Lord Dalhousie described it as
"the outpost of the Indian Empire"--a very accurate title.
At Peshawar at last Frederick Roberts became acquainted with his father,
who proved a good comrade. The junior officer served as aide-de-camp on
the general's staff, and went with him on several expeditions, outwardly
peaceful, but inwardly full of danger. India then was a seething caldron
of trouble.
Nevertheless, this period with his father is described by Frederick
Roberts as "one of the brightest and happiest of my early life."
Unfortunately the senior officer's health showed signs of breaking--and
again father and son had to part. General Roberts resigned his command
and returned to England, at the end of the year 1853.
Peshawar was a notoriously unhealthy station, and young Roberts also soon
began to feel the effects of the climate. He was still far from robust,
and traded continually on his will and nerve. The native fever sapped
his energy, and he was sent to recuperate, to Kashmir. He was
enthusiastic about the scenery here, and his tramping and shooting trips
in the bracing climate soon gave back his strength and vim.
It was about this time that he realized his pet ambition of joining the
Horse Artillery. He also set himself with a will to the study of
Hindustani, as he realized that his usefulness in the
Quartermaster-General's office would be vastly increased if he could deal
directly with the natives.
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