diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 10856-0.txt | 5827 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10856-8.txt | 6252 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10856-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 128246 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10856.txt | 6252 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10856.zip | bin | 0 -> 128215 bytes |
8 files changed, 18347 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10856-0.txt b/10856-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4518398 --- /dev/null +++ b/10856-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5827 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10856 *** + +A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI WITH AN ACCOUNT OF +THE MUTINY AT FEROZEPORE IN 1857 + +BY CHARLES JOHN GRIFFITHS LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +EDITED BY HENRY JOHN YONGE LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +WITH PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1910 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The ever memorable period in the history of our Eastern Empire known as +the Great Indian Rebellion or Mutiny of the Bengal army was an epoch +fraught with the most momentous consequences, and one which resulted in +covering with undying fame those who bore part in its suppression. The +passions aroused during the struggle, the fierce hate animating the +breasts of the combatants, the deadly incidents of the strife, which +without intermission lasted for nearly two years, and deluged with blood +the plains and cities of Hindostan, have scarcely a parallel in history. +On the one side religious fanaticism, when Hindoo and Mohammedan, +restraining the bitter animosity of their rival creeds, united together +in the attempt to drive out of their common country that race which for +one hundred years had dominated and held the overlordship of the greater +portion of India. On the other side, a small band of Englishmen, a +few thousand white men among millions of Asiatics, stood shoulder to +shoulder, calm, fearless, determined, ready to brave the onslaught of +their enemies, to maintain with undiminished lustre the proud deeds of +their ancestors, and to a man resolved to conquer or to die. + +Who can recount the numberless acts of heroism, the hairbreadth escapes, +the anxious days and nights passed by our gallant countrymen, who, few +in number, and isolated from their comrades, stood at bay in different +parts of the land surrounded by hundreds of pitiless miscreants, tigers +in human shape thirsting for their blood? And can pen describe the +nameless horrors of the time--gently nurtured ladies outraged and +slain before the eyes of their husbands, children and helpless infants +slaughtered--a very Golgotha of butchery, as all know who have read of +the Well of Cawnpore? + +The first months of the rebellion were a fight for dear life, a constant +struggle to avert entire annihilation, for to all who were there it +seemed as though no power on earth could save them. But Providence +willed it otherwise, and after the full extent of the danger was +realized, gloomy forebodings gave way to stern endeavours. Men arose, +great in council and in the field, statesmen and warriors--Lawrence, +Montgomery, Nicholson, Hodson, and many others. The crisis brought to +the front numbers of daring spirits, full of energy and resource, of +indomitable resolution and courage, men who from the beginning saw the +magnitude of the task set before them, and with calm judgment faced the +inevitable. These were they who saved our Indian Empire, and who, by the +direction of their great organized armies, brought those who but a few +years before had been our mortal enemies to fight cheerfully on our +side, and, carrying to a successful termination the leaguer of Delhi, +stemmed the tide of the rebellion, and broke the backbone of the Mutiny. + +The interest excited amongst all classes of our countrymen by the events +which happened during the momentous crisis of 1857 in India can scarcely +be appreciated by the present generation. So many years have elapsed +that all those who held high commands or directed the councils of the +Government have long since died, and the young participants in the +contest who survived its toils and dangers are all now past middle age. +But the oft-told tale will still bear repetition, and the recital of the +achievements of Englishmen during the great Indian rebellion will fill +the hearts of their descendants for all time with pride, and incite them +to emulate their actions. In the hour of danger the heart of the nation +is stirred to its profoundest depths, the national honour is at stake, +and that heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors must at all hazards +be preserved. Thus it happened in 1857, and the result is well known. So +it may again occur, and with confidence it may be predicted that, as of +yore, Britain's sons will not be found wanting in the hour of trial, +that, keeping well in mind the glorious traditions of their race, they +will maintain unsullied the reputation of their forefathers, and add to +the renown of that Empire on which the sun never sets. + +It is unnecessary, in this place, to enter into the causes which led +to the mutiny of the Bengal army. These can be read and studied in the +graphic pages of Kaye and Malleson. My intention is to give, as far as +in me lies, a truthful account of the events in which I personally bore +part, and which came under my own immediate observation. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +_May 10 to June 13_ + +Outbreak at Meerut--Neglect of arsenals--H.M.'s 61st +Regiment--Characteristics of the British troops in India--Outbreak +unexpected--First indication of disaffection--News of the Mutiny at +Meerut--Steps taken at Ferozepore--Wives and families moved to the +barracks--A party of the 61st Regiment sent into the fort--Proceedings +within the fort--45th Regiment of Native Infantry tries to take the +fort--It is repulsed--Criticism of the Brigadier's conduct--His want of +initiative--The cantonment fired--The damage done--Bells of arms blown +up--The 61st dismissed to barracks--A patrol ordered--State of the +cantonment--Action of the mutineers--Officers quartered in the +barracks--Grenadiers again on special duty--Indifference displayed by +the Brigadier--Measures adopted for the safety of the cantonment--Search +for mess property--Parsimony of the Government--Anxiety in the +Punjab--Loyalty of the Sikhs--Sir John Lawrence's appeal to +them--Their characteristics--Spread of the Mutiny--Reaction +at Ferozepore--Night-attacks--One in particular--Trial of +prisoners--Sentences--Executions + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +_June 13 to July 1_ + +A wing of the 61st ordered to Delhi--The five companies +selected--Readiness displayed by the regiment--On the march--Cholera +appears--I visit an old friend--Badli-ki-Serai--News from Delhi--Entry +into camp + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +_July 1 to September 7_ + +A view of Delhi--Vicissitudes of the city--Its defences--defences--The +ridge--Position of our camp--Our position--The Goorkhas--Cholera +raging--Heat and flies--Executions--The Metcalfe pickets--A sortie +expected--expected--Hodson--Bombardment of Metcalfe picket--Enemy +reported moving on Alipore--A force sent after them--The action +described--Forces complimented by Sir Henry Barnard--His death--His +services--Our meagre armament--Scarcity of ammunition--Amusing +incident--The Metcalfe house--Our bugle-calls in use by the enemy--A +sortie--Ruse by the enemy's cavalry--Gallant conduct of Lieutenant +Hills and Major Tombs, Bengal Artillery--Expedition under Brigadier +Chamberlain--Chamberlain--Gallant conduct of Brigadier Wm. Jones--Fight +at Kishenganj--Meeting with an old friend--A sad story--story--Story of +C---- d--A victim of the Meerut massacre--massacre--Strong feeling of +revenge in all ranks--A sortie--Attack on Sabzi Mandi pickets and right +ridge--An awkward position--Heavy loss of enemy--Cholera and other +sickness prevalent--Fishing--Provisions, etc., much appreciated--General +Reed resigns and is succeeded by General Wilson--Attack on Sabzi Mandi +and Hindoo Rao's repulsed--Bodies of slain sepoys rifled--Difficulty of +preventing it--General's approval of Colonel Jones's conduct--The number +of attacks by the enemy--Sortie on our left--Repulsed by Brigadier +Showers--Expedition under Major Coke--Attack on right pickets at +sunset--Combat continues all night--Enemy retires--Loss of enemy--Result +of General Wilson's appointment--We attempt to destroy the bridge +of boats--Demonstration by the enemy--Pickets on the right +harassed--Metcalfe pickets shelled--Brigadier Showers takes four +guns--Our reinforcements arrive under Nicholson--His character--Mrs. +Seeson comes in from the city--The enemy fires rockets--He establishes a +battery on the left bank of the river--river--Sortie--Expedition under +Nicholson--Battle of Najafgarh--Elkington mortally wounded--Gabbett +killed--killed--Death of Elkington--Right pickets harassed--An amusing +incident--The Afghans--Alarm in the Punjab--Bands play in camp--Fatal +shell from across the river--An uncomfortable bath--The siege-train +arrives--Our allies--Zeal of the engineers--New batteries established + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +_September 7 to 14_ + +Strength of our force--General Wilson's order--Volunteers for artillery +called for--All our batteries open fire--Number of casualties during +bombardment--Frequent sorties--Death of Captain Fagan, Bengal +Artillery--Breaches examined--Orders for the assault--Details of +columns--The assault--Blowing in of Kashmir Gate--Details of the +operations--Cowardly tactics of the enemy--Gallant conduct of Private +Moylan, 61st Regiment--Gallant conduct of Surgeon Reade, 61st +Regiment--Doing of Nos. 1 and 2 columns--Nicholson mortally wounded--No. +4 column attacks Kishenganj--Conduct of the Kashmir troops--They +lose their guns--Their search for them--Failure of the attack on +Kishenganj--Intention of the enemy--Work of the Cavalry Brigade--Support +by the Guides infantry--Casualties on September 14--Bravery of the +native troops--Temptations to drink--All liquor destroyed--We construct +more batteries--Reported intentions of the General--These overruled--The +enemy attacks our advanced posts--We storm the magazine--Further +advance of Nos. 1 and 2 Columns--The 61st move to the church--Colonel +Skinner--State of the church--Unsuccessful attack on the Burn +bastion--Eclipse of the sun--The Burn bastion captured--The enemy begin +to retire--Capture of the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion--The Palace +and Selimgarh taken--The Jama Masjid taken--The 61st move to Ali Khan's +house--Casualties--Reflections + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +_September 20 to May, 1858_ + +Lack of appreciation by Government--A contrast--Delay in issue of prize +money and medals--Unceremonious presentation of the latter--Complete +desertion of the city by the enemy--A stroll through the +city--Looting--Discovery of hiding inhabitants--They are ordered +to leave the city--Disgraceful desertion of pets--State of the +streets--Hodson captures the King of Delhi--The King's appearance +described--His trial and sentence--Hodson captures the King's sons and +grandson--Their deaths--Diminished strength of the 61st Regiment--It +moves to the Ajmir Gate--The Jama Masjid and view from it--Its +garrison--A movable column dispatched towards Cawnpore--Soldiers +and others forbidden to enter or leave the city--The Mooltani +horse--Indulgence to Goorkhas--Their appreciation--An exodus--Strict +regulations--State of feeling of the army--Work of the Provost +Marshal--Two reputed sons of the King executed--The suburbs--An amusing +incident--Visiting the old positions--Cholera still rife--2,000 sick and +wounded in the Selimgarh--We move to the magazine--I am recommended for +sick leave--I leave Delhi for Umballah--I am robbed _en route_--Report +matters to Commissioner and receive compensation--Leave for Ferozepore +and home + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +Delhi famed for its treasures--General Wilson's order--Army anxious +about prize-money--Batta to be granted instead--Indignation of +army generally--Humorous placard--Interest on unpaid prize-money +promised--Opinion of the Times--Prize-agents appointed--Early looting--A +white elephant--Evidence of looting--The practice excused--A lucky +haul--Scruples cast aside--Personal experiences--A tempting display--No +proper account rendered--Method of search--A mine of wealth--A neglected +opportunity--A happy thought--A wrinkle--A favourite hiding-place--An +exceptional house--A mishap--Art treasures--"'Tis an ill wind," +etc.--Pleasant memories + + +INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +PLAN OF DELHI, 1857 + +PLAN OF THE MILITARY STATION AT FEROZEPORE + +DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET + +THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST + +FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS KISHENGANJ + +SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE THE ENGAGEMENT AT NAJAFGARH IN AUGUST, 1857 + +KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857 + +"HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS + + + +[Illustration: PLAN OF DELHI 1857 + + N _Here Nicholson fell on Sept 14th_] + + + +REMINISCENCES OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI, 1857 + + + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +The actual Mutiny of the Bengal army broke out at Meerut on May 10, +1857. Events had happened in the Lower Provinces which foreshadowed the +coming storm, and one regiment of native infantry had been disbanded; +but no one, not even those in high authority, had the faintest suspicion +that our rule in India was imperilled. So strong, indeed, was the +sense of security from present danger that the Government, with almost +culpable neglect, still confided to the care of the native army the +large arsenals of Delhi, Ferozepore, and Phillour, in all of which +immense quantities of ammunition and munitions of war were stored. + +There was not a single white regiment stationed at Delhi, not even a +European guard, the charge of the arsenal, the largest in Upper India, +being entrusted to a few officers and sergeants of artillery. The same +may be said of Phillour, in the Punjab--a small station, where only +native troops were quartered. The fort of Ferozepore, near the left bank +of the Sutlej River, was guarded by 100 men detailed from the sepoy +regiments at that cantonment, and, with Phillour, constituted the +only places from which ammunition could be drawn for the large force, +European and native, guarding the newly-acquired province of the Punjab. + +Her Majesty's 61st Regiment of Foot was stationed at Ferozepore in May, +1857. In that corps I held a commission as Lieutenant, and, during the +absence of my Captain on leave in Kashmir, was in temporary command of +the Grenadier Company. + +The regiment at this time mustered nearly 1,000 men, half that number +old and gallant veterans of from ten to twenty years' service. These +had fought in many Indian campaigns, and on the terrible day of +Chillianwalla, in January, 1849, when the Khalsa army rolled back in +utter defeat a portion of Lord Gough's force, had, under the leadership +of Sir Colin Campbell, altered the fortunes of the battle. Advancing +in line under a tremendous cannonade, and without firing a shot, they +marched as if on parade and in stern silence till within fifty yards +of the Sikh batteries, when, with a shout which struck terror into the +breasts of their enemies, they charged irresistibly and took the guns. + +It was to men such as these that, fortunately for the maintenance of our +Empire in the East, England trusted in the perilous days of 1857. As +of my own regiment, so it may be said of all then quartered in +India--sturdy, fine fellows, of good physique, of rare discipline, and +inured to the climate, who, in the words of the Iron Duke, could march +anywhere and fight anything. The army then had not been improved out +of existence; reforms, if such they can be called, were received with +considerable disfavour; for what amelioration could be effected in the +discipline and steady courage of those who had stormed the heights of +the Alma, had stood the shock of the Muscovite at Inkerman, and had not +despaired on the bloody fields of Ferozeshah and Chillianwalla? + +I may be excused if I thus energetically offer my tribute of praise to +that army, and more especially to that regiment in which I passed my +young days. I recall the numberless acts of devotion and courage, the +tender solicitude with which the veterans of the Grenadier Company +looked after the safety of their youthful commander, during the +campaigns of 1857; and my pen falters and my eyes grow dim with tears as +memory brings before me my gallant comrades in the ranks who fell before +Delhi, or lost their lives through disease and exposure. + +I had been absent from my regiment during the whole of 1856, doing duty +at the Murree Convalescent Depot, and rejoined in March of the following +year. Nothing occurred for the next two months to break the monotony of +life in an Indian cantonment. Parade in the early morning, rackets and +billiards during the day, a drive or ride along the Mall in the cool of +the evening, and the usual mess dinner--these constituted the routine of +our uneventful existence. + +Many of the officers lamented the hard fate which had doomed them to +service in the East, while the more fortunate regiments had been earning +fame and quick promotion in the Crimea and in the recent Persian +campaign. We little thought of what was in store for us, or of the +volcano which was smouldering under our feet. + +The signs of incipient mutiny in the native army had been confined, up +to this time, to the Presidency of Bengal and to the regiments quartered +there. With us at Ferozepore there was little, if any, indication of the +coming outbreak. True it was that some of us noticed sullen looks and +strange demeanour among the sepoys of the two battalions. They, on +occasions, passed our officers without the customary salute, and, if +my memory serves, a complaint of this want of respect was forwarded to +their Colonels. Our billiard-marker, too, a high-caste Brahmin who had +served on our side in the Afghan campaigns of 1839-42 in the capacity +of a spy, a man of cunning and intelligence, warned us in unmistakable +terms of the increasing disaffection among the sepoys of Ferozepore, and +stated his opinion that the spirit of mutiny was rife among them. We +laughed at his fears, and dismissed from our minds all alarm, vaunting +our superiority in arms to the dusky soldiery of Hindostan, and in our +hearts foolishly regarding them with lordly contempt. + +Thus passed in the usual quiet the first twelve days of the month of +May, 1857. The morning of May 13 saw us, as usual, on parade; then, +adjourning to the mess-house, we spent a few hours over breakfast and +billiards, and before midday separated to pass the heat of the day +reading, lounging, and sleeping at our respective bungalows. + +I occupied a large house some distance from the mess in company with a +field-officer and the Adjutant of my regiment. The former, about +1 p. m., was summoned by an orderly to attend a meeting at the quarters +of the Brigadier[1] commanding the troops at Ferozepore. We paid no heed +to this incident, as it occurred to us that the Major's advice and +opinion were required on some matter of regimental or other routine. + +Vicars and I were in the habit, since the hot weather began, of making +ices every afternoon, and had become, from long practice, quite +proficient at the work. At three o'clock we were in the midst of our +occupation, our whole thoughts and energies bent on the accomplishment +of our task. Clad in loose dĂ©shabillĂ©, seated on the floor of the +sitting-room, we worked and watched the process of congelation. + +Presently a quick step was heard in the hall, the door was thrown open, +and the Major, rushing in, sank breathless into a chair. The Adjutant +and I jumped up, and in our haste upset the utensils, spilling on the +floor the contents we had taken so much trouble to prepare. A minute or +two passed, and still no word from our friend, who, portly in shape, and +of a plethoric temperament, seemed overcome by some terrible excitement, +and fairly gasped for breath. + +"What on earth is the matter?" we asked. + +Slowly, and as though uttered with considerable difficulty, the answer +came: + +"All the Europeans in India have been murdered!" + +Now this was rather a startling announcement, and somewhat premature, +considering that we three, at any rate, were in the land of the living, +with no immediate prospect of coming dissolution. We looked at each +other, at first serious and alarmed, as became the gravity of the +situation, and utterly unable to comprehend what it all meant. This +phase of the affair, however, did not last long, and soon changed from +grave to gay. A merry twinkle appeared in Vicars' eyes, to which my own +responded, and at last, fully alive to the absurdity of the gallant +officer's remark, our pent-up sense of the ridiculous was fairly +awakened, and we roared with laughter again and again. + +This unlooked-for result of his dismal communication roused the Major, +who first rebuked us for our levity, and, after an interval occupied in +the recovery of his scattered senses, proceeded to acquaint us with the +true facts of what had happened at the Brigadier's quarters. + +A despatch by telegraph had arrived that morning from Meerut, the +largest cantonment in Upper India, stating that the regiment of native +light cavalry at that place had mutinied in a body on the 10th instant, +and marched for Delhi. This had been followed by a revolt of all the +sepoy infantry and artillery, a rising of the natives in the city, the +bazaars and the surrounding country, who, almost unchecked, had murdered +the European men and women on whom they could lay their hands, and +besides, had set fire to and "looted" many houses in the station. +Fortunately for the safety of the English in India, the miscreants +failed to cut the telegraph-wires at Meerut till too late, and the news +of the mutiny and outrage was as quickly as possible flashed to every +cantonment in the country. + +The Brigadier had therefore ordered the commanding and field officers +of the different regiments stationed at Ferozepore to meet him in +consultation at his quarters. Intelligence so startling as that just +received required no small amount of judgment and deliberation in +dealing with the native soldiers at this cantonment, and some time +elapsed before the council decided as to what was best to be done under +the circumstances. + +Finally it was resolved that a general parade of Her Majesty's 61st Foot +and the battery of European artillery should be held at four o'clock +on the lines in front of the barracks of the former corps. The two +regiments of native infantry were to assemble at the same time, and, +with their English Officers, were ordered to march from their quarters, +taking separate directions: the 45th to proceed into the country, +leaving the fort of Ferozepore on their right, while the 57th were to +march out of cantonments to the left rear of the lines of the European +infantry. The commanding officers of these regiments were also +instructed to keep their men, if possible, well in hand, to allow no +straggling, and to halt in the country until further orders after they +had proceeded three or four miles. The remaining regiment, the 10th +Native Light Cavalry, for some reason or other was considered staunch +(and as events proved, it remained so for a time), and it was therefore +ordained that the troopers should parade mounted and under arms in their +own lines ready for any emergency. + +Thus far we learnt from the Major, and Vicars, whose duties as Adjutant +required his presence at the barracks at once, donned his uniform, and, +mounting his horse, rode in all haste to give directions for the general +parade. + +Shortly before four o'clock the Major and I also left the house and +joined the regiment, which was drawn up in open column of companies in +front of the lines. + +Notice had previously been sent to the married officers in the station +directing them to make immediate arrangements for the transport of their +wives and families to the barracks. This order was obeyed without loss +of time, and before half-past four all the ladies and children in the +cantonment were safe under the protection of our soldiers at the main +guard. + +The barracks of the European infantry at Ferozepore were distant half +a mile from the station, and consisted of ten or twelve large detached +buildings, one for each company, arranged in echelon, with some thirty +paces between each. In front of these was the parade-ground where +we were drawn up, and before us an open plain, 300 yards in width, +extending to the entrenched camp, or, as it was generally called, the +fort and arsenal of Ferozepore. The space around the fort was quite +clear, its position being directly opposite the centre of the +cantonment, from which it was separated by some 200 yards. + +From our situation on parade we had a direct and unbroken view of +the localities I have endeavoured to describe, and holding this +vantage-ground, we should be enabled to act as circumstances might +require. + +The regiment wheeled into line more than 900 strong. One hundred men +under command of a field-officer were then detached, with orders to +disarm the sepoy guard in the fort, and to remain there on duty pending +any attempt which might probably be made by the two native regiments to +gain forcible possession of the arsenal. + +The detachment marched off, and we watched our comrades cross the plain, +and enter without molestation the gates of the fort. + +In anxious expectation we waited for the result, when, after a short +interval, shots were heard, and we knew that our men had engaged the +sepoy guard. The firing was continuous while it lasted, but soon died +away. A mounted officer then rode out at the gate, and, galloping to +where the Colonel was standing, reported that the sepoys, when ordered +to lay down their arms, refused, and that one of them, taking direct aim +at the Major,[2] shot him in the thigh, leaving a dangerous wound. Our +men then poured a volley into the mutineers, who fired in return, but +fortunately without causing any casualty on our side. Two sepoys had +been killed and several wounded, while the remainder, offering no +further resistance, were disarmed and made prisoners. + +Meantime the regiment stood under arms in line, and another company was +sent to reinforce the men in the fort. + +Amid great excitement, more especially among the young soldiers, we +waited to see what would follow when the sepoy battalions marching from +cantonments into the country appeared in sight. Eagerly it was whispered +amongst us, "Will the rascals fight, or remain loyal and obedient to the +orders of their officers?" + +The evening was drawing on apace, but at last, about six o'clock, the +heads of the columns emerged from the houses and gardens of the station, +the 45th Native Infantry advancing in almost a direct line to the +fort, while the 57th Native Infantry were inclined to their right, and +followed the road leading to the rear of our lines. All eyes were turned +on the former regiment, and its movements were ardently scanned. + +Closer and closer they came to the fort, till, when only about fifty +paces distant, the column wavered. We could see the officers rushing +about among their men, and in another instant the whole mass broke +into disorder and ran pell-mell in hundreds towards the ditch which +surrounded the entrenchment. + +This was of no depth, with sloping sides, and easy to escalade, and in +less time than I take to write it the sepoys, with a shout, jumped into +the trench, scrambled up the parapet, and disappeared from our sight +into the enclosure. + +It was not long before we heard the sound of firing, and shots came in +quick succession, maddening us beyond control, for we thought of our +men, few in number and scattered over the fort, opposed to some five or +six hundred of these savages. + +We had loaded with ball-cartridge soon after forming on parade, and the +men now grasped their muskets, and cries and murmurs were heard, "Why +do we not advance?" and all this couched in language more forcible than +polite. + +The order at last was given to fix bayonets, and then came the welcome +words: + +"The line will advance." + +Every heart thrilled with excitement. All longed to have a brush with +the mutineers, and help our comrades in the fort who were fighting +against such odds. + +Twenty paces only we advanced, and then, by the Brigadier's command, our +Colonel[3] gave the order to halt. + +The men were furious, and could hardly be restrained from marching +forward, when, looking towards the outer side of the fort, we saw some +sepoys on the ramparts, evidently in a state of panic, throw themselves +into the ditch, and mounting the other side, run helterhelterskelter +into the country. These were followed by numbers of others, who all made +off as fast as their legs would carry them, and then we heard a true +British cheer, our men appeared on the walls shooting at the fugitives, +bayonetting and driving them over the glacis. + +The fight had continued some twenty minutes, and was pretty severe while +it lasted. A few of our men were more or less hurt, but of the sepoys +many had been killed and wounded. About 100 also had laid down their +arms, and, begging for mercy, were taken prisoners. + +Nothing could have been more culpable than the conduct of the Brigadier +in not advancing a portion, at any rate, of my regiment to the fort at +the time the sepoys broke their ranks and entered the entrenchment. Had +he done so, it is probable that not one of the mutineers of the 45th +Native Infantry would have escaped, nor would the havoc which afterwards +occurred in the cantonment have taken place. But he was an old East +India Company's officer, and had served upwards of forty years in the +native army, having to the last, like many others at that eventful time, +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys. He feared, also, the +responsibility of letting loose the English soldiery to wreak their +vengeance on the mutineers, knowing too well that, with passions roused +and hearts steeled to pity by the murders and outrages committed at +Meerut, and the late wounding of their field-officer, our men would have +given no quarter. The Brigadier was one of the very few officers in high +command at the outbreak of the Mutiny who were found wanting in the time +of trial. His, no doubt, was a hard task; but, had he shown the smallest +aptitude to meet the crisis, there would have been no difficulty, with +the ample means at his disposal, in disarming without bloodshed the +whole native force at Ferozepore, and so crushing the rebellion at that +station. + +Night came, and we still remained in line under arms without having +moved a foot from where we were halted. Conjectures were rife as to what +would next happen. Officers and men were grieved, no less than annoyed, +at the state of inaction in which we had been kept, and an uneasy +feeling prevailed that during the night the mutinous sepoys, aided by +the _badmashes_, or bad characters, who swarmed in the bazaars and city +of Ferozepore, would, under cover of the darkness, run riot over the +cantonment, without our being called on to interfere. + +And so, unhappily, it came to pass. The native cavalry at about eight +o'clock marched down to our lines, and drew up on the right of the +regiment, the European artillery being on our left flank. + +Soon after their arrival the arms were piled and the men fell out of +the ranks, some to lie down on the ground, others forming in groups and +discussing the strange events of the day. + +Suddenly a light was seen in the direction of the cantonment, which +quickly turned into a blaze of fire. What new horror was this? Were our +houses to be gutted and burnt before our eyes without any attempt to +prevent such outrage? + +The men, at the first appearance of fire, had sprung to their feet and +almost involuntarily seized their arms. Surely a detachment would be +sent to clear the cantonment of the incendiaries? Even this was not +done: the Brigadier was absent, or could not be found, and our Colonel +intimated to some officers who spoke to him on the subject that he could +give no orders without the chief's consent. + +So, incredible though it may appear, we stood and watched the fires, +which followed each other in quick succession till the whole cantonment +seemed in a blaze, and the flames, darting up in every direction, +lighted up the surrounding country. + +We could hear distinctly the shouts of the scoundrels, and pictured to +ourselves the black wretches holding high carnival among the burning +buildings and laughing at the white soldiers, who, with arms in their +hands, remained motionless in their own lines. + +That night more than twenty houses were burnt to the ground. The English +church, we afterwards heard, was first fired, then the Roman Catholic +chapel, our mess-house, and nineteen other bungalows. The sepoys, mostly +of the 45th Native Infantry, attended by dozens of _badmashes_, marched +unchallenged through the station with lighted torches fixed on long +bamboo poles, with which they set fire to the thatched roofs of the +various houses. + +All night long we lay by our arms, watching the destruction of our +property, and thankful only that the wives and children of our officers +and men were safe under our care, and not exposed to the fury of the +wretches engaged in their fiendish work. + +Even after this long lapse of years, I cannot think of that night +without a feeling of shame. Here were 700 men, mostly veterans, of one +of Her Majesty's regiments, doomed to inaction through the blundering +and stupid perverseness of an old sepoy Brigadier. The same unhappy +events as those I have narrated occurred at the outbreak of the Mutiny +in three other stations in the Bengal Presidency. + +The commanders would not act against their trusted sepoys, who, as in +our case, plundered, outraged, and destroyed all and everything that +came in their way. + +_May 14_.--The morning of May 14 dawned, close and hot, not a breath of +wind stirring. The sun rose like a ball of fire, and shortly afterwards +we were startled by an explosion which shook the earth under our feet, +and sounded like a heavy peal of thunder in the still morning air. +Looking in the direction of the report, we saw on the far right side +of the cantonment a thick black column of smoke shoot up high into the +atmosphere. A quarter of an hour passed, and then another detonation +similar to the first sounded in our ears on the left rear flank, +followed, as before, by a dense cloud of smoke. + +We said to ourselves: "Will the arsenal next be blown up?" In the fort +was stored an immense quantity of powder and munitions of war, and, +fearing that perhaps some rebel might have found his way in for the +purpose of devoting his life to the destruction of the entrenchment and +the annihilation of the European guard, we remained anxiously expectant +for some time. + +No cause could be assigned for the explosions we had heard, but we +were informed subsequently that, by the orders of our commander, the +magazines or bells of arms belonging to the two native regiments had +been blown up by a party of sappers in the fear that they might fall +into the hands of the rebellious sepoys. It was a futile precaution, and +a mere waste of ammunition; for nothing could have been easier than to +send the contents of the magazines under our escort to the arsenal. + +At eight o'clock we were dismissed to barracks, and left the spot where +we had stood in line inert and inactive since four o'clock the previous +afternoon. + +Shortly after breakfast I was sent for by the Colonel to the +orderly-room, and informed that it was the wish of the Brigadier that I +should proceed with my company into the cantonments. I was ordered +to make strict search for, and to take prisoner, any sepoys or bad +characters that might be lurking about; and to this end I was to +patrol the station from one side to the other. I was also to visit +the commissariat quarters, disarm the native guard, using force if +necessary, and secure the treasure chest, which contained some 20,000 +rupees. + +It struck me that this duty might very well have been performed many +hours before. Why had not a company been detailed to patrol the +cantonment the previous evening, or, at any rate, at the first sign of +incendiarism? + +However, I started without delay with ninety Grenadiers, and marched +over a great part of the station, extending the company in skirmishing +order whenever we passed through the numerous large gardens, orchards, +and enclosures. + +Not a soul was to be seen, and the place seemed entirely deserted. The +sepoys, after their work of destruction, must have left during the +night, and were now probably well on their way to Delhi, while the +_badmashes_ who had assisted them had returned quietly to their +occupations in the bazaars of the city. + +The cantonment presented a complete scene of desolation. The church and +chapel were a heap of burnt-up and smouldering ruins, our mess-house the +same, and numerous bungalows--former residences of the officers--were +still on fire. The heat from the burning embers was intense, and as we +passed slowly by we viewed, with anger in our hearts, the lamentable +results of the timidity and vacillation, the irresolution and culpable +neglect, of one man. + +Lastly, we visited the commissariat quarters at the far side of the +station. Here there was no guard, not even a native in charge. Strange +inconsistency! It turned out that, some hours before our arrival, the +sepoy guard, true in this respect to their trust, had procured a cart, +taken the treasure to the fort, there handed it over to the officer at +the gate, and then started for Delhi. + +My duty was accomplished, and I marched the Grenadiers back to barracks, +then reported the unsatisfactory result of my mission to the Colonel; +and, thoroughly tired and worn out from want of rest, I threw myself on +a bed and slept soundly for some hours. + +We were told that afternoon that the 57th Native Infantry, who had +marched to the rear of our barracks the evening before, had remained +quietly in the country during the night without one sepoy showing any +mutinous disposition. In the early morning, without molesting their +English officers, about half the regiment signified their intention of +marching down-country; while of the rest, some 300 men returned to their +lines at Ferozepore, and on being called upon to do so by the Colonel, +laid down their arms. + +It must be recorded to the credit of these regiments that no officer was +hurt by them, or even insulted. The sepoys quietly but firmly announced +that they released themselves from the service of the East India +Company, and were about to become enrolled as subjects of the King of +Delhi. Then, in several instances even saluting their officers and +showing them every mark of respect, they turned their faces to the great +focus of rebellion, to swell the number of those who were about to fight +against us in the Mohammedan capital of Hindostan. + +The officers of these two corps were more fortunate than their comrades +of other regiments throughout the land, many of whom were shot down by +their own sepoys in cold blood under circumstances of signal barbarity. +They saw their wives and children murdered before their faces, while +those who escaped the fury of the sepoys wandered in helpless flight +through jungles and plains, suffering incredible privations. Some few +there were who reached a friendly station, or were succoured and hidden +by loyal natives. But the greater number fell by the hands of the +wretches who in these times of outrage and anarchy swarmed out of the +low quarters of the cities, and swept unchecked over the whole country +in hundreds and thousands. + +The officers had taken up their quarters in the barracks in one or the +centre buildings, which was reserved entirely for their use. Here we +endeavoured to make ourselves as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances, the large apartment serving at once as mess-house +sitting-room and bedroom for us all. The Colonel alone lived apart, +while the married ladies and their families for the present occupied the +main guard bungalow pending arrangements for more suitable quarters. + +The poor ladies, as was natural, were in a state of great agitation, and +would not be comforted. We did our best to quiet their fears, telling +them there was not the slightest danger as regarded their safety; that, +even were we attacked by the rebels, they need have no dread of the +result, for we were more than a match for double our number of sepoys. +Still, it pained us much to see their distress, and we could only be +thankful that, come what might, they were under the protection of +British soldiers. + +On the evening of May 14, at sunset, I was sitting smoking and chatting +in the barrack-room with some of our officers when, quite unexpectedly, +I was again called to the orderly-room, and directed to march with the +Grenadier company on outlying picket to the left rear of the cantonment, +and close to the lines of the disarmed sepoys. Two guns of the Light +Field Battery, under a subaltern, were also placed under my orders, and +I took with me a young ensign to assist me in my duties. + +The Brigadier said he had received intelligence that an attack by the +mutineers was expected from the direction of Lahore; and I was told to +keep a sharp lookout, in case the enemy made during the night a flank +movement on the station. I was also constantly to patrol the lines of +the native regiments, to confine the sepoys to their huts, and to take +prisoner any who ventured outside. + +The short Indian twilight was drawing to a close when I arrived on the +ground, and, without losing time, I drew up the Grenadiers in line, with +the two guns a little in advance and on my left flank. + +Two sentries were posted in front of the guns, two on the right and left +of my small detachment, and two in the rear. + +The plain extended before us for miles to the horizon, bare and +treeless, without one intervening obstacle. + +Evening closed and night came on--a night dark as Erebus, though the +stars shone bright and luminous in the heavens. All nature was silent +as the grave, and, save for the tramp of the sentinels and the marching +away and return of the patrolling parties, for hours we heard no sound. + +Before leaving barracks the picket had loaded the guns with grape and +the old Brown Bess (there were no rifles in most of the Indian regiments +in those far-off days) with ball-cartridge. I had also ordered the +men to fix bayonets, and we were thus fully prepared to give a warm +reception to any sepoys who might attack us. The arms were piled, and in +silence we lay on the ground. + +Presently, about midnight, one of the sentinels in front of the guns +challenged: + +"Who comes there?" + +There was no answer, and the cry was repeated, the sentry at the same +moment firing off his musket. + +The company sprang to their arms, and I called on the sentries in front +to retreat under cover of the guns. Almost simultaneously, and before +the men could retire, flashes of fire appeared on the plain, and +numerous shots came whistling over our heads, while, clear and distinct, +a cry rang out, and we knew that one of the sentries had been hit. Close +following the first came several straggling shots, but the rascals fired +too high, and we had no casualty. I then ordered the men to fire a +volley, and the artillery officer at the same time swept his front with +grape from the two guns. + +After these discharges all was still, and we strained our eyes in the +darkness, but could see nothing. Then, taking with me a sergeant and +four men, I proceeded to where the sentry had made the first challenge. + +We found the poor fellow lying face downwards on the ground, and raising +him up, saw that he was quite dead. Slowly and tenderly the body was +borne to the picket, and on examination by the light of a lantern, we +discovered that he had received a bullet over the region of the heart, +and that death, therefore, must have been instantaneous. My heart +sickened at the sight; this was my first contact with the horrors of +war, and the remembrance will remain with me to my dying day. + +The other sentinel was then questioned, and from him we learnt that, +peering through the darkness when the challenge was first given, he had +seen figures passing in his front across the plain. Soon they halted and +fired, and then disappeared, probably having lain down to escape being +hit by our men. Hearing this, I sent out a small reconnoitring party, +which patrolled the plain for some distance. They returned with the +news that all was quiet, and no human being was to be seen. Two fresh +sentries were placed in front of the guns, and the men lay down as +before, fully expecting another attack. + +_May 15_.--All, however, passed off without further incident, and at +sunrise I marched the picket to barracks and reported myself to the +Brigadier. He made no comment on the events of the night, nor did he +even ask for particulars as to the manner of the soldier's death. The +mutineers, he said, were in scattered detachments still, no doubt +prowling about the outskirts of the cantonment and in the neighbouring +villages, taking advantage of every opportunity to harass and inflict +loss on our soldiers. + +From this time forward for nearly a month, with the single exception of +one encounter with a body of mutineers, which I shall relate hereafter, +no event of importance occurred at Ferozepore. + +The chief danger had passed from our midst in the flight towards Delhi +of more than half of the two battalions of sepoys, the disarmament of +300 of the 57th, and the imprisonment of those who had been captured +fighting when attempting to take the arsenal. + +Everything being thus comparatively peaceful, with no enemy in the +vicinity, the Brigadier at last woke up to a sense of his duty; and +extraordinary measures were taken by his command for the safety of the +cantonments and lines of Ferozepore. + +It was ordered that one company should be placed each night on advanced +outlying picket, another on rear picket, and a third to be stationed at +the main guard to furnish sentries as a cordon round the whole extent +of the barracks. Two companies were to remain constantly in the fort in +charge of a senior Captain, so that, out of the ten companies, six were +always on duty. + +Under the excitement which first prevailed, and the necessity of being +prepared in case of a night attack from the roving bands of rebellious +soldiery who from all directions were making for the imperial city, +plundering and ravaging on the route, this duty was cheerfully +undertaken. But as time went by, and week succeeded week, without a +shot being fired to relieve the monotony of our lives, the work became +irksome in the extreme. + +The regiment therefore fell into a regular groove of guard and picket +duty. We longed to have a fight with the enemy, and still were doomed to +remain in a state of masterly inactivity. At the fort the work was most +trying, and resolved itself into a course of manual labour. There it was +ordered that under the ammunition sheds deep pits were to be dug in the +ground. This duty was performed entirely by the English soldiers, and +continued for a fortnight in the hottest season of the year. In the +receptacles thus formed all the barrels of powder, as well as the small +arms, ammunition, etc., were packed and stowed away, the whole being +covered with earth to the depth of several feet. This was a very needful +expedient, for a stray spark might have blown up the vast stores of +munitions of war, without which it would have been impossible to carry +on future operations against the enemy. No fires for any purpose were +permitted in the fort, and, greatest deprivation of all, the men were +not allowed to smoke during the twenty-four hours they were on guard. + +Three or four days after the outbreak, and when everything seemed quiet +in and around the cantonment, two officers and myself, taking with us +some native labourers carrying spades and shovels, proceeded, under +orders from our Colonel, to search for the silver plate buried under +the ruins of our mess-house. We found the brick walls standing; but all +inside the building was one mass of ashes and still-smouldering embers. + +We knew the locality of the plate chest, and, setting the coolies to +work, after infinite labour, which lasted some hours, we succeeded in +removing a vast heap of cinders, and found portions of the silver. A +little lower down we came on more; and here were seen spoons melted +almost out of shape by fire. The large silver dishes, plates and +cups--many of the latter of priceless value, for they had been acquired +by the regiment during the Peninsular War--were lying one on top of the +other just as they had been placed in the chest, but all ruined and +disfigured, half melted and blackened from the intense heat. + +Close by, where they had fallen off a table, were the four massive +silver candelabra, the gift of distinguished officers who had formerly +served in the corps. These were twisted out of all shape, and beyond +hope of repair, of no value but for the bullion. Other articles there +were, such as snuff-boxes, drinking-horns, and table ornaments; not one +single piece of silver had escaped the action of the fire. + +It was a sorry sight to look on the total destruction of our beautiful +mess furniture. Costly goods had been sacrificed which no money could +replace; not one single article belonging to the officers had been +saved. + +Gathering together all the silver we could find, and lamenting the +incompetence by which we had lost property amounting in value to ÂŁ2,000, +we placed everything in a cart and conveyed it to the barracks. + +Many months afterwards the Government directed a committee of officers +to value the effects destroyed by the mutineers, to the end that +remuneration might be granted to the regiment for loss sustained. This +committee, after due consideration, placed the estimate at a very low +figure--viz., ÂŁ1,500. The parsimony of those in power refused us +full payment of this just debt, intimated also that the demand was +exorbitant, and closed all further action in the matter by sending us a +draft on the Treasury for half the amount claimed. + +For the first week or ten days after the outbreak at Ferozepore we knew +very little of what was occurring down-country, as well as throughout +the Punjab, the province of the "Five Rivers" to our north. In that +newly-acquired territory there were twenty-six regiments of the native +army, while the Sikhs, the warlike people who inhabited the land, had +met us in deadly conflict only nine years before. From the latter, then, +as well as from the sepoys, there was cause for great anxiety. Every +precaution, therefore, was necessary to guard the Ferozepore Arsenal, +the largest, next to Delhi, in Upper India. The temper of the Sikhs +was uncertain; no one could foretell which side they would take in the +coming struggle. Our Empire in Hindostan--during the month of May more +especially--trembled in the balance. There was infinite cause for alarm +for months afterwards even to the Fall of Delhi; but at no time were we +in such a strait as at that period when the loyalty or defection of the +Sikh regiments and people was an open question. + +The genius of Sir John Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, +warded off the danger. That eminent man, the saviour of India, issued a +proclamation calling on the Sikhs to aid us in our trouble. They came +at once in hundreds--nay, thousands--to enlist on our side. Veterans of +Runjeet Singh's Khalsa army, the men who had withstood us on equal terms +in many sanguinary battles, animated by intense hatred of the Poorbeah +sepoy, enrolled themselves in the ranks of the British army, and fought +faithfully for us to the end of the war. Their help was our safety; +without these soldiers, and the assistance rendered by their chieftains, +Delhi could never have been taken; while, on the other hand, had they +risen and cast in their lot with the mutinous sepoys, no power on earth +could have saved us from total annihilation. + +The Sikhs are the beau-ideal of soldiers. Tall and erect in bearing, +wiry and well-knit, and of great muscular development, their whole +appearance stamps them as men who look upon themselves as "lords of the +soil," whom it would be difficult to conquer. And without doubt the +campaigns of 1845-46 and 1848-49 were the hardest in which we had been +engaged in India. + +For 100 years they had dominated the land of the Five Rivers. Ever eager +for war, their turbulent spirits gave them no rest. It had been a belief +that they would in the future acquire the sovereignty of Hindostan, and +I know for certain that among the soldiers for many years there had been +a tradition that one day they would sack the imperial city of Delhi. + +The latter expectation was in a manner fulfilled; but not as an +independent nation or under their own leaders did they capture and +plunder the Mohammedan capital: they accomplished that feat as loyal +subjects of the British Crown. + +Every now and then news reached us of the spread of the Mutiny, till +from Calcutta to Peshawar there were few stations where the native +troops had not joined in the rebellion. Cavalry, infantry, and +artillery, all had risen in revolt. The wave of mutiny was surging to +and fro throughout the land, and as yet little had been done to stem the +tide. True, a small force was being assembled at Umballah, which, under +the Commander-in-Chief, was about to march to Delhi, but of the doings +of that army we could learn no satisfactory tidings. + +The closing days of the month of May passed wearily by, and time hung +heavily on our hands. We felt the inevitable reaction from the first few +days of excitement, and also missed the comforts and ease to which we +had been accustomed in former hot seasons. The barracks were close and +stuffy, and the officers, in place of the luxury of their bungalows and +their pleasant mess, had to endure privations of every kind. + +Hot winds, parching up the already arid ground, blew fiercely every +day. At sunset the breeze usually died away; and though the temperature +lessened somewhat in degree, we felt a choking sensation from the +effects of the dry, still atmosphere. No officer slept in the +barrack-room; our servants carried the beds outside, and there, lying +down and gasping for breath, we vainly courted the sleep that would not +come. + +There was, however, a humorous side to this desolate picture, which +I must now relate, as it shows that, notwithstanding the state of +dejection to which we had been reduced, there still lurked a spirit of +fun and mischief among the officers. + +For some time after the revolt we had "night-attacks" on the brain. +Nothing was spoken of but the chance of our lines being assaulted by +wandering bodies of mutinous sepoys. The order-book each evening, +reminding us of the danger, inculcated strict vigilance on picket and +on guard. So long did this last without any attack being made that the +shadowy expectation of what never occurred became our bugbear, a chimera +which haunted us night and day. + +At last, in a happy hour, it entered into the mind of one of our young +Lieutenants, an Irishman, imbued with the spirit of fun, and the +jolliest fellow in the regiment, that this illusion under which we were +all labouring might be made the subject for a frolic. + +He communicated his ideas to myself and some others of the junior +officers, and it was then and there decided that, as the sepoys would +not attack us, we would create a little excitement and diversion by +playing for the nonce the role of mutineers. + +The council of war then agreed unanimously that an assault was to be +made on the remaining officers when asleep outside the barracks, and +that the weapons to be used should be bolsters and pillows. + +A certain night was fixed on for the accomplishment of our purpose, and +the signal for the attack was to be given by the originator of the plot, +who would take upon himself to make sure that the enemy were off their +guard, wrapped in the arms of Morpheus. + +Everything had been arranged to our satisfaction, and the eventful night +came. At ten o'clock lights were put out, and the assaulting party, +consisting of six stalwart young subalterns, lay down on their beds +outside the barracks, ranged here and there among those who were to play +the part of the enemy, and waited for the signal from our commander. + +Our opponents seemed to take an unconscionable long time in going to +sleep, but at length, in the small hours of the morning, when all was +quiet, the "alarm" was sounded in a low whistle. + +Jumping up from our beds, each man armed himself with a bolster. In +stern and solemn silence our force was marshalled for the attack, and +then, without any word of warning, each one began belabouring with all +his might the recumbent figures of the foe. + +Startled out of their sleep, and in a half-dreamy state of +unconsciousness, it may be imagined with what strange feelings they +received this assault. Some, more especially the older officers (for +in our zeal we spared no one), seemed perfectly bewildered, and in the +midst of the shower of blows which rained on them without intermission +vowed vengeance and threatened to put us under arrest. We answered them +that this was a "night-attack," and they must prepare for defence, as no +quarter would be given. + +Even the fat and portly Major, notwithstanding his rank, felt the +strength of our arms, and, almost bereft of breath between each blow, +commanded us to desist. He might as well have spoken to the winds: our +blood was up, and the spirit of fun had taken possession, so that I +verily believe, had the Colonel or Brigadier been lying there, neither +of them would have escaped our onslaught. + +The enemy were now fully aroused, and, not relishing the fun of being +buffeted unmercifully in their beds without resistance, they one and all +turned out and, seizing their pillows, joined in the fight. The attack, +begun with tactical judgment, turned now into a confused mĂŞlĂ©e. Friend +and foe were mixed up in one grand shindy, and for many minutes the +battle continued without intermission. Blows fell fast and thick; there +was a rushing about of half-clad figures swaying bolsters, and each one +intent on the same object--namely, that of overcoming his antagonist for +the time being. So weird, and yet so utterly ludicrous a sight, surely +never has been seen before or since in India. + +At length, from sheer exhaustion, the combat came to an end, and, +sitting on our beds panting from fatigue, and overcome by the heat of +the night, we discussed the incidents of the fight. Some of the senior +officers seemed at first inclined to treat the attack as something more +than a joke, and threatened to report us to the Colonel. We pointed out +to them that such a proceeding would be absurd, for had they not also +compromised themselves by joining in the fray? It was not long, however, +before they were struck with the grand ridiculousness of this very +strange episode; and the question at issue, as may naturally be +supposed, ended in laughter. Peace being restored, we wished each other +good-night, and, thoroughly worn out by our exertions, all slept soundly +till break of day. + +The affair was kept quiet as far as possible, but gradually got noised +abroad among other regiments of Her Majesty's infantry. Great amusement +was caused by the recital, nor for a long period afterwards was the +comical "night-attack" at Ferozepore forgotten. + +The trial of the sepoys who had been taken prisoners when resisting +the detachment sent to disarm them in the fort, and of those also who +attacked the arsenal on May 13, had been proceeding for some time. It +was a general court-martial composed of thirteen officers, presided over +by a Lieutenant-Colonel. Of the prisoners taken, some 100 were singled +out as the ringleaders, the rest being put back for trial till a future +occasion. + +The evidence was most clear as to the heinous offences of mutiny and +rebellion with regard to all these men, and they were accordingly found +guilty. Sentence was at once pronounced on fourteen of the sepoys, and +the punishment was death. + +Two men of low caste were to be hanged, while the remaining twelve, +comprising Mohammedans and high-caste Hindoos, were to expiate their +crime by that most awful and ghastly penalty, execution by being blown +to pieces from the mouths of cannons. + +This terrible punishment had been but seldom inflicted during British +rule in India, the last instance occurring in 1825, when a native +regiment mutinied and refused to cross the sea to take part in the first +Burmese War. + +Neither was it from the English that this special death penalty +originated. It had been for hundreds of years the recognized punishment +for mutiny and rebellion throughout Hindostan, and in numberless cases +was carried out by the Mogul Emperors. + +With us at this period it was found necessary to strike terror into the +hearts of the rebels, to prove to them that we were resolved at all +hazards to crush the revolt, and to give warning that to those who were +taken fighting against us no mercy would be shown. + +On religious grounds also the infliction of the death penalty by blowing +away mutineers at the mouths of cannons was dreaded both by the Hindoos +and Mohammedans. + +The Hindoo, unless the corpse after death is burnt to ashes with all +ceremony, or else consigned to the sacred stream of the Ganges, +cannot partake of the glories of the future state, nor dwell in bliss +everlasting with the gods of his mythology. + +So with the Mohammedan, the Koran enjoins that all true believers +must be buried with the body in the natural state, and only those are +exempted who have lost limbs in fighting against the infidel. The joys +of Paradise, where ever-young and beautiful houris minister to the wants +and pleasures of the faithful, were therefore not for those who met +a shameful death and were denied or unable to obtain burial in the +orthodox manner. + +Thus, it will be seen, the terrors of future shame and dishonour +resulted to both Hindoo and Mohammedan by the death we were about to +inflict on them; and it was for the awe inspired by the punishment that +the military authorities at this time thought proper to carry it out in +this unaccustomed manner. + +_June 13_.--The morning of June 13 was fixed upon for the execution. A +gallows was erected on the plain to the north side of the fort, facing +the native bazaars, and at a distance of some 300 yards. On this two +sepoys were to be hanged, and at the same time their comrades in mutiny +were to be blown away from guns. + +We paraded at daylight every man off duty, and, with the band playing, +marched to the place of execution, and drew up in line near the gallows +and opposite the native quarter. + +Shortly after our arrival the European Light Field Battery, of six guns, +appeared on the scene, forming up on our left flank, and about twenty +yards in front of the Light Company. + +The morning was close and sultry, not a cloud in the sky, and not a +breath of wind stirring; and I confess I felt sick with a suffocating +sense of horror when I reflected on the terrible sight I was about to +witness. + +Soon the fourteen mutineers, under a strong escort of our men with fixed +bayonets, were seen moving from the fort. They advanced over the plain +at our rear, and drew up to the left front of, and at right angles to, +the battery of artillery. + +I was standing at the extreme right of the line with the Grenadier +Company, and some distance from the guns; but I had provided myself with +a pair of strong glasses, and therefore saw all that followed clearly +and distinctly. + +There was no unnecessary delay in the accomplishment of the tragedy. Two +of the wretched creatures were marched off to the gallows, and placed +with ropes round their necks on a raised platform under the beam. + +The order was given for the guns to be loaded, and quick as thought the +European artillerymen placed a quarter charge of powder in each piece. +The guns were 9-pounders, the muzzles standing about 3 feet from the +ground. + +During these awful preparations, I watched at intervals the faces of the +condemned men, but could detect no traces of fear or agitation in their +demeanour. The twelve stood two deep, six in front and six in the rear, +calm and undismayed, without uttering a word. + +An officer came forward, and, by the Brigadier's order, read the +sentence of the court-martial, and at its conclusion the six men in +front, under escort, walked towards the battery. + +There was a death-like silence over the scene at this time, and, +overcome with horror, my heart seemed almost to cease beating. + +Arrived at the guns, the culprits were handed over to the artillerymen, +who, ready prepared with strong ropes in their hands, seized their +victims. Each of these, standing erect, was bound to a cannon and +tightly secured, with the small of the back covering the muzzle. And +then all at once the silence which reigned around was broken by the +oaths and yells of those about to die. These sounds were not uttered by +men afraid of death, for they showed the most stoical indifference, +but were the long-suppressed utterances of dying souls, who, in the +bitterness of their hearts, cursed those who had been instrumental +in condemning them to this shameful end. They one and all poured out +maledictions on our heads; and in their language, one most rich in +expletives, they exhausted the whole vocabulary. + +Meanwhile the gunners stood with lighted port-fires, waiting for the +word of command to fire the guns and launch the sepoys into eternity. + +These were still yelling and raining abuse, some even looking over their +shoulders and watching without emotion the port-fires, about to be +applied to the touch-holes, when the word "Fire!" sounded from the +officer in command, and part of the tragedy was at an end. + +A thick cloud of smoke issued from the muzzles of the cannons, through +which were distinctly seen by several of us the black heads of the +victims, thrown many feet into the air. + +While this tragic drama was enacting, the two sepoys to be hanged were +turned off the platform. + +The artillerymen again loaded the guns, the six remaining prisoners, +cursing like their comrades, were bound to them, another discharge, and +then an execution, the like of which I hope never to see again, was +completed. + +All this time a sickening, offensive smell pervaded the air, a stench +which only those who have been present at scenes such as these can +realize--the pungent odour of burnt human flesh. + +The artillerymen had neglected putting up back-boards to their guns, so +that, horrible to relate, at each discharge the recoil threw back pieces +of burning flesh, bespattering the men and covering them with blood and +calcined remains. + +A large concourse of natives from the bazaars and city had assembled in +front of the houses, facing the guns at a distance, as I said before, of +some 300 yards, to watch the execution. At the second discharge of the +cannon, and on looking before me, I noticed the ground torn up and earth +thrown a slight distance into the air more than 200 paces away. Almost +at the same time there was a commotion among the throng in front, some +running to and fro, while others ran off in the direction of the houses. +I called the attention of an officer who was standing by my side to this +strange and unaccountable phenomenon, and said, half joking: "Surely the +scattered limbs of the sepoys have not been carried so far?" + +He agreed with me that such was impossible; but how to account for the +sight we had seen was quite beyond our comprehension. + +The drama came to an end about six o'clock, and as is usual, even after +a funeral or a military execution, the band struck up an air, and we +marched back to barracks, hoping soon to drive from our minds the +recollection of the awful scenes we had witnessed. + +Two or three hours after our return news arrived that one native had +been killed and two wounded among the crowd which had stood in our +front, spectators of the recent execution. How this happened has +never been explained. At this time a "cantonment guard" was mounted, +consisting of a company of European infantry, half a troop of the 10th +Light Cavalry, and four guns, and two of these guns loaded with grape +were kept ready during the night, the horses being harnessed, etc. +Half the cavalry also was held in readiness, saddled; in fact, every +precaution was taken to meet an attack. + +As far as I can recollect, there were but two executions by blowing away +from guns on any large scale by us during the Mutiny; one of them that +at Ferozepore. + +[Illustration: Plan of the Military Station at FEROZEPORE] + + +[Footnote 1: Brigadier-General Innes.] + +[Footnote 2: Major Redmond.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel William Jones, C.B.] + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +After the excitement of the late executions we were prepared to relapse +into our usual state of inaction and monotony, when, on the morning +of June 13, a courier arrived from Lahore, the headquarters of the +Executive Government of the Punjab. He brought instructions and orders +from Sir John Lawrence to the Brigadier commanding at Ferozepore to the +effect that a wing of Her Majesty's 61st Regiment was to proceed at once +to reinforce the army under Sir Henry Barnard, now besieging the city of +Delhi. + +That force, on June 8, had fought an action with the mutineers at +Badli-ki-Serai, four miles from Delhi, driving them from their +entrenched position and capturing thirteen guns. The siege of the +Mohammedan stronghold had begun on the next day, but the small band +of English, Sikhs, and Goorkhas which composed the force was quite +inadequate to the task entrusted to it, and, in truth, could do nothing +but act on the defensive against the horde of rebellious sepoys, who +outnumbered them by four to one. + +It may be conceived with what joy the order to advance was received by +the officers and men of my regiment. We had at length a prospect of +entering upon a regular campaign, and the hearts of all of us beat high +at the chance of seeing active service against the enemy. + +To the Colonel commanding it was left to select the five companies +composing a wing of the corps to march to Delhi. All, of course, were +eager to go, and we knew there would be heart-burnings and regrets +amongst those left behind. + +The following companies were chosen out of the ten: Grenadiers, Nos. 2, +3, 7, and the Light Company. They were the strongest in point of numbers +in the regiment, and with the fewest men in hospital, so that it could +not be said that any favouritism in selection was shown by the Colonel. +The wing numbered, all told, including officers and the band, 450 men--a +timely reinforcement, which, together with the same number of Her +Majesty's 8th Foot from Jullundur, would increase materially the army +before Delhi. + +No time was lost in making preparations for the march. Our camp equipage +was ready at hand, a sufficient number of elephants, camels, and oxen +were easily procured from the commissariat authorities, and by eight +o'clock that evening we were on our way. + +In those days a European regiment on the line of march in India +presented a striking scene. Each corps had its own quota of +camp-followers, numbering in every instance more than the regiment +itself, so that transport was required for fully 2,000 souls, and often +when moving along the road the baggage-train extended a mile in length. +The camp, when pitched, covered a large area of ground. Everything was +regulated with the utmost order, and the positions of the motley group +were defined to a nicety. + +We had been directed to take as small a kit as possible, each officer +being limited to two camels to carry his tent and personal effects. Our +native servants accompanied us on the line of march, and I must here +mention that during the long campaign on which we were about to enter +there was not one single instance of desertion among these faithful and +devoted followers. + +Everything being ready, we paraded a little before sunset on the evening +of June 13. The terrible heat which prevailed at this time of the +year prevented us from marching during the day-time. Moreover, it was +necessary to preserve the health of the soldiers at this critical +period, when every European in India was required to make head against +the rebels. So on every occasion when practicable the English regiments +moving over the country marched at night, resting under cover of their +tents during the day.[1] + +Shortly after sunset, we bade adieu (an eternal one, alas! for many of +the gallant souls assembled) to the comrades we were leaving behind; the +band struck up, and we set off in high spirits on our long and arduous +march of more than 350 miles. + +The night, as usual, was close and sultry, with a slight hot wind +blowing; but the men stepped out briskly, the soldiers of the leading +company presently striking up a well-known song, the chorus of which +was joined in by the men in the rear. We marched slowly, for it was +necessary every now and then to halt so as to allow the long train of +baggage to come up; and it was nearly sunrise before we reached the +first halting-ground. The camp was pitched, and we remained under cover +all day, starting, as before, soon after sunset. + +And thus passed the sixteen days which were occupied in reaching Delhi. +Every precaution was taken to prevent surprise, as we were marching, +to all intents and purposes, through an enemy's country, and expected +attacks on our baggage from straggling bodies of mutineers. + +_June 18_.--At Loodianah, five marches from Ferozepore, and which we +reached on June 18, we were fortunate enough to find more comfortable +quarters, the men moving into some of the buildings which had formerly +been occupied by Her Majesty's 50th Regiment, the officers living in the +Kacherri. + +Here, behind tatties and under punkas, and with iced drinks, we were +able to keep pretty cool; but, sad to say, soon after our arrival in the +station that terrible scourge cholera broke out in our ranks, and in +a few hours six men succumbed to this frightful malady. On every +succeeding day men were attacked and died, so that, unhappily, up to +July 1 we lost in all thirty gallant fellows. + +This disease never left us during the entire campaign; upwards of 250 +soldiers of my regiment fell victims to the destroyer; nor were we +entirely free from it till the end of the year. Many more were attacked, +who recovered, but were debarred through excessive weakness from serving +in the ranks, and were invalided home. + +_June 23_.--On reaching Umballah, we found the station all but deserted, +nearly all the European troops having been sent on to join the Delhi +force. The church had been placed in a state of defence, all its walls +loopholed, and around it had been constructed a work consisting of a +wall and parapet, with towers of brickwork armed with field-pieces _en +barbette_ at the angles. + +In it were quartered some of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, lately brought +down from Dagshai. About ninety of these marched with us to Delhi. Here +also we were joined by four officers of the (late) 57th Native Infantry, +who had received orders to join our wing, eventually to fill up +vacancies in the native corps on reaching the scene of operations. With +these we were in all twenty-four officers--rather a strong complement +even for a whole regiment. + +The concluding days of the march were trying in the extreme. Weary and +footsore, and often parched with thirst, we tramped along the hot and +dusty roads, often for miles up to our ankles in deep sand. We were so +tired and overcome with want of rest that many of us actually fell fast +asleep along the road, and would be rudely awakened by falling against +others who were in the same plight as ourselves. At midnight we rested, +when coffee and refreshment were served out to the officers and men. The +halt sounded every hour, and for five minutes we threw ourselves down on +the hard ground or on the hot sand and at once fell asleep, waking up +somewhat restored to continue our toilsome journey. + +From Jugraon onward we had rather long marches, and it was considered +advisable to convey the men part of the way in hackeries; the +arrangement being that they should march halfway, then halt for coffee +and refreshment, and afterwards ride the remainder of the distance. + +By this means they were kept fresh for the work before them, which, we +had every reason to believe, would be anything but light. At Umballah +I took the opportunity of calling on my friend Mr. George Barnes, +the Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States. He had shown me boundless +hospitality, and was like a father to me when I joined my regiment as +a lad at Kussowlie. A man of great intellectual attainments and sound +judgment, he was an honour to the Bengal Civil Service. There was no +officer at that momentous period in whom Sir John Lawrence placed +more confidence. His familiarity with the native character, and the +friendship borne towards him by the Sikh chieftains, enabled him +throughout the Siege of Delhi to keep open communication with the +Punjab, and supply the force with stores, provisions, and ammunition. +He would, without doubt, have risen to the highest honours in his +profession had he not been stricken with a fatal illness in 1859, when +holding the responsible post of Foreign Secretary to the Government of +India. + +A few marches from Delhi we passed over the historic field of Paniput, +where three sanguinary battles had been fought in different ages, each +deciding the fate of Hindostan for the time being. More than 100,000 +men had been slain in these actions, and we felt we were marching over +ground the dust of which was thickly permeated with the ashes of human +beings. + +Here first we heard the sound of distant cannonades, borne thus far to +our ears by the stillness of the night--a sound which told us that our +comrades before Delhi were still holding their position against the +enemy. + +At length, on July 1, just as the sun was rising, we emerged from a +forest of trees on to the plain over which the army under Sir Henry +Barnard had moved on June 8 to attack the entrenchments of the mutineers +at Badli-ki-Serai. + +_July_ 1.--Eagerly we cast our eyes over the ground to our front, and +with pride in our hearts thought of that gallant little force which had +advanced across this plain on that eventful morn under a terrific fire +from the enemy's guns. + +Soon we reached the entrenchments which had been thrown up by the rebels +to bar the progress of our soldiers, and, lying in all directions, we +saw numerous skeletons of men and horses, the bones already bleached to +whiteness from the effects of the burning sun. Dead bodies of camels and +oxen were also strewn about, and the stench was sickening. We were now +about four miles from Delhi, and were met by a squadron of the 6th +Carabineers, sent to escort us into camp. They received us with a shout +of welcome, and, while we halted for a short time, inquiries were made +as to the incidents of the siege. + +We learnt that our small army, with the tenacity of a bulldog, was +holding its own on the ridge overlooking the city, that sorties by the +rebels were of almost daily and nightly occurrence, and that the losses +on our side were increasing. + +With the Carabineers in our front, the march was continued, the white +tents of the besieging force appearing in sight about eight o'clock. +Then the band struck up "Cheer, boys, cheer!" and, crossing the canal by +a bridge, we entered the camp. + +Crowds of soldiers, European as well as native, stalwart Sikhs and +Punjabees, came down to welcome us on our arrival, the road on each side +being lined with swarthy, sun-burnt, and already war-worn men. They +cheered us to the echo, and in their joy rushed amongst our ranks, +shaking hands with both officers and men. + +[Illustration: DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET.] + + +[Footnote 1: The heat even under such cover was intense, averaging 115° +Fahr.] + + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +A situation had already been marked out for our encampment, and, +directed by an officer, we passed through the main portion of our +lines, and halted at the bottom of the ridge on the extreme left of our +position. Some time was occupied after the arrival of the baggage in +pitching our camp; but when all was concluded, Vicars and I started on +foot to take our first view of the imperial city. + +We walked a short distance to the right, and along the foot of the +ridge, and then ascended, making our way to the celebrated Flagstaff +Tower. We mounted to the top: and shall I ever forget the sight which +met our gaze? + +About a mile to our front, and stretching to right and left as far as +the eye could reach, appeared the high walls and the bastions of Delhi. +The intervening space below was covered with a thick forest of trees and +gardens, forming a dense mass of verdure, in the midst of which, and +peeping out here and there in picturesque confusion, were the white +walls and roofs of numerous buildings. Tall and graceful minarets, +Hindoo temples and Mohammedan mosques, symmetrical in shape and gorgeous +in colouring, appeared interspersed in endless numbers among the +densely-packed houses inside the city, their domes and spires shining +with a brilliant radiance, clear-cut against the sky. Above all, in the +far distance towered the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, its three huge +domes of pure white marble, with two high minarets, dwarfing into +insignificance the buildings by which it was surrounded--surely, the +noblest work of art ever built by man for the service of the Creator. + +To the left could be seen the lofty castellated walls of the Palace of +the Emperors, the former seat of the Great Mogul--that palace in +which at that moment the degenerate descendant of Timour, and last +representative of his race, held his court, and in his pride of heart +fondly hoped that British rule was at an end. + +Beyond rose the ancient fortress of Selimgarh, its walls, as well as +those of the palace on the north side, washed by the waters of the +Jumna. A long bridge of boats connected the fort with the opposite bank +of the river, here many hundred yards in width: and over this we could +see, with the aid of glasses, bodies of armed men moving. + +It was by this bridge that most of the reinforcements and all the +supplies for the mutineers crossed over to the city. On the very day of +our arrival the mutinous Bareilly Brigade of infantry and artillery, +numbering over 3,000 men, marched across this bridge. Our advanced +picket at the Metcalfe House stables, close to the Jumna, heard +distinctly their bands playing "Cheer, boys, cheer!" the very same tune +with which we had celebrated our entrance into camp that morning. + +Few cities in the world have passed through such vicissitudes as Delhi. +Tradition says it was the capital of an empire ages before the great +Macedonian invaded India, and its origin is lost in the mists of +antiquity. Traces there were in every direction, amid the interminable +cluster of ruins and mounds outside the present city, of cities still +more vast, the builders and inhabitants of which lived before the dawn +of history. + +Delhi had been taken and sacked times out of number. Its riches were +beyond compare; and for hundreds of years it had been the prey, not only +of every conqueror who invaded India from the north-west, but also of +every race which, during the perpetual wars in Hindostan, happened for +the time to be predominant. Tartars, Turks, Afghans, Persians, Mahrattas +and Rajpoots, each in turn in succeeding ages had been masters of the +city. There had been indiscriminate massacres of the populace, the last +by Nadir Shah, the King of Persia in 1747, when 100,000 souls were put +to death by his order, and booty to a fabulous amount was carried away. +Still, notwithstanding the vicissitudes of fortune through which it had +passed, Delhi was, in 1857, one of the largest, most beautiful, and +certainly the richest city in Hindostan. We knew well that there was +wealth untold within the walls, and our hearts were cheered even at this +time when we thought of the prize-money which would fall to our share at +the capture of the rebellious city. + +The walls surrounding Delhi were seven miles in circumference, flanked +at intervals by strong bastions, on which the enemy had mounted the +largest guns and mortars, procured from the arsenal. Munitions of war +they had in abundance--enough to last them, at the present rate of +firing, for nearly three years. Long we gazed, fascinated at the scene +before us. A dead silence had reigned for some time, when we were +awakened from our dreams by the whiz and hissing of a shell fired by the +enemy. It fell close below the tower and burst without doing any harm; +but some jets of smoke appeared on the bastions of the city, and shells +and round-shot fired at the ridge along the crest of which a small body +of our men was moving. The cannonade lasted for some time, our own guns +replying at intervals. We could plainly see the dark forms of the rebel +artillerymen, stripped to the waist, sponging and firing with great +rapidity, their shot being chiefly directed at the three other +buildings on the ridge--namely, the Observatory--the Mosque, as it was +called--and, on the extreme right, Hindoo Rao's house. + +From the Flagstaff Tower the ridge trended in a southerly direction +towards those buildings, approaching gradually nearer and nearer to the +city, till at Hindoo Rao's house it was distant about 1,200 yards from +the walls. + +To the rear of this ridge, and some distance below, so that all view of +Delhi was quite shut out from it, was the camp of the besieging army, +numbering at this period about 6,000 men. The tents were pitched at +regular intervals behind the ruined houses of the old cantonment, which, +at the outbreak on May 11, had been burnt and destroyed by the sepoys. +A canal which supplied us with water from the Jumna ran round the ridge +past the suburb of Kishenganj into the city, and was crossed by two +bridges, over which communication with the country to the north-west, +and leading to the Punjab, was kept open by the loyal Sikh chieftains +and their retainers. + +Our position on the ridge extended about a mile and a half, the right +and left front flanks defended by outlying advanced pickets, which I +shall hereafter describe. + +The city walls, as before recorded, were seven miles in circumference, +so that at this time, and, in fact, almost to the end of the siege, we, +with our small force, in a manner only commanded a small part of the +city. The bridge of boats remained to the last in the possession of the +enemy, and was quite out of range even from our advanced approaches, +while to the right and rear of the city the gates gave full ingress to +reinforcing bodies of insurgents from the south, whose entrance we were +unable to prevent. + +Our investment, if such it could be called, was therefore only partial, +being confined to that portion of the city extending from the water +battery near Selimgarh Fort to the Ajmir Gate, which was just visible +from the extreme right of the ridge. This part was defended by, I think, +four bastions, named, respectively, the Water, Kashmir, Mori, and Burn. +Three gates besides the Lahore gave egress to the mutineers when making +sorties, the afterwards celebrated Kashmir Gate, the Kabul and the Ajmir +Gates. + +The Hindoo Rao's house, on the right of the ridge where it sloped down +into the plain, was the key of our position, and was defended with great +bravery and unflinching tenacity throughout the whole siege by the +Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, and portions of the 60th Royal Rifles and +the Guide Corps. Incessant day and night attacks were here made by the +enemy, who knew that, were that position turned, our camp--in fact, our +very existence as a besieging force--would be imperilled. + +But no assault, however strong and determined, made any impression on +the men of these gallant regiments, led by Major Reid, the officer +commanding the Sirmoor battalion. They lost in killed and wounded a +number far out of all proportion to that of any other corps before +Delhi, and must in truth be reckoned the heroes of the siege. + +The Goorkhas are recruited in the mountain districts of the Himalayas, +in the kingdom of Nepal. They are short and squat in figure, never more +than five feet three inches in height, of dark complexion, with deep-set +eyes and high cheek-bones denoting their affinity to the Turanian race. +Good-humoured and of a cheerful disposition, they have always been great +favourites with the European soldiers, whose ways and peculiarities they +endeavour to imitate to a ludicrous extent. In battle, as I have often +seen them, they seem in their proper element, fierce and courageous, +shrinking from no danger. They carried, besides the musket, a short, +heavy, curved knife called a _kukri_, a formidable weapon of which the +sepoys were in deadly terror. As soldiers they are second to none, +amenable to discipline and docile, but very tigers when roused; they +fought with unflinching spirit during the Mutiny, freely giving up their +lives in the service of their European masters. + +And now that I have endeavoured, for the purposes of this narrative, to +explain our position and that of the enemy, I shall proceed to recount, +as far as my recollection serves, the main incidents of the siege, and +more particularly those in which I personally took part. + +The camp of my regiment was pitched, as I have said, on the extreme +left of the besieging force, on the rear slope of the ridge. We were +completely hidden from any view of the city, and but for the sound +of the firing close by, which seldom ceased day or night, might have +fancied ourselves far away from Delhi. + +Cholera still carried off its victims from our midst, and the very night +of our arrival I performed the melancholy duty of reading the Burial +Service over five gallant fellows of the Grenadier Company who had died +that day from the fell disease. + +The heat was insupportable, the thermometer under the shade of my tent +marking 112°F.; and to add to our misery there came upon us a plague +of flies, the like of which I verily believe had not been on the +earth since Moses in that manner brought down the wrath of God on the +Egyptians. They literally darkened the air, descending in myriads and +covering everything in our midst. Foul and loathsome they were, and we +knew that they owed their existence to, and fattened on, the putrid +corpses of dead men and animals which lay rotting and unburied in +every direction. The air was tainted with corruption, and the heat was +intense. Can it, then, be wondered that pestilence increased daily in +the camp, claiming its victims from every regiment, native as well as +European? + +About this time many spies were captured and executed; in fact, so many +prisoners were taken by the pickets that it was ordered that for the +future, instead of being sent under escort to the camp for trial, they +should be summarily dealt with by the officers commanding pickets. + +On the evening of July 2 I was sent, in command of fifty men, to relieve +the picket at a place called the "Cow House"; this was an outshed +belonging to Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's mansion, burnt by the rebels on +May 11, and midway between that building and the stables, at each of +which were stationed 150 men. At the beginning of the siege our left +advanced flank, on the side of the River Jumna, was exposed to constant +attacks by the enemy, and the three pickets mentioned above had been +since that time stationed at those places. Each communicated with the +other, the one to the right being on a mound near the ruins of the +house, and some 1,200 yards from the city, the cowshed situated midway +between this mound and the river, and, lastly, the stables close to the +banks, all partially hidden from view of the batteries on the walls by +gardens and thick clusters of trees. + +I stationed my men at the sheds, and placed double rows of sentries to +my front along the edge of a deep _nallah_, or ravine. + +Soon after this that gallant officer, Lieutenant Hodson (on whose memory +lately aspersions have been cast by an author who knows nothing of the +subject on which he has written), rode up to the picket and told me that +a sortie in force was expected that night, and that I was to keep a +sharp lookout to prevent surprise. + +Hodson, besides commanding a regiment of native Sikh cavalry of his own +raising, was head of the Intelligence Department. He covered himself +with glory during the siege, was untiring in his exertions and well-nigh +ubiquitous, riding incessantly round the pickets at night, and being +present at most of the engagements. He was a perfect Hindustani scholar, +and it was reported in camp, though with what truth I cannot say, that +he on several occasions entered Delhi in disguise during the siege +to gain information of the enemy's intentions. This may have been +exaggeration, but it is nevertheless certain that, through some source +or other, he made himself well acquainted with the doings and movements +of the mutineers. + +Shortly after he left, the field-officer on duty appeared, who ordered +me, in case I should be attacked, to defend my post to the last +extremity, and in no case to fall back, adding that to my picket, and to +those on my right and left, the safety of the camp during the expected +sortie, together with the security of our left flank, was entrusted. + +After darkness set in the enemy commenced a furious cannonade in the +direction of the three pickets, round shot whistling through the trees +and shells bursting around us. The din and roar were deafening, but +firing, as they did, at random, little damage was done. Nothing can be +grander than the sight of live shells cleaving the air on a dark night. +They seemed like so many brilliant meteors rushing through the heavens, +or like lightning-flashes during a storm, and this being my first +experience of the sort, no words can paint my awe and admiration. + +We naturally expected an attack in force from the insurgents under cover +of the cannonade; but hours passed by in suspense and anxiety, and +none was attempted. The firing was continued all night--sleep being +impossible--and ceased only at daybreak, when the relief arrived, and I +marched the picket back to our camp. + +_July 3_.--That day the monsoon--the Indian wet season--set in, and rain +descended in sheets of water for many hours. + +In the afternoon it was reported that a large force of mutineers was +moving out of the city by the Kabul and Ajmir Gates into the suburbs +to the right front of our position, and the alarm sounded, most of the +troops in camp turning out and assembling on the road to the rear of +the canal. Here we were halted for some time, it being uncertain what +direction had been taken by the enemy. + +At sunset two doolies, escorted by men of the 5th Punjab Cavalry, were +seen on the road coming towards us. They contained the bodies of a +European sergeant and a man of the Road Department, who had been +surprised and cut to pieces by some of the rebel cavalry. The escort +also reported that a body of insurgents numbering many thousand men had +been seen moving towards Alipore, one march in our rear, their object, +it was supposed, being to cut off supplies and intercept treasure. + +It being too late to start in pursuit of the enemy, we were dismissed to +our quarters, being warned to hold ourselves in readiness to turn out at +a moment's notice. + +_July 4_.--That night the sound of the enemy's guns to our rear was +heard in the camp, and soon after 2 a. m. we paraded, and joined a force +destined to overtake or cut off the mutineers on their return to Delhi. +The little army, consisting of 1,500 men, cavalry, artillery, and +infantry, marched at once towards Alipore. After we had proceeded three +miles, and just at daybreak, news was brought that the enemy, after +plundering the town, were retreating to the city laden with booty. + +Major Coke, who was in command, then changed our direction to the left, +and we advanced for about two miles over swampy ground to a canal, +the cavalry being in front, then the infantry, the battery of Horse +Artillery bringing up the rear. + +When near the canal, which was shaded on each side by trees, the Major +advanced to reconnoitre, and on his return, the order was given, "Guns +to the front!" The Horse Artillery galloped past us, and we then heard +that the enemy were in sight on the other side of the canal. + +Crossing a bridge, and passing through trees and jungle, the whole force +debouched on an open plain, and formed in order of battle. The first +line consisted of the artillery, in the centre, flanked on each side by +the cavalry--cavalry--portions of the 9th Lancers, the Carabineers, and +that fine regiment, the Guide Corps. Coke's Corps of Punjabees and my +regiment formed the second line. + +It was a pretty sight to see this miniature army advancing in perfect +order towards the enemy. The plain extended for a mile quite open and +without trees, bounded at that distance by a village, in which the +insurgent guns were posted. Clouds of horsemen, apparently without any +formation, hovered on each side of the village, and a large force of +infantry was standing in line somewhat in advance. + +Our guns came into action at a distance of about 1,000 yards from the +village, and were soon answered by those of the enemy, their shot +striking unpleasantly close to our line, and ricochetting over our +heads. Still we advanced, hoping that the rebels would stand till we +came to close quarters. At 500 yards the fire from our artillery seemed +to prove too hot for them; and presently, to our infinite disgust, we +saw their infantry moving off to the left, followed shortly after by the +cavalry. Then their guns ceased firing, and were also quickly withdrawn. + +The Carabineers and Guides were sent in pursuit, and cut up some +stragglers; but the insurgents stampeded at a great pace, and succeeded +in carrying off all their guns. + +A few sepoys were found hiding in the village huts, and were killed by +our men, the Alipore plunder was recovered, besides some ammunition and +camp equipment, and, rather dissatisfied with the result of the action, +we moved slowly back across the plain. + +The regiment was commanded on this occasion by our senior Captain, an +officer of some thirty-five years' service. He was, without exception, +the greatest oddity for a soldier that our army has ever seen. Five feet +two inches in height, with an enormous head, short, hunchback body, long +arms, and thin, shrivelled legs, his whole appearance reminded one +of Dickens' celebrated character Quilp, in the "Old Curiosity Shop." +Entering the service in the "good" old times, when there was no +examination by a medical man, he had, through some back-door influence, +obtained a commission in the army. All his service had been passed +abroad, exchanging from one regiment to another, for it would have been +utterly impossible for him to have retained his commission in England. +Marching, he was unable to keep step with the men, and on horseback he +presented the most ludicrous appearance, being quite unable to ride, +and looking more like a monkey than a human being. On our first advance +across the plain the little Captain was riding in our front, vainly +endeavouring to make his horse move faster, and striking him every now +and then on the flanks with his sword. I was on the right of the line, +and, together with the men, could not keep from laughing, when a friend +of mine--a tall officer of one of the native infantry regiments--rode to +my side and asked me who that was leading the regiment. I answered, "He +is our commanding officer." + +The sun shone with intense heat on our march back across the plain, and +the European soldiers began to feel its effects, many being struck down +with apoplexy. About midday the infantry halted at the canal, the guns +and most of the cavalry returning to camp, as it was supposed there +would be no more work for them to do. We lay down in the welcome shade +of the trees on the bank, enjoying our breakfast, which had been brought +to us by our native servants, and, in company with an officer of the 9th +Lancers, I was discussing a bottle of ale, the sweetest draught I think +I have ever tasted. The arms were piled in our front, and at intervals +we watched, as they crossed the canal, a troop of elephants which had +been sent out to bring the sick and wounded into camp. + +All at once, from our left front, and without any warning, shots came +whistling through the trees and jungle, and some men lying on the ground +were hit. The regiment at once fell in and changed front to the left, +moving in the direction from which the shots were coming. + +Frightened at the sound of the firing, the elephants were seized with a +panic and made off across the canal. Trumpeting, with their trunks high +above their heads, they floundered through the water to the opposite +side, their drivers vainly attempting to stop their flight. We saw them +disappearing through the trees, and learnt afterwards that they never +stopped till close to their own quarters at the camp. + +Meanwhile the shots came thick and fast, and we advanced in line till we +came to a comparatively open space, and in sight of the enemy--a large +body of infantry outnumbering us by four to one. They were at no great +distance from us, and a sharp musketry fire was kept up from both sides, +causing heavy losses. + +Seeing that no object was to be gained with our small force by +encountering one so vastly superior, Major Coke deemed it prudent to +retire, and retreating firing, we crossed the bridge and lined the bank +on each side. + +The enemy followed, their men forming opposite to us and keeping up a +steady fire at a distance of from 100 to 150 yards. I was on the right +of the line with the Grenadiers, when, half an hour later, I was +directed by the Adjutant to march my men to the left of the bridge +to reinforce the Light Company, who were being hard pressed by the +insurgents, some of whom were wading through the canal, with the evident +intention of turning our left flank. We crept along under the bank, and +were received with joy by our comrades, one of them, I well remember, +welcoming us in most forcible language, and intimating that they would +soon have been sent to--if we had not come. + +The file-firing here was continuous, a perfect hail of bullets, and it +was dangerous to show one's head over the bank. Shouting and taunting +us, the rebels came up close to the opposite side, and were struck down +in numbers by our men, who rested their muskets on the bank and took +sure aim. Still, the contest was most unequal; the enemy were wading in +force through the water on our left, and the day would have gone hard +with us from their overwhelming numerical superiority, when, just at +this critical moment, the galloping of horses and the noise of wheels +was heard in our rear. + +Six Horse Artillery guns, led by Major Tombs--one of the most gallant +officers in camp--came thundering along the road. They passed with +a cheer, crossed the bridge at full speed, wheeled to their left, +unlimbered as quick as lightning, and opened fire on the rebels. Taken +completely by surprise, these made no stand, and fled pell-mell towards +Delhi, leaving altogether 200 dead on the ground. + +It was now nearly five o'clock, and we were distant four miles from +camp. Many of our men had died from apoplexy and sunstroke, their faces +turning quite black in a few minutes--a horrible sight. These, with the +killed and the sick and wounded, were placed on the backs of a fresh lot +of elephants, which had just arrived; and, scarcely able to drag one leg +after the other, we turned our faces towards the camp, reaching our own +quarters soon after sunset. + +This was a terrible and trying day for all engaged, and more especially +for the European infantry. We had been under arms for seventeen hours, +most of the time exposed to the pitiless rays of an Indian sun, under +fire for a considerable period, and, with the exception of the slight +halt for breakfast, on our feet all the time. + +When nearing camp we were met by the General, Sir Henry Barnard, who +addressed us with some kindly words, and little did we think that +that was the last occasion we should see the gallant old soldier. The +following morning he was attacked with cholera, and expired in the +afternoon, deeply regretted by the whole army. + +No man could possibly have been placed in a more trying situation than +he who had just given up his life in the service of his country. Called +on to command an army to which was entrusted the safety of British +rule in India, the cares and anxiety of the task, together with his +unremitting attention to his duties and constant exposure to the sun, +made him peculiarly susceptible to the disease from which he died. He +had served with distinction in the Crimean campaign, and had only landed +in India to take command of a division in the April of this year. + +_July 5_.--From July 5 to 8 nothing of note occurred. The enemy kept up, +as usual, a constant fire upon the ridge and outlying pickets; but no +attempt at a sortie was made. + +I visited the Flagstaff Tower each day when off duty, seemingly never +tired of gazing at the glorious panorama spread out before me, and +watching the batteries delivering their unceasing fire. + +With the exception of two 24-pound cannon taken from the enemy, for +which we had no shot, the heaviest guns on the ridge were 18-pounders +and a few small mortars. Having possession of the great arsenal, the +insurgents mounted on the bastions of Delhi 32-and 24-pounder guns and +13-inch mortars, their trained artillerymen acquitting themselves right +valiantly, and making excellent practice. They were almost to a +man killed at their guns during the siege, and towards the end the +difference in firing was fully perceptible, when the infantry filled +their places and worked the guns. + +Having no round-shot for the two 24-pounders, we were reduced to firing +back on the city the shot of the same calibre hurled against us, and +a reward of half a rupee per shot was paid by the commissariat to any +camp-follower bringing in the missiles. + +On one occasion I saw a party of native servants, carrying on their +heads cooked provisions for the men on picket, wend their way up the +slope from the camp. Two round-shot fired by the enemy struck the top +of the ridge and rolled down the declivity. Here was a prize worth +contending for, and the cooks, depositing the dishes on the ground, ran +in all haste to seize the treasures. I watched the race with interest, +and anticipated some fun, knowing that in their eagerness they would +forget that the shots had not had time to cool. Two men in advance of +the rest picked up the balls, and, uttering a cry, dropped them quickly, +rubbing and blowing their hands. The remainder stood patiently waiting, +and then, after a time, spent evidently in deliberation, two men placed +the shot on their heads, and all in a body moved off towards the +commissariat quarters to receive and divide the reward. + +_July 7_.--On the morning of July 7, I accompanied a detachment of 150 +men under command of a Captain to relieve the picket at the mound close +to the ruins of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's house. This mansion, built by +the present baronet's father, was situated about 1,200 yards from the +walls of the city, and surrounded by trees and gardens. At the outbreak +of May 11, it had been plundered and burnt by the mutinous sepoys and +_badmashes_, who also in like manner had destroyed every house belonging +to the Europeans in the suburbs of Delhi and the adjoining cantonment. +Of the murders that then took place I shall have something to say +hereafter, when writing the history of a young school-fellow whose +sister was killed by the insurgents. + +From our position on picket we could see a short distance in front, the +ground having been partially cleared of trees and undergrowth. A chain +of double sentries was posted, and the utmost vigilance observed. We +could hear the batteries opening on the ridge, while occasionally, as if +to harass the picket, a 13-inch shell would burst either in our front or +in our rear. The night passed quickly, and at daybreak, when visiting +the sentries, I heard distinctly the bugles of the rebels sounding the +reveille, succeeded by other familiar calls. It seemed strange to hear +our own bugle-calls sounded by men who were now our enemies; and not +only was this the case, but also the insurgents for some time wore the +scarlet uniform of the British soldiers, and invariably to the end of +the war gave the English words of command they had been taught in our +service. + +We were relieved from picket on the morning of the 8th, and returned to +our camp, remaining quiet during the day. Executions by hanging took +place every day, but after the first horrible experience nothing would +induce me to be a spectator. The rain, which had begun on the 3rd, +continued almost without intermission, our camp becoming a quagmire, and +the muggy, moist atmosphere increasing the ravages of cholera amongst +our unfortunate soldiers. + +_July 9_.--At sunrise on the 9th, a terrific cannonade woke us out of +our sleep; but, the main camp being some distance from the right of the +ridge, we for a long time heard no tidings of what was going on. At 8 a. +m. the bugles of the regiments on the right sounded the alarm, followed +at once by the "assembly." + +Some 200 men of my regiment, all that remained off duty, paraded in +front of the tents, and received orders to march to the centre rear of +the camp, in rear of the quarters of the General in command. Here we +were joined by some companies of the 8th Regiment and a battalion of +Sikhs, and, continuing our march, we halted near the tents of Tombs' +battery of Horse Artillery. + +Lying around and even among the tent-ropes were dead bodies of the +enemy's cavalry, and a little way beyond, close to the graveyard, +some men of the 75th were firing into the branches of the trees which +surrounded the enclosure. Every now and then the body of a rebel would +fall on the ground at their feet, the soldiers laughing and chatting +together, and making as much sport out of the novel business as though +they were shooting at birds in the branches of a tree. + +How the native cavalry came there was at first inexplicable to us; but +we were informed afterwards that a body of irregular horsemen, dressed +in white, the same uniform as that worn by the 9th Irregulars on our +side, had, with the greatest daring, an hour before dashed across the +canal bridge and charged the picket of the Carabineers, making also for +the two guns of Tombs' battery. The former, mostly young soldiers, had +turned and fled, all save their officer and one sergeant, who nobly +stood their ground. Lieutenant Hills, who commanded the two guns on +picket, also alone charged the horsemen, cutting down one or two of the +sowars. + +Meantime the guns were unlimbered, but before they had time to fire, the +enemy were upon them. Hills was struck down badly wounded, and was on +the point of being despatched by a sowar, when Major Tombs, hearing the +noise, rushed out of his tent, and seeing the plight his subaltern was +in, fired his revolver at thirty yards and killed the sowar. + +The camp was now fairly alarmed; the guns of Olpherts' battery opened on +the enemy, and, some men of the 75th appearing on the scene, the rebels +were shot down in every direction, thirty-five being killed, and the +rest escaping by the bridge. A few climbed into the trees and were shot +down as I have said before. + +This attack by the enemy's cavalry was a fitting prelude to the events +of the memorable sortie of that day. + +At early morn, under cover of an unceasing cannonade from the city +batteries on to the right of our position, the insurgents in great force +and of all arms streamed out from the gates, making in the direction +of the suburb of Kishenganj, their evident intention being to turn our +right flank and make for our camp. + +Seeing that the enemy were increasing in numbers, and coming on with +great determination, the alarm had sounded; and detachments from most of +the regiments, with Horse Artillery and a few cavalry under the command +of Brigadier-General Chamberlain, marched towards the right rear of the +camp, taking the road to the suburb of Kishenganj. + +We crossed the canal at about 10 a. m., and, moving in column for some +little distance, came in sight of advanced bodies of the enemy, chiefly +infantry with cavalry and field artillery on each flank. We formed in +line, sending out skirmishers, the guns opened fire--the country here +being pretty open--and the action began. + +Soon we drove back the rebels, who continued retreating in excellent +order, turning at intervals and discharging their muskets, while every +now and then their guns were faced about and unlimbered, and round-shot +and grape sent among our ranks. As we advanced, the vegetation became +thicker, and we were confronted at times by high hedges of prickly-pear +and cactus, growing so close together that it was impossible to make +our way through. This occasioned several dĂ©tours, the sepoys lining the +hedges and firing at us through loopholes and openings, cursing the +_gore log_[1] and daring us to come on. + +The rain, which had kept off during the morning, now descended in a +steady downpour, soaking through our thin cotton clothing, and in a few +minutes drenching us to the skin. + +Passing the obstacles on each flank, the force again formed in as good +order as the inequalities of the ground would permit, and continued its +advance, all the time under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. We +caught glimpses of the enemy retreating towards the Kishenganj Serai, +but the vegetation was so dense in the numerous gardens, and the view so +obstructed by stone walls and ruined buildings, that it was with great +difficulty that we made any progress, nor, having the advantage of so +much cover, did the enemy suffer much loss from our musketry fire. + +Many of our men fell at this period of the fight; despising the enemy +and refusing to take cover, our soldiers would stand out exposed and +deliver their fire, offering a sure aim to the enemy's marksmen. It +was a continual rush from one point to another, halting and firing +at intervals, the rebels all the time slowly retreating. Our Horse +Artillery at this juncture could only act on occasions, the ground being +so broken that the guns were often brought to a standstill. + +All this time the batteries on the ridge, which from their high position +could see what was going on, sent shells and round-shot at every +opportunity over our heads, dispersing the mutineers when grouped +together in any large number, and dealing death amongst them. + +We saw them lying in heaps of twenty and thirty as we advanced, and the +fire was so hot and the practice so excellent that the enemy evacuated +the gardens and fled towards the suburb of Kishenganj. + +Here the country was more open, so, re-forming our scattered line, +with skirmishers in advance, we drove the rebels before us, the Horse +Artillery playing on them in the open and bringing down scores. + +Crossing the canal (which here barred our progress) by a bridge, we +entered into a wide lane to the left, the high bank of the canal being +on one side and the walls of a large caravanserai on the other. + +The insurgents were posted at the far end of the lane, where it opened +out at the gate of the serai, and received us, as we advanced at the +double, with a rattling fire of musketry. Some climbed to the top of the +bank, while others fired down at us from the walls. It was a perfect +_feu d'enfer_, and the loss on our side became so heavy that a temporary +check was the result, and it was only with great trouble that the men +could be urged on. + +Seeing a disposition to waver, Colonel W. Jones, the Brigadier under +Chamberlain, with great bravery placed himself in front on foot, and +called on the soldiers, now a confused mass of Sikhs, Goorkhas, and +Europeans, to charge and dislodge the enemy from the end of the lane. +He was answered with a ringing cheer, the men broke into a run, and, +without firing a shot, charged the sepoys, who waited till we were +within fifty yards, and then, as usual, turned and fled. + +Some entered the caravanserai by the large gate, which they attempted +to shut; but we were too quick for them, and following close on their +heels, a hard fight began in the enclosure. + +Others of the enemy ran onwards in the direction of the city, chased by +portions of our force, who pursued them a long distance, and after a +desperate resistance killed many who in their flight had taken refuge in +the serais and buildings. + +The party I was with in the great caravanserai ranged the place like +demons, the English soldiers putting to death every sepoy they could +find. Their aspect was certainly inhuman--eyes flashing with passion and +revenge, faces wet and blackened from powder through biting cartridges; +it would have been useless to attempt to check them in their work of +slaughter. + +Twenty or more of the insurgents, flying for life from their pitiless +foe, made for a small building standing in the centre of the serai. They +were followed by our men, who entered after them at the door. The house +had four windows, one on each side, about three feet from the ground, +and I ran to one and looked in. + +The wretched fugitives had thrown down their arms and, crouching on the +floor with their backs to the wall, begged with out-stretched hands for +mercy, calling out in their language, "_Dohai! dohai!