Chapter II: Siege of Delhi (1)

CAMP BEFORE DELHI, _June 9th_.

I wrote you a few hurried lines on the field of battle
yesterday, to say that we had beaten the enemy, and driven
them back five miles into Delhi. How grateful rest was after
such a morning! The Guides came in to-day, and it would have
done your heart good to see the welcome they gave
me--cheering and shouting and crowding round me like frantic
creatures. They seized my bridle, dress, hands, and feet,
and literally threw themselves down before the horse with
the tears streaming down their faces. Many officers who were
present hardly knew what to make of it, and thought the
creatures were mobbing me; and so they were,--but for joy,
not for mischief[23]. All the staff were witnesses of this,
and Colonel Becher says their reception of me was quite
enough to contradict all the reports of my unpopularity[24]
with the regiment. There is terrible confusion all along the
road, and we can only get the daks carried at all by
bribery, stage by stage.

_June 10th._--When I hastily closed my letter yesterday, I
hoped to be able to write a long one for to-day's dak, and
to have had some hours' quiet to myself; but before the post
had well started, our troops were again under arms, the
mutineers having thought proper to attack our position;
consequently I was on horseback the whole day, and thankful
to get at night a mouthful of food and a little rest. I had
command of all the troops on our right, the gallant Guides
among the rest. They followed me with a cheer for their old
commander, and behaved with their usual pluck; but I grieve
deeply to say that poor Quintin Battye was mortally wounded.
He behaved most nobly, Daly tells me, leading his men like a
hero. Poor Khan Singh Rosah, who had come down from the
Punjaub to join me only the same morning, was badly shot
through the shoulder. Indeed, I did _not_ expose myself
unnecessarily, for, having to direct the movements of three
or four regiments, I could not be in the front as much as I
wished. God has mercifully preserved me, and I humbly pray
will continue His gracious care. The warmth of the reception
again given me by the Guides was quite affecting, and has
produced a great sensation in camp, and had a good effect on
our native troops, insomuch that they are more willing to
obey their European officers when they see their own
countrymen's enthusiasm. Numbers of the men want to come and
join my new regiment,--in fact, the largest proportion of
the cavalry; but of course I cannot take them now, nor until
this business is over. I am wonderfully well, and only a
little anxious about the hill stations, though I have full
confidence in Lord William Hay's management. There is not
much sickness in camp, though many wounded, and there will
be many more, I fear, before we get into Delhi. We have
been fortunate in the weather hitherto.

The enemy are at least four or five times our strength, and
their numbers tell when we come near them, despite their
want of discipline. They are splendid artillery-men,
however, and actually beat ours in accuracy of fire.

Light works on magnificently, despite a severe and painful
wound in the head. I was very nearly coming to grief once
this morning, for the sabre I thought such a good one went
the first blow, and the blade flew out of the handle the
second, the handle itself breaking in two. I had to borrow a
sword from a horse artillery-man for the remainder of the
day.

The Jheend men with me fought like excellent soldiers. The
good General came up when it was over and shook hands with
me, and then with the men nearest. Their Rajah has given the
native officer a pair of gold bangles, and doubled his pay.
This is the way to encourage soldiers, European as well as
native: reward them, if but with thanks, on the spot.

Colonel Thomas Seaton is at Rohtuck, in command of the 60th
Native Infantry. How much longer they will refrain from
mutiny one cannot say; certainly not long; though if any man
can keep them steady, Seaton will. I hear some 300 or 400
men are ready for me; a few have already arrived with Khan
Singh. Meantime my position is Assistant
Quartermaster-General on the Commander-in-Chief's personal
staff. I am responsible for the Intelligence Department, and
in the field, or when anything is going on, for directing
the movements of the troops in action, under the immediate
orders of the General; I have no other master, and he
listens to my suggestions most readily. Charlie Thomason is
here, working away as an engineer. Macdowell is well and
merry, and much gratified at my having asked for him.

_June 14th._--We were roused up three times during the
night, and I have been deep in business with the General all
the morning. I was also interrupted by the mournful task of
carrying poor Battye to his grave; the brave boy died last
night, with a smile on his lip, and a Latin quotation on his
tongue, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." Poor fellow!
he had quite won my heart by his courage and amiable
qualities, and it is very, very sad, his early death. It was
a noble one, however, and worthy of a soldier. We have just
been excited in camp by the hasty arrival of Colonel Seaton
and the officers of the late 60th Native Infantry, which
mutinied yesterday, and, spite of all Seaton could do, they
fired on their officers, who, however, all escaped and came
into camp safe, after a ride of fifty miles. Seaton is with
me, looking terribly worn and harassed, but he says quite
well in health, though disgusted enough. Dr. Coghlan (75th
Regiment) died of cholera last night, but, thank God! there
are no other cases in camp. I am much vexed at the _Lahore
Chronicle_ "butter," and wish people would leave me alone in
the newspapers. The best "butter" I get is the deference and
respect I meet with from all whose respect I care for, and
the affectionate enthusiasm of the Guides, which increases
instead of lessening.

_June 12th._--We were turned out early this morning by an
attack on our outposts and position generally by the rebel
army. A sharp fight ensued, which lasted some four hours.
The enemy came on very boldly, and had got close to us,
under cover of the trees and gardens, before they were seen;
however, the troops turned out sharp, and drove them back
quickly from our immediate vicinity; they were then
followed up, and got most heartily thrashed. They have never
yet been so punished as to-day. I estimate their loss in
killed alone at 400, while our loss was comparatively
trifling. The Guides behaved admirably, so did the
Fusileers, as usual. Jacob's wing was the admiration of all;
one officer (Captain Knox, 75th) was killed, and one or two
wounded, I do not know how many European soldiers; but on
the whole the affair was a very creditable one. I am safe
and sound still, and again have to thank the Almighty for my
preservation.

Yesterday, I was ordered by the General to assist Greathed,
and one or two more engineers, in forming a project of
attack, and how we would do to take Delhi. We drew up our
scheme and gave it to the General, who highly approved, and
will, I trust, carry it out; but how times must be changed,
when four subalterns are called upon to suggest a means of
carrying out so vitally important an enterprise as this, one
on which the safety of the Empire depends! Wilberforce
Greathed is next senior engineer to Laughton. Chesney is
Major of the Engineer Brigade, and Maunsell commands the
Sappers, so they had official claims to be consulted.

I was added, because the General complimentarily told me he
had the utmost value for my opinion, and though I am known
to counsel vigorous measures, it is equally well known I do
not urge others to do what I would not be the first to do
myself. It is a much more serious business than was at first
anticipated. Delhi is a very strong place, and the vast
resources which the possession of our arsenal has given the
mutineers, has made the matter a difficult one to deal with,
except by the boldest measures; the city should be carried
by a _coup-de-main_, and that at once, or we may be many
weeks before Delhi, instead of within it. All is safe at
Agra, and the 3d Europeans are quietly under cover. A large
party of us have just been listening to a letter from Lord
W. Hay, in which he speaks in the highest terms of the
conduct of some of the ladies at Simla, and says that the
sense and courage exhibited by one or two of them has given
a severe lesson to those who ought to know better than to
require it from the weaker sex.

_June 13th._--We were to have taken Delhi by assault last
night, but a "mistake of orders," (?) as to the right time
of bringing the troops to the rendezvous, prevented its
execution. I am much annoyed and disappointed at our plan
not having been carried out, because I am confident it would
have been successful. The rebels were cowed, and perfectly
ignorant of any intention of so bold a stroke on our part as
an assault; the surprise would have done everything. I am
very vexed, though the General is most kind and considerate
in trying to soothe my disappointment,--too kind, indeed, or
he would not so readily have pardoned those whose fault it
is that we are still outside Delhi.

_June 14th._--There was another smart engagement last night,
the 60th Native Infantry having thought fit to signalize
their arrival at Delhi by an attack upon our position; they
suffered for it, as usual, but also, as usual, we lost
several good men whom, God knows, we can ill spare. Mr.
Kennedy was wounded, and a Subadar and some men of the
Guides killed. I was not very much under fire, though I had
to run the gantlet now and then of a rain of shot and shells
with which the rebels belabored us. Our artillery officers
themselves say that they are outmatched by these rascals in
accuracy and rapidity of fire; and as they have unlimited
supplies of guns and ammunition from our own greatest
arsenal, they are quite beyond us in many respects. I am
just returned from a long ride to look after a party of
plunderers from the city, who had gone round our flank; I
disposed of a few.

_June 15th._--I have had a night and day of great anxiety,
owing to fresh rumors of an outbreak at Simla. I have much
confidence in Lord W. Hay's judgment and management of the
natives, but this would not be sufficient, were the station
once attacked. The dak, however, has arrived, and quieted
our apprehensions. There was a sharp fight again this
morning, which lasted some hours; our loss was not great,
but every man is a loss. Our project for the assault is
still approved of and entertained, but put off from day to
day, till it will be too late. It is now noon, and I have
been out since daybreak, and must get breakfast.

_June 16th._--Everybody here is infinitely disgusted at
learning the truth about the report of a riot at Simla, and
the opinion is universal that ---- ought to be removed.
Neville Chamberlain is Adjutant-General of the army, and Pat
Grant Commander-in-Chief. I do not think either of them will
approve of any "soldier" showing his prowess in fighting
helpless women and children, or of one whose only courage is
exhibited on a peaceful parade, or when an unfortunate
subaltern is to be bullied. The weather is intense to-day,
and I am uncomfortable from having caught a heavy cold, but
it will soon go off, I dare say. I mentioned that four of us
had been ordered to prepare a project of attack, and that we
had suggested and arranged a bold but perfectly feasible
_coup-de-main_; it was approved and ordered, but in
consequence of ----'s not bringing up his troops, was
forced to be abandoned; it has again been ordered,
countermanded, and finally abandoned. A council of war sat
yesterday, and resolved to wait for reinforcements!! our
scheme, however, is on record, and our names attached.
General Barnard told me yesterday he wished I was a captain,
for he would pledge himself to get me a majority for what I
had already done; he thought he "might safely promise _that_
at least." But, alas! I am not a captain.

