Chapter 6: The Telegraph Line

Read chapters sequentially. 1-5 and afterwards 6. Click on photographs to enlarge them.

General Pettygree's relief column continues its march from Fort Grant to Tranjapour. The most forward unit is 1st Troop 1/9th. Bengal Lancers acting as a screen. They are followed in turn by 2nd. Troop 1/9th Bengal Lancers, two troops of 2/9th Bengal Lancers, three companies of the 1st. Sikh Infantry Battalion, 1/1 Mountain Battery and the supply element. The vedette has entered the area of forest you see below.
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#79 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The next day 1st. Troop 1/9th Bengal Lancers scouts the road to Tranjapour. They follow the telegraph line from Fort Grant. The rest of the squadron is just to the rear (not shown) followed by "The Relief Column" commanded by General Pettygree.
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#80 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The vedette screen continues forward along the road and telegraph line. Fortunately this morning's telegraph from Tranjapour revealed the Tugs had not arrived there yet placing them even farther from us here. Tranjapour is still a day's march away from where we are. Therefore, no trouble is expected by the 9th Bengal Lancers. All is quiet --- and all is well.
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#81 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. ---------- KahBOOOOM!!!!! ---------- "Vedette HALT!"
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#82 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Smoke rises from an explosion as a telegraph pole falls.
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#83 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The near pole continues to fall and the next in line topples too. The lancers move to cover.
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#84 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. "To the rear, at the GALLOP!" The vedette commander has decided to ride back to his support, the rest of the squadron.
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#85 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Smoke from the explosion rises and dissipates as the lancers ride back to friends whilst an unseen and cunning foe cheers.
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#86 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Later first troop dismounted, formed a skirmish line and moved forward. One lancer fired his carbine at movement in the forest. Was it the foe? Second troop remains mounted to the rear in support. Just beyond the far trees are the 2/9th Bengal Lancers and "The Relief Column" pounding up the road.
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#87 The Telegraph Line
17 Sept. 1898/2008. Dismounted lancers continue their work but the foe has cut communication to Tranjapour and "The Relief Column" has slowed to clear the way there. Will General Pettygree arrive at Tranjapour in time? Will the defenders hold out? ---------- Dismounted soldiers are Old Glory 25mms. Mounted lancers are Peter Gilder 28mm Connoisseur Miniatures, officer with binoculars is 25mm Hinchliffe and telegraph poles are Berkshire Valley O Gauge model railroad telephone poles.
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Chapter 5: The Relief Column

Read chapters sequentially. #1 first, #2 second, #3 third, #4 fourth and #5 afterwards, if you please. Click on photographs to enlarge them.

At the end of Chapter 3, you witnessed the 10th Hussars returning to Tranjapour from reconnoitering The Khyber Pass. The last image showed Major Trevelyan about to hand deliver new orders just arrived by telegraph from Fort Grant to Lt. Col. Preece. Later that evening we observe three officers conversing about those orders.



#57 The Relief Column
15 September 1898/2008. That night in Tranjapour there is heated talk. Khambatta, "No Sahib Bartlett! It is madness to stay here to await the Tugs." Bartlett, "My dear fellow, we thwarted them on the 8th and 9th and now with your infantry, we are stronger than a week ago." Dr. Watson, "I think Gen. Pettygree's orders, 'Hold until relieved. We are coming," are reasonable." Khambatta, “The 1st Sikhs will do our duty, but staying here is madness. The Tugs are a nemesis back from the dead!”
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#58 The Relief Column
15 September 1898/2008. In the next room Captain Sachs, 2/10th Hussars, overheard the conversation and rises saying, "I say, Subedar-Major Khambatta, with respect, it can't be as bad as all that. An' ol' Pettygree, the General I mean, will be 'ere with The Column before you know it."
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#59 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. General William Augustus Pettygree on parade within Fort Grant. 2nd Sikhs are drilling behind him. The General rides his trusty stallion, Express, "E" for short. Do you see the old bullet wound in his left flank? He received that battle honour long ago whilst taking his rider to safety in the Soudan.
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#60 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The General turns to observe the departure of The Tranjapour Relief Column. The 9th Bengal Lancers lead. Two of the four squadrons will remain at Fort Grant for eventualities.
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#61 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The 9th Bengal Lancers pass in review.
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#62 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The 9th's most senior squadron commander, Captain Paget, salutes General Pettygree. In a moment the regiment will sortie out the Main Gate.
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#63 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Within Fort Grant 1/9th Bengal Lancers trot toward the Main Gate.
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#64 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The procession continues as 2/9th Bengal Lancers appear. Squadrons 3 and 4 (unseen) remain behind for local duties. General Pettygree (center) appears content with what he sees.
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#65 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The procession of lancers continues under the watchful gaze of the General.
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#66 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. On the left Lt. Col. Sir Reginald Savory appears. He is the commanding officer of 1/Sikhs who are right behind him. In the background you can see a portion of the 2/Sikhs remaining behind. The Petrus Victory Column was raised by Brigadier Young some years before.
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#67 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. 1/Sikh infantry march into view. They are in earnest to reinforce a detachment of their comrades commanded by senior Captain Khambatta at Tranjapour. Sir Reginald salutes General Pettygree.
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#68 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. A second company of 1/Sikhs marches into view.
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#69 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Now appears a detachment of the 1st Mountain Battery, a 7 Pdr. gun disassembled on mules.
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#70 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. More of the battery comes into view obscured from sunlight by thick scudding clouds above.
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#71 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. A third company of 1/Sikhs guards the rear of the battery.
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#72 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Supply animals are essential to keep The Relief Column fed and supplied with extra ammunition. Wheeled transport is being left behind allowing for faster march speed.
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#73 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. More of the supply contingent appears including water carriers. The last one is Gunga Din. I say, whose face is just appearing leftmost in the photograph?
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#74 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. It's Annie! She is the Indian elephant so beloved by the garrison. Sometimes allowed to wander about, she has decided to go with The Column!
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#75 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. "Ohhhh' Annie!"
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#76 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Annie is turned aside by her handler as the last of The Column exits The Main Gate. Notice two 2.5" screw guns and one 7 pdr. adjacent to the flag pole. These are remaining behind. Rightmost you see Gunga Din and General Pettygree are the last to leave Fort Grant. In a moment the General will gallop to the center of The Column in service to Queen and Country.
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#77 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008.
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#78 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The Relief Column stretches out into the distance. Their destination is Tranjapour. Will they arrive in time to relieve the 10th Hussars and the detachment of 1/Sikhs before, during or after the Tugs arrival there? Indeed will the Tugs even attack?