_" words I +well knew the meaning of, and which I had often heard under similar +circumstances. I knew, however, that no quarter would be given, and in a +short time every rebel lay in the agonies of death. + +Most of the force, as I have related, had continued chasing the enemy, +so that for some time we were alone and few in number in the serai. +It was nearly five o'clock, and we thought that, as far as we were +concerned, the action was over. + +It was not so, however. Shouts and yells were heard outside, and, +running to see, we found a fresh force of the mutineers assembled +outside the gates. There was nothing for it but to make a rush and fight +our way through; so with fixed bayonets we charged through them, meeting +soon afterwards the remainder of the force on its way back. Joining with +these, we drove the enemy again before us till we came within 700 yards +of the city walls, there losing sight of our foes. Their guns fired +into us, but the insurgent infantry seemed now to have had sufficient +fighting for one day, and not one man was to be seen. + +Our work was accomplished, and the order was given to retire. Slowly we +wended our way back to camp, arriving there about sunset, having been +continuously under fire for nearly seven hours. + +The losses on this day exceeded that of any since the siege began. Out +of our small force engaged, 221 men were killed and wounded. It was +computed that of the enemy more than 500 were killed, and probably twice +that number wounded, the dead bodies lying thick together at every +stage of our advance, but the wounded men in almost every instance were +carried off by their comrades. + +The camp of our regiment on the extreme left of the line having become a +mere swamp and mud hole from the long-continued rain, and also being at +too great a distance from the main body of the army, we were directed to +change to a position close to the banks of the canal, near the General's +headquarters, and on the left of the 8th Regiment. The move was made, I +think, on July 11; and here we remained till the end of the siege. + +At about this period, too, I was most agreeably surprised by a visit +from an old school-fellow named C---- d. He had entered the Bengal +Civil Service a few years before, and, at the breaking out of the +disturbances, was Assistant Collector at Goorgaon, seventeen miles from +Delhi. On the death of their mother in Ireland, an only sister, a +young girl of eighteen years of age, came out to India to take up her +residence with him. C---- d escorted his sister to Delhi on May 10, she +having received an invitation to stay with the chaplain and his wife, +who had quarters in the Palace. He returned to Goorgaon, little thinking +he would never see her again. + +The next morning, on the arrival of the insurgent cavalry from Meerut, +and the subsequent mutiny of the native infantry regiments and artillery +in the cantonments, the massacre of the Europeans in Delhi began. + +I forbear entering into all the details of this dreadful butchery; +suffice it to say that the chaplain, Mr. Jennings, his wife, Miss +C---- d, and nearly all the white people, both in the Palace and the +city, were murdered. The editor of the _Delhi Gazette_ and his family +were tortured to death by having their throats cut with pieces of broken +bottles, but there were conflicting accounts as to how the Jenningses +and Miss C---- d met their end. From what I gathered after the siege from +some Delhi natives, it was reported that the ladies were stripped naked +at the Palace, tied in that condition to the wheels of gun-carriages, +dragged up the "Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi, and there, in +the presence of the King's sons, cut to pieces. + +It was not till the following evening, May 12, that C---- d heard of the +Mutiny, and, fearing death from the populace of Goorgaon, who had also +risen in revolt, he disguised himself as best he could and rode off into +the country. After enduring great privations, and the danger of being +taken by predatory bands, he at last reached Meerut, and thence +accompanied the force to Delhi. + +From what he hinted, I feel sure he had it on his mind that his sister, +before being murdered, was outraged by the rebels. However this may be, +my old school-fellow had become a changed being. All his passions were +aroused to their fullest extent, and he thought of nothing but revenge. +Armed with sword, revolver, and rifle, he had been present at almost +every engagement with the mutineers since leaving Meerut. He was known +to most of the regiments in camp, and would attach himself to one or +the other on the occasion of a fight, dealing death with his rifle +and giving no quarter. Caring nothing for his own life, so long as he +succeeded in glutting his vengeance on the murderers of his sister, he +exposed himself most recklessly throughout the siege, and never received +a wound. + +On the day of the final assault I met him in one of the streets after we +had gained entrance into the city. He shook my hands, saying that he had +put to death all he had come across, not excepting women and children, +and from his excited manner and the appearance of his dress--which was +covered with blood-stains--I quite believe he told me the truth. One +would imagine he must have tired of slaughter during those six days' +fighting in the city, but it was not so. I dined with him at the Palace +the night Delhi was taken, when he told me he intended accompanying +a small force the next morning to attack a village close by. All my +remonstrances at this were of no avail; he vowed to me he would never +stay his hand while he had an opportunity of wreaking his vengeance. +Poor fellow! that was his last fight; advancing in front of the +soldiers, he met his death from a bullet in the heart when assaulting +the village. + +There were other officers of the army in camp who had lost wives and +relations at Delhi and Meerut, and who behaved in the same manner as +C---- d. One in particular, whose wife I had known well, was an object of +pity to the whole camp. She was the first woman who was murdered during +the outrage at Meerut, and her death took place under circumstances of +such shocking barbarity that they cannot be recorded in these pages. + +Truly these were fearful times, when Christian men and gallant soldiers, +maddened by the foul murder of those nearest and dearest to them, +steeled their hearts to pity and swore vengeance against the murderers. +And much the same feelings, though not to such an extent, pervaded the +breasts of all who were engaged in the suppression of the Mutiny. Every +soldier fighting in our ranks knew that a day of reckoning would come +for the atrocities which had been committed, and with unrelenting spirit +dedicated himself to the accomplishment of that purpose. Moreover, it +was on our part a fight for existence, a war of extermination, in which +no prisoners were taken and no mercy shown--in short, one of the most +cruel and vindictive wars that the world has seen. + +From July 10 to 14 there was comparative quiet in the camp; the +cannonade continued on each side, but no sorties were made by the enemy. + +_July 12_.--On the morning of the 12th I was detailed for picket duty at +the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, to the right front of Hindoo Rao's house, the +picket consisting of 100 men under the command of a Captain. Since +the opening of the siege this had been the scene of many sanguinary +encounters with the enemy, who put forth all their strength in +endeavours to drive in the picket, and so turn our right flank at Hindoo +Rao's house. + +The view at first was almost completely closed in; but by the end of +July the unremitting labours of the Engineers had cleared away the +trees, walls, and buildings in front of the picket for some distance, +and the earth-works connecting it with the ridge at Hindoo Rao's house +were also completed. + +I can remember no event of interest as occurring on July 12. Few shots +were fired at us, and on being relieved the next morning we returned to +camp, wondering at the unusual inactivity of the enemy. + +_July 14_.--They were, however, only preparing for another sortie on a +grand scale, and on the morning of the 14th the bugles again sounded the +"alarm" and the "assembly." The insurgents poured out of the Kabul and +Lahore Gates in great numbers, making, as usual, for the Sabzi Mandi +Gardens and the right of the ridge. They kept up a constant fire of +musketry and field-artillery; and though our batteries swept their +masses with shell and round-shot, they still continued the attack, +pressing close to the pickets and Hindoo Rao's house. + +[Illustration: THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST.] + +Shortly after midday a column of some 1,500 men was assembled to +dislodge and drive them back to the city. We took the road as on the +9th, and soon became engaged with the enemy in the Sabzi Mandi Gardens. +The struggle was long and fierce, a perpetual interchange of musketry +and artillery, our losses, especially in officers, being very severe. +The city batteries also sent grape and canister amongst us from their +large guns and howitzers, inflicting mortal wounds, even at the great +distance of 1,100 yards. + +When driving the rebels before us past the suburb of Kishenganj, +Lieutenant Gabbett and I, in the confusion of the rush, became separated +from the few men of our regiment who were engaged on that day, and found +ourselves--we being the only officers present--with about fifty soldiers +of different corps. For more than half an hour we were completely +isolated from the main body, and were occupied in several little fights +on our own account. Advancing, we scarcely knew where, and in our +excitement fully engaged in chasing the foe, we all at once came most +unexpectedly on to a broad road, with open ground on each side. There, +to our front, and scarcely 500 yards distant, we saw a gate with +embattled towers, the high walls of the city, and a bastion. We were +soon descried by the enemy, who depressed their guns and fired at us +with grape, fortunately without hitting any of our party. We were in a +complete dilemma, under fire of the batteries, cut off from our force, +and liable at any moment to be surrounded; so, deeming discretion the +better part of valour, we turned about and ran with all speed to the +rear, coming upon a troop of Horse Artillery, which was halted amongst +some gardens. + +Soon the main body of our force returned from the pursuit of the rebels, +whom they had driven to within 600 yards of the city wall; and joining +our own detachment, who had given us up as lost, we returned to camp +about sundown. + +Again we had to lament the loss of many fine officers and soldiers. +Nearly 200 men had been killed and wounded--a sad diminution of our +little army, which, had it long continued, would have entirely decimated +the Delhi Field Force. The enemy, however, had suffered most severely, +their loss amounting to quite 1,000 men; and the next morning they were +seen for hours carting the dead bodies into the city. Unusual bravery +was shown by the rebels on this day: they stood fairly in the open, and +also attacked the pickets with great pertinacity, assaulting one called +the "Sammy House" for hours, and leaving eighty dead bodies in its +front, all killed by the infantry of the Guides, who most gallantly held +the picket against overwhelming numbers. + +Cholera all this time raged in the force, and carried off its victims +daily, my own regiment and the 8th being the principal sufferers. It was +melancholy to enter the hospital, to see the agony and hear the groans +of the men, many of them with their dying breath lamenting the hard fate +which had stretched them on a sick-bed and prevented them from doing +their duty in the ranks against the enemy. Fever and ague, too, were +very prevalent, and hospital gangrene broke out, which attained such +virulence that many wounded died from its effects; while of amputations, +I believe not one recovered during the whole siege. + +We were also in the midst of the Indian monsoon, the most unhealthy +season of the year, when rain descended in torrents almost every day, a +hot, muggy atmosphere increasing the sickness and adding to the eternal +plague of flies, a plague the most nauseating it has ever been my lot to +experience. When off duty, it was the custom of some of the officers +to pass the time fishing in the canal at our rear. Here, seated on +camp-stools brought out by our servants, we amused ourselves for hours, +holding lotteries as to who would catch the first fish, the prize being +a bottle of beer. To see us on these occasions, full of merriment, one +would scarcely have realized the fact that the men employed in this +peaceful occupation were part of an army engaged in almost continual +warfare, and fighting for very existence. Laughter and jokes filled +the air, and chaff reigned supreme; while ever and anon we were rudely +recalled to a sense of the dangers around us by the report of a shell +bursting over the ridge, or the presence of an orderly, who summoned one +of the party to proceed on picket or on some perilous duty at the front. + +With regard to provisions, we were plentifully supplied with regular +meals, a sufficiency of good food and drinkables; our lot in this +respect was far more enjoyable than that of the usual run of +campaigners. A large flock of fat sheep accompanied us on the march down +from Ferozepore; and I shall never forget the agony of mind of one of +our gourmands when one day it was reported that the sheep had all been +carried off by the enemy when grazing in the rear of the canal. I had +also purchased 100 dozen of ale at Umballah for the use of the mess, and +this being noised abroad in the camp, we were visited by several thirsty +souls from other regiments, who, less fortunate than ourselves, had +neglected furnishing themselves with this tempting beverage. It was a +pleasure to us to minister to their wants, though I need hardly say that +the stock lasted but a short time, from the numerous calls made on it. + +_July 17_.--General Reed, who had taken command of the army on the death +of Sir Henry Barnard, resigned his position on July 17 in consequence +of sickness and the infirmities of old age. He was succeeded by +General Wilson, of the Artillery, an officer who had already greatly +distinguished himself, and under whom the siege was eventually brought +to a successful conclusion. + +_July 18_.--For three days after the last sortie the enemy were +singularly quiet, quarrelling amongst themselves, as it was reported, +and disputing as to what portion of their army was to lead the next +sortie. However, on July 18, they again made another attempt upon the +Sabzi Mandi and the ridge at Hindoo Rao's. + +The force sent to dislodge them was under command of Colonel Jones, of +the 60th Rifles, who made his arrangements with singular judgment and +tact, and insisted on a regular formation being kept by the troops, +instead of the desultory style of action in vogue during previous +sorties. There was, however, some very hard fighting in the gardens and +serais, where we were received by a storm of bullets; but the men being +persuaded to keep well under cover, the losses were not very serious, +the casualties amounting in all to about ninety officers and men.[2] The +enemy, as usual, suffered severely, more especially from the fire of our +field-guns, which mowed them down when collected in groups of two and +three hundred together. + +[Illustration: FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS +KISHENGANJ.] + +I was amused on this day, as well as on previous sorties, by seeing the +eagerness with which the soldiers, European, Sikh, and Goorkha, rifled +the bodies of the slain sepoys. These last had plundered the city +inhabitants of all they could find in money and jewels, and having no +place of safety (from the anarchy which prevailed in Delhi) in which to +deposit their loot, they one and all invariably carried their treasure +about with them, concealed in the kammerbund folds of muslin or linen +rolled round the waist. On the fall of a mutineer, a rush would be made +by the men to secure the coveted loot, a race taking place sometimes +between a European and one of our native soldiers as to who should +first reach the body. The kammerbund was quickly torn off and the money +snatched up, a wrangle often ensuing among the men as to the division of +the booty. In this manner many soldiers succeeded, to my knowledge, +in securing large sums of money; one in particular, a Grenadier of my +regiment, after killing a sepoy, rifled the body, and, returning in +great glee to where I was standing, showed me twenty gold mohurs, +worth ÂŁ32 sterling. It was a most reprehensible practice, but almost +impossible entirely to prevent, for in the loose order of fighting +which generally prevailed, the men did not break from their ranks to +accomplish their purpose, but often, in isolated groups of two and +three, were separated at times a short distance from the rest of the +combatants. + +The General, we heard, was loud in his praise of the manner in which +Colonel Jones conducted the operations on this day; after the action +also, he withdrew his men in perfect order, allowing no straggling--a +great contrast to our former usual style when returning to camp after +the repulse of a sortie. + +This was the last action of any consequence fought in the open at the +Sabzi Mandi Gardens. The ground in front of the picket was soon +after cleared, and during future attacks our men remained behind the +breastworks and entrenchments which had been thrown up, and by a steady +fire soon drove back any rebels who were foolhardy enough to come within +range. + +It speaks well for the prowess of the mutineers, and proves that we had +no contemptible foe to deal with, that so many sorties and attacks were +made by them during the siege. They amounted in all to thirty-six--all +of these being regularly organized actions and assaults--besides +innumerable others on isolated pickets and advanced posts. They seldom +came to close quarters with our men, and then only when surprised; but +nothing could exceed their persistent courage in fighting almost every +day, and, though beaten on every occasion with frightful loss, returning +over and over again to renew the combat. + +_July 19_.--The succeeding days from July 19 to 23 were days of quiet, +with the exception of the usual artillery duel. We took our turn at +picket duty with the other regiments, one day at the Metcalfe house and +stables, and on another at the Sabzi Mandi. + +_July 23_.--On the morning of the 23rd the insurgents, for the first +time since the previous month, made a sortie on our left, emerging from +the Kashmir Gate with infantry and field-guns. With the latter they +occupied Ludlow Castle, a ruined house midway between the Flagstaff +Tower and the Kashmir Gate. Then they opened fire on the left of the +ridge, and moving about continually amongst the trees and buildings, +were well sheltered from our batteries, which were unable to make good +practice. The rebels also showed at the Metcalfe picket, attacking at +the same time with their infantry; and becoming emboldened by receiving +no opposition from us, the greater part of their force advanced nearer +and nearer to the ridge, till they were seen distinctly from the Mosque +battery. + +To punish their temerity, a force of all arms was sent out from camp +under Brigadier Showers, with the intention of attacking their right +flank. We moved up a deep gorge, and coming on them by surprise, forced +them to remove their guns, which quickly limbered up and made for the +city. There was a great deal of skirmishing in the gardens and ruined +houses before the infantry followed the example of their comrades; but +the fight was not nearly so severe as during the sorties on the right, +nor did the enemy suffer any very great loss. On our side, we had in all +fifty officers and men killed and wounded.[3] + +Again for some days the enemy made no movement, and the weather also +holding up for a time, some sport was inaugurated in the camp. The men +might be seen amusing themselves at various games, while the officers +actually got up an impromptu horse-race. + +This, however, was not to last long, and on July 31 we were again on the +alert from the report that several thousands of rebels, with thirteen +guns and mortars, were making for the open country to the right rear of +our camp. + +A force under Major Coke was sent out to watch their movements, and also +to convoy a large store of treasure and ammunition coming down to us +from the Punjab. The convoy arrived safe on the morning of August 1, and +the rain falling heavily on that day, making the ground impassable for +guns, the insurgent force, which had moved to our rear, broke up their +camp and retired towards Delhi. + +The 1st of August was the anniversary of a great Mohammedan festival +called the "Bakra Id," and for some time there had been rumours of a +grand sortie in honour of the event. + +Morning and afternoon passed, and we began to think the enemy had given +up their purpose, when about sunset firing began at the right pickets. +The mutineers returning from our rear had met an equal number, which +had sallied from the city, at the suburb of Kishenganj, and the forces, +joining together, moved forward and attacked the whole right of the +ridge and the pickets in that quarter. + +Loudly the bugles sounded the alarm all over the camp, and in a very +short time every available man was mustered, and the troops were hurried +forward to reinforce the breastworks at Hindoo Rao's house and on each +side. + +There had been only one actual night-attack since the beginning of the +siege, and that took place to the rear; it therefore naturally occurred +to the officers in command that this assault by the enemy with such vast +numbers would require all our efforts to prevent being turned, thus +imperilling the safety of the camp. + +The action had commenced in earnest when we arrived on the ridge, and +the brave defenders of Hindoo Rao's house were holding their own against +enormous odds. Masses of infantry with field-guns swarmed in our front, +yelling and shouting like demons while keeping up a steady fire. + +Darkness came on--a lovely night, calm and clear without a cloud in the +sky. The batteries on both sides kept up a terrific cannonade; and our +men, effectually concealed behind the earth-works, poured incessant +volleys of musketry into the enemy. The roar and din exceeded anything I +had ever heard before, and formed one continuous roll, while all around +the air was illumined by a thousand bright flashes of fire, exposing +to our view the movements of the rebels. They had also thrown up +breastworks at no great distance to our front, from behind which they +sallied at intervals, returning, however, quickly under cover when our +fire became too hot for them. And in this manner, without a moment's +intermission, the combat continued all night long, with no advantage to +the assailants, and with few casualties on our side.[4] + +_August 2_.--Morning broke without any cessation in the firing; and it +was not till ten o'clock that the rebels, seeing how futile were all +efforts, began to retire. Some few still kept up the firing; but at +2 p. m. all was quiet, and our sadly harassed soldiers were enabled to +obtain some rest after seventeen hours' fighting. Nothing could have +surpassed the steadiness of the men and the cool manner in which they +met the attacks of the enemy, remaining well under cover, and only +showing themselves when the rebels came close up. Our casualties during +those long hours only amounted to fifty killed and wounded, thus proving +the judgment of the General in ordering the men to remain behind the +earthworks, and not to advance in pursuit unless absolutely necessary. +Two hundred dead bodies were counted in front of the entrenchments, and +doubtless during the darkness many more were carried off by the enemy. + +After the severe lesson they had received the rebels remained inactive +for some days, very few shots even being fired from the walls. We learnt +that the late grand attack had been made by the Neemuch and part of the +Gwalior and Kotah insurgents who had mutinied at those places not long +before. This accounted for the stubbornness of the assault, it being the +custom, when reinforcements arrived, to send them out at once to try +their mettle with the besiegers. + +The fruits of General Wilson's accession to the command of the army, +and the stringent orders issued by him for the maintenance of order and +discipline both in camp and on picket became more and more apparent +every day. All duties were now regulated and carried out with the utmost +precision; each regiment knew its allotted place in case of a sortie, +and the officers on picket had to furnish reports during their term of +duty, thereby making them more attentive to the discipline and care of +their men. In the matter of uniform, also, a great and desirable change +was made. Many corps had become quite regardless of appearance, entirely +discarding all pretensions to uniformity, and adopting the most +nondescript dress. One in particular, a most gallant regiment of +Europeans which had served almost from the beginning of the siege, +was known by the sobriquet of the "Dirty Shirts," from their habit of +fighting in their shirts with sleeves turned up, without jacket or coat, +and their nether extremities clad in soiled blue dungaree trousers. + +The army in general wore a cotton dress, dyed with _khaki rang_, or dust +colour, which at a distance could with difficulty be seen, and was far +preferable to white or to the scarlet of the British uniform. The enemy, +on the contrary, appeared entirely in white, having soon discarded the +dress of their former masters; and it was a pretty sight to see them +turning out of the gates on the occasion of a sortie, their arms +glittering, pennons flying, and their whole appearance presenting a gay +contrast to the dull, dingy dress of their foes. + +_August 5_.--On August 5 an attempt was made by our Engineers to blow up +the bridge of boats across the Jumna, and some of us went to the top of +the Flagstaff Tower to see the result. + +Two rafts filled with barrels of powder and with a slow match in each +were sent down the river, starting from a point nearly a mile up the +stream. We saw them descending, carried down slowly by the flood, one +blowing up half a mile from the bridge. The other continued its course, +and was descried by some mutineers on the opposite bank, who sent off +men to the raft on _massaks_ (inflated sheep-skins). It was a perilous +deed for the men, but without any delay they made their way to the raft, +put out the fuse, and towed the engine of destruction to shore. A most +ignominious failure, and the attempt was never repeated, the bridge +remaining intact to the last. + +_August 6_.--At 7 a. m. on August 6 the alarm again sounded, and we +remained accoutred in camp for some hours, but were not called to the +front on that day. A large party of the enemy's cavalry--more, it must +be supposed, in a spirit of bravado than anything else--charged up the +road towards the Flagstaff Tower, waving their swords and shouting, +"Din! din!" A battery was brought to bear on them, and this, with a +volley or two of musketry, soon sent them to the right about, galloping +off and disappearing amongst the trees, after leaving some dead on the +ground. + +The enemy's infantry also harassed the pickets on the right flank, +causing some casualties, and their artillery fire was kept up all day, +the guns in the new Kishenganj battery almost enfilading the right of +our position. No efforts on our part could silence the fire from this +place, and it remained intact, a constant source of annoyance, to the +end of the siege. + +The numerous cavalry of the enemy might have caused us a vast amount +of trouble had they been properly led, or behaved even as well as the +infantry and artillery. But there seemed to be little dash or spirit +amongst them, and though they made a brave show, emerging from the gates +in company with the rest of their forces, waving swords and brandishing +spears, they took care to keep at a respectful distance from our fire, +their only exploit, as far as I can remember, being that on July 9, when +100 horsemen charged into the rear of our camp. + +From the 8th to the 11th there were constant attacks on all the pickets, +and the artillery fire on both sides was almost unceasing. The enemy +brought out some guns by the Kashmir Gate and shelled the Metcalfe +pickets, their skirmishers advancing close to our defences with shouts, +and harassing the men day and night, though with small loss on our side. +They also made the approach to the pickets for relief so perilous that +at early morn of the 12th a large force, under Brigadier Showers, was +detailed to drive the rebels into the city. My regiment furnished twenty +men, under an officer,[5] on this occasion. + +_August 12_.--We attacked them at dawn, taking them completely by +surprise, and capturing all their guns, four in number. The 1st +Fusiliers and Coke's Rifles behaved most gallantly, and bore the +brunt of the fight, losing half the number of those killed and +wounded--namely, 110. The enemy's casualties amounted to upwards of 300, +and they left many wounded on the ground, who were shot and bayoneted +without mercy. This signal chastisement had the effect of cowing them +for a time, and the pickets on the left were unmolested for the future, +save by occasional shots from the city batteries. + +_August 14_.--August 14 was quiet, the enemy giving us a respite and +scarcely firing a gun, though they must have known of the welcome +reinforcements we had received that morning. These consisted of nearly +3,000 men, of which number more than 1,100 were Europeans. + +This force, under command of General Nicholson, comprised the 52nd +Regiment, our left wing from Ferozepore, some Mooltani Horse, 1,200 +Sikhs and Punjabees, and a battery of European artillery. The +reinforcements brought up the Delhi Field Force to more than 8,000 +effectives, while of sick and wounded we had the frightful number of +nearly 2,000 in camp, many more having been sent away to Umballah. + +But what added most to our strength was the presence amongst us of the +hero John Nicholson, he who has been since designated as the "foremost +man in India." Young in years, he had already done good service in the +Punjab wars, and was noted not only for his striking military talent, +but also for the aptitude he displayed in bringing into subjection and +ruling with a firm hand the lawless tribes on our North-West Frontier. +Many stories are told of his prowess and skill, and he ingratiated +himself so strongly amongst a certain race that he received his +apotheosis at their hands, and years afterwards was, and perhaps to this +day is, worshipped by these rude mountaineers under the title of "Nikul +Seyn." Spare in form, but of great stature, his whole appearance and +mien stamped him as a "king of men." Calm and self-confident, full of +resource and daring, no difficulties could daunt him; he was a born +soldier, the idol of the men, the pride of the whole army. His +indomitable spirit seemed at once to infuse fresh vigour into the force, +and from the time of his arrival to the day of the assault Nicholson's +name was in everyone's mouth, and each soldier knew that vigorous +measures would be taken to insure ultimate success. + +We were freed from attack for some days, and the only event of +importance was a raid made by the enemy's horsemen in the direction of +Rohtak. They were followed by that great irregular leader Hodson, who +succeeded, with small loss, in cutting up some thirty of their number, +his own newly-raised regiment and the Guide Cavalry behaving admirably. + +_August 19_.--On August 19 a noteworthy incident occurred at the Sabzi +Mandi picket. A woman dressed in the native costume, and attended by an +Afghan, walked up to the sentries at that post, and on approaching the +men, threw herself on her knees, thanking God in English that she was +under the protection of British soldiers. The honest fellows were +greatly taken aback, and wondered who this could be dressed in native +costume, speaking to them in their own language. She was brought before +the officer commanding the picket, when it transpired that she was a +Eurasian named Seeson, the wife of a European road sergeant. During the +outbreak on May 11 at Delhi her children had been slain before her eyes +and she herself badly wounded, escaping, however, from the murderers +in a most providential manner, and finding shelter in the house of a +friendly native, who had succoured her ever since. By the aid of the +Afghan, and disguised as an _ayah_, or nurse, she had passed through +the gates of the city that morning, eventually finding her way to the +picket. We had one lady in camp, the wife of an officer of native +infantry, and to her kindly charge the poor creature was consigned, +living to the end of the siege in Mrs. Tytler's tent, and being an +object of curiosity as well as of pity to the whole force. + +The enemy, lately, had caused great annoyance by firing at the ridge +32-pound rockets, a large store of which they had found in the magazine, +and as they were unused to discharging these dangerous missiles, the +rockets at first, by their rebound, inflicted more damage on the rebels +than on us; but, gaining experience through long practice, they every +evening and during part of the night fired them at the ridge, one or two +falling right amongst the tents in camp.[6] + +A battery also was erected about this time on the opposite bank of the +Jumna, at a distance of some 2,000 yards from the Metcalfe pickets, and +this was served so well that not only were the outposts in considerable +danger from the fire, but the camp of one of our native regiments on the +extreme left, and below the Flagstaff Tower, was shifted in consequence +of the enemy's shells falling in their midst. + +It will thus be seen that the rebels put forth their whole strength and +used every means at their disposal to harass and annoy us. Like a swarm +of hornets, they attacked us in every direction, first in one quarter +and then in another; but no effort of theirs affected in the smallest +degree the bulldog grip of the British army on the rebellious city. +Reports were rife that the King had sent to propose terms to the +General, and that the answer was a cannonade directed on the walls by +all our batteries; also that their ammunition was falling short; but +these, with other silly rumours, were merely the gossip of the camp, and +were not credited by the bulk of the army. + +_August_ 24.--Again, a very large body of mutineers, numbering, it was +said, 9,000 men, with thirteen guns, left the city on August 24. They +were seen from the ridge for hours trooping out of the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates, and proceeding far to our right rear. Their intention, no doubt, +was to cut off the large siege-train and munitions of war on their way +down to us from the arsenal at Ferozepore. + +_August_ 25.--A force was at once detailed, under command of the gallant +Nicholson, to intercept the enemy and, if possible, to bring them to +battle. Long before daylight on the morning of August 25 we paraded, +cavalry, infantry, and three batteries of Horse Artillery, or eighteen +guns, numbering in all nearly 2,500 men. + +At six o'clock the march began, and leaving the Grand Trunk road a short +distance from the rear of our camp, we made across country to a town +named Nanglooi, distant six miles. The men were in high spirits +notwithstanding the difficulties we had to encounter in traversing a +route wellnigh impassable from the recent rains, and ankle-deep in mud. +Two broad swamps also had to be crossed, the soldiers wading waist-high +in the water, and carrying their ammunition-pouches on their heads. +Three hours and more were passed before we arrived at the village, and +here information reached the General that the enemy were posted twelve +miles distant, at a place named Najafgarh. + +The march was at once resumed, and, floundering in the mud, the +artillery horses especially with great labour dragging the guns through +the morass which extended nearly all the way, we arrived at about four +o'clock on the banks of a canal in full view of the enemy's position. + +This had been chosen with great judgment, and presented a formidable +appearance, stretching about a mile and a half from the canal bridge on +the extreme right to a large serai on the left in the town of Najafgarh. +Nine guns were posted between the bridge and the serai, with four more +in the latter building, all protected by entrenchments with parapets and +embrasures. + +The troops crossed the canal by a ford, and formed up in line of battle +on the opposite side, facing the town of Najafgarh, and about 900 yards +from the serai, the infantry in two lines, ourselves and the 1st Bengal +Fusiliers in front, with artillery and cavalry on each flank. + +When we were halted, Nicholson came to the front and, addressing the +regiments of European infantry, spoke a few soul-stirring words, calling +on us to reserve our fire till close to the enemy's batteries, and then +to charge with fixed bayonets. He was answered with a cheer, and the +lines advanced across the plain steady and unbroken, as though on +parade. + +The enemy had opened fire, and were answered by our guns, the infantry +marching with sloped arms at the quick step till within 100 yards, when +we delivered a volley. Then the war-cry of the British soldiers was +heard, and the two regiments came to the charge, and ran at the double +towards the serai. + +Lieutenant Gabbett of my regiment was the first man to reach the +entrenchment, and, passing through an embrasure, received a bayonet +thrust in the left breast, which stretched him on the ground. The men +followed, clearing everything before them, capturing the four guns in +the serai, bayoneting the rebels and firing at those who had taken to +flight at our approach. Then, changing front, the whole force swept +along the entrenchment to the bridge, making a clean sweep of the enemy, +who turned and fled, leaving the remaining nine guns in our hands. + +Our Horse Artillery, under Major Tombs--never better served than in this +action--mowed down the fugitives in hundreds, and continued following +and firing on them till darkness set in. The cavalry also--a squadron of +the gallant 9th Lancers, with the Guides and Punjabees--did their share +of work, while the European infantry were nobly supported by the corps +of Punjab Rifles, who cleared the town of the sepoys. + +The battle had lasted a very short time, and after dark we bivouacked on +the wet ground in the pouring rain, completely exhausted from our long +march and subsequent fighting, and faint from want of food, none of +which passed our lips for more than sixteen hours. + +[Illustration: NOTE.--MAJOR RAINBY COMMANDED THE 61ST REGIMENT IN THIS +ENGAGEMENT.] + +[From Lord Roberts' "Forty-one Years in India." By kind permission.] + +Still, the day's work was not over. A village to the rear was found to +be occupied by the enemy, and the Punjab Rifles were ordered to take +it. They met with a most obstinate resistance, their young commander, +Lumsden, being killed. The General then sent part of my regiment to +dislodge the rebels, but we met with only partial success, and had one +officer, named Elkington, mortally wounded, the enemy evacuating the +place during the night. + +We passed the night of the 25th in the greatest discomfort. Hungry and +wet through, we lay on the ground, snatching sleep at intervals. Poor +Gabbett died of internal haemorrhage soon after he received his wound, +and his death deprived the regiment of one of its best and bravest +officers, and me of a true friend. He had shared my tent on the march +down and during the whole campaign, a cheery, good-hearted fellow, and +one who had earned the respect of officers and the love of his men. The +General was particularly struck with his bravery, and with feeling heart +wrote a letter to Gabbett's mother, saying he would have recommended her +son for the Victoria Cross had he survived the action. + +Young Elkington also received his death-wound at the night-attack on the +village. He was quite a stripling, being only eighteen years old, and +had joined the regiment but a few months before. His was one of those +strange cases of a presentiment of death, many of which have been well +authenticated in our army. On looking over his effects, it was found +that he had written letters to his nearest relations on the night before +marching to Najafgarh; and he had also carefully made up small parcels +of his valuables and trinkets, with directions on them to whom they were +to be delivered in case of his being killed next day. It was noticed, +too, that he was unusually quiet and reserved, never speaking a word +to anyone on the march, though when the action began he behaved like a +gallant soldier, giving up his young life in the service of his country. + +_August_ 26.--On the morning of August 26 we marched back to camp, +arriving there before sundown, and were played in by the bands of the +two regiments, while many soldiers, native as well as European, lined +the road and gave us a hearty cheer. + +Our casualties at the action of Najafgarh amounted to twenty-five +officers and men killed and seventy wounded. The enemy left great +numbers of dead in the entrenchments and on the plain, their loss being +computed at 500 killed and wounded; but this, I fancy, is much below +the mark, for our artillery fire was very destructive, and the cavalry +committed great havoc amongst the host of fugitives. The battle of the +25th was the most brilliant and decisive since that of Badli-ki-Serai on +June 8. All the guns, thirteen in number, were captured, and the enemy's +camp, ammunition, stores, camels and bullocks were taken. Would that +we had met the insurgents oftener in the open in this manner! But the +rascals were too wary, and had too great a dread of our troops to face +them in a pitched encounter. + +During the absence of Nicholson's small force the enemy had attacked all +the pickets, and kept up a heavy cannonade from the walls, causing us a +loss of thirty-five men. It was their impression that the camp had been +left almost bare and defenceless by the withdrawal of so large a force; +but they were quickly undeceived, and were met at each point of assault +by a galling fire from our men. + +For many nights after August 26 our right pickets were constantly +harassed by the rebels, who also shelled Hindoo Rao's house from the +city and Kishenganj batteries. Our sappers, too, found it not only +difficult, but dangerous, to work in the advanced trenches below the +ridge, being always met by a murderous musketry from the enemy's +sharpshooters, who fired down behind breastworks. It was resolved, +therefore, on August 30, to drive them out from their cover, and on +two or more occasions this was performed by the Goorkhas and the 60th +Rifles, who, as usual, fighting together and supporting each other, took +the breastworks in gallant style. Our Engineers were then enabled +to continue their operations in the trenches preparatory to making +approaches towards the city walls, and constructing the batteries for +the siege-train, now daily expected. + +The Flagstaff Tower, as I have already mentioned in a former part of my +narrative, was the chief rendezvous of officers when not on duty. About +this time I went to the top of the tower in company with one of my +regiment, when an amusing incident occurred. + +We were watching the batteries playing on each side, when a tall Afghan, +armed to the teeth, appeared at the top of the steps, and was about to +set foot on the enclosed space under the flagstaff. A sentry was always +stationed there, and on this occasion it happened to be a sturdy little +Goorkha, one of the Kumaon battalion. On the approach of the Afghan he +immediately came to the charge, and warned him that none but European +officers were allowed on the top of the tower. The Afghan laughed, +and then, looking with contempt at the diminutive sentry, a dwarf in +comparison with himself, he attempted to push aside the bayonet. Losing +all patience, the Goorkha at this threw down his musket, and drawing his +_kukri_, the favourite weapon of his race, he rushed at the Afghan with +up-lifted blade. This was too much for our valiant hero, who quickly +turned tail, and disappeared down the circular staircase, the Goorkha +following him at a short distance. On his return he picked up the +musket, and seeing us laughing, the frown on his face turned into the +most ludicrous expression of good-humour I had ever seen, and he burst +out into a fit of laughter which lasted some minutes. He told us that he +and the other Goorkhas of his regiment thought nothing of the bravery of +the Afghan soldiers, some 100 of whom were on our side at Delhi; and he +spoke truly. + +These men, all cavalry, superbly mounted, dressed in chain armour, and +carrying arms of every description, had been sent down ostensibly as a +reinforcement to us by their Ameer, Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul, but +really as spies to watch our movements, and report the state of affairs +to their chief. They made a great display about the camp, but I never +heard of their meeting the enemy in action during their stay before +Delhi. + +The last two days of August we had several men killed and wounded in the +force, and one of our officers, who shared my tent after poor Gabbett's +death, received a severe contusion from the bursting of a shell. + +Nearly three months had now elapsed since the Siege of Delhi began. We +were, to all appearance, no nearer to the desired end, and had scarcely +gained one foot of ground nearer to the walls of the city. Moreover, +there was alarm in the Punjab owing to a reported disaffection among the +Sikh population, who, it is said, were beginning openly to assert that +the British army was unable to take Delhi. To check this feeling, the +Chief Commissioner had urged General Wilson to lose no time in making +preparations for the assault of the city; and thus our expectations beat +high at the near approach of the powerful siege-train on its way down +from Ferozepore, though we knew there were still before us trials and +dangers to which our former experiences would be as nothing. + +The weather had now somewhat cleared, but the heat was overpowering, +averaging 98° in the shade of my tent every day. Cholera, too, raged as +before, the principal sufferers being ourselves, and the 8th and 52nd +Regiments. To cheer the soldiers, the bands played in camp of an +evening, while some officers and men engaged in sport of various kinds; +but the angel of Death was hovering over my poor regiment, and few of +us had the heart to join in pastime while our comrades lay stricken and +dying of disease in hospital. + +_September 1_.--A portion of my corps was on duty at the Metcalfe +stable picket on September 1, when a lamentable loss was experienced, +unparalleled in the annals of the siege. The enemy's battery across the +river had never ceased shelling these pickets, though up to this day it +had not caused much damage to the defenders. + +Shortly after sunrise the men were assembled outside, receiving their +grog, which was served out to them every morning at an early hour. Some +100 men and officers, beside Sikhs and native attendants, were grouped +around, when a loud hissing sound was heard, and a shrapnel shell, fired +from the enemy's battery at the long range of 2,000 yards, exploded a +few feet in front. + +The bullets scattered around, and the scene which followed it is almost +impossible for me to depict. Many threw themselves flat on the ground, +falling one on top of the other, while groans and cries were heard. One +soldier fell mortally wounded by my side, and on looking around to +count up our losses, we found that two of my regiment had been killed +outright, besides six others severely wounded. Two Sikhs and a _bhisti_, +or water-carrier, also met their death, and two doolie-bearers were +wounded--thirteen men in all. + +One very stout old officer was in the act of having his morning bath +when the shell exploded, the _bhisti_ standing at his side and pouring +over him, when squatted on a tent-mallet, his _massuck_ of water. +He rolled over and over on the ground, presenting such a ludicrous +appearance in his wet, nude state, and covered with earth, that, +notwithstanding the awful surroundings of the scene, I and others could +not forbear laughing. The shot had been quite a chance one, but it +proved how deadly was the effect of a shrapnel shell exploding, as this +had done, only a few feet in front of a large body of men. + +_September 2 and 3_.--The batteries continued exchanging shots during +September 2 and 3, but there were no attacks of any consequence on the +pickets, and we had on those days only three men wounded on the right of +our position. + +On the morning of the 4th the long-looked-for siege-train reached camp. +It consisted of twenty-four heavy guns and mortars, and a plentiful +supply of ammunition and stores. Reinforcements also reached us, +amounting to about 400 European infantry and the Belooch battalion, the +last a most savage-looking lot of men, who, however, did good service, +and fought well. Besides these, a party of Sikh horsemen, in the service +of the Rajah of Jhind--a noble-looking man, who, with his retainers, +had kept open our communications with the Punjab during the whole +siege--joined the army, begging as a favour that they might join in the +dangers of the coming assault on the city. + +_September 7_.--September 7 also saw the arrival of Wilde's regiment of +Punjabis, 700 strong, followed the same day by the Kashmir contingent +of 2,200 men and four guns, sent to our assistance by the ruler of that +country. + +I was sitting in my tent with the bandmaster of my regiment, a German +named Sauer, when we were saluted with the sound of distant music, the +most discordant I have ever heard. The bandmaster jumped up from his +seat, exclaiming: "Mein Gott! vat is dat? No regiment in camp can play +such vile music," and closing his ears immediately, rushed out of the +tent. + +The Kashmir troops were marching into camp, accompanied by General +Wilson and his staff, who had gone out to meet them, their bands playing +some English air, drums beating, and colours flying. There was no fault +to be found in the appearance of the soldiers, who were mostly Sikhs and +hill men of good physique; but their ludicrous style of marching, the +strange outlandish uniform of the men, and the shrill discord of their +bands, created great amusement among the assembled Europeans, who had +never seen such a travesty on soldiers before. They encamped on our +right flank; but were not employed on active service till the day of +assault, on September 14. + +On the arrival of the siege-train, no time was lost in making approaches +and parallels, and erecting batteries for the bombardment of Delhi. The +trench-work had already been begun, and what with covering and working +parties, both of European and native soldiers, and the usual picket +duties, the greater part of the army was continually employed in this +arduous work every night and a portion of each day. Nothing could +surpass the zeal and willing aptitude of the men, who laboured +unceasingly digging trenches and filling sand-bags, all the time, and +more especially at night, exposed to a galling fire of musketry and +shells. + +The Engineers, under their able leaders, were unremitting in their +duties; and the young officers of that corps covered themselves with +glory both in these preliminary operations and at the actual assault. + +No. 1 Battery, to our right front, consisting of ten heavy guns and +mortars, was traced, on the evening of September 7, about 700 yards from +the Mori bastion. No. 2, to the left front, near Ludlow Castle, and +only 600 yards from the walls, was completed on the 10th, and contained +nineteen pieces of artillery. + +No. 4, for ten heavy mortars, and near No. 2, at the Koodsia Bagh, was +completed in front of the Kashmir bastion also on that day. And, lastly, +No. 3, on the extreme left, with six guns at the short distance of 180 +yards from the Water bastion, was unmasked behind the Custom-House, +which was blown up after the completion of the battery. + +Thus, in four days and nights, after incredible exertions on the part of +the working parties, forty-five heavy guns and mortars were in position, +strongly entrenched, and ready to silence the fire from the enemy's +bastions and to make breaches in the walls for the assaulting columns. + +The rebels during all this time plied the covering and working parties +with shot and shell, bringing out field-guns, which enfiladed the Ludlow +Castle and Koodsia Bagh batteries, and keeping up a sharp musketry fire +from an advanced trench they had dug in front of the walls. At the two +latter places, where the men of my regiment were employed, the fire was +very galling at times, the guns from the distant Selimgarh Fort, Water, +and Kashmir bastions all concentrating their shots at those batteries +whilst in process of erection. + +The nights, fortunately, were clear, and we had plenty of light to +assist us in our work; the men were cheerful and active, never resting +for a moment in their labours, and receiving in the Field Force orders +the praise of the General in command. + +We wondered how it was that the enemy allowed us to occupy the advanced +positions at Ludlow Castle and the Koodsia Bagh without even so much +as a struggle; but it was accounted for by the supposition that they +imagined our attack would be made from the right of our position, where +all the great conflicts had taken place. There they were in strength, +and it was our weakest point; whereas, on the side near the Jumna, we +were protected from being turned by having the river on our flank, +better cover for operations, and, moreover, batteries to silence which +were less powerful and more difficult of concentration than those +which faced us on our right from the city walls and from the suburb of +Kishenganj. + + +[Footnote 1: White people.] + +[Footnote 2: Lieutenant Pattoun was wounded in the ankle on this +occasion, and a sergeant of the 61st was shot through the head.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel Seton, 35th Native Infantry, was wounded in the +stomach in this affair.] + +[Footnote 4: One man of the 61st Regiment was killed by a round-shot, +which in its course also knocked over some sandbags which sent +Lieutenant Hutton flying about seven feet.] + +[Footnote 5: Lieutenant Yonge.] + +[Footnote 6: On August 7 they blew up one of their own powder factories, +and with it a number of workmen.] + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +The actual Siege of Delhi may be said to have commenced on September 7, +1857. All reinforcements that could possibly arrive had reached us with +the siege-train, and the effective force now available for operations +before Delhi consisted of the following troops: + + European artillery 580 + " cavalry 514 + " infantry 2,672 + ----- + 3,766 + + Native artillery 770 + " cavalry 1,313 + " infantry 3,417 + Engineers, sappers, miners, etc. 722 + ----- + 6,222 + ----- + + Grand total 9,988 + +To the above must be added the Kashmir contingent of 2,200 men, with +four guns, and the cavalry of the Jhind Rajah, perhaps 400 more, making +the full amount of troops employed at the siege 12,588. + +The seven regiments of European infantry were sadly reduced in numbers, +being mere skeletons, the strongest mustering 409 effective rank and +file, and the weakest only 242. There were also nearly 3,000 men in +hospital, Europeans and natives. + +From the most reliable sources the enemy at this period numbered +40,000 men, all trained soldiers of the former regular army, besides +undisciplined armed hordes of fanatics and rabble of the city and +surrounding country--a formidable disproportion to our scanty force when +it is recollected that they were protected by strong fortifications +mounting upwards of fifty guns, with an unlimited supply of artillery +and munitions of war, and that with their vast numbers they had ample +opportunities of harassing our right flank and rear and cutting off +communications up-country. + +Nevertheless, political considerations demanded that we should take the +offensive and deal such a blow as would convince the rebels, as well +as those whose loyalty was wavering, that the British arms were +irresistible. Moreover, there was no likelihood of our force being +increased. So on September 7 General Wilson issued the following address +to his troops: + +"The force assembled before Delhi has had much hardship to undergo since +its arrival in this camp, all of which has been most cheerfully borne by +officers and men. The time is now drawing near when the Major-General +commanding the force trusts that its labours will be over, and it will +be rewarded by the capture of the city for all its past exertions, and +for a cheerful endurance of still greater fatigue and exposure. The +troops will be required to aid and assist the Engineers in the erection +of the batteries and trenches, and in daily exposure to the sun, as +covering parties. + +"The artillery will have even harder work than they yet have had, +and which they have so well and cheerfully performed hitherto: this, +however, will be for a short period only, and when ordered to the +assault, the Major-General feels assured British pluck and determination +will carry everything before them, and that the bloodthirsty and +murderous mutineers against whom they are fighting will be driven +headlong out of their stronghold, or be exterminated. But to enable +them to do this, he warns the troops of the absolute necessity of their +keeping together, and not straggling from their columns. By this can +success only be secured. + +"Major-General Wilson need hardly remind the troops of the cruel murders +committed on their officers and comrades, as well as their wives and +children, to move them in the deadly struggle. No quarter should be +given to the mutineers; at the same time, for the sake of humanity and +the honour of the country they belong to, he calls upon them to spare +all women and children that may come in their way. + +"It is so imperative, not only for their safety, but for the success of +the assault, that men should not straggle from their column that the +Major-General feels it his duty to direct all commanding officers to +impress this strictly upon their men, and he is confident that after +this warning the men's good sense and discipline will induce them to +obey their officers and keep steady to their duty. It is to be explained +to every regiment that indiscriminate plunder will not be allowed; that +prize agents have been appointed, by whom all captured property will +be collected and sold, to be divided, according to the rules and +regulations on this head, fairly among all men engaged; and that any +man found guilty of having concealed captured property will be made to +restore it, and will forfeit all claims to the general prize; he will +also be likely to be made over to the Provost-Marshal to be summarily +dealt with. + +"The Major-General calls upon the officers of the force to lend their +zealous and efficient co-operation in the erection of the works of the +siege now about to be commenced. He looks especially to the regimental +officers of all grades to impress upon their men that to work in the +trenches during a siege is as necessary and honourable as to fight in +the ranks during a battle. + +"He will hold all officers responsible for their utmost being done to +carry out the directions of the Engineers, and he confidently trusts +that all will exhibit a healthy and hearty spirit of emulation and zeal, +from which he has no doubt that the happiest results will follow in the +brilliant termination of all their labours." + +_September 7_.--From the night of September 7 to the day of assault +all the artillerymen in the force, European as well as native, were +constantly employed in the batteries and trenches. Day and night +officers and men worked with unflagging energy in the advanced +batteries, with no relief and no cessation from their toil. Few in +number, worn out by the excessive fatigues of a three months' campaign, +and enervated by continuous work in the deadliest season of the year, +these gallant European artillerymen earned during those last days of the +siege, by their zeal and devotion, the heartfelt thanks of the whole +army. The old Bengal Artillery have a splendid roll of services, +extending for upwards of 100 years; still, in the annals of that +distinguished regiment there is no brighter record than their +achievements before Delhi in 1857. The corps has been merged into the +Royal Artillery, but the ancient name still lives in the memory of those +who were witnesses of their deeds, and their imperishable renown adds +greater lustre to the proud motto, _Ubique_, borne by the regiment to +which they are affiliated. + +Many officers and men of the cavalry and infantry volunteered for +service in the batteries when called on by the General. They acquitted +themselves well, were of great use to the gunners in lightening the +arduous duties, and were complimented in orders for the valuable aid +they had afforded to their companions in arms.[1] + +_September 11_.--The advanced batteries were all completed by the +evening of September 11, when the actual bombardment of the city began. +For three days and nights previous No. 1 Battery, on the extreme right, +was severely pounded from the Mori bastion and Kishenganj, but when the +guns got into full play the fire from the former grew gradually weaker +and weaker, till it was completely overpowered. Nos. 2 and 4 Batteries, +being nearer to the walls, suffered much from the enemy, and the losses +were very severe both among the artillery and the covering and working +bodies of infantry. + +_September 11_.--At length, on September 11, the whole of our batteries +opened fire simultaneously on the city bastions and walls. The Kashmir +bastion was soon silenced, the ramparts and adjacent curtains knocked to +fragments, and a large breach opened in the walls. On the extreme left, +at the Custom-House, our battery, as before related, was only 180 yards +from the city, and the crushing fire from this, when in full play, +smashed to pieces the Water bastion, overturned the guns, and made a +breach in the curtain so wide and practicable that it could be ascended +with ease. + +Fifty guns and mortars were now pouring shot and shell without a +moment's interval on the doomed city. The din and roar were deafening; +day and night salvos of artillery were heard, roll following roll in +endless succession, and striking terror in the hearts of those who knew +and felt that the day of retribution was at hand. + +Still, though their batteries on the bastions had been wellnigh +silenced, the rebels stuck well to their field-guns in the open space +before the walls; they sent a storm of rockets from one of the martello +towers, and fired a stream of musketry from the ramparts and advanced +trenches. Kishenganj, too, made its voice heard, harassing our right and +sweeping the Sabzi Mandi and Hindoo Rao's with its incessant fire. + +During the bombardment our casualties amounted to nearly 350 men, +the enemy causing great loss at No. 2 Battery through the fire of a +3-pounder served from a hole broken in the curtain-wall. This gun was +admirably directed, and could not be silenced notwithstanding all our +efforts. One officer, looking over the parapet to see the effect of his +fire, was struck by a shot from the "hole in the wall," his head being +taken completely off, the mutilated trunk falling back amongst the men +at the guns--a ghastly and terrible sight, which filled us who were +present with horror. + +During the whole of the bombardment portions of my regiment were on duty +in the batteries and trenches, working at the repair of the parapets and +embrasures occasionally damaged by the enemy's shot, and also taking +their share of duty with the advanced and covering parties. These were +harassing and dangerous services, involving great vigilance. We +were almost always under fire from the enemy; but with the utmost +cheerfulness, and even, I may say, good-humour, the whole of the +infantry did all in their power to lighten the work of the overtasked +artillerymen: comrades we were, all striving for the accomplishment of +one purpose--that of bringing swift and sure destruction on the rebels +who had for so long a period successfully resisted our arms. So cool and +collected had the men become that even in the midst of fire from the +advanced trenches, and while keeping up on our side a brisk fusillade, +the soldiers smoked their pipes, rude jokes were bandied from one to the +other, and laughter was heard. + +When off duty I and others took our station for hours on the ridge, and +sometimes on the top of the Flagstaff Tower. Thence with eager eyes we +watched the batteries cannonading the walls, and marked the effects of +the round-shot on the ramparts and bastions. Few of the enemy could be +seen; but every now and then some would show themselves, disappearing +when a well-directed shot struck in too close proximity. Cavalry +and infantry at times issued from the gates; but from their hurried +movements it seemed evident that they were ill at ease, and after a +short time they returned into the city. + +At night the scene was, as may be supposed, grand in the extreme. The +space below was lighted up by continuous flashes and bursts of flame, +throwing a flood of light among the thick forest of trees and gardens, +while shells would burst high over the city, illuminating the spires and +domes, and bringing into prominence every object around. There was not +only the roll of the heavy guns and mortars, but the sharp rattle of +musketry, and the hiss of the huge rocket, as it cut through the air +with its brilliant light, sounded in our ears. + +_September 12_.--On the 12th the enemy made frequent sorties from the +Lahore and Ajmir Gates with bodies of cavalry and foot, while a party of +horsemen crossed the canal, and made for the right rear of the camp. The +latter were seen by the Guides and some Punjabi cavalry, who, led by +Probyn and Watson, advanced to meet the enemy. There was a short but +sharp encounter at close quarters, in which thirty rebels were killed, +the remainder flying at full speed towards the city. The sorties from +the gates turned out comparatively harmless, and seemed meant only as +demonstrations to draw out our troops from the cover of the advanced +trenches. Seeing that the attempt was futile, and resulted only in loss +to themselves, the enemy retreated in confusion, their flight being +accelerated by shell and round-shot from No. 1 Battery, and musketry +from our outlying posts. + +A serious loss befell the army on this day in the death of Captain +Robert Fagan, of the Bengal Artillery. This officer, whose heroism made +his name conspicuous even among the many gallant spirits of the Delhi +Field Force, was killed in No. 3 Advanced Battery, a post he had +occupied since September 8, and which was more than any other exposed to +the enemy's fire. He had served throughout the siege, and was beloved by +his men, winning the hearts of all, not only by his undaunted behaviour +and cool courage, but also by his kind-hearted and amiable disposition. + +The approaching day of assault was now the subject of conversation among +officers and men; for the end was at hand. On September 12 a council of +war met in General Wilson's tent, at which all the superior officers of +the army were present. All the arrangements for attack were perfected, +and the position of every brigade and corps was fixed and decided, +though the day and hour of assault was known to no one, not even to the +General in command. + +_September 13_.--There was no rest for us on the 13th, the last Sunday +we were destined to pass before the walls of Delhi. The fire of our +heavy cannon increased in violence every hour, and the silence of the +enemy's batteries assured us of the efficacy of the bombardment, and the +speedy approach of the time when our columns would move to the assault +on the city. + +That night, soon after darkness had set in, four officers of the +Engineers proceeded to examine the two large breaches in the walls made +by the batteries. It was a hazardous duty, exposing them to peril of +their lives; but these brave young fellows executed their task in +safety, and, unobserved by the enemy, few of whom seemed to be keeping +watch on the ramparts, returned to report the perfect practicability of +the breaches for escalade. + +Then the General issued his orders for the final assault; and long +before midnight each regiment in camp knew its allotted place in the +coming attack on the city. + +Five storming columns were formed, the position and details of each +being as under: + +No. 1, under Brigadier General Nicholson, consisting of the 75th +Regiment, 1st Bengal Fusiliers, and Punjab Infantry, to storm the breach +at the Kashmir bastion--in all 1,000 men. + +No. 2 Column, under Brigadier W. Jones (H.M. 61st Regiment), consisting +of H.M. 8th (the King's) Regiment, 2nd Europeans, 4th Sikhs--altogether +850 men to storm the breach near the Water bastion. + +No. 3, under Colonel Campbell, consisting of the 52nd Regiment, the +Kumaon battalion of Goorkhas, and 1st Punjab Infantry--in all 950 +men--to assault the Kashmir Gate after it should be blown in by the +Engineers. + +No. 5, or the Reserve, under Brigadier Longfield (H.M. 8th Regiment), to +follow No. 3 by that gate into the city, was composed of the 61st, the +Belooch battalion, 4th Punjab Infantry, and the Jhind troops--altogether +1,300 men, with 200 of H.M. 60th Rifles--to cover the advance of +Nicholson's column and to form a reserve. + +The whole of the above-named columns were under the immediate command of +General Nicholson, on whom devolved all arrangements for carrying out +the assault on Delhi. + +No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, the officer in command at Hindoo Rao's +house, was formed of part of the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor battalion +of Goorkhas, detachments from European regiments, and the Kashmir +contingent. This column was to attack the fortified suburb of +Kishenganj, and enter the city by the Lahore Gate, meeting Nos. 1 and 2 +Columns at that place. + +The cavalry brigade, under Colonel Grant, composed of the 9th Lancers, +part of the 6th Carabineers, with Sikh and Punjab cavalry and some +Horse Artillery, took up their position on the right of No. 1 Advanced +Battery, facing the Mori Gate, and within range of Kishenganj. Their +object was to oppose any attempt to take the storming columns in +flank, to watch the movements of the enemy, and to guard the camp from +surprise. + +To the convalescents and a small force of cavalry and artillery the +protection of the camp was confided--a very insufficient guard when it +is considered that the enemy might well, out of their vast numbers, have +detached part of their horsemen and infantry to harass, if not imperil, +its safety, and that of the many, sick and wounded. As will hereafter be +seen, great danger resulted from the arrangements made in this respect; +and had the enemy, after our unsuccessful attack on Kishenganj on the +14th, but shown a spirit of pluck and daring, it is not too much to +affirm that the camp might have fallen into their hands, and our +successes in the city have thereby been rendered almost nugatory. + +The night of the 13th was passed by us in a cheerful mood, everyone +hopeful and confident of what the morrow would bring forth. There was +a character of determination among the officers and men, a cool, +deliberate conviction that, under Providence, success would crown our +arms, and that vengeance would be done on those who had forfeited their +lives by the cruel massacre of our defenceless women and children. + +Sleep visited the eyes of few in camp during the short hours of +preparation for the assault. Fully equipped to turn out at a moment's +notice, we lay down on our beds waiting for the signal to fall in. +This came at about three o'clock on the morning of September 14--an +auspicious day, it being the third anniversary of the Battle of the +Alma. + +_September_ 14.--The troops fell in on their respective lines, and, +assembling at the slope of the ridge, the four columns of attack marched +in silence to the Flagstaff Tower. Thence, picking up the men on picket, +who were all withdrawn from the outlying posts, the force moved by the +road to the neighbourhood of Ludlow Castle, and close to No. 2 Advanced +Battery. Our movements were entirely concealed from the enemy; the +darkness which prevailed, and the ample cover from trees, gardens, and +houses, masking the march of the columns, while the breaching batteries, +which had kept up their fire all night long, still continued the +bombardment; nor did they cease till the actual moment when the columns +were set in motion and took their way to the city. + +Just before sunrise all the dispositions were completed, the gallant +Nicholson, under whose orders we were, moving from point to point to +perfect his arrangements. Our artillery fire ceased as if by magic; and +a stillness, which contrasted ominously with the former roar and din, +must have convinced the rebels that something unusual was about to take +place. + +The 60th Rifles with a cheer advanced to the front, and opened out as +skirmishers to the right and left of the Koodsia Bagh. Then followed +Nos. 1 and 2 Columns, which, in compact order, issued from their cover, +making for the two breaches to be assaulted. + +I was with my regiment in No. 5 Column; and with breathless interest, +each heart aflame with excitement, we watched our comrades marching to +the attack. Presently the order for No. 3 Column to move forward was +given, and at a short interval our own followed. + +Meanwhile the enemy had descried our movements, and the ramparts and +walls and also the top of the breaches were alive with men, who poured +in a galling fire on our troops Soon they reached the outer edge of the +moat, and amidst a perfect hailstorm of bullets, causing great havoc +among our men, the scaling-ladders were let down. The ditch here, 20 +feet deep and 25 feet broad, offered a serious obstacle to the quick +advance of the assaulting columns; the men fell fast under the withering +fire, and some delay ensued before the ladders could be properly +adjusted. However, nothing daunted, the opposite side was scaled, and, +mounting the escarp, the assailants, with shouts and cheers that could +be heard above the din of battle, rushed up the two breaches. + +Without waiting for the charge of the British bayonets, the greater part +of the rebels deserted the walls and bastions and ran pell-mell into the +city, followed by our men. Some few stood manfully and endeavoured to +check the flight of the rest; but they were soon shot or bayoneted, and +the two columns halted inside the walls. + +Almost simultaneously with the entrance of our troops into the city, the +Kashmir Gate was blown in, and No. 3 Column, followed by No. 5, advanced +along the covered way and passed into the city. We had only been, met by +desultory fire from the enemy, which caused few casualties, during our +march to the gate; the men were in high spirits, and longed to come to +close quarters. + +The episode of the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate of Delhi is too well +known to require description here;[2] suffice it to say that the deed +was an act of heroism almost without a parallel in the annals of the +British army. In broad daylight, a small band of heroes advanced to +almost certain death; but with a determination and valour seldom heard +of, after repeated attempts to lay the powder-bags and apply the match, +and losing nearly all their number, killed and wounded, the gate was +blown in, giving free passage to the assaulting columns. + +All the troops were now assembled at the main guard, in an open space +close to the Kashmir Gate, and here, as well as the firing from the +enemy would permit, the force re-formed, under the orders of General +Nicholson. Nos. 1 and 2 Columns united, and under command of that +officer moved to their right, advancing along the walls in that +direction and clearing everything in their way. + +No. 3 Column now marched into the heart of the city, being guided by Sir +Theophilus Metcalfe, and by a circuitous route made its way towards the +Jama Musjid. Soon we lost sight of this force, and then our own work +began. + +Advancing from our first place at the main guard, No. 5 Column pushed +forward to the College Gardens, marching through narrow streets and +lanes, with high houses on each side. But how can I describe that +terrible street-fighting, which lasted without intermission the whole +day? From every window and door, from loopholes in the buildings, and +from the tops of the houses, a storm of musketry saluted us on every +side, while every now and then, when passing the corner of a street, +field-guns, loaded with grape, discharged their contents into the +column. Officers and men fell fast, but this only served to exasperate +the remainder, who almost without a check reached the College, and, +after some severe skirmishing, cleared the gardens and houses of the +rebels, and bayoneted all who were found there. + +Leaving a detachment to occupy this post, we passed through more streets +and lanes, ever exposed to the same terrific fire, and after great +trouble succeeded in taking possession of Colonel Skinner's house and a +large building known as the palace of Ahmed Ali Khan. + +It was now midday, and at the latter place we were joined by No. 3 +Column, which, making its way to the Jama Musjid, met with such a +strenuous resistance that, after losing many men, and being without +powder with which to blow up the gates of the mosque, it was forced to +retire. The streets, we heard, were alive with men on their line of +route, and the column had been exposed to incessant fire without any +good resulting from their undaunted efforts. + +There was work enough and to spare to clear the streets and houses in +front and on each side of the Kashmir Gate; and from the time the +two columns joined forces till night set in a continuous fight was +maintained. The system of attack in which we were engaged allowed of no +formation being retained. Isolated groups of men, European and native, +led sometimes by officers, and often without any leaders, roamed through +the narrow streets, entering houses from which the fire was more than +usually severe, and putting to death without mercy all who were found +inside. + +On one occasion a party of sepoys and armed rabble emerged from a house +in our front, and were seen by our men, who immediately opened fire. +Soon they were followed by a troop of women yelling and screaming. +Keeping these as a cover for their retreat, the rebels got clear away, +the soldiers having desisted from firing the moment the women appeared. +This was a ruse which, I heard from others, was often adopted by the +mutineers, who seemed to know intuitively that their women and children +were safe from the fire of our men. + +The deeds of individual daring performed during September 14 were +numberless, and I was witness of many feats of arms and cool courage +by the rank and file and non-commissioned officers of the different +regiments. A private of my corps, a huge Grenadier Irishman named +Moylan, saved the life of an officer under circumstances which fully +entitled him to the coveted distinction of the Victoria Cross. In one of +the numerous encounters which took place this officer, leading on a few +men, turned sharply round the corner of a street, and was met by a force +of sepoys coming from the opposite direction. A shot struck him, and he +was felled to the ground from the blow of a sword, and would have been +quickly despatched had not Moylan rushed to his rescue. Discharging his +musket, he shot one of the assailants, and charged with the bayonet. +This was broken off; and then, with firelock clubbed, he stood over the +prostrate officer, dealing such fearful blows with the weapon--felling +his foes in every direction--that the sepoys took to their heels, and +Moylan, picking up the wounded officer, brought him to a place of +safety. He was made a sergeant on the spot by the Colonel, but all +efforts to obtain the Cross for this gallant fellow were unavailing. In +those days the distinction was but seldom given; probably so many names +were submitted for the General's consideration that only a few could be +approved, and the application for Moylan was passed by. + +But though in the latter's case the Victoria Cross was not given, it was +awarded to a surgeon (named Reade) of my regiment on that day. He was +ever to be found in the thick of the fighting, ministering to the +wounded and cheering on the men. While engaged in his professional +duties, a number of sepoys poured a deadly fire from the far end of a +street into the group of wounded of which he was the central figure. +This was too much for the surgeon, who, drawing his sword, called on +some men of the regiment close by, and led them in gallant style against +the enemy, whom he dispersed with great loss, killing two sepoys with +his own hand. Not only on this occasion, but on several others, the +surgeon's bravery was most conspicuous, no one grudging him the +distinction he had so gallantly won. + +There is nothing so destructive of the morale and discipline of soldiers +as street-fighting, nor can control be maintained except by men of +extraordinary resolution. The veterans of the European regiments +composing the Delhi army on the day of assault fully justified their +reputation. Cool and determined, they kept in check the impulsive valour +of the young soldiers, and assisted their officers on various occasions +when it became almost impossible to control their ardour. Till late +at night the fighting never ceased; the weary and famished soldiers, +exhausted and worn out from fatigue and exposure, and without a moment's +rest, carried out the work of clearing the streets and houses, exposed +all the time to a fire of musketry, coming chiefly from unseen foes. + +Many lost their lives in the houses, where, entangled in the labyrinth +of roofs, courtyards, and passages, they were shot down by the inmates, +and were found, in several instances days after, with their throats cut +and otherwise mutilated. The hope of finding plunder in these places +also led many to their doom, and accounted for the large list of missing +soldiers whose names appeared in the day's casualties. + +And now I must pass from our force to record the doings of No. 1 and +2 Columns, under General Nicholson. These, for a long distance, had +carried all before them, taking possession of the ramparts and bastions +as far as the Kabul Gate, and effectually clearing the streets leading +to the heart of the city. Exposed to a pitiless fire of grape and +musketry through their whole advance, their loss was very heavy, but, +still pressing forward, barrier after barrier was taken, the guns on +each bastion, after its capture, being at once turned on the city. Their +goal was the Burn bastion and the Lahore Gate, and all that men could do +with their diminished numbers was tried at those points without effect. +The rebels were in enormous force at these positions; field-guns and +howitzers poured grape and canister into the assaulting columns, and +musketry rained on them from the adjoining houses. Time after time +attacks were made, till the sadly harassed soldiers, completely worn +out, were forced to retire to the Kabul Gate and the bastions and +ramparts they had already gained. + +It was in one of these unsuccessful attempts to carry the Lahore Gate +that Nicholson fell mortally wounded. Ever eager and impetuous, his +dauntless soul led him into the thick of the combat. Spurning danger, +and unmindful of his valuable life, he was in the front, in the act +of encouraging and leading on his men, when the fatal shot laid low a +spirit whose equal there was not to be found in India. He lingered +for some days in great torment, expiring on September 23, mourned by +everyone in the force, from the General in command to the private +soldier, all of whom knew his worth, and felt that in the then momentous +crisis his absence from amongst us could ill be borne. No eulogy can add +to his renown; through his efforts, more than those of any other, Delhi +fell, and he left his unconquered spirit as a heritage for the work +still to be accomplished in the pacification of India. His name itself +was a tower of strength in the army. Peerless amongst the brave men of +his time, to what brilliant destinies might he not have succeeded had +his young life (he was but thirty-four years old) been prolonged! + +I must now revert to No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, and the attack on +the strong fortified suburb of Kishenganj. About 100 men of my regiment +were engaged in this affair; and from the lips of our officers I had a +full account of the fight and the subsequent retreat.[3] + +The morning had dawned, and Major Reid waited to hear the signal to +commence operations--the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate. His force, +numbering about 1,000 men besides the Kashmir troops, were formed up on +the Grand Trunk Road, opposite the Sabzi Mandi picket and at the foot of +the ridge. Now the sun had risen, and still he watched for the signal, +when shots in quick succession were heard on the right of the column, +and it became known that the Kashmir contingent, without waiting for +orders, had become engaged with the enemy. + +Some men of the 60th Rifles were thrown out as skirmishers, and Major +Reid moved with his force in the direction of Kishenganj. Soon they were +stopped by strong breastworks thrown up by the enemy and barring the +road to the suburb, the rebels being concealed behind these in great +force, and pouring a heavy fire on our troops when only fifty yards +distant. A rush was made for the earthworks, which were taken in gallant +style; but the want of field-guns was here felt, and the enemy retired a +short distance amongst the gardens, from which they continued to harass +our troops. The Kishenganj battery also opened fire, and our position +became critical in the extreme from the increasing number of the foe, +who were constantly reinforced, and defied all endeavours to drive them +from their cover. + +While the struggle was thus raging on the left, the Kashmir troops on +the extreme right flank had become involved with a large force of the +enemy of all arms, who, no doubt despising the martial qualities of +these half-disciplined levies, attacked them on all sides with +great vigour. Our allies made no stand, and soon became completely +disorganized, flying at length in headlong rout, with the loss of all +their guns. No record was kept of their casualties, but they must have +been very severe. For the future they remained unemployed in their camp, +bewailing the loss of their four guns, and were never again engaged with +the enemy. + +Two or three days after the capture of Delhi I was wandering, with some +others, through the streets of the city, when we came upon an officer +and four men of the contingent, who accosted us, asking if we had heard +or seen anything of their lost guns. They seemed in great grief, fearing +the wrath of the Maharajah of Kashmir when they should arrive home, +leaving the guns behind. With difficulty restraining a laugh, we assured +them that we could give no information on the subject, and counselled +them to search among the guns on the bastions near the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates. They succeeded eventually in finding two, the others probably +being borne off as trophies by the sepoys during the evacuation of +Delhi. The contingent soon afterwards left for Kashmir, but how they +were received by the Maharajah we never heard, though probably condign +punishment was meted out to those who had actual charge of the guns. + +The defeat of the Kashmir troops had a most disastrous effect on the +issue of the attack on Kishenganj. Reinforced in great numbers, as I +have related, the enemy maintained their ground, and our men could make +no impression on them, chiefly from the want of field-guns. Major Reid, +moreover, was wounded at an early stage of the action, and was carried +off the field. His absence was soon felt in the altered dispositions of +the force, and the want of a leader to carry out the plans formed by +him. + +The breastworks which had been taken could not be held for want of +support, and some confusion resulted, the enemy's artillery from +Kishenganj and musketry from the gardens causing great destruction. +Many gallant attempts were made to drive off the rebels, but all were +unavailing; and at length, after losing one-third of its number, the +column fell back in good order to its original starting-point near the +Sabzi Mandi, and Kishenganj remained in the hands of the enemy. Had that +position been taken, and No. 4 Column, according to instructions, pushed +on to the Lahore Gate, no good, as it turned out, would have been +effected. Nicholson's columns, as related, had been forced to retire; +the gate would have remained closed, and possibly the undertaking would +have resulted in a more serious collapse than the ineffectual attempt on +Kishenganj. + +The presence of a large unconquered force on our right flank also placed +the camp in imminent danger. It was known--from information received +from spies--that it was the enemy's intention, after our failure +to dislodge them from the suburb, to make an attack on the almost +unprotected camp. The danger fortunately passed off, the rebels probably +having little heart to join in operations to our rear when they heard +the news of the signal success of our columns in the city. Still, their +presence at Kishenganj was a standing menace; nor were we completely at +ease with regard to the safety of the camp till the 20th, when the city +was found to be evacuated by the enemy, and our troops immediately took +possession. + +Lastly, I must narrate the doings of the Cavalry Brigade. This force, +with Horse Artillery, was stationed near No. 1 Advanced Battery, under +the command of Brigadier Hope-Grant, their duty being to guard our +right flank from being turned during the assault on the city. Here they +remained, keeping a watchful lookout for some hours, till orders came +for the brigade to move towards the walls of Delhi. They halted opposite +the Kabul Gate, at a distance of 400 yards, and were at once exposed to +the fire from the bastions, and to musketry from the gardens outside +the suburbs of Taliwarra and Kishenganj. Our Horse Artillery made good +practice, driving the enemy from their cover and spiking two guns; but +the exposed situation caused great losses in the cavalry, and they moved +still further to their front, halting amidst some trees. + +The enemy now sallied from the gardens as though with the intention +of driving the cavalry in the direction of the Kashmir Gate. The +circumstances were most critical, when a body of Guide Infantry, coming +up at the time, threw themselves on the rebels, maintaining their place +with great resolution till help arrived, with a part of the Belooch +battalion, and the enemy were forced to retire. + +Too much praise cannot be given to the 9th Lancers and Horse Artillery +for their conduct on this occasion. Exposed for hours to cannonade +and musketry, unable to act from the nature of the ground, they never +flinched from their post, forming a living target to the fire of the +rebels. The same may be said of the Sikh and Punjabi cavalry, who +displayed a coolness and intrepidity scarcely, if at all, less +meritorious than that of their European comrades. Our casualties were +very severe, the 9th Lancers alone losing upwards of twenty men killed +and wounded. + +And now that I have described the operations of each column and portions +of the Delhi army during September 14, it will be necessary to record +the advantages we had gained. From the Water bastion to the Kabul Gate, +a distance of more than a mile, and constituting the northern face +of the fortifications of Delhi, was in our possession, with all the +intervening bastions, ramparts, and walls. Some progress had been made +into the city opposite, and to the right and left of the Kashmir Gate, +and along the line of walls. The College and its grounds, Colonel +Skinner's house, that of Ahmed Ali Khan, and many other smaller +buildings were held by the infantry. The enemy's guns on the bastions +had been turned on to the city, and a constant fire was kept up, the +streets and lanes being cleared in front, and advanced posts occupied by +our men. + +These advantages had not been gained without a severe struggle, and a +terrible roll of killed and wounded was the consequence. Our casualties +on September 14 amounted to upwards of 1,200 officers and men killed, +wounded, and missing--a loss out of all proportion to the small number +of men engaged, and when the relative forces are considered, far +exceeding that which was suffered by the British army during the assault +on the Redan on September 8, 1855. The deadly and destructive nature +of street-fighting was here apparent, and the long-sustained contest, +lasting more than twelve hours, swelled the total loss to the excessive +amount recorded. In my regiment alone 100 men were placed _hors de +combat_, thirty-three being killed; but the other European regiments +suffered still more in proportion, and especially so those which took +part in the actual assault on the breaches. + +The native troops fought with the most determined bravery; Sikhs, +Punjabis, and Goorkhas, side by side with their English comrades, +pressed into the forefront of the strife, helping in the most material +manner towards the day's success. + +It was impossible to ascertain the loss sustained by the enemy. Dead +bodies lay thick in the streets and open spaces, and numbers were killed +in the houses; but the greater part of those who fell were no +doubt carried off by the rebels. In the ardour of the fight many +non-combatants also lost their lives, our men, mad and excited, making +no distinction. + +There is no more terrible spectacle than a city taken by storm. All the +pent-up passions of men are here let loose without restraint. Roused +to a pitch of fury from long-continued resistance, and eager to take +vengeance on the murderers of women and children, the men in their +pitiless rage showed no mercy. The dark days of Badajoz and San +Sebastian were renewed on a small scale at Delhi; and during the +assault, seeing the impetuous fury of our men, I could not help +recalling to my mind the harrowing details of the old Peninsular Wars +here reproduced before my eyes. + +With the exception of a small amount of looting, the men were too much +occupied with fighting and vengeance to take note of the means of +temptation which lay within their reach in the untold quantities of +spirits in the stores of the city. Strong drink is now, and has in all +ages been, the bane of the British soldier--a propensity he cannot +resist in times of peace, and which is tenfold aggravated when excited +by fighting, and when the wherewithal to indulge it lies spread before +him, as was the case at Delhi. When and by whom begun I cannot say, but +early in the morning of the 15th the stores had been broken into, and +the men revelled in unlimited supplies of drink of every kind. It is a +sad circumstance to chronicle, and the drunkenness which ensued might +have resulted in serious consequences to the army had the enemy taken +advantage of the sorry position we were in. Vain were the attempts made +at first to put a stop to the dissipations, and not till orders went +forth from the General to destroy all the liquor that could be found did +the orgy cease, and the men return crestfallen and ashamed to a sense +of their duties. The work of destruction was carried out chiefly by the +Sikhs and Punjabis, and the wasted drink ran in streams through the +conduits of the city. + +_September 15_.--This untoward event considerably hampered the +operations on September 15, and but small progress was made that day +towards driving the rebels out of Delhi. The artillery and engineers +worked hard at the completion of the batteries on the captured bastions, +on which were mounted our own and the enemy's heavy guns; and one for +mortars was erected in the College grounds, which shelled the Palace +and the Fort of Selimgarh. A few houses were taken in advance of our +positions, but no further movement on any large scale was attempted, +owing to the demoralized state of a great portion of the European +infantry, and, further, to a desire that the troops should obtain some +rest after the unparalleled fatigues and exposure of the previous day. + +Reports also spread through the force that the General, feeling his +strength and means inadequate to hold even the portions of the city in +our possession, meditated an evacuation of the place, and a retirement +to the old camp to await reinforcements. Every consideration must be +made for one placed in his critical position; and he, no doubt, in his +own mind, felt justified in proposing the step, which, had it been +carried out, would, in all probability, have ended in the fall of +British rule in India. "In an extraordinary situation extraordinary +resolution is needed," was the saying of the Great Napoleon, and to no +crisis in our history was this dictum more applicable than that at Delhi +in September, 1857. Mutiny and rebellion spread their hydra heads over +the land, disaffection was rife in the Punjab, our only source of supply +for operations in the field; and nought could stay the alarming symptoms +save the complete capture and retention of the great stronghold of +rebellion. It had also been a well-known maxim laid down and carried out +by Clive, Wellesley, Lake, and all the great commanders who had made +our name famous in Hindostan, never to retire before an Eastern foe, no +matter how great the disparity of numbers; and history tells us that our +successes were due mainly to this rule, while the few reverses we have +suffered resulted from a timid policy carried out by men whose heart +failed them in the hour of trial. + +Happily for the Delhi army, and more especially for the English name, +the counsels of the General in command were overruled by the chief +officers in the force, and even the gallant Nicholson from his death-bed +denounced, in language which those who heard it will never forget, the +step contemplated by his superior officer. + +Towards the evening of the 15th the enemy, becoming emboldened by our +inactivity, attacked the advanced posts along our whole line, and kept +up a sharp musketry fire, more especially on the College compound, while +the heavy guns at Selimgarh and some at the magazine shelled those +gardens and houses adjacent--even as far as the Kashmir Gate--occupied +by our troops. At 5 p. m. a battery of heavy guns played on the defences +of the magazine, soon crumbling the wall to pieces, and opening out a +large breach for assault. + +_September 16_.--My regiment, the 4th Punjab Rifles, and a wing of the +Belooch battalion were detailed as a storming party, and mustering at an +early hour on the morning of the 16th, we marched to the attack on +the magazine.[4] This enclosure--a large walled area close to the +Palace--was surrounded by a high curtained wall with towers, the +interior space being occupied by buildings and containing a park of +artillery and munitions of war. We met with no resistance on our way, +and on approaching the breach saw only a few defenders on the ramparts, +who opened a fire, which, however, caused little damage. A rush was at +once made, the men gaining the top of the bridge without difficulty, and +bayoneting some sepoys and firing on the remainder, who fled through the +enclosure and were driven out at the gates on the opposite side. We had +only about a dozen men killed and wounded, but of the enemy more than +100 lost their lives, being dragged out of the buildings where they had +taken refuge and quickly put to death. Two hundred and thirty-two guns +fell into our hands, besides piles of shot and shell; in fact, so vast +was the amount that, although the enemy had been firing from their +batteries for more than three months, making a lavish use of the stores +at their command, scarcely any impression seemed to have been made on +it. + +That day and the following night our position in the captured magazine +was anything but pleasant. The rebels continually harassed us with +shells fired from the Chandni Chauk and near the Palace. Some, more +venturesome than the rest, climbed on ladders to the top of the walls, +plying us with musketry and hand-grenades, while others during the night +mounted the high trees overhanging the enclosure, and with long lighted +bamboos tried to set fire to the thatched buildings and blow up a small +magazine. These attempts kept us constantly on the alert; and it was +with great difficulty that we prevented damage being done. + +Fighting continued during the day among the other portions of the force, +and Nos. 1 and 2 Columns made further advances among the streets, the +guns and mortars from the bastions throwing shot and shell far into the +crowded parts of the city. Houses in commanding situations were taken +and made secure from assault by defences of sand-bags. Great judgment +was shown in these operations, and the losses in consequence were +comparatively few; but the enemy as yet gave no signs of retreating +from Delhi, and our leaders felt that great exertions would still be +necessary before the city fell entirely into our hands. + +_September 17_.--During the 17th and 18th a constant fire of shells from +upwards of twenty mortars was directed from the magazine and College +grounds on the Selimgarh Fort and the Palace, those from the bastions +still firing into a large portion of the city. Skirmishing went on at +the advanced posts, and a regular unbroken line of communication was +established from one end of our pickets to the other. + +_September 18_.--On the 18th my regiment moved from the magazine and +took up its quarters in the Protestant Church, close to the main guard +and Kashmir Gate, and at no great distance from the northern walls of +the city. This church had been built by the gallant and philanthropic +Colonel Alexander Skinner, C.B., an Eurasian and an Irregular cavalry +commander of some eminence during the wars in the beginning of the +century. He also erected at his own expense a Hindoo temple and a +Mohammedan mosque, giving as his reason that all religions were alike, +and that, in his opinion, each one was entitled to as much consideration +as the other. + +This church in which we were now quartered had been sadly desecrated by +the rebels and fanatics of the city. They had, in their religious zeal, +torn down the pulpit and reading-desk, defaced emblems, broken up the +pews and the benches, and shattered all the panes of glass, while here +and there inside the building were remains of their cooking-places, with +broken fragments of utensils. The walls, too, had suffered much from the +effects of our bombardment from September 11 to 14, the church being +in the line of fire directed on the bastions. Many, no doubt, would +consider it a sacrilege to quarter English troops in this sacred +edifice, but the exigencies of war required its use for this purpose, +and of all the buildings occupied by us during our stay in Delhi, the +church was found to be cleanest and best ventilated, free from the +noisome smells and close atmosphere of the native houses. + +The close of the 18th saw our outposts extended hard by the Chandni +Chauk--the main street of the city--the bank, Major Abbott's and Khan +Mohammed's houses having first been seized by our men, who suffered +severely from the field-guns and musketry of the rebels. There was also +another unsuccessful attack made on the Burn bastion and Lahore Gate +by the right column, in which the 75th lost one officer and many +men killed. The arrangements for attack seemed to have been bad and +ill-advised; the soldiers felt the want of the guiding genius of +Nicholson, and, during an advance through a narrow lane were literally +mown down by grape from the enemy's field-guns. + +The weather, which since the 14th had been fine, broke up on the night +of the 18th, and was succeeded by a terrific storm of rain, which fell +in torrents like a deluge. That night it was reported that the rebels in +great numbers were evacuating the city by the south side, the Bareilly +and Neemuch brigades making off in the direction of Gwalior. Certain it +is that from this period signs of waning strength appeared among the +enemy, and fewer attempts at assault were made on our outposts, those +on the left near the Palace, which were well protected by breastworks, +being only exposed to a very desultory fire of musketry. + +During the forenoon of the 18th there was, I think, a partial eclipse of +the sun, which lasted three hours. The unusual darkness which prevailed +astonished us beyond measure (our minds being taken up with events more +startling than astronomical phenomena) till reference to an almanac +explained the mystery. The eclipse had, we were told, an alarming effect +on the mutineers, who attributed the phenomenon to some supernatural +agency. The darkness no doubt worked on their superstitious fears, and +hastened their flight from the city on which the wrath of the Almighty +had descended. + +_September 19_.--On the 19th operations in front of the Palace Gate were +continued, a heavy fire being kept up against that place, while the 60th +Rifles and others, perched on the tops of houses, took unerring aim at +the rebels clustered in the open space. The same evening, also, the +exertions of the right column were rewarded by the capture of the Burn +bastion, with little loss on our side. + +It was now quite evident that the baffled insurgents were retiring from +Delhi in great numbers, mostly by the south side, few crossing the +bridge of boats by day owing to it being commanded by our guns. But on +the night of the 19th, when sitting in the church compound watching the +shells exploding over the Palace and Selimgarh, we heard distinctly, +through the intervals of firing, a distant, confused hum of voices, like +the murmur of a great multitude. The sound came from the direction of +the river, and was caused by multitudes of human beings, who, escaping +by the bridge of boats to the opposite side, were deserting the city +which was so soon to fall into our hands. + +_September 20_.--After some sharp fighting, and early on the morning of +September 20, the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion, which during former +assaults had cost us the lives of so many men, were taken, the column +pushing on along the walls to the Ajmir Gate, which also fell into our +hands. There were few defenders at these places, the mass of sepoys +having evidently fled into the country; and the troops marched through +the streets almost without opposition. + +There now remained but the Palace, Selimgarh, and the Jama Masjid, and +these were all occupied by our troops on that day. The former seemed +almost deserted, an occasional shot from the high walls directed on our +defences in the Chandni Chauk being the only signs of animation in that +quarter. Powder-bags were brought up and attached, to the great gate, +which was quickly blown in; and the 60th Rifles, with some Goorkhas, +rushed into the enclosure. A score or two of armed fanatics offered some +resistance, but they were soon shot down or bayoneted, and a few wounded +sepoys found in the buildings were put to death. Passing through the +Palace, Selimgarh was entered, and this, the last fortified position +belonging to the enemy, was taken possession of without a struggle. + +Meanwhile, a force of cavalry under Hodson moved round outside the city +walls, and found a large camp of the enemy near the Delhi Gate. This +was deserted, save by some sick and wounded sepoys, who were put to the +sword; and the horsemen, riding through the gate, made their way into +the heart of the city and took possession of the Jama Masjid without +striking a blow. + +Delhi had at length fallen into our hands, and the toils and dangers +of more than three months were at an end. The principal buildings were +occupied by our troops, and guards were placed at each gate with orders +to prevent the ingress or egress of any suspicious-looking characters, +while parties of armed men patrolled the streets of the city from end to +end. + +That night we moved back to our old quarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house, +the 52nd taking our place at the church. The first-named building was a +vast structure, belonging to a rich native, and had been furnished in a +style of Oriental magnificence; but now nothing but the bare walls and +floors were to be seen, the place having been ransacked of its treasures +and completely gutted since our last occupancy. + +From September 15 to 20, when Delhi fell, the force lost in killed and +wounded about 200 officers and men, making the total casualties 1,400, +including those of the day of assault. + +From May 30 to September 13 inclusive 2,490 officers and men were killed +and wounded, the grand total being close on 4,000. Add to these fully +1,200 who perished by cholera and other diseases, and it will be seen at +what a fearful cost of life to the small force engaged the victory was +won. + +Truly the capture of Delhi was a feat of arms without a parallel in +our Indian annals. The bravery of the men, their indomitable pluck and +resolution, the siege carried on with dogged pertinacity and without a +murmur, proclaimed to the world that British soldiers, in those stormy +times when the fate of an Empire was at issue, had fully maintained the +reputation of their ancestors and earned the gratitude of their country. + +To me, after the long interval of years, the incidents of the siege, +with its continual strife and ever-recurring dangers, come back to me as +in a dream. Often in fancy has my mind wandered back to those days +of turmoil and excitement, when men's hearts were agitated to their +profoundest depths, and our cause appeared wellnigh hopeless. Then it +was that a small body of men in a far-away part of North-West India, +entirely separated from the rest of the world, a few thousands amongst +millions of an alien race, rallied round their country's banners and +despaired not, though mutiny and rebellion ranged through the land. With +steadfast purpose and with hearts that knew no fear, the Delhi army +held its own for months against an overwhelming force of cruel and +remorseless rebels. Imperfectly equipped, and with little knowledge of +the dangers to be surmounted and the difficulties arising on every +side, each man of that force felt himself a host, and devoted his +energies--nay, his very life--to meet the crisis. None but those who +were there can for one moment realize through what suffering and +hardship the troops passed during the three months the Siege of Delhi +lasted. Day after day, under a burning sun or through the deadly time of +the rainy season, with pestilence in their midst, distressing accounts +from all parts of the country, and no hope of relief save through their +own unaided exertions, the soldiers of the army before Delhi fought with +a courage and constancy which no difficulties could daunt and no trials, +however severe, could overcome. In the end these men, worn out by +exposure and diminished in numbers, stormed a strong fortified city +defended by a vastly superior force, and for six days carried on a +constant fight in the streets, till the enemy were driven out of their +stronghold and Delhi was won. It must also be remembered that the +feat was accomplished without the help of a single soldier from home; +reinforcements had arrived in the country, but they were hundreds of +miles distant when the news reached them of the capture of Delhi: and it +is not too much to say that the success which followed the subsequent +operations down-country was due mainly to the fact that all danger from +the north-west had virtually ceased, and the mutiny had already received +a crushing blow from the capture of the great city of rebellion. + + +[Footnote 1: Lieutenant Boileau, 61st Regiment, served in the batteries +till the end of the siege.] + +[Footnote 2: Are not the names of the Engineers Home and Salkeld and of +Bugler Hawthorne (H.M. 52nd Regiment) household words?] + +[Footnote 3: Captain Deacon and Lieutenants Moore and Young were wounded +in this engagement.] + +[Footnote 4: Colonel Deacon, Her Majesty's 61st Regiment, commanded on +this occasion.] + + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +The renown won by our troops in 1857 is now wellnigh forgotten, and, +in fact, their deeds in that distant quarter of our Empire faded into +oblivion within a very short period subsequent to the capture of Delhi. +When the regiments engaged at that place came home to England after a +long course of service in India, scarcely any notice was taken of their +arrival. There were no marchings past before Her Majesty at Windsor or +elsewhere, no public distribution of medals and rewards, no banquets +given to the leading officers of the force, and no record published +of the arduous duties in which they had been engaged. Those times are +changed, and the country has now rushed into the opposite extreme of +fulsome adulation, making a laughing-stock of the army and covering +with glory the conquerors in a ten days' war waged against the wretched +fellaheen soldiers of Egypt. + +Five years passed away after 1857 (and how many poor fellows had died in +the meantime!) before a mean and niggardly Government distributed to the +remnant of the Delhi army the first instalment of prize-money, and three +years more elapsed before the second was paid. + +In September, 1861, exactly four years after the storm of Delhi, my +regiment paraded at the Plymouth citadel to receive medals for the +campaign of 1857. The distribution took place in the quietest manner +possible, none but the officers and men of the regiment being present. +Borne on a large tray into the midst of a square, the medals were handed +by a sergeant to each one entitled to the long-withheld decoration, the +Adjutant meanwhile reading out the names of the recipients. There was +no fuss or ceremony, but I recollect that those present could not help +contrasting the scene with the grand parade and the presence of the +Queen when some of the Crimean officers and men received the numerous +decorations so lavishly bestowed for that campaign.[1] + +The city was entirely in our possession by noon of September 20, and +shortly after that hour I proceeded on horseback, with orders from +the Colonel, to withdraw all the advanced pickets of my regiment +to headquarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house. These were stationed in +different parts of the city, and it was with no small difficulty that I +threaded my way through the streets and interminable narrow lanes, which +were all blocked up with heaps of broken furniture and rubbish that had +been thrown out of the houses by our troops, and formed in places an +almost impassable barrier. Not a soul was to be seen; all was still +as death, save now and then the sound of a musket-shot in the far-off +quarters of the town. + +My duty accomplished, I started in the afternoon with two of our +officers to view a portion of the city. We made our way first in the +direction of the Palace, passing down the Chandni Chauk (Silver Street) +and entering the Great Gate of the former imperial residence of the +Mogul Emperors. Here a guard of the 60th Rifles kept watch and ward with +some of the jovial little Goorkhas of the Kumaon battalion. From the +first we learnt particulars of the easy capture of the Palace that +morning, and were shown the bodies of the fanatics who had disputed the +entrance and had been killed in the enclosure. None of them were sepoys, +but belonged to that class of men called "ghazi," or champions of the +faith, men generally intoxicated with bhang, who are to be found in +every Mohammedan army--fierce madmen, devotees to death in the cause of +religion. Passing on, we wandered through the courts, wondering at the +vast size of this castellated palace with its towering, embattled walls, +till we came to the Dewan-i-Khas, and further on to the Dewan-i-Aum, or +Hall of Audience. This last, a large building of white marble on the +battlements overhanging the River Jumna, was now the headquarters of the +General and his staff, and where formerly the descendants of the great +warrior Tamerlane held their court, British officers had taken up their +abode; and infidels desecrated those halls, where only "true believers" +had assembled for hundreds of years. + +Passing thence through a gateway and over a swinging bridge, we entered +the old fort of Selimgarh, built, like the Palace, on the banks of the +river, its battlements, as well as those of the latter place on its +eastern side, being washed by the waters of the Jumna. Several heavy +guns and mortars were mounted on the walls of the fort, and we noticed +one old cannon of immense size for throwing stone balls, but which was +cracked at the muzzle, and evidently had not been used for centuries. +The fort was full of large and commodious buildings, used afterwards for +hospitals by our troops, the place itself, from its commanding situation +open and separate from the rest of the city, being the healthiest place +that could be found. There was a lovely view of the country on the left +bank of the Jumna, while to the north and south we followed the windings +of the broad river till lost to view in the far distance. + +Descending from Selimgarh, we took our stand on the bridge of boats now +deserted in its whole length, but over which, during the days of the +siege, thousands of mutineers had marched to swell the rebel forces in +Delhi. Thence we skirted along the banks of the river outside the walls, +viewing on our way the houses of the European residents, built in +charming situations close to the water's edge. These had been all +entirely destroyed, gutted, and burnt; nothing but the bare walls were +left standing, and the interiors filled with heaps of ashes. We thought +of the wretched fate of the former inmates of these houses, most of +whom had been mercilessly killed by the city rabble, urged on in their +fiendish work by the native soldiers, of the regular army. + +The mutineers of the 3rd Light Cavalry from Meerut had entered Delhi on +May 11, crossing the Jumna by the bridge of boats, and, being joined +by the city scoundrels, first wreaked their vengeance on the European +residents who lived close by, and who, without any previous warning of +the terrible fate in store for them, fell easy victims to the murderers. +It made our blood run cold, when visiting the ruins of these houses, to +think of the dastardly crimes which had been committed in and around the +spots on which we were standing. Defenceless and unarmed, helpless +in the hands of these human tigers, our unfortunate men, women, and +children were immolated without mercy. Turning back, we entered the city +by the Calcutta Gate, and walked along the ramparts by the riverside, +past the walls of the magazine, till we reached the Water bastion. Here +the destructive effect of our batteries during the bombardment was most +apparent. Fired at the distance of only 180 yards, the guns had smashed +the walls and ramparts to pieces, huge fragments had rolled down into +the ditch, and the cannon in the battery were completely dismounted from +the carriages, lying in confusion one on top of the other. + +At the Kashmir Gate there was a heap of goods (consisting principally +of clothes and rubbish) many feet high, which had been looted from the +houses around. The guard at the gate had orders to allow no one to pass +out with a bundle of any kind; and the consequence was an accumulation +of material, chiefly worthless, which covered many square yards of +ground. I have omitted all record of the plundering which up to this +time, and for long afterwards, took place all over the city where +our troops had penetrated. This account I have reserved for the last +chapter, where full details of the loot of Delhi and the amount of +prize-money accruing to the force will be found. _September 21_.