Major Augustus Le Messurier - Kandahar In 1879: The Diary Of Major Le Messurier

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Text originally published in 1880 under the same title.

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Although in most cases we have retained the Authors 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 readers benefit.

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KANDAHAR IN 1879BEING THE DIARY OF MAJOR LE MESSURIER, R.E., BRIGADE-MAJOR R.E. WITH THE QUETTA COLUMN.

REPRINTED, WITH CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS, FROM THE ROYAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER

Simla, Thursday, 14th Nov. Appointed Brigade-Major, R.E., to the Field Force assembled at Mooltan under command of Lieut.-Gen. D. M. Stewart, C.B., by Adj.-Gen. No. 3812/c of 11th Nov. 1878. Started my baggage and three small hill tents to Umballa, via Kalka, engaging four mules from the bazaar; 95 miles in all. Sukaie went in charge of Julia, and Cyclops took the grey waler gelding Booby. Nickoo, one of my wood-cutters, a hill man, took charge of the black Newfoundland, Rover. The parting between Nickoo and his father-in-law, a mason, and the other men I had employed for two years in building the Highlands, as well as with the women, was most affecting. Nickoo was born and bred in Simla, and had never been off the hill. The men were embraced; some of the women were kissed on the face, others on the hands, and all of them touched the feet of the voyager with the greatest gravity; as he passed through the gate a general wail was set up, which at once influenced, though in a milder form, our party on the lawn. Thoughts were naturally busy, as K., M., and P. were there, and Mrs. S., whose husband had already started for the front some three weeks before.

Saturday, 16th Nov. Obtained my road and railway warrants from King-Harman, the A.Q.M.G., for my journey to Sukkur, vid Mooltan; settled my pay abstracts with Sampson, the Under Secretary, got last pay certificates, and drew a round sum from Peterson, at the bank, to settle bills, and carry me on till I might join the force at Quettah. Arranged my dk by tonga to Umballa for Monday.

Monday, 18th Nov. My dk put off, as the Viceroy was leaving Simla and had cleared the road, so spent what I considered a spare day in making final arrangements for my family.

Tuesday, 19th Nov.Gave over charge of my duties in the secretariat to Sampson, said good-bye to the office, and went to the tonga office to find no carriage available, as nineteen dks had been sent off the day before, and already one despatch of all the horses had been made in the morning; however, one pair returned by 1 P.M.; said good-bye to K. and M., and started with my butler, De Souza. Journeyed famously, considering all things, and reached Kalka at the foot of the hill by 10 P.M.-57 miles. Dined at Lumleys, and by 11 was fast asleep in the dk ghrrie en route to Umballa.

Wednesday, 20th Nov. Drove to Bignells at 5 A.M., found my servants, had a pipe, and turned in for an hour. As soon as it was light I inspected the nags, and found that both Julia and Booby had swollen withers from the pack-saddles they had carried down the hill, that Rover did not recognise me in my ulster, and that the servants generally were done up. My two colt foals, which I had bred from Julia, had been sent over by Jackson from Dehra; but Mourad (four years) had thrown himself the day before with his head ropes, taking the hair off both knees, and cutting himself about the legs in every conceivable direction. Ruby (three years)was all right, but looking thin. Bought the servants their warm clothes, and sent the horses off by the mid-day train to Lahore; no horse-boxes available, so used a covered goods wagon. Dined with Mrs. M., and left by the evening mail for Lahore; Grant, the Director of the N. E. system, being in the carriage. Rover, the dog, causing no end of trouble, as he evidently did not appreciate the bustle at the station, or the first-class carriage as a kennel for the night; Nickoo, the hill man, being useless from his utter astonishment at everything.

Thursday, 21st Nov. Arrived at Lahore at 7 A.M., found my horses and kit, and had them tacked on to the Mooltan train. Bought grass for the journey, and was ready to take my seat. Met A., Mr. Chapman, and others, and chatted away, having nothing further to do at present, when a telegram was put into my hands from Col. Sankey, from Jacobabad, saying that the General wished me to go direct to Ferozepore and arrange for the Engineer Siege Park Equipment. I had not a moment then to lose, bundled my kit out of the carriage, got the station-master to cut off the horse-van, and give me my baggage back out of the break. These being accomplished, I went off to Sandifords to breakfast; found Gen. Lumsden, the Adjutant-General, in camp, showed him my orders, obtained a copy of the sanctioned scale of equipment for a siege park to accompany a second-class siege train, got my warrants from MacGregor, the D.Q.M.G., to and from Ferozepore, arranged my dk, and telegraphed to the officer in charge of the Arsenal inquiring whether the Engineer Siege Park Equipment was ready.

Bought a small tent at Gillons, and left my three hill tents behind for sale. Started at 9 P.M. for Ferozepore-50 miles, and got to the travellers bungalow at 7 A.M. on the 22nd. After breakfast drove to the Arsenal; saw Carstairs, who said that all the equipment had been despatched to Mooltan, but this afterwards proved to be a mistake, for on comparing the sanctioned equipment with the indents that had been complied with, it was found that Carstairs referred to the Field and not Siege equipment. The new lists were checked off, and arrangements were made to procure such of the articles as were not to hand; I telegraphed at the same time to Surveyor-General to furnish such instruments and material as were required to complete the list, and, to save confusion, directed that all the stores I was after, should be addressed to Lieut. Hoskyns, R.E., at Sukkur. The despatches from the Arsenal were to commence within three days, and I telegraphed the result to Col. Sankey. On my return, at 3 P.M., to the bungalow, I found that if I did not start at once I could not obtain another dk for twenty-four hours, so there was nothing for it but to leave without my dinner and make the best of it. For five miles the road is open and very good, then comes the Sutlej; the ponies were changed for two pairs of bullocks, and it took us three hours crossing, along heavy sand and across temporary bridges, the distance of six miles between the permanent banks of the river, and this too on the main road between the capital and the arsenal of the Punjab. Reached Lahore at 4 A.M.