From Cadet To Colonel: The Record Of A Life Of Active Service Vol. I

By Major-Gen. Sir Thomas Seaton K.C.B.

At the tender age of 16 Thomas Seaton took up a cadestship in the East India Company in 1822, and waved farewell to his native London for a career of soldiering in India. He was to spend most of his life in the Indian sub-continent and its border regions, at the sharp end of the expansion of the British Empire.

Plunged into a new world of sights and scenes of India Lieutenant Seaton of the 35th Native Infantry had little time to adjust before beginning his first major campaign at the bloody siege of the siege of Bhurtpore. A few years later, he was part of the very unsuccessful British incursion into Afghanistan in 1842, his memoirs as one of the besieged in Jalalabad are among the best that have ever been written.

A decade later, as the first signs of Great Mutiny among were noticed among the native troops, Seaton’s superiors ordered him from his sick bed to take command of the 60th Native Infantry, a regiment that was known to be close to open revolt, despite Seaton's dest efforts the 60th mutinied and their British officers barely escaped with their lives.

Seaton served with distinction at the siege of Delhi and after the fall of the city was sent with reinforcements to the beleagured Fatehgarh. In command of the forces that would soon be outnumbered, Colonel Seaton determined on a brave course of action; a night march followed by a surprize attack on the rebels. Colonel Seaton smashed the rebel troops leaving the entire area free from their influence. In this brilliant action he and his men “had marched, out and home, forty-four miles, had fought an action, defeating the enemy with considerable loss, and capturing their guns, ammunition, tents, stores, and baggage, and they had returned home safely with the captured guns, without leaving behind a single straggler, and, in spite of the tremendous heat, doing all in a little over twenty-two hours.”.

A fine action packed memoir filled with vignettes and anecdotes of the British Raj.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Normanby Press
• Release date: Nov 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781786252012

Major-Gen. Sir Thomas Seaton K.C.B.

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Text originally published in 1866 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2014, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

FROM CADET TO COLONEL.

The Record of a Life of Active Service

BY

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR THOMAS SEATON, K.C.B.

IN TWO VOLS.—VOL. I.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

DEDICATION 5

CHAPTER I 6

Off to India—Voyage—Land in Calcutta—Master, where come from?—Barrackpoor—My first Regiment—How we were instructed in Drill—Comical Fogs—The Bore—My Boat up Country—New Bread out of Old—A Dodge —Cawnpoor—Its Thieves—Bhowanny—Your Syce is a Thug—Marching. 6

CHAPTER II. 16

Join my Regiment—State of Society—Captain —, his Career and Miserable End—March for Seetapoor—Treasure Party escapes Attack—Drill—Moonshee—A Tiger—Our Chokeydar, Tokee—Wild Appearance—Thieves’ Anecdotes—Learning to Swim—Nearly Drowned by a Friend—Sent back to my old Regiment—March during Rainy Season—Join the 35th N.I.—The Regimental Bard —The Doog Dooggee Walla. 16

CHAPTER III. 26

Rajah of Bhurtpoor dies—His Heir succeeds—Dethroned by his Uncle—Sir D. Ochterlony assembles a Force to replace him—Countermanded—Force eventually sent against Bhurtpoor—Siege commenced— First Appearance under Fire —Come on, Boys—General Nichols and his Unfeeling Parties—The Futteh Boorj—Heavy Fire—Working Parties —Trench Duty— Breakfast— Comfortable Dogs—A Smash of Teapots and Crockery— A Man-hunt—Tally-ho—A Desertion—Alarm in the Fort—Brilliant Sight—The Storm—Immense Guns at Weer. 26

CHAPTER IV. 37

New System of Drill introduced—All Hail, Sir Henry (Torrens)—Baron Osten—Escort Lord Combermere—Fair at Thaneysir—Officers—Competition Wallahs—March for Barrackpoor—Half-batta Order—Dismay and Mischief it created—Lord W. Bentinck and Commanding Officers of Regiments—Hated by every one—Parades—Colonel —’s Dinner-party—The ‘Bus and the Brigadier—Marriage —Regiment leaves for Jumualpoor—A Village depopulated by Cholera—Horrible Sight—Reach Jumualpoor—Turn Carpenter, &e., and build a House —Hog Hunting—Anecdotes—Misfortune—Sorrow—Return Home. 37