--During +the 21st I, in company with other officers, wandered over the heart of +the city, continuing our perambulations south of the Chandni Chauk and +penetrating into streets beyond, where the six days' fighting had taken +place. The night before we had heard occasional shots fired at no great +distance, and these were continued during the day and for some time +afterwards. + +Looting was going on to a great extent, both European and native +soldiers engaging in the work; and though strict orders had been issued +to prevent such licence, it was found impossible to check the evil. The +shots emanated from these men, who, of course, went about well armed, +and brooked no interference when in the act of securing booty. +Altercations of a serious nature had taken place between the Europeans +and Sikh soldiers, ending sometimes in blows, and often in bloodshed, +when the two parties met in a house or were busy employed in dividing +the spoil. However, in time, when most of the native troops had left +Delhi, and the European regiments were quartered in walled enclosures +with a guard at the gates to prevent egress, the looting on the part of +the private soldiers ceased, and the prize agents were enabled to gather +in the enormous wealth of the city without any trouble. + +The portions of the town we passed through on that day had been pillaged +to the fullest extent. Not content with ransacking the interior of each +house, the soldiers had broken up every article of furniture, and with +wanton destruction had thrown everything portable out of the windows. +Each street was filled with a mass of debris consisting of household +effects of every kind, all lying in inextricable confusion one on top of +the other, forming barricades--from end to end of a street--many feet +high. We entered several of the large houses belonging to the wealthier +class of natives, and found every one in the same condition, turned +inside out, their ornaments torn to pieces, costly articles, too heavy +to remove, battered into fragments, and a general air of desolation +pervading each building. Much of this wholesale destruction was, no +doubt, attributable to the action of the sepoys and rabble of the city, +who during the siege, and in the state of anarchy which prevailed during +that period, had looted to their hearts' content, levying blackmail on +the richer inhabitants and pursuing their evil course without let or +hindrance. Still, that which had escaped the plundering and devastating +hands of the sepoys was most effectually ruined by our men. Not a +single house or building remained intact, and the damage done must have +amounted to thousands of pounds. + +We were quite alone in most streets; deserted and silent, they resembled +a city of the dead on which some awful catastrophe had fallen. It was +difficult to realize that we were passing through what had been, only a +few days before, the abode of thousands of people. What had become of +them, and by what magic influence had all disappeared? Not till days +afterwards was the mystery solved. + +The _tai-khanas_, or underground rooms of houses, scattered all over the +city, were found to be filled with human beings--those who, by age or +infirmity, had been unable to join in the general exodus which had taken +place during the last days of the siege. Hundreds of old men, women and +children, were found huddled together, half starved, in these places, +the most wretched-looking objects I ever saw. There was no means of +feeding them in the city, where their presence also would have raised a +plague and many would have died; so, by the orders of the General, they +were turned out of the gates of Delhi and escorted into the country. It +was a melancholy sight, seeing them trooping out of the town, hundreds +passing through the Lahore Gate every day for a whole week. We were told +that provisions had been collected for their use at a place some miles +distant, and it is to be hoped the poor creatures were saved from +starvation; but we had our doubts on the subject, and, knowing how +callous with regard to human suffering the authorities had become, I +fear that many perished from want and exposure. + +There were other objects also which raised feelings of pity in our +minds. During our walks through the streets we caught sight of dozens +of cats and tame monkeys on the roofs of the houses, looking at us with +most woe-begone countenances, the latter chattering with fear. These, as +well as birds of every description left behind in cages by their owners +on their flight, literally starved to death in the houses and streets of +the city. There was no food for such as these, and it is lamentable to +think of the torture and suffering the poor pet creatures endured till +death put an end to their misery. + +Dead bodies of sepoys and city inhabitants lay scattered in every +direction, poisoning the air for many days, and raising a stench which +was unbearable. These in time were almost all cleared away by the native +scavengers, but in some distant streets corpses lay rotting in the sun +for weeks, and during my rides on duty, when stationed at the Ajmir +Gate, I often came across a dead body which had escaped search. + +On the afternoon of the 21st a most important capture was effected by +Hodson. Shah Bahadoor Shah, the old King of Delhi, was taken by that +officer near the city while endeavouring to escape down-country. + +Hodson, with his accustomed daring, and accompanied by 100 only of his +own troopers, seized the person of the King from amongst thousands of +armed dependents and rabble, who, awed by his stern demeanour, did not +raise a hand in resisting the capture. The King was brought to Delhi the +same day, and lodged as a prisoner in the house formerly the residence +of the notorious Begum Sumroo. He was guarded by fifty men of my +regiment, under command of a Lieutenant; and on the 22nd I went to see +him, accompanied by our Adjutant. + +Sitting cross-legged on a cushion placed on a common native _charpoy_, +or bed, in the verandah of a courtyard, was the last representative of +the Great Mogul dynasty. There was nothing imposing in his appearance, +save a long white beard which reached to his girdle. About middle +height, and upwards of seventy years old, he was dressed in white, with +a conical-shaped turban of the same colour and material, while at his +back two attendants stood, waving over his head large fans of peacocks' +feathers, the emblem of sovereignty--a pitiable farce in the case of one +who was already shorn of his regal attributes, a prisoner in the hands +of his enemies. Not a word came from his lips; in silence he sat day and +night, with his eyes cast on the ground, and as though utterly oblivious +of the condition in which he was placed. On another bed, three feet +from the King, sat the officer on guard, while two stalwart European +sentries, with fixed bayonets, stood on either side. The orders given +were that on any attempt at a rescue the officer was immediately to +shoot the King with his own hand. + +[Illustration: KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857.] + +[From a photograph taken from a pencil sketch by Captain Robles, who was +placed on guard over him.] + +The old King was brought to trial shortly afterwards at the palace, and +found guilty of complicity in the murders of our country men and women, +and was transported beyond the seas, dying in British Burmah before he +could be removed to the Andaman Islands, where, in accordance with his +sentence, he was to have remained in imprisonment for the term of +his natural life. The vicissitudes of fortune, numberless as are the +instances among men of royal birth, can scarcely show anything more +suggestive of the transitoriness of earthly pomp and grandeur than +the case of the last King of Delhi. Sprung from the line of the great +conqueror Tamerlane, the lineal descendant of the magnanimous Akbar and +of Shah Jehan the magnificent, he ended his days as a common felon, far +from the country of his ancestors, unwept for and unhonoured. + +_September 22_.--Lieutenant Hodson, also on the 22nd, took prisoner, at +a place some miles from Delhi, the two eldest sons and the grandson +of the King. These men, more especially the eldest, who was +Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, had been deeply implicated in the +murders of May 11, had urged on the sepoys and populace in their cruel +deeds, and were present at the terrible massacre of our people which +took place in the Chandni Chauk on that day. + +Hodson's orders were precise as to the fate of these blood-thirsty +ruffians, and though his name has been vilified and his reputation +tarnished by so-called humanitarians for the course he adopted in +ridding the world of the miscreants, he was upheld in the deed by the +whole Delhi army, men in every respect better qualified to form a +judgment in this particular than the sentimental beings at home who +denounced with horror this perfectly justifiable act of speedy and +condign punishment. + +The three Princes were placed in a _gharee_, or native carriage, and, +guarded by Hodson's native troopers, were conducted towards the city. +Before they entered, the carriage was stopped, and Hodson spoke to his +men of the crimes committed by the prisoners. Then, dismounting from his +horse and opening the door of the _gharee_, he fired two shots from a +Colt's revolver into each of their hearts. After being driven to the +Kotwali, or chief magistrate's house, in the centre of the Chandni +Chauk, on the very spot where our country men and women had suffered +death, the three bodies were stripped save a rag around the loins, and +laid naked on the stone slabs outside the building. + +Here I saw them that same afternoon; nor can it be said that I or the +others who viewed the lifeless remains felt any pity in our hearts for +the wretches on whom had fallen a most righteous retribution for their +crimes. The eldest was a strong, well-knit man in the prime of life, the +next somewhat younger, while the third was quite a youth not more than +twenty years of age. Each of the Princes had two small bullet-holes over +the region of the heart, the flesh singed by gunpowder, as the shots +were fired close; a cloth covered part of the loins, but they were +otherwise quite naked. There was a guard, I think, of Coke's Rifles +stationed at the Kotwali, and there the bodies remained exposed for +three days, and were then buried in dishonoured graves. + +On the 22nd the regiment, or what was left of it, comprising about 180 +effective rank and file, moved from Ahmed Ali Khan's house to the Ajmir +Gate at the extreme south-western side of the city, a distance of a mile +and a half from our former residence. Here we put up in a large serai, +with open courtyards in the centre, shaded by high trees, the small +rooms on each side of the building being turned into quarters for the +men, the officers taking up their abode in a mosque at the far end. The +change was far from agreeable; flies and mosquitoes swarmed around us, +the ditch outside the walls was filled with pools of stagnant water, and +a horrible stench impregnated the air, increasing the sickness among +the already enfeebled soldiers, and still further reducing our scanty +number. + +_September 23_.--The next day I started with D----, of my regiment, to +view the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque. Nothing can exceed the rich, +though chaste, beauty of this glorious structure. The building stands +in a large walled enclosure, high broad steps leading up to the mosque, +with its three domes of pure white marble and floor of the same +material, all inlaid with figures. We ascended one of the minarets, +about 120 feet high, obtaining a grand view of the imperial city and the +surrounding country. To the south extended the ruins of Ferozebad, or +ancient Delhi; to the east lay the River Jumna; and to the west and +north stretched a forest of trees and gardens, among which were seen the +suburbs of the city, the now historic ridge in the far distance hiding +the whole camp from our view. From our elevated position a just estimate +could be formed of the great size of Delhi: the city lay spread out +below with its vast area of streets, its palaces, mosques, and temples, +all silent and deserted, in striking contrast to the din and turmoil of +a few days back. + +Major Coke's corps of Punjab Rifles were quartered in the Masjid--a +luxurious place of residence--but there were no worshippers to be found +in the sacred building, and only armed men of an infidel creed were to +be seen. A report spread at this time that it had been decided to blow +up the mosque. I cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, and can +only attribute the rumour to a belief that a large ransom would be paid +by the Mohammedan population of India for the preservation of their +temple had the authorities really intended to carry out the project. Its +destruction would have been an act of vandalism quite at variance with +the character of the British nation, and one which would have brought +down on us the wrath and contempt of the whole civilized world. + +From the Jama Masjid we wandered through narrow lanes and +back-slums--the former resort of the worst characters in the city--to +the Delhi and Turkoman Gates, the streets, as in other parts, being +strewed with property from the wrecked houses, and wellnigh impassable. +We saw parties of Europeans and native soldiers, all eager in the +pursuit of plunder, going from house to house, or diving down courts and +alleys when they saw us approaching. Interference or remonstrance with +these men would have been useless, if not dangerous; in their excited +state they were no respecters of persons, and we deemed it the better +judgment to take no notice of their actions. Dead bodies lay in almost +every street, rotting in the burning sun, and the effluvium was +sickening, so that we were glad to make our way back to the Ajmir Gate +to a less poisonous atmosphere. + +A movable column of 2,500 men of all arms started on the morning of the +23rd in pursuit of the rebels, taking the direction to Cawnpore. My +regiment had been detailed for this service; and, though numerically +weak, and suffering from sickness, the officers and men hailed with +pleasure the approaching departure from Delhi. But, unfortunately for +us, the Colonel in command reported us sick and unfit to march. We were +all to a man furious at this; everyone fit for duty was willing, heart +and soul, to be sent wherever the exigencies of the war required, and +more especially looked forward with delight to the prospect of serving +under Sir Colin Campbell, in whose brigade the regiment had fought in +the Punjab campaign of 1848-49. Still, the decision of the responsible +officer was not to be disputed, and so the regiment was kept at Delhi. + +On the 25th I mounted guard with fifty men at the Lahore Gate. The +orders were "on no account to allow soldiers, either European or native, +nor camp-followers without passes, to enter or leave the city." My post +was constantly at the gate, where I examined passes; and while +thus occupied some thirty troopers of the Mooltani Horse--wild, +truculent-looking fellows, armed to the teeth--rode up demanding +entrance. I explained to them what my orders were, and refused +admission. Whereupon they commenced talking among themselves, and +presently had the audacity to move towards the sentries with the +intention of forcing their way. I was exasperated beyond measure, and +turned out the guard, at the same time telling the Mooltanis that, if +they did not at once retire, I would fire upon them without more +ado. They then at once changed their threatening attitude, contented +themselves with swearing at the _Gore log_,[2] and rode away, saying +that now Nicholson was dead no one cared for them, and they would return +to their homes. These men had been newly raised, were scarcely under +proper discipline, and were certainly horrible-looking bandits and +cut-throats--very different from the Sikh and Punjabi Horsemen, who were +in manner and discipline all that could be desired. I knew that the +Mooltanis only desired entrance into the city to participate in the +looting which was still going on; and had they been allowed to indulge +in a work for which by their evil countenances they seemed well adapted, +collisions would have taken place between them and the English soldiers +and others, and bloodshed would have been the result. + +Shortly after the Mooltani Horsemen rode away I saw a party of Goorkhas +coming towards the gate. They were strolling along quite unconcernedly, +laughing and chatting together, with their hands in their pockets and +quite unarmed, not even carrying their favourite _kukri_. Coming to +where I was standing just outside the gate, they laughingly asked me to +allow them to take a stroll down the Chandni Chauk and through a part of +the city for a short time. My orders were imperative, and I told them +so; whereat they said they belonged to the Sirmoor battalion--the +gallant regiment which, in conjunction with the 60th Rifles, had +defended the right of our position throughout the siege. The corps was +still stationed at their old quarters at Hindoo Rao's house, and not one +of them up to this time had entered Delhi. Naturally, they said they +wished to see the city, promised most faithfully that they would refrain +from looting, and return to the Lahore Gate in an hour's time. I found I +could not resist the importunities of these brave little fellows, and, +trusting to their honour, at last consented, though contrary to orders, +to grant them admission. We watched them walking along the Chandni +Chauk, staring in wonder at all they saw, till lost in the distance. +Punctual to the time mentioned the Goorkhas returned, and, thanking me +for my courtesy, made their way to their old quarters on the ridge. + +During my tour on duty on this occasion at the Lahore Gate upwards of +500 of the Delhi populace were turned out of the city. They extended +in a long string up the Chandni Chauk, decrepit old men and women +with groups of young children. It was a pitiable sight, drawing forth +exclamations of sympathy even from the rough soldiers on guard. + +It had been brought to the notice of the General that some of the former +inhabitants of Delhi, including sepoys, were in the habit of entering +the city for the purpose of carrying away valuables, being drawn up by +ropes held by confederates on the walls, and that many had also escaped +in the darkness by the same means. Several captures had already been +made, a strict watch was ordered to be kept at the several gates, and +patrolling parties to march at intervals outside the walls. The day I +was on guard at the Lahore Gate Hodson rode up to me from the outside, +and said he had seen some natives on the walls close by, evidently +attempting to escape into the country. I immediately sent round a +corporal and four soldiers in the direction indicated, who presently +returned with six natives--carrying bundles--whom they had made +prisoners. All men thus captured were sent to the Governor of the city +at the Kotwalli, who disposed of them as he thought fit, having the +power of life and death in these matters. The Governor had the repute of +being over-indulgent with regard to the disposal of the captives, being +considered too merciful in his treatment of men who, for aught he knew, +had forfeited their lives in joining the armed rebellion against our +authority. + +A striking instance of the feeling which animated officers and men in +the troublous times took place some time afterwards at Delhi. An officer +of my regiment was on guard at the Ajmir Gate, and on one occasion sent +to the Governor some men whom he had captured while they were in the +act of escaping from the city. These men were released; but on a second +occasion three men were taken, and the officer, deeming it useless to +forward them for punishment to the usual authority, called out a file of +his soldiers, placed the prisoners in the ditch outside the Ajmir +Gate, shot them, and then, digging a hole, buried them at the place of +execution. + +For a long period after the capture of Delhi executions by hanging +were of common occurrence in the city, and the hands of the old +provost-sergeant were full. Disguised sepoys and inhabitants taken +with arms in their possession had short shrift, and were at once +consigned to the gallows, a batch of ten one day suffering death +opposite the Kotwali. + +In the beginning of October two more reputed sons of the old King were +shot by sentence of court-martial. They had commanded regiments of +the rebel army, and were foremost in the revolt, even joining in the +massacre of our people. The 60th Rifles and some Goorkhas formed +the firing party, and took, strange to say, such bad aim that the +provost-sergeant had to finish the work by shooting each culprit with +a pistol. Nothing could have been more ill-favoured and dirty than the +wretched victims; but they met their fate in silence and with the most +dogged composure. + +_September 28_.--Accompanied by our Adjutant and some other officers, I +rode out to Taliwarra and Kishenganj on September 28. These suburbs were +a mass of ruins, but enough was left intact to show the immense strength +of the enemy's position at the former place. Batteries had been erected +at every available spot, strongly fortified and entrenched, and one in +particular which had raked the right of our position was perfect in +every detail, and was guarded by a ditch, or rather _nallah_, forty feet +deep. + +We passed through the large caravanserai, the scene of the conflict +during the memorable sortie of July 9, and when in the course of our +inspection in the enclosure a ludicrous event occurred. An officer who +had been shot through the leg on that day, recognizing the place where +he had received his wound, dismounted from his horse, and stood on the +very spot. He was in the act of explaining events, and describing his +sensations when shot, when suddenly he made a jump in the air, uttering +a cry of pain, and commenced rubbing his legs, first one and then the +other. We burst into laughter at the antics of our friend, who, we +imagined, had been seized with a fit of madness quite at variance with +his usual quiet demeanour, and jokingly asked him what was the matter. +Still writhing with pain, and engaged in his involuntary saltatory +exercise, he pointed to a swarm of wasps which, roused from their nest, +on which he had been standing, covered his lower extremities, and had +made their way inside his pantaloons, stinging him on both legs, and +crawling up his body. The pain must have been intense, and fully +accounted for his gymnastics and frantic efforts to crush the insects. +It was some days before he recovered from the wounds he had received, +far more painful--as he averred--than the enemy's bullet, I intimated +at the time to my friend that the wasps probably were the ghosts of +the sepoys who had been killed in the serai, their bodies, by the +transmigration of souls, having taken the shape of these malignant +insects in order to wreak vengeance on their destroyers. He, however, +did not seem to relish my interpretation of this very singular event, +and, in fact, was inclined to resent what he called my ill-timed +jesting; but the story spread, and our poor friend became for some time +afterwards the butt and laughing-stock of the regiment. + +From Kishenganj we rode through the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, visiting our +old pickets there and at the Crow's Nest, and then proceeded up the +slope of the ridge to Hindoo Rao's house. This was still garrisoned by +the Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, some of whom escorted us round the +place, pointing out the different positions they had so gallantly +defended. The house was knocked to pieces, the walls showing evidence of +the enemy's fire, and revealing to us the truth of the saying in camp +that these hardy little fellows, with the 60th Rifles, during more than +three months, had been constantly exposed night and day to shot and +shell, there not being a single part of their quarters where complete +shelter could be found. + +The Observatory, close to Hindoo Rao's house, had also felt the effect +of the enemy's shot, while midway between the Observatory and the +Flagstaff Tower, the Mosque--the only other building on the ridge--was +also in ruins. Our batteries, nine in number, lay in a comparatively +small compass, extending about three-quarters of a mile from the Crow's +Nest in the right rear to Wilson's battery opposite the Observatory. The +rest of the ridge was unprotected by guns in position, it being at so +great a distance from the city and also free from the enemy's attacks; +the only danger and annoyance arose from occasional shells, which +reached the camp and exploded amongst the tents, from round-shot and +from rocket fire. + +Passing by the Flagstaff Tower, we rode through the old camp, now +desolate and silent, visiting the graves of our poor fellows at the +cemetery, and then, retracing our steps, entered Delhi by the Kashmir +Gate, and returned to our quarters. + +Cholera still continued its ravages among the small number of troops +left in Delhi. The reaction from a life of strife and excitement to the +dull existence we were now leading had its effects on the men, and we +each day lamented more and more that we had not gone with the Movable +Column, leaving the noisome smells, the increasing sickness, and the +monotony of Delhi behind. Two thousand sick and wounded had been moved +into the Fort of Selimgarh, where the pure air and open situation of the +place soon made a marked change in the number of invalids: but disease +was rife among the regiments quartered in the city, and convalescents +from Selimgarh were soon replaced by men suffering from cholera and +fever ague. + +In the beginning of October, to our intense delight, we moved from the +Ajmir Gate, that sink of corruption, and took up our quarters in the +magazine. The officers here occupied a fine roomy building of two +stories, while the men were housed in comfortable sheds round the +enclosure. We still furnished guards at the Ajmir and Lahore Gates, the +term of duty, through paucity of men for relief, extending over three +days. The officer on guard at the former gate visited detachments and +sentries at the "Delhi" and "Turkoman" Gates, a distance of a mile and +a half through streets in which dead bodies in the last stage of +decomposition were still lying. While one day engaged on this duty, I +passed a carcass on which some pariah dogs were making a meal. Disgusted +at the sight, and weak in stomach from the putrid air, I returned to +my tent at the Ajmir Gate at the time when my servant arrived with my +dinner from the magazine. I asked him what he had brought me, and was +answered, "Liver and bacon." The nauseating sight I had just witnessed +recurred to my memory, visions of diseased and putrid livers rose before +my view, and, unable to control myself, I was seized with a fit of +sickness which prostrated me for some time after. + +Nothing of importance occurred during the month of October. We settled +into a very quiet life at the magazine, varied by eternal guard-mounting +at the different gates of the city and regimental drill. My health had +been failing for some time, and, now that there seemed no immediate +prospect of employment on active service, I gladly acquiesced in the +doctor's advice that I should proceed to Umballah on sick leave. + +_November 8_.--Accordingly I left Delhi on November 8, my destination +being Umballah, a station in the Cis-Sutlej provinces. A _palki ghari_, +or Indian carriage, drawn by two horses, awaited me that evening at +Selimgarh, and, bidding adieu to our good doctor, who had nursed me with +unremitting attention during my sickness, I entered the carriage. +Just before starting, an officer of my regiment handed me two +double-barrelled pistols--revolvers were at a premium in those +days--saying they might possibly come in useful during my journey, and +I little thought at the time that their services would be brought into +requisition. + +The country around Delhi swarmed with _goojars_, the generic name for +professional thieves, who inhabited the numerous villages and levied +blackmail on travellers, though seldom interfering with Europeans. My +baggage, consisting of two _petarahs_ (native leather trunks) containing +uniform and clothing, was deposited on the roof of the vehicle under +charge of my bearer, but the loot I had acquired, I had safely stowed in +a despatch-box, which was placed under my pillow in the interior of the +carriage. A bed, comfortably arranged, occupied the seats, and on this I +lay down, closing the doors of the _ghari_ when night came on. + +Some two stages from Delhi, after changing horses and proceeding on the +journey along the pucka road, I fell into a doze, and at last into a +sound sleep. From this I was rudely awakened by shouts of "Chor! chor!" +(Thief! thief!) from my bearer and the native coachman. Starting up, +I seized the pistols, and opening the doors of the _ghari_, saw, as I +fancied, some forms disappearing in the darkness at the side of the +road. I fired two barrels in the direction and pursued for some +distance, but finding that my shots had not taken effect, and fearful of +losing my way--for the night was pitch-dark--I returned to the carriage. +My bearer then told me that some robbers had climbed up the back of the +_ghari_, taken the two _petarahs_ between which he was lying, and made +off into the country. We had been driving at the usual pace, about six +miles an hour, and it proves the practised skill and agility of the +_goojars_, who, with such ease, had abstracted the boxes from under the +very nose of my servant. There was nothing for it but to continue my +journey regretting the loss of my personal effects, but still fortunate +in one respect--that the loot was safe under my pillow. + +_November 9_.--At the next stage I questioned the horse-keeper, +acquainting him with the robbery, and learned that a village inhabited +by _goojars_ lay off the road not far from the place where the robbery +had been perpetrated. In the morning I arrived at the civil station +of Karnal, and drove to the residence of the Commissioner, to whom I +reported my loss, giving the name of the village where it had occurred. +He told me to make out a valuation of the things stolen and to send it +to him on the first opportunity. This I did on reaching Umballah, fixing +the value of the different articles in the boxes at 250 rupees. A month +afterwards, when the affair had almost faded from my memory, I received +a letter from the Commissioner stating that he had visited the village +near the spot where the robbery had taken place. The headman had been +summoned to his presence, and warned that, unless the thieves were +given up and the boxes returned with their contents intact, he would +confiscate a certain number of cattle, and sell the same to indemnify +me for the losses I had sustained. These orders being unfulfilled, the +cattle were sold, and an order for 250 rupees was enclosed to me in the +letter. The boxes, quite empty, with the exception of my journals, were +found afterwards at the bottom of a well and were forwarded to Umballah. +The ink had run in the journals from immersion in the water, but the +writing was little defaced, and these papers--to me the most precious +part of my luggage--I was glad to recover. + +The change to Umballah was at first beneficial, but later on I suffered +a relapse; and after appearing before a medical board, was granted a +year's leave to England. + +From Umballah I journeyed to Ferozepore, where I met several of my +brother-officers and others who, like myself, had been invalided home. + +_January 10, 1858_.--After a short stay there--the time being +principally taken up with chartering boats and providing necessaries +for the passage down the river--we all, to the number of about fifty +persons, occupying twenty-two boats, which had to be specially fitted up +with straw-built houses with sloping roofs, set off on January 10, 1858, +under the protection of a guard of Sikhs, and, after what may on the +whole be regarded as a pleasant trip, reached Tattah on February 11. +Thence I went on to Karachi and Bombay and Marseilles, and, after a +pleasant tour on the Continent of Europe, arrived in the Old Country in +May, 1858, after an absence of rather more than six years. + +[Illustration: "HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS] + + +[Footnote 1: Since the above was written, especial honour has been shown +to those who participated in the hardships and glories of the campaign +by His Majesty King Edward VII., who received the surviving officers at +a levee at St. James's Palace on June 3, 1907. + +A public dinner was also given by the proprietors of the _Daily +Telegraph_ in the Albert Hall on December 23 of the same year to all the +surviving veterans who had taken part in the suppression of the Mutiny +in 1857.] + +[Footnote 2: White people.] + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +The riches of the city of Delhi and the opulence of its Princes and +merchants had been celebrated in Hindostan from time immemorial. For +ages it had been the capital of an empire extending from the snows of +the Himalayas to Cape Comorin; and to Delhi, as to a centre, gravitated +the wealth of the richest country in the world. Fabulous reports had +reached us of the booty carried away to distant regions by the numerous +warriors who burst like a torrent over Hindostan, making that city the +goal of their conquests and the scene of their predatory forays. During +the nineteenth century Delhi, since its capture by Lord Lake in 1803, +had remained in the hands of the British, the city owing a nominal +allegiance to the King, who, to all intents and purposes a State +prisoner, was a pensioner of our Government up to 1857, holding a Court +(consisting for the most part of wretched dependents and ragamuffins) in +the Palace of the Great Mogul. + +The quiet which reigned during that period had a salutary effect on the +prosperity of Delhi; its merchants and storekeepers, trading with +the inhabitants of the richly-cultivated Dooab and with more distant +countries, became rich and prosperous, accumulating vast treasures, +while the people, with the instinct of a penurious race, converted their +ready-money into jewels and gold and silver ornaments, and safely stowed +them away in hidden receptacles within their houses. + +The numerous races of India--and notably the Sikhs--burning for an +opportunity to plunder the imperial city, cast longing eyes towards +these hidden treasures, the fame of which had spread far and wide; and +to this desire may be attributed, as much as any other reason, the +willingness of that warlike people to help us during the Mutiny. + +While the siege was progressing, even at a time when clouded with +anxiety as to the future, men's minds were full of the uncertain issue +of the fight; the thoughts of all in camp turned involuntarily to the +rich harvest awaiting the army should Delhi fall into our hands. To all +of us (putting aside the morality of the question), the loot of the +city was to be a fitting recompense for the toils and privations we had +undergone; nor did the questionable character of the transaction weigh +for one moment with us against the recognized military law--"that a city +taken by assault belonged as prize to the conquerors." During the actual +bombardment, when the end seemed at hand, this subject of prize was the +topic of conversation among both officers and men; and soon we learnt +with satisfaction that the General in command, after consulting with +others in authority, had settled on the course to be pursued. + +On September 7 a notice appeared in "orders" in which General Wilson +thanked the army for the courage and devotion displayed during the long +months of the siege. He recapitulated the dangers through which the +force had passed, and looked forward hopefully to the future when, +Providence favouring us, a few short days would see the enemy's +stronghold pass into our hands. Instructions the most peremptory were +laid down as to the absolute necessity for the troops keeping well +together on the day of assault, and not dispersing in scattered bands +or alone through the streets of the city in pursuit of plunder. Great +danger and possible annihilation of the small army would result were +these precautions overlooked, rendering the force liable to be cut up +in detail by the large bodies of rebels then occupying the streets and +houses of Delhi. Lastly, as a reward and incentive to all engaged, the +General gave his word, promising that all property captured in the city +would be placed in one common fund, to be distributed as prize according +to the rules of war in such cases. The commanding officer, as well as +all in the army, knew that it would be impossible to prevent looting +altogether, but it was hoped that the above order would have a good +effect by urging on the soldiers, for their welfare and advantage, the +necessity of obeying the instructions therein laid down. + +This order, as I have said, appeared on September 7; nor, from the +promises given, had any of us the slightest doubt but that its +provisions with regard to prize-money would be carried into effect in +due course. Delhi was taken, but as time passed by, and months elapsed +without any notification on the subject being received from the Supreme +Government, the army began to feel anxious, and murmurs arose as to the +non-fulfilment of the pledge given by General Wilson. At length, at the +end of the year, the Governor-General, with the advice of his Executive +Council, promulgated his decision that there was an objection to the +troops receiving the Delhi prize-money, and in lieu thereof granted as a +recompense for their arduous labours and patient endurance in the field +the "magnificent" sum of six months' batta. + +Lord Canning, his Council and law advisers, all civilians sitting +quietly at Calcutta, living in ease and comfort far from the dangers of +war, thought, forsooth, that the Delhi army, struggling for existence +for months, fighting to uphold British rule in India--nay, for the very +lives and safety of these civilian judges--and at last victorious in the +contest, would rest content with their decision. + +It is needless to say that this roused a storm of indignation not only +amongst the Delhi force, but throughout the British army in India--a +burst of resentment which, reaching the Governor-General, made him pause +and reconsider his ill-timed and unjust decision. Suffice it to say that +the order was rescinded, and that the prize-money, in addition to six +months' batta, was granted to all engaged. + +The day that the news of the first decision of the Government arrived at +Delhi, when all at that place were full of the wrong done to the army, a +private soldier of the 60th Rifles, inspired by the most exquisite sense +of humour as well as of bitter satire, wrote upon the walls of the +palace where his regiment was quartered the following appropriate +sentence: "Delhi taken and India saved for 36 rupees 10 annas." It +is said that the Governor-General demanded the name of this waggish +soldier, with the intention that he might receive punishment for his +daring effrontery; but it is needless to say that the author of the joke +remained unknown save to a few of his comrades; and the great ruler of +Hindostan was forced to rest content and ponder over the hidden sarcasm +and bitter irony addressed to one in his exalted position. + +The army was further promised by the Government 5 per cent, on the whole +amount of the prize-money till the amount should be paid. This, during +the many years which elapsed before the money was distributed, +would have reached a large sum; but faith was broken and the sum +repudiated--another instance of want of gratitude to soldiers who, +looked to maintain their country's honour in time of war, are in peace, +and when danger is at an end, soon forgotten. So prolonged, also, was +the delay in payment of the prize-money that, I recollect, the Times, in +reference to this subject about 1860 or 1861, had a leading article in +its columns recommending the Delhi army to bring an action against the +Government for the payment of the prize. Such action, of course, would +have been without precedent, but it showed the feeling of many in the +country when the leading journal thought right to draw attention to the +subject with a view to the adjustment of the army's rightful claim. + +To return to General Wilson's order of September 7. Notices were +circulated throughout the camp in every brigade and regiment, calling on +the troops to elect prize agents for gathering and receiving prize after +the capture of the city. These prize agents, therefore, were selected +by the army, one for the general and field officers, the second for the +Queen's service of all ranks below that of Major, and the third for the +company's army. The officers appointed, including Captain Fagan, and +after his death Doctor Innes, Sir Edward Campbell, of the 60th Rifles, +and Captain Wriford, of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, were all most popular +men, and considered in every way fit for the very important duties they +had to perform. + +On September 14, the day of assault, till the 20th, when Delhi was +completely in our possession, much looting took place in the city. Our +troops, both European and native, and especially the Sikhs, entered +houses during those days and managed to secrete about their persons +articles of value. To my certain knowledge, also, many soldiers of the +English regiments got possession of jewellery and gold ornaments taken +from the bodies of the slain sepoys and city inhabitants, and I was +shown by men of my regiment strings of pearls and gold mohurs which had +fallen into their hands. + +On the day of assault we were much amused, during a slight cessation of +the conflict, by one of our men rushing up to a group of officers in a +state of great excitement, with the news that there was a buggy with two +horses standing at the corner of a street close by. He offered the prize +to anyone who would give him a bottle of rum; but in the then state of +affairs no one felt inclined to burden himself with such a luxury, and +the poor fellow went away much disappointed. Whether he succeeded in +disposing of the prize I don't know; but when things quieted down, and +the regiment was stationed in comfortable quarters, one of our officers, +noted for his constant impecuniosity, appeared one day driving a buggy +and two horses, the acquisition of which always remained a secret; nor +would he, on being questioned, throw any light on the matter. + +That many of the private soldiers of my regiment succeeded in acquiring +a great quantity of valuable plunder was fully demonstrated soon after +our arrival in England. An unusual number of non-commissioned officers +and men bought their discharge, having during three years kept +possession of the plunder acquired at Delhi awaiting a favourable +opportunity for the sale of the articles. Many jewellers' shops in +the town in which we were quartered exposed for sale in the windows +ornaments and trinkets of unmistakable Eastern workmanship, which, on +inquiry, we were told had been bought from the men. + +It would have been contrary to human nature, and utterly at variance +with the predatory instinct, had the soldiers failed to take advantage +of the facilities for plunder which surrounded them on every side; nor +could it be expected that a man, after possessing himself of valuables, +would at once, or on the first favourable opportunity, deliver up +his booty to the properly-constituted authorities. This much may be +conceded, and it will therefore not be a subject of wonder that all +ranks of the Delhi Force, with but few exceptions, availed themselves +of the prize within their reach, and appropriated to their own use much +treasure which ought to have gone towards swelling the general fund. + +One officer in command of a native regiment quartered his corps in a +house which formerly belonged to one of the richest Princes in the city +of Delhi. The place was full of riches of every kind, and it was the +popular belief at the time throughout the army that the officer in +question succeeded in obtaining two lakhs of rupees. Rumour also said +that a court of inquiry would be held to investigate the truth or +otherwise of this report, but, if such had been contemplated, it fell to +the ground; nor was any attempt made to induce the officer to disgorge +his plunder. I paid a visit to this mansion some time afterwards, and +can vouch for the thorough ransacking the place had received. Every room +in the house had been pillaged, excavations had been made in the floors, +and empty boxes lay in every direction. + +Other cases similar to that just mentioned were known to us at the +time, in which sums of money were appropriated only a little smaller in +amount, while of those which reached the value of ÂŁ100 their name is +legion. Many men also there were who, at first swayed by moral scruples, +as well as feeling reluctant to disobey the order which had been issued, +refrained from looting on their own account; but when they saw that +officers, even of the higher ranks, took possession of plunder, these +scruples were cast to the winds--it was "every man for himself, and the +d--- l take the hindmost," and a general desire was evinced for each to +enrich himself with the prize lying at his feet. + +Often, when wandering through the city in pursuit of plunder, I, in +company with others, came across officers engaged in the same quest as +ourselves. These rencontres were most amusing, giving rise to mutual +interrogations and many jokes, each party affirming that looting was not +the object of their perambulations, but that they were only inspecting +the houses out of a feeling of curiosity. Up to this time I had not +succeeded in finding any articles of value, nor had I the remotest idea +that my acquaintance with a certain officer in the employ of the prize +agents would put me in the way of acquiring a fair amount of the loot of +Delhi. A few silver ornaments and a small bag of sicca rupees were all +that I had so far obtained, and I naturally felt desirous of increasing +my store, more especially when it was well known that many officers, +more fortunate and less scrupulous, had already made themselves masters +of large quantities of valuable plunder. + +The accumulation of prize by the agents began shortly after Delhi was +taken. At first the articles obtained were of little worth, comprising +chiefly wearing apparel of every description and household goods. Soon, +however, more costly effects were found by the searchers, and in a very +short time the rooms of the prize agents were filled with treasures of +every kind--jewellery and precious stones, diamonds, rubies, emeralds +and pearls without number, from those as large as hen's eggs to the +small species used for necklaces; gold ornaments, chains of the most +beautiful workmanship, bracelets and bangles all of solid metal. There +were heaps, also, of the small, thick, native coin known as gold mohurs, +thousands of which were accumulated by the prize agents and helped most +materially to swell the amount. I visited one room, the long table +in which literally groaned with the riches of "Ormuz and of Ind"--a +dazzling sight to the eye, and one calculated to raise the spirit +of greed in my breast to possess myself of some of the treasures so +temptingly exposed to view. When quiet returned, and the inhabitants of +the city began to flock back to their former homes, whole streets, in +which no doubt treasure had been concealed and had escaped the search of +the prize agents, were sold to the people for sums ranging from 5,000 to +50,000 rupees. All this helped to increase the prize to a sum which +was variously estimated at from half to three-quarters of a million +sterling; and even then it was asserted that only a portion of the vast +wealth of Delhi had been found. + +As far as I know, the Government, when distributing the prize-money in +two installments--in 1862 and again in 1865--gave no account of the +total amount which had been collected. The private soldier's share was +reckoned as the unit, value about ÂŁ17, increasing according to the pay +of the different ranks--the Ensign five shares, Lieutenant six and a +half, Captain eleven and a half, and so in proportion among the higher +grade of officers, while that of the Commander-in-Chief amounted to +one-sixteenth of the whole--an immense sum. There were, of course, many +exaggerations as to how much each rank would receive as its share, and +there were many heart-burnings also when the true amount became known. +The sum had dwindled down to less than one-third of what we expected, +and not a few expressed openly their conviction that some tampering +had taken place with regard to the distribution. This can hardly be +believed, though it has always been a notorious fact that the Government +are inclined to treat the claims of those who fight their battles with +neglect, and in one particular at least, by repudiating the 5 per cent, +promised till the Delhi prize-money was paid, they acted up to their +usual unjust policy, and gave occasions for the complaints which were +raised at the time. + +I will now proceed to give an account of my experience when acting as an +assistant to an officer who was accredited by the prize agents with a +permit to search for plunder. This officer, an old friend of mine, asked +me to accompany him on his expeditions, saying also that he had no +objection to my helping myself in moderation to part of the loot which +we might happen to find. Carrying with us the necessary tools, such as +hammers, spades, and pickaxes, we each day started--accompanied by +two coolies--on our plundering excursions. For some days we were very +unsuccessful, and for nearly a week only managed to gather together +and transmit to the agents articles of little value. But, soon gaining +experience from continued practice, and taking note of the different +houses in which there was a likelihood of finding prize, we settled +down to a systematic course of search, which in the end proved highly +remunerative. Scarcely anything of value was found lying about the +different rooms; these had been already gutted and the contents +destroyed by the soldiers, both European and native, who, since the day +of assault, had roamed about the city. At the time we began our search +all was comparatively quiet, and during our operations, such was the +vast extent of the city and so numerous the buildings, that only on two +or three occasions were we interrupted by parties engaged in the same +quest as ourselves. + +My companion was a good Hindustani scholar, and taking advantage of his +proficiency in the language, he made a point of interviewing several +natives of the city, who, in the capacity of workmen in different +trades, were allowed in Delhi, and were employed in their several +occupations. From one of these, a mason and builder, N--received +information that a large quantity of treasure was concealed in the house +of a former rich resident. This man had helped to secrete the hoard, and +on the promise of a small reward was willing to help us in unearthing +the booty. + +One morning in the beginning of October, attended by the mason, and +carrying the necessary implements, we were taken to the house in +question. This was a large building with a courtyard in the centre, the +rooms of which showed the remains of luxury and wealth, but, as usual, +had been despoiled by the plunderers of our army. Every article was +scattered about in dire confusion; there were piles of clothing and +bedding; rich and ornamental stuffs were torn to pieces, and the +household furniture, broken up, was strewn about the courtyard. Our +guide took us to a small room, about 80 feet square--in fact, it was the +closet of the establishment--the walls of which were whitewashed, the +floor being covered with a hard cement. Here, we were told, the treasure +was concealed under the flooring of the room, and we lost no time in +commencing operations, the mason assisting us. Picking through the +cement, we came on a large flagstone, which we lifted out of the cavity. +Then we dug a hole about 3 feet square, and the same depth in the loose +earth, disclosing the mouth of a large earthenware _gharra_, or jar. +Loosening the soil all around, we attempted to raise the jar out of the +ground, but all our efforts were unavailing--its great weight preventing +us from lifting it one inch out of the bed. Then, trembling with +excitement, for we felt sure that a rich display would greet our eyes, +we began slowly to remove each article from the _gharra_, and place it +on the floor of the room. A heavy bag lying at the mouth of the jar +was first taken out, and on opening it, and afterwards counting its +contents, we found that it contained 700 native gold mohurs, worth +nearly ÂŁ1,200. Then came dozens of gold bangles, or anklets, of pure +metal, such as those worn by dancing-girls. We were fairly bewildered at +the sight, our hands trembling and our eyes ablaze with excitement, for +such an amount of pure gold as that already discovered we had never seen +before. But the treasure was not yet half exhausted. The jar seemed a +perfect mine of wealth--gold chains, plain and of filigree workmanship, +each worth from ÂŁ10 to ÂŁ30; ornaments of the same metal of every sort +of design, and executed in a style for which the Delhi jewellers are +celebrated all over India. Then came small silver caskets filled with +pearls, together to the number of more than 200, each worth from ÂŁ3 to +ÂŁ4, pierced for stringing. Others, containing small diamonds, rubies, +and emeralds, and the greatest prize of all--reclining in a casket by +itself--a large diamond, which was sold afterwards by the prize agents +for ÂŁ1,000. There were many other articles of value besides those I have +mentioned--gold rings and tiaras inlaid with precious stones, nose-rings +of the kind worn by women through the nostrils, earrings, bracelets, and +necklaces of small pearls without number. + +All these various articles we spread out on the floor of the room, +examining each again and again, and with avaricious thoughts intent, +lamenting that we were not allowed to appropriate what would have been +to us a fortune. Truly such a temptation to enrich themselves without +fear of detection was never till this occasion set before two +impecunious subalterns of the British Army. Here, spread out before us, +lay loot to the value of thousands of pounds, all our own were we to +follow the example of some who had already feathered their nests with +much larger amounts, defying those in authority to take the plunder from +them. However, such a course could not be entertained for one moment, +and, moreover, were we to possess ourselves of all the contents of +the jar, there was no secure place of concealment to be found, and +unpleasant inquiries and prying eyes would soon have revealed to the +world our abduction of the booty. + +It is impossible to do more than guess at the value of the plunder +acquired on this day. My friend received a reward for the find; as for +myself, I will leave it to my readers whether it was possible for weak +human nature to resist the temptation of carrying away some few mementos +from this miscellaneous collection of treasure-trove. To tell the +truth, I must confess that in after times my only regret was that I had +foolishly let slip an opportunity of enriching myself which could never +recur. We agreed--and in this we were borne out by the prize agent--that +ÂŁ7,000 was the lowest sum at which to compute the loot we had found. + +It was my invariable custom to wear as a kammerband or girdle folds of +muslin round my waist for the protection of the liver and spleen, and in +this I placed the articles I carried away. My friend procured a small +cart, in which he deposited the loot and drove to the house of one of +the agents, while I, encumbered as I was, with difficulty mounted my +horse and rode towards the magazine. I could not but feel nervous and +abashed when thinking of the riches concealed about my person, at last +working myself up to such a pitch of excitement that I imagined all I +met were cognizant of my good fortune; and on entering the gates of the +magazine, I fancied I heard one of our men say to his comrade, "Well! +that fellow, at any rate, has plenty of loot about him." + +Our next great find, though by no means so lucrative as the first, +brought a large accession to the prize fund. It occurred to me, through +calling to recollection the story of the treasures concealed in the +Hindoo idol at Somnath which was broken open by Sultan Mahmoud in the +eleventh century, that possibly the same kind of receptacle might +disclose a like prize, though on a smaller scale, among the numerous +temples scattered through the city of Delhi. + +Acting on this idea, we one day entered a small Hindoo temple situated +not far from the Chandni Chauk. The shrine was gaudily decorated; but +after a prolonged search, we found nothing of any value. A hideous idol +stood on a raised structure in the centre of the building, and was soon +demolished in iconoclastic style with our hammers. The base of the idol +was formed of _chunam_ (a kind of cement), and into this we dug with +our small pickaxes. Soon a ringing sound from a blow disclosed a large +silver casket imbedded in the _chunam_, and this, after some little +trouble, we extricated from its position. Forcing the casket open, our +sight was regaled by a brilliant show of jewels and gold--diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds--two of the latter species being uncut, but of +great size, pearls larger than any we had yet seen, and gold ornaments +of every description, chains, bracelets, bangles, and a few gold mohurs. +We were quite alone in the temple, and after feasting our eyes on the +treasures and selecting a few objects for our own benefit, N---- took +the casket to the prize agent, telling him where we had found it, and +recommending a search in such localities, which recommendation, no +doubt, was carried into effect among other Hindoo temples in the city. + +When first entering a house during our search, we at once made ourselves +acquainted with the creed of its former inhabitants. In this there was +no difficulty--Korans lying about the floor denoted that the occupants +had been Mussulmans, while many indications, such as idols, a different +arrangement of the furniture, and other signs with which we became +conversant, proved the influence of the rival Hindoo race. There was a +very cogent reason for this investigation on our part--the Mohammedans +invariably, in secreting their valuables, placed them in the ground +under the floors of their houses, the Hindoos, on the other hand, always +hid them in receptacles in the walls of the buildings. Armed with this +knowledge, we used to sound either the floors or the walls of each house +according as the place belonged to one or the other creed; nor in one +single instance, as far as I can remember, were we at fault in our +diagnosis. + +A favourite hiding-place for valuables was behind the staircase, the +treasure being concealed in a sort of vault built around with bricks and +cement. On one occasion, in the house of a money-changer, we demolished +a secret place of this kind and discovered four large bags filled +with some heavy metal. Feeling convinced we should find that the bags +contained at the least rupees, we opened one, and to our infinite +disgust saw that the contents consisted of copper pieces called pice, of +which there were many thousands; the bags, however, were taken to the +prize agents, but I need scarcely say our hands on that day at least +were not soiled by appropriating a portion of the plunder. + +On several occasions we succeeded in finding large stores of money, +chiefly sicca or native rupees, while in the houses of Hindoos, in +portions of the walls which sounded hollow under the blow of the hammer, +we, after making a hole sufficiently large for the passage of a hand, +constantly brought to light large stores of silver ornaments, consisting +of chains, bracelets, etc., amounting in the aggregate to a barrowful. +Few houses there were that did not furnish, after a diligent search +either in the floors or walls, some articles of value; but on only one +occasion after the successful ventures in the two first cases was the +amount of loot in any way comparable to that which we obtained on those +days. + +In a very secluded part of the city, in a large house, surrounded by +wretched tenements inhabited by the lowest class, we opened a door, and +to our amazement entered a room furnished in the European fashion. This +also had not escaped the marauding and destructive hands of parties of +plunderers; the furniture was smashed, and the contents of the room +strewn about the floor. There were English chairs, curtains, ottomans +covered with antimacassars, sofas and broken mirrors, and in the corner +a small piano, ruined and destroyed. The house had evidently belonged +to some rich native, but who had been the occupant of this boudoir? for +such it was--a miniature drawing-room filled with European luxuries, not +excepting books and copies of music. Articles of a lady's apparel also +lay about, torn in shreds, vases were on the mantelpiece, as well as +a small box filled with English fancy needlework. We came to the +conclusion that the mistress of this abode must have been a Eurasian +lady, probably one of the zenana of the master of the house, who during +the exodus from the city had fled with, or been forcibly carried away +by, her protector. + +A dismal mishap occurred to me in this room. Choosing a +comfortable-looking ottoman, I sat down, little dreaming that I had +fallen into a trap which would occasion much laughter among my friends +for days to come. Feeling a strange moist sensation in a certain portion +of my body, I jumped up from the seat, to find, to my horror, that I had +plumped down on a quantity of ghee, or clarified butter. A jar of ghee +was lying on the floor, and a portion of this horrible mess had been +spilt on the seat of the ottoman. I was dressed in white trousers and +jacket of the same material, and found, to my intense disgust, that the +ghee had left a large patch of colour which no amount of rubbing would +eradicate. We were far from our quarters, it was broad daylight, and, +to my mortification, I was compelled to walk thus branded through the +streets of the city, the laughing-stock of those who saw the plight I +was in. + +Delhi was celebrated for miniature paintings done on talc, hundreds of +which were found at this time. Some were of rare workmanship, portraits +of beautiful women and drawings of celebrated buildings, all executed +in a style of art peculiar to the craftsmen of that place. We were +fortunate, during our search, in coming across the house of one of +these artists and disinterring from its concealment a box full of these +paintings. They afterwards sold at a good price, and I possessed myself +of some twenty of the most beautiful, comprising portraits of Zeenat +Mahal, the favourite wife of the King, other ladies of the zenana, and +pictures of the Taj and Jama Masjid, besides other mosques throughout +India. These oval-shaped miniatures mounted in gold formed most +acceptable souvenirs of the city of Delhi, and one in particular, +containing the portrait of a lovely Eastern face with head-dress and +tiara of diamonds, and strings of pearls round the neck, I was offered +ÂŁ20 for after it had been set in gold by a jeweller at Plymouth. In +London, in 1858, there was a great demand for gold ornaments and +jewellery from Delhi, so much so that a noted goldsmith offered me +the highest price for articles of that description; nor would he at +first--till convinced--accept my assurance that I had parted with all my +Delhi loot before leaving India. + +We were occupied for nearly three weeks in our quest for plunder, +engaged in the exciting work almost every day, and seldom failing to +find some articles of value. Our last adventure in that line deserves +a detailed description, for though the nature of the loot obtained was +such that it was useless to appropriate for our own use any of the goods +found, still, the value of the plunder increased to a large extent the +Delhi prize-money. + +We had noticed in the room of the agents piles of kincob, or cloth of +gold, worth I fear to say how many rupees a yard. The manufacture of +this material was carried on to a great extent in Delhi, there being +much demand for the rich and costly fabric among the Princes and nobles +of Hindostan. Hitherto in our ramblings through the houses we had only +come across a few pieces of this gold brocade; but as luck would have +it, on the last day in which I joined N---- in his duties he had +received information from a native that a large store of kincob was +concealed in the house of a merchant who had dealt in that material. + +The man guided us to the house in question; but after searching in every +imaginable place, no signs of the gold cloth could be found. From the +name of the merchant and certain other well-known indications we felt +convinced that his goods were concealed underground, and we commenced +tapping the floor of the largest room with our hammers. Presently, in +the very centre of the apartment, there came a hollow sound, and digging +down about a foot, we found a trap-door. This was lifted, disclosing +a wooden staircase leading down to what seemed to us an apartment +concealed in Cimmerian darkness. Lighting the wax candles we always +carried about with us, we for some distance descended the steps which +seemed to lead into the bowels of the earth. The room turned out to be +about twenty feet square and ten feet high, and ranged around, piled one +on top of the other, were scores of large boxes. One of these we opened, +and found it to contain kincob of the rarest kind; others that we +looked into were full of the same gorgeous material, and we came to the +conclusion that here, spread about, there was a treasure the value of +which amounted to a lakh of rupees. Four large carts were loaded with +the boxes and taken to the prize agents, the contents selling afterwards +for a very large sum. + +And thus ended in a most successful find my connection with the loot of +Delhi. Though many years have elapsed, the events of those three weeks +seem as vivid in my memory as though they had happened yesterday--the +brightness of the jewels, the dazzling gold, the nerves wrought to the +highest pitch of tension while waiting in eager expectation for the +result of a search. These episodes of my life appear more like a +fairytale or a legend of the "Arabian Nights" than true history and +sober reality. What opportunities of accumulating a small fortune were +thrown in my way! The treasure lay at my feet, only wanting to be picked +up, and many will say that I was a fool not to take advantage of the +prize! I can, however, certainly aver that I showed great moderation in +possessing myself of only a small portion of the plunder--the amount I +appropriated was but an infinitesimal part of the Delhi prize money. +It is very unlikely that Delhi or any other rich city in India will +be given over to sack and pillage, during this generation, but the +remembrance of the days of 1857, and of the traditional wealth of +the country, still exists amongst the nations of the East, and only +recently, during the scare arising out of the Russian occupation of +Merv, it was stated that the Turkomans, now feudatories of that Empire, +cast longing eyes on Hindostan, "where gold and diamonds could be picked +up in the streets of the large cities." + +During my stay at Umballah I made arrangements with an officer of the +Civil Service for the sale of the loot I had brought from Delhi. He +entrusted the commission to one of his native writers, who executed the +work in a satisfactory manner, though the price I received was hardly +equal to the amount I had anticipated. To my friend's wife I gave a +filigree gold chain of beautiful workmanship, and of such length that it +reached six times round the neck, also a tiara of precious stones, while +I also presented some pearls and gold mohurs. There is no doubt that, +had I brought the whole of my plunder home to England, the price +obtained for it would have been far in excess of what I received at +Umballah, but the risk of transportation was too great; I feared, also, +the chance of robbery and the anxiety attached to carrying about with me +so many articles of value. + + + +INDEX + + +AFGHANS: their want of bravery at the Siege of Delhi + +Ahmed Ali Khan's house headquarters at + +Ajmir Gate, captured quarters at + +Alipore, advance on + +Alma, anniversary of the Battle of + +Ammunition, pits dug for scarcity of amount + +Army, British: characteristics of the troops instructions on the +outbreak of the Mutiny stringent orders dress reception in England +delay in paying prize-money instructions against looting promise of +prize-money batta in lieu indignation against the decision rescinded +appointment of prize agents amount distributed + +Army, native: signs of incipient mutiny outbreak at Meerut + +Artillerymen, their zeal and devotion at the Siege of Delhi + + +Badli-ki-Serai, action at + +_Badmashes_, or bad characters + +"Bakra Id," anniversary of + +Bareilly Brigade, the mutinous + +Barnard, Sir Henry, at the Siege of Delhi his victory at Badli-ki-Serai +address to the troops death from cholera + +Barnes, Mr. George, Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States + +Belooch battalion, at Delhi + +Bengal Army: outbreak of the Mutiny signs of incipient mutiny + +Bengal Artillery Corps, record of their achievements before Delhi + +Bengal Fusiliers, the 1st, quartered at Umballah + +_Bhisti_, or water-carrier Boileau, Lieutenant + +Bombay + +Bridge of boats over the Jumna attempt to blow up + +Burn bastion, unsuccessful attack on captured + + +Calcutta Gate + +Campbell, Colonel, column under + +Campbell, Sir Colin, at the Battle of Chillianwalla + +Campbell, Sir Edward, appointed prize agent + +Canning, Lord, his decision in regard to the prize-money + +Cannons, punishment of blowing away at the mouths of + + +Cavalry Brigade, stationed near No. 1 Battery their splendid behaviour + + +C---- d, Assistant Collector at Goorgaon murder of his sister joins the +force at Delhi his vengeance on the murderers killed + + +C---- d, Miss, joins her brother at Goorgaon murdered at Delhi + +Chamberlain, Brigadier-General + +"Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi + +_Charpoy_, or bed + +Chillianwalla, Battle of + +Cholera, at Delhi, number of deaths from at Loodianah deaths from + +_Chunam_, or cement + +Cis-Sutlej States + +Coke, Major in command of the advance on Alipore his corps of Punjab +Rifles, quartered in the Jama Masjid + +"Cow House," picket at + + +Dagshai + +Daily Telegraph, proprietors of the their dinner to the surviving +veterans of the Mutiny + +Deacon, Captain, wounded + +Deacon, Colonel + +Delhi arsenal in charge of natives arrival of reinforcements buildings +Palace of the Emperors vicissitudes riches massacres circumference of +the walls the gates number of killed and wounded deaths from cholera +arrival of the siege-train preparations for the bombardment trench-work +commencement of the siege total force bombardment arrangements for the +attack storming columns dispositions of the troops entrance into the +city destructive nature of street-fighting advantages gained troops +indulge in drink flight of insurgents Palace occupied by troops fall the +bridge of boats looting and pillaging discovery of human beings size of +the city punishment of natives insanitary condition capture by Lord Lake +in 1803 accumulation of vast treasures + +Delhi Gazette, editor of the, tortured to death + +Delhi, Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence his sons taken prisoners and shot + +Dewan-i-Aum, or Hall of Audience, Delhi + +Dewan-i-Khas, Delhi + +Dost Mohammed Khan, Ameer, his spies at Delhi + +Drink, indulgence in, by the soldiers destruction of liquor + + +Eclipse, partial, of the sun effect on the mutineers + +Edward VII., King, receives the surviving officers of the Indian Mutiny + +Elkington, mortally wounded his premonition of death + + +Fagan, Captain Robert, killed at Delhi his characteristics + +Fagan, Captain, appointed prize agent + +Ferozepore, port of, in charge of natives 61st Regiment of Foot +stationed at signs of disaffection among the sepoys position of the fort +cantonment fired explosions destruction of the buildings night attack on +measures for the safety incident of the comical night attack trial and +punishment of rebels return to + +Fishing, amusement of + +Flagstaff Tower; view from the + +Flies, plague of + + +Gabbett, Lieutenant, at the attack on the Sabzi Mandi Gardens wounded at +Najafgarh his death + +Garstin bastion captured + +_Gharee_, or native carriage + +_Gharra_, or jar + +"Ghazi," meaning of the term + +Ghee, mishap from + +_Goojars_, or professional thieves + +Goorgaon + +Goorkha sentry, his treatment of an Afghan + +Goorkhas, the Sirmoor battalions of their defence of Hindoo Rao's house +appearance and characteristics bravery their wish to enter Delhi + +_Gore log_, or white people + +Grant, Colonel, Cavalry Brigade under + +Grenadier Company deaths from cholera + +Guide Corps, at the Siege of Delhi their assistance to the Cavalry +Brigade + +Gwalior insurgents + + +Hanging, executions by + +Hawthorne, Bugler + +Hills, Lieutenant, wounded + +Hindoo Rao's house defence of attacks on picket at result of the +bombardment + +Hindoo temple, discovery of treasure in a shrine + +Hindoos, their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Hodson, Lieutenant, in command of a Sikh regiment and head of the +Intelligence Department captures the King of Delhi takes prisoners his +sons and grandson shoots them + +Home, Engineer + +Hope-Grant, Brigadier, in command of the Cavalry Brigade + +Hutton, Lieutenant, effect of a round-shot + + +Infantry, 45th Native, orders to attack the fort of Ferozepore defeated +set fire to the cantonment start for Delhi + +Infantry, 57th Native, orders to lay down their arms their treatment of +the officers + +Innes, Brigadier-General, in command of the troops at Ferozepore holds +a council on the outbreak of the Mutiny instructions to the troops +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys mismanagement of the +Mutiny his measures for the safety of Ferozepore + +Innes, Dr., appointed prize agent + + +Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque of Delhi occupied by the troops + +Jennings, Mr., murdered + +Jhind, Rajah of, joins in the assault on Delhi + +Jones, Colonel John, 60th Rifles, in command of the defence of Sabzi +Mandi Gardens mode of conducting operations + +Jones, Colonel William at Ferozepore column under + +Jugraon + +Jumna River bridge of boats over the attempt to blow up a bridge +erection of a battery + + +Kabul Gate + +Karachi + +Karnal + +Kashmir contingent, at Delhi style of marching defeat loss of their guns + +Kashmir Gate blown in accumulation of material at + +_Khaki rang_, or dust colour + +Khalsa army + +Kincob, manufacture of discovery of + +Kishenganj, the suburb of ineffectual attempt on ruins of + +Koodsia Bagh, No. 4 Battery + +Kotah insurgents _Kukri_, or curved knife + + +Lahore Gate, attempts to carry unsuccessful attack on captured + +Lake, Lord, his capture of Delhi in 1803 + +Lawrence, Sir John, Chief Commissioner of the Punjab his proclamation to +the Sikhs at Lahore + +Light Cavalry, the 3rd, mutineers of the, their massacre of Europeans + +Light Cavalry, the 10th Native + +Longfield, Brigadier, column under + +Loodianah, outbreak of cholera at number of deaths from + +Loot, the sale of + +Looting, the practice of instructions against military maxim for result +of systematic method of search discovery of treasure hiding-places + +Ludlow Castle, occupied by the rebels No. 2 Battery + +Lumsden, Punjab Rifles, killed at the Battle of Najafgarh + + +Magazine, Delhi, attack on the captured amount of shot and shell + +Marseilles _Massaks_, or inflated sheepskins + +Maxim, military + +Medals, presentation of + +Meerut, outbreak of the Mutiny at + +Metcalfe, Sir Theophilus: his house plundered and burnt guides the +troops in Delhi + +Miniature paintings on talc, style of + +Mohammedans: their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Monsoon, the + +Mooltani Horse at the Lahore Gate their appearance and want of +discipline + +Moore, Lieutenant, wounded + +Mori bastion, No. 1 Battery + +Moylan, Private, saves the life of an officer + +Murree Convalescent Depot + + +Najafgarh, battle of casualties + +Nanglooi + +Napoleon the Great, saying of + +Neemuch insurgents + +Nicholson, General, in command of the reinforcements his powers and +skill in ruling the lawless tribes his title of "Nikul Seyn" appearance +and characteristics expedition under at Najafgarh, address to the troops +column under wounded and death denounces the proposal to evacuate Delhi + + +_Palki ghari_, or Indian carriage Paniput, battles of + +Pattoun, Lieutenant, wounded + +Persia, Nadir Shah, King of, his massacre of Delhi in 1747 _Petarahs_, +or native leather trunks, theft of + +Pets, desertion of + +Phillour, arsenal in charge of natives + +Prize agents, appointment of + +Prize-money, distribution of delay in paying + +Punjab Rifles, the 4th, attack the magazine + +Punjab, the number of native regiments their coolness and intrepidity +under fire + + +Reade, Surgeon, awarded the Victoria Cross + +Redmond, Major, wounded + +Reed, General, resigns his command of the army + +Regiment, the 52nd, at Delhi + +Regiment, the 61st: stationed at Ferozepore parade routine of guard and +picket duty loss of the silver plate privations and sufferings their +comical "night attack" five companies to march to Delhi preparations +night marches at Loodianah outbreak of cholera number of deaths at +Umballah reach Delhi + +Reid, Major, in command of the Sirmoor battalion at Delhi columns under +his attack on Kishenganj wounded + +Rifles, the 60th Royal, at the Siege of Delhi + +Rockets used by enemy + +Rohtak, raid on + + +Sabzi Mandi Gardens picket duty at the attacks on + +Salkeld, Engineer + +"Sammy House," assault on + +Sauer, the bandmaster + +Seeson, Mrs., her escape from Delhi + +Selimgarh Fort occupied by the troops + +Sepoys: signs of disaffection at Ferozepore revolt of infantry and +artillery attack the fort of Ferozepore their work of destruction trial +and punishment cowardly tactics + +Seton, Colonel, wounded + +Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of Delhi: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence + +Showers, Brigadier + +Shrapnel shell, effect of a + +Siege-train from Ferozepore, threatened approach of reaches camp + +Sikhs, the their help and loyalty to the British army, characteristics +style of marching their coolness and intrepidity under fire + +Silver plate of the 61st Regiment, search for its total destruction + +Skinner, Colonel Alexander, troops take possession of his house his +erection of a church, temple, and mosque + +Sumroo, Begum + +Sun, partial eclipse of the effect on the mutineers + + +_Tai-khanas_, or underground rooms, discovery of human beings in + +Talc, miniature paintings on, style of + +Taliwarra, suburb of ruins of + +Tattah _Times_, the, article on the delay in payment of the prize-money + +Tombs, Major his rescue of Lieutenant Hills at the Battle of Najafgarh + +Trench-work before Delhi + +Tytler, Mrs. + + +Umballah force assembled at troops at + + +Vicars, Adjutant, at Ferozepore on the news of the outbreak of the +Mutiny + +Wasps, stings from + +Water bastion No. 3 Battery, smashed to pieces effect of the bombardment + +Wilde's regiment of Punjabis + +Wilson, General, in command of the army result of his stringent orders +address to his troops council of war instructions for the final assault +orders to prevent drunkenness proposal to evacuate Delhi instructions +against looting promise with regard to prize-money + +Wriford, Captain, appointed prize agent + + +Yonge, Lieutenant + +Young, Lieutenant, wounded + +Zeenat Mahal, portrait of + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi +by Charles John Griffiths + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10856 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1a4909 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10856 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10856) diff --git a/old/10856-8.txt b/old/10856-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b93e33 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10856-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6252 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi +by Charles John Griffiths + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi + With An Account Of The Mutiny At Ferozepore In 1857 + +Author: Charles John Griffiths + +Release Date: January 28, 2004 [EBook #10856] +[Date last updated: July 5, 2006] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, jayam and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI WITH AN ACCOUNT OF +THE MUTINY AT FEROZEPORE IN 1857 + +BY CHARLES JOHN GRIFFITHS LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +EDITED BY HENRY JOHN YONGE LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +WITH PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1910 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The ever memorable period in the history of our Eastern Empire known as +the Great Indian Rebellion or Mutiny of the Bengal army was an epoch +fraught with the most momentous consequences, and one which resulted in +covering with undying fame those who bore part in its suppression. The +passions aroused during the struggle, the fierce hate animating the +breasts of the combatants, the deadly incidents of the strife, which +without intermission lasted for nearly two years, and deluged with blood +the plains and cities of Hindostan, have scarcely a parallel in history. +On the one side religious fanaticism, when Hindoo and Mohammedan, +restraining the bitter animosity of their rival creeds, united together +in the attempt to drive out of their common country that race which for +one hundred years had dominated and held the overlordship of the greater +portion of India. On the other side, a small band of Englishmen, a +few thousand white men among millions of Asiatics, stood shoulder to +shoulder, calm, fearless, determined, ready to brave the onslaught of +their enemies, to maintain with undiminished lustre the proud deeds of +their ancestors, and to a man resolved to conquer or to die. + +Who can recount the numberless acts of heroism, the hairbreadth escapes, +the anxious days and nights passed by our gallant countrymen, who, few +in number, and isolated from their comrades, stood at bay in different +parts of the land surrounded by hundreds of pitiless miscreants, tigers +in human shape thirsting for their blood? And can pen describe the +nameless horrors of the time--gently nurtured ladies outraged and +slain before the eyes of their husbands, children and helpless infants +slaughtered--a very Golgotha of butchery, as all know who have read of +the Well of Cawnpore? + +The first months of the rebellion were a fight for dear life, a constant +struggle to avert entire annihilation, for to all who were there it +seemed as though no power on earth could save them. But Providence +willed it otherwise, and after the full extent of the danger was +realized, gloomy forebodings gave way to stern endeavours. Men arose, +great in council and in the field, statesmen and warriors--Lawrence, +Montgomery, Nicholson, Hodson, and many others. The crisis brought to +the front numbers of daring spirits, full of energy and resource, of +indomitable resolution and courage, men who from the beginning saw the +magnitude of the task set before them, and with calm judgment faced the +inevitable. These were they who saved our Indian Empire, and who, by the +direction of their great organized armies, brought those who but a few +years before had been our mortal enemies to fight cheerfully on our +side, and, carrying to a successful termination the leaguer of Delhi, +stemmed the tide of the rebellion, and broke the backbone of the Mutiny. + +The interest excited amongst all classes of our countrymen by the events +which happened during the momentous crisis of 1857 in India can scarcely +be appreciated by the present generation. So many years have elapsed +that all those who held high commands or directed the councils of the +Government have long since died, and the young participants in the +contest who survived its toils and dangers are all now past middle age. +But the oft-told tale will still bear repetition, and the recital of the +achievements of Englishmen during the great Indian rebellion will fill +the hearts of their descendants for all time with pride, and incite them +to emulate their actions. In the hour of danger the heart of the nation +is stirred to its profoundest depths, the national honour is at stake, +and that heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors must at all hazards +be preserved. Thus it happened in 1857, and the result is well known. So +it may again occur, and with confidence it may be predicted that, as of +yore, Britain's sons will not be found wanting in the hour of trial, +that, keeping well in mind the glorious traditions of their race, they +will maintain unsullied the reputation of their forefathers, and add to +the renown of that Empire on which the sun never sets. + +It is unnecessary, in this place, to enter into the causes which led +to the mutiny of the Bengal army. These can be read and studied in the +graphic pages of Kaye and Malleson. My intention is to give, as far as +in me lies, a truthful account of the events in which I personally bore +part, and which came under my own immediate observation. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +_May 10 to June 13_ + +Outbreak at Meerut--Neglect of arsenals--H.M.'s 61st +Regiment--Characteristics of the British troops in India--Outbreak +unexpected--First indication of disaffection--News of the Mutiny at +Meerut--Steps taken at Ferozepore--Wives and families moved to the +barracks--A party of the 61st Regiment sent into the fort--Proceedings +within the fort--45th Regiment of Native Infantry tries to take the +fort--It is repulsed--Criticism of the Brigadier's conduct--His want of +initiative--The cantonment fired--The damage done--Bells of arms blown +up--The 61st dismissed to barracks--A patrol ordered--State of the +cantonment--Action of the mutineers--Officers quartered in the +barracks--Grenadiers again on special duty--Indifference displayed by +the Brigadier--Measures adopted for the safety of the cantonment--Search +for mess property--Parsimony of the Government--Anxiety in the +Punjab--Loyalty of the Sikhs--Sir John Lawrence's appeal to +them--Their characteristics--Spread of the Mutiny--Reaction +at Ferozepore--Night-attacks--One in particular--Trial of +prisoners--Sentences--Executions + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +_June 13 to July 1_ + +A wing of the 61st ordered to Delhi--The five companies +selected--Readiness displayed by the regiment--On the march--Cholera +appears--I visit an old friend--Badli-ki-Serai--News from Delhi--Entry +into camp + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +_July 1 to September 7_ + +A view of Delhi--Vicissitudes of the city--Its defences--defences--The +ridge--Position of our camp--Our position--The Goorkhas--Cholera +raging--Heat and flies--Executions--The Metcalfe pickets--A sortie +expected--expected--Hodson--Bombardment of Metcalfe picket--Enemy +reported moving on Alipore--A force sent after them--The action +described--Forces complimented by Sir Henry Barnard--His death--His +services--Our meagre armament--Scarcity of ammunition--Amusing +incident--The Metcalfe house--Our bugle-calls in use by the enemy--A +sortie--Ruse by the enemy's cavalry--Gallant conduct of Lieutenant +Hills and Major Tombs, Bengal Artillery--Expedition under Brigadier +Chamberlain--Chamberlain--Gallant conduct of Brigadier Wm. Jones--Fight +at Kishenganj--Meeting with an old friend--A sad story--story--Story of +C---- d--A victim of the Meerut massacre--massacre--Strong feeling of +revenge in all ranks--A sortie--Attack on Sabzi Mandi pickets and right +ridge--An awkward position--Heavy loss of enemy--Cholera and other +sickness prevalent--Fishing--Provisions, etc., much appreciated--General +Reed resigns and is succeeded by General Wilson--Attack on Sabzi Mandi +and Hindoo Rao's repulsed--Bodies of slain sepoys rifled--Difficulty of +preventing it--General's approval of Colonel Jones's conduct--The number +of attacks by the enemy--Sortie on our left--Repulsed by Brigadier +Showers--Expedition under Major Coke--Attack on right pickets at +sunset--Combat continues all night--Enemy retires--Loss of enemy--Result +of General Wilson's appointment--We attempt to destroy the bridge +of boats--Demonstration by the enemy--Pickets on the right +harassed--Metcalfe pickets shelled--Brigadier Showers takes four +guns--Our reinforcements arrive under Nicholson--His character--Mrs. +Seeson comes in from the city--The enemy fires rockets--He establishes a +battery on the left bank of the river--river--Sortie--Expedition under +Nicholson--Battle of Najafgarh--Elkington mortally wounded--Gabbett +killed--killed--Death of Elkington--Right pickets harassed--An amusing +incident--The Afghans--Alarm in the Punjab--Bands play in camp--Fatal +shell from across the river--An uncomfortable bath--The siege-train +arrives--Our allies--Zeal of the engineers--New batteries established + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +_September 7 to 14_ + +Strength of our force--General Wilson's order--Volunteers for artillery +called for--All our batteries open fire--Number of casualties during +bombardment--Frequent sorties--Death of Captain Fagan, Bengal +Artillery--Breaches examined--Orders for the assault--Details of +columns--The assault--Blowing in of Kashmir Gate--Details of the +operations--Cowardly tactics of the enemy--Gallant conduct of Private +Moylan, 61st Regiment--Gallant conduct of Surgeon Reade, 61st +Regiment--Doing of Nos. 1 and 2 columns--Nicholson mortally wounded--No. +4 column attacks Kishenganj--Conduct of the Kashmir troops--They +lose their guns--Their search for them--Failure of the attack on +Kishenganj--Intention of the enemy--Work of the Cavalry Brigade--Support +by the Guides infantry--Casualties on September 14--Bravery of the +native troops--Temptations to drink--All liquor destroyed--We construct +more batteries--Reported intentions of the General--These overruled--The +enemy attacks our advanced posts--We storm the magazine--Further +advance of Nos. 1 and 2 Columns--The 61st move to the church--Colonel +Skinner--State of the church--Unsuccessful attack on the Burn +bastion--Eclipse of the sun--The Burn bastion captured--The enemy begin +to retire--Capture of the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion--The Palace +and Selimgarh taken--The Jama Masjid taken--The 61st move to Ali Khan's +house--Casualties--Reflections + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +_September 20 to May, 1858_ + +Lack of appreciation by Government--A contrast--Delay in issue of prize +money and medals--Unceremonious presentation of the latter--Complete +desertion of the city by the enemy--A stroll through the +city--Looting--Discovery of hiding inhabitants--They are ordered +to leave the city--Disgraceful desertion of pets--State of the +streets--Hodson captures the King of Delhi--The King's appearance +described--His trial and sentence--Hodson captures the King's sons and +grandson--Their deaths--Diminished strength of the 61st Regiment--It +moves to the Ajmir Gate--The Jama Masjid and view from it--Its +garrison--A movable column dispatched towards Cawnpore--Soldiers +and others forbidden to enter or leave the city--The Mooltani +horse--Indulgence to Goorkhas--Their appreciation--An exodus--Strict +regulations--State of feeling of the army--Work of the Provost +Marshal--Two reputed sons of the King executed--The suburbs--An amusing +incident--Visiting the old positions--Cholera still rife--2,000 sick and +wounded in the Selimgarh--We move to the magazine--I am recommended for +sick leave--I leave Delhi for Umballah--I am robbed _en route_--Report +matters to Commissioner and receive compensation--Leave for Ferozepore +and home + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +Delhi famed for its treasures--General Wilson's order--Army anxious +about prize-money--Batta to be granted instead--Indignation of +army generally--Humorous placard--Interest on unpaid prize-money +promised--Opinion of the Times--Prize-agents appointed--Early looting--A +white elephant--Evidence of looting--The practice excused--A lucky +haul--Scruples cast aside--Personal experiences--A tempting display--No +proper account rendered--Method of search--A mine of wealth--A neglected +opportunity--A happy thought--A wrinkle--A favourite hiding-place--An +exceptional house--A mishap--Art treasures--"'Tis an ill wind," +etc.--Pleasant memories + + +INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +PLAN OF DELHI, 1857 + +PLAN OF THE MILITARY STATION AT FEROZEPORE + +DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET + +THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST + +FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS KISHENGANJ + +SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE THE ENGAGEMENT AT NAJAFGARH IN AUGUST, 1857 + +KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857 + +"HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS + + + +[Illustration: PLAN OF DELHI 1857 + + N _Here Nicholson fell on Sept 14th_] + + + +REMINISCENCES OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI, 1857 + + + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +The actual Mutiny of the Bengal army broke out at Meerut on May 10, +1857. Events had happened in the Lower Provinces which foreshadowed the +coming storm, and one regiment of native infantry had been disbanded; +but no one, not even those in high authority, had the faintest suspicion +that our rule in India was imperilled. So strong, indeed, was the +sense of security from present danger that the Government, with almost +culpable neglect, still confided to the care of the native army the +large arsenals of Delhi, Ferozepore, and Phillour, in all of which +immense quantities of ammunition and munitions of war were stored. + +There was not a single white regiment stationed at Delhi, not even a +European guard, the charge of the arsenal, the largest in Upper India, +being entrusted to a few officers and sergeants of artillery. The same +may be said of Phillour, in the Punjab--a small station, where only +native troops were quartered. The fort of Ferozepore, near the left bank +of the Sutlej River, was guarded by 100 men detailed from the sepoy +regiments at that cantonment, and, with Phillour, constituted the +only places from which ammunition could be drawn for the large force, +European and native, guarding the newly-acquired province of the Punjab. + +Her Majesty's 61st Regiment of Foot was stationed at Ferozepore in May, +1857. In that corps I held a commission as Lieutenant, and, during the +absence of my Captain on leave in Kashmir, was in temporary command of +the Grenadier Company. + +The regiment at this time mustered nearly 1,000 men, half that number +old and gallant veterans of from ten to twenty years' service. These +had fought in many Indian campaigns, and on the terrible day of +Chillianwalla, in January, 1849, when the Khalsa army rolled back in +utter defeat a portion of Lord Gough's force, had, under the leadership +of Sir Colin Campbell, altered the fortunes of the battle. Advancing +in line under a tremendous cannonade, and without firing a shot, they +marched as if on parade and in stern silence till within fifty yards +of the Sikh batteries, when, with a shout which struck terror into the +breasts of their enemies, they charged irresistibly and took the guns. + +It was to men such as these that, fortunately for the maintenance of our +Empire in the East, England trusted in the perilous days of 1857. As +of my own regiment, so it may be said of all then quartered in +India--sturdy, fine fellows, of good physique, of rare discipline, and +inured to the climate, who, in the words of the Iron Duke, could march +anywhere and fight anything. The army then had not been improved out +of existence; reforms, if such they can be called, were received with +considerable disfavour; for what amelioration could be effected in the +discipline and steady courage of those who had stormed the heights of +the Alma, had stood the shock of the Muscovite at Inkerman, and had not +despaired on the bloody fields of Ferozeshah and Chillianwalla? + +I may be excused if I thus energetically offer my tribute of praise to +that army, and more especially to that regiment in which I passed my +young days. I recall the numberless acts of devotion and courage, the +tender solicitude with which the veterans of the Grenadier Company +looked after the safety of their youthful commander, during the +campaigns of 1857; and my pen falters and my eyes grow dim with tears as +memory brings before me my gallant comrades in the ranks who fell before +Delhi, or lost their lives through disease and exposure. + +I had been absent from my regiment during the whole of 1856, doing duty +at the Murree Convalescent Depot, and rejoined in March of the following +year. Nothing occurred for the next two months to break the monotony of +life in an Indian cantonment. Parade in the early morning, rackets and +billiards during the day, a drive or ride along the Mall in the cool of +the evening, and the usual mess dinner--these constituted the routine of +our uneventful existence. + +Many of the officers lamented the hard fate which had doomed them to +service in the East, while the more fortunate regiments had been earning +fame and quick promotion in the Crimea and in the recent Persian +campaign. We little thought of what was in store for us, or of the +volcano which was smouldering under our feet. + +The signs of incipient mutiny in the native army had been confined, up +to this time, to the Presidency of Bengal and to the regiments quartered +there. With us at Ferozepore there was little, if any, indication of the +coming outbreak. True it was that some of us noticed sullen looks and +strange demeanour among the sepoys of the two battalions. They, on +occasions, passed our officers without the customary salute, and, if +my memory serves, a complaint of this want of respect was forwarded to +their Colonels. Our billiard-marker, too, a high-caste Brahmin who had +served on our side in the Afghan campaigns of 1839-42 in the capacity +of a spy, a man of cunning and intelligence, warned us in unmistakable +terms of the increasing disaffection among the sepoys of Ferozepore, and +stated his opinion that the spirit of mutiny was rife among them. We +laughed at his fears, and dismissed from our minds all alarm, vaunting +our superiority in arms to the dusky soldiery of Hindostan, and in our +hearts foolishly regarding them with lordly contempt. + +Thus passed in the usual quiet the first twelve days of the month of +May, 1857. The morning of May 13 saw us, as usual, on parade; then, +adjourning to the mess-house, we spent a few hours over breakfast and +billiards, and before midday separated to pass the heat of the day +reading, lounging, and sleeping at our respective bungalows. + +I occupied a large house some distance from the mess in company with a +field-officer and the Adjutant of my regiment. The former, about +1 p. m., was summoned by an orderly to attend a meeting at the quarters +of the Brigadier[1] commanding the troops at Ferozepore. We paid no heed +to this incident, as it occurred to us that the Major's advice and +opinion were required on some matter of regimental or other routine. + +Vicars and I were in the habit, since the hot weather began, of making +ices every afternoon, and had become, from long practice, quite +proficient at the work. At three o'clock we were in the midst of our +occupation, our whole thoughts and energies bent on the accomplishment +of our task. Clad in loose déshabillé, seated on the floor of the +sitting-room, we worked and watched the process of congelation. + +Presently a quick step was heard in the hall, the door was thrown open, +and the Major, rushing in, sank breathless into a chair. The Adjutant +and I jumped up, and in our haste upset the utensils, spilling on the +floor the contents we had taken so much trouble to prepare. A minute or +two passed, and still no word from our friend, who, portly in shape, and +of a plethoric temperament, seemed overcome by some terrible excitement, +and fairly gasped for breath. + +"What on earth is the matter?" we asked. + +Slowly, and as though uttered with considerable difficulty, the answer +came: + +"All the Europeans in India have been murdered!" + +Now this was rather a startling announcement, and somewhat premature, +considering that we three, at any rate, were in the land of the living, +with no immediate prospect of coming dissolution. We looked at each +other, at first serious and alarmed, as became the gravity of the +situation, and utterly unable to comprehend what it all meant. This +phase of the affair, however, did not last long, and soon changed from +grave to gay. A merry twinkle appeared in Vicars' eyes, to which my own +responded, and at last, fully alive to the absurdity of the gallant +officer's remark, our pent-up sense of the ridiculous was fairly +awakened, and we roared with laughter again and again. + +This unlooked-for result of his dismal communication roused the Major, +who first rebuked us for our levity, and, after an interval occupied in +the recovery of his scattered senses, proceeded to acquaint us with the +true facts of what had happened at the Brigadier's quarters. + +A despatch by telegraph had arrived that morning from Meerut, the +largest cantonment in Upper India, stating that the regiment of native +light cavalry at that place had mutinied in a body on the 10th instant, +and marched for Delhi. This had been followed by a revolt of all the +sepoy infantry and artillery, a rising of the natives in the city, the +bazaars and the surrounding country, who, almost unchecked, had murdered +the European men and women on whom they could lay their hands, and +besides, had set fire to and "looted" many houses in the station. +Fortunately for the safety of the English in India, the miscreants +failed to cut the telegraph-wires at Meerut till too late, and the news +of the mutiny and outrage was as quickly as possible flashed to every +cantonment in the country. + +The Brigadier had therefore ordered the commanding and field officers +of the different regiments stationed at Ferozepore to meet him in +consultation at his quarters. Intelligence so startling as that just +received required no small amount of judgment and deliberation in +dealing with the native soldiers at this cantonment, and some time +elapsed before the council decided as to what was best to be done under +the circumstances. + +Finally it was resolved that a general parade of Her Majesty's 61st Foot +and the battery of European artillery should be held at four o'clock +on the lines in front of the barracks of the former corps. The two +regiments of native infantry were to assemble at the same time, and, +with their English Officers, were ordered to march from their quarters, +taking separate directions: the 45th to proceed into the country, +leaving the fort of Ferozepore on their right, while the 57th were to +march out of cantonments to the left rear of the lines of the European +infantry. The commanding officers of these regiments were also +instructed to keep their men, if possible, well in hand, to allow no +straggling, and to halt in the country until further orders after they +had proceeded three or four miles. The remaining regiment, the 10th +Native Light Cavalry, for some reason or other was considered staunch +(and as events proved, it remained so for a time), and it was therefore +ordained that the troopers should parade mounted and under arms in their +own lines ready for any emergency. + +Thus far we learnt from the Major, and Vicars, whose duties as Adjutant +required his presence at the barracks at once, donned his uniform, and, +mounting his horse, rode in all haste to give directions for the general +parade. + +Shortly before four o'clock the Major and I also left the house and +joined the regiment, which was drawn up in open column of companies in +front of the lines. + +Notice had previously been sent to the married officers in the station +directing them to make immediate arrangements for the transport of their +wives and families to the barracks. This order was obeyed without loss +of time, and before half-past four all the ladies and children in the +cantonment were safe under the protection of our soldiers at the main +guard. + +The barracks of the European infantry at Ferozepore were distant half +a mile from the station, and consisted of ten or twelve large detached +buildings, one for each company, arranged in echelon, with some thirty +paces between each. In front of these was the parade-ground where +we were drawn up, and before us an open plain, 300 yards in width, +extending to the entrenched camp, or, as it was generally called, the +fort and arsenal of Ferozepore. The space around the fort was quite +clear, its position being directly opposite the centre of the +cantonment, from which it was separated by some 200 yards. + +From our situation on parade we had a direct and unbroken view of +the localities I have endeavoured to describe, and holding this +vantage-ground, we should be enabled to act as circumstances might +require. + +The regiment wheeled into line more than 900 strong. One hundred men +under command of a field-officer were then detached, with orders to +disarm the sepoy guard in the fort, and to remain there on duty pending +any attempt which might probably be made by the two native regiments to +gain forcible possession of the arsenal. + +The detachment marched off, and we watched our comrades cross the plain, +and enter without molestation the gates of the fort. + +In anxious expectation we waited for the result, when, after a short +interval, shots were heard, and we knew that our men had engaged the +sepoy guard. The firing was continuous while it lasted, but soon died +away. A mounted officer then rode out at the gate, and, galloping to +where the Colonel was standing, reported that the sepoys, when ordered +to lay down their arms, refused, and that one of them, taking direct aim +at the Major,[2] shot him in the thigh, leaving a dangerous wound. Our +men then poured a volley into the mutineers, who fired in return, but +fortunately without causing any casualty on our side. Two sepoys had +been killed and several wounded, while the remainder, offering no +further resistance, were disarmed and made prisoners. + +Meantime the regiment stood under arms in line, and another company was +sent to reinforce the men in the fort. + +Amid great excitement, more especially among the young soldiers, we +waited to see what would follow when the sepoy battalions marching from +cantonments into the country appeared in sight. Eagerly it was whispered +amongst us, "Will the rascals fight, or remain loyal and obedient to the +orders of their officers?" + +The evening was drawing on apace, but at last, about six o'clock, the +heads of the columns emerged from the houses and gardens of the station, +the 45th Native Infantry advancing in almost a direct line to the +fort, while the 57th Native Infantry were inclined to their right, and +followed the road leading to the rear of our lines. All eyes were turned +on the former regiment, and its movements were ardently scanned. + +Closer and closer they came to the fort, till, when only about fifty +paces distant, the column wavered. We could see the officers rushing +about among their men, and in another instant the whole mass broke +into disorder and ran pell-mell in hundreds towards the ditch which +surrounded the entrenchment. + +This was of no depth, with sloping sides, and easy to escalade, and in +less time than I take to write it the sepoys, with a shout, jumped into +the trench, scrambled up the parapet, and disappeared from our sight +into the enclosure. + +It was not long before we heard the sound of firing, and shots came in +quick succession, maddening us beyond control, for we thought of our +men, few in number and scattered over the fort, opposed to some five or +six hundred of these savages. + +We had loaded with ball-cartridge soon after forming on parade, and the +men now grasped their muskets, and cries and murmurs were heard, "Why +do we not advance?" and all this couched in language more forcible than +polite. + +The order at last was given to fix bayonets, and then came the welcome +words: + +"The line will advance." + +Every heart thrilled with excitement. All longed to have a brush with +the mutineers, and help our comrades in the fort who were fighting +against such odds. + +Twenty paces only we advanced, and then, by the Brigadier's command, our +Colonel[3] gave the order to halt. + +The men were furious, and could hardly be restrained from marching +forward, when, looking towards the outer side of the fort, we saw some +sepoys on the ramparts, evidently in a state of panic, throw themselves +into the ditch, and mounting the other side, run helterhelterskelter +into the country. These were followed by numbers of others, who all made +off as fast as their legs would carry them, and then we heard a true +British cheer, our men appeared on the walls shooting at the fugitives, +bayonetting and driving them over the glacis. + +The fight had continued some twenty minutes, and was pretty severe while +it lasted. A few of our men were more or less hurt, but of the sepoys +many had been killed and wounded. About 100 also had laid down their +arms, and, begging for mercy, were taken prisoners. + +Nothing could have been more culpable than the conduct of the Brigadier +in not advancing a portion, at any rate, of my regiment to the fort at +the time the sepoys broke their ranks and entered the entrenchment. Had +he done so, it is probable that not one of the mutineers of the 45th +Native Infantry would have escaped, nor would the havoc which afterwards +occurred in the cantonment have taken place. But he was an old East +India Company's officer, and had served upwards of forty years in the +native army, having to the last, like many others at that eventful time, +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys. He feared, also, the +responsibility of letting loose the English soldiery to wreak their +vengeance on the mutineers, knowing too well that, with passions roused +and hearts steeled to pity by the murders and outrages committed at +Meerut, and the late wounding of their field-officer, our men would have +given no quarter. The Brigadier was one of the very few officers in high +command at the outbreak of the Mutiny who were found wanting in the time +of trial. His, no doubt, was a hard task; but, had he shown the smallest +aptitude to meet the crisis, there would have been no difficulty, with +the ample means at his disposal, in disarming without bloodshed the +whole native force at Ferozepore, and so crushing the rebellion at that +station. + +Night came, and we still remained in line under arms without having +moved a foot from where we were halted. Conjectures were rife as to what +would next happen. Officers and men were grieved, no less than annoyed, +at the state of inaction in which we had been kept, and an uneasy +feeling prevailed that during the night the mutinous sepoys, aided by +the _badmashes_, or bad characters, who swarmed in the bazaars and city +of Ferozepore, would, under cover of the darkness, run riot over the +cantonment, without our being called on to interfere. + +And so, unhappily, it came to pass. The native cavalry at about eight +o'clock marched down to our lines, and drew up on the right of the +regiment, the European artillery being on our left flank. + +Soon after their arrival the arms were piled and the men fell out of +the ranks, some to lie down on the ground, others forming in groups and +discussing the strange events of the day. + +Suddenly a light was seen in the direction of the cantonment, which +quickly turned into a blaze of fire. What new horror was this? Were our +houses to be gutted and burnt before our eyes without any attempt to +prevent such outrage? + +The men, at the first appearance of fire, had sprung to their feet and +almost involuntarily seized their arms. Surely a detachment would be +sent to clear the cantonment of the incendiaries? Even this was not +done: the Brigadier was absent, or could not be found, and our Colonel +intimated to some officers who spoke to him on the subject that he could +give no orders without the chief's consent. + +So, incredible though it may appear, we stood and watched the fires, +which followed each other in quick succession till the whole cantonment +seemed in a blaze, and the flames, darting up in every direction, +lighted up the surrounding country. + +We could hear distinctly the shouts of the scoundrels, and pictured to +ourselves the black wretches holding high carnival among the burning +buildings and laughing at the white soldiers, who, with arms in their +hands, remained motionless in their own lines. + +That night more than twenty houses were burnt to the ground. The English +church, we afterwards heard, was first fired, then the Roman Catholic +chapel, our mess-house, and nineteen other bungalows. The sepoys, mostly +of the 45th Native Infantry, attended by dozens of _badmashes_, marched +unchallenged through the station with lighted torches fixed on long +bamboo poles, with which they set fire to the thatched roofs of the +various houses. + +All night long we lay by our arms, watching the destruction of our +property, and thankful only that the wives and children of our officers +and men were safe under our care, and not exposed to the fury of the +wretches engaged in their fiendish work. + +Even after this long lapse of years, I cannot think of that night +without a feeling of shame. Here were 700 men, mostly veterans, of one +of Her Majesty's regiments, doomed to inaction through the blundering +and stupid perverseness of an old sepoy Brigadier. The same unhappy +events as those I have narrated occurred at the outbreak of the Mutiny +in three other stations in the Bengal Presidency. + +The commanders would not act against their trusted sepoys, who, as in +our case, plundered, outraged, and destroyed all and everything that +came in their way. + +_May 14_.--The morning of May 14 dawned, close and hot, not a breath of +wind stirring. The sun rose like a ball of fire, and shortly afterwards +we were startled by an explosion which shook the earth under our feet, +and sounded like a heavy peal of thunder in the still morning air. +Looking in the direction of the report, we saw on the far right side +of the cantonment a thick black column of smoke shoot up high into the +atmosphere. A quarter of an hour passed, and then another detonation +similar to the first sounded in our ears on the left rear flank, +followed, as before, by a dense cloud of smoke. + +We said to ourselves: "Will the arsenal next be blown up?" In the fort +was stored an immense quantity of powder and munitions of war, and, +fearing that perhaps some rebel might have found his way in for the +purpose of devoting his life to the destruction of the entrenchment and +the annihilation of the European guard, we remained anxiously expectant +for some time. + +No cause could be assigned for the explosions we had heard, but we +were informed subsequently that, by the orders of our commander, the +magazines or bells of arms belonging to the two native regiments had +been blown up by a party of sappers in the fear that they might fall +into the hands of the rebellious sepoys. It was a futile precaution, and +a mere waste of ammunition; for nothing could have been easier than to +send the contents of the magazines under our escort to the arsenal. + +At eight o'clock we were dismissed to barracks, and left the spot where +we had stood in line inert and inactive since four o'clock the previous +afternoon. + +Shortly after breakfast I was sent for by the Colonel to the +orderly-room, and informed that it was the wish of the Brigadier that I +should proceed with my company into the cantonments. I was ordered +to make strict search for, and to take prisoner, any sepoys or bad +characters that might be lurking about; and to this end I was to +patrol the station from one side to the other. I was also to visit +the commissariat quarters, disarm the native guard, using force if +necessary, and secure the treasure chest, which contained some 20,000 +rupees. + +It struck me that this duty might very well have been performed many +hours before. Why had not a company been detailed to patrol the +cantonment the previous evening, or, at any rate, at the first sign of +incendiarism? + +However, I started without delay with ninety Grenadiers, and marched +over a great part of the station, extending the company in skirmishing +order whenever we passed through the numerous large gardens, orchards, +and enclosures. + +Not a soul was to be seen, and the place seemed entirely deserted. The +sepoys, after their work of destruction, must have left during the +night, and were now probably well on their way to Delhi, while the +_badmashes_ who had assisted them had returned quietly to their +occupations in the bazaars of the city. + +The cantonment presented a complete scene of desolation. The church and +chapel were a heap of burnt-up and smouldering ruins, our mess-house the +same, and numerous bungalows--former residences of the officers--were +still on fire. The heat from the burning embers was intense, and as we +passed slowly by we viewed, with anger in our hearts, the lamentable +results of the timidity and vacillation, the irresolution and culpable +neglect, of one man. + +Lastly, we visited the commissariat quarters at the far side of the +station. Here there was no guard, not even a native in charge. Strange +inconsistency! It turned out that, some hours before our arrival, the +sepoy guard, true in this respect to their trust, had procured a cart, +taken the treasure to the fort, there handed it over to the officer at +the gate, and then started for Delhi. + +My duty was accomplished, and I marched the Grenadiers back to barracks, +then reported the unsatisfactory result of my mission to the Colonel; +and, thoroughly tired and worn out from want of rest, I threw myself on +a bed and slept soundly for some hours. + +We were told that afternoon that the 57th Native Infantry, who had +marched to the rear of our barracks the evening before, had remained +quietly in the country during the night without one sepoy showing any +mutinous disposition. In the early morning, without molesting their +English officers, about half the regiment signified their intention of +marching down-country; while of the rest, some 300 men returned to their +lines at Ferozepore, and on being called upon to do so by the Colonel, +laid down their arms. + +It must be recorded to the credit of these regiments that no officer was +hurt by them, or even insulted. The sepoys quietly but firmly announced +that they released themselves from the service of the East India +Company, and were about to become enrolled as subjects of the King of +Delhi. Then, in several instances even saluting their officers and +showing them every mark of respect, they turned their faces to the great +focus of rebellion, to swell the number of those who were about to fight +against us in the Mohammedan capital of Hindostan. + +The officers of these two corps were more fortunate than their comrades +of other regiments throughout the land, many of whom were shot down by +their own sepoys in cold blood under circumstances of signal barbarity. +They saw their wives and children murdered before their faces, while +those who escaped the fury of the sepoys wandered in helpless flight +through jungles and plains, suffering incredible privations. Some few +there were who reached a friendly station, or were succoured and hidden +by loyal natives. But the greater number fell by the hands of the +wretches who in these times of outrage and anarchy swarmed out of the +low quarters of the cities, and swept unchecked over the whole country +in hundreds and thousands. + +The officers had taken up their quarters in the barracks in one or the +centre buildings, which was reserved entirely for their use. Here we +endeavoured to make ourselves as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances, the large apartment serving at once as mess-house +sitting-room and bedroom for us all. The Colonel alone lived apart, +while the married ladies and their families for the present occupied the +main guard bungalow pending arrangements for more suitable quarters. + +The poor ladies, as was natural, were in a state of great agitation, and +would not be comforted. We did our best to quiet their fears, telling +them there was not the slightest danger as regarded their safety; that, +even were we attacked by the rebels, they need have no dread of the +result, for we were more than a match for double our number of sepoys. +Still, it pained us much to see their distress, and we could only be +thankful that, come what might, they were under the protection of +British soldiers. + +On the evening of May 14, at sunset, I was sitting smoking and chatting +in the barrack-room with some of our officers when, quite unexpectedly, +I was again called to the orderly-room, and directed to march with the +Grenadier company on outlying picket to the left rear of the cantonment, +and close to the lines of the disarmed sepoys. Two guns of the Light +Field Battery, under a subaltern, were also placed under my orders, and +I took with me a young ensign to assist me in my duties. + +The Brigadier said he had received intelligence that an attack by the +mutineers was expected from the direction of Lahore; and I was told to +keep a sharp lookout, in case the enemy made during the night a flank +movement on the station. I was also constantly to patrol the lines of +the native regiments, to confine the sepoys to their huts, and to take +prisoner any who ventured outside. + +The short Indian twilight was drawing to a close when I arrived on the +ground, and, without losing time, I drew up the Grenadiers in line, with +the two guns a little in advance and on my left flank. + +Two sentries were posted in front of the guns, two on the right and left +of my small detachment, and two in the rear. + +The plain extended before us for miles to the horizon, bare and +treeless, without one intervening obstacle. + +Evening closed and night came on--a night dark as Erebus, though the +stars shone bright and luminous in the heavens. All nature was silent +as the grave, and, save for the tramp of the sentinels and the marching +away and return of the patrolling parties, for hours we heard no sound. + +Before leaving barracks the picket had loaded the guns with grape and +the old Brown Bess (there were no rifles in most of the Indian regiments +in those far-off days) with ball-cartridge. I had also ordered the +men to fix bayonets, and we were thus fully prepared to give a warm +reception to any sepoys who might attack us. The arms were piled, and in +silence we lay on the ground. + +Presently, about midnight, one of the sentinels in front of the guns +challenged: + +"Who comes there?" + +There was no answer, and the cry was repeated, the sentry at the same +moment firing off his musket. + +The company sprang to their arms, and I called on the sentries in front +to retreat under cover of the guns. Almost simultaneously, and before +the men could retire, flashes of fire appeared on the plain, and +numerous shots came whistling over our heads, while, clear and distinct, +a cry rang out, and we knew that one of the sentries had been hit. Close +following the first came several straggling shots, but the rascals fired +too high, and we had no casualty. I then ordered the men to fire a +volley, and the artillery officer at the same time swept his front with +grape from the two guns. + +After these discharges all was still, and we strained our eyes in the +darkness, but could see nothing. Then, taking with me a sergeant and +four men, I proceeded to where the sentry had made the first challenge. + +We found the poor fellow lying face downwards on the ground, and raising +him up, saw that he was quite dead. Slowly and tenderly the body was +borne to the picket, and on examination by the light of a lantern, we +discovered that he had received a bullet over the region of the heart, +and that death, therefore, must have been instantaneous. My heart +sickened at the sight; this was my first contact with the horrors of +war, and the remembrance will remain with me to my dying day. + +The other sentinel was then questioned, and from him we learnt that, +peering through the darkness when the challenge was first given, he had +seen figures passing in his front across the plain. Soon they halted and +fired, and then disappeared, probably having lain down to escape being +hit by our men. Hearing this, I sent out a small reconnoitring party, +which patrolled the plain for some distance. They returned with the +news that all was quiet, and no human being was to be seen. Two fresh +sentries were placed in front of the guns, and the men lay down as +before, fully expecting another attack. + +_May 15_.