Chapter I: March Down to Delhi

On the 10th May occurred the outbreak at Meerut, closely followed by the massacre at Delhi.

On the 13th, orders were received at Dugshai, from the Commander-in-Chief, for the 1st Bengal European Fusileers to march without delay to Umbala, where all the regiments from the hill stations were to concentrate. They set out that afternoon, and reached Umbala, a distance of sixty miles, on the morning of the second day. From this point Lieutenant Hodson's narrative commences. It is compiled from the letters or bulletins which he sent day by day to his wife, written as best they might, in any moments which he could snatch from the overwhelming press of work, sometimes on the field, sometimes on horseback. It is almost unnecessary to observe, that they were not intended for the public eye, and would never have been published had my lamented brother been alive, as he had the greatest horror of any of his letters appearing in print. Now, unhappily, the case is different, and I feel, in common with many of his friends, that in justice both to himself and to the gallant band who formed the "army before Delhi," this record of heroic fortitude and endurance ought not to be withheld. It does not profess to be a history of the siege, or military operations connected with it; though it is a most valuable contribution to any history, as Lieutenant Hodson, from his position as head of the Intelligence Department, knew better, probably, than any other man what was going on both amongst the enemy and in our own force; and his incidental notices will tell, better, perhaps, than the most labored description, what our men did and what they suffered. Full justice will probably never be done them, nor their trying position appreciated as it ought to be; besiegers in name, though more truly besieged; exposed to incessant attacks night and day; continually thinned in numbers by the sword, the bullet, the sunstroke, and cholera, and for many weeks receiving no reinforcements; feeling sometimes as if they were forgotten by their countrymen, and yet holding their ground against a nation in arms, without murmuring or complaining, and with unshaken determination. All accounts agree in speaking of the cheerful and "plucky" spirit that prevailed, both amongst officers and men, notwithstanding fatigue, privation, and sickness, as something quite remarkable even amongst British soldiers. And if there was one more than another who contributed to inspire and keep up this spirit, if there was one more than another who merited that which a Roman would have considered the highest praise, that he never despaired of his country, it was Lieutenant Hodson. I have seen a letter from a distinguished officer, in which he says:--

"Affairs at times looked very queer, from the frightful
expenditure of life. Hodson's face was then like sunshine
breaking through the dark clouds of despondency and gloom
that would settle down occasionally on all but a few brave
hearts, England's worthiest sons, who were determined to
conquer."

If any should be disposed to think that my brother, in these letters, speaks too exclusively of his own doings, they must remember, in the first place, to whom they were addressed; and secondly, that in describing events--_quorum pars magna fuit_--it would be almost impossible not to speak of himself.

He himself, even in writing to his wife, thinks it necessary to apologize for being "egotistical." I believe, on the other hand, that the highest interest of the following narrative will be found to consist in its being a _personal_ narrative, a history of the man, an unreserved outspeaking of his mind and feelings; nor am I afraid of others thinking apology called for. Nor, however much they may disagree from his criticisms on men and measures, will they deny that he was well qualified, both by his opportunities of observation at the time, and his past experience of Asiatic character, to form a judgment and express an opinion without exposing himself to the charge of presumption.

UMBALA, _May 15th, 1857_.

We got here after two nights of very harassing marching. We
started badly, the men having been drinking before they came
to parade, and they were hurried too much in going down
hill, consequently there was much straggling; but, thanks to
tattoos (ponies) and carts and elephants, sent out to meet
us, we got in to-day in tolerable completeness. Affairs are
very serious, and unless very prompt and vigorous measures
are taken, the whole army, and perhaps a large portion of
India, will be lost to us. Delhi is in the hands of the
mutineers,--no European that we can hear of being left alive
there,--men, women, and children, all who were caught, have
been butchered! Brigadier Graves, Abbott, and some others
have escaped. Willoughby, the Ordnance Commissary in charge
of the magazine and arsenal, is said to have fired it
himself to prevent the mutineers having possession of the
contents to arm themselves with,--of course sacrificing his
own life to such a duty. A lac and a half of muskets would
otherwise have been in the hands of the insurgents. The
Commander-in-Chief came in this morning. Here alarm is the
prevalent feeling, and conciliation, of men with arms in
their hands and in a state of absolute rebellion, the order
of the day. This system, if pursued, is far more dangerous
than anything the Sepoys can do to us. There is an outbreak
at Ferozepoor, but the Europeans have the fort in their
possession; if not, we should be without arms, for the
regiments here have no ammunition, and Philour, our nearest
source of supply, was nearly falling into the hands of the
Sepoys. Even now, some say it is at their mercy. Fortunately
the Maharaja of Puttiala is stanch, and so are other Sikh
chiefs hereabouts. We shall go on to Delhi in a few days.
That city is in the hands of the insurgents, and the King
proclaimed Emperor of Hindostan! I do trust that the
authorities will act with vigor, else there is no knowing
where the affair will end. Oh for Sir Charles Napier now!

