WE LOSE HEAVILY IN THE FIGHT OF 14TH. 131 Sealkote going up to Simla-there cannot be the least chance of it; the very last place they would wish to go to is the hills, and besides two of our columns are now after them, and one, I am told, has already come up with them. (Diary) 15th July.-Our loss appears to have been great yesterday, upwards of twenty killed and some one hundred and sixty wounded. Sixteen officers, but not one killed; and all, it is said, might have been avoided had we not rushed down to the walls of the Fort and got within reach of the enemy's grape. Chamberlain and Reid are blamed for this. CAMP, DELHI CANTONMENTS, Thursday, 16th July. I read Norman and Becher that part of your letter in which you recommended that the little Goorkhas should have the horses of the 4th and 10th Cavalry to ride. We were all much amused at the idea. Fancy a little Goorkha on one of those great large horses! It would carry three of them at a time! The Kemaon battalion will not be here for some time now; they have been detained at Jullunder, or somewhere thereabouts, and incorporated with a small Movable Column to look out for the Sealkote mutineers in the event of their escaping Nicholsonwhich it appears they have not done. There seems little chance, I think, of many of them making their escape after the thrashing they have already got. In case of any of them getting across the Ravee, there are still the Beas River and the Sutlej to stop them. All has been quiet here since I wrote to you yesterday, and the only news of interest we have is that a syce had reached Meerut from Cawnpore in seven days, and he said that Sir Hugh Wheeler had left there with his force; but where he had marched to he could not say. I dare say it will be some days yet ere we receive reliable intelligence of his movements. We are anxious, of course, to hear where he is; but the authorities in camp have evidently made up their minds that a few weeks' delay more or less now is of no consequence. More changes again in the command of this force. that poor old General Reed was almost bedridden. I told you That day 132 WILSON TO COMMAND THE FORCE. he was out exposed to the rain for so many hours quite knocked him up apparently, and it has at last been settled that he shall leave here to-morrow evening for Simla with a party of sick and wounded that are being sent to Umballa. At Simla, perhaps, he may be appointed to the command of the Militia. I understand that Brigadier Moule is serving in the Militia at Nynee Tal as a private; but he is such a martyr to the gout that he is obliged to go to parade in a janpan ! Brigadier Wilson is to succeed to the command of this force, passing over Colonels Congreve and Longfield, neither of whom is, I believe, over anxious for the honour and responsibility. Congreve indeed it was who told me himself this morning that Wilson was to succeed General Reed. It is the wisest selection that could be made, and it is thought that the new Commander will get on very well, better than he has done as Commander of the Artillery here, his plans not having succeeded very well; but as Commander of the whole Force it is generally believed that he will do the thing much better. He can't do much worse than his predecessor, though General Reed would, I think, have got on very fairly had he been in rude health. Curzon leaves here too to-night or to-morrow, the arrival of Patrick Grant having put him out of the coach; he will go to Simla in the first instance, I fancy, and then home. Until General Grant comes up here it is intended, I believe, that General Gowan should assume command of the Army in Upper India, and perhaps he will think it necessary to come here and join. I don't think he will get any of us from here to go up and join him. Becher and I both agree that if he will go up to Simla we shouldn't so much mind running up and reporting ourselves to him! (Diary) 16th July.—A very quiet day, nothing at all stirring. Gloomy accounts from below, and great fears are entertained that Wheeler has been destroyed at Cawnpore with his little Force; but this I trust and think cannot be true; but still it is pretty clear, by a letter from Lord Canning, that there is no assistance coming up to us from below. Shells unpleasantly close this evening. CHAPTER VII. SIEGE OF DELHI (continued)-GENERAL REED GOES AWAY SICK, And MAKES OVER THE COMMAND TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON. Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife. CAMP, DELHI Cantonments, Friday, 17th July. Nothing new here since I despatched my letter yesterday. The enemy talked of coming out again to-day to attack, which it was thought probable they would, as they got an accession to their force yesterday of the Jhansi Force-eight hundred Infantry, they say, some Cavalry, and three guns. I suppose they are going to wait until they get further reinforcements; or, it may be, perhaps, that they are too much taken up fighting amongst themselves, as it is reported to be a grand ground of quarrel the Bareilly mutineers not having given up their treasure to the King, and there was a talk of coercing them with the other troops. This would be a grand tomasha if it could be got up. I am afraid your friend who tells you of the mutineers burying their dead and wounded in one pit is not much to be depended upon. They leave a good many of their wounded behind, I dare say, but still a great many get into the city; and we heard a week or ten days ago that there were fully three thousand wounded men there, and the number can't have much diminished, as there have been two skirmishes since then. They have one native doctor, it is said, who looks after all these unfortunate wretches. About one hundred and fifty of our sick and wounded are to be sent off to Umballa this evening, amongst them Colonel Welchman and some other officers. General Reed also goes, and Brigadier Wilson has already assumed the Command of this Force. Colonel Congreve likewise leaves us this evening by mail-cartnot sick, but because, he says, he will be in a false position here U |