_June 18th._--I was not able to write yesterday, for the
cold I mentioned as having caught in common with many others
in camp, turned into a sharp attack of bronchitis, or
inflammation on the chest, and I was really very ill for
some hours. To-day I am thankful to say I am much better,
though very weak; the inflammation has disappeared, and I
hope to be on my horse again to-morrow, in spite of all the
doctor says. Every one is very kind, the General
particularly so; he insists on having me in his own tent, as
being so much larger than my own, and he takes the most
fatherly care of me. I can see no reason strong enough to
induce me to consent to any ladies coming to camp; it is
true that a Captain ----, who with his wife escaped from
Delhi to Umbala, has dragged the unfortunate woman back here
again, though expecting her confinement, and with not a
shadow of comfort or shelter, except a tent. Even Mrs.
----,[25] and all the others of her sex, have been sent back
to Meerut; they never ought to have been allowed to come
with us; the greatest consolation to us here is the thought
that those dearest to us are in safety, and free from the
heat and dangers and annoyances of our life here. Poor Brown
was badly wounded last night in the shoulder. I much fear
that Dr. Hay has been murdered at Bareilly; his name is
among the missing, and scarcely a hope remains.

_June 19th._--I am up and dressed, and crawling about a
little to-day, but much weaker than I fancied, and dizzy
with quinine, and vexed at being useless at such a time. The
General nurses me as if I were his son. I woke in the night,
and found the kind old man by my bedside, covering me
carefully up from the draught. The delay and absolute want
of progress here is very disheartening. There have been
repeated attacks upon us; all of course with the same
result, (but, for that matter, we are as nearly besieged as
the rebels themselves are,) and we lose valuable lives in
every encounter, the sum total of which would swell the
catalogue to the dimensions of that of a general engagement.
Our plan of carrying the city by a _coup-de-main_ was
frustrated the first night by the fears and absolute
disobedience of orders of ----, the man who first lost
Delhi, and has now by folly prevented its being recaptured.
The General has twice since wished and even ordered it, but
has always been thwarted by some one or other; latterly by
that old woman ----, who has come here for nothing,
apparently, but as an obstacle; ---- is also a crying evil
to us. The General knows this, and wants to get rid of him,
but has not the nerve to supersede him; the whole state of
affairs here is bad to a degree; it is true we always thrash
the fellows when we can get at them, for they are
contemptible as an enemy in the open field, being formidable
in numbers only; but the immense resources placed in their
hands, by the possession of our magazine and arsenal, inside
a walled and fortified town, make it very difficult for an
army, unless provided with a proper siege equipment and
engineer park, to drive them out in orthodox fashion we
have certainly plenty of guns, but we have not men to work
them; and of the latter, thanks to ----, we have absolutely
nothing, so we do nothing but fire away long shots at the
distance of a mile, and repel the enemy's attacks; instead
of which we ought to have had our batteries close up to the
walls, and been through them, days ago. It was from the
conviction that we had no regular means of reducing the
place by the fire of our artillery, and at the distance we
now are from the walls, and that it was vain to expect our
commandant of artillery to attempt any bolder stroke than
ordinary with the few guns for which he had hands, which
induced me to press the capture of the place by assault,
blowing open the gates with powder bags, and rushing in with
the bayonet. All was arranged, and under Providence I
venture to believe success was certain, but as I say, all
was frustrated by terror and disobedience. I fear now
nothing can be done for many days, and until other troops
arrive; meanwhile the evil is spreading, and disaffection,
to use a mild term, increasing. I fear there is no room to
doubt that Dr. Hay is dead; he was actually hung, with other
civilians, in the market-place at Bareilly, after going
through a mock form of trial. All the Europeans at
Shahjehanpoor have, we hear, been murdered while they were
in church, at the same moment, as nearly as possible, that
the Bareilly tragedy was going on.

_June 20th._--I am much better to-day, but still very weak,
yet work I must. There was a sharp fight again last evening.
The enemy came down and attacked our rear, and a sharp
conflict ensued between some 2,000 Sepoys with six guns, and
300 Europeans with one gun. The result was as usual, but two
events occurred which were important for me. Colonel Becher
was shot through the right arm, and Captain Daly badly hit
through the shoulder.

The consequence is, that I have in effect to see to the
whole work of the Quartermaster-General of the army; and in
addition, the General has begged me as a personal favor to
take command of the Guides until Daly has recovered. I at
first refused, but the General was most urgent, putting it
on the ground that the service was at stake, and none was so
fit, &c. &c. I do feel that we are bound to do our best just
now to put things on a proper footing, and after consulting
Seaton and Norman, I accepted the command. How ---- will
gnash his teeth to see me leading my dear old Guides again
in the field. If I can but keep it till Delhi is taken I
shall be satisfied, for I think I shall be able to do
something towards so favorable a result. Shebbeare was
appointed second in command at my request. He is an
excellent soldier. General Barnard[26] has written most
strongly in my favor, and has voluntarily pledged himself to
get me my majority as soon as ever I am a captain. I confess
I feel a little proud at being earnestly requested to take
again the command of which the machinations of my enemies
had deprived me. Our loss altogether last night was not more
than 50 killed and wounded; we took two guns;--enemy's loss
about 500.

