______________________________________________________________________________________________

8 Sep 58 Julius Dorree Ghat Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Dorree Ghat *

8 Sept /58.-

My dear Mother

I have not been able to scribble a line since leaving Azimgurh. Not that I had no time, but I had no materials for letter-writing.

I have received a letter from you dated Tunbridge Wells & one from my Father since I left, so the least I can do is to write one in return. Yr. letters arrive very regularly now. I have not lost one for some time. Every fortnight I look forward to one & am not disappointed.

I wrote a hasty note before leaving Azimgurh. We started at 11 o’clock at night & marched about 18 miles to a Bridge over a River where a number of the Rebels were expected. It was dreadfully hot. There were about 160 of Ours & 5 officers (as many as ever they could get). On the way the men fell out so fast that on our arrival at the destination we had, in the three Companies, but 45 men. So you can understand what marching in India is in the Hot weather, & this was at night, too.

We halted at this Bridge, by name Lot Ghat, * for a week, at the end of which time on we went again about 13 miles. We had to cross about 2 miles of water about 3 feet deep. The rains had swollen the Gogra (a large river) & all the road had been washed away. On arriving at the opposite end of the water, Col. Kelly who commands, got intelligence that a body of Rebels were about 8 miles off & so He went on with the Sikhs (a Regt. of which was with us) & the guns, & left us to get the baggage over the water – which I will not attempt to describe.

Suffice it to say that it took us 6 hours & then on we went to a place called Junley. * Here we were ordered to halt & scarcely had we got the tents up when a villager came in & told us that a hundred rebels & with an Elephant were about a mile off. We turned out & Col. Simpson went to the front to reconnoitre. He saw the Elephant & some men, but unfortunately the whole place from where he stood, to where they were, was under water. Directly the ns heard where we were, they made off. The cavalry were sent round to intercept them, however they did not.

I had just had dinner & was thinking of turning in when I was told the Colonel wanted me. On my presenting myself, he told me he was very sorry, but I must march immediately with my Company to Deorree Ghat, as the Detachment which had been stationed there had marched to guard Lot Ghat, the Bridge we left in the morning. Here we came, & here we have been since, about 10 days. At first I was the only officer & it was lonely enough, but now there is a doctor.

There is a very good Bungalow which we are in, overlooking the Gogra, which is a splendid River. Even at this place, which is the narrowest part within a number of miles, it is about 1,000 yards across. The Azimgurh & Gourakpore roads come down to the River on either side & there is a ferry over, the cause of our being here, to prevent the Rebels making use of it. The Bungalow is surrounded by outhouses etc for an Indigo manufacturer lived here & the factory is close by. A parapet & ditch join all the houses together & form a sort of Fort. I have got but 40 men here & hardly sufficient to man the walls. I must tell you that all the Rebels got out of the District & sold Kelly. They raised a sunken boat & crossed over the Gogra (about 48 miles from this) into the Gourakpore District.

Col. Kelly went back about 4 days ago – where to, I do not know – but certainly not to Azimgurh. So that, I am at present, the farthest off from Azimgurh. I was told yesterday by the Collector who lives on the other side of the River that troops from Gourakpore had driven the Rebels back & they were trying to cross at a town almost 12 miles off, down the River. I wish they would come here, but with 40 men, I could not guard this place & be fighting at a distance as well. They have not the pluck to come near us. My orders are to guard this place & not to leave it. I am expecting to be relieved by the Detachment at Lot Ghat & then, I suppose, shall return to Azimgurh for a month or two before the Cold season Campaign.

I hear there are more mails in so perhaps may get a letter. I heard from Peter the other day, a letter which I could not understand at all as it accused me of selfishness & all manner of things, saying that I never thought of anyone but myself etc. etc. However, a few days after, another letter came saying it was quite a mistake & must be attributed to the Post Office as my first letter, which was a congratulatory one, & short, for I was in a hurry, did not arrive till after my second which I wrote a few days after & contained a short sketch of my doings since I had been in the country.

He says that all his servants have bolted. It is a way they have all over Asia. He was very lucky if they did not carry off his money or Clothes etc. A young Cadet lost his servant from the Bungalow at Azimgurh where I was quartered. About a week before I left, he took 150 Rupees (£15) & I hear that another has since run off with 300 Rupees (£30) of his – nearly all his Lucknow Batta.

I see we are to have a medal, but it will not be worth anything unless there is a clasp for Lucknow (the taking of), * as everyone in India will get it.

I hope you are all well & Helen improved by the fresh air of Tunbridge Wells. Where will you be when this reaches you? My Father says sea side – but where? I hope Mary is pretty well. I always keep well on the look-out for the Births, * but at present have met with no success. I got Honor Pulley’s wedding cards. I must write & congratulate them when I get quiet again. I must now close,

From yr. affect. Son

JD Laurie

* Dorree Ghat – possibly now Dohrighat, on the NH29 route which now crosses the Ghaghara River by the Barhalganj Bridge

* Lot Ghat – Now Latghat

* Junley – Possibly now Jhumila, a village 6 miles to the North of the Ghaghara River

* Lucknow (the taking of) – his Mutiny medal duly bears the ‘Lucknow’ clasp

* look-out for births – He wasn’t yet aware that John and Mary Riley’s son, John, had been born just under a month previously