CHAPTER II.
From Calcutta the Corps, having been ferried across the river Hūghly to Howrāh, was conveyed by railway in a few hours to Raneegung, over the first stage on its onward journey.
Raneegung — then the terminus of the East Indian Railway — was at that period a great rendezvous of the army proceeding to the seat of the war, and warlike preparations on a formidable scale were going on there with amazing rapidity. Masses of troops, horses for cavalry and artillery, baggage animals, immense parks of guns, magazine and commissariat stores, countless dolies or hospital litters, camp equipage and innumerable busy followers, demonstrated the unrelenting realities and stern agitation of the times.
But all this bustle and chaos did not trouble us long; for before we could realise — by the warlike scenes around us — our sudden transformation from civilians to soldiers, we were “told off,” to join a force proceeding to the North-West Provinces.
At midnight therefore we stood to arms in readiness to march. In front of all were to move several companies of European infantry, having a troop of horse-artillery in immediate communication with them:
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