_16th._--Little is known for certain of what is going on, as
there is no communication with, or from, below. At present,
the native troops have all gone off bodily; none remain in
cantonments. We march, I believe, on Monday,--9th Lancers,
75th Queen's, 1st Fusileers, and nine guns, taking the 5th,
60th Native Infantry, and 4th Cavalry with us,--nice
companions! However, they can do us no harm, and they might
do great mischief if left here. There has been an outbreak
at Ferozepoor and Philour, but the magazine and bridge at
the first place are safe in the hands of her Majesty's 60th,
and the authorities at Jullundur sent off a party of
Europeans and Horse Artillery at once, who secured the fort
at Philour; otherwise we should have had no ammunition but
what the soldiers carried in their pouches. The times are
critical, but I have no fear of aught save the alarm and
indecision of our rulers. All here is sheer confusion, and
there is a tendency to treat these rebellious Sepoys with a
tenderness as misplaced as it would be pernicious. There is
actually a talk of concentrating troops, and waiting to be
joined by others before marching on Delhi; and they utterly
refuse to detach even a party on Kurnal to protect the
officers and treasury there. This is all very sad, and
sometimes makes one disposed to question whether we are not
suffering from the "dementia" which Providence sends as the
forerunner of ruin. However, our course is not yet run, and
whatever clouds may gather over us, there are good results
in store. The Punjaub is quiet. The native troops at
Mean-Meer were quietly disarmed, and do their guards with
bayonets only. This excellent arrangement is Sir John
Lawrence's doing. Nothing is known of Lucknow, or indeed of
any place below Meerut. Allygurh is supposed to have gone.
Some details of the massacre at Delhi, which I have just
heard from one of the escapees, are awful beyond belief.
Charlie Thomason is said to have escaped; Mr. Jennings, the
chaplain, and his daughter were among the victims. Mr.
Beresford, his wife, and five daughters all massacred. Poor
Colonel Ripley lived long enough to say he was killed by his
own men. De Teissier's native artillerymen joined the rebels
with their guns;--he escaped, though severely wounded.

_17th._--We are all terribly anxious about the hill
stations, reports having reached us that the Goorkhas have
mutinied and attacked Simla. 100 men, with ammunition, have
gone off this morning to Kussowlee. Dugshai is easily
defended. Simla is most to be feared.... All this has put
out of my head for the time the good news for us. Yesterday
I was sent for by the Commander-in-Chief, and appointed
Assistant Quartermaster-General on his personal staff, to be
under the immediate orders of his Excellency, and with
command to raise 100 horse and 50 foot, for service in the
Intelligence Department, and as personal escort. All this
was done, moreover, in a most complimentary way, and it is
quite in my line. I am prepared to set to work vigorously;
but I confess my anxiety on account of the reports we hear
respecting the hill stations makes me cruelly anxious....
General Anson, it seems, wrote about me to Talbot, but could
get no answer before the outbreak occurred, which makes this
act of his, on his own responsibility, the more
complimentary. It is very uncertain now when we move on. All
is quiet in the Punjaub, I am thankful to say, and the
rebels have had a lesson read them at Ferozepoor which will
do good. The 45th Native Infantry were nearly cut to pieces
by the 10th Light Cavalry,[18] who pursued them for twelve
miles, and cut them to pieces. This last is a great fact.
One regiment at least has stood by us, and the moral effect
will be great; nothing known yet from below. Poor Macdonald,
of the 20th Native Infantry, his wife, and their three
babes, murdered, with adjuncts not to be mentioned. John
Lawrence is acting with great vigor, and they have organized
a movable force at Jhelum, composed of her Majesty's 24th
and 27th, the Guides, Kumaon Battalion, and other
Irregulars, to move in any required direction. Montgomery
writes in great spirits and confidence from Lahore. I am
just sent for by the chief.

KURNAL, _May 18th_.--According to orders, I left Umbala at
8.30 P.M., and reached here at 4.30 A.M., having prepared
everything at Peeplee _en route_. I had only "Bux"[19] with
me, and did not apprehend any danger until within a few
miles of Kurnal, but nothing whatever happened; the road was
deserted, and not a soul to be seen. I am sheltered in a
house occupied by the refugees from Delhi and the civil
officers of Kurnal, about fifteen in all, with Mrs.
Wagentrieber, her husband, and sundry sergeants, &c. The
European troops will be here to-night. What would I not give
for a couple of hundred of my old Guides! I flatter myself I
could do something then. As it is, I must bide my time until
I can get a few good men together on whom I can depend. I
have been so busy all day, writing letters on my knee,
sending off electric messages, _cum multis aliis_. I can but
rejoice that I am employed again; certain, too, as I am,
that the star of Old England will shine the brighter in the
end, and we shall hold a prouder position than ever. But the
crisis is an awful one!

_May 19th._--This morning the Commander-in-Chief ordered me
to raise and command an entire new regiment of Irregular
Horse. I do not know who or what has been at work for me,
but he seems willing enough to give me work to do, and I am
willing enough to do it. The European troops arrived this
morning (I sent a telegraphic message to say so); and the
Rajah of Jheend, with his men, last night. I have offered to
clear the road and open the communication to Meerut and
Delhi with the Rajah's Horse. If the Chief will consent, I
think I am sure of success. It is believed that nothing has
occurred at Agra. The Punjaub all quiet up to last night; as
long as that is the case we shall do. With God and our Saxon
arms to aid us, I have firm faith in the result.

_20th._--Deep anxiety about the safety of the hill stations
continues unabated; no letters,--no certainty,--only
rumors. Were it not for this, I should enter with full zest
into the work before me, and the fresh field which I owe to
General Anson's kindness. He has at last consented to my
trying to open communication with Meerut, so I start this
afternoon to try to make my way across with a party of the
Jheend Horse; and I have, under Providence, little doubt of
success, though I would rather have a party of my dear old
Guides. There has been an outbreak at Agra, but all the
Europeans are shut up in the fort; Allygurh and Moradabad
have mutinied, but by God's help we shall get safely
through.

_20th_, 2 P. M.--Just one line to say I am starting, and
shall not be able to write to-morrow or next day. Still no
tidings from the hills! This is a terrible additional pull
upon one's nerves at a time like this, and is a phase of war
I never calculated on.

_May 24th._--I returned from my expedition to Meerut late
last night. It was eminently successful, and I am off
immediately to Umbala to report progress to the Chief. Much
relieved by a letter from you.

_25th._--A hurried line only to say I am safe and well, but
dead beat. I went yesterday to Umbala by mail-cart to report
to the Commander-in-Chief. Got there at 6 P.M., and started
back again at 11 P.M. As I have only had one night in bed
out of five, I am tolerably weary. The Commander-in-Chief
arrived this morning. I will give you more particulars when
I have slept.

From a letter written from camp before Delhi, in August, to Colonel D. Seaton:--

... "As soon as the Commander-in-Chief reached Umbala he
sent for me, and put me in charge of the Intelligence
Department, as an Assistant Quartermaster-General General
under his personal orders. I left Umbala by mail-cart that
night for Kurnal, ascertained the state of things, made
arrangements for the protection and shelter of the advanced
party, and offered to open the road to Meerut, from Kurnal.
He replied by telegraph. Seventy-two hours afterwards, I was
back in Kurnal, and telegraphed to him that I had forced my
way to Meerut,[20] and obtained all the papers he wanted
from the General there. These I gave him four hours later in
Umbala. The pace pleased him, I fancy, for he ordered me to
raise a Corps of Irregular Horse, and appointed me
Commandant."

* * * * *

_May 25th, Evening._--I wrote this morning a few hurried
lines to keep you from anxiety. I was too tired to do more,
the continued night-work had wearied me out, and when I got
back here at half-past six this morning I was fairly dead
beat. Poor Charlie Thomason is with me. I am happy to have
been in some measure instrumental in getting him in in
safety, by offering a heavy sum to the villagers. He had
been wandering about in the jungles, with several other
refugees, for days, without food or shelter. I am deeply
grieved for him, poor fellow! The state of panic at Meerut
was shocking; all the ladies shut up in an inclosed barrack,
and their husbands sleeping in the men's barracks for
safety, and never going beyond the sentries.

