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Cornell University Library 
 DS 485.D3R85 
 
 3 1924 024 080 719 
 
THE 
 
 CHAPLAIN'S NAEEATIVE 
 
 SIEGE OF DELHI. 
 
 fSOJf THE 
 
 OUTBREAK AT MEEEUT TO THE CAPTUEE OF DELHI. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN EDWAED WHAETON EOTTON, M.A. 
 
 OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE, CA3IBB1DGE ; ONE OP THE CHAPLAINS OP MEEBUI ; 
 AND CHAPLAIN 10 THE DELHI FIELD POBCE. 
 
 WITH A PLAN OP THE CITY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 SMITH, ELDER AJSTD CO., 65, CORNHILL. 
 
 1858. 
 
 [TAe right of translation is reserved."] 
 
TO 
 
 THE MY. CIAELES BUSBEIDGE SNEPP, B.C.L,, 
 
 OF CAIUS COLLEGE, IN THE UNTVEESITY OF CAMBETDGE, 
 
 AND 
 
 INCUMBENT OF PERBT BAE, NEAR BIEMINQHAir, 
 
 THE ASSOCIATE OF MY BOYHOoi) AND ACADBMIOAL DATS, 
 
 THE UNFAILINQ FEIEUD OF MY MANHOOD AND KIPEK YEAES, 
 
 THE MAN WHOM I LOVE BEST ON EAKTH, 
 
 AND WITH WHOM, THKODGH KEDEEMING MEECY, 
 
 I HOPE TO SPEND AN UNBROKEN EIEKNITY IN HEAVEN, 
 
 THESE PAGES, 
 
 OKIGINAILY WKITIBN FOK THE PEKDSAL OF NONE BUI HIMSELF, 
 
 BUT NOW PRINTED AT THE SnGSESTION, 
 
 AND IN DEFERENCE TO THE JUDGMENT OF SOME KIND FRIENDS 
 
 IN INDIA, 
 
 ARE MOST AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
 
 ^ BY HIS FAITHFUL FRIEND AND SERVANT, 
 
 JOHN EDWABD WHARTON ROTTON, M.A., 
 
 CEAPLAIN TO TEE DELHI FIELD FOSCE. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I CANNOT permit this little volume to go forth to 
 the public, without a few words in the form of a 
 preface. The work was undertaken at the earnest 
 suggestion of some kind and, I trust, not altogether 
 injudicious friends. Originally I had no intention 
 but to interest and please the best friend I have in the 
 world. With this single and unpretending purpose 
 I made notes at the time, which have expanded 
 into a volume. 
 
 The work necessarily labours under many disad- 
 vantages ; among which the rapidity with wliich it 
 has been written, the comparatively little time, con- 
 sistently with my other duties, which I have had to 
 devote to it, and my want of experience as an 
 author, are among the most prominent; I have, 
 therefore, to claim the patience and indulgence 
 of the reader. 
 
Yl PREFACE. 
 
 I have to acknowledge my obligations respectively 
 to Colonel John Jones, of the Royal Rifles ; to 
 Colonel Herbert, of H. M.'s 75th Foot; and also to 
 Dr. Duff, of the Bengal Medical Establishment, for 
 placing their notes of the siege at my disposal. In 
 consequence of the help received from these notes, 
 the details of matter have been extended very con- 
 siderably beyond my most sanguine expectations, 
 and the interest of the work, I trust, proportionably 
 increased thereby. 
 
 John Edwaed Whaeion Roxion. 
 
 Palace of Delhi, 27th Feb., 1857. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ' PAGE 
 
 Outbreak at Meeebt 1 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 The Siege oe Delhi , . .38 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Siege coniiitoed 110 
 
 CHAPTER rv. 
 The Siege continued 176 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Siege continued . . " . . . . 21& 
 
 APPEHTDICES 34T 
 
NAKRATIVE 
 
 THE SIEaE OE DELHI. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OUTBREAK AT MEEEUT. 
 
 On the 10th of May, 1857, the first symptoms of 
 the Revolt in India manifested themselves at Meerut. 
 The 3rd Regiment of Bengal Light Cavalry was 
 quartered at that station, and the earliest intimation 
 that was received of the seeds of mutiny having been 
 sown, was gathered from the fact of the men of that 
 corps refusing to receive the cartridge which they 
 had previously been in the habit of using, on the 
 ground that it was a new cartridge, containing 
 grease of some kind, which would break their caste 
 if they consented to receive it. This, Ijowever, was 
 a mere pi-etext, used to serve an cGcasion. This 
 refusal, on the part of the men, was met with 
 
 B 
 
2 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT. [MAT, 
 
 promptness by the authorities. Eighty-five troopers 
 were placed under arrest, brought to trial, and 
 sentenced by a court-martial composed of native 
 officers, to various terms of imprisonment; in no 
 case, however, exceeding ten years. At sunrise on 
 Saturday, May the 9th, the whole of the troops 
 stationed at Meerut, both European and native, 
 were paraded to hear the sentence passed, and to 
 witness its being carried into effect. The prisoners 
 were marched on to the parade ground, and then made 
 over to the civil authorities, after the convict irons 
 had been fastened on them. They were then incar- 
 cerated by the magistrate in the common jail, as a 
 preliminary step to their being transferred to some 
 of the Government central prisons, such as Agra 
 or Bareilly. Unfortunately, however, the pre- 
 caution of placing a European guard over the 
 prisoners, was overlooked, and the prison was left 
 to the protection of native soldiers. 
 
 No immediate signs of disaffection followed the 
 committal of the prisoners. The whole of Saturday 
 passed off quietly, and no disturbance was reported 
 until late in the afternoon of Sunday, the 10th of 
 May. The first intimation that I received of the 
 outbreak was from a female servant, who came to 
 my wife, and said to her with very anxious and 
 
1857. J FIEST WARNING, 3 
 
 troubled looks, "O, madam, don't go to church 
 this afternoon." The carriage was then at the door, 
 ready to take us to church, and the service was 
 appointed to commence in a quarter of an hour 
 from the time this speech was made. Hearing this 
 singular request addressed to my wife, I naturally 
 enough inquired, "Why should not madam go to 
 church, this evening? " The servant replied, "Be- 
 cause there will he a fight." I asked, "Who will 
 fight ? " The woman answered, " The sepoys." 
 
 Of course, I could not give any credence to such 
 a statement. I had to preach in the evening, and 
 had been in my study all day long in course of 
 preparation. There was nothing for me now to 
 do but to hasten to church : and, to quiet my 
 wife's fears, I consented to both the children accom- 
 panying us in the carriage, together with this 
 faithful servant, who was to take charge of them 
 in the church compound, while divine service was 
 being solemnized. This was the only precaution 
 I felt it necessary to take, in connection with our 
 servant's statement; as to weapons, fire-arms, or 
 sword, or anything more eifective than a walking- 
 cane, the same I used at Cambridge, I had none; 
 nor did I much fear that during my whole service 
 in India, I should ever want more> either for the 
 
 s 2 
 
4 OTITBREAK AT MEEEUT. [MAT, 
 
 protection of myself or my family. I was soon 
 convinced, however, that there was some credit 
 due to the servant's statement. The sounds of 
 musketry, and the pillars of smoke ascending into 
 the air, and proceeding from the burning bungalows, 
 or houses, in the native lines of cantonment, forced 
 upon me the conviction that mischief had already 
 commenced. By-and-by, I heard the Rifle bugles 
 sound the alarm and assembly. The cantonment 
 was now evidently in motion — troops were as- 
 •sembling, and people congregating, the church 
 parade dispersed, and was converted into a general 
 assembly of troops of the three arms. Amid all 
 this energy, there was one thing which apparently 
 impressed every one — the delay in leading the troops 
 from the grand parade ground to the scene of mutiny 
 and bloodshed. The native soldiery, and the fellows 
 of baser sort in the bazaars, had ample time to 
 commit the greatest outrages, in consequence of this 
 simple fact. 
 
 Some people affirm that the mutineers' original 
 plan was to have marched up in a large body, and 
 to have first seized the arms of the Rifles, who 
 would have been in church, having their side-arms 
 only with them ; they were then to have surrounded 
 the church, and put every soul within its walls 
 
1857.] REBEL SCHEMES. 5 
 
 to death. But, according to my informants, the 
 church bells misled the rebels, and thus frustrated 
 their plan ; and if there be the least ground for this 
 part of the account, w.e have another instance of 
 the wonder-working Providence of God, who brings 
 about and accomplishes His great works of mercy 
 through the simplest accidents of human life. But, 
 however much truth there may be attaching to 
 this story, one thing is very certain, the outbreak at 
 Meerut was premature. There was a deep-laid 
 scheme; and a simultaneous and universal outburst 
 of popular vengeance was intended. A day was 
 fixed upon, in the counsels of the mutineers, for 
 the massacre of every European and Christian person 
 in India; some say, from Calcutta to Peshawur. 
 That day was drawing near at hand. The mutineers 
 of Meerut simply anticipated it. It was this act 
 of anticipation which brought to light the hidden 
 works of darkness, and made manifest that which 
 would not otherwise have been revealed. 
 
 It was utterly impossible to pass any portion of 
 the night of Simday the 10th of May in sleep. My 
 wife with the children returned at a very late hour 
 to our bungalow from the quarter-guard of H. M.'s 
 60th Rifles, where I had consigned them, shortly 
 after leaving our home for church; but while the 
 
6 OUTBEEAK AT MEEEUT. [MAT, 
 
 unsuspecting little ones reposed in profound security 
 beneath the paternal roof, we continued wakefal, 
 and watching their peaceful slumbers with painful 
 interest. The moon was up and shining, and we sat all 
 night beneath its pale and uncertain light, thinking of 
 the probable fate of friends in the native lines, quite 
 at the other extreme of the station, and anticipating 
 what would befall our Christian brethren in Delhi 
 on the coming morn, who, less happy than ourselves, 
 had no faithful and friendly European battalions to 
 shield them from th^ bloodthirsty rage of the sepoys. 
 It was not until sunrise on Monday that any one 
 knew, with anything like certainty, the extent of the 
 atrocities committed by the savages within the can- 
 tonment of Meerut. What spectacles of terror met 
 the eye almost simultaneously with the return of the 
 day! The lifeless and mutilated corpses of men, 
 women, and children, were here and there to be 
 seen, some of them so frightfully disfigured and 
 so shamefully dishonoured in death, that the very 
 recollection of such sights chills the blood, and 
 makes one rue the day that ever dawned upon such 
 scenes of merciless carnage. We can even now 
 hardly realise the past (so dreadful was the reality) 
 as within the province of stubborn and substantial 
 fact. It seems a dream — a thing visionary and 
 
1857.] FLIGHT OF EEBELS TO DELHI. 7 
 
 unreal, and anything but the actual experience of 
 Englishmen in India. 
 
 But while we were thus passing the night in 
 painful thought, and beginning to awake to the 
 realities of the coming day, the troopers of the 3rd 
 Light Cavalry were pressing on as fast as possible 
 towards Delhi ; in fact, all the mutineers of Meerut, 
 after first releasing the prisoners, who received 
 sentence on Saturday, made off direct for that city, 
 and that without sustaining the least mark of retri- 
 butive justice from the injured British. Not a single 
 effort was made to arrest their progress, though a 
 noble offer to pursue the fugitives with a compara- 
 tively small force was made by Captain Rosser, of 
 the Carabineers, but declined by the General com- 
 manding the Meerut Division. In truth, our military 
 authorities were paralysed. No one knew what was 
 best to do, and nothing was accordingly done. The 
 rebels had it all their own way ; the result of 
 which was the fearful atrocities that were afterwards 
 committed in the capital of the Mogul Empire, and 
 which will make Delhi in all times to come a by- 
 word among all people. Report says a very great 
 deal of what these atrocities were. Much of what 
 is said may be true, and much likewise untrue ; 
 and where so much uncertainty prevails, it is better 
 
8 OUTBREAK AT MEEEUT. [MAT, 
 
 to throw a veil over the sins which have so indelibly 
 disgraced human nature, and leave the revelation of 
 them to that day which will reveal all things. 
 
 Although, however, I cannot satisfy the natural 
 curiosity, to which every one more or less must 
 freely confess, to know something in detail of the 
 actual fate of most of the Christian inhabitants, and 
 of some of the Government employes, civil and 
 military, who chanced to be in Delhi at the time 
 of the mutiny, I may, nevertheless, supply accounts, 
 more or less full, of a few of the events which took 
 place within the walls of the city during some part 
 of the day of Monday, the 1 1th of May. 
 
 Intelligence reached the Brigadier in command 
 at Delhi that certain sowars or troopers of native 
 cavalry had arrived from Meerut, and commenced 
 murdering every European and Christian man, 
 woman, and child, who chanced to fall in their way. 
 Without the least provocation, they rode up to un- 
 offending Europeans, who were pursuing their way 
 along the streets, and either cut or shot them down, 
 without notice or warning. Nor did this even con- 
 tent them. They rushed into the houses of English 
 residents, and, without respect to age, position, or 
 sex, put every inmate to the sword. They seem 
 to have steadily progressed from street to street. 
 
1857.] EVENTS AT DELHI. 9 
 
 joined by the " Budmaslies," or evil workers in the 
 city, each vying with the other in seeking out those 
 who were connected in any degree of blood, or even 
 those natives that possessed any sympathies in com- 
 mon with the English. 
 
 When the report of these atrocities reached 
 Brigadier Graves, he immediately ordered two 
 guns of Captain de Teissier's Native Battery, and 
 the 54th Regiment of Native Infantry (which was 
 considered the best of the three native corps then 
 stationed at Delhi), to advance from their lines in 
 cantonments to the city and attack the rebels. 
 These instruc);ions were at once carried into effect ; 
 the infantry reaching the city a little in advance 
 of the artiUery. , The regiment had scarcely marched 
 in through, the Cashmere gate, and proceeded as far 
 as the station church of St. James, when they were 
 met by the sowars of the mutinous light cavalry, 
 who singled out as their victims the European 
 officers of the 54th Regiment of Native Infantry, 
 and shot them all down, one after another; with 
 the exception of the commanding officer. Colonel 
 Ripley, who, I am told, was bayonetted and shot 
 by one of his own men. While these murders were 
 being perpetrated, the sepoys of the infantry regi- 
 ment stood by as unconcerned spectators, without 
 
10 .OUTBKEAIi AT MEERUT, [MAT, 
 
 making the least effort to save the lives of their 
 officers. The officer in command of the main guard 
 at the Cashmere gate, witnessing these massacres, 
 closed the gate, in order to cut off the communi- 
 cation between the city and cantonments, which are 
 at a considerable distance from each other. Almost 
 immediately after the gates were closed, the two 
 guns of Captain de Teissier's battery arrived, and 
 were admitted, and no sooner were they seen by 
 the rebel sowars, than the latter retreated precipi- 
 tately. The 54th Regiment of Native Infantry now 
 joined the mutineers, and, it is reported, took a very 
 active part in the general plunder, which was every- 
 where prevailing in Delhi. 
 
 At about eleven o'clock the brigadier received 
 a report of these occurrences, and 150 men of 
 the 74th Regiment of Native Infantry, under Major 
 Abbott, supported by two more guns, were ordered 
 to proceed to the city. This little force reached 
 the Cashmere gate about midday, but apparently 
 effected nothing, beyond holding the position. The 
 bodies of the murdered officers, including among 
 them those of Captains Smith and Burrowes, and 
 Lieutenants Waterfield and Edwards, were now col- 
 lected, and sent up in a cart to cantonments. They 
 were principally, if not entirely, killed at or near 
 
1857,] EVENTS AT DELHI. 11 
 
 tlie Cashmere gate, and all of them helonged to 
 the 54th Regiment. 
 
 There were now only two guns of Captain de 
 Teissier's battery remaining behind in cantonments, 
 with which, he proceeded to the occupation of a 
 central position, taking in flank a part of the metalled 
 road of cantonment, and also sweeping a short road 
 leading up the hill. The sepoys who remained in 
 cantonments, showed, I believe, an inclination to mob 
 the guns in charge of Captain de Teissier himself, 
 and, it is saicJ, were with great difficulty restrained 
 from doing so. The Flag Staff Tower, as it is 
 commonly called, was crowded by this time with 
 the officers' wives and children, and merchants and 
 their families ; and a sergeant belonging to Captain 
 de Teissier's battery, reported to him that the sepoys 
 had been overheard saying, that if a shot were 
 fired from his guns, that shot would be the signal 
 for them to engage in a general massacre of all 
 present. The conflagrations in the city were now 
 very apparent. 
 
 But in my desire to give an account of the several 
 efibrts made in cantonments by the military autho- 
 rities to quell the mutiny going on in the city, and 
 to stay the murderous proceedings of the rebels, who 
 up to this time were chiefly confined to the neigh- 
 
12 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT. [MAT, 
 
 bourhood of the Cashmere Gate, I must not forget 
 the noble defence which was made by a handful of 
 resolute Englishmen against the attempts of the 
 mutineers on the magazine. No historian can record 
 any greater act of daring and gallantry than was 
 displayed upon this occasion .by Lieutenant Wil- 
 loughby and the Europeans under his immediate 
 command. That indomitable young officer, with a 
 mind capable of conceiving, and a heart and hand 
 resolute and steady to perform, has passed away. 
 Providence has denied his country the privilege of 
 decking his youthful brow with the chaplets which 
 belong, as of right undisputed, to the sons of victory 
 and of fame; but his deeds can never die. The 
 pages of history will record and rehearse them far 
 and wide, and every Englishman, be he where he 
 may, whether in his island home, or a wanderer on 
 some foreign shore, will relate with admiration what 
 George Dobson Willoughby did at Delhi on the 11th 
 of May, in the year of Grace 1857. 
 
 The officers of the Magazine were the first to see 
 the mutineers from Meerut crossing the bridge of 
 boats on the River Jumna. It was 7 o'clock in the 
 morning when they crossed, and they were marching 
 in open columns of sub-divisions. They proceeded 
 to the Palace, where they seem to have gained 
 
1857.] DEFENCE OF THE DELHI MAGAZINE. 13 
 
 welcome admission, as they entered it with a shout. 
 The gallant Willoughby at once closed and barri- 
 caded the gate of his magazine, and made every 
 preparation to meet the insurgents in case of an 
 attack. Two six-pounder guns double charged with 
 grape were placed inside the gate leading to the park. 
 The non-commissioned officers in charge were directed 
 to stand by with lighted port-fires, and, should any 
 attempt be made to force the gate, they were ordered 
 to fire the guns on the assailants. The principal 
 gate of the Magazine was similarly defended, and 
 other guns and howitzers were placed in commanding 
 positions. The native establishments were provided 
 with arms, but they were traitors to a man, and 
 manifested the most insubordinate spirit, taking the 
 arms with reluctance, and even openly disobeying 
 orders. A train also was laid to the compartment 
 of the Magazine containing the small arms and 
 ammunition, with a view to explosion in case of 
 extremity. 
 
 Very shortly after the completion of these prepa- 
 rations the King's soldiers made a formal demand of 
 the Magazine in the name of his Imperial Majesty ; 
 a demand which was treated with the scorn it so 
 richly deserved, not even so much as an answer 
 being given to it. The King now threatened the 
 
14 OUTBREAK AT MEEEUT. [^^AT, 
 
 Magazine with assault, and accordingly sent scaling 
 ladders from the Palace ; and upon their being placed 
 against "the walls, the entire native estahlishment 
 began to desert, and the mutineers thereupon ascend- 
 ing the walls, they were received with a very smart 
 fire of gtape, which was continued as long as a 
 single shot remained. Before the flight of the native 
 subordinates, they gave the best possible evidence 
 of being the King's friends, by successfully hiding, 
 during the bustle and excitement, the priming 
 pouches. This was a serious hindrance to the 
 defence. Even the door-keeper, Kurreem Buksh, 
 a Mahomedan, as his name fully proves, was said 
 to be communicating with the rebels outside ; hence 
 the defence of the Magazine fell entirely on Euro- 
 peans. No part of the honour belongs to any 
 Mussulman or Hindoo, and the strength of the 
 establishment shows that their numbers were very 
 far in excess of the English agents engaged in the 
 work of supervision. 
 
 After exposure to a galling fire of musketry, and 
 when every hope failed the gallant defenders, the 
 signal was given and obeyed. The train was fired, 
 and in an instant the explosion followed, taking 
 with it several hundreds of the rebel assailants. 
 Lieutenants "Willoughby and Forrest, and the heroic 
 
1857.] EXPLOSION OF THE MAGAZINE. 15 
 
 Conductor Buckley who fired the train, escaped. 
 Lieutenant Forrest was badly wounded, having been 
 struck on the hand by two musket shots, besides 
 being hurt by the recoil of a howitzer, and Con- 
 ductor Buckley was shot in the arm above the 
 elbow. The subsequent fate of the illustrious com- 
 mandant of the Magazine, on this memorable day, 
 is somewhat hidden in doubt and obscurity; but it 
 is very generally feared and believed that he fell 
 by the hands of lawless villagers, probably belonging 
 to the Goojtir caste, somewhere on the Meerut road, 
 whUe endeavouring to efiect his escape. 
 
 The Government have marked their sense of the 
 services of the defenders* supposed by them to be 
 surviving, by promoting Lieutenants W. Raynor and 
 G. Forrest to the rank of Captains, and raising 
 Conductors G. W. Shaw, J. Buckley, and J. Scully, 
 to the . rank of Assistant Commissaries of Ordnance, 
 and Officiating Sub-Conductor W. Crew to the rank 
 of Conductor; and Sergeants Edwards and Stewart 
 to that of Sub-Conductors. 
 
 It is said that the sepoys on seeing the explosion, 
 exclaimed, "What a bad man the General is to 
 kiU our people in this way." Captaia De Teissier, 
 who had been more or less anxious for the safety of 
 his guns, ever sLace the two last had been sent into 
 
16 OUTBREAK AT MEEKUT. [mAT, 
 
 the city, under Lieutenant Aislabie, and knowing 
 the value they would be in the defence of canton- 
 ments, and in covering the retreat of our own people, 
 urged their recall a second time on the Brigadier, 
 and an order was accordingly sent for them to return. 
 Shortly after the guns were seen from the Flag-staff 
 Tower returning at a trot up the main road. Of 
 course their return was now calculated upon, though 
 they were proceeding up the road to cantonments, 
 instead of the road leading to the Flag-staff Tower, 
 where all our officers and ladies were assembled. 
 A bugle was sounded to intimate to the officers that 
 the guns were required not in cantonments, but at 
 the Flag-staff Tower; the signal was, however, 
 unheeded. Captain De Teissier, supposing that the 
 sounds of the bugle had not reached the ears of his 
 men, and hearmg some musketry shots as the guns 
 neared a detachment of the 38th N. I., mounted his 
 charger and rode in the direction the guns were 
 taking, to give them his orders by word of mouth. 
 He gave the order to wheel to the right, and come 
 up towards him at a trot, as soon as he was within 
 a short distance of the guns. 
 
 The mutineers now gave him an inkling of their 
 designs on the guns, for the detachment of the 38th 
 N. I. shook their muskets at him, and some six of 
 
1857.] TREACHERY OF THE 38TH N. I. 17 
 
 them fell on one knee, levelled their pieces, and 
 deliberately directed their fire at the gallant officer. 
 Fortunately the shots escaped his own person, 
 but took efiect on- his horse; the poor animal 
 was mortally wounded, but lived to carry his rider 
 to the Flag-staff Tower, and then fell and expired. 
 The direction the guns took after this may be easily 
 imagined. They made for the Cashmere Gate, 
 guarded by the detachment of the 38th N. I. 
 
 Almost simultaneously with the order for the tw» 
 guns to return to the Flag Staff Tower, a similar 
 order was issvied and received by the commanding 
 officer, Major Abbott, for the return of the detach- 
 ment of his regiment, the 74th N. I., which went in 
 support of the guns. As soon as the Deputy Collector 
 was made cognisant of this order, he remonstrated, 
 and begged for time to be given him in order to 
 communicate personally with the Brigadier on the 
 subject. The request was granted ; the Deputy 
 Collector started accordingly, but never returned. 
 The evidence of the plot thickening became momen- 
 tarily more and more apparent, and he did not 
 venture on return. The two guns had ere this 
 passed within the archway of the Cashmere Gate, 
 and as soon as the gunners were seen by Major 
 Abbott, he interrogated them as to the cause of 
 
 c 
 
18 OUTBEEAK AT MEERUT. [mAY, 
 
 their return. They only met his questions with 
 Tinsatisfactory and evasive replies. Major Abbott 
 seeing but one way open to him, viz., to obey 
 his original instructions, determined upon taldng 
 that course. He assembled his men to the number 
 of 12.0, directed the officers to fall in, and proceeded 
 to march towards cantonments, bidding the guns to 
 follow. The 'Zlth had hardly advanced 100 yards 
 from the gate when the 38th N. I., with a rush, 
 closed it, thus preventing the egress of the guns. 
 This done, they commenced deliberately shooting 
 down the officers of the 74th N. I., who had not 
 succeeded in getting out. Captain Gordon was the 
 first to suffer. Lieutenant Revely was the next 
 in succession; but a moment before he expired, he 
 •emptied the contents of both barrels of a gun in his 
 possession into a knot of assembled sepoys. Ensign 
 Elton jumped into the ditch surrounding the city 
 wall, scrambled up the counterscarp, and made across 
 country to cantonments. Major Paterson, of the 54th 
 N. I., likewise managed to effect an escape. 
 
 Major Abbott, on hearing the sounds of musketry, 
 determined to return to the Cashmere Gate to the 
 rescue, but his men strongly objected, and the reasons 
 they gave were so forcible that he abandoned the 
 intention. And the merciless rebels continued firing 
 
1857.] MASSACEK AT CASHMERE GATE. 19 
 
 indiscriminately at the officers and ladies who had 
 congregated at the Cashmere Gate, and been left 
 behind. Lieutenant Osborn was thus struck in 
 the thigh; and Mrs. Forrest, the wife of one of the 
 gallant defenders of the Magazine, was wounded in 
 the right shoulder. This lady and her daughters, 
 and some others beside, eventually escaped. A 
 desire for plunder now seized the sepoys at the 
 main guard at the Cashmere Gate. Opening the 
 guns upon the retreating officers and ladies, as a 
 last mark of vengeance, which guns were only 
 distant from the fugitives about forty yards, they 
 rushed to the Treasury. This enabled several parties 
 to escape, who^might otherwise have been sacrificed. 
 
 The company at the Flag Staif Tower now deter- 
 mined upon falling back, if possible, some on Kurnaul 
 and Umballa, and others on Meerut. Carriages 
 were seen wending their way in the direction of 
 the KurnaxJ Road. There was a general flight. 
 To remain longer was simply to court certain death. 
 Among those who thus fled, numbers, after the 
 endurance of long exposure, severe hardships, and 
 many an imminent danger, eventually found a city 
 of refuge in Kurnaul, or Meerut, or Umballa; 
 others, again, cruelly perished on the road. 
 
 In dwelling on these painful occurrences, one 
 
 c 2 
 
20 OUTBREAK AT MEEEUT, [mAT, 
 
 thought constantly occupied my attention, until I 
 ohtained some satisfactory information on the sub- 
 ject. I could never account for the dilatory manner 
 in which the sepoys went about the work of mas- 
 sacre and rebellion. The magazine explosion did 
 not occur until the hour of three in the afternoon. 
 Many of the murders of officers belonging to native 
 regiments did not take place till the day had well 
 advanced, though I know the officers of the 54th 
 Regiment N. I. were slain at an early hour. The 
 general flight of the British from the Flag Staff 
 Tower was only a little before sunset. This delay 
 on the part of the sepoys belonging (to the native 
 regiments cantoned in Delhi always puzzled me. 
 It was very recently I chanced to meet with the 
 Deputy Collector, and mentioned to him my diffi- 
 culty. Of course, without his assistance, I cotdd con- 
 jecture many things both possible and probable ; such 
 as, for instance, the desire of plunder, which always 
 seizes a demoralized and disorganised army. But 
 the intelligence I received from him, and which he 
 states was furnished to him on the day of the' 11th of 
 May on very credible authority, is more satisfactory 
 and more certain. He says the King sent a sowaree 
 camel down to the Meerut road to report how near 
 the British troops were to his city. When the 
 
1857.] EXCITEMENT AT MEEETJT. 21 
 
 messenger returned, saying there were certainly 
 no European soldiers within twenty miles of Delhi, 
 the spirit of mutiny could restrain itself no longer. 
 It manifested itself in unmistakable ferocity, and a 
 scene of bloodshed and horror was inaugurated, over 
 the contemplation of which the heart grows sick. 
 
 Great was the excitement which prevailed in 
 Meerut between the 10th and 27th of May, the 
 day of my departure for camp. The causes of this 
 excitement were various. Small parties of refugees 
 from Delhi had to be welcomed and congratulated 
 on their escape from so apparently certain death. 
 And how any were ever permitted to escape is 
 a complete marvel. Then occurred the mutiny 
 in the ranks of the sappers and miners, in 
 which Captain Fraser, the commandant, lost his 
 life, and Colonel Hogge was wounded. The 
 mutineers in this case, however, were followed in 
 their flight towards Delhi by the Carabineers," who 
 charged them very gallantly, and cut up some 
 sixty or seventy of their number. Last of all, I 
 remember the fatal accident which befel the Acting 
 Magistrate.* 
 
 * A Johnston, Esq., C. S., one of the worthiest and best of men. 
 His death was occasioned by a fall from his horse; and in his 
 death Government sustained a very severe loss. 
 
22 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT. [MAT, 
 
 The school of instruction and institution of 
 tiie station belonging to the Bengal Artillery 
 Regiment had, by this time, become the resort 
 of men, women, and children. This is the self- 
 same place, where, as one of the Times fair 
 correspondents tells you, "Ladies who were mere 
 ' formal acquaintances now wring each other's 
 hands with intense sympathy." Thither every 
 one flocked for security, because it was any- 
 thing but certain that the mutineers from Delhi 
 might not come out from thence and attack us. 
 Every bungalow or dwelling-house was deserted, 
 for the night, at any rate, and no one dreamt of 
 sleeping beneath his own roof. 
 
 The reports and rumours circulated at our place 
 of refuge were most bewildering : one day we were 
 all to be poisoned by the native servants ; the next 
 we were all to be murdered on the anniversary of 
 some Mahomedan feast ; indeed every sort of 
 unfortunate prediction was promulgated. But I 
 should hope very few really entertained such fears, 
 and that those few who might have done so were 
 ladies; among whom the prevalence of fear was 
 natural enough, and pardonable also, considering the 
 horrors all of them had heard of, and some few of 
 them had seen. 
 
1857.J DEPAETimE FROM MEEETJT. 23 
 
 At length the 27th of May arrived, when the 
 small detachment of troops from this station 
 marched out of quarters to take the field. The 
 night was dark; the moon was late in rising. 
 It was the commencement of camp life to me, and 
 I had many and strange thoughts filling my mind; 
 while I dwelt with pleasure on happy anticipa- 
 tions of the future, I could not altogether divest 
 myself of some feelings of misgiving and pain. 
 We marched all night and halted by day. The 
 halts were soon after sunrise. After three nights' 
 marching we reached Ghazeeooddeennuggur, a small 
 but very strongly-fortified position on the river 
 Hindun, near which we took up our encampment. 
 
 It was now the 30th of May. The hot winds were 
 prevailing, and both man and beast in camp were 
 feeling their power and intensity. The presence of 
 an enemy nearer to us than Delhi, which was a 
 distance of some nine or ten miles, never occurred 
 to any one. Indeed^ why should such a thought 
 occur, when our vedettes were on the look out and 
 reported nothing ? Numbers of our ofiicers, likewise^ 
 led by curiosity, had either strolled on foot or ridden 
 on horseback, soon after our arrival, in the imme'- 
 diate vicinity of the camp ground, and saw nothing ? 
 No wonder, then, we should imagine ourselves out 
 
24 OUTBEEAK AT MEEKUT. [mAT, 
 
 of harm's reach; at any rate for the present. The 
 day was passed as weary men, I presume, generally 
 pass a hot day In camp, in the plains of India — in 
 conversation and in sleep. It was nearing four 
 o'clock when the vedette rode in, and announced the 
 fact that we were about to be attacked. The news 
 took us by surprise, and the bugles of the British 
 camp had barely time to call to arms, when the 
 enemy's artillery opened upon us. The Rifles had 
 scarcely formed, when anieighteen-pounder shot came 
 bounding into camp. . This shot took off one leg of 
 each of two native pklkee-bearers, who were sitting 
 at the tent door of the^^arabineers hospital. 
 
 Immediately upon this, two companies of the 
 Rifles moved towards the Suspension Bridge erected 
 over the Hindun, followed by a troop of Carabineers. 
 The Horse Artillery went to the right of our 
 encampment, and Scott's Battery took a position 
 somewhat under the bridge. The two heavy guns 
 in camp opened on the enemy's guns, which. were 
 posted at the toll-bar at the end ..of a causeway 
 about 600 yards long. The remainder of the Rifles 
 moved up in support of the two companies which 
 first left camp ; and as soon as these two companies 
 crossed the bridge, they opened on the enemy's guns, 
 keeping close to either wall of the causeway, and 
 
1857.] BATTLE OF THE HINDUK 25 
 
 steadily advancing, supported by the Carabineers. 
 The other companies coming up, threw out skir- 
 mishers on the right and on the left, advancing 
 on a village which was keeping up a heavy fire 
 upon them. The remainder of the Carabineers, 
 with Tombs' troop of Horse Artillery, followed 
 down the causeway in support. 
 
 The gallant Colonel of the Royal Rifles had 
 been all this while advancing with the two com- 
 panies of his distinguished regiment, which were 
 first to move out of camp; and when these two 
 companies were within eighty yards of the guns, 
 he gave the order to, charge. The charge was 
 made in a most gallant manner; the enemy were 
 now seen deserting their guns. This result was 
 partly attributable to an admirable flank movement 
 of our artillery, under the able direction of that 
 excellent officer (now, alas! no more), Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Murray Mackenzie, and partly to the very 
 effective fire of the Enfield Rifle. Presently an 
 explosion was heard. One of the enemy's tumbrils 
 had blown up. It was an act of one of themselves, 
 in the moment of their despair, and just as victory 
 was smiling upon our arms. The guns were now 
 taken. The honour of their capture belonged 
 exclusively to the 1st Battalion of 60th Royal 
 
26 OUTBEBAK AT MEEETJT. [mAY, 
 
 Eifles, and more particularly to D Company of 
 that regiment. Only a moment before it bad been 
 bravely led by Captain F. Andrews, who was in the 
 act of cheering his men to the charge, when, as he 
 was calling to his men " Come on D, come on D," 
 he was suddenly removed, together with several of 
 his brave and faithful followers, from the scene of 
 conflict: not being permitted to reap the honour 
 which was their unquestionable due. The officers 
 that night drank in solemn silence to the memory 
 of the brave departed; and from the manner in 
 which the toast was proposed by Dr. Innes, the 
 surgeon of the regiment, and received by every 
 officer and member of the mess, I am sure, from 
 his gallantry and other estimable qualities, that the 
 memory of poor Andrews will be long and fondly 
 cherished by them. 
 
 The battle was not of long duration, and the 
 operations of that day reflect the greatest credit 
 upon Brigadier Wilson, who commanded, and upon 
 every arm of the service under his command. 
 Every officer and man did his duty both nobly 
 and well; and to this fact (never, of course, for- 
 getting the Divine blessing), the victory of that 
 day may be attributed. Seven himdred, Englishmen 
 put to flight a disciplined army of more than seven 
 
1857.] BATTLE OF THE HINDIIN. 27 
 
 times their number, and entrenched within so strong 
 a native village, that if you would only garrison it 
 with two companies of the Rifles, no British regiment 
 in the service would be able to drive the occupants 
 from their hold, or scarcely a man of the attacking 
 regiment leave the place with his life. 
 
 The guns taken were five in number, and out of 
 the five two were of heavy calibre. The skirmishers 
 advanced into the village, and drove the enemy out. 
 While in the act of relinquishing the village them- 
 selves, the Rifles found about fifty of the enemy 
 concealed in a ditch, not one of whom was permitted 
 to escape. After the capture of the guns, Tombs' 
 troop and four companies of the • Rifles, with the 
 Carabineers, moved round to the rear of the village 
 in question, and opened fire upon it. One of the 
 four companies of Rifles veered round to the enemy's 
 position in order to set it on fire, and gradually work 
 their way completely through it. But the intense 
 heat of the weather, aggravated and increased con- 
 siderably by the fiery flames, which were consuming 
 the village, rendered the task utterly impracticable. 
 Moreover, many of the villages of Hindostan are 
 very intricate places, wherein numbers of men may 
 be unnecessarily lost, without recdving any com- 
 mensurate good in return for the loss sustained. 
 
28 OUTBEEAK AT MEEEUT. [^AT, 
 
 Hence the original intention was abandoned. Never- 
 theless, the majority of the attacking force, which 
 had come out of Delhi, was driven again within 
 its walls; after sustaining a very severe loss in 
 killed and wounded, and leaving behind them not 
 only their guns, but carts full of entrenching tools 
 and sand bags : these were demonstrative proofs to 
 us, that had we been only a day later in our arrival 
 at the Hlndun, we should have experienced more 
 difficulty in dislodging them from their entrenched 
 position. 
 
 The 31st of May, 1857, was a Sunday. It was 
 moreover, Whitsunday. Its opening hours were 
 solemnized by the burial of the dead. The looks 
 of mourners standing around the spot which was 
 selected to be the resting place of that which was 
 mortal of the brave departed, betokened how genuine 
 and universal was the sorrow felt upon the occasion. 
 A babool tree, a little in the rear, and a mile stone, 
 (either the eighth, ninth, or tenth from Delhi,) a 
 little above, and situated on the main road between 
 Meerut and Delhi, mark the spot. There we laid 
 them to resolve into their original elements — " earth 
 to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust — in sure 
 and certain hope of the Resurrection to Eternal 
 life." There was no church parade that day. 
 
1857.] SECOND FIGHT AT THE HINDTIN. 29 
 
 i Another attack was expected, and about midday it 
 took place. At that hour appearances of the enemy 
 on the other side of the suspension bridge, be- 
 came manifest; the bugles accordingly sounded the 
 alarm. Thereupon two guns advanced across the 
 bridge, supported by a troop of Carabineers, and 
 took up a position at the toll-bar. The Royal 
 Rifles followed half way down the causeway, which 
 has been already mentioned in yesterday's proceed- 
 ings, detaching skirmishers to the left in order to 
 attack a village in that direction. Just at this 
 moment the gallant Captain Rosser, in charge of the 
 troop of Carabineers at the toll-bar, rode up and 
 said to the Colonel of the Rifles, "I am a target, 
 sir, for the men in the village." Upon receipt of 
 this intelligence, .Colonel Jones advanced with two 
 companies of ^ his own men, beyond the position 
 already noticed as taken up by the guns and the 
 troop of Dragoon Guards ; then he wheeled into line, 
 and proceeded to make an attack on the obnoxious 
 village. There he and [his men ["remained for two 
 hours, under a very heavy fire of cannon and 
 musketry; but the intensity of the afternoon's sun, 
 aggravated considerably by the smouldering remains 
 of ricks and rubbish within the village, rendered it 
 very uncomfortable to remain there any longer. 
 
30 OUTBEEAK AT MEERUT, [MAT, 
 
 Accordingly, it was evacuated, with the intention 
 on the part of the Colonel to take his men to the 
 front; where, ia his judgment, they might have 
 proved more serviceable, and he less inconvenienced 
 by the heat. He had hardly, however, proceeded 
 to the execution of his intention, when he received 
 orders from Brigadier Wilson to hold the village. 
 
 In obedience to this command, Captain Wilton 
 was left in charge of the two companies of Rifles, 
 who returned to their original quarters, and kept 
 possession of the village, while the Colonel himself 
 rode to the front. Our skirmishers were keeping 
 up a brisk fire, before which the enemy were steadily 
 retiring. Presently a tremendous shower of grape 
 was directed against our front. This was the signal 
 for the enemy to limber up their guns, and retire at 
 a gallop. Now the whole force changed front to the 
 right, and attacked the village on the right of the 
 skirmishers ; holding, at one and the same time, the 
 road, and destroying the village by fire. Neverthe- 
 less, the enemy could not be followed up by us ; our 
 men being completely overcome by the long con- 
 tinued and harassing labours of the day, together 
 with the efiects of the excessive heat upon the human 
 system. 
 
 Only those present on this occasion, can form any 
 
1857.] SECOND FIGHT AT THE HrNDinST. 31 
 
 idea of the power of the rays of the sun during the 
 day. They smote like the fiery blasts of the furnace. 
 The sufferings of the soldiers must have been some- 
 thing terrible, and beyond anything which they had 
 ever experienced, in or out of India, before. Thirst, 
 as a necessary consequence, was almost insatiable, 
 and the intolerableness of it was greatly enhanced 
 hj the impossibility of relieving it in sufficient 
 degree. The indefatigable exertions of Surgeon 
 Innes, of the 60th Rifles, in which he received active 
 co-operation from Ensign Everard A. Lisle Phillips, 
 of the 11th Bengal N. I., orderly officer to Colonel 
 Jones, to alleviate this portion of the soldiers' suffer- 
 ings, were -praiseworthy beyond measure; and the 
 real satisfaction which both these gentlemen must 
 have felt at the success which attended their 
 combined efforts, is easier imagined than de- 
 scribed. 
 
 Amid all this heat the fight was at its very fiercest. 
 Moreover, it continued very long. Some were sun- 
 stricken, some slain, and a few, whose cruel thirst 
 induced them to slake it with water provided by the 
 enemy, in vessels containing strong corrosive poison, 
 were thus deprived of life. But all circumstances 
 duly considered — the enemy's numbers, their vast 
 resources, the season of the year, and our own posi- 
 
32 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT.' [mATj 
 
 tion, whicli was essentially distinguished for its 
 absence of all cover — the casualties of the day were 
 comparatively very few, and our success was signal 
 and complete* 
 
 Amongst our losses was Lieutenant H. G-. Perkins, 
 of the 2nd Troop of the 1st Brigade of Horse Artil- 
 lery, a very excellent and efficient young officer ; who 
 fell, I believe, while in the act of laying one of his 
 troop guns. One moment he was a living, thinking, 
 speaking agent, and the next he had passed away 
 from the presence of the strife of men; in the 
 operations of which, during the greater portion of 
 two consecutive days, he had taken, in common with 
 his troop captain, the distinguished Major Tombs, 
 a prominent and very honourable part. His death 
 was noticed in orders by the Brigadier commanding 
 the force, in terms which his conduct richly merited, 
 and which convincingly show that he was valued 
 not a whit less by his own arm of the service, than 
 he was esteemed by the force generally. His mortal 
 remains rest in peaceful slumbers, which now only 
 the blasts of the archangel's trump shall disturb, 
 near the grave of the gallant Andrews. 
 
 Poor young Napier of the 60th Rifles was also 
 dangerously wounded during the same engagement, 
 and lost his leg immediately upon being brought into 
 
1857.] DEATH OF LIEUT. NAPIEE. 33 
 
 camp, and subsequently also his life, from the effects 
 of the wound at Meerut. This brave officer, though 
 young in years, was considered to be a most promising 
 soldier. Gallantry was a conspicuous feature of his 
 character, and the buoyancy of his youthful spirits 
 led him to expose himself on many an occasion very 
 nobly, though perhaps unnecessarily : but even that 
 was a fault, if fault it may be called, in the right 
 direction, and one which the increase of years and 
 experience would have chastened. I am certain 
 from what I saw of him in his moments of trial, 
 and during a very severe medical operation, that had 
 his life only been spared, and his wound admitted of 
 his continuance in the service, he would have proved 
 himself a very distinguished member of her -Majesty's 
 army. It was touching, indeed, to hear, as I heard, 
 the laments of this soldier-boy, when he began to 
 realize the heavy loss he had sustained, the severity 
 of his wound, and the probable effect which that 
 wound might have on his future military career. 
 With tears, many and bitter tears, which only a real 
 soldier like himself can shed, he repeatedly said, 
 with great vehemence of manner, and an equal 
 amount of transparent sincerity, " I shall never lead- 
 the Rifles again. I shall never lead the Rifles again."^ 
 This was among the bitterest of his regrets. His 
 
 D 
 
34 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT, [MAT, 
 
 wound — its dangerous nature and its painfulness, 
 were trifles, in his estimation, in comparison with 
 the fears which he felt respecting the blighting of 
 his prospects as a soldier, and in anticipation of 
 severance from his regiment. But good and brave 
 as young Napier was, he was but one, to my certain 
 knowledge, of a small band of very young officers 
 belonging to this incomparable regiment, who vied 
 with each other in a spirit of the friendliest emulation, 
 each trying to excel the other in the faithful and 
 manly discharge of their duty. 
 
 This regiment was my home in camp: I have 
 seen it under all circumstances. I have noticed the 
 conduct of its officers, and I have observed the disci- 
 pline pre-eailing in its ranks, in cantonments, in camp, 
 and also when actually engaged in the field, and such 
 as my opinion is worth I give it freely and honestly. 
 I regard it as unquestionably one of the very best 
 schools in which a young soldier can be trained; 
 and whether as a parent or as a Christian minister, 
 without a moment's misgiving, I would say, if a son 
 of mine must be a,nd will be a soldier, I hope he 
 may have the good fortune to learn his profession, 
 and continiiously exercise it too, in no other regiment 
 than the 60th Royal Rifles. 
 
 During the siege there was less heard of this 
 
1857.] SEEYICES OF 60th EIFLES. 35 
 
 corps, and the noble part it took in the operations 
 tefore Delhi, than perhaps of any other regiment 
 composing the force ; though its claims were univer- 
 sally acknowledged and appreciated by the whole 
 besieging army. It contributed more than a lion's 
 share towards the successful termination of the con- 
 flict in which we were engaged; and while other 
 regiments had the pre-eminence in numbers in the 
 mortality tables from disease, no corps, I can safely 
 say, is able to show such an overwhelming majority 
 of '' killed in action, " in the column headed " Cause 
 of Death," in the camp burial register, as the 1st 
 Battalion of the 60th Royal Rifles. 
 
 Nor was this the result of any careless indifierence 
 for life manifested by this regiment over every 
 other in the field. The regiment certainly never 
 shrank from danger, nor ever once turned in the day 
 of battle. Wherever exposure was necessary, the 
 rifleman exposed himself, without misgiving or fear ; 
 and yet, I am equally certain, that not a man of 
 them forgot, after the first two days' experience at 
 Hindun, the vital principles strongly inculcated upon 
 the students in every rifle regimental school. Never- 
 theless, from the arduous posts which they occupied 
 upon every occasion, and the unflinching fidelity- 
 with which they always held them, their losses 
 
 D 2 
 
36 OUTBREAK AT MEERUT. [mAT, 
 
 from real accidents of war were infinitely greater 
 than from any other cause, and more than in any 
 other regiment. But in saying thus much of this 
 corps, I repudiate all intention of detracting in any 
 measure from the well-earned reputation of every 
 other regiment in the force, whether secured in 
 previous engagements, or during the few last months 
 of our encampment before Delhi, and the storming 
 operations which concluded them. 
 
 During the remainder of our stay at the Hindun 
 we were unmolested; and I think we tarried there 
 some three or four days, whether more or less I 
 cannot say. After that we had some long and 
 harassing marching across country, and by roads that 
 are in reality no roads at all. Upon one occasion 
 of marching, we left the last encamping ground at 
 half past six or seven in the evening, and never 
 halted, or I should rather say, never encamped again 
 until one o'clock the next afternoon. I do not think 
 the cattle had water during all that time, while the 
 men were very little better off; and it was then 
 in the hottest days of J une. 
 
 Nothing worthy of record occurred between the 
 dates of the last fight and our junction with the 
 main army, originally commanded by His Excellency 
 General the Honourable George Anson, who died of 
 
1857.] AEEIVAL AT ALEEPOEK 37 
 
 cholera on the 27th of May, at Kiirnaul. The mono- 
 tony of the march was a little broken at Baghput, 
 where we crossed the Jumna by a bridge of boats 
 on the 6th of June ; and on Trinity Sunday, the 7th 
 June, we reached Aleepore, and joined army head- 
 quarters, which was commanded by Major-General 
 Sir H. W. Barnard, K.C.B. 
 
38 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 THE SIEGE OP DELHI. 
 
 The camp was struck at one o'clock on Monday 
 morning the 8th of June, preparatory to an advance 
 on the enemy's entrenched position at Badlee Ki 
 Serai. We had the certainty of an engagement at 
 sunrise: in fact the march was timed for this 
 express purpose. The army left Aleepore in array 
 of battle, and formed as follows : — The advance 
 column consisted of artillery and cavalry, the 3rd 
 Troop of the 3rd Brigade of Horse Artillery, under 
 command of. Major Frank Turner, four guns of the 
 2nd Troop of 1st Brigade, under the command of 
 Major Tombs, and three squadrons of H. M.'s 9th 
 Lancers. The artillery command devolved on Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Murray Mackenzie, and the whole 
 column was placed under the command of Brigadier 
 Hope Grant, C.B., commanding the Cavalry Brigade. 
 The second column consisted of one squadron of 
 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), four heavy guns 
 in position on the road, a party of sappers, chiefly 
 
1857.] ATTACK OF BADLEE la SEEAI. 39 
 
 Europeans, with entrenching tools, four guns of Major 
 Scott's Battery, H.M.'s 75th Foot, and 1st European 
 Bengal Fusiliers. Lieutenant Chesneywas the engi- 
 neer officer appointed to command the party of sappers. 
 
 The third column consisted of the 1st Battalion of 
 60th Eoyal 'Rifles, the 2nd European Bengal Fusi- 
 liers and the Sirmoor Battalion, a party of sappers 
 under Lieutenant Salkeld of the Engineers, 2nd 
 Troop of the 3rd Brigade, under Captain Money, 
 and a squadron of H. M.'s 9th Lancers. 
 
 The rear guard was commanded by Major Cobbe, 
 of 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and consisted of one 
 squadron of 6th Dragoon Guards, one Company of 
 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers, and two guns of 
 Major Scott's Battery. The rear guard assembled 
 in front of the siege train. 
 
 This was the extent of our force ; but it would be 
 a mistake to suppose that any of the European regi- 
 ments named were present in their integrity : not a 
 single corps on the 8th of June was at anything like 
 its full strength. The advance column took a road 
 to the right, so as to come upon the left flank of 
 the enemy; other two columns, the first of which 
 was commanded by Brigadier Showers and the second 
 by Brigadier Graves, moved fully half an hour after 
 the advance column. 
 
40 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 At grey dawn of morning the enemy opened 
 fire upon us. Our watclies told half past four. 
 The din of war commenced, and once commenced, 
 did not cease until late in the afternoon. The 
 enemy showed great skill in the selection of his 
 position. Nothing could have been better than the 
 sites of his batteries, and complete, protection was 
 afforded by serais and gardens surrounding. There 
 was the most secure cover for them; and, added 
 to this, they had the advantage of an intimate 
 acquaintance with the locality. The practice of 
 their artillery was excellent; they had the range 
 to a nicety, and their fire was rapid, and scarcely 
 unbroken for a moment. There can be no question it 
 was telling with deadly effect on our advance column. 
 
 Presently the order was given to charge their 
 guns. This arduous duty fell to the lot of H. M.'s 
 75th Foot. Nothing could possibly surpass the dis- 
 tinguished gallantry of this corps ; they mounted 
 the bastion under the direct fire of the rebels' guns, 
 and carried them at the point of the bayonet: in 
 doing so they lost in all nineteen killed and forty- 
 three wounded, including both oflScers and men. 
 It was just under the brow of the bastion, advancing 
 with his company, that Alfred Harrison, a lieutenant 
 in the 75th, nobly fell, after receiving two wounds 
 
1857.] REBELS DEFEATED. 41 
 
 (the first of which he never heeded) in the moment 
 of victory. He found a grave on the field of battle 
 with numbers of others, who fell with him. The 
 gallant 9th Lancers now charged the enemy's field 
 pieces, which they took in brilKant style, and suc- 
 cessfully turned them on the retreating rebels. The 
 2nd Infantry Brigade had by this time come up in 
 line. 
 
 Success followed success. Progress was the order 
 of the day. The enemy were driven back. We 
 captured twelve guns, three of which number were 
 heavy ones, besides all their ammunition and stores 
 and tents. Apparently the traitors were in the act 
 of cooking their first meal when the attack com- 
 menced. The whole force kept steadily advancing, 
 until we reached the high open plain, on the side 
 of the canal nearest Kurnaul, when a halt was 
 proclaimed. It was thereupon determined to ad- 
 vance across the canal through cantonments, and 
 take the heights above them. The Royal Rifles 
 moved to the left and broke into skirmishing order, 
 advancing onwards to the canal, which was at this 
 season of the year fordable. Crossing the canal, 
 and advancing up the rocky face of the hill, round 
 shot and grape came pouring in very thickly. On 
 crownmg the heights and descending the other side. 
 
42 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 the Rifles advanced a short way, when the colonel 
 of the regiment caused his bugles to sound " Left 
 shoulders forward;" this was one of the most effective 
 movements of the day, as it completely outflanked 
 the enemy on the heights. At the same time 
 Captain Money's troop guns opened fire from the road 
 crowning the heights, on the left side of the Flag 
 Staff Tower. The guns on the heights were now 
 captured at the charge. The other brigades moved 
 round by the right, and did excellent service; the 
 particulars of which I have, however, no record of, 
 nor can I get details from any authentic source. 
 Nevertheless, it was fully admitted on many occasions 
 in my hearing, that the conduct of the whole of 
 the troops on this memorable day was admirable 
 and unexceptionable. After the general engagement 
 of the day, the enemy made a contemptible effort 
 to retake the guns on the heights ; but our men 
 very soon repulsed the attack. 
 
 The day was now fast declining; but before the 
 sun sank, the parade-ground of the native regiments 
 in the cantonments of Delhi was covered with tents, 
 and the British flag waving in the breeze, indicated 
 the site of the head-quarters of the British army. 
 Our losses were considerable. They fell chiefly on 
 H. M.'s 9th Lancers, and H. M.'s 75tk Foot, who 
 
1857.] DEATH OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL. 43 
 
 bear on their colours (which were carried this day 
 into action with unflinching courage by Ensign 
 G. H. Row), the significative emblem of the Royal 
 Tiger. The army had lost its Adjutant-General, 
 Colonel Charles Chester, very early in the conflict, 
 whose remains, with those of Captain Claud W. 
 Russell, we committed to their last resting-place, in 
 the presence of several, if not all of the officers of 
 the head-quarters of the army, just before the setting 
 in of night ; shortly after which, worn with exposure 
 and fatigue, some of us fell asleep. But by far the 
 greater portion passed the night on picquet duty, 
 though all were equally harassed with the labours of 
 the preceding day. 
 
 There were, however, circumstances in connection 
 with the proceedings of this day, which deserve 
 record, and I am sure will be read with the deepest 
 emotion and the liveliest interest. I have already 
 observed, that early during the day, the Adjutant- 
 General of the army was killed, and his horse under 
 him. I remember well the painful spectacle, which 
 his lifeless body, as it lay prostrate on the ground, 
 imder the brow of the mound beneath which he 
 had received his mortal wound, presented to the 
 eye of the bystander. By this time I had grown 
 familiar with sights which one never sees except on 
 
44 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 a campaign; but this familiarity had not, on this 
 occasion at least, blunted the sensibilities of my 
 nature. I felt acutely for the departed; and I 
 fancied I realized something of the feelings with 
 which the unexpected intelligence of his death would 
 be received by those nearest and dearest to him. 
 
