Chapter III (1)

SIEGE OF DELHI, CONTINUED.--ROHTUCK
EXPEDITION.--ASSAULT.--DELHI TAKEN.--CAPTURE OF
KING.--CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF SHAHZADAHS.

BOHUR, NEAR ROHTUCK, _August 17th_.

I have been unable to write since we left Delhi, as we have
been incessantly marching, and had no means of communicating
with any one. Even now I am doubtful whether this will reach
camp. We left Delhi during the night of the 14th-15th, and
marched to Khurkundah, a large village, in which I had heard
that a great number of the rascally Irregulars had taken
refuge. We surprised and attacked the village. A number of
the enemy got into a house, and fought like devils; but we
mastered them and slew the whole. Yesterday we marched on
here, intending to reconnoitre and harass "a la Cosaque" a
large party of horsemen and foot, with two guns, who have
been moving along from Delhi, plundering the wretched
villagers _en route_, and threatening to attack Hansie.
They, however, thought discretion the better part of valor,
and, hearing of our approach, started off at a tangent
before we got near enough to stop them.

We have been drenched with rain, so I am halting to dry and
feed both men and horses, and then we go on to Rohtuck. I
have nearly 300 men and five officers,--Ward, Wise, the two
Goughs, and Macdowell,--all first-rate soldiers. I have
eighty Guides, and the rest my own men, who do wonderfully,
considering how sadly untrained and undisciplined they are.
We are roughing it in more ways than one, and the sun is
terribly hot; but we are all well and in high spirits, for
though it is a bold game to play, I am too careful to run
unnecessary risks, or get into a fix. I have done a good
deal already, and shall, I hope, recover Rohtuck to-day,
when I do trust the authorities will consent to keep it, and
not let us have the work to do twice over, as at Bhagput.

* * * * *

_To_ COLONEL BECHER, _Quartermaster-General_.

MY DEAR COLONEL,--We are getting on very well. I hope to
take Rohtuck to-day, and I trust arrangements will be made
for keeping it. The country will then be quiet from Hansie
to Delhi. The Jheend Rajah should be told to take care of
the district. I believe Greathed did make this arrangement,
but Barnes put some spoke in the way, so that the Rajah is
uncertain how to act. Please tell Greathed from me that
there is nothing now to prevent the restoration of order
here. I wish I had a stronger party, for though I feel quite
comfortable myself, yet I should like more troops, for the
sake of the men, who are not quite so easy in their minds.
The road by Alipore, Boanah, and Khurkundah is the best. The
canal is easily fordable at Boanah, and just below that
place (at the escape) it is quite dry, the banks having
given way. We polished off the Khurkundah gentry in style,
though they showed fight to a great extent. It has had a
wonderfully calming effect on the neighborhood. I hope the
Jheend troops, or some troops, may be sent here. The Jheend
men would more than suffice.

Yours very sincerely,
W. S. R. HODSON.

* * * * *

CAMP, DUSSEEAH, NEAR ROHTUCK, _19th August_.

This is the first rest since Bohur; we have had very hard
work, great heat, and long exposure; but, thank God, are all
well and safe, and have done some business. I marched from
Bohur on the evening of the 17th. On reaching Rohtuck, we
found the Mussulman portion of the people, and a crowd of
Irregulars drawn up on the walls, while a considerable party
were on a mound outside. I had ridden forward with Captain
Ward and a few orderlies to see how the land lay, when the
rascals fired, and ran towards us. I sent word for my
cavalry to come up, and rode slowly back myself, in order to
tempt them out, which had partly the desired effect, and as
soon as my leading troop came up, we dashed at them and
drove them helter-skelter into the town, killing all we
overtook. We then encamped in what was the Kutcherry
compound, and had a grateful rest and a quiet night. The
representatives of the better-disposed part of the
population came out to me, and amply provided us with
supplies for both man and beast. The rest were to have made
their "amende" in the morning; but a disaffected Rangur went
off early, and brought up 300 Irregular horsemen of the
mutineers,--1st, 13th, 14th, and other rebels,--and having
collected about 1,000 armed rascals on foot, came out to
attack my little party of barely 300 sabres and six
officers. The Sowars dashed at a gallop up the road, and
came boldly enough up to our camp. I had, a few minutes
before, fortunately received notice of their intentions, and
as I had kept the horses ready saddled, we were out and at
them in a few seconds. To drive them scattering back to the
town was the work of only as many more, and I then, seeing
their numbers, and the quantity of matchlocks brought
against us from gardens and embrasures, determined to draw
them out into the open country; and the "ruse" was eminently
successful. I had quietly sent off our little baggage
unperceived, half an hour before, so that I was, as I
intended, perfectly free and unfettered by _impedimenta_ of
any sort. I then quietly and gradually drew off troop after
troop into the open plain about a mile to the rear, covering
the movement with skirmishers. My men, new as well as old,
behaved coolly and admirably throughout, though the fire was
very annoying, and a retreat is always discouraging, even
when you have an object in view. My officers, fortunately
first-rate ones, behaved like veterans, and everything went
on to my complete satisfaction. Exactly what I had
anticipated happened. The enemy thought we were bolting, and
came on in crowds, firing and yelling, and the Sowars
brandishing their swords as if we were already in their
hands, when suddenly I gave the order, "Threes about, and at
them." The men obeyed with a cheer; the effect was
electrical; never was such a scatter. I launched five
parties at them, each under an officer, and in they went,
cutting and firing into the very thick of them. The ground
was very wet, and a ditch favored them, but we cut down
upwards of fifty in as many seconds. The remainder flew back
to the town, as if, not the Guides and Hodson's Horse, but
death and the devil were at their heels. Their very numbers
encumbered them, and the rout was most complete.
Unfortunately I had no ammunition left, and therefore could
not without imprudence remain so close to a town filled with
matchlock men, so we marched quietly round to the north of
the town, and encamped near the first friendly village we
came to, which we reached in the early afternoon. Our
success was so far complete, and I am most thankful to say
with very trifling loss, only two men rather severely
wounded, eight in all touched, and a few horses hit.
Macdowell did admirably, as indeed did all. My new men,
utterly untrained as they are, many unable to ride or even
load their carabines properly, yet behaved beyond my most
sanguine expectations for a first field, and this success,
without loss, will encourage them greatly.

