Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER XIX

  The Deccan Invincibles

  "Bedad, now, if it wasn't that ye've the thickest hide and thesthrongest bones of enny Oi iver come across, me bhoy, ye'd be dead!'Tis mighty lucky ye are, so ye are, and ye'll never meet wid the sameagain. Ye'll be dead, as dead as a donkey."

  The Irish doctor who stood over the litter on which Owen reclined waggedhis head knowingly while he lifted an admonishing finger.

  "As dead as enny donkey, me bhoy, so ye will, and jest ye take thewarnin'. 'Tis said you're a fire-eater, and that ye've seen as much ofthe campaign or of the fightin' as enny. Oi believe it. Where did yestart?"

  "At Ahmednuggur, sir. Then we went on to Assaye."

  "And from there, me bhoy? Ye've not been idle since?"

  "I was sent to Holkar with a despatch, and afterwards came through herewith more despatches for General Lake."

  "Thin ye've been busy, because Assaye and Indore are miles from here.Bedad, it must have taken days to cover the country. And what kept yeat Indore? Some fascinating beauty in Holkar's court? Ah, hah! me bhoy,don't tell me it was duty. 'Tis a little flirtation of your own ye'vebeen looking afther, and sure that's why Holkar put ye in the jug, so itis."

  The doctor roared at Owen's obvious indignation, while our hero soonjoined in the laughter, for he saw that this new friend of his was onlymaking fun. He sat up in his litter and addressed him eagerly.

  "That's it, sir, and I'm dreadfully anxious to get up and out of this.When shall I be fit? I feel well and strong now, and am sure I shall beable to return to duty within a day or so."

  "Ye will, will ye? Thin ye'll have to learn that ye've to stay where yeare for a week. Ha! ha! A week, me bhoy, and even thin Oi may keep ye.And jist remimber. Ye're lucky to be alive at all, so ye are, for thatbit of a bullet gave ye a nasty clip. Now if it had happened to hitthrue and straight, why----"

  "I shouldn't have been bothering you, sir."

  "Bedad, ye would not. If it had sthruck ye true, and ye'd not had thehide ye've got, ye'd be dead, as Oi've told ye. Now lie down and sleep,or else Oi'll be havin' to place ye on dry biscuit and wather."

  He was a merry soul this doctor, and for all his fun a capable andpainstaking attendant on those who were sick or injured. No sooner hadOwen been brought into the camp than he appeared at the tent, and havinggiven him some broth at once attended to his wound. That was a week ago,and he had been able to pronounce the injury severe, but not dangerousby any means, and likely to heal rapidly. Indeed, when another week wasgone he declared that Owen might return to light duty.

  "Though 'tis little lightness there'll be about it," he said, with alaugh. "Ye know it's against the ordhers to send men or officers back toanything but full duty. But what will ye have? There's some, and they'remighty few I can tell ye, who haven't that love for the work. But whinthere's fightin' and heads to be broken, why, thin's the toime thesoldier bhoy is keen for duty and the ranks. Sure Oi know it well aftherall these years' service. If it's times of peace, and there's nothin'doin' but dhrills and barrack fatigues, field-days and guards, why,thin, there's many who would shirk if they was able, and who'd bewillin' to find the right excuse. But here, whin it's war, why, bedad,there's no keepin' the bhoys. They're for duty again before their woundsare closed, so they are, good luck to thim!"

  And this might be said to be the case with all our armies in the fieldin those days, and even till more recent times, though it is not thecustom now to return men to duty before their wounds are entirelyhealed. In the days of the Mahratta campaign, however, European troopswere few and very valuable, while actions crowded so closely upon oneanother that it was difficult to make good our losses. Thus the demandfor men to return to the ranks from the hospitals was great, and thekeenness of the soldiers to get back to their duty and to take up theirarms again was a matter of congratulation to their commanders. It is notto be wondered at that Owen longed to don uniform again, and fretted atthe necessity which kept him in hospital. Every day he could hear theroar of guns, while the dust kicked up by passing battalions filled histent. He begged to be sent out, and in due course obtained permission.

  "But ye'll have to go gintly for a time. No gallopin' and chargin',"said the doctor. "However, there's not much fear for ye for a week ormore, for I hear to-day that there is to be peace in these parts. Sitdown, me bhoy. Ye're always wantin' to be standin' when ye've hadordhers to rest. Now Oi'll tell ye how matters have been goin'. Ye'veheard of Delhi, and that we left Ochterlony there and marched sthraitfor Agra. Well, we're here, and so's the enemy, but they're showinglittle spirit. 'Tis said that the city will be surrendered to us, and ifthat's the case, why, ye'll have a quiet time in camp for some daysperhaps, and by thin ye should be fit and well. Mind, ye're to wear abandage about the wound, and when ye turn, turn slowly, or the woundwill open again."

