Baker's report

On 27 September Lt. Baker sent the following despatch to Lt. Col. Turner, detailing action at Suhejnee (Sahejani), near Peroo (Piro), Bhojpur:

Lieutenant C. G. Baker, Commandant of Cavalry, 1st Bengal Police Battalion, to Captain Gordon, Field Adjutant, Lieutenant-Colonel Turner's Field Force.
Camp Munjhaen,
September 27, 1858.

SIR, FOR the information of Lieutenant-Colonel Turner, C.B., Commanding Field Force, I have the honour to report the details of a successful attack by the cavalry detachments under my command, upon the rebel force at Suhejnee, near Peroo, which resulted in the total rout of the enemy, whose loss is estimated at from 80 to 90 killed and many wounded, with but a comparatively small list of casualties on our side.

In compliance with the orders of the officer commanding the field force, the detachments of cavalry noted in the margin [3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry.—Ressaldar 1, Duffadars 3, Trumpeter 1, Troopers 49; Total 54. Under Lieutenant Broughton.—Volunteer doing duty; G. C. Blake, Esq. 1st Bengal Police Cavalry.—Resseldar 1, Jemadars 2, Duffadars 6, Trumpeter I, Troopers 58; Total 63. Under Lieutenant C. G. Baker.—Volunteers doing duty ; Lieutenant and Adjutant Nolan, 2nd Bengal Police Battalion, and George B. Chicken, Esq., Master Indian Navy] marched at about 1 P.M. yesterday, with the view of intercepting the retreat of the rebel force posted in the village of Suhejnee, distant five miles.

On nearing the village above mentioned, I discovered the enemy in possession of it, as well as in occupation of all the neighbouring topes of trees, sugar-cane khets, &c., from which positions a heavy fire was at once opened. An irregular fire at intervals from the adjacent village of Nonar proved that place to be also held by the mutineer force.

Requesting Lieutenant Broughton, with the 3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry, to take up a position to the north-west of Suhejnee, clear of the enemy's fire, which was now very hot, I halted my troop, and despatched a note to Lieutenant Colonel Turner, C.B., reporting the position of the enemy and the very difficult nature of the ground for cavalry to act upon, being a succession of muddy rice khets, intersected by water-courses.

The enemy observing us stationary, and seeing no infantry or guns advancing in support, became bold, threw out skirmishers, and emerging from their cover drew up in line, their right resting on Suhejnee, and their left on the village of Russowlee [Rasauli]. At this moment the rebel force must have mustered from 900 to 1000 strong in infantry, with 50 cavalry.

The enemy advanced. Without exchanging a shot I at once retired slowly, followed up steadily by the rebel line for a hundred yards clear of village or jungle, when suddenly wheeling about my divisions into line with a hearty cheer, we charged into and through the centre of the enemy's line, Lieutenant Broughton with his detachment immediately following up the movement, with excellent effect from his position upon the enemy's left. The rebel right wing, of about 300 men, broke at once, but the centre and left, observing the great labour of the horses in crossing the heavy ground, stood, and, receiving the charge with repeated volleys, were cut down or broke only a few yards ahead of the cavalry. From this moment the pursuit was limited to the strongest and best horses of the force, numbering some 60 of all ranks, who, dashing into and swimming a deep and wide nullah, followed the flying enemy through the village of Russowlee and its sugarcane khets, over two miles of swamp, and five hundred yards into the thick jungles near Peroo, when, both men and horses being completely exhausted, I sounded the halt and assembly, and, collecting my wounded returned to Camp at Munjhaen about 6 P.M. ^[8]

Further Information

Only one man under Lt. Baker's command was killed during this action and 17 wounded^[9] including George Bell Chicken, a civilian Master Mariner who was serving as a volunteer with the Naval Brigade.

When the report of Lt. Baker's actions reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India (General Campbell) he directed his Adjutant-General to write the following to the Governor-General, Lord Canning:

"I have the honour to request, on the part of his lordship, that you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right Honourable the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit performed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium, on account both of conception and execution. His lordship is of opinion that the Victoria Cross should be awarded to Lieutenant Baker, and to Mr. Chicken, of the Indian Navy, and he will take immediate measures for the execution of his intention in this respect."^[10]

Date of action

In the despatch sent by Lieutenant Baker to his superiors, the action is stated as taking place on 26 September 1858. The date noted in reports from his commanders, and the date noted in the London Gazette however, is 27 September 1858. The reason for this discrepancy is not known.