This morning I was joined by a party of Jheend horse, whom
my good friend the Rajah sent as soon as he heard I was
coming Rohtuck-wards, so I have now 400 horsemen, more or
less, fresh ammunition having come in this morning, and am
quite independent. I hear also that the General has at my
recommendation sent out some troops in this direction; if
so, order will be permanently restored in this district. In
three days we have frightened away and demoralized a force
of artillery, cavalry, and infantry some 2,000 strong, beat
those who stood or returned to fight us, twice, in spite of
numbers, and got fed and furnished forth by the rascally
town itself.[41] Moreover, we have thoroughly cowed the
whole neighborhood, and given them a taste of what more
they will get unless they keep quiet in future. We count
eighty-five killed, and numbers wounded, since we left
Delhi, which is one good result, even if there were no
other. One of them was a brute of the 14th Irregular
Cavalry, who committed such butchery at Jhansi. No letters
have reached me since I left camp, and I am not sure that
this will reach there safely. It is a terribly egotistical
detail, and I am thoroughly ashamed of saying so much of
myself, but you insisted on having a full, true, and
particular account, so do not think me vainglorious.

LURSOWLIE, _August 22d_.--I rode over to this place from our
little camp at Sonput, eight miles off, to see Saunders and
Colonel Durnsford. I find that two of my new troops have
been detained on the road, but will reach Delhi in a day or
two, and others from Lahore will soon arrive. I think the
business at Rohtuck has been very creditable to us, but I
can write no more than the assurance of our safety and
well-being.

CAMP, SONPUT, _August 23d_.--I could only write a few
hurried lines yesterday. Late in the evening I got a note
from General Wilson, desiring me to look out for and destroy
the 10th Light Cavalry mutineers from Ferozepoor. He
authorized my proceeding to Jheend, but without going
through the Rohtuck district. Now, as to do this would
involve an immense detour, and insure my being too late, and
consequently having a long and fatiguing march for my pains,
I wrote back to explain this, and requested more definite
instructions. He must either say distinctly "do this or
that," and I will do it; or he must give me _carte blanche_
to do what he wants in the most practicable way, of which I,
knowing the country, can best judge. I am not going to fag
my men and horses to death, and then be told I have exceeded
my instructions. He gives me immense credit for what I have
done, but "almost wishes I had not ventured so far." The old
gentleman means well, but does not understand either the
country or the position I was in, nor does he appreciate a
tenth part of the effects which our bold stroke at Rohtuck,
forty-five miles from camp, has produced. "_N'importe_,"
they will find it out sooner or later. I hear both
Chamberlain and Nicholson took my view of the case, and
supported me warmly.

I am much gratified by General Johnstone's exertions in my
favor, though I have not the slightest idea that they will
eventuate in anything; but the motive is the same. Let me do
what I will, I have made up my mind to gain nothing but the
approval of my own conscience. I foresee that I shall remain
a subaltern, and the easygoing majors of brigade,
aides-de-camp, and staff-officers will all get brevets, C.
B.'s, &c., for simply living in camp, and doing their simple
duties mildly and without exertion. The Victoria Cross, I
confess, is the highest object of my ambition, and had I
been one of fortune's favorites I should have had it ere now
even, but I have learnt experience in a rough school and am
prepared for the worst; but whether a lieutenant or
lieutenant-general, I trust I shall continue to do my duty,
to the best of my judgment and ability, as long as strength
and sense are vouchsafed to me.

CAMP, DELHI, _August 24th_.--I returned here this morning at
2 P. M., very tired and unwell, and not able to write much,
for I have been obliged to have recourse to the doctor.

People have got an absurd story about my being shut up in a
fort, without food or chance of escape! The General's
aide-de-camp tells me the old man believed this ridiculous
report and was fairly frightened, getting no sleep for two
nights. However, he fully admits the good service we have
rendered, and every one is making a talk and fuss about
it,--as if success were uncommon! I find strong hopes of our
making an assault on the city as soon as the siege train
arrives, which will be in about thirteen days. Havelock
seems unable or unwilling to move on, but we can hardly want
him, for surely we shall have ample means for taking the
city shortly.

