A Flashman Biography
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angelophile"Flashman, Harry Paget. Brigadier-general, V.C., K.C.B., K.C.I.E.; Chevalier, Legion of Honour; Order of Maria Theresa, Austria; Order of the Elephant, Denmark (temporary); U.S. Medal of honor; San Serafino Order of purity and truth, 4th Class. b May 5, 1822, s of H. Buckley Flashman, Esq., Ashby and Hon. Alicia Paget; m. Elspeth Rennie Morrison, d. of Lord Paisley; one s., one d. educ. Rugby School. 11th Hussars, 17th Lancers. Served Afghanistan, 1841-42 (medals, thanks of Parliament); chief of staff to H. M. James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak Batang Lupar expedn, 1844; milit. advisor, H.M. Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar, 1844-5; Sutlej campaign, 1845-6 (Ferozeshah, Sobraon, envoy extraordinary to Maharani Jeendan, Court of Lahore); polit. advisor to Herr (later Chancellor Prince) Von Bismarck, Schleswig-Holstein, 1847-8; Crimea staff (Alma, Sevastopol, Balaclava), Prisoner of war, 1854; Artillery adviser to Atilik Ghazi, Syr Daria campaign, 1855; Sepoy Mutiny, 1857-8, dip, envoy to HRH the Maharani of Jhansi, trooper 3rd Native Cavalry, Meerut, subseq. att, Rowbotham's Mosstroopers, Cawnpore, (Lucknow, Gwalior, etc., V.C.); Adjutant to Captain John Brown, Harper's Ferry, 1859; China campaign 1860, polit. mission to Nanking, Taiping Rebellion, polit. and other services, Imperial Court, Pekin U.S. Army (major, Union forces, 1862; colonel (staff) Army of the Confederacy, 1863); a.d.c. to H.I.M. Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1867; interpreter and observer Sioux campain, U.S. 1875-6 (Camp Robinson conference, Little Bighorn, etc.); Zulu War, 1879 (Isandhlwana, Rorke's Drift); Egypt 1882 (Kassassin, Tel-el-Kebir); personal bodyguard to H.I.M. Franz-Joseph, Emperor of Austria 1883; Sudan 1884-5 (Khartoum); Pekin Legations, 1900. Travelled extensively in military and civilian capacities among them supercargo, merchant marine (West Africa); agriculturist (Mississippi valley); wagon captain and hotelier (Santa Fe Trail); buffalo hunter and scout (Oregon Trail); courier (Underground Railroad); majordomo (India), prospector (Australia); trader and missionary (Solomen Islands, Fly River, etc.); lottery supervisor (Manila); diamond Broker and horse coper (Punjab); dep. marshall, U.S.; occasional actor and impersonator. Hon. mbr of numerous societies and clubs, including Sons of the Volsungs (Strackenz), Mimbreno Apache Copper Mines band (New Mexico), Kokand Horde (Central Asia), Kit Carson's Boys (Colorado), Brown's Lambs (Maryland), M.C.C., Whites and United Service (London, both resigned), Blackjack (Batavia). Chmn, Flashman and Bottomley, Ltd.; dir. British Opium Trading Co.; governor, Rugby School; hon. pres. Mission for Reclamation of Reduced Females. Publications: Dawns and Departures of a Soldier's Life; Twixt Cossack and Cannon; The Case Against Army Reform. Recreation: oriental studies, angling, cricket (performed first recorded "hat-trick"; Wickets of Felix, Pilch and Mynn for 14 runs; Rugby Past and Present v Kent, Lord's 1842; 5 for 12, Mynn's Casuals v All Engand XI, 1843). Add. Gandamack Lodge, Ashby, Leics."
Afghanistan, 1841-42 (medals, thanks of Parliament)
The scene for Flashman's glorious rise to fame. He was in Afghanistan for most of 1841 and took part in the disastrous retreat from Kabul in January 1842. He was invalided out after breaking his leg during the defence of Pipers Fort. See Flashman.
Chief of staff to H. M. James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, Batang Lupar expedn, 1844
A grandiose title for Flashman's part in the raid on the pirates of the Batang Lupar river in Borneo during August 1844. Brooke used the kidnapping of Elspeth as a pretext for the attack. Flashman led the British naval contingent on one attack but tried his best at avoiding other serious combat by hiding in the bowels of Brooke's flagship. See Flashman's Lady.
