'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎477] (496/622)

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HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY.
477
that wonderful men had come with guns which let themselves
off, and I really believe they imagine our guns do sentry duty."
Writing two days later from the same camp, Lieutenant
Windus says :—" If the reinforcement comes up as you seem to
think probable, carriage being easy at this time of year, I
should recommend them bringing up about ten thousand rounds
of Enfield rifle ammunition, and most particularly it will be a
good opportunity to send up the proper trail carriages for the
two police guns, also two spare axletrees and four wheels.
By the bye, you will think I forgot to send you my road Re
port from Midnapore. I drew it out long ago, and you can
have it whenever you please, but as it covers several sheets of
foolscap, I did not send it. I made a draft of it for Captain
Birch, with extra remarks on the roads, when required, from
which he took the heads and sent in to Government with his
Report. I really think that with all the arduous work we are
now constantly engaged in, our officers and men are entitled to
have their names sent in for the war medal. # We are, and
shall be, constantly employed driving out hordes of these rebels,
but reports cannot be made of every trivial skirmish in the
light of an engagement, though the work is excessive. 1 drove
out a whole nest of these rebels yesterday, marching twenty-
five miles to effect it, and am very much knocked up to-day
with rheumatism from lying in a nullah. I think the real
nature of our services will be seen by and by." Again he writes
from the same camp on the 2nd of December:—"Captain
Birch has just come back and joined me again. We hear my
Expedition into the hills the other day caused great consterna-
# tion among the rebels. We are to be attacked by a large force
to-morrow or next day, they say." On the 15th of December,
he writes from the same camp in the jungles :—" I am deeply
concerned at having so soon to report again two more deaths in
my little force. They were two of my old hands, who have been
with me since leaving Fort W T illiam. I will settle the deceased
estates as soon as possible. This fever is going the rounds, and
I have now about twenty-five in hospital; I have done every
thing possible with regard to hospital accommodation and
medical treatment, and must abide the result, but it is very
unfortunate occurring just at the time when we shall want
every man we have, and not be strong enough then for the work
cut out for us. I am preparing a party of fifteen men, under
Mr. Wiljiams, and one gun, to proceed with Captain Birch and
one hundred Coles, into the jungles, with one month's pro
visions. He is going with this party to be in readiness to com
mence operations on the 1st of January. A larger number of
our men would go, only there is such difficulty in carriage, as
* This Detachment, with the others actually engaged with the rebels, received
the war medal.
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