General Hewitt is in a state of helpless imbecility. The
best and boldest spirit there was our friend Alfred Light,
doing his work manfully and well. He had had some miraculous
escapes. My commission is to raise a body of Irregular Horse
on the usual rates of pay and the regular complement of
native officers, but the number of troops to be
unlimited,--_i. e._, I am to raise as many men as I please;
2,000, if I can get them. The worst of it is, the being in a
part of the country I do not know, and the necessity of
finding men who can be trusted. Mr. Montgomery is aiding me
wonderfully. He called upon some of my old friends among the
Sirdars to raise men for me. Shumshere Singh is raising one
troop; Tej Singh ditto; Emaumoodeen ditto; Mr. Montgomery
himself one or two ditto. All these will be ready in about
three weeks. I am to remain Assistant Quartermaster-General,
attached to the Commander-in-Chief. This allows me free
access to him at any time, and to other people in authority,
which gives me power for good. The Intelligence Department
is mine exclusively, and I have for this line Sir Henry's
old friend, the one-eyed Moulvie, Rujub Alee, so I shall get
the best news in the country. Montgomery has come out very,
very strong indeed, and behaved admirably. The native
regiments at Peshawur have been disarmed. One at Naoshera
(the 55th) was sent over to occupy Murdan in the absence of
the Guides. They have mutinied, and seized the fort, and
confined the Assistant Commissioner. General Cotton is going
against them, and the Euzofzai folks will do their best to
prevent a man escaping. As yet the Punjaub is quiet, and the
Irregulars true. The Guides are coming down here by forced
marches.

CAMP, PANEEPUT, _27th_.--I wrote to you this morning, but as
I shall not probably be in the way of daks to-morrow, I
write a few lines to be sent after I start onwards. You will
have heard of the sad death of General Anson. He was taken
with cholera yesterday, and died without pain from collapse
this morning. He made over command to General Barnard with
his last breath. Sir Henry only arrived from Umbala just in
time. His death is politically a vast misfortune just at
this crisis, and personally I am deeply grieved, and the
natives will be highly elated. I am even now hard at work,
raising my men, or taking means to do so, and have already
had applications for officers; but I shall not settle on
officers till the men begin to collect, and this time I will
take care to have none but gentlemen, if I can help it. I am
going downwards to-night to look after the bridge[21] on
this side of Delhi, about thirty miles hence, by which the
Meerut troops will move to join us. I take the Jheend Horse;
Colonel T. Seaton is commanding the 60th Native Infantry,
and will be here to-night with them. I don't envy him his
new command, but he is a good man, and a brave soldier, and
if any man can get them over the mess, he will do it. Sir H.
Barnard is a fine gentlemanly old man, but hardly up to his
work. However, we must all put our shoulders to the wheel,
and help him over the crisis. I trust he will act with
vigor, for we have delayed far too long already.

_29th._--There is nothing new. I travelled eighty miles
between 2 P. M. yesterday, and ten this morning, besides
heaps of business. I am tired, I confess, for the heat is
awful. The treasuries are empty, and no drafts are to be
cashed, so how we are to get money I cannot imagine. We hear
that a request has gone to Lord Canning to send for Pat
Grant as Commander-in-Chief, pending instructions. I grieve
for poor General Anson, and I ought to do so, for he was a
good friend to me.

SUMALKA, _30th_.--My earnest representations and
remonstrances seem at last to have produced some effect, for
at 7 P. M. yesterday we got an order to move on. The
head-quarters follow us to-night from Kurnal. The "we" means
three squadrons of 9th Lancers, Money's troop of Horse
Artillery, and 1st Fusileers. Brigadier Hallifax is in
command, but so ill from heat and anxiety, that I begin to
be anxious about him, and whether he will be able to remain
with the force is doubtful. Colonel T. Seaton has gone on to
Rohtuck with the 60th Native Infantry, who, I have no doubt,
will desert to a man as soon as they get there. It is very
plucky of him and the other officers to go; and very hard of
the authorities to send them; a half-hearted measure, and
very discreditable, in my opinion, to all concerned;
affording a painful contrast to Sir John Lawrence's bold and
decided conduct in this crisis. The old Guides are to be
here on the 8th or 10th to join us. The heat here is a
caution, and writing in this melting climate anything but
easy, especially as chairs and tables are not common. This
regiment (1st Fusileers) is a credit to any army, and the
fellows are in as high spirits and heart, and as plucky and
free from croaking as possible, and really do good to the
whole force.

