body of the Sepoys had remained behind, | his men to bring in the old King. On offering desperate resistance to the onward reaching his place of refuge Hodson sent movements of our troops. They now, how-in his emissaries to persuade the King to ever, lost heart, and took precipitately to surrender on a promise of personal safety, flight, abandoning their camp, many of their and after a delay of two hours they brought sick and wounded, and the greater part of back an answer that the King had consented their field artillery. Some 4000 or 5000 to give himself up on the assurance that of them fled across the bridge of boats into his life would be spared. Soon after, prethe Doab (the country between the Jumna ceded by his Queen and her son, the palanand the Ganges); the remainder made their quin containing the last poor remnant of escape down the right bank of the Jumna. royalty' passed the magnificent gateway of On the morning of the 20th our scouts the building. On receiving from Hodson's brought intelligence that the King and his own lips a formal guarantee of his personal family had abandoned the palace and had safety and of that of his son, the King taken refuge in the suburbs, and Hodson gave up his arms and was conveyed to was despatched by Hope Grant to the the city, followed by a vast crowd appaGeneral to convey to him the welcome rently overwhelmed with mingled astonishinformation that Delhi was evacuated. By ment and fear. his orders the gates of the palace and of the Selim-gurh were blown in, the few desperate men who remained and were maintaining their post to the last were bayoneted or shot, and the British standard was hoisted on the palace about mid-day. The arduous and sanguinary struggle of our troops was thus at last brought to a successful termination, and Delhi was once more in the possession of the British. A terrible retribution was exacted by our victorious and infuriated troops, and there is reason to fear that in not a few instances the innocent suffered along with the guilty.

When it became evident that the rebel cause was lost, the aged King of Delhi, along with his favourite wife Begum Zenut Mehal, and her son, and other members of his family, fled in disguise along the south road leading from the city, and took refuge in the tomb of the Emperor Hoomayoon, an immense structure-with its surrounding buildings, a suburb in itself-at some distance from Delhi. A member of the royal house, the Meerza Elahee Buksh, who had been for some time in secret communication with our forces, made this known to Hodson, of Hodson's Horse, the chief of the Intelligence Department. Having obtained the reluctant permission of the General, Hodson set out with a party of

VOL. III.

Hodson was aware that some of the King's sons and other relatives, who were believed to have taken an active part in the insurrection and the massacre of the Europeans in Delhi, were concealed in the tomb from which the King had been taken captive. On the following day, having received permission to hunt them out, he set out with 100 troopers to perform this service. They had with them several thousands of their retainers, who could easily have overpowered the handful of Hodson's men; but they were completely cowed, and offered to surrender on terms. Hodson, however, would make no promises of any kind, but declared that he was determined to seize the Shahzadahs, dead or alive. After two hours spent in negotiation the three wretched princes came out in covered bullock carts, and were sent on to Delhi under an escort.

Hodson then, with the remainder of his troopers, passed the gateway of the tomb, and in a loud voice called upon the multitude to give up their arms. Although they were 6000 in number they were so overawed by his authoritative manner, and felt so hopeless of resistance, that they at once obeyed, and collected their arms, their horses, and carriages in the centre of the square. Having achieved this extraordinary

45

success Hodson galloped towards Delhi, and | career was prematurely brought to a close. overtook the carriage containing the three Hope Grant said of him as he lay dying, princes a little way outside the city. It that he was 'like a noble oak riven asunder had halted, a disorderly crowd had collected by a thunderbolt.' And Lord Lawrence, around it, and Hodson seemed to think in his report of the 25th of May, 1858, that they were inclined to attempt a rescue, says, ' Brigadier-General Nicholson is now which, however, was highly improbable. beyond human praise and reward, but so Riding in amongst them he called out in a long as British rule shall endure in India loud voice, 'These are the men who have his fame can never perish. He seems not only rebelled against the Government, especially to have been raised up at this but ordered and witnessed the massacre and juncture. He crowned a bright though shameless exposure of innocent women and brief career by dying of the wound that children, and thus therefore the Govern- he received in the moment of victory at ment punishes such traitors taken in open Delhi. The Chief-Commissioner does not resistance.' So saying, he shot the three hesitate to affirm that without John Nicholwretched unresisting captives dead on son Delhi could not have been taken.' the spot. Shortly afterwards other two of the King's sons were tried before a military commission, and condemned and executed.