 Such feelings would have been yet more acute 
 had I known, as I looked upon the corpse, that the 
 Adjutant-General actually lived for a few moments 
 after being woxmded, and bade Captain Barnard, the 
 son of the General commanding the force at the time, 
 raise his head, that he might catch a glimpse of the 
 wound. Colonel Herbert, of H. M.'s 75th, tells me 
 this was a positive fact ; and as soon as Chester saw 
 the nature of the wound which had been inflicted 
 upon him, and was convinced of its being mortal, he 
 coolly, and yet kindly, expressed his convictions 
 to General Barnard's son ; begging the generpus 
 youth, who would stay to minister to his dying 
 moments, to care for himself, and leave him, a dying 
 man, to his fate: he then expired. My former 
 reflections, without the knowledge of these touching 
 facts, so characteristic of the good and brave soldier, 
 the least selfish of men, cast a deep gloom over me ; 
 they disposed me, in spite of the excitement conse- 
 quent on the din of war, which was raging almost 
 
1857.] A DYING SOLDIER. 45 
 
 on every side, to dwell on subjects befitting so 
 solemn an occasion, when nearly every event and 
 sight of the day were preaching loudly and con- 
 vincingly from the text : " In the midst of life we 
 are in death." 
 
 A summons from an orderly officer of one of the 
 brigadiers, who chanced to meet with me, had 
 attracted me to the spot. I was requested by him 
 to address a few words of comfort to another officer, 
 who had been smitten down by the same shot which 
 killed the Adjutant-General. He was mortally 
 wounded, and his death was only a question of time. 
 Very nearly the whole of the leg above the knee 
 had been carried away, and the femoral artery was 
 dreadfully shatterfed. A tourniquet was all that 
 medical skill could suggest to save the patient from 
 immediately bleeding to death ; it was accordingly 
 applied, and protracted life for some few hours. 
 I found the patient extended on the ground. Many 
 were ministering to him, and showing the deepest 
 sympathy for his sufferings. Nothing could exceed 
 the interest manifested on behalf of the sufferer by 
 doctors, by friends, by all. But all keenly felt that 
 every effort was unavailing to stay the fast ebbing 
 sands of life. It was evident that he must die. 
 Under these impressions I approached the dying 
 
46 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 soldier. I had no previous acquaintance witli him, 
 and I felt the disadvantage of this in my ministerial 
 position; for I had his confidence to gain, before 
 I could hope to do him the least good, or speak so 
 freely and fully to him as the emergency of the 
 occasion and a faitliful discharge of ministerial duty 
 imperatively demanded. Fortunately, however, he 
 was a man of warm feelings, and a tender heart ; 
 and a little kindness soon won him. I saw the 
 impression which had been made, when I was about 
 to leave him for a moment. In faint and feeble 
 tones, consequent on the excessive loss of blood sus- 
 tained by his system, he called me back, and bade 
 me not leave him. I had no intention of doing so ; 
 but some other wounded had attracted my attention, 
 and as several persons were near, I could hold no 
 close communion with him at the moment : I was 
 simply deferring matters for a short time. The 
 exigencies of the service called even his friends 
 away, and presently he and I were left alone. 
 
 Never shall I forget the anxiety of his look or 
 the gentle pressure of his hand, or the power of 
 those words, when he said to me sadly and slowly, 
 calling me by my name, " Is there hope for a great 
 sinner?" When I replied affirmatively, and very 
 confidently, he objected, saying, "But you don't 
 
1857.] HOPE FOE THE SDfKEE. 47 
 
 know what a sinner I have been, and am at this 
 present moment." Then he hegan, with tears, to 
 reproach himself, calling up the advantages of early 
 education, which he said he had despised, the oppor- 
 tunities he had lost, the sins he had committed ; 
 and what seemed to give poignancy to his sorrow, 
 was the bitter recollection of the fact, that his trans- 
 gressions had been against light and love, and mercy 
 unboimded. As I witnessed this sight and listened 
 to these words my heart was stirred within me, and 
 I could not but weep ; but my tears were not altoge- 
 ther tears of sorrow. Deep was the impression ^^hich 
 his words made upon me, and that impression was, 
 " Here is a brand which will be plucked from the 
 burning." 
 
 I proceeded to open out to him fully the way of 
 justification as revealed in the pages of Inspiration. 
 He h'stened most attentively and most devoutly, as 
 I showed him by citations from Scripture, the great 
 truth which our self-love and self-righteousness 
 make us loath to learn, and lean upon as our only 
 hope; namely, that we are accounted righteous 
 before God, only for' the merits of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, and not for our own works 
 and deservings. This truth simply told, and exem- 
 plified by various references to ''The Brazen Ser- 
 
48 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 pent " in the Wilderness, and yet more fully enforced 
 in some of the more striking incidents of the case of 
 the penitent and dying thief upon the Cross, seemed 
 to give him unspeakable comfort. He appeared to lay 
 hold of these things, just as one may fancy a drown- 
 ing man would grasp the rope which some friendly 
 hand had directed towards him, and which, if he 
 fail to seize, he would be carried away and for ever 
 lost. So, in my humble and fallible judgment, this 
 gallant but dying oiScer clung in his moments of 
 despondency and sorrow, and when his vital power 
 was h»urly on the wane, to the promises of pardon 
 in the Gospel. He looked towards the Cross, which 
 proclaims forgiveness to the guiltiest of the sons of 
 men, though, like the dying thief, they may have 
 clung to sin to the very last, and confessed his guilt 
 without extenuation or reserve. He admitted his 
 own obnoxiousness to eternal death, as the wages 
 of his own sin, and with my own ears I heard him 
 pray the "publican's prayer." Wherefore, then, 
 should I question that he obtained the publican's 
 mercy ? 
 
 My heart was then too full to suggest more than 
 that I should pray for him. He begged I would. 
 The sights and sounds of war were around and 
 about us. The roar of cannon told us both that the 
 
1857.] CONSOLATION IN DEATH. 49 
 
 conflict was still raging with unmitigated fury. But 
 amid all this din and confusion, the actual scene of 
 which was somewhat in advance of us, I caused the 
 dhoolie which bore him to be halted, and I knelt 
 beside the dying man ; and if I ever prayed in my 
 life, or ever knew what it was to pray, I prayed then. 
 The prayer was necessarily very short. It could 
 not possibly be long. Neither the place nor the 
 strength of the patient would admit of prolixity. 
 When ended, I charged the dhoolie bearers to carry 
 him forward, I was advancing all day by hia/gide, 
 walking with the dhoolies, stopping only now aud 
 again to give him and them water, whenever we 
 came near a well, and to quench my own thirst, 
 for the heat of the day was insufferably great. 
 
 My syce, with the pony which had been kindly lent 
 me, had deserted me, from fear of the presence of 
 round-shot and shell. A gun, which had also been 
 lent me, and was carried by a servant, in case of 
 necessity, had also vanished ; though both pony and 
 gun afterwards turned up in camp. 
 
 The patient whose case most interested me, and a 
 detail of which I have been giving, appeared very 
 unwilling for mef to leave him, if only for an instant, 
 and no sooner missed me than he sent his bearer to 
 me, who said, " My master calls for you." I always 
 
 E 
 
50 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jtTNE, 
 
 obeyed the summons as soon as possible after receiv- 
 ing it. I remember distinctly upon one occasion, 
 when I was thus summoned by his servant, he had 
 a most weighty question to put to me. I myself had 
 forgotten to allude to it, and I was very glad that 
 he had reminded me of my own negligence and 
 forgetfulness. It was this : " You have shown me 
 how I am to secure the pardon of my sins ; my past 
 experience of myself has taught me what confidence 
 to place in the fidelity of my own heart. This is not 
 the first time I have thought of religion, or resolved 
 to be religious. My nature is gay, my temper vola- 
 tile. I am essentially a creature of impulse. If the 
 mercy of God should restore me to health, what 
 security have I that I shall not return to my sins, as 
 the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed 
 to her wallowing in the mire ? " This was the sub- 
 stance of his remarks, not the actual words in which 
 he expressed himself. 
 
 It was now my privilege to teach him the 
 doctrine of sanctification ; and I felt the responsi- 
 bility attaching to my ministerial office, "^and the 
 necessity of a proper execution of it at this solemn 
 moment, more than ever I recollect to have ex- 
 perienced upon any former occasion, since the year 
 1846, when I was first called by the Bishop of Ely, 
 
1857.] SANCTIFICATION. 51 
 
 in Professor Scholefield's cliurch, St. Michael's, 
 Cambridge, to the holy order of deacon, and when 
 I heard the present Master of Jesus College preach 
 solemnly and faithfully from the text, " And no man 
 taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called 
 of God as was Aaron" — Hebrews v. 5. For, con- 
 sidering the awfnlness of my position, I must have 
 been less than man not to have realised it. Heite 
 was a student docUe, inquisitive, and earnest. I 
 knew full well it was the very last opportunity which 
 would probably be afforded me of speaking to him 
 respecting so great and vital a truth, for his appear- 
 ance betokened approaching dissolution; and my 
 excessive fatigue, consequent on walking for so many 
 hours in a broiling sun, and exposed to the prevailing 
 hot winds, made it necessary that I should first 
 mount a dog-cart which was near, and afterwards a 
 gun-carriage belonging to Major Scott's battery, and 
 so reach the spot selected for encagipment. 
 
 Ere I did this I showed him that sanctification is 
 the work of God no less than justification, and that 
 the former is the necessary consequence of the latter ; 
 in other words, that wherever God justifies He always 
 sanctifies, and that our sanctification is the most con- 
 clusive evidence of our justification; that the agent in 
 the work of sanctification is the Holy Spirit, and that 
 
 E 2 
 
52 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jtlNE, 
 
 His influences are promised to faith, and would be 
 given in answer to earnest and believing prayer, 
 which any sinner, despite the nature and extent of 
 his sins, should be led to oifer in the name of Jesus. 
 This he told me he regarded as a complete and satis- 
 factory answer to the doubts with which, up to this 
 time, he had been tormented. 
 
 ' I now gave directions to his servant to shield 
 him as much as possible from the rays of the sun, 
 which he felt and complained of frequently; but 
 there was really no help for it under our circum- 
 stances, and, considering the time of day and the 
 season of the year, everything that could be done 
 was done for him. His bearer appeared to be an 
 attentive and feeling man. 
 
 Shortly after this we parted; my friend, I hope, 
 to take refuge from the cares and miseries of this 
 mortal life, in Abraham's bosom; and I myself to 
 labour afresh, and with greater heart in the Lord's 
 vineyard: and more particularly, for the present at 
 least, in that portion of it to which I had been called 
 in God's good Providence, and at the request of our 
 late Commander-in-Chief, the Honourable George 
 Anson; which portion composed the British army 
 that had even yet to encamp before Delhi. 
 
 I never more saw Captain ' in life, but I looked 
 
1857.] POSITION OF THE CAMP. 53 
 
 upon liim in death ; and to do this I had to descend 
 into the grave after I had formally consigned him to 
 its custody. I simply lifted the sheet from his 
 face. It was unbound. This was all the coiBn we 
 could afford him. And though not apt to indulge 
 in fancies, or to place much reliance in appearances 
 after death, I thought, yea, I am confident, his 
 features were lighted up with a smile; and I may 
 perhaps be pardoned, if I am considered extravagant 
 in the thought, that I looked upon that smile as 
 expressive of the hope which he had in his death. 
 
 The enemy's policy soon peered out. It consisted 
 in harassing and wearing out our men by daily 
 attacks, and constant exposure to the sun. This 
 policy was made manifest on the very day after our 
 camp was pitched on the site where it remained 
 from the night of the 8th of June till the end of 
 September ; without exception, the very worst period 
 of the year for life in tents anjrwhere in the plains 
 of India, but more particularly on the parade-groUnd 
 of the Delhi cantonments, which all past experience of 
 native regiments had proved to be the most unhealthy 
 station for troops in the North- Western Provinces. 
 
 The ground on which our camp was pitched is 
 bounded in the rear by the canal, which had the 
 advantage of bridges on either extreme, and which 
 
54 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jFNE, 
 
 the enemy, previously to our approach, tried to 
 destroy, but only partially succeeded in the effort. 
 In the front it was defended by the heights or ridges 
 overlooking cantonments, and which we had taken 
 from the mutineers only the day before. On the 
 extreme right of our position was Subzi Mundi, 
 or the vegetable market; and nearer to camp, was 
 what we designated the Mound, where we after- 
 wards erected a battery of large guns, named the 
 " Mound Battery ; " on the extreme left of the camp 
 flowed the river Jumna. 
 
 We had batteries at the ''Mosque," at Hindoo 
 Rao's house, and the " Observatory," and some light 
 field-pieces at the Flag Staff Tower, almost on the 
 spot where Captain De Teissier planted his two guns 
 on the 11th of May, the day of the mutiny at Delhi. 
 These several batteries commanded the approaches 
 from the city. With the deficiency in numbers of 
 our force generally, it was utterly impossible to 
 advance nearer to the walls. The nearest battery 
 must have been at a distance of 1,500 yards, or 
 even upwards. Breaching was literally impossible 
 under, such circumstances, and with the ordnance 
 we had. The main picquet was at Hindoo Rao's 
 house, and was commanded from the very first 
 by Major Reid, of the Sirmoor Battalion, who, it is 
 
1857.] SIR JOHN LAWKENCE. 55 
 
 alleged, never left his post, even to come into camp, 
 from tlie time he assumed command of it till the 
 14th of September, the day of the storming opera- 
 tions, when he vras severely wounded at Kissen 
 Gunge. It would perhaps he impossible to single 
 out a more devoted or gallant officer than Major 
 Reid, or one more cool under the heaviest fire. 
 His picquet was literally his home. 
 
 I think it was on the 9 th of June that the 
 " Guides Corps " came into camp. This was the first 
 instalment of the Punjaub reinforcements, which Sir 
 John Lawrence, the " Chief Commissioner in the 
 Punjaub " sent to us from time to time. Without 
 such a man, at such a crisis, or in any other place 
 but the one which he fortunately occupied, I dread 
 to thuik what might have happened to the British 
 cause. Under God, it was Sir John's controlling 
 and master-mind which saved Upper India. Again 
 and again he robbed the province over which he 
 presides of its own legitimate and barely sufficient 
 military stays and supports, to feed the scanty 
 numbers of the Delhi Field Force, growing yet more 
 scanty still, and that daily, from constant engagement 
 with the enemy, and from losses by disease. 
 
 Too much cannot be said in praise of the " Guides 
 Corps." Of native regiments they are second to 
 
56 THE SIEGE OF DELHI, [jUNB, 
 
 none. Their services on the Peshawur frontier, 
 and in yarious parts of the Punjanb, has gained 
 them a well-earned reputation in India. And it 
 is reported that, upon the occasion of their march 
 towards Delhi, they travelled the entire distance 
 from Murdan, in Eusufzye, to the camp — not much 
 less than 600 British miles — in twenty-two days ; a 
 march which General Sir Harry Barnard believed 
 to have no parallel on record. Notwithstanding 
 this fact, the Guides were pronounced, at the 
 end of the march, by the officer commanding the 
 " Field Force," to be in perfect order, and fitted for 
 immediate service in the field ; the correctness of 
 which opinion was put to an impartial test, and 
 established beyond doubt, in a very short time after 
 their arrival among us. They went directly from 
 the fatigues of a harassing march to actual engage- 
 ment with the enemy below the heights, bravely 
 led by their Commander-in-Chief, Captain Daly. 
 
 A very dashing young officer with whom I had a 
 ministerial interview, the night before he passed away, 
 commanded the cavalry portion of the Guides, that 
 corps being composed of both cavalry and infantry. 
 As I have already said, the enemy engaged us 
 during the day. They attacked our main picquet 
 at Hindoo Rao — the key of our position — and 
 
1857.J BEATH OF LIEUT. BATTYE. 57 
 
 attempted to take our guns. The commandant of 
 tke Guides cavalry, young and valiant, the pride 
 of his men, of course took part in the fight, and was 
 alas! mortally wounded. His career was brief but 
 full of glory; indeed, it would be difficult to say 
 which was more glorious, his rising or his setting 
 sun. His devoti'on to his country shone very con- 
 spicuously and brilliantly, even in anticipation of 
 death. He seems to have been fond of classic quo- 
 tation; and, perchance, from frequent familiarity 
 with the authors of Greece and Rome in his boy- 
 hood and school-days, he imbibed the first inspira- 
 tions of that noble military spirit which afterwards 
 so pre-eminently distinguished him. Upon this 
 sorrowful occasion, as he lay languishing from his 
 wound, in camp, he exclaimed — a smile playing at 
 one and the same time upon his handsome and 
 manly countenance, — " Dulce et decorum pro patria 
 mori." Thus died, on the 10th of June, 1857, re- 
 joicing in the cause of his death, Quintin Battye, 
 one of the noblest of England's younger sons, a 
 simple lieutenant in the 56th Regiment Bengal 
 Native Infantry. 
 
 The first appearances of cholera in the camp 
 showed themselves early on the morning of the 
 9th of June. There had been a few cases along 
 
58 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 the line of march. Captam Howell, of the 1st 
 European Bengal FusiKers, died of this disease at 
 Aleepore, on the 7th of June. Two of the doctors, 
 the surgeon and assistant-surgeon of H. M.'s 75th 
 Foot, were simultaneously attacked on the morning 
 of the 9th. The two patients were striking con- 
 trasts. The one was a man of Herculean build. 
 His whole appearance indicated great strength; he 
 was tall of stature, of robust and apparently mus- 
 cular frame ; indeed, his physique reminded one 
 forcibly of the giants of old, of whom we read in 
 sacred and profane lore. He was a lion of a man. 
 The other was the very reverse, and how different 
 the destiny of each ; for one there was life, for the 
 other, death. 
 
 But the chief excellency of Surgeon Coghlan did 
 not merely consist in physical greatness, he was as 
 large in heart as in person, and to this fact the tes- 
 timony of the regiment was universal. It was in 
 every one's mouth, from the colonel commanding, 
 downwards, " Never had regiment such a doctor." 
 It seems he had cholera only a few days before this 
 last attack to which I am referring, aijd battled 
 successfully against it. The moment, however, he 
 was convalescent, he threw himself heart and soul 
 into his regimental charge. Report says of him. 
 
1857.J DE. COGHLAN'S DEATH-BED. 59 
 
 that he was most careful of every one hut himself. 
 With his own system, he seemed to believe that he 
 might take the greatest liberties. And, alas for 
 himself, his family, and the public service, he did 
 so once too often. His strong frame could not 
 withstand this double attack, and about 11 o'clock on 
 the night of the same day on which he was seized 
 with cholera, he expired. 
 
 By religion. Dr. Coghlan was a Roman Catholic ; 
 but, as Father Bertrand, a very old campaigner, who 
 served with the troops in the second Punjaub cam- 
 paign, a very worthy man, and the Roman Catholic 
 priest to the Delhi Field Force, had not tfieix arrived 
 in camp, I felt it my duty to visit the sufFerM*. In 
 going to his tent, I had my Bible with me, which I 
 took for the use of his Assistant-Surgeon, lying and 
 ■languishing of the same disease in the next tent. I 
 confess I felt a delicacy in tendering my minis- 
 trations to a Roman Catholic. After a little con- 
 versation, Dn Coghlan said to me spontaneously, 
 and without suggestion on my part, except probably 
 the sight of the Bible in my hand, " I have lived a 
 Roman Catholic, and if I die, I shall die a Roman 
 Catholic ; still, as there is as yet no priest present 
 with the force, read me a portion of the Bible. I 
 know and value its pages." I complied with this 
 
60 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUBE, 
 
 request, and when I had finished reading, he 
 repeated the Lord's Prayer with uplifted hands, and 
 in avery earnest and devout manner. 
 
 This trifling incident I mention for obvious reasons. 
 It was a comfort to me at the time to know that it is 
 not every member of the Church of Rome who ignores 
 the orders of the Anglican Church, though many do so. 
 And while I am conscious that just as much bigotry 
 prevails in the Church of England as in the Church 
 of Rome, I, as one of the ministers and members of 
 the former of the two churches, sigh for the advent 
 of those days, when, without the compromise of one 
 iota of principle on either side, except as the result 
 of honest conviction, the members of both Churches 
 may be drawn towards each other in the freedom 
 of friendly religious intercourse and argument, and 
 without any of that asperity which too often charac- 
 terizes the communications of both parties at the 
 present time. Let dogmatism distinguish neither, 
 and the good effects of the absence of this evil will 
 be sooner or later apparent to everyone, and the 
 sacred cause of truth will be materially benefited 
 thereby. Nevertheless, I believe there is a time 
 when, and a necessity under which, it is lawful, yea 
 imperative, to contend even for the faith once 
 delivered to the saints; but this contention, while 
 
1857.] HAKASSmG ATTACKS. 61 
 
 ctfaracterized by inflexibility of principle, should be 
 unexceptionable as to temper. Never contend on 
 the subject of religion, except in the spirit of 
 religion, which is love, and this is a maxim which 
 Christians will do well to observe in the determi- 
 nation of their difierences upon such points. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the pertinacity with which 
 the enemy continued their attacks. The earliest days 
 of encampment before Delhi were, unquestionably, 
 the most trying and harassing to our troops. The 
 poor fellows had no proper rest by night, the small- 
 ness of the force requiring so many for the ordinary 
 picquets, and admitting scarcely of any rehef for 
 any length of time together ; while those who were 
 in camp often slept under arms, not knowing the 
 moment when their services might be urgently 
 required. At first, it was literally nothing but 
 fighting by day, and watching and expecting to 
 renew the Conflict by night, and in the discharge of 
 both duties you could not fail, from frequent visits 
 to the picquets, to recognise the same hands ever- 
 lastingly employed in the same work. 
 
 We came to besiege Delhi, but we very soon learnt 
 that, in reality, we were the besieged, and the muti- 
 neers the besiegers. I have frequently heard num- 
 bers, shortly after our arrival in camp, question the 
 
62 • THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [jTJNE, 
 
 wisdom of so small a force assuming so proximate 
 a position to a city of such dimensions, with such 
 a population and such resources. These opinions, 
 considering the quarters from whence they came, 
 are entitled to great respect. To an unprofessional 
 man, and a civilian like myself, I freely confess it 
 did seem to savour of rashness to dream of the 
 capture of Delhi with little more than two battalions 
 of infantry, a small force of European cavalry, and 
 no great strength of artillery ; heside which, there 
 were some native troops ; but all, when put together, 
 both European and native, amounted to a very insig- 
 nificant number. 
 
 I think no general would have ventured on such 
 a course if the enemy within Delhi had been 
 European instead of Asiatic. For, while posterity 
 might have applauded his indomitable courage 
 and unbounded spirit of enterprise, they could have 
 said little for the judgment and prudence of an act 
 which would have entailed nothing less than the 
 complete annihilation of the whole army. And 
 even with the enemy we had to deal with, if they 
 had not been judicially blinded, and so acted con- 
 trary to every dictate of common-sense, simultaneous 
 attacks in the front and rear of the camp, continued 
 for any length of time together, and made moreover 
 
1857.] DOUBTS Am) MISGrvrPTGS. 63 
 
 in sufficient force, and not by dribletSj as was the 
 wont of our adyersaries, our troops, after making 
 the most ample allowances for Anglo-Saxon energy 
 and valoufj must have eventually sunk beneath 
 fatigue and exposure in combination. 
 
 On the other hand, there were those who affirmed 
 with much earnestness and apparent sincerity, that a 
 daring and dashing policy, even at the sacrifice of 
 every recognised and established military principle, 
 as advocated from long and large experience by some 
 of the best and most successful commanders that the 
 world has ever seen, was the only policy we could 
 pursue, under existing, circumstances. In fact, tha,t 
 it was both well and wise to do as we did, and to act 
 as we acted. Of course, with the issues of things 
 now before us, and success actually achieved, though 
 with considerable difficulty, these will remain open 
 questions to the end of time. But I cannot easily 
 forget that with daUy fights, and as many as three and 
 four engagements in a single day, together with our 
 decreasing numbers, and the enemy's constantly 
 increasing reinforcements, during the first fortnight 
 or three weeks of our existence before Delhi, people 
 naturally enough had their serious misgivings about 
 results, and these misgivings were not confined to 
 persons of insignificant position, but were shared, at 
 
64 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. [j™^' 
 
 least, to my certain knowledge, by one who took 
 as conspicuous a part as most men in the military 
 operations going on. 
 
 The operations of the 10th of June, so far as the 
 enemy's line of attack and our defence were con- 
 cerned, were a counterpart of those of the preceding 
 day. Hindoo Rao was again attacked in force, and 
 garden fighting in the neighbourhood of Subzi- 
 mundi was resumed; and although we lost many 
 a brave man in those gardens, we always succeeded 
 in dislodging the enemy, and occupying the position 
 for the moment. But it was not till somewhat later, 
 and when our actual losses forced the conviction of 
 the necessity of doing so upon us, that it was deter- 
 mined to permanently establish a picquet at Subzi- 
 mundi, and so prevent the recurrence of constant 
 fights on the same ground. 
 
 The fire of the enemy was very sharp on the 10th 
 of June. The British, however, quietly stood it, 
 awaiting their opportunity to repay the debt with 
 full interest. They allowed the enemy without the 
 walls to exhaust their ammunition, and then, with 
 the loud British cheer which never yet failed to 
 make the sepoy's craven heart to quail, they charged 
 the mutineers, and pursued them almost to the walls 
 of their own city. Every one now thought the 
 
1857.] NIGHT ALARMS. 65 
 
 labours of the day ended, and naturally enough 
 sighed for a night of undisturbed repose ; but, 
 alas ! in this they were hoping against hope. 
 
 At eleven p.m., the bugle sounded the alarm, and 
 the troops turned out. Fortunately the alarm in 
 the end, and after some long waiting and suspense, 
 proved false, and the fear unnecessary. But, to 
 show the state of anxiety which every one felt 
 more or less at this time, though no one dared to 
 confess it, even to himself, a certain corps, which 
 had very greatly distinguished itself only a day or 
 so before, and has often since given unquestionable 
 proofs of gallantry, was, either through forgetful- 
 ness or accident, not recalled with others, and the 
 poor fellows, from overwork, fell asleep while 
 standing on the ground. Who could resist sleep 
 that had been working as they had worked 
 the previous day! and, moreover, in yielding to 
 sleep they neglected no duty: they were simply 
 under arms as reserves and supports, and not as 
 picquets or guards. Presently some trifling acci- 
 dent roused their slumbers, and the men rushed 
 to their arms in consternation, believing the enemy 
 to be upon them, and so wounded, in their alstrm, 
 one of their own comrades. 
 
 The 11th of June — Barnaby day as we quaintly 
 
66 SIEGE OE DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 call It in Cambridge, where it would doubtless have 
 been much more pleasant to have been bodily pre- 
 sent, taking a bachelor of divinity's degree, than 
 grilling in camp before Delhi — passed off very 
 quietly. There was no attack on our position, in 
 any quarter of it; but the cannonading on both 
 sides was very heavy, although I do not think we 
 sustained any losses from the enemy. I know we 
 all thought it very fortunate to escape an attack: 
 it was more mercy than we had reason to expect 
 from the enemy, judging of him from his ante- 
 cedents. 
 
 The field force orders of this day contained one 
 very significant order, indicative of the fact that our 
 ammunition supplies for heavy ordnance were not 
 very abundant : at any rate it implied that we could 
 buy, with advantage to ourselves, some of the 
 enemy's thrown away 24-pounder round shot, which 
 might be brought into the artillery park by any 
 one at two annas a piece; of course to be used up 
 again by us. Ever after this the native camp 
 followers might be frequently seen risking the loss 
 of a limb, or even life itself, in order to earn a 
 few pice, and thus enrich themselves : this little 
 circumstance shows what dangers poverty or 
 avarice will force men to face, and for how 
 
1857.] ATTACK ON 12TH JUNE, 67 
 
 little, wlien it suits him, the native will venture 
 a great deal. At other times the very same 
 man will make a virtue of nothing, and plead 
 excuses ad infinitum, to escape the plainest and 
 easiest duties. Such is one phase of iiative cha- 
 racter in India. 
 
 The 12th of June was nearly as important a 
 day as any in the annals of the siege. The enemy 
 had evidently been reserving themselves for a 
 vigorous effort, and the calm which distinguished 
 the 11th was only the prelude to the storm which 
 raged on the 12th. Though apparently idle and 
 listless for twenty-four hours previously, or at 
 least as long as the sun illumined the heavens 
 during the preceding day, the enemy were up and 
 acting under cover of the succeeding night, making 
 a sneaking advance along the whole front and 
 both the flanks of our position. Up to this date 
 we had no picquet further advanced on the left 
 than the Flag Staff Tower, and at this picquet 
 it is universally admitted there was a partial 
 surprise at sunrise, or soon after. This surprise 
 is attributed to some trifling oversight, in a some- 
 what premature removal of the sentries coming off 
 picquet, before the arrangements of the ordinary 
 reliefs of the day (which were then in course of 
 
 F 2 
 
68 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JTTNB,^ 
 
 taking place) had been completed. In consequence 
 of this, tlie enemy advanced a little too near the 
 guns without being observed; or, perhaps, which 
 is equally likely, the policy of the officer in com- 
 mand was to let them advance within close range 
 of our ■ musketry and then receive theiri with a 
 tremendous volley. But whichever way it was, 
 the guns were as nearly as possible captured. 
 The rebels evinced more than ordinary daring, 
 coming up in spite of the steady resistance made 
 against them by the picquet : and but- for the 
 timely succour of two companies of the Rifles, 
 who had to ascend with all practicable speed the 
 hill leading up from cantonments and camp to the 
 Flag Staff Tower, the extent of the mischief that 
 might have been committed by the enemy on the 
 camp is easier imagined than described. But the 
 Enfield rifle in the hands of such men as those of 
 H. M.'s 1st Battalion of the 60th Rifles, cooled 
 the courage of the assailants, and caused them to 
 retreat somewhat faster than they had advanced; 
 but not before they had inflicted some severe losses 
 on our side. 
 
 Upon this occasion. Captain Knox of H. M.'s 
 75th Foot, and several men of the same regiment, 
 were killed. That officer had only a moment before 
 
1857.] SITE OF THE METCALFE PICQUET. 69 
 
 shot with his own hand one of the enemy, when his 
 eye caught sight of a sepoy levelling his musket at 
 him ; " See," said he, to one of his men, " that man 
 pointing at me; take him down." The words had 
 hardly escaped his lips when the fatal shot took 
 effect upon his person. He was on one knee when 
 singled out as a mark by the mutineer, and, I am 
 told, as soon as he received the shot, he rose regu- 
 larly to " attention," and then fell and expired 
 without word or groan. 
 
 This day we established the " Metcalfe Picquet," 
 so called, because it occupied some part of the site — 
 near or within the stables — on which stood the family 
 seat of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe, Baronet ; a princely 
 mansion, which, with all its costly furniture and 
 expensive fittings-up, was destroyed by fire on the 
 night of the 11th of May by the mutineers. The 
 loss sustained by this one family alone is very 
 considerable. The ruins show plainly enough 
 the grandeur and magnificence which must have 
 characterised the house in its palmy days. But 
 Ichabod is now inscribed on every wall; and the 
 destruction being so overwhelming and complete, it 
 is a question if attempts at restoration would not 
 result in a larger expenditure of money than the 
 erection of an entirely new building. The present 
 
70 SIEGE OF DELHI. ' [jTJNE, 
 
 owner, however, escaped with his life, though him- 
 self in the city at the time of the outbreak; and 
 proved himself, from his local knowledge, and by 
 the energy of his character, one of the best poli- 
 tical officers with the force: he was present in 
 the camp, from the very commencement of opera- 
 tions against Delhi ; and his services as such deserve 
 the consideration of Government. 
 
 On the night of this day, I was sleeping outside 
 my tent, because it was more pleasant and refresh- 
 ing to do so — indeed it was a custom with every- 
 one in camp, and at this season of the year could 
 be done without risk — when my slvmibers were dis- 
 turbed about midnight; why, I cannot say; it 
 was not certainly because I was in thfe secrets of 
 the " council of war," or anticipated that the enemy 
 would attack us, or, still less, that there. was any 
 intention on our pari; to assault them: though if I 
 had anticipated the latter of these two things, I should 
 for once at least have proved a prophet. 
 
 The moon was shining, and, as I lay thinking, 
 my thoughts were interrupted by a comparative 
 stranger, a young engineer officer, with some repu- 
 tation in his profession, and still greater influence 
 with the Government of the North- West Provinces, 
 and who was not wanting either in influence within 
 
1857.] A COUP DE MAIN PLANNED, 71 
 
 camp. He was seeking the tent of the colonel of 
 the Rifles, to communicate the General's instruc- 
 tions. It was this young officer, who, if report 
 spoke truly, drafted a plan of attack upon the 
 city, and urged the General Tery strongly to adopt 
 it. Arrangements had been accordingly -made, and 
 the attack determined upon ; although this determi- 
 nation was kept profoundly secret, except from a 
 privileged few. The plan consisted of all the troops 
 turning out of camp under cover of night, advancing 
 on the city, blowing up one of the gates, and taking 
 the enemy by surprise; even the picquets on the 
 heights were to be Avithdrawn. The camp was to 
 protect itself the best way it could, with what little 
 remained in it, consisting chiefly of cavalry; and 
 as to reserves and supports in case of a repulse, 
 there were none whatever: the whole affair was 
 manifestly intended to be a coup de main. The 
 proposed assault did not, however, take place; 
 although the Rifles advanced gallantly to within 
 300 yards of the wall, in execution of their instruc- 
 tions, and were then recalled. The other troops 
 had not, I believe, left camp, but were awaiting 
 definite orders. 
 
 Several causes were cited for the failure of this 
 scheme ; the most probable being that which alleged 
 
72 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 that the brigadier who was on duty for that day and 
 night refused to withdraw the picquets guarding the 
 guns on the heights, on any authority less than a 
 written command from the General; a course of 
 proceeding which I think was fully warranted by 
 military usage. 
 
 The position in which General Sir Harry Barnard 
 was at this time placed, was a most trying and 
 critical one — a position, perhaps, without parallel — 
 and his actions were necessarily regulated by cir- 
 cumstances, and influenced more or less, in common 
 with the actiorts of all other men, by public opinion ; 
 and not improbably also, by expressions of will on 
 the part of superior, if not supreme, authority. Cer- 
 tainly the outcry in India at this time was universal 
 for the fall of Delhi. Those only could be endured 
 who favoured immediate and active measures for 
 the capture of the city. The question whether we 
 were really strong enough, either never entered 
 men's minds at all, or was hastily assumed to be 
 unquestionable. Moreover, this being the first year 
 of the General's life in India, his system was not 
 fairly acclimated, and his health was manifestly 
 suffering from excessive exposure — for he was a man 
 of very great self-sacrifice — and also from the heavy 
 load of responsibility, cares, and anxieties which he 
 
1857.] SIR HARRY BARNARD'S DIFFICUXTIES. 73 
 
 had to bear : and which so entirely absorbed the last 
 days of his life, that his appetite almost completely 
 forsook him, and even sleep denied him that cessa- 
 tion from mental toil which is absolutely necessary 
 to recruit an enervated frame. 
 
 The rains now were near at hand; every one 
 possessing experience of India was exclaiming (and 
 some of these exclamations, doubtless, reached the 
 General's ears as well as those of others), " If the 
 army remain on this spot — and where else could it 
 remove to, except within the city, without detri- 
 ment to the British cause? — men will die off like 
 sheep affected with rot." Then, again, the line of 
 our defences along the front, rear, and both flanks, 
 could not have been much less than seven miles 
 in circumference. These had to be provided for; 
 and if cholera ravaged our martial host — a contin- 
 gency not very improbable, and which was after- 
 wards realised, but not to so terrible an extent as 
 might have been expected — from whence was this 
 provision to come? Under such a combination of 
 circumstances, who can seriously blame a General, 
 knowuig his want of experience in India, for ques- 
 tioning his own judgment, and deferring largely to 
 the judgment and positive assertions of those in 
 whom he had every reason, professionally and other7 
 wise, to confide. 
 
74 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 A general impression prevailed in camp during 
 Friday, June the 13th, that the enemy contemplated 
 an attack in force. Intelligence had heen received 
 to that effect ; and an encounter actually took place, 
 but did not prove td be of a very serious nature. 
 The picqnets were again the points of attack, and 
 the usual results followed the exertions of our brave 
 soldiery. The enemy, certainly beaten, and per- 
 chance ashamed also, retired withiu walls again; 
 giving us the rest of the Sabbath almost entirely 
 tinbroken, excepting only the disturbance occa- 
 sioned by the play of batteries on both sides. 
 
 Divine service was solemnized, and a sermon 
 preached by me in the neighbourhood of the Head- 
 quarters Camp as early as half-past five in the morn- 
 ing, in the large mess-tent of the 2nd European 
 Bengal Fusiliers. This was our first Sunday before 
 Delhi, and the close of the first week's existence 
 in a camp which was destined to be our comfort- 
 less home for so many months. Even within seven 
 days, the churchyard showed unquestionable evi- 
 dence of the havoc of war. It was consecrated 
 ground, formerly used for European officers of native 
 regiments which were quartered here, and situated 
 close to the canal, a common hard pathway separat- 
 ing the one from the other ; and the manifest tokens 
 of fresh closed graves scattered here and there, pro- 
 
1857.] ESTIMATED LOSSES. 75 
 
 claimed the melancholy reality that many a warrior 
 had laid down his arms never to resume them again 
 in revenging the cause of his countrymen and 
 countrywomen, who had suffered cruel and shame- 
 ful injuries, the thought of which makes the heart 
 shudder. 
 
 The day of the 15th of June had been hardly 
 ushered in when the enemy commenced an attack 
 on the picquets in force. The fight was very pro- 
 tracted. It commenced soon after half-past five, 
 and the firing did not entirely cease until nearly 
 2 P.M. This was a very hardly contested business 
 on both sides, and, if I remember rightly, between 
 half-past five in the morning and two in the after- 
 noon, the force, or, at least, some part of it, was 
 called out on two distinct occasions. Report said 
 the mutineers sustained very heavy losses ; but their 
 casualties were often magnified beyond all due 
 bounds : the imaginations of men raised them to 
 something perfectly marvellous; whereas, I verily 
 believe that at this time, from their superior know- 
 ledge of the locality, the odds, as far as losses were 
 concerned, after making due allowance for the "num- 
 bers composing the besieging army and those of the 
 besieged, were relatively in their favour, and against 
 ourselves. And I am very far from singular in this 
 
76 * SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 opinion : there are many wlio agree with me on the 
 subject. Unquestionably, however, the fallen and 
 wounded of the enemy during the day were admitted 
 on all sides, and by every kind of authority, to be 
 exceedingly heavy. 
 
 I remember very well what contradictory accounts 
 prevailed in camp, and what anxious thoughts like- 
 wise arose on the subject of reinforcements. Some 
 ventured to say they were at hand, and others very 
 Avisely asked " Where are they to come from ? " In 
 answer to the latter of these two questions, many 
 pointed to the South, and reckoned on- Wheeler 
 hastening from Cawnpore to our succour. The 
 communications were now very nearly, if not quite, 
 closed up, between the camp and the stations in the 
 North- Western Provinces which were below Meerut. 
 Our information therefore was very uncertain; and 
 we were in utter ignorance of the atrocities being 
 practised daily by the mutineers, here, there, and 
 everywhere. , Now we hoped, and now we feared. 
 Some confidently predicted that Wheeler's star 
 would prove in the ascendant; that he was equal 
 to any emergency, and able to conflict with almost 
 any combination of circumstances, with honour to 
 himself, and benefit to his country. Others, again, 
 had accustomed themselves to look deeper into 
 
1857.] EEINFORCEMENTS. 77 
 
 things, and to judge rather more deliberately con- 
 cerning them. They were not the men to question 
 "Wheeler's ability and tact, but they wished to see 
 the General's calculations of resources opened out a 
 little more widely, and marked a little more defi- 
 nitely. They only required to be certain of succours 
 and supports being rendered to him in time to be 
 of use. From his well-sustained reputation, they 
 naturally enough expected great things of Wheeler, 
 but not impossibilities. Such were some of the 
 conflicts of opinions, and the vacillations between 
 hopes and fears which were characteristic of the 
 British camp at this time, and even later. It can 
 be easily imagined how highly we were exalted one 
 moment by one class of prophets, and how gloomy 
 we were apt to grow in company and conversation 
 with another. Between these alternations of hopes 
 and fears, we spent that portion of camp life not 
 actually required for hard fighting and hard work ; 
 and those who had the wisdom to strike the balance 
 between extremes, neither believing too much nor 
 disbelieving everything, found themselves happier 
 under suspense, and least disappointed in the end. 
 
 Nothing of ' any great moment occurred oii the 
 16th of June, but on the following day two or three 
 events of importance have to be chronicled. Our 
 
78 SIEGE OP DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 hospitals in nine days were full to repletion ; casual- 
 ties multiplying apace with every fresh fight. There 
 was an imperative necessity, therefore, to send all 
 cases that admitted of removal to Meerut; as the 
 comforts of a "cantonment" over a "field hospital" 
 will readily be admitted. The doctors were all busy 
 as bees in making arrangements for the transport of 
 sick and wounded, via, Baghput, to Meerut ; and fore- 
 most in all these kind offices was Surgeon Innes, of 
 H. M.'s 60th Rifles, whose hospital was a pattern 
 hospital for cleanliness and comfort. The interest 
 which this officer always took in promoting the 
 welfare of his patients; getting them punkahs and 
 charpoys — a sort of native bedstead — and a thousand 
 other little things which were then very difficult to 
 be obtained, and, above all, giving their cases, many 
 of which were exceedingly critical, the benefit of his 
 services in a spirit of the greatest cordiality and 
 deepest sympathy, gave one an exalted idea of his 
 character, both as a practitioner and a man. 
 
 While upon the subject of "hospitals," I cannot 
 deny myself the great satisfaction of bearing my testi- 
 mony to the untiring exertions, throughout the entire 
 campaign, made by the medical department of the 
 army generally in the fulfilment of duties inevitably 
 painful and unpleasant. My object in alluding 
 
1857.] TEIBirTE TO MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 79 
 
 to the subject of hospitals, and the services of those 
 who superintend and control them, is twofold : first 
 as* an act of justice to a class of men of whose 
 doings very little notice is taken and still less said, 
 while their manifest importance no words can 
 possibly overstate; and secondly, because I had 
 frequent opportunities of seeing and appreciating 
 these services. Friends at a distance, especially in 
 the humbler (but, nevertheless, honourable) ranks of 
 life from whence the private soldier is drawn, may 
 be glad to learn that a brave son or brother, 
 wounded or sick, was not without considerable sym- 
 pathy and care when a patient in any of the regi- 
 mental hospitals before Delhi. Their wants were 
 often most tenderly anticipated, their comforts 
 always attended to, and every possible effort was 
 made to assuage their pains and restore them to 
 health. 
 
 The popular impression of field hospitals is unac- 
 countably erroneous. These places are not such 
 centres of selfislipidifference and cold-hearted per- 
 functoriness on the part of the whole towards the sick, 
 or of the practitioner towards his patient, as some 
 have imagined. We should indeed have benefited at 
 Delhi by the presence of some one of kindred spirit 
 with the gentle and self-sacrificing Florence Nightin- 
 
80 SIEGE or DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 gale, one of the greatest and best of women in the 
 19th century, and whose philanthropic deeds have 
 made such a permanent impression on the age in 
 which she lives. Nevertheless, I hope something of 
 her spirit animated in the camp many who were 
 not of her own sex : and who shall say that her 
 devotion daring the campaign in the Crimea did not 
 induce some at least of those manifestations of kind- 
 ness in word and deed which I witnessed within the 
 camp before Delhi, — manifestations of which none 
 were more liberal than the regimental surgeons and 
 assistant-surgeons of the corps composing the field 
 force. 
 
 - Besides the sick which left for Meerut, a number 
 of refugees who had fled from various places in the 
 North-Western Provinces — many of them officers of 
 Customs, deputy collectors, and others, with their 
 wives and families — and whose step;3 Divine Pro- 
 vidence had directed towards the camp, were 
 despatched on the 17th of June, with the patients 
 of the several hospitals, to the cantonment aforesaid. 
 The privations and miseries suffered by them, during 
 their concealment in the villages which harboured 
 them in disobedience to the orders of the Mogul 
 Court, and afterwards, when they became residents 
 in camp, are painful to think of. Among this large 
 
1857.] REFUGEES IN CAlfP. 81 
 
 medley of all sorts and complexions, some purely 
 European, others nearly native, and almost every 
 possible degree between the two, were children of 
 various ages, from the infant of a few months or 
 weeks to a boy or girl in their teens. Their hard- 
 ships, past and present, made these people easy 
 victims to cholera. I saw them in tents (some of 
 which had been supplied at considerable inconve- 
 nience to the department by the Quartermaster- 
 General of the Army) with as many as seven or eight 
 grown people, married and unmarried, huddled 
 together in the greatest state of confusion and dis- 
 comfort, and enduring at that very moment -priva- 
 tions of no ordinary character, though most of 
 them, by their own industry and talents, had been 
 hitherto able to supply themselves wdth almost every 
 comfort. 
 
 During the few days these refugees remained 
 with the army, they did not know from whence to 
 obtain their daily bread. The British soldier, how- 
 ever, with that generous and open-hearted kindness 
 which distinguishes him at home and abroad, assisted 
 the poor people ; and I hope this Samaritan act of 
 our men will secure for many a hero among them 
 the noble reward which Christ has promised to 
 bestow upon any that give the simplest gift, even a 
 
 o 
 
82 SIEGE OF DELHI. l^VS^, 
 
 cup of cold water, in the name of a disciple. Such 
 as these hrave fellows had, they gave, nothmg grudg- 
 ing; dividing all they had, even to a crust and a 
 rag, with those whose wants were real and not 
 assumed for the sake of deception. 
 
 Some of these refugees died while in camp. One 
 infant, with its young mother sitting and watching 
 beside it with sad countenance and tearful eyes, 
 I fancy I can now see before me; its attenuated 
 limbs, its sunken and glazed eyes, its drawn and 
 pinched features, its convulsive frame: that piti- 
 ful sight I shall never forget. The results which 
 I saw before me were attributed to two causes, viz., 
 the heartless desertion by its native wet nurse, and 
 the inability of the child's system to assimilate other 
 than that natural nourishment which its mother could 
 not give it. The company crowded within this tent, 
 men, women, and children, all seemed paralysed. The 
 men were unmanned, and the women broken-hearted ; 
 even the very children themselves had apparently 
 forgotten the gambols and the mischief which charac- 
 terize their years : there was an unnatural depression 
 here that told its own tale. Those who had the power 
 to think sat brooding over their sorrows, reviewing 
 the past and anticipating the future with a settled 
 gloom, which no cheering word or promise from a 
 
1857.J CHANGE OF TACTICS. 83 
 
 stranger's lips seemed sufficient to break. I confess 
 freely, I was glad for them and glad for myself wlieii 
 they left, because the same thought which assured me 
 that, their journey ended, they would reach a happier 
 home, assured my fears likewise that, with their 
 departure, I should most probably for the future be 
 spared the repetition of such harrowing scenes. 
 
 Hitherto we had invariably acted on the defensive, 
 but on the 17th of June a change of tactics was made, 
 and we became the attacking party. Our point of 
 attack was a serai at Kissen Gunge. The enemy, 
 we heard, were erecting a battery to rake our entire 
 position. To defeat this object, a party consisting of 
 two companies of Rifles, besides an equal number 
 of Gorkhas, with Tombs' troop guns — the whole 
 force, divided into two columns, being under two 
 leaders. Major Eeid and Major Tombs, the latter 
 commanding the first column and the former 
 the second — attacked the serai, and either blew 
 or burst open the door, and bayoneted all the 
 enemy within, to the number of some forty or fifty. 
 Unluckily the battery was not in a sufficient state 
 of progress, and the proper complement of guns was 
 not in position upon it. The whole operation was 
 eminently successful, and resulted not only in the 
 discomfiture of the enemy, but in the capture, as a 
 
 G 2 
 
84 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 trophy of war, of one of their guns. The services 
 of Major Reid and Major Tombs upon this occasion 
 were honourably mentioned by the General officer 
 commanding. 
 
 The service rendered to the British army by the 
 Gorkhas during the past and present year has 
 invested these natives with so much interest, that 
 the following short description of their personal 
 appearance and characters may not be altogether 
 out of place. The Gorkha is a native of the 
 hillsj . a man of low stature, and in this respect, 
 as well as some other essential differences, a striking 
 contrast to the grenadier-looking sepoy of the regular 
 regiments of the Bengal army. By religion, I be- 
 lieve, he is a Hindoo, who eats meat, and drinks 
 more potent beverages than simple water, whenever 
 his means admit of indulgence in such luxuries. His 
 whole physique betokens the appearance of great 
 resolution. He walks with measured step and firm 
 tread, and our experience of him warrants the asser- 
 tion, that he is among the very best and the most 
 attached of native soldiers to the British officer. 
 He fights with a determination and courage which 
 nearest resemble the European, with whom he ex- 
 hibits a strong disposition to fraternize; and for the 
 Gorkha in return the European soldier cherishes a 
 
1857.] OOKKHAS. 85 
 
 cordiality and respect which he never accords to 
 other native ranks enlisted under our banner. Such 
 feelings were never more clearly evinced than in 
 the course of the siege of Delhi, as affirmed by the 
 officers, who were witnesses of facts. The rifleman 
 was to be seen making known his preference for 
 the Gorkha by sundry unmistakeable acts of kind- 
 ness and favour, which were cordially reciprocated 
 by the native, who never spoke of the rifleman 
 in other terms than as " My European." 
 
 Certainly the Gorkha deserved all the favour 
 shown him by his fairer brethren in arms. The 
 men of the Sirmoor Battalion called forth again and 
 again the admiration of the whole combined force, 
 not only for their distinguished valour in warfare, 
 but likewise for their unfaltering fidelity to the 
 English cause. They were often tempted by the 
 mutineers with heavy bribes to infidelity, but upon 
 every occasion they spurned the bribe, and derided 
 with peals of laughter those who offered it. Once 
 even, if my memory does not completely fail me, 
 they resented the insult offered them in the pro- 
 posal of such ignominious terms, by an appeal 
 to their kukrees, and taught the mutinous Bengal 
 sepoy that the Gorkha had not the remotest sym- 
 pathy with his diabolical cause. 
 
86 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUKE, 
 
 The facility witli which the Gorkhas wielded the 
 kukree — a native knife, and a most effective weapon 
 of war in experienced hands — elicited the wonder 
 of every beholdgr. Once plunged into the abdomen 
 of an enemy, in a second he was ripped up, just as 
 clean and cleverly as the butcher divides an ox or 
 a sheep. No native regiment saw more actual ser- 
 vice than this corps, and none performed their duties 
 more fearlessly and effectually. Not a single officer 
 of the corps escaped some token of his having been 
 in the wars, and several were slain. Upon this 
 very day, the 17th of June, the regiment lost, 
 through a round shot from the enemy's batteries. 
 Ensign Wheatley, of the 54th Regiment N. I., an 
 officer well thought of for his gallantry and untiring 
 ., energy of character. At the moment he met with 
 his death he was off duty, and resting, as he thought, 
 in security under the roof of Hindoo Rao. A single 
 shot — one of the most destructive missives from the 
 cannons of the mutineers at Delhi during the whole 
 campaign — fell, most unexpectedly, into the apart- 
 ment of the sleeping officer, and in its course 
 onward killed no less than seven men on the spot, 
 and ultimately two others were wounded by it, and 
 died of their wounds. 
 
 The 18th of June, a day, in the calendar 
 
1857.] ANNIVERSAEY OF WATERLOO. 87 
 
 of Englishmen, memorable as tlie anniversary of 
 Waterloo — a victory, the effects of which On the 
 peace and prospects of Europe for nearly forty un- 
 broken years can never be over-estimated — passed oif, 
 in the year of our Lord 1857, pretty quietly before 
 Delhi. There was certainly no attack on either 
 side, and I really forget, having no record, whether 
 even the batteries were active and noisy as usual. 
 I well remember some one said in the Rifle mess, 
 " The 18th of June is a day of success and triumph 
 with the British. The enemy ought either to have 
 engaged us, or we them, on this day above every 
 day in the year. Our success could not have been 
 otherwise than sure." " Ah ! " replied a Crimean 
 hero, "it was a day of disaster and defeat during 
 the Russian war; though even the Emperor of all 
 the Russias professed to wish both us and our allies 
 well, even at the expense of his own good fortune." 
 
 Every attack of the enemy which I have hitherto 
 chronicled, since our encampment before Delhi, was 
 made either on our front picquets, or verging towards 
 our right and left flanks. A change of tactics, how- 
 ever, took place on the 1 9th of June, and' the thought 
 appears to have occurred to them of taking us in 
 the rear. They did not, however, commence opera- 
 tions until late in the day: indeed the mutineers 
 
88 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 generally preferred the darkness of night, to cover, 
 I presume, the darkness of their deeds. Perhaps 
 they fancied that with any large measure of light 
 our facilities for cutting off their retreat — a way to 
 which, in case of extremities, they always liked to 
 see well open before they fought with us — would be 
 less remote, and, on the whole, more certain. 
 
 The Bengal sepoy is nothing of an enemy, in spite 
 of all his English military training, except he fight 
 under cover of mud or stone walls, and from behind 
 rocky eminences or mounds of earth, natural or 
 artificial. He never, by any means, courts the open 
 ground; unless the odds, in the important question 
 of numbers, are as thirty or fifty to one in his own 
 favour. Then the animal may make something of 
 a stand, and show courage, such as it is. Without 
 these two conditions, , or, at least, one of them, 
 when brought into contact with the European, his 
 invariable maxim is, " Discretion is the better part 
 of valour." 
 
 On the 19th of June, the enemy came out in 
 overwhelming numbers, with artillery, cavalry, and 
 infantry. I cannot tell what intelligence had reached 
 head-quarters from the spies in Delhi, concerning 
 what was known there of the intentions of the 
 enemy against us to-day, but, if I remember rightly. 
 
1857.] ATTACK ON THE XIXETEEXTH. 89 
 
 we did not see quite as clearly as usual what the 
 enemy were about. There was some confused idea 
 of a simultaneous attack to he made by them in 
 force, both in front and rear. This would have been 
 sound wisdom on their part; at least, as far as our 
 judgment extends. We often wondered that such 
 attacks were never made by them, and made system- 
 atically and regularly: their eflFect must have told 
 upon us in the end, if not much sooner than even 
 we ourselves foresaw. 
 
 The alarm had no sooner sounded, than the Eifles 
 were ordered to reinforce Hindoo Rao, on the right 
 of our force. This reinforcement shows what was 
 expected there. Soon, however, fears for Hindoo 
 Rao passed away, and its defence was left in the 
 hands of the ordinary picquet. The Rifles were 
 recalled, and went, by order, to the right of the 
 General's mound — the same mound I spoke of as 
 having a battery of heavy guns, called the " Mound 
 Battery." Here the regiment stood for half an 
 hour, then further orders moved them, with some of 
 the 75th, and some cavalry, in support of the guns 
 of Tombs' troop and Scott's battery, across the canal, 
 and in the direction of the Ochterlony Gardens. 
 The fire of cannon now opened in earnest. The 
 force extended and advanced, driving the enemy 
 
90 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 from one spot to another. Presently a further advance 
 was made, till we got in rear of a large mound, 
 at the other side of which the enemy were said to 
 be not less than 1,000 strong. There we remained 
 fighting desperately, for more than an hour, under 
 a very severe and unpleasant fire; the darkness of 
 the night coming on apace, and hampering our 
 operations very materially. 
 
 It was near this spot that Captain Williams, second 
 in command of the Rifles at this time, and Lieutenant 
 Humphrys, 20th N. I., doing duty with the same 
 corps, were wounded ; tire former very severely, 
 endangering for a considerable time the loss of his 
 leg, which loss was, however, eventually averted. 
 Lieutenant Humphrys was struck in the neck, and 
 the wound impeded very considerably the organs of 
 speech : the hall seemed to have travelled, and, in its 
 course, wounded the lung. The wound ultimately 
 proved fatal: the poor young fellow lingered 
 through the greater portion of the night, and his 
 sufi'erings were very great. I was a witness to 
 them, and to the exemplary patience with which he 
 bore them. I knew little of this young officer in 
 •cantonments, but I saw much of him in camp, both 
 before and after his receiving the wound. My 
 recollections of him, especially those which have 
 
1857.] CASUALTIES ON THE NINETEENTH. 91 
 
 reference to liis last moments, are very pleasant. 
 His conduct had. always inspired- me with respect, 
 but now I felt a deeper sympathy. 
 
