REMINISCENCES

OF THE

GREAT MUTINY

1857-59

INCLUDING THE RELIEF, SIEGE, AND CAPTURE OF
LUCKNOW, AND THE CAMPAIGNS IN
ROHILCUND AND OUDE

BY

WILLIAM FORBES-MITCHELL

LATE SERGEANT, NINETY-THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON
1910

First Edition (Extra Crown 8vo) 1893. Reprinted 1894
Reprinted (Crown 8vo) 1895, 1897, 1904
Shilling Edition 1910

To the

OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN,

STILL LIVING,

OF THE OLD NINETY-THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS,

AND TO THE MEMORY OF

THOSE WHO FELL DURING THE MUTINY

OR HAVE SINCE PASSED AWAY,

These Reminiscences

ARE RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

BY THEIR OLD SERVANT AND COMRADE,

WILLIAM FORBES-MITCHELL,
LATE NINETY-THIRD SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.

CALCUTTA, April, 1893.

[Pg vii]

INTRODUCTION

These Reminiscences are submitted to the public in the trust that theywill be welcomed alike by soldier and civilian. They are recorded by onewho was himself an actor in the scenes which he describes, and whoviewed them from a novel and most unusual position for a militaryhistorian—the ranks.

They have been carefully perused by an officer who was present at manyof the operations mentioned; and considerable pains have been taken toverify, wherever possible, those incidents of which he was notpersonally cognisant.

The interest of Mr. Forbes-Mitchell's straightforward and soldierlikestory is enhanced by the coincidence that he takes up the pen where LadyInglis laid it down; and it is hoped that this volume may prove anacceptable continuation of her touching [Pg viii]narrative of the Defence ofLucknow, and that, as a record of the Great Mutiny, it may furnishanother thrilling chapter in that unparalleled story of suffering and ofheroism,—of man's bravery and of woman's devotion.

[Pg ix]

CONTENTS