Milit. advisor, H.M. Queen Ranavalona of Madagascar, 1844-5
Flashman and Elspeth were held captive on Madagascar between October 1844 and June 1845. He was given the title of Sergeant-General and put in charge of training the Malagassy army. He was also Ranavalona's favourite lover. Got unwittingly involved in a plot to overthrow Ranavalona and had to hastily escape with Elspeth. See Flashman's Lady.
Sutlej campaign, 1845-6 (Ferozeshah, Sobraon, envoy extraordinary to Maharani Jeendan, Court of Lahore)
Having just escaped from Madagascar, Flashman got snared by the Army into taking part in the 1st Sikh War. He was sent as a political agent, under the pretext of a legal query, to Lahore to report on political and military activity there. After the outbreak of hostilities Flashman rejoined the army. He was in the thick of the action at Ferozeshah. Through very bad luck he found himself, disguised as a Sikh, in the middle of the Sikh defences at Sobraon. As the British attack began to succeed he escaped by swimming the Sutlej. See Flashman and the Mountain of Light.
Polit. advisor to Herr (later Chancellor Prince) Von Bismarck, Schleswig-Holstein, 1847-8
Having been lured to Germany by Lola Montez, Flashman was threatened into impersonating a Danish prince by Bismarck. The plan was that Flashman would later die and be exposed as a fraud thus provoking a crisis that Bismarck could then exploit. See Royal Flash.
Crimea staff (Alma, Sevastopol, Balaclava), Prisoner of war, 1854; Artillery adviser to Atilik Ghazi, Syr Daria campaign, 1855
Flashman saw more of the Crimea than he cared for despite his best efforts to sidestep the campaign. Acting as tutor and consort to Prince William of Celle Flashman served on the staff of Lord Raglan. The battle of Alma saw Flashman nearly ruined when his charge, Willy, got himself killed. Needing experienced officers as gallopers saw Flashman leave his sickbed to have an horrendous day on Balaclava Plain in October 1854. On one day he took part in Campbell's "Thin Red Line", the Charge of the Heavy Brigade and the Charge of the Light Brigade. In the latter he was captured by the Russians. Sent inland to be an unwitting pawn in a Russian military intrigue against India, Flashman was eventually transported to a Russian fort in Central Asia. He was imprisoned with two local tribal leaders who were rescued, taking Flashman with them. Before being escorted to India Flashman, with a little help from a bellyful of hashish, used his knowledge of Congreve rockets to assist in a successful attack on Russian munition ships. See Flashman at the Charge.
Sepoy Mutiny, 1857-8, dip. envoy to HRH the Maharani of Jhansi, trooper 3rd Native Cavalry, Meerut, subseq. att. Rowbotham's Mosstroopers, Cawnpore, (Lucknow, Gwalior, etc., V.C.)
Initially sent to India by Lord Palmerston in 1856 to investigate sepoy unrest at Jhansi, Flashman ended up playing quite a significant part in the Mutiny in his inimitable own way. At the beginning, he spent a lot of time with the young Maharani of Jhansi in an attempt to placate her anger over British decisions affecting her rule over Jhansi. After an attempt to murder him by Thugs acting on behalf of Count Ignatieff, for safety Flashman pretended to be a Pathan called Makarram Khan and joined the East India Company army in Meerut. There he witnessed the beginning of the Sepoy Mutiny. After escaping from Meerut he returned to Jhansi and then set off for Cawnpore. On the way he was captured by Rowbotham's Mosstroopers, an irregular cavalry unit made up of civilians. After convincing them he wasn't an enemy Flashman rode with them until they reached Cawnpore. After the surrender of the British garrison there he was one of the few to survive the massacre of Suttee Ghat. On returning to the regular army he became an Intelligence Officer. He took part in the first relief of Lucknow which was promptly besieged again. Following the second relief of Lucknow Flashman was sent back to Jhansi to persuade the Maharani to surrender. The plan backfired and Flashman was captured and imprisoned in Gwalior. There he was kept until his release during the British assault on the fortress. With the Mutiny as good as over Flashman was awarded the Victoria Cross and a knighthood. Flashman finally left India in late 1858. See Flashman and the Great Game.
