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From: "JillGrey" <>
Subject: Cholera at Saugor, 1869 (2)
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 10:54:36 +0100


About a month after writing to his parents that six of his children had
died of cholera, Sergt. Maj.Gowing wrote again, telling them that of
their remaining four children, the two boys had been brought from school
to "fill up the void, or empty chairs" and to be a comfort to their
mother. The two children surviving the epidemic were girls. The second
of the letters from Saugor, dated 20th October 1869, continues .....
----------------------------------------------------
But bad as our case was, there was one in the regiment worse. A whole
family, of father, mother, and eight fine boys and girls, all in a few
days. The mother and children died on the 16th September, and after they
had been interred three days, the poor distracted father bribed the
Native in charge of the cemetery, obtained a pick and shovel, and digged
down to his poor wife to have a kiss. But it was a fatal kiss for him,
and in less than two short hours he was laid beside those he loved so
well. Our men have subscribed and put a nice stone over him, with a
suitable epitaph. I have put up a monument over my dear little ones. I
am happy to inform you that cholera has now entirely left us. Some of
our poor fellows who got over it are nothing but wrecks of humanity, and
will all have to be invalided home. Now that it is all over, I will tell
you a little.

My poor wife hardly ever left the side of the poor women and children
that were dying of it, but stuck to them like a true Briton until she,
poor thing, caught the terrible malady from our little Freddy. And,
further, I never left the men, but did all that lay in my power for
them. I pitched the sergeant-major's coat on one side, tucked up my
shirt sleeves, and rubbed the poor fellows as long as there was a chance
of life.

Poor Corporal Woods died in my arms. I promised him that I would write
to his widowed mother in Norwich. I have his watch ; he wished me to
send it to his mother. I will do so by this post. Go and console the
poor widow.....

The cholera lasted only fourteen days with us, and in that short time we
lost 149 men, 11 women, and 27 children, out of a total strength of
about 340. We have strong detachments out at Nowgong, Putchmuny, and
Jhansie. We had no parades nor drills. What was to be done? Our doctor
asked the colonel to leave me to him. I found it all through as I have
frequently found it before - in Turkey, the Crimea, in Meean-Meer (in
1862) and here - that it is almost impossible to keep the men's spirits
up. They get it into their heads that they are going to die, and die
they will. Others fought against it manfully. Some said they would
sooner face the foe, twenty to one ; but they might have a chance to
sell their lives dearly or to die hard. But here there was an unseen
enemy, with no chance to combat it. Well thank God, it is all over, and
I am still in the land of the living, whole and hearty.

My wife joins with me in love ; she will drop you a line as soon as she
gets a little stronger.....................

And believe me as ever,
Your affectionate Son,
T.GOWING, S.M. R.F.
----------------------------------------------------------
If there is anyone who would like to have further references to Corporal
WOODS from Gowing's letters, please e-mail me.

Jill





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