Twelve Years Of A Soldier's Life In India Part 12

The Affghans are contemptible _in the plains_, generally speaking; but numbers become formidable, even if armed with broomsticks.

This was written two days before the decisive engagement of Goojerat, at which he was present, attached to the personal staff of the Commander-in-Chief. His letter, giving an account of the action, was unfortunately lost, but I subjoin a despatch from the Commander-in-Chief to the Governor-General:--

"CAMP, KULLALA, _March 15th, 1849_.

"On the re-perusal of my despatch relative to the operations of February 21st at Goojerat, I regret to find that I omitted to mention the names of Lieutenants Lumsden and Hodson of the corps of Guides, and Lieutenant Lake of the Engineers, attached to the Political Department. These officers were most active in conveying orders throughout the action, and I now beg to bring their names to the favorable notice of your Lords.h.i.+p."

FOOTNOTES:

[5] Now Sir Robert Napier, K. C. B.

[6] Lieutenant (now Col.) Herbert Edwardes wrote as follows to his family in England:--

"Young Hodson has been appointed to do duty with our Punjaub Guide Corps, commanded by Lieutenant Lumsden. The duties of a Commandant or Adjutant of Guides are at once important and delightful. It is his duty in time of peace to fit himself for leading armies during war.

This necessitates his being constantly on the move, and making himself and his men acquainted with the country in every quarter. In short, it is a roving commission, and to a man of spirit and ability one of the finest appointments imaginable.

"I think Hodson will do it justice. He is one of the finest young fellows I know, and a thorough soldier in his heart."

[7] _Extract from Despatch of_ BRIGADIER WHEELER _to the_ ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

CAMP, RUNGUR NUGGUL, _Oct. 15th, 1848_.

"Lieut. W. S. Hodson, with his detachment of Corps of Guides, has done most excellent service, and by his daring boldness, and that of his men, gained the admiration of all."

[8] Sir Colin.

[9] _Extract from an Order issued by_ BRIGADIER-GENERAL WHEELER.

"CAMP KULaLLWaLA, _Nov. 23d, 1848_.

"The detachment of the Corps of Guides moved in the morning direct on the village, whilst the other troops were moving on the fort. It was occupied in force by the enemy, who were dislodged in a most spirited manner, and the place afterwards retained as commanding the works of the fort, the men keeping up a sharp fire on all who showed themselves.

The thanks of the Brigadier-General are due to Lieut.

Hodson, not only for his services in the field, but for the information with which he furnished him, and he offers them to him and to his men."

[10] Fanatics.

[11] _Extract from an Order issued by_ BRIGADIER-GENERAL WHEELER, C. B., _dated_

"CAMP BELOW DULLAH, _Jan. 17th, 1849_.

"This order cannot be closed without the expression of the Brigadier-General's high opinion of the services of Lieutenants Lumsden and Hodson, who have spared no labor to obtain for him an accurate knowledge of the mountain of Dullah and its approaches; and Lieutenant Hodson has ent.i.tled himself to the sincere thanks of the Brigadier-General for his endeavors to lead a column to turn the enemy's position, which failed only from causes which rendered success impracticable."

[12] Chillianwalla, Jan. 13th, 1849.

CHAPTER V.

ANNEXATION OF PUNJAUB.--INCREASE OF CORPS OF GUIDES AT PESHAWUR.--TRANSFER TO CIVIL DEPARTMENT AS a.s.sISTANT COMMISSIONER.

_April 17th, 1849._

You will have heard of the great events of the last month; how on the 26th March, the Punjaub became "forever" a British Province, governed by a Triumvirate; and how the Koh-i-noor was appropriated as a present to the Queen,--and all the rest of it; you may imagine the turmoil and unrest of this eventful time; but I defy you to imagine the confusion of the process which converts a wild native kingdom into a police-ridden and civilian-governed country.

I had antic.i.p.ated and wished for this measure. I did not, however, expect that it would be carried out so suddenly and so sweepingly as it has been....

I have been _annexed_ as well as the Punjaub! my "occupation's gone," and although efforts have been and are making for my restoration to "the department," yet at present I am shelved. I shall know more next month.

