Head-Quarters, Camp, Agra, Dec. 2, 182' The Army now assembling for Service on the Agra and Muttra Frontier, being about to advance, His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief requests, that Officers commanding Regiments will impress upon their Officers, amp;c. the imperious necessity which exists, for each individual reducing the number of his servants to the lowest scale, and taking the Field as little encumbered with Baggage as possible; and desires that they will use their utmost endeavours to prevent superfluous individuals following the Bazaars of their respective Corps. All superfluous Baggage will be left at Muttra and Agra respectively, in the first instance, by Divisions, on advancing.
The March about to commence being through the Territory of an Ally of the British Government, and not that of an enemy, His Excellency prohibits in the strictest manner, all marauding or plundering; and desires that Officers commanding Divisions and Brigades will cause it to be three times proclaimed to their respective Corps, that the Provost-Marshal has received peremptory orders to seize, and inflict summary punishment of Death, on any individual or individuals caught in the act of plundering. In thus publicly promulgating the decided measures to be resorted to in support of discipline, His Excellency feels assured, from the correct habits of the European and Native Troops under his command, that, as far as they are concerned, the warning above given is unnecessary; but as the followers of Bazaars of Corps might avail themselves of opportunities to plunder the inhabitants of the country and others, the Commander-in-Chief deems it necessary to promulgate thus publicly the retribution which will await such conduct. It was a handsome confidence, thought Hervey, if ill-disguised in its attempt to avoid besmirching the soldiers of the Line. It could scarcely be otherwise, this latter, though. His own troop he might vouch for, the NCOs certainly, but the arousal of baser instincts was something he had seen all too often to be so sure he would not see the same again, for there was nothing saintly about the men of E Troop. Better to tell them straight, perhaps with the excuse that one man might lose his wits in the noise of battle, and that Hervey's warning to him now might thereby save him his neck.
He read through half a dozen more routine orders and calls for returns, alternately relishing his independent command and ruing it, depending on the requirements of the paper. Just as he was nearing the end, a despatch rider from the Cavalry Staff Corps rode into the lines. Hervey watched keenly as the red-jacketed dragoon reported to the regimental orderly tent, whence the corporal of the day emerged at once to bring him to Hervey's.
Hervey was obliged to sign a receipt for the contents of the staff dragoon's sabretache. 'More, evidently, than just a call for returns,' he said as he did so.
'Sir,' replied the man, giving nothing away, though he hoped it was indeed more than a routine despatch. He had just risked his neck in a gallop from Lord Combermere's headquarters, and he would prefer to return there with something more than a list.
The corporal of the day watched and listened keenly for any indication of what the despatch contained. His standing in the canteen would be raised immeasurably if he brought news in advance of actual orders.
Hervey took the despatch, broke the headquarters seal and read quickly, but silently: