Charles Gordon - Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army

The once famous Donnybrook Fair 109 109 August 31, 1850. had not then become a thing of the past, although its extinction was approaching. The assemblage of people on the occasion comprised the wild in aspect, dirty in person, squalid, imperfectly clothed, all more or less strongly smelling of whisky, some dancing to music of their pipes; but so far as we saw, without the mirth, laughter, and other signs of Irish life of which we had heard so much.

Through the advocacy of Sir De Lacy Evans, and almost by it alone, officers of the Medical and Commissariat Departments were admitted to the second and third grades of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. 110 110 London Gazette , August 12, 1850. In battles connected with recent campaigns, surgeons of British regiments were exposed to fire of the enemy in a degree only second to that of combatants, the casualties in killed and wounded among them testifying to the risks ran by them in the performance of their duties on those occasions. Other circumstances of military life tell more against medical officers of regiments than those whose duties are merely “combatant.” The combat over, the latter, if unscathed, takes his rest, such as it may be under the circumstances, but the most arduous duties of the former then begin. On marches incidental to campaigns, the halting ground reached, requirements of the sick and wounded must be attended to, often under great difficulties. In times of epidemics, the combatant runs risks common to all; the surgeon, in addition to them, is exposed to those incidental to close association with subjects of those epidemics, together with mental and physical wear and tear in the performance of professional duties. Hence arises the proportionately high rates of mortality that prevail among junior departmental ranks.

Some time thereafter, war was undertaken against the Kaffirs under Sandilli, their chief. Eight infantry regiments were hastily dispatched to take part in the coming campaign, and so the 57th was placed among the first to proceed to the same destination in the event of reinforcements becoming necessary. Married officers, therefore, lost no time in forecasting arrangements to be made by them respectively in the event of the anticipated contingency becoming a reality.

My personal arrangements in that respect became hastened by the birth to me of a son. 111 111 Born on April 12, 1851. Anticipating such an event, I had already opened negotiations for exchange to a regiment serving in India, conscious that colonial rates of pay and allowances were inadequate to meet the needs of double establishments during war time. By-and-by the time arrived when connection had to be severed with a regiment to which I had become much attached, and of its traditions proud as any other of its members. A farewell dinner, by invitation of Colonel Goldie 112 112 Killed at Inkerman. and officers, and then adieu.

10th Foot – International Exhibition – Sail for India – Incidents – Battened down – Chinsurah again – Sunderbunds – Purbootpore – Kurumnassa – Incidents of the river trip – By Grand Trunk Road – Hospitable Brahmins – Louis Napoleon – Deobund – Saharunpore – Jugadree – Umballah – Noormahal – Loodianah – Ferozeshah – Ferozepore – Lahore – Googeranwallah – Arrive at regimental headquarters.

Among regiments stationed throughout the Punjab, then but recently annexed, was the 10th Foot, to which, by exchange, 113 113 London Gazette , May 23, 1851. I was now appointed. Towards that province I accordingly started without delay. Arrived in London, we visited the great novelty of that day, the palace of glass situated in Hyde Park, in which was held the International Exhibition, progenitor of a long series as it was destined to be. No time was lost in completing arrangements for the coming sea voyage in so far as restricted pecuniary means permitted. Early in June we embarked on board the Lord George Bentinck

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Sir James McGrigor, Bart., Director-General.

The date of appointment as Assistant Surgeon, June 8, 1841. My diplomas – L.R.C.S.E.; M.D. St. Andrews; both April, 1840.

7 s. 6 d.

The hammock space per man was 9 feet × 1½.

Solution of chloride of zinc.

Mr. Mechi.

Captain Gurwood.

1815.

Captain Astier, 62nd Regiment.

March 28, 1842.

i. e. , drawn by means of ropes attached to their masts.

21st.

Namely, 26th, 49th, and 55th.

i. e. , silk produced by the Antherea paphia , and allied species.

Of the 50th and 62nd Regiments; more than 100 men were lost at Seckreegullee, that being the place where the typhoon occurred.

Colonel Wodehouse, Major Ryan, and Captain Tew.

December 28 and 29, 1857.

On the invitation of my friend, L. C. Stewart, 39th Regiment.

Gates of Somnath – carried thence, A.D. 1024, by the conqueror, Mahmood of Guznee.

Akbar the Great, A.D. 1556–1605.

Taj Mahal-Bibi ke Roza, or Crown Lady’s tomb, erected over the remains of Mumtaz Mahal, the Pride of the Palace, wife of Shah Jehan. She died in childbed of her eighth child, A.D. 1629, at Berhampore in the Deccan, whence her body was carried and buried where the Taj now stands.

The story of these events is concisely given in Sewell’s Analytical History of India , page 244.

At the time commanded by Colonel Clunie.

Eudynemus Orientalis .

Poor L.E.L.! Further memories of her will recur hereafter.

The words are so beautiful and pathetic that I transcribe them.

Float on, float on, my haunted bark, Above the midnight tide; Bear softly o’er the waters dark The hopes that with thee glide.

Float on, float on, thy freight is flowers, And every flower reveals The dreaming of my lonely hours, The hope my spirit feels.

Float on, float on, thy shining lamp, The light of love is there; If lost beneath the waters damp, That love must then despair.