to be done with reference to the men of
the Reserve and time-expired men, of whom fully
3,000 were among the troops, who should return to
civil life, now that the campaign was over. They
argued with truth that if they were retained in
Egypt for over six months, they would certainly lose
their civil appointments. If allowed to serve their
time for a pension, the greater portion of them
would gladly have done so, but urged that to be
forced to commence civilian life would be very
hard upon them.
According to a War Office return, it would appear
that in April^ i383, Britain had 13,714 men in
Egypt and the Mediterranean. Of this number,
1,026 were under twenty years of age, 2,828 were
between twenty and twenty-one, and 4,758 between
twenty-one and t^'enty-four. The length of service
with the colours was equally significant
The retention by our troops of Egypt beyond the
requirements of the war became a matter of no
small political importance. Turkey — particularly
jealous of such a measure — had urged upon the
British Cabinet that, as peace was restored, the
presence of our troops was no longer necessary;
and though other Governments took no steps in the
same direction, they viewed with unfavourable eyes
British supremacy in Egypt and a military control
of the Suez CanaL " By the springing of a single
mine at the right time and place," says Colonel
Vogt, ^ Britain might lose the use of this important
passage for a long time, and we believe that she will
find the proper means to secure her object Be-
sides the control of the canal, a considerable force
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THE INDICTMENT AGAINST ARABI.
S"
is required to pacify the country, excited as it has
been by religious fanaticism and foreign oppressioa*'
No state has so good a right to take measures for
the protection of that canal as the state whose ensign
is carried by five out of every six vessels which
traverse its course, and of whose ordinary route to
its great Indian empire the canal forms the line.
In other parts of our ocean highway to India
we have established stations and fortified posts, gar-
risons, and harbours, keeping our fleets abroad to
secure our supremacy over the seas ; and it is only
part and parcel of our duty to save the canal firom
foreign or domestic hostile attack. "If settled
rule in Egypt be essential to the fi-eedom of naviga-
tion," says a writer on this subject, " not less is it
essential to other British interests ; for in trade with
the country, as in traffic through it, our part pre-
ponderates. Many Powers are jealous of our claims,
but none can dispute the vastness of our interests."
In the presence of the army of occupation the
fate of Arabi Pasha was decided.
At that time the negotiations for the definite
settlement of the country were in progress, but the
propositions with which Lord DufTerin was ac-
credited were still kept a profound secret All,
however, was quiet in Egypt, and the expeditionary
force, which was afterwards despatched to the
Soudan, in consequence of the movements of
the Mahdi, the False Prophet, was being organised.
Major the Hon. John Colbome, late of the North
Devonshire Regiment, and who had served with the
77th throughout the Crimean War, was appointed
to this force, with the rank of colonel in the Egyp-
tian army ; and Baron Seckendorf was under him,
with the rank of captain. While this was in pro-
gress the long drawn-out preparations for the trial of
Arabi were the foremost theme in Egypt Many
urged that it would be better to have shot him at
once, or transported him to some distant depen-
dency, rather than hand him over to the nominal
ruler of Egypt, who held his throne amid the
bayonets of a British army of occupation ; and the
feeling was general that whether Arabi was con-
demned or acquitted, the responsibility of his fate
rested with us.
The indictment against him, which was formally
drawn up by Borelli Bey about the end of
November, 1882, consisted of four principal counts :
— Firstly, for having on the 1 2th July hoisted a white
flag, under cover of which he withdrew his troops,
and ordered the pillage and firing of the city of
Alexandria; secondly, for inciting the Egyptian
people to arm themselves against the Khedive ;
thirdly, for having, notwithstanding the news of
peace, continued war ; fourthly, for having excited
to civil war, and carried devastation, massacre, and
pillage over the land of Egypt.
The first count charged him with having broken
the law of nations, and the other three with having
contravened the Ottoman penal code. The pre-
liminary examination of witnesses was very elaborate,
and Suleiman Bey Sami, who, if he could be be-
lieved, held to his statements that Arabi knew
beforehand of the intended massacre of Christians,
approved of it, and directly ordered him to pillage
and fire the city.
This testimony was corroborated by the manager
of the Anglo-Egyptian Bank and other Europeans,
who affirmed that the fire was the doing of no ex-
cited rabble, but that regular regiments were marched
down from the Rosetta Gate and stationed in line, a
street being assigned to each battalion, with orders
to pillage first and burn after, and then retire in
good order.
It was asserted, moreover, that Arabi and Sulei-
man Sami slept together in one room in the barracks
near the Rosetta Gate on the night after the bom-
bardment, and that the latter led his regiment
straight fi-om thence to the great public square, after
which he rejoined Arabi, and left the city with him;
and also that they were firm friends until the battle
of Tel-el-Kebir was lost
Two members of the Ragheb Ministry also de-
clared that Arabi stated in open council that if the
British fleet fired one shot at Alexandria, the city
should be so destroyed that not one stone would be
left upon another.
On the other hand, Arabi denied having given
any orders for fire or pillage ; but his chief defen-
sive plea was urged in a letter to the Times from
his counsel, Messrs. Broadley and Mark Napier, re-
pudiating the charge of rebellion, and declaring
" that if time were allowed them, they would prove
that the Sublime Porte from first to last approved
their action."
The feeling was pretty general that though, no
doubt, he was technically a rebel, and even though
his revolt was secretly sanctioned by his suzerain at
Constantinople, we could not allow him to be exe-
cuted for rebellioa
On the 19th September, 1882, Mr. A. M. Broad-
ley received his instructions to go to Cairo, and
defend Arabi in the capacity of counsel. Prior
to this, he had remained at Tunis till informed by
telegram that Arabi would be allowed counsel, and
that access to him freely was promised — a promise
but tardily fulfilled.
Riaz Pasha, Minister of the Interior, at first de-
clined to accord to Mr. Broadley and his brother
barrister, the Hon. Mark Napier, permission to
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BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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visit their client, and afterwards, with Oriental
cunning, placed every kind of obstacle in their way.
When Mr. Broadley went to Cairo, it was not gene-
rally believed that the Khedive's Government would
really permit European advocates to conduct the
defence of ArabL
" I cannot forget," he states, " that it was Mr,
Cameron (the special correspondent of the Standard)
who had managed to see Egyptian things through
purely English spectacles, and who was almost the
first to dissent from the general cry for blood and
vengeance, who spoke to me the only words of
encouragement I heard that evening among the
various exponents of the haute politique Egyptienne
on the crowded verandah of Shepherd's Hotel"
After some interviews with Borelli Bey, the legal
adviser of the Minister of the Interior, and framer
of the indictment, a code of procedure was drawn
up, and three advantages were gained for Arabi by
his counsel — ^admission to the preliminary inquiry
(which is forbidden by French law), a right to
address the court, and leave to argue from a
political point of view.
The draft of rules for the trial was completed,
and the document signed, on the 21st October,
after which the counsel saw Arabi for the first time;
but had previously received a visit fi-om his son,
a young man of three-and-twenty, more dark
in complexion than Arabs usually are, and the in-
telligence of "whose expression was hopelessly
marred by the total destruction of one eye and a
cast in the other."
He told a sad and bitter story of the ill-treatment
to which his mother and all their family had been
subjected since our army entered Cairo, but more
than ever since his father had been surrendered to
the Khedive's Government; and this he related
with a timid and hunted look, and with the voice
of one afraid to speak.
On Messrs. Broadley and Napier visiting Arabi in
his cell, they found him clad in a pair of undress
military trousers, a white shirt and jacket, and
holding a little Mohammedan rosary in his hand.
He endeavoured to receive his welcome visitors
with the best grace, but his appearance did not
prepossess them in his favour.
When his face was in repose, an almost fixed fi'own
and knitting of the heavy brows gave it an expression
of forbidding suUenness ; but this was the effect of
deep and constant thought rather than of a morose
or evil temper ; and it would seem that Arabi's habit
of constantly thinking won him many enemies
among those who judged by first appearances.
"When his countenance lights up with anima-
tion," says Mr. Broadley, " the change wrought in
his expresssion b so wonderful that you would
hardly recognise him as the same man. His eyes
are full of intelligence, and his smile is peculiarly
attractive. His complexion is lighter than that of
his son, but his nose is too flat and his lips too
thick to allow me to describe him as a handsome
man. He is considerably over six feet in height,
and broad in proportion. During his imprisonment
his appearance was materially changed by the growth
of a grey beard. After the manner of the fellaheen,
a blue band was tattooed round his waist, and he
rarely, if ever, loosened his grasp on a small black
rosary he perpetually ran his fingers throu^ when
talking.* The cloud of anxiety, which seemed to
overshadow him at first, gradually lifted, and before
his imprisonment was ended he became almost
cheerful During the reading of Mr. Blunt's letter
he fi-equently smiled, and raised his hand to his
forehead, in token of gratitude and acquiescence."
The statement of Arabi, whose peculiar courtesy
of manner now impressed his counsel favourably,
was briefly this : — He divided the period during
which hb conduct had been called in question into
two portions — one before and the other after the
nth July — and denied that at any time he could be
called a rebel He urged that it was the opinion of
both the Khedive and the Sultan, that the Egyptian
batteries should return the fire of the British fleet,
and if they were his superiors, he might have been
an enemy to Great Britain — but certainly no rd)el
to them. " I fear nothing," he added, "as I had
no concern with the outbreak at Alexandria or the
incendiarism which followed the bombardment"
Having now formally appointed the Messrs.
Broadley and Napier his counsel, Arabi spent six
entire days in preparing a clear and elaborate state-
ment of his case — a fact which proves that he was
not quite the unlettered adventurer which his
enemies sought to describe him.
In that document he recited all the gross abuses,
the sharp tyranny, and the subtle intrigues of the
Egyptian adminktration, with a narrative of the
conflict, and a vindication of his own conduct at
each successive stage of it
Arabi, however, was not the sole client of Messrs.
Broadley and Napier, who accepted retainers firom
Ahmed Bey Rifat, Osman Pasha, Toulba Pasha,
and Yacoub Sami.
On the 31st of October the Court of Preliminary
Inquiry held its first sederunt^ and after cofiee and
cigarettes had prefaced the more serious business
of the day, the President, Ismail Pasha Eyoub,
received the English barristers with great req)ect,
* The Mussulman rosary has on it ninety-ninft beads, eadi for
an attribute of God.
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remarking that their presence there formed an
epoch in the history of the country, and was a land-
mark of progress, adding, impressively, " It is the
first time these several thousand years that foreign
lawyers have appeared before an Egyptian Court ;
and I hail it as a sign that Britain has determined
to give us judicial reform and better tribunals."
Mr. Broadley received the translation of Arabi's
papers — sixty-nine in number — from Mr. Beaman
on the I St of November — a work achieved in nine
days, amid the pressure of other official duty ; and
after examining them, his opinion was, he asserts,
that if Arabi were a rebel, he was one who led
five millions of people, and was at the head of the
whole Egyptian race !
On Saturday the 2nd December, it was an-
nounced that the trial of Arabi would begin on the
3rd. The negotiations between the counsel on
both sides led to a kind of compromise, by the
terms of which it was granted, or admitted, that
Arabi was not responsible for the massacre at
Alexandria, and all the charges against him, and
also those against his adherents, Toulba Ali Fehmy,
Mahmoud Fehmy, Mahmoud Sami, Abdellal of
Damietta, and Yacoub Sami, with the exception of
simple rebellion, were completely withdrawn, and
to this accusation it was understood they would,
for form's sake, plead guilty.
It was further arranged that a sentence of death
was to be recorded against them, but to be instantly
followed by commutation thereof to one of exile
from Egypt
The prisoners were to be deprived of their pro-
perty and of their civil and military rank, and were
to give their parole to proceed to any British terri-
tory that might be suggested, and there to re-
main until permission was accorded to them to
depart
It would seem, according to Mr. Broadley's
book, that princesses of the Khedive's family made
no secret of their strong sympathies with Arabi.
We have elsewhere noted how one of these ladies
had a Parisian dress trimmed with buttons, each of
which bore his likeness. " At one time," said one
of these princesses to Mr. Broadley, "we believed
Tewfik was also on his side ; but when we found
out that he meant to betray Egypt, we eventually
hated him, and he has done his best to make our
lives miserable ever since."
On the morning of the ensuing Christmas Day
Arabi had his last interview with his English
counsel, on whom he bestowed his little black
rosary and prayer carpet, and with whom all the
exiles exchanged photographs, and they seemed to
" have made up their minds to the inevitable, to
put their firm trust in Britain, and loyally to ob-
serve the parole given to Lord Dufferin."
After close observation of his character, Arabi's
English counsel was of opinion that he was no mere
dreamer or enthusiast, but possessed the power
not only of forming a proper constitution for hb
country, but of assisting in the intelligent self-
government of it; that he was naturally an able
and educated man, endowed with rare energy and
honesty, and knowing Egypt thoroughly. The
week before his trial he spent in drawing up a
sketch of reforms suggested for the well-being of
his native country. They are published among
other documents of his counsel, and their re-
semblance to the schemes of Lord Dufferin is
singularly close and marked.
So the land of Arabi's exile was Ceyloa
There, in the December of 1883, he was visited
by the correspondent of the Daily News^ who
found him comfortably located in a large mansion
three miles firom Colombo. He was seated under
a verandah in the beautiful tropical garden, intent
on acquiring the English language, in which he
had made considerable progress. He spoke frankly
of men and affairs in Egypt, to which he had no
desire to return until she was free — at least, from
the subordination of Tewfik Pasha. Ismail he
spoke of as being clever, but unscrupulous ; but of
Tewfik he expressed a very poor opinion indeed,
adding that now his own chief ambition was to
learn English.
Much heavy sickness prevailed among the British
troops in Egypt towards the end of 1882, and
about the 25th of November it was estimated at
twelve per cent of the total force, and Colonel Sir
Andrew Clarke, of the Royal Engineers, went to
Cairo to inquire into the health of the army, and
make all requisite sanitary arrangements. But
many of our men perished of cholera and other
ailments, and the graves of those who were buried
at Helouan were shamefully desecrated by the
natives about Christmas Day, 1883, and their head-
stones carried off to be sold.
Peaceful events for a time marked the career of
our army of occupation in Egypt, but the force
underwent some changes and modifications.
In 1883 it was made up as follows : —
19th Hussars.
G Battery, B Brigade, Royal Artillery.
I St Battery, ist Brigade, Scottish Division of
Garrison Artillery.
2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Regiment (or
old 46th).
ist Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment (old 35th)
ist Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch>
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FESTIVAL OF THE HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.
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3rd Battalion King's Own Rifles (old 60th).
ist Battalion Gordon Highlanders (old 7Sth).
The Cameron Highlanders (old 79th).
On St Andrew's Day there was a great festival
held in the Ezbekeeyeh Gardens, at Cairo, by the
Highland regiments (though the brigade had
ceased to exist); "Cluny," of the Black Watch,
occupied the chair, supported by Sir Archibald
Alison, and upwards of sixty kilted officers drank
the health of the Queen with Highland honours, to
the amazement (as Dr. W. H. Russell records) of
the French and Levantine waiters. And with
reference to such a national festival amid such
strange surroundings, we may here give Sir Archi-
bald Alison's eloquent and patriotic farewell address
to his brigade. It ran thus : —
" Officers and men of the Highland Brigade I
"The exigencies of the service require that I
should this day lay down that command which
three short months ago I took up with so much
pride ; and I cannot quit the brigade without re-
turning my best and most sincere thanks to the
officers commanding battalions for the warm and
uniform support which I have ever received from
them, and which has made my command to me a
period of constant pleasure.
" I have to thank the officers for the admirable
way in which they have always discharged their
duties ; and I have to thank the non-commissioned
officers and men for their excellent conduct in
quarters and their brilliant gallantry in the field.
"It was the dream of my youth to command a
Highland Brigade; in my old age it has been
granted me to lead one in battle. This brigade has
been singularly fortunate in having assigned to it
so important a part in what must ever be con-
sidered as one of the most brilliant victories won
by our arms in modem times.
"There is one thing which I wish to impress
upon you, and that is, it was not the fiery valour of
your rush over the entrenchments of Tel-el-Kebir,
but the disciplined restraint of the long night march
over the desert preceding it, which I admired the
most That was one of the most severe tests of
discipline which could be exacted from men, and
by you it was nobly borne. When in the early
dawn we looked down from the summit upon the
camp of Arabi, lying defenceless at our feet, and
his army dissolving in distance before us, the first
thought that came into my mind was that had my
dear old chief, Sir Colin Campbell, risen from his
grave, he would have been proud of you. He would
have thought you had well maintained the reputa-
tion of the Highland regiments and the honour of
the old Scottish name ; he would have deemed you
worthy successors of that now historic brigade which
he led up the green slopes of Alma.
"I cannot do better than msh that you may afiford
to that distinguished officer, Major-General Graham,
the same satisfaction that you have given to me ;
and now to every commanding officer, to every non-
commissioned officer, and to every private of the
Highland Brigade, I wish * God speed !* "
On his retum home, he received from the citizens
of Glasgow a magnificent sword of honour, to lay
beside that other sword of honour which the same
citizens presented to Lord Clyde, who, on his death-
bed, bequeathed it to Sir Archibald Alison.
From the citizens of Dublin Lord Wolseley also
received a most valuable and beautifiil sword of
honour, together with the freedom of the city.
When, on the 21st of Febmary, medals for the
war were issued to the troops at Cairo by Major-
General Graham commanding, he made some parti-
cular remarks to the Cameron Highlanders : —
" In going round your rooms after New Year's
Day," said he, " I noticed in one, among traces of
past festivities on the walls, the name of Donald
Cameron. Now, who was he? He was the first
man who mounted the trenches of Tel-el-Kebir,
where he was killed. It is well that you should re-
member your fallen comrades, even in your mirth.
These men are dead, )but their memories do not
perish. They live in the history and traditions of
the regiment, which links them with the past Let
those who have come safely through the battle have
honoiurs such as our Queen bestows, but let not
those who are left on the field be forgottea Think
of them as still belonging to your regiment, as silent
contributors to its honour and glory."
General Graham was a most distinguished En-
gineer officer, who was twice wounded at Sebas-
topol, and led a ladder party at the stormmg of
the Redan. He destroyed the great docks of the
city, and was wounded again by a jingal ball at the
capture of Pekin.
On the I St December, 1883, the British forces
in Egypt under the command of General Stephen-
son amounted to only 6,367 men. Of these, 1,528
were stationed in Alexandria, under Major-General
Earle, C.B., C.S.I., 4,730 at Cairo, and 109 at Port
Said, omitting ^om this total the Royal Engineers,
and men of the Transport, Commissariat, Hospital,
and Military Police — services which have no fixed
establishment General Stephenson served at Alma,
Balaclava, Inkerman, and throughout the whole
Crimean campaign, and that in China under Sir
Hope Grant.
In the preceding October there had been a pro-
posal on the part of the Government to reduce this
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force to three battalions of infantry, one battery of
field artillery, one battery of garrison artillery, and
one company of Engineers, making a total of 3,000
men, with six guns, to be concentrated in Alexandria.
This proposal was, perhaps, consequent upon Baker
Pasha's scheme for a new Egyptian army, the chief
portion of which was to be twelve battalions of
infantry, and providing that the field officers of half
the regiments and batteries should be British
officers, and the other half Egyptian, and that the
other officers, firom the rank of captain downwards,
be selected from Egyptians, Albanians, and others
in the service of the Khedive. The suggested
reduction, however, was not carried out at the time,
doubtless owing to the disaster attending the force
of General Hicks, and the dark clouds gathering
imder the influence of the False Prophet in the
Soudan.
The execution of Suleiman Sami Pasha at Alex-
andria was one of the last scenes of the Egyptian War.
At two o'clock on a Saturday morning groups of
Europeans and natives began to assemble grimly
and silently in^what was once the beautiful public
square. At three o'clock a scaffold was erected,
precisely on the spot where on the terrible night of
the first conflagration, Suleiman had stood smoking,
and directing the operations of the incendiaries.
Grey dawn was just breaking when two files of
gendarmerie, under a British officer, entered the
square, at a pace so slow that they seemed to be
" marking time." This was caused by the necessity
for carrying the fainting form of the miserable
Suleiman, who was supported on both sides between
files of armed men, and, amid a dead silence, they
approached the scaffold, which on three sides was
surrounded by roofless walls and smoke-blackened
ruins.
Suleiman appeared to be almost unconscious of
existence as the fatal noose was adjusted. An
Egyptian officer then said in a loud voice, and
with some emotion : —
" Suleiman Sami Ibn Daoud, you are to suffer
death according to the law for your atrocious
crimes. The ruins which surround us bear silent
witness against you. Make your peace with God,
and repeat after me * God is our God, and Moham-
med is His prophet' "
Some of those present asserted that Suleiman
added the words ^^ Mazloum Arabif** (" victimised
by Arabi ! "), others that he was weU-nigh dead
with fear when the drop fell
The corpse was left hangmg there, surrounded
by crowds of Arabs and Europeans, little pity and
no sympathy being expressed by either.
CHAPTER LXXVIL
THE EXPEDITION TO SHERBORO, 1 883.
Despatches from Sierra Leone that were published
towards the end of 1883 informed the British
public that a little war had been begun, pursued,
and ended against King Gbow, of Jalliah, a per-
sonage who, if not quite so important as the
monarchs of Ashanti or of Abyssinia, was quite
as troublesome.
The scene of the operations was in Sherboro, a
country of Western Afirica, at the northern extremity
of what is known as the Grain or Pepper coast of
Guinea. It is situated on a river of the same
name, with a considerable island at its mouth, and
which is navigable for upwards of sixty miles for
ships of burden, while those of eighty tons may
ascend for two hundred and fifty miles ; the channel,
however, is much encumbered by reeds and giant
rushes, while the navigation is often interrupted by
violent tornadoes. The banks abound in pearl
oysters, and the country in grain and rich fruits.
King Gbow was a warrior on whom it was veiy
difficult to strike a decided blow, as, imlike the
potentate of Ashanti, he had no town of tombs
and treasure at which to make atallying-point, as he
and his people belong to that unruly n^ro race
which occupy the territories beyond the fix)ntiers of
Sierra Leone, on the peaceful villages of which they
were in the habit of making savage inroads for
plunder and the capture of our people as slaves —
inroads of which little or nothing was ever heard
at home.
The scene of their last depredations was Sherboro,
which, with its large island, had been annexed by
the British Government in 1862, and since that
date, has been the only portion of the colony which
pays the cost of administration, according to one
statement "The annexation of Sherboro," says
another, "increased the Customs dues, but the
various experiments in government tried by the
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GBOW, KING OF JALLIAH.
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imperial authorities since 1866 have done little to
improve matters generally. The expenses of the
colony have always been increasing and the revenue
diminishing, until the one stands at ;£66,784, and
the other at ;^66,523."
In the April of 1883 some strife arose between
various petty chiefs who dwelt outside the limits of
British jurisdiction at Sherboro. These called in
the aid and arms of others, and thus the war began
to spread over a wide area. Traders who passed
beyond the limits of our authority had to shut up
their little factories (as trading-stations are named
there), and thus local commerce virtually ceased ;
and the diminution of the Queen's revenue at
Sherboro caused the greatest anxiety to the
governor, A. E. Havelock, CM.G., who was like-
wise Commander-in-chief of the Western African
Settlements.
Complaints as to the decay of trade came pouring
in, but the governor, though anxious to do all in
his power to promote peace, was naturally unwilling
to engage in a warfare the dimensions of which it
was difficult to estimate, and the end of which it
was equally difficult to foresee.
On visiting Sherboro, the Administrator, Mr.
Pinkett, was informed by Acting Commandant La-
borde that not only did Gbow and his allies stop
all boats at Haboon, but they had also extended
their ho6tile operations to a place called Suba, on
the Kittam River, before its junction with the Boom.
They were thus intercepting the entire trade of the
river, and menacing the British communications
with Camalay.
All trade was suspended, no native boats came
down the Boom, and as the same thing was about
to happen on the Kittam, Mr. Pinkett determined
at once to clear both rivers to the farthest extent of
the British stations, ue,^ Barmany on the one and
Camalay on the other.
With above seventy armed police, in twelve boats,
he proceeded up the Boom-Kittam River, and having
taken Ghap, he went farther in quest of Gpow, or
Gbow. The town of Whymah was destroyed, and
after some sharp fighting with GboVs swordsmen,
" one or two native chiefs," says Mr. Pinkett's des-
patch, "known to the commandant, made their
appearance, and I told them that as we had cleared
the river for them they must keep it so. They
expressed the greatest gratitude for what we had
done, and I am assured by Mr. Williams, who has
often been employed by the Government, that great
good has been effected. The rest of our progress
has been like a triumphal march."
This Gbow, King of Jalliah, had been for years
the terror of the country as the head of a body of
marauders, who went from place to place, wherever
plunder could be obtained, and when eventually he
invaded British territory, he carried off a number of
women and a great quantity of property, in con-
sequence of which an expedition was fitted out for
the destruction of his stronghold — a great stockade,
garrisoned by some hundred armed men.
