A Narrative of the Siege of Delhi | Page 2

Thus it happened in 1857, and the result is well

known. So it may again occur, and with confidence it 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