 Shortly after these sad accidents, a hint was given 
 that the cavalry were upon us. The battery on the 
 left advanced, taking the enemy in flank, and con- 
 tinued blazing away till its ammunition was exhausted ; 
 the artillery then retired down the road, where some 
 infantry proceeded to join them. The enemy also 
 commenced retiring about the same time, and the 
 force returned to camp at nine, or even later. The 
 losses, especially in the Royal Rifles, were very 
 severe. Among the killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Yule, 
 commanding H. M.'s 9th Lancers, must be mentioned. 
 He was unfortunately left on the field all night, and 
 brought into camp some time next day, shamelessly 
 mutilated. Lieutenant Alexander, 3rd Regiment 
 Native Infantry, who accompanied the force in the 
 capacity of a volunteer, not being posted to any 
 corps at the time, lost his life likewise. Scarcely 
 any of the dead were collected' till daylight. Not 
 only the darkness of the night, but the presence of 
 some of the enemy on the field during the whole of 
 the night, rendered the collection of them very 
 dangerous, if not absolutely impossible. One very 
 serious accident arose upon the occasion of this fight : 
 • 
 
92 SIEGE OE DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 owing to the increasing darkness, our own guns fired 
 into our own men. 
 
 Tlie results of this engagement made a very melan- 
 choly impression on most men's minds in camp ; not 
 because our success was questionable, though very 
 dearly bought, but rather because it was at first 
 naturally enough regarded as the enemy's significant 
 mode of intimating to us the plan he intended to 
 pursue in future : that his eyes were open to the 
 advantage he might gain over us, if he only harassed 
 us in the rear. The fact is, knowing our own weak- 
 ness better than our opponent did, M^e were not without 
 fears, which luckily, however, proved groundless. 
 I think, too, our modesty induced us to give the 
 enemy too much credit in this engagement, and 
 ourselves too little. It was said, I don't know how 
 truly, that the General conceived misgivings as to 
 the wisdom of the force continuing before Delhi: 
 he thought we should have to retire, unless large 
 reinforcements could be forthwith sent to us. 
 Some go so far as to say that a document was 
 found, after his death, which contained his apology 
 to Government for raising the siege until he 
 should be reinforced in sufiicient strength: this, 
 I believe, was entirely mythical, and I only 
 mention the matter to show how intricate, per- 
 
1857.] ATTACK ON CULINARY DEPARTMENT. 93 
 
 plexing, and highly dangerous was our position at 
 this time. 
 
 I stated that some of the enemy continued in 
 the rear all night. On the morning of the 20th 
 June, they seem to have been reinforced in large 
 numbers, and about half-past nine or ten A.M., as I 
 was sitting in the mess-tent of the 2nd European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, which was quite close to the 
 General's tent, I heard the report of a gun, and 
 immediately after the clangous noise of broken or 
 bruised metal pots and earthenware plates and 
 dishes. It was the effect of a round shot from the 
 enemy in the rear, which had made a nest for itself 
 in the General's kitchen-tent, causing sundry break- 
 ages in that department of his establishment, but 
 doing no greater harm. Others, though not very 
 many in number, followed in rapid succession, and 
 the camp presented for the moment a somewhat 
 lively appearance, from the active helter-skelter 
 movements of the camp-followers — I mean the 
 camel-drivers and officers' servants, and such like, 
 than whom none are fleeter of foot when they 
 please, or when pressed by the presence of danger, 
 or affrighted by the loud unmusical roar of cannon 
 evidently nearer than is safe or agreeable. I re- 
 member well the impression made on me by these 
 
94 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jtlNE, 
 
 sights of scampering natives, with faces never before 
 looking so earnest, though perhaps often equally 
 demure, and have laughed over them again and 
 again : I have even gone so far as to ask myself 
 whether, in the subordinate design of Providence, 
 playful, not destructive round shot, rolling into camp, 
 might not be sent, among other purposes, to stir up 
 the dying energy of human character in the East. 
 It does do it most effectually, whether with or 
 without design, and so does good for the time. I 
 only wish the good were more permanent. 
 
 But the enemy having thrown down the gauntlet, 
 there was no choice but to take it up. A 
 detachment of H. M.'s 75th Foot, and the whole of 
 the 1st or 2nd Europeans, with cavalry and guns, 
 marched out of camp for this very purpose. Un- 
 happily our force effected very little ; not because of 
 any fault, but simply in consequence of the enemy 
 retiring immediately on being attacked. Neverthe- 
 less we captured two guns and three ammunition 
 waggons; on one of which latter were said to be eight 
 native wounded gunners, ready packed to be carried 
 off into Delhi, but whom we left dead in the field, as 
 these were no times either for giving or expecting 
 quarter. As to " pris6ners of war," those we ever 
 made, being comparatively few, we subsequently 
 
1857.] '-'HrsDuy" ruiEXDs. 95 
 
 tried and destroyed ; so that immediate death on the 
 battle-field must haA's been an infinitely better alter- 
 Bative. 
 
 I never visited the Ochterlony Gardens, the scene 
 of the conflict, but those who did gave me an ample 
 description of all they saw there on the n[iorning after 
 the battle of the 19th. From all accounts it was a 
 sad sight. Here was to be seen a rampart of slain 
 camels, which the enemy had stolen from us, and 
 made this use of; and there were horses and bodies 
 of natives innumerable, left unburied by their sur- 
 viving brethren. This havoc of war was the first 
 intimation to us, and likewise most conclusive proof, 
 of the success which had attended our operations in 
 the rear, — a success which we were so slow to believe 
 only the night before, and which nothing, I verily 
 think, but ocular demonstration would have induced 
 us to realise at all. 
 
 Shortly after this engagement I renewed my 
 acquaintance with one of my old " Hindun" friends, 
 Assistant-Surgeon Alexander Groves DuS, who, 
 with Assistant-Surgeon T. J. Biddle, of H. M.'s 
 service, shared a common tent with me on the 
 30th and 31st May last. It was Mr. Biddle who 
 killed, with his own hand, the native that caused the 
 explosion which cost Captain F. Andrews his life. 
 
96 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 Dr. Duff had been sent to Meerut from the "Hindun" 
 in charge of sick and wounded, among whom were 
 Ensign Napier and poor Assistant-Surgeon Moore, of 
 the Carabineers. A finer-hearted and more generous 
 Irishman than the last-mentioned officer I never met. 
 I have a distinct and pleasing recollection of his 
 exertions on the night of the 30th May, on behalf of 
 the wounded of his own regiment, and several of 
 the camp followers besides. I never think of Moore 
 without a deep sigh of regret. Little did I imagine, 
 when I saw him so full of life on the night of the 
 first battle of the Hindun, and so kind and con- 
 siderate with his patients, that the next day I should 
 look upon him as a severely wounded man, who 
 would only be sent from camp to die at Meerut. 
 
 Shortly after I had welcomed Doctor Duff, he 
 gave me an account of his last adventures.. It 
 appears that early on the morning of the 20th June, 
 the doctor and his party, consisting of only two Euro- 
 peans besides himself, viz., Mr. George Campbell, 
 C. S., and Lieutenant Mew, of the 74th N. I., and 150 
 sowars, were encamped on the left bank of the 
 Jumna; a site which had been selected to enable 
 them to defend the bridge of boats across the river. 
 Between four and five o'clock, the slumbers of the 
 party were disturbed by the announcement of the 
 
1857.] ADVENTUEES OF BR. DUFF. 97 
 
 startling fact that tlie Goojurs were upon them. In 
 an instant the small force turned out to receive the 
 enemy and watch his movements. There was, 
 however, little time for reconnoitring, for within a 
 few hundred yards they beheld between four and 
 five thousand Goojurs, headed by sepoys, and 
 marching in perfect order. After the enemy had 
 fired a few shots, the Em-opeans, and their 150 
 sowars, retired upon the bridge, and crossed it, 
 intending to cut away two of the boats, to prevent 
 the rebels from following. Unfortunately, however, 
 no axe could be found, and thus the plan was 
 defeated. The small company then drew up in line 
 oil the right bank of the river, close to the bridge, 
 while the enemy followed their example on the oppo- 
 site side. A tolerably smart fire was kept up for a 
 short time, but, after about a dozen rounds, the sowars 
 attached to the European party declared that their 
 ammunition was exhausted. Considering the superior 
 strength of the enemy, to beat a retreat was, under 
 the circumstances, the only course to pursue; and 
 after some consultation, the camp before Delhi was 
 fixed upon as the point for which the party were to 
 make. In furtherance of this plan, the small force 
 retired a short distance from the bridge, and the 
 enemy crossed it; whereupon the sowars were ordered 
 
 H 
 
98 SIEGE OE DELHI. [JTIHE, 
 
 to charge, but positively declined to do so. This 
 act of insutordination necessitated an immediate 
 retreat, and the three European gentlemen settmg 
 off at a gallop, never but once rested the legs of 
 their steeds until they reached camp. What became 
 of the "brave " Irregulars, I cannot say, but in all 
 probability they found a welconie within the walls of 
 the city of Delhi. 
 
 The 21st of June was our second Sunday before 
 the stone walls of Delhi. Divine service was 
 solemnized at half-past five A.M., and a sermon 
 preached by me in the ordinary place. I had, 
 beside the head-quarters' service, one for the Rifles, 
 at eleven A.M., and another for the cavalry brigade, 
 at six P.M. Sunday was always a very hard day " 
 with me, though it would be very difficult to say on 
 what day in the week my labours were lightened; 
 for, if I had regular services for the camp on 
 Sundays, there were the daily services for the 
 hospital, which required an expenditure of mental 
 and bodily strength equally great. Then, again, not 
 a morning or evening passed without burials, one of 
 the most painful portions of the duties of a chaplain 
 in camp, and by no means an insignificant one either. 
 I have reason, however, to remember this Sunday, 
 above many others which I passed before Delhi. 
 
1857.] KELIGIOUS CONSOLATIONS. 99 
 
 Prospects were looking very dark about this 
 time : the army was rapidly decreasing, and no 
 fresh reinforcements had reached us yet. The 
 rains were a week nearer : how we dreaded their 
 approach! Sitting and brooding in my tent after 
 breakfast, and feeling very unhappy — an unhappiness 
 which I, however, kept to myself, afraid to breathe 
 it to another soul in the force — in order to relieve 
 myself, I took up my Prayer Book, and the first 
 words my eyes fell upon, was the passage selected 
 for the Epistle of the third Sunday after Trinity. 
 It is a part of St. Peter's first Epistle. I had often 
 read those words, but never before had I realized 
 their simplicity, beauty, and power, as I realized 
 them on that day. " Casting all your care upon Him, 
 for he careth for you," seemed as if they had been 
 words expressly intended to meet my circumstances, 
 and those in the camp generally. I believed the 
 testimony of St. Peter, and drew comfort from it. 
 
 A pious field officer came shortly after to my tent, 
 and tarried there a very long while. I spoke to him 
 of the comfort that had been graciously vouchsafed 
 to me, and we joined in earnest prayer, beseeching 
 God to direct the councils of war, to strengthen and 
 reinforce our army, and to remember His chosen 
 people, that were called by His name, in spite of 
 
 H 2 
 
TOO SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 their sins wherewith they had transgressed, and were 
 daily transgressing against him. The bugle of, alarm 
 sounded during prayer, and the force got under arms ; 
 but there was no attack after all. In fact, during 
 Sunday the 21st, and Monday the 22nd June, 
 nothing worthy of record occurred. The play of 
 the batteries on either side was the only warlike 
 manifestation on those days. 
 
 A few days previously to the 23rd of June, 
 the first centenary anniversary of our rule in the 
 country, the camp before Delhi learnt, through their 
 spies within the city, that a determined, and if neces- 
 sary, a protracted effort was to be made on that 
 day for the recovery of the empire in Hindostan 
 by the descendants of the Great Mogul. It was 
 said that both Hindoo and Mussulman would com- 
 bine for the purpose of securing to the country a 
 native instead of a foreign rule. Their prophets 
 and religious teachers had promised them cer- 
 tainty of success. "It is written," said they, "and 
 therefore must be literally fulfilled — not a word 
 shall fall to the ground." The only conditions which 
 they imposed on their credulous adherents, in order 
 to ensure success, were the absoliite necessity of 
 immediate and strenuous effort on this selfsame day. 
 "Now or never" was the word which proceeded out 
 
1857.] NATIVE PROPHETS.' 101' 
 
 of the lips tliat kept knowledge. The believer in 
 the false prophet^ and the infatuated deyotee of 
 paganism, listened to these words, and looked around 
 and about them, and in that look found satisfaction, 
 when they saw the defences of Delhi, and aU her 
 numerous appliances of war, and could call them 
 absolutely their own. They thought with pleasure 
 of the legions which once rallied around the British 
 standard, but had now and for ever abjured their 
 fidelity to their foolishly indulgent masters, and 
 promised assistance to the mutinous cause. Already 
 they were marching on Delhi — some were within 
 a few days of the place — to join in the procla- 
 mation of the King, and to help to hold him 
 on his imperial throne. In striking contrast with 
 these indications of their own strength, and the 
 apparent confirmation of the words of prophecy, 
 was the manifest weakness of the English : one of 
 their largest magazines wrested from them; the 
 Bengal native army virtually gone to a man; the 
 English themselves, in point of numbers, nearer 
 resembling a band of guerillas than a large martial 
 host adequate to the exigencies of the occasion. 
 
 As early as five o'clock on Tuesday morning, 
 the 23rd of June, the enemy turned out, to the 
 number of 6,000 and upwards, to give efiect to 
 
102 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 the resolutions passed at their councils of war, and 
 to place the seal of confirmation on the words 
 of their prophets. Surely they could never have 
 thought of the issues of that day when Ahab 
 and Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth Gilead, at 
 the instigation of the lying prophets of Baal, who 
 said, "Go up, for the Lord shall deliver it into 
 the hand of the King." Perhaps it was a fact 
 in history, with all its striking analogy to their own 
 circumstances, of which the most astute among them 
 knew nothing ; or even had they known, Kke Ahah, 
 ■whose destruction Heaven liad previously intended, 
 they would' yet have gone up, to be scattered and 
 destroyed by that handful of men, whose numbers, 
 leaving everything else out of the question, appeared 
 to them to be a fair occasion to point the finger of 
 scorn. They kept Hindoo Rao steadily before 
 them : this being the point of concentration of attack. 
 Very early in the day, and almost immediately 
 after the bugle of alarm had sounded, a reinforcement 
 of field pieces was sent up from camp. As soon as 
 these appeared, a heavy cannonading fire from Delhi 
 ensued. The enemy came round in the direction of 
 Subzi Mundi, and to the rear of Hindoo Rao, and 
 were distinctly seen spreading themselves behind the 
 low banks and walls extending towards the right of the 
 
1857.] VICTORY OF THE 23RD OF JUNE. 103 
 
 camp. The Rifles, Guides, and Gorkhas were thrown 
 out in skirmishing order for several hours; during all 
 which time the contest raged with unmitigated fury. 
 At about eleven, in the forenoon some fresh reinforce- 
 ments reached us from parts north of Delhi, con- 
 sisting of 100 men of H. M.'s 75th Foot, under 
 Captain Brookes, four companies of the 2nd European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, besides some six guns and Sikh 
 troops ; and so fierce was the struggle, that the 
 newly arrived force, without waiting for refresh- 
 ments or even a moment's rest, had at once to join 
 the fight. 
 
 At four in the afternoon the battle was stdl pro 
 ceeding with unabated vigour, when another course 
 was taken : an order was issued to the Rifles, Gorkhas, 
 and Guides, to carry the Subzi Mundi, which they 
 did in right gallant style, despite their eleven hours of 
 previous labour and exposure to the sun, and want 
 of refreshment. The enemy were driven by them 
 from wall to bank, and from bank to wall. Now, 
 the sepoys ascended the tops of houses, of which 
 there were many in the immediate neighbourhood, 
 but their tenure of these only lasted for the few 
 moments which it took our brave troops to reach 
 them ; numbers oF the enemy began to fall, and 
 several of our brave fellows beside them. A 
 
104 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jUNE, 
 
 touchmg incident of the day was told me hj a 
 young doctor. A rifleman had been mortally 
 wounded; the surgeon ran to his assistance, and 
 gave him his arm to help him along. "Ah! sir," 
 said the wounded man, "I fancy this is my last 
 walk." It was indeed. He died : noble, good man 
 as he was. But through his brave exertions, in 
 co-operation with the' rest of our troops, the day 
 was first carried by the British against very 
 frightful odds. The mutineers retired within the 
 walls about six in the evening, finding to their 
 bhagrin, that their prophets were a liA-ing lie, 
 and had wofuUy deceived them; for in the place 
 of success, fully one fourth of their army, which 
 had come out in the morning full of pride and 
 of hope, were left either dead or wounded on the 
 field. 
 
 The victory of the 23rd of June was a cause 
 of great rejoicing within camp. But our joy was 
 not without alloy : our losses were very great ; 
 perhaps, relatively, equal to those of the enemy. 
 The Rifles lost twenty-seven men, and the 1st 
 Europeans thirty-one, the Gorkhas twenty-five, the 
 75th Foot one sergeant and one private ; besides the 
 losses in the Artillery, Sikhs, Guides, and men of the 
 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers; the statistics of whose 
 
1857.] BEIGADIEE-GENERAL CHAMBERLAIN. 105 
 
 casualties during this day I failed to secure. The 
 only officer killed in action was Lieutenant Steuart 
 Hare Jackson, of the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers; 
 though several were wounded, amongst whom I re- 
 member Colonel Welchman, of the 1st European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, and others of the same regiment, 
 and Captain Conyngham Jones, of the 60th Rifles. 
 But as some compensation for this, we had gained an 
 important point; the Subzi Mundi was not only 
 taken, but held henceforward by us, and constituted 
 our extreme right picquet. 
 
 On the 24th of June, there was a slight attack 
 on the right, but not of much consequence, and 
 resulting in little or no loss to either party. An 
 important arrival, however, occurred on this day: 
 Brigadier-General Chamberlain, the newly appomted 
 Adjutant-General of the army, who was selected to 
 succeed the late Colonel Chester, reached camp. I 
 had but little intercourse with this officer ; he, how- 
 ever, struck me as being a man of purpose, one who 
 thinks before he acts, and acts resolutely when once 
 his plans are formed. I should say, moreover, his 
 actions are guided by that sound and high principle 
 which draws the wide distinction between right 
 and wrong, and detects at once the difference be- 
 tween truth and error. 
 
106 SIEGE 01" DELHI. [jDNE, 
 
 From the 25th to the 2Yth of June, . but little 
 occurred worthy of remark, and the only extra 
 excitement in camp arose from a report which was 
 circulated, and very generally believed, that the 
 enemy had four field-pieces out, and meditated an 
 attack on the night of the 25th. The report, how- 
 ever, proved false, and we were left unmolested. 
 
 On the 27th of June, the enemy made a deter- 
 mined attack on both flanks. It commenced about 
 six A.M., and lasted till nearly two in the afternoon. 
 There was evidently some fear that from the right 
 flank the rebels might work round to the rear. 
 Accordingly, two companies of the Rifles were 
 marched to the " rear battery," consisting of heavy 
 guns, 18-pounders, which had been erected as a 
 protection to the camp, in case of future attacks in 
 that direction. This was a prudential measure, sug- 
 gested by the sad results of the action of the evening 
 of the 19th June. The periodical rains set in on 
 this day. ' The fall was heavy, and the floods evi- 
 dently co-operated with us, in driving the advancing 
 and treacherous foe within his lair. The camp was 
 literally turned into a pool, and became very offensive 
 to the sense of smell, and obliged quartermasters 
 of regiments to busy themselves in the work of 
 drainage. Simultaneously with the rains, the ra- 
 
1857.] LAST DAY OF JUNE. 107 
 
 vages of cholera commenced, and several fatal cases 
 occurred on the 27th of June. 
 
 On Sunday the 28th of June, I performed the 
 ordinary solemn services, and the roar of cannon was 
 all that disturbed the quiet of the day. A wing of 
 H. M.'s 8th Foot marched into camp on that morning : 
 a small but very acceptable addition to our military 
 strength; yet far from sufficient to enable us to 
 adopt an offensive policy, instead of acting on the 
 defensive, which had been characteristic of nearly 
 every movement of ours, since we encamped before 
 Delhi. We heard that the enemy had blocked up 
 our nearest and most direct route of communication 
 with Meerut via Bhagput. Many of us felt this to 
 be a very sad denial; especially those who, like 
 myself, had a sick wife and young children, of 
 whose welfare I was naturally very anxious to hear 
 as often as possible in times like these. 
 
 Another very formidable attack was made by the 
 enemy on the last day of June, It was directed 
 against our right picquet at Hindoo Rao, and lasted; 
 with hardly a moment's cessation, from nine in 
 the forenoon till two in the afternoon. A vic- 
 tory was ours and a repulse theirs. Nevertheless- 
 the advantage of such victories was questionable. 
 I verily believe that an accurate return would show 
 
108 SIEGE OF DELHI. [j0NE, 
 
 that we really lost more than we gained by such 
 successes. Nothing but the sternest necessity — 
 so stern that there was no help for it — would have 
 justified us in permitting the enemy to perpetuate 
 these attacks ; which were harassing and destructive 
 to our own troops, without the infliction of adequate 
 and exemplary punishment on our foes. Take for 
 instance the casualties of a part, and but a part, of a 
 single regiment, during one month, from the 30th 
 of May to the 30th of June, both days inclusive, 
 in corroboration of the foregoing, remarks. The 
 casualties of the 1st Battalion 60th Royal Rifles are 
 thus returned. 
 
 KILLED. WOUNDED. DIED FBOM DISEASE. 
 
 Officers . . 3 12 
 
 Men . . 40 108 2 
 
 Total . 43 ,120 2 
 
 These are frightful figures, when the strength of 
 that regiment is considered, and also the small force 
 of the British army before Delhi. With such losses 
 in the first month of the campaign, who could 
 venture to anticipate what might not have been 
 our state, after another thirty days had passed 
 over us? How was it possible to regard the future 
 without some misgiving, or to look back upon the 
 past without considerable pain? Perhaps none more 
 
1857.J CHRISTIAN HOPE. , 109 
 
 aptly than St. Paul described our case at this time, 
 when, writing to the Corinthians, he says, " We are 
 troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are 
 perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not 
 forsaken, cast down but not destroyed." 
 
 The Christian warrior, taking a retrospective 
 glance, can feelingly say, " Verily the enemy 
 thrust sore at us that we might fall, but the Lord 
 helped us." Not only the disciples of Christ, but 
 everyone realised the fact that the divine favour pre- 
 vented and followed us. It was a subject of remark 
 both among the serious and the frivolous in camp. 
 Not a man but professed to see the hand of God in the 
 arrangements of the season, and the strength where- 
 with himself and others were endued to stand up 
 against fatigue and exposure, and a thousand harms 
 besides. And as each saw these things for himself, 
 he exclaimed, " It is the Lord's doing, and it is mar- 
 vellous in our eyes." 
 
110 SIEGE or DELHI. [jITLY, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE SIEGE CONTINUED. 
 
 Eaelt on the morning of the 1st of July, the Delhi 
 Field Force was strengthened by the arrival of a 
 wing of H. M.'s 61st Foot, consisting of some 450 
 men. Simultaneously with our receiving this small 
 reinforcement, the Bareilly Brigade reached Delhi, 
 in support of the cause of mutiny. The latter 
 encamped during the day on the Meerut side of 
 the river Jumna, and numbered about 3,000 men, 
 besides six guns of Captain Gravenor Kirby's bat- 
 tery, and ammunition and treasure to the amount of 
 six lakhs of Company's rupees. The brigade con- 
 sisted of the 29th Bengal N. I., from Moradabad, 
 and the 18th and 68th Regiments of N. I., which, 
 previously to the outbreak, were cantoned, with 
 some Irregular Cavalry corps, at the favourite station 
 of Bareilly. 
 
 The day in camp was passed in more than prdi- 
 nary quietude. The firing from the city was any- 
 thing but heavy. Our battery at Hindoo Rao had 
 
1857.] BRIGHT PEOSPECTS. Ill 
 
 been increased during tlie previous night, and kept 
 Tip so destructive a fire on the enemy's Moree Bas- 
 tion, that it was apparently reduced to a ruin. The 
 service magazine of the enemy was blown up, and a 
 gun quaintly nicknamed " Whistling Dick " (another 
 I remember, in like fashion, was called " Tambourine 
 Sal," — both of them enemies of ours and friends of 
 the mutineers) was rolled into the trenches, under 
 our heavy fire. Moreover, to keep up our spirits, 
 and as a set-off to the substantial reinforcements 
 known to have reached the enemy, report confidently 
 stated that General Wheeler, with four European 
 regiments under his command, was marching on 
 Delhi. Alas! for the credit to be attached to the 
 voice of rumour! At the very moment when 
 with wistful eyes and longing hearts, the Delhi 
 Field Force — in ignorance of the tragedy that had 
 been enacted at Cawnpore — was reckoning with 
 confidence on the General's skill and succour, and 
 looking forward to his advent as the harbinger of 
 salvation, the poor General, with his small garrison, 
 were inhabitants of another and I hope a better 
 world. ' 
 
 The active duties of the day, if I mistake not, 
 were closed by the despatch from camp of the second 
 detachment of sick and wounded, who were sent in 
 
112 SIEGE OP DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 charge of a medical officer to Umballa, preparatory 
 to their proceeding to Kussowlee, a sanatarium dep&t 
 for troops in the hills. Among the sick and wounded 
 were Captain Dawson and Assistant-Surgeon Why- 
 lock, both of the V5th Foot, and some other officers ; 
 Captain Conyngham Jones being, I think, one of the 
 number. On the 1st July the force had to lament 
 the loss of an officer of the 3rd Bengal N. I,, who 
 was attached to the 4th Sikh, or Captain Rothney's, 
 Infantry — I allade to Lieutenant James Yorke: he 
 died " of wounds received in action on the previous 
 day, and in the full assurance of Christian hope. 
 
 The day after their arrival on the banks of the 
 river, the Bareilly Brigade was seen crossing and 
 marching into the city. An additional reinforce- 
 ment, soon after early dawn, reached our own camp, 
 consisting of Coke's Rifles; a regiment of Punjaub 
 Infantry bearing a high character, and possessing 
 the advantage of a very able commander. Major 
 Coke. This regiment was a real accession to the 
 Force, and did good and distinguished service during 
 the operations before Delhi. Thus strengthened 
 within the last few days, the General again seriously 
 contemplated a second attempt at assault on the city. 
 The intention was kept profoundly secret, as on the 
 previous occasion, but a meeting of regimental field 
 
1857.] TBEACHEEY IN CAMP. 113 
 
 officers was summoned for nine in the evenins, to 
 meet the Staff, study the plans, and receive instruc- 
 tions. The force was held in readiness to march out 
 of camp and proceed to the attack the moment 
 warning should be given ; but some intelligence 
 reached head-quarters which defeated the purposes of 
 the General, and the intention, so far as I could learn, 
 was then deferred sine die. 
 
 We had long suspected treachery withiu the camp : 
 not a movement of ours> perhaps not a word or even 
 a look, but was immediately reported in Delhi. 
 Tor a long while we had no one in particular upon 
 whom we could fix our suspicion ; however, on the 
 2nd' of July, a revelation was made, through the 
 fidelity of certain Sikhs, whose regiment had recently 
 come into camp. Unhappily an entire company of 
 this regiment was composed of Poorbeas, while the 
 main strength was Sikh. The Poorbeas within the 
 British camp had strong leanings and earnest long- 
 ings for Delhi. " Down with the British rule! " was 
 the secret wish of their treason-working hearts ; but 
 before they could openly avow their treachery, they 
 had to perform, by deception, an important mission, 
 which the King of Delhi had entrusted to their 
 execution. This mission was to destroy the loyalty 
 of the Sikhs, if possible, by offers of large bribes, and 
 
114 Siege of delhi, [jult, 
 
 by a train of subtle reasonmg, in which an appeal tcj 
 the Divine Will formed a very prominent part. 
 Accordingly some leading men of the Poorbea Com- 
 pany of the Sikh Regiment approached one of the 
 leading men of the other companies, and declared 
 that " the will of Heaven was to take away the Raj 
 from the English and to give it over to the descend- 
 ant of the Great Mogul ; and that it could be no 
 benefit to them to continue any longer in the British 
 service, as by so doing they would only incur the 
 displeasure of ' Shah Bahadoor Shah,' which would 
 rest upon the Sikhs, and follow them from place to 
 place, till destruction completely overtook and over- 
 whelmed them. If, however, on the ether hand they 
 made choice of the winning side, the King would 
 gladly enrol those of the Sikhs who were ofScers 
 among his Colonels and Generals, and would give 
 large pay to one and all." 
 
 The Sikh having listened to the arguments of 
 the mutinous Poorbeas, gave, according to Eastern 
 custom, some evasive reply. He then made direct 
 for the tent of his commanding officer, to whom 
 he disclosed the conspiracy; in consequence, the 
 ringleaders, who were native officers, and I think 
 three in number, were arrested forthwith, brought 
 to trial, and hung shortly before nightfall. The 
 
1857.] DESTRUCTION OF ALEEPOEE. 115 
 
 remainder of the attainted company were paid up 
 and sent out of camp, to the great satisfaction alike of 
 Englishmen and of Sikhs. 
 
 On the following day the movements of the enemy 
 occasioned no small anxiety. A force, supported by 
 guns, left Delhi, and proceeded in the direction of 
 our rear; whereupon, a large force was detached 
 from camp for the purpose of counteracting any de- 
 signs which the rebels might have against us. But it 
 seems that, upon this occasion, our native allies, the 
 inhabitants of the village of Aleepore, were the 
 object of their attack. The enemy knew that from this 
 village we drew largely for supplies ; and that from 
 the first the villagers had displayed a very friendly 
 feelmg towards us, and manifested the warmest 
 sympathy for our cause ; hence they were the object 
 of implacable hate with the mutineers, and a decision 
 was now formed and put into execution to inflict 
 summary punishment on these natives for their want 
 of loyalty to the Great Mogul. We, however, were 
 wholly ignorant of these designs, and our force accord- 
 ingly returned to camp without interfering with the 
 mutineers. The inhabitants of Aleepore were of course 
 unable to defend themselves against the attack of the 
 rebels, and the village was burnt during the night. A 
 Sikh guard, consisting of some fifty or sixty men, was 
 
 I 2 
 
116 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jDLT, 
 
 slain, and the enemy having satisfied their vengeance 
 decamped with a large share of plunder. 
 
 As soon, however, as we had learnt something 
 of the terrible doings of the mutineers, another 
 force was despatched from camp to intercept their 
 retreat in its return to Delhi. This occurred on 
 the 4th of July. Our party fell in twice with the 
 Bareilly Brigade during that day, and two successive 
 attacks were made upon them; which resulted in 
 the slaughter of about one hundred rebels, and 
 the capture of two ammunition waggons, filled, I 
 believe, with ammunition. 
 
 Thus closed the fourth week of our eventful 
 encampment before Delhi ; and little did we suspect 
 what the coming Sabbath was about to bring forth. 
 I remember well the solemn services of that day. I 
 had performed the duties devolving upon me for the 
 Head-Quarters Camp at the usual hour, and my text 
 seemed in a measure prophetical. It was taken from 
 the Psalms of David, and the words are familiar 
 to every Christian mind, " So teach us to number 
 our days, that we may apply our hearts unto 
 wisdom." I noticed the absence of General Sir 
 Harry Barnard, but was ignorant of the cause. 
 The fatigue of harassing camp duties had been 
 pressing heavily upon him and sapping his vital 
 
1857.] BEATH OF SIE HARRY BARNARD. 117 
 
 power; and though the decline had not altogether 
 escaped the notice of his friends and staff, no serious 
 apprehensions were entertained: certainly, no fatal 
 result was anticipated. We fully hoped and believedj 
 and as earnestly desired, that a gracious Providence 
 would spare him to reap all the honours which a 
 grateful country might award for a successful termi- 
 nation of the siege of Delhi. But it was otherwise 
 ordained; and we were constrained to exclaim, " Even 
 so. Father : for so it seemed good in thy sight." 
 
 About nine o'clock in the forenoon of Sunday, July 
 the 5th, malignant cholera seized General Sir Harry 
 Barnard. Immediately the medical skill of the camp 
 was put in requisition. Every effort was made, and 
 every appliance resorted to, which humanity could 
 prompt or science suggest, and the results were 
 watched with anxious interest. The General's nurse 
 was his own excellent son Captain Barnard, an officer 
 of the Guards. Nothing that filial affection could 
 dictate was wanting to relieve the sufferings of the 
 gallant officer, and to soften his dying hour ; but in 
 spite of all that mortals could do, the General 
 languished during a short illness of six hours, and then 
 expired about three in the afternoon, to the inexpres- 
 sible grief of every soldier and man in the camp. 
 He did not, however, sink to rest untU after he had 
 
118 SIEGE OE DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 given a solemn and parting charge to Captain 
 Barnard: " Tell them," he said, alluding to his own 
 family in England, "I die happy." And, indeed, 
 what was to hinder his d3ring happy? He had a 
 Saviour to lean upon, and a good conscience told 
 him that he had manfully discharged his duty. To 
 this every one was ready to set the seal of his own 
 testimony. The prevailing feehng in camp was that 
 the melancholy event had been brought about by 
 the extraordinary devotion of our leader to his 
 country's cause. In him we saw another victim to 
 the mutiny prematurely taken to the grave, and 
 the country deprived of the services of one of her 
 most gallant commanders. His own family had 
 indeed lost a father and a friend, and one of whom 
 a son could speak in no fitter or more expressive 
 terms than when, in a voice broken by tears, he 
 exclaimed, as he stood a mourner at the side of th9 
 grave which had just received all that was mortal 
 of his parent, " My loss is great indeed. I have lost 
 the very best of parents, and the most intimate and 
 endearing of friends." 
 
 The funeral was originally appointed for six o'clock 
 on Monday morning, but the arrangements could not 
 be completed by that time, and it was accordingly 
 deferred till ten in the forenoon. A gun carriage 
 
1857.] GENERAL EEED ASSUMES COMMAND. 119 
 
 served as a hearse. No minute guns told the camp 
 the age of the departed. Truly a great man had 
 fallen in Israel ; but he was borne to the grave with- 
 out pomp or show. The only difference made 
 between the General and a private soldier consisted 
 in the length of the mournful train which followed 
 in solemn sadness the mortal remains of the brave 
 warrior: in every other respect, the General and 
 the man in the ranks were one in death. Distinctions 
 were most properly laid aside, as impertinent to so 
 soleron an occasion; and all alike found their last 
 resting-place in a simple grave of earth, without 
 embellishment of either wood or stone. 
 
 The other events of this day consisted in the 
 departure from camp, at about two o'clock in the 
 early morning, of Captain Brookes, of H.M.'s 75th 
 Regiment, with 300 men, for the purpose of escorting 
 and bringing in treasure and ammunition from Alee- 
 pore. The party returned in safety, accompanied 
 by Colonel Garbett, and Lieutenant Angelo, with 
 a small reinforcement of Artillery. It was an- 
 nounced in General Orders, that the provisional 
 Commander-in-Chief, General Reed, had personally 
 assumed the immediate command of the " Delhi 
 Field Force." 
 
 The quiet which prevailed during the 7th of July 
 
120 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULT, 
 
 was, indeed, a relief to our harassed soldiers, and a 
 source of great satisfaction to every one. Every 
 now and then the effects of deceased officers 
 were disposed of by public auction ; but on that 
 day commenced a series of auctions on a very 
 grand scale, consisting of the property of two 
 geiierals — the Honourable George Anson, our late 
 excellent Commander-in-Chief, and Sir Harry Bar- 
 nard. The sales lasted over several days, and the 
 property was disposed of, generally speaking — partly 
 from associations connected with these great men, 
 and partly because of the pressing wants of several 
 people in camp — with considerable pecuniary advan- 
 tages to the respective estates. 
 
 Having no saddle-horse or saddlery of any kind, 
 and owing to the short notice upon which I had 
 quitted Meerut, I had brought nothing with me save 
 a large, lumbering palki-gharri, which was too heavy 
 for one horse to draw over camp roads ; consequently, 
 up to this date, I had been forced to travel to my 
 hospital duties on foot, m all weathers and at all 
 times of the day and night. As there were fourteen 
 hospitals, widely scattered over every direction of 
 camp, it may be supposed, that my duties were any- 
 thing but light; the more especially when I state that 
 the labour was confided to a single Protestant chaplain 
 
1857.] FATHER BEETRAND. ■ 121 
 
 and one Roman Catholic priest : and this -without any 
 additional ministerial help, until August 18th, in my 
 case, and only a very few days earlier in^that of the 
 Roman Catholic priest. Fortunately, there was 
 a buggy for sale at one of the auctions I have 
 mentioned, which I purchased, and which enabled 
 me to discharge my arduous duties with greater 
 comfort to myself; and without it, I verily believe, 
 a short time would have seen me out of camp, a 
 disabled instead of a working man. 
 
 Father Bertrand, a pattern Roman Catholic priest, 
 whose services have been justly recognised — not 
 by the Government, perhaps ; for judging by its acts, 
 the clergy, and particularly that more self-denying 
 portion of it belonging to the Roman Catholic 
 Church, seem to^ have been regarded as a necessary 
 inconvenience; but by his own Vicar Apostolic, Dr. 
 Persico, in terms not by any means too flattering, 
 considermg his labours in camp — ^was in this respect 
 in a much worse predicament than myself; He had 
 infinitely smaller allowances, and infinitely fewer 
 comforts than I enjoyed, but an equal amount 
 of labour. This excellent man — and surely I may 
 venture thus to designate him, without risk of 
 offence to any, except the most bigoted — lived as 
 sparingly as a hermit, while he worked as hard as an 
 
122 SIEGE OE DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 English dray-horse. If Government should overlook 
 this good man and his extraordinary services, his own 
 flock never can and never will : those services and 
 that self-denial -will live in the recollections of the 
 army as long as a single man survives to tell the 
 tale. And for myself, despite some vital errors in 
 creed, I cannot but hope, and I as earnestly pray, 
 that zeal so distinguished, and labour so abundant, 
 may, through the divine mercy of Christ our common 
 Saviour, find honourable mention in the audience 
 of assembled angels and men, when warriors with 
 their tinselled glories, and war with its terrible 
 desolations, shall not so much as once be named. 
 
 Eight days had passed, and, strange to say, no 
 attack from the enemy had taken place. Such 
 policy on their part was very puzzling, and, as 
 usual, it set rumour to work, and sent a hundred 
 reports flying through the camp. For my own 
 part, I have no doubt but that many an anxious 
 thought crossed the minds of the King and his 
 followers. After a month's experience of the war in 
 which they had been engaged, and from which they 
 had expected such victorious results, probably they 
 were unable to comprehend why fatigue, exposure, 
 and their own fire combined, had not destroyed the 
 hated " Kaffir crew." They little thought that the 
 
1857.] THE GOOD CAUSE. 123 
 
 struggle was a battle of principles — a conflict between 
 truth and error ; and that because they had elected in 
 favour of darkness, and eschewed the light, there- 
 fore they could not possibly succeed. Moreover, 
 they had imbrued their hands in the innocent blood 
 of helpless women and children, and of honest and 
 confiding men, who spumed to harbour the thought 
 of suspicion, despite differences of race and religion. 
 That very blood was appealing to heaven for 
 vengeance. The appeal was imquestionably heard, 
 and its justice fully admitted. Many an English- 
 man's conscience, in the darkest moments of our 
 recent Indian history, gave him the blessed assur- 
 ance, that, although he might not live to see it, 
 nevertheless, in due time, the Lord could not other- 
 wise than be avenged on such a nation as this. 
 
 Indeed, the surety of this conviction now began to 
 .force itself on our serious attention. I remember 
 distinctly the great and unspeakable comfort which 
 it imparted to my own soul at or about this very 
 time. It was the subject of my letters to those 
 nearest and dearest to me. It gave me matter for 
 earnest entreaty at the Throne of Grace. It was 
 not that I had learnt to lean on the hope of rein- 
 forcements already received, or even yet to come ; 
 neither was it simple confidence in the indomitable 
 
124 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 energy and resolution of the English character, and 
 of English soldiers : it was simply because I believed 
 with my whole heart that victory was the Lord's, 
 and that he would give it into our hands. This was 
 the mainstay of my soul's fondest expectations, 
 and I was sure that eventually we should not be 
 confounded. 
 
 The eighth of July was one of almost unbroken 
 quietude. Nothing but occasional cannonading dis- 
 turbed the prevailing calm. Our artillery practice 
 was, however, successful, and we managed during 
 the course of the day to disable a large gun in 
 the enemy's battery at the Lahore gate. This, and 
 the march of a party from camp at two o'clock in 
 the morning, for the purpose of destroying a bridge 
 over the canal, which afforded the enemy a com- 
 munication with our rear, and allowed the possibility 
 of their bringing ordnance with them, were the only 
 events of the day deserving a place in this record. 
 
 After a nine days' rest, the enemy once more 
 thought that the renewal of the conflict was abso- 
 lutely necessary. The day set in determinately 
 with rain; but in spite of that we were obliged 
 to fight. Between nine and ten in the forenoon, I 
 was sitting writing, in company with a field officer 
 who was sharing my tent, when the alarm souiaded; 
 
1857.] A SUEPEISE. 125 
 
 but that was so ordinary an occurrence, that our 
 ears had grown familiar and tired with the con- 
 stant repetition of the notes. As I was a non- 
 combatant, and my friend had been for some 
 considerable time on the sick list, we both hastened 
 on with our work, fearful of losing the post. Pre- 
 sently we heard the sounds of flying musketry shot, 
 which seemed to be taking the direction of our 
 own tent, and once or twice startled us both by 
 their close proximity. We thought it now high 
 time to turn out and inquire the meaning of all 
 this ; the more so, as we could already distin- 
 guish that the shot came from the neighbourhood 
 of the churchyard, which was not more than 200 
 yards from our home. Our surprise may be 
 imagined when we found that the enemy's cavalry 
 were actually in the camp, having been treacherously 
 brought in by a picquet of our own, consisting of a 
 portion of the 9th Irregulars. 
 
 This act of treachery gave the enemy great 
 advantages, because on their approaching camp, 
 our guards and their officers recognised our own 
 men, and feared to fire lest they might destroy 
 them. The sudden and unaccountable increase in 
 numbers to tlie British Native Cavalry picquet 
 suggested the first thought of suspicion. The Field 
 
126 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULT, 
 
 Artillery on the spot were ordered to unlimber, 
 and open upon the enemy; but ere this could 
 he done the fellows were within the camp, and 
 had ridden over the guns : they were just on the 
 point of killing an artillery officer named Hills, a 
 very gallant and distinguished second lieutenant 
 belonging to that corps, when Major Tombs, his 
 troop captain, came to the rescue, and shot the 
 man who would have otherwise cut down the 
 young subaltern. The rebel's arm was uplifted, 
 ready to strike the blow, which would have cleft 
 the skull of our hero, when he met his own right- 
 eous doom from the hand of one of the most gallant, 
 most distinguished, and most popular officers ia 
 camp. 
 
 So worthy were these actions of the English 
 name and character, that I cannot refrain from 
 giving a detailed account of this episode in our 
 camp life. Second Lieutenant Hills, in obedience 
 to the orders which he had received, was straining 
 every effort to get his guns into action, but only 
 succeeded in having one unlimbered, when the 
 enemy were upon him. The thought now occurred 
 to him that by charging the insurgents single-handed 
 he might occasion a commotion, and so give his 
 men time to load the gun. Simultaneously with 
 
1857.] GALLANTRY OF LIEUT. HILLS. 127 
 
 the thought he made a rush, with all the impetuosity 
 of desperation, at the enemy's front rank, cut down 
 the first man he met with, and had given a second 
 a severe wound in the face, when two sowars or 
 native troopers charged him. At one and the same 
 moment their horses came in contact with young 
 Hills' charger, and the latter with its rider was 
 sent flying. Such was the force of the fall, that 
 Hills escaped two cuts which were made at him^ 
 one of which laid open his jacket just below the 
 left arm, without injury however to his person. 
 He lay for a moment, and the enemy passed on; 
 supposing, I presume, that he was slain. Presently 
 he rose and looked about for his sword, which he 
 discovered lying about ten yards from the place 
 where he had fallen. 
 
 Scarcely was the lost sword found and secured, 
 than three of the enemy again returned to the attack ; 
 two on horseback, and the third on foot. The 
 youthful soldier had again to struggle for life: the 
 first man who approached him, he succeeded in 
 wounding and dropping from his horse ; the second 
 charged him with a lance, which was cleverly turned 
 aside, and an awful gash in return inflicted on the 
 face and head of the assailant. Lieutenant Hills 
 thought he had despatched this opponent, but 
 
128 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULY, 
 
 wounded as he was, the man came up for a second 
 time, but only to have his head completely broken. 
 The third and most formidable foe was yet to come : 
 he was young and active, and unwearied by pre- 
 vious effort; whereas. Lieutenant Hills was weak 
 with exertion and panting for breath, and moreover, 
 his cloak by some means, in these successive frays 
 had fastened tightly round his throat, almost to 
 suffocation. Nothing daunted, he entered afresh 
 upon the conflict, and made a blow with his sword 
 at the enemy — a blow which was unfortunately 
 turned. The rebel now seized the hilt of the Ar- 
 tilleryman's sword, and succeeded in twisting it out 
 of the owner's grasp. At this juncture it came to a 
 hand to hand fight; the Englishman with his fists, 
 punching the head of the native, and the native 
 trying to wound his gallant foe with the sword, but 
 Avithout success. Somehow, young Hills fell; and 
 Major Tombs came up just in time to succour his- 
 junior, by despatching, as he thought, the mutineer 
 with a pistol-shot. 
 
 Major Tombs and Lieutenant Hills then went in 
 company to the Mound, but after some time, they 
 returned to secure the unlimbered gun, which had 
 been left behind. To their surprise they found 
 the very man whom they both supposed to be 
 
1857.] EESTJLTS OF THE SURPRISE. 129 
 
 " non est," walking off witli Mr. Hills' pistol, which 
 in extremity had been driven by that officer at 
 an opponent's head. After some fencing on both 
 sides, young Hills rushed at him with a thrust, 
 which he avoided by an adroit jump, cutting Hills 
 at the same time on the head, but without stunning 
 him. Major Tombs now followed him up, and 
 Lieutenant Hills, taking the opportunity of rising 
 from the ground, succeeded in dealing the fellow 
 another blow, which almost severed the wrist 
 from the arm ; the whole business was concluded 
 by Major Tombs, the next moment, running the 
 man through with his sword. Thus ended a con- 
 flict which resulted in a recommendation of the 
 officers engaged in it, as worthy of the highest 
 honour for distinguished bravery — an honour which 
 I trust they may both live to receive, and long live 
 to enjoy. 
 
 The trespass in our camp committed by the enemy 
 was soon avenged, and they were quickly dislodged 
 without much damage. Nevertheless, they managed 
 to do some mischief ere they departed. They 
 wounded some of the artillery, and a few of the 
 camp followers; besides which, one or two of the 
 rebels, who were roguishly disposed, deliberately 
 walked off, in one case with an officer's charger, 
 
 K 
 
130 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 all equipped and ready for mounting : and, in 
 another instance, they carried away an apothecary's 
 horse which was picquetted beside the stud of 
 Surgeon Mackinnon, of the 1st Brigade of Horse 
 Artillery. 
 
 The guns of the native troop of the 1st Brigade of 
 Artillery seem to have been the object which induced 
 this visit to camp. Immediately on arrival, the 
 mutineers made straight to that quarter of the 
 encampment in which those guns were standing. 
 But the troop, to their credit, manfully refused to 
 obey a single order which was given, although every 
 order was coupled with the name, and (apparently 
 to the men) under the authority of Colonel Murray 
 Mackenzie, commanding the brigade. But, because 
 there was no absolute certainty, in spite of this 
 refusal on the part of the gunners of the troop, their 
 guns were taken from them, by order of the General, 
 and placed in the park ; the men protesting in their 
 innocence, and weeping like children, and their 
 European officers, whose confidence remained un- 
 shaken in them, notwithstanding the General's orders, 
 deeply sympathizing with their sorrow, and com- 
 plaining as bitterly of the act as the Golundauzes 
 themselves. 
 
 The fighting, however, on this day did not 
 
1857.] FIGHT OF THE NINTH OF JULY. 131 
 
 terminate with the camp scrimmagej but the whole 
 force was engaged until half-past four, or even later. 
 The Eifles reinforced Hindoo Rao's house with two 
 companies, and lost in all fifteen men, of which 
 number two were actually killed, and one mortally 
 wounded. Two other companies of the same regi- 
 ment moved under command of the gallant Colonel 
 Jones, to the " General's Mound," and from thence 
 proceeded to the protection of the guns in the rear 
 battery; subsequently they again joined the force, 
 consisting of the 8 th and 61st Regiments of Foot 
 and some Sikhs, together with Scott's Light Field 
 Battery, all of whom were placed under the 
 direction of Brigadier- General Chamberlain. 
 
 This force marched for the Subzi-Mundi. The 
 8 th and 61st were employed in skirmishing to the 
 right, while the Rifles accompanied the guns, 
 detaching one of the two companies to turn some 
 men out of a serai in the neighbourhood; a work 
 they were unable to effect, simply on account of the 
 construction of the serai, which only admitted of one 
 man ascending the building at a time. Two guns 
 were then sent to aid in the accomplishment of the 
 task, and their excellent fire speedily disturbed the 
 enemy, and caused him to beat a precipitate retreat. 
 At this unexpected movement of the foe, a panic 
 
 K 2 
 
132 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULY, 
 
 seized the Sikhs, who formed part of our force, and 
 they turned, leaving our guns to the protection of 
 the Riflemen, who gallantly held them ; and as soon 
 as another company of the Rifles could be brought 
 up in support, the business of the day concluded 
 with the complete dislodgment of the enemy from 
 the position which he had selected, and the 
 destruction of every one of the rebels composing 
 the force. 
 
 In this affair the Rifles had two wounded, 
 in addition to the number already given. Her 
 Majesty's 8th Foot had the sad misfortune to lose a 
 gallant young officer. Ensign Mounsteven, who was 
 mortally wounded in the affray, and died during the 
 ■day. The artillery fire from the city batteries was 
 both heavy and continuous, and the entire loss on 
 our side was estimated at fifty, and that of the 
 enemy at not less than one thousand: I must, 
 howevei", confess that I am rather sceptical con- 
 cerning the latter statement. 
 
 On the 10th of July, the rain descended in 
 copious streams, and continued to fall for twenty- 
 four hours. The miseries of camp life, temporarily 
 free as it was from the excitements of actual 
 warfare, except in the occasional booming of cannon, 
 were in most cases almost intolerable. Some (rf 
 
1857.] USCLERICAL VESTMENTS. 133 
 
 tis had work to do which could not be neglected, 
 and I was one of that number. I had to sally forth 
 to my hospitals, two of which, H. M.'s 8th and 61st, 
 were then hotbeds of cholera. My attire, on rainy 
 days, would have been denounced as essentially 
 unclerical : it consisted of jack-boots and small 
 clothes, and a dusty coloured choga, as a substitute 
 for a more decent coat of the true canonical cut and 
 colour. A copious beard and moustache, of coal- 
 black hue, did not improve my appearance. But 
 appearances could not be consulted; convenience 
 and comfort were the first consideration in camp, 
 and, much against my own will, I found I could be 
 no exception to the general rule. It is probable that 
 such a doctrine will shock the clergy in England, 
 surrounded as they are with all the comforts of an 
 English home, and located in an English parish, the 
 beau ideal of ministerial happmess. In peaceful 
 tiaies in India, and in the performance of 'garrison 
 and station duties, such innovations would be very 
 properly discountenanced; but allowance must be 
 made for circumstances. The ministry of the Word 
 and of the sacrament is not affected by such trifles ; 
 and experience warrants me in stating that a word in 
 season to many a man is iot a whit less acceptable, 
 because the chaplain is adorned or disfigured. 
 
134 SEEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 whichever it may be called, with a beard and 
 moustache, and clad in vesture of irregular colour 
 and pattern. This was an admission freely made in 
 the actions of the Roman Catholic priest, though I 
 never remember to have heard him allow it in so 
 many words. 
 
 The 11th of July was a quiet day, during which 
 nothing remarkable occurred. The cause of the 
 deaths of the camp-followers who lost their lives on 
 the 9th July, when the enemy's cavalry made a dash 
 into our camp, was made the subject of inquiry. 
 There was some little stir about the matter, as it 
 would appear that several of the deceased met their 
 fate at the hands of our own European soldiery. 
 I remember the authorities were very sensitive 
 on this point, and I think very properly so; as 
 life is not to be taken from any man without 
 sufficient cause. But the disorder necessarily occa- 
 sioned by the sudden appearance of an enemy in 
 camp, and the ignorance of the fact in our men, 
 that they were slaying friends and not foes, are all 
 sufficient excuses. It was one of the accidents of 
 war, to be deplored, but not to be helped. And 
 such an accident might have happened at any time, 
 during the siege, to any man, English or otherwise, 
 even with the observance of the greatest care. 
 
1857.] RAVAGES OF CHOLEEA. 135 
 
 Oil Sunday, the 12tli of July, the usual services 
 were attended at the usual hours and the usual 
 places. The alarm sounded about noon, and some 
 of the men, to my knowledge, were turned out 
 and kept in readiness during five successive hours. 
 This was the lot of the Rifles, and very probably 
 that of every other regiment composing the force. 
 My duty in hospital on that day was both heavy 
 and sad. Cholera was committing sad devastation 
 in the two European regiments in the 3rd Infantry 
 Brigade; I allude to the 8th and 61st Foot. The 
 hospitals of these two corps were under one roof, 
 the men of the 8th occupying the long centre 
 room of the building, while the two side verandahs 
 were devoted to the patients of the 61st. 
 
 The building was situated on the extreme left 
 flank. It was melancholy to see nearly every 
 man in either of the three wards languishing from 
 that terrible disease cholera ; hardly an inmate 
 was suffering from any other cause. It required 
 strong nerves to withstand the sickening sights 
 of these two infirmaries. The patients constantly 
 retching made the place very offensive. The 
 flies, almost as innumerable as the sand on the 
 sea-shore, alighted on your face and head, and 
 crawled down your back, through the opening 
 
136 SIEGE OE DELHI. [jULY, 
 
 given by the shirt-collar, and occasionally also 
 flew even into your throat, when you were en- 
 gaged in reading or praying with a dying man, — 
 these and a thousand other evils which I cannot 
 mention here, but of which I have yet a very 
 vivid and unpleasing recollection, severely tested 
 a man's power of endurance. My Bible, sadly 
 marked in consequence of this plague of flies, 
 recals, every time I open its soiled pages, many 
 an incident which occurred, and many a painful 
 expression of countenance which I witnessed within 
 those very walls, with a deep sigh of unfeigned- 
 regret. 
 
 So general was this mortal sickness in these 
 hospitals, that at last I could only hope to dis- 
 charge my duty by taking up a central position, 
 with a chair for a hassock to kneel on in prayer, and 
 making a general supplication for all the patients; 
 while afterwards, with Bible in hand, I read and 
 expounded extemporaneously some appropriate pas- 
 sage of Scripture. Happily cholera was not general 
 throughout camp.' It was principally confined to 
 these two regiments ; and the cause of its prevalence 
 among them some medical authorities connected . 
 with the fatigues of a long march in the height of 
 the rains. 
 
