These very selective excerpts have not been included gratuitously but are intended to show the kind of thinking prevalent among certain of the British at that time. Coghill, like many others, was obviously a man of ‘strong opinions’, which extend over a wide range of topics, and I include another just to show that anything was grist to the mill of these opinions.
I’ve always thought that it was all very well for men to travel and wander around the world looking for their bread and kicks, but when there are such glorious places as England and Ireland I don’t think ladies have any right to roam in ‘furrinn parts’ amongst unwashed and uncombed foreigners.
He may be writing tongue in cheek, but then again, he may not!
Letters from a different age reflect the beliefs of that age and in our more enlightened times today many of these will undoubtedly seem both incomprehensible and reprehensible to us. One should not attempt to make value judgements on what could only be described today as extreme political incorrectness. (Source: Coghill Papers, Centre for South Asian Studies, Cambridge University.)
Amongst the Shebbeare Papers is a pencilled note which reads:
To the officer commanding the Guides
The bridge to be repaired.
The Guides and guns to be placed on the bridgehead, having a support on this side.
A. Wilson, Major General13
This was the last piece of action in which Robert Shebbeare was engaged at Delhi, and although he does not mention it in his letters there is an account elsewhere.
On 20 September:
We took in succession the Lahore Gate etc . . ., and now we hold the whole city. Every post is occupied save two, the bridge head across the Jumna and the Delhi Gate to the south of the city. To the former the Guides Infantry are about to proceed.’ ‘This was the last task entrusted to the Guides in the three months’ siege. On arrival of the Infantry, under Lieutenants Shebbeare, Hawes and McLean, at the bridge of boats, it was found that the enemy had placed a 24 pounder gun, supported by infantry, on the opposite bank, so as completely to sweep the bridge. The Guides, however, charged across, whereupon the enemy fired a few musket shots, spiked the gun and fled; the Guides then brought in the gun.14
It is perhaps appropriate to end this chapter with words written long afterwards by Field Marshal Lord Roberts,15 who said:
Where all behaved nobly it is difficult to particularise, but it will not, I hope be considered invidious if I especially mention the four corps most constantly engaged; the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor battalion of Gurkhas, the Guides and the 1st Punjab Infantry. Placed in the very front of the position, they were incessantly under fire, and their losses in action testify to the nature of the services they performed.
Notes
1 An officer who served there, History of the Siege of Delhi, Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh, 1861.
2 Revd. J.E.W. Rotton, The Chaplain’s Narrative of the Siege of Delhi, Smith and Elder, London, 1858.
3 David, Saul, The Indian Mutiny, 1857, Viking, London, 2002, p. 150.
4 For a detailed account of this epic march, see McCrumm, Lieutenant General Sir George, History of the Guides, 1846— 1922, Gale and Polden Ltd, Aldershot, 1938. During the many actions before Delhi between June and September Daly commanded the cavalry and Robert Shebbeare the infantry. He, Daly, rode into action in a velvet hunting cap. He later became a General and in 1869 was appointed Governor General’s Agent for Central India. He left India in 1881 as General Sir Henry Daly and retired to the Isle of Wight to enjoy foxhunting. His Memoirs of Sir Henry Dermot Daly were published in 1905.
5 Hodson, G.H., Twelve Years of a Soldier’s Life in India: Being Extracts from the Letters of the Late Major W.S.R. Hodson, London, 1859.
6 McCrumm, op. cit.
7 Reid, General Sir Charles, GCB, Extracts from letters and notes written down during the Siege of Delhi in 1857. Henry S. King, London. As Major Charles Reid, of the Sirmoor battalion of Gurkhas, he was in command of the picket at Hindoo Rao’s House from June to September 1857, where he distinguished himself as an unflappable and very capable soldier. Had he not been wounded at the start of the assault on Kissengunge the outcome might have been different.
8 John Nicholson, perhaps the best-known and most controversial soldier of the period. A compulsive man of action with a superb eye for the salient points of a military situation, he arrived from the Punjab in command of a movable column set up to reinforce the Delhi forces. A constant thorn in the side of any superior officer whom he felt was not up to the job, he enjoyed an almost mythical status in the eyes of his Sikh troops, and his personal courage had been proved in many encounters in Afghanistan, the Punjab and Kashmir.
He left Delhi to engage the rebel forces under their commander-in-chief, Bakht Khan, who was on his way to intercept the British siege train being sent towards Delhi. It had been raining heavily, so the ground was a quagmire and progress very difficult, but he caught up with them at Najafgarh, beat them decisively and returned with thirteen out of the enemy’s fifteen guns. He was mortally wounded during the storming of Delhi, and died some days later.
