| Sikh Pioneers - The Sikh Pioneers at Delhi | | | Three or four times also the Pioneers sent detachments for some miles up the Ganges Canal destroying bridges over which the enemies' Horse used to scamper to attack our convoys from the north, or for the important purpose of relieving jams in the timber that was being floated down for the use of the engineers. One of the principal duties of both Sappers and Pioneers, during this period of waiting for reinforcements and siege train, was the preparation of siege stores, especially gabions and fascines for the siege batteries that would soon be required. This work required large quantities of brushwood, which had to be cut and brought in from far outside the outpost line on the further bank of the Canal, and it was the Pioneers who could guard themselves and their camels, and to whom the work was largely entrusted. The Mutineers, knowing well what was in progress, always had their skirmishers, and at times guns, out to interrupt the work. The Pioneers though often suffering casualties prided themselves on never losing a camel.
The "Punjab Sappers" were thus fully justifying the confidence of those who had started them, but Sir John Lawrence at first would not agree to this experiment of turning criminally-inclined folk into soldiers being extended beyond the three companies of the first raising. "Let them first justify themselves" was his not unwise comment. That justification, however, came so soon and from such good sources, that in a few weeks he sanctioned two more companies being raised at Lahore and Amritsar, under Ensign Gustavinski, a Russian Pole, who was an extra engineer in the Public Works and popular among the young engineer officers, to whom a temporary commission was in the first instance given.
Gustavinki was used to the Mazhbis, and he brought his two companies down towards the end of August in time for the final stages of the siege. But already the name of Mazhbi was in high praise, while more and more were the services of disciplined labour needed, and shortly after the starting of the 4th and 5th Companies it was decided to have six more. Lieut. Home, Bengal Engineers, who had started the first party at Mahdopore, was ordered to raise the 6th and 7th Companies, and take them to Delhi by the earliest possible date. In two days' time, so eager were the men, the companies were ready and started forthwith by forced marches for the siege, arriving about the same time as Gustavinski on the 20th of August. Home* himself was badly needed at Delhi to take command of the corps, as Gulliver's health had given way, and with his two new companies he was a more than ever welcome new arrival. His and Gustavinski's contingents brought the number of companies to the respectable total of seven.
*Lieut. Home was a very experienced officer of some eleven years' service, and had been with the Engineers at the siege of Mooltan and the "Crowning Victory" of Goojerat. |
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