I am to have a surgeon attached to my regiment at once, as I
represented how cruel it was to send us out on an expedition
without a doctor or a grain of medicine. We had eight
wounded men, and two officers had fever on the road, and
nothing but the most primitive means of relieving them. I
asked for Dr. Charles, but there are so many senior to him
waiting for a turn, that I must be content for the present
with what I can get. I hope, however, to have Charles
ultimately, for he is skilful, clever, a gentleman, and a
Christian.

Nicholson has just gone out to look after a party of the
enemy with twelve guns, who had moved out yesterday towards
Nujjufghur, threatening to get into our rear. I wanted to
have gone with him, but I was laughingly told to stay at
home and nurse myself, and let some one else have a chance
of doing good service. This was too bad, especially as
Nicholson wished me to go.

_26th._--It is 4 P. M., and I am only just free from people
and papers, but good news must make up for brevity. General
Nicholson has beaten the enemy gloriously at Nujjufghur,
whither he pushed on last evening. He has taken thirteen
guns, and all the camp equipage and property. Our loss was
small for the gain, but two of the killed were
officers,--young Lumsden of Coke's Corps, a most promising
fellow, and Dr. Ireland. The victory is a great one, and
will shake the Pandies' nerves, I calculate. All their shot
and ammunition were also captured. The 1st Fusileers were as
usual "to the fore," and did well equally as usual. I am
much disappointed at not having been there, but Mactier
would not hear of it, as the weather was bad, and I should
have run the risk of another attack of dysentery, from which
I had been suffering. I am half annoyed, half amused at the
absurd stories about the Rohtuck business. We were never in
any extremity whatever, nor did I ever feel the slightest
anxiety, or cease to feel that I was master of the
situation. Danger there must always be in war, but none of
our own creating, as the fools and fearful said, ever
existed; would that folks would be contented with the truth
and reality of our position, and not add to its
_desagremens_ by idle fears and false inventions.

_27th_.--I have been up to my eyes in work all day again,
and not had the pen out of my hand all day, except when on
horseback with the men. Two troops arrived yesterday, and I
have 250 spare horses to mount them, so that we are getting
on by degrees. Such an experiment as raising a regiment
actually in camp on active (and very active) service, was
never tried before.

I most decidedly object and refuse to allow Mr. ---- to
publish any extracts whatever from my letters. I say nothing
that I am ashamed of, nothing that is not strictly true, but
my remarks on men and measures, however just, would make me
many enemies, and my misfortunes have taught me, though I
may not condescend to conciliate, at least to do nothing to
offend. If, however, it will be any amusement to the loved
ones at home to have some true sketches of this lamentable
siege, and the progress in it of one dear to them, that is
quite another affair, and I confess I should like to have
some such references myself to look over hereafter.

_28th._--I am somewhat surprised at not hearing from Agra,
but I cannot be sure that my letter reached there, as
several of the "Kossids" have been "scragged" on the road.
Sir P. Grant will not have a long course to run, as Sir C.
Campbell has been sent out to command, and is in India, I
fancy, by this time. Havelock, we hear, has retreated,
leaving Lucknow still unrelieved. I cannot understand this,
but we have not sufficient information to enable us to
judge. After all, Nicholson is the General after my heart.

_29th._--I have just returned from a ride of twelve hours,
leaving camp at three A. M., on a reconnoitring expedition,
and have only time before the dak closes to say that I am
safe and well. I found no enemy, and everything quiet in the
direction of Nujjufghur, where I was to-day, over and beyond
Nicholson's field of battle of the 25th.

_30th._--I have been writing and listening all this morning
till I am tired, a man having come in from Delhi, with much
assurance and great promises; but he was sent back rather
humbler than he came, for he fancied he should make terms,
and could not get a single promise of even bare life for any
one, from the King downwards. If I get into the palace, the
house of Timur will not be worth five minutes' purchase, I
ween; but what my share in this work will be, no one can
say, as there will be little work for horsemen, and I do not
now command any infantry to give me an excuse. I hope Sir C.
Campbell will be here to lead us into the city, which seems
probable at our present rate of no-progress. He is a very
good man for the post of Commander-in-Chief, as he has had
great experience in India and elsewhere, and that, recent
experience. Mansfield comes out with him as chief of the
staff, with the rank of Major-General.

_31st._--I have little public news for you; all is expected
here. The siege train will be in by the 3d or 4th, I fancy,
and then I trust there will be no more waiting.

The letters from Agra show that a much greater and more
formidable amount of insurrection exists than we were
prepared to believe. Large bodies of insurgents have
collected in different places all over the country, all well
supplied with arms and guns. These are under the orders of
different Nawabs, Rajahs, and big men, who think that now is
their time for rule. None of these will be formidable as
soon as the army is disposed of, but for a long time to come
we shall have marching and fighting, punishing and
dispersing, and it is to be expected that bodies of the
fugitives from Delhi will join the standards of these
insurgent leaders, and give us trouble here and there. The
fall of Delhi will not be the end, but rather the beginning
of a new campaign in the field; but the very day the active
portion of the work is over, I shall ask to go to some good
station, and organize and discipline my regiment, and get it
properly equipped, and fit for service. At present it is
merely an aggregation of untutored horsemen, ill-equipped,
half clothed, badly provided with everything, quite unfit
for service in the usual sense of the term, and only forced
into the field because I have willed that it shall be so;
but it would take six months' constant work to fit it
properly for service. Generally when a regiment is raised,
it is left quietly at one station until the commanding
officer reports it "fit for service," and it has been
inspected and reported upon by a general officer, when it is
brought "on duty" by order of the Commander-in-Chief. My
idea of being able to raise a regiment when in the field,
and on actual, and very active service, was ridiculed and
pooh-poohed, but I stuck to it that it could be done, and
General Anson was only too willing I should try, hitherto
with success, and with the considerable gain, to an army
deficient in cavalry, of having a good body of horsemen
brought at once on duty in the field. How long it may be
before I am able to get to a quiet station for the purpose
required, it is impossible to foresee. I shall try to get
sent to Umbala, or as near the Punjaub as possible, because
my men are all drawn from thence, and it will be easier to
recruit, than at a greater distance from Sikh-land. I have
got six full troops, and another is on its way down.

_September 1st._--This is muster-day, and a very busy one to
me, but I have written a minute letter to go by Kossid to
Agra once more. The poor wretch who took my last was
murdered on the road, so of course, the letter never reached
Agra. The dak by Meerut is again suspended, so we can only
send by Kossid. I have to-day got a new subaltern, a Mr.
Baker, of the late 60th Native Infantry, and a doctor, so we
are seven in all. I could not succeed in getting Dr. Charles
just yet, but hope to do so eventually. Little Nusrut Jung
has been allowed to come to me from the Guides, and I have
made him a jemadar at once. It is astonishing how well he
reads and remembers English. The Testament you gave him is
his constant companion, he tells me, and he is as interested
as ever in the history of "our wonderful prophet." The
Persians are certainly a very intelligent race, this one
particularly so, and the seeds you have sown will surely
bring forth fruit to his eternal benefit hereafter. More
than half the Guides want to come to my new corps, but this
is of course out of the question. I am sending for Heratees
and Candaharees, the farther from Hindostan the better. Mr.
Ricketts, too, is collecting men from his district. I have
at present 200 spare horses, but as I am to raise 1,200 or
1,400 men, I fear mounting them will be a difficulty; it is
very difficult to work in a camp on service where so little
can be got or bought. Here come more news-letters from the
city, and myriads of notes, besides post-time and parade,
all at once! I shall be glad when Delhi falls, and I cease
to be _Times_, _Morning Chronicle_, and _Post_, all in
one![42]

_2d._--... "Hodson's Horse" made a very respectable show
indeed last evening, when paraded all together for the first
time, and I was much complimented on my success; there are
some in the last batch from Lahore whom I shall ultimately
get rid of, wild low-caste fellows, and they did not behave
very well the other day at the Ravee with Nicholson; but,
taken altogether, I am very well satisfied, and trust they
will eventually turn out well, and do credit to the hard
work I have with them. Colonel Seaton is better,--_i. e._,
his wound is healed,--but he suffers much pain from the
tender state of the scarce united muscles when he moves.
The weather is very trying just now, and very unhealthy.
Poor Macdowell is unwell, and I fear he will have to go away
sick; he is far from strong, which is his only fault, poor
boy. I like him increasingly, he is a thorough gentleman.
For myself, I am wonderfully well, that is, as well as most
in camp, though somewhat pulled down by heat, fatigue, and
dysentery, and I am literally one of the "lean kine." All is
quite quiet here; only a few occasional shots from the
batteries. The Pandies are quarrelling among themselves, and
are without money; they cannot hold together much longer,
and I fear will break up if we do not speedily take the
place. Only a chosen band (!) will rally round the King,
who, after all, is but a name, for his villanous sons are
the real leaders. The train is to be here to-morrow or next
day, and 56 guns are to open on the walls at once. We hear
that Captain Peel, of Crimean celebrity, is on his way up to
Allahabad, with a naval brigade and some sixty-eight
pounders from his ship _The Shannon_. Glorious, this. Surely
with the brave little army which has withstood all (and none
but ourselves can know what that "all" comprises) the trials
of these last months, and our own brave "tars," we shall
speedily conquer this rebellious city, and make the last of
the house of Timur "eat dirt."

_September 3d._--Nothing is going on here of public
importance, and everything is stagnant, save the hand of the
destroying angel of sickness; we have at this moment 2,500
in hospital, of whom 1,100 are Europeans, out of a total of
5,000 men (Europeans), and yet our General waits and waits
for this and that arrival, forgetful that each succeeding
day diminishes his force by more than the strength of the
expected driblets. He talks now of awaiting the arrival of
three weak regiments of Ghoolab Singh's force under Richard
Lawrence, who are marching from Umbala. Before they arrive,
if the General really does wait for them, we shall have an
equivalent to their numbers sickened and dying from the
delay in this plague spot. "Delhi in September" is
proverbial, and this year we seem likely to realize its full
horrors. The train will be here to-morrow or next day, and I
hope our General will not lose a day after that. He is a
good artillery officer, with an undue estimate of his own
arm of the service. He seems to realize the old saying, that
officers of a "special arm," such as artillery and
engineers, do not make generals. Wilson, for instance, looks
upon guns as engines capable mathematically of performing
perfect results, and acts as cautiously as if in practice
such results were ever attained by Asiatic gunners,
forgetting all our glorious Indian annals, all the
experience of a British army, and hesitating before an
Indian foe! I never hear these old gentlemen talk without
thinking of Sir Charles Napier's remarks on the Duke's
comments on "Colonel Monson's retreat," and the heroic way
in which he had read and profited by the lesson.

