Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-05
AN ARMY TRADITION.
rhe RebUke of the General In Chief
Caused the Death Of a British Colonel.
IRON NE 81. James Gaseftl.

From me 81. James Gasette.
A romantic story, just brought TO light.
regarding the flight of the Fourteenth
Dragons at the battle Of Chilianwallah,
is exciting great interest amongst soldiers
in India. The accepted legend relates
that the order "Hhrees about and can
terW which originated a retreat that, an
der pressure from fierce body OF Sikh
horse, speedily became an ignominious
flight, came from a lancer in the regi-
ment, who, nursing a deep spite against
Col. King, used his remarkable Yentrilo-
quial powers in Stimulating the voice Of
his commander. But the suicide
Of Col. King at Lahore re.
moved a material witness, and the
lrave has clos over most of those
who we're engaged in the Sikh campaign
Now, however. on the authority of an old
soldier Of the Fourteenth Dragons, an
other and more romantic cause is fur
nished for the fate Of Col. King. A pri-
vate named Robert Wilson, sentenced to
"a days heavy marching drill by his
Colonel, declared that his punishr ent
was unjust, and that he would stand "a
reglmental cOurt-martial and be Judged
by officers who were soldiers "rather than
submit % sentence from a coward g"
For this Wilson received 80 lashes, which
be took without a murmuT; but when he
was unstrapped from the triangle he
called out; Comrades. I have been I'M
Justly logged for calling the Colonel "a
coward, and / call him so again: and |
VIII maintain it, in the face OF the British
army, that If we (the Fourteenth
dragoons) had been properly led at Chill
lidnwallah. we would never have shown
our backs to the enemy" Wilson was
marched back from the punishment pa.
rade 10 the guard room. and an spplica-
lion was sent TO the cOmmauder-in.chief
for general court martial 10 try the Gull
prIt for his gross INSTRUMENTATION. At
that time Sir Charles Napier had succeed.
ed Sir Hugh Cough, and on the evening OF
the day following the arrival OF the COM
mander-in-chiers camp at Lahore, drum
ken private OF the SiNtO-hrst regiment
which, under Sir Colin Campbell. saved
the day al Chillian Nallah). staggered up
to the guard room OF the Fourteenth dra-
VOons and ieeringly called out. "Threes
about and canterw For this he was
speedily made the companion Of the pris
oner Wilson. Wilson, being a general
taNorite IN the regiment, was allowed 10
enter into conversation with his brother
prisoner; and more than that the stranger.
fast soldering, was suffered 10 inquire mi
nutely into the circumstances Of the
disastrous retreat Of the regiment. At
daybreak the guard officer dismissed the
now sober and Apologize "ranker" A
lew hours later the commanding officer Of
the Fourteenth Dragons received from
PR charles Napier % letter refusing 10
sanction general cuurt-marual on
Trooper Wilson, and ordering mis- imme-
date release snd transfer from the regi-
ment 90 the Tenth Hu.sgrs. His Excel
lency added that he had seen the Four
teenth Dragons on many hard fought
field; ana be believed, with the men, that
had they been properly led they won ld
not have broken before the Sikhs at Chill
lianwallah. On reading this letter Col.
King left the orderly room, and. retiring
20 his own quarters, put an end 20 his
life. A few days afterwards the COM
mander-u-cbief reviewed tie Fourteenth
nra"nOus; and the men VINO were ON
800 tine night when The drunken
=" the ~iXty.frst regiment was "a
'fgnized MIN Ia the person Of
s-r Charles Napier.