--All, however, passed off without further incident, and at +sunrise I marched the picket to barracks and reported myself to the +Brigadier. He made no comment on the events of the night, nor did he +even ask for particulars as to the manner of the soldier's death. The +mutineers, he said, were in scattered detachments still, no doubt +prowling about the outskirts of the cantonment and in the neighbouring +villages, taking advantage of every opportunity to harass and inflict +loss on our soldiers. + +From this time forward for nearly a month, with the single exception of +one encounter with a body of mutineers, which I shall relate hereafter, +no event of importance occurred at Ferozepore. + +The chief danger had passed from our midst in the flight towards Delhi +of more than half of the two battalions of sepoys, the disarmament of +300 of the 57th, and the imprisonment of those who had been captured +fighting when attempting to take the arsenal. + +Everything being thus comparatively peaceful, with no enemy in the +vicinity, the Brigadier at last woke up to a sense of his duty; and +extraordinary measures were taken by his command for the safety of the +cantonments and lines of Ferozepore. + +It was ordered that one company should be placed each night on advanced +outlying picket, another on rear picket, and a third to be stationed at +the main guard to furnish sentries as a cordon round the whole extent +of the barracks. Two companies were to remain constantly in the fort in +charge of a senior Captain, so that, out of the ten companies, six were +always on duty. + +Under the excitement which first prevailed, and the necessity of being +prepared in case of a night attack from the roving bands of rebellious +soldiery who from all directions were making for the imperial city, +plundering and ravaging on the route, this duty was cheerfully +undertaken. But as time went by, and week succeeded week, without a +shot being fired to relieve the monotony of our lives, the work became +irksome in the extreme. + +The regiment therefore fell into a regular groove of guard and picket +duty. We longed to have a fight with the enemy, and still were doomed to +remain in a state of masterly inactivity. At the fort the work was most +trying, and resolved itself into a course of manual labour. There it was +ordered that under the ammunition sheds deep pits were to be dug in the +ground. This duty was performed entirely by the English soldiers, and +continued for a fortnight in the hottest season of the year. In the +receptacles thus formed all the barrels of powder, as well as the small +arms, ammunition, etc., were packed and stowed away, the whole being +covered with earth to the depth of several feet. This was a very needful +expedient, for a stray spark might have blown up the vast stores of +munitions of war, without which it would have been impossible to carry +on future operations against the enemy. No fires for any purpose were +permitted in the fort, and, greatest deprivation of all, the men were +not allowed to smoke during the twenty-four hours they were on guard. + +Three or four days after the outbreak, and when everything seemed quiet +in and around the cantonment, two officers and myself, taking with us +some native labourers carrying spades and shovels, proceeded, under +orders from our Colonel, to search for the silver plate buried under +the ruins of our mess-house. We found the brick walls standing; but all +inside the building was one mass of ashes and still-smouldering embers. + +We knew the locality of the plate chest, and, setting the coolies to +work, after infinite labour, which lasted some hours, we succeeded in +removing a vast heap of cinders, and found portions of the silver. A +little lower down we came on more; and here were seen spoons melted +almost out of shape by fire. The large silver dishes, plates and +cups--many of the latter of priceless value, for they had been acquired +by the regiment during the Peninsular War--were lying one on top of the +other just as they had been placed in the chest, but all ruined and +disfigured, half melted and blackened from the intense heat. + +Close by, where they had fallen off a table, were the four massive +silver candelabra, the gift of distinguished officers who had formerly +served in the corps. These were twisted out of all shape, and beyond +hope of repair, of no value but for the bullion. Other articles there +were, such as snuff-boxes, drinking-horns, and table ornaments; not one +single piece of silver had escaped the action of the fire. + +It was a sorry sight to look on the total destruction of our beautiful +mess furniture. Costly goods had been sacrificed which no money could +replace; not one single article belonging to the officers had been +saved. + +Gathering together all the silver we could find, and lamenting the +incompetence by which we had lost property amounting in value to Ł2,000, +we placed everything in a cart and conveyed it to the barracks. + +Many months afterwards the Government directed a committee of officers +to value the effects destroyed by the mutineers, to the end that +remuneration might be granted to the regiment for loss sustained. This +committee, after due consideration, placed the estimate at a very low +figure--viz., Ł1,500. The parsimony of those in power refused us +full payment of this just debt, intimated also that the demand was +exorbitant, and closed all further action in the matter by sending us a +draft on the Treasury for half the amount claimed. + +For the first week or ten days after the outbreak at Ferozepore we knew +very little of what was occurring down-country, as well as throughout +the Punjab, the province of the "Five Rivers" to our north. In that +newly-acquired territory there were twenty-six regiments of the native +army, while the Sikhs, the warlike people who inhabited the land, had +met us in deadly conflict only nine years before. From the latter, then, +as well as from the sepoys, there was cause for great anxiety. Every +precaution, therefore, was necessary to guard the Ferozepore Arsenal, +the largest, next to Delhi, in Upper India. The temper of the Sikhs +was uncertain; no one could foretell which side they would take in the +coming struggle. Our Empire in Hindostan--during the month of May more +especially--trembled in the balance. There was infinite cause for alarm +for months afterwards even to the Fall of Delhi; but at no time were we +in such a strait as at that period when the loyalty or defection of the +Sikh regiments and people was an open question. + +The genius of Sir John Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, +warded off the danger. That eminent man, the saviour of India, issued a +proclamation calling on the Sikhs to aid us in our trouble. They came +at once in hundreds--nay, thousands--to enlist on our side. Veterans of +Runjeet Singh's Khalsa army, the men who had withstood us on equal terms +in many sanguinary battles, animated by intense hatred of the Poorbeah +sepoy, enrolled themselves in the ranks of the British army, and fought +faithfully for us to the end of the war. Their help was our safety; +without these soldiers, and the assistance rendered by their chieftains, +Delhi could never have been taken; while, on the other hand, had they +risen and cast in their lot with the mutinous sepoys, no power on earth +could have saved us from total annihilation. + +The Sikhs are the beau-ideal of soldiers. Tall and erect in bearing, +wiry and well-knit, and of great muscular development, their whole +appearance stamps them as men who look upon themselves as "lords of the +soil," whom it would be difficult to conquer. And without doubt the +campaigns of 1845-46 and 1848-49 were the hardest in which we had been +engaged in India. + +For 100 years they had dominated the land of the Five Rivers. Ever eager +for war, their turbulent spirits gave them no rest. It had been a belief +that they would in the future acquire the sovereignty of Hindostan, and +I know for certain that among the soldiers for many years there had been +a tradition that one day they would sack the imperial city of Delhi. + +The latter expectation was in a manner fulfilled; but not as an +independent nation or under their own leaders did they capture and +plunder the Mohammedan capital: they accomplished that feat as loyal +subjects of the British Crown. + +Every now and then news reached us of the spread of the Mutiny, till +from Calcutta to Peshawar there were few stations where the native +troops had not joined in the rebellion. Cavalry, infantry, and +artillery, all had risen in revolt. The wave of mutiny was surging to +and fro throughout the land, and as yet little had been done to stem the +tide. True, a small force was being assembled at Umballah, which, under +the Commander-in-Chief, was about to march to Delhi, but of the doings +of that army we could learn no satisfactory tidings. + +The closing days of the month of May passed wearily by, and time hung +heavily on our hands. We felt the inevitable reaction from the first few +days of excitement, and also missed the comforts and ease to which we +had been accustomed in former hot seasons. The barracks were close and +stuffy, and the officers, in place of the luxury of their bungalows and +their pleasant mess, had to endure privations of every kind. + +Hot winds, parching up the already arid ground, blew fiercely every +day. At sunset the breeze usually died away; and though the temperature +lessened somewhat in degree, we felt a choking sensation from the +effects of the dry, still atmosphere. No officer slept in the +barrack-room; our servants carried the beds outside, and there, lying +down and gasping for breath, we vainly courted the sleep that would not +come. + +There was, however, a humorous side to this desolate picture, which +I must now relate, as it shows that, notwithstanding the state of +dejection to which we had been reduced, there still lurked a spirit of +fun and mischief among the officers. + +For some time after the revolt we had "night-attacks" on the brain. +Nothing was spoken of but the chance of our lines being assaulted by +wandering bodies of mutinous sepoys. The order-book each evening, +reminding us of the danger, inculcated strict vigilance on picket and +on guard. So long did this last without any attack being made that the +shadowy expectation of what never occurred became our bugbear, a chimera +which haunted us night and day. + +At last, in a happy hour, it entered into the mind of one of our young +Lieutenants, an Irishman, imbued with the spirit of fun, and the +jolliest fellow in the regiment, that this illusion under which we were +all labouring might be made the subject for a frolic. + +He communicated his ideas to myself and some others of the junior +officers, and it was then and there decided that, as the sepoys would +not attack us, we would create a little excitement and diversion by +playing for the nonce the role of mutineers. + +The council of war then agreed unanimously that an assault was to be +made on the remaining officers when asleep outside the barracks, and +that the weapons to be used should be bolsters and pillows. + +A certain night was fixed on for the accomplishment of our purpose, and +the signal for the attack was to be given by the originator of the plot, +who would take upon himself to make sure that the enemy were off their +guard, wrapped in the arms of Morpheus. + +Everything had been arranged to our satisfaction, and the eventful night +came. At ten o'clock lights were put out, and the assaulting party, +consisting of six stalwart young subalterns, lay down on their beds +outside the barracks, ranged here and there among those who were to play +the part of the enemy, and waited for the signal from our commander. + +Our opponents seemed to take an unconscionable long time in going to +sleep, but at length, in the small hours of the morning, when all was +quiet, the "alarm" was sounded in a low whistle. + +Jumping up from our beds, each man armed himself with a bolster. In +stern and solemn silence our force was marshalled for the attack, and +then, without any word of warning, each one began belabouring with all +his might the recumbent figures of the foe. + +Startled out of their sleep, and in a half-dreamy state of +unconsciousness, it may be imagined with what strange feelings they +received this assault. Some, more especially the older officers (for +in our zeal we spared no one), seemed perfectly bewildered, and in the +midst of the shower of blows which rained on them without intermission +vowed vengeance and threatened to put us under arrest. We answered them +that this was a "night-attack," and they must prepare for defence, as no +quarter would be given. + +Even the fat and portly Major, notwithstanding his rank, felt the +strength of our arms, and, almost bereft of breath between each blow, +commanded us to desist. He might as well have spoken to the winds: our +blood was up, and the spirit of fun had taken possession, so that I +verily believe, had the Colonel or Brigadier been lying there, neither +of them would have escaped our onslaught. + +The enemy were now fully aroused, and, not relishing the fun of being +buffeted unmercifully in their beds without resistance, they one and all +turned out and, seizing their pillows, joined in the fight. The attack, +begun with tactical judgment, turned now into a confused męlée. Friend +and foe were mixed up in one grand shindy, and for many minutes the +battle continued without intermission. Blows fell fast and thick; there +was a rushing about of half-clad figures swaying bolsters, and each one +intent on the same object--namely, that of overcoming his antagonist for +the time being. So weird, and yet so utterly ludicrous a sight, surely +never has been seen before or since in India. + +At length, from sheer exhaustion, the combat came to an end, and, +sitting on our beds panting from fatigue, and overcome by the heat of +the night, we discussed the incidents of the fight. Some of the senior +officers seemed at first inclined to treat the attack as something more +than a joke, and threatened to report us to the Colonel. We pointed out +to them that such a proceeding would be absurd, for had they not also +compromised themselves by joining in the fray? It was not long, however, +before they were struck with the grand ridiculousness of this very +strange episode; and the question at issue, as may naturally be +supposed, ended in laughter. Peace being restored, we wished each other +good-night, and, thoroughly worn out by our exertions, all slept soundly +till break of day. + +The affair was kept quiet as far as possible, but gradually got noised +abroad among other regiments of Her Majesty's infantry. Great amusement +was caused by the recital, nor for a long period afterwards was the +comical "night-attack" at Ferozepore forgotten. + +The trial of the sepoys who had been taken prisoners when resisting +the detachment sent to disarm them in the fort, and of those also who +attacked the arsenal on May 13, had been proceeding for some time. It +was a general court-martial composed of thirteen officers, presided over +by a Lieutenant-Colonel. Of the prisoners taken, some 100 were singled +out as the ringleaders, the rest being put back for trial till a future +occasion. + +The evidence was most clear as to the heinous offences of mutiny and +rebellion with regard to all these men, and they were accordingly found +guilty. Sentence was at once pronounced on fourteen of the sepoys, and +the punishment was death. + +Two men of low caste were to be hanged, while the remaining twelve, +comprising Mohammedans and high-caste Hindoos, were to expiate their +crime by that most awful and ghastly penalty, execution by being blown +to pieces from the mouths of cannons. + +This terrible punishment had been but seldom inflicted during British +rule in India, the last instance occurring in 1825, when a native +regiment mutinied and refused to cross the sea to take part in the first +Burmese War. + +Neither was it from the English that this special death penalty +originated. It had been for hundreds of years the recognized punishment +for mutiny and rebellion throughout Hindostan, and in numberless cases +was carried out by the Mogul Emperors. + +With us at this period it was found necessary to strike terror into the +hearts of the rebels, to prove to them that we were resolved at all +hazards to crush the revolt, and to give warning that to those who were +taken fighting against us no mercy would be shown. + +On religious grounds also the infliction of the death penalty by blowing +away mutineers at the mouths of cannons was dreaded both by the Hindoos +and Mohammedans. + +The Hindoo, unless the corpse after death is burnt to ashes with all +ceremony, or else consigned to the sacred stream of the Ganges, +cannot partake of the glories of the future state, nor dwell in bliss +everlasting with the gods of his mythology. + +So with the Mohammedan, the Koran enjoins that all true believers +must be buried with the body in the natural state, and only those are +exempted who have lost limbs in fighting against the infidel. The joys +of Paradise, where ever-young and beautiful houris minister to the wants +and pleasures of the faithful, were therefore not for those who met +a shameful death and were denied or unable to obtain burial in the +orthodox manner. + +Thus, it will be seen, the terrors of future shame and dishonour +resulted to both Hindoo and Mohammedan by the death we were about to +inflict on them; and it was for the awe inspired by the punishment that +the military authorities at this time thought proper to carry it out in +this unaccustomed manner. + +_June 13_.--The morning of June 13 was fixed upon for the execution. A +gallows was erected on the plain to the north side of the fort, facing +the native bazaars, and at a distance of some 300 yards. On this two +sepoys were to be hanged, and at the same time their comrades in mutiny +were to be blown away from guns. + +We paraded at daylight every man off duty, and, with the band playing, +marched to the place of execution, and drew up in line near the gallows +and opposite the native quarter. + +Shortly after our arrival the European Light Field Battery, of six guns, +appeared on the scene, forming up on our left flank, and about twenty +yards in front of the Light Company. + +The morning was close and sultry, not a cloud in the sky, and not a +breath of wind stirring; and I confess I felt sick with a suffocating +sense of horror when I reflected on the terrible sight I was about to +witness. + +Soon the fourteen mutineers, under a strong escort of our men with fixed +bayonets, were seen moving from the fort. They advanced over the plain +at our rear, and drew up to the left front of, and at right angles to, +the battery of artillery. + +I was standing at the extreme right of the line with the Grenadier +Company, and some distance from the guns; but I had provided myself with +a pair of strong glasses, and therefore saw all that followed clearly +and distinctly. + +There was no unnecessary delay in the accomplishment of the tragedy. Two +of the wretched creatures were marched off to the gallows, and placed +with ropes round their necks on a raised platform under the beam. + +The order was given for the guns to be loaded, and quick as thought the +European artillerymen placed a quarter charge of powder in each piece. +The guns were 9-pounders, the muzzles standing about 3 feet from the +ground. + +During these awful preparations, I watched at intervals the faces of the +condemned men, but could detect no traces of fear or agitation in their +demeanour. The twelve stood two deep, six in front and six in the rear, +calm and undismayed, without uttering a word. + +An officer came forward, and, by the Brigadier's order, read the +sentence of the court-martial, and at its conclusion the six men in +front, under escort, walked towards the battery. + +There was a death-like silence over the scene at this time, and, +overcome with horror, my heart seemed almost to cease beating. + +Arrived at the guns, the culprits were handed over to the artillerymen, +who, ready prepared with strong ropes in their hands, seized their +victims. Each of these, standing erect, was bound to a cannon and +tightly secured, with the small of the back covering the muzzle. And +then all at once the silence which reigned around was broken by the +oaths and yells of those about to die. These sounds were not uttered by +men afraid of death, for they showed the most stoical indifference, +but were the long-suppressed utterances of dying souls, who, in the +bitterness of their hearts, cursed those who had been instrumental +in condemning them to this shameful end. They one and all poured out +maledictions on our heads; and in their language, one most rich in +expletives, they exhausted the whole vocabulary. + +Meanwhile the gunners stood with lighted port-fires, waiting for the +word of command to fire the guns and launch the sepoys into eternity. + +These were still yelling and raining abuse, some even looking over their +shoulders and watching without emotion the port-fires, about to be +applied to the touch-holes, when the word "Fire!" sounded from the +officer in command, and part of the tragedy was at an end. + +A thick cloud of smoke issued from the muzzles of the cannons, through +which were distinctly seen by several of us the black heads of the +victims, thrown many feet into the air. + +While this tragic drama was enacting, the two sepoys to be hanged were +turned off the platform. + +The artillerymen again loaded the guns, the six remaining prisoners, +cursing like their comrades, were bound to them, another discharge, and +then an execution, the like of which I hope never to see again, was +completed. + +All this time a sickening, offensive smell pervaded the air, a stench +which only those who have been present at scenes such as these can +realize--the pungent odour of burnt human flesh. + +The artillerymen had neglected putting up back-boards to their guns, so +that, horrible to relate, at each discharge the recoil threw back pieces +of burning flesh, bespattering the men and covering them with blood and +calcined remains. + +A large concourse of natives from the bazaars and city had assembled in +front of the houses, facing the guns at a distance, as I said before, of +some 300 yards, to watch the execution. At the second discharge of the +cannon, and on looking before me, I noticed the ground torn up and earth +thrown a slight distance into the air more than 200 paces away. Almost +at the same time there was a commotion among the throng in front, some +running to and fro, while others ran off in the direction of the houses. +I called the attention of an officer who was standing by my side to this +strange and unaccountable phenomenon, and said, half joking: "Surely the +scattered limbs of the sepoys have not been carried so far?" + +He agreed with me that such was impossible; but how to account for the +sight we had seen was quite beyond our comprehension. + +The drama came to an end about six o'clock, and as is usual, even after +a funeral or a military execution, the band struck up an air, and we +marched back to barracks, hoping soon to drive from our minds the +recollection of the awful scenes we had witnessed. + +Two or three hours after our return news arrived that one native had +been killed and two wounded among the crowd which had stood in our +front, spectators of the recent execution. How this happened has +never been explained. At this time a "cantonment guard" was mounted, +consisting of a company of European infantry, half a troop of the 10th +Light Cavalry, and four guns, and two of these guns loaded with grape +were kept ready during the night, the horses being harnessed, etc. +Half the cavalry also was held in readiness, saddled; in fact, every +precaution was taken to meet an attack. + +As far as I can recollect, there were but two executions by blowing away +from guns on any large scale by us during the Mutiny; one of them that +at Ferozepore. + +[Illustration: Plan of the Military Station at FEROZEPORE] + + +[Footnote 1: Brigadier-General Innes.] + +[Footnote 2: Major Redmond.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel William Jones, C.B.] + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +After the excitement of the late executions we were prepared to relapse +into our usual state of inaction and monotony, when, on the morning +of June 13, a courier arrived from Lahore, the headquarters of the +Executive Government of the Punjab. He brought instructions and orders +from Sir John Lawrence to the Brigadier commanding at Ferozepore to the +effect that a wing of Her Majesty's 61st Regiment was to proceed at once +to reinforce the army under Sir Henry Barnard, now besieging the city of +Delhi. + +That force, on June 8, had fought an action with the mutineers at +Badli-ki-Serai, four miles from Delhi, driving them from their +entrenched position and capturing thirteen guns. The siege of the +Mohammedan stronghold had begun on the next day, but the small band +of English, Sikhs, and Goorkhas which composed the force was quite +inadequate to the task entrusted to it, and, in truth, could do nothing +but act on the defensive against the horde of rebellious sepoys, who +outnumbered them by four to one. + +It may be conceived with what joy the order to advance was received by +the officers and men of my regiment. We had at length a prospect of +entering upon a regular campaign, and the hearts of all of us beat high +at the chance of seeing active service against the enemy. + +To the Colonel commanding it was left to select the five companies +composing a wing of the corps to march to Delhi. All, of course, were +eager to go, and we knew there would be heart-burnings and regrets +amongst those left behind. + +The following companies were chosen out of the ten: Grenadiers, Nos. 2, +3, 7, and the Light Company. They were the strongest in point of numbers +in the regiment, and with the fewest men in hospital, so that it could +not be said that any favouritism in selection was shown by the Colonel. +The wing numbered, all told, including officers and the band, 450 men--a +timely reinforcement, which, together with the same number of Her +Majesty's 8th Foot from Jullundur, would increase materially the army +before Delhi. + +No time was lost in making preparations for the march. Our camp equipage +was ready at hand, a sufficient number of elephants, camels, and oxen +were easily procured from the commissariat authorities, and by eight +o'clock that evening we were on our way. + +In those days a European regiment on the line of march in India +presented a striking scene. Each corps had its own quota of +camp-followers, numbering in every instance more than the regiment +itself, so that transport was required for fully 2,000 souls, and often +when moving along the road the baggage-train extended a mile in length. +The camp, when pitched, covered a large area of ground. Everything was +regulated with the utmost order, and the positions of the motley group +were defined to a nicety. + +We had been directed to take as small a kit as possible, each officer +being limited to two camels to carry his tent and personal effects. Our +native servants accompanied us on the line of march, and I must here +mention that during the long campaign on which we were about to enter +there was not one single instance of desertion among these faithful and +devoted followers. + +Everything being ready, we paraded a little before sunset on the evening +of June 13. The terrible heat which prevailed at this time of the +year prevented us from marching during the day-time. Moreover, it was +necessary to preserve the health of the soldiers at this critical +period, when every European in India was required to make head against +the rebels. So on every occasion when practicable the English regiments +moving over the country marched at night, resting under cover of their +tents during the day.[1] + +Shortly after sunset, we bade adieu (an eternal one, alas! for many of +the gallant souls assembled) to the comrades we were leaving behind; the +band struck up, and we set off in high spirits on our long and arduous +march of more than 350 miles. + +The night, as usual, was close and sultry, with a slight hot wind +blowing; but the men stepped out briskly, the soldiers of the leading +company presently striking up a well-known song, the chorus of which +was joined in by the men in the rear. We marched slowly, for it was +necessary every now and then to halt so as to allow the long train of +baggage to come up; and it was nearly sunrise before we reached the +first halting-ground. The camp was pitched, and we remained under cover +all day, starting, as before, soon after sunset. + +And thus passed the sixteen days which were occupied in reaching Delhi. +Every precaution was taken to prevent surprise, as we were marching, +to all intents and purposes, through an enemy's country, and expected +attacks on our baggage from straggling bodies of mutineers. + +_June 18_.--At Loodianah, five marches from Ferozepore, and which we +reached on June 18, we were fortunate enough to find more comfortable +quarters, the men moving into some of the buildings which had formerly +been occupied by Her Majesty's 50th Regiment, the officers living in the +Kacherri. + +Here, behind tatties and under punkas, and with iced drinks, we were +able to keep pretty cool; but, sad to say, soon after our arrival in the +station that terrible scourge cholera broke out in our ranks, and in +a few hours six men succumbed to this frightful malady. On every +succeeding day men were attacked and died, so that, unhappily, up to +July 1 we lost in all thirty gallant fellows. + +This disease never left us during the entire campaign; upwards of 250 +soldiers of my regiment fell victims to the destroyer; nor were we +entirely free from it till the end of the year. Many more were attacked, +who recovered, but were debarred through excessive weakness from serving +in the ranks, and were invalided home. + +_June 23_.--On reaching Umballah, we found the station all but deserted, +nearly all the European troops having been sent on to join the Delhi +force. The church had been placed in a state of defence, all its walls +loopholed, and around it had been constructed a work consisting of a +wall and parapet, with towers of brickwork armed with field-pieces _en +barbette_ at the angles. + +In it were quartered some of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, lately brought +down from Dagshai. About ninety of these marched with us to Delhi. Here +also we were joined by four officers of the (late) 57th Native Infantry, +who had received orders to join our wing, eventually to fill up +vacancies in the native corps on reaching the scene of operations. With +these we were in all twenty-four officers--rather a strong complement +even for a whole regiment. + +The concluding days of the march were trying in the extreme. Weary and +footsore, and often parched with thirst, we tramped along the hot and +dusty roads, often for miles up to our ankles in deep sand. We were so +tired and overcome with want of rest that many of us actually fell fast +asleep along the road, and would be rudely awakened by falling against +others who were in the same plight as ourselves. At midnight we rested, +when coffee and refreshment were served out to the officers and men. The +halt sounded every hour, and for five minutes we threw ourselves down on +the hard ground or on the hot sand and at once fell asleep, waking up +somewhat restored to continue our toilsome journey. + +From Jugraon onward we had rather long marches, and it was considered +advisable to convey the men part of the way in hackeries; the +arrangement being that they should march halfway, then halt for coffee +and refreshment, and afterwards ride the remainder of the distance. + +By this means they were kept fresh for the work before them, which, we +had every reason to believe, would be anything but light. At Umballah +I took the opportunity of calling on my friend Mr. George Barnes, +the Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States. He had shown me boundless +hospitality, and was like a father to me when I joined my regiment as +a lad at Kussowlie. A man of great intellectual attainments and sound +judgment, he was an honour to the Bengal Civil Service. There was no +officer at that momentous period in whom Sir John Lawrence placed +more confidence. His familiarity with the native character, and the +friendship borne towards him by the Sikh chieftains, enabled him +throughout the Siege of Delhi to keep open communication with the +Punjab, and supply the force with stores, provisions, and ammunition. +He would, without doubt, have risen to the highest honours in his +profession had he not been stricken with a fatal illness in 1859, when +holding the responsible post of Foreign Secretary to the Government of +India. + +A few marches from Delhi we passed over the historic field of Paniput, +where three sanguinary battles had been fought in different ages, each +deciding the fate of Hindostan for the time being. More than 100,000 +men had been slain in these actions, and we felt we were marching over +ground the dust of which was thickly permeated with the ashes of human +beings. + +Here first we heard the sound of distant cannonades, borne thus far to +our ears by the stillness of the night--a sound which told us that our +comrades before Delhi were still holding their position against the +enemy. + +At length, on July 1, just as the sun was rising, we emerged from a +forest of trees on to the plain over which the army under Sir Henry +Barnard had moved on June 8 to attack the entrenchments of the mutineers +at Badli-ki-Serai. + +_July_ 1.--Eagerly we cast our eyes over the ground to our front, and +with pride in our hearts thought of that gallant little force which had +advanced across this plain on that eventful morn under a terrific fire +from the enemy's guns. + +Soon we reached the entrenchments which had been thrown up by the rebels +to bar the progress of our soldiers, and, lying in all directions, we +saw numerous skeletons of men and horses, the bones already bleached to +whiteness from the effects of the burning sun. Dead bodies of camels and +oxen were also strewn about, and the stench was sickening. We were now +about four miles from Delhi, and were met by a squadron of the 6th +Carabineers, sent to escort us into camp. They received us with a shout +of welcome, and, while we halted for a short time, inquiries were made +as to the incidents of the siege. + +We learnt that our small army, with the tenacity of a bulldog, was +holding its own on the ridge overlooking the city, that sorties by the +rebels were of almost daily and nightly occurrence, and that the losses +on our side were increasing. + +With the Carabineers in our front, the march was continued, the white +tents of the besieging force appearing in sight about eight o'clock. +Then the band struck up "Cheer, boys, cheer!" and, crossing the canal by +a bridge, we entered the camp. + +Crowds of soldiers, European as well as native, stalwart Sikhs and +Punjabees, came down to welcome us on our arrival, the road on each side +being lined with swarthy, sun-burnt, and already war-worn men. They +cheered us to the echo, and in their joy rushed amongst our ranks, +shaking hands with both officers and men. + +[Illustration: DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET.] + + +[Footnote 1: The heat even under such cover was intense, averaging 115° +Fahr.] + + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +A situation had already been marked out for our encampment, and, +directed by an officer, we passed through the main portion of our +lines, and halted at the bottom of the ridge on the extreme left of our +position. Some time was occupied after the arrival of the baggage in +pitching our camp; but when all was concluded, Vicars and I started on +foot to take our first view of the imperial city. + +We walked a short distance to the right, and along the foot of the +ridge, and then ascended, making our way to the celebrated Flagstaff +Tower. We mounted to the top: and shall I ever forget the sight which +met our gaze? + +About a mile to our front, and stretching to right and left as far as +the eye could reach, appeared the high walls and the bastions of Delhi. +The intervening space below was covered with a thick forest of trees and +gardens, forming a dense mass of verdure, in the midst of which, and +peeping out here and there in picturesque confusion, were the white +walls and roofs of numerous buildings. Tall and graceful minarets, +Hindoo temples and Mohammedan mosques, symmetrical in shape and gorgeous +in colouring, appeared interspersed in endless numbers among the +densely-packed houses inside the city, their domes and spires shining +with a brilliant radiance, clear-cut against the sky. Above all, in the +far distance towered the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, its three huge +domes of pure white marble, with two high minarets, dwarfing into +insignificance the buildings by which it was surrounded--surely, the +noblest work of art ever built by man for the service of the Creator. + +To the left could be seen the lofty castellated walls of the Palace of +the Emperors, the former seat of the Great Mogul--that palace in +which at that moment the degenerate descendant of Timour, and last +representative of his race, held his court, and in his pride of heart +fondly hoped that British rule was at an end. + +Beyond rose the ancient fortress of Selimgarh, its walls, as well as +those of the palace on the north side, washed by the waters of the +Jumna. A long bridge of boats connected the fort with the opposite bank +of the river, here many hundred yards in width: and over this we could +see, with the aid of glasses, bodies of armed men moving. + +It was by this bridge that most of the reinforcements and all the +supplies for the mutineers crossed over to the city. On the very day of +our arrival the mutinous Bareilly Brigade of infantry and artillery, +numbering over 3,000 men, marched across this bridge. Our advanced +picket at the Metcalfe House stables, close to the Jumna, heard +distinctly their bands playing "Cheer, boys, cheer!" the very same tune +with which we had celebrated our entrance into camp that morning. + +Few cities in the world have passed through such vicissitudes as Delhi. +Tradition says it was the capital of an empire ages before the great +Macedonian invaded India, and its origin is lost in the mists of +antiquity. Traces there were in every direction, amid the interminable +cluster of ruins and mounds outside the present city, of cities still +more vast, the builders and inhabitants of which lived before the dawn +of history. + +Delhi had been taken and sacked times out of number. Its riches were +beyond compare; and for hundreds of years it had been the prey, not only +of every conqueror who invaded India from the north-west, but also of +every race which, during the perpetual wars in Hindostan, happened for +the time to be predominant. Tartars, Turks, Afghans, Persians, Mahrattas +and Rajpoots, each in turn in succeeding ages had been masters of the +city. There had been indiscriminate massacres of the populace, the last +by Nadir Shah, the King of Persia in 1747, when 100,000 souls were put +to death by his order, and booty to a fabulous amount was carried away. +Still, notwithstanding the vicissitudes of fortune through which it had +passed, Delhi was, in 1857, one of the largest, most beautiful, and +certainly the richest city in Hindostan. We knew well that there was +wealth untold within the walls, and our hearts were cheered even at this +time when we thought of the prize-money which would fall to our share at +the capture of the rebellious city. + +The walls surrounding Delhi were seven miles in circumference, flanked +at intervals by strong bastions, on which the enemy had mounted the +largest guns and mortars, procured from the arsenal. Munitions of war +they had in abundance--enough to last them, at the present rate of +firing, for nearly three years. Long we gazed, fascinated at the scene +before us. A dead silence had reigned for some time, when we were +awakened from our dreams by the whiz and hissing of a shell fired by the +enemy. It fell close below the tower and burst without doing any harm; +but some jets of smoke appeared on the bastions of the city, and shells +and round-shot fired at the ridge along the crest of which a small body +of our men was moving. The cannonade lasted for some time, our own guns +replying at intervals. We could plainly see the dark forms of the rebel +artillerymen, stripped to the waist, sponging and firing with great +rapidity, their shot being chiefly directed at the three other +buildings on the ridge--namely, the Observatory--the Mosque, as it was +called--and, on the extreme right, Hindoo Rao's house. + +From the Flagstaff Tower the ridge trended in a southerly direction +towards those buildings, approaching gradually nearer and nearer to the +city, till at Hindoo Rao's house it was distant about 1,200 yards from +the walls. + +To the rear of this ridge, and some distance below, so that all view of +Delhi was quite shut out from it, was the camp of the besieging army, +numbering at this period about 6,000 men. The tents were pitched at +regular intervals behind the ruined houses of the old cantonment, which, +at the outbreak on May 11, had been burnt and destroyed by the sepoys. +A canal which supplied us with water from the Jumna ran round the ridge +past the suburb of Kishenganj into the city, and was crossed by two +bridges, over which communication with the country to the north-west, +and leading to the Punjab, was kept open by the loyal Sikh chieftains +and their retainers. + +Our position on the ridge extended about a mile and a half, the right +and left front flanks defended by outlying advanced pickets, which I +shall hereafter describe. + +The city walls, as before recorded, were seven miles in circumference, +so that at this time, and, in fact, almost to the end of the siege, we, +with our small force, in a manner only commanded a small part of the +city. The bridge of boats remained to the last in the possession of the +enemy, and was quite out of range even from our advanced approaches, +while to the right and rear of the city the gates gave full ingress to +reinforcing bodies of insurgents from the south, whose entrance we were +unable to prevent. + +Our investment, if such it could be called, was therefore only partial, +being confined to that portion of the city extending from the water +battery near Selimgarh Fort to the Ajmir Gate, which was just visible +from the extreme right of the ridge. This part was defended by, I think, +four bastions, named, respectively, the Water, Kashmir, Mori, and Burn. +Three gates besides the Lahore gave egress to the mutineers when making +sorties, the afterwards celebrated Kashmir Gate, the Kabul and the Ajmir +Gates. + +The Hindoo Rao's house, on the right of the ridge where it sloped down +into the plain, was the key of our position, and was defended with great +bravery and unflinching tenacity throughout the whole siege by the +Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, and portions of the 60th Royal Rifles and +the Guide Corps. Incessant day and night attacks were here made by the +enemy, who knew that, were that position turned, our camp--in fact, our +very existence as a besieging force--would be imperilled. + +But no assault, however strong and determined, made any impression on +the men of these gallant regiments, led by Major Reid, the officer +commanding the Sirmoor battalion. They lost in killed and wounded a +number far out of all proportion to that of any other corps before +Delhi, and must in truth be reckoned the heroes of the siege. + +The Goorkhas are recruited in the mountain districts of the Himalayas, +in the kingdom of Nepal. They are short and squat in figure, never more +than five feet three inches in height, of dark complexion, with deep-set +eyes and high cheek-bones denoting their affinity to the Turanian race. +Good-humoured and of a cheerful disposition, they have always been great +favourites with the European soldiers, whose ways and peculiarities they +endeavour to imitate to a ludicrous extent. In battle, as I have often +seen them, they seem in their proper element, fierce and courageous, +shrinking from no danger. They carried, besides the musket, a short, +heavy, curved knife called a _kukri_, a formidable weapon of which the +sepoys were in deadly terror. As soldiers they are second to none, +amenable to discipline and docile, but very tigers when roused; they +fought with unflinching spirit during the Mutiny, freely giving up their +lives in the service of their European masters. + +And now that I have endeavoured, for the purposes of this narrative, to +explain our position and that of the enemy, I shall proceed to recount, +as far as my recollection serves, the main incidents of the siege, and +more particularly those in which I personally took part. + +The camp of my regiment was pitched, as I have said, on the extreme +left of the besieging force, on the rear slope of the ridge. We were +completely hidden from any view of the city, and but for the sound +of the firing close by, which seldom ceased day or night, might have +fancied ourselves far away from Delhi. + +Cholera still carried off its victims from our midst, and the very night +of our arrival I performed the melancholy duty of reading the Burial +Service over five gallant fellows of the Grenadier Company who had died +that day from the fell disease. + +The heat was insupportable, the thermometer under the shade of my tent +marking 112°F.; and to add to our misery there came upon us a plague +of flies, the like of which I verily believe had not been on the +earth since Moses in that manner brought down the wrath of God on the +Egyptians. They literally darkened the air, descending in myriads and +covering everything in our midst. Foul and loathsome they were, and we +knew that they owed their existence to, and fattened on, the putrid +corpses of dead men and animals which lay rotting and unburied in +every direction. The air was tainted with corruption, and the heat was +intense. Can it, then, be wondered that pestilence increased daily in +the camp, claiming its victims from every regiment, native as well as +European? + +About this time many spies were captured and executed; in fact, so many +prisoners were taken by the pickets that it was ordered that for the +future, instead of being sent under escort to the camp for trial, they +should be summarily dealt with by the officers commanding pickets. + +On the evening of July 2 I was sent, in command of fifty men, to relieve +the picket at a place called the "Cow House"; this was an outshed +belonging to Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's mansion, burnt by the rebels on +May 11, and midway between that building and the stables, at each of +which were stationed 150 men. At the beginning of the siege our left +advanced flank, on the side of the River Jumna, was exposed to constant +attacks by the enemy, and the three pickets mentioned above had been +since that time stationed at those places. Each communicated with the +other, the one to the right being on a mound near the ruins of the +house, and some 1,200 yards from the city, the cowshed situated midway +between this mound and the river, and, lastly, the stables close to the +banks, all partially hidden from view of the batteries on the walls by +gardens and thick clusters of trees. + +I stationed my men at the sheds, and placed double rows of sentries to +my front along the edge of a deep _nallah_, or ravine. + +Soon after this that gallant officer, Lieutenant Hodson (on whose memory +lately aspersions have been cast by an author who knows nothing of the +subject on which he has written), rode up to the picket and told me that +a sortie in force was expected that night, and that I was to keep a +sharp lookout to prevent surprise. + +Hodson, besides commanding a regiment of native Sikh cavalry of his own +raising, was head of the Intelligence Department. He covered himself +with glory during the siege, was untiring in his exertions and well-nigh +ubiquitous, riding incessantly round the pickets at night, and being +present at most of the engagements. He was a perfect Hindustani scholar, +and it was reported in camp, though with what truth I cannot say, that +he on several occasions entered Delhi in disguise during the siege +to gain information of the enemy's intentions. This may have been +exaggeration, but it is nevertheless certain that, through some source +or other, he made himself well acquainted with the doings and movements +of the mutineers. + +Shortly after he left, the field-officer on duty appeared, who ordered +me, in case I should be attacked, to defend my post to the last +extremity, and in no case to fall back, adding that to my picket, and to +those on my right and left, the safety of the camp during the expected +sortie, together with the security of our left flank, was entrusted. + +After darkness set in the enemy commenced a furious cannonade in the +direction of the three pickets, round shot whistling through the trees +and shells bursting around us. The din and roar were deafening, but +firing, as they did, at random, little damage was done. Nothing can be +grander than the sight of live shells cleaving the air on a dark night. +They seemed like so many brilliant meteors rushing through the heavens, +or like lightning-flashes during a storm, and this being my first +experience of the sort, no words can paint my awe and admiration. + +We naturally expected an attack in force from the insurgents under cover +of the cannonade; but hours passed by in suspense and anxiety, and +none was attempted. The firing was continued all night--sleep being +impossible--and ceased only at daybreak, when the relief arrived, and I +marched the picket back to our camp. + +_July 3_.--That day the monsoon--the Indian wet season--set in, and rain +descended in sheets of water for many hours. + +In the afternoon it was reported that a large force of mutineers was +moving out of the city by the Kabul and Ajmir Gates into the suburbs +to the right front of our position, and the alarm sounded, most of the +troops in camp turning out and assembling on the road to the rear of +the canal. Here we were halted for some time, it being uncertain what +direction had been taken by the enemy. + +At sunset two doolies, escorted by men of the 5th Punjab Cavalry, were +seen on the road coming towards us. They contained the bodies of a +European sergeant and a man of the Road Department, who had been +surprised and cut to pieces by some of the rebel cavalry. The escort +also reported that a body of insurgents numbering many thousand men had +been seen moving towards Alipore, one march in our rear, their object, +it was supposed, being to cut off supplies and intercept treasure. + +It being too late to start in pursuit of the enemy, we were dismissed to +our quarters, being warned to hold ourselves in readiness to turn out at +a moment's notice. + +_July 4_.--That night the sound of the enemy's guns to our rear was +heard in the camp, and soon after 2 a. m. we paraded, and joined a force +destined to overtake or cut off the mutineers on their return to Delhi. +The little army, consisting of 1,500 men, cavalry, artillery, and +infantry, marched at once towards Alipore. After we had proceeded three +miles, and just at daybreak, news was brought that the enemy, after +plundering the town, were retreating to the city laden with booty. + +Major Coke, who was in command, then changed our direction to the left, +and we advanced for about two miles over swampy ground to a canal, +the cavalry being in front, then the infantry, the battery of Horse +Artillery bringing up the rear. + +When near the canal, which was shaded on each side by trees, the Major +advanced to reconnoitre, and on his return, the order was given, "Guns +to the front!" The Horse Artillery galloped past us, and we then heard +that the enemy were in sight on the other side of the canal. + +Crossing a bridge, and passing through trees and jungle, the whole force +debouched on an open plain, and formed in order of battle. The first +line consisted of the artillery, in the centre, flanked on each side by +the cavalry--cavalry--portions of the 9th Lancers, the Carabineers, and +that fine regiment, the Guide Corps. Coke's Corps of Punjabees and my +regiment formed the second line. + +It was a pretty sight to see this miniature army advancing in perfect +order towards the enemy. The plain extended for a mile quite open and +without trees, bounded at that distance by a village, in which the +insurgent guns were posted. Clouds of horsemen, apparently without any +formation, hovered on each side of the village, and a large force of +infantry was standing in line somewhat in advance. + +Our guns came into action at a distance of about 1,000 yards from the +village, and were soon answered by those of the enemy, their shot +striking unpleasantly close to our line, and ricochetting over our +heads. Still we advanced, hoping that the rebels would stand till we +came to close quarters. At 500 yards the fire from our artillery seemed +to prove too hot for them; and presently, to our infinite disgust, we +saw their infantry moving off to the left, followed shortly after by the +cavalry. Then their guns ceased firing, and were also quickly withdrawn. + +The Carabineers and Guides were sent in pursuit, and cut up some +stragglers; but the insurgents stampeded at a great pace, and succeeded +in carrying off all their guns. + +A few sepoys were found hiding in the village huts, and were killed by +our men, the Alipore plunder was recovered, besides some ammunition and +camp equipment, and, rather dissatisfied with the result of the action, +we moved slowly back across the plain. + +The regiment was commanded on this occasion by our senior Captain, an +officer of some thirty-five years' service. He was, without exception, +the greatest oddity for a soldier that our army has ever seen. Five feet +two inches in height, with an enormous head, short, hunchback body, long +arms, and thin, shrivelled legs, his whole appearance reminded one +of Dickens' celebrated character Quilp, in the "Old Curiosity Shop." +Entering the service in the "good" old times, when there was no +examination by a medical man, he had, through some back-door influence, +obtained a commission in the army. All his service had been passed +abroad, exchanging from one regiment to another, for it would have been +utterly impossible for him to have retained his commission in England. +Marching, he was unable to keep step with the men, and on horseback he +presented the most ludicrous appearance, being quite unable to ride, +and looking more like a monkey than a human being. On our first advance +across the plain the little Captain was riding in our front, vainly +endeavouring to make his horse move faster, and striking him every now +and then on the flanks with his sword. I was on the right of the line, +and, together with the men, could not keep from laughing, when a friend +of mine--a tall officer of one of the native infantry regiments--rode to +my side and asked me who that was leading the regiment. I answered, "He +is our commanding officer." + +The sun shone with intense heat on our march back across the plain, and +the European soldiers began to feel its effects, many being struck down +with apoplexy. About midday the infantry halted at the canal, the guns +and most of the cavalry returning to camp, as it was supposed there +would be no more work for them to do. We lay down in the welcome shade +of the trees on the bank, enjoying our breakfast, which had been brought +to us by our native servants, and, in company with an officer of the 9th +Lancers, I was discussing a bottle of ale, the sweetest draught I think +I have ever tasted. The arms were piled in our front, and at intervals +we watched, as they crossed the canal, a troop of elephants which had +been sent out to bring the sick and wounded into camp. + +All at once, from our left front, and without any warning, shots came +whistling through the trees and jungle, and some men lying on the ground +were hit. The regiment at once fell in and changed front to the left, +moving in the direction from which the shots were coming. + +Frightened at the sound of the firing, the elephants were seized with a +panic and made off across the canal. Trumpeting, with their trunks high +above their heads, they floundered through the water to the opposite +side, their drivers vainly attempting to stop their flight. We saw them +disappearing through the trees, and learnt afterwards that they never +stopped till close to their own quarters at the camp. + +Meanwhile the shots came thick and fast, and we advanced in line till we +came to a comparatively open space, and in sight of the enemy--a large +body of infantry outnumbering us by four to one. They were at no great +distance from us, and a sharp musketry fire was kept up from both sides, +causing heavy losses. + +Seeing that no object was to be gained with our small force by +encountering one so vastly superior, Major Coke deemed it prudent to +retire, and retreating firing, we crossed the bridge and lined the bank +on each side. + +The enemy followed, their men forming opposite to us and keeping up a +steady fire at a distance of from 100 to 150 yards. I was on the right +of the line with the Grenadiers, when, half an hour later, I was +directed by the Adjutant to march my men to the left of the bridge +to reinforce the Light Company, who were being hard pressed by the +insurgents, some of whom were wading through the canal, with the evident +intention of turning our left flank. We crept along under the bank, and +were received with joy by our comrades, one of them, I well remember, +welcoming us in most forcible language, and intimating that they would +soon have been sent to--if we had not come. + +The file-firing here was continuous, a perfect hail of bullets, and it +was dangerous to show one's head over the bank. Shouting and taunting +us, the rebels came up close to the opposite side, and were struck down +in numbers by our men, who rested their muskets on the bank and took +sure aim. Still, the contest was most unequal; the enemy were wading in +force through the water on our left, and the day would have gone hard +with us from their overwhelming numerical superiority, when, just at +this critical moment, the galloping of horses and the noise of wheels +was heard in our rear. + +Six Horse Artillery guns, led by Major Tombs--one of the most gallant +officers in camp--came thundering along the road. They passed with +a cheer, crossed the bridge at full speed, wheeled to their left, +unlimbered as quick as lightning, and opened fire on the rebels. Taken +completely by surprise, these made no stand, and fled pell-mell towards +Delhi, leaving altogether 200 dead on the ground. + +It was now nearly five o'clock, and we were distant four miles from +camp. Many of our men had died from apoplexy and sunstroke, their faces +turning quite black in a few minutes--a horrible sight. These, with the +killed and the sick and wounded, were placed on the backs of a fresh lot +of elephants, which had just arrived; and, scarcely able to drag one leg +after the other, we turned our faces towards the camp, reaching our own +quarters soon after sunset. + +This was a terrible and trying day for all engaged, and more especially +for the European infantry. We had been under arms for seventeen hours, +most of the time exposed to the pitiless rays of an Indian sun, under +fire for a considerable period, and, with the exception of the slight +halt for breakfast, on our feet all the time. + +When nearing camp we were met by the General, Sir Henry Barnard, who +addressed us with some kindly words, and little did we think that +that was the last occasion we should see the gallant old soldier. The +following morning he was attacked with cholera, and expired in the +afternoon, deeply regretted by the whole army. + +No man could possibly have been placed in a more trying situation than +he who had just given up his life in the service of his country. Called +on to command an army to which was entrusted the safety of British +rule in India, the cares and anxiety of the task, together with his +unremitting attention to his duties and constant exposure to the sun, +made him peculiarly susceptible to the disease from which he died. He +had served with distinction in the Crimean campaign, and had only landed +in India to take command of a division in the April of this year. + +_July 5_.--From July 5 to 8 nothing of note occurred. The enemy kept up, +as usual, a constant fire upon the ridge and outlying pickets; but no +attempt at a sortie was made. + +I visited the Flagstaff Tower each day when off duty, seemingly never +tired of gazing at the glorious panorama spread out before me, and +watching the batteries delivering their unceasing fire. + +With the exception of two 24-pound cannon taken from the enemy, for +which we had no shot, the heaviest guns on the ridge were 18-pounders +and a few small mortars. Having possession of the great arsenal, the +insurgents mounted on the bastions of Delhi 32-and 24-pounder guns and +13-inch mortars, their trained artillerymen acquitting themselves right +valiantly, and making excellent practice. They were almost to a +man killed at their guns during the siege, and towards the end the +difference in firing was fully perceptible, when the infantry filled +their places and worked the guns. + +Having no round-shot for the two 24-pounders, we were reduced to firing +back on the city the shot of the same calibre hurled against us, and +a reward of half a rupee per shot was paid by the commissariat to any +camp-follower bringing in the missiles. + +On one occasion I saw a party of native servants, carrying on their +heads cooked provisions for the men on picket, wend their way up the +slope from the camp. Two round-shot fired by the enemy struck the top +of the ridge and rolled down the declivity. Here was a prize worth +contending for, and the cooks, depositing the dishes on the ground, ran +in all haste to seize the treasures. I watched the race with interest, +and anticipated some fun, knowing that in their eagerness they would +forget that the shots had not had time to cool. Two men in advance of +the rest picked up the balls, and, uttering a cry, dropped them quickly, +rubbing and blowing their hands. The remainder stood patiently waiting, +and then, after a time, spent evidently in deliberation, two men placed +the shot on their heads, and all in a body moved off towards the +commissariat quarters to receive and divide the reward. + +_July 7_.--On the morning of July 7, I accompanied a detachment of 150 +men under command of a Captain to relieve the picket at the mound close +to the ruins of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's house. This mansion, built by +the present baronet's father, was situated about 1,200 yards from the +walls of the city, and surrounded by trees and gardens. At the outbreak +of May 11, it had been plundered and burnt by the mutinous sepoys and +_badmashes_, who also in like manner had destroyed every house belonging +to the Europeans in the suburbs of Delhi and the adjoining cantonment. +Of the murders that then took place I shall have something to say +hereafter, when writing the history of a young school-fellow whose +sister was killed by the insurgents. + +From our position on picket we could see a short distance in front, the +ground having been partially cleared of trees and undergrowth. A chain +of double sentries was posted, and the utmost vigilance observed. We +could hear the batteries opening on the ridge, while occasionally, as if +to harass the picket, a 13-inch shell would burst either in our front or +in our rear. The night passed quickly, and at daybreak, when visiting +the sentries, I heard distinctly the bugles of the rebels sounding the +reveille, succeeded by other familiar calls. It seemed strange to hear +our own bugle-calls sounded by men who were now our enemies; and not +only was this the case, but also the insurgents for some time wore the +scarlet uniform of the British soldiers, and invariably to the end of +the war gave the English words of command they had been taught in our +service. + +We were relieved from picket on the morning of the 8th, and returned to +our camp, remaining quiet during the day. Executions by hanging took +place every day, but after the first horrible experience nothing would +induce me to be a spectator. The rain, which had begun on the 3rd, +continued almost without intermission, our camp becoming a quagmire, and +the muggy, moist atmosphere increasing the ravages of cholera amongst +our unfortunate soldiers. + +_July 9_.--At sunrise on the 9th, a terrific cannonade woke us out of +our sleep; but, the main camp being some distance from the right of the +ridge, we for a long time heard no tidings of what was going on. At 8 a. +m. the bugles of the regiments on the right sounded the alarm, followed +at once by the "assembly." + +Some 200 men of my regiment, all that remained off duty, paraded in +front of the tents, and received orders to march to the centre rear of +the camp, in rear of the quarters of the General in command. Here we +were joined by some companies of the 8th Regiment and a battalion of +Sikhs, and, continuing our march, we halted near the tents of Tombs' +battery of Horse Artillery. + +Lying around and even among the tent-ropes were dead bodies of the +enemy's cavalry, and a little way beyond, close to the graveyard, +some men of the 75th were firing into the branches of the trees which +surrounded the enclosure. Every now and then the body of a rebel would +fall on the ground at their feet, the soldiers laughing and chatting +together, and making as much sport out of the novel business as though +they were shooting at birds in the branches of a tree. + +How the native cavalry came there was at first inexplicable to us; but +we were informed afterwards that a body of irregular horsemen, dressed +in white, the same uniform as that worn by the 9th Irregulars on our +side, had, with the greatest daring, an hour before dashed across the +canal bridge and charged the picket of the Carabineers, making also for +the two guns of Tombs' battery. The former, mostly young soldiers, had +turned and fled, all save their officer and one sergeant, who nobly +stood their ground. Lieutenant Hills, who commanded the two guns on +picket, also alone charged the horsemen, cutting down one or two of the +sowars. + +Meantime the guns were unlimbered, but before they had time to fire, the +enemy were upon them. Hills was struck down badly wounded, and was on +the point of being despatched by a sowar, when Major Tombs, hearing the +noise, rushed out of his tent, and seeing the plight his subaltern was +in, fired his revolver at thirty yards and killed the sowar. + +The camp was now fairly alarmed; the guns of Olpherts' battery opened on +the enemy, and, some men of the 75th appearing on the scene, the rebels +were shot down in every direction, thirty-five being killed, and the +rest escaping by the bridge. A few climbed into the trees and were shot +down as I have said before. + +This attack by the enemy's cavalry was a fitting prelude to the events +of the memorable sortie of that day. + +At early morn, under cover of an unceasing cannonade from the city +batteries on to the right of our position, the insurgents in great force +and of all arms streamed out from the gates, making in the direction +of the suburb of Kishenganj, their evident intention being to turn our +right flank and make for our camp. + +Seeing that the enemy were increasing in numbers, and coming on with +great determination, the alarm had sounded; and detachments from most of +the regiments, with Horse Artillery and a few cavalry under the command +of Brigadier-General Chamberlain, marched towards the right rear of the +camp, taking the road to the suburb of Kishenganj. + +We crossed the canal at about 10 a. m., and, moving in column for some +little distance, came in sight of advanced bodies of the enemy, chiefly +infantry with cavalry and field artillery on each flank. We formed in +line, sending out skirmishers, the guns opened fire--the country here +being pretty open--and the action began. + +Soon we drove back the rebels, who continued retreating in excellent +order, turning at intervals and discharging their muskets, while every +now and then their guns were faced about and unlimbered, and round-shot +and grape sent among our ranks. As we advanced, the vegetation became +thicker, and we were confronted at times by high hedges of prickly-pear +and cactus, growing so close together that it was impossible to make +our way through. This occasioned several détours, the sepoys lining the +hedges and firing at us through loopholes and openings, cursing the +_gore log_[1] and daring us to come on. + +The rain, which had kept off during the morning, now descended in a +steady downpour, soaking through our thin cotton clothing, and in a few +minutes drenching us to the skin. + +Passing the obstacles on each flank, the force again formed in as good +order as the inequalities of the ground would permit, and continued its +advance, all the time under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. We +caught glimpses of the enemy retreating towards the Kishenganj Serai, +but the vegetation was so dense in the numerous gardens, and the view so +obstructed by stone walls and ruined buildings, that it was with great +difficulty that we made any progress, nor, having the advantage of so +much cover, did the enemy suffer much loss from our musketry fire. + +Many of our men fell at this period of the fight; despising the enemy +and refusing to take cover, our soldiers would stand out exposed and +deliver their fire, offering a sure aim to the enemy's marksmen. It +was a continual rush from one point to another, halting and firing +at intervals, the rebels all the time slowly retreating. Our Horse +Artillery at this juncture could only act on occasions, the ground being +so broken that the guns were often brought to a standstill. + +All this time the batteries on the ridge, which from their high position +could see what was going on, sent shells and round-shot at every +opportunity over our heads, dispersing the mutineers when grouped +together in any large number, and dealing death amongst them. + +We saw them lying in heaps of twenty and thirty as we advanced, and the +fire was so hot and the practice so excellent that the enemy evacuated +the gardens and fled towards the suburb of Kishenganj. + +Here the country was more open, so, re-forming our scattered line, +with skirmishers in advance, we drove the rebels before us, the Horse +Artillery playing on them in the open and bringing down scores. + +Crossing the canal (which here barred our progress) by a bridge, we +entered into a wide lane to the left, the high bank of the canal being +on one side and the walls of a large caravanserai on the other. + +The insurgents were posted at the far end of the lane, where it opened +out at the gate of the serai, and received us, as we advanced at the +double, with a rattling fire of musketry. Some climbed to the top of the +bank, while others fired down at us from the walls. It was a perfect +_feu d'enfer_, and the loss on our side became so heavy that a temporary +check was the result, and it was only with great trouble that the men +could be urged on. + +Seeing a disposition to waver, Colonel W. Jones, the Brigadier under +Chamberlain, with great bravery placed himself in front on foot, and +called on the soldiers, now a confused mass of Sikhs, Goorkhas, and +Europeans, to charge and dislodge the enemy from the end of the lane. +He was answered with a ringing cheer, the men broke into a run, and, +without firing a shot, charged the sepoys, who waited till we were +within fifty yards, and then, as usual, turned and fled. + +Some entered the caravanserai by the large gate, which they attempted +to shut; but we were too quick for them, and following close on their +heels, a hard fight began in the enclosure. + +Others of the enemy ran onwards in the direction of the city, chased by +portions of our force, who pursued them a long distance, and after a +desperate resistance killed many who in their flight had taken refuge in +the serais and buildings. + +The party I was with in the great caravanserai ranged the place like +demons, the English soldiers putting to death every sepoy they could +find. Their aspect was certainly inhuman--eyes flashing with passion and +revenge, faces wet and blackened from powder through biting cartridges; +it would have been useless to attempt to check them in their work of +slaughter. + +Twenty or more of the insurgents, flying for life from their pitiless +foe, made for a small building standing in the centre of the serai. They +were followed by our men, who entered after them at the door. The house +had four windows, one on each side, about three feet from the ground, +and I ran to one and looked in. + +The wretched fugitives had thrown down their arms and, crouching on the +floor with their backs to the wall, begged with out-stretched hands for +mercy, calling out in their language, "_Dohai! dohai!_" words I +well knew the meaning of, and which I had often heard under similar +circumstances. I knew, however, that no quarter would be given, and in a +short time every rebel lay in the agonies of death. + +Most of the force, as I have related, had continued chasing the enemy, +so that for some time we were alone and few in number in the serai. +It was nearly five o'clock, and we thought that, as far as we were +concerned, the action was over. + +It was not so, however. Shouts and yells were heard outside, and, +running to see, we found a fresh force of the mutineers assembled +outside the gates. There was nothing for it but to make a rush and fight +our way through; so with fixed bayonets we charged through them, meeting +soon afterwards the remainder of the force on its way back. Joining with +these, we drove the enemy again before us till we came within 700 yards +of the city walls, there losing sight of our foes. Their guns fired +into us, but the insurgent infantry seemed now to have had sufficient +fighting for one day, and not one man was to be seen. + +Our work was accomplished, and the order was given to retire. Slowly we +wended our way back to camp, arriving there about sunset, having been +continuously under fire for nearly seven hours. + +The losses on this day exceeded that of any since the siege began. Out +of our small force engaged, 221 men were killed and wounded. It was +computed that of the enemy more than 500 were killed, and probably twice +that number wounded, the dead bodies lying thick together at every +stage of our advance, but the wounded men in almost every instance were +carried off by their comrades. + +The camp of our regiment on the extreme left of the line having become a +mere swamp and mud hole from the long-continued rain, and also being at +too great a distance from the main body of the army, we were directed to +change to a position close to the banks of the canal, near the General's +headquarters, and on the left of the 8th Regiment. The move was made, I +think, on July 11; and here we remained till the end of the siege. + +At about this period, too, I was most agreeably surprised by a visit +from an old school-fellow named C---- d. He had entered the Bengal +Civil Service a few years before, and, at the breaking out of the +disturbances, was Assistant Collector at Goorgaon, seventeen miles from +Delhi. On the death of their mother in Ireland, an only sister, a +young girl of eighteen years of age, came out to India to take up her +residence with him. C---- d escorted his sister to Delhi on May 10, she +having received an invitation to stay with the chaplain and his wife, +who had quarters in the Palace. He returned to Goorgaon, little thinking +he would never see her again. + +The next morning, on the arrival of the insurgent cavalry from Meerut, +and the subsequent mutiny of the native infantry regiments and artillery +in the cantonments, the massacre of the Europeans in Delhi began. + +I forbear entering into all the details of this dreadful butchery; +suffice it to say that the chaplain, Mr. Jennings, his wife, Miss +C---- d, and nearly all the white people, both in the Palace and the +city, were murdered. The editor of the _Delhi Gazette_ and his family +were tortured to death by having their throats cut with pieces of broken +bottles, but there were conflicting accounts as to how the Jenningses +and Miss C---- d met their end. From what I gathered after the siege from +some Delhi natives, it was reported that the ladies were stripped naked +at the Palace, tied in that condition to the wheels of gun-carriages, +dragged up the "Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi, and there, in +the presence of the King's sons, cut to pieces. + +It was not till the following evening, May 12, that C---- d heard of the +Mutiny, and, fearing death from the populace of Goorgaon, who had also +risen in revolt, he disguised himself as best he could and rode off into +the country. After enduring great privations, and the danger of being +taken by predatory bands, he at last reached Meerut, and thence +accompanied the force to Delhi. + +From what he hinted, I feel sure he had it on his mind that his sister, +before being murdered, was outraged by the rebels. However this may be, +my old school-fellow had become a changed being. All his passions were +aroused to their fullest extent, and he thought of nothing but revenge. +Armed with sword, revolver, and rifle, he had been present at almost +every engagement with the mutineers since leaving Meerut. He was known +to most of the regiments in camp, and would attach himself to one or +the other on the occasion of a fight, dealing death with his rifle +and giving no quarter. Caring nothing for his own life, so long as he +succeeded in glutting his vengeance on the murderers of his sister, he +exposed himself most recklessly throughout the siege, and never received +a wound. + +On the day of the final assault I met him in one of the streets after we +had gained entrance into the city. He shook my hands, saying that he had +put to death all he had come across, not excepting women and children, +and from his excited manner and the appearance of his dress--which was +covered with blood-stains--I quite believe he told me the truth. One +would imagine he must have tired of slaughter during those six days' +fighting in the city, but it was not so. I dined with him at the Palace +the night Delhi was taken, when he told me he intended accompanying +a small force the next morning to attack a village close by. All my +remonstrances at this were of no avail; he vowed to me he would never +stay his hand while he had an opportunity of wreaking his vengeance. +Poor fellow! that was his last fight; advancing in front of the +soldiers, he met his death from a bullet in the heart when assaulting +the village. + +There were other officers of the army in camp who had lost wives and +relations at Delhi and Meerut, and who behaved in the same manner as +C---- d. One in particular, whose wife I had known well, was an object of +pity to the whole camp. She was the first woman who was murdered during +the outrage at Meerut, and her death took place under circumstances of +such shocking barbarity that they cannot be recorded in these pages. + +Truly these were fearful times, when Christian men and gallant soldiers, +maddened by the foul murder of those nearest and dearest to them, +steeled their hearts to pity and swore vengeance against the murderers. +And much the same feelings, though not to such an extent, pervaded the +breasts of all who were engaged in the suppression of the Mutiny. Every +soldier fighting in our ranks knew that a day of reckoning would come +for the atrocities which had been committed, and with unrelenting spirit +dedicated himself to the accomplishment of that purpose. Moreover, it +was on our part a fight for existence, a war of extermination, in which +no prisoners were taken and no mercy shown--in short, one of the most +cruel and vindictive wars that the world has seen. + +From July 10 to 14 there was comparative quiet in the camp; the +cannonade continued on each side, but no sorties were made by the enemy. + +_July 12_.--On the morning of the 12th I was detailed for picket duty at +the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, to the right front of Hindoo Rao's house, the +picket consisting of 100 men under the command of a Captain. Since +the opening of the siege this had been the scene of many sanguinary +encounters with the enemy, who put forth all their strength in +endeavours to drive in the picket, and so turn our right flank at Hindoo +Rao's house. + +The view at first was almost completely closed in; but by the end of +July the unremitting labours of the Engineers had cleared away the +trees, walls, and buildings in front of the picket for some distance, +and the earth-works connecting it with the ridge at Hindoo Rao's house +were also completed. + +I can remember no event of interest as occurring on July 12. Few shots +were fired at us, and on being relieved the next morning we returned to +camp, wondering at the unusual inactivity of the enemy. + +_July 14_.--They were, however, only preparing for another sortie on a +grand scale, and on the morning of the 14th the bugles again sounded the +"alarm" and the "assembly." The insurgents poured out of the Kabul and +Lahore Gates in great numbers, making, as usual, for the Sabzi Mandi +Gardens and the right of the ridge. They kept up a constant fire of +musketry and field-artillery; and though our batteries swept their +masses with shell and round-shot, they still continued the attack, +pressing close to the pickets and Hindoo Rao's house. + +[Illustration: THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST.] + +Shortly after midday a column of some 1,500 men was assembled to +dislodge and drive them back to the city. We took the road as on the +9th, and soon became engaged with the enemy in the Sabzi Mandi Gardens. +The struggle was long and fierce, a perpetual interchange of musketry +and artillery, our losses, especially in officers, being very severe. +The city batteries also sent grape and canister amongst us from their +large guns and howitzers, inflicting mortal wounds, even at the great +distance of 1,100 yards. + +When driving the rebels before us past the suburb of Kishenganj, +Lieutenant Gabbett and I, in the confusion of the rush, became separated +from the few men of our regiment who were engaged on that day, and found +ourselves--we being the only officers present--with about fifty soldiers +of different corps. For more than half an hour we were completely +isolated from the main body, and were occupied in several little fights +on our own account. Advancing, we scarcely knew where, and in our +excitement fully engaged in chasing the foe, we all at once came most +unexpectedly on to a broad road, with open ground on each side. There, +to our front, and scarcely 500 yards distant, we saw a gate with +embattled towers, the high walls of the city, and a bastion. We were +soon descried by the enemy, who depressed their guns and fired at us +with grape, fortunately without hitting any of our party. We were in a +complete dilemma, under fire of the batteries, cut off from our force, +and liable at any moment to be surrounded; so, deeming discretion the +better part of valour, we turned about and ran with all speed to the +rear, coming upon a troop of Horse Artillery, which was halted amongst +some gardens. + +Soon the main body of our force returned from the pursuit of the rebels, +whom they had driven to within 600 yards of the city wall; and joining +our own detachment, who had given us up as lost, we returned to camp +about sundown. + +Again we had to lament the loss of many fine officers and soldiers. +Nearly 200 men had been killed and wounded--a sad diminution of our +little army, which, had it long continued, would have entirely decimated +the Delhi Field Force. The enemy, however, had suffered most severely, +their loss amounting to quite 1,000 men; and the next morning they were +seen for hours carting the dead bodies into the city. Unusual bravery +was shown by the rebels on this day: they stood fairly in the open, and +also attacked the pickets with great pertinacity, assaulting one called +the "Sammy House" for hours, and leaving eighty dead bodies in its +front, all killed by the infantry of the Guides, who most gallantly held +the picket against overwhelming numbers. + +Cholera all this time raged in the force, and carried off its victims +daily, my own regiment and the 8th being the principal sufferers. It was +melancholy to enter the hospital, to see the agony and hear the groans +of the men, many of them with their dying breath lamenting the hard fate +which had stretched them on a sick-bed and prevented them from doing +their duty in the ranks against the enemy. Fever and ague, too, were +very prevalent, and hospital gangrene broke out, which attained such +virulence that many wounded died from its effects; while of amputations, +I believe not one recovered during the whole siege. + +We were also in the midst of the Indian monsoon, the most unhealthy +season of the year, when rain descended in torrents almost every day, a +hot, muggy atmosphere increasing the sickness and adding to the eternal +plague of flies, a plague the most nauseating it has ever been my lot to +experience. When off duty, it was the custom of some of the officers +to pass the time fishing in the canal at our rear. Here, seated on +camp-stools brought out by our servants, we amused ourselves for hours, +holding lotteries as to who would catch the first fish, the prize being +a bottle of beer. To see us on these occasions, full of merriment, one +would scarcely have realized the fact that the men employed in this +peaceful occupation were part of an army engaged in almost continual +warfare, and fighting for very existence. Laughter and jokes filled +the air, and chaff reigned supreme; while ever and anon we were rudely +recalled to a sense of the dangers around us by the report of a shell +bursting over the ridge, or the presence of an orderly, who summoned one +of the party to proceed on picket or on some perilous duty at the front. + +With regard to provisions, we were plentifully supplied with regular +meals, a sufficiency of good food and drinkables; our lot in this +respect was far more enjoyable than that of the usual run of +campaigners. A large flock of fat sheep accompanied us on the march down +from Ferozepore; and I shall never forget the agony of mind of one of +our gourmands when one day it was reported that the sheep had all been +carried off by the enemy when grazing in the rear of the canal. I had +also purchased 100 dozen of ale at Umballah for the use of the mess, and +this being noised abroad in the camp, we were visited by several thirsty +souls from other regiments, who, less fortunate than ourselves, had +neglected furnishing themselves with this tempting beverage. It was a +pleasure to us to minister to their wants, though I need hardly say that +the stock lasted but a short time, from the numerous calls made on it. + +_July 17_.--General Reed, who had taken command of the army on the death +of Sir Henry Barnard, resigned his position on July 17 in consequence +of sickness and the infirmities of old age. He was succeeded by +General Wilson, of the Artillery, an officer who had already greatly +distinguished himself, and under whom the siege was eventually brought +to a successful conclusion. + +_July 18_.--For three days after the last sortie the enemy were +singularly quiet, quarrelling amongst themselves, as it was reported, +and disputing as to what portion of their army was to lead the next +sortie. However, on July 18, they again made another attempt upon the +Sabzi Mandi and the ridge at Hindoo Rao's. + +The force sent to dislodge them was under command of Colonel Jones, of +the 60th Rifles, who made his arrangements with singular judgment and +tact, and insisted on a regular formation being kept by the troops, +instead of the desultory style of action in vogue during previous +sorties. There was, however, some very hard fighting in the gardens and +serais, where we were received by a storm of bullets; but the men being +persuaded to keep well under cover, the losses were not very serious, +the casualties amounting in all to about ninety officers and men.[2] The +enemy, as usual, suffered severely, more especially from the fire of our +field-guns, which mowed them down when collected in groups of two and +three hundred together. + +[Illustration: FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS +KISHENGANJ.] + +I was amused on this day, as well as on previous sorties, by seeing the +eagerness with which the soldiers, European, Sikh, and Goorkha, rifled +the bodies of the slain sepoys. These last had plundered the city +inhabitants of all they could find in money and jewels, and having no +place of safety (from the anarchy which prevailed in Delhi) in which to +deposit their loot, they one and all invariably carried their treasure +about with them, concealed in the kammerbund folds of muslin or linen +rolled round the waist. On the fall of a mutineer, a rush would be made +by the men to secure the coveted loot, a race taking place sometimes +between a European and one of our native soldiers as to who should +first reach the body. The kammerbund was quickly torn off and the money +snatched up, a wrangle often ensuing among the men as to the division of +the booty. In this manner many soldiers succeeded, to my knowledge, +in securing large sums of money; one in particular, a Grenadier of my +regiment, after killing a sepoy, rifled the body, and, returning in +great glee to where I was standing, showed me twenty gold mohurs, +worth Ł32 sterling. It was a most reprehensible practice, but almost +impossible entirely to prevent, for in the loose order of fighting +which generally prevailed, the men did not break from their ranks to +accomplish their purpose, but often, in isolated groups of two and +three, were separated at times a short distance from the rest of the +combatants. + +The General, we heard, was loud in his praise of the manner in which +Colonel Jones conducted the operations on this day; after the action +also, he withdrew his men in perfect order, allowing no straggling--a +great contrast to our former usual style when returning to camp after +the repulse of a sortie. + +This was the last action of any consequence fought in the open at the +Sabzi Mandi Gardens. The ground in front of the picket was soon +after cleared, and during future attacks our men remained behind the +breastworks and entrenchments which had been thrown up, and by a steady +fire soon drove back any rebels who were foolhardy enough to come within +range. + +It speaks well for the prowess of the mutineers, and proves that we had +no contemptible foe to deal with, that so many sorties and attacks were +made by them during the siege. They amounted in all to thirty-six--all +of these being regularly organized actions and assaults--besides +innumerable others on isolated pickets and advanced posts. They seldom +came to close quarters with our men, and then only when surprised; but +nothing could exceed their persistent courage in fighting almost every +day, and, though beaten on every occasion with frightful loss, returning +over and over again to renew the combat. + +_July 19_.--The succeeding days from July 19 to 23 were days of quiet, +with the exception of the usual artillery duel. We took our turn at +picket duty with the other regiments, one day at the Metcalfe house and +stables, and on another at the Sabzi Mandi. + +_July 23_.--On the morning of the 23rd the insurgents, for the first +time since the previous month, made a sortie on our left, emerging from +the Kashmir Gate with infantry and field-guns. With the latter they +occupied Ludlow Castle, a ruined house midway between the Flagstaff +Tower and the Kashmir Gate. Then they opened fire on the left of the +ridge, and moving about continually amongst the trees and buildings, +were well sheltered from our batteries, which were unable to make good +practice. The rebels also showed at the Metcalfe picket, attacking at +the same time with their infantry; and becoming emboldened by receiving +no opposition from us, the greater part of their force advanced nearer +and nearer to the ridge, till they were seen distinctly from the Mosque +battery. + +To punish their temerity, a force of all arms was sent out from camp +under Brigadier Showers, with the intention of attacking their right +flank. We moved up a deep gorge, and coming on them by surprise, forced +them to remove their guns, which quickly limbered up and made for the +city. There was a great deal of skirmishing in the gardens and ruined +houses before the infantry followed the example of their comrades; but +the fight was not nearly so severe as during the sorties on the right, +nor did the enemy suffer any very great loss. On our side, we had in all +fifty officers and men killed and wounded.[3] + +Again for some days the enemy made no movement, and the weather also +holding up for a time, some sport was inaugurated in the camp. The men +might be seen amusing themselves at various games, while the officers +actually got up an impromptu horse-race. + +This, however, was not to last long, and on July 31 we were again on the +alert from the report that several thousands of rebels, with thirteen +guns and mortars, were making for the open country to the right rear of +our camp. + +A force under Major Coke was sent out to watch their movements, and also +to convoy a large store of treasure and ammunition coming down to us +from the Punjab. The convoy arrived safe on the morning of August 1, and +the rain falling heavily on that day, making the ground impassable for +guns, the insurgent force, which had moved to our rear, broke up their +camp and retired towards Delhi. + +The 1st of August was the anniversary of a great Mohammedan festival +called the "Bakra Id," and for some time there had been rumours of a +grand sortie in honour of the event. + +Morning and afternoon passed, and we began to think the enemy had given +up their purpose, when about sunset firing began at the right pickets. +The mutineers returning from our rear had met an equal number, which +had sallied from the city, at the suburb of Kishenganj, and the forces, +joining together, moved forward and attacked the whole right of the +ridge and the pickets in that quarter. + +Loudly the bugles sounded the alarm all over the camp, and in a very +short time every available man was mustered, and the troops were hurried +forward to reinforce the breastworks at Hindoo Rao's house and on each +side. + +There had been only one actual night-attack since the beginning of the +siege, and that took place to the rear; it therefore naturally occurred +to the officers in command that this assault by the enemy with such vast +numbers would require all our efforts to prevent being turned, thus +imperilling the safety of the camp. + +The action had commenced in earnest when we arrived on the ridge, and +the brave defenders of Hindoo Rao's house were holding their own against +enormous odds. Masses of infantry with field-guns swarmed in our front, +yelling and shouting like demons while keeping up a steady fire. + +Darkness came on--a lovely night, calm and clear without a cloud in the +sky. The batteries on both sides kept up a terrific cannonade; and our +men, effectually concealed behind the earth-works, poured incessant +volleys of musketry into the enemy. The roar and din exceeded anything I +had ever heard before, and formed one continuous roll, while all around +the air was illumined by a thousand bright flashes of fire, exposing +to our view the movements of the rebels. They had also thrown up +breastworks at no great distance to our front, from behind which they +sallied at intervals, returning, however, quickly under cover when our +fire became too hot for them. And in this manner, without a moment's +intermission, the combat continued all night long, with no advantage to +the assailants, and with few casualties on our side.[4] + +_August 2_.--Morning broke without any cessation in the firing; and it +was not till ten o'clock that the rebels, seeing how futile were all +efforts, began to retire. Some few still kept up the firing; but at +2 p. m. all was quiet, and our sadly harassed soldiers were enabled to +obtain some rest after seventeen hours' fighting. Nothing could have +surpassed the steadiness of the men and the cool manner in which they +met the attacks of the enemy, remaining well under cover, and only +showing themselves when the rebels came close up. Our casualties during +those long hours only amounted to fifty killed and wounded, thus proving +the judgment of the General in ordering the men to remain behind the +earthworks, and not to advance in pursuit unless absolutely necessary. +Two hundred dead bodies were counted in front of the entrenchments, and +doubtless during the darkness many more were carried off by the enemy. + +After the severe lesson they had received the rebels remained inactive +for some days, very few shots even being fired from the walls. We learnt +that the late grand attack had been made by the Neemuch and part of the +Gwalior and Kotah insurgents who had mutinied at those places not long +before. This accounted for the stubbornness of the assault, it being the +custom, when reinforcements arrived, to send them out at once to try +their mettle with the besiegers. + +The fruits of General Wilson's accession to the command of the army, +and the stringent orders issued by him for the maintenance of order and +discipline both in camp and on picket became more and more apparent +every day. All duties were now regulated and carried out with the utmost +precision; each regiment knew its allotted place in case of a sortie, +and the officers on picket had to furnish reports during their term of +duty, thereby making them more attentive to the discipline and care of +their men. In the matter of uniform, also, a great and desirable change +was made. Many corps had become quite regardless of appearance, entirely +discarding all pretensions to uniformity, and adopting the most +nondescript dress. One in particular, a most gallant regiment of +Europeans which had served almost from the beginning of the siege, +was known by the sobriquet of the "Dirty Shirts," from their habit of +fighting in their shirts with sleeves turned up, without jacket or coat, +and their nether extremities clad in soiled blue dungaree trousers. + +The army in general wore a cotton dress, dyed with _khaki rang_, or dust +colour, which at a distance could with difficulty be seen, and was far +preferable to white or to the scarlet of the British uniform. The enemy, +on the contrary, appeared entirely in white, having soon discarded the +dress of their former masters; and it was a pretty sight to see them +turning out of the gates on the occasion of a sortie, their arms +glittering, pennons flying, and their whole appearance presenting a gay +contrast to the dull, dingy dress of their foes. + +_August 5_.--On August 5 an attempt was made by our Engineers to blow up +the bridge of boats across the Jumna, and some of us went to the top of +the Flagstaff Tower to see the result. + +Two rafts filled with barrels of powder and with a slow match in each +were sent down the river, starting from a point nearly a mile up the +stream. We saw them descending, carried down slowly by the flood, one +blowing up half a mile from the bridge. The other continued its course, +and was descried by some mutineers on the opposite bank, who sent off +men to the raft on _massaks_ (inflated sheep-skins). It was a perilous +deed for the men, but without any delay they made their way to the raft, +put out the fuse, and towed the engine of destruction to shore. A most +ignominious failure, and the attempt was never repeated, the bridge +remaining intact to the last. + +_August 6_.--At 7 a. m. on August 6 the alarm again sounded, and we +remained accoutred in camp for some hours, but were not called to the +front on that day. A large party of the enemy's cavalry--more, it must +be supposed, in a spirit of bravado than anything else--charged up the +road towards the Flagstaff Tower, waving their swords and shouting, +"Din! din!" A battery was brought to bear on them, and this, with a +volley or two of musketry, soon sent them to the right about, galloping +off and disappearing amongst the trees, after leaving some dead on the +ground. + +The enemy's infantry also harassed the pickets on the right flank, +causing some casualties, and their artillery fire was kept up all day, +the guns in the new Kishenganj battery almost enfilading the right of +our position. No efforts on our part could silence the fire from this +place, and it remained intact, a constant source of annoyance, to the +end of the siege. + +The numerous cavalry of the enemy might have caused us a vast amount +of trouble had they been properly led, or behaved even as well as the +infantry and artillery. But there seemed to be little dash or spirit +amongst them, and though they made a brave show, emerging from the gates +in company with the rest of their forces, waving swords and brandishing +spears, they took care to keep at a respectful distance from our fire, +their only exploit, as far as I can remember, being that on July 9, when +100 horsemen charged into the rear of our camp. + +From the 8th to the 11th there were constant attacks on all the pickets, +and the artillery fire on both sides was almost unceasing. The enemy +brought out some guns by the Kashmir Gate and shelled the Metcalfe +pickets, their skirmishers advancing close to our defences with shouts, +and harassing the men day and night, though with small loss on our side. +They also made the approach to the pickets for relief so perilous that +at early morn of the 12th a large force, under Brigadier Showers, was +detailed to drive the rebels into the city. My regiment furnished twenty +men, under an officer,[5] on this occasion. + +_August 12_.--We attacked them at dawn, taking them completely by +surprise, and capturing all their guns, four in number. The 1st +Fusiliers and Coke's Rifles behaved most gallantly, and bore the +brunt of the fight, losing half the number of those killed and +wounded--namely, 110. The enemy's casualties amounted to upwards of 300, +and they left many wounded on the ground, who were shot and bayoneted +without mercy. This signal chastisement had the effect of cowing them +for a time, and the pickets on the left were unmolested for the future, +save by occasional shots from the city batteries. + +_August 14_.--August 14 was quiet, the enemy giving us a respite and +scarcely firing a gun, though they must have known of the welcome +reinforcements we had received that morning. These consisted of nearly +3,000 men, of which number more than 1,100 were Europeans. + +This force, under command of General Nicholson, comprised the 52nd +Regiment, our left wing from Ferozepore, some Mooltani Horse, 1,200 +Sikhs and Punjabees, and a battery of European artillery. The +reinforcements brought up the Delhi Field Force to more than 8,000 +effectives, while of sick and wounded we had the frightful number of +nearly 2,000 in camp, many more having been sent away to Umballah. + +But what added most to our strength was the presence amongst us of the +hero John Nicholson, he who has been since designated as the "foremost +man in India." Young in years, he had already done good service in the +Punjab wars, and was noted not only for his striking military talent, +but also for the aptitude he displayed in bringing into subjection and +ruling with a firm hand the lawless tribes on our North-West Frontier. +Many stories are told of his prowess and skill, and he ingratiated +himself so strongly amongst a certain race that he received his +apotheosis at their hands, and years afterwards was, and perhaps to this +day is, worshipped by these rude mountaineers under the title of "Nikul +Seyn." Spare in form, but of great stature, his whole appearance and +mien stamped him as a "king of men." Calm and self-confident, full of +resource and daring, no difficulties could daunt him; he was a born +soldier, the idol of the men, the pride of the whole army. His +indomitable spirit seemed at once to infuse fresh vigour into the force, +and from the time of his arrival to the day of the assault Nicholson's +name was in everyone's mouth, and each soldier knew that vigorous +measures would be taken to insure ultimate success. + +We were freed from attack for some days, and the only event of +importance was a raid made by the enemy's horsemen in the direction of +Rohtak. They were followed by that great irregular leader Hodson, who +succeeded, with small loss, in cutting up some thirty of their number, +his own newly-raised regiment and the Guide Cavalry behaving admirably. + +_August 19_.--On August 19 a noteworthy incident occurred at the Sabzi +Mandi picket. A woman dressed in the native costume, and attended by an +Afghan, walked up to the sentries at that post, and on approaching the +men, threw herself on her knees, thanking God in English that she was +under the protection of British soldiers. The honest fellows were +greatly taken aback, and wondered who this could be dressed in native +costume, speaking to them in their own language. She was brought before +the officer commanding the picket, when it transpired that she was a +Eurasian named Seeson, the wife of a European road sergeant. During the +outbreak on May 11 at Delhi her children had been slain before her eyes +and she herself badly wounded, escaping, however, from the murderers +in a most providential manner, and finding shelter in the house of a +friendly native, who had succoured her ever since. By the aid of the +Afghan, and disguised as an _ayah_, or nurse, she had passed through +the gates of the city that morning, eventually finding her way to the +picket. We had one lady in camp, the wife of an officer of native +infantry, and to her kindly charge the poor creature was consigned, +living to the end of the siege in Mrs. Tytler's tent, and being an +object of curiosity as well as of pity to the whole force. + +The enemy, lately, had caused great annoyance by firing at the ridge +32-pound rockets, a large store of which they had found in the magazine, +and as they were unused to discharging these dangerous missiles, the +rockets at first, by their rebound, inflicted more damage on the rebels +than on us; but, gaining experience through long practice, they every +evening and during part of the night fired them at the ridge, one or two +falling right amongst the tents in camp.[6] + +A battery also was erected about this time on the opposite bank of the +Jumna, at a distance of some 2,000 yards from the Metcalfe pickets, and +this was served so well that not only were the outposts in considerable +danger from the fire, but the camp of one of our native regiments on the +extreme left, and below the Flagstaff Tower, was shifted in consequence +of the enemy's shells falling in their midst. + +It will thus be seen that the rebels put forth their whole strength and +used every means at their disposal to harass and annoy us. Like a swarm +of hornets, they attacked us in every direction, first in one quarter +and then in another; but no effort of theirs affected in the smallest +degree the bulldog grip of the British army on the rebellious city. +Reports were rife that the King had sent to propose terms to the +General, and that the answer was a cannonade directed on the walls by +all our batteries; also that their ammunition was falling short; but +these, with other silly rumours, were merely the gossip of the camp, and +were not credited by the bulk of the army. + +_August_ 24.--Again, a very large body of mutineers, numbering, it was +said, 9,000 men, with thirteen guns, left the city on August 24. They +were seen from the ridge for hours trooping out of the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates, and proceeding far to our right rear. Their intention, no doubt, +was to cut off the large siege-train and munitions of war on their way +down to us from the arsenal at Ferozepore. + +_August_ 25.--A force was at once detailed, under command of the gallant +Nicholson, to intercept the enemy and, if possible, to bring them to +battle. Long before daylight on the morning of August 25 we paraded, +cavalry, infantry, and three batteries of Horse Artillery, or eighteen +guns, numbering in all nearly 2,500 men. + +At six o'clock the march began, and leaving the Grand Trunk road a short +distance from the rear of our camp, we made across country to a town +named Nanglooi, distant six miles. The men were in high spirits +notwithstanding the difficulties we had to encounter in traversing a +route wellnigh impassable from the recent rains, and ankle-deep in mud. +Two broad swamps also had to be crossed, the soldiers wading waist-high +in the water, and carrying their ammunition-pouches on their heads. +Three hours and more were passed before we arrived at the village, and +here information reached the General that the enemy were posted twelve +miles distant, at a place named Najafgarh. + +The march was at once resumed, and, floundering in the mud, the +artillery horses especially with great labour dragging the guns through +the morass which extended nearly all the way, we arrived at about four +o'clock on the banks of a canal in full view of the enemy's position. + +This had been chosen with great judgment, and presented a formidable +appearance, stretching about a mile and a half from the canal bridge on +the extreme right to a large serai on the left in the town of Najafgarh. +Nine guns were posted between the bridge and the serai, with four more +in the latter building, all protected by entrenchments with parapets and +embrasures. + +The troops crossed the canal by a ford, and formed up in line of battle +on the opposite side, facing the town of Najafgarh, and about 900 yards +from the serai, the infantry in two lines, ourselves and the 1st Bengal +Fusiliers in front, with artillery and cavalry on each flank. + +When we were halted, Nicholson came to the front and, addressing the +regiments of European infantry, spoke a few soul-stirring words, calling +on us to reserve our fire till close to the enemy's batteries, and then +to charge with fixed bayonets. He was answered with a cheer, and the +lines advanced across the plain steady and unbroken, as though on +parade. + +The enemy had opened fire, and were answered by our guns, the infantry +marching with sloped arms at the quick step till within 100 yards, when +we delivered a volley. Then the war-cry of the British soldiers was +heard, and the two regiments came to the charge, and ran at the double +towards the serai. + +Lieutenant Gabbett of my regiment was the first man to reach the +entrenchment, and, passing through an embrasure, received a bayonet +thrust in the left breast, which stretched him on the ground. The men +followed, clearing everything before them, capturing the four guns in +the serai, bayoneting the rebels and firing at those who had taken to +flight at our approach. Then, changing front, the whole force swept +along the entrenchment to the bridge, making a clean sweep of the enemy, +who turned and fled, leaving the remaining nine guns in our hands. + +Our Horse Artillery, under Major Tombs--never better served than in this +action--mowed down the fugitives in hundreds, and continued following +and firing on them till darkness set in. The cavalry also--a squadron of +the gallant 9th Lancers, with the Guides and Punjabees--did their share +of work, while the European infantry were nobly supported by the corps +of Punjab Rifles, who cleared the town of the sepoys. + +The battle had lasted a very short time, and after dark we bivouacked on +the wet ground in the pouring rain, completely exhausted from our long +march and subsequent fighting, and faint from want of food, none of +which passed our lips for more than sixteen hours. + +[Illustration: NOTE.--MAJOR RAINBY COMMANDED THE 61ST REGIMENT IN THIS +ENGAGEMENT.] + +[From Lord Roberts' "Forty-one Years in India." By kind permission.] + +Still, the day's work was not over. A village to the rear was found to +be occupied by the enemy, and the Punjab Rifles were ordered to take +it. They met with a most obstinate resistance, their young commander, +Lumsden, being killed. The General then sent part of my regiment to +dislodge the rebels, but we met with only partial success, and had one +officer, named Elkington, mortally wounded, the enemy evacuating the +place during the night. + +We passed the night of the 25th in the greatest discomfort. Hungry and +wet through, we lay on the ground, snatching sleep at intervals. Poor +Gabbett died of internal haemorrhage soon after he received his wound, +and his death deprived the regiment of one of its best and bravest +officers, and me of a true friend. He had shared my tent on the march +down and during the whole campaign, a cheery, good-hearted fellow, and +one who had earned the respect of officers and the love of his men. The +General was particularly struck with his bravery, and with feeling heart +wrote a letter to Gabbett's mother, saying he would have recommended her +son for the Victoria Cross had he survived the action. + +Young Elkington also received his death-wound at the night-attack on the +village. He was quite a stripling, being only eighteen years old, and +had joined the regiment but a few months before. His was one of those +strange cases of a presentiment of death, many of which have been well +authenticated in our army. On looking over his effects, it was found +that he had written letters to his nearest relations on the night before +marching to Najafgarh; and he had also carefully made up small parcels +of his valuables and trinkets, with directions on them to whom they were +to be delivered in case of his being killed next day. It was noticed, +too, that he was unusually quiet and reserved, never speaking a word +to anyone on the march, though when the action began he behaved like a +gallant soldier, giving up his young life in the service of his country. + +_August_ 26.