A Narrative of the Siege of Delhi | Page 2

may be predicted that, as of yore, Britain's sons will not be found wanting in the hour of trial, that, keeping well in mind the glorious traditions of their race, they will maintain unsullied the reputation of their forefathers, and add to the renown of that Empire on which the sun never sets.
It is unnecessary, in this place, to enter into the causes which led to the mutiny of the Bengal army. These can be read and studied in the graphic pages of Kaye and Malleson. My intention is to give, as far as in me lies, a truthful account of the events in which I personally bore part, and which came under my own immediate observation.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
FEROZEPORE
May 10 to June 13
Outbreak at Meerut--Neglect of arsenals--H.M.'s 61st Regiment--Characteristics of the British troops in India--Outbreak unexpected--First indication of disaffection--News of the Mutiny at Meerut--Steps taken at Ferozepore--Wives and families moved to the barracks--A party of the 61st Regiment sent into the fort--Proceedings within the fort--45th Regiment of Native Infantry tries to take the fort--It is repulsed--Criticism of the Brigadier's conduct--His want of initiative--The cantonment fired--The damage done--Bells of arms blown up--The 61st dismissed to barracks--A patrol ordered--State of the cantonment--Action of the mutineers--Officers quartered in the barracks--Grenadiers again on special duty--Indifference displayed by the Brigadier--Measures adopted for the safety of the cantonment--Search for mess property--Parsimony of the Government--Anxiety in the Punjab--Loyalty of the Sikhs--Sir John Lawrence's appeal to them--Their characteristics--Spread of the Mutiny--Reaction at Ferozepore--Night-attacks--One in particular--Trial of prisoners--Sentences--Executions
CHAPTER II
ON THE MARCH
June 13 to July 1
A wing of the 61st ordered to Delhi--The five companies selected--Readiness displayed by the regiment--On the march--Cholera appears--I visit an old friend--Badli-ki-Serai--News from Delhi--Entry into camp
CHAPTER III
BEFORE DELHI
July 1 to September 7
A view of Delhi--Vicissitudes of the city--Its defences--defences--The ridge--Position of our camp--Our position--The Goorkhas--Cholera raging--Heat and flies--Executions--The Metcalfe pickets--A sortie expected--expected--Hodson--Bombardment of Metcalfe picket--Enemy reported moving on Alipore--A force sent after them--The action described--Forces complimented by Sir Henry Barnard--His death--His services--Our meagre armament--Scarcity of ammunition--Amusing incident--The Metcalfe house--Our bugle-calls in use by the enemy--A sortie--Ruse by the enemy's cavalry--Gallant conduct of Lieutenant Hills and Major Tombs, Bengal Artillery--Expedition under Brigadier Chamberlain--Chamberlain--Gallant conduct of Brigadier Wm. Jones--Fight at Kishenganj--Meeting with an old friend--A sad story--story--Story of C---- d--A victim of the Meerut massacre--massacre--Strong feeling of revenge in all ranks--A sortie--Attack on Sabzi Mandi pickets and right ridge--An awkward position--Heavy loss of enemy--Cholera and other sickness prevalent--Fishing--Provisions, etc., much appreciated--General Reed resigns and is succeeded by General Wilson--Attack on Sabzi Mandi and Hindoo Rao's repulsed--Bodies of slain sepoys rifled--Difficulty of preventing it--General's approval of Colonel Jones's conduct--The number of attacks by the enemy--Sortie on our left--Repulsed by Brigadier Showers--Expedition under Major Coke--Attack on right pickets at sunset--Combat continues all night--Enemy retires--Loss of enemy--Result of General Wilson's appointment--We attempt to destroy the bridge of boats--Demonstration by the enemy--Pickets on the right harassed--Metcalfe pickets shelled--Brigadier Showers takes four guns--Our reinforcements arrive under Nicholson--His character--Mrs. Seeson comes in from the city--The enemy fires rockets--He establishes a battery on the left bank of the river--river--Sortie--Expedition under Nicholson--Battle of Najafgarh--Elkington mortally wounded--Gabbett killed--killed--Death of Elkington--Right pickets harassed--An amusing incident--The Afghans--Alarm in the Punjab--Bands play in camp--Fatal shell from across the river--An uncomfortable bath--The siege-train arrives--Our allies--Zeal of the engineers--New batteries established
CHAPTER IV
CAPTURE OF THE CITY
September 7 to 14
Strength of our force--General Wilson's order--Volunteers for artillery called for--All our batteries open fire--Number of casualties during bombardment--Frequent sorties--Death of Captain Fagan, Bengal Artillery--Breaches examined--Orders for the assault--Details of columns--The assault--Blowing in of Kashmir Gate--Details of the operations--Cowardly tactics of the enemy--Gallant conduct of Private Moylan, 61st Regiment--Gallant conduct of Surgeon Reade, 61st Regiment--Doing of Nos. 1 and 2 columns--Nicholson mortally wounded--No. 4 column attacks Kishenganj--Conduct of the Kashmir troops--They lose their guns--Their search for them--Failure of the attack on Kishenganj--Intention of the enemy--Work of the Cavalry Brigade--Support by the Guides infantry--Casualties on September 14--Bravery of the native troops--Temptations to drink--All liquor destroyed--We construct more batteries--Reported intentions of the General--These overruled--The enemy attacks our advanced posts--We storm the magazine--Further advance of Nos. 1 and 2 Columns--The 61st move to the church--Colonel Skinner--State of the church--Unsuccessful attack on the Burn bastion--Eclipse of the sun--The Burn bastion captured--The enemy begin to retire--Capture of the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion--The Palace and Selimgarh taken--The Jama Masjid taken--The 61st move to Ali Khan's house--Casualties--Reflections
CHAPTER V
OCCUPATION OF THE CITY
September 20 to May, 1858
Lack of appreciation by Government--A contrast--Delay in issue of prize money and medals--Unceremonious presentation of the latter--Complete desertion of the city by the enemy--A stroll through the city--Looting--Discovery of hiding inhabitants--They are ordered to leave the city--Disgraceful desertion of pets--State of the streets--Hodson captures the King of Delhi--The King's appearance described--His trial and sentence--Hodson captures the King's sons and grandson--Their deaths--Diminished strength of the 61st Regiment--It moves to the Ajmir Gate--The Jama Masjid and view from it--Its garrison--A