Recollections of Thirty-nine Years in the Army. Gordon Charles Alexander
of Mumtaz Mahal, the Pride of the Palace, wife of Shah Jehan. She died in childbed of her eighth child, A.D. 1629, at Berhampore in the Deccan, whence her body was carried and buried where the Taj now stands.
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The story of these events is concisely given in Sewell’s
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At the time commanded by Colonel Clunie.
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Poor L.E.L.! Further memories of her will recur hereafter.
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The words are so beautiful and pathetic that I transcribe them.
Float on, float on, my haunted bark, Above the midnight tide; Bear softly o’er the waters dark The hopes that with thee glide.
Float on, float on, thy freight is flowers, And every flower reveals The dreaming of my lonely hours, The hope my spirit feels.
Float on, float on, thy shining lamp, The light of love is there; If lost beneath the waters damp, That love must then despair.
Float on, beneath the moonlight float, The sacred billows o’er; Ah! some kind spirit guards my boat, For it has gained the shore.
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Mrs. Tayler, mother of Lady Hope Grant, then a young girl in England at school.
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37th.
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Shere Singh, an unacknowledged son of Runjeet, “the Lion of the Punjab.”
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Dyhan Singh, vizier of the above.
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The Ranee Jinda, mother of Dhuleep. She was now Regent.
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Subsequently Sikh commander at the battle of Ferozeshah, December 21, 1845.
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Belonging to Luckimchund, at one time a Government contractor.
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December 20, 1843.
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Sir Hugh Gough.
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Charley Grant Sahib, as he continued to be called many years afterwards when as a General Officer he commanded a Division.
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Colonel Cureton now acted as Brigadier in command of the cavalry.
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10th Bengal and 4th Irregular Cavalry.
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Afterwards General Sir John Mitchell, G.C.B.
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Namely, Dr. Walker of the Body Guard, Currie of 16th Lancers, and myself.
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The strength of the opposing forces at the commencement of battle was:
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In repulsing a body of French Lancers in pursuit of a party of Scots Greys, for which, as marks of appreciation by the king, they were made Lancers and granted scarlet uniform.
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Many years thereafter I became acquainted with Colonel Bray, who obtained his commission “without purchase” in acknowledgment of services rendered by his father and brother.
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The “Gwalior Contingent” so established joined the mutineers in 1857, and took prominent part in the investment of Cawnpore.
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Under Lord Lake, September 3, 1803.
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The festival takes place on the first day of the (Hindoo) month Baishakh, that is, commencement of the Solar year (March-April) and anniversary of the day on which the river Ganges first appeared on earth. Every twelfth year the planet Jupiter being in Aquarius, a feast of peculiar sanctity occurs; the great bathing day, or Maha Mela, coinciding with the new moon.
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April 11.
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Prepared from the roots of
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October 16, 1844.
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Or rather, fell into his hands as a result of his victory at Buxar.
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That each act in this life bears its fruit in the next.
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The attainment of a sinless state of existence.
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Died 1805.
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During the early wars by the East India Company the troops employed by it comprised men of various European nationalities, besides natives of the United Kingdom.
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The officer alluded to, familiarly known as “Paddy” Graves, parodied a well-known soldiers’ song of Peninsular days after this manner: —
The Sixty-second Springers all – are
Going to march unto Umballah – r;
And the Buffs, that gallant band – are
Going to their native land – are.
Love, farewell.”
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In subsequent years large numbers of them were converted to Christianity; colonies established by them in Cachar and Assam.
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In 1757 a stately range of two-storied barracks for “European” troops were erected at a cost of £302,278, the rupee then worth 2
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Then sixteen years of age. His grandfather, Jaffer Ali, Wuzzeer of Suraj ood Dowlah, Nawab of Bengal, a member of the Imperial family of Delhi, whom Lord Clive defeated at Plassee in 1757. It is related that on that occasion Jaffer Ali bribed a number of Suraj ood Dowlah’s troops; with them he deserted his chief and went over to the English side. Subsequently the Nawab was assassinated, and Jaffer Ali raised to a position he had no right to claim. Thenceforward the Nawab of Moorshedabad was an “ally” of the British Government.
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Plassee. From Palasa, “dâk tree,” or
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Kulnah is 164 miles from the Sandheads.
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Now, after an interval of fifty-two years, I still am proud to call him friend. Alas! since the above was written he has passed away.
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January 19, 1845.
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On April 29, 1845.
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It is related that in A.D. 455 a battle took place near this spot between the Saxons under Hengist and Horsa, and the Britons under Vertimer, the latter being victorious; that among the killed were Horsa, the Saxon, and Catigern, the brother of Vertimer. One account relates that the cromlech alluded to is that of Catigern, Horsa having been killed at Horsted near Rochester.
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Lieutenant Graham.
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July 15 – under command of Sir Hyde Parker.
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Statistical Reports by Major Tulloch.
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Regimental pay, 7
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July 10, 1846, Staff-Surgeon, 2nd class.
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Dating back to A.D. 1572, when, under Elizabeth, the regiment was formed out of the Trained Bands of London, its uniforms of Buff leather, whence its name, now a proud title.
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Now,