LORD CLYDE'S LAST BATTLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9309, 8 August 1908, Page 1

LORD CLYDE'S LAST BATTLE.

Some Reminiscences of an Indian Veteran. May 5 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the last engagement in which L Sir Colin Campbell took part as com-mander-in-chief of his victorious army. The town of Baroilly is the capital of Rohilound, a large province adjacent to Oude. Here Khan Bahadoor-Kban, with the Begum of Oude and Nana Sahib, had resolved to' make a last stand. The comander-in-cbief, with the following force, had reached Shahjehanpoor on April 30, 1858: — The 42nd, 78th. 79th, and 93 Highland Regiments, th© 6th Dragoons, 9th Lancers, with two batteries horse artillery, tho Punjabees and irregular cavalry. The village of Shahjehanpoor "was'deserted; the rebel army, had .gone to Bareilly. The commander-in-chief followed. To present-day readers it will be y a surprise to learn that the Highland regiments marched and fought in red coats, kilt, and feather bonnet, under a blazing sun, showing 112 degrees in the shade. But th© soldiers had light hearts, and never thought" of defeat. The rebel army of Bengal had cause to know the stuff that the Highland lads were made of. I was proud of my own corps, the fighting " Forty-twa " — a regiment that has served its country for nigh two hundred years. Our officers and three-fourths of the privates had served in the Crimea^ Five officers with the colours had been promoted from the ranks. The marches were heavy, and mostly across country. All the rebels met with- were driven from every position until the army pitched their, tents, on the night of May 4, near the village of Furreedppor. Here all outposts were doubled, but tho night passed, without alarms Two o'clock;. «,:m. fouijd Jail jranka in motion, tents packed on elephants and camels, and the baggage and hospital well protected from surprise or sudden attack. After several hours' march the column halted at 7 a.m., when all ranks partook of cold tea and biscuits, and not enough of that. During the rest the camp equipage, ammunition, and rear-guard closed up with the column. We 'in the ranks had been speculating on the chances, of a tussle with John Sepoy. Such guessing was soon ended, when regiments .were ordered to load with ball cartridge. THE ORDER OF BATTLE. , The commander-m-chief then put the army in order of battle, consisting of two lines. That of the first were the 42nd, 79th, and 93rd, the same three regiments that marched up the Alma's heights in the Crimea. The flanks were protected by the 6th Carabineers and 9th Lancers, while Tomb's troop of horse artillery, with portfire lighted, galloped to the front. The enemy had come out from the city in confidence tihat victory would crown their efforts. Their main position was a strong one, and their guns opened a brisk fire from a battery on the banks of the Nerkutten Nullah. To reach this a bridge | hjad to be crossed. Our regiment was marching straight on this point, while otar flank was threatened by large masses of rebel cavalry. On we steadily marched, until, some eight hundred yards before us, was to be a seen a range of low buildings protected by a mud wall. Sir Colin was close up with the firing line, and ordered the 4th Punjaub Infantry to advance, in skirmishing order.. This they performed in splendid style, while our corps kept marching forward. THE ENCOUNTER. I The Sikhs rushed up to a low wall, where they were received with a volLey of musketry from the hidden foe, who [ followed with a savage rush ; they attacked the Sikhs with their swords, and closed with them in a death struggle as they came on, waving their tulwar* round their heads and uttering their ; war-cry, " Bismiliah Allah 1 dcendeen I" (" Glory to Allah, the Faith, the faith.") These fanatics wer<> so mixed j with the Punjabees that our regiment i withheld their rifle fire rather than risk killing our comrades. Still they were being driven down upon our ranks. Meantime Sir Colin 's keen eye grasped tlie situation, and, riding close to the ranks, his cheery voice was heard along the line saying, " Steady, men, steady! Close up you ranks. Bayonet them as they come." And sure enough the men of the Black Watch neglected nothing, but handled their rifles to some purpose, so much QOj that in less than thirty minutes every man jack of them lay dead at the feet of the Highlanders. A corporal two files on my right plunged his bayonet into the breast of a grizzly Mussulman, who at_once grasp--id the steel with his left hand and made a stroke with his tulwar on the head of his assailant, and but for the feather bonnet our chum would have answered roll-call no more! THE VICTORIA CROSS. While this sanguinary, contest was going on several of the enemy had swept roud our left flank, and made a

determined attack on Colonel Camerouy who had been wounded, and were m the act of dragging him from his honker when Colour-Sergeant William Gardii^ er, of "ours," sprang forward. , <sho* one, gave the other a few inched iflijk. steel, and thus saved the life of his coni-i manding officer. This act of heroietfc was perfori^e^under the eye of Sit? Colin, and the gallant sergeant w*ji; decorated with the" Cross for Valour^ A*-' WILLIAM HOWARD RUSSELL. |: On the other parts of the field tali 1 ' rebel cavalry were active, and had o» several occasions charged the rear guard, causing a panic among the carnal drivers and camp followers, during] which many of the animals rnsheci across the plain. At this juncture Wjs» liam Howard Ruesell, the famous ,war correspondent, was chased by a rebel trooper, receiving a wound, but Private Robb, of the 42nd, who was with tl» Da ßgago, . came to the correspondent^ aid, and in after years was rewarded*-: -> ■ THE FLANK ATTACK. <-? The 79th and 93rd bad pushed for* ward round the flank of the rebel jposi.tion, capturing seven gunsand dislodging them from every, position, the euV* urbs being in our possession. • Th« wounded having been attended to, the army bivouacked on the field. The fallowing morning operations were, continued, when our regiment marched into the fort. The other corps clearJNfi the cantonments, after which the reiajf dents returned >to their homes. Ojiif loss was eighteen killed and . forty wounded. . £; > This was the last battle in whichi Lord Clyde commanded in person, ais the fiend JSana Sahib, who w^b- mip' posed to be present, disappeared foi* ever. Khan Bahadoor-Khan was aftje>f : wards tried, found guilty, .and hanged? Thus peace was brought to a whole :«ti|&" triot by the battle of Bareilly. v "-:,\*