_June 21st._--I have been on horseback to-day for the first
time since this attack of illness, so I may be considered
finally recovered, only I still feel considerable weakness.
It is very annoying not to be quite up to the mark in these
stirring times, especially when so much work has fallen to
my lot. I am fortunate, however, in not being, like many of
our poor fellows, laid up with wounds and serious ailments.
God has been very good to me, and in nothing more so than in
preserving what is most precious to me from the horrible
danger and suffering of so many of our poor countrywomen and
children. How thankful I am now that Reginald exchanged into
an European corps. I never see any of these unhappy
refugees, as we call the poor officers whose regiments have
mutinied, wandering about the camp, without uttering a
mental thanksgiving that he is safe from that at least. I
feel more strongly every hour that I should not have been
justified in refusing the command of the Guides under
present circumstances. We are, in point of fact, reduced to
merely holding our own ground till we get more men. The
drain on our resources has been enormous, while those of the
enemy have proved so much greater, both in men, ammunition,
and strength of position, than we expected, and they have
fought us so much more perseveringly than was deemed
possible, that it has become imperatively necessary to be
stronger before striking the final blow. The plan for
carrying the city[27] by assault, which I feel convinced
would then have been successful, has now become
impracticable. The enemy are stronger, we are weaker;
besides that, they would be prepared for any _coup-de-main_
now. General Johnstone is to be here by the 23d, we hope
with considerable reinforcements, and more will follow. I
trust that a few days then will end this business, as far as
Delhi is concerned, and so enable a part, at least, of the
force to move on towards Allygurh, and reopen the roads and
daks, and restore order for the time; but when the end will
be, who can say?

The rising in Rohilcund will, I fear, assume formidable
proportions and give us much trouble, as I think we shall
scarcely be able to do anything there before the cold
weather. There is, in fact, every prospect of a long and
tedious campaign. May God's wisdom direct and His mercy
defend us!

_June 22d._--The hottest day we have had yet; but while I
know that the hill stations are quiet, I can bear anything
with equanimity. The rumors down here, of all that has been
doing and feared at Simla, have been enough to unnerve any
one who does not know the truth. Lord W. Hay's judgment and
energy deserve every praise. Personally, I cannot but feel
gratified at the marked pleasure all hands, high and low,
have shown at my renewed command of the Guides. All
congratulate me as if they were personally interested; and
as to the men themselves, their vociferous, and I really
believe honest, delight is quite overpowering. The wounded
generally are doing well, poor fellows, considering the
heat, dirt, and want of any bed but the dry ground. Their
pluck is wonderful, and it is not in the field alone that
you see what an English soldier is made of. One poor fellow
who was smoking his pipe and laughing with the comrade by
his side, was asked, what was the matter with him, and he
answered in a lively voice, "Oh, not much, sir, only a
little knock on the back; I shall be up and at the rascals
again in a day or two." He had been shot in the spine, and
all his lower limbs were paralyzed. He died next day.
Colonel Welchman[28] is about again; too soon, I fear, but
there is no keeping the brave old man quiet. Poor Peter
Brown[29] is very badly wounded, but he is cheerful, and
bears up bravely. Jacob[30] has "come out" wonderfully. He
is cool, active, and bold, keeps his wits about him under
fire, and does altogether well. We are fortunate in having
him with the force. Good field-officers are very scarce
indeed; I do not wonder at people at a distance bewailing
the delay in the taking of Delhi. No one not on the spot can
appreciate the difficulties in the way, or the painful truth
that those difficulties increase upon us. The very large
reinforcements which the enemy are receiving, (the whole
Bareilly and Rohilcund force, some 5,000 men, are on their
way to join,) more than counterbalance the aid which can
reach us, so that when the last party arrives the odds will
still be immensely against us. It would not so much signify
if we could but get them into the open field, but for every
gun we can bring to bear upon them they can bring four
heavier ones against us. We drive them before us like chaff
in the field, but they can and do attack us in two or three
quarters at once, and our unfortunate soldiers are worked
off their legs. I do not say this to make matters look
gloomy, for I am as confident as ever of the result; but we
may be a long while yet, and a weary while too, before that
result is arrived at. Baird Smith will be here as Chief
Engineer in a day or two, and if we can manage to get some
batteries made suddenly, we may carry the city shortly; but
there are great obstacles. I regret more than ever that the
assault was not made on the night of the 11th, when they
were unprepared for us, and so much fewer in numbers. Now
they increase daily, and the city is so overflowing, that
the rascals are encamped outside the gates under cover of
their formidable batteries, and in the glacis; so much for
giving our arsenal into native keeping. All is well at Agra;
beyond that, we know nothing.

