Draw Swords! In the Horse Artillery

A seventeen‑year‑old freshly commissioned into the East India Company’s horse artillery finds himself on a sun‑baked veranda in the Bengal Presidency, surrounded by fellow officers who test his patience as much as his resolve. The novel opens with Richard Darrell balancing the pride of his new rank against the sharp tongues of his peers, while the distant hum of cannon fire reminds him why he crossed oceans. Through vivid detail the reader feels the heat of the Indian summer, the clatter of horse‑drawn guns, and the uneasy camaraderie that forms among men far from home.

As Darrell navigates the regiment’s strict hierarchy, he confronts both petty rivalries and the wider responsibilities of empire. A sudden scuffle with local guards, a misplaced tulwar, and a tense exchange with a Rajah thrust him into moments where bravery and quick thinking become essential. The story blends humor, duty, and the clash of cultures, offering a lively portrait of a young officer’s first steps into a world where honor and adventure walk hand in hand.