CHAPTER V. 49

Return to India—News of Affghan Campaign—Proceed to Simla—To Ferozepoor—Sir H. Lawrence—Join Convoy going down the Indus—Boats—Queer Mode of Fishing on the Indus —Canals—Arrive at Sukkur—Difficulties—Reach Shikarpoor—Join Convoy—First March—Terrible Heat—Rear-guard—Council of War—Cross the Desert—Aidena—Dreadful March and Mortality—Reach Baugh, and passage of the Derest accomplished. 49

CHAPTER VI. 63

Baugh—Reports that our Kafilah had perished—March—A Large Piece of Water—Air cooled—Rest and Recovery—Dadur—Bolan Pass—Formidable Defile—Quettah—Kojuck Pass—Candahar—Spot in the Sun—Ghuznee—Death of Colonel Herring—Cabool. 63

CHAPTER VII. 73

Cabool—Baber’s Tomb—Syle—Left in Garrison at Cabool —Quarters: for Men, for Officers—Winter Clothing—H. M. 13th and the 35th N.I.—Guard-mounting and Wonder of Caboolees—Sliding—Skating—Astonishment of Caboolees—Christmas Eve—A Big Snow—Move into Camp—Build a Hut—March to Bameean—Zohauk—Action with Dost Mohammed—Syghan and Fort of Sir-i-Sung—Return to Bameean—The Great Idol—Skeleton of a Dragon—Return to Cabool. 73

CHAPTER VIII. 88

Outbreak at Cabool commences—March to Bootkhak—Night Attack on our Camp—Repulsed—Sale comes out to join us—Force the Khoord Cabool Pass—Posted at Eastern Outlet of the Pasa—Sale Returns to Bootkhak—Warning —Night Attack on our Camp—Heavy Loss—Enemy Repulsed—Sale Arrives—March to Teyzeen—Action—Jugdulluck—Affair of Rear Guard—Gundummuck—Futteabad—Affair of Rear Guard—We have our Revenge —Ch-a-a-rage—Reach Jellalabad. 88

CHAPTER IX. 104

Jellalabad—Council of War—Decides to occupy the Towns— Take Stock of Commissariat—Surrounded by the Enemy—Sortie 14th November—Beat off the Enemy—They Disperse—Commence to Repair Fortifications—Mode Adopted—Quarters—Kaffiristan—Garrison Duty—Enemy Gathering Again—A Tremendous Explosion—Turn out the Garrison—A Laugh—Sortie 1st December—Enemy Beaten and Dispersed—Shahbash, Angrez—Effects of Victory—Evil Tidings—Set up a Still—Elphinstone’s Capitulation, and Order to us—Disregarded—Khyberries Dismissed—Ditch round the Town Commenced. 104

CHAPTER X. 118

News of the Destruction of the Cabool Army—Dr. Brydon, the sole Survivor, comes in—A Goorkah and the Sergeant-Major 37th N.I. come in—Their Tales—The Great Earthquake —Our Defences Destroyed—Akber Khan with his Army appears before Jellalabad—Siege—Turned to Blockade—Progress of the Siege—Victory, 7th April—Akber Routed —Pollock and his Force arrive. 118

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 136

DEDICATION

TO

SIR HENRY MONTGOMERY, BART,

MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF INDIA, ETC.

THE FRIEND WHO HAS WATCHED WITH INTEREST THE AUTHOR’S CAREER THROUGH MANY OF THE SCENES HEREIN DESCRIBED,

THIS WORK IS DEDICATED

CHAPTER I

Off to India—Voyage—Land in Calcutta—Master, where come from?—Barrackpoor—My first Regiment—How we were instructed in Drill—Comical Fogs—The Bore—My Boat up Country—New Bread out of Old—A Dodge —Cawnpoor—Its Thieves—Bhowanny—Your Syce is a Thug—Marching.

IN July 1822, a cousin called at our house, and, without any preamble, addressed me as follows:

Tom, would you like to go to India as a cadet?

Yes, very much.

The resolution so speedily adopted was without delay acted upon, and the necessary preparations having been made with all due speed, on that day week I was sailing away from Spithead, on board the H.E.I.C.’s ship Thames, Captain Heaviside, bound for Calcutta.