_June 23d._--The rebels came out again this morning in
considerable force, with the avowed intention of attacking
us on all sides. They have been frustrated, however, save on
one point, and firing is still going on. They do little more
than annoy us, and the only great evil they cause, is the
keeping our men out for hours in this scorching heat. The
worst of all is, that we can do but little harm to them, as
they are well under cover. The rascals most forward to-day
are the Jullundur troops, who ought never to have been
allowed to join the king of the rebels here at Delhi; why
they were not pursued and cut up, is at present a mystery,
but indignation is strong in camp against those who suffered
their escape.

General Johnstone has met with a serious accident at
Paneeput, I hear; most unfortunate indeed.

_June 23d._--An amusing story is told _a propos_ of the
fight this morning. A rascally Pandy, thinking all was over,
put his head out of the window of one of the houses, in the
shade of which a few Europeans and Goorkhas were resting.
One of the latter jumped up, laid hold of the rebel by his
hair, and with one chop of his "kookrie" took off his head.
Atkinson should make a sketch of this for the _Illustrated
News_. Sarel, of the 9th Lancers, came in this morning, in
an incredibly short space of time, from his shooting
expedition in the interior, ten days' journey beyond Simla.
He reports all quiet there, thank God! I am sadly weak, I
find, and have been obliged to change my work from the
saddle to the pen more than once to-day. This want of
physical strength depresses me. It is a burden to me to
stand or walk, and the excessive heat makes it difficult for
me to recover from that sharp attack of illness. The doctors
urge me to go away for a little to get strength,--as if I
could leave just now, or as if I would if I could.

_June 24th._--I have been in the saddle nearly all day,
though obliged occasionally to rest a bit when I could find
shelter. One of my halts was by the side of Alfred Light,
who has behaved magnificently under trial and difficulty. It
does me good to see the "Light of the ballroom" working away
at his guns, begrimed with dust and heat, ever cheery and
cool, though dead beat from fatigue and exposure. He is one
of a thousand, and a host in himself.

The enemy turned us out very early, and the firing continued
without intermission till dark, and such a day; liquid fire
was no name for the fervent heat. Colonel Welchman got an
ugly wound in the arm, and Dennis was knocked down by the
sun, and numbers of the men; but nothing less than a
knock-down blow from sun, sword, or bullet, stops a British
soldier. How well they fought to-day; and to do them
justice, so did my old Guides and my new Sikhs, while the
little Goorkhas vied with any in endurance and courage; but
the mismanagement of matters is perfectly sickening. Nothing
the rebels can do will equal the evils arising from
incapacity and indecision.

Fortunately, Neville Chamberlain has arrived, and he ought
to be worth a thousand men to us. I can but remember when
Lord Dalhousie gave me the command of the Guides, how
anxious he was for me to exchange it with him for the
Military Secretaryship at Lahore. Spite of all, I can never
regret not having yielded, for I feel that these two years
of persecution and suffering have been of service to me. I
can truly say, it is good for me to have been afflicted, and
I am conscious of being more fitted either for the Victoria
Cross or the soldier's grave! I do not think either that
Chamberlain bears me any ill-will, rather the contrary; but
did he do so, I would lose anything personally, for the sake
of having his influence predominant at head-quarters. I am
neither downhearted nor desponding when I say that with our
present chiefs I see no chance of taking Delhi. It might
have been done many days ago, (certes, it was not for want
of a distinct plan being before them or a willing leader,)
but they have not the nerve nor the heart for a bold stroke
requiring the smallest assumption of responsibility. Horses
are very scarce here, and I have the greatest difficulty in
getting my own men mounted. Mr. Montgomery is helping me
wonderfully with men, and I receive offers for service
daily, but in these mutinous times it is necessary to be
cautious. A telegraph from Agra says, "Heavy firing at
Cawnpore: result not known."

_June 25th._--There is little doing to-day, save a vain fire
of long shots, and I fear nothing effective will be done
till the 8th and 61st arrive. I hope much from Chamberlain.
The General, though one of the kindest and best of men, has
neither health nor nerve enough for so responsible, and
really very difficult, a position as that he is now in. Our
loss in officers and men bears a sadly large proportion to
our successes. In the 1st Fusileers it is, too, melancholy:
Colonel Welchman with a very bad hit in the arm, in addition
to his sickness when he came to Delhi from Dugshai; Greville
down with fever; Wriford with dysentery; Dennis with
sunstroke; Brown with wounds. Jacob and the "boys" have all
the work to themselves, and well indeed do the boys behave,
with a courage and coolness that would not disgrace
veterans. Little Tommy Butler, Owen, Warner, all behave like
heroes, albeit with sadly diminishing numbers to lead. I am
vexed at the mistakes or falsehoods of the newspaper
reports. So far from having been wounded in the fight of the
19th, I was not even present, but ill in bed. When Colonel
Becher came into camp wounded, I got up and struggled into
the saddle, and tried to get far enough to send up fresh
troops; but I had not got ten yards before I fell from my
horse, and was all but carried back to my tent again.

I am more and more convinced that I was right not to persist
in my refusal to take again the command of the Guides. It
was so pressed on me, and surely the best eradication of the
reproach of removal was the being asked to reassume it in
times of difficulty and danger like these.

