The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-23
GREAT BRlTAIN'S CLUSTERS.
WIEN INDIA WIS rho UGHT TO B.frp
DEEM LOST no ENGLAND
somc Information through Private to,,,.

Some Information through Private Io,,cr.
that Led the Iron Duke 10 Order II,
Charles Napier Bnck TO the Puniaub
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In tbo
military history Of India are two cases like Gan
Clusters. and az 10th convoy serious lessons.
and both are Of aiding military interest. please
let an ex-adjutaDt Of iiussars sketch them
briefly.
l. On the s21 OF November 1873. the Beng,,
army. under Lord Cough, came into FIRST con-
tact with the Seikbs al Rimnuffer, a few days
march north Of Lahore, in the PunJaub. Cot
Henry Il,velock, commanding the Fourte nth
(King's own Light Dragons, now llussars. was
then the Custer Of the L. I'll q army. When a
mere boy, and infantry adi1tant under Wehng-
ton III the Peninauia. be led bis fusiicers un by
lraplng ms nnIse over wai 'llo the midst 1t
surpu sed Frcucnnen, To the lasting admiration
Of Spanidrds, who gave him iho Nv name FL
chico UincO abe far huD. Hayelurk was so
anxious u win tcnOWD win hi rptbiueers that
hc had obtained pcfmissiOn from AdJt-Gcn.
CuiitOn. his oli friend. g. charge me enemy
soon as "a Chffice should occur. \ Cordiugiy, the
fate haired Old BOY, when he ciugnt sighl Of tho
clustering hosts, swept away toward them at
the head Of hs regiment IN open column q
troops, wtnOut takipg any account OF tho
ground. nullah, however, interviewed, the
sand was Knee deep, and the seikh batteries
soun cut lanes through the ranks Of the gay
ar. gopns, WHO, the Seikhs declared. must 10
" mWcUNds ~ drunk THE result was the same
rs IN the famous trimean charge; "Ctsi m0gni-
Hqlc mas &c ntst ptS iu gUrtt" HayelOck
tel, with him many gallant oihcers and men,
tncludin2 Gen. carton, VINO vatniy gallnp ped
after his r 'cklcs5 friend To recall him bv hicuer
orders. Col. Alexander. comm lnding the Fifth
Native Cavalry, Wishing to share at least some
OF the peril and glory, had his arm shattered,
his nj ant killed. Sc.; but the pistols of tho
native cavalry saved many Of tho English heavily
armed troopers.
=. Hardy two months later a far greater and
overwhelming disaster befell tue same army
from unrcstrilned impotuo-ity. After several
engagemenls u minor N port ancc, the inhlned
Anguan and Sekh furt =, thoroughly organized
on European war footing bS Ffcnch, italian, and
German adventures, were brought to bay at
Chiiianwill'. IN uinlcult juuglr, gu preciDitous
ground, and on mountain ridges such rs re
described N being recently held hy the sioux.
Inc ljth Of January, 1919, was az OthinOus day
for the prestige ~ British arms IN ludia. Tho
troops had a heavy ma ch Ia the morning, and
at about l.. NJ. LORD Coughs trumpoter sound
cd the halt for tue advanced guard. The enemy
being evidently In "A strong position, the veteran
General decided to attack tue next morning, and
the infantry Of the vanguard piled arms to
allow the other corps and the camcis and
to come up. when. however, lew soldiers
were knocked over 10y round shot from a gun
that the enemy had pushed forward, Lord
Cough impattently said NV lrish blood Can't
stand tnis," aud ordered the adv nee. The
infantry bfi2ade Of tho centre. tnV Hover Of the
army was ordered to cary toe strong position
with tx bhNuncts aud without nrIng shot.
jntortuna,eiy 1.-The distances were greatly under
estimated, ana the ground much more cut ny
ravine- than anticipated. Tue result VS. that half
Of the rihcor- ana men Of the stOtLiing c"lumn
were shutuOwu at leisure from bouIud rocks aud
Trees. Those mat after desperate struggles met
their gigantic fUeInen In hand to-aand enCoun-
ter were 30 utteriy exhausted and out II brcath
that tuey could not cope with the ONerpnwerina
numbers surrounding them everywhere. ana "a
disastrous retreat mai 70 be- beaten. 10 make
matters worse. pane spread all along tho Dat
Tie line. India 10 lost!" shouted young lide-
de-calnp, ~ ne madly c-Teered Tor the deserves;
they urJ beating IA eyeryNheio!" On the
right was cavalry ttgaIs that mad Ouly
snort time before, v 4eu IN the open plans,
ezcelcd IN deeds "f bravery. But GA mat fttd
lOth "a dectepit ufigsdtcr ~ Tue Last lLdit COM
pany's service took command of the brigade Oy
seniority. suucI-edmg the Qietus officers.
Wncie II was tmpusslUls IL acc Ia rank anu nlS
the troops got broken up, separated from each
other, ana hnally en.ansled with the retreat OF
the centre.
Night set IN suddenly and swiftly, and the
means II thousands Of dying anu wounded re-
sounded from aIT, without tue possibility OF
giving relief for all the camp followers Ia ued
and nOt drop OF water could DO had. II the
enemy h ID known taS utter dtsurg iriZa-
ton Of tue psoud British army IN the might Of
the 18th, aud attacked at daynreAk, IuUtI, tn-
deed. " Uuiu have been lost. Tor OBVIOUS rea-
sons, the whole truth uI this tragedy mas never
been divulged ~ England, but 80 threatening
Of private let ers, trat when toe news reached
Engi.nd, the Iron lake for sir
tnares A'pier 10 20 out again 10
india Immediately amt TAX command.
Napier refused puint blank hec.use he
had been suuOLcd by Lord Dalnou-ie, the Gov
'rnog-Generll, OF " the BOY p0iitirt "a The
co. saii the Dlhe. has brought Slr Charles
to reason, anu n consed ientl' cmO..ih. ths
Same day. Fortune. meanwhile had favored
Lord cough; the fortre-' OF MOotau. h,-It-,i
rv tue boWbAy army, f.il. ana the rei,ss,d
army hh-t"ncd m forced marches TO tntitscue.
Inc cucuIf hiunu"red, fursouK his mountain
pus uon and grew mo the pl.nus az q uj,rit,
where, On the 2lst FEBRUARY, 1879, tAt l. gii-n
glntd a decisive victory. IN CONSEQUENCE II
wbirh the whole oil the 'unjaub was annexed
IL tue bIltish territories IUNSAUukE.