  The following day, in fact, found Owen out and about, though he did notventure to mount his horse. Long ago his dispatches had been taken toGeneral Lake, and that officer had been to see him and interrogate him.Then, also, an officer with a strong escort had been sent back toGeneral Wellesley to tell him of the infamous treatment meeted out tohis messenger, and of the undoubted hostility of Holkar.

  Meanwhile General Lake and his command had obtained further successes,as the doctor had hinted. He and his force had arrived at and hadinvested the stately city of Agra, the key of Western India, on the 7thof October, and within two days had concluded a treaty with the Rajah ofBhurtpore, who at once supplied reinforcements. The city of Agra wasdefended by Scindia's men, who in former times had been under thecommand of British officers, for it was the custom then to permitofficers to take service with foreign contingents. And no doubt this wasdone with a view in some small measure to counteract the influence ofthe many French officers who were in the service and employ ofchieftains. To this day, indeed, many officers find employment withnative contingents. However, the officers who had formerly commanded atAgra were now lying prisoners in the dungeons, and the defenders were insuch a condition of chaos that when General Lake sent in a request thatthe city should be surrendered there was no one in command to reply.

  Seven of Scindia's regular battalions were encamped in the glacis, andheld the city of Agra and some deep sandy ravines to the south and westof the city's fort, and it became necessary to dislodge these as apreliminary to attacking the place. On the 10th of October a force wassent against them, and after meeting with stern resistance defeatedthem, driving them off and capturing the stately city, while thesurvivors of Scindia's troops, some 2500 strong, surrendered to GeneralLake. Our attention was now turned to the city's fort, and a battery of18-pounders was brought to bear. These were the guns which Owen heardhammering at the walls, and it was not long before their well-directedshot had made a breach which was almost practicable. At this stage thegarrison surrendered, being influenced to do so by one of the imprisonedBritish officers. Five thousand five hundred of the enemy fell into ourhands as prisoners of war, thus further reducing Scindia's power, whilemore than L200,000 worth of treasure was taken--a fine haul for theconquerors and for the Company. One hundred and sixty-four cannon weretaken, and amongst these one of similar proportions to that at Indore,which had offered such friendly shelter to Owen. It measured 14 feet 2inches in length, had a calibre of 23 inches, and weighed over 38tons--a monster indeed!

  The capture of Agra gave us the control of the navigation of the Jumna,and enabled several independent chiefs in that quarter, hithertodebarred from joining us owing to Scindia's power, to throw in their lotwith the British.

  However, we were not to have matters altogether in our own hands, for itwas ascertained that Scindia had detached seven of his regular andtrained battalions some little time before, and had placed them underthe command of a French officer. There was also another battalioncomposed of fugitives from Agra, making in all 9000 infantry and 5000cavalry, all of whom had now to fight for their pay, and who were hourlybeing reinforced by other stragglers, who joined the force as
their onlymeans of livelihood, hoping to be able to make up for loss of pay bywholesale robberies. Very soon their French leader lost heart andsurrendered, when the force was taken over by a Mahratta. For a timethey hovered in the neighbourhood of Agra and then made off towardsDelhi, their intention being to attack that weakly garrisoned city. Theywere, in fact, a menace, and a serious one, to the peace andtranquillity of the country General Lake had conquered so far, and he atonce marched after them, determined to bring them to battle, finallyarriving at Futtehpore with men, guns, and baggage. Owen rode with thearmy on this occasion, his wound being now almost healed, though hisside was very stiff and at times painful.

  "'Twill be all right if ye'll jest remimber all about it, me bhoy," saidthe friendly doctor as he watched him mount. "The ball jest cracked acouple of ribs and gave ye a nasty wound over thim. But you're right solong as you keep that plaster tight over the chest and don't exertyourself too much. Mind, no charges. No dashin' into the middle of theinemy as at Assaye. Hah! hah! We've heard. There's tales in the campabout Cornet Owen Jones--Captain Jones, perhaps, when the despatchesarrive. Good-bye, me lad. Look me up when ye return to camp."

  On the very evening on which the army arrived at Futtehpore a nativecame into camp with a chit (note) and searched for the quarters ofCornet Owen Jones. Mulha brought him to his master, standing over theman as if he expected him at any moment to throw himself upon theBritish officer and assassinate him.

