CHAPTER XII
The First Assault
The great Major-General Arthur Wellesley, the famous Duke of Wellingtonof after days, was the centre of all eyes as the force with which Owenand his friends had marched came into camp and joined the main party. Hesat his horse immovable as a rock, and answered salute with salute withsuch composure and in such a soldierly manner that all were impressed.Once only did he deign to smile as a hoarse voice from the passing rankscalled for three cheers for their leader, and when the echo of thetumultuous shouting had died down he showed his appreciation by liftinghis embroidered hat. That was all, and yet in all ranks there wassatisfaction, for from commanding-officer to drummer-boy he was the idolof the soldiers.
"A very keen commander who knows his men and can get the very utmost outof them," said the Major, as the men were dismissed. "Now, Owen, and youtoo, Jack, I shall introduce you to your regiments. From this time weshall see less of one another. But whenever you have a spare half-hourcome across to my tent."
A little later our hero was seated in a tent owned by the 7th nativecavalry, where he found himself a stranger amongst many officers. Hefelt ill at ease, and somewhat bashful for a little while, but soonsettled down, and on the following day took up his duties. Three dayslater the army got in motion and set off in the direction ofAhmednuggur. Long before then rumours of his adventures had come to theears of his brother officers, and he was requested to give the details.Nor did he omit to say how he had come to be sent to India, and how, inhis younger days, he had been a corporal in the 64th, and earlier a waifin charge of the matron at the poorhouse.
"With a mystery attached to your going there, Jones, I think," said theColonel heartily. "Well, my boy, I admire the open manner in which youhave told the tale of your early days. There are heaps of young fellows,and older men too, who would keep the matter dark, and feel very charyof mentioning it. And so you have two wounds to boast of?"
Owen acknowledged the fact with heightened colour, as if he wereashamed, at which there was a roar of laughter.
"And have had a couple of good tussles, besides a little affray aboardship? Very good! Before you have finished you will bring some credit onthis regiment."
There was another roar of laughter, which set his blood tingling, andhis colour mounting to his cheeks. But it was all good-natured chaff,and like the sensible fellow he was, he showed no resentment. More thanthat, he was glad now that he had fought Hargreaves; for he began tolearn that tales fly in a country like India, and that it is everythingfor a youngster to come to his regiment with a good recommendation.
"We heard that you were coming a week ago," said one of the youngerofficers with whom he shared a tent. "Some fellows came in from anothercolumn, and it seems that they had sailed from Calcutta to Bombay,beating you by some weeks. They had come out in the same ship, and thatis how we heard of the fight, of the pirates, and your escape. And thereis a yarn in camp about this other affair at the native fort. You musttell me all about that. I mean, you must give me full details, for bywhat you said in the mess tent the whole affair might have lasted only afew minutes."
Owen had indeed been very modest when describing the contest at thenative fort, and it was only when Mulha was appealed to that the fulldetails became known. And as they filtered from mess to mess, they camein time to the headquarters' mess, and the General heard the tale.
"Send for him," he said abruptly. "A little affair of that sort is oftenmore difficult to arrange than one of greater magnitude. I wish toquestion this officer."
Very hot and uneasy did Owen feel when, dressed in his cavalry uniform,belted, and with his sabre on, he was ushered before the General. He wasstill a little hampered by the wound he had received in the affray withthe pirates, while the slash he had received across his ankle in theaffair of the fort, though a trifling affair, was sufficient to increasethe limp. He drew himself up to attention and saluted stiffly, keepinghis eyes steadily on the General. Then he dropped his hand, retaininghis position at attention. The leader of the troops stood in front ofhis tent, with two other officers beside him, and for the space of a fewseconds he returned the glance of this cavalry ensign, his sharp eyesseeming to pierce to the back of Owen's head. It was an ordeal at whichmany an old soldier would have flinched, and do what he would Owen couldhardly contain himself. A moment later the tension was broken.
"Mr. Jones, sir," said one of the officers. "You wished to see him."
"Yes. How old are you, please?"
Owen gave his age as correctly as was possible, considering the factthat the unusual circumstances surrounding his birth made a preciseanswer impossible.
"Tell me about this fort. Who was with you?"
"My servant, sir. A Mahratta."
"How many helped in the defence?"
One after another the General shot off his questions, demanding the sizeof the place, the number of the enemy, and the dispositions taken fordefence.
"If you had had twenty-five English troops to help you, how long couldyou have held out?"
"I should have tried to beat them off altogether, sir," came the promptreply. "If not, I should have contented myself with holding the place.There was food and water enough to last for a week at least."
"You discovered that? When?"
