REINFORCEMENTS EXPECTED From meerUT. 229

same time, or probably a day or two later, we shall have some hundred more Artillerymen and about two hundred Riflemen from Meerut. They were to leave Meerut to-morrow and march to this place vid Kurnaul. In their place they are to have a Sikh regiment at Meerut, and a wing of the Belooch corps and some Punjab Cavalry, so they will not have made a bad exchange.

I said to you the other day that the 2nd September would perhaps see us inside the city, but I think now that I rather anticipated events, and that we can hardly expect to attack the place before the 8th or so; for I gather from what I hear that it will not be a mere assault of the place, but that we shall gradually advance our approaches when the siege-train comes and breach the walls. We are already within some six hundred yards' distance of them, and it is calculated that ten days will allow of our making safe approaches within easy breaching distance. By this plan there will be no risk of failure and much less chance of loss of life.

We are anxious to hear again from Havelock, but I fear we can't expect another letter for some days now. It is quite clear that we need expect no reinforcements from below for a long time to come, but when the train comes I don't think we shall need them.

Hodson is now at Lussowlie, I believe. The telegraph wire is being laid down to this place again, and has already reached Raie; it will be very convenient when the office is in our camp.

Half-past three, and everything very quiet. The enemy are apparently taking their guns away from the opposite side of the river, seeing they can make nothing of them.

Such a nice, cool, cloudy day.

Captain EDEN to Colonel BECHER, at Delhi.

HODUL, 23rd August.

MY DEAR BECHER, -I'm heart-broken at having been obliged to relinquish Pulwal, but will stick to this as long as I can. My men are quiet enough now; many came back again (some thirty deserted), and several Irregulars in our camp. Troops of Native states are not able or willing to come into collision with Regulars. Bhopal Sing came away in a hurry! Verb. sap./— Yours truly, W. F. EDEN.

230

RETURN OF HODSON TO CAMP.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

Camp, Delhi Cantonments, Monday, 24th August.

Mrs Leeson has now gone to Umballa; but Mrs Tytler, with her children, is still here-the only lady in camp. We have not heard Mrs Leeson's story confirmed about there being thirty other Europeans concealed in the city.* I hope if it is so that when we enter the place none of them may be killed in the confusion.

Hodson came back last night with all his party; he is rather sunburnt, but looking very well. He appears to have been most successful in his expedition, having cut up altogether some eightyeight of the rebel Sowars, including three Native officers, one of whom belonged to the regiment that was at Jhansi-the 14th, I think. None of Hodson's men were killed, only a few wounded -amongst them Hugh Gough, slightly in the wrist. George Ward has returned with a slight attack of fever; Mactier has just been over to see him, and I hope a few doses of quinine will soon put him to rights again.

Yes, there is a little fever in camp, but nothing of any great consequence, and the Natives, fortunately, are much more subject to it than Europeans, particularly the poor little Goorkhas. However, we have not much longer to wait now, I hope. The siegetrain ought to be at Kurnaul to-morrow or next day, and it won't take more than four days or so from there. Then there are the Artillerymen and Rifles coming from Meerut, who ought to reach here about the same time as the siege-train does.

Nicoll knows nothing whatever about the intention of the General with regard to the attack. It is, I am quite sure, settled to wait only for the siege-train and then set to work in earnest : and no one has a doubt about the result being altogether successful. The only doubt appears to be whether there will be many mutineers left in the city by the time the train arrives, for they are still said to be deserting in great numbers.

We are without any further news of Havelock's proceedings, but it seems clear that we cannot expect any aid from him for some time yet. We should like much to know if he has advanced on Lucknow; again, it may be that he is waiting until * This report was apparently quite untrue.-H. W. NORMAN.

NEWS FROM AGRA, GWALIOR, AND CAWNPORE.