1857.] A I'ALSE OATH. 137 
 
 Early on the morning of the 13th of July there 
 was some heavy firing heard on the right of the 
 camp, and apparently at a very great distance from 
 it, the cause of which was never discovered. A 
 detachment of three arms was sent by us to Alee- 
 pore to escort hEickeries laden with ordnance ammu- 
 nition, which arrived during the day in perfect 
 safety. A letter also reached General Reed, the 
 provisional Commander-in-Chief, from Agra. It 
 was said to have come from the Hon. J. R. Colvin, 
 the Lieutenant-Governor of the North- West Pro- 
 vinces, and stated ,that the Neemuch Brigade and 
 part of the Gwalior forces had combined, and 
 attacked Agra, and burned the military canton- 
 ments. 
 
 Several days elapsed without our being engaged 
 by the enemy. Rumour said that intelligence had 
 reached head-quarters, direct from Delhi, which 
 declared that the mutineers had sworn a solemn 
 oath to capture our guns on the heights, and to 
 smoke their hookahs at Hindoo Rao's house, sqjne 
 time during the 12th of July. But the day and 
 the night of the 12th passed away, and the 13th 
 of July arrived without the oath of the rebels 
 being fulfilled. A wholesome fear apparently re- 
 strained them, and the execution of this purpose. 
 
138 SIEGE OE DELHI. \jlVhY, 
 
 as all subsequent experience taught us, was deferred 
 sine die. 
 
 But if the enemy did not molest us, the ravages 
 of cholera were growing daily more and more 
 serious. The 8th and 61st were still suffering 
 severely. Their losses were multiplying apace, and 
 almost as surely as a man was attacked, his case 
 defied medical skill, and he died. Among the 
 victims to this disease was my shipmate and friend 
 Lieutenant Edmund Walker, of the Engineers, than 
 whom that corps could not boast of a more distin- 
 guished and promising officer. Though young in 
 years, he had already held many important posts 
 under Government, and amongst others that of 
 Assistant to the Principal of the College of Civil 
 Engineers at Roorkee. His knowledge of mathe- 
 matics, and his love for that branch of science, were 
 singularly great. He had not much sympathy with 
 the pursuits of young men of his own years. Study 
 was his whole delight, and he gave himself up to 
 books with the same devotion as the miser yields 
 himself to the acquisition of wealth. His career 
 of usefulness was, however, cut short in the very 
 beginning of his manhood, after only a few hours' 
 illness; before even I knew of his having been 
 attacked, he passed away, and the only satisfaction 
 
1857.] A MISHAP. 139 
 
 — a very melancholy one indeed — which was per- 
 mitted me, was the performance of the last sad 
 ministerial office over his grave. 
 
 Shortly after my return from the burial ground, 
 in the forenoon of July 14th, the enemy attacked 
 our right flank in large force. Coke's Rifles and 
 the 75th were sent to reinforce the picquets in the 
 immediate neighbourhood of the attack, but our 
 troops did not advance till late in the day. The 
 battle was both long and furious ; the enemy were 
 driven in and followed up by our men almost to 
 the Lahore gate. We committed, however, a sad 
 oversight upon this occasion. It appears that the 
 enemy, retreating before our gallant soldiers, left 
 six guns on the field; which guns were at one 
 time so situated that we were between them and 
 the mutineers, who had originally brought them 
 out. This fact seems to have been forgotten, and 
 the rebels recovered their guns, to our great morti- 
 fication. How it was we committed such an error I 
 cannot possibly say; but we did, and the enemy 
 must have laughed at us heartily for our negligence. 
 
 Nevertheless we had the sincere gratification of 
 having inflicted on our opponents a very severe 
 loss ; though alas ! our score of casualties was any- 
 thing but trifling. We acknowledged to 16 killed 
 
140 SIEGE OF DELHI, [jULY, 
 
 and 150 wounded; among the latter was Brigadier 
 Cliamberlain, the Adjutant-General of the army, 
 whose conduct was conspicuous during the day 
 for the most distinguished valour and reckless- 
 ness of consequences resulting from personal expo- 
 sure. Lieutenants Faithfull and Rivers of the 75th 
 Foot, Lieutenant Penton Thompson, of the 3rd 
 Troop 3rd Brigade Horse Artillery, and Lieutenant 
 Tulloch, of the 20th N. L, doing duty with the 
 Rifles, were also wounded. The results of this 
 action were by no means as favourable as they 
 might have been. But accidents of this kind must 
 be expected, and an equal measure of success, under 
 equally favourable circumstances, cannot always be 
 commanded. 
 
 The 15th of July was enjoyable not only as a 
 day of rest and peace, after the fierce struggles of the 
 previous day, but also because all nature put on a gay 
 and cheerful appearance. It was one of those days 
 of sunshine which we are always ready to welcome, 
 after the monotony and gloom of a long succession 
 of wet weather during the periodical rains of India. 
 I do not know whether others in camp felt as I felt 
 when clouds gathered and lowered, and showers fell 
 in copious and unbroken streams for hours together, 
 and often during two or three consecutive days. 
 
1857.] ILLNESS OF GENEEAL EEED. 141 
 
 with scarcely any intermission ; but at such times T 
 always suffered more or less from depression of 
 spirits. I knew the rains were good in their season, 
 but I knew also, from personal experience, that the 
 camp was a very wretched, cheerless, damp home, 
 as long as they prevailed, and I freely confess I 
 was selfish enough to rejoice much more in their 
 absence than in their presence. NeYcrtheless these 
 feelings of mine were demonstrative proof in them- 
 selves how unfitted we are to choose for ourselves, 
 and what grievous mistakes we should indeed make 
 if left to the unrestrained indulgence of our own 
 whims and capricious wills. 
 
 But if a young and hale man like myself could 
 reasonably complain of the discomfort of camp life 
 in the middle of the rains, it is no great wonder 
 that the aged and infirm suffered from similar 
 exposure and hardship. This was the actual expe- 
 rience of General Reed, the Provisional Commander- 
 in-Chief. He joined the army, I remember, at the 
 fag-end of the battle of Badall-ke-Serai, on the 
 8 th of June. And from that time he never 
 seemed to enjoy a single hour's health. For a long 
 time he had been confined to his tent, and was 
 hardly ever seen, except by those more intimately 
 known to him. But on the death of General Sir 
 
142 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 Harry Barnard, as I have already intimated, he 
 assumed the immediate command of the force. 
 However, the responsibilities of ofEce, added to the 
 infirmities of years, were much more than his 
 enfeebled constitution could possibly stand. He 
 began rapidly to grow worse, and it was evident to 
 his medical advisers that a longer continuance in 
 the camp would be most probably at the risk of 
 his life ; he was accordingly counselled to repair to 
 the hUls on medical certificate, with as little delay 
 as possible. 
 
 About this time, too, news had reached the camp 
 from the Presidency that General Sir Patrick Grant 
 had arrived in Calcutta and assumed the command 
 of the Bengal army ; to which he had been recently 
 appointed, in consequence of the demise of General 
 the Hon. George Anson, the ex-Commander-in- 
 Ohief. This was an additional reason with General 
 Reed to resign the inferior command of the Delhi 
 Field Force. A very grave question of course, 
 both with the retiring General and the army at 
 large, was, who should be General Reed's successor. 
 It could not be settled by simply refering to the 
 Army List, and looking for the next senior, and if 
 General Reed had contented himself with a successor 
 in the command, whose merits depended only or 
 
1857.] GENEEAL WILSOIT IN COJIMAiro. 143 
 
 principally upon the date of his commissioDj the 
 army could not, in such critical times as these, have 
 concealed their thorough dissatisfaction. 
 
 There were two men between whom a choice 
 remained to be made, the appointment of either of 
 whom would prove generally acceptable. One of 
 these, Brigadier-General Chamberlain, the Adju- 
 tant-General of the army, was a man in whom 
 great reliance centred; but unfortunately he had 
 been very recently wounded, and pronounced 
 incapable of discharging the active duties of his 
 own office, which had been formally made over 
 to Captain Norman, 31st N. I., the second in the 
 department, and an officer of accredited ability. I 
 heard distinctly that this was the only reason why 
 preference was not given to him ; had it been, and 
 had circumstances admitted of his taking office, his 
 command would have been extremely popular with 
 the whole army. 
 
 But the officer upon whom the choice eventually 
 fell had already inspired confidence and respect. He 
 had fought and won two battles at Ghazeeoodeen- 
 nuggur, when numbers and circumstances largely 
 favoured the enemy ; and the battles of the Hindun 
 showed considerable military skUl on the part of 
 Brigadier Wilson. Hence it was natural enough to 
 
14-± SIEGE OF DELHL [JUIT, 
 
 suj)pose tliat the officer who had directed with 
 success the movements of an ai-mj of 700 against 
 as many thousands of the enemy, and as recently too 
 as the 30th and 31st Maj", 1857, would not he 
 wanting in strategy hefore the walls of Delhi, on 
 and after the 16th July, in the same year. More- 
 over, Brigadier Wilson at the moment held the 
 command of a corps which stands very high among 
 the scientific branches of the military service. This 
 fact alone gave increased weight to his claims 
 for the higher command of the besieging armv. 
 Accordingly the orders of July the 16th declared him 
 elect, with assigned rank of Brigadier-General from 
 that date. These orders gave great satisfaction, and 
 none rejoiced more in the appointment than his own 
 little army, who had gained for him and themselves 
 imperishable honour on the banks of the River 
 Hindun. 
 
 The reinforcement of the enemy in small numbers 
 by the arrival of the Jliansi mutineers, and our 
 receiving proofs that the mutineers could throw 
 shells very closely into camp, were the only other 
 noticeable events of tliat day. 
 
 No sooner had Brigadier-General Wilson assumed 
 command of the force, than it seems he had to 
 institute inquiries into the correctness, or otherwise. 
 
1857.] PERCUSSION CAPS. 145 
 
 of certain reports M'hich had reached the camp, impli- 
 cating the Bunneahs, or small tradespeople, who make 
 a living by vending various articles in the regimental 
 bazars. It was said these men bought up percussion 
 caps, which the troops, in ignorance of the use which 
 was intended to be made of them, sold to them in small 
 quantities and for small sums, in order to increase the 
 scant amount of their own personal comforts. But it 
 would appear that the caps thus purchased were re- 
 sold in the city of Delhi, where they were said* to be 
 growing daily more and more scarce. Upon receipt 
 of this information, quartermasters of regiments were 
 required, through the brigadiers commanding the 
 brigades to which their respective corps belonged, to 
 make diligent search in their own bazars, and dis- 
 cover, if possible, whether or no Bunneahs under 
 their control were guilty of this treasonable act, and 
 in case of detection to conjBne those whom they 
 chanced to detect. I believe no results followed 
 upon this examination, and in the absence of proof, I 
 suppose we should give the Bunneahs the benefit of 
 the doubt, according to the established principles of 
 English law. 
 
 On the 17 th of July, the day on which warning 
 and instruction were given to the force respecting 
 this suspicion, we despatched another party of 
 
146 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULY, 
 
 sick and wounded to Umballa and Kussowlie. 
 General Reed seized this opportunity of complying 
 "with the advice of his medical advisers, and Colonel 
 Congreve, officiating Adjutant General of Queen's 
 Troops, Colonel the Hon. R. N. Curzon, Military 
 Secretary to the late Commander-in-Chief, and 
 Captain Barnard, of the Guards, accompanied him ; 
 the two latter afterwards to rejoin their respective 
 regiments in England. 
 
 Before leaving, the General published his reasons 
 for relinquishing the command, which he said were 
 his having ceased from the 17th of June — the day 
 on which Sir Patrick Grant arrived in Calcutta, 
 and was sworn in by the Supreme Council of 
 India— to exercise the office of Provisional Com- 
 mander-in-Chief; and, moreover, failing health and 
 strength, to -which allusion has already been made. 
 After speaking in complimentary terms of Brigadier- 
 General Wilson, his successor, he took leave of the 
 force with the usual expression of thanks for the 
 services rendered to him by the most prominent of 
 the staff, including also commanding officers of 
 regiments, and left the camp with an escort, con- 
 sisting of one squadron of Dragoons, 100 of 
 the 5th Punjaub Irregular Cavalry, and 200 
 Guide Infantry, besides" two guns. The escort was 
 
1857.J EIGHTEENTH OE JULY, 147 
 
 to halt at Aleepore, and return witli a convoy of 
 stores to camp. 
 
 The alarm sounded about nine A.M. on Saturday, 
 July 18th. Immediately thereupon the main picquet 
 of Hindoo Rao was reinforced, as usual, with 100 
 men of H.M.'s 1st Battalion of 60th Royal Rifles. 
 Some time later in the day, General Wilson sent 
 for Lieutenant- Colonel J. Jones, of this regiment, and 
 directed him to proceed to the " General's Mound," 
 and assume command of a brigade consisting of 
 parts of the following regiments, viz., H.M.'s 8th, 
 61st, and 75th Foot, and the Hon. Company's 2nd 
 European Bengal Fusiliers, besides two companies 
 of Sikh Rifles, Coke's Regiment, Hodson's Irregular 
 Cavalry, and four guns. 
 
 This force repaired to the Subzi-mundi, gradually 
 clearing the whole way, and driving the enemy 
 before them. On arriving at Subzi-mundi, some 
 slight difficulty occurred in forcing the enemy 
 from one or more of the serais in the neighbour- 
 hood; but this difficulty soon yielded before the 
 perseverance and valour of the troops, and the 
 military skill displayed by the acting brigadier. 
 The enemy were not only driven out, but likewise 
 slain : thus the world was ridden, by their deaths, 
 of so many more incarnate fiends. 
 
 L 2 
 
148 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 The force, or at any rate a part of . it, after this 
 success, crossed the canal, and remained in position 
 for some time, tintil the colonel received orders to 
 retire; hut the village, which Colonel Jones' force 
 was occupying at the time he received his orders, 
 was effectually cleared of the enemy, and thus every 
 purpose of the expedition was fully answered. The 
 main body of the troops now commenced retiring, 
 alternately with their own particular guns, each 
 gun being covered by cavalry and infantry. These 
 arrangements were admirable in the extreme, and 
 the General was a witness to the whole of Colonel 
 Jones' proceedings during the day. He stood on 
 the mound, and looked on the fight with admiration ; 
 and as soon as an interview between himself and 
 Colonel Jones could well take place, he congratu- 
 lated that officer on the success of his operations, 
 with all of which he was pleased to express him- 
 self thoroughly satisfied: he added, moreover, that 
 a smaller number of men had been lost in this 
 affair than was usual, and that this was attributable 
 solely to Colonel Jones' prudence and forethought, 
 in keeping the troops constantly advancing, and 
 never allowing them to be at a loss as to the plan 
 of his operations. 
 
 In fact, Colonel Jones is, without question, both 
 
1857.] COLONEL JONES. 149 
 
 an able regimental and likewise brigade officer. 
 His powers of perception in military matters are 
 singularly acute, and bis knowledge of strategy bas 
 been strikingly displayed upon every occasion in 
 ■wliicb he bas bad the opportunity of exercising an 
 independent command. 
 
 One of tlie greatest proofs of bis capacity as a 
 soldier is the high state of efficiency and discipline 
 which distinguished bis regiment ; another is affiDrded 
 by the universal confidence reposed in him alike by 
 his own officers and men, without a single exception. 
 If be does bnt lead, they are ready to follow 
 wherever be shall direct; not doubting, even for a 
 moment, but that in following him implicitly they 
 will assuredly be led to glory and victory. This is 
 a confidence which very few commanding officers 
 enjoy, and wherever they do, it may be assumed 
 as a certain fact, that no body of men can be 
 inspired with such feelings in favour of any one 
 man, unless be richly deserves their confidence. 
 
 But ere I pass on to the events of another day, 
 let me briefly state the estimate of the results of 
 the 18th of July. Our losses, though not nearly 
 so many as might have been expected from the 
 fierceness and length of the engagement, were not 
 after all trifling. Lieutenant Crozier, of H. M.'s 
 
150 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 75th Foot, was killed in action, and Lieutenant 
 "Walter of the 45th N. I., attached to the 2nd 
 European Bengal Fusiliers, was smitten by a stroke 
 of the sun, to which he had been necessarily ex- 
 posed for some time, and from the effects of which 
 he died almost immediately. In addition to these 
 casualties among the officers, the returns were said 
 to declare that the force had lost in the engage- 
 ment at least some sixty rank and file ; which, con- 
 sidering that cholera was yet in camp, and daily 
 sacrificing many at its melancholy shrine, was 
 enough to occasion us a large measure of anxious 
 thought: and the more so, as no one could foresee 
 with any certainty, at this period of time, when 
 these sorties of the enemy would end, or when our 
 strength would prove sufficient to carry the city 
 hy storm, and so terminate the siege. But if we 
 had losses to mourn over, the enemy had very 
 many more. Perhaps their casualties were rather 
 Tinder than over four hundred. 
 
 Letters received from Meerut on the 19th of 
 July showed that considerable anxiety was felt by 
 the ladies of that station at the prospect of their 
 being ordered to the hills. Their removal from 
 the place was said to be only preparatory to the 
 abandonment of the cantonment; or, at any rate. 
 
1857.] PROPOSED CHANGES AT MEEEUT. 151 
 
 ■withdrawing from it all the European troops, and 
 leaving it, with all its property public and private, 
 in charge of some native force. This was a measure 
 strongly recommended by General Wilson among 
 others, and if he had had absolute authority, the 
 plan would have been vigorously carried out at 
 almost any risk, because of the great want of 
 Europeans, which was beginning to be most keenly 
 felt by the army before Delhi. Still he would have 
 had to make many provisions ere he could have 
 carried out this step. He could not have sent women 
 and children to -starve, accordingly he must have 
 secured to them a commissariat; and house accom- 
 modation was very limited. The hills were full to 
 repletion of visitors driven there by the troubles of 
 the times. It would then have been no easy matter 
 to find shelter for one thousand persons, whose help- 
 less and defenceless condition demanded that they 
 should not be left. to shift for themselves. More- 
 over, the abandonment of Meerut would have been 
 essentially a false military move. It would have 
 completely checkmated the British in the Dooab. 
 And this is another of those mistakes which appa- 
 rently wise men and brave were on the very eve of 
 committing, and from which they were happily held 
 back by an unseen hand. 
 
152 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JTJLT, 
 
 Almost simultaneously witli this intelligence from 
 Meerut, the first news of the Cawnpore disasters 
 reached camp. It was confidently reported that the 
 General had received a letter, or a copy of a letter, 
 professing to bear date June 25th, which declared 
 that General "Wheeler's garrison, feeling itself unable 
 to longer hold out against the rebels, had treated 
 with them. The largest and perhaps fairest promises, 
 under the circumstances, were deliberately made on 
 the one side, and as confidently relied on by the 
 other. Boats were provided by the enemy, pro- 
 fessedly to carry our unfortunate people down the 
 river to Calcutta. But no sooner were they 
 freighted with living men, women, and children, 
 and had put off from the land, than masked guns 
 from the shore were treacherously opened upon them 
 with a destructive fire. These were among the prin- 
 cipal heads of information said to be contained in 
 that letter of woe. For details we had to defer 
 expectation to some distant day, the dawn of which 
 few could hope to see. This intelligence cast a 
 heavy gloom over camp. We . proclaimed our 
 sorrows one to another rather by looks than by 
 words. Even our Idoks we tried to coiiceal in the 
 presence of a native; every man feeling that it was 
 necessary to hold his peace and assume cheerfulness. 
 
1857.] CHOLEKA IN CAMP. 153 
 
 and thus hide facts as much as possible from the 
 camp-followers, who were always ready to catch and 
 carry to Delhi any scrap of news, more particularly 
 if it had reference to the disasters of the British. 
 
 We were not either without causes of sorrow in 
 our own camp ; so true is it that one sorrow never 
 comes single-handed, but is apt to bring others in its 
 train. Cholera was particularly busy in thinning 
 the ranks of the army on the 19th July. During 
 the night and day three officers fell victims to it. 
 Lieut. Rivers, of H. M.'s 75th Foot, and Lieut. 
 Ross, of the Sirmoor Battalion, died of this disease 
 on the 19th, in the General Hospital; and Lieut. 
 Ellis, of the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), 
 expired in his own tent, before sunrise, on the 20th. 
 
 To add to the anxiety engendered by the great 
 losses sustained by the force from cholera! alone, 
 the general health of the camp was very far 
 from robust. Most men were complaining, and 
 acknowledged to a constantly distressing feeling of 
 sickness, especially before and after breakfast. I 
 was a martyr to.it myself, and attributed much of 
 this nausea not only to the quality of the food 
 which we ate, and which was at times very coarse 
 and inferior, during the rains, but to the presence 
 also of an overwhelming number of flies, who soiled 
 
154 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JPLT, 
 
 everything which they came in contact with. As 
 I have before ohserved, the misery arising from 
 these creatures only, was something almost into- 
 lerable ; they sought you out in your tent, at your 
 meals, when occupied in the discharge of duty ; and 
 the only time you could secure rest from this 
 annoyance was during the hours of sleep at night, 
 when they themselves felt the necessity of repose. 
 Whatever might be the dish you selected to feed 
 upon, as soon as it was uncovered, a legion of 
 flies would settle upon it; and even so simple a 
 thing as a cup of tea would be filled in a few 
 minutes, unless you were very watchful, the surface 
 of the liquid presenting a most revolting dark 
 appearance from flies floating thereon, some dead 
 and others dying. 
 
 We all expected a harassing day during the 20th 
 July. The alarm sounded as early as eight in the 
 morning; of course there was the usual flight to 
 arms, and the usual reinforcement sent to the key 
 of our position — Hindoo Kao. Nothing however 
 occurred; but our batteries kept up a heavy and 
 deafening cannonading, which was said to have 
 done excellent service. The day passed off quietly 
 enough, until about 6 p.m., when, ten full hours 
 after the first alarm, a second was heard. 
 
1857.] IMPROVED DISCIPLINE. 155 
 
 There was a very general impression abroad that 
 the force was turning out to meet an attack of the 
 enemy's cavalry on the right ; hut subsequent events 
 proved that the rebel horsemen were only making 
 an effort to prevent some of our bullock hackeries, 
 laden with saltpetre, returning to camp from Subzi- 
 mundi. The Guides corps gave them a volley from 
 their carbines, and the enemy commenced retreating. 
 Our casualties over this trifling affair were next to 
 nothing, but the enemy were declared to have 
 suffered much from the fire of the heavy artillery of 
 the British. The whole force returned to camp 
 about 7 P.M. ; excepting the reinforcement of the 
 Royal Rifles, which had been sent early in the day 
 to Hindoo Rao, and was detained there by Major 
 Reid, the permanent commander of that picquet. 
 
 Besides the engagement with the enemy, the 
 orders published to the force on the evening of the 
 20th of July deserve notice, as showing the gradual 
 re-introduction of military system into the plans 
 of the camp. A desultoriness had characterized 
 much of the fighting which had taken place before 
 the walls, and in the immediate neighbourhood of 
 Delhi. Men who had been trained to order, and 
 who had a love for discipline, complained very much 
 of the increasing absence of it in the force : it was 
 
156 SIEGE OF DELHI. IzVLY, 
 
 to be seen in trifles; but trifles exercise a widely 
 extended influence on the business of life, and 
 perhaps nowhere can trifles be dispensed with to 
 so little advantage as in the army. If you give an 
 inch it will speedily become an ell, and as the 
 least encroachment on strict discipline may lead to 
 disaster of some kind, the sooner it is checked so 
 surely will disorder, which invariably leads to 
 inefiiciency, be prevented. Many of the men of 
 "The Delhi Force" had, grown slovenly in dress 
 when they turned out to engage the enemy: 
 numbers were to be seen fighting in shirt sleeves ; 
 which was a very great eye-sore, not to martinets 
 only, but to many kind and considerate commanding 
 officers. With this practice, Brigadier-General 
 Wilson declared war as early as the second day 
 after assuming command; he required the men, 
 on turning outj to always wear some kind of 
 uniform. 
 
 Not later than the fourth day after his accession 
 to office, the General directed his attention to the 
 picquets of the force, which a little painstaking 
 would greatly improve. In the preamble of the 
 order on this subject, he contented himself with 
 saying that he had reason to believe that the duties 
 of officers on picquet were not always properly 
 
1857.] NEW AEEASTGEMENTS. 157 
 
 conducted. With this introduction he desired that 
 it might be distinctly understood that sentries and 
 videttes should be frequently, and at regular times, 
 visited by an officer, to sge that they had not grown 
 remiss ; that patrols would be regularly sent round, 
 accompanied either by an officer or a sergeant ; and 
 that officers commanding an out-lying picquet would 
 be held responsible for a written report of all 
 occurrences of the day which had come under their 
 observation and knowledge. This report was to be 
 made in the morning to the Field Officer of the 
 day, and by him to the Brigadier, through whom it 
 was eventually to come into the hands of the 
 General himself. 
 
 A bugler was directed to be detached for each 
 picquet, to sound the alarm in case of an attack 
 upon the picquet, either during the day or night. 
 In case of a night attack on any post, it was ordered 
 that the alarm should be sounded, and the post 
 defended to the last extremity. Immediately upon 
 the alarm, the supports were to move out quickly 
 to the rescue. Parties warned for support were 
 invariably to sleep accoutred. The remamder of 
 the troops in camp were to rendezvous at various 
 positions : the 1st infantry brigade on the right 
 flank of the camp, in front of H. M.'s 75th Foot ; 
 
158 SIEGE OF DELHI. [j^^^j 
 
 the 2nd and 3rd infantry brigades on the road 
 leading to the camp cemetery; the Guides corps, 
 which was not attached to any particular brigade, 
 on the road leading to the mosque ; and the cavalry 
 brigade on the road to the left of No. 14 Light 
 rield Battery, commanded by Major E. W. L. Scott. 
 Such arrangements had been long wanted, and were 
 thankfully recognised by almost every regiment in 
 the force. 
 
 There is yet another event of melancholy interest 
 which belongs, as of right, to the 20th July, 1857. 
 Captain Greensill, of H. M.'s 24th Foot, whose 
 acquaintance I made early iij June, had been 
 attached to the Engineer department. We often 
 met in the cemetery, where he was employed in 
 making arrangements for the deposit of ammunition 
 under ground, in one corner of the churchyard. In 
 consequence of the multitude of funerals, many a 
 time, at sunrise and sunset, I had the privilege of 
 half an hour's chit-chat with this very attractive 
 and pleasing officer. It did one really good to 
 witness the sunshine of his face, when lighted up 
 with a smile; to experience the cordiality of his 
 manner, and the warmth of the feeling of his 
 heart. 
 
 I know no one in camp towards whom I was 
 
1857.] DEATH OF CAPTAIN GEEENSILL. 159 
 
 more closely and quickly drawn than to Captain 
 Greensill; unhappily our intercourse was but of 
 short duration. He had some duty to discharge in 
 connection with the Engineer's department, and 
 while in the act of discharging it, or probably after 
 he had done so, and was returning to the picquet, the 
 sentry, who could not see from the darkness of the 
 night whether friend or foe was approaching, gave 
 the usual challenge ; not receiving, or at least not 
 hearing any answer, he discharged his piece at the 
 person before him, who proved to be Captain 
 Greensill. The shot took, effect, and the gallant 
 officer fell, mortally wounded in the stomach; he 
 was borne away to the 75th hospital in camp, where 
 he expired, in great pain, on the morning of the 
 21st July, about 4 o'clock. 
 
 There were circumstances previous to his death 
 which came to my knowledge afterwards, and gave 
 me acute pain. It seems he wished to see me in my 
 ministerial capacity, and his most intimate friend in 
 the Engineers despatched a note, written on a 
 quarter-sheet of foolscap, which is the size of the 
 ordinary death reports sent for the information of 
 the chaplain. These used to be sent to my tent at 
 all hours of the night, and some of the messengers 
 who brought them were unreasonable enough to 
 
160 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULT, 
 
 •wish me to be aroused, to sign receipts of these death 
 reports ; and oftentimes, when once aroused so imne- 
 cessarily, I could not sleep again for the remainder 
 of the night. Having been once or twice served 
 so, I desired my servant not to listen to these mes- 
 sengers or arouse me, but if the messenger came 
 from hospital, saying a sick man "wanted me, that 
 he was to 'awaken me immediately. This was 
 the only note I ever received at night to summon 
 me to a dying patient ; they were invariably verbal 
 messages, which the native servant understood, and 
 I never had a single accidental omission to mourn 
 over except in the case of Captain Greensill. 
 
 My bearer, on his own responsibility, interpreted 
 tliis quarter-sheet of foolscap to be a death report 
 only, and not an "urgent" call to the bedside of 
 death ; I was consequently not aroused, but slept on 
 until fully an hour after Captain Greensill's demise. 
 On waking, I hurried off, in hopes of being yet 
 of service to him in his moments of pain and 
 sorrow ; but on reaching the hospital, I found, to 
 my unspeakable regret, that Captain Greensill was 
 beyond the reach of human ministration. I retired 
 to my tent to lament over this untoward event; 
 which I would not have had happened through 
 mistake of mine, or of my servant, to any man 
 
1857.] PALSE AXAEMS. 161 
 
 similarly circumstanced as Captain Greensill, and 
 still less to him, who had won so quickly my 
 fervent regard and unfeigned respect. 
 
 No stirring event marked the day of the 21st 
 July. Until one in the afternoon no alarm Was 
 given, but about that hour the alarm sounded, and 
 aroused the camp to life and activity. Troops were 
 moving here and there, and reinforcements hurrying 
 off to their destined posts. But this activity quickly 
 subsided into the usual monotony of camp life; as 
 the alarm proved false, and the reserves and supports 
 speedily returned. I remember the rain in the 
 afternoon made us all prisoners within our tents ; 
 and we retired to rest made wiser by the know- 
 ledge of the fact, which was published in General 
 Orders of the Commander-in-Chief, that Major- 
 General Gowan, C.B., commanding in the Punjaub, 
 as senior officer, had assumed command of all the 
 troops in the Upper Provinces from the 20th July, 
 and until further orders. 
 
 As early as three in the morning, and long before 
 the sun had risen, on the 22nd of July, buglers 
 sounded the alarm, causing the ordinary commotion 
 in camp. Reports of brisk musketry fire and the 
 cannonading of heavy guns was heard from the right. 
 These proceeded from the enemy, in consequence 
 
 M 
 
162 SIEGE OE DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 of our having blown up a serai at Subzi-Mundi, 
 ■whioh gave shelter to their troops in the various 
 sorties in that neighbourhood, and was considered 
 necessary to be destroyed. The noise of the explo- 
 sion excited the fears of the enemy, who probably 
 believed that the English were approaching the city. 
 This made them open fire in order to assure us of 
 their cognizance of our movements. But nothing 
 more was heard of them by us during the day; except 
 that an occasional round shot came rolling into camp, 
 and one of their shells struck a tent of the Light 
 Company of the 75th Foot, lodging in the side 
 of Colonel Herbert's tent and breaking a box. 
 
 The 23rd of July was one of our stormy days. 
 The enemy renewed the conflict in a very earnest 
 and determined manner. Their attack began about 
 seven in the morning, and was mainly directed 
 against the picquet in the neighbourhood of Sir 
 Theophilus Metcalfe's house, which inclined to our 
 left flank. I remember this day very well. I had 
 my hospitals as usual to visit; but work had become 
 a positive burden: I could not set about it with any 
 alacrity or good will ; so after making one or two 
 ineffectual attempts to subdue my disinclination and 
 put my shoulder fairly to the wheel, I gave up the 
 task in despair, and promised myself, as far as I really 
 
1847.] "LOOK OUT." 163 
 
 could do soj a whole holiday. The fact was, I had 
 been overburdened with duty during the past week, 
 and while my physical health was fer from good, I 
 was also anxions in mind, on account of letters re- 
 ceived from MeeruL 
 
 Instead of working, I freely confess I went up 
 that I might see the battle. The point which I 
 selected for observation was the top of the Flag 
 Staff Tower. From this elevation I could see every- 
 thing with complete satisfaction to myself, and yet 
 without personal danger. There I stood a very long 
 while, now dependiag upon one friend for a telescope 
 to lengthen my sight, and now under obligations to 
 another for the loan of a binocular to make out the 
 more distant operations of the engagement. 
 
 Upon one occasion only, during my stay here, did 
 the enemy seem disposed to interfere with our sight- 
 seeiog. We were all intent on what was passing 
 before us, when the outlook exclaimed " Look out." 
 His eye had detected the enemy's intended mischief. 
 They fired a shell from a piece of ordnance which 
 commanded the Flag Staff Tower. No sooner 
 was the exclamation heard, than every looker on, 
 the instructed and uninstructed alike, instinctively 
 crouched beneath the parapet upon which we had 
 been a moment before leaning. The shell fell fer 
 
 M 2 
 
164 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 short of our position, and in bursting killed a 
 camel near the spot where it fell: this was all the 
 mischief that shell did. The enemy at that period 
 rarely condescended to expend ammunition on the 
 picquet at the Flag Staff Tower, so that you 
 might generally watch from thence without fear of 
 harm. 
 
 Upon that day the enemy had brought out with 
 them six guns. A column, under Brigadier Showers, 
 was despatched to attack them, and his attack was 
 completely successful. The enemy were driven back; 
 but unhappily Brigadier Showers' men advanced too 
 far, and so got under fire of grape from the walls, 
 and that without succeeding in capturing the guns. 
 In consequence of this, and the heavy musketry fire 
 in addition, the casualties of the day were very great. 
 Brevet-Captain W. G. Law, of the 10th Bengal N.I., 
 and attached to the 1st Punjaub Infantry, was killed 
 in the course of the action, arid I buried him the 
 same evening. 
 
 Among the wounded was Brevet-Lieut-Colonel 
 R. Drought, of the 60th N. I., who shared my tent 
 up to sunrise, when he went on duty as field officer. 
 His position as such was the Flag Staff Tower, from 
 which he ought not to have moved without orders 
 from the Brigadier of the day. Colonel Jones, com- 
 
1857.] LIEUT.-COL. SEATON WOUNDED. 165 
 
 manding the 3rd Infantry Brigade. Unfortunately 
 he consented to receive instructions from Brevet- 
 Lieutenant-Colonel SeatoUj of the 35th N. I., who 
 came to him in the name of Brigadier Showers. 
 This act nearly cost him his life. For a very long 
 while he was supposed to be in a dangerous con- 
 dition, and at first to be mortally wounded; but 
 after great care, and being in the general hospital 
 a very long while, he recovered. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Seaton, who carried to Lieu- 
 te'nant-Colonel Drought the instructions upon which 
 the latter acted, was himself very severely wounded 
 in this same affair, and incapacitated for the active 
 duties of his profession for some time. As soon as 
 Colonel Drought was carried off the field to hospital, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, of the 60th Royal Rifles, 
 the next on the roster of field officers, was ordered to 
 proceed at once and supply his place, which he did 
 accordingly ; but on his arrival he foxmd very little 
 doing on our right, although a heavy artillery fire 
 was maintained by the contending parties until four 
 o'clock in the afternoon, about which hour all sup- 
 ports returned to camp, and the night was passed in 
 perfect quiet. 
 
 The 24th of July was a striking contrast to the 
 day which immediately preceded it. I think I may 
 
166 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jULT, 
 
 safely say that not half a dozen gunshots were ex- 
 changed hetween ourselves and the mutineers. We 
 lost another engineer officer. Lieutenant Jones, who 
 died of the wounds which he had previously received 
 in the discharge of duty, and his loss was much 
 lamented. The weather, I remember, was very dis- 
 agreeable ; rain fell the best part of the day. Rumour 
 moreover was very busy in camp. The subject of 
 reinforcements was freely canvassed, and the most 
 positive statements made respecting the help we 
 might confidently look for, both from the Punjaub, 
 and from places south of the encampment, of course 
 as far down as the Presidency. But many of these 
 statements were simple conjectures on the part of 
 tliose who made them, and to rely on them was 
 to lean on a broken reed. 
 
 The 26th of July was a Sunday, and the camp 
 services were performed as usual. There was no 
 fighting. The Neemuch Brigade was said to be 
 marching into the city to reinforce the enemy, 
 and this fact caused a general feeling to prevail in 
 camp that the mutineers, according to their ordinary 
 custom, would' engage us during the next day. 
 
 Report said that intelligence had reached the camp, 
 stating that General Havelock had gained a very 
 d,ecisive victory over the rebels somewhere in the 
 
1857.] EEINFOECEMENTS. 167 
 
 neighbonrliood of Cawnpore ; that . he had taken 
 twelve gnus, besides several lakhs of rupees. 
 
 A confirmation of Major-General Wheeler's fate, 
 with soaiething approaching to detail, was also said to 
 have arrived. Among other things reported was 
 the destruction of all the women and children of 
 H. M.'s S2nd Foot, — in feet, of every living Euro- 
 pean inhabitant in Cawnpore, at the time of the 
 outbreak. 
 
 It was whispered — ^with something like the sanction 
 of authority — that the Kumaoon Battalion, H. M.'s 
 52nd Light Infantry, and another wing of the 61st 
 Foot, might be expected in camp at no very distant 
 period; and it was a comfort to believe that Sir 
 John Lawrence's resources, on which we had .already 
 drawn so largely, were not exhausted. This rein- 
 forcement was thought to be the last he could afford 
 us, and such it proved : at any rate of Europeans 
 in any large numbers, excepting those in immediate 
 charge of the siege train. * 
 
 The late heavy and continuous rains had sadly 
 hampered the progress of the dAks, Letters of the 
 25th of July, from Meerut, reached camp, via Bhag- 
 put, on the morning of the 27th of that month. This 
 was the day on which we disarmed and dismissed 
 from camp a certain Irregular Cavalry corps, the 
 
168 SIEGE OF DELHI. [jTJLT, 
 
 number of which has escaped my memory. Anotlier 
 convoy of ammunition and commissariat store? ar- 
 rived. The few shots fired by the enemy on the 
 27th proved that the gunpowder of their own manu- 
 facture would not carry as far as that of the Elnglish. 
 I regret to have to record the fact that 1st Lieu- 
 tenant T. E. Dickens, of Artillery, who had been 
 wounded severely in the head, and was trepanned 
 on account thereof, after lingering for several days, 
 expired. 
 
 At sunrise on the morning of the 28th of July, 
 while engaged in reading the funeral service over 
 Lieutenant T. E. Dickens, and just as I had come 
 to the last collect, my voice suddenly faltered 
 and failed me, and I felt for the moment thati must 
 fall down. I struggled against the feeling and the 
 impression, and prevailed ; but for an h'our or two 
 afterwards I felt a deadly sickness, which I tried, 
 and not without success, to remove by talcing a 
 small quantity of brandy. On speaking to a medical 
 officer on the subject, he declared it to be his opinion 
 that the burial ground and camp were both sinks of 
 malaria and filth; a fact which sensitive olfactory 
 nerves would never question. The evening gales 
 especially wafted disease and death on their wings. 
 I have laid on my charpoy some sleepless night — and 
 
1857.J PEOTECTION OF NATIVES. 169 
 
 have heard others say the same — expecting to he 
 sick every moment, so revolting were the smells in 
 camp ahout this time. 
 
 It was rumoured that the accounts of the six 
 European regiments of infantry, with detachments of 
 , the Royal and Madras Artillery, having been sent 
 up in relief of the North-western Provinces, and of 
 the arrival of the China expedition at Calcutta, were 
 confirmed. 
 
 The proceedings of a general court-martial, which 
 had been assembled in camp by order of General 
 Wilson for the trial of a sergeant of one of the two 
 Company's European regiments, were published on 
 the evening of the 29 th July, for the information of 
 the force. The charge set forth that the said 
 sergeant, of his malice aforethought, did feloniously 
 and wilfully kill and murder one " Oree," a classic 
 attached to the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers. 
 The court, after mature consideration of the evidence 
 brought before them, acquitted the prisoner of the 
 charge — an acquittal in which the General Officer 
 seems to have fully concurred. This incident may 
 be considered too ordinary a matter to excite general 
 interest, but I regard the matter in a very different 
 light. I look upon this court-martial as a very 
 important affair — as additional evidence of the 
 
170 SIEGE OF DELHL [jULY, 
 
 jealousy of human life wiich was manifested by 
 the military authorities, and that amid aU the 
 excitements of a campaign without parallel in the 
 history of nations ; and particularly considering the 
 recent insults and injuries which had been heaped 
 upon the English, without provocation or cause, by 
 the hands of blood-stained and lawless Indians — a 
 people of common race and of common religion 
 with the deceased, whose death had formed the 
 subject of inquiry. 
 
 Within the British camp, the meanest man's life, 
 irrespective of colour or creed, was declared, on the 
 face of the proceedings of this very court-martial, 
 to be both sacred and dear — a trust to be defended 
 by the ruling powers to the utmost, both against 
 the national prejudices of our own people, however 
 just in themselves, and the temporary outbursts of 
 unbridled passion which now and again display 
 themselves in all their odious colours under the best 
 constitution and laws. The camp and the canton- 
 ment under such circumstances were to have but 
 one ordinance. This was a principle clearly defined 
 in General Wilson's remarks, written beneath the 
 finding of the court. Moreover, he declared his 
 determination to put down, with iron and resolute 
 hand, all attempts on the part of any under his 
 
1857.] CAilP aiPKOVEMENTS. 171 
 
 command, to maltreat the native followers of tlie 
 camp. The necessity for such a determinatibn he 
 found in the deaths of some unarmed camp followers 
 on the 9th July; which — ^with a severity not alto- 
 gether warranted, and that I cannot agree with, 
 although I am ready to make allowances for it — 
 he seemed iacHned to ascribe to the recklessness of 
 his own European soldiery. He said, and truly too, 
 that the deaths of these men had resulted m the 
 destruction of confidence iu the minds of many of 
 the native servants, to the great inconvenience of 
 public and private interests ; for some of them 
 thought it prudent to decamp. There was policy, 
 and there was justice, which is better far than jiolicy, 
 in most of General Wilson's remarks. 
 
 Quiet still prevailed. The 30th of July was no 
 exception in this Respect from the 29th of the same 
 month. General Wilson continued his attention to 
 the improvement of arrangements within camp, and 
 the providing of speedy supports for the picquets in 
 case of alarm. Fifty Europeans from the brigade 
 furnishing the mosque picquet, and fifty men from 
 the Sikh Local infantry, were ordered, on sound of 
 the bugle, to occupy the breastwork between the 
 mosque and observatory ; and fifty more of the Sikh 
 corps, which supported the mosque, were to be 
 
172 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JULT, 
 
 added to this additional support. The available men 
 in camp of the 2nd brigade were to form, on nearing 
 the assembly, in front of the camp of the 75th, to 
 support the right flank, Subzi-Mundi picquet, or 
 Hindoo Rao, as the case might require. The avail- 
 able men of the 3rd brigade in camp were to form, 
 under similar circumstances, on the cemetery road, 
 ready to repel any attack on the rear. 
 
 Major Coke's moveable column at the same time 
 was directed to form near the bridge leading to the 
 mosque, ready to repel any enemy that might break 
 through our defences. The Guide cavalry and 
 reserve guns in camp were to form on the road 
 leading to the Flag Staff Tower. The Sappers 
 were to be held ready to proceed to any point where 
 they might be required. The camp was to be pro- 
 tected and patrolled by the cavalry, under the orders 
 of Brigadier Grant. 
 
 All the above was to be exclusive of supports 
 previously ordered, and a night picquet of fifty 
 men from the 4th Sikh infantry was ordered to 
 occupy the breastwork, between the mosque and 
 observatory, until further orders. By these arrange- 
 ments it will be seen that every man knew his own 
 post, and could not justly complain that he was left 
 at a loss respecting what was to be done by him, in 
 
1857.] MUTINEERS AT LAHOEE. 173 
 
 any case of emergency and peril, however sudden 
 and unexpected. 
 
 In addition to the introduction of a better military 
 system in the force, the field force orders announced 
 the attachment of, the Rev. F. W. Ellis, M.A., 
 chaplain of Umballa, to the camp. I looked forward 
 anxiously for this gentleman's arrival, knowing that 
 I should then be relieved by him of at least one 
 half of my present duty. 
 
 About noon, on the 30th of July, the 26th 
 Regiment of Bengal Light Infantry mutinied at 
 Lahore. Fortunately they had been previously 
 disarmed. The commanding officer. Major Spencer, 
 succeeded for awhile in pacifying his men; but 
 eventually he himself, with the quartermaster 
 sergeant, the havildar major, pay havildar, and 
 some others, lost their lives. The major seems 
 to have been treacherously killed by blows dealt 
 with a hatchet from behind him. One or two 
 other officers met with narrow escapes, but received 
 warning in time, and so succeeded in getting off 
 unharmed. The mutineers escaped into a dense 
 jungle; but prompt measures were taken by the 
 authorities at Lahore for their capture. 
 
 The enemy came out in large force, on the 31st of 
 July.' They were distinctly seen emerging from 
 
174 SIEGE OF DELHI. [JTJLT, 
 
 both the Cashmere and Ajmere gates. Oar batteries 
 began playing upon them in good style. Those who 
 selected the Cashmere gate as a passage of egress 
 moved quickly in the direction of Ludlow Castle 
 and its immediate neighbourhood, and from a couple 
 of light field pieces returned our artillery fire, direct- 
 ing it principally against the Mosque and centre 
 batteries. 
 
 Meanwhile the city batteries were yery actire, 
 firing shell from mortars and howitzers, many of 
 which were said to have fallen short, and inflicted 
 comparatively little harm on our brave fellows. 
 The 24-pounder^ on the Moree Bastion kept up a 
 very troublesome fixe. The enemy were seen dis- 
 tinctly from the heights sheltering under cover of 
 the houses about or near Ludlow Castle. Our 
 centre battery made their lurking places so warm 
 for them, that they speedily evacuated them. 
 
 A rule, however, seems to have prevailed in 
 Delhi, that troops who went out to fight should not 
 return within the walls of the city sooner than 
 four o'clock in the afternoon. So the rebels were 
 said to have contented themselves upon this occasion 
 with sitting down behind rocks, and smoking their 
 hookahs, taking now and then a sly and occasional 
 shot at us, at a distance of 1,000 yards. This was 
 
1857.] LAST-EIGHT IN JULY. ' 175 
 
 their practice on the left ; but their brethren on the 
 right adopted another policy, often coming within 
 100 yards of our batteries. 
 
 While this fight was raging, the mutineers from 
 the Ajmere gate, consisting of cavalry and infantry, 
 besides twelve guns, appeared to be taking the road 
 to Rohtuck. To act as a check on the movements 
 of the departing rebel force, we sent out a moveable 
 column at half-past seven p. M., in the midst of a 
 very heavy fall of rain, consisting of 200 men of 
 H. M.'s 75th, under Captain Brookes, eight guns 
 under Major Tombs, besides Coke's Rifles ; the entire 
 column being under command of Major Coke him- 
 self. This column went to Aleepore, but did not 
 encounter the enemy by the way. The losses of our 
 force on that day were nothing to speak of; perhaps 
 they were never known to have been smaller. 
 What injury we might have done to the enemy I 
 cannot possibly say. 
 
176 SIEGE or DELHI, L-^-^GUST, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF DELHI. 
 
 The 1st of August, 1857, was the anniversary of the 
 great Mahomedan festival, designated by the Maho- 
 medans in the vernacular language, " Bukhra Eed." 
 This festival commemorates Abraham's sacrifice ; 
 not, as we believe, and Scripture tells us, of Isaac, 
 the son of Promise, but of Ishmael, the child of the 
 Bondwoman and the handmaid of Sarah, the lawful 
 wife of the Patriarch. It is said, but how truly I 
 cannot answer, that the King of Delhi upon this 
 occasion sacrificed with his own hand a camel, in 
 honour of the event of the supposed sacrifice of 
 Ishmael aforesaid; whose descendants Mahomedans 
 claim themselves to be. 
 
 This feast was the talk of the camp for several 
 days before it took place, and innumerable were 
 the rumours that flew from tent to tent con- 
 cerning the nature and extent of the vengeance 
 that the Mussulman was to wreak on the British 
 upon the anniversary of that festival. The rebels 
 
1857.] BXIKHIIA EED. 177 
 
 inaugurated the Bukhra Eed by firing a royal 
 salute, which caused us to at once complete our 
 arrangements for an attack ; and the men only 
 waited the sound of the assembly and alarm to sally 
 forth to meet the foe. The day, however, passed off 
 quietly, and we began tp think that the children of 
 the false prophet had giv^n themselves up to revelry, 
 and postponed the fight till some less auspicious 
 occasion. Hour after hour passed away, without 
 any of the signs of war appearing, and our move- 
 able column was permitted to return unmolested to 
 camp about an hour before noon, bringing with 
 them a convoy consisting of the Kumaoon Bat- 
 talion, and treasure to the amount of seven lakhs of" 
 rupees. 
 
 But towards sundown, evidences showed them- 
 selves that the Mahomedan festival would not pass 
 without a struggle. About six p.m. all theh- troops- 
 moved to their appointed places, and the camp was. 
 rapidly emptied. The attack, as usual, was on 
 our right flank, and at Hindoo Bao; it lasted, 
 without a single moment's iatermission, from the 
 time of its commencement till noon next day, or 
 even later. Such a musketry fire and cannonading 
 I never remember in the whole course of my expe- 
 rience to have heard, either before or since. The 
 
 N 
 
178 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 only thing wliicli approximated to it was our attack 
 on Kissen Gunge, and the enemy's defence of that 
 position on the 14th of September, the day of the 
 assault ; but even on that occasion, where the mus- 
 ketry fire was equally severe as long as it lasted, 
 yet in duration there can be no comparison drawn 
 between the two. Though much worn with fatigue, 
 the noise of the fire would not allow me, or any 
 one else, to sleep long together. Every time my 
 slumbers were broken, I invariably found my sirdar 
 bearer sitting watchful and wakeful at the entrance 
 of my tent. His fears were excited to the utmost, 
 and he told me that he could not bring himself to 
 believe otherwise than that the enemy would be very 
 shortly into camp, slaying every soul they came 
 near. 
 
 After all the firing and noise I was fully prepared 
 at daybreak to hear nothing less than that the 
 casualty roll had swollen to a frightful extent. But 
 -what was my surprise to learn that the very reverse 
 was the known experience of ourselves, and supposed 
 to be the experience also of the enemy. Up to eight 
 ■o'clock on Sunday morning, the 2nd of August, only 
 a single man of our own force had been wounded, 
 and he not very seriously either. 
 
 This fact was the marvel of every one for a 
 
1857.] LOSSES ON THE 1ST 03? AUGUST. 179 
 
 moment; but on inquiry it was readily to be ac- 
 counted for. It seems that our commanders, knowing 
 the extreme danger of a night attack, determined to 
 shelter the force beneath the breastworks; neither 
 allowing them to spend ammunition unnecessarily, 
 nor to expose themselves without cause as certain 
 marks for the rebels. Of course whenever the 
 enemy, emboldened by our policy, advanced, they 
 were sure to be received with showers of grape 
 from the guns, besides volleys of musketry; such 
 a reception quickly cooled their courage, and caused 
 them to retreat and seek the cover of their own 
 breastworks. 
 
 In these sallies the mutineers occasionally met with 
 great losses, but the aggregate of their casualties was 
 much less than the continuous fire would have led 
 one to suppose. Some time, however, during the 
 forenoon it was deemed advisable to put a stop to 
 this harassing kind of warfare. An advance was 
 made with considerable success, and a few casualties 
 then occurred. Amongst those who lost their lives 
 was Lieutenant Eaton Joseph Travers, of the 32nd 
 B. N. I., and second in command of the 1st Punjaub 
 Infantry, commonly called Coke's corps. He was 
 mortally wounded, and died soon after. Colour- 
 Sergeant Williamson, of the 60th Royal Rifles, was 
 
 N 2 
 
180 SIEGE OP DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 shot in the head, and never moved or spoke again. 
 A young soldier named Cheevers, whom I prepared 
 for confirmation in December, 1856, had his hand 
 severed from his body by a round shot. A tliird 
 man of the Rifles was also supposed to be smitten so 
 severely that very little hope of his recovery was 
 entertained. Besides these I heard of two artillery- 
 men, and perchance there might have been a dozen 
 others, killed and wounded ; yet after all how com- 
 paratively small was the total, and how great the 
 difference between our casualties and those of the 
 enemy, if, as report confidently stated, they lost, 
 during the night and the day, not less than 600 
 souls. 
 
 As the rains had fallen for some days in copious 
 and continuous showers, the d^ks between the camp 
 and both Meerut and Umballa did not arrive for 
 two days, and the country was said to be over- 
 flooded. A finer season, however, was never remem- 
 bered, even by the oldest man in camp. Divine 
 mercy was indeed to be seen in the appointment of 
 that year's rains. The health of the camp was daily 
 improving, and on the 3rd of August no cases of 
 cholera had occurred within the past ninety-six 
 hours. 
 
 The sad news of the death of Sir Henry Lawrence 
 
1857.] DEATH OF SIR H. LAWRENCE. 181 
 
 reached camp on the ahove-named day. The loss 
 of such a man at this crisis was universally lamented, 
 as a national calamity. ,He was not only great, but 
 good as he was great; a man who feared God, 
 and eschewed evil, and wrought righteorlsness. He 
 appears to have been wounded while engaged with 
 the enemy. At first the wound was not considered 
 dangerous ; but previous service and exposure seenx 
 to have undermined his constitution, and most 
 unexpectedly the case terminated fatally. Without 
 question, and without instituting any odious com- 
 parison. Sir Henry was the brightest ornament of the 
 illustrious house of Lawrence. 
 
 With this improvement in the health of the men 
 the spirits of the camp were also improved. Accord- 
 ingly a lull in the rains was eagerly seized upon 
 as a fitting opportunity for giving expression to the 
 hilarity which was occasioned by these causes and 
 the return of sunshine. The Rifle lines were selected 
 as a good site for quoits and cricket, and the sports 
 of the day wound up with an impromptu pony race, 
 which . occasioned considerable merriment. These 
 were the occurrences of the 4th of August, 1857, 
 that absorbed the interest of both men and ofiicers. 
 At messes you heard of nothing but these sports, 
 excepting the entrance of a mtitinous shell within 
 
182 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGrST, 
 
 the neighbourhood of the Artillery lines, and of its 
 striking the mess tent of that regiment. 
 
 There was an attempt made on the 5th of August 
 to destroy the bridge of boats across the river Jumna, 
 in the direction of Meerut. The plan consisted in 
 floating rafts of barrels of powder tacked to a par- 
 ticular kind of machinery. As soon as the apparatus 
 had come in contact with the boats, it was to have 
 erploded instantaneously. However the scheme 
 proved a signal failure. Two of the rafts caught 
 on a sand-bank and exploded; while the third was 
 said to have been seen by a man of Delhi, who 
 swam out on a mussuck — a leathern bottle of large 
 dimensions, in which water-carriers carry water — 
 and convoyed it to shore. A second attempt was 
 contemplated much later in the day, and the colonel 
 of the Rifles received orders to select twelve of his 
 very best shots, and place them under an ofiicer. 
 These were to take up a position at the breastwork 
 of Metcalfe's stable picquet, at flve in the afternoon ; 
 but long before the time appointed, the services of 
 the riflemen were dispensed with, on account of the 
 Engineers reporting themselves unprepared. 
 
 About seven in the morning of the 6th day of 
 August, the force was called to arms by the sound 
 of the alarm bugle. The reinforcements proceeded 
 
1857.] EXPLOSION m THE CITY. 183 
 
 to take up their appointed places ; but in something 
 less than two hours the whole of the reserve returned 
 to camp. Nevertheless the fire maintained by the 
 enemy was both heavy and continuous ; and although 
 the engagement with them resulted in no serious 
 damage to us, it was continued with more or less 
 activity throughout the day. The enemy seem to 
 have occupied the neighbourhood of the Subzi- 
 Mimdi in large numbers, from whence they kept 
 up a harassing, but not very destructive, mus- 
 ketry fire against our picquets. On this occasion 
 we lost Lieutenant Browne, of the 33rd Regiment 
 N. L, -and attached to the Kumaoon Battalion; a 
 corps whose arrival amongst us was of a very recent 
 date. On this day the enemy opened a new heavy 
 gun battery at Kissen Gunge. 
 
