A Narrative of the Siege of Delhi | Page 3

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 movable column dispatched towards Cawnpore--Soldiers
and others forbidden to enter or leave the city--The Mooltani
horse--Indulgence to Goorkhas--Their appreciation--An exodus--Strict
regulations--State of feeling of the army--Work of the Provost
Marshal--Two reputed sons of the King executed--The suburbs--An
amusing incident--Visiting the old positions--Cholera still rife--2,000
sick and wounded in the Selimgarh--We move to the magazine--I am
recommended for sick leave--I leave Delhi for Umballah--I am robbed
en route--Report matters to Commissioner and receive
compensation--Leave for Ferozepore and home
CHAPTER VI

THE RICHES OF DELHI
Delhi famed for its treasures--General Wilson's order--Army anxious
about prize-money--Batta to be granted instead--Indignation of army
generally--Humorous placard--Interest on unpaid prize-money
promised--Opinion of the Times--Prize-agents appointed--Early
looting--A white elephant--Evidence of looting--The practice
excused--A lucky haul--Scruples cast aside--Personal experiences--A
tempting display--No proper account rendered--Method of search--A
mine of wealth--A neglected opportunity--A happy thought--A
wrinkle--A favourite hiding-place--An exceptional house--A
mishap--Art treasures--"'Tis an ill wind," etc.--Pleasant memories
INDEX
LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
PLAN OF DELHI, 1857
PLAN OF THE MILITARY STATION AT FEROZEPORE
DELHI, FROM THE MOSQUE PICKET
THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST
FROM THE SMALL PICKET, SABZI MANDI, LOOKING
TOWARDS KISHENGANJ
SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE THE ENGAGEMENT AT
NAJAFGARH IN AUGUST, 1857
KING OF DELHI AS A PRISONER IN 1857
"HOMEWARD," NEAR JERRICK, ON THE INDUS

[Illustration: PLAN OF DELHI 1857

N Here Nicholson fell on Sept 14th]

REMINISCENCES OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI, 1857
CHAPTER I
FEROZEPORE
The actual Mutiny of the Bengal army broke out at Meerut on May 10,
1857. Events had happened in the Lower Provinces which
foreshadowed the coming storm, and one regiment of native infantry
had been disbanded; but no one, not even those in high authority, had
the faintest suspicion that our rule in India was imperilled. So strong,
indeed, was the sense of security from present danger that the
Government, with almost culpable neglect, still confided to the care of
the native army the large arsenals of Delhi, Ferozepore, and Phillour, in
all of which immense quantities of ammunition and munitions of war
were stored.
There was not a single white regiment stationed at Delhi, not even a
European guard, the charge of the arsenal, the largest in Upper India,
being entrusted to a few officers and sergeants of artillery. The same
may be said of Phillour, in the Punjab--a small station, where only
native troops were quartered. The fort of Ferozepore, near the left bank
of the Sutlej River, was guarded by 100 men detailed from the sepoy
regiments at that cantonment, and, with Phillour, constituted the only
places from which ammunition could be drawn for the large force,
European and native, guarding the newly-acquired province of the
Punjab.
Her Majesty's 61st Regiment of Foot was stationed at Ferozepore in
May, 1857. In that corps I held a commission as Lieutenant, and,
during the absence of my Captain on leave in Kashmir, was in
temporary command of the Grenadier Company.
The regiment at this time mustered nearly 1,000 men, half that number

old and gallant veterans of from ten to twenty years' service. These had
fought in many Indian campaigns, and on the terrible day of
Chillianwalla, in January, 1849, when the Khalsa army rolled back in
utter defeat a portion of Lord Gough's force, had, under the leadership
of Sir Colin Campbell, altered the fortunes of the battle. Advancing in
line under a tremendous cannonade, and without firing a shot, they
marched as if on parade and in stern silence till within fifty yards of the
Sikh batteries, when, with a shout which struck terror into the breasts of
their enemies, they charged irresistibly and took the guns.
It was to men such as these that, fortunately for the maintenance of our
Empire in the East, England trusted in the perilous days of 1857. As of
my own regiment, so it may be said of all then quartered in
India--sturdy, fine fellows, of good physique, of rare discipline, and
inured to the climate, who, in the words of the Iron Duke, could march
anywhere and fight anything. The army then had not been improved out
of existence; reforms, if such they can be called, were received with
considerable disfavour; for what amelioration could be effected in the
discipline and steady courage of those who had stormed the heights of
the Alma, had stood the shock of the Muscovite at Inkerman, and had
not despaired on the bloody fields of Ferozeshah and Chillianwalla?
I may be excused if I thus energetically offer my tribute of praise to
that army, and more especially to that regiment in which I passed