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18 Dec 58 Julius Camp Akbupore Mother Hyde Park Place (West) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Camp ‘Akbupore’

18th Dec. 58

My dear Mother

I have been on the move again, but have returned to the old place once more, finding on my arrival two letters – one from my Father (Oct. 20th) & one from you (Nov. 2nd) – telling me of your return to London for the winter, & I am very sorry to hear of my Father suffering from his eye. I hope however it is not much.

Talking of eyes, mine occasionally give me a little trouble, a mild sort of ophthalmia* but nothing of importance.

I am also sorry to hear that Sir Peter has been ailing.

I have written to Arthur several times & have had two letters from him. I want him to exchange with one of the Madras Fusilier Regts. (Europeans in the pay of the late Company & present Indian Govt.) but he writes word that it will cost him something for the alterations of uniform.

I have answered that & I hope to hear that he has effected an exchange. In his present Regt. he will always be out of the way, as Natives are not trusted as they used to be, while the Fusiliers are sure to be wherever anything is going on, or service to be seen, which I should imagine he would prefer.

I have not yet heard of John’s arrival in this country but hope to do so.

I told you I had been away. I was sent up to Fyzabad in charge of an Escort of clothing for the men of the Regt. at that place. It is a very fine old City & well worth seeing, some splendid Tombs & buildings – quite a treat to see them after being out in the jungles for three months & seeing nothing but mud houses. The Orange gardens were very refreshing, not having seen any of the fruit since my stay at Cairo* nearly a year ago.

Lord Clyde had crossed at Fyzabad & is now in Baraitch. There are two other columns there – Brigadier Everleigh’s & Sir Hope Grant’s. We hear that ‘Beni Madho’ a leader among the Rebels has re-crossed the Gogra & dodged the Chief*, so I should not be surprised if we were to move at last & try our hands under Col. Kelly at catching him.

They say that the Begum (Queen) of Oude has run away to Nepaul, so it will all depend on our KCB, Khan Bahadoor, whether or no we finish the game & come off victorious this cold season.

I am writing in my tent, very dark, all the curtains down, as it is raining very hard. This is a wonderful climate. You can tell nearly to the day when the rains begin. They are only to last a short time now – it is delightfully cold.

I am endeavouring to get up a fine Xmas dinner for my Company – lots of beef, 3 sheep (to be roasted whole) & much Plum Pudding & Porter – to make it as pleasant a time for them as possible & remind them of old England.

I hope you will all have passed a happy Xmas & be enjoying the new year.

Love to all from yr. affect. son

J D Laurie

* ophthalmia – Inflammation of the eye

* my stay at Cairo – En route for India aboard ‘Indus’

* the Chief – Lord Clyde. (1792-1863) Born Colin Macliver in Glasgow, the son of a carpenter. Enlisted as Colin Campbell. After distinguished military service in the Peninsular War, the Walcheren expedition in 1809, in Spain until 1813, the Chinese War of 1842, followed by the second Sikh War of 1849 on the north-west Frontier, now aged 60, he led the Highland Brigade at the Crimean battles of the Alma and Balaklava. On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, he went out as commander-in-chief of the forces in India. Some regard him as the greatest British soldier of the mid-19th century