That this is the general view of the case is shown by the
warm and hearty congratulations I meet with on all sides.
There is but one rule of action for a soldier in the field,
as for a man at all times: to do that which is best for the
public good; to make that your sole aim, resting assured
that the result will in the end be best for individual
interest also. I am quite indifferent not to see my name
appear in newspaper paragraphs and despatches; only content
if I can perform my duty truly and honestly, and too
thankful to the Almighty if I am daily spared for future
labors or future repose.

The story prevalent in the hills, that 7,000 of the enemy
are pitched in the open plain, is a mere magnification of
the simple fact, that a surplus portion of the rebels have
encamped under cover of their guns, and close up under the
wall of the city, and remain there all night, but this is on
the side opposite us. We are not very well off, _quant a la
cuisine_. I never had so much trouble in getting anything
fit to eat, except when I dine with the General. Colonel
Seaton[31] lives in my tent, and is a great companion; his
joyous disposition is a perpetual rebuke to the croakers.
Don't believe what is said about our batteries doing no
harm. The same was said of Muttra, yet, when we entered,
scarcely a square yard was unploughed by our shot. One of
the native officers of the Guides (you know how ingenious
they are at disguise) got into the city as a spy, and
remained there four days. He reports great dissension and
quarrelling among themselves. Robbery and fighting and
everything that is bad, between the newly arrived rebels and
the city people. This account my own native newsletters
confirm. The 9th Native Infantry had already decamped, and
thousands would follow if they dared. This last, I doubt;
the spirit of bravado, if not of bravery, is as yet too
strong. The rascals in the last engagement came out in their
red coats and medals!

_June 26th._--I have been so hard at work the whole day,
that I can only find time to say the enemy has made no
sortie to-day, but Pandy amuses himself with firing long
shots incessantly; all well, however.

_27th._--We were turned out before I had hardly turned in,
by another attack of the rebels. This time a faint one,
which has been already repulsed with trifling loss on our
side. For a short time, however, the cannonade was very
heavy, and I have seldom been under a hotter fire than for
about three quarters of an hour at our most advanced
battery, covered every moment with showers, or rather
clouds, of dust, stones, and splinters; but we kept close,
and no one was hurt. There has been an outcry throughout
camp at ----'s having fled from Bhagput, the bridge which
caused me so much hard riding and hard work to get, some
time ago. A report came that a portion of the mutineers were
moving in that direction, and he fairly bolted, leaving
boats, bridge, and all! Yet he had with him all the Rajah of
Jheend's men, horse, foot, and guns, and never even saw the
twinkle of a musket. In fact, it is not at all sure that an
enemy was ever near him. By this conduct he has not only cut
us off from all communication with Meerut, but actually left
the boats to be used or destroyed by the enemy. Our
reinforcements are in sight, at least the camp of the 8th,
and I do trust no further delay will take place in our
getting possession of Delhi. The insurgents are
disheartened, and I have no doubt but that the moment we get
possession of a single gate the greater portion of them
will run out through the opposite ones. The only formidable
part of the enemy is their artillery, which is amazingly
well-served, and in prodigious abundance, as my experience
this morning abundantly proved. Harris, of the 2d European
Bengal Fusileers, was wounded this morning, but not
dangerously. All quiet at Agra, we believe, but no
particulars known.

_June 28th._--I have just got orders to proceed to Bhagput,
some twenty-five miles off, on the Jumna, and see what the
real state of affairs is, and try to save the boats, so I
have only time to say I am much better and stronger, which
is a great comfort, for I could not have ridden the
distance, a few days ago. The rains have begun, and the air
is colder and more refreshing, though not exactly what one
could wish. Certainly the hot season in India is not the
pleasantest time in the year for campaigning, and this the
rascally mutineers were fully aware of before they began.
Colonel Greathed and the 8th came in this morning, and the
61st will be here to-morrow.

_June 29th._--I was thirteen hours and a half in the saddle
without intermission yesterday, and got back to camp after
midnight, very tired, but none the worse; fortunately, I had
a cloudy day and a tolerably cool breeze for my work. I
recovered the boats and found all quiet, in spite of ----'s
disgraceful flight. He had not even the sense or courage to
draw the boats over to our side of the river, consequently,
three were burnt and the whole place plundered. So much for
acting on native reports, without at least attempting to
ascertain their accuracy. The consequences are bad and
discreditable to a degree.

I doubt whether General Barnard used the exact expression
reported regarding Tombs, but he did say, and well he might,
that he was as gallant and good a soldier as any in camp,
and so indeed he is.

The fight of the 23d was a much more severe one than was
reported. It was not over till dark, and our loss was the
heaviest we have yet had to deplore, since we got here on
the 8th.

Reports must not be depended on. The fact was, Major
Olpherts arrived early in the morning. I myself galloped out
to meet him, and as he passed, when the fight had just
commenced, he fired once at the enemy, and then came into
camp to rest his men after their long march. We were out the
whole day until dark, and half dead with fatigue. Colonel
Welchman suffers severely from his wound, but bears it
bravely, as does Peter Brown.