There can be very little doubt that the persons thus summarily put to death by Hodson were really, in one way or other, accomplices if not active agents both in the insurrection and in the murder of the Europeans in Delhi. But it is matter of deep regret, for obvious reasons, that they were not brought to trial in a regular manner. 'I may aver without hesitation,' wrote Sir John Kaye, 'that the general feeling in England was one of profound grief, not unmingled with detestation. I never heard the act approved. I never even heard it defended.'

The satisfaction created by the capture of Delhi was greatly diminished by the death of Brigadier Nicholson. For some time faint hopes were entertained of his recovery; but his anxiety while the issue of the struggle was doubtful, and the excitement caused by the news brought to him, greatly increased the fever produced by his wound. He lived to hear that the palace of the Moguls was occupied by our troops, and that the King was a prisoner in our hands. He expired peacefully on the 23rd September, amidst the lamentations of the whole army. Nicholson was in the prime of life when his brief, brave, and glorious'

As soon as Delhi had fallen General Wilson sent a column under Edward Greathed in pursuit of the Sepoys who had fled from the city towards the southeast. He defeated the Jhansi insurgents, whom he overtook on the 27th September at Boolandshuhur, and destroyed the fort of Malaghur, where unhappily the gallant Lieutenant Home, who distinguished himself so much in blowing open the Cashmere Gate of Delhi, was accidentally killed by an explosion. At Agra, on the 9th of October, Greathed's column suddenly came into collision with a body of rebels 7000 in number, who had collected from various quarters and were marching to attack the fort. They fancied that they would have to deal only with its weak garrison, and finding their mistake they began to retreat, but were pursued and cut down with immense slaughter. All their guns were captured, their tents burned, and the plunder they had collected recovered. The total loss on our side was only eleven killed and fifty-four wounded. After this brilliant feat of arms the column crossed the Jumna, and on the 14th Brigadier Hope Grant assumed the command. After clearing off the rebels on his march, and resting two days at Cawnpore, he crossed the Ganges and reached the neighbourhood of the Alumbagh, near Lucknow, on the 8th of November.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Sir Colin Campbell's arrival at Calcutta-State of affairs-Sir Colin's energetic measures-He proceeds to Cawnpore-His masterly plan for the relief of the Garrison in Lucknow-Its complete success — -Withdrawal of the Garrison-Death of General Havelock-Defeat of General Windham-His rescue by Sir Colin Campbell-Defeat of the rebels and destruction of Bithoor-Preparations for the siege of Lucknow-The Maharajah Jung Bahadoor and the GhoorkasCapture of Lucknow-Death of Sir William Peel-Brigadier Campbell's mismanagement-Exploits of Sir Hugh Rose in Central India-The Ranee of Jhansi-Brigadier-General Walpole's misconduct-Death of Adrian Hope-Final suppression of the Rebellion-Lord Canning's Proclamation-Lord Ellenborough's despatch-His resignation of office.

manufacture of it on the spot; to procure flour from the Cape; to cast field-guns at the Kasipur foundry; to manufacture tents; to make up harness; to procure Englishspeaking servants for the expected European regiments from Madras. Before the end of August Sir Colin had quintupled the activity of the "departments," and had infused even into the Government a portion of his own untiring energy.' He also induced the authorities to organize a bullock train to convey troops to Allahabad, and as soon as the regiments intended for the China expedition, and a division sent from the Cape of Good Hope, reached Calcutta, he sent them to the front with all possible expedition.