Meanwhile, I am off with the new Commissioner to instruct him in the details of his province, which I had governed and _won_ from the rebels during the last six months, but in which I am not now accounted worthy to be a humble a.s.sistant. There's fame! Well, something will turn up, I suppose. I hope to remain here, however, under the Commissioner, for a time, that I may get acquainted with this wonderful civil system. It is as well to know how the mill works.

I got quite fond of Lord Gough. I was his guest at Lah.o.r.e for a month, and his n.o.ble character and fire made one condone his mistakes.

We are now on the "_qui vive_" for his successor. I long for Sir C. Napier, but the Court of Directors seem determined to hold out.

The Guides are at Peshawur, where I shall probably join them.

Lieutenant Hodson's descent in position, upon the annexation of the Punjaub, was, perhaps, unavoidable, though it was very natural that he should feel it. So soon as the country was placed under the government of the East India Company, the regulations of the service with regard to seniority of course took effect, and it was not to be expected that a subaltern of less than five years' standing should be continued in so important a charge, however well qualified he might have proved himself for it in the most trying times. His position altogether had been a peculiar and exceptional one.

We shall see, however, that his disappointment did not prevent his throwing himself with his usual energy into whatever duties were a.s.signed to him.

_To his Brother._

PESHAWUR, _May 14th, 1849_.

My stay here is very uncertain. I merely came to settle affairs with Lumsden relative to the increase of the Guides.

Meantime, I have been much interested with my first visit to this Affghan province and to the Indus. You will see at once that though it gives us a very strong military frontier, only pa.s.sable to armies in half a dozen points, and therefore infinitely less difficult to hold than a long line of river, which is ever "a silent highway for nations," yet at the same time we have once more established a footing in Affghanistan from which there is no receding, as we did when we went as allies to the puppet Shah Soojah. Our next stride must be to Herat, I fancy; _when_ the day will come no man can say, but "the uncontrollable principle," which, according to Sir R. Peel, took us there before, will not be the less active in its operation now that we have no longer the court and camp of Runjeet Singh between us and these wild tribes. It is to be hoped that "the uncontrollable principle" will not appear so very like an _un_controllable want of it as it did in days gone by! However, go we must, and shall _some_ day,--so hurrah for Cabul!

I wish you would hit upon some plan for keeping me more "au fait" with the events of your home world. My time has been occupied so constantly since I came to India, that, though I may have made some progress in the knowledge of _men_, I have made but little in that of _books_. We are sadly off for military works in English, and few sciences require more study than the art of war. You might get me a list of good works from the "United Service Inst.i.tution" at Charing Cross. I want the best edition of Caesar procurable; also Xenophon and Arrian. I fancy the last has been very well edited.

PESHAWUR, _June 8th, 1849_.

This is the first time I have written to you from Affghanistan. Who shall say whence my letters may be directed within a few months. Are we to advance on Cabul and Candahar, and plant the Union Jack once more on the towers of Ghuznee? or are we to lie peacefully slumbering on the banks of the Indus? Are our conquests at an end? or will it be said of Lord Dalhousie--

Ultra et Garamantas et Indos Proferet imperium?

My own belief is, that I shall live to see both the places I have mentioned, and Herat, occupied by British troops; at least, I hope so.

I think I told you how it had pleased the Governor-General to reward "my distinguished services," toils, troubles, and dangers, by kicking me out of the coach altogether. Did I not? Well, after that close to my civil duties, after having "initiated" the new Commissioner into his duties, I was sent up hither to augment recruits and train the Guides. And now daily, morning and evening, I may be seen standing on one leg to convince their Affghan mind of the plausibility and elegance of the goose step. I am quite a sergeant-major just now, and you will well believe that your wandering brother is sufficiently cosmopolized to drop with a certain "aplomb" into any line of life which may turn up in the course of his career. I was always fond of "soldiering," and there is a species of absurdity in dropping from the minister of a province into a drill-sergeant, which is enlivening. By the next mail I may have to report my transformation into some new animal. So "vive la gloire."

PESHAWUR, _July 19th, 1849_.