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 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