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL arrived at Calcutta | rifle ammunition, whilst stimulating the on the 13th of August. At that moment the aspect of affairs was gloomy in the extreme. The Bengal army may be said to have ceased to exist. The Northwest Provinces, Rohilcund, and Oude were lost. Delhi still held out against our forces, and its capture seemed as far off as ever. The Punjaub was causing great anxiety, and Central India was in a state of scarcely concealed rebellion. The small British force at Lucknow was shut up in the Residency with a large number of women and children, in a position of imminent peril; and Havelock, after his heroic but fruitless efforts to relieve them, had been forced to fall back upon Cawnpore, to wait for reinforcements. Sir Colin found the Europeans at Calcutta in a state of almost frenzied alarm, annoying and worrying the GovernorGeneral with their frantic demands and foolish proposals, while the members of the Government had done nothing to strengthen his hands, or to prepare for active operations against the rebels. They had provided no means of transport; they had no horses either for cavalry or artillery; Enfield rifle ammunition was deficient; and guns, guncarriages, and harness for field-batteries were either awanting or were unfit for service. Sir Colin Campbell set himself at once, with characteristic energy, to supply these glaring deficiencies. He moved the Government to the purchase of horses on a large, and necessarily on an expensive scale; to indent on England for Enfield

On the 27th of October Sir Colin left Calcutta for Allahabad, which he reached on the 1st of November. He was at Cawnpore on the 3rd. Leaving there 400 European soldiers, under General Windham, to protect his base, he set out for Lucknow on the 9th, and in the course of the afternoon he reached the camp of Hope Grant on the plain beyond Banni, about 6 miles from the Alumbagh. Early next morning an English gentleman named Kavanagh, disguised as a native, presented himself with important despatches, which, at the imminent risk of his life, he had brought from Sir James Outram. The information thus communicated to the Commander-in-chief enabled him to frame his plan for the attack on Lucknow in combination with

the garrison cooped up in the Residency. He was joined at this opportune moment by the Naval Brigade, composed of sailors from the Shannon, and some merchant sea men, under Captain Peel, who, in conjunction with Captain Powell, at the head of 700 soldiers, had, on the 1st of November, routed 4000 of the rebels, with heavy loss, at a place called Kadjwa, 24 miles from Futtehpore.

brilliant manner by the remainder of the Highlanders and the 53rd and the 4th Punjaub Infantry, supported by a battalion of detachments under Major Barnston. There never was a bolder feat of arms.' The victorious assailants awfully avenged the massacre at Cawnpore by putting the whole garrison to the sword.

The Shah Nujjeef, a domed mosque with a garden inclosed by a wall, and strongly The direct road to the Residency from fortified, still stood in the way. An unceasthe Alumbagh lay through the heart of the ing fire of musketry was kept up upon our city of Lucknow, where every street was troops, who attempted to carry this position. fortified and every house loopholed and Captain Peel's guns were brought up to filled with rebels, who, though they shrank breach the walls, but the fire of the enemy from encountering our troops in the open streaming incessantly from the building field, fought desperately under cover of and the surrounding inclosures, struck down walls and fortifications. To attempt a pass- many of the gunners, and after three age through narrow streets thus crowded hours' battering, it was still unsubdued. with enemies would have entailed enor- It was evident that the crisis of the battle mous loss of life. Sir Colin Campbell had come. Our heavy artillery could not therefore wisely determined to make a de-effect a practicable breach in the Shah tour to the right, avoiding the long barri- Nujjeef, or keep down the fire of its garricaded street that led direct to the Residency, and forcing his way through the Dilkoosha Park surrounding the royal palace and the Martiniere, to cross the canal on the east side of Lucknow, and then to reach the Residency by a circuitous route round the north-east corner of the city. Still, even in following this route, he had great difficulties to encounter. Every building was garrisoned and loopholed, every palace converted into a fortress, which obstructed at every step the advance of our troops. By resolute and persevering efforts, however, these difficulties were all overcome. The Dilkoosha Park was occupied, and the Martiniere carried after a sharp conflict. The bridge of the canal was forced, and with immense labour heavy guns were dragged up to batter the Secunderbagh, a high-walled inclosure of strong masonry, carefully loopholed all round, and garrisoned by 2000 of the best Sepoy troops. After a hot fire had been kept up on both sides for an hour and a half, it was determined to carry the place by storm.

son. Retreat would have been ruin. In this extremity nothing remained but to try the bayonet. Sir Colin, who throughout the struggle had been sitting on his white horse exposed to the whole storm of shot, now collected the 93rd about him and addressed a few words to them. 'Not concealing the extent of the danger, he told them that he had not intended that day to employ them again, but that the Shah Nujjeef must be taken, that the artillery could not bring its fire under, so they must win it with the bayonet. Giving them a few plain directions, he told them he would go on with them himself.'