 A very great explosion of powder occurred in the 
 city on the 7th of -August. It was the result, I 
 believe, of accident, but it gave the enemy a shock. 
 At first they seemed to have looked upon the cir- 
 cumstance as an act of treachery; inquiry, however, 
 soon assured them of their mistake. The new bat- 
 tery of Kissen Gunge gave us considerable annoy- 
 ance. It completely enfiladed our position, and 
 we moved heavy guns to the right battery in 
 hopes of subverting this last and most successful 
 
184 ' SIEGE OF DELHI. [aUGITST, 
 
 effort of the enemy against us. If there were any 
 success on our side it was very temporary, for this 
 battery remained in the hands of the rebels until 
 they themselves evacuated it after the fall of Delhi. 
 The exchange of shots between both parties was 
 unusually heavy. 
 
 I '• accompanied two friends to our picquets at 
 Subzi-Mundi, in order to see a little of what was 
 passing there. When approaching the place we 
 could scarcely advance ten yards without being 
 obliged either to bob Our heads to avoid coming in 
 contact with round shot, or to lie prostrate on the 
 ground, to escape being wounded by shell : besides 
 musketry shot came around us both thick and fast. 
 I saw a rifleman behind a breastwork struck to the 
 heart, after having himself shot a mutinous sepoy 
 only a moment before. My after-thoughts respect- 
 ing this needless exposure of ourselves made me 
 ashamed of my conduct. We proceeded, as we 
 thought, on a jaunt of pleasure, which might have 
 put us not only to pain, but even cost us our lives, 
 without affording us the gratification of being able 
 to say, " We were in the path of duty." 
 
 Much was again said on the 8th of August on the 
 subject of approaching reinforcements, and the cer- 
 tainty of our making the assault within a very 
 
1857.] REDIPOECEMENTS OVEEKATED. 185 
 
 few days after their arrival. Unfortunately the 
 number of these reinforcemeiits had been greatly 
 overrated. Some time previously to the present 
 date it had been confidently affirmed that the troops 
 on their way to camp were not less than 7,000, 
 including both Europeans and native. With this 
 additibn to what we already possessed, the storming 
 of Delhi would not have been impracticable. We 
 all hoped the day of the city's doom was now, at last, 
 near at hand. But as aid approached the camp, 
 the figures representing the sum total of its force 
 gradually dwindled down to some comparatively 
 insignificant figure: we heard, to our sorrow, that 
 7,000, divided by two, was the extent of what we 
 might actually expect. 
 
 The disappointment occasioned by this serious 
 diminution of the Punjaub reinforcements gave rise 
 to much discussion respecting General Havelock 
 and his movements northward. It was even 
 debated who, on that ofiicer's advent, would have 
 command — he, or the present incumbent, Briga- 
 dier-General Wilson. Very anxious to believe in 
 hope, and yet equally anxious not to be the dupe 
 of every loud and earnest talker, I ventured, upon 
 the first fitting opportunity, to ask one likely to 
 be better informed than myself, from his official ' 
 
186 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 position, what he knew on the subject. He signifi- 
 cantly said, with a smile, perhaps of commiseration, 
 perhaps of scorn, "Nothing is really known of 
 Hayelock and his force in aid: don't behave it." 
 So henceforth I resolutely determined to give my 
 attention wholly to things present, and think as little 
 as possible of things to come. 
 
 The enemy were supposed to be continuing their 
 labours in order to increase the power and strength 
 of their new battery on our right flank, and they 
 tried, it was said, to divert our attention from this 
 fact. But long before the 8th of August we had 
 ceased to be novices in the arts of war. Accordingly 
 our artillery tried their utmost to prevent the 
 execution of the plan of the rebels, and they in 
 return proved themselves equal to the giving as well 
 as the receiving of annoyance. Their batteries were 
 actively employed, and their practice excellent. A 
 tumbril was on its way to Hindoo Rao's house, 
 laden with ammunition, chiefly, if not entirely, con- 
 sisting of shell. While on the ridge, and before 
 it could reach its destination, a happy shot of theirs 
 caused an explosion, in consequence of which we 
 were minus 100 shells. 
 
 On this day Brigadier-General Nicholson reached 
 camp in advance of his column. 
 
1857.] COMMUNION SUNDAYS. 187 
 
 The 9th of August was a Sunday. The Holy 
 Communion was to have been administered on the 
 2nd instant, and a very general desire had been ex- 
 pressed to receive it. But the hard fighting of that 
 morning, and the occupation of so many consequent 
 thereon, reduced our congregation to such a small 
 number — I think as few as three or four — that, with 
 the consent of those present, I deferred the admini- 
 stration of the sacrament untE the 9th. 
 
 These Communion Sundays were particularly 
 solemn and deeply impressive occasions. Numbers, 
 I doubt not, will long remember them, as they were 
 occasionally observed by the minority within camp, 
 while the majority outside were engaged in fierce 
 struggle with the enemy. 
 
 This Sunday was a day of strife, not of rest. Can- 
 nonading and skirmishing prevailed at intervals ; but 
 no oflScers were wounded, and only a handful of 
 men. Rumour said that two entire regiments of 
 infantry, besides 300 cavalry and two guns, had left 
 Delhi for Jhujjur. 
 
 The cavalry brigade, under Colonel Hope Grant, 
 C.B., shifted their quarters and took up another site 
 on the other side of the canal, to make room for 
 Brigadier-General Nicholson's column, expected in 
 within a few days. On account of these movements 
 
188 SIEGE OF DELHI. [ATrauST, 
 
 the usual cavalry service on the parade-ground was 
 not held. 
 
 The enemy continued their annoying and harassing 
 mode of warfare during the 10th and 11th of this 
 month, but without inflicting much real harm. 
 Occasionally a man might be put hors de combat; 
 but the wisdom of our military policy went, how- 
 ever, a great way to avert this. The men were, 
 as far as possible, kept under cover and restrained 
 from exposure ; hence our casualties were very 
 small. 
 
 Considerable inconvenience was felt at this time 
 from some little manoeuvring of the rebels, who 
 brought out light field guns, and molested us at 
 our advanced posts of Hindoo Rao and Metcalfe's 
 picquet. The General admitted the grievance, and 
 expressed himself desirous of remedying it, but he 
 begrudged the loss which that remedy would entail. 
 For a day or two he is said to have weighed 
 matters well, and at length came to the conclusion 
 that the guns must be taken at any reasonable cost. 
 But his determination was confined to his own breast, 
 or very nearly so; few besides himself knew any- 
 thing about it. Its announcement was made at dawn 
 of day on the 12th of August. 
 
 -The most part -were sleeping soundly in their 
 
1857.J STOPPING AN ANNOYANCE. 189 
 
 tents. I was one of the slumbering company, when 
 a continuous and heavy fire of musketry awoke me. 
 It appeared as if the sounds came from the left 
 flank, and I thought the enemy had possibly made 
 an attack on the picq[uet at Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's 
 stables. But it was not so. A force, under Briga- 
 dier Showers, consisting of some of the 75th Foot, 
 the 1st and 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers, Coke's 
 Rifles, and the Guides, in addition to four guns of 
 Horse Artillery, belonging to the 1st troop first 
 brigade, had stolen upon the enemy. They seem, 
 only to have heard our approach when too late to 
 profit by it. The surprise was complete : one man, 
 I heard, was bayoneted in the act of lifting up the 
 portfire. Beside this rebel, some twenty-five gunners 
 were killed, and a large number of the regular 
 infantry sepoys. Some of the mutineers appear to 
 have fought resolutely; the major part, however, 
 commenced retreating like men who value life. The 
 guns taken were four in number, three being light 
 field pieces, two 9-pounders, and one 6-pounder, and 
 one 24-pounder howitzer. Fourteen horses in very 
 bad condition were also brought into camp, as 
 additional plunder. 
 
 The whole affair was over, and the captured guns 
 lodged safely in the park by seven o'clock; shortly 
 
190 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 after which hour we had time to sum up and reflect 
 upon our own losses. These considerably exceeded 
 the original conjectural computation of fifty, for 
 they unhappUy turned out to be not less than 
 117 killed and wounded, including oiEcers and 
 men. 
 
 Among the wounded were Brigadier Showers, 
 Major Coke, Captain Greville and Lieutenant 
 Owen, both of the 1st Europeans, and Lieutenant 
 Lindsay, Horse Artillery, a very gallant young 
 officer. Lieutenant D.. F. Sherriff, of the 2nd Euro- 
 peans, was smitten even to death. His bravery was 
 very conspicuous on this occasion: though but a 
 boy, he was foremost in leading on his men in a 
 very resolute and daring manner. From the time 
 he received his wound all consciousness forsook him, 
 and he lingered in the hospital of his own regiment, 
 where he had the very best care and the very best 
 skill which Surgeon Edward Hare, a practitioner 
 of deservedly great reputation, could bestow, until 
 some time during the day of the 14th of August, 
 when he expired. 
 
 On the evening of this day the enemy made an 
 attempt to annoy our camp by a discharge of rockets; 
 but an explosion took place, which stopped their 
 practice. In the night they made another attack on 
 
1857.] FEESH EEINEORCEMENTS. 191 
 
 Metcalfe's picquet and oiir front, without effect, and 
 without injury to a single man of our force. 
 
 During the 14th of August the enemy adhered 
 to the tactics which had distinguished them of late, 
 viz., the maintenance of comparatively harmless fire 
 against various parts of our position. Recently 
 they had declared a decided preference for night 
 attacks, and at midnight the report of heavy 
 musketry fire was heard in the direction of Met- 
 calfe's picquet again ; but as no alarm sounded, I 
 presume the picquet considered themselves fully 
 equal to hold their own, without seeking the assist- 
 ance of others. 
 
 The long-looked for moveable column arrived on 
 the 14th. It consisted of H.M.'s 52nd Light Infantry, 
 only 600 strong, another wing of H.M.'s 61st Foot, 
 numbering at most 400 English bayonets, Bour- 
 chier's battery, and 200 Mooltanee horse. Despite 
 the smaUness of this addition to our numbers, people 
 boldly declared that we should have firm possession 
 of Delhi by the 20th of August. I received letters 
 from Meerut full of joy in anticipation of the event, 
 and full of inquiry also, and was sorry to throw a 
 doubt on pleasure so natural. Many of us had been 
 separated from wives and children nearly three 
 months. They were of course anxious to see us 
 
192 SIEGE OP DELHI. [auGTOST, 
 
 return, but they knew that return was impossible 
 until after the fall of the Moslem ca-pital of Hip- 
 dostan. We were just as anxious to return ; but 
 neither their anxieties nor ours suffered me to with- 
 hold a candid opinion on the subject. I was sure that 
 the want of sufficient force, and the absence of the 
 necessary preparations, would hinder Delhi from 
 coming] again into British possession until nearly the 
 20th of September. And such proved to be the 
 case. 
 
 On the 15th of August there was an occasional 
 exchange of fire between the enemy and ourselves, 
 but nothing to cause alarm. For some considerable 
 time the reports in camp were very generally be- 
 lieved that the rebels were growing short of per- 
 cussion caps. It was even said that they' had com- 
 menced trying their hands in the manufactory of 
 this article, and it was predicted that this attempt of 
 theirs would prove a signal failure. These reports 
 were based, I believe, on information received by 
 the Intelligence Department from the city. The 
 fact is, a native in your service and pay will say 
 anything he thinks will please you. This was a 
 discovery we often made with reference to the news 
 sent to us from the spies within the mutinous for- 
 tress. At no time during the operations was there 
 
1857. J MORE TEEACHERY IN CAMP. 193 
 
 the slightest ground for saying that the enemy were 
 likely to suffer inconvenience and harm from want 
 in this particular: they always had enough and to 
 spare. It was ahout this date in the history of the 
 campaign that we saw that we had been grievously 
 misled by our professed friends. 
 
 Some fresh evidences of treachery within camp 
 were detected on Sunday, August the 16th. It 
 appeared upon examination that the ordnance charges 
 were found to have been tampered with, to such an 
 extent that our artillery practice could not be 
 depended upon : sometimes our guns carried too far, 
 while at others the shot fell very short of the proper 
 range. Moreover, the guns would sometimes flash 
 as often as three or four times, and once I heard of a 
 piece of artillery flashing as many as seven times 
 before it would discharge. We were at a loss to 
 account for this phenomenon ; but at length the dis- 
 covery was made. Some of the gun lascars had 
 been sympathising with the rebels, and in conse- 
 quence of this sympathy, they had been altering 
 the charges so as to make our fire harmless; they 
 had also filled the vent of the guns Avith powdered 
 glass : by this last means, the enemy having the 
 benefit of the signal flash, had ample time to escape ; 
 while, when rapid fire on our part was necessary, our 
 
 
 
194 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 operations were hampered and delayed, and onr plans 
 often completely frustrated- 
 
 Two of the lascars were seized and brought to 
 trial. Their guilt was fully established, and without 
 further delay they were disposed of by the rope of 
 the common hangman, in spite of the sacredness of 
 the day. The more summary the justice, the more 
 the impression is made on the native mind: it is 
 your tedious processes in the civil courts, and liberty 
 of appeal from one seat of legal administration to 
 another, wliich the mild Hindoo and the blood- 
 thirsty Mahomedan alilce smile at in scorn. 
 
 The day passed off quietly, with these exceptions ; 
 and to those off duty, and who felt so disposed, ample 
 opportunities were vouchsafed to pass the Sabbath 
 in serious contemplation, and solemn and earnest 
 prayer. My excellent colleague, the Rev. F. W. 
 Ellis, who had joined only a few days previously, 
 kindly relieved me of my morning sermon before the 
 head- quarters camp. The special form of prayer, 
 from the Venerable Archdeacon Pratt, directed to 
 be employed during the continuance of the present 
 troubles, was used for the first time on that day. 
 
 A party of the mutineers, about the 15th of August, 
 were said to have gone, I think, to Soneeput, and we 
 had immediately detached some Irregular Cavalry, 
 
1857.] DIVISION OF LABOLTJ. 195 
 
 {if I mistake not, Hodson's Horse) to reconnoitre. A 
 report prevailed in camp, on the 17th of August, 
 that Captain Hodson, a very gallant and energetic 
 officer, the son of the able, pious, and much-lamented 
 Archdeacon of Stafford, and formerly feUow and 
 tutor of Magdalen CoUege, Cambridge, had had a 
 successftd encounter with these rebels, cutting up not 
 less than twenty-five of their number. 
 
 We heard, moreover, in letters received from 
 Meerut, that the Commissioner of that district, 
 Fleetwood Williams, Esq., C. S., had .received 
 intelligence from Bijnour, that the Hindoos of the 
 place had attacked and beaten the Nawab of Nujjeeb- 
 abad, and memorialized for the return of the 
 British civil authorities ; for whom, and the Govern- 
 ment generally, th^ made the loudest professions of 
 love — professions in which, as I understood, they 
 were believed to be thoroughly sincere. 
 
 The official division of ecclesiastical duty between 
 the two chaplains in the camp was inaugurated on 
 the 18th of August. Mr. EUis was ordered to 
 receive from me the Artillery, the Engineers, and 
 the 1st and 3rd Brigades of Infiintry. These two 
 Infantry Brigades consisted of H. M.'s 75th Foot, 
 and the 2nd European Braigal Fusiliers, and H. M.'s 
 8th and 61st Foot. Each of these brigades had 
 
 2 
 
196 SIEGE OF DELHL [AUOUST, 
 
 some native regiments, the ministerial duty attaching 
 to which was a mere nothing. I was held to have 
 charge of the staff of the army, and in addition 
 thereto the Cavalry Brigade, in which were H. M.'s 
 two regiments of Dragoon Guards (Carabineers), and 
 the 9th Lancers; the 2nd or Light Infantry Brigade, 
 made up of H. M.'s 1st Battalion 60th Royal Rifles, 
 (considered, and justly so too, the pride of the army,) 
 and H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry, a most distin- 
 guished Peninsular corps. Tlie moveable column, 
 commanded by Brigadier-General Nicholson, to 
 which the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers had been 
 transferred, fell also to my share of duty. 
 
 Nothing could have been fairer than this allotment. 
 It gave both chaplains complete satisfaction. But 
 without complaining, I must say that Government 
 was very sparing in the supply of ministers of religion 
 for the camp. I advocate every regiment having its 
 own chaplain, who should share the hardships and 
 the good fortune of his own corps, in cantonment, 
 in camp, and if necessary, also in the discharge of 
 his own functions in the field. With the greatest 
 need of economy in the public expenditure, no man's 
 strength, mental or physical, will permit of his doing 
 substantial justice to a larger pastoral sphere than a 
 single brigade. I invite any to gainsay this who will. 
 
1857.] MRS. COLLINS'S SUFFERINGS. 197 
 
 No one can possibly do so, with conviction, in the pre- 
 sence of the most ordinary judges who can lay claim 
 to any real acquaintance with a chaplain's duties. 
 
 We were much surprised at the only event worthy 
 of record, which occurred on the 19th August, 
 before the walls of Delhi. A Mrs. Collins, daughter 
 of a Mrs. Leeson, late of this city, was conducted 
 into camp by an Afghan, who had concealed and 
 befriended her-. It seems that she was living at Delhi 
 when the outbreak took place. I do not pretend to 
 give the details of the poor woman's trials and 
 sufferings, because I never had the time or oppor- 
 tunity of listening to them from her own lips ; but I 
 remember to have heard her say that one child was 
 destroyed outright in her presence, another was 
 wounded by a sword-cut, and died in a few hours 
 ' afterwards — I think in some garden, among the trees, 
 away from herself, but watched over and nursed by 
 some friendly native, whose heart was not so steeled 
 as to be devoid of all compassion. The babe in her 
 arms, and at her breast, was wounded, when the 
 miscreants fired at herself, with murderous intent. 
 The infant died. She was the only survivor among 
 the small . party ; and but for this man, and a kind 
 Providence smiling on his efforts to save her, she 
 also would have been lost. 
 
198 SIEGE OE DELHI. [attGUST, 
 
 Numbers of her family, besides her own children, 
 fell victims to the unrelenting fury of the mutiny, 
 and most, if not all, perished in Delhi. I am not 
 certain, but the impression made on my mind is very 
 strong, that Mr. Collins, her husband, in consequence 
 of his absence on duty, escaped. When Mrs. Collins 
 was brought in by her protector, she was kindly 
 received by Mrs. Tytler, the wife of a captain in 
 the 38th Bengal Native Light Infantry, one of the 
 corps at Delhi when the mutiny occurred. Captain 
 Tytler was in charge of the military treasure chest, 
 and his lady, like a heroine, when once allowed 
 within camp, could not be persuaded, either by 
 official eloquence, or the arguments of her own 
 husband, to desert his side. 
 
 It was now the 20th August, 1857. The enemy 
 established a battery on the other side of the river, 
 and sent rockets and' round shot at the picquet at 
 Metcalfe's house. This battery commanded the 
 site where Major Coke's men had encamped ; little 
 harm was however done by it. The orders of the 
 Keld Force declared that Brigadier-General Wilson 
 had been made a Major-General for special service, 
 and appointed, with the sanction of the Supreme 
 Government, to command the Delhi Field Force: 
 the special service being, I presume, his achieve- 
 
1857.] MUTINY OF lOTH LIGHT CAVAXRY. 199 
 
 ■ments at Hindun, on the 30th. and 31st of May 
 last. 
 
 ' Symptoms of returning cholera appeared in camp ; 
 but confined chiefly to troops recently arrived. The 
 disease was of a very fatal type, and was aggravated 
 by the heat of the weather, which was intolerable 
 between the showers. A force of all arms went out 
 during the night, or early in the morning, under 
 Brigadier-General Nicholson, in the direction of 
 Rohtuck — where Capt. Hodson still continued — 
 but was obliged to return, without doing anything, 
 on account of the impassable state of the roads, 
 from the late heavy rains that had fallen. 
 
 The usual routine of firing " long balls " at each 
 other, to use_ a camp expression, continued. 
 
 News reached camp on the 21st August that the 
 10th Light Cavalry had at last mutinied at Feroze- 
 pore. This regiment had really done good service. 
 When the 45th and 57th Regiments, at the same 
 station, fell from their allegiance, and tried to seize 
 our magazine, the 10th remained loyal. They 
 declared* most solemnly, both then and subsequently, 
 that they would never desert the British cause. They 
 broke faith, it would seem, on the 19th of August, 
 cruelly murdered Mr. Veterinary-Surgeon Vincent 
 Nelson ; and made a rush, happily however without 
 
200 SIEGE OE DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 success, on Captain Woodcock's battery. The 
 gunners were at dinner when the affair happened, and 
 evidently the intention was to capture by surprise. 
 One gunner was actually killed, and others wounded; 
 several battery horses, and also horses belonging to 
 officers, were carried off, and the mutineers escaped 
 uninjured. The syce drivers refused, when bidden, 
 to drive their teams: the gunners mounted and 
 supplied their places ; but the pursuit could not be 
 maintained any distance: the country to be traversed 
 being thoroughly impracticable for guns. We feared 
 the effect this mutiny might produce in the Punjaub ; 
 the more so, as the longer our delay in the capture 
 of Delhi, the more and the louder was proclaimed 
 our own weakness and the enemy's strength. It was 
 matter for great thankfulness that the land of the 
 Five Elvers continued nevertheless in peace, and 
 well affected towards the English rule. 
 
 The ravages of cholera dally increased; the 
 mortal sickness falling mostly, but not exclusively, 
 on H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry and the 61st Foot. 
 
 The spies of the city gave information that the 
 rebels designed an attack some time during the 
 night of the 21st August. But we learnt that the 
 plan was frustrated through the invincible dis- 
 inclination of some mutinous corps to engage us. 
 
1857.] DEATH OF CAPTAIN WILLOCK. 201 
 
 From certain indications on the morning of the 
 22nd, many believed there would be a struggle 
 between the loyal and disloyal armies during the 
 day. A goodly company of horsemen, footmen, and 
 ai'tillery, was seen leaving the city gates ; but the 
 fire of our batteries caused them to retire, and we 
 were spared the endurance of more arduous work. 
 The reports were somewhat harassing concerning 
 General Havelock. It was said, and there were 
 very good grounds for believing, that that officer 
 had won a great victory on the 29th of July. But, 
 nevertheless, it was whispered that he could not 
 advance on Lucknow for want of sufficient force, 
 and that the monster Nana Sahib, who, at one time, 
 was said to be dead, was yet alive, and busily 
 employed in raising a large army sufficient to 
 oppose any strength we might bring against him, 
 with some prospect of success. Poor Captain F. G. 
 Willock, of the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry, and a 
 son of the director, died on the 21st of August. He 
 had lain for some time in '' The General Hospital 
 of the Field Force," sick, I believe, of typhoid fever, 
 which eventually terminated fatally; to the great 
 regret of his friends, who ministered to his wants 
 with fraternal affection. His brother officers. Lieu- 
 tenants Cuppage and Probyn, were apparently always 
 
202 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 at his bedside, whenever duty allowed them to be 
 so. The conduct of these two young men, in this 
 and other respects, was most exemplary, and affords 
 another striking proof of the unselfishness of genuine 
 friendship. 
 
 The ordinary Sunday sermons were preached on 
 the 23rd of August. The enemy maintained a 
 troublesome, but by no means an effective fire, from 
 the battery on the other side of the river Jumna. 
 It was said in camp that the parallels and approaches 
 to the walls of the city had commenced, in antici- 
 pation of the advent of the siege train. The fact is 
 we had heard of Sir John Lawrence's visit to 
 Jullundur, in order to inspect the auxiliary force of 
 Maharajah Rumbeer Singh of Cashmere, which was 
 on its way to Delhi ; and now the assault was looked 
 upon with certainty at no very distant period : every 
 little thing done by the Engineer department was 
 interpreted as dii'ect preparation towards the final 
 consummation. 
 
 The 24th of August was a day of tranquillity. 
 Captain Hodson returned safe into camp, and 
 our anxieties on account of him ceased. At one 
 time his position was very critical. He had had a 
 very severe fight with the rebels, at a distance 
 of some twenty or thirty miles from camp, in the 
 
1857.] CAPTAIN HODSON'S VICTORY. 203 
 
 direction of Rohtuk. He was victorious in the 
 engagement; but the enemy's overwhelming num- 
 bers had succeeded in hemming him in. A mes- 
 senger hastened into camp, soliciting, on behalf of 
 the little gallant force of Guides and Irregulars, — 
 the latter a corps of Hodson's own creation — 
 immediate succour. It was given with the least 
 possible delay. A column marched, with all expe- 
 dition ; but when half-way on the road, they received 
 instructions to return: their services had been 
 anticipated and supplied by the Jheend Rajah. 
 Hodson had been extricated from his difSculty, and 
 on arrival in camp was warmly congratulated upon 
 his safety and his success. He seems to have slain 
 some eighty of the mutineers, who were said, with 
 the sanction of official authority, to be principally 
 furlough men. 
 
 Either very late on the evening of the 23rd, or 
 early in the morning of the 24th of August, the 
 enemy left the city in force; and rumour alleged 
 that their intention was, if possible, to intercept 
 our siege train. Accordingly, before sunrise on 
 the 25th of August, Brigadier Nicholson marched 
 from camp with a moveable column, consisting of a 
 squadron of Lancers, the gallant 9 th, under Captain 
 Sarel; the Guide Cavalry, under Captain Sandford'; 
 
204 SIEGE OE DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 H. M.'s 61st, tinder Colonel Rainey; the 1st Euro- 
 pean Bengal Fusiliers, under Major Jacob ; the 2nd 
 Punjaub Infantry and Coke's Rifles; together with 
 the 1st and 2nd Troops of the 1st Brigade Horse 
 Artillery, the Mooltanee Horse, and a party of 
 Sappers and Miners, under Lieutenant Geneste, of 
 the Engineer Corps. 
 
 The day was very wet, and the roads were well- 
 nigh impassable; the country for miles round was 
 nothing more than a marsh. The enterprising spirit 
 of Nicholson was, however, equal to cope with any 
 amount of obstacles. Neither fatigue, nor rain, nor 
 swamps, nor enemy, nor all these in combination, 
 could deter him in his onward progress. The force 
 marched upon a village, nearly half way to Nujjuff- 
 ghur. Here a halt was proclaimed, in order to 
 collect information respecting the enemy's probable 
 location and intended movements. 
 
 Shortly after, some rebel cavalry were discovered 
 ahead. Information was obtained from the village 
 to the effect that the enemy had crossed a bridge 
 in the neighbourhood, and immediately the column 
 resumed its march. Some ten or twelve miles 
 more of road were traversed. It was a journey by 
 water rather than by land : ponds had to be forded 
 to the depth of several feet. At length a march 
 
1857.] BATTLE OF NUJJIIFFGH.UE. 205 
 
 of eighteen miles or more had been fully accom- 
 plished, and the enemy's camp was at last in sight. 
 
 Nicholson's ardour could not resist the temptation 
 of an immediate attack. Not but that -he had con- 
 sideration for his troops: he appreciated the hard- 
 ships which they had already passed through, and 
 knew from personal experience that they must be 
 jaded ; but to dream of rest, even for a single hour, 
 was to give a cowardly enemy, in overwhelming 
 numbers, estimated at 6,000 men, an opportunity of 
 flight. Moreover, it was half-past five, and the 
 sun would soon be down ; every moment was there- 
 fore precious. The sooner a commencement of 
 proceedings was made, the greater the prospect of 
 doing what was to be done in a thoroughly complete 
 manner, and not after the fashion of some, who 
 love to accomplish only by halves. Besides, our 
 advance column had met with a warm reception 
 from the enemy, the rebels having opened upon them 
 with fire of musketry and camion; and the fire of 
 their artillery and infantry was said to have been 
 both brisk and severe. 
 
 However great may have been the disinclination 
 on our side to fight there was no longer help for it. 
 The infantry fell into line at the word of command, 
 the artillery wheeled into position on either flank. 
 
206 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 and bounding forward with a dash, commenced the 
 conflict. A serai was the first object of attack; it 
 was full of the enemy, who had guns placed there. 
 
 The brigadier knew the value of a few stirring 
 words spoken from the heart to the heart ; there is 
 power in that kind of eloquence, whether the spealter 
 can ordinarily arrest public attention in a set speech 
 or not. I don't think that at this moment Nicholson 
 felt any ambition, that, in connection with his me- 
 mory, the fact should be recorded that among his 
 other excellencies he excelled in oratory ; but doubt- 
 less he did wish that if, in the designs of Providence, 
 this was to be his last command, and these likewise 
 his last words, they might carry conviction to the 
 minds of his audience of the imperative necessity 
 for the caution he wished to suggest, and at the 
 same time inflame the hearts of his soldiery with 
 ardour for victory, which no odds or valour on the 
 part of the enemy, and nothing, in fact, short of 
 death itself should quench. '' Remember, men, 
 said the commandant, " the experience which others 
 have gained. Take for your example the 93rd, 
 and other regiments in the Crimea, who spurned 
 to waste ammunition while at a distance from the 
 enemy. Reserve your fire for a close range, and 
 victory must be yours." 
 
1857.] A GALLANT AFFAIR. 207 
 
 H. M.'s 61st an4 the 1st Europeans heard to obey. 
 The next words were " Line advance." The hifantry 
 moved as steadily and cheerfully as if on a parade. 
 Soon the war-cry of the British soldier was heard — 
 the manly cheer of Englishmen, which accompanied 
 the rush towards the serai. In another moment the 
 building, with its guns, was ours, and its sable 
 defenders partly in our power. Now the sepoys 
 tried the efficacy of flight: they made for the 
 bridge, and there vainly endeavoured to maintain 
 a stand. It was worse than useless. The pre- 
 cision of our artillery fire was the admiration of 
 our own force, and the terror and destruction of the 
 enemy. 
 
 Upon this a company of infantry was ordered, as 
 a covering party, to hold the bridge until preparations 
 had been completed for blowing it up ; which was 
 done both nobly and well, in spite of the galling 
 cannonade directed against the bridge and its guar- 
 dians from some guns which the rebels still possessed. 
 Maximilian Geneste, as dauntless in the discharge 
 of duty and as steady and cool under fire as any 
 one prestent, made ready for the explosion. The 
 enemy, I presume, seeing what was coming, .would, 
 if they could, have retaken the bridge. They 
 made the attempt, but were disappointed and 
 
208 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGrST, 
 
 defeated. The engineer arrangements were not 
 completed till long after midnight ; during all which 
 time the troops were without refreshment. Soon 
 after this the train was fired, and the bridge was 
 destroyed : hardly so much as a vestige remaining. 
 
 Such was the victory gained ' by the little army 
 under the brave Nicholson, on the 25th day of 
 August, 1857. It was as brilliant as complete. 
 The rebel camp, and camp equipage and treasure, 
 and thirteen guns, were all captured and brought 
 home by the victorious force. And this advantage 
 was gained at a small cost; our losses including in all 
 only seventy-one killed and wounded. Lieutenant 
 Lumsden, of Coke's Rifles, without exception one of 
 the very best soldiers in India, was killed on the 
 field. Lieutenant Gabbett, of H. M.'s 61st Foot, 
 was mortally wounded and eventually died. Ensign 
 Elkington of the same regiment, after lingering for 
 some days, met with a similar fate. But Dr. Ireland, 
 notwithstanding the severity and nature of his wounds, 
 recovered. 
 
 The 26th of August was barely ushered in, when 
 we were told that some of the mutineers had escaped 
 from Nujjuffghur back again to Delhi; where they 
 represented their defeat to have arisen in conse- 
 quence of the whole English army, or a near ap- 
 
1857.] WEDNESDAY EVENING MEETINGS. 209 
 
 proach to it, turning out to the attack made yes- 
 terday against them. Naturally enough the authorities 
 in the city said, " What more fitting opportunity to 
 seize and destroy the British camp, now so empty 
 and so hare ? " An attack in force was accordingly 
 made. It commenced ahout ten A-M. ; but the enemy 
 soon discovered their mistake.- Our casualties were 
 very few in this encounter, while the mutineers were 
 severely punished ; particularly their cavalry. 
 
 The moveable column returned on the evening of 
 the 26th of August. A band played them into 
 camp, and many a hearty cheer greeted their arrival. 
 I met them on my way to the Cavalry Brigade and 
 to Captain Anson's tent, where on Wednesday, about 
 eight P.M., a meeting of Christian officers always took 
 place, for the purpose of mutual edification and 
 prayer. I valued these meetings very highly; but 
 I should have liked them better if others beside 
 myself had contributed their remarks, and occasion- 
 ally also offered up prayer. These meetings owe 
 their existence to a suggestion of Brigadier Hope 
 Grant, C.B., who, with some two or three other 
 Lancer officers, were among the most regular attend- 
 ants. The passages of Scripture that were read, 
 the remarks which were made, and also the prayers 
 which were offered upon these occasions, had more or 
 
 p 
 
210 SIEGE OF DELHI. [auGTJST, 
 
 less a distinct reference to the troubles of the country 
 and the times. 
 
 A rumour prevailed in camp on the 27th of 
 August, of the probability of Sir Colin Campbell's 
 appointment to the chief command of the army in 
 India. 
 
 The talk of camp during the 28th of August was 
 the probable composition of the rebel force which 
 had been defeated at Nnjjufighur by Brigadier 
 Nicholson. The captured guns seem to have told 
 tales. Necessarily much that was said on the subject 
 was conjecture, but good reason exists for believing 
 that the force was composed very largely of the 
 Neemuch Brigade, with an admixture of other 
 brigades, and a sprinkling of fanatics. 
 
 The reason for this belief was found in some of 
 the ordnance which was taken. But however uncer- 
 tain the assumed fact of the Neemuch Brigade being 
 the mainstay of the defeated, under the command of 
 General Bukht Khan, one thing is certain; the 
 reports from the city and the tactics of the mutineers 
 alike made open proclamation of it : the thing pro- 
 claimed was the moral effect of the victory of 
 Nujjuffghur; the enemy was said to be greatly 
 dispirited at the results of that action. 
 
 It was the brave Nicholson's first direct contri- 
 
1857.] AFPAIRS AT LUCIiNOW. 211 
 
 bution towards the consummation of England's 
 hopes with reference to Delhi ; and it was, indeed, 
 a contribution which, had he been only spared to 
 reap the harvest of honour which certainly awaited 
 him, he might well have been thankful for during 
 the remainder of his pilgrimage here below. 
 
 The trials of General Havelock, his want of rein- 
 forcements, and the consequent check upon his progress 
 towards Lucknow, were subjects of interest during 
 a passing and idle hour, and a cause of unfeigned 
 regret. It was said he had beaten the enemy in 
 four separate engagements, and taken, I am afraid 
 to say how many guns besides; inflicting such 
 signal retribution on the mutineers that made every 
 man on England's side, throughout the length and 
 breadth of Upper India, heartily rejoice. But the 
 want of cavalry hampered him sorely. 
 
 The gallant Neill, commanding at Cawnpore, in his 
 letter of the 12th of August, cheered us exceedingly 
 with the intelligence that Lucknow was holding out 
 both nobly and well. That little garrison at this 
 period of our history might have been liliened to the 
 bush which Moses saw, which burned with fire, but 
 nevertheless was not consumed. 
 
 Under the cover of the night which succeeded this 
 day, there was an attack made on our working parties 
 
 P 2 
 
2i'2 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AUGUST, 
 
 near the picquets, with little or no advantage to 
 those who made it. Our resistance caused the enemy 
 to retreat somewhat faster than they advanced, and 
 it was said that the punishment awarded by us was 
 very nearly commensurate with the offence given by 
 the mutineers. 
 
 During a saunter in the forenoon of the 29th of 
 August, in order to see my colleague, who was 
 laid aside by severe sickness and thoroughly inca- 
 pacitated for work, I heard strange rumours about 
 an emeute which was said to have taken place at 
 Umballa. The facts subsequently obtained are soon 
 told. Some 200 or more of the sepoys of the 5th 
 and 60th Regiments N. I., for some sufficient cause, 
 but what I never remember jto have heard, were 
 ordered into confinement. They seem to have 
 entertained lively apprehensions of the fate awaiting 
 them, and attempted to escape. A large number 
 were killed on the spot; and even of those who 
 escaped, many were retaken and killed. The station 
 and inhabitants of Umballa suffered nothing in 
 consequence of this affair. 
 
 In and before Delhi the firing was heavier on the 
 29th of August than usual. An hour or two 
 before midnight the picquet at Hindoo Rao went cut 
 and took two of the enemy's advanced breastworks 
 
1857.] SUCCESSES. 213 
 
 in the neighbourhood of the Sammy House, and 
 inclining in the direction of the city. They were 
 taken at once, with- a rush ; and the loss attendant 
 thereon was two men of the Royal Rifles killed, 
 and one also wounded. The object proposed by the 
 capture was thoroughly gained, in the security of 
 the working party and the clearance of the brush- 
 wood and trees growing over the place. The enemy 
 after this left us unmolested for the remainder of 
 the night, during which we employed ourselves in 
 the formation of a trench from the advanced post 
 on the right to a ravine. This gave us a natural 
 parallel at once. The enemy saw their mistake next 
 day ; but it was too late to remedy it. 
 
 Letters from Meerut stated that more of the 
 Rifles, besides Artillery, had left that station as rein- 
 forcements for camp. The authorities of Meerut 
 had very properly protested against any further 
 diminution of the garrison : it was small enough 
 before in all conscience in case of an attack, and it 
 was now smaller by at least 300 men. 
 
 Again an increase of cannonading distinguished 
 the day of the 30th of August, and was occasioned, 
 possibly, by the vexation of spirit felt by the muti- 
 neers at the frequent recurrence of their own 
 grievous mistakes. But in proportion as the rebels 
 
214 SIEGE OF DELHI. [AXTGUST, 
 
 had cause for being disheartened and annoyed, we 
 had equal reason to rejoice. True, that cholera was 
 busily gathering a harvest of victims, selected chiefly 
 from the two regiments to which I have before 
 pointed as hotbeds of this disease ; but the spirits of 
 the camp, in anticipation of coming events, strength- 
 ened day by day. The happy countenances of 
 officers and men, the games in camp, and the weekly 
 practice of regimental bands, were among the best 
 evidence of this fact. 
 
 There was an intention on the part of the 
 British to send forth the gallant picquets at Hindoo 
 Rao, to try their success in the execution of business 
 something analogous to the previous night's work, 
 had not intelligence reached us that the enemy had 
 erected a breastwork, and had taken out guns : our 
 caution disappointed their expectations. 
 
 The closing day of August,, 1857, was as gloomy 
 as any out of the thirty-one which constituted that 
 month. It was very cloudy, with frequent falls of 
 rain, at intervals. Report confidently affirmed that 
 the King was desirous of treating with the English. 
 The terms which he offered, or at least was said to 
 have offered, were the continuance of his own pen- 
 sion, and service for the sepoys. And if there be the 
 least grounds for believing this report, what a con- 
 
1857.] DEATH OF ASSIST.-SUEG. WOODWAED; 215 
 
 science Shall Bahadoor Shah and his supreme 
 council must have had. Nevertheless the offer was 
 intended, I suppose, as a compliment to the excellent 
 qualities of the heart known to be possessed by the 
 English people ; though if the parties making it had 
 even a passing hope of its being entertained, it was 
 anything but comphmentary to our national good 
 sense. 
 
 A young assistant-surgeon was lost to the force 
 on the 31st of August. He died in the general 
 hospital of fever. His name was Woodward, and 
 the corps to which he was attached, the Engineers. 
 
216 , SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBKK, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SIEGE CONTINUED. 
 
 The montli of September set in with very great 
 lieat. Complaints were general in camp, arising 
 partly from the oppressive state of the atmosphere ; 
 of which some idea may be formed when it is stated 
 that the thermometer stood at nearly 100°. 
 
 It was reported that when the King and Council 
 of Delhi received the answer of the British camp, 
 that there could be no treating with mutmeers 
 and rebels, and that nothing but an unconditional 
 surrender would be listened to, they expressed them- 
 selves determined to offer the most vigorous resist- 
 ance, and fight to the very last, I simply give this 
 as the talk of the camp, my means of information on 
 such a subject being necessarily limited. But judging 
 from the acts of the mutineers on the 1st of Sep- 
 tember, I thought this conclusion on the part of the 
 enemy, not only possible, but more than probable; 
 inasmuch as the fire from the hostile batteries, 
 
1857.] MUTINY OF THE 51gT BENGAL N. I. 217 
 
 directed against our own batteries and working 
 parties in front of the Sammy House, was certainly 
 nothing lessened, hut every one considered it was 
 rather increased. The noise and roar of cannon 
 was greater and louder ; or we imagined it to 
 he so ; this gave a sort of confirmation to the 
 rumours afloat, and probably increased our faith in 
 them. A single shot from the rebels, on the other 
 side of the Jumna, killed two men of H. M.'s 61st 
 Foot, besides wounding some eight others. 
 
 Reports reached camp of the mutiny at Peshawur 
 of the 51st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. 
 I heard that an attempt was made by this corps 
 to seize the arms of one of the new Sikh regi- 
 ments, while the latter was engaged in preparing 
 and eating food. The attempt was successfully 
 defeated ; the mutineers were repulsed and broken, 
 and it was confidently expected that destruction, as 
 complete and overwhelming as had overtaken the 
 26th and 46th line regiments of, the native army, 
 awaited these traitors. Every one regarded it as a 
 question of days only; and in this our expectation 
 was not disappointed. The work of vengeance was 
 effectually done in quicker time than we originally 
 expected, to the credit of Brigadier-General Cotton, 
 commanding at Peshawur. 
 
218 SIEGE OF DELHL [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 Nothing of importance occurred in camp during 
 the 2nd day of September. The heat continued to 
 be insufferable, and the misery of life in tents under 
 such circumstances, was very keenly felt and as 
 bitterly lamented. The roads to Meerut, via Baghput, 
 were pronounced unsafe ; neither commissariat stores 
 nor anything else could be sent that way with 
 safety. The dSlss were obliged to be despatched 
 from Meerut to camp through Kurnaul, the letters 
 taking fully three days to reach us. 
 
 The siege train was said to be within two days' 
 march at most, and a party of cavalry was despatched 
 about 11 o'clock, on the night of the 2nd, to act as 
 an escort for conducting it in. 
 
 After the usual Wednesday evening meeting for 
 prayer held in the European cavalry Hues, an officer 
 of H. M.'s 9th Lancers read me a letter, which he had 
 received from a member of the Bengal Civil Service ; 
 it was written in Greek character, so that if it fell, in 
 transit, into the hands of the rebels, the information 
 contained in it might not increase their knowledge of 
 the fears entertained by our people in the garrison 
 of Agra. This letter said that fresh uneasiness had 
 sprung up in Grwalior, and that the rebels there 
 talked freely of an advance on Agra, after the 
 Mohurrum ; but that the hopes of Agra hung upon 
 
1857.] CHOLERA STILL IN CAMP. 219 
 
 the possibility of offensive operations having been 
 commenced with success by the Delhi rield Force 
 against the mutinous city. The news of such a 
 contingency was expected to cool the ardour of the 
 lawless men of Gwalior, and spare Agra from 
 further invasion. 
 
 The 3rd of September was an eventless day before 
 Delhi; though the working parties were harassed 
 occasionally by the enemy while engaged in the 
 execution of the tasks assigned them. I have a 
 strong impression that H. M.'s 8th Foot commenced 
 working on that day in the trenches, but I am not 
 quite certain of this fact. 
 
 The temperature was nothing decreased ; the ther- 
 mometer ranging from 98"^ to 99° in the tents. This 
 continuance of heat aggravated the attacks of cholera, 
 and was favourable to the spread of disease gene- 
 rally. The victims to cholera were daily increasing, 
 although the deaths, from this, cause, were still 
 principally confined to the 52nd and 61st Re^ments 
 of Foot; but other regiments had occasionally to 
 mourn over losses incurred by the presence of 
 this pestilence within the camp of the English army 
 before DelhL 
 
 Reports were rife that part of the Agra garrison 
 had gone out nearly as far as Allyghur, and attacked 
 
220 SIEGE OF DELHL [SEPXEMEEB, 
 
 a large body of mutineers in that neighbourhood, 
 computed rather by thousands than by hundreds. 
 The enemy were believed to have lost, in one way 
 or another, folly one fourth of their strength present, 
 whereas our casualties amounted to only fourteen, 
 including five killed and nine wounded. This engage- 
 ment took place towards the last week of the month 
 of August. 
 
 The appointment of General Outram as Chief 
 Commissioner of Oude, with military command of 
 the Dinapore and Cawnpore divisions ; and that of the 
 Hon. John Peter Grant, a member of the Supreme 
 Council of India, to officiate as Lieutenant-Governor 
 of the Central Provinces, comprising the Benares, 
 Allahabad, and Saugor Divisions, were among the 
 commimications which reached us; not in the form 
 of authentic fact, but simply as rumonK, which were, 
 however, confirmed shortly afterwards. 
 
 At length the long-looked for siege train, con- 
 sisting of four 10-inch mortars, sis 8-inch howitzers, 
 sis 24-pounders, and eight 18-pounders arrived in 
 camp, with abundance of ordnance ammunition, 
 under the escort of a detachment of H. IVL's 8th 
 Foot, and the right wing of the Belooch Battalion, 
 a Bombay irregular corps, under the command of 
 Colonel Farquhar, besides the cavalry which went 
 
1857.] AERIVAL OF THE SIEGE TEAIN. 221 
 
 out to meet it. The progress of this train had been 
 sadly hampered by the prevailing inundation of the 
 country through which it had to pass. Originally, 
 it was fully expected to have reached us when 
 the 52nd and a wing of the 61st entered the encamp- 
 ment; but this soon proved a false hope, and was 
 quickly abandoned. As immediate reinforcement 
 was however absolutely necessary, the 52nd and 
 a wing of the 61st were hurried on; a sufficient 
 number of Europeans being left behind to ensure 
 the train against any attempts of the enemy to 
 intercept it. 
 
 After the battle of Nujjuffghur, the prospects of 
 a second attempt being made were very remote; 
 and our minds were qfiite easy on this point. For 
 the want of this train, the assault had, however, 
 been necessarily delayed ; and this delay had occa- 
 sioned considerable dissatisfaction. But now we see 
 plainly enough how wisely and graciously arrange- 
 ments had been made for us, with which no impa- 
 tience on our part was permitted to interfere. Had 
 this assault taken place on the 4th of September, 
 instead of ten days later, the rebel army driven out 
 of Delhi would assuredly have hastened towards 
 Lucknow, and overpowered that illustrious little - 
 garrison, fighting so nobly for existence, and enduring 
 
222 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 SO bravely, before the troops from below could 
 possibly have relieved it ; and if, on the other hand, 
 the fall of Delhi had been delayed much longer than 
 the 14th of September, the Punjaub would have 
 risen. 
 
 The Chief Commissioner had already detected that 
 a feeling of disaffection was beginning to show 
 itself with unmistakeable symptoms. The people 
 of the Five Rivers commenced indulging suspicions 
 that we were really unequal to the occasion, merely 
 because of the length of time we had taken to 
 accomplish the work; and that, therefore, their 
 interests would be best consulted by choosing the 
 winning side. This is well known to be Eastern 
 policy all over ; and no wise ilnglishman could hope 
 for an exception in the behalf of his own nation, 
 when Asiatics had not been known to make such 
 exceptions upon any previous occasion whatsoever. 
 The knowledge of this fact made Sir John Law- 
 rence the most importunate of men. I am told, 
 that from this day forward, he lost no opportunity of 
 impressing on General Wilson the danger of im- 
 promptitude in action, and the absolute necessity 
 for immediately striking a decisive blow^ 
 
 During the 4th of September, a great change 
 took place in the temperature of the weather, the 
 
1857.] PEIZE AGENTS. 223 
 
 benefit of which was recognised and felt throughout 
 the succeeding day. This change was ascribed to 
 a thunder-storm unaccompanied by rain. 
 
 Evidences of the greatest activity prevailing 
 in camp were now to he seen on all sides : every 
 one in his own department, seemed intent on 
 hastening on the preparations which required to 
 he executed before the force could proceed to the 
 assault. 
 
 The arrival of the siege-train rendered further 
 delay unnecessary. What now remained to be done 
 was obvious enough ; placing the guns just acquired 
 into position^ the erection of breaching batteries, and 
 the maturing of plans for the direction and advance 
 of the assaulting columns. 
 
 Notices were circulated in every quarter of the 
 army, calling on the staff and' each division and 
 brigade to elect prize-agents, prior to the capture 
 of the city. This was a measure which Suggested 
 itself to the mind of Major-General Wilson as 
 imperatively necessary, in order to insure success 
 to his future operations. The force at his command 
 was small at best; the city to be stormed, strong 
 in numbers, rich fti resources, and occupying an 
 area nothing short of seven miles in circumference. 
 It was evident, therefore, to the most superficial 
 
224 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 observer, and the man of least experience, that if 
 a small force scattered over a large and wide-spread 
 city in search of gain, the results could not be 
 otherwise than disastrous: with the best fortune 
 attending us, our progress must be retarded, and 
 victory rendered questionable, if an actual repulse 
 did not occur. This was the least evil that could 
 befal ns ; but the probability was far greater that 
 the main army, broken into small detachments look- 
 ing to their own advantage instead of the interests 
 of Government, would have been cut up in detail 
 by the mutineers, within the buildings and streets 
 of Delhi, 
 
 It was well known that the native troops, the 
 Sikhs in particular, had two motives in coming to 
 our aid ; vengeance for wrongs, fancied or real, and 
 the hope of plunder. They were mercenaries : nothing 
 more and nothing less. If they hated the Poorbeahs, 
 it was not from love of us that that feeling had been 
 inspired. " Every one for himself, and God for us 
 all," was their principle. They were willing to 
 serve us, as long as they could serve themselves at 
 the same time; and what more could you expect 
 from a people of their morale. To prevent them 
 wandering far and wide, when allured by the wealth 
 of the city, it was necessary to give them a sub- 
 
1857.] PKIZE AEEANGEMENTS. 225 
 
 stantial inducement, and the prospect of prize fur- 
 nished that inducement. General Wilson very wisely- 
 availed himself of it, nothing doubting but that a 
 liberal Government would ratify his promises made 
 to the native army, who had hitherto served the 
 country (with the exceptions already recorded) with 
 a devotion almost, if not quite, without parallel ; and 
 whose services, therefore, would not adequately be 
 recognised, if that recognition were regulated strictly 
 according to the niceties of legal distinctions and the 
 definitions given by men learned in the law. 
 
 Nor do I affect to deny that a strong inducement 
 was also necessary to keep together the Europeans. 
 One of the sins of human nature is avarice. The 
 trials of our own countrymen had been continuous 
 and great, and their endurance exemplary ; and an 
 opportunity was now about to present itself, when a 
 season of unheard of suffering might be succeeded 
 by a period of enjoyment and a prospect of personal 
 gain. It was no difficult task for the nominally 
 Christian soldier, or even a better man than he, to 
 perstaade himself to believe that he was fully entitled, 
 according to every natural law, to secure all he 
 could obtain. And it is needless to say that there 
 are very few soldiers in any army who would not 
 have acted upon this belief. 
 
 Q 
 
226 SIEGE OF DEJtHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 No provision but the one made by General Wilson 
 would have prevented this result And, therefore, 
 before promulgating his order on the subject of 
 prize money, he wished to prove to those under his 
 command that he was sincere in his engagement to 
 give them lawfully what he knew they desired ; and 
 moreover what he knew no articles of war would 
 prevent them from taking uulawfiilly, despite the 
 risk of< displeasure and punishment. The proof of 
 this sincerity was given in the call made upon the 
 army to choose men to look after its interests, while 
 it was looking after the interests of the nation and 
 fighting for the re-establishment of the supremacy 
 of England over Hindostan. Let the army once 
 consent to this proposal, and they were of course 
 committed by that very act ; while the best assurance 
 was given to the General that all reasonable men 
 would co-operate with him in putting doivu any 
 attempts at lawlessness on the part of evil persons, 
 and that a general determination had been arrived 
 at to have one common object only — the destruction 
 of the rebels, and the suppression of the- rebellion by 
 the faU of Delhi. 
 
 The force made selection of Captain Sir Edward F. 
 Campbell, Bart, of the 60th Rifles, to represent the 
 Queen's officers below the rank of major; Captain 
 
1857.] PEIZE AGENTS. 227 
 
 Fagan, of the Artillery — after whose death Dr. Innes, 
 of the Royal Rifles, succeeded in his room — to repre- 
 sent the General commanding and all field officers ; 
 and lastly. Captain Wriford, of the 1st European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, to represent the Company's officers, 
 below the rank of field officer. 
 
 While, however, the force was busy in making 
 ready for the coming struggle, and appointing prize 
 agents to take care of the booty which should fall 
 to its share and might be found in the city, cholera 
 and other diseases were thinning the ranlis of the 
 army day by day. The recent change in the wea- 
 ther, it wa^ hoped, would, effect wonders for the 
 public health; but during the very day on which 
 the change took place we lost,, besides men, three 
 officers, two from cholera and one from fever. They 
 had all youth on their side, but neither medical skill 
 nor constitutional vigour availed. One had been in 
 hospital a little while, the others were cut down by 
 the fell destroyer in the midst of health and life. 
 The victims were Lieutenant Tyler, of H. M.'s 6 1st 
 Foot, and Lieutenant Waudby, of the 36th Bengal 
 N. I., and the fever case, which unhappily terminated 
 fatally, was that of Lieutenant Somerville, of the 
 Bengal Artillery. 
 
 The 6th of September was another Sunday before 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 , SIEGE 01" DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 Delhi. The usual services were performed, and in 
 addition the Holy Sacrament was administered to the 
 congregation assembling in the head-quarters camp. 
 A further reinforcement reached us from Meerut, 
 consisting cf 200 Royal Rifles, and 100 Artillery 
 recruits. This remforcement unhappily lost one 
 sergeant and one private on its march towards 
 Delhi. 
 
 " Perhaps the bombardment might be reckoned as 
 commencing from this date ; for on the evening of 
 the 6th the first guns were placed in light field 
 battery. The detail of guns in this battery was 
 officially reported to be six 9-pounders and two 
 24-pounders. The site selected for them was the 
 left front of the Sammy-house picquet, distant from 
 the Mooree bastion nearly 950 yards. In addition 
 to the command of this battery, which was conferred 
 upon Captain F. F. Remmington, four heavy guns 
 in the light batteries on the ridge, and two light 
 field pieces at the Crow's-nest were placed under the 
 direction of the same officer. 
 
 The object proposed in the erection and construc- 
 tion of this battery, with [the guns just alluded to, 
 seems to have been, not only the clearance of the 
 space between Kissen Gunge and the Mooree bastion, 
 but the securing also a sufficient defence for what 
 
1857.] GENERAL WILSON'S OEDEE, 229 
 
 was commonly designated the right flank of our 
 position. The necessity for the provision made 
 by this arrangement of artillery was often fully 
 established beyond question, in the success which 
 repeatedly attended our operations when employed 
 in repelling the frequent attacks of the enemy, which 
 we experienced during the space of fh.e few days 
 intervening between this period and the day of the 
 "actual assault. These attacks were mainly directed 
 against No. 1 siege battery, situated on our right. 
 
 I have already, noticed, at page 226, the call 
 which was addressed to the officers of the force 
 to select, from their own body, persons qualified to 
 act as prize agents upon the fall of Delhi. The 
 army generally was supposed to be in ignorance of 
 General Wilson's intentions respecting this subject, 
 until Monday September the 7th ; for not until then 
 was his pledge officially given. It was communi- 
 cated in a field force order, in which the General 
 noticed, in the first instance, the fatigue and hard- 
 ships to which both , officers and men had been 
 subjected ever since their encampment before Delhi, 
 and acknowledged, with evident satisfaction, the 
 patient endurance which had always been exhibited 
 by those under his control. He confessed freely that 
 he had had occasion to draw largely on the services 
 
230 SIEGE OF BELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 of every department of fhe army, and that these 
 services had ever been cheerfully given. It was now 
 necessary, as the time had come when the assault 
 of Delhi was no longer impracticable, that he should 
 increase the extent of his demands upon them. 
 This was unavoidable; but it could only be for 
 a limited space: at most it was a question of 
 days. 
 
