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CHAPTER XV

May 1879 to January 1880

The Afghan War (continued)

Note: The author now begins to refer to Charles as 'Colonel Acton' and 'Colonel Ball-Acton', but his promotion is reported only in chapter XVII.

The death of his mother
Mrs Caroline Acton nee Walker

In May, 1879, Major Ball-Acton received the news of the death of his mother, which was a great grief to him. [She died 11 April 1879.] In a letter he says :

Safaid Sang,
near Gandamak,
15th May, '79.

To-day, just as I got up, they brought me I.'s letter, so kind in her way of telling me of dear mother's death. She began by telling how mother used to say, "I wish I had my Charlie here." '

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And his diary records much of his sorrow at this great loss.

Vere is born in Tunbridge Wells
Soon after this trial came news of the birth of a fourth son.

A terrible march with cholera and 30 deaths
In June the regiment marched into India again, the destination being Peshawur. (picture) The men suffered much on the road from heat and thirst, and Colonel Acton was anxious to relieve this by taking advantage of good water at one of the passes; but this was neglected, and the men became desperate, and drank bad water rather than suffer so much from thirst. This was the cause of much sickness in the regiment, and of an outbreak of cholera. The march was a most trying one, and a full share of anxiety and trouble seems to have fallen upon Major Ball-Acton. In the midst of it all he visited the cholera patients, and never failed to cheer and help them with his earnest, loving words.

Rest at Cherat
It was a relief when the regiment reached Cherat, a small station near Peshawur, where it remained for some time.

'Cherat,
27th June, '79.

' Here we are again, and so glad to be at rest and in a fairly cool climate after our terrible march. We have lost about 30 since we left Safaid Sang on 5th inst., chiefly from cholera, brought on, I believe, by the exhaustion of marching in the hot weather. We have had some six or seven cases up here, but hope now with rest and coolness we may have no more. There has been no fresh case to-day.'

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At Cherat, as everywhere, Major Ball-Acton was busy with prayer-meetings and Bible-readings, and other gatherings for religious purposes, with many temperance meetings also; and he lost no opportunity of speaking words in season, and seeking to raise his fellow-officers' standard of life. With all this, his self-examination and searching into his own motives was constant, and often he reproached himself for mistakes and wrong feelings, even in his most earnest work, while his sorrow over his constant lateness for appointments, etc., continued to be very great.

Kabul massacre - War with the Afghans resumed

In September the news arrived of the massacre of Sir Louis Cavagnari at Kabul, with the embassy and escort. The diary says:

'Some Herati regiments, mutinous for pay, were allowed unarmed into Bala Hissar (Higher Fort) for pay. Broke out, stoned their officers, plundered everything, attacked Embassy — fifty infantry, twenty-five Sowars, Cavagnari, Hamilton, Kelly, Jenkyns. Fought for a day or two, when the palace was set on fire. City mob broke out also. . . . Eight or nine Sowars out grass-cutting escaped.'

Waiting to go back to war
Soon after this orders were received for the regiment to vacate Cherat.

Cherat,
18th Sept., '79.

'Once more we are under orders for the Khyber, and leave this probably in about ten days. This time I believe I shall have command, but you will know the regiment's movements nearly as soon as I shall, and before this letter leaves India. However, we don't look forward to doing much more than our old plan of remaining in the Khyber, and perhaps at Jellalabad and Safaid Sang through the winter. All the advance to Kabul will probably be made from the Kurrum.'

Cherat,
30 Sept., '79-

'We are surprised to be here still, but I am very glad of it, for every day or week here means life saved. The plains will be cooler, and with cold weather we may hope the cholera will be somewhat less. We have been very fortunate to be here all this time. We are very well now, but very weak; 470 or thereabouts is all we shall have for fighting. I do not anticipate much of that, as the Amir seems to wish to keep friendly, and the tribes do not seem to be rising. However, no people are so treacherous as the Afghans, and Yakub may be trying to get favour with his own people by deceiving us. If true to us, I expect he'll soon follow poor Cavagnari. If a deceiver, an asylum in Turkestan or near Calcutta will be his best hope. The Kurrum people have all the fighting this time. Our style and title for letters now is "2nd Brigade, Jellalabad Field Force."'

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A hot march to Jellalabad
The march from Cherat did not begin until October 12th, and on the 14th he wrote :

'Camp Chumkunni,
'near Peshawur,
Oct., '79.

'Here we are, having marched from Cherat to Chupree on Sunday, to Jalonzai on Monday, and to-day here. It is very hot; indeed, it seems difficult to realize its being even hotter. You can't imagine what it was in June. We have been most fortunate in being at Cherat all this time.'