Gbow was now openly joined by Gberry and
Seppeh, two chiefs, until recently the avowed
firiends of the Government, and the recipients of
many favours. They brought with them all their
fighting men, which made up Gbow's force to more
than 8,000 savage warriors. Native spies reported,
about the 17 th of May, that Gbow had ordered the
removal of all the thatched roofs from hk stockaded
towns, lest they might be fired by the two rocket
batteries which he heard were coming up against
him, under the command of Captain Jackson, of
the Royal Artillery.
The factories on the rivers were all in a state of
semi-defence; but trade was at a standstill, and
the property of the British traders, now in peril,
was estimated at more than half a million of money,
and the arrival of the troop-ship Tyne (of 3,560
tons), with the head-quarters of the 2nd West India
Regiment, was anxiously looked for, as Sierra
Leone was denuded of soldiers.
At this crisis Governor Havelock, who had made
several armed expeditions to Sherboro and Gallinas
Territory, and knew the district well, was unfor-
tunately absent in England
Previous to the more serious fighting, it was
stated in the public prints that about fifty natives
had been burnt alive for witchcraft by the insur*
gents — a subject that was questioned in Parliament ;
and a writer in the Standard^ under date 2Sth of
July, mentioned that " as an actual fact, forty-nine
people were roasted alive for witchcraft, with the
most revolting ceremony, in one direction, and that
the administrator's visit to Sherboro was for the
purpose of punishing Gbow, whose territory lay in
a different quarter."
It was stated in Parliament that by Gbow the
peaceful inhabitants of Sherboro were mercilessly
harried, and when caught, .were sold into slavery ;
that in the early part of the year a British boat that
was passing up the river with the pay of the police
at an outlying station, was seized and pillaged ; that
shortly after British territory was invaded at a place
called Mosaipeh, within view of Benthe, the head-
quarters of the district, where twenty-five men and
women were carried off as slaves ; that this was the
third raid of the kind, and that other parts of
British territory were now threatened
To punish all this, on the 23rd of May, 1883, an
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA-
[Sherijoro.
expeditionary force left Sherboro in a flotilla, con-
sisting of seventy boats, to capture the strongholds
of Gbow and his warriors on the banks of the
Small Boo A River. The troops consisted of i6o
officers and men of the 2nd West India Regiment,
under Lieutenant-Colonel T. Talbot, of that corps
(which, like the ist Regiment, b clad in zouave
costume : ^ red jackets, blue baggy breeches, and
white Highland gaiters), with 200 armed police, a
rocket battery, and two howitzers. The British
force was subsequently augmented by some friendly
chiefs, with 500 of their followers.
After a fatiguing journey in small and cramping
boats, made more trying to all by the very oppres-
sive heat, a halt was ordered for the night at the
small town of Matubah, on the British frontiers,
a place which had been lately harried by Gbow,
whose warriors had left nothing but the bare walls
of the houses standing.
The locality of the ensuing operations was, in
every feature, like all the rest of the West Coast of
Africa, where, at intervals far apart, are little towns,
that bake and swelter under a fierce unclouded sua
Beyond and around them stretch — how far no one
knows — miles upon miles of dense jungle, through
which narrow foot-tracks lead to miasmatic swamps
and the stockaded dwellings of savage races. " On
this dense mass of barbarism four centuries of
civilisation have scarcely made an impression, and
were we to leave to-morrow, it would surge out
from its heathen strongholds, and soon efface every
trace of the years during which the white man has
led a fevered life on the edge of the European's
grave."
Yet up the Niger and other rivers here, the swift
steamers of Glasgow and Liverpool voyage with
agents in search of gold-dust, palm-oil, ivory, and
camwood, and there are other less lucky Europeans
who dwell in their pestilential villages to trade by
day, and try to evade fever and malaria by sleeping
in hulks afloat by night
Early on the morning of the 24th, the advance
was continued up the Small Boom River, that tra-
verses the enemy's country. Small bands of dusky
warriors frequently appeared amid the rank luxuri-
ance that fringed the banks, and fired on the
passing boats ; but although Colonel Talbot and the
Administrator were grazed by bullets more than
once, no casualties ensued.
At midday a place called Kwatamaboo was reached,
and there the enemy, some hundreds strong, opened
a steady fire on the boats, and seemed resolved to
make a determined stand. The banks were gained
with all speed, the boats went sheering in, the
troops and police leaped ashore, and dividing into
two small columns, attacked a stockade into which
the warriors of Gbow had retired
The town within it was soon set in flames alter
Captain Jackson of the Royal Artillery brought his
rocket battery into action ; the flames spread with
startling rapidit>% the thickly-thatched roofe of the
closely-packed houses, dry as tinder, and already
hot under the scorching sunshine, with the bamboo
stockade, were all intermingled in one fierce and
continuous blaze, and it is believed that most, if
not every inhabitant of the place, perished in the
conflagration.
An hour's forced march brought the expeditionary
force to Haboon, where the enemy met it in the
open ; but being unable to withstand the rifle fire
that opened upon them, they fled into the bush,
pursued to its recesses by our merciless native
allies. Haboon, which was strongly stockaded,
contained ample supplies of food, so a halt was
made there for the night, and every precaution
taken against a surprise.
In boats the entire force crossed the Jalliah
Creek on the 2Sth May, and the march inland
through the enemy's country began.
The armed police were in advance, the detach-
ment of the 2nd West India Regiment came next,
with the native levies moving collaterally on the
flanks to scour the bush. That the latter precaution
was a wise one the discovery of two carefully pre-
pared ambushes proved, and they were not dis-
lodged without bloodshed After a very toilsome
march of two hours' duration, the tall reedy grass
and jungly brushwood of Jalliah came in sight
It was found that Gbow had cleared away the
latter for some 800 yards round the outer stockade,
which proved to be alike a strong and formidaUe
work. It was twelve feet in height, the bamboos
being planted with intervals of a few inches between,
and closely wattled, or interlaced, with tough, jJiant,
and ligneous shrubs or trailers.
There were two inner stockades, and to defend
the place, Gbow had at his behest more than 2,000
warriors, all hardy, muscular, and active savages.
The engagement began in the open ground; the
police, thrown forward in skirmishing order, had
their fighting line supported by the soldiers, with
the native levies on their flanks, and Chow's
people, on being hard pressed, retired within their
stockades.
It was now noon ; the heat was awful, and the
condition of all — oflScers and men alike— was
pitiable in the extreme. Surgeon-Major Parke
declared the atmosphere was hotter than he had
ever felt it in the Red Sea. Captain J. Skelton, of
the 2nd West India Regiment, fainted, and the
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Sherboro.]
DEFEAT OF GBOW'S PEOPLE.
529
soldiers preferred to stand exposed to the enemy's
fire in the open rather than lie on the parched and
sun-baked ground.
After the order was given to advance, by a suc-
cession of rushes the troops got within sixty yards
of the stockade, and through every opening poured
in a most telling fire ; while the native levies, with
unearthly whoops and yells, clambered up the
bamboo barrier, only to be repulsed by the close
fire and deadly spears of the defenders. Thrice
they obtained a footing inside, and thrice they
were hurled out, wounded and covered with blood.
work of death still goes on. The fierce Kossus,
inflamed with the passion of revenge, pursue the
enemy from stockade to house, and from house to
the open country. No quarter is given or expected ;
the wounded are murdered as they fall, and the
horrible custom of mutilation follows."
Gbow narrowly escaped capture; he was hotly
and fiercely pursued, and cast away successively in
his flight his embroidered gown (" which plays in
^Vest Africa the part of the purple robe in more
civilised courts "), his silver snuff-box, his sword,
and whip. The native levies took many prisoners*
FREE-TOWN, SIERRA LEONE.
The scene was vivid and picturesque, made up
as it was, writes an eye-witness, of "an African
stockade under a blazing sun, of the gay uniforms
of the soldiers intermingled with the red fezzes of
the police and the almost naked bodies of our allies,
of the flash and rattle of the rifle, and the fiery tails
of the rockets as they worked Iheir sinuous way into
the enem/s lines, and of the fierce war-cries of our
allies as, with swords in their mouths, they endea-
voured to escalade the fence.
"But no enemy with inferior weapons, and crowded
into a small space, such as were GboVs people,
could stand against the shells that with such pre-
cision were falling in their midst; at length a
footing inside is gained, and our allies pour in !
There is no occasion now for any more firing ; the
enemy are routed, flying for their lives, but the
TT
all of whom they mercilessly slaughtered and muti-
lated in cold blood outside Haboon. " The defence
had been an obstinate one, and the engagement
lasted over three hours. Inside the town the sight
was ghastly in the extreme. In a small space one
oflficer counted eighty-two dead ; in pother part
twenty-three bodies were lying together, evidently
the work of a single shell ; and here and there were
groups of threes and fours, while a single corpse,
supported by a fence, stood up, grim in death,
grasping the rusty musket which in life he was in
the act of loading."
Another account says that this man had been
chained to the stockade, near its rearward gate,
with orders from Gbow to shoot down any of his
warriors who attempted to escape. It would also
appear that on the approach of the expeditionary
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
(Shciboro.
force he had held a fetish consultation, and by the
decision of the priests, two only sons were sacrificed
to appease the war demon, and give victory to his
arms.
Jalliah was found to be well stocked with African
goods and plenty of provisions, but was speedily
"looted" of everything. The total losses of the
enemy were estimated at about 400, and out of
that the percentage of wounded who escaped our
relentless allies would be slight indeed. Our losses
were comparatively small, and fell chiefly among
the native auxiliaries, who maintained a bitter hand-
to-hand conflict with the enemy. They had about
100 killed and wounded, while of the soldiers and
police only seven were hit
In their flight the enemy left behind them many
good rifles, which had been sold to Gbow by an
English firm in Sherboro. He had ordered the roofs
of the houses to be removed to prevent them from
being fired by the rockets, and these were found
piled in the open places, to be replaced if the
attack had been repulsed. These were all stacked
inside the town and given to the devouring flames,
after which Jalliah and its stockade were razed to
the ground.
The force now fell back on Haboon, which it
occupied for the night, and again every precaution
was taken to prevent a surprise. Our native allies
bivouacked outside the stockade, as they returned
in twos or threes, or greater numbers, from their
pursuit at different hours during the darkness,
leading any of the luckless enemy whom they had
captured These, after being shown to their chiefs,
were led away into the bush, says a writer in the
Standard (under the signature of "British Sher-
boro "). Then " a thud was heard through the mid-
night air of a body falling, followed for a few
seconds by a pulsating sound of life-blood welling
from the headless corpse of the unhappy victim.
No estimate of the numbers killed in this way and
at this one spot can be givea There may have
been ten — there may have been fifty — but, by
native custom, I can absolutely state that not one
male prisoner, whethen wounded or whole, would
be spared. And when I add to the details the
assertion that the allies were permitted to make
prisoners of any women and children they captured,
who would be sold as slaves, I am adding a
chapter to the history of it which has not yet been
unfolded."
Haboon was evacuated and burned to the ground
j on the morning of the 26th, after which the troops
and armed police returned to Sherboro, which they
reached late on the following evening.
A handsome reward was offered for the capture
of Gbow, and though he had been guilty of many
raids into British territory, of burning towns and
villages, and slaying or carrying off" their inhabitants
into slavery, it was not intended, if he were cap
tured, to put him to death, but to send him to the
Gold Coast as a political prisoner.
On the nth June it was reported that the action
taken by Mr. Pinkett, the Administrator, with the
troops against Gbow, had led to the complete de-
struction of every town belonging to him by natives
who were friendly to the British Government. Gbow
himself, however, still remained at large, but power-
less, though five great chiefs, his friends and allies,
were in the hands of the authorities.
Five days before this, another expedition had
been sent firom Sherboro for the purpose of en-
couraging our allies in the destruction above re-
ferred to, and also of convincing the native tribes
that the British power could reach and punish
them even in their pestilential creeks and fever-
stricken jungles.
The force detailed for this service consisted of a
company of the 2nd West India Regiment, under
Captain J. Skelton and Lieutenant C Dunn, with
eighty rank and file of the armed constabulary,
under Captain Jackson and Mr. Revington.
His Excellency the Administrator, the Civil
Commandant Laborde, and Dr. Jarret accom-
panied the expedition. The colonial steamer
Prince of WaleSy having in tow the boats filled with
troops, left Sherboro about dawn on the morning of
the 7 th June, and steamed down the Shebar River.
The agent of the French Compagnie du Scnigd
placed a steam-launch of light draught at the dis-
posal of the officer in command, and it proved of
great service in towing the larger boats containing
the stores and ammunition necessary for the ex-
peditioa
Owing to her draught, the Prince of Wales was
unable to proceed past Shebar; accordingly the
boats, thirty-two in number, were manned and sails
were hoisted on them, the breeze being favourable.
The bugles cheerily sounded the "advance," and
the flotilla was soon skinuning along the Big Boom
and then the Kittam Rivers, their banks bordered by
mangroves, on which clustering oysters grow in pro-
fusion, by palm-trees tall and stately, and by tropical
shrubs of gigantic growth and strange shapes.
The broad expanse of water, three miles in
width, was glittering in the early sunshine, and the
scene presented by the little fleet was most pic-
turesque and animated, each boat being full of
armed men in bright uniforms, and all advancing
nearly in a line, with snow-white canvas swelling
before the breeze.
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END OF THE EXPEDITION.
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"A sudden change, however, soon occurred,"
according to the narrative; " a dark mass of black
clouds appeared on the horizon, and rapidly ap-
proached towards us, while sheet and forked
lightning of great vividness flashed through the
lowering sky. An African tornado was upon us, and
soon burst with the greatest fury. All sails were
immediately struck, and every endeavour was made
to keep the boats* heads to the swollen river as it
was driven past us by the storm. Rain fell in
torrents for over an hour, when the sky cleared, the
sun made its welcome appearance, and soon dried
our soaked clothing as we proceeded on our
journey."
A place called Gbap was reached about five in
the evening. The arrival of the flotilla ap-
peared to excite great commotion on shore. To
the surprise of the troops on landing, instead of
being fired upon, they were received by a salute
from some antiquated 9-pounders, which the chief
there had obtained some years before; and as
doubts had been expressed of his sincerity, this
demonstration of loyalty gave great satisfaction to
the leaders of the force.
Unluckily, it proved eventually, however, to be a
salute that was meant to warn the enemy of our
approach, while the town of conical mud huts from
which it was given, with its double stockade and
population of about 3,000, was left untouched.
Daybreak saw the flotilla again under weigh.
The current of the now narrowing river was strong,
but the breeze was still favourable, and by canvas
and oar the rate of advance was fairly maintained
till a town called Toom was reached, from which
the inhabitants had fled. A few miles above it the
delta was gained, and the boats proceeded up the
Big Boom River, which flows there through a
country having rich alluvial fields covered with
luxuriant grasses, and well-grown paddy plantations,
that came close to the water's edge.
This was the territory of the chief Gberry, with
whom Gbow had been long at war. At dusk. Bar-
many, the last town under British control in the
Boom country, was reached, where a detachment of
twenty men was stationed. The town was full of
native allies ; and being now a sure base for their
operations, they set forth against the enemy, whom
they defeated and routed without any aid from us,
pillaging and burning their towns, and bringing in
all the women and children, but not a single man.
The males were, no doubt, all put to death.
Next day the expedition reached Commendeh,
which consists of an old and new town, strongly
fortified by four successive stockades, and is the
principal place of Gberry. A two days' halt was
made there, and reports were received from a tribe
called the Mendis, to the effect that they had
driven the last remnant of Gbow's warriors out of
the country.
The soldiers were now sent back to Sherboro,
while the civil officials and the armed police pro-
ceeded up the Kittam River to Camalay, to conclude
a treaty with the Queen of Massah for the cession
of her territory. Camalay is the limit of British
jurisdiction in the Kittam country, and was first
visited by Major-General Sir Charles Turner, C.B.,
Captain-General of Sierra Leone, and colonel of
the now extinct Royal African Corps, in 1826, when
making a visit to the Sherboro country to destroy
some germs of the slave trade ; and there is still
pointed out a decayed stump of cotton-tree, which
he destroyed by a cannon-shot, to mark — in the
presence of the native chiefs — the extreme boundary
of British territory in that direction. The ill-fjated
general, who was the successor of the equally ill-
fated Sir Charles Macarthy (see vol iii, page 304),
perished of fever on that occasion.
The Queen of Massah's territory extends from
Camalay to the country of the Gallinas. After the
usual '* palaver," the treaty was signed, and the ad-
ministrator gave presents to her and her followers in
the name of Queen Victoria.
"The queen appeared extremely proud of her
attire on this day, being robed in a long bath-towel
and an ordinary English-made tall hat, which she
wears only on the greatest State occasions. She
held in her hand an elephant's tail, encased in a
massive silver holder. After bidding farewell to our
new subjects, the boats were manned, and the return
journey began."
This concluded the third expedition against
Gbow, by which Britain acquired an uninterrupted
stretch of territory from Sierra Leone to the bounda-
ries of the republic of Liberia.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
tKhartoi
CHAPTER LXXVIIL
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN : — CAUSES OF THE WAR — ^THE MAHDI.
The Government of the Khedive of Egypt, as we
left it restored in our seventy-sixth chapter, was
about the weakest in the world, notwithstanding the
influence of the British army of occupation ; and
the crisis in the Soudan was brought about by
the attempted reconquest by that Government of
the vast territory so named — a territory almost as
large as India, but destitute of railways, rivers, or
canals, and even of roads, other than camel tracks
over the desert sands, and inhabited by many fierce
and warlike tribes, all professing the same faith, for
which they are ready to dare, endure, and die, fear-
less of the present, and full of hope for the future.
BeUd-tS'Soudan^ or " the Land of the Blacks," is
the name given by Arabian geographers to that i)art
of the African continent which stretches to the
south of the Sahara, from the Nile on the east to
the Atlantic on the west
Khartoum (which signifies " the point ") is the
capital of thk country, the sovereignty of which
was first seized by Egypt in 1819, when Mehemet
Ali, on becoming aware of the anarchy existing
there, conceived the idea of introducing civifisation,
and of providing occupation for his troops at the
same time. He accordingly sent his son Ismail with
a large force to invade the country. Ismail reached
Khartoum, which is situated at the delta where the
Blue and White Nile unite their waters, to form the
great river of Egypt ; but he and all his followers
were burned alive by a native chief, who first made
them drunk at his own table, and then set fire to
the house which held them. For this, terrible ven-
geance was promptly taken, and Egyptian sove-
reignty was established over Kordofan and Sennaar.
Khartoum is about equi-distant— between 1,100
or 1,200 miles — from the northern frontier of
Egypt, the Mediterranean, and the southern boun-
dary of the Khedive's equatorial dominions, the
Lake Nyanza, and the principality of Uganda.
The actual extent of the Soudan is 1,600 miles in
one direction, and 1,300 in another, and from first
to last this almost inaccessible country has never
paid the cost of its government
After various revolts had been quelled. Sir Samuel
Baker, K.C.B., in September, 1869, undertook the
command of an expedition to Central Afiica, under
the auspices of the Khedive, who placed under his
orders 1,500 chosen Egyptian troops, with four
years' absolute and uncontrolled power of life and
death ; and he conquered the Equatorial Provinces,
of which Colonel Gordon, now so well known to
fame, was appointed Governor-General in 1874.
In the following year Darfour was annexed in the
west, and in the extreme east, southward of Abys-
sinia, Harrar was conquered
When Colonel Gordon became absolute Governor
of the Soudan, he warned the Khedive " that he
would render it for ever impossible for Turks or
Circassians to govern there agaia" Gordon was as
good as his word By treating the people with a
justice hitherto unknown to them, by giving
attention to their grievances, by repressing with-
out mercy all who defied the law, he accus-
tomed the Soudanese to appreciate a purer and
gentler — yet firmer — form of rule, than had ever
prevailed in that part of the world before; and
during his term of office he kept the Soudan free
firom interference hy the venal ministry at Caira
After his departure, a horde of Turks, Circas-
sians, and Bashi-Bazouks, were let loose in the
territory, where they worried the unfortimate people,
reversed his entire policy, and made marked men
of all his old officials, and armed revolt was the
result
Ilias, one of the greatest slave-owners, was per-
mitted to return firom Khartoum, and it is believed
that with Zobehr — the king of the slave-dealers,
then resident at Cairo — ^he took advantage of the
widespread discontent occasioned by misgovem-
ment, to foment the insurrection which, under the
banner of the Mahdi, soon assumed most dan-
gerous proportions
"By the law of Mohammed," says a writer, **no
true believer can be made or kept a slave. This
law has doubtless been often evaded, but not
always. The peculiar character of slavery among
Eastern natives was often favourable to the observa-
tion of the law ; the confidential slave being easily
received into the bosom of a family. These cir-
cumstances have kept the line of demarcation
between the Arab and the negro less sharp and
harsh than that between the European and the
negro."
In referring to the Soudan, Lord Wolseley said,
in December, 1883, " it had at all times been the
home of the slave trade, and if any part of God's
earth was dyed with human blood it ^ras there.
He was not a prophet, but he hoped that whatever
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THE MAHDI.
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%vas the futxure of our dealings with the Soudan, it
would be insisted on by the people of this country,
who had been leaders in all anti-slavery movements,
that all dealings in flesh and blood should be
abolished once and for ever."
Under the new rkgime^ succeeding that of Gor-
don, the taxes were gathered by the Bashi-Bazouks,
who are described by Colonel Stewart as " swag-
gering bullies, robbing, plundering, and ill-treating
the people with impunity .... Probably for
every pound that reaches the Treasury, these men
rob the people of an equal amount, and as soldiers
they are valueless."
At so heavy a rate were the taxes levied that
whole districts were reduced to destitution, and
thousands of farms went out of cultivation. Such
was the nature of the Government against which
our new enemy, the Mahdi, rose in a revolt which,
when once it began, was not to be easily repressed.
The insurgents, brave and desperate men, were
fighting for their native land, inspired alike by
religious enthusiasm and rancorous hate. Levied
by conscription, the Egyptian troops were de-
spatched against them, in many instances chained
together, to meet tribesmen who were up in de-
fence of their homes, their fields, and cattle.
It was in the July of 1881 the Mahdi first took
the field, but was defeated at Sennaar in the spring
of the following year, the May of which saw Egypt
in that state of revolution which led to our conflicts
with Arabi Pasha. Retreating up the Blue Nile,
he gathered fresh followers as he went, and crossing
the White Nile invaded the country watered by
the Bahr-el-Gazelle, a river the shores of which are
generally bordered by reeds, and in July, 1882,
6,000 Egyptian troops, led by Yussuf Pasha, were
surrounded by his army, and massacred nearly to
a man.
And here an account of this singular adventurer,
whose name has become almost a household word,
may not be without interest.
Mohammed Achmet Shemsedden, the Mahdi, one
of the many false prophets of Islam, the forerunner
of the end of the world, as foretold by the Koran,
"with the eruption of Gog and Magog" (Sale,
section iv.), is a native of the province of
Dongola, where his father, Ab.dullahi, was a
carpenter. The latter, when resident at Shendy
(a town on the Nile, south of Berber), in 1852,
apprenticed the future Mahdi to his uncle Sherif-
ed-deen, a boatman, at Shakabeh, an island opposite
Sennaar. On being severely beaten by this relative,
he fled to Khartoum and joined the free school or
a learned dervish, who resided near the tomb of
the Sheikh Hoghali, the patron saint of the city.
and from whom the dervish claimed descent, and
thus, through him from the Prophet
There Mohammed Achmet remained for some
time studying religion, but made little progress
in the more worldly accomplishments of reading
and writing. Six months aftenvards he completed
his pious education at the free school of another
sheikh in Berber. From thence he went to the
village of the Tamarind Tree, near Kana, and
became the disciple of a sheikh named Nour-el-
Daim (or the Continual Light), and then proposed
to make his home on the lonely isle of Abba in
the White Nile. There he made himself a sub-
terranean dwelling or excavation, into which he
retired daily for several hours to repeat one of the
names of the Deity, to fast, burn incense, and pray.
"His fame and sanctity," says Colonel Stewart,
"spread far and wide, and Mohammed Achmet
became wealthy, collected disciples, and married
several wives, all of whom he was careful to select
from among the daughters of the most influential
Baggara sheikhs (owning cattle and horses), and
other notables. To keep within the legalised
number (four) he was in the habit of divorcing the
surplus and taking them on again according to his
fancy. About the end of May, 188 1, he began to
teach that he was the Mahdi foretold by Mohammed,
and that he had a divine mission to reform Islam,
to establish a universal equality and community of
goods, and that all who did not believe him should
destroyed, be they Christian, Mohammedan, or
Pagan .... Judging from his conduct of
affairs and policy I should say he had considerable
natural ability. The manner in which he has
managed to merge the usually discordant tribes
together, denotes great tact He had probably
been preparing the movement for some time
back."
Like most Dongolawis, he reads and writes with
difficulty, and some of the proclamations (trans-
lated by Captain Nesham, of the Woodlark^ gun-
vessel) running in his name as " the Mahdi, Lord
of the Age, who will shortly himself appear," were
found to be rambling, incoherent, and discon-
nected documents.
In August, 1882, he advanced against El Obeid,
the capital of Kordofan, but was defeated at
Bara, and was twice defeated again in assaulting
the former place, without apparently injuring the
supposed sanctity of his missioa After various
turns of fortune, the February of 1883 saw nearly
the whole of the Egyptian forces in the Soudan
almost isolated in Kordofan, while the neighbour-
hood of Suakim was swarming with exultant fol-
lowers of the Mahdi, 5,000 of whom were defeated
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DEFEAT OF HICKS PASHA.
