Record book of the Scinde irregular horse [ed. by J. Jacob].

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Page 219 - Jacob at once ordered all idea of defensive operations to be abandoned ; every detachY ment was posted in the open plain, without any defensive works whatever ; patrols were sent in every direction in which it was thought an enemy might appear, and these parties crossed and met so often that support was almost certain to be at hand if wanted. The parties were sent to distances of forty miles into and beyond the desert, and along the frontier line.
Page 269 - God-fearing men in my troops," as said old Cromwell, and will govern them by appealing to their higher, not to their basest attributes. Actual crimes can be dealt with by me and my lieutenants as civil magistrates : all else must be left entirely to my discretion. The men should receive ten rupees a month each, and provide their own arms, accoutrements, clothing, &c., &c., just as do the Sind Irregular Horse, under regimental arrangements made and controlled by me. Nothing extra to be furnished by...
Page 188 - I should have considered our proceedings as a failure, had it been necessary to continue to use violent measures. Having by the use of force made ourselves feared and respected, we were able to apply better means, and to appeal to higher motives than fear. This I had in view from the very first.
Page 280 - Walc'it, and the gallantry and determination of the artillerymen under their orders, alone enabled them to kee-p up the fire and to maintain themselves in it. In another battery, yesterday, a shell burst close to the magazine; which in consequence exploded, killing, I am much concerned to say, one man, wounding two most severely, and seven in a less degree. Both the batteries I have mentioned have been repaired and restored to their original condition.
Page 157 - State at all, in any way. Where there was formerly only sufficient brackish water for a squadron of horse, there are now tanks and wells affording an unlimited supply of excellent fresh water. Peace, plenty, and perfect security everywhere prevail in a district where formerly all was terror and disorder on the one hand, or a pathless, silent desert on the other.
Page 157 - But though the proper principles of action were determined on, it was no light task to carry th em into effect : the country was a desert, almost wholly destitute of permanent inhabitants, and a great part of the year without water, — the water naturally in the soil being as salt as that of the sea, while rain was excessively rare, the average fall not amounting to one inch per annum. The difficulties to be overcome were great ; but knowing the excellence of my officers and men, and confident in...
Page 169 - ... safe by reason of the high curve of the flight of the projectile ; and errors in judging of distance become, in proportion, of less serious importance. Judging from our practice at Jacobabad, it seems certain that two good riflemen, so armed, could, in ten minutes, annihilate the best field battery of artillery now existing.
Page 187 - The plea of family blood-feud, or retaliation, in such cases, considered as an aggravating circumstance, as proving the most deliberate malice aforethought. No private person allowed to bear arms, or possess arms, without written permission. The highest moral ground always taken in all dealings with the predatory tribes, treating them always as of an inferior nature so long as they persist in their misdeeds; as mere vulgar, criminal, and disreputable persons, with whom it is a disgrace for respectable...
Page 213 - Meer Nusseer Khan binds himself, his heirs and successors to oppose to the utmost all the enemies of the British Government, in all cases to act in subordinate co-operation...
Page 219 - Horse came on any of the plunderers, it always fell on them at once, charging any number, however superior, without the smallest hesitation. Against such sudden attacks the robber horsemen never attempted a stand ; they always fled at once, frequently sustaining heavy loss in men, and never succeeding in obtaining any plunder. These proceedings, and particularly the tracks, daily renewed, of our parties all over the desert, and at all the watering-places near the hills, far beyond the British border,...

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