Extracts from a Journal kept on Board the Ship "Madagascar," on her Passage from Calcutta to England, Containing a Brief Account of the Late Sikh Expedition, and a Description of the Principal Military Stations on the River Ganges.

FIRST ANGLO-SIKH WAR - CLEVELAND, W., corporal H. M. 31st Regiment.

Edité par Deal: Printed by J. Deveson, 1847

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First and only contemporary edition of this brief, but spirited and entirely unembroidered account, in the authentic voice of an enlisted man. The 31st were one of the most heavily engaged units of the conflict, seeing action at Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon. Scarce with just two locations traced, BL and Boston Public Library, unrecorded at auction. Vivid vignettes from the battle front are set within the context of a diary account of an uneventful voyage back from Calcutta to Gravesend. Cleveland opens on 23 October 1846, "weather continues fine and the wind steady", reminiscing of Moodkee, "the first battle in which I had even been engaged, I have often since endeavoured to imagine what my feelings were on that occasion but the hurry and confusion of that Action prevented the exercise of thought". One thing remains clear in his memory, "So confident were our Officers and men that the Sikh Army was composed of nothing but a rebel mob, that they did not believe they would hazard an engagement. this entire ignorance of the Sikh Army, it is wonderful that all were alike involved, even the Governor and Commander in Chief, each of whom, it should fairly be supposed, ought to have been possessed of correct information on so important a subject". Of Ferozeshah he recalls the "lurid flames" of the burning Sikh camp "gleaming through the darkness, diffusing sufficient light to make the horrors of our situation more apparent", the shot from the Sikh guns falling "among us by far to thick and fast to be agreeable". The situation only saved by what Cleveland - along with Sikh commander Tej Singh - read as the Commander in Chief's order for the cavalry to make a "false charge", which was in fact the withdrawal of the Horse Artillery desperately short of ammunition to Ferozepur to resupply while under cavalry escort. At Aliwal the 31st were on the extreme right of the British line, "When we had arrived within a short distance of the village, under heavy fire from the enemy, who were waving their swords and cutting a great variety of menacing capers in front of us, General Smith galloped up, and said 'take that village boys, and carry it along with you', when the whole regiment broke into a rapid double, which they did not abate until they had cleared the village, captured the guns upon its left, and caused the whole of the enemy's left flank to run for dear life. We now quietly took possession of the whole of their camp equipage, ammunition and stores; and having amply supplied ourselves. we turned in for the night, near the banks of the Sutlej". And so to Sobraon, "At 9 A. M. the battle had reached its warmest point - shot and shell were then whizzing through the air in rapid succession. on their fearful missions of mischief. from the muzzles of 150 pieces of ordnance - about half past 9, a low rumbling sound was heard, resembling distant thunder, which was caused by the report of musquetry - as the infantry ad passed the Enemy's breastworks. thus concluded the most severe contest in the annals of Indian warfare, and not a second to any fought in Europe, with the exception of Waterloo". Following the ratification of the Treaty of Lahore, the 31st marched to Calcutta and embarked for home, Cleveland composing this very personal and telling NCO's witness to world-changing events while under weigh. Octavo. pp. 24. Original thin paper printed wrappers. Wraps rubbed and soiled with some minor chips and splits at the edges, no loss of text, creases to the corners; pale toning and some finger-soiling to the text; but a well preserved copy, very good.

N° de réf. du vendeur 189591

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Extracts from a Journal kept on Board the Ship "Madagascar," on her Passage from Calcutta to England, Containing a Brief Account of the Late Sikh Expedition, and a Description of the Principal Military Stations on the River Ganges.
• Éditeur: Deal: Printed by J. Deveson, 1847
• Édition: Edition originale