S3S
on the 29th of April by the Egyptian forces, under
Colonel Hicks, formerly of the Bombay Army, with
the loss of 500 men, including the False Prophet's
lieutenant-general At the battle of Kashgate,
however, which was fought on the 5th of Novem-
ber, the army of Hicks was annihilated by the
forces of the Mahdi, after three days' hard fighting.
and Wame; Captains Massey (late of the Middle-
sex Regiment) and Forestier-Walker (commander of
the artillery) ; Sergeant-Major Brodie, Dr Rosen
berg, and others.
" General Hicks charged at the head of his staff/'
says the Times, "They galloped towards a
sheikh, supposed by the Egyptians to be the
THE BAHR-KL-GAZELLE.
To narrate the massacre — for such it was — of
Hicks's forces, like those of Baker at the Wells of
Teb subsequently, lies apart from the design of a
work describing British battles only, yet many
British officers of great gallantry served under the
banners of both.
Among those who served, or perished, with
Hicks, were Colonel Fraser, chief of his staff;
Lieutenant-Colonel Coetlogan, late of the isth and
70th Regiments; Majors Martin (late captain in
Baker's South African Horse, commander of the
cavalry), Farquhar (lately of the Grenadier Guards),
Mahdl General Hicks rushed on him witn nis
sword, and cut his face and arm ; this man had on
a Darfour steel mail shut. Just then a club thrown
struck General Hicks on the head, and unhorsed
him. The horses of the staff were speared, but the
officers fought on foot till all were killed. General
Hicks was the last to die." The Mahdi was not in
the battle, but came to see his body, through which,
according to an Arab custom, every sheikh thrust
his spear.
Baker's forces behaved with less resolution than
those of Hicks, when attacked on the march to
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[Sinkat.
Tokar. They refused to defend themselves, but
lay on the ground grovelling and screaming for
mercy. No efforts of Baker and his British
officers could induce them to face the enemy.
They abandoned him, and he, with Colonel Bur-
naby, Colonel Hiy, Major Harvey, Mr. Bewlay,
and others, had to hew their way out through a forest
of Arab lances. Captain Giles, writing to the
Graphic from the scene of action, described a
charge of some Turkish cavalry on a body of
mounted men, whom Baker thought it advisable
to disperse, and continued thus : —
" After rallying and getting them together, and
while returning to get in rear of the square, which
Baker had attempted to form on the enem/s at-
tack, we found that a furious fire had been going
on. For a moment we thought all was well, but in
closing, saw that the force had broken up, a stream
of soldiers, camels, and horsemen making off. . .
All around us the fugitive Egyptians had thrown
away their arms, and had not even the pluck to at-
tempt any self-defence, but allowed themselves to
be slaughtered like sheep. The shooting, too, of the
Egyptians, both cavalry and infantry (while they
had their arms) was most dangerous, as they blazed
off their rifles without putting them to their shoul-
ders, and without the smallest care which way the
shot went Numbers of our men were killed by
them. The conduct of the Egyptians was simply
disgraceful ! Armed with rifle and bayonet, they
allowed themselves to be slaughtered, without an
effort at self-defence, by savages inferior to them in
numbers, and armed only with spears and swords."
Afler leading such men, what a thrill of contrast
must have risen in Baker's mind, when, a day or
two after this defeat, he saw his old regiment,
the loth Hussars, come upon the scene of conflict !
" He was recognised by the regiment, and such a
glorious hearty British cheer was sent up as had
been rarely heard on that Eastern air."
Captain H. F. Forestier-Walker, returned as " mis-
sing " after the defeat of Baker Pasha at the Wells
of Teb, was a lieutenant of the East Kent Militia,
1880, resigned 1881, commanded the Norden-
feldt Gun Battery of the Egyptian army, and es-
caped the massacre of Hicks's army by being in
hospital at Cairo.
In concert with the Mahdi's revolt against the
Egyptian Government in the Western Soudan, the
tribes of the east broke into open rebellion, sur-
rounding the garrisons at Sinkat and Tokar, and
cutting off the communications between Berber and
Suakim, where they were kept at bay only by the
appearance of our gunboats in the harbour.
In the beginning of November a force was sent
to relieve Tokar, but was surrounded by the rebels
and destroyed; and there perished the gallant
leader. Commander Lynedoch MoncriefT, R.N.,
British consul at Suakim, son of General Moncriefi^
who died Provost of St Andrews in Scotland.
A month later an attempt to relieve the starving
garrison at Sinkat met with an equally disastrous
fate, and for a time it began to seem as if the
Mahdi, whose forces were at times stated to be
300,000 strong, were carrying all before him, and
would ere long menace Cairo, though garrisoned by
our slender army of occupation. Thus, more than
ever did many of the ignorant Soudanese believe in
the holiness of his mission, though a learned Moslem,
whose impressions thereon appeared in an issue of
the Standard for December, 1883, expressed some
doubts whether the Mahdi believed in it himself!
" Any man who raises a religious enthusiasm and
leads on a host is a Mahdi or leader, and the pre-
sent rebel in the Soudan is a Mahdi," said this
writer. "But our religion teaches us that before
the advent of the last Mahdi, seven men shall suc-
cessively rise in various parts of the Moslem
world, and by religious propaganda shall prepare
the way for him. Each of these seven men shall
be called either Achmet or Mohammed. In my
opinion this Soudan Mahdi is the third. Senoussi
was the first; Arabi the second, and he, the third
agitator, bearing one or other of the prescribed
names. The real Mahdi shall appear on Mount
Arafat (a hill in Arabia, 15 miles from Mecca) at
the time of the Towaf, or sacred procession of the
Haj. His coming will be foretold by the dumb-
ness of the seven Imaums, who shall in turn at-
tempt to recite the Khutbeh* and fail . . There
will then remain forty years' domination of Islam
after conquest, after which your Christ will come
from Syria to rule our Empire. Then we believe
that our last decadence will set in, and some
natives from the far East will occupy our countries
— probably the Chinese."
* The Moslem creed.
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THREATENED NIGHT ATTACK.
537
CHAPTER LXXIX.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN {continued) : — BRITISH OPERATIONS AT SUAKIM.
This seaport, now so much associated with the
name of Admiral Sir William Hewett, V.C. and
K.CR, is situated on an island near the extremity
of a narrow inlet, twelve miles long, by about two
broad The entrance to the bay is only sixty
fathoms broad, but opens gradually to a much
greater space. The town, which Marmol, an
ancient geographer, says had once kings of its own
is separated from its suburb named El Geyf, which
stands on the mainland, by an arm of the sea, some
five hundred yards wide, which on its west side
affords an anchorage for ships of any size, and here
our gunboats lay.
The population of Suakim is about 8,000, of
whom 3,000 live upon the island, and the rest in
El Geyf. It has three mosques, and the buildings
being whitewashed look better from the sea than
they really are. In the background a low range of
hills stretches monotonously along the coast line,
with a broad sloping desert separating them from
the sea. Coral rocks and shoals render the har-
bour dangerous of access.
Suakim is connected with the mainland by a
causeway, opposite to which was moored H.M.S.
^ofiger (composite gun-vessel) with a Catling in her
top, and her larger cannon trained, lest the men of
the Mahdi, at Uiis crisis, should attempt to carry
Suakim at a rush, to mow them down like sheep, it
they attempted to cross.
" It only remains for me to report at present,"
wrote a correspondent at this time, "that unless
Baker Pasha sends from Egypt some very much
better troops than those at present here, and well
supplied with transport and commissariat, an
advance into the immediate interior will not be
practicable for a long time to come; while the
march to Berber and Khartoum must be postponed
to the indefinite future. In the meantime, Sartorius
Pasha, who has long Indian experience to aid him,
is doing his best with very indifferent material, and
in spite of the covert opposition of the Egyptian
officials on the spot, to evolve some degree of order
out of chaos. The town is surrounded with a proper
series of defensive works, and with three British
gunboats Suakim may be considered as secure.'*
The details of these defences as completed by
Baker Pasha were as follows : —
The main line of entrenchments formed a for-
tified camp round the suburb of El Geyf (or El
Kaff) beyond the causeway, at a radius of 1,000
yards therefrom. The centre points of the main
line are Fort Euryalus, then manned by 160 seamen
and marines, and Fort Carysfort, manned by 194
more. The entrenchments, extending from the
first-named fort, were flanked by a redoubt, and were
manned by black infantry. At a radius of 1,200
yards from the main line are twelve small redoubts,
a quarter of a mile distant from each other, having
ditches and deep profiles. Strong crow's-feet were
strewn in the vicinity of each, and placed in the
ditches. Each redoubt was manned by about
fifteen black soldiers, with plenty of ammunition.
The great Water Fort was armed with a Krupp
and a mountain gun. The forts, the centre line,
the small redoubts, and the other Water Fort were
held by two companies. H.M.S. Sphinx flanked
the right of the external line, the 2?^^^ flanked the
left outer line, while the guns of the Ranger^ as we
have said, could sweep the whole line of the
causeway.
On the 1 6th December,' 1883, tidings reached
Suakim that the enemy were about to attack the
town in the night, and though with troops that could
be relied on it could have been easily defended, it
was impossible to say whether the demoralised
garrison would offer any vigorous resistance to a
determined attack.
Captain T. P. W. Nesham, R.N., of H.M.S.
Woodiarky then the senior naval officer, ordered
the guns of the shipping to pitch shell over the
open ground, which an attacking force would have
to cross. The garrison was under arms all night,
but no assault was made, the booming of the heavy
guns of the squadron, and the crash of the ex-
ploding shells having disconcerted the tribesmen.
On the 17th, Admiral Hewett arrived, and as-
sumed command of the squadron. Without delay,
he had an interview with Suliman Pasha, the
Governor-General, and informed him that the ships
would undertake the defence of the town and secure
it from the enemy, and hence that he (Suliman)
could use all the native troops in Suakim for
operations in the field
Suliman expressed much anxiety for the safety of
Massowah on the Red Sea, then garrisoned by
2,442 Egyptian troops. He said " the Abyssinian
tribes were getting restless, and that he feared ihey
would take advantage of the situation, and obtain
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAJNU aND SEA.
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possession of that island, which they greatly coveted
He hoped that Britain would exert her influence
with Abyssinia to induce that country to remain
quiet at present"
Admiral Hewett agreed to send one of his gun-
boats at once to Massowah.
With respect to operations in the field, Suliman
was compelled to own that he had no confidence
whatever in the Egyptian troops in Suakim. There
were three large columns of the enemy then hover-
ing in the vicinity of the town, the security of which
might be imperilled if he attempted to succour the
garrisons of Tokar and Sinkat, and added that, in
his opinion, " in order to open the Berber road, a
force of fully 50,000 mixed black and Egyptian
troops would be required, or 20,000 Indian troops
to fortify and hold all the wells along the line of
march."
This estimate of the force necessary was greater
than that taken by Admiral Hewett and other
British oflficers, and General Sartorius thought
that a single brigade of good black troops might
establish order in the vicinity of Suakim, and coerce
the hostile tribes at the foot of the mountains.
The event proved that without a large reinforce-
ment we were too weak to operate from Suakim,
and on the termination of his first day's inspection
on shore, Sir William Hewett expressed a strong
opinion that any attempt of the kind would end in
another scene of bloodshed and disaster.
Osman Digna, the Mahdi's lieutenant, in a letter
addressed to the commandant of Tokar, demanded
the immediate surrender of that place, adding that
all the garrisons of the forts in the Soudan were
falling into the hands of his master, who would
shortly invade Egypt Thus the excitement spread
fast along the shores of the Red Sea.
On the 17th, General Sartorius and Colonel
Miles, with a party of 200 Turks and Bashi-
Bazouks, made a successful foray against the
enemy, and captured at the sword's point, and drove
into Suakim, fully 200 camels, thus forming the
nucleus of a future transport corps.
On the 26th of January, General Gordon, cer-
tainly the most strikmg figure in the military
annals of the preceding quarter of a century, left
Cairo for Khartoum, " sent to do," says the Fall
Mall Gazette^ "what he regards as impossible at
present; to secure the evacuation of the whole
country; in his own graphic phrase, *to cut the
dog's tail off.'" He was accompanied by his
A.D.C, Lieutenant-Colonel John Donald Stewart,
C.M.G., of the I ith Hussars, who was at Khartoum
on duty in the preceding year. He took with him
a hundred thousand pounds in gold, and the son of
the old Sultan of Darfour (a small state' in tropical
Africa, which was scarcely known, even by name, to
Europeans in 1793), ^^ whom the Khedive had
restored his father's dominions, went by the same
traia General Gordon refused all escort, saying
characteristically that he would go with an army or
alone, and as he said this, his hearers bethought
them of the fate of Professor Palmer. " He is
anxious that it should be known," says the Standard^
'' that he is going to the Soudan as a British soldier,
obeying the orders of the Queen, and has no con-
nection with the Egyptian Government, which he
would serve under no circumstances whatsoever."
His mission was thoroughly pacific.
Though his name and purpose in the Soudan are
now so familiar, it is impossible in a work of this
nature to omit some notice of his previous career.
The cadet of an old Scottish family, and one
whose immediate ancestor served at the battle of
Prestonpans and in the American War, he was
bom at Woolwich, where his father was a general
of artillery ; he entered the Royal Engineers as a
second lieutenant in 1852, and served in the Crimea
from December, 1854, to May, 1856, and was
wounded in the trenches before Sebastopol After
the peace he was occupied in adjusting the Russian
and Turkish frontier in Asia, a work of peril and
diflSculty, owing to the lawless nature ot the wild
tribes in Kurdistan and Armenia. Engaged in
the expedition to Pekin, he remained in the Chinese
service after our peace with the Imperial Govern-
ment, and in the winter of 1861 he made a long
journey from the capital to the Chotow and Kalgan
passes on the Great Wall, to places never visited
before by foreigners, save Roman Catholic mis-
sionaries in disguise ; and two years after was ap-
pointed general of the " Ever Victorious Army "
which crushed the Tai-ping rebellion. After being
promoted to the rank of colonel of Engineers, and
serving as vice-consul at the delta o'f the Danube
he undertook his first expedition into Africa in
1873, under the auspices of the Khedive of Egypt,
who appointed him Governor of the Provinces of
the Equatorial Lakes.
After his departure from Cairo, he telegraphed
thus to Khartoum : —
" You are men, not women. Be not afraid, I am
coming." And also communicated with Cairo,
stating that the youth sent with him to be Sultan
of Darfour had been in a constant state of in-
toxication and unfit for that post It was then
discovered that the Government had sent the
wrong man, and " that instead of a youth aged
eighteen, with forty-two wives, the rightfiil claimant
was a man of thirty-two with only two wives."
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TttE FALL OF' SIJlltAt.
539
After the destruction of Baker^s force the situation
of Tokar became more desperate than ever, and the
commander then wrote thus : —
'* It is impossible for us to be in a worse condi-
tion than we now are. The enemy have filled up
all the wells outside the town, and the water of the
inside wells is brackish and bad The troops are
suffering greatly from diarrhoea, and I fear that in
three days we shall be obliged to surrender. We
have dried grain enough for three months, but no
meat or ghee, and only from ten to twenty rounds
of ammunition per man. The rebels fire upon us
day and night"
The state of Sinkat was about as desperate.
Admiral Hewett had now the entire command of
the littoral of the Eastern Soudan, and after the
arrival of the Monarchy the land forces, British and
Egyptian, were to be placed under the orders of the
lieutenant-colonel commanding our Marines.
At this date the enemy's spies were hovering
round Suakim, and a parade was held there of the
remnants of Baker's force. The battalion of mixed
Nubians and Egyptians which had lately come
fit)m Cairo refused to obey any orders. On this
Baker surrounded them by the Soudan battalion, and
compelled the mutineers to lay down their arms.
They were then marched down to the water's edge,
and, with Admiral Hewett's consent, placed as
prisoners on board the Orontes troopship.
On the loth of February the following proclama-
tion was issued : —
'* In accordance with a telegram received from
Nubar Pasha, President of the Council, it is notified
that Admiral Hewett is appointed military and civil
Governor of Suakim by the Egyptian Government
Consequently he hereby declares the town to be in
a state of siege and under martial law. The in-
habitants need not have any fear, as the British
Government has promised to protect the town,
which is now perfectly safe."
On the nth, Baker Pasha had a grand parade
of all the troops he could muster at Suakim, for the
inspection of Admiral Hewett There were 3,000
bayonets on the ground, and considering their dis-
organisation and terror after the slaughter at El
Teb, their appearance was declared wonderful
Half the men present were Nubians. Baker had
entirely re-officered them by men from their own
ranks, and was impatiently awaiting the arrival of
those British officers who had volunteered to com-
mand battalions.
At this time the camp of the enemy, under
Osman Digna, was distinctly visible from the mast-
head of H.M.S. EuryaluSy nine miles distant, at
the base of the hills overlooking Suakim.
There, on the evening of the 13th, came the
long-expected tidings of the fall of the heroic
garrison of Sinkat, and the narrow streets were filled
by crowds of women, wailing, weeping, and casting
dust upon their heads. Tewfik, who commanded
at Sinkat, was reported to have pointed out to his
troops that by a vigorous sortie they might save
themselves, while by remaining longer, all must die
in a few days of hunger, flight being then impossible.
Having animated his men with his own spirit, he
burned the stores, spiked the guns, blew up the
magazine, and making his men, 600 in number, fill
their pouches, he rushed forth, sword in hand, at
their head Ere this crisis arrived, these men,
with 1,000 women in their care, had eaten to the
last bone the starving dogs in the streets.
The sortie came forth, and Osman's hordes
rushed down to the attack. Nobly did Tewfik and
his men fight, for a time repulsing every effort to
break their ranks. At last the tremendous rush
of the Arabs shrivelled up their square, and a
general massacre ensued, scarcely a man escaping.
On the 15th of February, 200 Royal Marines
were landed at Suakim from H.M. corvette Carys-
forty and marched through the to^, where their
steady aspect had an excellent effect upon the
people, who were accustomed to only Egyptian
troops ; and Admiral Hewett telegraphed to Bombay
for the authorities there to buy up every waterskin
that could be obtained, and forward them by the
first vessel, as it now became evident that an
expedition against the forces of the Mahdi would
soon be prepared
The troops forming this would require to bring
everything required for service with them, with the
exception of 200 horses ridden from the field by
Baker's frigitive troopers, which would help to
mount the Hussars who were coming from India.
Osman Digna still hovered near the hills over-
looking Suakim, and announced his intention of
attacking the town with the guns captured from
Baker. Thus, Mahmoud Ali, the chief leader
of certain friendly tribes, warned Admiral Hewett
to be prepared for a night assault On the
night of the 17th February, a large body of the
rebels came close to Suakim, and fired into the camp
for two hours, several of the bullets passing through
the head-quarter tents, and when morning dawned,
from the mastheads of our squadron, many strong
parties could be seen falling back over the sandy
plain in the direction of Osman's camp. Mahmoud
Ali now applied to Admiral Hewett for permission
to join the rebels, for the alleged purpose of sowing
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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dissension among them ; but as he was believed
" to be trimming his sails so as to keep well with
both parties," his dubious proposal was not
accepted, and the admiral sent him orders to do
nothing until the arrival of the British troops.
On the i8th there w^as another alarm. Baker
"I must remark," says a correspondent at the
time, " that it is scandalous that ships of war on the
Indian station are not fitted with the electric light
Had the vessels now here possessed this apparatus
an attack would be impossible. It is unfortunate
that the French ships have not arrived. They
MAP OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN EGYFr AND THE SOUDAN.
Pasha reported to the admiral that native scouts
had come in announcing that the enemy were
mustering for an attack about eleven at night On
this a boat's crew with a Catling gun were sent to
further protect the Causeway and Custom House,
and amid the silence peculiar to the execution of
all orders in a fleet, the seamen fell in with muskets
and cutlasses in their shore-going rig, while Baker's
troops, 3,000 strong, got under arms in their lines.
But in this as in other cases the alarm passed off.
would certainly have electric lights, for the French
men-of-war are always well supplied with modem
scientific apparatus, while the apathy of our own
naval authorities as to such matters is lamentable'
By permitting the night of the i8th to pass with-
out an attack, Osman Digna lost his last chance of
carrying Suakim by assault, as the anxiously looked-
for British reinforcements began to arrive quickly
at last, when matters had grown utterly desperate in
the Soudan, and the town became absolutely secure.
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Soakim.]
LORD WOLSELEY'S DESPATCH.
541
ADMIRAL SIR W. HEWETT.
CHAPTER LXXX.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN {continued): — THE COLUMN FOR THE RELIEF OF TOKAR — THE ADVANCE
TO EL TEB.
The following despatch from Lord Wolseley to the
general commandbig the forces in Egypt caused no
small excitement on its publication : —
" 1 2th February, 1884.
" The forces to collect at Suakim with the object
of relieving the Tokar division, if it can hold out ;
if not, of taking any measures necessary for the de-
fence of ports. General Graham to command the
forces. Redvers BuUer to command the Infantry
Brigade and be second in command. Herbert
Stewart to command all mounted troops. The two
last-named and Wauchope, deputed assistant-gene-
ral, to start to night Select other staff officers as
required immediately. Make arrangements at once,
settling all details yourself.
"Select the three best battalions in your com-
mand, and the 2nd Fusiliers now in the Jumna^
and the battalion of Marines, to form the Infantry
Brigade under Buller. If you deem it advisable
bring the garrison of Alexandria to Cairo while the
expedition lasts. Report if you wish to do so, as
uu
orders would be sent to the fleet to hold Alexandria
temporarily. Whilst so held, a naval officer will
command there. The 19th Hussars, 19th Infantry
(su\ and any reliable native horsemen now at Suakim
to constitute the native force under Stewart. Com-
plete the 19th from country horses, leaving behind
for a time the English horses with the Egyptian
cavalry.
" One garrison battery of the Royal Artillery to
take over guns, equipment, camels, and camel-
drivers from Wood^s Camel Battery. If it has
started from Cairo it must be started back at once
for this purpose. It can take the ordinary field
guns with it up the Nile. Send one of its officers
with the camel-drivers. Baring will give the neces-
sary authority.
"Admiral Hewett will furnish machine guns,
manned with sailors, if required. Do not send field
guns on any account with the expedition. Regi-
mental transport to be taken with the troops. Employ
camels as much as possible. The baggage to be
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
LS.
on the lowest scale, as the troops ought to be back
in Cairo in three weeks. Obtain from the Egyptian
Government means for carrying water on camels.
"Turn your best attention to the carriage of
water. Stretchers of three or four per company,
and make best arrangements you can for the con-
veyance of the wounded. Tents to accompany the
force to Suakim or Trinkitat, as the case may be.
The troops to bivouac on the line of march. Pro-
visions for men and horses for a fortnight to be em-
barked. Arrange for sending (more) on afterwards
for one or two more weeks. The naval authorities
may be indented on (sic) for first needs to be landed
from the ships. All sea transports to be arranged
with the naval authorities. Three months' supply
of groceries for 6,000 men, and a reserve of 180,000
lbs. of preserved meat, and 400 tons of forage, will
be shipped from Britain immediately. You will
telegraph any further arrangements. Send your
best doctor as principal medical officer. Two hun-
dred and fifty rounds per man, besides seventy in
pouch, and furnish every man with an ample pug-
garee.
"The loth Hussars from the Jumna will be
landed to protect Suakim, and a few of them might
be mounted, as it is desirable to be strong in
cavalry. Order all good horses now there to re-
main for this purpose, and tell Parr to do his best
to obtain land transport The naval officer (com-
manding) at Alexandria to arrange for conveyance
from Suez to Suakim. Communicate with him at
once. Two medical and two commissariat officers
will start at once for service in your command. All
confidence is felt in your judgment and experience
to setde all necessary details. Communicate this
to (Sir E.) Baring and Hewett at once, and arrange
details with the latter.
" The greatest publicity to be given to the de-
termination to relieve Tokar by British soldiers."
The forces available for this service were as
follows : —
19th Hussars.
^ ^If^\ ^fT^ \ of the Royal ArtiUery.
2nd Brigade, I Battery J
5th and 6th Batteries of the Scottish Division,
Royal Artillery.
2nd Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry.
I St Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment
I St Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch).
1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment
3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps.
I St Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
ist Battalion Cameron Highlanders.
In addition to these troops were the loth Royal
Hussars, in the Suez Canal, on their way home
from Bombay.
Pursuant to these orders a Council of War was
immediately held at Cairo, when the following
corps of the available troops were selected to fonn
the expeditionary force for the relief of Tokar,
around which the enemy were then massed, and
daily cannonading with the Kjrupp guns captured
from General Baker at El Teb :— -The 19th Hussars,
under Colonel A. G. Webster, who served with
Lindas Moultanee Horse during the war of the
Indian mutiny; the 3rd Battalion of the Royal
Rifles, under Colonel W. L. R, Ogilvie ; the Black
Watch, under Colonel W. Green, a veteran of the
Crimean and Indian wars; the Gordon High-
landers, under Colonel F. F. Daniell.