--On the morning of August 26 we marched back to camp, +arriving there before sundown, and were played in by the bands of the +two regiments, while many soldiers, native as well as European, lined +the road and gave us a hearty cheer. + +Our casualties at the action of Najafgarh amounted to twenty-five +officers and men killed and seventy wounded. The enemy left great +numbers of dead in the entrenchments and on the plain, their loss being +computed at 500 killed and wounded; but this, I fancy, is much below +the mark, for our artillery fire was very destructive, and the cavalry +committed great havoc amongst the host of fugitives. The battle of the +25th was the most brilliant and decisive since that of Badli-ki-Serai on +June 8. All the guns, thirteen in number, were captured, and the enemy's +camp, ammunition, stores, camels and bullocks were taken. Would that +we had met the insurgents oftener in the open in this manner! But the +rascals were too wary, and had too great a dread of our troops to face +them in a pitched encounter. + +During the absence of Nicholson's small force the enemy had attacked all +the pickets, and kept up a heavy cannonade from the walls, causing us a +loss of thirty-five men. It was their impression that the camp had been +left almost bare and defenceless by the withdrawal of so large a force; +but they were quickly undeceived, and were met at each point of assault +by a galling fire from our men. + +For many nights after August 26 our right pickets were constantly +harassed by the rebels, who also shelled Hindoo Rao's house from the +city and Kishenganj batteries. Our sappers, too, found it not only +difficult, but dangerous, to work in the advanced trenches below the +ridge, being always met by a murderous musketry from the enemy's +sharpshooters, who fired down behind breastworks. It was resolved, +therefore, on August 30, to drive them out from their cover, and on +two or more occasions this was performed by the Goorkhas and the 60th +Rifles, who, as usual, fighting together and supporting each other, took +the breastworks in gallant style. Our Engineers were then enabled +to continue their operations in the trenches preparatory to making +approaches towards the city walls, and constructing the batteries for +the siege-train, now daily expected. + +The Flagstaff Tower, as I have already mentioned in a former part of my +narrative, was the chief rendezvous of officers when not on duty. About +this time I went to the top of the tower in company with one of my +regiment, when an amusing incident occurred. + +We were watching the batteries playing on each side, when a tall Afghan, +armed to the teeth, appeared at the top of the steps, and was about to +set foot on the enclosed space under the flagstaff. A sentry was always +stationed there, and on this occasion it happened to be a sturdy little +Goorkha, one of the Kumaon battalion. On the approach of the Afghan he +immediately came to the charge, and warned him that none but European +officers were allowed on the top of the tower. The Afghan laughed, +and then, looking with contempt at the diminutive sentry, a dwarf in +comparison with himself, he attempted to push aside the bayonet. Losing +all patience, the Goorkha at this threw down his musket, and drawing his +_kukri_, the favourite weapon of his race, he rushed at the Afghan with +up-lifted blade. This was too much for our valiant hero, who quickly +turned tail, and disappeared down the circular staircase, the Goorkha +following him at a short distance. On his return he picked up the +musket, and seeing us laughing, the frown on his face turned into the +most ludicrous expression of good-humour I had ever seen, and he burst +out into a fit of laughter which lasted some minutes. He told us that he +and the other Goorkhas of his regiment thought nothing of the bravery of +the Afghan soldiers, some 100 of whom were on our side at Delhi; and he +spoke truly. + +These men, all cavalry, superbly mounted, dressed in chain armour, and +carrying arms of every description, had been sent down ostensibly as a +reinforcement to us by their Ameer, Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul, but +really as spies to watch our movements, and report the state of affairs +to their chief. They made a great display about the camp, but I never +heard of their meeting the enemy in action during their stay before +Delhi. + +The last two days of August we had several men killed and wounded in the +force, and one of our officers, who shared my tent after poor Gabbett's +death, received a severe contusion from the bursting of a shell. + +Nearly three months had now elapsed since the Siege of Delhi began. We +were, to all appearance, no nearer to the desired end, and had scarcely +gained one foot of ground nearer to the walls of the city. Moreover, +there was alarm in the Punjab owing to a reported disaffection among the +Sikh population, who, it is said, were beginning openly to assert that +the British army was unable to take Delhi. To check this feeling, the +Chief Commissioner had urged General Wilson to lose no time in making +preparations for the assault of the city; and thus our expectations beat +high at the near approach of the powerful siege-train on its way down +from Ferozepore, though we knew there were still before us trials and +dangers to which our former experiences would be as nothing. + +The weather had now somewhat cleared, but the heat was overpowering, +averaging 98° in the shade of my tent every day. Cholera, too, raged as +before, the principal sufferers being ourselves, and the 8th and 52nd +Regiments. To cheer the soldiers, the bands played in camp of an +evening, while some officers and men engaged in sport of various kinds; +but the angel of Death was hovering over my poor regiment, and few of +us had the heart to join in pastime while our comrades lay stricken and +dying of disease in hospital. + +_September 1_.--A portion of my corps was on duty at the Metcalfe +stable picket on September 1, when a lamentable loss was experienced, +unparalleled in the annals of the siege. The enemy's battery across the +river had never ceased shelling these pickets, though up to this day it +had not caused much damage to the defenders. + +Shortly after sunrise the men were assembled outside, receiving their +grog, which was served out to them every morning at an early hour. Some +100 men and officers, beside Sikhs and native attendants, were grouped +around, when a loud hissing sound was heard, and a shrapnel shell, fired +from the enemy's battery at the long range of 2,000 yards, exploded a +few feet in front. + +The bullets scattered around, and the scene which followed it is almost +impossible for me to depict. Many threw themselves flat on the ground, +falling one on top of the other, while groans and cries were heard. One +soldier fell mortally wounded by my side, and on looking around to +count up our losses, we found that two of my regiment had been killed +outright, besides six others severely wounded. Two Sikhs and a _bhisti_, +or water-carrier, also met their death, and two doolie-bearers were +wounded--thirteen men in all. + +One very stout old officer was in the act of having his morning bath +when the shell exploded, the _bhisti_ standing at his side and pouring +over him, when squatted on a tent-mallet, his _massuck_ of water. +He rolled over and over on the ground, presenting such a ludicrous +appearance in his wet, nude state, and covered with earth, that, +notwithstanding the awful surroundings of the scene, I and others could +not forbear laughing. The shot had been quite a chance one, but it +proved how deadly was the effect of a shrapnel shell exploding, as this +had done, only a few feet in front of a large body of men. + +_September 2 and 3_.--The batteries continued exchanging shots during +September 2 and 3, but there were no attacks of any consequence on the +pickets, and we had on those days only three men wounded on the right of +our position. + +On the morning of the 4th the long-looked-for siege-train reached camp. +It consisted of twenty-four heavy guns and mortars, and a plentiful +supply of ammunition and stores. Reinforcements also reached us, +amounting to about 400 European infantry and the Belooch battalion, the +last a most savage-looking lot of men, who, however, did good service, +and fought well. Besides these, a party of Sikh horsemen, in the service +of the Rajah of Jhind--a noble-looking man, who, with his retainers, +had kept open our communications with the Punjab during the whole +siege--joined the army, begging as a favour that they might join in the +dangers of the coming assault on the city. + +_September 7_.--September 7 also saw the arrival of Wilde's regiment of +Punjabis, 700 strong, followed the same day by the Kashmir contingent +of 2,200 men and four guns, sent to our assistance by the ruler of that +country. + +I was sitting in my tent with the bandmaster of my regiment, a German +named Sauer, when we were saluted with the sound of distant music, the +most discordant I have ever heard. The bandmaster jumped up from his +seat, exclaiming: "Mein Gott! vat is dat? No regiment in camp can play +such vile music," and closing his ears immediately, rushed out of the +tent. + +The Kashmir troops were marching into camp, accompanied by General +Wilson and his staff, who had gone out to meet them, their bands playing +some English air, drums beating, and colours flying. There was no fault +to be found in the appearance of the soldiers, who were mostly Sikhs and +hill men of good physique; but their ludicrous style of marching, the +strange outlandish uniform of the men, and the shrill discord of their +bands, created great amusement among the assembled Europeans, who had +never seen such a travesty on soldiers before. They encamped on our +right flank; but were not employed on active service till the day of +assault, on September 14. + +On the arrival of the siege-train, no time was lost in making approaches +and parallels, and erecting batteries for the bombardment of Delhi. The +trench-work had already been begun, and what with covering and working +parties, both of European and native soldiers, and the usual picket +duties, the greater part of the army was continually employed in this +arduous work every night and a portion of each day. Nothing could +surpass the zeal and willing aptitude of the men, who laboured +unceasingly digging trenches and filling sand-bags, all the time, and +more especially at night, exposed to a galling fire of musketry and +shells. + +The Engineers, under their able leaders, were unremitting in their +duties; and the young officers of that corps covered themselves with +glory both in these preliminary operations and at the actual assault. + +No. 1 Battery, to our right front, consisting of ten heavy guns and +mortars, was traced, on the evening of September 7, about 700 yards from +the Mori bastion. No. 2, to the left front, near Ludlow Castle, and +only 600 yards from the walls, was completed on the 10th, and contained +nineteen pieces of artillery. + +No. 4, for ten heavy mortars, and near No. 2, at the Koodsia Bagh, was +completed in front of the Kashmir bastion also on that day. And, lastly, +No. 3, on the extreme left, with six guns at the short distance of 180 +yards from the Water bastion, was unmasked behind the Custom-House, +which was blown up after the completion of the battery. + +Thus, in four days and nights, after incredible exertions on the part of +the working parties, forty-five heavy guns and mortars were in position, +strongly entrenched, and ready to silence the fire from the enemy's +bastions and to make breaches in the walls for the assaulting columns. + +The rebels during all this time plied the covering and working parties +with shot and shell, bringing out field-guns, which enfiladed the Ludlow +Castle and Koodsia Bagh batteries, and keeping up a sharp musketry fire +from an advanced trench they had dug in front of the walls. At the two +latter places, where the men of my regiment were employed, the fire was +very galling at times, the guns from the distant Selimgarh Fort, Water, +and Kashmir bastions all concentrating their shots at those batteries +whilst in process of erection. + +The nights, fortunately, were clear, and we had plenty of light to +assist us in our work; the men were cheerful and active, never resting +for a moment in their labours, and receiving in the Field Force orders +the praise of the General in command. + +We wondered how it was that the enemy allowed us to occupy the advanced +positions at Ludlow Castle and the Koodsia Bagh without even so much +as a struggle; but it was accounted for by the supposition that they +imagined our attack would be made from the right of our position, where +all the great conflicts had taken place. There they were in strength, +and it was our weakest point; whereas, on the side near the Jumna, we +were protected from being turned by having the river on our flank, +better cover for operations, and, moreover, batteries to silence which +were less powerful and more difficult of concentration than those +which faced us on our right from the city walls and from the suburb of +Kishenganj. + + +[Footnote 1: White people.] + +[Footnote 2: Lieutenant Pattoun was wounded in the ankle on this +occasion, and a sergeant of the 61st was shot through the head.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel Seton, 35th Native Infantry, was wounded in the +stomach in this affair.] + +[Footnote 4: One man of the 61st Regiment was killed by a round-shot, +which in its course also knocked over some sandbags which sent +Lieutenant Hutton flying about seven feet.] + +[Footnote 5: Lieutenant Yonge.] + +[Footnote 6: On August 7 they blew up one of their own powder factories, +and with it a number of workmen.] + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +The actual Siege of Delhi may be said to have commenced on September 7, +1857. All reinforcements that could possibly arrive had reached us with +the siege-train, and the effective force now available for operations +before Delhi consisted of the following troops: + + European artillery 580 + " cavalry 514 + " infantry 2,672 + ----- + 3,766 + + Native artillery 770 + " cavalry 1,313 + " infantry 3,417 + Engineers, sappers, miners, etc. 722 + ----- + 6,222 + ----- + + Grand total 9,988 + +To the above must be added the Kashmir contingent of 2,200 men, with +four guns, and the cavalry of the Jhind Rajah, perhaps 400 more, making +the full amount of troops employed at the siege 12,588. + +The seven regiments of European infantry were sadly reduced in numbers, +being mere skeletons, the strongest mustering 409 effective rank and +file, and the weakest only 242. There were also nearly 3,000 men in +hospital, Europeans and natives. + +From the most reliable sources the enemy at this period numbered +40,000 men, all trained soldiers of the former regular army, besides +undisciplined armed hordes of fanatics and rabble of the city and +surrounding country--a formidable disproportion to our scanty force when +it is recollected that they were protected by strong fortifications +mounting upwards of fifty guns, with an unlimited supply of artillery +and munitions of war, and that with their vast numbers they had ample +opportunities of harassing our right flank and rear and cutting off +communications up-country. + +Nevertheless, political considerations demanded that we should take the +offensive and deal such a blow as would convince the rebels, as well +as those whose loyalty was wavering, that the British arms were +irresistible. Moreover, there was no likelihood of our force being +increased. So on September 7 General Wilson issued the following address +to his troops: + +"The force assembled before Delhi has had much hardship to undergo since +its arrival in this camp, all of which has been most cheerfully borne by +officers and men. The time is now drawing near when the Major-General +commanding the force trusts that its labours will be over, and it will +be rewarded by the capture of the city for all its past exertions, and +for a cheerful endurance of still greater fatigue and exposure. The +troops will be required to aid and assist the Engineers in the erection +of the batteries and trenches, and in daily exposure to the sun, as +covering parties. + +"The artillery will have even harder work than they yet have had, +and which they have so well and cheerfully performed hitherto: this, +however, will be for a short period only, and when ordered to the +assault, the Major-General feels assured British pluck and determination +will carry everything before them, and that the bloodthirsty and +murderous mutineers against whom they are fighting will be driven +headlong out of their stronghold, or be exterminated. But to enable +them to do this, he warns the troops of the absolute necessity of their +keeping together, and not straggling from their columns. By this can +success only be secured. + +"Major-General Wilson need hardly remind the troops of the cruel murders +committed on their officers and comrades, as well as their wives and +children, to move them in the deadly struggle. No quarter should be +given to the mutineers; at the same time, for the sake of humanity and +the honour of the country they belong to, he calls upon them to spare +all women and children that may come in their way. + +"It is so imperative, not only for their safety, but for the success of +the assault, that men should not straggle from their column that the +Major-General feels it his duty to direct all commanding officers to +impress this strictly upon their men, and he is confident that after +this warning the men's good sense and discipline will induce them to +obey their officers and keep steady to their duty. It is to be explained +to every regiment that indiscriminate plunder will not be allowed; that +prize agents have been appointed, by whom all captured property will +be collected and sold, to be divided, according to the rules and +regulations on this head, fairly among all men engaged; and that any +man found guilty of having concealed captured property will be made to +restore it, and will forfeit all claims to the general prize; he will +also be likely to be made over to the Provost-Marshal to be summarily +dealt with. + +"The Major-General calls upon the officers of the force to lend their +zealous and efficient co-operation in the erection of the works of the +siege now about to be commenced. He looks especially to the regimental +officers of all grades to impress upon their men that to work in the +trenches during a siege is as necessary and honourable as to fight in +the ranks during a battle. + +"He will hold all officers responsible for their utmost being done to +carry out the directions of the Engineers, and he confidently trusts +that all will exhibit a healthy and hearty spirit of emulation and zeal, +from which he has no doubt that the happiest results will follow in the +brilliant termination of all their labours." + +_September 7_.--From the night of September 7 to the day of assault +all the artillerymen in the force, European as well as native, were +constantly employed in the batteries and trenches. Day and night +officers and men worked with unflagging energy in the advanced +batteries, with no relief and no cessation from their toil. Few in +number, worn out by the excessive fatigues of a three months' campaign, +and enervated by continuous work in the deadliest season of the year, +these gallant European artillerymen earned during those last days of the +siege, by their zeal and devotion, the heartfelt thanks of the whole +army. The old Bengal Artillery have a splendid roll of services, +extending for upwards of 100 years; still, in the annals of that +distinguished regiment there is no brighter record than their +achievements before Delhi in 1857. The corps has been merged into the +Royal Artillery, but the ancient name still lives in the memory of those +who were witnesses of their deeds, and their imperishable renown adds +greater lustre to the proud motto, _Ubique_, borne by the regiment to +which they are affiliated. + +Many officers and men of the cavalry and infantry volunteered for +service in the batteries when called on by the General. They acquitted +themselves well, were of great use to the gunners in lightening the +arduous duties, and were complimented in orders for the valuable aid +they had afforded to their companions in arms.[1] + +_September 11_.--The advanced batteries were all completed by the +evening of September 11, when the actual bombardment of the city began. +For three days and nights previous No. 1 Battery, on the extreme right, +was severely pounded from the Mori bastion and Kishenganj, but when the +guns got into full play the fire from the former grew gradually weaker +and weaker, till it was completely overpowered. Nos. 2 and 4 Batteries, +being nearer to the walls, suffered much from the enemy, and the losses +were very severe both among the artillery and the covering and working +bodies of infantry. + +_September 11_.--At length, on September 11, the whole of our batteries +opened fire simultaneously on the city bastions and walls. The Kashmir +bastion was soon silenced, the ramparts and adjacent curtains knocked to +fragments, and a large breach opened in the walls. On the extreme left, +at the Custom-House, our battery, as before related, was only 180 yards +from the city, and the crushing fire from this, when in full play, +smashed to pieces the Water bastion, overturned the guns, and made a +breach in the curtain so wide and practicable that it could be ascended +with ease. + +Fifty guns and mortars were now pouring shot and shell without a +moment's interval on the doomed city. The din and roar were deafening; +day and night salvos of artillery were heard, roll following roll in +endless succession, and striking terror in the hearts of those who knew +and felt that the day of retribution was at hand. + +Still, though their batteries on the bastions had been wellnigh +silenced, the rebels stuck well to their field-guns in the open space +before the walls; they sent a storm of rockets from one of the martello +towers, and fired a stream of musketry from the ramparts and advanced +trenches. Kishenganj, too, made its voice heard, harassing our right and +sweeping the Sabzi Mandi and Hindoo Rao's with its incessant fire. + +During the bombardment our casualties amounted to nearly 350 men, +the enemy causing great loss at No. 2 Battery through the fire of a +3-pounder served from a hole broken in the curtain-wall. This gun was +admirably directed, and could not be silenced notwithstanding all our +efforts. One officer, looking over the parapet to see the effect of his +fire, was struck by a shot from the "hole in the wall," his head being +taken completely off, the mutilated trunk falling back amongst the men +at the guns--a ghastly and terrible sight, which filled us who were +present with horror. + +During the whole of the bombardment portions of my regiment were on duty +in the batteries and trenches, working at the repair of the parapets and +embrasures occasionally damaged by the enemy's shot, and also taking +their share of duty with the advanced and covering parties. These were +harassing and dangerous services, involving great vigilance. We +were almost always under fire from the enemy; but with the utmost +cheerfulness, and even, I may say, good-humour, the whole of the +infantry did all in their power to lighten the work of the overtasked +artillerymen: comrades we were, all striving for the accomplishment of +one purpose--that of bringing swift and sure destruction on the rebels +who had for so long a period successfully resisted our arms. So cool and +collected had the men become that even in the midst of fire from the +advanced trenches, and while keeping up on our side a brisk fusillade, +the soldiers smoked their pipes, rude jokes were bandied from one to the +other, and laughter was heard. + +When off duty I and others took our station for hours on the ridge, and +sometimes on the top of the Flagstaff Tower. Thence with eager eyes we +watched the batteries cannonading the walls, and marked the effects of +the round-shot on the ramparts and bastions. Few of the enemy could be +seen; but every now and then some would show themselves, disappearing +when a well-directed shot struck in too close proximity. Cavalry +and infantry at times issued from the gates; but from their hurried +movements it seemed evident that they were ill at ease, and after a +short time they returned into the city. + +At night the scene was, as may be supposed, grand in the extreme. The +space below was lighted up by continuous flashes and bursts of flame, +throwing a flood of light among the thick forest of trees and gardens, +while shells would burst high over the city, illuminating the spires and +domes, and bringing into prominence every object around. There was not +only the roll of the heavy guns and mortars, but the sharp rattle of +musketry, and the hiss of the huge rocket, as it cut through the air +with its brilliant light, sounded in our ears. + +_September 12_.--On the 12th the enemy made frequent sorties from the +Lahore and Ajmir Gates with bodies of cavalry and foot, while a party of +horsemen crossed the canal, and made for the right rear of the camp. The +latter were seen by the Guides and some Punjabi cavalry, who, led by +Probyn and Watson, advanced to meet the enemy. There was a short but +sharp encounter at close quarters, in which thirty rebels were killed, +the remainder flying at full speed towards the city. The sorties from +the gates turned out comparatively harmless, and seemed meant only as +demonstrations to draw out our troops from the cover of the advanced +trenches. Seeing that the attempt was futile, and resulted only in loss +to themselves, the enemy retreated in confusion, their flight being +accelerated by shell and round-shot from No. 1 Battery, and musketry +from our outlying posts. + +A serious loss befell the army on this day in the death of Captain +Robert Fagan, of the Bengal Artillery. This officer, whose heroism made +his name conspicuous even among the many gallant spirits of the Delhi +Field Force, was killed in No. 3 Advanced Battery, a post he had +occupied since September 8, and which was more than any other exposed to +the enemy's fire. He had served throughout the siege, and was beloved by +his men, winning the hearts of all, not only by his undaunted behaviour +and cool courage, but also by his kind-hearted and amiable disposition. + +The approaching day of assault was now the subject of conversation among +officers and men; for the end was at hand. On September 12 a council of +war met in General Wilson's tent, at which all the superior officers of +the army were present. All the arrangements for attack were perfected, +and the position of every brigade and corps was fixed and decided, +though the day and hour of assault was known to no one, not even to the +General in command. + +_September 13_.--There was no rest for us on the 13th, the last Sunday +we were destined to pass before the walls of Delhi. The fire of our +heavy cannon increased in violence every hour, and the silence of the +enemy's batteries assured us of the efficacy of the bombardment, and the +speedy approach of the time when our columns would move to the assault +on the city. + +That night, soon after darkness had set in, four officers of the +Engineers proceeded to examine the two large breaches in the walls made +by the batteries. It was a hazardous duty, exposing them to peril of +their lives; but these brave young fellows executed their task in +safety, and, unobserved by the enemy, few of whom seemed to be keeping +watch on the ramparts, returned to report the perfect practicability of +the breaches for escalade. + +Then the General issued his orders for the final assault; and long +before midnight each regiment in camp knew its allotted place in the +coming attack on the city. + +Five storming columns were formed, the position and details of each +being as under: + +No. 1, under Brigadier General Nicholson, consisting of the 75th +Regiment, 1st Bengal Fusiliers, and Punjab Infantry, to storm the breach +at the Kashmir bastion--in all 1,000 men. + +No. 2 Column, under Brigadier W. Jones (H.M. 61st Regiment), consisting +of H.M. 8th (the King's) Regiment, 2nd Europeans, 4th Sikhs--altogether +850 men to storm the breach near the Water bastion. + +No. 3, under Colonel Campbell, consisting of the 52nd Regiment, the +Kumaon battalion of Goorkhas, and 1st Punjab Infantry--in all 950 +men--to assault the Kashmir Gate after it should be blown in by the +Engineers. + +No. 5, or the Reserve, under Brigadier Longfield (H.M. 8th Regiment), to +follow No. 3 by that gate into the city, was composed of the 61st, the +Belooch battalion, 4th Punjab Infantry, and the Jhind troops--altogether +1,300 men, with 200 of H.M. 60th Rifles--to cover the advance of +Nicholson's column and to form a reserve. + +The whole of the above-named columns were under the immediate command of +General Nicholson, on whom devolved all arrangements for carrying out +the assault on Delhi. + +No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, the officer in command at Hindoo Rao's +house, was formed of part of the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor battalion +of Goorkhas, detachments from European regiments, and the Kashmir +contingent. This column was to attack the fortified suburb of +Kishenganj, and enter the city by the Lahore Gate, meeting Nos. 1 and 2 +Columns at that place. + +The cavalry brigade, under Colonel Grant, composed of the 9th Lancers, +part of the 6th Carabineers, with Sikh and Punjab cavalry and some +Horse Artillery, took up their position on the right of No. 1 Advanced +Battery, facing the Mori Gate, and within range of Kishenganj. Their +object was to oppose any attempt to take the storming columns in +flank, to watch the movements of the enemy, and to guard the camp from +surprise. + +To the convalescents and a small force of cavalry and artillery the +protection of the camp was confided--a very insufficient guard when it +is considered that the enemy might well, out of their vast numbers, have +detached part of their horsemen and infantry to harass, if not imperil, +its safety, and that of the many, sick and wounded. As will hereafter be +seen, great danger resulted from the arrangements made in this respect; +and had the enemy, after our unsuccessful attack on Kishenganj on the +14th, but shown a spirit of pluck and daring, it is not too much to +affirm that the camp might have fallen into their hands, and our +successes in the city have thereby been rendered almost nugatory. + +The night of the 13th was passed by us in a cheerful mood, everyone +hopeful and confident of what the morrow would bring forth. There was +a character of determination among the officers and men, a cool, +deliberate conviction that, under Providence, success would crown our +arms, and that vengeance would be done on those who had forfeited their +lives by the cruel massacre of our defenceless women and children. + +Sleep visited the eyes of few in camp during the short hours of +preparation for the assault. Fully equipped to turn out at a moment's +notice, we lay down on our beds waiting for the signal to fall in. +This came at about three o'clock on the morning of September 14--an +auspicious day, it being the third anniversary of the Battle of the +Alma. + +_September_ 14.--The troops fell in on their respective lines, and, +assembling at the slope of the ridge, the four columns of attack marched +in silence to the Flagstaff Tower. Thence, picking up the men on picket, +who were all withdrawn from the outlying posts, the force moved by the +road to the neighbourhood of Ludlow Castle, and close to No. 2 Advanced +Battery. Our movements were entirely concealed from the enemy; the +darkness which prevailed, and the ample cover from trees, gardens, and +houses, masking the march of the columns, while the breaching batteries, +which had kept up their fire all night long, still continued the +bombardment; nor did they cease till the actual moment when the columns +were set in motion and took their way to the city. + +Just before sunrise all the dispositions were completed, the gallant +Nicholson, under whose orders we were, moving from point to point to +perfect his arrangements. Our artillery fire ceased as if by magic; and +a stillness, which contrasted ominously with the former roar and din, +must have convinced the rebels that something unusual was about to take +place. + +The 60th Rifles with a cheer advanced to the front, and opened out as +skirmishers to the right and left of the Koodsia Bagh. Then followed +Nos. 1 and 2 Columns, which, in compact order, issued from their cover, +making for the two breaches to be assaulted. + +I was with my regiment in No. 5 Column; and with breathless interest, +each heart aflame with excitement, we watched our comrades marching to +the attack. Presently the order for No. 3 Column to move forward was +given, and at a short interval our own followed. + +Meanwhile the enemy had descried our movements, and the ramparts and +walls and also the top of the breaches were alive with men, who poured +in a galling fire on our troops Soon they reached the outer edge of the +moat, and amidst a perfect hailstorm of bullets, causing great havoc +among our men, the scaling-ladders were let down. The ditch here, 20 +feet deep and 25 feet broad, offered a serious obstacle to the quick +advance of the assaulting columns; the men fell fast under the withering +fire, and some delay ensued before the ladders could be properly +adjusted. However, nothing daunted, the opposite side was scaled, and, +mounting the escarp, the assailants, with shouts and cheers that could +be heard above the din of battle, rushed up the two breaches. + +Without waiting for the charge of the British bayonets, the greater part +of the rebels deserted the walls and bastions and ran pell-mell into the +city, followed by our men. Some few stood manfully and endeavoured to +check the flight of the rest; but they were soon shot or bayoneted, and +the two columns halted inside the walls. + +Almost simultaneously with the entrance of our troops into the city, the +Kashmir Gate was blown in, and No. 3 Column, followed by No. 5, advanced +along the covered way and passed into the city. We had only been, met by +desultory fire from the enemy, which caused few casualties, during our +march to the gate; the men were in high spirits, and longed to come to +close quarters. + +The episode of the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate of Delhi is too well +known to require description here;[2] suffice it to say that the deed +was an act of heroism almost without a parallel in the annals of the +British army. In broad daylight, a small band of heroes advanced to +almost certain death; but with a determination and valour seldom heard +of, after repeated attempts to lay the powder-bags and apply the match, +and losing nearly all their number, killed and wounded, the gate was +blown in, giving free passage to the assaulting columns. + +All the troops were now assembled at the main guard, in an open space +close to the Kashmir Gate, and here, as well as the firing from the +enemy would permit, the force re-formed, under the orders of General +Nicholson. Nos. 1 and 2 Columns united, and under command of that +officer moved to their right, advancing along the walls in that +direction and clearing everything in their way. + +No. 3 Column now marched into the heart of the city, being guided by Sir +Theophilus Metcalfe, and by a circuitous route made its way towards the +Jama Musjid. Soon we lost sight of this force, and then our own work +began. + +Advancing from our first place at the main guard, No. 5 Column pushed +forward to the College Gardens, marching through narrow streets and +lanes, with high houses on each side. But how can I describe that +terrible street-fighting, which lasted without intermission the whole +day? From every window and door, from loopholes in the buildings, and +from the tops of the houses, a storm of musketry saluted us on every +side, while every now and then, when passing the corner of a street, +field-guns, loaded with grape, discharged their contents into the +column. Officers and men fell fast, but this only served to exasperate +the remainder, who almost without a check reached the College, and, +after some severe skirmishing, cleared the gardens and houses of the +rebels, and bayoneted all who were found there. + +Leaving a detachment to occupy this post, we passed through more streets +and lanes, ever exposed to the same terrific fire, and after great +trouble succeeded in taking possession of Colonel Skinner's house and a +large building known as the palace of Ahmed Ali Khan. + +It was now midday, and at the latter place we were joined by No. 3 +Column, which, making its way to the Jama Musjid, met with such a +strenuous resistance that, after losing many men, and being without +powder with which to blow up the gates of the mosque, it was forced to +retire. The streets, we heard, were alive with men on their line of +route, and the column had been exposed to incessant fire without any +good resulting from their undaunted efforts. + +There was work enough and to spare to clear the streets and houses in +front and on each side of the Kashmir Gate; and from the time the +two columns joined forces till night set in a continuous fight was +maintained. The system of attack in which we were engaged allowed of no +formation being retained. Isolated groups of men, European and native, +led sometimes by officers, and often without any leaders, roamed through +the narrow streets, entering houses from which the fire was more than +usually severe, and putting to death without mercy all who were found +inside. + +On one occasion a party of sepoys and armed rabble emerged from a house +in our front, and were seen by our men, who immediately opened fire. +Soon they were followed by a troop of women yelling and screaming. +Keeping these as a cover for their retreat, the rebels got clear away, +the soldiers having desisted from firing the moment the women appeared. +This was a ruse which, I heard from others, was often adopted by the +mutineers, who seemed to know intuitively that their women and children +were safe from the fire of our men. + +The deeds of individual daring performed during September 14 were +numberless, and I was witness of many feats of arms and cool courage +by the rank and file and non-commissioned officers of the different +regiments. A private of my corps, a huge Grenadier Irishman named +Moylan, saved the life of an officer under circumstances which fully +entitled him to the coveted distinction of the Victoria Cross. In one of +the numerous encounters which took place this officer, leading on a few +men, turned sharply round the corner of a street, and was met by a force +of sepoys coming from the opposite direction. A shot struck him, and he +was felled to the ground from the blow of a sword, and would have been +quickly despatched had not Moylan rushed to his rescue. Discharging his +musket, he shot one of the assailants, and charged with the bayonet. +This was broken off; and then, with firelock clubbed, he stood over the +prostrate officer, dealing such fearful blows with the weapon--felling +his foes in every direction--that the sepoys took to their heels, and +Moylan, picking up the wounded officer, brought him to a place of +safety. He was made a sergeant on the spot by the Colonel, but all +efforts to obtain the Cross for this gallant fellow were unavailing. In +those days the distinction was but seldom given; probably so many names +were submitted for the General's consideration that only a few could be +approved, and the application for Moylan was passed by. + +But though in the latter's case the Victoria Cross was not given, it was +awarded to a surgeon (named Reade) of my regiment on that day. He was +ever to be found in the thick of the fighting, ministering to the +wounded and cheering on the men. While engaged in his professional +duties, a number of sepoys poured a deadly fire from the far end of a +street into the group of wounded of which he was the central figure. +This was too much for the surgeon, who, drawing his sword, called on +some men of the regiment close by, and led them in gallant style against +the enemy, whom he dispersed with great loss, killing two sepoys with +his own hand. Not only on this occasion, but on several others, the +surgeon's bravery was most conspicuous, no one grudging him the +distinction he had so gallantly won. + +There is nothing so destructive of the morale and discipline of soldiers +as street-fighting, nor can control be maintained except by men of +extraordinary resolution. The veterans of the European regiments +composing the Delhi army on the day of assault fully justified their +reputation. Cool and determined, they kept in check the impulsive valour +of the young soldiers, and assisted their officers on various occasions +when it became almost impossible to control their ardour. Till late +at night the fighting never ceased; the weary and famished soldiers, +exhausted and worn out from fatigue and exposure, and without a moment's +rest, carried out the work of clearing the streets and houses, exposed +all the time to a fire of musketry, coming chiefly from unseen foes. + +Many lost their lives in the houses, where, entangled in the labyrinth +of roofs, courtyards, and passages, they were shot down by the inmates, +and were found, in several instances days after, with their throats cut +and otherwise mutilated. The hope of finding plunder in these places +also led many to their doom, and accounted for the large list of missing +soldiers whose names appeared in the day's casualties. + +And now I must pass from our force to record the doings of No. 1 and +2 Columns, under General Nicholson. These, for a long distance, had +carried all before them, taking possession of the ramparts and bastions +as far as the Kabul Gate, and effectually clearing the streets leading +to the heart of the city. Exposed to a pitiless fire of grape and +musketry through their whole advance, their loss was very heavy, but, +still pressing forward, barrier after barrier was taken, the guns on +each bastion, after its capture, being at once turned on the city. Their +goal was the Burn bastion and the Lahore Gate, and all that men could do +with their diminished numbers was tried at those points without effect. +The rebels were in enormous force at these positions; field-guns and +howitzers poured grape and canister into the assaulting columns, and +musketry rained on them from the adjoining houses. Time after time +attacks were made, till the sadly harassed soldiers, completely worn +out, were forced to retire to the Kabul Gate and the bastions and +ramparts they had already gained. + +It was in one of these unsuccessful attempts to carry the Lahore Gate +that Nicholson fell mortally wounded. Ever eager and impetuous, his +dauntless soul led him into the thick of the combat. Spurning danger, +and unmindful of his valuable life, he was in the front, in the act +of encouraging and leading on his men, when the fatal shot laid low a +spirit whose equal there was not to be found in India. He lingered +for some days in great torment, expiring on September 23, mourned by +everyone in the force, from the General in command to the private +soldier, all of whom knew his worth, and felt that in the then momentous +crisis his absence from amongst us could ill be borne. No eulogy can add +to his renown; through his efforts, more than those of any other, Delhi +fell, and he left his unconquered spirit as a heritage for the work +still to be accomplished in the pacification of India. His name itself +was a tower of strength in the army. Peerless amongst the brave men of +his time, to what brilliant destinies might he not have succeeded had +his young life (he was but thirty-four years old) been prolonged! + +I must now revert to No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, and the attack on +the strong fortified suburb of Kishenganj. About 100 men of my regiment +were engaged in this affair; and from the lips of our officers I had a +full account of the fight and the subsequent retreat.[3] + +The morning had dawned, and Major Reid waited to hear the signal to +commence operations--the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate. His force, +numbering about 1,000 men besides the Kashmir troops, were formed up on +the Grand Trunk Road, opposite the Sabzi Mandi picket and at the foot of +the ridge. Now the sun had risen, and still he watched for the signal, +when shots in quick succession were heard on the right of the column, +and it became known that the Kashmir contingent, without waiting for +orders, had become engaged with the enemy. + +Some men of the 60th Rifles were thrown out as skirmishers, and Major +Reid moved with his force in the direction of Kishenganj. Soon they were +stopped by strong breastworks thrown up by the enemy and barring the +road to the suburb, the rebels being concealed behind these in great +force, and pouring a heavy fire on our troops when only fifty yards +distant. A rush was made for the earthworks, which were taken in gallant +style; but the want of field-guns was here felt, and the enemy retired a +short distance amongst the gardens, from which they continued to harass +our troops. The Kishenganj battery also opened fire, and our position +became critical in the extreme from the increasing number of the foe, +who were constantly reinforced, and defied all endeavours to drive them +from their cover. + +While the struggle was thus raging on the left, the Kashmir troops on +the extreme right flank had become involved with a large force of the +enemy of all arms, who, no doubt despising the martial qualities of +these half-disciplined levies, attacked them on all sides with +great vigour. Our allies made no stand, and soon became completely +disorganized, flying at length in headlong rout, with the loss of all +their guns. No record was kept of their casualties, but they must have +been very severe. For the future they remained unemployed in their camp, +bewailing the loss of their four guns, and were never again engaged with +the enemy. + +Two or three days after the capture of Delhi I was wandering, with some +others, through the streets of the city, when we came upon an officer +and four men of the contingent, who accosted us, asking if we had heard +or seen anything of their lost guns. They seemed in great grief, fearing +the wrath of the Maharajah of Kashmir when they should arrive home, +leaving the guns behind. With difficulty restraining a laugh, we assured +them that we could give no information on the subject, and counselled +them to search among the guns on the bastions near the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates. They succeeded eventually in finding two, the others probably +being borne off as trophies by the sepoys during the evacuation of +Delhi. The contingent soon afterwards left for Kashmir, but how they +were received by the Maharajah we never heard, though probably condign +punishment was meted out to those who had actual charge of the guns. + +The defeat of the Kashmir troops had a most disastrous effect on the +issue of the attack on Kishenganj. Reinforced in great numbers, as I +have related, the enemy maintained their ground, and our men could make +no impression on them, chiefly from the want of field-guns. Major Reid, +moreover, was wounded at an early stage of the action, and was carried +off the field. His absence was soon felt in the altered dispositions of +the force, and the want of a leader to carry out the plans formed by +him. + +The breastworks which had been taken could not be held for want of +support, and some confusion resulted, the enemy's artillery from +Kishenganj and musketry from the gardens causing great destruction. +Many gallant attempts were made to drive off the rebels, but all were +unavailing; and at length, after losing one-third of its number, the +column fell back in good order to its original starting-point near the +Sabzi Mandi, and Kishenganj remained in the hands of the enemy. Had that +position been taken, and No. 4 Column, according to instructions, pushed +on to the Lahore Gate, no good, as it turned out, would have been +effected. Nicholson's columns, as related, had been forced to retire; +the gate would have remained closed, and possibly the undertaking would +have resulted in a more serious collapse than the ineffectual attempt on +Kishenganj. + +The presence of a large unconquered force on our right flank also placed +the camp in imminent danger. It was known--from information received +from spies--that it was the enemy's intention, after our failure +to dislodge them from the suburb, to make an attack on the almost +unprotected camp. The danger fortunately passed off, the rebels probably +having little heart to join in operations to our rear when they heard +the news of the signal success of our columns in the city. Still, their +presence at Kishenganj was a standing menace; nor were we completely at +ease with regard to the safety of the camp till the 20th, when the city +was found to be evacuated by the enemy, and our troops immediately took +possession. + +Lastly, I must narrate the doings of the Cavalry Brigade. This force, +with Horse Artillery, was stationed near No. 1 Advanced Battery, under +the command of Brigadier Hope-Grant, their duty being to guard our +right flank from being turned during the assault on the city. Here they +remained, keeping a watchful lookout for some hours, till orders came +for the brigade to move towards the walls of Delhi. They halted opposite +the Kabul Gate, at a distance of 400 yards, and were at once exposed to +the fire from the bastions, and to musketry from the gardens outside +the suburbs of Taliwarra and Kishenganj. Our Horse Artillery made good +practice, driving the enemy from their cover and spiking two guns; but +the exposed situation caused great losses in the cavalry, and they moved +still further to their front, halting amidst some trees. + +The enemy now sallied from the gardens as though with the intention +of driving the cavalry in the direction of the Kashmir Gate. The +circumstances were most critical, when a body of Guide Infantry, coming +up at the time, threw themselves on the rebels, maintaining their place +with great resolution till help arrived, with a part of the Belooch +battalion, and the enemy were forced to retire. + +Too much praise cannot be given to the 9th Lancers and Horse Artillery +for their conduct on this occasion. Exposed for hours to cannonade +and musketry, unable to act from the nature of the ground, they never +flinched from their post, forming a living target to the fire of the +rebels. The same may be said of the Sikh and Punjabi cavalry, who +displayed a coolness and intrepidity scarcely, if at all, less +meritorious than that of their European comrades. Our casualties were +very severe, the 9th Lancers alone losing upwards of twenty men killed +and wounded. + +And now that I have described the operations of each column and portions +of the Delhi army during September 14, it will be necessary to record +the advantages we had gained. From the Water bastion to the Kabul Gate, +a distance of more than a mile, and constituting the northern face +of the fortifications of Delhi, was in our possession, with all the +intervening bastions, ramparts, and walls. Some progress had been made +into the city opposite, and to the right and left of the Kashmir Gate, +and along the line of walls. The College and its grounds, Colonel +Skinner's house, that of Ahmed Ali Khan, and many other smaller +buildings were held by the infantry. The enemy's guns on the bastions +had been turned on to the city, and a constant fire was kept up, the +streets and lanes being cleared in front, and advanced posts occupied by +our men. + +These advantages had not been gained without a severe struggle, and a +terrible roll of killed and wounded was the consequence. Our casualties +on September 14 amounted to upwards of 1,200 officers and men killed, +wounded, and missing--a loss out of all proportion to the small number +of men engaged, and when the relative forces are considered, far +exceeding that which was suffered by the British army during the assault +on the Redan on September 8, 1855. The deadly and destructive nature +of street-fighting was here apparent, and the long-sustained contest, +lasting more than twelve hours, swelled the total loss to the excessive +amount recorded. In my regiment alone 100 men were placed _hors de +combat_, thirty-three being killed; but the other European regiments +suffered still more in proportion, and especially so those which took +part in the actual assault on the breaches. + +The native troops fought with the most determined bravery; Sikhs, +Punjabis, and Goorkhas, side by side with their English comrades, +pressed into the forefront of the strife, helping in the most material +manner towards the day's success. + +It was impossible to ascertain the loss sustained by the enemy. Dead +bodies lay thick in the streets and open spaces, and numbers were killed +in the houses; but the greater part of those who fell were no +doubt carried off by the rebels. In the ardour of the fight many +non-combatants also lost their lives, our men, mad and excited, making +no distinction. + +There is no more terrible spectacle than a city taken by storm. All the +pent-up passions of men are here let loose without restraint. Roused +to a pitch of fury from long-continued resistance, and eager to take +vengeance on the murderers of women and children, the men in their +pitiless rage showed no mercy. The dark days of Badajoz and San +Sebastian were renewed on a small scale at Delhi; and during the +assault, seeing the impetuous fury of our men, I could not help +recalling to my mind the harrowing details of the old Peninsular Wars +here reproduced before my eyes. + +With the exception of a small amount of looting, the men were too much +occupied with fighting and vengeance to take note of the means of +temptation which lay within their reach in the untold quantities of +spirits in the stores of the city. Strong drink is now, and has in all +ages been, the bane of the British soldier--a propensity he cannot +resist in times of peace, and which is tenfold aggravated when excited +by fighting, and when the wherewithal to indulge it lies spread before +him, as was the case at Delhi. When and by whom begun I cannot say, but +early in the morning of the 15th the stores had been broken into, and +the men revelled in unlimited supplies of drink of every kind. It is a +sad circumstance to chronicle, and the drunkenness which ensued might +have resulted in serious consequences to the army had the enemy taken +advantage of the sorry position we were in. Vain were the attempts made +at first to put a stop to the dissipations, and not till orders went +forth from the General to destroy all the liquor that could be found did +the orgy cease, and the men return crestfallen and ashamed to a sense +of their duties. The work of destruction was carried out chiefly by the +Sikhs and Punjabis, and the wasted drink ran in streams through the +conduits of the city. + +_September 15_.--This untoward event considerably hampered the +operations on September 15, and but small progress was made that day +towards driving the rebels out of Delhi. The artillery and engineers +worked hard at the completion of the batteries on the captured bastions, +on which were mounted our own and the enemy's heavy guns; and one for +mortars was erected in the College grounds, which shelled the Palace +and the Fort of Selimgarh. A few houses were taken in advance of our +positions, but no further movement on any large scale was attempted, +owing to the demoralized state of a great portion of the European +infantry, and, further, to a desire that the troops should obtain some +rest after the unparalleled fatigues and exposure of the previous day. + +Reports also spread through the force that the General, feeling his +strength and means inadequate to hold even the portions of the city in +our possession, meditated an evacuation of the place, and a retirement +to the old camp to await reinforcements. Every consideration must be +made for one placed in his critical position; and he, no doubt, in his +own mind, felt justified in proposing the step, which, had it been +carried out, would, in all probability, have ended in the fall of +British rule in India. "In an extraordinary situation extraordinary +resolution is needed," was the saying of the Great Napoleon, and to no +crisis in our history was this dictum more applicable than that at Delhi +in September, 1857. Mutiny and rebellion spread their hydra heads over +the land, disaffection was rife in the Punjab, our only source of supply +for operations in the field; and nought could stay the alarming symptoms +save the complete capture and retention of the great stronghold of +rebellion. It had also been a well-known maxim laid down and carried out +by Clive, Wellesley, Lake, and all the great commanders who had made +our name famous in Hindostan, never to retire before an Eastern foe, no +matter how great the disparity of numbers; and history tells us that our +successes were due mainly to this rule, while the few reverses we have +suffered resulted from a timid policy carried out by men whose heart +failed them in the hour of trial. + +Happily for the Delhi army, and more especially for the English name, +the counsels of the General in command were overruled by the chief +officers in the force, and even the gallant Nicholson from his death-bed +denounced, in language which those who heard it will never forget, the +step contemplated by his superior officer. + +Towards the evening of the 15th the enemy, becoming emboldened by our +inactivity, attacked the advanced posts along our whole line, and kept +up a sharp musketry fire, more especially on the College compound, while +the heavy guns at Selimgarh and some at the magazine shelled those +gardens and houses adjacent--even as far as the Kashmir Gate--occupied +by our troops. At 5 p. m. a battery of heavy guns played on the defences +of the magazine, soon crumbling the wall to pieces, and opening out a +large breach for assault. + +_September 16_.--My regiment, the 4th Punjab Rifles, and a wing of the +Belooch battalion were detailed as a storming party, and mustering at an +early hour on the morning of the 16th, we marched to the attack on +the magazine.[4] This enclosure--a large walled area close to the +Palace--was surrounded by a high curtained wall with towers, the +interior space being occupied by buildings and containing a park of +artillery and munitions of war. We met with no resistance on our way, +and on approaching the breach saw only a few defenders on the ramparts, +who opened a fire, which, however, caused little damage. A rush was at +once made, the men gaining the top of the bridge without difficulty, and +bayoneting some sepoys and firing on the remainder, who fled through the +enclosure and were driven out at the gates on the opposite side. We had +only about a dozen men killed and wounded, but of the enemy more than +100 lost their lives, being dragged out of the buildings where they had +taken refuge and quickly put to death. Two hundred and thirty-two guns +fell into our hands, besides piles of shot and shell; in fact, so vast +was the amount that, although the enemy had been firing from their +batteries for more than three months, making a lavish use of the stores +at their command, scarcely any impression seemed to have been made on +it. + +That day and the following night our position in the captured magazine +was anything but pleasant. The rebels continually harassed us with +shells fired from the Chandni Chauk and near the Palace. Some, more +venturesome than the rest, climbed on ladders to the top of the walls, +plying us with musketry and hand-grenades, while others during the night +mounted the high trees overhanging the enclosure, and with long lighted +bamboos tried to set fire to the thatched buildings and blow up a small +magazine. These attempts kept us constantly on the alert; and it was +with great difficulty that we prevented damage being done. + +Fighting continued during the day among the other portions of the force, +and Nos. 1 and 2 Columns made further advances among the streets, the +guns and mortars from the bastions throwing shot and shell far into the +crowded parts of the city. Houses in commanding situations were taken +and made secure from assault by defences of sand-bags. Great judgment +was shown in these operations, and the losses in consequence were +comparatively few; but the enemy as yet gave no signs of retreating +from Delhi, and our leaders felt that great exertions would still be +necessary before the city fell entirely into our hands. + +_September 17_.--During the 17th and 18th a constant fire of shells from +upwards of twenty mortars was directed from the magazine and College +grounds on the Selimgarh Fort and the Palace, those from the bastions +still firing into a large portion of the city. Skirmishing went on at +the advanced posts, and a regular unbroken line of communication was +established from one end of our pickets to the other. + +_September 18_.--On the 18th my regiment moved from the magazine and +took up its quarters in the Protestant Church, close to the main guard +and Kashmir Gate, and at no great distance from the northern walls of +the city. This church had been built by the gallant and philanthropic +Colonel Alexander Skinner, C.B., an Eurasian and an Irregular cavalry +commander of some eminence during the wars in the beginning of the +century. He also erected at his own expense a Hindoo temple and a +Mohammedan mosque, giving as his reason that all religions were alike, +and that, in his opinion, each one was entitled to as much consideration +as the other. + +This church in which we were now quartered had been sadly desecrated by +the rebels and fanatics of the city. They had, in their religious zeal, +torn down the pulpit and reading-desk, defaced emblems, broken up the +pews and the benches, and shattered all the panes of glass, while here +and there inside the building were remains of their cooking-places, with +broken fragments of utensils. The walls, too, had suffered much from the +effects of our bombardment from September 11 to 14, the church being +in the line of fire directed on the bastions. Many, no doubt, would +consider it a sacrilege to quarter English troops in this sacred +edifice, but the exigencies of war required its use for this purpose, +and of all the buildings occupied by us during our stay in Delhi, the +church was found to be cleanest and best ventilated, free from the +noisome smells and close atmosphere of the native houses. + +The close of the 18th saw our outposts extended hard by the Chandni +Chauk--the main street of the city--the bank, Major Abbott's and Khan +Mohammed's houses having first been seized by our men, who suffered +severely from the field-guns and musketry of the rebels. There was also +another unsuccessful attack made on the Burn bastion and Lahore Gate +by the right column, in which the 75th lost one officer and many +men killed. The arrangements for attack seemed to have been bad and +ill-advised; the soldiers felt the want of the guiding genius of +Nicholson, and, during an advance through a narrow lane were literally +mown down by grape from the enemy's field-guns. + +The weather, which since the 14th had been fine, broke up on the night +of the 18th, and was succeeded by a terrific storm of rain, which fell +in torrents like a deluge. That night it was reported that the rebels in +great numbers were evacuating the city by the south side, the Bareilly +and Neemuch brigades making off in the direction of Gwalior. Certain it +is that from this period signs of waning strength appeared among the +enemy, and fewer attempts at assault were made on our outposts, those +on the left near the Palace, which were well protected by breastworks, +being only exposed to a very desultory fire of musketry. + +During the forenoon of the 18th there was, I think, a partial eclipse of +the sun, which lasted three hours. The unusual darkness which prevailed +astonished us beyond measure (our minds being taken up with events more +startling than astronomical phenomena) till reference to an almanac +explained the mystery. The eclipse had, we were told, an alarming effect +on the mutineers, who attributed the phenomenon to some supernatural +agency. The darkness no doubt worked on their superstitious fears, and +hastened their flight from the city on which the wrath of the Almighty +had descended. + +_September 19_.--On the 19th operations in front of the Palace Gate were +continued, a heavy fire being kept up against that place, while the 60th +Rifles and others, perched on the tops of houses, took unerring aim at +the rebels clustered in the open space. The same evening, also, the +exertions of the right column were rewarded by the capture of the Burn +bastion, with little loss on our side. + +It was now quite evident that the baffled insurgents were retiring from +Delhi in great numbers, mostly by the south side, few crossing the +bridge of boats by day owing to it being commanded by our guns. But on +the night of the 19th, when sitting in the church compound watching the +shells exploding over the Palace and Selimgarh, we heard distinctly, +through the intervals of firing, a distant, confused hum of voices, like +the murmur of a great multitude. The sound came from the direction of +the river, and was caused by multitudes of human beings, who, escaping +by the bridge of boats to the opposite side, were deserting the city +which was so soon to fall into our hands. + +_September 20_.--After some sharp fighting, and early on the morning of +September 20, the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion, which during former +assaults had cost us the lives of so many men, were taken, the column +pushing on along the walls to the Ajmir Gate, which also fell into our +hands. There were few defenders at these places, the mass of sepoys +having evidently fled into the country; and the troops marched through +the streets almost without opposition. + +There now remained but the Palace, Selimgarh, and the Jama Masjid, and +these were all occupied by our troops on that day. The former seemed +almost deserted, an occasional shot from the high walls directed on our +defences in the Chandni Chauk being the only signs of animation in that +quarter. Powder-bags were brought up and attached, to the great gate, +which was quickly blown in; and the 60th Rifles, with some Goorkhas, +rushed into the enclosure. A score or two of armed fanatics offered some +resistance, but they were soon shot down or bayoneted, and a few wounded +sepoys found in the buildings were put to death. Passing through the +Palace, Selimgarh was entered, and this, the last fortified position +belonging to the enemy, was taken possession of without a struggle. + +Meanwhile, a force of cavalry under Hodson moved round outside the city +walls, and found a large camp of the enemy near the Delhi Gate. This +was deserted, save by some sick and wounded sepoys, who were put to the +sword; and the horsemen, riding through the gate, made their way into +the heart of the city and took possession of the Jama Masjid without +striking a blow. + +Delhi had at length fallen into our hands, and the toils and dangers +of more than three months were at an end. The principal buildings were +occupied by our troops, and guards were placed at each gate with orders +to prevent the ingress or egress of any suspicious-looking characters, +while parties of armed men patrolled the streets of the city from end to +end. + +That night we moved back to our old quarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house, +the 52nd taking our place at the church. The first-named building was a +vast structure, belonging to a rich native, and had been furnished in a +style of Oriental magnificence; but now nothing but the bare walls and +floors were to be seen, the place having been ransacked of its treasures +and completely gutted since our last occupancy. + +From September 15 to 20, when Delhi fell, the force lost in killed and +wounded about 200 officers and men, making the total casualties 1,400, +including those of the day of assault. + +From May 30 to September 13 inclusive 2,490 officers and men were killed +and wounded, the grand total being close on 4,000. Add to these fully +1,200 who perished by cholera and other diseases, and it will be seen at +what a fearful cost of life to the small force engaged the victory was +won. + +Truly the capture of Delhi was a feat of arms without a parallel in +our Indian annals. The bravery of the men, their indomitable pluck and +resolution, the siege carried on with dogged pertinacity and without a +murmur, proclaimed to the world that British soldiers, in those stormy +times when the fate of an Empire was at issue, had fully maintained the +reputation of their ancestors and earned the gratitude of their country. + +To me, after the long interval of years, the incidents of the siege, +with its continual strife and ever-recurring dangers, come back to me as +in a dream. Often in fancy has my mind wandered back to those days +of turmoil and excitement, when men's hearts were agitated to their +profoundest depths, and our cause appeared wellnigh hopeless. Then it +was that a small body of men in a far-away part of North-West India, +entirely separated from the rest of the world, a few thousands amongst +millions of an alien race, rallied round their country's banners and +despaired not, though mutiny and rebellion ranged through the land. With +steadfast purpose and with hearts that knew no fear, the Delhi army +held its own for months against an overwhelming force of cruel and +remorseless rebels. Imperfectly equipped, and with little knowledge of +the dangers to be surmounted and the difficulties arising on every +side, each man of that force felt himself a host, and devoted his +energies--nay, his very life--to meet the crisis. None but those who +were there can for one moment realize through what suffering and +hardship the troops passed during the three months the Siege of Delhi +lasted. Day after day, under a burning sun or through the deadly time of +the rainy season, with pestilence in their midst, distressing accounts +from all parts of the country, and no hope of relief save through their +own unaided exertions, the soldiers of the army before Delhi fought with +a courage and constancy which no difficulties could daunt and no trials, +however severe, could overcome. In the end these men, worn out by +exposure and diminished in numbers, stormed a strong fortified city +defended by a vastly superior force, and for six days carried on a +constant fight in the streets, till the enemy were driven out of their +stronghold and Delhi was won. It must also be remembered that the +feat was accomplished without the help of a single soldier from home; +reinforcements had arrived in the country, but they were hundreds of +miles distant when the news reached them of the capture of Delhi: and it +is not too much to say that the success which followed the subsequent +operations down-country was due mainly to the fact that all danger from +the north-west had virtually ceased, and the mutiny had already received +a crushing blow from the capture of the great city of rebellion. + + +[Footnote 1: Lieutenant Boileau, 61st Regiment, served in the batteries +till the end of the siege.] + +[Footnote 2: Are not the names of the Engineers Home and Salkeld and of +Bugler Hawthorne (H.M. 52nd Regiment) household words?] + +[Footnote 3: Captain Deacon and Lieutenants Moore and Young were wounded +in this engagement.] + +[Footnote 4: Colonel Deacon, Her Majesty's 61st Regiment, commanded on +this occasion.] + + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +The renown won by our troops in 1857 is now wellnigh forgotten, and, +in fact, their deeds in that distant quarter of our Empire faded into +oblivion within a very short period subsequent to the capture of Delhi. +When the regiments engaged at that place came home to England after a +long course of service in India, scarcely any notice was taken of their +arrival. There were no marchings past before Her Majesty at Windsor or +elsewhere, no public distribution of medals and rewards, no banquets +given to the leading officers of the force, and no record published +of the arduous duties in which they had been engaged. Those times are +changed, and the country has now rushed into the opposite extreme of +fulsome adulation, making a laughing-stock of the army and covering +with glory the conquerors in a ten days' war waged against the wretched +fellaheen soldiers of Egypt. + +Five years passed away after 1857 (and how many poor fellows had died in +the meantime!) before a mean and niggardly Government distributed to the +remnant of the Delhi army the first instalment of prize-money, and three +years more elapsed before the second was paid. + +In September, 1861, exactly four years after the storm of Delhi, my +regiment paraded at the Plymouth citadel to receive medals for the +campaign of 1857. The distribution took place in the quietest manner +possible, none but the officers and men of the regiment being present. +Borne on a large tray into the midst of a square, the medals were handed +by a sergeant to each one entitled to the long-withheld decoration, the +Adjutant meanwhile reading out the names of the recipients. There was +no fuss or ceremony, but I recollect that those present could not help +contrasting the scene with the grand parade and the presence of the +Queen when some of the Crimean officers and men received the numerous +decorations so lavishly bestowed for that campaign.[1] + +The city was entirely in our possession by noon of September 20, and +shortly after that hour I proceeded on horseback, with orders from +the Colonel, to withdraw all the advanced pickets of my regiment +to headquarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house. These were stationed in +different parts of the city, and it was with no small difficulty that I +threaded my way through the streets and interminable narrow lanes, which +were all blocked up with heaps of broken furniture and rubbish that had +been thrown out of the houses by our troops, and formed in places an +almost impassable barrier. Not a soul was to be seen; all was still +as death, save now and then the sound of a musket-shot in the far-off +quarters of the town. + +My duty accomplished, I started in the afternoon with two of our +officers to view a portion of the city. We made our way first in the +direction of the Palace, passing down the Chandni Chauk (Silver Street) +and entering the Great Gate of the former imperial residence of the +Mogul Emperors. Here a guard of the 60th Rifles kept watch and ward with +some of the jovial little Goorkhas of the Kumaon battalion. From the +first we learnt particulars of the easy capture of the Palace that +morning, and were shown the bodies of the fanatics who had disputed the +entrance and had been killed in the enclosure. None of them were sepoys, +but belonged to that class of men called "ghazi," or champions of the +faith, men generally intoxicated with bhang, who are to be found in +every Mohammedan army--fierce madmen, devotees to death in the cause of +religion. Passing on, we wandered through the courts, wondering at the +vast size of this castellated palace with its towering, embattled walls, +till we came to the Dewan-i-Khas, and further on to the Dewan-i-Aum, or +Hall of Audience. This last, a large building of white marble on the +battlements overhanging the River Jumna, was now the headquarters of the +General and his staff, and where formerly the descendants of the great +warrior Tamerlane held their court, British officers had taken up their +abode; and infidels desecrated those halls, where only "true believers" +had assembled for hundreds of years. + +Passing thence through a gateway and over a swinging bridge, we entered +the old fort of Selimgarh, built, like the Palace, on the banks of the +river, its battlements, as well as those of the latter place on its +eastern side, being washed by the waters of the Jumna. Several heavy +guns and mortars were mounted on the walls of the fort, and we noticed +one old cannon of immense size for throwing stone balls, but which was +cracked at the muzzle, and evidently had not been used for centuries. +The fort was full of large and commodious buildings, used afterwards for +hospitals by our troops, the place itself, from its commanding situation +open and separate from the rest of the city, being the healthiest place +that could be found. There was a lovely view of the country on the left +bank of the Jumna, while to the north and south we followed the windings +of the broad river till lost to view in the far distance. + +Descending from Selimgarh, we took our stand on the bridge of boats now +deserted in its whole length, but over which, during the days of the +siege, thousands of mutineers had marched to swell the rebel forces in +Delhi. Thence we skirted along the banks of the river outside the walls, +viewing on our way the houses of the European residents, built in +charming situations close to the water's edge. These had been all +entirely destroyed, gutted, and burnt; nothing but the bare walls were +left standing, and the interiors filled with heaps of ashes. We thought +of the wretched fate of the former inmates of these houses, most of +whom had been mercilessly killed by the city rabble, urged on in their +fiendish work by the native soldiers, of the regular army. + +The mutineers of the 3rd Light Cavalry from Meerut had entered Delhi on +May 11, crossing the Jumna by the bridge of boats, and, being joined +by the city scoundrels, first wreaked their vengeance on the European +residents who lived close by, and who, without any previous warning of +the terrible fate in store for them, fell easy victims to the murderers. +It made our blood run cold, when visiting the ruins of these houses, to +think of the dastardly crimes which had been committed in and around the +spots on which we were standing. Defenceless and unarmed, helpless +in the hands of these human tigers, our unfortunate men, women, and +children were immolated without mercy. Turning back, we entered the city +by the Calcutta Gate, and walked along the ramparts by the riverside, +past the walls of the magazine, till we reached the Water bastion. Here +the destructive effect of our batteries during the bombardment was most +apparent. Fired at the distance of only 180 yards, the guns had smashed +the walls and ramparts to pieces, huge fragments had rolled down into +the ditch, and the cannon in the battery were completely dismounted from +the carriages, lying in confusion one on top of the other. + +At the Kashmir Gate there was a heap of goods (consisting principally +of clothes and rubbish) many feet high, which had been looted from the +houses around. The guard at the gate had orders to allow no one to pass +out with a bundle of any kind; and the consequence was an accumulation +of material, chiefly worthless, which covered many square yards of +ground. I have omitted all record of the plundering which up to this +time, and for long afterwards, took place all over the city where +our troops had penetrated. This account I have reserved for the last +chapter, where full details of the loot of Delhi and the amount of +prize-money accruing to the force will be found. _September 21_.--During +the 21st I, in company with other officers, wandered over the heart of +the city, continuing our perambulations south of the Chandni Chauk and +penetrating into streets beyond, where the six days' fighting had taken +place. The night before we had heard occasional shots fired at no great +distance, and these were continued during the day and for some time +afterwards. + +Looting was going on to a great extent, both European and native +soldiers engaging in the work; and though strict orders had been issued +to prevent such licence, it was found impossible to check the evil. The +shots emanated from these men, who, of course, went about well armed, +and brooked no interference when in the act of securing booty. +Altercations of a serious nature had taken place between the Europeans +and Sikh soldiers, ending sometimes in blows, and often in bloodshed, +when the two parties met in a house or were busy employed in dividing +the spoil. However, in time, when most of the native troops had left +Delhi, and the European regiments were quartered in walled enclosures +with a guard at the gates to prevent egress, the looting on the part of +the private soldiers ceased, and the prize agents were enabled to gather +in the enormous wealth of the city without any trouble. + +The portions of the town we passed through on that day had been pillaged +to the fullest extent. Not content with ransacking the interior of each +house, the soldiers had broken up every article of furniture, and with +wanton destruction had thrown everything portable out of the windows. +Each street was filled with a mass of debris consisting of household +effects of every kind, all lying in inextricable confusion one on top of +the other, forming barricades--from end to end of a street--many feet +high. We entered several of the large houses belonging to the wealthier +class of natives, and found every one in the same condition, turned +inside out, their ornaments torn to pieces, costly articles, too heavy +to remove, battered into fragments, and a general air of desolation +pervading each building. Much of this wholesale destruction was, no +doubt, attributable to the action of the sepoys and rabble of the city, +who during the siege, and in the state of anarchy which prevailed during +that period, had looted to their hearts' content, levying blackmail on +the richer inhabitants and pursuing their evil course without let or +hindrance. Still, that which had escaped the plundering and devastating +hands of the sepoys was most effectually ruined by our men. Not a +single house or building remained intact, and the damage done must have +amounted to thousands of pounds. + +We were quite alone in most streets; deserted and silent, they resembled +a city of the dead on which some awful catastrophe had fallen. It was +difficult to realize that we were passing through what had been, only a +few days before, the abode of thousands of people. What had become of +them, and by what magic influence had all disappeared? Not till days +afterwards was the mystery solved. + +The _tai-khanas_, or underground rooms of houses, scattered all over the +city, were found to be filled with human beings--those who, by age or +infirmity, had been unable to join in the general exodus which had taken +place during the last days of the siege. Hundreds of old men, women and +children, were found huddled together, half starved, in these places, +the most wretched-looking objects I ever saw. There was no means of +feeding them in the city, where their presence also would have raised a +plague and many would have died; so, by the orders of the General, they +were turned out of the gates of Delhi and escorted into the country. It +was a melancholy sight, seeing them trooping out of the town, hundreds +passing through the Lahore Gate every day for a whole week. We were told +that provisions had been collected for their use at a place some miles +distant, and it is to be hoped the poor creatures were saved from +starvation; but we had our doubts on the subject, and, knowing how +callous with regard to human suffering the authorities had become, I +fear that many perished from want and exposure. + +There were other objects also which raised feelings of pity in our +minds. During our walks through the streets we caught sight of dozens +of cats and tame monkeys on the roofs of the houses, looking at us with +most woe-begone countenances, the latter chattering with fear. These, as +well as birds of every description left behind in cages by their owners +on their flight, literally starved to death in the houses and streets of +the city. There was no food for such as these, and it is lamentable to +think of the torture and suffering the poor pet creatures endured till +death put an end to their misery. + +Dead bodies of sepoys and city inhabitants lay scattered in every +direction, poisoning the air for many days, and raising a stench which +was unbearable. These in time were almost all cleared away by the native +scavengers, but in some distant streets corpses lay rotting in the sun +for weeks, and during my rides on duty, when stationed at the Ajmir +Gate, I often came across a dead body which had escaped search. + +On the afternoon of the 21st a most important capture was effected by +Hodson. Shah Bahadoor Shah, the old King of Delhi, was taken by that +officer near the city while endeavouring to escape down-country. + +Hodson, with his accustomed daring, and accompanied by 100 only of his +own troopers, seized the person of the King from amongst thousands of +armed dependents and rabble, who, awed by his stern demeanour, did not +raise a hand in resisting the capture. The King was brought to Delhi the +same day, and lodged as a prisoner in the house formerly the residence +of the notorious Begum Sumroo. He was guarded by fifty men of my +regiment, under command of a Lieutenant; and on the 22nd I went to see +him, accompanied by our Adjutant. + +Sitting cross-legged on a cushion placed on a common native _charpoy_, +or bed, in the verandah of a courtyard, was the last representative of +the Great Mogul dynasty. There was nothing imposing in his appearance, +save a long white beard which reached to his girdle. About middle +height, and upwards of seventy years old, he was dressed in white, with +a conical-shaped turban of the same colour and material, while at his +back two attendants stood, waving over his head large fans of peacocks' +feathers, the emblem of sovereignty--a pitiable farce in the case of one +who was already shorn of his regal attributes, a prisoner in the hands +of his enemies. Not a word came from his lips; in silence he sat day and +night, with his eyes cast on the ground, and as though utterly oblivious +of the condition in which he was placed. On another bed, three feet +from the King, sat the officer on guard, while two stalwart European +sentries, with fixed bayonets, stood on either side. The orders given +were that on any attempt at a rescue the officer was immediately to +shoot the King with his own hand. + +[Illustration: KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857.] + +[From a photograph taken from a pencil sketch by Captain Robles, who was +placed on guard over him.] + +The old King was brought to trial shortly afterwards at the palace, and +found guilty of complicity in the murders of our country men and women, +and was transported beyond the seas, dying in British Burmah before he +could be removed to the Andaman Islands, where, in accordance with his +sentence, he was to have remained in imprisonment for the term of +his natural life. The vicissitudes of fortune, numberless as are the +instances among men of royal birth, can scarcely show anything more +suggestive of the transitoriness of earthly pomp and grandeur than +the case of the last King of Delhi. Sprung from the line of the great +conqueror Tamerlane, the lineal descendant of the magnanimous Akbar and +of Shah Jehan the magnificent, he ended his days as a common felon, far +from the country of his ancestors, unwept for and unhonoured. + +_September 22_.--Lieutenant Hodson, also on the 22nd, took prisoner, at +a place some miles from Delhi, the two eldest sons and the grandson +of the King. These men, more especially the eldest, who was +Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, had been deeply implicated in the +murders of May 11, had urged on the sepoys and populace in their cruel +deeds, and were present at the terrible massacre of our people which +took place in the Chandni Chauk on that day. + +Hodson's orders were precise as to the fate of these blood-thirsty +ruffians, and though his name has been vilified and his reputation +tarnished by so-called humanitarians for the course he adopted in +ridding the world of the miscreants, he was upheld in the deed by the +whole Delhi army, men in every respect better qualified to form a +judgment in this particular than the sentimental beings at home who +denounced with horror this perfectly justifiable act of speedy and +condign punishment. + +The three Princes were placed in a _gharee_, or native carriage, and, +guarded by Hodson's native troopers, were conducted towards the city. +Before they entered, the carriage was stopped, and Hodson spoke to his +men of the crimes committed by the prisoners. Then, dismounting from his +horse and opening the door of the _gharee_, he fired two shots from a +Colt's revolver into each of their hearts. After being driven to the +Kotwali, or chief magistrate's house, in the centre of the Chandni +Chauk, on the very spot where our country men and women had suffered +death, the three bodies were stripped save a rag around the loins, and +laid naked on the stone slabs outside the building. + +Here I saw them that same afternoon; nor can it be said that I or the +others who viewed the lifeless remains felt any pity in our hearts for +the wretches on whom had fallen a most righteous retribution for their +crimes. The eldest was a strong, well-knit man in the prime of life, the +next somewhat younger, while the third was quite a youth not more than +twenty years of age. Each of the Princes had two small bullet-holes over +the region of the heart, the flesh singed by gunpowder, as the shots +were fired close; a cloth covered part of the loins, but they were +otherwise quite naked. There was a guard, I think, of Coke's Rifles +stationed at the Kotwali, and there the bodies remained exposed for +three days, and were then buried in dishonoured graves. + +On the 22nd the regiment, or what was left of it, comprising about 180 +effective rank and file, moved from Ahmed Ali Khan's house to the Ajmir +Gate at the extreme south-western side of the city, a distance of a mile +and a half from our former residence. Here we put up in a large serai, +with open courtyards in the centre, shaded by high trees, the small +rooms on each side of the building being turned into quarters for the +men, the officers taking up their abode in a mosque at the far end. The +change was far from agreeable; flies and mosquitoes swarmed around us, +the ditch outside the walls was filled with pools of stagnant water, and +a horrible stench impregnated the air, increasing the sickness among +the already enfeebled soldiers, and still further reducing our scanty +number. + +_September 23_.--The next day I started with D----, of my regiment, to +view the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque. Nothing can exceed the rich, +though chaste, beauty of this glorious structure. The building stands +in a large walled enclosure, high broad steps leading up to the mosque, +with its three domes of pure white marble and floor of the same +material, all inlaid with figures. We ascended one of the minarets, +about 120 feet high, obtaining a grand view of the imperial city and the +surrounding country. To the south extended the ruins of Ferozebad, or +ancient Delhi; to the east lay the River Jumna; and to the west and +north stretched a forest of trees and gardens, among which were seen the +suburbs of the city, the now historic ridge in the far distance hiding +the whole camp from our view. From our elevated position a just estimate +could be formed of the great size of Delhi: the city lay spread out +below with its vast area of streets, its palaces, mosques, and temples, +all silent and deserted, in striking contrast to the din and turmoil of +a few days back. + +Major Coke's corps of Punjab Rifles were quartered in the Masjid--a +luxurious place of residence--but there were no worshippers to be found +in the sacred building, and only armed men of an infidel creed were to +be seen. A report spread at this time that it had been decided to blow +up the mosque. I cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, and can +only attribute the rumour to a belief that a large ransom would be paid +by the Mohammedan population of India for the preservation of their +temple had the authorities really intended to carry out the project. Its +destruction would have been an act of vandalism quite at variance with +the character of the British nation, and one which would have brought +down on us the wrath and contempt of the whole civilized world. + +From the Jama Masjid we wandered through narrow lanes and +back-slums--the former resort of the worst characters in the city--to +the Delhi and Turkoman Gates, the streets, as in other parts, being +strewed with property from the wrecked houses, and wellnigh impassable. +We saw parties of Europeans and native soldiers, all eager in the +pursuit of plunder, going from house to house, or diving down courts and +alleys when they saw us approaching. Interference or remonstrance with +these men would have been useless, if not dangerous; in their excited +state they were no respecters of persons, and we deemed it the better +judgment to take no notice of their actions. Dead bodies lay in almost +every street, rotting in the burning sun, and the effluvium was +sickening, so that we were glad to make our way back to the Ajmir Gate +to a less poisonous atmosphere. + +A movable column of 2,500 men of all arms started on the morning of the +23rd in pursuit of the rebels, taking the direction to Cawnpore. My +regiment had been detailed for this service; and, though numerically +weak, and suffering from sickness, the officers and men hailed with +pleasure the approaching departure from Delhi. But, unfortunately for +us, the Colonel in command reported us sick and unfit to march. We were +all to a man furious at this; everyone fit for duty was willing, heart +and soul, to be sent wherever the exigencies of the war required, and +more especially looked forward with delight to the prospect of serving +under Sir Colin Campbell, in whose brigade the regiment had fought in +the Punjab campaign of 1848-49. Still, the decision of the responsible +officer was not to be disputed, and so the regiment was kept at Delhi. + +On the 25th I mounted guard with fifty men at the Lahore Gate. The +orders were "on no account to allow soldiers, either European or native, +nor camp-followers without passes, to enter or leave the city." My post +was constantly at the gate, where I examined passes; and while +thus occupied some thirty troopers of the Mooltani Horse--wild, +truculent-looking fellows, armed to the teeth--rode up demanding +entrance. I explained to them what my orders were, and refused +admission. Whereupon they commenced talking among themselves, and +presently had the audacity to move towards the sentries with the +intention of forcing their way. I was exasperated beyond measure, and +turned out the guard, at the same time telling the Mooltanis that, if +they did not at once retire, I would fire upon them without more +ado. They then at once changed their threatening attitude, contented +themselves with swearing at the _Gore log_,[2] and rode away, saying +that now Nicholson was dead no one cared for them, and they would return +to their homes. These men had been newly raised, were scarcely under +proper discipline, and were certainly horrible-looking bandits and +cut-throats--very different from the Sikh and Punjabi Horsemen, who were +in manner and discipline all that could be desired. I knew that the +Mooltanis only desired entrance into the city to participate in the +looting which was still going on; and had they been allowed to indulge +in a work for which by their evil countenances they seemed well adapted, +collisions would have taken place between them and the English soldiers +and others, and bloodshed would have been the result. + +Shortly after the Mooltani Horsemen rode away I saw a party of Goorkhas +coming towards the gate. They were strolling along quite unconcernedly, +laughing and chatting together, with their hands in their pockets and +quite unarmed, not even carrying their favourite _kukri_. Coming to +where I was standing just outside the gate, they laughingly asked me to +allow them to take a stroll down the Chandni Chauk and through a part of +the city for a short time. My orders were imperative, and I told them +so; whereat they said they belonged to the Sirmoor battalion--the +gallant regiment which, in conjunction with the 60th Rifles, had +defended the right of our position throughout the siege. The corps was +still stationed at their old quarters at Hindoo Rao's house, and not one +of them up to this time had entered Delhi. Naturally, they said they +wished to see the city, promised most faithfully that they would refrain +from looting, and return to the Lahore Gate in an hour's time. I found I +could not resist the importunities of these brave little fellows, and, +trusting to their honour, at last consented, though contrary to orders, +to grant them admission. We watched them walking along the Chandni +Chauk, staring in wonder at all they saw, till lost in the distance. +Punctual to the time mentioned the Goorkhas returned, and, thanking me +for my courtesy, made their way to their old quarters on the ridge. + +During my tour on duty on this occasion at the Lahore Gate upwards of +500 of the Delhi populace were turned out of the city. They extended +in a long string up the Chandni Chauk, decrepit old men and women +with groups of young children. It was a pitiable sight, drawing forth +exclamations of sympathy even from the rough soldiers on guard. + +It had been brought to the notice of the General that some of the former +inhabitants of Delhi, including sepoys, were in the habit of entering +the city for the purpose of carrying away valuables, being drawn up by +ropes held by confederates on the walls, and that many had also escaped +in the darkness by the same means. Several captures had already been +made, a strict watch was ordered to be kept at the several gates, and +patrolling parties to march at intervals outside the walls. The day I +was on guard at the Lahore Gate Hodson rode up to me from the outside, +and said he had seen some natives on the walls close by, evidently +attempting to escape into the country. I immediately sent round a +corporal and four soldiers in the direction indicated, who presently +returned with six natives--carrying bundles--whom they had made +prisoners. All men thus captured were sent to the Governor of the city +at the Kotwalli, who disposed of them as he thought fit, having the +power of life and death in these matters. The Governor had the repute of +being over-indulgent with regard to the disposal of the captives, being +considered too merciful in his treatment of men who, for aught he knew, +had forfeited their lives in joining the armed rebellion against our +authority. + +A striking instance of the feeling which animated officers and men in +the troublous times took place some time afterwards at Delhi. An officer +of my regiment was on guard at the Ajmir Gate, and on one occasion sent +to the Governor some men whom he had captured while they were in the +act of escaping from the city. These men were released; but on a second +occasion three men were taken, and the officer, deeming it useless to +forward them for punishment to the usual authority, called out a file of +his soldiers, placed the prisoners in the ditch outside the Ajmir +Gate, shot them, and then, digging a hole, buried them at the place of +execution. + +For a long period after the capture of Delhi executions by hanging +were of common occurrence in the city, and the hands of the old +provost-sergeant were full. Disguised sepoys and inhabitants taken +with arms in their possession had short shrift, and were at once +consigned to the gallows, a batch of ten one day suffering death +opposite the Kotwali. + +In the beginning of October two more reputed sons of the old King were +shot by sentence of court-martial. They had commanded regiments of +the rebel army, and were foremost in the revolt, even joining in the +massacre of our people. The 60th Rifles and some Goorkhas formed +the firing party, and took, strange to say, such bad aim that the +provost-sergeant had to finish the work by shooting each culprit with +a pistol. Nothing could have been more ill-favoured and dirty than the +wretched victims; but they met their fate in silence and with the most +dogged composure. + +_September 28_.--Accompanied by our Adjutant and some other officers, I +rode out to Taliwarra and Kishenganj on September 28. These suburbs were +a mass of ruins, but enough was left intact to show the immense strength +of the enemy's position at the former place. Batteries had been erected +at every available spot, strongly fortified and entrenched, and one in +particular which had raked the right of our position was perfect in +every detail, and was guarded by a ditch, or rather _nallah_, forty feet +deep. + +We passed through the large caravanserai, the scene of the conflict +during the memorable sortie of July 9, and when in the course of our +inspection in the enclosure a ludicrous event occurred. An officer who +had been shot through the leg on that day, recognizing the place where +he had received his wound, dismounted from his horse, and stood on the +very spot. He was in the act of explaining events, and describing his +sensations when shot, when suddenly he made a jump in the air, uttering +a cry of pain, and commenced rubbing his legs, first one and then the +other. We burst into laughter at the antics of our friend, who, we +imagined, had been seized with a fit of madness quite at variance with +his usual quiet demeanour, and jokingly asked him what was the matter. +Still writhing with pain, and engaged in his involuntary saltatory +exercise, he pointed to a swarm of wasps which, roused from their nest, +on which he had been standing, covered his lower extremities, and had +made their way inside his pantaloons, stinging him on both legs, and +crawling up his body. The pain must have been intense, and fully +accounted for his gymnastics and frantic efforts to crush the insects. +It was some days before he recovered from the wounds he had received, +far more painful--as he averred--than the enemy's bullet, I intimated +at the time to my friend that the wasps probably were the ghosts of +the sepoys who had been killed in the serai, their bodies, by the +transmigration of souls, having taken the shape of these malignant +insects in order to wreak vengeance on their destroyers. He, however, +did not seem to relish my interpretation of this very singular event, +and, in fact, was inclined to resent what he called my ill-timed +jesting; but the story spread, and our poor friend became for some time +afterwards the butt and laughing-stock of the regiment. + +From Kishenganj we rode through the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, visiting our +old pickets there and at the Crow's Nest, and then proceeded up the +slope of the ridge to Hindoo Rao's house. This was still garrisoned by +the Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, some of whom escorted us round the +place, pointing out the different positions they had so gallantly +defended. The house was knocked to pieces, the walls showing evidence of +the enemy's fire, and revealing to us the truth of the saying in camp +that these hardy little fellows, with the 60th Rifles, during more than +three months, had been constantly exposed night and day to shot and +shell, there not being a single part of their quarters where complete +shelter could be found. + +The Observatory, close to Hindoo Rao's house, had also felt the effect +of the enemy's shot, while midway between the Observatory and the +Flagstaff Tower, the Mosque--the only other building on the ridge--was +also in ruins. Our batteries, nine in number, lay in a comparatively +small compass, extending about three-quarters of a mile from the Crow's +Nest in the right rear to Wilson's battery opposite the Observatory. The +rest of the ridge was unprotected by guns in position, it being at so +great a distance from the city and also free from the enemy's attacks; +the only danger and annoyance arose from occasional shells, which +reached the camp and exploded amongst the tents, from round-shot and +from rocket fire. + +Passing by the Flagstaff Tower, we rode through the old camp, now +desolate and silent, visiting the graves of our poor fellows at the +cemetery, and then, retracing our steps, entered Delhi by the Kashmir +Gate, and returned to our quarters. + +Cholera still continued its ravages among the small number of troops +left in Delhi. The reaction from a life of strife and excitement to the +dull existence we were now leading had its effects on the men, and we +each day lamented more and more that we had not gone with the Movable +Column, leaving the noisome smells, the increasing sickness, and the +monotony of Delhi behind. Two thousand sick and wounded had been moved +into the Fort of Selimgarh, where the pure air and open situation of the +place soon made a marked change in the number of invalids: but disease +was rife among the regiments quartered in the city, and convalescents +from Selimgarh were soon replaced by men suffering from cholera and +fever ague. + +In the beginning of October, to our intense delight, we moved from the +Ajmir Gate, that sink of corruption, and took up our quarters in the +magazine. The officers here occupied a fine roomy building of two +stories, while the men were housed in comfortable sheds round the +enclosure. We still furnished guards at the Ajmir and Lahore Gates, the +term of duty, through paucity of men for relief, extending over three +days. The officer on guard at the former gate visited detachments and +sentries at the "Delhi" and "Turkoman" Gates, a distance of a mile and +a half through streets in which dead bodies in the last stage of +decomposition were still lying. While one day engaged on this duty, I +passed a carcass on which some pariah dogs were making a meal. Disgusted +at the sight, and weak in stomach from the putrid air, I returned to +my tent at the Ajmir Gate at the time when my servant arrived with my +dinner from the magazine. I asked him what he had brought me, and was +answered, "Liver and bacon." The nauseating sight I had just witnessed +recurred to my memory, visions of diseased and putrid livers rose before +my view, and, unable to control myself, I was seized with a fit of +sickness which prostrated me for some time after. + +Nothing of importance occurred during the month of October. We settled +into a very quiet life at the magazine, varied by eternal guard-mounting +at the different gates of the city and regimental drill. My health had +been failing for some time, and, now that there seemed no immediate +prospect of employment on active service, I gladly acquiesced in the +doctor's advice that I should proceed to Umballah on sick leave. + +_November 8_.--Accordingly I left Delhi on November 8, my destination +being Umballah, a station in the Cis-Sutlej provinces. A _palki ghari_, +or Indian carriage, drawn by two horses, awaited me that evening at +Selimgarh, and, bidding adieu to our good doctor, who had nursed me with +unremitting attention during my sickness, I entered the carriage. +Just before starting, an officer of my regiment handed me two +double-barrelled pistols--revolvers were at a premium in those +days--saying they might possibly come in useful during my journey, and +I little thought at the time that their services would be brought into +requisition. + +The country around Delhi swarmed with _goojars_, the generic name for +professional thieves, who inhabited the numerous villages and levied +blackmail on travellers, though seldom interfering with Europeans. My +baggage, consisting of two _petarahs_ (native leather trunks) containing +uniform and clothing, was deposited on the roof of the vehicle under +charge of my bearer, but the loot I had acquired, I had safely stowed in +a despatch-box, which was placed under my pillow in the interior of the +carriage. A bed, comfortably arranged, occupied the seats, and on this I +lay down, closing the doors of the _ghari_ when night came on. + +Some two stages from Delhi, after changing horses and proceeding on the +journey along the pucka road, I fell into a doze, and at last into a +sound sleep. From this I was rudely awakened by shouts of "Chor! chor!" +(Thief! thief!) from my bearer and the native coachman. Starting up, +I seized the pistols, and opening the doors of the _ghari_, saw, as I +fancied, some forms disappearing in the darkness at the side of the +road. I fired two barrels in the direction and pursued for some +distance, but finding that my shots had not taken effect, and fearful of +losing my way--for the night was pitch-dark--I returned to the carriage. +My bearer then told me that some robbers had climbed up the back of the +_ghari_, taken the two _petarahs_ between which he was lying, and made +off into the country. We had been driving at the usual pace, about six +miles an hour, and it proves the practised skill and agility of the +_goojars_, who, with such ease, had abstracted the boxes from under the +very nose of my servant. There was nothing for it but to continue my +journey regretting the loss of my personal effects, but still fortunate +in one respect--that the loot was safe under my pillow. + +_November 9_.--At the next stage I questioned the horse-keeper, +acquainting him with the robbery, and learned that a village inhabited +by _goojars_ lay off the road not far from the place where the robbery +had been perpetrated. In the morning I arrived at the civil station +of Karnal, and drove to the residence of the Commissioner, to whom I +reported my loss, giving the name of the village where it had occurred. +He told me to make out a valuation of the things stolen and to send it +to him on the first opportunity. This I did on reaching Umballah, fixing +the value of the different articles in the boxes at 250 rupees. A month +afterwards, when the affair had almost faded from my memory, I received +a letter from the Commissioner stating that he had visited the village +near the spot where the robbery had taken place. The headman had been +summoned to his presence, and warned that, unless the thieves were +given up and the boxes returned with their contents intact, he would +confiscate a certain number of cattle, and sell the same to indemnify +me for the losses I had sustained. These orders being unfulfilled, the +cattle were sold, and an order for 250 rupees was enclosed to me in the +letter. The boxes, quite empty, with the exception of my journals, were +found afterwards at the bottom of a well and were forwarded to Umballah. +The ink had run in the journals from immersion in the water, but the +writing was little defaced, and these papers--to me the most precious +part of my luggage--I was glad to recover. + +The change to Umballah was at first beneficial, but later on I suffered +a relapse; and after appearing before a medical board, was granted a +year's leave to England. + +From Umballah I journeyed to Ferozepore, where I met several of my +brother-officers and others who, like myself, had been invalided home. + +_January 10, 1858_.