Chapter XI · (continued 2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He also mentions

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

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

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

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

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