Adjutant to Captain John Brown, Harper's Ferry, 1859
Through revenge, spite and sheer bad luck Flashman ended up taking part in the doomed raid on a US Federal armoury in Maryland by the violent antislavery crusader John Brown. Through his involvement with the fledgling US Secret Service he escaped being caught and hung. See Flashman and the Angel of the Lord.
China campaign 1860, polit. mission to Nanking, Taiping Rebellion, polit. and other services, Imperial Court, Pekin
Flashman was sent as an emissary to the Taiping leadership in Nanking by F.W.A. Bruce, the British Resident in Shanghai, during the summer of 1860. Later that year he saw service during the latter part of the Second China War. Captured by the Chinese he became the plaything of the Imperial Concubine, Yehonola. Flashman escaped when Yehonola fled the Summer Palace complex as the combined British and French army arrived. He later assisted in the peace negotiations due to his 'inside knowledge' of the Imperial Court. See Flashman and the Dragon.
U.S. Army (major, Union forces, 1862; colonel (staff) Army of the Confederacy, 1863)
This entry creates a problem of interpretation. Taken literally it means Flashman took part in only two years of the four year war. This doesn't fit in with the numerous references scattered throughout the Flashman Papers. The only way we'll ever be sure is for the USCW packet to be published or for someone to find the appropriate volume of Dawns and Departures of a Soldier's Life.
It is believed he was with General U.S. Grant in the western warzone in 1862. Flashman appears to be in a photograph of Lincoln and a group of Union officers taken after the battle of Antietam (which was in the eastern warzone) in October 1862.
It seems that Flashman joined the Confederacy after Antietam and his reference to Lincoln being a 'genial blackmailer', and that Allan Pinkerton, who knew about Flashy's involvement with John Brown, was also present after the battle, might suggest the reason why. His first reference to military duty for the Confederate States of America is Audie (Aldie?) which was in June 1863. Two weeks later he was present, and probably on the personal staff of Robert E. Lee, at the decisive battle at Gettysburg in July.
It may be that Flashman then left Lee's staff but stayed in Confederate uniform. Whatever hold Lincoln had over him must have been strong. The next reported action is Yellow Tavern in May 1864 during which J.E.B. Stuart was killed. In April 1865 he was a witness to the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at Appomattox Court House.
a.d.c. to H.I.M. Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, 1867
When exactly Flashman began his service to Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico is not known. It doesn't appear to have been a very long appointment! Maximilian was captured by forces loyal to President Juarez and shot in June 1867. New information tells us that Flashman headed an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Maximilian from prison.
interpreter and observer Sioux campaign, U.S. 1875-6 (Camp Robinson conference, Little Bighorn, etc.)
A loose word by Flashman and further bragging by Elspeth got Flashman closer to the Sioux than he cared to be. At a dinner given by President Grant Flashman was persuaded to be an independent observer to the talks between Sioux chiefs and the US government. The negotiations nearly end in disaster and bloodshed when Sioux warriors opposed to the talks arrived. The following year Flashman helped George Custer get command of the 7th Cavalry which was to be used in a campaign against the Plains Indians. Having personal business with a woman in that area of the United States Flashman sailed up the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers on the campaign supply steamer. Flashman was kidnapped by Sioux relatives of the woman he was with and was taken to the vast camp on the Little Bighorn River. The following day Custer attacked the camp. Flashman was released during the attack and joined Custer who was surrounded on a hill known as Greasy Grass. There his company of 200 men was massacred. Flashman was rescued by his unknown (to him) bastard son, Frank Standing Bear/Grouard. See Flashman and the Redskins.
Zulu War, 1879 (Isandhlwana, Rorke's Drift)
From details in Flashman and the Tiger we know how Flashman escaped from Isandhlwana and arrived at Rorke's Drift. How he actually got involved in the Zulu War and what part he played in it is as yet unknown. It seems he was in South Africa purely on business as a civilian.