I had received what was called a good classical education—that is to say, a small amount of Latin and Greek, which had been caned and flogged into me at a certain, or rather uncertain, rate per week, in the old brutal style; and as I had no turn naturally for these languages, this method of teaching, instead of inspiring me with any love for them, made me utterly abhor both teacher and teaching, and rendered my young life a burthen, with all the sorrows and none of the pleasures of which classical literature was to be ever henceforth associated. As our master was an M.A. of Oxford, classics with him were everything. Useful knowledge, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, or any science which made us acquainted with the objects necessary to be known in our daily life and conversation, were considered unworthy of any particular attention. Accordingly, five hours per week was the amount of time allowed for these foundations of all knowledge; and eventually, though with some reluctance one of these hours was deducted, and applied to the acquisition of French.

Before I was sixteen I was sent to a school in London, to learn something of writing and arithmetic. After I had acquired some knowledge of these important, though by many considered secondary, branches of education, I was then sent (to be initiated into business) to an offices where I had very little to do, and was idle half my time. Five months after attaining my sixteenth year, I took the important step of throwing myself on the world as above related—a raw, half-educated lad, ignorant of its many ways, unwarned of its many snares, unarmed against. its trials and temptations, and without compass, chart, or rudder to direct my course in my voyage over that treacherous ocean. Thus was I, equally destitute of the theoretical knowledge or of the practical experience of life, left to sink or swim as chance might happen, or rather as a merciful and overruling Providence might direct.

A favourable chance occurred, by which I was enabled to proceed to India without delay. A young cadet who had sailed in the Thames from Blackwall got so mammy sick that he was compelled to leave the ship in the Downs. When my friends heard of it they immediately secured the cadetship for me, on certain conditions. As the Thames was the last ship of the season, I. was obliged to go by it, or not at all. It was rather sharp work, and considered a more than ordinarily clever feat—and although I succeeded, by great exertion, in getting off with the vessel, I suffered for it afterwards.

The voyage from London to Calcutta, via the Cape, or Overland, is nowadays as well known as the passage from London Bridge to Gravesend was in the time I am writing about. I shall, therefore, only mention two circumstances connected with our voyage as worth noting. One was that our captain, wishing to achieve a remarkable feat in the way of a rapid voyage, tried what was called the Inner Passage—that is, instead of standing over towards America to meet the trade winds, he ran down the coast of Africa, sighting Cape Palmas. The consequence was the very opposite of what he had intended or anticipated, the only thing for which our voyage was remarkable being its extreme slowness, for we were nearly six months getting to Calcutta. The other noticeable circumstance was, that one night, when off Cape Palmas, we sailed for several hours through a white luminous matter, that threw a light on the sails of the ship nearly equal to the light of the moon. There were here and there broad lanes in it, looking by contrast black as Erebus, along which globes of fire appeared to dart. Sometimes we sailed along the lanes, sometimes we crossed them, and in every instance the edges of the lanes were as sharp and clear as if cut with an instrument. I have since been five times backwards and forwards between Calcutta and England, but have never again been so fortunate as to witness this beautiful and remarkable phenomenon.

A very melancholy circumstance occurred during this voyage, which spread gloom over all hearts on board. While we were running before a light wind, the driver jibbed, and the boom struck overboard a young cadet of the name of Guillod, whose mother was a widow, and he her only child. A boat was instantly lowered, and every exertion was made to save. him, but all in vain; they only came up with some pieces of the block that had given way, and picked up his hat. As he must have been stunned by the boom, and perhaps injured by the quarter-gallery as he fell overboard, he must have sunk instantly. He was a quiet, steady, amiable young fellow, very much liked by his shipmates, and sincerely lamented by all on board.

When, after our very tedious voyage, we arrived off the Sandheads, three of my comrades and myself hired one of the boats that came off to meet us below Saugor Point, and we went off in it to Calcutta. Heartily tired of our six months’ confinement to the ship, we were glad to get out of it, and change the monotony of the quarter-deck and the wearying sight of sea and sky for green fields and trees, houses and villages, and—who could say?—a tiger, perhaps, or some other Indian wonder. The passage up the river was by no means tedious, though far longer than we expected. We did not reach Calcutta until near midnight of the 1st of January, 1823. The boat landed us at Chandpunt ghaut (stairs), and we stepped on shore utter strangers, with no one to welcome us, in a land many thousand miles distant from our native country. We neither knew where to go to nor what to do. Not a word of the language could any of us speak, and as our boatmen could not understand a word of English, it may be imagined how forlorn we youths, strangers to the world, felt at such a moment. In a few minutes we decided upon getting into the boat, and waiting for daylight, but as we turned round to go to the boat, we saw an apparition in white coming towards us, which turned out to be a native in a long, and—to us—queer-looking garment. Coming straight up to where we were standing in all our loneliness, this strange-looking figure addressed us—

Master, where come from?

