CHAPTER VI.

SIEGE OF DELHI (continued)—ILLNESS AND DEATH OF

SIR HENRY BARNARD.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Sunday, 5th July.

We have been very quiet since I wrote to you yesterday, and are so now. I dare say you received at Simla a very exaggerated account of the attack on Alleepore, making out all kinds of misfortunes to us. It was bad enough our allowing the enemy to get there at all; but beyond their partial plunder of the place, and obliging a party there of the Punjab Irregular Cavalry (1st,* I think) under Lieutenant Younghusband to withdraw, no damage was done. It is supposed that the enemy went to Alleepore in the expectation of finding the 17th Irregulars there with treasure, some two and a half lacs, and lots of ordnance stores; but Lieutenant Hockin (whom we met at Shumsabad) had been warned from here to halt at Lussowlie, which he did, and he is now coming on with the Jheend Raja's force, whose guns have been manned by Europeans † coming down, and a large party of Lancers, &c., are going this evening to meet the convoy and bring it in. Some went so far as to say that the 17th Native Cavalry had sent on emissaries to Delhi to arrange with the mutineers to join them and bolt with the treasure. It is quite possible enough, for I have not the same faith in any of these men that Mrs Martin has; but if such were their intention it

* The detachment belonged to the 5th-not the 1st-Punjab Cavalry.H. W. NORMAN.

This is a mistake. No guns of the Jheend contingent were ever manned by Europeans, nor did the Jheend force come to Delhi until September.H. W. NORMAN.

SIR HENRY BARNARD ILL WITH CHOLERA.

107

has now been effectually frustrated. The only unsatisfactory part of yesterday's business is our not getting possession of the enemy's guns. We got one or two of their ammunition carts, but the general impression appears to be that had we managed properly we ought to have secured their guns; but it is not perhaps right to say so, for our Artillery are a first-rate set of fellows, and Norman, who was out, did not blame them. I only tell you what they say in camp, and the truth is that when the enemy bring out guns and we go after them, no one is contented unless they are taken.

You ask me the particulars of Lieutenant Smith's death; there can be no doubt whatever of it, I fear. Dr Scott, whom Mrs Martin and Mrs Hall know, got a letter some days ago from Meerut saying that he was wounded by a Sowar, whether one of his own men or not was not known. He was put into a doolie; he was some distance from his house when this occurred, and on his way home. Some of his corps rode up and asked if it were the Adjutant-Sahib, and on hearing that it was they fired into the doolie and killed him. The letter did not, I think, say how this intelligence was received, but it was looked upon as the truth. Dr Scott comes across every morning to our tent for a cup of tea; he told me that George Hall was quite well, and Martin, he said, complaining a little as usual.

You will be shocked to hear that poor General Barnard is very ill with cholera, and from what Mackinnon and Mactier told me just now there is not the least chance of his recovery. Doctors Brown and Tritton are also in attendance on him, but they hold out no hope. The truth appears to be that the poor General has been ailing for the last ten days, but it has made no difference in his way of going on-always in a state of excitement, rushing about all day in the sun and exposing himself in everything. It is no wonder that he has been quite unable to bear up against the attack. He is the kindest, most amiable old man that ever was, but most utterly useless as a general, and altogether misplaced in his present position. Congreve is the next senior officer in camp, but it is arranged, I believe, that in the event of General Barnard's death General Reed will himself assume the command of the force-that is to say, Chamberlain will really command; and he is, perhaps, the

108 DEATH OF BARNARD-REED ASSUMES COMMAND.

best man in camp for it. I was in church this morning, and the text was most singularly appropriate to this case of General Barnard's-Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom '-and the discourse would seem almost written for him, but at the time it was not known that he was ill. It will be a sad blow to young Barnard, the Aide-de-Camp. He is a very nice young fellow, and so kind and attentive to his father. I hope I mentioned Hodson's name yesterday, as he tells me he did not write to his wife; he is very well.

Sir Edward Campbell was dining at the Artillery mess last night, and sat next to me. He was giving me a long account of the Simla doings, and told me also of going about with exaggerated reports of our losses, &c.

It is half-past one, and Doctors Mackinnon and Brown, who have just left General Barnard, say he is dying, and cannot live more than an hour or two. Very sad, is it not?

5th July (later).