Everything quiet to-day, no firing on either side. I do hope
this part of the business will soon be over, and that they
will only wait for the 61st and Coke's regiment, both of
which will be here to-morrow or next day. Colonel Seaton
himself recommended the disarming of his old Corps, the 35th
Native Infantry. To-day we hear it has been done. All was
safe at Cawnpore and Lucknow up to our last news.

_July 2d._--I have been quite unable to write since the
29th, on the night of which I was ordered off again to
Bhagput, to try to bring the boats down to camp, either to
make a bridge here or a "stop" for the enemy. The order was
given with the complimentary addenda from the General,
"because I can trust your judgment quite as much as your
energy." I expected to be back in good time on the 30th, but
the winds and waves were against me, and I could not get my
fleet of boats down the river.

Shebbeare was with me, and we worked like a couple of
"navvies," passing the two days and one night on the banks
of the river, without shelter, and almost without food, for
we had nothing but a couple of "chupatties," each, and a
small tin of soup and a little tea, which I fortunately took
with me. Poor Shebbeare would soon lose the graceful rotund
of his figure if he were long on such short commons, but I
do not think any amount of starvation could reduce my
horizontal dimensions.

All's well that ends well, however, and I succeeded in
getting every boat safe into camp last night. I missed the
skirmish of the 30th by being at Bhagput. The 61st have
arrived, rich in twenty officers. We are getting more
supplies now, and I have set myself up with plates and
dishes for the small charge of one rupee. Colonel Seaton's
traps and servants will be here to-day, and then we shall be
comfortable, for hitherto a very limited allowance for one
has been but small accommodation for two. For my new
regiment two complete troops are on their way from Lahore
and will be here on the 8th, and another troop from Jugraon
should be here in a week. Two more troops are preparing at
Lahore.

Montgomery takes the most kind interest in my new Corps, and
I am rejoiced and comforted to find that he cordially
approves of my having accepted the Guides. I have as much
confidence in his judgment as in his kindness. ---- has been
shelved, and allowed to get "sick" to save him from
supersession. I do not like euphuisms. In these days men and
things should be called by their right names, that we might
know how far either should be trusted.

Sir E. Campbell arrived here to-day by mail-cart, and will
be a valuable addition to the 60th, or he will belie his
descent from the Bourbons and Fitzgeralds. He is a man you
can always trust, which is saying something in these hard
times.

_July 3d._--Whatever I may have sacrificed of pride and
personal feeling to a sense of duty, I shall be fully
rewarded by entering Delhi at the head of the Guides. Here
at least there is but one opinion on the subject. My poor
gallant Guides! they have suffered severely for their
fidelity to our cause, above a fourth of the whole having
been killed or wounded, including some of our best men. Koor
Singh, the little Goorkha Subadar who won the Order of Merit
in that stiff affair at Boree in '53, is gone, and others
whom we could ill afford to lose, now that so much depends
on the fidelity of the native officers,--the Guides more
than all. Surely, then, I am right, knowing and feeling that
my influence with them is so great, to sink every personal
consideration before the one great end of public safety,
which implies that of ourselves and those dear to us. If we
fail here at Delhi, not a soul in the Punjaub or Upper
Provinces would be safe for a day.

_July 5th._--It was impossible for me to write by
yesterday's dak, for the rebels got into our rear during the
night of the 3d, and attacked Alipoor, the first stage from
hence on the Kurnal road. I was out reconnoitring, and saw
them moving out some five miles on our right. I reported
their position at 7 P. M. on the 3d, but not until 3 A. M.
of the 4th were any measures taken, by which time, of
course, they had attained their end, and were in full march
back to Delhi. At daybreak yesterday I pointed out their
exact whereabouts to Coke, (who commanded the party sent to
attack them,) and I did not get back to camp till 8 P. M.; a
hard day's work, especially as I had no breakfast, nor
indeed food of any kind, and hunger makes the heat tell.

We beat 5,000 of the rebels in the morning, and were twice
attacked by upwards of 3,000 in the course of the day. I
took the Guides in pursuit (as soon as our guns had driven
the enemy from their position), and drove them into a
village. Unfortunately we did not do half as well as we
ought, for though Coke is a good commandant of a regiment,
and a good man for the frontiers, he is no general, and did
not manage well, or we should have cut up numbers of the
enemy and taken their guns.

Our loss was about thirty or forty Europeans, and three of
my native officers temporarily disabled. Both men and horses
were terribly knocked up towards the end of the day, and
could hardly crawl back to camp, and no wonder. I was
mercifully preserved, though I am sorry to say my gallant
"Feroza" was badly wounded twice with sabre cuts, and part
of his bridle cut through, and a piece of my glove shaved
off, so it was rather close work. My men, who were most
engaged of all, escaped with the loss of one killed and six
wounded, and six horses put _hors de combat_. I am
dissatisfied with the day's work, inasmuch as more might
have been done, and what was done is only satisfactory as a
proof of the ease with which Anglo-Saxons can thrash
Asiatics at any odds. Yesterday they were at least from ten
to fifteen to one against us. To-day General Barnard has
been attacked with cholera, I grieve to say; and Colonel
Welchman is very ill indeed. The doctors dread erysipelas,
which at his age would be serious; beyond this, the wounded
are generally doing well.