KUSSOWLEE, _May 31st_.--Here we are one more stage on our
road to Delhi; we are, however, to halt a couple of days or
so at the next stage (Raee), to await the arrival of General
Barnard. Poor Brigadier Hallifax was so ill that he would
clearly have died had he remained here, so we had a medical
committee, put him into my shigram (a travelling wagon), and
sent him off to Kurnal for Umbala and the hills. I sent a
telegraphic message for Mrs. Hallifax to meet him at Umbala.
This is but the beginning of this work, I fear; and before
this business ends, we who are, thank God! still young and
strong shall alone be left in camp; all the elderly
gentlemen will sink under the fatigue and exposure. I think
of asking for Mr. Macdowell as my second in command; he is a
gentleman, and only wants opportunity to become a gallant
soldier. The whole onus of work here is on my shoulders;
every one comes to me for advice and assistance, which is
purely absurd. I shall do all the work and others get the
credit, as usual; but in these days we cannot afford to
spare ourselves. The Empire is at stake, and all we love and
reverence is in the balance. I tried to persuade them to
send General Johnstone to Meerut to supersede Hewitt. I wish
he had been there and was here; we have few as good.

RAEE, _June 1st_.--I have just been roused up from the
first sleep I have had, for I don't know how long, (lying
under a peepul-tree, with a fine breeze like liquid fire
blowing over me,) by the news that the dak is going, so I
can only say that all is well, and that we are here, about
twenty miles from Delhi, and I hope ere night to capture
some of the rascals who stripped and ill-treated two ladies
near this the other day on their flight to the hills.

Colonel Hope Grant has arrived to command the force until
General Barnard comes, which will be on the 4th, and the
Meerut people also. The Delhi mutineers marched out ten
miles, and attacked Brigadier Wilson on the night of the
30th, at Ghazeenuggur, on his way to this place. He drove
them back, and captured all their guns. Some 8,000 or 10,000
of them came out, and he had only about 1,000 men. Long
odds, this; but of course all his men were Europeans. I fear
the 14th Irregulars have joined the mutineers. If they would
only make haste and get to Delhi, we might do something.

RAEE, _2d_.--You will have been as much shocked as I was by
the tidings of poor Brigadier Hallifax's death at Kurnal,
only a few hours after I had put him into the carriage, with
the comfortable assurance that his wife would meet him at
Umbala. He died from congestion of the brain. I have been
much affected by this, for I had a warm regard for him, and
his very helplessness the last few days seemed to strengthen
the tie. I feel deeply for his poor wife and children.
Colonel Mowat of the artillery is dead too, of cholera. The
weather is undoubtedly very trying for old and infirm men;
but we are all well here, and there is no sickness to speak
of among the troops. All will be here to-morrow.
Headquarters, 75th, Queen's, and remainder of 9th Lancers;
the heavy guns and 2d Fusileers are only a short way behind.
Colonel Hope Grant commands. The Meerut folks have had
another fight (on the 31st) with the Delhi mutineers, and
again beaten them; but this constant exposure is very trying
to Europeans. I wish we were moving nearer Delhi more
rapidly, as all now depends on our quickly disposing of this
mighty sore. I wish from my heart we had Sir Henry Lawrence
here; he is the man for the crisis. We are all in high
spirits; only eager to get at the villains who have
committed atrocities which make the blood run cold but to
think of. I trust the retribution will be short, sharp, and
decisive.

Another batch of half-starved, half-naked Europeans, men,
women, and children (a deputy collector and his family),
were brought into camp to-day, after wandering twenty-three
days in the jungle.

RAEE, _3d_.--Things are so quiet in the Punjaub that I begin
to hope that, if we do but make haste in disposing of Delhi,
the campaign may not be so long, after all. Everything
depends on that; we dare not, however, calculate on such
good fortune either to our arms or ourselves. The
head-quarters' people joined this morning; they seem to
stand it better than I expected. Congreve complains a good
deal, but Keith Young and Arthur Becher are well. I have not
yet seen Sir H. Barnard. I was kept up and out half the
night, and then out again at daybreak, so I am too tired and
busy to pay visits. There has been no further fight that we
know of. Charlie Thomason rejoined us this morning; he has
picked up a little since his starvation time ended, and does
not look so like a wild beast as he did. Still good news
from Agra; there are, however, reports which tend to show
disturbances in the Allyghur and Bolundshur districts.