--After a short stay there--the time being +principally taken up with chartering boats and providing necessaries +for the passage down the river--we all, to the number of about fifty +persons, occupying twenty-two boats, which had to be specially fitted up +with straw-built houses with sloping roofs, set off on January 10, 1858, +under the protection of a guard of Sikhs, and, after what may on the +whole be regarded as a pleasant trip, reached Tattah on February 11. +Thence I went on to Karachi and Bombay and Marseilles, and, after a +pleasant tour on the Continent of Europe, arrived in the Old Country in +May, 1858, after an absence of rather more than six years. + +[Illustration: "HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS] + + +[Footnote 1: Since the above was written, especial honour has been shown +to those who participated in the hardships and glories of the campaign +by His Majesty King Edward VII., who received the surviving officers at +a levee at St. James's Palace on June 3, 1907. + +A public dinner was also given by the proprietors of the _Daily +Telegraph_ in the Albert Hall on December 23 of the same year to all the +surviving veterans who had taken part in the suppression of the Mutiny +in 1857.] + +[Footnote 2: White people.] + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +The riches of the city of Delhi and the opulence of its Princes and +merchants had been celebrated in Hindostan from time immemorial. For +ages it had been the capital of an empire extending from the snows of +the Himalayas to Cape Comorin; and to Delhi, as to a centre, gravitated +the wealth of the richest country in the world. Fabulous reports had +reached us of the booty carried away to distant regions by the numerous +warriors who burst like a torrent over Hindostan, making that city the +goal of their conquests and the scene of their predatory forays. During +the nineteenth century Delhi, since its capture by Lord Lake in 1803, +had remained in the hands of the British, the city owing a nominal +allegiance to the King, who, to all intents and purposes a State +prisoner, was a pensioner of our Government up to 1857, holding a Court +(consisting for the most part of wretched dependents and ragamuffins) in +the Palace of the Great Mogul. + +The quiet which reigned during that period had a salutary effect on the +prosperity of Delhi; its merchants and storekeepers, trading with +the inhabitants of the richly-cultivated Dooab and with more distant +countries, became rich and prosperous, accumulating vast treasures, +while the people, with the instinct of a penurious race, converted their +ready-money into jewels and gold and silver ornaments, and safely stowed +them away in hidden receptacles within their houses. + +The numerous races of India--and notably the Sikhs--burning for an +opportunity to plunder the imperial city, cast longing eyes towards +these hidden treasures, the fame of which had spread far and wide; and +to this desire may be attributed, as much as any other reason, the +willingness of that warlike people to help us during the Mutiny. + +While the siege was progressing, even at a time when clouded with +anxiety as to the future, men's minds were full of the uncertain issue +of the fight; the thoughts of all in camp turned involuntarily to the +rich harvest awaiting the army should Delhi fall into our hands. To all +of us (putting aside the morality of the question), the loot of the +city was to be a fitting recompense for the toils and privations we had +undergone; nor did the questionable character of the transaction weigh +for one moment with us against the recognized military law--"that a city +taken by assault belonged as prize to the conquerors." During the actual +bombardment, when the end seemed at hand, this subject of prize was the +topic of conversation among both officers and men; and soon we learnt +with satisfaction that the General in command, after consulting with +others in authority, had settled on the course to be pursued. + +On September 7 a notice appeared in "orders" in which General Wilson +thanked the army for the courage and devotion displayed during the long +months of the siege. He recapitulated the dangers through which the +force had passed, and looked forward hopefully to the future when, +Providence favouring us, a few short days would see the enemy's +stronghold pass into our hands. Instructions the most peremptory were +laid down as to the absolute necessity for the troops keeping well +together on the day of assault, and not dispersing in scattered bands +or alone through the streets of the city in pursuit of plunder. Great +danger and possible annihilation of the small army would result were +these precautions overlooked, rendering the force liable to be cut up +in detail by the large bodies of rebels then occupying the streets and +houses of Delhi. Lastly, as a reward and incentive to all engaged, the +General gave his word, promising that all property captured in the city +would be placed in one common fund, to be distributed as prize according +to the rules of war in such cases. The commanding officer, as well as +all in the army, knew that it would be impossible to prevent looting +altogether, but it was hoped that the above order would have a good +effect by urging on the soldiers, for their welfare and advantage, the +necessity of obeying the instructions therein laid down. + +This order, as I have said, appeared on September 7; nor, from the +promises given, had any of us the slightest doubt but that its +provisions with regard to prize-money would be carried into effect in +due course. Delhi was taken, but as time passed by, and months elapsed +without any notification on the subject being received from the Supreme +Government, the army began to feel anxious, and murmurs arose as to the +non-fulfilment of the pledge given by General Wilson. At length, at the +end of the year, the Governor-General, with the advice of his Executive +Council, promulgated his decision that there was an objection to the +troops receiving the Delhi prize-money, and in lieu thereof granted as a +recompense for their arduous labours and patient endurance in the field +the "magnificent" sum of six months' batta. + +Lord Canning, his Council and law advisers, all civilians sitting +quietly at Calcutta, living in ease and comfort far from the dangers of +war, thought, forsooth, that the Delhi army, struggling for existence +for months, fighting to uphold British rule in India--nay, for the very +lives and safety of these civilian judges--and at last victorious in the +contest, would rest content with their decision. + +It is needless to say that this roused a storm of indignation not only +amongst the Delhi force, but throughout the British army in India--a +burst of resentment which, reaching the Governor-General, made him pause +and reconsider his ill-timed and unjust decision. Suffice it to say that +the order was rescinded, and that the prize-money, in addition to six +months' batta, was granted to all engaged. + +The day that the news of the first decision of the Government arrived at +Delhi, when all at that place were full of the wrong done to the army, a +private soldier of the 60th Rifles, inspired by the most exquisite sense +of humour as well as of bitter satire, wrote upon the walls of the +palace where his regiment was quartered the following appropriate +sentence: "Delhi taken and India saved for 36 rupees 10 annas." It +is said that the Governor-General demanded the name of this waggish +soldier, with the intention that he might receive punishment for his +daring effrontery; but it is needless to say that the author of the joke +remained unknown save to a few of his comrades; and the great ruler of +Hindostan was forced to rest content and ponder over the hidden sarcasm +and bitter irony addressed to one in his exalted position. + +The army was further promised by the Government 5 per cent, on the whole +amount of the prize-money till the amount should be paid. This, during +the many years which elapsed before the money was distributed, +would have reached a large sum; but faith was broken and the sum +repudiated--another instance of want of gratitude to soldiers who, +looked to maintain their country's honour in time of war, are in peace, +and when danger is at an end, soon forgotten. So prolonged, also, was +the delay in payment of the prize-money that, I recollect, the Times, in +reference to this subject about 1860 or 1861, had a leading article in +its columns recommending the Delhi army to bring an action against the +Government for the payment of the prize. Such action, of course, would +have been without precedent, but it showed the feeling of many in the +country when the leading journal thought right to draw attention to the +subject with a view to the adjustment of the army's rightful claim. + +To return to General Wilson's order of September 7. Notices were +circulated throughout the camp in every brigade and regiment, calling on +the troops to elect prize agents for gathering and receiving prize after +the capture of the city. These prize agents, therefore, were selected +by the army, one for the general and field officers, the second for the +Queen's service of all ranks below that of Major, and the third for the +company's army. The officers appointed, including Captain Fagan, and +after his death Doctor Innes, Sir Edward Campbell, of the 60th Rifles, +and Captain Wriford, of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, were all most popular +men, and considered in every way fit for the very important duties they +had to perform. + +On September 14, the day of assault, till the 20th, when Delhi was +completely in our possession, much looting took place in the city. Our +troops, both European and native, and especially the Sikhs, entered +houses during those days and managed to secrete about their persons +articles of value. To my certain knowledge, also, many soldiers of the +English regiments got possession of jewellery and gold ornaments taken +from the bodies of the slain sepoys and city inhabitants, and I was +shown by men of my regiment strings of pearls and gold mohurs which had +fallen into their hands. + +On the day of assault we were much amused, during a slight cessation of +the conflict, by one of our men rushing up to a group of officers in a +state of great excitement, with the news that there was a buggy with two +horses standing at the corner of a street close by. He offered the prize +to anyone who would give him a bottle of rum; but in the then state of +affairs no one felt inclined to burden himself with such a luxury, and +the poor fellow went away much disappointed. Whether he succeeded in +disposing of the prize I don't know; but when things quieted down, and +the regiment was stationed in comfortable quarters, one of our officers, +noted for his constant impecuniosity, appeared one day driving a buggy +and two horses, the acquisition of which always remained a secret; nor +would he, on being questioned, throw any light on the matter. + +That many of the private soldiers of my regiment succeeded in acquiring +a great quantity of valuable plunder was fully demonstrated soon after +our arrival in England. An unusual number of non-commissioned officers +and men bought their discharge, having during three years kept +possession of the plunder acquired at Delhi awaiting a favourable +opportunity for the sale of the articles. Many jewellers' shops in +the town in which we were quartered exposed for sale in the windows +ornaments and trinkets of unmistakable Eastern workmanship, which, on +inquiry, we were told had been bought from the men. + +It would have been contrary to human nature, and utterly at variance +with the predatory instinct, had the soldiers failed to take advantage +of the facilities for plunder which surrounded them on every side; nor +could it be expected that a man, after possessing himself of valuables, +would at once, or on the first favourable opportunity, deliver up +his booty to the properly-constituted authorities. This much may be +conceded, and it will therefore not be a subject of wonder that all +ranks of the Delhi Force, with but few exceptions, availed themselves +of the prize within their reach, and appropriated to their own use much +treasure which ought to have gone towards swelling the general fund. + +One officer in command of a native regiment quartered his corps in a +house which formerly belonged to one of the richest Princes in the city +of Delhi. The place was full of riches of every kind, and it was the +popular belief at the time throughout the army that the officer in +question succeeded in obtaining two lakhs of rupees. Rumour also said +that a court of inquiry would be held to investigate the truth or +otherwise of this report, but, if such had been contemplated, it fell to +the ground; nor was any attempt made to induce the officer to disgorge +his plunder. I paid a visit to this mansion some time afterwards, and +can vouch for the thorough ransacking the place had received. Every room +in the house had been pillaged, excavations had been made in the floors, +and empty boxes lay in every direction. + +Other cases similar to that just mentioned were known to us at the +time, in which sums of money were appropriated only a little smaller in +amount, while of those which reached the value of Ł100 their name is +legion. Many men also there were who, at first swayed by moral scruples, +as well as feeling reluctant to disobey the order which had been issued, +refrained from looting on their own account; but when they saw that +officers, even of the higher ranks, took possession of plunder, these +scruples were cast to the winds--it was "every man for himself, and the +d--- l take the hindmost," and a general desire was evinced for each to +enrich himself with the prize lying at his feet. + +Often, when wandering through the city in pursuit of plunder, I, in +company with others, came across officers engaged in the same quest as +ourselves. These rencontres were most amusing, giving rise to mutual +interrogations and many jokes, each party affirming that looting was not +the object of their perambulations, but that they were only inspecting +the houses out of a feeling of curiosity. Up to this time I had not +succeeded in finding any articles of value, nor had I the remotest idea +that my acquaintance with a certain officer in the employ of the prize +agents would put me in the way of acquiring a fair amount of the loot of +Delhi. A few silver ornaments and a small bag of sicca rupees were all +that I had so far obtained, and I naturally felt desirous of increasing +my store, more especially when it was well known that many officers, +more fortunate and less scrupulous, had already made themselves masters +of large quantities of valuable plunder. + +The accumulation of prize by the agents began shortly after Delhi was +taken. At first the articles obtained were of little worth, comprising +chiefly wearing apparel of every description and household goods. Soon, +however, more costly effects were found by the searchers, and in a very +short time the rooms of the prize agents were filled with treasures of +every kind--jewellery and precious stones, diamonds, rubies, emeralds +and pearls without number, from those as large as hen's eggs to the +small species used for necklaces; gold ornaments, chains of the most +beautiful workmanship, bracelets and bangles all of solid metal. There +were heaps, also, of the small, thick, native coin known as gold mohurs, +thousands of which were accumulated by the prize agents and helped most +materially to swell the amount. I visited one room, the long table +in which literally groaned with the riches of "Ormuz and of Ind"--a +dazzling sight to the eye, and one calculated to raise the spirit +of greed in my breast to possess myself of some of the treasures so +temptingly exposed to view. When quiet returned, and the inhabitants of +the city began to flock back to their former homes, whole streets, in +which no doubt treasure had been concealed and had escaped the search of +the prize agents, were sold to the people for sums ranging from 5,000 to +50,000 rupees. All this helped to increase the prize to a sum which +was variously estimated at from half to three-quarters of a million +sterling; and even then it was asserted that only a portion of the vast +wealth of Delhi had been found. + +As far as I know, the Government, when distributing the prize-money in +two installments--in 1862 and again in 1865--gave no account of the +total amount which had been collected. The private soldier's share was +reckoned as the unit, value about Ł17, increasing according to the pay +of the different ranks--the Ensign five shares, Lieutenant six and a +half, Captain eleven and a half, and so in proportion among the higher +grade of officers, while that of the Commander-in-Chief amounted to +one-sixteenth of the whole--an immense sum. There were, of course, many +exaggerations as to how much each rank would receive as its share, and +there were many heart-burnings also when the true amount became known. +The sum had dwindled down to less than one-third of what we expected, +and not a few expressed openly their conviction that some tampering +had taken place with regard to the distribution. This can hardly be +believed, though it has always been a notorious fact that the Government +are inclined to treat the claims of those who fight their battles with +neglect, and in one particular at least, by repudiating the 5 per cent, +promised till the Delhi prize-money was paid, they acted up to their +usual unjust policy, and gave occasions for the complaints which were +raised at the time. + +I will now proceed to give an account of my experience when acting as an +assistant to an officer who was accredited by the prize agents with a +permit to search for plunder. This officer, an old friend of mine, asked +me to accompany him on his expeditions, saying also that he had no +objection to my helping myself in moderation to part of the loot which +we might happen to find. Carrying with us the necessary tools, such as +hammers, spades, and pickaxes, we each day started--accompanied by +two coolies--on our plundering excursions. For some days we were very +unsuccessful, and for nearly a week only managed to gather together +and transmit to the agents articles of little value. But, soon gaining +experience from continued practice, and taking note of the different +houses in which there was a likelihood of finding prize, we settled +down to a systematic course of search, which in the end proved highly +remunerative. Scarcely anything of value was found lying about the +different rooms; these had been already gutted and the contents +destroyed by the soldiers, both European and native, who, since the day +of assault, had roamed about the city. At the time we began our search +all was comparatively quiet, and during our operations, such was the +vast extent of the city and so numerous the buildings, that only on two +or three occasions were we interrupted by parties engaged in the same +quest as ourselves. + +My companion was a good Hindustani scholar, and taking advantage of his +proficiency in the language, he made a point of interviewing several +natives of the city, who, in the capacity of workmen in different +trades, were allowed in Delhi, and were employed in their several +occupations. From one of these, a mason and builder, N--received +information that a large quantity of treasure was concealed in the house +of a former rich resident. This man had helped to secrete the hoard, and +on the promise of a small reward was willing to help us in unearthing +the booty. + +One morning in the beginning of October, attended by the mason, and +carrying the necessary implements, we were taken to the house in +question. This was a large building with a courtyard in the centre, the +rooms of which showed the remains of luxury and wealth, but, as usual, +had been despoiled by the plunderers of our army. Every article was +scattered about in dire confusion; there were piles of clothing and +bedding; rich and ornamental stuffs were torn to pieces, and the +household furniture, broken up, was strewn about the courtyard. Our +guide took us to a small room, about 80 feet square--in fact, it was the +closet of the establishment--the walls of which were whitewashed, the +floor being covered with a hard cement. Here, we were told, the treasure +was concealed under the flooring of the room, and we lost no time in +commencing operations, the mason assisting us. Picking through the +cement, we came on a large flagstone, which we lifted out of the cavity. +Then we dug a hole about 3 feet square, and the same depth in the loose +earth, disclosing the mouth of a large earthenware _gharra_, or jar. +Loosening the soil all around, we attempted to raise the jar out of the +ground, but all our efforts were unavailing--its great weight preventing +us from lifting it one inch out of the bed. Then, trembling with +excitement, for we felt sure that a rich display would greet our eyes, +we began slowly to remove each article from the _gharra_, and place it +on the floor of the room. A heavy bag lying at the mouth of the jar +was first taken out, and on opening it, and afterwards counting its +contents, we found that it contained 700 native gold mohurs, worth +nearly Ł1,200. Then came dozens of gold bangles, or anklets, of pure +metal, such as those worn by dancing-girls. We were fairly bewildered at +the sight, our hands trembling and our eyes ablaze with excitement, for +such an amount of pure gold as that already discovered we had never seen +before. But the treasure was not yet half exhausted. The jar seemed a +perfect mine of wealth--gold chains, plain and of filigree workmanship, +each worth from Ł10 to Ł30; ornaments of the same metal of every sort +of design, and executed in a style for which the Delhi jewellers are +celebrated all over India. Then came small silver caskets filled with +pearls, together to the number of more than 200, each worth from Ł3 to +Ł4, pierced for stringing. Others, containing small diamonds, rubies, +and emeralds, and the greatest prize of all--reclining in a casket by +itself--a large diamond, which was sold afterwards by the prize agents +for Ł1,000. There were many other articles of value besides those I have +mentioned--gold rings and tiaras inlaid with precious stones, nose-rings +of the kind worn by women through the nostrils, earrings, bracelets, and +necklaces of small pearls without number. + +All these various articles we spread out on the floor of the room, +examining each again and again, and with avaricious thoughts intent, +lamenting that we were not allowed to appropriate what would have been +to us a fortune. Truly such a temptation to enrich themselves without +fear of detection was never till this occasion set before two +impecunious subalterns of the British Army. Here, spread out before us, +lay loot to the value of thousands of pounds, all our own were we to +follow the example of some who had already feathered their nests with +much larger amounts, defying those in authority to take the plunder from +them. However, such a course could not be entertained for one moment, +and, moreover, were we to possess ourselves of all the contents of +the jar, there was no secure place of concealment to be found, and +unpleasant inquiries and prying eyes would soon have revealed to the +world our abduction of the booty. + +It is impossible to do more than guess at the value of the plunder +acquired on this day. My friend received a reward for the find; as for +myself, I will leave it to my readers whether it was possible for weak +human nature to resist the temptation of carrying away some few mementos +from this miscellaneous collection of treasure-trove. To tell the +truth, I must confess that in after times my only regret was that I had +foolishly let slip an opportunity of enriching myself which could never +recur. We agreed--and in this we were borne out by the prize agent--that +Ł7,000 was the lowest sum at which to compute the loot we had found. + +It was my invariable custom to wear as a kammerband or girdle folds of +muslin round my waist for the protection of the liver and spleen, and in +this I placed the articles I carried away. My friend procured a small +cart, in which he deposited the loot and drove to the house of one of +the agents, while I, encumbered as I was, with difficulty mounted my +horse and rode towards the magazine. I could not but feel nervous and +abashed when thinking of the riches concealed about my person, at last +working myself up to such a pitch of excitement that I imagined all I +met were cognizant of my good fortune; and on entering the gates of the +magazine, I fancied I heard one of our men say to his comrade, "Well! +that fellow, at any rate, has plenty of loot about him." + +Our next great find, though by no means so lucrative as the first, +brought a large accession to the prize fund. It occurred to me, through +calling to recollection the story of the treasures concealed in the +Hindoo idol at Somnath which was broken open by Sultan Mahmoud in the +eleventh century, that possibly the same kind of receptacle might +disclose a like prize, though on a smaller scale, among the numerous +temples scattered through the city of Delhi. + +Acting on this idea, we one day entered a small Hindoo temple situated +not far from the Chandni Chauk. The shrine was gaudily decorated; but +after a prolonged search, we found nothing of any value. A hideous idol +stood on a raised structure in the centre of the building, and was soon +demolished in iconoclastic style with our hammers. The base of the idol +was formed of _chunam_ (a kind of cement), and into this we dug with +our small pickaxes. Soon a ringing sound from a blow disclosed a large +silver casket imbedded in the _chunam_, and this, after some little +trouble, we extricated from its position. Forcing the casket open, our +sight was regaled by a brilliant show of jewels and gold--diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds--two of the latter species being uncut, but of +great size, pearls larger than any we had yet seen, and gold ornaments +of every description, chains, bracelets, bangles, and a few gold mohurs. +We were quite alone in the temple, and after feasting our eyes on the +treasures and selecting a few objects for our own benefit, N---- took +the casket to the prize agent, telling him where we had found it, and +recommending a search in such localities, which recommendation, no +doubt, was carried into effect among other Hindoo temples in the city. + +When first entering a house during our search, we at once made ourselves +acquainted with the creed of its former inhabitants. In this there was +no difficulty--Korans lying about the floor denoted that the occupants +had been Mussulmans, while many indications, such as idols, a different +arrangement of the furniture, and other signs with which we became +conversant, proved the influence of the rival Hindoo race. There was a +very cogent reason for this investigation on our part--the Mohammedans +invariably, in secreting their valuables, placed them in the ground +under the floors of their houses, the Hindoos, on the other hand, always +hid them in receptacles in the walls of the buildings. Armed with this +knowledge, we used to sound either the floors or the walls of each house +according as the place belonged to one or the other creed; nor in one +single instance, as far as I can remember, were we at fault in our +diagnosis. + +A favourite hiding-place for valuables was behind the staircase, the +treasure being concealed in a sort of vault built around with bricks and +cement. On one occasion, in the house of a money-changer, we demolished +a secret place of this kind and discovered four large bags filled +with some heavy metal. Feeling convinced we should find that the bags +contained at the least rupees, we opened one, and to our infinite +disgust saw that the contents consisted of copper pieces called pice, of +which there were many thousands; the bags, however, were taken to the +prize agents, but I need scarcely say our hands on that day at least +were not soiled by appropriating a portion of the plunder. + +On several occasions we succeeded in finding large stores of money, +chiefly sicca or native rupees, while in the houses of Hindoos, in +portions of the walls which sounded hollow under the blow of the hammer, +we, after making a hole sufficiently large for the passage of a hand, +constantly brought to light large stores of silver ornaments, consisting +of chains, bracelets, etc., amounting in the aggregate to a barrowful. +Few houses there were that did not furnish, after a diligent search +either in the floors or walls, some articles of value; but on only one +occasion after the successful ventures in the two first cases was the +amount of loot in any way comparable to that which we obtained on those +days. + +In a very secluded part of the city, in a large house, surrounded by +wretched tenements inhabited by the lowest class, we opened a door, and +to our amazement entered a room furnished in the European fashion. This +also had not escaped the marauding and destructive hands of parties of +plunderers; the furniture was smashed, and the contents of the room +strewn about the floor. There were English chairs, curtains, ottomans +covered with antimacassars, sofas and broken mirrors, and in the corner +a small piano, ruined and destroyed. The house had evidently belonged +to some rich native, but who had been the occupant of this boudoir? for +such it was--a miniature drawing-room filled with European luxuries, not +excepting books and copies of music. Articles of a lady's apparel also +lay about, torn in shreds, vases were on the mantelpiece, as well as +a small box filled with English fancy needlework. We came to the +conclusion that the mistress of this abode must have been a Eurasian +lady, probably one of the zenana of the master of the house, who during +the exodus from the city had fled with, or been forcibly carried away +by, her protector. + +A dismal mishap occurred to me in this room. Choosing a +comfortable-looking ottoman, I sat down, little dreaming that I had +fallen into a trap which would occasion much laughter among my friends +for days to come. Feeling a strange moist sensation in a certain portion +of my body, I jumped up from the seat, to find, to my horror, that I had +plumped down on a quantity of ghee, or clarified butter. A jar of ghee +was lying on the floor, and a portion of this horrible mess had been +spilt on the seat of the ottoman. I was dressed in white trousers and +jacket of the same material, and found, to my intense disgust, that the +ghee had left a large patch of colour which no amount of rubbing would +eradicate. We were far from our quarters, it was broad daylight, and, +to my mortification, I was compelled to walk thus branded through the +streets of the city, the laughing-stock of those who saw the plight I +was in. + +Delhi was celebrated for miniature paintings done on talc, hundreds of +which were found at this time. Some were of rare workmanship, portraits +of beautiful women and drawings of celebrated buildings, all executed +in a style of art peculiar to the craftsmen of that place. We were +fortunate, during our search, in coming across the house of one of +these artists and disinterring from its concealment a box full of these +paintings. They afterwards sold at a good price, and I possessed myself +of some twenty of the most beautiful, comprising portraits of Zeenat +Mahal, the favourite wife of the King, other ladies of the zenana, and +pictures of the Taj and Jama Masjid, besides other mosques throughout +India. These oval-shaped miniatures mounted in gold formed most +acceptable souvenirs of the city of Delhi, and one in particular, +containing the portrait of a lovely Eastern face with head-dress and +tiara of diamonds, and strings of pearls round the neck, I was offered +Ł20 for after it had been set in gold by a jeweller at Plymouth. In +London, in 1858, there was a great demand for gold ornaments and +jewellery from Delhi, so much so that a noted goldsmith offered me +the highest price for articles of that description; nor would he at +first--till convinced--accept my assurance that I had parted with all my +Delhi loot before leaving India. + +We were occupied for nearly three weeks in our quest for plunder, +engaged in the exciting work almost every day, and seldom failing to +find some articles of value. Our last adventure in that line deserves +a detailed description, for though the nature of the loot obtained was +such that it was useless to appropriate for our own use any of the goods +found, still, the value of the plunder increased to a large extent the +Delhi prize-money. + +We had noticed in the room of the agents piles of kincob, or cloth of +gold, worth I fear to say how many rupees a yard. The manufacture of +this material was carried on to a great extent in Delhi, there being +much demand for the rich and costly fabric among the Princes and nobles +of Hindostan. Hitherto in our ramblings through the houses we had only +come across a few pieces of this gold brocade; but as luck would have +it, on the last day in which I joined N---- in his duties he had +received information from a native that a large store of kincob was +concealed in the house of a merchant who had dealt in that material. + +The man guided us to the house in question; but after searching in every +imaginable place, no signs of the gold cloth could be found. From the +name of the merchant and certain other well-known indications we felt +convinced that his goods were concealed underground, and we commenced +tapping the floor of the largest room with our hammers. Presently, in +the very centre of the apartment, there came a hollow sound, and digging +down about a foot, we found a trap-door. This was lifted, disclosing +a wooden staircase leading down to what seemed to us an apartment +concealed in Cimmerian darkness. Lighting the wax candles we always +carried about with us, we for some distance descended the steps which +seemed to lead into the bowels of the earth. The room turned out to be +about twenty feet square and ten feet high, and ranged around, piled one +on top of the other, were scores of large boxes. One of these we opened, +and found it to contain kincob of the rarest kind; others that we +looked into were full of the same gorgeous material, and we came to the +conclusion that here, spread about, there was a treasure the value of +which amounted to a lakh of rupees. Four large carts were loaded with +the boxes and taken to the prize agents, the contents selling afterwards +for a very large sum. + +And thus ended in a most successful find my connection with the loot of +Delhi. Though many years have elapsed, the events of those three weeks +seem as vivid in my memory as though they had happened yesterday--the +brightness of the jewels, the dazzling gold, the nerves wrought to the +highest pitch of tension while waiting in eager expectation for the +result of a search. These episodes of my life appear more like a +fairytale or a legend of the "Arabian Nights" than true history and +sober reality. What opportunities of accumulating a small fortune were +thrown in my way! The treasure lay at my feet, only wanting to be picked +up, and many will say that I was a fool not to take advantage of the +prize! I can, however, certainly aver that I showed great moderation in +possessing myself of only a small portion of the plunder--the amount I +appropriated was but an infinitesimal part of the Delhi prize money. +It is very unlikely that Delhi or any other rich city in India will +be given over to sack and pillage, during this generation, but the +remembrance of the days of 1857, and of the traditional wealth of +the country, still exists amongst the nations of the East, and only +recently, during the scare arising out of the Russian occupation of +Merv, it was stated that the Turkomans, now feudatories of that Empire, +cast longing eyes on Hindostan, "where gold and diamonds could be picked +up in the streets of the large cities." + +During my stay at Umballah I made arrangements with an officer of the +Civil Service for the sale of the loot I had brought from Delhi. He +entrusted the commission to one of his native writers, who executed the +work in a satisfactory manner, though the price I received was hardly +equal to the amount I had anticipated. To my friend's wife I gave a +filigree gold chain of beautiful workmanship, and of such length that it +reached six times round the neck, also a tiara of precious stones, while +I also presented some pearls and gold mohurs. There is no doubt that, +had I brought the whole of my plunder home to England, the price +obtained for it would have been far in excess of what I received at +Umballah, but the risk of transportation was too great; I feared, also, +the chance of robbery and the anxiety attached to carrying about with me +so many articles of value. + + + +INDEX + + +AFGHANS: their want of bravery at the Siege of Delhi + +Ahmed Ali Khan's house headquarters at + +Ajmir Gate, captured quarters at + +Alipore, advance on + +Alma, anniversary of the Battle of + +Ammunition, pits dug for scarcity of amount + +Army, British: characteristics of the troops instructions on the +outbreak of the Mutiny stringent orders dress reception in England +delay in paying prize-money instructions against looting promise of +prize-money batta in lieu indignation against the decision rescinded +appointment of prize agents amount distributed + +Army, native: signs of incipient mutiny outbreak at Meerut + +Artillerymen, their zeal and devotion at the Siege of Delhi + + +Badli-ki-Serai, action at + +_Badmashes_, or bad characters + +"Bakra Id," anniversary of + +Bareilly Brigade, the mutinous + +Barnard, Sir Henry, at the Siege of Delhi his victory at Badli-ki-Serai +address to the troops death from cholera + +Barnes, Mr. George, Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States + +Belooch battalion, at Delhi + +Bengal Army: outbreak of the Mutiny signs of incipient mutiny + +Bengal Artillery Corps, record of their achievements before Delhi + +Bengal Fusiliers, the 1st, quartered at Umballah + +_Bhisti_, or water-carrier Boileau, Lieutenant + +Bombay + +Bridge of boats over the Jumna attempt to blow up + +Burn bastion, unsuccessful attack on captured + + +Calcutta Gate + +Campbell, Colonel, column under + +Campbell, Sir Colin, at the Battle of Chillianwalla + +Campbell, Sir Edward, appointed prize agent + +Canning, Lord, his decision in regard to the prize-money + +Cannons, punishment of blowing away at the mouths of + + +Cavalry Brigade, stationed near No. 1 Battery their splendid behaviour + + +C---- d, Assistant Collector at Goorgaon murder of his sister joins the +force at Delhi his vengeance on the murderers killed + + +C---- d, Miss, joins her brother at Goorgaon murdered at Delhi + +Chamberlain, Brigadier-General + +"Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi + +_Charpoy_, or bed + +Chillianwalla, Battle of + +Cholera, at Delhi, number of deaths from at Loodianah deaths from + +_Chunam_, or cement + +Cis-Sutlej States + +Coke, Major in command of the advance on Alipore his corps of Punjab +Rifles, quartered in the Jama Masjid + +"Cow House," picket at + + +Dagshai + +Daily Telegraph, proprietors of the their dinner to the surviving +veterans of the Mutiny + +Deacon, Captain, wounded + +Deacon, Colonel + +Delhi arsenal in charge of natives arrival of reinforcements buildings +Palace of the Emperors vicissitudes riches massacres circumference of +the walls the gates number of killed and wounded deaths from cholera +arrival of the siege-train preparations for the bombardment trench-work +commencement of the siege total force bombardment arrangements for the +attack storming columns dispositions of the troops entrance into the +city destructive nature of street-fighting advantages gained troops +indulge in drink flight of insurgents Palace occupied by troops fall the +bridge of boats looting and pillaging discovery of human beings size of +the city punishment of natives insanitary condition capture by Lord Lake +in 1803 accumulation of vast treasures + +Delhi Gazette, editor of the, tortured to death + +Delhi, Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence his sons taken prisoners and shot + +Dewan-i-Aum, or Hall of Audience, Delhi + +Dewan-i-Khas, Delhi + +Dost Mohammed Khan, Ameer, his spies at Delhi + +Drink, indulgence in, by the soldiers destruction of liquor + + +Eclipse, partial, of the sun effect on the mutineers + +Edward VII., King, receives the surviving officers of the Indian Mutiny + +Elkington, mortally wounded his premonition of death + + +Fagan, Captain Robert, killed at Delhi his characteristics + +Fagan, Captain, appointed prize agent + +Ferozepore, port of, in charge of natives 61st Regiment of Foot +stationed at signs of disaffection among the sepoys position of the fort +cantonment fired explosions destruction of the buildings night attack on +measures for the safety incident of the comical night attack trial and +punishment of rebels return to + +Fishing, amusement of + +Flagstaff Tower; view from the + +Flies, plague of + + +Gabbett, Lieutenant, at the attack on the Sabzi Mandi Gardens wounded at +Najafgarh his death + +Garstin bastion captured + +_Gharee_, or native carriage + +_Gharra_, or jar + +"Ghazi," meaning of the term + +Ghee, mishap from + +_Goojars_, or professional thieves + +Goorgaon + +Goorkha sentry, his treatment of an Afghan + +Goorkhas, the Sirmoor battalions of their defence of Hindoo Rao's house +appearance and characteristics bravery their wish to enter Delhi + +_Gore log_, or white people + +Grant, Colonel, Cavalry Brigade under + +Grenadier Company deaths from cholera + +Guide Corps, at the Siege of Delhi their assistance to the Cavalry +Brigade + +Gwalior insurgents + + +Hanging, executions by + +Hawthorne, Bugler + +Hills, Lieutenant, wounded + +Hindoo Rao's house defence of attacks on picket at result of the +bombardment + +Hindoo temple, discovery of treasure in a shrine + +Hindoos, their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Hodson, Lieutenant, in command of a Sikh regiment and head of the +Intelligence Department captures the King of Delhi takes prisoners his +sons and grandson shoots them + +Home, Engineer + +Hope-Grant, Brigadier, in command of the Cavalry Brigade + +Hutton, Lieutenant, effect of a round-shot + + +Infantry, 45th Native, orders to attack the fort of Ferozepore defeated +set fire to the cantonment start for Delhi + +Infantry, 57th Native, orders to lay down their arms their treatment of +the officers + +Innes, Brigadier-General, in command of the troops at Ferozepore holds +a council on the outbreak of the Mutiny instructions to the troops +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys mismanagement of the +Mutiny his measures for the safety of Ferozepore + +Innes, Dr., appointed prize agent + + +Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque of Delhi occupied by the troops + +Jennings, Mr., murdered + +Jhind, Rajah of, joins in the assault on Delhi + +Jones, Colonel John, 60th Rifles, in command of the defence of Sabzi +Mandi Gardens mode of conducting operations + +Jones, Colonel William at Ferozepore column under + +Jugraon + +Jumna River bridge of boats over the attempt to blow up a bridge +erection of a battery + + +Kabul Gate + +Karachi + +Karnal + +Kashmir contingent, at Delhi style of marching defeat loss of their guns + +Kashmir Gate blown in accumulation of material at + +_Khaki rang_, or dust colour + +Khalsa army + +Kincob, manufacture of discovery of + +Kishenganj, the suburb of ineffectual attempt on ruins of + +Koodsia Bagh, No. 4 Battery + +Kotah insurgents _Kukri_, or curved knife + + +Lahore Gate, attempts to carry unsuccessful attack on captured + +Lake, Lord, his capture of Delhi in 1803 + +Lawrence, Sir John, Chief Commissioner of the Punjab his proclamation to +the Sikhs at Lahore + +Light Cavalry, the 3rd, mutineers of the, their massacre of Europeans + +Light Cavalry, the 10th Native + +Longfield, Brigadier, column under + +Loodianah, outbreak of cholera at number of deaths from + +Loot, the sale of + +Looting, the practice of instructions against military maxim for result +of systematic method of search discovery of treasure hiding-places + +Ludlow Castle, occupied by the rebels No. 2 Battery + +Lumsden, Punjab Rifles, killed at the Battle of Najafgarh + + +Magazine, Delhi, attack on the captured amount of shot and shell + +Marseilles _Massaks_, or inflated sheepskins + +Maxim, military + +Medals, presentation of + +Meerut, outbreak of the Mutiny at + +Metcalfe, Sir Theophilus: his house plundered and burnt guides the +troops in Delhi + +Miniature paintings on talc, style of + +Mohammedans: their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Monsoon, the + +Mooltani Horse at the Lahore Gate their appearance and want of +discipline + +Moore, Lieutenant, wounded + +Mori bastion, No. 1 Battery + +Moylan, Private, saves the life of an officer + +Murree Convalescent Depot + + +Najafgarh, battle of casualties + +Nanglooi + +Napoleon the Great, saying of + +Neemuch insurgents + +Nicholson, General, in command of the reinforcements his powers and +skill in ruling the lawless tribes his title of "Nikul Seyn" appearance +and characteristics expedition under at Najafgarh, address to the troops +column under wounded and death denounces the proposal to evacuate Delhi + + +_Palki ghari_, or Indian carriage Paniput, battles of + +Pattoun, Lieutenant, wounded + +Persia, Nadir Shah, King of, his massacre of Delhi in 1747 _Petarahs_, +or native leather trunks, theft of + +Pets, desertion of + +Phillour, arsenal in charge of natives + +Prize agents, appointment of + +Prize-money, distribution of delay in paying + +Punjab Rifles, the 4th, attack the magazine + +Punjab, the number of native regiments their coolness and intrepidity +under fire + + +Reade, Surgeon, awarded the Victoria Cross + +Redmond, Major, wounded + +Reed, General, resigns his command of the army + +Regiment, the 52nd, at Delhi + +Regiment, the 61st: stationed at Ferozepore parade routine of guard and +picket duty loss of the silver plate privations and sufferings their +comical "night attack" five companies to march to Delhi preparations +night marches at Loodianah outbreak of cholera number of deaths at +Umballah reach Delhi + +Reid, Major, in command of the Sirmoor battalion at Delhi columns under +his attack on Kishenganj wounded + +Rifles, the 60th Royal, at the Siege of Delhi + +Rockets used by enemy + +Rohtak, raid on + + +Sabzi Mandi Gardens picket duty at the attacks on + +Salkeld, Engineer + +"Sammy House," assault on + +Sauer, the bandmaster + +Seeson, Mrs., her escape from Delhi + +Selimgarh Fort occupied by the troops + +Sepoys: signs of disaffection at Ferozepore revolt of infantry and +artillery attack the fort of Ferozepore their work of destruction trial +and punishment cowardly tactics + +Seton, Colonel, wounded + +Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of Delhi: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence + +Showers, Brigadier + +Shrapnel shell, effect of a + +Siege-train from Ferozepore, threatened approach of reaches camp + +Sikhs, the their help and loyalty to the British army, characteristics +style of marching their coolness and intrepidity under fire + +Silver plate of the 61st Regiment, search for its total destruction + +Skinner, Colonel Alexander, troops take possession of his house his +erection of a church, temple, and mosque + +Sumroo, Begum + +Sun, partial eclipse of the effect on the mutineers + + +_Tai-khanas_, or underground rooms, discovery of human beings in + +Talc, miniature paintings on, style of + +Taliwarra, suburb of ruins of + +Tattah _Times_, the, article on the delay in payment of the prize-money + +Tombs, Major his rescue of Lieutenant Hills at the Battle of Najafgarh + +Trench-work before Delhi + +Tytler, Mrs. + + +Umballah force assembled at troops at + + +Vicars, Adjutant, at Ferozepore on the news of the outbreak of the +Mutiny + +Wasps, stings from + +Water bastion No. 3 Battery, smashed to pieces effect of the bombardment + +Wilde's regiment of Punjabis + +Wilson, General, in command of the army result of his stringent orders +address to his troops council of war instructions for the final assault +orders to prevent drunkenness proposal to evacuate Delhi instructions +against looting promise with regard to prize-money + +Wriford, Captain, appointed prize agent + + +Yonge, Lieutenant + +Young, Lieutenant, wounded + +Zeenat Mahal, portrait of + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi +by Charles John Griffiths + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI *** + +***** This file should be named 10856-8.txt or 10856-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/8/5/10856/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, jayam and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10856-8.zip b/old/10856-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e730bf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10856-8.zip diff --git a/old/10856.txt b/old/10856.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b695b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10856.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6252 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi +by Charles John Griffiths + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi + With An Account Of The Mutiny At Ferozepore In 1857 + +Author: Charles John Griffiths + +Release Date: January 28, 2004 [EBook #10856] +[Date last updated: July 5, 2006] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, jayam and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + +A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI WITH AN ACCOUNT OF +THE MUTINY AT FEROZEPORE IN 1857 + +BY CHARLES JOHN GRIFFITHS LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +EDITED BY HENRY JOHN YONGE LATE CAPTAIN 61ST REGIMENT + +WITH PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1910 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The ever memorable period in the history of our Eastern Empire known as +the Great Indian Rebellion or Mutiny of the Bengal army was an epoch +fraught with the most momentous consequences, and one which resulted in +covering with undying fame those who bore part in its suppression. The +passions aroused during the struggle, the fierce hate animating the +breasts of the combatants, the deadly incidents of the strife, which +without intermission lasted for nearly two years, and deluged with blood +the plains and cities of Hindostan, have scarcely a parallel in history. +On the one side religious fanaticism, when Hindoo and Mohammedan, +restraining the bitter animosity of their rival creeds, united together +in the attempt to drive out of their common country that race which for +one hundred years had dominated and held the overlordship of the greater +portion of India. On the other side, a small band of Englishmen, a +few thousand white men among millions of Asiatics, stood shoulder to +shoulder, calm, fearless, determined, ready to brave the onslaught of +their enemies, to maintain with undiminished lustre the proud deeds of +their ancestors, and to a man resolved to conquer or to die. + +Who can recount the numberless acts of heroism, the hairbreadth escapes, +the anxious days and nights passed by our gallant countrymen, who, few +in number, and isolated from their comrades, stood at bay in different +parts of the land surrounded by hundreds of pitiless miscreants, tigers +in human shape thirsting for their blood? And can pen describe the +nameless horrors of the time--gently nurtured ladies outraged and +slain before the eyes of their husbands, children and helpless infants +slaughtered--a very Golgotha of butchery, as all know who have read of +the Well of Cawnpore? + +The first months of the rebellion were a fight for dear life, a constant +struggle to avert entire annihilation, for to all who were there it +seemed as though no power on earth could save them. But Providence +willed it otherwise, and after the full extent of the danger was +realized, gloomy forebodings gave way to stern endeavours. Men arose, +great in council and in the field, statesmen and warriors--Lawrence, +Montgomery, Nicholson, Hodson, and many others. The crisis brought to +the front numbers of daring spirits, full of energy and resource, of +indomitable resolution and courage, men who from the beginning saw the +magnitude of the task set before them, and with calm judgment faced the +inevitable. These were they who saved our Indian Empire, and who, by the +direction of their great organized armies, brought those who but a few +years before had been our mortal enemies to fight cheerfully on our +side, and, carrying to a successful termination the leaguer of Delhi, +stemmed the tide of the rebellion, and broke the backbone of the Mutiny. + +The interest excited amongst all classes of our countrymen by the events +which happened during the momentous crisis of 1857 in India can scarcely +be appreciated by the present generation. So many years have elapsed +that all those who held high commands or directed the councils of the +Government have long since died, and the young participants in the +contest who survived its toils and dangers are all now past middle age. +But the oft-told tale will still bear repetition, and the recital of the +achievements of Englishmen during the great Indian rebellion will fill +the hearts of their descendants for all time with pride, and incite them +to emulate their actions. In the hour of danger the heart of the nation +is stirred to its profoundest depths, the national honour is at stake, +and that heritage bequeathed to us by our ancestors must at all hazards +be preserved. Thus it happened in 1857, and the result is well known. So +it may again occur, and with confidence it may be predicted that, as of +yore, Britain's sons will not be found wanting in the hour of trial, +that, keeping well in mind the glorious traditions of their race, they +will maintain unsullied the reputation of their forefathers, and add to +the renown of that Empire on which the sun never sets. + +It is unnecessary, in this place, to enter into the causes which led +to the mutiny of the Bengal army. These can be read and studied in the +graphic pages of Kaye and Malleson. My intention is to give, as far as +in me lies, a truthful account of the events in which I personally bore +part, and which came under my own immediate observation. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +_May 10 to June 13_ + +Outbreak at Meerut--Neglect of arsenals--H.M.'s 61st +Regiment--Characteristics of the British troops in India--Outbreak +unexpected--First indication of disaffection--News of the Mutiny at +Meerut--Steps taken at Ferozepore--Wives and families moved to the +barracks--A party of the 61st Regiment sent into the fort--Proceedings +within the fort--45th Regiment of Native Infantry tries to take the +fort--It is repulsed--Criticism of the Brigadier's conduct--His want of +initiative--The cantonment fired--The damage done--Bells of arms blown +up--The 61st dismissed to barracks--A patrol ordered--State of the +cantonment--Action of the mutineers--Officers quartered in the +barracks--Grenadiers again on special duty--Indifference displayed by +the Brigadier--Measures adopted for the safety of the cantonment--Search +for mess property--Parsimony of the Government--Anxiety in the +Punjab--Loyalty of the Sikhs--Sir John Lawrence's appeal to +them--Their characteristics--Spread of the Mutiny--Reaction +at Ferozepore--Night-attacks--One in particular--Trial of +prisoners--Sentences--Executions + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +_June 13 to July 1_ + +A wing of the 61st ordered to Delhi--The five companies +selected--Readiness displayed by the regiment--On the march--Cholera +appears--I visit an old friend--Badli-ki-Serai--News from Delhi--Entry +into camp + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +_July 1 to September 7_ + +A view of Delhi--Vicissitudes of the city--Its defences--defences--The +ridge--Position of our camp--Our position--The Goorkhas--Cholera +raging--Heat and flies--Executions--The Metcalfe pickets--A sortie +expected--expected--Hodson--Bombardment of Metcalfe picket--Enemy +reported moving on Alipore--A force sent after them--The action +described--Forces complimented by Sir Henry Barnard--His death--His +services--Our meagre armament--Scarcity of ammunition--Amusing +incident--The Metcalfe house--Our bugle-calls in use by the enemy--A +sortie--Ruse by the enemy's cavalry--Gallant conduct of Lieutenant +Hills and Major Tombs, Bengal Artillery--Expedition under Brigadier +Chamberlain--Chamberlain--Gallant conduct of Brigadier Wm. Jones--Fight +at Kishenganj--Meeting with an old friend--A sad story--story--Story of +C---- d--A victim of the Meerut massacre--massacre--Strong feeling of +revenge in all ranks--A sortie--Attack on Sabzi Mandi pickets and right +ridge--An awkward position--Heavy loss of enemy--Cholera and other +sickness prevalent--Fishing--Provisions, etc., much appreciated--General +Reed resigns and is succeeded by General Wilson--Attack on Sabzi Mandi +and Hindoo Rao's repulsed--Bodies of slain sepoys rifled--Difficulty of +preventing it--General's approval of Colonel Jones's conduct--The number +of attacks by the enemy--Sortie on our left--Repulsed by Brigadier +Showers--Expedition under Major Coke--Attack on right pickets at +sunset--Combat continues all night--Enemy retires--Loss of enemy--Result +of General Wilson's appointment--We attempt to destroy the bridge +of boats--Demonstration by the enemy--Pickets on the right +harassed--Metcalfe pickets shelled--Brigadier Showers takes four +guns--Our reinforcements arrive under Nicholson--His character--Mrs. +Seeson comes in from the city--The enemy fires rockets--He establishes a +battery on the left bank of the river--river--Sortie--Expedition under +Nicholson--Battle of Najafgarh--Elkington mortally wounded--Gabbett +killed--killed--Death of Elkington--Right pickets harassed--An amusing +incident--The Afghans--Alarm in the Punjab--Bands play in camp--Fatal +shell from across the river--An uncomfortable bath--The siege-train +arrives--Our allies--Zeal of the engineers--New batteries established + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +_September 7 to 14_ + +Strength of our force--General Wilson's order--Volunteers for artillery +called for--All our batteries open fire--Number of casualties during +bombardment--Frequent sorties--Death of Captain Fagan, Bengal +Artillery--Breaches examined--Orders for the assault--Details of +columns--The assault--Blowing in of Kashmir Gate--Details of the +operations--Cowardly tactics of the enemy--Gallant conduct of Private +Moylan, 61st Regiment--Gallant conduct of Surgeon Reade, 61st +Regiment--Doing of Nos. 1 and 2 columns--Nicholson mortally wounded--No. +4 column attacks Kishenganj--Conduct of the Kashmir troops--They +lose their guns--Their search for them--Failure of the attack on +Kishenganj--Intention of the enemy--Work of the Cavalry Brigade--Support +by the Guides infantry--Casualties on September 14--Bravery of the +native troops--Temptations to drink--All liquor destroyed--We construct +more batteries--Reported intentions of the General--These overruled--The +enemy attacks our advanced posts--We storm the magazine--Further +advance of Nos. 1 and 2 Columns--The 61st move to the church--Colonel +Skinner--State of the church--Unsuccessful attack on the Burn +bastion--Eclipse of the sun--The Burn bastion captured--The enemy begin +to retire--Capture of the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion--The Palace +and Selimgarh taken--The Jama Masjid taken--The 61st move to Ali Khan's +house--Casualties--Reflections + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +_September 20 to May, 1858_ + +Lack of appreciation by Government--A contrast--Delay in issue of prize +money and medals--Unceremonious presentation of the latter--Complete +desertion of the city by the enemy--A stroll through the +city--Looting--Discovery of hiding inhabitants--They are ordered +to leave the city--Disgraceful desertion of pets--State of the +streets--Hodson captures the King of Delhi--The King's appearance +described--His trial and sentence--Hodson captures the King's sons and +grandson--Their deaths--Diminished strength of the 61st Regiment--It +moves to the Ajmir Gate--The Jama Masjid and view from it--Its +garrison--A movable column dispatched towards Cawnpore--Soldiers +and others forbidden to enter or leave the city--The Mooltani +horse--Indulgence to Goorkhas--Their appreciation--An exodus--Strict +regulations--State of feeling of the army--Work of the Provost +Marshal--Two reputed sons of the King executed--The suburbs--An amusing +incident--Visiting the old positions--Cholera still rife--2,000 sick and +wounded in the Selimgarh--We move to the magazine--I am recommended for +sick leave--I leave Delhi for Umballah--I am robbed _en route_--Report +matters to Commissioner and receive compensation--Leave for Ferozepore +and home + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +Delhi famed for its treasures--General Wilson's order--Army anxious +about prize-money--Batta to be granted instead--Indignation of +army generally--Humorous placard--Interest on unpaid prize-money +promised--Opinion of the Times--Prize-agents appointed--Early looting--A +white elephant--Evidence of looting--The practice excused--A lucky +haul--Scruples cast aside--Personal experiences--A tempting display--No +proper account rendered--Method of search--A mine of wealth--A neglected +opportunity--A happy thought--A wrinkle--A favourite hiding-place--An +exceptional house--A mishap--Art treasures--"'Tis an ill wind," +etc.--Pleasant memories + + +INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + +PLAN OF DELHI, 1857 + +PLAN OF THE MILITARY STATION AT FEROZEPORE + +DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET + +THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST + +FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS KISHENGANJ + +SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE THE ENGAGEMENT AT NAJAFGARH IN AUGUST, 1857 + +KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857 + +"HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS + + + +[Illustration: PLAN OF DELHI 1857 + + N _Here Nicholson fell on Sept 14th_] + + + +REMINISCENCES OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI, 1857 + + + +CHAPTER I + +FEROZEPORE + +The actual Mutiny of the Bengal army broke out at Meerut on May 10, +1857. Events had happened in the Lower Provinces which foreshadowed the +coming storm, and one regiment of native infantry had been disbanded; +but no one, not even those in high authority, had the faintest suspicion +that our rule in India was imperilled. So strong, indeed, was the +sense of security from present danger that the Government, with almost +culpable neglect, still confided to the care of the native army the +large arsenals of Delhi, Ferozepore, and Phillour, in all of which +immense quantities of ammunition and munitions of war were stored. + +There was not a single white regiment stationed at Delhi, not even a +European guard, the charge of the arsenal, the largest in Upper India, +being entrusted to a few officers and sergeants of artillery. The same +may be said of Phillour, in the Punjab--a small station, where only +native troops were quartered. The fort of Ferozepore, near the left bank +of the Sutlej River, was guarded by 100 men detailed from the sepoy +regiments at that cantonment, and, with Phillour, constituted the +only places from which ammunition could be drawn for the large force, +European and native, guarding the newly-acquired province of the Punjab. + +Her Majesty's 61st Regiment of Foot was stationed at Ferozepore in May, +1857. In that corps I held a commission as Lieutenant, and, during the +absence of my Captain on leave in Kashmir, was in temporary command of +the Grenadier Company. + +The regiment at this time mustered nearly 1,000 men, half that number +old and gallant veterans of from ten to twenty years' service. These +had fought in many Indian campaigns, and on the terrible day of +Chillianwalla, in January, 1849, when the Khalsa army rolled back in +utter defeat a portion of Lord Gough's force, had, under the leadership +of Sir Colin Campbell, altered the fortunes of the battle. Advancing +in line under a tremendous cannonade, and without firing a shot, they +marched as if on parade and in stern silence till within fifty yards +of the Sikh batteries, when, with a shout which struck terror into the +breasts of their enemies, they charged irresistibly and took the guns. + +It was to men such as these that, fortunately for the maintenance of our +Empire in the East, England trusted in the perilous days of 1857. As +of my own regiment, so it may be said of all then quartered in +India--sturdy, fine fellows, of good physique, of rare discipline, and +inured to the climate, who, in the words of the Iron Duke, could march +anywhere and fight anything. The army then had not been improved out +of existence; reforms, if such they can be called, were received with +considerable disfavour; for what amelioration could be effected in the +discipline and steady courage of those who had stormed the heights of +the Alma, had stood the shock of the Muscovite at Inkerman, and had not +despaired on the bloody fields of Ferozeshah and Chillianwalla? + +I may be excused if I thus energetically offer my tribute of praise to +that army, and more especially to that regiment in which I passed my +young days. I recall the numberless acts of devotion and courage, the +tender solicitude with which the veterans of the Grenadier Company +looked after the safety of their youthful commander, during the +campaigns of 1857; and my pen falters and my eyes grow dim with tears as +memory brings before me my gallant comrades in the ranks who fell before +Delhi, or lost their lives through disease and exposure. + +I had been absent from my regiment during the whole of 1856, doing duty +at the Murree Convalescent Depot, and rejoined in March of the following +year. Nothing occurred for the next two months to break the monotony of +life in an Indian cantonment. Parade in the early morning, rackets and +billiards during the day, a drive or ride along the Mall in the cool of +the evening, and the usual mess dinner--these constituted the routine of +our uneventful existence. + +Many of the officers lamented the hard fate which had doomed them to +service in the East, while the more fortunate regiments had been earning +fame and quick promotion in the Crimea and in the recent Persian +campaign. We little thought of what was in store for us, or of the +volcano which was smouldering under our feet. + +The signs of incipient mutiny in the native army had been confined, up +to this time, to the Presidency of Bengal and to the regiments quartered +there. With us at Ferozepore there was little, if any, indication of the +coming outbreak. True it was that some of us noticed sullen looks and +strange demeanour among the sepoys of the two battalions. They, on +occasions, passed our officers without the customary salute, and, if +my memory serves, a complaint of this want of respect was forwarded to +their Colonels. Our billiard-marker, too, a high-caste Brahmin who had +served on our side in the Afghan campaigns of 1839-42 in the capacity +of a spy, a man of cunning and intelligence, warned us in unmistakable +terms of the increasing disaffection among the sepoys of Ferozepore, and +stated his opinion that the spirit of mutiny was rife among them. We +laughed at his fears, and dismissed from our minds all alarm, vaunting +our superiority in arms to the dusky soldiery of Hindostan, and in our +hearts foolishly regarding them with lordly contempt. + +Thus passed in the usual quiet the first twelve days of the month of +May, 1857. The morning of May 13 saw us, as usual, on parade; then, +adjourning to the mess-house, we spent a few hours over breakfast and +billiards, and before midday separated to pass the heat of the day +reading, lounging, and sleeping at our respective bungalows. + +I occupied a large house some distance from the mess in company with a +field-officer and the Adjutant of my regiment. The former, about +1 p. m., was summoned by an orderly to attend a meeting at the quarters +of the Brigadier[1] commanding the troops at Ferozepore. We paid no heed +to this incident, as it occurred to us that the Major's advice and +opinion were required on some matter of regimental or other routine. + +Vicars and I were in the habit, since the hot weather began, of making +ices every afternoon, and had become, from long practice, quite +proficient at the work. At three o'clock we were in the midst of our +occupation, our whole thoughts and energies bent on the accomplishment +of our task. Clad in loose deshabille, seated on the floor of the +sitting-room, we worked and watched the process of congelation. + +Presently a quick step was heard in the hall, the door was thrown open, +and the Major, rushing in, sank breathless into a chair. The Adjutant +and I jumped up, and in our haste upset the utensils, spilling on the +floor the contents we had taken so much trouble to prepare. A minute or +two passed, and still no word from our friend, who, portly in shape, and +of a plethoric temperament, seemed overcome by some terrible excitement, +and fairly gasped for breath. + +"What on earth is the matter?" we asked. + +Slowly, and as though uttered with considerable difficulty, the answer +came: + +"All the Europeans in India have been murdered!" + +Now this was rather a startling announcement, and somewhat premature, +considering that we three, at any rate, were in the land of the living, +with no immediate prospect of coming dissolution. We looked at each +other, at first serious and alarmed, as became the gravity of the +situation, and utterly unable to comprehend what it all meant. This +phase of the affair, however, did not last long, and soon changed from +grave to gay. A merry twinkle appeared in Vicars' eyes, to which my own +responded, and at last, fully alive to the absurdity of the gallant +officer's remark, our pent-up sense of the ridiculous was fairly +awakened, and we roared with laughter again and again. + +This unlooked-for result of his dismal communication roused the Major, +who first rebuked us for our levity, and, after an interval occupied in +the recovery of his scattered senses, proceeded to acquaint us with the +true facts of what had happened at the Brigadier's quarters. + +A despatch by telegraph had arrived that morning from Meerut, the +largest cantonment in Upper India, stating that the regiment of native +light cavalry at that place had mutinied in a body on the 10th instant, +and marched for Delhi. This had been followed by a revolt of all the +sepoy infantry and artillery, a rising of the natives in the city, the +bazaars and the surrounding country, who, almost unchecked, had murdered +the European men and women on whom they could lay their hands, and +besides, had set fire to and "looted" many houses in the station. +Fortunately for the safety of the English in India, the miscreants +failed to cut the telegraph-wires at Meerut till too late, and the news +of the mutiny and outrage was as quickly as possible flashed to every +cantonment in the country. + +The Brigadier had therefore ordered the commanding and field officers +of the different regiments stationed at Ferozepore to meet him in +consultation at his quarters. Intelligence so startling as that just +received required no small amount of judgment and deliberation in +dealing with the native soldiers at this cantonment, and some time +elapsed before the council decided as to what was best to be done under +the circumstances. + +Finally it was resolved that a general parade of Her Majesty's 61st Foot +and the battery of European artillery should be held at four o'clock +on the lines in front of the barracks of the former corps. The two +regiments of native infantry were to assemble at the same time, and, +with their English Officers, were ordered to march from their quarters, +taking separate directions: the 45th to proceed into the country, +leaving the fort of Ferozepore on their right, while the 57th were to +march out of cantonments to the left rear of the lines of the European +infantry. The commanding officers of these regiments were also +instructed to keep their men, if possible, well in hand, to allow no +straggling, and to halt in the country until further orders after they +had proceeded three or four miles. The remaining regiment, the 10th +Native Light Cavalry, for some reason or other was considered staunch +(and as events proved, it remained so for a time), and it was therefore +ordained that the troopers should parade mounted and under arms in their +own lines ready for any emergency. + +Thus far we learnt from the Major, and Vicars, whose duties as Adjutant +required his presence at the barracks at once, donned his uniform, and, +mounting his horse, rode in all haste to give directions for the general +parade. + +Shortly before four o'clock the Major and I also left the house and +joined the regiment, which was drawn up in open column of companies in +front of the lines. + +Notice had previously been sent to the married officers in the station +directing them to make immediate arrangements for the transport of their +wives and families to the barracks. This order was obeyed without loss +of time, and before half-past four all the ladies and children in the +cantonment were safe under the protection of our soldiers at the main +guard. + +The barracks of the European infantry at Ferozepore were distant half +a mile from the station, and consisted of ten or twelve large detached +buildings, one for each company, arranged in echelon, with some thirty +paces between each. In front of these was the parade-ground where +we were drawn up, and before us an open plain, 300 yards in width, +extending to the entrenched camp, or, as it was generally called, the +fort and arsenal of Ferozepore. The space around the fort was quite +clear, its position being directly opposite the centre of the +cantonment, from which it was separated by some 200 yards. + +From our situation on parade we had a direct and unbroken view of +the localities I have endeavoured to describe, and holding this +vantage-ground, we should be enabled to act as circumstances might +require. + +The regiment wheeled into line more than 900 strong. One hundred men +under command of a field-officer were then detached, with orders to +disarm the sepoy guard in the fort, and to remain there on duty pending +any attempt which might probably be made by the two native regiments to +gain forcible possession of the arsenal. + +The detachment marched off, and we watched our comrades cross the plain, +and enter without molestation the gates of the fort. + +In anxious expectation we waited for the result, when, after a short +interval, shots were heard, and we knew that our men had engaged the +sepoy guard. The firing was continuous while it lasted, but soon died +away. A mounted officer then rode out at the gate, and, galloping to +where the Colonel was standing, reported that the sepoys, when ordered +to lay down their arms, refused, and that one of them, taking direct aim +at the Major,[2] shot him in the thigh, leaving a dangerous wound. Our +men then poured a volley into the mutineers, who fired in return, but +fortunately without causing any casualty on our side. Two sepoys had +been killed and several wounded, while the remainder, offering no +further resistance, were disarmed and made prisoners. + +Meantime the regiment stood under arms in line, and another company was +sent to reinforce the men in the fort. + +Amid great excitement, more especially among the young soldiers, we +waited to see what would follow when the sepoy battalions marching from +cantonments into the country appeared in sight. Eagerly it was whispered +amongst us, "Will the rascals fight, or remain loyal and obedient to the +orders of their officers?" + +The evening was drawing on apace, but at last, about six o'clock, the +heads of the columns emerged from the houses and gardens of the station, +the 45th Native Infantry advancing in almost a direct line to the +fort, while the 57th Native Infantry were inclined to their right, and +followed the road leading to the rear of our lines. All eyes were turned +on the former regiment, and its movements were ardently scanned. + +Closer and closer they came to the fort, till, when only about fifty +paces distant, the column wavered. We could see the officers rushing +about among their men, and in another instant the whole mass broke +into disorder and ran pell-mell in hundreds towards the ditch which +surrounded the entrenchment. + +This was of no depth, with sloping sides, and easy to escalade, and in +less time than I take to write it the sepoys, with a shout, jumped into +the trench, scrambled up the parapet, and disappeared from our sight +into the enclosure. + +It was not long before we heard the sound of firing, and shots came in +quick succession, maddening us beyond control, for we thought of our +men, few in number and scattered over the fort, opposed to some five or +six hundred of these savages. + +We had loaded with ball-cartridge soon after forming on parade, and the +men now grasped their muskets, and cries and murmurs were heard, "Why +do we not advance?" and all this couched in language more forcible than +polite. + +The order at last was given to fix bayonets, and then came the welcome +words: + +"The line will advance." + +Every heart thrilled with excitement. All longed to have a brush with +the mutineers, and help our comrades in the fort who were fighting +against such odds. + +Twenty paces only we advanced, and then, by the Brigadier's command, our +Colonel[3] gave the order to halt. + +The men were furious, and could hardly be restrained from marching +forward, when, looking towards the outer side of the fort, we saw some +sepoys on the ramparts, evidently in a state of panic, throw themselves +into the ditch, and mounting the other side, run helterhelterskelter +into the country. These were followed by numbers of others, who all made +off as fast as their legs would carry them, and then we heard a true +British cheer, our men appeared on the walls shooting at the fugitives, +bayonetting and driving them over the glacis. + +The fight had continued some twenty minutes, and was pretty severe while +it lasted. A few of our men were more or less hurt, but of the sepoys +many had been killed and wounded. About 100 also had laid down their +arms, and, begging for mercy, were taken prisoners. + +Nothing could have been more culpable than the conduct of the Brigadier +in not advancing a portion, at any rate, of my regiment to the fort at +the time the sepoys broke their ranks and entered the entrenchment. Had +he done so, it is probable that not one of the mutineers of the 45th +Native Infantry would have escaped, nor would the havoc which afterwards +occurred in the cantonment have taken place. But he was an old East +India Company's officer, and had served upwards of forty years in the +native army, having to the last, like many others at that eventful time, +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys. He feared, also, the +responsibility of letting loose the English soldiery to wreak their +vengeance on the mutineers, knowing too well that, with passions roused +and hearts steeled to pity by the murders and outrages committed at +Meerut, and the late wounding of their field-officer, our men would have +given no quarter. The Brigadier was one of the very few officers in high +command at the outbreak of the Mutiny who were found wanting in the time +of trial. His, no doubt, was a hard task; but, had he shown the smallest +aptitude to meet the crisis, there would have been no difficulty, with +the ample means at his disposal, in disarming without bloodshed the +whole native force at Ferozepore, and so crushing the rebellion at that +station. + +Night came, and we still remained in line under arms without having +moved a foot from where we were halted. Conjectures were rife as to what +would next happen. Officers and men were grieved, no less than annoyed, +at the state of inaction in which we had been kept, and an uneasy +feeling prevailed that during the night the mutinous sepoys, aided by +the _badmashes_, or bad characters, who swarmed in the bazaars and city +of Ferozepore, would, under cover of the darkness, run riot over the +cantonment, without our being called on to interfere. + +And so, unhappily, it came to pass. The native cavalry at about eight +o'clock marched down to our lines, and drew up on the right of the +regiment, the European artillery being on our left flank. + +Soon after their arrival the arms were piled and the men fell out of +the ranks, some to lie down on the ground, others forming in groups and +discussing the strange events of the day. + +Suddenly a light was seen in the direction of the cantonment, which +quickly turned into a blaze of fire. What new horror was this? Were our +houses to be gutted and burnt before our eyes without any attempt to +prevent such outrage? + +The men, at the first appearance of fire, had sprung to their feet and +almost involuntarily seized their arms. Surely a detachment would be +sent to clear the cantonment of the incendiaries? Even this was not +done: the Brigadier was absent, or could not be found, and our Colonel +intimated to some officers who spoke to him on the subject that he could +give no orders without the chief's consent. + +So, incredible though it may appear, we stood and watched the fires, +which followed each other in quick succession till the whole cantonment +seemed in a blaze, and the flames, darting up in every direction, +lighted up the surrounding country. + +We could hear distinctly the shouts of the scoundrels, and pictured to +ourselves the black wretches holding high carnival among the burning +buildings and laughing at the white soldiers, who, with arms in their +hands, remained motionless in their own lines. + +That night more than twenty houses were burnt to the ground. The English +church, we afterwards heard, was first fired, then the Roman Catholic +chapel, our mess-house, and nineteen other bungalows. The sepoys, mostly +of the 45th Native Infantry, attended by dozens of _badmashes_, marched +unchallenged through the station with lighted torches fixed on long +bamboo poles, with which they set fire to the thatched roofs of the +various houses. + +All night long we lay by our arms, watching the destruction of our +property, and thankful only that the wives and children of our officers +and men were safe under our care, and not exposed to the fury of the +wretches engaged in their fiendish work. + +Even after this long lapse of years, I cannot think of that night +without a feeling of shame. Here were 700 men, mostly veterans, of one +of Her Majesty's regiments, doomed to inaction through the blundering +and stupid perverseness of an old sepoy Brigadier. The same unhappy +events as those I have narrated occurred at the outbreak of the Mutiny +in three other stations in the Bengal Presidency. + +The commanders would not act against their trusted sepoys, who, as in +our case, plundered, outraged, and destroyed all and everything that +came in their way. + +_May 14_.--The morning of May 14 dawned, close and hot, not a breath of +wind stirring. The sun rose like a ball of fire, and shortly afterwards +we were startled by an explosion which shook the earth under our feet, +and sounded like a heavy peal of thunder in the still morning air. +Looking in the direction of the report, we saw on the far right side +of the cantonment a thick black column of smoke shoot up high into the +atmosphere. A quarter of an hour passed, and then another detonation +similar to the first sounded in our ears on the left rear flank, +followed, as before, by a dense cloud of smoke. + +We said to ourselves: "Will the arsenal next be blown up?" In the fort +was stored an immense quantity of powder and munitions of war, and, +fearing that perhaps some rebel might have found his way in for the +purpose of devoting his life to the destruction of the entrenchment and +the annihilation of the European guard, we remained anxiously expectant +for some time. + +No cause could be assigned for the explosions we had heard, but we +were informed subsequently that, by the orders of our commander, the +magazines or bells of arms belonging to the two native regiments had +been blown up by a party of sappers in the fear that they might fall +into the hands of the rebellious sepoys. It was a futile precaution, and +a mere waste of ammunition; for nothing could have been easier than to +send the contents of the magazines under our escort to the arsenal. + +At eight o'clock we were dismissed to barracks, and left the spot where +we had stood in line inert and inactive since four o'clock the previous +afternoon. + +Shortly after breakfast I was sent for by the Colonel to the +orderly-room, and informed that it was the wish of the Brigadier that I +should proceed with my company into the cantonments. I was ordered +to make strict search for, and to take prisoner, any sepoys or bad +characters that might be lurking about; and to this end I was to +patrol the station from one side to the other. I was also to visit +the commissariat quarters, disarm the native guard, using force if +necessary, and secure the treasure chest, which contained some 20,000 +rupees. + +It struck me that this duty might very well have been performed many +hours before. Why had not a company been detailed to patrol the +cantonment the previous evening, or, at any rate, at the first sign of +incendiarism? + +However, I started without delay with ninety Grenadiers, and marched +over a great part of the station, extending the company in skirmishing +order whenever we passed through the numerous large gardens, orchards, +and enclosures. + +Not a soul was to be seen, and the place seemed entirely deserted. The +sepoys, after their work of destruction, must have left during the +night, and were now probably well on their way to Delhi, while the +_badmashes_ who had assisted them had returned quietly to their +occupations in the bazaars of the city. + +The cantonment presented a complete scene of desolation. The church and +chapel were a heap of burnt-up and smouldering ruins, our mess-house the +same, and numerous bungalows--former residences of the officers--were +still on fire. The heat from the burning embers was intense, and as we +passed slowly by we viewed, with anger in our hearts, the lamentable +results of the timidity and vacillation, the irresolution and culpable +neglect, of one man. + +Lastly, we visited the commissariat quarters at the far side of the +station. Here there was no guard, not even a native in charge. Strange +inconsistency! It turned out that, some hours before our arrival, the +sepoy guard, true in this respect to their trust, had procured a cart, +taken the treasure to the fort, there handed it over to the officer at +the gate, and then started for Delhi. + +My duty was accomplished, and I marched the Grenadiers back to barracks, +then reported the unsatisfactory result of my mission to the Colonel; +and, thoroughly tired and worn out from want of rest, I threw myself on +a bed and slept soundly for some hours. + +We were told that afternoon that the 57th Native Infantry, who had +marched to the rear of our barracks the evening before, had remained +quietly in the country during the night without one sepoy showing any +mutinous disposition. In the early morning, without molesting their +English officers, about half the regiment signified their intention of +marching down-country; while of the rest, some 300 men returned to their +lines at Ferozepore, and on being called upon to do so by the Colonel, +laid down their arms. + +It must be recorded to the credit of these regiments that no officer was +hurt by them, or even insulted. The sepoys quietly but firmly announced +that they released themselves from the service of the East India +Company, and were about to become enrolled as subjects of the King of +Delhi. Then, in several instances even saluting their officers and +showing them every mark of respect, they turned their faces to the great +focus of rebellion, to swell the number of those who were about to fight +against us in the Mohammedan capital of Hindostan. + +The officers of these two corps were more fortunate than their comrades +of other regiments throughout the land, many of whom were shot down by +their own sepoys in cold blood under circumstances of signal barbarity. +They saw their wives and children murdered before their faces, while +those who escaped the fury of the sepoys wandered in helpless flight +through jungles and plains, suffering incredible privations. Some few +there were who reached a friendly station, or were succoured and hidden +by loyal natives. But the greater number fell by the hands of the +wretches who in these times of outrage and anarchy swarmed out of the +low quarters of the cities, and swept unchecked over the whole country +in hundreds and thousands. + +The officers had taken up their quarters in the barracks in one or the +centre buildings, which was reserved entirely for their use. Here we +endeavoured to make ourselves as comfortable as possible under the +circumstances, the large apartment serving at once as mess-house +sitting-room and bedroom for us all. The Colonel alone lived apart, +while the married ladies and their families for the present occupied the +main guard bungalow pending arrangements for more suitable quarters. + +The poor ladies, as was natural, were in a state of great agitation, and +would not be comforted. We did our best to quiet their fears, telling +them there was not the slightest danger as regarded their safety; that, +even were we attacked by the rebels, they need have no dread of the +result, for we were more than a match for double our number of sepoys. +Still, it pained us much to see their distress, and we could only be +thankful that, come what might, they were under the protection of +British soldiers. + +On the evening of May 14, at sunset, I was sitting smoking and chatting +in the barrack-room with some of our officers when, quite unexpectedly, +I was again called to the orderly-room, and directed to march with the +Grenadier company on outlying picket to the left rear of the cantonment, +and close to the lines of the disarmed sepoys. Two guns of the Light +Field Battery, under a subaltern, were also placed under my orders, and +I took with me a young ensign to assist me in my duties. + +The Brigadier said he had received intelligence that an attack by the +mutineers was expected from the direction of Lahore; and I was told to +keep a sharp lookout, in case the enemy made during the night a flank +movement on the station. I was also constantly to patrol the lines of +the native regiments, to confine the sepoys to their huts, and to take +prisoner any who ventured outside. + +The short Indian twilight was drawing to a close when I arrived on the +ground, and, without losing time, I drew up the Grenadiers in line, with +the two guns a little in advance and on my left flank. + +Two sentries were posted in front of the guns, two on the right and left +of my small detachment, and two in the rear. + +The plain extended before us for miles to the horizon, bare and +treeless, without one intervening obstacle. + +Evening closed and night came on--a night dark as Erebus, though the +stars shone bright and luminous in the heavens. All nature was silent +as the grave, and, save for the tramp of the sentinels and the marching +away and return of the patrolling parties, for hours we heard no sound. + +Before leaving barracks the picket had loaded the guns with grape and +the old Brown Bess (there were no rifles in most of the Indian regiments +in those far-off days) with ball-cartridge. I had also ordered the +men to fix bayonets, and we were thus fully prepared to give a warm +reception to any sepoys who might attack us. The arms were piled, and in +silence we lay on the ground. + +Presently, about midnight, one of the sentinels in front of the guns +challenged: + +"Who comes there?" + +There was no answer, and the cry was repeated, the sentry at the same +moment firing off his musket. + +The company sprang to their arms, and I called on the sentries in front +to retreat under cover of the guns. Almost simultaneously, and before +the men could retire, flashes of fire appeared on the plain, and +numerous shots came whistling over our heads, while, clear and distinct, +a cry rang out, and we knew that one of the sentries had been hit. Close +following the first came several straggling shots, but the rascals fired +too high, and we had no casualty. I then ordered the men to fire a +volley, and the artillery officer at the same time swept his front with +grape from the two guns. + +After these discharges all was still, and we strained our eyes in the +darkness, but could see nothing. Then, taking with me a sergeant and +four men, I proceeded to where the sentry had made the first challenge. + +We found the poor fellow lying face downwards on the ground, and raising +him up, saw that he was quite dead. Slowly and tenderly the body was +borne to the picket, and on examination by the light of a lantern, we +discovered that he had received a bullet over the region of the heart, +and that death, therefore, must have been instantaneous. My heart +sickened at the sight; this was my first contact with the horrors of +war, and the remembrance will remain with me to my dying day. + +The other sentinel was then questioned, and from him we learnt that, +peering through the darkness when the challenge was first given, he had +seen figures passing in his front across the plain. Soon they halted and +fired, and then disappeared, probably having lain down to escape being +hit by our men. Hearing this, I sent out a small reconnoitring party, +which patrolled the plain for some distance. They returned with the +news that all was quiet, and no human being was to be seen. Two fresh +sentries were placed in front of the guns, and the men lay down as +before, fully expecting another attack. + +_May 15_.--All, however, passed off without further incident, and at +sunrise I marched the picket to barracks and reported myself to the +Brigadier. He made no comment on the events of the night, nor did he +even ask for particulars as to the manner of the soldier's death. The +mutineers, he said, were in scattered detachments still, no doubt +prowling about the outskirts of the cantonment and in the neighbouring +villages, taking advantage of every opportunity to harass and inflict +loss on our soldiers. + +From this time forward for nearly a month, with the single exception of +one encounter with a body of mutineers, which I shall relate hereafter, +no event of importance occurred at Ferozepore. + +The chief danger had passed from our midst in the flight towards Delhi +of more than half of the two battalions of sepoys, the disarmament of +300 of the 57th, and the imprisonment of those who had been captured +fighting when attempting to take the arsenal. + +Everything being thus comparatively peaceful, with no enemy in the +vicinity, the Brigadier at last woke up to a sense of his duty; and +extraordinary measures were taken by his command for the safety of the +cantonments and lines of Ferozepore. + +It was ordered that one company should be placed each night on advanced +outlying picket, another on rear picket, and a third to be stationed at +the main guard to furnish sentries as a cordon round the whole extent +of the barracks. Two companies were to remain constantly in the fort in +charge of a senior Captain, so that, out of the ten companies, six were +always on duty. + +Under the excitement which first prevailed, and the necessity of being +prepared in case of a night attack from the roving bands of rebellious +soldiery who from all directions were making for the imperial city, +plundering and ravaging on the route, this duty was cheerfully +undertaken. But as time went by, and week succeeded week, without a +shot being fired to relieve the monotony of our lives, the work became +irksome in the extreme. + +The regiment therefore fell into a regular groove of guard and picket +duty. We longed to have a fight with the enemy, and still were doomed to +remain in a state of masterly inactivity. At the fort the work was most +trying, and resolved itself into a course of manual labour. There it was +ordered that under the ammunition sheds deep pits were to be dug in the +ground. This duty was performed entirely by the English soldiers, and +continued for a fortnight in the hottest season of the year. In the +receptacles thus formed all the barrels of powder, as well as the small +arms, ammunition, etc., were packed and stowed away, the whole being +covered with earth to the depth of several feet. This was a very needful +expedient, for a stray spark might have blown up the vast stores of +munitions of war, without which it would have been impossible to carry +on future operations against the enemy. No fires for any purpose were +permitted in the fort, and, greatest deprivation of all, the men were +not allowed to smoke during the twenty-four hours they were on guard. + +Three or four days after the outbreak, and when everything seemed quiet +in and around the cantonment, two officers and myself, taking with us +some native labourers carrying spades and shovels, proceeded, under +orders from our Colonel, to search for the silver plate buried under +the ruins of our mess-house. We found the brick walls standing; but all +inside the building was one mass of ashes and still-smouldering embers. + +We knew the locality of the plate chest, and, setting the coolies to +work, after infinite labour, which lasted some hours, we succeeded in +removing a vast heap of cinders, and found portions of the silver. A +little lower down we came on more; and here were seen spoons melted +almost out of shape by fire. The large silver dishes, plates and +cups--many of the latter of priceless value, for they had been acquired +by the regiment during the Peninsular War--were lying one on top of the +other just as they had been placed in the chest, but all ruined and +disfigured, half melted and blackened from the intense heat. + +Close by, where they had fallen off a table, were the four massive +silver candelabra, the gift of distinguished officers who had formerly +served in the corps. These were twisted out of all shape, and beyond +hope of repair, of no value but for the bullion. Other articles there +were, such as snuff-boxes, drinking-horns, and table ornaments; not one +single piece of silver had escaped the action of the fire. + +It was a sorry sight to look on the total destruction of our beautiful +mess furniture. Costly goods had been sacrificed which no money could +replace; not one single article belonging to the officers had been +saved. + +Gathering together all the silver we could find, and lamenting the +incompetence by which we had lost property amounting in value to L2,000, +we placed everything in a cart and conveyed it to the barracks. + +Many months afterwards the Government directed a committee of officers +to value the effects destroyed by the mutineers, to the end that +remuneration might be granted to the regiment for loss sustained. This +committee, after due consideration, placed the estimate at a very low +figure--viz., L1,500. The parsimony of those in power refused us +full payment of this just debt, intimated also that the demand was +exorbitant, and closed all further action in the matter by sending us a +draft on the Treasury for half the amount claimed. + +For the first week or ten days after the outbreak at Ferozepore we knew +very little of what was occurring down-country, as well as throughout +the Punjab, the province of the "Five Rivers" to our north. In that +newly-acquired territory there were twenty-six regiments of the native +army, while the Sikhs, the warlike people who inhabited the land, had +met us in deadly conflict only nine years before. From the latter, then, +as well as from the sepoys, there was cause for great anxiety. Every +precaution, therefore, was necessary to guard the Ferozepore Arsenal, +the largest, next to Delhi, in Upper India. The temper of the Sikhs +was uncertain; no one could foretell which side they would take in the +coming struggle. Our Empire in Hindostan--during the month of May more +especially--trembled in the balance. There was infinite cause for alarm +for months afterwards even to the Fall of Delhi; but at no time were we +in such a strait as at that period when the loyalty or defection of the +Sikh regiments and people was an open question. + +The genius of Sir John Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, +warded off the danger. That eminent man, the saviour of India, issued a +proclamation calling on the Sikhs to aid us in our trouble. They came +at once in hundreds--nay, thousands--to enlist on our side. Veterans of +Runjeet Singh's Khalsa army, the men who had withstood us on equal terms +in many sanguinary battles, animated by intense hatred of the Poorbeah +sepoy, enrolled themselves in the ranks of the British army, and fought +faithfully for us to the end of the war. Their help was our safety; +without these soldiers, and the assistance rendered by their chieftains, +Delhi could never have been taken; while, on the other hand, had they +risen and cast in their lot with the mutinous sepoys, no power on earth +could have saved us from total annihilation. + +The Sikhs are the beau-ideal of soldiers. Tall and erect in bearing, +wiry and well-knit, and of great muscular development, their whole +appearance stamps them as men who look upon themselves as "lords of the +soil," whom it would be difficult to conquer. And without doubt the +campaigns of 1845-46 and 1848-49 were the hardest in which we had been +engaged in India. + +For 100 years they had dominated the land of the Five Rivers. Ever eager +for war, their turbulent spirits gave them no rest. It had been a belief +that they would in the future acquire the sovereignty of Hindostan, and +I know for certain that among the soldiers for many years there had been +a tradition that one day they would sack the imperial city of Delhi. + +The latter expectation was in a manner fulfilled; but not as an +independent nation or under their own leaders did they capture and +plunder the Mohammedan capital: they accomplished that feat as loyal +subjects of the British Crown. + +Every now and then news reached us of the spread of the Mutiny, till +from Calcutta to Peshawar there were few stations where the native +troops had not joined in the rebellion. Cavalry, infantry, and +artillery, all had risen in revolt. The wave of mutiny was surging to +and fro throughout the land, and as yet little had been done to stem the +tide. True, a small force was being assembled at Umballah, which, under +the Commander-in-Chief, was about to march to Delhi, but of the doings +of that army we could learn no satisfactory tidings. + +The closing days of the month of May passed wearily by, and time hung +heavily on our hands. We felt the inevitable reaction from the first few +days of excitement, and also missed the comforts and ease to which we +had been accustomed in former hot seasons. The barracks were close and +stuffy, and the officers, in place of the luxury of their bungalows and +their pleasant mess, had to endure privations of every kind. + +Hot winds, parching up the already arid ground, blew fiercely every +day. At sunset the breeze usually died away; and though the temperature +lessened somewhat in degree, we felt a choking sensation from the +effects of the dry, still atmosphere. No officer slept in the +barrack-room; our servants carried the beds outside, and there, lying +down and gasping for breath, we vainly courted the sleep that would not +come. + +There was, however, a humorous side to this desolate picture, which +I must now relate, as it shows that, notwithstanding the state of +dejection to which we had been reduced, there still lurked a spirit of +fun and mischief among the officers. + +For some time after the revolt we had "night-attacks" on the brain. +Nothing was spoken of but the chance of our lines being assaulted by +wandering bodies of mutinous sepoys. The order-book each evening, +reminding us of the danger, inculcated strict vigilance on picket and +on guard. So long did this last without any attack being made that the +shadowy expectation of what never occurred became our bugbear, a chimera +which haunted us night and day. + +At last, in a happy hour, it entered into the mind of one of our young +Lieutenants, an Irishman, imbued with the spirit of fun, and the +jolliest fellow in the regiment, that this illusion under which we were +all labouring might be made the subject for a frolic. + +He communicated his ideas to myself and some others of the junior +officers, and it was then and there decided that, as the sepoys would +not attack us, we would create a little excitement and diversion by +playing for the nonce the role of mutineers. + +The council of war then agreed unanimously that an assault was to be +made on the remaining officers when asleep outside the barracks, and +that the weapons to be used should be bolsters and pillows. + +A certain night was fixed on for the accomplishment of our purpose, and +the signal for the attack was to be given by the originator of the plot, +who would take upon himself to make sure that the enemy were off their +guard, wrapped in the arms of Morpheus. + +Everything had been arranged to our satisfaction, and the eventful night +came. At ten o'clock lights were put out, and the assaulting party, +consisting of six stalwart young subalterns, lay down on their beds +outside the barracks, ranged here and there among those who were to play +the part of the enemy, and waited for the signal from our commander. + +Our opponents seemed to take an unconscionable long time in going to +sleep, but at length, in the small hours of the morning, when all was +quiet, the "alarm" was sounded in a low whistle. + +Jumping up from our beds, each man armed himself with a bolster. In +stern and solemn silence our force was marshalled for the attack, and +then, without any word of warning, each one began belabouring with all +his might the recumbent figures of the foe. + +Startled out of their sleep, and in a half-dreamy state of +unconsciousness, it may be imagined with what strange feelings they +received this assault. Some, more especially the older officers (for +in our zeal we spared no one), seemed perfectly bewildered, and in the +midst of the shower of blows which rained on them without intermission +vowed vengeance and threatened to put us under arrest. We answered them +that this was a "night-attack," and they must prepare for defence, as no +quarter would be given. + +Even the fat and portly Major, notwithstanding his rank, felt the +strength of our arms, and, almost bereft of breath between each blow, +commanded us to desist. He might as well have spoken to the winds: our +blood was up, and the spirit of fun had taken possession, so that I +verily believe, had the Colonel or Brigadier been lying there, neither +of them would have escaped our onslaught. + +The enemy were now fully aroused, and, not relishing the fun of being +buffeted unmercifully in their beds without resistance, they one and all +turned out and, seizing their pillows, joined in the fight. The attack, +begun with tactical judgment, turned now into a confused melee. Friend +and foe were mixed up in one grand shindy, and for many minutes the +battle continued without intermission. Blows fell fast and thick; there +was a rushing about of half-clad figures swaying bolsters, and each one +intent on the same object--namely, that of overcoming his antagonist for +the time being. So weird, and yet so utterly ludicrous a sight, surely +never has been seen before or since in India. + +At length, from sheer exhaustion, the combat came to an end, and, +sitting on our beds panting from fatigue, and overcome by the heat of +the night, we discussed the incidents of the fight. Some of the senior +officers seemed at first inclined to treat the attack as something more +than a joke, and threatened to report us to the Colonel. We pointed out +to them that such a proceeding would be absurd, for had they not also +compromised themselves by joining in the fray? It was not long, however, +before they were struck with the grand ridiculousness of this very +strange episode; and the question at issue, as may naturally be +supposed, ended in laughter. Peace being restored, we wished each other +good-night, and, thoroughly worn out by our exertions, all slept soundly +till break of day. + +The affair was kept quiet as far as possible, but gradually got noised +abroad among other regiments of Her Majesty's infantry. Great amusement +was caused by the recital, nor for a long period afterwards was the +comical "night-attack" at Ferozepore forgotten. + +The trial of the sepoys who had been taken prisoners when resisting +the detachment sent to disarm them in the fort, and of those also who +attacked the arsenal on May 13, had been proceeding for some time. It +was a general court-martial composed of thirteen officers, presided over +by a Lieutenant-Colonel. Of the prisoners taken, some 100 were singled +out as the ringleaders, the rest being put back for trial till a future +occasion. + +The evidence was most clear as to the heinous offences of mutiny and +rebellion with regard to all these men, and they were accordingly found +guilty. Sentence was at once pronounced on fourteen of the sepoys, and +the punishment was death. + +Two men of low caste were to be hanged, while the remaining twelve, +comprising Mohammedans and high-caste Hindoos, were to expiate their +crime by that most awful and ghastly penalty, execution by being blown +to pieces from the mouths of cannons. + +This terrible punishment had been but seldom inflicted during British +rule in India, the last instance occurring in 1825, when a native +regiment mutinied and refused to cross the sea to take part in the first +Burmese War. + +Neither was it from the English that this special death penalty +originated. It had been for hundreds of years the recognized punishment +for mutiny and rebellion throughout Hindostan, and in numberless cases +was carried out by the Mogul Emperors. + +With us at this period it was found necessary to strike terror into the +hearts of the rebels, to prove to them that we were resolved at all +hazards to crush the revolt, and to give warning that to those who were +taken fighting against us no mercy would be shown. + +On religious grounds also the infliction of the death penalty by blowing +away mutineers at the mouths of cannons was dreaded both by the Hindoos +and Mohammedans. + +The Hindoo, unless the corpse after death is burnt to ashes with all +ceremony, or else consigned to the sacred stream of the Ganges, +cannot partake of the glories of the future state, nor dwell in bliss +everlasting with the gods of his mythology. + +So with the Mohammedan, the Koran enjoins that all true believers +must be buried with the body in the natural state, and only those are +exempted who have lost limbs in fighting against the infidel. The joys +of Paradise, where ever-young and beautiful houris minister to the wants +and pleasures of the faithful, were therefore not for those who met +a shameful death and were denied or unable to obtain burial in the +orthodox manner. + +Thus, it will be seen, the terrors of future shame and dishonour +resulted to both Hindoo and Mohammedan by the death we were about to +inflict on them; and it was for the awe inspired by the punishment that +the military authorities at this time thought proper to carry it out in +this unaccustomed manner. + +_June 13_.--The morning of June 13 was fixed upon for the execution. A +gallows was erected on the plain to the north side of the fort, facing +the native bazaars, and at a distance of some 300 yards. On this two +sepoys were to be hanged, and at the same time their comrades in mutiny +were to be blown away from guns. + +We paraded at daylight every man off duty, and, with the band playing, +marched to the place of execution, and drew up in line near the gallows +and opposite the native quarter. + +Shortly after our arrival the European Light Field Battery, of six guns, +appeared on the scene, forming up on our left flank, and about twenty +yards in front of the Light Company. + +The morning was close and sultry, not a cloud in the sky, and not a +breath of wind stirring; and I confess I felt sick with a suffocating +sense of horror when I reflected on the terrible sight I was about to +witness. + +Soon the fourteen mutineers, under a strong escort of our men with fixed +bayonets, were seen moving from the fort. They advanced over the plain +at our rear, and drew up to the left front of, and at right angles to, +the battery of artillery. + +I was standing at the extreme right of the line with the Grenadier +Company, and some distance from the guns; but I had provided myself with +a pair of strong glasses, and therefore saw all that followed clearly +and distinctly. + +There was no unnecessary delay in the accomplishment of the tragedy. Two +of the wretched creatures were marched off to the gallows, and placed +with ropes round their necks on a raised platform under the beam. + +The order was given for the guns to be loaded, and quick as thought the +European artillerymen placed a quarter charge of powder in each piece. +The guns were 9-pounders, the muzzles standing about 3 feet from the +ground. + +During these awful preparations, I watched at intervals the faces of the +condemned men, but could detect no traces of fear or agitation in their +demeanour. The twelve stood two deep, six in front and six in the rear, +calm and undismayed, without uttering a word. + +An officer came forward, and, by the Brigadier's order, read the +sentence of the court-martial, and at its conclusion the six men in +front, under escort, walked towards the battery. + +There was a death-like silence over the scene at this time, and, +overcome with horror, my heart seemed almost to cease beating. + +Arrived at the guns, the culprits were handed over to the artillerymen, +who, ready prepared with strong ropes in their hands, seized their +victims. Each of these, standing erect, was bound to a cannon and +tightly secured, with the small of the back covering the muzzle. And +then all at once the silence which reigned around was broken by the +oaths and yells of those about to die. These sounds were not uttered by +men afraid of death, for they showed the most stoical indifference, +but were the long-suppressed utterances of dying souls, who, in the +bitterness of their hearts, cursed those who had been instrumental +in condemning them to this shameful end. They one and all poured out +maledictions on our heads; and in their language, one most rich in +expletives, they exhausted the whole vocabulary. + +Meanwhile the gunners stood with lighted port-fires, waiting for the +word of command to fire the guns and launch the sepoys into eternity. + +These were still yelling and raining abuse, some even looking over their +shoulders and watching without emotion the port-fires, about to be +applied to the touch-holes, when the word "Fire!" sounded from the +officer in command, and part of the tragedy was at an end. + +A thick cloud of smoke issued from the muzzles of the cannons, through +which were distinctly seen by several of us the black heads of the +victims, thrown many feet into the air. + +While this tragic drama was enacting, the two sepoys to be hanged were +turned off the platform. + +The artillerymen again loaded the guns, the six remaining prisoners, +cursing like their comrades, were bound to them, another discharge, and +then an execution, the like of which I hope never to see again, was +completed. + +All this time a sickening, offensive smell pervaded the air, a stench +which only those who have been present at scenes such as these can +realize--the pungent odour of burnt human flesh. + +The artillerymen had neglected putting up back-boards to their guns, so +that, horrible to relate, at each discharge the recoil threw back pieces +of burning flesh, bespattering the men and covering them with blood and +calcined remains. + +A large concourse of natives from the bazaars and city had assembled in +front of the houses, facing the guns at a distance, as I said before, of +some 300 yards, to watch the execution. At the second discharge of the +cannon, and on looking before me, I noticed the ground torn up and earth +thrown a slight distance into the air more than 200 paces away. Almost +at the same time there was a commotion among the throng in front, some +running to and fro, while others ran off in the direction of the houses. +I called the attention of an officer who was standing by my side to this +strange and unaccountable phenomenon, and said, half joking: "Surely the +scattered limbs of the sepoys have not been carried so far?" + +He agreed with me that such was impossible; but how to account for the +sight we had seen was quite beyond our comprehension. + +The drama came to an end about six o'clock, and as is usual, even after +a funeral or a military execution, the band struck up an air, and we +marched back to barracks, hoping soon to drive from our minds the +recollection of the awful scenes we had witnessed. + +Two or three hours after our return news arrived that one native had +been killed and two wounded among the crowd which had stood in our +front, spectators of the recent execution. How this happened has +never been explained. At this time a "cantonment guard" was mounted, +consisting of a company of European infantry, half a troop of the 10th +Light Cavalry, and four guns, and two of these guns loaded with grape +were kept ready during the night, the horses being harnessed, etc. +Half the cavalry also was held in readiness, saddled; in fact, every +precaution was taken to meet an attack. + +As far as I can recollect, there were but two executions by blowing away +from guns on any large scale by us during the Mutiny; one of them that +at Ferozepore. + +[Illustration: Plan of the Military Station at FEROZEPORE] + + +[Footnote 1: Brigadier-General Innes.] + +[Footnote 2: Major Redmond.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel William Jones, C.B.] + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE MARCH + +After the excitement of the late executions we were prepared to relapse +into our usual state of inaction and monotony, when, on the morning +of June 13, a courier arrived from Lahore, the headquarters of the +Executive Government of the Punjab. He brought instructions and orders +from Sir John Lawrence to the Brigadier commanding at Ferozepore to the +effect that a wing of Her Majesty's 61st Regiment was to proceed at once +to reinforce the army under Sir Henry Barnard, now besieging the city of +Delhi. + +That force, on June 8, had fought an action with the mutineers at +Badli-ki-Serai, four miles from Delhi, driving them from their +entrenched position and capturing thirteen guns. The siege of the +Mohammedan stronghold had begun on the next day, but the small band +of English, Sikhs, and Goorkhas which composed the force was quite +inadequate to the task entrusted to it, and, in truth, could do nothing +but act on the defensive against the horde of rebellious sepoys, who +outnumbered them by four to one. + +It may be conceived with what joy the order to advance was received by +the officers and men of my regiment. We had at length a prospect of +entering upon a regular campaign, and the hearts of all of us beat high +at the chance of seeing active service against the enemy. + +To the Colonel commanding it was left to select the five companies +composing a wing of the corps to march to Delhi. All, of course, were +eager to go, and we knew there would be heart-burnings and regrets +amongst those left behind. + +The following companies were chosen out of the ten: Grenadiers, Nos. 2, +3, 7, and the Light Company. They were the strongest in point of numbers +in the regiment, and with the fewest men in hospital, so that it could +not be said that any favouritism in selection was shown by the Colonel. +The wing numbered, all told, including officers and the band, 450 men--a +timely reinforcement, which, together with the same number of Her +Majesty's 8th Foot from Jullundur, would increase materially the army +before Delhi. + +No time was lost in making preparations for the march. Our camp equipage +was ready at hand, a sufficient number of elephants, camels, and oxen +were easily procured from the commissariat authorities, and by eight +o'clock that evening we were on our way. + +In those days a European regiment on the line of march in India +presented a striking scene. Each corps had its own quota of +camp-followers, numbering in every instance more than the regiment +itself, so that transport was required for fully 2,000 souls, and often +when moving along the road the baggage-train extended a mile in length. +The camp, when pitched, covered a large area of ground. Everything was +regulated with the utmost order, and the positions of the motley group +were defined to a nicety. + +We had been directed to take as small a kit as possible, each officer +being limited to two camels to carry his tent and personal effects. Our +native servants accompanied us on the line of march, and I must here +mention that during the long campaign on which we were about to enter +there was not one single instance of desertion among these faithful and +devoted followers. + +Everything being ready, we paraded a little before sunset on the evening +of June 13. The terrible heat which prevailed at this time of the +year prevented us from marching during the day-time. Moreover, it was +necessary to preserve the health of the soldiers at this critical +period, when every European in India was required to make head against +the rebels. So on every occasion when practicable the English regiments +moving over the country marched at night, resting under cover of their +tents during the day.[1] + +Shortly after sunset, we bade adieu (an eternal one, alas! for many of +the gallant souls assembled) to the comrades we were leaving behind; the +band struck up, and we set off in high spirits on our long and arduous +march of more than 350 miles. + +The night, as usual, was close and sultry, with a slight hot wind +blowing; but the men stepped out briskly, the soldiers of the leading +company presently striking up a well-known song, the chorus of which +was joined in by the men in the rear. We marched slowly, for it was +necessary every now and then to halt so as to allow the long train of +baggage to come up; and it was nearly sunrise before we reached the +first halting-ground. The camp was pitched, and we remained under cover +all day, starting, as before, soon after sunset. + +And thus passed the sixteen days which were occupied in reaching Delhi. +Every precaution was taken to prevent surprise, as we were marching, +to all intents and purposes, through an enemy's country, and expected +attacks on our baggage from straggling bodies of mutineers. + +_June 18_.--At Loodianah, five marches from Ferozepore, and which we +reached on June 18, we were fortunate enough to find more comfortable +quarters, the men moving into some of the buildings which had formerly +been occupied by Her Majesty's 50th Regiment, the officers living in the +Kacherri. + +Here, behind tatties and under punkas, and with iced drinks, we were +able to keep pretty cool; but, sad to say, soon after our arrival in the +station that terrible scourge cholera broke out in our ranks, and in +a few hours six men succumbed to this frightful malady. On every +succeeding day men were attacked and died, so that, unhappily, up to +July 1 we lost in all thirty gallant fellows. + +This disease never left us during the entire campaign; upwards of 250 +soldiers of my regiment fell victims to the destroyer; nor were we +entirely free from it till the end of the year. Many more were attacked, +who recovered, but were debarred through excessive weakness from serving +in the ranks, and were invalided home. + +_June 23_.--On reaching Umballah, we found the station all but deserted, +nearly all the European troops having been sent on to join the Delhi +force. The church had been placed in a state of defence, all its walls +loopholed, and around it had been constructed a work consisting of a +wall and parapet, with towers of brickwork armed with field-pieces _en +barbette_ at the angles. + +In it were quartered some of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, lately brought +down from Dagshai. About ninety of these marched with us to Delhi. Here +also we were joined by four officers of the (late) 57th Native Infantry, +who had received orders to join our wing, eventually to fill up +vacancies in the native corps on reaching the scene of operations. With +these we were in all twenty-four officers--rather a strong complement +even for a whole regiment. + +The concluding days of the march were trying in the extreme. Weary and +footsore, and often parched with thirst, we tramped along the hot and +dusty roads, often for miles up to our ankles in deep sand. We were so +tired and overcome with want of rest that many of us actually fell fast +asleep along the road, and would be rudely awakened by falling against +others who were in the same plight as ourselves. At midnight we rested, +when coffee and refreshment were served out to the officers and men. The +halt sounded every hour, and for five minutes we threw ourselves down on +the hard ground or on the hot sand and at once fell asleep, waking up +somewhat restored to continue our toilsome journey. + +From Jugraon onward we had rather long marches, and it was considered +advisable to convey the men part of the way in hackeries; the +arrangement being that they should march halfway, then halt for coffee +and refreshment, and afterwards ride the remainder of the distance. + +By this means they were kept fresh for the work before them, which, we +had every reason to believe, would be anything but light. At Umballah +I took the opportunity of calling on my friend Mr. George Barnes, +the Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States. He had shown me boundless +hospitality, and was like a father to me when I joined my regiment as +a lad at Kussowlie. A man of great intellectual attainments and sound +judgment, he was an honour to the Bengal Civil Service. There was no +officer at that momentous period in whom Sir John Lawrence placed +more confidence. His familiarity with the native character, and the +friendship borne towards him by the Sikh chieftains, enabled him +throughout the Siege of Delhi to keep open communication with the +Punjab, and supply the force with stores, provisions, and ammunition. +He would, without doubt, have risen to the highest honours in his +profession had he not been stricken with a fatal illness in 1859, when +holding the responsible post of Foreign Secretary to the Government of +India. + +A few marches from Delhi we passed over the historic field of Paniput, +where three sanguinary battles had been fought in different ages, each +deciding the fate of Hindostan for the time being. More than 100,000 +men had been slain in these actions, and we felt we were marching over +ground the dust of which was thickly permeated with the ashes of human +beings. + +Here first we heard the sound of distant cannonades, borne thus far to +our ears by the stillness of the night--a sound which told us that our +comrades before Delhi were still holding their position against the +enemy. + +At length, on July 1, just as the sun was rising, we emerged from a +forest of trees on to the plain over which the army under Sir Henry +Barnard had moved on June 8 to attack the entrenchments of the mutineers +at Badli-ki-Serai. + +_July_ 1.