"Within a few minutes of entering the fort, sir."
"And how would you have attempted to carry out the first part of theprogramme, Mr. Jones? Be precise, please. How would you have beaten themoff?"
"I should have held the walls till night came, sir," Owen answeredwithout hesitation, "and then I should have made a sortie. Those rovingbands consist of the roughest characters, and they seldom set a watch atnight. Often enough they are almost overcome with the opium or bhangthey have taken. I should have driven off their horses and attacked themin the early hours."
"A bold programme," said the General, with a lift of his eyes. "Successwould much depend upon your information. Is it a fact, for instance,that they take opium? How do you know it?"
Owen at once told his questioner how Mulha had taught him all thatseemed of interest with regard to the Mahrattas, and how in their dailydiscussions he had mentioned this fact.
"Then you speak Mahratti? Sufficiently well to understand, or better?"
This time the General looked at our hero with awakening interest, whilehe waited eagerly for his answer.
"I can, I am told, speak like a native, sir," answered Owen modestly. "Ican also speak Hindustani."
It was evident that General Wellesley was not the one to allow thepossibility of a mistake. He turned to one of the officers and gave ashort order. A little later a Mahratta advanced and salaamed.
"This is one of the Mahratta friendly chiefs," he said. "I haveinstructed him to converse with you."
Had our hero told anything but the strict and accurate truth, he wouldthen and there have been confounded. But he was sure of himself, and aminute later found the Mahratta salaaming to him and conversing at apace which utterly forbade those who had a smattering of the languagefollowing the conversation.
"My lord," said the native, turning to the General, "the sahib tells methat he believes that he lived in this country when a babe, and learnedHindustani, and mayhap some of our tongue even before he was taught hisown. Truly, I can believe it. But for his colour and his dress he is aMahratta."
"And here is a report to that effect, received from Calcutta, sir," saidone of the officers, abstracting a parchment from a leather satchel."This came through with the column with which Mr. Jones marched."
"I will see it. Put this officer's name down for special service, inconnection with interpreting or otherwise. He has shown great energy andcourage. Good-morning, Mr. Jones."
He acknowledged Owen's salute and stood looking after him as he limpedaway.
"We shall see him again, I think," he said very quietly. "It issomething to have a youngster amongst us who can speak like a native andhas the pluck to carry out the part."
Marching across
the plain watered by the Soona, the force under GeneralWellesley at length came in sight of Ahmednuggur, having passednumerous villages _en route_ which had been fired by the lawlessMahrattas. And here they found a city and fortress which promised to taxtheir powers, for the pettah boasted a lofty wall, flanked with towers,though it had no battlements. In addition it had an excellent ditch,and, according to the General, was the strongest fort which he had seen,saving only Vellore, in the Carnatic. The place was garrisoned by a bodyof Arabs, aided by one of Scindia's regular battalions, trained no doubtby some French officer, while between it and the fortress lay a columnof horse.
The little army sat down before the place in a business-like manner, andOwen very soon had an opportunity of seeing how troops conducted theaffairs of a siege. Having accompanied his own troop of horse round thestronghold, he found himself free for a time, and with Jack Simpsonbeside him, now an ensign in a native foot battalion, for he had beenunfortunate enough not to attain to the cavalry, he watched as thegunners prepared their batteries. They broke ground that very night atan easy range, and it was not long before the thunder of the guns awokethe echoes. Then there were other matters of interest to see and admire.There were the hundreds of bullock-carts, the slow-moving yet verytrusty transport of our armies in India, and there were the lines oftents erected for the men, the hospital tents, the orderly groups ofcanvas shelters for the officers, and the numerous hucksters and smallmerchants who hovered in the lines. Further, there were the nativeservants, hurrying about their masters' business, leading ponies andhorses to water, cleaning saddlery, brushing travel-stained uniforms,and performing the hundred and one duties which fall to the lot ofservants. Not that a native will do the tithe of work that one canexpect from a European servant, for in India caste rules far and wide,and the man who will sweep the compound and perform other menial officesis looked down upon by the grass-cutter or the syce who tends theponies. It was all most interesting, and it was long before the twoyoung fellows had made a round of the camp.
