Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-06-20

=
ven that the Gear of Muscovy had passed thr
, Caubul and Lahore, and that 1 with my o.
Ahmednuggars stood on fair field to me,
him! Bless you, bless you, my swart con
panions in victory! through the mist of twel
ty years / hear the booming of your war-cr,
and mark the glitter of your sciInetars as y
rage in the thickest of the battle!
'sBut away with melancholy "reminiscences
You may fancy what figure the Irregular
cut OF field -day-a line Of five hifadrc
| black-faced ,black-dressed, black -horsed black
bearded men-Bggs, Glogger, and other off
| GERS in yellow, gallopping about the field lik
flashes of lightning myself enlightenini
them, red, solitary, and majestic, like yol
| glorious orb in heaven.
"There are very few men, I presume, wht
| have not heard of Holkar's sudden and gallan
incursion into the Dooab, in the year, 1904
| when we thought that the victory of Laswaret
| and the brilliant success at Dceg had complete
ly finished him. Taking ten thousand horse
he broke up the camp at Palimbang; and the
first thing General Lake heard of him was,
that he was at Putna, then of Rumpooge then
at Doncaradam-he was, in fact, in the very
heart of our territory.
'sThe unfortunate part of the affair was this
His excellency, despising the Mahratta chief
tian, had allowed him to advance about two
thousand miles in his front, and knew not in
the slightest degree where to to lay hold on
him. Was he at Hazarubang was no at Bog
" Gungea nobody knew, and for considera-
BILE period the movements of Lakes cavalry
were quite ambiguous, uncertain, promiscu-
Gus, and undetermined.
'sSuch brifly was the state of affairs in Octo-
Der, 1904. At the beginning of the month
had been wounded "a trifing scratch, cutting
off my left upper eyelid, bit of my cheek,
and my under-lip,) and I was obliged to leave
Biggs in command of my Irrcgulars, whilst
retired for my wounds to an English station at
Furruckabad, alias Futtyghur-it is, as every
two-penny post man knows, at the apex of the
Dooap. We have there a cantonment, and
thithcr l went for the. mere sake of the sur
geon and the sticking plaster.
s'Furruckabad, then, is divided into two dis
tricts or towns; the lower Cotwal, inhabited by
the natives, and the upper (Which is fortified
slightly, and has all along been called Futty-
ghur, meaning in Hindostanee, s'the-farorite-
resort -of-the-white-faccd -Feringh
-topc-consecrated-to-R -Ram'') occupied
oy Europeans. ct is astonishing, by the way,
ioW comprehensive that language is, and how
nuch can be conveyed in one or two of the
;ommonest phrases.)
''Biggs, then, and my men were playing all |
orts of wondrous pranlzs with Lord Lakes |
IrnIy, whilst l was detained an uiIWIIilnS pms I
'ner of health at Fuityghur.
''An unwilling prisoner, however, | should |
lot say. The cantonment at Futtyghur con- |
aimed that which would have made any man |
lappy slave. Woman, lovely woman, was
here in abundance and variety! The fact is,
hat, when the campaign commenced in 1903,
he ladies of the army ali congregated to this
'lace, where they were left, as il was suppos-
d, in safety. 1 might, like Homer, relate the
ames and qualities Of all. l may at least
mention some whose memory is still most dear
o me. There was
'sMrs. Major General Butcher, wife Of Bulch-
r of the infantry, and Miss Butcher.
''Miss BELINDA BULcHER (whose name beg
he printer to place in large capitals.
'sArs. Colonel Vandego gobbleschroy.
'sMrs. Maj. Macon ard the four Misses Macon.
s'The Honorable Mrs. Burgoo, Mrs. Fix,
iicks, Wicks, and many more too numerous
o mention. The flower of our camp was, how
yer, collected there, and the last words of
.ord Lake to me. as L left him, were ssGaha-
iuard them with your life, watch over them
18th your honor, defend them with the match
ess power Of your indomitable ARM
'sFuttyghur is, as 1 have said, an European
tation, and the pretty air of the bungalows,
mid the clustering topes of mangoe trees, has
ften ere this excited the admiration OF the
ourist and sketcher. On the brow of hill,
IS base, and no spot, in word, can be con-
eived more exquisitely arranged, both by art
nd nature, as a favorite residence of the Brit
'h fair. Mrs. Butcher, Mrs. Vandegobbles-
hroy, and the other married ladies above
had each of them delightful bung-
lows and gardens in the place, and between
ne cottage and another my time passed as de-
ghtfully as can the hours Of any man who is
way from his darling occupation of war.
ssI was the commandant of the fort. 1t is a |
title Insignificant pettah, defended simply by
couple of gabions, a very ordinary counter
crap, and a bomb-proof embrasure; on the top |
{ this my flag was planted, and the small gar
ison of forty men only we're barracked off in |
he easements within. A surgeon and two |
haplins dhere were besides three reverend |
entlemen, Of amateur missions, who lived in
be town) completed, as l may say, the garri-
on Of our little fortalice, which was left to
efend and to command.-[To be ContiHaed. |