--Eagerly we cast our eyes over the ground to our front, and +with pride in our hearts thought of that gallant little force which had +advanced across this plain on that eventful morn under a terrific fire +from the enemy's guns. + +Soon we reached the entrenchments which had been thrown up by the rebels +to bar the progress of our soldiers, and, lying in all directions, we +saw numerous skeletons of men and horses, the bones already bleached to +whiteness from the effects of the burning sun. Dead bodies of camels and +oxen were also strewn about, and the stench was sickening. We were now +about four miles from Delhi, and were met by a squadron of the 6th +Carabineers, sent to escort us into camp. They received us with a shout +of welcome, and, while we halted for a short time, inquiries were made +as to the incidents of the siege. + +We learnt that our small army, with the tenacity of a bulldog, was +holding its own on the ridge overlooking the city, that sorties by the +rebels were of almost daily and nightly occurrence, and that the losses +on our side were increasing. + +With the Carabineers in our front, the march was continued, the white +tents of the besieging force appearing in sight about eight o'clock. +Then the band struck up "Cheer, boys, cheer!" and, crossing the canal by +a bridge, we entered the camp. + +Crowds of soldiers, European as well as native, stalwart Sikhs and +Punjabees, came down to welcome us on our arrival, the road on each side +being lined with swarthy, sun-burnt, and already war-worn men. They +cheered us to the echo, and in their joy rushed amongst our ranks, +shaking hands with both officers and men. + +[Illustration: DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET.] + + +[Footnote 1: The heat even under such cover was intense, averaging 115 deg. +Fahr.] + + + +CHAPTER III + +BEFORE DELHI + +A situation had already been marked out for our encampment, and, +directed by an officer, we passed through the main portion of our +lines, and halted at the bottom of the ridge on the extreme left of our +position. Some time was occupied after the arrival of the baggage in +pitching our camp; but when all was concluded, Vicars and I started on +foot to take our first view of the imperial city. + +We walked a short distance to the right, and along the foot of the +ridge, and then ascended, making our way to the celebrated Flagstaff +Tower. We mounted to the top: and shall I ever forget the sight which +met our gaze? + +About a mile to our front, and stretching to right and left as far as +the eye could reach, appeared the high walls and the bastions of Delhi. +The intervening space below was covered with a thick forest of trees and +gardens, forming a dense mass of verdure, in the midst of which, and +peeping out here and there in picturesque confusion, were the white +walls and roofs of numerous buildings. Tall and graceful minarets, +Hindoo temples and Mohammedan mosques, symmetrical in shape and gorgeous +in colouring, appeared interspersed in endless numbers among the +densely-packed houses inside the city, their domes and spires shining +with a brilliant radiance, clear-cut against the sky. Above all, in the +far distance towered the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque, its three huge +domes of pure white marble, with two high minarets, dwarfing into +insignificance the buildings by which it was surrounded--surely, the +noblest work of art ever built by man for the service of the Creator. + +To the left could be seen the lofty castellated walls of the Palace of +the Emperors, the former seat of the Great Mogul--that palace in +which at that moment the degenerate descendant of Timour, and last +representative of his race, held his court, and in his pride of heart +fondly hoped that British rule was at an end. + +Beyond rose the ancient fortress of Selimgarh, its walls, as well as +those of the palace on the north side, washed by the waters of the +Jumna. A long bridge of boats connected the fort with the opposite bank +of the river, here many hundred yards in width: and over this we could +see, with the aid of glasses, bodies of armed men moving. + +It was by this bridge that most of the reinforcements and all the +supplies for the mutineers crossed over to the city. On the very day of +our arrival the mutinous Bareilly Brigade of infantry and artillery, +numbering over 3,000 men, marched across this bridge. Our advanced +picket at the Metcalfe House stables, close to the Jumna, heard +distinctly their bands playing "Cheer, boys, cheer!" the very same tune +with which we had celebrated our entrance into camp that morning. + +Few cities in the world have passed through such vicissitudes as Delhi. +Tradition says it was the capital of an empire ages before the great +Macedonian invaded India, and its origin is lost in the mists of +antiquity. Traces there were in every direction, amid the interminable +cluster of ruins and mounds outside the present city, of cities still +more vast, the builders and inhabitants of which lived before the dawn +of history. + +Delhi had been taken and sacked times out of number. Its riches were +beyond compare; and for hundreds of years it had been the prey, not only +of every conqueror who invaded India from the north-west, but also of +every race which, during the perpetual wars in Hindostan, happened for +the time to be predominant. Tartars, Turks, Afghans, Persians, Mahrattas +and Rajpoots, each in turn in succeeding ages had been masters of the +city. There had been indiscriminate massacres of the populace, the last +by Nadir Shah, the King of Persia in 1747, when 100,000 souls were put +to death by his order, and booty to a fabulous amount was carried away. +Still, notwithstanding the vicissitudes of fortune through which it had +passed, Delhi was, in 1857, one of the largest, most beautiful, and +certainly the richest city in Hindostan. We knew well that there was +wealth untold within the walls, and our hearts were cheered even at this +time when we thought of the prize-money which would fall to our share at +the capture of the rebellious city. + +The walls surrounding Delhi were seven miles in circumference, flanked +at intervals by strong bastions, on which the enemy had mounted the +largest guns and mortars, procured from the arsenal. Munitions of war +they had in abundance--enough to last them, at the present rate of +firing, for nearly three years. Long we gazed, fascinated at the scene +before us. A dead silence had reigned for some time, when we were +awakened from our dreams by the whiz and hissing of a shell fired by the +enemy. It fell close below the tower and burst without doing any harm; +but some jets of smoke appeared on the bastions of the city, and shells +and round-shot fired at the ridge along the crest of which a small body +of our men was moving. The cannonade lasted for some time, our own guns +replying at intervals. We could plainly see the dark forms of the rebel +artillerymen, stripped to the waist, sponging and firing with great +rapidity, their shot being chiefly directed at the three other +buildings on the ridge--namely, the Observatory--the Mosque, as it was +called--and, on the extreme right, Hindoo Rao's house. + +From the Flagstaff Tower the ridge trended in a southerly direction +towards those buildings, approaching gradually nearer and nearer to the +city, till at Hindoo Rao's house it was distant about 1,200 yards from +the walls. + +To the rear of this ridge, and some distance below, so that all view of +Delhi was quite shut out from it, was the camp of the besieging army, +numbering at this period about 6,000 men. The tents were pitched at +regular intervals behind the ruined houses of the old cantonment, which, +at the outbreak on May 11, had been burnt and destroyed by the sepoys. +A canal which supplied us with water from the Jumna ran round the ridge +past the suburb of Kishenganj into the city, and was crossed by two +bridges, over which communication with the country to the north-west, +and leading to the Punjab, was kept open by the loyal Sikh chieftains +and their retainers. + +Our position on the ridge extended about a mile and a half, the right +and left front flanks defended by outlying advanced pickets, which I +shall hereafter describe. + +The city walls, as before recorded, were seven miles in circumference, +so that at this time, and, in fact, almost to the end of the siege, we, +with our small force, in a manner only commanded a small part of the +city. The bridge of boats remained to the last in the possession of the +enemy, and was quite out of range even from our advanced approaches, +while to the right and rear of the city the gates gave full ingress to +reinforcing bodies of insurgents from the south, whose entrance we were +unable to prevent. + +Our investment, if such it could be called, was therefore only partial, +being confined to that portion of the city extending from the water +battery near Selimgarh Fort to the Ajmir Gate, which was just visible +from the extreme right of the ridge. This part was defended by, I think, +four bastions, named, respectively, the Water, Kashmir, Mori, and Burn. +Three gates besides the Lahore gave egress to the mutineers when making +sorties, the afterwards celebrated Kashmir Gate, the Kabul and the Ajmir +Gates. + +The Hindoo Rao's house, on the right of the ridge where it sloped down +into the plain, was the key of our position, and was defended with great +bravery and unflinching tenacity throughout the whole siege by the +Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, and portions of the 60th Royal Rifles and +the Guide Corps. Incessant day and night attacks were here made by the +enemy, who knew that, were that position turned, our camp--in fact, our +very existence as a besieging force--would be imperilled. + +But no assault, however strong and determined, made any impression on +the men of these gallant regiments, led by Major Reid, the officer +commanding the Sirmoor battalion. They lost in killed and wounded a +number far out of all proportion to that of any other corps before +Delhi, and must in truth be reckoned the heroes of the siege. + +The Goorkhas are recruited in the mountain districts of the Himalayas, +in the kingdom of Nepal. They are short and squat in figure, never more +than five feet three inches in height, of dark complexion, with deep-set +eyes and high cheek-bones denoting their affinity to the Turanian race. +Good-humoured and of a cheerful disposition, they have always been great +favourites with the European soldiers, whose ways and peculiarities they +endeavour to imitate to a ludicrous extent. In battle, as I have often +seen them, they seem in their proper element, fierce and courageous, +shrinking from no danger. They carried, besides the musket, a short, +heavy, curved knife called a _kukri_, a formidable weapon of which the +sepoys were in deadly terror. As soldiers they are second to none, +amenable to discipline and docile, but very tigers when roused; they +fought with unflinching spirit during the Mutiny, freely giving up their +lives in the service of their European masters. + +And now that I have endeavoured, for the purposes of this narrative, to +explain our position and that of the enemy, I shall proceed to recount, +as far as my recollection serves, the main incidents of the siege, and +more particularly those in which I personally took part. + +The camp of my regiment was pitched, as I have said, on the extreme +left of the besieging force, on the rear slope of the ridge. We were +completely hidden from any view of the city, and but for the sound +of the firing close by, which seldom ceased day or night, might have +fancied ourselves far away from Delhi. + +Cholera still carried off its victims from our midst, and the very night +of our arrival I performed the melancholy duty of reading the Burial +Service over five gallant fellows of the Grenadier Company who had died +that day from the fell disease. + +The heat was insupportable, the thermometer under the shade of my tent +marking 112 deg.F.; and to add to our misery there came upon us a plague +of flies, the like of which I verily believe had not been on the +earth since Moses in that manner brought down the wrath of God on the +Egyptians. They literally darkened the air, descending in myriads and +covering everything in our midst. Foul and loathsome they were, and we +knew that they owed their existence to, and fattened on, the putrid +corpses of dead men and animals which lay rotting and unburied in +every direction. The air was tainted with corruption, and the heat was +intense. Can it, then, be wondered that pestilence increased daily in +the camp, claiming its victims from every regiment, native as well as +European? + +About this time many spies were captured and executed; in fact, so many +prisoners were taken by the pickets that it was ordered that for the +future, instead of being sent under escort to the camp for trial, they +should be summarily dealt with by the officers commanding pickets. + +On the evening of July 2 I was sent, in command of fifty men, to relieve +the picket at a place called the "Cow House"; this was an outshed +belonging to Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's mansion, burnt by the rebels on +May 11, and midway between that building and the stables, at each of +which were stationed 150 men. At the beginning of the siege our left +advanced flank, on the side of the River Jumna, was exposed to constant +attacks by the enemy, and the three pickets mentioned above had been +since that time stationed at those places. Each communicated with the +other, the one to the right being on a mound near the ruins of the +house, and some 1,200 yards from the city, the cowshed situated midway +between this mound and the river, and, lastly, the stables close to the +banks, all partially hidden from view of the batteries on the walls by +gardens and thick clusters of trees. + +I stationed my men at the sheds, and placed double rows of sentries to +my front along the edge of a deep _nallah_, or ravine. + +Soon after this that gallant officer, Lieutenant Hodson (on whose memory +lately aspersions have been cast by an author who knows nothing of the +subject on which he has written), rode up to the picket and told me that +a sortie in force was expected that night, and that I was to keep a +sharp lookout to prevent surprise. + +Hodson, besides commanding a regiment of native Sikh cavalry of his own +raising, was head of the Intelligence Department. He covered himself +with glory during the siege, was untiring in his exertions and well-nigh +ubiquitous, riding incessantly round the pickets at night, and being +present at most of the engagements. He was a perfect Hindustani scholar, +and it was reported in camp, though with what truth I cannot say, that +he on several occasions entered Delhi in disguise during the siege +to gain information of the enemy's intentions. This may have been +exaggeration, but it is nevertheless certain that, through some source +or other, he made himself well acquainted with the doings and movements +of the mutineers. + +Shortly after he left, the field-officer on duty appeared, who ordered +me, in case I should be attacked, to defend my post to the last +extremity, and in no case to fall back, adding that to my picket, and to +those on my right and left, the safety of the camp during the expected +sortie, together with the security of our left flank, was entrusted. + +After darkness set in the enemy commenced a furious cannonade in the +direction of the three pickets, round shot whistling through the trees +and shells bursting around us. The din and roar were deafening, but +firing, as they did, at random, little damage was done. Nothing can be +grander than the sight of live shells cleaving the air on a dark night. +They seemed like so many brilliant meteors rushing through the heavens, +or like lightning-flashes during a storm, and this being my first +experience of the sort, no words can paint my awe and admiration. + +We naturally expected an attack in force from the insurgents under cover +of the cannonade; but hours passed by in suspense and anxiety, and +none was attempted. The firing was continued all night--sleep being +impossible--and ceased only at daybreak, when the relief arrived, and I +marched the picket back to our camp. + +_July 3_.--That day the monsoon--the Indian wet season--set in, and rain +descended in sheets of water for many hours. + +In the afternoon it was reported that a large force of mutineers was +moving out of the city by the Kabul and Ajmir Gates into the suburbs +to the right front of our position, and the alarm sounded, most of the +troops in camp turning out and assembling on the road to the rear of +the canal. Here we were halted for some time, it being uncertain what +direction had been taken by the enemy. + +At sunset two doolies, escorted by men of the 5th Punjab Cavalry, were +seen on the road coming towards us. They contained the bodies of a +European sergeant and a man of the Road Department, who had been +surprised and cut to pieces by some of the rebel cavalry. The escort +also reported that a body of insurgents numbering many thousand men had +been seen moving towards Alipore, one march in our rear, their object, +it was supposed, being to cut off supplies and intercept treasure. + +It being too late to start in pursuit of the enemy, we were dismissed to +our quarters, being warned to hold ourselves in readiness to turn out at +a moment's notice. + +_July 4_.--That night the sound of the enemy's guns to our rear was +heard in the camp, and soon after 2 a. m. we paraded, and joined a force +destined to overtake or cut off the mutineers on their return to Delhi. +The little army, consisting of 1,500 men, cavalry, artillery, and +infantry, marched at once towards Alipore. After we had proceeded three +miles, and just at daybreak, news was brought that the enemy, after +plundering the town, were retreating to the city laden with booty. + +Major Coke, who was in command, then changed our direction to the left, +and we advanced for about two miles over swampy ground to a canal, +the cavalry being in front, then the infantry, the battery of Horse +Artillery bringing up the rear. + +When near the canal, which was shaded on each side by trees, the Major +advanced to reconnoitre, and on his return, the order was given, "Guns +to the front!" The Horse Artillery galloped past us, and we then heard +that the enemy were in sight on the other side of the canal. + +Crossing a bridge, and passing through trees and jungle, the whole force +debouched on an open plain, and formed in order of battle. The first +line consisted of the artillery, in the centre, flanked on each side by +the cavalry--cavalry--portions of the 9th Lancers, the Carabineers, and +that fine regiment, the Guide Corps. Coke's Corps of Punjabees and my +regiment formed the second line. + +It was a pretty sight to see this miniature army advancing in perfect +order towards the enemy. The plain extended for a mile quite open and +without trees, bounded at that distance by a village, in which the +insurgent guns were posted. Clouds of horsemen, apparently without any +formation, hovered on each side of the village, and a large force of +infantry was standing in line somewhat in advance. + +Our guns came into action at a distance of about 1,000 yards from the +village, and were soon answered by those of the enemy, their shot +striking unpleasantly close to our line, and ricochetting over our +heads. Still we advanced, hoping that the rebels would stand till we +came to close quarters. At 500 yards the fire from our artillery seemed +to prove too hot for them; and presently, to our infinite disgust, we +saw their infantry moving off to the left, followed shortly after by the +cavalry. Then their guns ceased firing, and were also quickly withdrawn. + +The Carabineers and Guides were sent in pursuit, and cut up some +stragglers; but the insurgents stampeded at a great pace, and succeeded +in carrying off all their guns. + +A few sepoys were found hiding in the village huts, and were killed by +our men, the Alipore plunder was recovered, besides some ammunition and +camp equipment, and, rather dissatisfied with the result of the action, +we moved slowly back across the plain. + +The regiment was commanded on this occasion by our senior Captain, an +officer of some thirty-five years' service. He was, without exception, +the greatest oddity for a soldier that our army has ever seen. Five feet +two inches in height, with an enormous head, short, hunchback body, long +arms, and thin, shrivelled legs, his whole appearance reminded one +of Dickens' celebrated character Quilp, in the "Old Curiosity Shop." +Entering the service in the "good" old times, when there was no +examination by a medical man, he had, through some back-door influence, +obtained a commission in the army. All his service had been passed +abroad, exchanging from one regiment to another, for it would have been +utterly impossible for him to have retained his commission in England. +Marching, he was unable to keep step with the men, and on horseback he +presented the most ludicrous appearance, being quite unable to ride, +and looking more like a monkey than a human being. On our first advance +across the plain the little Captain was riding in our front, vainly +endeavouring to make his horse move faster, and striking him every now +and then on the flanks with his sword. I was on the right of the line, +and, together with the men, could not keep from laughing, when a friend +of mine--a tall officer of one of the native infantry regiments--rode to +my side and asked me who that was leading the regiment. I answered, "He +is our commanding officer." + +The sun shone with intense heat on our march back across the plain, and +the European soldiers began to feel its effects, many being struck down +with apoplexy. About midday the infantry halted at the canal, the guns +and most of the cavalry returning to camp, as it was supposed there +would be no more work for them to do. We lay down in the welcome shade +of the trees on the bank, enjoying our breakfast, which had been brought +to us by our native servants, and, in company with an officer of the 9th +Lancers, I was discussing a bottle of ale, the sweetest draught I think +I have ever tasted. The arms were piled in our front, and at intervals +we watched, as they crossed the canal, a troop of elephants which had +been sent out to bring the sick and wounded into camp. + +All at once, from our left front, and without any warning, shots came +whistling through the trees and jungle, and some men lying on the ground +were hit. The regiment at once fell in and changed front to the left, +moving in the direction from which the shots were coming. + +Frightened at the sound of the firing, the elephants were seized with a +panic and made off across the canal. Trumpeting, with their trunks high +above their heads, they floundered through the water to the opposite +side, their drivers vainly attempting to stop their flight. We saw them +disappearing through the trees, and learnt afterwards that they never +stopped till close to their own quarters at the camp. + +Meanwhile the shots came thick and fast, and we advanced in line till we +came to a comparatively open space, and in sight of the enemy--a large +body of infantry outnumbering us by four to one. They were at no great +distance from us, and a sharp musketry fire was kept up from both sides, +causing heavy losses. + +Seeing that no object was to be gained with our small force by +encountering one so vastly superior, Major Coke deemed it prudent to +retire, and retreating firing, we crossed the bridge and lined the bank +on each side. + +The enemy followed, their men forming opposite to us and keeping up a +steady fire at a distance of from 100 to 150 yards. I was on the right +of the line with the Grenadiers, when, half an hour later, I was +directed by the Adjutant to march my men to the left of the bridge +to reinforce the Light Company, who were being hard pressed by the +insurgents, some of whom were wading through the canal, with the evident +intention of turning our left flank. We crept along under the bank, and +were received with joy by our comrades, one of them, I well remember, +welcoming us in most forcible language, and intimating that they would +soon have been sent to--if we had not come. + +The file-firing here was continuous, a perfect hail of bullets, and it +was dangerous to show one's head over the bank. Shouting and taunting +us, the rebels came up close to the opposite side, and were struck down +in numbers by our men, who rested their muskets on the bank and took +sure aim. Still, the contest was most unequal; the enemy were wading in +force through the water on our left, and the day would have gone hard +with us from their overwhelming numerical superiority, when, just at +this critical moment, the galloping of horses and the noise of wheels +was heard in our rear. + +Six Horse Artillery guns, led by Major Tombs--one of the most gallant +officers in camp--came thundering along the road. They passed with +a cheer, crossed the bridge at full speed, wheeled to their left, +unlimbered as quick as lightning, and opened fire on the rebels. Taken +completely by surprise, these made no stand, and fled pell-mell towards +Delhi, leaving altogether 200 dead on the ground. + +It was now nearly five o'clock, and we were distant four miles from +camp. Many of our men had died from apoplexy and sunstroke, their faces +turning quite black in a few minutes--a horrible sight. These, with the +killed and the sick and wounded, were placed on the backs of a fresh lot +of elephants, which had just arrived; and, scarcely able to drag one leg +after the other, we turned our faces towards the camp, reaching our own +quarters soon after sunset. + +This was a terrible and trying day for all engaged, and more especially +for the European infantry. We had been under arms for seventeen hours, +most of the time exposed to the pitiless rays of an Indian sun, under +fire for a considerable period, and, with the exception of the slight +halt for breakfast, on our feet all the time. + +When nearing camp we were met by the General, Sir Henry Barnard, who +addressed us with some kindly words, and little did we think that +that was the last occasion we should see the gallant old soldier. The +following morning he was attacked with cholera, and expired in the +afternoon, deeply regretted by the whole army. + +No man could possibly have been placed in a more trying situation than +he who had just given up his life in the service of his country. Called +on to command an army to which was entrusted the safety of British +rule in India, the cares and anxiety of the task, together with his +unremitting attention to his duties and constant exposure to the sun, +made him peculiarly susceptible to the disease from which he died. He +had served with distinction in the Crimean campaign, and had only landed +in India to take command of a division in the April of this year. + +_July 5_.--From July 5 to 8 nothing of note occurred. The enemy kept up, +as usual, a constant fire upon the ridge and outlying pickets; but no +attempt at a sortie was made. + +I visited the Flagstaff Tower each day when off duty, seemingly never +tired of gazing at the glorious panorama spread out before me, and +watching the batteries delivering their unceasing fire. + +With the exception of two 24-pound cannon taken from the enemy, for +which we had no shot, the heaviest guns on the ridge were 18-pounders +and a few small mortars. Having possession of the great arsenal, the +insurgents mounted on the bastions of Delhi 32-and 24-pounder guns and +13-inch mortars, their trained artillerymen acquitting themselves right +valiantly, and making excellent practice. They were almost to a +man killed at their guns during the siege, and towards the end the +difference in firing was fully perceptible, when the infantry filled +their places and worked the guns. + +Having no round-shot for the two 24-pounders, we were reduced to firing +back on the city the shot of the same calibre hurled against us, and +a reward of half a rupee per shot was paid by the commissariat to any +camp-follower bringing in the missiles. + +On one occasion I saw a party of native servants, carrying on their +heads cooked provisions for the men on picket, wend their way up the +slope from the camp. Two round-shot fired by the enemy struck the top +of the ridge and rolled down the declivity. Here was a prize worth +contending for, and the cooks, depositing the dishes on the ground, ran +in all haste to seize the treasures. I watched the race with interest, +and anticipated some fun, knowing that in their eagerness they would +forget that the shots had not had time to cool. Two men in advance of +the rest picked up the balls, and, uttering a cry, dropped them quickly, +rubbing and blowing their hands. The remainder stood patiently waiting, +and then, after a time, spent evidently in deliberation, two men placed +the shot on their heads, and all in a body moved off towards the +commissariat quarters to receive and divide the reward. + +_July 7_.--On the morning of July 7, I accompanied a detachment of 150 +men under command of a Captain to relieve the picket at the mound close +to the ruins of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe's house. This mansion, built by +the present baronet's father, was situated about 1,200 yards from the +walls of the city, and surrounded by trees and gardens. At the outbreak +of May 11, it had been plundered and burnt by the mutinous sepoys and +_badmashes_, who also in like manner had destroyed every house belonging +to the Europeans in the suburbs of Delhi and the adjoining cantonment. +Of the murders that then took place I shall have something to say +hereafter, when writing the history of a young school-fellow whose +sister was killed by the insurgents. + +From our position on picket we could see a short distance in front, the +ground having been partially cleared of trees and undergrowth. A chain +of double sentries was posted, and the utmost vigilance observed. We +could hear the batteries opening on the ridge, while occasionally, as if +to harass the picket, a 13-inch shell would burst either in our front or +in our rear. The night passed quickly, and at daybreak, when visiting +the sentries, I heard distinctly the bugles of the rebels sounding the +reveille, succeeded by other familiar calls. It seemed strange to hear +our own bugle-calls sounded by men who were now our enemies; and not +only was this the case, but also the insurgents for some time wore the +scarlet uniform of the British soldiers, and invariably to the end of +the war gave the English words of command they had been taught in our +service. + +We were relieved from picket on the morning of the 8th, and returned to +our camp, remaining quiet during the day. Executions by hanging took +place every day, but after the first horrible experience nothing would +induce me to be a spectator. The rain, which had begun on the 3rd, +continued almost without intermission, our camp becoming a quagmire, and +the muggy, moist atmosphere increasing the ravages of cholera amongst +our unfortunate soldiers. + +_July 9_.--At sunrise on the 9th, a terrific cannonade woke us out of +our sleep; but, the main camp being some distance from the right of the +ridge, we for a long time heard no tidings of what was going on. At 8 a. +m. the bugles of the regiments on the right sounded the alarm, followed +at once by the "assembly." + +Some 200 men of my regiment, all that remained off duty, paraded in +front of the tents, and received orders to march to the centre rear of +the camp, in rear of the quarters of the General in command. Here we +were joined by some companies of the 8th Regiment and a battalion of +Sikhs, and, continuing our march, we halted near the tents of Tombs' +battery of Horse Artillery. + +Lying around and even among the tent-ropes were dead bodies of the +enemy's cavalry, and a little way beyond, close to the graveyard, +some men of the 75th were firing into the branches of the trees which +surrounded the enclosure. Every now and then the body of a rebel would +fall on the ground at their feet, the soldiers laughing and chatting +together, and making as much sport out of the novel business as though +they were shooting at birds in the branches of a tree. + +How the native cavalry came there was at first inexplicable to us; but +we were informed afterwards that a body of irregular horsemen, dressed +in white, the same uniform as that worn by the 9th Irregulars on our +side, had, with the greatest daring, an hour before dashed across the +canal bridge and charged the picket of the Carabineers, making also for +the two guns of Tombs' battery. The former, mostly young soldiers, had +turned and fled, all save their officer and one sergeant, who nobly +stood their ground. Lieutenant Hills, who commanded the two guns on +picket, also alone charged the horsemen, cutting down one or two of the +sowars. + +Meantime the guns were unlimbered, but before they had time to fire, the +enemy were upon them. Hills was struck down badly wounded, and was on +the point of being despatched by a sowar, when Major Tombs, hearing the +noise, rushed out of his tent, and seeing the plight his subaltern was +in, fired his revolver at thirty yards and killed the sowar. + +The camp was now fairly alarmed; the guns of Olpherts' battery opened on +the enemy, and, some men of the 75th appearing on the scene, the rebels +were shot down in every direction, thirty-five being killed, and the +rest escaping by the bridge. A few climbed into the trees and were shot +down as I have said before. + +This attack by the enemy's cavalry was a fitting prelude to the events +of the memorable sortie of that day. + +At early morn, under cover of an unceasing cannonade from the city +batteries on to the right of our position, the insurgents in great force +and of all arms streamed out from the gates, making in the direction +of the suburb of Kishenganj, their evident intention being to turn our +right flank and make for our camp. + +Seeing that the enemy were increasing in numbers, and coming on with +great determination, the alarm had sounded; and detachments from most of +the regiments, with Horse Artillery and a few cavalry under the command +of Brigadier-General Chamberlain, marched towards the right rear of the +camp, taking the road to the suburb of Kishenganj. + +We crossed the canal at about 10 a. m., and, moving in column for some +little distance, came in sight of advanced bodies of the enemy, chiefly +infantry with cavalry and field artillery on each flank. We formed in +line, sending out skirmishers, the guns opened fire--the country here +being pretty open--and the action began. + +Soon we drove back the rebels, who continued retreating in excellent +order, turning at intervals and discharging their muskets, while every +now and then their guns were faced about and unlimbered, and round-shot +and grape sent among our ranks. As we advanced, the vegetation became +thicker, and we were confronted at times by high hedges of prickly-pear +and cactus, growing so close together that it was impossible to make +our way through. This occasioned several detours, the sepoys lining the +hedges and firing at us through loopholes and openings, cursing the +_gore log_[1] and daring us to come on. + +The rain, which had kept off during the morning, now descended in a +steady downpour, soaking through our thin cotton clothing, and in a few +minutes drenching us to the skin. + +Passing the obstacles on each flank, the force again formed in as good +order as the inequalities of the ground would permit, and continued its +advance, all the time under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. We +caught glimpses of the enemy retreating towards the Kishenganj Serai, +but the vegetation was so dense in the numerous gardens, and the view so +obstructed by stone walls and ruined buildings, that it was with great +difficulty that we made any progress, nor, having the advantage of so +much cover, did the enemy suffer much loss from our musketry fire. + +Many of our men fell at this period of the fight; despising the enemy +and refusing to take cover, our soldiers would stand out exposed and +deliver their fire, offering a sure aim to the enemy's marksmen. It +was a continual rush from one point to another, halting and firing +at intervals, the rebels all the time slowly retreating. Our Horse +Artillery at this juncture could only act on occasions, the ground being +so broken that the guns were often brought to a standstill. + +All this time the batteries on the ridge, which from their high position +could see what was going on, sent shells and round-shot at every +opportunity over our heads, dispersing the mutineers when grouped +together in any large number, and dealing death amongst them. + +We saw them lying in heaps of twenty and thirty as we advanced, and the +fire was so hot and the practice so excellent that the enemy evacuated +the gardens and fled towards the suburb of Kishenganj. + +Here the country was more open, so, re-forming our scattered line, +with skirmishers in advance, we drove the rebels before us, the Horse +Artillery playing on them in the open and bringing down scores. + +Crossing the canal (which here barred our progress) by a bridge, we +entered into a wide lane to the left, the high bank of the canal being +on one side and the walls of a large caravanserai on the other. + +The insurgents were posted at the far end of the lane, where it opened +out at the gate of the serai, and received us, as we advanced at the +double, with a rattling fire of musketry. Some climbed to the top of the +bank, while others fired down at us from the walls. It was a perfect +_feu d'enfer_, and the loss on our side became so heavy that a temporary +check was the result, and it was only with great trouble that the men +could be urged on. + +Seeing a disposition to waver, Colonel W. Jones, the Brigadier under +Chamberlain, with great bravery placed himself in front on foot, and +called on the soldiers, now a confused mass of Sikhs, Goorkhas, and +Europeans, to charge and dislodge the enemy from the end of the lane. +He was answered with a ringing cheer, the men broke into a run, and, +without firing a shot, charged the sepoys, who waited till we were +within fifty yards, and then, as usual, turned and fled. + +Some entered the caravanserai by the large gate, which they attempted +to shut; but we were too quick for them, and following close on their +heels, a hard fight began in the enclosure. + +Others of the enemy ran onwards in the direction of the city, chased by +portions of our force, who pursued them a long distance, and after a +desperate resistance killed many who in their flight had taken refuge in +the serais and buildings. + +The party I was with in the great caravanserai ranged the place like +demons, the English soldiers putting to death every sepoy they could +find. Their aspect was certainly inhuman--eyes flashing with passion and +revenge, faces wet and blackened from powder through biting cartridges; +it would have been useless to attempt to check them in their work of +slaughter. + +Twenty or more of the insurgents, flying for life from their pitiless +foe, made for a small building standing in the centre of the serai. They +were followed by our men, who entered after them at the door. The house +had four windows, one on each side, about three feet from the ground, +and I ran to one and looked in. + +The wretched fugitives had thrown down their arms and, crouching on the +floor with their backs to the wall, begged with out-stretched hands for +mercy, calling out in their language, "_Dohai! dohai!_" words I +well knew the meaning of, and which I had often heard under similar +circumstances. I knew, however, that no quarter would be given, and in a +short time every rebel lay in the agonies of death. + +Most of the force, as I have related, had continued chasing the enemy, +so that for some time we were alone and few in number in the serai. +It was nearly five o'clock, and we thought that, as far as we were +concerned, the action was over. + +It was not so, however. Shouts and yells were heard outside, and, +running to see, we found a fresh force of the mutineers assembled +outside the gates. There was nothing for it but to make a rush and fight +our way through; so with fixed bayonets we charged through them, meeting +soon afterwards the remainder of the force on its way back. Joining with +these, we drove the enemy again before us till we came within 700 yards +of the city walls, there losing sight of our foes. Their guns fired +into us, but the insurgent infantry seemed now to have had sufficient +fighting for one day, and not one man was to be seen. + +Our work was accomplished, and the order was given to retire. Slowly we +wended our way back to camp, arriving there about sunset, having been +continuously under fire for nearly seven hours. + +The losses on this day exceeded that of any since the siege began. Out +of our small force engaged, 221 men were killed and wounded. It was +computed that of the enemy more than 500 were killed, and probably twice +that number wounded, the dead bodies lying thick together at every +stage of our advance, but the wounded men in almost every instance were +carried off by their comrades. + +The camp of our regiment on the extreme left of the line having become a +mere swamp and mud hole from the long-continued rain, and also being at +too great a distance from the main body of the army, we were directed to +change to a position close to the banks of the canal, near the General's +headquarters, and on the left of the 8th Regiment. The move was made, I +think, on July 11; and here we remained till the end of the siege. + +At about this period, too, I was most agreeably surprised by a visit +from an old school-fellow named C---- d. He had entered the Bengal +Civil Service a few years before, and, at the breaking out of the +disturbances, was Assistant Collector at Goorgaon, seventeen miles from +Delhi. On the death of their mother in Ireland, an only sister, a +young girl of eighteen years of age, came out to India to take up her +residence with him. C---- d escorted his sister to Delhi on May 10, she +having received an invitation to stay with the chaplain and his wife, +who had quarters in the Palace. He returned to Goorgaon, little thinking +he would never see her again. + +The next morning, on the arrival of the insurgent cavalry from Meerut, +and the subsequent mutiny of the native infantry regiments and artillery +in the cantonments, the massacre of the Europeans in Delhi began. + +I forbear entering into all the details of this dreadful butchery; +suffice it to say that the chaplain, Mr. Jennings, his wife, Miss +C---- d, and nearly all the white people, both in the Palace and the +city, were murdered. The editor of the _Delhi Gazette_ and his family +were tortured to death by having their throats cut with pieces of broken +bottles, but there were conflicting accounts as to how the Jenningses +and Miss C---- d met their end. From what I gathered after the siege from +some Delhi natives, it was reported that the ladies were stripped naked +at the Palace, tied in that condition to the wheels of gun-carriages, +dragged up the "Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi, and there, in +the presence of the King's sons, cut to pieces. + +It was not till the following evening, May 12, that C---- d heard of the +Mutiny, and, fearing death from the populace of Goorgaon, who had also +risen in revolt, he disguised himself as best he could and rode off into +the country. After enduring great privations, and the danger of being +taken by predatory bands, he at last reached Meerut, and thence +accompanied the force to Delhi. + +From what he hinted, I feel sure he had it on his mind that his sister, +before being murdered, was outraged by the rebels. However this may be, +my old school-fellow had become a changed being. All his passions were +aroused to their fullest extent, and he thought of nothing but revenge. +Armed with sword, revolver, and rifle, he had been present at almost +every engagement with the mutineers since leaving Meerut. He was known +to most of the regiments in camp, and would attach himself to one or +the other on the occasion of a fight, dealing death with his rifle +and giving no quarter. Caring nothing for his own life, so long as he +succeeded in glutting his vengeance on the murderers of his sister, he +exposed himself most recklessly throughout the siege, and never received +a wound. + +On the day of the final assault I met him in one of the streets after we +had gained entrance into the city. He shook my hands, saying that he had +put to death all he had come across, not excepting women and children, +and from his excited manner and the appearance of his dress--which was +covered with blood-stains--I quite believe he told me the truth. One +would imagine he must have tired of slaughter during those six days' +fighting in the city, but it was not so. I dined with him at the Palace +the night Delhi was taken, when he told me he intended accompanying +a small force the next morning to attack a village close by. All my +remonstrances at this were of no avail; he vowed to me he would never +stay his hand while he had an opportunity of wreaking his vengeance. +Poor fellow! that was his last fight; advancing in front of the +soldiers, he met his death from a bullet in the heart when assaulting +the village. + +There were other officers of the army in camp who had lost wives and +relations at Delhi and Meerut, and who behaved in the same manner as +C---- d. One in particular, whose wife I had known well, was an object of +pity to the whole camp. She was the first woman who was murdered during +the outrage at Meerut, and her death took place under circumstances of +such shocking barbarity that they cannot be recorded in these pages. + +Truly these were fearful times, when Christian men and gallant soldiers, +maddened by the foul murder of those nearest and dearest to them, +steeled their hearts to pity and swore vengeance against the murderers. +And much the same feelings, though not to such an extent, pervaded the +breasts of all who were engaged in the suppression of the Mutiny. Every +soldier fighting in our ranks knew that a day of reckoning would come +for the atrocities which had been committed, and with unrelenting spirit +dedicated himself to the accomplishment of that purpose. Moreover, it +was on our part a fight for existence, a war of extermination, in which +no prisoners were taken and no mercy shown--in short, one of the most +cruel and vindictive wars that the world has seen. + +From July 10 to 14 there was comparative quiet in the camp; the +cannonade continued on each side, but no sorties were made by the enemy. + +_July 12_.--On the morning of the 12th I was detailed for picket duty at +the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, to the right front of Hindoo Rao's house, the +picket consisting of 100 men under the command of a Captain. Since +the opening of the siege this had been the scene of many sanguinary +encounters with the enemy, who put forth all their strength in +endeavours to drive in the picket, and so turn our right flank at Hindoo +Rao's house. + +The view at first was almost completely closed in; but by the end of +July the unremitting labours of the Engineers had cleared away the +trees, walls, and buildings in front of the picket for some distance, +and the earth-works connecting it with the ridge at Hindoo Rao's house +were also completed. + +I can remember no event of interest as occurring on July 12. Few shots +were fired at us, and on being relieved the next morning we returned to +camp, wondering at the unusual inactivity of the enemy. + +_July 14_.--They were, however, only preparing for another sortie on a +grand scale, and on the morning of the 14th the bugles again sounded the +"alarm" and the "assembly." The insurgents poured out of the Kabul and +Lahore Gates in great numbers, making, as usual, for the Sabzi Mandi +Gardens and the right of the ridge. They kept up a constant fire of +musketry and field-artillery; and though our batteries swept their +masses with shell and round-shot, they still continued the attack, +pressing close to the pickets and Hindoo Rao's house. + +[Illustration: THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST.] + +Shortly after midday a column of some 1,500 men was assembled to +dislodge and drive them back to the city. We took the road as on the +9th, and soon became engaged with the enemy in the Sabzi Mandi Gardens. +The struggle was long and fierce, a perpetual interchange of musketry +and artillery, our losses, especially in officers, being very severe. +The city batteries also sent grape and canister amongst us from their +large guns and howitzers, inflicting mortal wounds, even at the great +distance of 1,100 yards. + +When driving the rebels before us past the suburb of Kishenganj, +Lieutenant Gabbett and I, in the confusion of the rush, became separated +from the few men of our regiment who were engaged on that day, and found +ourselves--we being the only officers present--with about fifty soldiers +of different corps. For more than half an hour we were completely +isolated from the main body, and were occupied in several little fights +on our own account. Advancing, we scarcely knew where, and in our +excitement fully engaged in chasing the foe, we all at once came most +unexpectedly on to a broad road, with open ground on each side. There, +to our front, and scarcely 500 yards distant, we saw a gate with +embattled towers, the high walls of the city, and a bastion. We were +soon descried by the enemy, who depressed their guns and fired at us +with grape, fortunately without hitting any of our party. We were in a +complete dilemma, under fire of the batteries, cut off from our force, +and liable at any moment to be surrounded; so, deeming discretion the +better part of valour, we turned about and ran with all speed to the +rear, coming upon a troop of Horse Artillery, which was halted amongst +some gardens. + +Soon the main body of our force returned from the pursuit of the rebels, +whom they had driven to within 600 yards of the city wall; and joining +our own detachment, who had given us up as lost, we returned to camp +about sundown. + +Again we had to lament the loss of many fine officers and soldiers. +Nearly 200 men had been killed and wounded--a sad diminution of our +little army, which, had it long continued, would have entirely decimated +the Delhi Field Force. The enemy, however, had suffered most severely, +their loss amounting to quite 1,000 men; and the next morning they were +seen for hours carting the dead bodies into the city. Unusual bravery +was shown by the rebels on this day: they stood fairly in the open, and +also attacked the pickets with great pertinacity, assaulting one called +the "Sammy House" for hours, and leaving eighty dead bodies in its +front, all killed by the infantry of the Guides, who most gallantly held +the picket against overwhelming numbers. + +Cholera all this time raged in the force, and carried off its victims +daily, my own regiment and the 8th being the principal sufferers. It was +melancholy to enter the hospital, to see the agony and hear the groans +of the men, many of them with their dying breath lamenting the hard fate +which had stretched them on a sick-bed and prevented them from doing +their duty in the ranks against the enemy. Fever and ague, too, were +very prevalent, and hospital gangrene broke out, which attained such +virulence that many wounded died from its effects; while of amputations, +I believe not one recovered during the whole siege. + +We were also in the midst of the Indian monsoon, the most unhealthy +season of the year, when rain descended in torrents almost every day, a +hot, muggy atmosphere increasing the sickness and adding to the eternal +plague of flies, a plague the most nauseating it has ever been my lot to +experience. When off duty, it was the custom of some of the officers +to pass the time fishing in the canal at our rear. Here, seated on +camp-stools brought out by our servants, we amused ourselves for hours, +holding lotteries as to who would catch the first fish, the prize being +a bottle of beer. To see us on these occasions, full of merriment, one +would scarcely have realized the fact that the men employed in this +peaceful occupation were part of an army engaged in almost continual +warfare, and fighting for very existence. Laughter and jokes filled +the air, and chaff reigned supreme; while ever and anon we were rudely +recalled to a sense of the dangers around us by the report of a shell +bursting over the ridge, or the presence of an orderly, who summoned one +of the party to proceed on picket or on some perilous duty at the front. + +With regard to provisions, we were plentifully supplied with regular +meals, a sufficiency of good food and drinkables; our lot in this +respect was far more enjoyable than that of the usual run of +campaigners. A large flock of fat sheep accompanied us on the march down +from Ferozepore; and I shall never forget the agony of mind of one of +our gourmands when one day it was reported that the sheep had all been +carried off by the enemy when grazing in the rear of the canal. I had +also purchased 100 dozen of ale at Umballah for the use of the mess, and +this being noised abroad in the camp, we were visited by several thirsty +souls from other regiments, who, less fortunate than ourselves, had +neglected furnishing themselves with this tempting beverage. It was a +pleasure to us to minister to their wants, though I need hardly say that +the stock lasted but a short time, from the numerous calls made on it. + +_July 17_.--General Reed, who had taken command of the army on the death +of Sir Henry Barnard, resigned his position on July 17 in consequence +of sickness and the infirmities of old age. He was succeeded by +General Wilson, of the Artillery, an officer who had already greatly +distinguished himself, and under whom the siege was eventually brought +to a successful conclusion. + +_July 18_.--For three days after the last sortie the enemy were +singularly quiet, quarrelling amongst themselves, as it was reported, +and disputing as to what portion of their army was to lead the next +sortie. However, on July 18, they again made another attempt upon the +Sabzi Mandi and the ridge at Hindoo Rao's. + +The force sent to dislodge them was under command of Colonel Jones, of +the 60th Rifles, who made his arrangements with singular judgment and +tact, and insisted on a regular formation being kept by the troops, +instead of the desultory style of action in vogue during previous +sorties. There was, however, some very hard fighting in the gardens and +serais, where we were received by a storm of bullets; but the men being +persuaded to keep well under cover, the losses were not very serious, +the casualties amounting in all to about ninety officers and men.[2] The +enemy, as usual, suffered severely, more especially from the fire of our +field-guns, which mowed them down when collected in groups of two and +three hundred together. + +[Illustration: FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING TOWARDS +KISHENGANJ.] + +I was amused on this day, as well as on previous sorties, by seeing the +eagerness with which the soldiers, European, Sikh, and Goorkha, rifled +the bodies of the slain sepoys. These last had plundered the city +inhabitants of all they could find in money and jewels, and having no +place of safety (from the anarchy which prevailed in Delhi) in which to +deposit their loot, they one and all invariably carried their treasure +about with them, concealed in the kammerbund folds of muslin or linen +rolled round the waist. On the fall of a mutineer, a rush would be made +by the men to secure the coveted loot, a race taking place sometimes +between a European and one of our native soldiers as to who should +first reach the body. The kammerbund was quickly torn off and the money +snatched up, a wrangle often ensuing among the men as to the division of +the booty. In this manner many soldiers succeeded, to my knowledge, +in securing large sums of money; one in particular, a Grenadier of my +regiment, after killing a sepoy, rifled the body, and, returning in +great glee to where I was standing, showed me twenty gold mohurs, +worth L32 sterling. It was a most reprehensible practice, but almost +impossible entirely to prevent, for in the loose order of fighting +which generally prevailed, the men did not break from their ranks to +accomplish their purpose, but often, in isolated groups of two and +three, were separated at times a short distance from the rest of the +combatants. + +The General, we heard, was loud in his praise of the manner in which +Colonel Jones conducted the operations on this day; after the action +also, he withdrew his men in perfect order, allowing no straggling--a +great contrast to our former usual style when returning to camp after +the repulse of a sortie. + +This was the last action of any consequence fought in the open at the +Sabzi Mandi Gardens. The ground in front of the picket was soon +after cleared, and during future attacks our men remained behind the +breastworks and entrenchments which had been thrown up, and by a steady +fire soon drove back any rebels who were foolhardy enough to come within +range. + +It speaks well for the prowess of the mutineers, and proves that we had +no contemptible foe to deal with, that so many sorties and attacks were +made by them during the siege. They amounted in all to thirty-six--all +of these being regularly organized actions and assaults--besides +innumerable others on isolated pickets and advanced posts. They seldom +came to close quarters with our men, and then only when surprised; but +nothing could exceed their persistent courage in fighting almost every +day, and, though beaten on every occasion with frightful loss, returning +over and over again to renew the combat. + +_July 19_.--The succeeding days from July 19 to 23 were days of quiet, +with the exception of the usual artillery duel. We took our turn at +picket duty with the other regiments, one day at the Metcalfe house and +stables, and on another at the Sabzi Mandi. + +_July 23_.--On the morning of the 23rd the insurgents, for the first +time since the previous month, made a sortie on our left, emerging from +the Kashmir Gate with infantry and field-guns. With the latter they +occupied Ludlow Castle, a ruined house midway between the Flagstaff +Tower and the Kashmir Gate. Then they opened fire on the left of the +ridge, and moving about continually amongst the trees and buildings, +were well sheltered from our batteries, which were unable to make good +practice. The rebels also showed at the Metcalfe picket, attacking at +the same time with their infantry; and becoming emboldened by receiving +no opposition from us, the greater part of their force advanced nearer +and nearer to the ridge, till they were seen distinctly from the Mosque +battery. + +To punish their temerity, a force of all arms was sent out from camp +under Brigadier Showers, with the intention of attacking their right +flank. We moved up a deep gorge, and coming on them by surprise, forced +them to remove their guns, which quickly limbered up and made for the +city. There was a great deal of skirmishing in the gardens and ruined +houses before the infantry followed the example of their comrades; but +the fight was not nearly so severe as during the sorties on the right, +nor did the enemy suffer any very great loss. On our side, we had in all +fifty officers and men killed and wounded.[3] + +Again for some days the enemy made no movement, and the weather also +holding up for a time, some sport was inaugurated in the camp. The men +might be seen amusing themselves at various games, while the officers +actually got up an impromptu horse-race. + +This, however, was not to last long, and on July 31 we were again on the +alert from the report that several thousands of rebels, with thirteen +guns and mortars, were making for the open country to the right rear of +our camp. + +A force under Major Coke was sent out to watch their movements, and also +to convoy a large store of treasure and ammunition coming down to us +from the Punjab. The convoy arrived safe on the morning of August 1, and +the rain falling heavily on that day, making the ground impassable for +guns, the insurgent force, which had moved to our rear, broke up their +camp and retired towards Delhi. + +The 1st of August was the anniversary of a great Mohammedan festival +called the "Bakra Id," and for some time there had been rumours of a +grand sortie in honour of the event. + +Morning and afternoon passed, and we began to think the enemy had given +up their purpose, when about sunset firing began at the right pickets. +The mutineers returning from our rear had met an equal number, which +had sallied from the city, at the suburb of Kishenganj, and the forces, +joining together, moved forward and attacked the whole right of the +ridge and the pickets in that quarter. + +Loudly the bugles sounded the alarm all over the camp, and in a very +short time every available man was mustered, and the troops were hurried +forward to reinforce the breastworks at Hindoo Rao's house and on each +side. + +There had been only one actual night-attack since the beginning of the +siege, and that took place to the rear; it therefore naturally occurred +to the officers in command that this assault by the enemy with such vast +numbers would require all our efforts to prevent being turned, thus +imperilling the safety of the camp. + +The action had commenced in earnest when we arrived on the ridge, and +the brave defenders of Hindoo Rao's house were holding their own against +enormous odds. Masses of infantry with field-guns swarmed in our front, +yelling and shouting like demons while keeping up a steady fire. + +Darkness came on--a lovely night, calm and clear without a cloud in the +sky. The batteries on both sides kept up a terrific cannonade; and our +men, effectually concealed behind the earth-works, poured incessant +volleys of musketry into the enemy. The roar and din exceeded anything I +had ever heard before, and formed one continuous roll, while all around +the air was illumined by a thousand bright flashes of fire, exposing +to our view the movements of the rebels. They had also thrown up +breastworks at no great distance to our front, from behind which they +sallied at intervals, returning, however, quickly under cover when our +fire became too hot for them. And in this manner, without a moment's +intermission, the combat continued all night long, with no advantage to +the assailants, and with few casualties on our side.[4] + +_August 2_.--Morning broke without any cessation in the firing; and it +was not till ten o'clock that the rebels, seeing how futile were all +efforts, began to retire. Some few still kept up the firing; but at +2 p. m. all was quiet, and our sadly harassed soldiers were enabled to +obtain some rest after seventeen hours' fighting. Nothing could have +surpassed the steadiness of the men and the cool manner in which they +met the attacks of the enemy, remaining well under cover, and only +showing themselves when the rebels came close up. Our casualties during +those long hours only amounted to fifty killed and wounded, thus proving +the judgment of the General in ordering the men to remain behind the +earthworks, and not to advance in pursuit unless absolutely necessary. +Two hundred dead bodies were counted in front of the entrenchments, and +doubtless during the darkness many more were carried off by the enemy. + +After the severe lesson they had received the rebels remained inactive +for some days, very few shots even being fired from the walls. We learnt +that the late grand attack had been made by the Neemuch and part of the +Gwalior and Kotah insurgents who had mutinied at those places not long +before. This accounted for the stubbornness of the assault, it being the +custom, when reinforcements arrived, to send them out at once to try +their mettle with the besiegers. + +The fruits of General Wilson's accession to the command of the army, +and the stringent orders issued by him for the maintenance of order and +discipline both in camp and on picket became more and more apparent +every day. All duties were now regulated and carried out with the utmost +precision; each regiment knew its allotted place in case of a sortie, +and the officers on picket had to furnish reports during their term of +duty, thereby making them more attentive to the discipline and care of +their men. In the matter of uniform, also, a great and desirable change +was made. Many corps had become quite regardless of appearance, entirely +discarding all pretensions to uniformity, and adopting the most +nondescript dress. One in particular, a most gallant regiment of +Europeans which had served almost from the beginning of the siege, +was known by the sobriquet of the "Dirty Shirts," from their habit of +fighting in their shirts with sleeves turned up, without jacket or coat, +and their nether extremities clad in soiled blue dungaree trousers. + +The army in general wore a cotton dress, dyed with _khaki rang_, or dust +colour, which at a distance could with difficulty be seen, and was far +preferable to white or to the scarlet of the British uniform. The enemy, +on the contrary, appeared entirely in white, having soon discarded the +dress of their former masters; and it was a pretty sight to see them +turning out of the gates on the occasion of a sortie, their arms +glittering, pennons flying, and their whole appearance presenting a gay +contrast to the dull, dingy dress of their foes. + +_August 5_.--On August 5 an attempt was made by our Engineers to blow up +the bridge of boats across the Jumna, and some of us went to the top of +the Flagstaff Tower to see the result. + +Two rafts filled with barrels of powder and with a slow match in each +were sent down the river, starting from a point nearly a mile up the +stream. We saw them descending, carried down slowly by the flood, one +blowing up half a mile from the bridge. The other continued its course, +and was descried by some mutineers on the opposite bank, who sent off +men to the raft on _massaks_ (inflated sheep-skins). It was a perilous +deed for the men, but without any delay they made their way to the raft, +put out the fuse, and towed the engine of destruction to shore. A most +ignominious failure, and the attempt was never repeated, the bridge +remaining intact to the last. + +_August 6_.--At 7 a. m. on August 6 the alarm again sounded, and we +remained accoutred in camp for some hours, but were not called to the +front on that day. A large party of the enemy's cavalry--more, it must +be supposed, in a spirit of bravado than anything else--charged up the +road towards the Flagstaff Tower, waving their swords and shouting, +"Din! din!" A battery was brought to bear on them, and this, with a +volley or two of musketry, soon sent them to the right about, galloping +off and disappearing amongst the trees, after leaving some dead on the +ground. + +The enemy's infantry also harassed the pickets on the right flank, +causing some casualties, and their artillery fire was kept up all day, +the guns in the new Kishenganj battery almost enfilading the right of +our position. No efforts on our part could silence the fire from this +place, and it remained intact, a constant source of annoyance, to the +end of the siege. + +The numerous cavalry of the enemy might have caused us a vast amount +of trouble had they been properly led, or behaved even as well as the +infantry and artillery. But there seemed to be little dash or spirit +amongst them, and though they made a brave show, emerging from the gates +in company with the rest of their forces, waving swords and brandishing +spears, they took care to keep at a respectful distance from our fire, +their only exploit, as far as I can remember, being that on July 9, when +100 horsemen charged into the rear of our camp. + +From the 8th to the 11th there were constant attacks on all the pickets, +and the artillery fire on both sides was almost unceasing. The enemy +brought out some guns by the Kashmir Gate and shelled the Metcalfe +pickets, their skirmishers advancing close to our defences with shouts, +and harassing the men day and night, though with small loss on our side. +They also made the approach to the pickets for relief so perilous that +at early morn of the 12th a large force, under Brigadier Showers, was +detailed to drive the rebels into the city. My regiment furnished twenty +men, under an officer,[5] on this occasion. + +_August 12_.--We attacked them at dawn, taking them completely by +surprise, and capturing all their guns, four in number. The 1st +Fusiliers and Coke's Rifles behaved most gallantly, and bore the +brunt of the fight, losing half the number of those killed and +wounded--namely, 110. The enemy's casualties amounted to upwards of 300, +and they left many wounded on the ground, who were shot and bayoneted +without mercy. This signal chastisement had the effect of cowing them +for a time, and the pickets on the left were unmolested for the future, +save by occasional shots from the city batteries. + +_August 14_.--August 14 was quiet, the enemy giving us a respite and +scarcely firing a gun, though they must have known of the welcome +reinforcements we had received that morning. These consisted of nearly +3,000 men, of which number more than 1,100 were Europeans. + +This force, under command of General Nicholson, comprised the 52nd +Regiment, our left wing from Ferozepore, some Mooltani Horse, 1,200 +Sikhs and Punjabees, and a battery of European artillery. The +reinforcements brought up the Delhi Field Force to more than 8,000 +effectives, while of sick and wounded we had the frightful number of +nearly 2,000 in camp, many more having been sent away to Umballah. + +But what added most to our strength was the presence amongst us of the +hero John Nicholson, he who has been since designated as the "foremost +man in India." Young in years, he had already done good service in the +Punjab wars, and was noted not only for his striking military talent, +but also for the aptitude he displayed in bringing into subjection and +ruling with a firm hand the lawless tribes on our North-West Frontier. +Many stories are told of his prowess and skill, and he ingratiated +himself so strongly amongst a certain race that he received his +apotheosis at their hands, and years afterwards was, and perhaps to this +day is, worshipped by these rude mountaineers under the title of "Nikul +Seyn." Spare in form, but of great stature, his whole appearance and +mien stamped him as a "king of men." Calm and self-confident, full of +resource and daring, no difficulties could daunt him; he was a born +soldier, the idol of the men, the pride of the whole army. His +indomitable spirit seemed at once to infuse fresh vigour into the force, +and from the time of his arrival to the day of the assault Nicholson's +name was in everyone's mouth, and each soldier knew that vigorous +measures would be taken to insure ultimate success. + +We were freed from attack for some days, and the only event of +importance was a raid made by the enemy's horsemen in the direction of +Rohtak. They were followed by that great irregular leader Hodson, who +succeeded, with small loss, in cutting up some thirty of their number, +his own newly-raised regiment and the Guide Cavalry behaving admirably. + +_August 19_.--On August 19 a noteworthy incident occurred at the Sabzi +Mandi picket. A woman dressed in the native costume, and attended by an +Afghan, walked up to the sentries at that post, and on approaching the +men, threw herself on her knees, thanking God in English that she was +under the protection of British soldiers. The honest fellows were +greatly taken aback, and wondered who this could be dressed in native +costume, speaking to them in their own language. She was brought before +the officer commanding the picket, when it transpired that she was a +Eurasian named Seeson, the wife of a European road sergeant. During the +outbreak on May 11 at Delhi her children had been slain before her eyes +and she herself badly wounded, escaping, however, from the murderers +in a most providential manner, and finding shelter in the house of a +friendly native, who had succoured her ever since. By the aid of the +Afghan, and disguised as an _ayah_, or nurse, she had passed through +the gates of the city that morning, eventually finding her way to the +picket. We had one lady in camp, the wife of an officer of native +infantry, and to her kindly charge the poor creature was consigned, +living to the end of the siege in Mrs. Tytler's tent, and being an +object of curiosity as well as of pity to the whole force. + +The enemy, lately, had caused great annoyance by firing at the ridge +32-pound rockets, a large store of which they had found in the magazine, +and as they were unused to discharging these dangerous missiles, the +rockets at first, by their rebound, inflicted more damage on the rebels +than on us; but, gaining experience through long practice, they every +evening and during part of the night fired them at the ridge, one or two +falling right amongst the tents in camp.[6] + +A battery also was erected about this time on the opposite bank of the +Jumna, at a distance of some 2,000 yards from the Metcalfe pickets, and +this was served so well that not only were the outposts in considerable +danger from the fire, but the camp of one of our native regiments on the +extreme left, and below the Flagstaff Tower, was shifted in consequence +of the enemy's shells falling in their midst. + +It will thus be seen that the rebels put forth their whole strength and +used every means at their disposal to harass and annoy us. Like a swarm +of hornets, they attacked us in every direction, first in one quarter +and then in another; but no effort of theirs affected in the smallest +degree the bulldog grip of the British army on the rebellious city. +Reports were rife that the King had sent to propose terms to the +General, and that the answer was a cannonade directed on the walls by +all our batteries; also that their ammunition was falling short; but +these, with other silly rumours, were merely the gossip of the camp, and +were not credited by the bulk of the army. + +_August_ 24.--Again, a very large body of mutineers, numbering, it was +said, 9,000 men, with thirteen guns, left the city on August 24. They +were seen from the ridge for hours trooping out of the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates, and proceeding far to our right rear. Their intention, no doubt, +was to cut off the large siege-train and munitions of war on their way +down to us from the arsenal at Ferozepore. + +_August_ 25.--A force was at once detailed, under command of the gallant +Nicholson, to intercept the enemy and, if possible, to bring them to +battle. Long before daylight on the morning of August 25 we paraded, +cavalry, infantry, and three batteries of Horse Artillery, or eighteen +guns, numbering in all nearly 2,500 men. + +At six o'clock the march began, and leaving the Grand Trunk road a short +distance from the rear of our camp, we made across country to a town +named Nanglooi, distant six miles. The men were in high spirits +notwithstanding the difficulties we had to encounter in traversing a +route wellnigh impassable from the recent rains, and ankle-deep in mud. +Two broad swamps also had to be crossed, the soldiers wading waist-high +in the water, and carrying their ammunition-pouches on their heads. +Three hours and more were passed before we arrived at the village, and +here information reached the General that the enemy were posted twelve +miles distant, at a place named Najafgarh. + +The march was at once resumed, and, floundering in the mud, the +artillery horses especially with great labour dragging the guns through +the morass which extended nearly all the way, we arrived at about four +o'clock on the banks of a canal in full view of the enemy's position. + +This had been chosen with great judgment, and presented a formidable +appearance, stretching about a mile and a half from the canal bridge on +the extreme right to a large serai on the left in the town of Najafgarh. +Nine guns were posted between the bridge and the serai, with four more +in the latter building, all protected by entrenchments with parapets and +embrasures. + +The troops crossed the canal by a ford, and formed up in line of battle +on the opposite side, facing the town of Najafgarh, and about 900 yards +from the serai, the infantry in two lines, ourselves and the 1st Bengal +Fusiliers in front, with artillery and cavalry on each flank. + +When we were halted, Nicholson came to the front and, addressing the +regiments of European infantry, spoke a few soul-stirring words, calling +on us to reserve our fire till close to the enemy's batteries, and then +to charge with fixed bayonets. He was answered with a cheer, and the +lines advanced across the plain steady and unbroken, as though on +parade. + +The enemy had opened fire, and were answered by our guns, the infantry +marching with sloped arms at the quick step till within 100 yards, when +we delivered a volley. Then the war-cry of the British soldiers was +heard, and the two regiments came to the charge, and ran at the double +towards the serai. + +Lieutenant Gabbett of my regiment was the first man to reach the +entrenchment, and, passing through an embrasure, received a bayonet +thrust in the left breast, which stretched him on the ground. The men +followed, clearing everything before them, capturing the four guns in +the serai, bayoneting the rebels and firing at those who had taken to +flight at our approach. Then, changing front, the whole force swept +along the entrenchment to the bridge, making a clean sweep of the enemy, +who turned and fled, leaving the remaining nine guns in our hands. + +Our Horse Artillery, under Major Tombs--never better served than in this +action--mowed down the fugitives in hundreds, and continued following +and firing on them till darkness set in. The cavalry also--a squadron of +the gallant 9th Lancers, with the Guides and Punjabees--did their share +of work, while the European infantry were nobly supported by the corps +of Punjab Rifles, who cleared the town of the sepoys. + +The battle had lasted a very short time, and after dark we bivouacked on +the wet ground in the pouring rain, completely exhausted from our long +march and subsequent fighting, and faint from want of food, none of +which passed our lips for more than sixteen hours. + +[Illustration: NOTE.--MAJOR RAINBY COMMANDED THE 61ST REGIMENT IN THIS +ENGAGEMENT.] + +[From Lord Roberts' "Forty-one Years in India." By kind permission.] + +Still, the day's work was not over. A village to the rear was found to +be occupied by the enemy, and the Punjab Rifles were ordered to take +it. They met with a most obstinate resistance, their young commander, +Lumsden, being killed. The General then sent part of my regiment to +dislodge the rebels, but we met with only partial success, and had one +officer, named Elkington, mortally wounded, the enemy evacuating the +place during the night. + +We passed the night of the 25th in the greatest discomfort. Hungry and +wet through, we lay on the ground, snatching sleep at intervals. Poor +Gabbett died of internal haemorrhage soon after he received his wound, +and his death deprived the regiment of one of its best and bravest +officers, and me of a true friend. He had shared my tent on the march +down and during the whole campaign, a cheery, good-hearted fellow, and +one who had earned the respect of officers and the love of his men. The +General was particularly struck with his bravery, and with feeling heart +wrote a letter to Gabbett's mother, saying he would have recommended her +son for the Victoria Cross had he survived the action. + +Young Elkington also received his death-wound at the night-attack on the +village. He was quite a stripling, being only eighteen years old, and +had joined the regiment but a few months before. His was one of those +strange cases of a presentiment of death, many of which have been well +authenticated in our army. On looking over his effects, it was found +that he had written letters to his nearest relations on the night before +marching to Najafgarh; and he had also carefully made up small parcels +of his valuables and trinkets, with directions on them to whom they were +to be delivered in case of his being killed next day. It was noticed, +too, that he was unusually quiet and reserved, never speaking a word +to anyone on the march, though when the action began he behaved like a +gallant soldier, giving up his young life in the service of his country. + +_August_ 26.--On the morning of August 26 we marched back to camp, +arriving there before sundown, and were played in by the bands of the +two regiments, while many soldiers, native as well as European, lined +the road and gave us a hearty cheer. + +Our casualties at the action of Najafgarh amounted to twenty-five +officers and men killed and seventy wounded. The enemy left great +numbers of dead in the entrenchments and on the plain, their loss being +computed at 500 killed and wounded; but this, I fancy, is much below +the mark, for our artillery fire was very destructive, and the cavalry +committed great havoc amongst the host of fugitives. The battle of the +25th was the most brilliant and decisive since that of Badli-ki-Serai on +June 8. All the guns, thirteen in number, were captured, and the enemy's +camp, ammunition, stores, camels and bullocks were taken. Would that +we had met the insurgents oftener in the open in this manner! But the +rascals were too wary, and had too great a dread of our troops to face +them in a pitched encounter. + +During the absence of Nicholson's small force the enemy had attacked all +the pickets, and kept up a heavy cannonade from the walls, causing us a +loss of thirty-five men. It was their impression that the camp had been +left almost bare and defenceless by the withdrawal of so large a force; +but they were quickly undeceived, and were met at each point of assault +by a galling fire from our men. + +For many nights after August 26 our right pickets were constantly +harassed by the rebels, who also shelled Hindoo Rao's house from the +city and Kishenganj batteries. Our sappers, too, found it not only +difficult, but dangerous, to work in the advanced trenches below the +ridge, being always met by a murderous musketry from the enemy's +sharpshooters, who fired down behind breastworks. It was resolved, +therefore, on August 30, to drive them out from their cover, and on +two or more occasions this was performed by the Goorkhas and the 60th +Rifles, who, as usual, fighting together and supporting each other, took +the breastworks in gallant style. Our Engineers were then enabled +to continue their operations in the trenches preparatory to making +approaches towards the city walls, and constructing the batteries for +the siege-train, now daily expected. + +The Flagstaff Tower, as I have already mentioned in a former part of my +narrative, was the chief rendezvous of officers when not on duty. About +this time I went to the top of the tower in company with one of my +regiment, when an amusing incident occurred. + +We were watching the batteries playing on each side, when a tall Afghan, +armed to the teeth, appeared at the top of the steps, and was about to +set foot on the enclosed space under the flagstaff. A sentry was always +stationed there, and on this occasion it happened to be a sturdy little +Goorkha, one of the Kumaon battalion. On the approach of the Afghan he +immediately came to the charge, and warned him that none but European +officers were allowed on the top of the tower. The Afghan laughed, +and then, looking with contempt at the diminutive sentry, a dwarf in +comparison with himself, he attempted to push aside the bayonet. Losing +all patience, the Goorkha at this threw down his musket, and drawing his +_kukri_, the favourite weapon of his race, he rushed at the Afghan with +up-lifted blade. This was too much for our valiant hero, who quickly +turned tail, and disappeared down the circular staircase, the Goorkha +following him at a short distance. On his return he picked up the +musket, and seeing us laughing, the frown on his face turned into the +most ludicrous expression of good-humour I had ever seen, and he burst +out into a fit of laughter which lasted some minutes. He told us that he +and the other Goorkhas of his regiment thought nothing of the bravery of +the Afghan soldiers, some 100 of whom were on our side at Delhi; and he +spoke truly. + +These men, all cavalry, superbly mounted, dressed in chain armour, and +carrying arms of every description, had been sent down ostensibly as a +reinforcement to us by their Ameer, Dost Mohammed Khan of Kabul, but +really as spies to watch our movements, and report the state of affairs +to their chief. They made a great display about the camp, but I never +heard of their meeting the enemy in action during their stay before +Delhi. + +The last two days of August we had several men killed and wounded in the +force, and one of our officers, who shared my tent after poor Gabbett's +death, received a severe contusion from the bursting of a shell. + +Nearly three months had now elapsed since the Siege of Delhi began. We +were, to all appearance, no nearer to the desired end, and had scarcely +gained one foot of ground nearer to the walls of the city. Moreover, +there was alarm in the Punjab owing to a reported disaffection among the +Sikh population, who, it is said, were beginning openly to assert that +the British army was unable to take Delhi. To check this feeling, the +Chief Commissioner had urged General Wilson to lose no time in making +preparations for the assault of the city; and thus our expectations beat +high at the near approach of the powerful siege-train on its way down +from Ferozepore, though we knew there were still before us trials and +dangers to which our former experiences would be as nothing. + +The weather had now somewhat cleared, but the heat was overpowering, +averaging 98 deg. in the shade of my tent every day. Cholera, too, raged as +before, the principal sufferers being ourselves, and the 8th and 52nd +Regiments. To cheer the soldiers, the bands played in camp of an +evening, while some officers and men engaged in sport of various kinds; +but the angel of Death was hovering over my poor regiment, and few of +us had the heart to join in pastime while our comrades lay stricken and +dying of disease in hospital. + +_September 1_.--A portion of my corps was on duty at the Metcalfe +stable picket on September 1, when a lamentable loss was experienced, +unparalleled in the annals of the siege. The enemy's battery across the +river had never ceased shelling these pickets, though up to this day it +had not caused much damage to the defenders. + +Shortly after sunrise the men were assembled outside, receiving their +grog, which was served out to them every morning at an early hour. Some +100 men and officers, beside Sikhs and native attendants, were grouped +around, when a loud hissing sound was heard, and a shrapnel shell, fired +from the enemy's battery at the long range of 2,000 yards, exploded a +few feet in front. + +The bullets scattered around, and the scene which followed it is almost +impossible for me to depict. Many threw themselves flat on the ground, +falling one on top of the other, while groans and cries were heard. One +soldier fell mortally wounded by my side, and on looking around to +count up our losses, we found that two of my regiment had been killed +outright, besides six others severely wounded. Two Sikhs and a _bhisti_, +or water-carrier, also met their death, and two doolie-bearers were +wounded--thirteen men in all. + +One very stout old officer was in the act of having his morning bath +when the shell exploded, the _bhisti_ standing at his side and pouring +over him, when squatted on a tent-mallet, his _massuck_ of water. +He rolled over and over on the ground, presenting such a ludicrous +appearance in his wet, nude state, and covered with earth, that, +notwithstanding the awful surroundings of the scene, I and others could +not forbear laughing. The shot had been quite a chance one, but it +proved how deadly was the effect of a shrapnel shell exploding, as this +had done, only a few feet in front of a large body of men. + +_September 2 and 3_.--The batteries continued exchanging shots during +September 2 and 3, but there were no attacks of any consequence on the +pickets, and we had on those days only three men wounded on the right of +our position. + +On the morning of the 4th the long-looked-for siege-train reached camp. +It consisted of twenty-four heavy guns and mortars, and a plentiful +supply of ammunition and stores. Reinforcements also reached us, +amounting to about 400 European infantry and the Belooch battalion, the +last a most savage-looking lot of men, who, however, did good service, +and fought well. Besides these, a party of Sikh horsemen, in the service +of the Rajah of Jhind--a noble-looking man, who, with his retainers, +had kept open our communications with the Punjab during the whole +siege--joined the army, begging as a favour that they might join in the +dangers of the coming assault on the city. + +_September 7_.--September 7 also saw the arrival of Wilde's regiment of +Punjabis, 700 strong, followed the same day by the Kashmir contingent +of 2,200 men and four guns, sent to our assistance by the ruler of that +country. + +I was sitting in my tent with the bandmaster of my regiment, a German +named Sauer, when we were saluted with the sound of distant music, the +most discordant I have ever heard. The bandmaster jumped up from his +seat, exclaiming: "Mein Gott! vat is dat? No regiment in camp can play +such vile music," and closing his ears immediately, rushed out of the +tent. + +The Kashmir troops were marching into camp, accompanied by General +Wilson and his staff, who had gone out to meet them, their bands playing +some English air, drums beating, and colours flying. There was no fault +to be found in the appearance of the soldiers, who were mostly Sikhs and +hill men of good physique; but their ludicrous style of marching, the +strange outlandish uniform of the men, and the shrill discord of their +bands, created great amusement among the assembled Europeans, who had +never seen such a travesty on soldiers before. They encamped on our +right flank; but were not employed on active service till the day of +assault, on September 14. + +On the arrival of the siege-train, no time was lost in making approaches +and parallels, and erecting batteries for the bombardment of Delhi. The +trench-work had already been begun, and what with covering and working +parties, both of European and native soldiers, and the usual picket +duties, the greater part of the army was continually employed in this +arduous work every night and a portion of each day. Nothing could +surpass the zeal and willing aptitude of the men, who laboured +unceasingly digging trenches and filling sand-bags, all the time, and +more especially at night, exposed to a galling fire of musketry and +shells. + +The Engineers, under their able leaders, were unremitting in their +duties; and the young officers of that corps covered themselves with +glory both in these preliminary operations and at the actual assault. + +No. 1 Battery, to our right front, consisting of ten heavy guns and +mortars, was traced, on the evening of September 7, about 700 yards from +the Mori bastion. No. 2, to the left front, near Ludlow Castle, and +only 600 yards from the walls, was completed on the 10th, and contained +nineteen pieces of artillery. + +No. 4, for ten heavy mortars, and near No. 2, at the Koodsia Bagh, was +completed in front of the Kashmir bastion also on that day. And, lastly, +No. 3, on the extreme left, with six guns at the short distance of 180 +yards from the Water bastion, was unmasked behind the Custom-House, +which was blown up after the completion of the battery. + +Thus, in four days and nights, after incredible exertions on the part of +the working parties, forty-five heavy guns and mortars were in position, +strongly entrenched, and ready to silence the fire from the enemy's +bastions and to make breaches in the walls for the assaulting columns. + +The rebels during all this time plied the covering and working parties +with shot and shell, bringing out field-guns, which enfiladed the Ludlow +Castle and Koodsia Bagh batteries, and keeping up a sharp musketry fire +from an advanced trench they had dug in front of the walls. At the two +latter places, where the men of my regiment were employed, the fire was +very galling at times, the guns from the distant Selimgarh Fort, Water, +and Kashmir bastions all concentrating their shots at those batteries +whilst in process of erection. + +The nights, fortunately, were clear, and we had plenty of light to +assist us in our work; the men were cheerful and active, never resting +for a moment in their labours, and receiving in the Field Force orders +the praise of the General in command. + +We wondered how it was that the enemy allowed us to occupy the advanced +positions at Ludlow Castle and the Koodsia Bagh without even so much +as a struggle; but it was accounted for by the supposition that they +imagined our attack would be made from the right of our position, where +all the great conflicts had taken place. There they were in strength, +and it was our weakest point; whereas, on the side near the Jumna, we +were protected from being turned by having the river on our flank, +better cover for operations, and, moreover, batteries to silence which +were less powerful and more difficult of concentration than those +which faced us on our right from the city walls and from the suburb of +Kishenganj. + + +[Footnote 1: White people.] + +[Footnote 2: Lieutenant Pattoun was wounded in the ankle on this +occasion, and a sergeant of the 61st was shot through the head.] + +[Footnote 3: Colonel Seton, 35th Native Infantry, was wounded in the +stomach in this affair.] + +[Footnote 4: One man of the 61st Regiment was killed by a round-shot, +which in its course also knocked over some sandbags which sent +Lieutenant Hutton flying about seven feet.] + +[Footnote 5: Lieutenant Yonge.] + +[Footnote 6: On August 7 they blew up one of their own powder factories, +and with it a number of workmen.] + + + +CHAPTER IV + +CAPTURE OF THE CITY + +The actual Siege of Delhi may be said to have commenced on September 7, +1857. All reinforcements that could possibly arrive had reached us with +the siege-train, and the effective force now available for operations +before Delhi consisted of the following troops: + + European artillery 580 + " cavalry 514 + " infantry 2,672 + ----- + 3,766 + + Native artillery 770 + " cavalry 1,313 + " infantry 3,417 + Engineers, sappers, miners, etc. 722 + ----- + 6,222 + ----- + + Grand total 9,988 + +To the above must be added the Kashmir contingent of 2,200 men, with +four guns, and the cavalry of the Jhind Rajah, perhaps 400 more, making +the full amount of troops employed at the siege 12,588. + +The seven regiments of European infantry were sadly reduced in numbers, +being mere skeletons, the strongest mustering 409 effective rank and +file, and the weakest only 242. There were also nearly 3,000 men in +hospital, Europeans and natives. + +From the most reliable sources the enemy at this period numbered +40,000 men, all trained soldiers of the former regular army, besides +undisciplined armed hordes of fanatics and rabble of the city and +surrounding country--a formidable disproportion to our scanty force when +it is recollected that they were protected by strong fortifications +mounting upwards of fifty guns, with an unlimited supply of artillery +and munitions of war, and that with their vast numbers they had ample +opportunities of harassing our right flank and rear and cutting off +communications up-country. + +Nevertheless, political considerations demanded that we should take the +offensive and deal such a blow as would convince the rebels, as well +as those whose loyalty was wavering, that the British arms were +irresistible. Moreover, there was no likelihood of our force being +increased. So on September 7 General Wilson issued the following address +to his troops: + +"The force assembled before Delhi has had much hardship to undergo since +its arrival in this camp, all of which has been most cheerfully borne by +officers and men. The time is now drawing near when the Major-General +commanding the force trusts that its labours will be over, and it will +be rewarded by the capture of the city for all its past exertions, and +for a cheerful endurance of still greater fatigue and exposure. The +troops will be required to aid and assist the Engineers in the erection +of the batteries and trenches, and in daily exposure to the sun, as +covering parties. + +"The artillery will have even harder work than they yet have had, +and which they have so well and cheerfully performed hitherto: this, +however, will be for a short period only, and when ordered to the +assault, the Major-General feels assured British pluck and determination +will carry everything before them, and that the bloodthirsty and +murderous mutineers against whom they are fighting will be driven +headlong out of their stronghold, or be exterminated. But to enable +them to do this, he warns the troops of the absolute necessity of their +keeping together, and not straggling from their columns. By this can +success only be secured. + +"Major-General Wilson need hardly remind the troops of the cruel murders +committed on their officers and comrades, as well as their wives and +children, to move them in the deadly struggle. No quarter should be +given to the mutineers; at the same time, for the sake of humanity and +the honour of the country they belong to, he calls upon them to spare +all women and children that may come in their way. + +"It is so imperative, not only for their safety, but for the success of +the assault, that men should not straggle from their column that the +Major-General feels it his duty to direct all commanding officers to +impress this strictly upon their men, and he is confident that after +this warning the men's good sense and discipline will induce them to +obey their officers and keep steady to their duty. It is to be explained +to every regiment that indiscriminate plunder will not be allowed; that +prize agents have been appointed, by whom all captured property will +be collected and sold, to be divided, according to the rules and +regulations on this head, fairly among all men engaged; and that any +man found guilty of having concealed captured property will be made to +restore it, and will forfeit all claims to the general prize; he will +also be likely to be made over to the Provost-Marshal to be summarily +dealt with. + +"The Major-General calls upon the officers of the force to lend their +zealous and efficient co-operation in the erection of the works of the +siege now about to be commenced. He looks especially to the regimental +officers of all grades to impress upon their men that to work in the +trenches during a siege is as necessary and honourable as to fight in +the ranks during a battle. + +"He will hold all officers responsible for their utmost being done to +carry out the directions of the Engineers, and he confidently trusts +that all will exhibit a healthy and hearty spirit of emulation and zeal, +from which he has no doubt that the happiest results will follow in the +brilliant termination of all their labours." + +_September 7_.--From the night of September 7 to the day of assault +all the artillerymen in the force, European as well as native, were +constantly employed in the batteries and trenches. Day and night +officers and men worked with unflagging energy in the advanced +batteries, with no relief and no cessation from their toil. Few in +number, worn out by the excessive fatigues of a three months' campaign, +and enervated by continuous work in the deadliest season of the year, +these gallant European artillerymen earned during those last days of the +siege, by their zeal and devotion, the heartfelt thanks of the whole +army. The old Bengal Artillery have a splendid roll of services, +extending for upwards of 100 years; still, in the annals of that +distinguished regiment there is no brighter record than their +achievements before Delhi in 1857. The corps has been merged into the +Royal Artillery, but the ancient name still lives in the memory of those +who were witnesses of their deeds, and their imperishable renown adds +greater lustre to the proud motto, _Ubique_, borne by the regiment to +which they are affiliated. + +Many officers and men of the cavalry and infantry volunteered for +service in the batteries when called on by the General. They acquitted +themselves well, were of great use to the gunners in lightening the +arduous duties, and were complimented in orders for the valuable aid +they had afforded to their companions in arms.[1] + +_September 11_.--The advanced batteries were all completed by the +evening of September 11, when the actual bombardment of the city began. +For three days and nights previous No. 1 Battery, on the extreme right, +was severely pounded from the Mori bastion and Kishenganj, but when the +guns got into full play the fire from the former grew gradually weaker +and weaker, till it was completely overpowered. Nos. 2 and 4 Batteries, +being nearer to the walls, suffered much from the enemy, and the losses +were very severe both among the artillery and the covering and working +bodies of infantry. + +_September 11_.--At length, on September 11, the whole of our batteries +opened fire simultaneously on the city bastions and walls. The Kashmir +bastion was soon silenced, the ramparts and adjacent curtains knocked to +fragments, and a large breach opened in the walls. On the extreme left, +at the Custom-House, our battery, as before related, was only 180 yards +from the city, and the crushing fire from this, when in full play, +smashed to pieces the Water bastion, overturned the guns, and made a +breach in the curtain so wide and practicable that it could be ascended +with ease. + +Fifty guns and mortars were now pouring shot and shell without a +moment's interval on the doomed city. The din and roar were deafening; +day and night salvos of artillery were heard, roll following roll in +endless succession, and striking terror in the hearts of those who knew +and felt that the day of retribution was at hand. + +Still, though their batteries on the bastions had been wellnigh +silenced, the rebels stuck well to their field-guns in the open space +before the walls; they sent a storm of rockets from one of the martello +towers, and fired a stream of musketry from the ramparts and advanced +trenches. Kishenganj, too, made its voice heard, harassing our right and +sweeping the Sabzi Mandi and Hindoo Rao's with its incessant fire. + +During the bombardment our casualties amounted to nearly 350 men, +the enemy causing great loss at No. 2 Battery through the fire of a +3-pounder served from a hole broken in the curtain-wall. This gun was +admirably directed, and could not be silenced notwithstanding all our +efforts. One officer, looking over the parapet to see the effect of his +fire, was struck by a shot from the "hole in the wall," his head being +taken completely off, the mutilated trunk falling back amongst the men +at the guns--a ghastly and terrible sight, which filled us who were +present with horror. + +During the whole of the bombardment portions of my regiment were on duty +in the batteries and trenches, working at the repair of the parapets and +embrasures occasionally damaged by the enemy's shot, and also taking +their share of duty with the advanced and covering parties. These were +harassing and dangerous services, involving great vigilance. We +were almost always under fire from the enemy; but with the utmost +cheerfulness, and even, I may say, good-humour, the whole of the +infantry did all in their power to lighten the work of the overtasked +artillerymen: comrades we were, all striving for the accomplishment of +one purpose--that of bringing swift and sure destruction on the rebels +who had for so long a period successfully resisted our arms. So cool and +collected had the men become that even in the midst of fire from the +advanced trenches, and while keeping up on our side a brisk fusillade, +the soldiers smoked their pipes, rude jokes were bandied from one to the +other, and laughter was heard. + +When off duty I and others took our station for hours on the ridge, and +sometimes on the top of the Flagstaff Tower. Thence with eager eyes we +watched the batteries cannonading the walls, and marked the effects of +the round-shot on the ramparts and bastions. Few of the enemy could be +seen; but every now and then some would show themselves, disappearing +when a well-directed shot struck in too close proximity. Cavalry +and infantry at times issued from the gates; but from their hurried +movements it seemed evident that they were ill at ease, and after a +short time they returned into the city. + +At night the scene was, as may be supposed, grand in the extreme. The +space below was lighted up by continuous flashes and bursts of flame, +throwing a flood of light among the thick forest of trees and gardens, +while shells would burst high over the city, illuminating the spires and +domes, and bringing into prominence every object around. There was not +only the roll of the heavy guns and mortars, but the sharp rattle of +musketry, and the hiss of the huge rocket, as it cut through the air +with its brilliant light, sounded in our ears. + +_September 12_.--On the 12th the enemy made frequent sorties from the +Lahore and Ajmir Gates with bodies of cavalry and foot, while a party of +horsemen crossed the canal, and made for the right rear of the camp. The +latter were seen by the Guides and some Punjabi cavalry, who, led by +Probyn and Watson, advanced to meet the enemy. There was a short but +sharp encounter at close quarters, in which thirty rebels were killed, +the remainder flying at full speed towards the city. The sorties from +the gates turned out comparatively harmless, and seemed meant only as +demonstrations to draw out our troops from the cover of the advanced +trenches. Seeing that the attempt was futile, and resulted only in loss +to themselves, the enemy retreated in confusion, their flight being +accelerated by shell and round-shot from No. 1 Battery, and musketry +from our outlying posts. + +A serious loss befell the army on this day in the death of Captain +Robert Fagan, of the Bengal Artillery. This officer, whose heroism made +his name conspicuous even among the many gallant spirits of the Delhi +Field Force, was killed in No. 3 Advanced Battery, a post he had +occupied since September 8, and which was more than any other exposed to +the enemy's fire. He had served throughout the siege, and was beloved by +his men, winning the hearts of all, not only by his undaunted behaviour +and cool courage, but also by his kind-hearted and amiable disposition. + +The approaching day of assault was now the subject of conversation among +officers and men; for the end was at hand. On September 12 a council of +war met in General Wilson's tent, at which all the superior officers of +the army were present. All the arrangements for attack were perfected, +and the position of every brigade and corps was fixed and decided, +though the day and hour of assault was known to no one, not even to the +General in command. + +_September 13_.--There was no rest for us on the 13th, the last Sunday +we were destined to pass before the walls of Delhi. The fire of our +heavy cannon increased in violence every hour, and the silence of the +enemy's batteries assured us of the efficacy of the bombardment, and the +speedy approach of the time when our columns would move to the assault +on the city. + +That night, soon after darkness had set in, four officers of the +Engineers proceeded to examine the two large breaches in the walls made +by the batteries. It was a hazardous duty, exposing them to peril of +their lives; but these brave young fellows executed their task in +safety, and, unobserved by the enemy, few of whom seemed to be keeping +watch on the ramparts, returned to report the perfect practicability of +the breaches for escalade. + +Then the General issued his orders for the final assault; and long +before midnight each regiment in camp knew its allotted place in the +coming attack on the city. + +Five storming columns were formed, the position and details of each +being as under: + +No. 1, under Brigadier General Nicholson, consisting of the 75th +Regiment, 1st Bengal Fusiliers, and Punjab Infantry, to storm the breach +at the Kashmir bastion--in all 1,000 men. + +No. 2 Column, under Brigadier W. Jones (H.M. 61st Regiment), consisting +of H.M. 8th (the King's) Regiment, 2nd Europeans, 4th Sikhs--altogether +850 men to storm the breach near the Water bastion. + +No. 3, under Colonel Campbell, consisting of the 52nd Regiment, the +Kumaon battalion of Goorkhas, and 1st Punjab Infantry--in all 950 +men--to assault the Kashmir Gate after it should be blown in by the +Engineers. + +No. 5, or the Reserve, under Brigadier Longfield (H.M. 8th Regiment), to +follow No. 3 by that gate into the city, was composed of the 61st, the +Belooch battalion, 4th Punjab Infantry, and the Jhind troops--altogether +1,300 men, with 200 of H.M. 60th Rifles--to cover the advance of +Nicholson's column and to form a reserve. + +The whole of the above-named columns were under the immediate command of +General Nicholson, on whom devolved all arrangements for carrying out +the assault on Delhi. + +No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, the officer in command at Hindoo Rao's +house, was formed of part of the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor battalion +of Goorkhas, detachments from European regiments, and the Kashmir +contingent. This column was to attack the fortified suburb of +Kishenganj, and enter the city by the Lahore Gate, meeting Nos. 1 and 2 +Columns at that place. + +The cavalry brigade, under Colonel Grant, composed of the 9th Lancers, +part of the 6th Carabineers, with Sikh and Punjab cavalry and some +Horse Artillery, took up their position on the right of No. 1 Advanced +Battery, facing the Mori Gate, and within range of Kishenganj. Their +object was to oppose any attempt to take the storming columns in +flank, to watch the movements of the enemy, and to guard the camp from +surprise. + +To the convalescents and a small force of cavalry and artillery the +protection of the camp was confided--a very insufficient guard when it +is considered that the enemy might well, out of their vast numbers, have +detached part of their horsemen and infantry to harass, if not imperil, +its safety, and that of the many, sick and wounded. As will hereafter be +seen, great danger resulted from the arrangements made in this respect; +and had the enemy, after our unsuccessful attack on Kishenganj on the +14th, but shown a spirit of pluck and daring, it is not too much to +affirm that the camp might have fallen into their hands, and our +successes in the city have thereby been rendered almost nugatory. + +The night of the 13th was passed by us in a cheerful mood, everyone +hopeful and confident of what the morrow would bring forth. There was +a character of determination among the officers and men, a cool, +deliberate conviction that, under Providence, success would crown our +arms, and that vengeance would be done on those who had forfeited their +lives by the cruel massacre of our defenceless women and children. + +Sleep visited the eyes of few in camp during the short hours of +preparation for the assault. Fully equipped to turn out at a moment's +notice, we lay down on our beds waiting for the signal to fall in. +This came at about three o'clock on the morning of September 14--an +auspicious day, it being the third anniversary of the Battle of the +Alma. + +_September_ 14.--The troops fell in on their respective lines, and, +assembling at the slope of the ridge, the four columns of attack marched +in silence to the Flagstaff Tower. Thence, picking up the men on picket, +who were all withdrawn from the outlying posts, the force moved by the +road to the neighbourhood of Ludlow Castle, and close to No. 2 Advanced +Battery. Our movements were entirely concealed from the enemy; the +darkness which prevailed, and the ample cover from trees, gardens, and +houses, masking the march of the columns, while the breaching batteries, +which had kept up their fire all night long, still continued the +bombardment; nor did they cease till the actual moment when the columns +were set in motion and took their way to the city. + +Just before sunrise all the dispositions were completed, the gallant +Nicholson, under whose orders we were, moving from point to point to +perfect his arrangements. Our artillery fire ceased as if by magic; and +a stillness, which contrasted ominously with the former roar and din, +must have convinced the rebels that something unusual was about to take +place. + +The 60th Rifles with a cheer advanced to the front, and opened out as +skirmishers to the right and left of the Koodsia Bagh. Then followed +Nos. 1 and 2 Columns, which, in compact order, issued from their cover, +making for the two breaches to be assaulted. + +I was with my regiment in No. 5 Column; and with breathless interest, +each heart aflame with excitement, we watched our comrades marching to +the attack. Presently the order for No. 3 Column to move forward was +given, and at a short interval our own followed. + +Meanwhile the enemy had descried our movements, and the ramparts and +walls and also the top of the breaches were alive with men, who poured +in a galling fire on our troops Soon they reached the outer edge of the +moat, and amidst a perfect hailstorm of bullets, causing great havoc +among our men, the scaling-ladders were let down. The ditch here, 20 +feet deep and 25 feet broad, offered a serious obstacle to the quick +advance of the assaulting columns; the men fell fast under the withering +fire, and some delay ensued before the ladders could be properly +adjusted. However, nothing daunted, the opposite side was scaled, and, +mounting the escarp, the assailants, with shouts and cheers that could +be heard above the din of battle, rushed up the two breaches. + +Without waiting for the charge of the British bayonets, the greater part +of the rebels deserted the walls and bastions and ran pell-mell into the +city, followed by our men. Some few stood manfully and endeavoured to +check the flight of the rest; but they were soon shot or bayoneted, and +the two columns halted inside the walls. + +Almost simultaneously with the entrance of our troops into the city, the +Kashmir Gate was blown in, and No. 3 Column, followed by No. 5, advanced +along the covered way and passed into the city. We had only been, met by +desultory fire from the enemy, which caused few casualties, during our +march to the gate; the men were in high spirits, and longed to come to +close quarters. + +The episode of the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate of Delhi is too well +known to require description here;[2] suffice it to say that the deed +was an act of heroism almost without a parallel in the annals of the +British army. In broad daylight, a small band of heroes advanced to +almost certain death; but with a determination and valour seldom heard +of, after repeated attempts to lay the powder-bags and apply the match, +and losing nearly all their number, killed and wounded, the gate was +blown in, giving free passage to the assaulting columns. + +All the troops were now assembled at the main guard, in an open space +close to the Kashmir Gate, and here, as well as the firing from the +enemy would permit, the force re-formed, under the orders of General +Nicholson. Nos. 1 and 2 Columns united, and under command of that +officer moved to their right, advancing along the walls in that +direction and clearing everything in their way. + +No. 3 Column now marched into the heart of the city, being guided by Sir +Theophilus Metcalfe, and by a circuitous route made its way towards the +Jama Musjid. Soon we lost sight of this force, and then our own work +began. + +Advancing from our first place at the main guard, No. 5 Column pushed +forward to the College Gardens, marching through narrow streets and +lanes, with high houses on each side. But how can I describe that +terrible street-fighting, which lasted without intermission the whole +day? From every window and door, from loopholes in the buildings, and +from the tops of the houses, a storm of musketry saluted us on every +side, while every now and then, when passing the corner of a street, +field-guns, loaded with grape, discharged their contents into the +column. Officers and men fell fast, but this only served to exasperate +the remainder, who almost without a check reached the College, and, +after some severe skirmishing, cleared the gardens and houses of the +rebels, and bayoneted all who were found there. + +Leaving a detachment to occupy this post, we passed through more streets +and lanes, ever exposed to the same terrific fire, and after great +trouble succeeded in taking possession of Colonel Skinner's house and a +large building known as the palace of Ahmed Ali Khan. + +It was now midday, and at the latter place we were joined by No. 3 +Column, which, making its way to the Jama Musjid, met with such a +strenuous resistance that, after losing many men, and being without +powder with which to blow up the gates of the mosque, it was forced to +retire. The streets, we heard, were alive with men on their line of +route, and the column had been exposed to incessant fire without any +good resulting from their undaunted efforts. + +There was work enough and to spare to clear the streets and houses in +front and on each side of the Kashmir Gate; and from the time the +two columns joined forces till night set in a continuous fight was +maintained. The system of attack in which we were engaged allowed of no +formation being retained. Isolated groups of men, European and native, +led sometimes by officers, and often without any leaders, roamed through +the narrow streets, entering houses from which the fire was more than +usually severe, and putting to death without mercy all who were found +inside. + +On one occasion a party of sepoys and armed rabble emerged from a house +in our front, and were seen by our men, who immediately opened fire. +Soon they were followed by a troop of women yelling and screaming. +Keeping these as a cover for their retreat, the rebels got clear away, +the soldiers having desisted from firing the moment the women appeared. +This was a ruse which, I heard from others, was often adopted by the +mutineers, who seemed to know intuitively that their women and children +were safe from the fire of our men. + +The deeds of individual daring performed during September 14 were +numberless, and I was witness of many feats of arms and cool courage +by the rank and file and non-commissioned officers of the different +regiments. A private of my corps, a huge Grenadier Irishman named +Moylan, saved the life of an officer under circumstances which fully +entitled him to the coveted distinction of the Victoria Cross. In one of +the numerous encounters which took place this officer, leading on a few +men, turned sharply round the corner of a street, and was met by a force +of sepoys coming from the opposite direction. A shot struck him, and he +was felled to the ground from the blow of a sword, and would have been +quickly despatched had not Moylan rushed to his rescue. Discharging his +musket, he shot one of the assailants, and charged with the bayonet. +This was broken off; and then, with firelock clubbed, he stood over the +prostrate officer, dealing such fearful blows with the weapon--felling +his foes in every direction--that the sepoys took to their heels, and +Moylan, picking up the wounded officer, brought him to a place of +safety. He was made a sergeant on the spot by the Colonel, but all +efforts to obtain the Cross for this gallant fellow were unavailing. In +those days the distinction was but seldom given; probably so many names +were submitted for the General's consideration that only a few could be +approved, and the application for Moylan was passed by. + +But though in the latter's case the Victoria Cross was not given, it was +awarded to a surgeon (named Reade) of my regiment on that day. He was +ever to be found in the thick of the fighting, ministering to the +wounded and cheering on the men. While engaged in his professional +duties, a number of sepoys poured a deadly fire from the far end of a +street into the group of wounded of which he was the central figure. +This was too much for the surgeon, who, drawing his sword, called on +some men of the regiment close by, and led them in gallant style against +the enemy, whom he dispersed with great loss, killing two sepoys with +his own hand. Not only on this occasion, but on several others, the +surgeon's bravery was most conspicuous, no one grudging him the +distinction he had so gallantly won. + +There is nothing so destructive of the morale and discipline of soldiers +as street-fighting, nor can control be maintained except by men of +extraordinary resolution. The veterans of the European regiments +composing the Delhi army on the day of assault fully justified their +reputation. Cool and determined, they kept in check the impulsive valour +of the young soldiers, and assisted their officers on various occasions +when it became almost impossible to control their ardour. Till late +at night the fighting never ceased; the weary and famished soldiers, +exhausted and worn out from fatigue and exposure, and without a moment's +rest, carried out the work of clearing the streets and houses, exposed +all the time to a fire of musketry, coming chiefly from unseen foes. + +Many lost their lives in the houses, where, entangled in the labyrinth +of roofs, courtyards, and passages, they were shot down by the inmates, +and were found, in several instances days after, with their throats cut +and otherwise mutilated. The hope of finding plunder in these places +also led many to their doom, and accounted for the large list of missing +soldiers whose names appeared in the day's casualties. + +And now I must pass from our force to record the doings of No. 1 and +2 Columns, under General Nicholson. These, for a long distance, had +carried all before them, taking possession of the ramparts and bastions +as far as the Kabul Gate, and effectually clearing the streets leading +to the heart of the city. Exposed to a pitiless fire of grape and +musketry through their whole advance, their loss was very heavy, but, +still pressing forward, barrier after barrier was taken, the guns on +each bastion, after its capture, being at once turned on the city. Their +goal was the Burn bastion and the Lahore Gate, and all that men could do +with their diminished numbers was tried at those points without effect. +The rebels were in enormous force at these positions; field-guns and +howitzers poured grape and canister into the assaulting columns, and +musketry rained on them from the adjoining houses. Time after time +attacks were made, till the sadly harassed soldiers, completely worn +out, were forced to retire to the Kabul Gate and the bastions and +ramparts they had already gained. + +It was in one of these unsuccessful attempts to carry the Lahore Gate +that Nicholson fell mortally wounded. Ever eager and impetuous, his +dauntless soul led him into the thick of the combat. Spurning danger, +and unmindful of his valuable life, he was in the front, in the act +of encouraging and leading on his men, when the fatal shot laid low a +spirit whose equal there was not to be found in India. He lingered +for some days in great torment, expiring on September 23, mourned by +everyone in the force, from the General in command to the private +soldier, all of whom knew his worth, and felt that in the then momentous +crisis his absence from amongst us could ill be borne. No eulogy can add +to his renown; through his efforts, more than those of any other, Delhi +fell, and he left his unconquered spirit as a heritage for the work +still to be accomplished in the pacification of India. His name itself +was a tower of strength in the army. Peerless amongst the brave men of +his time, to what brilliant destinies might he not have succeeded had +his young life (he was but thirty-four years old) been prolonged! + +I must now revert to No. 4 Column, under Major Reid, and the attack on +the strong fortified suburb of Kishenganj. About 100 men of my regiment +were engaged in this affair; and from the lips of our officers I had a +full account of the fight and the subsequent retreat.