Egypt 1882 (Kassassin, Tel-el-Kebir)
This is a confirmed reference to another campaign that many suspected Flashman of being in. As campaigns go it was quick, efficient and not too dangerous - for Flashman at least.
personal bodyguard to H.I.M. Franz-Joseph, Emperor of Austria 1883
A totally unexpected personal adventure which came about through the combined machinations of Chancellor Bismarck of Germany and The Times correspondent in Paris! Through threats and coercion - and then official sanction by the British government - Flashman had to prevent an assassination attempt by Hungarian nationalists on Franz-Joseph as it may have provoked a huge European war. It turned out that Flashman's fellow bodyguard was the actual assassin. Good luck and some uncommon bravery on the part of Flashman saved the day. See The Road to Charing Cross.
Sudan 1884-5 (Khartoum)
Despite a desperate attempt to avoid it (which nearly got him killed - see The Road to Charing Cross) Flashman got dragged off by Charles 'Chinese' Gordon personally to serve as his Head of Intelligence in the Sudan. This confirms what had long been suspected that Flashman took part in this action.
Pekin Legations, 1900
The occasional reference in the Flashman Papers and in Mr. American offers a tantalising glimpse of what must have been the final military episode in a remarkable career. With the rise of the Boxers the Imperial Chinese court saw a way to try and rid China of foreigners and allowed them, along with Imperial troops, to besiege the Foreign Legations complex in Pekin (there was also a lesser known siege of foreigners in the Cathedral in Pekin). The meagre armed forces of the various foreign powers combined to defend the Legation from repeated attack for 55 days until relieved by a large combined army from the coast. Flashman appears to have been in charge of the 'American artillery' (this may refer to the cannon nicknamed 'International') and spent time with the US Marines.
Travelled extensively in military and civilian capacites among them...
supercargo, merchant marine (West Africa)
On board the Balliol College, a slaver, captained by John Charity Spring, MA.
agriculturist (Mississippi valley)
A slave driver on the Greystones plantation of John Mandeville in Louisiana.
wagon captain and hotelier (Santa Fe Trail)
As husband of Susie Willinck he commanded her wagon train when she decided to move her brothel from New Orleans to California. She decided to stop at Santa Fe instead and set up shop there. Flashman was put in charge of the gambling side of the business.
buffalo hunter and scout (Oregon Trail)
It is presumed that this refers to the early part of the journey to Santa Fe when the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails were one trail as Flashman recounts hunting buffalo with Dick Wootton. However, this and the earlier detail of being one of 'Kit Carson's Boys' combined with references in Flashman and the Redskins may be the confirmation needed of where Flashman went after leaving Kit Carson in Laramie in May 1850. It would appear that Flashman did indeed travel the entire length of the Oregon Trail.
courier (Underground Railroad)
After escaping from the US Navy following the capture of the Balliol College Flashman was caught by the Underground Railroad. Crixus blackmails him into escorting a prominent escaped slave, George Randolph, up the Mississippi River. This ends in disaster when Randolph is recognised and he and Flashman jump ship.
majordomo (India)
While hiding from Count Ignatieff's Thug assassins as a native cavalryman in Meerut, Flashman, as Makarram Khan, was taken out of the ranks and made personal assistant and head butler to Duff Mason, one of the British officers. He comments that if he had been born into a lower class he would have made a good butler!
prospector (Australia)
From references scattered through the early Flashman Papers it is known that Flashman spent time in Australia during the Gold Rush of 1851.
trader and missionary (Solomen Islands, Fly River, etc.)
This is a new entry but does seem to confirm previous references in the Flashman Papers to being on a South Seas trader.
lottery supervisor (Manila)
This is a totally new reference. As far as I can remember there has been no indication of this activity anywhere in the Flashman Papers.
diamond Broker and horse coper (Punjab)
For a time Flashman was the custodian of the fabled Koh-i-noor diamond. For the rescue of Dalip Singh out of Lahore Flashman and his men acted as horse dealers.
dep. marshall, U.S.
It as yet uncertain when Flashman was a deputy marshall to 'Wild Bill' Hickok but it was certainly no later than December 1871 when Hickok was discharged as marshall of Abilene.
Flashman, poltroon, bully, cheat, scoundrel, womanizer, toady, and thoroughgoing cad, was unwilling participant in almost every significant battle and military drama from the disastrous retreat of the British from Kabul (Afghanistan, 1842) until his death at 93 during the Great War (1915). FlashMan's memoirs have been faithfully transcribed and annotated by the 20th Century's greatest historical novelist, George MacDonald Fraser.
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Date: 2012-09-06 02:05 am (UTC)