  "This fellow came to the camp an hour ago, sahib," he said, watching thenative as he salaamed. "He is the bearer of a note, and will sayneither from whom it comes nor from what quarter. He is a stubbornfool!"

  "Perhaps he has orders to keep his lips closed," said Owen. "Give me thenote. Where do you come from?"

  "From Catumbo, where Scindia's forces were encamped yesterday, sahib,"was the answer. "I am but a humble Mahratta shepherd, and was with myflock when the army passed. They saw me and dragged me to their camp,where they questioned me. But I had seen nothing of the British, andthey set me free again. As I was leaving, a messenger detained me and Iwas taken to the tent of a French officer. He was tall, and wore abandage about his head and beneath his turban. I judged him to havegreat power."

  "Colonel Le Pourton, without a doubt!" exclaimed Owen. "Then he hasjoined the enemy, or perhaps he has gone to them with a purpose."

  "Sahib, in Indore while you were prisoner we learned many things," saidMulha. "We knew that the men of Holkar had but little love for thesesoldiers of Scindia, and despised them, having defeated them in battle.But they have less love for the British, and the tale was whispered inthe streets that Holkar would become friendly with Scindia, and that thetwo together would make war against your people. May it not be that thisFrench colonel is with the enemy with that object?"

  "More than probable," admitted Owen. "But go on with your tale. This manwas tall, and was a powerful sahib."

  "He was, sahib. He had a hundred servants to wait upon him, and an armyof horsemen as escort. I saw them encamped about his tent. He is withoutdoubt a powerful leader. He handed me a bag of silver, and bade me carrythis note to you. That is all. If I refused, or failed to do hisbidding, he promised to come down upon my house and slay me and mine.There is the chit."

  Owen opened the note slowly and glanced at the contents. Then acontemptuous smile wreathed his lips, and he looked up at Mulha.

  "As before," he said calmly; "threats, nothing but threats. Listen tothis. Here is Colonel Le Pourton's message. 'To Cornet Owen Jones,greeting from Colonel Le Pourton, commander of Holkar's forces. This isto inform you that I will give due reward for the trick you practisedupon me at Indore, and for the blow that was given I will return ahundred. Think not that because Agra has fallen you and yours willconquer. Holkar will hound you out of these territories, and you andyour comrades will not escape. I am a fair man, and will deal fairlywith you. I give you warning that I will follow and slay you at thefirst opportunity.'"

  It was written in Mahratti, and Owen recognised the writing to be thesame as that on the pass he had obtained at Indore; but on this occasionthe letters were better formed, and there was more firmness about thewriting.

  "You may go," he said, turning to the native. "Here is a reward forbringing the chit."

  He watched the man depart, and then turned to Mulha.

  "Keep an eye open for strangers, Mulha," he said quietly. "ThisFrenchman has some great interest in my destruction, and would have meassassinated. Were I to meet him I should have little fear, for a manwho threatens is a coward."

  "The sahib may count upon my watchfulness," was the answer. "Yourtroopers and I will set a constant watch, and any stranger who comeswill be closely followed. Rest easy, sahib. You will be protected."

  He went off to the men, and from that hour, whenever Owen emerged fromhis quarters, there was a swarthy trooper lounging up and down, his eyescarefully scrutinising all who passed, while with a warning finger andan air of authority he waved all natives away who happened to be in thevicinity. However, it was not long before the camp was struck and thetroops were in motion again.

  "There will be a dash. We have had information of the position of theenemy," said one of the officers, "and the orders for marching are out.We leave guns and baggage."

  Indeed, very little later the force was at Catumbo, from which the enemyhad only just fallen back. There was a growl of disappointment from themen, for it was hard work marching in the sun. However, the orders whichwere issued at once set their minds at rest, and showed them that ifthey were eager for the fray so also was their leader.

  "We leave camp at eleven to-night," said the same officer, one of thecavalry. "General Lake knows that the beggars will slip away unless hecan surprise and hold them. For that reason the horse march to-night,while the foot follow at dawn. There is fun ahead of us. You'll ridewith us, my boy."

  Owen had, in fact, been told off to the 29th Light Dragoons, with whichregiment he and his troopers mustered that very evening. Beside themrode the 8th Royal Irish and the 27th Light Dragoons, a fine body ofcavalry, strongly reinforced by five native regiments. It was pitch darkwhen they filed out of the camp, and for six hours they rode on insilence, following the track of the enemy. Soon after dawn had broken,and while it was still barely light, there was a thrill of excitementthrough the ranks, and the word was passed that the enemy were in sight.

