Forty-one years in India eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,042 pages of information about Forty-one years in India.

Forty-one years in India eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,042 pages of information about Forty-one years in India.

No. 2 column, under Brigadier Jones, of Her Majesty’s 61st Foot, consisted of: 

MEN. 
Her Majesty’s 8th Foot 250
2nd Bengal Fusiliers 250
4th Sikhs 350
—–­
Total 850

and was intended for the storming of the breach near the Water bastion.

No. 3 column, under Colonel Campbell, of Her Majesty’s 52nd Light Infantry, consisted of: 

MEN. 
Her Majesty’s 52nd Light Infantry 200
Kumaon Battalion 250
1st Punjab Infantry 500
—–­
Total 950

and was told off to enter the Kashmir gate after it had been blown in.

No. 4 column was to operate on our right.  It was commanded by Major Reid, of the Sirmur battalion, and was composed of that regiment, the Guides Infantry, and such men from the piquets (European and Native) as could be spared.  Its strength was 860 men, besides 1,200 of the Kashmir Contingent, and its orders were to attack the suburbs of Kisenganj and Paharipur, and support the main attack by effecting an entrance at the Kabul gate.

The Reserve column, under Brigadier Longfield, Her Majesty’s 8th Foot, was told to await the result of the attack, and afford assistance wherever required.  It consisted of: 

MEN. 
Her Majesty’s 61st Foot 250
4th Punjab Infantry 450
Wing Baluch battalion 300
-----
Total 1,000

with 300 of the Jhind Contingent.

There were besides 200 of the 60th Rifles, who were to cover the advance of Nicholson’s columns, and join the reserve as soon as the assaults had been carried out.

In order to provide these five columns, in all hardly 5,000 strong, the services of every man who could bear arms had to be put into requisition.  Piquets were weakened to a dangerous extent, and many of the sick and wounded who ought to have been in hospital were utilized for the protection of the camp.

[Footnote 1:  Punjab Administration Report, 1857-58.]

[Footnote 2:  The tract of country between the Sutlej and Ravi rivers.]

[Footnote 3:  Norman’s narrative.]

[Footnote 4:  The late General Sir James Brind, G.C.B.]

[Footnote 5:  ‘The Indian Mutiny,’ by Forrest.]

[Footnote 6:  When his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was coming to India in 1875, I obtained permission from Lord Napier of Magdala, who was then Commander-in-Chief, to erect miniature embrasures to mark the gun of direction of each of the breaching batteries; and on these embrasures are recorded the number, armament, and object of the batteries.]

[Footnote 7:  Colonel Arthur Lang is the only one of the four now alive.]

[Footnote 8:  Nearly every man was on duty.  The daily state of the several corps must have been very similar to the following one of the 75th Foot.

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Forty-one years in India from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.