And now, while the gunners are bombarding the walls of Ahmednuggur, letus halt for a while to learn what had actually been the course of eventsfrom the commencement of this Mahratta trouble. And perhaps it would beas well to mention to the reader the forces to which we were to beopposed. The Mahratta chiefs, controlling a turbulent population, andever eager for war, and delighting in the clatter of arms, had unitedfor the time being, a somewhat unusual occurrence, considering thejealousies and rivalries which existed amongst them. They had, in thefirst instance, marked the Nizam for their prey, and were deeplyoffended because the Company had taken him under their wing. And now thePeishwa, whom Holkar, the most powerful, perhaps, of Mahratta chiefs,had driven from his throne, had become an ally of ours, and we werepledged to support him. Backed by his trained battalions, officered byFrenchmen, Scindia openly threatened the British, and it was abundantlyclear that if left to himself he would rapidly increase in power, andwould one day become a serious menace to our hopes in India. War was,in fact, imminent and would be undertaken on our part with the object ofhumbling this native ruler's power, and, perhaps with a greater objectstill, that of ridding the country for ever of the French and the nativebattalions they trained. Our success would bring about in natural coursea third object, that of securing the Peishwa on his throne.
General Wellesley had the command of our troops, and these prior to thecommencement of the campaign were separated. Colonel Stevenson, with tworegiments of native cavalry, and the Nizam's subsidiary force, amountingin all to 8000 men, took up his position at Parinda, on the Peishwa'sfrontier, where he was accompanied by 15,000 of the troops of theDeccan. He was therefore about a hundred miles east of Poonah, thePeishwa's seat of government, then in the hands of Holkar.
A second force, that commanded in person by Arthur Wellesley, and towhich Owen was now attached, commenced operations at the northernfrontier of Mysore, and numbered 8000 infantry and 1700 horse. Theyshowed the energy of their leader at once, for they marched with alltheir baggage and heavy guns upon Poonah, accomplishing a journey ofsome six hundred miles at the average rate of thirteen and a half milesa day, and that without losing a single draught animal, though thecountry had been swept by Holkar, a powerful chief in command of a hostof freebooters, and it was the worst season of the year. Poonah wastaken without encountering opposition, though Holkar's freebooters onlyfled as the British force came into sight, and the dethroned Peishwa wasagain brought to his capital and safely installed there, with the helpof our bayonets. At this stage Colonel Stevenson moved towards theGodavery, there to overlook Holkar and his freebooters, his co-operationbeing no longer necessary; while Wellesley prepared for furthereventualities should the Mahratta chiefs prove troublesome.
The reader will have noticed the mention of Holkar, and it may be aswell to state here who this chieftain was, for his name is destined toappear again in the narrative. Jeswunt Rao Holkar, to give him his fulltitle, was the descendant of a family which had had a meteoric career,rising from humble circumstances to great power and wealth. Originallythey were members of the Dungar shepherd tribe, located some fifty milesfrom Poonah, and it was one of these shepherds who first carved fame andfortune for his house with the keen edge of his tulwar. Indeed, heobtained much power and wealth, and became virtual ruler of eighty-twodistricts north of the Nerbudda. It is unnecessary to follow the doingsof his family, but it will suffice if we state that, according to thealmost universal custom, his successors did not always come to theirrights peacefully, and this Holkar, an illegitimate descendant, foundhimself in his younger days a fugitive. But he possessed the spirit ofthat forebear of his, for with a tiny following he carved his fortuneanew, gathered adherents at every stride, and finally became the terrorof the Peishwa and of Scindia. He hung on their frontiers, ravagedtheir territories, and plundered friend and foe alike. And at thisstage, when Britain may be said to have entered into war with Scindia,to whom were allied other Mahratta chiefs, this Holkar hung like a cloudon the frontiers, with a horde of ruffians and freebooters, scowling atboth parties and threatening the peace of our other possessions.
Information had reached General Wellesley that Scindia and the Rajah ofBerar had joined forces and had taken up a hostile position. Herequested them to withdraw, and meeting with refusal made ready foractive operations. The troops marched for Ahmednuggur, meeting with thecolumn which had accomplished the enormous land journey from Calcutta.And now they were before the town, which was of great importance. For itcovered Poonah and the Peishwa's frontier, while the possession of thisplace would give our troops an excellent depot, would cut Scindia offfrom his southern supporters, and would give into our hands histerritories south of the Godavery.
While referring to Scindia, it is of interest to mention that he had animmense force of irregular cavalry, a large number of well-trainedinfantry battalions, and marched light. That is, he carried nomagazines, but subsisted on the country, plundering whenever andwherever he could, like Holkar on the frontier. He had a marked awe ofthe British regulars, and in this campaign he did his utmost to carry ona predatory warfare, attacking when in overwhelming force, hanging onour flanks, and marching swiftly and incessantly whenever our troopsbecame too troublesome. However, we shall see how he succeeded.