As to the extracts from my letters which Mr. B---- has asked
for, I must decidedly refuse; even supposing them to be of
the importance which he professes to consider them, there is
a vast distinction between my publishing, or allowing to be
published, my letters, and letting my friends read or make
use of them. I am perfectly at liberty to write and speak
freely to my friends, and they may show such parts of my
letters as they think fit, to men in power and in
Parliament; and these may again make use, in debate or in
council, of knowledge thus gained, and details thus
imparted, which would be otherwise beyond their reach. All
this is right, fair, and of every-day occurrence; but I
myself, as a military officer, have no right to publish, or
permit to be published, comments written, in the freedom of
private correspondence, on my superiors, their acts, and
proceedings.

I have not the smallest objection to any of our friends
seeing my written opinions, provided they know them to be
extracted from private letters, and never intended for
publication. I have no objection to Lord William Hay sending
a copy, if he chooses, to Lord Dalhousie, or Lord
Ellenborough himself even; but I cannot give permission to
any one to publish what would be so injurious to my
interests. You will think I have grown strangely
worldly-wise; but have I not had bitter experience?

_September 4th._--There is nothing to tell of public news,
and even if there were I have no time to tell it, for I am
very busy and hard-worked, and only too thankful to get a
few minutes to say I am safe and well. I have never written
of public matters except as regarded myself. As to the
stories about me at Rohtuck, the papers have repeatedly
published the true as well as the false version of the
tale,--even the _Lahore Chronicle_ got it pretty correctly;
and after all, it is of very little consequence what the
papers say as long as the correct version goes to Government
and my friends. I sincerely trust we shall be in Delhi
before the 15th.

_September 5th._--Poor Macdowell has had a bad attack of
fever, which has brought him very low. He will have to go to
the hills, I very much fear. The amount of sickness is
terrible; we have 2,500 men in hospital, and numbers of
officers besides. Another of the 61st, Mr. Tyler, died of
cholera to-day. I would give a great deal to get away, if
but for a week, but I must go where I can do most towards
avenging the past, and securing our common safety for the
future. No arrangements are making for any movements after
the capture of Delhi; we sadly want a head over us.

_September 6th._--To-night I believe the engineers are
really to begin work constructing batteries, so that in two
or three days Delhi ought to be taken. If General Wilson
delays now, he will have nothing left to take; all the
Sepoys will be off to their homes, or into Rohilcund, or
into Gwalior. News from Cawnpore to 25th August has been
received. Up to that date Lucknow was safe, but with only
fifteen days' provisions left; and apparently no vigorous
measures being taken to relieve the place. Havelock has not
enough men, he says; and report adds that the
Governor-General has forbidden other regiments to move on,
wishing to keep them at Benares to cover Calcutta. This
appears incredible. The Sepoys in Delhi are in hourly
expectation of our attack, and the cavalry keep their horses
saddled night and day, ready to bolt at a moment's
notice,--so say the news-letters. I suspect that, the moment
we make an attack in earnest, the rebel force will
disappear. Of public news I have none beyond this, and I am
still, like every one else, in the dark as to what we do
after Delhi is taken, or where and when we go. If the
campaign lasts very long I shall be forced to go home next
year, for even my health will not stand against many more
months of wear and tear like the last. Yet who can say what
even a day may bring forth, or can venture to make plans for
a future year, after the experiences of the last? God's
merciful providence has hitherto preserved me most
wonderfully from myriads of no common dangers, and I humbly
pray that I may be spared to see my home, and those who
make home so dear, once more. Home, altered and bereaved as
it is since I left it, still holds the precious sisters and
brothers of the past, and the bright new generation with
whom I long to make acquaintance.

_September 7th._--News has just been received up to the 27th
from Cawnpore: the garrison in Lucknow had been attacked by
the enemy in vast numbers, headed by a lot of "Ghazees."
They were repulsed with such severe loss that the enemy
would not venture to try that game again, were the siege to
be protracted for two years; they say 150 Ghazees, and
between 400 and 500 Sepoys were killed. Colonel Otter was
appointed commandant of Allahabad, at which I rejoice, for
he will "come out strong" whenever he has a chance. One of
our batteries was armed (_i. e._, guns put into it) last
night, and the bigger one will be made to-night; so that by
the 9th I trust Delhi will be ours.

_September 8th._--To-day two new batteries, constructed
during the night for the heavy guns, opened on the walls and
bastions of the city, and the cannonade on both sides has
been very heavy; to-morrow other batteries will be ready,
and on the following day fifty guns, I trust, will be at
work on the doomed city. Very little loss was experienced
during the night, only two men being hit; and the casualties
to-day have been surprisingly few. I cannot believe there
will be any serious resistance when once the enemy's guns
are silenced. There is at present nothing to lead one to
suppose that the enemy have any intention of fighting it out
in the city, after we have entered the breach. All, I fancy,
who can, will be off as soon as we are within the walls. The
General has not decided yet on the operations which are to
succeed Delhi; he says he shall send a strong column in
pursuit, which I hope will be under Nicholson, but he has
not settled who is to go, or who to stay. I trust I may be
among the pursuers. I am constantly interrupted by business,
and the necessity of watching the enemy, lest any attempt
should be made to turn our flank while we are busied with
the batteries in front. For myself, I am not necessarily
much exposed to fire, except every now and then; I never run
into danger unless obliged to do so for some rightful
purpose, and where duty and honor call.

_Sept. 9th._--... To descend to life's hard struggle; our
guns are blazing away, but only in partial numbers as yet,
the work having been necessarily distributed over two nights
instead of one. The garrison at Lucknow is all well, and
likely to continue so, for they have plenty of wheat, though
no European supplies. However, British soldiers have worked
and fought on bread and water ere now, and will do it again;
and I have no doubt the gallant 32d will keep up their
spirit and their fame. Reinforcements were reaching
Cawnpore, and Sir J. Outram was on his way up with 1,500
more soldiers and some artillery. Cholera, their worst
enemy, had disappeared, and their communication with
Calcutta was quite open. Sir Colin had reached Calcutta, and
taken command of the army. I do hope he will come up country
at once, and Colonel Napier with him. Poor Alfred Light,
after five weeks' severe illness, leaves to-night for the
hills, to save his life. Hay has been written to, to take
him in; if he cannot, I am sure you will do so. Poor fellow!
I have a real regard for him, and it is a terrible
disappointment that he cannot be at the actual taking of
Delhi, having been so long before the walls. Sickness is
terribly on the increase, and Wilson talks of getting into
Delhi on the 21st. If the sickness does increase he won't
have a sound man left by the 21st.

I was up till 2 A. M. in the trenches, examining the work,
and helping what little I could,[43] and almost ever since I
have been on horseback, and a terrible hot day it has been
in all ways. Some of the enemy's horse came out and began to
poach on our preserves, and I had to go after them; they are
such essential cowards that it is impossible to bring them
to a regular fight; they will not come from within reach of
their shelter, running off at once to cover, where it would
be madness to go after them. The new batteries did not begin
to-day, after all; they were not quite ready, and the
engineers would not let them open fire.... I am very much
pleased with ----'s letter, and rejoice that he is out on an
expedition; the change of air will do him good after that
frightful cholera. His story[44] of the soldier might be
matched by many a rough compliment I get from the men of the
1st Fusileers; the most genuine perhaps, certainly the most
grateful to my feelings, of any I receive; a soldier is
generally the best and shrewdest judge of an officer's
qualifications.

_September 11th._--There is no public news, except that the
batteries are working away at the walls; but our engineers
have failed terribly in their estimate of the time required
for the works, and all the batteries are even yet not
finished. It is now, however, only a question of days, one
or two more or less, and Delhi must be ours. I shall be very
thankful to get away from here. I look upon this as the very
worst climate I have ever been in, and another month would
make us all ill. Another of my officers, Captain Ward, is
very ill, and two more are ailing. Macdowell, I am thankful
to say, is a little better. The natives, too, are very sick,
and a large number are in hospital; in short, we want to be
in Delhi.

_September 12th._--I was interrupted in the midst of my
pen-work this morning by an alarm (which proved to be a
false one) of an attack of cavalry on our rear; it turned us
all out, and kept me in the saddle till now, 5 P. M., so I
can only say I am safe and unhurt. I trust in three days
Delhi will be ours. I fancy my share in the assault will be
one of duty rather than of danger. The cavalry have but
small work on these occasions. I cannot yet tell what will
occur after the capture. I fancy a column under Nicholson
will be pushed on to Agra or Cawnpore, and I hope my
regiment will be of the party.

_September 13th._--I find I am to accompany Nicholson's
column at his own request, but where we are to go is
unknown; whether in pursuit of the rebels who are fast
evacuating Delhi, or towards Agra, we know not; Nicholson
strongly urges the former. I am very glad for my own sake
that I am to go on, for this place is dreadfully unhealthy,
and I feel that I shall certainly be ill if I remain here
much longer. In fact, I had made up my mind not to remain if
possible, and when Nicholson urged my going on with him I
was only too ready to second the motion, for I am able to
work and to fight, and I must do so as long as I can. Some
of the Gwalior troops have crossed the Chumbul River, and
are supposed to be threatening Agra. However, the fall of
Delhi will make every difference in their proceedings, and
show them that we can do something, though so late; we are
looking forward to a little "active service" to-morrow; may
God grant success to our arms, and safety to our brave band
as much as may be.