This force would number only about 2,500 men,
or half of that which the Government determined
to send to Suakim. The other half was to be made
up by the brigade of Marines then concentrated at
that seaport, numbering 1,000 bayonets, and the
York and Lancaster Raiment, from Aden, which
immediately received orders to proceed to Suakim.
Major-General Graham was appointed to com-
mand the forces in the Soudan, which were to be
further strengthened by an Egyptian regiment led
by British officers, and a camel battery of artillery
worked by British gunners — the latter, and the
regiment of native foot, proceeding from Cairo,
where a very mutinous spirit existed among the
Egyptian troops, which a well-known French
paper* oddly asserted was caused by the removal
of La Garde Noire^ as it called the famous Black
Watch, in the belief that it was a regiment of
Nubians.
Among the first to arrive at Suakim were 300
of the loth Hussars, for whom the horses of the
Egyptian cavalry were in readiness ; and then came
400 men of the Irish Fusiliers, all cheered vocifer-
ously by the seamen and marines, while Baker's
band played them in to the air of "Auld Lang
Syne."
On that day there were no signs of the enemy
near the town, into which one of their camels
strayed, and the Egyptian officers damoroosly
demanded that it should be immediately killed,
as they asserted that the appearance of the poor
animal represented some magical device of the
Arabs, and that evil would result if it was per-
mitted to live.
By this time General Gordon had arrived safely
at Khartoum, on the i8th of February.
It was soon found that there was great difficulty
in getting the camels shipped They were, thae-
fore, ordered back, and mules were sent to take
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OSMAN DIGNA'S MOVEMENTS.
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their place. Thus, as usual, all the money and
labour spent in the organisation of a transport train
were apparently wasted ; though it was hoped that
the camels might be sent forward at a subsequent
period, if the troops advanced inland through a
badly-watered r^ion, where these animals could
exist while mules would perish of thirst
The harbour of Suakim proving too small for all
the transports of the relieving column, Admiral
Hewett ordered them to rendezvous at Ras Raudi,
forty-five miles to the south-eastward, where there
is a safe anchorage. Some of the larger ships,
however, were sent to Trinkitat
In reply to the proclamation summoning the
rebels to lay down their arms, Osman Digna sent
a letter to Admiral Hewett declaring that as soon
as he had captured Tokar he would treat the
British soldiers and ships, and all at Suakim, as he
had treated their brethren — ^meaning the Egyptians.
Thus it was evident that he had no intention of
falling back, whether or not Tokar was relieved by
General Graham, whose way, rumour asserted, he
meant to bar at the head of 30,000 mea
On the 20th of February, the zoth Hussars
paraded at Suakim, 280 strong, on their new horses,
and made an excellent show, but the appearance of
the Riiles and Irish Fusiliers, who came from Cairo
in the /umna in their stained, dirty, and tattered
tunics, contrasted most imfavourably with that of
the Marine battalioa
The 2ist saw an unfortunate mishap, when the
transport Neera^ with the 19th Hussars on board,
grounded on a reef nineteen miles from Suakim.
The Ranger and Sphinx gun-boats were sent to
her assistance by Admiral Hewett, while the Humber
and Heda cast anchor close by. This event caused
some anxiety, for though the soldiers could be
saved, if she went to pieces their horses would be
lost, and the expedition would thus be short in
cavalry.
At this crisis great bodies of the enemy were
seen moving towards Osman Digna's position, and
one came so close to our outposts that the Krupp
guns opened upon it, while the Carysfort shelled a
body mounted on camels near the lagoon.
On the 22nd of February, early in the morning,
five Egyptian soldiers came into Suakim, reporting
that they had escaped from beleaguered Tokar,
when the garrison had then only some forty rounds
in their pouches, and the governor, despairing of
relief, had entered into negotiations with the enemy,
and, terrified by the fate of Sinkat, had agreed to
capitulate, on a promise being given that all lives
should be spared, and the rebels had sworn on the
Koran to observe these terms faithfully. **The
governor has several times in his letters," says a
correspondent, '^ hinted that he would be obliged,
ere long, to surrender ; and he is, moreover, known
to be a great adherent of Arabics, and may there-
fore have preferred to surrender to the rebels than
to receive aid firom the British."
Thus, it was asserted, the garrison would fight
their next battle under the enemy's banner, against
the column that was coming to their relief !
General Graham now sent home for instructions.
" He would probably be opposed, did he advance
beyond Trinkitat, and, although he might bum
the enemy's encampments and destroy the winter
crops, he could not retake Tokar, which is a for-
tified place, and could hardly be captured without
artillery, of which he had only mountain guns,
altogether useless for battering purposes. It was
possible, too, that were the force to advance, the
enemy might, in absence of the troops, carry by a
rush the outer fortifications of Suakim in the night-
time, bum the town on the mainland, and retire
ere morning to the Desert before the marines in the
detached forts could punish them."
There was also the contingency that when Tokar
was his, Osman Digna might — as he threatened in
his letter to Admiral Hewett — ^unite the whole of
his forces and advance openly pn the town. The
question thus became a dUficult one to decide ; but
General Graham, in a letter to General Stephenson
at Cairo, announced that he would, nevertheless,
continue to push forward his troops to Trinkitat
Osman Digna's troops were now being massed
along the whole coast line near Suakim, and had
begun to occupy the forts which General Baker
erected across the lagoon, within three miles of
Trinkitat; and on the 25th a patrol or body num-
bering 1,000 men, with 40 camels, at the distance
of only half a mile, was compelled to retire, fol-
lowed by them. The fall of Tokar had greatly
encouraged the troops of Osman, and the rejoic-
ings in his camp were general
The black troops at Suakim now mutinied, and
refused to pile their arms when ordered to do
so ; they subsequently dispersed into the bazaar,
and openly threatened to join Osman Digna, so
Admiral Hewett resolved at first to send them to
Cairo. They alleged that their bullets would not
pierce the shields of the Arabs, and asked why
they should be required to take the field now that
British troops had done so. Eventually some of
them were used as camel-drivers.
On the 23rd February Admiral Hewett and
Major-General Graham arrived at Trinkitat, where
the disembarkation proceeded rapidly, and where
the whole qi the troops were soon ashore and full
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
[HTeh.
of ardour to advance against the enemy, which the
general hoped to be in a position to do by the 25 th,
on receiving authority from Londoa From the
ships Osman's flag could be seen flying on a fort
beyond the lagoon, but as yet there was no further
sign of his followers.
General Baker was now appointed chief of the
Intelligence Department, to the satisfaction of the
entire force; and Colonel Bumaby and Majors
Harvey and Hill acted with him.
"There are now nine vessels, including two
great troopships, lying in this little harbour,*' wrote
a correspondent, " and the sight is a very inspirit-
ing one. All is life and activity. Boats pass and
repass between each vessel and the shore. The
beach swarms with our soldiers, and the strains of
the bagpipes of the Black Watch reach us here on
board. Spies tell us that the enemy pray every
morning that more unbelieving soldiers may arrive
here to be slaughtered. The soldiers are here, but
the slaughtering will be a different matter, and not
wholly on one side. At the same time it wilPbe
necessary to advance with great cautioa The
enemy are so quick in their movements, that they
practically represent a great force of irregukur
cavalry, and the same tactics must be pursued
towards them as if they were really mounted
They advance in extended order, and not as the
Zulus did, in heavy masses ; musketry fire will not
therefore have the same effect upon them, especially
the fire of half-trained rifle shots, like our infantry."
The want of horse artillery was felt ; even one
battery would have been invaluable, for the camel
batteries were almost useless, not only on account
of the light calibre of the pieces carried, but owing
to their extreme slowness of movement they could
not venture from under cover of the infantry,
against an enemy so fierce, quick, and active.
All the time-expired men and others going home
from India in the Jumna now volunteered, like
gallant fellows as they were, for duty on shore, and
their services were gladly accepted by General
Graham. For such fighting as was about to ensue,
steady old soldiers were simply invaluable.
Parties of the enemy now began to come down
to the opposite side of the lagoon to watch what was
going on at Trinkltat, and on the 26th a recon-
naissance was made of the route beyond it by the
Mounted Infantry and a hundred of the 19th
Hussars.
By this time the emissaries of the Mahdi were
busy throughout the whole of Egypt From town
to town and village to village, through mosque and
bazaar, the simple me&sage, "I am coming — be
ready ! " passed from mouth to mouth.
Osman Digna's chief force was now understood
to be encamped at El Teb, on the same ground
where he had cut Baker's troops to pieces ; and
General Graham's orders were to advance there and
give battle if he found the enemy, but to proceed
no farther if Osman declined to fight and retired
He was also to bury the bodies of all Baker's
European troops. The force under his command
numbered only 4,300 men, while that of the enemy
was estimated at from 10,000 to 12,00a
The Naval Brigade, under Commander Rolfe,
numbered 115 men with ten officers, and Gardiner
machine guns.
By the 27 th the whole of the stores and mimition
of war were landed by the unwearying exertions of
our seamen ; and the order to advance generally
was impatiently waited for, as dusky bodies of Ae
enemy could be seen hovering about, but evidently
under strict discipline, as they kept at a long dis-
tance. Many nK)unted sheikhs were observed
among them, and spies reported that all were
confident of achieving a most bloody victory.
Nothing was precisely settled as yet as to the
order of battle to be assumed against them ; but
all the infantry officers were in favour of an advance,
as at Ulundi, in one great square four deep, and
the Black Watch set the example by practising this
formation on the sands.
After the cavalry reconnaissance, the Gordon
Highlanders and Irish Fusiliers moved across the
lagoon, or long salt marsh, and took possession of
Fort Baker, as the work was named after the gene-
ral who constructed it They were accompanied
by the Mounted Infantry, a squadron of the 19th
Hussars, and two camel guns. The road across
the isthmus was very bad in some places ; thus, in
order that the column might show a great firont, the
Highlanders took off" their shoes and tartan hose,
and advanced barefoot through the swamps (rf Ae
lagoon.
From an early hour, on the morning of the 26th,
the enemy had shown in force in the vicinity of the
fort, and convinced that Allah was delivering all
into their hands, they regarded with fierce exulta-
tion the ships in Trinkitat Bay, as well as the
troops; and the conclusion was not an unnatural
one, since — on their way down to the sea— they
had to pass over two battle-fields, still strewn with
the unburied bodies of conquered foemen. As the
Highlanders and Fusiliers entered the fort, the
Arabs withdrew from the maiigin of the lagoon, but
took post in strength on a ridge about 3,000 yards
distant
There they held their ground, when our cavalry
began to advance, and fired, but at a ver>^ long
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THE EVE OF BATTLE.
545
range. Their dark figures could be vividly seen
against the clear sky-line, as they danced defiantly
and brandished their spears, in hope to lure our
troopers on, and there was every belief that a vast
force lay concealed beyond the ridge, and now it
was that the want of horse artillery began first to
be keenly felt, as a few well-thrown shells might
have unniasked their whole force.
The camel guns had no shrapnel shells among
their equipment, but only case and common per-
cussion shells. " For this want of field artillery,*'
says the correspondent of the Standard^ "the
British military authorities are to blame. Lord
Wolsele/s distinct order that all field guns were to
be left behind, and nothing but camel guns to be
taken, has been strongly disapproved by every mili-
tary authority in Egypt The admiral is sending
on two 9-pounders with the Naval Brigade ; but,
with this exception, the force will be practically
without artillery."
All that day our cavalry and the Arab infantry
remained watching each other, till evening fell, when
the cavalry fell back on Trinkitat, leaving the two
Scottish and Irish regiments in the fort
Osman's troops were massed about the different
springs, within a semicircle of fifteen miles round
Trinkitat, but it was known that they would con-
centrate and give battle when we advanced.
The following was the composition of the force
under General Graham on the 28th of February,
1884, the day before the battle of El Teb :—
Cavalry Brigade. — ^The loth and 19th Hussars,
328 and 410 sabres respectively. Mounted
Infantry, 126; Artillery, 126 men, with six 7-
pounders, ten brass mountain-guns, and four 9-
centim^tre Krupps.
Naval Brigade, 162 men, with two 9-pounders, six
Catlings and Gardiners, under Commander Rolfe,
of the Euryalusy and Flag Lieutenant Graham.
First Brigade. — Royal Rifles, 610; Gordon
Highlanders, 751 ; Irish Rifles, 334.
Second Brigade. — Black Watch, 761 ; Royal
Marine Light Infantry and Artillery, 361.
Engineers, 100; Details, 200; First Battalion
York and Lancaster Regiment (old 65 th, which
arrived at Trinkitat on the preceding day), 400,
from the Serapis,
The entire force was now estimated at 4,206 of
all ranks, exclusive of the transport service and
drivers, with 1,130 camels and mules.
" No transport for water or baggage will move
beyond Fort Baker," was the order, "and the troops
will therefore rely, for the day of the fight, on their
water-bottles alone."
The mules with the reserve ammunition were
to be in charge of British soldiers, principally
dismounted Hussars, as the native drivers were
deemed untrustworthy.
" Probably,*' says the Times correspondent, " no
expedition was ever so quickly or so thoroughly
organised, and the greatest credit is due to all
concerned in it"
The actual position of General Graham, up to
this point, was a somewhat embarrassing one. The
avowed object of the expedition entrusted to him
at the last hour, was to save the beleaguered gar-
rison of Tokar from the fate which had befallen
that of Sinkat But he had reached Trinkitat
only to hear that everything had been settled
for a capitulatioa On the 27th, as a last resort,
he had sent to the outposts a white flag affixed
to a pole, which was planted in the sand by
Major Harvey, with the following letter written in
Arabic : —
"From the General commanding the British
Army to the Sheikhs of the Tribes between Trin-
kitat and Tokar, — I summon you, in the name of
the British Government, to disperse your fighting
men before daybreak to-morrow morning, or the
consequences will be on your own heads. Instead
of fighting with British troops, you should send
delegates to Khartoum to consult with Gordon Pasha
as to the future settlement of the Soudan provinces.
The British Government is not at war with the
Arabs, but is determined to disperse the forces now
in arms in this neighbourhood, and near Suakim.
An answer must be left at the same place before
daybreak to-morrow, or the consequences will be on
the heads of the sheikhs."
The letter and the white flag greatly puzzled the
poor Arabs, who deemed them magical charms,
placed there to exert evil influences, and so their
only response was to keep up a brisk fire on both
till evening fell.
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54<5
BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
lEI Teli.
r
Royal HIghUndert
R. Rifles ' 7Pn. r.m.
-f- R.N. R.A. -^
o, 2p-^ *''B0'!+ Z= York A
F"*':?^; U D D U ;! Regiment
wmwmmm w'm
Gordon Highlanders
ORDER OP MARCH OP COLUMN
/
J Baker defeated 4lh, March.
I ^ / •MoHcrieff kiUed.
tst Fo:^ of Square 9gth rcf.\_ J
PfitTii'hen aitarllng'^^(n.jo)^^ ,^"_
Field WorkM erected
by Baker Pasha,
Y
Approx. Scale of HUes
' ■ ' ' ■ «
*M^
PLAN OF THF. MARCH TO EL TEB (FEBRUARY 28-29, 1884).
CHAPTER LXXXI.
iHE WAR IN THE SOUDAN (continued) \ — THE BATTLE OF EL TER
When the morning of the 29th dawned, the enemy
opened and maintained a heavy fire, but at long
range, with our Mounted Infantry, and our artillery
threw a few shells among them from a Krupp gun,
but these being percussion, seemed to do no
damage. The rifle bullets of the enemy now began
to fall into Fort Baker, and as they were seen to
be throwing up something like earthworks, it was
supposed they were being assisted by those who
recently formed the garrison of Tokar, and for
whose relief General Graham had come.
During the past night the troops had bivouacked
around Fort Baker, and the fires which they lighted
gave a weird and picturesque aspect to the whole
scene. The men lay in long lines, sleeping as they
were to stand to their arms and march on the
morrow, while many gathered round their watch
fires, smoking and talking of the coming conflict
" Mingling with them and listening to their conver-
sation,** wrote one who was present, " I found that
the men fully realised the rush with which their
foes were likely to attack them, and thoroughly
understood the necessity for meeting it with steadi-
ness. Towards morning the rain fell heavily for a
time, completely soaking us where we lay; every
one was glad when the rheillt sounded \ the fires
were piled higher, and the men tried, as best they
could, to dry themselves."
The simple breakfast was eaten, and at eight in
the morning the order " Stand to ! " was given ; the
arms were unpiled, and the ranks formed The
first move was a short one— only five hundred yards
from the ground of the bivouac, to be free fit)m
fires and litter. A brief inspection followed the
halt ; distances were taken up more accurately, and
the advance upon El Teb began steadily and in
grim earnest, leaving 300 men to hold Fort Baker,
and 150 in Trinkitat, under Colonel Ogilvie. All
these were sick and weakly.
Prior to this. Major Harvey, at daybreak, had
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TO MEET THE FOE.
547
gone out to where he had planted the staff, with the
flag and letter, and found it had been taken away.
The order was now given to advance in a rectangle,
having an interior space of about 200 by 150 yards.
"By half-past ten we had marched three miles
from Fort Baker, and here we could plainly see
that they had built some sort of earthworks, in
which they had mounted guns and set up standards.
GENERAL SIR GERALD GRAHAM.
"The way the infantry went lay along the lower
and more barren sandy soil, and at this time I
was," writes an eye-witness, "with the scouts, and
passed directly along the track taken by the unfor-
tunate fugitives from the disaster which befel Baker
Pasha's forces. The bodies studded the route
to Teb, lying about in hundreds, polluting the air.
Swarms of lazy carrion birds flew off on our approach.
The enemy's fire had almost ceased, only a few
shots were popping off on our extreme right and
left, and these were aimed at the scouts. It was a
fine sight to see our fellows step out, as if on holiday
parade. It gave a grand idea of the power and pride
of physical strength. The bagpipes played gaily, and
the Highlanders, instinctively cocking their caps and
swinging their shoulders, footed the way cheerily."
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BRITISH BAITLES ON LAND AND SEA.
lEl Teb.
" In front," says Sir Gerald Graham's despatch,
"were the ist Gordon Highlanders ; in rear the ist
Royal Highlanders; on the right the 2nd Royal
Irish Fusiliers (supported by four companies of the
3rd King's Royal Rifles) ; on the left the ist York
and Lancaster, supported by 380 of the Royal
Marine Artillery and Light Infantry. On the
march the front and rear faces moved in company
columns of fours, at company intervals, and the
flank battalions in open column of companies.
Intervals were left at the angles for the guns and
Catlings, the Naval Brigade occupying the front,
and the Royal Artillery the rear angles. The men
marched with their water-bottles filled and one day's
rations. The only transport animals were those
carrying ammunition and surgical appliances, all
being kept together in the centre of the square."
The front and left of the latter was covered by a
squadron of the loth Hussars ; the right by a troop
of the 19th, the main force of cavalry being in rear
of the whole under Colonel Stewart.
Scarcely had the column begun to advance, when
the scouts of the enemy were noticed to be falling
back, precisely as they had done when the force
of Baker Pasha marched from the same halting-
place about a month before. Their position was
in the vicinity of the wells ; many banners were
observed floating on the morning wind, with dark
masses of men around them, and at several points
along the line, if it could be called so, guns
were seen placed.
As the great rectangle continued to advance, the
masses of the enemy disappeared, leaving the
troops in doubt whether they awaited them behind
the brow on which they had been visible, or were
making flank movements. The order was there-
fore issued for the column to change its direction,
and it swerved off" to the right by the route to the
wells originally taken by General Baker.
Frequent halts were made, and at each of them
the men fell into their fighting position, the four
sides of the square facing outwards, as if to accus-
tom the men to the work, and to enable them to
meet an attack quickly and without confusion.
The cavalry, in a sombre mass, were now at some
distance in the left rear, out of present danger, but
waiting their time, while slowly and cautiously the
infiantry advance began agaia
In the enemy's position all remained silent and
still Not a man was visible, but the floating
banners marked where they were. On their ex-
treme right was a cemetery, decorated with flags and
bordered by low thin scrub. In their rear was a vil-
lage of red huts, and some brick houses unroofed.
The Splimx in the harbour now opened fire with her
long 6-inch guns, but was signalled to desist, as her
shot fell short of the position, while far away in
the distance could be seen long strings of camels
arriving with reinforcements for the enemy.
" It was now ten o'clock, and we were nearing
the enemy's line," says the Standard correspon-
dent " The pipers of the Black Watch struck up
a cheerful air, enlivening the march of the column,
and brightening the faces of the 42nd, who had
hitherto been rather glum at finding themselves in
rear of the square, instead of in their favourite posi-
tion in front The joke, that as the Highlanders
could not be in the iront ranks, they had deter-
mined to frighten the enemy with their unearthly
music, ran round the square, and the column moved
forward in lighter spirit"
A few minutes later saw the cavalry scouts in
front halt Then the infantry formed up and
bayonets were fixed. Though partly concealed by
the green scrub or underwood, the enemy could be
seen posted about 1,500 yards away from the left
front of the square; but they made no movement;
and here again was felt the wunt of horse artillery
to search out their position, which appeared to be
entrenched, so the march towards it was resumed
A few minutes before eleven the cavalry scouts
moved round the flanks of the square, leaving its
front uncovered and face to face with the enemy,
now but a few hundred yards distant Their daA
heads and faces could be seen popping up inces-
santly from their hiding-places behind the under-
wood and their earthworks, but no forward move-
ment was made. The line of march pursued by
the huge rectangle was not directly towards them,
but rather past their left front, at 400 yards'
distance, and every moment a wild rush of the
sable hordes was expected. Suddenly a sharp
musketry fire came from them amid the scrub,
and two Krupp guns opened upon our troops with
case and shell.
This was at about twenty minutes past elevea
"The aim of the guns was bad, so that few
casualties occurred," wrote the general, "and I
succeeded in getting on the left flank of the
work, which was the proper left rear of the
enemy's line. The square was now halted, the
men ordered to lie down, and four guns of the
Royal Artillery and machine guns were brought into
action at a range of about 900 yards. The practice
from these guns was carried on with remarkaUe
accuracy and great deliberation, and with the help
of the machine guns of the Naval Brigade, which
poured in a stream of bullets, the two Krupp guns
were completely silenced, as they were taken in
reverse, and the gunners driven from them,"
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Under the enemy's musketry fire, when the ad-
Vance of the square began again, several casualties
occurred. The first man hit was a Gordon High-
lander. Exclamations of agony, here and there a
rifle flung wildly aside, and men falling out with
pallid faces and unsteady steps, showed that the
enemy's bullets were beginning to tell. As the bugles
sounded the " advance " and the pipes struck up
again, the square pressed on, a storm of bullets was
poured on it, and shrapnel shell burst overhead
with an accuracy which showed that the gunners
of Tokar were there, and could handle their guns
well A fragment from one of these shells unhorsed
General Baker. He was severely wounded in the
left cheek, but his face was bound up by Surgeon-
Major McDowell, and he was speedily in his saddle
again. The day was clear, and a light wind carried
the smoke of the firing quickly away, so that the
enemy's movements were distinctly seen.
As our fire was poured into them, the Soudanese
clung to their position — the village and wells of El
Teb. They were in no military order, but scattered
about, taking advantage of the abundant cover
given by the nature of the ground The soldiers
were now becoming impatient, as the stretchers
became filled with wounded, and some were heard
to exclaim, " If they won^t attack us, why don't we
attack them?"
Thousands were then in front, and hundreds
hanging on the flanks of tlie sq\iare, which now
made straight for the enemy's position. " It is not
a charge," wlrbte an eye-witness, " but a steady, solid
movement in the formation which has all along
been observed. It looks, however, all the more
fcnmidable, for enthusiasm and discipline are equally
marked, as the whole of the troops are cheering,
while the square sweeps down towards the enemy."
As the distance between lessened to 200 yards
the Soudanese ceased firing. They laid aside their
rifles, and grasped their spears or great cross-hiked
swords, and starting up bodily, made a fierce rush
on the square at a break-neck pace. Fearless of
death, yelling and brandishing their weapons, ^they
flung themselves — though in many instances
covered with streaming bullet wounds — like a
human flood, straight on the levelled bayonets of
the square, and many came within five paces of it
ere they fell, thus showing how many bullets may
be required to kill a man.
The brunt of their onset fell on the Black Watch,
the old 65th, and the Naval Brigade. Hurled back
by the deadly fire of the Martini-Henrys, they came
on again, "in groups of thirties and twenties,"
says the Standard correspondent, " sometimes of
threes and twos, and sometimes alone. They dash
forward against our ranks, with poised spear, but
not a man reaches the line of bayonets, for one and
all are swept away by the terrible musketry fire.
For a moment on the other side of the square the
matter seems to be in doubt So hotly do the Arabs
press forward, that the troops pause in their steady
advance. It becomes a hand-to-hand fight, the
soldiers meeting the Arab spear with cold steel,
their favourite weapon, and beating them at it
There is not much shouting, and only a short, sharp
exclamation, a brief shout or an oath, as the
soldiers engage with their foes. At this critical
moment for the enemy the Gardiner guns open
fire, and their leaden hail soon decides matters."