 But if they had to increase the amount of their' 
 labours, it was -but preparatory to an increase of the 
 sources of their own satisfaction, in taking com- 
 plete vengeance on those miscreants who had been 
 principals and accessories in the murder of helpless 
 women and the massacre of innocent children. 
 Every one must expect additional labour and expo- 
 sure for some short time to come; but the Artillery, 
 in particular, could hope for no cessation from toil 
 until after victory had crowned our arms. 
 
 The General then appealed to the humanity of his 
 troops, and implored them to maintain the honour 
 of the British name and nation, by scrupulously 
 abstaining from the sacrifice of women and children. 
 To slaughter them would disgrace us in the eyes of 
 civilized and Christian nations, and reduce us to a 
 level with the barbarians whose atrocities we our- 
 selves condemned. 
 
1857.] BATTA FOE PEIZE MONEY. 231 
 
 Then followed certain instructions respecting the 
 absolute necessity of the troops keeping together, 
 ■when once in the city, and not straying in pursuit of 
 plunder; an irregularity which was sternly prohi- 
 bited. As an inducement to obedience, and like- 
 wise as a reward for good and valiant behaviour, 
 the General assured his troops that whatever pro- 
 perty might be captured, should be disposed of and 
 divided for the benefit of all engaged in this warfare, 
 fairly and according to established rule and prece- 
 dent. 
 
 This order was published on the 7th September. 
 Months passed away, and no notice was taken of it 
 by the Supreme Government, in the shape of objec- 
 tion or complaint ; until, as a wind-up for the old 
 year, and something with wMch to commence the 
 new one, the Governor-General in Council, under 
 advice of the law ofiicers, sees an objection to the 
 army possessing prize money, and declares he will 
 give batta instead. But how much ? The force 'had 
 been nearly six months, in the field; and, accord- 
 ingly. Lord Canning says, it shall receive six months' 
 batta, in recognition of its arduous labours and 
 patient endurance: of both which, qualities his 
 lordship affects a due appreciation, while giving 
 this evidence of it. 
 
232 SIEGE or DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 As soon as the substitution of batta for prize-money 
 was made known, a wag of a private soldier wrote 
 up on the walls of the palace of Delhi, " Delhi taken 
 and India reconquered for thirty-six rupees and ten 
 annas ! " Such was the bitter irony of the com- 
 mon soldier of England, expressed in the form of 
 comment on the actions of his Governor-General — 
 a comment no less just than pungent. 
 
 I omitted to mention in my summary of General 
 Wilson's order, that that officer had enunciated the 
 doctrine, that work in the trenches, during a siege, 
 is as necessary and honourable as fighting in the 
 ranks. This was intended as a hint for the infantry 
 and cavalry, to the effect that their presence and 
 help would be required very often in the construc- 
 tion of the siege batteries. The Engineers and Artil- 
 lery needed aid, which could not be given without 
 intrenching on the other arms of the service. For 
 this extra labour — for which the mounted and the 
 foot soldier did not bargain at the time of enlistment, 
 but which, nevertheless, they cordially gave at 
 the call of their commandant — General Wilson 
 gave double pay. But, pay or no pay, the men 
 would not have withheld their hand. Indeed, the 
 self-sacrifice exhibited, on all occasions, during the 
 military operations before Delhi, was noble and 
 
1857.] OEDEK FOE STOEMING PAETY. 233 
 
 exemplary. I never think of it without the highest 
 admiration. 
 
 To give an adequate idea of the exertions made by 
 the force to enable it to carry the city by storm, I 
 extract the following from the Field Force order 
 book. 
 
 "Advancing party of the following strength to 
 be provided at 7 P.M. with the proper complement 
 of officers, commissioned and non-commissioned: 
 
 1st Brigade of Infantry to furnish 200 men; 2nd 
 Brigade of Infantry to furnish 100 Rifles ; 3rd 
 Brigade of Infantry to furnish 100 Sikhs; 4th 
 Brigade to furnish 150 N. I. ; Belooch Battalion to 
 furnish 100, making a total of 650. The party to 
 take one day's provisions. 
 
 "A working party composed as follows will 
 parade in fatigue dress at 7 p.m. at the Engineer 
 Park, where they will be provided with tools, and 
 conducted by an engineer officer to the proper 
 place. 
 
 " 1st Brigade to furnish 160 Europeans ; 2nd 
 Brigade to furnish 220 Europeans; 3rd Brigade 
 to furnish 200 Europeans; 4th Brigade to furnish 
 100 Europeans; 1st Brigade to furnish 70 Natives ; 
 3rd Brigade to furnish 100 Sikhs. 
 
 " The 4th Infantry Brigade to furnish a working 
 
234 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 party of 200 ' men, paraded in fatigue dress at 
 Hindoo Rao's house at 10 p.m.. and to await the 
 arrival of an engineer officer from No. 1 Battery, 
 to conduct them to their work. 
 
 " Working parties in fatigue dress from following 
 brigade to be sent to Sudder Bazaar on the Telegraph 
 Road. The above to assemble at half-past 1 A.M. 
 -One party of 50 men and one officer from 4th Bri- 
 gade ; one party of 200 men and four officers from 
 4th Brigade; one party of 100 men and two officers 
 from Belooch Battalion." 
 
 These figures will give some idea of the demand 
 made on the endurance of the army before DeUii, 
 only a few days before the assault. Indeed, the 
 troops at that period scarcely knew what rest meant: 
 they toiled by day and by night. No one can 
 have an adequate idea of the dangers attending 
 both worMng and covering parties, except those who 
 were present and actually engaged in the very duties 
 devolving on either or both of these two divisions of 
 men. 
 
 It was on the evening of the 7l;h of September, 
 that the battery designated in official language, 
 "No. 1 Siege Battery," was commenced. It was 
 provided with ten pieces of ordnance, six of which 
 were intended to silence the fire of the guns on the 
 
1857.] MAJOR BErND. 235 
 
 Shah Bastion, destroy its defences, and shield the 
 assaulting columns from a flanking fire during their 
 advance. 
 
 The first diTision of this battery was composed of 
 five 18-pounderSj and one 8-inch howitzer. The 
 range required of them was not beyond 700 yards. 
 It was commanded by an officer whose devotion to 
 his guns and dauntless courage were the constant 
 theme of almost every one in camp. Nothing could 
 exceed his coolness under fire, or the indifference 
 which he manifested in exposing himself on every 
 occasion; and yet, how carefiil he was to protect 
 as much as possible his juniors and those under 
 his command. Throughout the whole of the ope- 
 rations, and, in fact, ever since his presence in 
 camp. Major Brind earned imperishable honour for 
 himself; and, I am sure, it is not saying a syllable 
 more in praise of him than his conduct deserves, 
 when I affirm that, in a regiment so distinguished 
 as the Bengal Artillery, whether we regard it with 
 reference to its officers or its men, this officer to 
 whom I am now alluding, is not a tittle behind any 
 one in the corps. 
 
 The second division of the battery, which was 
 situated on the left of the first, was limited to four 
 24-pounders. It was proposed, in the position of 
 
236 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 these guns, to keep up a well sustained fire, which 
 might deal not only destruction to the Cashmere 
 Battery, but serve also as a means of diversion to 
 the enemy; who otherwise would douhtless have 
 harassed and partly destroyed our covering and 
 working parties engaged in the erection of No. 2 Siege 
 Battery, The fire of these 24-pounders was directed 
 successively by Majors Turner and Kaye ; the latter 
 assumed command when the former was disabled 
 by severe indisposition. 
 
 "We were reinforced to-day, the 7th of Sep- 
 tember, by the 4th Punjaub Infantry. The Jheend 
 Rajah's troops also came in from the district. Our 
 prospects were growing brighter and brighter. The 
 existence of any misgiving as to results was vin- 
 known in camp. 
 
 There was also a general hospital delivery on that 
 that day. In anticipation of the coming fierce 
 struggle, as many as possible of the sick were sent 
 towards Umballa. The subject of the concluding 
 record of the day demands a tear of generous sorrow. 
 Another of the heroes of Nujjuffghur, and one who 
 was wounded on that glorious occasion, passed away. 
 This was Lieutenant Elkington, of H. M.'s 61st 
 Regiment. His friends resided at Birmingham ; the 
 parish church of which town, as the first sphere 
 
1857.] BEINPOECEMENTS. 237 
 
 of my ministerial labours, the town itself, and the 
 kindness which I experienced while resident there 
 during the latter part of the year 1846 and the 
 whole of the years 1847, 1848, I now and again 
 call to remembrance. The memory of some dear 
 friendships formed at the place (some of the friends 
 connected with which are at this moment in the 
 presence chamber of the Great King and Redeemer), ' 
 and of others, cemented, and made stronger and 
 more lasting, continues precious unto me. Neither 
 distance, nor clime, nor time, nor all these in com- 
 bination, can ever succeed in the obliteration of 
 recollections so constantly and so fondly cherished. 
 
 At sunrise on the 8th of September my colleague, 
 and the Roman Catholic priest and I, met at the 
 burial ground. A little in advance of us, and of the 
 resting-place of the dead, were seen Major-General 
 Wilson and some of his staff, riding in the direc- 
 tion of our rear. It seems that a large reinforce- 
 ment of native troops was expected, at the head of 
 which one of their own chieftains had placed himself. 
 Moreover, Richard Lawrence, the brother of Sir John 
 and Sir Henry, was in company with them: he 
 having brought them from the Punjaub. The 
 General and his staff had gone out to meet these 
 troops, and to receive and welcome their leaders. 
 
/ 
 
 238 SIEGE OE DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 Presently the sounds of native music, not by any 
 means the sweetest in tlie world, broke upon our 
 ears : it was (if I may so call it, without misnomer) 
 the music of the band of the incoming reinforce- 
 ment. In the distance, my friend and myself espied 
 our own GeneraJ, with their General, and Richard 
 Lawrence, all riding side by side. What with the 
 brightness of sunshine, the gay colours, the helmeted 
 cavalry, the large numbers, and the prospects now at 
 no great distance before us, the eifect produced was 
 exhilarating and spirit stirrmg. 
 
 I remember the inward joy which I experienced 
 upon this occasion. The thankfulness of my heart 
 knew no bounds. Now I thought of God, and what 
 He had already done for us, and what He would 
 probably do for us, not many days hence ; and then 
 again I thought of man, and the precious blood which 
 he must shed in copious and living streams, ere God, 
 by him, could avenge atrocity and wrong without 
 parallel in the history of nations both ancient and 
 modem. 
 
 The Jummoo Contingent, for that was the 
 designation of the reinforcement which joined us, 
 numbered 2,200 men, with four guns. The whole 
 force encamped in a position on the right flank of 
 the camp. 
 
1857.] NO. 1 SIEGE BATTERY. 239 
 
 As the day wore on, towards three in the after- 
 nooDj we were surprised in camp by a loud explo- 
 sion. Every one rushed out of his tent, to ascertain 
 for himself what could be the cause of it ; and inquiry 
 soon enlightened us : it^ was the result of stupidity 
 and accident among certain natives in the artillery 
 park. The explosion caused the death of some four 
 natives, and, I think, some bullocks besides ; and the 
 wonder is, that the disaster did not prove greater. 
 One of the pieces of shell fell in the rifle lines close 
 to Lieutenant and Adjutant Kelly's tent, 'and had 
 not the piece embedded itself firmly in the ground, 
 from the direction in which it travelled, which was 
 in a straight line with the position occupied by that 
 officer at the moment the event occurred, the accident 
 would probably have cost him his life. 
 
 The activity of the Engineer department continued 
 during the 8th of September ; but the two divisions of 
 No. 1 Siege Battery were not entirely completed on 
 the morning of that day, and only two guns in each 
 then opened fire. Nevertheless, every nerve was 
 strained with exemplary diligence and zeal. During 
 the succeeding twenty-four hours the whole ten guns 
 were put into position, and the enemy are the best 
 judges of the impression which the fire of these guns 
 made upon them. 
 
240 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 Major Brind's portion of the battery did admirable 
 service up to the moment of assault. Nothing could 
 surpass the conduct of this officer and his men. Not 
 that I would venture to draw odious comparisons 
 between them and others of the same arm of the 
 service ; I know full well that every member of the 
 corps vied with his fellows, in a spirit of honest 
 emulation. We were sadly short of artillery, in 
 officers and men ; and with extraordinary exertions, 
 these noble men wished to compensate for the want 
 of numbers. They had scarcely so much as any 
 relief, from the commencement of the bombardment 
 to the capture of the city. But this did not seem to 
 trouble them: they worked all the more, no less 
 resolutely or cordially. 
 
 To see them at their work, and, at one and the 
 same time, to realise that they knew little or nothing 
 of rest by day or by night ; and moreover, that as 
 flesh and blood, they had to contend against the 
 sickliest portion of the whole year, and to labour in 
 a climate nearly always exhausting to the European 
 constitution and energy; it is impossible to arrive 
 at any other conclusion than that their national spirit 
 and esprit de corps must have endued them with 
 supernatural strength. 
 
 No language can convey an adequate idea of the 
 
1857.] EXEKTIONS OF THE AETILLEKY. 241 
 
 energy and endurance of the commissioned and non- 
 commissioned officers and gunners of the Bengal 
 Artillery from this time forward. Some faint idea 
 may be formed of their arduous efforts, when it is 
 stated that the European cavalry and infantry — 
 partly from sympathy with their fellow soldiers, 
 and partly from love and zeal for the common weal 
 — volunteered for service at the batteries; a duty 
 which the best qualified judges say they fulfilled with 
 honour to themselves, and to the entire satisfaction 
 of the whole army. 
 
 But one word more respecting No. 1 Siege Battery. 
 The left portion did not maintain an equally pro- 
 tracted fire vfith that of the right, as it ignited 
 during the afternoon of the 10th of September ; but 
 only when its services were no longer wanted, and 
 the guns which were iii position there were abso- 
 lutely required elsewhere, for other and more 
 important purposes. 
 
 The force unfortunately lost two officei's on the 
 7th of September, in the immediate neighbour- 
 hood of the batteries and trenches. They were both 
 young men, and both said to be very promising 
 soldiers. One of these two was Lieutenant Hilde- 
 brand, of the Bengal Artillery; the other was 
 Lieutenant Charles Bromliead Bannerman, of the 
 
 B 
 
242 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 1st, or Grenadier, -Eegiment of Bombay Native 
 Infantry, and attached to the Belooch battalion. 
 Lieutenant Bannerman was obeying the first call 
 " of duty since he had joined the Delhi Field Force, 
 when he met with his death. 
 
 No. 2 Siege Battery occupied as its site that part 
 of the immediate neighbourhood of Ludlow Castle, 
 which looks towards the city walls and forms the 
 rising ground just above the pretty English cemetery, 
 very recently formed ; the tombs of which, or rather 
 the remnants of them, are the most ecclesiastical and 
 appropriate I have ever seen in India. 
 
 Ludlow Castle was the Residency house; the 
 dwelling-place, until the 11th of May last, of Simon 
 Fraser, the open-hearted and open-handed Com- 
 missioner of the Delhi division. It is said that 
 he was barbarously murdered by the ex-King of 
 Delhi's Body Guard, within the palace; and at no 
 very great distance from the spot where I am at 
 this instant writing, on the 18th of January, in the 
 year of grace, 1858. To this day are to be seen 
 the marks of the sword-cuts on the wall, at the foot 
 of the long stone staircase, whither the Commissioner 
 and John Eoss Hutchinson, C. S., appear to have 
 fled for refuge : these marks of sword-cuts are said 
 to be the standing evidences of the deadly blows 
 
1857.] NO. 2 SIEGE BATTEBY. 243 
 
 which were directed against the persons of these 
 gentlemen. There also are to be seen the stains 
 of their blood, which as yet remain unobliterated ; 
 to answer, I presume, the double purpose of per- 
 petuating the recollection of the infamy of those 
 murders, and to set forth to surviving countrymen 
 the harrowing tale of the sufferings and death of 
 their brethren. 
 
 Kespecting the distance of No. 2 Battery from the 
 besieged, the engineers and artillery agree in stating 
 that it was 500 yards 'from the Cashmere Bastion. 
 Like No. 1 Siege Battery, No. 2 was divided : there 
 were the right and the left divisions. Each division 
 was a separate command, and each had designs in a 
 measure independent of the other; but both were 
 expected to contribute towards the great result, 
 now so near realization. 
 
 The right division was intended to dismount the 
 guns on the Cashmere Bastion, destroy its masonry 
 parapet on the left face for 200 yards, and demolish 
 a small tower in the vicinity of the bastion. It was 
 mounted with seven eight-inch ^howitzers, and two 
 eighteen-pounders. Major Kaye was transferred 
 to the command of it, from the left portion of No. 
 1 Battery, on its destruction by fire ; and under his 
 able direction great results ensued. The fire from 
 
 K 2 
 
244 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 these guns was almost incessantly maintained during 
 the 11th, 12thj and 13th of September ;• the night 
 sucpeeding each of these days, being no exception 
 to the days themselves. 
 
 Nor was the left portion of this battery, consisting 
 only of the heaviest guns in the camp artillery park, 
 to the number of nine 24-pounders, less effective 
 than its near neighbour on the right. Five out of 
 these nine 24-pounders, under the command of 
 Major J. H. Campbell, in less than four hours from 
 the time of opening fire, silenced every gun which 
 was bearing on us at the Cashmere Bastion. Not 
 that the remaining four were by any means idle: 
 they gave a satisfactory account of how they 
 destroyed the defences of the Cashmere bastion, 
 and of the parapet of the curtain on the right flank 
 of that fortification. Nothing in fact could exceed 
 the success of the united operations of the two parts 
 •of this one battery. 
 
 But as in all earthly satisfactions, there is some 
 admixture of alloy, despite our gladness at results 
 in connection with No. 2 Siege Battery, we had 
 occasion for regret also. Major. J. H. Campbell 
 was compelled to resign his command into the hands 
 of Captain E. B. Johnson, in consequence of a severe 
 wound received as early as the evening of the 11th 
 
1857.] THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE. 245 
 
 of September. But this change' of command was 
 unattended with disadvantage ; for Captain Johnson, 
 upon his succession to • the command, not only 
 maintained his reputation in the regiment, but 
 increased it considerably, by his conduct on this 
 occasion. 
 
 In connection with the commencement, completion^ 
 and achievements of No. 2 Battery, there is a fact 
 for record which deserves especial notice. The site 
 of this battery was within 500 yards distance from 
 the walls of the city. The rebel force, if it had 
 been wise, would have contes'ted every inch of that 
 ground, ere they suffered us to occupy it for such 
 destructive purposes against themselves; and not 
 only that ground, but the Khoodsia Bagh and the 
 Custom House Compound also, where we respec- 
 tively placed two batteries, still nearer to their city, 
 and therefore the more likely to do them so much 
 the more harm. Men of the world may smile and 
 sneer at me for seeing God's hand in so many 
 places, and in so many things ; but neither the 
 laughter of pity nor of scorn can move me from 
 what I hold so sacred and so dear ; nor can it make 
 truth less truth, because men choose to cavil and 
 deride. 
 
 The simplicity of the rebels in yielding, without 
 
246 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 an effort, a locality so admirably, adapted for the 
 furtherance of our plans is demonstrative proof to 
 me how often God " taketh the wise in their own 
 craftiness," and how easily he can cause the counsel 
 of the froward " to be carried headlong." It hap- 
 peneth to them in very deed, that " they meet with 
 darkness in the day time, and grope in the noon- 
 day as in the night." I see in the public papers 
 the folly of the rebels in this particular is ascribed, 
 by those best qualified to give an opinion on the 
 subject, to the conviction prevailing among them 
 that we should make the attack on the right ; a con- 
 viction to which they seem to have been led from 
 the double fact that most of our fighting hitherto 
 had been in that direction, and that there also were 
 our principal batteries. 
 
 But if they allowed us to occupy these places 
 without opposition, when once we had secured them, 
 they tried to annoy us while engaged in the siege 
 works on those spots. A sharp fire of musketry, 
 combined with shot and shell, was opened upon 
 us; but very little real harm was inflicted. Our 
 seizure of the ground about Ludlow Castle and 
 the Khoodsia Bagh dates from the early morn of 
 September the 8th, 
 
 The working parties since the 7th of September, 
 
1857.] ENEEGETIC WOEKING PARTIES. 247 
 
 when their services were placed at the disposal of 
 the Engineers, mustered fully 1,200 strong, exclu- 
 sive of the proper complement of commissioned 
 officers; and the figures, representing these last, 
 were as formidable in proportion as those which tell 
 the sum total of the men. i 
 
 This force was broken up into small companies, 
 some of which were given to one place, and some 
 to another. The amount of labour executed by all 
 of them, and the spirit which they manifested 
 while engaged in their arduous and personally 
 dangerous undertakings, had attracted the notice of 
 the chief engineer, and by him been favourably 
 reported for the information of the General. The 
 General remarked thereon in terms of admiration 
 and pleasure in the orders of the day. All, without 
 exception, had acquitted themselves well, but if 
 there was any pre-eminence among the men, said 
 the Commander of the Forces, it must be given to 
 the working parties of H. M.'s 61st and 75th ; 
 and among the officers engaged in their super- 
 vision, the thanks of the General were more 
 particularly due to Lieutenant Le Pelley, of H. M.'s 
 75th Foot. 
 
 Nor were the working parties alone active. Such 
 guns as were already in position, and the batteries 
 
248 SIEGE OE DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 which were ah'eady strengthened and armed, dili- 
 gently engaged themselves in maintaining a very 
 heavy and constant fire; under the influence of 
 which the Cashmere, and Moree Bastions, ^t this 
 early period of the siege, were showing evidences 
 of the power which heavy ordnance possess against 
 stone walls, to reduce them and involve them in 
 complete destruction. 
 
 On the 10th of September the batteries in advance 
 of Ludlow Castle, the same which I have spoken of 
 so recently under the joint name of No. 2 Siege 
 Battery, were completed and armed. They con- 
 tinued, however, unmasked, imtil the morning of 
 the 11th. 
 
 The mortar battery at the Khoodsia Bagh, which 
 was called Siege Battery No. 4, was also reported 
 ready for commencing operations. It was armed 
 with four ten-inch and six eight-inch mortars, the 
 object of which was to shell the whole ground 
 between the Water and the Cashmere Bastions, and 
 its vicinity. It was said to have been armed some 
 time during the night of the 9th, or the early 
 morning of the 10th ; but for certain reasons which 
 never transpired in my hearing, its fire, was restrained 
 until a later date. 
 
 This mortar battery was placed under the com- 
 
1857. j MAJOR TOMBS. 249 
 
 mand of Major Tombs, whose career throughout the 
 whole of the military proceedings, previous to and 
 during the storming of Delhi, was one unbroken 
 succession of skill and gallantry. He was present at 
 both actions of the Hindun, where he took a most pro- 
 minent and honourable part, and in every engage- 
 ment since Hindun, nothing that he attempted had 
 ever failed. At Nujjuffghur, where the lynx eye of 
 Nicholson rested upon him, his artillery practice 
 gained him the warmest applause. General Barnard, 
 before his death, spoke of him in terms of the 
 highest commendation; and General Wilson, I 
 heard, reposed in him' the greatest confidence. 
 In gallantry he yields to no soldier who holds a 
 commission in any army. His personal appearance 
 is strikingly handsome, his bearing unostentatiously 
 martial, and his attractive and conciliating manners 
 secure for him hosts of warm friends and admirers 
 in all directions, and with whatsoever class of 
 society he happens to mingle. In short, he is, with- 
 out exception, the most fortunate and the most 
 popular of men in the force. 
 
 I regret to have to record the fact that Lieutenant 
 Eaton, of H. M.'s 60th Royal Rifles, was wounded on 
 the 10th of September; and it was believed, mortally. 
 Lieutenant Eaton was present at one of the advanced 
 
250 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 batteries ; his tour of duty was over, as lie had been 
 relieved ; but still he would linger at the spot. The 
 enemy were keeping up a heavy fire of artillery 
 and musketry at the time ; which they continued to 
 do the whole of the day: and the results were some- 
 what disastrous to the covering and working parties, 
 whose employments inevitably exposed them to its 
 heat. We lost in killed and wounded, during the 
 twenty-four hours, no less than fifty ; and among the 
 wounded was the gallant young Eaton, whose head 
 was fractured, and the brain laid open. His 
 recovery was a marvel of divine goodness, and 
 agreeably disappointed the expectations of his 
 medical advisers. 
 
 By the morning of the 1 1th of September we had 
 ready no less than three of the regular siege 
 batteries: these were exclusive of the first guns 
 placed in a light battery, on the evening of the 6th 
 of September, to the left front of the Sammy House 
 picquet, and the heavy guns in the light batteries on 
 the ridge, and the two light guns at the Crow's-nest, 
 all under Captain Remmington. 
 
 Of these three regular siege batteries, a part of one 
 of them, the left portion of No. 1, was destroyed on 
 the 10th by fire. I mention these facts, even at the 
 risk of being charged with repetition, simply to show 
 
1857.] THE BEEACHING BATTERIES. 251 
 
 what amount of ordnance we were actually able to 
 bring to bear against the enemy, on the very 
 morning of the anniversary of the first capture of 
 Delhi. 
 
 There had been a great deal of talk previously, 
 respecting an effort being made to repossess our- 
 selves of the city on this self-same date. But 
 this was a result as little to be desired as it was 
 really unimportant to secure. Moreover, it was 
 impossible of attainment; considering how long 
 the siege train had been detained, by unavoidable 
 circumstances, in its travels downwards from the 
 Punjaub. 
 
 But if our advancing columns could not as yet 
 storm and take the ramparts of Delhi, our breaching 
 batteries, with salvo after salvo, astonished the 
 besieged with their tremendous roar, and beat down 
 piecemeal those stone walls in whose strength and 
 impregnability the greatest reliance had been wont to 
 be placed by the rebel host. Nine 24-potinders inaugu- 
 rated the proceedings of the 11th; and the fire, 
 once commenced, was unceasingly maintained with 
 mortars, guns, and howitzers, from the period of its 
 commencement until the assault. 
 
 In addition to this amount of artillery already 
 engaged in successful practice against our enemies. 
 
252 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 another siege battery was in course of erection. 
 Many hands were employed upon it, and its com- 
 pletion was fully expected within twenty-four hours 
 at most. 
 
 This battery was called No. 3, and was the nearest of 
 any to Delhi, measuring a distance of less than eighty 
 yards from the Water Bastion. It mounted six 
 18-pounderSj and stood a little to the rear of a ruin 
 found in the Custom House compound. The com- 
 mand of it was entrusted to Major E. W. S. Scott, 
 concerning whom, as a' most efficient and intrepid 
 Artilleryman, no second opinion, at any time during 
 recent operations, that I ever heard of, divided the 
 army before Delhi; and the position assigned to 
 Major Scott in the arrangements of the siege, shows 
 most convincingly what was his reputation among 
 the officers of his own arm of the service, where 
 he is best known and most appreciated. 
 
 Attached to this battery, and under the direction 
 of Captain Blunt, were twelve Sj-inch mortars, 
 intended to shell the interior of the Water and Cash- 
 mere Bastions and the ground to the left of the 
 church, while the 18-pounders under Major Scott 
 were employed in annihilating the defences of the 
 fotmer named of these two bastions. No part of this 
 battery opened fire during the 11th. 
 
1857.] A SORTIE OF THE ENEMY. 253 
 
 Whether the enemy now saw our plans with any 
 clearness I cannot say. One would think the effect 
 of the play of our batteries, as the 11th wore on, 
 must have . revealed some portion of the secret. 
 . Judging from the sorties, and the occasional demon- 
 strations of cavalry made by them, and the heavy 
 musketry, and other firing which was .directed against 
 the trenches, we concluded that they foresaw at 
 least the nearness of the fatal day. 
 
 Some time during the day a body of their horse 
 crossed the canal, and drove in a picq^uet of our 
 Irregular Cavalry ; with what definite object, except 
 annoyance, it would be difiicult to determine. This 
 was a movement in the rear ; but the Guides, sup- 
 ported by some mounted Punjaubees, were hurried 
 on to the rescue. An engagement took place in 
 which the enemy were worsted and fled; our men 
 pursued and overtook many of them ; twenty-five 
 of the mutineers were killed, including a native 
 officer. We lost in killed and wounded twelve men 
 and fifteen horses ; not including Lieut. Watson, who 
 was wounded. 
 
 I have now accounted for every siege battery of 
 which we could boast in the maintenance of the 
 siege of Delhi, having given . the dates when they 
 were first traced, and the days and the nights on 
 
254 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 which they were completed and armed, and related 
 everything connected with them, with conscientious 
 fidelity. Thus I have carried the narrative of the 
 siege of Delhi down to the morning of Saturday, 
 September 12th, when all the artillery which the 
 British could bring to bear against the mutinous 
 city was actually bearing upon its walls and bastions 
 in terrific concert, dealing out destruction and death 
 in every direction under the range of their fire, and 
 pouring forth simultaneously, and with a constancy 
 unceasing and a fury unbroken, shot and shell, from 
 no less than fifty guns and mortars. 
 
 The din and the roar of cannon had been hitherto 
 deafening, but from Saturday until Monday morning, 
 the morning when we stormed and took the ramparts 
 of Delhi, roll after roll of ordnance thunder, in a 
 succession almost momentary, fell with electric efiect 
 upon the ear. Nothing can be grander, nothing 
 more fearfully imposing, than the circumstances 
 attendant on a bombardment. And yet, terrible and 
 grand as unquestionably they are, among them none 
 is more so than the sight of living shell traversing 
 the air, with more than the brilliancy of many 
 falling meteors simultaneously, and in brightness 
 rivalling at times the tremendous glare occasioned 
 by continuous flashes of lightning during a stormy 
 
1857.] A COimCIL OF WAR. 255 
 
 night. This sight will detain you, in spite of 
 •weariness and want of sleep, and hold you for the 
 hour together, gazing in wonderment and admi- 
 ration, not unmixed with awe. 
 
 A council of war was summoned, and met for the 
 despatch of business, at the Major-General's tent 
 at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of the 12th of September. 
 The members present at it were some of the staff, 
 and all the regimental commanding officers. The 
 plans of the siege were laid before them, and each 
 one was told what would be expected of him — what 
 he was to do, where he was to go, and how he 
 was to act in case of unexpected emergency and 
 danger, whenever the assault should be deter- 
 mined on. 
 
 Of course every one present was anxious to know 
 the day and the hour when the deadly strife should 
 commence ; though it is not very likely that any one 
 ventured to put the question to the President of the 
 Council. He knew what was probably the thought 
 uppermost in every mind of the assembly over 
 which he sat presiding; for one of the privileged 
 number told me that the General said : " Gentlemen, 
 I do not myself know the day nor the hour of the 
 assault ; and if I did, I freely confess I would not tell 
 you, for fear, in some happy moment, or at some 
 
256 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 social board, the secret might casually and un- 
 wittingly escape." Thus he dismissed them, and the 
 meeting ended. 
 
 Some little time after the departure of the mem- 
 bers" of the Council of War to their respective 
 camps, I chanced to drop into the tent of a friend, 
 and found myself in the midst of a knot of men 
 seated and absorbed in conversation. The subject 
 of conversation was the meeting which had been 
 assembled at eleven o^clock a.m., and all that was 
 said at it which might be told without a breach of 
 confidence, was canvassed freely. The thoughts, first 
 of one and then of another, were given. Every man 
 present, except myself, was to take part in the 
 assault ; many of them were maimed, and had wives 
 and children. Great, therefore, were the claims of 
 affection upon these. Perhaps, it may be asked, 
 with the prospects before them, what were the words 
 of those men, and what the impression which their 
 manner made upon you ? 
 
 These were qviestions concerning which I myself 
 felt curiosity and concern, as I sat in that tent more 
 as a hearer than a speaker, and rather as an observer 
 than as one desirous of attracting attention towards 
 myself. These men seemed to realise fully the 
 solemnity of the coming struggle, which might now 
 
1857.] HEROIC COtJEAGE. 257 
 
 engage them at any hour. Yet were they not down- 
 hearted or melancholy ; still less were they light 
 and trifling. A lively sense of the country's expec- 
 tation of them to do their duty, and a determination 
 on their part to do it without favour or partiality 
 to themselves, were the most conspicuous features of 
 the conversation and the company. There was here 
 the ahsence of all vaunting, and, in the place of it 
 was the sobriety of reason, and the.. inflexibility of 
 Anglo-Saxon purpose and courage. And from what 
 I both saw and heard in that tent, taken in connection 
 with the conviction, which spontaneously sprang up 
 in my own mind, that only the reality of their 
 sentiments had been expressed by the speakers, I 
 went away impressed with an increase of respect 
 for human nature. I saw that, with all its usual 
 selfishness, it could be thoroughly unselfish, and. 
 was so on the present occasion. 
 
 Not long after I had quitted this sphere of obser- 
 vation, the painful intelligence reached me that 
 Captain Fagan was no more. Personally I knew 
 but little of him : I had spoken to him but once in 
 my life; but I was won by his pleasing manners, 
 so affable was he, and so very kind. But the 
 slight degree of my acquaintance with him was 
 more than compensated for, in a certain measure. 
 
258 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 by what I heard of his military character, and 
 the esteem which, in consequence, I conceived for 
 him. 
 
 No name in camp was ever connected more inti- 
 mately and mote frequently with heroism and valour 
 than that of Robert Charles Henry Baines I'agan, 
 and no name was more worthy of the honour paid 
 to it. At the very instant that death snatched him 
 rudely from the midst of his admiring brethren in 
 arms, his praises were being rehearsed, in no doubt- 
 ful or measured language, by the tongue of another 
 spirit, of kindred tastes and sympathies with himself. 
 Only a second before, the eye of Capt. Sir Edward 
 Campbell, Bart., of the Royal Rifles, had been attracted 
 by the valour which Captain Fagan was then dis- 
 playing, the fearlessness with which he was exposing 
 himiSelf, and the extraordinary coolness which he 
 was exhibiting, under a most galling and destructive 
 fire. Sir Edward Campbell had turned aside from 
 this noble display of self-sacrifice, in order to give 
 expression to his boundless admiration of such a 
 man,, under such circumstances. Hardly had he 
 said the words in the hearing of Major E. W. S. 
 
 Scott, " How noble a sight to see Fagan " when 
 
 the noise occasioned by a fall interrupted them both 
 — ^the one from hearing, and the other from speak- 
 
1857.] DEATH OF CAPTAIN FAGAN. 259 
 
 iag. They simultaneously looked for the cause of 
 the sound. Alas ! Fagan himself had fallen senseless 
 to the earth. He was not dead, hiit dying fast. 
 Of all the losses inflicted on the Bengal Artillery 
 Regiment, the result of the mutiny and the acci- 
 dents of war, none will be more feelingly deplored 
 (excepting, perchance, that of Sir Henry Lawrence,) 
 than the loss of Captain Fagan. 
 
 Such was one of the most melancholy events 
 which befel on us on Saturday, September 12th. 
 Nevertheless, it produced no effect on the ope'- 
 rations of that day, or of the succeeding night. 
 The breaching batteries continued their work as 
 busily and as noisily as before, unscrupulously 
 trespassing on the rest of the Sabbath ; during the 
 whole of which a respite from fire, even of a moment, 
 was literally unknown. The camp knew no such 
 happy sound as the church-going bell ; but our usual 
 services, notwithstanding the want of it, were held, 
 and many more attended them than naight have 
 been supposed : of course many a familiar face was 
 missing, and its absence from the solemn assemblies 
 of camp accounted for by its presence in the 
 trenches. ' 
 
 In addition to the ordinary prayers, and the 
 delivery of sermons, I was requested by the ofHcers 
 
 S 2 
 
260 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 of one of the most gallant corps composing part 
 of the force, to administer to them, and as ma.ny 
 of their brigade as would attend, the sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper. Of course I could not but 
 comply, and never was compliance with request more 
 cordial, or accompanied with intenser pleasure. It 
 was a deeply solemn and impressive occasion. We 
 assembled for the purpose in a tent, and there each 
 of us, absorbed in the depth of his own thoughts, — 
 and I trust looking up, at the same time, with the 
 eye of simple faith, and in a spirit of true repentance, 
 towards Him who said, " Do this in remembrance of 
 Me," — partook of the Holy Eucharist. It is one of 
 the Sundays of camp, which, methinks, I never can 
 forget; not simply or only, though principally, because 
 of this devout act of commemoration of the 
 Redeemer's dying love; but also because a pre- 
 sentiment universally prevailed throughout the force, 
 and which more than ordinarily solemnized the mind, 
 that the time was very near at hand when the word 
 of command would be "Advance columns to the 
 attack." Such were the impressions of the day of 
 the 13th September. 
 
 Presently night stole on, under the cover of which 
 the young Engineers, four in number. Lieutenants 
 Medley, Lang, Home, and Greathed, proceeded to 
 
1857.] THE ASSAULT OEDERED. 261 
 
 examine the breaches made at the Cashmere and 
 "Water Bastions. The reports were satisfactory. The 
 breaches were respectively pronounced practicable. 
 Accordingly the assault was determined upon, and 
 ordered to be made very early next morning. 
 
 la accordance with this determination, and in 
 obedience to their orders, given over night, the 
 clocks had not very long told three on Monday 
 morning, the 14th of September, when the assaulting 
 columns, five in number, fell in, preparatory to their 
 advance. 
 
 The first column was commanded by Brigadier- 
 General Nicholson, and consisted of 300 hundred 
 men of H. M.'s 75th Regiment, under Colonel Her- 
 bert, 250 of the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers, 
 imder Major Jacob, and 450 of the 2nd Punjaub 
 Infantry, under Captain Green ; the total strength of 
 which will be found to amount to 1,000 bayonets. 
 
 The duty assigned to the first column, as laid down 
 in the plans of attack, was twofold: part of the 
 colunm had to carry the breach, near the Cashmere 
 Bastion, by storm, and part had to effect an entrance 
 into the city, by escalading the left face of that 
 bastion. 
 
 The second column was given to Brigadier Jones, 
 C.B., of H. M.'s 61st Foot. It consisted of H. M.'s 
 
262 SIEGE OF DELHI. [sEPTEMBEBj 
 
 8th Eegiment, to the number of 250 men, under 
 Colonel Greathed, besides 250 of the 2nd European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, under Captain Boyd, and 350 men 
 of the 4th Sikhs, under Captain O. E. Rothney, of 
 the 45th Regiment B. N. I. This column was directed 
 to storm the breach in the Water Bastion. 
 
 The third column, the command of which devolved 
 on Colonel George Campbell of H. M.'s 52nd Light 
 Infantry, consisted of 200 of that very distinguished 
 and favourite corps, under Major Vigors, 250 of the 
 Kumaon Battalion, imder Captain Ramsay, and 500 
 of the 1st Punjaub Infantry (Coke's Corps, as it 
 is commonly called,) under a younger brother of 
 Brigadier-General Nicholson, a lieutenant in the 31st 
 Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, 
 
 This column received orders to enter through the 
 Cashmere Gate, after it should be blown open for 
 tliem by those lieroic officers, Salkeld, Home, and 
 Tandy, of the corps of Engineers ; whose names are 
 immortal, notwithstanding that they have been 
 removed by death from the lists of the brave army 
 of India, to the universal and imfeigned regret of 
 their brethren in arms. 
 
 The fourth column, consisted of 860 men, t^en 
 from the picquets, European and native, which could 
 be spared from Hindoo Rao, in addition to Guides, 
 
1857.] THE COLUMNS OF ASSAULT. 263 
 
 Gorkhas, and a detachment of Dogras. It was 
 designed to attack and take Kissen Ounge, and enter 
 tbe city subsequently to the capture of the place 
 aforesaid, through the Lahore Gate ; forming a junc- 
 tion, and co-operating with the columns already 
 within the walls. 
 
 This column was led by Major Charles Reid, com- 
 manding the Sirmoor Battalion, than whom a better, 
 braver, or abler soldier never held a commisaon 
 or commanded a corps in any military service in 
 the world. No words can express the admiration 
 awarded, by universal consent, to this officer. He 
 seemed riveted to the Hindoo Rao's house, except 
 when called from it by the most imperative duty. 
 There he ate and drank, and there too he made 
 his camp, in a nook of that memorable dwelling; 
 no corner of which was free, at any time, from 
 the risk, or beyond the range, of the enemy's 
 fire. Verily, it is impossible, that what Major 
 Reid did can ever fade from the recollection of 
 men present, or even be overlooked with that cold 
 unconcern, which too often characterises those at 
 a distance from the sphere of action. He has 
 nobly earned for himself a harvest of unfadii^ 
 honour. 
 
 The fifth column, which was designated the 
 
264 SIEGE OF DELECT. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 "Reserve," was made up of 250 men of H. M.'s 
 61st Foot, under Lieut. Colonel Deacon; 450 men 
 of the 4tli Punjaub Infantry, under Captain Wilde; 
 300 men of the Belooch Battalion, under Lieut.- 
 Colonel Farquhar, of the 6th Bombay Native 
 Infantry ; and 300 of the Jheend auxiliaries, under 
 Lieut.-Colonel Dunsford, of the 59th Bengal Native 
 Infantry. 
 
 In addition to these troops, there was one company 
 of that corps, concerning which the public judgment 
 agrees in placing it relatively as A 1 among all 
 the European corps, whether Queen's or Company's, 
 who had the good fortune to see service on this 
 memorable occasion. This single company helped 
 to swell the numerical strength of the "Reserve," 
 while other companies of the same regiment were 
 engaged in the arduous duty of covering the 
 advance of the assaulting columns; others, also, 
 were employed in the neighbourhood of Kissen 
 Gunge, under Major Charles Reid, with the fourth 
 column. 
 
 And now, after this long array of detail in the 
 matter of columns and their respective strength, it 
 is necessary to dwell upon a subject concerning 
 which misconception has never been more flagrant 
 and apparent. 
 
1857.] THE STRENGTH OF DELHI. 265 
 
 The strength of Delhi itself, extending over an 
 area of seven miles of circumference, ■with its em- 
 battled walls, its gates, its moats, its bastions, and its 
 towers, for a long time was never properly realized. 
 And the evidence of this want of realization does not 
 consist only in the opinions publicly expressed, and 
 those of the many, or of those principally at a dista«ce 
 from the place; but the most demonstrative proof of 
 the fact is to be found in the known plans of a 
 General and his engineer present at the scene of 
 action ; and who, notwithstanding, were seriously 
 deliberating about, and, on two distinct occasions, 
 within three weeks, were all but actually proceed- 
 ing to make an attempt to recapture this large 
 city by a coup de main, with the smallest possible 
 army, and without siege train. 
 
 But taking for granted that the strength of Delhi 
 did not consist in its actual defences, nothing is more 
 clear to those who have made inspection for them- 
 selves, that the prettiest village of Hindustan is a 
 fortification susceptible of a serious defence. Let 
 European forces invest one of these places, and 
 nothing short of a regular bombardment, or the 
 environment of the village with a complete net- 
 work of troops, will enable an enemy without to 
 possess himself of the place. And if there be truth 
 
266 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 in this statement, with respect to the more insigni- 
 ficant position, how much more forcible must it be 
 in its application^ to fortresses and cities of the 
 size of Delhi, and possessing resources consisting 
 of every appliance necessary in warfare: not 
 excepting weapons of every kind, with ammunition, 
 and a host of men fully capable of defending the 
 city against a besieging force. 
 
 But lest it should be thought that my profession 
 disentitles me to venture an opinion on the subject 
 of the defences of Delhi, I extract the following 
 account of Delhi and its defences from the official 
 report of Colonel Baird Smith — the highest authority 
 on siege operations present with the camp, and who 
 himself projected the plan of attack, which first met 
 with the General's approval and afterwards was 
 crowned with success. 
 
 " The eastern face of the city rests on the 
 Jumna, and during the season of the year when 
 our operations were carried on, the stream may 
 be described as washing the base of the walls. All 
 access to a besieger on the river front is, therefore, 
 impracticable. The defences here consist of an 
 irregular wall, with occasional bastions and towers, 
 and about one half of the length of the river 
 face is occupied by the palace of the King of 
 
1857.] DEFENCES OF DELHI, 267 
 
 Delhi and its outwork — the old Mogul fort of 
 Selimghur. 
 
 *' The river muy be described as the chord of an 
 arc, formed by the remaining defences of tlie place. 
 These consist of a succession of bastion fronts, the 
 connecting curtain being very long, and the out- 
 works limited to one crown work at the Ajmeer Gate 
 and Martello Tower, mounting a single gun at sucli 
 points as require some additional flanking fire to 
 that given by the bastions themselves. The bastions 
 are small, mounting generally three guns in each 
 face, two in each flank, and one in embrasure at the 
 salient. They are provided with masonry parapets 
 about 12 feet in thickness, and a relief of about 
 16 feet above the plane of site. The curtain con- 
 sists of a simple masonry wall or rampart 16 feet 
 in height, 11 feet thick at top, and 14 or 15 feet 
 at bottom. This main wall carries a parapet loop- 
 hole for musketry 8 feet in height and 3 feet in 
 thickness. The whole of the land front is covered 
 by a berm of a variable width, ranging from 16 to 
 30 feet, and having a scarp wall 8 feet high; ex- 
 terior to this is a dry ditch of about 25 feet in 
 height, and from 16 to 20 feet in depth. The 
 counter-scarp is simply an earthen slope easy to 
 descend. The glacis is a Tery short one, extendkg 
 
268 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 only 50 or 60 yards from the counter-scarp ; using 
 general terms, it covers from the besiegers' view 
 from one-half to one-third of the height of the walls 
 of the place. 
 
 " These details will, I trust, he suflScient to give 
 a general conception of the nature of the defences of 
 Delhi. They are, in a word, modernized forms of 
 the ancient works that existed when the city fell 
 before Lord Lake's army in 1803. They extend 
 about seven miles in circumference, and include an 
 area of about three square miles." 
 
 Such was the city, with its defences and muni- 
 tions, the repossession of which had been long and 
 earnestly, but vainly, coveted by the British. And 
 now nothing need detain me from telling the story in 
 its undivided integrity, both of the manner in which, 
 and the means whereby this happy result was 
 eventually brought to pass. 
 
 The force paraded at half-past three on the 
 morning of the 14th of September; the three 
 columns destined to operate against the city, 
 together with the Eifles, and the reserve, moved 
 out of camp to the neighbourhood of Ludlow Castle. 
 There the whole of the troops halted, and were told 
 off to their respective destinations; their presence 
 being dexterously concealed from the sight of the 
 
1857.] ADVANCE OF THE RIFLES. 269 
 
 enemy, until the moment for action had fully 
 arrived. 
 
 At length, when everything was ready, the 
 signal for commencement of operations was given. 
 The Royal Rifles inaugurated the proceedings of 
 the day by a loud and hearty English cheer, 
 simultaneously with which they advanced steadily 
 to the fore front, crossing a bridge and extending 
 themselves as skirmishers in a line of divisions ; 
 two divisions going to the right and two to the left. 
 Thus extended, they covered in magnificent style 
 the heads of each of the advancing columns. 
 
 The siege guns up to this moment had been 
 maintaining a deafening and destructive fire, which 
 the enemy were unable to answer with even a single 
 piece of ordnance. The Moree, Cashmere, and 
 Water Bastions had long been still as death ; 
 whereas our batteries had been growing louder and 
 louder, more and more angry than before. Un- 
 expectedly a lull ensued: the raging storm of 
 British artillery was suddenly hushed in ,silence. In 
 another moment the heads of the columns under 
 Brigadier Nicholson and Jones were distinguish- 
 able, peering out, as it were, from their snug 
 hiding-places in the neighbourhood of the Khoodsia 
 Bagh. 
 
270 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEB, 
 
 No sooner were these columns seen by those within 
 the city, than a determined effort was made from the 
 walls to drive hack the advancing force. But a 
 British purpose, once formed, is not so easily to be 
 turned. Musketry fire may, and doubtless will 
 make its impression; and a musket in the hand, 
 whether of this man or of that, who knows how 
 to use it, and has been long' practised in the art, 
 proves equally destructive. So we found to our 
 sorrow on the morning of the storm. Numbers 
 had already fallen by the enemy's musketry, and 
 numbers also were continuing to fall, the nearer 
 each of the columns approached to the respective 
 breaches which had been given them to carry. 
 But with dauntless courage, they nevertheless kept 
 advancing. 
 
 Presently the ditch was gained. Our first real 
 impediment occurred there. It had something to 
 do with the scaling ladders, and their adjustment, 
 so as to enable the stormers to ascend the scarp. 
 This delay, whether avoidable or unavoidable, I 
 cannot say, involved us in serious losses; but no 
 amount of discouragement, and nothing in the shape 
 of impediment, could cool the ardolir of the 
 troops. 
 
 No sooner was the descent into the ditch effected, 
 
1857.] O AT.T.A NTRY OF THE EIFLES. 271 
 
 than tte breaches were respectively carried, vsith a 
 noble display of valour on the part of all present ; 
 every man vieing with his neighbour in a spirit of 
 noble emulation. Carried away entirely with the 
 excitement of the occasion, the Rifles, whose duty it 
 was to cover, and who discharged that duty to the 
 admiration of every beholder, could not withstand 
 the temptation which now met them. 
 
 Forgetting that, being light infantry, they were 
 as such essentially skirmishers, they were among 
 the very foremost to mount the walls of the city. 
 Theirs, were the first caps waved in token of 
 victory; and theirs among the first human voices 
 proudly raised to proclaim what we had gained 
 and the enemy had lost. 
 
 And here a little incident deserves notice; and 
 the more so, as it affects the reputation of a very 
 young and inexperienced but, notwithstanding, very 
 valuable officer, siace dead — Ensign Everard Aloysans 
 Lisle Phillips, formerly of the 11th Regiment of 
 Native Infantry. In co-operation with some rifles 
 placed under his command, he most gallantly carried 
 the Water Bastion, and turned the guns which he 
 found therein, with all possible speed and dexterity, 
 against the retreating rebels. 
 
 While these events engaged the two columns 
 
272 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBKK, 
 
 under Brigadiers Nicholson and Jones, the third 
 column, under Colonel George Campbell, of H. M.'s 
 52nd Light Infantry, was far from being idle. The 
 M'ork assigned to it was critical in the last degree; 
 and it did what it had to do admirably. Enjoying the 
 advantage of cover from the Rifles, the Engineers 
 advanced, at the double, towards the Cashmere Gate. 
 That deep darkness of night, which immediately 
 precedes the ushering in of the breaking day, had 
 already given place to the dawn, and the sun was 
 just illumining the sky. No longer, therefore, could 
 night throw her friendly concealment around any of 
 the party, whether of the engineers who had to 
 destroy the Cashmere Gate, or of the gallant column, 
 who had to enter the city through it. 
 
 No matter for that, the valiant Home — ^whose 
 praises, whether we regard him as an officer or a 
 man, can never be exaggerated in the. telling — led 
 the way. He was quickly followed by Sergeants 
 John Smith and Carmichael, and Havildar Madhoo, 
 all heavily laden with the powder bags. The heroic 
 Salkeld, with Corporal Burgess and some others, 
 allowed not Home and his companions to distance 
 them. Dangers surrounded the whole of them on 
 every side; but no harm befel the party until after 
 they had fairly reached the broken drawbridge. 
 
1857.] BLOWINO OPEN CASHMEEE GATE, 273 
 
 whicli lay between them and the gate. It was 
 awkward crossing, in consequence of the destruction 
 committed by the enemy at that spot; Wt even the 
 crossing was made without a single casualty having 
 to be recorded. 
 
 The enemy were all this while keeping up a very 
 galling musketry fire from within, and in the act of 
 depositing the powder at th^ gateway. Sergeant 
 Carmichael fell a sacrifice, and Madhoo was also 
 wounded. Soon, however, the necessary prepa- 
 rations were completed, and the train made ready 
 to receive the match, when just as Salkeld w^as 
 attempting the explosion, he was unhappily wounded. 
 Greater success attended Corporal Burgess's effort to 
 supply Lieut, Salkeld's unavoidable lack of service. 
 He fired the train; but his daring eventually lost 
 him his life. 
 
 The gate now opened with a tremendous crash; 
 and with quick and undaunted step the 52nd Light 
 Infantry led the way, supported and followed nobly 
 by the 2nd Europeans, the Kumaon Battalion, and 
 Coke's Rifles; all of whom entered the city simul- 
 neously with the other two columns. 
 
 Nothing can surpass the numerous acts of per- 
 sonal gallantry displayed on this occasion. Almost 
 every man seemed a host in himself. But con- 
 
 T 
 
274 SIEGE OF DELHL [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 spicuously and pre-eminently brave, was poor Tandy, 
 who was killed on the spot; and beside Mm, two 
 of humbler rank than he, but who proved them- 
 selves to belong, as of right undisputed, to the 
 nobility of valour. Bugler Hawthorn, of H. M.'s 
 52nd Light Infantry, fearlessly exposed himself to 
 a complete hailstorm of musketry fire, and like 
 the good Samaritan in the Gospel, bound up the 
 wounds of Salkeld, who had fallen among the 
 thieves of the mutiny, and had him removed, 
 under his own eye; not to the comforts of an inn, 
 but at any rate to some place of corresponding 
 sympathy and safety. 
 
 Nor is there a whit to choose, in the matter of 
 intrepidity when placed in a position of imminent 
 danger, between Bugler Hawthorn of H. M.'s 52nd, 
 and Sergeant Smith of the Engineers; who/ anticipa- 
 ting the failure of Corporal Burgess in firing the 
 train, stepped manfully forward, with almost the 
 certainty of death before him, to do that which 
 he had seen others attempt to do with all the 
 terrible consequences which I have already recorded. 
 Nevertheless, Sergeant Smith lives, and, with Bugler 
 Hawthorn, has been strongly recommended by 
 General Wilson to Her Majesty's most gracious 
 consideration for the decoration of the Victoria Cross. 
 
1857.] SUCCESS OF THE ASSAULT. 275 
 
 Both ricMy deserve this distinguished honour, and 
 long may they live to enjoy it. 
 
 The three assaulting columns, with the reserve, 
 had now gained a firm footing within the confines of 
 the city, which lie on its northern face. There, I am 
 told, they re-formed, in obedience to the orders of 
 Brigadier-General Nicholson, who led and directed 
 the entire operations of the actual assault against the 
 ramparts of mutinous Delhi. Once established with- 
 in the place, the columns of Nicholson and Jones took 
 a direction round the walls, towards the right of the 
 Cashmere Gate. 
 
 Both columns encountered very severe opposition 
 in their progress, and likewise sustained many losses, 
 over which they subsequently mourned in bitterness 
 of spirit ; but they met with no cheek approaching 
 to a repulse. Their advance might not have been 
 as rapid or as long as the sanguine expectations of 
 some might have led them to anticipate; but if 
 their movements were somewhat slow," they seem to 
 have been equally sure. 
 
 Barrier after barrier, thrown up by the enemy, 
 yielded before their indomitable resolution. They 
 first seized a tower and a battery, situated along the 
 line of space intervening between the Cashmere and 
 Moree gates. Presently they gained the Moree 
 
 T 2 
 
276 SIEGE OF DELHI, [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 Bastion itself, with the Cabul Gate also. They then 
 made several determined attempts to wrest from the. 
 enemy's possession the Bum Bastion, and the Lahore 
 Gate. But no amount of courage, or of strategy, 
 will always, compensate for overwhelming numbers ; 
 especially when backed by the desperation of men 
 who fight with halters round their necks. 
 
 If any man could have succeeded in these attempts, 
 that man was, doubtless, Brigadier-General Nichol- 
 son. But the enemy had so concentrated themselves 
 in this neighbourhood, that though the design was 
 worthy of the immortal Nicholson and his brave men, 
 the weakness of his forces obliged him to fall back 
 upon, and be content with, the maintenance of his 
 former position at the Cashmere Gate. 
 
