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My dear Auntie and Uncle: It is with pleasure that I take the present opportunity of addressing these few lines to you, hoping they will find you in good health; I am sorry to inform you that I have suffered, and have had a severe accident happened to me since I last wrote to you, it is as follows:- I think I informed you in my last letter, the rebels were fast returning to the jungle, we left them continuing to do so, for the weather was rather wet, we did not prevent them, but still kept on alert, and other forces being ordered from different stations to meet us at Arrah as soon as the weather settled; the whole under different commanders took up their posts at different points, until we had them properly surrounded.
The force from Dinapore was HM`s 35th, with the Madras Artillery; the Madras Artillery party refused to go to Dinapore with the 35th, they wanted the 10th Regiment - the men that fought with them and kept and saved their guns in the jungle before - but the 10th Foot were not allowed to go, because the gentry and the inhabitants of Dinapore wrote a petition to the Commander in Chief and the Governor General to have the 10th Foot left in Dinapore, and their request was granted; the 35th Foot and 6 guns, Madras Artillery, were to proceed to Arrah; Sir H. Havelock being in Dinapore, and a great favourite with the staff in India, he wrote to have the cavalry of the 10th go with him into the jungle, which request was granted, they being at the time about 45 sabres he wanted them up to 100 or 150, he sent round the Regiment for volunteers, which made our little force up to 130 sabres.
I was one that volunteered, but have regretted since, as I had to pay very dear for it, by the loss of my left eye, which I will now tell you how it happened: the 35 men that volunteered were mounted and drilled, and in a few days, and in few days were able to manage a horse almost as well as those that were at it twelve months previous; on the 8th of October the troop of the military train joined us, and the 10th of the same month, we left Dinapore en route for Arrah, to join the Brigade under Brigadier Douglas, our two flank companies being at Arrah at the time they joined the same Brigade, but were under different commanders, the cavalry being under Sir H. Havelock, and the two companies under Col. Walters, HM`s 35th Foot with four companies, two battalions and 80th Rifles, this force was for Judispore, with two guns, Madras Artillery, the 35th Foot, with one squadron military train, two more guns more of the same battery went into the town to prevent their crossing the river, the 84th were on the other side with another squadron and two more guns, this was our Brigade.
On the 14th we marched from Arrah, and on the following day the rebels attacked us near Judispore, we were then formed up and walked into them in proper style, and soon made them do as they always did, that is, run away; we still followed them up and drove them into the jungle. The day following we attacked them at the huntinghouse, they showed fight for short time and then made an attempt to cross the river, but were stopped by some of the other forces, so they came back again towards us and we met at a large village called Piaro, we there gave them it to our liking, they then beat a retreat, and we followed them up, but night coming on we halted, and on the next day marched 24 miles after them, but nothing occurred that day; on the following we came acrosssome of them with two guns, but on them seeing us they retreated, and we after them. On this occasion I was four days with nothing to eat except the provision we had for our horses, but we followed them up, took their two guns and returned to Piaro, where we rested 3 or 4 days, as both men and horse needed it much.
We then advanced to a stronghold of theirs, called Jusseserain, where we had them properly surrounded, but still by some means they escaped, we set fire to the place, (it was here I lost my eye) they were in the village about 1500 or 2000, we were ordered to charge it, and we went through thick and thin, showed no quarter to any, the village being in flames we fled from it, but on returning there was a mine sprung, which blew two of my comrades up, and at the same time a spark or something from the mine caught my face, singed in, my eye, and the hair off my head, at the same time burning my eye , causing great pain, this is how I think I lost my eye, but thank God I have not lost my life like the two fellows. As soon as our men saw treachery, they rushed upon them, and would spare none, we took 200 prisoners, and as near as we can tell about 750 were killed and wounded, our loss being 2 cavalry, 1 artillery and 8 infantry killed.
The following day I was sent to the hospital, as I could not get proper treatment there I was sent to Dinapore, there the doctor told me my eye was too far gone for him to do anything for me, but he did all he could, in two or three days it burst and I lost it completely, but cannot be helped now, better the lose my eye than my life. I thankful to tell you our Regiment is broken up, and we have been in Dinapore spending Christmas. By the time you receive this, I hope to be on the sea with a fair wind and sailing at 15 knots an hour for Old England.
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