His story has been well documented and for a very readable account of his career, Hesketh Pearson’s The Hero of Delhi, Penguin, London, 1939, can be recommended. It is quite likely that Robert Shebbeare may have met him, as Nicholson visited Major Reid frequently at Hindoo Rao’s, during August and the early part of September.
9 Other sources mention that it was the Cabul Gate, and that General Nicholson would ensure that it was open by the time the 4th Column arrived.
10 Norman, Major H.W., A Narrative of the Campaign of the Delhi Army, W.H. Dalton, London, 1858. This was published in the Overland Bombay Times, from 23 January to 9 February 1858.
11 McCrumm, op. cit.
12 Kaye, Sir John, History of the Sepoy War, London (1867), in McCrumm, op. cit.
13 An artilleryman, Brigadier Archdale Wilson inherited command of the Delhi Field Force as a result of the deaths, in quick succession, of Anson, Reid and Barnard. William Russell, The Times correspondent, wrote in his diary from Cawnpore, in February 1858:
I had almost forgotten, so very little is his presence remarked in camp, that Sir Archdale Wilson of Delhi is here in charge of the artillery . . . he is rarely seen except in the evening, when he walks about with his cheroot in his mouth. I hear now, that much of the kudos he received was undeserved, and rather that it belonged to his subordinates. He is said to have been vacillating, undecided and desponding, and at the supreme moment he was overcome, and unable to give any orders — so Delhi men tell me. He is a tall soldierly man, with a small brow, quick eye, and large feeble mouth. But whatever his demerits or virtues, he was commander of the army before Delhi when the place fell, and his honours are due to him, and to his position.
His own letters to his wife confirm that he felt most insecure and out of his depth, but luckily several officers, particularly Nicholson, prodded him into taking decisions.
14 See ‘Memoirs of Field Marshal Sir Henry Norman’ in McCrumm, op. cit., p. 165.
15 From 41 Years in India, the Memoirs of Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar, who had been Lieutenant Fred Roberts at Delhi, where he served on General Nicholson’s staff.
Chapter Four
THE 15TH PUNJAB REGIMENT
It gives some idea of the responsibility that devolved to the relatively few British officers to note that Robert Shebbeare, while still holding the substantive rank of lieutenant, was sent off to the Punjab with orders to raise a regiment of 900 men from a motley collection of disparate men of differing religious and tribal affiliations, and it shows something of his character to find that in a short space of time they had become a well-respected soldiering unit. One can see from the photographs of the men that parade-ground protocol and elegant uniforms were not high on the list of priorities, though their demeanour is unmistakably warlike. The men were mainly recruited from low-class Muzbee Sikhs, and there was some anxiety expressed by the
staff as to how they might conduct themselves. In the event, however, after a spell of general duties in the plains, in which they were engaged in pursuing rebels and dismantling fortifications, they were selected for duty as part of the expeditionary force sent to China where they acquitted themselves very well, and the letters which follow show Robert Shebbeare’s initial lack of confidence turning to pride in how they had taken shape under his command. After the excitement of the events at Delhi it was perhaps fortuitous that the challenge of recruiting a new regiment presented itself so soon. It is apparent, nevertheless, that during his year in the Punjab, Robert Shebbeare suffered from the effects of frequent bouts of malaria which no doubt exacerbated an increasing degree of homesickness. After three months sick leave in Simla and a move with the regiment to the more benevolent climate of Oude, the tone of his letters becomes once again more cheerful and positive. During this time he would have been pleased to get letters from former colleagues and these have been inserted chronologically into this chapter.
Lahore Dawk Bungalow, November 1st, 1857
My dear Harry,
If my last letters, any of them, have been received at home you will probably be rather surprised at the heading of my letter. Indeed, I am rather astonished at finding myself in the Punjab so quickly. I had fully made up my mind to go across to Meerut to join Major Coke’s Rifles when one day General Chamberlain sent for me and told me that I had been appointed commandant of the 15th Punjab Infantry and should start at once and cancel my arrangement with Coke; and I packed up my bundle, made over the command of the Guides to the next officer and started next day (23rd) by mail cart to Lahore. I was able to remain two days at Umballah and look after my property which I found all right — I packed what things I required and asked a friend to make them over to my servants who are coming up after me.
On arrival at Lahore I found that my regiment only existed on paper and that I had to raise it from the class of Muzbee Sikhs. They are the lowest class of Sikhs and the regiment is partly experimental. I must do my best for it and shall have much harder work than I should have had if the regiment were ready made to my hand. I am at present awfully uncomfortable as there is not one house vacant in Anarkullee where I have to live and I am therefore obliged to remain in the staging bungalow. I hope however to get some shelter for myself and my officers before long. The officers are, a 2nd in command, an adjutant and an officer doing duty — I have seen none of them yet but I hope to get a friend of my own to do duty, and if the 2nd in command and adjutant are good fellows we shall have a pleasant little mess I hope.