  "And in order of retreat," said Owen's new friend. "Look at them, makingaway as fast as they can. Put your feet well home, my lad, and get agrip of your saddle, for if I know the General only a very little, I amas sure that he will go right at them as I am that--that--well, that I'mhere talking to you."

  His face flushed while he rose in the saddle to peer over the heads ofthe troopers riding in advance and get a view of the enemy. Our hero,too, was infected with the same excitement. He felt as he had done onthat memorable afternoon at Assaye. Before him, trailing along the trackin full retreat, he saw Scindia's last hope, some seventeen battalionsof infantry, for the most part as highly trained as any European forcecould be, and officered by experienced men, though all their Frenchtrainers had departed. And in rear of them fully 5000 cavalry, the creamof the Mahratta horse, bold-looking if not actually very courageoussoldiers. In their midst the teams struggled with no fewer than 72pieces of cannon, beside which marched the trained gunners, men secondto none even amongst white troops. That was not all, for amidst thecurling clouds of dust which encircled the fleeing army, filling themouths and nostrils of men and animals till they almost choked, wereelephants in large numbers, bullock-carts, laden horses, and hugenumbers of camp followers, the curse of Eastern armies, the incubuswhich, hanging about the neck of moving forces, has more than oncebrought ruin and defeat to the commander, and death or imprisonment toall attached to it.

  It was a mighty gathering, and Lake could well have been excused had hedecided to wait for his infantry, now well on the road, for they were toset out at three in the morning. But he knew the risks attached to apostponement of
hostilities, and feared that Scindia's forces mightescape him. He decided then and there to attack with his sabres, andrapidly made his plans. Meanwhile the enemy, seeing that a conflict wasimminent, took up a strong position.

  To give themselves time to do this they cleverly cut a large tank, thushindering our troopers, and allowing their own men to occupy the postsassigned to the various arms, all in close proximity to the village ofLaswaree. In their rear ran a rivulet, with steep and awkward banks,while their right flank lay in front of the village. Their left restedon the village of Mohulpore, and their centre took up a position behinda formidable barrier of high grass, formidable because it hid theirexact positions, and made it extremely difficult for cavalry toapproach. And here were stationed their guns, all chained together, soas to prevent horsemen charging through them. Truly, as the reader willadmit, a formidable array. Indeed, it soon became evident that thecavalry alone were insufficient for the task, and after incurring someloss Lake drew off to wait for his infantry. And presently these were inposition, having made a very fine forced march. The 76th regiment, withsix battalions of sepoys, were near the village of Laswaree, while thecavalry were posted to watch the enemy and to cover the advance of theattacking force with the light galloper guns which in those daysaccompanied our cavalry.

  "They will weaken and offer to surrender," said the officer who sat hishorse beside Owen. "You can see, now that the dust has settled down,that there is a good deal of commotion behind their lines, and that anumber of the leaders are gathered at a council. Bet you a pair of bootsthere's no fight."

  He heaved a sigh of disappointment and sat wearily back in his saddle,for the cavalry had worked very hard, and excitement alone had kept uptheir energies. Soon Owen saw that a messenger was coming from the linesof the enemy.

  "They'll fight. I'll take the bet," he said. "That force will never givein to us. They have too many trained troops to do that, and rememberwhat they call themselves. They boast that they are the DeccanInvincibles. Done with you! The boots are mine."

  He grinned at the officer, a grin which denoted little merriment, but agood deal of anxiety, for Owen himself was none too sure that the enemywould not surrender. However, an hour later Lake himself went to thefront of the British lines, the enemy having failed to come to terms,and advanced against the Mahrattas. Instantly the enemy's pieces opened,and a murderous hail of shot and shell tore through the long grass andinto the ranks of the British, causing the native infantry to hang back.The 76th held on boldly, though their ranks were sadly torn by the fire.

  "Twenty-ninth, make ready to charge!"

  The command rang out in stentorian tones, and at the words each one ofthe troopers settled himself in his saddle and gripped his weapon.

  "Twenty-ninth, keep well together and pick up all wounded andstragglers. Trot!"

  The same strange feeling of elation which had filled Owen's breast on aformer occasion came to him again, and he drew his sabre with anexclamation which told of delight, of relief at the end of a tryingsuspense. He formed his troopers up on the left flank of the regimentand rode in front of them, a horse's length in rear of the commander ofthe gallant 29th, who was now of junior rank, for Major Griffiths hadfallen five minutes before. Very soon they were in the zone of fire,canister and cannon-balls hurtling about them.

