a

about daylight; and very shortly after not the flanks been partially prothe troops came in contact with the tected by garden - walls, the party enemy, who seemed fully prepared inust have been annihilated. for the fight, as was shown by the It was about this time discovered numerous replies to the sharp cracks that the enemy, emboldened by our of the rifles of the 60th on the right check, were creeping to our rear, and left.

and therefore, if any were to escape, The Simoor battalion (Goorkahs) a retreat must take place; the force led the attack, but shrank from the then retired in good order without heavy fire poured in from thousands further loss. In fact, the retreat was of the enemy. The 1st Fusiliers were so well protected by the admirable then ordered to the front, and under firing directed by Lieutenant Evans a very heavy fire cleared a bridge of the Artillery, that the enemy were and breast work which the enemy quite unable to advance or molest the held in force. It was here the brave retreat effectively. Captain M'Barnet, 55th N. I., doing It is well known to many that duty with the Fusiliers, met the entire force of the enemy was for soldier's death. Marching in front, a short time brought to bear on the and encouraging the men to the 1st Fusiliers, and that though the charge, he was shot in the forehead, plan of the attack failed in the object and died instantly. This gallant wished, yet that probably the reofficer seems to have had some pre- sult attained was more important sentiment of his end, for he left a than had they succeeded in driving message to her he honoured most, the enemy into Delhi, for by this that if he died, he wished her to fight hardly less than 8000 of the know he died like a Highlander. rebels were kept out of the city

It was then perceived that on the while the assault on the left was left flank the rebels had possession of being successfully executed. a serai, built almost like a fort, and During the time the above was completely commanding the post taking place on our right, the right taken ; while in the front hardly less wing of the regiment, consisting of than 2000 men, in skirmishing order, 230 men, Major Jacob commanding, were perpetually firing on our small had at 4 A. M. marched from camp, body. Seeing it was impossible to and having reached Ludlow Castle, remain where the Fusiliers were, halted and remained till about an and Major Reid being about this hour after daylight, this delay being time obliged to retire from the field considered necessary to enable the severely wounded, Captain Wriford artillery to knock down the sandgave the order to charge a second bags with which the active enemy breastwork in the front, which was had heaped the breaches during the quickly cleared ; but again the enemy night. The men were then ordered were discovered in overpowering to advance down the open road, with numbers, as here both cavalry and ladders in front, to escalade the Cashinfantry were in large bodies, and mere Bastion. The movement was the fire was most deadly and unceas- made under a heavy fire of grape and ing. Lieutenant Owen was severely musketry. On reaching the ditch, wounded, sixteen men lay dead in it was found to be twenty feet deep, the road, and thirty-four were wound- without water, down the slope of ed. Application was therefore made which the men easily slid, then placfor immediate support; but the ad- ing the ladders against the scarp, and vance was so slow, and the pressure mounting quickly, they were at the on the small party in front so great, foot of the walls of Delhi, and the that it was absolutely necessary to breach, though eighteen feet high, ofretire behind a small wall in rear. fering no great difficulty, was gained This was held for about three quar- at once, the 1st entering the Cashters of an hour by portions of the mere Battery through the embrasures. force, and here the poor Goorkahs No sooner did the enemy see the suffered very severely. In fact, had white faces looking sternly on them,*

*

This may seem far-fetched, but the truth is, all the 1st had their muskets

yours?

now

Were the last words of Marmion.'

than they turned and fled, and the mistaken in asking General Nicholbastion was ours.

son for my glass."

Ah, is it The 1st then advancing, cleared the Well, I shall know you again,” as church and took the rebels in the he hurried away—for the General Water Bastion in flank, driving them saw exactly how matters in confusion before them.

stood, and was thoroughly aware After having thus far successfully of the importance of moving on, gone on, the wing moved to the right which, however (from the confusion along the rampart, capturing the after such an assault, and the failure guns and stores of shot and shell of the attack on the Gumma Muzjid, abandoned by the enemy, who and no artillery having joined as offered little resistance. A party ordered), was impossible. A lamentof about thirty men, pursuing the able delay at the Cabul Gate, thereflying enemy, got separated from fore, took place for two hours. For the main body. Captain Caulfield thus far all had gone most happily ; was the senior officer, with Captain the assault had been wonderfully Speke and Lieutenants Woodcock successful, and the loss, compared to and Butler. With them were some the result, almost nothing. The Goorkahs, and men of Coke's Rifles, enemy had been driven back from under Lieutenant Nicholson : these every point attacked, and we had advanced through the College as far got a firm footing in the city. as the Magazine, but not knowing that it was the Magazine gate at which they stood, collecting all straç.