[3] + +The morning had dawned, and Major Reid waited to hear the signal to +commence operations--the blowing in of the Kashmir Gate. His force, +numbering about 1,000 men besides the Kashmir troops, were formed up on +the Grand Trunk Road, opposite the Sabzi Mandi picket and at the foot of +the ridge. Now the sun had risen, and still he watched for the signal, +when shots in quick succession were heard on the right of the column, +and it became known that the Kashmir contingent, without waiting for +orders, had become engaged with the enemy. + +Some men of the 60th Rifles were thrown out as skirmishers, and Major +Reid moved with his force in the direction of Kishenganj. Soon they were +stopped by strong breastworks thrown up by the enemy and barring the +road to the suburb, the rebels being concealed behind these in great +force, and pouring a heavy fire on our troops when only fifty yards +distant. A rush was made for the earthworks, which were taken in gallant +style; but the want of field-guns was here felt, and the enemy retired a +short distance amongst the gardens, from which they continued to harass +our troops. The Kishenganj battery also opened fire, and our position +became critical in the extreme from the increasing number of the foe, +who were constantly reinforced, and defied all endeavours to drive them +from their cover. + +While the struggle was thus raging on the left, the Kashmir troops on +the extreme right flank had become involved with a large force of the +enemy of all arms, who, no doubt despising the martial qualities of +these half-disciplined levies, attacked them on all sides with +great vigour. Our allies made no stand, and soon became completely +disorganized, flying at length in headlong rout, with the loss of all +their guns. No record was kept of their casualties, but they must have +been very severe. For the future they remained unemployed in their camp, +bewailing the loss of their four guns, and were never again engaged with +the enemy. + +Two or three days after the capture of Delhi I was wandering, with some +others, through the streets of the city, when we came upon an officer +and four men of the contingent, who accosted us, asking if we had heard +or seen anything of their lost guns. They seemed in great grief, fearing +the wrath of the Maharajah of Kashmir when they should arrive home, +leaving the guns behind. With difficulty restraining a laugh, we assured +them that we could give no information on the subject, and counselled +them to search among the guns on the bastions near the Lahore and Ajmir +Gates. They succeeded eventually in finding two, the others probably +being borne off as trophies by the sepoys during the evacuation of +Delhi. The contingent soon afterwards left for Kashmir, but how they +were received by the Maharajah we never heard, though probably condign +punishment was meted out to those who had actual charge of the guns. + +The defeat of the Kashmir troops had a most disastrous effect on the +issue of the attack on Kishenganj. Reinforced in great numbers, as I +have related, the enemy maintained their ground, and our men could make +no impression on them, chiefly from the want of field-guns. Major Reid, +moreover, was wounded at an early stage of the action, and was carried +off the field. His absence was soon felt in the altered dispositions of +the force, and the want of a leader to carry out the plans formed by +him. + +The breastworks which had been taken could not be held for want of +support, and some confusion resulted, the enemy's artillery from +Kishenganj and musketry from the gardens causing great destruction. +Many gallant attempts were made to drive off the rebels, but all were +unavailing; and at length, after losing one-third of its number, the +column fell back in good order to its original starting-point near the +Sabzi Mandi, and Kishenganj remained in the hands of the enemy. Had that +position been taken, and No. 4 Column, according to instructions, pushed +on to the Lahore Gate, no good, as it turned out, would have been +effected. Nicholson's columns, as related, had been forced to retire; +the gate would have remained closed, and possibly the undertaking would +have resulted in a more serious collapse than the ineffectual attempt on +Kishenganj. + +The presence of a large unconquered force on our right flank also placed +the camp in imminent danger. It was known--from information received +from spies--that it was the enemy's intention, after our failure +to dislodge them from the suburb, to make an attack on the almost +unprotected camp. The danger fortunately passed off, the rebels probably +having little heart to join in operations to our rear when they heard +the news of the signal success of our columns in the city. Still, their +presence at Kishenganj was a standing menace; nor were we completely at +ease with regard to the safety of the camp till the 20th, when the city +was found to be evacuated by the enemy, and our troops immediately took +possession. + +Lastly, I must narrate the doings of the Cavalry Brigade. This force, +with Horse Artillery, was stationed near No. 1 Advanced Battery, under +the command of Brigadier Hope-Grant, their duty being to guard our +right flank from being turned during the assault on the city. Here they +remained, keeping a watchful lookout for some hours, till orders came +for the brigade to move towards the walls of Delhi. They halted opposite +the Kabul Gate, at a distance of 400 yards, and were at once exposed to +the fire from the bastions, and to musketry from the gardens outside +the suburbs of Taliwarra and Kishenganj. Our Horse Artillery made good +practice, driving the enemy from their cover and spiking two guns; but +the exposed situation caused great losses in the cavalry, and they moved +still further to their front, halting amidst some trees. + +The enemy now sallied from the gardens as though with the intention +of driving the cavalry in the direction of the Kashmir Gate. The +circumstances were most critical, when a body of Guide Infantry, coming +up at the time, threw themselves on the rebels, maintaining their place +with great resolution till help arrived, with a part of the Belooch +battalion, and the enemy were forced to retire. + +Too much praise cannot be given to the 9th Lancers and Horse Artillery +for their conduct on this occasion. Exposed for hours to cannonade +and musketry, unable to act from the nature of the ground, they never +flinched from their post, forming a living target to the fire of the +rebels. The same may be said of the Sikh and Punjabi cavalry, who +displayed a coolness and intrepidity scarcely, if at all, less +meritorious than that of their European comrades. Our casualties were +very severe, the 9th Lancers alone losing upwards of twenty men killed +and wounded. + +And now that I have described the operations of each column and portions +of the Delhi army during September 14, it will be necessary to record +the advantages we had gained. From the Water bastion to the Kabul Gate, +a distance of more than a mile, and constituting the northern face +of the fortifications of Delhi, was in our possession, with all the +intervening bastions, ramparts, and walls. Some progress had been made +into the city opposite, and to the right and left of the Kashmir Gate, +and along the line of walls. The College and its grounds, Colonel +Skinner's house, that of Ahmed Ali Khan, and many other smaller +buildings were held by the infantry. The enemy's guns on the bastions +had been turned on to the city, and a constant fire was kept up, the +streets and lanes being cleared in front, and advanced posts occupied by +our men. + +These advantages had not been gained without a severe struggle, and a +terrible roll of killed and wounded was the consequence. Our casualties +on September 14 amounted to upwards of 1,200 officers and men killed, +wounded, and missing--a loss out of all proportion to the small number +of men engaged, and when the relative forces are considered, far +exceeding that which was suffered by the British army during the assault +on the Redan on September 8, 1855. The deadly and destructive nature +of street-fighting was here apparent, and the long-sustained contest, +lasting more than twelve hours, swelled the total loss to the excessive +amount recorded. In my regiment alone 100 men were placed _hors de +combat_, thirty-three being killed; but the other European regiments +suffered still more in proportion, and especially so those which took +part in the actual assault on the breaches. + +The native troops fought with the most determined bravery; Sikhs, +Punjabis, and Goorkhas, side by side with their English comrades, +pressed into the forefront of the strife, helping in the most material +manner towards the day's success. + +It was impossible to ascertain the loss sustained by the enemy. Dead +bodies lay thick in the streets and open spaces, and numbers were killed +in the houses; but the greater part of those who fell were no +doubt carried off by the rebels. In the ardour of the fight many +non-combatants also lost their lives, our men, mad and excited, making +no distinction. + +There is no more terrible spectacle than a city taken by storm. All the +pent-up passions of men are here let loose without restraint. Roused +to a pitch of fury from long-continued resistance, and eager to take +vengeance on the murderers of women and children, the men in their +pitiless rage showed no mercy. The dark days of Badajoz and San +Sebastian were renewed on a small scale at Delhi; and during the +assault, seeing the impetuous fury of our men, I could not help +recalling to my mind the harrowing details of the old Peninsular Wars +here reproduced before my eyes. + +With the exception of a small amount of looting, the men were too much +occupied with fighting and vengeance to take note of the means of +temptation which lay within their reach in the untold quantities of +spirits in the stores of the city. Strong drink is now, and has in all +ages been, the bane of the British soldier--a propensity he cannot +resist in times of peace, and which is tenfold aggravated when excited +by fighting, and when the wherewithal to indulge it lies spread before +him, as was the case at Delhi. When and by whom begun I cannot say, but +early in the morning of the 15th the stores had been broken into, and +the men revelled in unlimited supplies of drink of every kind. It is a +sad circumstance to chronicle, and the drunkenness which ensued might +have resulted in serious consequences to the army had the enemy taken +advantage of the sorry position we were in. Vain were the attempts made +at first to put a stop to the dissipations, and not till orders went +forth from the General to destroy all the liquor that could be found did +the orgy cease, and the men return crestfallen and ashamed to a sense +of their duties. The work of destruction was carried out chiefly by the +Sikhs and Punjabis, and the wasted drink ran in streams through the +conduits of the city. + +_September 15_.--This untoward event considerably hampered the +operations on September 15, and but small progress was made that day +towards driving the rebels out of Delhi. The artillery and engineers +worked hard at the completion of the batteries on the captured bastions, +on which were mounted our own and the enemy's heavy guns; and one for +mortars was erected in the College grounds, which shelled the Palace +and the Fort of Selimgarh. A few houses were taken in advance of our +positions, but no further movement on any large scale was attempted, +owing to the demoralized state of a great portion of the European +infantry, and, further, to a desire that the troops should obtain some +rest after the unparalleled fatigues and exposure of the previous day. + +Reports also spread through the force that the General, feeling his +strength and means inadequate to hold even the portions of the city in +our possession, meditated an evacuation of the place, and a retirement +to the old camp to await reinforcements. Every consideration must be +made for one placed in his critical position; and he, no doubt, in his +own mind, felt justified in proposing the step, which, had it been +carried out, would, in all probability, have ended in the fall of +British rule in India. "In an extraordinary situation extraordinary +resolution is needed," was the saying of the Great Napoleon, and to no +crisis in our history was this dictum more applicable than that at Delhi +in September, 1857. Mutiny and rebellion spread their hydra heads over +the land, disaffection was rife in the Punjab, our only source of supply +for operations in the field; and nought could stay the alarming symptoms +save the complete capture and retention of the great stronghold of +rebellion. It had also been a well-known maxim laid down and carried out +by Clive, Wellesley, Lake, and all the great commanders who had made +our name famous in Hindostan, never to retire before an Eastern foe, no +matter how great the disparity of numbers; and history tells us that our +successes were due mainly to this rule, while the few reverses we have +suffered resulted from a timid policy carried out by men whose heart +failed them in the hour of trial. + +Happily for the Delhi army, and more especially for the English name, +the counsels of the General in command were overruled by the chief +officers in the force, and even the gallant Nicholson from his death-bed +denounced, in language which those who heard it will never forget, the +step contemplated by his superior officer. + +Towards the evening of the 15th the enemy, becoming emboldened by our +inactivity, attacked the advanced posts along our whole line, and kept +up a sharp musketry fire, more especially on the College compound, while +the heavy guns at Selimgarh and some at the magazine shelled those +gardens and houses adjacent--even as far as the Kashmir Gate--occupied +by our troops. At 5 p. m. a battery of heavy guns played on the defences +of the magazine, soon crumbling the wall to pieces, and opening out a +large breach for assault. + +_September 16_.--My regiment, the 4th Punjab Rifles, and a wing of the +Belooch battalion were detailed as a storming party, and mustering at an +early hour on the morning of the 16th, we marched to the attack on +the magazine.[4] This enclosure--a large walled area close to the +Palace--was surrounded by a high curtained wall with towers, the +interior space being occupied by buildings and containing a park of +artillery and munitions of war. We met with no resistance on our way, +and on approaching the breach saw only a few defenders on the ramparts, +who opened a fire, which, however, caused little damage. A rush was at +once made, the men gaining the top of the bridge without difficulty, and +bayoneting some sepoys and firing on the remainder, who fled through the +enclosure and were driven out at the gates on the opposite side. We had +only about a dozen men killed and wounded, but of the enemy more than +100 lost their lives, being dragged out of the buildings where they had +taken refuge and quickly put to death. Two hundred and thirty-two guns +fell into our hands, besides piles of shot and shell; in fact, so vast +was the amount that, although the enemy had been firing from their +batteries for more than three months, making a lavish use of the stores +at their command, scarcely any impression seemed to have been made on +it. + +That day and the following night our position in the captured magazine +was anything but pleasant. The rebels continually harassed us with +shells fired from the Chandni Chauk and near the Palace. Some, more +venturesome than the rest, climbed on ladders to the top of the walls, +plying us with musketry and hand-grenades, while others during the night +mounted the high trees overhanging the enclosure, and with long lighted +bamboos tried to set fire to the thatched buildings and blow up a small +magazine. These attempts kept us constantly on the alert; and it was +with great difficulty that we prevented damage being done. + +Fighting continued during the day among the other portions of the force, +and Nos. 1 and 2 Columns made further advances among the streets, the +guns and mortars from the bastions throwing shot and shell far into the +crowded parts of the city. Houses in commanding situations were taken +and made secure from assault by defences of sand-bags. Great judgment +was shown in these operations, and the losses in consequence were +comparatively few; but the enemy as yet gave no signs of retreating +from Delhi, and our leaders felt that great exertions would still be +necessary before the city fell entirely into our hands. + +_September 17_.--During the 17th and 18th a constant fire of shells from +upwards of twenty mortars was directed from the magazine and College +grounds on the Selimgarh Fort and the Palace, those from the bastions +still firing into a large portion of the city. Skirmishing went on at +the advanced posts, and a regular unbroken line of communication was +established from one end of our pickets to the other. + +_September 18_.--On the 18th my regiment moved from the magazine and +took up its quarters in the Protestant Church, close to the main guard +and Kashmir Gate, and at no great distance from the northern walls of +the city. This church had been built by the gallant and philanthropic +Colonel Alexander Skinner, C.B., an Eurasian and an Irregular cavalry +commander of some eminence during the wars in the beginning of the +century. He also erected at his own expense a Hindoo temple and a +Mohammedan mosque, giving as his reason that all religions were alike, +and that, in his opinion, each one was entitled to as much consideration +as the other. + +This church in which we were now quartered had been sadly desecrated by +the rebels and fanatics of the city. They had, in their religious zeal, +torn down the pulpit and reading-desk, defaced emblems, broken up the +pews and the benches, and shattered all the panes of glass, while here +and there inside the building were remains of their cooking-places, with +broken fragments of utensils. The walls, too, had suffered much from the +effects of our bombardment from September 11 to 14, the church being +in the line of fire directed on the bastions. Many, no doubt, would +consider it a sacrilege to quarter English troops in this sacred +edifice, but the exigencies of war required its use for this purpose, +and of all the buildings occupied by us during our stay in Delhi, the +church was found to be cleanest and best ventilated, free from the +noisome smells and close atmosphere of the native houses. + +The close of the 18th saw our outposts extended hard by the Chandni +Chauk--the main street of the city--the bank, Major Abbott's and Khan +Mohammed's houses having first been seized by our men, who suffered +severely from the field-guns and musketry of the rebels. There was also +another unsuccessful attack made on the Burn bastion and Lahore Gate +by the right column, in which the 75th lost one officer and many +men killed. The arrangements for attack seemed to have been bad and +ill-advised; the soldiers felt the want of the guiding genius of +Nicholson, and, during an advance through a narrow lane were literally +mown down by grape from the enemy's field-guns. + +The weather, which since the 14th had been fine, broke up on the night +of the 18th, and was succeeded by a terrific storm of rain, which fell +in torrents like a deluge. That night it was reported that the rebels in +great numbers were evacuating the city by the south side, the Bareilly +and Neemuch brigades making off in the direction of Gwalior. Certain it +is that from this period signs of waning strength appeared among the +enemy, and fewer attempts at assault were made on our outposts, those +on the left near the Palace, which were well protected by breastworks, +being only exposed to a very desultory fire of musketry. + +During the forenoon of the 18th there was, I think, a partial eclipse of +the sun, which lasted three hours. The unusual darkness which prevailed +astonished us beyond measure (our minds being taken up with events more +startling than astronomical phenomena) till reference to an almanac +explained the mystery. The eclipse had, we were told, an alarming effect +on the mutineers, who attributed the phenomenon to some supernatural +agency. The darkness no doubt worked on their superstitious fears, and +hastened their flight from the city on which the wrath of the Almighty +had descended. + +_September 19_.--On the 19th operations in front of the Palace Gate were +continued, a heavy fire being kept up against that place, while the 60th +Rifles and others, perched on the tops of houses, took unerring aim at +the rebels clustered in the open space. The same evening, also, the +exertions of the right column were rewarded by the capture of the Burn +bastion, with little loss on our side. + +It was now quite evident that the baffled insurgents were retiring from +Delhi in great numbers, mostly by the south side, few crossing the +bridge of boats by day owing to it being commanded by our guns. But on +the night of the 19th, when sitting in the church compound watching the +shells exploding over the Palace and Selimgarh, we heard distinctly, +through the intervals of firing, a distant, confused hum of voices, like +the murmur of a great multitude. The sound came from the direction of +the river, and was caused by multitudes of human beings, who, escaping +by the bridge of boats to the opposite side, were deserting the city +which was so soon to fall into our hands. + +_September 20_.--After some sharp fighting, and early on the morning of +September 20, the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion, which during former +assaults had cost us the lives of so many men, were taken, the column +pushing on along the walls to the Ajmir Gate, which also fell into our +hands. There were few defenders at these places, the mass of sepoys +having evidently fled into the country; and the troops marched through +the streets almost without opposition. + +There now remained but the Palace, Selimgarh, and the Jama Masjid, and +these were all occupied by our troops on that day. The former seemed +almost deserted, an occasional shot from the high walls directed on our +defences in the Chandni Chauk being the only signs of animation in that +quarter. Powder-bags were brought up and attached, to the great gate, +which was quickly blown in; and the 60th Rifles, with some Goorkhas, +rushed into the enclosure. A score or two of armed fanatics offered some +resistance, but they were soon shot down or bayoneted, and a few wounded +sepoys found in the buildings were put to death. Passing through the +Palace, Selimgarh was entered, and this, the last fortified position +belonging to the enemy, was taken possession of without a struggle. + +Meanwhile, a force of cavalry under Hodson moved round outside the city +walls, and found a large camp of the enemy near the Delhi Gate. This +was deserted, save by some sick and wounded sepoys, who were put to the +sword; and the horsemen, riding through the gate, made their way into +the heart of the city and took possession of the Jama Masjid without +striking a blow. + +Delhi had at length fallen into our hands, and the toils and dangers +of more than three months were at an end. The principal buildings were +occupied by our troops, and guards were placed at each gate with orders +to prevent the ingress or egress of any suspicious-looking characters, +while parties of armed men patrolled the streets of the city from end to +end. + +That night we moved back to our old quarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house, +the 52nd taking our place at the church. The first-named building was a +vast structure, belonging to a rich native, and had been furnished in a +style of Oriental magnificence; but now nothing but the bare walls and +floors were to be seen, the place having been ransacked of its treasures +and completely gutted since our last occupancy. + +From September 15 to 20, when Delhi fell, the force lost in killed and +wounded about 200 officers and men, making the total casualties 1,400, +including those of the day of assault. + +From May 30 to September 13 inclusive 2,490 officers and men were killed +and wounded, the grand total being close on 4,000. Add to these fully +1,200 who perished by cholera and other diseases, and it will be seen at +what a fearful cost of life to the small force engaged the victory was +won. + +Truly the capture of Delhi was a feat of arms without a parallel in +our Indian annals. The bravery of the men, their indomitable pluck and +resolution, the siege carried on with dogged pertinacity and without a +murmur, proclaimed to the world that British soldiers, in those stormy +times when the fate of an Empire was at issue, had fully maintained the +reputation of their ancestors and earned the gratitude of their country. + +To me, after the long interval of years, the incidents of the siege, +with its continual strife and ever-recurring dangers, come back to me as +in a dream. Often in fancy has my mind wandered back to those days +of turmoil and excitement, when men's hearts were agitated to their +profoundest depths, and our cause appeared wellnigh hopeless. Then it +was that a small body of men in a far-away part of North-West India, +entirely separated from the rest of the world, a few thousands amongst +millions of an alien race, rallied round their country's banners and +despaired not, though mutiny and rebellion ranged through the land. With +steadfast purpose and with hearts that knew no fear, the Delhi army +held its own for months against an overwhelming force of cruel and +remorseless rebels. Imperfectly equipped, and with little knowledge of +the dangers to be surmounted and the difficulties arising on every +side, each man of that force felt himself a host, and devoted his +energies--nay, his very life--to meet the crisis. None but those who +were there can for one moment realize through what suffering and +hardship the troops passed during the three months the Siege of Delhi +lasted. Day after day, under a burning sun or through the deadly time of +the rainy season, with pestilence in their midst, distressing accounts +from all parts of the country, and no hope of relief save through their +own unaided exertions, the soldiers of the army before Delhi fought with +a courage and constancy which no difficulties could daunt and no trials, +however severe, could overcome. In the end these men, worn out by +exposure and diminished in numbers, stormed a strong fortified city +defended by a vastly superior force, and for six days carried on a +constant fight in the streets, till the enemy were driven out of their +stronghold and Delhi was won. It must also be remembered that the +feat was accomplished without the help of a single soldier from home; +reinforcements had arrived in the country, but they were hundreds of +miles distant when the news reached them of the capture of Delhi: and it +is not too much to say that the success which followed the subsequent +operations down-country was due mainly to the fact that all danger from +the north-west had virtually ceased, and the mutiny had already received +a crushing blow from the capture of the great city of rebellion. + + +[Footnote 1: Lieutenant Boileau, 61st Regiment, served in the batteries +till the end of the siege.] + +[Footnote 2: Are not the names of the Engineers Home and Salkeld and of +Bugler Hawthorne (H.M. 52nd Regiment) household words?] + +[Footnote 3: Captain Deacon and Lieutenants Moore and Young were wounded +in this engagement.] + +[Footnote 4: Colonel Deacon, Her Majesty's 61st Regiment, commanded on +this occasion.] + + + +CHAPTER V + +OCCUPATION OF THE CITY + +The renown won by our troops in 1857 is now wellnigh forgotten, and, +in fact, their deeds in that distant quarter of our Empire faded into +oblivion within a very short period subsequent to the capture of Delhi. +When the regiments engaged at that place came home to England after a +long course of service in India, scarcely any notice was taken of their +arrival. There were no marchings past before Her Majesty at Windsor or +elsewhere, no public distribution of medals and rewards, no banquets +given to the leading officers of the force, and no record published +of the arduous duties in which they had been engaged. Those times are +changed, and the country has now rushed into the opposite extreme of +fulsome adulation, making a laughing-stock of the army and covering +with glory the conquerors in a ten days' war waged against the wretched +fellaheen soldiers of Egypt. + +Five years passed away after 1857 (and how many poor fellows had died in +the meantime!) before a mean and niggardly Government distributed to the +remnant of the Delhi army the first instalment of prize-money, and three +years more elapsed before the second was paid. + +In September, 1861, exactly four years after the storm of Delhi, my +regiment paraded at the Plymouth citadel to receive medals for the +campaign of 1857. The distribution took place in the quietest manner +possible, none but the officers and men of the regiment being present. +Borne on a large tray into the midst of a square, the medals were handed +by a sergeant to each one entitled to the long-withheld decoration, the +Adjutant meanwhile reading out the names of the recipients. There was +no fuss or ceremony, but I recollect that those present could not help +contrasting the scene with the grand parade and the presence of the +Queen when some of the Crimean officers and men received the numerous +decorations so lavishly bestowed for that campaign.[1] + +The city was entirely in our possession by noon of September 20, and +shortly after that hour I proceeded on horseback, with orders from +the Colonel, to withdraw all the advanced pickets of my regiment +to headquarters at Ahmed Ali Khan's house. These were stationed in +different parts of the city, and it was with no small difficulty that I +threaded my way through the streets and interminable narrow lanes, which +were all blocked up with heaps of broken furniture and rubbish that had +been thrown out of the houses by our troops, and formed in places an +almost impassable barrier. Not a soul was to be seen; all was still +as death, save now and then the sound of a musket-shot in the far-off +quarters of the town. + +My duty accomplished, I started in the afternoon with two of our +officers to view a portion of the city. We made our way first in the +direction of the Palace, passing down the Chandni Chauk (Silver Street) +and entering the Great Gate of the former imperial residence of the +Mogul Emperors. Here a guard of the 60th Rifles kept watch and ward with +some of the jovial little Goorkhas of the Kumaon battalion. From the +first we learnt particulars of the easy capture of the Palace that +morning, and were shown the bodies of the fanatics who had disputed the +entrance and had been killed in the enclosure. None of them were sepoys, +but belonged to that class of men called "ghazi," or champions of the +faith, men generally intoxicated with bhang, who are to be found in +every Mohammedan army--fierce madmen, devotees to death in the cause of +religion. Passing on, we wandered through the courts, wondering at the +vast size of this castellated palace with its towering, embattled walls, +till we came to the Dewan-i-Khas, and further on to the Dewan-i-Aum, or +Hall of Audience. This last, a large building of white marble on the +battlements overhanging the River Jumna, was now the headquarters of the +General and his staff, and where formerly the descendants of the great +warrior Tamerlane held their court, British officers had taken up their +abode; and infidels desecrated those halls, where only "true believers" +had assembled for hundreds of years. + +Passing thence through a gateway and over a swinging bridge, we entered +the old fort of Selimgarh, built, like the Palace, on the banks of the +river, its battlements, as well as those of the latter place on its +eastern side, being washed by the waters of the Jumna. Several heavy +guns and mortars were mounted on the walls of the fort, and we noticed +one old cannon of immense size for throwing stone balls, but which was +cracked at the muzzle, and evidently had not been used for centuries. +The fort was full of large and commodious buildings, used afterwards for +hospitals by our troops, the place itself, from its commanding situation +open and separate from the rest of the city, being the healthiest place +that could be found. There was a lovely view of the country on the left +bank of the Jumna, while to the north and south we followed the windings +of the broad river till lost to view in the far distance. + +Descending from Selimgarh, we took our stand on the bridge of boats now +deserted in its whole length, but over which, during the days of the +siege, thousands of mutineers had marched to swell the rebel forces in +Delhi. Thence we skirted along the banks of the river outside the walls, +viewing on our way the houses of the European residents, built in +charming situations close to the water's edge. These had been all +entirely destroyed, gutted, and burnt; nothing but the bare walls were +left standing, and the interiors filled with heaps of ashes. We thought +of the wretched fate of the former inmates of these houses, most of +whom had been mercilessly killed by the city rabble, urged on in their +fiendish work by the native soldiers, of the regular army. + +The mutineers of the 3rd Light Cavalry from Meerut had entered Delhi on +May 11, crossing the Jumna by the bridge of boats, and, being joined +by the city scoundrels, first wreaked their vengeance on the European +residents who lived close by, and who, without any previous warning of +the terrible fate in store for them, fell easy victims to the murderers. +It made our blood run cold, when visiting the ruins of these houses, to +think of the dastardly crimes which had been committed in and around the +spots on which we were standing. Defenceless and unarmed, helpless +in the hands of these human tigers, our unfortunate men, women, and +children were immolated without mercy. Turning back, we entered the city +by the Calcutta Gate, and walked along the ramparts by the riverside, +past the walls of the magazine, till we reached the Water bastion. Here +the destructive effect of our batteries during the bombardment was most +apparent. Fired at the distance of only 180 yards, the guns had smashed +the walls and ramparts to pieces, huge fragments had rolled down into +the ditch, and the cannon in the battery were completely dismounted from +the carriages, lying in confusion one on top of the other. + +At the Kashmir Gate there was a heap of goods (consisting principally +of clothes and rubbish) many feet high, which had been looted from the +houses around. The guard at the gate had orders to allow no one to pass +out with a bundle of any kind; and the consequence was an accumulation +of material, chiefly worthless, which covered many square yards of +ground. I have omitted all record of the plundering which up to this +time, and for long afterwards, took place all over the city where +our troops had penetrated. This account I have reserved for the last +chapter, where full details of the loot of Delhi and the amount of +prize-money accruing to the force will be found. _September 21_.--During +the 21st I, in company with other officers, wandered over the heart of +the city, continuing our perambulations south of the Chandni Chauk and +penetrating into streets beyond, where the six days' fighting had taken +place. The night before we had heard occasional shots fired at no great +distance, and these were continued during the day and for some time +afterwards. + +Looting was going on to a great extent, both European and native +soldiers engaging in the work; and though strict orders had been issued +to prevent such licence, it was found impossible to check the evil. The +shots emanated from these men, who, of course, went about well armed, +and brooked no interference when in the act of securing booty. +Altercations of a serious nature had taken place between the Europeans +and Sikh soldiers, ending sometimes in blows, and often in bloodshed, +when the two parties met in a house or were busy employed in dividing +the spoil. However, in time, when most of the native troops had left +Delhi, and the European regiments were quartered in walled enclosures +with a guard at the gates to prevent egress, the looting on the part of +the private soldiers ceased, and the prize agents were enabled to gather +in the enormous wealth of the city without any trouble. + +The portions of the town we passed through on that day had been pillaged +to the fullest extent. Not content with ransacking the interior of each +house, the soldiers had broken up every article of furniture, and with +wanton destruction had thrown everything portable out of the windows. +Each street was filled with a mass of debris consisting of household +effects of every kind, all lying in inextricable confusion one on top of +the other, forming barricades--from end to end of a street--many feet +high. We entered several of the large houses belonging to the wealthier +class of natives, and found every one in the same condition, turned +inside out, their ornaments torn to pieces, costly articles, too heavy +to remove, battered into fragments, and a general air of desolation +pervading each building. Much of this wholesale destruction was, no +doubt, attributable to the action of the sepoys and rabble of the city, +who during the siege, and in the state of anarchy which prevailed during +that period, had looted to their hearts' content, levying blackmail on +the richer inhabitants and pursuing their evil course without let or +hindrance. Still, that which had escaped the plundering and devastating +hands of the sepoys was most effectually ruined by our men. Not a +single house or building remained intact, and the damage done must have +amounted to thousands of pounds. + +We were quite alone in most streets; deserted and silent, they resembled +a city of the dead on which some awful catastrophe had fallen. It was +difficult to realize that we were passing through what had been, only a +few days before, the abode of thousands of people. What had become of +them, and by what magic influence had all disappeared? Not till days +afterwards was the mystery solved. + +The _tai-khanas_, or underground rooms of houses, scattered all over the +city, were found to be filled with human beings--those who, by age or +infirmity, had been unable to join in the general exodus which had taken +place during the last days of the siege. Hundreds of old men, women and +children, were found huddled together, half starved, in these places, +the most wretched-looking objects I ever saw. There was no means of +feeding them in the city, where their presence also would have raised a +plague and many would have died; so, by the orders of the General, they +were turned out of the gates of Delhi and escorted into the country. It +was a melancholy sight, seeing them trooping out of the town, hundreds +passing through the Lahore Gate every day for a whole week. We were told +that provisions had been collected for their use at a place some miles +distant, and it is to be hoped the poor creatures were saved from +starvation; but we had our doubts on the subject, and, knowing how +callous with regard to human suffering the authorities had become, I +fear that many perished from want and exposure. + +There were other objects also which raised feelings of pity in our +minds. During our walks through the streets we caught sight of dozens +of cats and tame monkeys on the roofs of the houses, looking at us with +most woe-begone countenances, the latter chattering with fear. These, as +well as birds of every description left behind in cages by their owners +on their flight, literally starved to death in the houses and streets of +the city. There was no food for such as these, and it is lamentable to +think of the torture and suffering the poor pet creatures endured till +death put an end to their misery. + +Dead bodies of sepoys and city inhabitants lay scattered in every +direction, poisoning the air for many days, and raising a stench which +was unbearable. These in time were almost all cleared away by the native +scavengers, but in some distant streets corpses lay rotting in the sun +for weeks, and during my rides on duty, when stationed at the Ajmir +Gate, I often came across a dead body which had escaped search. + +On the afternoon of the 21st a most important capture was effected by +Hodson. Shah Bahadoor Shah, the old King of Delhi, was taken by that +officer near the city while endeavouring to escape down-country. + +Hodson, with his accustomed daring, and accompanied by 100 only of his +own troopers, seized the person of the King from amongst thousands of +armed dependents and rabble, who, awed by his stern demeanour, did not +raise a hand in resisting the capture. The King was brought to Delhi the +same day, and lodged as a prisoner in the house formerly the residence +of the notorious Begum Sumroo. He was guarded by fifty men of my +regiment, under command of a Lieutenant; and on the 22nd I went to see +him, accompanied by our Adjutant. + +Sitting cross-legged on a cushion placed on a common native _charpoy_, +or bed, in the verandah of a courtyard, was the last representative of +the Great Mogul dynasty. There was nothing imposing in his appearance, +save a long white beard which reached to his girdle. About middle +height, and upwards of seventy years old, he was dressed in white, with +a conical-shaped turban of the same colour and material, while at his +back two attendants stood, waving over his head large fans of peacocks' +feathers, the emblem of sovereignty--a pitiable farce in the case of one +who was already shorn of his regal attributes, a prisoner in the hands +of his enemies. Not a word came from his lips; in silence he sat day and +night, with his eyes cast on the ground, and as though utterly oblivious +of the condition in which he was placed. On another bed, three feet +from the King, sat the officer on guard, while two stalwart European +sentries, with fixed bayonets, stood on either side. The orders given +were that on any attempt at a rescue the officer was immediately to +shoot the King with his own hand. + +[Illustration: KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857.] + +[From a photograph taken from a pencil sketch by Captain Robles, who was +placed on guard over him.] + +The old King was brought to trial shortly afterwards at the palace, and +found guilty of complicity in the murders of our country men and women, +and was transported beyond the seas, dying in British Burmah before he +could be removed to the Andaman Islands, where, in accordance with his +sentence, he was to have remained in imprisonment for the term of +his natural life. The vicissitudes of fortune, numberless as are the +instances among men of royal birth, can scarcely show anything more +suggestive of the transitoriness of earthly pomp and grandeur than +the case of the last King of Delhi. Sprung from the line of the great +conqueror Tamerlane, the lineal descendant of the magnanimous Akbar and +of Shah Jehan the magnificent, he ended his days as a common felon, far +from the country of his ancestors, unwept for and unhonoured. + +_September 22_.--Lieutenant Hodson, also on the 22nd, took prisoner, at +a place some miles from Delhi, the two eldest sons and the grandson +of the King. These men, more especially the eldest, who was +Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, had been deeply implicated in the +murders of May 11, had urged on the sepoys and populace in their cruel +deeds, and were present at the terrible massacre of our people which +took place in the Chandni Chauk on that day. + +Hodson's orders were precise as to the fate of these blood-thirsty +ruffians, and though his name has been vilified and his reputation +tarnished by so-called humanitarians for the course he adopted in +ridding the world of the miscreants, he was upheld in the deed by the +whole Delhi army, men in every respect better qualified to form a +judgment in this particular than the sentimental beings at home who +denounced with horror this perfectly justifiable act of speedy and +condign punishment. + +The three Princes were placed in a _gharee_, or native carriage, and, +guarded by Hodson's native troopers, were conducted towards the city. +Before they entered, the carriage was stopped, and Hodson spoke to his +men of the crimes committed by the prisoners. Then, dismounting from his +horse and opening the door of the _gharee_, he fired two shots from a +Colt's revolver into each of their hearts. After being driven to the +Kotwali, or chief magistrate's house, in the centre of the Chandni +Chauk, on the very spot where our country men and women had suffered +death, the three bodies were stripped save a rag around the loins, and +laid naked on the stone slabs outside the building. + +Here I saw them that same afternoon; nor can it be said that I or the +others who viewed the lifeless remains felt any pity in our hearts for +the wretches on whom had fallen a most righteous retribution for their +crimes. The eldest was a strong, well-knit man in the prime of life, the +next somewhat younger, while the third was quite a youth not more than +twenty years of age. Each of the Princes had two small bullet-holes over +the region of the heart, the flesh singed by gunpowder, as the shots +were fired close; a cloth covered part of the loins, but they were +otherwise quite naked. There was a guard, I think, of Coke's Rifles +stationed at the Kotwali, and there the bodies remained exposed for +three days, and were then buried in dishonoured graves. + +On the 22nd the regiment, or what was left of it, comprising about 180 +effective rank and file, moved from Ahmed Ali Khan's house to the Ajmir +Gate at the extreme south-western side of the city, a distance of a mile +and a half from our former residence. Here we put up in a large serai, +with open courtyards in the centre, shaded by high trees, the small +rooms on each side of the building being turned into quarters for the +men, the officers taking up their abode in a mosque at the far end. The +change was far from agreeable; flies and mosquitoes swarmed around us, +the ditch outside the walls was filled with pools of stagnant water, and +a horrible stench impregnated the air, increasing the sickness among +the already enfeebled soldiers, and still further reducing our scanty +number. + +_September 23_.--The next day I started with D----, of my regiment, to +view the Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque. Nothing can exceed the rich, +though chaste, beauty of this glorious structure. The building stands +in a large walled enclosure, high broad steps leading up to the mosque, +with its three domes of pure white marble and floor of the same +material, all inlaid with figures. We ascended one of the minarets, +about 120 feet high, obtaining a grand view of the imperial city and the +surrounding country. To the south extended the ruins of Ferozebad, or +ancient Delhi; to the east lay the River Jumna; and to the west and +north stretched a forest of trees and gardens, among which were seen the +suburbs of the city, the now historic ridge in the far distance hiding +the whole camp from our view. From our elevated position a just estimate +could be formed of the great size of Delhi: the city lay spread out +below with its vast area of streets, its palaces, mosques, and temples, +all silent and deserted, in striking contrast to the din and turmoil of +a few days back. + +Major Coke's corps of Punjab Rifles were quartered in the Masjid--a +luxurious place of residence--but there were no worshippers to be found +in the sacred building, and only armed men of an infidel creed were to +be seen. A report spread at this time that it had been decided to blow +up the mosque. I cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, and can +only attribute the rumour to a belief that a large ransom would be paid +by the Mohammedan population of India for the preservation of their +temple had the authorities really intended to carry out the project. Its +destruction would have been an act of vandalism quite at variance with +the character of the British nation, and one which would have brought +down on us the wrath and contempt of the whole civilized world. + +From the Jama Masjid we wandered through narrow lanes and +back-slums--the former resort of the worst characters in the city--to +the Delhi and Turkoman Gates, the streets, as in other parts, being +strewed with property from the wrecked houses, and wellnigh impassable. +We saw parties of Europeans and native soldiers, all eager in the +pursuit of plunder, going from house to house, or diving down courts and +alleys when they saw us approaching. Interference or remonstrance with +these men would have been useless, if not dangerous; in their excited +state they were no respecters of persons, and we deemed it the better +judgment to take no notice of their actions. Dead bodies lay in almost +every street, rotting in the burning sun, and the effluvium was +sickening, so that we were glad to make our way back to the Ajmir Gate +to a less poisonous atmosphere. + +A movable column of 2,500 men of all arms started on the morning of the +23rd in pursuit of the rebels, taking the direction to Cawnpore. My +regiment had been detailed for this service; and, though numerically +weak, and suffering from sickness, the officers and men hailed with +pleasure the approaching departure from Delhi. But, unfortunately for +us, the Colonel in command reported us sick and unfit to march. We were +all to a man furious at this; everyone fit for duty was willing, heart +and soul, to be sent wherever the exigencies of the war required, and +more especially looked forward with delight to the prospect of serving +under Sir Colin Campbell, in whose brigade the regiment had fought in +the Punjab campaign of 1848-49. Still, the decision of the responsible +officer was not to be disputed, and so the regiment was kept at Delhi. + +On the 25th I mounted guard with fifty men at the Lahore Gate. The +orders were "on no account to allow soldiers, either European or native, +nor camp-followers without passes, to enter or leave the city." My post +was constantly at the gate, where I examined passes; and while +thus occupied some thirty troopers of the Mooltani Horse--wild, +truculent-looking fellows, armed to the teeth--rode up demanding +entrance. I explained to them what my orders were, and refused +admission. Whereupon they commenced talking among themselves, and +presently had the audacity to move towards the sentries with the +intention of forcing their way. I was exasperated beyond measure, and +turned out the guard, at the same time telling the Mooltanis that, if +they did not at once retire, I would fire upon them without more +ado. They then at once changed their threatening attitude, contented +themselves with swearing at the _Gore log_,[2] and rode away, saying +that now Nicholson was dead no one cared for them, and they would return +to their homes. These men had been newly raised, were scarcely under +proper discipline, and were certainly horrible-looking bandits and +cut-throats--very different from the Sikh and Punjabi Horsemen, who were +in manner and discipline all that could be desired. I knew that the +Mooltanis only desired entrance into the city to participate in the +looting which was still going on; and had they been allowed to indulge +in a work for which by their evil countenances they seemed well adapted, +collisions would have taken place between them and the English soldiers +and others, and bloodshed would have been the result. + +Shortly after the Mooltani Horsemen rode away I saw a party of Goorkhas +coming towards the gate. They were strolling along quite unconcernedly, +laughing and chatting together, with their hands in their pockets and +quite unarmed, not even carrying their favourite _kukri_. Coming to +where I was standing just outside the gate, they laughingly asked me to +allow them to take a stroll down the Chandni Chauk and through a part of +the city for a short time. My orders were imperative, and I told them +so; whereat they said they belonged to the Sirmoor battalion--the +gallant regiment which, in conjunction with the 60th Rifles, had +defended the right of our position throughout the siege. The corps was +still stationed at their old quarters at Hindoo Rao's house, and not one +of them up to this time had entered Delhi. Naturally, they said they +wished to see the city, promised most faithfully that they would refrain +from looting, and return to the Lahore Gate in an hour's time. I found I +could not resist the importunities of these brave little fellows, and, +trusting to their honour, at last consented, though contrary to orders, +to grant them admission. We watched them walking along the Chandni +Chauk, staring in wonder at all they saw, till lost in the distance. +Punctual to the time mentioned the Goorkhas returned, and, thanking me +for my courtesy, made their way to their old quarters on the ridge. + +During my tour on duty on this occasion at the Lahore Gate upwards of +500 of the Delhi populace were turned out of the city. They extended +in a long string up the Chandni Chauk, decrepit old men and women +with groups of young children. It was a pitiable sight, drawing forth +exclamations of sympathy even from the rough soldiers on guard. + +It had been brought to the notice of the General that some of the former +inhabitants of Delhi, including sepoys, were in the habit of entering +the city for the purpose of carrying away valuables, being drawn up by +ropes held by confederates on the walls, and that many had also escaped +in the darkness by the same means. Several captures had already been +made, a strict watch was ordered to be kept at the several gates, and +patrolling parties to march at intervals outside the walls. The day I +was on guard at the Lahore Gate Hodson rode up to me from the outside, +and said he had seen some natives on the walls close by, evidently +attempting to escape into the country. I immediately sent round a +corporal and four soldiers in the direction indicated, who presently +returned with six natives--carrying bundles--whom they had made +prisoners. All men thus captured were sent to the Governor of the city +at the Kotwalli, who disposed of them as he thought fit, having the +power of life and death in these matters. The Governor had the repute of +being over-indulgent with regard to the disposal of the captives, being +considered too merciful in his treatment of men who, for aught he knew, +had forfeited their lives in joining the armed rebellion against our +authority. + +A striking instance of the feeling which animated officers and men in +the troublous times took place some time afterwards at Delhi. An officer +of my regiment was on guard at the Ajmir Gate, and on one occasion sent +to the Governor some men whom he had captured while they were in the +act of escaping from the city. These men were released; but on a second +occasion three men were taken, and the officer, deeming it useless to +forward them for punishment to the usual authority, called out a file of +his soldiers, placed the prisoners in the ditch outside the Ajmir +Gate, shot them, and then, digging a hole, buried them at the place of +execution. + +For a long period after the capture of Delhi executions by hanging +were of common occurrence in the city, and the hands of the old +provost-sergeant were full. Disguised sepoys and inhabitants taken +with arms in their possession had short shrift, and were at once +consigned to the gallows, a batch of ten one day suffering death +opposite the Kotwali. + +In the beginning of October two more reputed sons of the old King were +shot by sentence of court-martial. They had commanded regiments of +the rebel army, and were foremost in the revolt, even joining in the +massacre of our people. The 60th Rifles and some Goorkhas formed +the firing party, and took, strange to say, such bad aim that the +provost-sergeant had to finish the work by shooting each culprit with +a pistol. Nothing could have been more ill-favoured and dirty than the +wretched victims; but they met their fate in silence and with the most +dogged composure. + +_September 28_.--Accompanied by our Adjutant and some other officers, I +rode out to Taliwarra and Kishenganj on September 28. These suburbs were +a mass of ruins, but enough was left intact to show the immense strength +of the enemy's position at the former place. Batteries had been erected +at every available spot, strongly fortified and entrenched, and one in +particular which had raked the right of our position was perfect in +every detail, and was guarded by a ditch, or rather _nallah_, forty feet +deep. + +We passed through the large caravanserai, the scene of the conflict +during the memorable sortie of July 9, and when in the course of our +inspection in the enclosure a ludicrous event occurred. An officer who +had been shot through the leg on that day, recognizing the place where +he had received his wound, dismounted from his horse, and stood on the +very spot. He was in the act of explaining events, and describing his +sensations when shot, when suddenly he made a jump in the air, uttering +a cry of pain, and commenced rubbing his legs, first one and then the +other. We burst into laughter at the antics of our friend, who, we +imagined, had been seized with a fit of madness quite at variance with +his usual quiet demeanour, and jokingly asked him what was the matter. +Still writhing with pain, and engaged in his involuntary saltatory +exercise, he pointed to a swarm of wasps which, roused from their nest, +on which he had been standing, covered his lower extremities, and had +made their way inside his pantaloons, stinging him on both legs, and +crawling up his body. The pain must have been intense, and fully +accounted for his gymnastics and frantic efforts to crush the insects. +It was some days before he recovered from the wounds he had received, +far more painful--as he averred--than the enemy's bullet, I intimated +at the time to my friend that the wasps probably were the ghosts of +the sepoys who had been killed in the serai, their bodies, by the +transmigration of souls, having taken the shape of these malignant +insects in order to wreak vengeance on their destroyers. He, however, +did not seem to relish my interpretation of this very singular event, +and, in fact, was inclined to resent what he called my ill-timed +jesting; but the story spread, and our poor friend became for some time +afterwards the butt and laughing-stock of the regiment. + +From Kishenganj we rode through the Sabzi Mandi Gardens, visiting our +old pickets there and at the Crow's Nest, and then proceeded up the +slope of the ridge to Hindoo Rao's house. This was still garrisoned by +the Sirmoor battalion of Goorkhas, some of whom escorted us round the +place, pointing out the different positions they had so gallantly +defended. The house was knocked to pieces, the walls showing evidence of +the enemy's fire, and revealing to us the truth of the saying in camp +that these hardy little fellows, with the 60th Rifles, during more than +three months, had been constantly exposed night and day to shot and +shell, there not being a single part of their quarters where complete +shelter could be found. + +The Observatory, close to Hindoo Rao's house, had also felt the effect +of the enemy's shot, while midway between the Observatory and the +Flagstaff Tower, the Mosque--the only other building on the ridge--was +also in ruins. Our batteries, nine in number, lay in a comparatively +small compass, extending about three-quarters of a mile from the Crow's +Nest in the right rear to Wilson's battery opposite the Observatory. The +rest of the ridge was unprotected by guns in position, it being at so +great a distance from the city and also free from the enemy's attacks; +the only danger and annoyance arose from occasional shells, which +reached the camp and exploded amongst the tents, from round-shot and +from rocket fire. + +Passing by the Flagstaff Tower, we rode through the old camp, now +desolate and silent, visiting the graves of our poor fellows at the +cemetery, and then, retracing our steps, entered Delhi by the Kashmir +Gate, and returned to our quarters. + +Cholera still continued its ravages among the small number of troops +left in Delhi. The reaction from a life of strife and excitement to the +dull existence we were now leading had its effects on the men, and we +each day lamented more and more that we had not gone with the Movable +Column, leaving the noisome smells, the increasing sickness, and the +monotony of Delhi behind. Two thousand sick and wounded had been moved +into the Fort of Selimgarh, where the pure air and open situation of the +place soon made a marked change in the number of invalids: but disease +was rife among the regiments quartered in the city, and convalescents +from Selimgarh were soon replaced by men suffering from cholera and +fever ague. + +In the beginning of October, to our intense delight, we moved from the +Ajmir Gate, that sink of corruption, and took up our quarters in the +magazine. The officers here occupied a fine roomy building of two +stories, while the men were housed in comfortable sheds round the +enclosure. We still furnished guards at the Ajmir and Lahore Gates, the +term of duty, through paucity of men for relief, extending over three +days. The officer on guard at the former gate visited detachments and +sentries at the "Delhi" and "Turkoman" Gates, a distance of a mile and +a half through streets in which dead bodies in the last stage of +decomposition were still lying. While one day engaged on this duty, I +passed a carcass on which some pariah dogs were making a meal. Disgusted +at the sight, and weak in stomach from the putrid air, I returned to +my tent at the Ajmir Gate at the time when my servant arrived with my +dinner from the magazine. I asked him what he had brought me, and was +answered, "Liver and bacon." The nauseating sight I had just witnessed +recurred to my memory, visions of diseased and putrid livers rose before +my view, and, unable to control myself, I was seized with a fit of +sickness which prostrated me for some time after. + +Nothing of importance occurred during the month of October. We settled +into a very quiet life at the magazine, varied by eternal guard-mounting +at the different gates of the city and regimental drill. My health had +been failing for some time, and, now that there seemed no immediate +prospect of employment on active service, I gladly acquiesced in the +doctor's advice that I should proceed to Umballah on sick leave. + +_November 8_.--Accordingly I left Delhi on November 8, my destination +being Umballah, a station in the Cis-Sutlej provinces. A _palki ghari_, +or Indian carriage, drawn by two horses, awaited me that evening at +Selimgarh, and, bidding adieu to our good doctor, who had nursed me with +unremitting attention during my sickness, I entered the carriage. +Just before starting, an officer of my regiment handed me two +double-barrelled pistols--revolvers were at a premium in those +days--saying they might possibly come in useful during my journey, and +I little thought at the time that their services would be brought into +requisition. + +The country around Delhi swarmed with _goojars_, the generic name for +professional thieves, who inhabited the numerous villages and levied +blackmail on travellers, though seldom interfering with Europeans. My +baggage, consisting of two _petarahs_ (native leather trunks) containing +uniform and clothing, was deposited on the roof of the vehicle under +charge of my bearer, but the loot I had acquired, I had safely stowed in +a despatch-box, which was placed under my pillow in the interior of the +carriage. A bed, comfortably arranged, occupied the seats, and on this I +lay down, closing the doors of the _ghari_ when night came on. + +Some two stages from Delhi, after changing horses and proceeding on the +journey along the pucka road, I fell into a doze, and at last into a +sound sleep. From this I was rudely awakened by shouts of "Chor! chor!" +(Thief! thief!) from my bearer and the native coachman. Starting up, +I seized the pistols, and opening the doors of the _ghari_, saw, as I +fancied, some forms disappearing in the darkness at the side of the +road. I fired two barrels in the direction and pursued for some +distance, but finding that my shots had not taken effect, and fearful of +losing my way--for the night was pitch-dark--I returned to the carriage. +My bearer then told me that some robbers had climbed up the back of the +_ghari_, taken the two _petarahs_ between which he was lying, and made +off into the country. We had been driving at the usual pace, about six +miles an hour, and it proves the practised skill and agility of the +_goojars_, who, with such ease, had abstracted the boxes from under the +very nose of my servant. There was nothing for it but to continue my +journey regretting the loss of my personal effects, but still fortunate +in one respect--that the loot was safe under my pillow. + +_November 9_.--At the next stage I questioned the horse-keeper, +acquainting him with the robbery, and learned that a village inhabited +by _goojars_ lay off the road not far from the place where the robbery +had been perpetrated. In the morning I arrived at the civil station +of Karnal, and drove to the residence of the Commissioner, to whom I +reported my loss, giving the name of the village where it had occurred. +He told me to make out a valuation of the things stolen and to send it +to him on the first opportunity. This I did on reaching Umballah, fixing +the value of the different articles in the boxes at 250 rupees. A month +afterwards, when the affair had almost faded from my memory, I received +a letter from the Commissioner stating that he had visited the village +near the spot where the robbery had taken place. The headman had been +summoned to his presence, and warned that, unless the thieves were +given up and the boxes returned with their contents intact, he would +confiscate a certain number of cattle, and sell the same to indemnify +me for the losses I had sustained. These orders being unfulfilled, the +cattle were sold, and an order for 250 rupees was enclosed to me in the +letter. The boxes, quite empty, with the exception of my journals, were +found afterwards at the bottom of a well and were forwarded to Umballah. +The ink had run in the journals from immersion in the water, but the +writing was little defaced, and these papers--to me the most precious +part of my luggage--I was glad to recover. + +The change to Umballah was at first beneficial, but later on I suffered +a relapse; and after appearing before a medical board, was granted a +year's leave to England. + +From Umballah I journeyed to Ferozepore, where I met several of my +brother-officers and others who, like myself, had been invalided home. + +_January 10, 1858_.--After a short stay there--the time being +principally taken up with chartering boats and providing necessaries +for the passage down the river--we all, to the number of about fifty +persons, occupying twenty-two boats, which had to be specially fitted up +with straw-built houses with sloping roofs, set off on January 10, 1858, +under the protection of a guard of Sikhs, and, after what may on the +whole be regarded as a pleasant trip, reached Tattah on February 11. +Thence I went on to Karachi and Bombay and Marseilles, and, after a +pleasant tour on the Continent of Europe, arrived in the Old Country in +May, 1858, after an absence of rather more than six years. + +[Illustration: "HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS] + + +[Footnote 1: Since the above was written, especial honour has been shown +to those who participated in the hardships and glories of the campaign +by His Majesty King Edward VII., who received the surviving officers at +a levee at St. James's Palace on June 3, 1907. + +A public dinner was also given by the proprietors of the _Daily +Telegraph_ in the Albert Hall on December 23 of the same year to all the +surviving veterans who had taken part in the suppression of the Mutiny +in 1857.] + +[Footnote 2: White people.] + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE RICHES OF DELHI + +The riches of the city of Delhi and the opulence of its Princes and +merchants had been celebrated in Hindostan from time immemorial. For +ages it had been the capital of an empire extending from the snows of +the Himalayas to Cape Comorin; and to Delhi, as to a centre, gravitated +the wealth of the richest country in the world. Fabulous reports had +reached us of the booty carried away to distant regions by the numerous +warriors who burst like a torrent over Hindostan, making that city the +goal of their conquests and the scene of their predatory forays. During +the nineteenth century Delhi, since its capture by Lord Lake in 1803, +had remained in the hands of the British, the city owing a nominal +allegiance to the King, who, to all intents and purposes a State +prisoner, was a pensioner of our Government up to 1857, holding a Court +(consisting for the most part of wretched dependents and ragamuffins) in +the Palace of the Great Mogul. + +The quiet which reigned during that period had a salutary effect on the +prosperity of Delhi; its merchants and storekeepers, trading with +the inhabitants of the richly-cultivated Dooab and with more distant +countries, became rich and prosperous, accumulating vast treasures, +while the people, with the instinct of a penurious race, converted their +ready-money into jewels and gold and silver ornaments, and safely stowed +them away in hidden receptacles within their houses. + +The numerous races of India--and notably the Sikhs--burning for an +opportunity to plunder the imperial city, cast longing eyes towards +these hidden treasures, the fame of which had spread far and wide; and +to this desire may be attributed, as much as any other reason, the +willingness of that warlike people to help us during the Mutiny. + +While the siege was progressing, even at a time when clouded with +anxiety as to the future, men's minds were full of the uncertain issue +of the fight; the thoughts of all in camp turned involuntarily to the +rich harvest awaiting the army should Delhi fall into our hands. To all +of us (putting aside the morality of the question), the loot of the +city was to be a fitting recompense for the toils and privations we had +undergone; nor did the questionable character of the transaction weigh +for one moment with us against the recognized military law--"that a city +taken by assault belonged as prize to the conquerors." During the actual +bombardment, when the end seemed at hand, this subject of prize was the +topic of conversation among both officers and men; and soon we learnt +with satisfaction that the General in command, after consulting with +others in authority, had settled on the course to be pursued. + +On September 7 a notice appeared in "orders" in which General Wilson +thanked the army for the courage and devotion displayed during the long +months of the siege. He recapitulated the dangers through which the +force had passed, and looked forward hopefully to the future when, +Providence favouring us, a few short days would see the enemy's +stronghold pass into our hands. Instructions the most peremptory were +laid down as to the absolute necessity for the troops keeping well +together on the day of assault, and not dispersing in scattered bands +or alone through the streets of the city in pursuit of plunder. Great +danger and possible annihilation of the small army would result were +these precautions overlooked, rendering the force liable to be cut up +in detail by the large bodies of rebels then occupying the streets and +houses of Delhi. Lastly, as a reward and incentive to all engaged, the +General gave his word, promising that all property captured in the city +would be placed in one common fund, to be distributed as prize according +to the rules of war in such cases. The commanding officer, as well as +all in the army, knew that it would be impossible to prevent looting +altogether, but it was hoped that the above order would have a good +effect by urging on the soldiers, for their welfare and advantage, the +necessity of obeying the instructions therein laid down. + +This order, as I have said, appeared on September 7; nor, from the +promises given, had any of us the slightest doubt but that its +provisions with regard to prize-money would be carried into effect in +due course. Delhi was taken, but as time passed by, and months elapsed +without any notification on the subject being received from the Supreme +Government, the army began to feel anxious, and murmurs arose as to the +non-fulfilment of the pledge given by General Wilson. At length, at the +end of the year, the Governor-General, with the advice of his Executive +Council, promulgated his decision that there was an objection to the +troops receiving the Delhi prize-money, and in lieu thereof granted as a +recompense for their arduous labours and patient endurance in the field +the "magnificent" sum of six months' batta. + +Lord Canning, his Council and law advisers, all civilians sitting +quietly at Calcutta, living in ease and comfort far from the dangers of +war, thought, forsooth, that the Delhi army, struggling for existence +for months, fighting to uphold British rule in India--nay, for the very +lives and safety of these civilian judges--and at last victorious in the +contest, would rest content with their decision. + +It is needless to say that this roused a storm of indignation not only +amongst the Delhi force, but throughout the British army in India--a +burst of resentment which, reaching the Governor-General, made him pause +and reconsider his ill-timed and unjust decision. Suffice it to say that +the order was rescinded, and that the prize-money, in addition to six +months' batta, was granted to all engaged. + +The day that the news of the first decision of the Government arrived at +Delhi, when all at that place were full of the wrong done to the army, a +private soldier of the 60th Rifles, inspired by the most exquisite sense +of humour as well as of bitter satire, wrote upon the walls of the +palace where his regiment was quartered the following appropriate +sentence: "Delhi taken and India saved for 36 rupees 10 annas." It +is said that the Governor-General demanded the name of this waggish +soldier, with the intention that he might receive punishment for his +daring effrontery; but it is needless to say that the author of the joke +remained unknown save to a few of his comrades; and the great ruler of +Hindostan was forced to rest content and ponder over the hidden sarcasm +and bitter irony addressed to one in his exalted position. + +The army was further promised by the Government 5 per cent, on the whole +amount of the prize-money till the amount should be paid. This, during +the many years which elapsed before the money was distributed, +would have reached a large sum; but faith was broken and the sum +repudiated--another instance of want of gratitude to soldiers who, +looked to maintain their country's honour in time of war, are in peace, +and when danger is at an end, soon forgotten. So prolonged, also, was +the delay in payment of the prize-money that, I recollect, the Times, in +reference to this subject about 1860 or 1861, had a leading article in +its columns recommending the Delhi army to bring an action against the +Government for the payment of the prize. Such action, of course, would +have been without precedent, but it showed the feeling of many in the +country when the leading journal thought right to draw attention to the +subject with a view to the adjustment of the army's rightful claim. + +To return to General Wilson's order of September 7. Notices were +circulated throughout the camp in every brigade and regiment, calling on +the troops to elect prize agents for gathering and receiving prize after +the capture of the city. These prize agents, therefore, were selected +by the army, one for the general and field officers, the second for the +Queen's service of all ranks below that of Major, and the third for the +company's army. The officers appointed, including Captain Fagan, and +after his death Doctor Innes, Sir Edward Campbell, of the 60th Rifles, +and Captain Wriford, of the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, were all most popular +men, and considered in every way fit for the very important duties they +had to perform. + +On September 14, the day of assault, till the 20th, when Delhi was +completely in our possession, much looting took place in the city. Our +troops, both European and native, and especially the Sikhs, entered +houses during those days and managed to secrete about their persons +articles of value. To my certain knowledge, also, many soldiers of the +English regiments got possession of jewellery and gold ornaments taken +from the bodies of the slain sepoys and city inhabitants, and I was +shown by men of my regiment strings of pearls and gold mohurs which had +fallen into their hands. + +On the day of assault we were much amused, during a slight cessation of +the conflict, by one of our men rushing up to a group of officers in a +state of great excitement, with the news that there was a buggy with two +horses standing at the corner of a street close by. He offered the prize +to anyone who would give him a bottle of rum; but in the then state of +affairs no one felt inclined to burden himself with such a luxury, and +the poor fellow went away much disappointed. Whether he succeeded in +disposing of the prize I don't know; but when things quieted down, and +the regiment was stationed in comfortable quarters, one of our officers, +noted for his constant impecuniosity, appeared one day driving a buggy +and two horses, the acquisition of which always remained a secret; nor +would he, on being questioned, throw any light on the matter. + +That many of the private soldiers of my regiment succeeded in acquiring +a great quantity of valuable plunder was fully demonstrated soon after +our arrival in England. An unusual number of non-commissioned officers +and men bought their discharge, having during three years kept +possession of the plunder acquired at Delhi awaiting a favourable +opportunity for the sale of the articles. Many jewellers' shops in +the town in which we were quartered exposed for sale in the windows +ornaments and trinkets of unmistakable Eastern workmanship, which, on +inquiry, we were told had been bought from the men. + +It would have been contrary to human nature, and utterly at variance +with the predatory instinct, had the soldiers failed to take advantage +of the facilities for plunder which surrounded them on every side; nor +could it be expected that a man, after possessing himself of valuables, +would at once, or on the first favourable opportunity, deliver up +his booty to the properly-constituted authorities. This much may be +conceded, and it will therefore not be a subject of wonder that all +ranks of the Delhi Force, with but few exceptions, availed themselves +of the prize within their reach, and appropriated to their own use much +treasure which ought to have gone towards swelling the general fund. + +One officer in command of a native regiment quartered his corps in a +house which formerly belonged to one of the richest Princes in the city +of Delhi. The place was full of riches of every kind, and it was the +popular belief at the time throughout the army that the officer in +question succeeded in obtaining two lakhs of rupees. Rumour also said +that a court of inquiry would be held to investigate the truth or +otherwise of this report, but, if such had been contemplated, it fell to +the ground; nor was any attempt made to induce the officer to disgorge +his plunder. I paid a visit to this mansion some time afterwards, and +can vouch for the thorough ransacking the place had received. Every room +in the house had been pillaged, excavations had been made in the floors, +and empty boxes lay in every direction. + +Other cases similar to that just mentioned were known to us at the +time, in which sums of money were appropriated only a little smaller in +amount, while of those which reached the value of L100 their name is +legion. Many men also there were who, at first swayed by moral scruples, +as well as feeling reluctant to disobey the order which had been issued, +refrained from looting on their own account; but when they saw that +officers, even of the higher ranks, took possession of plunder, these +scruples were cast to the winds--it was "every man for himself, and the +d--- l take the hindmost," and a general desire was evinced for each to +enrich himself with the prize lying at his feet. + +Often, when wandering through the city in pursuit of plunder, I, in +company with others, came across officers engaged in the same quest as +ourselves. These rencontres were most amusing, giving rise to mutual +interrogations and many jokes, each party affirming that looting was not +the object of their perambulations, but that they were only inspecting +the houses out of a feeling of curiosity. Up to this time I had not +succeeded in finding any articles of value, nor had I the remotest idea +that my acquaintance with a certain officer in the employ of the prize +agents would put me in the way of acquiring a fair amount of the loot of +Delhi. A few silver ornaments and a small bag of sicca rupees were all +that I had so far obtained, and I naturally felt desirous of increasing +my store, more especially when it was well known that many officers, +more fortunate and less scrupulous, had already made themselves masters +of large quantities of valuable plunder. + +The accumulation of prize by the agents began shortly after Delhi was +taken. At first the articles obtained were of little worth, comprising +chiefly wearing apparel of every description and household goods. Soon, +however, more costly effects were found by the searchers, and in a very +short time the rooms of the prize agents were filled with treasures of +every kind--jewellery and precious stones, diamonds, rubies, emeralds +and pearls without number, from those as large as hen's eggs to the +small species used for necklaces; gold ornaments, chains of the most +beautiful workmanship, bracelets and bangles all of solid metal. There +were heaps, also, of the small, thick, native coin known as gold mohurs, +thousands of which were accumulated by the prize agents and helped most +materially to swell the amount. I visited one room, the long table +in which literally groaned with the riches of "Ormuz and of Ind"--a +dazzling sight to the eye, and one calculated to raise the spirit +of greed in my breast to possess myself of some of the treasures so +temptingly exposed to view. When quiet returned, and the inhabitants of +the city began to flock back to their former homes, whole streets, in +which no doubt treasure had been concealed and had escaped the search of +the prize agents, were sold to the people for sums ranging from 5,000 to +50,000 rupees. All this helped to increase the prize to a sum which +was variously estimated at from half to three-quarters of a million +sterling; and even then it was asserted that only a portion of the vast +wealth of Delhi had been found. + +As far as I know, the Government, when distributing the prize-money in +two installments--in 1862 and again in 1865--gave no account of the +total amount which had been collected. The private soldier's share was +reckoned as the unit, value about L17, increasing according to the pay +of the different ranks--the Ensign five shares, Lieutenant six and a +half, Captain eleven and a half, and so in proportion among the higher +grade of officers, while that of the Commander-in-Chief amounted to +one-sixteenth of the whole--an immense sum. There were, of course, many +exaggerations as to how much each rank would receive as its share, and +there were many heart-burnings also when the true amount became known. +The sum had dwindled down to less than one-third of what we expected, +and not a few expressed openly their conviction that some tampering +had taken place with regard to the distribution. This can hardly be +believed, though it has always been a notorious fact that the Government +are inclined to treat the claims of those who fight their battles with +neglect, and in one particular at least, by repudiating the 5 per cent, +promised till the Delhi prize-money was paid, they acted up to their +usual unjust policy, and gave occasions for the complaints which were +raised at the time. + +I will now proceed to give an account of my experience when acting as an +assistant to an officer who was accredited by the prize agents with a +permit to search for plunder. This officer, an old friend of mine, asked +me to accompany him on his expeditions, saying also that he had no +objection to my helping myself in moderation to part of the loot which +we might happen to find. Carrying with us the necessary tools, such as +hammers, spades, and pickaxes, we each day started--accompanied by +two coolies--on our plundering excursions. For some days we were very +unsuccessful, and for nearly a week only managed to gather together +and transmit to the agents articles of little value. But, soon gaining +experience from continued practice, and taking note of the different +houses in which there was a likelihood of finding prize, we settled +down to a systematic course of search, which in the end proved highly +remunerative. Scarcely anything of value was found lying about the +different rooms; these had been already gutted and the contents +destroyed by the soldiers, both European and native, who, since the day +of assault, had roamed about the city. At the time we began our search +all was comparatively quiet, and during our operations, such was the +vast extent of the city and so numerous the buildings, that only on two +or three occasions were we interrupted by parties engaged in the same +quest as ourselves. + +My companion was a good Hindustani scholar, and taking advantage of his +proficiency in the language, he made a point of interviewing several +natives of the city, who, in the capacity of workmen in different +trades, were allowed in Delhi, and were employed in their several +occupations. From one of these, a mason and builder, N--received +information that a large quantity of treasure was concealed in the house +of a former rich resident. This man had helped to secrete the hoard, and +on the promise of a small reward was willing to help us in unearthing +the booty. + +One morning in the beginning of October, attended by the mason, and +carrying the necessary implements, we were taken to the house in +question. This was a large building with a courtyard in the centre, the +rooms of which showed the remains of luxury and wealth, but, as usual, +had been despoiled by the plunderers of our army. Every article was +scattered about in dire confusion; there were piles of clothing and +bedding; rich and ornamental stuffs were torn to pieces, and the +household furniture, broken up, was strewn about the courtyard. Our +guide took us to a small room, about 80 feet square--in fact, it was the +closet of the establishment--the walls of which were whitewashed, the +floor being covered with a hard cement. Here, we were told, the treasure +was concealed under the flooring of the room, and we lost no time in +commencing operations, the mason assisting us. Picking through the +cement, we came on a large flagstone, which we lifted out of the cavity. +Then we dug a hole about 3 feet square, and the same depth in the loose +earth, disclosing the mouth of a large earthenware _gharra_, or jar. +Loosening the soil all around, we attempted to raise the jar out of the +ground, but all our efforts were unavailing--its great weight preventing +us from lifting it one inch out of the bed. Then, trembling with +excitement, for we felt sure that a rich display would greet our eyes, +we began slowly to remove each article from the _gharra_, and place it +on the floor of the room. A heavy bag lying at the mouth of the jar +was first taken out, and on opening it, and afterwards counting its +contents, we found that it contained 700 native gold mohurs, worth +nearly L1,200. Then came dozens of gold bangles, or anklets, of pure +metal, such as those worn by dancing-girls. We were fairly bewildered at +the sight, our hands trembling and our eyes ablaze with excitement, for +such an amount of pure gold as that already discovered we had never seen +before. But the treasure was not yet half exhausted. The jar seemed a +perfect mine of wealth--gold chains, plain and of filigree workmanship, +each worth from L10 to L30; ornaments of the same metal of every sort +of design, and executed in a style for which the Delhi jewellers are +celebrated all over India. Then came small silver caskets filled with +pearls, together to the number of more than 200, each worth from L3 to +L4, pierced for stringing. Others, containing small diamonds, rubies, +and emeralds, and the greatest prize of all--reclining in a casket by +itself--a large diamond, which was sold afterwards by the prize agents +for L1,000. There were many other articles of value besides those I have +mentioned--gold rings and tiaras inlaid with precious stones, nose-rings +of the kind worn by women through the nostrils, earrings, bracelets, and +necklaces of small pearls without number. + +All these various articles we spread out on the floor of the room, +examining each again and again, and with avaricious thoughts intent, +lamenting that we were not allowed to appropriate what would have been +to us a fortune. Truly such a temptation to enrich themselves without +fear of detection was never till this occasion set before two +impecunious subalterns of the British Army. Here, spread out before us, +lay loot to the value of thousands of pounds, all our own were we to +follow the example of some who had already feathered their nests with +much larger amounts, defying those in authority to take the plunder from +them. However, such a course could not be entertained for one moment, +and, moreover, were we to possess ourselves of all the contents of +the jar, there was no secure place of concealment to be found, and +unpleasant inquiries and prying eyes would soon have revealed to the +world our abduction of the booty. + +It is impossible to do more than guess at the value of the plunder +acquired on this day. My friend received a reward for the find; as for +myself, I will leave it to my readers whether it was possible for weak +human nature to resist the temptation of carrying away some few mementos +from this miscellaneous collection of treasure-trove. To tell the +truth, I must confess that in after times my only regret was that I had +foolishly let slip an opportunity of enriching myself which could never +recur. We agreed--and in this we were borne out by the prize agent--that +L7,000 was the lowest sum at which to compute the loot we had found. + +It was my invariable custom to wear as a kammerband or girdle folds of +muslin round my waist for the protection of the liver and spleen, and in +this I placed the articles I carried away. My friend procured a small +cart, in which he deposited the loot and drove to the house of one of +the agents, while I, encumbered as I was, with difficulty mounted my +horse and rode towards the magazine. I could not but feel nervous and +abashed when thinking of the riches concealed about my person, at last +working myself up to such a pitch of excitement that I imagined all I +met were cognizant of my good fortune; and on entering the gates of the +magazine, I fancied I heard one of our men say to his comrade, "Well! +that fellow, at any rate, has plenty of loot about him." + +Our next great find, though by no means so lucrative as the first, +brought a large accession to the prize fund. It occurred to me, through +calling to recollection the story of the treasures concealed in the +Hindoo idol at Somnath which was broken open by Sultan Mahmoud in the +eleventh century, that possibly the same kind of receptacle might +disclose a like prize, though on a smaller scale, among the numerous +temples scattered through the city of Delhi. + +Acting on this idea, we one day entered a small Hindoo temple situated +not far from the Chandni Chauk. The shrine was gaudily decorated; but +after a prolonged search, we found nothing of any value. A hideous idol +stood on a raised structure in the centre of the building, and was soon +demolished in iconoclastic style with our hammers. The base of the idol +was formed of _chunam_ (a kind of cement), and into this we dug with +our small pickaxes. Soon a ringing sound from a blow disclosed a large +silver casket imbedded in the _chunam_, and this, after some little +trouble, we extricated from its position. Forcing the casket open, our +sight was regaled by a brilliant show of jewels and gold--diamonds, +rubies, and emeralds--two of the latter species being uncut, but of +great size, pearls larger than any we had yet seen, and gold ornaments +of every description, chains, bracelets, bangles, and a few gold mohurs. +We were quite alone in the temple, and after feasting our eyes on the +treasures and selecting a few objects for our own benefit, N---- took +the casket to the prize agent, telling him where we had found it, and +recommending a search in such localities, which recommendation, no +doubt, was carried into effect among other Hindoo temples in the city. + +When first entering a house during our search, we at once made ourselves +acquainted with the creed of its former inhabitants. In this there was +no difficulty--Korans lying about the floor denoted that the occupants +had been Mussulmans, while many indications, such as idols, a different +arrangement of the furniture, and other signs with which we became +conversant, proved the influence of the rival Hindoo race. There was a +very cogent reason for this investigation on our part--the Mohammedans +invariably, in secreting their valuables, placed them in the ground +under the floors of their houses, the Hindoos, on the other hand, always +hid them in receptacles in the walls of the buildings. Armed with this +knowledge, we used to sound either the floors or the walls of each house +according as the place belonged to one or the other creed; nor in one +single instance, as far as I can remember, were we at fault in our +diagnosis. + +A favourite hiding-place for valuables was behind the staircase, the +treasure being concealed in a sort of vault built around with bricks and +cement. On one occasion, in the house of a money-changer, we demolished +a secret place of this kind and discovered four large bags filled +with some heavy metal. Feeling convinced we should find that the bags +contained at the least rupees, we opened one, and to our infinite +disgust saw that the contents consisted of copper pieces called pice, of +which there were many thousands; the bags, however, were taken to the +prize agents, but I need scarcely say our hands on that day at least +were not soiled by appropriating a portion of the plunder. + +On several occasions we succeeded in finding large stores of money, +chiefly sicca or native rupees, while in the houses of Hindoos, in +portions of the walls which sounded hollow under the blow of the hammer, +we, after making a hole sufficiently large for the passage of a hand, +constantly brought to light large stores of silver ornaments, consisting +of chains, bracelets, etc., amounting in the aggregate to a barrowful. +Few houses there were that did not furnish, after a diligent search +either in the floors or walls, some articles of value; but on only one +occasion after the successful ventures in the two first cases was the +amount of loot in any way comparable to that which we obtained on those +days. + +In a very secluded part of the city, in a large house, surrounded by +wretched tenements inhabited by the lowest class, we opened a door, and +to our amazement entered a room furnished in the European fashion. This +also had not escaped the marauding and destructive hands of parties of +plunderers; the furniture was smashed, and the contents of the room +strewn about the floor. There were English chairs, curtains, ottomans +covered with antimacassars, sofas and broken mirrors, and in the corner +a small piano, ruined and destroyed. The house had evidently belonged +to some rich native, but who had been the occupant of this boudoir? for +such it was--a miniature drawing-room filled with European luxuries, not +excepting books and copies of music. Articles of a lady's apparel also +lay about, torn in shreds, vases were on the mantelpiece, as well as +a small box filled with English fancy needlework. We came to the +conclusion that the mistress of this abode must have been a Eurasian +lady, probably one of the zenana of the master of the house, who during +the exodus from the city had fled with, or been forcibly carried away +by, her protector. + +A dismal mishap occurred to me in this room. Choosing a +comfortable-looking ottoman, I sat down, little dreaming that I had +fallen into a trap which would occasion much laughter among my friends +for days to come. Feeling a strange moist sensation in a certain portion +of my body, I jumped up from the seat, to find, to my horror, that I had +plumped down on a quantity of ghee, or clarified butter. A jar of ghee +was lying on the floor, and a portion of this horrible mess had been +spilt on the seat of the ottoman. I was dressed in white trousers and +jacket of the same material, and found, to my intense disgust, that the +ghee had left a large patch of colour which no amount of rubbing would +eradicate. We were far from our quarters, it was broad daylight, and, +to my mortification, I was compelled to walk thus branded through the +streets of the city, the laughing-stock of those who saw the plight I +was in. + +Delhi was celebrated for miniature paintings done on talc, hundreds of +which were found at this time. Some were of rare workmanship, portraits +of beautiful women and drawings of celebrated buildings, all executed +in a style of art peculiar to the craftsmen of that place. We were +fortunate, during our search, in coming across the house of one of +these artists and disinterring from its concealment a box full of these +paintings. They afterwards sold at a good price, and I possessed myself +of some twenty of the most beautiful, comprising portraits of Zeenat +Mahal, the favourite wife of the King, other ladies of the zenana, and +pictures of the Taj and Jama Masjid, besides other mosques throughout +India. These oval-shaped miniatures mounted in gold formed most +acceptable souvenirs of the city of Delhi, and one in particular, +containing the portrait of a lovely Eastern face with head-dress and +tiara of diamonds, and strings of pearls round the neck, I was offered +L20 for after it had been set in gold by a jeweller at Plymouth. In +London, in 1858, there was a great demand for gold ornaments and +jewellery from Delhi, so much so that a noted goldsmith offered me +the highest price for articles of that description; nor would he at +first--till convinced--accept my assurance that I had parted with all my +Delhi loot before leaving India. + +We were occupied for nearly three weeks in our quest for plunder, +engaged in the exciting work almost every day, and seldom failing to +find some articles of value. Our last adventure in that line deserves +a detailed description, for though the nature of the loot obtained was +such that it was useless to appropriate for our own use any of the goods +found, still, the value of the plunder increased to a large extent the +Delhi prize-money. + +We had noticed in the room of the agents piles of kincob, or cloth of +gold, worth I fear to say how many rupees a yard. The manufacture of +this material was carried on to a great extent in Delhi, there being +much demand for the rich and costly fabric among the Princes and nobles +of Hindostan. Hitherto in our ramblings through the houses we had only +come across a few pieces of this gold brocade; but as luck would have +it, on the last day in which I joined N---- in his duties he had +received information from a native that a large store of kincob was +concealed in the house of a merchant who had dealt in that material. + +The man guided us to the house in question; but after searching in every +imaginable place, no signs of the gold cloth could be found. From the +name of the merchant and certain other well-known indications we felt +convinced that his goods were concealed underground, and we commenced +tapping the floor of the largest room with our hammers. Presently, in +the very centre of the apartment, there came a hollow sound, and digging +down about a foot, we found a trap-door. This was lifted, disclosing +a wooden staircase leading down to what seemed to us an apartment +concealed in Cimmerian darkness. Lighting the wax candles we always +carried about with us, we for some distance descended the steps which +seemed to lead into the bowels of the earth. The room turned out to be +about twenty feet square and ten feet high, and ranged around, piled one +on top of the other, were scores of large boxes. One of these we opened, +and found it to contain kincob of the rarest kind; others that we +looked into were full of the same gorgeous material, and we came to the +conclusion that here, spread about, there was a treasure the value of +which amounted to a lakh of rupees. Four large carts were loaded with +the boxes and taken to the prize agents, the contents selling afterwards +for a very large sum. + +And thus ended in a most successful find my connection with the loot of +Delhi. Though many years have elapsed, the events of those three weeks +seem as vivid in my memory as though they had happened yesterday--the +brightness of the jewels, the dazzling gold, the nerves wrought to the +highest pitch of tension while waiting in eager expectation for the +result of a search. These episodes of my life appear more like a +fairytale or a legend of the "Arabian Nights" than true history and +sober reality. What opportunities of accumulating a small fortune were +thrown in my way! The treasure lay at my feet, only wanting to be picked +up, and many will say that I was a fool not to take advantage of the +prize! I can, however, certainly aver that I showed great moderation in +possessing myself of only a small portion of the plunder--the amount I +appropriated was but an infinitesimal part of the Delhi prize money. +It is very unlikely that Delhi or any other rich city in India will +be given over to sack and pillage, during this generation, but the +remembrance of the days of 1857, and of the traditional wealth of +the country, still exists amongst the nations of the East, and only +recently, during the scare arising out of the Russian occupation of +Merv, it was stated that the Turkomans, now feudatories of that Empire, +cast longing eyes on Hindostan, "where gold and diamonds could be picked +up in the streets of the large cities." + +During my stay at Umballah I made arrangements with an officer of the +Civil Service for the sale of the loot I had brought from Delhi. He +entrusted the commission to one of his native writers, who executed the +work in a satisfactory manner, though the price I received was hardly +equal to the amount I had anticipated. To my friend's wife I gave a +filigree gold chain of beautiful workmanship, and of such length that it +reached six times round the neck, also a tiara of precious stones, while +I also presented some pearls and gold mohurs. There is no doubt that, +had I brought the whole of my plunder home to England, the price +obtained for it would have been far in excess of what I received at +Umballah, but the risk of transportation was too great; I feared, also, +the chance of robbery and the anxiety attached to carrying about with me +so many articles of value. + + + +INDEX + + +AFGHANS: their want of bravery at the Siege of Delhi + +Ahmed Ali Khan's house headquarters at + +Ajmir Gate, captured quarters at + +Alipore, advance on + +Alma, anniversary of the Battle of + +Ammunition, pits dug for scarcity of amount + +Army, British: characteristics of the troops instructions on the +outbreak of the Mutiny stringent orders dress reception in England +delay in paying prize-money instructions against looting promise of +prize-money batta in lieu indignation against the decision rescinded +appointment of prize agents amount distributed + +Army, native: signs of incipient mutiny outbreak at Meerut + +Artillerymen, their zeal and devotion at the Siege of Delhi + + +Badli-ki-Serai, action at + +_Badmashes_, or bad characters + +"Bakra Id," anniversary of + +Bareilly Brigade, the mutinous + +Barnard, Sir Henry, at the Siege of Delhi his victory at Badli-ki-Serai +address to the troops death from cholera + +Barnes, Mr. George, Commissioner of the Cis-Sutlej States + +Belooch battalion, at Delhi + +Bengal Army: outbreak of the Mutiny signs of incipient mutiny + +Bengal Artillery Corps, record of their achievements before Delhi + +Bengal Fusiliers, the 1st, quartered at Umballah + +_Bhisti_, or water-carrier Boileau, Lieutenant + +Bombay + +Bridge of boats over the Jumna attempt to blow up + +Burn bastion, unsuccessful attack on captured + + +Calcutta Gate + +Campbell, Colonel, column under + +Campbell, Sir Colin, at the Battle of Chillianwalla + +Campbell, Sir Edward, appointed prize agent + +Canning, Lord, his decision in regard to the prize-money + +Cannons, punishment of blowing away at the mouths of + + +Cavalry Brigade, stationed near No. 1 Battery their splendid behaviour + + +C---- d, Assistant Collector at Goorgaon murder of his sister joins the +force at Delhi his vengeance on the murderers killed + + +C---- d, Miss, joins her brother at Goorgaon murdered at Delhi + +Chamberlain, Brigadier-General + +"Chandni Chauk," or silver street of Delhi + +_Charpoy_, or bed + +Chillianwalla, Battle of + +Cholera, at Delhi, number of deaths from at Loodianah deaths from + +_Chunam_, or cement + +Cis-Sutlej States + +Coke, Major in command of the advance on Alipore his corps of Punjab +Rifles, quartered in the Jama Masjid + +"Cow House," picket at + + +Dagshai + +Daily Telegraph, proprietors of the their dinner to the surviving +veterans of the Mutiny + +Deacon, Captain, wounded + +Deacon, Colonel + +Delhi arsenal in charge of natives arrival of reinforcements buildings +Palace of the Emperors vicissitudes riches massacres circumference of +the walls the gates number of killed and wounded deaths from cholera +arrival of the siege-train preparations for the bombardment trench-work +commencement of the siege total force bombardment arrangements for the +attack storming columns dispositions of the troops entrance into the +city destructive nature of street-fighting advantages gained troops +indulge in drink flight of insurgents Palace occupied by troops fall the +bridge of boats looting and pillaging discovery of human beings size of +the city punishment of natives insanitary condition capture by Lord Lake +in 1803 accumulation of vast treasures + +Delhi Gazette, editor of the, tortured to death + +Delhi, Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence his sons taken prisoners and shot + +Dewan-i-Aum, or Hall of Audience, Delhi + +Dewan-i-Khas, Delhi + +Dost Mohammed Khan, Ameer, his spies at Delhi + +Drink, indulgence in, by the soldiers destruction of liquor + + +Eclipse, partial, of the sun effect on the mutineers + +Edward VII., King, receives the surviving officers of the Indian Mutiny + +Elkington, mortally wounded his premonition of death + + +Fagan, Captain Robert, killed at Delhi his characteristics + +Fagan, Captain, appointed prize agent + +Ferozepore, port of, in charge of natives 61st Regiment of Foot +stationed at signs of disaffection among the sepoys position of the fort +cantonment fired explosions destruction of the buildings night attack on +measures for the safety incident of the comical night attack trial and +punishment of rebels return to + +Fishing, amusement of + +Flagstaff Tower; view from the + +Flies, plague of + + +Gabbett, Lieutenant, at the attack on the Sabzi Mandi Gardens wounded at +Najafgarh his death + +Garstin bastion captured + +_Gharee_, or native carriage + +_Gharra_, or jar + +"Ghazi," meaning of the term + +Ghee, mishap from + +_Goojars_, or professional thieves + +Goorgaon + +Goorkha sentry, his treatment of an Afghan + +Goorkhas, the Sirmoor battalions of their defence of Hindoo Rao's house +appearance and characteristics bravery their wish to enter Delhi + +_Gore log_, or white people + +Grant, Colonel, Cavalry Brigade under + +Grenadier Company deaths from cholera + +Guide Corps, at the Siege of Delhi their assistance to the Cavalry +Brigade + +Gwalior insurgents + + +Hanging, executions by + +Hawthorne, Bugler + +Hills, Lieutenant, wounded + +Hindoo Rao's house defence of attacks on picket at result of the +bombardment + +Hindoo temple, discovery of treasure in a shrine + +Hindoos, their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Hodson, Lieutenant, in command of a Sikh regiment and head of the +Intelligence Department captures the King of Delhi takes prisoners his +sons and grandson shoots them + +Home, Engineer + +Hope-Grant, Brigadier, in command of the Cavalry Brigade + +Hutton, Lieutenant, effect of a round-shot + + +Infantry, 45th Native, orders to attack the fort of Ferozepore defeated +set fire to the cantonment start for Delhi + +Infantry, 57th Native, orders to lay down their arms their treatment of +the officers + +Innes, Brigadier-General, in command of the troops at Ferozepore holds +a council on the outbreak of the Mutiny instructions to the troops +implicit confidence in the loyalty of the sepoys mismanagement of the +Mutiny his measures for the safety of Ferozepore + +Innes, Dr., appointed prize agent + + +Jama Masjid, or Great Mosque of Delhi occupied by the troops + +Jennings, Mr., murdered + +Jhind, Rajah of, joins in the assault on Delhi + +Jones, Colonel John, 60th Rifles, in command of the defence of Sabzi +Mandi Gardens mode of conducting operations + +Jones, Colonel William at Ferozepore column under + +Jugraon + +Jumna River bridge of boats over the attempt to blow up a bridge +erection of a battery + + +Kabul Gate + +Karachi + +Karnal + +Kashmir contingent, at Delhi style of marching defeat loss of their guns + +Kashmir Gate blown in accumulation of material at + +_Khaki rang_, or dust colour + +Khalsa army + +Kincob, manufacture of discovery of + +Kishenganj, the suburb of ineffectual attempt on ruins of + +Koodsia Bagh, No. 4 Battery + +Kotah insurgents _Kukri_, or curved knife + + +Lahore Gate, attempts to carry unsuccessful attack on captured + +Lake, Lord, his capture of Delhi in 1803 + +Lawrence, Sir John, Chief Commissioner of the Punjab his proclamation to +the Sikhs at Lahore + +Light Cavalry, the 3rd, mutineers of the, their massacre of Europeans + +Light Cavalry, the 10th Native + +Longfield, Brigadier, column under + +Loodianah, outbreak of cholera at number of deaths from + +Loot, the sale of + +Looting, the practice of instructions against military maxim for result +of systematic method of search discovery of treasure hiding-places + +Ludlow Castle, occupied by the rebels No. 2 Battery + +Lumsden, Punjab Rifles, killed at the Battle of Najafgarh + + +Magazine, Delhi, attack on the captured amount of shot and shell + +Marseilles _Massaks_, or inflated sheepskins + +Maxim, military + +Medals, presentation of + +Meerut, outbreak of the Mutiny at + +Metcalfe, Sir Theophilus: his house plundered and burnt guides the +troops in Delhi + +Miniature paintings on talc, style of + +Mohammedans: their mode of burial method of concealing valuables + +Monsoon, the + +Mooltani Horse at the Lahore Gate their appearance and want of +discipline + +Moore, Lieutenant, wounded + +Mori bastion, No. 1 Battery + +Moylan, Private, saves the life of an officer + +Murree Convalescent Depot + + +Najafgarh, battle of casualties + +Nanglooi + +Napoleon the Great, saying of + +Neemuch insurgents + +Nicholson, General, in command of the reinforcements his powers and +skill in ruling the lawless tribes his title of "Nikul Seyn" appearance +and characteristics expedition under at Najafgarh, address to the troops +column under wounded and death denounces the proposal to evacuate Delhi + + +_Palki ghari_, or Indian carriage Paniput, battles of + +Pattoun, Lieutenant, wounded + +Persia, Nadir Shah, King of, his massacre of Delhi in 1747 _Petarahs_, +or native leather trunks, theft of + +Pets, desertion of + +Phillour, arsenal in charge of natives + +Prize agents, appointment of + +Prize-money, distribution of delay in paying + +Punjab Rifles, the 4th, attack the magazine + +Punjab, the number of native regiments their coolness and intrepidity +under fire + + +Reade, Surgeon, awarded the Victoria Cross + +Redmond, Major, wounded + +Reed, General, resigns his command of the army + +Regiment, the 52nd, at Delhi + +Regiment, the 61st: stationed at Ferozepore parade routine of guard and +picket duty loss of the silver plate privations and sufferings their +comical "night attack" five companies to march to Delhi preparations +night marches at Loodianah outbreak of cholera number of deaths at +Umballah reach Delhi + +Reid, Major, in command of the Sirmoor battalion at Delhi columns under +his attack on Kishenganj wounded + +Rifles, the 60th Royal, at the Siege of Delhi + +Rockets used by enemy + +Rohtak, raid on + + +Sabzi Mandi Gardens picket duty at the attacks on + +Salkeld, Engineer + +"Sammy House," assault on + +Sauer, the bandmaster + +Seeson, Mrs., her escape from Delhi + +Selimgarh Fort occupied by the troops + +Sepoys: signs of disaffection at Ferozepore revolt of infantry and +artillery attack the fort of Ferozepore their work of destruction trial +and punishment cowardly tactics + +Seton, Colonel, wounded + +Shah Bahadoor Shah, King of Delhi: his capture appearance and dress +trial and sentence + +Showers, Brigadier + +Shrapnel shell, effect of a + +Siege-train from Ferozepore, threatened approach of reaches camp + +Sikhs, the their help and loyalty to the British army, characteristics +style of marching their coolness and intrepidity under fire + +Silver plate of the 61st Regiment, search for its total destruction + +Skinner, Colonel Alexander, troops take possession of his house his +erection of a church, temple, and mosque + +Sumroo, Begum + +Sun, partial eclipse of the effect on the mutineers + + +_Tai-khanas_, or underground rooms, discovery of human beings in + +Talc, miniature paintings on, style of + +Taliwarra, suburb of ruins of + +Tattah _Times_, the, article on the delay in payment of the prize-money + +Tombs, Major his rescue of Lieutenant Hills at the Battle of Najafgarh + +Trench-work before Delhi + +Tytler, Mrs. + + +Umballah force assembled at troops at + + +Vicars, Adjutant, at Ferozepore on the news of the outbreak of the +Mutiny + +Wasps, stings from + +Water bastion No. 3 Battery, smashed to pieces effect of the bombardment + +Wilde's regiment of Punjabis + +Wilson, General, in command of the army result of his stringent orders +address to his troops council of war instructions for the final assault +orders to prevent drunkenness proposal to evacuate Delhi instructions +against looting promise with regard to prize-money + +Wriford, Captain, appointed prize agent + + +Yonge, Lieutenant + +Young, Lieutenant, wounded + +Zeenat Mahal, portrait of + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Siege Of Delhi +by Charles John Griffiths + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A NARRATIVE OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI *** + +***** This file should be named 10856.txt or 10856.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/8/5/10856/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, jayam and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10856.zip b/old/10856.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b18ee4d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10856.zip |