 Would to God that I could stop at this part of 
 the history, with nothing of importance greater to 
 record than that every preparation was speedily 
 made to turn the captured batteries, of the enemy's 
 own construction, with deadly eftect, against them- 
 selves! But the victory of the day was converted 
 into a just occasion of lamentation and mourning. 
 There had fallen, mortally wounded, in the strife, 
 the greatest of men amongst us ; with whom neither 
 Reid, nor Chamberlain, nor Wilson, would, for one 
 single instant, compare. This was the universal 
 
1857.] DEATH OF GENERAL NICHOLSON. 277 
 
 opinion, almost as universally expressed. The cause 
 ot that loss will be long remembered, and as deeply- 
 regretted. It was in the vain attempt to carry 
 the Lahore Gate, that Nicholson, the pride of the 
 whole army of India, was smitten, while actively 
 engaged in encouraging his men to make yet one 
 effort more to drive the enemy from his stronghold 
 there. 
 
 The third column, under Colonel George Camp- 
 bell, of H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry, after reforming 
 at the main guard of the . Cashmere Gate, first pro- 
 vided a small party to expel some of the enemy 
 remaining within the Water Bastion. This seems 
 to have been done very effectually, and at the point 
 of the bayonet. Next they proceeded to clear the 
 compound of the Cutcherry, which was adjoining, 
 with the houses in the immediate neighbourhood, 
 besides the station church of St. James, and the 
 " Delhi Gazette" compound. Thus the column kept 
 steadily advancing, nothing apparently, as yet, being 
 able to arrest its progress onwards. 
 
 The line of advance which had been laid down 
 for this column in the plan of assault, was closely 
 •followed. This led them through the Bazaar, in 
 the neighbourhood of the Cashmere Gate. A gun 
 which was placed in position there so as to sweep 
 
278 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 the street, was gallandy taken by a party who 
 followed Lieutenant Bradshaw; a very young 
 soldier, whose valour on this occasion cost hirp 
 his life. The column now took the direction of 
 the Begum's Bagh, through which it secured a 
 tolerably unmolested passage ; but, on reaching the 
 gate of that Bagh, or garden, which opens directly 
 on the Chandee Chouk, it was found to be closed. 
 Presently it was opened, by a friendly native chu- 
 prassie. Through it the column passed, under fire 
 from the tops of the houses, to the Jumma Musjid, 
 the great place of Mahomedan worship; the side 
 arches of which were found to be bricked np, and 
 the gate also closed. 
 
 A difficulty now arose; there were neither powder 
 bags nor guns to force it open. The enemy were 
 also linin g the houses, and maintaining a very heavy 
 musketry fire. In spite of these untoward circum- 
 stances the column held its own, momentarily ex- 
 pecting aid to arrive. But it came not. Our failure 
 at the Lahore Gate prevented this ; and thus, with- 
 out help for it, the column was obliged to fall back 
 on the Begum's gardens, and join the reserve. 
 
 Numerous were the acts of personal valour dis- 
 played by many an officer, and many a man also, 
 as the column continued to wend its way to the 
 
1857.] Sm THEOPHILUS METCALFE. 279 
 
 Jumma Musjid, from the neighbourhood of the 
 Cashmere Gate. They are very many: too many 
 for me to specify all of them within the limits of 
 this work. I must, therefore, be content to notice 
 only one here and there, and all ia a passing and 
 superficial manner. 
 
 Among the most conspicuous of those for valour 
 stands Sir Theophilus Metcalfe, the most deservedly 
 popular of all the civilians with the force; and 
 who gained his popularity with the soldiery, by 
 a manly, straightforward, uniform line of conduct, 
 which inspired the army with lasting respect for 
 him and his conduct. Untrained to the profession 
 of arms, this political officer proved himself to be a 
 soldier indeed; fearless in the discharge of the most 
 dangerous duty, and unmoved either by the pre- 
 sence or the fire of a numerous enemy ; to which 
 he was constantly exposed when acting as a pioneer, 
 and gallantly leading Colonel Campbell's column 
 through the city of DelhL 
 
 That I may not be considered to show preference 
 for the educated and the great over those less for- 
 tunate in position in life, let me introduce humbler 
 men, but equally brave with Sir Theophilus Met- 
 calfe. I allude in the first instance to Corporal 
 Henry Smith, of H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry, who 
 
280 SIEGE OF DELHI., [siPTEMBEB, 
 
 carried away a wounded comrade under a heavy- 
 fire of grape and musketry in the Chandee Chouk ; 
 and to Sergeant-Major Streets, who was severely 
 wounded, and Corporal William Taylor, both of the 
 52nd Foot, whose conduct was equally worthy of 
 the highest admiration. 
 
 The facts in connection with No. 4 cplumn yet 
 remain to be told. They are simply these. The 
 column was divided into two divisions; one part 
 formed the main body of the column, consisting of 
 H. M.'s 60th Royal Rifles, 50 men; 86 men of 
 H.M.'s 61st, 160 of the 1st European Bengal Fusi- 
 liers, 200 of the Sirmoor Battalion, 200 of the 
 Guides' corps, 70 of the 1st Punjaub Infantry, and 
 65 of the Kumaon Battalion, making a total of 831 ; 
 the other part, called the support, consisted of the 
 Jummoo troops, numbering 1,200 infantry and 200 
 cavalry, besides four gttns. 
 
 These all paraded at half-past four on the morn- 
 ing of the day of the storm, on the Grand Trunk 
 Road, opposite the Subzi-Mundi picquet. Every 
 arrangement requiring Major Reid's supervision, and 
 dependent on his foresight, was ready before the 
 clock struck five. The only thing wanting was the 
 three Artillery guns. They never made their ap- 
 pearance for fully half an hour subsequently to the 
 
1857.] PEOCEEDINGS OF FOURTH COLUMN. 281 
 
 last period specified; and when they did appear, 
 the officer in charge reported to Major Reid that 
 he had only the proper complement of gunners to 
 serve one gun. 
 
 The day had more than dawned: it had ad- 
 vanced a little; and therefore none of our opera- 
 tions, so far at least as light was concerned, could 
 possibly be hidden from the enemy's watchful eye. 
 The signal for Major Reid to commence proceedings 
 was the loud crash which was expected to ensue on 
 the explosion at the Cashmere Gate. The Major, 
 in breathless silence, was awaiting this sound. The 
 Horse Artillery had not, in spite of the various delays, 
 been eq[uipped with the wanting gunners. Instead 
 of the noise looked for in the neighbourhood of the 
 Cashmere Gate, the reports of musketry shot struck 
 on the ears of Major Reid. They seemed to come 
 from the direction of his right. It was the Jummoo 
 Contingent, which had engaged the enemy; their act 
 was premature, but there was now no help for it. 
 Accordingly Major Reid hurried, with sufficient 
 force, to the rescue, ^electing the pucka road towards 
 Kissen Gunge, as his way of advance. 
 
 Immediately- a skirmishing party, consisting of the 
 60th Rifles, was thrown out, under Captain D. D. 
 Muter, on the right of that road ; a " feeling party" 
 
282 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPIEMBEK, 
 
 having preceded the entire column. The enemy had 
 manned a breastwork which they had across the 
 road, and another running parallel with the road. 
 Both of these had been strengthened during the 
 night. The enemy watched our advance, neither 
 saying or doing anything until we were within fifty 
 yards ; they then saluted us most warmly with a well- 
 directed volley. Being charged by the Eifles and 
 Gorklias, they evacuated their strong breastwork, 
 and stood awhile in apparent perplexity, as to 
 whether they should retire on the second breastwork 
 or attack the Jummoo Contingent. 
 
 Up to this time not a gun could be brought to 
 bear against them, for want of gunners ; otherwise, 
 at this juncture, the enemy might have been mown 
 down, like wheat beneath the reaper's sickle. Not 
 only were we losing opportunity after opportunity, 
 but the enemy were reinforcing their position at 
 Kissen Gunge. And still more disastrous than all, 
 just as Eeid was about to make a feint on the rebel 
 front and a real attack on their flank and rear, he 
 was severely wounded in the head, and obliged to 
 resign his command into the hands of Captain 
 Richard Lawrence; who had been previously in the 
 secret of Major Reid's plan of attack. 
 
 This plan, I think, richly deserves record. The 
 
1857.] MAJOE EEID'S PLAK OF ATTACK. 283 
 
 position of the enemy atBossen Gunge was formidable 
 indeed, and the strength of the breastworks at the end 
 of the road, already alluded to, was very great. No 
 one was more alive to this fact than Major Reid him- 
 self. With anxious eye, during many a Itmg and 
 weary day just before the attack, he had watched the 
 rebels, and seen them sparing neither cost nor pains 
 to give additional strength to that which was before 
 very strong. He thought it was probable also that 
 they might bring to their assistance, as soon as we 
 advanced, light field pieces; which might play (any- 
 thing but innocently or pleasantly) along and down 
 the road by which our advance had to be made. 
 
 After having taken the breastwork across the road 
 and close to the canal, which we have already seen 
 was carried by the Rifles and Gorkhas, it was the 
 intention of the Major to have made a rush with 
 half the column, to the angle of a serai in the 
 immediate neighbourhood, and with the other half 
 (whose first great duty would have been to get rid of 
 some of the enemy who had lined certain garden 
 walls which were in the vicinity) to march parallel 
 to the first division of the column. 
 
 By this movement the breastworks at the end of 
 the road would have been taken ia front and in rear. 
 The second or right division of the column would 
 
284 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 then necessarily have their right shoulders forward; 
 and then the two divisions of the one column would 
 have entered Kissen Gunge, simultaneously, at the 
 breach made in the rear of the heavy batteries of 
 the enemy. 
 
 After securing Kissen Gunge,JVIajor Reid proposed 
 turning the heavy guns, four in number (which, by 
 the occupation of Kissen Gunge, he must have 
 captured), besides two eight and a half-inch mortars, 
 which were also placed there, against the enemy in a 
 place called Trevelyan Gunge. And if in addition 
 to these six pieces of ordnance wrested from the foe, 
 he could have combined with them the fire of those 
 light pieces originally intended for him (and the want 
 of them sadly hampered his operations from the 
 very first) as well the fire of the four guns of the 
 Jummoo Contingent which were at the Eedghur, 
 the concentration of so much artillery upon Trevelyan 
 Gunge would probably have led to its evacuation. 
 And in the event of such a desirable contingency, 
 leaving only some of the Jummoo troops within the 
 serai. Major Reid would have proceeded with the 
 remainder of his force along the dry bed of the 
 canal, and so have entered the city by the Cabnl 
 Gate, which General Nicholson had promised to open 
 for him. 
 
1857.] MAJOR REID'S PLAN OS" ATTACK. 285 
 
 Such was Major Reid's plan, whicli naturally 
 enough depended much on circumstances for success. 
 But there is little room for doubt that, under his own 
 immediate control, and with the Divine blessing, it 
 was tolerably sure of answering every expectation. 
 So sanguine indeed was Major Reid of this issue, 
 that I have heard him say, with the enemy's heavy 
 guns where they were, on the morning of the 14th 
 September, if he had identically the same work to 
 accomplish again, he would risk its success on no 
 other plan. 
 
 But as Providence would have it, another had 
 succeeded to the command at the eleventh hour, and 
 Kissen Gunge remained in the hands of the muti- 
 neers. The Rifles and Gorkhas in possession of the 
 breastwork (which was taken gallantly at the charge, 
 in which Captain McBarnett and Lieutenant Murray 
 fell) continuing unsupported, were unable to maintain 
 their position. 
 
 Nevertheless, Kissen Gunge was the scene of 
 many an individual act of daring. The valour of 
 Lieutenant Shebbeare, of the 60th Bengal Native 
 Infantry, was very conspicuous throughout the 
 operations of the day; and not less so was the 
 conduct of Sergeant Dunleary, of the 1st Fusiliers, 
 whose gallantry unfortunately cost him his life. Yet 
 
286 SIEGE OF DELHL [SEPTBMBEK, 
 
 - all was to no purpose. Our trpops, more particularly 
 the Contingent, became completely disorganized. 
 There was no rallying them. The Cashmere levies 
 lost their four guns; themselves flying in utter 
 dismay. And eventually the column fell back on its 
 original position; not, perhaps — despite its want of 
 success — without having done some substantial 
 service, in diverting the attention of the enemy from 
 the main point of attack. But the losses incurred 
 were something very severe. 
 
 I should be committing a great injustice if I 
 willingly omitted mention of the good services of 
 the cavalry brigade on the morning of the 14th 
 September, under the command of Brigadier Hope 
 Grant, C.B., of H. M,'s 9th Lancers. The name of 
 this officer is familiar to every resident of India, in 
 which country he has seen considerable and very 
 arduous service; and where, too, his name has 
 long been associated with Christian virtue and 
 British military valour. He is not merely a real 
 soldier, but what is far better and more noble 
 still, — a faithful servant of Jesus Christ: while he 
 recognises fully the solemn responsibilities which 
 his Christian principles impose on him, and openly 
 yet modestly avows them in the face of the world, 
 h6 is foremost in his own particular profession in 
 
1857.] BRIGADIER HOPE GRANT. 287 
 
 those qualifications which are considered, hj the 
 best and most competent judges, to be essential to 
 the constitution pf the military character. 
 
 Untiring energy, great personal self-sacrifice, at 
 all times, and under all circumstances, and a thorough 
 unmindfulness of danger whenever duty calls, dis- 
 tinguished his career from the commencement to the 
 close of operations, during this arduous warfare. No 
 one was more constantly to be seen in all weather, as 
 well in camp as at the outposts and picquets of 
 cavalry; and likewise when actively engaged with 
 the enemy in the field, exercising a direct and 
 vigilant supervision over the brigade which had been 
 assigned to his command. And yet, in spite of this 
 accumulation of necessary occupations, he never 
 appeared to neglect the duties of religion, public or 
 private. His place in the solemn assembhes of camp 
 on a Sunday, was seldom or never vacant. He was 
 always to be seen at the weekly meetings in his own 
 lines, for social prayer. Judging from his conver- 
 sation, his thoughts were frequently soaring heaven- 
 wards. The sick in his hospital could bear testi- 
 mony to the frequency of his visits there, and to 
 the sympathy and kindness which they experienced 
 from him, as he went from bed to bed, inquiring 
 tenderly after their welfare, and addressing now 
 
288 SIEGE or DELHI. [SEPTEMBEB, 
 
 to one patient and now to another, a -word of cheer 
 and promise in their sad moments of trial. He 
 always struck me as being a pattern officer ; and I 
 acknowledge with great cordiality and good feeling, 
 my own obligations to him, for all the co-opera- 
 tion and assistance which he invariably gave me in 
 the discharge of my duties. No officer excelled 
 him in this respect. 
 
 Moreover, my intercourse with the men of his 
 regiment I look back upon with much pleasure ; and, 
 excepting the Rifles, I know no regiment with which 
 I would sooner work, or from which I should expect 
 such a harvest of ministerial success as H. M.'s 9th 
 Lancers. I never lectured or oifered prayer in the 
 wards of their hospital, without observing the 
 most marked attention; and I seldom left the 
 hospital during the four months or more of my 
 connection with it, without many a repeated and 
 warmly expressed " thank you, sir," from many of 
 the men. I have reason to know, from the vo- 
 luntary confessions of the men themselves, that much 
 of this pleasing state of things arises from the religious 
 care bestowed on them and their families in the 
 barracks and hospitals of the regiment, by Colonel 
 Grant and his indefatigable, exemplary, and truly 
 Christian lady. 
 
1857.] THE CAVALET BBIGADE. 289 
 
 But now for a word respecting the service of the 
 Cavalry Brigade, which was neither small nor unim- 
 portant. According to instructions previously re- 
 ceived, the brigade, consisting of an advanced party 
 of 200 men of H. M.'s 9th Lancers, and a reserve 
 composed of detachments from the Guides Corps, 
 the 1st, 2nd, 5th Punjauh Cavalry, and Hodson's 
 Horse, making in all 610 sabres, exclusive of guns 
 from the 1st and 2nd troops of 1st Brigade of Horse 
 Artillery, took up a position near the site of No. 1 
 Siege Battery. 
 
 The day had not then dawned; but there this 
 force continued stationary, imtil further orders 
 transported them to another place, which was 
 directly opposite the walls of the city. Once on the 
 move, they kept advancing till they reached the 
 Moree Bastion, and at length arrived at the Cabul 
 Gate, which was within easy range of the enemy's 
 artillery from the Lahore Gate, and of their mus- 
 ketry fire from the houses and gardens of Kissen 
 Gunge. 
 
 The concentration of this double fire was making 
 impression on the Brigade ; and our guns, under the 
 able direction of Major Tombs, had to play sharply 
 on the enemy on our right flank. The practice of 
 our artillery was very efiective upon this occasion, 
 
 V 
 
290 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 and the enemy themselves acknowledged this hy 
 retiring to less warm quarters, and suffering us to 
 spike two of their 'guns. We, too, it seems, were 
 seeking a less exposed position; which the foe no 
 sooner discovered, than they took fresh heart, and 
 made a sally from the gardens which they occupied, 
 and seemed as if they had an inclination to bear 
 down upon us in the direction of the Cashmere 
 Gate. 
 
 This movement we could ill afford to suffer 
 them to make, and cost what it would to prevent, 
 we had no choice hut to incur the expenditure. 
 At this critical moment a small party of Infantry 
 Guides came up in support, and without a thought 
 of the comparative superiority of the enemy over 
 themselves in poiat of numbers, made direct for 
 the gardens where the enemy were lodged, and 
 took possession of a house there ; in this they were 
 completely surrounded, and but for the timely- 
 succour of Colonel Farquhar- with his Beloochees, 
 the distinguished bravery of the Guides would 
 never have saved them. Presently the fight 
 grew less fierce, and Colonel Grant's brigade 
 was enabled to avail themselves of a less exposed 
 situation. 
 
 Meanwhile every witness is most unanimous in 
 
1857.] THE 9th lancers. 291 
 
 the bestowal of unqualified praise on the conduct 
 of the officers and men of H. M.'s 9th Lancers. For 
 nearly three hours they were little better, than a 
 target for the enemy ; and as long as it was neces- 
 sary for the welfare of the public service- that they 
 should continue so, they never seemed to have 
 desired better fortune for themselves. Their com- 
 rades were falling thick and fast around them, and 
 their horses, from wounds, were frequently yielding 
 beneath them. Nevertheless, if marks they must be 
 for the enemy, their conduct plainly proved that 
 marks they would be; not only without murmur 
 or complaint, but with stout hearts and willing 
 minds. 
 
 Scarcely less exemplary was the conduct of the 
 Native Cavalry ; nor could it well be expected to be 
 otherwise, when the Native Cavalry could boast of 
 such officers to lead them as Hodson, Sandford, Pro- 
 byn, Watson, and Younghusband. Nor must I, in 
 Taj specification of names, forget the presence and the 
 services of Drysdale, French, Sarel, and Jones, all 
 of the 9th Lancers ; or of Captain Rosser, of the 6th 
 Carabineers, who was supposed at the time to have 
 been mortally wounded ; or of Hall of the 4th Irre- 
 gular Cavalry ; or of Bourchier and his battery, 
 which the Brigadier himself acknowledged to have 
 
 V 2 
 
292 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEHBEE, 
 
 enabled the brigade to hold its position. All these 
 men deserved well of their country. Though they 
 were without the walls, and took no share in the 
 direct storming operations, they played a part no 
 less arduous, important, and noble ; nor less dan- 
 geroiis. 
 
 It must not be supposed that I was an eye-witness 
 of the operations described above. I would have given 
 not a little if my duties had excused me from atten- 
 tion to matters more important; but they did not. 
 The doctors with the chaplains, from sunrise to sun- 
 set, passed their hours within the walls of the field 
 hospital, distant from the walls of the city about half 
 a mile. The house in which the hospital was held 
 was painted with ochre. It stood on the town side 
 (not the cantonment side) of the Racket-court, nearly 
 opposite to the Assembly-rooms, and a little above 
 the estate of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe. 
 
 Such a scene as that hospital presented all day 
 long I never witnessed in all my life before. By 
 this time, as may be supposed, I had grown tolerably 
 familiar with sights which, on first acquaintance, 
 harrow the feelings and chill the blood. But all that 
 I had seen antecedently to this, had failed to steel 
 my heart or deaden the sensibilities of my nature. 
 Soon after the assault commenced, the dhoolies. 
 
1857.] SCENE QUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL. 293 
 
 freighted with European and native wounded and 
 dead, kept hastening along the various avenues 
 from the city towards the hospital. No sooner 
 were one set of dhoolies emptied of their contents 
 and discharged for fresh patients, than the same 
 sad duty had to be repeated again and again, 
 moment after moment and hour after hour, in long 
 succession. 
 
 Many a purdah have I lifted, to see who was 
 within some particular dhoolie to which it was 
 attached, and as many a sorrowful and pain-giving 
 sight have I been constrained to witness, in conse- 
 quence of such curiosity; not by any means either 
 impertinent or intrusive, but altogether necessary 
 and equally kind. Now, for instance, I chanced to 
 light upon a dhoolie in which lay extended the stal 
 wart frame of some brave Anglo-Saxon motionless 
 in death. The vital spark had seemingly escaped 
 without observation of mortal eye, while the patient 
 had been hastened on in search of medical succour 
 and skill. Now again I introduced myself to another 
 heir of sorrow, breathing, indeed, but whose in- 
 juries were evidently jportal — a low pulse, a quick 
 heaving of the' chest, and a deep unearthly moan, 
 with eyes half open and unnaturally uplifted, pro- 
 claiming that death had irrevocably claimed him 
 
294 SIEGE OF DELPII. [SBPTEMBBE, 
 
 for his own. Others there unquestionably were of- 
 whom better hopes could be reasonably conceived; 
 whose wounds were fresh with the blood of life, 
 and whose pains in many cases were hard to 
 bear. 
 
 A small building, the walls of which were of mud 
 and the roof tiled, stood in one corner of the com- 
 pound: it served as a dead house; and there the 
 mortal remains of many a hero, disfigured with ugly 
 but honourable wounds, found shelter awhile, until 
 arrangements could be made to commit them to their 
 mother earth. All this is descriptive of that which 
 was without the walls, and in the immediate neigh- 
 bourhood, of the hospital. Now let us take a glance 
 at that which may be seen within. 
 
 Every apartment is crowded with charpoys (com- 
 mon native bedsteads), and every charpoy is occupied; 
 some have been not only twice, but a score of times, 
 even before the sun had reached the meridian. In- 
 deed the wounded were so many, that a little straw 
 strewn on the ground served many a brave Enghsh 
 and native soldier for a bed. We could not give 
 them more. 
 
 In the verandahs around the house, here and there, 
 were to be seen tables of wood roughly put together, 
 and lying prostrate thereon, with head slightly raised. 
 
1857.] SCENE INSIDE THE HOSPITAL. 295 
 
 now a wounded officer, and now a common soldier. 
 Around them were assemUed surgeons and apothe- 
 caries, all busily engaged in operating. Almost 
 every kind of amputation was performed : legs and 
 arms, and even fingers, bloodless and shrivelled, 
 no longer members of their respective bodies, 
 laid carelessly on the ground, were common sights of 
 horror. 
 
 It was within this building I, for the first time, 
 spoke to the greater and the lesser Nicholson 
 brothers; and it was here I renewed an old 
 acquaintance with the gallant Salkeld, whom some 
 few years ago I met at Meerut. 
 
 It was here also I read, seated beside Sergeant 
 Eichard McKeowin, of H. M.'3 52nd Light Infantry. 
 And never was my heart more stirred within me 
 than when I watched the last moments of this humble 
 disciple of the once crucified but now exalted 
 Redeemer. I had known the good man since' 1855, 
 when first his regiment came to Meerut: he was 
 then a corporal in the regiment. His countenance 
 was manly and handsome, and when lighted up with 
 that sweet smile which was peculiarly his own, a 
 more heavenly face I never saw. You could almost 
 tell thereby, that the peace of God, which passeth 
 all imderstanding, kept this man's heart and mind 
 
296 SDEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. McKeowin was a church- 
 man, possessing great largeness of heart. I love 
 Church of England piety, when it is real. There is 
 nothing like it for humility, docility, and love: at 
 least I never met with the like. 
 
 It appears he had beeii wounded in the advance 
 through the city, when his regiment was making 
 for the Jumma Musjid, but the exact spot in the 
 town where he fell I cannot say. I knew nothing 
 about it till Mr. Apothecary Tibbits, himself a 
 most excellent and superior many of his own regi- 
 ment, came to me and said, " You know Sergeant 
 McKeowin, sir ? " I replied affirmatively. " He is 
 just brought to hospital," said Mr. Tibbits, " mortally 
 wounded, and is calling for you." 
 
 I hurried to the dhoolie, and sure enough there 
 he was, with a countenance peaceful, but somewhat 
 sad. He extended his hand to me; I took it and 
 pressed it gently, and asked, " Sergeant, what ails 
 you ? " He answered slowly and faintly, " I shall 
 soon be with my dear Savioui'." When I said in 
 reply, " We can ill afford to spare you, sergeant: I 
 hope our prospect of losing you is not so sure as 
 you anticipate," all he answered was, " My pain, sir, 
 is intolerable. I desire to bear it in meek resig- 
 
1857.] LAST MOMENTS OF SEEGT. M'lCEOWIN. 297 
 
 nation to my heavenly Father's will. I hope I shall 
 not murmur and complain." I said no more for the 
 present, hut got him out of the dhoolie, and laid 
 him on some straw on the ground. What would I 
 not then have given to have been privileged to 
 oifer him the best bed in my possession. But I 
 could not. 
 
 I sat beside this dying saint and distinguished 
 soldier, and read verse by verse of the 23rd Psalm, 
 stopping -awhile to listen to his passing comments. 
 The teacher in his turn was now literally wilHng 
 to be taught. I never heard words which sank 
 deeper, or made more impression on myself. When 
 the psalm was ended, and the patient had done' 
 speaking, I ventured to say, "Sergeant, shall I 
 pray?" This question I repeated more than once, 
 as he seemed suddenly to be dull of hearing, and 
 his eyes had been some time closed. At length I 
 gained something approaching to an answer, but it 
 amounted only to " Sir ? " Then I first detected his 
 failing consciousness. During the interval of another 
 minute Sergeant McKeowin, to use his own dying 
 words, "was with his dear Saviour." Some time 
 after this I laid him in the grave; which, for the love 
 and respect that I bore him, I have marked with 
 a plain stone, and an equally simple inscription. It 
 
298 SIEGE OF DELHL [SEPTEMBEB, 
 
 was but little to do ; but I could do no more : had he 
 been living, and were it possible for him to recognise 
 the act and intention of a friend, I am sure, from 
 my intimate knowledge of his character, he would 
 have magnified this mole-hill into a mountain of 
 kindness. 
 
 One word more respecting the field hospitaL The 
 ecclesiastical staff present during this day was sadly 
 deficient in numbers : in fact, this was really the case 
 firom the beginning of military operations ; the neces- 
 sary consequence of which was, that while, perhaps, 
 every brave dying man had some consolation and 
 exhortation addressed to him, in his moments of 
 suffering, the majority could not receive anything 
 like the attention which the urgency of their cases 
 imperatively demanded. But for this the chap- 
 lains of the force were not to blame in the least ; 
 they strove very hard to supply the deficiency 
 occasioned by the want of numbers. One of them, 
 the Rev. F. W. Ellis, worked this day from sunrise 
 tUl he was overtaken by fever, which he had con- 
 tracted early in the commencement of his camp Hfe, 
 and which had been brought on by overwork and 
 constant exposure to miasmatic influence. On account 
 of this fever, he was urged by medical advisers, 
 again and again, to leave camp ; but he would not : 
 
1857.] THE EEV. r. "W. ELMS. 299 
 
 his labours were instant in season and out of 
 season. 
 
 From the commencement of his ilhiess, until the 
 close of his career before Delhi, he never gave him- 
 self time to rally or regain strength. How could 
 he? He was responsible, when sharing the hardships 
 of the army, for an amount of clerical duty which, 
 previously to the mutiny, had been divided among 
 no less than five chaplains. The whole of this, in an 
 accumulated form, was heaped without consideration, 
 possibly without help, upon one man. The result 
 has been that after two months' service with the 
 Delhi Field Force, that man has been driven home 
 in search of health. The Roman Catholic chaplain 
 who joined, with equally laudable intentions, and 
 about the same time as Mr. Ellis, whose name has 
 escaped my recollection, left camp also, disabled by 
 sickness. 
 
 Faint and weary with the toil of the previous day, 
 I was glad to retire when night had fully come, and 
 thus banish awhile the painful impressions which 
 had been made during the last twelve hours. About 
 midnight, my slumbers, which were profound and 
 promised also to be long, were suddenly broken by 
 my sirdar bearer, who came up to my bed-side and 
 said, "Sir, Colonel Thompson, the Commissary- 
 
300 SIEGB OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 General, has sent you a letter, wlaicli is immediate ; 
 some fifteen or twenty coolies, daily labourers, await 
 your instructions." The darkness abroad was very 
 dense. The note I found to contain a request, 
 which I complied with, to repair at once to the 
 burial-ground, and select one large spot as a last 
 resting-place for those, who, while bravely en- 
 gaged in the actual operations of the storm, had 
 been overtaken with the deep and unbroken sleep 
 of death. 
 
 To make this selection was very difficult, inasmuch 
 as the graveyard was, at this date, thickly studded 
 with graves. Fortunately, there was one spot, as broad 
 as it was long, yet left unoccupied, near the entrance 
 of the camp cemetery. I availed myself of it with 
 melancholy satisfaction, because I felt there was no 
 longer the existence of a stern necessity (which I 
 had feared on my way thither) of separating friend 
 from friend in death, who in life had been animated 
 with a common hope, and had proposed to themselves 
 a common object; in the prosecution of which some 
 had been compelled to lay down their arms before 
 others, and all at various periods during our 
 encampment before Delhi. 
 
 Early on the morning of Tuesday, the 15th of 
 September, soon after the clocks had told four, I 
 
1857.] BURIAL OF THE SLAIN. 301 
 
 proceeded again to the burial-ground, where I found 
 all the fallen brave awaiting me ; and there, also, I 
 must have been detained two full hours and more, 
 employed in the mournful work of supervising the 
 burial. My thoughts, all this while, may be easier 
 imagined than described. Among the multitude 
 and sadness of my musings I could not but realise 
 my own personal obligations, and the national debt 
 of gratitude due to these departed men, for all 
 their self-sacrifice and noble devotion in the cause of 
 England's martyred innocents. Now again I thoughf 
 of war's cruel severance of ties, and of the hearts at 
 a distance, which must be presently broken thereby. 
 And now also I found difficulty in silencing my 
 inclination to intrude into places and things unseen, 
 and in restraining the vain attempt to solve a 
 question, with direct application to the dead lying 
 before me, asking " Where are they?" Such were 
 some of my mental occupations, as long as my 
 presence was required within the cemetery. But 
 seeing that our losses from wounds were necessarily 
 severer than those from death, it was indeed a relief 
 to me, as soon as I well could, to exchange the 
 graveyard, first for my tent-house, and afterwards 
 for the wards of the several hospitals of my own 
 charge. 
 
302 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 As the day wore on, I instituted inqniries respect- 
 ing our progress within the walls, and found we were 
 just where we were the previous day ; holding the 
 line from the Delhi College to the Oahul Gate : the 
 magazine, which was close to the college, was still in 
 the possession of the enemy. The heavy guns and 
 mortars had been brought in sometime during the 
 14th, or early on the morning of the 15th, and a 
 battery erected within the college compound, with 
 the design of breaching the magazine ; the walls of 
 which, towards evening, exhibited symptoms of 
 destruction. 
 
 Mortars also were placed in position, so as to shell 
 the Palace. But all that day we added nothing to 
 our possessions : the enemy were still occupants of 
 Kissen Gunge. Our camp remained almost as 
 defenceless as on the day of the storm ; for not a 
 single infantry soldier could be spared from the city 
 to protect it.' But the hands of its original defenders, 
 consisting chiefly of the convalescent patients of 
 hospitals, were strengthened by the return of some 
 of the cavalry and light field-pieces of the Horse 
 Artillery. 
 
 Under the circumstances, our position was still very 
 critical. The camp might have been threatened or 
 invaded at any moment from the rear, by the enemy 
 
1857.] POSITION OF THE BBITISH. 303 
 
 in Kissen Gunge working round in that direction, 
 WitHn the city the most vigorous resistance was 
 continuing, without any prospect of early ahatement 
 Moreover, the rehels had thrown a tempting bait in 
 the way of our men, to induce them to indulge in 
 the national sin of drunkenness : they made the 
 most liberal display of beer and wines, which the 
 soldiery, European and native, might drink to 
 satiety, simply for the trouble of putting forth the 
 hand and taking it. 
 
 The bait unhappily took, and our operations were 
 considerably hampered thereby; though the infatua- 
 tion of the foe was so great, that he availed himself 
 only partially of the advantage which presented 
 itself to him, when the English army was drowned 
 in pleasure. With all my love for the army, I must 
 confess, the conduct of professed Christians on this 
 occasion was one of the most humiliating facts 
 connected with the siege. How the enemy must 
 have gloried at that moment in our shame! 
 
 All these things created anxiety in the Major- 
 General's mind. He even doubted his ability to 
 succeed, with his present amount of military strength, 
 and talked of withdrawing from the walls of Delhi 
 to the camp again, until he should be reinforced. 
 He was, however, most providentially overruled, by 
 
304 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 the advice of men whose responsibilities and cares 
 being less than his own, their hopes also of even- 
 tual success, notwithstanding untoward experiences 
 to the contrary, were stronger. 
 
 The wisdom of the advice which was given to 
 Major-General Wilson in his moments of perplexity, 
 and his own good sense in acting iipon it, were facts 
 which soon became more and more apparent. The 
 army was quickly restored to a sense of duty : the 
 chief shepherd, in joint co-operation with his sub- 
 ordinate shepherds, found little difficulty in restrain- 
 ing the further wandering of his stray sheep. It 
 was the strength of temptation, in an unguarded 
 moment, which had misled them so seriously. And 
 the recurrence of similar evils was effectually pre- 
 vented by the destruction of all the wine and beer 
 found in the merchants' godowns of the city of 
 Delhi. 
 
 This was a sweeping measure, rendered impera- 
 tively necessary by the circumstances of place, 
 people, and times. That beer and wine might have 
 been more precious than aught else in the world 
 beside, so far as the sick were concerned, cannot be 
 denied; but nevertheless, the greatest credit is due 
 to General Wilson for such unsparing expenditure of 
 what, putting the infirmities of the sick altogether 
 
1857.] BEER AND WINE DESTROYED, 305 
 
 out of the question, would have proved a source 
 of considerable wealth, and tended materially to 
 swell the amount of prize to be distributed to the 
 army. 
 
 I am afraid to say, so extravagant were the 
 figures named,, what numeration would adequately 
 represent the value, in Company's rupees or pounds 
 sterling, of the liquor doomed to destruction : the 
 figures would have been tinquestionably very for- 
 midable. But wealth was rightly regarded, in 
 this case, as nothing in comparison to victory; 
 and the enrichment of the whole and the comfort 
 of the sick of this particular" army, a subject hot 
 to be named in the same day and hour, with the 
 honour and weal of England in Hindustan. 
 
 But if any proof is required of the wisdom which 
 distinguished the advice of those who surrounded 
 and had influence with General Wilson, it may be 
 readily foimd in the progress which attended the 
 operations of, the British within Delhi on the 16th of 
 September. The magazine, with 232 guns, was 
 stormed and taken by the 61st Foot, the 4th Punjaub 
 Rifles, and the Belooch Battalion ; our loss in this 
 matter being trifling. 
 
 I had forgotten to mention that a single- gun of 
 the enemy's had given Colonel John Jones, of the 
 
 X 
 
306 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 Royal Rifles, to whom tlie conunand of the advance 
 posts had been entrusted by General Wilson, not 
 a little trouble during the previous day. He had 
 lost some men in an attempt to take this gun, 
 within twenty-four hours after storming the ram- 
 parts of the city. On the 16th, however, he 
 managed to place small mortars on the top of the 
 house occupied by his own regiment, by means of 
 which he threw shell at this troublesome piece of 
 ordnance. The measure partially succeeded; and 
 the gun had to retire. The Rifles were thus 
 enabled to advance for a time to the top of the 
 street in which is situated the house of the Skinner 
 family — descendants of Colonel James Skinner, the 
 great Commandant of Irregular Cavalry in days 
 bygone. Subsequently, however, it was deemed 
 abvisable to fall back for that night on the old 
 quarters of the corps. 
 
 Moreover, the enemy themselves deserted the 
 suburb of Kissen Gunge. This was an important 
 event, which, coupled with the capture of the 
 magazine, and both occurring on the same date, 
 was very encoui-aging to officers and men. 
 Kissen Gunge was no sooner evacuated by the 
 mutineers, than we invested it with a detach- 
 ment of troops from Hindoo Rao's house, when 
 
1857.] INCREASING SUCCESSES. 307 
 
 we discovered that five gnna had been left behind 
 by the rebels. 
 
 Further advances were made during the 17th of 
 September, by the troops placed under the able and 
 judicious command of Colonel John Jones, of H, M.'s 
 60th Royal Rifles ; to whom the greatest obligations 
 are due for his management of operations: within 
 walls since the 15th. 
 
 The mischievous gun to which I have already 
 alluded as causing so much annoyance, met with 
 a repulse so ccimplete that we. assumed a position 
 considerably in advance of what we held before. 
 The Delhi Bank-house, looking on the Chandee 
 Chouk, a perfect ruin standing in a large garden 
 full of trees, and therefore full of cover for men 
 with small arms, fell into our hands, and we held it 
 from that day. One or two other houses were also 
 taken, but on account of being commanded by certain 
 hostile guns from the opposite side of the street, our 
 tenure of them had to be relinquished for a time. 
 
 We succeeded in getting mortars into the Bank- 
 house, by means of which we kept up a bombardment 
 directed against the Palace. During the operations 
 of the day we incurred the loss of that brave and 
 energetic ofScer, who had taken the Water Bastion. 
 I refer to Ensign Phillips, formerly of the 11th 
 
 X 2 
 
308 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTBMBEK, 
 
 Bengal Native Infantry, who was transferred by the 
 Horse Guards (at the joint request of Colonel Jones 
 and himself, and with the hearty goodwill of the 
 whole regiment,) to the 1st Battalion of the 60th 
 Rifles, from the day after the death of Ensign 
 Napier. 
 
 During the afternoon he was busily engaged in 
 front of the enemy's guns, superintending the erection 
 of breastworks, and while thus employed, he was 
 marked out and slain by the rebels. His death was 
 almost instantaneous, and elicited many an unfeigned 
 expression of deep sorrow from his brother oiEcers 
 and the soldiers of the regiment. I was present at 
 his burial, which took place at sunset of the same 
 day as his death; Father Bertrand, the Roman 
 Catholic priest, for the first and the last time since 
 the commencement of operations, officiating at a 
 commissioned officer's funeral; this being only the 
 second Roman Catholic officer lost to the force. 
 
 The 18th of September found us rejoicing over 
 the double fact that an uninterrupted communication 
 now existed between our right and left divisions, and 
 that our rear was free from annoyance by the enemy 
 and the ground absolutely our own. Moreover, the 
 mortars were unceasingly throwing shell into the 
 palace, and at a comparatively close range. 
 
■1857.] DEATHS OF OFFICEES. 30§ 
 
 But untroken success was not by any means, the 
 distinctive feature of the day. The Lahore Gate 
 and Burun Bastion were more than a match for our 
 strength. Our first repulse in that quarter dates 
 from the 14th; our second took plate on the ISth, 
 and was attended with some painful losses. The 
 75th Foot, one of the most imfortunate regiments, so 
 far as the deaths and wounds of officers are con- 
 cerned, lost in this attempt Lieutenant Briscoe, the 
 very last officer killed in Delhi. 
 
 The mention of Lieutenant Briscoe's death, 
 reminds me that I have omitted the names of no 
 less than six gallant officers, one of whom was 
 killed, and the remaining five died subsequently of 
 wounds received at the storming of Delhi. Lieutenant 
 FitzGerald, of H. M.'s 75th, fell nobly while engaged 
 in the act of carrying the breach of the Cashmere 
 Bastion ; Major Jacob, of the 1st European Bengal 
 Fusiliers — an officer whose name and whose deeds 
 will live long in the memory of his distinguished 
 corps, and poor young Davidson of the 26th Bengal 
 Native Infantry, both died on the 14th September ; 
 Lieutenant Webb, of H.M.'s 8th Foot, and Lieutenant 
 Homfray of the 17th Bengal Native Infantry, died 
 on the 15th and 16th of September respectively; 
 Lieutenant Pogson, also of H.M.'s 8th, died on the 
 
310 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 17tli September, and Lieutenant Speke of the 65th 
 Bengal Native Infantry, on the 18th. 
 
 With these omissions now supplied, I know not a 
 single officer whose death, since my coimection with 
 the army, I haf e not regularly noted in these pages, 
 and in proper order of dates ; with the single addi- 
 tional exception of Captain J. W. Delamain, of 56th 
 Bengal Native Infantry, who feU at Badlee Ka Serai 
 on the 8th of June : he was twice buried, once on 
 the spot where he fell, whence his body was elshumed 
 by a relative, six weeks afterwards, and brought into 
 camp, and recommitted to the earth at midnight by 
 me, in the presence and at the request of the relative 
 in question. Dr. J. H. Ker Innes and Captain Sir 
 Edward Campbell, Bart., were present on the 
 occasion. 
 
 The night which preceded Saturday, September 
 19th, was accompanied by a heavy fall of rain. 
 A furious storm agitated the elements : there was 
 strife among them, as well as contention, sharp 
 and implacable, between the sons of men. The 
 effect of the change in the weather, the direct con- 
 sequence of the stormy wind and tempest, was hailed 
 with great thankfulness and joy. The temperature 
 was lowered by many degrees, and the signs of 
 approaching cold weather, towards which we were 
 
1857.] BRIGHTENING PKOSPECTS. 311 
 
 all looking with such anxious anticipation, now he- 
 came unmistakeable. 
 
 Every day hrought with It more and more opening 
 prospects. Nevertheless the mutineers still claimed 
 with us shares in imperial Delhi; a subject about 
 which we were continuing to dispute with them 
 somewhat unceremoniously. Providence seemingly 
 was inclining towards us in the decision between 
 the contending parties. 
 
 We took possession of two houses known as 
 Major Abbott's and Khan Mahomed's, on the right 
 side of the road, just below the palace. These 
 we held in spite of the enemy, and they gave us 
 complete command of the guns at the palace gate. 
 Colonel Jones, of the Rifles, now threw up breast- 
 works across the road, and his operations were very 
 nearly brought to a successful and glorious determi- 
 nation. Two guns and four mortars were stiU keep- 
 ing up a continuous fire against the palace, and our 
 Mlni^ rifles were busily employed by marksmen 
 whose experience and skill in the use of them kept 
 increasing day by day. 
 
 The riflemen were to be seen very cosily perched 
 on the tops of houses, which their own valour had 
 wrested from the mutineers ; and from their .exalted 
 position every now and then you heard a report one 
 
312 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTKMBEB, 
 
 moment, and the next you saw the effect of the shot 
 on the person of some rebel. 
 
 But the operations were not exclusively, though 
 mainly, confined to the men of Colonel Jones's ad- 
 vanced posts. The troops to the right of this force, 
 and in the direction of the Cahul Gate, sallied forth 
 from thence and surprised and captured 'the "Burun 
 Bastion." This was a very important acquisition. 
 We now only wanted, on this side of the town, the 
 Lahore ' Gate, and on the opposite side, the palace 
 and Selim Ghur, and all would be ours. The enemy 
 were evidently fast retreating ; and the possession of 
 the Lahore Gate and its neighbouring bastions enabled 
 them to cover their retreat. 
 
 Is it not true how closely the sorrows and the 
 joys of life are blended together? This is an expe- 
 rience early gained by every inheritor of frail 
 humanity. The successes of the day made many a 
 heart bound with joy ; but there were, notwithstand- 
 ing, some (and these some brethren, according to the 
 flesh,) who were present with the force, and whose 
 faces unmistakeably betokened unmitigated grief. 
 Cholera was yet clinging to the camp. Soon after 
 early morn it selected for a victim one of the rud- 
 diest and most robust of men. Even a long Indian 
 residence had not managed to steal from him those 
 
1857.] DEATH OF HERVEY H. GEEATHEAD. 313 
 
 rosy tints, the sight of which in any profusion 
 naturally carry back the thoughts to those sea-girt 
 shores, which Britons, during their expatriation to 
 this land of continuous sunshine, know by the name 
 of "home." 
 
 The agent to the Hon. the Lieutenant-Governor 
 of the North-Western Provinces most unexpectedly 
 sickened of this intractable disease, and before mid- 
 night Hervey Harris Greathed, of the Bengal Civil 
 'Service, a remarkably healthy man, ceased to breathe. 
 The event took us all by surprise, and occasioned 
 very much sorrow. The force sustained in him a 
 very severe loss. Indoctrinated with the principles of 
 the school of his own particular class in the public 
 service he had strong sympathies with the army. 
 Without being a man of shining talents, he pos- 
 sessed strong good sense, and considerable tact ; and 
 his name and his memory yet live in the army, and 
 will continue to do so. 
 
 X The loss of Mr. Greathed, on the 19th of Sep- 
 tember, was not the only one sustained by us during 
 that day. A very gallant and most promising young 
 officei', Gambier by name, adjutant of the 38th Ben- 
 gal Light Lifantry which mutinied at Delhi, pre- 
 ceded the agent of the Lieutenant-Governor of the 
 North- West Provinces only by a very few hours. 
 
314 SIEGE OE DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 into the world of spirits. He died of Ms wounds, 
 and was among the very last of those buried in the 
 Cantonment burial-ground. Mr. Greathed was the 
 first who found a resting-place ia Ludlow Castle 
 graveyard; which, with its undulating grounds, its 
 hiUocks, and small valleys lying just beneath, its 
 ecclesiastical headstones and foot-stones (the designs 
 of many of which are among those most approved 
 of by the Cambridge Camden Society, in whose 
 welfare the late chaplain of Delhi took the live- 
 liest interest,) is, without exception, the prettiest of 
 cemeteries which it has ever been my good&rtune 
 to see in India. A church or chapel, like those you 
 meet with in England, the weeping wiUow, the 
 cypress, or the yew, are the only things which it 
 wants to give it the completeness and perfection of 
 some of those country churchyards, amid the monu- 
 mental stones of which I loved to wander in boy- 
 hood, reading the inscriptions as I went along. The 
 recollections of those days, so susceptible of holy 
 impressions, invariably bring with them something 
 of pleasure, and also something of pain; perhaps 
 more of the latter than of the former. 
 
 The 20th of September was the last of the Sun- 
 days in camp. I had promised the Artillery a 
 service in the College of Delhi, and was as good as 
 
1857.] CAPTUEB OF THE JTBOIA. MUSJID, 315 
 
 my word. Before, however, I could discharge this 
 duty, I learnt that the Lahore Gate had at length 
 fallen into the hands of the army. A camp skirting 
 the " Delhi Gate," as it is called by the way of dis- 
 tinction, had also been discoyered by our cavalry to 
 have been abandoned by the rebels. Lieut. Hodson 
 was not long in securing possession of it; ridding 
 himself first of some of the enemy's deserted hospital 
 patients. The flight of the -occupants of this camp 
 had been evidently very precipitate; for they had 
 not even given themselves time to relieve it of 
 a great deal which we call, in language of war, 
 booty. 
 
 The next thing we heard of was the posses- 
 sion of the Mahomedan temple dedicated in honour 
 of the false prophet, the place of worship of those 
 who believe and trust in him for salvation. The 
 Jumma Musjid, which resisted an assault on the 
 memorable 14th of September,' and from which 
 we had to retire, now fell an easy prey before 
 our victorious arms. Colonel Jones, with his party, 
 had taken the last of the houses which occupied a 
 site directly facing the Imperial Palace. 
 
 This capture was followed, first by that of the 
 enemy's guns guarding the road leading to the 
 royal dwelling-place; and very soon after, recon- 
 
316 SIEGE OE DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 noitring througli a small opening of the gate of 
 tlie Palace, and sending for reinforcements, the 
 Engineers, by the help of their powder bags, made 
 an opening. A rush immediately, succeeded, but 
 there was no opposition offered. The Palace was 
 well nigh deserted : the few men found within were 
 indiscriminately slain ; and from the durbar throne 
 of the renowned, treacherous, and blood-stained 
 house of Timour, Colonel Jones (his good services 
 fully entitling him to assume that honourable posi- 
 tion) was the first to propose and drink Her Most 
 Gracious Majesty's health ; after which, rounds of 
 cheers in rapid succession, both loud and long, rent 
 the air. 
 
 When Colonel Jones wrote to Major-General Wil- 
 son, announcing the capture of the Palace in his own 
 matter-of-fact style, in these few and simple words, 
 "Blown open the gate and got possession of the 
 Palace," the General replied in terms most compli- 
 mentary to the Commandant of the Eoyal Rifles, and 
 in recognition of this important and valuable service 
 appointed him forthwith " Commandant of the 
 Palace:" an office -which, while it involved much 
 responsibility and not a little labour, proved in the 
 end only honorary. 
 
 Just before the creation of this appointment. 
 
1857."] DEPAETUEE OF THE EIFLES. 317; 
 
 and immediately upon getting a firm footing in 
 the city, and establishing his own quarters there, 
 the General, to the great satisfaction of every 
 body, distinguished the Rifles and the Sirmoor 
 Battalion by giving to each of these regiments the 
 exclusive right and privilege of finding his own body 
 guard. This he did because of their pre-eminent 
 gallantry throughout the operations, and in honour- 
 able recognition of their distinguished and most 
 valuable, services. 
 
 An uninterrupted course of success and glory, 
 unsullied by a single spot, had attended the Rifles,, 
 from the moment it left Meerut to its return to 
 quarters in its old and favourite cantonment; au 
 event which only occurred as late as the 1st of 
 February, 1858. It marched out on the morning of 
 that day, before the stm had risen ; and as the men- 
 passed out of the Palace, the little Gorkhas of the 
 Sirmoor Battalion (with whom they had been bri- 
 gaded under the distinguished Major Reid, supported 
 by the presence of his European and native commis- 
 sioned officers,) lined either side of the way, presented 
 arms, and cheered till they grew hoarse. This was 
 a spontaneous tribute of respect on the part of a 
 single and a native regiment. But as the Rifles 
 advanced to the gateway leading out of the Palace, 
 
318- SIEGE 01" DELHI, [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 H. M,'s 61st and tte 2nd Bengal Fusiliers (the 
 only European remnants in Delhi of the Delhi 
 field force, excepting the Artillery,) met them with 
 fresh manifestations of parting pleasure, and vied 
 with each other in trying which should do them 
 most honour; now the band of this regiment, and 
 now the band of that, playing them out of the city, 
 even beyond the Bridge of Boats across the river 
 Jumna. 
 
 At length the 21st of September dawned upon us. 
 A royal salute at sunrise proclaimed that Delhi was 
 once more a dependency of the British Crown. The 
 head-quarters of General Wilson were established in 
 the Dewan Khas of the Palace. During the day 
 Captain Hodson went out, accompanied by a native, 
 who knew the royal family, and took the person of 
 his Imperial Majesty, Shah Bahadoor Shah, some- 
 where near the Khootub, and brought him in a pri- 
 soner to the Palace. 
 
 On the following day Captain Hodson again went 
 forth ill search of the royal family, and his mission 
 was attended with success. The two sons, Mirza 
 Moghul, Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, 
 Mirza Kheyo Sultan, with the grandson, the son of 
 the Mirza Moghul, by name Mirza Aboo Bukker, 
 were all taken on the 22nd. They suffered death 
 
1857.J DEATH OF BEIG. GEN. NICHOLSON. 319 
 
 by the hand of Captain Hodson himself, on the spot 
 near which they had been taken. All three had 
 been known to be deeply Implicated in the mutiny 
 and bloodshed of the English. And at the Kotwalla, 
 where our men, women, and children had been igno- 
 miniously and cruelly slain, the bodies of the Shah- 
 zadas, or Princes, lay exposed,, as spectacles of 
 righteous indignation and scorn. 
 
 The slight hopes of recovery which the- doctors 
 gave, after a very careful examination of the wound 
 of Brigadier-General Nicholson, completely failed us. 
 On the morning of the 23rd of September this great 
 and valiant man expired, in the 35th year of his 
 age, to the inexpressible regret of the whole force. 
 I remember well the day of his death, and the 
 impression which it made. In him we all felt we 
 had lost a tower of strength. None that ever saw 
 him, and that but once in life, could question appear- 
 ances, which in him were not deceptive but real ; or 
 deny that those appearances irresistibly conveyed to 
 the mind a conviction, which nothing afterwards 
 could disturb, viz., " This man was made for com- 
 mand." It was evident enough that, by the con- 
 stitution of nature, as well as from the adventitious 
 circumstance of his having assumed, with no com- 
 mon devotion, the profession of arms, Nicholson was 
 
320 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEB, 
 
 essentially a soldier, and a soldier not unworthy of 
 comparison with the greatest military captains of 
 bygone days. Some say also he was a diplomatist 
 of the first class., Yery likely; but without deter- 
 mining this point, manifestly he was the man, above 
 and beyond, every other man in the ranks of the 
 army north of Cawnpore : certainly, his superior 
 could not be found in the army. However much 
 those senior to him may envy his greatness — for 
 envy is a weakness common to us all — or complain 
 of his exaltation over them by what may seem the 
 exercise of a despotic authority, it was impossible 
 for any one to say with truth that Nicholson's was 
 not genuine greatness. With him greatness did not 
 consist in a name merely gained — as many names 
 are — by doing little or next to nothing. No; the 
 sterling qualities of a soldier were the qualities of 
 Nicholson: the more his difficulties multiplied, the 
 brighter his gifts and his graces shone. 
 
 Soon after sunrise of the morning of the 24th 
 of September, the painful duty of consigning the 
 mortal remains of this great soldier to the tomb 
 devolved upon me. It was a solemn service, and 
 perhaps the simplicity which characterised the 
 arrangements of the funeral, added considerably to 
 the solemnity of the occasion ; particularly when you 
 
1857.] BUEIAL OF GESr. NICHOLSON. 321 
 
 realised and contrasted with this simplicity the ac- 
 knowledged greatness of the deceased. 
 
 The funeral cortege was comparatively small ; very 
 few beside personal friends composed the mournful 
 train. Most prominent, and most distinguished of all 
 those who best loved and best valued Nicholson, was 
 Chamberlain. He had soothed the dying moments 
 of the departed hero, and having ministered to his 
 comforts while living, now that he was dead and 
 concealed from his sight, he stood as long as he well 
 could beside the coffin as chief mourner. The corpse 
 was brought from the General's own tent, on a gun- 
 carriage ; whether covered with a pall or otherwise I 
 cannot say. But no roar of cannon announced the 
 departure of the procession from camp; no voUeys 
 of musketry disturbed the silence which prevailed at 
 his grave ; no martial music was heard. Thus, 
 without pomp or show, we buried him. He was 
 the second of those "" commanders who, since the 
 capture of^ Delhi, was laid beneath the sods of 
 Ludlow Castle graveyard. And over his remains, 
 subsequently to this date, sincere friendship has 
 erected a durable memorial, consisting of a large 
 slab of marble, taken fi;om the King's Garden at- 
 tached to the imperial palace. Few and simple are 
 the words inscribed thereon, but all-sufficient, never- 
 
 T 
 
322 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEK, 
 
 thelessj to perpetuate the indissoluble connection of 
 Nicholson with Delhi. 
 