'Charge, Chester, clarge ! on, Stanley, on! glers together, retired by Skinner's House, and found the men under After this delay the men were orMajor Jacob advancing on the Cabul dered to charge three guns held by Gate. Lieutenant Woodcock, previ- the enemy, two of which were in a ously to reaching this gate, ascended lane, and one on the rampart. This the rampart, and entered one of the lane, up which our braves had to small towers which project from charge, was tolerably straight, about the wall, and, looking in the direc- twelve feet wide, but narrowed in tion of the Lahore Gate throngh an places by projecting buttresses or embrasure, was surprised to see a towers, with parapets; and these large body of men returning from small buildings narrowed the roadthe Subzee Mundee into the city by way where they were to about three the Lahore and Ajmeer gates. In his feet. The rampart also, of which they estimation there were not less than formed, as it were, a part, was ob10,000 cavalry and infantry. Seeing structed by them; for above they were these, and feeling sure they were the constructed so as to form guardenemy who had been driven in by houses, in which a few men could be the right attack, he seized an Enfield sheltered from the weather. The city rifle from one of the men to try the side of the lane was bounded by range, when some one laid his hand houses with flat roofs and parapets; on the butt, and said, “Don't fire and all these different points were these are Cashmere troops !” “No, strongly occupied by the enemy, now replied Woodcock ; Cashmeres ne- returned in great force, as above menver wear white clothes.” On this the tioned. officer turned to the 9th Lancers, who About 160 yards up this formidawere then drawn up immediately ble position was a brass field-gun, under the walls. Some words passed, pointing straight in the line of adand men or officers rode out to the front vance, and about 100 yards in rear to reconnoitre. The officer had bor- of this was a second, which comrowed Lieutenant Woodcock’s glass, manded the first; behind both was a and was hurrying away with it, when bullet-proof screen; and as it were Lieutenant Woodcock asked, “ Am I projecting from without the wall was

a

slung behind, to enable them to use their hands in ascending the breach ; consequently there was not a shot fired at the enemy till the breach was entered ; till this was gained, the men had no muskets in their hands.

a

the Burn Bastion, armed with heavy were both mortally wounded ; and field-pieces, and capable of containing it may be not unbecoming to pay a a thousand men.

tribute, small though it be, yet due Our men charged up to and took to the brave. Jacob was an officer the first gun, and advanced to within of great experience, having been preten yards of the second, where the sent through the Cabul and Sutledge fire of grape and musketry, and campaigns with his corps, and was shower of stones and round shot, subsequently engaged on the frontier which were thrown by hand, was so in command of a regiment of horse. severe that none could stand it; and He was in the prime of life, quiet after seeking shelter, as far as was and gentlemanly in manner, kind to possible in such a place, we were a degree, yet firm. He was loved by compelled to retire, and unable to the men, and the officers looked to bring off the captured gun. At this him as a friend. The great peculiplace Lieutenant Butler greatly dis- arity of Major Jacob was, I should tinguished himself, doing his utmost say, exceeding coolness in action ; to encourage the men; and how he and, riding as he did at the head of escaped with life is a perfect marvel, his men on a white horse, how he for he was quite up to the bullet-proof escaped so long was to us a matter screen, where two bayonets were of wonder. His temperament fitted thrust out at him, and there he had him admirably for the command of to sta between their points, till, by men, an in ctic enabled him to firing his revolver down the loop- take advantage of any oversight on holes, he caused the men who were the part of the enemy. Soldiers ever thrusting at him to withdraw their look up with confidence to such a weapons.