_September 15th._--I was totally unable to leave the field
yesterday until dark, and long after post-time, but I
ascertained that a telegraphic message was sent to Simla. I
sent one up as soon as possible, for transmission to you
through Lord W. Hay, but Colonel Becher had forestalled
me.... The breaches made by our artillery were successfully
stormed early in the morning, with but little loss then; our
loss, subsequently, however, I grieve to say, was most
distressing, and that, in attempting unsuccessfully the
capture of the Puhareepore and Kishengunge suburbs. The
whole extent of our loss is not yet known, but that already
ascertained is grievous to a degree. First, poor Nicholson
most dangerously wounded, at a time, too, when his services
were beyond expression valuable.[45] The 1st European Bengal
Fusileers was the most tried, and suffered out of all
proportion, save in the especial case of the Engineers, of
whom ten, out of the seventeen engaged, have been killed or
wounded. Chesney and Hovenden among the latter, though not
badly. Of the Fusileers, poor Jacob was mortally wounded,
since dead, I grieve to say; Greville, badly; Owen,
severely; Wemyss and Lambert, slightly; Butler, knocked down
and stunned; F. Brown and Warner, both grazed. Of officers
attached to the regiment, Captain Mac Barnett was killed;
Stafford, wounded; Speke, mortally so; what a frightful
list! Besides this, Captain Boisragon was wounded badly,
with the Kumaon battalion; so that, of the officers of the
1st Fusileers engaged yesterday, only Wriford, Wallace, and
myself, escaped untouched. My preservation (I do not like
the word escape) was miraculous. For more than two hours we
had to sit on our horses under the heaviest fire troops are
often exposed to, and that, too, without the chance of doing
anything but preventing the enemy coming on. Brigadier Hope
Grant commanded, and while I doubt his judgment in taking
cavalry into such a position, I admit that it was impossible
for any man to take troops under a hotter fire, keep them
there more steadily, or exhibit a more cool and determined
bravery than he did. My young regiment behaved admirably, as
did all hands. The loss of the party was of course very
severe. Of Tombs's troop alone, twenty-five men (out of
fifty) and seventeen horses were hit. The brigadier and four
officers composing his staff all had their horses killed,
and two of the five were wounded. The brigadier himself was
hit by a spent shot; Tombs escaped, I am delighted to say,
from a similar spent ball. Our success on the whole was
hardly what it should have been, considering the sacrifice,
but the great end of getting into Delhi was attained. About
one third of the city is in our power, and the remainder
will shortly follow, but that third has cost us between 600
and 700 killed and wounded.[46] I am most humbly and
heartily grateful to a merciful Providence that I was
spared. May the God of battles continue His gracious
protection to the end, and enable me once more to be
reunited to all most precious to me on earth.

* * * * *

_Letter from_ LIEUTENANT MACDOWELL, _2d in command Hodson's Horse_.

"DELHI.

"On the night of the 13th September, final preparations were
made for the assault on the city. Brigadiers and commanding
officers (our little army boasts of no generals of
divisions) were summoned to the General's tent, and then
received their instructions. At 1 o'clock A. M. on the 14th,
the men all turned out silently, no bugles or trumpets
sounding, and moved down in silence to the trenches. The
batteries all this time kept up an unceasing fire on the
city, which responded to it as usual. On arriving at the
trenches the troops lay down, awaiting the signal, which was
to be given at daybreak, and which was to be the blowing in
of the Cashmere Gate, towards which a party of Engineers and
Sappers moved off at about 3 A. M. The assault was to be
made in three columns: the first was to blow open the
Cashmere Gate, the second to escalade the Water Bastion, and
the third to escalade the Moree Bastion, both of which had
been pronounced practicable. As I was with the cavalry all
the time, I saw nothing of the storming, but it is
sufficient to say it succeeded on every point, and by 8 A.
M. we were inside the walls, and held all their outworks.

"Now began the difficulty, as from the small force we had,
it was very hard work to drive a large body of men out of
such a city as Delhi. It took four days to accomplish, but
at length, on the morning of the 20th, the flag of Old
England floated gracefully out over the palace of the Great
Mogul. And now for what we (the cavalry) did. At 3 A. M.[47]
we moved down in column of squadrons to the rear of our
batteries, and waited there till about 5 A. M., when the
enemy advanced from the Lahore Gate with two troops of
artillery, no end of cavalry, and a lot of infantry,
apparently to our front. I think they intended to try and
take our old position now that we had got theirs. In an
instant horse artillery and cavalry were ordered to the
front, and we went there at the gallop, bang through our own
batteries, the gunners cheering us as we leapt over the
sand-bags, &c., and halted under the Moree Bastion, under as
heavy a fire of round shot, grape, and canister, as I have
ever been under in my life. Our artillery dashed to the
front, unlimbered, and opened upon the enemy, and at it they
both went 'hammer and tongs.' Now you must understand we had
no infantry with us. All the infantry were fighting in the
city. They sent out large bodies of infantry and cavalry
against us, and then began the fire of musketry. It was
tremendous. There we were (9th Lancers, 1st, 2d, 4th Sikhs,
Guide Cavalry, and Hodson's Horse) protecting the Artillery,
who were threatened by their infantry and cavalry. And fancy
what a pleasant position we were in, under this infernal
fire, and never returning a shot. Our artillery blazed away,
of course, but we had to sit in our saddles and be knocked
over. However, I am happy to say we saved the guns. The
front we kept was so steady as to keep them back until some
of the Guide infantry came down and went at them. I have
been in a good many fights now, but always under such a
heavy fire as this with my own regiment, and then there is
always excitement, cheering on your men, who are replying to
the enemy's fire; but here we were in front of a lot of
gardens perfectly impracticable for cavalry, under a fire of
musketry which I have seldom seen equalled, the enemy quite
concealed, and here we had to sit for three hours. Had we
retired, they would at once have taken our guns. Had the
guns retired with us, we should have lost the position. No
infantry could be spared to assist us, so we had to sit
there. Men and horses were knocked over every minute. We
suffered terribly. With my usual good luck I was never
touched. Well, all things must have an end. Some infantry
came down and cleared the gardens in our front, and as their
cavalry never showed, and we had no opportunity of charging,
we fell back, and (the fire being over in that quarter)
halted and dismounted.[48] All this time hard fighting was
going on in the city. The next day, and up to the morning of
the 19th, we did nothing (I am now speaking exclusively of
the cavalry brigade) but form in line on the top of the
ridge, ready to pursue the enemy should they turn out of the
city in force."[49]