Middleton's battery of the Royal Artillery was brought up to cover the assault, and poured in round after round of grape. 'Peel, manning all his guns, worked his pieces with redoubled energy, and under cover of this iron storm the 93rd, excited to the highest degree, with flashing eyes and nervous tread, rolled on in one vast wave. The gray-haired veteran of many fights rode, with his sword drawn, at their was done,' says Sir Colin, in the most head. His staff crowded around him.' But

This

when the troops reached the building they feet broad, surmounted by a loopholed were brought to a stand. The wall was wall behind; and he accordingly directed perfectly entire, was nearly twenty feet Captain Peel to open fire upon it with his high, and well loopholed. There was no heavy guns. The fire continued from early breach and no scaling-ladders. The fire of morning till three o'clock in the afternoon, the garrison, fighting under shelter, was and the building was then gallantly stormed incessant and destructive, and the British by a company of the 90th Foot, a picket officers, without protection, fell fast before of the 53rd, Major Barnston's battalion of it. Sir Colin himself and all his staff were detachments, and some of the 4th Punnow wounded or had their horses shot under jaub Rifles, commanded by Captain Garnet them. Major Alison, his military secretary, Wolseley. This daring feat of arms was lost his arm. Two of Peel's guns were now performed with perfect success, and the brought up to within a yard of the wall and rebels, driven out by the overpowering battered it with great vigour, but though attack of the assailants, fled in panic to the 'the masonry fell off in flakes, it came down Motee Mahal. The victorious storming so as to leave the mass behind perpendicular party followed the fleeing rebels, and Wolseand as inaccessible as ever.' ley, animated by success, encouraged his soldiers to pursue them into their place of refuge, though he had received no orders to attack the Motee Mahal—a network of buildings in a wide inclosure, surrounded by a solid wall, the gate-way of which had been blocked up. The sappers, however, succeeded in making an opening in the wall, through which Wolseley and his men rushed. Every room was contested, but after a desperate hand-to-hand contest the rebels were expelled, and the last building on the line leading to the Residency came into the possession of our troops.† An open space near by, half a mile in extent, still intervened between the Motee Mahal and the Residency, which was exposed to a heavy fire of musketry from the Kaiserbagh; but, notwithstanding the risk, Havelock and Outram, accompanied by half a dozen officers, started to meet their deliverers. Half of the staff were wounded in the attempt, but not severely. I had the inexpressible satisfaction,' wrote Sir Colin, of greeting Sir James Outram and Sir Henry Havelock, who came out to meet me before the action was at an end. The relief of the besieged garrison had been accomplished.'

At this critical moment, when success seemed impossible, Sergeant Paton of the 93rd thought he perceived a weak part of the wall to the right, and directed the attention of Adrian Hope, the bravest of the brave,' to this point. Hope, collecting some fifty men, stole cautiously through the jungle to the place, and found a narrow fissure in the wall, through which a single man was with some difficulty pushed. Fortunately none of the enemy were near the spot, and Hope himself and several others were helped up to the hole, and passed through it into the inside of the building. A party of sappers were sent for in all haste, and enlarged the opening. The supports rushed in and threw open the gate for their comrades. The Sepoys, panicstricken by the sudden appearance of the British troops within the walls, fled from the place, and the fort was carried. It was an action almost unexampled in war,' said Sir Colin. Never had there been a harder fought day, but never was a result gained more satisfactory.'

The troops passed the night in line on the spot, with their arms in their hands. Next morning (17th November) Sir Colin resolved to attack the Mess House, a large stone building defended by a ditch twelve

Sergeant Paton was most properly rewarded with the Victoria Cross.

†The Commander-in-chief gave Wolseley a 'wigging' for having exceeded his instructions, and then praised his bravery, and promised to recommend him for promotion.