HE STRETCHED OUT A HUGE PAW AND DRAGGED OWEN UP
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"We shall be marching to the assault soon, lads," said the Major thatevening, as the boom of the cannon died down. "It will require verylittle bombarding to make an effective breach, and then you'll see howwe'll turn the beggars out. How'd you like to be one of the boys?"
Owen's eyes glistened, while he looked across the narrow camp-table atthe Major, who was faintly discernible by the aid of a smoky nativelamp.
"Ha, ha! This time you will look on," laughed the Major. "Jack and I arethe boys who will try for honour and glory. The cavalry will be watchingthe enemy's horsemen and will be foraging outside the lin
es."
"I'd like to go though, sir," answered Owen. "I shall ask my commandingofficer."
He said nothing more then, but on the following day, when the callsounded for the troop to fall in, he rode up to the Colonel.
"Well, Mr. Jones," said the latter, "what can I do for you? You haveyour orders, or rather the troop commander has. You are to ride well inrear of that fort and keep a careful watch. Not that you are likely tohave much to report, for our spies tell us that there are none of theenemy within miles."
"Then could you excuse me, sir?" asked our hero. "You see, sir, I wantedto know what it would be like attacking a wall, and----"
"Why, you know. What about that rickety native fort? Bless me!"
The Colonel swung round in his saddle, while the adjutant grinned.
"A regular young fire-eater, sir," he whispered.
"And what if all my cornets made the same request?" demanded theColonel. "But there. We can spare you. I'll see one of the staff and askhim to manufacture some orders for you, for you can't accompany thestorming party unless there is good excuse. Now be careful, and if youget a crack over the head, or get killed, why, don't blame me."
He acknowledged Owen's salute somewhat surlily, and rode off with theadjutant, while Owen, his spirits raised to a high pitch, clapped heelsto the fine Mahratta horse he rode and went furiously off the paradeground. However, within some fifty yards he was brought up with a shout,and checking his mount, turned him with an easy swerve. There was anative orderly beside him by now, and his lance went to the salute.
"The Colonel Sahib desires you to return."
"To tell me I cannot go," groaned Owen, as he set his beast in motion.However, he little guessed the cause. He pulled up within a horse'slength of the commanding officer and saluted.
"Mr. Jones, will you please to remember that you are not to gallop offthe parade ground unless carrying an order. There is no need for suchhaste. Bear that in mind in future."
With a swing the Colonel and his adjutant pulled their animals roundand trotted away, leaving our hero somewhat crestfallen. But the two whorode away wore a smile of evident amusement.
"Will do him good! Some of these youngsters think they know everything.Jones doesn't, but he might, don't you see," said the Colonel, "so I'vepulled him up and dressed him down. He'll make a capital officer."
Owen saluted the Colonel's back as the latter rode away, and then walkedhis horse from the parade ground. And presently the adjutant came up tohim.
"Got into hot water that time, my boy," he laughed. "But the Colonel isright. You mustn't allow excitement to carry you away. It's a standingorder that about galloping off the parade ground, though I fancy we letit drop when on service. But I have your orders. You are to go with thestorming party, not to lead it, you understand, and are to interview anyprisoners who may happen to be taken. Now for a bit of advice. When youpass an enemy who is down just make sure that he is really hit. Morethan a few of our poor fellows have been sabred or bayoneted by men whohave made pretence to be killed."
Owen was delighted, and his spirits again soared up. He rode off to histent and dismounted. Then he fell in in rear of the storming party, andsat down beside the officers while the guns thundered against the wall.They watched the balls strike against the mud and masonry, sendingclouds of dust into the air, and often bringing down such a pile ofmaterial that the crash could be heard at that distance. And in alittle while the bugles sounded, the men fell in, and the order toadvance was given.
Only those who have experienced the feeling can know what it is to beone of a storming party, or the curious sensations with which men arefilled. Happily for Owen he was a high-spirited, merry youngster, andhad been in tight places before. He allowed nothing to damp his ardour,and when the men broke into a trot, crushed well towards the front. Verysoon he found himself beside the ranks of one of the two Highlandregiments which were with this force, and just in front of a Sepoybattalion. There was a shout, bayonets came down to the charge, whilethe kilts of the men swung out still wider. There was a hoarse growl ofexcitement, and then a roar from the throats of the gallant fellows.They were in the ditch. Owen caught his foot on a piece of masonry atthe very summit and pitched head foremost to the bottom, alighting onthe shoulders of a brawny Highlander, who shook him off with an oath,recognised an officer, and helped him to his feet. Then, side by side,Owen sabre in hand, and the kilted soldier armed with his fearsomebayonet, they scrambled up the steep slope and into the breach.
"Hang on, sir. Give me your hand!" shouted the fine fellow as Owen wasforced back. "Hah! that's as muckle as ye'll want."
