Chapter II: Siege of Delhi (3)

The Guides should not be separated, and should be kept as
much apart as may be from other corps. No regiment in the
world have done or will do better than they, with a little
prudence, and under an officer whom they like and can trust.
My own regiment is also in the Cavalry Brigade, and is very
hard-worked. It is bad for a young and unformed corps, but
there is such a scarcity of cavalry here, that I cannot even
remonstrate, and I get no small amount of [Greek: kudos] for
having so large a number of men fit to be put on duty within
two months of receiving the order to raise a regiment. I
shall have two more troops in with the 52d, and Nicholson
has given me fifty Affghans, just joined him from Peshawur,
which, added to thirty coming with Alee Reza Khan from
Lahore, will complete an Affghan troop as a counterpoise to
my Punjaubees.[39]

We expect the movable column on the 12th or 13th, weather
permitting, and some other troops a day or two after. Sir P.
Grant is supposed to be at Cawnpore, but we have no tidings
later than Colonel Tytler's letter. There is no actual
fighting going on here, nothing except the usual cannonade.
The rebels bring out guns on all sides, and fire away day
and night, but bring no troops forward, and as we act
strictly on the defensive, we merely reply to their guns
with ours. The whole affair is reduced to a combat of
artillery, our leader's favorite arm, excellent when
combined with the other two, but if he expects to get into
Delhi with that alone, I guess he will find himself
mistaken. The news of disaffection in the city is daily
confirmed. On the 7th a powder manufactory exploded, and
they suspended the minister, Hakeem Ahsanoolah, and searched
his house; there they found a letter which had been sent
him, concocted by Moulvie Rujub Alee, which confirmed their
suspicions, so they plundered and burnt his house, while he
himself was only saved by taking refuge in the palace with
the King, his master, who it seems is kept close prisoner
there, his sons giving all orders, and ruling with a rod of
iron. They say, however, that the King has got leave to send
his wives and women out of the Ajmere gate to the Kootub. I
trust it may be so, for we do not war with women, and should
be sadly puzzled to know what to do with them as prisoners.

_August 11th._--The bridge over the Jumna resists all
efforts for its destruction. Our engineers have tried their
worst, and failed. I have tried all that money could do, to
the extent of 6,000 rupees, but equally in vain. So there it
remains for the benefit of the enemy, whose principal
reinforcements come from that side of the city. Two
messengers of my own, arrived from Lucknow, leave little
hope of dear Sir Henry's life having been spared. I grieve
as for a brother....

Talking of jealousies, one day, under a heavy fire, Captain
---- came up to me, and begged me to forget and forgive what
had passed, and only to remember that we were soldiers
fighting together in a common cause. As I was the injured
party, I could afford to do this. The time and place, as
well as his manner, appealed to my better feelings, so I
held out my hand at once. Now-a-days, we must stand by and
help each other, forget all injuries, and rise superior to
them, or, God help us! we should be in terrible plight.

_August 12th._--This morning a force under Colonel Showers
moved down before daybreak towards the city, or rather the
gardens outside the city gates, and gave the enemy, who had
been ensconced behind the garden walls for a couple of days,
and given our pickets annoyance, a good thrashing, taking
four of their guns, and inflicting a heavy loss. All were
back in camp by 7 P. M., so it was a very comfortable
little affair. Our fellows did admirably. Captain Greville
captured one gun with a handful of men, getting slightly
wounded in the act. Showers himself, Coke, and young Owen,
were also wounded, and poor young Sheriff of the 2d mortally
so; the loss among the men was small in proportion to the
success. The return to camp was a scene worth witnessing,
the soldiers bringing home in triumph the guns they had
captured, a soldier, with musket and bayonet fixed, riding
each horse, and brave young Owen astride one gun, and dozens
clinging to and pushing it, or rather them, along with might
and main, and cheering like mad things. I was in the thick
of it by accident, for I was looking on as well as I could
through the gloom, when Coke asked me to find Brigadier
Showers and say he was wounded, and that the guns were
taken. I found Showers himself wounded, and then had to find
a field-officer to take command, after which, I assisted
generally in drawing off the men--the withdrawal or
retirement being the most difficult matter always, and
requiring as much steadiness as an attack.

_August 13th._--I wish I could get some pay, but money is
terribly scarce and living dear; my favorite beverage, tea,
particularly so. I have therefore sent to Umbala for some.

Ghoolab Singh's death is unfortunate at this juncture, but I
fancy we have too much to do just now to interfere with the
succession; we ought not to do so according to treaty, and
if Jowahir Singh tries to recover the country from his
cousin, Runbeer Singh, the King's son, why that is his
affair, not ours--though we should never be contented to let
them fight it out and settle it themselves. Poor Light has
been brought very low by dysentery, and can hardly crawl
about, but about he persists in going, brave fellow as he
is. What a contrast to ----, who has got away, sick or
pretending to be so, to the hills,--anything to escape work.
Greville is, I am thankful to say, not badly wounded, and as
plucky as ever. All well at Agra; no news from below.