From England, one of us, acting as spokesman for the rest, replied.

Master belong ship. What business make?

We are officers.

Oh, officers. Master, where go now?

Don’t know. Where is the fort? Is there any hotel?

"’Tis a long way all officer gentleman’s sleep. Master go punch ghur (punch house).

What is a punch ghur?

Ah, master go some eaty drinky sleep bed.

Yes, we will go.

Master give a littil present—backshish—then I show way—boatmans carry things.

Under the direction of this figure in white, whom at the moment we regarded as a heaven-sent guide, we set off, and in ten minutes were introduced to a low kind of public-house, frequented by the mates and petty officers of the few ships in port. In this very uninviting hostel we found some debauched-looking fellows smoking, drinking, and playing at billiards. It was indeed a wretched place after a long and tedious voyage; but, as sailors say, any port in a storm. Dingy, mouldy, and dissipated-looking as the place was, we were right glad of the shelter it afforded us in our hour of need; and after getting some supper, and declining all invitations to drink, we tumbled, half asleep, into bed. Next morning, 2nd January, 1823, we were up in good time and got an early breakfast, and by the advice and with the assistance of a not very sober-looking officer, we hurried off to the fort, reported our arrival, and were at once taken possession of by the superintendent of cadets, who gave us quarters in the South Barracks, introduced us to the cadets’ mess, and made his people supply us with all needful articles of barrack furniture. From the superintendent we learnt the character of the punch ghur and its frequenters, and he told us we were lucky to get out of it without a row. The not very sober-looking officer, he told us, was under suspension by a sentence of a general court-martial; but he had certainly acted the part of a true friend in hurrying us off from such a den.

In those good (?) old times, when the Company monopolized the trade of India, with the exception of an indigo-planter here and there, there were few independent Europeans in the country. Every one whom business or pleasure brought to Calcutta either had friends and acquaintances there, or brought letters of introduction to some resident. Visitors who came with such testimonies to their respectability were invariably received with generous and large-hearted hospitality, and were invited to stay as long as suited their convenience. Writers or cadets were of course provided for by Government—the former went to Writers’ Building, a kind of college for them; the cadets, to the institution where we had now been received.

The cadets’ mess consisted of twenty or more young men besides ourselves, some of them recently promoted to the rank of ensign, and waiting to be posted to regiments—others, like ourselves, were still cadets on the magnificent pay of 90 rupees per month. The artillery cadets and second lieutenants were the best off, as they went at once to the head-quarters of their regiment at Dum-Dum, distant only a few miles, where they were at home, and immediately sent to drill. We poor infantry cadets, whilst in Fort William, waiting for promotion or appointment in regiments, were, on the other hand, allowed to do just as we pleased. No care was in any way taken of us. We were neither sent to drill, nor taught our duty, nor encouraged to study the native languages. The consequences may be imagined. A parcel of young lads, just released from the restraint of school and the supervision of careful friends, arriving in the country, green, ignorant, unaccustomed to self-control, and without occupation, immediately ran riot, and many. of them here commenced a career of debauchery and profligacy that speedily ended in ruin. It was through God’s mercy alone that such was not my case, and I am happy to say that all my shipmates had equal cause to be grateful.

I had a bran-new gun, with lots of powder and shot, and my great delight was to cross the river, wander about the country, and shoot every kind of bird I could see. I thought India one of the most glorious countries in the world, and myself one of the most fortunate of beings. I was laughed at and called a little grill, but my fondness for sport kept me out of mischief.

For upwards of a month I remained in Calcutta as a cadet, and it was not until the 4th February I was promoted to the rank of ensign, and a few days later was sent to Barrackpoor to do duty with the 1st battalion of the 10th Regiment, commanded by Colonel Bowen. To convey me to my destination I chartered a native boat, and went up the river, taking all my traps with me. A fortunate chance, immediately. on my arrival, threw me in the way of an acquaintance, with whom I took a share in a bungalow. I had many subsequent opportunities of associating with him, and as he was a steady fellow, some years older than myself, I was kept out of many a little scrape that my ignorance might have led me into.

