THE BLACK WATCH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2358, 20 August 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BLACK WATCH.

A VETERAN’S REMINISCENCES,

Mr Alexander Robb, of Dundee, who was a private in No. 6 Company of the Black Watch, sends an interesting account to the Weekly News, regarding the closing scenes of the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. Ho says In the hot season of ISSS we were stationed at Bareilly, in tiie Rohilcnnd district I suffered from a bad attack of dysentery, but got all right agaiu when the cold season came in. Owing to the death of Colonel Alexander Cameron, promotion came to the regiment. Lieutenant Lawson was then made captain, and took over No. 0 Company. About the middle of December we were marched to a place near a dense jungle. It was nice soldiering there, as the ilnty was not bard. Colonel Smyth, an old East Indian officer, was in command, and his force comprised four guns manned by sepoys and two squadrons of native cavalry. I was informed that Colonel Smyth did not like to have so few Europeans with him. He made application and got a company of the left wing, which happened to be No. 0 Company, with Captain Lawson in charge, and Ensign Coleridge subaltern officer. We were now known as Smyth’s Column. For some time we moved about in the jungle, camping here and there for perhaps two days at a time. At the New Year our gallant Colonel made out to give each of us a glass of good Scotch whisky, and we passed the time very pleasantly. At night, however, we had very heavy duty. Guards were mounted round the camp by countersign, and very strict order was kept. Wo had to keep our eyes on the natives and see they were doing their work and remaining by their gnus. About 10th or 12rh January spies came in and reported to Colonel Smyth or to General Walpole that a large force of rebels was quite close to the Sarda, a river wdiich reminded me very much of the Isla water. Twenty men of our company were sent cadi morning to the edge of the river. They had to march through a dense jungle, remain there, and come home at night to camp. On the night of 28th January I was on guard, and was feeling very unwell. Suddenly on the morning of the 2ffth the cry—“ Stand to your arms” was raised, and as fast as possible we turned out tire two guns that were in camp, limbered and mounted them, and went down to meet a force of rebels coming to take the native village. By this time onr captain had ns extended in skirmishing order. The big guns fired a shot or two, and the rebels retired into the jangle. But unfortunately the enemy lay between us and the twelve brave fellows who had gone out in the morning. We remained on the defensive for some time. Colonel Smyth kept two guns in another part, so that they might be of use in the event of an attack being made on the camp. Sergeants Barclay and Miller did noble work that day, and so did Sergeant Thomson, who was in charge of the commissariat. Colonel Smyth sent off for reinforcements, hut, as fate would have it, Wilkinson's column, the other four companies of our wing, had remained a day’s march farther to the rear. Late in the afternoon I remember Captain Lawson saying to ns—“ Well, lads, I fear we will have to do this ourselves. There’s no sign of reinforcements. We must save our comrades somehow or other.” General Walpole said—“ Captain, let your men keep up a brisk fire. I have reasons of my own for not making an advance just now.” He spoke coolly and sharply. In a short time the General called Captain Lawson aside, and the Captain then came to the Faysergeant and said—“We are to advance.” Sergeant Landells, who was one of the bravest of the brave, seemed overjoyed at this. We fell into skirmishing order and fixed our bayonets Here an incident occurred which I shall never forget. Sergeant Landells had a monkey, a mischievous little creature, which was a great favourite. It happened to get loose that day, and followed the sergeant. But when we got orders to advance the monkey 7 seemed to fall back. I >-e----memher hearing Sergeant Landells, poor fellow, saying—'“ Are’nt yon coming, Jackol Then, good-bye, goodbye!” Immediately afterwards we were in the thickest of the fight; anfi the natural