_September 16th._--I have just returned from a very long and
terribly hot ride of some hours to ascertain the movements,
position, and line of retreat of the enemy, and I can do no
more than report my safety. I grieve much for poor Major
Jacob, we buried him and three sergeants of the regiment
last night; he was a noble soldier. His death has made me a
captain, the long wished-for goal; but I would rather have
served on as a subaltern than gained promotion thus.
Greville and Owen are doing well, but I much fear there is
no hope for poor Nicholson; his is a cruel wound, and his
loss would be a material calamity. You may count our real
officers on your fingers now--men, I mean, really worthy the
name. General Wilson is fairly broken down by fatigue and
anxiety, he cannot stand on his legs to-day; fortunately,
Chamberlain is well enough to go down and keep him straight;
and Colonel Seaton also,--two good men, if he will be led by
them. All is going on well; the magazine was carried by
storm this morning, with nominal loss, and our guns are
knocking the fort and palace about. All the suburbs have
been evacuated or taken. I have just ridden through them,
and all the enemy's heavy guns have been brought into camp.
In forty-eight hours the whole city, I think, with its seven
miles of _enceinte_, will be ours; our loss has been very
heavy: 46 officers killed and wounded, 200 men killed, and
700 or 800 wounded.

_September 17th._--All is going on well, though slowly; the
Sepoys still occupy a portion of the city, and are being
gradually driven backwards, while the palace and fort are
continually played upon by shell and shot; not above 3,000
or 4,000 of the rebel troops remain in the city.
Head-quarters are there, and I am going down immediately to
take up my quarters with the staff. I expect to-morrow will
see the last of it, but there is no calculating with
anything like certainty on the proceedings of these
unreasoning wretches. I am thankful to say Nicholson is a
little better to-day, and there appears some hope of his
recovery, though a very slight one. Mr. Colvin is dead:
another celebrity taken away in this time of trial. The home
mail of the 10th of August has arrived, but brought no
letters for me as yet, but very few have arrived in all. The
Government at home seem at last awaking to a sense of the
importance of this crisis in Indian affairs.

_September 18th._--There is nothing worth speaking of doing
here. We are still shelling the fort and palace, but as
slowly, alas, as possible. I am writing in great haste, in
order to go down and see my "intelligence" people. Some of
the enemy are trying negotiation. I only hope they may find
it is too late, and that we may pursue and destroy the
wretches whom we have to thank for so much barbarity and
bloodshed.

_September 19th._--We are making slow progress in the city.
The fact is, the troops are utterly demoralized by hard work
and hard drink, I grieve to say. For the first time in my
life I have had to see English soldiers refuse repeatedly to
follow their officers. Greville, Jacob, Nicholson, and Speke
were all sacrificed to this. We were out with all the
cavalry this morning on a _reconnaissance_, or rather
demonstration, for some miles, and got a wetting for our
pains; however, rain at this season is too grateful to be
complained of.

_September 20th._--I have been much shocked (even familiar
as I have become with death) by poor Greathed's[50] sudden
death yesterday from cholera; the strongest and healthiest
man in camp snatched away after a few hours' illness. Sir T.
Metcalfe also is very ill with the same cruel disease; what
a harvest of death there has been during the past four
months, as if war was not sufficiently full of horrors. The
rebels have fled from the city in thousands, and it is all
but empty; only the palace is still occupied, and that we
hope to get hold of immediately, and so this horribly
protracted siege will be at an end at last, thank God. None
but those who fought through the first six weeks of the
campaign know on what a thread our lives and the safety of
the Empire hung, or can appreciate the sufferings and
exertions of those days of watchfulness and combat, of
fearful heat and exhaustion, of trial and danger. I look
back on them with a feeling of almost doubt whether they
were real or only a foul dream. This day will be a memorable
one in the annals of the Empire; the restoration of British
rule in the East dates from the 20th September, 1857.

IN THE ROYAL PALACE DELHI, _September 22d_.--I was quite
unable to write yesterday, having had a hard day's work. I
was fortunate enough to capture the King and his favorite
wife. To-day, more fortunate still, I have seized and
destroyed the King's two sons and a grandson (the famous, or
rather infamous, Abu Bukr), the villains who ordered the
massacre of our women and children, and stood by and
witnessed the foul barbarity; their bodies are now lying on
the spot where those of the unfortunate ladies were exposed.
I am very tired, but very much satisfied with my day's work,
and so seem all hands. We were to have accompanied the
movable column, but to-day it is counter-ordered, and we
remain here.[51]

_September 23d._--When shall I have time to write really a
letter? It seems as if I were each day doomed to fresh labor
and worry, and I long to shake off the whole coil, and go
where I can find repose and peace. Fortunately, my health
stands the wear and tear, and as my success has been great I
must not grumble.... I came to camp this morning to see
after the march of a detachment of my regiment which is
ordered, after half a dozen changes, to accompany a movable
column which is ordered to proceed towards Agra to-morrow. I
am to remain here, and to tell the truth, the business is so
mismanaged that I have ceased to care whether I go or stay.
I fancy they find me too useful here. We move down bodily to
or near the town to-morrow, and everything is in confusion
and bustle.