At this period the cavalry, under Brigadier-
General Stewart, swept round the right flank of the
square, and in three lines charged, sabre i la main^
to their right firont, where the enemy were massed
in great nimibers, and had to change fi-ont to meet
this unexpected attack, and there Colonel Barrow,
of the 19th Hussars, was severely wounded, with
twenty others, all being speared, including Major
Slade of the loth Hussars, Lieutenants Probyn of
the 9th Bengal Cavalry, and Freeman of the 19th.
The Arabs opened out as the cavalry came on,
crouched among the scrub, and, hamstringing the
horses, slew the dismounted riders.
Admiral Hewett, who, with Mr. Levison, his
secretary, was present as a spectator, joined the
Naval Brigade, and leading them over the piles of
Arab dead in front, they made a rush at the sup-
posed works, which proved to be but a bank of
sand.
Colonel Bumaby here had his horse shot under
him, and a ball passed through one of his arms»
but he still handled a double-barrelled gun, and
knocked over Arab after Arab as they assailed him,
but was saved fi-om being speared by some of the
Gordon Highlanders.
Captain Wilson, of H.M.S. Heciay who was a
volunteer, crossed the sandbank, and in protecting
a soldier from the attack of a rebel, broke his
sword over the head of the latter, who, wounded as
he was, and half blinded by his own blood, fought
like a wild animal, and slashing about with his keen-
edged sword, wounded Captain Wilson in turn, but
was beaten down and bayoneted to death.
A "halt" was sounded to re-form the square,
which had become somewhat broken in the con-
fusion of the conflict, the face composed of the
Irish Fusiliers and Rifles having become open as
the troops had moved forward to prolong the
fighting line. The enemy had, as yet, no idea that
they were beaten, but were still animated by the
fiercest spirit of resistance. With two Krupp guns
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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and their musketry they opened again, while we re-
sponded with a captixred Krupp and the Gardiners.
It was during this brief halt that the cavalry
delivered their charge.
The bush grew thick and dense in the vicinity of
the square, and numbers of the enemy lurked in it,
and inspired by fanaticism and valour, once more
rushed in little groups to perish under the very
muzzles of the rifles.
It was one o'clock now, and the position against
which the square was advancing again consisted of
trenches and numberless holes or rifle-pits, each
containing two, three, or four mea Out of these
holes Arabs started, as the coliunn advanced slowly,
but steadily, and flung themselves upon the
bayonets to die; and now, so confident became
our men, that the square formation was abandoned,
the flank faces deployed, and the attack was con-
tinued in two long lines.
"In advancing on the scattered entrenchments
and houses," says the general in his despatch, " the
formation became somewhat disordered, owing to
the desire of the men on the flank faces of the
square to fire to their front The Gordon High-
landers speedily rectified this, moving one half
battalion into the fighting line, the other half being
thrown back to guard against flank attacks. The
Royal Highlanders were somewhat out of hand. I
would, however, beg to observe that the ground
was a most difficult one to move over, and that the
desperate tenacity with which the enemy held a
house on the right of the Royal Highlanders caused
the men to form in an irregular manner, so as to
pour a converging fire on it"
Every foot of ground was contested by the Arabs
with the most desperate valour, but at last the
wretched village, with its wells, was carried, and on
a mound being carried by the Gordon Highlanders,
whose pipers set up a loud paean of victory, they
were seen streaming away in wild rout in the direc-
tions of Tokar and Suakim.
This was at two p.m. The last work taken was
crescent-shaped, and rudely built of sand-bags and
barrels.
" The force of the enemy was difficult to esti-
mate," wrote the general, " and in my first telegram
I put it at 10,000. Subsequent native testimony
makes me estimate it at 6,000 fighting men, and I
am informed that they admit a loss of 1,500 killed.
In the immediate neighbourhood of Teb 825 dead
bodies were counted, and I am informed that it is
the custom of these people to carry ofi" their dead
when practicable. I am also informed that the
women of the tribes were present with hatchets to
despatch our wounded."
Among the dead were many soldiers of the Tokar
garrison, but without their uniforms. No women,
children, or camels were found in Teb, but from
the right up to Fort Baker lay the half-decayed or
half-devoured bodies of those who had perished in
the previous battle, and all the spoil taken from
them now fell into our hands.
The Arabs alleged that the bulk of their men
were unaware that they had to fight British troops,
imtil they saw their white faces in the batde. Their
chiefs alone knew, and concealed the fact from
theoL They had no wish, they said, to fight the
British, with whom they had no quarrel, but only
the Turks and Egyptians, who had so long tram-
pled on and oppressed them.
The loss in killed on the British side was only
Ave officers and twenty-four privates ; in wounded,
seventeen officers and one hundred and forty-two
non-commissioned officers, rank and file. Among
the former we may note Lieutenant Frank Royds,
of H.M.S. Carysforty who died of a mwtal wound,
and was buried at Trinkitat; he had been four
years with the Mediterranean Squadron, and served
with distinction at Kassassin and Td-el-Kebir:
Quartermaster Wilkins, of the Rifles, ^o had ob-
tained his commission from the ranks two years
before for gallantry at Tel-el-Kebir, and was par-
ticularly mentioned for his valour at the battle of
Ingogo : Lieutenant Freeman, of the 19th Hussars,
who had just passed "with distinction" for his
troop : Lieutenant Probyn, who, only a few wceb
before, had been appointed to the 9th Baigal
Cavahy : and Major Montague Maule Blade, of the
loth Hussars, who had served with prominence in
the Afghan war of 1878-9. He was on his way
home from India, when stopped to do duty with
his regiment at Trinkitat
Among the officers severely wounded, were
Colonel Bumaby in the left arm. Colonel Barrow,
of the 19th Hussars, and General Baker by the
ball of a shell, which exploded fifteen yards in front
of him. It struck him in the right cheek, inune-
diately below the eye, and buried itself in the
upper jaw. It was of iron, and three ounces in
weight, and was not extracted till the following day.
Two sergeants and a trooper of the 19th Hussars
saved Colonel Barrow with great coinage in the nMe
of the cavalry charge — an act of splendid daring, as
may be inferred from the fact that no other officer
or man severely woimded there escaped to live.
One trumpeter, who ras terribly cut by spears, was
brought out only to die. When the colonel fell,
Sergeant Marshall seized a loose horse, ar^ ^^
trying to place him on it, when up came Troqjcr
Boosley, to whom it belonged, and who had been
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THE MARCH ON TOKAR.
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knocked out of his saddle. Boosley on foot, and
under a heavy fire, supported his wounded leader
into the infantry lines, assisted by Sergeant Fenton,
while Marshall rejoined his troop. A corporal of
the 19th had four horses killed under him — three
by bullets and one by spears.
The daring of the scouting, riter the battle, in
the direction of Tokar may be illustrated by the
circumstance that Sergeant James Fatt, of the 19th,
finding himself alone and close to the town, rode
in without knowing whether the place was hostile
or friendly.
Osman Digna explained his defeat by saying
that he gave his men in mistake the wrong fetish
against steel and lead, but this they deemed unsatis-
factory. During the battle they flogged and slew
their Egyptian gunners without mercy if they made
a bad shot The enemy's loss was found to be
greater than was at first supposed ; the Standard
states that by the 5th of March our troops buried
2,300 of them.
Captain Arthur Knyvet Wilson, KN., serving
on the staflf of Sir William Hewett, received the
Victoria Cross for conspicuous valour at El Teb.
He attached himself to the Naval Brigade, in place
of Lieutenant Royds, who had fallen mortally
wounded. As the troops closed on the enemy's
Krupp battery, the Arabs charged a comer of the
square where the seamen were dragging a Gardiner
gun. Captain Wilson then sprang to the firont and
engaged in single combat with some of the enemy,
protecting thus his detachment, till succoured by
some bayonets of the York and Lancaster Regi-
ment, and, though wounded, he remained with the
brigade throughout the day. The Victoria Cross
was also conferred on Sergeant Marshall, of the
19th Hussars, for saving the life of Colonel Barrow,
whose horse had been killed under him, in circum-
stances already related.
On the morning after the battle the army began
its march at nine o'clock from El Teb towards
Tokar, leaving a wing of the Royal Highlanders
entrenched, with orders to bury the dead Europeans
of Baker's routed army. Their search was suc-
cessful The bodies of Morice Bey, Dr. Leslie,
Smith, Forrestier - Walker, Wilkins, and Abdul
Rassac (Rucca ?), with others, were identified and
interred together. In this duty they were accom-
panied, according to the general's despatch, by
two of General Baker's European orderlies. The
scene was a horrible one. In one place a pile of
300 bodies marked the ground of a square. The
Black Watch placed crosses over the graves of the
European dead.
The above-mentioned entrenchment was formed
for the security of the wounded, and was armed
with two of the captured Krupp guns and some
brass howitzers.
CHAPTER LXXXIL
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN (continued) :— THE ADVANCE ON TOKAR — LETTER FROM THE SHEIKHS —
CAMP OF THE BLACK WATCH — THE ADVANCE ON TAMAI.
On the march towards Tokar the following was the
formation, and similar to that of the preceding
day: —
The front line was composed of the Royal Irish
Fusiliers, the ist York and Lancaster, and the
Royal Marines. The rear line was formed by the
Gordon Highlanders, the flanks by the Rifles and
left wing of the Black Watch.
The day was one pf intense heat, and fi-equent
halts became necessary to rest the troops — the toil
of dragging the guns being particularly heavy on
the Naval Brigade. Prisoners and spies had in-
formed GeneraJ Graham that the Soudanese were
in some force' at Tokar, and at half-past one p.m.
a report came from the officer in command of the
advanced cavalry that the town was ••Isible four
miles in his front ; a second announced that shots
had been fired from the walls, which were amply
loopholed : but on riding forward the general was
met by a few survivors of the famished garrison,
streaming forth with the people, with every demon-
stration of delight and welcome, the men firing
their rifles in the air, and the Arab women uttering
shrill cries of joy that they were, for a time, free
from Bedouin oppression.
The troops were bivouacked outside the town,
and the adjacent villages were searched. In one
were found 1,250 Remington rifles, a brass gun, a
Gatling, and some ammunition. The latter was
buried and the rifles were destroyed, after which
the Black Watch and Rifles began a retrograde
march for El Teb and Fort Baker rcsi)cctively.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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On the 5th of March the general proceeded with
Admiral Hewett to Suakim, their intention being
to re-embark the troops as quickly as possible,
after issuing another proclan;iation to the insur-
gent chiefs, calling upon them to come in and
lay down their arms, and threatening that if the
five guns, including one Krupp, said to be in
Osman Digna*s camp, were not delivered up, he
would march with his whole force to seize them,
and shoot down all who opposed the movement
to continue the strife, assuring them of suc-
cess, and declaring that from afar he would watch
them, and obtain the benediction of Allah and the
Prophet upon them. Twenty-one sheikhs signed
the letter of defiance to General Graham, and re-
presented the tribes as capable of putting 10,000
men in the field.
The fierce fanaticism expressed in every sen.
tence of their letter, and their avowed intention to
slaughter every one of our troops, modified the
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PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF EL TEB (FEBRUARY 29, 1884).
To the proclamations a defiant reply was returned
on the loth of March. Preparations for an advance
were resumed, and a zeriba (or walled enclosure),
nine miles in front, made by General Baker, mid-
way to Osman Digna's camp, was inspected, and
taken possession of by the Black Watch.
Colonel Hallam Parr now organised a veritable
corps of Horse Marines — that is, of marines trained
to fight as mounted infantry — and these, with a
party of nineteen Abyssinian sc ;uts, effected some
skilfiil and useful reconnaissances.
The 8th of March saw Osman Digna still in
position at the wells of Tamanieb, urging his men
general feeling respecting their undoubted valour
at El Teb, and the hope that it would not be
necessary to meet them in battle again. "The
tone of the letter, and the savage threats breathed
against us," says a correspondent, '^have much
changed that feeling, and the sentiment now is, if
they will have it, they must!"
Hence the issue of the next conflict was looked
forward to with some anxiety, as it was considered
that from the character of the ground where it was
likely to be fought, and the abundance of bushes
and scrub, the Soudanese would fight with greater
advantage than they had at £1 Teb, and wouU
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HTeW THE SHEIKHS' LETTER. 553
55
V Y
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
[ElTeK
seek to break the square by one tremendous rush.
And it was felt that there was an absolute necessity
for crushing Osman Digna if we were ever to have
peace on the shore of the Red Sea.
The following was the tenor of the peculiar reply
to the letter sent by the general and admiral : —
" In the name of the most merciful God* The
Lord be praised, etc
" From the whole of the tribes and their sheikhs
who have received your writings, and those who
did not receive writings, to the Commandant of the
British soldiers, whom God help to Islam. Amen.
Then your letters have arrived with us, and what
you have informed us in them — ^to come in — ^then
know that the gracious God has sent His Mahdi
suddenly, who was expected, the unlooked-for mes-
senger for the Religious and against the Infidels, so
as to show the religion of God through him, and by
him, to kill those who hate him, which has happened.
" You have seen who have gone to him from the
people and the soldiers, who are countless. God
killed them, so look at the multitudes. [Here
followed certain verses of the Koran.] You
never know religion till after death, and hate God
from the beginning. Then we are sure that God
— and God only — sent the Mahdi so as to take
away your property, and you know this since the
time of our Lord Mahomet's coming. Pray to
God and be converted. There is nothmg between
us but the sword, especially as the Mahdi has
come to kill you and destroy you, unless God
wishes you to Islam.
"The Mahdi's sword be on your necks wherever
you escape, and God's iron round them wherever
you may go! Do not thmk you are enough for us,
and the Turks are only a little better than you.
We will not leave you your heads unless you
become Mussulmans, and listen to the Prophet and
the laws of God ; and God said in His dear Book
that those who believe in Him fight for Him, and
that those who do not believe in Him shall be
killed. [Here followed many bloodthirsty injunc-
tions from the Koran to slay unbelievers.] There-
fore God has waited for you a long time, and you
think that He will always go on waiting for you ;
but God said that He would wait for you, as you
were bad people. But know that during the time
of the Mahdi He will not accept bribes from you,
and also will not leave you in your infidelity, so
there is nothing for you but the sword; so that
there will not remain one of you on the face of the
earth — ^therefore Islam ! "
Sealed by the sheikhs of the twenty-one tribes.
* The T14 chapters of the Konm are all prefooed thus.
In reply to a communication from the Sheikh £1
Morghani, Osman Digna savagely declared that
he would drink the blood of the Turks and of all
who assisted them; adding that with the sword
of the Mahdi he would strengthen the religion of
Islam, and concluded by recommending the sheikh
to convert the British unbelievers.
On the 1 1 th of March the following telegram was
received at the War Office, from the senior medical
officer in the Soudan : —
*^ Seven officers and 141 men landed at Suez
satisfactorily. Bulk of cases are chiefly flesh
wounds from swords and spears — ^very little bone
smashing. Three amputations, all dangerous, and
two compound fractures, both very severe ; several
bullet and sword wounds dangerous; thirty-four
medical cases. Colonel Barrow doing well Two
officers and fifly-four men, all lighter cases, will
come to Cairo to-morrow."
It was on a Sunday when, as stated, the Black
Watch advanced again fix>m Suakim and took
possession of Baker Pasha's zeriba. The heat was
intense, and afrer being detained for some time
waiting for cannon, the battalion marched without
them, and suffered greatly en rouU. The morning
was close and hot, and five cases of sunstroke
occurred, while several other men were temporarily
disabled by heat and exhaustion. Each man
carried a hundred rounds, in addition to his rifle
and equipment The water-bottles were full at
starting, and were refilled on reaching the zeriba
enclosure. There some smokers set fire to the
dried grass and bushes covering the plain; for-
tunately a breeze carried the flames southward of
the zeriba, and the Highlanders prevented them
from catchmg the adjacent brushwood They
formed an entrenched camp, in which the water
was stored Camels and mules, conveying the
latter and other stores, had been passing to the
front all day, and by evening 10,000 gallons of
water and a vast quantity of ammunition were in
their rear.
"By daybreak on the 15th of February," wrote
one of the Black Watch, some time prior to this
march, " we were safely entrained for Suez, en nmU
for the Eastern Soudaa We embarked 743 <^cers
and men, under the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel W. Green. .... The train stopped
at Tel-el-Kebir for about twenty minutes, jost
giving us time to see the handsome cemetery that
has been formed as the last resting-place of oar
comrades who fell in the late campaiga The
principal headstone is that erected to the m«nofy
of our late Sergeant-Major McNeill Those of us
who got nearest the graves of the Black Watch
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ENCAMPED AT THE ZERIBA.
sss
collected feathers from the red heckles of those
around — what Scottish soldier does not know the
story of the Red Heckle ?— made tiny bunches,
and placed them at the head of each. Looking
at these from the train as we passed, they seemed
like some brilliant-hued flowers brightening up the
scene. The act was perhaps a silly one for grown
men to do ; but, after all, it was one that indicates
very plainly that even in the wearing of a distinc-
tive coloured feather, the young members of the
raiment are proud of and value what has been
won for them by those who have *gone before.'
They paid their dead, in fact, the highest compli-
ment they knew of."
All accounts now agreed that Osman Digna
had, during the few preceding days, received very
large reinforcements, and the last put his strength
as high as 8,000 men. These men were armed
somewhat differently from those who fought at
El Teb; thus it was expected that our troops
would escape the loss inflicted by a distant fire
from rifles and artillery, and that if they could
keep their formation in square, they would win the
coming battle with fewer casualties. "To resist
such an onslaught as will be made against General
Graham's column," wrote a correspondent, "the
most perfect calmness and steadiness will be neces-
sary, and these are more likely to be found among
troops who fight almost reluctantly and wholly in
cold blood, than in men animated by passion.
Upon the other hand, it is the very madness of
their fanaticism, the intense hatred of their foe,
which renders the Arab tribesmen so formidable,
and gives them their sole chance of success. Pru-
dence and coolness would be fatal to them, as
they were at El Teb, when, instead of charging in
a furious rush upon our ranks at first, they tried
prudent tactics, abandoned the mode of attack
which proved so fatal to the forces of Hicks, of
Baker, and of Moncrieff; laid aside the sword
and spear, which in their hands are such terrible
weapons, and entered into a long range duel with
rifles and cannon. Henceforth, we may be sure,
there will be no repetition of these tactics. Osman
Digna will rely upon the swords, spears, and
fanaticism of his followers for victory."
The dust raised by the Black Watch as they
marched into the zeriba was visible from his camp,
and caused much excitement there, and amid it the
messengers who had taken the last letters of Ad-
miral Hewett and the general to him contrived to
escape unobserved They stated that Osman had
torn up all the letters they carried, so that they did
not reach the sheikhs for whom they were intended
He announced to his people that the British would
come in the early morning, when he would fall
upon them at once, and, as a preparation for this,
sent all the women, children, and baggage to the
rear.
From the zeriba the dim outline of some low
black hills of red granite and syenite could be
seen looming up, some six miles away, where some
of Osman's followers were posted In some places
in rear of the zeriba, the mimosa and cactus grew
to the height of seven feet
On the 1 2th March General Graham's troops
marched from Suakim to the zeriba and joined the
Black Watch at their camp there, and afterwards
the whole were formed in two squares, fifteen miles
distant from the town, and three from the camp of
Osman Digna. The advance to that point was
uneventful All night a most vigilant watch was
kept, but the enemy made no attack.
The ammunition animals and the hospital appli-
ances were in the centre of each square. The
heat was suffocating, together with the light dust
which rose with every motion of the feet
Large bodies of the enemy had been visible
early in the day ; but these disappeared when the
troops set out, though smaller parties hovered in
the distance. The force advanced slowly, every
precaution being taken against a surprise, as there
was no knowing where the main body of the enemy
might be lurking. A troop of cavalry scouted over
the ground in front and on the flanks of the
squares, while the rest of that arm followed in rear
of the whole. So many halts were made that the
troops took four hours to cover seven miles of
ground The squares as they advanced through
the bush presented an imposing appearance; but
they were oblong in form, the flank faces being
half battalions ; and, as both marched nearly
abreast, they made a front of about a quarter of a
mile in length. The Naval Brigade had very
heavy work dragging their guns through deep sand
and over very rough ground; "but they were as
cheery as possible, regarding the whole affair in
the light of a spree on shore."
For some hours after the arrival of the troops on
the ground, where they were to bivouac for the
night of the 12th — the last night on earth for
many — all went quietly. Fires were lit, haversacks
opened, and the men ate their simple dinners ; but
just before the great red sun set at the almost level
horizon, some of the Soudanese appeared at the dis-
tance of 800 yards, and four rounds of shell were
plumped into them. On this they dispersed, but
one, more plucky than his comrades, crept reso-
lutely forward for 300 yards, and fired twice without
effect
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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The Mounted Infantry now reported the enemy
at 6,000 strong ; a spy at 7,000.
As darkness fell, the fires in their camp were seen
brightly and vividly at the distance of a mile and
a half away. At eight p.m. the bugles sounded,
and an allowance of grog was served out Shortly
after the infantry were all formed in one great
square, with every interval closed At eleven
o'clock Commander Rolfe, R.N., stole out of the
bivouac alone to reconnoitre — a very daring action,
as none knew what number of the enemy might be
lurking among the bushes.
He made his way to the spot where our shells
had burst, and found three men lying dead — a
proof of our gunners' accuracy. He actually went
farther, and saw the Arab pickets asleep round
their watch-fires in a hollow close beside the wells.
He reported that no attack was apparently medi-
tated, so the troops were ordered to lie down and
get what sleep they could, prior to the stem work
of the morrow. The moonlight was bright and
clear.
At one o'clock a sudden fire was opened on the
square, and every man stood to his arms prepared
to repel an onset The fire continued, but the aim
was bad, and bullets flew high in the air. Our men
were perfecdy steady in rear of a brushwood bar-
rier they had formed, and, singular to say, fired not
a shot in return. " All night long the enemy kept
up their fire," wrote one who was present " It was
a most unpleasant time, for the bullets swept over-
head thickly, but there was nothing to do, save to
bear it quietly. In the centre of the square were
huddled together camels, horses, and mules, and
several of these were hit by bullets. As the men
were again lying down, the number of casualties
was light, being only one man killed, an officer
and two men wounded. There was a general
feeling of relief when day began to dawn, and the
long and anxious hours of watching and expectation
came to an end." The lime for action was at hand.
Three soldiers had received bayonet wounds
from their comrades, in the hurry of closing the
ranks, and an Egyptian camel-driver was shot by
six bullets in a mistake, as he leaped over the
prickly mimosa bushes. Sunrise brought no relief
from the enemy's fire, which was maintained with
increasing strength, and they were bold enough to
come within 400 yards, till a 9-pounder and Galling
were brought into play, and after receiving a few
rounds, they retired to their main position at the
wells of TamaL
The men then took breakfast, and were en-
gaged with this meal when the cavalry, under
General Stewart, came riding up from the zeriba,
where they had passed the night, which proved,
after the fires died out, a cold one to those un-
provided with blankets.
Orders were now issued for an advance to be
made at eight o'clock, but before the movement
began, cavalry were sent in front, with strict injunc-
tions to act as mounted infantry only, and on no
account to allow themselves to be lured into
charging, ^hey searched the bushes in front
thoroughly, but only such small bodies of the
enemy showed themselves that an opinion began
to prevail that the tribesmen did not mean to
fight after all
Wyld and the Abyssinian scouts discovered that
the skhinishers of the night Tiad been but 150
men, who had made a point of aiming at the two
hospital waggons, the high rounded tops of which
had been conspicuous objects in the moonlight
As a consequence, the doctors and General
Graham's staff had several narrow escapes, 2nd
Colonel Cler)' was nearly hit by a bullet, which
entered the ground at his feeti
The place where our troops bivouacked on die
night before the battle of Tamai was exacdy two
miles south-westward of where Kassim Effendi, with
600 Nubians, had been annihilated a few month?
before.
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BREAKING THE SQUARE.
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CHAPTER LXXXIII.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN {continued) \ — ^THE BATTLE OF TAMAL
At eight o'clock on the mommg of the 13th of
March, the infantry formed up in front of the zeriba,
marching in the same formation as that of the pre-
vious day, by brigades 1,000 yards apart, in echelon,
the 2nd Brigade leading. It was composed of
the Black Watch, old 65th, the Royal Marines,
and Naval Brigade, with Gardiner and Catling
guns.
In the I St Brigade were the old 89th, the Gordon
Highlanders, Royal Rifles, and Royal Marines.
The former moved to the left under General
Davis, and with it were the general and his staff.
As the squares advanced, the cavalry fell back, fol-
lowed by the enemy, who in great force could be
seen crowded beyond the bush in front, their bright
weapons flashing and their black skins standing
boldly out in the glare of the sunshine. They were
1,200 yards distant, but the main body was a mile
away.
The squares moved steadily on over a route
intersected by dry water-courses, towards a deep
hollow, fiill of boulders and rugged rocks« The
cavalry, now on the left, sent forward two squadrons,
togetlier with the Abyssinians, to skirmish, and a
brisk fire soon raged between them and the enemy,
till the advance of the latter, led by their wild
sheikhs, compelled them to fall back, and then the
2nd Brigade pressed forward, firing as it went.