We shall see. Come back for Chapter 6 in three weeks time to find out. Fortunately the telegraph seen to the left can be tapped into to keep General Pettygree informed of the situation there. However, you must wait until next time.
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Chapter 4: Nemesis

Read chapters sequentially. #1 first, #2 second, #3 third and #4 afterwards, if you please.

We must now temporarily leave the busy activities at Tranjapour, anticipations of the men there, thoughts of those approaching and our own contemplations regarding General Pettygree's next orders. In so doing, I ask you to turn your thoughts backward in time from the 15th to the 4th of September 1898/2008. As we do this, our imaginations leave terrain south of The Khyber Pass, which you now know so well, to parts north of it, to an unknown land hidden from eyes of most of the world.

You are about to enter a lofty area enclosed within an oval of high mountains. The only entrance was blocked by earthquakes of shocking magnitudes before the memory of men. Legend told of its existence. Reason and faded memories say it never did. Knowledge of it was guarded and harshly protected.

Here we find an unlikely mixture of desert and pine forests and some surprises you will see later. Twenty years before a few of the men you are about to witness sought asylum here to build a new homeland. It became a refuge for an old Nemesis to Imperial authority thought destroyed. No, not destroyed. It retreated here to restore and rebuild itself and the cause.

Welcome, but have a care. Watch from behind high boulders above and make your presence not known. No one outside the valley knows what you about to see. I do hope you make it back to Fort Grant alive. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to enter The Hidden Valley of Surajistan.




#44 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008. Tug force departs. Orders: Remove Imperials at Tranjapour and cut the telegraph wire to Fort Grant. Do distant storm clouds metaphorically reveal something?
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#45 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008.
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#46 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008.
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#47 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008.
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#48 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008.
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#49 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008.
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#50 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008. Tug attack force turns right to The Khyber Pass.
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#51 Nemesis
4 Sept. 1898/2008. Supreme Leader Muljadhi flanked by his General and Guru.
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We advance our clock three days to the 7th....

#52 Nemesis
7 September 1898/2008. Encamped at Khyber Pass exit before battle on the 8th. tomorrow. See Chapter 2 for The Battle of Japura Singh.
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We advance our clock further, this time eight days forward to the 15th....




#53 Nemesis
15 Sept. 1898/2008. We are back to where we left off at the end of Chapter 3. Tugs advance on Tranjapour in the forest. That's KHAN on horseback encouraging his warriors forward past the Spring of Gupta Dagmar.
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#54 Nemesis
15 Sept. 1898/2008. Tugs pass through the position where the 2nd. Sq. 10th Hussars were screening the foe not long ago.
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#55 Nemesis
15 Sept. 1898/2008. Tug infantry floods the forest en-route to Tranjapour.
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#56 Nemesis
16 Sept. 1898/2008. We return to where we left off in Chapter 3, Photo #43. Tranjapour is one day's march from here.


