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preparations for punishing Konoma |
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Brigadier General Nation accordingly left his head quarters at Shillong to take command of the Field Force, about the 30th October. He reached Golaghat on the 5th November, and Samaguting three days later. |
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Meantime the 150 rifles of the 43rd Assam Light Infantry under Major Evans, intended to effect the relief of Kohima, had left Dibrugarh on the 23rd October, and, carriage being ready at Golaghat, had pushed on by forced marches. By making great exertions the detachment reached Kohima on the 30th, only to find the place had been relieved four days previously by Colonel Johnstone and his Manipuris, as related in the preceding chapter. As provisions were scarce at Kohima, and the presence of the Manipuris secured it against further attack, Major Evans returned to Samaguting, which he reached on the 1st November. At the request of Mr. Pughe, District Superintendent of Police, Major Evans left small guards at Deopani, Hariajan,and Naokata. He also asked Colonel Johnstone to garrison Piphima with Manipuris, but the latter objected. |
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The march to Kohima had been at the average rate of eighteen miles a day over difficult hill paths, and the efforts of the detachment were noticed with approbation by the Commander-in-Chief. |
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The 44th Sylhet Light Infantry returning from Goalundo landed at Nikriting on the 1st November, and went on the same day to Golaghat (17 miles). Carriage being already provided, the regiment advanced by wings; the right wing, under Colonel Nuttall, C.B., Commanding, on the 3rd November, and the left wing, under Major Walker, on the 5th. The leading wing had hard work in repairing the road beyond Samaguting, but it reached Piphima on the 9th. |
