BENGAL TROOPS ON THE LINE OF MARCH,: A Panoramic Sketch by an Officer of that Army. [William Ludow del.].

Hand-coloured lithograph, heightened with gum arabic, consisting of 18 strips, each measuring approximately 110 x 516 mm (and extending to approximately 28 feet when joined), plus a strip of descriptive notes, and a title sheet measuring 200 x 283 mm, all mounted in the original cloth backed scrap book (573 x 400 mm), some surface wear and rubbing to extremities, but overall a very desirable example.

A rare and remarkable hand-coloured panorama depicting the hazards of moving troops through the subcontinent during the last phase of East India Company control in Bengal, from sketches by an officer.

Captain Ludlow is listed in the East India Register and Directory as being on furlough from the Twelfth Regiment Bengal Native Infantry in 1835. In the descriptive text accompanying the panorama, he describes putting together the sketches for publication on the long sea voyage home: 'This hasty sketch, put together on board Ship, was originally undertaken as much for the purpose of breaking the monotony of a long sea voyage, as to give to a numerous acquaintance at home a better idea of Troops moving in the East, than the Designer could convey in conversation.' The British troops are interspersed with figures of local interest: the Hindu priest; native officers; water-carriers, laundry-men; "Cart in which Native Females ride"; "Fakeers denouncing their flying Friends"; and dozens of camels and elephants laden with baggage.

A contemporary review published in The United Service Magazine For April 1835 notes 'This Sketch, as it is modestly styled by its author, Captain Ludlow, is the most characteristic and extraordinary performance of its class we have ever seen. Of apparently interminable extent, and crowded with figures of man and beast, all portrayed to the life, it forms a complete picture of the march of Bengal Troops, comprising incidents of actual warfare, interior economy and habits, costume native and military, superstitions, vehicles, cattle, and, in short, presents an omnium gatherum, such as we have never before seen marshalled in such dense or striking array. No verbal or written description could approach the vivid realities conveyed in this panoramic Sketch, which must prove highly interesting to our honoured comrades of the East, and may stand untravelled Europeans in stead of all the books ever written on the subject. We trust Captain Ludlow will not be a loser by the publication of a work of so much labour, and exhibiting so much esprit de corps.'

The captions beneath the image strips read from left to right [1] 'Water carriers to the Camp'; 'Hindoos bathing'; 'Hindoo Idol and Priest'; 'Grain and supplies carried for the Camp'; 'The Rear Guard awaiting the removal of the Camp'; 'A Coffee Party'; 'Camp Baggage'; 'Express Camel'; 'Bazaar Guard'. [2] 'Foot Artillery'; 'A Regiment of Sepoys'; 'Foot Artillery'; 'Horse Artillery'; 'Horse Artillery'. [3] 'The General Officer and his Staff'; 'Light Cavalry'; 'Light Cavalry'; 'Express Camel'; 'Prisoners driven to the rear'; 'Spare Ammunition Waggon'; 'An A.D. returning with orders'. [4] 'The Cart of the Country'; 'Baggage'; 'Boxes for carrying refreshments'; 'A Mess Tent'; 'Conveyance for the Wounded'; 'The Common Cart of the Country'; 'Cart in which Native Females ride'; 'Spare Ammunitian Boxes'; 'A Sporting Elephant, the Driver and his assistant getting up'; 'The Bazaar Flag'; 'Washer Men'. [5] 'advanced guard pushing on'; 'Spiking a captured gun'; 'The Native Troop of Horse Artillery'; 'The Charge sounded'; 'The Charge sounded'. [6] 'The Skirmish'; 'An Advanced Gun playing'; 'Making-off''; 'Match-lock men'; 'A Swivel Gun on a Dromedary'; 'A Priest's Hut'; 'A Hill Fort for which the enemy are making'; 'Fakeers denouncing their flying Friends'; 'A Hindoo Temple'.

Ludlow was born in 1803 and arrived in India in 1820, and was attached too the 12th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. He returned to Britain briefly in 1834 but had arrived back in India by March 1835 a month before publication. In 1836 he married Mary Anne Ferris at Allahabad although out in India for quite some while Ludlow appears never really to have seen much action something that may have allowed him the time to devote some time to depicting Indian life He was promoted to major in 1846 and sometime thereafter retired on half pay to Marylebone in London where he died in 1853.

Abbey Life 530 ; Index to British Military Costume Prints 485 [1].