leader, and no wonder the men of the After a brief pause the men were 1st looked up to him. Long will be called on again to advance, and re- be remembered in the corps he loved sponded as British soldiers are ever so well; and never will a better solwont. The first gun was again cap- dier command the 1st Fusiliers. tured and spiked by Captain Greville; Captain Speke, 65th N. I., joined but a little beyond, Major Jacob fell shortly after the battle of Bardul mortally wounded; and there, as Ki Serai, and it was not long bethe brave man lay, he still urged fore we found by the ring of the his men on against the foe. Cap- metal that he was formed of sterling tain Caulfield, of the 3d N. I., who stuff. Rather reserved in manner, on this day led the first company, he might at first be considered cold, tried to urge the men on; and but underneath flowed the warm almost immediately Captain Gre- stream of human kindness. He was ville, who had been recalled from an- devotedly fond of his profession, other street, advanced to the front, more particularly that which calls and took command of the corps. forth the active energies; and for a Lieutenant Wemyss was about this fight there was no better captain time hit while advancing to the front than Speke, and his hardy wiry and encouraging the men, and almost frame fitted him for the hardships of immediately Captains Greville, Caul- such a campaign. He entirely gainfield, and Speke, with Lieutenants ed the hearts of the men of his comWoodcock and Butler, were wounded. pany, by carrying in one of the General Nicholson also fell here with a wounded men, Private Brock, who mortal injury. The men, who were had his leg shattered by a round greatly discouraged at seeing Major shot; and the poor fellow, I am told, Jacob and so many officers fall, hesi- said to the doctor, after he had been tated, and felt they could do nothing under the knife, “Ah, doctor, if I against such a fire in such a place; die, tell Captain Speke how much I they therefore retired to the Cabul feel his kindness.” Yes, these are inGate, which they held.

deed the acts which bind men and It is surmised that in this lane eight officers as one, and make them invinofficers and fifty men of the 1st were cible in fight, for the blow falls proplaced hors de combat.

perly directed and concentrated, by Major Jacob and Captain Speke the full force of all willingly applied. In all our fights Speke had his share, was done slowly, without much loss, escaping unhurt till the last. Strange till we eventually got back to our old to say, he had almost no pain, and quarters. In the course of the day, retained his mental powers though Beatson and Monney also joined us his wound was very severe. Firmly from the Moree Bastion. yet humbly did he depart this life, It was now determined to get posdeeply lamented by all who knew him. session of the Burn Battery by means

After the repulse from the lane, of sapping up to it gradually, and the regiment retired to the Cabul accordingly Lieutenant Wallace with Gate, which they continued to hold, twenty men were sent during the together with other troops composing afternoon to occupy a house in adthe first column, notwithstanding a vance of Jung Bahadoor's, in the very, annoying fire of grape and direction of the Burn Bastion. The musketry from the mutineers, which following day (the 19th), Lieutenant continued very heavy till 5 P.M. Vibart was also sent with another The 1st remained at the Cabul Gate party of twenty men to take possestill the evening of the 15th, when sion of a house still further in ad. they were ordered to take up their vance, and completely overlooking quarters in some narrow lanes and the Burn Battery. A fusilade was streets between the Moree Bastion kept up between us and the Pandies, and the Cabul Gate. In the course from behind loop-holes and walls, of the day, however, a party of men the whole of this day, till evening, under Captain Beatson, attached to when some of the 8th Foot and 4th the regiment, and Lieutenant Monney, Sikhs were ordered up to take and were sent to occupy the Moree Bas- hold the Burn Battery: this they did tion.

without meeting any opposition; and Early in the morning, on the 16th, early next day the remainder of our forty men of the regiment under regiment also came up, and proceedColonel Burn, with Lieutenantsed to occupy the Lahore Gate, which Cairnes and Vibart, proceeded to was found deserted. The men totake possession of a house about a day were in a very unruly state, and quarter of a mile further down the the remark made to me by an exbanks of the canal. This was done perienced officer is singularly appliwithout opposition. A party of her cable, " That no men will act proMajesty's 75th meanwhile advanced perly with officers of whom they know still further on, and occupied Jung nothing.” Moreover, much brandy, Babadoor's house. On the evening beer, and other intoxicating liquors of the 17th the rest of the regiment were left so exposed by the enemy, and right wing joined this party, that it would seem they had almost with the exception of the men at the been left about purposely; and though Moree Bastion.