ALEEPORE, _5th_.--You must not be anxious on my account; I
am in as good a position as possible for a subaltern to be,
unless, indeed, I had my regiment ready for service. I am
second only to Becher in the Quarter-master-General
Department, and the Intelligence Department is entirely my
own. I feel deeply for poor Mrs. Hallifax and her large
family, and am delighted that you are able to aid them. I
have tried everywhere to get a bearer, but the natives will
not serve us now, and I could get no one even on double pay.
Only two days ago I succeeded in getting a Bheestie. If we
could but get all the seventy-four native infantry regiments
in one lump we could manage them, but they will never stand
after we get our guns to work. I rode right up to the Delhi
parade-ground this morning to reconnoitre, and the few
Sowars, whom I met, galloped away like mad at the sight of
one white face. Had I had a hundred Guides with me I would
have gone up to the very walls.

ALEEPORE, _6th_.--All the force is assembled to-day save the
Meerut portion, and they will be up to-night; the heat is
severe, but not unhealthy. The siege guns came in this
morning, and the 2d European Bengal Fusileers, and we are
all ready to move on. About 2,000 of the rebels have come
out of Delhi, and put themselves in position to bar our
road. Even your pride would be satisfied at the cry when I
ride to the front or start on any little excursion. I think
I am more than appreciated by the head-quarters' people. I
had barely finished the word when I was sent for by the
General, and had a pretty strong proof of the estimation I
am held in. He had been urged to one particular point of
attack; and when I went into the tent, he immediately turned
to the assembled council, and said, "I have always trusted
to Hodson's intelligence, and have the greatest confidence
in his judgment. I will be guided by what he can tell me
now." So the croakers, who had been groaning, were
discomfited. This is of course for your own eye and ear
alone, but it is pleasant, as the General has only known me
since he has now joined the force.[22]

ALEEPORE, _June 7th_.--I have little to do with the "Jheend
Rajah's troops," further than that I am empowered to demand
as many as I want, and whenever I want them. I have
twenty-five men on constant duty with me, and to-day have
asked for double that number for extra duty; beyond this, I
have not, and do not wish to have, further to do with them.
All Rohilcund is in mutiny. In fact, the district of Agra is
the only one in the Northwest Provinces now under our
control. What a terrible lesson on the evils of delay! It
will be long yet, I fear, ere this business is over. Oh for
Sir Henry Lawrence! Yet personally I have no reason to
complain.

CAMP, DELHI, _June 8th, 1857_.--Here we are safe and sound,
after having driven the enemy out of their position in the
cantonments up to and into the walls of Delhi! I write a
line in pencil on the top of a drum to say that I am
mercifully untouched, and none the worse for a very hard
morning's work. Our loss has been considerable, the rebels
having been driven from their guns at the point of the
bayonet. Poor Colonel Chester killed at the first fire.
Alfred Light (who won the admiration of all) wounded, but
not severely. No one else of the staff party killed or
wounded; but our general returns will, I fear, tell a sad
tale. Greville slightly hurt. The enemy's guns captured, and
their dispersion and rout very complete. God has been very
good to me. May His gracious protection still be shown!

FOOTNOTES:

[18] They afterwards mutinied.

[19] His bearer.

[20] _Letter from an Officer._

"When the mutiny broke out, our communications were completely cut off. One night, on outlying picket at Meerut, this subject being discussed, I said, 'Hodson is at Umbala, I know; and I'll bet he will force his way through, and open communications with the Commander-in-Chief and ourselves.' At about three that night I heard my advanced sentries firing. I rode off to see what was the matter, and they told me that a party of enemy's cavalry had approached their post. When day broke, in galloped Hodson. He had left Kurnal (seventy-six miles off) at nine the night before, with one led horse and an escort of Sikh cavalry, and, as I had anticipated, here he was with despatches for Wilson! How I quizzed him for approaching an armed post at night without knowing the parole. Hodson rode straight to Wilson, had his interview, a bath, breakfast, and two hours' sleep, and then rode back the seventy-six miles, and had to fight his way for about thirty miles of the distance."

Another officer, writing to his wife at this time, says:--

"Hodson's gallant deeds more resemble a chapter from the life of Bayard or Amadis de Gaul, than the doings of a subaltern of the nineteenth century. The only feeling mixed with my admiration for him is envy."

[21] At Bhagput.

[22] I am told that, one day about this time, General Barnard said at the council table, "We must have our best man to lead that column;--Hodson, will you take it?"--_Ed._