231

the Goorkhas join him, or until the European regiments join him, which they must have done by this time. I have heard nothing of a siege-train coming from Calcutta: it is probably gun-boats which I noticed had been sent up; but whatever it is it can't be for us, and there are plenty of guns of all kinds to be had at Agra. The Agra people are all well, and the mutineers at Gwalior still safe there.

We had telegraphic news of the mail last night; it said nothing of sending troops out overland, but it mentioned the arrival at Bombay of the steamer Pottinger from the Cape with troops, which is very good news, as other steamers have probably been sent to Calcutta from the Cape.

News from the city says the Sepoys are very much displeased with Prince Mirza Moghul, whom they accuse of treachery, and talk of trying him by Court-Martial. Tell Mr Philipe of the intended Court-Martial on the Prince of Delhi. I don't know whether the proofs are to be sent to me when they are finished!

Mungroo, the syce of the poor old pony, is going up to Simla. to see his wife. I have paid him his wages.

3 P.M., and all quiet.

P.S.-I am glad this letter was not sent off, as Arthur Becher has just been in with a letter from Colonel Cotton from Agra, of the 20th, where all was well on that date, and all quiet at Gwalior. Colonel Cotton had felt himself strong enough to send out a detachment a short distance from Agra to keep things straight. The same cossid brought also a letter from General Neill to General Wilson, dated Cawnpore the 12th. He says that Havelock had fought the enemy again and thrashed them, with very little loss on our side, and taken two more guns; but he does not seem inclined to advance on Lucknow at present on account of his want of Cavalry, and hearing that Lucknow was not only all safe, but that the enemy had no chance of making any impression upon it. It seems there would have been three more European regiments at Cawnpore by this time if it had not been for the Dinapore mutiny. The mutineers had been severely punished and dispersed, but many were wandering about the Grand Trunk Road, and had stopped the dâks. The three regiments detained to follow them were the 5th, 37th, and 90th, and two batteries,

232 ENEMY Reported in force near NUJUFGHURH.

but it was hoped all would soon be available again. General Lloyd has been removed from his command in consequence of his want of energy in the business. The letter goes on to say that three European regiments were to reach India by this mail from Malta-the 48th, 71st, and 57th-and that six other regiments were to follow by the same route. Two regiments from Madras were coming-one Infantry, and one Native Cavalry. All well at Nagode, Saugar, &c.

(Diary) 24th August.—At work to-day rather earlier than usual, and write home letters. The enemy are said to have marched out in force towards Nujufghurh, and a Movable Column under Nicholson is to march in the morning to look after them. The mail in after dinner. Speeches read out at mess table-Lord Ellenborough's good; Vernon Smith's received with shouts of derision.

CHAPTER XI.

SIEGE OF DELHI (continued)—VICTORY OF GENERAL NICHOLSON.

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to his wife.

CAMP, DELHI Cantonments, Tuesday, 25th August.

Your letter of the 22nd reached me after dinner at the mess, and with it also came the letter herewith enclosed from your father and the home news, which I also send; but before I say anything of these, let me speak to you about your groundless apprehensions with reference to the cook. So long as all goes well here-and we all reckon that we cannot have to wait more than ten or twelve days or so longer, and perhaps less, for the fall of Delhi-there is no fear of any of the servants committing themselves, however much they might be inclined that way, and I should very much doubt the cook being traitorously disposed, or, in fact, any hardly of our Native servants; but still, if you have taken such a determined dislike to the man, and would wish to turn him off, the only way will be to have him turned out of Simla on the very day of his dismissal, and this might be done, I dare say, if you sent for Captain Seymour and spoke to him on the subject, telling him about the powder-flasks and the conversation about the letter from Meerut. But if you do turn him off, will you be able to get another cook you can depend upon? is a donkey, and always sees a cause for alarm in everything, so don't be guided by him in the matter, but consult with Seymour if you have any doubt how to act. I will now leave the matter to you to do as you think best; but be sure of this, that you have nothing to fear from any of your servants. Ask Sergeant Larkin to sleep in the house again.