Rajamundry HG 2

July 1839

1842

25 July 1842, Chinkeangfoo, 30 miles from Nankin – Engaging the Battle of Chinkiang The letter provides a detailed update of the fighting: “…… I should think that of 2,600 Tartars, 1,000 escaped, the rest are lying about in a disgusting state, putrid corpses half roasted – The River Yangtse (as we learned river all the Yangtszekiang is certainly the finest in the world! Such glorious scenery, breadth and depth. My friend Collinson is just come down from Nankin and I believe we go in 4 days – The water is deep enough for the line of battle ships far above Nankin and I shall go in one of the light steamers and see how far up the reiver it is possible to go – I really expect to go 500 miles above Nankin! The General is ill so there is a chance for Lord Salton – We understand that at Nankin there is to be no stupid rushing on and escalade but a proper artillery attack, shell the rascals for a day or two and march in column through two wide breaches. I hope so, for it is dreadful to see guns so utterly thrown away as ours were the other day, with the exception of my own none were of the least use, yet if Sir Hugh would have used his guns, he would have saved 100 men. The weather is fearfully hot, fully worse than India! The town of Chinkeang is a very large one and we are to leave the 55th Queens, and two Sepoy Regiments in garrison with some guns. They will have a disgusting job, if

1842

5 March 1842, Ningpo; Engaging the Battle of Ningpo The postscript of the letter describes the fighting of the batter in Ningpo: “……The operation this year will be carried on in the central provinces, unless an order compels Sir Hugh (Gough) to move upon Pekin and large reinforcement join us. About 40 miles from us is a force of about 20,000 Chinese but we know that they do not mean fight, and it is hopeless to get them to stand their ground. They are fortifying themselves with all their might. I believe the most likely thing to happen is that in about 6 weeks or 2 months, we shall take Chapoo, the town on the North side of the Hangchoo for Estuary, and at the same time advance by land, drive the Chinese from their position at Tsouno-O and get to the river bank opposite Hangchoofoo, collect boats and force the papage …… If the Emperor does not yield when we are on the main artery of the country, it is hoped by all that we shall set up a sovereign over Sothern China, with the Yangtse(kiang) for a boundary, and that toll upon the corn trade to the capital for ever ……” On the top of the address panel, it indicates “China Expedition Letter – Free”. According to the India Post Master General, who issued a notification in the Calcutta Gazette dated 22 April 1840, the officer mails from China Expedition will be free of charge. However, it is strange that incoming ship postage in India was actually taken despite the government order and subsequent post office notification. The sender endorsed the letter “China Expedition letter Free” but it was ignored!

1842

May 1842, Chapu; Engaging the Battle of Chapu The postscript of the letter reads: “…… We could not get up with our infantry so as usual were of little use, though I tried my best and when the column scaled the city wall we went up with our drag ropes and fairly lifted the guns, 5 of them – over the wall (which was not as high as Ben Nevis) – The brunt of the business fell to the Royal Irish, whose Colonel was killed …… We have been very hard at work as usual after a battle, in hurting the enemy’s guns and destroying their arsenals, and I fear another valuable fortnight will be wasted before we go on to Woosung and Shanghae …… I had fully intended it – I really think the noble reinforcements we are now getting might get to Pekin and that there is a chance of getting to India again by about February or March next ……

1842

1842 (Jan) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Ningpo to Madras, but crossed-out and forwarded to Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel but handwritten “China Expedition Letter free”. On the flap with rectangular boxed Madras Ship Letter cachet with handwritten postage of 9 Annas and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 2 / May / 1842).The writer wrote down his speculation on the battle in Peking and Tientsin in the letter and believed that “if the reinforcements arrive as strong as we expect at Pekin, in about August. This I hope will end the war.” However, the writer also expressed his worry that “A winter at Pekin would be frightfully severe” while “winter at Ningpo has been frightfully as bad as any I saw in England. Canals and ponds frozen for a month together. We are gradually destroying the town without intending it, but the houses are such handy firewood.” An interesting text on the weather issue during the war. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.

1842

The Battle of Chapu : 1842 (May 22) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Chapu to his cousin in Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel. On the flap with boxed “AM” postmark, rectangular GPO transit (1841 Aug 27), boxed Madras Ship Letter transit and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 31 May 1842) . The writer documented the Battle of Chapu in which the writer, an artillery commander, underwent a difficult fight, “We could not get up with our infantry so as usual were of little use, though I tried my best and when the column scaled the city wall, we went up with our drag ropes and fairly lifted the gun, 5 of them, over the wall (which was not as high as Ben Nevis)”. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.

1854

1854 : H.G. 2 & 3: Rajamundry is in Godavari District, Madras Presidency, on the left bank of the Godavari River 360 miles from Madras, it was Bussy's headquarters from 1754-57. Portions of the fort still remain. A letter sent from London to India in 1854, by sea from Southampton, at a postage rate of 1/~, prepaid, which first of all arrived in Madras GPO on the 30/03/1854, & was then sent to SAMULCOTAH, under Madras. All India slide type of despatch stamp "Madras/Date/Bearing", & 6 as. postage for the inland transit due.

13 November 1854

1854 Edinburgh – Rajahmundry via Madapolam overland cover, franked with QV 1s SG 56 Die 2 & obliterated with SG Type 7/22 Scottish numeral cancellation (131, Edinburgh). The sender paid 1s UK–India packet rate via the Southampton route for a letter not exceeding ½ oz (anywhere from UK to India inclusive). "OCT/T 3 A/1854" Edinburgh despatch & "EA/4 OC 4/1854" London transit marks applied. Sent to Alexandria via P&O steamer CANDIA, sent overland to Suez, and from there sent to Bombay via EIC regular steamer FEROZE, then forwarded to Madras. At Madras, Giles MX5 "GPO/1854 NO 9" receipt & Giles 20 "MADRAS/1854 November 9/Bearing" handstamp applied, with rate "2A" (inland postage for a letter under ¼ tolah, sent between 200–300 miles) applied in manuscript. At Madapolam, bearing handstamp applied & "2A" rate and date "13 November 1854" applied in manuscript, then sent to Rajahmundry, where Giles 2 "RAJAHMUNDRY/Bearing" handstamp & date "14 Novr. 54" were applied, bearing postage collected from the recipient.