My first duty, on arrival, was to report myself to the adjutant of the regiment, who at once took me to call on the colonel and the captain of my company. Now it was that my troubles began. Almost the first question that the adjutant asked me was, Have you any uniform? No, truth compelled me to reply. Have you a sword? No; and; except with regard to my white regimental jackets, to the several queries which he in succession addressed to me, I could reply only by a negative.

When my friends bundled me off in such a desperate hurry they had made an arrangement, as is customary in such circumstances, agreeing to take such of the outfit provided for the young man, to whose cadetship I had succeeded, as might be found suitable for me. Of course we went to Messrs.— & Co., his outfitters, and they persuaded my father that all the white clothing would fit me exactly. A jacket was tried on, and, as it fitted me very well, it was rather hastily taken for granted that everything else would fit me equally well. As there was so much to be done, and so little time for doing it all, we were obliged to be content with this hasty bargain—a very imprudent step, for it was afterwards found that many of the articles inserted in the list given to my father were never put up, so that when asked by the adjutant if I had certain things necessary for one in my position, it is not to be wondered at that my replies were a succession of No’s. When I had tried on the white regimental jackets and trousers, I found that I had grown so much during the voyage, that the legs of one and the sleeves of the other were nearly two inches short, I had shot up so immensely. I was, therefore, recommended by the adjutant to go to a respectable tailor in Calcutta, who, he said, would provide me with every requisite. I accordingly followed his advice, and was soon furnished with everything of the very best quality, and really well made; but oh! the bill that came in, and oh, the blowing up I got from home when I forwarded it! What opprobrious epithets were heaped upon me! I was a spendthrift, a scapegrace, and all the rest, when the unfortunate bill was simply the natural result of being packed off in such a hurry.

When I entered the army pig-tails had just disappeared, but in full dress we still wore tights and hessians, and a precious Guy I and my comrades looked in them; indeed, I could not help laughing at myself and them when we first appeared in them.

My initiation into the mysteries of drill and parade was now begun. I found out the parade ground in proper time one morning, and going up to my captain I asked him what I was to do. Come with me, he said; and taking me up to the company he pointed out the supernumerary rank and my proper position in it. Now, he said, you fall in there, and when you see me change from one flank to the other, you do the same. Mark the men who talk in the ranks. Keep your eyes and ears open, learn the words of command, remember all you can, and to-morrow I’ll show you more. But on the morrow, instead of learning more, there was a parade for punishment, and I saw a sepoy get eight hundred lashes for some crime, I forget what. The sight of such fearful punishment made me shudder, and I went home so saddened and sickened by the appalling sight I had seen, that my new uniform did not appear so bright that day as it had done when I first put it on. My dislike to corporal punishment has since increased with years, but at the same time I am compelled to avow the sad conviction that the power to inflict it, and its actual infliction in certain cases, are at times absolutely and imperatively necessary.

In those times, it was not generally customary to send young officers to drill under the adjutant; they were more frequently assembled in one of their houses, or at the adjutant’s, and then taught the manual and platoon and the sword-exercise by the sergeant-major; then a book on drill, Dundas, was put into their hands, from which work they were to learn as much as they could, and carry the theory they had acquired by study into regimental practice as well as they could. It seemed to me to be the design of colonels to make the native soldiers believe that we were born with a knowledge of drill and parade, just as they were born with arms and legs. It was, to say the least, a very foolish system.

I liked my parade duties, and took great pleasure in perfecting myself in them. I soon learned to command a subdivision, and before long found myself at the head of the company on parade in the absence of the captain. But, devoted as I was to my military pursuits, my gun was my great delight, and the day on which I shot three wild ducks at a shot was the proudest day of my young life. I was not so proud of my red coat. The first time I put it on, there was something of awe mingled with the gratification with which I regarded myself in uniform; but my success as a shot gave me unmixed pleasure, and I carried the trophies of my skill home with intense satisfaction. They made a nice little addition to our daily fare. We new arrivals were poor caterers in those days, knowing nothing of the country, its language, or customs; and at that time there were no messes in native regiments. Officers generally lived two or three in a bungalow and messed together; or, more frequently, four or six in contiguous houses would form a little mess, and if one of their number happened to be an old