_August 14th._--On returning from a rather disheartening
_reconnaissance_ to-day, I found letters which soothed and
comforted my weary spirit, just as a sudden gleam of
sunlight brightens a gloomy landscape, and brings all
surrounding objects into light and distinctness.

I am no croaker, but I confess sometimes it requires all
one's trust in the God of battles, and all the comforting
and sustaining words of those nearest and dearest to us, to
bear up boldly and bravely through these weary days. A
letter from good Douglas Seaton was among them. He little
thought that so soon after his departure we should all be
moving downwards, and that I should receive his letter in
his brother's tent in "Camp before Delhi;" his own dearly
loved regiment[40] "next door" to us. How wonderfully
uncertain everything is in India. I am interrupted by orders
to start to-night for Rohtuck, and must go and make
arrangements.

FOOTNOTES:

[23] One of the officers who witnessed this scene told me that the exclamation of the men on meeting him was, "Burra Lerai-wallah," or Great in battle.--_Ed._

[24] This had been one of the unfounded charges against him two years before.

[25] A Persian lady.

[26] _From_ MAJOR-GENERAL SIR H. BARNARD, _Commanding Field Force, to the_ ADJUTANT-GENERAL _of the Army_.

"CAMP, DELHI, _June 16th, 1857_.

"SIR,--While inclosing for the information of the
Commander-in-Chief the reports of the late attack made by
the enemy on the force under my command, I would wish to
bring to his notice the assistance I have received in every
way from the services of Lieut. W. S. Hodson, 1st Bengal
European Fusileers.

"Since the arrival of his regiment at Umbala, up to the
present date, his untiring energy and perpetual anxiety to
assist me in any way in which his services might be found
useful, have distinguished him throughout, and are now my
reasons for bringing this officer thus specially to the
notice of the Commander-in-Chief.

(Signed)
"H. M. BARNARD,
"_Major-General_."

[27] _Extract of a Private Letter from_ CAMP _to_ LORD W. HAY.

"Hodson volunteered to lead the assault on the night of the 11th, but the plan unfortunately was not adopted; a small building in front of the gate, which he had fixed on as the rendezvous, is called 'Hodson's Mosque.' It would probably have been his _tomb_, for few of the devoted band would have escaped, though the city would have been ours."

A private letter from Camp of the 10th June, says, "Hodson, of the 1st Fusileers, and old Showers are admitted to be the best officers in the field."

[28] 1st European Bengal Fusileers.

[29] 1st European Bengal Fusileers.

[30] 1st European Bengal Fusileers.

[31] Sir Thomas Seaton, K. C. B.

[32] "They went into the city, and reported that they had defeated the great Lall Bahadoor (Red Warrior) and a large party of his horse, and were rewarded accordingly."--_Letter from Camp._ [ED.]

[33] _Extract from Letter of_ COLONEL (_now_ SIR T.) SEATON, _from Camp, at this time_:--

"Hodson's courage and conduct are the admiration of all, and how he gets through the immense amount of work and fatigue he does is marvellous.

"He has the soundest heart and clearest head of any man in camp."

[34] "On the return of the detachment from the fight of the 18th, Colonel Jones, who commanded, went to the General and begged to thank Captain Hodson for his most gallant and efficient assistance, adding his hope for no better aid whenever he had to lead for the future."--_Extract from a Letter from Camp._

[35] It was ultimately ascertained that there were 70,000 or 75,000.

[36] It was, however, _refused_ by the Government, though asked for in the strongest terms of praise by Colonel A. Becher, Quartermaster-General, and recommended by the General!--_Ed._

[37] European force before Delhi, August 1:--

Infantry, 2,000
Cavalry, 500
Artillery, 550
-----
3,050

On actual daily duty, 2,007.

[38] "CAWNPORE, _July 26th_.

"General Havelock has crossed the river to relieve Lucknow,
which will be effected four days hence.

"We shall probably march to Delhi to-morrow, with 4,000 or
5,000 Europeans, and a heavy artillery, in number, _not_
weight.

"The China force is in Calcutta, 5,000 men. More troops
expected immediately. We shall soon be with you.--Yours
truly,

"B. A. TYTLER,
"_Lieut.-Col., Quartermaster-General,_
"_Movable Column_."

[39] The uniform of "Hodson's Horse" was a dust-colored tunic, with a scarlet sash worn over the shoulder, and scarlet turban, which gained them the name of "the Flamingoes."

[40] 1st European Bengal Fusileers.