It is half-past three o'clock, and as it seems the post is not yet closed, I write a line to tell you that it is all over with poor General Barnard: he died about a quarter of an hour ago. How awfully sudden it has been, for though, as I told you, he has not been well for many days, he was out walking this morning a little before breakfast-time! His seems to be a solitary case, as I have not heard of any other in camp. When Mactier came in to tell me of the General's death, I was busy writing a reply for Arthur Becher to a letter he received a little while ago from Lieutenant Pearse at Hissar, dated 1st July. Pearse is employed settling the country; he gives a good account of everything. I extract the following paragraph from his letter, as it may be interesting to Mrs Martin and Mrs Hall: 'I have been able to save Mrs Jeffries and head clerk from destruction. Donald, assistant to Superintendent Lira, and seven others have reached here.'

What nonsense they are telling you about the dearness of supplies here! In the Artillery mess they have a two months' supply of beer, they told me a night or two ago, and we are charged merely the cost price and the carriage.

All quiet in camp. It is settled that General Reed assumes

the command of the Force.

NEWS FROM AGRA AND ALLAHABAD.

109

CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Monday, 6th July.

No dâk in yet, but I dare say it will be here before I finish this. It is most likely coming in with the treasure party, which was to be at Alleepore this morning; and a force of Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry went out from here an hour or two before day break to make all sure in case the enemy should wish to have another try for the treasure. A newsletter from the city said that the mutineers had gone the day before to Alleepore to murder our wounded, and to secure the treasure coming here-eleven and a half lacs! There happen only to be two and a half. The men that were killed on Saturday all belonged, it was said, to the Bareilly Brigade, and buttons were observed on them (and they had their new clothing on) of the 29th, 68th, 18th, and 28th-a set of wretched scoundrels and cowards.

Except a few shots occasionally from the batteries, all is quiet in camp, and the reports from the city are that the Sepoys now tell the King that none of them will come out to fight again unless all come; and there is no getting the Delhi mutineering regiments (38th, &c.) to stir. I fancy there is no doubt of the truth of this, we have heard it from so many quarters. Another thing, too, which appears certain, is that they have expended all their gunpowder and are now manufacturing it for themselves; but this must be a difficult task this damp weather, and at the best it can never be so good as what they got from our magazines.

You ask me if we do not know more here about the intended plan of operations than we are willing to communicate. I assure you not and indeed nothing is, I believe, definitely settled about the way in which we are to get inside the walls of Delhi; but that we shall be there before very long no one, I think, in camp entertains a doubt. It is confidently reported that there are dissensions among the mutineers, and this will be a great thing in our favour. There was a letter from Agra yesterday, of the 1st instant, when all was well. The Neemuch mutineers were expected there on the 4th, and the troops from Agra were to go out some five miles to meet them, fully confident of giving them a good thrashingwhich, I have no doubt, would be done. All was safe at Allahabad, and a force was being organised there; and most probably, I should think, the new Commander-in-Chief, Patrick Grant, would come

R

up there and assume the command of it. Nothing was said of a force moving from Cawnpore to Agra, but there was nothing more likely, as he must have had three European regiments with him upwards of a fortnight ago.

I had a letter also from the Jeypore contingent at Hodul dated the 3rd, when all was well. Eden, who writes, says: 'The report of the murder of Major Morrieson and Captain Nixon is unfounded.' We had never even heard of it here, so there was no occasion to contradict it. There was a letter, I think I told you yesterday, from Hissar, giving favourable accounts of the doings of Colonel Cortlandt's force, the main body of which was at Sirsa. Altogether, you see, we are getting on very fairly everywhere; and Hodson this morning, in talking over the news from the city, said all was very encouraging-and it is not often he admits so much. The Hodul letter said the Gwalior contingent was still at Gwalior, and that the Chumbal was full. No news whatever about the Native regiments in the Saugar brigade, 50th inclusive, so we may hope they are still right.

Sir Edward Campbell was giving me a very amusing account of Mrs He says she takes a most desponding view of matters, and has fully made up her mind not to see her husband again. So much so, said Campbell, that it was his opinion she had another in her eye!

You ask me what command General Johnston is to get on joining camp. He will get no command here, but we know nothing of him for certain: and a report came in yesterday that he had died at Kurnaul; but don't mention this; it may not be true. I heard it from Nicoll and Metcalfe.

I was at General Barnard's funeral this morning.

There were

a great many people present. He was buried just opposite where poor Chester's remains were deposited.

We had very heavy rain last night. It commenced while we were at mess, and lasted until near daybreak. It has made the air very cool and pleasant, and in the early morning a puttoo coat and equally warm continuations, as Seymour calls them, were not uncomfortable. All well at Meerut, I think, on the 2nd; but the dâk is longer coming than it used to be. It is 2 P.M., and the dâk not in, so I will not wait longer. It seems the treasure party were detained by the rain, but are coming on all right.