  "Halt!" The commander faced about and lined up his men. Then he pointedto the enemy.

  "The enemy's horse have charged our infantry and have been beaten off.The 29th will break them up and drive them off the field. Afterwardsthey will attack the infantry."

  His sabre came out of its sheath with a swish as a roar of cheering camefrom the throats of the men. Even the placid, imperturbable troopers ofthe 7th, under Owen's command, were infected with the generalexcitement. They shouted their war cry and tossed their lance pennonsinto the air. "Trot! Gallop! Charge!"

  In quick succession the orders came, the last being almost drowned bythe roar of the conflict, by the deafening report of the enemy's guns,by the bark of muskets, and by the hum of the projectiles. There werethe Mahratta horse hovering about the infantry, and straight at themwent Owen and his comrades. Oh, it was mad, tremendous work, and thereis little wonder that few of those who rode knew ought of the incidentswhich passed. Lances rose and fell, sabres cut this way and that, andguns and muskets flashed in their faces. The Mahratta horse, in theirwild Eastern uniform, went down before the troopers almost as easily asdid the long feathery grass through which the 29th rode, and in theirplace, as if they had risen from the earth, were two stolid lines oftrained Mahratta infantry, their gleaming bayonets almost at the necksof the horses.

  "Charge!" The Commander, Owen, every officer, stood in his stirrups andbellowed the order with frantic eagerness, while the troopers respondedwith a deafening cheer which drowned the report of the muskets. The paceincreased, there was a wild _melee_, in which men fell or were violentlythrown to the ground. Here and there a horse came down with a dull thud,the rider being instantly bayoneted. But they were through. The enemywas broken, and as the gallant troopers rode on they left a wide gap, agap filled with the bodies of the fallen Mahrattas. It was breathlesswork, but there was no rest to be found yet, for there was a second lineof infantry, a line which went beneath the hoofs of the horses as ifthey had never existed, and gave place to the cavalry.

  "Halt! Halt and reform!"

  The officer in command lifted his sabre, and at the signal troopersgathered their reins and pulled in their horses. What a sight the menwere! The regiment had ridden into action as neat and as good-looking aforce as could be found, and see the troopers now! Torn tunics, brokenweapons, caps gone, faces covered with dust, hair dishevelled, and bloodon many a face and jacket. But the faces! A grim, jaunty air was set onevery man's features, an air of indescribable triumph, of excitementwhich, though great, still left them with ample common sense. As forcourage, it could be seen in each keen pair of eyes, and as the Colonelpassed down the ranks, with difficulty holding in his charger, he feltsatisfied.

  "Well done, 29th! Well done, indeed! But there is more. By sectionswheel to the right."

  Perfectly disciplined and composed of gallant fellows, the fine regimentwheeled round to the other flank and reformed the sections into line.And there, facing them, was the cavalry, a fine body of Mahratta horse,the cream of the mounted regiments in support of Scindia.

  The 29th were in motion again, their pace gathered way, and soon theywere pushing on at a gallop. Then the tale of a few minutes ago wasrepeated--they were charging the enemy. And these boastful DeccanInvincibles, these horsemen whose appearance was so magnificent, turnedand fled, and were driven like a herd of frantic sheep from the field ofbattle. The lances and blades of the troopers cut into them, coveringthe ground with their corpses, and in a miraculously small space of timethe cavalry were gone, utterly routed by one regiment of British horse.

  What need to tell more? This battle of Laswaree rivalled that at Assaye,and ended in a pronounced victory, though on this occasion theFrench-trained battalions were worthy of their reputation and stood andfought to the end. The men who served the enemy's guns stood to theirpieces till they were disposed of by the bayonet, proving themselves tobe courageous in the extreme. Laswaree, in fact, was no easily-wonvictory. There was stubborn material to deal with, and our men on thateventful day proved, if proof were ever necessary, that Britishers couldfight, that native regiments officered by British officers were staunchto the backbone, and that our forces in India were as fine, as brave,and as disciplined and full of dash as any we have possessed.

  With the victory we captured a magnificent camp equipage, elephants,oxen and horses, treasure, guns, men, and ammunition, and arms andstandards innumerable. We lost about 1000 in killed and wounded, whilesuch was the stubbornness of the enemy and the dash of our infantry andcavalry, that 7000 of the Mahrattas were slain and a numerous hostwounded.

  When the day was finished and our troops had broken from their ranks toseek rest after their exertions,
there were still cavalry in the fieldpursuing the enemy, and Owen was amongst them.