As the edge of the hollow was won, the fire on
the British side became inconceivably hot, while
the enemy now began to make rushes with sword
and spear. Despite the bugle calls and orders of
their officers, our men could not easily be got either
to reserve their fire or aim steadily. Thus, in a
few minutes, the whole troops were hidden in the
dense smoke of their own rifles, and under its cover
the enemy crept up the side of the rocky ravine,
and made a succession of wild and furious rushes
on the bayonets of the front ranks.
At this point the enemy were at least 1,000
strong, and creeping under cover of the smoke,
they dashed up the sloping ground upon the
Marines and 65th, or York and Lancaster Regi-
ment, and from thirty to forty flung their bare
bodies on the bayonets, and perished under dread-
ful wounds.
And now, as the pressure increased, " the weak
points of a square formation became visible," says
pn eye-witness. "The companies of the 65th
and Black Watch (or front face) swept forward
against the foe, but the remaining companies of
these regiments, which formed the sides of the
square, and were also expecting an attack, did not
keep up with the rapid movements of those in front,
and the consequence was that many gaps appeared
in what should have been a solid wall of men."
The front face of the square cheered loudly,
advancing with fixed bayonets at the double, thereby
still more increasing the gaps on the flanks, at a
moment when the Soudanese, in vast dark hordes,
were seen swooping down on the right face of
the square, the front of which now halted, and
every effort was made to close the fatal gaps and
steady the men to receive the charge; but the
rolling rifle fire that burst forth now fi-om front
and flank drowned the voices of the officers.
"The 65th gave vray, and fell back upon the
Marines," says the correspondent of the Daiiy Tele-
graphy " throwing them into disorder, though many
men disdained to turn their backs, but kept their
faces to the foe, firing and thrusting with the
bayonet; but both regiments were inextricably
huddled together, and through the smoke at this
dire crisis the dark and demon-like figures of the
foe could be seen rushing on, unchecked even for
a moment by the hailstorm of bullets, and then the
fight became hand to hand."
The two broken English regiments now threw the
Black Watch into partial confusion, and the square
no longer existed. On front and flank the enemy
were wildly pressing now, striking with the spear, and
hewing with their long cross-hilted swords, slaying
many, and being slain in turn, under bullet and
bayonet or both. Despite the efforts of the officers,
the whole of this column now began to recoil, and
the Naval Brigade, surrounded by a mass of our
soldiers, all in wild miUe with the enemy, were
unable to use their guns, and were compelled to
leave them behind, with the loss of three officers
and many seamen. But the sights of the guns
were removed to disable them from use by the
enemy.
General Graham and his staff. General Davis, and
all the officers, by voice and example, made incre-
dible efforts to get the troops to hold their ground
in an orderly way, and to fire steadily on the fast-
rushing Arabs, who were shot down or bayoneted
in great numbers, only to be replaced by others.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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All this time Buller*s brigade, 500 yards on the
right rear, had been moving forward in perfect
order, and advancing to the assistance of Davis,
with the steadiness of troops on parade. In front
were the guns of the Marine Artillery, the fire of
which, however, failed to check the enemy for a
time, though that of the Rifles did eventually.
The officers of the 2nd Brigade now succeeded
in checking the retreat, and the Black Watch, who
dead, and would have shot more only the Govern-
ment ammunition missed fire. An Arab threw a
spear and just passed the colonel Another threw
a stone, wounded him on the head and knocked
his helmet off, and he was bareheaded under a
burning sun, till gallant Norman Macleod gave
him his helmet and wrapped a cloth round his
own head. When we rallied and formed line I
imagined I must be the only officer alive; but to
COMMANDER ROLFE.
were fairly in hand, with a portion of the Marines,
after fighting back to back, arrested the course of
further disaster. The brigade was re-formed, and
the men who had got out of their regiments were
sent into their own lines again, and, covered by
Buller's fire, the formation was resumed, and an
advance was made manfully to retrieve the dis-
order. So terrible was the fire the united brigades
poured into the enemy, that the progress of the
latter was checked, but there was no retreating
as yet, for few of the furious Arabs, who still came
surging on, turned a face rearward, but sought
certain death amid the bullet-storm and under the
hedges of steel that met them.
An officer of the Black Watch (whose character-
istic letter appeared in the Army and Navy Gazette)
says, ** All our officers fought like devils, and how
we lost only one I cannot tell. God is good, and
must have put His shield round them. The
colonel is a splendid man. He shot two Arabs
my joy we all met — Old Charlie Eden, as cool as
if on partridge shooting ; little Brophy lame, but
pretending to be sound ; Sandy Kennedy with eye-
glass in his eye and his wife's watch round his
neck ; Bald, a gigantic subaltern, sweating, with a
sailor's hat on — he had lost his helmet ; Sir John
McLeod's son, Duncan, wounded ; old Bob Coveny
smiling with confidence; and Norman Macleod
with his firm lips \ Speid looking calm as a judge;
and young Macrae, an Argyleshire lad, who had
only joined us the day before, armed with a spear.
All our officers had hand-to-hand fights with the
Arabs, who pulled the kilts oflf our men. One of
them tore the green ribbons off mine, but I killed
him."
The Daily Telegraph records that Colonel Green
had a spear glance off his holster, and that two
officers of the Black Watch killed many of the
enemy with their claymores, running the blades up
to the hilt every time."
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Tanuul
FRESH ARAB ATTACK.
Z'.9
Ai.Ftrst Position of Mounted Infantry,
• f B. Second Position of 2nd Brigade (Reforming).
C. Position of Cat'oiry to corrr 2nd Brigade,
D' Second Positiim of ist Brigade. .
U First position of both Brigades,
^•Z Position of Arab slain.
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WITH
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larch
TAMAI %i»^^
Huts &» Tents in /io//ofvs) '*•
fi^ a A ^*
A A A A J o«m«n't Magazines
APPARENT FORMATIONS DURING THE ATTACK
R.H.II Y.4 L.
Royal -u R.N. ^ York
Hichlandea[ 'Jjt i *
R.H.aY.aL. ;*5J*
r- *)f -^Lancatter Formation of 2nd BHgade [ R.N.^ '>*>/ ;^
*^ wfion broken. i __ *•
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R. Marines -&«
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1tH»H+ 9 Pr»
Q.H
Ist Position of Brlga^ea ^nllh' ^ ^"[^fjj;]; ^ Cordon
Fusiliers^ ^Highlanders \.,
llllllll <:^^^^
Royal Rifles , Squad.
loth Hussars
(dismounted) 3^ p^^„^„ ^^ ^^^^
Ajipros. .Scale of Yards for Flan.
0 fOO ICOO 2000
Abandoned Guns
PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF TAMAI (MARCH 1 3, 1 884).
It was nine o'clock when the 2nd Brigade re-
formed, was supplied with fresh ammunition, and
reached a point 100 yards ahead, where it had
been broken, and where the lost guns were retakea
Then a fresh body of the enemy were seen
pouring out of a deep rocky ravine, in which they
had been concealed in great force, and their new
onslaught was met with steadiness ; thus, of the
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
(Tftnuu.
dusky braves who came swarming and storming
down on these troops, with wild yells and brand-
ished blades, none went back, and we are told that
" it was pitiful to ^e how the masses melted away
under our fire, leaving a trail of bodies behind
them, till the last survivors fell close to our
ranks."
The men had now been strictly forbidden to fire
till the enemy were well within range, and, as they
obeyed faithfully, the terrible use of the breech-
loaders began to prevail over the heroic valour of
the Arab warriors, who began to fall back into
the ravine, or retreat up its opposite side, followed
by a hot shell and rifie fire; yet the gallant
Soudanese showed no sign of panic, as they halted
and fired back with perfect coolness from time to
time. They had run one of our Catlings into the
ravine, and set fire to an ammunition limber,
which blazed and hissed, firing shots perilously for
half an hour after.
General BuUer's brigade, the ist, was halted on
the edge of the ravine, while forward and across It
went the 2nd Brigade. Buller was in square ; the
Gordon Highlanders on the front and right face,
the Royal Irish Fusiliers on the left, the Rifles in
the rear, and nine y-pounders, under Major Gough,
in the centre.
Here the objective point was a second interven-
ing ridge, 800 yards distant, and formed of sharp,
hot red granite rocks and boulders ; but it was
carried with a cheer, the men firing as they swept
on at the enemy's main body gathered on the
opposite ridge, which was also carried, General
Graham directing the advance in person, and on
the summit being gained, in the valley of Tamai
Ghob, 180 feet below, could be seen the tents and
huts of the camp of Osman Digna, with the loot
of all his former victories.
The battle was virtually over now, but still it
was dangerous to move about the field owing to
the wounded Arabs who lurked amid the scrub,
refusing to accept quarter, and stabbing and shoot-
ing at all who came near them. One attacked no
less than six Hussars, and fought with such insane
fury that he was not slain without great difficulty.
The infantry halted after the ravine was cleared,
and the cavalry were ordered forward to clear the
bushes.
At half-past ten General Graham re-formed the
troops prior to advancing on the wells, which were
three miles distant fi-om the field, from whence
parties of the enemy were still visible on different
points of the horizon. After a short halt the ad-
vance was resumed, but the enemy gathered again
^ if to renew the strife. The "halt" was sounded,
and the guns opened on the Arabs with such good
effect that they dispersed and fled towards the
hills, and the force moved into Osman's camp,
from whence, after a time, Buller's brigade marched
back to the zeriba. Two of Osman's standards
were taken.
The " roll up " of Davis's brigade was the result
of the advance being made too rapidly, and a
momentary forgetfiilness of the perilous nature of
the Arab rush. Had the square halted, or ad-
vanced with the slow steadiness which characterised
that of Buller, the mishap could not have occurred,
even after a sleepless night
" I passed over the battle-field," says the Stan-
dard correspondent, "and firom what I saw there
I should increase my estimate of killed to at least
3,000. The Arabs lay in heaps, as the Egyptians
did in the square on General Baker's battle-field
Alongside of them are the skeletons of the black
regiment annihilated here three months ago, and
now terribly avenged." The Daily Telegraph made
the Arab loss at 4,000 killed — ^an over-estimate— and
6,000 wounded. Few or no prisoners were takea
The Mahdi's general in command during the
battle was Mahmoud Mousa, a cousin of Osman,
who had now fled to the hills. Many sheikhs
were found among the dead.
Our losses were as follows : — Killed, 5 officers
and 86 men; wounded. 8 officers and 103 men;
missing, 18 men. The latter were afterwards re-
ported among the killed Total casualties, 210,
exclusive of those who died subsequently of then-
wounds. The Naval Brigade, the Black Watch,
and the old 65th suffered most severely. The
former regiment lost no less than eight sergeants
when the Arabs broke the square — ^viz., McClay,
Eraser, Campbell, Reed, Duncan, Gray, Johnstone,
and King. Their total casualties were 90 of all
ranks.
Among the officers who fell were Major Walker
Aitken, of the Black Watch, attemptmg to save
whom Ronald Eraser died, fighting to the last;
Lieutenants Montressor, of H.M.S. Euryalus;
Almack, of H.M.S. Briton; Houston Stewart,
R.N., and Captain Ford
Lieutenant P. Scroope Marling, of the Roj-al
Rifles, serving with the Mounted Infantry, received
the V.C. for bravery at Tamai, in risking his life to
save that of Private Morley, of the Royal Sussex
Regiment, who, when wounded, he placed upon
his horse before him. Morley fell off, on which
Lieutenant Marling dkmounted and gave up his
horse, thus saving the soldier, while pressed by
the enemy at eighty yards' distance.
The same coveted distinction was awnrd'xl to
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INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.
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Private Thomas Edwards, of the Black Watch, for I seaman. "Both the latter were killed, and Edwards,
Oonspicuous bravery displayed by him in defence 1 after bayoneting two Arabs, and himself receiving
of one of the guns of the Naval Brigade to which [ a wound with a spear, regained the ranks with his
he was attached as a mule-driver. He was beside | mules, and subsequently did good service in re-
the gun, with Lieutenant Almack, R.N., and one ' maining by his g\m throughout the action."
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN {continuto) \ — SOME INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OP TAMAI — SUBSEQUENT
OPERATIONS.
An anecdote (in the United Service Magazine)
powerfully exemplifies the desperate courage of the
Soudanese at Tamai. Two of the loth Hussars
saw an Arab lying on the ground desperately
wounded A riderless horse went past at the
moment, and the vengeful savage mustered
strength enough to stab the poor animal in the
flank. Enraged by this useless cruelty, one of the
Hussars, by one blow of his sword — z, wonderful
feat with a regulation weapon — cut the man's spear
hand ofil Indomitable to the last, the Arab
grasped the spear in his left hand, and when the
second Hussar came up, by a superhuman effort
he ran him through the body, a deed which was
speedily avenged.
A luckless Egyptian soldier who had been taken
at Tokar, and was compelled, with a rope round
his neck, to fight against us at El Teb, was here
forgotten in the retreat of the Arabs. He had
been practically made a slave, and was left securely
tied Freeing himself from his bonds, he crept
into our bivouac at night, and gave the general
much valuable information about the enemy's
strength. He pointed out the tents of Osman
Digna and other sheikhs at TamaL The silver
watch of the former was found, and a large quantity
of shell for brass rifled guns, and Remington car-
tridges. On this occasion General Graham de-
stroyed the stores and every hut in the hollow.
The flames rose to a great height, with dense
clouds of black smoke. In a few minutes the
ammunition caught fire, and for an hour there
was the explosion of shells and rattle of rifle shot
as if a great battle were raging — and the people in
Suakim thought so. General Graham was heartily
cheered by his troops, and the marines and sailors
cheered each other. The cavalry, returning from
Tamai, found a running stream, three feet wide and
three feet deep, in the nullah, and under the burning
sun it was a welcome sight to horse and trooper.
" I was eye-witness," says the correspondent of the
Daily Telegraphy " to scores of instances of heroism
on the part of our troops. Whilst the Black Watch
were retiring, hard-pressed by the Arabs, a private
rushed at one of the enemy, who was slashing right
and; left, and ran him through with his bayonet,
doing it so violently that he thrust the muzzle
of his rifle into the savage's body, and had to
drag the man with him for some distance before
he could extract the weapon. What occurred in
Section i, B Company, will illustrate the nature of
the terrible contest where the fight raged fiercest
Of twenty men who went into the first charge
of our troops up to the edge of the nullah — the
regiment was obeying orders — it would have been
wiser had they felt their ground, advancing steadily
— but three escaped alive, and they were badly
wounded.
"One of the finest and strongest men in the
Black Watch was with Section i, namely, big
Jamie Adams, and he was pluckily backed by
Sergeant Donald Eraser. Both men faced the
rushing horde of nearly naked Arabs, and charged
down into the nullah. The battle was too fierce
to permit of time to draw empty cartridges, let
alone load rifles. These men and their comrades,
opposed steel to steel, fighting with all the physical
power they possessed, which was vastly greater than
even the sinewy strength of the swarthy savages.
The two Highlanders made a dozen of their foemen
bite the dust before they fell from loss of blood,
from cuts by thrown spears. While they fought,
they used not only their rifles, the butt as well as
the bayonet, but when the Arabs closed in, hit
out with their flsts. Another man of the same
Section, George Drummond, who came out alive
with three wounds, while bayoneting an Arab was
cut over the head by a man on a grey charger, with
one of those huge cross-hilted swords. His helmet
and the swerving of the horse saved him. Though
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
ISOUQIIL
Stunned he drove his bayonet through the Arab's
body. While tugging to get it out, another rushed
at him spear in hand, but his fighting comrade
Kelly shot the savage. Poor Kelly was killed
almost instantly afterwards, and Drummond had
his work cut out to get away."
The man on the grey charger proved to be
Osman's cousin, the General Mahmoud Mousa.
The same writer tells us that he counted the
bodies of over thirty of the 65th, and an equal
number of the 42nd, within a radius of fifty yards,
all shockingly mangled by spear thrusts and sword
cuts, but the Arabs lay about them in hundreds.
As yet their dead were not buried, and the flocks
of vultures, with herds of jackals and hyaenas, were
beginning to hover about This was on the i6th
of the month.
The many casualties among the non-commissioned
officers of the 42nd arose from the circumstance
that they were supernumeraries in the rear of the
fighting line, consequently when the Arabs burst
into the square, they were taken in rear, and cut
down before the men in front could realise what
had happened.
The scene at the camp on the night after the
battle was a mournful one, and as the farewell
volleys of the burying parties rang out on the still
air, many must have felt that our victory was dearly
won, by the loss of many a good fellow and gallant
comrade. But other and more noisy mourners
were there. All over the field could be seen dark
groups of Soudanese, searching by moonlight for
missing friends, and their shrill cries and wailings
as they stumbled over heap after heap of their
dead, gashed and drenched in blood, made our
soldiers, flushed as they were with conquest, and
now amid the reaction of spirit consequent on a day
of such fierce excitement, regret the slaughter that
had been made for no useful end.
In the morning not an Arab was visible, all had
disappeared in the night At eight a.m. on the
14th the forces marched out of camp and advanced
beyond the point reached on the previous evening.
The cavalry were in front, under the guidance of
an Egyptian soldier who had escaped from Tokar.
Near a village, which was set in flames, a few shots
were fired at the cavalry, and one man was wounded,
but after that the entire country seemed deserted.
Admiral Hewett on this day sent off messages to
the sheikhs, worded in the same terms as those
which had been torn up by Osman Digna, adding
that the fate of those who fell at EI Teb and Tamai
would overtake all who disobeyed his summons.
A meeting of thirty friendly sheikhs took place
at Suakim on the i6th. It was attended by General
Graham, the staff, and Admiral Hewett, who said,
we had conquered Osman Digna, but had no desire
to occupy the country, and merely wished for peace.
The British were here, and desired only the safe
withdrawal of the Soudan garrisons. Could the
sheikhs open up the country with their tribes, and
secure the trade routes? They replied that the
tribes could only do so with the aid of the British
troops.
A proclamation offering 5,000 dollars for Osman
Digna, dead or alive, was now posted on the
walls of Suakim, and distributed outside. It ran
thus; —
" I, the British Governor and General, civil and
military, at Suakim, make known that whosoever
will bring in the rebel Osman, the murderer, who,
by his lies, has caused the blood of the tribes to be
spilt at El Teb and Tamanieb, alive or dead, shall
receive five thousand dollars reward."
When the Arab villages among the ravines
were searched, evidences were found of a hasty
flight All the household utensils and chief valu-
ables remained in the huts and tents. Traces of
blood were also found, showing that wounded men
had been brought there and laid on goat-skins
Remington cartridges were thickly strewed every-
where.
On the 1 6th of March the Jumna sailed for Suez
with 180 wounded and sicL Their embarkation
was conducted without delay or mishap, and for
that service the captain of a French war steamer
humanely offered his men, boats, and steam launch
— an offer which was accepted by Admiral
Hewett
A wounded Arab who was found on the field of
Tamai, where he had lain all night, told that he
alone remained of sue brothers who were in the
battle. He said bitterly " that Osman lied, as the
British bullets had not been turned aside, but had
killed thousands of Hadendowas; and that the
British were not the terrible cut-throats and beasts
they were represented to be."
When on the 15th twenty of the loth Hussars,
under Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Brabazon, recon-
noitred for thirteen miles, as far as Handoub, they
saw numbers of Arabs peacefully herding their
goats and cattle, who talked to the interpreter in
a friendly manner, showing no hostility whatever.
On the following day the entire force >^'as con-
centrated at Suakim, and the expediency of a march
to Sinkat was under the consideration of the staff
General Graham was in favour of such a movement,
believing that it would impress the natives and
confirm the effect of our victories on their minds;
whereas if the troops embarked without fiirth^
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OSMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
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demonstration rumour would soon assert that our
losses were so great that we had to quit the land in
haste.
Osman was now reported to be lurking at the
head of the Tamanieb Valley, four miles distant
from the last battle-field, collecting fresh bodies of
men, but as the tribes had lost about 6,000 men
through their blind belief in his false statements
and claims, it was deemed doubtful if he could
collect more than were sufficient for a guerilla war-
fere, which might give our troops an infinity of
trouble, for he was a ruthless fanatic who announced
his intention to slay every man, black or white, who
did not agree with him.
Early on the morning of the i8th of March, 600
men of the Gordon Highlanders, 200 of the 19th
Hussars, 100 Mounted Infantry, and a party of
Engineers, were sent to the deserted village of
Handoub to occupy it temporarily and put it in a
state of defence. They found there wells, but of
brackish water, and barely fit for horses. Han-
doub is situated at a point where a spur of the
mountains abuts on a plain, and round the former
flews at times a stream of water. The High-
landers formed a camp on a small detached hill,
] Votected by a zeriba. In front a range of mountains
barred the road to Berber. Beyond Handoub are
many isolated rocks from 30 to 50 yards high, and
from these our scouts were able to scan for miles
the coimtry, which was said to be infested by bands
of robbers.
On the same day three native messengers who
had been sent out with Admiral Hewett's last pro-
clamation returned to the camp at Suakim. They
reported that they found Osman encamped near
Tamanieb with 2,000 men and a vast number of
wounded All declared that they were wiKing to
fight again. Osman had told them that when the
Prophet first began his mission he had been several
times beaten, but was grandly victorious in the
end. So had he himself been beaten by the Egyp-
tians and their allies, but eventually he would
triumph over them alL "The natives admitted
(to the messengers) the severity of the defeats they
had suffered, and that their loss was great, varying
from 3,500 to 5,000, all of whom were now in
Paradise. They are not taking the trouble to
bury their dead, saying this was altogether un-
iiecessary, as they know that their souls are in
happiness."
Osman read the proclamations to himself and
then destroyed them, telling the sheikhs that they
contained only the usual summons to surrender.
The bearers stated that they were in great peril of
bdng put to death for having served Christians,
and escaped only by avowing that they bore the
missives under compulsion.
The proclamation offering 5,000 dollars for
Osman, dead or alive, was publicly burnt by the
sheikhs at Tamanieb.
On the 19th General Graham, with a squadron
of cavalry, made a reconnaissance for eight miles
beyond Handoub; some friendly natives came
into the Highland camp there, but no signs were
seen of the enemy. On the 21st the proclamation
for the captiure of Osman was withdrawn, in con-
sequence of instructions from home.
On the morning of the 20th the loth Hussars,
in consequence of a report brought in by a fugitive,
started to intercept a caravan of forty camels, with
grain, expected by Osman Digna from Tokar, and
with orders to take post near TamaL Of this
convoy they saw nothing but only eight men
mounted on camels, who made off to the hills the
moment our force came in sight.
At Suakim the troops were already anxiously
awaiting orders to return home, as no more fight-
ing was expected. As to further operations, want
of water was a more formidable obstacle than Arab
swords or spears. It was reported that along the
road to Berber water might be found for 500
cavalry, but that would be the extreme force, and
a march of infantry, with the necessary baggage
animals, at that time of the year, would be practi-
cally impossible.
Colonel Sir Cromer Ashbumham, of the Royal
Rifles — ^an officer who had served with that corps
in the Indian Mutiny, including the actions on the
Hindun, the battle of Budkee-le-serai, the capture of
the heights before Delhi, and the storm of the city
— was now appointed Governor of Suakim vice Sir
William Hewett, who was about to proceed on his
famous mission to King John of Abyssinia, leaving
behind him among the natives a high reputation
for justice and moderation.
He was sanguine of success in opening the Berber
road as a route for the garrison and fugitives from
Khartoum, though practically they were still nearly
as far from relief as before the battle of El Teb ;
and Captain Chermside arrived at Suakim to assist
in the negotiations concerning the Berber road,
and it now seemed — unless we meant to take
military possession of it — to be useless to keep the
entire army at Suakim any longer, especially as
the insalubrious nature of the climate there began
to occupy the attention of the military authorities.
On the 22nd a detachment of our cavaby and
Mounted Infantry, which advanced from Han-
doub to a place called Tambouk, about daybreak,
came back to report that they had ridden through
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districts of tribes who seemed perfectly peaceful,
and the impression began to gain ground that
Osman Digna was quite deserted.
The Staff at head-quarters appeared to think
differendy, and it was decided that the troops
should again move out against him for the purpose
of surrounding him and any followers who were
yet under his banner.
At this time it was believed and asserted in
Constantinople, where our operations in the Soudan
were watched closely, that notwithstanding our
victories at El Teb and Tamai over the followers
of the Mahdi, the spirit of his fanatical hordes
was not yet broken, and that the struggle, which
on the part of the Arabs had assumed the character
of a Jehady or Holy War, might go on for many
years, and render the position of Britain in Egypt
a difficult one. According to an old prophecy, the
coming of the new Prophet, or Mahdi, will be
marked by a struggle with unbelievers for forty
years, after which the triumph of his cause will
be assured, and he shall become ruler of the world.
The Mahdi had, therefore, it was alleged, from
that date thirty-nine years to accomplish his task
before he needed to despair. " Were th^ Sultan's
troops ranged with our own the result might be
very different," wrote a correspondent at this time.
" Even the Mahdi recognises Abdul Hamid in his
character of Caliph of the Mussulmans, and the
presence of his Majesty's troops side by side ^vith
our own would at once deprive the movement in
the Soudan of that religious character whence it
now derives its principal strength."
