essay

History 201 Spring 2021

Essay Assignment - Source 2: Charles Nedham’s Diary

Note: NI refers to Native Infantry

p. 22- August 1, 1845 – arrived in Madras. We were immediately invaded with a lot of niggers who came in catamarans selling all sorts of bad fruits… lots of servants made their appearance jabbering bad language and thrusting into your hands a set of false characters. These fellows are generally rogues… the niggers who row make a horrible noise… we were assailed, on landing by the whole crowd of coachmen, men from hotels, servants and all sorts of niggers in general.

p. 23 -Sunday August 3 – went to the Fort Church… it was truly a treat to have the opportunity again of attending church after having been so long deprived of the privilege.

p. 25 – off to Calcutta

Tuesday, August 25. The boat was rowed by six men who as usual with natives make more noise than anything else. They seemed to take pleasure in doing everything as slowly as possible to torment you/smoking their hubble bubble as coolly as possible instead of working.

August 27 – arrived in the afternoon there is a neat church.

p. 27 – My establishment of servants is not very large at present as in barracks you don’t require so many if living in a bungalow. I have a man that makes himself generally useful/as bearer and Kitmagar though he acts more in the former capacity. The boy waits at the table. The former has 8 rupees a month and the letter 5. Besides these, I have to pay a few rupees for the sweepers and the water carrier, so 20 rupees is the sum total.

p. 60 - August 16, 1848, Sikh War – marched about ten miles we arrived too late a great deal it was nearly 8 o’clock when we came into camp at which hour the heat is very great. Some of the men have been taken ill 30 admitted into hospital and one dead. The colonel makes the men march In their red coats which at this season in the year is alone enough to bring on fever. This evening at 1030 we were all aroused at the sound of distant cannonading evidently from Multan… we took some prisoners and killed about twenty. The prisoners stayed there were about 4000 of them. They had come with the intention of surprising us at camp.

p. 61 - August 19 – the heavy guns with the rest of the force will be here in a few days.

p. 62 – Wednesday September, 6 – the preparations are being made for the siege.

p. 63 - September 8 – general Whish has made good use of the various appointments for the benefit of his own family. He has not only made his eldest son captain Whish, adjutant, but has made another son of his a mere boy of 16, sub lieutenant and in charge of the rocket department. Though he is not really in the army at all, only a volunteer. Of course it must be highly disgusting to the officers of his department to have a youngster like that put over them.

September 9 – colonel Pattoun gave us the order to advance skirmishing. We did so as well as we could in the dark not knowing where we were going… such a scene I never wish to see again, our soldiers were dropping down in all directions and no advantage gained for it. We knew not where we were and I believe at times our own people were firing at us… it was a badly managed and ill planned attack. We knew nothing of the place and it was extremely foolish to attempt it by night… colonel Pattoun should have withdrawn at once instead of sacrificing such a number of men. We had 43 killed and wounded of which 18 were in my company/1/3 of the whole company… the sepoys must have lost about 30. They did not form up at all well I did not see any of them with our men.

p. 64 - September, 12- poor major Montyzamberd… he almost instantly died he was a most gallant officer and perfect gentleman. We want more troops badly…

p. 66 - September, 29 – the Mohammedians in Edward’s camp amused themselves with firing the salute with big guns and small arms to the moon. They do this every month when the moon first comes visible. It is great nonsense.

p. 67 - October 3 – poor Hollinsworth died this morning… It will be a heavy blow to his poor wife. October 5 – a great day with the natives. Their chief amusement being that of firing off blank cartridges and beating tom toms.

p. 68 - October 22 – we hear that three NI regiments are coming from Ferozpoor. I wish they could send us some Europeans.

p. 72 - November 7 - ….excessive thirst. Each company is provided with two Behisties – water carriers who carry water in a large pigskin – and they go into action with the regiment. The natives are really valuable servants under fire….

We marched home through Edward’s camp and the niggers there looked very different from what they did in the morning. They cheered us and we them shouting Shabbah! Shabbash (well done!)…the sepoys behaved well particularly the 8th – they quite fraternize with our men calling each other Brader (brother).

We had commenced the attack at about 11 and returned to camp at 2.30. it was a most brilliant and perfectly successful little action…the effect this action has produced on the Allies is not the least useful part of the business – it has restored their confidence and fidelity which had begun to wane.

p. 73 - November 14 – Day of the Mooltan Races. They are capital things to relive the monotony of camp life. Besides the horse races…there are race for the men on foot. Tree of our men carried off prizes. It is a great amusement to them as well as us…there are also other amusements going on for the men – Europeans and natives – jumping in sacks, climbing a greased pole. The sepoys enjoy it amazingly and are very gppd hands at some things such as climbing and jumping.

Attack of Mooltan

p. 78 - January 1, 1849. Bombardment going on steadily … the 19th regiment Bombay N. I behaved very badly – they would not follow the British soldiers up the breach but remained sitting down like niggers do, notwithstanding the exertions of their officers…the city is larger ad there was a good deal of fighting in the streets…the whole of the city is in our possession except one gate which leads up to the fort.

p. 80 - January 17 – Moolraj’s reign is drawing to a close….resistance is hopeless….our men and the sepoys always get on well together. We have a sentry of each on the different look outposts. How they manage to converse I don’t know, for out men have a very limited notion of the Oriental languages.

p. 90 - February 21 – the defeat of the Sikhs was complete, they have lost everything,

p. 94 - February 28. Marched into Lahore… We looked nearly as brown as niggers, we are so sunburnt. All the soldiers’ wives ad children were there to look out for their husbands and fathers – and loid were the exclamations of delight when “dear Ian” and “dear Bill” came in sight. To some few indeed caused feelings of renewed grief for relatives who had fallen victims of the war. Poor things it must have made them feel lonely indeed to see others happiness at meeting again.

Short after it was announced that the kingdom of the Punjab was no more. And that the annexation of that important country to the British Government had taken place. It was done so secretly and expeditiously that scarcely any one knew it till it was over. Some of the durbar are to have pensions – so is young Dhuleep the younger maharaja – but those who have born arms against have their possessions confiscated. The crown jewels have fallen into our hands… the war thus has been brough to a most complete and satisfactory termination.

The acquisition of such a country as the Punjab if properly managed cannot fail to be advantageous to the government. It has great resources and will pay better than any part of India. Measures are being taken to seize every description of arms that can be found among the field – the only way effect to prevent them from using them.