He stretched out a huge paw and dragged Owen up, turning just in time toward off a thrust made by one of the enemy. Then he lifted his weaponand brought the butt with terrific force against the man's chest,dashing him to the ground so suddenly that the unfortunate native splithis head against a portion of tumbled masonry. Then there was a fiercemelee for a few seconds, a melee in which bayonets crossed, and tulwarsand swords flashed in the sun. The air was filled with the shouts of theMahratta foot, and with the guttural exclamations of the Arabs. Blowsfell thick and fast, while from attackers and attacked there came thesound of deep-drawn breathing. Then a shout was heard. "Forward! intothe town!" A fierce excited cheer answered the summons, and in a momentthe Highlanders flung the enemy aside as if they had been but spray fromthe ocean, and won their way through the breach.
"Charge! Don't give them time to get to the houses, men," called out thecommanding officer.
At once the ranks, which were already broken, divided altogether, andthe Highlanders charged against the houses clustered near at hand. Butthe enemy were before them, and for some little while Owen and his newcomrades had tough work to carry through.
"Sahib, come here, where you can shelter," said one of the Sepoys, withwhom he now found himself fighting. "You have no musket and can donothing. Presently we will charge and then you can lead."
The enemy had taken refuge in the houses on either side of the street,and for a while their fire made progress almost impossible. But theattackers answered with the utmost spirit, sheltering wherever theycould, while some, reckless of the consequences, dashed forward, burstin the doors, and fell upon the enemy. It was a most exciting time, andthere is no wonder that Owen forgot all else but the fighting. He caughtsight of the brawny Highlander again, his kilt all adrift in the wind,and showing unmistakable signs of the conflict. He was charging down thestreet with some dozen of his comrades, while three or four of theSepoys were with the gang. Owen could not resist the temptation. Heburst from his cover and dashed after them. Shots struck the ground athis feet, kicking dust into his eyes. A man thrust a musket between thelattice of a ground-floor window and fired in his face, so that theflash singed his hair. But he hardly noticed the incident. He was whole,uninjured, and there were deeds still to be done. With a shout he joinedthe little party, and threw himself against the doors of a house oflarge size. They gave with a crash, and the men were in. With a shoutthey flung themselves upon the enemy and then----
"Pull yourself together, man. We're in and the place is ours. Here, takea sip."
Owen sat up, giddy and confused. All he could grasp at present was thefact that Jack Simpson was beside him. Stars whirled before his eyes,the walls, the floor, the figure of an Arab and a Sepoy were strangelyjumbled up with the large form of a Highlander, who lay full length,looking quietly at him, while an officer bandaged his wounded leg. Therewas a terrible din outside. What had happened?
"Shut your eyes and hold your tongue. Now, sip that. Right, I'll getsome water."
Ten minutes later he was standing up, somewhat unsteadily, while JackSimpson detailed the events which had just passed.
"They fought stubbornly," he said, "and we lost fairly heavily, for thisstreet fighting is very nasty work. However, we turned them all out, andhere we are, masters of the town. The guns are getting into position tobombard the fort. Now about you, old fellow! The Highlander tells meth
at just as you burst into the house an Arab hit you over the head witha sponging rod, and brought you down like a ninepin. My word! You are afellow for go and dash! I saw you in the breach and afterwards as youmade your rush."
Owen had indeed displayed not a little of that daring and pluck whichhave made our soldiers famous. The excitement of the attack had carriedhim away, and the sudden friendship of the Highlander had served to feedthe fire. Fighting together, as if they were of equal rank and had knowneach other for years, the two had struggled on till they were separated.And then Owen had again joined his friend, only to be beaten to theground, while the Highlander had a bullet through his leg. However, itwas not till an hour later when he emerged from the house, walkingbeside the litter of the gallant Scot, that he gathered that his conducthad attracted attention. The General and his staff were standing besidethe breach, while within a few yards the Highland regiment was drawn up,standing there at ease, till orders came for another advance. As Owenstumbled along, for he was still very giddy, a murmur went down theranks, and men nudged one another. Then one of the lads tore off hisbonnet and threw it into the air, catching it upon the point of hisbayonet.
"Three cheers for Cornet Jones and Andrew Macnalty!"
The hoarse roar which followed might have been heard a mile away, and,as may be imagined, attracted the attention of the General and hisstaff. He turned, saw the bonnets in the air, and Owen and the Scotpassing between himself and the ranks.
"Our friend of the fort again, I think," he said with a quaint littlesmile. "Did I not say that we should see more of this young officer?"
Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree Page 13