Three sheikhs came into Suakim on the 23rd
March. They had served under Osman Digna,
who had, they asserted, from 500 to 1,000 men
with him ; but Colonel Slade, whose reconnoitring
force penetrated to within two miles of where his
camp was said to be, saw no signs of life. The
three sheikhs also asserted that they joined in the
revolt because they really believed the Mahdi to
be a genuine prophet.
The weather was now very hot, and it was obvious
marching would be heavy work for the troops.
CHAPTER LXXXV.
THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN (coticluded) : — FIGHT AT THE WELLS OF TAMANIEB —FLIGHT OF OSMAN—
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
About this time Lieutenant Wilford Lloyd, of the
Royal Horse Artillery, presented to her Majesty
the Queen, at Windsor Castle, a standard of the
Mahdi, captured by our troops at Tokar. The
standard, which is about two and a half yards long,
by two wide, is composed of red and yellow silk.
One side bears an Arabic inscription, stating that
it was presented by the Mahdi to the Governor of
Tokar, and the other a text from the Koran : —
"There is no God but God, and Mahomet is
His Prophet Every one professes the knowledge
of God."
The standard was presented by Lieutenant
Lloyd on behalf of General Graham.
For their final expedition against the Lieutenant
of the Mahdi, the troops paraded at Suakim, at two
p.m., on the 25 th of March. The heat of the sun
was so intense that fear of sunstroke was expressed
repeatedly. The Blue-jackets in harbour were in
their hot weather kits, and this was deemed a hint
that it was time for the troops to cease campaigning.
The admiral, who had not yet departed, landed
200 seamen to hold the town in their absence. As
yet the British Government had shown no inten-
tion of garrisoning Suakim, as no preparations had
been made for accommodating the men during the
hot season, and it was known for certain that if
Egyptian troops came back, all we had done would
be in vain. Admiral Hewett had failed in his
urgent endeavours to prevail on the Cairo Govenv
ment to appoint as bey Mr. Brewster, a Scotsman
in the Egyptian service, who had ably assisted him
in the arduous work of restoring order at Suakim.
Our ships and soldiers held the place, but every-
where the red flag of Egypt floated ashore, and not
a Union Jack was to be seen, and our soldiers were
beginning to be sick of their vague and purposeless
work.
By four o'clock the troops had started in the
direction of Osman's camp, but owing to the dif^
ficulties of the road, the Naval Brigade did not
accompany them. Owing to sickness and casualties
the expedition was now somewhat weaker than
before.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
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By eight o'clock General Graham's force had
reached the zeriba, after a most harassing march,
during which more than twenty-five per cent of his
troops had to leave the ranks, and there were many
cases of sunstroke. "The rear of the column
resembled a routed army," says a correspondent,
" the men marching without their rifles. It was
really sad to see so much suffering for an object
which is not clearly understood."
The ambulance carried a ton and a half ^f ice,
without which several deaths would have occurred.
There was no moonlight then, and the nights
were very dark.
The force encamped outside the zeriba. In the
morning many of the sick re-joined their regiments,
but the troops could scarcely have sustained
another day's march. They bivouacked over-night
in an oblong square, the men sleeping with their
accoutrements on, and fifty rounds only in their
pouches.
In the morning the men looked better and fresher
than could have been expected, after the exhaustion
of the previous day, which told most severely upon
the young lads of the York and Lancaster Regi-
ment Thus, the general resolved to halt the
infantry at the zeriba for the day, and make a
cavalry reconnaissance towards Tamanieb, in search
of Osman, with some friendly natives as guides.
General Graham decided on moving out in sup-
port of the cavalry with the Gordon Highlanders,
89 Marines, and the Artillery. His orders to
the advanced cavalry were to proceed at a walk
towards Tamanieb, to confine the operations to
reconnoitring, and to fall back on discovering
the actual position of the enemy. The cavalry
went forward under General Stewart, in echelon
of troops from the right of the brigade, the
loth Hussars leading; some scouts of that
regiment were in front, under Major H. S.
Gough, the rear covered by some of the 19th
Hussars, with the Mounted Infantry, under Captain
Humphreys. For the first five miles they traversed
a plain through mimosa, growing sparsely among
patches of sand and gravel, but when the foot of
the hills was reached, the ground became rough
with splintered gneiss and granite, which lamed
some of the horses. The native guides, or auxil-
iaries, 168 in number, under Chermside, moved
parallel with the right of the loth Hussars, all
holding to the left to get the benefit of a light
breeze from the sea.
At the foot of the hills some small parties of
Arabs v: re seen to hover in front and on the flanks.
Thes? were mostly on foot, but some on swift
drcmcd.iries were evidently watching, and ere long
all disappeared With six natives. Major Cherm-
side rode forward to overtake and tell them that
the British troops had no quarrel with them, unless
fired on, and that if Osman Digna would surrender,
his life would be spared. But no chance was given
even to shout the message of peace. Then the
Mounted Infantry went forward to use their rifles,
if possible. Another five miles saw the cavalry
among hills which surrounded them on every side,
some having an altitude of 1,000 feet Heaps of
stones, like isolated islands, were there standing
up against the sky-line — the monuments and graves
of departed sheikhs in a desolate region.
Some Arabs, in groups of ten or twenty, were
now visible, but on Chermside halting, he received
a volley from their Remingtons, which ended all
hope of tlieir submission. At half-past one p-m.
our Mounted Infantry pressed up to within 700
yards of the enemy, to whose fire they replied with
deadly effect, and maintained a sldrmish until three
in the afternoon. Many were seen to dropi The
object of the reconnaissance now being achieved,
General Stewart ordered the "recall" to be sounded,
and as the troops fell slowly back they were loudly
jeered by the Arabs, who, however, showed little
of their former eagerness for battle. The corre-
spondent of the Daily Telegraph numbered them at
3,000. Our loss was but one horse, shot through
the head
The Black Watch, Rifles, and Marines moved
to the front about five p.m., and bivouacked
five miles south-west of the zeriba, prior to a
general advance against Osman on the morrow,
though up to the present he had most eflfectuaUy
concealed his movements.
At half-past four am., on the 27th of March, the
bugles and pipes sounded the rhetlU^ and as day
broke the troops fell in. At six the march began,
the cavalry and infantry brigades being drawn up—
the latter at measured distances — ready for the
square formation on the least alarm. Buller's
brigade led, Colonel Slade acting as guide. The
troops seemed now to have recovered from their
late exhaustion, though the weather was still hot
The column marched up the valley by the bed
of a dry watercourse, the cannon avoiding the stony
ground, while the cavalry scouted all round, and
crowning each knoll in succession, showed thdr
figures against the sky-line till a few minutes after
seven, when they became engaged with the scouts
•of the enemy, whom the Mounted Infantry drove
back by a few well-directed volleys at long range,
and without loss to themselves. It was impossible
as yet to estimate the strength of the foe, so well
were they covered, only 150 being visible at a time:
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SUBMISSION OF THE SHEIKHS.
567
The Mounted Infantry now proceeded to take
this force in flank, first on the right and then on
the left At length the Soudanese halted on a
line of rocky heights, flanked by precipitous moun-
tains, near a running stream. The guns were at
once advanced and trained to bear upon the posi-
tion. Two rounds were fired, but the 9-pounder
shells flew too high to do much damage, yet they
were sufficiently unpleasant for the enemy, whose
dark heads instantly disappeared
From that time forward the natives fired only at
long ranges from adjacent hills, while the troops
pushed eagerly on towards the stream to refill their
water-bottles. In the deep gully the running
brook, rippling and bubbling over its pebbled bed
amid that parched and desolate land, was wel-
comed by our thirsty soldiers with joy. Quickly
the poor cavalry chargers scented the water, and
could scarcely be restrained by the bit from
rushing at it to quench their thirst, which had to
be done warily. Among the infantry discipline
was strictly enforced, and in turn each man took
a deep draught and filled his water-bottle.
All about were numerous signs of cattle, but
the herds had been driven off" to the mountains,
whither Osman Digna had fled, and where General
Graham had no intention of following him.
So ended the fight by the wells of Tamanieb.
The shootmg of our Mounted Infantry on this
day was more excellent than usual, and proved to
Osman's fanatics that their supposed spells and
amulets were valueless. One officer shot an Arab
on a camel at 1,000 yards' range, and the condition
of the stones, amid which the enemy took cover,
showed good reason for prompt retreat On one
boulder were twenty-eight bullet-marks, and on
another were sixteen, all fired at 600 yards' range.
No village could be found, but only the remains
of a recent encampment, and these were burned ;
and as further pursuit of the fugitives was deemed
futile. General Graham ordered the troops to fall
back on the zeriba, and all convoys from Suakim
to the fix>nt were stopped.
Osman was supposed to have now but very few
followers left ; his whereabouts was absolutely un-
known, and it was deemed impossible and useless
to follow naked savages over their sun-baked and
desolate mountains.
By the 28th March the troops had all returned
to Suakim, save a few left to guard some stores in
the walled zeriba, and preparations were made for
breaking up the force.
The loth Hussars returned the Egyptian horses
which they had ridden in the campaign, and were
embarked on board tht/umna for England. The
York and Lancaster Regiment and the Royal
Marine Artillery were to leave at the same time.
Eight subsidiary sheikhs, who had signed the
defiant reply to Admiral Hewett's proclamation,
and who belonged to the Damileh, Samarar, and
Hoosa tribes, which they had led in battle against
us, arrived at Suakim on the evening of the 28th.
They represented 5,000 fighting men, who inha-
bited the districts between Suakim and Kassala.
They gave assurances of friendship, and pro-
mised, with the assistance of other sheikhs, to do
their utmost to capture Osman Digna, who, for
the present, seemed entirely to have lost his
prestige^ while other sheikhs, with their tribes, pro-
mised to open up the Berber road. Telegraphic
communication was again opened up between the
latter place and Shendy, though some wandering
Soudanese menaced that between Korosko and
Abu Hamed.
The eight sheikhs at Suakim were received by
Admiral Hewett and General Graham. They said
that the need of the Soudan was a stable govern-
ment, without which the tribes would be certain to
fight among themselves as of old.
Being asked whether they would prefer British
or Egyptian masters, after a little hesitation they
declared their preference for British.
Two sheikhs that came from Tokar now prayed
for a British governor to be sent there. Admiral
Hewett asked them if he sent the present Egyptian
Governor of Suakim there, would they establish
him.
"Send him with British soldiers first," ihey
replied, " and after a time we shall guarantee that
the country will be quiet"
Osman Digna, they added, had still three hun-
dred followers, so spies were despatched to discover
where he was.
In the meantime Major Chermside began to
make arrangements, with the aid of Mahmoud Ali,
to open the Berber road. Mahmoud offered to
guarantee his safety for fifty miles fi-om Suakim,
but not beyond that distance. So until his safety
could be guaranteed by other chiefs along the
whole line, the general forbade him to start
About the 29th of March reports reached Sua-
kim that the Soudanese tribes were discontented
with their chiefs, and letters came from Kassala
and Berber stating that the power of the Mahdi
was not so strong as it had been, owing to our
victories at El Teb and Tamai, and to his defeat
by the steamers on the Nile, sent by General
Gordon about the middle of the month, while
doubts of his claims to sanctity were openly ex-
pressed But Osman Digna said that the loss of
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
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men in recent battles was due to their want of
faith, and he would yet become victorious and
invincible.
On that day the Gordon Highlanders embarked
from Suakim, and the departure of the other
troops followed rapidly.
A deputation of all the leading inhabitants and
merchants of Suakim waited upon Admiral Hewett
and publicly thanked him before his departure on
the morrow for Abyssinia, for the prevalence of peace
and justice enjoyed by the inhabitants during his
rule at that port They also urged that the whole
of the troops might not be withdrawn, repre-
senting that it was more than likely that Osman
Digna would claim credit for our retreat as the
result of his prayers. On this the admiral pro-
mised that three hundred British soldiers and
one ship of war would in future remain at Suakim.
Soon after a General Order was issued by the
Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief stating that
Her Majesty had been pleased to signify her pleasure
that the Egyptian medal (pattern 1882) should be
granted to those of her forces engaged in the Sou-
dan campaign, who had not previously received it,
with a clasp inscribed Suakim to those who had.
All troops who landed there or at Trinkitat be-
tween the 19th February and 26th March, 1884,
were entitled to receive either the medal or the
clasp. Her Majesty further approved of a clasp
being issued to all who were present in the actions
of 29th Februar)* and 13th March, the clasp to be
inscribed El Tcb — Tamai for those who were in
both actions, and El Teb or Tamai for those
who were in one or the other, but not in both.
And so ended the campaign
Gerald Graham in the Soudan.
of General Sir
THE END.
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INDEX.
Alxlur Rahman Khan, Ameer of Afghanistan, 136, 137, 140,
142, 160, 161, 171.
Aboukir, Lake of, Operations of the British fleet in the, 413,
431, 432, 434.
Afghan War : the second, 54—99 ; the third, 99—188. (See
Roberts, General.)
Afghans, Character of the, 55 ; dress of the cavalry, 77 ;
fighting qualities of the, 130, 176.
Afreedi tribe. Annoyance to the British forces by the, 56,
58, 62, 95, 96, 97, 98, 104.
Ahmed Kheyl, Afghanistan, 132, 133, 135 ; battle of, 134 ;
British losses, t6,
Albany Highlanders, The, 59, 65, 68, 72, 74, 82, 104, 109,
161.
Alexandria : Arabi Pasha the virtual ruler of, 389 ; panic in
the city, t'k ; Admiral Seymour prepares to bombard it,
390, 391 ; Turkish attempts to temporise, 392 ; the
bombardment commenced, 392, 394 ; its effects on the
town, 393, 394 ; Egyptian account of the bombardment,
395» 397 } condition of the city after the attack, 398 ;
Arabi's treachery, 398, 399 ; the ruins, 399 ; massacre
of Europeans, 400; strength and composition of the
English army, 401, 402 ; the sailors' ironclad train, 404 ;
skirmishes at Ramleh, 405 ; further proofs of Arabi\s
treachery, ik ; his cnieliy, 406 ; arrival of Sir Garnet
Wolseley and his train, id, ; the British forces, 407 ;
reconnaissances, 410—416; surrender of the lines at
Kafrdowar, 485.
Ali Kheyl, Afghanistan, 72, 88, 105, 113.
Ali Musjid : English attack on the fort, 56, 57 ; defence of,
57 ; British occupation of, 58.
Alison, Major-General Sir Archibald, 407, 408, 410, 411,
412, 415, 431, 432, 447» 4481 468, 470, 473. 475» 476,
477. 479. 48a
Anstruthcr, Lieut. -Colonel, 335, 337. 338, 343, 376.
Arabi Pasha, 385, 386, 387, 389, 398, 399, 400, 404. 405,
406, 408, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 422,
423, 424, 425, 431, 432, 434, 436, 437. 444. 446, 447.
448. 449. 450. 452, 454. 455. 459. 460, 462, 463, 467.
477, 478, 480, 483, 485, 490, 491, 493, 494, 495, 497,
501, 502, 503, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516; his militar}
resources, 435, 436, 438 ; his surrender, 493 ; his trial,
521, 522 ; his sentence, 521,
Army promotion warrant, 192.
Asmai heights, Cabul, 1 11, 124, 125, 126.
Assegais, native weapons of Zululand, 11, 15, 16, 21, 26, 28,
197, 198, 200, 213, 228, 236, 250, 263, 270; how the
Zulus form these weapons, 198.
Ayoub Khan, Shere Ali's nephew, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144,
145, 146, 147, 148. 152, 154, 155. 158, 159, 160, 165,
170, 171 ; total defeat of, 184, 185.
B
Babi Wali, or Candahar, Battle of, 179, 181— 185.
Bahadur Khan, the Afghan chief, 117
Baker, General, 104, 105, 107, 109, no, ill, 118, 120, 122,
123. 163, 182, 297.
Baker Pasha, Operations in Egypt of, 514, 535, 536, 537,
539. 540. 542, 544. 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 554.
Baker, Sir Samuel, 532.
Bala-IIissar, Cabul, 100, loi, 102, ill, 112, 122, 123, 124;
explosion in the, 113.
Baphuti tribe, 39, 40, 41, 45, 46.
Basuto war, 39 ; successful defence of the Basutos, 41, 47,
49 ; end of the war, 53, 54.
Battye, Major Wigram, 94, 95.
Bayley, Colonel, 39, 42, 44. 45. 49. 5^. 3<»-
Berber, Egypt. 537, 563, 567.
Biddulph, General, 64, 76, 85, 86, 88, 143.
Birch, Mr. J. W. W., British Resident at Pernk, murder of,
2 ; his death avenged, f'A. ; capture of his effects, 3 ;
his assassin killed, 6.
Black Watch, Exploits of the, in F^pt, 407, 449, 453, 466,
468, 470, 471. 476, 477, 479. 494. 5 "2. 542, 544,
548, 549, 551. 552, 554. 555. 557, 558, 560, 561,
566.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
Blackwood, General, 141, 142, 147, 152, 153.
Boers, The Dutch, 196, 197, 206, 300, 329, 330, 332, 333,
334» 335. 336. 338» 339, 340, 34". 344. 345, 346. 347,
348, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355. 356. 357, 358, 359,
362, 363. 364. 365. 366. 368, 369. 371. 372. 373. 374.
375. 376, 377, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384 (5t< Transvaal
War) ; War song of the Boers, 345.
Bourne's Crack, Morosi*s Mountain, Basutoland, 40, 45.
Breech-loading guns. Improved forms of, 191.
Bright, General, 104, 125, 130, 131.
Bromhead, Major, one of the defenders of Rorke*s Drift,
220, 221, 225.
Brooke, Major-General, 165, 166, 167, 17a
Browne, Sir Samuel, Military services of, 56, 58, 62, 63, 65,
74. 89. 96. 98.
Brownlow, Colonel, 73, 126, 182, 185.
Brunker's Spruit, British attacked at, 335 ; their surrender,
337.
Buller, Colonel Redvers, Military services of, 34, 35, 201,
241, 242, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 254, 256, 263, 266,
268, 274, 279, 281, 284, 285, 287, 290, 291, 292, 296,
297. 450, 455. 459. 541, 558, 560.
Bunnoo, Afghanistan, 79 ; Skirmishes at, ib.
Burrows, General, 140, 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149,
152, 153, 155, "58.
Bulterworth River, Kaffirland, 15, 2a
Cabul, 73, 79, 89, 90, 96, 100, 104, 105, 106, 112, 113, 115,
118, 136, 138; destruction of the Embassy and murder
of Sir Louis Cavagnari, 102.
Cairo, 404, 423, 424, 432, 446, 453, 490, 491, 508 ; return
of the Khedive, 500, 501 ; British troops in the city,
503 ; explosion at the railway station, 505 ; the haspital
service, 507 ; great review at, 508.
Candahar. 55, 58, 75, 76, 77. 84. 85. 86, 104, 131, 135,
141. 159* 160, 165 ; investment of, 158 ; sortie from
Candahar, 165, 166; succours expected, 170, 171;
General Roberts* march to, 161, 173, 175—178; battle
of Candahar, 181— 185 ; British victory, 182 ; close of
the war, 188.
Cape Mounted Rifles, Exploits of the, 11, 17, 21, 22, 39, 40,
41. 42. 44. 47. 49. 52, 213, 300.
Carey, Lieut., 267, 268, 269; Zulu massacre of Prince
Napoleon, 269 ; court-martial on Carey, 273.
Carrington, Lieut., 26, 29, 47, 48, 49, S^ Sh 53. 322, 323,
324.
Oivagnari, Major Louis, 56, 63, 65, 89, 95, 98, 99, 100, 103 ;
murder of, at Cabul, lOI, 102.
Cetewayo, the Zulu king, 34; his ancestors, 195—197;
organises his army, 197 ; ultimatum to» 206 ; war with,
207 ; proposals for peace, 261, 266, 275, 280, 281 ; his
residence, 291 ; offers to surrender, 299 ; search for fats
kraal, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309 ; capture of the king,
310.
Chaka, Cetewayo*s uncle, 196 ; his cruel rule, 195, 196.
Chalouffe-el-Terraba, near the Suez Canal, 416, 419,
420^ 421 ; dispersion of some of Arabi*s army at,
419.
Charasiah, Battle of, 107, 109, iia
Chard, Major, one of the defenders of Rorke*s Drift, 220,
221, 223, 224, 225, 286.
Chardeh Valley, Afghanistan, Action with the Afghan
forces in the, 119.
Chelmsford, Lord, 245 ; his forces, 206 ; at Isandhlwana,
209,212, 213, 214, 219; arrives at Rovke's Drift, 225,
226 ; appeals for home assistance, 225 ; arrival of rein-
forcements, 257; fresh operations against the Zulus,
260; examination of the country, 263, 264; receives
peace propa^ als from Cetewayo, 275 ; superseded by
Sir Garnet Wolseley, 278 ; his engagement at Ulondi,
285 — 291 ; resigns his command, 292, 293 ; sails for
England, 296.
Clarke, Colonel. 49. SO, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 304, 311,
313-
Clubs, Zulu war, 196, 200 ^ method of use, 20a
Coghill, Lieut., 215, 217.
Colley, SirG. P., 293, 345, 348, 350, 351, 352, 353.354.
35^, 357, 359, 360, 361, 362, 364 ; his death at Majuba
Hill, 365.
Connaught, Duke of. Military services in Egypt of, 401, 407,
412, 415, 419, 427, 430, 468, 479. 494. 495. 50l, 5<».
504. 505, 510, 514.
Coward's Bush, Punishment for faint-heart^ Zulu waniori
at the, 195, 200.
Crealock, Major-CJeneral, Military services in Zululand ofi
238, 239, 258, 260, 261, 262, 266, 279, 280, 292, 293,
297.
Cunynghame, Gen. Sir A. T., 1 1, 14, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26,
27, 48, 200, 299.
D
Dabulamanzi, Cetewayo s brother, 230, 238, 239^ 29^ ^HJ
destruction of his kraal, 239.
Damietta, 486, 488.
Darfour, The son of the old Sultan of, 538.
Diamond Fields, Griqualand, 35 ; terrible tragedy in, 5^
201.
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Dingaan, Cetewayo*s brother, 196 ; his treachery and cruelty,
ib, ; his defeat by the Boers, 197.
Dodo, Morosi's son, 39; revolt of, 39, 40; attempt to cap-
ture, 45 ; death of, 46.
Drill, The new military, 19a
Dubrai, Afghanistan, Action near, 135
Dunn, John, 238, 239, 266, 299, 303, 306, 313.
Durban, South Africa, 239, 258, 260, 262, 293.
Domford, Colonel, 212, 214, 215. 221, 226.
^Igyptian War, The, 383—526 ; origin of Arabi Pasha, 385,
386 ; his desire to act independently of the Khedive,
386; the Khedive supported by Britain, 387; the
bombardment of Alexandria by ironckids and gun-boats,
388; strength*of the British army in Egypt, 513; the
army of occupation, 52a
Elliot, Major, Laager made by, at Umtata, 52.
Elliot, Captain, Murder of, 340, 372, 382.
El Teb, 522, 544, 545, 551, 552 ; battle of, and total defeat
of the Arabs, 55a
English tomb found at Cabul, loa
Erzungajran Hill, Zululand, Skirmish at the, 275.
Etsdiowe, 227 ; blockade of, 227, 228 ; raid for provisions,
231 ; relief of, 234, 239 ; Lord Chelmsford's arrival at,
238. «39.
F
Fingo tribes of KafTraria, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21 ; loyalty of the,
45 ; character of the, ib.
Firearms, Possession of the Kaffirs of, 47, 48.
Fort Kambula, Raid on the Zulus at, 242.
Frere, Sir Bartle, Governor of Cape Colony, 11.
Freshwater Canal, 423, 445.
Frontier Mounted Rifles, Dress of the, 1 1.
Futtehabad, Battle of, 93—95, 96.
Galbraith, Major, 68, 148, 149.
Galeka tribes, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30;
slaughter of the, at Ibeka, 17.
Galekaland, Tragedy at a cave in, 21.
Gatling gun. Improvements in the, 191.
Gbow, King of Jalliah, British operations against, 527, 528 ;
defeat of Gbow*s people ; end of the third expedition
agunst Gbow, 531.
Ghari tribe, Afghanistan, 89, 107, 128, 140, 147, 148, 149,
150, 152, 157, 158, 166, 169, 170, 182, 186.
Ghazni, Afghamstan, Capture of, 132.
Ghilzie tribe, Afghanistan, 73, 104, no, 112, 115, 132, 137,
140, 145.
Ghingilovo, Zulu attack at, 236 ; Zulu bravery, 237 ; British
victory, 238.
Gholam Hussein Khan, 55, 113
Ghoorkas, The, 65, 66, 67, 68, 72, 74, 88, 89, 99, 104, 109,
122, 126, 129, 140, 161, 182, 183.
Glyn, Colonel, 26, 29, 206, 209, 212, 213, 214, 219.
Golah Mountain, Defeat of the Basutos at the, 5a
Golow deHle, Afghanistan, 75, 76.
Gomal Pass, Afghanistan, 79.
Gordon, Colonel, Operations in Afghanistan of the British
forces under, 59, 62, 65, 66.
Gordon, General (" Chinese"), 532, 538, 542, 543, 567 ; his
early life, 538 ; hb arrival at Khartoum, 542.