The heat tried Colonel Acton and his men much on this march, and dust-storms added to their discomfort. Ali Musjid was once more visited, and the Colonel remarks on the improvements to be seen there since the English occupation — good roads, with bridges over the pass, and weirs across the river.

Jellalabad was reached on the 23rd, and here the regiment was visited by Gregson, the temperance apostle, whose earnest labours were a great help and pleasure to Colonel Acton.

Fighting around Pezwan
Afterwards a large camp was formed at Pezwan, [Picture.] where the regiment stayed until Christmas. Brisk fighting went on at intervals, and there were many hardships, but the 51st took their full share of both, encouraged by their Colonel, as is seen by the following letter:

'Pezwan,
'20.12.'79.

'All well — no time. I am in command here, and have so much to do — sending convoys on to Gough Jugdalak, and empties back to Safaid Sang, and seeing to defence of place. I haven't half the men I should, so we are all worked hard, but quite safe. Enemy (rabble, to wit) fired on us all yesterday and night before, but hit no one. We fired not a shot by night, but by day the R.H.A. made splendid practice at 2,900 and 1,250 yards, and the rascals have all gone home — no doubt thought it a safe amusement, but found it different. A lot of them got on a hilltop, 1,250 yards off, thinking themselves as safe as in their villages, and watching our movement, and ready to pounce on anything, and shots came from that direction the night before. A shell was sent right in the middle of them in their fancied security, and they vanished in a moment. Nugent, with 120 men, went to the place, and found pools of blood and a coil of stolen telegraph-wire. The rascals have not appeared since. They'll stay in their villages now, I hope; we don't want to hurt them if they'd leave us alone. On 18th I went with two companies (Nugent's, Smyth's, Butler's, Sparkes'), and 25 of 24th P.M.I. We took food to Colonel Norman, who, with 400 men, had stayed out the night. When near them I took Smyth and Butler (E company) and 24 company men, and cleared away some Afghans annoying Norman. Nugent took him food. A few bullets came among us. One of our men fell flat down close to me. I thought he was killed—he only stumbled. We had no one hit, thank God! I suppose we killed some of the enemy.'

Charles' Christmas sermon
Of Christmas Day he writes in his diary:

'Christmas Day and Parade Service. I say: Sorry you have not good fare, but let us remember why we have this feasting, this rejoicing. Because Christ came into the world to save us. Our dinner will do us no good after a day or two, but our Saviour will save us, and make us happy here and hereafter.'

The last day of 1879 found the regiment at Jugdalak, and from here he wrote early in the New Year.

Jugdalak,
3.i.'80.

Here we are, all well. Came at three hours' notice from Pezwan, with four guns Mountain Battery, six companies 45th Sikhs, two companies 51st, and some Sowars. On drawing near, we found Colonel Norman engaged at long range with the enemy, who were trying to get at our baggage in convoy. So, being near camp, we left our baggage and went towards enemy, and fired long shots till baggage was in. We had one officer (R.A.) and one sepoy killed, and two or three others slightly wounded. Heard enemy had ten killed and twelve wounded. He dispersed next day, and all is quiet.'

Jugdalak,
9th Jan., 1880.

'Nugent is at Jugdalak Kotal, about three miles cast of this, with Butler. The other three companies and Headquarters are at Pezwan, and I hope to get Headquarters here, as they should be with me. I was sent with three companies from Jellalabad, Bromaby being on a court-martial. It freezes every night, even in our tents; but that is no worse than you have it, and we have bright sunny days always. We have had no rain and not very much snow, which is especially fortunate for our followers, none of whom have died yet. We are having caves made for those who have no tents. This will make the poor creatures more comfortable. Have given them good clothing, and they get plenty of food. The unhappy camels, ponies, and bullocks die in quantities. Gregson came back from Kabul last evening; I took him to see the Pari Darra, or Fairy Glen, Jugdalak defile; for about ľ mile it is very narrow, with rocks overhanging, but nothing like the Finster Aarlschlucht, between Grimsel and Meiringen. Do you remember it ? He was glad to have been at Kabul during the fighting. Had many meetings, and used to hold service for the 72nd Highlanders, who had no chaplain. He went down east to-day, and resumes his tour for Ceylon, Madras, etc. His wife and family are at Taunton.

'No one in the least knows what we are to do. Everyone in India thinks we should hold this country, but we believe that the General Election will cause us to leave it. I almost expect to be back in India before May. You will know before we do.'

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