With Kelly to Chitral | Page 2

at my coming up.
At first, the result seemed to bear him out, as within two months he was
on the war-path in Waziristan, while I was still kicking my heels at
Bunji; but luck changed later, and I laughed last.
Well, to continue, my official reason for coming to Gilgit being the
Intelligence Branch, I was ordered up to Chitral early in November for
some survey work, and thus obtained the knowledge of the route and
country that was to stand me in such good stead later on. I finished my
work in Chitral in ten days, starting back for Gilgit on the 1st
December, arriving there on the 19th. I spent Christmas in Gilgit, and
started on the 2nd January 1895 for Hunza, where I expected to remain
for the rest of the winter.
News of the murder of Nizam-ul-mulk, Mehter of Chitral, reached
Gilgit on the 7th January, and Dr. Robertson, Political Agent at Gilgit,
at once made preparations for a visit to Chitral.
Captain Townshend, who was at Gupis with Gough of the 2nd Gurkhas,
received orders to march with two hundred and fifty rifles of the 4th
Kashmir Infantry. The first detachment started under Gough, the
second following under Townshend The British Agent, Captain
Campbell, and Surgeon Captain Whitchurch, joined the second party at
Ghizr, and they all crossed the pass together. At Mastuj they picked up
the remainder of the 14th Sikhs, under Harley, who had not gone down
to Gurdon at Chitral, and then started for Chitral, arriving there on the
31st January. Lieutenant Moberly went from Gilgit with a detachment
of the 4th Kashmir Infantry and took command of Mastuj. Gough
returning to Ghizr, Baird took over command of Gupis, which was
garrisoned by the 6th Kashmir Infantry, and I was brought down from
Hunza to take over Baird's billet as staff officer. Shortly after, Fowler,
R.E., was ordered to Chitral with his Bengal Sappers, and Edwardes,
2nd Bombay Infantry, to the same place, to take command of the
Hunza Nagar Levies, which were now called out. Baird was next
ordered up to Chitral and relieved by Stewart, R.A. On 21st February,

Ross and Jones and the detachment of 14th Sikhs left Gilgit en route
for Mastuj. The Hunza and Nagar Levies came in to Gilgit on the 7th
March. I issued Snider carbines and twenty rounds ammunition to each
man, and they left the next day. These Levies were splendid men, hardy,
thick-set mountaineers, incapable of fatigue; and, as a distinguishing
badge, each man was provided with a strip of red cloth which they
wore in their caps, but which, we afterwards found by practical
experience at Nisa Gol, was inadequate.
[Illustration: Nizam-ul-Mulk, Mehter of Chitral.]
As news from Chitral had ceased for some days, Captain Stewart,
Assistant British Agent in Gilgit, determined to call up the 32nd
Pioneers, who were working on the Chilas road, so as to be ready for an
advance in case any forward movement was necessary. In consequence
of this order, Colonel Kelly marched into Gilgit on the 20th March with
two hundred men, Borradaile following on the 22nd with a like party.
On the 21st we heard from Mastuj that Ross's party of 14th Sikhs had
been cut up, Ross himself and some forty-six Sepoys being killed,
Jones and fourteen men alone managing to cut their way back; he and
nine of the survivors being wounded. There was no news of Edwardes
and Fowler. This news upset the apple-cart, and telegrams began to fly
around, with the result that Colonel Kelly was put in command of the
troops in the Gilgit district, with full civil powers on his line of
operations. This telegram arrived on the evening of the 22nd. The day
before, Colonel Kelly had offered me the position of staff officer to the
force, and I naturally jumped at the chance. Dew of the Guides, who
was on the sick-list, was sufficiently well to take over my work, so
there was no difficulty on that score; and as I had long had my kit ready
for any emergency, I merely bundled my remaining possessions into
boxes, which I locked up and left to look after themselves till my
return.
Here I may as well describe what the force consisted of. First, there
were four hundred men of the 32nd Pioneers, commanded by
Borradaile, Colonel Kelly having taken command of the column. Bar
these two, we were all subalterns. Peterson was the senior, and

commanded the second detachment, as we were marching to Ghizr in
two parties. Then there was Bethune the adjutant, and Cobbe, and
Browning-Smith the doctor--these were all 32nd Pioneers. Captain de
Vismes, 10th Bombay Infantry, came along with us as far as Gupis,
where he relieved Stewart, R.A., who, of course, was