Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army: Gwalior and the Battle of Maharajpore, 1843; the Gold Coast of Africa, 1847-48; the Indian Mutiny, 1857-58; the expedition to China, 1860-61; the Siege of Paris, 1870-71; etc. — John Shaqi
Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army: Gwalior and the Battle of Maharajpore, 1843; the Gold Coast of Africa, 1847-48; the Indian Mutiny, 1857-58; the expedition to China, 1860-61; the Siege of Paris, 1870-71; etc.Gordon, Charles Alexander, Sir
History
Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army: Gwalior and the Battle of Maharajpore, 1843; the Gold Coast of Africa, 1847-48; the Indian Mutiny, 1857-58; the expedition to China, 1860-61; the Siege of Paris, 1870-71; etc.
Gordon, Charles Alexander, Sir
Gordon, Charles Alexander, Sir, 1821-1899; India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Biography; Paris (France) -- History -- Siege, 1870-1871 -- Personal narratives
The wounded from different regiments were collected in camp,
those among them fit to undergo the journey towards Allahabad
being dispatched thither by means of doolies and native carts
(hackeries),--the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, as expressed by
himself, being that their progress thither should be by “easy stages
and intermediate halts.” From Allahabad they were to be conveyed by
means of native boats to Calcutta, and there embarked on board one
or more of the most comfortably and well-equipped ships proceeding
viâ the Cape to England. For those whose condition was more serious,
accommodation was provided in camp, and in public buildings outside
the city of Gwalior. Among those so left were three respected
officers of the Buffs. Of these, Captain Chatterton and Dr. Macqueen
shortly afterwards succumbed to the disease--induced by the trials of
active service. The death of the third--namely, Captain Magrath--was
attended by a little circumstance which showed that the spirit of
romance persisted to the last in him. During the battle at Punniar,
he, together with thirteen men of his company, were blown up by the
explosion of a tumbril that they were in the act of capturing. Captain
Magrath and twelve of the soldiers with him speedily succumbed, or
were instantly killed. When his body was being prepared for burial,
there, over the region of the heart, was found a lady’s glove; nor was
it difficult, bearing in mind some of the most pleasant incidents at
Allahabad already recorded, to indicate the hand to which the memento
originally pertained.
A general parade of the combined forces now took place. On that
occasion the young Maharajah accompanied the Governor-General, by whom,
in the course of his address, sufficient was expressed to raise hopes
that further service on the Punjab frontier was to be immediately
undertaken. But this was not to be.
Disintegration of “the Army of Exercise” forthwith began, in obedience
to orders issued. Starting on their return march, the 16th traversed
the field on which, twenty-nine days previous, the battle already
mentioned had taken place. At short distances over its extent lay
bodies of men and horses far advanced in decomposition; fragments of
natives and equipments everywhere. The village of Maharajpore reduced
to charred ruins; in their midst numbers of dead bodies of those who
had so manfully stood their ground and perished as they did so. In
what had been a room or enclosure a confused heap of what had been
men further testified to the obstinacy of the defence. In some places
miserable-looking inhabitants were searching among the ruins for
property and houses. Such was the wreck of battle.
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