Camel Corps Detachment, 92nd Foot Regiment (Gordon Highlanders)

Camel Corps, Detachment, 92nd Foot - Indian Mutiny

A camel corps was raised in Rajputana (India) in 1858, and numbered about 800. Being distributed in four columns of 200, with the various columns in pursuit of the Indian General, Tantia Tope, at the end of the Mutiny.

The 92nd Foot supplied a detachment of 150 to General Michel’s 'Malwa Field Force'. This corps was extremely mobile and carried with them five or six days’ rations, using the light rugs of which the saddle was composed for their bed and covering at night time. They were also most useful in conveying despatches and gaining intelligence of the enemy’s movements.

The uniform worn was the Highland dress, with white cotton jackets and forage caps, provided with a screen or cover as a protection from the sun. They carried arms, accoutrements and water bottles.

The drawing is from a sketch in “The Illustrated London News” of April 9th, 1859, supplied to that paper by an officer of the 92nd.