A Narrative of the Siege of Delhi | Page 5

sense of the ridiculous was fairly
awakened, and we roared with laughter again and again.
This unlooked-for result of his dismal communication roused the Major,
who first rebuked us for our levity, and, after an interval occupied in
the recovery of his scattered senses, proceeded to acquaint us with the
true facts of what had happened at the Brigadier's quarters.

A despatch by telegraph had arrived that morning from Meerut, the
largest cantonment in Upper India, stating that the regiment of native
light cavalry at that place had mutinied in a body on the 10th instant,
and marched for Delhi. This had been followed by a revolt of all the
sepoy infantry and artillery, a rising of the natives in the city, the
bazaars and the surrounding country, who, almost unchecked, had
murdered the European men and women on whom they could lay their
hands, and besides, had set fire to and "looted" many houses in the
station. Fortunately for the safety of the English in India, the miscreants
failed to cut the telegraph-wires at Meerut till too late, and the news of
the mutiny and outrage was as quickly as possible flashed to every
cantonment in the country.
The Brigadier had therefore ordered the commanding and field officers
of the different regiments stationed at Ferozepore to meet him in
consultation at his quarters. Intelligence so startling as that just
received required no small amount of judgment and deliberation in
dealing with the native soldiers at this cantonment, and some time
elapsed before the council decided as to what was best to be done under
the circumstances.
Finally it was resolved that a general parade of Her Majesty's 61st Foot
and the battery of European artillery should be held at four o'clock on
the lines in front of the barracks of the former corps. The two regiments
of native infantry were to assemble at the same time, and, with their
English Officers, were ordered to march from their quarters, taking
separate directions: the 45th to proceed into the country, leaving the
fort of Ferozepore on their right, while the 57th were to march out of
cantonments to the left rear of the lines of the European infantry. The
commanding officers of these regiments were also instructed to keep
their men, if possible, well in hand, to allow no straggling, and to halt
in the country until further orders after they had proceeded three or four
miles. The remaining regiment, the 10th Native Light Cavalry, for
some reason or other was considered staunch (and as events proved, it
remained so for a time), and it was therefore ordained that the troopers
should parade mounted and under arms in their own lines ready for any
emergency.

Thus far we learnt from the Major, and Vicars, whose duties as
Adjutant required his presence at the barracks at once, donned his
uniform, and, mounting his horse, rode in all haste to give directions
for the general parade.
Shortly before four o'clock the Major and I also left the house and
joined the regiment, which was drawn up in open column of companies
in front of the lines.
Notice had previously been sent to the married officers in the station
directing them to make immediate arrangements for the transport of
their wives and families to the barracks. This order was obeyed without
loss of time, and before half-past four all the ladies and children in the
cantonment were safe under the protection of our soldiers at the main
guard.
The barracks of the European infantry at Ferozepore were distant half a
mile from the station, and consisted of ten or twelve large detached
buildings, one for each company, arranged in echelon, with some thirty
paces between each. In front of these was the parade-ground where we
were drawn up, and before us an open plain, 300 yards in width,
extending to the entrenched camp, or, as it was generally called, the fort
and arsenal of Ferozepore. The space around the fort was quite clear, its
position being directly opposite the centre of the cantonment, from
which it was separated by some 200 yards.
From our situation on parade we had a direct and unbroken view of the
localities I have endeavoured to describe, and holding this
vantage-ground, we should be enabled to act as circumstances might
require.
The regiment wheeled into line more than 900 strong. One hundred
men under command of a field-officer were then detached, with orders
to disarm the sepoy guard in the fort, and to remain there on duty
pending any attempt which might probably be made by the two native
regiments to gain forcible possession of the arsenal.
The detachment marched off, and we watched our comrades cross the

plain, and enter without molestation the gates of the fort.
In anxious expectation we