What contemplations do you have dear readers and viewers? What will new orders from General Pettygree demand? What of KHAN's attack force now so very close to Tranjapour? Indeed what will be the fate of the garrison of Tranjapour? Will works be built fast enough or not? Permit me to ask you to return in two weeks time to find out. Meanwhile, what do you think?
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Chapter 3: Back To Tranjapour

Read chapters sequentially. #1 first, #2 second and #3 third, if you please.



#29 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. The next morning. Here they come again. This time everyone has a rifle or jezail. If they get close, the 10th will suffer badly.
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#30 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. The defenders of the retrenchment appear numerically smaller than yesterday. Lt. Col. Preece (mounted) observes Captain Sachs of 2nd Squadron give fire.
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#31 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. It's a ruse de l'guerre. 2nd Squadron's orders were to pretend to seriously defend the wall. The real intent was to get the enemy to commit and then engulf the wall in flame. You see the fire moments after ignition. The Tugs dare not try to breach the conflagration! Lt. Col. Preece hopes his tactic will slow the enemy in whatever is his mission. He and Captain Sachs take one last look. The rest are mounting up to the left of the pines.
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#32 Back To Tranjapour
9 September 1898/2008. Moments later 2nd Squadron mounted up, rode to the redoubt, fired it and cantered away into the distance. The enemy is no doubt discombobulated -for a day. What will they do? Meanwhile Major Trevelyan and 1st Squadron (unseen) left much earlier this morning with the wounded for Tranjapour.
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#33 Back To Tranjapour
11 September 1898/2008. The fire of the 9th burned itself out within a few hours. The Tug leader used the rest of the 9th and the 10th to reorganize and decide what to do. His decision? PURSUIT! Here you see horsemen screening a horde of infantry. They follow the path of the 10th Hussars.
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#34 Back To Tranjapour
12 September 1898/2008. Pursuit continues.
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#35 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. The Tug Army forms circles, builds fires and encamps for the day to rest men and horses. Pursuit resumes on the morrow. Tenacious, aren't they?
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#36 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Meanwhile at the Spring of Gupta Dagmar, 2nd Squadron, 10th Hussars observes the enemy camp. A great distance separates them but it is unmistakable that the foe is following. If the reader will recall from Chapter 1, supplies should run out today. However, Captain Sachs has drawn fresh water from the spring and has supplemented his dwindling foodstuffs with a decent catch of mountain fish to fill the men’s bellies for several days more.
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#37 Back To Tranjapour
12 Sept. 1898/2008. Last evening Sgt. Bourne riding ahead of 1st Squadron handed this message to Cpt. Khambatta, commanding at Tranjapour from Major Trevelyan. "Wire Gen. Pettygree, Fort Grant. 10th Hussars camped Japura Singh the 4th. Vedette met enemy the 6th. Works built the 7th. Enemy attack repulsed the 8th. Identity: Tugs. Rear guard by 2nd Sq. the 9th. 1st Sq. arrives Tranjapour the 13th with wounded. Lt. Col. and 2nd Sq. at Gupta Dagmar to observe if foe pursues. No word from 2nd Sq. since the 9th. Maj. Trevelyan with 1st Sq."
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#38 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Major Trevelyan and 1st. Squadron, 10th Hussars, return to Tranjapour. 1st. Sikhs present arms. Rose has returned as well.
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#39 Back To Tranjapour
13 September 1898/2008. Dr. Watson stands by as the travois with Pvt. Thornton approaches. He will later learn that of the five casualties sustained at the Battle of Japura Singh, one man died, three recovered en-route to Tranjapour and one, Thornton, remains in need of more care.
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#40 Back To Tranjapour
15 Sept.1898/2008. Two days later news arrived via 2nd Sq. couriers. Sgt. Davies reports to Maj. Trevelyan and Cpt. Khambatta. “Zur, Colonel’s compliments and he reports the Tugs are comin’, eighty or more. Mostly foot and some horse. The last we saw ‘em, they was camped beyond Gupta Dagmar. The Colonel orders works to defend Tranjapour, to report all to Fort Grant and request new orders. 2nd Squadron should arrive tomorrow.” Trevelyan, “Captain, telegraph this news to Fort Grant at once.”
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#41 Back To Tranjapour
16 Sept.1898/2008. The next day 2nd. Squadron arrives at an outpost just north of Tranjapour. Nearby men of the 1st. Sikh Detachment present arms. Their orders were to watch for the 2nd. Squadron and the foe.
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#42 Back To Tranjapour
16 Sept.1898/2008. Later that day 2nd. Squadron arrives at Tranjapour. The village is a beehive of activity. Sandbags are being filled to construct works as the two senior officers ride toward each other. Major Trevelyan (left of the sandbag wall under construction) has just received new orders by telegraph from General Pettygree back at Fort Grant. What would your orders be, dear reader?
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#43 Back To Tranjapour
16 September 1898/2008. Meanwhile oncoming and hidden within the shadows of the forest....
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