Gordon Highlanders, The, 59, 105, 107, 114, 117, 118,
122, 123. 125, 126, 135, 161, 178, 351, 359, 362, 364,
365. 369. 37i» 407, 412, 448» 449, 47^, 479, 480, 512,
525.
Gough, Colonel Hugh, 59, 71, 81, 86, 89, 94, 95, no, iii,
112, 125, 129, 164, 177, 178, 179, 184, 185, 422.
Graham, General Sir Gerald, 415, 423, 424, 430, 437, 438k
440, 441, 442, 449, 455, 458, 467, 468, 473, 525, 541,
545, 548. 551, 552, 555, 557, 561, 56«, 563, 566, 567,
568.
Griffiths, Commandant Charles, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22,
32.
Griqualand East, or the Diamond Fields, 35; terrible
tragedy in, 51.
Guadana, Galeka country. Battle of, 13, n|.
Gun, The 8o-ton, 19a
Gundamuk, 94, 124; treaty of pe^te, and close of the
second Afglian war, 99.
Gunboats before Alexandria, 389, 390^ 393, 394.
Gunnery, Improvements in, 19a
H
Hanis, Sir W., 196, 197.
Hazardaracht, or the "forest of a thousand trees,** Halt of
General Burrows at, 73.
Helmund River, Afghanistan, Operations of the British army
near the, 76, 88, 140^ 143.
Hewitt, Admiral Sir W., 420, 422, 464, 482, 537, 53^, 539,
541. 543» 549. 55*, 5^3, 564. 5^7, 568.
Hicks, General, Defeat of the army of, 535,
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA.
Highlanders, The, 74, 80, 12a, 123, 129, 136, 173, 182, 183,
334. 236. 237, 364, 366, 368, 407, 414, 415, 4ao, 431,
447. 44«. 449. 459. 461, 468, 469, 470^ 471, 475, 476,
479. 480, 493, 525.
Il)eka, Battle fought at, 16, 17 ; slaughter and defeat of tlie
Galekas, 16.
Ingogo River, Battle with the Boers at, 353 ; British losses,
356
Inhlobone Mountain, Zululand, British attack on, 247;
desperate engagement with the Zulus, 248, 249 ; British
losses, 251.
Intalxi Indodu, Kaflfraria, 34.
Intombe River, Zulu attack at the, 244.
Ironclads liefore Alexandria. 388, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394,
Ironclad train. The sailors*, 404, 410, 411, 417, 436, 438,
510.
Isandhlwana, 209, 210, 212, 315 ; disastrous massacre of the
British at, 215, 217, 218 ; Zulu narrative of the con-
flict, 218 ; scene in the desolate camp, 219 ; British
losses, ib.
Ismail, a pretender to the ctcwxi of Perak, 2, 3 ; routed and
captured, 8.
Ismallia, 416, 418, 419, 422, 423, 424, 427, 428, 429, 434,
435. 436. 447. 449. 450i 452* 453. 467.
Jellalabad, 65. 89, 90, 93, 95, 98, 99, 112, 125, 128, 130,
136, 137, 171.
Jummoo Valley, Afghan frontier, 9, la
Joubert, Commander P. C, 337, 343. 344. 369. 371. 372,
374.
Jowaki expedition, 9, loi ; General Keyes defeats the
enemy, la
Kaffir warrior, 15, 17.
Kaffirland, War in, 11—38 ; causes of the strife, II.
Kaffirs, Arms of the, 1 1 ; inauguration of the war, 14 ; the
"women's war,'* 15; pursuit of the Kaffirs, 27, 28;
ravages of the, 34, 52, 53.
Kafrdowar, Arabi'^ position, 404, 405, 408, 410^ 41 1« 412,
413, 415, 417, 422, 431, 432. 434. 435. 436, 446, 447.
448. 450. 453. 460, 462, 477, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484,
485.
Kakkar Pathans tribe» 135, 160^ 172.
KambuU, Zulu attack on, 254 ; Zulu losses, 256.
Kassassin Lock, Suez Canal, 430* 43^ 437. 440> 445. 44^
449. 452, 453. 454. 45^. 459. 4^5. 4^7. 47^ 479;
Egyptian defeat at, 440—452 ; the second action, 455.
456» 458-
KaufTmann, General, 55, 56, 89; Shere Ali's agreement
with the Russian general, 55.
Kei River, Kaflfraria, 22, 23, 26, 28, 34, 38.
Kennedy, Colonel, 75, 85.
Khartoum, Soudan territory, 537, 542, 563.
Khelat-i-Ghilzie, Afghanistan, 86, 88, 104, no, 112, 115,
133. 158. 164. 170. 176.
Khost Valley, Afghanistan, 74, 79, 80, 84.
Khostwal tribes, Afghanistan, 80, 82.
Khugiani tribe, Afghanistan, 94, 95.
Khyber Pass, Afghanistan, 56, 74, 99, 104
Khyber River, Afghanistan, 56, 57.
Kinloch, Murder of Lieut., 117.
Kinta, Perak river, Capture of, 4, 8.
Kohat, Afghanistan, General Roberts at, 61.
Kolcut Peak, Afghanistan, 75, 76.
Komgha, Kaflfraria, Action near, 26.
Kraal, Cattle, in Kaflfraria, 2a
Kreli, chief of the Galeka tribe, il, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 26,
29.32.
Kruger, Paul, President of the Boer Republic, Trans\-aal,
343.344,369.
Kurram column. General Roberts commands the, in the
second Afghan war, 58, 59, 6a
Kurram Fort, Afghanistan, 63, 68, 73, 74, 88 ; description
of the place, 63.
Laing's Nek, Battle of, 345 ; defeat of the British army by
the Boers, 347.
Lambart, Captain, and the Boers, 339, 34a
Lanyon, Colonel, Military services of, 35, 316, 332, 338,
343» 344. 395-
Laurence, Major, Death in a skirmish in Basutoland of, 53.
Letherodi, the rebel chief, Basutoland, 47; opcratJons
against, ih, ; submission of, 53.
Long, Lieutenant, Gallant defence of Lydenberg i^ainst the
Boers by, 376, 377.
Lonsdale, Major, 32, 35, 212, 213.
Lowe, Major-General, Distinguished military services oi, in
South Africa and Egypt, 274, 275, 286, 29(\ 291, $ffj*
421, 426, 427, 428, 429. 430» 436. 437. 44^^ 44'. A^
445. 455. 458. 459. 4735 489. 490^ 491. 493. 509-
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Luck, Major, Afghan war, 75, 84, 85.
Lulu Mountain, Sekukuni's stronghold, 201, 316, 318, 322 ;
capture of the stronghold, 327.
Lusisi, Galekaland, Battle of, 21.
Lydenberg, Siege of, Transvaal, 376 — 378.
Lytton, Lord, Governor-General of India, 55, 137, 161.
M
Maclaine, Hector, Captivity of, 143, 154, 160, 170, 182,
184, 185, 186.
Maclean, Allan, Sub* Inspector, 16, 17, 21, 22, 29, 45,
46.
McCrea, Bravery of Surgeon, 51.
Macpherson, General, 74, 89, 90, 106, no, 1 16, 1 18, 122,
123, 126, 136, 163, 177. 178, 182, 472, 473, 476, 490,
512, 519 {s€€ Highlanders).
Mafeteng, Attack on, 49 ; defeat of the Basutos at, 51.
Mahdi, The, 533, 536, 544, 554, 564 5 some particuhurs of
his early life, 533.
Mahmoud Fehmy, Capture of, 436, 450, 460, 466.
Mahmoudiyeh Canal, 404, 405, 407, 410, 412, 434, 447,
461, 481.
Maiwand, Battle of, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150; the British
retreat, 153, 154; results of the battle, 155.
Majuba Hill, Transvaal, Battle of, 363, 364 ; flight of the
British forces, 366.
Malays, Successful attacks on the, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8.
Malcolmson, Colonel, 142, 147, 155, 166, 167.
Mangal tribes, Afghanistan, 74, 80, 81, 83, 86, 87, 88, 99,
104. 105, 113.
Mansum village, Afghamstan, 96—98.
Mareotis, Lake, 404* 4lOi 413. 4i8. 43«» 432, 44^, 447, 460,
462, 463, 483, 485.
Martini-Henry rifle, Superiority of the, for war purposes,
189, 19a
Massey, General, 104, no, in, n8, n9, 129.
Massowah, Red Sea, 537, 538.
Matoond, Afghanistan, Engagements with the Afghan forces
at, 80, 81, 82, 84, 86
Mel Pass, Afghanls*ac, Conflict with scouts at, 84.
Melville, Lieutenant 215, 217.
Methlagaznio, the <■' a of Sirayo, 218, 219.
Middle Dri(), Zululand, Affair of the, and commencement of
the war with Cetewayo, 204.
Mitford, Major, 104, 106. 107, ni, n9, 123, 129.
Morosi, the chief, 39, 44 ; capture of, 46.
Morosi's Mountain, Basutoland, 40 ; attacks on the, 41, 42,
44 ; storming the mountain, 45 ; gallant capture of the
old chief, 46^
Mortar, Old, used in the assault on Morosi*s Mountain,
Basutoland, 44, 45.
Mountain-battery guns, Improvements in, 191.
N
Napoleon, Prince Louis, 257, 266; circumstances of his
death, 268 ; attacked and killed by Zulus, 269 ; his
body discovered, 270^ 272 ; particulars of his death,
272 ; Empress Eugenie visits the spot where he fell,
3I4. 3>5.
Newdigate, General, Military services of, 89, 258, 263, 266,
272, 278, 292, 293.
Nita, the witch doctor, 16, 17; superstitious practices of
the, i^
Nordenfeldt gun. The flve-barrelled, 192.
Nyumoxa, Kaf&aria, Battle of, 27.
Osman Digna, the Arab chieftain, 538, 539, 540, 543, 544,
545. 552» 554, 555. S^U 5^2, 5^3. 5^4. 566. 567. S^i
defeat at £1 Teb, 55a
Paimer, Professor, and his companions. Murder of, in Egypt,
464, 465.
Panda, the Zulu king, 197.
Pearson, Colonel, 206, 207, 208, 209, 227, 228, 230, 233,
236.
Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan, 63, 64, 65, 68, 71, 73, 87, 88 ;
capture of the, by the British, 69.
Perak, Ex])e<lition to, I ; origin of the war, 2 5 exploits of the
British blue-jackets, 3, 4, 8.
Perak, The river, 2, 3, 5 ; blockade of, 8.
Perie Forest, Krf.Varia, 32, 33.
Peshbolak, Afghanistan, 96, 98.
Phayre, General, 158 ; relief of Candahar by him and other
generals, 170, 171, 172.
Pictemiaritzburg, 292, 302, 329, 368.
Piet U]rs, the Dutch farmer, 197, 227, 241, 242, 245, 247,
248, 250, 254.
Pondomise tribe, 51 ; destruction of the, through treachery,
52.^
Port Said, 414, 416, 418, 419, 422, 481, 486.
Potchefstroom, Transvaal, 338; Siege of, 378—380; surrender
of the garrison, 381.
Pretoria, Transvaal, 332, 334, 338, 374 ; blockade of, by the
Boers, 375.
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BRITISH BATTLES ON LAND AND SEA
Primrose, General, Afghan war services, 132, 152, 154, 158,
159, 160, 161, 165, 167, 170, 171, 179, 181 ; the sortie
from Candahar, 165, 166.
Prince of Wa]es*s Hussars, Disaster to the, in the second
Afghan war, 92, 93.
Pnlleine, Major, 26, 212, 215.
Quintana, Battle of, and defeat of the Kaffirs, 29.
Ramleh, the British army at, 400, 404, 405, 406, 408, 412,
413, 414, 417, 418, 431, 434, 446, 447f 448* 461, 463.
486.
Rifles and bayonets, Improvements in, 189, 19a
Roberts, General, commander in the Afghan campaign, 59 ;
his earlier life, 59 — 61 ; assumes command of the troops
at Kohat, 61 ; arrives at the Kurram Fort, 63 ; the
Peiwar Kotal, lA ; view of the enemy, 64 ; preparing
for the attack, 65 ; traitors in the pass, 67 ; severe
engagement before Peiwar Kotal, 68 ; capture of the
Kotal, 69 ; scene after the engagement, 70 ; burial of
the dead, 71 ; a holy war against the British proclaimed,
ib. ; halt at Ali Kheyl, 72 ; m route for Cabul, 73 ; in
winter quarters, t'K ; attacked by the enemy, 74 ; fight-
ing in the plain of Candahar, 75 ; incidents of the con-
flict at Siafoodeen, 76 ; repulse of the Wozaris, 79 ; the
Khost Valley expedition, ib, \ description of the Khost
Valley, 80 ; meeting with Akram Khan at Matoond, ib, ;
brushes with the natives, 81 ; skirmishes in the neigh-
bourhood of Matoond, 82 ; shooting the Wazari
prisoners, 83 ; further exploration of the Khost Valley,
84 ; capture of Candahar by Sir £)onaId Stewart, 85 ;
attacked by the Mangals, 87 ; intended advance on
Cabul, 88 ; the new Ameer, 89 ; disaster to the Prince
of Wales*s Hussars, 89, 90, 92, 93 ; burial of the dead,
93 ; the battle of Futtehabad, 93, 94 ; defeat of the
Khugionis, 95 ; Yakoub Khan concludes a peace with
Sir Louis Cavagnari at Gundamuk, 98, 99 ; murder
rif Cavagnari by the insurgent Afghans, loi ; the cam-
paign then resumed, 104 ; the advance on Cabul, 105 ;
surrender of Yakoub Khan, ib, ; battle of Charasiah,
106— no; the Asmai heights, in; Roberts enters
Cabul, 112; explosion at the Bala Hissar, 113; execu-
> tions at Cabul, 1 14, 115; the fight at Shahjui, 1 15, 1 16 ;
capture of plunder in the city, 116; fighting round
Cabul, 118; attacks by the enemy in the Chardeh
> Valley, 119; reoccupation of Cabul by the Afghans,
123 ; Roberts at Sherpur, 124 ; preparations for a grand
attack, 125 ; Afghan attack on Sherpur, 126, 128 ; re-
pulse of the enemy, 128, 129 ; re-entry of the Bridsh
into Cabul, 129 ; renewal of hostilities, 131 ; action of
Ahmed Kheyl, 134 ; massacre at Dubrai, 135 ; skir-
mishes, 135, 136 ; Sir Donald Stewart at Cabul, 136 ;
raids and outrages, 137, 138; Abdur Rahman, 140;
Ayoub Khan's incitement to mutiny, 141 ; continued
Afghan hostility, 142 ; preparations for battle, 145, 146 ;
battle of Maiwand, 147—152; retreat of the British
forces to Candahar, 153, 154 ; results of the battle, 155 ;
investment of Candahar, 157 ; arrangements for its
defence, 159 ; activity of Ayoub Khan, 159, 160 ; march
of Sir F. Roberts to the relief of Candahar, 164 ;
sorties from Candahar, 165, 166 ; failure of the sortie,
166 ; British losses, 169 ; the expected British suocoor
from three sources, 171 ; withdrawal of Sir Donald
Stewart from Cabul, 171 ; General Phayre's arrival at
Candahar, 172 ; incidents of Sir F. Roberts' march,
173, 175 ; skirmishes with the enemy when approaching
Candahar, 175— 1 78; arrangements for battle, 179 J
battle of Candahar, 182 ; British victory, 183 ; Bridsh
losses, 184; utter defeat of the Afghans, 185 ; ck>se of
the third Afghan war, 188.
Robinson, Captain, 26, 27, 29.
Rorke's Drift, Zululand, 209, 210, 212, 214, 219, 220, 302,
315; preparations for defence, 221 ; Zulu attack on, 223;
gallant defence of the British forces, 224 ; burial of the
dead, 225, 226.
Ross, Major-General, 136, 140, 182, 183, 184.
Rowlands, Colonel, 202, 242, 243.
Russell, Colonel Sir Baker, 247, 248, 249, 251, 254, 256.
29s, 298, 299, 303, 304, 3>6, 318, 320, 32i» 3"» 324.
326, 407, 442-
Saddle Rock, Morosi*s Mountain, Basutoland, 42, 46 ; cap-
ture of Morosi, 46.
Safed Koh, Afghanistan, 65, 72, 96.
Sahib Jan, the Afghan mountain freebooter, 115, 116, ii8>
122, 131, 13s, 161.
Saltmarshe, Lieut., Death of, 34.
Sandilli, the Gaika chief, 11, 22, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 3&
Scott, Sergeant, 41 ; gallant atUck on Morosi^s Moonlain
by, 42.
Seaforth Highlanders, 402, 416, 419, 421, 467, 472» 47^
479.490,497i5".
Sekukuni, the Zulu chief, 34, 39, 200, 20i, 202, 204, 293.
3iS» 3'6» 3*7f 3^8 » annexation of his country, 201 ;
hb mountain stronghold, 317—321 ; storming of, pi
— 327 ; his surrender, 327, 328,
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INDEX.
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Serapcum, Egypt, 419, 422, 423.
Seymoar, Admiral, 388, 398, 401, 405, 418, 419, 420, 430,
452, 475, 490, 494 ; his ultimatum to Arabi, 389 ; his
peerage, 518.
Shahjui, ^Skirmish with the Afghan tribes at, 116.
Shepstone, Sir T., the British Government's representative
in the Transvaal, 195, 197, 201, 317, 332.
Shcrboro, Sierra Leone, Expedition to, 526 ; Gbow, King
of Jalliah, 527 ; defeat of his people, 529 ; end of the
expedition, 531.
Shere Ali, the Ameer of Afghamstan, 55 ; his death, 55, 89 ;
his holy war against the British, 71 ; his preparations for
war, id, ; his son Yakoub Khan, 89.
Shcrpur, Cabul, British Cantonments at, 1 18, 122, 123, 124,
I29i i3o» 136.
Shields of the Zulus, 20a
Shutargardan Pass, Afghanistan, 72, 73, 89, 104, 105, no,
Siafoodeen, Afghanistan, Conflict at, 75, 76.
Sidgow, son of the Kaffir chieftain, Kreli, 15, 16, 23.
Sinkat, Soudan territory, 536, 538, 543 ; fall of the garrison
at, 539.
Snider rifle. Improvements in the, for destructive war pur-
poses, 189, 19a
Soudan, War in the, 532— -$68 ; causes of the, 532 ; the
Mahdi, 533.
Spin Gawi Pass, Afghanistan, 65, 66, 68, 70^ 71, 74.
Star shells, New, for war purposes, 191.
Stciam sapper, New improved, 189.
Stewart, Sir Donald, Services of, in the Afghan war, 84, 85,
8S, 89» 94. 104, 131, 132. 133. 134. 136, 137. 138, 161,
164, 170, 171.
Stirling, Commander, 3.
Suakim, 537, 540, 542, 543, 550, 562, 564, 5^7 ; close of the
campaign, 567, 568.
Suez, 407, 416, 419, 420, 45a
Suez Canal, 387, 401, 416, 419, 446, 520.
Swazi tribe, 299, 302, 314, 316, 319, 323, 324, 326; capture
of the chieftain Sekukuni by the, 322—327.
Sweet- Water Canal, 419, 420, 424, 462.
Syazabad, Afghanistan, Battle of, 140.
Tamai, Battle of, 557-^560; losses, 560; incidents of the
battle, 561, $62.
Tamanieb, fight near, 567.
Tambooki tribe, 47, 49 ; treachery of the, 45, 46 j grtat
victory over the, 53.
Tan*, ah. Occupation of, 497.
Tamack River, Afghanistan, 76.
Teb, Battle of (see El Teb).
Tel-el-Mahuta, 425, 427, 428, 430, 436, 437, 44$, 446 ; the
British at, 429.
Tcl-el-Kebir, 435, 436, 438. 445» 447. 449. 450i 452. 453.
455. 458. 459. 460, 466, 467, 477, 478, 479 ; German
account of the camp at, 465; battle of, 470—473;
exertions of the Naval Brigade, 474 ; British losses,
475, 476.
Territorial regiments. Change made in, 194.
Thelwall, Brigadier, 87, 88.
Thesiger, General, 32, 33, 200, 202 {see Lord Chelmsford).
Timsah, Lake of, 423, 424, 448, 466.
Tokar, Soudan territory, 536, 539, 541, 542, 543, 545, 546,
550. 551. 564.
Transvaal war, The, 329 — 383 ; rise of the South African
Republic, 329; the Transvaal, 330; the Boers, 330,
332 ; annexation of the Republic, 332 ; Boer protests
against annexation, 333, 334; the beginning of the
war, 335 ; Captain Lambort and the Boers, 339 ;
murd'r of Captain Elliot, 340; distribution of the
Bri' ;>n forces, 341 ; the Boer leaders, 341, 342 j their
a . y, 344 ; battle of Laing's Nek, 345 ; bravery of the
British officers, 346 ; defeat of the British, 347 ; Boer
version of the fight, 350 ; sympathy in Holland for the
I^oers, 351 ; reinforcements for Sir G. CoUey, 352 ;
battle of the Ingogo River, lA. ; the Boers* fire, 353 ;
retreat of the British, 354 ; British losses, 356 ; arrival
of Sir E. Wood, 358 ; reconnaissance of Sir G. Colley,
359 ; battle of Majuba Hill, 363, 364 ; the last stand,
365 ; death of Sir G. Colley, ifi. ; flight of the British,
366; casualties in the battle, 369; Sir E. Wood
succeeds Sir G. Colley, 370 ; Boer outrage, id» ; the
eight days' armistice, 371; British garrisons besieged
in the Transvaal, 373—381 ; terms of peace, 383 ;
British losses in the war, fA
Trinkitat, Soudan territory, 543, 544, S4S» 546» 55 >•
Tugela River, Kaffirland, 204, 209.
Tytler, General, 74, 95, 96, 97, 98.
U
Uhamu, Cetewayo's half-brother, 245, 296.
Ulundi, 260, 279, 280 J Lord Chelmsford's attack on, 285,
287 ; total defeat of the Zulus, 291.
Umballa, Afghanistan, 55.
Umbelini, the Swazi freebooter, 242, 243, 244, 248, 256,
257.
Umditswa, the Basuto chief, 5I, 52.
Umgane, Sekukuni's adherent, Rout of, 320, 321.
Umhonholo, the Basuto chief, 51, 52.
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BRiriSIl BATTLES ON LAND AlW SEA
Umquiliso, the Basuto chief, 53.
Umtata River, Kaffraria, 21, 22, 51, 52.
UmzinUani, Kafiraria, Battle of, 23.
Victoria Cross, a reward for gallant conduct, 4, 26, 41, 51,
56, 59. 68, 71, 88, 107, 116, 119, 122, 123, 154, 155,
i«3. "83, 224, 225, 243, 250. 251, 254, 284, 296, 302,
327» 329. 368, 443. 55^ S^o.
Vijn, "Cctewayo's Dutchman," 280, 281, 284, 305, 307,
308, 3"-
Volunteer life in Griqualand, 36, 38.
W
Wakkerstrooin, Transvaal, Boer investment of, 373, 374.
War balloons. Use of, 189.
Wazari tribes, Afghanistan, 79, 80, 82 ; shooting of captureil
prisoners, 83.
Weatherley, Colonel, Military services in Zululand of, 247,
248, 250, 251 ; his sad death, 25a
Wells of Tamanieb^ British fight near the, 567.
White, Major Stewart, 107, 183, 184.
Wiseman, Lieutenant N. C, brave death of, second Afghan
war, 94.
Wolseley, Sir Garnet, assumes the command m Zululand,
262, 278, 281, 292, 295 ; conference of Zulu chiefs,
297 ; future plansi 298 ; submission of chiefs, 303, 304 ;
Cetewayo's capture, 310 ; proposed settlement of Zulu-
land, 313, operations against Sekulomi, 315 — 321;
storming of his stronghold, 322 — 327; his surrender,
327 ; Sir Garnet's Egyptian services, 406, 407, 414, 415,
416, 418. 423. 424. 425. 426* 4^7* 428, 429. 430» 437.
440, 449k 450, 452, 454, 455, 459. 4^6, 467, 47^ 473.
475. 477. 478, 479. aSu 482, 486, 488, 489. 49©. 49i,
494. SOI, 502, 506, 508, 509, 514; his peerage, 518;
his last despatch, 519.
Wood, Sir Evelyn, his services in Kaffraria, 32, 33, 34 ; in
the Zulu war, 206, 226, 227, 241, 245, 251, 252, 254,
255. «56. 260, 263, 264, 267, 268, 269, 272, 273, 278,
282, 286, 289, 297. 314 ; in the Transvaal, 358, 359,
368, 369. 370, 371. 374. 378, 382 ; in Egypt, 407, 415,
417, 418, 431, 447, 448, 460, 461, 477. 480, 481, 483.
484, 485, 486, 488, 501, 502, 506. 514, 5"5-
Vakoub Khan, son of the Ameer Shere Ali, 8.% 95, 103,
112, 136; peace with, 98, 99; his surrender to the
British, 105.
Zagazig, Egypt, Capture of, 49a
Zulu war, 195—315 ; situation of Zululand, 195 ; early
history of the Zulus, 195—197 ; their offensive anJ
defensive weapons, 200.
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Harry Lorreqaer.
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