ijulct of a sultry Indian afternoon was broken hy the ijuiek rattle of musketiy. the shrieks of wounded natives, anil tiestirring sounds of our .Scottish ciu-i-r.s. I was in the centre of the part}-. Sergeant Lauilells made a dash forward, but received a wound in the groin and fell The monkey at once leaped upon him. and would fain have defended its h.i-roi muster. But with a fien ii-h Veil two sepoys rushed upon the helpless sem" ant. and literally hacked him to pieces. The plucky little animal stood catching it. master's life-blood before it too received its death blow. Soon our supply of ammunition began to gut low, and I mentioned tile fact to our captain. Ahoui this time Captain Lawson received a wound in the groin from the clfects of which he never recovered. His loss was regretted by tie whole company, (leneral Walpole and the other o!hc--r----were handing the ammunition to us, and we had a brave wee drummer hoy. Dr. Smith, our medical olllcer, not only attended to the wounded, hut fought alongside of us. He was, in fact, an authority in command, for all our noncommissioned ollicers were either killed or wounded, it was a scene of terrible excitement, and though it was not by any means my first, taste of active warfare. I must confess that any courage I displayed was in great measure the courage of despair. It happened that I covered Private Duncan, who is now a peaceloving policeman. In the thick of the scrimmage he tore off a medal lie wore on his breast, and, putting it into ids ammunition pouch, said that t lint is sent home to my inolh--r.*’ I, too, had a mother then, and my heart melted a little when Duncan’s wordsmrncd my thoughts upon her. 11 Man.’* i replied “ I might he knocked off as readily as yon. 1 lie c-fficers who have taken us through previous dangers will take u- through this. The words were sean.-dy out of mv mouth when I saw two darkeys coming towards ns. Duncan put up his rill -, and brought down one of them, and I brought down the other. A ringing elieer now hur-t upon ns, and all at once we were joined hy the twenty men in charge of Ensign Coleridge, who had fought their way through the ho-t of the enemy without a man of them being hurt. We hailed them with a responsive cheer, and fought on with renewed eie rgy. My opinion is that the enemy imagined a large reinforcement had arrived, for they fell back, and enabled us to get into position. We remained on the defensive, but still kept up a brisk file. Though our ranks were considerably thinned, wo fought, steadily on, despite the fact that there was still no word of reinforcements. At last Colonel .Smyth came np, and cried nut—“ Captain Kenny, fire no more canister ; reinforcementshavc arrived I'’ I will leave ymir read'-rs to imagine the heartiness of the welcome we gave No. 7 Company as it advanced in skirmishing order, under the command of Captain Creen and Colour-Sergeant (hj it Major) Forbes. They weie not long in action before they had suffered loss, hut 1 eon less I now had hopes of h-'-ing able after all to spend the sixty rupees that lay to my credit in Dundee. Yet the memory of that fearful day still clings to me. It was a day of privation as w. 11 as of battle, we recci t ed neither food nor water during its weary hours. Atits close Major M'L-od who was in charge of the other four companies, served out to ns a ration of rum and about A Ih. of bread each, and -hortly afterwards we were marched hack to camp. Our tents having been struck, we had to put in the night as we be>t could, and. to tel! the truth, out grimy figures bore little resemblance to the ordinarily smart appearance of the men of the 42d. In the afternoon of the following day we buried our dead. The funeral service was read in a very impressive manner by Major M’Leod, and, along with others, I threw a handful of earth into the grave of nur gallant paysergeant when the beautiful words, “ Dust to dust” were solemnly re pealed. In the eour-e of that, memoraidstruggle we captured two brass guns and killed 200 of the enemy.

Next day when it was learned rav rifiwas still leaded, I was ordered !>v Sergeant Barclay to turn out. Thinking I was to be told to empty my rifle 1 was pl-ased, a* a soldier always likes his rifle to be in good order. Greatly to my a-toidsliment I was made to join eleven of toy comrade-, and we were marched to a spot where twelve sepoys sat cowering in the trlare of the tropical sunlight. These wretched beings were marched to the riverside by Sergeant-Major Peter White and we were then told to empty our rifles through their heads. On the suggestion of William Macdonald we first relieved them of their jewellery and money—ray share amounting to twelve annas—and then we carried out the death sentence. I must siy I did not care for the part I took in this public execution, but I was nerved to it by recollooting the fate of our noble paysergeaut and his faithful Jacko.

Sergeant Barclay was our colour-sergeant for seven years, and I regarded him as a brother. He was afterwards wounded in Ashautee. Major Forbes is a Pertshireman. but received the rudiments of his education from Mr Petrie in Park Wynd, Dundee. Another of our number was James Nicoll who is iu Dunkcld. Other five of us are living iu Dundee.