 While, however, we were mournfully engaged in 
 the funeral solemnities of Nicholson, preparations 
 were making to despatch a column, under Lieute- 
 nant-Colonel Greathed, in pursuit of the rebels. The 
 column left on the 24th of September, and con- 
 sisted of 1st Troop 1st Brigade H. A., 2nd Troop 3rd 
 Brigade H. A., 17th Light Field Battery, the 9th 
 Lancers, 1st, 2nd, and 5th Punjaub Cavalry, 200 
 of Hodson's Horse, two Companies of Punjaub Sap- 
 pers and Miners, H. M.'s 8th and 75th Eegiments, 
 and the 2nd and 4th Punjaub Infantry. But, seeing 
 I was left behind, I must leave to some other 
 person more competent than myself to record the 
 history of this column. 
 
 Besides Nicholson, we also buried on that day a 
 young officer named Cairnes, of the 1st European 
 Bengal Fusiliers, who died of cholera. 
 
 The camp showed, on the 25th of September, 
 evidences of steady and gradual diminution. Now 
 one corps and now another was to be seen striking 
 their tents, and removing them to positions proxi- 
 mate to, and even within, "Delhi. The cavalry were 
 Ihe last to desert the old post. 
 
 On sanitary grounds alone a removal was neces- 
 
1857.] THANKSGIVING SEEVIGE. 323 
 
 sary. The putrefying carcases of dead camels and 
 bullocks •were lying on eyery side of us, and there 
 had been no means of removing them to a distance 
 since the army had entered the city. A continuance 
 of this evil a few days longer, and the consequences 
 on the health of the troops might have been very 
 serious. 
 
 The 26th day of September was a Saturday, and 
 I was busily engaged all day long in my tent, pre- 
 paring for Sunday, A day or two previously I had 
 received a note from General Wilson, suggesting 
 that our successes should be celebrated on Sun- 
 day, September 27th, in a public manner, by a 
 general thanksgiving. This suggestion gave me 
 great pleasure, and says much for the piety of 
 General Wilson; than whom, from all I have ever 
 heard, no man saw more clearly the hand of God 
 in the means that enabled him and his force to 
 defeat the insurgents, and possess himself of the 
 stronghold of the mutiny. 
 
 My colleague arranged with me some sKght altera- 
 tions, necessary in the ordinary morning service; 
 which, as simple ministers without episcopal func- 
 tions, we did not wish to alter more than was 
 essential. The venerable bishop could not be con- 
 sulted, or we should have done so without fail. 
 
 T 2 
 
324 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 The alterations we agreed to were the following : — 
 Sentences before exhortation, Daniel ix, 9, 10 ; 
 Lamentations, iii. 22. 
 
 Instead of the psalms for the day we took the 
 psalm, or hymn of praise and thanksgiving after 
 victory ; to be found quite towards the end of the 
 forms of prayers to be used at sea. 
 
 Instead of the usual lessons for the day, and as 
 the troops had to stand, we selected for the 1st 
 lesson, Isaiah xii., and for the 2nd, Luke xvii., 
 from verse 11 to 19 inclusive; and for the collect 
 for the day we substituted the last collect in the 
 forms of prayer to be used at sea. 
 
 Immediately before the General Thanksgiving, 
 we read the particular " Thanksgiving for peace 
 and deliverance from our enemies." In the General 
 Thanksgiving we inserted, in the proper place 
 there denoted, the following words, "Particularly 
 to us who desire now to offer up our praises and 
 thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto 
 us, in our wonderful preservation, as well from the 
 exposure to weather during the recent season of 
 the year, as for the regulation of that season in such 
 extraordinary manner as to favour thy servants 
 composing the army, which stood for so many months 
 before the walls of Delhi ; likewise, for restraining 
 
1857.] SOLEMN THANKSGIVING. 325 
 
 tlie further spread of disease within the camp ; also, 
 for every triumph upon every occasion, and in every 
 engagement against the mutineers since we took the 
 field; but especially for the signal success which, 
 in the gracious arrangements of Divine Providence, 
 attended the latest operations of the army, and 
 eventually led to our occupation of the fort and 
 city of Delhi, the stronghold of the mutiny." In 
 every other respect the Rubrics and Calendars 
 were religiously observed. 
 
 Accordingly, as early as 7 in the morning of 
 Sunday the 27th, the troops which could be spared 
 and were off duty, assembled within the " Dewan 
 Khas," the council chamber of the ex-King ; in 
 obedience to Field Force Orders given over night. 
 The building was tolerably crowded. Almost every 
 corps had some one present to represent it; even 
 those corps who had left Delhi as part of the 
 moveable column; of those remaining within the 
 city there were very many. 
 
 Perhaps, it would hardly be possible to conceive 
 anything more impressive than this assembly — a 
 small but victorious force, assembled within the 
 Imperial Palace of the ancient Moslem capital of 
 Hindustan, lining the four sides of that marble hall 
 wherein the King and his advisers had not long 
 
326 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 before been convened, plotting and determining 
 evil against the British cause. And now that the 
 councils of evil men had been brought to naught, and 
 every foul purpose of theirs completely frustrated, 
 the triumphant army — the means which God had 
 been pleased to employ in order to bring about these 
 gracious ends — stood devoutly in the Divine presence, 
 (for where is not God?) ascribing unto Him praise, 
 and saying glory and honour, power and dominion 
 are thine. Never before did I realise so fully and so 
 vividly, the character of some of those assemblies of 
 Israel occasionally spoken of in the Old Testament : 
 as, for instance, when Israel commemorated the 
 nation's deliverance out of Egypt, and their safe 
 passage through the Red Sea. 
 
 My excellent colleague, the Rev. F. W. Ellis, 
 who had endeared himself to me by many an act of 
 kindness since our first acquaintance and connection 
 together in camp, read morning prayer, and I 
 preached from those striking and instructive words, 
 written in the 12th verse of the 116th Psalm — 
 " What shall I render unto the Lord, for all the 
 benefits which he has done unto me?" We should 
 have liked to have celebrated the Holy Communion 
 when the sermon had ended, but the recent harass 
 of the troops denied us this privilege. 
 
1857.] GAEEISON OF DELHI. 327 
 
 On the evening of the following day, Monday the 
 28th of September, with permission of General 
 Wilson, I started for Meerut, on a week's leave, 
 to see my wife and children, after an absence of 
 four as critical months as any ever passed by the 
 English ia India. 
 
 And now my story is ended; though my connection 
 with the " Delhi Field Force," as a field force, did 
 not cease until the 15th January, 1858, when, by a 
 resolution of the Commander-in-Chief, it changed its 
 name, and assumed the humbler style and desig- 
 nation of a garrison. Of this garrison I continue as 
 yet chaplain, unable to return to my station and 
 congregation at Meerut, because I continue un- 
 relieved. 
 
 My continuance in Delhi, however, has not been 
 without its advantages. I have been able to pick 
 up much by the way, which, if absent from the 
 present scene, I should otherwise have probably lost. 
 Thus have I gained many an opinion, expressed 
 incidentally — but, for all that, not necessarily with- 
 out thought or experience ux the speaker, to give it 
 a certain weight ; and such opinions I have ventured 
 to embody in my work. 
 
 I remember well the publication of the Govern- 
 ment despatches concerning the defence made by the 
 
328 SIEGE OE DELHI. [SEPTEMEER, 
 
 garrison of Lucknow, during a protracted and 
 harassing siege of nearly three months' duration. 
 Keither can I forget the effect produced on the 
 pubUc mind in India, after a perusal of the simple 
 narrative of facts given by Brigadier Inglis, in a 
 style most touching, and yet withal free from any- 
 thing like a spirit of ostentation and display. 
 Throughout the whole of this officer's despatch, 
 — which, without question, is the very best written 
 paper among all the records of the Indian Govern- 
 ment concerning the recent operations of troops in 
 that country — a vein of quiet and sound piety of the 
 old English school pervades, which gives the story 
 an unspeakable charm in the estimation of the 
 Christian reader, whether a civilian or a military 
 man. Not a soul can doubt the justice of the 
 Governor-General's remarks, in Order No. 1543 of 
 1857, when, alluding to this despatch, and the 
 account which it contains of the defence of Lucknow, 
 he says : — 
 
 '' There does not stand recorded in the annals 
 of war an achievement more truly heroic than the 
 defence of the Residency at Lucknow, described 
 in the narrative which follows. 
 
 " That defence has not only called forth all the 
 energy and daring which belong to Englishmen in 
 
1857.J BRIG. INGLIS'S LUCKNOW DESPATCH. 329 
 
 the hour of active conflict, hut it has exhibited 
 eontinuously-j and in the highest degree, that noble 
 and sustained courage, which against enormous odds 
 and fearful disadvantages, against hope deferred, 
 and through unceasing toil and wear of hody and 
 mind, still holds on day after day, and triumphs. 
 
 " The heavy guns of the assailants, posted, almost 
 in security, within fifty yards of the entrenchments — 
 so near indeed that the solicitations, and threats, and 
 taunts, which the rebels addressed to the native 
 defenders of the garrison were easily heard by those 
 true-hearted men ; the fire of the enemy's musketry, 
 so searching that it penetrated the innermost retreat 
 of the women and children, and of the wounded; 
 their desperate attempts, repeatedly made, to force 
 an entry after blowing in the defences ; the perpetual 
 mining of the works ; the weary night-watching for 
 the expected signal of relief; and the steady waste 
 of j)recious lives until the number of English 
 gunners was reduced below that of the guns to- be 
 worked ; all these constitute features in history which 
 the fellow-countrymen of the heroes of Lucknow 
 will read with swelling hearts, and which will endure 
 for ever as a lesson to those who shall hope, by 
 treachery, numbers, or boldness in their treason, to 
 overcome the indomitable spirit of Englishmen." 
 
330 SIEGE OP DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 Verily, and indeed, nothing can be more strictly 
 and literally true. But without the remotest inten- 
 tion of detracting in any measure from the merits of 
 Brigadier Inglis, and his illustrious little garrison — 
 for every member of whom, from the highest to the 
 lowest, respect and admiration are within the breast 
 of every Englishman — I must yet be permitted to 
 say, that for want of a man equally competent with 
 Brigadier Inglis to describe the acljievements of 
 the Delhi Field Force, its endurance and heroism, 
 and the direct influence of both these qualities on 
 the recovery of British supremacy in India, are 
 matters not properly appreciated, only because they 
 are very imperfectly known. 
 
 Nor do I flatter myself that I have been able to 
 supply this defect, or to do such justice to the claims 
 and cause of the besieging army as to ensure for it 
 that high place in the affections and admiration of 
 the British nation which it has so richly earned. 
 But if others, urged by my humbler example, can 
 be induced to perform this task with more com- 
 pleteness and felicity than I can ever hope to attain 
 unto, I shall not be sorry for having made the 
 attempt. I am keenly alive to the difficulties sur- 
 rounding the task which I have undertaken, and 
 the extreme delicacy required in its discharge ; nor 
 
1857. J THE KEY or OUR POSITION. 331 
 
 am I altogether ignorant of the ease with which 
 unworthy motives may be attributed to men with- 
 out cause. But a good conscience nerves a man 
 for any work, however difficult and open to miscon- 
 ception ; and the consciousness of an honest intention 
 to speak the truth sustains my confidence on this 
 occasion. 
 
 With this conviction, and without further apology 
 — the honour and interests of the army, with which I 
 stand connected, being my only motive — let me com- 
 mence by pointing out the striking analogy existing 
 between the circumstances attendant on the defence 
 of Hindoo Rao and that of the Residency at Luck- 
 now. The latter of these two events has already 
 found an historian ; I need not, therefore, trouble my 
 readers with any wearisome repetition. 
 
 Hindoo Rao, as I have repeatedly said before, 
 was the key of our position. Let the enemy turn 
 that point, and our existence as an army proposing 
 the captm'e of the imperial city was irrecoverably 
 lost ; for we had no way of escape, as some suppose, 
 any more than had the beleaguered inhabitants of 
 the garrison of Lucknow. WJiere or how were 
 we to fly? A retrograde movement on our part, 
 or any adversity befalling us, and all India would 
 have risen; our own native troops and camp fol- 
 
332 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 lowers would have been the first to raise their swords 
 in the work of our destruction. 
 
 From the 8th of June until the 20th of September 
 we had no choice but to make the best of our posi- 
 tion before Delhi, or die in the act of retreating from 
 it. Hindoo Rao, therefore, was everything to us. 
 If we had lost that place, it is not too much to say 
 that India would have been lost. No one before 
 Delhi failed to realise this stubborn fact ; and none 
 believed it more than the insurgents themselves. 
 Every movement and plan of theirs proved the 
 strength of their faith in this opinion. It was this 
 knowledge likewise which gave such undying energy 
 and resolution of purpose to every act of our resist- 
 ance in this neighbourhood. Taking now a retro- 
 spective glance at events and circumstances, with us 
 the wonder is not so much that we continued to hold 
 Hindoo Rao, as that we did not lose it upon every 
 occasion of an attack made by the enemy. 
 
 Let us pause and reflect awhile upon the difficul- 
 ties of the defence. The concentrated and correct 
 fire of no less than all the heavy guns placed on the 
 Mooree, Burun, Cashmere and Water Bastions, and 
 of the guns at the Kissen Gunge Battery — which last 
 enfiladed our entire front — was directed against us, 
 often with little or no intermission by day or by 
 
1857.] FORCES OF THE BESIEGED. 333 
 
 night. Not a corner in, immediately around, or 
 about the vicinity of the place, whether far or near, 
 knew what it was to be free from the presence of 
 round shot and shell, during any period of the siege ; 
 and our exposure to the fire of musketry from sun- 
 rise to sunset, and now and again also throughout 
 long, and drear, and dark nights, our never-failing 
 casualties convincingly proclaim. 
 
 About all these important matters, however, the 
 Delhi despatches are singularly reticent. The enemy 
 were by no means content with knocking the walls 
 and verandahs of Hindoo Rao about the ears of 
 its defenders with their heavy guns in battery ; they 
 likewise moved about with light field pieces ; never 
 venturing forth to an attack without moveable artil- 
 lery accompanying them; which now supported, 
 and now, in return, received support from infantry. 
 So far as the question of numbers is concerned, they 
 were always as ten, and not unfrequently, as fifty to 
 one of the British. 
 
 Next, take an accurate score of the number of 
 attacks made against this one small position of 
 Hindoo Rao ; saying nothing about attacks on other 
 points. These attacks commenced systematically 
 and regularly, from the 8th of June, the day of our 
 encampment. On the day after this event, a fine 
 
334 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 large, substantially built -verandali around the 
 dwelling of Hindoo Rao, was knocked down by 
 the fire of tbe Mooree Bastion with its 24-pounders. 
 On the 10th of June another engagement followed, 
 the enemy coming out in great force, with guns and 
 cavalry. So near did they advance that the rebels 
 could be distinctly heard addressing the Sirmoor 
 Battalion, and saying, '' Come on, Gorkhas, we won't 
 fire on you, we expect you to join us." The Gorkhas 
 joined them with a vengeance; first exclaiming, "We 
 are coming," and then firing a well-directed volley 
 into the mutineers, which laid forty of them dead 
 on the field. This fight lasted till nearly eight o'clock 
 in the evening. 
 
 On the 12 th J another, though very partial attack 
 on Hindoo Rao was made ; and during the engage- 
 ment some eighty or ninety men of the treacherous 
 9th Irregular Cavalry found means of escaping over 
 to the enemy. On the 13th, new blood having been 
 recently infused into the garrison of Delhi by the 
 accession of numbers — among which were the 60th 
 N. I. from Rhotuk, a regiment which always fought 
 with a desperation worthier of a better cause — 
 another determined attack was made: upon this 
 occasion the enemy came up with great daring, as 
 near as 50 paces of us, before we permitted our 
 
1857.] A DESTRUCTIVE CAMfON-SHOT. 335 
 
 grape and musketry to open upon them. This attack 
 did not terminate till half-past 7 p.m.; and, during 
 its progress, the fire of the Mooree, Burun, and 
 Cashmere Bastions was something fearful, exciting 
 wonder in every one's mind, that any exposed to 
 it could possibly escape unharmed. 
 
 On the 15th, the enemy came out in great force, 
 amounting to some 5,000 infantry and cavalry, be- 
 sides two 9-pounders, Their assurance was wonder- 
 ful; they came within 100 paces of our troops, and 
 deliberately planted their green Mahomedan standard 
 on ^the brow of the hill. The enemy would not 
 stand a ' charge ; nevertheless they inflicted loss 
 upon us, and returned with their guns within the 
 walls of their city. On the 17th, the order of things 
 was reversed; we attacked them in Kissen Gunge. 
 Their artillery practice may be judged, when it is 
 stated that a single 24-pound round shot came 
 bounding into the portico of Hindoo Rao, killing 
 an officer and eight men on the spot, and mortally 
 wounding four others. 
 
 The 23rd of June, who can forget it? It was the 
 day the prophets had predicted when the destinies of 
 India were to be ruled by a Moslem king of the 
 house of Timour. The attack was made by break 
 of day. It was first directed against the right rear 
 
336 SIEGE OF DELHI, [sErTEMBEE, 
 
 of Hindoo Rao. The enemy had the advantage of 
 numbers, and of the very best cover; the neigh- 
 bourhood being studded with houses, and covered 
 with jungle. Six times were the enemy driven out 
 of the Subzi-Mundi, and as many times did they 
 return, in spite of us, because of the overwhelming 
 force wiich they could command. The fight Con- 
 tinued up to sunset, when the enemy were driven 
 back. 
 
 On the 27th of June, the strife was renewed with 
 greater violence than before, the recollection of the 
 want of success of the 23rd apparently goading on 
 the rebels : the rain fell heavily for two full hours 
 whilst the fight was proceeding. The 28th and 
 29th were days of rest, but the month of June 
 wound up with a fight ; its last day being signalised 
 by an attack, less fierce and enduring than the two 
 immediately preceding, but formidable nevertheless, 
 and directed, as usual, against Hindoo Rao. 
 
 So I might carry on seriatim the enumeration of 
 the enemy's struggles to regain Hindoo Rao, con- 
 tinued throughout July and August ; in which last 
 month, so determinately were they bent on their 
 object, that from the 6th to the 9th, both days 
 inclusive, our men were under arras by day and 
 by night. But I need not thus weary my readers. 
 
1857.] ENEMY'S EFFORTS. 337 
 
 seeing that a simple reference to the preceding pages 
 will confirm the correctness of the sum total of such 
 attacks : they were twenty-six in all. Nor was 
 the number of attacks alone remarkable: the fight- 
 ing was fierce, and pertinaciously continued. True, 
 the enemy seldom stood our charges in the open, 
 but from within houses, and behind walls and trees, 
 they fought as desperately as the most valiant of 
 men. And to use the words of Brigadier Inglis 
 himself, " If further proof be wanting of the despe- 
 rate nature of the struggle," we can point to "roof- 
 less and ruined houses, to open breaches, to shat- 
 tered and disabled guns," and other evidences of the 
 havoc of war. 
 
 Yet, after all, the most convincing proof is doubt- 
 less the loss sustained by the defenders of the main 
 picquet before Delhi. In this work of defence 
 mainly the Rifles lost 401 men, including both 
 killed and wounded, out of a strength of 700, and 
 the " Sirmoor Battalion" 327 killed and wounded, 
 out of 490 of all ranks; so that actually, out of 
 a total strength of 1,190, these two regiments lost 
 between them 728 : not reckoning the very heavy 
 losses sustained by the reserves and supports, called 
 up upon every occasion of such attacks. Contrast 
 these figures with those of Lucknow, which by the 
 
 z 
 
338 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPIEMBEK, 
 
 Government retums, are shown to be, between the 
 30th of June and 26th of September, including killed 
 and wounded, 533 out of 1,618 occupants of that 
 garrison; and however strenuous their efforts for 
 existence, ours were doubtless yet more energetic 
 than theirs. 
 
 Ere I take my leave of Hindoo Rao and its dis- 
 tinguished defenders, and touch on other and more 
 general subjects, let me pay a parting tribute of 
 respect to the services of the Sirmoor Battalion. 
 Upon every occasion, and wherever opportunity has 
 presented itself, I have never forgotten to say a hind 
 word, and a true word, for the Rifles ; and sure am 
 I that the gallant ofScers and men of this most dis- 
 tinguished of all her most gracious Majesty's regi- 
 ments, in or out of India, would not thank me if I 
 omitted to devote a space in this work as a distinct 
 and direct record of the services of that regiment, 
 Tvith which, from first to last, they have been most 
 intimately connected in military operations ; and of 
 which regiment, from Major Reid downwards, I 
 have heard them express themselves in terms of 
 boundless admiration. The Sirmoor Battalion was 
 the first regiment in India, whether European or 
 Native, which left quarters for the field. It marched 
 out of Deyrah on the 14th of May, only four hours 
 
1857.] THE SIEMOOR BATTALION. 339 
 
 after receipt of orders to do so. The men cotdd 
 not be provided with carriage for tents, and most 
 cheerfully, although hill men, and accustomed as 
 much as Europeans to a cool climate, they left their 
 tents behind them. They bade adieu to their homes 
 and families, to which they are most enthusiastically 
 devoted (many of them never more to return), and 
 during several of the first nights of the march, 
 contented themselves with the ground for their bed, 
 and the heavens above them for their only cover- 
 ing. From the Dhoon they made straight ahead 
 for the disturbed district of Boolundshuhur, and 
 without hesitation or complaint, implicitly obeying 
 the orders which they had previously received from 
 their commanding officer, though they themselves 
 were Hindus by religion — destroyed with their own 
 fusils certain ^rahmins of the highest caste, who 
 had been clearly convicted of rebellion against the 
 British Government. The Sirmoor Battalion did 
 this, at a time when rehgious excitement was 
 shaking the continent of Hindustan to its deepest 
 foundations. 
 
 Nothing was easier at this time than for them to 
 have followed the pernicious and prevailing example 
 of the Bengal army. The lives of their European 
 officers were completely at their mercy. They not 
 
 z 2 
 
340 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBER, 
 
 only spared, but protected them to the utmost of 
 their power, when no other protection was at hand. 
 I believe, indeed, no amount of praise would be 
 spent extravagantly upon the gallant Gorkhas of the 
 Sirmoor Battalion, who determinately cast in their lot 
 with their English masters, willing to share with 
 them whatever Heaven might please to determine — 
 fortune or misfortune. Of native regiments they 
 vi^ere the first to fire a shot against the rebel hosts. 
 And with what efEciency and valour they fought " 
 our battles, when once they pulled a trigger or fixed 
 a bayonet, or appealed to their kookries, none know 
 better than the officers and men of the Delhi Field 
 Force. Their blood has flowed in copious streams, 
 and that blood was shed for iis. 
 
 A General Order (No. 1544 of 1857) provides, 
 among other things, that every uative commis- 
 sioned and non-commissioned officer and soldier 
 ■who has formed part of the garrison of Lucknow 
 shall receive the order of merit, with the increase of 
 pay attached thereto, and shall count three years of 
 additional service. This is only an adequate recog- 
 nition and reward for the fidelity of a compara- 
 tively few soldiers, belonging respectively to 13th, 
 48th, and 71st Bengal Native Infantry. Therefore I 
 say that justice demands that, at least, a similar act of 
 
1857.] DELHI AND LUCKNOW. 341 
 
 favour and distinction should be extended to every 
 man of the Sirmoor Battalion ; concerning no one of 
 whom the lowest and faintest whispers of suspicion 
 of any kind have ever been heard. 
 
 But it is not merely in the arduous nature or 
 amount of the work required for the defence of our 
 main picquet at Hindoo Rao, or in the fidelity of 
 native troops, in which points of resemblance can 
 fairly be traced, as existing between the circum- 
 stances of the Lucknow garrison and the " Delhi 
 Field Force." There is scarcely a fact related by 
 Brigadier Inglis of persons, things, or places, under 
 his immediate observation and control, which -does 
 not find its direct counterpart in the history of 
 events occurring before Delhi. Whether we regard 
 the miflinching maintenance of every post along a 
 line of defences with which the extent of the 
 Lucknow defences cannot compare; or the com- 
 parative smallness of the force for the discharge 
 of the duty, difficult and dangerous in the extreme, 
 assigned to it ; or the frightful ravages of disease ; or 
 the continuous work of the troops, by day and by 
 night, without the enjoyment of reliefs worthy the 
 name; or the constant liability of one of our 
 hospitals (that of the Sirmoor Battalion) to the rude 
 intrusion of round-shot, shell, and musket-balls, or 
 
342 SIEGE OF DELHI. [SEPTEMBEE, 
 
 the security of none of them, against the risks of 
 such accidents of war — especially during the earlier 
 days of encampment, when it was by no means 
 extraordinary for sleeping and wounded men to be 
 disturbed in their slumbers by the explosion of 
 a shell within a few yards of them, and in con- 
 sequence of the suddenness of the shock, and the 
 violence and intractability of the hemorrhage which 
 ensued, to die shortly afterwards; or the alacrity 
 with which men of every branch of the public 
 service waived distinctions, all working in common, 
 and all ready to do anything and everything — yea, 
 actually doing, with a good heart, many things not 
 properly belonging to their own office ; even women, 
 as long as they remained with the force, proving no 
 exception to this general rule, but devoting them- 
 selves, in spite of their own sorrows, in the most 
 noble and self-sacrificing manner, to the care of the 
 sick and wounded, and dying of the camp ; or the 
 numberless number of individual actions of daily 
 occurrence, and distinguished for the greatest 
 bravery, many of which I have already related, 
 and more than ten times as many remain yet to 
 be told. I say, when all these things are duly 
 regarded, the virtue, the valour, the endurance of 
 the " Delhi Field Force," will approximate in degree 
 
1857.] THE DELHI FIELD EORCE. 343 
 
 and kind to those qualities so conspicuous in the 
 experience and history of the illustrious garrison of 
 Lucknow. 
 
 But if, in addition to these considerations, we 
 take into account the relative amount of hard 
 fighting at both places, the character of the enemy, 
 the nature and extent of his attacks, the interests, 
 larger or smaller, which depended upon success, and 
 the consequences, more or less igaportant, that must 
 have followed in the event of defeat, then Lucknow 
 cannot approach Delhi by a very long way. 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
346 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Eetukn of Killed, "Wounded, and Missing of the Delhi 
 neigtbourliood of Delhi, on the 30th, May 1857, 
 
 - 
 
 
 III 
 
 §1 
 
 Killed. 
 
 OOBPS. 
 
 Offi- 
 cers. 
 
 Non- 
 com, 
 offrs. 
 
 Drum 
 
 mers, 
 &c. 
 
 Rank 
 and 
 FUe. 
 
 ■3 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 p. 
 
 
 9) 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 i 
 
 Stair 
 
 1350 
 
 722 
 123 
 391 
 
 78 
 147 
 114 
 107 
 462 
 322 
 302 
 390 
 402 
 459 
 427 
 370 
 212 
 312 
 585 
 414 
 
 664 
 
 650 
 
 541 
 322 
 
 No ret. 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 74 
 
 43 
 19 
 27 
 
 "i 
 
 27 
 
 19 
 113 
 32 
 84 
 98 
 83 
 86 
 21 
 72 
 46 
 
 77 
 
 43 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 25 
 
 8 
 55 
 
 16 
 39 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 Artillery, iacluding drivers, gun 
 Lascars, and newly raised 
 Sikh Art 
 
 Engineers, and Sappers and 
 Miners, including 5 companies 
 newly raised Punjaub Sappers 
 
 H. M .'s 6th Drag. Gds. (4 Troops) 
 
 H. M.'s 9th Lancers . 
 
 Detachment 4th Lreg. Car., , 
 (disarmed and dismounted) . 
 
 Detachment 1st Punjaub Cav. . 
 
 Detachment 2nd Pimjaub Cav. . 
 
 Detachment 5th Punjaub Car. . 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 5 
 1 
 
 1 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 
 39 
 
 1 
 13 
 
 25 
 
 25 
 31 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H. M.'s 8th Regt. 
 H.M.'s 52nd Light Inf. 
 H. M.'s 60th Eifles . 
 H. M.'s 61st Kegt. . 
 H.M.'s75thEegt. 
 1st Eur. Bengal Eus. . 
 2nd Eur. Benal Pus. . 
 Sirmoor Battalion 
 Kumaoon Battalion . 
 Guide Corps (302 Inf., 283 
 4th Sikh lif. (including rec 
 1st Punjaub Inf. (includin 
 
 cruits) 
 2nd Punjaub Inf. (includin 
 
 cruits) . 
 4th Pmijaub Inf. (includin 
 
 cruits) 
 Wing Belooch Batt . 
 
 Cav.) 
 ruits) 
 g re- 
 
 g re- 
 
 g re- 
 
 3 
 1 
 4 
 2 
 5 
 3 
 4 
 1 
 1 
 2 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 ■5' 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 1 
 2 
 2 
 4 
 10 
 7 
 
 I 
 13 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 "1 
 
 1 
 2 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 19 
 17 
 106 
 28 
 74 
 83 
 71 
 
 82 
 18 
 50 
 40 
 
 66 
 
 38 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 23 
 
 Pioneers (unarmed and un- 
 disciplined .... 
 
 ... 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 35 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 ... 
 
 Grand Tota 
 
 1 . 
 
 9,866 
 
 46 
 
 14 
 
 45 
 
 476 
 
 389 
 
 1,012 
 
 139- 
 
 Palace of Delhi, 23rd Sept., 1857. 
 
No. 1. 
 
 347 
 
 Field Force from the commencement of the operations in the 
 dp to the capture of the city, on the 20th Sept. 
 
 WODNDED. 
 
 MiSSIHG. 
 
 TOTAI 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 Of killed. 
 
 ''Officers. 
 
 Non-com- 
 missioned 
 officers. 
 
 Drnm 
 
 mors, 
 
 &c. 
 
 Rank ana 
 File. 
 
 S 
 
 K , 
 
 N. 
 
 CO. 
 
 of. 
 
 Rank 
 and 
 File. 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 wounded, 
 and missing. 
 
 
 
 IH 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 9 
 
 M 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 ID 
 
 i 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 Offi- 
 cers 
 and 
 men. 
 
 W 
 
 9 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 ... 
 
 199 
 
 47 
 
 289 
 
 62 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 365 
 
 121 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 50 
 
 86 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 
 138 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 ... 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 6 
 
 ... 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 
 30 
 
 27 
 
 2 
 
 ... 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 ... 
 
 61 
 
 2 
 
 66 
 3 
 
 46 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 93 
 3 
 
 121 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 T 
 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 5 
 3 
 3 
 
 6 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 4 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 3 
 4 
 
 16 
 3 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 ."5 
 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 120 
 
 ... 
 
 136 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ..^ 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 163 
 
 — 
 
 4 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 65 
 
 • • t 
 
 77 
 
 • >. 
 
 ... 
 
 5 
 
 
 3 
 
 >•* 
 
 101 
 
 — 
 
 10 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 249 
 
 
 276 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 389 
 
 — 
 
 7 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 105 
 
 
 119 
 
 ... 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 ... 
 
 S 
 
 • •• 
 
 156 
 
 — ■ 
 
 U 
 
 
 7 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 ... 
 
 177 
 
 
 198 
 
 
 ... 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 ■ •■ 
 
 285 
 
 — 
 
 n 
 
 
 23 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 186 
 
 
 221 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ,319 
 
 — 
 
 fi 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 145 
 
 
 162 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 245 
 
 — 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 I 
 
 • •• 
 
 210 
 
 233 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 319 
 
 — 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 30 
 
 38 
 
 ... 
 
 
 ... 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 64 
 
 — 
 
 6 
 
 in 
 
 
 43 
 
 
 4 
 
 .*• 
 
 168 
 
 231 
 
 33 
 
 ... 
 
 
 • ■. 
 
 ... 
 
 9 
 
 303 
 
 58 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 ... 
 
 8 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 98 
 
 116 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 162 
 
 — 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 134 
 
 151 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 228 
 
 — 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 5 
 
 
 ... 
 
 ... 
 
 96 
 
 54 
 43 
 
 128 
 
 109 
 
 61 
 49 
 
 130 
 
 ... 
 
 1 
 
 ... 
 
 i" 
 
 ... 
 1 
 
 
 152 
 
 71 
 58 
 
 155 
 
 — 
 
 140 
 
 49 
 
 108 
 
 99 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 1,313 
 
 1,076 
 
 2,795 
 
 186 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 30 
 
 53 
 
 3,837 
 
 378 
 
348 
 
 APPEiroiX. 
 
 APPENDIX No. II. 
 
 Abstkact. 
 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Native 
 Officers. 
 
 Non- 
 commis- 
 sioned 
 officers. 
 
 mers. 
 
 Eank 
 and file. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Killed .. 
 Wovmded 
 Missing . 
 
 46 
 
 140 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 49 
 
 
 
 80 
 207 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 
 865 
 
 2,389 
 
 29 
 
 1,012 
 
 2,795 
 
 30 
 
 Total . 
 
 186 
 
 63 
 
 283 
 
 17 
 
 3,283 
 
 3,837 
 
 
 Euro- 
 peans. 
 
 Natives. 
 
 Horses. 
 
 
 Killed . . . 
 Wounded 
 Missing . 
 
 572 
 1,566 
 13 
 
 440 
 
 1,229 
 
 17 
 
 139 
 
 186 
 
 53 
 
 
 Total 
 
 ■ 
 
 2,151 
 
 1,686 
 
 378 
 
 Memorandum. — Those officers who died of -wounds 
 during the siege are included as killed, but those returned 
 as killed of other ranks, were all killed at the time, there 
 being no documents available to show what number of 
 wounded soldiers died in consequence of their injuries. 
 
 2,163 Officers and men were kUled, ■wounded, and missing, prior 
 
 to 8th of September, on which date the batteries, for 
 
 the reduction of the place, were opened. 
 327 Officers and men were kilfed, wounded, and missing from 
 
 the 8th of September, untU morning of assault. 
 1,170 Officers and men were killed, wounded, and missing in 
 
 assault of the 14th of September. 
 177 Officers and men were killed, wounded, and missing from 
 
 the 15th of September until the final capture of the city, 
 
 on the 20th idem. 
 
 3,837 
 
 N.B. — Since this return was compiled it has been ascertained 
 that a mistake took place in the return furnished by the 8th Foot, 
 of casualties at the assault, seventeen more men having been killed 
 than were actually entered. Owing to the numerous casualties in 
 corps during the siege, it is probable that some were omitted to be 
 returned, and that the loss in several regiments exceeds that above 
 shown. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 349 
 
 APPENDIX m. 
 
 Return of Sick and "Wounded of all ranks of the Delhi 
 Field Force, 11th of September, 1857. 
 
 Artillery Europeans 
 
 . 131 
 
 Artillery Natives 
 
 . 126 
 
 Engineer Brigade 
 
 214 
 
 eth Dragoon Guards 
 
 . 45 
 
 H. M.'s 9th Lancers 
 
 . 51 
 
 Detachment 1st Punjaub Cavalry 
 
 4 
 
 Detachment 2nd Punjaub Cavalry 
 
 4 
 
 Detachment 5th Punjaub Cavalry 
 
 . 10 
 
 Detachment 4th Irregular Cavalry 
 
 . 16 
 
 Hodson's Horse . . . 
 
 32 
 
 H. M.'3 8th Regiment (part ol) 
 
 . 124 
 
 H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry 
 
 . 332 
 
 H. M.'s 60th Kifles (part of ) . 
 
 . 121 
 
 H. M.'s 61st Regiment . 
 
 256 
 
 H. M.'s 75th Regiment . 
 
 160 
 
 1st European Bengal Pusiliers . 
 
 183 
 
 2nd European Bengal Pusiliers 
 
 262 
 
 Sirmoor Battalion 
 
 232 
 
 Kumaon Battalion 
 
 165 
 
 Guide Corps .... 
 
 209 
 
 4th Sikh Infantry 
 
 121 
 
 1st Punjaub Infantry 
 
 136 
 
 2nd Punjaub Infantry . 
 
 76 
 
 4th Punjaub Infantry . 
 
 50 
 
 Wing Beloooh Battalion 
 
 14 
 
 Total 
 
 3,074 
 
 APPENDIX IV. 
 
 
 List of Officers, killed, died of wounds, or wounded 
 at and near Delhi, from the 30th of May, 1857, to the 
 final capture of the place on the 20th of September, 1857. 
 
 Andrews, F., Captain H. M.'s 60th Rifles. 
 Bannerman, C. B., Lieutenant Belooch Battalion. 
 Battye, Q., Lieutenant, Commandant of Cavalry Guide Corps. 
 Browne'; .1. H., Lieutenant 33rd N. I., attached to Kumaon 
 Battalion. 
 
350 APPENDIX. 
 
 Briscoe, E. V., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th Eegiment. 
 
 Bradshaw, J. H., Lieutenant H. M.'s 52nd Light Infantry. 
 
 Chester, C., Colonel, Adjutant-General of the Army. 
 
 Crozier, W., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th Kegimeut. 
 
 Davidson, J. T., Ensign 26th N. I., attached to 2nd Punjauh 
 
 Infantry. 
 Dickins, T. E., Lieutenant Artillery. 
 Delamain, J. W., Captain S6th N.I. 
 Elkington, S. B., Ensign H. M.'s 61st Regiment. 
 Eitz Gerald, J. E. S., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th Eegiment. 
 Eagan, E. C. H. B., Captain Artillery. 
 Greensill, T., Captain 24th Eoot, Assistant Eield Engineer. 
 Gabhett, T., Lieutenant H. M.'s 61st Eegiment. 
 Gambler, C. H. E., 2nd Lieutenant 38th Light Infantry, attached 
 
 to 2nd Eusiliers. 
 Hildebraudj E. H., Lieutenant Artillery. 
 Humphrys, M. A., Lieutenant 20th Eegiment N. I., attached 
 
 to H. M.'s 60th Bifles. 
 Harrison, A., Lieutenant H. M.'3 75th Eegiment. 
 Homfray, E. P., Lieutenant 4thPunjaub Infantry. 
 Jones, B., 2nd Lieutenant Engineers. 
 Jacob, G. 0., Major 1st European Fusiliers. 
 Jackson, S. H., Lieutenant 2nd European Eusiliers. 
 Knox, E. W. J., Captain H. M.'s 75th Eegiment." 
 Law, W. G., Captain 10th Eegiment N. I., attached to 1st 
 
 Punjaub Infantry. 
 Lumsden, W. H., Lieutenant, Adjutant 1st Punjaub Infantry. 
 Moore, S., Assistant-Surgeon 6th Dragoon Guards. 
 Mountsteyen W. H., Lieutenant H. M.'s 8th King's. 
 McBarnet, G. G., Captain 55th N. I., attached to 1st Eusiliers. 
 Murray, A. W., Lieutenant 42nd N. L. I., attached to Guide Corps. 
 Nicholson, J., Brigadier-General, commanding 4th Infantry 
 
 Brigade. 
 Napier, W. H., Ensign H. M.'s 60th Eifles. 
 Perkins, H. G., Lieutenant Artillery. 
 Pogson, W. W., Lieutenant H. M.'s 8th King's. 
 Phillips, E. A. L., Ens. 11th N. L, attached to H. M.'s 60th Eifles. 
 Eoss, S., Lieutenant 9th N. I. 
 EusseU, C. W., Captain 54th N. L, Orderly Officer. 
 Speke, E., Lieutenant 65th N. I., attached to 1st European 
 
 Fusiliers. 
 Sherriff, D. E., 2nd Lieutenant 2nd European Eusiliers. 
 Tandy, F. L., 2nd Lieutenant Engineers. 
 Travers, E. J., Lieutenant 1st Punjaub Infantry. 
 "Webb, "W. E., Lieutenant H. M.'s 8th ICing's. 
 "Walter, O. C, Ensign 45th N. I., attached to 2nd Fusiliers. 
 "Wheatley, C, Lieutenant 54th N. I., attached to Simioor 
 
 Battalion. 
 Yule, E. A., Lieutenant-Colonel 9th Lancers. 
 Yorke, J., Lieutenant 3rd N. I., attached to 4th Sikh Infantry. 
 
APPENDIX. 351 
 
 Anderson, C, Ensign (Local) Punjaub Sappers, slightly. 
 
 Anson, A. H. A., the Hon. Captain H. M.'s 84th, attached to 
 
 9th, Lancers, slightly. 
 Atkinson, W., Lieutenant 52nd Light Infantry, slightly. 
 Andros, E. B^ Ensign H. M.'s 61st Light Infantry, slightly. 
 Armstrong, E., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th Light Infantry, slightly. 
 Becher, A. M., Colonel, Quarter-Master-General of the Army, 
 
 severely. 
 Burnside, H. B. H., Captain, Brigade-Major 3rd Infantry Brigade, 
 
 slightly. 
 Bishop, H. P., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Baillie, G., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Bunny, A., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Budd, S., Lieutenant, Eiding-Master, severely. 
 Brownlow, H. A., Lieutenant Engineers, dangerously. 
 Baynes, E. L., Brevet-Major H. M.'s 8th, dangerously. 
 Beere, D., Brevet-Captain H. M.'s 8th, severely. 
 Bayley, J. A., Captain H. M.'s 52nd, severely. 
 Barter, R., Lieutenant and Adjutant H. M.'s 75th, severely. 
 Brown, E., Captain 1st Eusiliers, dangerousjy. 
 Blair, C. R., Lieutenant 2nd EusiMers, dangerously. 
 Boisragon, H. F. M., Captain, 2nd in command Kumaon 
 
 Battalion, severely. 
 Bond, E. E. B., Lieutenant 57th N. I., attached to Guide Corps, 
 
 severely. 
 JBrooke, J. C., Lieutenant-Colonel H. M.'s 8th, severely. 
 Chamberlain, N. B., Brigadier-General, Adjutant-General of the 
 
 the Ariliy, severely.' 
 Campbell, J. H., Major Artillery, severely. 
 Chichester, H., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, severely. 
 Chesney, G. T., Lieutenant Engineers, severely. 
 Carnegie, H. A. L., 2nd Lieutenant Engineers, slightly, 
 Champain, J. U., 2nd lieutenant Engineers, slightly. 
 Cuppage, 13., Lieutenant 6th Light Cavalry, attached to H. M.'s 
 
 9th Lancers, slightly. 
 Campbell, G., Colonel H. M.'s 52nd, slightly. 
 Curtis, P. J., Lieutenant H. M.'s 60th Rifles, severely. 
 Chancellor, A., Captain H. M.'s 75th, slightly. 
 Chambers, D. E., Paymaster 75th, slightly. 
 Caulfeild, J. P., Captain 3rd N. I., attached to 1st Eoropeau 
 
 Fusiliers, slightly. 
 Chester, H. D. E. W., Lieutenant 36th N. I., attached to Sirmoor 
 
 Battalion, slightly. 
 Coke, J., Major 1st Punjaub Infantry, severely. 
 Chalmers, O. J., Ens. 3rd N. I., attached to Guide Corps, slightly. 
 Drought, R., Lieutenant-Colonel 60th N. I., attached to 2nd 
 
 Infantry Brigade, severely. 
 
352 APPENDIX. 
 
 Davidson, A. H., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, severely. 
 
 Daniell, E. G., Captain H. M.'s 8th, severely. 
 
 Dundas, J. D., tieutenant 60th Rifles, slightly. 
 
 Deedes, H. G., Lieutenant 60th Rifles, slightly. 
 
 Deacon, W. E. D., Captain H. M.'s 61st, severely. 
 
 Dunbar, T. C, Captain H. M.'s 75th, slightly. 
 
 Dawson, R., Captain H. M.'s 75th, dangerously. 
 
 Dayrell, Ensign 58th N. L, attached to H. M.'s 75th Regiment, 
 
 severely. 
 Daniel], J. W., Lieutenant 1st Eusiliers, severely. 
 Daly, H., Captain commanding Guide Corps, severely. 
 De Bourbel, A. A., Lieutenant 6th Dragoon Guards, severely. 
 Earle, E. L., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Elliot, M., Lieutenant Artillery, severely. 
 Eaton, H. P., Lieutenant 60th Rifles, dangerously. 
 Ellis, N., 2nd Lieutenant 1st Eusiliers, slightly. 
 Elderton, A., Lieutenant 2nd Fusiliers, severely. 
 Eckford, A. H., Lieutenant 69th N: I., attached to Sirmoor Bat- 
 
 tahon, slightly. 
 Eraser, E., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, slightly.' 
 Freer, R., Captain H. M.'s 27th, attached to H. M.'s 75fh, 
 
 slightly. 
 Faithfull, G. C. N., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th, slightly. 
 Frankland, Lieutenant 2nd Punjaub Infantry, severely. 
 Garbett, H., Brigadier C. B. Artillery, slightly. 
 Gillespie, A., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Greathed W. W. H., Lieutenant Engineers, severely. 
 Geneste, M. G., Lieutenant Engineers, shghtly. 
 Gustavinski, L., Ensign (Local) Punjaub Sappers, severely. 
 Gough, H. H., lieutenant 3rd Light Cavalry, attached to Hodson's 
 
 Horse, slightly. 
 Griffiths, C. J., Lieutenant H. M.'s 61st, severely. 
 Greville, S., Captain 1st Eusiliers, severely. 
 Gray don, W. Captain 16th Grenadiers, severely. 
 Green, G. W. G., Captain 2nd Punjaub Infantry, slightly. 
 Hunter, C, Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Hills, J., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, severely. 
 Hovenden, J. St. J., Lieutenant Engineers, severely. 
 Heathcote, A. S., Ensign 60th Rifles, slightly. 
 Hutton,T. B., Lieutenant H.M.'s 61st, slightly. 
 Herbert, C., Lieutenant-Colonel H. M.'s 75th, slightly. 
 Hay, J. C, Captain 60th N. I., dangerously. 
 Harris, J. T., 2nd Eusiliers, attached to 1st Fusiliers, severely. 
 Hare, R. T., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 Hawes, C. W., Lieutenant, Adjutant Guide Corps, slightly. 
 Innes, F. C, Lieutenant 60th N. I., slightly. 
 Innes, J. H. K., Surgeon 60th Rifles, slightly. 
 Ireland, W. W., Assistant-Surgeon, dangerously. 
 Jones, C., Captain 60th Rifles, severely. 
 
APPENDIX. 353 
 
 Jenkins, P. H., Lieutenant 57th N. I., attached to 4th Sikh In- 
 fantry, severely. 
 
 Kennion, T. E., Captain Artillery, severely. 
 
 Kemp, D., Captain 5th N. I., attached to 2nd Pusiliers, severely. 
 
 Kennedy, T. G., Lieutenant Guide Corps, severely. 
 
 Light, A., Captain Artillery, severely. 
 
 Lindsay, A. H., Lieutenant Artillery, slightly. 
 
 Lithgow, S. A., Assistant-Surgeon H. M.'s 7.5th, slightly. 
 
 Lambert, E. A. C, Lieutenant 1st Fusiliers, slightly. 
 
 Lockhart, D. B., Lieutenant 7th N. L, attached to Sirmoor Bat- 
 talion, severely. 
 
 Mackenzie, M., Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Artillery, severely. 
 
 Money, B. K., Captain Artillery, severely. 
 
 Maunsell, P. E., Lieutenant Engineers, Tery severely. 
 
 Medley, J. G., Lieutenant Engineers, very severely. 
 
 Murray, P., 2nd Lieutenant Engineers, slightly. 
 
 Metge, W. P., Lieutenant H.M.'s 8th, slightly. 
 
 Moore, T. M., Lieutenant H. M.'s 61st, slightly. 
 
 Nicholson, C. J., Lieutenant 31st N. 1., Acting Commandant 1st 
 Punjaub Infantry, severely. 
 
 Owen, A. G., Lieutenant 1st Pusiliers, severely. 
 
 Perkins, iE., Lieutenant Engineers, slightly. 
 
 Pemberton, K. C. B., 2nd Lieutenant Engineers, slightly. 
 
 Pattoun, "W. H. W., Lieutenant H. M.'s 6Ist, severely. 
 
 Pym, C. M., Lieutenant H. M.'s 76th, slightly. 
 
 Packe, C. P., Lieutenant 4th N. I., attached to 4th Sikh Infantry, 
 severely. 
 
 Pullan, A. Lieutenant 36th N. I., severely. 
 
 Pollock, H. T., Lieutenant 35th Light Infantry, attached to 1st 
 Punjaub Infantry, very severely. 
 
 Prior, C, Ensign (Local) Light Infantry, slightly. 
 
 Eoberts, P. S., Lieutenant, Officiating Deputy-Assistant, Quarter- 
 Master- General, slightly. 
 
 Eosser, C. P., Captain H. M.'s 6th Dragoon Guards, dangerously. 
 
 Elvers, C. E., Lieutenant H. M.'s 75th, slightly. 
 
 Eeid, C., Major Sirmoor Battalion, severely. 
 
 Showers, St. G. D., Brigadier 1st Infantry Brigade, severely. 
 
 Seaton, T., Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. 60th N. I., attached to 1st 
 Infantry Brigade, severely. 
 
 Smith, E. B., Colonel Engineers, slightly. 
 
 Salkeld, P., LieutenantEngineers, dangerously. 
 
 Sandilands, E. N., Captain H. M.'s 8th, slightly. 
 
 Shelley, T. M., Lieutenant 11th N. I., attached to 1st Punjaub 
 Infantry, slightly. 
 
 Shebbeare, E. H., Lieutenant 60th N. I., attached to Guide Corps, 
 slightly. 
 
 Simpson, T., Ensign H. M.'s 52nd, slightly. 
 
 Tombs, H., Brevet-Major Artillery, dightly. 
 
 Thompson, P., 2nd Lieutenant Artillery, severely.. 
 
 Turle, W. G., Ensign 60th Eifles, severely. 
 
 A A 
 
354 APPENDIX. 
 
 Tulloch, A., Lieutenant 20th N. I., attached to Sirmoor Battalion, 
 severely. 
 
 Temple, A. B., Lieutenant 49th N. 1., attached to Kumaon Bat- 
 talion, slightly. 
 
 Walker, J. T., Lieutenant Bombay Engineers, severely. 
 
 "Walker, E., Lieutenant Engineers, slightly. 
 
 Warrand, W. E., Lieutenant Engineers, dangerously. 
 
 "Watson, Lieutenant 1st Punjaub Cavalry, slightly. 
 
 "Walker, G. F., Lieutenant H. M.'s 8th, severely. 
 
 "Williams, H. P., Captain 60th Rifles, severely. 
 
 "Waters, G. C. H., Captain 60th Kifles, severely. 
 
 "Wadeson, R., Ensign H. M.'s 75th, severely. 
 
 "Welchman, J., Colonel 1st Fusiliers, dangerously. 
 
 Wemyss, H. M., Lieutenant 1st Fusiliers, severely. 
 
 "Woodcock, E. H., Lieutenant 55th N. I., attached to 1st Fusiliers, 
 severely. 
 
 "Walker, T. N., Lieutenant 60th N. I., attached to 2nd Fusiliers, 
 shghtly. 
 
 Young, J., Captain Artillery, slightly. 
 
 Young, A. C, Lieutenant H. M.'s 61st, severely 
 
 Palace of Delhi, Sept. 23, 1857. 
 
 APPENDIX V. 
 
 Letter from Major Eeid referred to at page 285. 
 My deak Kotton, 
 
 Your note, of yesterday reached me this morning, 
 and I hasten to send you a reply. I am sorry I cannot 
 send you one of my pamphlets, as they have not yet 
 reached me, but you shall have a copy as soon as they 
 arrive, which I hope wiU be in a day or two. 
 
 "W"ith regard to Kissen Gunge, I can only say, that were 
 I ordered to attack the place to-morrow, supposing the 
 enemy's heavy guns to be in the same place they were in 
 on the 14th September last, my plan of attack would be 
 just what it was then. You have been over the position 
 and know the localities, and great strength of the place, and 
 
APPENDIX. 355 
 
 will, therefore, understand me when I say, that by hugging 
 the garden wall on the left of the road before you come 
 to the canal bridge, and then the loop-holed serai wall, as 
 also the garden wall which runs parallel to it, places one, 
 comparatively speaking, out of harm's way ; the heavy guns 
 in the two batteries could not play, nor could the loopholes 
 of the serai be brought to bear, so long, mind you, as the 
 column hugged the walls above alluded to, " four deep," 
 as I had my troops on the 14th September. The first 
 breastwork across the road, close to the canal bridge, was 
 taken as you will see by my report, by twenty-five of the 
 Eifles and my own regiment; but whilst making arrange- 
 ments for the attack on Kissen Gunge itself, and the 
 breastwork at the end of ihS road, I fell wounded in the 
 head, and was thus unable, to my great disappointment, to 
 carry out my intentions, which were as follows : — the 
 breastworks at the end of the road I knew were very 
 strong, as I had seen the enemy at work at them for days, 
 and I thought it more than probable they would have light 
 guns ready to play upon me as I advanced up the road. I 
 therefore intended, after taking the breastwork at the 
 Canal bridge, to have made a rush with half of my column 
 to the angle of the serai, whilst the remaining half of my 
 column (after getting rid of the enemy who had manned the 
 garden wall, and which would have been enfiladed) marched 
 parallel to the left column, and thus the breastwork at the 
 end of the road would have been taken in front and rear. 
 The right column would then have brought their right 
 shoulders forward, and the columns would have entered 
 Kissen Gunge together, at the breach made in rear of the 
 heavy batteries. I must here mention that some officers 
 imagined that I had had the wall of the serai breached in 
 front of the lefl; battery, and intended to enter there ; that 
 would have been madness indeed. The wall, 't is true, had 
 been pretty well breached in front of the left battery, but bad 
 
356 APPENDIX. 
 
 shots made at the battery had done it ? The wall "behind 
 the batteries was breached by my order (and right well it 
 was done by Thompson of the Artillery) but certainly not 
 in front! Had I attempted an entrance immediately in 
 front of the left battery, we should have been cut to pieces 
 with grape from their two 24-pounders. No, that was 
 quite impossible; the breaches in rear of the battei-ies, as 
 also the gate (which I could have blown in) through which 
 I entered on the 17th June, was my intended route into 
 Kissen Gunge, whilst a feint attack was made in front. 
 My object in sending 400 infantry, 200 cavalry, and four 
 guns, to the Eedghar was to place Kissen Gunge between 
 two fires, as also to watch the enemy, and prevent our 
 right flank being turned. 
 
 After getting possession of Kissen Gunge, I should have 
 turned the four heavy captured guns, as also the two 
 8J-inch mortars which they had there, in Kissen Gunge. 
 The fire from these guns (as also from the guns which I 
 ought to have had with me), and the fire which would have 
 been kept up by the fotir guns from the Eedghar, would 
 have made Trevelyan Gunge too hot for the enemy, and I 
 calculated on their retreating into the city. Certain it is, 
 I should not have attempted to have turned them out of 
 Trevelyan Gunge and Pahreepore with my infantry. My 
 column was not strong enough for that, and I should have 
 lost half my men before I entered the city. Had the 
 enemy left Trevelyan Gunge, which I think they would 
 have done when they found themselves under the fire of 
 artillery from Eassen Gunge and the Eedghar, I should 
 have left 400 of the Jummoo Contingent in the serai, 
 whilst I proceeded with the rest of the column along the 
 dry bed of the canal, and have entered the city at the 
 Cabool Gate, which General Nicholson would have opened 
 for me from the inside. 
 
 This was my intended attack on Kissen Gunge ; a 
 
APPENDIX. 357 
 
 good deal would of course have depended on circumstances, 
 but certain it is, I should not have entered the city so 
 long as the enemy were in force on my right. 
 
 Some say, " "Why not have gone more to the right, and 
 have given Kissen Gunge a wider berth." Had I done so, 
 the enemy would have got in between my left flank, and 
 the Subzie Mundie, and have got in our rear, which our 
 spies told us they intended to do. Others, again, say, 
 " Why not have taken the same route you took on the 
 17th June, when you succeeded in taking the place." 
 To which I reply, for the same reason I have given above 
 — my flank would have been turned. ' 
 
 You are at liberty to publish the whole of the above, 
 verbatim. 
 
 We shall be only too happy to admit you as an honorary 
 member of our mess. 
 
 Yours, very sincerely, 
 
 Thos. Keid. 
 Palace of Delhi, February Brd, 1858. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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