the officers endeavoured to persuade At daylight on the 18th, a column, their men that the liquor was poisonconsisting of her Majesty's 8th and ed, they did not succeed in persuad75th foot, and some Sikhs, were senting them that such was the

case, as to take the Lahore Gate. Fifty of one old soldier, a thirsty soul, taking the 1st were sent as a support. up a bottle of brandy, and looking at Colonel Burn, Campbell, and Vibart it, said, “Oh no, sir, the capsule is accompanied this party. The ad. all right-Exshawe and Co. : lettering vance was up a narrow street lead- all correct ; no poison in that.” ing into Chandne Chouk, where In the evening, Lieutenants Walthe insurgents had a 24 - pound lace and Vibart received orders to howitzer posted, which played on march back to our old quarters near us with grape as we advanced, aided the Moree Bastion, from whence, by a smart fire of musketry from the together with Lieutenants Monney windows of the houses on both sides and Campbell (who had remained of the street. The 8th and 75th there with a few men the whole were driven back, though they had time), we proceeded to the Jumma the gun in their possession at one Musgid, where, after waiting about time. The 1st were then ordered to an hour, we got orders from Colonel the front to cover the retreat. This Burn to join him at the Delhi Gate, or rather at a larger house in one of The regiment remained at the Delhi the streets not far off.

Gate, and had to furnish guards for The next day, No. 6 Company was that, the Tur Ko-man Gate, and also sent to reinforce the left wing at the the Wellesley Bastion. On the evenSubzee Mundeh Serai, where they ing of the 4th, however, we were sent had remained stationed ever since on a scouring expedition to clear out the morning of the 14th. On the that portion of the city. About 23d, the left wing joined the right thirty of the inhabitants fell victims at the Delhi Gate. On this evening, to us, the men being fully persuaded Lieutenant Cairnes, who had gone that they had taken part in the through the whole campaign with- siege, giving assistance to the enemy, out missing one turn of duty, and All women were carefully protected had ever been foremost when work from injury and insult. was to be done, was taken ill of Since the 27th, the regiment has cholera, and died in a few hours. remained in Mahomed-Ali-Khan's He was much beloved by the men, mansion, merely furnishing a daily and respected by his brother officers. guard for the Căshmere Gate.

List of Officers who marched from Dugshai with the First European Bengal

Fusiliers, on the 13th May 1857. Major Jacob. Wounded at the action of Nujjufghur-mortally at Delhi. Captain Dennis. Struck down by the sun when in action at Subzee Mundah--sick

certificate. Greville. Wounded, Bardul Ka Serai-capture of guns, 14th- severely

wounded, Delhi.

Wriford. Had Delhi fever twice.
Lieut. Hodson.
Adjutant Wemyss. Wounded in Subzee Mundah, and again in storming of Delhi.
Quartermaster MacFarlane.
Lieut. Daniell. Severely wounded.

Lambert. Suffered from sun-stroke.
Monney. Joined the regiment with detachment, 1st July 1857.
Walters. Sun-stroke while in action, Subzee Mundah-subsequently Delhi

fever,
Butler. Knocked down by a stone or round-shot, thrown in the lane Subzee

Mundah-sun-stroke.
Cairnes. Died of cholera after the capture of Delhi.
Wallace. Sun-stroke, twice.
Owen. Wounded, capture of guns, Ludlow Castle—and severely in the right

attack on Delhi.
Brown.
Ellis. Wounded, Bardul Ka Serai-attacked with cholera, and after a very

severe illness went on sick leave.
Chapman. Delhi fever.
Warner.

Joined before the first action.
Colonel Welchman. Severely wounded, Subzee Mundah.
Captain Brown.

Do.

do.
Oficers attached to the Corps at different periods after first engagement.
Captain Speke, 6th. Mortally wounded in assault of Delhi.
Lieut. Hadby, 36th N. I. Died of cholera.

Weavell, 45th N. I.
Captain Caulfield, N. I. Wounded in assault on Delhi.

Mac Barnet, 55th N. I. Killed, right attack, capture of Delhi.
Lieut. Woodcock, 55th N. I. Wounded in assault of Delbi.

Vibart, 59th N. I.
Edwards, 45th N. I. Attached for a short time-present at Nujjufglur.

Proctor, 38th N. I.
Captain Stafford, 36th N. I.

Law, N. I.
Beatson, N. I.
Graydon, 16th N. I. Blown up in assault; severely injured.

a