_July 6th._--Poor General Barnard died last night, and was
buried this morning. He sank rapidly, for anxiety, worry,
over-exertion, and heat had prepared his system, and it was
impossible for him to bear up against the virulence of
cholera. Personally, I am much grieved, for no kinder or
more considerate or more gentlemanly man ever lived. I am so
sorry for his son, a fine brave fellow, whose attention to
his father won the love of us all. It was quite beautiful to
see them together.

I have just seen a copy of a very strong minute anent the
Bhagput affair, which shows the General was not disposed to
pass it over lightly. The civil authorities, however, are
determined to support ----, though in camp there is but one
opinion of his conduct. The present state of things is
terrible, enough to fret one to death,--no head, no brains,
no decision. Neville Chamberlain, though of decided
excellence as a man of action, is, I begin to fear, but a
poor man of business. Prompt decision in council is what we
want; there is no lack of vigorous action. There are plenty
to obey; but we want some one to command. We have seen
nothing of the enemy outside the walls since the 4th. I am
worked off my legs all the same, and the day is not half
long enough for what I have to do. To make matters worse,
too, poor Macdowell is down with fever: a sad loss just now
to "Hodson's Horse," as they call my growing corps. I am
sadly off for clothes, as we of course are only too glad to
help the poor refugees who come into camp with none.

_July 8th._--We left camp at 2 A. M. with a considerable
force, and marched to a bridge some ten miles off, which we
blew up to prevent the enemy annoying us, and then marched
back again. I tried hard to induce Chamberlain, who
commanded, to march back by another road, which I had
reconnoitred, and which would have brought us close along
the rear and flank of the enemy, but he would not do so,
though admitting that I was right. We have had eleven hours
in the saddle and in the sun, merely for this trifling gain.
My face is like "General Gascoigne's," and my hands
perfectly skinless. I must get some dogskin gloves, for it
is as much as I can do to hold a sword, much less a pen.
There has been no fighting since the 4th, and my
news-writers from the city speak of much disheartenment, and
symptoms of a break-up; but I doubt this latter being more
than a report, while the enemy are so well provided both
with "_materiel_" and "_personnel_."

I have just returned from a long chase after a party of the
enemy's horse, safe and unhurt, but drenched to the skin by
a cataract of rain. There has been some hard fighting
to-day. The 8th Irregulars from Bareilly came into our camp,
thanks to the defection of a party of the 9th Irregular
Cavalry, who were on picket duty. The rascals consequently
were enabled to get into our very lines, and cut down one
officer at his guns. There was a tremendous row and
confusion for a short time, but we soon put it to rights. I
had warned the authorities repeatedly, that the Irregulars
were not to be trusted, but they were too fainthearted or
"merciful" (Heaven forgive me for using such a word about
such villains) to disarm them, and both the regiments, about
which I reported, have since gone wrong.

_July 10th._--We are nearly flooded out of camp by the rain,
and everything is wet and wretched but ourselves. I have no
respite from work, however, and have only time to say that
the ladies in the hills could not employ themselves better
or in a greater work of charity than in making flannel
shirts for the soldiers, for our stores are either in the
enemy's hands or not come-at-able. The soldiers bear up like
men, but the constant state of wet is no small addition to
what they have to endure from heat, hard work, and hard
fighting. I know by experience what a comfort a dry flannel
shirt is.

There is a sad joke against me in camp, and I cannot help
joining in the laugh against myself, though enraged at
having been the victim of such a sell. Fancy my riding up to
a party of horse, and asking who they were, being told they
were our own men, 9th Irregulars, and then marching parallel
to them for three miles, and not three quarters of a mile
apart, when, had I known who they were, I could have
destroyed every man.[32] Mr. Saunders arrived in camp
to-day, looking as fat and well as possible, though he and
his pretty wife had a narrow escape and hard day's riding
from Moradabad.

_July 11th._--Pen-work again all day, as the enemy seem to
prefer keeping under cover from the rain.

Mr. ----'s story is so far true, that I did earnestly urge
the construction of a bridge with the boats I brought down
from Bhagput, but without success. There are difficulties, I
admit, and great ones, but I humbly think they might be
overcome now, as they certainly could three weeks ago, when
our plan of assault was suggested, and adopted by General
Barnard. There is a sad outcry in camp against Chamberlain
for having used his influence to prevent the disarming of
what remains of the 9th Irregulars. Numbers of them had
deserted, and one native officer, and those who were on
picket duty, actually admitted a party of the enemy into
our camp; and yet, forsooth, because they were Chamberlain's
regiment once on a time, the order to disarm them, which the
General had actually issued, was cancelled. I confess I
expected better things than this weakness, when our very
lives depend on firmness and decision. Light has just come
in off duty, so begrimed with smoke and powder as scarcely
to be distinguished even by his own men. He is admitted to
be one of the best of our officers, and certainly one of the
hardest working. Tombs always distinguishes himself.