It is very uncertain where we may eventually be stationed but I suppose we shall not leave Lahore until the regiment is advancing towards its complement. The journey up was anything but pleasant. The mail is carried in a sort of dogcart built with much more attention to strength than ease and comfort. The horses generally gallop and the springs not being of the most flexible material the shaking and bumping are terrific even when the road is pretty good. 2nd November. I have just received Margaret’s letter of September 8th. She asks about one Hill of the 60th. He is at Simla. He has been ill but is now well again, I believe. He was not a favourite of mine and I do not correspond with him so I can tell you no more. He was doing his duty with the Sappers and Miners at Delhi but went away on sick leave some time before the storming.
Colonel Seaton writes constantly but I will tell him what Margaret says. He is also at Simla. He was very badly wounded but is now nearly well. He has been out of all danger for a long time and suffers less pain than I did. Indeed, his wound has healed but the uniting of the muscles appears to give him a good deal of pain.
Innes is all jolly at Delhi and living with Grindall of the Commissariat in a nice house in the Chandnee Chowk, the principal street of Delhi.
Hay, a son of Mr Hay, of Hope’s N.B. was very seriously wounded through the mouth at the assault. He is getting on famously and there is every chance of his recovering his power of speech entirely although it is at present rather damaged. His health is perfect.
Old Dickey Drought managed to get shot through the body and has become more of an idiot than before, I hear. He is recovering from his wound and will not eventually suffer from it.
Innes also got a slight wound in one of the first engagements but is, as I have told you, alright.
No other 60th officer was touched and all are at present alive* and as far as I know well so you may put an advertisement in the Times with all this information if you like but don’t put my name to it.
No, don’t advertise, but tell anyone you know. Some idiot did write a letter to the Times and wrought my name into it as you saw.
I stand five feet ten and three quarter inches and weigh 13 stone ten pounds but I am not quite a giant as the individual chose to call me, neither was I carried home. I remained with the regiment the whole day and came home with it.
I must close my letter and go and pay my respects to Sir John Lawrence.
With best love to all, believe me, yours affectionately, Robert Shebbeare
*I think you mentioned having heard of poor Doyne’s death from fever. It occurred at Umballah in August. I told you all about it in one of my letters. His wife is a wretch and cares little about his death except as far as it effects her pocket and comfort.
Anarkullee, Lahore January 13th, 1858
My dearest Nelly,
I have just seen an advertisement of a mail going out today and I can’t miss the opportunity of writing to you on our birthday.
I received mother’s letter of the 24th November today and was so happy to hear of your partial recovery from your terrible attack of sickness. I hope by next mail to hear of you being quite well and strong again.
I am living a tolerably dull sort of life just at present after all the excitement of the last few months. My regiment is gradually increasing and getting on in its discipline but I am afraid it will not be in a very efficient state for this campaign.
Lahore is very quiet and I don’t know anybody but the officers of my own regiment. We have a game of cricket now and then but that is nearly our only amusement. Bye the bye, one of your friends the Bests is here, Henry, I think his name is. He is not quite as bad as his brothers, but still decidedly cracked. He received a wound in some of the cavalry affairs down by Allygurt, and seems to think now that he is entitled to the thanks of both houses of parliament if not Her Majesty in person! He is, like the rest of the interesting family, an intense bore and now that Mrs Best has written to him mentioning my name I shall never get rid of him! His brother, who was at Banda with me, I imagine from his way of talking of him, must be in a mad house, for which institution he was decidedly fit when he left Banda.
Could you not get some of your friends to do you in photograph again; I was unfortunate to lose the likenesses I had of you in camp at Rohtuck and am very anxious to possess others. I also regret to say that I lost on the same occasion the hair chain which was made in four pieces containing mother’s hair, Margaret’s, Emma’s and yours and should very much like to have another if you could give it me. I have written my father such a long letter about poor young Murray that I am now pushed for time and must shut up.
Believe me my dearest Nelly, ever your loving brother
Robert H Shebbeare
I sent you a birthday present which you must accept with my best love although I could not manage that you receive it on the right day.
Futtygurh, 10th February, 1858
My dear Shebbeare,
Received the draft for R. 241.13.5, for which best thanks. I supposed there would have been some delay about your pay or that you would have sent the money sooner. I am in the same predicament and have been obliged to sell some things to carry on.
I am now in the Fort of Futtygurh and command the District which comprises Mynpoorie, Etawah, and Meerunka-serai and this place.
Indian Mutiny and Beyond Page 11
